Chapter 820

Chapter 820: Take Care of Yourself

After Zhu Fengchun left, Ji Yun sat quietly on the cloud couch for a long time, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

Then he abruptly stood up and left the room, navigating the labyrinthine corridors of Qinyun Palace until he arrived at a tranquil and elegant courtyard.

In the courtyard stood a thick osmanthus tree, beneath which sat a white-haired Elder Wu, sitting cross-legged.

The old man’s eyes were closed, the left side of his face deeply wrinkled, his skin sallow and speckled with age spots.

Yet the right side of his face was smooth and radiant, glowing with vitality.

It was a striking contrast.

“Disciple Ji Yun…”

Ji Yun bowed deeply, his voice filled with reverence. “I pay my respects to my esteemed uncle!”

Elder Wu was not only Ji Yun’s elder but also an entry into the path cultivator, whose virtue and prowess placed him among the most revered figures in the Qinyun Alliance.

Yet he lived in seclusion within Qinyun Palace, detached from the alliance’s affairs, like a wandering cloud or a wild crane.

His status was truly transcendent.

Ji Yun would not have disturbed him unless absolutely necessary.

“Hmm?”

Elder Wu slowly opened his eyes.

One eye was clouded and dim, while the other was sharp and piercing.

He glanced at Ji Yun, who was kneeling on the ground, and said, “Ah, it’s Ji Yun. What brings you here?”

“Esteemed uncle!”

Ji Yun immediately recounted the entire sequence of events in detail.

He neither exaggerated nor omitted anything, including his covetous desire for the fierce beast and the underhanded methods he had employed, holding nothing back.

Ji Yun knew all too well that even the slightest hint of insincerity would not escape this ancestor’s discerning gaze.

If that happened, not only would he fail to gain assistance, but he might also face a harsh “lesson.”

He still remembered the punishments he had endured from Elder Wu in his childhood, and even now, the memory made his backside ache faintly.

Elder Wu listened patiently to Ji Yun’s account, then wore an expression that was almost a smile. “You’re still the same as you were in childhood—even your misdeeds are clumsy.”

Ji Yun’s face flushed crimson, leaving him at a loss for words.

This old cultivator had been stuck at the extraordinary state for a long time. Though he had reached the pinnacle, he had never been able to take that final step, and over time, the frustration had nearly become an inner demon.

Entry into the path cultivators not only ascended to a higher level of power but also greatly extended their lifespans. Ji Yun did not wish to end up as a pile of white bones after a century, so he had racked his brain for a way to break through.

In such circumstances, when a fierce beast suddenly appeared before him, how could he resist the temptation?

Ji Yun believed this was his chance to form the contracts.

However, to avoid drawing attention, he did not confront Wang Chen directly but instead schemed in the shadows.

Yet, just as his plan began to unfold, he was met with a powerful counterattack, resulting in damage to his foundation.

It took Ji Yun a full year to barely recover some of what he had lost.

However, this did not deter his thoughts; instead, it fueled his madness even more.

Because only by stripping away the Qi and blood essence of this fierce beast could he completely restore his foundation and maintain the possibility of entry into the path.

Additionally, Ji Yun sought to take revenge on Wang Chen!

So regardless of whether Zhu Fengchun came looking for him, Ji Yun wanted to settle the score with Wang Chen thoroughly.

Yet he also knew very well that with his current situation, facing Wang Chen would lead to more than just shame; he could very well lose his life.

He had no choice but to use his last trump card.

That was the venerable ancestor before him.

As for whether Elder Wu would help him, Ji Yun had no confidence, so he could only kneel humbly on the ground and wait for guidance.

“I am old.”

Elder Wu sighed and said, “The realm of the Supreme is destined to be out of reach; my lifespan is nearly at its end, so don’t think I will act against that young man.”

“Your disciple dares not!”

Ji Yun, in a panic, bowed deeply and said, “Esteemed uncle, please pretend I never came.”

Elder Wu shook his head and pulled out an ancient bronze bell from his robe, placing it before Ji Yun. “For the sake of your late master, I will help you this last time.”

“This is the Ten Thousand Beasts Bell, obtained from Elder Yao’s treasure. It can command fierce beasts below the eighth rank, and it should still be usable a time or two.”

“I will pass on the method of refining it to you; as for how to use it, that’s up to you.”

Ji Yun was overjoyed and repeatedly knocked his head in gratitude, “Thank you, esteemed uncle! Thank you so much!”

“No need for bowing anymore.”

Elder Wu waved his hand, “Take the Ten Thousand Beasts Bell, and our ties will be severed. Do not come looking for me again; I will not see you anymore. Take care of yourself!”

Ji Yun held the Ten Thousand Beasts Bell with both hands.

He was stunned.

By the time he regained his senses, he found himself outside the courtyard, with the gate closed tightly before him!

Even though he had received a supreme treasure, Ji Yun’s heart felt empty, as if he had lost the most precious thing.

He understood very clearly that his current identity was greatly tied to this esteemed uncle.

Without this connection, his status in the Qinyun Alliance would surely be unstable.

But now, it was too late for regrets!

Ji Yun tightly gripped the Ten Thousand Beasts Bell, and his expression turned sinister and ruthless.

In this situation, he had only one path to walk.

“Wang Chen!”

Wang Chen’s name came out from the cracks of this cultivator’s teeth, filled with deep-seated resentment and hostility.

At the same moment, far away, twenty to thirty miles away at White Deer Academy, Wang Chen, supervising the students’ daily training, felt a sense in his heart and glanced toward Taiwu City.

Taiwu City was the largest city in the Misty Mountains Realm, with no mist covering the area within several dozen miles of the city center.

Its geographical position was extraordinarily advantageous.

Since much of the land outside the city had been developed for many years, owned by various powerful organizations in the city, the Mo family had to put in quite a bit of effort to purchase this land for Wang Chen.

They built a medicine shop and an academy.

Although Caring World Hall still operated in the city, the common folk inside and outside Taiwu City seeking medical treatment would primarily come to the medicine shop.

Not only did they treat their own illnesses, but they also sent their children there, hoping they could study at White Deer Academy.

To change their impoverished destinies!

There were numerous private schools and martial arts schools in Taiwu City, but none could match White Deer Academy, which not only charged no tuition but also provided two free meals a day.

These two points alone were enough to attract countless individuals who would do anything to squeeze in.

Not to mention that the academy was run by an Immortal Master!

However, Wang Chen did not accept just anyone; students at the academy might be illiterate but could not possess a crooked heart. They could be weak and feeble but had to understand the importance of hard work.

Those who liked to cheat and be sly had no place here.

By the end of the year, the number of students at White Deer Academy had already exceeded three thousand!

And they, along with their parents, just like the countless patients treated by Caring World Hall, continuously brought Wang Chen a steady stream of merit and blessings!