Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 63: Chapter 29: Born in the Morning, Dead by Dusk

The most peculiar stories column at the bottom of the Imperial Gazette.

”In the mundane gathering area of the Biyun Sect, a Qi Cultivation 3rd Layer female cultivator gave birth to a son at 5:00 AM. Born knowledgeable, he grew rapidly, reaching seven feet in height in half an hour. His spiritual root became fully formed, and at the moment of its formation, it caused a disturbance in the surrounding spiritual qi. The Biyun Sect’s Core Formation True Man went to investigate, suspected it might be a Celestial Spirit Root, and thus took him back to the sect.

It is said that before the Qi Cultivation Technique was taught to him, he suddenly sensed things and started cultivating on the spot, advancing rapidly. He reached Qi Cultivation in half an hour, Foundation Establishment in another hour, and Core Formation in another two hours...

However, after 3:00 PM, his vitality rapidly waned, and his body aged simultaneously.

By 7:00 PM, his entire body was shriveled, like a baby.

He then completely lost vitality and died, his path and principles dissipated!

Some suspect this was a staged farce by the Biyun Sect, which the sect firmly denies.

Claiming to have encountered a Divine Favored...”

After reading about the whole incident, Li Ji’an’s expression was strange.

”Born in the morning, dead by evening... so brilliantly fleeting... an instant of radiance...”

Isn’t this a curse? How could this be a ”Divine Favor”?

Who would hope to be favored by the divine in such a manner?

”Amazed by that Divine Favored one?” Yan Qingwan asked with a smile, noticing Li Ji’an’s expression.

Li Ji’an snapped back to reality: ”Is this... true?”

Yan Qingwan shook her head, then nodded: ”This matter may not be true, but... Divine Favored ones indeed exist, and they often are enigmatic.”

”How enigmatic?”

”My family’s Grand Ancestor had once witnessed a Divine Favored person firsthand,” Yan Qingwan affirmed.

”What kind of Divine Favored?”

”As long as he approaches something containing the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism, or aligned with the great path, he would sense it, and this ability could grow, with the sensing range expanding,” she explained.

Li Ji’an’s eyelids suddenly lifted.

”Treasure-Seeking Spirit Body...”

This is very similar to Ning Sujin’s talent in Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil.

”And then?”

”Then... Aren’t you curious about what such abilities can do?” Yan Qingwan was somewhat surprised; usually, upon hearing something so enigmatic, besides doubt, people are more curious about the ability. However, Li Ji’an only asked about the result.

”Previously, I heard Brother Chen speak of a certain Divine Favored person’s ability, said to have premonitions of future scenes, so I’m not that surprised,” Li Ji’an explained.

Yan Qingwan nodded: ”I see. Well, naturally, he was taken in by an Upper Sect, and it is said that since then, that sect’s fortune continuously blossomed, and the sect disciples all possessed treasures!”

”Are all Divine Favored treated like this?” Li Ji’an subconsciously pursued the question.

Yan Qingwan shook her head: ”Of course not. Some Divine Favored are universally condemned!”

”Hmm?”

”It is said that a thousand years ago, there was a Divine Favored, born with all poisons attached. Wherever he went, cities were destroyed, the entire world condemned him!”

Li Ji’an nodded, gaining a clearer understanding of the so-called ”Divine Favored.”

He was also quite certain that Ning Sujin was indeed a Divine Favored.

The reason she was suddenly taken away by an ”Immortal Master” years ago was also basically confirmed.

Sixty-three years have passed...

Glancing distantly towards the northwest, Li Ji’an shook his head, no longer pondering further.

After bidding farewell to Yan Qingwan, Li Ji’an returned to his small courtyard and, as usual, first attempted the ”Nine Yang Technique.”

”Still the same... How long will this transformation take?”

For the past three years, he remained steadfast in cultivation.

Originally, he thought that upon arriving at the Yan Family and being close to the core Spirit Vein Area, nourished by the concentration of First-Tier high-grade spirit veins, his magical cultivation would progress much faster.

As a result, the internal expanse of his Dantian expanded by a circle, requiring more magical power than the Qi Cultivation 2nd Layer.

The most powerless aspect was, two years ago, when he was approaching Perfection in Qi Cultivation 3rd Layer, he realized that the leap from Early Period Qi Cultivation to Middle Stage was a threshold; it required the Dantian to transform, which demanded the nourishment of magical power.

Given his sensing capacity of two strands of Spirit Charm in his Spirit Root, his refining efficiency was very low. Initially, he could rely on the Time Scroll to equate his daily magical power refined with that of an average Lower Grade Spirit Root.

However, now the magical power nourishing the Dantian is based on Grand Circulation rather than the day’s total.

This rendered his scroll meaningless; two hours of cultivation per day reached his limit.

Moreover, this widened the gap compared to those truly higher in Spirit Charm sensing like Chen Qingling with nine strands of Fire Spirit Root — even with the same two hours of cultivation per day, he could nourish his Dantian 1500, while Li Ji’an could only nourish it 1100.

”No matter, the fact of having inferior Spirit Roots in this life is something to acknowledge!” To this, he harbored little emotion, acknowledging oneself is a steady foundation.

However, he did not slack off; after two hours of daily cultivation to refine magical power for his Dantian, he spent the remainder of his time on Body Refining.

This world’s Body Cultivation is not prevalent chiefly because, aside from only delaying the degeneration of Qi and blood, the lifespan at its peak only reaches a century—just as Chen Zhaohu mentioned, a Mid-stage Tier One Body Cultivator requires even more resources than a Dharma Cultivator, and they are rarer.

If not for that opportunity, Chen Zhaohu in this life could only have barely entered Mid-stage Tier One.

As for Li Ji’an, the Qi and Blood Grandmaster at the peak of the Immortal Dynasty was merely equivalent to Perfection of Early-stage Tier One Body Cultivation in this world, but later inherited the Hundred Forged Golden Body Technique from Chen Zhaohu.

On his foundational basis, along with Dragon and Tiger Aspect skeletal roots, he successfully made a step forward that year, entering the Mid-stage Tier One Body Cultivation.

Later, due to several years of cultivating magical power, nourishing his physical body with magical power elevated his Qi and blood towards the peak of Mid-stage Tier One Body Cultivation.

However, that was the peak without relying on Body Refining Spiritual Objects. Beyond Body Refining Spiritual Objects, there was no further progress.

Until two years ago, upon meeting Yan Hongsheng—a person naturally gifted with inferior skeletal roots facing difficulties in Body Cultivation, who eventually started using Body Refining Spiritual Objects for initiation—Li Ji’an likewise received a good deal of gifts over time from him.

After confirming that his Dantian still had not completed its transformation, Li Ji’an entered the room and drew out Thunder Flame Crystals he had gradually accumulated over the past two years from his Storage Pouch, continuing his Body Refining.

A month ago, he had already successfully advanced to Late-stage Tier One Body Cultivation, recently focusing on consolidation.

After progressing in Body Refining, the inherent Qi and blood began undergoing a qualitative change, transitioning from its previous mist-like gaseous state towards a more liquid form.

Moreover, the energy it contained now exceeded the gaseous state by over double.

At that time, he compared his strength to the magical shield of Yan Hongsheng’s peak level in Qi Cultivation. With full-force attacks in early Body Cultivation, he could not budge it in the slightest.

Yet through repeated attempts, he reached a judgment.

If fully powered as a Mid-stage Body Cultivator, it was already feasible.

Upon advancing to Late-stage Body Cultivation, even just at its inception, he felt confident he could break through its Body-Protecting Dharma Shield in three punches!

Additionally, with spiritual sense comparable to the peak of Qi Cultivation, and the Qi and blood activation matching teleportation-speed body technique, throughout the Yan Family, other than the Foundation Establishment Ancestor, he feared no one.

Of course, group attacks aren’t considered.

Unfortunately, Yan Hongsheng now completely recognized his flawed skeletal roots and talent, abandoning the path of Body Cultivation and subsequently, Thunder Flame Crystals were no longer forthcoming.

In the following days, during a temporary truce between the two clans, Zhang Tiezhu would come seeking Li Ji’an daily, his attitude nearly reverting to how it was during their time in the Immortal Dynasty.

”Brother Li, in two more years, it will be a decade; I wonder how Zhu Linxian and Dong Jiangling are faring, whether they’ve found great fortunes, and whether they’ll return after ten years—the lack of news after such a long time is unsettling.”

Li Ji’an held low expectations for this; ultimately, the five of them emerged from the Desolate Land, having only one in ten thousand talent in skeletal roots, with truly inferior spirit roots.

Without rebirth, there is almost no hope this life for them.

Many things cannot be resolved by willpower alone.

However, he dared not be entirely certain; who could guarantee they wouldn’t encounter some heaven-defying opportunity?

Such occurrences in the cultivation realm are quite common, and at least half a year had seen a few examples in the Imperial Gazette.

In comparison, Zhu Linxian that girl might be the one among the four to travel the furthest.

Thus, another half month passed.

On this day, according to routine, Zhang Tiezhu visited Li Ji’an to exchange cultivation insights, afterward engaging in casual talks about future plans.

Suddenly, an astounding piece of news arrived at the clan.

”The ancestors of the Wei and Yan clans broke into a major fight, resulting in mutual injuries!”

While they were discussing future plans, Zhang Tiezhu’s first reaction was excitement and agitation—heroes emerge in chaotic times, and only amidst internal clan disturbances could he gain significant roles and opportunities.

Yet Li Ji’an furrowed his brows: Danger!

Initially, the purpose of entering the Yan Clan Territory was solely for the spirit vein dao field here, and the Foundation Establishment protection deterrent of the Yan old ancestor.

Presently, with even the ancestor injured, the safety factor of this place drastically decreased.

This was indeed somewhat beyond his expectations; initially, he entered the Yan Clan despite the ongoing conflicts between the two clans not due to a lack of consideration but because he had preemptively learned about the Eight Great Families from the market here,

In this Desert’s Eight Great Families, a preexisting contract dictates that regardless of conflicts, Foundation Establishment level individuals are not to engage, trying to resolve issues through negotiation.

”How could it come to this?”

”We’ll wait, but if the Yan Clan’s Foundation Establishment Ancestor truly can’t sustain, leaving is a must.”