Seashell

Ji Yuan looked at the fully repaired Yin Ghost Banner in his hand and let out a long breath.

Whether I truly had a talent for Formations or was simply relying on the help of the [Dao Comprehension Chamber]... it still counted as my own effort, didn't it?

With the Formation complete, he should be able to contend with even a Late Qi Refining cultivator for a while.

Ji Yuan planned to take the boat out and find an uninhabited island to test the fully improved Yin Ghost Formation.

Leaving the room and entering the front yard, he saw that the two peach trees on his right had fully blossomed. A faint peach fragrance filled the courtyard, drawing quite a few bees and butterflies.

Looking at the peach trees, Ji Yuan could not help recalling how Wen Ling'er had promised, while playing several days ago, that this year's peaches would be for her to eat.

Yet, looking at the two saplings, which were not even as tall as a person, whether they could bear fruit this year was still anyone's guess.

After leaving the house and seeing no one else around, Ji Yuan summoned the Black Wind Boat and quietly departed.

Half an hour later.

Black mist suddenly spread across an unnamed barren island in Cloud-Rain Marsh, followed by a sinister aura that scattered in all directions, startling the nearby fish into fleeing.

At the center of the island, Ji Yuan walked through the area with two Yin Ghosts that had already advanced to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement at his side.

No longer needing to use his own spiritual power to control the Formation, Ji Yuan felt as though a fish had returned to water.

"With this Formation and these two Yin Ghosts, even if I do not act myself, I should be able to kill an ordinary Sixth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator."

Unless the enemy had prepared masculine objects such as Red-Crowned Chicken Blood in advance, breaking the Yin Ghost Formation would be difficult indeed.

No matter what, this Formation had stepped through the gate of first-rank Formations.

Especially in Cloud-Rain Marsh, Ji Yuan reckoned that those able to produce a Formation could likely be counted on one hand.

Since the test had shown no problems with the Formation, Ji Yuan waved his hand and put it away. Leaving it out any longer would merely waste Spirit Stones.

Yet just as he put away the Formation, he suddenly sensed a trace of danger.

The Dragon Armor Shield appeared behind him in an instant, accompanied by a crisp "ding—".

Ji Yuan immediately planted the Yin Ghost Banner again. As the Formation manifested on its own, he summoned the Whitewater Flying Sword as well, though he still had no idea what had happened.

But he had already slapped a Golden Body Talisman onto himself.

What was more, he held a Thunderstrike Talisman in each hand.

As black mist surged forth, Ji Yuan flashed into the ghostly fog and vanished in an instant.

At the same time, using the Formation, he clearly saw the appearance of the person who had ambushed him.

She was a female cultivator with an Iron Sword strapped to her back. Judging from her appearance, she was around forty years old, and her aura had already reached the Late Qi Refining Stage.

Yet Ji Yuan did not sense much threat from her. She was likely a Seventh Layer of Qi Refining cultivator.

The key was that Ji Yuan had never seen her before.

Since they did not know each other, why had she suddenly attacked him?

Could she also be a robbery cultivator?

Having landed within the Formation, the female cultivator also sensed that something was wrong. She formed a hand seal and summoned the Iron Sword from her back. The sword hovered beside her, while a piece of Blue Cloth revolved around her body.

As if she had yet to understand the situation, she did not move rashly and merely watched her surroundings vigilantly.

Ji Yuan had a panoramic view of everything within the Formation. Seeing that the female cultivator had not acted recklessly, he seized the chance to ask, "I bear no grudge against you, Fellow Daoist. Why did you seek to fight so fiercely upon our first meeting?"

Upon hearing this, the female cultivator sneered. "Hah. Demonic-path scum, everyone has the right to kill you. If you need a grievance, then how do you explain those innocent cultivators you harmed?!"

So she was one of the rare righteous-path cultivators in Cloud-Rain Marsh... Ji Yuan immediately guessed what had happened.

She must have merely happened to pass nearby, sensed the Yin Ghost Formation's aura, and mistaken him for a demonic-path cultivator.

Fair enough. Once the Yin Ghost Formation appeared, its yin aura soared to the heavens.

If their positions were reversed, Ji Yuan would have thought the other party was a demonic-path cultivator too.

"You have misunderstood, Fellow Daoist."

Since there was no grudge between them, Ji Yuan explained, "I obtained this Formation after killing a demonic cultivator. I was not the one who refined it."

"It is not yours?"

The female cultivator's voice carried some suspicion. "A thief would never admit that he was a thief."

Ji Yuan said again, "Surely you saw me just now, Fellow Daoist. What demonic cultivator is as open and aboveboard as I am? Besides, if I truly were a demonic cultivator, I would have attacked long ago. Why would I still be standing here talking?"

The female cultivator wanted to speak again, but Ji Yuan directly cut her off.

He gave her no further chance to speak.

"I too despise demonic cultivators as you do, Fellow Daoist. That is why I killed that scoundrel. If you intend to attack me simply because I use a demonic cultivator's Formation, I fear it will chill the hearts of righteous cultivators throughout the world."

At those words, the female cultivator finally wavered a little.

After pondering for a moment, she said, "Come out, and I will believe you."

"Alright."

Ji Yuan had not gone far at all. In fact, he stood directly opposite the female cultivator. With a thought, he dispersed the nearby black fog and revealed himself.

The female cultivator was clearly startled at the sight. She had not expected Ji Yuan to be standing so close to her.

If he had suddenly attacked, she feared that even if she did not die, she would have suffered grievous injuries.

Moreover, after seeing Ji Yuan clearly, she was even more surprised.

First, she was startled by Ji Yuan's appearance. Second, she was surprised by his age.

"It seems I truly misunderstood you, Fellow Daoist. I am sincerely sorry."

Whether one followed the righteous path or the demonic path was obvious to the female cultivator at a glance. Thus, she put away her artifacts, cupped her fists, and said, "Hu Fang of Jingde Ward greets you, Fellow Daoist."

Ji Yuan returned the salute. "Ji Yuan of Zengtou City."

"Since that is so, Fellow Daoist, you may withdraw this Formation. It was indeed all a misunderstanding." Hu Fang surveyed the Formation around her. Though afraid, she could not help feeling somewhat envious.

This was a Formation. She had never heard of anyone in Cloud-Rain Marsh possessing such a thing.

Only after Ji Yuan put away the Yin Ghost Formation did she look toward the water to the northwest and call out, "Brother Du, he is from your Zengtou City, not a demonic cultivator. Like you and me, he specializes in killing demonic cultivators."

There was another expert here!

Ji Yuan was startled inwardly, and a chill ran down his back.

Especially when he saw the Spirit Vessel bursting from the water, he felt even more alarmed.

Two Late Qi Refining cultivators... if they really fought him to the death, Ji Yuan was not certain he could escape.

Fortunately, the misunderstanding had been resolved. It seemed that unless absolutely necessary, he could not casually deploy the Yin Ghost Banner in the future.

"You are... Senior Du Kang?"

Looking at the middle-aged man who had landed before him, Ji Yuan found him somewhat familiar.

"That is me. Why call me Senior? We both came from Zengtou City, so just call me Brother Du." Du Kang spoke with a genial smile.

"Since it was all a misunderstanding, then there is no problem."

"Still, Brother Ji, this Formation of yours is truly impressive."

Ji Yuan quietly took a step back, forcing a smile onto his face. "A lucky chance, a lucky chance."

No matter how cautious he was, Du Kang still noticed the gesture.

"Rest assured, we are not robbery cultivators. Brother Ji, there is no need to be afraid."

Ji Yuan smiled again and cupped his fists. "Just good fortune."

"Alright, kid, you are far too cautious."

Du Kang shot Ji Yuan an annoyed look. "Hu Fang and I have business to attend to. We need to make a trip into the depths of Cloud-Rain Marsh. We will talk when we return next time."

"Brother Du, Sister Hu, please go ahead with your business."

Ji Yuan cupped his fists toward them both, then watched them leave.

After they had traveled some distance away, Hu Fang finally spoke. "Brother Du, whose hands did you say this Formation was in before?"

"Ghost Island Master of Sophora Shade Ward." Du Kang said solemnly, "He was only at the Middle Qi Refining Stage, but Han Feiyu fought him once several years ago. Borrowing the power of this Formation, he actually fought Seventh Layer of Qi Refining Han Feiyu to a standstill."

"Later, people from our Association mediated between them, and only then did the two stop."

"I never expected Ji Yuan to kill Ghost Island Master without a sound and seize his Formation."

Hu Fang naturally knew Han Feiyu's great name. "Then what kind of figure is this Ji Yuan?"

Du Kang let out a breath. "Like you, this is also the first time I have heard his name."

"He seems to be a newly risen figure. Before long, we will probably see him in our Association," Hu Fang said.

Du Kang nodded. "That is a good thing. If we still cannot defeat them later, we can ask Ji Yuan for help. With his Formation, our chances of success should increase greatly."

"Excellent."

"..."

Once they had left, Ji Yuan hurriedly piloted his boat underwater and disappeared.

After that, he did not rush back to Zengtou City. Instead, he circled far around Cloud-Rain Marsh for two days. Only on the third day did he come ashore from another direction of Zengtou City and return.

But when he arrived at his courtyard gate and was about to push it open, his eyes swept over the side of the gate as they usually did.

With just one glance, he stopped unconsciously.

By the gate,

he saw a Seashell.