The Villainous Senior Brother Doesn't Want to Wash White [Transmigration] - Chapter 45

Realizing the situation, Ji Yanqing snapped out of the “unfortunate” news of forming a High-Grade Golden Core and began observing his surroundings.

Previously, because of the mechanical dragon’s protection, most of his attention had been drawn to the beast, causing him to miss the abnormalities. He stowed the M416 and walked toward the fallen creature.

Though his single shot had incapacitated it, Ji Yanqing’s divine sense now revealed that the dragon’s actual cultivation was only at the mid-stage of the Spirit-Gathering Realm. Someone had forcibly boosted its power to the peak of the realm just for their encounter. Furthermore, the scorch marks on the ground weren’t from a soul-destroying True Fire, but merely common flames.

With Ji Yanhui’s frost Qi, he should have been able to defend against it easily.

Ji Yanqing glanced at Ji Yanhui. The man seemed to have noticed the discrepancy as well; his hand instinctively touched the arm that had been “charred” by the fire snake, his expression thoughtful. If he had truly been struck by such powerful flames, the injury wouldn’t have vanished the moment the dragon fell.

The scene was riddled with holes. Ji Yanqing recalled the Spirit Artifact’s earlier words: “Anyway, you’ll find a way out.” Clearly, the brat knew something.

Ji Yanqing summoned the spirit from the M416 and asked through divine sense: “What happened just now? Is there someone else here besides us?”

Having bonded during the fight, the M416 was now Ji Yanqing’s spiritual tool, and the spirit was bound to him. Even a bratty spirit should answer his master honestly. Yet, the boy shook his head in terror. “I can’t say! If I do, being melted into a smoke grenade might be the best ending I can hope for.”

Ji Yanqing: So you really want to be a smoke grenade?

He had several ideas for the rifle’s future forms, but those would have to wait until they returned. For now, the spirit’s reaction confirmed his suspicion.

This was a setup. A setup by the Emperor of Fengdu. But to what end?

To prevent them from taking the Cloud Pendant? To teach Ji Yanhui a lesson? Or… was it specifically to force him to form a High-Grade Golden Core?

He could understand the first two, but the third seemed absurd. He wasn’t the Emperor’s son; why would the ruler of the Ghost Realm care so much about his cultivation progress? It was a bit… overbearing.

Since the group now had two Golden Core cultivators, breaking the barrier was effortless. Upon leaving the abyss, they found the Spirit-Gathering ghost waiting in a cloud carriage.

The ghost was stunned to see them return so quickly. He moved to congratulate them on retrieving the pendant, but his gaze fell on Ji Yanqing and he froze. “You… you actually formed a High-Grade Golden Core?”

In his past life, the ghost had been a normal cultivator whose progress was hindered by worldly attachments. Only after death and cutting ties with the past had he reached the Spirit-Gathering stage. He knew exactly how difficult a high-grade core was. His long-dormant heart felt a trace of bitterness, suspecting the Emperor had lent a hand. Still, even with an expert’s help, such a feat required the cultivator’s own enlightenment and a firm Dao heart.

“Mn,” Ji Yanqing replied, his voice devoid of joy.

Since everyone felt the need to mention it, he realized hiding his cultivation was now impossible. What mattered was how to deal with a plot that was spiraling further out of control.

Noticing his low spirits, the others assumed he was simply too overwhelmed with joy to emote. After all, for a cultivator, a High-Grade Golden Core was a monumental milestone. Who wouldn’t be ecstatic?

The group returned to the Ghost Palace in silence. Ji Yanqing noticed the palace had been refurbished; luminous pearls now brightened the halls, erasing the previous gloom. It felt like the world outside.

Under the ghost’s lead, they entered the main hall. They didn’t know the Emperor had been waiting for them, having drafted at least ten versions of his opening remarks. He had just finished the eleventh version when they arrived.

As they entered, the Emperor swept his failed drafts aside and struck a pose that looked both majestic and approachable, waiting for his “son” to arrive.

However, Ji Yanqing didn’t even look at him. He stepped forward and said: “Emperor, we have the Cloud Pendant. We are leaving the Ghost Realm now.”

Ji Yanqing had planned to contact Shen Xiao immediately for the return ritual, but since the Emperor had been helpful, he felt it necessary to say goodbye. More importantly—his bags of spiritual stones and his gluttonous white fluffball were still in the palace.

Leaving as soon as he returns?

The Emperor’s heart sank. He stood up and approached the group, handing an item to Ji Yanhui. “When your father gave me the pendant, there was also this. If you had come any later, the magic within might have faded.”

Ji Yanqing saw it was a recording-pen-like artifact. It seemed Ji Qixue had left many modern-styled items with the Ji family.

“Thank you,” Ji Yanhui said, his gaze toward the Emperor softening with gratitude.

The Emperor nodded and turned to Ji Yanqing. His melancholy eyes were filled with an overflowing tenderness and affection. His tone was earnest, carrying three parts anticipation and seven parts entreaty.

“I hope you will stay in the Ghost Realm. From now on, whatever you desire, I will bring it directly to you.”

The Emperor’s carefully prepared words failed him. He became clumsy in his speech, blaming himself for letting Ji Yanqing risk the abyss earlier. He stared at Ji Yanqing and asked tentatively: “Are you willing?”

Ji Yanqing: “…” What kind of development is this?

Before he could answer, Ji Yanhui and Qi Ye spoke in unison: “He is not!”