40: The Mirror Demon died, and the fake elixir was formed.

"Not good."

The Ji Family Elder was pulled into the orb and immediately felt countless forces of refinement coming from his surroundings.

Under this power, his Divine Soul solidified at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Gradually, he was about to merge into one with this orb.

"Jie jie jie, this Lord shall live another life!"

Time passed bit by bit.

The Ji Family Elder struggled frantically, but he remained trapped by this refining power.

Just as the Mirror Demon concentrated all his attention on refining the opponent, he completely failed to notice a tiptoeing 'old six' sneaking up behind him.

Behind him, Qin Dong, who had been eavesdropping for a good while, quietly crept forward.

Circulating a Divine Soul Cultivation Technique, he manifested a long spear and aimed it at the Mirror Demon's rear.

He struck out ruthlessly.

"Ugh, wa!"

“Ah! How can it be you!”

The Mirror Demon's soul body was injured, and he turned his head with difficulty.

He immediately saw that face he hated to the bone, as well as those two signature thick eyebrows.

"Junior! I'll make sure you die a horrible death..."

"To hell with you."

Qin Dong circulated the Nanming Flowing Fire Canon, and a burst of Divine Soul fire capable of burning remnant souls attached to his foot.

With a fierce kick, he sent the Mirror Demon flying toward the orb.

With a 'pu' sound, the Mirror Demon was kicked into the interior of the orb.

At the same time, the Ji Family Elder's eyes inside the orb lit up, and he quickly seized this gap to drill out of the orb.

"Refine for me!"

The Ji Family Elder's Divine Soul escaped to the outside and immediately activated the orb with all his might.

Under the terrifying refining power, the Mirror Demon solidified layer by layer until his entire soul was about to turn into a False Core.

"You've harmed me again! Junior!!"

"Junior! I will curse you with an Ancient Divine Soul Poison Curse!"

"If you have the guts, tell me your name!"

The Mirror Demon spoke hideously inside the orb; he possessed a peculiar ancient secret technique that could cast a curse based on one's Innate appearance and name.

But he also understood that no matter how arrogant the opponent was, they would certainly not tell him their name.

"Hahahaha, this young Revered Master is Lin Hong! Lin as in forest, Hong as in flood."

"Go ahead and curse me if you can."

Lin Hong?!

A flash of desperation crossed the Mirror Demon's eyes as he resolutely used his last bit of strength to activate that Ancient Divine Soul Poison Curse... Meanwhile, at the Cloud Heaven Sect.

Inside a residence beneath a certain spiritual peak.

The real Lin Hong suddenly jolted awake from his cultivation, sweat soaking his entire body.

"What happened? Why do I feel a sense of lingering fear for no reason?"

"Damn it, who on earth is plotting against me?"

..."This young friend, who are you?"

The Ji Family Elder stared warily at Qin Dong while refining the Mirror Demon's soul.

He couldn't afford to be careless; he had seen what Qin Dong did just now very clearly.

This little fellow at the fifth level of Qi Refining was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

Furthermore, he must have cultivated some kind of technique that could cause damage to the Divine Soul.

Therefore, he couldn't let his guard down, fearing that the other party might give him a 'heart-chilling' strike if he wasn't careful.

Seeing this, Qin Dong quickly put away his spear and concisely and straightforwardly told the other party about the transaction process between him and the Ji siblings.

"So that's how it is. Then it really is thanks to you, young friend."

After hearing the explanation, the Ji Family Elder's expression softened a bit.

However, he noticed that Qin Dong kept one hand behind his back, moving it constantly.

Clearly, he was also on guard against him.

Qin Dong naturally didn't dare to be overconfident; he was currently setting up some measures within the other party's Sea of Consciousness.

Among the techniques he cultivated, there were several methods that could directly threaten the Divine Soul.

If the other party tried to go back on their word, he could detonate the other party's Sea of Consciousness and severely wound their Divine Soul.

It didn't matter if he earned Spirit Stones on this trip, but he definitely couldn't lose his life.

Ji Buer naturally knew what kind of tricks the other party was up to, because this was his Sea of Consciousness.

He could feel the talisman seals and array patterns the other party was arranging.

But he was still focusing all his strength on suppressing the Mirror Demon and could do nothing about it, only able to let it be.

Amidst the mutual wariness of the two people.

Time passed quickly, and the Mirror Demon's Divine Soul had completely merged with the orb.

The orb turned pitch black, emitting layers of pressure.

A look of joy appeared in the Ji Family Elder's eyes, along with an unconscious hint of fanaticism.

He saw the opportunity to break through his realm.

Seeing that the other party had completed the refinement, Qin Dong tactfully withdrew from the Divine Sense space.

In the outside world, Qin Dong regained consciousness.

He circulated his movement technique and quickly retreated several hundred meters away.

In the distance, the Ji Family Elder sat cross-legged on the ground like a king of heaven and earth, radiating an invincible and powerful Aura.

That Aura was like a surging torrent, sweeping in all directions.

It seemed to invisibly oppress every living being, making people feel awe and trembling.

"Golden Core formed!"

This low-voiced declaration seemed to shake the surrounding air, echoing across the wasteland for a long time.

Even though this was just an illusory False Core, its existence undoubtedly heralded that he had already stepped into the Golden Core Realm.

The old man's figure was reflected even more majestically under the moonlight, with the radiance of a Golden Core Cultivator flickering around him.

After today, my Ji Family of Misty Moon City ascends to a Golden Core Family!

"Hahahaha, I've succeeded!"

"Golden Core! This is truly the Golden Core! Marvelous!"

Ji Buer felt the surging True Essence and vigorous vitality within his body, and his face lit up with joy.

"Junior Cloud Heaven Sect Disciple Lin Hong congratulates Senior on your promotion to Golden Core Immortal Master!"

Qin Dong's voice drifted from afar, bringing the Ji Family Elder back to his senses.

Ji Buer thought to himself: "This fellow has so many schemes; fearing I might move against him, he even took the lead to report the Cloud Heaven Sect's name."

"This time is thanks to you, Junior. This Immortal Master shall call the shots!"

"The reward my Ji Family promised you will be doubled!"

Ji Buer waved his hand; a mere few thousand Spirit Stones was something the Ji Family could well afford.

Now that he had ascended to the Golden Core, this small Misty Moon City was no longer worthy of their noble Ji Family, and moving the Family was only a matter of time.

Spirit Stones, land—all of it would be theirs.

"It is all due to Senior's Divine Might and deep accumulation, achieving the Dao and becoming a Golden Core in a single day."

"In the future, Senior's Golden Core fame will surely spread throughout the entire Donglin Prefecture."

Qin Dong was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed in greeting. A few flattering words flew over, making Ji Buer so happy he couldn't stop smiling.

"Alright, let's head back to Misty Moon City first."

"You are a great benefactor of my Ji Family. Before the victory banquet ends tonight, you shall accompany this old man in a night-long battle!"

...Cough cough cough, can we remove that last request?

Ji Buer pointed a finger, and a mass of Golden Core Realm True Essence enveloped Qin Dong.

Seeing that the other party had no Killing Intent, Qin Dong naturally allowed the action.

Ji Buer circulated his Golden Core True Essence, and in the next moment, two streaks of light flew back in the direction they had come from... Inside Misty Moon City, flames filled the sky.

"Quick, save people, hurry and save people."

"There are still people in the ruins. Who can still use True Essence? Come over and lift the stones."

The shocking upheaval at the Ji Family estate soon spread throughout Misty Moon City.

In a single day, the vast Ji Family estate was destroyed, leaving behind stretches of ruins.

Of the original three Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators, only one remained, and he was in a severely crippled state.

Under such circumstances, it naturally aroused the greed of other forces in Misty Moon City.

Soon, several major forces in Misty Moon City actually chose to join forces and deploy troops.

They mobilized numerous Cultivators under their command to set out overnight, urgently wanting to annex the Ji Family's various industries.

"All Ji Family Disciples, abandon all industries and return to defend the estate!"

"Shuang'er, Yu'er, how much longer until your Revered Master arrives?"

Inside the Ji Family ruins, Ji Tianchuan sat slumped on the ground, powerlessly directing the follow-up matters.

It was over; the Ji Family's centuries of foundation were destroyed in an instant.

Ji Tianchuan's heart felt like it was on a roller coaster, leaving him numb.

"You dare to move against my Ji Family? Do you not fear the Cloud Heaven Sect's retaliation!"

"Cloud Heaven Sect? After this matter, we will take everything and migrate the entire clan! Would they act for a destroyed Family?"

"When the time comes, we'll push the blame onto rogue Cultivators. What will the Cloud Heaven Sect do then?"

"Charge! Slaughter your way into the Ji Family estate; don't let a single man, woman, old, or young escape!"

"Exterminate the Ji Family!"

A leader of a major force in Misty Moon City arrived with countless Cultivators behind him, surrounding the Ji Family from several areas.

With the blood moon in the sky, almost half of the large and small forces in Misty Moon City had come out in full force, eager to take a few more bites of the Ji Family's fat meat.

What is most important in the cultivation world? Resources!

Resources are strength!

The cultivation world never lacks the bold.

Blood and Killing Intent continued to spread.

"We Ji Family Disciples are not the type to surrender!"

"Ji Family Disciples, hear my command: not a single step back!"

Numerous Ji Family Disciples fought back bravely, clashing with the invading enemies, as people fell beside them from time to time.

"Family Head... save me..."

"Ji Tianchuan, your Ji Family is already finished. Why not surrender?"

The leader of that force sneered, surveying the battlefield with a voice full of a victor's contempt.

Ji Tianchuan stood up with difficulty. Although his body was covered in wounds and dripping with blood, his Aura did not diminish in the slightest.

His eyes held determination: "If you want my Ji Family to perish, let's see if you have the ability!"

"Bang!" His Foundation Establishment cultivation erupted once more.

Ji Tianchuan burned his natal essence blood, his entire Aura surging like a storm, intending to fight to the death.

"This old fellow is going to risk his life. Everyone, be careful."

"Hmph, still stubborn even when death is at hand!" A force leader sneered, his eyes full of contempt.

"We'll hold him back. You guys go and kill the people inside!"

"Fellow Daoists, the Ji Family's belongings are first-come, first-served!!!"

"Treasures and women, take whatever you want."

Hearing his words, excited shouts surged through the crowd like a tide.

Desire ignited the hearts of many Cultivators, as if the treasures and women before them were already within reach.

The leaders of several forces waved their hands, passing down the orders.

Countless Cultivators rushed toward the core area of the Ji Family estate like a tide.

Their eyes flashed with a frantic and hungry light.

In the ruins, the two sides clashed like two surging torrents.

Although the Ji Family Disciples were fewer in number, every one of them was incredibly brave, vowing to defend the Family's dignity to the death.

In the thick of the battle, Ji Lingshuang and Ji Lingyu also fought hard against the enemies.

Although they were exceptionally gifted, they were still young and found it difficult to contend with those battle-hardened Cultivators.

"Don't take those two's lives, but don't let any other Ji Family members go!" The leading chiefs were clearly wary of the Cloud Heaven Sect's power and still had some bottom lines.

But for the other ordinary Ji Family members, they showed no mercy, slaughtering them all.

On the ground of the ruins, Ji Family Disciples fell one by one, their blood gathering like small streams, staining the quiet night red.

As time went on, the number of Ji Family Disciples decreased at a rate visible to the naked eye.

The Cultivators who had been watching from the sidelines finally couldn't hold back and joined the fray one after another.

Like a wild feast, everyone was so excited they couldn't contain themselves.

"The Ji Family shall be destroyed today!" Shouts from the battle rose and fell, permeated with heartless Killing Intent.

"Hahaha, the Ji Family's centuries of heritage are our spoils today!"

Just then, a long whistle suddenly came from the sky.

With a strong gust of air, a figure streaked across the sky like a meteor and landed above the Ji Family ruins.

"Who dares to speak of destroying my Ji Family?!!!"

Everyone looked up and saw a young man wearing the Ji Family's attire, suspended in the night sky.

The silent moonlight shone on this young man, who was covered in a terrifying Aura and cold Killing Intent.

Like the high-hanging moon, he illuminated this blood-colored ruin.

His gaze was like lightning, and his cold, heartless eyes scanned everyone present.

The leaders of those forces and the many Cultivators who were looting all stopped their actions, their spirits dazed.

“Gol... Golden Core... Old Ancestor!!!”

Ji Tianchuan's face was covered in tears: "Elder, is it you?"

Ji Buer nodded heavily.

"It's me!"