After having his fill, Ji Yuan calmed down. This kind of life was too indulgent... He couldn't afford to keep on like this.

Right now, the most pressing matter was to return to the Water Dragon Sect and gather some information.

Oh, and he needed to bring a few jars of Spirit Wine and submit the task.

The merit points he got for free shouldn't be forgotten.

So, Ji Yuan spent another three days eating and drinking at home. During this time, he went out on a boat with the Big Toad to hunt a Tier Two early-stage demon beast underwater in Cloud Rain Marsh.

Ji Yuan took on the main battle, while the Big Toad stood guard.

This fight, however, sobered Ji Yuan quite a bit.

Simply because he didn't win.

If the Big Toad hadn't been around, he might have had no choice but to escape on the Thunder Falcon Boat.

There was no help for it; Tier Two early-stage demon beasts in water were simply too strong. Even though Ji Yuan had a Body Foundation Establishment, without Foundation Establishment Stage mana and various techniques, it was still hard to take them down.

But he could protect himself well enough; this Tier Two demon beast couldn't kill him, and he couldn't kill it, either.

Ji Yuan figured that if it were on land, he might be able to gain some ground.

But even if he could succeed, he'd probably end up seriously injured.

Demon beasts are fierce; one must proceed with caution.

Just because he had made some progress in strength, he couldn't go around being arrogant and reckless.

...

A few days later.

After returning to Chulong Island, Ji Yuan first went to find Du Wanyi, but she was not there, and he didn't know where she had gone...

Ji Yuan figured she might really have joined some branch, so she was out on duty.

Ji Yuan had no choice but to return home first, planning to investigate the situation at Thousand Mechanism Island.

Unexpectedly, before he even reached his doorstep, he saw a pure black Dharma Ship appear in the sky above Chulong Island, followed by a stream of golden light shooting out from it.

"Whoosh—"

The golden light, carrying a piercing whistle, fell down and transformed into a golden cage, directly locking down the Number Nineteen House next to Ji Yuan's home.

Afterwards, several figures dressed in pitch-black Magic Robes flew out from the Dharma Ship.

Each of them held an iron chain. The chains intertwined like an array, and when they landed, they performed a second sealing on the Number Nineteen House.

This stopped Ji Yuan, who was nearly home, in his tracks.

Although he hadn't been in the Water Dragon Sect for long, he understood some basic situations, such as these people and this Dharma Ship in front of him.

These were the standard equipment of the Law Enforcement Hall!

So, it was obvious that what was happening before him was the Law Enforcement Hall carrying out the law!

Ji Yuan looked at the Number Nineteen House that was locked down layer by layer... Living there was the child Tang Ran. What rule of the Water Dragon Sect had he broken?

What could have forced the Law Enforcement Hall to use such means?

Ji Yuan had just reached the door of the Number Seventeen House. Sensing the situation outside, the old Artifact Refining artisan Pi Fangzhi came out.

Seeing Ji Yuan, whom he hadn't seen in a while, he was stunned for a moment before reacting.

"Brother Ji, it's been a while."

"Yes, I accepted a task and went out for a bit."

A reasonable excuse that worked every time.

"Brother Ji, you sure love adventure, taking on tasks as soon as you arrived."

Pi Fangzhi lamented, then looked towards the Number Nineteen House in the distance. He was initially flustered, then sneered coldly:

"Law Enforcement Hall? Hah, I told that kid to be more restrained, but he didn't listen. Now he's in trouble. It's too late; once you're caught by the Law Enforcement Hall, you'll either die or shed a layer of skin."

"What happened to him?"

Even though Ji Yuan preferred to mind his own business, he couldn't help but be curious and puzzled about something happening to a neighbor.

"He probably messed around with relationships, calling several female cultivators his mother and living with them."

"Our Water Dragon Sect is a righteous sect, not a Demon Dao sect!"

"Where's the logic in that?"

Pi Fangzhi spoke with righteous indignation and a grand sense of justice.

But Ji Yuan found it hard to believe.

This... this could make the Law Enforcement Hall take such drastic action?

Because, in just a brief moment, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator walked out from the Dharma Ship in the sky. He descended using Sword Control and extended his hand.

A chain flew out from his sleeve, landed in the courtyard, and then with a sharp pull.

The child, Tang Ran, was tightly bound and taken back to the sky by that Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Afterwards, the remaining disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall busied themselves, some entering the house as if to seal it.

Two disciples in black robes, holding a Jade Scroll, walked towards Ji Yuan and Pi Fangzhi.

In this situation, Ji Yuan had no choice but to stand honestly. He also noticed that among the two Law Enforcement Hall disciples was his old acquaintance from Cloud Rain Marsh... Fang Jie.

"You two are the owners of Houses Number Seventeen and Eighteen, Pi Fangzhi and Ji Yuan, correct?"

Fang Jie asked routinely, holding the Jade Scroll.

"That's right."

"Alright, don't leave the sect for the next few days. Be ready for a summon from our Law Enforcement Hall at any time."

Fang Jie finished speaking and glanced at Ji Yuan, his eyes carrying a slight inquiry.

Ji Yuan, a step behind, shook his head slightly.

Fang Jie's previously furrowed brows then relaxed.

Ji Yuan understood his hint: as long as he didn't have a close relationship with Tang Ran, there shouldn't be much of an issue, probably just a routine inquiry.

After Fang Jie finished speaking, he flung two black Talismans in their hands, each landing in Ji Yuan's and Pi Fangzhi's hands.

"When the Communication Talisman lights up, come to the Law Enforcement Hall within one day."

"May I ask, fellow Daoist, when can we leave? I had an agreement with some friends outside to go hunt demon beasts together."

Pi Fangzhi handled the Communication Talisman, asking further.

"Wait for notice."

After Fang Jie finished, he and the other Law Enforcement Hall disciple turned and left, looking incredibly authoritative.

But to Ji Yuan, it didn't matter... In this world, where power converges within oneself, no appearance of strength can compare to truly having strong abilities.

Someone like Fang Jie, although he appeared strong at the moment, it was really the Water Dragon Sect empowering him.

If they really fought, Ji Yuan conservatively estimated he could take on at least two Fang Jies with his Body Foundation Establishment.

As for why being Body Foundation Establishment could only handle two... As mentioned before, that's a conservative estimate.

Ji Yuan has always been a cautious person.

So rather than spending time working for the Water Dragon Sect, he preferred focusing entirely on improving his own strength.

"Really got dragged into a bunch of trouble, damn Tang Ran."

Pi Fangzhi said and then shook his head and sighed as he returned home.

But looking at him, Ji Yuan felt he seemed a bit panicked... His relationship with Tang Ran wasn't as terrible as it appeared.

There was likely more going on between them.

So upon seeing Tang Ran captured, he was so anxious.

But this had nothing to do with Ji Yuan; he acted openly and frankly, unafraid of investigation. If the Law Enforcement Hall wanted to forcibly extract a confession, wronging an innocent person...

Ji Yuan could also leverage Li Changhe's connections.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

After waiting at home for over half an hour and seeing the Law Enforcement Hall personnel leave, Ji Yuan summoned his Flying Boat and headed for Thousand Mechanism Island.

When he arrived, he first used the Talisman given to him by Isle Master Qinghe.

Not long after, he saw a Foundation Establishment Shishu (elder uncle) rushing out with a pleased expression, "Nephew, you've finally come."

Ji Yuan took out the excuse he had prepared.

"This wine isn't easy to make. I went to many places to gather the materials and barely managed to brew three jars."

"Three jars?"

Isle Master Qinghe seemed a bit disappointed upon hearing this, thinking it was too little, but he said, "Three jars are fine, three jars are enough."

Ji Yuan handed over three jars, while keeping three jars in his Storage Bag as a backup.

"I'll add the merit points for you later. If you manage to make more of this Spirit Wine in the coming days, remember to contact me anytime. As long as you're within the Water Dragon Sect, I will find you."

"In a few days..."

Ji Yuan could only smile bitterly, "I'll do my best, elder nephew."

Watching Isle Master Qinghe hurriedly leave, Ji Yuan was curious about who the real old drunkard was behind the scenes.

He previously suspected a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but could it really be that a Foundation Establishment would make Isle Master Qinghe so attentive?

Could it be that a Golden Core Zhenren was involved?

As soon as the thought arose, Ji Yuan quickly shook his head and approached an on-duty cultivator, taking out the previous credential and asking:

"Brother, could you please check if this task has been completed?"

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