Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

The waterside pavilion, winding paths lead into seclusion.

Li Ji’an sat high atop the upper floor of the Si Shui Commerce Association, savoring the enchanting dance of Master Yuxiao before him, while sipping spirit wine.

Three months ago, after receiving a message from Master Yuxiao, Li Ji’an returned once more to Celestial River Immortal City.

This meeting, Master Yuxiao’s intent to draw him in was even more evident.

If the elder was a high-ranking member of a sect, she would have long abandoned such thoughts, and would never dare to dream of bringing him to the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

But since she discovered the elder was not True Man Lingjiu, the idea of binding him with the commerce association grew increasingly strong.

It also made her more curious about the elder’s true identity.

Normally speaking, cultivators within the Celestial Cyan Domain, due to the monopolized resources and dao fields, generally would not have the opportunity to hide their identity and live in seclusion.

After all, spirit vein dao fields within the domain are limited, and tier three and above dao fields are even more scarce.

Anyone attempting to break through to Core Formation would be known throughout the domain.

"Sir, is Yuxiao beautiful?" After the dance ended, as the light veil fluttered, Master Yuxiao’s proud figure moved ever closer.

"The fairy is acclaimed as the most beautiful woman in Celestial Origin Province, naturally the most dazzling in the province." Li Ji’an smiled slightly, unmoved.

"Then sir is unwilling to accompany Yuxiao to another domain, to dwell together forever?" Yuxiao’s eyes were full of enchantment, her red lips moved, and the usual aloof demeanor she displayed before the public vanished, replaced by alluring plea.

Li Ji’an laughed heartily: "Haha, the fairy’s gift of medicine is already etched in my heart, must I repay with flesh?"

"Hehe~" Seeing the elder speak so plainly, Master Yuxiao shook her head with a wry smile.

"Sir is noble, it was Yuxiao who was shallow." She realized the elder truly was not swayed by her beauty.

"The fairy speaks too highly, over the years I have enjoyed a pleasant collaboration with the fairy. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will certainly renew our ties. This is something I once promised the fairy." Li Ji’an nodded while stroking his beard, then retrieved a triangular spirit talisman made from beast hide from his storage pouch.

The spirit talisman shimmered with faint blood light and exuded a powerful killing aura.

It was indeed a middle grade tier three early period spirit talisman crafted by Li Ji’an using the heart skin of a tier three spirit beast.

"Tier three attack talisman!" Master Yuxiao’s expression turned solemn in an instant.

Receiving the tier three Blood Fiend Talisman with both hands, Master Yuxiao looked up at Li Ji’an, her eyes no longer seductive, but filled with gratitude and surprise.

"Thank you, sir!" During their first transaction talks, Li Ji’an casually mentioned that he might be able to gift a tier three spirit talisman in the future, today he unexpectedly fulfilled it.

"There’s no need for such formalities, the fairy has also helped me greatly, mutual kindness is the foundation of long-lasting ties." Li Ji’an gently supported her.

Confirming the elder’s identity as a tier three talisman master, Master Yuxiao felt both joyful and somewhat disappointed. If the commerce association had a tier three talisman master in residence, their development in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain would certainly fare better, alas...

Despite treating him with great hospitality and offering substantial rewards, even resorting to seduction, all efforts failed.

However, the elder’s remark "mutual kindness is the foundation of long-lasting ties" reassured her greatly, for at least their friendship remained.

Subsequently, Master Yuxiao no longer imposed her will, parting harmoniously with Li Ji’an.

After returning to the Outer Peak of the sect, aside from his daily unrelenting cultivation and endless puppet studies, Li Ji’an shifted his focus from drawing spirit talismans to meticulously studying tier three pill medicine.

The Little Fire Spirit’s spirit flame surged, his own divine sense also advanced further, refining tier three pill medicine merely required practice.

Upon leaving Celestial River Immortal City this time, he purchased a batch of tier three spirit medicine at great expense.

In just four years, Li Ji’an gained full command over the surging spirit flame of the Little Fire Spirit, and honed his craft in refining tier three spirit medicine.

And on this day, his cultivation in the Flame Dragon Technique finally reached Perfection, the Dantian Dharma Liquid no longer progressed.

"No more, no less, exactly thirty years!" From advancing to the late Foundation Establishment Stage to reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection, it took a full thirty years, as he had anticipated.

Now, he only needed to refine the Dharma Liquid further, practice the Whale Swallowing Technique for Core Formation, find a suitable dao field, and he could aim for Core Formation.

However, comparing his current Dharma Liquid status with Xiao Changfeng’s Dharma Liquid before Core Formation, his overall quantity was barely half, and even more dilute.

Theoretically, with such magical power conditions, the hope to condense a Fake Pill was slim.

Sure enough, after concluding his cultivation, he immediately went to the sect’s Pill Cauldron Peak. Master Jade Pill, after carefully probing his magical power status, spoke bluntly.

"Xiaoli, with your current magical power condition, the hope of achieving Core Formation is less than two percent, however, the issue lies in the first step. Failing the first step bears no great danger.

It is simply important in terms of mindset to have expectations, and not experience too great of a mental setback due to failure.

Our generation of cultivators, all yearn for the path to ascension, to achieve immortality and live eternally. Yet, the path to immortality is as elusive as a mirage, apart from a scarce few Immortal Monarchs in ancient legends who ascended, in the six thousand years of the Post-Ancient Era, no Divinity Transformation Celestial Monarch has ever been born.

Indeed, many prominent figures even doubt whether, due to the great calamity of the ancient times, there remains any hope for ascension in this world.

With a broad view of the world, in these six thousand years of the long river of time, many a Nascent Soul True Monarch has also perished.

If in your lifetime you are able to develop an unprecedented pill formula, a thousand years hence, you may be more renowned than the Nascent Soul True Monarchs of your era."

Under normal circumstances, sect disciples wishing to make use of the dao field to advance to a great realm only need to apply for registration six months in advance. However, as an honored guest elder, there had been no previous instance of an honored guest using the dao field for Core Formation, hence he needed to prepare beforehand, and naturally sought out Master Jade Pill first.

Master Jade Pill immediately poured cold water on him.