Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Arriving at the frontline garrison, Li Ji’an paused briefly.

The leader here was a Foundation Establishment Early Period cultivator of the Sect, who, after verifying Li Ji’an’s waist token, had a favorable attitude.

After all, those patrolling here might not have high cultivation, but their backgrounds were certainly significant.

After Li Ji’an and Yan Qing walked a distance, Li Ji’an asked, ”Brother Qing, where is Aunt?”

Yan Qing felt pressure upon hearing this, as Li Ji’an in his eyes was truly unusual—a proper Foundation Establishment Ancestor still addressing him as usual, but he dared not overstep: ”In response to the senior, Ancestor Qingwan is on the northern frontline.”

”Frontline?” Li Ji’an slightly furrowed his brow.

However, he swiftly realized that if Yan Qingwan were not on the frontlines, it would be impossible for the Yan Family members to be stationed in such a safe place.

The family cultivators of Cangyun State were ultimately restricted by the Sect and had little room for negotiation.

”Hmm, you must also stay safe here.” Li Ji’an advised.

”Yes.”

”By the way, how is Uncle Zhang?” Before leaving, Li Ji’an asked again.

Calculating the time, among the five of them who entered the Cultivation Realm together, the youngest, Zhang Tiezhu, would be reaching a hundred years in two years.

”Father... everything else is good, but because of my failures a few years ago, I let down the senior who obtained the Foundation Establishment opportunity for me, which made Father want to take risks to secure a chance for me to establish a foundation. Thus, in recent years, he has been somewhat extreme, often venturing into Fallen Dragon Ridge to try his luck,” Yan Qing said, embarrassed.

Li Ji’an chuckled.

Among these five, except for himself, they were all ambitious and courageous; Zhang Tiezhu progressed the quickest through family military achievements in his youth.

Yet eventually, due to lack of talent, his path was cut off.

Now even in old age, he still wishes to fight once more for his son.

Besides treasure hunting and trying his luck, there isn’t much else suitable for him.

However, with his Qi Cultivation Middle Stage, a lifespan of a hundred and two, plus the Qi Blood Pill Li Ji’an gifted earlier, he could still hang on for about ten more years, probably wouldn’t last past a hundred and ten.

”Does Uncle Zhang know Feng Shui and Geomancy? Can’t truly rely merely on luck?” Li Ji’an asked with a smile.

Yan Qing laughed awkwardly: ”Father was fortunate to meet Senior Red Stone in previous years, learned a bit.”

”Hmm?” Li Ji’an suddenly paused.

”When did Uncle Zhang meet Red Stone Wanderer?” Eight years ago, through Gugu’s view, witnessing Red Stone Wanderer’s group being captured by decaying monsters emerging from Yin Fiend aura, he decisively fled.

Later, learning that the soul tokens of those two roving bandits had shattered, with their deaths confirmed, and waiting several days without news of Red Stone Wanderer, assuming he too had met his end.

”Exactly a year before we were summoned by the Sect.” Yan Qing asserted.

Upon hearing this, Li Ji’an was instantly delighted.

In this life, having reached Foundation Establishment, compared to Xiao Changfeng and Jiang Yunzhou’s sect cultivators, his greatest deficiency was in the quality of his Cultivation Technique. Despite using an Upper Grade Foundation Establishment Pill to lay a robust foundation at the time, his initial Foundation Establishment magical power was stronger than Yan Qingwan and Xiao Changfeng’s.

Yet gradually, he discovered this Cultivation Technique was inefficient; the magical power refined during Foundation Establishment Stage was also weaker.

Even the critical skill of talisman-making was hindered by insufficient magical power.

Thus, for the next life, his greatest anticipation is to study a better Cultivation Technique.

Presently, recognizing the prospect, aside from joining a Sect, only Red Stone Wanderer’s Cultivation Technique could satisfy his needs for the next life.

”Hmm, I’m leaving now.” Li Ji’an, in high spirits.

”Sending off the senior.”

After completing this search here, he temporarily abandoned this area, ordering Gugu to expand its search area; however, because of patrol restrictions, he himself couldn’t leave this region.

Gugu, as a Second Tier Spirit Beast, also possessing an Earth Escape talent, critically possessing mutated Soul Shield characteristics and color-changing Concealing Divine Abilities, as long as it didn’t wander into core relics or approach Core Formation True Men, the chance of being discovered was almost zero.

In the ensuing period, Gugu began to frolic in the area outside the relic.

Initially, it only explored the southern area, subsequently testing the waters further north.

During one instance, it coincidentally encountered a Fake Pill Elder; Gugu cautiously approached until being ten zhang underground from the opponent, yet the opponent remained entirely unaware. Ten zhang wasn’t the limit, just Li Ji’an not wanting to risk further.

After that, Gugu became more audacious.

Finally, half a month later, through Gugu’s vision, Li Ji’an saw Yan Qingwan in her elegant, immortal demeanor.

This was the main passage from Celestial Origin Province and Dao Source State to Cangyun State, now blocked by a newly discovered relic by Biyun Sect.

Truly the frontline battlefield.

Gugu concealed itself within a distant dirt mound, peeking out to observe.

Luckily, Li Ji’an saw that Yan Qingwan was in favorable condition.

Nonetheless, the situation appeared somewhat tense, on the verge of conflict.

Outside Biyun Sect’s magical barrier, numerous cultivators were in confrontation.

Meanwhile, on Yan Qingwan’s side, Sect Disciples comprised half, the rest were family cultivators.

At the forefront was a Sect’s True Pill Elder, behind him were the Fake Pill Ancestors of four great families, Yan Qingwan standing in the fourth row, positioned towards the flank, facilitating evasion regarding the front fires.

”Our Fiery Sun Sect’s three Inner Sect Disciples died at the hands of your Biyun Sect. Today, you must account!” Outside the barrier, Fiery Sun Sect’s True Pill Elder’s face darkened, adopting a posture ready for action at any disagreement.

”Indeed! Our Dongli Sect also lost five Inner Sect Disciples to you. If no explanation is provided, how will we face our disciples in the future?” A Dongli Sect Elder, stirred with righteous indignation.

Subsequently, Qingmen Sect and Glazed Sect applied similar pressure on Biyun Sect.

In the Celestial Cyan Domain’s Three States, because of Great Marsh Mountain range isolation, Cangyun State remained to the south, further encircled by Storm Desert Desolate Land to the southernmost, Flame Mountain Forbidden Land to the east, and the Boundless Desolate Spirit Land to the west, forming an independent state territory.

To the north of Great Marsh Mountain, lies the core state of Celestial Cyan Domain, Celestial Origin Province.

Celestial Origin Province hosts a Tier Four Spirit Vein Dao Field, birthing the Nascent Soul level power, Ten Thousand Laws Palace, ruling over Celestial Cyan Domain.

Beneath it, four Tier Three Upper Grade Spirit Vein Dao Fields have emerged, birthing four Core Formation Late Period Sect powers, divided across various regions.

In the east of Celestial Origin Province lies the neighboring Dao Source State.

Within Dao Source State are two Tier Three Upper Grade Spirit Vein Dao Fields, birthing a Sword Sect and a Celestial Sound Pavilion, forming two Core Formation powers and several Tier Three Early Period Spirit Vein Dao Field’s Core Formation families.

At this moment, aside from Ten Thousand Laws Palace, the four major sects of Celestial Origin Province gathered, their reasons remarkably consistent.

Meanwhile, the two sects of Dao Source State remained relatively silent, merely siding with the four major sects without finding excuses.

From the rear, Li Ji’an witnessed this scene, sighing inwardly that these individuals hardly bothered to search for plausible reasons, clearly intent on cornering Biyun Sect.

It seemed even the sects from the Outer States recognized the intentions of Biyun Sect’s current ruler, utterly unconcerned with their potential for mutual destruction.

Initial the righteous clamoring, threats, intimidation...

But they certainly wouldn’t genuinely engage in battle.

If they indeed acted, how could Biyun Sect withstand the combination of major sects?

Yet, other sects knew, Ten Thousand Laws Palace wouldn’t permit disruption of the balance within Celestial Cyan Domain either.

If these major sects truly allied, Ten Thousand Laws Palace wouldn’t remain idle.

Ultimately, it was bound to condense the great conflict into minor disputes, converting diplomatic combatants into negotiations.

Before long, both parties reached consensus, agreeing to allow sect disciples to engage in magical combat.

Some young disciples witnessing this even believed both sides aimed to resolve the conflict through disciple magical combat.

Li Ji’an understood that at this moment, Biyun Sect had already admitted defeat; agreeing to disciple combat was merely stepping off the stage gracefully.

The result of disciple magical combat wouldn’t impact the ultimate outcome, which was predetermined the moment the Upper Three Grades magical treasure’s phenomenon appeared.

Nonetheless, disciple victories and defeats did carry some weight regarding sect dignity and bargaining leverage during negotiations.

”Fiery Sun Sect’s True Inheritor, Fu Hanxing, here to seek guidance!”

”As expected!”

”Biyun Sect’s True Inheritor, Jiang Yunzhou, please enlighten me!”