Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

After Xiaoqiao successfully established her Foundation, Li Ji’an prepared to enter seclusion.

Four years ago, when delivering Spirit Talismans to the Si Shui Commerce Association, due to Yuan Shunyi’s mention of the magical war, both parties extended the delivery deadline to once every ten years to reduce long-distance travel. Now four years have passed, and Li Ji’an plans to complete the talisman transaction soon and begin researching the Puppet Path.

The Core Dao Field of Odd Stone Forest, except for lacking the luxurious Alchemy Room setup of Biyun Sect’s Outer Peak, is slightly better in other aspects.

Especially as the Five Elements are complete here, beneficial for Talisman Making.

Moreover, the Outer Peak of Biyun Sect is under the protection of Master Jade Pill, basically without worry.

However, just as Li Ji’an was about to enter seclusion, Xiaoqiao brought a request.

"Have you dropped your guard? Or is there indeed a hidden danger in the Foundation Establishment First Barrier?" Ning Yutan, who had been avoiding Xiaoqiao, surprisingly visited and requested Li Ji’an’s protection.

Li Ji’an agreed without hesitation.

Previously, whether he stayed here to cultivate or received the Foundation Establishment Pill, it was all under Xiaoqiao’s name.

And Xiaoqiao requested to assist him as a condition.

This time, her active request for his Guardian Path counted as her first showing of Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

Half a month later, Ning Yutan arrived as promised.

"Junior Ning Yutan greets Senior!"

Watching Ning Yutan kneel respectfully before him, Li Ji’an fully activated his Divine Sense but couldn’t detect anything abnormal.

"Yutan, we are old acquaintances, no need for formalities, come closer, I will thoroughly check your physique."

"Thank you, Senior." Ning Yutan slowly approached, still somewhat tense inside.

"Your Foundation Establishment has barely enough Magical Power, but the physical body..." Li Ji’an scanned Ning Yutan comprehensively with his Divine Sense, then pressed his hand on her wrist, unexpectedly discovering anomalies in her physical body.

Her physical body was weaker compared to ordinary female cultivators, and her Qi Blood Essence was scattered and not condensed.

In such a state, even with an Upper Grade Foundation Establishment Pill, there is great danger.

"Could it be the aftereffects of being frozen?" Li Ji’an pondered.

When Ning Yutan was brought to this realm by the Liu Family 166 years ago, she had entered the Body Refining stage, stronger in Qi Blood Essence than ordinary cultivators.

But now, her physical body was very weak.

"Senior, is my physical body insufficient for Foundation Establishment?" Ning Yutan asked worriedly.

Li Ji’an said nothing, pointed again at her brow, and slowly closed his eyes.

"Very difficult!" Moments later, Li Ji’an slowly opened his eyes, shook his head seriously.

Not only was her physical body too weak, but there was also a disconnect between her physical body and Divine Soul that Li Ji’an detected.

In this condition attempting Foundation Establishment, not only is it unlikely to succeed, even preserving life is uncertain.

"Ah!" Ning Yutan was instantly stunned. Previously, she and Ning Sujin analyzed that the physical body was indeed insufficient, but lacking much Dharma Cultivator experience, they hoped the Foundation Establishment Pill might offer a chance. However, Li Ji’an’s expression made her tremble inside.

If unable to achieve Foundation Establishment, already having lived due to Old Thief Liu’s freezing secret technique sealing her for nearly a hundred years, she wouldn’t have many years left to live, and over time, the post-freezing symptoms were growing stronger.

"Please help me, Senior!" Ning Yutan hurriedly knelt down again.

Li Ji’an’s face was solemn, silent.

There are many methods to replenish a cultivator’s lacking Qi Blood, the fastest being Absorption.

When first entering the Desert United Marketplace in the previous life, Fellow Daoist Lin next door was favored by some female cultivators in the market for his slightly trained and relatively abundant Qi Blood, engaging in Dual Cultivation to replenish their own.

However, this causes significant depletion for male cultivators, bringing harm rather than benefit.

Moreover, Ning Yutan’s current situation is temporarily unsuitable.

The main issue remains the separation between her physical body and Divine Soul, affecting both the Physical Body Barrier and Spirit and Soul Barrier of Foundation Establishment Third Barrier.

If not for Li Ji’an’s deep study in Medical Dao and specifically having explored physical body and Divine Soul situations, even an ordinary Second Tier physician would be helpless.

"You should go back first, I need to consider this carefully!" After a while, Li Ji’an opened his eyes, having a direction in mind but needing further deliberation.

"Senior’s great kindness and virtue, Yutan will never forget, and is willing to repay you as a beast of burden." Ning Yutan hurriedly kowtowed again.

Li Ji’an looked at her prone figure, recalling their first encounter at Seeking Immortal Institute in Chong’an Prefecture in the third lifetime, a strange smile appearing on his face.

"Go."

Even if Ning Sujin’s Divine Soul, having once shared pleasures with him, was not residing within Ning Yutan, Li Ji’an would still do his utmost, for she was the only remaining acquaintance from the Immortal Dynasty.

Moreover, their relationship back then was quite interesting.

After Ning Yutan left, Li Ji’an combined her physical condition and simulated again using Medical Dao.

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In the Peach Blossom Forest.

"Why do you believe what he said?" Ning Yutan asked doubtfully.

Another cold voice, slightly sluggish at the moment, responded after a while, "It’s my first time sensing his spirit closely and fully awake; he has no malice, even...that kind of kindness is pure!"

"Ah? Why? Didn’t you say that selfishness is the main theme in the Cultivation Realm, and anyone offering goodwill without reason is either a traitor or a thief?"

"...I also sensed that when he looked at you, there was actually reminiscence!" Ning Sujin’s voice now seemed somewhat lost.

"What? Reminiscence? How...how is that possible?" Ning Yutan was shocked.

"..."

"Could you mean to say he really is...how is this possible? It’s been over a hundred years!"

"Haven’t we also long been supposed to return to the Underworld?"

"But we were betrayed by Old Thief Liu, I was frozen, and you cultivated the Divine Soul!"