Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 183 Preparation and Provocation [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

When Xuan Shui Zhenren sent the message, he told Ji Yuan to go to Shuilong Island in a few days. Based on the experience of the previous mission, he would set off immediately after arriving next time.

Therefore, Ji Yuan definitely needs to arrange things on Misty Island first in the next few days.

Just as he was thinking of putting away the communication talisman, another communication talisman in his storage bag started to light up.

He took it out and looked at it.

Liuyuan.

As spiritual energy was infused, Liu Yuan's voice rang out.

"Brother Ji, has the mission arrived yet?"

Ji Yuan tentatively uttered two words, "Spiritual vein?"

Liu Yuan quickly replied, "Same here, see you on Water Dragon Island."

See you on Water Dragon Island.

Upon receiving this news, Ji Yuan, who was not panicked, still breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that he was teaming up with Liu Yuan again.

Regardless, Liu Yuan's teammate... isn't a bad teammate. He's low-key, doesn't like to cause trouble, has a background, and is quite capable.

Of course, the key point is that the two people "share the same bad habits".

After thinking for a moment, Ji Yuan sent another message asking a question.

"Brother Liu, do you know which spiritual vein it is?"

As far as Ji Yuan knows, the Water Dragon Sect currently controls a total of seven spiritual veins, including two large ones, both of which require a Golden Core cultivator to oversee them.

Of the remaining three medium-sized spiritual veins, the one in Liancheng Mountain is one of them.

The remaining two are small spiritual veins, which are said to have been almost completely drained, so the Water Dragon Sect is actively searching for new spiritual veins.

I don't seek more, I only seek to maintain the status quo.

Ji Yuan didn't know which way he was going, so he had to ask Liu Yuan for directions.

Liu Yuan's message came a while later.

"I just asked a friend, and if nothing unexpected happens, it should be the newly established spiritual vein in Liancheng Mountain. Only the senior brothers there need to rotate shifts; the other spiritual veins haven't reached the time for rotations yet."

"Alright, thank you, Brother Liu."

Liancheng Mountain... Ji Yuan put away the communication talisman, lost in thought.

This spiritual vein is the newest among the many spiritual veins of the Water Dragon Sect, so its output is second only to those two large spiritual veins.

Of course, these are not the most important things.

The most important spiritual vein... offers the greatest profit.

This is especially true for resident cultivators like Ji Yuan.

The reason for this is naturally because the spiritual vein was divided among the three families: the Water Dragon Sect, the Joyful Palace, and the Medicine King Valley. Each family received a share, and the remaining 0.01% was the allowance for the resident cultivators.

Although 0.01% seems like a small amount, and it has to be shared among the three resident cultivators, what is the actual situation?

In reality, it's only 0.01% of what this medium-sized spiritual vein produces in a year!

According to Ji Yuan, a medium-sized spiritual vein produces approximately 500 million mid-grade spirit stones per year.

Even if it's only 0.01%, that's still 5 spirit stones.

The 50,000 spirit stones are then divided among the three garrisoned cultivators. Each garrisoned cultivator is estimated to receive 16,000 mid-grade spirit stones. In short, after all the calculations, a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Ji Yuan, who is stationed there, can only receive about four or five hundred mid-grade spirit stones a year.

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, this is quite a lot.

Tasks like guarding Linshui City seemed easy, but after three years, they only earned 300 mid-grade spirit stones.

Now, guarding the spiritual vein, one year is equivalent to three years before.

Although Ji Yuan doesn't lack these spirit stones for cultivation, spirit stones are definitely a case of the more the better, especially since there will be a great war between good and evil in the near future.

Once that time comes, it will be difficult to accumulate so many spirit stones peacefully.

"Damn it, no wonder so many Foundation Establishment cultivators want to become Golden Core cultivators' disciples. For the Water Dragon Sect, only by becoming a Golden Core cultivator's disciple can they be considered as being raised by their own mother."

"No, I have to thank my master again before I leave, and give her some more 'Sui Xin Jiu' (a type of Chinese liquor) when I do."

[Wine Cellar] Produces 3 jin of "Sui Xin Jiu" (a type of Chinese liquor) per month.

Ji Yuan only gave Hua Yaoyue two jin each month, and saved one jin a month.

Over the years, Ji Yuan has accumulated a considerable amount of wine.

He planned to send more this time, but not too much.

If I say too much, I might give myself away.

Moreover, when Ji Yuan chatted with Feng Zhitao, he also heard that... cultivators like them who guard the spiritual veins of Liancheng Mountain would actually receive a share of the spirit stones from Hua Yaoyue.

Therefore, as far as the Water Dragon Sect is concerned, other spiritual veins are fine, but even the spiritual vein of Chengshan is basically a "gilding" place exclusively for Golden Core disciples.

Such a profitable spiritual vein isn't even enough for Golden Core disciples, let alone for ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"It's a pity that we can't stay here to guard the Liancheng Mountain spiritual vein forever. We have to take turns. Otherwise, it would be great if I could stay here all the time."

Ji Yuan couldn't help but fantasize.

As far as he knows, only Feng Zhitao has been stationed at that spiritual vein; Lian Yunqianzai hasn't been there yet.

Ji Yuan had another idea in mind for this trip: to see if he could develop the [Spirit Vein] structure.

If this building could exist... Ji Yuan estimated that its greatest spiritual effect would probably be the production of spirit stones.

If that's the case, then the other types of subsistence allowances for construction workers don't really qualify as subsistence allowances.

Only this [spiritual vein] building can be considered as receiving basic living allowance.

With this thought in mind, Ji Yuan couldn't help but feel a little anticipation for this trip to the spiritual vein.

As for Misty Island, the giant toad definitely has to stay here as the island's guardian spirit beast, and Tu Yue can't be taken away either; she has to stay here to collect welfare every day.

After all, the reason I bought her was so that she could help me harvest when I wasn't home.

Ji Yuan had some concerns before, but since the two island-protecting formations were put in place, he had nothing to be afraid of.

In addition, she also needs to feed the spirit-devouring bees at the [Beehouse] with spirit stones every day.

Ji Yuan used to do this work because only he could get close to that dense forest. Others, like Tu Yue, would be attacked by the Soul-Devouring Bees if they went there.

But now that Ji Yuan wants to leave, there's nothing we can do.

The only option is for Tu Yue to throw the spirit stones into the dense forest from a distance, or for Tu Yue to place a few hundred mid-grade spirit stones in the forest beforehand and let the spirit stones devour them.

The Frost Dragon must come with me; it cannot stay here.

If it's something you can carry around, then Ji Yuan can only feed it Ice Soul Dew. When the time comes, he'll build a fishpond in his own residence, and he can collect the building's welfare benefits himself.

After all, the Frost Dragon needs to be fed every day, and Ji Yuan is waiting for it to advance to the second-tier demon beast so that it can lead him to conquer all directions.

After that, there were things like alchemy furnaces, which Ji Yuan also planned to carry with him.

Liancheng Mountain is not as good as Linshui City. Once I go there, I definitely won't be able to come back anytime. Moreover, even if I do come back, it's a long way. I estimate it will take at least ten or twenty days to get back.

It's too much trouble, so naturally, you have to carry everything you need with you at all times.

Also, we still need to deal with things on Worry-Free Island.

After Ji Yuan spent half a day dealing with everything on Misty Island, he finally said goodbye to the reluctant toad.

There was no other way; Ji Yuan wouldn't feel at ease leaving Misty Island without a spirit beast to guard it.

Even if the Frost Dragon were to advance to a second-tier demon beast, Ji Yuan would still choose to leave the giant toad behind. Why?

Because it is obedient.

This time, Ji Yuan didn't forget to take the two ghosts who spent all day sleeping in the mass grave with him.

Given the extended trip ahead and the need to deal with the Joyful Palace, it's inevitable that the identity of a demonic cultivator will be used. Even if the identity of a demonic cultivator isn't needed, the improved Yin Ghost Flag alone is a major trump card for Ji Yuan.

Since he was promoted to a second-tier array master and gained a deeper understanding of arrays, he tried to modify the Yin Ghost Array, making its range several times larger and the Yin energy much stronger.

In addition, there were those two Foundation Establishment stage Yin ghosts... within Ji Yuan's three formations.

It's clear that this Yin Ghost Formation is still the strongest.

After everything was packed up and he made sure nothing was missing, Ji Yuan piloted the airship around Misty Island a few times before finally landing in front of the giant toad.

"Brother Ha, I'm leaving the house to you."

Ji Yuan patted its big mouth.

Before this trip, Ji Yuan had instructed it not to eat the spirit pig all at once.

Because this time the spirit pigs are both male and female, in other words they can mate and reproduce on their own. As long as they don't eat them all, the giant toad will have a continuous supply of spirit pigs to eat in the future.

This was also a method that Ji Yuan came up with because he was worried that the giant toad wouldn't be able to improve its strength while he was away.

As for the [beehive], after much thought, he scattered 400 mid-grade spirit stones in that dense forest, letting the spirit-devouring bees eat them as they pleased.

It would be too dangerous for Tu Yue to feed him.

Ji Yuan couldn't bear to see the corpse puppet that had been with him the longest suffer such injuries.

So, looking at Tu Yue's delicate skin, he silently reminded her, "Of course, I'm entrusting her to you as well."

Unfortunately, while the giant toad responded, Tu Yue did not.

"Let's go, let's go."

Ji Yuan turned around and urged the flying boat forward, his figure moving northward like a streak of light.

After he returned to Worry-Free Island and tidied up the second island, he called over Du Wanyi and Dong Qian, who were on his left and right respectively.

Now that they've both successfully completed their Foundation Establishment, and live so close to each other, their relationship is even better than before.

When Ji Yuan saw them coming, he told them that he was going out on a mission and would probably be away from the gate for a while, and told them to be careful.

"Well, it might not be long before I have to carry out my first mission. Junior Sister Du's breakthrough is still in its early stages, so she can rest for a while longer."

Dong Qian said softly.

"Actually, it's not so bad."

Having successfully completed her foundation building, Du Wanyi returned to her former self, her beautiful peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed, looking at everyone with deep affection.

"I heard from Senior Sister Youlan that compared to going out to kill demons or doing other business, helping the sect is the safest and fastest way to make money. If it weren't for the restrictions within the sect, she would want to keep carrying out the sect's missions, since it won't interfere with her cultivation."

"That's true."

As Dong Qian said this, she glanced at Ji Yuan without making a sound.

She knew that Ji Yuan probably had other ways to make money, just like her, and quite a lot of money at that. Not to mention anything else, the Foundation Establishment Pills she bought from Ji Yuan were worth a lot of spirit stones.

Therefore, Du Wanyi is right, but that only applies to ordinary cultivators.

But for Ji Yuan and her, it was not like that.

"While I'm away from the sect, I'll trouble you two senior sisters to keep an eye on any news from within the sect, especially anything related to the demonic cultivators causing trouble. That's all...

Ji Yuan couldn't think of anything else she could need their help with.

Not long after, after chatting for a while, the two of them left.

Just as Ji Yuan was about to set off for Forget-Worry Island, he received a message from Dong Qian, asking him to wait a little while.

Not long after, Dong Qian, who had just left, returned.

"Is there anything else, Senior Sister?"

Ji Yuan asked with a smile.

"Here's the thing, I'm planning to open a shop on Wanwu Island. What do you think, Junior Brother?" Dong Qian asked, staring intently at Ji Yuan.

"That's great! What are you planning to sell at your new shop, senior sister?"

"I mainly sell pills, but everything else... I can sell anything. If you have anything you need to sell, you can bring it to my shop. Don't worry, it's very safe."

Dong Qian knew what Ji Yuan was worried about.

Ji Yuan quickly realized what she meant.

Safety is indeed something Ji Yuan needs to consider. In the past, every time he sold something, he had to deliberately divide it into many shops to sell it, which was very troublesome, but safety is indeed important.

Now that Dong Qian is willing to open a shop, I can indeed ask her to help sell the things I want to sell.

But is Dong Qian trustworthy?

They are undoubtedly trustworthy. Judging from their previous dealings in Foundation Establishment Pills, they were practically "in cahoots".

Ji Yuan knew Dong Qian's secret, and Dong Qian also knew some of Ji Yuan's secrets.

Therefore, there's no need to worry about Dong Qian overthinking it if we leave it with her.

Of course, the most important thing is that Dong Qian was very sensible.

"Alright, then I'll have to trouble you from now on, Senior Sister."

A thought flashed through Ji Yuan's mind, and he already had an idea.

"Alright, junior brother, be careful when you go out."

After Dong Qian finished speaking, she gave Ji Yuan a slight bow, turned around and left, leaving behind only a lingering fragrance.

Ji Yuan then closed the door and left Worry-Free Island, heading straight for Forget-Worry Island.

Upon meeting Hua Yaoyue and explaining the situation, his master merely uttered a casual "Be careful" and then fell silent.

Hua Yaoyue only said one more thing after Ji Yuan served more drinks than usual.

"If you encounter someone you can't defeat, use the wine cup I gave you. I gave it to you so you could use it, so don't be reluctant to part with it."

"I'll know once you use that thing."

For Ji Yuan, what Hua Yaoyue said at this moment was not words, but his courage.

With these words in mind, Ji Yuan felt more confident as he walked.

After leaving Forget-Worry Island, Ji Yuan headed straight for Water Dragon Island, keeping a tight schedule along the way. When he arrived at Water Dragon Island, it was exactly the day he had agreed to meet with True Person Xuan Shui.

Before he could land, Liu Yuan, riding a willow leaf, also arrived at the scene.

However, he looked somewhat different from how he appeared when we first met.

He rode on a willow-leaf flying boat, with a red wine gourd tied around his waist and a three-foot-long green sword on his back. His sleeves fluttered as he flew, perfectly matching the image of a cultivator, especially a sword cultivator, in Ji Yuan's mind.

In comparison, he seemed rather ordinary.

He piloted a gray-brown flying boat, wearing a low-key gray robe. Even when piloting the flying boat, he kept his head slightly lowered, showing none of Liu Yuan's spirited and arrogant demeanor.

"Brother Ji, you've arrived very early."

"Brother Liu, it's not too late."

The two exchanged a smile and laughed, then landed together in front of the main hall of Water Dragon Island.

Before he could even exchange greetings, Ji Yuan noticed that there were two other people inside the hall.

Ji Yuan didn't recognize either the young man in the golden robe or the old man in the pure black robe.

However, Liu Yuan had already recognized the two people by their auras. He introduced them through telepathy: "The one wearing the golden dragon robe is Xiao Chengyi, the disciple of the Third Elder. The other is Senior Brother Kuzang, the eldest disciple of Martial Uncle Qingyu."

"Oh? He's Xiao Chengyi?"

Ji Yuan glanced at the young man's back a few more times.

So they both turned around.

When Xiao Chengyi saw Liu Yuan, he was slightly surprised, but still smiled and nodded, "So it's Junior Brother Liu."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Kuzang and Senior Brother Xiao."

Liu Yuan greeted him.

Ji Yuan was the same. Even though they were enemies, he had to maintain appearances. Besides, Xiao Chengyi was unaware that his embezzlement of spirit stones had offended Ji Yuan.

"Who is this junior brother...?"

Ji Yuan didn't know Xiao Chengyi, and naturally Xiao Chengyi didn't know Ji Yuan either.

"He is your Uncle Wangyou's newly accepted disciple, Ji Yuan."

The Mysterious Water Immortal behind him explained.

"Oh, so it's Junior Brother Ji in person." Xiao Chengyi smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. "Junior Brother Ji, if you have time in the future, you are welcome to visit my Zhaoyang Island often."

"Greetings, Junior Brother Ji."

A smile appeared on Ku Cang's wrinkled face as he bowed to Ji Yuan.

"I have to go out now. I'll definitely wait for my junior brother to return."

Ji Yuan said with a smile.

"No problem, no problem."

"Alright, you two have finished reporting and should go back to your cultivation." Master Xuanshui gave them the order to leave.

"Yes."

Ku Zang and Xiao Chengyi left one after the other.

Just as they were about to reach the door, Xiao Chengyi seemed to remember something and turned to Ji Yuan with a smile, saying, "Junior Brother Ji, Senior Sister Rouyi is currently in charge of things at Liancheng Mountain... If you encounter any trouble, you can send me a message. This is my communication talisman."

After saying that, a golden communication talisman flew out and landed in Ji Yuan's hand.

Before he could answer, Xiao Chengyi had already summoned a flying boat and left.

Looking at the communication talisman in his hand, Ji Yuan could easily guess Xiao Chengyi's meaning... Senior Sister Rouyi, who was also Liu Yuan's direct senior sister, had, like him, taken the Grand Elder as her master.

So what Xiao Chengyi meant was... regardless of whether it works out or not, stirring up trouble is the right thing to do.

"It's a pity you don't know you've already offended Ji Yuan."

Liu Yuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Of course, he just smiled on the surface.

It simply made me more vigilant. If I were to do business in the future, I would have to do it legitimately, otherwise I would just be making enemies for no reason.

As for True Person Xuan Shui… the power struggle between the First Elder and the Third Elder was unfolding right before his eyes, yet he acted as if he hadn't witnessed it. Only after Ji Yuan and the other person arrived did he speak:

"As you both probably already know, the spiritual vein you are to guard is the one in Liancheng Mountain."

As he spoke, he tossed out two tokens.

"This time, we must go to protect the spiritual veins and not tarnish the reputation of our Water Dragon Sect, especially in front of Medicine King Valley."

"Yes."

Ji Yuan and the other man accepted the tokens, cupped their hands in respect, and said solemnly.

"That's all. Once you get there, just follow your Senior Sister Rou's instructions."

After saying those harsh words, Master Xuanshui's voice softened considerably. "Also, this is Ji Yuan's first time carrying out a mission to deal with other sects. Liu Yuan, remember to take good care of your junior brother Ji."

"Yes."

Liu Yuan responded.

"Yes, Xiao Chengyi and the others have returned ahead of schedule. The defenses on the spiritual vein are currently weak. If you two have nothing else to do, you should go there quickly."

(End of this chapter)