Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Emerging from Seclusion, Demon Cultivator Traces
At this moment, the spiritual Qi of the entire Qianyang Mountain was stirred.
Ji Bochang and Ji Yunfan, who were talking to each other in the back mountain, couldn’t help but look up in astonishment.
In the distance where Ji Haoyuan’s abode was located, rolling spiritual Qi surged.
It seemed as if the heavens and earth had formed a funnel.
Vast streams of spiritual Qi continuously poured into Ji Haoyuan’s abode below.
"What is Fifth Uncle...?"
Although he had some guesses in his heart, Ji Yunfan couldn’t help but speak.
Ji Bochang didn’t respond immediately, instead quickly pulled out a few array flags from himself and tossed them towards Ji Haoyuan’s abode.
Then he suddenly stomped the ground and swiftly began to form a spell with his hands.
Buzz!
In an instant, the spiritual Qi surrounding Ji Haoyuan’s abode became even more tumultuous.
At the same time, the aura that had faintly emanated from within Ji Haoyuan’s abode was well isolated.
It was only at this moment that Ji Bochang turned to Ji Yunfan and said:
"You guessed right, your Fifth Uncle, he’s probably had another breakthrough.
But don’t spread this outside for now, just keep it to yourself."
Really...
Ji Yunfan was shocked in his heart.
His own Fifth Uncle, how long had it been since he broke through Foundation Establishment?
And now again...
Thinking of this, as the clan leader, he quickly understood Ji Bochang’s intention in saying so and nodded gravely.
"Rest assured, Ancestor, I won’t mention a word of this to anyone outside."
Three years later.
Inside Ji Haoyuan’s abode.
Illusions of magic flickered continuously in the void around Ji Haoyuan.
They transformed at times into fiery snakes with bared fangs and claws, sometimes into enormous shields as vast as mountains, sometimes into scorching light flames like meteors, and sometimes into chilling Sword Qi.
Finally.
These light and shadows gathered into Dharma Seals, seemingly with self-awareness, merging one by one into Ji Haoyuan’s body.
These seals were a type of mark that could only be condensed after surpassing the perfect level of Daoist Skill and achieving Divine Transformation.
Commonly known as Dharma Seals.
No need to form spells, no need to chant incantations, no need to deliberately cast.
Just a thought, and the Daoist Skill is out.
Moreover, all Dharma Seals can interchange between each other.
Some can even merge with one another to increase their power.
This was one of Ji Haoyuan’s gains in the three years after his cultivation breakthrough to late Foundation Establishment.
Aside from these, he had also genuinely advanced his Artifact Refining attainments to the second tier.
With just a casual raise of his hand.
Buzz!
In an instant, a large umbrella with a yellow glow appeared above Ji Haoyuan’s head.
This umbrella, named the Kunluo Spirit Umbrella, was refined from the many materials of the Kunling Demon Python and possessed quite formidable defensive power.
Although its tier was only mid-second grade, it wouldn’t fall much short compared to ordinary high-second grade Defensive Spiritual Artifacts.
Of course.
These were not his greatest harvests over the past three years.
Ji Haoyuan’s greatest achievement over these three years was completing and mastering the Divine Sense Secret Technique called Illusory God Stab.
Once this secret technique was unleashed, unless someone had a defensive spiritual artifact for Divine Sense under the Golden Core, it would be difficult for them to be a match for him.
After organizing his gains and his state, Ji Haoyuan did not stay in the abode any longer.
He opened the abode’s restriction and stepped outside.
As soon as he came out, he saw Ji Bochang standing there, as well as their clan leader Ji Yunfan.
Both of them obviously didn’t expect Ji Haoyuan to emerge at this time, and they were slightly taken aback, but then couldn’t help showing a hint of joy on their faces.
"Haoyuan, are you...?"
"Hmm, I was lucky this time out, got some opportunities and fortunately had a breakthrough."
Facing the two in front of him, Ji Haoyuan didn’t hide anything, and immediately recounted his experiences from outside to them.
After hearing this, the two couldn’t help but be surprised.
They did not expect that three years ago, when Ji Haoyuan went out, he would encounter such things.
"By the way, enough about me.
I just saw you two seemed to be discussing something.
Is something happening recently in our Ji Family?"
Ji Haoyuan suddenly interrupted their thoughts.
He had clearly seen earlier that Ji Bochang and Ji Yunfan seemed to be discussing something.
And their expressions didn’t seem quite good at that moment.
Upon hearing Ji Haoyuan’s inquiry, the surprise at Ji Haoyuan’s past experiences left their faces, and a hint of seriousness appeared.
"Yunfan, you should tell your Fifth Uncle about this."
At this, Ji Bochang said to Ji Yunfan.
Ji Yunfan, upon hearing this, immediately agreed and seriously said to Ji Haoyuan:
"Reporting to Fifth Uncle, during this period, within our Ji Family territory, we’ve discovered several traces of demon cultivators."
"Hmm..."
Upon hearing Ji Yunfan’s words, Ji Haoyuan’s expression immediately turned serious.
"What exactly is going on?
Yunfan, tell me in detail."
Having personally encountered two Foundation Establishment demon cultivators in the Qiulin Mountain Range back in the day, Ji Haoyuan knew this was no small matter.
Ji Yunfan dared not be negligent and immediately spoke again:
"Just recently, our family members discovered demon cultivator traces in Luoh River Marketplace, Xichuan Marketplace, and near the Cloud Iron Ore Vein."
It’s worth mentioning that since Ji Haoyuan was promoted to Foundation Establishment, as the overall strength of the Ji Family began to recover, the industries they had previously sold cheaply were gradually being reclaimed into their hands.
Among these included Xichuan Marketplace, as Ji Yunfan just mentioned.
At this point, Ji Yunfan continued:
"Moreover, as far as I know, the presence of demon cultivators is not limited to our Ji Family territory.
The Liu Family and Zhang Family also appear to have traces of demon cultivator activities.
As for whether other forces outside our Nanning County have signs of demon cultivators, I’m not particularly clear at this moment."
"Hmm, even the Liu Family and Zhang Family have traces of demon cultivators?"
Ji Haoyuan’s eyes slightly narrowed.
Instinctively, he detected something amiss.
The clouds of suspicion that had appeared in his mind before resurfaced.
Could it be that the demon cultivator side is truly planning to launch an attack against them, or more accurately, against the Crimson Sunset Sect above them?
If that’s true, things might indeed become very troublesome.
War is such a thing.
Once it happens, it’s totally uncontrolled by anyone.
At least, for all those surviving under the jurisdiction of the Crimson Sunset Sect, they cannot avoid being swept into this storm.
"By the way, did you manage to capture any specific individuals before?"
Suddenly, Ji Haoyuan thought of this question and immediately asked Ji Yunfan.