Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 779 - 326: The Eldest Senior Brother Falls

With veins bulging on his forehead as he listened, Jiang Hong exerted his right hand, tearing off a section of the cart shaft.

Positioned directly before Ji Yuan, the Corpse Buddha Child bellowed in rage.

"Insolent!"

The figure then pressed his palms together, manifesting a Corpse Buddha Demon Statue behind him before launching a palm strike.

A colossal palm print immediately hurtled towards Ji Yuan.

"Tsk, seeking aid?"

Ji Yuan scoffed, his consciousness reaching for a fragment of the cyan-brown scale armor residing within him.

The bald demon cultivator confronting him was at the mid-stage Core Formation realm, and conventional tactics would undoubtedly prove insufficient. Ji Yuan did not dare to gamble and opted for the sect-endowed life-saving trump card.

After all, the sect had provided a total of three pieces of this scale armor.

However, its deployment signaled the necessity of immediate flight.

"Corpse Buddha Child, cease your attack."

Jiang Hong's low voice echoed from the sky above.

On the tranquil lake surface, the Corpse Buddha Child, mid-seal, retracted his strike, and the immense palm print dissolved into dispersed Spiritual Qi, vanishing into thin air.

Jiang Hong cast a frigid gaze upon Ji Yuan, then lifted his head towards the colossal blood cloud overhead, bellowing, "Blood Nightmare Old Monster, since when did you become so inept, unable to subdue someone merely at early-stage Core Formation?"

"With such paltry skills, you might as well return to Shangxi."

"Young Master, patience is advised!"

A sinister laugh emanated from the blood cloud, followed by a convergence of blood qi from all directions. With a muffled 'boom,' a water-blue figure, seemingly grievously wounded, plummeted from the heavens, impacting a desolate isle.

"Boom—"

Witnessing the ensuing chaos, Ji Yuan instinctively moved to ascertain his senior brother's condition.

However, the moment he stirred, the two mid-stage Core Formation demon cultivators fixed their attention upon him, poised as if awaiting the slightest provocation to strike.

Yet, fortuitously, before Ji Yuan could make a move, he observed a Flying Boat approaching from the southern expanse of the deserted island – it was Isle Master Qinghe!

The arrival of an ally was sufficient.

At the very least, they were on the same side.

Isle Master Qinghe reached the scene and offered support to the blood-spitting Ran Kui.

Standing together on the Flying Boat, Ran Kui naturally directed a glance toward Ji Yuan, who was encircled. His expression was… intricate, yet predominantly conveyed profound worry and regret.

The complexity stemmed from the unexpected revelation that Qiu Qianhai, widely known in Shuinan, was his cherished junior apprentice brother.

The worry was for Ji Yuan's precarious situation.

And the regret was for having summoned Ji Yuan earlier, thereby drawing him into this very peril. Had he not issued the summons, Ji Yuan would not find himself ensnared in this predicament, besieged by the Demon Dao.

The senior and junior brothers exchanged glances, and Ji Yuan perceived Ran Kui, having just narrowly escaped death, contemplating a move towards him.

He rapidly shook his head.

Given the current circumstances, unless Hua Yaoyue possessed him, Ran Kui alone would be insufficient to turn the tide.

Ran Kui, cognizant of his own state, understood that intervening now would only exacerbate the chaos without offering any tangible aid. Thus, he could only emit a sigh and return to his original position, communicating mentally:

"My gratitude for the rescue, Brother Qinghe."

"However, you ought to have departed sooner."

Isle Master Qinghe offered a rueful smile and replied, "As fellow disciples, how could I possibly escape while you remained trapped? Senior brother, speak no more; focus on your recovery, and subsequently, guide us out of this place."

"Very well!"

Ran Kui acknowledged via telepathy, uttering no further words.

The blood cloud above coalesced, ultimately assuming the form of an elder clad in wide, blood-red robes. He then transformed into a streak of blood-colored escape light, landing beside Jiang Hong's carriage and offering a slight cupping of his hands:

"Your subordinate, Blood Nightmare, pays his respects to the Young Master."

Jiang Hong assessed him thoroughly, noting the absence of any injuries. Without further mockery, he simply gestured with his hand, "Proceed to establish a pincer formation and intercept them."

"Understood."

Blood Nightmare Old Monster bowed with clasped hands and, preceding An Yike, who was rising, had already transformed into a beam of blood light, arriving at the southern reaches of the vast lake.

Upon his landing, the Black Sha Sword Demon withdrew, securing the eastern flank of the great lake.

The remaining Corpse Buddha Child then shifted his position from the north to the west.

Thus, the true battlefield for the pincer formation materialized.

Jiang Hong slowly rose from his carriage. As he stood, the carriage gradually submerged until it was level with the lake's surface, now directly confronting Ji Yuan.

As he walked out of the carriage, he casually rolled up his sleeves and spoke, as if it were nothing:

"That day, I was careless and didn't dodge properly. Otherwise, I wouldn't have fallen for your trick, kid."

"So tell me, how do you, Qiu Qianhai, wish to meet your end today?"

Ji Yuan met his gaze directly, not rushing to offer a reply.

Direct combat was not a viable option. Once engaged, escaping would prove exceedingly difficult.

And should a confrontation become unavoidable, the sole objective would be to secure a superior opportunity for escape.

Thus, he turned his attention to Jiang Hong, who stood opposite him. His right hand formed an ethereal grip, and several sword blanks shot out from his sleeve.

In the end, nine swords converged into one, transforming into a Spirit Sword that shimmered with vibrant hues, now held firmly in his grasp.

He paid no heed to Jiang Hong's words; following the latter's lead would only place him at a disadvantage.

"I have heard that Young Master Jiang possesses a father at the Nascent Soul Stage and a mother also at the Nascent Soul Stage. If, by some misfortune, I were to kill you, wouldn't I be unable to escape retribution then?"

Ji Yuan paced back and forth on the Split-space Flying Boat, his Divine Sense intently searching for an opportune direction for a breakthrough, his voice resonating with depth.

"Indeed."

Jiang Hong advanced with unwavering confidence, his hands clasped behind his back. Far from being embarrassed, he appeared remarkably proud as he declared:

"Let us not even ponder whether you possess the capability to slay me; even if you did and succeeded, should you manage to survive for half an hour thereafter, then I would have no choice but to acknowledge your skill, Qiu Qianhai."

"To say nothing of the fact that, with your current might, achieving my demise is utterly beyond the realm of possibility."

As Jiang Hong spoke, his gaze drifted towards the very spot where Ji Yuan had previously dispatched Granny Xuan Sha, a sneer gracing his lips.