Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Only those who can unleash the pressure of the Late Core Formation stage, which includes only the Supreme Elder of the Biyun Sect and those above Inner Sect Elite Disciples possessing a Biyun Sect branded Identity Jade Token, are found throughout Cangyun State.

It is evident that Alchemist Li has acquired such a Jade Token!

As the pressure unleashed from the jade dissipated, everyone within the collection courtyard was alarmed and hurriedly emerged from their residences to investigate.

”Indeed, Alchemist Li has become the Honored Guest Elder of the Upper Sect!”

”This was somewhat expected.”

”Congratulations, congratulations.”

...

Everyone in the courtyard extended their congratulations and salute.

The newly appointed City Lord stood stunned, overwhelmed with regret.

However, fortunately, the Biyun Sect has already declared its seclusion from worldly matters, so even if Li Ji’an has become a Guest Elder Pill Master of the Biyun Sect, it bears no relevance to them anymore.

Besides, it was the Liu Family who offended; he was merely a mediator in the matter.

”Congratulations, Alchemist Li, on becoming an Honored Guest Elder of the Upper Sect.”

Smiling awkwardly at Li Ji’an, he nodded and stepped back respectfully.

Li Ji’an disregarded him, instead turning his attention to Liu Changgeng’s now solemn expression.

Liu Changgeng gazed intensely at the Biyun Sect Identity Jade Token in Li Ji’an’s hand, a breath stuck in his throat.

He did not come here for the so-called array inheritance.

Indeed, he was uncertain whether You Qingci had actually passed the array inheritance to Li Ji’an.

But his true purpose was to recover an ancient book lost during a family rebellion years ago.

Back when Liu Jingchun incited treason, though immediately suppressed by the ancestor, many from the Liu Jingchun branch managed to escape amidst the chaos.

Among them, Liu Jingchun’s own child was taken by traitorous family members, and the ancient book was most likely in their possession.

After all these years, several families of those distant traitors have been found without any trace of the ancient book. The target narrowed down to Liu Xiangshan and his wife.

Yet, they were unsure whether Granny You possessed the book; it was more likely with Liu Xiangshan.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have come so openly to investigate.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Changgeng bowed remorsefully towards Li Ji’an: ”I am an old man with poor judgment, and did not realize Alchemist Li had joined the Upper Sect; my earlier words were unworthy. I ask for your forgiveness.”

His humble demeanor contrasted sharply with his previous arrogance.

There is no other way, for the Biyun Sect stands as a mountain in the hearts of everyone in Cangyun State.

As one of the five great clans in Cangyun State, the Liu Family is most fearful of the sect.

The founding ancestor of the Liu Family had relatively lower status compared to those of the other four clans. Throughout the hundreds of years since the clan was established, they have always been subtly looked down upon by the other clans.

Indeed, five to six hundred years ago, when the Liu family’s industries were in decline, and their arrays not superior, rumors of the state’s division of the Liu Family surfaced.

The Upper Sect remained ambivalent towards these rumors.

Back then, the entire family lived in constant fear, dreading the possible dissolution of their clan.

If not for the current ancestor diligently elevating the family’s array proficiency to its peak, the Liu Family might no longer exist today.

Now is a crucial time for the ancestor, so they cannot afford to attract undue attention from the Upper Sect.

Reflecting deeply, he regrets severely. He assumed Li Ji’an was merely a Loose Cultivator; the Liu Family could suppress him with their status as the head of the Immortal City. It was unforeseen that such a young man would qualify as a Biyun Sect Guest Elder.

”You can leave those words for the Law Enforcement Hall.” Li Ji’an scoffed coldly, intending to proceed into the residence.

Instantly worried, Liu Changgeng hurried a few steps forward, disregarding the attention from the courtyard, and presented a storage pouch to Li Ji’an: ”Alchemist Li, a man of great stature, this old man truly did not know you had become a Guest Elder of the Upper Sect. Even if you gave me ten guts, I wouldn’t have dared to disrespect Alchemist Li.”

Li Ji’an smiled slightly, feeling somewhat comforted. That he feared the Biyun Sect so much indicated that their family affairs should not be related to the Biyun Sect, and they are clearly afraid of the sect knowing.

After a moment’s silence, he glanced at the bulging storage pouch and reached out to take it: ”I advise Fellow Daoist Liu not to act so recklessly in the future; not everyone is as magnanimous as I.”

Considering the recent incident, the other party was unaware of his Guest Elder status at first, so reporting to the Law Enforcement Hall would not result in any serious consequences.

If he doesn’t resolve today’s grievances in person, he can’t ensure the absence of risky moves later.

”Thank you, Alchemist Li, for your guidance; this old man will remember it well!” Upon seeing him accept the token of apology, Liu Changgeng squeezed out a trace of a smile and bowed again in thanks.

Once inside the residence, Li Ji’an allowed himself a small smile and glanced again at the Identity Jade Token.

Then he shook his head quietly, realizing that in life, as long as one lives, it’s impossible to completely avoid karmic entanglements. Although he’s refrained as much as possible from delving prematurely into the Blood Slave incident, he’s somehow entangled with the Liu Family.

Luckily, now he is no longer a rootless floating weed that just entered the cultivation realm.

However, this feeling of being watched still unsettled him. If an opportunity arises, resolving it sooner would be best.

”Uncle Li, just now outside...” Xiaoqiao hesitated in the courtyard doorway, her face showing concern.

Li Ji’an waved with a smile: ”No problem, just a small misunderstanding. Pack our things, we’re moving.”

”Okay.” Xiaoqiao nodded obediently, without asking any questions.

She didn’t care where they moved, whether good or bad mattered little, as long as they took her along.

That night, Gugu devoured the medicinal field within the residence, along with the spirit plants above. However, the spatial capacity within its mouth was limited, so it could only consume the field’s core, leaving many planted medicinal seedlings abandoned.

Li Ji’an and Xiaoqiao worked together, dismantling the array using techniques learned from Granny You’s inheritance by Xiaoqiao, and let Little Fire Spirit scorch the site to ensure no traces remained.

Ever since Xiaoqiao began studying the Earth Spirit Master techniques half a year ago, Granny You’s array inheritance has become almost obsolete.

The skill of a Tier One Earth Spirit Master allows one to indirectly channel the Earth Spirit Mechanism with a mere move; as long as there’s a suitable object to contain the mechanism, arrays can effortlessly manifest.

Such naturally formed arrays are almost in harmony with the Earth, nearing innate arrays, far surpassing the human race’s postnatal arrays crafted by array masters, easing concerns about the Liu Family’s investigation.

The following morning, several masters from the courtyard visited.

In addition to offering congratulations and presenting gifts, they shared poignant sentiments.

Alchemist Zou, in particular, was filled with regret.

It wasn’t until after exchanging communication talismans and waving goodbye that the new Immortal City steward arrived, returning the remaining residence lease fees along with a gift.

At noon that day, Li Ji’an and Xiaoqiao boarded a flying boat to Biyun Sect.

They were then led by a Pill Cauldron Peak steward to an external peak located five hundred miles east of the Biyun Sect’s main vein.

This external peak is an extension of the Upper Grade Third Tier Spirit Vein, with only three solitary peaks within a span of a dozen miles, each at Middle Grade Second Tier level.

However, Master Jade Pill promised to construct a Spirit-Gathering Array on the peak at late Second Tier, gathering surrounding Spiritual Qi, satisfying his pre-core formation spirit vein needs.

Moreover, he promised to create a small Teleportation Array to connect with Pill Cauldron Peak, crucial for Li Ji’an’s peace of mind since the external peak was not under the protection of the Biyun Sect’s quasi-Tier Four Grand Array.

Upon personally observing the solitary peak environment, Li Ji’an grew more satisfied.

The precipitous peak stood tall, surrounded by steep cliffs as if chiseled by axes and knives, with lush greenery encircling below and thin mist enveloping above, caressed by the sun by day, and stars by night.

Additionally, the peak’s summit offered ten acres of land, divided into three levels, providing ample space for him and Xiaoqiao.

It suited a cultivator like him, committed to solace and disengagement.

The steward explained the peak was once the Dao Field of an Outer Elder of the sect. However, since the spirit vein degraded from Tier Three, it became a Guest Elder Dao Field.

In nearly two hundred years, the sect scarcely recruited Guest Elders; hence, the peak remained vacant.

”Is this to be our home from now on?” After sending off the steward, Xiaoqiao flitted across the peak’s summit, examining her surroundings with excitement.

She was very pleased with this environment.

Moreover, with no outsiders nearby, she felt particularly at ease.

Living so long in the Immortal City Collection Courtyard for nearly twenty years, her personality was no longer as introverted as it was in her youth. However, after frequent interactions, she still preferred solitude.

With Uncle Li, Gugu, and Little Fire Spirit by her side, she was at her most relaxed and true self.

”How wonderful it would be if we could reside here forever, just the few of us,” she thought, filled with a sense of anticipation.