Distribution and Doubts, Liu Hongyu's Reminder

At her words, Liu Hongyu and Feng Wanqing were both somewhat surprised.

They had clearly not expected Ji Haoyuan to voluntarily give up two additional Earthen Profound Fruits.

This gave them a new understanding of Ji Haoyuan's character.

In the Cultivation World, most people placed their own interests first.

Many would even stop at nothing for their own benefit.

Yet it could not be denied that those who possessed personal integrity and principles they would not cross were more likely to earn others' recognition and be accepted from the heart.

Such people were often more trustworthy as well.

If there were any future collaborations or benefits to be had, they would also be the first ones others thought of.

It all came down to reputation.

Reputation might seem invisible and intangible.

Something vague and illusory.

Yet at certain critical moments, it could often play an enormous—even decisive—role.

Without realizing it, Liu Hongyu and Feng Wanqing exchanged glances.

The next moment, Liu Hongyu took out another Earthen Profound Fruit and handed it to Ji Haoyuan.

"Daoist Friend Haoyuan, no matter what, we were only able to obtain these Earthen Profound Fruits because of you. Without you, Wanqing and I would not even have had the chance to obtain them. Whether we could have survived this unexpected turn of events would have been a question in itself.

"So.

"Take one more Earthen Profound Fruit.

"As for everything else, we do not want any of it."

In other words, they would not take even the slightest share of the Earth Spirit Demonic Python's corpse or the belongings of those two Demonic Cultivators.

This was undoubtedly somewhat of a loss for them.

Setting aside the items on the two Demonic Cultivators for the moment.

Just the Earth Spirit Demonic Python's corpse alone—

To be honest, Liu Hongyu and Feng Wanqing had contributed quite a bit during their battle against it.

Without their help in holding it back, it would not have been easy for Ji Haoyuan to kill it without revealing all his strength.

Thinking of this, Ji Haoyuan accepted the Earthen Profound Fruit, pondered briefly, and then said to the two women,

"Fellow Daoist Liu, Fairy Feng, to be frank, the Earth Spirit Demonic Python's corpse is indeed of considerable use to me at present.

"But the two of you truly contributed greatly to our killing it this time.

"If I were to keep all of it for myself with a clear conscience, it would not sit right with my Dao heart.

"How about this.

"You may each take one of these two spiritual artifacts as compensation for this venture. I hope neither of you will refuse."

With that, Ji Haoyuan took out the spiritual artifact saber and Spiritual Artifact Flying Sword he had obtained from the two Demonic Cultivators and handed them to Liu Hongyu and Feng Wanqing.

After all, two spiritual artifacts used by Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators were not worth little.

Using them to compensate the two women was reasonable enough.

Seeing this, the two women no longer insisted.

After thanking Ji Haoyuan, they each accepted a spiritual artifact.

After that, none of the three lingered there any longer.

On the journey back.

A trace of doubt arose in the hearts of Ji Haoyuan, Liu Hongyu, and Feng Wanqing alike.

How had those two Demonic Cultivators appeared in the Autumn Forest Mountain Range?

Logically speaking, the territory where Demonic Cultivators operated was quite far from the lands under the Crimson Cloud Sect's jurisdiction.

Under normal circumstances, Demonic Cultivators should not have appeared there.

Moreover, judging from their earlier methods, the two men clearly came from orthodox Demonic Cultivator lineages. They were not rogue Demonic Cultivators who had sprung up from nowhere.

That was evident from the Nether Fiend Formation they had deployed.

Ordinary rogue Demonic Cultivators would not possess such methods or resources.

So...

There was likely a major problem behind this matter.

But whatever the problem was, they had no intention of publicizing it.

There was no other reason: the risk was too great.

If the Demonic Cultivators truly had some plan directed at their side,

then once they spoke of it publicly, they might well attract the attention of those Demonic Cultivators.

Furthermore, the Crimson Cloud Sect, their superior sect, had never considered the safety of these Foundation Establishment Families outside its gates.

On the contrary, it might even use them as bait to fish for its enemies.

There had already been several precedents for this in the past.

The most recent was the Sun Family of Fuyang Prefecture.

As a Golden Core Sect, how could the Crimson Cloud Sect's awareness of its enemies truly have been so sluggish?

Yet it had happened to appear only after the entire Sun Family had been wiped out.

Could there have been some other reason behind it?

No one spoke of it aloud, but each of them had more or less formed their own judgment.

At this time.

Ji Haoyuan and the other two had already left the Autumn Forest Mountain Range.

Just as they were about to part ways, Feng Wanqing turned to Ji Haoyuan and smiled.

"Daoist Friend Haoyuan, if you have any free time in the future, you may visit the Feng Family. You will always be welcome."

It was clear that Feng Wanqing's words came from the heart.

She did not wish to sever contact with Ji Haoyuan just like that.

To that end, she directly gave Ji Haoyuan one of her Message Jade Talismans.

Naturally, Ji Haoyuan did not refuse.

After what had happened, the two of them could be considered to have formed a friendship.

Moreover, he rather approved of Feng Wanqing's character.

Thus, he nodded.

As he handed his own Message Jade Talisman to Feng Wanqing, he smiled and said,

"Very well. So long as I have free time in the future, I will certainly pay you a visit."

"Mm, then it's a promise."

Feng Wanqing smiled and nodded.

Afterward, she greeted Liu Hongyu as well before raising her Escape Light and being the first to return in the direction of Danyang Prefecture.

Several days later.

Ji Haoyuan and Liu Hongyu returned to Nanning Prefecture together.

Before they parted, Liu Hongyu suddenly said to Ji Haoyuan,

"Daoist Friend Haoyuan, I heard that the Zhang Family's Kirin prodigy who entered the Crimson Cloud Sect will return to the Zhang Family before long.

"You must be more careful about this matter."

"Mm..."

Upon suddenly hearing Liu Hongyu's words, Ji Haoyuan's eyes narrowed slightly.

He could clearly hear something in her words.

Could it be that the Zhang Family intends to cause trouble for the Ji Family?

As though she had seen through Ji Haoyuan's thoughts, Liu Hongyu reminded him again,

"Daoist Friend Haoyuan, have you forgotten about the Cloud Iron Ore Vein your family discovered?"

With Liu Hongyu's reminder, Ji Haoyuan immediately understood.

He had long known that news of his family discovering a Cloud Iron Ore Vein had been spread by certain interested parties.

He did not need to ask to know that it had surely been the Han Family's doing.

Now it seemed that the Zhang Family, which was also located in Nanning Prefecture alongside the Ji Family, had developed some ideas as well.

At this thought, Ji Haoyuan's gaze immediately grew deep.

He nodded to Liu Hongyu and smiled as he thanked her.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Liu, for the reminder. If the Zhang Family truly comes, I naturally know how to respond."

"Good!"

Liu Hongyu smiled and nodded.

"If anything truly happens, Daoist Friend Haoyuan, you may contact me at any time."

With that, Liu Hongyu did not linger any longer.

The two immediately returned in the directions of their respective families.