Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 780 - 326: Senior Brother’s Fall

"You actually believe that slaying an early-stage Core Formation cultivator makes you some kind of prodigy?"

"Little do you know, when faced with true inheritance and genuine opportunities, your petty tricks... are nothing more than child’s play."

Ji Yuan paid no attention to Jiang Hong’s taunts. He lifted the sword in his hand, holding it horizontally before him, then pointed it at the blade. The sword dissolved, reforming into nine nascent Flying Swords that hovered around him, all aimed at Jiang Hong.

"Let the others depart. I shall face you with my all, without regard for life or death."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hong appeared as though he’d heard the greatest jest. He gestured at Ji Yuan, laughing:

"Look at yourself, even now, spewing such foolish fantasies!"

With that, his smile vanished abruptly, replaced by a ferocious tone as he declared:

"Do not forget, you are a prisoner at this very moment. From where do you gain the audacity to negotiate with me?!"

"I understand. You are merely stalling for time, contemplating an escape, are you not?"

"Come, come, I shall not gain an advantage if you wish to flee."

Saying this, Jiang Hong retrieved a golden bowl from his Storage Bag and casually tossed it upwards.

The golden bowl transformed into a beam of golden light, soaring into the sky. Subsequently, a luminous barrier emanated from it, descending to gradually encompass nearly a hundred miles of the surrounding waters.

... Could this be an Array?

Or perhaps some form of Restriction?

Ji Yuan exerted his Divine Sense to its utmost, probing the golden light barrier. The effect was akin to striking a solid wall; he was completely repelled, utterly unable to penetrate it.

"Junior Brother, you should flee first. I will attempt to stall them."

Within Ji Yuan’s sea of consciousness, Ran Kui’s voice resonated.

"No, you cannot escape. Senior Brother, do not act rashly!"

Ji Yuan responded swiftly.

If any semblance of an escape route existed, he would have seized it already. Three mid-stage Core Formation cultivators were present, in addition to Jiang Hong... If a true battle erupted, Young Master Jiang’s capabilities were by no means inferior to those of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator!

Escaping was not a simple matter.

This would only be feasible if Ji Yuan were alone, or if he had initiated his flight upon his initial encounter with Jiang Hong.

However, Ran Kui was present then, and he could not simply abandon his Senior Brother and flee.

"Then what course of action should we take? The longer we delay, the more perilous our situation becomes... Do not forget the matter of Dongyu Mountain’s Spirit Vein; we cannot afford to wait indefinitely, as the Core Formation cultivators stationed there will soon return."

Ran Kui’s voice sounded once more.

"Senior Brother, do you possess a method for escape? If you can flee, then I can also escape, and we might as well depart together."

Ji Yuan spoke with urgency.

In the current predicament, the moment for benevolence or unnecessary compassion had passed.

As for the remaining Isle Master Qinghe, Su Huaimin, and the others... they would have to fend for themselves.

If Ran Kui had not been present, Ji Yuan would have made his escape long ago!

"I..."

Ran Kui could not immediately articulate a response.

Ji Yuan already anticipated his answer. At this juncture, he could no longer afford any lingering benevolence!

Yet, upon reflection, asking Ran Kui to abandon his comrades and flee alone... if he were capable of such an act, he would not be the Ran Kui he knew.

He would likely not even find himself in this dire circumstance today.

Ji Yuan’s willingness to remain stemmed from his desire to prevent this day from becoming a Heart Demon, hindering his future cultivation.

Now, however, there was no alternative, as he had truly exhausted all possibilities.

He cast one final glance at Ran Kui in the distance, his heart heavy with helplessness and sorrow, and let out a silent, regretful sigh.

‘Forgive me, Senior Brother, but I must depart.’

Just as Ji Yuan recognized Ran Kui’s decision, Ran Kui also became aware of Ji Yuan’s resolve.

He felt a sense of relief, hoping that Ji Yuan might succeed in escaping.

Therefore, his duty as a Senior Brother was to create an opening for his Junior Brother, was it not?

Regardless, he had recuperated for a considerable duration and still possessed the strength to fight.

Ran Kui’s thoughts settled, and he then transmitted a message to Isle Master Qinghe beside him, stating: "Junior Brother, step aside. I am about to make a move."

"What? Senior Brother Wu Dao, you still intend to engage them?"

"Hmm, we cannot simply wait here for death, and... and..."

Ran Kui had intended to speak plainly, but before he could finish, a sharp pain suddenly pierced his chest.

He looked down in apparent disbelief.

A hand was now embedded in his chest, a hand that had abruptly thrust through from behind him.

That hand clenched around his beating heart.

"Pfff—"

The hand withdrew, crushing Ran Kui’s heart in the process.

Furthermore, the assailant reacted with incredible speed, as if anticipating Ran Kui’s intent to self-destruct.

While crushing Ran Kui’s heart with his left hand, his right hand was placed firmly upon his Dantian.

A dark flash, a strike of Spiritual Light, directly obliterated Ran Kui’s Dantian.

With this fatal blow, Ran Kui was rendered completely powerless and beyond any hope.

He stood there in shock and disbelief, gazing one last time at Ji Yuan before toppling from the Flying Boat.

He crashed onto the desolate island, clinging to life, and stared at the familiar yet altered figure standing on the Flying Boat.

"You... you aren't Qinghe, so who exactly are you?"

Isle Master Qinghe, his eyes brimming with excitement, suppressed his surging emotions and spoke with deliberation:

"Qinghe? I am indeed Qinghe, Wu Dao Senior Brother, can't you recognize me?"

"Ah, and I possess another moniker, known as 'Thousand Faces,' signifying myriad transformations."

"..."

The turn of events was astonishingly swift.

Even Ji Yuan, who had been preparing to utilize the Fixed-point Teleportation Order to depart, found himself momentarily stunned.

'Senior Brother... appears to be deceased?'

'Slain by Qinghe?'

This... this couldn't be possible...

Ji Yuan hesitated to accept it, even suspecting he might be mistaken.

After all, how could it be that Qinghe had killed Senior Brother?

But in that fleeting instant, Jiang Hong erupted in laughter, utterly unrestrained, like a man possessed:

"Thousand Faces, exceptional work!"

"I never imagined it was truly you; it seems upon my return, I must commend your actions to my Royal Father."

Isle Master Qinghe, or more accurately, Thousand Faces, executed a slight bow towards Jiang Hong in the distance, a smile gracing his lips:

"It is my profound honor to alleviate the worries of the Young Master."

Finally, Jiang Hong directed his gaze towards Ji Yuan, across the expanse, and declared with evident satisfaction:

"It appears you shared a rather close bond with that good-for-nothing, didn't you?"

"Very well then, Qiu Qianhai, are you prepared to face me in battle now?"