Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 42 Breakthrough

Where the white flying sword passed, a faint blue ripple of water appeared.

Ji Yuan then urged his flying sword to change direction, allowing the "Entangling Waves" effect to take effect on himself. In that instant, he felt as if he were sinking into a quagmire.

Even lifting my leg has become extremely difficult.

However, the sticky effect only lasted for a moment. After that moment, Ji Yuan felt that he had returned to normal.

But then I thought, this is already pretty good.

When the battle truly comes to a life-or-death struggle, a single breath can be enough to turn the tide of the battle.

Even if it's just to escape, if Ji Yuan is given even a moment, he can urge the Black Wind Boat to go extremely far.

In a fight, once the opponent is trapped in "Entangled Waves", it becomes extremely easy to use either the Deadly Needle to kill or the second layer of Water Drop Finger, "Piercing Stone," to break through armor.

"call--"

Having mastered the basics of swordsmanship, Ji Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, and even found the fireworks display overhead to be much more beautiful.

He then stopped cultivating and instead used the spirit pig he had killed a few days earlier to stew a hind leg and stir-fry a few spirit eggs. After thinking for a moment, he also took a half-spirit fish from the fishpond and steamed it.

I was thinking of killing another green-yellow chicken to celebrate, but in the end I gave up on this short-sighted act.

This is enough to eat.

Spending the Lunar New Year alone.

After eating and drinking his fill, Ji Yuan drew a mid-grade talisman to make up for the losses from killing the half-spirit fish... one half-spirit fish equals one spirit stone.

A mid-grade talisman is worth 10 spirit stones.

Earned 9 coins, perfect.

The next morning, which was also the first day of the Lunar New Year, Ji Yuan was awakened by the sound of Lin Hu coming to pay New Year's greetings, and then received Wen Lin and his family of three.

After exchanging New Year's greetings with each other, Ji Yuanyi thought to himself that he should also go and wish others a Happy New Year.

He didn't choose many people to visit for the New Year: Luo Tong, the butcher from Zengtou City, and Old Master Xu from Baibaolou. After thinking about it, he decided to bring Lu Wan's family along as well.

Firstly, their relationship was already quite good, and secondly, Lu Wan did indeed help Ji Yuan when he was learning to draw talismans.

As for the New Year's gift, it was naturally the spirit egg he was tired of eating, a few pounds of spirit pork, plus a small piece of blood essence. It wasn't expensive, but it wasn't stingy either.

He first went to the Luo family. Luo Tong was overjoyed by his arrival and kept insisting that he stay for dinner.

After Ji Yuan politely declined, he went to Baibaolou.

As soon as he arrived at the entrance, he saw Old Master Xu coming out of Baibaolou.

"What are you doing here?! Haven't you mastered the sword technique?"

Xu Fugui looked at Ji Yuan with great interest. He originally thought that this kid would come to ask him for advice a few days after he returned, but he didn't expect that he would hold back until now.

It seems that youth really does make one overconfident.

Ji Yuan took out his New Year's gift from his storage bag and smiled, "Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and I've come here especially to wish Grandpa Xu a Happy New Year."

"pay a New Year call?"

Xu Fugui was taken aback when he heard this long-unheard statement.

He had forgotten how many years it had been since anyone had wished him a Happy New Year. "Alright, that's kind of you."

He casually accepted Ji Yuan's gift without even looking at it. "I have an urgent matter to attend to at the Water Dragon Sect, ordered by the sect. I'll bring you something nice next time I come."

Ji Yuan hadn't expected a return gift, and he was thinking of making a polite gesture, but Xu Fugui didn't give him the chance.

"I'm in a hurry to get back to the Water Dragon Sect. If you want to ask me questions, hurry up. I don't have time to waste with you."

"consult?"

Ji Yuan subconsciously repeated the sentence, still somewhat confused. How did his visit to offer New Year's greetings turn into a request for advice?

"You just wanted to ask me about sword techniques, why are you offering New Year's greetings? Cultivators don't care about such things." Xu Fugui realized he had exposed Ji Yuan's pretense and would make him quite embarrassed.

Unexpectedly, Ji Yuan was indeed in a somewhat awkward situation.

"Sword technique... I've mastered it."

"You've mastered it? So fast?!"

Now it was Xu Fugui's turn to be skeptical. "Show me what you've got."

"Alright, thank you for your guidance, Grandpa Xu."

As they talked, the two arrived at the open space next to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Ji Yuan had a thought and summoned his flying sword, at the same time he also used "Entangling Waves".

The pale blue water rippled across the surface, leaving some water stains on the ground.

Xu Fugui was surprised to see this, "Good lad, you actually learned it."

Ji Yuan put away the flying sword without asking Xu Fugui how long it took him to learn it. Regardless of how fast or slow he was, asking would only make someone sad.

So he just laughed and said, "Luckily, luckily."

"Alright, now that you've entered the sect, practice hard. There's nothing more to teach you. I'm going back to the Water Dragon Sect now. We'll talk when I get back."

After speaking, Xu Fugui took out the Water Dragon Sect's standard flying boat—the Water Dragon Boat—from his storage bag.

The Dharma ship grew longer against the wind, carrying Xu Fugui to heaven.

After watching him leave, Ji Yuan looked around and saw that the surrounding cultivators were all casting kind glances at him.

A person who can befriend the cultivators of the Water Dragon Sect must also be someone they should befriend.

Seeing this, Ji Yuan could probably guess that after today's incident, he would likely come into the sights of those with ulterior motives.

But he was not afraid, as his cultivation was about to reach the sixth level of Qi Refining.

During Yun Yuze's mid-stage Qi Refining, he felt he had few rivals. Once he entered the sixth level of Qi Refining... with formations and numerous techniques at his disposal, he would dare to test his skills even against those at the seventh level of Qi Refining!

He then went to the Lu family, but to his surprise, the Lu family's gates were closed on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Seeing the locked door, Ji Yuan didn't even knock. He bought some more talisman paper and ink, along with some semi-spirit fish and other supplies, before returning home.

Once the Lunar New Year was over, Ji Yuan's life returned to its simple routine.

Cultivation, cultivation, and more cultivation.

However, he also found another use for the [Enlightenment Room]. He had already mastered the Water Drop Finger and Sword Technique, and next he would study the Yin Ghost Formation.

He wanted to try to complete the formation so that the Yin Ghost Flag could be of great use.

One night, about ten days later.

Having swallowed the Spirit Gathering Pill and been cultivating with spirit stones in his hand, Ji Yuan's aura suddenly surged, but he quickly withdrew it. The surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered around him, forming a small vortex of spiritual energy.

The spirit stone in his hand turned into powder at a speed visible to the naked eye.

After absorbing six spirit stones in succession, Ji Yuan finally opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

After cultivating for a long time, I finally reached the sixth level of Qi Refining!

At level six, even in Yunyuze, one could be considered a minor expert. Above that is the late stage of Qi Refining, and once one reaches the late stage, one is considered to be at the peak of combat power in Yunyuze.

If I get any stronger, I'll have to join the Water Dragon Sect.

Upon realizing this, Ji Yuan couldn't help but feel a little excited.

After all, this year is the Water Dragon Sect's triennial selection, so why don't I... give it a try myself?

You're definitely not qualified to join based on your cultivation level alone. I heard that the Water Dragon Sect requires you to kill a late-stage first-tier demon beast on your own to be selected.

Therefore, the only way to join is through talismans.

At less than twenty years old, being able to draw a mid-grade first-level talisman, it's not impossible to give it a try.

After careful consideration, Ji Yuan decided to abandon the idea.

Once you join the Water Dragon Sect, you won't have the same freedom as you do now, especially in a sect with so many experts, where it might be difficult to even find a place to put your own building.

It's better to stay in Zengtou City and work my way up to the late stage of Qi Refining first.

Otherwise, without any real strength, even if you join the Water Dragon Sect, you'll just be destined to be a mere talisman-drawing beast of burden.

After Ji Yuan broke through his barrier, he spent another half a month cultivating at home. Finally, the day of the Water Dragon Sect's selection arrived, and he prepared to go out.

Even if you don't join in, it's good to just watch the fun.

If you miss this one, you'll have to wait another three years to see something this exciting.

Moreover, Lu Wan is supposed to join the Water Dragon Sect this year, and as his friend, I should at least see him off.

Thank you to Little Pig and Book Friend 20240320095512812 for the monthly votes.

(End of this chapter)