Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Even back in the days of the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, the cultivation of True Pill Masters required plunder from a domain of spirit treasures just to nurture less than a handful of True Men to achieve Core Formation Middle Stage, as for the Late Period Ascendants, they were even fewer.

In the ten years since Li Ji’an returned to Biyun Sect, relying on the Spirit Vein Land of the sect, he merely solidified his Early Golden Core Stage cultivation but couldn’t progress by even a tenth.

If things continued this way, he would need at least a hundred years to advance to Core Formation Middle Stage.

As for the cultivation after advancing to Core Formation Middle Stage, relying solely on the supply of Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Vein Land would be even more challenging; without considering the bottlenecks, it would take probably two cycles of sixty years.

And the bottleneck of the Core Formation Middle Stage is something that almost all cultivators below the Golden Core are likely to encounter.

”Fellow Daoist Chang’an, if we did not know that in ancient times there were Divinity Transformation Celestial Monarchs, even Ascended Immortal Monarchs who verified the Dao and lived as long as heaven and earth, achieving True Pill would allow us to look down upon the realm, but, since our predecessors have created such miracles, how can we be complacent and not break through our shackles?”

...

Faced with the persuasive guidance of the Blood Spirit Saintess, Li Ji’an found himself in deep agreement, as if enlightened, benefiting greatly.

”Idly guarding a treasure mountain without knowing how to exploit it, you Celestial Cyan Domain cultivators have truly been made foolish by the Ten Thousand Laws Palace.” The Yin Ghost Saint Child constantly seemed sullen as he provoked them.

Ultimately, Li Ji’an gritted his teeth, determined to embark on this journey to seek fortune.

Two months later, the four of them crossed the desert and entered Fallen Dragon Ridge, traveling further south and crossing a hundred thousand miles to reach the deepest area of Fallen Dragon Ridge.

Previously, Li Ji’an’s deepest venture into Fallen Dragon Ridge was the lair of the two-headed snake, which was still eighty thousand miles away from their current location.

Compared to this place, the position of the Tier Three two-headed snake was already considered the edge of the territory.

Yet along this path, Li Ji’an had spotted no less than five Tier Three Great Demons from the Nine Heavens above, including one that was at the Middle Stage.

Such a place, where demon beasts roam, Spiritual Qi is volatile, and poisonous clouds permeate, even ordinary Core Formation Middle Stage cultivators would not dare to enter alone.

Luckily for them, they traveled from the Nine Heavens above, otherwise there would have been many obstacles.

However, one good thing is that when the four arrived near their destination, within a radius of a thousand miles, not only were there no traces of demon beasts, even the vegetation had completely disappeared, leaving bare barren mountains and wasteland.

No insects buzzed, and not even a whisper of wind could be heard.

The entire world here was silent, as if abandoned by the realm.

Seeing this, Li Ji’an’s heart inexplicably tightened, if not for Ning Sujin’s guidance in Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil, he wouldn’t have spared this place a second glance.

It also confirmed that what he had overheard of Lin Xiuzhu and the others’ secret about the Ancient Fallen Dragon Forbidden Ruins was true.

In a place like this, even if it was said to bury an Ancient Desolate True Dragon, or even a True Immortal, Li Ji’an would believe it.

Lin Xiuzhu and the others were clearly familiar with the surroundings, having visited before.

”Fellow Daoist Chang’an, remember what was said on the way, upon arriving here, fully restrain your aura and only activate your body’s Essence Blood.”

”Previously when the Saint Monarch came, even though he was a hundred miles away, he was sensed by the Dragon Soul inside, causing it to completely fall asleep, missing an opportunity, this time we must not miss it again.” Upon landing, the Blood Spirit Saintess reminded once more.

Lin Xiuzhu and the Yin Ghost Saint Child kept a close eye on Li Ji’an’s movements, wary that he might intentionally disturb the presence within the Forbidden Ruins.

Li Ji’an nodded heavily, activating his Qi and Blood Power equivalent to a Tier One Late Period.

The four of them then proceeded on foot.

Half a day later, they finally arrived at a towering hill.

The hill was the highest point here, from a distance, it looked like the top of a huge dirt mound tomb.

Standing firm at this spot, their expressions were grave.

The Yin Ghost Saint Child and the Blood Spirit Saintess flanked Li Ji’an, with the former showing undisguised killing intent.

Lin Xiuzhu glanced at the three, then finally took out five fragments from the storage pouch.

The fragments were made of gold and stone, ancient and worn, full of marks of time, with an aura Li Ji’an had never seen before.

After taking out the fragments, Lin Xiuzhu carefully assembled them.

A round jade pendant began to take shape, but it was only slightly more than fifty percent complete.

Afterwards, Lin Xiuzhu slowly raised the incomplete Dragon-locking Pendant using his Qi and Blood Power, respectfully bowing before the hill, chanting incomprehensible curses.

Buzz~

As soon as the chant ended, there was suddenly a faint sound in the air.

Lin Xiuzhu and the others immediately focused on the center of the hill.

As expected, the place originally covered by dirt and stone revealed a circular jade pendant notch following the sound.

Subsequently, the fragment of the pendant floated towards the notch under the support of Lin Xiuzhu’s Qi and Blood Power.

Clang~

Soon, the fragment lodged securely in the notch, causing blinding red light to burst forth.

The hill began to shake violently at once.

Unfortunately, as the red light reached the incomplete portion of the pendant, it gradually faded, leaving behind a faint aura that could extinguish at any time.

”This is the moment!” Lin Xiuzhu spoke solemnly, immediately biting his tongue to force out a drop of Life Essence Blood, shooting it towards the fragment.

As his Essence Blood was absorbed by the fragment, the red light surged again by thirty percent, flourishing like oil poured on a raging flame.

The Blood Spirit Saintess and the Yin Ghost Saint Child watched this scene with elation.

According to ancient handbooks, four individuals below Core Formation Late Period but strong in Qi and Blood Power were needed, each contributing enough Essence Blood to enhance the Dragon-locking Pendant by twenty-five percent, achieving its full potential.

Previously, even with Huang Jun included, they had been anxious, not knowing precisely how potent the Essence Blood needed to be.

Moreover, despite Huang Jun and the Yin Ghost Saint Child having undergone Body Refining for this purpose, it was ultimately inadequate.