Chapter 294 ·Second-Tier High-Grade Artifact Refiner

Ji ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yuan had no idea what happened afterward.

Because ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍after he said those words, Ice-Fire Elder had driven him out in exasperation. Fortunately, Ji Yuan was perfectly happy with that outcome.

A ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Demon-Hunting Squad?

Was ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that really somewhere a sensible person should go? The methods of the Demonic Path were already bizarre and unpredictable. Whenever ordinary Righteous Path cultivators encountered Demonic Cultivators, they would flee as far as possible, only turning around to fight when escape was no longer an option… Just like Ji Yuan.

Yet ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍now they were expected to actively seek out Demonic Cultivators and deliver themselves right to their doorsteps.

How ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was that any different from courting death?

Admittedly, the Demon-Hunting Squad consisted entirely of Eastern Shang's elite cultivators.

But did that mean Western Shang had no elite cultivators of its own?

Ji Yuan could guarantee that the Demon-Hunting Squad would enjoy its success for at most a month. During that first month, the Demonic Path would not have reacted yet, giving them opportunities to succeed.

Once a month passed and the Demonic Path caught on, they would probably establish something like a “Righteous-Hunting Squad” and specifically set up ambushes outside Eastern Shang's Six Immortal Sects or the numerous Market Towns to hunt down these Righteous Path squads.

Thinking about it this way, the Demon-Hunting Squad might actually be setting a terrible precedent.

By then, both the Righteous and Demonic Paths would be targeting each other's talented disciples, and nobody would feel safe traveling outside.

As Ji Yuan pondered this, he walked toward his Cave Dwelling. However, before he reached home, Ice-Fire Elder's Divine Sense Voice Transmission sounded in his mind again.

…This was also something Ji Yuan had deliberately arranged.

He knew Ice-Fire Elder would certainly have a few more words for him, and he did not want to wait until he returned to his Cave Dwelling before communicating with the elder.

“You brat… I really don't know whether to call you stupid or something else!”

Ice-Fire Elder still sounded thoroughly exasperated. “Do you even understand what this Demon-Hunting Squad actually represents?”

“This junior does not.”

Ji Yuan slowed his footsteps and answered in his mind.

“In this Righteous-Demonic War, Qi Refining cultivators are cannon fodder, Foundation Establishment cultivators form the foundation, but the true pillars of strength are Core Formation cultivators. At present, Eastern Shang actually has fewer Core Formation cultivators than Western Shang. That's why the Six Immortal Sects came up with this plan.”

“They intend to use it to temper those Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators and devote their full efforts to helping them achieve Core Formation!”

“You brat, you truly have no idea. Even I was somewhat shocked when I saw the treasures the Six Immortal Sects brought out. The foundations of the Six Immortal Sects… are indeed extraordinarily deep.”

Ice-Fire Elder clicked his tongue in admiration before continuing, “It's true that you killed a Core Formation cultivator, but did you even consider how badly injured that useless Fire Python was at the time? Don't start thinking you've become particularly powerful.”

“Geniuses emerge endlessly throughout the world. Only by seizing every opportunity can one ultimately attain the Great Dao.”

Hearing this, Ji Yuan knew that the current Ice-Fire Elder was still the fire-aspected cultivator.

If he had changed into that ice-aspected cultivator, why would he bother saying so much?

He would only have one thing to say.

“Learn if you want. If not, get lost!”

Therefore, Ji Yuan replied without the slightest hesitation, “After escaping from the Demonic Den, this junior immediately returned to the Pill Refining Room. I certainly didn't kill any Core Formation cultivator.”

“Besides, even if this junior were at Peak Foundation Establishment, there would still be an entire major cultivation realm separating me from a Core Formation cultivator. How could I possibly kill one? Senior must have misunderstood me.”

Ice-Fire Elder chuckled.

“If you didn't kill Real Person Fire Python, then who did? Me?”

“What? Real Person Fire Python is dead? This junior genuinely didn't know that. I only knew that he had joined the Demonic Path. When I was inside the Demonic Den earlier, he was the one who exposed my identity.”

Ji Yuan's voice was filled with surprise, sounding completely genuine.

“Heh. If you say it wasn't you, then it wasn't you. You should seriously consider this matter first.”

Ice-Fire Elder did not continue arguing over whether Ji Yuan had killed Real Person Fire Python. Instead, he returned to the important matter.

“Yes.”

Ji Yuan nodded and genuinely gave the matter serious consideration.

Joining the Demon-Hunting Squad and venturing out to hunt Demonic Cultivators would undoubtedly be extremely dangerous. It would not even be an exaggeration to describe it as a situation with only a slim chance of survival.

Ji Yuan did not want to take that risk. He had no desire to live a life where his head was constantly on the chopping block.

That was the first reason.

Secondly, he did not have any particularly strong opinions about the distinction between the Righteous and Demonic Paths. In simple terms, he considered himself a “Neutral Cultivator.”

If he absolutely had to describe himself with a particular term, it would be… an Unorthodox Cultivator.

Therefore, he had no intention of risking his life for the so-called Righteous Path.

As for the third reason, it concerned the extraordinarily precious treasures Ice-Fire Elder had mentioned, those capable of assisting with Core Formation.

Ji Yuan only wanted to ask one question: No matter how useful those treasures were, could they possibly be more useful than the Core Essence Fruit?

One Core Essence Fruit every ten years.

Ji Yuan only needed to wait a few decades to achieve Core Formation. There was no reason for him to risk his life.

After all, a person could make countless choices, but he only had one life.

Thus, after pondering the matter for a long time, Ji Yuan finally said to Ice-Fire Elder through Divine Sense Voice Transmission, “This junior is simply too afraid of dying. I'm afraid I can only disappoint Senior's kind intentions.”

Ice-Fire Elder was genuinely a good person, so Ji Yuan did not want to deceive him. He simply told the truth.

“You're still placing your hopes on your master, aren't you? All I can say is that, ultimately, everything in cultivation depends on oneself.”

At this point, Ice-Fire Elder finally sighed.

“Do as you please.”

With that, he withdrew his Divine Sense and stopped trying to persuade Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan stood where he was for a moment. In the end, he did not turn back and instead strode toward his own Cave Dwelling.

Accompanied by a soft “Bang.”

The closing door seemed to separate him from the rest of the world.

Ji Yuan had just rendered a great service at the Demonic Den. Furthermore, he could technically be considered somewhat injured, so he had received special permission to temporarily withdraw from his rotating guard duties and recuperate at home.

He had originally intended to examine Real Person Fire Python's Storage Pouch and see whether it contained anything valuable. However, before he could take a closer look, he received a message from Li Changhe.

“Brother, we're all over at Martial Uncle Hunter Owl's place. Have you come out yet? If you have, hurry over.”

That single message instantly reminded Ji Yuan of something. They had just been assigned their duties, yet he had not even paid a visit to his own Martial Uncle!

To put it bluntly, given the current state of the world, one truly had to rely on fellow sect members when traveling outside.

“I just came out. I'll head over now.”

After replying, Ji Yuan did not even bother leaving through the door. Instead, he immediately formed a hand seal in his courtyard, activated Shadow-Following Technique, and vanished.

Only a few breaths later, his figure appeared outside a residence within the Pill Refining Room. Instead of displaying Real Person Hunter Owl's personal nameplate, the residence bore a plaque reading “Water Dragon Sect.”

This inevitably improved Ji Yuan's impression of Martial Uncle Hunter Owl.

Mm… Although he had previously beaten up the man's disciple and had even nearly killed him.

But since the man had never pursued the matter, Ji Yuan naturally had no reason to hold a grudge.

When pursuing the Great Dao, there was no need to be so petty.

After all, he was a dignified Core Formation cultivator. Surely he would not cling to such a trivial matter.

Before Ji Yuan could announce his arrival, Real Person Hunter Owl's Divine Sense Voice Transmission had already sounded in his mind. “Just come inside.”

Ji Yuan entered the residence and soon met his fellow sect members stationed at the Pill Refining Room.

There was Real Person Hunter Owl, a Middle Golden Core cultivator, along with ten Foundation Establishment cultivators whose cultivation ranged from Early Foundation Establishment to the Pseudo-Core Realm. Looking at their all-too-familiar Spiritual Robes and sensing the equally familiar water-aspected auras surrounding them…

Ji Yuan, who was far from home, actually felt as though he had encountered people from his hometown.

Real Person Hunter Owl, Wang Erniu, was tall and powerfully built. He wore a purple robe decorated with lightning patterns, and his entire bearing commanded respect without the need for anger. Upon seeing Ji Yuan arrive, he turned and said:

“Alright, Island Lord Wuyou has arrived as well. Next, let's discuss the internal arrangements for our Water Dragon Sect.”

“……”

Unlike Ice-Fire Elder, who had settled matters in just a few words.

The internal affairs of the Water Dragon Sect discussed under Real Person Hunter Owl were handled in considerable detail. Everyone sat together and discussed matters for nearly an hour before finally dispersing.

The discussions covered everything from how everyone should respond and escape if the Pill Refining Room were breached.

Even minor matters, such as who would be responsible for the sect's Flying Sword Messages, were addressed.

An hour later.

Ji Yuan returned to his own 【Cave Dwelling】 carrying more than a dozen Communication Talismans.

After returning, he activated two formations and numerous restrictions before finally taking a long whip from his Storage Pouch. The whip still radiated scorching heat.

During their earlier battle, Ji Yuan had been entirely focused on how to kill Real Person Fire Python, so he had not examined the man's Magic Treasure carefully.

Now that he held it in his hand, he finally saw that this long whip was different from ordinary rope whips. Its surface was actually covered in fine scales resembling those of the Fire Python.

Holding it did not feel like holding a whip at all. It felt more like… holding a snake.

Ji Yuan did not examine it any further. He gripped it firmly and refined it in an instant.

Information about the long whip soon appeared in his mind… It was called the Crimson Wave Whip, and its surface had been crafted from the hardest scales along the back of a Third-Tier Demon Beast known as the Crimson-Banded Snake.

Its core, meanwhile, had been made from countless Spiritual Wood roots, woven together by a Third-Tier Spirit Weaver over ten years before finally being completed.

After carefully examining it, Ji Yuan finally understood why the Crimson Wave Whip had been able to break through his heaven-slashing strike from Nine Swords Combined into One.

Firstly, it was a Life-Bound Magic Treasure controlled by a Golden Core cultivator.

Secondly, the Crimson Wave Whip itself was genuinely powerful.

Both were Life-Bound Magic Treasures belonging to Core Formation cultivators. If his own Canglan Sword was powerful, why should someone else's Magic Treasure be weak?

Everyone had obtained their cultivation and strength through arduous training. Ji Yuan had not even cultivated for as long as the other party, so there was no reason to assume his treasures should be superior.

Mm… Spiritual Platform Square-Inch Mountain was an exception.

After all, that was a Magic Treasure he had obtained through his special advantage. Cultivators without such an advantage naturally could not compare with him.

Provided, of course, that he did not encounter another cultivator who possessed a similar advantage.

Ji Yuan then refined the Crimson Wave Whip a little further before returning it to his Storage Pouch.

If he wanted to use it proficiently in the future, he would probably need to refine it thoroughly and spend considerable time familiarizing himself with it.

Especially since Ji Yuan was not skilled in whip techniques to begin with. He was only proficient in sword techniques… though his staff techniques were decent as well.

Afterward, Ji Yuan took out the Storage Pouch that Real Person Fire Python had left behind upon his death and swept through its contents with his Divine Sense.

For Ji Yuan, there was some pleasant surprise, but not much.

That was because the wealth inside the Storage Pouch matched his expectations of a Golden Core cultivator, but did not exceed them.

There were not many Spirit Stones, only around six thousand Middle-Grade Spirit Stones in total.

However, there were plenty of other items.

After all, any reasonably sensible cultivator would not keep too many Spirit Stones inside their Storage Pouch.

They only needed enough to maintain their daily cultivation.

As for the remaining treasures, there were no other Magic Treasures. Real Person Fire Python had possessed only the Crimson Wave Whip.

There was, however, one Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifact, and it happened to be an offensive Spiritual Artifact, precisely the kind Ji Yuan needed.

With a thought, Ji Yuan took it out.

It was a fairly common type of Flying Knife, specifically a willow-leaf-shaped Flying Knife named Fire Willow.

This was also something that left Ji Yuan somewhat dissatisfied. Most of its materials were fire-aspected, meaning it was best suited for cultivators who practiced fire techniques.

For an ice-aspected cultivator like Ji Yuan, its effectiveness would inevitably be somewhat reduced.

Nevertheless, it would still be perfectly usable in ordinary situations. After all, it was still activated through Spiritual Energy.

Besides, if he encountered an opponent whom the Fire Willow Flying Knife could not handle, he would have already combined his nine swords into one or summoned Real Person Heaven Silkworm.

After refining it briefly, he controlled the Flying Knife and sent it circling around the room several times.

Because he was activating it with ice-aspected Spiritual Energy, the Flying Knife left behind trails of red and blue flames wherever it passed, creating a remarkably beautiful sight.

It would probably be extremely compatible with Ice-Fire Elder.

But at that moment, a sudden flash of Spiritual Light appeared in Ji Yuan's mind.

He seemed to have uncovered a secret, and an enormous one at that.

“Ice-Fire Elder… Ice Elder, Fire Elder…”

Ji Yuan muttered these names to himself before looking at the Fire Willow Flying Knife that had returned to his hand.

He once again activated it using ice-aspected Spiritual Energy. The Flying Knife cut through the air, leaving intertwined red and blue trails of flame throughout the room.

If activating a fire-aspected Flying Knife with ice-aspected Spiritual Energy produced such an effect, then applying the same principle to a person… could it be possible for a fire-aspected cultivator to control an ice-aspected person?

Perhaps there had never been any split personality at all. Instead, Ice-Fire Elder had merely been controlling an ice-aspected person, making it appear as though he possessed ice-aspected abilities?

That would also explain why, during his earlier battle against Venerable Dark, he had started as an ice-aspected cultivator but had become a fire-aspected cultivator by the end.

Their battle had taken place above the Falling Star River. In such an environment, no matter how one looked at it, an ice-aspected cultivator should have held an advantage over a fire-aspected cultivator.

Yet the final outcome had been the exact opposite…

Therefore, perhaps there was no Ice Elder at all, only an ice-aspected person controlled by Fire Elder.

Just like his own Corpse Servants.

It was entirely possible that the ice-aspected person was also a Corpse Servant.

The more Ji Yuan thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

As for Ice-Fire Elder's purpose in doing this, that was even more obvious. By mixing truth and falsehood, he could conceal his true strength.

Venerable Dark, for example, had probably fallen victim to this deception.

“Looking at it this way, that Ice-Fire Elder in the dragon robe might appear upright and honorable, but he's actually full of dirty tricks. He's a thoroughly cunning old bastard. As expected of someone who used to be an emperor. He really isn't anything good.”

Ji Yuan pondered the matter for a while, but since he could not determine whether his speculation was correct, he stopped thinking about it.

Instead, he took a dark-yellow Demon Core from his Storage Pouch. Even while holding it in his palm, he could feel the pure Demonic Aura emanating from within.

A Demon Core, and a Third-Tier earth-aspected Demon Core at that.

Together with the Third-Tier fire-aspected Demon Core he had obtained after killing the Fire Python earlier.

Ji Yuan now possessed two Demon Cores in reserve!

The next time he needed to upgrade a building, he would finally no longer have to search everywhere for them.

It was always best to be prepared.

Afterward, Ji Yuan placed it back into his Storage Pouch, carefully storing it inside a specially made jade box.

Among the remaining treasures, the items that interested Ji Yuan most were an Artifact Refining Furnace and a large iron hammer.

Because they had been stored inside a separate Storage Pouch, he had not discovered them immediately.

Both the iron hammer and the furnace were Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

There were also entire chests filled with Artifact Refining materials.

…No wonder I thought this fellow barely had anything valuable. It turns out he kept everything in here.

Ji Yuan spent some time examining the items and discovered that Real Person Fire Python had most likely been a Peak Second-Tier Artifact Refiner.

In other words, he had been capable of forging Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifacts!

That ability alone made him more accomplished than Island Lord Iron Hammer had been.

Ji Yuan had been following the instructions left behind by Island Lord Iron Hammer, yet even now, he had not broken through to become a Second-Tier High-Grade Artifact Refiner.

But now… Ji Yuan's gaze settled on a bookshelf inside the Storage Pouch.

Several books had been piled haphazardly on the shelves, along with some diagrams covered in sketches and annotations. He took out a book and flipped through a few pages.

Excellent stuff.

They were all notes related to Artifact Refining!

…Once I've finished studying these materials, they should be enough to raise my Artifact Refining skills to Second-Tier High-Grade, right?

Once he could refine High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, it would mean he could mass-produce Heavenly Thunder Seeds.

At this thought, Ji Yuan became even more excited, to the point that he could hardly wait to begin experimenting.

He had even decided what he would forge while honing his skills: Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifact swords.

Because those could also be used to upgrade the 【Sword Cottage】!

Having made up his mind, Ji Yuan immediately got to work. After finishing his examination of Real Person Fire Python's Storage Pouch and confirming that he had overlooked nothing, he began reading the Artifact Refining notes.

Two days later, he drew upon the Earth Vein and set up the furnace in his courtyard.

The set of Artifact Refining equipment left behind by Real Person Fire Python consisted of a furnace called “Mountain-Suppressing Furnace” and an iron hammer called “Mountain-Shaking Hammer.” Both were Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Ji Yuan first spent nearly ten days familiarizing himself with the equipment. During this period, he also quenched and heated some of the materials he intended to refine, carrying out a round of basic preliminary processing.

Ten days later, once he had become reasonably familiar with the equipment.

Only then did he officially begin forging the Spiritual Artifacts he needed.

To upgrade the 【Sword Cottage】 to Level 1, he needed five sword-type Spiritual Artifacts.

Ji Yuan already possessed a Flowing Frost Flying Sword. Even counting that one, he was still four swords short.

And that was without mentioning the fifty sword-type Magical Artifacts required all at once.

Therefore, he would have plenty of work to keep him occupied over the coming days.

Fortunately, Ice-Fire Elder had given him ample time, granting Ji Yuan a full three months of leave.

While Ji Yuan remained at home forging weapons, Li Changhe and the others did not have it nearly as easy.

They took turns guarding the city walls and had to remain constantly vigilant against attacks from the Demonic Path.

On this particular day.

Li Changhe was sitting beside a Spiritual Energy Cannon atop the city wall, resting with his eyes closed, when someone suddenly flew over from a distance and landed beside him.

“Brother Li, look. They've returned again.”

Hearing this, Li Changhe opened his eyes and looked eastward. Six streaks of light were flying back from outside the Market Town. Wherever they passed, the sounds of wind and thunder echoed continuously, only falling silent once they entered the Market Town.

“So what if they were selected for some Demon-Hunting Squad? They're only at Peak Foundation Establishment, not even Pseudo-Core cultivators yet, and they're already showing off like this. They really don't know how to spell the word death.”

The young man only dared to say this through Divine Sense Voice Transmission.

“It's alright. Just focus on your own cultivation.”

Li Changhe comforted him.

“No, it's just that I heard Island Lord Wuyou of our Water Dragon Sect was originally selected as well, but somehow withdrew… Now cultivators from the other sects keep using this matter to mock our Water Dragon Sect. I can't stand it.”

The young man, known as Island Lord Green Mountain, was clearly rather unhappy.

Li Changhe, however, was already accustomed to such things. He smiled and said, “So you want me to go teach them a lesson?”

“Well… that would be rather embarrassing to ask.”

Island Lord Green Mountain smiled sheepishly.

Li Changhe shook his head. “Do you really think they wouldn't mock our Water Dragon Sect if it weren't for Island Lord Wuyou's situation? Haven't the Six Sects always disliked one another? The Righteous-Demonic War has only brought them together on the surface.”

As Li Changhe spoke, he rose to his feet.

“Brother Li, where are you going?”

Island Lord Green Mountain hurriedly asked.

Li Changhe replied, “To teach them a lesson.”

“But didn't you just say…”

“They can mock the Water Dragon Sect, but they can't mock my brother.”

With those words, Li Changhe leaped into the air and landed atop the northern city wall.

“……”

“Success!”

As the final hammer strike fell, Ji Yuan looked at the High-Grade Spiritual Artifact sword in his hand and finally let out a long sigh of relief.

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