Longevity through Upgrading Buildings

Chapter 660: Chapter 289: Ji Yuan’s Second Descent into Demonhood

This is no Demon Cave; it’s practically turning into a Market.

It is divided into three levels: the bottom level houses some Qi Cultivation Stage demonic cultivators, numbering over a hundred in total.

The middle level is home to a fewer number of Foundation Establishment Stage demon cultivators, including Liu Tian and this woman, there are only twelve.

The upper level has only one person.

He is a one-armed man wrapped in a large black robe. Ji Yuan’s divine sense had barely touched him before the man sharply looked towards the cave entrance.

Ji Yuan wordlessly withdrew his divine sense, pretending to remain calm as he walked behind Liu Tian.

After just a breath’s time, a black light flew from ahead, landing in front of the three of them and transforming into that one-armed man’s figure.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Liu Tian quickly bowed his head and saluted.

“Greetings, Divine Eagle Master.”

The woman, possibly Huang Richeng’s Dao partner, directly knelt to the ground, not daring to raise her head.

Ji Yuan couldn’t possibly kneel; he merely clasped his hands subtly, learning from Liu Tian’s example, and said, “Greetings, Divine Eagle Master.”

“Are you Xuan Xiao’s illegitimate child?”

The Divine Eagle Master glanced at Ji Yuan, frowning slightly.

“Yes…”

Ji Yuan appropriately showed a hint of embarrassment.

“Is there a tail?”

The Divine Eagle Master turned to look towards the entrance.

“Number One and Number Two have both checked, no tail. These are the Spirit Gathering Pills offered by Huang Richeng, all here.”

Liu Tian presented the storage bag with both hands.

The Divine Eagle Master took it with his remaining left hand, glanced at it, and said, “Not bad.”

With that, he walked straight between the two and headed for the cave entrance.

Even without extending his divine sense, Ji Yuan could guess that he must be using it to check the outside situation.

…The Ice and Fire Elder’s divine sense is at the peak of Golden Core; the Divine Eagle Master shouldn’t be that strong.

It’s unclear whether he came from Shangxi or is a locally born demon cultivator in Shang Dong.

The Divine Eagle Master didn’t return, and Ji Yuan dared not move.

Waiting for about ten breaths of time, the Golden Core cultivator returned, casually instructing: “Take him to verify his identity, and when it’s done, bring him to see me.”

“Yes.”

Liu Tian bowed to answer.

Ji Yuan didn’t understand but had no choice but to follow. From what it seemed, these demon cultivators were trustworthy, at least not inclined to kill anyone.

With the instructions from this Golden Core Zhenren, the subsequent events became simple.

Ji Yuan followed Liu Tian’s lead to the middle level of the Demon Cave, where he first received a set of Spirit Robes, a token to verify his identity, then lighted his own Soul Lamp in another cave. Finally, another Foundation Establishment cultivator registered the information to conclude the process.

Ji Yuan initially wondered whether joining a demon sect branch required any demonic techniques like life control.

But soon, Liu Tian’s words dismissed Ji Yuan’s doubts.

All he heard was, “Blood curses and such, you’ve already planted it earlier, no need to repeat it this time; just perform the formality of lighting your Soul Lamp.”

“Alright, from now on, Brother Huang, you are our own. You have a righteous path identity; you’ll need to look out for us in the future.”

At this time, Liu Tian, when speaking, no longer had the previous eerie tone; instead, he seemed a bit cheerful.

Ji Yuan had dealt with the demon path before; he knew that Shang Dong’s demon path was extremely hostile to the righteous path, but towards their own, they were rather civil.

“Certainly, since I’m new here, I’ll also rely on Brother Liu’s care.”

“Fine, there will be plenty of time for small talk later. For now, let’s take Brother Huang to meet the Divine Eagle Master.”

Liu Tian still led the way, but as for the woman from before, after reaching the middle level of the Demon Cave, she left on her own.

She didn’t even say a word.

And since hearing the Divine Eagle Master call Huang Richeng one of their own, she lost interest altogether.

It seems this woman specializes in recruiting talent for the demon path.

To reach the upper level from the middle, one must pass through a winding staircase.

Upon reaching this point, Liu Tian stopped, “Brother Huang, you may go up yourself.”

“Mm.”

Ji Yuan took a deep breath and then climbed the stairs, following the path upwards, eventually reaching the topmost level of the Demon Cave.

This place had far fewer rooms and houses, just a small courtyard.

Ji Yuan emerged from the stairs and knocked on the courtyard door.

“Come in.”

The voice of the Divine Eagle Master came from inside; Ji Yuan acknowledged with a cupped hand and entered the house, seeing the Golden Core Zhenren again in the courtyard.

Inside the Demon Cave, no sunlight could be seen; instead, countless glowing pearls on the stone walls illuminated the place as if it were daytime.

“Sit.”

The Divine Eagle Master casually pointed at the seat opposite him.

“I dare not.”

“When I ask you to sit, you sit.”

“Yes.”

Only then did Ji Yuan dare to sit with half of his body on the chair, looking very restrained and frightened.

The Divine Eagle Master looked at his demeanor, sarcastically mocking, “My cultivation is not stronger than your cheap father’s; why are you so scared of me when you’re not afraid of him?”

“Because my father won’t kill me, but you might.”

Ji Yuan “spoke truthfully.”

“Interesting.”

The Divine Eagle Master chuckled, flipping his right hand to take out a blood-stained, familiar-scented blood token from the storage bag.

“The blood curse has fallen onto this blood token; if I so much as break it, you’ll die immediately…”

Ji Yuan turned pale with fright.

“But then again, I do want to return this blood token to you,” the Divine Eagle Master said, giving him a glance.

Ji Yuan, still pale, mustered the courage to ask, “What does the senior want from the junior?”

“Clever. It seems not as useless as Liu Tian said.”

The Divine Eagle Master stood up, put away the blood token, paced back and forth, then took out a Jade Scroll from the storage bag and placed it on the table.

“Deliver this to your father.”

Ji Yuan seemingly terrified, abruptly stood up, “I can’t, senior. If he knows I’ve defected to the demon path, he’ll kill me for sure!”

The Divine Eagle Master smiled instead of getting angry upon hearing this.

“If you don’t give this Jade Scroll to him, how will you know if he is one of us?”

“Or, are you one of us?”

He clapped his hands, and a familiar figure emerged from behind the once-locked door.

“I’m just curious about one thing, how did Huang Richeng come back to life?”