Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 180 Breakthrough, Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

When Ji Yuan heard these words, he had already withdrawn the spiritual energy from the talisman.

Simply because I couldn't stand it anymore.

He, who was originally standing in front of the house, suddenly leaned straight back and lay down on the ground, staring blankly at the white clouds drifting eastward in the sky.

After a long while, he couldn't help but slam his fist into the ground.

"You old man, how can you be so damn stupid!"

"Didn't you say you weren't going?!"

"Damn it, I shouldn't have given you that Foundation Establishment pill! You gave it to me, but instead of cultivating properly, you went off to your death!"

Ji Yuan grumbled and cursed, but the more he cursed, the more sour he felt inside.

It took him a long time to recover from the news of Xu Fugui's death, but now, in the blink of an eye, he has received news of the death of the Iron Hammer Island Master...

For Ji Yuan, this year has indeed been quite difficult.

He paused for a while, picked up the talisman several times, and finally infused it with spiritual energy.

The Iron Hammer Island Master's cheerful voice rang out again.

"Heh, you're not cursing me, are you? Cursing me for going... Well, if I really died, then I would certainly be the one to curse you."

"After all, I had already decided when I set off that I had absolutely no intention of avenging that old bastard. I just wanted to find the place where the accident happened, see if his body was still there, and even if it wasn't, I would be happy to find some ashes and bring them back."

"Don't blame me for being incompetent. This is all I can do."

"I never imagined that even with such low expectations, I would still die outside."

"The demonic path is a bunch of sons of bitches. I... I'm even worse. I can't even beat sons of bitches."

"Alright, enough chit-chat. You must be wondering why I'm so determined to bring Xu Fugui back. Well, let me tell you a story and you'll understand."

Then, the Iron Hammer Island Master continued his rambling, intermittent narration.

Ji Yuan finally understood why their relationship was both that of teacher and friend...

It turns out that the two knew each other long before they joined the Water Dragon Sect. At that time, the Iron Hammer Island Master was in the late stage of Qi Refining, while Xu Fugui was in the middle stage of Qi Refining, and there was a big age difference between them.

The reason they met was that during a demon-slaying expedition, the Iron Hammer Island Master was accidentally injured and fell into a coma.

It just so happens that Xu Fugui, who is also out hunting demons, bumps into them.

A mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator encounters a severely injured and unconscious late-stage Qi Refining cultivator in the wild.

What is the normal procedure?

It was naturally murder and robbery.

This kind of work, which requires no capital, is safe, and can make a lot of money, is popular among countless cultivators.

But Xu Fugui didn't do that. Instead of killing anyone, he took the Iron Hammer Island Master home, fed him healing pills, and asked a doctor to come and help heal him.

In the end, Iron Hammer Island Master naturally came back to life and even became close friends with Xu Fugui, his savior, despite their age difference.

Later, the Iron Hammer Island Master successfully joined the Water Dragon Sect, but Xu Fugui failed the tests several times due to his lack of talent and strength.

So the two of them discussed it and changed their approach.

That means waiting for the Iron Hammer Island Master to establish his foundation, and after he opens the island, he can take Xu Fugui as his disciple. This way, he can be exempted from the assessment and directly admitted into the sect.

As it turned out, they actually did just that.

And they actually succeeded.

Afterwards, they both cultivated peacefully at the Water Dragon Sect. With the full assistance of a Foundation Establishment Island Master, Xu Fugui quickly advanced to the peak of Qi Refining, but if he wanted to go any further...

There are no Foundation Establishment Pills.

This is too difficult.

The Iron Hammer Island Master had also prepared three for Xu Fugui. When Xu Fugui was in his fifties, he attempted to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, but failed.

Since then, no matter what the Iron Hammer Island Master said, Xu Fugui was unwilling to try again.

It wasn't that he didn't want to establish his foundation, but rather that he didn't want to waste the Iron Hammer Island Lord's spirit stones anymore.

He needs to cultivate, and so does the Iron Hammer Island Master.

Ji Yuan learned what happened next.

"So, kid Ji, it's not that I don't know this journey is fraught with danger, nor that I don't know that steadily improving my cultivation is the best path, but I also know that some things are more important than cultivation."

"If I don't go on this mission, what kind of human being am I, Liu Tiechui?"

"Cultivation is all about achieving clarity of mind. If I don't go, my mind won't be clear, so what's the point of cultivating to become an immortal?"

"So I went... The thought of not coming back still makes me a little sad. Okay, I admit it, I'm afraid of dying too."

"..."

After saying that, the Iron Hammer Island Master remained silent for a long time.

Just when Ji Yuan thought the phonograph might have run out, his voice rang out again.

"Young man, I actually lied to you about something else. You have a great talent for weapon crafting, so I gave you my furnace and hammer. All my weapon crafting experience in my life is also recorded in that book, 'The True Explanation of Weapon Crafting.' If you are interested in weapon crafting, you can learn it."

"If you really don't want to forge weapons, then please find a junior with talent for weapon forging and a decent temperament to pass on my weapon forging skills. I don't want my lineage to die out."

"That old bastard Xu Fugui always thinks I can't let go of body refinement, but what I really can't let go of is weapon crafting. I refine my body all for the sake of better weapon crafting. I like the feeling of sparks hitting my body... Alright, that's enough."

"That's how it is when you get old; once you start talking, it never ends."

"I have to go pick that old bastard up and take him home."

"Brother Ji... live well. Just like I told you when you came to my island, there is hope only when you live."

"It is truly a great fortune for Liu Tiechui to have made friends with you, Ji Yuan, in this lifetime."

That concludes the recording.

Ji Yuan, lying on the ground, raised his right hand. The talisman turned into ashes in his hand and finally scattered on the ground with the wind.

Just like the deceased Xu Fugui and the Iron Hammer Island Master.

Ji Yuan also knew about the task issued by the Iron Hammer Island Master before his death. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators would actually issue similar tasks, like last words, in the Thousand Machine Hall.

Initially, it won't be announced; the Thousand Machine Hall will only release the mission after the person dies and their soul lamp is extinguished.

The Iron Hammer Island Master followed the same path.

To be honest, Ji Yuan didn't understand why the Iron Hammer Island Master wanted to go and die at first, but after listening to the phonograph, he understood.

Indeed, going is more in line with Iron Hammer Island Master's nature.

If he doesn't go, he's not the Lord of Iron Hammer Island.

"You just left, why the hell did you leave me all this stuff?"

Ji Yuan wiped his face, stood up, and let out a long breath.

He certainly wouldn't go to avenge Xu Fugui and the Iron Hammer Island Master right now, nor would he go to help them collect their corpses. If he did, it would be like the Calabash Brothers saving their grandfather.

This is something that even the best of relationships can't overcome.

Going there would be suicide.

If you want revenge, you need to improve your strength first.

The only thing we can do now is to remember this grudge and wait until we are strong enough to avenge them.

Then Ji Yuan took out the large iron furnace and iron hammer that the Iron Hammer Island Master had left him from his storage bag.

Ji Yuan had seen these two things many times before.

The iron furnace is called "Three Mountains Forging Furnace", and the iron hammer is called "Earth Pressure Hammer". Both are high-grade spiritual weapons. If used together, they can even forge high-grade spiritual weapons.

If either of these two is not feasible, only a mid-grade spiritual weapon can be crafted.

Ji Yuan glanced through the remaining thick booklet.

It contains all the weapon-forging experience recorded by the Iron Hammer Island Master along his journey.

The first few pages recorded the forging experience of low-grade magic weapons.

Compared to those two top-grade spiritual artifacts, this is the truly priceless treasure for Ji Yuan.

After all, one can buy another magical artifact, but such comprehensive crafting experience is something that money can't buy. Very few crafting masters will pass on all their crafting skills.

Some even hold back a few tricks when facing their own disciples.

Therefore, Ji Yuan was prepared to heed Iron Hammer Island's advice and pass on his weapon-forging skills.

It just so happens that his [Weapon Refining Room] has never been opened yet... If he were to open it like this, Ji Yuan would rather not open it now.

"Ugh."

Ji Yuan sighed deeply and finally walked into the house, looking dejected.

After spending three days on Worry-Free Island, Ji Yuan arrived at Water Dragon Island.

It wasn't for any other reason than that Master Xuan Shui had returned and sent a message to Ji Yuan asking why he had contacted him last time.

Master Xuanshui went to Beishan City, and now that he's back, coupled with the incident involving Iron Hammer Island Master and Xu Fugui, Ji Yuan naturally had to come and ask about it.

"Disciple greets Sect Leader, Martial Uncle."

Ji Yuan bowed at the door as always.

Master Xuan Shui in the main hall raised his head, his previous ease gone. "Nephew, please come in."

"Yes."

Ji Yuan got up and stepped into the hall.

As Master Xuanshui was reviewing a file, he said, "These are turbulent times outside. If you go out, please be extremely careful."

"I will, thank you for the reminder, Uncle."

"Um."

After finishing with the file, Master Xuanshui looked up. "I heard from my junior brother Bishui on duty that you came looking for me some time ago. I wonder if there was anything I needed?"

At this time, things were already complicated. If it were a Foundation Establishment disciple who came looking for him, Master Xuan Shui would not have had such leisure time, and would have even specially summoned him.

But the person in front of them was no ordinary Foundation Establishment disciple.

Some time ago, Master Xuanshui overheard Old Man Li mentioning that Ji Yuan was suspected to be Master Wangyou's last disciple.

What is a closed-door disciple?

To put it bluntly, after accepting this disciple, no matter who else was, they would not be able to catch the eye of Master Wangyou. In other words, Ji Yuan was the one who received the most care from Master Wangyou.

"This disciple would like to inquire about the attack on the flying boat in Beishan City. There were... some of my friends on that flying boat."

Ji Yuan bowed deeply to Xuan Shui Zhenren.

"This matter..." Master Xuanshui descended from the high platform, stroking his beard, and said solemnly, "This is a difficult matter. I just returned from there a few days ago with Senior Brother Qingyu. Do you know the cultivation level of the demonic villains who made this move?"

"This disciple does not know."

Ji Yuan told the truth.

Master Xuanshui swept his right hand across the ground between the two, and a flying boat appeared on the ground between them. It was the size of a palm, but it had been cleaved in two by a single sword.

"this……"

"This is the spaceship that had the accident."

Master Xuan Shui explained.

What style is this flying boat?

It was cut in half by a sword, not cleaved in two at the waist, but split in two from the very middle.

Ji Yuan's first reaction after reading it was... what kind of strength does this person possess to be able to split this mid-grade spiritual artifact flying boat in two with a single sword strike?

Moreover, this is not a typical spirit vessel used by a single person.

These are large, multi-story flying ships used to transport cultivators. Although they are slow, they have improved defensive capabilities.

To cut this flying boat in half with a single sword strike.

"Could it be... a demonic cultivator at the Golden Core stage has made a move?"

Although Ji Yuan found it hard to believe, looking at the scene before him, he couldn't think of any other possibility but that it was a Golden Core cultivator making a move.

"Um."

Master Xuanshui nodded very seriously. "According to the fellow Daoists from the Corpse-Driving Mountain in the north, a demonic cultivator from Shangxi has entered. This demonic cultivator... is the son of a Nascent Soul Demon, so even when he came to our Shangdong region, he had Golden Core stage guards."

"The child of the Nascent Soul stage..."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan couldn't help but feel a little flustered.

Damn it, when will I be able to avenge Old Master Xu and the Iron Hammer Island Master... Ji Yuan felt a lot of pressure.

"Yes, but that's just hearsay. To be specific, even the Golden Core cultivators at Corpse Driving Mountain haven't seen them. My senior brother Qingyu and I went there but couldn't find any clues. The world is so vast, it's too difficult to find a Golden Core cultivator who wants to hide."

"The matter of the Nascent Soul cultivator is still uncertain, but it is certain that a Golden Core cultivator will take action."

"So, my dear nephew, keep this to yourself for now, lest it cause a stir within the family."

Master Xuanshui did not hide anything from Ji Yuan, but he did give him a subtle hint.

"Your disciple will remember this."

Ji Yuan bowed slightly, about to ask again, but Master Xuan Shui anticipated his question and said directly, "Killed by demonic cultivators, their bodies cannot be found."

Indeed, even a righteous cultivator like himself wouldn't leave behind a corpse, let alone a demonic cultivator... Ji Yuan felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

Would the Lord of Iron Hammer Island not know this?

He probably knew, but even knowing that, he still went.

After leaving Master Xuanshui, Ji Yuan felt increasingly that revenge was a distant prospect.

Especially the phrase "son of the Nascent Soul," the rumors from the Corpse-Driving Mountain were definitely not unfounded. If there were no basis for it, they probably wouldn't have told Xuan Shui Zhenren, the sect leader.

It's impossible for Master Xuanshui to tell Ji Yuan.

So this matter is probably very close to being true.

"The Three Demonic Sects of Shangxi, Demon Flame Palace, White Bone Sect, and Blood Luo Mountain."

Ji Yuan heard that each of these three major demonic sects had at least two Nascent Soul stage demons.

The most powerful sect, Blood Luo Mountain, is rumored to have three or four Nascent Soul stage demons.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to launch such a fierce attack on the Shangdong Six Immortals Sect with just the strength of three sects.

With so many Nascent Soul cultivators, it's not impossible that one of them might become a Nascent Soul cultivator himself.

After Ji Yuan noted this down, he returned to Misty Island and cultivated for more than ten days before receiving a message from Hua Yaoyue.

The master, who had been away for several months, finally returned to her beloved Forget-Worry Island.

Hua Yaoyue sent a message, first asking if Ji Yuan had made a breakthrough.

If nothing happens in two or three months, Ji Yuan estimates that he should have already broken through based on his [comprehension].

However, encountering these events one after another still had some impact on him.

Therefore, no breakthrough was achieved.

Hua Yaoyue summoned Ji Yuan to listen to the sermon, and he went.

When they arrived at Forget-Worry Island, Hua Yaoyue looked exactly the same as before, without any change.

Ji Yuan naturally wouldn't ask her where she had gone.

When Hua Yaoyue saw Ji Yuan, she glanced at him and asked curiously, "What have you been through these past few months? Why are you so listless?"

Ji Yuan was somewhat surprised to hear this. "Disciple... is it really that obvious?"

"You'll see for yourself."

With a thought, Ji Yuan took out a mirror and opened his eyes to look at it.

Although there was nothing unusual on the outside, the eyes had lost their previous liveliness and instead became somewhat... still and calm.

Or rather, it was stagnant water.

Ji Yuan put away the mirror, sat down in front of Hua Yaoyue, and told her everything.

When dealing with others, it's hard to say what fate has in store.

But facing his mentor, Hua Yaoyue, Ji Yuan felt that she might be able to help him.

Hua Yaoyue didn't interrupt, and listened to Ji Yuan finish explaining the situation before asking:

"How old are you this year?"

"This disciple is... thirty years old this year."

Ji Yuan did some quick calculations before recalling his age.

"Thirty years old, that's understandable. You'll be fine once you've experienced more."

Hua Yaoyue said calmly, "Even mortals have to go through birth, aging, sickness and death, let alone us cultivators with such long lifespans."

"You're alright, these are just ordinary friends. But what if you had to experience the passing of a loving partner after hundreds of years, or the death of parents who have been with you for hundreds of years? How would you react?"

"Cultivating immortality, you're only at the Foundation Establishment stage right now, which is fine. But as you progress, you'll realize that cultivating immortality is ultimately about cultivating your mind."

"Cultivate...the mind?"

Ji Yuan had a slight understanding.

"Hmm, some great cultivators, whose cultivation has not progressed even an inch for hundreds of years, would be vulnerable to inner demons if their will faltered even slightly... Of course, these are all too far removed from you."

Hua Yaoyue waved her hand casually, "You're a grown man, there's no need to be so petty. Fellow Daoist is dead, so be it. When you have the strength, you can avenge him."

"If even if you die, you still won't be strong enough to avenge him, then there's nothing you can do."

"Yes."

Ji Yuan took a deep breath, looked down, and stood up again, only to find that Hua Yaoyue had already appeared in front of him at some point.

He was so frightened that he took a step back.

Immediately afterwards, Hua Yaoyue's voice exploded in his mind.

"Certainly!"

In a daze, Ji Yuan felt a golden character "定" appear in his sea of ​​consciousness, and the originally turbulent sea of ​​consciousness was instantly suppressed by this golden character.

Then things calmed down.

Ji Yuan's previously somewhat depressed mood suddenly brightened.

In an instant, he felt much of the vexation in his heart dissipate.

The gloom that had been building up in his heart for so long was swept away, and he felt that the world was clear and there were no more obstacles.

When the mind is focused, the world expands.

Ji Yuan's cultivation bottleneck, which he had been unable to break through, finally loosened. As if sensing something, he sat down cross-legged.

All the spiritual energy in the world converged on him, forming a vortex of spiritual energy around him.

But this is not enough.

Ji Yuan took out a pile of mid-grade spirit stones from his storage bag and placed them beside him.

Those originally milky white spirit stones were becoming transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Several days later.

Ji Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged in the pavilion, suddenly opened his eyes.

The aura of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator swept over him, and in an instant, he fell back to the early Foundation Establishment stage.

Breakthrough.

But it didn't break through.

Ji Yuan was still consolidating his cultivation when a familiar voice suddenly rang out behind him.

"At the pinnacle of immortality, reigning supreme over the world..."

I need your monthly votes to solidify my cultivation... oh no, my ranking!!

(End of this chapter)