Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

Minister Jiang knew who it was without even turning around.

He turned around, his gaze falling on the woman behind him, and his expression softened unconsciously.

That was Ji Fa's wife, Shi Ji.

You look great.

Minister Jiang gazed at her rosy face, recalling that he himself had also been doing well lately.

She removed her immortal bones for Ji Fa back then, which doesn't seem like a wrong now—at least things are peaceful for now.

Shi Ji slowly stepped forward, stood beside him, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Ji Fa treated her very well, and she never regretted her choice back then; on the contrary, she was grateful for her decision.

"Are Master Huaxu and his wife well?"

She paused for a moment and then asked.

After having her immortal bones removed, she could no longer fly through the clouds, let alone return to the Jie Sect or set foot in the Heavenly Court.

Moreover, the two had not seen each other for a long time since their last parting with Minister Jiang.

Minister Jiang was always busy. Even when he came to Xiqi, he would leave in a hurry after finishing his business and never had time to visit her.

Shi Ji harbored no resentment.

She knew that Minister Jiang bore heavy responsibilities, and besides, she had no right to ask for anything.

"They are all well, but they are too busy to come and visit you."

Minister Jiang's tone contained a hint of apology.

After all, he is my junior apprentice, so I should take good care of him no matter what.

"I see."

Shi Ji gazed at the horizon.

Now that she is in Xiqi and has lost all her cultivation, although she can no longer sense the changes in the rankings on the Investiture of the Gods, she can still detect some clues by observing the celestial phenomena over the past few days. "The Investiture of the Gods has been fluctuating frequently lately... The conflict between the Jie Sect and the Chan Sect is probably not far off."

Before she could finish speaking, Minister Jiang had already grasped the deeper meaning behind her words.

He nodded slightly, a look of relief in his eyes—it was best that she could understand.

"How long will my martial uncle stay this time?"

After exchanging a few words, Shi Ji asked softly.

"I'll be leaving shortly."

Minister Jiang gazed into the distance, his tone calm.

Shi Ji was taken aback.

She knew that Minister Jiang would not stay long, but she did not expect it to be so rushed.

A look of surprise flashed across her face, but she finally nodded and followed his gaze to the vast army formation that was gradually receding into the distance.

A silent understanding arose between the two.

Before long, Nezha, Tengyin, and Duobao appeared behind Minister Jiang.

"Let's go."

After Jiang finished speaking, he rode on a cloud and rose into the air, with the crowd following closely behind.

"When Ji Fa returns, tell him I have important business to attend to and will not wait for his good news."

As he left, only a whispered message reached Shi Ji's ears.

Shi Ji watched the group depart, then nodded slightly, as if she had already answered in her heart.

The group sped towards the edge of the prehistoric land.

Half a day later, the outline of an island appeared beneath the clouds.

"Master, what is that?"

Nezha pointed downwards and asked.

"Go down and investigate, and you'll find out."

Minister Jiang was the first to descend from the clouds.

The group landed on the island and found an open space to rest.

The days of travel have left them mentally exhausted, and they need a short break to calm their minds.

Seeing this, Minister Jiang said nothing more, but summoned a few people behind him.

"Duobao, Nezha, Leizhenzi, Tuxingsun, keep an eye on the surroundings. If you're worried, go and investigate."

He gave the order.

Only by taking precautions in advance can we cope with unexpected changes.

Several men stepped forward, clasped their hands in greeting, and accepted the order: "Yes, sir!"

They split up and went off to patrol in different directions.

Minister Jiang watched the group disperse, then turned and walked deeper into the island.

The group traveled through the mountains and forests without encountering anything unusual, but remained vigilant and did not let their guard down for a moment.

Although Duobao and Nezha had followed Minister Jiang for a long time, they had never been able to join the ranks of the top.

Great figures like Yang Zongbao and Xue Rengui remained steadfast at the front lines, their brilliance shining brightly.

Minister Jiang knew of their existence long ago, but he was ultimately not as familiar with them as he was with Yang Zongbao and others.

Only after the matter of succession was settled could they undergo a transformation, barely reaching the ranks of the elite. In the future, their efforts for Minister Jiang would surely be even greater.

Along the way, they discovered each other's abilities, and Nezha already harbored a desire to compete.

It is common for cultivators to spar with each other, but they should stop when they have reached a point. This can help them hone their skills without harming their friendship.

Minister Jiang had no objection to this—as long as there was no ulterior motive or personal desire involved, such exchanges could actually help people improve.

Given the current special circumstances, the two only agreed to a duel and did not immediately take action.

Lei Zhenzi spread his wings again and leaped towards the distant mountains.

Since Duobao led everyone on their westward journey, relying entirely on his ability to ride the wind, this experience has made him even more adept at controlling his power.

Although he changed to the sea route this time, it did not prevent him from soaring through the clouds.

When the fog is thick, we will disembark and rest temporarily; otherwise, we will patrol the sky.

He also had another responsibility: to climb high and look far ahead to investigate any unusual activity so that he could respond promptly.

Through repeated practice, his skill in flying not only did not deteriorate, but improved even more, almost reaching the point where his mind could follow his thoughts and he could control his movements at will.

Tu Xingsun, however, suddenly sank into the ground.

On the sand, a ridge could be seen rapidly winding forward.

Judging from his movements, they were somewhat more sluggish than usual.

Upon seeing this, Minister Jiang frowned slightly.

"Half a month of neglecting cultivation has indeed shown signs of regression."

He secretly realized that he would need several days to adjust after landing.

Tu Xingsun was incredibly perceptive; upon hearing the music, he understood its meaning and immediately disappeared into the earth to practice more silently.

Minister Jiang said no more, having already made the point clear, but hoped that he would take it to heart.

With four officials patrolling the four directions, Minister Jiang felt somewhat at ease.

He walked slowly along the beach with his hands behind his back. Since it was only a short stop, everyone camped near the sea and did not go deep into the island.

Seeing everyone around him busy with their own tasks, Minister Jiang strolled alone toward the edge of the island.

Since arriving on the island, the surrounding area has remained completely silent.

If Minister Jiang hadn't already scanned it with his divine sense, he probably would have been on guard.

The sound of the tide is soft and gentle, and footprints stretch out in a line on the sand.

Gazing at the vast expanse of sea and sky, a sense of tranquility unexpectedly arises.

Since arriving in this world—and even in my previous lives—it seems I have never had such a moment to quietly observe the vast ocean.

All the busy days of the past flashed through my mind: the first steps on the path, the trials and tribulations, the establishment of the gods, the final attainment of sainthood... every step led to a more majestic place.

As Minister Jiang traveled along the way, it felt as if he had stepped into another world.

The island beneath our feet was far more tiny than it had appeared at first glance. We walked along the coastline for a long time, but still couldn't complete a full circle.

The three mountain peaks he initially saw appeared to be three more when he looked at them from a different angle—in total, there were at least six peaks scattered about.

This is no ordinary island. If it were any more open, it would rival the legendary Penglai and Fangzhang Islands.

The scenery on the island is also unique.

Although it was the height of summer, a refreshing coolness permeated the depths of the grove; looking up at the sky, wispy clouds stretched out on the azure backdrop, without a trace of gloom.

The wind comes from the sea, warm and carrying the scent of salt. A few steps further in, you can hear the babbling of a stream—it's actually fresh water.

Birds flitted across the sky, their calls clear and melodious, as if from another world.

Amidst the turmoil of the past, such a tranquil place still exists.

Minister Jiang secretly pondered: If he could cultivate here, he would be spared the worry of being disturbed.

The worst thing you can do in spiritual practice is to be interrupted midway. If you are not careful, you may damage your meridians or even go into a state of demonic possession.

This island is remote and hard to find, making it an ideal place for seclusion.

As he pondered this, he strolled forward, unknowingly drifting far from where the others had parted ways.

Suddenly, a precipice appeared in front of them, blocking their way.

Minister Jiang was about to turn back when his gaze inadvertently swept over a solitary peak to the side—

My steps faltered.

He didn't turn around immediately, but stood still for a moment before taking a step as usual and slowly walking towards the mountain peak.

There are people on the summit.

A gaze, like an arrow from the shadows, was fixed firmly on him.

The gaze was wary, even subtly intimidating, but not deadly—more like the guarded watch of a beast protecting its territory.

A barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of Minister Jiang's lips.

Now that I've decided to use this place as my training ground, I naturally need to figure out everything about this island.

The presence of this unexpected guest actually added a touch of charm to this secluded paradise.

If this place were completely deserted, it would be a shame to waste such a beautiful landscape.

A mountain breeze rustled through the treetops, and the distant sound of birdsong drifted over.

That gaze remained fixed on his back, like a shadow.

Minister Jiang chose this area as his base, and the unfamiliar figures lingering here naturally became obstacles that had to be cleared away.

The hostility in that distant gaze was almost tangible, but he merely curled the corner of his mouth indifferently and continued walking forward without stopping.

The hill appears low and gentle among the rolling peaks, shaped like an inverted bowl.

The closer you get to the foot of the mountain, the sparser the trees become, leaving only creeping wild grass and low shrubs.

Several giant, jet-black bulls leisurely grazed on the grass, their curved horns gleaming coldly in the sunlight—a posture that was far beyond that of farm animals.

They showed no alarm at the appearance of Minister Jiang, and continued to stroll and chew leisurely.

As Minister Jiang walked through the herd of cattle, a strong wind suddenly arose from his left!

The largest black bull suddenly charged without warning, its iron hooves crushing the grass and mud, its sharp horns aimed directly at his ribs.

"They actually know how to launch a sneak attack?"

Minister Jiang turned slightly to the side, the hem of his robe barely brushing against the ox's horn.

Black Bull charged forward for more than ten steps before stopping, turning around and glaring at us while foaming at the mouth, his pupils blazing with an almost human-like rage.

"interesting……"

Minister Jiang raised an eyebrow. "A bull demon that has gained sentience and cultivated a foundation for immortality?"

"Humans!"

A deep, guttural voice rumbled from the black ox's throat, "Trying to harm my offspring again? You're asking for death!"

Minister Jiang suddenly realized.

It turns out that humans had previously intruded and formed a grudge against these bull demons.

He stood quietly in place, piecing together seven or eight parts of the past cause and effect in his mind.

Seeing that he didn't move an inch, Black Bull's anger intensified.

Over the centuries, whenever cultivators set foot on this island, they were all driven away and killed by them.

The moment this person stepped into its territory, it lay in wait—every blade of grass and tree was its eyes and ears.

Suddenly, the black ox's muscles bulged, its bones cracked with a sound like popping beans, and its massive body contracted rapidly in the blue light.

In just a few breaths, a burly giant with curved horns on his head stood up from the spot. His bulging muscles almost burst through his illusory clothes, and he was over nine feet tall.

He took a half step forward, and the ground trembled slightly.