"Yin Ghosts are born of filth and chaos, delighting in dark things; they hide within the Yin Ghost Banner. If nurtured well, their strength will grow day by day, feeding back into the Yin Banner."

This was the message Ji Yuan had received from his inheritance in the past.

As for those dark items used to raise Yin Ghosts, and the Withered Bone Flowers he acquired from Black Mist Island, Ji Yuan had packed them separately in the Ghost Island Master's storage bag.

Just like now, he took out a small vial of Celestial Sunflower Blood from the storage bag, poured it into a basin he'd prepared, then took out the Yin Ghost Banner.

The two Yin Ghosts inside darted out, immediately lunging at the basin.

Two hazy shadows instantly began to make licking noises, devouring the contents while the black mist surrounding them grew ever denser.

Seeing this, Ji Yuan couldn't help but feel a bit regretful.

Originally, he'd had four Yin Ghosts, but he had killed two.

But on second thought, if all four were together, nurturing would definitely be slower—just like with the Ghost Island Master, who had raised them for so long, yet even after all this time, these four Yin Ghosts were only at Qi Cultivation, fourth level.

If he focused on raising just two, perhaps they'd already be at the fifth level.

'Give it another half a month, and these two Yin Ghosts should break into Qi Cultivation, fifth level—but by then, the dark items left by the Ghost Island Master will probably run out, and I'll have to find new resources.'

Ji Yuan would have to think about where to get new dark items.

Whatever, he'd deal with that after the breakthrough; for now the main thing was to modify the Yin Ghost Array.

He slowly closed his eyes, calling up in his mind his memories related to the Yin Ghost Banner.

After a while, Ji Yuan released the Yin Ghost Array in his Enlightenment Room—not very big, just occupying roughly half the room.

To that end, he had even pasted several first-rank talismans isolating aura on the wall.

Black array patterns appeared, and Ji Yuan walked as he observed.

From what he'd read in those books on formations, a typical array always had dedicated spirit stone slots carved in.

Whenever you needed to use it, you could simply put spirit stones into the slot, and the array patterns would be activated automatically.

But the Yin Ghost Array lacked any spirit stone slots, and even in all his inherited memories, there was no mention of their placement.

If not, the Ghost Island Master wouldn't have made it such a mess now.

In that case, he would have to add a few spirit stone slots into the Yin Ghost Banner.

But where should they go?

Ji Yuan stroked his chin, frowning in contemplation as he paced across the array, trying to select various nodes.

But each one he chose, he traced along the array patterns, only to find there was always a dead end.

A dead end meant the spiritual power couldn't flow through every part of the array, making activation problematic.

After careful consideration, Ji Yuan couldn't find a solution and had to stop for now, planning to check the books again and meditate for a while.

Nowadays, Ji Yuan hardly cultivated by absorbing stray spiritual qi from the world—especially now that his [Pigsty] had upgraded to level 2, producing ten spirit stones per day.

Plus, now that he could inscribe intermediate talismans himself, it was even easier.

Most of the time, he'd first pop a Spirit Gathering Pill, then start cultivating with spirit stones.

Spirit Eggs were still being eaten as usual, but the shells he used to feed Spirit Pigs or half-Spirit Fish.

Ji Xianren was long past the age of gnawing on eggshells.

The next morning.

Wu Yan knocked on Ji Yuan's gate, personally delivering a generous gift.

Ji Yuan estimated it, and in spirit stones, it would be worth seventy or eighty pieces.

The gift was enormous, so Ji Yuan refused.

Wu Yan kept Wu Wenbin's instructions in mind—just offer the gift, don't insist, so after Ji Yuan declined, he didn't press, simply exchanged some pleasantries and left.

Through it all, he never showed a sour face, always welcoming and smiling.

From him, Ji Yuan saw a shadow of Wu Wenbin.

Exactly the same smiling tiger.

After closing the door, Ji Yuan continued cultivating—but barely a day had passed when his gate was knocked again. This time, the one at the door was Lin Hu.

Judging by the fish basket on him, he'd just come back from selling fish at the fish cage.

"Brother Ji."

Lin Hu called out, his face a bit bleak.

"What's wrong?"

Ji Yuan assumed Lin Hu had run into more trouble and came seeking help; if it was borrowing spirit stones, that was fine, but if it was something else, he'd have to think twice.

"I was just selling fish over at Zengtou City, and overheard some news—not sure if it's real."

"What news?"

"I heard someone say Uncle Lu's been killed—slain while fishing off his boat."

"Uncle Lu?" Ji Yuan was startled, reacting instinctively.

Lin Hu added, "That's Lu Wan's father, Lu Song."

Back when Lu Song's family hadn't moved away, they lived near the lake, with some ties to Lin Youwei, though they weren't as close to Ji Yuan's family.

"What?"

This news genuinely surprised Ji Yuan.

He'd thought the Wu Family wouldn't go this far, but clearly, he'd been wrong.

"And Lu Wan?"

"Don't know."

Lin Hu shook his head.

This news hit Ji Yuan hard, so after Lin Hu finished, he made a trip to Zengtou City.

Sure enough, he heard people talking—after all, the feud between Lu Wan and the Wu Family had already become a hot topic.

And now, a life was lost—a middle-stage Qi Cultivator, no less.

So the crowd grew even larger.

Ji Yuan gave it more thought and paid a visit to the Lu Family, finding the front gate still locked. Asking around, he learned that as early as last year, Lu Wan's family had moved away.

He had no idea where their new home was, so he could only return.

A few days later, he heard another rumor.

The Qin Family had offered shelter to Lu Wan, saying publicly that the Wu Family affair was settled, and if any more trouble arose, the Qin Family would step in.

And so, the drawn-out feud was forcibly brought to an end.

For now, it was finished.

Ji Yuan assumed the Qin and Wu families—Zengtou City's biggest clans—must've reached some kind of agreement behind closed doors… That was his guess.

Half a month later, Ji Yuan saw Lu Wan in mourning clothes at his door—she'd brought payment for the blood essence.

When he saw her again, her eyes had lost all their former vitality, becoming as still as dead water, yet as deep as a bottomless well—her spirit unfathomable.

Ji Yuan tried to refuse a few times, but seeing her resolve, he accepted.

Just as she was about to leave, Ji Yuan hesitated before quietly saying, "Sister Lu, the Qin Family… isn't trustworthy either."

Lu Wan's eyes flickered slightly at his words.

But she quickly masked it again.

"I know. Don't worry."

"Mm."

That was all; Ji Yuan didn't say more.

If Lu Wan could answer like that, she must truly have a plan.

"Ji Yuan, you're planning to join the Water Dragon Sect too, aren't you?"

Ji Yuan smiled. "Who here in Zengtou City doesn't want to join the Water Dragon Sect?"

"Good, then we… we…" Lu Wan drew a deep breath. Eventually, she said, "We'll meet again in the Water Dragon Sect."

Ji Yuan didn't quite understand, but he still nodded and replied,

"Alright."

So, two months passed. With the aid of the [Enlightenment Room], Ji Yuan finally managed to repair the crippled Yin Ghost Array.

Five spirit stone slots, five spirit stones to power it.

The Yin Ghost Array was complete!

——

(Nearly ten thousand words updated in a row—asking for monthly tickets and recommendations!)

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