Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

The first thing he did upon waking up was to inquire if Li Ji’an had succeeded.

It was then that Li Ji’an realized Xiaoqiao had never extracted the Earth Spirit Charm in this way before; by the third day, she had already reached her limit, and the latter two days were entirely sustained by her worry for Li Ji’an’s breakthrough failure, gritting her teeth and enduring it.

”Senior sister has worked hard! Ping’an will not forget your kindness,” Li Ji’an expressed solemnly.

Having been acquainted with Xiaoqiao over two lifetimes, although their relationship differed in each, Li Ji’an still recognized Xiaoqiao’s character.

”Ping’an spoke too heavily, Uncle Li had already instructed me to take care of you before he passed,” Xiaoqiao said with a weak smile.

After ensuring Xiaoqiao was unharmed the next day, Li Ji’an left her a bottle of Healing Elixir and departed from Odd Stone Forest, returning to Biyun Sect.

This time, the major hidden danger of the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws was resolved. He also obtained the ”Profound Yuan Chaos Scripture” ahead of time and unexpectedly discovered Xiaoqiao’s ability to supply the Earth Spirit Charm’s wonders, coupled with the nourishments from the blood and flesh of the Two-headed Snake Demon, allowing him to break through to Tier Three Body Cultivation and achieve Perfection.

Ning Sujin still had about a year before she could return to her own fleshly body, and Xiao Changfeng must have been eager to go search for Fairy Yunyao in the past six months, so Li Ji’an did not delay anymore.

Days later, Li Ji’an returned to Biyun Sect.

Xiao Changfeng immediately convened a sect meeting again, impatiently handing over Biyun Sect’s authority to Li Ji’an.

The entire sect worshipped Li Ji’an as the Supreme Elder, with all sect matters subsequently decided solely by him.

At the same time, a heavy responsibility was placed on Li Ji’an’s shoulders.

”Greetings, Supreme Elder!”

”Please, Supreme Elder, lead us to restore the glory of the Upper Sect!”

...

Seeing the disciples worshipping below, Li Ji’an’s mind inexplicably returned to the scene when he first entered this realm during his fourth life.

He still remembered hearing about Biyun Sect for the first time, it was from Chen Zhaohu.

Cangyun State, one sect with five families, was in an absolute position of dominance.

Biyun Sect was revered and feared by all as the Upper Sect.

No one in the entire state did not aspire to join Biyun Sect and become an Upper Sect disciple.

Yet he and Zhao Shuyao, along with two others, didn’t even have the qualification to step onto the mountain gate of Biyun Sect at that time.

However, now, in just three lifetimes, the former number one Upper Sect of the state had become his Dao Field where his word was law.

At the moment he took over the sect’s authority, Li Ji’an also became the sect’s backbone, its pillar of support.

However, he was seldom needed to intervene directly; most of the time he was in closed-door cultivation.

Xiao Changfeng quietly departed on the same day.

Li Ji’an then began a one-year closed-door cultivation.

First, to consolidate the fusion of Qi and Blood from Tier Three Body Cultivation.

Second, to further advance the Ancient Desolate Demon-Suppressing Fist.

Additionally, he meticulously studied the Puppetry Skill, hoping to soon create Tier Three Puppets.

Moreover, there was also the most basic Golden Core Cultivation.

As for Alchemy Skill, Talisman, Refining the Divine Soul, and Divination, they had to be temporarily put aside.

This is why it’s almost impossible for ordinary cultivators to master two skills simultaneously.

Luckily, Li Ji’an had made some achievements in Alchemy Skill and Talisman in his past life, allowing him to temporarily keep pace.

Moreover, he did not need to be impatient, for mastering one skill thoroughly in a lifetime was already satisfactory.

During the year, he emerged once, when two Fake Pill Demon Cultivators tried to benefit from his sect.

However, before those Demon Cultivators could speak, Li Ji’an deployed thunderous means to slay them, reducing them to ashes.

It was then that he formally announced to sect disciples to prioritize self-preservation when acting outside but to kill without mercy any petty Demon Cultivators daring to cause trouble within the sect.

Those two Fake Pill Demon Cultivators held some reputation in the loose cultivator circles of Boundless Domain, having slain a True Core Cultivator from a family in Dao Source State years ago using the Yin Yang Complementary Skill.

Their slaying at Biyun Sect elevated many loose cultivators’ psychological ratings of Biyun Sect.

At least until Li Ji’an emerged a year later, no Demon Cultivators or Evil Cultivators dared come looking for trouble.

One day, while honing the Demon-Suppressing Fist in the secret chamber, Li Ji’an’s Sea of Consciousness suddenly stirred, prompting him to exit seclusion and head outside the sect to greet.

Just after stepping off the sect’s Grand Array, he saw a familiar yet unfamiliar figure from afar.

It was none other than Ning Sujin, who had returned to her own fleshly body.

Upon returning to her fleshly body, Ning Sujin was no longer bound by the Spirit Vein of Odd Stone Forest, regaining her freedom.

Her first action was to visit Biyun Sect to see Li Ji’an.

This was the first time in over two hundred years Ning Sujin met Li Ji’an with her true self.

”Li Lang...” Ning Sujin’s body trembled, tears glistened in her eyes, yet endless joy accompanied her speedy approach.

Looking at Ning Sujin’s unchanged posture and appearance, Li Ji’an felt comforted from within, experiencing a sentiment few could understand having reunited with a companion from his third life during his sixth.

In a way, Ning Sujin was a witness to Li Ji’an’s ascent and struggles over three lifetimes.

She was also the only witness of this era.

Her existence rendered Li Ji’an’s striving across three lifetimes all the more meaningful.

The two embraced in mid-air, gazing at each other with affection.

At the same time, Li Ji’an discerned Ning Sujin’s fleshly body condition.

Though nourished by spiritual qi and originally of the Martial Dao Qi Blood Realm, her physique was passable, having the level of a Tier One peak Body Cultivator.

However, there wasn’t the slightest flow of magical power.

Her current flight was sustained entirely by Primordial Spirit Power.

This greatly differed from proper soul cultivation during Ancient Times.

Ancient soul cultivators entered the path through Divine Soul and, after comprehending the universal dao, fed the body with the power of the dao. Though they similarly lacked magical power flow, they possessed the grand power of the dao.

Whereas Ning Sujin’s state was presumably due to issues with cultivation technique inheritance or prolonged separation of flesh and soul, the body hadn’t been fed and didn’t possess other divine wonders.

Fortunately, her Life Origin was primarily based on Primordial Spirit, so her life force was vigorous, and her longevity temporarily secure.

”Sujin, join me inside the sect!” After Ning Sujin’s emotions stabilized, Li Ji’an led her into the sect, hand in hand.

This scene astounded many disciples within the sect, as they never imagined that the Supreme Elder already had a Dao companion.

Simultaneously, it relieved the sect leader and the two Fake Pill Elders greatly.

A Dao companion with Li Ji’an and descendants meant deeper ties with Biyun Sect; otherwise, left alone, he might one day abandon the sect.

The sect leader immediately came to Li Ji’an’s Dao Field to request permission to host a celebration feast to announce to the world.

However, he didn’t receive Li Ji’an’s consent.

The current domain situation was not as before; low-profile accumulation and discreet development were the proper path, and indiscreet showiness was the gravest mistake.

Moreover, the sect was currently lacking in Spiritual Talent, so there was no need for extravagant wastefulness.

In the Dao Field, Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin spent many days affectionately in each other’s company, her return to her own flesh recovered without Ning Yutan contesting for Sea of Consciousness, thus their interaction belonged solely to her, completely different from the past feeling.

Add to this, Li Ji’an’s Dao Field and sect were supreme, undisturbed, and there was no need to worry about others’ prying, so the two were truly carefree and indolent, akin to Immortal Lovers.

”Sujin, after I craft Tier Three Puppets to guard the sect, I will take you on a tour around; seeing all the beautiful sights,” Li Ji’an said tenderly.

Snuggling close to Li Ji’an, Ning Sujin’s smile was radiant, ”Li Lang, being with you is already the most beautiful sight in the world; why seek far when you have near?”

”Moreover, I know your willpower; I don’t wish to be an impediment to your Dao path, only wish to watch you progress one step at a time.”

”Haha, you understand me.” Li Ji’an lowered his head for a kiss, heart elated, growing ever pleased with Ning Sujin.

”By the way, Li Lang, do you remember the soul cultivator I devoured before? After devouring his essence, I found a secret technique in his memory that might aid your path in puppetry,” Ning Sujin suddenly spoke.

”What secret technique? What effect does it have?” Li Ji’an asked, with some anticipation.

”That soul cultivator used this secret technique to control passing loose cultivators. The secret technique, called ”Thousand Mechanisms Guide,” allows one to split one’s Divine Soul into multiple segments, each controlling separately,” Ning Sujin explained.

”’Thousand Mechanisms Guide’? Capable of split soul control?” Li Ji’an was immediately intrigued upon hearing this.

Previously, when refining Puppetry Skill, he discovered a major issue.

Though he could craft numerous puppets and could preset commands for each, these commands were overly rigid, unable to adapt flexibly, uncomparable to personal control.

However, if he controlled a puppet using his Divine Soul, he could only control one at a time.

If he could employ a Soul Splitting Technique to control multiple puppets intricately, his combat strength would greatly enhance.

But upon hearing the name of this secret technique, ”Thousand Mechanisms Guide,” he instantly recalled the Blood Dao Skill secret technique, ”Thousand Mechanisms Blood Attraction,” obtained from the Blood Spirit Saintess years ago.

As well as the Thousand Mechanism Sect from the Western Domain of the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm.

”Could there be a connection?”