novelraw Chapter 200 : Sect Rewards
Chapter 200 : Sect Rewards
Chapter 200: Sect Rewards
Liancheng Mountain, inside the Water Dragon Sect’s residence.
Ji Yuan still only told this matter to Rou Yi. As for Island Lord Yun Miao and Island Lord Zhu Ying… he still did not trust them.
Even though these two senior sisters were both very beautiful, so what?
Ji Yuan was not someone who judged others by appearance, nor was he someone whose “little head” controlled his “big head.”
After all, if he truly was, then back when he was in the depths of the spirit vein, he would not have ruthlessly crushed the flower.
But even someone as calm as Rou Yi, after listening to Ji Yuan’s account, reacted almost the same as Liu Yuan earlier. She sat in place, dazed for a long while, before transmitting a question:
“Junior Brother Ji, do you mean that Xuan Weizi from Medicine King Valley and Dan Xia from Joy Palace were devouring the spirit vein and stealing spirit stones?”
Although these words came from her own mouth, Rou Yi still felt as if it was something out of a fantasy tale.
“Exactly.”
Ji Yuan nodded in confirmation. “They were using this thing…”
“No, no, no. Junior Brother, you don’t need to take it out. When Martial Uncle Sect Master and the others arrive in two days, you can show it to them then.”
After learning the truth of the matter, Rou Yi did not even want to spare another glance at it… or rather, at least she dared not look in private. If something went wrong, she would bear responsibility.
But once Real Person Xuan Shui and the others came, she would definitely be the first one to step forward and watch closely.
“Alright then.”
Ji Yuan had no choice but to put it away, not taking out that Black Thread Mass.
At the same time, he sighed inwardly… Damn it, not a single honest person, all slippery, cunning—oh wait, since they were his own people, he should say clever instead.
So Ji Yuan stood up, sat down beside Liu Yuan, and joked with a grin: “Come, Brother Liu, let me show you that thing. I can even leave it with you.”
“No, no, no.”
Liu Yuan was so frightened that he quickly stood up and waved his hands repeatedly. “Brother Ji should keep it yourself, keep it yourself.”
Ji Yuan spread his hands. “In the end, it’s still me who shoulders everything, sigh.”
Rou Yi, on the other hand, patted the large sword on her back. After giving herself enough sense of security, she said: “We cannot be careless. Even if the sect members come, it will still take a Golden Core Real Person three days’ time. Now only less than two days have passed, there is still a day and a half… we must guard against the other two sects.”
Once it came to serious matters, Ji Yuan and the others stopped joking around.
After resettling, Liu Yuan thought for a moment before asking softly: “Senior Sister means, you suspect Guizhen and Madam Meiru could be accomplices of Xuan Weizi and the others?”
“It cannot be ruled out.”
Rou Yi said: “But we need not worry too much. There is a formation protecting this place. At worst, we can hide inside it. As long as we drag things out for half a day, they will also meet their end.”
“Indeed. So I think even if there are accomplices, they wouldn’t be foolish enough to expose themselves now.”
Back when Ji Yuan was inside the underground spirit vein, he had already considered this problem. That was precisely why he asked Rou Yi to spread the word to “call people.”
Borrow power.
Borrow the power of a Golden Core Real Person.
Whether or not there were accomplices of Xuan Weizi inside Liancheng Mountain, borrowing power was the most reliable method.
Rou Yi had clearly thought of this as well, so she could not help but cast Ji Yuan an approving glance.
In the following two days, the Water Dragon Sect’s group did not go anywhere. They all stayed cooped up inside their residence, waiting for their Golden Core stage Sect Master to arrive.
During this time, Guizhen even came once to inquire, wanting to know what had happened underground. But Rou Yi blocked him each time, saying only that once the Golden Core Real Person came, he would know.
But even if the Golden Core Real Person came, wouldn’t the Golden Core Real Person of the Water Dragon Sect be the first to arrive?
They had already sent notice a day in advance.
Secondly, it would be the nearby Joy Palace. Their sect’s Golden Core Real Person should arrive second. Medicine King Valley was the farthest, so naturally, they would be the last to arrive.
So, by the time their sect’s Golden Core Real Person arrived, the daylilies would have long gone cold.
No wonder Guizhen was so anxious.
He even shouted once outside the Water Dragon Sect’s residence.
But the result was that he was driven away by Rou Yi, who held her large sword in hand.
He only dared to shout, but Rou Yi truly dared to fight.
Ji Yuan naturally stayed in his own courtyard, munching on Spiritual Eggs and absorbing spirit stones… absorbing those freshly dug out from the spirit vein.
These things were like picking them up for free. If he didn’t use them, it was a waste.
Using them earlier to convert them into his own strength could also eliminate their lingering effects.
After one day.
While Ji Yuan was in his courtyard absorbing spirit stones, he suddenly saw two Streams of Light quickly approaching from the horizon. Without another word, he put away the spirit stone in hand. By the time he stood up, those two water-blue Streams of Light had already descended above the Water Dragon Sect’s residence, plunging straight into the residence’s main hall.
Immediately after, Ji Yuan and the others received a transmitted message in their minds from Real Person Xuan Shui.
“Quickly gather at the main hall.”
Since he was not far, Ji Yuan immediately used the escape technique 《Shadow-Following》. His figure flickered a few times within the residence before arriving at the front of the main hall.
“Brother Ji!”
As soon as he arrived, he saw a figure flash out from inside, calling out to him with joy.
“Brother Li.”
Seeing the man, Ji Yuan was quite surprised.
He had not expected Li Changhe to also come.
After exchanging greetings, Ji Yuan entered the main hall and paid respects to Real Person Xuan Shui as well as Real Person Li Gang, the “Wealthy Real Person.”
Rou Yi had already said a few words beforehand to Real Person Xuan Shui, so he already knew the general situation.
“Good nephew, it’s thanks to you.”
Real Person Xuan Shui said earnestly.
At the side, Real Person Li Gang still looked furious, but he did not forget to nod at Ji Yuan. “We’ll talk in a moment.”
Within a few breaths, Island Lord Yun Miao and Island Lord Zhu Ying also arrived. Real Person Xuan Shui raised his hand, casting a restriction that enveloped the entire hall. Only then did he say in a deep voice: “Nephew Ji, you may now speak the truth.”
Ji Yuan stepped forward, cupped his hands slightly.
“Yes.”
At the side, Island Lord Yun Miao and Island Lord Zhu Ying exchanged glances, their eyes full of astonishment.
Up until now, neither of them knew what had truly happened. It was not that they had not wanted to ask, but since Ji Yuan and Rou Yi would not speak, they had no way of finding out.
Then Ji Yuan told the entire sequence of events from start to finish. Of course, since so much time had passed, some details inevitably had a few mistakes.
For example, when speaking of killing Xuan Weizi and Dan Xia, he said he used a supreme treasure given by his master, Real Person Wangyou. Otherwise, with only his early Foundation Establishment cultivation, there was no way he could have killed two mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Not to mention that these two mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators were also disciples of Golden Core Real Persons.
That part, at least, was the truth.
If it had been a direct clash outside, Ji Yuan believed he indeed would not have been able to kill those two. Whether it was the talisman treasure inside Xuan Weizi’s storage pouch, or the various strange arts they cultivated.
Killing them would not have been easy.
The only reason he could do so now was entirely due to his many methods—intimidation, threats—throwing them off balance.
He also mentioned that when he went into the mine cave to check the section of the spirit vein devoured by Xuan Weizi and Dan Xia, he discovered that the vein had already been hollowed out by them, truly detestable!
After Ji Yuan finished speaking, Real Person Xuan Shui and Li Gang appeared calmer.
Especially Li Gang. Stroking his beard, narrowing his eyes, he said: “Some days ago, I heard a rumor that the spirit vein in the northern Corpse Herding Mountain also seemed to have been stolen in this way. I did not believe it at first. Now, it seems this may be happening throughout our Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong.”
“Was it demonic cultivators, Martial Uncle Li?”
Rou Yi immediately asked.
Li Gang glanced at her, then said softly: “Some people are far more terrifying than demonic cultivators.”
Real Person Xuan Shui did not interject in this topic. Instead, he said to Ji Yuan: “Good nephew, take out that Black Thread Mass for us to see.”
At these words, Ji Yuan instantly became the center of attention.
Not disappointing them, he took out the Black Thread Mass that could devour spirit veins.
Real Person Xuan Shui raised his hand to receive it. He injected a bit of spiritual energy into it, and the Black Thread Mass suddenly seemed to come alive, its threads spreading out in all directions.
“Ah—!”
Li Changhe, who was closest, was startled and quickly retreated several steps to avoid it.
Li Gang and Real Person Xuan Shui were fully focused on examining this object, locking it down with their divine senses, probing it repeatedly.
“Senior Brother Li?”
Real Person Xuan Shui turned his head toward Li Gang.
The latter’s brows furrowed tightly, and soon after, the two began exchanging transmissions.
Ji Yuan did not know what they were discussing, only that Real Person Xuan Shui’s expression kept shifting, until finally, he cursed in a low, heavy tone.
“Damned thing!”
Li Gang’s expression also looked rather grim.
It seemed they knew something about this, and that the matter was particularly troublesome.
“Good nephew, are those two people’s storage pouches still with you?”
Real Person Xuan Shui asked Ji Yuan.
“They are.”
Ji Yuan immediately handed over two storage pouches, explaining: “Disciple deeply understood the gravity of this matter. I did not touch the items inside; everything is still intact.”
“Excellent. Good nephew, the loss of these two storage pouches—when we return, my Li Family will compensate you!”
Li Gang patted his chest as he spoke, looking every bit the wealthy and magnanimous figure.
“There’s no need to trouble Senior Brother Li. This reward should rightfully come from the sect.”
Real Person Xuan Shui said this while also sending his divine sense into the storage pouches.
As for those two corpses, Ji Yuan had not stored them. Thinking it over, he realized handing the corpses over might cause problems—especially Xuan Weizi’s corpse, which had been gnawed by a Yin Ghost.
It was better to say they had been destroyed.
In the end, Ji Yuan also secretly transmitted to Real Person Xuan Shui, asking him to exclude his name from this matter. After all, the fewer people who knew, the better.
Real Person Xuan Shui naturally agreed, instructing everyone present not to disclose anything regarding Ji Yuan.
Liu Yuan now understood Ji Yuan’s steadiness even more, and silently noted it down in his heart. If he encountered such a matter in the future, he would know how to handle it.
“Let’s go. We’ll head down to the spirit vein.”
Real Person Xuan Shui stood, and the others followed. In just a short while, the group arrived before the spirit vein.
But what Ji Yuan had not expected was that the entrance to the vein was blocked.
Guizhen and Madam Meiru.
The two of them stood on either side of the entrance. When they saw the newcomers, they cupped their hands in salute.
“Greetings, Real Person Xuan Shui, greetings, Wealthy Real Person.”
“What, you two juniors intend to block our way?”
Real Person Li Gang flicked his sleeves and stepped forward with a smile.
Madam Meiru saluted him again. Though her chest was overly exposed, her demeanor was outwardly composed as she said: “According to the previous three-sect alliance agreement, when Golden Core Real Persons arrive here, the three factions must mutually witness it before they can enter the spirit vein.”
“You think you can stop us?”
“This junior naturally cannot stop you. If seniors insist on entering… please.”
Madam Meiru moved aside to open the way.
This, however, left Li Gang and Real Person Xuan Shui in a difficult position.
With words spoken to this degree, if they still chose to enter, it would mean tearing up the alliance between the Three Immortal Sects. If nothing happened, it would be fine—but if any mishap occurred, it would become a major matter.
With Golden Core Real Persons present, Ji Yuan naturally stayed at the outer edge of the crowd.
While avoiding drawing attention, he also secretly observed the reactions of the others. The remaining three Foundation Establishment cultivators of Medicine King Valley, along with the two Foundation Establishment cultivators of Joy Palace, were all here.
But after carefully observing, Ji Yuan noticed nothing suspicious.
Either there were no accomplices, or the accomplices were skilled at hiding.
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, a loud, hearty laugh echoed around them. “Daoist Li, Daoist Xuan Shui, the two of you certainly arrived rather quickly.”
Ji Yuan and the others looked around, waiting several breaths before a figure descended from the sky, landing before them.
The newcomer was a middle-aged man in a purple robe, with a pale, beardless face. As soon as he landed, he laughed heartily, full of boldness.
Not recognizing him, Ji Yuan secretly nudged Li Changhe with a transmission.
The latter quickly explained: “This is the Grand Elder of Joy Palace, Real Person Shenxu, a late Golden Core senior. I don’t know why he came here…”
Late Golden Core—even his master would have to act to kill such a figure. The Real Person Xuan Shui before him was only early Golden Core, and Li Gang was mid Golden Core—both seemed insufficient in comparison… Ji Yuan instinctively began considering killing intent.
“I wonder what has happened in this spirit vein, to have brought out two Golden Core Real Persons of the Water Dragon Sect?”
Real Person Shenxu also did not know the matter. Upon arrival, he asked with a laugh.
Afterward came a series of transmissions explaining the situation.
When Real Person Shenxu finished listening, his face turned extremely grim. “Outrageous! Those villains actually dared touch this matter—do they think nothing of our Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong?”
“Come, Daoist friends. Let us enter the mine and see for ourselves what has transpired!”
Real Person Shenxu seemed fiery by nature. He turned and headed straight into the spirit vein.
With two sects’ Golden Core Real Persons here, only Medicine King Valley’s had yet to arrive, leaving Guizhen in an extremely awkward situation.
Still, he forced himself to speak:
“Se… senior…”
“Senior your ass! That alliance agreement was signed by me! Even that hypocrite Danyang Zi wouldn’t dare shout at me here, so you’d better scram!”
With a sweep of his hand, Real Person Shenxu sent Guizhen flying far away. Whether he truly struck him so hard, or simply gave him a way to retreat, was unclear.
Ji Yuan followed at the back of the crowd, entering the spirit vein.
At the same time, he recalled something: back when the three sects had been fighting over this spirit vein, Medicine King Valley had already wanted to ally with Joy Palace.
But the result was that this very Grand Elder of Joy Palace declared, “What is Medicine King Valley? Do they deserve to negotiate terms with me?”
And then the fighting resumed.
‘From the looks of it, this Real Person Shenxu is truly fierce.’
Once at the underground spirit vein mine, Ji Yuan and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators did not enter. Only the three Golden Core Real Persons went inside. First came the sounds of formation-breaking, then voices of discussion—but too faint to discern clearly.
Ji Yuan waited outside the mine.
Li Changhe sidled over, transmitting: “Brother Ji, no matter how today ends, my Li Family must thank you properly.”
“Brother Li, you’re too polite. As a disciple of the Water Dragon Sect, this was simply my duty.”
Ji Yuan smiled, keeping his stance proper.
“No, no, I’m not being polite. My Li Family truly owes you gratitude. There are things you may not know… these sect spirit veins all have shares belonging to my Li Family. For them to devour the spirit vein like this is not only seizing the sect’s assets, but also ours.”
“After this, once we return, the sect will certainly conduct a thorough investigation of the spirit veins.”
“So, Brother Ji, to know you is truly a blessing for my Li Family.”
Li Changhe said with deep feeling.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan realized one thing: these spirit veins… the Li Family had shares in them?!
Damn it, no wonder Li Gang was called “Old Wealthy Li,” no wonder he styled himself the Wealthy Real Person. Damn, he was truly filthy rich!
As that thought flashed through his mind, Ji Yuan switched topics with a transmission.
“Brother Li, regarding a place to condense a Water-Nature Sword Embryo, do you have any recommendations? I’m about to break through to mid Foundation Establishment, and I need to plan for it.”
Li Changhe chuckled, “Actually, the fastest place to condense a sword embryo is the Falling Star River. With that river, it’s more than enough for us to condense nine sword embryos—the water fortune there is abundant.”
“But since you’re asking, Brother Ji, you must be looking for a special place to condense your sword embryo, so that your flying sword will gain unique effects, right?”
“Exactly, Brother Li knows me best.”
That was indeed Ji Yuan’s thought. Especially after his second sword embryo absorbed Dragon Fortune, he realized it gained a faint aura of suppression, able to intimidate demon beasts.
This was something ordinary sword embryos lacked.
“That’s easy. For thousands of years, my Li Family has studied the Shangdong region. We know which waters are suited for condensing sword embryos. For example, even the Falling Star River has a segment that is particularly ideal…”
Li Changhe then proceeded to reveal all these family secrets.
These insights had been accumulated through generations of the Li Family’s direct trials and experiences.
If someone else, like Liu Yuan, had asked, the Li Family would never reveal it. But since it was Ji Yuan asking, Li Changhe naturally obliged.
After a while, Ji Yuan memorized all the places suited for condensing sword embryos.
The conversations within the mine eventually ended.
Leading the group as before, Real Person Shenxu emerged first, followed by the others.
From there, things became simpler. The three Golden Core Real Persons waited another two days, until Medicine King Valley’s sect master, Danyang Zi, arrived. After discussions, they made their decision on the spot.
The spirit vein would continue to be mined, but all the guards were to be replaced.
That meant Ji Yuan and his group’s turn had ended.
As for them, the guarding cultivators, they were all sternly warned by the sect’s Golden Core Real Persons to remain silent and never reveal this matter.
As for the precise handling of things, Ji Yuan did not know.
He only knew that on the second day after meeting Danyang Zi, he, along with Real Person Xuan Shui and the Wealthy Real Person, returned to the sect.
Asking for monthly tickets.