Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation.

Chapter 229 True Dragon Nine Revolutions
After several unsuccessful attempts, Li Ji'an stopped wasting his time on internal conflicts.

He possesses the supernatural ability to reverse aging; the worst outcome would simply be premature rejuvenation.

The little fire spirit cleansed itself of the three items that Du Haizang had left behind, and then threw them back into the frog's mouth.

Then he looked at the Blood Spirit Saintess's storage bag.

Its storage bag had been burned by Qin Henian's talisman, causing even more severe damage. Inside, except for an iron scroll, everything was reduced to ashes.

The Blood of a Thousand Machines

Upon opening the iron scroll, four large characters came into view.

This made Li Ji'an raise an eyebrow slightly.

After quickly flipping through the pages, a smile appeared on Li Ji'an's face.

This is a secret technique created specifically for stimulating Qi and blood. It requires a high level of control over Qi and blood. Once mastered, one can not only invade the opponent's body with Qi and blood and devour their Qi and blood, but also merge with them and sense their movements within a thousand miles.

It also contains many cultivation insights and reflections.

After reading it through, Li Ji'an frowned secretly.

No wonder this kind of magic is called demonic art.

Because ordinary practitioners lack the energy and resources to simultaneously cultivate their bodies, and because cultivating this secret technique requires abundant qi and blood, it has evolved to the point that those who practice this secret technique now absorb the qi and blood of others to strengthen their own.

The "Thousand Machine Blood Guide" has nine levels, and based on the latest insights and understandings added to it, it should belong to Xue Ling'er. She has only cultivated to the late stage of the second level, and can release ten blood guides at once to invade the bodies of ten people. Those whose blood and qi are not as strong as hers will hardly be able to detect it.

However, the second-level Thousand Machine Blood Attraction is not enough to devour the life essence of others, and cannot cause any real damage to them for the time being.

Once one cultivates to the third level of the Blood-Drawing Secret Technique, one can control the blood and qi that invades the opponent's body to devour the opponent's life essence. When more than half of the opponent's life essence has been devoured, one can control the blood and qi to self-destruct, resulting in death and the dissipation of one's cultivation. It is truly insidious and vicious.

Given Li Ji'an's current level of Qi and blood, and his control over Qi and blood, reaching the second level should not be difficult.

"Surely this secret technique doesn't involve any underhanded tactics?" After spending several more days studying the technique, Li Ji'an decided to learn it.

This secret method is merely a way to control Qi and blood, eliminating the potential risks of being used as a fish-raising technique, similar to the "Immortal Golden Body Technique".

In Li Ji'an's view, the "Immortal Golden Body Technique" might actually be a body cultivation technique, but it was probably tampered with by the Golden Puppet Saint Monarch, or perhaps the Liu family patriarch chose an extreme cultivation method that led to it becoming a rotting corpse.

For the next six months, apart from his daily cultivation and talisman making, Li Ji'an spent most of his time cultivating the "Thousand Machine Blood Guide".

As for alchemy, the sect's shortage of pills is still not significant. The few alchemists on Dan Ding Peak are sufficient to handle the situation. In the past six months, only one fake alchemist elder asked him to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Du Haizang was still kept alive in the deep underground cave.

Until this day, Qin Henian sent a message.

"The matter of the Blood Spirit Saintess has been resolved, there is no need to worry anymore."

After Li Ji'an inquired, Qin He'nian said that according to the information he received from the border between the two domains, the Wanfa Palace acted tough this time, insisting on the original contract, that the life and death of cultivators who entered each other's cultivation domains were preordained, and that they should not interfere in the affairs of the other's cultivation domains on this basis.

At the same time, more of the geniuses from the Tiancang Domain who entered the Demon Domain died or were injured during this period.

Finally, the Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Corpse Puppet Sect and the Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Myriad Laws Palace met and further strengthened the agreement that True Core True Persons must not intervene.

Li Ji'an then went to Danding Peak to consult with Yu Dan Zhenren and verified the news from him.

This made things much easier for Li Ji'an.

Du Haizang can maintain this state of being a living dead for at least several more years, during which time he should be worry-free.

Back at his own spiritual peak, Li Ji'an called Guagua and Little Fire Spirit to his side.

With a "whoosh," two thin veils of qi and blood drifted towards them like smoke and mist, and then silently attached themselves to their respective bodies.

However, the little fire spirit's innate ability to incinerate everything instantly burned away Li Ji'an's life force.

The baby was completely unaware of the flow of Qi and blood through its skin, which eventually merged with the baby's Qi and blood.

Li Ji'an quickly sensed the presence of Qi and blood that shared the same origin as his own.

After half a year of cultivation, he has now entered the basics of the "Thousand Machine Blood Guide" and can release two streams of blood spirit power at once.

However, for now, it only has the effect of sensing.

"Come on!" Then, Li Ji'an had another sparring match with Guagua.

The second-tier mid-stage spirit beast, Guagua, possesses innate abilities of concealment and breath control, and its bloodline talent is the ability to control the universe within its mouth. Its attack power is not particularly outstanding.

This is comparable to Li Ji'an's current cultivation level. If Li Ji'an were to deal with Guagua with only the cultivation level of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and Guagua were not hiding, the two would be evenly matched, and either neither would gain an advantage, or both would suffer heavy losses.

However, with Li Ji'an's mid-stage second-tier Hundred-Refined Golden Body, Guagua's defense was insufficient, and it was basically in a passive and defensive position.

At this moment, Guagua is being drawn by Li Ji'an's blood spirit within its body, rendering its concealment ineffective against Li Ji'an. Apart from using earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magic or escaping into the ground), there is nothing else it can do.

"Quack~" A moment later, Quack could only lie on the ground with its four legs in the air, surrendering.

Li Ji'an smiled and shook his head, squatting down and stroking her snow-white belly: "Work hard and don't limit yourself. Besides, your bloodline has already undergone a transformation and is close to the superior grade. There is hope for you to advance to the third-order great demon."

Since Guagua advanced its bloodline, it has been cultivating diligently, but its progress has indeed been somewhat slow, simply because it is more difficult for a demon beast to advance to the third rank than for a human to condense a true core.

In the wild, every third-tier demon king dominates an area, having devoured countless demon cores of other demon beasts and obtained rare treasures of heaven and earth. Each third-tier demon king must have been through countless battles and survived numerous tribulations to carve out a bloody path.

Even the Liu family, a family with over a thousand years of experience in beast taming, can only cultivate one third-tier beast king with a pseudo-core in each generation, despite the combined efforts of the entire clan.

Aside from the beast core given to it by Li Ji'an, Guagua received little other help. Most importantly, it lacked the experience of fighting and the wildness of fighting to the death.

Li Ji'an is unable to help it with this for the time being.

"Next time we go to the Sishui Chamber of Commerce, let's see if they can trade for treasures that can help spirit pets form their cores in the Myriad Commerce Domain." After reassuring Guagua, Li Ji'an left him with something to look forward to.

"Quack quack~" The quack immediately jumped up, its big, bulb-like eyes blinking with anticipation.

"Don't worry, we've been master and pet together for a long time. If I attain enlightenment, you won't be any worse off!" Li Ji'an patted Guagua and then looked at the little fire spirit.

The little fire spirit instantly perked up, and the flames flickered as it moved closer.

"I will also gather information about the methods for the Fire Spirit Clan to advance. I can't guarantee too much, but I can definitely look forward to the day of their transformation." Ancient records state that a Holy Spirit of Heaven and Earth takes a hundred years to complete one year, and can transform after a thousand years.

In reality, a Holy Spirit needs to be promoted to the fourth level of Holy Spirit to take human form, which corresponds to the Nascent Soul True Monarch of the human race.

As for the advancement of the Fire Spirit, Li Ji'an currently has absolutely no useful information.

Previously, it was simply based on what the fire spirit instinctively wanted to be close to, and that's what it was allowed to be near.

However, whether it was initially nurtured with fire-type magic power from his dantian, or later returned to that red stone and even that withered branch, the progress was extremely slow.

Perhaps it's because my Foundation Establishment stage is insufficient, and I'm still unable to access some of the secrets about the Holy Spirit.

However, he believed that with each rejuvenation, as his own realm and status improved, he would eventually find a way to help the Fire Spirit advance.

Upon hearing this, the little fire spirit's flames flickered even more joyfully.

Seeing the two children's longing expressions, Li Ji'an's expression hardened:
"Today, I want to tell you two a secret: I have actually cultivated a special divine skill." Half a year ago, when he learned that a Nascent Soul True Monarch had branded his sea of ​​consciousness, Li Ji'an brought forward his plan to rejuvenate.

In order to ensure that his soul in this life leaves no trace, he can no longer use the soul-storing ants from his previous life to store his soul.

Moreover, this life is different from the previous life. In the previous life, Guagua was only a late-stage first-tier spirit beast with little intelligence, relying more on instinct, and its soul was also weaker.

In this world, the second-tier mid-stage spirit pet, the Fire Spirit, is a holy spirit of heaven and earth. If he were to use the method of storing the soul and maintaining the soul contract, he might not be able to succeed.

Moreover, even if one can maintain the contract by transferring a soul, one's own soul after rejuvenation cannot be bound again as it was in the previous life. This could even lead to the other party's resistance and trigger instinctive hatred, which would backfire and put oneself in danger.

In addition, having spent decades together in this life, the master and pets have a very close relationship, and he also understands the true nature of the two little ones.

Instead of playing tricks, let's talk about feelings.

Of course, the most important thing is to give them something to look forward to.

Only Li Ji'an can help them advance to a higher level.

"Quack~" The quack's eyes widened even more instantly, staring intently at Li Ji'an.

"The divine skill I cultivate is called True Dragon Nine Revolutions. Each revolution makes me stronger. After I complete a few more revolutions, I will definitely be able to help you become Demon Kings and Holy Spirits!" Li Ji'an affirmed.

"This is a secret between the three of us, and we must not tell anyone!" Li Ji'an added again, still somewhat shocked by the two children's reaction.

"Quack~" The quack had a long reaction time, and it didn't nod vigorously in response until Li Ji'an had finished speaking.

But the two little ones still looked completely bewildered.

“However, every time I reincarnate, I start from scratch, and I need you to protect me when I am at my weakest,” Li Ji’an explained.

"Quack~" This time, Quack reacted even faster than Little Fire Spirit.

At the same time, some distant memories surfaced in the frog's head.

It reminded it of that day sixty years ago.

Then a look of sudden realization appeared in its eyes.

Li Ji'an smiled slightly and decisively dissolved the soul contract with the two little ones.

At this moment, Guagua and Little Fire Spirit are no longer bound to him by a soul contract.

Even if the other party violates his will now, he cannot invoke the soul contract to intimidate the other party.

This is Li Ji'an's preliminary test for his next rejuvenation.

If the two little ones show some different traits from before during this period, or if they might exhibit uncontrollable behavior after he reverts to childhood, he can prepare in advance.

After the two little ones had their soul contract broken, they still looked at Li Ji'an with blank expressions, as if they didn't know what had happened.

After all these years, Li Ji'an has never truly used a soul contract to coerce the two of them.

For the next six months, Li Ji'an kept a close eye on the two little ones while he was cultivating and making talismans.

As always, the two little ones spent their days cultivating and playing on the spirit peak. At the same time, Guagua also took the time to clean up the spiritual plants in the herb garden, and the little fire spirit also liked to spend a lot of time resting on that withered branch.

"Let's go!" On this day, Li Ji'an sorted and packed the spirit talismans he had drawn over the past year, preparing to make another trip to Tianhe Immortal City to deliver them.

Although he didn't have a third-tier Heavenly Thunder Talisman as a trump card this time, the number of top-tier second-tier talismans had increased several times, and all of them were spirit talismans that could restrain demonic cultivators.

In addition, his powerful divine soul allows him to activate several top-tier second-order talismans in a short time, so the demonic cultivators who enter this place pose little threat to him.

Three months later, Li Ji'an reappeared at the Sishui Chamber of Commerce as an old man in hemp clothing.

Vice President Yuan breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Li Ji'an arrive a month early.

When Master Yuxiao made that decision a year ago, he was genuinely worried, fearing that the other party would take the talisman materials and never reappear.

After all, everyone knows that he is not the real person, and there are no tokens left behind. Once he disappears with the talisman, where can one find him in the vast sea of ​​people?
After looking at the talismans that Li Ji'an had given him, Yuan Shunyi's old face broke into a wide smile.

The quality of the talismans sold this year is an improvement.

Almost all of them were mid-to-high quality talismans in the late stage of the second tier, which completely exceeded Jade Flute Master's and his expectations.

"This girl has good taste!" Yuan Shunyi thought to himself, feeling even more satisfied with his granddaughter.

After paying Li Ji'an the agreed price in spirit stones, Yuan Shunyi personally poured him tea: "Please forgive me, sir. Yu Xiao went to the Wan Shang Domain half a year ago and probably won't be able to return for a while. She is unable to pay her respects to you this time."

"It's alright, I've only come to deliver the talisman." Li Ji'an took a sip of his drink.

"Oh, right, sir, please wait a moment. Just last month, a medicinal herb was delivered from the Wanshang Domain. Yuxiao said it seemed to be what you needed." Yuan Shunyi suddenly remembered this and hurriedly ordered someone to fetch it.

Li Ji'an nodded slightly.

Before long, a maid brought over a spiritual herb, which was the same third-tier spiritual herb that Jade Flute Immortal had mentioned seeing in the Myriad Merchants Domain.

Thus, the only ingredient missing from the Crystal Condensation Pill is the Mystic Ice Blue Lotus.

After putting away the elixirs, Yuan Shunyi handed over another batch of talisman materials to Li Ji'an ahead of schedule.

Li Ji'an then politely declined the invitation and left the Sishui Chamber of Commerce with the respectful farewell of the host.

However, just as they reached the entrance of the Chamber of Commerce, they encountered Qin Henian, who was rushing over.

"Sir, how have you been?"

"Master Qin, how have you been?" Li Ji'an replied with a smile.

"Haha, it seems that I, Qin, am truly destined to meet you, sir. A chance encounter is worse than an invitation. How about we have a couple more drinks?" Qin Henian said heartily.

Li Ji'an chuckled inwardly. Qin He'nian was clearly waiting for him, but he did not refuse.

A year ago, Li Ji'an helped Qin He'nian reach a cooperation agreement with the Sishui Chamber of Commerce, but he did not accept any benefits from Qin He'nian, which probably made him feel uneasy, given his personality.

The benefits that the Qin family gained from this were immeasurable. Because of the cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce, the Qin family's self-produced purple bamboo was able to be monetized, increasing the family's annual income by hundreds of thousands.

If this cooperation continues for several years, the Qin family's spiritual resources will skyrocket.

In addition, with its relationship with the Sishui Chamber of Commerce, the Qin family almost had the opportunity to trade within the Wanshang Domain.

Unlike the Heavenly Azure Domain, in the Myriad Merchants Domain, as long as you have enough spiritual resources, you can buy any true Core Formation spiritual treasure.

Qin Henian was overjoyed to receive the old man's approval.

He actually came to Tianhe Immortal City again two months ago. In addition to valuing the cooperation with the Sishui Chamber of Commerce and coming ahead of time, he also wanted to see the old man again.

A year ago, the Qin family had no hope of cooperating with the Sishui Chamber of Commerce. It was all thanks to the old man's kindness that they decided to cooperate. He was a grateful person, but unfortunately, he had come in a hurry and had nothing to give back to the old man.

He was well-prepared and determined to repay the old man's kindness.

(End of this chapter)