Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

”Let me have a look at the ’Curse of Affection,’” Li Ji’an finally relented, though the final result would depend on the effect of the curse technique.

If there’s a significant risk, he would rather not have the Jade Water Pearl than get himself into trouble.

The artifact spirit of the Jade Water Pearl immediately used the power of the Divine Soul to pass an ancient beast hide scroll from Wu Miaozhen’s storage pouch to Li Ji’an.

The scroll emitted a desolate, ancient aura, and was undoubtedly an artifact from ancient times.

After thoroughly studying the curse technique several times, Li Ji’an’s brows relaxed.

Simultaneously, he felt a wave of fear.

This curse technique is no ordinary feat and is suspected to have been created by a Celestial Monarch from ancient times. It’s not only effective against cultivators with low cultivation but even Nascent Soul True Monarchs find it hard to resist.

As long as the caster’s power of the Divine Soul is higher than the target’s, success is inevitable through gradual progression.

The larger the gap in the power of the Divine Soul, the easier and faster the casting.

Wu Miaozhen requested the artifact spirit to enhance the Divine Soul to cast the curse on Li Ji’an, though it took some time, it almost succeeded.

If not for Li Ji’an’s peculiar discovery due to the ’Dragon and Phoenix Double Cauldron Technique,’ the deeper the intimacy, the deeper the entanglement.

Truly, after seventy-seven interactions, even if his cultivation was higher than Wu Miaozhen’s, he would inevitably fall deeply in love, listening to her every word.

And it would be a devotion coming entirely from the heart, one that would protect and cherish her, even willingly self-destructing the Sea of Consciousness to defend her when encountering Soul Search.

”Phew~”

After fully comprehending the ’Curse of Affection,’ Li Ji’an let out a breath and nodded to the Jade Water Pearl, ”I agree.”

”Thank you, my fellow daoist! In the future, I will rely on you,” the artifact spirit of the Jade Water Pearl let out a breath again, transformed into a humanoid water flow, and made a deep bow to Li Ji’an.

Once finished, its power of the Divine Soul completely gathered, not only submitting to Li Ji’an’s Spiritual Mark but also helping him extinguish the soul bond with Wu Miaozhen.

Li Ji’an felt a surge of joy and understood that the Jade Water Pearl had actively surrendered by helping to obliterate the Soul Seal between it and Wu Miaozhen.

With the help of the Jade Water Pearl, coupled with Wu Miaozhen only having Foundation Establishment Stage Divine Sense, everything proceeded smoothly.

In less than half an incense stick’s time, the Jade Water Pearl completely dissolved its Soul Contract with Wu Miaozhen and successfully bonded with Li Ji’an.

The Jade Water Pearl returned to its original pearl form, flashed with light, and was absorbed into Li Ji’an’s Dantian.

”Oh~” At the instant the Jade Water Pearl entered the Dantian, Li Ji’an felt another wave of joy.

Viewing his Dantian, he saw the Jade Water Pearl not only being nourished by his Wood Magic Power filled with vitality within his Dantian, but the invisible Water Element Spirit Charm it emitted also enriched Li Ji’an’s Wood Magic Power and the entire Dantian.

Water nourishes wood.

In that moment, the Jade Water Pearl once again transformed into a humanoid water flow, gracefully bowing to Li Ji’an, ”With the master’s Dantian nourishment, water-ink vitality greatly increases, and given time, it should be able to recover thirty percent of its power, at which point it may sense the location of its missing body.”

Previously incomplete and severely lacking vitality, Wu Miaozhen’s ancestors could only preserve its spiritual mechanism to prevent extinction.

To restore its spiritual mechanism, the power of a Nascent Soul True Monarch would be required at minimum.

However, at this moment, Li Ji’an’s Golden Core within the Dantian, especially the Wood Magic Power filled with vitality, provided it nourishing sustenance, even without Li Ji’an advancing to Nascent Soul True Monarch, offering hope for restoration.

”Haha, no need for such formality, Shui Mo. Now that we are mutually supportive, we should work together.” Li Ji’an laughed heartily.

Upon bonding with the Jade Water Pearl, a plethora of information concerning the Jade Water Pearl automatically entered his Sea of Consciousness.

The Jade Water Pearl was born in ancient times and was discovered by Wu Miaozhen’s ancestors around five thousand years after ancient history, at a time when it was incomplete and its artifact spirit nearly extinguished.

After a millennium of nourishment, it finally preserved its undying spirituality and regained a slight amount of memory.

For a long time, it had been waiting to restore its spiritual mechanism, then sensing its missing body, striving for its artifact’s Perfection.

From the scant memories that remained, the Jade Water Pearl was at least a Superior Spiritual Treasure that had overcome three tribulations, possessing Water Element Divine Abilities.

As they say, magical combat pales in comparison to magical treasures, magical treasures fall short of Dao practice, and Dao practice is secondary to Divine Abilities.

Such Divine Abilities concern Heaven and Earth Laws, offering means to borrow the power of the heavens and earth.

Compared to ordinary magic practiced by cultivators, it certainly has an overwhelming advantage.

Of course, Li Ji’an didn’t dare to expect too much at present.

Such Spiritual Treasures of over three tribulations can’t truly be harnessed by anyone other than a True Monarch.

”As the master says,” Shui Mo nodded and then directed its gaze toward Wu Miaozhen, still imprisoned.

Li Ji’an understood, immediately mobilizing his Divine Sense and executing the ’Curse of Affection.’

In the next instant, dense curse seals transformed into flowing light, entering Wu Miaozhen’s heart.

Once the curse seals fully penetrated, Li Ji’an released the restraints on her.

”Li Lang...” Wu Miaozhen’s eyes moistened, evoking pity.

”Miaozhen has suffered,” Li Ji’an drew her into his embrace.

Not hesitating further, they resumed their unfinished task in the Spirit Pool.

As expected,

Applying his Divine Sense to perform the ’Curse of Affection’ on Wu Miaozhen yielded immediate results.

Especially after a complete intimate encounter, Wu Miaozhen’s affection for him became extremely intense.

Until dawn, after three complete encounters, Wu Miaozhen looked at Li Ji’an as if she were gazing at her entire world.

”Li Lang, don’t leave me...” As Li Ji’an withdrew to undertake a new session of treatment for Yao Rui, Wu Miaozhen clung tightly to Li Ji’an, unwilling to part for even a moment.

Li Ji’an watched her calmly and sighed silently.

Unfortunately, having completely shaken off the influences of the ’Curse of Affection,’ he couldn’t muster any affection for Wu Miaozhen, naturally, his cultivation hadn’t improved at all during those three consecutive encounters.

Even the fleeting freshness he felt for her youthful and vibrant body was diminished by the realization of her true age through bone-age discernment.

”It seems the ’Dragon and Phoenix Double Cauldron Technique’ is more suited for those who are promiscuous; it’s not particularly fitting for me,” Li Ji’an chuckled in self-mockery and broke free from Wu Miaozhen.

Later, while attending to Yao Rui’s treatment, Li Ji’an transmitted the events of the previous night to Ning Sujin.

He informed her that he had successfully subdued the Spiritual Treasure she had coveted before.

In the days that followed, Li Ji’an engaged in uninterrupted exertion to eliminate any further hidden troubles.

Wu Miaozhen’s emotional attitude toward Li Ji’an transformed from an initial infatuated attachment, reluctance to part, to observing and obeying, eventually reaching a state where, after seventy-seven interactions, her entire honor was tied to Li Ji’an’s existence. She would enthusiastically respond when he needed her, and quietly wait when he didn’t, entirely committed to him, always prioritizing Li Ji’an.

”Li Lang, I still have some private spiritual assets, which might benefit your cultivation. Please take them all.”

”Although I haven’t mastered the Water Element Immortal Scriptures taught by Grandma Shui, I have gained considerable insight, and I’ll share it all with you.”

”Li Lang, don’t worry about me; with my low strength, following you would only be a burden. However, my position within the Commerce Association is quite special. I’ll be fine; whenever you think of me, you can visit anytime.”

...

After repeated evaluations to ensure Wu Miaozhen fully manifested all the effects of the ’Curse of Affection,’ Li Ji’an was finally able to withdraw.

On that day, Li Ji’an departed the Jinhua Commerce Association with Ning Sujin and two others.

Meanwhile, Li Ji’an finally received a response from the Wind and Thunder Ascendant.

Two and a half months ago, after the small-scale auction at Linchun Immortal City ended, Li Ji’an had agreed with Wind and Thunder Ascendant to go to the Five Blessings Commerce Association together.

Wind and Thunder Ascendant had injured his Sea of Consciousness due to a fiery explosion during artifact refining years ago, resulting in memory issues, and had only now finally sent a message.

Sure enough, it began with an apology, admitting that on the way back to the Five Blessings Commerce Association recently, he continuously felt as though he had forgotten something, only realizing it today when he inadvertently overheard someone discussing Chang’an True Man in the Commerce Association.

Li Ji’an immediately replied, expressing indifference and mentioning that he planned to visit Floating Immortal City soon.

This was part of his original plan, first to let Ning Sujin witness the wonders of Floating Immortal City.

But the main goal was to exert more effort in assisting Tong Yaoyao’s ascension to the Alliance Leader’s position.

If the Five Blessings Commerce Association agreed to vote for Tong Yaoyao, then its position would be secure.