Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 729 - 311: News of Du Wanyi Again

Her hair stood on end.

Just as she thought her end was near, a soft 'ding' echoed. A swift flame shot from the distance, striking the beam of light and deflecting it.

"Who is it?!"

Cao Xiangyu reacted instantly, raising his hand to recall his flaming Flying Sword.

But before he could even react, the flame had already reached him, moving faster than his own Flying Sword!

'Not good!'

Cao Xiangyu lightly tapped his chest with his right hand.

Immediately, his Spirit Robe glowed white, converging on his chest to form a Heart-Protecting Mirror, shielding him.

At that moment, Cao Xiangyu finally saw the source of the flame.

It was a Fire Technique Willow Leaf Flying Saber! Its aura suggested it was a Top-grade Spiritual Artifact. Even more alarmingly, after two encounters, he still hadn't detected its origin.

Realizing the grave danger, he quickly activated a Protective Talisman Treasure.

As mana surged, another spark flew from his sleeve, ascending into the sky.

"He's trying to send a signal!!"

Isle Master Youlan cried out, immediately activating her Flying Sword to intercept the spark instead of pursuing Cao Xiangyu.

However, her speed was just a fraction too slow.

Her Flying Sword lacked the necessary speed.

Just as Cao Xiangyu believed he could send his distress signal, he suddenly noticed the rising flame... was extinguished.

Something is wrong!

While still activating the Talisman Treasure, he instinctively looked upward.

Against the night sky, a slender figure in a blue Magic Robe, seemingly having just arrived, stood holding the flame.

Then, Cao Xiangyu watched as the figure gently exerted force, snuffing out the flame.

Flying through the air without any Flying Spiritual Artifact... this person, this person is actually a Core Formation Cultivator!

No wonder his presence was undetectable!

"S-Senior, this junior is Cao Xiangyu, the third disciple of Qingbo Zhenren from Medicine King Valley. May I ask... may I ask Senior's honorific title?"

Discovering the individual before him was a Core Formation Cultivator, Cao Xiangyu abandoned all thoughts of resistance.

Even if this person was merely an Early-stage Core Formation Cultivator, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like himself stood no chance.

"You dare presume to know my name?"

Ji Yuan tilted his head slightly to look at him, then gently raised his right hand.

The ground beneath Cao Xiangyu suddenly erupted with four Flying Swords.

"Shh—"

With a soft sound, the four Flying Swords instantly pierced through Cao Xiangyu's Protective Spirit Light, pinning him directly to the ground.

As he struggled to speak, a small, blood-colored Flying Sword descended from the sky, piercing his brow.

"Hmm?"

No sooner had Cao Xiangyu perished than a gray shadow darted from his body, fleeing rapidly southward along the ground.

Ji Yuan descended swiftly from mid-air, moving even faster than the gray shadow. In an instant, he was before it, lightly stepping on it.

"Spare me, Senior, spare this dog's life!"

Cao Xiangyu's voice emanated from the gray shadow.

Ji Yuan scanned with his Divine Sense, noting that Isle Master Youlan was some distance away. He deftly summoned the Thousand Souls Banner, recited an incantation, and sealed the Yin Soul within the Banner.

He then tucked away the Thousand Souls Banner, leaving no trace behind.

...Although cultivators possess myriad methods, had I not been fortunate enough to refine this Thousand Souls Banner to recognize Yin Souls, he might have escaped me today.

Ji Yuan's thoughts raced as Isle Master Youlan's figure flew over from afar.

Upon reaching him, she finally recognized her rescuer.

"Junior Brother Wu You, it's actually you!"

Isle Master Youlan was indeed quite surprised to see Ji Yuan, "You, weren't you supposed to be following the sect's orders?"

"This place is not safe to linger; let's discuss elsewhere."

Ji Yuan spoke in a deep voice.

"...Very well."

Isle Master Youlan quickly regained her composure, hurriedly handing over Cao Xiangyu's Storage Bag along with his Spiritual Artifact and Protective Talisman Treasure.

Ji Yuan casually stowed them in his Storage Bag, then inquired, "Where is his body?"

Isle Master Youlan replied swiftly:

"Rest assured, Junior Brother, I have completely incinerated his body, leaving no traces for anyone to find."

Hearing this, Ji Yuan's lips twitched slightly... a Peak of Foundation Establishment body, one I painstakingly acquired, now destroyed by you.

The Chaotic Burial Mound requires ten Peak of Foundation Establishment bodies for its upgrade.

Ji Yuan never forgot.

"Alright, thank you, Senior Sister."

Ji Yuan quickly got his bearings, conjured the Rift-Sailing Flying Boat, and brought Isle Master Youlan aboard. Together, they flew towards the dense forest, disappearing into the veil of night.

As dawn broke the following day.

Upon the Rift-Sailing Flying Boat's descent, Ji Yuan had already guided Isle Master Youlan to a secluded gorge. He then activated the Inverted River and Lake Array, a gift from Yun Qianzai, effectively cloaking their presence.

"Junior Brother Wu You, have you... already attained Core Formation?"

Once they had landed, Isle Master Youlan could no longer contain her most pressing question.

Having openly demonstrated Direct Flight earlier, Ji Yuan found it impossible to deny, as any falsehood might only invite deeper scrutiny.

Thus, he offered a slight nod, murmuring, "By chance."

"Junior Brother is truly exceptionally talented."

A flicker of intense hope ignited in Isle Master Youlan's eyes.

When Ji Yuan had first established his island, she was merely a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Now, she had barely reached Late-stage Foundation Establishment, while Ji Yuan...

Yet he had already achieved the Core Formation realm.

This stark contrast, this significant gap, was rather unsettling for her.

Before Ji Yuan could respond, Isle Master Youlan recalled something, quickly interjecting, "Oh, that's right, Junior Brother. That Junior Sister Taian you were asking about earlier, I've seen her! She learned of recent events within the sect and has returned."

"What? You've seen her?!"

Ji Yuan's voice rose with intensity.

"Yes."

"Where is she now? Is she unharmed?" Ji Yuan pressed, his questions coming in rapid succession.

His return was partly to assess the sect's current condition.

However, his primary objective was to seek any trace of Du Wanyi, a person he unexpectedly encountered!

"She is well; she is currently residing in a mortal realm, seemingly intending to remain there for the time being."