Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

In the Post-Ancient Era, Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasures were already scarce. As more of these treasures are consumed, it is foreseeable that the Core Formation stage will block the path for more cultivators in the future.

After all, Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasures are not like Spirit Plants; they cannot be regenerated or cultivated as spiritual resources.

However, if a Pill Medicine that can replace the Core Formation Spirit Treasure were to emerge, it would undoubtedly be of great benefit to the cultivators around the world.

Suddenly, Xiaoqiao’s expression became serious.

She recalled an incident that happened while she was with Uncle Li.

When the Liu Family was targeted by Qin Henian back then, a mysterious person spoke to Qin Henian from a distance, mentioning a similar Pill Formula.

"Could it be..." Xiaoqiao suddenly looked at Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an smiled faintly: "That’s right; it was taught to me by my master."

Buzz~

Xiaoqiao’s mind froze instantly.

In an instant, she connected the incident with the Liu Family to Uncle Li.

"Uncle Li..."

At this moment, she finally understood that the downfall of the Liu Family, the freedom of her grandparents, and her ability to recognize her roots within the family were probably all part of Uncle Li’s plan.

"Senior Sister, this matter is of great importance and must not be leaked to anyone," Li Ji’an cautioned solemnly.

"Rest assured, Ping’an, I understand what’s at stake," Xiaoqiao replied, regaining her composure, though her emotions remained unsettled for a long while.

"Senior Sister, prepare well, and I’ll come by next time," Li Ji’an nodded.

"Thank you, Ping’an!" Xiaoqiao took a deep breath and gave a solemn bow to Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an reached out with a hand to gesture: "No need for formalities, Senior Sister. In the future, I will need the Earth Vein Spirit Charm to temper my physique."

"Ping’an, whatever you need, just say the word. Whatever I have, you can take," Xiaoqiao responded quickly.

Li Ji’an smiled and nodded.

He then collected two main ingredients for Crystal Condensing Pills from the Spirit Field and discussed matters about Little Fatty with Xiaoqiao.

Upon learning that Little Fatty was a descendant of the Yan Family, Xiaoqiao was very interested, given her connection with Yan Qingwan, and immediately hoped that Little Fatty could stay in the Odd Stone Forest.

However, Li Ji’an did not make any commitments and said straightforwardly that he would let Little Fatty adapt here for a while and would take him to experience Biyun Sect next time, allowing him to decide where he wanted to stay.

That night, Li Ji’an left the Odd Stone Forest.

Days later, Li Ji’an returned to Biyun Sect.

This time, however, he did not go directly back but landed on a nearby mountain peak and sent Gugu to investigate within the Sect.

Half a month later, the Sect remained normal, and Blood Kite’s message informed that she had returned to the Blood Spirit Sect.

In the message, Blood Kite stated that she had informed the Blood Spirit Saintess of the unexpected events in the Dragon Burial Cave before returning and that the main figures of the other two sects had been waiting for her return for many days.

The Supreme Elder of the Corpse Puppet Sect at the Late Core Formation stage and the Sect Leader of the Yin Ghost Sect repeatedly questioned Blood Kite.

However, the Blood Spirit Saintess was always present, preventing the two Ascendants from taking any extreme actions.

Ultimately, the two sects accepted this outcome.

Blood Kite’s message specifically noted that, actually, on the second day after Lin Xiuzhu and Old Ghost Soul Token were destroyed, the two sects already began the competition for the new Saint Child.

Moreover, during the questioning, neither sect nor the Blood Spirit Saintess showed any interest in probing or investigating the Biyun Sect Elder she briefly mentioned. They were not particularly concerned about the deaths of Lin Xiuzhu and the Yin Ghost Saint Child but were more interested in what was seen and heard in the Dragon Burial Cave.

Only then did Li Ji’an relax and return to the Sect’s Dao Field.

With Li Ji’an’s return, the entire Biyun Sect breathed a sigh of relief, finally having a Core Formation True Man to oversee again.

Previously, when Li Ji’an was taken by the Saint Child, the entire sect was apprehensive and had completely closed the sect, to prevent any opportunists from attacking while the sect was without a True Man.

After calming the sect’s high officials, Li Ji’an returned to his Dao Field and began a life of secluded cultivation.

Ning Sujin could finally accompany him openly.

"Husband, what should we do with this Dragon Soul?" As Ning Sujin appeared, she took out the Soul Bottle containing the Dragon Soul.

Li Ji’an waved his hand: "No rush. This Dragon Soul’s True Spirit is intact. Though it retains no memory, it still has some rebellious consciousness. Let’s keep it confined for a few more days."

Ning Sujin complied and once again suppressed it with Primordial Spirit Power.

"Sujin, could you try divining the fortune of merging the Dragon Soul with Dragon Blood?" Li Ji’an asked next.

"Husband wants to nurture a True Dragon?" Ning Sujin was surprised by his words.

"It’s just a thought, not yet decided," Li Ji’an replied with a smile.

Ning Sujin asked no more, calming her mind, mentally chanting Li Ji’an’s name, and using the Dragon Soul in her hand as a medium to perform the Divination Art.

"Puff~" In just three breaths, Ning Sujin suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Sujin!" Li Ji’an hurried over and infused her with Wood Healing Magic Power.

"A True Dragon... carries the great fortune of Heaven and Earth, beyond what I can currently glimpse. Fortunately, I halted in time, or else..." Ning Sujin opened her eyes, speaking with some lingering fear.

Li Ji’an frowned secretly, having overlooked this knot.

He then began healing Ning Sujin.

Fortunately, although there was some backlash, it was not severe, and she recovered under his magical power in half a day.

"Sujin, after absorbing those Yin Souls from the Dragon Burial Cave’s Soul Abyss, has your spiritual soul cultivation improved?" Li Ji’an asked once her injuries had healed.

"There has been significant enhancement, many times stronger than when I devoured that Soul Cultivator’s divine sense ten years ago. If fully refined, the Primordial Spirit could reach early-stage perfection," Ning Sujin responded with satisfaction.

"Good!" Li Ji’an praised with delight.

He then took two spoils of war from Gugu.

The first was the Corpse Refining Vessel from the Corpse Puppet Sect.

This vessel is greatly beneficial for refining Tier Three Corpse Puppets and can completely strip the origin of souls from the corpse.

Thus, it is filled with the divine soul origin within.

And the divine soul origin is the best nourishment for the Divine Soul Technique Ning Sujin cultivates.

"If you fully refine the divine soul origin within this vessel, can you advance to mid-stage Nascent Soul Primordial Spirit?"

"This is for me?" Ning Sujin’s face showed a hint of surprise.

"Indeed." Li Ji’an affirmed with a nod.

"However, the divine soul origin within this vessel is already fused with it. If you refine all of it, the vessel will be destroyed."

"No matter, just tell me if you can advance to the middle stage?" Li Ji’an spoke nonchalantly.

"Husband, are you not going to use this vessel to refine Tier Three Corpse Puppets? Tier Three Corpse Puppets possess the might of a True Man..."

Li Ji’an shook his head again: "The Corpse Puppet method is not my path, and Corpse Puppets are inferior to puppets of the same tier. I see no need to forsake this for that."

Ning Sujin then nodded slowly, eyes full of joy: "Thank you, husband. With these divine soul origins nourishing me, advancing to mid-stage Primordial Spirit should be certain."

Li Ji’an then handed the Soul Banner of the Yin Ghost Saint Child to Ning Sujin.

The Soul Banner had just upgraded to Tier Three in the Dragon Burial Cave, yet its power rivals a Middle Three Grade magical treasure. If driven by Ning Sujin’s Primordial Spirit, it could wield the might of a Core Formation Ascendant.

"Take this item as well."

Ning Sujin wasn’t particularly moved by the Soul Banner, but knowing it could enhance their combat capabilities and aid her in fighting alongside Li Ji’an, she accepted it gladly.

After two days of warmth between them, Li Ji’an once again urged her to continue cultivating the Profound Yuan Chaos Scripture. This was the matter Li Ji’an currently valued most.

If Ning Sujin could truly master it, it would provide Li Ji’an with the most detailed experience and insights.

As for the grade of its Immortal Scripture, Li Ji’an was eagerly anticipating how strong the innate chaotic power she cultivated would be.

While Ning Sujin once more secluded herself to focus on the Chaos Technique, Li Ji’an organized the spoils of this battle.

First was the Dragon-Suppressing Cauldron, at least an Upper Three Grade magical treasure, and much like the Nine Dragon Lock, there was hope for its Artifact Spirit to be reborn. Should the Artifact Spirit successfully reform, it could rank among Spiritual Treasures.

Unfortunately, like those two Magic Swords, there was no immediate hope to energize it; both would require Li Ji’an to ascend to the power of mid to late-stage Core Formation.

Next was the Nine Dragon Lock, Li Ji’an’s favorite among the spoils.

"Go!" After two months of nurturing, the Nine Dragon Lock could now be barely activated. Even though it was currently comparable only to a Middle Three Grade magical treasure and Li Ji’an could only utilize ten percent of its effectiveness, its binding ability was effective against mid-stage Core Formation cultivators.

With a command, the Nine Dragon Lock almost teleported to Gugu several feet away, binding it tightly.

Gugu lost its mobility immediately without time to react, its concealing divine abilities unparalleled, yet now it had become prey waiting for slaughter.

"Surely a fine treasure, perfectly suited to me!" Li Ji’an satisfied, stored it in the Qiankun Ring for ready use against enemies.

Then, Li Ji’an took out Lin Xiuzhu’s Bloodthirsty Staff, which not only held Blood Evil Qi but also Soul-devouring Qi, clearly a fierce weapon.

Its Sixth Grade level pales in comparison to the Fourth Grade magical treasure Coiled Dragon Staff currently nurturing in Li Ji’an’s Dantian.

Yet, for confronting blood fiend cultivators like Blood Kite or Yin Ghost Sect’s Yin Soul cultivators, it had some countering effect.

As for the other pill medicines and spiritual talents in Lin Xiuzhu and Yin Ghost Saint Child’s storage pouches, Li Ji’an had little interest.

Finally, Li Ji’an sat cross-legged, beginning to carefully sense the drop of True Dragon Essence Blood within himself.

Over the past two months, the True Dragon Essence Blood had continued to devour his own essence blood, and upon devouring, it would feed back more concentrated essence blood imbued with True Spirit Qi.

This led to the gradual decrease of Li Ji’an’s internal essence blood, but it became increasingly pure.

As long as his Body Refining Realm advanced further, his Qi and Blood would be more robust and refined, ensuring he would stand undefeated even against a Body Cultivator like Wu Weixiong at the same tier.

However, his progress in Body Refining Realm was agonizingly slow; without the nourishing Earth Spirit Charm from Xiaoqiao’s Earth Vein fusion, who knows how long it would take?

Thus, he gifted Xiaoqiao a Crystal Condensing Pill this time, in preparation for her Core Formation, needing the ongoing aid of the extraordinary Earth Spirit to temper his physique.

Upon clearing all spoils, Li Ji’an immediately started refining pills.

Currently, he possessed three sets of Crystal Condensing Pill ingredients, theoretically ensuring his Core Formation needs for the next three lifetimes; gifting Xiaoqiao one pill still guarantees him for two lives.

Moreover, should he become a Nascent Soul True Monarch in this lifetime, acquiring Crystal Condensing Pill main ingredients would be trivial.

A month later, a high-quality Crystal Condensing Pill was produced.