Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 688 - 299: My Nascent Soul Father and My Nascent Soul Mother

"About twenty li northward lies a cave seamlessly integrated with the mountain's contours. Daoist Wang Luo previously established an array there. We should head over to recuperate and rest briefly."

Captain Chang Kun's voice resounded through Ji Yuan's thoughts.

Moments later, the squad hugging the terrain sharply veered north, vanishing into the rugged mountain gorge.

Nearly ten days into their expedition, Ji Yuan remained embedded with the group, vigilantly scanning the environs. Over this span, they clashed with two bands of demon cultivators. The first band numbered just three Foundation Establishment cultivators, their leader merely at late-stage Foundation Establishment. Their team dispatched them effortlessly.

The second band boasted more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, forcing Ji Yuan's squad to steer clear from a distance.

For one, the enemy was overwhelmingly powerful. Engaging them risked entanglement in prolonged combat, drawing additional demon cultivators and blocking escape.

For another, that band wasn't the primary target of the demon-hunting squad's mission.

Back at the Alchemy Square, Ji Yuan had overheard Chang Kun and the rest detailing this operation's objective.

A nearby settlement known as Hundred Year Town once housed numerous cultivators. But later, Demon Dao forces overran it.

That band of demon cultivators struck the perfect balance—not overly mighty yet not feeble—commanded by a Fake Pill cultivator alongside eight Foundation Establishment experts, spanning early-stage to peak Foundation Establishment, precisely the sort the demon-hunting squad hunted.

Chang Kun's group had indeed pursued them initially, yet the demon cultivators somehow detected their presence.

Consequently, the Fake Pill Realm demon cultivator trailed them covertly and ambushed Wang Luo fatally during their subsequent move.

With no recourse, Chang Kun and his comrades withdrew first to the Alchemy Square.

Thus, this mission's core purpose was vengeance against the demon cultivators occupying Hundred Year Town.

"This array... we'll have to rely on Junior Brother Wu You for it."

Chang Kun and the others lacked proficiency in arrays.

While at the Alchemy Square, Ji Yuan had disclosed his modest knowledge of arrays.

"No issue."

Ji Yuan hurried forward with an array plate in hand, smoothly assuming control of the basic concealing array. Soon, the entire group settled into the cave for respite.

For Ji Yuan, this scarcely qualified as exertion, much less a true break.

The might of a Peak Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator truly shone through.

Having blended in sufficiently and recaptured the thrill of wandering the martial world, Ji Yuan saw no further point in sticking with the team.

He sought out the meditating Chang Kun.

Spotting Ji Yuan's approach, Chang Kun opened his eyes and uttered.

"Hmm, Senior Brother, I'm thinking of venturing out solo from here on."

Ji Yuan had broached this topic back at the Alchemy Square, so he stated it plainly now.

His rationale was straightforward: he preferred operating alone and mastered the Concealing Technique, making independent action far more efficient.

Naturally, those were the surface explanations.

Chang Kun wasn't naive; he understood Ji Yuan harbored secrets unfit for team endeavors.

Besides, the Ice and Fire Elder had issued prior directives, so he raised no objections, merely expressing mild astonishment: "Already?"

"Indeed."

Ji Yuan affirmed with a nod, "Hundred Year Town lies nearby now. I'll scout ahead. We'll stay linked via talisman if needed. Before launching any move, notify me first. No reply from me means hold off—don't charge in."

"Understood... don't worry."

Chang Kun proved reliably steadfast.

The rest of the team, aware of Ji Yuan's solo plans, urged him to stay cautious.

Ji Yuan kept it brief; exiting the cave, he transmitted to Liu Yuan: "Should I go silent, even if you proceed, have a contingency ready."

"Got it."

Liu Yuan placed full faith in Ji Yuan, probing no deeper.

Per the geomancy map from Chang Kun, Hundred Year Town sat due east from their spot. Ji Yuan adjusted course slightly upon departure, striking northeast.

At first, he guided the Rift Sky Flying Boat onward for roughly an hour and a half before espying a lake cradled amid the peaks.

He plunged the flying boat into the lake, submerging four or five breaths long. Surfacing anew, the Rift Sky Flying Boat underfoot had morphed into Yin Tongzi's original skull boat.

His cyan robe vanished, supplanted by the standard demon dao robe Liu Tian had furnished during his Demon Cave stint.

Gray-black in hue with blood-red motifs, the robe shrouded him in a veil of defensive black fog the moment it activated.

With the seven fiend baby cry bells orbiting Ji Yuan, unleashing shrieks akin to spectral wails amid surging dense fumes, he exuded an aura far more diabolical than typical demon cultivators.

Where caution marked his earlier moves, right now...

Cautious?

Shangxi’s Demon Dao stayed out, yet I, of Shang Dong’s Demon Dao, needed to tread carefully.

With Shangxi’s Demon Dao now inside, must I keep being cautious?

That would render Shangxi’s Demon Dao's intrusion utterly pointless!

Those pathetic righteous cultivators are the ones who ought to tremble now!

Ji Yuan... no, "Qiu Qianhai" realigned his mindset, radiating supreme scorn and fixing savage glares on any demon cultivators he crossed paths with.

That lasted until he bumped into yet another Foundation Establishment Stage demon cultivator.

Ji Yuan's realm seemed fixed at late-stage Foundation Establishment, the opponent at mid-stage Foundation Establishment, who lingered briefly before stepping forward to converse.