Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

"Hmm, let’s listen to Uncle Li." Xiaoqiao nodded obediently.

Li Ji’an looked at Xiaoqiao and smiled knowingly. That timid little girl from years ago had already become a Tier Three Earth Spirit Master.

Thus, with the array inheritance she received from Liu Jingchun, combined with the geographical environment of the Odd Stone Forest and the massive Ring Array Base left by the Liu Family, even without Qin Henian’s support, it would be possible to maintain the Dao Field here.

The next day, Xiaoqiao moved out of the Bamboo Garden where Liu Jingchun had previously been confined.

At the core Tier Three Spirit Vein of the Odd Stone Forest, the Liu Family had once constructed an ancestral shrine and an independent Dao Field for the Liu Family Ancestor. Now, the ancestral shrine had long been dismantled, and a small garden had been built in its place, adjacent to the residence temporarily occupied by Li Ji’an.

Xiaoqiao really liked that garden. She refused when Li Ji’an offered to relocate her and moved in on her own.

Leveraging the divine abilities of a Tier Three Earth Spirit Master, she meticulously crafted her living space.

Two months later, when Li Ji’an stepped into the garden again, he was slightly shocked.

The periphery was protected by at least three layers of Illusion Arrays, while internally there was a Restriction Array comparable to Tier Three. At the core, there was a Killing Array that made even Li Ji’an feel uneasy.

This setup makes it difficult for ordinary True Pill Early Stage True Men to forcibly break the array.

Additionally, with Xiaoqiao being able to effortlessly conjure arrays, continuously absorbing the Earth Spirit Mechanism to inject into the formations, if she were to lead the array, even a Mid-stage True Core might struggle to break through in a short time.

In one side of the garden covered by arrays, Xiaoqiao had enveloped a Spirit Field with an Illusion Array.

The Earth Source Essence and vitality within were several times more abundant than the Medicinal Field on Li Ji’an’s Solitary Peak.

"It seems like it has reached the Fifth Grade Spirit Field category!" Upon further sensing, Li Ji’an secretly marveled.

A Fifth Grade Spirit Field already holds the conditions to cultivate Tier Three Spirit Plants.

If this place could remain stable for previous years, it would inevitably cultivate Tier Three Spiritual Materials.

The most critical aspect is that, with Xiaoqiao continually absorbing Earth Source Essence for nourishment, there is surely hope for further improvement.

It might even reach the Upper Three Grades!

"Uncle Li, transplant all the spirit plants from the Solitary Peak here. I’ll take good care of them, and you can use them whenever needed," Xiaoqiao, seeing the surprise in the eyes of her always supportive Uncle Li, felt even more delighted.

"Alright!" Li Ji’an no longer hesitated and decided to return to the Solitary Peak to transplant that piece of dead branch after the treatment for Ning Yutan.

Although Xiaoqiao had transformed the Solitary Peak, making its vitality a bit more abundant than a typical Medicinal Field, it barely touched upon the Spirit Field category, and barely counted as a Ninth Grade Spirit Field.

Most of the spirit plants planted there, aside from that piece of dead branch, were mainly the main herbs for the Qi Cultivation Stage and auxiliary herbs for the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Most other spirit plants can be discarded, but that piece of dead branch obtained from the Relic Abyss has remained inscrutable to Li Ji’an.

Initially, he thought it might be some sort of material for the Crystal Condensing Pill, but as his research into the Crystal Condensing Pill deepened, along with his findings from the Celestial River Grand Assembly, he found that now the only ingredient missing for the Crystal Condensing Pill was the Profound Ice Blue Lotus.

Clearly, that piece of dead branch is highly unlikely to be the Profound Ice Blue Lotus.

Since it is not a primary ingredient for the Crystal Condensing Pill, yet found together with the Seven-Colored Jade Tree and Qiuli Water, it must be equivalent to a Superior Core Formation Spiritual Object.

He suspects it’s likely some unknown ancient Core Formation Spiritual Object.

On this day, Qin Henian arrived with great fanfare, bringing along the Qin Family’s ceremonial squad.

Claiming to host a Foundation Establishment ceremony for Xiaoqiao.

Privately, he met with Li Ji’an and Xiaoqiao, stating that this might be the last time he could provide support for Xiaoqiao, as the Qin Family would be withdrawing the defensive clansmen stationed here back to the clan, since the spirit bamboo trade within the clan had become too busy. Even the Qin Family no longer sees the Biluo Marketplace, which others consider a treasure, as worth it, and prefers not to waste the clansmen’s efforts, handing it entirely over to Xiaoqiao.

In short, from now on, Xiaoqiao must stand at the forefront for the Odd Stone Forest Dao Field and the surrounding thousand-mile industry.

Two months later, the ceremony was held as scheduled, mainly inviting cultivation influences from around the Odd Stone Forest.

Representatives from the Desert and the Liu Family were present.

After seven days and seven nights of grand celebration, under Qin Henian’s encouragement, Xiaoqiao finally stood at the forefront, announced the plans for the Odd Stone Forest, and widely recruited talent, although not explicitly stating the establishment of a sect, it practically meant just that.

Subsequently, Xiaoqiao officially became the first head of the Odd Stone Forest influence.

Afterwards, Qin Henian left behind an elder from the Qin Family to guide Xiaoqiao in managing affairs, recruiting talents, and governing people...

During this time, Li Ji’an did not participate at all, focusing on cultivation and continuing Ning Yutan’s treatment as planned.

Two months later, Ning Yutan’s treatment concluded.

"Not bad, although the physical body is still somewhat weak, it has reached the minimum standard for Foundation Establishment, and the Sea of Consciousness is basically stable, you can attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment just barely!" On this day, after the final treatment for Ning Yutan, Li Ji’an examined Ning Yutan carefully and nodded slightly.

Upon hearing this, Ning Yutan was overjoyed: "Many thanks for the great kindness and virtue of Senior Li, Yutan will never forget!"

"Nonetheless, to be cautious, you should still nourish the Divine Soul for a few more months, and after proper Body Refining, it would be more secure," Li Ji’an suggested again.

"I duly follow the senior’s teachings!" Ning Yutan solemnly bowed.

"Go ahead, contact me when you’re ready for Foundation Establishment." Li Ji’an waved for her departure.

After sending off Ning Yutan, Li Ji’an organized the Spirit Talismans he had drawn over the past year, and cleared out a pile of wasted Puppet materials in the corner, leaving only the task of waiting for Little Fire Spirit to return from Xiaoqiao’s garden villa to clear all traces.

Ever since Xiaoqiao moved next door to the villa in the garden, Gugu and Little Fire Spirit have almost been playing there every day.

There are multiple arrays isolating the outside world, and with towering trees and a natural spring there, there was no worry of being discovered.

However, Xiaoqiao is now urged by the elderly from the Qin Family to transform, spending her daily energy on the development of the Odd Stone Forest influence, leaving little time to spend with both of them.

The reason why Li Ji’an decided to return to the sect’s Spirit Peak now is because three months ago, he received a message from Xiao Changfeng, indicating he had successfully obtained the sect’s Core Formation Spiritual Talent.

After returning from the Fire Domain to the sect, he focused on closed cultivation, avoiding contact with Master Tian, while waiting for the return of True Man Fang, and consolidating his realm after reaching the Late Period of Foundation Establishment.

Upon completion of closed cultivation, he had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, ready to challenge Core Formation.

Among the current true disciples, apart from Zhao Qi who remained trapped in the Boundless Domain, unsure if he could return, Xiao Changfeng was in the first tier as the sect’s seed candidate.

Subsequently, with Elder Fang’s persistent efforts, after more than a year of tug-of-war, he finally got hold of the Core Formation Spiritual Talent initially intended for the primary true disciple Zhao Qi.

Li Ji’an surmised that Xiao Changfeng had probably begun the attempt at Core Formation by now.

Given Xiao Changfeng’s fortune, along with the Earth Source Essence obtained in the Boundless Domain, paired with the sect’s prepared Core Formation Spiritual Talent, achieving Core Formation should have no surprises.

The only uncertainty lay in whether he could achieve True Pill and the quality of the Refined Pill.

Nevertheless, at least it indicates that the turmoil within the sect should have settled, and returning to the sect’s Solitary Peak now wouldn’t draw him into the sect’s internal conflicts.

That evening, Li Ji’an went to Xiaoqiao’s villa in the garden to bid farewell.

Xiaoqiao, looking weary, recounted the hardships of recent days.

She expressed her concerns internally.

Pleading for assistance from Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an smiled and politely declined her offer, as he needed a Tier Three Middle Grade Spirit Vein Dao Field for a challenge in Core Formation, and the only place he could foresee hope lied within the Biyun Sect.

Moreover, Li Ji’an had no concerns over Xiaoqiao’s management of the Odd Stone Forest.

With her status as Qin Henian’s adopted granddaughter and her decisive power over the Odd Stone Forest Dao Field and Biluo Marketplace, unless her ambition grew too large, major problems were unlikely.

Furthermore, many experiences needed to be faced and lived by her personally.

After bidding farewell to Xiaoqiao along with Gugu and Little Fire Spirit, Li Ji’an returned to his residence.

He was just about to have Little Fire Spirit clean up the Spirit Talisman and Puppet traces within the residence when a familiar voice sounded from outside the door.

"Senior Li, Yutan requests an audience."

"Thud" Li Ji’an froze momentarily, the voice was still the same as usual, yet the tone differed entirely.