Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

With the Little Fire Spirit following Pure Essence Old Thief, if he attempts to absorb the Little Fire Spirit into his Dantian, his life and death will be at the whim of Li Ji’an.

This potential threat being resolved so easily came as a surprise to Li Ji’an.

Now, taking advantage of the opportunity to cultivate in Funiu Mountain and with the remaining value of Pure Essence Old Thief in alchemy, he is in no hurry to conclude this karmic tie.

After sending off Pure Essence Old Thief, Li Ji’an felt relieved, not only because the imminent crisis was averted, but also because he gained deeper insight into Beixuan True Monarch through him.

Unless it’s confirmed that the other party is a Divine Favored and the level of Dao Principles they’ve integrated is high, they won’t easily leave the Dao Field.

This allowed Li Ji’an to cultivate more peacefully.

Now that his magical cultivation has advanced to the Middle Stage, it needs some time to stabilize.

A Tier Three mid-stage Body Cultivator needs sufficient nourishment from the Earth Spirit Charm; otherwise, it’s hard to advance further.

He plans to enhance and refine his Divine Soul in the coming period and also improve his puppetry skills, which are already at Tier Three, Middle Level, striving to create another Tier Three Mid-stage Puppet.

Previously, after the puppetry skills advanced in the Odd Stone Forest, due to material limitations, he could only create one Tier Three Mid-stage Puppet.

And for the ”Bloodthirsty Chain” secret technique, which he’s been longing for, it requires a connection of blood fiends from at least four people to succeed. He’s unsure if puppets can be used successfully; testing it would require four of nearly the same power.

He only has two Tier Three Early Period and one Tier Three Mid-stage, urgently needing another one for a trial.

Now, with Pure Essence Old Thief as a funds provider, there’s hope to get materials for a Tier Three Mid-stage Puppet.

Otherwise, given his current apparent identity, it would be difficult to acquire materials for a Tier Three Mid-stage Puppet in the market here.

For the next period, Li Ji’an will focus on stabilizing his Golden Core Magical Power.

Meanwhile, Pure Essence Old Thief starts actively providing him with high-quality Pill Medicine.

As for the Tier Three Mid-stage Talisman Materials, Li Ji’an has asked him to search diligently under the guise of repairing a magical treasure.

After all, the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws spent a lifetime seeking to advance the Immortal Path and always had hope, so he had no extra energy to deeply study other skills, ruling out the possibility of possessing one who becomes a High Tier Puppet Master after being seized.

A month later, the high-level direct lineage of the sect finally gathered together.

After Ning Sujin’s Primordial Spirit discerned the situation within, she immediately informed Li Ji’an.

Only the core high-level members of all of Funiu Mountain attended this time; apart from eight direct disciples, there were only a few elders.

”Xiaojiu, are you sure you want to attempt Core Formation now?” True Man Fengyin, occupying the position of City Lord, asked slightly gravely.

”Xiaojiu, wait a bit for Master.” The Second Senior Brother also frowned and urged.

”Elder Brother, did Master arrange Core Formation Spirit Treasures for Xiaojiu before closing in seclusion? Is there any in the treasury?” The Third Brother didn’t care if Master was present, only worried about the insufficient Core Formation Spirit Treasures.

True Man Fengyin nodded: ”Before closing in seclusion, Master indeed left Core Formation Spirit Treasures for Xiaojiu.”

With that, he waved and handed a storage pouch to Xiaojiu.

”Thank you, Senior Brother!” Xiaojiu joyfully took the storage pouch.

The other senior brothers and elders nodded silently, observing True Man Fengyin’s action.

After Eldest Brother Qu Tianyang escaped from Funiu Mountain, everyone had reflected on this unexpected incident.

Along with previous rumors, some began to suspect True Man Fengyin.

After all, as the eldest disciple of Master, he was supposed to be the most likely successor but was overtaken by the Eldest Brother who occupied the position of the City Lord of the entire Immortal City, while he only managed the Inner City, inevitably leading to imbalance.

And after the Eldest Brother’s incident, over the years, he was also the biggest beneficiary.

However, with Xiaojiu, whose talent is now comparable to Eldest Brother and more favored by the people of Immortal City, about to form the core, he didn’t privately retain the Core Formation Spirit Treasures left by Master.

This significantly alleviated suspicions about him among everyone.

”Hmm?” Yet, the moment Xiaojiu opened the storage pouch with joy, she couldn’t help but sigh in disappointment.

The other senior brothers and elders also showed varied expressions.

”How can it be? How could Master leave only these two Core Formation Spirit Treasures for Xiaojiu?”

”This may only suffice for a Lower True Pill!”

”With Xiaojiu’s talent, Core Formation Spirit Treasures ranked in the top thirty would offer hope for an Upper True Pill, but Master prepared only two pieces from outside the top hundred.”

...

Instantly, everyone began discussing.

Someone even subtly glanced at True Man Fengyin.

”Boom!” The Second Disciple, known for his butcher-like straightforwardness, slapped the table, staring directly at True Man Fengyin.

”Elder Brother, are you sure this is what Master prepared for Xiaojiu’s Core Formation?”

With this question, everyone looked at True Man Fengyin with solemn eyes.

True Man Fengyin nodded bitterly: ”Everyone, please calm down. Master had his reasons for this decision.”

He didn’t follow the crowd’s suspicions with explanations; instead, he opened by defending Master.

”You may not be aware, but years ago, to help Fifth Brother achieve an Upper True Pill, Master exhausted Funiu Mountain’s spiritual resources to gather Core Formation Spirit Treasures ranked in the top ten.

He then spent considerably on Fifth Brother’s cultivation during the Core Formation Stage.

We truly were stretched thin at Funiu Mountain.

This is why Master’s initial intention to prevent the Funiu Mountain Range area from being oppressed by major powers was ignored, allowing Fifth Brother to secretly collect fees from all Spirit Vein cultivators.

Master had abandoned the hope of becoming a True Monarch, and knowing that day would eventually come to an end, he fully committed to cultivating another successor who could inherit his intentions for Funiu Mountain.

Judging by the Core Formation Spirit Treasures handed to me before Master’s secluded death seclusion, it was already the utmost he could achieve.”

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged looks.

Not running the household, they wouldn’t know the value of daily necessities, as they indeed lacked awareness of Funiu Mountain’s spiritual resource situation.

As the eldest disciple of Funiu Ascendant and manager of the Inner City, True Man Fengyin’s words had credibility.

People instantly understood Master’s heavy investment in the Eldest Brother at his deathbed, forsaking Xiaojiu.

In a moment, everyone looked at Xiaojiu with pity.

Xiaojiu froze briefly, then, with stiff cheeks, glanced around and finally locked eyes on Funiu Ascendant’s Dao Field.

”Thank you, Master!” Just a moment later, she regained her composure, a smile curled her lips, and she bowed heavily towards Funiu Ascendant’s Dao Field.

”Thank you, Senior Brother, thank you, Senior Brothers, and the ancestors. Xiaojiu, born an orphan, was given new life by Master; otherwise, who knows when I would have been a meal in a demon beast’s stomach.

Moreover, these years, it’s been Master who led me on the Immortal Path; to achieve what I have now, Xiaojiu feels fulfilled.

Master doesn’t owe me; I owe Master, Funiu Mountain, and all my Senior Brothers.

These two Core Formation Spirit Treasures, let alone ordinary Loose Cultivators, are scarcely attainable even by sect disciples.

Xiaojiu will now attempt Core Formation, and if successful, I finally can contribute to Funiu Mountain and all senior brothers.” Xiaojiu smiled lightly, though an unexpected sliver of disappointment was visible; she soon returned to her true self.

She quickly realized this slight disappointment wasn’t from her heart but was subconsciously influenced by the surroundings and people’s words, leading her to expect better Core Formation Spirit Treasures from Master.

At this moment, she returned to her true self.

Meanwhile, her state of mind became more transparent, boosting her confidence in this Core Formation attempt.