Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Li Ji’an merely smiled and shook his head at Duanmu Fei’s request.

”My wife and I are already quite old. This time, we just want to find a place with good Feng Shui to live out our golden years in peace. The young girl has no grievances with us. Why drag unfamiliar elderly cultivators into a vortex?”

Swish~

Hearing this, Duanmu Fei’s cheeks instantly turned scarlet.

Her eyes were full of shame and guilt.

Indeed, as the elder said, these two elderly cultivators have essentially reached the end of their path. If they have no children to worry about, they most likely desire nothing more, wishing only to accompany each other through the final stretch of life, growing old together until their last days. That is the greatest blessing.

She realized then that her earlier plea for help was indeed somewhat impetuous and selfish.

Of course, it was because she was truly desperate, her panic leading her to seek help where she might otherwise choose not to.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have recklessly tried to thwart a team of barbarians on her own.

Moreover, now that she had calmed down and sensed the auras of the two elders at close range, she no longer dared to hope the two could rescue her tribe. After all, Li Ji’an’s early True Core magical power aura was not much different from her tribe’s elders, not a match for the barbarians with Fake Pills. Barbarians were born with divine strength and mighty physiques; generally, unless a Dharma Cultivator was a realm higher, it’s difficult to guarantee victory.

As for Ning Sujin, her magical aura hadn’t even reached Foundation Establishment.

”Forgive me, seniors. I... I am ashamed. I was too anxious to save my tribe members just now.” Duanmu Fei immediately lowered her head to the ground, thoroughly embarrassed.

”Haha, little girl, get up. We don’t blame you.” Ning Sujin chuckled upon seeing this and glanced sideways at Li Ji’an.

She hadn’t expected Li Ji’an to actually play the ’senior’ card and reverse moral standards.

However, the words about growing old together and living out their days in peace did indeed touch her heart.

For Ning Sujin, life didn’t hold many desires anymore; just accompanying Li Ji’an to find a quiet place to live peacefully was already nice.

”Thank you, senior...” Duanmu Fei gratefully glanced at Ning Sujin.

”Oh, enough with calling me ’senior.’ Just call me grandma.” Ning Sujin interrupted her with a kind smile.

Duanmu Fei looked at her, gradually feeling a sense of affection.

Ning Sujin, now disguised as an old woman, bore long silver hair and a kind brow, her smile particularly gentle and amiable.

”Thank you, grandma.” Duanmu Fei immediately called out affectionately.

Then, she looked toward Li Ji’an and, somewhat shyly, called out, ”grandfather.”

Li Ji’an smiled faintly: ”Fine, since you care so much for your tribe, I won’t hold it against you.”

”Thank you, grandfather.” Duanmu Fei finally felt a bit more at ease.

Li Ji’an said no more and gently held Ning Sujin’s hand, walking forward at a leisurely pace.

”Little girl, human strength has limits; don’t force things. If your tribe knew what you did today, it would only add to their grief. Recognizing oneself is important.” Two steps later, Ning Sujin gently advised again.

Duanmu Fei stood there, stunned, finally admitting that she truly couldn’t save her tribe now.

Rather than courting death like today, it was better to save her life, at least for a future chance of revenge.

”Thank you for your teaching, grandma!” Not until the two seniors were nearly out of sight did Duanmu Fei solemnly bow toward their retreating figures.

”Huh~” But in the next moment, seeing the direction the two elderly headed, Duanmu Fei frowned slightly.

”Grand... Grandma, where are you going? That direction...” Yet the two elderly moved too fast, vanishing in a blink.

Hesitating for a moment, Duanmu Fei gritted her teeth and chased after them.

Several days later,

Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin stood before a quaint yet somewhat desolate Yellow Sand Ancient City, frowning slightly.

”Old man, is this the renowned Funiu Immortal City?” Ning Sujin gazed at those few broken and unfamiliar symbols at the city gate, unable to associate them with Funiu Immortal City.

Li Ji’an raised a brow.

With their current Divine Soul strength, they shouldn’t err regarding the world’s directions.

According to the detailed Yellow Heaven Domain map he purchased years ago, the direction they had followed was unlikely wrong.

But evidently, the desolate city before them was by no means the Funiu Immortal City he knew.

What surprised Li Ji’an even more was that, gazing towards the north, one could see the white icefield there.

This desolate city had become directly adjacent to the northern icefield.

”Haha, have I truly grown old?” Li Ji’an laughed at himself and then strode into the desolate city.

With his Divine Sense covering it, the highest here was merely a Fake Pill True Man seated.

However, he now understood where this place was.

The interior was occupied by more than eighty percent of burly barbarians.

While those like him and Ning Sujin amounted to less than twenty percent.

”Desert City!”

”Could it be the oldest city of the indigenous people you mentioned?” Ning Sujin’s eyes shimmered with anticipation as she spoke.

She harbored much curiosity regarding these barbarians.

On this journey with Li Ji’an, her greatest joy was witnessing all kinds of novel people and events.

”Indeed, it is Desert City, the indigenous people’s first communal city in the Yellow Heaven Domain. It’s said that it was built at the beginning of the Post-ancient Era after the apocalypse.” Li Ji’an confirmed.

”Hmm? Didn’t you say Desert City was in the north-central area of the Yellow Heaven Domain? And Funiu Immortal City should be a hundred thousand miles to the west. Are you deliberately bringing me here to see these barbarian tribes?” Ning Sujin’s eyes widened.

Li Ji’an gave a mysterious smile, neither confirming nor denying.

”Old man, what do you think happened over six thousand years ago? What was the so-called apocalypse really about?” Ning Sujin asked again.

Li Ji’an shook his head: ”After reviewing various records, I still cannot ascertain it today. The only certainty is that, six thousand years ago, the Cultivation Realm was prosperous and spanned vast lands unknown by how many millions of miles.