It had only been less than two hours since they left for Baiyun Temple and the Zhao family, so the battles at the other three locations should not have concluded yet.
After leaving, the group did not return to the Three Blades Society but went directly to the Xuanyuan Temple.
As soon as they entered the Taoist temple, Zhao Yuansong placed Zheng Wanrong under the statue in the main hall. This hall was dedicated to deities of a continent, and with the protection of the Xuanyuan Temple patriarch's legacy, it could tip the balance between life and death a little more towards life.
This was the subtle effect of destiny.
Moreover, Zheng Wanrong had already taken several pills personally refined by Ji Yuan. As long as her wounds were properly treated, she would at least not be in mortal danger.
At this point, almost everyone present withdrew, leaving only Xu Qiqi to help with the wound treatment.
"Daoist Ji!"
Several guards stepped forward, their faces filled with gratitude.
Although they were Zhao family guards, they did not feel much attachment to the Zhao family, only acting for their pay.
Instead, they genuinely liked the young master of the Zhao family, not just because he was often close to them in the past.
More importantly, most of these men were martial artists who had spent their lives in the martial world until middle age. They found it difficult to look favorably upon women from the common folk and had no children of their own, so they were even more drawn to this lovable young master.
Originally, everyone had thought that Zhao Yuebai was beyond saving, but to have been rescued by Shou Chaoge and Ji Yuan together had filled these middle-aged men with immense joy.
Even Liao Qiming, the youngest of the four, felt the same. Since the day he became a Zhao family guard, he had cherished this young boy as if he were his own younger brother.
At this moment, Ji Yuan entered the small courtyard, met their gazes, nodded slightly, and then turned to look at his four senior brothers squatting outside the kitchen.
The eldest in the center was his first senior brother, Chen Shirong. To his left was the second senior brother, Liu Haoming, and to his right were the third and fourth senior brothers.
The four of them were supposed to be out, as they had accumulated a pile of spiritual services to perform. However, their master had placed them under house arrest, forbidding them from leaving the temple at this time.
When the four Zhao family guards arrived, their already suppressed mood became even more stifled. They felt as if their temple had become a place anyone could enter.
Unfortunately, they dared not speak their minds. Although they were skilled at performing spiritual services, they were not proficient in fighting, let alone in subduing ghosts or dispelling evil. They could only accumulate resentment.
Seeing their junior brother return, none of them had a pleasant expression. It seemed that their current frustrations could only be vented upon this junior brother.
Ji Yuan scanned them with his eyes and immediately understood the mood of his four senior brothers. He couldn't help but feel a little helpless. He wanted to explain something, but with outsiders present, it was not appropriate to say it out loud.
After a moment's thought, he turned and went back into his room. The people behind him immediately followed.
As he passed by his room door, he casually retrieved the talismans from the door and then walked straight to his bed.
Now, three thick layers of cotton quilts were spread on the hard wooden bed planks, and upon them lay the still unconscious Zhao Yuebai, exuding a strong vitality.
Ji Yuan sat by the bed and reached out to take the pulse of the seven or eight-year-old boy. He then sent a wisp of his vital energy into the boy's body.
After a long while, he withdrew his hand, his face showing a pensive expression.
Upon seeing the expectant gazes of the group, he roughly explained the boy's condition.
At present, Zhao Yuebai's body was filled with an astonishing amount of pure vitality, so pure that even if his limbs were severed, he could likely regenerate them with time.
Of course, this was a metaphor, and it was not possible to actually do so.
In addition to this rich and pure vitality, Zhao Yuebai's dantian and qi sea contained spiritual power equivalent to the peak of the second realm.
This was what the old locust tree had prepared for its own possession. However, at the critical moment, Ji Yuan had pierced its spiritual light with a sword, causing it to collapse between heaven and earth.
"As long as he refines it slightly in the future, he can directly begin his cultivation without needing to nourish his soul light."
Ji Yuan sighed, feeling a twinge of envy for Zhao Yuebai's fortune.
The boy's soul light had been nurtured by special means, and it had been infused with the soul power extracted by the old locust tree itself. He no longer needed to pore over Taoist scriptures and cultivate his soul slowly.
This was also why an evil entity, despite possessing the cultivation base of a peak second-realm cultivator, could only rely on its physical body for combat. Its soul was reduced to a mere spark of spiritual light, unable to control the vast spiritual power it possessed.
"He can even easily reach the second realm with some effort. As for how far he can go at this level, it depends on how he refines this spiritual power."
Zhao Yuansong stepped forward to examine, and then his mouth twitched slightly.
He himself had diligently cultivated in the outer sect for over ten years before finally breaking through the perilous realm of life and death.
Yet, the boy lying on the bed could easily reach the second realm in just a few years by simply refining the spiritual power left by the old locust tree.
Even if his refinement was crude, he might at least reach the mid-second realm, close to the late stage.
If he refined it carefully and purely, he would at least secure a mid-second realm cultivation.
Comparing the two, Zhao Yuansong almost lost his composure.
*Bang!!!*
Suddenly, the three middle-aged guards, led by the young guard Liao Qiming, knelt on one knee before Ji Yuan, who was sitting by the bed.
"What is this?"
The young Taoist looked confused, not understanding the intention behind the four men's actions.
The four exchanged glances, and then Liao Qiming spoke, "The Zhao family has been destroyed, and there is no possibility of rebuilding it. If this crisis passes, the imperial court will surely investigate all those involved.
"We implore Daoist Ji to show us a clear path, so that young master Yuebai does not have to suffer undue hardship!"
As his words fell, the four clasped their fists together and bowed deeply.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan was momentarily troubled. He was merely a young Taoist from a dilapidated temple. Even though he had embarked on the path of cultivation, he was only slightly known within the city of Qianyu.
Let alone the vast Great Yu Dynasty, even within a single commandery, he was not considered a significant figure.
"Actually, I think if you plan for Xuanyuan Temple to return to the Nine Xuan Sect, Zhao Yuebai could be taken in as a disciple."
Zhao Yuansong, standing beside him, suddenly smiled. "Your own situation is not worth mentioning. Zhao Yuebai's innate talent is quite good, and with this fortunate encounter, it is quite possible for him to reach the third realm in the future."
He stopped there, not elaborating further.
However, Ji Yuan had already grasped Zhao Yuansong's intent from these few words.
If Xuanyuan Temple were to return to the Nine Xuan Sect, despite the promised autonomy and a peak of inheritance from the sect's higher-ups, its strength and potential would still be somewhat lacking.
Compared to the other branches, which were teeming with talent, Xuanyuan Temple had only Ji Yuan and his fifth senior brother, Guo Tao, who were cultivators. This would undoubtedly attract the covetous gaze of some individuals.
After all, the autonomy and peak of inheritance represented not just honor, but also a tenth of the Nine Xuan Sect's annual resources.
If Zhao Yuebai were taken in as a disciple, Xuanyuan Temple would have a second-realm cultivator within a few years. Coupled with Ji Yuan's talent, he might also break through within a few years.
With two second-realm cultivators guarding the branch, while not formidable in the Nine Xuan Sect, it would be enough to secure their allocated resources.
Moreover, in ten or even several decades, Zhao Yuebai might very well reach the third realm.
A third-realm cultivator, even in the bustling capital, would be a highly sought-after figure, courted by various factions.
Besides status, third-realm cultivators were also known as great masters, whose strength was sufficient to roam the Great Yu Dynasty or secure a region for a faction.
For example, in the current county situation, if a third-realm cultivator were present, anyone who had spent centuries plotting in secret would have to withdraw all their schemes and flee to distant lands in disgrace.
"A third-realm cultivator would be qualified to serve as an elder, even within the Nine Xuan Sect."
Jiang He muttered, seemingly casually.
Although not an elder of the same lineage, their status would not be low. Coupled with the combat power and strength of a third-realm cultivator, it would be enough for the recently returned Xuanyuan Temple to establish a firm foothold within the sect.
The benefits of this were too numerous to enumerate in a short time.
These benefits were not just for Ji Yuan and Xuanyuan Temple, but also for Zhao Yuebai himself.
Upon hearing this, Liao Qiming and the other three's eyes lit up, and they all looked at the young Taoist with anticipation.
Ji Yuan, seeing this, couldn't help but let out a wry smile. He understood Zhao Yuansong's intention, which was clearly to draw him into the Nine Xuan Sect.
"Whether to let Xuanyuan Temple return to the Nine Xuan Sect is a matter to be discussed later, after we have overcome the current crisis."
He glanced at Zhao Yuansong, who was smiling beside him, with a rather helpless expression.
Then, Ji Yuan continued with a serious expression, "But I myself am merely a first-realm minor cultivator. How can I be qualified to take on any disciples?"
In his opinion, this would be misleading Zhao Yuebai and might even affect his future achievements.
However, Zhao Yuansong was unconcerned, thinking Ji Yuan was merely worrying himself unnecessarily.
"Do you really think it's that easy to achieve the second realm and beyond?"
He shook his head, filling Ji Yuan in on some common knowledge.
Taking the Great Yu Dynasty as an example, most cultivators within its borders were first-realm. To reach the second realm was enough to receive a noble title from the imperial court.
Although such titles came with no official power, only a decent stipend.
"Even in a first-class county, there are only a few first-realm cultivators. If one is lucky, there might be one or two second-realm cultivators who have managed to break through."
Zhao Yuansong said with a wry smile, "In some remote areas, a first-realm cultivator is enough to establish a sect and become a 'patriarch'."
Even within the Nine Xuan Sect, the number of second-realm cultivators was not large, at most thirty or forty. This was after cultivating hundreds of seedlings with spiritual talent for over ten or even several decades.
Furthermore, given Ji Yuan's current demonstrated talent and his good fortune, he was qualified to be Zhao Yuebai's master.
Not to mention that in the next few years, he had a high probability of reaching the second realm, and even the third realm would only be a matter of time, perhaps taking several decades.
A third-realm great master before the age of one hundred was considered exceptionally talented, a true prodigy.
Zhao Yuansong was thoroughly convinced of this.
"You, you, ultimately, still want me to bring all of Xuanyuan Temple's destiny and completely return to the Nine Xuan Sect."
Ji Yuan chuckled with feigned annoyance, then looked at Zhao Yuebai, who was still asleep. "Regarding taking a disciple, let's wait until he wakes up and understands what has happened before he makes his own decision."
In fact, he was already somewhat tempted, but he couldn't bring himself to force anyone.
Moreover, taking a disciple required mutual willingness; otherwise, there would be endless troubles in the future, even leading to patricide or the expulsion of a disciple.
In this regard, it was unlike martial artists from the jianghu, who often took in several or even a dozen disciples at once.
After thinking for a moment, he told them to find their own places to rest and not to disturb the sleeping boy, and then he got up and went directly to his master's room.