Longevity through Upgrading Buildings

“Until recently.”

Ran Kui looked up at the stone wall above his head as he spoke. “I heard a bit of news that he and a few other cultivators who refused to surrender were all imprisoned at the old site of our Water Dragon Sect.”

Ji Yuan vaguely understood Ran Kui’s meaning.

“So the last time you returned to the Water Dragon Sect, Master Brother, you actually had the intent to seek out this information?”

“Sort of. At that time, I used the Transformation Talisman you gave me to infiltrate, and indeed I saw him, along with many fellow righteous cultivators.”

Ran Kui clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as he spoke. “That damned group of demon cultivators tortured them heavily… very heavily…”

“So you came to me, Master Brother, wanting to join forces to rescue them?”

Ji Yuan did not exchange pleasantries but directly asked.

“Yes.”

Ran Kui nodded, admitting to it. “They are righteous men, willing to die rather than surrender. Before I didn’t know, there was no way, but now that I know their location, if I do not rescue them… I cannot get past this in my heart.”

Ran Kui took a deep breath and exhaled a long turbid breath.

“But I know, this journey is bound to be extremely dangerous. Younger Brother, if you are worried, I understand.”

Ji Yuan neither agreed nor refused at once, instead, he got up and paced back and forth in the cave.

He paced slowly, hands behind his back.

Ran Kui watched him like this, his gaze following Ji Yuan’s body as he moved back and forth, his heartstrings pulling tightly.

He hoped Ji Yuan, his younger brother, would agree… because he could see that Ji Yuan’s cultivation had reached the Fake Pill Realm.

He had witnessed Ji Yuan’s methods.

Extremely varied.

Cautious, experienced in action.

If he was willing to help, the success rate of this mission would increase by at least twenty percent.

Yet he also feared Ji Yuan agreeing.

Because this matter was unlike others, the peril of this mission was clearer than anyone.

The current situation was unlike the past, previously, every time they acted, they had Master Hua Yaoyue backing them, as a pillar, but now Hua Yaoyue was gone, truly facing danger, they could only rely on themselves.

If they could be relied upon…

They wouldn’t be in danger.

Ji Yuan paced back and forth in the cave for a good while, then clasped his hands, turning to look at Ran Kui, “Master Brother, are there others besides the two of us on this mission?”

“Yes.”

Ran Kui quickly stood up to respond. “There are three others, one of whom you know, Younger Brother.”

“Oh? Who do I know?”

“Senior Brother Qinghe.”

“What? Him?”

Indeed, upon hearing that name, Ji Yuan was somewhat surprised.

Isle Master Qinghe, was previously on duty at the Celestial Secret Hall and recommended Ji Yuan to Hua Yaoyue, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, whom Ji Yuan later met in Lanshan City.

At that time he even suspected him, only later finding out from Ran Kui.

Knowing that he too was secretly opposing the Demon Dao.

“Yes, after our sect left previously, Senior Brother Qinghe joined me, and he has been opposing the Demon Dao all these years. The news of Ye Chen and the others being imprisoned at the Water Dragon Sect comes from him.”

Ran Kui hurriedly explained.

“It seems Senior Brother Qinghe is quite capable.”

“Yes, he’s very meticulous, though his strength is slightly lacking, after all these years, he is still late-stage Foundation Establishment, so in this confrontation, he won’t be much help.”

“And the other two?”

Ji Yuan continued to ask.

“The other two are Daoist Su Huaimin from the Sword Ruins and Daoist Shi Yan from Corpse Transporting Mountain, both are Fake Pill Cultivators like myself. With a Lifebound Magical Treasure at early-stage Core Formation, you are probably also in Fake Pill?”

“Yes.”

Ran Kui was an insider, and Ji Yuan did not bother to hide.

“What about the opposition?”

Understanding their own strength, the next step was to understand the opposition.

“Regarding them…”

Ran Kui spoke hesitantly, “If it’s just counting the Demon Prison, there are three Core Formation Cultivators, one mid-stage Core Formation and two early-stage Core Formation, plus six Fake Pill Cultivators.”

Ji Yuan: “…”

Master Brother, this is beyond rash.

How is this any different from suicide?

But with the mindset of an insider, Ji Yuan still asked, “Master Brother, do you mean besides the Demon Prison people, there are others?”

“Yes.”

Ran Kui nodded, “If it really comes to a fight, the demonic cultivators near the Water Dragon Sect will certainly be involved, conservatively estimated, there will be about ten Core Formation Stage demon cultivators.”

Ji Yuan shook his head upon hearing this.

“This can’t be done, Master Brother, if you really want to die, at least find a meaningful way to do it, going like this is meaningless.”

These words were quite harsh.

But Ji Yuan thought it necessary to say them, because he felt Ran Kui was somewhat paranoid now.

“Actually…”

Ran Kui wasn’t angry after hearing this, instead, continued, “I do have a method, I can lure all nearby Core Formation cultivators away, and then we only have to face the Demon Prison people.”

“Regarding the Demon Prison… I’ll handle the mid-stage Core Formation demonic cultivator, the remaining two early-stage Core Formation demonic cultivators, can Junior Brother Su Huaimin hold one back? Younger Brother, can you handle the other?”

Ji Yuan pondered for a long time before speaking again, “If this plan truly works, I can hold off one early-stage Core Formation demonic cultivator… Can Daoist Shi Yan from Corpse Transporting Mountain hold off all six Fake Pill cultivators?”

“That’s impossible.”

“No, no, no.”

Ran Kui quickly shook his head, “By then, we must first infiltrate the Demon Prison, find a way to release some of Ye Chen’s group, then spread out and escape, we can possibly stall a few.”

Ji Yuan sat back down in his spot, rubbing his brow.

“Master Brother, you want to give them the Qi Blood Pill I handed you, to restore them quickly so they can fight alongside us?”

“Yes.”

Ran Kui did not deny.

“Last time I went in, I already figured it out. Though the outside of the Demon Prison is heavily guarded, inside is relatively lax, I’m confident I can get the key… and release at least four righteous cultivators of the Fake Pill Realm.”

“With their assistance, we can potentially hold off the three Core Formation cultivators and have a chance.”

Ran Kui finished speaking and looked at Ji Yuan, his eyes complicated.