Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

”Clang!”

In the next moment, Gugu’s tongue struck a bronze giant shield in front of Tong Liang, producing a deep resounding sound.

”Second tier mid-stage Copper Shield Talisman!” Li Ji’an nodded secretly.

No wonder he can roam freely outside despite his status in the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, without a guardian protecting him in secret.

With a second tier mid-stage Spirit Talisman by his side, even if he encounters the top Core Formation Ascendants in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, there’s hope for escape. Moreover, there are very few Core Formation Ascendants in the entire domain, and they wouldn’t bully someone younger.

Li Ji’an wasn’t surprised that he carried a second tier mid-stage Spirit Talisman.

It would be strange if he didn’t have such a life-saving trump card.

Furthermore, given the financial resources of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, the reason Tong Liang only has a second tier mid-stage Spirit Talisman is because, in terms of his Magical Power and Divine Soul, it’s the upper limit he can normally activate.

Otherwise, Li Ji’an has no doubt that the association could equip Tong Liang with a tier four Spirit Talisman.

Having failed to achieve success with one strike, Gugu’s eyes narrowed, feeling like he let down Li Ji’an’s expectations and his identity as a Tier Three Great Demon.

”Gua~” In a flash of rage, he attacked Tong Liang with full force without holding back.

In the next moment, the scene shook with mountain-rocking force, and dust flew everywhere.

Li Ji’an’s Divine Sense contained the entire battlefield, not joining Gugu in battle yet.

He was partly curious about Gugu’s true strength now, but also because the current situation was beyond his qualifications to intervene.

Although Gugu had recently formed his Demon Pill, his strength was clearly superior to the early-stage human Core Formation cultivators, and not far behind Fu Xiaochen, whom Li Ji’an had killed at the peak of early-stage True Core.

In addition to having Golden Core Dao Charm enhancing his Demon Pill, his Demon Power was purer, due to the Heaven and Earth Laws making demon beasts naturally stronger than human cultivators.

Similarly, Tong Liang’s full force magical combat with Gugu was remarkable mainly due to his trump cards.

In addition to possessing Spirit Talismans comparable to mid-stage True Core, he had several Pill Medicines that enhanced potential, and mysterious treasures of Divine Abilities.

This made Li Ji’an realize the profound resources of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

”Huh?” Just as he was preparing to act quickly to resolve Tong Liang, Li Ji’an noticed an anomaly with Gugu.

He saw that Gugu, who was equally matching Tong Liang, suddenly changed color again, his Demon Power surged and then vanished.

Despite this, Li Ji’an clearly sensed that he was now beneath Tong Liang, and his once-clear large eyes had slowly rotating pupils.

”Is this... Illusion Eye?” Li Ji’an suddenly recalled the scene when he had slain the Illusory Moon Glaze Snake in the Black Water Swamp to forge the second Sacred Beast Pill for Gugu’s bloodline transformation.

At that time, even with Fake Pill cultivation and peak early-stage True Core Divine Sense, he unknowingly fell to the snake’s Illusion Technique.

Later, when he harvested the snake’s Demon Core, the spinning emerald green pupils in the Illusory Phantom Forest made him terribly frightened.

”Could it be that the Illusion Technique of that Illusory Moon Glaze Snake awakened in Gugu upon reaching tier three?”

Once processed quickly, Li Ji’an rejoiced.

Back when the Illusory Moon Glaze Snake was tier two, it could bewilder him with peak early-stage True Core Divine Sense. Now that Gugu is a tier three Great Demon, his ability to enchant might even affect mid-stage Core Formation Divine Sense.

Li Ji’an halted and calmly observed Gugu’s Illusion Technique ability.

Moments later, Li Ji’an’s brow furrowed slightly.

He noticed this newly awakened talent Divine Ability of Gugu has a downside, it’s too prolonged.

If it truly encountered an opponent intent on escaping, before the Illusion Technique was fully deployed, they’d be long gone.

Right now, however, Tong Liang was focused on subduing Gugu, unable to sense his location, remaining on guard.

After waiting for quite some time and impatiently, Li Ji’an finally noticed a reaction from Tong Liang.

”Remarkable, my mid-stage True Core peak Divine Sense couldn’t detect any abnormal Divine Soul fluctuations.” Li Ji’an had attentively sensed for any Divine Soul anomaly from Gugu’s Illusion Technique, but found none.

Thus it seems, Gugu’s newly awakened Illusion Technique ability holds high potential.

”Or maybe this technique is unrelated to the target’s Divine Soul strength, and instead tied to willpower?” Li Ji’an has no definite conclusion yet.

”Hahaha~”

Just then, Tong Liang, who already showed signs of reaction, completely fell into an illusion realm, starting to laugh triumphantly.

”Reward, everything will reward, as president, I will ensure no commerce association suffers losses.”

”Starting today, my business alliance forces will march forward, swearing to transform the eastern Great Marsh into a prosperous trading haven...”

”Hahaha, grand-aunt, don’t rush, your grandson will soon attend to you.”

”Grand-aunt, do you know, your grandson has enjoyed beauties from the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain Fairy List but missed you, do you know how regretful your grandson is?”

”Grand-aunt, they rank you third on the Fairy List, but in my heart, you are absolutely the top...”

...

Seeing Tong Liang’s innermost desires being drawn out, Li Ji’an frowned slightly.

His urge to colonize the east was merely fantasy, destined to fail.

However, his thoughts towards his grand-aunt from the Tong Family made Li Ji’an uncomfortable.

Because currently ranked third on the Fairy List is Tong Yaoyao.