Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Halos are like dreams, like illusions; the water-formed humanoid sometimes vivid, sometimes vague like mist.

The voice is equally ethereal like smoke, indistinguishable in age.

”Are you the Artifact Spirit?” Li Ji’an asked directly.

The water-formed humanoid clearly hesitated for a moment, then said with a smile, ”So Fellow Daoist Chang’an has long been aware of my presence, ashamed.”

”Senior Chang’an, I...” Wu Miaozhen’s face instantly changed as she hurriedly spoke, trying to say something.

Unfortunately, Li Ji’an directly sealed her seven orifices with a flow of Magical Power, leaving her unable to speak, hear, see, or smell, becoming a living dead in an instant.

”Since we are face to face, why not speak openly?” Li Ji’an proposed to the water-formed humanoid.

”Fellow Daoist Chang’an is frank, yet I hope you will first grant me a request,” the water-formed humanoid said.

Li Ji’an smiled faintly, and a Cangqing Magic Sword slowly materialized from the Qiankun Ring.

Instantly, a faint aura of decay and lethal intent enveloped the water-formed humanoid.

”You have no choice!”

The water-formed humanoid visibly became more illusory, and the streams of water showed evident panic.

”Fellow Daoist, I didn’t expect you to have such a treasure, I’m humbled. Please put away your Divine Abilities; I will tell you everything without reserve,” the Artifact Spirit’s voice no longer calm as before.

Li Ji’an nodded slightly, and put away the Cyan Wood Magic Sword.

Though with his current Mid-stage Golden Core Magical Power, combined with the compatibility of the Cyan Wood Magic Sword, he could barely wield it.

Just a moment of attempting caused his Magical Power to deplete frantically.

If truly wielded to strike, his Magical Power would bottom out.

”What tricks has this woman used on me?”

”Fellow Daoist sees clearly, it’s a curse technique named ’Heart Lock Curse,’ subtly infiltrating the opponent’s spirit, planting deep emotional roots. After forty-nine intimate encounters, both body and soul are promised, loyal to death,” the Artifact Spirit explained truthfully.

”Curse technique!” Li Ji’an paused inwardly, feeling a sense of relief.

Curse techniques, even in Ancient Times, were extremely troublesome, mysterious and wicked.

They were also diverse; some influenced others’ Sea of Consciousness, some hid within bloodlines, some even imprinted into Dantian, impenetrable by Divine Sense.

In his past life, after exterminating the Liu Family Ancestor, he was bewitched by the Curse Seal imprinted in its bone marrow, living anxiously for many years.

Therefore, falling into a curse technique this time seemed unsurprising.

However, he narrowed his eyes at the Artifact Spirit, ”Curse techniques often rely on Divine Soul, with this Female Cultivator’s Cultivation and Divine Sense, could her curse technique influence me?”

”Forgive me, Miaozhen indeed cannot do it; it was indeed my trick,” the Artifact Spirit immediately admitted.

”What’s your plan for restitution?” Li Ji’an pressed.

The Artifact Spirit fell silent for a moment, as if accepting a fated arrangement: ”Things have come to this, Fellow Daoist Chang’an needn’t tug at it anymore. I am merely an incomplete Artifact Spirit, and indeed it’s Miaozhen’s fault, inept in skills, she deserves this ending.”

Li Ji’an raised a brow with a smile, ”You are indeed honest, why not reveal your true form?”

”I duly obey Fellow Daoist Chang’an’s command!” The Artifact Spirit slightly bowed, followed by the halos drawing back.

Moments later, a shiny, water-patterned, azure blue pearl floated out from Wu Miaozhen’s Dantian, suspended in mid-air.

”Such a dense Water Element Spirit Charm!” As the Jade Water Pearl revealed itself, Li Ji’an was astonished.

Compared to the Dragon-Suppressing Cauldron obtained in the Dragon Burial Cave, this pearl’s aura wasn’t notably strong, yet it continuously emitted Water Element Spirit Charm.

This dense Water Element Spirit Charm was virtually useless for ordinary cultivators.

Even for someone like Wu Miaozhen, a Water Spirit Root cultivator needing Water Element Spiritual Qi for cultivation, such dense Water Element Spirit Charm still provided no benefit.

However, for the third Divine Treasure of his Divine Treasure Body Refining Technique—kidney water refinement, it was extremely beneficial.

”Swish~” Without hesitation, Li Ji’an’s Divine Sense enveloped the Jade Water Pearl.

”Do not resist; I’m here to dissolve your Spirit Contract!”

The Jade Water Pearl merely trembled slightly under Li Ji’an’s Divine Sense, not resisting, but spoke, ”Fellow Daoist Chang’an perceives clearly; I was healed by Miaozhen’s ancestors and nurtured over generations to meet Fellow Daoist today. I dare plead you spare Miaozhen a life.”

”You certainly know to repay kindness.” Li Ji’an laughed softly.

”Unfortunately, this woman may not appreciate it.”

The Jade Water Pearl’s Artifact Spirit fell silent again.

As Li Ji’an said, even if Li Ji’an spared Wu Miaozhen’s life now.

Given Wu Miaozhen’s temperament, not only would she fail to learn a lesson after losing her greatest opportunity but instead seek revenge by all means necessary, whether to obtain it or destroy it.

Even if coerced into a Spirit Contract or making a Great Heart Demon Oath, she might still strive to disclose it and expose the Jade Water Pearl.

After lengthy silence.

”Fellow Daoist Chang’an.” Finally, the Jade Water Pearl’s Spiritual Mechanism stirred resolutely, ”This ’Heart Lock Curse’ imprints into the opponent’s spirit; no one in this world can undo it. If Fellow Daoist can use this curse to bind her spirit, it might be the safest.”

Li Ji’an frowned slightly, for matters carrying such underlying karma, he never harbored wishful thinking.

So upon confirming Wu Miaozhen’s trickery against him, he didn’t intend to let her live in this world anymore.

Yet, facing the earnest plea of the tempting Jade Water Pearl before him, he hesitated.

”Fellow Daoist Chang’an, it is my sole request; should it truly trouble you, act by your own will. However, having been nurtured by Miaozhen’s ancestors, I can no longer bear to continue in this way,” the Jade Water Pearl’s Artifact Spirit spoke again, its attitude resolute.