Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 394 [Spiritual Field] [Enlightenment Chamber]

The ball of light on the left contains sand dunes piled up like sand shoals.

Inside the sphere of light on the right were two fourth-order demon cores, each about the size of an egg, emitting a bluish-green light.

Looking at the two treasures before him, Ji Yuan silently swept his right hand over them, and the demon core and the sand disappeared, leaving only two transparent orbs of light.

At this point, Ji Yuan glanced at the panel.

[Spirit Field: lv5 (upgradeable)]

[Effect 1: Reduces crop growth cycle by 70%; at harvest, there is a 50% chance of harvesting double crops and a 15% chance of harvesting triple crops.]

[Effect 2 (Farming to Immortality): Personally farming increases affinity with the Wood element.]

[Effect 3 (Infant Transformation and Profound Understanding): One Infant Transformation Fruit can be harvested every 80 years.]

【升级条件：上品灵石×500块；四阶木属性妖丹×2；阴阳土×1斤；垚土沙×1斤；三阶玄影蝗尸体×2具。（已达成）】

Finally... it's done!

Ji Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but now was not the time to upgrade.

[Spirit Field] has not yet been incorporated into the Spirit Platform Mountain. Upgrading it in this Rakshasa Sea... Ji Yuan doesn't have the guts to do that.

Upgrading here, is it because they're afraid the ghost messengers won't notice the abnormality on their bodies?

Anyway, it's fine as long as everything is prepared. But if it really involves upgrading... it will take 80 years to harvest one Nascent Soul Fruit.

It won't make a difference if we wait another year or two.

Moreover, Ji Yuan is about to enter the core area.

I won't be able to stay in this Rakshasa Sea for much longer.

Collecting upgrade materials for the [Spirit Field] is arguably the core objective of Ji Yuan's trip.

Now that it has finally been achieved, much of the pressure on his mind has been relieved.

He then looked down at the identity jade token in his hand.

[Silver Thirteen: 6,763]

"You still have over 6000. What do you want to exchange them for?" the ghost asked with a smile.

Ji Yuan hesitated between the three fourth-tier demon cores needed to upgrade the [Pigpen] and the branches of the Transparent Fruit Tree needed to upgrade the [Enlightenment Room].

The contribution points required for 3 fourth-tier demon cores are fixed, 3300 points are enough, but Ji Yuan doesn't know about the branches of the Tongming Fruit Tree.

We can only ask for now.

"May I ask if you have any branches of the Tongming Fruit Tree here, senior? I don't need many, just this small one will suffice."

As Ji Yuan spoke, he gestured, roughly estimating it to be the length of a person's forearm.

The ghost messenger, who had just been somewhat relaxed, turned serious with a grim expression upon hearing the words "Transparent Fruit Tree."

"Where did you learn about the 'Qingming Fruit Tree'?"

The ghost looked up at the many orbs of light above him and said, "I didn't exactly display the Transparent Fruit Tree, did I?"

"I came across this by chance in an ancient book, which said that the Transparent Fruit produced by the Transparent Fruit Tree can increase one's comprehension."

Ji Yuan told him the truth.

The ghost messenger seemed to laugh in anger after hearing this.

"You expect to grow a Transparent Fruit Tree from just one branch? Regardless of whether it's possible or not, even if you did manage to grow it, it would be a thousand years before it bears fruit."

"I don't think I won't live to see a thousand years from now."

Ji Yuan shook his head and said calmly.

"When you first came in, I saw you. If I'm not mistaken, you should have a pseudo-spiritual root, right?"

The ghost looked at Ji Yuan with the same calm gaze.

"You do have many tricks up your sleeve, and your strength is indeed quite strong for the Core Formation stage, but your spiritual root aptitude is too poor. Unless you come from one of those top continents... In a place like the Extreme Abyss Continent, with your pseudo-spiritual root, wanting to form a Nascent Soul is nothing short of a pipe dream."

Ji Yuan smiled after hearing this, a smile that was both calm and carefree.

"Even if I am truly incapable, there will be descendants after me, and so on for generations. A thousand years from now, it is not impossible for new descendants with good spiritual roots to emerge."

"At that time, the opportunities left by the younger generation will be a great help in their Nascent Soul formation."

"You humans..." Upon hearing this, the ghost messenger stared at Ji Yuan for a long while, ultimately seeming somewhat helpless, or rather speechless, "Your thoughts are truly different from other races."

...You humans, how dare this ghost messenger, as a human spirit, deny his human identity?

Or is it actually a different ethnic group?

As Ji Yuan was pondering this, the ghost messenger spoke again, "The Transparent Fruit Tree does indeed exist in the Rakshasa Sea, but it is too precious to be displayed."

"If you want this portion, that's fine too. Just deduct all your contribution points, and I'll agree to the deal."

...No way, all those contribution points I fought so hard for are going to be gone in an instant?!

Ji Yuan quickly said, "Senior, I only need such a short piece, yet it costs over 6000 contribution points. Don't you think that's a bit too expensive?"

"Moreover, the Transparent Fruit Tree is so huge. If I only need this small section, it won't damage the tree itself, and it will cost more than 6000 contribution points..."

Before the ghost messenger could speak, Ji Yuan interrupted, "Although everything is for the sect, senior... isn't this a bit against the rules?"

The moment the word "rules" was uttered, it was as if a ghost had been awakened. After hesitating for a moment, it said:

"Alright then, I'll give you 5000 contribution points."

Ji Yuan was about to speak when the ghost's voice suddenly turned cold, "This is only because you have indeed made contributions to the sect. Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

"I'll change."

Ji Yuan felt that if he hesitated even slightly at this moment, it would be disrespectful to the Enlightenment Room.

"Oh."

The ghost gave a cold laugh, and with a casual gesture, Ji Yuan saw it send over a green branch held in its right hand.

At first glance, this branch doesn't look much different from an ordinary branch.

The branches are grayish-brown overall, and the leaves are only about the size of two fingers, but they are surprisingly tender green, even vibrant.

The characters on the jade tablet in Ji Yuan's hand danced, and the branch of the translucent fruit tree fell into his hand.

At first, when the tree branch was in the hands of the ghost messenger, he didn't feel anything and thought it was just an ordinary tree branch.

But when the branch fell into his hand, he sensed something different.

The tree branch emitted a scent similar to sandalwood. Ji Yuan only took one sniff and felt lightheaded, as if a sudden enlightenment had dawned on him.

"Hehe, remember to keep this safe. If outsiders find out, even Nascent Soul cultivators from the Black and White Temple will fight over it."

The ghost messenger said with considerable pride, "Not to mention the entire Abyss Continent, even including the neighboring Cangluo Continent and the Desolate Ancient Continent... there is only one of these in my Rakshasa Sea."

"Of course, there seems to be one on the even more distant continent of the Barbarian Gods, but after so many years, it may have died long ago."

Ji Yuan hurriedly took out a jade box made of spiritual vein jade and put away the branch of the Tongming Fruit Tree.

At the same time, he casually brought up the control panel and glanced at it.

Enlightenment Room: lv3 (upgradeable)

[Effect: Increases Comprehension boost to 30%. If a bottleneck is encountered, an additional 20% Comprehension bonus is gained.]

[Effect 2 (Clarity of Mind): Produces 1 Clarity Fruit annually.]

[Upgrade Requirements: 600 Medium-grade Spirit Stones; One each of Tier 3 Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth Demon Pills; One Branch of the Transparent Fruit Tree. (Completed)]

It really is true!

When Ji Yuan saw the words "upgradeable", he felt completely at ease.

He had previously worried that the ghost would take advantage of him because he didn't know him and give him counterfeit goods.

But with the panel as a "detector," he was completely at ease.

As for the upgrade requirements, Ji Yuan had just obtained the branches of the Transparent Fruit Tree, and he certainly wouldn't be able to gather all five attributes of the remaining Tier 3 Five-Attribute Demon Cores at first.

But after entering the Rakshasa Sea, he killed so many Core Formation cultivators.

There must be a third-tier demon core in one of the storage bags, and they just happened to have it all.

However, this [Enlightenment Chamber] was not included in the Lingtai Fangcun Mountain either. If you want to upgrade it, you can only wait until you go out after a while.

There's no rush. Even if I level up now, I won't have time to calm down and quietly comprehend it.

Upgrading the [Spirit Field] is my core objective.

The upgrade of the [Enlightenment Room] was a complete surprise.

All I can say is that the path of cultivation really requires a bit of luck and a bit of reasonable adventure... Hmm, Master is right after all.

Back when they were still on the Canglu Continent, Hua Yaoyue had given Ji Yuan this advice, saying that he couldn't just hide in his cave to cultivate all the time; when it was time to take risks, he had to.

Take the branches of this translucent fruit tree, for example.

If it weren't for this adventure in the Rakshasa Sea, according to the Ghost Messenger, to find the next Transcendent Fruit Tree, he would have to go to the Savage God Continent at least.

Who knows where it is?

"Alright, we have a little contribution point left. What would you like to exchange it for?"

There are 1763 contribution points remaining, which can only be exchanged for one fourth-tier demon core.

Upgrading a pigpen requires at least three; having one more won't make much difference.

Ji Yuan thought it best to prepare the other materials for upgrading the [Pigpen].

He glanced at the panel.

【升级条件：上品灵石×500；四阶水火土属性妖丹各一枚；土仙石×1枚；搬山猿猴尸体×1具；太乙玄阳符×2，黑煞丹×1。（未达成）】

If there are still traces of fourth-tier demon cores on the Extreme Abyss Continent, then the Taiyi Xuanyang Talisman can only be found on the Desolate Ancient Continent.

Previously, when upgrading the [Pigpen] to level 4, Hua Yaoyue helped with the Taiyi Qingguang Talisman needed, but now no one can help anymore.

Instead of waiting until I reach the Nascent Soul stage before venturing into the Ancient Wilderness Continent, I might as well ask here first.

"May I ask, senior, do you possess this Taiyi Xuanyang Talisman?" Ji Yuan asked, bowing respectfully.

The ghost messenger was silent for a moment before asking, "You must have come from the Ancient Desolate Continent, right?"

When the ghost messenger first realized that Ji Yuan was a cultivator, it suspected that he came from another continent, but it didn't know which continent it was.

Now it seems that those who know about the Tongming Fruit Tree and the Taiyi Xuanyang Talisman are mostly from the Desolate Ancient Continent.

Ji Yuan chuckled and said, "No one is more insightful than you, senior."

He had already said this to many people, so one more ghost messenger wouldn't make a difference.

"hehe."

The ghost messenger maintained the same attitude, showing no change whatsoever despite Ji Yuan's flattery.

"500 contribution points per card."

...There really is one!

This trip to Luosha Sea was definitely worth it!

Despite his inner excitement, Ji Yuan remained outwardly calm and said, "Two."

The ghost messenger then reached out and summoned two more yellow paper talismans with gold patterns.

It wasn't contained in a ball of light; it appeared directly in its hand, indicating that this thing wasn't intended as a reward.

However, even before the talisman reached Ji Yuan's hands, he had already sensed the extremely yang energy emanating from it.

"This Taiyi Xuanyang Talisman is the core talisman of the Taiyi Immortal Sect. If you take it, even Nascent Soul cultivators will treat you with more respect. Keep it safe."

The two talismans fell into Ji Yuan's hands.

At this point, he had 763 contribution points left.

This amount seems insufficient for exchanging anything.

Ji Yuan glanced at the panel again, then after a moment of selection, asked, "This junior also needs one Earth Immortal Stone and one Black Fiend Pill."

"not enough."

The ghost blurted out, "One Black Fiend Pill. If you want it, I'll give you all my contribution points. As for the Earth Immortal Stone... don't even mention it if you don't have 1500 contribution points."

"Okay... then."

It is often said that you only realize how little money you have when you need it, and the same is true for contribution points.

It looked like a lot before, almost ten thousand.

But now, when I spend it, it's gone in no time.

However, at least knowing where to find these Earth Immortal Stones is a bonus in itself.

Once all contribution points were depleted, the identity jade token in Ji Yuan's hand turned to ashes and vanished.

The ghost messenger then tossed a jet-black pill, radiating demonic energy, into Ji Yuan's hand.

He caught it with both hands, using his magical power to lift it up.

Just by holding it in his palm, he could feel the aura emanating from the pill that made his magical power boil.

This made him feel somewhat uneasy.

...This Black Fiend Pill looks like a demonic pill that can make people's strength surge, increasing their power after consumption, but the price is also extremely high.

Ji Yuan had no intention of taking it. After putting it away, he subconsciously glanced at the identity jade token in his hand.

"Alright, the core area is no longer under my jurisdiction. You won't be able to contact me then."

"Unless you use the Golden Ghost Token to return to the inner domain, then I can let you out."

The ghost looked at Ji Yuan very seriously as he spoke.

"I know you're a promising guy, but I hope you don't actually die in there."

"Let me give you a piece of advice: know when to back down. Once you have the strength, you can fight back. Things in the cultivation world are nothing new."

It was rare to hear a human word from the ghost messenger, so Ji Yuan politely bowed to him.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior."

Ji Yuan stood up and asked curiously, "May I ask, senior, after this secret realm ends, if... if I miss you again, will there be a way to enter?"

"Missing me?" The ghost messenger seemed to laugh in anger. "I think you've got your eye on the treasures in the Rakshasa Sea."

Ji Yuan chuckled awkwardly a few times, neither confirming nor denying.

"It depends on fate. If we are meant to meet again... we will."

The ghost smiled and said something that seemed to have a hidden meaning.

However, as soon as the sound faded, Ji Yuan found that the scene in front of him was constantly changing. By the time he realized what was happening, he had already returned to Rakshasa City and back to the room he had been in before.

He even subconsciously called out "senior" a few times.

But there has been no further response.

Instead, Qiu Qianhai, who was sitting at the tea table to the side, drinking and eating peanuts, replied:

"Alright, take back your identity jade token and stop shouting. Once we enter the core area, it will be an even more lawless place."

Ji Yuan realized what was happening, withdrew his gaze, and sat down opposite Qiu Qianhai.

Without any hesitation, he picked up the wine jug and took a sip. "What the hell? Drink mine."

After saying that, he took out four or five jars of "Sui Xin Jiu" (a type of Chinese liquor) from his storage bag.

The matter to be discussed next was a bit too serious, so Ji Yuan thought he should test Qiu Qianhai's mindset and see what was going on.

Qiu Qianhai took a pot of "Sui Xin Jiu" (a type of Chinese liquor), and without hesitation, took a big gulp.

Then a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

...He seems to be in a fairly good mood.

"It's really good. Do you have any more? Give me some more so I can take some with me on the road."

"Yes, I'll give it to you in a bit."

Ji Yuan reached out and gently tapped the table, attracting Qiu Qianhai's attention.

"You know what I want to ask, right?"

As soon as he said this, Qiu Qianhai's smile gradually disappeared. He took another sip of his "Sui Xin Jiu" (a type of wine), and his expression became even more serious.

"I know that my master trained me to possess my body."

A thousand thoughts, ten thousand ideas.

None of these can be summed up in a single sentence.

Qiu Qianhai's direct words left Ji Yuan somewhat at a loss for words.

Since he didn't know how to bring it up, Qiu Qianhai had to do it himself.

"Actually, I had already guessed my master's thoughts long before I reached the Foundation Establishment stage, but at the time I felt... there was nothing I could do. As long as I could fight my way back to the Canglu Continent and avenge you, I didn't care what happened after that."

Qiu Qianhai laughed nonchalantly, "Now it seems that you were not hurt at all back then, right? What I saw were memories that Master forcibly imposed on me through dreams, just to make me grow up quickly so that he could possess my body."

"Um."

Ji Yuan nodded silently, then, as if remembering something, he quickly asked, "He's not with you right now... Would it be okay to kill him now?"

"No, Lao Ji, you're only at the mid-stage of Core Formation, yet you have the means to kill a Nascent Soul cultivator?"

Qiu Qianhai stared at Ji Yuan in disbelief.

...I have one, and more than one.

[Meteor Cannon] counts as one, and [Nine Netherworld Burning Life Brew] also counts as one.

Ji Yuan frowned slightly and shook his head.

"I don't have such heaven-defying methods. I just thought that if he were to perish at the hands of the Bone Nightmare Old Demon, we would be fortunate enough to have gained such a great blessing for nothing."

"It's impossible." Qiu Qianhai sighed. "That old thief has plotted with me countless times. The fact that he dared to let me in this time means he has a very clear plan."

"Old Ji, you don't know this, but my master was a disciple of the Yin Ghost Sect. He came from the Rakshasa Sea!"

Previously, it had been difficult to say, but now Qiu Qianhai finally had the opportunity to reveal the truth.

Surprisingly, the ghost messenger did not stop them.

"What?!"

Ji Yuan looked as if he had heard some earth-shattering secret, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"He... he actually came out from here? Doesn't that mean that the Bone Nightmare Sect and the Nightmare Sect are actually branches of the Yin Ghost Sect, considered subordinate sects?"

"If you calculate it that way, you're probably not wrong."

Qiu Qianhai took another sip of his "Sui Xin Jiu" (a type of wine), and then continued:

"So before going to the core area, he borrowed a golden-armored corpse king at the early Nascent Soul stage from Senior Ghost Messenger... He has even more methods to raise the golden-armored corpse king's cultivation to the mid-Nascent Soul stage at a crucial moment. He is currently possessing that golden-armored corpse king, preparing to attack the Bone Nightmare Demon at the critical moment!"

"So that's how it is..."

After listening to Qiu Qianhai's story, Ji Yuan's first thought was one of awe and reverence for the Yin Ghost Sect.

This Yin Ghost Sect actually has the ability to cultivate Nascent Soul Corpse Kings?

To outsiders, the Nascent Soul stage is an unattainable goal, something that might be difficult to reach even in a lifetime... How could the Yin Ghost Sect cultivate it through external means?

What kind of heaven-defying methods must this be?

However, looking at it this way, I can somewhat understand why the Ghost Messenger thought I had no hope of reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

"And even if we take a step back..."

Qiu Qianhai gave a bitter laugh, "Even if my master really dies, I will die with him. He has already placed many restrictions on my body."

"If he dies, I will hardly be able to preserve even the slightest bit of my body and soul."

"That damned bastard!"

Ji Yuan angrily slammed his hand on the table, making a "thud" sound.

He said with a grim expression, "So it seems the only way to save you is to let him lift the restriction himself?"

"That's how it is right now. In short, I can't think of any other way."

Qiu Qianhai spread his hands, his eyes filled with bitterness and helplessness.

"Forget it, there's always a way out. There's no use in rushing now. Let's just take it one step at a time."

Seeing that Ji Yuan remained silent, Qiu Qianhai took the initiative to speak up and comfort him.

"We have no other choice but to do this."

Ji Yuan's eyes were dark, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"Hey, let me tell you about the core area. I've been inside, so I know what it's like."

Qiu Qianhai changed the subject, leaning forward and speaking with great interest.

The predicament Qiu Qianhai is currently facing is indeed an unsolvable problem given their current abilities and cultivation levels, so further discussion will not yield any results.

"it is good."

Ji Yuan nodded.

He was already planning to go to the core area, but he knew nothing about it. Now that he had Qiu Qianhai, who knew the situation, he was eager for him to explain it to him.

Qiu Qianhai paused for a moment, organized his thoughts, and then said:

"When my master and I first went in, he said one thing."

"What did he say?"

He said that only the core area could be considered the true Rakshasa Sea, and the inner and outer regions we experienced, as we saw them, were truly a testing ground.

Then he said something about Mount Futu in the Rakshasa Sea… But I looked up for a long time and didn’t see any Mount Futu, not even a single mountain. And Lao Ji, do you even know what this Rakshasa Sea is?”

Qiu Qianhai said somewhat excitedly.

"What? Could it really be a sea?" Ji Yuan said.

"It is a sea, but it is a sea of ​​sand, an endless sea of ​​sand." Qiu Qianhai said this with a strong sense of force.

"The desert...isn't that just like the northwestern sand hell outside?"

"right."

Are there any trials or anything like that inside?

"No, it's just like any other world inside. But places with opportunities often come with dangers, so we have to be extremely careful. And for us Core Formation cultivators, there are Nascent Soul stage monsters everywhere inside, so we should be even more careful."

As Qiu Qianhai spoke, he suddenly transmitted his voice and said, "Moreover, Master also said that the core area is beyond the control of the Ghost Messenger, so you can use whatever methods you have inside without worrying about being seen."

"Oh?"

Ji Yuan thought for a moment, then nodded to indicate that he had made a mental note of it.

As for the specifics, he still harbored some doubts.

Because when we were in that area where we were exchanging treasures, the Ghost Messenger said something similar, and now Qiu Qianhai says that Nightmare True Monarch also said something similar... So what do they have in common?

They are all true members of the Yin Ghost Sect, a group of people.

Ji Yuan naturally had to remain skeptical of what people with the same stance said.

"Where will we be taken after we go in?" Ji Yuan asked in confusion.

"Hmm...it's random too. Master said that everyone is sent to a different place." Qiu Qianhai pondered. "After we go in, we can meet at a place called Yellow Wind Valley. It's a fairly obvious location. You can keep an eye out for it once you're inside."

"it is good."

Ji Yuan silently memorized the place name. After a moment's thought, he looked up and asked, "Senior Ghost Messenger, may I ask if you have a geomantic map of this core area? I can exchange it for something else."

"Heh, I refused to trade with those Nascent Soul cultivators who came to me for it. Do you think I'd sell to you?"

The ghost's voice echoed in the small room.

Ji Yuan still wanted to make one last desperate attempt, "Everything for the sect..."

"Get lost."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the ghost messenger.

Ji Yuan: "..."

Qiu Qianhai smiled and said, "It's alright, we can explore it ourselves once we go in. As for those Nascent Soul cultivators, they're probably all looking for some Floating Pagoda Mountain, it's none of our business."

"This is the only way."

Ji Yuan had no choice but to accept it.

"Don't worry, he won't possess me before killing the Bone Nightmare Demon... at least not during this trip to the Rakshasa Sea. Besides, so many years have passed, the Bone Nightmare Demon must have many tricks up his sleeve. Let them fight it out first."

Qiu Qianhai was quite open-minded, and was still speaking through telepathy.

"it is good."

As Qiu Qianhai spoke, he downed the bottle of "Sui Xin Jiu" in one gulp, then put the three bottles of "Sui Xin Jiu" on the table into his storage bag, and then got up to wipe his mouth.

"That's about enough. Let's set off. If we wait any longer, Xun Tianji and his group might take all this treasure."

"Okay, you go first, I'll go see Mu Xueyao later."

"it is good."

Qiu Qianhai didn't ask any further questions. "Then I'll wait for you in Yellow Wind Valley."

After saying that, he took out his Golden Ghost Token from his storage bag, injected his magic power into it, and two doors appeared in front of him. He pushed open the door leading to the core area, stepped in, and disappeared.

Ji Yuan also activated his Golden Ghost Token, and then said to the ghost messenger, "Senior, thank you for your trouble."

Ji Yuan wanted to see Mu Xueyao once, so he had to ask the Ghost Messenger for help. Otherwise, the outer realm was so vast that he wouldn't know where she was.

The ghost did not answer.

Ji Yuan pushed open the portal to the outer realm, and when he reappeared, he found himself back in the Hundred Ghosts Mist Forest where he had started.

Mu Xueyao was sitting cross-legged on an ancient tree, her snow-white legs peeking out from the gap in her skirt, seemingly glowing.

But what truly catches the eye is her enormous breasts, a size completely disproportionate to her body, which always draws the eye.

Sensing Ji Yuan's presence, she immediately opened her eyes and flashed to his side.

A fragrance of flowers wafted over.

"Brother Ji!"

"Well, everything's settled in the inner region. Next, I'm planning to venture into the core area. What about you?"

"I won't go to the core area. I'm only at the late stage of Core Formation. Even if I go all out, I'm only at the peak of the early Core Formation stage. If I go in, I'll be at the bottom."

After thinking it over, Mu Xueyao shared her thoughts.

"Are you going out now? If so, you can wait for me in Winterhold."

"No, Senior Ghost Messenger said that our people should stay in the Rakshasa Sea for now."

Mu Xueyao's words made Ji Yuan subconsciously think of Qiu Qianhai's matter. What kind of good thing could the ghost messenger be?

It allowed Mu Xueyao and the other members of the Yin Ghost Clan to stay in the Rakshasa Sea, but as a spirit of the formation... it wouldn't harm its own master's descendants, would it?

Ji Yuan couldn't explain it clearly, nor could he persuade Mu Xueyao to leave.

"Alright, at least it's relatively safe here. You can try to advance to the peak of the Core Formation stage first. In any case, you should still have cultivation materials, right?"

Yes, there is.

Mu Xueyao smiled and patted her bulging storage bag. "Brother Ji and Brother Qiu gave me so many storage bags before, enough for me to cultivate to the peak of the Core Formation stage."

"That's good. You stay here and cultivate diligently. I'll head to the core area now."

Having finished explaining everything, Ji Yuan prepared to leave.

"Okay, Brother Ji, be careful."

Mu Xueyao gave her instructions.

"Um."

Ji Yuan smiled at her, while activating the Golden Ghost Token in his hand. When two doors appeared in front of him, he pushed open the one leading to the core area.

A drop of millennium-old spiritual milk flew out of his storage bag and entered his mouth.

The spiritual energy around him surged, and the mana consumed by repeatedly activating the Golden Ghost Token was instantly replenished.

His figure then disappeared from this outer realm.

Mu Xueyao stared at his departing figure, lost in thought for a long time.

……

"call--"

The wind howled in his ears, the sun blazed overhead, and all Ji Yuan could see was a vast expanse of yellow sand.

At this moment, if it weren't for Qiu Qianhai's prior reminder, he would have thought that he had already come out.

But now...

He released his divine consciousness.

A divine sense comparable to that of an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator surged forth unrestrainedly in all directions.

Without the suppression, not a single trace remained.

The feeling of being able to freely release one's divine sense gave Ji Yuan a long-lost sense of exhilaration.

But before he could enjoy himself for long, he realized something was wrong.

Within the depths of the earth that his divine sense could detect, an aura was rapidly approaching him.

"This speed... it's definitely not from a Core Formation cultivator, it's from a Nascent Soul stage monster!"

A thought flashed through Ji Yuan's mind.

Just as he was thinking of activating "Lightning Chase" to escape, the aura suddenly accelerated and rushed in front of him in an instant, transforming into a young man wearing a dark blue robe with a slightly sinister look in his eyes.

Unfamiliar, I've never seen it before.

But he does indeed possess the cultivation level of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Ji Yuan calmly used his divine sense to guide the Nine Netherworld Burning Longevity Wine in his storage bag, while outwardly offering a respectful bow.

"Junior Li Changshou greets Senior."

The blue-robed man with the sinister look in his eyes didn't say anything. He just rested his chin on his hand and circled around Ji Yuan.

The intention to scrutinize was quite obvious.

Ji Yuan felt uneasy.

The man in the green robe circled around once, finally returning to Ji Yuan's side. He nodded vigorously, "Not bad, indeed not bad!"

"forward……"

Just as Ji Yuan was about to speak, the man in the green robe suddenly changed his voice.

"Stop pretending to be long-lived or not, it's me."

The voice was very hoarse, but also very familiar.

(End of this chapter)