Chapter 319: Chapter 178: Gradual Withering

This talent, no wonder there’s this level of power… Dong Qian naturally assumed this was Ji Yuan’s hidden trump card, so she didn’t probe further.

“This is an array formation, I’ll trouble you, junior brother.”

Dong Qian spoke as she took an array plate and four array flags out from the storage bag.

Ji Yuan glanced at it and knew it was a relatively common array within the sect, named the Four Directions Water Transfer Array.

It can be considered both offensive and defensive.

Once activated, it can employ the water technique to kill enemies or use the water technique for protection.

Back on Tian Shu Island, Yun Qianzai used this array to explain to Ji Yuan the differences between Tier One and Tier Two arrays.

So Ji Yuan was somewhat familiar with the Four Directions Water Transfer Array, though setting up his own array was a first for him.

“I’ll trouble you, junior brother.”

Dong Qian thanked Ji Yuan when he took the array plate.

Subsequently, Ji Yuan first piloted the flying boat around the island several times, looking for suitable locations to place the array flags.

Besides that, he also needed to understand the island’s five-element orientations; only then could the array obtain a slight enhancement effect when set up.

Like the Four Directions Water Transfer Array, it is a water array.

If the array hub is placed at the fire position, it won’t be able to exert its full power.

But if placed at the water position, the array’s effects can be boosted.

This is the way of array formation.

Similarly… it’s also the way of breaking arrays.

To find someone else’s array hub, if there’s no immediate path, one can search from the five-element orientations.

After half a day, Ji Yuan had thoroughly explored the five-element orientations of Hu Yue Island.

Arranging the array was naturally easy.

Hu Yue crescent.

Two array flags on each side.

The final array hub was placed in the center of the island.

No matter where an enemy approaches, Dong Qian stationed at the island’s center can calmly face them.

Once the array was set up, Dong Qian also breathed a sigh of relief.

For her, an island without an array was no different than being exposed.

Like the recent days when those Foundation Establishment cultivators nearby came to pay their respects, she felt uneasy.

Now it’s better; with the array activated, she feels a sense of security.

The crescent at the center of Hu Yue Island, Dong Qian set her residence into the mountainside of this cliff.

There’s a protruding flat space here, perfect for building a house.

This was Ji Yuan’s first time coming here.

Holding the tea Dong Qian handed him, he came to the small courtyard, gazing out; at first, the view was blocked by surrounding islands, but the farther he looked, the better the view became.

After a moment, his mood improved somewhat too.

Standing by his side, also holding tea, Dong Qian was half a step behind.

She quietly observed his profile, softly asking, “Junior brother, do you have any troubles?”

“If you do, you can talk to me, senior sister.”

Ji Yuan snapped out of it, drank the tea in his hand entirely.

“It’s nothing.”

It’s not nothing, just nothing worth mentioning.

A friend’s death—this kind of event is something everyone in the Cultivation Realm experiences.

Ji Yuan wasn’t at the point of needing someone else’s comfort yet.

“Alright.”

Ji Yuan didn’t say more, so Dong Qian didn’t pursue further.

The two stood there on the mountainside, watching the sun set over the lake.

Wuyou Island is to the west of Hu Yue Island.

The crescent of Hu Yue Island just happens to face the west.

“Nowadays, the demon cultivators outside are very rampant, senior sister, if you go out, be careful.”

Ji Yuan reminded.

He didn’t have many friends to begin with.

So, as much as possible, it would be better for them to survive longer.

“Alright, junior brother, rest assured, I’ll be careful.”

Ji Yuan indeed had some reassurance regarding Dong Qian’s temperament.

“Alright, I’ll head back first. If there’s anything, senior sister, send me a message at any time.”

“Alright, you too, junior brother, now that I’ve established my foundation, I can assist you.”

The two exchanged a few words, then Ji Yuan returned… to Wuyou Island.

This is why he didn’t want to be neighbors with acquaintances.

Previously, it was the same on Chulong Island, and now on Wuyou Island.

He estimated that once Du Wanyi reached Foundation Establishment, she might also settle her island near him…

Well, one senior sister is easy to handle, two senior sisters are even easier.

Ji Yuan entered Wuyou Island from the east and came out the west.

He restrained his breath and fled into the water, disappearing without a trace.

Upon returning to Mist Island, Ji Yuan settled his spirit, waiting for Hua Yaoyue’s call.

Of course, Ji Yuan also didn’t forget about his insights in the Enlightenment Room.

If he could comprehend the Sword Manual without needing Hua Yaoyue’s help and advance to mid-stage Foundation Establishment, that would be ideal.

But after half a month, he hadn’t received any word from Hua Yaoyue.

Ji Yuan then queried Phoenix Peach, and this third senior sister said the master hadn’t returned from her outing.

Ji Yuan didn’t know where she went, so he silently waited.

But instead of receiving Hua Yaoyue’s message, he got one from Dong Qian.

She mentioned that recently, a male cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Stage had been lingering outside his Wuyou Island, seeming to have something to discuss.

Dong Qian approached, inquiring, but the man only mentioned he’d taken on a task from Thousand Mechanism Hall.

When probed further, he said nothing more.

“Task from Thousand Mechanism Hall? I haven’t issued any tasks at the hall lately.”

Ji Yuan’s most recent task released was the “Bloody-toothed Poison Bee.”

Ji Yuan asked Dong Qian to inquire further, to see if he had the wrong location.

But the Qi Cultivation cultivator instead asked Dong Qian if this was Wuyou Island; if so, he hadn’t mistaken the place.

Upon hearing, Ji Yuan realized the person was looking for him, and thus he navigated the boat back from Mist Island.

Ji Yuan guessed, considering Dong Qian’s nature, she surely knew about his “hiding tricks,” so he didn’t bother concealing it.

He directly descended from the sky, arriving at the front of Wuyou Island.

Indeed, he saw a man at the peak of Qi Cultivation.

“Greetings, uncle master. May I dare to ask if you are Uncle Master Wang You?”

“That’s me.”

Ji Yuan raised his hand, causing the array on Wuyou Island to open, asserting his identity.

The man slightly bowed, “A disciple at Thousand Mechanism Hall received a task, someone entrusted me to deliver this storage bag to uncle master.”

“Storage bag?”

“Who?”

Ji Yuan looked at the storage bag handed over, instinctively asked.

“The disciple doesn’t know.”

Seeing Ji Yuan accept the bag, the man straightened up and took his leave.

Ji Yuan, holding the storage bag, returned to Wuyou Island, puzzled.

Since this happened unexpectedly, Ji Yuan tossed the storage bag far and cautiously opened it with divine sense.

Inside… there was nothing aggressive.

Just a familiar large iron furnace, a familiar hammer, a thick book.

And a sound recording talisman.

Looking at this, Ji Yuan’s divine sense even trembled slightly.

With his heart stirring, he took the sound recording talisman, holding it, momentarily hesitant to hear what it contained.

After a long pause, feeling somewhat composed, he injected a strand of spiritual power.

A familiar voice echoed.

“Ji kid, sorry, I lied to you, I have to go fetch that old guy Xu Fugui.”

“He’s old, timid, afraid he won’t sleep well outside.”

“It’s a bit regrettable, as a master I lack the strength, still couldn’t fetch him back. What, you’re asking how I knew beforehand I couldn’t fetch him back?”

“Because if I managed to fetch him back, you wouldn’t receive this storage bag. After all, inside is my meal ticket, how could I give it casually?”

“Since you’re receiving my storage bag, it means my soul lamp… has gone out.”

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