Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 678 - 295: Sword Pavilion: Level 1
Previously on Longevity through Upgrading Buildings...
After his words, Li Changhe narrowed his eyes a bit, saying, "I've already punished those who badmouthed you, but this mutt from a Nascent Soul Family isn't easy for me to handle."
"Naturally, if you refuse to endure this insult, I'll still assist in giving him a thrashing. He's merely at Peak Foundation Establishment, after all."
Ji Yuan furrowed his brows lightly, trying to remember how he had possibly crossed paths with this Zhou Sanbao.
Yet, no matter how he racked his brain, no connection came to mind.
"Never mind, their mouths are their own—they can spout nonsense all they like. Ignore them."
Verbal jabs didn't faze Ji Yuan much; his style was to... uproot the source entirely.
Given the right chance, dispatching Zhou Sanbao wouldn't bother him one bit.
The Frost Serpent, now elevated to Tier Two Peak Demon Beast, required a fierce bloody clash to further its growth anyway.
"That works too; your nature truly shuns needless strife."
Li Changhe remarked while casting a look toward the city, "Allow me to present a fresh acquaintance from our Water Dragon Sect—a promising junior with real flair."
"Sure."
Anyone Li Changhe deemed a friend surely had a solid character. Chatting with him posed no issue.
With a quick message via Communication Talisman, Li Changhe summoned him; moments later, a dashing youth soared over from within the city.
Playing the go-between, Li Changhe handled the introductions smoothly.
Far from being distant, Ji Yuan warmed up fast to Liu Qingshan, the famed Isle Master of Cyan Mountain.
Liu Qingshan warmly addressed him as "Brother Ji".
"Brother Ji, your patience is impressive—if it were me..."
"And what would you do?"
Li Changhe teased.
"I'd have charged right in for a brawl ages ago."
Freshly stepping into Foundation Establishment, Liu Qingshan boasted boldly, though it left him slightly flushed.
Ji Yuan just grinned, unperturbed.
After all, a newbie at Foundation Establishment naturally brimmed with youthful fire.
"Hey, the demon hunting squad is back."
Liu Qingshan gestured toward the area behind Ji Yuan.
"Oh?"
Ji Yuan spun around and spotted multiple beams of light hurtling toward the Alchemy Square.
From their path, it was clear they'd passed through the East City Gate.
Ji Yuan flicked his sleeves, rose to his feet, and planted himself in front of the trio.
Before long, the squad arrived from beyond the walls, fresh from slaying Demon Cultivators—their auras still unchecked, pressing down on Liu Qingshan.
Li Changhe subtly moved ahead, placing his new companion safely behind.
Ji Yuan eyed the group steadily, as they locked gazes on him.
"Looks like Daoist Wu You's wounds have mended at last? What great news. Shall I throw a feast here in the city to honor Daoist Wu You soon?"
A figure broke from the demon hunting squad, coming to a halt on his Flying Sword right in front of Ji Yuan.
"Daoist Zhou, I appreciate the gesture."
Ji Yuan sized him up with a shallow smile, then abruptly recalled a detail and added:
"Oh yes, my senior sister once said that back in the day, if you hadn't been so lacking in charm, she might've said yes to you."
"You!"
These words enraged the diminutive Zhou Sanbao; his Spiritual Qi surged wildly as he lunged forward a step.
Even before Ji Yuan could react, Li Changhe had positioned himself protectively in front.
"Oh? Turning your blade on allies now? Care to cross swords with me?"
The other squad members hastily held back the hot-headed Zhou Sanbao.
The encounter wrapped up in comedic chaos.
Once the demon hunting squad departed, Li Changhe faced them again.
"Linked to the Fire Phoenix Island Master?"
"Very probably."
Ji Yuan thought back to the Phoenix Peach's offhand talk, where she'd noted pursuers from the Spirit Control Sect.
She'd skipped the name but painted a vivid picture of his looks and traits.
Putting it together now, Zhou Sanbao fit to a tee.
Today's test confirmed it was him for sure.
"Mere petty fool—not worth the effort."
Li Changhe brushed it off casually with a hand wave.
In the following month, Ji Yuan remained stationed at the East City Gate without wandering, either bolstering his Spiritual Qi via cultivation or poring over the Sword Manual to advance his skills.
The demon hunting squad lingered at the Alchemy Square for fifteen days before venturing out once more.
After a month, Ji Yuan made his way back to the Alchemy Square post-shift change.
This period acted as a brief break for him; returning to his Cave Mansion, he dove back into Artifact Refining.
Sword Artifact!
His cultivation progress had stalled briefly—it was high time to elevate the Sword Pavilion.
During prior practice sessions, Sword-type Magical Artifacts were nearly all set, plus he'd bartered with refiners at the Alchemy Square.
They came together swiftly.
Still, forging five Sword-type Spiritual Artifacts demanded his personal touch, costing extra days.
Two complete shift cycles passed before he finished successfully.
The moment the Sword Artifacts were ready, Ji Yuan upgraded right there.
He set the Sword Artifacts in a vacant chamber; what couldn't "brand" before now "branded" without delay.
[Sword Pavilion: lv0]
Ji Yuan checked the panel, withdrew 10,000 Mid-grade Spirit Stones, and stacked them on the floor.
A mere thought later, he initiated the upgrade.
As soon as his intent took hold, the Sword Artifacts vanished, triggering a transformation—the room brimmed with piercing Sword Qi.
Its keen edge seized the soul, utterly dominating.
With the Sword Pavilion's successful upgrade, Ji Yuan clearly sensed his grasp on sword-related insights sharpen dramatically.
In an overstatement, even the Spiritual Qi in his body now pulsed with extra Sword Qi.
This came paired with a tighter bond to the nine Canglan Swords.
Not refined into a Magical Treasure yet—let alone a Lifebound one—but they obeyed like extensions of his limbs.
'Could this be the power of sword-type specialization +10%?'
Right as Ji Yuan moved to examine the level 2 Sword Pavilion details on the panel, three Communication Talismans glowed in his Storage Bag.
"Trouble brewing?"
That flashed through his mind first.
Ignoring the panel, he hastily pulled out the three Communication Talismans.
His divine sense scanned across them.
Messages from Li Changhe and Liu Qingshan both detailed the identical incident.
"The demon hunting squad faced a Demon Dao ambush; out of six, three perished, Zhou Sanbao among them."
The glowing Communication Talisman came from the Isle Master of Red Flower, a Water Dragon Sect-placed Foundation Establishment Cultivator handling Flying Sword messages here.
"Senior Brother Wu You, two Flying Sword Communications await you, straight from the sect."