Qi Yuan laughed heartily, "It was my sister’s fault after all!"

With that, Qi Yuan smiled softly, moved gracefully, and in an instant was in Li Jizhou’s arms. "Between you and me, today’s life-saving grace shall be repaid like this!"

The robe slipped off, the icy silk stockings rubbed against each other, their richness no less than that of An Liuli of the noble royal family, falling into the palm of the hand.

The familiar feeling returned.

...

An entire month later,

Qi Yuan found it hard to withstand the nightly revelry and finally dared not linger any longer, wanting to leave.

Li Jizhou smiled gently, feeling sorry for Qi Yuan.

Forty years ago, when they discussed the Dao, neither had practiced the art of Dual Cultivation, so they were satisfied after three days. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

But this time, when Li Jizhou was discussing the Dao in the swamp with An Liuli, he was taught the Secret Skill of Dual Cultivation by her, not only enjoying their joyful exchanges but also benefiting his cultivation.

Thus, over this month, Li Jizhou did not waste a moment, both cultivating and discussing the Dao.

Qi Yuan found it quite unbearable.

"Farewell to Fairy Qi!" After tidying up his clothes, Li Jizhou returned to his calm demeanor and cupped his hands slightly.

Qi Yuan cast a resentful glance at him, "Master Li indeed has a firm Dao heart."

"Fairy Qi gives me too much credit!"

"Hmph!" Qi Yuan pouted and snorted softly.

Just as Li Jizhou was about to open the Array,

suddenly, the Year Wheel sensed a slight movement.

He quickly stopped activating it and sensed carefully.

In the Year Wheel’s perception, a cultivator with a lifespan of six hundred and thirty years drifted in.

However, the Divine Sense could not detect anything from that direction.

"A six hundred and thirty-year lifespan, at least Golden Core Peak, and has consumed a divine medicine such as a Lifespan Extension Pill."

"The Year Wheel can sense it, yet the Divine Sense cannot detect a trace... With my current Peak of Core Formation Divine Sense, I cannot sense even the slightest bit; there must be a special treasure shielding from Divine Sense detection or this type of Secret Technique."

"Of course, it could also be a Nascent Soul True Monarch’s lifespan exhaustion, just like True Monarch Withered Butterfly in those days!"

Li Jizhou’s heart stirred slightly, signaling Qi Yuan to stay a few more days.

Qi Yuan’s eyes widened suddenly, she really couldn’t bear it anymore.

She even suspected that Li Jizhou wanted to use her as a cauldron for continual siphoning.

However, she did not doubt Li Jizhou’s actions, especially when she saw him focusing intently on sensing the distance, knowing there might be a crisis she couldn’t detect.

An hour later, Li Jizhou slowly opened his eyes.

At this moment, Qi Yuan finally saw a figure approaching closer.

"Shangguan Liuyun!" With just one glance, Qi Yuan recognized the newcomer.

The newcomer wore a moon-white robe, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, his demeanor graceful and sociable, at first glance appearing quite refined and affable.

However, this refined and affable gentleman was the nightmare of many prodigies in the Righteous Army.

And also the executioner of countless innocent sea citizens in the Five Elders Association’s Sea Domain!

Qi Yuan instantly composed herself, restraining her aura.

Yet, there was a tinge of worry in her heart,

uncertain whether Li Jizhou’s Array could evade the other’s Divine Sense probing.

Li Jizhou also wore a solemn expression, holding a storage bag in each hand,

even taking out the storage bag containing the Quasi-Immortal Artifact Guanghan Seal.

Although he had confidence in the Quasi-Fourth Tier Array, especially with three layers of reinforcement, providing absolute resistance against those who hadn’t reached Nascent Soul.

However, having come from the Shangguan Immortal Clan, Li Jizhou was unsure if Shangguan Liuyun carried any special treasures for penetrating Arrays.

Shangguan Liuyun descended gracefully, hovering above the Sea Eye, closing his eyes and pondering for a long time.

Li Jizhou wasn’t sure if he was capturing auras or something else, yet a vague unease lingered in his heart.

Fortunately, after pondering for a long time, he didn’t even look toward them, abruptly flying upwards, eventually disappearing from the Year Wheel’s perception.

Another month passed, and Qi Yuan finally left formally.

Before leaving, Qi Yuan handed Li Jizhou a Communication Talisman for easy transmission anytime.

As he watched her depart, Li Jizhou’s heart stirred slightly.

"The Heavenly Water Spirit Body congealed Essence of Jade and Dew!"

After getting a close look at Shangguan Liuyun a month ago, Li Jizhou’s mind has been dwelling on this.

The Essence of Jade and Dew is an extraordinary treasure, recorded in ancient texts as a rare natural Spiritual Object, comparable to Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects.

During Nascent Soul formation, if one had this item, it could increase the chance of forming a Nascent Soul by thirty percent.

And if a Core Formation Stage cultivator was to obtain it, they might temporarily break through realms; there was a rumor of an Early Stage of Core Formation Master deceiving a Late Stage Core Formation Grand Cultivator with the Heavenly Water Spirit Body, seizing the Essence of Jade and Dew he congealed, breaking through two realms overnight, becoming a Late Stage Core Formation Grand Cultivator.

Whether this rumor is true or false is uncertain, but it’s enough to illustrate the potential of the Essence of Jade and Dew.

Li Jizhou once again focused his mind in his dantian, observing the Immortal Golden Core within which was further encased by the Heaven and Earth Cage, becoming even more solid.

It seemed to completely extinguish Li Jizhou’s hopes of advancing to the Nascent Soul.

Currently, Li Jizhou’s Middle Stage of Golden Core was stable, but he had none of the wondrous spiritual objects needed for forming the Nascent Soul.

After pondering for a while, Li Jizhou’s gaze gradually became resolute.

He still had to do his utmost to salvage the Jade Liquid and Nectar.

------

Three thousand miles north of the Sea Domain, on a secluded island,

Shangguan Liuyun transformed into a rock, watching as Qi Yuan flew past.

After hesitating for three breaths, he ultimately communicated with his subordinate Situ Yan, who was in the Wei Kingdom, through divine sense, instructing her to intercept.

As for himself, he continued waiting calmly, neither rushed nor anxious.

Several days later, a fluctuation in space occurred in the sky over the Sea Domain, followed by the appearance of three figures.

"Young Master, here is the Tier Four Array-Break Talisman you requested, personally drawn by Elder Luo, along with the Tianluodiwang Spiritual Artifact!" The leader respectfully bowed to Shangguan Liuyun, presenting a stack of talismans and an auxiliary Third Grade Spiritual Treasure with both hands.

Shangguan Liuyun nodded slightly, "Thank you for your hard work!"

"Serving the Young Master is our honor, truly!" The three immediately responded excitedly.

"Alright, since Nascent Souls of the Southern Domain do not manifest, you should immediately activate the domain gate and return." Shangguan Liuyun nodded.

Upon hearing this, the three Nascent Soul True Monarchs bowed and swiftly retreated.

Afterward, Shangguan Liuyun looked toward the direction of the Sea Eye on the main island, a playful curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Heh~ let’s see how you’ll escape this time?"

A month ago, he followed the locations of the four maidservants’ deaths all the way here.

He eventually detected the residual aura of the Immobilization Talisman at the Sea Eye beneath the main island,

and just as he thought the opponent had escaped far away, the Bodhi Seed before his chest allowed him to sense a nearby, concealed aura.

He ultimately employed the Secret Skill of Wandering Outside the World, discovering the near-Tier Four grand array there.

Surprisingly, it could so effortlessly evade his divine sense at the Golden Core Peak, leaving him astonished.

He presumed that the person who killed the maidservants was there.

Faced with the near-Tier Four array, he realized he was powerless to break through it, so he feigned leaving, coming here to wait calmly while sending a communication to his clan to have the Array-Break Talisman delivered.

This wait lasted a month, not only bringing the Array-Break Talisman, but he also unexpectedly saw Qi Yuan leaving the underwater array.

However, after scanning Qi Yuan with his divine sense, he confirmed that the array’s master could not possibly be Qi Yuan.

He had just entered the Late Stage of True Core and couldn’t have had the power to kill four Late Stage Core Formation maidservants.

"Who exactly are you, mighty being? You should reveal yourself now, right?" Holding the Array-Break Talisman, Shangguan Liuyun no longer waited, flying directly towards Li Jizhou’s array.

------

Since Shangguan Liuyun lingered at the Sea Eye for an extended time a month ago, Li Jizhou felt uneasy.

He was uncertain if he could be found through the Divination Secret Skill, be it himself or Gua Gua.

Thus, on the day Qi Yuan departed, he quietly applied the Insight Talisman Art on him.

By now, it had been seven days since Qi Yuan left, the journey smooth without any hindrance.

This slightly reassured Li Jizhou.

Nevertheless, after Qi Yuan’s departure, he kept himself busy, ordering Gua Gua and the four puppets to work overtime to dig out an underwater tunnel from the array to the outskirts of the Sea Domain.

That day, Li Jizhou forced himself to remain calm, focusing on his cultivation.

Suddenly,

the Year Wheel sensed the familiar lifespan aura again.

"Shangguan Liuyun!"

Upon sensing his lifespan, Li Jizhou gathered all his belongings, released Bai Yi, and burned away all magical power and divine soul auras in the area.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he concealed his aura and slipped into the underwater tunnel...

Having left and returned, he surely had some trick up his sleeve.

Boom—

Just as Li Jizhou fled into the underwater tunnel, a quasi-Third Tier array boomed.

The entire Sea Domain trembled violently!

"Tier Four Array-Break Talisman!" Li Jizhou’s expression changed instantly.

He couldn’t help but marvel at the extravagant means of the Shangguan Immortal Race.

"So this month of lurking was actually spent gathering the Array-Break Talisman."

Now that Nascent Souls of the Southern Domain were not manifesting, acquiring Tier Four talismans wasn’t easy, and obtaining a Tier Four Breaking Charm in a month likely meant it came from the Central Domain.

In an instant, Li Jizhou’s judgment of Shangguan Liuyun rose by three levels.

His cultivation was at Golden Core Peak, backed by the Shangguan Immortal Race, with such meticulous and patient character, indeed not a simple opponent.