My Informative Cultivation Life

The welcome banquet lasted until sunrise, and only then did everyone reluctantly disperse, not forgetting to laugh and say farewell to Yang Ji as they left, trying to become familiar faces and leave a good impression.

Yang Ji also responded with a smile, even though his body was in Cao's camp, his heart was with Han, he would not show it, he had to save face.

After the crowd had left, Mang Biao mentioned arranging accommodations for Yang Ji and led him to a quiet room behind the main hall.

Opening the door and windows, one could see the sea, far from the hustle and bustle of the front court, quiet and comfortable, which was to Yang Ji's liking.

"Brother, I know you like peace and quiet, so I brought you to the back hall. Behind this is a sheer cliff, and people generally won't disturb you. If you need anything in the future, just speak up, don't be too polite with big brother," Mang Biao said with a carefree laugh.

"Hmm," Yang Ji glanced at him and nodded slightly.

"Then, brother, you rest and recuperate your mind and spirit, I won't bother you anymore," Mang Biao said with a smile, and then he left the room.

Yang Ji looked at the door for a moment, deep in thought, and remained still.

He then took a Demon Essence Pill and began cultivating.

At night, he contemplated the Sword Dao and cultivated the Humanoid Weapon.

Days like this continued for three days.

That night, taking advantage of the moment Mang Biao's vigilance was relaxed, Yang Ji opened the door and quietly soared into the sky.

But no sooner had he flown from the island than he saw a flash in front of him, and suddenly there was someone in front of him.

With such fast speed, appearing before him in the blink of an eye, who else could it be but Mang Biao?

"Ahem, little brother, feeling stuffy from cultivating and came out for some air? It just so happens the moonlight is nice tonight; I also brought wine. How about we admire the moon together from above?" Mang Biao said with a laugh, holding a wine jug.

"This guy is really surveilling me in secret; looks like trying to sneak away is not going to work," Yang Ji frowned inwardly, glanced at Mang Biao, and feigned a nonchalant smile, "No thanks, I'm practicing my flying technique. Maybe next time."

After turning around, he flew back to his room.

In the days that followed, he tried to find an opportunity to slip away every day.

Yet each time he tried to fly out from the island, Mang Biao would be there with a beaming smile to keep an eye on him.

Yang Ji realized that he was under a form of soft imprisonment by Mang Biao.

He really had no choice.

He felt quite frustrated; despite being well-fed and well-drinked on the island, not being able to leave the island was troubling for him.

After several attempts, he gave up.

It seemed stealthily escaping was impossible.

Another five days passed in this manner.

That evening, there was a knock on Yang Ji's door: "Brother Dao, are you there?"

"Jin Suanpan?" Upon hearing this, Yang Ji suddenly opened his eyes, seething with silent indignation, "Jin Suanpan, damn it, you finally came."

He got up, opened the door, pulled Jin Suanpan in fiercely, darkened his face, and demanded,

"You really have a big mouth. You said you had to blabber about my alchemy skills being better than Chang Yuan's? Now this Mang Biao thinks I'm an Alchemy Master and has me under house arrest. Hurry up and call over the three Golden Core elders of the Jin Family to rescue me."

Jin Suanpan said with a wronged expression, "Ah, I didn't think that much at the time, and I never revealed your existence. I just said that the person who concocted the Temptating Demon Pill is no worse than Chang Yuan. I didn't expect they would set their sights on you. These sneaks actually followed me secretly, they're so cunning."

Yang Ji took a deep breath but hesitated to speak, finally letting out a light sigh, "It seems that I have not been cautious enough. I should have moved locations more often, I should not stay in one place too long."

Jin Suanpan said weakly, "Even if you moved, it would be pointless. They were tracking me. Unless you stop trading with me, they'll always be able to find you."

"It seems that too much trading will inevitably get one noticed. My strength is not strong enough after all," Yang Ji exhaled and said.

"So what now? Do we still trade or not?" Jin Suanpan asked.

"Trade, of course, we trade. Now that I'm on Black Wind Island, things are already bad enough – it's not like I can be abducted by a Nascent Soul True Monarch, can I? You go ahead and trade with confidence," Yang Ji said, with a carefree attitude like a pig not afraid of scalding water.

"Alright then, here's some Demon Companion Herb for you. I've run out of Temptating Demon Pills on me, so you cook up a few batches. I'll stay here tonight," Jin Suanpan said while offering the Demon Companion Herb.

Unaware, Jin Suanpan didn't notice that Yang Ji's face had darkened. Three breaths later, Jin Suanpan finally saw the fury in Yang Ji's glare.

"Brother Dao, you..."

"What 'you'? You're still planning to stay here? Hurry up and call forth the elders of the Jin Family to deal with this situation," Yang Ji said angrily.

"Cough cough, well..." Jin Suanpan scratched his head guiltily, "Honestly, our Jin Family are just businesspeople, unlikely to confront Mang Biao on your behalf, he's after all a Golden Core True Person. So..."

"So I'm on my own, huh?" Yang Ji looked at him askance.

"That seems to be the case," Jin Suanpan said with an apologetic smile, "Brother Dao, you have food and shelter here, and protection from people. Besides, you've become the Second Master of the Island. Just enjoy it, there's no need to fret."

Yang Ji gave him a sidelong glance and kicked him right out of the room.

...

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had gone by.

Indeed, as Jin Suanpan said, aside from not being able to leave the island, Yang Ji was well fed, well respected, and looked after.

Yang Ji had no choice but to slowly adapt.

By day, he consumed Demon Essence Pills with all his might to advance his cultivation, and at night, he practiced his Humanoid Weapon and contemplated the remnants of the Sword Dao.

Another night arrived, after swallowing a Demon Essence Pill and letting the Spiritual Power vortex refine it on its own, he then took out the Jade Slip of Sword Dao shadow to continue his contemplation.

The Humanoid Weapon was a Great Divine Power technique, and he was able to grasp the basics quickly because there were ready-made scriptures for contemplation.

The Sword Dao shadow was different, however; it only contained an image of sword practice, embodying strands of Sword Intent, making it hard to comprehend the intricacies within.

At this moment, Yang Ji's Divine Sense once again probed into the Jade Slip, peeking at its secrets.

The first thing that entered his vision was a middle-aged man holding a Radiant Long Sword.

Clad in snow-white robes, his refined and handsome features carried a calm and gentle smile. His whole being radiated a Spiritual Charm, resembling a high being who had ascended to immortality, exuding an unworldly air of carefree freedom.

Yet, an utterly different demeanor burst forth from this seemingly gentle and scholarly middle-aged cultivator at the moment he drew his sword. His brows seemed to explode with infinite Sword Qi, transforming his temperament drastically. His body became sharp as a sword, ready to pierce the heavens.

He executed a sword stroke, just one move, a single slash that transformed myriad flows of Sword Qi into a vast, dazzling silver arc that swept across thousands of miles, slantingly cleaving the skies with overwhelming dominance and unstoppable force.

Yang Ji had watched this single move for a year and practiced it for a year.

Despite the Golden Finger's corrections, and his swordplay now carrying a significant essence, he was still unable to grasp even a tenth of the Sword Dao's profundity within that one stroke.