Chapter 216: What Bad Intentions Could a Demonic Cultivator Possibly Have?
“Oh?”
“You’re heading to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins?”
When Ji Yuan heard this, he was sowhat surprised. It seed the two really were fated—eting here in Hong City was one thing, but now even their destination was the sa.
“That’s right.”
Wang Xiu was riding a flying artifact shaped like a white cloud. At this mont, he slightly slowed down and sent a voice transmission to Ji Yuan, saying, “I’m not afraid of Brother Qiu laughing at for this. I’m actually the live-in son-in-law of the Wei Family inside the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. I only traveled south due to so miscellaneous affairs.”
“Now I’ve heard that my father-in-law has passed away. No matter what, I must go back and pay my respects.”
As Wang Xiu spoke, the smile in his eyes faded, replaced by a hint of desolation.
“My condolences, Brother Wang.”
Though Ji Yuan said this aloud, in his heart he repeated the words “Wei Family.” There should only be one Wei Family inside the Ancient Battlefield.
According to the Li Family’s arrangent, if he wanted to refine his flying sword with the Blood River, he would need help from the Wei Family.
It was likely the very sa Wei Family Wang Xiu ntioned.
But Ji Yuan did not speak up. Everything would be clear once he arrived.
“What about you, Brother Qiu? Where are you headed?”
Wang Xiu looked at the kindly and serene Ji Yuan in front of him, then as if guessing sothing, tentatively asked, “Don’t tell ... Brother Qiu is also heading to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins?”
Countless thoughts flashed through Ji Yuan’s mind. His trip to the Ancient Battlefield was ant to be a secret. Moreover, he had no enemies to speak of, so this situation likely was just a coincidence.
“Indeed.”
“Well, what a coincidence!”
Wang Xiu slapped his thigh excitedly. “I was just worrying about how dangerous the journey would be without soone to travel with. With you, Brother Qiu, I can rest easy. Uh… traveling together for a while—how does that sound to you?”
Ji Yuan looked at the man in front of him. He truly seed sowhat simple-minded, without all the complicated sches.
“I’d be delighted. I’ll be relying on Brother Wang’s guidance.”
“Ah, no need to be so formal. As brothers, we should naturally help each other. But rest assured, I know this route to the Ancient Battlefield well—I know the safest path.”
“Then I’ll trouble Brother Wang to lead the way.”
Although Wang Xiu claid he would guide the way, it didn’t take long for Ji Yuan to realize that the path he was leading matched exactly the route on Ji Yuan’s own map...
Having soone to travel with made the road less lonely for Ji Yuan.
Especially since Wang Xiu turned out to be quite the chatterbox. Seeing that Ji Yuan was visiting the northern region for the first ti, he would talk about anything they ca across.
In a way, he broadened Ji Yuan’s knowledge quite a bit.
For instance, when they passed a grave mound, Wang Xiu explained how, in the early days, cultivators in the northern region harbored great resentnt toward the Corpse Herding Mountain cultivators.
Why?
Because they were notorious for grave-robbing.
Corpses barely buried for a few days would be dug up and taken for corpse refinent.
At first, everyone was angry but dared not speak. Eventually, their patience wore thin, and rogue cultivators from several cities banded together and marched to Corpse Herding Mountain to demand an explanation.
It was a massive crowd—Wang Xiu said there were at least a few million cultivators, nearly razing Corpse Herding Mountain to the ground.
Ji Yuan suppressed a smile as he listened.
Left with no choice, Corpse Herding Mountain established a sect rule, vowing never to dig up graves at will again.
Only then did the matter settle down.
Since then, it seed they really did stop raiding graves. At least, there hadn’t been any more reports of people’s recently buried ancestors being dug up within days.
Just as people began to think Corpse Herding Mountain had reford, a rogue cultivator got into a fight with one of them—and to his horror, found that the corpse the opponent was controlling was actually his own father!
Afterwards, he dug up his father’s grave himself, only to find the coffin still there—but the corpse was gone...
Another uproar followed. Eventually, it was revealed that a genius in Corpse Herding Mountain had invented a technique to steal corpses through coffins and graves without opening them.
That rogue cultivator tried to pressure the sect to ban the technique, but this ti, Corpse Herding Mountain didn’t back down. Four Golden Core Real Persons erged, scattering the rogue cultivators like frightened birds.
Still, with this new thod, at least families could save face. So long as no one opened the coffin, who could say whether their ancestor was still inside?
Occasionally, there were rumors—soone saw so-and-so’s parents working as zombies for Corpse Herding Mountain...
As they walked and chatted, ti passed.
After about half a month, they finally arrived near the Ancient Battlefield.
“Up ahead is Yaofeng Market—the nearest market to the Ancient Battlefield. Once past there, we’ll reach the entrance.”
Ji Yuan had already studied the topographic map on the way, so he naturally knew this.
Moreover, the Ancient Battlefield's structure was sowhat similar to a secret realm—it could only be entered through a designated entry point.
However, it wasn’t a true secret realm. Secret realms existed within small worlds, whereas the Ancient Battlefield was a real location on the Cangluo Continent.
“Brother Qiu, do you want to rest a bit at Yaofeng Market or head straight to the battlefield?”
Wang Xiu turned to ask.
“Let’s head straight there. When you’re out traveling, there’s no need for extra rest.”
Ji Yuan smiled. He wasn’t one to be overly particular, and to a seasoned cultivator like him, traveling itself was a form of rest.
“Very well, follow then.”
The two continued northward for another half hour.
The scenery ahead finally changed—no longer endless forested mountains, but instead two towering cliff faces.
On both sides, ten-thousand-foot-high cliffs soared.
Between them, a narrow sky slit stretched like a passage.
The entrance to the Ancient Battlefield was right there.
As they approached, Ji Yuan spread out his divine sense—but before he could finish scanning, two male cultivators flew out from the cliffs.
One on the left, one on the right—both at the Foundation Establishnt Stage.
“May I ask the two fellow daoists...”
Wang Xiu cupped his hands in greeting, but before he could finish, one of the two interrupted:
“The Ancient Battlefield is closed. If you have no other business, leave quickly.”
“What?”
Wang Xiu’s expression changed at once. “Fellow daoist, I’m from the Ancient Battlefield—I’m going ho! How can you block my return?”
“Besides, the Ancient Battlefield has always been open. Even Corpse Herding Mountain never claid it. Who are you people—could you be stronger than Corpse Herding Mountain?”
Though Wang Xiu seed honest, he had lived over a hundred years. Throwing labels like this ca quite naturally to him.
“What’re you yapping about? I said you’re not going in, so you’re not going in. Keep yapping and I’ll beat the shit out of you.”
The short man on the right looked especially irritable.
Ji Yuan stood quietly behind Wang Xiu, saying nothing.
One speaker was enough for situations like this.
He didn’t release his divine sense again, but narrowed his eyes and scrutinized the entrance. There were still shadows moving, more Foundation Establishnt cultivators who hadn’t yet erged.
A few breaths later, another figure walked out from the Ancient Battlefield entrance.
With just one glance, Ji Yuan’s eyes lit up slightly.
He saw an old acquaintance!
Wang Xiu had returned all the way from dicine King Valley to attend his father-in-law’s funeral. Now being blocked at the doorstep, of course he couldn’t accept it.
Just as he was about to argue again, Ji Yuan stopped him and instead offered the two Foundation Establishnt cultivators an apologetic smile:
“Sorry to bother you. We won’t be entering the battlefield after all.”
Wang Xiu, interrupted by Ji Yuan, cooled down. After a mont of thought, he realized sothing and asked, “Then when can we go in?”
“You’ll know when the ti cos.”
The man waved impatiently.
Wang Xiu’s face shifted several tis, but in the end, he followed Ji Yuan and left.
“Let’s go to Yaofeng Market first and gather so information,” Ji Yuan sent via voice transmission.
Wang Xiu took a deep breath. “Alright, don’t worry, Brother Qiu. I still have one or two old acquaintances here in Yaofeng Market—I’ll ask around and find out soon enough.”
“Damn bastards. Who the hell are they to dare seize the Ancient Battlefield? Bet it’s those Corpse Herding Mountain bastards again, pretending to be rogue cultivators, running amok just like in the Yunlin Mountains.”
Wang Xiu cursed angrily.
Ji Yuan didn’t reply—because he might have already guessed who had occupied the Ancient Battlefield…
Just as the two left, another cultivator piloting a flying boat arrived at the battlefield entrance, landing beside the two n. “What’s going on?”
“Another pair trying to enter the Ancient Battlefield. One even claid to be from inside. Heh, without Young Master's permission, no one gets in.”
One of them then asked, “Brother Hu, did the Young Master say how long we’re supposed to stand guard here? There’s not even a single pretty female cultivator—this is getting real dull.”
“Soon, soon.”
“……”
After arriving at Yaofeng Market, Ji Yuan and Wang Xiu found a courtyard to settle down.
Because there were outsiders around, Ji Yuan only stuck a few talismans onto the courtyard walls—he didn’t activate any formation.
He wasn’t in a rush, so he had the leisure to wait. At worst, he’d cultivate here for a while until that group left. But Wang Xiu couldn’t sit still—barely had they settled in when he anxiously said he’d go out to find so friends to ask for information.
With him handling it, Ji Yuan was more than happy to relax.
Otherwise, gathering intel would have been a troubleso task for him.
So he stayed in the courtyard to ditate and nourish his spirit, and casually consud two Three-Colored Spiritual Eggs to refine the spiritual energy he’d absorbed recently.
About half a day later.
Wang Xiu finally returned under cover of night.
“Brother Qiu, we’ve got a problem,” Wang Xiu said grimly.
“What’s the situation?” Ji Yuan asked curiously.
“It looks like we won’t be getting in anyti soon. That group arrived three months ago and seized control of the Ancient Battlefield, saying their ‘Young Master’ is cultivating inside.”
“No one is allowed to disturb him.”
“Also, that group has a lot of Foundation Establishnt cultivators. According to my friend, he saw no fewer than seven or eight of them.”
“And every single one of them is ruthless. Just last month, a rogue cultivator from the Beast Taming Sect, already in the late Foundation Establishnt Stage, wanted to enter for cultivation. He was stopped by them, protested a bit too much, and in the end…”
At this point, Wang Xiu’s voice faltered slightly.
“What happened in the end?”
“He got in all right—but only after being killed and thrown inside by those Foundation Establishnt cultivators,” Wang Xiu said, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth.
“Damn it, they’re obviously demonic cultivators!”
Ji Yuan fell silent.
Because Wang Xiu was right—those people were indeed demonic cultivators.
The familiar face Ji Yuan had seen earlier at the Ancient Battlefield entrance was none other than the demonic cultivator Hu Li, who had previously fought him outside Linshui City, and barely escaped using the Talisman Treasure: Sky-Escape Shuttle.
Ji Yuan hadn’t expected that after escaping, that guy would show up in the Corpse Herding Mountain’s territory.
And what a coincidence—eting again.
‘This would be the third ti already. Looks like I really am fated with this Brother Hu Li.’
Ji Yuan was already considering whether he could use Hu Li to gain access to the Ancient Battlefield.
Though they had a small conflict during their second encounter…
Their first eting had been quite cordial. At that ti, Hu Li had even respectfully called him “Senior Qiu.”
“So, Brother Wang, what’s your plan now?”
Ji Yuan asked, still hoping Wang Xiu might have another way to sneak into the Ancient Battlefield.
That would save him the trouble.
Approaching Hu Li would be a last resort.
“What else can I do?” Wang Xiu spread his hands. “Nothing.”
“We’ll just have to wait. Their so-called ‘Young Master’ can’t possibly cultivate in there forever.”
“True. Let’s wait and see for now.”
So the two of them continued living in the courtyard.
And just like that, another half a month passed.
Ji Yuan even went out a few tis to gather information, but there was no sign of the demonic cultivators leaving… If this continued, it wouldn’t work—he hadn’t traveled all this way just to cultivate here.
And entering by pretending to be a demonic cultivator wouldn’t be too risky.
If it really ca to that, he could infiltrate the group and beco one of them. Then he could co and go freely.
Acting alone, he had plenty of thods. Ji Yuan wasn’t worried.
After waiting another two days, and seeing that the demonic cultivators still stood guard, Ji Yuan decided to act.
Before leaving, he had to bid farewell to Wang Xiu. After all, they had traveled together and could be considered fellow cultivators.
“What? You’re leaving?”
Wang Xiu was surprised when he heard Ji Yuan’s words.
“Mm. Those cultivators haven’t left. There’s no point in waiting any longer. Your ho is here, but I’ve got other places to go—I can’t wait around.”
Ji Yuan gave a thoughtful explanation.
“You’re right. Then take care, Brother Qiu, and stay safe. I’ll be here in Yaofeng Market until they leave. If you ever need help, feel free to co find .”
“Thanks. Take care, Brother Wang.”
Ji Yuan cupped his hands in farewell, then summoned his Sky-Slicer Boat, rising from the courtyard and flying eastward, leaving the market behind.
Half a day later—
A man with a rather delicate and effeminate appearance, riding a smoke-belching skull, flew from east to west, bypassing Yaofeng Market and landing in the dense northern forest.
That day, Hu Li, like always, walked out from the Ancient Battlefield, accompanied by two other demonic cultivators, keeping watch at the entrance.
The three either cultivated or chatted idly, mostly fantasizing about how great life would be once the demonic cultivators of Western Shang conquered the Six Immortal Sects of Eastern Shang.
“To quote the mundane world, we’ll be ‘welcoming the royal army.’”
Hu Li told a joke—but unfortunately, the two uncultured demonic cultivators didn’t get it at all and didn’t react.
He could only complain inwardly, “Tch, with you illiterates, no wonder the Young Master pays you no mind. Serves you right!”
As he was thinking this, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
“Oh? So this little fox was hiding out here all along, huh?”
Hu Li froze instantly, the smile vanishing from his face. He imdiately released his divine sense, scanning all directions… and found nothing.
Though a few years had passed and he’d reached the mid-Foundation Establishnt Stage, Ji Yuan’s divine sense—thanks to the ditation Room, and continuous cultivation of the Divine Soul thod: Nine Chambers Soul-Suppressing Scripture—was far beyond his own.
Ji Yuan wasn’t sure of the exact extent, but he guessed his divine sense was comparable to that of a peak Foundation Establishnt cultivator.
And once he broke through to late Foundation Establishnt, he’d likely surpass most others at the sa level.
So now, he could clearly observe Hu Li’s panic, as well as see the other two mid-stage Foundation Establishnt demonic cultivators chatting idly—yet they couldn’t detect him at all.
“What? Don’t recognize ?”
Ji Yuan spoke again.
Hu Li, unable to locate the source, stopped trying.
He only had a vague feeling that the voice sounded familiar, like he’d heard it sowhere before—but couldn’t place it.
“May I ask who Senior is…”
He asked via divine sense.
“How about a hint—Shanghe Market.”
That was where Ji Yuan had first t Hu Li.
At those words, Hu Li suddenly rembered!
That damn old bastard!
Back then, he had been peacefully cultivating at Shanghe Market, when that Zhu Ji sohow provoked and brought over this guy. If not for his quick wits, he might’ve died there!
And now, that old freak was still haunting him—even showing up here.
“Why so quiet? Don’t tell you’re secretly cursing in your heart?” Ji Yuan’s voice ca again, sinister and cold.
“Perish the thought, perish the thought. This junior was just reminiscing about Senior’s heroic presence.”
Hu Li replied shalessly.
“Heh. So tell , what are you doing here?”
Hu Li was silent for a while, unsure how to respond.
Ji Yuan half-joked, “What, found yourself a sugar daddy? Mind introducing too?”
“Senior jests. With your strength, surely you don’t need that,” Hu Li replied quickly with a smile.
“No, I an it. If your sugar daddy is Golden Core stage, then introduce . I’ve been wandering for years and could use a place to settle down.”
Ji Yuan’s tone was rather lazy.
He was planning to feel out the situation first.
Hearing this, a thought stirred in Hu Li’s heart… If it was true, he could earn big rit!
From their last encounter, this man’s cultivation was at least late Foundation Establishnt—very likely peak. If he could recruit a peak Foundation Establishnt cultivator for the Young Master…
That’d be a huge contribution.
With that thought, Hu Li decided to reveal a little and share so information.
“Not going to lie, Senior. The one I follow does indeed have Golden Core cultivation.”
“Oh?”
“But that’s not the main point—the Golden Core senior is just a bodyguard. The real authority lies with the Young Master, who’s at the late Foundation Establishnt stage… but with quite the background!”
In the forest, Ji Yuan’s closed eyes suddenly snapped open.
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