Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Sensing the old Array Master’s emotional change, Li Ji’an found it expected yet somewhat surprising.

The other’s emotions were too intense, proving the connection was deep.

”Tell me,” Li Ji’an showed no sign of attitude.

The old Array Master stared at Li Ji’an for a while, then sighed, ”Qing Ci is my disciple.”

Li Ji’an raised his brows slightly, then stopped asking, instead letting Gugu take the Storage Pouch and rattle from the equally limp and weak-sounding Fu Hanxing.

Once the rattle was in hand, Li Ji’an infused his Divine Sense.

Still, there was no feeling, indistinguishable from an ordinary object.

”Dong~” He gently shook it, emitting an ancient dull sound.

Soon, Li Ji’an’s eyes lit up, sensing a trace in his mind.

After experiencing it for a moment, a smile appeared on his face.

”Connected with the mind, it can also sense the target’s mind, if they lie, it will be reflected in the sound of the drum.”

”Using it consumes Heart Power.”

After understanding its usage, Li Ji’an immediately activated it with his mind.

He looked at the old Array Master again, ”What’s your real name?”

”You first tell me where Qing Ci is? How is she now?” The old Array Master was quite concerned.

Li Ji’an shook his head, ”You’re not in a position to bargain.”

After speaking, he pressed a hand on the other’s Celestial Spirit, pouring in Qi and Blood Power.

”I...ah! I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you, I am Liu Xiangshan.”

...

Just like eighty-one years ago, when he questioned the elders ambushing them in the Sandstorm Area, he quickly got the desired answer.

Liu Xiangshan was indeed a collateral member of the Array Formation Liu Family. Eighty-one years ago, there was an internal conflict within the clan, and he fled the Liu Clan, hiding his name in Celestial Origin Province while cultivating with Array techniques.

Moreover, You Qingci was not just his disciple, but also his Dao companion.

However, the two eventually had disagreements over something, leading You Qingci to leave him.

”You said Fellow Daoist You insisted on shielding Liu Jingchun’s offspring, thus separating ways?” This information made a flash of insight cross Li Ji’an’s mind.

According to Liu Xiangshan, eighty-one years ago, he and You Qingci fled to Celestial Origin Province, and at that time, they brought along the sole child of Liu Jingchun, who was a leader of one faction in the clan’s internal strife.

Subsequently, You Qingci took Liu Yuanhua, Liu Jingchun’s only child, and disappeared.

”Could Xiaoqiao be Liu Jingchun’s granddaughter?” Li Ji’an recalled Xiaoqiao’s abnormality upon twice close encounters with Liu Jingchun, and aligning it with Liu Xiangshan’s words, came to this conclusion.

An ordinary Cultivator, unless specializing in Bloodline Technique, or being above True Man level, cannot inadvertently sense Bloodline Power. Could Xiaoqiao’s connection with the earth somehow let her accidentally feel the Bloodline Power?

”Why did the Liu Family face internal conflict?” This time, Li Ji’an transmitted the question through Divine Sense.

Over these years, he deliberately didn’t investigate this matter, fearing attention from certain individuals.

At this moment, with the other being a dead man, he casually inquired.

”Back then... Jingchun’s clan uncle suddenly forced the clan elders, but failed... I don’t know the exact reason, but I was close with Jingchun’s clan uncle, worried about retaliation from the elder lineage, so fled...”

The rattle did not sound, proving he did not lie.

It only illustrates he was not of the Liu family’s direct lineage, unaware of the core reasons.

”Fellow Daoist Li, how is Qing Ci now? Has she been well all these years?” After answering Li Ji’an’s questions, Liu Xiangshan still eagerly asked.

Li Ji’an nodded, ”Granny You and I share good relations. She has been doing well in the Immortal City.”

”Good, good, that’s good... Fellow Daoist Li, we cultivators strive for the path of Dao, competing with heaven and man. Since the matter has come to this, I cannot fault you, and my end was fated. However, if possible, please give the Iron Book from my Storage Pouch to Qing Ci, thank you!” Liu Xiangshan seemed fulfilled, his expression serene.

Li Ji’an glanced at him and nodded.

Then, stirred his Qi and Blood to sever all his meridians, leaving his corpse intact.

”Spare us, spare us, we were forced by circumstances...” Seeing Li Ji’an look their way, Liu Xiangshan’s two disciples knelt, begging for mercy.

Li Ji’an nodded, ”Yes, forced by circumstances.”

”Go settle them.” He casually ordered.

He remained worried that the Soul Lamp within Fiery Sun Sect might have a shadow retention function.

The two exchanged glances, understanding the need for a pledge of loyalty, nodded repeatedly, and then decisively killed Fu Hanxing and his junior apprentice.

”Whiz whiz!” Gugu promptly executed the two.

All were at the mercy of circumstances.

Then, Li Ji’an instructed Gugu to search the corpses.

He checked all Storage Pouches with Divine Sense, selected several items suspected to bear markings beyond his Divine Sense, and temporarily stored the rest in Gugu’s mouth.

The Glazed True Flame, a budding form of a Magical Treasure from Fu Hanxing, bore the heaviest trace beyond his Divine Sense. Such a valuable item was indeed precious even within Core Formation Sects, having inscription methods was normal.

After careful sensing, Li Ji’an frowned inwardly, temporarily finding it difficult to handle.

This Glazed True Flame was Fu Hanxing’s Lifebound Magical Treasure, nurtured over more than ten years, containing his Magical Power and Divine Soul Seal. It’s not easy to refine it, and even if it could be refined now, using it with Li Ji’an’s Foundation Establishment Early Period Magical Power is simply impossible.

To be cautious, Li Ji’an still stored it temporarily in Gugu’s mouth.

Gugu’s Concealing Divine Abilities shield Divine Sense probing, plus its mouth’s self-contained world effect makes ordinary True Core Cultivators unlikely to sense anything.

The remaining items were left unchecked by Li Ji’an for now, as he immediately approached Duanmu Qin to open the remaining two stone houses.

Prolonging the night is fraught with peril, since Liu Xiangshan and Fu Hanxing found this place, there’s no guarantee others wouldn’t accidentally wander in. It’s better to gain opportunities and leave quickly.

However, at this moment, Duanmu Qin’s gaze towards him had changed.

Her shock took a long time to settle.

”Just how many hidden cards does Li Lang have?” She muttered instinctively.

The appearance of a second-tier poison is quite reasonable.

A second-tier body cultivator is beyond imagination.

A second-tier demon beast is equally unexpected.

And at this moment, it became apparent that there exists a formidable second-tier attack talisman, which, given its power, seemed not far from the late stage of the second tier.

More crucially, it was able to continuously activate so many talismans with ease.

Activating talismans consumes a significant amount of divine soul energy; even for her divine sense, three second-tier talismans would be the limit, necessitating some recovery before further activation.

Yet Li Ji’an had just activated over twenty breaking ban talismans in one go, followed by two attack talismans that demanded even higher divine sense.

This clearly indicated that Li Ji’an’s divine sense was several times stronger than hers.

”Foundation Establishment late-stage divine sense?” Duanmu Qin was inexplicably shocked, unable to fathom it.

Li Ji’an smiled slightly: ”Now I can say that I have honestly revealed everything to you; all my cards have been exposed to you.”

Now, apart from three more potent lifebound talismans and the teleportation talisman meant for escape, he merely had a premium blood-burning pill capable of instantly exploding with twice the magical power, temporarily reaching mid-stage Foundation Establishment strength, and a Tier One peak fire spirit in his dantian.

Although the little fire spirit remained at Tier One, its primordial spirit flame was more than twice as powerful as Li Ji’an’s current fire element magical power, with flame power alone nearing that of late-stage Foundation Establishment fire element magical power.

Although it lacked magic techniques, launching it at close range using the fireball technique would still cause considerable damage.

”When does Li Lang desire offspring?” Duanmu Qin suddenly smiled charmingly, her beautiful eyes filled with affection.

”I recall, Fairy, you once declared you would never desire offspring,” Li Ji’an smiled as a reminder.

Duanmu Qin giggled: ”I merely said that casually; Li Lang shouldn’t take it seriously.”

Li Ji’an remained noncommittal, as there was still a rattle in his arms, and his mind was not disconnected; the rattle had not sounded.

However, he estimated that this intention was merely a whim, as they had previously agreed before entering this place that if they acquired an opportunity, they would make a blood oath more stringent than the Great Heart Demon Oath, and Duanmu Qin would leave for another domain, likely never to meet again.

Immediately, the two ceased any delays, using breaking ban talismans to open the remaining two stone chambers.

”Hmm?” Duanmu Qin was the first to be puzzled.

Because the two outer stone chambers contained nothing of value, let alone the seven-colored jade tree and Qiuli water.

”Li Lang, the inherited message indeed mentioned that there are these two items!” Duanmu Qin stated earnestly.

The rattle remained silent.

”Keep looking; perhaps there is something we missed,” Li Ji’an nodded, and together with Duanmu Qin, they searched carefully again, while letting Gugu also search underground.

Besides the outer hall, this cave mansion only consisted of the main hall, which, though sizeable, had only these eight stone chambers visible.

A moment later, the two and the frog searched the cave mansion again, but still found nothing.

”Can you reveal the full content of the transmission jade scroll obtained by Fairy’s ancestors?” Li Ji’an stood in the center of the main hall, concentrating and pondering.

Based on Duanmu Qin’s disclosed information, during ancient times, the sect members left a Core Formation opportunity in this cave mansion, transmitting their progeny to retrieve it.

This transmission jade scroll was found amidst bones, and since the Crystal Condensing Pill remained in this alchemy room, it indicated the ancestor had not reached this cave mansion but met misfortune.

The Core Formation spirit treasure should still be here.

Duanmu Qin nodded: ”That transmission jade scroll turned to ashes shortly after discovery; the inherited message was — Chen’er, grandfather has gone ahead, the Core Formation items are prepared. First consume the Crystal Condensing Pill, then refine the seven-colored jade tree. Once you form the pill, consume Qiuli water. When your Golden Core reaches Great Success, you can use the teleportation array to the frontline and seek vengeance for your parents against the human demons.”

”Again, human demons!” Li Ji’an paused as he recalled hearing about human demons for the first time at the Ancient Rune Master inheritance site in the desert.

Here was further confirmation.

”Could the world-ending catastrophe of ancient times be caused by human demons?”

”Demon cultivators? Unlikely, as they simply refer to themselves as demon cultivators. Furthermore, demon cultivators still exist today.” In addition, with Li Ji’an’s understanding of this realm over the years, he thought,

In essence, demon cultivators remain cultivators; it’s merely that some cultivation techniques and methods, or some attack secret techniques, have been categorized as demonic by domain-dominating forces.

Currently, in the northeastern part of the Celestial Cyan Domain, there are numerous demonic cultivators, yet they lack the potential to cause a world-ending catastrophe.

After contemplating for a moment, Li Ji’an gathered his thoughts; the information was still insufficient.

Moreover, according to this transmitted information, the seven-colored jade tree and Qiuli water must still be here.

”Gugu~” At that moment, Gugu suddenly noticed something unusual.

Li Ji’an immediately re-entered the master stone chamber.

Gugu was peeking from a corner in the master stone chamber.

Nearby, the corner was slightly illuminated by a light mist, but it was so faint that one would barely see it without careful observation, and the aura was extremely weak.

”What is this?” Duanmu Qin looked at the light mist, puzzled.

”This is a small teleportation array,” Li Ji’an recognized it at once.

Without waiting for Duanmu Qin’s response, Li Ji’an took out several spirit stones from his storage pouch and inserted them into a groove in the corner.

With his deep understanding of Granny You’s array formation legacy, he was well-acquainted with such scenarios.

It was clear that the array had lost its spiritual energy supply for a long time and was on the verge of failing.

With nearly a hundred spirit stones inserted, the light increasingly intensified on the ground, finally revealing a formation inscribed with teleportation symbols that emitted a ghostly glow.

”Gugu!” Li Ji’an immediately instructed Gugu to step onto it.

Buzz~

A flash of light occurred, and Gugu vanished without a trace.

As Li Ji’an’s view expanded, he saw what lay before him—a subterranean abyss.

Its interior was illuminated completely by faintly glowing walls.

The walls encircled a cylindrical deep pit about several hundred feet in diameter, with a central large stone platform carved with intricate symbols. The platform’s diameter exceeded ten feet, rising half a foot high, surrounded by numerous faintly glowing jade stones.

At the center of the raised stone platform was a bucket-wide groove, which emitted dense spiritual qi.

Within the groove, a segment of dead branches was deeply embedded, next to which hovered a seven-colored-light-emitting jade tree and a jade bottle amidst the dense spiritual qi.

”Found it!”