Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Since Gugu accidentally developed the Soul Shield ability after swallowing tens of thousands of Soul-Holding Ants and advancing to Tier One Late Period twenty-eight years ago, its spiritual sense has always been undetectable.

Once anything related to Divine Soul touched its body, it would pass by as if it was perfectly natural.

Moreover, in these years, especially during those first few years of the second life in the Yan Family, when he roamed the depths of the Desert with the Ant Queen, following the method taught by Li Ji’an to raise the Ant Queen, the countless Soul-Holding Ants born by the Ant Queen each year became its meal, continuously enhancing this ability.

Even now, with my Divine Sense comparable to a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, it’s difficult to sense it, even if it’s right behind me.

Besides, that guy is now deep underground, thirty yards down!

”A Divine Favored? Or some other mysterious power I don’t understand?”

”Did Granny You take it in unintentionally or because of this mysterious power?”

”Does it refuse to let Xiaoqiao follow the Sect because it senses it can’t escape unscathed, or is it worried about the Sect discovering its uniqueness?”

In an instant, countless random thoughts flooded Li Ji’an’s mind.

”Xiaoqiao, can you see it?” Calming his heart, Li Ji’an approached the yard and tested.

Xiaoqiao slightly raised her head and then nodded.

”Where is it now?” Li Ji’an used the Spirit Pet Contract to move Gugu to a neighboring courtyard.

Xiaoqiao’s gaze instantly shifted.

”And now?”

...

After several tests, it was completely confirmed.

During this process, Li Ji’an fully opened his Divine Sense, not missing any aura, yet he didn’t feel any Power of the Divine Soul on Xiaoqiao.

Nor did he find anything abnormal in her not yet fully developed Dantian.

”Then...”

However, just as he was about to continue his investigation, Xiaoqiao’s eyes suddenly flashed with fear, and she instinctively moved away.

”Whew~ Xiaoqiao, don’t be afraid, uncle is a good person.” He then stopped probing further.

”Gugu~” Summoning Gugu out.

”Gugu~” The moment Gugu emerged from the ground, a rare smile finally appeared on Xiaoqiao’s face.

”Big Toad.” She then wanted to reach out and touch Gugu.

”Gugu~” Gugu turned around, facing away from her, and even rolled its eyes with a very human-like expression.

Li Ji’an smiled and patted Gugu’s head, saying to Xiaoqiao, ”It’s not a big toad, it’s a big frog, and its name is Gugu.”

”Gugu.” Xiaoqiao softly called out again.

”Gugu~” This time, Gugu reluctantly turned around.

Li Ji’an didn’t disturb them anymore, turning to enter his own Alchemy Room.

When Granny You came to say goodbye today, he had just stabilized his Qi Cultivation 9th Layer, preparing to use more refined and pure magical power to draw a Tier One Late Period Teleportation Talisman.

The reason he prioritized attempting the Teleportation Talisman was because of its unparalleled escape ability.

Back at Yan Family’s herb garden, the Tier One beginner Small Shifting Talisman made by Yan Kongyi himself could cover dozens of miles in an instant, which had long made Li Ji’an envious.

However, in the Cultivation Realm, with various Escape Techniques, Qi Manipulation, Flying Spiritual Artifacts, and other existences, as well as the Shifting ability and Spiritual Sense Perception, covering dozens of miles is far from enough.

But the Late Period Teleportation Talisman Li Ji’an wanted to attempt now would already be enough for him to escape from a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Even at Lower Grade, it can instantly cover three hundred miles.

However, this piece of Talisman Material required the Upper Grade Lixuan Branch, and the price of just the materials cost him ninety Spirit Stones, which made the cost a bit too high.

If not for thoroughly studying and improving upon the Talisman Dao inheritance gifted by Yan Kongyi over the past six years, he wouldn’t dare to use it for practice.

However, due to Xiaoqiao causing some disturbance to his state of mind, he didn’t plan to continue. Mind state affects not only cultivation but also greatly impacts many arts.

He carefully put away the Talisman Materials, calming and concentrating his spirit.

After a long time.

”Whew~” Exhaling slowly, Li Ji’an’s mind gradually calmed.

Feeling the stabilized Qi Cultivation 9th Layer magical power within his body, he felt relieved, yet silently sighed.

From stepping into cultivation in the previous life to today’s stable Qi Cultivation 9th Layer, he had gained a deeper insight into the difficulties of cultivation here.

Especially based on the ancient legends heard over the years, his heart yearned for the Ancient Times.

It is said that some relics unearthed over these years indicate that back then, Heaven and Earth Taoist Skills were natural, Laws perfect, human cultivators cultivated, and even if they weren’t extraordinary in comprehension or favored by the Celestial Dao, just by absorbing Spiritual Qi and refining Magical Power like now, there was Destiny assistance. Even the properties of Spiritual Qi between Heaven and Earth were different, needing no extra resources, and just by absorbing Spiritual Qi and refining Magical Power, both the pace and the effectiveness were good.

However, nowadays, putting aside the two bottlenecks in Qi Refining Stage, even for cultivators with the same Spirit Root, same situation, and same Cultivation Technique, whether there are Pill Medicines to aid and supplement during cultivation leads to vastly different outcomes.

If in the past six years he didn’t have enough Pill Medicines to supplement, he might barely have broken through to the Qi Cultivation 8th Layer by now.

The key is that Pill Medicine also affects the power and potential efficacy based on its quality.

If he had only used genuine Pill Medicine or Middle Grade Pill Medicine, considering the drug tolerance and toxic impacts, he might not have reached his current level.

Luckily, with a strong Divine Soul and extraordinary comprehension, and just barely sustaining with Alchemy Skill.

It’s just that throughout these six years, he has hardly saved any Spirit Stones.

Fortunately, now after reaching Qi Cultivation 9th Layer, needing to further fortify Magical Power and stabilize the realm, he doesn’t need to consume a large number of premium Pill Medicines. He should be able to save some Spirit Stones afterward.

Accumulating Foundation Establishment Pill materials little by little.

After a while, he spread out the Talismans he created during these years from his Storage Pouch.

The seven Mid-term Talismans he left the Yan Family with have already been sold at other shops, leaving only five now.

One Late Period Upper Grade Golden Saber Talisman has the full power of a Qi Cultivation Peak Gold Element and can almost instantly shatter Yan Hongsheng’s family Qi Cultivation Peak’s Dharma Shield, even injuring his physical body.