Chapter 285 : A Clear and Unimpeded Mind

Ji ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yuan left.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍took Dong Qian’s final gift with him, along with the earnings the Miraculous Medicine Shop had accumulated during this period.

Of ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍course, before leaving, he did not forget to replenish the shop’s stock, merely waiting for the next round of earnings.

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍for Shi Xiu’er’s compensation, with Dong Qian gone and Ji Yuan rarely visiting Myriad Things Island, he simply told Shi Xiu’er to deduct it herself from the shop’s earnings.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍even increased her allotted share somewhat.

Shi ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Xiu’er was naturally extremely grateful for this.

Firstly, her pay had increased. Secondly, she had gained Ji Yuan’s trust.

After leaving the Miraculous Medicine Shop, Ji Yuan headed directly toward the Hundred Treasures Tower at the summit. He had too many things to sell, while the number of shops on Myriad Things Island had dwindled. The only place remaining that could swallow all his goods in one go was the Hundred Treasures Tower.

Back when he was still at the Qi Refining Stage and came to the Hundred Treasures Tower, he had to lower his head before practically everyone he met.

Now, his outwardly displayed cultivation was already Late Foundation Establishment, and he was also the disciple of a Golden Core Cultivator. Thus, when he came to the Hundred Treasures Tower now, other people were the ones who had to lower their heads upon seeing him.

Half a day later.

Ji Yuan left the Hundred Treasures Tower expressionlessly.

He had made some gains, but the goal of 30,000 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones was still far beyond reach. Even after adding what Dong Qian had left him, he only had a little over 10,000.

The gap was far too large. Unless he sold something truly valuable, it probably would not be enough.

Afterward, Ji Yuan returned to Forgotten Worry Island. The first thing he did upon returning was enter the underground 【Spirit Vein】 and embed more than a thousand Middle-Grade Spirit Stones within it.

Only then was he able to reactivate the building effect of the 【Spirit Vein】.

This was absolutely necessary. Once the 【Spirit Vein】 was activated, it would produce 100 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones every day. Even if he did absolutely nothing, saving for a year would give him 30,000 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones.

After settling the matters on the island, Ji Yuan made another trip to Forgotten Worry Island and stayed there for a day. Only afterward did he pilot the Sky-Splitter Boat, a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, directly toward the Pill Refining Room.

He had delayed for so long during this return trip that he had to go back and take a look.

Moreover, Ji Yuan needed to trade with Li Changhe and intended to gather enough Spirit Stones to upgrade the 【Grotto-Heaven】 as soon as possible.

As for why he now dared openly pilot a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact-level Flying Boat, that was naturally because……he had strength now!

Peak Foundation Establishment, nine swords united, several times the Spiritual Energy of cultivators at the same realm, plus numerous Talisman Treasures. Even if he faced a true Pseudo-Core Cultivator, Ji Yuan might still be able to fight.

After traveling west for more than half a month, he successfully arrived at the Pill Refining Room from the Water Dragon Sect.

The formation guarding the Pill Refining Room was called the Azure Water Green Armor Formation.

Its main structure had been established jointly by the Li Family and Huang Family of the Water Dragon Sect.

Ji Yuan first formed a hand seal and passed through the first layer of the formation, but to pass through the second layer and successfully enter the Pill Refining Room, he needed the approval of the two Golden Core Cultivators stationed here.

This was normally just a procedural formality.

Yet Ji Yuan unexpectedly discovered that even after waiting inside the formation for several breaths, the formation still did not open.

Naturally, his Divine Sense could not penetrate inside. Just as Ji Yuan was preparing to call out, he suddenly saw a streak of Escape Light rush out from the Pill Refining Room and land directly before him, transforming into a middle-aged man dressed in a bright-red Daoist robe.

The Golden Core Real Persons originally stationed here were Real Person Miraculous Medicine and Real Person Spirit Life.

Ji Yuan was fairly familiar with both of them, but he did not recognize the person before him. Moreover, judging from the man’s expression……he did not seem particularly friendly.

Ji Yuan did not know when he had offended such a person, but soldiers came and were blocked by generals, while water came and was dammed with earth. Since the man had come, Ji Yuan would deal with him.

“You are the Island Lord of Forgotten Worry?”

The middle-aged man asked in a deep voice.

“Yes.” Ji Yuan cupped his hands slightly. “May I ask which Martial Uncle you are?”

“I am Real Person Fire Python of the Spirit Taming Sect.”

“Greetings, Martial Uncle Fire Pyth—”

Before Ji Yuan could finish speaking, Real Person Fire Python directly rebuked him, “Who allowed you to abandon your post without permission? Don’t you know that a great enemy is before us now, and the disciples of the Six Sects must work together and overcome this calamity as one?!”

Ji Yuan could not even be bothered to keep his hands cupped anymore and directly said, “I requested leave from Martial Uncle Miraculous Medicine and Martial Uncle Spirit Life.”

“Requested leave? Do you have the authorization certificate submitted to the Six Sects Alliance?”

Real Person Fire Python extended his right hand toward Ji Yuan.

At this, Ji Yuan also frowned.

During this Righteous–Demonic War, the Six Sects Alliance had indeed issued many rules, including regulations requiring stationed personnel to request leave before departing. But those were merely the rules on paper. In reality, who was willing to be restrained by them?

As long as they informed the person in charge, made proper arrangements, and then left, that was enough.

Who would actually go through the trouble of submitting some authorization certificate?

“No.”

Ji Yuan could already tell that Real Person Fire Python had come specifically to make trouble for him today. Even if he could produce a certificate, the man would find some other way to make things difficult.

“You don’t?”

Real Person Fire Python raised his voice.

“With a great enemy before us, you refuse to serve the Righteous Path and go defend the front line at Shang Mountain. Fine. Yet even when assigned to guard the rear, you abandon your post without permission. How does that resemble the conduct of the Righteous Path? Could it be that you belong to the Demonic Path?!”

“What an enormous hat Real Person has placed on my head.”

Ji Yuan sneered, then turned toward the Pill Refining Room and directly shouted, “Martial Uncle Miraculous Medicine, Martial Uncle Spirit Life, are you here? I, the Island Lord of Forgotten Worry, have returned!”

His voice rolled like thunder and instantly spread throughout the entire Pill Refining Room.

Real Person Fire Python had not expected Ji Yuan to be so unafraid of making the matter bigger, and his expression immediately changed.

But before he could speak, another streak of Escape Light flew from the market and landed between Ji Yuan and Real Person Fire Python, transforming into Real Person Miraculous Medicine of Medicine King Valley.

He looked left and right, then hurriedly went to Real Person Fire Python’s side, pulled him aside, and sent him a few words through Voice Transmission.

Only after hearing them did Real Person Fire Python’s expression ease slightly.

“Since that is the case, I’ll let it go this time. However, punishment still cannot be avoided. Let’s do this—you’ll forfeit half a year’s stipend, and we’ll consider the matter settled.”

After speaking, Real Person Fire Python flicked his sleeve and clasped his hands behind his back.

Ji Yuan could not help raising his brows upon hearing this.

Forfeit my stipend?

I’m already damn short of Spirit Stones, and you’re not only refusing to advance me a few months of stipend, you actually want to deduct mine?!

“Martial Nephew, Real Person Fire Python was injured and only recently came down from Shang Mountain, so his temper is inevitably somewhat fiery. Please be more accommodating and don’t lower yourself to his level.”

“Rest assured. On the surface, I’ll deduct your stipend, but afterward I’ll privately make it up to you.”

Real Person Miraculous Medicine acted as a peacemaker, mediating between both sides.

Ji Yuan glanced at the arrogant-looking Real Person Fire Python and ultimately did not continue arguing.

Placing himself in danger merely for a moment of satisfaction would not be worth it.

But if they truly fought, Ji Yuan did not think he would necessarily be afraid. He had brought Real Person Heaven Silkworm with him on this journey. As long as that Corpse Servant restrained Real Person Fire Python, Ji Yuan could unite his nine swords and unleash his numerous Talisman Treasures. It was entirely possible to suppress and kill him on the spot.

“Thank you, Martial Uncle.”

Ji Yuan cupped his fists toward Real Person Miraculous Medicine, then summoned his Flying Boat and directly returned to the Pill Refining Room.

However, the Flying Boat he used now was the Wind Locust Flying Boat from before.

Low-key and inconspicuous.

“Heh.”

Real Person Fire Python looked at Ji Yuan’s departing back and sneered before turning to Real Person Miraculous Medicine. “Brother Miraculous Medicine, these Golden Core Real Persons nowadays simply accept too many disciples. They’re merely Foundation Establishment Cultivators, yet after taking a Golden Core Real Person as their Master, they actually think they themselves are Golden Core Cultivators. So arrogant. They won’t even know how they died in the future.”

……You’re clearly the arrogant one. He merely requested leave and returned, yet you created so much trouble for him.

Real Person Miraculous Medicine thought helplessly, but verbally agreed:

“Exactly, exactly.”

Ji Yuan’s earlier shout outside the Pill Refining Room had naturally alarmed the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators as well, and they were looking around from above the market.

Now that they saw Ji Yuan return, none of them dared come forward to speak.

In the end, it was a female cultivator from Joy Palace who sent Ji Yuan a Voice Transmission. “Fellow Daoist Forgotten Worry, you should hurry to your Spirit-Recovery Street and take a look. During the time you were away, those Alchemists had a rather miserable time.”

“Hmm?”

Ji Yuan raised his head. He did not look toward the person speaking and merely thanked her through Voice Transmission.

After thinking briefly, Ji Yuan could already guess what had happened without even asking.

Most likely, that bastard Huang Richeng had caused some trouble again.

At this thought, Ji Yuan did not even return home and instead went directly to Spirit-Recovery Street.

After only a few breaths, Ji Yuan arrived at the street entrance. With one sweep of his Divine Sense, his already unpleasant mood immediately sank further.

Because how could the current Spirit-Recovery Street still resemble how it looked when he left?

More than half the Alchemists were gone. Of those remaining, most were injured. There were almost no medicinal herbs left for Pill Refining, so the Alchemists were all cultivating on their own.

“I’m back.”

Ji Yuan entered Spirit-Recovery Street and called out. The remaining Qi Refining Stage Alchemists awakened and came out from their medicine shops one after another.

Some of those with softer temperaments even began tearing up when they saw Ji Yuan return.

“Lord Forgotten Worry, you finally came back. Our days were far too difficult while you were gone.”

“Exactly! They betrayed Lord Forgotten Worry, but we absolutely won’t betray you!”

“My lord, what are we supposed to do about this month’s pills? More than half the month has already passed, yet we haven’t completed even half our quota. Now we don’t even have medicinal herbs left.”

“……”

Everyone began speaking at once.

Their voices were extremely chaotic, but after Ji Yuan stood there listening for a while, he understood what had happened.

It was not much different from what he had expected.

Once again, it was Huang Richeng, that disgusting bastard, causing trouble. Taking advantage of Ji Yuan’s absence, he first recruited and took away a batch of Alchemists under the pretext that he lacked manpower.

At the same time, he had those Alchemists take medicinal herbs with them when they left.

Some Alchemists on Spirit-Recovery Street could not stand it and said a few words, which then drew retaliation from Huang Richeng’s side.

Ji Yuan’s first reaction upon hearing this was naturally anger, but immediately afterward, he found something strange……Huang Richeng was stupid. That was already beyond doubt.

But why did the people above protect him so much?

This person obviously had a problem. Simply being stuffed into the Pill Refining Room through connections was already excessive, but his conduct was far too outrageous.

It did not make sense.

Ji Yuan had previously asked Li Changhe about it, and the answer he received was that Huang Richeng had once helped the Third Elder. But what kind of favor could make the Water Dragon Sect’s Third Elder treat him like this?

Could it also have been a life-saving favor?

Although Ji Yuan was puzzled, it did not stop him from leading the many Alchemists of Spirit-Recovery Street to Huang Richeng’s courtyard.

In fact, the moment Ji Yuan and the others set off, word had already spread throughout the not particularly large Pill Refining Room.

Thus, by the time Ji Yuan arrived before Huang Richeng’s courtyard, quite a few cultivators had already gathered to watch the excitement.

Some Foundation Establishment Cultivators naturally wanted to see how this Island Lord of Forgotten Worry, who had been challenged the moment he returned, would handle the matter. As for the Qi Refining Cultivators……they simply enjoyed watching Foundation Establishment Cultivators make a scene.

“Who is it?”

Huang Richeng opened the courtyard door like some street thug. “Oh, isn’t this Junior Brother Forgotten Worry?”

He looked Ji Yuan up and down. “You just returned and already couldn’t wait to come see your Senior Brother. Could it be that you have some good news for me?”

Dressed in a cyan robe, Ji Yuan stood on the street and expressionlessly said, “Return the Alchemists, allocate half the remaining medicinal herbs to me, and compensate me with 1,000 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones. Then this matter ends here.”

Huang Richeng looked as though he had heard some joke and laughed.

“Junior Brother Forgotten Worry, this is the Pill Refining Room, not your Forgotten Worry Island. No one here listens just because you boast.”

Ji Yuan frowned slightly and stepped forward. The aura of Late Foundation Establishment spread outward, immediately placing some pressure upon Huang Richeng. “I’ll ask you one last time. Can we negotiate, or not?”

Although Huang Richeng felt somewhat frightened inwardly, he still stepped forward. The aura of Late Foundation Establishment similarly spread from his body.

“Junior Brother Forgotten Worry, being young and hot-blooded is fine, but you need to know the occasion. Your Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters may give you face, but I won’t give you any.”

Ji Yuan shook his head.

“Then there’s nothing to discuss.”

After speaking, he swept his gaze around at the onlookers. He did not see Li Changhe among them. Then he released his Divine Sense and swept across the entire Pill Refining Room.

Li Changhe was still nowhere to be found.

However, Ji Yuan discovered that Real Person Fire Python was watching this place. Although he was an Early Golden Core Cultivator, the strength of his Divine Sense was still inferior to Ji Yuan’s current Divine Sense……especially after Ji Yuan broke through to Peak Foundation Establishment, his Divine Sense had strengthened once more and had probably already touched the threshold of Mid Golden Core.

Given some more time and additional enhancement from the 【Meditation Room】, it could officially enter the Mid Golden Core level.

So now……

Real Person Fire Python was watching this place but had not appeared. He was clearly waiting for Ji Yuan to give him something he could use against him.

Since that was the case, Ji Yuan would hand him exactly that. What could he do about it?

Truthfully, Ji Yuan’s thoughts had indeed been extremely obstructed lately. First, Dong Qian had left. Then that nameless bastard from the Heavenly Fox Clan had looked down on him.

After that, the Panel had emptied out all his savings in one go.

When he returned to the Pill Refining Room, Real Person Fire Python made things difficult for him.

And now, even Huang Richeng, this useless Late Foundation Establishment fool, wanted to ride on his head and throw his weight around. Ji Yuan felt……that was rather unreasonable.

Cultivation was fundamentally about achieving a clear and unimpeded mind.

After traveling this far and finally breaking through to Peak Foundation Establishment, if he still had to endure people disgusting him everywhere he went, then what was the point of cultivating?

At this thought, Ji Yuan moved.

He did not move forward. Instead, he took one step backward. A silver needle as thin as an ox hair flashed before him and vanished, flickering with a dark-green glow.

It resembled……a strand of green hair.

“Ah——”

The moment Huang Richeng saw this, he panicked.

He had not expected Ji Yuan to genuinely dare attack, much less launch a sudden attack from such close range!

He instinctively activated the Spiritual Artifact bracer in his hand. Immediately, a pale-blue stream of light protected his entire body, but……what use was that?

The light barrier lasted only the blink of an eye before the Heavenly Poison Needle pierced through it.

The poison needle then passed straight through Huang Richeng’s glabella, traced a slight arc through the air, and finally returned to Ji Yuan’s side.

The surrounding spectators were so frightened that they retreated one after another.

Watching excitement was fine, but losing their lives over it was absolutely not!

With a thought, Ji Yuan returned the Heavenly Poison Needle to his Storage Pouch.

As for Huang Richeng?

Although he was still standing, a dark-green poison was already spreading outward from his glabella toward the rest of his body.

His Divine Soul had been annihilated. He could not be any more dead.

Truthfully, seeing this, Ji Yuan wanted to take out the Thousand Souls Banner and stir things up a few times to collect Huang Richeng’s Yin Soul. But if he did that, his identity as a Demonic Cultivator would be far too conspicuous.

Since Huang Richeng was already dead, Ji Yuan naturally did not stand on ceremony.

He first stepped forward and took the Storage Pouch from Huang Richeng’s waist. Then he also collected the two defensive Spiritual Artifacts on his body……an ordinary Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator would not be this wealthy.

This bastard most likely really did have some kind of problem.

And just as Ji Yuan began looting the corpse, Real Person Fire Python, who had been watching from afar, finally realized something was wrong. He hurriedly transformed into Escape Light and arrived before them, angrily shouting:

“You madman! In broad daylight, you actually dared murder a fellow disciple!”

The instant a Golden Core Real Person appeared, the other cultivators scattered. Even the Foundation Establishment Cultivators avoided him as though he were a venomous snake or scorpion.

“Does Real Person truly know nothing about right and wrong? Or did your injuries damage not only your body, but blind your eyes as well?” This time, Ji Yuan did not retreat. His words carried undisguised mockery.

“Impudent!”

Upon hearing this, an enormous Fire Python Phantom abruptly appeared behind Real Person Fire Python.

But before he could attack, Real Person Miraculous Medicine arrived again. He shielded Ji Yuan behind him, and with a light sweep of the horsetail whisk that had appeared in his hand at some unknown point, cyan light emerged around his body.

“Fellow Daoist, let’s talk this out properly. Taking action goes too far.”

Real Person Miraculous Medicine performed a Daoist salute and sighed helplessly.

“Fellow Daoist Miraculous Medicine, are you determined to protect this madman? He already dares kill fellow disciples while only at Late Foundation Establishment. Once he reaches the Golden Core Stage, won’t he kill both you and me as well?!”

Real Person Fire Python was furious, his Daoist robe snapping loudly in the violent wind.

Real Person Miraculous Medicine did not move and merely said, “Even if Forgotten Worry killed a fellow disciple, that remains an internal matter of their Water Dragon Sect. You and I should not wade into these muddy waters.”

“An internal matter? Under the Six Sects Alliance, what internal matters are there?”

Real Person Fire Python refused to yield even an inch.

Real Person Miraculous Medicine was about to speak again, but Ji Yuan had already said, “Then what does Real Person Fire Python intend to do? Suppress and kill me, Forgotten Worry, on the spot? Or send me to the Six Sects Alliance?”

“Noisy!”

Real Person Fire Python immediately formed a hand seal and pressed forward. The Fire Python behind him surged out with boundless flames.

Real Person Miraculous Medicine was just preparing to act.

Yet at that very moment, a figure unexpectedly descended from the sky. While shielding Ji Yuan behind him, he stomped the Fire Python Phantom apart with one foot.

The newcomer wore a fiery-red Dragon Robe. His figure was not particularly tall, yet he appeared incomparably arrogant and unruly.

“Before Us, you dare call someone noisy?”

The newcomer suddenly swung his hand. Real Person Fire Python opposite him seemed to be struck by tremendous force, coughing up blood as his body flew backward until he crashed into the local formation and finally stopped.

Ji Yuan stared at the newcomer, his eyes immediately widening with disbelief.

Ice-Fire Elder turned around, looked at Ji Yuan with a smiling expression, and asked:

“I wonder whether I should call you Virtuous Nephew Longevity, or Virtuous Nephew Ji?”

——

(Tomorrow this Life-Bound Magic Treasure will finally appear. Hurry and give me a name for the Magic Treasure.)