Chapter 72: Xu Fugui’s Gift

As evening fell, the dying sun cast long shadows across the courtyard.Ji Yuan heard that Lin Hu had just returned, and soon enough, the gate of his courtyard was knocked on.

"Ji, Brother Ji!"

Seeing Ji Yuan, Lin Hu was visibly more excited.

"Hmm, come in and let’s talk."

Ji Yuan smiled. He also had some matters he wanted to discuss with Lin Hu.

Although Lin Hu wasn’t very powerful yet, he now went out to fish every day and sold fish at the Fish Cage, so he had a good understanding of the situation in Zengtou City.

As the two entered the house, Lin Hu still rubbed his hands with excitement.

"Brother Ji, I’m so happy to see you back. I thought... I thought..."

"Thought I died in the Cloud Rain Marsh?"

Ji Yuan asked with a smile.

"No, no." Lin Hu quickly waved his hands, "I thought you joined the Water Dragon Sect."

"Come on now."

"By the way, Brother Ji, I... I..." Lin Hu scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, "I’m going to be a dad."

"Then let me congratulate you in advance. You’re going to have more responsibilities in the future."

"Mm!"

Lin Hu, whose skin was already tanned, nodded vigorously, his expression complex.

After thinking about it, he was only 19 years old, yet he was about to become a father... Ji Yuan then asked, "Did anything major happen in Zengtou City while I was away?"

"No major events, everything is pretty much the same as before."

Lin Hu considered for a moment and said.

Ji Yuan nodded slightly. Indeed, the biggest event in Zengtou City in the last twenty or thirty years was the appearance of the Foundation Establishment Cave Mansion.

It caused quite a commotion, resulting in many deaths.

The rest of the time has been quite peaceful.

After all, the Water Dragon Sect also needs a stable Cloud Rain Marsh.

"No major events, then there must have been some minor ones?"

"Hey, Brother Ji guessed right."

Lin Hu said with a chuckle, "The most talked-about event is Qiu Qianhai’s conflict with the Qin Family. I heard Qiu Qianhai killed two Qi Cultivation sixth-level members of the Qin Family at Clear Wave Pond. He’s indeed very fierce."

The Qin Family’s loss brought joy to Lin Hu.

"Oh? Did Qiu Qianhai kill them by himself?"

Ji Yuan asked in surprise.

"Yes, impressive, right? He killed two Qi Cultivation sixth-level members by himself. He must be in the later stages of Qi Cultivation... I remember he’s not much older than us."

A glimmer of hope flickered in Lin Hu’s eyes.

Ji Yuan nodded in agreement... seeing this, it seemed likely the Qin Family spread this news themselves?

Otherwise, outsiders would have a hard time knowing this.

Since the Qin Family could find this out, they would certainly know it wasn’t just Qiu Qianhai acting alone, but two people. So why did they only mention Qiu Qianhai?

Probably they found out about my identity and also knew I’ve reached late-stage Qi Cultivation. They don’t want to make an enemy of me...

But that’s an optimistic assumption.

If it’s not a good guess, then the Qin Family might be up to something again.

"Indeed impressive, anything else?" Ji Yuan asked.

"I also heard from someone that First Young Master Wu from the Wu Family, the one who was previously rejected by Lu Wan, had recently advanced to late-stage Qi Cultivation. Master Wu even held a feast for two days to celebrate."

"Wu Yan?"

This news surprised Ji Yuan, but thinking about it, it made sense. It was said that the Wu Family’s First Young Master had been at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation for many years.

With Wu Wenbin’s wealth, spending a few years helping Wu Yan reach the late stage of Qi Cultivation was a matter of course.

"Yes, that’s him."

Lin Hu nodded emphatically, but his eyes showed some disdain, "Coming from the Wu Family, he only reached late-stage Qi Cultivation in his thirties. Look at Qiu Qianhai, with no backing, he’s in his early twenties, and he’s already at late-stage Qi Cultivation."

When Lin Hu said this, he was clearly projecting himself into the situation.

Before Ji Yuan could ask further, Lin Hu was already talking about who caught Spirit Fish or who sold a mid-first-level Spirit Fish.

To Lin Hu, these were small matters, but to Ji Yuan, they didn’t really matter.

After seeing Lin Hu out of the door, Ji Yuan returned to his room to continue his cultivation.

At the Wen Family, Wen Lin, who had just returned, was extremely surprised after Zhao Yuechan told him everything.

"Late-stage Qi Cultivation?!"

"Are you saying Ji Yuan has broken through to late-stage Qi Cultivation?"

Qi Cultivation sixth stages were not valuable in Cloud Rain Marsh, but late-stage Qi Cultivation was indeed precious, considering even the Yue Family, where Wen Lin previously belonged, had only three late-stage Qi Cultivators.

Just like the Qin Family in Zengtou City.

"Yes."

Zhao Yuechan nodded slightly, then glanced at their sleeping daughter, Wen Linger, and finally said, "Husband, do you think we should seek him out?"

Wen Lin didn’t speak immediately but started pacing back and forth in the room.

After contemplating for a long while, he slowly shook his head.

"Although we have some savings, getting a late-stage Qi Cultivator to help us, especially someone like Ji Yuan with immeasurable potential, would be extremely difficult."

"And haven’t you noticed? Although Ji Yuan seems to be on good terms with us, he always maintains a rather indifferent attitude. If you want to converse with him, he’s quite easygoing, but if you need his help, it feels like the relationship isn’t quite there."

Wen Lin clapped his hands lightly, "Here’s the plan: the next selection for the Water Dragon Sect is in three years, no matter how talented Ji Yuan is, he will have to wait until then. During these three years, let’s build a good relationship... even if it doesn’t work out, at least we’ll have made a friend in the Water Dragon Sect."

"Hmm."

Zhao Yuechan smiled as she gently stroked Wen Linger’s forehead.

"Even though Ji Yuan’s relationship with us is ordinary, he’s really nice to Linger."

Speaking of their daughter, Wen Lin also smiled, "Of course, who wouldn’t like Linger?"

The next morning.

Ji Yuan boarded a boat early to Zengtou City.

Buying fish and chicken wasn’t urgent; he planned to first see the prices of high-grade Magical Artifacts and focus on enhancing his strength first, before considering other matters.

After a while, when he stepped into the long-missed Hundred Treasures Tower of Zengtou City, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

They said the Market was dangerous, but compared to a place like Clear Wave Pond, the Market was a peaceful era.

Since he was at the Hundred Treasures Tower, he naturally had to see if Grandmaster Xu was around.

After all, three or four months had passed since New Year’s Day, so he should have returned by now.

Sure enough, as soon as Ji Yuan entered the room selling magical arts, he saw the old man with a head full of white hair, still brimming with energy.

A female cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation was inquiring at the moment, so Ji Yuan stood to the side, waiting.

Xu Fugui initially glared at Ji Yuan, "You brat, I thought you’d forgotten about this old man!"

"How could that be," Ji Yuan quickly replied with a smile, "I’ve just been busy with something important lately, so I was delayed."

"What important thing could you have? Getting married, maybe?"

Ji Yuan subtly revealed a hint of his aura.

Xu Fugui, who had just been sitting in a soft chair, immediately stood up, surprised, "Gosh, you’ve reached late-stage Qi Cultivation?!"

His reaction startled the female cultivator selecting a magical art.

She sensed Ji Yuan’s aura and hurriedly cupped her hands in a salute.

"Greet... Greetings, senior."

Watching a female cultivator, who was more than a decade older than him, calling him senior, Ji Yuan couldn’t help but feel a bit sentimental.

"No need for formality, please finish choosing your magical art first."

"No... no, senior, please go ahead."

With that, the female cultivator rushed out quickly.

Ji Yuan could only sigh and then saluted Xu Fugui, "Greetings, Grandmaster Xu."

Xu Fugui had already walked out from behind the counter. He patted Ji Yuan’s shoulder vigorously and laughed, "Well, well, it looks like it won’t be long before you become my junior."

"Yes, soon enough." Ji Yuan sighed modestly with a smile.

"You said you’d bring me something the last time you left, but it’s been so long that I almost gave it to someone else."