Chapter 288 : Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain

【Spiritual ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Platform Square-Inch Mountain】

Once ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Life-Bound Magic Treasure obtained its True Name, Ji Yuan immediately discovered that a profoundly mysterious connection had formed between himself and this Life-Bound Magic Treasure. This connection felt extraordinarily intimate.

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was as though this Square-Inch Mountain had become a part of his own body.

Ji ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yuan sensed it briefly and immediately understood the Square-Inch Mountain like the back of his hand.

“Out!”

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍pressed the index and middle fingers of his left hand together into a sword-finger gesture, placed them against the joint of his right hand, then thrust forward. The Square-Inch Mountain immediately flew forward while spinning, finally landing on the ground before Ji Yuan and transforming into a Divine Mountain as tall as his knee.

Ji Yuan felt that this still was not enough. With a thought, the Square-Inch Mountain grew several times larger again until it became as tall as the room itself.

Even the ground beneath it was pressed down by an inch or so.

And this was without Ji Yuan actively urging it. If he truly infused Spiritual Energy and activated the Square-Inch Mountain, it could instantly transform into a massive, weighty mountain and sink straight into the earth.

As for now……

Ji Yuan took a step forward, then slowly disappeared into the Square-Inch Mountain.

As the saying went: Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Divine Mountain, a Grotto-Heaven whose size changed at will.

As Ji Yuan’s 【Grotto-Heaven】 building, the Square-Inch Mountain contained an internal space and would have to accommodate countless buildings in the future, so naturally Ji Yuan himself could enter it as well.

As his figure disappeared into the Square-Inch Mountain, the Divine Mountain that had originally stood as tall as the ceiling rapidly began shrinking.

In less than a single breath, the small hill had shrunk until it was only as large as an ant on the ground, then continued shrinking until it blended into the countless specks of dust on the floor. Only then did it reach its limit.

Ji Yuan now stood at the highest point of the Square-Inch Mountain, sensing everything that had happened.

“Looking at it this way, I have another method of hiding in the future. And as expected of a 【Grotto-Heaven】 Magic Treasure. With this thing, I’ll never need to carry some 【Cave Dwelling】 around when traveling again, because Square-Inch Mountain itself is my Cave Dwelling.”

“I just don’t know what level of cultivator’s investigation this Square-Inch Mountain can evade.”

Ji Yuan sensed the Square-Inch Mountain, which had already become the size of a speck of dust. It was currently a level 1 building comparable to a Golden Core Magic Treasure, so hiding from the investigations of Golden Core Cultivators should not be a problem, right?

As for Nascent Soul Cultivators, that was uncertain.

Ji Yuan planned to test it in front of Hua Yaoyue the next time he returned.

As for now……Ji Yuan sank his consciousness into the interior of the Square-Inch Mountain.

Although the Square-Inch Mountain looked like a Divine Mountain from the outside, its interior was a chaotic expanse. Yet within this chaos, it was divided into upper and lower levels, naturally for the sake of making it easier for Ji Yuan to arrange his buildings.

For example, his 【Cave Dwelling】 was currently located on the upper level.

Ji Yuan naturally sensed that as the 【Grotto-Heaven】 continued to upgrade, more levels of the Square-Inch Mountain could be opened.

For now, however, forget opening two levels—even opening twenty would be useless.

Because containing buildings required Voidstones, and Ji Yuan currently did not possess even a single jin of Voidstone.

The fact that the 【Cave Dwelling】 could be contained within it already counted as a benefit given by the 【Grotto-Heaven】.

However, Ji Yuan had already formed some ideas regarding the layout of the Square-Inch Mountain.

In the future, the Square-Inch Mountain would definitely resemble a treasure pagoda, its internal space divided into several levels, each forming a world of its own.

As for the lowest level, Ji Yuan naturally intended to place buildings like the 【Grave Mound】 and 【Bee Nest】 there. If possible, he would also place livestock-related buildings such as the 【Pigsty】 and 【Chicken Coop】 on the lowest level.

The second level could be used to place the 【Heavenly Craft Workshop】. In the future, Pill Refining, Weapon Refining, and similar matters could all be done on the second level.

After all, this thing still needed to draw upon Earth Fire, so being closer to the ground would be somewhat more convenient.

The third level should be the middle level. Ji Yuan intended to place the 【Cave Dwelling】, 【Fish Pond】, and similar buildings there. This would count as the living area, and he did not want the atmosphere there to feel so oppressive.

Farther upward would be the 【Enlightenment Room】, 【Meditation Room】, 【Scripture Repository】, and the like.

These things that increased comprehension could be placed higher up.

The more Ji Yuan thought about it, the more delighted he became.

But after thinking carefully, it was really just “a thousand words beneath the brush, yet not a single plan within the heart”.

No matter how beautifully he imagined it, he still could not contain any more buildings right now and could only stare helplessly.

But immediately afterward, a flash of inspiration crossed Ji Yuan’s mind. As he stood inside the Square-Inch Mountain’s 【Cave Dwelling】, he once again looked inward at his Dantian.

The nine Flying Sword Embryos were still there, quietly hovering within his ice-attributed Spiritual Energy Dantian.

Only then did he let out a slight breath of relief.

As long as the Sword Embryos were still there. Ji Yuan had just been worried that the newly emerged 【Grotto-Heaven】 building had taken the position of his Life-Bound Magic Treasure, causing the Flying Sword Embryos to disappear.

Since that was the case, how should he deal with these nine Flying Swords?

They were no longer his Life-Bound Magic Treasure. Could it be that after they were forged in the future, he could still store them inside his Dantian?

Just as he was thinking, the Panel seemed to sense something. It trembled slightly, and as a flash of light crossed it, a new building appeared.

【Sword Cottage: lv1 (Not Upgradeable)】

【Spiritual Effect: Can contain sword-type artifacts of the world. Sword Specialization +10%.】

【Upgrade Requirements: Middle-Grade Spirit Stone ×10000; Sword-Type Spiritual Artifact ×5; Sword-Type Magical Artifact ×50. (Not Upgradeable)】

A new building appeared just like that?!

Ji Yuan had only just been worrying about how to deal with these nine Flying Swords, and now the Panel had immediately provided a solution.

【Sword Cottage】

Looking at it this way, even after the nine Flying Swords were truly forged in the future, they could be contained inside the 【Sword Cottage】 building, and then the 【Sword Cottage】 could itself be contained within Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain.

Perfect!

Ji Yuan could already imagine how he would fight enemies after reaching the Golden Core Stage. Naturally, the first to emerge would be these nine Canglan Swords.

If the nine Canglan Swords could deal with the opponent,

then naturally there would be nothing more to say.

But if even the nine Canglan Swords united as one could not deal with them,

“Then congratulations. You’ve finally earned the qualification to witness my Life-Bound Magic Treasure!”

When that time came, once Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain emerged, whether suppressing, smashing, or destroying, every movement would carry tremendous might.

And if neither of those two Magic Treasures could resolve the enemy and they still managed to get close,

“Then I’m sorry, but my strongest method is actually……body cultivation!”

At that point, once he fully unleashed his physique and exchanged fist against flesh, he should be able to beat the opponent into pieces scattered everywhere, right?

“But now that I think about it, my body cultivation is also lacking a suitable Magic Treasure.”

Ji Yuan inevitably recalled the bright silver red-tasseled spear Hua Yaoyue had used last time……why did that thing look so much like the one I lost?

After happily fantasizing for a while,

Ji Yuan’s gaze returned to the Panel.

“Sword Specialization +10%”. After sensing it briefly, he understood what this phrase meant.

Overall, it could be summarized in one sentence: anything related to swords received a 10% enhancement.

Whether long swords or short swords, or even the Sword Arts and Sword Dao spoken of by Sword Cultivators,

all received a 10% enhancement.

Moreover, this enhancement included both comprehension of the sword and enhancement to spells and numerous other sword-related methods.

The effect was truly exceptionally powerful.

Thus, it was understandable that a mere level 1 building required so many resources.

Now that he had fully understood his Life-Bound Magic Treasure and also found a destination for the nine Flying Sword Embryos into which he had poured tremendous effort, Ji Yuan’s suspended heart finally settled completely.

Still standing deep inside Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain, he summoned the Panel again.

He wanted to see exactly what effects the level 2 【Grotto-Heaven】 possessed.

【Grotto-Heaven (Life-Bound Magic Treasure): lv2 (Not Upgradeable)】

【Spiritual Effect 1: Might comparable to a Nascent Soul Magic Treasure. Note: The more buildings contained, the greater the might.】

【Spiritual Effect 2 (Vastness Within a Mustard Seed): When its size is reduced to the extreme, it can isolate itself from the investigations of cultivators at the same realm.】

【Spiritual Effect 3 (Mountain Bearing Great Peaks): When its size is enlarged to the extreme, it can become like mountains bearing great peaks, with a weight exceeding ten thousand fathoms.】

【Upgrade Requirements: Middle-Grade Spirit Stone ×200000; contain at least 5 buildings; Fourth-Tier Demon Core ×5; Nascent Soul Magic Treasure ×1. (Not Fulfilled)】

Ji Yuan: “???”

After reading it, his eyes genuinely widened. Was the level 2 Life-Bound Magic Treasure already this damn powerful?

Whether these three spiritual effects or the upgrade conditions, there was nothing more to say.

The spiritual effects were the same. On the surface, there appeared to be three.

But if the current level 1 【Grotto-Heaven】 effect of absorbing Voidstones and containing buildings was included,

then the level 2 【Grotto-Heaven】 effectively possessed four spiritual effects.

Looking at it this way, these upgrade conditions……were still somewhat outrageous.

200,000 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones. Even without eating or drinking, the 【Spirit Vein】 would need to produce for 2,000 days……wait, calculated that way, it did not actually seem that long.

After all, a level 2 Life-Bound Magic Treasure would only be usable at the Nascent Soul Stage.

At the absolute earliest, it would probably require Peak Golden Core.

By then, Spirit Stones should not be much of a problem. The difficult parts were still the conditions afterward.

Five buildings. Just how much Voidstone would that require?

He also needed five Fourth-Tier Demon Cores and even a Nascent Soul Magic Treasure as an upgrade requirement.

All Ji Yuan could say was that there was a reason his Life-Bound Magic Treasure was so powerful.

After examining the spiritual effects of the level 2 【Grotto-Heaven】 and learning how powerful his Life-Bound Magic Treasure could become in the future, Ji Yuan’s mood became excellent.

He immediately tried locking his Divine Sense onto the 【Heavenly Craft Workshop】 outside and chose to contain it with a thought.

A line of text immediately appeared on the Panel.

【Consume 40 jin of Voidstone to contain the building “Heavenly Craft Workshop”?】

40 jin.

Upgrading the 【Cave Dwelling】 to level 4 only required 10 jin of Voidstone, yet merely containing one building now required 40 jin.

Why don’t you just rob me!

Ji Yuan first deactivated the 【Heavenly Craft Workshop】 building effect, then replaced the building outside with the 【Scripture Repository】.

【Consume 30 jin of Voidstone to contain the building “Scripture Repository”?】

Fortunately, ten jin less.

Ji Yuan then tried the 【Enlightenment Room】 and 【Meditation Room】.

The 【Enlightenment Room】 also required 30 jin.

The 【Meditation Room】, this Foundation Establishment Stage core building, actually required 50 jin. Absolutely insane!

As for the other buildings, they were not nearby, so there was no convenient way to activate and test them.

Thus, over the next several days, Ji Yuan did not go outside again. He cultivated inside Square-Inch Mountain instead. Unlike when cultivating outside before, hiding inside this dust-sized Square-Inch Mountain gave him an extraordinarily strong sense of security.

He also tested something.

Could he store Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain inside his Dantian while already inside Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain? The result was failure. Otherwise, he could have exploited a bug.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Before Ji Yuan could wait for Li Changhe to return, and before he even had time to go out and forge sword-type Spiritual Artifacts to upgrade the new 【Sword Cottage】 building, he once again received a transmission from the Messaging Talisman inside Huang Richeng’s Storage Pouch.

“Fellow Daoist Huang, how is it? The time has already passed. You can’t be planning to break your word again, can you?”

Ji Yuan withdrew from his cultivation state, then took a single step out of Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain. When his figure reappeared inside the room, he actually felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

Or rather, as though an entire lifetime had passed.

He lowered his head and looked at the ground. There was nothing unusual whatsoever.

But among those countless specks of dust was hidden his Life-Bound Magic Treasure, Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain.

With a thought, one speck of dust rose into the air and finally entered his Dantian. Only then did Ji Yuan first take out Ice-Fire Elder’s Messaging Talisman and say:

“Senior, that person has contacted me again.”

Ice-Fire Elder did not reply, but after waiting no more than a single breath, a voice sounded outside Ji Yuan’s residence.

“Kid, open the door.”

Ji Yuan hurriedly withdrew the two formations and deactivated the other building effects. Only then did Ice-Fire Elder’s figure appear within the courtyard.

Ice-Fire Elder still wore the appearance of that hunched old man.

After entering, he nodded. “Not a bad formation.”

Ji Yuan froze for a moment, then hurriedly saluted before replying, “It was gifted to this junior by his Master, so its effects are fairly good.”

“Mm. What did that person say?”

Ice-Fire Elder did not pursue the issue and instead turned to the main matter.

“He wants me to meet him.”

Ji Yuan took out the Messaging Talisman.

“Then go. This old man will accompany you.”

As Ice-Fire Elder spoke, he pinched his right index and middle fingers inside his sleeve and drew out a……Talisman Treasure. Judging by the patterns on its surface, its original form should have been a mask.

It looked somewhat like the kind worn during exorcistic ritual performances.

Ice-Fire Elder infused Spiritual Energy into it and tossed it toward Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan instinctively leaned backward.

“Don’t panic.”

Ice-Fire Elder reassured him. Ji Yuan stopped moving and allowed the phantom mask summoned by the Talisman Treasure to land on his face.

As multicolored Spiritual Light enveloped his entire body, he saw Ice-Fire Elder form several hand seals.

When the light around his body disappeared, he had already transformed from Ji Yuan into……Huang Richeng.

……The process was complicated and even required using a Talisman Treasure, yet the effect looked inferior to his own Shapeshifting Talisman.

Of course, Ji Yuan only dared think this inwardly. Outwardly, he still put on an exaggerated expression. “What Talisman Treasure is this? Its effect is actually so powerful!”

“Heh.”

Ice-Fire Elder stored the Talisman Treasure, which could still be used one final time, inside his Storage Pouch. “A good thing. Just use it for now. Remember, you cannot attack with your full strength. The moment you do, the Talisman Treasure’s effect will dissipate.”

“Yes……”

Ji Yuan then infused a trace of Spiritual Energy into the Messaging Talisman. When he opened his mouth again, his voice had naturally become Huang Richeng’s.

“I’ve already prepared the pills. Tell me, where are we meeting?”

“Excellent, excellent.” The person behind it laughed loudly. “Then the usual place.”

……The usual place? Who the hell knows where your so-called usual place is?

Ji Yuan paused briefly before replying:

“No. Ice-Fire Elder has taken control of the Pill Refining Room now. His strength is extremely powerful, and he has countless methods. I’m worried the usual place may already have been exposed. It isn’t safe……damn it, I haven’t suffered any shortage of trouble from him recently.”

Ji Yuan spoke while imitating Huang Richeng’s manner of speaking.

Little did he know that Ice-Fire Elder behind him could not help stroking his beard and nodding upon hearing this, looking thoroughly pleased.

“Heh, hardship truly tempers a person. I never expected even a brat like you to learn caution. Fine, where do you want to meet?”

The voice sounded from within the Messaging Talisman.

Meanwhile, Ice-Fire Elder’s Voice Transmission sounded inside Ji Yuan’s mind. “Tranquility Mountain.”

Tranquility Mountain lay north of Wangcheng Mountain. Its location was already fairly close to the Falling Star River. Ji Yuan had previously only heard that one could view the river from there and that the scenery was quite good.

“Tranquility Mountain.”

Ji Yuan gave his answer.

“Fine. Then three days from now, we’ll meet at Tranquility Mountain.”

“Two days from now. I have too many matters here. I’m worried that if I leave for too long, Ice-Fire Elder will notice.”

Ji Yuan did not allow the other party to lead him by the nose.

As for being exposed, he was not worried. If he truly was exposed, then at worst he would simply abandon the matter.

“Two days, then. Damn it, you’ve got so many problems.”

The transmission ended there, and Ji Yuan put away the Messaging Talisman.

“Let’s go. They may use some other methods. We’ll head over beforehand and take a look first.”

Ice-Fire Elder spoke, and Ji Yuan could only answer, “Yes.”

Afterward, Ice-Fire Elder brought him along, transforming into Escape Light and heading directly north.

While they were halfway there, Ji Yuan sent Ice-Fire Elder a Voice Transmission and asked, “Senior, your coming to our Pill Refining Room probably isn’t as simple as it appears, right?”

This was also something Ji Yuan had been wondering about recently.

Placing Ice-Fire Elder in a small Pill Refining Room like this felt somewhat like using a great talent for a minor task.

“That brat Li Changhe told you?”

Ice-Fire Elder did not answer directly, but in a certain sense, he had already given Ji Yuan an answer.

There really was more to this matter.

“No. He didn’t tell me anything.”

Putting aside the fact that Li Changhe genuinely had not told him, even if he had, Ji Yuan could not admit it. He could not sell out his teammate.

“I suppose he probably doesn’t know either. No matter how much Li Gang dotes on him, there’s no way he would tell him about this.”

“Then……what exactly is this about?”

Ji Yuan lowered his voice and asked.

Ice-Fire Elder chuckled. “He has a Golden Core father, yet even that father doesn’t dare tell him. Given the relationship between you and me, do you think I can tell you?”

“Of course, if you truly were my son, then I would tell you.”

“Li Gang can’t bear the consequences, but this old man is barefoot. There’s nothing I can’t bear.”

Ji Yuan also chuckled upon hearing this.

But he only dared chuckle inwardly. Outwardly, he could only smile along and say, “Senior is joking.”

……Fine, don’t tell me. I’ll just ask Master after I return, or directly ask Kong Xifeng.

Ji Yuan still had that much access.

“Alright. You’ll travel the rest of the way yourself. I’ll watch you from afar. As long as the other side doesn’t have a Nascent Soul Cultivator overseeing things, there won’t be any problem.”

Ice-Fire Elder’s figure descended into a dense forest.

Only a few breaths later, Ji Yuan piloted Huang Richeng’s crocodile-shaped Flying Boat northward and finally landed atop the northernmost mountain peak.

As for why it was the northernmost, because any farther north lay the surging, turbulent Falling Star River.

The moment his figure landed, that familiar voice sounded inside his mind.

“Brother Huang, you arrived rather quickly.”