Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

”Zheng~” The water droplets in the pond rose, transforming into a thread as thin as a hair, yet emitting a metallic sound.

”Water Spirit Killing Intent!”

”Husband, have you already comprehended the Five Elements Killing Intent?” The woman was utterly shocked.

Liu Jingchun smiled faintly but shook his head, ”Still a bit lacking.”

”We’ll gamble on which side the Celestial Master stands with.”

”What do you think?”

The woman raised her eyes, ”That old thief has devoured over a hundred of his kind, logically there must be hatred, but... it’s hard to ensure he won’t be bewitched by the old thief, or, for the sake of eternal life, willingly collude.”

”Having been in the clan for over a hundred years, most of his prophecies have come true. Ninety years ago, the blood slaves he received were considered extremely ominous by him, just coincidentally proving our plan. After that, the old thief ceased the blood slave acts, turning to use the Yin vein as a source... whether it’s sincerely calculating for the old thief or to protect his comrades, it’s hard to say.” Liu Jingchun squinted his eyes.

The woman said no more, gently leaning into his embrace.

After a long time, the woman suddenly looked at Liu Jingchun with longing, ”Husband, do I have a chance to see that little girl? Does she resemble Yuan Hua? Does she resemble you?”

”I’m afraid not.” Liu Jingchun looked toward the direction of Immortal City, feeling a bit guilty as he spoke.

...

After a while, the woman no longer disturbed Liu Jingchun’s cultivation and went into the house.

Liu Jingchun continued studying the Earth Spirit Scripture.

------------

Li Ji’an took a deep breath, the mist in his mind cleared entirely.

Simultaneously, a bright light flashed in his eyes.

”Ten years?”

In ten years the secret technique cultivated by the Liu Family Ancestor will reach great success, providing the confidence to face the three True Cores of Biyun Sect directly?

In the ’Earth Book,’ linking the earth vein and condensing the spirit vein is the key to its further development!

At that time, I might risk being captured and have my soul searched.

And from Liu Jingchun and his wife’s conversation, Li Ji’an understood, back then when Liu Jingchun asked him to refine the Lifespan Extension Pill, he had already sensed Xiaoqiao’s bloodline.

If Liu Jingchun fails, neither he nor Xiaoqiao can avoid the fate of being soul-searched.

”The Celestial Master is Ning Sujin!”

Standing silently for a moment, Li Ji’an made up his mind.

In the next six months, he turned all the seventeen pieces of late second-tier talisman materials he had accumulated over the years into talismans.

Besides the three excellent late-period lifebound talismans he had nurtured for five years, he now had five additional high-quality late-period talismans, all having the might of a Fake Pill.

Unfortunately, the rate of producing excellent talismans is still too low when drawn with the magical power of the Foundation Establishment 5th Layer.

This is also why he has kept saving them up and didn’t make talismans before.

Later, he used sect contributions to exchange for materials of the Blood Burning Pill and refined two high-quality Blood Burning Pills.

That day, a reply came from the Qin family, which was connected through Elder Tang from the Merit Hall.

”Alchemist Li, Patriarch Qin has agreed, but you’ll need to discuss the details with him personally.”

The Qin family dominates the southwest, and even owns the entire Purple Bamboo Mountain. However, the production of their late second-tier spiritual bamboo is not abundant, and being a prime material for refining top-quality artifacts, it is in short supply. Without the introduction of sect elder-level acquaintances, ordinary people are not even qualified to sit at the table.

”Thank you, Elder Tang!”

Elder Tang nodded pridefully, ”No need to be polite, Alchemist Li, my close friend’s request might depend on you in the future.”

Li Ji’an nodded, his expression unchanged, unaffected by the type of pill his dear friend requested.

It’s merely an unconventional pill to promote the relationship between Dao companions.

He became well-known in the sect for his alchemy skills, especially sought after for some unique and niche pill formulas.

Reportedly, his dear friend, also a female cultivator, focused on cultivation before Core Formation and considered dual cultivation as a side path. After Core Formation, her life with her Dao companion wasn’t very harmonious. Thus, she sought pills and requested confidentiality from the sect.

Half a month later, Li Ji’an set off for the Qin family on Purple Bamboo Mountain in the southwest of Cangyun State.

Compared to the other four families, the Qin family has the widest range of influence. Due to the large size of the ancestral vein in their family, it can fully support the cultivation of clan members. Therefore, the area surrounding the Qin family is mostly occupied by families of different surnames.

The southwest part of Cangyun State has the most cultivation clans.

Less than two months later, Li Ji’an arrived at the Qin Clan Territory.

Since the revival of the spirit vein in Great Marsh Mountain, loose cultivators have significantly decreased in the state, and tribulation cultivators are rarely seen.

At the gate of the Qin Clan Territory, Li Ji’an presented his Biyun Sect honored guest elder identity token.

”So, it’s Alchemist Li visiting. The patriarch has already given orders, please come in.” The commander guarding the gate personally escorted Li Ji’an to the clan hall at the back mountain.

Upon entering the clan hall, the current patriarch of the Qin family had been waiting for a moment.

”I am Qin Songyuan, welcome Alchemist Li to the Qin family, it is a great honor for us. Please take the main seat.” Qin Songyuan, similar in age to Li Ji’an, was amiable and respectful.

Compared to the Liu family whom he visited before, the Qin family’s attitude was much more humble.

It was uncertain if it was due to Li Ji’an’s rising fame in the sect, Elder Tang’s special arrangements, or the family culture of the Qin family.

”Patriarch Qin praises me too much, I am not worthy of such an honor.” Li Ji’an responded politely.

”Haha, let’s not be modest, Alchemist Li, come, try our Purple Heart Tea from Purple Bamboo Mountain.” Qin Songyuan guided Li Ji’an to the main seat and personally poured tea for him.

Li Ji’an raised an eyebrow slightly; Purple Heart Tea is a special product of the southwest of Cangyun State, a Tier Three spirit tea. Even some elders in the sect do not often drink it.

He couldn’t help feeling suspicious, the hospitality seemed unusually high.

Moreover, he had signaled through Elder Tang that he merely wanted to trade for some spirit bamboo.

After some courteous exchanges, Li Ji’an, unable to grasp the connection, steered the conversation toward the trade.

”As you wish, as you wish, how many late second-tier spirit bamboo pieces does Alchemist Li need?” Qin Songyuan responded without hesitation.

”...”

Several pieces?

The high-tier spirit bamboo of the Qin family is usually sold by section, even by piece, and yet the counterpart was offering several pieces so readily?

This made Li Ji’an even more suspicious.

”May I ask how the transaction should proceed?” Li Ji’an inquired again.

Qin Songyuan waved it off, not much concerned: ”Whatever is convenient for Alchemist Li is fine for the transaction.”

”I do have some late-stage second-tier Cloud Ascending Pills and some late Foundation Establishment Breaking Rank Pills,” Li Ji’an probed.

”Then let’s exchange a piece for a late-stage Breaking Rank Pill, how about that?”

Li Ji’an was utterly shocked.

The market price for a late second-tier spirit bamboo piece is at least two late-stage Foundation Establishment Breaking Rank Pills.

After all, Breaking Rank Pills for the Foundation Establishment stage do not guarantee a breakthrough like those of the Qi Cultivation stage; they merely enhance the transformation of liquid magical power to solid state, so they are not that valuable.

The offer was at least fifty percent lower than the market price.

”Patriarch Qin, may I ask why the Qin family is treating me with such generosity?” Li Ji’an is not one to take advantage of small gains nor is he inclined to accept unclear favors.

”Well...” Patriarch Qin smiled awkwardly.

”Ah, frankly speaking, it was instructed by our ancestor.”

”Master Qin?” Li Ji’an was even more puzzled.

His open interactions with Qin Henian had been limited to that auction where Liu Jingchun secretly conveyed a message, only for it to be intercepted by Qin Henian.

In secret, the only other occasion was when he witnessed Qin Henian and Liu Jingchun’s past entanglement from the underground during the withdrawal from the Great Marsh Mountain relic.

”Could it be due to the cause of effect from refining the Lifespan Extension Pill for Liu Jingchun?” Li Ji’an pondered for a moment and concluded this was the only reasonable explanation.

”Master Qin has been so kind, may I express my gratitude to him in person?” Li Ji’an probed.

”It is indeed inconvenient, our ancestor has been at a loss with emotions in recent years, so he cannot entertain guests. I apologize. I will convey your message.” Qin Songyuan politely declined.

In the end, Li Ji’an exchanged a late-stage second-tier Breaking Rank Pill for half a piece of spiritual bamboo.

Then he returned to the outer peaks of Biyun Sect, and over the course of three months, refined the half piece of spiritual bamboo into five pieces of talisman materials.

The spiritual bamboo-based talisman materials are suitable for drawing illusion talismans and talismans associated with Wood Spiritual Mechanism.

Including the special Spirit Awakening Talisman found in the treasure trove of the Yan family, an inheritance of an Ancient Rune Master.

Initially, he wasn’t in a hurry to explore that inheritance of the Rune Master, as it’s predictable that it should contain a Tier Three talisman inheritance.

And currently, his magical power at the Foundation Establishment 5th Layer made it challenging to draw late second-tier talismans, requiring numerous pill medicines for assistance, making Tier Three talismans nearly impossible.

However, with the Liu Family Ancestor’s ten-year retreat approaching, he needed another card up his sleeve.

A Tier Three talisman, comparable to the Early-stage True Core, if crafted into an excellent piece, would have twenty to thirty percent of a Mid-stage True Core’s power, enough to threaten a Fake Pill True Man!