Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

It clearly shows the alchemy skill and mindset of Li Ji’an.

Later, Li Ji’an led Guo Qi away, indirectly saving Wu Weixiong’s life.

Therefore, his attitude towards Li Ji’an appeared very courteous.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, you’re too kind." Li Ji’an replied blandly.

Facing Li Ji’an’s indifference, Wu Weixiong chuckled softly.

Years ago, regardless of the circumstances, he was the culprit, and even nearly caused Alchemist Li to be killed by Guo Qi, so it’s understandable for him to have this attitude towards himself.

"Very well, then I thank Fellow Daoist Liu in advance." Wu Weixiong retracted his gaze from Li Ji’an and turned to look at the Liu Family Ancestor.

"Don’t worry, Weixiong!" Seeing Wu Weixiong’s lowered stance, the Liu Family Ancestor secretly breathed a sigh of relief, temporarily resolving the crisis that had created disgrace for the Liu Family.

As for gifting him a Sacred Beast Pill, it was also considered spending money to avoid trouble.

Moreover, if handled well later, this crisis might even turn into a force to extend the Liu Family’s peak.

The sudden big drama ended too softly, leaving the attendees with a sense of anticlimax.

The subsequent blood gathering assembly resumed its course.

Underneath, Wu Weixiong specifically sat beside Li Ji’an.

"Alchemist Li, I am here to apologize. This spirit medicine was acquired by me in the Boundless Domain, consider it an apology. I hope Alchemist Li can forgive the matter of the Sacred Beast Pill back then."

While apologizing, he retrieved a late second-tier spirit medicine from his storage pouch.

Li Ji’an smiled and took the spirit medicine: "Haha, Fellow Daoist Wu exaggerates. I remember that back then, Fellow Daoist Wu never troubled me, and even promised a grand reward if I ever successfully refine a Sacred Beast Pill. What apology are you referring to?"

"Hahaha, Alchemist Li is generous. I am tremendously grateful. If there’s ever a need for my assistance, just say the word." Wu Weixiong laughed heartily and handed a communication talisman to Li Ji’an, effectively establishing a friendship.

Taking Wu Weixiong’s communication talisman, Li Ji’an nodded: "Fellow Daoist Wu, your talent is exceptional. I feel humbled."

Wu Weixiong surviving the Boundless Domain and returning was astonishing to Li Ji’an, as thus far, less than a handful of cultivators from the Celestial Cyan Domain have escaped from there.

Even Zhao Qi, the strongest Foundation Establishment and core true disciple of Biyun Sect, has yet to return.

Considering Wu Weixiong’s experiences, Li Ji’an seemed to see the protagonist of a destiny rising through adversity.

Additionally, Wu Weixiong’s body refining technique and body cultivation secret technique were highly appealing to Li Ji’an.

The subsequent blood gathering assembly proceeded smoothly, and after acquiring the desired Demon Beast Essence Blood, Li Ji’an declined Liu Jiuqian’s further invitation to stay and left the Liu Family, returning to the Odd Stone Forest Dao Field the same day.

Not long after leaving, he received a communication from Wu Weixiong: "I now reside often at the Eighteen Spirit Strongholds, and welcome Alchemist Li to visit anytime."

"Eighteen Spirit Strongholds?" Li Ji’an raised his eyebrows slightly.

Due to the open and covert struggles between the Boundless Domain and Celestial Cyan Domain, the Eighteen Spirit Strongholds of the Great Marsh Mountain relics had gradually faded from public view over the years.

However, within Biyun Sect, they were constantly monitoring their every move, since the location was so close to Biyun Sect and positioned at the junction of two states that it could easily develop into a hard-to-control force.

Li Ji’an also learned about the Eighteen Spirit Strongholds through sect intelligence.

Nowadays, the Eighteen Spirit Strongholds are undeniably powerful, nearly becoming the largest loose cultivator gathering place in the Celestial Cyan Domain.

Having evolved from the initial competition between eighteen forces to a unified body, they not only attracted all the loose cultivators from the cultivation domain but also gradually developed into a large market, especially a black market, due to geographic convenience.

Li Ji’an simply replied with a ’good’ and then paid no more attention.

A month later, he returned to the Odd Stone Forest Dao Field.

Before he could even settle in, outside the courtyard came Ning Yutan’s greetings.

"This girl’s change in attitude is a bit too quick." Li Ji’an frowned slightly.

If it’s just because of the Foundation Establishment matter, she shouldn’t have been like this before receiving the Foundation Establishment Pill either, right?

Clearly even after gifting the Foundation Establishment Pill, she was still very guarded against him, so why suddenly act so unreserved?

"Something’s wrong!" Suddenly, Li Ji’an was slightly startled.

Recalling the interactions with Ning Yutan recently, a conjecture emerged in his heart.

"Ning Sujin is still in her Sea of Consciousness!"

"Is it possible that Ning Sujin’s Divine Soul has been keeping an eye on me while Ning Yutan interacts with me?"

"That can’t be... isn’t her Divine Soul stronger than mine?"

Ever since realizing Ning Yutan carries dual souls within her, Li Ji’an has used Divine Sense perception multiple times but found no Divine Soul fluctuations.

Even when he previously touched Ning Yutan’s brow, such a direct interaction, he couldn’t detect any Divine Soul fluctuations in her Sea of Consciousness.

Therefore, he has always believed that Ning Sujin’s Divine Soul must be hidden deep within Ning Yutan’s Sea of Consciousness when she seeks him, which is why he couldn’t sense it.

Moreover, given his Divine Soul, which is stronger than ordinary cultivators, now surpassing the Fake Pill Divine Soul and comparable to an ordinary Core Formation early stage Divine Soul, he should sense it if any cultivator beneath him scans him.

Unless the opponent’s Divine Soul is significantly stronger.

However, at this moment, he couldn’t help but have some doubts...

"To have one’s Divine Soul exit their own Sea of Consciousness and enter another’s, theoretically, it requires the Primordial Spirit emergence of the Nascent Soul Stage... Has Sujin’s Divine Soul become so powerful?"

For an instant, Li Ji’an’s heart trembled.

In his third life within Chong’an Prefecture at the Seeking Immortal Institute, he discerned the extraordinary fortune-seeking ability of Ning Sujin and noticed it was as competent as his own phenomenal abilities across reincarnations.

"Perhaps her being a Divine Favored also has an effect on reinforcing the Divine Soul!"

Quick to understand the conclusion, the severity on Li Ji’an’s face eased, replaced by a somewhat strange smile.

If it truly is as he suspects, then the drastic change in attitude...

"Enter!" Li Ji’an straightened his emotions.

"Yutan pays respects to Senior Li." Ning Yutan greeted gracefully.

"What brings you here?" Li Ji’an sat boldly on the grandmaster’s chair.

Ning Yutan’s eyes twinkled: "Senior previously suggested the junior refine the body to nourish vitality; the junior encountered some issues in body refining and wishes for guidance."

Li Ji’an remained nonchalant but inwardly pondered: "You were once the number one Martial Dao prodigy in Chong’an Prefecture, needing guidance for basic body refining?"

"Fine, show me your skills."

"As you command!" A smile flickered on Ning Yutan’s face, and she began to practice.

Still practicing the ’Golden Strength Skill’ from the Immortal Dynasty, though in this realm, it’s a low-level body refining technique ’Dragon Elephant Body Refining Skill’ found commonly.

Previously, Li Ji’an made her start fresh to temper vitality, activating physical energy.

These movements and Qi circulation methods were already practiced by Ning Yutan.

However, mid-practice, errors occurred repeatedly.

Li Ji’an’s mind stirred.

If it was before, he might have suspected this girl was afraid of exploitation by the Liu Family Ancestor, hence hiding her prowess.

But now, especially since she purposely sought him for advice.

Yet deliberately made such mistakes.

"Swoosh~" Next, a magical force finger flew towards Ning Yutan.

"Pa!" Striking her arm at the mistake spot.

"Ah!" Ning Yutan exclaimed, instantly adopting the correct posture.

"Papapapa~" Following that, magical force fingers hit Ning Yutan like a storm.

Each time accurately targeting her errors.

A moment later, Ning Yutan’s practice showed no more mistakes.

Not that she didn’t wish to try further, but the finger strikes on her were painfully penetrating.

The initial plan was to make repeated intentions, then request Li Ji’an to demonstrate personally.

After all, she’d watched Li Ji’an practice ’Golden Strength Skill’ countless times, and the differences in individual practice methods for ’Golden Strength Skill’ are significant.

Once Li Ji’an demonstrated personally, she had a high chance to ascertain if he was Brother Li.

But, the plan backfired.

Not only failed to see Li Ji’an demonstrate personally but ended up being painfully beaten all over.

"Do you think he did it deliberately or inadvertently?" Back in the Peach Blossom Forest, feeling disheartened, Ning Yutan had nowhere to voice her grievance.

"Heh~" Ning Sujin chuckled softly.

Then, hiding the smile, she said: "Whether deliberate or not, I’m unsure, but... to be able to so accurately pinpoint your mistakes, what do you think of his understanding of ’Golden Strength Skill’?"