Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

”Boom!”

In Gugu’s view, Red Stone Wanderer’s punch shattered the rock, forcing out a small beast cloaked in golden armor from the chaotic pile of stones.

”Sss~” The Golden Armored Beast bared its teeth, shooting a beam of golden light from its mouth.

Red Stone Wanderer, seeing the golden light approaching, didn’t retreat but advanced, using his Body-Protecting Dharma Shield to confront it.

”Zheng~” Instantly, a flash of fire rose, pushing Red Stone Wanderer back three steps.

However, before he could steady himself, Red Stone Wanderer flew up again, both fists aiming directly at the face of the Golden Armored Beast.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

The Golden Armored Beast’s body instantly swelled several times, with its golden armor flipping outward, resembling sharp blades.

...

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, Li Ji’an would never have believed that such loyalty existed in the Cultivation Realm.

Just separated not long ago, Red Stone Wanderer transmitted news of the discovery, and Li Ji’an immediately had Gugu follow him, also instructing Red Stone Wanderer to try to keep it.

Thus unfolded this scene.

His full effort, absolutely not pretending.

Every strike seemed to be made with full force, the most crucial being a certain flavor of selfless dedication.

This truly refreshed Li Ji’an’s understanding of the Cultivation Realm in over seventy years of arriving in the Cultivation Realm.

”Or perhaps, he cares too much about the Breaking Ban Talisman?” If he hadn’t been unable to overpower Red Stone Wanderer due to strength, he would have thought to sincerely trade the Cultivation Technique.

”This person is also a Body Cultivator! And a Second Tier Body Cultivator at that. Could it be that he hasn’t studied any Magic Techniques?” Upon flying over, Li Ji’an noticed him still using his physique to battle the Golden Armored Beast, arousing suspicion once more.

”Taoist Friend Red Stone, such righteousness, I’ve come!” But there was no time for other thoughts at the moment, Li immediately formed techniques with both hands.

Swipe~

A blade of fire light slashed towards the Golden Armored Beast.

”Squeak~” The Golden Armored Beast, held in check by Red Stone Wanderer, had no power to evade and took a hit directly, its golden armor turning crimson, letting out a painful howl.

At the same time, it resentfully turned its head to glance at Li Ji’an.

But before it could attack Li Ji’an, Red Stone Wanderer pressed forward again.

With Red Stone Wanderer resisting at the front, Li Ji’an from afar released Magic Techniques from the air, they actually coordinated quite well.

In no time, under the dual assault of body and technique, the Golden Armored Beast was barely withstanding.

Squeak~

Once more hit by Li Ji’an’s Blast Flame Slash, in an instant of distraction, Red Stone Wanderer seized the opportunity to deliver a punch.

Blood spurted instantly, exploding with a miserable howl.

”Got it!” Joy flashed in Li Ji’an’s heart.

An early period Second Tier Demon Beast, especially known for strong defense like the Golden Armored Beast; his magical attacks couldn’t harm its vital parts now.

This clearly demonstrated the power of Red Stone Wanderer’s body cultivation.

Boom!

As Red Stone Wanderer was about to deliver another hit, the Golden Armored Beast’s form suddenly expanded, followed by an explosive sound.

In an instant, countless golden armor fragments shot out with the roaring sound of wind blades.

Feeling its power, Li Ji’an’s face changed, urgently activating a Tier Two Golden Bell Talisman.

Buzz~ A golden clock image appeared, completely enveloping Li Ji’an within.

The shooting golden armor then struck the golden clock image, causing it to illuminate and dim within just three breaths, the golden bell light dissipated.

Fortunately, by this moment, he had already evaded the strongest assault of the golden armor blades.

”Nearly approaching the momentum of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!” Li Ji’an felt quite amazed, as he specifically researched this kind of demon beast’s demon core for his Body Cultivation Technique.

Never had he known the Golden Armored Beast possessed such a lethal move.

”It must be a Mutated Talent Divine Abilities!” The danger of demon beasts in this realm lies precisely in this, unless one has strength a small realm higher than the target, it’s impossible to ensure a kill.

Because demon beasts might awaken or mutate Bloodline Divine Abilities during ascension or under certain stimuli, upon swallowing certain Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects.

Without warning, one easily falls into a trap.

”Taoist Friend Red Stone!”

After the shocking change, the Golden Armored Beast stripped of its golden armor burrowed into the underground chaotic rocks, while Red Stone Wanderer, disregarding the metallic armor embedded deep in his flesh, continued pursuing it.

Li Ji’an sensed the power from such a far distance already so fierce; Red Stone Wanderer at almost zero distance, the injury he endured must’ve been imaginable.

At this moment, Li Ji’an clearly saw Red Stone Wanerer’s body covered with metallic armor, almost piercing three inches into the flesh.

Yet Red Stone Wanderer seemed oblivious and continued to chase the Golden Armored Beast.

This scene left Li Ji’an utterly bewildered.

Apart from believing his urgent desire for the Breaking Ban Talisman with determination to obtain it, he couldn’t think of any other reason.

Even his intention to let Gugu take action was slightly relaxed.

Red Stone Wanderer’s action was too abnormal, mainly because his power made Li Ji’an feel threatened, he had to hold back to prepare for any contingencies.

Moreover, at this point, the Golden Armored Beast had lost its golden armor, and with Gugu’s Earth Escape Technique, it could not escape.

He mainly wanted to see Red Stone Wanderer’s purpose after all.

Also, judging from the struggle battle situation witnessed just now, his attacking skills were skillful, fearlessly reckless, completely unlike the records indicating he had never engaged in combat with others.

This time, Li Ji’an intentionally widened the distance from Red Stone Warer, trailing far behind.

On the way, Red Stone Wanderer’s attack power broke the charts, as he blasted boulders all along the way, chasing the Golden Armored Beast into a sorry state.

After chasing for hundreds of miles, the Golden Armored Beast finally reached the end of its strength and was about to be captured by Red Stone Wanderer at any moment.

”Halt!”

Suddenly, a figure flew out from the stone wall ahead, glaring fiercely at the approaching Red Stone Wanderer and the Li Ji’an following behind.

”Fellow Daoists, please stop; the area ahead is what we discovered first.” Upon seeing the two clearly and sensing their auras, the person’s demeanor promptly changed, retracting the fierce expression in his eyes.

”Please, help us stop that little beast!” Red Stone Wanderer hastily shouted.

The man glanced at the Golden Armored Beast, now covered in blood after emerging from the rubble, and cast a technique. A giant yellow mud hand suddenly emerged from the ground and grabbed the Golden Armored Beast.

”Thank you, Fellow Daoist!” Red Stone Wanderer quickly stepped forward and removed the Golden Armored Beast from the yellow mud hand.

The cultivator did not make any other moves.

Li Ji’an scanned the area with his divine sense from a distance; it was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a slightly weaker magical power aura than his own.

”Fellow Daoist Li, mission accomplished!” Red Stone Wanderer approached with the dying Golden Armored Beast.

”Taoist Friend Red Stone, you’ve worked hard.” Li Ji’an used magical power to take the Golden Armored Beast from afar and casually threw it into the storage pouch, his divine sense always watching Red Stone Wanderer.

At this moment, he noticed that Red Stone Wanderer had withdrawn from the previous fervent state, once again reverting to the sloppy daoist appearance he had before, with a gentle face.

Only the embedded golden armor all over his body testified to his earlier bravery.

Seeing that nothing unexpected had happened, Li Ji’an hesitated for a moment before transmitting a message, ”Thank you, Taoist Friend Red Stone, wealth should not be shown. I’ll give you the Breaking Ban Talisman once we leave this place.”

Red Stone Daoist agreed to the message, expressing trust in Fellow Daoist Li.

”Fellow Daoists, please wait!” Just as the two were about to leave, another person flew out from behind the stone wall.

”Big brother.” The previous Foundation Establishment cultivator shouted.

”May I ask if this is Taoist Friend Red Stone?” The cultivator referred to as big brother cupped his fists from afar.

Sensing this person’s cultivation as Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Li Ji’an secretly felt for his Teleportation Talisman.

Red Stone Wanderer, however, greeted the other party without any defense, openly saying, ”It is indeed I, this humble daoist, greets Fellow Daoists.”

”Haha, pleased to meet you, I’m Yuan Zheng, and this is my second brother, Pan Lun. I’ve long admired your name, Fellow Daoist, and it’s a great fortune to finally meet you today.” Yuan Zheng laughed heartily as he approached.

”Pleased to meet you.” Red Stone Wanderer, as he had been when he first met Li Ji’an, was very agreeable.

”It’s not easy to meet you, Fellow Daoist, so I won’t beat around the bush. My brothers and I, four in total, have gathered at Tiger’s Mouth Stream with grand ambitions, and we sincerely invite loose cultivators from all over the world to join us in great undertakings.” Yuan Zheng said straightforwardly.

Upon hearing this, Li Ji’an’s eyebrows lightly twitched.

Tiger’s Mouth Stream was precisely the family territory annexed by the Zheng Family some time ago, under which there was a middle-grade second-tier spirit vein, later occupied by roving bandits from the Celestial Origin Province, which they used as a base to contend in the desert.

Unexpectedly, today he met the leaders of that gang of roving bandits.

”Fellow Daoist flatters me; this humble daoist still needs to explore the burial grounds and cannot join.” Red Stone Wanderer said earnestly.

Yuan Zheng sighed slightly, ”Taoist Friend Red Stone, in such a world, it’s hard for loose cultivators; if we don’t stick together, there’s really no hope.”

Seeing that Red Stone Wanderer’s expression remained unchanged, he added, ”Taoist Friend Red Stone, I’m not one for pretense. To be honest, my brothers and I have great ambitions, and we aim to unite the desert. By then, the eight second-tier spirit veins can be linked with an array to form a third-tier spirit vein dao field suitable for Core Formation...”

No matter how Yuan Zheng persuaded, Red Stone Wanderer always looked gentle, showing no signs of being moved.

Until the last moment when Yuan Zheng was about to give up,

Red Stone Wanderer’s expression suddenly became stern.

”There’s corpse qi!”

”Hmm?” Yuan Zheng and Pan Lun exchanged a glance immediately.

Before they could react, they saw that Red Stone Wanderer had already taken out an old compass, his steps changing unpredictably, acting mysteriously.

Yuan Zheng paused slightly, then suddenly realized, ”I almost forgot the legends about Taoist Friend Red Stone. To be honest, my brothers recently discovered a Yin Vein here, and after much planning, we’re about to break the restriction. Since fate has brought us together today, why not collaborate to break the restriction, and I’m willing to share what lies within with you two.”

As Yuan Zheng spoke, he glanced at Li Ji’an, who was not far away.

”Good, good, this humble daoist will do my utmost.” Red Stone Wanderer’s eyes shone with brilliance.

”May I know your name, Fellow Daoist?” Yuan Zheng looked at Li Ji’an.

”I am Li, just a loose cultivator with shallow cultivation; I won’t interfere with you all enjoying your fortune.” Li Ji’an decisively refused without any hesitation, and also transmitted a message to the Red Stone Wanderer.

Red Stone Wanderer, however, was determined to explore the tombs.

”Farewell!” Li Ji’an did not linger and turned to leave.

Yuan Zheng frowned slightly but ultimately did not force him.

Soon, Li Ji’an, who had already escaped a thousand miles away, stood atop an ancient tree, his divine sense fully open to guard the surroundings while sharing his vision with Gugu.

In his vision was a deep underground cave with dense Yin Fiend and chilling coldness.

Yuan Zheng and the other two were working together to break through a layer of restriction.

Seeing Red Stone Wanderer still focused, Li Ji’an was increasingly puzzled.

He had also checked multiple times along the way, and there were no signs of marking techniques.

”Could Taoist Friend Red Stone truly be a sincere person?”

Rumble!

Suddenly, at the moment the three broke the restriction, there was a loud boom in the cave.

Then, the Yin Fiend surged and gushed forth.

Amidst the dense Yin Fiend, a decayed golden light flashed and instantly appeared in front of the three.

With just one look, Li Ji’an immediately recalled Gugu and accelerated towards the exit of Fallen Dragon Ridge without looking back.