Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Dealing with a prodigy like Tong Liang, who was wealthy beyond imagination, Li Ji’an never intended to confront him head-on.

Facts also proved that even if he teamed up with Gugu, with the numerous protective treasures on Tong Liang, it was impossible to slay him.

Furthermore, there must be some kind of antidote treasure on him.

Therefore, from the beginning, he chose the most hidden poison prepared in his previous life, ”Purple Vine Immortal.”

This poison was concocted during his Fake Pill cultivation in his previous life. Its toxicity was not as strong as typical Tier Three poisons, but its concealment was exceptional, blending seamlessly with ambient Spiritual Qi. He tested it with Biyun Sect’s top-notch antidote jade and found no reaction.

The only flaw was the lengthy activation time.

Its advantages were abundant, allowing for a kill without being traced, and it wouldn’t even trigger his Soul Jade.

Confirming that his vitality had vanished, Li Ji’an then unleashed a Thunder Fire to extinguish his scattered Divine Soul, finally letting Gugu step forward to inspect.

His Soul Jade had not been activated, and there was a passive protective Shining Silver Mirror at his heart, surprisingly an Eighth Grade protective magical treasure.

Worldly magical treasures mainly focus on offense and control, occasionally integrating both. A purely passive defensive magical treasure like this was something Li Ji’an had never seen before.

Its scarcity and value surpassed those of offensive magical treasures.

A quick test, and Li Ji’an was overjoyed to find that this magical treasure did not require active activation.

As long as the attack posed a risk to the Dharma Body, it would automatically provide full defense equivalent to the Early-stage True Core power of an Eighth Grade magical treasure.

With Li Ji’an’s current magical power, activating the Dark Light Umbrella only exerted thirty percent of its power.

”What a lifesaving treasure indeed!”

Then Li Ji’an didn’t delay, allowing the Little Fire Spirit to sort through the spoils and burn the scene’s aura to ashes. He didn’t hesitate to activate a Tier Three Escape Talisman, fleeing swiftly with Gugu at a speed twice that of a Foundation Establishment Peak.

Half a month later, Golden Radiance Immortal City appeared before them.

Only then did Li Ji’an slow down, proceeding at the normal escape speed of a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator while sending a message to Wu Yehua.

Just upon reaching Golden Radiance Immortal City, Wu Yehua had already come to meet him.

”Brother Liu, quickly tell me, what was Bai Cailin like? How did you manage to win her over?”

”I’ve already said, that was a rumor. I don’t know who spread it. I have nothing to do with her,” Li Ji’an said coldly.

”Really just a rumor? That’s truly unfortunate,” Wu Yehua expressed disappointment.

At the same time, Li Ji’an’s Divine Sense sensed Wu Chengzhi, hiding in a distant restaurant, exhaling a sigh of relief.

”Brother Liu, during your trip to Tiger Roar Immortal City, did you find your old acquaintance? Has everything been resolved?” Wu Yehua probed as they returned to Young Master’s Mansion.

This trip to Tiger Roar Immortal City was for Gugu’s Core Formation, and it took half a year. The reason Li Ji’an gave to Jinhua Commerce Association was that he received news from an old acquaintance in the Celestial Cyan Domain and went to visit them.

Li Ji’an shook his head slightly, ”The old acquaintance matter is resolved, no more worries.”

”That’s good, then Brother Liu can focus on preparing for the Flying Crane Dao Discussion. The old folks at the Commerce Association have been expressing their discontent recently,” Wu Yehua casually brought up, indirectly conveying the association’s intentions.

”Naturally,” Li Ji’an nodded, promptly returning to his Dao Field.

When the third layer array was activated, Li Ji’an entered Gugu’s mouth and submerged into the underground cave mansion.

There, he took out Tong Liang’s Storage Pouch and carefully tallied the spoils.

Besides the three magical treasures he had already revealed, inside were three Tier Three Middle-stage Spirit Talismans, including a Great Shifting Talisman that caught Li Ji’an’s eye.

The Great Shifting Talisman could teleport thousands of miles instantly, except when locked by a Nascent Soul True Monarch’s Primordial Spirit, allowing immediate escape from an Early-stage True Core Ascendant’s Divine Sense lock.

In his previous life, he had hoped to leave this kind of escape method for himself, but unfortunately, the Great Shifting Talisman indeed involved Spatial Law, requiring particularly rare materials, only achievable with Tier Three spatial treasure materials.

Moreover, Talisman Masters needed at least Core Formation Late Period magical power.

He stored the Great Shifting Talisman prudently with his trump cards, then checked the myriad bottles of pill medicines.

All were Second Tier high-grade pills, none below Upper Grade.

Among them was a bottle of High Tier Antitoxic Pills.

Additionally, there was a seemingly ordinary sandalwood box, void of any Spiritual Qi.

Having the experience of obtaining a rattle-like Dao Artifact before, with simple experiments, Li Ji’an confirmed its function.

”It can store magical power aura as a Dao Artifact!”

With a touch of magical power, his aura was instantly absorbed completely.

”So that’s how it is.” After several trials, Li Ji’an ascertained that this was how Tong Liang had concealed his aura previously.

Simultaneously, he identified the aforementioned Dao Artifact’s cost.

Each time his aura was stored, his aura would become muddied, seeming to mix with the auras previously absorbed by different users.

”Does it merely change the aura or alter the essence?” Every cultivator’s magical power aura tends to fix as they cultivate their first trace of magical power, becoming their fundamental magical power essence.

All Spirit Contracts are based on this magical power essence, so even if one disguises themselves, the magical power essence doesn’t change, ensuring the Spirit Contract effects remain.

Within a short period, Li Ji’an couldn’t fully grasp the cost of the sandalwood box.

Moreover, he remained somewhat apprehensive about the prospect of changing his magical power essence.

Tossing the sandalwood box into the universe within Gugu’s mouth, Li Ji’an’s attention fell on the final item: a Black Gold Token.

The token was entirely black, engraved with the word ”kill.”

Soon after, Li Ji’an retrieved another nearly identical token from the corner of Gugu’s mouth.

This one was obtained last time upon killing a Yellow Springs Prison Earth-level Assassin.

After a moment of observation, Li Ji’an infused it with magical power.

Instantly, the token emitted a halo, revealing the same characters as before.

”Congratulations, Dao Friend, on killing my Yellow Springs Prison Earth-level Assassin. Holding this token allows you to undertake sub-Earth level missions from Yellow Springs Prison.”

Li Ji’an was uncertain whether Tong Liang had volunteered as an assassin to acquire the token or had obtained it like him by slaying an Earth-level assassin.

Yellow Springs Prison assassins generally acquire tokens through only two routes: the former merely requires locating a contact, starting with the lowest level mission, and automatically upgrading the assassin level upon completing the respective missions.

The latter automatically grants the assassin level corresponding to the token held.

Overall, Yellow Springs Prison wasn’t large, but its assassin group was vast.

They maintained an anonymous relationship with the assassins, lacking employment or management ties.

Hence, if an assassin fails a mission or dies, Yellow Springs Prison remains unaffected.

As long as the employer doesn’t cancel an assignment, Yellow Springs Prison continues to offer missions to hire other assassins, eliminating the possibility of revenge for assassins.

Contemplating for a moment, Li Ji’an extended his Divine Sense into the Black Gold Token again.

Within, a curtain akin to a water screen presented one mission after another, scrolling through.

”Earth-level task: Fuyuan Trading Company’s owner, Zhao Shusheng, with Fake Pill cultivation and possessing a Ninth Grade Lifebound Magical Treasure. Within a year, he will travel with a merchant convoy to Feihong Immortal City... Reward: 100,000 Spirit Stones.”

”Earth-level task: A Nameless Tribulation Cultivator active on the White Deer Continent’s borders, claiming the title Cloud Peak True Man, with Fake Pill cultivation and possessing a near Tier Three Bone Puppet... Reward: 70,000 Spirit Stones.”

”Earth-level task: True Disciple Qin Haomin of the Profound Sky Domain’s Profound Celestial Sect, with Foundation Establishment Peak cultivation, potentially protected by their Sect Leader’s Lifebound Third-tier Spirit Talisman... Reward: 50,000 Spirit Stones.”

...

Inside, it contained Earth-level missions corresponding to the Black Gold Token.

Most were at the Fake Pill True Man level.

A few Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators had profound backgrounds and substantial resources.

Compensation within was assessed not only by cultivation but also their resources and background, along with the protection of any Guardians.

Moreover, it included tasks beyond the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain in surrounding Cultivation Domains.

However, the peripheral tasks had remained pending for years without being undertaken.

After scrutinizing a moment, Li Ji’an shelved it with the previous Black Gold Token, left within a corner to gather dust.

Risking for mere Spirit Stones wasn’t worth it.

Later, Li Ji’an instructed Little Fire Spirit to destroy all low-value and suspicious items.

Then, days passed until a message arrived at Golden Radiance Immortal City.

Simultaneously, a shockwave resonated through the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

The Nine Tripods Commerce Association’s Immortal Seed Tong Liang’s Soul Lamp extinguished two weeks ago, leading to his death and soul dispersion.