Chapter 289 : Ji Yuan Enters the Demonic Path for the Second Time

……This ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍fellow had actually arrived even faster!

Admittedly, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Ji Yuan thought he had already arrived early enough. After all, the moment the transmission ended, Ice-Fire Elder had brought him out, and although Ice-Fire Elder had not traveled at full speed along the way, his speed could absolutely not be considered slow.

Yet ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they were still slower than this Demonic Cultivator.

That ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍left only two possibilities. Either there was also a powerful Golden Core Cultivator behind him, allowing him to travel this quickly,

or……his ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hiding place was already somewhere nearby.

Ji ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yuan hoped it was the second reason. He slowly turned around and looked toward the person behind him.

Atop the surrounding mountain peak, some kindhearted cultivator had installed a pavilion for viewing the scenery.

Ji Yuan was currently standing right in the middle of this pavilion, facing north.

The newcomer behind him was a middle-aged man dressed in a greenish-yellow Spiritual Robe. His appearance could be considered handsome, but his eye sockets were sunken and his complexion somewhat yellow.

Either he cultivated some Demonic Technique, or he had been harmed by wine and lust over many years.

Beside this middle-aged man was also a delicate-looking beautiful woman. She had originally been holding the middle-aged man’s arm, but upon seeing Ji Yuan turn around, she hurriedly released him, then trotted over to Ji Yuan’s side, wrapped her arms around his arm, and softly called:

“Husband.”

……I killed you, and now I even have to hear your wife call me Husband. I really didn’t do this on purpose.

Ji Yuan silently apologized to Huang Richeng in his heart, while outwardly he merely nodded calmly. “You’ve suffered during this period.”

Ji Yuan said this aloud, while inwardly he retched.

The man was at Late Foundation Establishment, while the woman was only at Early Foundation Establishment.

Neither cultivation level was as high as Ji Yuan’s, so if fighting broke out later, he would naturally have to go all out.

A faint blush flashed across the beautiful woman’s face. Hiding behind her “husband”, she shyly said, “Not at all. Big Brother Liu Tian has treated this concubine quite well.”

“Haha, now that I think about it, Brother Huang and I can truly be considered fellow travelers of the same Dao.”

A trace of awkwardness appeared on Ji Yuan’s face. He glanced left and right, and only after seeing no one around did he safely say, “I brought the goods. What about the matter Brother Liu promised before?”

Liu Tian narrowed his eyes and transmitted his voice. “Without the goods in hand, it’s difficult for me to handle Brother Huang’s matter.”

Ji Yuan hesitated.

That batch of pills was indeed in his possession, but he was worried that once he handed them over, they might never return. That would be troublesome.

After all, there were a full ten thousand Spirit-Converging Pills. Even on Shang Mountain, that was not a small quantity.

Just as Ji Yuan hesitated, Ice-Fire Elder’s Voice Transmission sounded in his mind again. “What the hell is that bastard transmitting to you?”

“He wants me to give him the pills first before he’s willing to introduce me into their branch.”

“Then give them to him. Judging by the intelligence I obtained, there really is a Demonic Path gathering point somewhere around here. If you can dig it out, that’ll count as a major contribution!”

……No, I don’t need that kind of major contribution.

If this had not happened directly to him, Ji Yuan truly would not have wanted to wade into these muddy waters.

But now there was no other choice.

“Fine.”

Ji Yuan took out a Storage Pouch and looked as though he wanted to hand it over yet hesitated. But the moment Liu Tian saw it, he directly snatched it away.

“Hey, you—!”

Ji Yuan looked as though he wanted to grab it back, but Liu Tian glared at him, and he withdrew his hand.

Ice-Fire Elder, who was hiding somewhere and watching the show, took the opportunity to sigh. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Kid Ji, your acting really is quite good. No wonder even this old man couldn’t notice anything wrong with you back on Ice-Fire Island.”

……Heh. If you don’t speak, no one will take you for a mute.

“That was because Senior trusted this junior.”

Ji Yuan still had to reply inside his mind.

“Good!”

Liu Tian sent his Divine Sense into the Storage Pouch, swept through it once, and was greatly delighted.

“Who would’ve thought, who would’ve thought! Brother Huang, you actually managed to gather this many Spirit-Converging Pills.”

“You thought I was lying to you?” Ji Yuan’s voice sank. “Alright. I’ve already handed over the goods. Next, it’s time for you to fulfill your promise.”

Liu Tian satisfactorily stored the Storage Pouch away. “See, Brother Huang? You’re getting impatient again.”

This time, even Ji Yuan’s expression darkened.

“Do you know how much effort I spent getting this batch of pills? I suspect that Ice-Fire Elder may already have his eyes on me. If not……if not for the fact that I still have some connections behind me, I might have been taken down already.”

Liu Tian smiled outwardly while inwardly muttering……if not for those connections behind you, would a useless fool like you even dream of entering our branch?

“Brother Huang, don’t worry. I’ll definitely take you there. I just don’t know whether behind you……”

As Liu Tian spoke, he glanced toward the direction Ji Yuan had come from and asked meaningfully, “Are there any tails?”

Ji Yuan sneered.

“Do you think anyone besides the Demonic Path would still accept me now?”

Hearing this, the corner of Liu Tian’s mouth could not help twitching. “Heh. Listen to you. You make the Demonic Path sound like some disreputable place.”

“Let’s go. Stop wasting time. I didn’t even request leave when I came out. If I’m delayed too long and they come looking for me, that’ll be even more troublesome.”

Ji Yuan spoke with an impatient tone.

“Hehe.”

Liu Tian sneered and did not respond further. Instead, he took two Messaging Talismans from his Storage Pouch. He did not conceal them and directly activated the Messaging Talismans in front of Ji Yuan, saying a few words.

Before long, the Messaging Talismans lit up. After listening to what came from inside, he finally nodded.

“Alright. Since that’s the case, let’s go.”

Ji Yuan estimated that he had been confirming whether Ji Yuan’s tail was clean.

In that case, there really might be a stronghold here.

When Ji Yuan turned around, he unobtrusively pulled his arm free from the beautiful woman’s embrace, then released his Divine Sense, allowing it to spread freely throughout the surroundings.

His cultivation had now reached Peak Foundation Establishment. After enhancement from the 【Meditation Room】 and nourishment from the 《Ninefold Soul Suppressing Scripture》, his Divine Sense had completely crossed the threshold into the Mid Golden Core level.

Yet even so, he still failed to locate any traces of those Demonic Cultivators nearby.

Not only did he fail to discover the Demonic Cultivators, he could not even detect Ice-Fire Elder’s figure.

“Senior?”

Ji Yuan tentatively called out within his Sea of Consciousness.

“Just keep moving.”

Ice-Fire Elder responded, allowing Ji Yuan to relax. If Ice-Fire Elder had not been following him, he might have directly run away.

As for exterminating some Demonic Path stronghold……how could that be more important than his own life?

Liu Tian then released a Flying Boat shaped like a piece of dead wood, while Ji Yuan once again summoned Huang Richeng’s crocodile-shaped Flying Boat. Just as he wondered whether he should pause slightly and wait for the woman to depart together with him, he saw her naturally jump aboard Liu Tian’s Flying Boat, looking as though this were only proper.

……Huang Richeng, Huang Richeng, you truly had some ability.

While sighing inwardly, Ji Yuan also thought of another possibility.

Perhaps the reason Huang Richeng had managed to establish a connection with these Demonic Cultivators was because this female cultivator had acted as the intermediary. If this female cultivator herself was a Demonic Cultivator……

then it was not even certain who had cuckolded whom.

As Ji Yuan thought, he followed behind Liu Tian, rising from Tranquility Mountain before continuing northward.

Just as Ji Yuan thought they were going to cross the Falling Star River and head toward Northern Water, Liu Tian formed a hand seal and concealed his figure, then transmitted, “Follow me!”

After saying this, he confirmed that no one was around and plunged directly from midair into the Falling Star River.

Ji Yuan lagged one step behind while forming hand seals. Ice-Fire Elder’s voice once again sounded in his mind.

“Oh? So they’re hiding inside the Falling Star River. No wonder there wasn’t a single clue. Kid, follow him. Today, the two of us are going to pull off something big.”

Hearing this, Ji Yuan finally understood.

The Demonic Cultivators’ stronghold was actually located inside the Falling Star River. The river water itself could obstruct Divine Sense investigation while also erasing auras.

Thus, even if someone saw these Demonic Cultivators entering the Falling Star River, locating them afterward would not be easy.

This time, Ji Yuan did not speak further.

His and Liu Tian’s figures entered the Falling Star River one after the other. Perhaps because they had cast spells, they did not even create the slightest splash.

Because this place was already in the upper reaches of the Falling Star River, the current was turbulent. After entering the water, Ji Yuan pasted a Water-Avoidance Talisman onto himself, finally allowing him to clearly see his surroundings.

Even though this was the upper reaches, the river was still several hundred meters deep.

The water was clear. Even without Divine Sense investigation, within his field of vision alone, Ji Yuan saw two Half-Spiritual Fish……if taken to Zengtou Market, they could probably sell for 1 Lower-Grade Spirit Stone.

Fisherman Ji instinctively wanted to pick up his old trade.

Liu Tian and the woman stopped beside him. He transmitted:

“There is a formation arranged here. I’ll lead you through it once in a moment. Remember it. Next time, no one will be here to guide you.”

“Alright.”

After Ji Yuan agreed, he saw Liu Tian form several hand seals and recite a few incantations. As his voice fell, the surrounding waters trembled. A cyan stream of light flashed, and one gigantic bubble after another appeared before them.

“This is the Third-Tier Formation ‘Myriad Waters Illusion Formation’. It contains its own independent space, and the route inside is actually different every time you enter. I’ll only teach you once. Watch carefully.”

As Liu Tian spoke, he had already rushed into the first bubble, with Ji Yuan following closely behind.

Next, Liu Tian led the way while explaining everything in detail.

Ji Yuan noticed that before Liu Tian had agreed to bring him in, he had guarded against Ji Yuan in every possible way. But now that he had agreed to introduce him, all that wariness vanished. Instead, he explained things with remarkable thoroughness, almost covering every detail.

After quite some time, Ji Yuan successfully followed Liu Tian through the formation and finally arrived before a cave on the northern bank of the Falling Star River.

The moment he arrived, Ji Yuan sensed the sinister, evil aura emanating from inside the cave. This was a……Demonic Den!

Moreover, while passing through the formation earlier, he had carefully examined it and discovered that the formation was indeed somewhat sophisticated.

Unless one used the specific hand seals to awaken the formation, even passing directly before its entrance would reveal nothing unusual whatsoever.

Its effect truly was exactly as Liu Tian had said: the formation contained an independent space.

Ji Yuan called inwardly: “Senior?”

“I’m outside. This Third-Tier Formation is somewhat sophisticated. If I force my way inside, I’m afraid I’ll alert the enemy. Go in and investigate first. See whether there are any Golden Core Demonic Cultivators inside.”

Although Ice-Fire Elder was still speaking, his voice sounded somewhat intermittent.

It was like……there was no signal.

“Let’s go, Brother Huang. Now that you’ve reached here, you can be considered to have half a foot inside our branch. From now on, we’ll count as our own people.”

Liu Tian wrapped an arm around the woman beside him and laughed loudly.

Ji Yuan revealed just the right amount of delight in his eyes before following him into the Demonic Den.

Before entering, Ji Yuan had assumed this Demonic Den was merely an ordinary cave with four or five Demonic Cultivators gathered inside. But when he truly released his Divine Sense and investigated, he realized just how ridiculously wrong he had been.

How was this merely some Demonic Den? It was practically comparable to a market town.

The interior was divided into upper, middle, and lower levels. The lowest level housed Qi Refining Demonic Cultivators. There were numerous cultivators there, more than a hundred in total.

The middle level housed Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivators. Their numbers were much smaller. Even including Liu Tian and the woman who had just entered, there were only twelve.

As for the upper level, there was only one person.

He was a one-armed man whose entire body was wrapped in a broad black robe. Ji Yuan’s Divine Sense had only just touched him and had not even had time to clearly investigate his cultivation when the man abruptly raised his head and looked toward the cave entrance.

Without another word, Ji Yuan immediately withdrew his Divine Sense and pretended to remain calm as he walked behind Liu Tian.

After no more than a single breath, a streak of black light flew over from ahead and landed before the three of them, transforming into the one-armed man.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Liu Tian hurriedly lowered his head and cupped his hands in salute.

“Greetings, Divine Eagle Master.”

The beautiful woman suspected to be Huang Richeng’s Dao Companion directly knelt on the ground and did not dare raise her head at all.

Ji Yuan naturally could not possibly kneel. He merely cupped his hands indifferently and imitated Liu Tian as he called, “Greetings, Divine Eagle Master.”

“You’re Xuan Xiao’s illegitimate son?”

Divine Eagle Master glanced at Ji Yuan and frowned.

“Yes……”

Ji Yuan revealed just the right amount of embarrassment.

“Any tails?”

Divine Eagle Master turned his head toward the cave entrance.

“Number One and Number Two both checked. There are no tails. These are the Spirit-Converging Pills Huang Richeng offered. They’re all here.”

Liu Tian presented the Storage Pouch with both hands.

Divine Eagle Master received it with his remaining left hand and swept it once. “Not bad.”

After saying this, he directly walked between the two of them and headed toward the cave entrance.

Even without releasing his Divine Sense to investigate, Ji Yuan could guess that Divine Eagle Master was surely using his Divine Sense to inspect the outside.

……Ice-Fire Elder’s Divine Sense had already reached Peak Golden Core. This Divine Eagle Master probably was not that strong.

It was just uncertain whether this fellow had slipped in from Western Shang, or was a native Demonic Cultivator of Eastern Shang.

Divine Eagle Master did not return, and Ji Yuan did not dare move.

After waiting for roughly ten breaths, the Golden Core Cultivator finally returned and casually instructed, “Take him to verify his identity. Once that’s done, bring him back to see me.”

“Yes.”

Liu Tian cupped his hands and bowed again.

Ji Yuan did not understand what was happening, so he could only follow. But judging from this, this group of Demonic Cultivators seemed to keep their word. At the very least, they did not appear to have any intention of killing him.

With the Golden Core Real Person’s instructions, what followed became simple.

Ji Yuan followed behind Liu Tian to the middle level of the Demonic Den. First, he received a set of Spiritual Robes and a token verifying his identity. Then, inside another cave, he lit his own Soul Lamp. Finally, another Foundation Establishment Cultivator registered his information, and that was considered the end of it.

At first, Ji Yuan had been wondering: when joining a Demonic Path branch, did they really not need to use any Demonic Path methods, such as techniques controlling one’s life and death?

But Liu Tian’s next words quickly dispelled Ji Yuan’s confusion.

He said, “You’ve already had a Bloodline Curse planted before, so there’s no need to repeat that this time. Lighting your Soul Lamp is just part of the procedure.”

“Alright. From now on, Brother Huang is one of us. You still have your Righteous Path identity, so you’ll need to take care of us more in the future.”

At this point, Liu Tian no longer sounded sinister when he spoke. He even sounded somewhat cheerful.

Ji Yuan had dealt with the Demonic Path before, so he knew that the Demonic Cultivators of Eastern Shang deeply despised the Righteous Path, but toward their own people within the Demonic Path, they were actually rather decent.

“Easy enough. I’ve only just arrived, so I’ll still need Brother Liu to look after me.”

“Alright. There’ll be plenty of time to chat later. For now, I should first take Brother Huang to see Divine Eagle Master.”

Liu Tian continued leading the way, but the woman from before……had already left on her own after reaching the middle level of the Demonic Den.

She had not even said goodbye.

Moreover, ever since Divine Eagle Master said Huang Richeng was one of their own, she had become even less interested.

Looking at it this way, this woman was probably specifically responsible for recruiting talent for the Demonic Path.

To travel from the middle level to the upper level, one had to pass through a spiral staircase.

Upon reaching it, Liu Tian stopped. “Brother Huang can go up by yourself.”

“Mm.”

Ji Yuan took a deep breath before stepping onto the staircase and following it upward until he finally arrived at the highest level of the Demonic Den.

There were not so many rooms and residences here. There was only a small courtyard.

After coming up the staircase, Ji Yuan happened to appear directly before the courtyard entrance.

“Come in.”

Divine Eagle Master’s voice came from inside. Ji Yuan cupped his hands and acknowledged before entering the doorway, once again seeing this Golden Core Real Person within the courtyard.

There was no great sun inside the Demonic Den. Instead, numerous Luminous Pearls were embedded into the surrounding stone walls, illuminating the place as brightly as day.

“Sit.”

Divine Eagle Master casually pointed at the seat opposite him.

“This subordinate wouldn’t dare.”

“I told you to sit, so sit.”

“Yes.”

Only then did Ji Yuan dare sit down with merely half his butt on the chair, looking extremely restrained and frightened.

Divine Eagle Master looked at him and sneered. “My cultivation isn’t even as strong as that cheap father of yours. You’re not afraid when meeting your father, so why are you this frightened of me?”

“Because my father won’t kill me, but My Lord might.”

Ji Yuan “spoke honestly”.

“Interesting.”

Divine Eagle Master laughed. With a flip of his hand, he took out a blood clasp from his Storage Pouch, one that carried a familiar aura.

“Your Bloodline Curse is attached to this blood clasp. As long as I gently snap it, you’ll immediately die……”

Ji Yuan’s face turned deathly pale from fright.

“But I’d rather return this blood clasp to you.” Divine Eagle Master glanced at him as he spoke.

Despite his pale complexion, Ji Yuan forced himself to ask, “I wonder what Senior wants this junior to do?”

“You have some brains. It seems you’re not quite as useless as Liu Tian said.”

Divine Eagle Master stood up, put away the blood clasp, and paced back and forth several times before finally taking out a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch and placing it on the table.

“Give this to your father.”

Ji Yuan looked extremely frightened and abruptly stood up. “No! Senior, if he finds out I defected to the Demonic Path, he’ll definitely kill me!”

Divine Eagle Master did not become angry upon hearing this. Instead, he smiled.

“If you don’t give him this Jade Slip, how will you know whether he is one of us?”

“Or rather, whether you are one of us?”

As he spoke, he clapped his hands. The tightly shut door behind him suddenly opened, and a familiar figure walked out from within.

“I only have one question. How exactly did you, Huang Richeng, come back from the dead?”