Longevity through Upgrading Buildings

"Oh, going back to Zengtou City?"

This idea, once brought up, stirred something in Ji Yuan's heart as well.

Indeed, after joining the Water Dragon Sect all these years, back when he hadn't reached Foundation Establishment yet, he did return once or twice, but it was just to buy things like Spirit Pig from the market, then he'd quickly leave again.

After Foundation Establishment, he hadn't gone back even once.

"That's right."

Han Feiyu leaned back, smiling openly, "As the saying goes: What good is wealth if you don't return home, it's like wearing fine clothes and walking at night. We both started out as fishermen from Zengtou City, and now we've both succeeded in Foundation Establishment. By Zengtou City standards, that's pretty wealthy, so of course we should go back and take a stroll, maybe clear our thoughts."

Returning home to show your cultivation, well, not really showing off, just going back to take a look.

Ji Yuan didn't have much interest in showing off, but he did want to take the chance to see how Lin Hu's and Wen Lin's families were doing.

Thinking it over, it really has been years since they'd last met.

"Sounds good."

"I haven't gone back in years either. Brother Han, when do you plan to leave?"

Ji Yuan asked.

Han Feiyu pondered for a moment, then said, "No time like the present. I still have things to do when I get back... If you're not in a hurry, Brother Ji, how about we set off now?"

"Great!"

Ji Yuan got up right away.

The two hit it off instantly, each summoned their flying boat, lifted off from Wuyou Island, and headed straight southwest.

During the trip, Ji Yuan noticed Han Feiyu was using a flying boat at the low-grade Spiritual Artifact level.

Ji Yuan, on the other hand, was still using his top-tier Magical Artifact-level Thunder Falcon Boat.

This Han Feiyu must've struck it rich in the Nine Nether Cave Heaven, just finished refining several batches of Foundation Establishment Pills, and now could even afford a Spiritual Artifact-level flying boat... Ji Yuan mused silently.

"By the way, Brother Ji, have you heard about stuff going on in Lishui City?"

On the way back, the two flew side by side, Han Feiyu chatting casually.

"Lishui City? Haven't heard anything."

The only thing Ji Yuan could recall was from a few months ago, when he went to Lishui City to buy carp and stumbled across a situation—people stationed there embezzled goods, and some demon cultivator ended up as the 'Account Balancing Saint.'

"The Foundation Establishment island masters who were stationed there took possession of a lot of sect property, and when the accounts couldn't be reconciled, they faked a demon cultivator attack with a demon cultivator."

"I did hear about it at the time, but everyone said it was just a rumor."

"It wasn't a rumor, it's real. Law Enforcement Hall already sent people to arrest them, but I hear the one leading them, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator—let me think... Isle Master Qing Han, he ran off, just asking for trouble."

Han Feiyu shook his head as he spoke.

In Water Dragon Sect territory, for a runaway cultivator—what future is there?

If you just admitted fault humbly, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator... Maybe you'd just have to work for the sect a few decades and finally get your freedom.

But now, the sect probably already issued a kill order.

"Yeah."

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

Finally, they returned from Water Dragon Sect to Zengtou City.

Looking at the market where he first made his name, and coming back for the first time as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Ji Yuan couldn't help feeling a bit nostalgic... Once, he was just like these fishermen now, looking up to those Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Not even Foundation Establishment—just late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators were people he had to look up to.

But now, he himself was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Because neither of them bothered to hide their cultivation aura, the late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators at Water Dragon Sect's Hundred Treasures Tower noticed something unusual right away.

At first, they thought it was an attack.

Some bold loose cultivators had come to raid the market, but when a few cultivators came out to see, they spotted those two streaks of deep blue in midair and immediately activated their flying boats to fly up.

"We didn't expect the two Martial Uncles to grace us, sorry for the late welcome, please forgive us."

Ji Yuan recognized the man. His surname was Huang, and he was friends with Elder Xu.

Once, he too was someone Ji Yuan looked up to.

"Daoist Huang, what, you don't recognize me anymore?"

Han Feiyu clearly knew him as well, smiling as he greeted him.

The cultivator surnamed Huang heard the voice and suddenly looked up, "Han Fe... Junior Martial Uncle Han, and you—Junior Martial Uncle Ji?!"

"You two both reached Foundation Establishment?"

"Just got lucky."

Ji Yuan used those two words for everything.

"Just luck."

Han Feiyu smiled, "We just succeeded in Foundation Establishment, thought we'd come back with Brother Ji to see you old friends. So, how've you all been lately?"

Of course, the cultivator surnamed Huang could hear Han Feiyu's meaning—even if you understood, so what?

All there was to do was play along: "Good, everything's good."

Soon, the rest of the Water Dragon Sect disciples came up to pay respects to their Martial Uncles—especially the ones who knew Ji Yuan and Han Feiyu before, calling them Martial Uncle at every turn, trying to get close.

To them, running into a Foundation Establishment cultivator was rare enough.

Let alone Ji Yuan and Han Feiyu, whom they'd already known personally.

If you don't seize the chance to make connections and show your face now, when will you?

Did you really think having Qi Cultivation status would feed you?

After some pleasantries and enjoying a round of flattery, Ji Yuan took his leave—he planned to go see Lin Hu and the others first, and then make time to visit other acquaintances.

Same for Han Feiyu, he still had some distant relatives in Zengtou City.

Once the two left, the Hundred Treasures Tower Water Dragon Sect disciples could only return to their posts.