Chapter 295 ·【Sword Cottage: lv1】

Ji ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yuan looked at the first High-Grade Spiritual Artifact he had forged with his own hands and felt rather delighted.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍casually flourished the sword before tossing it into the air.

Driven ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍by Spiritual Energy, the sword transformed into a streak of white light and darted around the courtyard before finally returning to his hand.

“Since ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍your sword light is white, I'll name you ‘White Gap’.”

This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the first High-Grade Spiritual Artifact Ji Yuan had personally forged, and it was even a sword-type Spiritual Artifact. Naturally, he intended to keep it as a memento.

As ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍for upgrading the 【Sword Cottage】, the panel only required sword-type Spiritual Artifacts.

Low-Grade Spiritual Artifacts counted, and Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifacts would also suffice. There was no need to use High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

That would be far too extravagant.

After putting away the treasured sword, Ji Yuan once again thanked Real Person Fire Python in his heart for his generous contribution.

If not for the set of Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifact-level refining equipment he had left behind, along with those books recording his Artifact Refining experience.

It would not have been nearly so easy for Ji Yuan to break through to become a Second-Tier High-Grade Artifact Refiner.

For the time being, Ji Yuan could not concern himself with continuing to forge swords to upgrade the 【Sword Cottage】.

Having finally improved his Artifact Refining skills, he naturally had to try refining Heavenly Thunder Seeds.

He had already begun preparing the materials needed to refine Heavenly Thunder Seeds when he was still at Early Foundation Establishment.

Now that he had reached Peak Foundation Establishment, he estimated that if he used all the materials he had accumulated, he could produce four or five hundred of them.

Fierce Fire Sulfur, Hundred-Ground Rock Niter, charcoal made from thousand-year-old Ling Wood, and Second-Tier Thunderfire Stones.

When these numerous materials were combined in precise proportions and carefully refined by a Second-Tier High-Grade Artifact Refiner, they could produce Heavenly Thunder Seeds of astonishing destructive power.

Ji Yuan was currently at Peak Foundation Establishment. If he had Heavenly Thunder Seeds to assist him… he would undoubtedly be unstoppable in future battles!

However, he had to be extremely careful when refining them.

One reason Heavenly Thunder Seeds were so rare was that very few Artifact Refiners knew how to make them.

The other reason was… many of the Artifact Refiners who had mastered the technique had blown themselves up.

Ji Yuan, however, was fearless.

Not only had his magical power reached Peak Foundation Establishment, but his Body Cultivation had also reached Peak Foundation Establishment.

Even if a Heavenly Thunder Seed exploded right beside him, he would probably suffer only minor injuries.

A single Improved Blood Aura Pill would then restore him completely, regardless of his injuries.

Thus, over the following days, Ji Yuan began cautiously experimenting with refining Heavenly Thunder Seeds.

At first, since he lacked experience, he did not dare attempt mass production.

If a chain of explosions occurred and blew him to pieces, he would truly become the greatest laughingstock in the entire world.

Fortunately, Ji Yuan was sufficiently careful. His Divine Sense, in particular, was already comparable to that of a Middle Golden Core cultivator. Therefore, he encountered no major problems with measuring the ingredients, determining their proportions, or manually refining the Heavenly Thunder Seed.

And so, the first Heavenly Thunder Seed he had ever personally refined—success!

Once the first one succeeded, the rest came much more quickly.

He succeeded several times in succession.

However, when a person succeeded too many times, it was easy to become overconfident. Ji Yuan was no exception.

When he was refining the fifth one, a moment of carelessness caused…

“Boom——”

Accompanied by an enormous explosion loud enough to alarm the entire Pill Refining Room, Ice-Fire Elder appeared outside Ji Yuan's courtyard almost instantly. Without a word, he tore open the formation and forced his way inside.

“Brat Ji, where the hell are you?!”

Dust and smoke filled the entire courtyard, and an enormous crater several zhang deep had appeared in the ground.

The surrounding walls had shattered, and the buildings had collapsed.

The entire courtyard had been reduced to ruins.

And this was the result even after Ji Yuan had used his formations to contain and suppress the explosion with all his might. Had he not done so, the entire northwestern corner of the Pill Refining Room might have collapsed. At the very least, several nearby streets would have been destroyed.

“Here, here.”

Ji Yuan immediately deactivated all his building effects before climbing out of the deep crater.

At this moment, his clothes were torn to shreds, and his entire body was covered in blood. Because he had been so close to the explosion, blood was even flowing from all seven of his facial orifices.

After climbing out, he decided to make his injuries appear even more convincing. He promptly lay down on the ground and began gasping heavily for breath.

Ice-Fire Elder approached him. Before he could speak, several streaks of Escape Light rose from different parts of the city and approached the courtyard.

“All of you, return to your posts. I'm here.”

Ice-Fire Elder waved his broad sleeve, and the other Golden Core cultivators finally withdrew.

However, there was one exception.

Real Person Hunter Owl did not leave. Not only did he stay, but he also entered Ji Yuan's courtyard directly.

“Ji Yuan, what the hell were you doing here?”

After entering, Real Person Hunter Owl even cast a somewhat distrustful glance at Ice-Fire Elder.

As fellow members of the same sect, they naturally had to trust their own people.

“Nothing, nothing.”

Seeing the look in Real Person Hunter Owl's eyes, Ji Yuan hurriedly sat up and waved his hand, dispersing the dust-filled mist before him. Only then did he speak in a slightly weakened voice:

“I just wanted to… I wanted to dismantle a Heavenly Thunder Seed and see whether I could figure out the proportions of its ingredients. Then I'd be able to make Heavenly Thunder Seeds myself.”

As Ji Yuan spoke, he hurriedly covered his mouth and began coughing violently. Only after coughing up a clot of blood lodged in his throat did he feel considerably better.

“But I didn't expect to make a mistake. I accidentally detonated the Heavenly Thunder Seed while dismantling it. Fortunately… fortunately, I reacted quickly and suppressed the explosion with my formations. Otherwise, I really would've been finished today.”

After hearing his explanation, Ice-Fire Elder could no longer restrain himself and slapped Ji Yuan on the head.

“You little bastard, listen to the way you're talking!”

“I've never seen anyone as reckless as you! Dismantling a Heavenly Thunder Seed to study its formula? If it were that simple, Heavenly Thunder Seeds would be everywhere by now!”

Ice-Fire Elder glared at him fiercely.

Real Person Hunter Owl had originally suspected that something shady had happened, which was why Ice-Fire Elder had rushed over immediately to take control of the situation.

Now that he understood what had happened, it really was something too embarrassing to reveal.

If this news spread, the Water Dragon Sect would become a laughingstock.

“It's fortunate you weren't blown to death. Otherwise, future Artifact Refiners would have to erect a warning monument with your name specifically carved onto it.”

Real Person Hunter Owl did not speak much, but his words were particularly hurtful.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Ji Yuan could only grin foolishly.

“Enough. If you're not dead, get up and repair this place. If I ever catch you experimenting with Heavenly Thunder Seeds inside this Pill Refining Room again, I'll slap you to death myself!”

After delivering this fierce warning, Ice-Fire Elder finally transformed into a streak of Escape Light and departed.

“You really… If you ever do something like this again…”

Before Real Person Hunter Owl could finish, Ji Yuan hurriedly replied:

“Don't worry. Whenever I'm outside, I'll definitely tell everyone I'm from Medicine King Valley.”

To make his imitation more convincing, Ji Yuan even adopted a slight accent from the Medicine King Valley region.

Real Person Hunter Owl: “……”

“Just make sure you don't tell anyone you're a disciple of my Water Dragon Sect.”

Real Person Hunter Owl was too embarrassed to remain any longer. In the end, he could only transform into a streak of Escape Light and leave.

After seeing both seniors off, Ji Yuan reactivated his formations, enveloping the courtyard once again.

He then swallowed a Blood Aura Pill.

In less than half an hour, his injuries had completely healed. After restoring the damaged buildings with spells, he resumed refining Heavenly Thunder Seeds.

Having experienced that potentially fatal danger, Ji Yuan was now more alert than ever and did not dare allow himself the slightest moment of carelessness.

Consequently, he encountered no further problems throughout the subsequent refining process.

Furthermore, as he became increasingly familiar with the process, the likelihood of making mistakes diminished even more.

Until half a month later.

Ji Yuan successfully refined three Heavenly Thunder Seeds simultaneously. Just as he was preparing to rest for a while, he received a message from Ice-Fire Elder.

“Brat, how are your injuries? We're short on manpower. If you've recovered, get your ass over to the eastern side and stand guard.”

Ji Yuan withdrew from his Heavenly Thunder Seed refining state and casually waved his hand, putting away all the Artifact Refining equipment in the courtyard.

He then activated the 【Cave Dwelling】 effect, restoring the dust-covered buildings around him to their original condition.

After confirming that he had overlooked nothing, he finally took out Ice-Fire Elder's Communication Talisman and replied:

“I'm fully recovered. This junior will head over immediately.”

After sending his reply, Ji Yuan did not linger. He took out his Wind Locust Flying Boat and headed straight toward the eastern city wall.

Having spent another several months without leaving his residence, Ji Yuan paid particular attention to the city as he passed through it.

The city itself was still relatively peaceful, without any obvious changes.

However, the Pill Refiners coming and going all seemed hurried and anxious. None displayed the relaxed demeanor they had possessed before.

Yet when Ji Yuan reached the eastern city wall, he discovered that the situation there was entirely different.

Outside the formation protecting the city wall, the ground was covered in craters and scars left behind by bombardments of spells.

Even the city wall itself had acquired numerous marks of damage.

The Spiritual Energy Cannons, which had originally been brand-new, now showed obvious signs of use.

The cannon closest to the city gate, judging by the cracks on its surface, could probably only operate at its first power setting.

Even at that setting, it would not be able to fire many more times.

The only relatively good news was that the defensive formation had suffered no damage and remained completely intact.

If even the formation had begun developing problems… Ji Yuan would have had to start preparing his escape.

'As expected of a formation provided by the Li and Huang Families, two Nascent Soul families. Their foundations really are no joke.'

During the past few months, Ji Yuan had remained at home, where his formations isolated him from everything outside. As a result, he genuinely had not heard the disturbances occurring beyond his residence.

“Greetings, Island Lord Wuyou.”

Not long after Ji Yuan landed, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Spirit Taming Sect descended beside him.

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist Huang Ming.”

Ji Yuan looked at the man and thought for a moment before finally recalling his name.

“Since Fellow Daoist Wuyou has arrived, I'll return and rest first. I've been guarding this place for an entire month without a single break.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Brother Huang Ming.”

There was no elaborate handover. They simply exchanged greetings and confirmed that Ji Yuan had arrived to take over the position.

After seeing Huang Ming off, Ji Yuan also greeted the other Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed nearby, letting them know that someone had arrived to replace the previous guard.

Furthermore, he had only been guarding the wall for a single day when Li Changhe somehow learned of his return and came over to chat.

“Brother, you've finally decided to come out of seclusion.”

Li Changhe spoke those words aloud, but his next sentence was delivered through Divine Sense Voice Transmission. “I heard you dismantled a Heavenly Thunder Seed at home and nearly blew yourself to death?”

“Wait, how did you know?”

Ji Yuan had assumed that neither Real Person Hunter Owl nor Ice-Fire Elder was the talkative type. Surely neither would spread such an embarrassing story.

“What do you mean, how did I know? Everyone in the Pill Refining Room knows about it now.”

Li Changhe rolled his eyes. “Apparently, Zhou Sanbao of the Spirit Taming Sect happened to be passing nearby. After learning what happened, he spread the story.”

“Zhou Sanbao…”

Ji Yuan had previously obtained information about every Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed at the Pill Refining Room from Real Person Hunter Owl. Therefore, as soon as Li Changhe mentioned the name, he immediately matched it to a face.

Coincidentally, he discovered that Zhou Sanbao was a member of the Demon-Hunting Squad.

He was none other than the Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator who had spoken up in the main hall and suggested removing Ji Yuan from the squad.

“That's right. According to my sources, he's spoken badly about you in front of others more than once. He said your cultivation was nothing special, yet you still wanted to sneak into the Demon-Hunting Squad.”

“He also said it was fortunate you knew your place and withdrew voluntarily. Otherwise, with the kind of intelligence that makes you dismantle Heavenly Thunder Seeds yourself, even if you'd joined the Demon-Hunting Squad, you'd only have been a useless teammate who dragged everyone down.”

After speaking, Li Changhe narrowed his eyes. “I've already taught the others who mocked you a lesson. But that bastard is also from a Nascent Soul family, so it's not particularly convenient for me to make a move against him.”

“Of course, if you can't swallow this insult, I can still help you teach him a lesson. He's only a Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, after all.”

Ji Yuan frowned slightly, trying to recall when he might have offended Zhou Sanbao.

However, no matter how much he thought about it, he could not remember ever having any dealings with the man.

“Forget it. Their mouths belong to them. They can say whatever they want. Let them be.”

Ji Yuan would not take such petty verbal disputes to heart. He would only… eliminate the problem at its roots.

If a suitable opportunity arose, he would not mind getting rid of Zhou Sanbao as well.

After all, the Ice Flood Dragon had finally advanced into a Peak Second-Tier Demon Beast, and it also needed to experience a bloody battle to continue growing.

“Fair enough. With your personality, you really don't like fighting.”

As Li Changhe spoke, he glanced toward the city. “Let me introduce you to a new friend. He's also from our Water Dragon Sect, a junior brother of ours. He's quite an interesting fellow.”

“Sure.”

Someone Li Changhe considered a friend was bound to have a decent personality. There was no harm in getting acquainted.

Li Changhe spoke a few words into his Communication Talisman. Soon afterward, a handsome young man flew over from within the city.

Li Changhe acted as the intermediary and introduced them to each other.

Ji Yuan was not an aloof person, so he quickly became familiar with Liu Qingshan, who went by the title “Island Lord Green Mountain.”

Liu Qingshan even began addressing him as “Big Brother Ji” at every opportunity.

“It's only because you have such a good temper, Big Brother Ji. If it were me…”

“What would you do?”

Li Changhe teased.

“If it were me, I'd have already gone straight to his doorstep and challenged him.”

Liu Qingshan, who had only recently reached Foundation Establishment, made this bold declaration but immediately felt somewhat embarrassed himself.

Ji Yuan merely smiled and did not take it seriously.

After all, the young man had only recently reached Foundation Establishment. It was perfectly normal for him to be somewhat hotheaded.

“Look, the members of the Demon-Hunting Squad are back.”

Liu Qingshan was sitting opposite Ji Yuan when he suddenly pointed behind him.

“Oh?”

Ji Yuan turned around and indeed saw several streaks of light flying toward the Pill Refining Room.

Judging by their direction, they really were heading toward the eastern city gate.

Ji Yuan shook out his sleeves and rose to his feet, positioning himself in front of the other two.

Soon, the group returned from outside. They seemed to have just finished killing Demonic Cultivators, as their auras had not yet completely subsided, placing a certain amount of pressure on Liu Qingshan.

Li Changhe quietly stepped forward and shielded their new friend behind him.

Ji Yuan looked at the group, and they looked back at him.

“It seems Fellow Daoist Wuyou has finally recovered from his injuries? What wonderful news. How about this? Why don't I host a banquet in the city in a few days to celebrate Fellow Daoist Wuyou's recovery?”

One member separated from the Demon-Hunting Squad and eventually stopped before Ji Yuan, hovering atop his Flying Sword.

“That's very thoughtful of you, Fellow Daoist Zhou.”

Ji Yuan examined the man from head to toe with a smile that did not reach his eyes. Suddenly remembering something, he said:

“Oh, right. My Senior Sister once said that if you hadn't been so ugly back then, she might actually have agreed to your proposal.”

“You!”

Zhou Sanbao, who was already rather short, flew into a rage upon hearing this. Spiritual Energy surged from his body as he immediately advanced a chi.

Before Ji Yuan could make a move, Li Changhe had already stepped in front of him.

“Oh? Pointing your sword at your own side, are you? How about I exchange a few moves with you?”

The other members of the Demon-Hunting Squad hurriedly restrained Zhou Sanbao, who was about to attack.

In the end, the farce came to an end.

After watching the members of the Demon-Hunting Squad leave, Li Changhe finally turned around.

“Does this have something to do with Island Lord Fire Phoenix?”

“Most likely.”

Ji Yuan recalled a previous conversation with Feng Zhitao, during which she had mentioned that a cultivator from the Spirit Taming Sect had been pursuing her.

Although she had not mentioned the man's name, she had described his appearance and personality.

Now that Ji Yuan thought back on it, the description matched Zhou Sanbao perfectly.

He had tested the man today and discovered that it really was him.

“Just a petty little man. Not worth bothering with.”

Li Changhe waved his hand dismissively.

Thus, over the following month, Ji Yuan went nowhere and remained stationed atop the eastern city wall. He either cultivated to increase his Spiritual Energy or studied the 《Sword Canon》 to improve his cultivation.

The members of the Demon-Hunting Squad returned to the Pill Refining Room and rested for more than half a month before setting out again.

A month later, after completing his guard rotation, Ji Yuan returned to the Pill Refining Room.

He treated the month as a period of rest. Upon returning to his Cave Dwelling, he resumed Artifact Refining.

Swords!

His cultivation had been delayed for quite some time. Now, it was finally time to upgrade the 【Sword Cottage】.

Ji Yuan had already prepared most of the fifty sword-type Magical Artifacts while practicing his refining skills. He had also traded with several Artifact Refiners inside the Pill Refining Room.

Before long, he had gathered all fifty.

However, he still needed to forge the five sword-type Spiritual Artifacts himself, which took somewhat longer.

He only succeeded in completing them after going through two full guard rotations.

And at the very moment he finished forging the swords, Ji Yuan chose to upgrade the building on the spot.

He placed the swords inside an empty room in his residence. The room, which previously could not be assigned a building designation, immediately acquired one on its own.

【Sword Cottage: lv0】

Ji Yuan glanced at the panel, then took out another ten thousand Middle-Grade Spirit Stones and piled them on the ground.

With a thought, he selected the upgrade option.

As his intention took effect, the numerous swords disappeared. In their place, the room became filled with countless sharp streams of Sword Qi.

Their piercing sharpness was enough to intimidate anyone who entered.

At the very moment the 【Sword Cottage】 successfully upgraded, Ji Yuan distinctly felt that his understanding of sword techniques had deepened considerably.

To exaggerate slightly, he even felt as though the Spiritual Energy within his body now contained much more Sword Qi.

Even his connection with the nine Canglan Swords seemed to have grown closer.

Although they had not yet been refined into true Magic Treasures, much less Life-Bound Magic Treasures, he already felt as though he could control them as effortlessly as his own arms and fingers.

'Is this the miraculous effect of Sword Specialization +10%?'

Just as Ji Yuan was preparing to summon his panel and examine the effects of the Level 2 【Sword Cottage】, three Communication Talismans inside his Storage Pouch suddenly lit up in succession.

“Has something happened?”

That was his immediate thought.

He no longer had time to examine the panel and hurriedly took out the three Communication Talismans.

His Divine Sense swept across them.

He discovered that the messages from Li Changhe and Liu Qingshan both concerned the same matter.

“The Demon-Hunting Squad has suffered a disaster. They were ambushed and attacked by Demonic Cultivators. Of the six members, three were killed, including Zhou Sanbao.”

The remaining illuminated Communication Talisman belonged to Island Lord Red Flower. She was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Water Dragon Sect stationed here, and she was responsible for handling Flying Sword Messages.

“Senior Brother Wuyou, two Flying Sword Messages have arrived for you, and both were sent from the sect.”

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