Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

The night was dark and the wind was high, the wilderness was silent.

Li Ji’an was flying away with Chen Qingling.

Just as they were about to fly over Qingshui River, his Divine Sense Perception picked up several cultivators fighting fiercely by the riverbank.

The Qingshui River was the Li Family’s most important business in the wilderness, with Spirit Fish farming considered unique to the region, accounting for almost eighty percent of the Li Family’s revenue.

Just as he was about to ignore and fly past, the familiar aura a few miles away along the riverbank caught his attention.

”Zheng Tianxiang?”

This person, with whom he had formed enmity in his past life, Li Ji’an did not deliberately keep it in mind, except that it was destined to be resolved.

Four years ago, when he had just established his foundation, he encountered him by chance. At that time, because he didn’t have the confidence to kill him in one strike, and couldn’t clear his name, easily inviting enmity from the Zheng Family, he chose to let it slide.

After all, although with his current strength and assets, he need not fear the Zheng Family.

But he would experience rejuvenation, and if he encountered someone narrow-minded and vindictive, who would specifically wait for his demise to bully his descendants, it would be like setting a trap for himself.

Therefore, either act silently without leaving any suspicion or eradicate the problem entirely; otherwise, just wait.

And now, the opportunity seemed to have arrived.

”Second Uncle Chen, I need to accelerate through the chaotic area. You go ahead and sleep.” Li Ji’an said with a smile.

”Okay.” Chen Qingling was stunned for a moment, then nodded immediately.

The escape light during the Foundation Establishment Stage was fierce, and flying at full speed was uncomfortable for someone in the middle stage of Qi Cultivation, so it was better to sleep through it. He had already gotten used to it; Red Stone Wanderer often did the same over the years.

”Forgive me!” With a touch of magical power, Li Ji’an put Chen Qingling to sleep.

Then, he called Gugu to swallow him into the universe within its mouth.

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Zheng Tianxiang was hiding behind a large rock, with his Divine Sense fully activated, watching the commotion by the Qingshui River.

Five cultivators in the mid to late stages of Qi Cultivation, recruited from outside, poisoned the Qingshui River but were discovered by the Qingshui River Li Family, and the siege was nearing its end.

All five had Pill Medicines issued by the Zheng Family, making them appear to be Zheng Family cultivators.

But considering that the Zheng Family had just generously given two Spirit Vein Dao Fields to the Four Families and sincerely allied to deal with the Yan Family, there was absolutely no reason for them to do this.

The only explanation was that the Yan Family had framed them, not wanting the Zheng Family and the Four Families Alliance to form an alliance.

This way, the Li Family would have a reason to be pushed to the forefront of the campaign against the Yan Family.

”Whoosh~”

Just as Zheng Tianxiang nodded with satisfaction and was about to leave, the sudden sound of something breaking through the air reached him.

Before he could react, a fleshy tongue struck him.

Boom~

A flash of light from his Dantian, and a Bronze Shield suddenly appeared.

Amidst the sparks flying, Gugu retracted its long tongue and burrowed into the ground.

From a distance, hidden in the darkness, Li Ji’an nodded secretly; having a Lifebound Magical Artifact was indeed a means of saving one’s life.

Just like the Lifebound Talisman he was nurturing, a Magical Artifact could also be nurtured in the Dantian, nourished with one’s own essence blood and Divine Soul. Once a lifebound connection was established, it didn’t require the owner’s magical power to activate it; a mere thought would suffice.

”Humph!” Having been saved by his Lifebound Magical Artifact, Zheng Tianxiang hurriedly released the Body-Protecting Dharma Shield, his expression dark as he sensed his surroundings.

However, he found no suspicious objects within the range of his Divine Sense.

As he felt the Magical Shield he had released, Li Ji’an was a bit surprised. Four years ago, his magical power aura was slightly stronger than his own, given that he had established his foundation decades earlier.

But just four years later, his magical power aura was already inferior to his own.

After Foundation Establishment, the cost of Pill Medicines for daily enhancement cultivation had increased significantly, and with the wilderness turmoil dragging on for so long, every family was depleting their resources, especially since Zheng Tianxiang’s foundation was damaged after Foundation Establishment, his potential exhausted. Perhaps his cultivation in the past years relied only on Spirit Veins.

In this Post-Ancient Era, without the aid of Pill Medicines, relying solely on Spirit Veins, and with only a Middle Grade Spirit Root, it is estimated that it would be impossible for him to breakthrough to the Late Period of Foundation Establishment in his lifetime.

”Swish!” As Zheng Tianxiang was bewildered, Gugu’s fleshy tongue shot up from the ground behind him once more.

”Little beast!” This time, with both the Magical Shield and the Lifebound Magical Artifact providing double protection, Zheng Tianxiang was much bolder. After taking a direct hit, and after the Magical Shield wavered, he wielded a Flying Sword straight towards Gugu’s location underground.

Slash~

However, just as the Flying Sword was released, a bolt of lightning bloomed above his head.

Before he could react, several vine-like lightning flames surged down.

Rumble~

This was a Second Tier Thunder Talisman, which has a restraining effect on Gold Element magical power and artifacts.

The lightning instantly penetrated his Magical Shield, which had already been weakened by half by Gugu.

It then relentlessly struck the Bronze Shield.

Crack~

The Bronze Shield withstood for three breaths before finally making a shattering sound, with cracks rapidly spreading across it.

Fortunately, the thunder and lightning also dissipated into nothingness after three breaths.

”How audacious, you dare to launch a sneak attack, get out here, now!” At the critical moment of life and death, Zheng Tianxiang could no longer care whether he would be discovered by the Qingshui River Li Family; he shouted angrily, mounted his escape light, and attempted to flee.

”Zheng!”

A golden light flickered once more, instantly transforming into a golden cone that shot towards him with an overwhelming force.

”No!” Just as his new magical shield began to form, his lifebound magical artifact was already destroyed, his pupils enlarged, and he yelled in terror and rage.

Boom!

The golden cone easily pierced the shield, tore apart the bronze shield, and then penetrated his chest.

Staring dumbfoundedly downward, he looked at the large hole in his chest, yet he still couldn’t see the culprit.

With a thud, he fell to the ground, dying with his eyes wide open!

Second Tier Attack Talisman... the desert only saw them during the Five Families Alliance a few years ago... Yan Family or Li Family?

He wasn’t sure who it was until his death.

---------

”Hmph! Dare to poison at Qingshui River? Search them, I want to see who dares such an audacious act.” By the Qingshui River, an elder of the Li Family looked ruthlessly at the five corpses on the ground.

Soon, the clan members discovered the Zheng Family’s Pill Medicine on the five corpses.

”Zheng Family? The Zheng Family shows one thing on the surface and does another behind?”

”Foolish! Why would you carry identifiable items when poisoning? The Zheng Family’s willingness to give up two Spirit Veins shows sincerity. Their ancestor is critically ill and no longer the overlord they once were; they need us to help fend off the rising Yan Family.”

”Then it’s the Yan Family trying to frame them! Such malice is punishable!” The Li Family members, believing they had seen through the Yan Family’s plot, were filled with indignation.

Bang~

At this moment, a loud noise was heard in the distance.

Soon after, Zheng Tianxiang’s desperate roar was heard.

”Hmm? More thieves, chase after them!” The Li Family members immediately pursued.

Until they saw Zheng Tianxiang’s corpse, eyes wide open with a large hole in his chest, the Li Family members stood stunned.

”Yan Family... did they capture Young Master Zheng just to frame the Zheng Family?” One member couldn’t process the situation, blurting out.

”Foolish! Zheng Tianxiang is here, which shows these people were under his orders, it’s just… Quickly, fetch the ancestor!”

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A month later, Li Ji’an and Chen Qingling arrived at a mortal town much larger than the desert settlement.

”So similar... really very similar...” Dong Jiangling, 95 years old, stared straight at Li Ji’an’s face, mumbling.

Li Ji’an smiled and cupped his hands: ”How are you, Uncle Dong?”

”Good, good, Senior Li... Please sit.” Dong Jiangling returned to his senses and, extending his single arm, hurriedly ushered Li Ji’an.

Taking Li Ji’an into the courtyard, Dong Jiangling’s old face beamed with a smile, feeling the powerful aura exuding from Li Ji’an.

However, in the end, the dual chasms of status and generation limited their exchange.

”Aunt Cui isn’t here? Aunt Yao asked me to bring her regards.”

”My apologies, Senior Li, Lady Cui is temporarily at Granny Xiaowei’s, she’ll return later.”

After that, Li Ji’an let Chen Qingling talk to Dong Jiangling while he went out alone.

Dong Jiangling and Chen Qingling conversed happily; the seven-year age difference was small. Both were Qi Cultivation Junior Cultivators, had known each other from back then, and Dong Jiangling had almost followed Chen Zhaohu’s path over the years, providing them with many topics in common.

Li Ji’an first walked around the town at random, using his divine sense to encompass the crowd, filtering all information regarding the Liu Family.

There was very little, and the few mentions were filled with gratitude and admiration.

After all, this entire region is under the Liu Family’s control, larger even than the desert, and everyone is considered affiliated with the Liu Family.

Leaving the town, Li Ji’an traveled westward for several hundreds of miles to the Liu Family’s large marketplace—Biluo Marketplace.

The Spirit Vein of Middle Grade, Second Tier, was smaller than Golden Splendor Immortal City in scale, but decent in available goods and resources. It had common Pill Medicine, fine magical artifacts, yet array materials were the most abundant, and there were almost no Second Tier Pill Medicines.

The regulation was quite strict, requiring a Second Tier Array to reveal one’s true form and magical power upon entering the city, and registration was necessary.

”Greetings, Senior. Whatever senior needs, feel free to command.” Walking into a shop of array base materials, the shopkeeper bowed and welcomed him.

”I need some array base materials for a Tier One array,” Li Ji’an ordered, planning to buy some materials for Xiaoqiao, who had exceptional talent in the way of arrays.

”Could I ask which type of array materials senior requires?” The shopkeeper, a plump middle-aged man with a joyful smile, asked.

”Illusion Array, Restriction Array, Shielding Array, Defense Array, three sets of each.”

An array utilizes the rules of heaven and earth, akin to how a talisman manifests these rules partially. A Tier One array can utilize limited earth and heaven rules, almost without attack effect. To achieve an attack array or Killing Array, at least a Second Tier Array is needed to connect with the Five Elements Killing Intent, and a Tier Three can connect with the earth’s killing intent.

Though Li Ji’an holds Xiaoqiao’s talent in arrays in high regard, her cultivation progress is too slow. If she doesn’t successfully establish a foundation, her divine soul might not suffice, making it difficult to advance as a Second Tier Array Master in this life.

The strength of divine soul required by an Array Master exceeds that needed for talismen.

Unless she acquires a soul cultivation secret method.