Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 42: Chapter 8: Dedicated to Cultivation

Compared to Li Ji’an’s surprise, the other four were simply shocked!

Even Zhu Linxian, the little girl who had been quiet all along, incredulously asked for an answer: ”Brother Li, did we really come to the right place? Is this really the Cultivation Realm? Tell me, it must not be, right?”

This batch of Immortal Seedlings had only five people remaining, besides Li Ji’an and Zhao Shuyao, there were Dong Jiangling, Zhang Tiezhu, and Zhu Linxian.

Dong Jiangling was the adopted son of the chief eunuch from the Immortal Dynasty, raised with a special dependence and affection for the royal family. This was why, ten years ago at the age of thirteen, when entering the Immortal Palace, he fell in love at first sight with the Ninth Princess Zhao Shuyao.

Zhu Linxian was the treasured daughter of the Zhu Family, a Qi Blood Race that rose to prominence after King Yun’s accession in the Immortal Dynasty. However, due to the early death of her most beloved mother, she became silent and rarely expressed her opinions along the way.

Zhang Tiezhu was the most special among this batch of Immortal Seedlings, a farmer’s son accidentally discovered to have the Dragon Elephant’s physique, taken into the Immortal Palace, advancing with unstoppable force, living up to expectations.

Li Ji’an had long noticed that, among the other four, Zhu Linxian had the deepest obsession with cultivation.

That was why she felt the most disappointed at this moment.

”What do you think the Cultivation Realm should be like?” Li Ji’an did not answer but asked in return.

Zhu Linxian appeared slightly confused and tentatively said, ”In our clan, they say immortals are different from mortals, Immortals... Immortals...”

She stopped mid-sentence, unsure how to continue.

After all, Li Ji’an’s slaying of Immortals had shattered her former understanding into pieces.

Li Ji’an smiled slightly and took over the conversation: ”Immortals should overlook all beings, treat them as straw dogs, be aloof, and receive mortal reverence?”

Zhu Linxian’s gaze faltered as she looked at Li Ji’an, indicating he had hit the mark.

One could not blame her; this was the ideology she had been indoctrinated with from a young age.

Although the journey here had shattered her supreme view of Immortals, she still retained some lingering thoughts about cultivation.

”Immortals above mortals? Hmph~

They’re just cultivators, not yet proven and ascended, what kind of immortals are they considered?

Moreover, so-called mortals are merely those who haven’t embarked on the path of cultivation. If that constitutes a difference, then when we tread the Martial Dao in the Immortal Dynasty, aren’t we also different from the uninvolved people?

Are we any different from those people? Aren’t we human?”

Li Ji’an laughed heartily, feeling a sense of relief.

”But... it shouldn’t be... shouldn’t be without the demeanor of a cultivator, in such a public setting...” Zhu Linxian still had trouble accepting it.

Li Ji’an understood their disillusionment.

They had thought they could cultivate, yet saw these cultivating clans still engaging in lowly activities like recruiting sons-in-law, warriors, medicine testers... lacking dignity.

Li Ji’an wanted to say, not everyone likes to put on a high and aloof face; profundity and aloofness can’t be faked by mere expressions. Besides, if cultivation means maintaining a stoic face all day, what’s the point of it?

Most importantly, profundity and aloofness won’t help a cultivation clan to flourish nor fetch cultivation resources.

However, he didn’t say it outright; some things they needed to understand by themselves.

If they couldn’t figure it out, couldn’t lower themselves, couldn’t integrate, and looked down upon these behaviors as reasonable, their future days would be difficult.

”Hey, it’s fate, friends, I swear I’m not following you this time, it’s a genuine coincidence.”

Just as the four of them walked out of the square, still digesting Li Ji’an’s words, a familiar yet stranger’s hearty laughter sounded.

This time, Chen Zhaohu only brought his thirteen or fourteen-year-old brother.

”Brother Chen, Li greets you.” This time Li Ji’an didn’t keep people at a distance.

Being unfamiliar with the place, he ultimately needed to integrate, needed guidance,

Comparatively, Chen Zhaohu’s behavior was more reassuring to him.

”Wow~ Brother Li, you... not only did you come out of the Desolate Land, which proves you’re someone with great fortunes, but you’re surely a favored one. Your adaptability is truly extraordinary.” Chen Zhaohu was quite surprised.

”Brother Chen flatters me.”

”Good, good, I like people like you. Come on, let’s go. It’s better to meet by chance. The Hundred Fragrance Building ahead has extraordinary flavors; the chef is trained by a Spirit Chef. It should be a proper welcome for you.” Chen Zhaohu was delighted.

Li Ji’an paused slightly: ”Brother Chen, aren’t you hunting today?”

”Hey, I’ve hunted most of my life; can’t I take a break?” Chen Zhaohu said casually.

”Nonsense! He’s just obsessed, has to perform a divination every day before heading out, saying today isn’t auspicious for going out... Hmph, you haven’t even solidified your Spiritual Sense, and you want to delve into the most elusive path of Divination in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation?” His brother immediately exposed him.

With that, Li Ji’an felt at ease.

What ill intentions could a robust man obsessed with fortune-telling have?

After following Chen Zhaohu for less than a hundred steps, a two-story stone building came into view. Next to the large sign saying ”Hundred Fragrance Building” at the entrance, hung an even larger sign: ”Followed Spirit Chef Gao Yue for twenty years.”

”Yo, a Purple Gold Mink, nice, nice, is the guest planning to sell it?” As soon as they entered the Hundred Fragrance Building, a clerk immediately noticed the demon beast carried on Dong Jiangling’s shoulder.

Dong Jiangling looked at Li Ji’an.

”Sell it!”

”Hey, hey, good, good. It’s been dead for over a day, hasn’t it? Ah, the fur is damaged...” the clerk started nitpicking.

”Scram! Are you trying to con Brother Hu now?” Chen Zhaohu, busy talking to his brother and slower by a step, saw the familiar clerk trying to scam when he just arrived.

The clerk apologized repeatedly: ”Oh, pardon me, pardon me, I didn’t recognize him, thought he was a passerby, sorry, sorry. I’ll go get our shopkeeper.”

After the clerk ran off, Chen Zhaohu familiarly led the five into a private room to sit.

”By the looks of you, you weren’t ordinary people in the Desolate Land either; you may not even care for such eateries, but you surely haven’t tried the food here.” Chen Zhaohu spoke seemingly to himself.

In fact, he noticed some nuanced disdain from Dong Jiangling and the others.

This made Li Ji’an regard Chen Zhaohu higher, he was indeed a meticulous and robust man.

But it’s understandable, hunting demon beasts requires carefulness, or you’d die early.

”Where are Brother Chen’s words going? We’ve dined on the wind and slept in the dew for many days; just dining here is very satisfying.”

”Ah, excellent, excellent, Brother Li, I like you more and more. How about it? Join me in hunting.” Chen Zhaohu extended the invitation again.

Li Ji’an couldn’t help but laugh out: ”Hehe, are you so certain I can bring you fortune?”

”Indeed I am. Do you remember that first day we met? I performed a divination; the hexagram showed that Deity of the Moon was upon me, indicating I would meet a nobleman.” As he spoke about this topic, Chen Zhaohu became excited.

”This might cause Brother Chen some disappointment; we’re determined to cultivate. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have traveled ten thousand miles to get here.” Li Ji’an declined once again.

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhaohu looked at Li Ji’an and the others in surprise: ”Hmm? You... haven’t you understood the situation yet? Coming out of the Desolate Land, you might as well give up on the idea of cultivation!”

”???

”!!!