Chapter 287 : 【Grotto-Heaven: lv1】; Life-Bound Magic Treasure Emerges

Seeing ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Li Changhe’s exaggerated acting, Ji Yuan almost found it difficult to believe.

Although ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Immortal Spring was precious, surely it was not enough to make Li Changhe, the eldest young master of a Nascent Soul Noble Family, the future person at the helm of such a family, react with such shock?

“This ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍thing……your Li Family doesn’t have any?”

Ji ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yuan could not help asking.

“We ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍used to. We ran out long ago.”

Having ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍finished acting, Li Changhe sat back down.

“No, seriously, where the hell did you get something this good? You can even get your hands on this thing. Damn it, wasn’t Immortal Spring water supposed to have stopped circulating long ago?”

“A mountain man has his own clever schemes.”

Ji Yuan smiled. “So, this thing is very valuable?”

“Valuable?”

Li Changhe laughed. “Brother Ji, do you genuinely not know, or are you pretending? Any treasure capable of extending lifespan can be called a first-rate treasure under heaven. How could something like this even be measured in money?”

……No, I specifically want money.

Ji Yuan took out the small jade bottle again and placed it solemnly on the table between them. “One mouthful. If consumed for the first time, extending lifespan by twenty years won’t be a problem. Can your Li Family afford it?”

“If you can, I’ll trade with your family. If you can’t, I’ll find someone else.”

Li Changhe stared at the jade bottle on the table and gritted his teeth. “We can!”

“For something like this, even if we have to smash our pots and sell our iron, we’ll take it!”

“I don’t know what treasure Brother Ji wants. Just make a list and give it to me. I’ll go find my father.”

Ji Yuan shook his head. “I’m not trading it for treasures.”

“Then what?”

Li Changhe thought for a moment but could not figure it out. He did not know what his Li Family had, besides its accumulated foundations and reserves, that Ji Yuan could possibly want.

“Spirit Stones.”

“Spirit Stones?”

Li Changhe raised his voice in surprise. “No, Brother Ji, what did you do? Don’t tell me you got addicted to gambling? If you’re really this short of Spirit Stones, tell your brother. I’ll lend you some first.”

“Trading a treasure like Immortal Spring water for Spirit Stones is truly a waste.”

Li Changhe had always genuinely treated Ji Yuan as a brother.

……Unfortunately, Ji Yuan truly did not lack this little bit of Immortal Spring water.

During this period, he had divided the Immortal Spring water inside the large jade flask into small bottles, one mouthful per bottle. In the end, he filled 132 bottles, and this was only one of them.

Owing Li Changhe a huge favor for this little amount was not worth it.

Moreover, trading it for Spirit Stones with him could, in a certain sense, be considered looking after the Li Family.

The Li Family lacked treasures that could not be bought with Spirit Stones, but they did not lack Spirit Stones themselves.

“It’s fine. Just exchange it for Spirit Stones.”

Li Changhe stared at Ji Yuan and saw that he did not seem to be joking. In the end, he could only nod. “Alright then. Let me send a message and discuss it with my father. I might also need to return to the sect.”

“Don’t worry. If you only want Spirit Stones, our Li Family definitely won’t disappoint you!”

After saying this, Li Changhe hurriedly left.

With Li Changhe’s words, Ji Yuan finally relaxed completely. No matter how poor the Immortal Spring water was, selling it for 30,000 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones should not be a problem.

Since that was the case, he could simply wait peacefully for Young Master Li to return.

Next, Ji Yuan took out Huang Richeng’s Storage Pouch and swept through it with his Divine Sense.

Although there was nothing particularly good inside, it was still much better than what a Rogue Cultivator of the same realm would possess. As for Spiritual Artifacts, counting the two stripped from Huang Richeng’s body, there were four in total.

There was also one Talisman Treasure, and it was even an offensive one called the “Mysterious Heaven Pagoda”. It could be used twice, so Ji Yuan could only reluctantly accept it with a smile.

As for Spirit Stones, there were neither too many nor too few, roughly just under 3,000 in total.

Lastly came the pills.

Normally speaking, pills refined for the Six Sects Alliance had to be stored in designated Storage Pouches.

Huang Richeng had indeed done so, but besides that, he had also stored another batch of Spirit-Converging Pills inside a private Storage Pouch.

There were quite a lot of them.

Ji Yuan roughly estimated that there were nearly ten thousand.

The reason was not difficult to guess……this bastard had been lining his own pockets, or more bluntly, embezzling.

But why had he embezzled them without selling them?

Just as Ji Yuan was wondering, a Messaging Talisman inside Huang Richeng’s Storage Pouch suddenly trembled slightly.

Someone was sending a message!

Who?

Ji Yuan thought for a moment, then still took out the golden Messaging Talisman. Being able to use a Messaging Talisman meant the other party was definitely somewhere near the Pill Refining Room. In any case, they could not be too far away.

He tried infusing a trace of Spiritual Energy into it. Immediately afterward, a somewhat sinister voice sounded within his mind.

“How is it? Have you gathered the 10,000 Spirit-Converging Pills yet? If you still don’t deliver the goods, I won’t tell you about those filthy matters between your woman and your elder brother anymore.”

Ji Yuan: “???”

No, what kind of sentence was that?

Ji Yuan froze after hearing it, and even after thinking for quite a while, he could not make sense of it.

Huang Richeng had embezzled the Spirit-Converging Pills because the person behind this had instructed him to do so. Ji Yuan could tell that much.

But what did “I won’t tell you about those filthy matters between your woman and your elder brother anymore” mean?

From the meaning of those words, Huang Richeng’s payment for handing over the Spirit-Converging Pills was having the other party tell him about what his wife and elder brother were doing……what kind of payment was that?

While Ji Yuan was thinking, the Messaging Talisman trembled again.

Immediately afterward, the sinister voice sounded once more.

“Huang Richeng, you bastard, are you dead or what? If you still don’t reply, I won’t let your Dao Companion keep enjoying herself!”

As the voice faded, a woman’s voice carrying a slight sob sounded from inside the Messaging Talisman.

“Husband, husband, hurry up and say something.”

Ji Yuan: “……”

If Ji Yuan had still been somewhat confused before, he now understood completely.

So Huang Richeng, that bastard, was actually a cuckold?!!

He embezzled Spirit-Converging Pills from the Six Sects Alliance over something like this?

Just as Ji Yuan was about to destroy the Messaging Talisman and completely abandon the matter, another voice came from inside.

“Forget it. I’ll tell you the truth. The Holy Sect has heard about your situation. They’re very pleased that you’ve abandoned darkness and turned toward the light. They’ve decided that once you finish offering up this batch of pills, they’ll let you join our branch. Then even if Eastern Shang is exterminated, you’ll still be kept safe.”

Compared with before, the voice sounded much more normal.

It was like……they had finished?

But Ji Yuan heard another meaning hidden within those words.

Holy Sect?

Generally speaking, only the Three Demonic Sects of Western Shang used that form of address.

The Three Demonic Sects were also called the Three Holy Sects.

So Huang Richeng had defected to the Demonic Path?!

Now this was interesting.

Ji Yuan thought briefly, then cast a spell to imitate Huang Richeng’s voice before sending a message:

“Is this true?”

“Oh? Now you’re willing to talk? I was bullying your woman just now and you didn’t say anything. What, that wasn’t enough to make you comfortable?”

Ji Yuan: “……”

“Alright, it’s true, of course it’s true. You bastard, just tell me whether the pills are ready yet.”

The voice coming from the Messaging Talisman carried a trace of irritation.

Ji Yuan did not answer immediately.

If the other party truly belonged to the Demonic Path, then they were worth baiting. But he could not personally go fishing……that would be too dangerous.

Ji Yuan planned to lure them a little first. If he could not hook them, then so be it.

If he could, he would inform Ice-Fire Elder and let him deal with it, perhaps even baiting out a bigger fish.

“I’m still short two thousand. But if you really can introduce me into the branch, then this month I’ll grit my teeth, deduct more from the supply, and gather everything for you in one go.”

“Good. That’s more like it. Otherwise, dragging things out like this all the time is completely improper.”

The person behind the Messaging Talisman finally sounded somewhat satisfied. “Then let’s leave it at that. I’ll contact you again at the beginning of next month. I hope you can give me a satisfactory answer then.”

The transmission ended there.

Ji Yuan looked at the Messaging Talisman in his hand and thought for a while before deciding to report this matter to Real Person Ice-Fire first. Everything else could wait.

Half a day later, in the same great hall as before, Ji Yuan once again met Ice-Fire Elder and told him everything he had heard from the Messaging Talisman in full detail.

He did not even conceal the fact that Huang Richeng was a cuckold.

After all, who knew whether some hidden secret was buried within that?

At this moment, Ice-Fire Elder was still in the appearance of that hunched old man……a sinister ice-attributed cultivator.

“Defected to the Demonic Path? Interesting.”

Ice-Fire Elder stroked the goatee on his chin, then accepted the Storage Pouch from Ji Yuan and swept it with his Divine Sense. Afterward, he took out the Messaging Talisman Ji Yuan had specially marked.

After thinking briefly, he said, “Keep him dangling for now. When he sends you another message, send word to this old man. Then the two of us will go meet this Demonic Path together.”

“This……yes.”

With Ice-Fire Elder willing to take over the matter, Ji Yuan could naturally relax.

“Take this.”

Ice-Fire Elder tossed over one of his own Messaging Talismans.

Ji Yuan caught it with both hands, placed it into his Storage Pouch, and only then left.

For the next few days, Ji Yuan busied himself with matters concerning Spirit-Recovery Street and Spirit-Converging Street.

The most awkward situation involved those who had originally belonged to Spirit-Recovery Street but later defected to Spirit-Converging Street.

Previously, they had been able to follow Huang Richeng and ignore everything.

But now Huang Richeng was dead, and they had returned under Ji Yuan’s command.

As a result, when many of the Alchemists saw Ji Yuan again, they trembled in fear.

But Ji Yuan did not lower himself to their level.

As a dignified Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator, getting angry with a group of Qi Refining Cultivators would be far too beneath him.

He simply divided the cultivators into two groups. A small portion continued refining Spirit-Converging Pills, while the majority of the Alchemists were sent back to refine Spirit-Recovery Pills.

After finishing with this, Ji Yuan once again entered cultivation mode.

At present, the focus of his cultivation was swallowing eggs—consuming Three-Colored Spiritual Eggs.

He continued compressing the Spiritual Energy inside his Dantian, making it even denser.

Besides that came Weapon Refining. In this regard, he was already close to grasping the threshold of High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Once he succeeded, he could attempt to refine the Heavenly Thunder Seed.

With that thing, even when facing a Pseudo-Core Cultivator, Ji Yuan would dare fight.

He waited like this for nearly twenty days.

Ji Yuan had originally thought he would first discover the key to refining High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, but unexpectedly, Li Changhe returned first.

The moment he arrived at the Pill Refining Room, he headed directly for Ji Yuan’s residence.

When the two met, Li Changhe could hardly conceal his delight.

“Good brother, it’s finally settled!”

Li Changhe said excitedly.

This time, being able to trade Spirit Stones for Immortal Spring water from Ji Yuan without consuming the Li Family’s heavenly materials and earthly treasures had truly allowed him to hold his head high.

Even those old antiques in the clan who possessed nothing but age and lacked actual strength had praised him repeatedly.

They directly declared, “Li Changhe is a good Young Master!”

“Good, as long as it’s settled.”

As Ji Yuan spoke, he took out the bottle of Immortal Spring water and tossed it into Li Changhe’s arms.

This action startled Li Changhe into a cold sweat. He fumbled to catch it, only then remembering that he was a cultivator, and even a Pseudo-Core Cultivator.

Holding the jade bottle, he said with some surprise, “Brother Ji, you’re not even going to ask how many Spirit Stones my Li Family is willing to pay?”

“It doesn’t matter. Whatever amount it is, it’s yours.”

Ji Yuan smiled freely.

Li Changhe took a deep breath and hurriedly took out a Storage Pouch and handed it over.

“Fortunately, the Spirit Stones this time are more than enough. Otherwise, I truly would have wronged you.”

Ji Yuan accepted the Storage Pouch and swept it with his Divine Sense. Even his eyelids could not help twitching.

“This many?”

“Heh.” Li Changhe smiled as he took out a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact-level treasure box he had brought from his clan. After carefully storing the Immortal Spring water inside, he said:

“The most recent auction of Immortal Spring water was held personally by Medicine King Valley three hundred years ago. Back then, Immortal Spring water of roughly the same amount sold for 50,000 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones.”

“Brother Ji has shown us so much consideration. Our Li Family naturally can’t shortchange you.”

There were 55,000 Spirit Stones inside the Storage Pouch.

This price truly exceeded Ji Yuan’s expectations. He had originally estimated that 30,000 would already be good enough, but it had nearly doubled.

“Alright, then thanks.”

With these Spirit Stones, Ji Yuan could barely wait to upgrade his Life-Bound Magic Treasure.

Seeing his expression, Li Changhe knew Ji Yuan had important use for these Spirit Stones, so he said, “I still need to return to the sect and send this good treasure back. I’ve already entrusted the pill deliveries to Yucheng Zi of Joy Palace, so I’ll take my leave first, Brother Ji.”

“Be careful on the road.”

Just as Li Changhe was about to leave, Ji Yuan suddenly remembered something and hurriedly slapped his forehead.

“Right.”

“What is it?”

Li Changhe turned and asked.

Ji Yuan thought for a moment before ultimately choosing to say, “I actually still have another bottle of Immortal Spring water.”

“I knew it.”

Li Changhe was already unsurprised.

“But I only want to trade it for Voidstones. If your Li Family has any, I can take this out to trade.”

Ji Yuan naturally chose to trust the Li Family.

“Alright. I’ll go back and ask those old antiques how much the family still has. Just wait for my news.”

After seeing Li Changhe off, Ji Yuan first delivered this month’s required pills to Yucheng Zi.

Next, he was going to upgrade the 【Grotto-Heaven】. He had no idea how long it would take, so to avoid interruption, he naturally completed the Six Sects Alliance’s matters first.

Only after finishing all this did he return to his residence and activate the Star Vortex Cloud Barrier Formation attached to the 【Cave Dwelling】. Then he added numerous additional measures inside the secret chamber before finally converting the secret chamber into the 【Heavenly Craft Workshop】 and activating the Stardust Illusion Killing Formation.

With so many layers of protection, even if Ice-Fire Elder came to spy, Ji Yuan would be able to detect it.

Only after everything was prepared did he take out 30,000 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones and pile them on the ground.

The moment so many Spirit Stones were taken out, they formed a small mountain of Spirit Stones on the floor.

Previously, merely activating the 【Grotto-Heaven】 had consumed nearly 100,000 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones. Now upgrading it required this many more. Ji Yuan truly felt damn heartbroken just looking at them.

But there was nothing else he could do.

He summoned the Panel and took a look.

【Grotto-Heaven (Life-Bound Magic Treasure): lv1 (Upgradeable)】

He had prepared for so long. Since that was the case, there was nothing left to hesitate about.

With a thought, Ji Yuan immediately chose to upgrade.

As his thought fell, a rare golden radiance flashed across the Panel. Yet strangely, no phenomenon appeared around him.

Just as Ji Yuan became puzzled, he suddenly discovered that something……had changed inside his Dantian.

At the very center of his Dantian, where the ice-attributed Spiritual Energy resembled a vast wasteland, a tiny speck of golden Spiritual Light appeared. The Spiritual Light was extremely small, but within Ji Yuan’s perception, it seemed like a brilliant great sun in the heavens!

Meanwhile, the small mountain of Spirit Stones piled before him slowly began vanishing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Whenever buildings upgraded before, Ji Yuan had never known where the disappearing materials went. But this time, he could see it clearly.

The Spiritual Energy formed from the disappearing Spirit Stones was absorbed into his Dantian like a vortex.

At the very center of that vortex was the speck of golden Spiritual Light within his Dantian.

The Spirit Stones dwindled more and more, while the golden Spiritual Light in his Dantian continuously expanded. Vaguely, Ji Yuan seemed to make out the embryonic form of his Magic Treasure.

It was……a mountain!

The mountain was gradually taking shape, and Ji Yuan’s anticipation grew stronger and stronger.

He was curious what form the 【Grotto-Heaven】 would ultimately evolve into.

If it truly was a mountain……then it did indeed fit the image of a 【Grotto-Heaven】 quite well. It was just somewhat different from the palace Ji Yuan had imagined.

Just as he became slightly disappointed, a message appeared on the Panel.

……The internal layout and external form of the 【Grotto-Heaven】 could be changed later?!

Now that was satisfying!

Ji Yuan’s disappointment instantly vanished without a trace, and he even began faintly looking forward to it. He simply did not know what level of 【Grotto-Heaven】 would unlock that spiritual effect.

If it truly became possible, then he could securely maintain several identities.

As everyone knew, a cultivator could only possess one Life-Bound Magic Treasure.

If his own Magic Treasure could assume several forms, wouldn’t that be……when two rabbits run side by side, who could tell whether I am male or female?

Ji Yuan had already thought it through. The most basic 【Grotto-Heaven】 would be a Divine Mountain. Later, it could transform into a nine-story pagoda or an enormous palace.

It could even become a Chaos Pearl, with a Small World hidden inside the Chaos Pearl.

No, if it truly reached that stage, wouldn’t he directly be able to create a new universe?

Ji Yuan’s thoughts wandered farther and farther before finally returning to the present……the Spirit Stones were nearly exhausted, and the Divine Mountain inside his Dantian was close to fully manifesting.

Its appearance was not particularly different from an ordinary mountain. It had a pyramidal structure, becoming sharper toward the summit.

As for its color, Ji Yuan had initially thought it would resemble the speck of golden Spiritual Light and become entirely golden, turning the Magic Treasure into a golden Divine Mountain. But now, it appeared that was not the case.

It was an entirely greenish-cyan stone mountain.

Ji Yuan first tried drawing it out, but failed on the first attempt.

That meant it had not yet completely formed. Thus, he waited for roughly another half day before the radiance upon the Divine Mountain finally dispersed completely, leaving the entire thing looking utterly ordinary.

Mm……very much in line with Ji Yuan’s temperament.

He extended his right hand. A ray of cyan Spiritual Light manifested from his Dantian, circled around his body once, then finally hovered above his right palm.

The small mountain was only about half the size of his palm and slowly rotated without stopping.

Ji Yuan’s mind was connected with it, allowing him to immediately sense the state of this Magic Treasure.

It had not yet been named.

To fully control it, he needed to give this Magic Treasure a name.

Ji Yuan looked at the small mountain in his hand and thought for a moment. Finally, inspiration struck.

“Born within the Spiritual Platform Dantian, manifesting within an inch of space. From now on, you shall be called……Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain.”

As Ji Yuan’s thought settled, the Divine Mountain obtained its True Name. Five flamboyant golden characters immediately appeared upon it.

【Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain】