Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 766 - 322: Farewell, Senior Brother
Previously on Longevity through Upgrading Buildings...
A missive from Liu Yuan, dispatched a year prior, read thusly:
"Brother Ji, where might you be? I’ve stumbled upon a secret realm in the vicinity of Shang Mountain; it harbors potential treasures conducive to Core Formation. Shall we venture in together?"
Given Liu Yuan’s impetuous nature, it was highly probable he embarked on this endeavor alone.
Ji Yuan’s gaze then shifted to the second letter.
The correspondence was dated merely three months ago.
Not so very long in the past.
"Brother Ji, I’ve procured the treasure that aids Core Formation—it’s none other than a Gold Casting Pill! However, I’ve incurred the wrath of numerous adversaries and find myself unable to fend them off. Consequently, I’ve made my way to the Jiyuan Continent first. We shall rendezvous at Extreme Abyss!"
A slight tremor coursed through Ji Yuan’s hand as he held this letter.
Incredible, Liu Yuan had journeyed to the Jiyuan Continent ahead of him?
Yet, his fortune was undeniably exceptional; Ji Yuan had indeed heard tales of the renowned Gold Casting Pill.
A solitary Gold Casting Pill possesses the capability to elevate the success rate of Core Formation by a substantial twenty percent!
However, due to the extinction of one of the crucial ingredients required for its refinement within Cangluo ages ago, the pill itself has become a lost art.
The one Liu Yuan discovered must surely have been a relic from an Ancient Cultivator.
...This young fellow, his luck is truly remarkable; it appears my decision to leave him be back then was indeed the correct one.
Very well, then, let us convene at Extreme Abyss.
Ji Yuan harbored a conviction that, considering Liu Yuan’s innate talent, a mere sojourn to the Jiyuan Continent would not result in mediocrity; surely, it would not be long before his name echoed throughout the land.
Even if that were not the case, once he achieved post-Core Formation, such renown was practically guaranteed.
Subsequently, Ji Yuan directed his attention toward Ran Kui’s letter.
The correspondence from his elder brother was not penned long ago; a mere fortnight had passed, and its contents were exceptionally straightforward.
"Little junior brother, I find myself in need of your assistance... I truly have no other recourse; if you receive this message, make haste to meet me at Linquan Mountain’s Qingzhan Cave. I shall await your arrival for the span of one month."
Elder brother... Has he found himself ensnared in some perilous predicament?
He even employed the term "ask"!
Indeed, Ji Yuan’s immediate impulse upon perusing the letter was... to depart at once!
If one’s elder brother requires aid and he fails to render it, can he truly claim the title of a human?
Linquan Mountain’s Qingzhan Cave.
That had been one of Ran Kui’s former clandestine locations, situated not far away, as he had previously confided in Ji Yuan.
Thus, after absorbing the letter’s contents, Ji Yuan summoned the Rift Space Flying Boat, stepped aboard, and with a mere flicker, the vessel vanished from its original position.
...
A fortnight elapsed.
A streak of luminescence traversed the sky, descending amidst the verdant forest, eventually resolving into a flying boat. A sturdy man, clad only in his bare chest, stood upon its deck. He cast a haughty gaze upon his surroundings, confirming the absence of any onlookers before piloting the craft into the embrace of the mountain range.
The Rift Space Flying Boat drifted suspended in the air as Ji Yuan’s Divine Sense extended forth, swiftly pinpointing the mountain graced by springs, though the Qingzhan Cave remained elusive.
’It appears my elder brother’s concealment techniques are truly formidable; my Divine Sense, nearly at the pinnacle of late-stage Core Formation, is yet unable to discern the cave’s hidden locale.’
However, this mattered little; he held a strong premonition that Ran Kui had likely already located him.
Therefore, as he guided the Rift Space Flying Boat toward the vicinity of Linquan Mountain, he inscribed the characters "Eldest Brother" upon the deck with a fingertip.
Shortly thereafter, a subtle ripple of Ran Kui’s presence manifested within the mountain’s depths.
Ji Yuan’s consciousness was instantaneously filled with his elder brother’s exultant voice: "Junior Brother, I am here!"
"I am en route."
Ji Yuan’s flying boat became a blur amidst the trees, and within the span of a single breath, he arrived at the threshold of a Cave Mansion nestled within the mountains. He had previously perceived this spot as an unremarkable stone facade through his Divine Sense; he had never given it a second thought, least of all imagined that the Qingzhan Cave lay concealed just beyond.
Ji Yuan also laid eyes upon his elder brother, whom he had not seen for a considerable duration.
With a solitary glance, Ji Yuan felt a pang of sorrow.
Presently, Ran Kui bore little resemblance to the man he had parted ways with two years prior.
The most striking alteration was his once brawny physique, now considerably gaunt, leaving only his inherent frame as imposing as ever. Furthermore, a new scar marred his visage, not resembling a mere cut, but appearing as though something had forcefully pierced him.
Observing Ji Yuan’s unceasing scrutiny.
Ran Kui averted his gaze with a touch of embarrassment.
"Little junior brother, are… are you quite well?"
Ji Yuan exhaled a sigh, making no attempt to conceal his concern. "Let us converse within."
"Indeed, indeed, my excitement got the better of me, and I neglected to offer you a proper welcome, little junior brother."
It was only then that Ran Kui seemed to recall himself, hastily ushering Ji Yuan into the Cave Mansion.
Once they were seated, Ji Yuan could no longer suppress his burgeoning emotions, inquiring, "How did you come to be in such a state, elder brother..."
The smile vanished from Ran Kui’s face as he absently stroked the teacup in his hand.
"It's nothing of consequence, merely a minor injury I sustained previously."
"You cannot even confide this matter to me?"
Ji Yuan’s tone grew more somber.
"No...sigh, it was during a confrontation with two Core Formation stage demon cultivators on the Spirit Control Sect's territory. I was accidentally struck by their scorpion poison. For the past two years, I have been attempting to purge it, which is why I've lost weight; do not worry, I shall regain my strength soon."
"Have you managed to remove it now?"
Should the poison still linger, Ji Yuan considered whether he might be of assistance.
"It is gone."
As Ran Kui uttered these words, his complexion involuntarily turned ashen, presenting a frail appearance.
...Contemplating the ordeal, the process must have been incredibly taxing; otherwise, the eldest brother would not have become so gaunt.
Ji Yuan mused and inquired further, "Then the wound upon your face, elder brother... was it also a consequence of that same encounter?"
Upon this subject being broached, a flicker of lingering terror crossed Ran Kui's visage.
"Nay, that occurred when I infiltrated the Water Dragon Sect, attempting to liberate several fellow disciples, orchestrated by a late-stage Core Formation elder from the White Bone Sect. At that juncture..."
Ran Kui emitted a self-mocking chuckle, "I truly only narrowly escaped with my life; were it not for the Qi Blood Pill you bestowed upon me, little junior brother, I believe I would have perished by now."