Longevity through Upgrading Buildings

Chapter 402: Chapter 206: Foundation Establishment Stage Corpse Puppet

“If I hadn’t possessed that treasure granted by my sect, I fear I would have been ambushed and killed in an instant.”

Even now, Liu Yuan shuddered with fear as he recalled the incident.

“A Golden Core?”

Ji Yuan asked tentatively.

“No, if it had been a Golden Core ambush, I wouldn’t have had a reason to come back alive.” Liu Yuan slowly shook his head. “Foundation Establishment… and there was something peculiar about their strength.”

“How so?”

“Their cultivation seemed similar to mine, both at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. But the moment they made their move, they exhibited the strength of someone at the Peak of Foundation Establishment; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been beaten to such a state.”

Ji Yuan furrowed his brow slightly upon hearing this.

Is this the strength expected of Shang Court?

It’s capable of stirring up the six Immortal Sects of Shang Dong, despite being nearly extinct for ten thousand years, yet still unyielding… and they only dispatched a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment assassin?

Even if they couldn’t deploy a Golden Core Zhenren, surely a genuine Peak Foundation Establishment shouldn’t have been an issue?

But now, since they sent a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment for an assassination attempt… if Ji Yuan thought of this, Rou Yi and the others certainly could as well.

“Could it be that this was a different enemy of yours?”

“Impossible.”

Liu Yuan slowly shook his head. “You know my temperament, Senior Sister. I hardly ever make enemies, and even if I did, I would utterly destroy them, leaving them no opportunity to seek revenge later.”

“…I actually have some suspicion that it wasn’t someone from Shang Court. If it really was someone from Shang Court, I wouldn’t have made it back alive.”

“How did you ultimately escape?” Ji Yuan asked curiously.

“I managed to stall for a long enough period.” Liu Yuan said in a deep voice, “When I used the item from the sect, the Sect Leader and others became aware, and then my Master came to rescue me.”

“Was the person killed?”

“No, they seemed to know about our sect’s situation. As soon as half a stick of incense passed without killing me, they fled.”

“That makes it rather tricky.”

Ji Yuan rubbed his temples.

Rou Yi, standing nearby, remarked, “Hasn’t Master instructed us not to wander outside unnecessarily, especially you, since you’re just at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. Why were you running off to Black Mountain City?”

“It was an urgent matter.”

Liu Yuan spread his hands, saying helplessly.

Ji Yuan listened to these words, giving Liu Yuan several more scrutinizing glances, knowing him well enough to guess his true intention.

“The sect will definitely continue investigating this matter; try not to wander outside for no reason and stay within the sect. That goes for Junior Brother Ji as well; don’t think that just because your Senior Brother isn’t here, no one is keeping an eye on you!”

Rou Yi wielded her seniority, leaving Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan no choice but to nod repeatedly.

Having checked on Liu Yuan and confirmed he was not seriously injured, Rou Yi promptly departed.

Ji Yuan was free and unhurried, not in a rush to leave.

With no one else around, he sighed, “Next time, when Brother Liu runs out of wine, just send me a message; no need to take such risks.”

Liu Yuan smiled bitterly and spread his hands.

“I didn’t expect that going out on an impulse would lead to such an incident.”

Liu Yuan hadn’t been completely honest with Rou Yi, fearing repercussions if he did.

But being familiar with Liu Yuan, Ji Yuan knew all too well that whether stationed at Lishui City or back at Liancheng Mountain, Liu Yuan had often expressed his fondness for Black Wine from Black Mountain City.

Given his deliberate journey to Black Mountain City, it’s likely he went for nothing other than the alcohol.

Ji Yuan, hearing this, suddenly looked up, “Are you saying you went to Black Mountain City on a whim?”

“Yes… no, that person couldn’t have ambushed me outside Black Mountain City purely by chance; he knew me well!”

Liu Yuan immediately grasped Ji Yuan’s implied meaning as his eyes twinkled, his mind raced.

Shang Court, remnants within the sect, familiar with him, and knowing his love for Black Wine, purposefully lying in wait outside Black Mountain City; Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, cultivation alone isn’t reliable, because that person might not necessarily be his friend… Liu Yuan pondered deeply.

Ji Yuan watched silently, saying nothing more, waiting patiently.

After a while.

Liu Yuan raised his head with suspicion, “Brother Ji, rest assured, as soon as I have a lead, you’ll be the first to know. If you don’t have any urgent affairs in the near future, it’s best not to go out either. My Master has already informed Sect Leader Martial Uncle, and we won’t be assigned any tasks for the foreseeable future; we just need to cultivate within the sect.”

“Thank you, Great Elder.”

Ji Yuan said as he stood up, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back.”

“Alright, I’ll see you off.”

“…”

Not long after, Liu Yuan watched Ji Yuan depart on the flying boat, his expression slightly complicated.

Why?

Because following the line of thought from earlier, Liu Yuan concluded that the most likely person to have attempted to assassinate him was… Ji Yuan!

Knowing he loved Black Wine, knowing what transpired on Liancheng Mountain, in terms of cultivation strength… Liu Yuan had witnessed Ji Yuan’s fearsome strength firsthand back in Lishui City.

Though currently appearing to be at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, Ji Yuan had previously killed two Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators unscathed while in the Spirit Vein.

Like Fang Jie, he hailed from Cloud Rain Marsh; however, Fang Jie remained a Qi Cultivation cultivator, whereas Ji Yuan had been at Foundation Establishment for many years.

And without entering the Nine Nether Cave Heaven, he successfully established a foundation outside.

Can luck like that be attributed to mere chance?

Such a fortuitous encounter must be exceptionally powerful; if not, how could it yield such effects… Shang Court’s fortune, could it not be potent?

Moreover, Liu Yuan could plainly see Ji Yuan now had a weathered appearance, indicating he had just returned from outside.

Doesn’t it… all match?

Ji Yuan is indeed a remnant of Shang Court, and the one attempting to assassinate him was him.

At first thought, it seemed exceedingly accurate.

Yet Liu Yuan remained unsure, feeling it unlikely to be him; if it truly were Ji Yuan, there’d be no need to complicate matters this much. If he wished to kill Liu Yuan, there’d be no need for such trouble.