Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!
Chapter 205: The Grace of Saving a Life

Chapter 205: Chapter 205: The Grace of Saving a Life

"I still don’t know your name."

Chan Yu was overwhelmed with great surprise, his mind a bit muddled. He quickly transformed into human form to take a look at the gift he held and handed it to Jiang Yuan. "My name is Chan Yu. Although I was born poisonous, I’ve been cultivating for many years and can now control my own toxins effortlessly.

I’m not a bad person; I don’t poison others recklessly! You... you just mentioned that we’re friends. I want to ask... do you mean it?"

Jiang Yuan hadn’t yet recovered from the soft, warm, and comfortable feeling and, in return, handed the gift back, nodding, "Of course I mean it! This is a chance given to you by the senior; keep it well.

Meeting by chance means we were destined to meet, not to mention we’ve fought side by side— you even protected me from falling rocks. We are definitely friends.

My name is Jiang Yuan. Two friends of mine are waiting outside the Underground Palace. When you go out, wait with them for a moment. I was entrusted by the Jeweler to come find you, and tomorrow night, I’ll accompany you to the Market at Cyan Fish Mountain."

"Alright! Then..." Chan Yu thought it wouldn’t be right to refuse the gift in front of the old dragon, so he accepted it first and bowed to the dragon, saying, "Senior, I shall take my leave."

Under the bright candlelight, the collapsed Underground Palace started to repair itself, and the soil quickly revealed ready-made tables and chairs. The old dragon deeply bowed to him with gratitude, "I am Zhou Jian. Thank you, little friend, for the life-saving grace!"

Regardless of the other party’s identity, such a big ceremony at an advanced age left Jiang Yuan flattered and hurriedly helped him, "Senior, there’s no need for formalities. I couldn’t remove the poison but could only temporarily suppress it. Calling it a life-saving grace is overly generous."

"No, no, it’s not too much at all! You deserve it!" Zhou Jian led him to the main seat and explained, "I originally arose from the gathering of Spiritual Energy in the terrain of this mountain range, becoming a product with sentient intelligence. If born during a time of peace, I could at least have been appointed a Mountain God."

He sighed softly, "Unfortunately, my luck was poor. I was born during a time of chaos when cultivators were frantically obsessed with ascending to the Celestial Realm to escape disaster.

I am a being of natural physique with no distractions in my heart— unable to ascend to the Upper Realm, yet free to roam the world joyfully. I didn’t expect to be eyed by the sinister Xuanyuan Yangguang, who aimed to subjugate me for his own strengthening.

We fought for a long time; I was born and rooted in this land, able to draw power from the earth at any time. Over time, he could no longer match me.

Humph! The treacherous fellow secretly poisoned and suppressed me, trying to weaken my power before taking me.

Under that strange poison, my Divine Soul was split into several threads of Divine Split; confused as to who I was, trapped in a dream-like state experiencing countless cycles. Sometimes a human, sometimes a beast, struggling in dreams living a life after life, occasionally clear yet still unsure where I truly was.

Fortunately, you removed the suppressing item, allowing my forcibly separated threads of Divine Split to gradually struggle and merge. Using poison to fight poison temporarily suppressed the medicine’s effects, allowing me to regain my senses without consuming lifespan in confusion. Isn’t that a life-saving grace?"

Jiang Yuan had many questions about cultivators’ ascension and Divine Format condensation, so he hurriedly asked, "Senior, have you ever seen an Immortal?"

"No." Zhou Jian shook his head and laughed, "Though there are occasional rumors of immortals ascending, who knows if they’ve truly ascended to the Celestial Realm and been deified. However, becoming an Immortal or a deity is the ultimate goal of cultivators. As long as one finds their own path and persistently follows it, I believe there is hope."

"Then... I’ve heard that after deification, one must feedback their own Divine Power until it completely dissipates. Will it really be like this?"

Zhou Jian poured him a cup of emerald green aromatic fine spirits and invited, "Try this aged fine spirit, Benefactor. It’s very good for the body."

[The Jade Dew brewed by Zhou Jian personally using Earth Vein Essence, once consumed, permanently increases Life by 15]

"Though I haven’t been deified, being formed from the Essence of Heaven and Earth, upon enlightenment, I was slightly aware of the earth’s operation. After ascension to Immortal and deification, indeed, one’s own Divine Power must protect all people, but simultaneously, Immortals also need to cultivate and increase lifespan and Divine Power.

Immortal Peach, Jade Dew, or the legendary Ginseng Fruit can all increase lifespan and Divine Power, allowing one to extend their time in office as a deity. Meanwhile, the incense of the worship and adoration from people can also enhance a deity’s Divine Power. Hence a very interesting cycle can form.

The deity strives to protect people, who, in turn, sincerely offer support, plus their own cultivation and the support of Earth Treasures ensure that as long as they remain steadfast and not corrupted by worldly desires, the deity can live as long as the heavens and earth."

Jiang Yuan drank in one gulp, his mouth fragrant, and his interface’s Life Value increased slightly.

"Thank you, Senior, for your guidance." He reluctantly put down the cup, realizing it was late and he had a timed task waiting. He needed to hurry back to the small courtyard to collect the ground medicine powder, so he promptly bid farewell, "Senior can now temporarily suppress the strange poison, giving you plenty of time for cultivation and seeking the antidote. I am entrusted to return the young lady, so I won’t continue to disturb."

Zhou Jian showed difficulty on his face, "Finding the antidote is easier said than done. Benefactor, if it’s not too much trouble, could you..."

His hand flashed with Spiritual Light revealing a smooth stone like jade. He handed it over sincerely, "In case the poison resurges uncontrollably, could I trouble you to give me some of the poison you swallowed earlier? This is a Communication Stone; I will devote the next period to cultivating in the Underground Palace. With the Communication Stone, we can contact each other at any time."

"If Senior needs, I’ll try to find some more Bee Venom as backup." Jiang Yuan accepted the Communication Stone, and the system immediately provided usage details.

Indeed, it was very similar to a mobile phone in the real world, capable of adding friends, contacting, and even sending location signals. He had now added the old dragon Zhou Jian as a "friend" with this Communication Stone, able to contact and even "send videos" at any time.

But this Communication Stone doesn’t need charging; however, every use will consume a corresponding amount of Spiritual Power. Once Spiritual Power is depleted, he’ll need to switch to a new stone for use.

Zhou Jian was finally reassured with the other’s promise and, after expressing endless gratitude, handed over a pile of gifts, personally escorting him to the entrance of the Underground Palace.

"Venerable!" Bai Yunqi, hearing Chan Yu recount the entire story, felt regret for not insisting on following the Venerable inside to see the True Dragon. Seeing him emerge, she immediately greeted him, then sensed a bloodline pressure from him at once, freezing her movement as she activated Spiritual Power to defend herself.

Hu Zhile wasn’t much better off, either.

Dragons are the leaders of all beasts, and although Zhou Jian was transformed from the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Vein, he was still a genuine dragon, whose aura, even when restrained, would cause demon cultivators to sense oppressive bloodline power.

"Mister, Senior." She stepped forward obediently, covering up her slight trembling with a gesture of greeting.

Jiang Yuan knew the obsession of a contracted pet, even boasting to oneself to be a dragon; seeing a True Dragon leaves no reason not to introduce it.

"Senior Zhou, these are my two friends." He first introduced his own pet to the old dragon, and then also introduced Hu Zhile.

"Have you cultivated the Devouring Technique?" Zhou Jian, with potential for divine appointment since birth, had years wasted by poison erosion and suppression leading to lowered cultivation level, yet still at heights beyond the reach of Bai Yunqi and others.

With just a glance, he saw through much. Zhou Jian, asking Jiang Yuan for help and sensing in his haze the assistance these two provided in removing suppression seals, wished to express thanks, to guide them lest karma hinder transcendence.

He promptly advised, "But you’ve only cultivated the Body Technique, lacking the Heart Method. Using the Devouring Technique alone is likely to lead to the evil path."