Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 262 Conspiring to Form the Core [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"Dan Yuan Fruit?"

Yun Qianzai and Feng Zhitao exchanged a glance, both looking puzzled.

Obviously, they don't know what this thing is.

Hua Yaoyue, who was lounging leisurely on the soft chair, glanced at Ji Yuan again but didn't say anything.

Only Ran Kui spoke up, saying, "We in Shangdong probably don't have this, so neither the second nor the third brother know about it."

"Senior Brother, do you know?"

Ji Yuan asked with delight.

He had read through numerous historical records but found no information about the Dan Yuan Fruit, leading him to believe that it no longer existed on the Cang Luo Continent.

"Yes, when I was on Mount Shang, I killed a demonic cultivator at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. I found a lot of historical materials in his storage bag, including records about this Dan Yuan Fruit."

"Oh?"

"The Dan Yuan Fruit is undoubtedly a treasure for those at the peak of Foundation Establishment or those who have just formed a Pseudo-Core, because its only effect is to increase the success rate of Core Formation."

As soon as Ran Kui finished speaking, Feng Zhitao and Yun Qianzai both started breathing rapidly.

"Then isn't this the Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"Yes, judging from the results alone, that is indeed the case."

Ran Kui nodded and said, "Taking this Dan Yuan Fruit when choosing to form the core will provide a continuous supply of pure spiritual energy to assist in the core formation process, thereby increasing the success rate."

"Does Shangxi have these Dan Yuan Fruits? How about the four of us brothers team up and make a trip to Shangxi?"

Yun Qianzai couldn't wait any longer.

Feng Zhitao hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Hua Yaoyue couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Master, you really knew."

Ran Kui said helplessly.

"What... what's going on?" Ji Yuan knew from Hua Yaoyue's reaction that things weren't that simple.

"Originally, there was a Dan Yuan Fruit tree in Shangxi. This Dan Yuan Fruit tree blooms once every five hundred years, bears fruit once every five hundred years, and matures once every five hundred years. Moreover, each time it matures, it only lasts for one day. If it is not picked within that day, the fruit will quickly rot and disappear."

"The Dan Yuan Fruit Tree in Shangxi originally belonged to the Blood Luo King of Blood Luo Mountain. However, a hundred years ago, for some unknown reason, the Dan Yuan Fruit Tree suddenly withered. No matter how much effort the Blood Luo King put in, he could not save it."

Ran Kui sighed as he spoke.

"This is a loss for all cultivators on the Canglu Continent."

Yun Qianzai angrily slapped Ran Kui's thigh hard.

"Why the hell did you hit me?!" Ran Kui glared at him.

Yun Qianzai said matter-of-factly, "Because it would hurt if I hit myself."

Ran Kui: "...Don't rush off later, let your senior brother explain some principles to you."

"What, you've suffered losses?"

Feng Zhitao rolled her eyes. "I've heard that Blood King Luo is the strongest in the demonic path, with a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation... Should I issue a challenge to my second senior brother?"

Yun Qianzai: "Why don't you issue a challenge to Master? If Master defeats Blood Luo King, we will be the number one... disciple in the world."

"How about I issue you a challenge?"

Hua Yaoyue looked at Yun Qianzai and said.

"Okay, I agree!"

Feng Zhitao, always eager for a good show, immediately shouted loudly.

The fellow disciples were playing and joking around, and Ji Yuan was also enjoying a rare moment of peace.

However, having at least heard about the effects of the Dan Yuan Fruit from Ran Kui, Ji Yuan also prepared to find a way to upgrade this [Spirit Field].

One Danyuan Fruit is produced every 10 years.

Ji Yuan wasn't confident that he could successfully form a core with just one Dan Yuan Fruit; he definitely needed to prepare more of these treasures.

As for the upgrade requirements for this level 4 [Spirit Field]...

[Upgrade Requirements: 500 mid-grade spirit stones, 1 tier-3 demon core, 10 jin of Danyang soil, 20 jin of Xuanyin soil, and 3 tier-2 burrowing earthworm corpses. (Not yet achieved)]

As for spirit stones, Ji Yuan just happened to buy one from the auction house in South China Sea City last time.

Ji Yuan has also obtained the three corpses of the burrowing earthworms.

That leaves only Xuan Yin Soil and Dan Yang Soil.

As for the Xuan Yin Earth, Ji Yuan had Bai Piao help prepare it beforehand, and he also prepared some himself, so there shouldn't be any major problems.

It's these 10 jin of Danyang soil...

Danyang soil is the ash from a pill furnace. It is the ashes that turn into pills when they fail to be refined. Moreover, only pills of at least the second rank or higher can produce Danyang soil.

If a first-grade pill fails to be refined, it is not called Danyang Soil.

That's called scum.

"Third Senior Sister, I remember you were registered at the Pill Hall, right?"

Ji Yuan turned to look at Feng Zhitao and asked softly.

This is where the advantages of having a master or mentor become apparent.

"Yes, I'm a Grandmaster of the Pill Hall." Feng Zhitao patted her bulging chest proudly. "So, Junior Brother, you're joining the Pill Hall too?"

"Don't worry, with your alchemy skills, I can definitely get you a Grandmaster title in alchemy, but only at the second level."

As soon as Feng Zhitao finished speaking, Yun Qianzai uttered a sound of "Hmm?"

"Shouldn't someone as talented as my junior brother join the Array Hall? With his expertise in array formations, if he joins the Array Hall, I won't be left to fend for myself alone."

"Nonsense. You haven't seen Junior Brother's talent in weapon crafting. I gave him a few pointers, and he was already able to craft mid-grade spiritual weapons."

Ran Kui rarely joined the debate.

But after the three of them finished speaking, they were all stunned.

Finally, Feng Zhitao seemed to remember something and said softly, "I remember when Junior Brother first entered the sect, he said he was a talisman master, right?"

"So, Junior Brother, you're proficient in alchemy, array formations, talismans, and artifacts, and you've all reached the second tier in all of them?"

"this……"

Ji Yuan first glanced at Hua Yaoyue, wanting to ask for help.

Unfortunately, Hua Yaoyue was too lost in thought to pay any attention.

He could only smile somewhat embarrassedly, "A little bit, just a little bit."

Of course, if you ask why, it's all thanks to my own efforts.

In addition, there was some insignificant help from the Enlightenment Room and the Heavenly Craft Workshop.

Ran Kui: "..."

Yun Qianzai: "..."

Feng Zhitao: "...So, Junior Brother, is there something you need from asking if I'm from the Pill Hall?"

"Yes, I need some Danyang soil. I wonder if the Pill Hall can supply it?"

Ten catties of Danyang soil is something that only large places like the Water Dragon Sect's alchemy hall can produce; small workshops simply cannot.

After all, a batch of waste pills only yields a tiny amount of residue. How many pills would you have to waste to collect 10 jin?

"Yes, how many do you need? I'll apply for them for you."

"Not much, 10 jin."

"Well……"

Feng Zhitao's smile froze on her face.

Danyang soil is rare, and Feng Zhitao thought that Ji Yuan only needed a few ounces. Even if he needed more, like a pound, she could find two or three friends to get it for him.

But to everyone's surprise, Ji Yuan asked for 10 jin (5 catties).

Ten catties of Danyang soil—the Water Dragon Sect couldn't produce that much in a year, since only a second-level alchemist could "produce" this Danyang soil.

"Junior Brother, what do you need so much Danyang soil for? To grow vegetables?"

Ran Kui was also somewhat surprised. Danyang soil has an extremely strong yang fire energy, which is incomparable to ordinary things, so naturally it can be used in very few places.

"Ah, this...yes."

Ji Yuan didn't offer much explanation.

Lying down, Hua Yaoyue casually said, "Feng Zhitao, go and tell your Uncle Xuanxiao that I, Hua Yaoyue, need it. He will give it to you, and you can give it directly to your junior brother."

"Yes."

Since Hua Yaoyue has spoken, then there's naturally no problem.

Ji Yuan bowed deeply to Hua Yaoyue.

"This disciple thanks Master."

With the hardest-to-obtain Danyang Soil, upgrading this [Spirit Field] is practically a done deal.

Once the [Spirit Field] reaches level 4, then one's path to Core Formation will be smooth sailing.

At worst, we'll just have to wait a few more decades.

I'm still young, so waiting a few decades isn't a big problem.

So in a sense, Hua Yaoyue paved the way for his own golden core.

...This is the real master!

After finishing her story, Feng Zhitao looked at Ran Kui and asked, "Senior Brother, why don't you stay a little longer and spend some more time with us, with Master and Junior Brother?"

"this……"

Ran Kui turned to look at Hua Yaoyue, then at Ji Yuan, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer.

Yun Qianzai said calmly, "Our senior brother has formed his Golden Core and will live for 500 years, but the combined weight of our sect in his heart is not even worth a year."

"He truly lives up to his reputation as our great senior brother."

Feng Zhitao said resentfully, "They all have senior brothers, but we don't. No wonder our sect is often bullied."

"Bullying you?! Let's see who dares!"

Upon hearing this, Ran Kui, who had initially remained silent, stood up in anger, his golden core aura spreading outwards, bringing a slight pressure to Ji Yuan's heart.

"Third Junior Sister, tell me who bullied you! I, Ran Kui, will go and beat them up today, and show them what it means to have two Golden Core cultivators from one family!"

Ran Kui said angrily.

In fact, what he said was not wrong.

Among the many Golden Core disciples of the Water Dragon Sect, he is probably the first to achieve the Core Formation.

Even Rouyi, the eldest disciple of Master Yunyuan, and Xiao Chengyi, the eldest disciple of Master Xuanxiao and the island lord of Zhaoyang, have not yet formed their cores.

Of course, Ran Kui's early attainment of the Core Formation was also inseparable from his countless brushes with death on Mount Shang.

Seeing that Ran Kui was really angry, Feng Zhitao didn't dare to speak and could only pass the buck to Ji Yuan.

"Then ask your junior brother; he's often bullied."

Ran Kui, his eyes wide like a bull's, looked at Ji Yuan again. "Junior Brother, what do you say?"

"...With our master here, who would dare to bully us?"

Ji Yuan said helplessly, "We just hope that you, Senior Brother, can stay and keep us company, and keep Master company."

Ran Kui's imposing aura finally relaxed. He looked around and finally said in a low voice, "Then I'll stay in the sect for another year and wait until then before I go out."

Just as Feng Zhitao was about to express her joy, she heard Ran Kui say, "In that case, starting tomorrow, Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fourth Brother, you will all follow me in cultivation. Since Master doesn't have time, I will personally guide you."

"what?"

Feng Zhitao's face fell instantly, and she said quickly, "I have to go ask my junior brother for Danyang soil, so I'll be going now."

Ji Yuan then said, "I still need to go to Qianji Hall to submit my mission. I'll visit Master again next time. Farewell, disciple."

After he finished speaking, he followed Feng Zhitao and they left together.

Yun Qianzai rose unhurriedly, then flicked his sleeves and said casually, "If I, the Island Master of Tian Shu, want to leave, who can stop me?"

"I can give it a try."

Ran Kui sneered.

"Go outside and make the call."

Hua Yaoyue didn't even bother to glance at her.

They were like this when they first entered the sect, and the result is self-evident: Yun Qianzai always ended up with a bruised and swollen face.

Now that Ran Kui has successfully formed his core, while Yun Qianzai is only at the pseudo-core level, what good is it if he is proficient in array formations?

They're all just there to get beaten up.

After leaving Forget-Worry Island, Ji Yuan and Feng Zhitao flew westward side by side.

Before leaving, Feng Zhitao didn't forget to send a telepathic message: "Junior Brother, you must not fall into the hands of Senior Brother, or you will know what the pain of cultivation is."

"...Is this alright?"

Ji Yuan had previously trained under Ran Kui for a period of time in Lanshan City.

Ran Kui was indeed strict, and he took cultivation very seriously.

But isn't that how spiritual practice is supposed to be?

Ran Kui was too strict for the lazy Feng Zhitao, but for Ji Yuan, who was in the same class, he was just as strict.

"I forgot, you're also a cultivation madman, hmph."

Feng Zhitao turned her head away, feeling that she had said nothing at all.

Afterwards, the two traveled together to Thousand Machine Island, and then Feng Zhitao continued westward to Four Directions Island.

Ji Yuan then turned and went to Qianji Hall alone.

After submitting the task and receiving exactly 90 mid-grade spirit stones, he continued north to the Island of All Things.

Even before he was halfway there, he had already tried to send a message to Fellow Daoist Bai Piao.

Fortunately, the message was successfully sent once.

Bai Piao said he had already returned the shop on Wanwu Island, and now he was at his residence on Chulong Island, preparing to pack up and head to Shangshan.

Where are you going?

His experience was similar to Fang Jie's; he went up to earn merit, then exchanged for Foundation Establishment Pills to attempt Foundation Establishment.

When Ji Yuan arrived at Bai Piao's residence on Chulong Island, he was surprised to find that Bai Piao's cave dwelling was not far from Ji Yuan's previous cave dwelling.

They are all in District D.

Ji Yuan was in Ding Shiba, while Bai Piao was in Ding Sanliu.

"This junior greets Uncle Ji."

As soon as Bai Piao opened the door, he bowed to Ji Yuan.

"Alright, let me in first. It's not proper for you to block me at the door."

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, he rudely pushed him aside and strode inside.

Seeing this, Bai Piao was not angry at all; on the contrary, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Ji Yuan is still the same Ji Yuan.

"Are you really going to Shangshan?"

Ji Yuan entered the house and looked at the courtyard, which had been completely cleared away, and asked.

"Yes, I've already submitted my name. We're leaving in three days. If you had come any later, you would have had to come to Mount Shang to find me."

After Bai Piao finished speaking, he smiled and took out a gray linen bag from his storage bag, which was filled with a large amount of Xuan Yin Soil.

Ji Yuan scanned it with his divine sense and estimated that it weighed about twenty or thirty pounds.

"Brother Ji, after you finished speaking last time, I focused on cultivating some Xuan Yin Soil. All the harvests of the past few years... are here," Bai Piao said, looking down at the soil.

"How many spirit stones?"

Bai Piao is such a good friend, Ji Yuan wouldn't possibly be slacking off.

"What spirit stones do you need? Brother Ji, just take them if you need them."

Bai Piao waved his hand and laughed nonchalantly, "I'm going to Shangshan soon, so there's no point in keeping this. I might as well give it to Brother Ji."

"this……"

Seeing that he didn't seem to be faking it, Ji Yuan couldn't help but think of the time when the two of them first met.

...This damned world has actually forced a cultivator who is so passionate about farming to the Shang Mountain, leaving him no choice but to fight the demonic cultivators to the death.

"Then please keep these things safe, Brother Piao."

Bai Piao refused spirit stones, so Ji Yuan gave him two sets of Five Elements Protective Talisman Arrays, along with a number of second-tier pills and a full pound of blood essence.

"This is too valuable, Brother Ji."

Bai Piao hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to accept the offer.

"It's nothing, it's nothing to me." Ji Yuan shook his head and, without saying another word, stuffed the things into Bai Piao's hands.

He then casually put away the large bag of Xuan Yin Soil.

"I don't have many friends, but you're one of them. Live well, and I'll wait for you to return after you've reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Then we'll have a good drink together."

Ji Yuan stepped forward and patted Bai Piao on the shoulder.

The latter took a deep breath, put away what he was holding, and then bowed deeply to Ji Yuan.

"Brother Ji, I am deeply grateful. If I, Bai Piao, am able to return alive, I will drink with you for three days straight until we are completely drunk."

"Haha, okay."

"I'm gone."

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, he waved his hand, summoned the Wind Locust Flying Boat on the spot, and flew straight through the clouds, finally heading straight south.

Feng Zhitao's situation was unlikely to end anytime soon, so Ji Yuan decided to go see Du Wanyi, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

I reckon that by the time I finish seeing her, Feng Zhitao will have also obtained the Danyang Soil.

Then I can go back and upgrade the [Spirit Field].

They captured the second level 4 building in one fell swoop.

On his way back to Worry-Free Island, Ji Yuan took out two communication talismans and sent messages to Du Wanyi and Dong Qian, saying that he had returned.

Dong Qian's message still went unanswered.

Du Wanyi exclaimed excitedly, "Fourth brother, you're finally back! Are you on the island now? I'll come find you!"

"No, I just finished turning in my mission at Qianji Hall and I'm on my way back. I'll come find you directly."

Half a day later.

When Ji Yuan met Du Wanyi on Tai'an Island, his second sister almost burst into tears of joy.

"Fourth brother, I almost thought I would never see you again."

Du Wanyi's voice even began to tremble with sobs.

"How could that be? Second sister, you're a lucky person, you'll definitely be alright."

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, he first released his divine sense to make sure that no one was around before he helped her wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Let's go, we'll talk about it when we get back."

"well."

Ji Yuan then followed her to her Tai'an Island, whose architecture was quite simple.

This alone is enough to show that after Du Wanyi reached the Foundation Establishment stage, she lost the leisurely life she had on the Dragon Hatchery Island.

"Second Sister, didn't you go with the sect to guard the spiritual veins? Did you encounter some great danger?"

After Ji Yuan sat down, he couldn't help but ask.

Guarding the spiritual veins was originally a desirable job for Golden Core disciples, but due to the invasion of the demonic path, there wasn't enough manpower.

Therefore, the task of guarding the spiritual veins has been opened up to ordinary Foundation Establishment disciples.

"Fourth brother, look here."

As she spoke, Du Wanyi lifted her skirt, revealing her slender, jade-like legs.

The skirt was lifted higher and higher until most of her thighs were exposed, before it finally stopped.

(End of this chapter)