Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Receiving a message from Yan Qingwan, Li Ji’an felt somewhat reassured.

According to previous information, the Desert’s Eight Great Families are in chaotic battles, likely unable to determine a victor in a short time.

Moreover, these Eight Great Families are well-established cultivation clans in Cangyun State, even if a winner is eventually decided, they will adhere to the rules of Biyun Sect, not resorting to extermination.

However, the roving bandits of Celestial Origin Province acted recklessly, with crude methods and malicious intentions.

Yet, it surprised Li Ji’an somewhat that four months prior, Xiao Changfeng had reported this to the sect, and no one had been sent to pursue them yet?

Ten days later, Xiao Changfeng and Li Ji’an returned once more to the exterminated family.

Coincidentally, Biyun Sect’s Law Enforcement Team had just completed their investigation and cleanup.

”Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang.” Xiao Changfeng greeted from afar.

By chance, the steward leading the team was one of the three true inheritors who joined the sect with Li Ji’an during the entrance examination.

”Junior Brother Xiao, have you handled your personal matters? The sect is in need of people, it’s better to return early.” Jiang Yunzhou raised his eyes and nodded at Xiao Changfeng.

”Indeed, Senior Brother, this trip is meant for returning to the sect.” Xiao Changfeng clasped his fists in a salute.

Following this, Jiang Yunzhou looked towards Li Ji’an.

”Huh? It’s you, Li Fan.” Having reached the final round together back then, Li Ji’an had once praised him, Jiang Yunzhou instantly recognized Li Ji’an.

Feeling the Foundation Establishment aura emitted from him, Li Ji’an bowed his head and clasped his fists, ”Greetings, Senior Jiang.”

”Xiaoli, back then...you were somewhat young and impulsive.” Jiang Yunzhou remarked casually, they all had heard about Li Ji’an making his livelihood through alchemy skill in Immortal City.

”Senior Jiang’s teachings are correct.” Li Ji’an complied.

Seeing his attitude, Jiang Yunzhou did not pay further attention.

Xiao Changfeng considered for a moment and then said, ”Senior Brother Jiang, latest news, the roving bandits have reached the Desert, according to the Desert families, there are nearly a hundred, with at least three Foundation Establishment Taoists among them, do you know who the sect has dispatched? Are they well prepared?”

Jiang Yunzhou waved his hand, ”The sect is in need of people now, where do we have the manpower for this, leave it to the Desert Eight Families to resolve, or let the Five Great Clans handle it, we can’t rely on us for everything.”

Xiao Changfeng slightly frowned, he wanted to speak but held back eventually, clasped his fists in salute and took his leave.

Li Ji’an also felt a slight movement in his heart, though he had long suspected Biyun Sect had some secret activities over these years, perhaps they truly couldn’t spare manpower now.

Of course, maybe Biyun Sect also wanted to keep the various forces in the state busy.

Setting off again.

Along the way, Xiao Changfeng talked much less.

Li Ji’an continued planning his major task of Foundation Establishment.

Without achieving Foundation Establishment, he was just an ant; one wouldn’t have any means of self-preservation in Cangyun State, let alone meddling in other affairs.

Currently at Qi Cultivation 9th Layer, his magical power cultivation had reached the peak of the Qi Cultivation Stage, the next steps included enhancing magical power, transforming the dantian, and solidifying the transition from gaseous to liquid magical power for Foundation Establishment Stage, pills had little effect.

If he could obtain some heaven and earth spiritual objects, this process would complete quickly.

Alternatively, life-and-death magical combat, refining magical power, could also accelerate reaching the peak.

Given Li Ji’an’s current status, obtaining heaven and earth spiritual objects was nearly impossible, as for life-and-death magical combat, it wasn’t suitable for him, he could only rely on time.

However, at most three years to reach his peak condition.

”In three years, can the Fire Spirit achieve the power of Tier One Spirit Flame?”

”Foundation Establishment Pill material...”

Though Zhao Shuyao had previously comforted him, the material for Foundation Establishment Pill, which is difficult for ordinary loose cultivators and even Desert families, was not too challenging for Tong Yaoyao.

However, he currently had no Spirit Stones in reserve.

For the past six years, striving for Qi Cultivation 9th Layer drained him financially, capturing the Fire Spirit this time consumed much Spirit Supplement Pill and Spirit Trapping Talisman, depleting him almost entirely.

”Earn Spirit Stones!” Fortunately, his alchemy skill was proficient and talisman art had improved, he was somewhat famous in Immortal City, with many returning customers, his ability to earn Spirit Stones was commendable.

Three months later, he returned smoothly to Immortal City.

First reported to Nine Tripods Commerce Association, after being away for nearly a year, it was customary to notify upon return.

Zhao Shuyao mentioned several years ago she would venture out, she hadn’t returned yet, Li Ji’an presumed she was trialing with Tong Yaoyao, possibly no longer in Cangyun State, perhaps not even in Celestial Cyan Domain.

Upon arriving home, the warning talisman set by Granny You next door was not triggered.

Granny You was taken away by the sect, thus Immortal City should have reserved her residence.

The warning talisman surrounding Li Ji’an’s own residence was also intact, the hospital protection array functioned normally.

With Biyun Sect’s Law Enforcement Guards stationed, Immortal City indeed felt safer.

Besides the guards’ patrol, the city defense array constantly sensed the spiritual qi fluctuations within the city, any slight anomaly drew attention, historical records indicated there hadn’t been any major incidents for hundreds of years.

Although, there might be a few incidents covered up by the guards.

After carefully checking each corner of the courtyard, and letting Gugu and Xiaoqiao inspect the area ten feet underground, ensuring all was normal, Li Ji’an finally settled down again.

”Gugu~”

”Uncle Li, how’s Little Fire doing?”

Upon entering the house, Gugu and Xiaoqiao gathered around Li Ji’an.

They were equally curious about the Fire Spirit.

Li Ji’an smiled slightly and summoned the Fire Spirit.

In the past four and a half months, the Little Fire Spirit’s condition recovered significantly, the weakened Fire Spirit Mechanism from previous Spirit Trapping Talismans grew vigorous once more.

Moreover, upon close observation, after being nourished by Li Ji’an’s Dantian Fire Element Magical Power, the Fire Spirit grew denser and its color deepened slightly.

As it emerged, seeing a big frog head, it was immediately startled.

But it had a subtle affinity towards Xiaoqiao.

Li Ji’an communicated with the Fire Spirit, instructing it to restrain its fire aura, not to harm Xiaoqiao and Gugu, and to avoid setting the house ablaze.

So he began carefully sensing the condition of his dantian.

During the journey, as the Fire Spirit gradually recovered, he felt minute changes in the fire element magical power within his dantian, suspecting it was caused by the Fire Spirit.

At this moment, after careful sensing, he slightly raised his eyebrows.

Even though the Fire Spirit had left the dantian, the fire element magical power within the dantian remained as sensed during the journey, more pure and refined.

”Is it that while nourishing the Fire Spirit, impurities were removed, refining the magical power?”

This discovery pleased him greatly.

Originally worried that nurturing the Fire Spirit might cause delays in reaching Qi Cultivation Peak, unexpectedly, it brought benefits.

”When speaking of heaven and earth spiritual objects, this Fire Element Holy Spirit is certainly the ultimate spiritual object, having such effects is quite reasonable!” Having quickly realized the key points, Li Ji’an smiled brightly.

The heavens are by his side during fortunate moments!

Li Ji’an even suspected he had taken advantage of Xiao Changfeng’s good fortune this time.

Having been in this cultivation realm for fifty-eight years, this trip seemed to be his luckiest yet.

Compared to before, the only difference this time was having Xiao Changfeng accompany him.

Having realized the Fire Spirit’s refining effect on magical power, Li Ji’an’s confidence soared, believing he could achieve Qi Cultivation Perfection within a year.