Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

The prestige of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association reached its highest in thousands of years.

As for Li Ji’an, naturally, it was a win-win with Tong Yaoyao and the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

Moreover, on this basis, aside from the three commerce associations compensating him two million five hundred thousand spiritual resources, he also acquired treasures like the Jade Water Pearl and the water element Immortal Scripture from the Jinhua Commerce Association.

He obtained the earth element Immortal Scripture from the Taian Commerce Association.

Especially, he received offerings from the Five Blessings Commerce Association.

There was also the tier three artifact refining legacy from the Wind and Thunder Ascendant.

This great harvest established his cultivation resources at the mid-stage Golden Core.

Since the moment Tong Yaoyao became the Commerce Alliance Leader, he gained an endless supply of superior spiritual talent.

Another year passed in the blink of an eye.

Tong Yaoyao had already solidified her position as the Commerce Alliance Leader.

During this period, Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin remained secluded and uninvolved with the world.

”Ping’an, the Core Formation Spirit Treasure has arrived,” Tong Yaoyao suddenly sent a message one day.

Upon receiving the message, Li Ji’an’s heart was filled with joy, and his divine sense swept over Ning Sujin’s closed cultivation chamber, confirming that her magical power had reached great success.

”The day of Core Formation is near!”

Immediately, he left the dao field and went to Tong Yaoyao’s dao field.

For this occasion, the spiritual resources required for Ning Sujin’s Core Formation chiefly depended on the purification method pill’s treasure.

This item is crucial for the pill’s quality.

And the success rate of Core Formation mainly relies on the depth and purity of Ning Sujin’s magical power, assisted by the high-quality Crystal Condensing Pill he refined himself.

The reason for not adding more Core Formation Spirit Treasures lies in the rumors he learned about this realm’s Golden Core grades during his own formation.

Golden Core Dao Charm can have up to nine stripes.

To seek more dao stripes, the use of Core Formation Spirit Treasures cannot exceed two kinds.

In his current life, he only has a one-striped Golden Core, with only a fifty percent chance to reach Nascent Soul.

Even if it fails, he can try again.

But Ning Sujin does not have the opportunity to try again.

Therefore, he hopes Ning Sujin can form a higher-grade Golden Core.

Of course, he has high demands for the purification method pill’s quality, at least among the top ten purification spirit treasures.

”Ping’an, take a look at this spirit treasure!” As soon as Li Ji’an saw Tong Yaoyao, she waved her graceful hand.

A bottle filled with chilling air, brimming with ice essence, appeared before him.

”Is this... Ice Essence Milk?” Li Ji’an raised his eyebrow, delight shining in his eyes.

This is the fourth-ranked purification method pill spirit treasure, almost equal to Qiuli Water and Celestial Pure Water.

”Thank you, Alliance Leader Tong!” Li Ji’an put away the milk with a smile and bowed.

Tong Yaoyao laughed and waved her hand dismissively: ”Why so formal? We vowed in the Yellow Heaven Domain long ago, no need to differentiate between us anymore.”

Li Ji’an smiled and nodded.

”Ping’an, how is the cultivation of the Dragon and Phoenix Double Cauldron Technique progressing?” Tong Yaoyao shifted the topic.

”Thanks to this holy technique, Sujin and I have thrived these years,” Li Ji’an responded candidly.

Tong Yaoyao’s eyes paused momentarily, then she nodded repeatedly: ”Good, good, your bonds are solid and your love lasting; it’s most suitable for this technique.”

”When is Sujin’s Core Formation day set?”

”Everything is ready now, it can be any time,” Li Ji’an replied.

”Great, the Feihong Dao Field is available any time. If there’s any other need, just let me know,” Tong Yaoyao nodded.

After expressing gratitude again, Li Ji’an bade farewell and left.

Watching Li Ji’an’s figure fade away, Tong Yaoyao sighed softly.

She now faced a bottleneck in her cultivation, lacking confidence in overcoming the late period Core Formation hurdle.

This arose from her physique.

With the Innate Taiyin Body, bathing in lunar radiance, her cultivation was extremely efficient before Core Formation.

And during Core Formation, she naturally possessed fifty percent purification pill effect.

Even without Core Formation Spirit Treasures, there was great hope of forming a superior magic pill.

However, upon reaching the Core Formation stage, the physique’s side effects became evident.

The Celestial Dao complements yin and yang, lone yin does not grow, and without primordial yang moderation, her cultivation becomes extremely slow.

After a hundred years, she barely broke through the mid-stage Core Formation, and now it’s even harder.

Yet, with her heart nature, she wasn’t interested in ordinary male cultivators.

Not to mention, she intended to gather Taiyin Jade Liquid using the Dragon and Phoenix Double Cauldron Technique.

Therefore, the dual cultivation candidate was chosen with great care.

Looking across the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, only her nominal grandson Li Ping’an suited her requirements now.

Regrettably, despite multiple hints, he seemed to show no response.

”Ping’an, will you really wait until my life force runs out to absorb my Taiyin Jade Liquid?

I forgot to tell you, nurturing Taiyin Jade Liquid beneficial for Nascent Soul requires the nourishment of dual cultivation.” Sighing inwardly, Tong Yaoyao shook her head and laughed.

Returning to the dao field, Li Ji’an immediately awakened Ning Sujin.

”Sujin, your cultivation is already at great success, dense and pure, surpassing mine back then.

This time, Core Formation is almost certain.”

Ning Sujin took the Ice Essence Milk, feeling its exceptionally pure energy, a smile emerged on her face.

”Husband, rest assured, I will do my utmost this time.” Previously, Ning Sujin harbored concerns about the Core Formation hurdle.

One worry was the risk of perishing during Core Formation, forever separating from Li Ji’an.

Another was the fear of insufficient Core Formation quality, losing the chance to accompany Li Ji’an in everlasting blessing.

However, since being cleansed by Wutong Fairy’s melody in Linchun Immortal City, her mind had become clear and untainted.

No longer troubled by undue fears.

No longer anxious over uncertain things.

Simply doing her best!

A month later, Ning Sujin was thriving in body, technique, and soul.

Then, accompanied by Li Ji’an and Tong Yaoyao, she arrived at the Feihong Dao Field.

Furthermore, Tong Yaoyao, according to her own wishes, arranged for the #3 dao field where Li Ji’an had formed his core.

Feeling the strongest Core Formation dao field in the eastern Great Marsh Cultivation Realm, Ning Sujin was full of confidence.

She did not disappoint Li Ji’an and Tong Yaoyao’s special arrangements; during Core Formation’s first phase, she swallowed nearly two dao fields worth of spiritual qi to establish a solid foundation.

Then, on the first day of Gathering Spirit, she reached thirty-five li of Xia Yun, setting a centuries-old record at the Feihong Dao Field.

She also had the foundation of the Golden Core.

Once her Xia Yun stabilized, Li Ji’an let out a breath of relief.

Later, the solidification of the magic pill, especially the purification stage, showed Ning Sujin had an advantage over Li Ji’an’s earlier days.

Her Nascent Soul level Divine Soul virtually purifies sixty percent of her pill’s impurities.

The fourth-ranked purification spirit treasure also proved its remarkable effects.

Two years later, the Feihong Dao Field echoed with the Celestial Dao’s sound.

”Congratulations to the Chang’an Honored Guest’s companion for forming a Golden Core!”

”Congratulations to the Nine Tripods Commerce Association for gaining an Immortal Seedling!”

...

On that day, the entire Ten Thousand Merchants Domain roared with joy, as eighteen commerce associations came to offer congratulations.

Li Ji’an had been waiting outside the dao field for two years, now he finally felt at ease.

The only regret was Ning Sujin did not break through to a two-striped Golden Core, and like Li Ji’an, she only attained one Dao Charm.

This made Li Ji’an somewhat skeptical about the prior Golden Core rumors.

However, he was quite satisfied.

After all, a one-striped Golden Core, though having only a fifty percent chance to progress to Nascent Soul, it already surpassed ninety-nine percent of cultivators.

Moreover, the chance itself is ambiguous; for an individual, even a ninety-nine percent chance can fail, while those with upper and middle level true pills can also achieve True Monarch status.

Mostly based on success rates from previous generations attempting Nascent Soul.

Especially since Li Ji’an now knows the ancient legacies of the Taihao Realm and its prosperous cultivation.

Perhaps the path to Nascent Soul that is akin to climbing the heavens in the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm is merely like Foundation Establishment and Core Formation in the Taihao Cultivation Realm.

Upon emerging, Ning Sujin rushed into Li Ji’an’s embrace, making those who came to congratulate envious.

Later, amidst everyone’s praise, Ning Sujin chose her dao name: Yongning.

Not seeking immortality and eternal path, but for endless companionship and peaceful mutual guarding.

Ning Sujin, as the consorted companion of the commerce association’s tributor, was naturally regarded as part of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, which insisted on holding a Core Formation ceremony for her.

This grand ceremony was not limited to the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain but extended invitations in the name of the Commerce Alliance to medium and large cultivation domains in the eastern Great Marsh Cultivation Realm.

This was also Tong Yaoyao’s first step after becoming the Alliance Leader, to connect the eastern portion of the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm.

Considering participants from other domains, Ning Sujin’s Core Formation ceremony was scheduled for two years later.