Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

After tidying up the pill furnace, Li Ji’an once again arrived at the Grand Elder’s courtyard.

During these six years, he grew increasingly fond of talismans and put more heart into them.

The main attraction was the all-encompassing and mysterious power of talismans.

Talismans do not store one’s own magical power and are not even related to one’s energy. As long as the magical power and Divine Soul are sufficient to channel the majesty of heaven and earth, one can store the might of heaven and earth in the talisman materials.

A Thunder Talisman channels the might of thunder into the talisman materials.

An Ice Freeze Talisman channels the might of ice into the talisman materials.

There are even talismans that channel the laws of heaven and earth, like Divine Speed, Shifting, and Transmigration talismans.

”Young man, didn’t I tell you to focus on your cultivation first? Break through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation, and after your magical power becomes more robust, then come and try again.” At this point, Yan Kongyi no longer had the same teaching zeal he had six years earlier.

Because when Li Ji’an was studying the basics, he was okay, but when it came to advancing to middle-level talismans, his progress noticeably slowed down, adhering to the law that talismans are easy to learn but hard to master.

He now feels that his talisman talent is about the same as his own.

Somewhat reassured, yet somewhat disappointed.

However, he no longer had the urgent impulse to keep him in the family at all costs six years ago.

”Grand Elder, can you teach me the Golden Sword Talisman again?” Li Ji’an was eager to learn.

Yan Kongyi thought for a while and then simply took out an incomplete Tier One talisman inheritance from his storage pouch, along with a talisman brush he had used for decades, and flung a stack of talisman paper at him: ”Go, go, study it yourself. If there’s anything you don’t understand... sigh, I’ve taught you everything I know, so practice more and ponder yourself.”

”Alright, thank you, Grand Elder.” Li Ji’an was overjoyed.

That night, Li Ji’an bathed, changed clothes, and prayed to the Blessing Talisman Saint.

He directly picked the only Mid-Level Upper Grade talisman paper from among them.

He ground the Beast Blood Vermilion.

Moments later, with his spirit settled in his heart and his Sea of Consciousness clear, Li Ji’an held the talisman brush, and in an instant, he felt as if heaven and earth were empty, with the mechanisms of the world dancing all around.

”Swish!”

The breath flowed through the brush, and the strokes moved like a dragon and a snake.

Just as his Dantian Magical Power was about to be exhausted, he finally stopped and put down the brush, and his spirit returned to the Sea of Consciousness.

”Zheng~” A metallic resonance suddenly sounded.

A golden light flashed on the talisman paper.

”It’s done!”

Counting the five years of theoretical foundation learning before Spirit Testing, his life had been focused on perfecting the Talisman Dao for eleven years, and at last, he successfully crafted a Middle Stage Upper Grade Golden Sword Talisman.

Indeed, easy to learn, hard to master.

Even this one Upper Grade Golden Sword Talisman was something Yan Kongyi had sought after for most of his life but never achieved.

No other reason than that besides grades, talismans are also classified by type.

The Golden Sword Talisman, which contains offensive might and is outstanding among attack talismans, has a power comparable to a full strike of Gold Element magical power at the Qi Cultivation 6th Layer and is one of the more difficult types at this grade.

As for the kinds of talismans that Yan Kongyi knew, Li Ji’an had long mastered their craft, with better quality than Yan Kongyi’s.

”This single strike is stronger than a full strike with my current magical power, worthy of being my trump card!” Li Ji’an carefully put away his first trump card.

Unfortunately, among the talisman papers Yan Kongyi gave him, there was only one Mid-Level Upper Grade paper.

Moreover, activating talismans requires the Divine Soul as a guide and magical power to trigger them, which also involves consumption and burden, so it’s not possible to just throw hundreds of them at once.

Otherwise, he truly planned to prepare a few hundred for self-defense at one time.

As for Body Refining, after reaching perfection in the later stage of Tier One last year, he expressed to Yan Hongsheng his unwillingness to continue body refining. Yan Hongsheng, seeing that he hadn’t broken through to the late stage of Tier One in six years, lost interest.

Additionally, the desert had become restless again in recent years. As the Yan Family’s troublemaker, he often needed to go out and stir things up, leaving him with no time to force Li Ji’an to undergo body refining.

”Foundation Establishment Early Period Divine Sense, perfection in Qi Cultivation 6th Layer magical power, Tier One peak Body Refining, Tier One late stage peak Spirit Beast, coupled with these Wind Speed Talismans, Turtle Shell Talismans, Cold Wind Talismans, and Golden Sword Talismans...” Reviewing his present situation, Li Ji’an felt a substantial increase in his sense of security.

Furthermore, there is now Mid-Level superior Alchemy Skill and Mid-Level Upper Grade Talisman Art.

Achieving this at the age of twenty-five in this life, he was already very satisfied.

”Gugu~” Half a month later, the Divine Soul Contract transmitted a calling from Gugu.

Li Ji’an raised an eyebrow: ”He’s back.”

Immediately, he finished up his work, checked his storage pouch once more, and headed towards the gathering area.

Because of his agreement with Yan Zongsheng, the family did not intervene in his movements, plus his small courtyard was just on the edge, which was convenient.

In recent years, the Yan Family developed well, and Yan Qingwan discovered a Second Tier Pill Master inheritance a few years ago through unknown means, spending most of the time absorbed in it and almost having no time to meddle with him.

Once out of the family’s territory, a flying sword soared from his storage pouch into midair, hovering, and Li Ji’an leaped onto it, treading on the flying sword, turning into a burst of flame flying away.

This sword was the same Lower Grade Artifact he had purchased for eighteen Spirit Stones in his past life.

In the past life, at the Qi Cultivation 4th Layer, although he could maneuver the flying sword, his magical power was too thin to fly long distances.

But now, his magical power was abundant, he could easily maneuver it.

An hour later, Li Ji’an landed in the Central Plaza of the gathering area while treading on the flying sword.

People around cast glances of either envy or respect towards him.

”Excuse me, sir, could you tell me where Chen Zhaohu’s residence is?” Coming for Chen Zhaohu this life for the first time, he naturally needed to put on a bit of a show.

The elderly man heard this, clasped his hands, and nodded hurriedly: ”Esteemed cultivator, you’re too kind, I’m not worthy of such respect. Chen Zhaohu’s house is in the two-story stone house up ahead, let this old man lead you there.”

”Thank you.”

Soon, standing in front of Chen Zhaohu’s house again, Li Ji’an could not help but frown slightly.

With a sweep of his Divine Sense, he clearly saw the elderly figure inside the house, precisely Chen Zhaohu.

It had just been twenty years since he last saw Chen Zhaohu.

At that time, he had found the traces of the Soul-Holding Ants and specially went to the market to inform him.

Back then, Chen Zhaohu was seventy-eight years old, his vitality declining, with graying temples.

And now, at less than a hundred years old, Chen Zhaohu, his hair was more than halfway white, and his once burly physique had hunched over.

Judging by his vitality, he feared he would not live past ten years.

As a Body Cultivator late in Tier One, theoretically, his lifespan could reach one hundred and twenty.

But, as Chen Zhaohu hunted for a living, often engaging in fierce battles and even being injured, these all depleted his vitality, reducing his lifespan.

”Is this Chen Uncle’s house?” Li Ji’an asked loudly.

Soon Chen Qingling came out.

Compared to Chen Zhaohu, Chen Qingling, who was at Qi Cultivation 6th Layer, still appeared in the prime of life.

”Brother Li?” Chen Qingling was stunned at the first sight of Li Ji’an, tentatively calling him.

It wasn’t odd for Chen Qingling to mistake him. Although there were some differences in Li Ji’an’s appearance at twenty-five compared to his past life, to someone who hadn’t seen him in a long time, he still bore a resemblance at a glance.

”May I ask if this is Chen Zhaohu, Chen Uncle?” Li Ji’an asked again.

Chen Qingling widened his eyes: ”Who are you? My elder brother is resting inside, what matters do you have?”

Li Ji’an clasped his hands: ”Oh, it’s Little Uncle Chen. My father instructed me to come and see you once I had the ability to consider my actions.”

”Are you... Li Chang’an, Brother Li’s child?” Chen Qingling was stunned, repeatedly sensing Li Ji’an’s magical power aura.

After confirming his identity, Chen Qingling incredulously led Li Ji’an into the house.

Never could he have imagined that Li Ji’an, who had an excellent spirit root and talent in his past life, would have such an outstanding child, who at twenty-something had cultivation equal to his at over sixty, with limitless potential.

Even Chen Zhaohu’s eyes, which had become clouded with age, were about to pop out.

After a round of greetings, Li Ji’an naturally guided the conversation to Chen Qingling’s master, Red Stone Wanderer.

However, Chen Qingling’s next words caused Li Ji’an’s heart to skip a beat.

”Master retreats to closed-door cultivation once every three years. If you want to see him, you probably have to wait until next year.”