Almost the same words, the same tone, made Yuan Shanglong’s already gloomy expression become even more sullen.
"If you want to understand the situation, let your people come to me personally for that."
Not giving Yuan Shanglong any chance to speak, Ji Haoyuan led Liu Hongyu and a few others straight past them.
From beginning to end, neither the young man in black nor the others present dared to say a word, let alone stop them.
It was only when the figures of Ji Haoyuan and his companions disappeared completely.
The young man in black and the others cautiously looked at Yuan Shanglong, hesitantly saying:
"Senior Brother Yuan..."
Yuan Shanglong’s sharp gaze immediately turned to them, causing their hearts to skip a beat.
Fortunately, Yuan Shanglong didn’t say anything else and instead ordered them to continue their investigation at the medicine garden.
After returning to Yuan Guang City, Ji Haoyuan and his group went to the task hall to hand over the task.
Subsequently, he took out the Storage Bag obtained from slaying the Demon Cultivator at the medicine garden and had the responsible cultivator opposite check it.
After confirming that the owner of this Storage Bag was indeed the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Netherworld Sect, the task hall added a merit for Ji Haoyuan.
According to the regulations of Yuan Guang City.
Anyone who kills a cultivator of the same realm from the Netherworld Sect can receive different amounts of merit based on the opponent’s cultivation and identity.
Every time a sect war breaks out, low-level Qi Refining cultivators are often the ones who die the most.
Even for Foundation Establishment cultivators like them, there’s a relatively high chance of falling if things go wrong.
Especially for cultivators from sect-affiliated families like them.
They are usually the first among those who die.
After leaving the task hall, Ji Haoyuan distributed the merits earned from clearing the Poisonous Swamp according to the pre-arranged method to Liu Hongyu, Feng Wanqing, and Qiu Zeyuan.
Finally, he said to the three:
"Next, I must first go to greet the True Man. The allocation of our gains from the medicine garden can wait until I return. I trust the three of you won’t mind?"
Hearing this, the three shook their heads.
"Haoyuan, you should hurry to the True Man. We won’t keep him waiting long. We’re not in a rush here."
At this moment, whether it was Liu Hongyu, Feng Wanqing, or Qiu Zeyuan, they all knew that their smooth return was thanks to Ji Haoyuan.
What’s more, just relying on their own gains from this trip was already considerable, far beyond their expectations.
Even if Ji Haoyuan didn’t distribute any more to them, they wouldn’t have a single complaint.
But Ji Haoyuan was clearly not that kind of person.
After all, on this trip to the medicine garden, Liu Hongyu and the others contributed significantly.
Especially in the competition for the Profound Sun Fruit.
If it weren’t for them holding back the companions of the sallow-faced cultivator, getting those two Profound Sun Fruits wouldn’t have been that easy.
When the time came, he wouldn’t shortchange them in what they deserved.
This was a principle, and the bottom line of Ji Haoyuan’s way of doing things.
Walking straight along the road ahead.
After spending some time, Ji Haoyuan finally arrived at a cave dwelling with layers of array restrictions.
This was the cave dwelling of Master Binghuo in Yuan Guang City.
Ji Haoyuan noticed that there were no traces of Crimson Sunset Sect cultivators around this cave dwelling.
Nor were there any so-called guards for the cave.
Normally, around the cave or mountain peak of a Golden Core True Man, there would be cultivators stationed as guards.
This is both an indication of status and for ease of transmitting personal orders.
But everyone’s personality differs.
Golden Core True Men are no exception.
However, in such matters, Ji Haoyuan didn’t dare to casually speculate.
Concerning the actions of Golden Core True Men, not deliberately guessing was better; guessing wrong could lead to unnecessary complications.
Annoying the True Man would only lead to losses.
Thinking of this, Ji Haoyuan immediately took out from his body the Token engraved with blue and red, infused a trace of Magical Power into it, then bowed and saluted the cave dwelling before him, saying:
"This junior, Ji Haoyuan, comes to pay respects to the True Man."
As his words fell, a wisp of Divine Thought fell upon the Token in his hand.
Immediately after, the cave restriction that had been blocking his path rumbled open to him.
Seeing this, Ji Haoyuan did not hesitate and stepped into the cave before him.
As the visuals changed.
When Ji Haoyuan looked again, he found himself in a cave dwelling that was simple yet elegant.
The surroundings were rich with Spiritual Qi.
Just taking a light breath, he felt the Magical Power within him become faintly active.
It seemed the Spiritual Qi density here had reached the third tier.
Not daring to observe too much, Ji Haoyuan immediately saluted Master Binghuo, who was sitting cross-legged on a futon in front of him, saying: This content belongs to novel~fire~net
"This junior, Ji Haoyuan, greets the True Man."
Master Binghuo faintly responded with a "Hmm."
Soon, he felt a gaze gently falling on him.
Ji Haoyuan did not feel any oppression or probing from this gaze, only a normal observation.
Evidently, Master Binghuo did not casually display her authority as a Golden Core True Man.
Or perhaps, at this moment, she didn’t show Ji Haoyuan that kind of authority.
Finally, Master Binghuo spoke.
"The Yin Yang Profound Fruit you previously gifted me is quite significant for me at present.
Speak, what do you want or need help with?
As long as it’s within my ability, I won’t refuse."
Ji Haoyuan had envisioned many scenarios.
Yet he truly didn’t expect that the Golden Core cultivator, Master Binghuo, would so straightforwardly ask him what he desired.
Even explicitly stating that as long as it was within her ability, she was willing to help without refusal.
If it were anyone else, they might pretend to decline, or act courteously.
Some might even intend to keep this favor for greater benefits in the future.
These are human nature.
After all, a Golden Core True Man’s favor isn’t easy to come by.
If you have it, wouldn’t you save it carefully? How could you squander it so easily?
That’s the rationale, but Ji Haoyuan wouldn’t act like most people.
Because he understood that some people’s goodwill can be stored for future use, but for some, if you store it too long, you might end up with a "disaster."
At least when facing a Golden Core True Man, don’t entertain the thought of holding onto special goods for higher demand.
Your every word, action, and movement might have been thoroughly seen through by them, perceivable clearly without anything hidden.
Upon hearing Master Binghuo’s words, Ji Haoyuan immediately and modestly replied:
"The True Man overestimates it.
This gain, even without this junior, given your fortunate destiny, I believe you wouldn’t have missed it."
With that, Ji Haoyuan’s face finally showed a solemn look, then he bowed deeply to Master Binghuo again, his tone exceptionally earnest:
"Pardon this junior’s audacity, I earnestly implore the True Man to accept me as a disciple!"