novelraw Chapter 217 : The Culprit Behind the Deaths of Xu Fugui and Iron Hammer
Chapter 217 : The Culprit Behind the Deaths of Xu Fugui and Iron Hammer
Chapter 217: The Culprit Behind the Deaths of Xu Fugui and Iron Hammer
A Foundation Establishment young master, and a Golden Core stage bodyguard.
Still active here in the northern waters, surrounded by a group of demonic cultivators.
With so many characteristics combined, if he still couldn't make the connection, then Ji Yuan might as well have lived in vain… The enemy—the one who killed Xu Fugui.
Also the true culprit behind Island Lord of Iron Hammer’s death.
‘Could it be that I really encountered them here?’
‘Then it truly is a narrow path for enemies.’
With that thought, Ji Yuan became even more determined to mix into this group of demonic cultivators and probe for information. Regardless of anything else, he had to identify the enemy first.
Whether to take revenge could be considered later, but he had to be certain who the enemy was.
Of course, it would be even better if an opportunity to take revenge presented itself.
But with a Golden Core stage bodyguard, this matter was likely just wishful thinking.
“A Golden Core cultivator acting as a bodyguard—that’s no small background. What, does this young master have a Nascent Soul stage father backing him?” Ji Yuan casually remarked.
“High, truly high. A senior is indeed a senior.”
Hu Li exclaimed in admiration.
“Hmm? I guessed right?” Ji Yuan’s heart stirred.
“No, not a Nascent Soul father.”
Then what about his mother?
Ji Yuan was just about to speak when Hu Li added, “This young master doesn't have a Nascent Soul stage father, but he does have a Nascent Soul stage mother.”
Both of them were speaking via voice transmission, so Hu Li dared to speak openly.
“A Nascent Soul mother?”
Ji Yuan sneered. “I’ve heard of all the Nascent Soul elders from Eastern Shang, but never heard of any of them still being able to bear children.”
“What if they’re from Western Shang?”
Hu Li blurted out, and immediately realized he had let something slip.
“Oh? Western Shang? That’s a bit more interesting. I must make an acquaintance then. Little Fox, help me get introduced. Just say… just say you have a friend at early Foundation Establishment stage who heard of Young Master's name and came to seek allegiance.”
Now that the identity was confirmed, Ji Yuan was ready to investigate.
They were all demonic cultivators anyway.
And all from Eastern Shang’s side—practically family.
“Foundation Establishment… early stage?”
Hu Li instinctively thought he had misheard. But before he could react, he noticed black mist drifting in from all directions, finally converging into a human figure before him.
It was that old… no, senior.
The moment Ji Yuan appeared, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators previously chatting at the entrance instantly sensed the anomaly and flashed over.
“Who?!”
Ji Yuan ignored them, simply staring at Hu Li in silence.
Hu Li paused for less than 0.1 seconds before reacting, a smile appearing on his face. “This is my friend Qiu Qianhai. I summoned him with a transmission to join the Young Master.”
“Oh, so it’s one of our own.”
These two demonic cultivators noticed the faint Yin aura emanating from Ji Yuan and immediately smiled.
“Greetings, fellow Daoists.”
Ji Yuan smiled and cupped his hands to them, his tone warm and friendly, completely devoid of the sarcastic edge from his earlier voice transmission with Hu Li.
But precisely because of that, Hu Li felt even more fearful.
Because he realized that this Qiu Qianhai was really only at early Foundation Establishment stage. Back at Shanghe Market, what was his cultivation level again?
Peak Qi Refining.
Logically, meeting again a few years later and being at early Foundation Establishment stage was quite reasonable.
But the person before him wasn’t normal.
Previously, Hu Li had guessed Qiu Qianhai might be at peak Foundation Establishment. But now, seeing him appear so openly… Hu Li suspected he might be Golden Core.
If he didn't have confidence, would he dare show up so openly?
If he really was Golden Core, then that would be a thigh worth hugging.
After all, that person inside… in his heart, only his Young Master mattered—everyone else was expendable.
But if he had a Golden Core cultivator at his side, that would bring real stability.
“No need to be polite, Daoist friend. Since you’re one of us, things will be easier. We’ll handle things here. Brother Hu, take this fellow… this fellow…”
“Oh, I am Qiu Qianhai.”
Ji Yuan quickly gave his real name.
“Take Brother Qiu to meet the Young Master first.”
“Alright, then I’ll leave this to you two.”
Hu Li cupped his fists to the two of them, then turned and smiled at Ji Yuan. “Old Qiu, just follow me.”
“Sure.”
Ji Yuan’s utterly unbothered demeanor only made Hu Li more fearful.
When they reached the entrance, Hu Li transmitted a message: “Senior Qiu, the Young Master is named Jiang Hong. When the time comes, just call him Young Master Jiang.”
“That Golden Core cultivator is surnamed Zhong, titled ‘Heaven Silkworm’. ‘Silkworm’ as in the cocoon—his exact name we don’t know. We just address him as Real Person Heaven Silkworm.”
“Got it.”
Ji Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.
As they spoke, the two of them passed through the narrow gap.
With a sound like piercing through a thin film echoing in his ears, Ji Yuan felt as if he had entered another world.
Though there wasn’t a sky full of yellow sand, the heavens above were gray and hazy, with a strange reddish tint mixed in, creating an overwhelmingly oppressive atmosphere.
Ji Yuan dared not imagine what one’s personality would become if they lived here permanently.
“That Young Master Jiang really cultivates in here?”
Ji Yuan asked via voice transmission.
“Well… it’s complicated. After we meet the Young Master, I’ll explain it in detail.”
“Alright.”
Ji Yuan agreed readily.
His utterly unrestrained manner finally made Hu Li blurt out, “Qiu… Senior Qiu, aren’t you worried I might tell the truth in front of that Real Person Heaven Silkworm?”
Hearing this, Ji Yuan stopped, turned to him, and said with a half-smile, “You can try.”
If you dare to speak, I dare to flee.
But to Hu Li, it didn’t come across that way.
Seeing Ji Yuan’s response, one thought filled his mind—this Senior Qiu wasn’t even afraid of Real Person Heaven Silkworm.
What did that mean?
It meant he was absolutely a Golden Core cultivator!
With that realization, Hu Li let go of all other thoughts. Looking at Ji Yuan before him, he sent a voice transmission with a flattering smile: “Just kidding, just kidding. No matter how impressive that Young Master Jiang is, he’s still an outsider, from Western Shang.”
“But it’s different between you and me, Senior. We’re fellow townsmen, we’re family.”
Ji Yuan chuckled and said nothing, merely infused a trace of spiritual energy into the Yin Ghost Sect Ring on his hand…
In an instant, a veil-like gray mist enveloped his entire body, and his aura suddenly transformed—an oppressive and regal might pressed down upon Hu Li.
“Ah—!”
Hu Li instinctively recoiled several steps before steadying himself.
That aura… even if turned into a fierce ghost, it would be a king among ghosts, no?
Ji Yuan stared at him for several breaths, then finally withdrew the Yin Ghost Ring and said calmly, “Lead the way.”
“Yes.”
From then on, Hu Li behaved completely.
He summoned his flying boat, while Ji Yuan continued to ride the skull he borrowed from Yin Tongzi. Thick smoke billowed as he flew, fully embodying the image of a demonic cultivator.
Hu Li led the way. After entering the ancient battlefield, they headed westward.
Ji Yuan silently observed the surroundings—the ground was dry and cracked yellow soil, and the nearby mountains were utterly barren, not a trace of greenery in sight, only the occasional scattered boulders.
Not a single living creature could be seen.
A scene of complete desolation.
Ji Yuan released his divine sense to investigate again, only to discover that even the areas covered by his divine sense were just the same—utterly barren. The only difference was that his divine sense did detect quite a few remnants left from the ancient battlefield.
For instance, giant rocks bearing marks of being hacked by blades or axes, and some pieces of ironware that had completely corroded.
Or even some human bones… beast bones?
Could this be the ruins of a great war between humans and monsters?
Ji Yuan had his doubts but didn’t ask further. Besides, he also noticed that even when fully extending his divine sense, he couldn’t locate a single trace of the Blood River.
Not only that, he couldn’t sense the slightest presence of water fortune either.
If that’s the case, then where was the Blood River?
No Blood River in sight, no sign of the Wei Family either, not even any living person. Judging by this, the ancient battlefield ruins were likely enormous.
“We’re almost there. Our quarters are on that mountaintop up ahead.”
Hu Li pointed with his hand, and Ji Yuan withdrew his divine sense, raising his head to look in the direction.
A towering, bald stone mountain with black mist swirling around—it didn’t look like any proper place. And while the surrounding mountains were all low mounds of dirt, only that one spot was made of stone.
After half the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Ji Yuan and Hu Li arrived at the foot of the mountain.
“Senior, please wait here for a moment. I’ll go up and report.”
“Go.”
After speaking, Ji Yuan began surveying the surroundings. The stones were all ordinary, nothing unusual about them. Apparently, those demonic cultivators had chosen this place simply because of its strategic location, not for any other special reason.
Hu Li said no more and steered his flying boat toward the mountaintop.
In no time at all, Ji Yuan saw two figures flying over from the east. He turned to look… and one of them was familiar.
A rather tall woman.
She was also among those who participated in the siege at Linshui City—only, at that time, she was targeting Liu Yuan.
The other was a middle-aged man Ji Yuan didn’t recognize. Late Foundation Establishment stage, with a centipede-like scar across his face, which made him look rather sinister.
“Who are you? How did you get in?!”
The scar-faced man stepped forward and barked.
Before Ji Yuan could explain, a calm voice came from the mountaintop.
“Let him come up.”
As soon as the voice rang out, the arrogance on the man’s face disappeared, replaced with deference as he cupped his hands toward the mountain’s peak and said, “Yes.”
“Excuse me.”
Ji Yuan smiled at the two of them and then rode his smoke-belching skull directly toward the mountaintop.
Feng Xiuxiu and the scar-faced man exchanged a glance. Both had puzzled looks in their eyes… They didn’t recognize him. Likely someone newly recruited.
Ji Yuan reached the mist-shrouded summit and found that a palace was actually hidden here!
A Spiritual Artifact?
Or a palace-type magic treasure?
Compared to the palace he had seen with Madam Meiru at Liancheng Mountain, that one looked more like a straw hut.
It was Ji Yuan’s first time seeing such a spectacle—worthy of a Nascent Soul cultivator’s child.
Hu Li stood before the grand palace, raising a hand in invitation for Ji Yuan to enter.
Perhaps because of the presence of a Golden Core cultivator, Hu Li didn’t transmit any more voice messages as Ji Yuan passed by.
Only after Ji Yuan entered the main hall did he get a full view of the scene.
The first person he saw was a handsome young man dressed in a black and gold dragon-embroidered robe, with phoenix eyes and a vertical blood-colored mark on his brow. He reclined on a dragon throne coiled with nine dragons, his left foot propped up on the seat, his left hand hanging over his knee, and his right hand idly rotating two spirit-energy-filled walnuts—an air of supreme arrogance.
Truly, anyone with a Nascent Soul mother would be arrogant.
Especially on Cangluo Continent.
Ji Yuan felt that he wasn’t too different. At present, he didn’t have a Nascent Soul mother—he belonged to the Water Dragon Sect. But if he did have one… then sorry.
The Water Dragon Sect would be his.
Behind the young man stood an elderly man in a cyan robe, with white hair and beard, eyes slightly narrowed.
On the robe he wore was embroidered a… silkworm—like a living creature, wriggling back and forth, quite unnerving.
Since Ji Yuan entered, this man had swept him dozens of times with divine sense.
Ji Yuan appeared completely unaffected. Once in position, he straightened his posture and gave a slight cupped-hand salute to the two of them.
“Greetings, Young Master Jiang. Greetings, Real Person Heaven Silkworm.”
Jiang Hong ignored him, directly turning to the elder behind him.
Real Person Heaven Silkworm didn’t bother hiding anything or using voice transmission. He simply spoke right in front of Ji Yuan: “No problem. Just an early Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even if there is a problem, it doesn’t matter.”
He said it lightly.
But outside the hall, Hu Li couldn’t help but feel a shock.
Even Real Person Heaven Silkworm judged this Qiu Qianhai as early Foundation Establishment. What did that mean?
It meant Qiu Qianhai’s cultivation was most likely above even Heaven Silkworm’s. Otherwise, how could he fail to see through it?
There was no way this was just an early Foundation Establishment. Whether it was his divine sense, which far surpassed Hu Li’s, or the overwhelming aura he had released when entering the ancient battlefield—it all signaled that he was extraordinary.
‘Looks like I really clung onto a powerful thigh without realizing it. Maybe the thickest one in the whole ancient battlefield.’
“Alright, take him in then. Qiu Qianhai, right? From now on, you’ll work under Hu Li. Do whatever he tells you.”
Jiang Hong looked at Ji Yuan with disdain, then tossed over a storage pouch.
“Nothing much for following me—just spirit stones. Take them and cultivate. There’ll be more each month.”
Ji Yuan caught it with both hands. His divine sense probed inside, and he was instantly overjoyed.
“Many thanks, Young Master Jiang.”
“Mm, go now. Just follow Hu Li’s arrangements—he’ll sort out your lodging.”
Jiang Hong was very pleased with Ji Yuan’s reaction. In his view, just a few spirit stones could make Foundation Establishment cultivators feel endlessly grateful and serve him loyally—why not?
As for Ji Yuan… he truly hadn’t expected Jiang Hong to be this generous.
Just their first meeting, and he gave him fifty middle-grade spirit stones. If this continued monthly, wouldn’t that be six hundred a year?
Way more generous than the Water Dragon Sect.
So as soon as Ji Yuan got his hands on the spirit stones, he already knew how he would use them.
They would be spent on something worthwhile—like killing Jiang Hong. Let him buy his own death with his own spirit stones. Now that would be a good deed.
Once Ji Yuan exited the grand hall, Hu Li led him away from the palace and toward the back mountain.
Only then did Ji Yuan discover there were actually several cave dwellings here—clearly the residences for Foundation Establishment cultivators like them.
Hu Li brought Ji Yuan to his own cave dwelling. As soon as they entered, Hu Li activated the internal restrictions and gave Ji Yuan a deep bow.
“My previous offenses were many. I beg senior to forgive me.”
“No offense taken.”
Ji Yuan lay down on a nearby soft chair, gently rocking it back and forth.
“Alright, talk. What exactly is this Young Master Jiang here for? Judging by his appearance, he doesn’t look like he’s here to cultivate.”
“Senior, Young Master Jiang really is here to cultivate. It’s just that he encountered a problem, which has stalled his progress.”
“Oh?”
“Explain in detail.”
Ji Yuan sat up slightly, showing a bit of interest.
“Mm, from what I know, Young Master Jiang came to temper his will using the murderous aura of this ancient battlefield. But ordinary murderous aura no longer affects him—he needs to gather all the murderous aura in the battlefield.”
“So he had to drive everyone out of this battlefield… or kill them.”
“At first everything went smoothly, but now we've hit a snag.”
Ji Yuan raised an eyebrow and slowly asked, “The Wei Family?”
Hu Li was stunned, then nodded in astonishment. “As expected, nothing escapes senior.”
“Tell me, what’s going on with this Wei Family? Even a Golden Core cultivator can’t break through—do they also have a Nascent Soul ancestor?”
“No, the strongest among the Wei Family is just a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. There was no problem initially, but right when we were about to act, someone unexpected appeared at their side.”
Hu Li explained slowly:
“That person is also just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but commands a third-tier demon beast—a Six-Tailed Demon Fox. Incredibly powerful. Even Real Person Heaven Silkworm couldn’t break through.”
“That so?”
Ji Yuan furrowed his brow slightly. “That person isn’t from the Wei Family?”
“Shouldn’t be. I’ve thoroughly investigated the Wei Family by now and never heard of them having a third-tier demon beast. Must’ve come from outside and, for whatever reason, is risking everything to help the Wei Family.”
“Perhaps he owes them his life. So, what’s the current situation?”
“Right now, Real Person Heaven Silkworm has set up a third-tier grand formation, planning to slowly wear down the Six-Tailed Demon Fox. Once it’s dead, our task is done.”
“How long will that take?”
“Shouldn’t be much longer. According to Young Master Jiang, maybe another two to three months and we’ll be done.”
Two to three months… should be plenty of time.
After that, Ji Yuan inquired about the other Foundation Establishment cultivators.
And on that topic, Hu Li was all too happy to divulge everything.
Including the two of them, there were ten Foundation Establishment cultivators in total—two guarding the entrance, the other six at the Wei Family, managing the third-tier grand formation, ready to refine the Six-Tailed Demon Fox at any moment.
“By the way, I heard there's a Blood River in this ancient battlefield. Why didn’t I see it when I arrived?”
Ji Yuan asked casually, as if it had just occurred to him.