Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation.

Chapter 293 Five Years of Cultivation
To commend Li Ping'an for selflessly sharing his cultivation technique, after the sect leader and Elder Tian verified and understood it, Li Ping'an was immediately awarded a reward of more than two thousand sect contribution points.

The value of a sect's contribution is primarily related to the spiritual resources in the sect's treasury.

The sect's treasury is currently relatively full of spiritual resources, especially those within the third tier, so the value of the sect's contributions is also quite high.

Compared to the prices in Golden Immortal City, the exchange rate with spirit stones is roughly three times higher.

These two thousand-plus sect contribution points are enough to exchange for a mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pill from Dan Ding Peak.

Normally, the Biyun Sect would charge three or four thousand spirit stones for ancient techniques like the "Illusory Leaf Clone," and it would also require a spiritual contract that would prevent the technique from being passed on to outsiders.

However, since Li Ping'an voluntarily gifted it to the sect as the chief disciple, the nature of the gift was naturally very different, and a double premium was entirely justified.

Of course, the backgrounds of Xiao Changfeng, Yu Dan Zhenren, and the late Li Danshi played a significant role.

After returning from the main hall, Li Ji'an summoned Lao Huang.

"I would like to trouble you to make a trip to the Strange Stone Forest. Master has always been concerned about Senior Brother Zou. I wonder if he is doing well since we last parted. After all, it may not be a good thing that he only realized his own spiritual body when he was over forty years old."

"Rest assured, young master, this old servant will set off immediately." Old Huang's previously nonchalant expression instantly brightened.

After sending Lao Huang away, Li Ji'an activated a near-third-order restriction array in his secluded cultivation room.

During this experience, I met Guagua and Xiaohuoling at the Yan family home and learned some of my past life's trump cards.

Then, he slowly activated the bandit leader's soul that remained within the faceless mask.

Endless fragments of memories surged forth.

The Heart Sutra

Three days later, Li Ji'an finally found his goal.

According to their memories, this secret technique was the most important secret of the Wuyayu Hehuan Sect, which was used to turn their family against them. However, they were only taught the first level. The first purpose was to throw out a bait, and the second was to give them the means to hide their identities and cooperate from the inside.

It is said that the original intention of the Hehuan Sect in using this secret method was simply to make the person being drained of energy devote themselves to them wholeheartedly, to achieve a unity of mind and spirit, and a dual resonance between the soul and the body.

It is not entirely a secret technique of the soul, but also includes a hypnotic technique targeting the mind.

It can only be used on those whose spirit is weaker than one's own, and it is also related to one's willpower.

The effects also deepen over time.

Its core function is to help the other person build a complete set of memories and emotions about themselves.

It is somewhat similar to illusion, but illusions below the third rank are completely incomparable to it.

Illusions below the third rank can only guide the reconstruction of the target's original memories and cognition, but cannot implant completely unfamiliar people and things without reason.

The fundamental difference lies in the fact that illusions below the third level cannot penetrate the opponent's sea of ​​consciousness and can only affect the surface, while the secret arts of the soul take the invasion of the opponent's sea of ​​consciousness and mind as their main means.

The contact person from the Hehuan Sect told them that the first level of the secret technique they were now being taught only had a basic effect and could only affect the other party's superficial emotions.

If they can serve the Holy Sect loyally, they will be able to inherit the complete secret technique in the future. If they cultivate this secret technique to the third level, they can then use it to replenish the essence of any female cultivator in the Heavenly Azure Domain, even those who have reached the Core Formation stage in the upper sects.

This is clearly just empty talk, but it also indirectly illustrates the extraordinary nature of this secret method.

Li Ji'an memorized this technique, then withdrew his mind from the Formless Mask, dispelling the effects of the talisman.

Having already been taught two different techniques, especially those from the demonic cultivators of the Boundless Domain, he naturally couldn't possibly practice them himself.

At most, one should study and summarize the methods and techniques of this secret art to enrich one's own knowledge base.

"Phew~" Half a month later, Li Ji'an had a rough understanding of this secret technique and had a general idea of ​​its core principles. He would need to practice it himself to understand the more detailed aspects.

With his current spiritual foundation and divine sense comparable to the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage, cultivating this secret technique is not difficult for him.

However, he vaguely sensed that practicing this secret technique might have some negative impact on his mind.

Then I buried it in my heart and stopped thinking about it.

"Half a month should be enough to consolidate my skills. Let's continue cultivating!" Since he started cultivating, Li Ji'an has spent almost all his time cultivating, except for this trip out for training.

Thanks to his superior spiritual root in this life, and by cultivating wood-type techniques, his spiritual veins are fully capable of absorbing and refining spiritual energy during the Qi Refining stage, not to mention his already peak first-order physique and soul.

Furthermore, with a top-grade spiritual root, there are no bottlenecks in the Qi Refining stage.

Another major difference is that being a disciple of a sect is different from being a rogue cultivator in one's previous life.

He will never need to worry about spiritual veins or training grounds in this lifetime.

There's no need to worry about the main cultivation method.

There's no need to worry about pills, and you don't even need to refine them yourself.

There's no need to worry about their safety.

It allows one to wholeheartedly absorb spiritual energy and refine magical power.

……

Five years flew by.

"Twenty-three years old, peak Qi Refining stage!"

Li Ji'an slowly opened his eyes, feeling the powerful magic within his body reaching its limit, as if it couldn't wait to liquefy.

Given his current level of magical power, even without taking Foundation Establishment Pills, he would have a 70-80% success rate in attempting to establish his foundation on the spot.

The only drawback is that while its magical power is abundant and powerful, it is slightly lacking in purity.

After all, he has been cultivating and has not had time to hone his magical power yet.

After a short while, Li Ji'an walked out of the training chamber.

"Young master, Yao girl came again earlier to request a sparring match," Old Huang, who was lying in the courtyard sunbathing, reported with a simple smile.

"Ignore it." Li Ji'an nodded.

Although Yao Rui's spiritual root was a few strands higher than his, her physique and soul were incomparable. After advancing to the late stage of Qi Refining, she could no longer cultivate continuously like Li Ji'an.

Especially after he advanced to the ninth level of Qi Refining last year, he has spent a lot of time honing his magical power and even going out to gain experience.

As for the other two disciples, Hu Zaiyi and Shen Xingchen, they have taken on sect missions almost every year for the past five years, honing their magical power while simultaneously consuming it in their dantian.

After a pause, Li Ji'an asked again, "Is there any news from Qishilin? Is there any trace of Senior Brother Zou?"

Old Huang waved his hand: "We haven't heard a word from them for three years."

Since Lao Huang visited the Qishilin five years ago, he has frequently gone there.

He clearly cares a lot about Zou Qi.

However, three years ago, Zou Qi left a letter saying that he wanted to temper his heart in the mortal world before leaving.

After that, there was no further news of him.

“Young master, there’s no need to worry. Although Xiao Qi may seem a bit old-fashioned, he’s not stupid. Besides, he’s too old. He’s only just started as a swordsman and needs to find his own path in the sword as soon as possible, or his life will be wasted,” Old Huang then comforted him.

Li Ji'an stared straight at him, seriously suspecting that Zou Qi had been tricked into going to the mortal world to temper her heart.

"Hehe, why are you looking at this old man like that, young master?" Old Huang smiled somewhat guiltily.

Li Ji'an waved his hand, no longer thinking about Zou Qi. Everyone has their own path, and unless faced with a life-or-death crisis, he never intended to interfere with others' paths; everything is predestined. "Has Xu Xiaochun come by?"

Old Huang frowned slightly: "That little poisoner is probably in trouble this time."

"Tell me," Li Ji'an said calmly, as if he had expected this.

Five years ago, Xu Xiaochun risked entering the most dangerous Black Pool Cavern in the region in order to obtain a mid-stage Foundation Establishment opportunity. As a result, his Soul Jade was shattered, and Xiao Changfeng traveled hundreds of thousands of miles to rescue him.

Fortunately, the boy was not destined to die; he was rescued by Xiao Changfeng after being driven into a desperate situation.

However, the fact that he used a second-tier poison to kill a group of disciples from the Dongli Sect and Qingjiang Sect was still exposed by surviving passersby.

Subsequently, when the two sects jointly pressured the Biyun Sect, Xiao Changfeng and Yu Dan Zhenren stood up for him. In addition, the Biyun Sect had already seen through the situation in the region and no longer wanted to compromise, so they strongly protected him.

That's how Xu Xiaochun was spared, even though he was only acting in self-defense.

However, when he came to find Li Ji'an after escaping this calamity, Li Ji'an asked him what he had learned from this experience. Without hesitation, the fellow shared his experience and lessons with Li Ji'an: Ping'an, you must remember that when you travel in the cultivation world in the future, you must strike first and always remember to kill to silence witnesses. Do not be soft-hearted and leave any survivors.

Therefore, given the current environment in the region, Xu Xiaochun is bound to get into trouble again.

"Six months ago, after Little Poisoner stabilized his mid-Foundation Establishment, he went to the Eighteen Spirit Village and poisoned a late-Foundation Establishment disciple of Qingjiang Sect. It is said that he was also a potential True Core cultivator within Qingjiang Sect. This time, Qingjiang Sect is furious and will definitely make Little Poisoner pay for his blood debt! The key is that there are no witnesses to prove that the other party attacked first." Old Huang clicked his tongue.

“…” Li Ji’an frowned.

No sect would let the fact that the True Core Seed was poisoned by Xu Xiaochun go unpunished.

Where is Xu Xiaochun now?

"They have been locked up in the back mountain."

Li Ji'an frowned again.

Why come back if you're not running away at a time like this?
However, he then sighed helplessly.

Although I spent a long time in the sect in my previous life and had some understanding of the situation of the sect disciples.

But after all, it wasn't something I experienced firsthand.

Having personally experienced the lives of sect disciples, I have gained a clearer understanding of their character and thoughts.

Like Xu Xiaochun, who suffered hardship in his childhood and was as humble as dirt, he entered a high sect in his youth and experienced decades of ideological education and the influence of his fellow disciples, so he had a very high degree of recognition of the sect.

They essentially regarded the sect as their home and a haven for their souls.

Unless they suffer immense injustice and become utterly disheartened, they generally do not easily betray their sect.

"Come with me to the back mountain!" Li Ji'an ordered.

"Alright!" Old Huang grinned and got up to lead the way.

Ordinary disciples are not allowed to enter the forbidden area in the back mountain without permission, but Li Ji'an's status as the chief disciple grants him this privilege.

"Senior brother, don't worry. Grandmaster and Uncle are both trying to find a solution. Don't give up on yourself..."

As soon as we arrived at the back of the mountain, we heard Guo Wanzhi shouting.

The forbidden area in the back mountain is restricted by divine sense, so Guo Wanzhi cannot transmit her thoughts through divine sense. Therefore, she can only shout at the entrance of the mountain.

The usually gentle and elegant Guo Wanzhi shouted with all her might, which was enough to show her feelings for Xu Xiaochun.

“Your senior sister comes every day,” Old Huang explained in a low voice.

Li Ji'an flashed and quickly arrived at the entrance.

"Senior sister, I'm going to see senior brother. Tell me anything you want to say."

“Ping An, your senior brother…” When Guo Wanzhi saw Li Ji’an, she could no longer hold back and burst into tears.

"Senior sister, don't worry too much. Grandmaster and Uncle might have a solution. I'll go see senior brother first."

"Ping An, remember to tell him that he must not give up on himself," Guo Wanzhi reminded him again.

Li Ji'an nodded and glanced at the guard.

The guard immediately lifted the restriction.

Not long after, in a cave with only one layer of restrictions, Li Ji'an met Xu Xiaochun, whose hair was disheveled.

At this moment, Xu Xiaochun was no longer the playful person she used to be; her face was numb and blank.

"Senior brother," Li Ji'an called softly from outside the cave.

"Peace!" Xu Xiaochun suddenly came back to his senses upon hearing Li Ji'an's voice.

His eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept well for months and was suffering from severe mental and physical exhaustion.

"What's the situation now? What did the sect leader say? Did my martial uncle pass on any messages?" Xu Xiaochun's voice was urgent, and it was clear that he was truly afraid this time.

Having lived six lifetimes, Li Ji'an had personally witnessed that those who were not afraid of death were basically people who had no desires, wants, or hopes.

People like Xu Xiaochun, who still have lofty ambitions, a bright future, and a sense of responsibility, are not afraid of death, but of not being able to fulfill their ambitions and of letting others down.

Li Ji'an shook his head: "Senior brother, one must rely on oneself."

“I…” Xu Xiaochun’s face instantly darkened.

“Ping An, this time it wasn’t because my senior brother was bloodthirsty, but because they deliberately tried to lure me to their deaths with a clue that seemed to be a remnant of the Nine Revolutions Rejuvenation Pill recipe…”

Li Ji'an interrupted him without any politeness: "Senior brother, none of that matters. The reason for this is simply because the other party is a true alchemy seed of Qingjiang Sect, while you are just an ordinary inner disciple of Biyun Sect and an ordinary second-level alchemist!"

"Senior brother, at any time, your most reliable support is yourself!" I couldn't help but remind you again.

Xu Xiaochun stared straight at Li Ji'an. He naturally understood what Li Ji'an meant. However, the sect was both his spiritual haven and the warm bed of his life, and at the same time, it was a shackle that kept him firmly locked here.

Since entering the sect, everything he has has been within the sect; once he leaves the sect, he will lose everything.

Seeing that Xu Xiaochun was still unable to make up his mind, Li Ji'an could only sigh and then relay Guo Wanzhi's words.

After leaving the back mountain, Li Ji'an visited Xiao Changfeng's True Pill Cave again.

Unfortunately, the disciple on duty said that Elder Changfeng had been gone for a month and had not yet returned.

"I wonder what the situation is between him and Fairy Yunyao of Qingjiang Sect?" In the current situation, perhaps only the relationship between Xiao Changfeng and Fairy Yunyao offers a glimmer of hope.

However, ever since he met Fairy Yun Yao in his previous life, Li Ji'an had never heard any news about Xiao Changfeng or her.

After thinking for a moment, Li Ji'an shook his head.

Unless Xiao Changfeng and Yun Yao become Daoist partners, Qingjiang Sect, as a superior sect, must step forward no matter what if a True Core seedling is poisoned.

After much deliberation, Li Ji'an still felt that placing one's hopes for survival on others was far too frivolous.

If it were him, even if he were to be discovered, at least he wouldn't run back to his sect to await judgment!

"So be it! It's all up to fate." After returning to his cave, Li Ji'an slowly exhaled, calmed his mind, and focused on his future.

Now that the Qi Refining Realm has been perfected, it's time to settle down and refine the purity of one's magical power, which will benefit the Foundation Establishment stage.

The following day, he applied to go out and gain experience.

The purpose is to return to the Immortal Dynasty!
(End of this chapter)