Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 353: Chapter 5: Black Water Swamp_2

”Hahaha, welcome True Man to join us. Please wait here for a moment while I contact the others to gather. Once everything is ready, we will set off immediately. The sooner, the better, as delays may cause changes,” Wu Weixiong laughed heartily.

Li Ji’an nodded in agreement.

Subsequently, Wu Weixiong left the chamber, and Gao Yang took out a Communication Talisman to summon the team.

Half an hour later, as footsteps echoed outside, Li Ji’an, upon sensing those who arrived, raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

”Hahaha, Master Niu, please come in. With the help of two True Men here, alongside this formation genius, and my spirit pet adding some strength, complemented by these Breaking Ban Talismans, there should be no problem,” Wu Weixiong said, leading a group inside.

Among them were four members of Gao Yang’s team, one in the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and three in the Early Period.

Additionally, there was Qin Henian and Xiaoqiao behind him!

Of course, all of them were disguised.

Li Ji’an had somewhat anticipated Qin Henian’s appearance.

A year ago, during his own Core Formation celebration, Qin Henian had expressed his distress over raising the Core Formation Spirit Treasures for Qin Chuan. The Sect’s strict control made it hard to fulfill these wishes within the region.

Apart from relying on the Si Shui Commerce Association, he had no choice but to explore and look for opportunities himself.

As for Xiaoqiao... presenting as a formation genius was quite reasonable.

”Had I known Xiaoqiao was here, I would have taken her to the Blind Building!” Li Ji’an mused to himself.

”Greetings, Senior.” The four members of Gao Yang’s team hurriedly saluted Li Ji’an.

Qin Henian’s scrutinizing gaze fell on Li Ji’an, his face expressionless, ”How should I address this Daoist friend?”

”My surname is Huang,” Li Ji’an smiled slightly.

”Hmm.” Qin Henian nodded, considering the greeting was complete.

”Xiaowu, has this True Man Huang signed the Blood Contract?” Qin Henian then asked Wu Weixiong.

”Reporting to Master Niu, True Man Huang is about to sign it,” Wu Weixiong responded with a smile, handing a gold-foil page to Li Ji’an.

”If it is inconvenient for True Man Huang, we can step outside, as long as Xiaowu confirms it’s signed,” Qin Henian suggested, trying to offer a solution.

When signing a Blood Contract, one’s own essence blood is needed to be preserved, and in that moment, regardless of any Disguise Technique, one’s true appearance would instantly reveal.

Preventing himself from being schemed by True Man Fu of the Fiery Sun Sect, Qin Henian had to obscure his true identity. Only Wu Weixiong knew his real identity, and Wu Weixiong had taken a Great Heart Demon Oath not to reveal it.

”No problem!” Li Ji’an smiled slightly, his Divine Sense activating the Essence Blood of Huang Jie within the Faceless Mask.

However, he chose only the essence blood and appearance, not selecting the magical power aura and Divine Soul aura.

”Swoosh~” In an instant, Li Ji’an’s face wavered, and a ripple passed through before revealing the appearance of Huang Jie.

After signing the Blood Contract with Huang Jie’s essence blood, Li Ji’an decided to continue using Huang Jie’s appearance, even changing his magical power aura to match Huang Jie’s aura.

”Fellow Daoist Huang is forthright!” Qin Henian was somewhat surprised.

It wasn’t just the genuine appearance that was revealed, but the fact that he couldn’t sense the slightest fluctuation of Disguise Technique or Concealing Breath Technique.

This was enough to demonstrate that his Divine Sense was much higher.

Yet not long ago, the magical power aura was clearly at the Fake Pill Realm.

”Could it be some kind of Divine Soul Secret Treasure?” He speculated further.

”Good! To avoid complicating things with delays, I suggest we set out immediately...” Wu Weixiong said, taking out ten Second Tier Breaking Ban Talismans, and then explained the details of the opportunity and division of labor, openly discussing the distribution.

Li Ji’an had no objections to this, except for the promise to Zhu Qi, to ensure her safe departure from here.

He also openly stated this intention.

The others didn’t think much of it and instead praised Li Ji’an for his integrity, eventually agreeing that she could leave with them. Once within the Celestial Origin Province’s borders, she would be free to go.

This met Li Ji’an’s commitment to her.

That evening, a group of nine exited the Spirit Village Mansion.

Afterward, Li Ji’an sent a message to Zhu Qi without saying much, simply taking her away.

Zhu Qi gladly accepted, particularly with Wu Weixiong, the madman, leading, she felt more assured.

A half-month later, the group of ten left the Great Marsh Mountain range, where Zhu Qi expressed her gratitude before leaving.

Two months later, Qin Henian’s expertly controlled flying boat swiftly reached the western edge of the Celestial Origin Province at the Black Water Swamp.

Unlike the Desert of Fallen Dragon Ridge, the Black Water Swamp was indeed a Spirit Starved Land. Cultivators here couldn’t absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi for cultivation, and those with insufficient cultivation risked their realm declining if they couldn’t replenish with Spirit Pills over time. Yet, it was a place to which cultivators flocked.

Approaching the Black Water Swamp, Li Ji’an’s group encountered no less than a hundred people.

Most of them, like them, traveled in groups.

Moreover, many belonged to the Sect members.

The Qingmen Sect was only a few thousand miles away, arriving in a few days, considered a local Sect. They once attempted to claim and monopolize the area.

Ultimately, interference from the Ten Thousand Laws Palace and other Three Sects within the province forced them to abandon the effort.

However, they never ceased their excavation of the site.

Nevertheless, the Black Water Swamp was vast, and inner toxic mists obstructed Divine Sense. Even if the Qingmen Sect wished to encircle it, it would be nearly impossible.

”We’ll enter from here, heading north to the Qingmen Sect’s stronghold. They do not allow loose cultivators to approach,” Gao Yang began taking the lead once they reached the Black Water Swamp’s border.

”Just as recorded!” Li Ji’an stood by the swamp’s edge, observing the increasingly dense black mist inside, nodding silently.

This place was not an endlessly extending swamp but rather seemed as if it had a Barrier.