Chapter 292 ·The Real Deal—Ji Yuan Kills a Golden Core Cultivator!

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍moment the Crimson Wave Whip entered Real Person Fire Python's hand, his aura underwent a sudden transformation, and his entire presence became incomparably sharp and aggressive.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍gripped the whip in his right hand and swung it fiercely. In an instant, countless whip shadows appeared within a radius of three zhang around him.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍long whip danced through the air, forming an impenetrable defense.

Ji ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yuan combined his nine swords into one and brought down a single devastating slash.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍moment the two attacks collided, an enormous explosion erupted, accompanied by a massive wave of Spiritual Energy that spread outward, dispersing much of the surrounding formation mist.

Seeing ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this, Ji Yuan could not help thinking… Whether it was the Stellar Whirl Cloud Barrier Formation or the Stardust Illusion-Kill Formation, both were merely Second-Tier Formations. They were extremely effective when fighting Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, once he faced a Golden Core cultivator, their effectiveness diminished considerably.

The Canglan Sword Embryo remained locked in a stalemate against the web of whip shadows. After approximately three breaths, a soft “Bang” rang out.

Ultimately, the Canglan Sword Embryo formed by combining nine swords could not overcome the Crimson Wave Whip.

The single sword embryo separated into nine once again, scattering and weaving through the surrounding air.

'After all, they're only sword embryos. Compared to a genuine Magic Treasure, they're still considerably inferior.'

Ji Yuan estimated that once he achieved Core Formation and refined the nine sword embryos into physical forms, transforming them into the genuine Magic Treasure, the Canglan Sword, the situation would be entirely different.

As for now…

After breaking through the Flying Sword above his head, Real Person Fire Python sneered.

“Trash!”

With those words, the Crimson Wave Whip in his hand instantly stiffened, transforming into a long staff-like Magic Treasure. He thrust it fiercely toward the Heavenly Net beneath him.

He forced the Heavenly Net downward by several zhang until it was pressed against the ground.

No matter how desperately Ji Yuan activated it, his efforts were futile.

…He had underestimated the strength of a Golden Core cultivator after all. No matter how severely injured the man was, there was still a difference of two minor cultivation realms between him and Ji Yuan, who was at Peak Foundation Establishment.

Take the Nine Swords Combined into One technique, for example. According to Ji Yuan's original expectations, he had believed that when his nine swords descended…

Even if they could not kill Real Person Fire Python, they should at least make him suffer considerably.

Unexpectedly, the attack had been blocked so effortlessly.

Even the complete Magic Treasure, the Heavenly Net, had suffered the same fate. Although Real Person Fire Python could not destroy the treasure, Ji Yuan was equally unable to use it to injure him.

“You've got some ability, brat, but not much… Cough, cough, cough.”

After attacking repeatedly, Real Person Fire Python seemed to have aggravated his internal injuries and began coughing violently. Even the rigid Crimson Wave Whip in his hand softened again, turning back into a limp whip.

…Good!

Strike while the enemy is weakened and finish him off!

Ji Yuan seized the opportunity. Gathering strength in his legs, he leaped upward with tremendous force. At the very moment he rose, a streak of white light shot out from his Dantian. He caught it in his hand, spun his body around, and hurled Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain forward with all his might.

There were no elaborate tricks whatsoever.

Only the purest and most direct form of attack!

Once Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain left his hand, it expanded rapidly in the wind, instantly transforming into a boulder as tall as a person. By the time it reached Real Person Fire Python, it had already become a small mountain dozens of zhang tall!

“Ah——”

Real Person Fire Python was startled by this sudden attack.

In his haste, he withdrew the Crimson Wave Whip and held it before himself. At the same time, he formed several hand seals, creating protective spells in front of him. Yet even with all these defenses, he could not withstand the might of Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain.

He instinctively extended both hands.

He raised them to defend himself from a distance, but even so, the tremendous force of the attack shook his internal organs so violently that they were displaced.

“Pfft——”

He opened his mouth and spat out a bloody mist mixed with fragments of his internal organs.

His old and new injuries erupted simultaneously within his body. His already pale complexion instantly became as white as paper, and his entire figure swayed unsteadily.

Faintly, even the Golden Core within his Dantian developed several tiny cracks.

“A Magic Treasure! Another Magic Treasure!”

“How many damn Magic Treasures do you have?!”

Real Person Fire Python wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned ferociously. “A mere Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator can actually control two Magic Treasures and a Magic Treasure Embryo simultaneously. You're one hell of a talent, you bastard!”

“Same to you!”

Ji Yuan stood behind Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain atop his Flying Boat, desperately pushing against his Life-Bound Magic Treasure.

Real Person Fire Python was likewise struggling to withstand it. Faced with this mountain-like Magic Treasure, he dared not relax in the slightest, even though he was already on the verge of collapse.

He had no doubt that if his resistance faltered for even an instant, this Magic Treasure would suppress him completely!

For a moment, the two seemed locked in a stalemate.

Since neither could move, someone had to break the deadlock.

With a thought from Real Person Fire Python, the Fire Python that had been fighting the Ice Flood Dragon on the ground received its master's summons. It immediately twisted its body and flew into the sky, attempting to coil around Ji Yuan.

However, the moment the Fire Python moved, Monday, whose entire body had already been scorched black, suddenly soared upward once more. It firmly seized the Fire Python with its claws, preventing it from ascending any farther.

The Fire Python flicked its forked tongue, and幽blue flames suddenly ignited across its body, gathering together before surging toward the Ice Flood Dragon behind it.

In an instant, Monday let out an agonized roar, yet it still refused to release its grip.

“Courting death!”

Ji Yuan's eyes turned cold upon seeing this. Immediately, a black shadow flew out from his Storage Pouch.

The moment this black shadow appeared, it pressed one hand against the Fire Python's head.

Countless silkworm threads emerged from one half of its body. The threads crisscrossed and danced through the air before finally wrapping tightly around the Fire Python.

Seeing this, the Ice Flood Dragon finally gained a chance to catch its breath. It released its two front claws, and its entire body crashed heavily onto the sandy riverbank, panting painfully.

However, Ji Yuan was still far from satisfied.

While controlling the Sky-Splitter Flying Boat to ascend, he also recalled the Corpse Servant, Real Person Heaven Silkworm.

At the same time, he activated every particle of Stardust within the Stardust Illusion-Kill Formation, causing them to attach themselves to the Fire Python trapped by the Heaven Silkworm Threads.

Then… with a single thought, he triggered them.

“Rumble——”

The deafening explosions shook the heavens and echoed through the clouds.

The explosions were so powerful that they even blew apart the remaining Stellar Whirl Cloud Barrier Formation. As for the Fire Python at the center of the explosions, it had been completely immobilized by Real Person Heaven Silkworm.

Almost instantly, its body convulsed.

Its previously rigid body immediately went limp. It could no longer even remain airborne and could only crash onto the sandy riverbank, just like the Ice Flood Dragon before it.

As a result, its injuries were far more severe than those of the Ice Flood Dragon.

Most of the scales covering its body had been blasted away. Even the remaining scales that had not fallen off were bleeding from the force of the explosions.

Coincidentally, it collapsed right beside the Ice Flood Dragon, its breathing barely perceptible.

Yet at the very moment it fell, the Ice Flood Dragon, which had seemingly already reached its limit, suddenly erupted with an astonishingly powerful aura.

It resembled a desperate final counterattack before death, or perhaps a dying creature's last burst of vitality.

The Ice Flood Dragon raised its body and viciously bit down on the Fire Python's vital point, seven inches below its head.

Icy-blue Cold Mist spilled from Monday's mouth, freezing the Fire Python's vital point. At the same time, a fiery-red Third-Tier Demon Core was gradually drawn out by it.

“Pfft——”

The Fire Python died, and Real Person Fire Python suffered another backlash. Unable to endure any longer, his entire body plummeted from the sky like a kite with its string severed.

The Spirit Beast Taming methods practiced by cultivators of the Spirit Taming Sect were fundamentally different from ordinary contracting techniques.

Under an ordinary Spiritual Beast Contract, the two parties remained largely independent.

However, the techniques of the Spirit Taming Sect were different.

Once they contracted a Spiritual Beast, the two became a unified whole. Even during ordinary cultivation, the Spiritual Beast could feed its accumulated power back to its cultivator.

It was said that many Golden Core cultivators of the Spirit Taming Sect had been nurtured through this method.

They would contract Third-Tier Spiritual Beasts.

Then they would devote all their resources to nurturing those Spiritual Beasts, using the power fed back to them when the beasts advanced to the Third Tier to break through into the Core Formation Realm in one fell swoop.

However, the consequence of this method was that once the Spiritual Beast died, its cultivator would also suffer tremendous damage.

Without a doubt, that was precisely what had happened to Real Person Fire Python.

Seeing his body fall, Ji Yuan naturally refused to let such a perfect opportunity slip away.

“Go——”

With his Divine Sense, he activated the Heavenly Poison Needle inside his Storage Pouch.

The green light transformed from the silver needle traced an arc through the air before finally piercing straight through Real Person Fire Python's glabella.

The latter's body stiffened, and he fell completely silent.

With a thought from Ji Yuan, the mountain-sized Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain immediately transformed into a streak of light and returned to his Dantian.

The other nine sword embryos followed suit.

Before his figure even reached the ground, while he was still in midair and had just concealed himself within the reformed Stellar Whirl Cloud Barrier Formation, he took another Spiritual Artifact from his Storage Pouch.

The Thousand Souls Banner.

The Soul Banner rose, and souls drifted through the air.

As Ji Yuan muttered an incantation, the Soul Banner in his hand fluttered, and wisps of wandering gray mist gradually appeared in the surrounding air.

Eventually, the gray mist gathered before him and transformed into the appearance of Real Person Fire Python.

However, compared to when he had been alive, he now appeared rather dazed and confused.

He had been a Golden Core cultivator in life, and even his Yin Soul after death possessed Foundation Establishment strength. What a treasure!

“Collect!”

As Ji Yuan waved the Thousand Souls Banner in his hand, Real Person Fire Python's Yin Soul was immediately drawn inside.

Including the Yin Soul of Real Person Heaven Silkworm that he had previously collected, Ji Yuan had now gathered the Yin Souls of two Golden Core cultivators.

At that very moment, the Thousand Souls Banner, which had just absorbed the Yin Soul of a Golden Core cultivator, suddenly erupted with an intense surge of Yin Energy.

'Is this… about to advance?!'

The Thousand Souls Banner was originally a growth-type Spiritual Artifact. Furthermore, Ji Yuan had continuously nurtured it within the 【Grave Mound】. Now, it could finally advance!

It had originally been a High-Grade Spiritual Artifact. Advancing again would place it in the category of Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

'With this, my Demonic Path identity will have two Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, the Five Poisons Snake Staff and the Thousand Souls Banner. Meanwhile, my Righteous Path identity still doesn't have a single one… But I do have Magic Treasures, so I suppose that's acceptable.'

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Ji Yuan looked at the Thousand Souls Banner, which was continuously releasing and absorbing Yin Energy, and could not help developing a strange feeling.

'Could this Thousand Souls Banner actually be alive? Why does it look so much like it's breathing?'

Having gained experience from handling the Yin Ghost Flag previously, Ji Yuan took out a separate Storage Pouch this time and placed the Thousand Souls Banner inside.

Only then did he land on the ground.

Real Person Fire Python lay on the sand, his two lifeless, fish-like eyes opened extremely wide. A slender silver needle still emitting green light had pinned him to the sand through his glabella.

It resembled a coffin nail sealing a coffin shut.

Ji Yuan casually retrieved the Heavenly Poison Needle. He then removed a Storage Pouch from Real Person Fire Python's waist and weighed it in his hand. It was extremely heavy.

Presumably, it contained quite a few valuable treasures.

The Life-Bound Magic Treasure in his hand was also excellent, so Ji Yuan claimed everything without hesitation. Finally, he looked at Real Person Fire Python's corpse… This was top-quality Immortal Material, and it absolutely could not be wasted.

Once he buried it in the 【Grave Mound】 and waited for it to revive, he would have two Golden Core-stage Corpse Servants.

Moreover, Ji Yuan had deliberately avoided using any killing moves that would severely damage the body this time, specifically to preserve the corpse's integrity.

Otherwise, given his usual temperament, after Real Person Fire Python died, he would have used Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain to suppress him viciously once more, preferably crushing his intestines out of his body. Only then would he have felt completely reassured.

But now…

After finishing his looting, Ji Yuan placed the perfectly intact corpse into his Storage Pouch, intending to bury it in the 【Grave Mound】 the next time he returned.

After thoroughly looting Real Person Fire Python's corpse, Ji Yuan finally walked to the side, preparing to harvest the Third-Tier Fire Python.

The severely injured Ice Flood Dragon was still drawing out the Demon Core.

Admittedly, when it had just killed the Fire Python, Ji Yuan had indeed felt a moment of compassion and intended to let the Ice Flood Dragon devour and refine the Demon Core.

However, after reconsidering and remembering the enormous pressure imposed by his building upgrades, he abandoned that compassionate idea.

Instead, he issued an absolute command: it was forbidden from devouring the Demon Core!

Otherwise, he would kill it and extract its own Demon Core.

Poor Ice Flood Dragon. It had fought for its master all its life, yet it still had to endure such threats… Ji Yuan could not help feeling somewhat guilty.

Therefore, after snatching the Demon Core from the Ice Flood Dragon's mouth, he casually released a stream of pure Cold Mist to freeze its body.

Afterward, he took out a bottle of Ice Soul Cold Dew from his Storage Pouch. The amount was probably equivalent to four or five days of production from the 【Fish Pond】, yet he poured all of it into the Ice Flood Dragon's mouth at once.

Only then did he place it into the Spiritual Beast Pouch along with the Fire Python's corpse, intending to let the Ice Flood Dragon refine the corpse once it had recovered somewhat.

He had not given it the Demon Core, but surely he could at least give it the corpse.

After everything had been settled, Ji Yuan was just about to retrieve his formations and head west to investigate.

However, he suddenly sensed an enormous explosion coming from the north, accompanied by faint tremors in the ground.

'How far away is the battlefield between Ice-Fire Elder and Venerable Dark…? Yet the commotion can still reach this place. Is this what a battle between Peak Golden Core cultivators is like?'

Ji Yuan, who had just been considering checking on the battle, immediately abandoned the idea.

He deactivated his formations, turned his Flying Boat around, and headed straight south without looking back.

At this moment, only returning to the Pill Refining Room could give him some sense of security.

However, before leaving, he did not forget to erase every trace of his remaining aura from the riverbank.

Heavy rain descended from the heavens, eventually pouring into the Falling Star River.

Along with it, every trace of his aura disappeared.

Only the auras of Real Person Fire Python and his Fire Python remained at the scene.

When Ice-Fire Elder had brought Ji Yuan along earlier, the journey had not seemed particularly long. However, now that he was piloting his own Flying Boat, even though it was already the Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifact-level Sky-Splitter Flying Boat, it still took him half an hour to arrive.

Looking at the enormous formation towering over the plains, Ji Yuan finally felt the weight lift from his heart.

“Hey, Brother Ji! Over here, over here!”

On the northern wall of the Pill Refining Room.

At some point, Spiritual Energy Cannons had already been installed there. Li Changhe stood behind one of the cannons, shouting loudly.

Ji Yuan, who had originally been flying close to the ground, increased his altitude slightly and immediately slipped through the opening in the formation.

While still in midair, he put away his Flying Boat. He then performed several somersaults before landing perfectly beside Li Changhe.

Only after returning to the Pill Refining Room did Ji Yuan discover that Spiritual Energy Cannons had been installed not only here but also in several other locations.

Furthermore, quite a few unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivators had appeared inside the Pill Refining Room… Were they really planning to abandon Shang Mountain, lure the Demonic Cultivators inside, and then fight them?

If that was the case, could it truly still be considered defense?

Or perhaps… the Six Immortal Sects had already given up resisting.

The situation before him inevitably reminded Ji Yuan of the intelligence he had gathered inside the Demonic Den.

“Are you alright?”

Li Changhe hurried forward and examined Ji Yuan from head to toe with concern. “Senior Brother Hu said you ventured deep into the Demonic Den. Senior Ice-Fire is still fighting that Demonic Cultivator. How did things go?”

“I'm fine.”

Ji Yuan looked at the unfamiliar cultivators who had gathered around and cupped his hands slightly. “Greetings, fellow Daoists.”

“It's good that Fellow Daoist Wuyou has returned safely. Very good indeed.”

“……”

“Mm. I used a secret treasure my master gave me and was fortunate enough to escape with my life.”

With so many people present, Ji Yuan did not elaborate. He merely exchanged a few greetings before joining Li Changhe beside the Spiritual Energy Cannon, helping guard the northern wall of the Pill Refining Room.

At the same time, he quietly released his Divine Sense to examine the Spiritual Energy Cannon beside him.

It was new, completely brand-new. However, judging from the Formation Patterns engraved on it, it should only be equivalent to his own Level 1 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】. Its power was not particularly impressive.

“The Six Sects must have made some major decision. When I went back this time, I encountered Martial Uncle Yun Yuan coming down from Shang Mountain… I asked him about it, but he refused to say anything.”

“What about Martial Uncle Duocai?”

Ji Yuan asked.

“My father went to another Market Town. Otherwise, if he knew anything, he would definitely tell me.”

As Li Changhe spoke, he glanced back toward the Pill Refining Room before continuing through Divine Sense Voice Transmission:

“But I'm certain something major has happened. Later, when I traveled from the sect to this Pill Refining Room, I even managed to hitch a ride with Martial Uncle Hunter Owl. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to make the round trip so quickly.”

“Martial Uncle Hunter Owl came too? Doesn't that mean there are now several more Golden Core cultivators in this Pill Refining Room?” Ji Yuan asked in surprise.

“You might not believe it, but six Golden Core cultivators have actually gathered inside this tiny Pill Refining Room. And that doesn't even include Senior Ice-Fire, who hasn't returned yet.”

…Had the Six Sects really acted so quickly?

It had not been long since Ji Yuan obtained the intelligence from the Demonic Den, yet the Six Sects had already made arrangements for numerous Market Towns.

“The Wangcheng Mountain Pill Refining Room really has become something like a fortress now.”

Li Changhe sighed.

“Indeed.”

Ji Yuan could not help thinking about the Water Dragon Sect.

With the Six Sects making such arrangements, the defenses of their sects would surely be weakened. Perhaps they would even have to withdraw and consolidate their defensive lines. In that case, what would happen to my Wuyou Island…? But Master definitely wouldn't leave. As long as she remained in the sect, there was no need to worry too much.

Just as Ji Yuan was considering whether to tell Li Changhe the information he had obtained, an enormous pillar of flame suddenly erupted in the north, soaring straight into the heavens and dispersing countless dark clouds.

Immediately afterward came a terrifying wave of Spiritual Energy, accompanied by Ice-Fire Elder's maniacal laughter.

“Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for protecting my path!!!”

As those words rang out, Ji Yuan saw a streak of gray light shoot straight across the sky, heading even farther north.

Ice-Fire Elder… had he won?

RelatedRelatedRelated