Chapter 280 : Dong Qian Leaves

When ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Ji Yuan heard the news, he was brewing Spiritual Tea for Li Changhe.

Was ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he shocked?

Was ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he panicked?

Neither.

Because ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as early as when he had first returned from Black Dragon Island, Hua Yaoyue had already told him this news… Once Western Shang learned that the matter had been exposed, they would definitely commit everything they had.

So ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this day was bound to come sooner or later.

He simply had not expected it to come so quickly.

Li Changhe had brought the news back from Shang Mountain, which meant that when he left, the Demonic Cultivators of Western Shang had already begun gathering.

In that case, hadn’t they already begun attacking by now?

Ji Yuan subconsciously turned his head and glanced westward.

“Since matters have already reached this point, Brother Li should drink some hot tea first.”

Li Changhe accepted the Spiritual Tea, drained it in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and handed the teacup back. “Another cup.”

After drinking the tea, Li Changhe finally calmed down somewhat.

He cast a spell on himself, and the dust from his journey immediately vanished. Then he swallowed a pill, and his originally somewhat exhausted spirit recovered once more.

His entire person also returned to the bearing of the Li Family’s eldest young master. He placed both hands on his thighs, leaned slightly forward, stared at Ji Yuan, and said:

“I’ll tell you the truth, Brother Ji. The unanimous judgment of our Li Family, as well as the other Nascent Soul Noble Families, is that not only can Shang Mountain not be defended, even our Six Immortal Sects cannot be defended… Martial Aunt Wangyou should also be able to see some of it. You can ask what she plans to do. At a time like this, everyone should start thinking about themselves.”

What did Master plan to do?

She was a Nascent Soul Cultivator. There was no need for me to worry about her.

“Martial Uncle Li asked you to ask this, didn’t he?”

“Yes. My father said that if Martial Aunt Wangyou has nowhere suitable to go, she can come to our Pill Refining Room. If fighting truly breaks out, the Water Dragon Sect will bear the brunt of it, while our Pill Refining Room will actually be safer…”

Li Changhe did not deny it and instead admitted it directly.

“Alright, I’ll tell Master… Then what about Shang Mountain?” Ji Yuan asked softly.

“We can only gather the strength of all Eastern Shang to resist. That’s all we can do.”

“……”

After telling Ji Yuan about this matter, Li Changhe hurriedly left again.

Ji Yuan also understood the actions of the Li Family. It was just like that old saying… a sect lasts a thousand years, while a noble family lasts ten thousand.

The Li Family was exactly this kind of Nascent Soul Noble Family. Even if the Water Dragon Sect were destroyed, it would affect them, but it would not overturn them. Firstly, they had always kept multiple fallback locations, and secondly, they possessed an inheritance.

The inheritance of a Nascent Soul Technique.

Even if everyone of their current generation died, as long as another peerless genius appeared among their descendants hundreds or thousands of years later and used the inherited technique to form a Nascent Soul, the Li Family would flourish once again.

Even if they could not form a Nascent Soul and only reached Foundation Establishment or Golden Core, their path would still be much easier.

Ji Yuan came to the doorway and watched Li Changhe leave.

After he left, Tu Yue piloted the Sky-Slicer Boat over from the other side of Forgotten Worry Island and landed behind Ji Yuan, obediently offering him a piece of “Crimson Yang Bone”.

Only then did Ji Yuan remember that today was the agreed-upon “pig-slaughtering day”.

At present, slaughtering the Spiritual Pigs could only be entrusted to Yin Child.

The Spiritual Pigs had already developed Blood Marks, and ordinary Qi Refining Stage Corpse Servants no longer dared approach them.

If they were made to slaughter them, they might not even kill a few pigs before being scalded to death by the scorching pig blood themselves.

Pure Yang objects were naturally the nemesis of Yin-Type Items like them.

But even Yin Child, a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment Corpse Servant, did not have an easy time.

When Ji Yuan arrived, he was still controlling a Flying Knife and “huffing and puffing” as he slaughtered pigs.

Both of his hands had been scalded bright red by the pig blood, and some blood that splashed onto his body had even burned small pits into him.

He could originally have used Yin Energy to block it, but using Yin Energy would affect the quality of the Spiritual Pig meat, so Ji Yuan did not allow him to defend himself.

‘Mm… I can only make Yin Child suffer a little longer.’

Ji Yuan was actually rather helpless as well, because during this period, a second Foundation Establishment-Stage Corpse Servant had still not been produced.

As for Tu Yue, he was reluctant to make her do it.

“Work hard. Next time, I’ll give you something good to eat.”

Ji Yuan did not care whether he could understand or not. In any case, he painted a big pie for him.

Afterward, he took the Crimson Yang Bone and left.

Mysterious Yang Blood Amber was easy to obtain, with one liang produced every month, but Crimson Yang Bone was difficult to obtain.

Over the past several months, Ji Yuan had only managed to produce one piece.

Just as he was thinking of taking this Crimson Yang Bone and making another trip to the underwater abyss to absorb it through stance training,

before he could even leave, he suddenly heard majestic bell tolls coming from the north.

They resounded throughout the entire Water Dragon Sect.

“Dong——”

“Dong——”

“Dong——”

“……”

Nine tolls of the Golden Bell—Sect-Wide Annihilation!

Ji Yuan immediately put away the Crimson Yang Bone and summoned the Wind Locust Flying Boat. Just as he rushed out of the island, Du Wanyi also happened to emerge from Tai’an Island.

Ji Yuan subconsciously glanced eastward again.

Dong Qian still had not returned.

“Let’s go.”

Du Wanyi came forward to meet him. After the two joined up, they headed north together.

By the time Ji Yuan arrived near Water Dragon Island, quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators had already gathered, but it could not compare to the previous time.

After all, by now, the Water Dragon Sect had already sent two batches of Foundation Establishment cultivators to Shang Mountain.

Although some had returned, even more had died or been injured.

After Ji Yuan arrived, he found Feng Zhi Tao and the other two again and went over to join them. They waited only a short while before nearly all the Foundation Establishment cultivators had arrived. Only then did Real Person Xuan Shui appear.

After not seeing him for several months, even more white hair covered the Water Dragon Sect Master’s head, and there were even quite a few more wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

His expression was grave. After the other cultivators quieted down, the first thing he said was:

“Everyone, the time for the Water Dragon Sect’s annihilation has arrived! The time has come for all of us Righteous Path cultivators to step forward!”

“……”

……

The Golden Crow sun revolved endlessly, while the Jade Rabbit bright moon never rested.

Several months passed in the blink of an eye.

“Brother Ji, Shang Mountain is urging us for this month’s Recovery Spirit Pills. How are things on your side?”

Li Changhe’s figure hurriedly descended from the sky. Before he had even steadied himself, his voice had already reached inside the house.

“They’re ready.”

Ji Yuan, wearing a jade hair crown and dressed in a green robe, slowly walked out of the house. He pointed forward with his right hand, and a Jade Slip appeared before him.

“For the first, third, and seventh regions requested by the Six Sects Alliance this time, seven regions in total, it comes to thirty-six thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight Recovery Spirit Pills. I rounded it up on my side and prepared thirty-six thousand eight hundred in total.”

“All production records are inside this Jade Slip. The pills are here.”

Ji Yuan handed over another Storage Pouch.

Li Changhe first put away the Jade Slip, because the process records inside were indispensable.

Only then did he accept the Storage Pouch. He roughly swept it with his Divine Sense before putting it away and letting out a breath of relief. “Brother Ji, you’re still the reliable one. Damn it, that bastard Huang Richeng. If the people above weren’t holding things down, I’d really like to chop him down with one saber.”

Li Changhe cursed continuously.

“What did he do this time?”

Ji Yuan had dealt with that person several times before. All he could say was that his temperament was indeed unpleasant. The only reason he could remain in this Pill Refining Room was because of his connections with Xiao Chengyi and the Third Elder.

“What else? He was in charge of the simplest Spirit-Converging Pills. We didn’t even make him refine them personally, only tell the Alchemists beneath him to hurry, yet he still ended up short by nearly three thousand.”

“That many?”

Ji Yuan raised his brows. Three thousand Spirit-Converging Pills were not a small number.

“Mm. I still have to coordinate with the people at the Northern Waters Pill Refining Room and see whether they have any extra Spirit-Converging Pills.”

As Li Changhe spoke, he turned and walked toward the doorway. “I still have things to do. We’ll talk next time, Brother Ji.”

“Alright.”

Just as Li Changhe reached the doorway, he seemed to remember something and turned back to send a Voice Transmission:

“If this happens again next time, I’ll cut down that Huang Richeng with one sword!”

Ji Yuan thought briefly before gently nodding. “I’ll deliver the second sword.”

“Heh, good! As expected of a good brother!”

Having received the answer he wanted, Li Changhe laughed loudly and left.

After seeing him off, Ji Yuan thought for a moment and also left his residence, heading toward the street under his jurisdiction.

At the same time, he could not help recalling everything that had happened over the past several months.

Ever since the Water Dragon Sect’s Golden Bell tolled nine times, the entirety of Eastern Shang had begun mobilizing.

Naturally, the first thing to happen was ship after ship of cultivators being sent to the “slaughterhouse” that was Shang Mountain, and those were only cultivators from the Six Immortal Sects.

The Six Sects Alliance had also established buildings resembling “recruitment stations” in every city throughout Eastern Shang.

Their purpose was to mobilize all Rogue Cultivators under heaven to resist the Demonic Path of Western Shang together.

But the result… could only be described as better than nothing.

Rogue Cultivators had always had a vague concept of the Righteous and Demonic paths. Most of them cared more about protecting themselves.

Although the Demonic Path would not treat them as human once it arrived, could the so-called Righteous Path of today really be much better?

Right now, they were in Righteous Path territory, so they were Righteous Path Rogue Cultivators. Once the Demonic Path unified everything, then sorry, they would become Demonic Path Rogue Cultivators!

Ji Yuan had visited several cities, and the answers he received were more or less the same.

Without the strength of the Rogue Cultivators, Shang Mountain would probably become even more difficult to defend.

As for the Water Dragon Sect, the day after the Golden Bell tolled nine times, it had already dispatched a Magical Boat straight toward Shang Mountain with many cultivators aboard.

Five days later.

A second Magical Boat was dispatched.

There were no acquaintances of Ji Yuan aboard the first Magical Boat, but there were some aboard the second.

Ran Kui and Feng Zhi Tao were both among them.

Although Hua Yaoyue had already exempted her four disciples from such matters, once the Demonic Path truly began pressing down with an army, Ran Kui could no longer remain seated.

Feng Zhi Tao was the same.

Yun Qianzai had actually wanted to go as well, but because his injuries from Black Dragon Island had not completely recovered, Ran Kui persuaded him not to.

Compared with Ji Yuan, they were all relatively pure Righteous Path cultivators.

Everyone had their own fate. Hua Yaoyue did not repeatedly try to dissuade them. After giving each of them a Jade Cup, she simply let them go.

Everyone was fighting desperately over the Righteous–Demonic conflict, so Ji Yuan would have felt embarrassed to truly remain on Forgotten Worry Island cultivating.

But he also did not want to go to Shang Mountain, so he sought out Li Changhe and found himself Pill Refining work in this Pill Refining Room. By devoting himself to Pill Refining and ensuring logistical supplies, he could also count as contributing his small share to the Righteous–Demonic War.

As for his other friends, Liu Yuan had long since gone to Shang Mountain and had yet to return.

Judging from the occasional letters sent back, he was doing rather well there. He had strength and talent, and apparently even received some swordsmanship guidance from “Xu Sheng” of the Sword Ruins.

Because of that, he had even earned the reputation of “Little Sword Immortal” on Shang Mountain.

He had also told Ji Yuan to prepare more wine so that he could welcome this Little Sword Immortal back when the time came.

Dong Qian still had not returned, and the “one-year agreement” she had mentioned before leaving was already nearly up. Ji Yuan planned to return and see her after some time.

As for Du Wanyi, her injuries had already recovered, but after Ji Yuan persuaded her, she did not go to Shang Mountain either.

Instead, she obeyed the sect’s arrangements and went to a Weapon Refining Market.

She cultivated the path of “Spirit Weaving”, which, to a certain extent, was actually a part of Weapon Refining.

After Ji Yuan learned which market she was stationed at, he once again used the Li Family’s connections and had the person in charge there take extra care of Du Wanyi… For example, since she was not skilled in combat and still had injuries, if Demonic Cultivators attacked, they should not let her charge too far forward.

As for everyone else, his relationships with them were more distant, so Ji Yuan did not pay too much attention.

In any case, after arranging everything on Forgotten Worry Island, he himself had come to this Pill Refining Room.

After all, the Pill Refining Room was primarily under the Water Dragon Sect’s responsibility. It had been jointly established by the Li and Huang Families of the Water Dragon Sect, with some Alchemists transferred over from Medicine King Valley as well, so Ji Yuan lived rather comfortably here.

Of course, except for that person Huang Richeng.

If not for the fact that they were fellow disciples and it would be inappropriate to act against him, Ji Yuan would have wanted Qiu Qianhai to stab him to death with a Heavenly Poison Needle.

As for the Pill Refining Room’s structure, two Golden Core Real Persons stood guard at the top. Beneath them were several Pseudo-Core cultivators responsible for moving around, such as delivering pills to the front lines at Shang Mountain or transferring medicinal ingredients and raw materials from various places. Finally came Foundation Establishment cultivators like Ji Yuan.

They each managed individual streets, with every street responsible for refining one kind of pill.

Ji Yuan was responsible for Recovery Spirit Pills, while Huang Richeng was responsible for Spirit-Converging Pills. Their streets were adjacent.

Recovery Spirit Pills were already more troublesome to refine, yet Huang Richeng still stirred up trouble from time to time.

For example, he would coax Alchemists who refined Recovery Spirit Pills under Ji Yuan into going over to refine Spirit-Converging Pills for him, or claim that he lacked medicinal ingredients and privately arrange exchanges among some Alchemists, and so on.

Nothing serious, but extremely annoying.

The reason he was able to come to this Pill Refining Room was because he had supposedly presented some sort of treasure to the Third Elder in his early years and earned the Third Elder’s favor.

Thus, although he had not been accepted as a disciple, he could still occasionally use those connections.

His coming to this Pill Refining Room this time was exactly such a case.

Ji Yuan had only dealt with him a few times and was already extremely annoyed, let alone Li Changhe, who dealt with him constantly.

So Ji Yuan could understand why Li Changhe wanted to attack him… In the end, it was merely one sword. When the time came, they could find some excuse and kill him.

While thinking about this, Ji Yuan arrived at his “Recovery Spirit Street”.

The moment he arrived, the surrounding atmosphere became lively. Qi Refining cultivators dressed in Standard White Robes moved between the many houses. Those on the street who saw Ji Yuan arrive cupped their hands and addressed him as “Senior Ji”.

Ji Yuan nodded to each of them in response and asked whether they had encountered any difficulties.

After completing his inspection and finding that nothing unexpected had happened, he went to his “office” on Recovery Spirit Street, which was actually just a large room.

After arriving, he first activated the effect of the 【Heavenly Craft Workshop】, casually refined several cauldrons of Recovery Spirit Pills to warm up his hands, then began Weapon Refining.

He wanted to refine this “Heavenly Thunder Seed” as quickly as possible.

When the 【Weapon Refining Room】 had previously reached level 2, he had obtained the method for refining Heavenly Thunder Seeds.

But to successfully refine one, he needed the ability to refine Second-Tier Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

When Ji Yuan had previously upgraded his building, he could already refine Second-Tier Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Later, under Ran Kui’s guidance, his Weapon Refining skill improved by a large margin, giving him the ability to refine Second-Tier Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Ever since coming to this Pill Refining Room, he would find time to hammer a few times whenever possible, and his Weapon Refining experience had continuously increased.

By now, he could vaguely feel that he had touched the threshold of Second-Tier Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Once he successfully broke through, refining Heavenly Thunder Seeds would no longer be a problem.

The days passed one by one.

Ji Yuan’s time in the Pill Refining Room was not entirely peaceful either. During this period, they experienced several Demonic Path attacks.

However, because Golden Core Real Persons were stationed here, those Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivators were killed the moment they appeared.

As for stronger Golden Core Demonic Cultivators… before Shang Mountain fell, even if any existed within Eastern Shang, they would choose to remain hidden.

Nearly another month passed like this.

Li Changhe, who had gone to Shang Mountain to “deliver goods”, finally returned, and the date Ji Yuan had agreed upon with Dong Qian was also drawing near.

Ji Yuan had already been away for more than half a year and felt that it was about time to return to the sect and take a look.

Thus, after arranging the matters of Recovery Spirit Street, Ji Yuan went to request leave from the two Golden Core Real Persons.

One of these two Golden Core Real Persons came from Medicine King Valley and was called “Real Person Miraculous Medicine”, while the other came from Joy Palace and was called “Real Person Spirit Life”. Both were fairly easy to speak with. Especially after learning that Ji Yuan was returning because he had been invited by his Golden Core Master, they generously allowed him to leave.

Afterward, Ji Yuan piloted his Flying Boat directly eastward and witnessed countless scenes of chaos among mortals along the way.

In earlier years, with the Six Immortal Sects suppressing everything from above, some people would still restrain the evil thoughts in their hearts.

Now that the Six Immortal Sects could barely protect themselves, those people completely unleashed the evil within their hearts.

For example, outside a small Immortal Sect, Ji Yuan once heard a sentence that left him silent for a long time.

“A bad person can do one good deed and turn back to shore, but when a good person does one bad deed, you people want to exterminate them completely. Do we really deserve to die?!”

The reason was that an Immortal Sect disciple had seen chaos erupting everywhere beneath the heavens, so he joined in and became a Tribulation Cultivator once.

He robbed wealth and violated women.

He was simply exposed afterward.

Ji Yuan listened for a while and found it boring, so he casually sent out a Flying Sword. Once the matter was settled, he brushed off his sleeves and left.

By the time he returned to the Water Dragon Sect, more than half a month had passed.

And that was with him using the Sky-Splitter Boat midway through the journey. Otherwise, it probably would have taken even longer.

After returning to the Water Dragon Sect, he discovered something.

The sect had actually become so deserted that it gave the impression that few people ever came to its gates. Flying all the way from the westernmost edge of the Water Dragon Sect to Forgotten Worry Island in the far south, Ji Yuan only saw two Foundation Establishment cultivators throughout the entire journey. One of them was even injured and hurriedly fleeing back from outside.

When he passed Four Directions Island, he also used his Divine Sense to inspect it.

After only a few months away, quite a lot of weeds had actually grown across Four Directions Island.

There was nothing that could be done.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators had gone to Shang Mountain, while the remaining Qi Refining disciples… most of Four Directions Island’s disciples had been transferred to various markets.

So it was normal that no one was there.

Half a day later, Ji Yuan returned to the long-missed Forgotten Worry Island.

But the moment he returned, Tu Yue handed him a Jade Slip.

“Hmm?”

Ji Yuan first looked at Tu Yue.

Tu Yue raised her hand and pointed east toward Fox Moon Island.

In truth, the moment Ji Yuan received the Jade Slip, he had already sensed it. The aura coming from the Jade Slip belonged to Dong Qian.

The Jade Slip had been left behind by Dong Qian. She had already returned before?!

Ji Yuan hurriedly sent his Divine Sense inside. Immediately afterward, Dong Qian’s voice, carrying a slight sob, sounded within his mind.

“Ji Lang, forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye. I’ve left and gone to a place very, very far away. Unless something unexpected happens, the two of us will probably never meet again in this lifetime…”