Ji Bochang's Gift

Ji Haoyuan knew very well that, over the years, the person he had wronged most was undoubtedly the Old Ancestor before him, Ji Bochang.

It was also Ji Bochang who had shouldered most of the pressure in his stead.

And before he reached Foundation Establishment, Old Ancestor Ji Bochang had always shown him great care.

Otherwise, those two Foundation Establishment Pills in the past would never have fallen into his hands one after another.

Ji Haoyuan would not forget this kindness and sentiment, nor did he dare to forget them.

Thus, this kneel and this kowtow came wholly from his heart, without the slightest trace of pretense.

As for Ji Bochang.

Seeing Ji Haoyuan reveal his true feelings, his heart too filled with comfort.

He hurried forward and reached out to help Ji Haoyuan up.

Looking at him, he said "good" three times in succession.

A short while later.

The others gradually dispersed.

Ji Haoyuan followed Ji Bochang to the Back Mountain where he resided.

"This is the place on Ganyang Mountain where our Ji Family's Spiritual Energy is most abundant. From now on, cultivate and enter seclusion here."

When they arrived at the Back Mountain where Ji Bochang had long resided, Ji Bochang said to Ji Haoyuan:

"There are several Cave Mansions left behind by our Ji Family's forebears here. Later, you need only choose one as your future place of cultivation."

As he spoke, Ji Bochang took a Storage Pouch from his person and handed it to Ji Haoyuan.

"Haoyuan, this High-Grade Storage Pouch is for you. It contains many cultivation resources I have accumulated over the years.

There are Spirit Stones, pills, Talismans, and magical artifacts.

Originally, I had intended to leave these things to the family as the foundation for its future.

But now that you have broken through to Foundation Establishment, I will give all these things to you."

"Old Ancestor..."

Ji Haoyuan had not expected Ji Bochang to present him with such a generous gift right away. He instinctively wanted to decline, but Ji Bochang raised a hand to stop him.

"Do not refuse. You should know that this old ancestor's Lifespan is nearly at its end.

The Ji Family will still need you to support it in the future.

I am leaving these things to you now in the hope that you can raise your strength as quickly as possible and better protect our Ji Family in the days to come."

Though his words were true, Ji Bochang's utterly unreserved decision to hand everything over to him still moved Ji Haoyuan deeply.

He immediately nodded solemnly at Ji Bochang.

"Rest assured, Old Ancestor. So long as I, Ji Haoyuan, draw breath, I will protect the Ji Family and keep it safe."

No matter what, ever since he was young, he had received much kindness from the family.

The family had never treated him poorly, either.

Moreover, he had grown up within the family.

Ji Haoyuan held very deep feelings for the family.

On that point alone, protecting the family and even helping it grow stronger was a duty and obligation he could not shirk.

With that in mind, Ji Haoyuan accepted the High-Grade Storage Pouch while taking out a Jade Slip from his own person and handing it to Ji Bochang.

"Old Ancestor, this Jade Slip contains my insights from successfully reaching Foundation Establishment this time, as well as the Blazing Fire True Art that I refined and modified."

As he spoke, he told Ji Bochang every detail about the flaws that had previously existed in the Blazing Fire True Art.

Ji Bochang was greatly shocked upon hearing this.

Especially when he read the Blazing Fire True Art Ji Haoyuan had given him and compared it with the original version, he immediately discovered that the Blazing Fire True Art their family had possessed indeed contained many problems.

At once, he understood.

Why Ji Haoyuan, with his talent at the time, had failed to establish his foundation twice in a row.

The cultivation art Ji Haoyuan had practiced back then had truly contained enormous problems.

And those problems had been hidden exceedingly well.

Even he, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had failed to see through them.

Only now, after Ji Haoyuan had refined and modified it, could he see the crux of the matter through comparing the two.

"Haoyuan, these years have truly been hard on you."

Ji Bochang could not help looking at Ji Haoyuan with a face full of emotion.

Even he could not help feeling admiration for Ji Haoyuan at this moment.

No one understood better than he did that if an ordinary person had suffered what Ji Haoyuan had, let alone noticed the flaws in his cultivation art and refined it before launching another assault at Foundation Establishment and ultimately succeeding—

He would likely have lost all confidence from the very beginning, his Dao Heart clouded with dust.

This was truly an extraordinary temperament and talent.

It was not something a Fish in a Pond could possess.

With such a junior, if he entrusted the family to his hands, what was there for him to worry about?

Some time later.

When Ji Haoyuan bade farewell to Ji Bochang and headed to one of the Cave Mansions he had chosen to enter seclusion once more, Clan Leader Ji Yunfan came before Ji Bochang and asked:

"Old Ancestor, now that Fifth Uncle has broken through to Foundation Establishment, should we continue with our original plan? Or can we put it on hold for the time being?"

"Put it on hold for now."

A trace of sharpness gradually surfaced in Ji Bochang's somewhat clouded eyes.

"By this old man's estimation, if I hold on, I can still buy some time for all of you, for your Fifth Uncle.

Once your Fifth Uncle has thoroughly consolidated his cultivation and emerges from seclusion again, most of our current problems can be resolved as easily as splitting bamboo.

Then, in the name of our Ji Family, you may send invitations to all parties in Nanning Prefecture and have them attend your Fifth Uncle's Foundation Establishment ceremony."

Hearing Ji Bochang's words, Ji Yunfan, as the Ji Family Head, quickly understood his Old Ancestor's intentions.

In truth.

Given the Ji Family's current circumstances, holding such a grand ceremony and banquet would still place considerable pressure on them.

But he understood even more clearly that, whether internally or externally, the Ji Family urgently needed such a ceremony and banquet to reclaim and reestablish its prestige as one of Nanning Prefecture's three great Foundation Establishment Families.

Meanwhile.

Ji Haoyuan, within one of the Cave Mansions on the Back Mountain, had already opened the High-Grade Storage Pouch Ji Bochang had given him.

When he saw what was inside, he could not help but be startled.

There was no other reason than the fact that the Storage Pouch contained many precious cultivation resources.

First were one hundred Medium-Grade Spirit Stones, arranged in perfect order.

Converted into ordinary Spirit Stones, that was a full ten thousand.

Next was a long spear adorned with rings of flame patterns.

It was the Crimson Flame Pattern Spear, a fire-attributed spirit artifact. It perfectly matched both his spiritual root and the Blazing Fire True Art he cultivated.

Besides that, the Storage Pouch also contained several bottles of Second Order True Spirit Pills.

These pills were highly suitable for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators seeking to increase their cultivation.

With them, Ji Haoyuan could greatly shorten the time needed to consolidate his current cultivation.

Finally, the item Ji Haoyuan valued most was a Talisman covered in countless cracks, bearing the image of a Silver Sword.

At the sight of such a Talisman, Ji Haoyuan's pupils could not help narrowing slightly.

For he had already recognized that this Talisman, covered in cracks and seemingly ready to shatter at any moment, was no ordinary Talisman at all. It was a genuine Talisman Treasure!