Chapter 165: Return Home in Glory!【Requesting Monthly Tickets】

"Oh, returning to Zengtou Market？"

Once this idea was brought up, Ji Yuan couldn't help but feel stirred in his heart.

Indeed, after joining the Water Dragon Sect for so many years, he had returned once or twice before establishing his Foundation, but each time it was merely to purchase some Spiritual Pigs or similar items in the Market Town, and he left in a hurry.

After establishing his Foundation, he hadn’t returned even once.

"Yes."

Han Feiyu leaned back slightly and said with a calm smile,"As the saying goes: if one does not return home in glory, it is like wearing embroidered robes in the dark. We both came from fishing families in Zengtou Market. Now that we've both successfully reached Foundation Establishment, in the eyes of Zengtou Market, this counts as attaining wealth and honor. Naturally, we should return and ease our minds."

Returning home not exactly to flaunt, just to take a look.

Ji Yuan had no intention to flaunt anything, but he did think of visiting Lin Hu’s and Wen Lin’s families along the way to see how they were doing.

Now that he thought about it, it had indeed been several years since he last saw them.

"Alright."

"It just so happens that I haven’t been back for years either. Brother Han, when are you planning to leave？"

Ji Yuan asked.

Han Feiyu pondered for a moment and then said,"There’s no time like the present. I have other matters to attend to after I return—if Brother Ji is not in a hurry, how about we set off now？"

"Good！"

Ji Yuan stood up at once.

The two agreed instantly. They each summoned their flying boats and ascended from this Wuyou Island, heading directly southwest.

Along the way, Ji Yuan noticed that Han Feiyu was using a flying boat of the Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifact level.

Ji Yuan, on the other hand, still used that Supreme-Grade Magical Artifact-class Thunder Falcon Boat.

This Han Feiyu must have struck it rich in the Nine Nether Grotto-Heaven. Not only did he refine several furnaces of Foundation Establishment Pills, but now he could even afford a Spiritual Artifact-grade flying boat—Ji Yuan thought to himself.

"By the way, Brother Ji, have you heard about the situation over in Linhai City？"

While flying side by side on the way back, Han Feiyu asked casually.

"Linhai City？ I haven’t heard anything."

What Ji Yuan recalled was an incident a few months back when he went to Linhai City to buy some carp and learned that the stationed personnel there had embezzled and allowed demonic cultivators to become the so-called “Debt-Settling Sage.”

"The few Foundation Establishment Island Lords originally stationed there embezzled a great deal of sect resources. When they couldn’t balance the accounts, they pretended it was a demonic cultivator raid."

"I heard about this, but at the time it was said to be just a rumor."

"It’s no rumor—it’s true. The Disciplinary Hall has already dispatched people to capture them and bring them to justice. But I heard the leader, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator—supposedly the Island Lord of Qinghan Island—escaped. That’s simply courting death."

Han Feiyu shook his head as he spoke.

Being a fugitive cultivator within the territory of the Water Dragon Sect—what future could that possibly have？

If he had honestly admitted guilt and shown remorse, even as a late Foundation Establishment cultivator—perhaps after selling his service to the sect for a few decades,

he could still have gained his freedom.

But now, it was likely the sect had already issued a kill order.

"Indeed."

The two chatted leisurely all the way, taking a bit more than a day.

They finally returned to Zengtou Market from the Water Dragon Sect.

Looking at the Market Town where he had first risen, this was the first time Ji Yuan had returned as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion—once upon a time, he had been just like these fishermen, needing to look up to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Not even Foundation Establishment—merely late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were beings he once had to look up to.

But now, he himself had become a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Because neither of them deliberately concealed their cultivation auras, as soon as they arrived, those late-stage Qi Refining cultivators of the Water Dragon Sect's Hundred Treasure Pavilion sensed something unusual.

At first, they thought it was an enemy attack—

some bold rogue cultivators raiding the Market Town. But once some cultivators went out and saw those two deep blue silhouettes in midair, they immediately activated their flying boats and flew up.

"We didn’t know the two Martial Uncles were visiting. Please forgive us for not welcoming you properly."

Ji Yuan recognized this man. His surname was Huang and he was familiar with Old Master Xu.

Once, he too was someone Ji Yuan had to look up to.

"Fellow Daoist Huang, what’s this？ Don’t you recognize me？"

Han Feiyu was clearly familiar with him too and greeted with a laugh.

This cultivator surnamed Huang only lifted his head suddenly when he heard the voice,"Han Fei—Han Martial Uncle, and you, Martial Uncle Ji?!"

"You two actually reached Foundation Establishment？"

"By sheer luck."

Ji Yuan still responded with those two words, enough to cover all situations.

"Just luck."

Han Feiyu chuckled,"We just succeeded in Foundation Establishment and thought to come back with Brother Ji to see you old friends. How have things been lately？"

How could this cultivator surnamed Huang not understand the implication in Han Feiyu’s words？ But even if he did, what could he do？

He could only go along and say,"Good, everything's going well."

Soon, the other disciples of the Water Dragon Sect also came up to pay respects to their Martial Uncles, especially those who had known Ji Yuan and Han Feiyu previously. They enthusiastically called them “Martial Uncle” and tried to get close.

To them, seeing a Foundation Establishment cultivator on an ordinary day was already rare.

Let alone having past connections with ones like Ji Yuan and Han Feiyu.

If they didn’t take this chance to build ties and show their faces, when would they？

Did they really think a Qi Refining cultivator’s face could be eaten？

After the round of pleasantries, Ji Yuan enjoyed a bit of flattery and then took his leave. He intended to visit Lin Hu’s family first and later make time to see some other acquaintances.

Han Feiyu did the same. He still had some distant relatives here in Zengtou Market.

Once the two of them left, the disciples of the Water Dragon Sect at the Hundred Treasure Pavilion had no choice but to return to their duties.

When Ji Yuan and Han Feiyu returned, it was already approaching dusk, so by the time Ji Yuan descended at the lakeside cottage, he found that Lin Hu’s entire family was home.

As for the yard where Ji Yuan once lived, it was indeed now occupied by newcomers.

He cast an Invisibility Technique and controlled his flying boat to hover over the yard, peering down from above.

The first thing that entered his sight was naturally those two peach trees he had planted. It was currently spring, and the peach blossoms were in full bloom,

and he also noticed—

these two peach trees had clearly been pruned. Evidently, the family living here was quite fond of them.

Ji Yuan’s figure floated again to the backyard, and by the edge of the Fish Pond he had dug, he saw two children, a boy and a girl, looking to be around seven or eight years old.

Both of them were playing with mud at the pond’s edge. They looked somewhat alike, probably siblings.

"Brother, why aren’t mother and father back yet? My tummy is growling."

The little girl stood up holding a stick covered in mud and patted her small belly with her hand.

The boy immediately tossed away the stick in his hand and ran toward the kitchen."Brother will make something for you. Mom and dad will be a while."

"Sister, come help me. When father and mother come back later, we can have dinner."

Ji Yuan watched the small boy sprinting off—he swept his Divine Sense over him and found no trace of spiritual energy on the boy’s body. At this age, if there was not the slightest bit of spiritual energy, it could only mean one thing—

he was a mortal with no Spiritual Root.

On the contrary, the little girl had a trace of spiritual energy on her.

She had a Spiritual Root, but it was a False Spiritual Root.

"It’s difficult."

Ji Yuan sighed inwardly and didn’t linger. He maneuvered his flying boat and rose into the air, arriving at the entrance of the neighboring courtyard. Just as he was about to knock, he saw a Magical Boat dock beside them. A couple disembarked.

The man was at the third layer of Qi Refining, the woman at the fourth.

The two of them were chatting and laughing. Seemed like they had quite a fruitful day.

Ji Yuan deliberately waited for a moment. After the couple entered the house, he dispelled his Invisibility Technique and stepped forward to knock on Lin Hu’s courtyard gate.

After a few breaths, footsteps sounded from inside. The door opened, and Wu Qin poked her head out."Who are y—"

As soon as Wu Qin saw the figure at the door, she froze, seemingly unable to believe it.

Then Lin Hu’s voice followed from inside the courtyard.

"Who is it? Coming by so late. Didn’t we already say no more Talisman orders for now?"

Yawning, Lin Hu arrived at the door and pulled it open—

In a single glance, he was stunned, then rubbed his eyes as if not daring to believe them.

"Ji… Ji-ge?!"

Lin Hu sized up Ji Yuan, and Ji Yuan did the same to Lin Hu.

Compared to when Ji Yuan left a few years ago, Lin Hu hadn’t undergone an earth-shattering change, but he certainly looked quite different.

Ji Yuan could tell Lin Hu definitely wasn’t fishing anymore—

no fisherman would have such a plump and fair complexion, and his cultivation had advanced by a layer.

He was at the fourth layer of Qi Refining back then; now Lin Hu was at the fifth.

Not only that, even the clothes on his body had become a Lower-Grade Magical Robe, colored dark gold, clearly suggesting a well-off household.

"Not bad at all, Huzi."

Seeing that Lin Hu was doing so well, Ji Yuan couldn’t help feeling happy.

Especially remembering that in the past, Lin Hu used to gamble with that neighbor surnamed Deng—for a time even falling into vice—luckily, he had turned over a new leaf.

"Ji-ge, you’ve come back? Please, come in, come in!"

Lin Hu’s eyes turned red. He bowed as he stepped aside."Wu Qin, go cook a few dishes. Tonight, I’m drinking with Ji-ge!"

"Alright, alright!"

Wu Qin was also extremely happy to see Ji Yuan return.

After all, without Ji Yuan, they wouldn’t have their present life.

Ji Yuan stepped over the courtyard threshold. Lin Hu waved toward a little girl inside the house."Qiaoruo, come here and greet Uncle Ji."

The little girl seemed a bit shy, not daring to approach, but curious nonetheless, hiding behind the door to peek.

Seeing Lin Hu’s daughter, Ji Yuan finally felt the passage of time. Back when he left, Lin Qiaoruo was still in Wu Qin’s arms, about the size of a baby.

Now, a few years had passed, and Lin Qiaoruo was already as big as Wen Ling’er had been back then.

"Almost time to test her Spiritual Root, isn’t it?"

Ji Yuan asked with a smile.

"Almost. Originally, she’d be of age next year, but there’s no selection next year, so we’ll have to wait another year."

Once they entered the house, Lin Hu brought Lin Qiaoruo over. She obediently called out"Uncle Ji", then immediately hid behind Lin Hu. Still, she peeked at Ji Yuan through the gap between Lin Hu’s legs, secretly studying this unfamiliar man.

Ji Yuan responded warmly, then took out a bracelet-shaped Lower-Grade Magical Artifact from his storage pouch. With a gentle push,

he sent it into Lin Qiaoruo’s hands.

"This is our first meeting. This is Uncle’s gift to you—keep it safe."

Ji Yuan could certainly afford something pricier, but it wouldn’t be appropriate.

This Lower-Grade Magical Artifact was just right—suitable for protection, and not too eye-catching.

Lin Hu naturally said it was too much, tried to refuse it, but after a round of polite insistence, finally let Lin Qiaoruo accept it.

To him, even a single Magical Artifact was still extremely precious. The Lower-Grade Magical Robe he wore was something he had saved spirit stones for a long time to buy.

The bracelet was made from leftover mineral scraps, polished into a colorful and pretty piece.

Lin Qiaoruo liked it very much and immediately ran to the backyard to show her mother.

Ji Yuan accepted the tea Lin Hu poured and asked,"Huzi, you’re not fishing anymore?"

"Nope, stopped going into the water three years ago. These days—"Lin Hu gave an honest smile."Barely managed to become a Talisman Master."

"Oh? A Talisman Master, not bad."

Ji Yuan hadn’t expected Lin Hu to become a Talisman Master."Tell me—how did this opportunity come about?"

"Actually, Ji-ge, it’s all thanks to your help that I became a Talisman Master."

"Me?"

Ji Yuan didn’t react right away.

Then, as he listened to Lin Hu’s detailed recounting, Ji Yuan finally understood what had happened.

Before Ji Yuan left back then, he had given Lin Hu a bottle of pills to help him break through, plus four mid-grade First-Tier Talismans and a storage pouch.

After receiving these items, Lin Hu first used them to break through from the third layer of Qi Refining to the fourth.

After reaching mid-stage Qi Refining, he later gave it some thought and simply sold the remaining four Talisman papers along with the Storage Pouch!

With what he got from the sale—barely eighty pieces of Lower-Grade Spirit Stones—he purchased a copy of 《Talisman Dao: Introductory Explanation》, along with a used Talisman Brush of uncertain generations, and Talisman Ink, Talisman Paper, and other materials.

After painstaking research at home for three months, Lin Hu discovered he could indeed draw something presentable.

This only boosted his confidence even more. Two months later, he finally managed to try drawing a complete Talisman.

From then on, his livelihood shifted from fishing to drawing Talismans.

Ji Yuan was rather moved upon hearing this. He truly didn’t expect Lin Hu to be so resolute, daring to sell everything and switch to Talisman Drawing.

But it was fortunate it was Talismans.

Among Pill, Formation, Talisman, and Artifact Paths, Talisman Dao was the simplest and the easiest to get started with.

"Then aren’t you now the renowned Master Lin of Zengtou Market?"Ji Yuan joked.

"Don’t dare claim that. I can’t even stabilize Middle-Grade Talismans yet. Right now, I’m still relying on some Lower-Grade Talismans to get by."

Perhaps due to many experiences, Lin Hu now understood what it meant to be reserved.

Even as a Talisman Master, he no longer behaved carelessly.

Ji Yuan then asked about the family living next door. Lin Hu said they had moved over from Jing’an District. They were just ordinary fishing folks, nothing special—only that the boy had no Spiritual Root, and they didn’t know what to do with him in the future.

"What about the Wen family? I took a look earlier—they seem to have moved out?"

When Ji Yuan had been checking the neighboring courtyard, he glanced at the yard where the Wen family used to live—it had changed drastically. Ji Yuan didn’t see the familiar Wen Lin couple, nor Wen Ling’er. He only saw a female cultivator living alone,

dressed rather garishly.

"The Wen family? Ji-ge, you don’t know? Not even at the Water Dragon Sect?"

Lin Hu was surprised by Ji Yuan’s question.

"No. What—Wen Ling’er was a True Spiritual Root and was taken into the Water Dragon Sect?"Ji Yuan asked back.

Lin Hu looked like he wanted to say something, but hesitated, appearing a bit reluctant.

Ji Yuan noticed his concern and smiled, saying,"Don’t worry. With me here, no one in Zengtou Market can eavesdrop on our conversation."

Because Ji Yuan released his Divine Sense.

With that, even if Han Feiyu came, Ji Yuan would sense it in advance. But as soon as he released his Divine Sense, he detected something unusual—the flashy female cultivator living in the former Wen residence was not engaged in a righteous business!

No wonder she didn’t need to set out in a boat anymore.

"It was the same year you joined the Water Dragon Sect, Ji-ge. Wen Ling’er also went for her Spiritual Root testing."

Lin Hu lowered his voice and whispered,"Yes."

"I was nearby watching. After Wen Ling’er’s Spiritual Root test ended, a fog suddenly enveloped the entire Fish Market. When the fog dispersed, the Wen family was gone."

"Gone?"

Ji Yuan had a suspicion.

"Yes. Her Spiritual Root showed a single color. I initially thought it was a Heavenly Spiritual Root, but we had just detected one of those in Zengtou Market not long before, and the Water Dragon Sect wasn’t that secretive about it. So I did some research—Wen Ling’er is most likely a Wind Spiritual Root among the Variant Spiritual Roots!"

Over the years, Lin Hu had never dared speak of this for fear of trouble. It was only today, seeing Ji Yuan back, that he dared reveal a bit.

"Variant Spiritual Root—"

Ji Yuan murmured.

Based on Lin Hu’s account, it was very likely a Variant Spiritual Root. Even if it were a Heavenly Spiritual Root, the Water Dragon Sect wouldn’t have handled it so cautiously.

It was precisely because it was a Variant Spiritual Root that the Water Dragon Sect kept it so tightly under wraps.

So many years had passed. If Ji Yuan hadn’t come back and asked, he truly wouldn’t have known a thing.

"Yes, I’d say it’s ninety percent likely."

Lin Hu nodded earnestly.

"Alright. This matter could have serious implications. Be sure not to speak of it. If word leaks, the sect might investigate thoroughly."

"Understood. Ji-ge, don’t worry."

"Mm."

The two didn’t linger on the topic. Soon, Wu Qin brought out the dishes, and Ji Yuan had dinner there.

After all, who knew when he’d next return?

By the next day—

Ji Yuan left some First-Tier Pills and Talismans with Lin Hu, along with a copy of 《Talisman Dao Insights》, and departed from the lakeside hut.

He then headed into Zengtou Market and visited Luo Tong, who had once helped him.

After some friendly greetings, Ji Yuan left him a few pills.

Incidentally, he also ran into the long-missed Chicken Cultivator near Luo Tong’s house. He was still selling chickens, with no change in cultivation. When he saw Ji Yuan again, he no longer dared call him Ji-ge as before—

instead, he respectfully bowed and called him"Senior Ji"with every sentence.

After seeing these old friends, Ji Yuan joined Han Feiyu and returned north to the Water Dragon Sect.

That day—

Lin Hu did not stay home to draw Talismans but instead went alone to Zengtou Market. After some inquiries, he learned that not only Ji Yuan had returned, but Han Feiyu as well.

According to market rumors, the two had successfully established their Foundations and returned for a visit.

After all, many had seen disciples of the Water Dragon Sect saluting them and calling them"Martial Uncle".

After learning this, Lin Hu went back home and discussed with Wu Qin:

"It’s almost certain Ji-ge has reached Foundation Establishment. I reckon it won’t be long before someone comes to rent the house he used to live in. I think even our place might get interest."

"No way. If Ji-ge really reached Foundation Establishment, then our house has absorbed the aura of a Foundation Establishment Immortal. How could we rent it out to others?"

Wu Qin immediately said.

Lin Hu narrowed his eyes slightly and said slowly,"Do you really think there’s any Foundation Establishment Immortal aura?"

"That’s just the delusion of people obsessed with Foundation Establishment."

"So what do you mean, Brother Hu?"

Wu Qin knew her man had changed over the years—he’d gotten smarter—so more often than not, she followed his lead without fuss.

Lin Hu thought quietly for a moment before saying:

"I plan to spread a few rumors—that Ji-ge broke through to Foundation Establishment in our house, or something like that. Whether people believe it or not, it’ll definitely drive up the price of our place. We’ll resell at a high price, take the spirit stones, and move into the Market itself—with the resources Ji-ge gave us, settling there shouldn’t be difficult."

"Then I’ll try to get promoted to a Mid-Grade First-Tier Talisman Master."

"Alright, I’ll follow your lead."

After Wu Qin finished speaking, Lin Hu rubbed his short beard and said:

"If Ji-ge were here, what do you think he would choose?"

After Ji Yuan returned to the Water Dragon Sect, he headed straight to Wuyou Island. If Wen Ling’er truly had a Variant Spiritual Root, then Hua Yaoyue might know something.

He planned to investigate first and see if he could learn any news about his former neighbor.

As a neighbor of a Wind Spiritual Variant Root, Ji Yuan couldn’t help but be a bit curious.

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