Previously on Longevity through Upgrading Buildings...
Jiang Hong successfully uses a teleportation array to trap Ji Yuan and send him away. Jiang Hong then prepares to face the arriving cultivators outside. Ji Yuan, realizing he's in danger, uses the self-destruction of a Corpse Puppet to create a massive explosion, causing everyone to believe he is dead. However, Ji Yuan survives and prepares to ambush Qian Xin with a Spiritual Energy Cannon.
"Young Master, my search yielded nothing."
The Blood Nightmare Old Monster arrived from the south.
"Young Master, I found nothing either," the Corpse Buddha Child from the west reported.
"Nothing over here," the usually reticent Black Fiend Sword Demon also returned.
Thousand Faces surveyed the area but opted to remain silent.
Jiang Hong, his expression exceedingly grim, cast his gaze upon them. "Are you implying that a fully grown person simply evaporated into thin air?"
"This..."
The Blood Nightmare Old Monster did not dare to speak.
"Useless!"
Jiang Hong muttered the insult under his breath before turning his attention to the Demon Cultivators in the Core Formation Realm positioned outside the barrier.
"Young Master, please reconsider."
The Corpse Buddha Child quickly stepped forward, hands clasped, and pleaded, "Qiu Qianhai has likely not departed yet. If we deactivate the restriction... what if he makes his escape?"
Catching a fleeting glance of the Corpse Buddha Child, the Blood Nightmare Old Monster understood the underlying motive and added:
"I concur, My Lord."
"Then what are you waiting for? Search diligently!"
Jiang Hong commanded, and the subordinates dispersed to continue their scrutiny of the vicinity.
Unacquainted with the others, Thousand Faces was merely a rogue cultivator conscripted for this mission. Having been positioned furthest away, he now found himself alone, rapidly moving towards the outer perimeter to scan along the edge of the restriction.
His form of 'searching' consisted solely of projecting his Divine Sense to probe the surroundings.
Regardless, he had already earned favor with Young Master Jiang on this occasion. If he were fortunate enough to receive a valuable treasure as a reward, that would be splendid; otherwise, it made little difference to him.
As long as no further missteps occurred.
However, for reasons unknown, Thousand Faces experienced a peculiar sense of unease.
"Could it be related to my killing of Ran Kui? But I am Thousand Faces. Such actions are hardly infrequent for me; why would I be unnerved by this?"
"There must be another cause. But what could it be... perhaps Qiu Qianhai is targeting me specifically?"
Thousand Faces pondered aloud, simultaneously extending his Divine Sense to its limit, desperately seeking any hint or clue.
Despite his best efforts, no trace of anything significant could be found.
"This is not right..."
Just as this thought crossed his mind, a subtle sensation registered.
Within the unseen realm, an overwhelming sense of dread washed over him.
His spiritual senses were screaming a dire warning!
"I'm being targeted!"
Instinctively, Thousand Faces' eyes widened, and he cried out in alarm, "Not good!"
Before the words had fully left his lips, he had already transformed into an Escape Light, a blur of motion fleeing his original position.
He fled, yet the sensation of being ensnared by a Qi connection persisted, refusing to release its firm grip.
At that precise moment, an immense and blinding beam of Spiritual Energy erupted from a point beneath the lake. Its sheer force was so overwhelming that it instantly vaporized the lake water within a ten-mile radius.
"A level three [Spiritual Energy Cannon] is capable of felling even a Peak Golden Core cultivator. How could a mere early-stage Golden Core cultivator possibly withstand such an attack?"
Within the confines of the Mountain of Mind and Heart.
Ji Yuan calmly observed the unfolding events. Ever since witnessing Thousand Faces' treacherous ambush and murder of his senior brother, he had privately decreed a death sentence upon Thousand Faces.
While dispatching Jiang Hong had proven challenging, eradicating an early-stage Core Formation cultivator like Thousand Faces... even if it meant great difficulty and the expenditure of numerous defensive measures, Ji Yuan was resolute. He had to succeed.
If he were incapable of avenging this profound injustice, to what end had his long cultivation journey led him?
The [Spiritual Energy Cannon] unleashed its fury; regardless of how swiftly Thousand Faces attempted to flee, his efforts were ultimately in vain.
Suspended in mid-air, his Escape Light was directly intercepted by the [Spiritual Energy Cannon]. As Ji Yuan's gaze followed, only a torso remained, cascading downwards, while the residual power of the [Spiritual Energy Cannon] was fully absorbed by the restriction barrier behind him.
"Boom—"
A thunderous roar echoed, and the previously unbreakable golden shield began to fracture, revealing a network of cracks as intricate as a spider's web.
Ji Yuan swiftly channeled his mana into the Talisman Treasure held in his hand... and the Treasure pulsed with light!
The Heaven Crossing Shuttle was finally usable!
Hope flickered!
A sliver of joy finally touched Ji Yuan's heart, and he immediately mobilized the mana residing within his Dantian, pouring all of it into the artifact. The Talisman Treasure’s activation progressed at a visibly rapid pace.
Ji Yuan's cultivation rested at the Fake Core stage at that juncture, and due to his persistent consumption of Tri-colored Spirit Eggs, his mana reserves were substantial, even when compared to a genuine Core Formation cultivator.
In a fraction of a second, the brief span between Ji Yuan's launch of Thousand Faces and his activation of the Talisman Treasure was as quick as a flash.
By the time Jiang Hong snapped back to attention and gazed skyward, he discovered that the very restriction he had placed so much faith in... had been shattered!
"Young Master, the Spiritual Energy Cannon from Shang Dong's position has reached its maximum output!"
Corpse Buddha Child hurried to Jiang Hong's side, his voice laced with urgency.
"Do you think I'm blind?!"
Jiang Hong spat out an angry curse, his left hand swiftly weaving a complex hand seal while he murmured incantations.
As the spell's power manifested, an array of runic chains materialized around him, with crimson patterns blooming across his visage.
Utilizing his right hand, he swept it over his spell-casting left hand, drawing blood from his palm before making a forceful slash through the air.
Instantly, a striking, crescent-shaped arc of blood-red light appeared before him.
"Whoosh—"
An Escape Light suddenly erupted from the previously barren lakebed.
A colossal surge of water was agitated.
The very instant Ji Yuan deployed the Heaven Crossing Shuttle Talisman Treasure, he utilized a protective scale residing within him and, employing the Artifact Manipulation Technique, retrieved Thousand Faces' Storage Bag. He was adamant that his senior brother's remains would not fall into the grasp of this Demon Dao faction.
Yet, in that fleeting moment of delay, while retrieving the Storage Bag...
He was ensnared by Jiang Hong, who abruptly unleashed the blood-colored arc, its power amplified by his own vital essence.
