Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 70: Chapter 36: Beauty Has Faded

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tiezhu was most excited.

”What’s so unusual about Linxian?”

Compared to Li Ji’an, Dong Jiangling, and Zhao Shuyao, Zhu Linxian and Zhang Tiezhu were the youngest, and they had the best spirit roots.

Dong Jiangling slightly raised his head, recalling, ”Ten years ago, when the three of us went to the marketplace, Sister Zhao was the first to realize her shortcomings, so she decided to focus on survival and went to a shop, whereas Linxian, after understanding the potential of lower-grade spirit roots, resolutely went to the Biyun Sect!”

”Biyun Sect! Did she... qualify to go to the Biyun Sect?” Zhang Tiezhu exclaimed in surprise.

Ten years had passed, and they were no longer novices in the cultivation realm.

Their understanding of this cultivation realm was much clearer.

The region they were currently in was the southernmost part of Cangyun State in the Celestial Cyan Domain cultivation realm, and the Biyun Sect of Cangyun State was the largest sect in this state, being the only one led by a Core Formation True Man.

Which cultivator in this realm doesn’t want to join the Biyun Sect?

With over a thousand years of sect heritage, countless cultivation techniques and spells, numerous properties amassing vast resources, and teachings from the masters to impart knowledge and solve queries.

It represents the highest authority in Cangyun State, once joining the Biyun Sect, one could almost walk across the entire Cangyun State without hindrance.

However, the sect’s disciple recruitment criteria were very stringent.

Under the age of fifteen, with middle-grade spirit roots, and also needing to pass tests of heart nature and comprehension, selecting only the best.

Among the five of them, none could even pass the first age requirement.

Dong Jiangling shook his head, ”Of course, she didn’t go to take the sect entrance test, she went there to test medicine!”

”Test medicine!”

Zhang Tiezhu recalled, that when they first arrived in this area ten years ago, there was information about the Biyun Sect recruiting medicine testers in the United Marketplace’s branch pavilion.

”Indeed, Linxian’s desire for immortality was quite urgent. Upon knowing that the potential of the normal path was uncertain and required a very long time, she chose to become a medicine tester, learning from the Biyun Sect’s branch pavilion that the main pavilion of the Spirit Medicine Pavilion was recruiting medicine testers for a Pill Master to forcibly elevate spirit roots.” Dong Jiangling explained.

”What was the outcome then?”

”I later learned that the Spirit Medicine Pavilion’s tests, especially that Elder’s pill, were known to have a one-in-ten chance of survival... such uncontrollable risks, I avoided them that year.

I thought Linxian was likely doomed.

But three years later, during a relic exploration, I saw her from a distance, and she was accompanied by a disciple of the Biyun Sect.” Dong Jiangling recalled.

”Ah? Could it be that the medicine testing was successful? She joined the Biyun Sect!” Zhang Tiezhu was quite thrilled.

Dong Jiangling shook his head, ”I don’t know if it succeeded, or if she joined the Biyun Sect.”

”So you didn’t meet her then?”

Dong Jiangling looked slightly ashamed as he shook his head, ”Alas, at that time... just consider it my youthful spirit, not wanting the old acquaintance to see me in a sorry state.”

”She must have joined the Biyun Sect! To survive eighteen years in Absolute Spirit Land, and still have nine threads of spirit charm’s spirit root sensing, her foundation must be excellent, surely she found a way to repair her spirit root! She must have succeeded, she may even have reached Foundation Establishment by now!” Zhang Tiezhu was exceedingly excited, as if seeing hope for himself.

He immediately stood up and walked outside the inn, eager to see Zhu Linxian, to confirm completely!

”Sister Zhao...”

However, as he stepped out the inn door, he didn’t see Zhu Linxian but instead saw Zhao Shuyao standing alone by the street, gazing directly at their table.

In fact, Li Ji’an already noticed Zhao Shuyao quietly watching him when Dong Jiangling mentioned Zhu Linxian.

She had been there for a while but did not come in, only watching from a distance.

But Li Ji’an pretended not to notice, unwilling to reveal that his divine soul sensing was far superior to Dong Jiangling’s and Zhang Tiezhu’s.

”Sister Zhao!” Dong Jiangling also stood up immediately and cupped his hands toward Zhao Shuyao.

At this moment, he found he could finally face Zhao Shuyao calmly.

He once had feelings of admiration, yet due to her noble status as a royal princess, he always dared not look her directly in the eye.

And at this very moment, he suddenly realized, it seemed that the Zhao Shuyao who once captured his heart and soul wasn’t as incomparable as he had once thought...she was not much different from Lady Cui.

Li Ji’an was the last to stand up, looking at Zhao Shuyao, giving a slight nod.

As Zhao Shuyao faced Li Ji’an’s gaze, she could feel his subtle evasion and nervousness.

”Ah.”

Li Ji’an sighed softly in his heart, his strong spiritual sense already sensed that Zhao Shuyao had no magical power within her.

Not a trace!

In fact, this could be seen from her current appearance.

At thirty-eight, without the nourishment of magical power, her skin had dulled, crow’s feet appeared at the corners of her eyes, and her eyes no longer had the brilliance.

In fact, Zhao Shuyao’s looks were not particularly outstanding even in the Immortal Dynasty, and the reason she was once admired was largely due to her status.

Now in the cultivation realm, she was merely an ordinary mortal with a poor spirit root, although she had slightly better martial arts root bone.

Her vitality made Li Ji’an raise an eyebrow slightly, it was even stronger than his own now.

As she once mentioned in the letter to Zhang Tiezhu five years ago, she gave up the path of dharma cultivation, focusing on body cultivation, and received the support of her employer.

”It seems her employer is quite wealthy and generous!” Li Ji’an nodded silently.

As far as he knew, the cost of strengthening physique and refining vital energy in the late stage of Tier One body cultivation was several times that of the middle stage; the Thunder Flame Crystal he freelanced from Yan Hongsheng back then was worth over two hundred spirit stones.

Li Ji’an was now curious as to whether Zhao Shuyao could break through to the second tier of body cultivation.

Breaking through to the second tier of body cultivation requires a special second-tier demon core!

A second-tier demon beast is comparable to a human Foundation Establishment Taoist, and some special second-tier demon beasts are even stronger than most Foundation Establishment Taoists because some demon beasts might awaken second-tier talents when breaking through to the second tier.

Therefore, second-tier demon cores are quite precious here.

”Brother Li! Jiangling, Tiezhu.” After a moment of silence, Zhao Shuyao slightly bowed and greeted the three.

”Sister Zhao, please sit!” Dong Jiangling warmly and properly invited, no longer as eager as before.

”Sister Zhao, have you seen Linxian? Have you received any letters from her in recent years?” Zhang Tiezhu was more concerned about Zhu Linxian.

Because Zhao Shuyao had often corresponded with him a few years ago, he was well aware that Zhao Shuyao had abandoned the path of dharma cultivation.

”Please be seated,” Li Ji’an nodded and smiled.

After taking a seat, Zhao Shuyao first answered Zhang Tiezhu’s question, mentioning she hadn’t received any of Zhu Linxian’s letters since the second year.

She was unaware of Zhu Linxian’s whereabouts.

She then inquired about Dong Jiangling’s severed arm incident.

The atmosphere became a bit lively.

Yet, after prolonged close contact with the three of them, inadvertent expressions of evasion and inferiority flickered across her face.

Though Li Ji’an and the other two weren’t highly cultivated, they hadn’t reached eternal youth, time had left marks on their faces, but with the nourishment of magical power, their skin remained good.

At least, Li Ji’an, who was the same age as she was, appeared as a thirty-something uncle but his skin was well-maintained, free of wrinkles, clean and delicate, with a hint of mature charm.

Instead, it made him even more attractive.

As for her, she truly felt old now.

The beauty had faded, youth was gone!

”Aunt Yao, which one is your dream lover? Quickly, introduce them to me!”

Just as Zhao Shuyao was feeling restless, a voice as clear as a yellow warbler yet tinged with mischief suddenly rang out.

Zhao Shuyao’s face instantly changed color, hurriedly standing up.

”Yao Yao, don’t speak nonsense, I... I don’t have any dream lover!”

”Aunt Yao, you’re lying, you always taught me not to lie; humph, I’m going to tell my mom! Have her dock your salary.” A precocious little girl, about thirteen or fourteen, dressed in a fine magic robe, ran in, her bright eyes glancing over the three men, quickly settling on Li Ji’an.

”It’s you, isn’t it?”

”Yao Yao...” Zhao Shuyao felt like her heart was on tenterhooks, wishing there was a hole she could crawl into!