Longevity through Upgrading Buildings

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: News

The next morning.

Without any reason to go out, Ji Yuan stayed at home and started to eat eggs early. Unlike the three from the previous days, today he would be having a larger meal.

Six Spirit Eggs a day, digesting and absorbing all of them was quite a challenge.

But just as he finished absorbing two Spirit Eggs, someone knocked on his courtyard gate.

He instinctively touched the Thunder Strike Talisman on his chest, and after confirming everything was in order, he went to open the door.

The one knocking again was Old Man Huang.

However, unlike before, today he greeted Ji Yuan with a slight smile, ”Brother Ji is cultivating again.”

Ji had become Brother Ji.

”Yes, does Elder Huang have any business?”

Ji Yuan maintained the same composed attitude as before.

”Not much... just something related to your parents.” Old Man Huang added, noticing Ji Yuan had no intention of letting him inside.

”My parents?”

Ji Yuan’s expression showed a slight surprise, but it quickly faded, his voice changing, ”What, my parents?!”

Old Man Huang entered the house, immediately looking around.

Ji Yuan manipulated his panel in advance, temporarily disabling the effects of the [Fish Pond].

Luckily, the panel came with a ”switch,” otherwise, if someone else were there, it would be hard to explain if a Spirit Fish suddenly evolved.

The [Chicken Cage] was fine because Ji Yuan had already collected today’s six Spirit Eggs.

Unexpectedly, the six green-yellow chickens still caught Old Man Huang’s attention.

”You have quite a lot of chickens at home.”

”Yes, my master likes eating roasted green-yellow chicken. The meat is delicious and tender, so I raised a few more.”

Having already fabricated a big lie, Ji Yuan wasn’t afraid to embellish it further.

”Oh, I see... Brother Ji, may I know who your master’s esteemed person is?”

Old Man Huang couldn’t resist asking.

”Didn’t Elder Huang say you had news about my parents?”

Ji Yuan did not answer, instead asking in return.

”Oh right, old age affects my memory.”

Old Man Huang chuckled, then returned to the inner room, sat down, pondered for a moment, and then spoke: ”I saw the Willow Leaf Boat.”

The magical fishing boat belonging to Ji Yuan’s original father, Ji Qingyun, was called the Willow Leaf Boat.

”Where?!”

”It’s with Luo Tong, he said he bought it from Liu Laizi.”

Luo Tong, dealing in Spirit Dolphins in Zengtou City, was essentially in the pig business. If Ji Yuan wanted to buy Spirit Dolphins, he had to go to him.

Also, Ji Yuan remembered that Luo Tong had a good relationship with his original father.

Whenever Ji Yuan saw him, he would have to address him as Uncle Luo.

But the Willow Leaf Boat, buried within the Cloud Rain Marsh, how did it end up with Liu Laizi?

Either he found it by accident, or... he killed for it!

Seeing the change in Ji Yuan’s expression, Old Man Huang quickly waved his hand to explain: ”I just happened to see it, nothing else meant, Brother Ji, don’t overthink.”

”Don’t worry, I understand, thank you, Elder Huang.”

Ji Yuan nodded at him with a calm expression.

”Alright, you cultivate well at home. I have some errands in Zengtou City, so I’ll be off first.”

Ji Yuan escorted Old Man Huang to the door, watching him head to Zengtou City.

Returning home, he immediately activated the effects of the [Fish Pond].

As for finding Liu Laizi to get to the bottom of this, Ji Yuan had no such plans at the moment.

Not to mention Liu Laizi was already at the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation, plus his connections in Zengtou City were complicated. Rumor has it he was also entangled with the Qin Family.

Even if Ji Yuan wanted revenge, he was powerless for now.

It’s better to focus on improving his strength first.

So for Old Man Huang’s news, he only remembered silently, without further thought.

...

After reaching Zengtou City, Old Man Huang skillfully weaved through the familiar alleys and finally stopped at a courtyard with white walls and cyan tiles, knocking on the door.

A slightly impatient voice came from inside the courtyard.

”Who is it?”

”It’s me, Lao Huang.”

The door opened, revealing a middle-aged man with disheveled hair and a face full of pockmarks, ”Old Man Huang? What brings you here?”

”Come in, we’ll talk inside.”

A while later, in the hall, Old Man Huang drained a cup of tea in one go and finally exhaled a long breath, saying:

”There’s a situation involving Ji Qingyun.”

”Ji Qingyun? Why, could that bastard still be alive?”

Liu Laizi chuckled.

At the time, he used a Water Arrow Technique to shatter Ji Qingyun’s skull, and he didn’t think such an injury could allow survival.

”Not Ji Qingyun, but his surviving son, Ji Yuan!”

Old Man Huang lowered his voice: ”A few days ago, he was almost driven out of Zengtou City, but then he unexpectedly caught a Spirit Fish.”

”That’s some luck.” Liu Laizi nodded.

”Just yesterday, he went to the fish cage and sold a Stone Armor Spot... without damaging a single Stone Armor.”

”Does he have that kind of skill?!”

Liu Laizi couldn’t remain seated.

”No, after much inquiry, I learned a little.”

”How so? Speak up, you old fool, don’t forget it was you who sold Ji Qingyun’s location to me, for Spirit Stones.”

Liu Laizi said impatiently.

A flicker of regret appeared in Old Man Huang’s eyes, but he continued talking: ”This Ji Yuan... has taken a master, and at least the other party is a mid-stage, if not a later stage, Qi Cultivation expert.”

Hearing this, Liu Laizi calmed down immediately. After a moment of silence, he looked up at Old Man Huang, sneering:

”Trying to eliminate him for good, afraid of offending others yourself, you want to use my hand to kill Ji Yuan again.”

”This...”

Exposed, Old Man Huang felt a bit awkward, but admitting it certainly wasn’t an option.

”How is that possible, I... I was just worried that Ji Yuan might discover something, and if he invites his master to intervene, we’d be in trouble.”

Old Man Huang didn’t doubt Ji Yuan had a master.

If he didn’t have someone backing him, where did the Spirit Fish come from?

”We’ve been discreet, he won’t find out.”

Liu Laizi shook his head: ”Besides, something big is about to happen near Northeast Maple Island, I should go there first to reap benefits.”

”As for Ji Yuan... let’s address it after the situation at Maple Island is resolved.”

”Maple Island? What’s going on there? I’ve seen plenty of fishermen heading there recently, even after several died.”

Old Man Huang eagerly inquired.

Liu Laizi glanced at him, ”Since it’s about to be public in these two days, I might as well tell you first.”

”There is an Immortal Mansion on Maple Island... the immortal mansion of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

”What?!”

Old Man Huang exclaimed in shock. An immortal mansion of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, harvesting some benefits there could mean not having to worry for years to come.

Perhaps it might even provide the opportunity to break through in cultivation.

”Well then, I’ll head back first.”

Just as Old Man Huang was about to leave, Liu Laizi suddenly said, watching his back, ”Old Man Huang, you didn’t inform Ji Yuan about the Ji Qingyun affair, did you?”

Old Man Huang dared not turn back.

”How could I?”

”Indeed, and don’t forget, it was you who came to me first, and you reaped benefits thereafter.” Liu Laizi reminded him.

”Don’t worry, I understand.”

After Old Man Huang had completely left, Liu Laizi sneered: ”What a joke, thinking you could play ’death of fellow practitioners, no death for me’ with me?!”

Walking home, Old Man Huang’s mind was equally heavy with thoughts.

He originally intended to make Liu Laizi the scapegoat, but unexpectedly, he wasn’t so easily fooled... Indeed, no fool can make a name in Zengtou City.

No matter, if Liu Laizi isn’t rushing, neither am I.

Right now, Old Man Huang had only one thought in mind, and that is... Foundation Establishment Immortal Mansion!