Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 736 - 314: Reunion with an Old Friend

The night was utterly black, swept by a gale.

"Sst——"

With a flash of sickly green spectral light, a descending silhouette of darkness, appearing poised to plunge into the swamp below, streaked across the nocturnal expanse.

Another, swifter shadow cut through the air, and in an instant, both the falling form and the crimson flying vessel vanished, plunging everything back into profound silence.

Even the swamp's chorus of insects resumed its interrupted melody without missing a beat.

Perched atop an unseen treetop.

A fleeting black shape resolved into a figure garbed in dark attire. He produced a faint glow from his storage bag, uttering two words with an air of indifference.

"Wretched spirit."

He then retrieved another sack, his gaze falling upon the orderly arrangement of corpses within. He mused aloud:

"Having slain this demonic cultivator, I have finally reached the halfway point in upgrading the [Chaotic Burial Mound] with one hundred corpses of Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"With fifty remaining, at this rate, it should take no more than four to five months, assuming no large-scale exterminations occur."

"But having consecutively eliminated over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators in this region, Old Devil Qiu’s notoriety has already disseminated. It seems prudent to relocate to a different hunting ground."

"Still, it would be prudent to revisit the island first. These remote island sanctuaries abroad cannot compare to how they once were. Without oversight, even a fortified array offers precarious security."

With this resolution in mind, Ji Yuan’s form launched forth, heading directly eastward.

...

Several days later.

East of the Cangluo Continent, amidst unexplored waters.

A dharma vessel abruptly ascended from beneath the waves, only to momentarily grace the surface before vanishing without a trace.

...Fortuitously, no observers are present. It appears this location has gone unnoticed.

Having navigated the Star Dust Illusionary Killing Array and returned to his secluded island abode, Ji Yuan finally exhaled a breath of profound relief.

Home remains, thankfully.

This particular island, discovered after his sojourn on the Extreme Abyss Continent, is situated south of Black Dragon Island. Broadly speaking, it still falls within the former sphere of influence of the Water Dragon Sect, avoiding the dominion of the Joy Palace.

Time has indeed flown; four months have elapsed since his return.

During this interval, he first established himself within his cave dwelling, erected defensive arrays, initiated certain construction projects, and then commenced journeys back to the mainland to pursue Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Concurrently, he actively sought intelligence from the Cangluo Continent.

Regarding Foundation Establishment cultivators, a considerable number met their end.

The moniker Qiu Qianhai has also begun to circulate; in certain locales, merely uttering Old Devil Qiu's name is sufficient to send Foundation Establishment cultivators into flight.

However, this is still insufficient; his renown has yet to achieve the necessary prominence.

Then there are the significant occurrences unfolding on the Cangluo Continent.

Throughout this period, Ji Yuan diligently gathered information and maintained vigilance.

The most impactful developments can be categorized into two main aspects.

Firstly, the Joy Palace finally initiated its grand maneuver.

Following the Water Dragon Sect’s southward exodus and the capitulation of the Medicine King Valley, the Joy Palace… ceased to exist in its previous form.

This was not an act of annihilation.

They simply dissolved into obscurity, vanishing without a trace.

While some entities noted the Water Dragon Sect’s relocation to the Desolate Ancient Continent, the disappearance of the Joy Palace went largely unremarked.

It was as if they had evaporated into thin air.

Naturally, this was also influenced by the scant number of individuals who departed with them.

The Joy Palace’s evacuation did not even include a single Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Only the Nascent Soul ancestor, the Lady of Joy herself, along with a contingent of Core Formation cultivators, managed to escape.

The remainder were left to fend for themselves on the Cangluo Continent.

For a time, a palpable sense of lament permeated the cultivators of Shang Dong.

Ultimately, these so-called righteous cultivators proved to be solely concerned with their own self-preservation.

Let another suffer, rather than oneself. Such is their creed.

Tsk, tsk.

Consequently, a staggering ninety-nine percent of the remaining Joy Palace disciples unequivocally embraced the demonic path, engaging in dual cultivation practices without restraint or limitation.

Only a select few managed to preserve their original convictions, but they were relentlessly pursued, forced into constant evasion.

Thus, out of the six great Immortal Sects of Shang Dong, only Sword Ruins endured.

They continue to valiantly struggle in the Shang Mountain range.

Word has it that even factions of the demonic path have repeatedly extended invitations to surrender, yet Sword Ruins has offered only a single, unwavering response each time.

"There are no spineless cowards within Sword Ruins!"

Furthermore, Sword Ruins, relying solely on its own formidable strength, has occupied numerous individuals associated with the demonic path.

Simultaneously, Sword Ruins has ascended to become a beacon of hope and a symbol of faith for the remaining righteous cultivators across Shang Dong.

Even Ji Yuan found himself filled with profound admiration upon hearing the tale of Sword Ruins.

Of the six illustrious Immortal Sects of Shang Dong.

The Sword Ruins stand as the most righteous.

... I can't help but wonder about Daoist Changkun's current situation.

Ji Yuan had minimal dealings with Sword Ruins; his only slight acquaintance was with Daoist Changkun at the Alchemy Square.

The second matter at hand.

This particular affair is of far greater significance.

It appears someone has arrived from the Extreme Abyss Continent, and upon reaching the Cangluo Continent, a confrontation ensued with the local inhabitants.

Nascent Soul cultivators clashed, with the battle unfolding over the Cangluo Continent's East Sea.

Ji Yuan lacks precise details regarding this event.

By the time he returned from his expedition to the Extreme Abyss Continent, the conflict had already concluded.

The outcome remains unknown.

Regardless of the specific results, after the skirmish, all the Nascent Soul cultivators vanished.

Hua Yaoyue is gone, and the sect no longer exists.

Ji Yuan, lacking access to