Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

”Such paltry skills dare flaunt their superiority?” The black-robed soul cultivator snorted coldly and opened his middle-stage Core Formation divine sense.

In the next moment, within the range of the divine sense, he perceived the aura of Li Ji’an who had escaped into the emerald leaves.

After all, Li Ji’an’s technique ”Illusory Leaf Clone” was only cultivated to the second-layer peak, unable to evade the middle-stage Core Formation divine sense.

”Come out for the old man!” The soul cultivator’s eyes narrowed, and a Divine Soul Slash swung at one of the countless falling leaves.

The slash on the divine soul level didn’t harm the physical body, only effective on Li Ji’an’s Sea of Consciousness.

If the divine soul was weaker than the soul cultivator, not only would it be difficult to endure, but feel it in time, it’s extremely damaging to the divine soul.

The black-robed soul cultivator, confident in his middle-stage Core Formation divine sense, did not take ordinary early-stage True Core cultivators seriously.

He was confident that this strike would leave him with nowhere to hide.

”Swish~”

Yet in the next moment, his Divine Soul Slash passed through the leaf without even touching it, leaving the emerald leaves unaffected, continuing to fall lightly.

”Hmm?” The soul cultivator frowned.

”Able to evade my divine soul attack? What kind of magic technique is this?” He swept his divine sense across again, only to find Li Ji’an once more hidden within another emerald leaf.

”Pfft~” another Divine Soul Slash was triggered.

He knew that in the Celestial Cyan Domain, Ten Thousand Laws Palace, for the sake of control, had self-castrated the cultivation of the divine soul path, causing the local cultivators of this domain to lack sole tempering methods for the divine soul, relying only on the synchronous growth of divine sense through magical cultivation.

Thus, seeing the opposite party as an indigenous early-stage True Core cultivator, he could act so confidently.

He simply did not believe the opponent’s divine sense could surpass his own.

”Swish~” Yet another miss, the emerald leaf remained intact, Li Ji’an’s aura again appeared in another emerald leaf.

”How is this possible?” This time he finally showed dismay.

”Be vanquished!” In the next instant, Li Ji’an had already shifted beneath an emerald leaf before the soul cultivator, suddenly revealing his form.

Simultaneously, a magic sword infused with magical power slashed down toward the soul cultivator!

”Impossible!” The soul cultivator exclaimed in shock, gathering his divine soul with all his might, aiming to slash at Li Ji’an’s already revealed Sea of Consciousness.

Divine soul attack follows the heart’s intent, its speed unmatched by the physical energies of Dharma cultivators and body cultivators; as long as he obliterated Li Ji’an’s divine soul before the emerald magic sword descended, his magic sword would naturally vanish.

”Buzz~” This time his Divine Soul Slash was accurate, reaching Li Ji’an’s Sea of Consciousness.

Yet just as he thought it would prove overwhelming as always, Li Ji’an’s Sea of Consciousness resonated with a buzzing ripple, actually forcefully blocking his Divine Soul Slash.

Next, a soul power stronger than his divine soul poured forth continuously.

”Comparable to a Core Formation Ascendant’s divine sense? You...”

The soul cultivator was stupefied, but before he could react, another Soul Stab attacked.

”Pfft~” Its power was stronger than his Divine Soul Slash and its speed faster.

In an instant, the Soul Stab pierced into his Sea of Consciousness, shattering it.

At the same time, the emerald magic sword was already upon him.

His Qi Cultivation Junior Cultivator Dharma Body was separated like tofu.

In the next moment, countless lost souls surged out from his body and fled.

Li Ji’an quickly collected a strand of his divine soul and essence blood using the Faceless Mask, then turned to look at the people within the Marvelous Stone Forest Array.

”He killed him?”

”Just one face-to-face encounter!”

”He... True Man Li, an early-stage True Core cultivator, could actually ignore that evil villain’s divine soul attack?”

In an instant, the people within the array were overwhelmed with surprise and joy.

”Senior Sister, Aunt Tan!”

”Ping... Liu Qiao pays respects to True Man Li!” Xiaoqiao, though emotionally stirred, restrained the impulse to approach, immediately leading the Marvelous Stone Forest sect members to respectfully bow to Li Ji’an.

”Thank you, True Man Li, for your life-saving grace!” The rest of the Marvelous Stone Forest followers, sensing the true core aura from Li Ji’an, were all extremely excited; the key was that this True Core Master was Sect Leader Qiao’s junior brother.

Now with Cangyun State’s cultivation realm in disarray, although some demon cultivators scorned the Celestial Cyan Domain’s True Core Masters, only a minority dared, most demon cultivators had to bow when encountering True Core Masters.

With the protection of a True Core Master, the people of Marvelous Stone Forest felt much safer.

Li Ji’an, high and mighty, accepted their bow, and then Xiaoqiao led him into her garden Dao Field.

”Ping’an, congratulations on forming a True Core!” Xiaoqiao gifted him a finely made Tier Three array compass over the years as a congratulatory gift.

”Thank you, Senior Sister.” Li Ji’an had great trust in Xiaoqiao’s skills in array techniques, especially for temporary Dao Field arrangements, it was convenient and effective.

Previously during the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, Li Ji’an used quite a few, now having little remaining stock.

And at this time, what Xiaoqiao gave him were all Tier Three array compasses, which suited his current status.

Subsequently, Xiaoqiao inquired about his recent experiences over the years, showing concern rather than probing into privacy.

She also narrated the current situation in the Celestial Cyan Domain to him.

Most aligned with Li Ji’an’s understanding, though there were some minor events Li Ji’an hadn’t heard of.

For example, the Beast Taming Liu Family, once one of the Five Great Clans of Cangyun State, had been confirmed not to be cleansed years before, but was broken by demonic loose cultivators, suffering heavy casualties within, the clan guardian saint beast was taken, and the clan’s land occupied.

Now a small portion of the clan members who fled, seized another small Foundation Establishment Clan’s Second-Tier Spirit Vein Land, barely surviving.

Upon hearing it, Li Ji’an’s first reaction was that this matter wouldn’t be unrelated to Wu Weixiong.

Additionally, speaking of the current desert situation, made Li Ji’an’s heart sink.

Years ago when Li Ji’an first entered the cultivation realm, Fallen Dragon Ridge of the desert underwent major changes in recent years, first with countless demon cultivators flooding into Fallen Dragon Ridge, many Yin Veins, and Evil Lands there were dream resources for demon cultivators.

With the large influx of demon cultivators, the former desert dominator, Yan Family, was the first to be occupied by demon cultivators, with other families fleeing in fear.