Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

No longer focusing on Gugu, who is currently stabilizing its realm after ascending to Second Tier, Li Ji’an prioritizes picking Xiaoqiao up.

When he first met Granny You, her bone age was already over a hundred. Plus, she had once failed to break through to Foundation Establishment, damaging her foundation, and got injured during the Liu Family’s internal conflict. She was running low on lifespan, and now, having been away for four years, the chances of her return look grim, almost ninety percent likely she won’t come back.

He hasn’t told Xiaoqiao about this situation, but Xiaoqiao has already sensed something over the past few years.

Strictly speaking, Xiaoqiao really only has him as a relative.

”This Cultivation Realm is truly full of wonders, vividly colorful...” Looking at the unconscious girl in his arms and recalling the recent unique might of the earth, Li Ji’an becomes even more expectant of her abilities.

He feeds Xiaoqiao a Calming Pill and carefully places her on the bed before examining the Fire Spirit.

At this moment, within the Dantian, the Fire Spirit appears worn out and has consumed a significant amount.

Sensing with the Divine Soul Seal, confirming that it is merely a temporary over-consumption and not an emptiness, he finally exhales a breath of relief.

Returning to the courtyard, looking at Gugu still covered in blood but in peak condition, Li Ji’an couldn’t help but grit his teeth.

”How come it feels like you’re more of a protagonist than I am?”

The steadfastness, determination, and fearless courage during its recent breakthrough to Second Tier, especially when success seemed impossible and ultimately turned the tide with help from those around - all very much like the protagonist from the novels he used to read.

Comparing his own experiences, Li Ji’an suddenly feels a bit helpless.

Previously, Xiao Changfeng’s mindset and fortune made him feel like the protagonist here.

Now his spirit pet turns out to be the same.

Shaking his head, Li Ji’an releases his Divine Sense, wanting to carefully sense Gugu’s current situation after its Second Tier advancement.

”Huh?” However, upon sensing, he finds that Gugu, having successfully ascended, has restrained its aura, and even with his Divine Sense comparable to a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, he can’t see through it at all.

His Divine Sense sweeps across, but the Gugu clearly before him seems almost intangible.

Especially now that it discards all the bloodstains, its skin blends with the murky pool water, if not for the Spirit Pet Contract’s connection, he would struggle to notice it.

Fortunately, there’s the Spirit Pet Contract, and his Divine Soul is far stronger than Gugu’s. Otherwise, he’d really worry about it devouring its master.

”Gua~” Through sensing its state with the Spirit Pet Contract just now.

Gugu suddenly changes color, then returns to the previous green, grins widely, calls out to Li Ji’an, and suddenly leaps beside Li Ji’an, affectionately rubbing against his arm with its frog head.

After advancing to Second Tier, its body grows slightly larger. Squatting there, it’s already almost as tall as Li Ji’an.

If it continues to ascend a few more times, someone might be able to sit on its back.

Li Ji’an pats its head, filled with emotion. The spirit pet unexpectedly advances before its master.

Judging by Gugu’s Demon Power from its current Demon Core, even his strongest trump card, Tier One Peak Body Cultivator, couldn’t withstand its single strike.

In comparison to the Human Race’s cultivation realm, the transformation between Foundation Establishment Stage and Qi Cultivation Stage is a qualitative change in Dantian Magical Power, with an insurmountable chasm that can’t be bridged by sheer quantity.

Now formally a Second Tier Demon Beast, even with the assistance from Xiaoqiao and the Fire Spirit, Li Ji’an feels that Gugu’s Demon Power from its Demon Core is stronger than ordinary Foundation Establishment Early Period cultivators.

”Go ahead, stabilize well, but don’t let arrogance get to you.” Tossing a Beast Pill to Gugu, Li Ji’an turns back to the Alchemy Room to calm his mind.

”No matter, I will definitely establish my foundation this year!”

Currently, the situation in the Immortal City is clearly evolving, the primary materials for Foundation Establishment Pill won’t be too challenging. He has over five thousand Spirit Stones saved in his Storage Pouch, enough to gather the pill ingredients, possibly more than one portion.

Buying a Second Tier Pill Furnace won’t be an issue either.

Five days later, while Li Ji’an is simulating the refining technique for Foundation Establishment Pill multiple times, his Divine Sense suddenly detects movement from the Divine Sense mark left on Alchemist Mo heading towards outside the city.

This kind of Divine Sense mark is just a small trick by Foundation Establishment cultivators who have refined their Divine Sense, releasing a wisp of Divine Sense to leave a mark on the opponent, only possible if the opponent’s Divine Sense is weaker than its own, otherwise it would be discovered and easily erased.

Moreover, it has time and distance limits. Normal Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators’ Divine Sense marks can last only up to three days, and become ineffective beyond a hundred-yard distance.

”Let’s see if there’s an opportunity.” Li Ji’an puts Gugu in the Spirit Pet Bag, instructs Xiaoqiao not to lightly activate the array, and then disguises himself and chases after them.

Before long, Li Ji’an catches up with Alchemist Mo’s group of four just as they are about to step out of the city gates.

From a distance, Alchemist Mo’s group has even changed into four fierce and menacing rugged cultivators, wearing old and low-tier Magic Robes, each controlling a Magical Artifact that looks sinister.

The cultivators they encounter on the road generally avoid them from afar, as the four of them, with late Qi Cultivation strength, are already considerable in Cangyun State, while most Loose Cultivators remain primarily at early to mid-Qi Cultivation.

The four exit the city and soar southward on their artifacts.

Following the auction event in the Immortal City that has just ended, many cultivators depart daily, with quite a few heading south as well. Li Ji’an disguises as a bearded man and follows from afar.

Occasionally near the Immortal City, patrol cultivators dressed in Golden Splendor Immortal City’s Patrol Guard attire are encountered, providing a degree of trust in the city’s safety for cultivators coming and going.

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However, after only five days, the patrol cultivators were no longer in sight due to a shortage of personnel.

From that time onward, the surrounding cultivators became cautious. They would distance themselves from those who appeared powerful and unscrupulous, and those with lower strength began seeking companions to travel with.

”Fellow Daoist, we are reputable cultivators from the southern Tang Family Stronghold. May we travel together?”

On this day, a Qi Cultivation 5th Layer cultivator with a fair face and no beard, whose bone age was less than thirty, approached from afar.

This surprised Li Ji’an somewhat. He had disguised himself to look rough and fierce, not only to avoid being seen as easy prey by tribulation cultivators but also to avoid unnecessary complications.

Accompanying Alchemist Mo this time, his initial thought was not to take action. He planned to go with the flow and, if there was a chance, help Alchemist Mo fulfill a promise from their past lives.

If there was no opportunity, he wouldn’t force it.

Of course, this was his plan before Gugu’s advancement.

Now, he felt the opportunity was very likely.

To be frank, with the presence of Gugu at the Second Tier, other than a few notable forces in Cangyun State, he feared no one.

Understanding oneself correctly means recognizing one’s weaknesses, staying low-key when necessary, but also acknowledging one’s strengths and maintaining the right mindset.

If someone is clearly strong yet constantly fears, it could be said they do not understand themselves.

”Hmm?” Li Ji’an’s expression darkened as he looked coldly at him.

”Fellow Daoist, please don’t misunderstand. We truly mean no harm. A few days ago, we heard that the area within ten thousand miles ahead might not be very safe. Currently, the Holy Sect is in the Great Marsh Mountains seizing opportunities, unable to maintain the state’s security. Genuine tribulation cultivators have made a comeback, and many powerful amateur tribulation cultivators have appeared. Banding together can provide a bit more safety.” The young man cautiously responded.

”Hmph, aren’t you afraid I might be one of those tribulation cultivators?” Li Ji’an questioned with a raised eyebrow, curious.

The young man chuckled freely: ”Fellow Daoist jests, who dresses like this as a tribulation cultivator?”

”It’s my first time, is that amusing?” Li Ji’an slightly released his pressure.

The young man’s face changed instantly, quickly bowing to apologize: ”Fellow Daoist, please forgive me, I’ll leave immediately.”

After speaking, he hurriedly left.

”Oh?” A few days later, Li Ji’an suddenly noticed that Alchemist Mo’s group, a hundred miles ahead, had stopped. Through the shared vision with Gugu, he clearly saw that the four had changed their appearances again, all turning into young noblemen.

Moreover, the four of them retracted their auras, only releasing magical power at the middle stage of Qi Cultivation.

”Is this... could it be they want to fish for law enforcement?” Li Ji’an looked around at the occasional passing cultivators, guessing the intentions of the four led by Alchemist Mo.

Near the Immortal City, Foundation Establishment cultivators occasionally appeared, as did powerful groups of Qi Cultivation tribulation cultivators, so they avoided being targeted.

And now, far from the northern part of Cangyun State, the overall strength of cultivators had decreased significantly. The strength of those four was already considered top-tier among the returning cultivators.

Wanting to make some extra gains, but fearing they’d be caught by the Law Enforcement Team later, they disguised themselves as fat sheep to attract prey?

”If there is no order, survival of the fittest is the order!” Li Ji’an smiled faintly, continuing to follow from a distance.

Another half-month passed, with the number of accompanying cultivators decreasing after several diversions.

On this day, the four led by Alchemist Mo finally got what they wished for.

A few days before, two Qi Cultivation middle-stage cultivators had flown past Alchemist Mo’s group and now returned somehow gathered with three Qi Cultivation late-stage cultivators, ambushing them on the path the four must take.

The five thought they had ensnared fat sheep, but once they crossed hands, they realized the problem with the other four.

Before they could even beg for mercy, they were swiftly counter-killed and their bodies looted.

Passing cultivators, who witnessed the entire scene, fled in panic, remembered this deeply, and would later include it in their clan hall teachings to warn future generations.

However, just as the passing cultivators were fleeing in panic, Alchemist Mo, who was sorting out the spoils, was suddenly shocked because the aura of the other three disappeared from his sensing in an instant.

At the moment he turned his head, he met Gugu’s long tongue.

”Pfft~” The tongue pierced through the heart.

Alchemist Mo’s pupils dilated, looking incredulously at the frog before him.

Soon after, a familiar figure appeared beside the frog.

”You... you... Xiaoli?” Memories from sixty years ago suddenly surfaced.

The person in front along with this frog was so familiar.

”Alchemist Mo, my father once said you promised to provide me with a great opportunity. I’ve come today to ask you to fulfill that promise.”