Starting My Immortal Life by Upgrading Buildings

Chapter 104: Obtaining the Talisman Treasure

If it were truly a Water Dragon Sect cultivator, then maybe, just maybe, one or two parts out of ten could be believed.

But if it were a demonic cultivator, then not only was it unbelievable—it was utterly impossible.

After all, Ji Yuan didn’t consider himself a purely righteous cultivator either. When the Ghost Banner came out, the yin energy surged sky-high just like now. If he really had to save this Foundation Establishment cultivator, then he’d definitely have to reveal his true identity, claim he was Ji Yuan, and that he was about to join the Water Dragon Sect.

But if it were something else—“Apologies, I am a rogue cultivator from Qingshan City, Qiu Qianhai!”

“You’re cautious indeed, Fellow Daoist. Just take a look.”

Suddenly, Ji Yuan saw within the mist ahead to the right a coiling phantom of a water dragon—it was precisely the insignia of the Water Dragon Sect.

Upon seeing this, Ji Yuan was already eighty to ninety percent convinced.

But he still didn’t move. “If you were a demonic cultivator and got hold of a storage pouch from one of our Water Dragon Sect seniors, wouldn’t you still be able to use the sect’s insignia?”

“Heh——heh heh, Fellow Daoist, you truly are cautious.”

Li Changhe’s voice grew weaker, probably truly approaching his limit.

“Won’t be a month before the Water Dragon Sect selec—”

He didn’t even finish this time before falling completely silent.

Damn it, he’s dead—Ji Yuan’s heart tightened. He didn’t hesitate any longer.

Immediately, he summoned the Thunder Falcon Boat and rushed toward where the phantom had appeared earlier.

In just a moment, Ji Yuan arrived at a sandy shore and spotted the Foundation Establishment senior who had sent the transmission—Li Changhe.

Just like he said himself, he truly seemed at death’s door.

His robe was torn, his entire body drenched in blood, and there was even a gaping hole in his abdomen.

The original flying boat magic tool was also broken in half and had fallen nearby.

Such injuries—if it were any ordinary Qi Refining cultivator here—would’ve meant certain death.

Fortunately, he had met Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan carried several jin of Blood Essence and had just slain Yue Zhu, having practically looted the entire Yue family’s treasure trove, including a fair number of healing pills.

Although those pills were only first-rank, and the injured was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the body was still a body—the effects might be weaker, but not nonexistent.

That thought flashed through Ji Yuan’s mind as he landed beside Li Changhe and checked his pulse—barely any movement.

Not daring to delay, he immediately shoved three Vital Energy Pills into Li Changhe’s mouth, guiding the spiritual energy into his body.

As the medicine took effect, Li Changhe’s pulse became slightly stronger.

But this improvement lasted only a short while before weakening again.

The medicinal strength wasn’t enough, and most of it was probably leaking out from the wound in his abdomen, not being absorbed—if that’s the case, then he’d have to use heavy medicine.

Ji Yuan no longer hesitated.

If he succeeded, it would be a great favor owed.

If he failed, he’d just pack up and flee.

Before making up his mind, Ji Yuan had been full of caution, but once the decision was made, he acted decisively. He immediately took out a jin of Blood Essence and piled it directly onto the wound in Li Changhe’s abdomen. Perhaps the pressure hit a nerve, because even in a coma, the Foundation Establishment cultivator trembled slightly.

Ji Yuan then fed him another three Vital Energy Pills.

This time, the medicine worked—the Blood Essence placed on the wound even began to show signs of absorption.

Ji Yuan next fed him a handful of spiritual energy-replenishing pills.

Once Li Changhe regained some spiritual energy, he could at least nourish his injuries a little.

However, his wounds were far too severe. Ji Yuan didn’t dare move him casually, lest he worsen things—this place had just witnessed a Foundation Establishment battle, likely to attract attention.

But he couldn’t bring him to the Misty Island either—that was Ji Yuan’s secret base.

Best to move far from the misty area and find another small island for Li Changhe to recover.

Two days later, once Li Changhe’s condition stabilized, Ji Yuan finally summoned the Thunder Falcon Boat and flew south for half a day, occupying a deserted island.

They stayed there for ten days.

That jin of Blood Essence used to compress the wound had been fully consumed, and Li Changhe’s external injuries had all recovered—some spots even beginning to scab.

As for internal injuries, Ji Yuan couldn’t tell, and didn’t dare check.

In short, the man was saved.

For the rest, there was nothing more he could do.

At dawn the next day, as Ji Yuan cultivated, he suddenly heard a faint groan. He immediately stopped and looked over at the man who’d been lying like a corpse for over ten days.

“Cough—”

Li Changhe suddenly coughed hard, spitting out a thick clot of blood from his throat before slowly opening his eyes, greedily drawing in breath—

As if savoring the taste of surviving a brush with death.

Ji Yuan didn’t move, silently drawing the flying boat from his storage pouch.

If anything went wrong, he would escape instantly.

Li Changhe seemed unaware of the situation, lying still for a while before the blankness faded from his eyes and clarity returned.

He finally realized where he was.

He struggled to sit up, his gaze falling upon Ji Yuan.

He grinned.

“To still see the sunrise today—I owe it all to you, Fellow Daoist.”

Ji Yuan cupped his fists and smiled faintly. “That’s due to Senior’s own great fortune. I was merely passing by while hunting a beast and happened to be able to rescue you.”

“Fate must’ve brought us together, then.”

Li Changhe seemed to check his storage pouch, then sighed in relief and reclined again.

“Some days ago, I was entrusted by my sect’s elders to search near our Water Dragon Sect for traces of demonic cultivators. I never thought I’d catch a big fish—a late Foundation Establishment one. If not for you, I nearly capsized in the gutter.”

“Demonic cultivator—” Ji Yuan muttered, then asked softly, “May I ask, Senior, was it a demonic cultivator from the Pleasure Palace? I heard at Yunyu Marshlands that our Water Dragon Sect and Pleasure Palace are in intense conflict.”

If that were true, Ji Yuan would need to reconsider joining the Water Dragon Sect.

So soon, and already pushed so close to the sect? That’d be asking for trouble.

“Pleasure Palace isn’t truly demonic. Our conflict is merely a dispute over spiritual veins—nothing major. Sometimes we even cooperate.”

A conflict that affected nearly all late-stage Qi Refining cultivators in Yunyu Marshlands was, in Li Changhe’s words, “nothing major.” The battle between the Water Dragon Sect and Pleasure Palace was just a matter of spiritual veins.

Which made sense—disputes over spiritual veins were a major matter in the cultivation world.

“If only one of my buildings could produce a [Spiritual Vein]... just imagine the power boost!” Ji Yuan fantasized. “Once I’m stronger, I should find a way to seize one.”

But since Li Changhe stopped talking, Ji Yuan didn’t dare ask more.

Better not to pry—lest he invite trouble.

“Right, I haven’t even asked your name yet.”

Li Changhe finally remembered and asked.

Ji Yuan stepped forward slightly so the other could see him clearly. “I am Ji Yuan, a rogue cultivator from Yunyu Marshlands. Greetings to Senior Li.”

“From Yunyu Marshlands? Already at the ninth layer of Qi Refining and still haven’t joined our Water Dragon Sect?”

“The Water Dragon Sect selection is in a few days. I plan to participate. I lacked the strength before—nothing I could do,” Ji Yuan said regretfully.

“No need to go through all that trouble for the selection.”

Li Changhe casually tossed over a jade token, engraved in bold calligraphy with the characters “Water Dragon,” and etched on the back was the character “Immortal.”

“This is our Water Dragon Sect’s Ascension Token. Take it to any island of our sect, and they’ll arrange for your admission.”

“This—”

Ji Yuan looked at the token in his hand, barely able to contain his delight.

A sect as difficult to enter as the Water Dragon Sect, and he had just received its Ascension Token without needing to go through the selection.

He could join whenever he pleased.

“Don’t worry. My father is Elder Li Gang of the Water Dragon Sect—I wouldn’t trick you.”

Li Changhe smiled, seeing Ji Yuan’s astonished expression.

An elder of the Water Dragon Sect—he must be a Golden Core cultivator!

Ji Yuan quickly cupped his hands again. “Many thanks, Senior Li.”

“You saved my life—don’t call me ‘Senior.’ Call me Brother Li.” Li Changhe waved his hand. “Join the sect quickly. Whatever trouble you run into there, just come to me. I’ll take care of it.”

He then tossed over a golden communication talisman.

Ji Yuan quickly caught it with both hands.

Li Changhe added, “But remember, you must be in the right. If you violate the sect’s laws—”

“I can only keep you from dying.”

Ji Yuan smiled as he put away the talisman. “Brother Li jests. I’m not the trouble-making type, let alone someone who’d break sect rules.”

“That’s true.”

Li Changhe recalled Ji Yuan’s earlier caution and sized him up again.

“For your age, to be at the ninth layer of Qi Refining is impressive. When you reach peak Qi Refining, come find me—I’ll give you a few Foundation Establishment Pills. Just prepare one or two yourself. Even if you’re a pseudo-Spiritual Root, it’s not impossible to break through.”

As he spoke, his voice grew fainter, and he suddenly looked up at the clouds.

“Sect members are here for me. Do you want to meet them or stay hidden?”

He knew Ji Yuan’s cautious nature and thus offered the choice.

Water Dragon Sect’s Foundation Establishment cultivators—Ji Yuan considered it.

The favor of saving Li Changhe was something best kept to himself. The more who knew, the worse it might be.

If some schemers took notice, it’d become a huge hassle.

“I’ll take my leave now. Once I join the Water Dragon Sect, I’ll meet you again, Brother Li.”

Ji Yuan cupped his fists.

Li Changhe had expected this answer, so he just smiled and nodded.

Just as Ji Yuan summoned the Thunder Falcon Boat to leave underwater, he suddenly thought of something and asked, “Brother Li, may I ask if there’s a pill recipe for the Foundation Establishment Pill? Could I take a look?”

“Pill recipe? What do you want that for—oh, right, you’re a pseudo-Spiritual Root.”

Li Changhe lightly slapped his forehead. “When I reached Foundation Establishment, my father gave me one pill and I succeeded. I never thought to get a recipe. I’ll get one for you from the sect—just contact me after you join.”

Damn, and here you go showing off again—Ji Yuan smiled and cupped his fists. “Thank you in advance, Brother Li.”

Just as he was about to leave, Li Changhe tossed over a talisman glowing with cyan light.

“Hmm?”

Ji Yuan caught it with both hands, a bit puzzled.

Being a talisman master himself, he could tell this wasn’t ordinary. It didn’t carry the power of runes—it felt more like a magical treasure?

“Talisman Treasure—Void-Evasion Shuttle. You seem like the cautious type. With this, if you’re prepared ahead of time, even Foundation Establishment cultivators won’t be able to kill you.”

Li Changhe chuckled. “But its power has mostly been used up. Now it can only be used once—use it wisely.”

Talis...Talisman Treasure?!