Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 163 [Mass Graveyard: lv2] - Dead Land Returns to Zombie Land (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Among the cities surrounding Yunyuze, Red Leaf City is one of the more chaotic.

Ji Yuan had bought the most corpses of cultivators in Red Leaf City on several occasions, so this time, in order to buy the corpses of Foundation Establishment cultivators, he came to Red Leaf City again.

"Zhu Tou".

After arriving at a secluded alley, Ji Yuan greeted the innkeeper familiarly.

The man who had been looking down at his accounts heard this address and angrily looked up, just about to hurl a few curses.

But once he saw the person's face clearly, his smile changed.

"I was wondering why the magpies were calling so early in the morning. It turns out Brother Qiu is coming. No wonder."

"You guessed I was going to bring you money again, didn't you?"

Having changed his appearance, his aura, and even his cultivation level, which had fallen back to the peak of Qi Refining, Ji Yuan sat down in front of this person.

This person's name was Zhu Ji, and he was also a cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining.

Ji Yuan was able to find him by following the same path Wang Mazi had taken.

After all, Tu Yue was bought from Wang Mazi. A few months ago, Ji Yuan obtained Wang Mazi's contact information in order to purchase more corpses.

That's when they found the man named Zhu Ji in front of them.

"Brother Qiu, what are you saying? This is clearly a mutually beneficial arrangement. What do you mean by giving money away?"

Zhu Ji feigned displeasure, but then took out a jade box from under the counter and said with a smile, "Here, this is some spiritual tea that I asked someone to bring back from Medicine King Valley. There isn't much, Brother Qiu, please take it back and have a taste."

For Zhu Ji, Qiu Qianhai was naturally a major client.

Others would ask for one or two bodies when they came, but Qiu Qianhai was asking for dozens at a time.

They wanted a huge number of corpses, and now they're coming again... so naturally they want more.

Such a major client is certainly worth cultivating a good relationship with in Zhuji.

Ji Yuan took the jade box and put it into his storage bag without even looking at it.

Seeing this, Zhu Ji laughed and asked, "Brother Qiu, how much do you want this time?"

"Not much this time."

Ji Yuan shook his head.

"Oh?"

Zhu Ji was taken aback at first, then immediately realized that since the quantity required was not large, the quality must be good.

"Peak of Qi Refining?"

Zhu Ji asked tentatively.

Ji Yuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "It needs to be even higher."

"What? Brother Qiu actually wants Foundation Establishment stage immortal materials?! This…"

"What's wrong, can't you handle it?"

Ji Yuan pressed for an answer.

Zhu Ji shook his head directly. "Brother Qiu can tell that I am only a Qi Refining cultivator and cannot obtain Foundation Establishment stage materials. But since you want them... I can introduce you."

If a recommendation is needed, it would naturally be to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Therefore, Zhu Ji did not say it directly, but asked Ji Yuan to choose for himself.

It's already quite rare for a Qi Refining cultivator to make a deal with a Foundation Establishment cultivator, let alone such a shady business... Ji Yuan even suspected that Zhu Ji in front of him was a demonic cultivator.

He also felt that Zhu Ji thought he was a demonic cultivator.

Otherwise, they would never have been so close.

By the same token, the person Zhu Ji was going to introduce to him was most likely a Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivator... Indeed, Ji Yuan didn't have much prejudice against demonic cultivators.

As long as you don't offend him, he thinks everyone is fine.

As for demonic cultivation techniques, Ji Yuan also knows some of them. In fact, his purpose in coming here this time is to enhance his demonic cultivation techniques.

"It's alright, but this Foundation Establishment senior..."

Ji Yuan frowned as he spoke, seemingly somewhat worried.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Ji immediately laughed and said, "Brother Qiu, you can rest assured. We are all businessmen and value integrity the most. Besides, our Immortal Materials Association has strict rules and regulations. If anyone dares to take advantage of a customer, we will all take advantage of him."

The Immortal Materials Association sounds like an organization, probably a group of people getting together to do this business... Ji Yuan looked up at Zhu Ji in front of him.

Seeing only a Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator, Ji Yuan was not alarmed.

Furthermore, this place is not far from the Water Dragon Sect. Even if a Golden Core cultivator were to try to kill him, Ji Yuan could hold out until Hua Yaoyue came to his rescue.

"In that case, I'll have to trouble Zhu Tou."

"Hey, we're all brothers, Brother Qiu, you're too kind of yourself."

After tidying up a bit, Zhu Ji closed the door and led Ji Yuan away.

At first, Ji Yuan thought that the Foundation Establishment cultivator was also in Red Leaf City, until Zhu Ji led him out of the city from the west, and he realized that this person was actually outside.

The two piloted their own flying boats and flew south for about two hours.

Finally, they landed in a market town located by the river.

Shanghefang.

Ji Yuan silently memorized the location, and then Zhu Ji led him to the front of an ordinary-looking courtyard.

Zhu Ji knocked on the door, three long knocks followed by two short ones, as if exchanging a secret signal.

Ji Yuan felt a divine sense sweep over him, and then the door opened.

"Come in."

A man's voice rang in Ji Yuan's ears.

After a while.

Ji Yuan saw a strange man dressed in a purple robe in the hall of the house. He seemed to be wearing makeup, and even his lips were covered in putty.

Demonic cultivators, damn it, they're all legitimate demonic cultivators... Ji Yuan never expected that there would be demonic cultivators in this market who dared to be so blatant.

But then I thought about it again and realized that the highest level of cultivation in this mountain market was probably only at the late stage of Qi Refining.

He's a Foundation Establishment cultivator hiding here; who could possibly discover him?

The man in purple robes sized up Ji Yuan, then his gaze fell on Zhu Ji. "One of our own?"

"Exactly."

Zhu Ji quickly stood up to reply.

"Greetings, Senior Hu."

Ji Yuan bowed in return. Zhu Ji had already introduced him when they arrived, saying that this senior's name was Hu Li.

Ji Yuan felt that it subtly matched the name "Fox," which was either a pseudonym or something more elaborate.

"Since we're all on the same side, there's no need for such formalities."

Before Hu Li finished speaking, Ji Yuan felt a divine sense constantly hovering around him, coming and going, as if trying to see through him completely.

"Just a demonic cultivator in the early Foundation Establishment stage, is he really so unruly of the rules of the martial world...?" Ji Yuan hesitated slightly, but still chose to respond with his divine sense, and in doing so, he directly broke through Hu Li's divine sense defense, transmitting his voice directly into Hu Li's mind:

"Fellow Daoist, isn't it a bit excessive to use your divine sense to investigate people?"

Ji Yuan's spiritual sense, enhanced by the Meditation Room, far surpasses that of other cultivators of the same level.

Hu Li, who was just a cultivator in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, was easily crushed by Ji Yuan's divine sense.

Hu Li was stunned when he heard the divine message in his mind.

He looked at Qiu Qianhai, who was at the "peak of Qi Refining", with a hint of disbelief.

He appears to me as a peak Qi Refining cultivator, but his spiritual sense far surpasses mine. What does this mean?

This means his cultivation level is probably far beyond mine!

Ji Yuan just smiled and looked at him without saying a word.

Hu Li took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Zhu Ji, you should go back first. I... I want to have a private talk with this fellow Daoist."

"Um?"

Zhu Ji never expected that he would become an outsider upon their first meeting.

But since Hu Li had spoken, he certainly couldn't say anything in rebuttal, so he could only stand up and bow.

"I shall take my leave."

After Zhu Ji had completely left the courtyard, Hu Li quickly got up, came to Ji Yuan, and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Senior Qiu. I apologize for not knowing your identity earlier."

Ji Yuan casually beckoned Hu Li to bring him some tea, poured himself a cup, but didn't drink it, just held it in his hand and played with it.

After leaving Hu Li standing there for a while, he slowly said:

"If this had happened decades ago, with my explosive temper, I would have slapped you to death against the wall long ago."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Hu Li broke out in a cold sweat and was so frightened that he didn't dare to look up.

"Alright, get up."

Ji Yuan knew he couldn't possibly drink the demonic cultivator's tea, so after placing the teacup on the table, he casually remarked...

Hu Li still didn't dare to move. Ji Yuan's voice turned cold, "What, do you want me to help you up myself?"

"No, no, I wouldn't dare."

Hu Li was then convinced that Ji Yuan was not being sarcastic, and quickly got up and stood aside.

"How's it going? It's not easy hiding within the Water Dragon Sect, is it?"

Ji Yuan asked meaningfully.

Hu Li hesitated for a moment before replying, "Reporting to Senior, in Shangdong, it's not easy for any demonic cultivator to get by. They're treated like rats in the street, sigh."

"I don't think it's that difficult for you. Look, the Immortal Materials Association has already been built."

"This... Senior, you may not know this, but our Immortal Materials Association is actually protected by so-called righteous cultivators. Otherwise, how could we dare to be so open and aboveboard?"

"Oh? Who?"

Ji Yuan guessed on the way here that someone must be protecting them, otherwise these demonic cultivators would not be able to sell corpses so openly, and even Yun Yuze had been taken advantage of.

"I heard that some Golden Core cultivators, like those from our Shui Nan area, such as the Shui Long Sect, Medicine King Valley, and Huan Xi Palace, have actually gotten involved in this business, but we subordinates don't know exactly who they are."

Hu Li dared not conceal anything.

All three righteous immortal sects are represented. As expected, righteousness and evil are just disguises; ultimately, it all comes down to self-interest.

"And...and...you must have heard about what happened in the west, senior. Our good days are finally coming soon."

Huli cupped his hands in greeting.

In the west, demonic cultivators are having a good time... Ji Yuan has never heard of such a thing.

But that didn't stop him from knowing now, so he chuckled, giving Hu Li a mocking look, and said, "You really think it's that easy?"

After hearing what this "senior Qiu" said, Hu Li calmed down considerably.

"That's true. The Six Immortals Sect of Shangdong still has considerable resources, especially the Sword Ruins located on Shangshan Mountain. It won't be easy for us demonic cultivators to attack it."

Judging from this, the demonic cultivators are planning to attack from Shangxi?!

Ji Yuan's heart skipped a beat. He really didn't know this news. Not only did he not know, but even Li Changhe was not very clear about it. Otherwise, when they met a few days ago, Li Changhe would have told him about it.

"That's natural. Just like the Water Dragon Sect you see now, its foundation is much deeper than you can imagine."

As Ji Yuan spoke, he suddenly sat up straight and leaned forward slightly to look at Hu Li.

The latter was so startled by Ji Yuan's serious action that he took a half step back.

"Where did you get this information? Normally, cultivators in the early stages of Foundation Establishment shouldn't know this kind of news."

"this……"

Hu Li seemed somewhat troubled.

Ji Yuan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm just curious. If you don't want to tell me..."

"Speak, there's nothing I can't tell you, senior." Hu Li hesitated for less than a breath before immediately saying, "There's a late-stage Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator in Medicine King Valley who is my lover. She told me about her, but how she found out, I don't know."

"Oh, I see."

Ji Yuan nodded knowingly.

It seems that the demonic cultivators are indeed about to launch a major attack on Shangdong.

Such things have happened before in history. On the contrary, the struggle between the righteous and the demonic paths has been a long-standing issue. Demonic cultivators launched large-scale attacks, and the six major immortal sects of Shangdong gathered on Shangshan Mountain to block them. This has happened several times in history.

However, the fighting was never too intense, and Shang Dong's forces eventually managed to stop each offensive.

It seems that another offensive is imminent.

Ji Yuan never expected that his trip to buy a corpse would lead him to such information.

He looked at the demonic cultivator before him again, "I came here because I heard there was a gathering of immortal materials and wanted to come and take a look. Secondly, I do need a few corpses for my cultivation..."

Upon hearing this, Hu Li had a sudden inspiration and immediately took out two corpses of early Foundation Establishment cultivators and more than a dozen corpses of peak Qi Refining cultivators from his storage bag.

"Reporting to Senior, these are all the top-grade immortal materials I possess. If you require even better ones, I will go and search for them for you immediately."

Hu Li wasn't stupid. If he didn't quickly take out the immortal materials he had on him now, and angered this senior, he might kill him and use him as immortal materials...

To put it bluntly, since there were no corpses, they had no choice but to beat living people into corpses.

That would be troublesome.

Ji Yuan glanced at them casually; these were enough for him to upgrade the [Mass Grave]. He swept them away and collected them all.

"No need, it's just a minor skill to cultivate, it won't cost that much."

After collecting the body, Ji Yuan was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and turned back sharply.

Huli was startled again.

"I just came from the north, and I don't have many people to ask me to do things here."

As Ji Yuan spoke, he extended his right hand.

Huli hurriedly handed over his communication talisman with both hands; it was golden. "Junior Huli is at your service, senior."

Ji Yuan reached out and took the communication talisman.

"Remember, Zhu Ji only brought a Qi Refining Peak cultivator with him to find you today."

As Ji Yuan spoke, he summoned his superior-grade flying boat again and slowly left.

"Yes, yes, yes."

Hu Li bowed respectfully, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he could no longer see Ji Yuan's figure.

After half an incense stick's time had passed.

Ji Yuan, who was hiding in the nearby mountains, saw a flying boat rush out from Shanghefang and head straight west at an extremely fast speed.

It was as if they were afraid that if they were even a fraction of a second slower, they would lose their lives.

Ji Yuan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided not to give chase. It was better to avoid trouble. In any case, he was not using his own appearance or aura today, so no matter how they investigated, they wouldn't be able to find him.

If what Hu Li said is true, then his journey westward is most likely to seek refuge with his lover in Medicine King Valley.

As soon as Hu Li left, Ji Yuan didn't linger either. He immediately summoned the spirit-grade flying boat and headed straight north.

Wherever the flying boat passed, only a communication talisman turned into ashes and scattered among the vast mountains.

One day later.

Ji Yuan returned safely to Misty Island.

With two second-tier protective formations, his sense of security was once again maximized.

It was already late at night when they arrived home. Tu Yue followed his instructions and quietly lay down in the coffin to sleep.

Ji Yuan didn't disturb her; he just silently dug a pit and buried the body by himself.

To upgrade [Mass Grave] to level 2.

It is necessary to bury 100 corpses of Qi Refining stage cultivators, 10 corpses of peak Qi Refining stage cultivators, and 1 corpse of Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.

Ji Yuan now estimates that all he needs is a Foundation Establishment stage corpse.

But he didn't care. He dug a big pit and threw all the corpses he had collected on the trip into it.

Anyway, the building itself is called a "mass burial ground," so it would be a shame not to use it for mass burials.

On his way back, he also carefully examined the corpses with his divine sense and confirmed that there were no methods left by demonic cultivators.

Furthermore, once I'm buried in this misty island, there's an array to isolate and detect me.

It's unlikely that someone at the Foundation Establishment stage would be so ruthless.

After the burial of the body is completed, the Fate Panel will refresh again.

The term "mass burial ground" will then have an upgradeable entry.

There was no reason to hesitate. This trip was all for this matter, so Ji Yuan immediately chose to upgrade.

The panel has been refreshed.

Before Ji Yuan could even check the effects of the level 3 [Mass Grave], he was drawn to the commotion before him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw a patch of ground in the mass grave move slightly.

Before he could even probe with his divine sense.

He then saw a pale right hand suddenly burst open the ground, growing out like a bamboo shoot.

Then came the right hand, and then the entire corpse rose up from the ground.

This is a male corpse, looking like a man in his fifties or sixties, with a slightly hunched figure, which fits the image of a butler in Ji Yuan's mind. As for his cultivation level... Qi Refining Level 8.

So this is the first effect of the level 2 [Mass Grave]: the [Mass Grave] can cause corpses to turn into zombies, which can then be used by the user.

As soon as Ji Yuan had this thought, he realized that he seemed to have an additional connection with the corpse.

The moment he had a thought, the corpse puppet immediately buckled at the knees and knelt down.

"It actually works."

"With this, I'll have two corpse puppets, which will finally ease Tu Yue's pressure a bit. And as time goes on, there will definitely be more and more corpse puppets... Maybe I can even build a whole army of corpse puppets."

With this thought in mind, Ji Yuan wondered when the two early Foundation Establishment stage corpses he had just buried would undergo a transformation.

If there were multiple Foundation Establishment stage corpse puppets, it would be a great help.

Moreover, Ji Yuan, who was in this mass grave, also felt a chill.

He also noticed that the surrounding fences were visibly decaying, resembling a long-abandoned mass grave, and that wisps of mist were rising in the air.

At level 2, the mass grave already exhibits unusual phenomena.

After Ji Yuan chose to shut down the anomaly, all the changes in the environment disappeared.

Everything returned to its original, unremarkable state.

"Spiritual Effect 2, Death and Return to Zombie, can consume the corpses in this mass grave to improve the level of the Corpse Puppet."

Thinking about this, Ji Yuan told Tu Yue, who was sleeping, to get up.

The two corpse puppets stood side by side, and Ji Yuan clearly noticed the difference.

Tu Yue is no different from a living person, but this new corpse puppet... looks no different from a zombie.

Ji Yuan guessed it might be related to the time of his death.

Tu Yue had only been dead for a short time before she was turned into a corpse puppet, but the corpse in front of her... had been dead for who knows how long.

Ji Yuan naturally chose to upgrade Tu Yue.

After all, they've been with me for so long; even if they haven't done anything outstanding, they've certainly put in the effort.

Tu Yue is currently at the sixth level of Qi Refining. If she levels up again, she will reach the seventh level of Qi Refining.

As soon as Ji Yuan had this thought, the panel provided feedback.

To raise Tu Yue to the seventh level of Qi Refining, it would require the consumption of two corpses at the seventh level of Qi Refining... Fortunately, that's not too much.

Ji Yuan chose to upgrade.

Instantly, wisps of yin energy rose from the ground of the mass grave, ascended into the air, and finally gathered into a ball of yin energy above Tu Yue's head before disappearing into her.

Tu Yue's body stiffened instantly.

Yin energy surrounded the area.

After a short while, Ji Yuan sensed that Tu Yue's cultivation level had changed from the sixth level of Qi Refining to the seventh level.

What about upgrading it further?

The panel provided the answer: three corpses at the eighth level of Qi Refining... and so on?

If we calculate it that way, then upgrading low-level corpse puppets wouldn't be worthwhile.

Ji Yuan was thinking of upgrading another Qi Refining Level 8 corpse, but the panel indicated that he needed four Qi Refining Level 9 corpses.

That doesn't seem to be the case; the number of corpses required for upgrading is fixed.

Then... let's continue upgrading!

The corpse is just sitting there anyway; we can always buy another one if we run out.

Before long, after consuming three corpses at the eighth level of Qi Refining, Tu Yue was finally promoted to the eighth level of Qi Refining.

The speed at which his cultivation improved made Ji Yuan envious.

"Damn it, I wish my cultivation could improve like this, it's too damn fast."

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(End of this chapter)