Chapter 286 : 《My Purple Eye Is Gone》

“Brother, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍brother, I finally brought the reinforcements back.”

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍figure in the sky arrived late and descended. Who else could it be but the missing Li Changhe?

Ji ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yuan glanced at him, then hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Ice-Fire Elder. “Greetings, Senior Ice-Fire. Back……back then, the situation was urgent, and this junior didn’t have time to explain. It truly was this junior’s fault.”

At ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the time, there really had been no time to explain.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍could it be said that there had been no time to explain during the entire year he stayed on Ice-Fire Island?

Ji ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yuan only felt as though he had been caught red-handed doing something bad. Even his face felt somewhat hot, and he did not dare raise his head to look at Ice-Fire Elder before him.

“Haha.”

Ice-Fire Elder did not take such a small matter to heart. Seeing Ji Yuan like this, he merely found it amusing and could not help laughing.

Some time ago, after learning Ji Yuan’s true identity and everything he had done from Li Gang, he had bluntly said on the spot:

“This Ji Yuan is much better than all those useless descendants of your Li Family. If he really were called Li Changshou, you’d actually be the one benefiting.”

“Indeed.”

Li Gang had not objected at all. Instead, he had nodded seriously and agreed.

“Alright, it’s merely a small matter. Get up, Virtuous Nephew.”

Ice-Fire Elder raised his hand, and Ji Yuan’s body was lifted upright. As Ji Yuan looked at Ice-Fire Elder before him, he suddenly thought of something and, struck by inspiration, said:

“Senior, my purple eye……”

Before he could finish, Ice-Fire Elder interrupted him with a Voice Transmission. “We’ll discuss this privately later.”

“Yes.”

From the corner of his eye, Ji Yuan saw Real Person Fire Python, who had been sent flying earlier, return and land beside Real Person Miraculous Medicine. He angrily shouted at Ice-Fire Elder:

“We are all fighting for the Righteous Path. Fellow Daoist Ice-Fire injured me the moment you arrived without even asking what happened. Isn’t that a little excessive?!”

Hearing this, Ice-Fire Elder instinctively narrowed his eyes.

His figure blurred, and gray smoke suddenly shrouded his body.

When the smoke dispersed, he had transformed from an overbearing mortal emperor into a sinister, hunched old man. Two glossy walnuts rolled in his hand. As if thinking of something, he raised his head and looked at Real Person Fire Python before him, slowly asking:

“I haven’t returned to the Human Continent in several decades. Has the world really become like this?”

“Since when did those of lower standing dare speak so loudly to those above them?”

After speaking, he seemed to casually take one step forward.

With just that one step, Real Person Miraculous Medicine, who had been standing beside Real Person Fire Python, hurriedly transformed into Escape Light and fled. Before leaving, he even remembered to say:

“This matter has nothing to do with me. Please investigate clearly, Fellow Daoist Ice-Fire.”

After saying this, he did not stop until his figure returned to the air above his own residence.

Real Person Fire Python’s expression had become unsightly to the extreme. Under these circumstances, he could only stiffen his neck and say, “I bled for Eastern Shang. I risked my life on Shang Mountain!”

Ice-Fire Elder did not speak. Li Changhe behind him did.

He sneered. “Senior, did you really bleed for Eastern Shang and risk your life for Eastern Shang? You were clearly bleeding and risking your life for yourself. The truly pitiful one is Real Person Rotten Corpse of Corpse Herding Mountain. He lost half his life saving you and is still lying on Shang Mountain right now.”

Real Person Fire Python had no way to refute this. He only felt a chill spreading down his back.

At this moment, he could neither leave nor stay.

“I-I was ordered by the Six Sects Alliance to come guard the Wangcheng Mountain Pill Refining Room……”

Real Person Fire Python had originally wanted to force himself to sound courageous, but the more he spoke, the more frightened he became, and the quieter his voice grew.

Ice-Fire Elder sneered at the sight. A token emitting a soft white glow flew out from his sleeve and hovered before the two of them.

“Six Sects Transfer Order. From now on, the Wangcheng Mountain Pill Refining Room also falls under my jurisdiction, Ice-Fire Elder. You……can get lost!”

Seeing this, Real Person Fire Python was so frightened that he took a step backward, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

“You……I……”

He stammered for a while before finally transforming into Escape Light and leaving.

Even after he had left, Ice-Fire Elder did not forget to add, “That Foundation Establishment Cultivator who just died was killed by me because he refused to obey my orders. If any other story spreads, I’ll assume you were the one who spread it.”

In midair, Real Person Fire Python’s figure even swayed, and he no longer dared linger.

Only after he left did Ice-Fire Elder withdraw his aura and look back at Ji Yuan and Li Changhe.

“Follow this old man.”

“Alright.”

Li Changhe replied, then walked to Huang Richeng’s corpse and tossed down a fire spell. Flames swept over it, and in no more than a breath, Huang Richeng’s corpse was reduced to ashes.

“Tsk, satisfying!”

Li Changhe threw his head back and laughed.

Ji Yuan said nothing and simply followed behind Ice-Fire Elder as they walked forward.

Li Changhe quickly caught up and draped an arm over Ji Yuan’s shoulder, proudly sending a Voice Transmission. “Brother Ji, what do you think of the backer your brother found?”

“He’s naturally unbelievably powerful!”

Ji Yuan sincerely exclaimed.

This was not polite flattery, but the truth.

Among the Six Immortal Sects of Eastern Shang, if the Nascent Soul Patriarchs did not appear, then Late Golden Core and Peak Golden Core cultivators represented the peak of combat power.

Clearly, Ice-Fire Elder was exactly such a peak combatant.

And now he had actually come to this small Wangcheng Mountain Pill Refining Room……with him here, Ji Yuan would no longer need to worry about anything while staying in this Pill Refining Room.

“This trip to Shang Mountain, I not only invited Senior Ice-Fire over, but I also finally uncovered Huang Richeng’s background.”

Li Changhe clicked his tongue and sighed. “Brother Ji, you definitely won’t be able to guess who he really was.”

“What?”

Ji Yuan had already been curious about Huang Richeng’s identity. Now that Li Changhe said this, he became even more interested.

“Back when you were on Ice-Fire Island, didn’t you disguise yourself as my father’s illegitimate son and pretend to be my good younger brother?”

“No, I asked about Huang Richeng. Why are you bringing that up?”

“Heh, the illegitimate son you pretended to be was fake, but Huang Richeng being an illegitimate son was real.” Although Li Changhe was speaking through Voice Transmission, he still did not forget to wink at Ji Yuan.

“You mean……the Third Elder?!”

Ji Yuan’s eyes involuntarily widened.

The Water Dragon Sect had two Nascent Soul Noble Families. One was the Li Family, and the other was the Huang Family of Third Elder Real Person Xuan Xiao.

Huang Richeng had relied on the Third Elder’s connections, and both of them were surnamed Huang. But back then, Li Changhe had said Huang Richeng had helped the Third Elder……so Ji Yuan had not thought much about it.

Now that Li Changhe said Huang Richeng was the Third Elder’s illegitimate son, everything made sense.

If not for such an intimate relationship, how could Huang Richeng have established himself within the Pill Refining Room and acted so arrogantly?

“Right, you didn’t expect it, did you? Supposedly, it was a romantic debt the Third Elder created while drunk. He had a child with a Foundation Establishment female cultivator. Later, that woman even went to the Huang Family and caused a scene, but the Third Elder suppressed the matter.”

“In the end, no one knows how that woman died, leaving only Huang Richeng behind. Because he was raised from childhood in a large city like a spoiled young master, that’s how he developed this personality.”

After Li Changhe finished speaking, Ji Yuan finally understood.

A spoiled young master……what great clan did not produce some?

Once a clan grew powerful enough, there would inevitably be descendants who only sought pleasure.

There were even quite a few clans that were eventually destroyed by such spoiled descendants.

“Then now that we killed him, will there be trouble?”

Ji Yuan thought that if killing the younger one brought the elder one, then he could only go back and call out his own elder one.

“It’s fine. Even putting aside Senior Ice-Fire taking responsibility for us, our Li Family could still settle the matter. After all, the Third Elder has so many sons that he won’t miss one illegitimate child. And I’ve heard Huang Richeng caused the Third Elder plenty of trouble over the years.”

Li Changhe shook his head after saying this.

“When the mansion is about to collapse, these things are all minor matters.”

……The mansion was about to collapse.

Ji Yuan seemed to sense something and raised his head to look at the Shang Mountain range towering into the clouds in the west.

“You’ll know in a moment.”

Li Changhe patted Ji Yuan’s shoulder and quickly walked ahead.

The three of them then arrived at the only great hall within the Pill Refining Room. Normally, only Real Person Fire Python and Real Person Miraculous Medicine would summon the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators here to assign tasks.

But today, only Ice-Fire Elder sat high within the hall. The others……even Real Person Miraculous Medicine stood below, while the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators received orders and hurried over from all corners of the Pill Refining Room to meet their new “superior”.

Seeing that nearly everyone had arrived, Ice-Fire Elder once again looked toward Real Person Miraculous Medicine and narrowed his eyes with a smile. “Fellow Daoist, why don’t you sit up here as well?”

As he spoke, he pointed toward the empty seat beside him.

Real Person Miraculous Medicine waved his hands repeatedly.

“Brother Ice-Fire is too courteous. I’ll stand down here.”

“Mm. Then send word to Shang Mountain saying I drove away Real Person Fire Python and have them reassign another Golden Core Real Person here.”

Ice-Fire Elder ordered without the slightest politeness.

“Yes.”

Real Person Miraculous Medicine looked as though he had received a pardon and hurriedly cupped his hands before leaving.

Once he was gone, Ice-Fire Elder looked toward the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators and continued smiling with narrowed eyes. “This old man knows that all of you are disciples of the Six Immortal Sects, while this old man is merely a destitute Rogue Cultivator. It’s normal for you to look down on this old man.”

When a Rogue Cultivator great expert capable of fighting Peak Golden Core cultivators said such words, quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators were already trembling in fear.

In the end, a Peak Foundation Establishment male cultivator from Medicine King Valley stepped forward and slightly cupped his hands. “Senior said—”

Before he could finish, he suddenly discovered an overwhelming pressure descending upon him, crushing him until he could barely breathe. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back. Only then did Ice-Fire Elder’s gaze fall upon him.

“Did no one teach you that when a Senior is speaking, a junior shouldn’t interrupt?”

“Yes……yes, yes, yes.”

Beads of sweat as large as beans rolled down the man’s forehead. He hurriedly retreated into the crowd and no longer dared raise his head.

“I also know that among you, many are prized disciples of Golden Core Cultivators and have some connections behind you. This old man cannot be bothered with any of that. In any case, this old man has only one thing to say.”

“As long as this old man remains in this Wangcheng Mountain Pill Refining Room, there will only be one voice here—this old man’s. Those willing to listen may stay. Those unwilling may leave now. If you don’t leave now but later obey openly while resisting in secret, then this old man will show no mercy……”

Ice-Fire Elder’s sinister gaze swept across everyone present. Even Ji Yuan and Li Changhe were not spared.

“When the time comes, this old man will kill you……of course, before you die, it would be best if you can summon the Master behind you. Then this old man can send your Master down to accompany you.”

Indeed, for the vast majority of Golden Core Real Persons, encountering a powerhouse like Ice-Fire Elder truly left only one outcome—death and the destruction of their Dao.

Seeing Ice-Fire Elder act so domineeringly, Ji Yuan’s intuition told him……this old Senior had probably not come to the Pill Refining Room merely because Li Changhe had invited him.

What followed was simple. Seeing that no one left, Ice-Fire Elder had each Foundation Establishment Cultivator briefly explain their responsibilities.

Only then did Ji Yuan discover just how capable this former emperor truly was.

Because after merely listening to each person say a few words, Ice-Fire Elder already possessed an extremely clear understanding of the entire Pill Refining Room. The slight adjustments and reassignment of tasks he casually made were all perfectly appropriate.

Of course, he indeed showed some favoritism toward Ji Yuan.

With Huang Richeng dead, he placed both Spirit-Converging Street and Spirit-Recovery Street under Ji Yuan’s control, having him oversee the refinement of both kinds of pills.

With heavier responsibilities, naturally his compensation also had to increase.

There were no overly fancy rewards. His stipend was simply doubled, which greatly satisfied Ji Yuan.

After all, what he lacked most right now was Spirit Stones.

“Alright, everyone else may withdraw. Island Lord of Forgotten Worry, remain.”

Ice-Fire Elder waved his hand, and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators took their leave. However, as they departed, each of them let their gazes linger on Ji Yuan for a moment, their expressions extremely complicated.

The feeling made Ji Yuan feel as though he were sitting on needles.

Fortunately, there were not many Foundation Establishment Cultivators here. Aside from Huang Richeng, whom he had killed, only a dozen or so remained.

But after almost everyone had left, one person still remained beside Ji Yuan.

Li Changhe.

“Why are you still here?”

Ice-Fire Elder looked at him and frowned.

Li Changhe pointed at himself and said with a blank expression, “I have to leave too?”

His words sounded extremely aggrieved, as though saying, how did I become an outsider the moment Ji Yuan appeared?

“Get lost.”

Ice-Fire Elder said flatly.

“Alright.”

Li Changhe cheerfully got lost.

Once there were no outsiders remaining, Ice-Fire Elder casually erected a restriction that enveloped the entire great hall, then asked, “Back outside, what did you want to tell me?”

“This junior wanted to say that my purple vertical eye is gone!”

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, he immediately began trying to summon the Truth-Breaking Divine Eyes. But even after several attempts, his face turning red from exertion, the vertical eye between his brows still did not appear.

Ice-Fire Elder sat on the raised platform within the hall, his fingers lightly tapping his knee. He silently watched Ji Yuan attempt it for quite some time before finally saying:

“Enough, stop trying. It isn’t only your vertical eye that disappeared. Mine is gone too.”

……Of course they’re both on me now. Naturally, the fake one on you is gone.

“What? Senior’s is gone too?!”

Ji Yuan looked at Ice-Fire Elder on the raised platform with a shocked expression.

The latter stood, took one step, and arrived beside Ji Yuan. With his hands clasped behind his back, he slowly paced. “Actually, it’s good that it disappeared. That thing followed this old man for over a hundred years. Having something on your body that doesn’t belong to you always feels strange.”

Ji Yuan pondered and said, “Indeed. During this period, this junior was always afraid as well, constantly worrying that this purple eye might cause some strange problem. Now that it’s gone……I feel relieved.”

“Mm. If it’s gone, then it’s gone. Go back and cultivate properly. Forming your Core as soon as possible is the proper path.”

Ice-Fire Elder dismissed him, so Ji Yuan tactfully cupped his hands and took his leave, departing the great hall.

Watching Ji Yuan’s departing back, Ice-Fire Elder remained silent for a long time……indeed, given his temperament, for safety’s sake, he had actually wanted to seize Ji Yuan and thoroughly inspect him.

After all, this purple vertical eye had brought Ice-Fire Elder considerable help over the years.

Now that this method had suddenly vanished, it was actually a weakening for him.

However, while he had been on Shang Mountain earlier, he had also indirectly learned from Li Gang that the Golden Core Master behind Ji Yuan……was extremely powerful.

Several decades ago, that person had already possessed Late Golden Core combat power. No one knew how strong she had become now.

Thus, after considering it again and again, Ice-Fire Elder ultimately abandoned the idea. Offending the relationship and provoking a powerful enemy over a vague possibility was not worth it.

After all, he had never told anyone that the vertical eye between his brows had disappeared. Ji Yuan naturally could not possibly know.

So the fact that Ji Yuan had proactively brought it up the moment he saw him meant there was a high probability that the vertical eye between Ji Yuan’s brows had genuinely disappeared.

As for Ji Yuan, after leaving the great hall, before he had even returned to his residence, he saw Li Changhe waiting at his doorway from afar.

“Oh, isn’t this the honored guest of Senior Ice-Fire? How did you come back so quickly?”

Li Changhe rolled his eyes and spoke sarcastically.

“I originally planned to trade you something good, but now it seems I should forget it. You wouldn’t like it.”

After saying this, Ji Yuan pushed open the courtyard gate and walked inside. He had been gone for more than a month, but fortunately there was nothing unusual within the courtyard and everything remained as before.

“Don’t, don’t, don’t. If we brothers talk like this, it makes us sound distant.”

Li Changhe walked in and hurriedly backed down.

He knew that anything Ji Yuan called a good thing could not possibly be bad and might even provide his family with some assistance.

After entering the room and sitting down, Ji Yuan first asked, “When do we receive our monthly allotment again?”

“Hmm?”

Li Changhe raised his head and looked at him in confusion. “Soon, I think. Why are you suddenly concerned about this little bit of money? That doesn’t sound like you.”

Ji Yuan had traded with the Li Family several times, and Li Changhe knew how extravagant his spending could be.

“What do you mean, little money?”

Ji Yuan shook his head. “I work hard here every day. What’s wrong with caring about my wages?”

“What working and wages? Soon. This month’s hasn’t been distributed yet.”

“That’s fine then.”

“Alright, hurry up and tell me what good thing you got?”

As Li Changhe spoke, he leaned forward with shining eyes.

Ji Yuan hesitated slightly before finally nodding. “Fine. I’ll broaden your horizons.”

After speaking, he activated the Star Vortex Cloud Barrier Formation attached to the 【Cave Dwelling】.

As the formation enveloped the entire residence, Ji Yuan also took out a small jade bottle from his Storage Pouch. Inside was a dark-cyan Spiritual Liquid.

Under Li Changhe’s puzzled gaze, he pulled out the stopper.

Immediately, an extremely dense aura of life filled the entire room.

Ji Yuan instantly sealed it again. “How is it?”

“This is……”

Li Changhe failed to react for a moment. “What is this?”

Ji Yuan first returned the jade bottle to his Storage Pouch, then took a deep breath and absorbed every trace of lingering life aura inside the room into his body. Only then did he say indifferently:

“It’s nothing particularly good. Merely Medicine King Valley’s Immortal Spring.”

Hearing this, Li Changhe took one step and arrived right beside Ji Yuan, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and saying with utmost seriousness:

“Big Brother Ji, please entrust this important responsibility to me!”