Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

After leaving the Biyun Sect, Li Ji’an first made a trip to the Odd Stone Forest.

The news that the Upper Sect Elder sacrificed his life to protect the cultivators in the state, fighting bravely against the Demon Cultivators, had long spread as a legendary tale within the Upper Sect.

Three years ago, Xiaoqiao and Yan Qingwan personally visited the Outer Peak of the Biyun Sect seeking an audience, but Li Ji’an had just announced his seclusion and did not see them.

Besides them, Qin Henian from the Purple Bamboo Forest, accompanied by Qin Chuan, also went to visit.

”Uncle Li (Brother Li), is there really no way?” In the Odd Stone Forest Dao Field, Xiaoqiao and Ning Yutan had red eyes, each holding one of Li Ji’an’s hands, their voices trembling.

Li Ji’an laughed casually, ”Who in life from ancient times has never died? Even the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws, the greatest in the realm, and the celestial venerables from ancient legends, none can truly live forever.

My path in this life is already cut off; sooner or later makes no difference, you must forge ahead and not waste your youth.”

For the next fortnight, Xiaoqiao stayed by Li Ji’an’s side without leaving, in her garden pavilion, where Gugu, Little Fire, and she and Li Ji’an could be like they were back in Golden Splendor Immortal City.

This was also the most carefree and happy time that Xiaoqiao would find unforgettable in her life.

In the following fortnight, Ning Yutan stayed constantly by Li Ji’an’s side, not even allowing Ning Sujin any chance, never letting her Divine Soul rest or sleep.

”Brother Li, Yutan’s physical body has defects and cannot nurture your bloodline. Why don’t you find a fairy to leave your descendants, so your life could continue?” Exhausted, Ning Yutan nestled in Li Ji’an’s arms, somewhat guiltily suggesting.

Li Ji’an shook his head with a wry smile, ”A Core Formation cultivator wanting to have offspring must also find a female cultivator of the same rank. Moreover, having seen much bloodline-related family strife in the cultivation realm, I do not have such an obsession.”

Ning Yutan was speechless, only once more pushing her fatigued body to preserve more beautiful memories.

Half a month later, Li Ji’an decisively said his farewells, entrusting matters to Zou Qi alone before leaving.

He had known Zou Qi for only seven years, during which he occasionally came by in two years to guide him in cultivation, but due to Zou Qi’s lack of interest in diverse arts, Li Ji’an could teach very little, merely imparting his own cultivation experiences from Qi Cultivation to Core Formation.

Yet Zou Qi’s heart nature once made Li Ji’an suspect he was reincarnated to practice again, as he was too stable.

Li Ji’an specifically researched some ancient sect texts for this, feeling he might share some similarities with the legendary simple heart, which is unswerving and unpretentious, but many tests later, he ruled out this possibility.

For the simple hearted individuals recorded in ancient texts learn everything quickly and have extraordinary comprehension.

Yet Zou Qi was clearly not such an example.

He had always focused on cultivation, now learning of Li Ji’an’s limited lifespan.

His pure eyes showed a hint of sadness, but more so confusion.

After all, his grandfather used his lifespan to divine that his chance for Core Formation lay with Li Ji’an.

”Master, good fortune will favor you, my grandfather’s calculations won’t be wrong; I’ll wait patiently for your return!” Zou Qi smiled brightly.

”Good, I’ll take your auspicious words,” Li Ji’an smiled, patting his shoulder, then handed him a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Previously, in preparing for the next life, Li Ji’an refined a batch of exceptional Foundation Establishment Pills, with one middle grade and one premium pill from the first batch.

The middle grade one was given to Xu Xiaochun, whose spirit root and sect advantages ensured a successful Foundation Establishment without issue.

Zou Qi’s spirit root was of insufficient talent; only the premium Foundation Establishment Pill could guarantee his success.

This matched well with his family’s divination heritage.

”Disciple thanks Master for the pill,” Zou Qi sincerely bowed in gratitude, facing the premium Foundation Establishment Pill with neither great joy nor surprise.

After explaining the intricacies of Foundation Establishment once again, Li Ji’an completely left the Odd Stone Forest.

After leaving the Odd Stone Forest, Li Ji’an went to the starting point of his life—Yan Family in the Desert.

It’s been unconsciously forty years since his last visit to the Yan Family.

Forty years, even in the cultivation realm, especially for a small family like those in the desert, things have changed.

Except for Yan Qingwan, the Yan Family had no other acquaintances from his past.

Zhang Tiezhu’s descendants, Yan Jue and Yan Qing, had already lived out their natural lifespans.

Qi cultivation juniors, without Lifespan Extension Pills to extend their life, rarely live to 120 years old.

As for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, they were too distant.

Yan Qingwan, now 172 years old, these years the desert has been stable with little conflict; she retired early behind the scenes, peacefully becoming a family mascot, focusing on cultivation, with sufficient lifespan remaining.

”Xiaofan, never thought after sending your father off back then, now I must watch you pass away… alas.” Yan Qingwan, having grown used to life and death in her family, was still somewhat saddened by Li Ji’an’s situation.

This father and son had left indelible marks in her heart.

After bidding farewell to Yan Qingwan, Li Ji’an specifically went to the mundane gathering area outside the United Marketplace, with his fame bolstering the Yan Family’s control over the desert, whether it was the United Marketplace or the mundane gathering areas thriving exceptionally well.

Especially as this place was the starting point of Li Ji’an’s life, attracting many ordinary individuals hoping to walk Alchemist Li’s immortal path once more.

Of course, the Yan Family’s ongoing rescue and restoration work for children whose innate spirit root was delayed, using Li Ji’an’s name, attracted many orphaned children to flock here.

He even saw his own portrait in the gathering area square!

Leaving the desert, Li Ji’an made one final visit to the Qin Family at Purple Bamboo Mountain.

This journey down, everyone believed Li Ji’an was making his final farewells.

Afterward, Li Ji’an’s whereabouts completely vanished from people’s sight.