Chapter 120 - The News Brought by Elder Xu

Ji Yuan, being a Tier One High-grade Talisman Master, naturally has heard of the famed Talisman Treasure.

Compared to other Tier Two Talismans, this Talisman Treasure is truly something worthy of being a trump card.

The Talisman Treasure is something that at least a Golden Core Cultivator can refine.

It requires them to seal a portion of their Lifebound Magical Treasure’s power into specific talismans.

Refining a Talisman Treasure is a damage to the Lifebound Magical Treasure of Golden Core Cultivators.

That’s why most cultivators are reluctant to refine it.

This leads to the scarcity of Talisman Treasures on the market, and even if those cultivators do refine them, they mostly gift them to their relatives for an extra life-saving method, rather than selling them.

Even for Li Changhe, who is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Talisman Treasures are extremely valuable.

If not, this Talisman Treasure, Escape Mechanism, wouldn’t only have one use left.

For Ji Yuan, aside from building materials, this Talisman Treasure is indeed the most precious item he has obtained to date.

As Li Changhe said, it’s truly a life-saving thing.

Once activated, it can escape from the hands of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Brother Li, this..."

"Just go, if I want this thing, I can get it myself, don’t worry about it, hurry up and go to the Water Dragon Sect and find me when you arrive, we brothers can have a good drink."

Li Changhe waved his hand, gesturing to leave.

Ji Yuan, seeing this, offered a deep bow, then turned to activate the Thunder Falcon Boat, diving into the lake, disappearing along with his aura and figure.

Li Changhe, seeing this, waited for about half an hour before taking out a brand new Flying Boat from his Storage Bag and stepping onto it to soar into the sky.

"Senior Sister Rou, I’m here, Li Changhe!"

Soon after, a tall woman with a giant sword like a door panel on her back appeared before him.

The woman looked Li Changhe up and down with an expressionless face and said, "Master sent me to collect your corpse."

"The Talisman Treasure, this is the legendary Talisman Treasure."

Deep in the bottom of Cloud Rain Marsh.

Ji Yuan looked at the Talisman Treasure emitting a cyan light in his hand, still somewhat excited.

The Talisman Treasure is a bit different from talismans; unlike talismans, the Talisman Treasure lacks all the talisman writings. This Talisman Treasure’s Escape Mechanism only has the cyan streamline Flying Boat shadow.

How fast will the speed be once activated...

Ji Yuan loves having a trump card for escaping.

He admired it for a whole hour underwater before safely storing the Talisman Treasure into his Storage Bag.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel reflective; in life, drinks take a sip, much like destiny.

If he had continued hiding in Zengtou City as before for cultivation, how could he have obtained this Talisman Treasure opportunity?

And compared to the favor of saving Li Changhe, this Talisman Treasure is nothing much.

From the brief interaction, Li Changhe seems to have a good temperament. Given that, saving his life means he owes Ji Yuan a huge favor.

As he said, once Ji Yuan joins the Water Dragon Sect, if he encounters trouble, he can use a Communication Talisman to seek his help.

In other words, Ji Yuan now has a backing in the Water Dragon Sect.

As long as he is justified, he doesn’t have to worry about suffering losses.

Ji Yuan wouldn’t be involved in anything unethical.

After a while, Ji Yuan cautiously poked his head from the lake surface, looked around to ensure no accidents, then emerged completely.

Then, the Flying Boat skimmed the lake surface, not daring to ascend, fearing the attention of some Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Meeting Li Changhe on that New Year’s Eve, then delaying for over ten days on a nameless island... the selection date for the Water Dragon Sect should be nearing.

Ji Yuan plans to return to Zengtou City to gather some news first.

The Ascension Token given by Li Changhe... to be honest, Ji Yuan doesn’t plan to use it.

He can join the Water Dragon Sect smoothly through selection without being conspicuous, blending in among the masses, even within the Water Dragon Sect, he remains low-key.

If he joins using the Ascension Token, it would draw too much attention.

Many people would inquire where his Ascension Token came from, inevitably leading to more hassles.

It’s not worth the simple act of joining the Water Dragon Sect.

Ji Yuan never engages in actions that don’t benefit him.

Previously, when choosing a place to recuperate, Ji Yuan was already heading towards Zengtou City, so it’s only half a day’s travel before he returned to his lakeside cabin in Zengtou City.

Lin Hu seemed to have gone out fishing, leaving Wu Qin walking with her child on the path by the door.

From next door, cries of Wen Ling’er echoed, likely being beaten by Zhao Yuechan for not writing properly.

Hearing these familiar sounds, Ji Yuan surprisingly feels a sense of deja vu... indeed, spending too much time on an isolated island isn’t good, it’s necessary to walk into the human world now and then.

"Brother Ji, you’re back!"

Upon seeing Ji Yuan’s figure, Wu Qin exclaimed in surprise and joy.

"Yes, the selection of the Water Dragon Sect hasn’t started yet, right?"

Ji Yuan landed and immediately asked.

"Not yet, it starts in ten days."

Wu Qin quickly replied.

Ji Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief; luckily, everything was just right without missing the important events.

Zhao Yuechan next door heard Ji Yuan’s voice and promptly came out with Wen Ling’er, happily greeting him.

After some pleasantries, Ji Yuan finally returned to his long-awaited home, activating the Cave Mansion effect, the accumulated dust instantly disappeared as he inspected around, finding no anomalies.

The late Qi Cultivation courtyard does carry some deterrent force.

With ten days left for the selection, he could still probe more information.

On his way back, Ji Yuan had thoughts that since it was nearing evening, he could visit Hundred Treasures Tower the next day to check if Elder Xu was around.

Then visit Taian Square to search for Du Wanyi.

She should have gathered quite a bit of information.

Visiting Elder Xu requires not going empty-handed, as last year’s selection relied entirely on his early notice, otherwise Ji Yuan himself would have become cannon fodder in Liancheng Mountain.

Although Ji Yuan was only in the middle stage of Qi Cultivation before, Elder Xu was already at the late stage.

So it was hard to find an appropriate gift.

But now that Ji Yuan is also at the late stage, at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, gifting becomes easier.

Elixirs, talismans, and immortal talent items that Ji Yuan can use are also useful to Elder Xu.

Not to mention that Ji Yuan had acquired the entire Yue Family’s treasure.

After a short time, Lin Hu who was out fishing and Wen Lin who was selling elixirs at the market both returned, naturally seeking out Ji Yuan for a chat and a bit of catching up.

The night passed without further ado.

The next morning, Ji Yuan arrived early in front of the Hundred Treasures Tower. As he stepped inside, several familiar cultivators from the Water Dragon Sect recognized him immediately.

"Daoist Ji, you’re finally here. Old Xu has been talking about you for ages."

"Exactly, he even said if you didn’t come, the Water Dragon Sect would have to give you a good thrashing when they saw you."

"Haha, I think with Daoist Ji’s cultivation, it looks more like he’s the one to give Elder Xu a thrashing!"

Hearing this, Ji Yuan quickly pleaded for leniency. Turning his head, he saw Xu Fugui, with his hair and beard all white, standing at the door, glaring at him slightly.

"Gone for so long, we all thought you died out there in Cloud Rain Marsh."

"No, no, just had some things that delayed me."

"Come in and talk."

At some point, Elder Xu had picked up the habit of smoking a pipe, now practically addicted, always seen with it wherever he went. Ji Yuan took an extra look.

The more he looked, the more shocked he became.

Xu Fugui’s smoking pipe turned out to be a superior magical artifact...

"Have you been dabbling around Cloud Rain Marsh lately?"

Xu Fugui sat behind the counter.

Ji Yuan first handed over the prepared gift box... containing elixirs, talismans, and blood essence.

"There’s no need to bring these things when you come," Xu Fugui lifted his pipe, "you learn all the wrong things instead of the good ones."

"This is a gift for you from the younger generation, there’s nothing wrong with it."

Facing Xu Fugui, Ji Yuan set aside his pride and handed over the gift box directly.

Xu Fugui declined, and after some back and forth, eventually accepted... No choice, if not accepted, it would be harder to explain if others saw it.

Seeing him accept it, Ji Yuan pulled a chair over, sat down and said:

"Hmm, the selection is coming soon. I’ve been training hard in Cloud Rain Marsh during this period to avoid any problems then."

"What you’re doing... is right."

Xu Fugui exhaled a puff of smoke, obscuring his expression in the white mist.

"Doing the right thing?"

Ji Yuan sensed there was more meaning behind his words.

"Yes, because after recruiting a batch last year, the Water Dragon Sect plans to recruit fewer people this year." Xu Fugui explained slowly.

Ji Yuan thought to himself, today was indeed the right decision to come.

Elder Xu could indeed provide some insider information!

"This is secretive, something your Water Dragon Sect Mutual Aid Association couldn’t possibly find out, so I’m telling you, remember not to spread it outside."

Ji Yuan gave a thumbs up, "My Grandmaster Xu is indeed highly capable."

Xu Fugui’s connections were special, Ji Yuan had noticed this a year ago.

"Heh."

Xu Fugui chuckled and then handed over a piece of white paper.

Ji Yuan took a glance, and to his surprise, the handwriting was still sloppy.

With one look, he was a bit shocked.

Because the paper simply stated one thing... for this year’s late-stage Qi Cultivation selection, the use of talismans, elixirs, water bombs, and other external objects was restricted.

Only magical artifacts and spells could be used, pure fighting.

It’s important to note that in previous selections, late-stage Qi Cultivators battling Tier One late-stage demon beasts could use talismans. If a Foundation Establishment descendant used a Tier Two talisman to overpower a demon beast,

the Water Dragon Sect would still acknowledge it.

For such cultivators, the Water Dragon Sect valued the worth of their cultivation clan even more.

But not this year; to join now, one needs reliance on genuine combat strength, seen in the mastery over magical artifacts and spells.

Aside from this, spirit root testing remains unchanged.

Alchemy and artifact refining as additional practices also remain unchanged.

The only rule change is specifically for the late-stage Qi Cultivators.

"Actually, it’s not too bad, because after last year’s event, there aren’t many late-stage Qi Cultivators left in Cloud Rain Marsh. With your methods... capturing a Tier One late-stage demon beast shouldn’t be an issue, right?"

"As long as it’s not in water, it shouldn’t be a big problem."

Over the past half year, Ji Yuan had also tried in the depths of Cloud Rain Marsh... Dealing with Tier One late-stage demon beasts on land was easy for him.

In water, facing Tier One late-stage demon beasts, if talismans could be used, it wouldn’t be a big deal either.

"No, if you can’t use talismans in a water battle, it would be no different from seeking death."

Xu Fugui shook his head.

"That’s fine."

"The younger generation will do our best!" Ji Yuan solemnly cupped his fists toward Xu Fugui.

"Alright, then see you at the Water Dragon Sect."

Listening to Ji Yuan’s confident words, Xu Fugui also breathed a sigh of relief, holding his old pipe, "I’ll also return to the Water Dragon Sect next month. You come to Room 78 in Section B on Chulong Island to find me then."

"Alright."

"Next, I’ll warn you about some matters after joining the Water Dragon Sect, remember them well."

As Xu Fugui finished speaking, Ji Yuan took out paper and pen.