Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

After scrutinizing Red Stone Wanderer for a while, Li Ji’an became even more suspicious.

The decayed corpse he glimpsed hurriedly in the Yin Vein Cave back then clearly had a presence far beyond the Foundation Establishment Stage. It was astonishing that Red Stone Wanderer was able to escape in such circumstances.

At this moment, he vaguely understood.

”Perhaps he narrowly escaped death at the cost of a Divine Soul injury?”

With this in mind, Li Ji’an took out a Second Tier Restriction Talisman and handed it over, probing, ”Fellow Daoist, this is what I owed you before, and I’m repaying it today.”

Red Stone Wanderer’s eyes brightened instantly: ”Is there such a thing? This... Fellow Daoist Li is indeed someone who keeps their word!”

Observing the changing expression, Li Ji’an noticed his continued craving for the Second Tier Breaking Ban Talisman.

Taking the Breaking Ban Talisman, Red Stone Wanderer pondered and then asked: ”Fellow Daoist Li, what was our relationship before? What is this Breaking Ban Talisman for?”

Li Ji’an’s heart stirred as he replied with a smile: ”We ventured into the deep mountains together, sharing life and death; Fellow Daoist even assisted me in capturing a Demon Beast. Later, I was prepared to trade some Secret Techniques with Fellow Daoist, but alas...”

Though knowing that the other party temporarily had amnesia, one couldn’t guarantee when they might recover their memory, so Li Ji’an’s statement was entirely truthful, with only a slight probe added.

”I’m surprised I have such a close Fellow Daoist,” Red Stone Wanderer exclaimed with delight.

Then, slightly excited, he asked, ”Fellow Daoist Li, since that’s the case, you should know what kind of treasure I’m looking for, right?”

Li Ji’an shook his head: ”Fellow Daoist previously only mentioned searching for treasures, but couldn’t describe exactly what kind of treasure.”

”Was it the same before?” Red Stone Wanderer appeared somewhat puzzled.

Seeing him fall into contemplation again, Li Ji’an seized the opportunity: ”Fellow Daoist, do you have any Secret Techniques you could trade with me now?”

While speaking, Li Ji’an took out another Second Tier Breaking Ban Talisman.

Red Stone Wanderer’s gaze was drawn again, but ultimately he shook his head: ”Forgive me, Fellow Daoist, I haven’t acquired any Secret Techniques over the years.”

”What about the previous collections?”

”Alas, I forgot the location of my previous Cave Mansion,” Red Stone Wanderer replied with some helplessness.

Li Ji’an felt a sinking in his heart. He had already probed Chen Qingling about Red Stone Wanderer’s Cave Mansion, although lacking precise coordinates, he was certain it lay deeper in the unexplored areas of Fallen Dragon Ridge, where traces of Tier Three Great Demons even existed.

And the rattle never sounded, proving Red Stone Wanderer was speaking the truth.

This suggested that the Cultivation Technique seen in his previous life was likely hidden in the Cave Mansion by Red Stone Wanderer.

Unless Red Stone Wanderer regained his memory, that Cultivation Technique might still be beyond his reach for now.

At least until he reached the strength of the Core Formation Mid to Late Stage, he would potentially venture in search of it.

Ultimately, Li Ji’an could only give up this time, leaving a Communication Talisman for Red Stone Wanderer to establish a long-term connection.

And this time, having personally witnessed him engage in close combat with a Golden Armored Beast, he deliberately touched Red Stone Wanderer’s body but did not sense any Qi and Blood Power different from ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

His Magical Power aura was also the same as thirteen years ago, unchanged.

With uncertainty about his background and depth, Li Ji’an did not probe further.

However, since recently studying Wood Magic Power and further investigating medical arts, he sensed vitality more clearly, discerning that Red Stone Wanderer had less than twenty years of life remaining.

At parting, they agreed on the matter of the Second Tier Breaking Ban Talisman trade.

For half a month following, Li Ji’an stayed in United Marketplace, observing the Spirit Vein changes in ten children daily.

Only after confirming no anomalies short-term and needing long-term results, did he instruct Zhang Tiezhu to help watch over these children, preparing to return to Biyun Sect.

That day, as Li Ji’an prepared to glance at Yan Family’s Pill Shop before leaving, he heard many cultivators discussing the same matter along the way.

”That Wu Weixiong is reportedly wanted by the Three States, and last year he injured a disciple of Fiery Sun Sect; he’s ruthless and savage!”

”Why would this villain, a high-level Foundation Establishment late period cultivator, come to our desert?”

”Let’s hope he’s just passing by.”

…

It was clear the cultivators in the market were all anxious.

Having experienced decades of desert chaos, nowadays cultivators cherished their peaceful cultivation lives dearly.

”Wu Weixiong!” Li Ji’an paused slightly.

His presence in the desert this time couldn’t avoid being known.

Initially, he hadn’t thought much of it, given he had no known enemies in this world for now.

Moreover, with the backing of an Upper Sect, unless there were deep grudges or significant interest conflicts, he wouldn’t generally be targeted.

”He couldn’t really be here for me, could he?” After a moment’s contemplation, Li Ji’an chose to briefly reminisce about the beginning of his difficult Dao pursuit in the market.

It wasn’t fear of Wu Weixiong, mainly that he dislikes meaningless fighting.

That day, Li Ji’an repeatedly changed his appearance, ultimately checking into Celestial Immortal Tower in the market as a Qi Cultivation Junior Cultivator.

This was also the only leisure wellness venue in United Marketplace, where Fellow Daoist Tian Xiang had invited him in his previous life.

Back then, seeing the Sound Law Female Cultivator’s performance in this building felt peculiar and beautiful; this time, having seen the Fairy of Spring Breeze Building in Immortal City and communicated with Foundation Establishment Fairy Duanmu for years, the female cultivators here were merely common and vulgar, and their melodies tasted like chewing wax.

Until half a month later, with no word of Wu Weixiong in the market and no sensing of any unfamiliar Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators having visited, Li Ji’an secretly left the desert.

Afterwards, he didn’t return via the original route but instead rode a flying boat, first traveling a thousand miles west before turning north.

A month later, Li Ji’an returned safely to the Spirit Peak.

Three people emerged from the dense forest outside the desert, the leader looking at the Communication Talisman, his face displeased.

”Hmph! As a Honored Guest Elder of the Biyun Sect, he is still so cautious, he must have a guilty conscience. That ’Earth Book’ is probably really in his hands!”

The leader was not unfamiliar to Li Ji’an, it was Liu Changgeng who had gone to the Immortal City Collection Courtyard to demand the Liu Family’s legacy array five years ago.

This time, upon unexpectedly learning that he had traveled far to the desert, and knowing the cause and effect of that year when the Liu Family crafted the Sacred Beast Pill, he carefully planned, intending to have Wu Weixiong, the wanted criminal, take the blame.

Unexpectedly, that kid was so cautious.

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After returning to Spirit Peak, besides resuming his leisurely cultivation life, Li Ji’an maintained contact with Zhang Tiezhu, often inquiring about the children’s condition.

Five years passed in the blink of an eye.

The oldest among that batch of children already had a Spirit Root that had formed, it was time to yet again check and validate his achievements.

On this day, Li Ji’an came again to the Biyun Sect Treasury.

”Alchemist Li, your Tier Three Spirit Medicine exchange has reached the limit, if you need more in the future, it’ll be three years later, just so you’re aware,” the Housekeeper handed Li Ji’an a Tier Three Ice Candle Flower and reminded him.

”Thank you.” Li Ji’an accepted the Ice Candle Flower, nodding with a smile.

Honored Guest Pill Masters could only exchange one piece of Tier Three resources every three years, and it was limited to Spirit Medicines.

His reason for exchanging Tier Three Spirit Medicines was entirely to craft certain special Tier Two Pill Medicines, with Tier Three Spirit Medicines only serving as auxiliary or substitutes.

Li Ji’an had served as Honored Guest for the Biyun Sect for nine years, and as of today, he had exchanged a total of three Tier Three Spirit Medicines.

All were auxiliary materials for crafting the Crystal Condensing Pill.

Moreover, according to the Pill Formula, the Biyun Sect Treasury had at most four more auxiliary materials to offer.

To exchange these four Tier Three Spirit Medicines from the Biyun Sect, he would need to endure another twelve years.

Time was not urgent.

During these nine years, he had gleaned quite a bounty from alchemy tasks, all of them Tier Two Spirit Medicines, some even scarce forbidden ones from the Cangyun State’s market back then.

This gave him the capital for trade in the Outer States.

However, nearing Foundation Establishment 5th Layer, his Guardian Path card was still insufficient, so for now, he wasn’t planning to go to Celestial Origin Province or Dao Source State.

He planned to wait at least until reaching Foundation Establishment Late Period.

After leaving the Sect Treasury, on his way back to Spirit Peak.

”Dong~”

Suddenly, a bell rang.

Immediately following, a voice rang out midair, echoing across the entire Biyun Sect.

”There is yet another anomaly in the Great Marsh Mountain Range, Sect disciples must not enter the mountains whatsoever, or be subject to sect rules!”

”Anomaly again?” Li Ji’an raised his eyebrows slightly.

Ten years ago, due to Earth Dragon flipping over in the Great Marsh Mountain Range, the relic that Biyun Sect was excavating sunk wholly into the earth vein.

After several sects left, countless loose cultivators swarmed, all ultimately failing.

In the past five years, few cultivators ventured there; who would have thought there’d be another anomaly?

Soon, Li Ji’an learned the truth from the patrolling disciple.

Reportedly half a month ago, a loose cultivator accidentally discovered spiritual qi overflowing at that relic site.

Afterwards, the spiritual qi grew more abundant, pure, even its range expanded day by day.

Eventually confirmed, the Spirit Vein of the relic site revived.

Moreover, the Spirit Vein’s grade reached Second Tier High Grade, with its range radiating a thousand miles.

In terms of scale alone, it was not inferior to Biyun Sect’s current Spirit Vein Dao Field, capable of accommodating a hundred Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators without overwhelming the Spirit Vein.

Such scenarios are not uncommon; all ancient ruins must have been built upon Spirit Veins once, but following great catastrophes, earth vein shifts, or Spirit Veins were destroyed or depleted, rendering most relic Spirit Veins nonexistent.

Over six thousand years, some cases of relic Spirit Vein revival occurred.

Celestial Origin Province had several forces seizing Dao Fields formed by relic revived Spirit Veins.

However, a revival of Spirit Vein on the scale of the Great Marsh Mountain Range was unprecedented.

Concerning Spirit Veins, Li Ji’an read many ancient texts, generally suggesting they are particular forms of earth vein, which delve deep into the core and vary significantly; even ancient powers failed to discern patterns.

But through experience, once formed, Spirit Veins are stable unless subjected to prolonged excess spirit qi absorption causing constant strain, or employing Gathering Spirit techniques believed to degrade Spirit Veins.

”Such a large-scale Spirit Vein Dao Field will undoubtedly trigger another storm of bloodshed!”