Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

”Miss Qun.”

...

Along the way, everyone they met greeted her with respect, and even a few clan members had fawning expressions on their faces.

Liu Qun responded with a gentle smile, appearing very reserved.

They followed her home, where a middle-aged woman came into view.

Li Ji’an confirmed that this young woman was Dong Jiangling’s granddaughter.

And this woman was Dong Ping, whom he had met once years ago.

Looking at her appearance, the Youthful Appearance Pill given to her back then was likely never used.

”Qun’er, have you been meeting Young Master Yu again?” Seeing Liu Qun return home, Dong Ping immediately asked with a stern face.

Liu Qun shrank her head and then said aggrievedly, ”Mother, it’s not me who seeks him out; he’s the one insisting on seeing me.”

”Hmph, how many times have I told you, if you don’t intend to become Dao companions with him, you mustn’t give him hope or accept his gifts.” Dong Ping was rather angry.

”Mother, I’ve told you, he’s the one who insists on giving those things to me.” Liu Qun replied impatiently.

”You...” Seeing Liu Qun talk back, Dong Ping stood up abruptly.

”Father!” Liu Qun quickly ran to Liu Zhong’s side.

Liu Zhong, with a belly even larger than a decade ago, had a wealthy appearance and said, ”Pingping, let it be. Let’s not meddle in the affairs of the young. Qun’er’s talent is outstanding, and with Alchemist Li’s backing, it’s normal for clan boys to be eager.”

”What backing of Alchemist Li? I’ve said it many times before. My father said, Senior Li is Senior Li, and we are ourselves. Senior Li, with high integrity, visiting my father after Foundation Establishment is already his limit, given the past relationship of the previous generation. Don’t have any illusions.” Dong Ping said seriously.

”You can’t say that, Pingping. I heard from father that he and Alchemist Li’s father were close. Isn’t it precisely because of that that we can continue the relationship of the previous generation with Alchemist Li?” Liu Zhong was unconcerned.

Then with some regret, he continued, ”It’s a pity though. Before, I insisted on visiting the Immortal City, but you were unwilling. As a result, Alchemist Li silently became an Honored Guest Elder of the Upper Sect, and we couldn’t even meet him.”

”That’s right, Mother. Look at yourself, being too honest led to your cultivation path ending, falling to the bottom of the cultivation realm. I, Liu Qun, will definitely succeed in Foundation Establishment in this life!” Liu Qun stated firmly.

”Mother, if I were to ask Uncle Li for a Foundation Establishment Pill, what do you think is my success rate...”

”Nonsense! Do you know how precious a Foundation Establishment Pill is? How dare you ask Senior Li?” Dong Ping was startled.

Liu Qun was unconcerned, ”Hmph, the Foundation Establishment Pill is precious in our eyes, but it probably means nothing to Uncle Li. Besides, Uncle Li is already an Honored Guest Elder of the Upper Sect, so he’s surely earning a lot.”

”Qun’er makes sense, Pingping. I’ve looked into it. Alchemist Li lives alone on the Outer Peak. There’s no talk of him having close friends or Dao companions. With so many resources to spend, why not let Qun’er recognize him as a godfather...” Liu Zhong agreed.

”Slap!” Dong Ping couldn’t hold it any longer, shaking with anger.

”How can you be so shameless?”

”If not for Senior Li back then, what would you all be today? You, because of Senior Li’s blessings, have the sect’s care and a role as a shopkeeper, your status can’t be compared to the past.

You, even more so, enjoyed the light of Senior Li, received focused clan nurturing, and were granted the title of Miss.

Aren’t you satisfied?

I’ll say it today; if Senior Li doesn’t summon us, I, Dong Ping, will never seek him out actively. What you do is up to you, not my business.”

...

Reading up to this point, Li Ji’an couldn’t help but laugh.

”Still want to extort my gold coins?”

He then stopped paying attention, only instructing Gugu to keep an eye on Liu Qun.

Ten days later, Liu Qun used the excuse of going to Biluo Marketplace to make purchases, but in reality, went to secretly meet Liu Xianlong of the Liu Family Main Lineage.

Nearing the marketplace, Li Ji’an had Gugu descend only five feet under the ground, but the arrays of the marketplace failed to detect Gugu.

This made Li Ji’an even more confident in Gugu’s Concealing Divine Abilities.

”Brother Long, did you miss me?”

”Since seeing Little Sister Qun, I couldn’t eat or drink, but Grandpa is so strict. Please don’t blame me, Little Sister Qun.”

...

”Little Sister Qun, given your family’s relationship with Alchemist Li, why didn’t you see him visit when your grandfather was so seriously injured last time?”

...

After a while, the two parted ways.

Gugu continued to follow Liu Xianlong.

Eventually, as the ancestral land of the Liu Family came into view, Gugu went twenty feet underground.

The Liu Family’s Ring Array, which claimed to be able to guard against True Pill Masters, surprisingly didn’t detect Gugu.

After entering the Liu Family, Gugu stayed close to Liu Xianlong.

It wasn’t long before, after following Liu Xianlong into a courtyard, Li Ji’an saw an acquaintance, Liu Changgeng.

”How was it?”

”Grandfather, that woman mostly bragged. It’s likely the relationship between Alchemist Li and their family ended long ago.” Liu Xianlong answered truthfully.

Liu Changgeng frowned slightly.

In the past few years, due to issues involving Qin Henian and Wu Weixiong, much of his energy had been tied up, preventing him from further investigating the Earth Book matter.

In the last five years, Alchemist Li had nearly never left the Immortal City and sect’s area, giving him no opportunity to scheme.

Recently, he discovered that a branch within the clan still had connections with Alchemist Li and secretly targeted Dong Jiangling in his investigation.

As it turned out, the other side’s injury was nearly healed, and there was still no response from Alchemist Li.

”Hmph! That schemer might be guilty as a thief, suspecting we’re trying to lure the snake out of the hole.” Liu Changgeng sneered coldly.

”Grandfather, should we use that woman as bait again?” Liu Xianlong asked.

Liu Changgeng shook his head. ”Forget it, the relationship between the Dong family and that thief is too shallow. We should continue trying in the Yan Family of the Desert.”

”However, we must be extremely cautious. Now that the Old Patriarch’s Divine Skill is nearing Great Success, soon there will be no one in Cangyun State capable of hindering our Liu Family.”

”Is it finally close to completion?” Liu Xianlong showed some excitement, then asked, ”Does the Celestial Master have any prophecy?”

”Heh, it’s naturally very auspicious!” Liu Changgeng stroked his beard and said.

Liu Xianlong was overjoyed, ”Heaven bless our Liu Family!”

”Wrong! It’s the Immortal Ancestor flourishing our Liu Family!” Liu Changgeng corrected him.

”Yes, yes, it’s the Immortal Ancestor.”

...

”Celestial Master? Auspicious?” In the Spirit Peak Alchemy Room, Li Ji’an’s eyebrows suddenly shot up.

The last time he heard such words of fortune or calamity was one hundred and thirty-six years ago.

Back then, Ning Sujin decisively left for the Immortal Master, leaving behind the words, ”This shall be auspicious.”

Ning Sujin was twenty-five that year; had she lived, she would now be one hundred and sixty-one years old.

”Could it be her?”

Li Ji’an wasn’t certain. The cultivation realm is filled with gods and ghosts, with mysterious Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques beyond what the world records—as if touching just the tip of the iceberg.

At least before meeting Xiaoqiao, he had never heard of the Earth Master lineage anywhere.

”Whew~” He exhaled slowly, regaining his composure.

If he could confirm the identity of the ”Celestial Master” mentioned by Liu Xianlong, it would allow him to confirm that the family raising Blood Slaves was indeed the Liu Family.

After Liu Xianlong left, Li Ji’an had Gugu remain at Liu Changgeng’s residence.

Although he had successfully entered the Liu Family, most of the external Defense Array relied on sensing aura; if there were any Illusion Arrays or Restriction Arrays, Gugu could easily get trapped or trigger restrictions, alerting the enemy.

Unfortunately, after Liu Xianlong left, Liu Changgeng continued his meditation without moving around or talking to himself.

Three months passed quickly.

During this time, Li Ji’an opened the furnace for Elder Han’s nieces and nephews, producing one Middle Grade and one Lower Grade Pill, receiving not only a section of Second Tier Spirit Wood as a thank-you gift but also gaining a favor from Elder Han.

He also saved half a stalk of the Foundation Establishment Main Medicine, the Nine-Star Fushen.

Within just five years, Li Ji’an’s connections in Biyun Sect nearly covered the Five Peaks and Thirteen Halls; it’s estimated that in at most another ten years, he should be able to get along well with the Core Formation generation of the entire Biyun Sect.

Meanwhile, Zhang Tiezhu brought back the Spirit Testing results for two other children.

Both results were significantly better than the Spirit Vein predictions from five years ago, nearly preliminary validating Li Ji’an’s theory; now he had even more confidence in refining the Spirit Root for the next generation.

Finally, one day, after three months of waiting, Gugu saw Liu Changgeng finally venture out...