Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

This wisp of Blood Spirit Mark infiltrates the blood and qi, flowing through the body. Those who do not have precise control over their blood and qi cannot detect the difference from their own.

"Indeed, a clever technique!" After studying it for half the night, Li Ji'an gained much from it.

He tried several more times, controlling a thread of blood and qi to slowly leave his body.

With his refined cultivation of blood and qi over two lifetimes in the Immortal Dynasty, this technique was not difficult for him.

However, the method to attach this thread of blood and qi to others without being noticed eluded him.

He attempted to infiltrate this feeble thread of blood and qi into the body of a Qi Cultivation Junior Cultivator below, but the latter immediately sensed something amiss, glanced around nervously, and quickly ran away.

Besides being unable to inconspicuously infiltrate someone else's blood and qi, he also couldn't achieve the fusion technique like that of Xue Ling'Er.

After the Qi Cultivation Junior Cultivator fled a hundred feet away, the thread of Li Ji'an's blood and qi scattered and vanished, making it impossible to sense.

By the next morning, half of the Qi Cultivators in the hall below had been startled away, and Li Ji'an still hadn't succeeded, forcing him to temporarily give up.

He carefully examined his Sea of Consciousness again before decisively leaving the Celestial River Immortal City.

Heading north, he arrived deep within a lush forest.

He then circulated his entire body's blood and qi, and with a slight surge, the wisp of blood and qi mark inserted by Xue Ling'Er was instantly expelled from his body, dispersing into the air.

At the same time, on a flower boat on the Bishui River, Xue Ling'Er's Life Essence Blood sensed this.

"Hmm? One person's Blood Spirit Mark has disappeared."

Upon hearing this, Du Haizang frowned slightly.

"Could it be that old dog Qin Henian?"

Xue Ling'Er closed her eyes to sense carefully for a moment, then shook her head and said, "It shouldn't be. That person suddenly lost the Blood Spirit Mark outside the Immortal City heading north."

Du Haizang let out a small breath of relief, "That's good. But didn't you say the Blood Spirit Mark was undetectable to them?"

"It was probably eliminated during a murder and treasure robbery. With their level of qi and blood control, only death and the loss of Life Essence Blood would cause my Blood Spirit Mark to dissipate," Xue Ling'Er affirmed.

"Hmph! These people pride themselves on righteousness, yet in the past two years, their actions are no less ruthless than those they call the Demon Dao," Du Haizang mocked.

Ever since the Ten Thousand Laws Palace in the Celestial Cyan Domain initiated negotiations with the Corpse Puppet Sect three years ago to send cultivators into the Boundless Domain to search for a fugitive cultivator, and both sides agreed to an exchange, allowing each to send their cultivators into the other's domain, but limited to below Core Formation, Du Haizang had come to the Celestial Cyan Domain.

During this time, he had witnessed too many instances of murder for treasure.

After expelling the Blood Spirit Mark, Li Ji'an returned to Celestial River Immortal City once more.

However, this time he returned as himself.

Upon his return, Qin Henian was in a great mood and shared with him the joyous news of establishing cooperation with Si Shui Commerce Association.

Then they were informed that they need to return to Cangyun State as soon as possible.

At this time, Li Ji'an learned that the previous day, a message had been sent from the Qin Clan, informing them that the area near Odd Stone Forest Dao Field had been harassed by demon cultivators again, and several of the Qin family juniors had been killed.

Subsequently, the four of them did not delay further and set off on their return journey.

Aboard the flying boat, Yan Qingwan handed a magic robe to Li Ji'an with a smile.

The magic robe was woven with ice silk mixed with flame crystal, constructed with extreme cold and extreme heat to create a dual-colored Yin-Yang effect, not only fireproofing and warming but also capable of releasing a Protective Magic Shield of Ice and Fire Two Layers of Heaven, making it a superior top-grade magic robe.

"Fan'Er, just as clothes make the man, a saddle is important for the horse. You, being such a handsome and dashing gentleman, if dressed properly, might attract many fairies to offer themselves to you. Aunt thinks this magic robe suits you well, you should try it on."

Li Ji'an accepted the magic robe, a smile appearing on his face.

"Thank you, Aunt."

Magic robes in the Celestial Cyan Domain were relatively cheaper than in Cangyun State, but even at the Celestial River Grand Assembly, a top-grade magic robe would cost around one thousand spirit stones.

The magical artifact he previously gifted Yan Qingwan was worth less than one percent of his own wealth, whereas the magic robe gifted by Yan Qingwan was equivalent to thirty percent of her wealth.

As his magical power surged, he donned the Ice and Fire Robe.

"Fan'Er is indeed one of the most handsome men I have ever seen! This magic robe seems tailor-made for you." Yan Qingwan circled Li Ji'an, her eyes sparkling like stars.

Li Ji'an responded with a smile but didn't intend to wear it for long.

The robe he originally wore was custom-made by Master Zhouyi in the Golden Splendor Immortal City, also a top-grade magic robe, and it cost him one thousand spirit stones.

However, to avoid drawing attention, he specially requested Master Zhouyi to use concealment techniques to suppress its aura, and its style was rather plain and common.

But the one he's wearing now clearly appears expensive and protective, which doesn't quite align with his principles.

After thanking Yan Qingwan, he discussed the gains and losses of this Celestial River Grand Assembly with her.

Li Ji'an knew that she hadn't managed to buy the spiritual resources she desired this time.

Either the price was too high, or it wasn't significant for the family's development.

Overall, she was still not well-off, and she was reluctant to spend the spirit stones she had.

However, she was deeply impressed by what she had seen and heard this time.

Previously, she had been in Cangyun State for a long time, and as the Foundation Establishment Ancestor of the clan, she had essentially lost the spirit of adventure; even after spending a long time in the Desert, she felt as though she had already reached the pinnacle of the Desert as the Foundation Establishment Ancestor.

But this time, the experiences left her somewhat restless.

Compared to the fellow cultivators during the assembly, she felt like a country girl who hadn't seen the world.

"Aunt, the Immortal Path is ruthless, cultivation is like paddling upstream; if you do not advance, you will retreat." As the exchange ended, Li Ji'an finally advised this honorable cultivator she first encountered in the Cultivation Realm.

Previously, during the turmoil in the Desert, Yan Qingwan was caught up in the survival of her family, lacking the mental space for other thoughts.

On her hundredth birthday, Li Ji'an clearly felt that she had already given up.

At that time, Yan Qingwan even advised Li Ji'an not to aim too high, but in fact, she herself was indulging in the trap of being the top clan and the first Foundation Establishment Ancestor in the Desert, losing her ambition.

And now, due to the experiences in the Celestial River Immortal City, her inner self-imposed barrier was finally shattered by the external environment.

"Hmm!" Yan Qingwan nodded emphatically, with a hint of determination in her eyes.

Clearly sensing the change in Yan Qingwan, Li Ji'an was genuinely happy for her.

Fortunately, it was not too late; Foundation Establishment cultivators have a lifespan of over two hundred years, and there is hope for Core Formation before two hundred years old.

Of course, without special opportunities, with the Flame Dragon Technique she practiced, it's almost hopeless.

After finishing the exchange with Yan Qingwan, Li Ji'an sat down beside Qin Henian, who was fully controlling the flying boat.

"Senior, yesterday I overheard friends in the Immortal City mention that after the Celestial River Grand Assembly each year, there are many tribulation cultivators nearby, and even sect and family cultivators disguised as tribulation cultivators, committing murder and robbery."

According to the direction Qin Henian was flying, they would reach the ambush site of Xue Ling'Er and Du Haizang within three days.

The other party had set up some means similar to an array on the river, Li Ji'an saw it through Gugu but couldn't determine its power.

Therefore, he tactfully reminded Qin Henian, hoping he would avoid it.

Qin Henian smiled faintly: "Indeed, in the entire Celestial Cyan Domain, apart from our Cangyun State, other places are actually the true state of the cultivation realm—survival of the fittest, murder and robbery have always been mainstream since ancient times.

Only with the vow made by the ancestors of Biyun Sect can the state be relatively stable."

Seeing Qin Henian only talked without taking action, Li Ji'an slightly raised his eyebrows and reminded again: "Senior's words are true, so... shall we return the same way?"

"Why? Are you worried someone might ambush us?" Qin Henian smiled confidently.

This left Li Ji'an speechless, not to mention the Fake Pill True Man, even the mid to late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, unless there was a deep hatred, generally could go unimpeded in the Celestial Cyan Domain.

After reaching this level, they were already considered high-tier cultivators in the Celestial Cyan Domain, and were not ordinary people; they would likely have some aces up their sleeve, and ordinary tribulation cultivators wouldn't risk everything for such hard targets.

Besides, Qin Henian, being this Fake Pill True Man, was previously recognized by the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, and he assumed he didn't have mortal enemies, really couldn't imagine someone would make a move against him.

Helplessly, Li Ji'an could only chuckle and shake her head.

She could only contemplate another plan in her heart.

Three days later,

the flying boat reached the Bishui River region, and from afar, they could see a silver dragon winding and twisting on the ground.

When they got within a hundred zhang, Li Ji'an's Sea of Consciousness again transmitted a faint sense of bewilderment, he immediately inspected his Sea of Consciousness, and that golden shine appeared again.

In the river, the flower boat was still moored there.

"Here they come!" Du Haizang activated the Sacred Bone, sensing the response from the flying boat in the sky.

"It really is that old thief Qin Henian!"

"Prepare..."

Boom~

Just as Du Haizang and Xue Ling'Er were preparing to activate the Forbidden Spirit Formation to intercept the flying boat as it reached above the river.

However, before they could activate the array, it was suddenly impacted by a powerful demon power.

The array shattered, stirring up waves as high as the heavens!