Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 190 The Rotten Firefly and Shady Locust Tree Acquired [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Ji Yuan stayed in this Great Love City for five days without being disturbed in the slightest.

During this time, he went out many times to purchase various cultivation resources in this Great Love City, since each place has its own characteristics, especially within the territory of the Joyful Palace.

For example, the situation is quite different when it comes to elixirs.

Aside from the common pills needed for cultivation, the best-selling items here are actually pills that enhance sexual pleasure.

Like what... never mind, it's uncivilized to mention it.

Therefore, Ji Yuan only purchased a few first-tier pill formulas, intending to take them back and expand the market in the Water Dragon Sect area.

Of course, the main problem was that some of the medicinal herbs were not available at the Water Dragon Sect, so they were all provided by the Joyful Palace. For this reason, Ji Yuan specially purchased a whole storage bag full of medicinal herbs.

They're just waiting to go back and make a fortune.

He didn't pass by Wu Yunbo's shop several times when he went out, but he did use his divine sense to investigate.

Inside Wu Yunbo's tavern, there was a notice posted.

There is only one simple sentence above.

"We can meet in person to discuss the details."

The notice still bears the scent of Deng Pinghai.

Ji Yuan knew that this was the other party inviting him to meet.

After all, although Ji Yuan had received the communication talisman, as long as he didn't activate it with his spiritual energy, Deng Pinghai wouldn't be able to find him.

See you?

Upon seeing each other again, Ji Yuan knew without needing to say anything that the other party wanted to persuade him to join their Great Love Sect.

During this time, Ji Yuan also made inquiries in Da'ai City and learned some information about Da'ai Sect and Gui Xuntang.

Firstly, Da Ai Zong is not exactly a rat in the dark.

It could even be described as aboveboard and aboveboard.

Those Foundation Establishment cultivators joined forces and rented several streets in the Great Love City, opening a market there called Great Love Market.

The price isn't high, and safety is guaranteed.

Therefore, Deng Pinghai and his group have always had a good reputation in Da'ai City.

Secondly, there was news from Ghost Seeking Pool.

Those forces didn't have such a good reputation. Many cultivators who went to Ghost Seeking Treasures didn't die at the hands of the calamity-causing beasts of Ghost Seeking Treasures, but at the hands of those demonic cultivators.

The majority of those who committed murder and arson in Great Love City were cultivators from Ghost Seeking Pool.

They were already outlaws, and if they pulled off a heist in this Great Love City, as long as they were fast enough, once they escaped back to Ghost Seeking Pool, their pursuers would most likely not dare to chase them.

Even if they encounter someone who dares to chase them, they can try to fight back by relying on the unpredictability of Ghost Seeking Sands.

Therefore, the cultivators in Ghost Seeking Pool have never had a good reputation.

Ji Yuan burst out laughing as soon as he heard that.

"They're all demonic cultivators, are there any with a good reputation?"

Comparing the two, Ji Yuan actually prefers to join Gui Xun Dan. Why?

Because they are demonic cultivators.

After some deliberation, Ji Yuan decided to meet with them first, see what they had to say, and then make a decision.

In short, he prefers not to take sides for now, but to wait until both sides have finished fighting, then he will change his identity and enter Ghost Seeking Pool to make deals with them, and try to join them as well.

Having made the decision, Ji Yuan sent a message to Deng Pinghai the next day, arranging to meet him on the second floor of a teahouse near the East Gate.

"If Brother Qiu doesn't send a message soon, I'll think he's left our Great Love City."

This time, Deng Pinghai didn't use those sneaky tricks again, but walked in openly from outside the door.

Ji Yuan sat down in the main seat without any hesitation. "Speak, what else do you want from me?"

Deng Pinghai raised an eyebrow as soon as he entered, thinking to himself that something was going to happen.

"Brother Qiu is a smart man, there's no need to say more," Deng Pinghai chuckled.

"Let's talk about it, so we don't end up arguing incoherently."

Ji Yuan picked up a spiritual fruit from the table and popped it into his mouth. It was sweet and sour, and tasted good, similar to eating grapes. However, it only restored too little spiritual energy, so it was negligible.

Deng Pinghai nodded slightly, first making hand seals to add several restrictions to the room, and then sat down opposite Ji Yuan.

"Our Da Ai Sect would like to invite Brother Qiu to join us in this grand undertaking."

"A grand event?"

Ji Yuan shook his head with a sneer, "I'll say it again, I've had enough of being hunted down in the north, and now I'm here because I don't want to live that kind of life where I'm constantly being chased anymore."

"But you yourselves know the situation of your Great Love Sect. You were mostly forced into Ghost Seeking Pool by the Joyful Palace, weren't you?"

Deng Pinghai wasn't surprised at all; instead, he chuckled and said:

"If Huanxi Palace wants to make a move, why would they force us to leave? If any Golden Core cultivator comes along, we'll all be left with nothing but our necks to be slaughtered... Brother Qiu, you might want to reconsider."

Ji Yuan frowned. "What's the point of thinking? Just tell me directly."

Deng Pinghai was surprised by Ji Yuan's response. With a slightly embarrassed laugh, he lowered his voice and said, "There are some things that Huanxi Palace can't handle, so we're the only ones who can go."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan seemed intrigued and leaned forward, saying, "So you mean... we're from the Joyful Palace?"

Deng Pinghai spread his hands and smiled slightly, "I didn't say that."

Ji Yuan's eyes flickered, seemingly extremely excited.

But in reality... let's not even talk about the doubts surrounding this matter. Even if we take a step back and assume that the Great Love Sect really is a disciple of the Joyful Palace, so what?

That's just an unofficial member. Ji Yuan, on the other hand, is a legitimate disciple of the Water Dragon Sect and a disciple of a Golden Core True Person.

This mere identity was not enough to entice him.

"Brother Qiu, how about joining our Great Love Sect?"

Seeing that Ji Yuan was starting to waver, Deng Pinghai quickly pressed his advantage and said...

"this……"

Ji Yuan hesitated. He reached up and touched the thick beard on his chin. "It's not impossible for me, Qiu Qianhai, to join, but this battle is extremely dangerous..."

"That's alright. When it comes to the actual fight, we old guys will definitely be the ones to lead the charge, and Brother Qiu can stay behind and hold the line for us."

Deng Pinghai explained with a smile.

"no."

Ji Yuan said very seriously, "What I mean is, we need to pay more."

Deng Pinghai's smile froze on his face, but fortunately, he had seen a lot and quickly recovered, still smiling as he said, "Brother Qiu, you're new to our Da'ai City, so you'll definitely need a settling-in allowance. Just name your price, Brother Qiu."

Ji Yuan gently rubbed his right hand on the table. "Spirit stones and such are secondary. The main thing is that I'm cultivating a technique, and I currently need some Rotten Firefly Shadow Locust Trees as cultivation materials..."

"Rotten Firefly Acacia Tree, this stuff isn't cheap."

Deng Pinghai said solemnly.

"If it's not cheap, then they must have something in their hands..." Ji Yuan's heart stirred, but he said aloud, "If it were cheap, I wouldn't have bothered you."

"That's true."

Deng Pinghai nodded. "How many do you want?"

Ji Yuan had obtained one before and knew its weight, so he immediately made an outrageous demand: "Not much, a hundred or eighty catties will be enough."

"Brother Qiu thinks this is just a common, ordinary stone."

Deng Pinghai was not angry after hearing this; instead, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Then tell me, how much can you offer?"

"At most one pound."

One jin... The palm-sized piece of rotten firefly locust tree that Hua Yaoyue gave me before weighed about half a jin. If it weighs one jin, why would I build a chicken coop?

"Too little, at least 10 jin, otherwise it won't be enough for my cultivation," Ji Yuan said, shaking his head.

Upon hearing this, Deng Pinghai smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Qiu, you probably really don't know the value of this stuff. A pound of rotten firefly locust wood is worth around 300 mid-grade spirit stones. You're asking for 10 pounds right off the bat. To be honest, 3000 mid-grade spirit stones would be enough to buy my life."

Ji Yuan stared at him without saying a word.

"Two jin, at most two jin."

Deng Pinghai relented.

Ji Yuan continued to haggle, "Five catties, I can buy one catty of the rest with spirit stones, and the remaining two catties... I'll pay you back slowly by doing the work for you later."

Once Ji Yuan obtains the five catties of Rotten Firefly Shadow Locust Tree, he will immediately use the Talisman Treasure Sky Shuttle or the top-grade spiritual artifact flying boat that he has never used before to escape.

As for credit...

It's Qiu Qianhai who owes the debt, what does it have to do with me, Ji Yuan?

Moreover, a character who is a con artist and swindler is more in line with the image of a demonic cultivator.

"Five pounds is really not that much."

"Don't be like that, Brother Deng. You've been running your business in Da'ai City for so long, how could you not even have five catties of rotten firefly locust tree?"

"..."

Ji Yuan insisted on taking five jin, but because of its high value, Deng Pinghai refused to budge.

After some haggling, Deng Pinghai finally stood up and said:

"Then how about this, I'll go back and consult with the sect leader and the others first, and then give Brother Qiu an answer, okay?"

"Okay, I'll wait for your message."

Ji Yuan seemed a little annoyed, but in the end he nodded in agreement.

Seeing that Deng Pinghai was about to leave, he added, "Brother Deng had better hurry, otherwise I might leave this Great Love City."

Deng Pinghai paused slightly, but finally replied with an "okay".

He left, but this time Ji Yuan didn't even leave again.

He sat in the teahouse, then took out the book "True Explanation of Weapon Forging" given to him by the Iron Hammer Island Master, and silently flipped through it, absorbing the experience related to weapon forging.

After Ji Yuan finished his business here, he planned to return to Misty Island and open the [Weapon Refining Room].

He started early to pave the way for refining his natal magic weapon after reaching the Golden Core stage.

After waiting for so long before, this time it was much faster. In just over an hour, he received another message from Deng Pinghai, asking where he was.

"I'm still in this teahouse."

After Ji Yuan replied, Deng Pinghai came over again in no time.

He didn't know how far he had traveled, because even this mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator was a little out of breath when he arrived.

"Brother Qiu, it's settled." Deng Pinghai smiled.

"Oh?"

Ji Yuan was somewhat surprised. One pound of Rotten Firefly Shadow Locust cost 300 spirit stones, and five pounds would cost 1500 spirit stones. How could they have negotiated such a price so quickly to attract a Foundation Establishment cultivator like himself?

"But there are some differences too."

After Deng Pinghai sat down, he took out a piece of rotten firefly locust tree from his storage bag.

Ji Yuan glanced at it; it was bigger than the one Hua Yaoyue had given him, but not by much, and it couldn't possibly weigh five pounds.

"Here are two jin, and the remaining three jin... The sect leader said you don't need to pay. All you need to do is join our Great Love Sect and contribute to our Great Love Sect in the upcoming battle."

"After this battle is over, the remaining three catties will be considered as payment for Brother Qiu's assistance, how about that?"

After Deng Pinghai finished speaking, he placed the two-pound piece of rotten firefly-shaped locust tree on the table. "Brother Qiu, if you can accept it, you can take this piece of rotten firefly-shaped locust tree now. If you can't accept it... then it can only mean that we are not destined to be together."

Ji Yuan looked at the decaying, gloomy locust tree without saying a word.

The meaning of the mourning hermit is quite clear: in his opinion, Ji Yuan's value is only worth these two catties of rotten firefly-shadowed locust tree. He has more, but he won't give it to him.

If Ji Yuan died in the war, then let alone the remaining three catties of rotten firefly locust tree, even the two catties would be taken back by their Great Love Sect.

But what if we win?

No matter which of the four major sects in Ghost Seeking Pool is captured, the Great Love Sect will reap huge profits. At that time, the remaining three catties of Rotten Firefly Shadow Locust Tree will be nothing.

Of course, it would be even better if the Great Love Sect could act with greater love.

We can finish the plan after the war ends, which will save us the three pounds of rotten firefly and shady locust wood later.

However, this possibility is unlikely, but even if it happens, Ji Yuan is confident that he can get away unscathed. However, if the Mourning Hermit really does this, Ji Yuan will use all his connections to kill him.

Shall we do it?

Ji Yuan looked at the piece of rotten, gloomy locust wood on the table, and after some thought, he decided... to do it!

When the two sides are locked in a fierce battle, with strategies and tactics intertwined, it will be good to accumulate experience in such a chaotic battle.

Otherwise, once the war between good and evil begins, any encounter will essentially turn into a chaotic melee.

Without experience, it's easy to become cannon fodder.

Currently, Gui Xuntang is fighting, while Ji Yuan is preparing to slack off; he'll take it easy if he can, and only make a move if he can't.

Seeing Ji Yuan take a deep breath, Deng Pinghai smiled and asked, "Brother Qiu, how's your thinking going?"

Ji Yuan calmly put away the two-pound piece of rotten firefly-shaped locust tree from the table, then smiled and said, "I wonder how strong our Great Love Sect is?"

Deng Pinghai laughed loudly, "Very well, very well, in that case, Brother Qiu, come with me to meet the brothers, and you'll find out."

"Brother Deng, why don't you lead the way quickly?"

Ji Yuan waved his hand and said in a very bold manner.

……

After a while.

In a mansion within Da'ai City, Ji Yuan met the rest of the Da'ai Sect's members.

Including him, there are six people in total. I heard that there are three other people already waiting in Ghost Searching Pool. They will attack together as soon as the Great Love Sect launches its attack!

Ji Yuan had already met the five people in front of him through Deng Pinghai's introduction.

First and foremost is the gaunt old man sitting in the main seat, the eldest son of the Great Love Immortal, and now the sect leader of the Great Love Sect, the Mourning Hermit.

Rumors circulated that he had already reached the Pseudo-Core Formation stage, which even Ji Yuan couldn't see through.

Two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

A bald man named Lu Ping, who looked quite muscular, appeared to be a cultivator.

The other was a woman with an ordinary face but a rather good figure. She was wearing a long blue dress and her name was Ye Zhi Qiu. Judging from her appearance alone, she did not seem to be a demonic cultivator.

The remaining two are mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators.

One of them was Deng Pinghai, who was in contact with Ji Yuan.

The other one was dressed in a white robe, holding a feather fan, looking quite like a strategist with a feather fan and turban, and his name was Qianxin.

After exchanging greetings with each of them, Ji Yuan, who was in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, naturally sat down by the door, a move that suited his wishes perfectly.

Sitting at the very front, the mourner leaned on his cane and slowly said, "Our Great Love Sect has a new brother. Logically speaking, the whole sect should celebrate."

"But now things are urgent, so we can only celebrate together after this battle is over. I hope Brother Qiu understands."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan naturally stood up and bowed.

"We are all people of the martial arts world, and we don't like these formalities. It is already a great honor for me, Qiu Qianhai, to get to know all of you brothers and sisters today. There is no need for any celebration."

"Good! Brother Qiu's words are to my liking!"

Lu Ping touched his bald head and laughed heartily.

Even the mournful wanderer managed to force a smile that was even more unsightly than a cry, gesturing for Ji Yuan to sit down.

After exchanging a few polite words, he gave Ji Yuan a storage bag containing the basic techniques of the Great Love Sect, including the escape technique that allowed him to transform into black mist.

There were some spirit stones and other similar items left, but that was it.

The sect leader of the Great Love Sect transformed into black mist and left the place. As soon as he left, the people present visibly breathed a sigh of relief and spoke much more casually.

Ji Yuan was a rough and rugged man at the time, and he could respond to whatever they were saying, so the atmosphere was quite harmonious for a while.

After a while, Ji Yuan had gained a basic understanding of them.

What surprised him the most was that the number two person in the Great Love Sect was actually a Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator named Qian Xin.

When the five of them gathered together to talk, the others would shut up as soon as he opened his mouth.

No matter who it is, even Lu Ping, who seems to have the worst temper, they will all respectfully address him as "Fellow Daoist Qianxin".

As for the rest, Ye Zhi Qiu seemed to have a rather calm and quiet personality, and somehow ended up mingling with this group of demonic cultivators.

In comparison, Deng Pinghai seemed quite ordinary.

One hour later.

The five chatted about all sorts of things for a while, then gathered together for a meal and drinks before preparing to leave.

Ji Yuan didn't move, and neither did this Fellow Daoist Qian Xin.

The other three were not surprised. After they left, Qianxin smiled and said, "Brother Qiu must have a lot of questions he wants to ask. Now you can ask me anything."

"Who are you going to take down?!"

Ji Yuan asked the question directly.

Qianxin paced back and forth in the hall, fanning herself with a feather fan. "In Brother Qiu's opinion, who would be more suitable to deal with?"

"Of course, we pick on the weakest of the weak. Among the four major sects of Ghost Seeking Pool, Blood Prison Sect is the weakest, with only five Foundation Establishment cultivators. Who else should we target if not them?!"

Ji Yuan stared wide-eyed and said.

"Brother Qiu is absolutely right."

Qianxin smiled and nodded, saying, "But we won't do anything to them; there's no future in doing so."

"Then who should we do it to?"

Qianxin turned around, her smile vanishing, and said very seriously:

"Our Great Love Sect will only take on the strongest one. We will take over the Divine Vulture Palace directly, and from then on, Ghost Seeking Pool will belong to our Great Love Sect."

"The Divine Vulture Palace?"

Admittedly, Ji Yuan was somewhat surprised when he heard this.

He hadn't expected that the Da Ai Zong group would act so... bravely.

"Exactly."

"I've heard that the Divine Vulture Palace has a total of twelve Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the Palace Master is even a Pseudo-Core Formation expert. Our Great Love Sect..."

Ji Yuan didn't continue.

Qianxin's smile widened upon hearing this. "The Pseudo-Core Formation realm is no problem. Our sect leader is also at the Pseudo-Core Formation realm. We have five Foundation Establishment cultivators here, and there are three more Foundation Establishment cultivators in Ghost Seeking Pool. That makes a total of nine Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"But it's still not as many as the Divine Vulture Palace."

"But what if our three brothers in Ghost Seeking Pool happen to be members of the Divine Eagle Palace?"

Qianxin asked with a smile.

Ji Yuan: "Hiss."

"So, with Brother Qiu here today, we're exactly nine against nine... the advantage is on my side."

Qianxin, waving a feather fan, nodded and smiled with satisfaction.

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan took a step back, cupped his hands, and said:

"As you can see, fellow Daoist, I am merely a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, and I am not skilled in combat. In addition, I have not had time to cultivate the sect's secret techniques."

So if we do end up fighting, I hope you'll take good care of me.

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(End of this chapter)