Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 693 - 300: Old Demon Qiu!
Previously on Longevity through Upgrading Buildings...
Aren't you steadier than a grizzled old hound?
Even though his mind brimmed with grumbles, Ji Yuan managed a thumbs-up on the outside.
"Brilliant! Brother Soul is truly brilliant."
"Utterly brilliant and imposing!"
Empty Soul Wanderer caught Ji Yuan's flattery, dismissed it with a wave, and replied with genuine warmth:
"Brother Qiu flatters me too much. Truth is, I sent Brother Qiu to the hall this time because you just got here and haven't made an appearance in our White Bone Sect yet."
"That's why I had Luo Ma guide you there to check it out yourself."
Ji Yuan felt deeply moved by these words, rose swiftly, and clasped his fists toward Empty Soul Wanderer.
"Brother Soul's favor, Old Qiu here will never forget it. Should Brother Soul need anything down the line, treat it as my own affair!"
"Haha, excellent! You're a true brother to me, Empty Soul Wanderer!"
Empty Soul Wanderer chuckled and declared: "No time to waste then. Brother Qiu, hurry off with Brother Luo Ma to the hall and rally those folks. We'll head to the valley now to block any righteous cultivators from slipping away."
"Agreed, no more delays. Let's move out!"
Ji Yuan called out while striding to the exit, "Brother Luo Ma, what are you waiting for? Come on!"
Once they departed Hundred Years Town, Ji Yuan trailed Luo Ma atop his skull mount, soaring toward the east.
All the while, his thoughts churned wildly.
...Looks like Empty Soul Wanderer had good cause to slay Wang Luo back then—he was the sole Array Master on the squad. Without that kill, Chang Kun and his group likely wouldn't be trapped in this formation now.
Sly as foxes, the Demon Dao truly lives up to its cunning reputation!
Thus, Luo Ma must not reach the hall. If he does and they summon those three Fake Pill Realm demon cultivators for real, nothing short of a Core Formation Cultivator's aid will save the day.
The optimal plan? Ambush Luo Ma en route in secret...!
Ensure he truly tumbles from his perch.
No alternatives remain.
"Brother Qiu, you see our leader's prowess now, don't you? I can't help but marvel at his brilliant mind sometimes; no clue how he honed it to craft such airtight schemes."
Luo Ma's voice echoed in Ji Yuan’s sea of consciousness, laced with awe:
"The demon-hunting team ahead? I watched them tumble into our snare, one step at a time."
"Impressively mighty. A leader like that is bound for a long life."
"Haha, you bet—our leader will guide us straight to Core Formation."
"Oh, right."
Ji Yuan acted as if a thought struck him, inquiring offhandedly: "Where's that demon-hunting team caught? No rumors have reached my ears."
Luo Ma arched a brow after responding, "Of course—with our leader's expertise, leaks are impossible. It's not far from Hundred Years Town, right south of Luomei Mountain."
"Mighty, that's all I can say—they're overwhelmingly mighty, our leader fully earns his fame."
As he chatted, Ji Yuan swept his Divine Sense across the area.
No fellow cultivators lurked close by, yet proximity to Hundred Years Town remained; striking now risked exposure, so better to venture a bit farther first.
While mulling this over inwardly, Ji Yuan caught Luo Ma's words:
"Truth be told, dispatching us two to the hall hides another motive, though the leader hesitated to mention it."
"What's that?"
Ji Yuan's curiosity genuinely piqued.
Simultaneously, he sensed ever more keenly how tough Empty Soul Wanderer proved to handle; even now, he kept secrets.
"You don't seriously believe we're calling in other Fake Pill cultivators for free, do you?" Luo Ma probed, curiosity flickering in his tone.
"Well..."
Ji Yuan eased his flying pace, "Brother Soul handed us nothing, so do we dip into our own pockets to hire those three Fake Pill cultivators?"
"Old Qiu's broke as can be—how could I possibly foot the bill for Fake Pill cultivators?"
Ji Yuan feigned turning back.
Luo Ma yanked him to a halt, "Whoa, Brother Qiu, hold up—what's this? Calm down, I've got all the leader's payment right here, but here's the catch... one of those Fake Pill cultivators is tricky; likely, you'll have to spend a few days with her afterward."
"What does that imply?"
Ji Yuan was utterly baffled.
"She's a Female Cultivator versed in Dual Cultivation techniques—you get it, that kind of blissful dalliance the leader picked out just for you."
Luo Ma explained, his gaze still tinged with longing and jealousy.
Dual Cultivation?
Isn't that the ploy for energy harvesting!
Ji Yuan grasps the Demon Dao deeper and deeper; in the end, not a single good one exists among them!
Every last one is a treacherous bunch, though Qiu Qianhai, naturally, stands apart.
"In that case, let Brother Luo Ma savor such romance." Ji Yuan remarked with a grin.
An odd look flickered across Luo Ma’s face, swiftly concealed, "No need, no need—Brother Qiu just showed up, such a prime task, better leave it to you... you..."
Mid-sentence, Luo Ma suddenly let out a groan, his aura crashing straight to the depths in an instant.
Agony exploded in his chest; he forced his gaze downward, spotting the right hand that had pierced clean through, slick with fresh blood, gripping a heart.
A heart pulsing ever so faintly.
'That's... my heart. So that's how my heart appears?'
"Qiu Qianhai, you... you... why..."
Luo Ma's eyes brimmed with utter shock; he strained to speak yet managed no full words.
"Nothing special—just warned you before that your name brought bad luck; now rest easy."
Ji Yuan spoke, retrieving the lifeless heart and tucking it back into the chest cavity, taking care to leave the body mostly whole, ensuring scant loss of strength when it emerged once more from the Chaotic Burial Mound.
Meanwhile.
Atop Luomei Mountain's summit, the Empty Soul Wanderer—feigning deep meditation—suddenly flung his eyes wide, detecting the snuffed Soul Lamp within his Storage Bag; a savage gleam ignited in his gaze!
...Trouble for sure!
Damn those righteous hypocrites!
He mulled it over fiercely, shot a glance at the blood-red array below, and at last opted to bolt.
Life allows no do-overs.
Spare your life, and righteous cultivators await your slaughter anytime!
Flee while you can!
With that resolve, he shrouded himself in his rear cloak, murmured "escape," and vanished right there.
——
(Hit the 300th chapter at last—time for celebration!)
