Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

At the same time, Li Ji’an’s divine sense swept across, taking in the entire Blood Pool Workshop. There were over a hundred blood pools inside, but most were ordinary, and Li Ji’an could sense their medicinal effects were very weak, mainly used for refining Tier One demon beasts or even newborn ones.

Only less than thirty percent of the pools were for the Second Tier, and most were used for middle-level Second Tier demon beasts.

As for high-level Second Tier blood pools, there was only one.

While he was probing with his divine sense, the shopkeeper succinctly explained everything.

Each blood pool has its emphasis, but the core is the same: refining bloodlines.

This refinement is only about purification, far from the bloodline transformation of a Sacred Beast Pill. However, the more refined the bloodline, the better it is for a spirit pet to break through bottlenecks.

It’s similar to the pure magical power of human cultivators.

The introduction was almost the same as what Li Ji’an sensed. Ignoring the decorative words, the explanation was mainly about the concentration of the blood pool’s medicinal power.

The scarcity of high-level blood pools is due to the high cost of high-tier demon beast essence blood and medicinal materials.

A high-level Second Tier blood pool requires Third Tier demon beast essence blood and many Third Tier medicinal materials, so the pool must gather enough for ten spirit pets each time.

”Liu’s spirit pet needs a high-level Second Tier blood pool!” Li Ji’an immediately said.

”Oh?” The shopkeeper was slightly surprised.

The medicinal power of high-level Second Tier blood pools is very strong, and only Second Tier Peak spirit pets can withstand it; even some Third Tier spirit pets can benefit from it.

The Ten Thousand Merchants Domain is a hub of commerce, with many passing travelers, so there are many high-tier spirit pets, unlike the Celestial Cyan Domain, where only a few notable beast taming clans or factions might have Second Tier Peak spirit beasts.

However, Second Tier Peak spirit beasts are extraordinary wherever they are; at present, in Tiger Roar Immortal City, excluding the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association’s goods, there are definitely no more than a hundred.

”Good, good, esteemed customer, please come inside.” The shopkeeper regained his composure and quickly bowed, inviting Li Ji’an towards the innermost high-level blood pool.

”Esteemed customer, you are indeed lucky. Our high-level blood pool has already been booked for eight spirit pets, and with yours, only one more is needed to open. It should be ready in about three to five days.”

The shopkeeper explained while leading the way.

”If Liu wanted to reserve an entire blood pool, how many spirit stones would it require?” Li Ji’an inquired, testing the waters.

Once the blood pool is prepared and a spirit pet enters for refinement, the medicinal effect is lost, absorbed or not.

”You jest, esteemed customer. Our proprietor worked hard to prepare this pool, and Third Tier demon beast essence blood is rare, costing no less than fifty to sixty thousand spirit stones.

Moreover, such a large pool of medicinal liquid cannot be fully utilized by just one spirit pet, which would be a tremendous waste.

Furthermore, our store has maintained this policy since its inception, never changing.

Besides, eight customers have already signed contracts for their spirit pets, so changes are impossible; we hope esteemed customer can understand.” The shopkeeper smiled as he replied.

”It seems Liu misspoke.” Li Ji’an nodded slightly. He had already been aware and was merely testing; he didn’t mind.

”No matter, esteemed customer, please.”

Soon, Li Ji’an was taken to the edge of the innermost high-level blood pool.

The pool was covered with a Third Tier array to preserve its medicinal properties and reduce the pressure of the Third Tier demon beast essence blood.

The pressure from the Third Tier demon beast, even through the array, remained formidable, and Li Ji’an, with his Foundation Establishment Peak magical power, could still feel a slight trembling.

”This is our store’s high-level blood pool, also the highest-tier pool in Tiger Roar Immortal City. If you have any questions, esteemed customer, please ask them all at once, and I’ll answer them one by one.” The shopkeeper bowed and said.

”Can you guarantee its effectiveness?” Li Ji’an asked.

”Esteemed customer should know that the refinement of a spirit pet’s bloodline also involves the spirit pet’s own bloodline. If the bloodline is too low, it may not only fail in the refinement but also be overwhelmed by the pool’s medicinal power, causing injury.

The extent of the refinement depends significantly on the spirit pet’s capacity to endure.

If it endures a full day’s soaking, it can refine at least twenty percent.

If it lasts two days, forty percent can be achieved.

This is usually the limit for average spirit pets.

Our store’s highest record is three days, with the esteemed customer’s spirit pet refining fifty percent of its bloodline.

Beyond that, theoretically, it becomes more challenging, with each additional day potentially refining another five percent, but our store has yet to witness it.”

Li Ji’an nodded: ”That’s good, then—how many spirit stones?”

”A cordial deal, one session of high-level blood pool refinement costs eight thousand spirit stones!” the shopkeeper said with a smile.

Li Ji’an secretly shook his head. A single refinement session for a spirit pet could support a low-level cultivator’s attempt at Foundation Establishment in the Celestial Cyan Domain.

However, a Second Tier Peak spirit pet isn’t something an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator can compare to.

”Very well!” With that, Li Ji’an took out spirit stones from his storage pouch and handed them over.

”Please wait a moment, esteemed customer. It would be best if I could examine your spirit pet to assess its situation and avoid any disputes later. Rest assured, all our attendants have signed spirit contracts and will never disclose any information about our esteemed customers to anyone.” The shopkeeper gestured.

Li Ji’an smiled slightly, confidently saying, ”Don’t worry. Liu’s spirit pet can certainly endure.”

However, he did release Gugu.

”Huh? A Heaven-Swallowing Vermilion Toad!”

The shopkeeper, seeing Li Ji’an’s confidence, guessed his spirit pet must be some high-grade bloodline beast, like the Flame Tiger, White Ape, Earth-Split Bear, Howling Moon Wolf, or Lion Roar Beast, which are most likely to produce high-grade bloodlines.

But the moment a millstone-sized verdant green frog appeared, the shopkeeper was momentarily stunned.

Although the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm is home to numerous demon beast species tamed and bred by human cultivators, they are ultimately limited. The merchants specializing in demon beast commerce naturally recognize the common types.

The Heaven-Swallowing Vermilion Toad dates back to the early Post-Ancient Era when it was artificially tamed and bred, as it posed little threat to human cultivators.

However, although it carries the blood of the Ancient Heaven-Swallowing Vermilion Toad, its bloodline is very weak, mostly not very impressive. For over six thousand years in the Post-Ancient Era, it’s been considered a low-grade spirit beast, mostly raised as laborers rather than for personal spirit pets.

In six thousand years of history, hearing of a Second Tier Vermilion Toad is rare.

”Gasp~ A Second Tier Peak Heaven-Swallowing Vermilion Toad!” In the next moment, the shopkeeper sensed and was once again astonished.

”Esteemed customer is truly extraordinary!” His gaze struggled to move away from Gugu, and then he looked at Li Ji’an with admiration and curiosity.

”It’s no big deal!” Li Ji’an smiled faintly.

”Could I check the bloodline to ensure it can withstand the blood pool’s pressure?” The shopkeeper asked again after taking a breath.

Li Ji’an nodded.

Immediately, the shopkeeper took out a small gem resembling a Spirit Testing Stone and slowly approached Gugu.

”Buzz~” As the gem neared, it began to glow.

”Oh?” Once the light receded, the shopkeeper exclaimed again in surprise.

”Esteemed customer’s spirit pet... is of Lower Grade bloodline?” The shopkeeper was quite astounded, confirming the fine red bloodline mark left on the bloodline testing gem.

The bloodline testing gem is an artificial magical artifact used to detect the bloodline grade of demon beasts. However, it can only detect the innate bloodline grade, not any postnatal bloodline transformations, like those resulting from Li Ji’an using the Sacred Beast Pill for Gugu’s transformation.

The shopkeeper initially confirmed this large green frog before him had reached Second Tier Peak, thinking that Li Ji’an had been fortunate enough to encounter a mutated bloodline Heaven-Swallowing Vermilion Toad, at least Earth Grade.

Instead, it turned out to be an ordinary frog with a Lower Grade bloodline.

Therefore, raising it to Second Tier Peak was almost a miracle!

Of course, as a shopkeeper from a beast taming faction, he was aware of some methods to enhance postnatal bloodlines, although they come at a high cost.

Given the same spiritual resources and effort, cultivating a high-bloodline spirit pet naturally makes more sense. The same resources, when applied to another Upper Grade or Earth Grade, perhaps even Celestial Grade bloodline spirit beast, might even break through to the Third Tier.

He looked back at Li Ji’an with reverence and perplexity.

”Well?” Li Ji’an ignored his shock and query.

”Uh, as you should know, esteemed customer, our store’s high-level blood pool is extremely potent, both in power and medicinal property. According to your spirit pet’s demon power realm, it should be feasible,

but judging by the bloodline, it might struggle somewhat; you should consider carefully.

Our store’s policy is that once a spirit pet enters the blood pool, no refunds are possible, regardless of the outcome,” the shopkeeper honestly advised.

”Hmph! It truly is a small world, Liu, we meet again.” Just as the shopkeeper finished speaking, a cold, contemptuous voice echoed from outside.