Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Nowadays, the Desert has become a land without an owner, a place where Demon Cultivators and Loose Cultivators gather.

What concerns Li Ji’an the most is that Yan Qingwan has already passed away peacefully before the Yan Family was wiped out.

At two hundred sixty-six years old, her lifespan in the Early Period of Foundation Establishment was not short. If not for exhausting her efforts for the family, and being repeatedly drafted into wars, she might have lived another ten or twenty years.

Being the friend Li Ji’an knew the longest since he first entered the Cultivation Realm, she meant more to him than others could compare.

However, Li Ji’an had long anticipated this scene, having experienced it many times.

He wasn’t overly saddened.

He’d long grown accustomed to the partings of life and death of old friends.

Shangshan Zhenren, Senior Brother Liu Deshan, Lao Huang... Zhao Shuyao, Zhang Tiezhu, Master Jade Pill... even Xiaoqiao before him, and many more old friends would vanish in the long river of history in the future.

Possessing the extraordinary ”Rejuvenation” ability, this sort of thing was unavoidable, so he could only face it calmly.

”Ping’an, where are Gugu and Little Fire?” After discussing the situation, Xiaoqiao asked with some nostalgia.

Li Ji’an immediately released Gugu and the Little Fire Spirit.

”Tier Three Great Demon!” The moment Xiaoqiao saw Gugu, her beautiful eyes were even more surprised than when she saw Li Ji’an forming a True Pill.

”This...” She looked at Li Ji’an incredulously.

”Ping’an, you... how did you do it?”

When Xiaoqiao first met Li Ping’an, she was a bit displeased.

That was because Li Ji’an handed both Gugu and the Little Fire Spirit to Li Ping’an.

Having accompanied Gugu and the Little Fire Spirit for half her life, she should have been the most suitable person besides Li Ji’an.

This left her with a bit of a grudge against her Junior Brother Ping’an.

But now, seeing the Frog Demon of Lower Grade bloodline become a Tier Three Demon King, she suddenly came to a realization.

”Did Uncle Li know only by following Junior Brother could Gugu have the hope to progress further?”

In an instant, Xiaoqiao’s gaze towards Li Ping’an carried a hint of respect.

Not only did he achieve True Pill himself, but he also nurtured a Lower Grade Spirit Pet to a Tier Three Great Demon, a capability she couldn’t hope to achieve.

”Gua~” Gugu hopped in front of Xiaoqiao and rubbed its frog head against her, showing the same affection as before.

”You’re amazing!” Xiaoqiao fondly petted the frog’s head, her eyes filled with both surprise and affection, along with a touch of wistfulness.

Now at late Foundation Establishment, she hadn’t dared to think about forming a Core, especially since in Cangyun State, only the Biyun Sect and the Five Great Clans had any hope of Core Formation.

But seeing that Gugu, who had as little talent as she did, had already risen to a Tier Three Great Demon, she was somewhat moved.

”Gua~” Hearing Xiaoqiao’s praise, Gugu became even more pleased with itself, opening its mouth to spit out its Demon Pill.

Boom~

Accompanied by the Demon Pill, which circulated with a hint of golden Dao Charm, Xiaoqiao’s expression changed dramatically!

”Golden Core!”

”Not only did it ascend to Tier Three, but it also formed a Golden Core!”

Previously, Gugu’s aura as a Tier Three Great Demon had already amazed her, but now she was completely overwhelmed.

Li Ji’an immediately glared at Gugu.

”Senior Sister, Gugu could condense a Golden Core thanks to Little Fire.” He then released the Little Fire Spirit as well.

Feeling the increased might of the Little Fire Spirit’s Spirit Flame, Xiaoqiao was thoroughly convinced.

If Uncle Li had truly given Gugu and the Little Fire Spirit to her years ago, chances were they would have stayed stagnant and ultimately perished with her.

But now, these two little ones had limitless potential.

Li Ji’an then gave them time for their long-awaited reunion and went alone to the back garden.

When he saw the Spirit Field in the back garden, he nodded quietly. The Spirit Field, taken from the tombs of Black Water Swamp years ago, had been well transplanted here by Xiaoqiao. The Spirit Field connected to the Earth Vein, its grade remained undamaged, and there was even a slight increase.

Twelve plots of Third Grade Spirit Field were already planted with various precious herbs by Xiaoqiao.

Among them, Tier Three Spirit Medicine made up half.

And within that, Li Ji’an immediately recognized four of the Crystal Condensing Pill’s ingredients.

Previously, in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, taking advantage of the convenience of trade, he had accumulated a number of Crystal Condensing Pill’s ingredients, as well as some seedlings and seeds, which he now unhesitatingly planted in this Spirit Field.

Third Grade Spirit Field, apart from some spirit plants with special properties, could theoretically cultivate Upper Grade Tier Three Spiritual Materials.

With Xiaoqiao’s uniqueness as an Earth Spirit Master, the results might even be better.

Later, Li Ji’an also saw a special Flame Iron Tree in the Spirit Field, a superior Talisman material for Tier Three Blast Flame Talisman, but it required a specific age.

Only at fifty years old would it work; less or more years would cause the internal Flame Mechanism to be insufficient.

Spirit plants don’t always improve with age; like humans, they have growth cycles, with rises and falls.

After sensing for a moment, Li Ji’an confirmed that this Flame Iron Tree was only eight years old, and it would take another forty-two years to reach the point where it could be harvested for Talisman crafting.

The Cultivation Realm is ever-changing, and he couldn’t be sure he would still have the chance by then.

A moment later, Xiaoqiao and the two little ones came out, reminiscing together.

”Ping’an, there’s a Flame Iron Tree in the Spirit Field; I discovered it by chance and planted it especially for you.” Seeing Li Ji’an squatting by the Spirit Field from afar, Xiaoqiao said.

Although Li Ping’an had never displayed his Talisman Art in front of her, Xiaoqiao knew about Li Ji’an’s Talisman Art in their past life.

And given Li Ping’an’s Wood Magic Power, she was convinced that Uncle Li must have passed on the Talisman Art to him.

”Thank you, Senior Sister, but this tree still needs to grow for dozens of years before it can be used.” Li Ji’an did not hide this too much from Xiaoqiao.

”Junior Brother, don’t worry; you won’t have to wait that long.” Xiaoqiao promised confidently.

”Oh?” Li Ji’an looked slightly surprised.

Xiaoqiao looked at Li Ji’an and then chuckled freely, ”Junior Brother, actually, Senior Sister also has a special ability!”

Originally following Uncle Li’s advice, Xiaoqiao had not exposed her ability as an Earth Spirit Master to avoid unnecessary trouble and danger. But at this moment, facing Li Ping’an, she decided to be open.

Because Li Ping’an hadn’t hidden Gugu’s Core formation, something that would astonish anyone.

Besides, if it hadn’t been for Junior Brother’s timely support, who knows how many of her followers in the Odd Stone Forest would have suffered or died.

Then, Xiaoqiao frankly revealed her identity as a Tier Three Earth Spirit Master to Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an showed surprise and marveled appropriately.

However, the following secret shared by Xiaoqiao truly shocked him.

”After I successfully settled Master’s gifted Spirit Field, only then did I discover that using Earth Vein’s mechanism to irrigate the Spirit Field could not only maintain its grade but also accelerate the growth of the spirit plants within.” Xiaoqiao said earnestly.

”Accelerate the growth of spirit plants?” Even with Li Ji’an’s calm and serene disposition, he couldn’t help but feel a storm within.

His first thought was of Celestial Venerable Han’s Little Green Bottle.

Celestial Venerable Han, merely with the mysterious ability to accelerate spirit plant growth, could stand at the pinnacle of the Immortal Realm. In addition to his steadfast pursuit of the Dao, it showcased the extraordinary nature of this ability.

”Senior Sister, can you determine the multiplication rate?”

”This method particularly consumes my spirit and energy. At most, I can try irrigating for an hour a day, resulting in a fifty percent increase. If I ignore the consumption of spirit and energy, perhaps two hours a day could achieve a hundred percent effect.” Xiaoqiao admitted.

Li Ji’an raised an eyebrow instinctively. If a hundred percent speed increase was achievable, a year could be equivalent to two, meaning this Flame Iron Tree would only need twenty-one years to be usable.

While it couldn’t compare to Celestial Venerable Han’s Little Green Bottle, it was already remarkable.

With this Spirit Field, coupled with Xiaoqiao’s spirit plant acceleration, perhaps the day of achieving freedom in Tier Three Pill and Talisman materials, especially those spirit plants nearing extinction in the outside world, wasn’t far.

”By the way, Ping’an, did you bring along that Withered Wood Branch that Master gifted back then?” After discussing the Spirit Field and the spirit plant acceleration, Xiaoqiao suddenly remembered something and asked hopefully.

”Yes, I have it. Have you found out what that Withered Wood Branch is?” Li Ji’an’s curiosity was piqued again.

Discovered with Duanmu Qin at the ancient sect relics beneath the Eighteen Spirit Strongholds, the Withered Wood Branch remained unidentified for over a hundred years.

Neither past research in the Celestial Cyan Domain with Sect resources nor extensive readings of ancient texts and spirit plant records in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain provided matching information.

However, ever since he cultivated the Divine Treasure Body Refining Technique and could sense the Celestial Dao Spirit Charm, he first detected spiritual essence on the red stone wood from which the Little Fire Spirit was born, and later sensed it on the Withered Wood Branch, indicating its extraordinary nature.