Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 94: Chapter 8: Reunion with an Old Friend

In any society, resources will ultimately concentrate in the hands of a few. The difference lies in the category and proportion of these few.

This is even more true in the cultivation realm where resources reign supreme.

Among the Eight Great Families of the Desert, none wish to rule the Desert more than the others, aiming to monopolize resources and thereby strengthen their family more greatly.

The apparent peace maintained over the years is merely due to mutual checks and balances, with everyone on guard and no single family possessing the strength to face seven others alone.

Currently, the Zheng Family, with four Foundation Establishments, is the strongest. However, the resources within the family are strained to support four Foundation Establishment cultivators, forcing them to release pressure outward.

Before Zheng Tianxiang’s path to Core Formation was ended, Li Ji’an originally expected the weakest family to willingly ally with the Zheng Family in hopes of reaping future benefits from their success.

However, Li Ji’an did not foresee the catastrophe that befell Zheng Tianxiang.

He has reason to believe it is highly probable that this event is the doing of the other seven families.

And it must be the top families unwilling to serve under the Zheng Family who took action.

Even if Yan Zongsheng was not the main instigator, he certainly participated actively.

”It’s all the same!” Li Ji’an shook his head secretly at the thought.

Previously, watching the power struggle between the Prince Yun’s Mansion and the Emperor of the Immortal Dynasty left him uninterested.

At that time, he yearned for the Immortal Realm, untouched by the mundane.

In the end, it’s all the same.

It was for this reason that he did not place high hopes on entering the Biyun Sect in this life.

In the entire Cangyun State, the Biyun Sect monopolizes a great deal of resources.

Resources can attract countless talents.

His near Upper Grade Spirit Root was deemed outstanding in the Desert, but in the eyes of the Biyun Sect, it just met the threshold.

His greatest hope lay in his heart nature and comprehension.

Four months later, gazing at a majestic city shrouded in golden light, even though Zhao Shuyao described it to him many times in his past life, he was still in awe!

The scale was vast, tenfold that of the Desert’s marketplace.

The runes intermittently appearing on the City Defense Array emitted an aura not weaker than Yan Qingwan at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

According to Zhao Shuyao’s introduction back then, this Immortal City formed around the downstream Spirit Vein area of the Biyun Sect’s core Tier Three Middle Grade Spirit Vein. Since it was several hundred miles away from the Sect and the spirit veins were relatively dispersed, with the densest area being barely Tier Three, although very small in scale, it was turned into the largest commercial city in Cangyun State, also a pillar industry of the Biyun Sect.

”Fan’Er, let’s wait in this Immortal City. There are two months until the Biyun Sect’s annual assessment and trials, and you can experience this true Immortal City in advance,” Yan Qingwan landed the flying boat outside the Immortal City.

”At your command, Aunt!” Li Ji’an had no objections. Having been in the cultivation realm for forty-six years yet still understanding little of it, he needed to gain insight and expand his horizons, which would be the foundation of his future plans.

Yan Qingwan nodded, suppressing her aura to the Late Qi Cultivation level, then putting on a veiled hat to cover her face before taking Li Ji’an into the Immortal City.

Seeing her actions as smooth as flowing water, Li Ji’an nodded in admiration, indeed, she was a cultivator educated by the clan college.

In contrast to the United Marketplace, Golden Splendor Immortal City did not charge an entry fee but required name registration and branding of magical power aura.

The Outer City mainly focused on commercial exchange, while the Inner City was dedicated to Dao Fields and Cave Mansions.

Yan Qingwan took Li Ji’an to a large inn in the Outer City, spanning a hundred zhang, covering over a hundred acres.

Apart from the six-story majestic stone-walled guest rooms, the hall was lavishly decorated, accommodating hundreds of people at a time.

Inside, songs and dances abounded, flowing drinks and poetry.

”Listen more, observe more, speak less, and do less.” Yan Qingwan found a corner to sit down, teaching Li Ji’an the dos and don’ts when out in the world through word and deed.

Li Ji’an nodded frequently, his mind already immersed in the bustling crowd.

”Truly tragic, it was a real tragedy, who would have thought it was actually another deceitful secret realm, and the Wang Family’s Foundation Establishment elder couldn’t even resist in front of that ’Deceit,’ whether it was a True Man-level powerhouse in life or a Divine Thought blending with deceitful law, it’s unclear.”

”It’s said that Sword Sect from Dao Source State will soon give rise to a peerless talent, Celestial Spirit Root as the foundation, some even speculate whether it’s an Innate Geng Metal Spirit Body!”

”The Infinite Secret Realm in Celestial Origin Province will open again in twenty years. Alas, such was the ancient sect’s benefit for testing the luck of their disciples; one can enter only once in a lifetime, and memories are wiped too. Otherwise, with just a few people’s experiences, we would know where to find the best opportunities, the Core Formation Spiritual Object!”

...

In his past life, the Yan Family’s Imperial Gazette mostly contained information about Cangyun State, and since the reopening of the Pill Shop, he hadn’t had the chance to read them again.

At this moment, this hall seemed like an inherent forum, aggregating this realm’s strange and miscellaneous news, rapidly enriching Li Ji’an’s database.

”May I ask, are you Elder Yan from the Desert?” Just as Li Ji’an was engrossed in listening, three figures approached their table, with the leading one speaking up.

Li Ji’an suddenly looked up.

Seeing the familiar face of Zhao Shuyao, who looked even older, Li Ji’an felt a moment of daze.

And at the moment he looked up, Zhao Shuyao’s gaze also fell on his face.

Astonishment similarly flashed in her eyes.

”So alike, absolutely alike!”

Li Ji’an had already met Zhao Shuyao when he was eight in his past life, he naturally remembered how he looked.

Fortunately, in this life, nourished by Spiritual Qi, Li Ji’an’s appearance and physique had changed considerably compared to his previous life at the same age.

Furthermore, Zhao Shuyao hadn’t cultivated any magical power, her divine soul was weak, with no exceptional memory.

”Are you... Xiaofan?” Zhao Shuyao couldn’t help but ask.

Li Ji’an didn’t immediately respond, instead looking at Yan Qingwan.

”Who are you? What’s your intent?” Yan Qingwan’s voice was gentle, yet carried an inquisitive tone.

Zhao Shuyao slowly clasped her hands, ”Forgive me Elder Yan, upon meeting old acquaintances for the first time, I was a bit abrupt, I am Zhao Shuyao, an old friend of Li Chang’an.”

”You’re Zhao Shuyao?” Yan Qingwan slowly raised her head, looking directly at Zhao Shuyao through her veil.

Back then, upon learning that Li Ji’an had left the clan, the Foundation Establishment Hui Race sought out Zhang Tiezhu and eventually learned about Zhao Shuyao.

Initially, she even thought Li Ji’an’s intended person was Zhao Shuyao and contemplated coming here to find Li Ji’an, but Zhang Tiezhu assured her it wasn’t to find Zhao Shuyao, so she dismissed the thought.

Yet in her mind, there was always a thought, wanting to see who Zhao Shuyao really was.

At this moment, she sighed secretly.

Yan Qingwan slowly removed her veil, revealing her true appearance.

Zhao Shuyao’s gaze fell on Yan Qingwan’s face and immediately felt a sense of relief.

So beautiful!

Having been in Golden Splendor Immortal City for over forty years, seen numerous Fairies, Yan Qingwan could still rank in the top ten.

”Miss Zhao, please, Fellow Daoists, please.” After regaining her senses, Yan Qingwan noticed the two people behind Zhao Shuyao were both Foundation Establishment Taoists, and did not dare to slight them, inviting them to sit.

Tong Yaoyao put on an act, stepping forward to assist Zhao Shuyao in sitting beside Li Ji’an, then cupped her hands towards Yan Qingwan, ”Fellow Daoist, greetings. We are Tong Yaoyao and Elder Shi from Nine Tripods Commerce Association.”

”A great honor, Fellow Daoist Tong, Fellow Daoist Shi.” Yan Qingwan courteously, having a thought of befriending Tong Yaoyao too.

Among the Eight Great Families of the Desert, the greatest limitation was the lack of background and heritage, relying solely on their predecessors’ lives to build up their foundation.

Therefore, their commerce was confined to the Desert area.

Nine Tripods Commerce Association could trade around the world, their strength couldn’t be underestimated, and once in a cooperative relationship, the Yan Family’s profits would increase significantly.

Moreover, if a strategic partnership could be reached, the Yan Family’s status among the Eight Great Families of the Desert would rise greatly.

In recent years, not only their Yan Family but virtually all Desert families are actively seeking backing and reliance.

Just like the Zheng Family once publicly broke an engagement to connect with the Array Formation Liu Family.

”Xiaofan, I am... I am your Aunt Yao, how are your parents?” While Yan Qingwan and Tong Yaoyao made acquaintances, Zhao Shuyao carefully examined Li Ji’an’s somewhat tender face, as if she had returned to sixty years ago when she first met Li Chang’an in the Seeking Immortal Palace of the Immortal Dynasty, her voice trembling slightly.