Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

The appearance of the three Ascendants pushed the atmosphere at Funiu Mountain to its limit.

Those within the array who were not of the direct lineage of Funiu Mountain began to waver, anxiously seeking an opportunity to flee.

It wasn’t until an aged sigh echoed from within the Celestial Pool Dao Field and the elderly figure of Funiu Ascendant reappeared before the crowd that the situation slightly eased.

”Greetings to Funiu Ascendant!” All the people from Funiu Mountain in the array respectfully saluted the elderly man pacing the void.

Funiu Ascendant nodded slightly, then continued his steps, going straight to the side of Cyan Ox.

”Cold Jade Daoist Friend, Mountain Shifting Taoist Friend, it’s been a long time, and to this Taoist Friend, my apologies.” Funiu Ascendant clasped his hands towards the three Ascendants outside the array.

”Hahaha, Funiu Daoist Friend, long time no see.” Among the three, only the Mountain Shifting Ascendant of Xiaoxiang Hall returned the salute to Funiu Ascendant, laughing heartily.

Cold Jade Ascendant and another Ascendant, shrouded in mist, did not respond.

Cold Jade Ascendant’s eyes carried an even fiercer look of resentment.

”I don’t know what it would take for the three Taoist Friends to spare my Funiu Mountain?” Funiu Ascendant spoke again with a smile.

”Spare? Humph, if the old scoundrel can return my Water Monarch, I will immediately return to the Icefield and never interfere in your conflicts again,” Cold Jade Ascendant snorted coldly.

Funiu Ascendant shook his head slightly, ”Cold Jade Daoist Friend, you are making things difficult, and besides, the matter of one’s beloved is not the fault of this old man. In life-and-death magical combat, each must trust to fate.”

”Very well, trusting to fate! Old scoundrel, my Water Monarch’s death demands your blood in return!” Cold Jade Ascendant was clearly unwilling to reason.

Funiu Ascendant’s expression remained unchanged. He did not argue and then looked at Mountain Shifting Ascendant.

”Hahaha, Funiu Daoist Friend, people die for wealth just as birds die for food. My interest is only in the Spirit Vein of Funiu Mountain. If you can allocate twenty percent to Xiaoxiang Hall, Xiaoxiang Hall will stand by your side.” Mountain Shifting Ascendant spoke plainly, drawing attention.

Funiu Ascendant shook his head again, ”Mountain Shifting Daoist Friend misunderstands, Funiu Mountain does not belong to this old man, nor to anyone. It belongs to every cultivator here, and is a whole entity. This old man does not have the privilege to divide and send it away.”

”Haha, no worries, then it’s victor or vanquished,” Mountain Shifting Ascendant laughed heartily.

Funiu Ascendant nodded in acknowledgment, then looked toward the last person.

”I take people’s money to resolve their difficulties, don’t look to this old man!” That person spoke directly, cutting off Funiu Ascendant’s words.

”If that’s the case...” Funiu Ascendant’s face remained unchanged, his aged eyes firm.

”Moo~ Chef, why waste words on them? Just focus on cultivating quality Spirit Grass for me, and this old ox will protect you.” Before Funiu Ascendant could finish, Cyan Ox already bellowed impatiently.

Funiu Ascendant’s face twitched slightly, unable to say a word of rebuttal despite glaring at Cyan Ox.

Years ago, in the catacombs, it was because Funiu Ascendant carried superior Spirit Grass that he gained Cyan Ox’s favor, eventually being deceived by it into becoming his Spirit Beast.

His Core Formation and even the Celestial Grade Cultivation Technique he practiced after forming his core were all thanks to Cyan Ox.

Moreover, people of Funiu Mountain have always known that Funiu Ascendant is no match for Cyan Ox, even now.

”Old friend, let’s fight side by side once more.” Funiu Ascendant finally tried to reclaim some dignity.

”Humph, a human Ascendant reduced to a Spirit Chef for a Demon Beast, what a ridiculous spectacle. Watch as this Pavilion Master destroys your Funiu Mountain.” Cold Jade Ascendant sneered disdainfully, then launched an attack.

Funiu Ascendant immediately confronted him from within the array.

As the Array Master, he and Cyan Ox could smoothly traverse the array to counter external attacks.

Soon, Funiu Ascendant found himself matched against Cold Jade Ascendant.

Cyan Ox then singlehandedly held off the Xiaoxiang Hall Master and the mysterious Ascendant.

...

”We plead for Shanyuan Ascendant to take action!” Outside the Pure Essence rogue’s Dao Field, True Man Fengyin and several elders of the tribe bowed respectfully.

Though Funiu Ascendant and Cyan Ox had both exited seclusion to oversee matters, lightening True Man Fengyin’s load considerably.

However, fighting two against three, although they had a home-field advantage to struggle against defeat, there was still a risk.

Once any of the three opposing Ascendants broke away to attack the Grand Array, it could lead to a breach.

Even if the array were shattered, with Funiu Ascendant and Cyan Ox present, utter destruction wouldn’t be imminent, but Xiaojiu’s Core Formation would be endangered.

Hence, if they could recruit just one more Ascendant to assist inside the array, the situation wouldn’t get worse.

Funiu Mountain’s elders and True Man Fengyin first thought of the Pure Essence rogue.

After all, he had previously accepted benefits without any objection.

Yet, after respectfully requesting his aid for a considerable time outside the rogue’s Dao Field, there was still no response.

”What...what is the meaning of this?” One man looked at True Man Fengyin with some annoyance.

True Man Fengyin’s brows were also furrowed tightly, having discussed matters with Shanyuan Ascendant previously without outright refusal, he hadn’t expected such behavior at this crucial moment.

”Better to rely on oneself than on others, it seems outsiders are unreliable.” An elderly man sighed secretly.

”What should we do? Without anyone holding off the third Ascendant, it’s only a matter of time before the array is breached, and once breached, Xiaojiu’s Core Formation will be disrupted!”

...

After a long wait, with no response from Good Fortune Pill King, they finally gave up completely.

”Elders, please go to the Grand Array for protection; I will seek help from others.” True Man Fengyin made up his mind.

”Fengyin, who else in this Inner City of Funiu Mountain can stand against an Ascendant?”

”Besides the Good Fortune Pill King, who else is there?”

Faced with the elders’ skepticism, Fengyin took a deep breath, ”I’ll ask Changqing Talisman Master to assist.”

”Changqing Talisman Master?”

”That heartless turtle hiding in its shell?”

Hearing this, they all expressed disdain.

In the past, it was due to him that Xiaojiu took risks, leading even Qu Tianyang, the hope of Funiu Mountain, to flee, leaving his whereabouts unknown, and now with the calamity on Funiu Mountain, the elders had long pinned Changqing Talisman Master to the pillar of shame.

They not only disdained his callous character but also wanted to blame him for the disaster.

”Dear elders, please speak cautiously. Xiaojiu’s situation has been clarified; he volunteered to fetch Beast Blood for Changqing Talisman Master, not at the master’s request. We cannot outright condemn his character.” True Man Fengyin hastily persuaded them.

”Ha, even if he didn’t ask Xiaojiu to go, the fact that Xiaojiu suffered hardship because of him is undeniable. What of his attitude? If that isn’t callous, what is?”

”Fengyin, even if he’s not ungrateful, in facing an Ascendant, even if he unleashes all his Tier Three Middle Stage Spirit Talismans, how could he hold them off? Let us old men give it a try instead.”

Several elders opposed at once.

”Changqing Talisman Master... Please forgive Fengyin for being unable to speak further, I ask you to return, and I will be back shortly.” Fengyin couldn’t reveal the secret that Changqing Talisman Master was an Ascendant, so he had to speak ambiguously.

”Hmm? Could it be he has some unknown secret?” An elder sensed something amiss.

”Fengyin, could he have hidden his cultivation level?”

”Dear elders, please trust Fengyin this time and return first.” True Man Fengyin remained tight-lipped.

Some elders left skeptically.

True Man Fengyin then headed straight to Li Ji’an’s Dao Field.

Meanwhile, Ning Sujin had already informed Li Ji’an of the situation with True Man Fengyin and the others at the Pure Essence rogue’s Dao Field.

”My husband...” Ning Sujin looked at Li Ji’an, her eyes full of anticipation.