Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Xiaoqiao’s Core Formation celebration lasted a month, drawing countless cultivators into Cangyun State. Besides some old forces preserved from the demon cultivator invasion and newly established alliances, a large number of loose cultivators came to seek refuge.

In the last two years, Corpse Puppet Sect from Dao Source State, Blood Spirit Sect, and the other two domains’ four major sects have paid less attention to Cangyun State. Apart from some scattered demon cultivators, the situation in Cangyun State, a remote area, has somewhat improved.

Under such circumstances, a True Pill Master could still provide enough sense of security.

Until the Core Formation celebration ended, Xiaoqiao announced her seclusion to stabilize her realm.

In fact, every few days, she would channel Earth Spirit Charm to empower Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin thus began a cultivation journey in the Odd Stone Forest.

Ten years passed quickly.

On this day, after Xiaoqiao once again infused Li Ji’an with full Earth Spirit Charm, she returned slightly fatigued to her chamber to recover.

Li Ji’an suddenly opened his eyes, a thick concoction of Qi and blood swirled in them.

With a slight concentration of Qi and blood, a vast Blood Fiend nearly erupted, seeming almost tangible.

"Tier Three Mid-stage Body Cultivator!"

At this moment, Li Ji’an’s skin and flesh showed nothing special, but inside, his abdomen was covered by a layer of earth color, emitting a rich and thick Qi and Blood Power.

"Such a great improvement, it truly aligns with what is described in the ’Divine Treasure Body Refining Technique.’ As the refinement of the five internal organs deepens, the transformation of the physique grows exponentially."

Li Ji’an felt that his current Tier Three Mid-stage Body Cultivation had completely surpassed Lin Xiuzhu and the Yin Ghost Saint Child’s Core Formation magical power from back then; compared to the Core Formation Ascendant’s magical power pressure, it was quite evenly matched.

Of course, the power was closely tied to the merit of the drop of True Dragon Essence Blood in his body.

In these ten years, as the Qi and blood in his body strengthened, the absorption speed of the True Dragon Essence Blood quickened, and the feedback grew stronger, increasing purification efficiency tremendously.

Upon this breakthrough, its refining effect became instantly clear.

Gradually gathering his Qi and blood and calming his excited emotions, Li Ji’an left Xiaoqiao’s Dao Field.

Now, both he and Ning Sujin cultivated in the Core Dao Field. Aside from the body forging done every few days, there were slight changes in other aspects over these ten years.

The Spirit Vein here was somewhat insufficient for Li Ji’an’s current Golden Core Cultivation, especially since Xiaoqiao had become a True Core Cultivator. Even with Xiaoqiao’s Earth Spirit Master’s mystical means barely elevating the Spirit Vein to Tier Three, it still couldn’t simultaneously fulfill the cultivation needs of two True Pill Masters.

Therefore, his Golden Core cultivation temporarily stagnated over these ten years.

He focused more on forging the physique and refining puppets.

Having further advanced in body refining, he was now confident in facing off against a Core Formation Ascendant head-on.

As for puppetry skills, although slightly improved, it was limited by high-tier materials. In ten years, he only managed to create a Tier Three Mid-stage Puppet.

This puppet used the Corpse Refining Vessel, which had been rendered useless and devoured of its Divine Soul Origin by Ning Sujin, as the primary material. Additionally, true dragon blood fiend obtained from Blood Cave in the Dragon Burial Cave was added, making it especially effective against Divine Souls, capable of unexpectedly consuming Divine Soul Origin.

Furthermore, it carried rich Blood Fiend Qi, more than enough to endure and counter Core Formation magical power attacks.

"Dad, you’re back?" Upon returning to his Dao Field, a shadow drifted over, with a flattering and ingratiating expression.

Li Ji’an furrowed his brow, gave it a glare, and directly ignored it.

The shadow was none other than the True Dragon Residual Soul.

After arriving at the Odd Stone Forest, Ning Sujin sensed its weakening soul power, forcing Li Ji’an to release it.

After some suppression, its temperament was finally worn down a bit, at least it was no longer as defiant as when it initially escaped from the Dragon-Suppressing Cauldron in front of Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin.

However, the True Dragon Essence Blood’s aura on Li Ji’an made it firmly believe Li Ji’an was its father.

Li Ji’an didn’t want it to know about the fusion of True Dragon Essence Blood with him, so he couldn’t convince it otherwise.

Over the years, he had somewhat let it be.

"Mom, dad has another female cultivator’s scent on him!" Seeing Li Ji’an ignoring it, the Dragon Soul rushed into the inner room to complain to Ning Sujin.

Aside from previously borrowing Ning Yutan’s body, Ning Sujin’s physical self had accompanied Li Ji’an for twenty-two years, and deep down she also wished for a child.

However, considering Li Ji’an’s Golden Core cultivation and Tier Three physique, her current body, which was merely at the late stage of Qi Cultivation, couldn’t possibly bear offspring.

Moreover, Li Ji’an had long refused the idea of having children due to the perilous and unpredictable nature of the cultivation realm.

Thus, when the Dragon Soul called her ’mother,’ she felt an unexpected joy, even treating the Dragon Soul with a sense of affection akin to a child.

Over the years, she continuously infused the refined Divine Soul Origin to nurture its residual soul.

Li Ji’an, knowing this, chose not to further reprimand the Dragon Soul.

"Long’Er, don’t speak nonsense, your dad was off to cultivate." Ning Sujin lovingly caressed the Dragon Soul nestled in her lap, lightly reprimanding while feeding it Soul Origin.

"Sujin, don’t spoil it too much, cut off its Soul Origin for three years." Li Ji’an said upon entering the room.

Ning Sujin playfully stuck out her tongue, winked at Li Ji’an: "Can’t you two ever get along? Long’Er’s feedback to me isn’t insignificant now."

"Moreover, when Long’Er’s soul body solidifies, it might be a great help!"

Li Ji’an laughed gently, no longer trying to scare the Dragon Soul.

Indeed, as Ning Sujin mentioned, with her feeding of Soul Origin, the True Dragon Residual Soul had restored considerably and showed signs of solidification.

If truly solidified, it would certainly be a substantial help in confronting opposing Divine Souls.

"Sujin, are you ready?" Li Ji’an asked again.

Ning Sujin nodded: "Ready anytime."

"Good!"

Then, Li Ji’an used his Divine Soul to notify Gugu.

Before long, Gugu and Little Fire Spirit had already bid farewell to Xiaoqiao and rushed back.

"Goo~" As soon as it emerged above ground, Gugu called out somewhat sheepishly.

It was still extremely apprehensive of the Dragon Soul.

Little Fire Spirit, however, paid no mind to the Dragon Soul, glaring at it fiercely.

Ever since the Dragon Soul was released by Ning Sujin, Gugu mostly stayed away from the place, spending most of its time in Xiaoqiao’s Dao Field.

The Dragon Soul might have appeared submissive in front of Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin, but it remained haughty towards Gugu, and initially even commanded Gugu as its servant. Only after realizing Gugu’s standing in Li Ji’an’s heart, coupled with a few burns by Little Fire Spirit, did it behave.

Yet Gugu still couldn’t resist the bloodline suppression coming from it.

Li Ji’an promptly collected Gugu into the Spirit Pet Bag, securing Little Fire Spirit within his Dantian.

The Dragon Soul, seeing Little Fire Spirit enter Li Ji’an’s Dantian, immediately felt an intense jealousy, eager to enter as well, driven by the strong allure of the True Dragon Essence Blood within Li Ji’an.

Its naive consciousness had long sensed that should it merge with the Essence Blood within Li Ji’an, it might become a living Spirit Body.

However, Li Ji’an refused to let it inside.

Ultimately, it returned to Ning Sujin’s Sea of Consciousness.

With preparations complete, Li Ji’an took Ning Sujin directly through the Nine Heavens towards Dao Source State’s Blood Spirit Sect in the north.

Since Corpse Puppet Sect occupied the Tier Four Dao Field of Ten Thousand Laws Palace, it was already promised to relinquish Boundless Domain’s ancestral court to Blood Spirit Sect.

However, to this day, Corpse Puppet Sect’s ancestral court in Boundless Domain was not yet fully relocated, naturally preventing Blood Spirit Sect from moving in; it currently occupied Dongli Sect’s Dao Field.

This place was somewhat better than its ancestral court Spirit Vein in Boundless Domain.

Half a year ago, Li Ji’an received successive messages from Xiao Changfeng and Blood Kite.

The former entrusted Biyun Sect entirely to Li Ji’an, saying he feared he would never return, leaving the rest unsaid.

The latter swiftly reported Xiao Changfeng’s situation voluntarily.

Xiao Changfeng had been gone from the sect for twenty-two years and finally found Yun Yao’s whereabouts six months ago.

Unfortunately, Yun Yao had been imprisoned by Blood Spirit Saintess for nearly thirty years, and Xiao Changfeng, heading to Blood Spirit Sect to demand her release, no longer hoped to leave alive.

After all, Xiao Changfeng’s greatest enemy was Blood Spirit Saintess, who had once killed Elder Fang trying to save Xiao Changfeng.

Elder Fang was both a mentor and friend to Xiao Changfeng, a figure he highly respected.

Moreover, Xiao Changfeng had long abandoned hopes of advancing further, knowing revenge was likely beyond his reach; with his beloved also imprisoned by Blood Saintess, he was already prepared for mutual destruction.