Longevity through Upgrading Buildings

Chapter 322: Chapter 179: Breakthrough, Mid-stage Foundation Establishment!

“Hmm.”

Master Xuan Shui nodded cautiously, “According to the friends from the northern Corpse Transporting Mountain, it seems that a Demon Cultivator from Shangxi has entered. This demon cultivator is the son of a Nascent Soul old devil, so even if he came to our Shang Dong area, he would have Golden Core Stage guards.”

“Son of a Nascent Soul…”

Ji Yuan couldn’t help but feel unsettled as he heard this.

Damn, when will I be able to avenge Elder Xu and Isle Master Tie Chui… Ji Yuan only felt a heavy pressure.

“Yes, but this is just hearsay. In fact, none of the Golden Core Zhenrens from Corpse Transporting Mountain have seen the other party. My senior brother Qing Yu and I went over but couldn’t find any traces of them. The world is vast; it’s very difficult to find a Golden Core Zhenren who wants to hide.”

“The matter of the Nascent Soul’s son is still uncertain, but the involvement of a Golden Core is for sure.”

“So just keep this in mind, dear nephew, and do not mention it outside to avoid causing a stir within the sect.”

Master Xuan Shui didn’t keep anything from Ji Yuan but deliberately gave him this advice.

“I will remember, Master.”

Ji Yuan cupped his hands slightly, intending to ask further, but Master Xuan Shui anticipated his question and said directly, “Killed by a Demon Cultivator, the body couldn’t be recovered.”

Indeed, even a Righteous Cultivator like himself wouldn’t leave a body, let alone a Demon Cultivator… Ji Yuan could only feel bitter.

Wouldn’t Isle Master Tie Chui know this?

Most likely he did, but even knowing it, he went.

After leaving Master Xuan Shui, Ji Yuan increasingly felt that the matter of revenge seemed unattainable.

Especially the words “son of a Nascent Soul,” the rumors from the Corpse Transporting Mountain are certainly not baseless. If there were really no grounds, they probably wouldn’t have told Master Xuan Shui, the head of the sect.

It wouldn’t make sense for Master Xuan Shui to tell Ji Yuan otherwise.

So it’s likely quite accurate.

“Shangxi’s Three Demon Sects, Demon Flame Palace, White Bone Sect, Blood Luo Mountain.”

Ji Yuan had heard that any of these three major demon sects had at least two old Nascent Soul devils.

Rumor has it that the strongest, Blood Luo Mountain, has as many as three to four old Nascent Soul devils.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare to challenge the six Immortal Sects of Shang Dong with the power of just three sects.

Among so many Nascent Souls, it’s not impossible for a son of a Nascent Soul to come.

After taking note of this, Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island to cultivate for a dozen days before receiving a message from Hua Yaoyue.

This mentor who had been away for months finally returned to her loyal Wan You Island.

Hua Yaoyue’s message first asked Ji Yuan if he had broken through.

In just two or three months, if nothing happened, Ji Yuan estimated that with his [understanding], he would have already broken through.

But after encountering this series of events, it inevitably had some impact on him.

Therefore, he did not break through.

Hua Yaoyue summoned Ji Yuan to listen to her teachings, and so he went.

When he arrived at Wan You Island, Hua Yaoyue, as before, showed no signs of change.

Ji Yuan naturally did not ask where she had gone.

However, upon seeing Ji Yuan, Hua Yaoyue, after sizing him up, curiously asked, “What have you been through these past few months to become so dispirited?”

Ji Yuan was somewhat surprised by this question, “Master… is it that obvious?”

“See for yourself and you’ll know.”

With a thought, Ji Yuan took out a mirror and looked into it.

On the outside, though he seemed unchanged, his eyes lacked the liveliness of before, turning somewhat… like a calm well?

Or rather, like stagnant water.

Ji Yuan put away the mirror, sat down in front of Hua Yaoyue, and recounted everything in detail.

To others, Ji Yuan found it difficult to speak.

But facing this mentor, Hua Yaoyue, Ji Yuan thought she might be able to help him.

Hua Yaoyue listened without interruption, and after Ji Yuan finished, she asked:

“How old are you this year?”

“I am… thirty years old this year.”

Ji Yuan calculated a bit, then recalled his age.

“Thirty, no wonder. When you’ve experienced more, you’ll understand.”

Hua Yaoyue said calmly, “Even mortals go through birth, aging, illness, and death. How much more so for us cultivators with seemingly endless lifespans.”

“This is not a big deal, just ordinary friends. If you had to experience the passing of a companion you’ve been with for hundreds of years or the death of parents you’ve accompanied for centuries, what would you do?”

“Cultivating immortality is ultimately about cultivating the heart.”

“Cultivating… the heart?”

Ji Yuan had a slight realization.

“Yes, some Great Cultivators have gone hundreds of years without progressing in their cultivation. If their minds are even slightly unsteady, they risk being invaded by their Heart Demon… Of course, these matters are too far from you.”

Hua Yaoyue waved her hand casually, “As a grown man, there’s no need to be so petty. If a fellow cultivator dies, then he’s dead. When you have the strength, just avenge him.”

“If you never have the strength, then there’s nothing you can do even if you die.”

“Yes.”

Ji Yuan took a deep breath, bowed his head, and when he stood up again, he found Hua Yaoyue had somehow moved in front of him.

He was so startled he took a step back.

Then Hua Yaoyue’s voice exploded within his sea of consciousness.

“Still!”

In a daze, Ji Yuan saw a giant golden character for “still” appear in his sea of consciousness, calming the previously turbulent seas.

Turning tranquil and calm.

Ji Yuan’s previously gloomy mood suddenly cleared.

Suddenly, he felt as if a long-hanging cloud in his heart had dissipated.

The shadows pressing on his mind were swept away, and he only felt a clear and boundless world without obstacles.

A thought of the heart and the world vast.

The cultivation shackles Ji Yuan had been struggling to break through finally loosened. He felt something, and immediately sat cross-legged.

The Spiritual Qi in the world all gathered toward him, forming a Spiritual Energy Vortex around him.

But it was not enough.

Ji Yuan took out a pile of mid-grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and placed them by his side.

Those originally milky white Spirit Stones began to turn transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Several days later.

Sitting cross-legged in the pavilion, Ji Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.

The aura of mid-stage Foundation Establishment swept through his body, then quickly fell back to the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

He had broken through.

But also had not broken through.

Ji Yuan was still stabilizing his cultivation, but behind him suddenly came a familiar voice.

“On the pinnacle of immortality, we stand proud in the world…”