Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation.

Chapter 427 Returning to the Clan and Slaying the Bandits

The first time I saw Tong Yaoyao in my first life in the cultivation world, she was just a little girl of thirteen or fourteen.

When they met again in their second life, he was already a mid-stage Foundation Establishment expert, but his personality hadn't changed much.

By the time his second life was nearing its end, his cultivation at the mid-stage of Core Formation was almost enough to allow him to roam freely throughout the realm.

Upon their reunion, he was still stuck at the mid-stage of Core Formation and unable to break through.

It's unclear whether it's due to the constraints imposed by the Hehuan Sect over the past century or whether its potential has reached its limit.

His temperament has changed a lot as he's gotten older.

He became more vigilant, composed, and reserved.

Her physical appearance has also become much fuller and more robust, somewhat resembling Tong Xiangyu from back then.

After their conversation, Tong Yaoyao was deeply moved and bowed deeply to Li Ji'an.

Li Ji'an explained his actions by saying that he owed his success in achieving the Golden Core stage to the Golden Core treasure he had given to his master a hundred years ago, and that his master had repeatedly instructed him before his death to repay his great-aunt's kindness if he had the chance in the future.

"Not bad, I never imagined that the old Li lineage, which came to this world at the same time as Aunt Yao, would produce such a genius as you in just three generations!" After carefully examining Li Ji'an's "hidden aura" state, Tong Yaoyao's face was full of satisfaction and nostalgia.

At this moment, Li Ji'an used the "Qi Concealment" secret technique of "Deceiving Heaven" to maintain his cultivation aura at the mid-stage of the True Core Formation realm.

When Tong Yaoyao mentioned Old Li, Li Ji'an was also slightly moved. In the blink of an eye, three lifetimes had passed.

"Grandma, you flatter me. Ping An only managed to form his core by standing on the shoulders of his master and grandmaster."

Tong Yaoyao shook her head helplessly: "Please don't call me Auntie anymore. I'm not that old, am I? Besides, the cultivation world doesn't respect seniority. Those who are accomplished come first. Now that our cultivation levels are similar, let's just call each other Fellow Daoist."

"Moreover, you risked everything to save me, like an egg hitting a rock. I don't know how to repay such a life-saving grace."

Li Ji'an couldn't refuse and finally accepted being addressed as a fellow Daoist. However, he repeatedly waved his hand at the mention of being saved by the Daoist: "Fellow Daoist Tong, please don't talk about gratitude anymore. If we're talking about gratitude, you haven't even repaid the kindness you showed to my master yet."

"You really are just like your master," Tong Yaoyao said with a smile, shaking her head.

After exchanging pleasantries, Tong Yaoyao's expression gradually darkened. She looked at Li Ji'an and asked, "Since your pretense of being a True Monarch is likely to be exposed, this place is not a place to stay for long. Where do you intend to go?"

Li Ji'an was slightly taken aback. He had originally planned to cultivate in seclusion in Funiu Mountain for another 60 years, and leave only after reaching the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm.

However, this plan is no longer feasible now that Tong Yaoyao needs to be saved.

Not to mention that Huang Qiyu might realize what's happening or find a helper like the Golden Puppet Saint King to come back and kill them.

Given the current situation within the Yellow Heaven Domain, all the major powers know the identity of the Evergreen Talisman Master and even sent out the message of the Heavenly Beings Exorcising Demons in advance. After tracking them down, the identity of Funiu Mountain is naturally no longer useful.

If we were to change our identity now, it would seem like we were burying our heads in the sand.

In addition, after advancing to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, he discovered that the spiritual resources in the eastern part of the Great Swamp were really limited. Even though the old thief Chun Yuan worked hard day and night to refine pills to support him, his progress was still slow.

Besides the fact that the Golden Elixir has more condensed magical power and requires more spiritual energy than ordinary magic pills, it is also because the Golden Elixir contains Daoist rhyme, which is subtly in harmony with the Heavenly Dao, and advancement is related to Daoist rhyme.

The central part of the entire Great Swamp cultivation world is the core of the spiritual veins and is regarded as the source of cultivation in this area.

Whether it's spiritual energy or Daoist charm, it's the best here.

This is why ordinary Golden Core cultivators, after stabilizing their Golden Core stage, would go to the central region to seek their Dao opportunities.

When Li Ji'an first achieved the Golden Core stage in the Wanshang Domain, if it weren't for the encirclement and capture by Tong Jiesheng, Chun Yuan the old thief, and others, he would most likely have planned to go to the central region.

He then had no choice but to feign an attack and return to the Heavenly Azure Domain, hoping to stabilize his early Golden Core stage before making his move.

However, he discovered the existence of the Northern Profound True Lord within the Nascent Soul of the Myriad Laws True Lord. This made him wary of the Central Region, where the Northern Profound True Lord resided.

Although he did not leave the temple easily, Ning Sujin clearly sensed that the Dao principles he brought were similar to her own divination methods, and he was most likely also a master of divination.

Li Ji'an was unwilling to gamble.

Therefore, he is actually finding it difficult to make a decision right now.

"I have no plans for the time being," Li Ji'an replied after a moment's thought.

Tong Yaoyao frowned slightly, knowing that Li Ji'an had indeed suffered a great loss for her sake.

Even for ordinary Core Formation cultivators, a spiritually rich place like the core Daoist temple of Funiu Mountain is extremely precious, and many independent cultivators find it difficult to possess.

Li Ji'an lost such a good place for cultivation in order to save her.

“Ping An, the Fei Hong Dojo of the Wan Shang Domain Alliance is even better than the Tianchi Dojo of Funiu Mountain. Would you like to go with me?” Tong Yaoyao’s expression turned solemn and her tone became firm.

Li Ji'an looked at Tong Yaoyao with slight surprise. He had thought that since she had escaped death, she would most likely stay away from the family and business alliance forces under Tong Jiesheng, who had abandoned her.

Unexpectedly, he actually had this intention.

"You want to return to your clan?"

Tong Yaoyao nodded slowly: "Without the spiritual resources of the clan, I would have had difficulty advancing to the late stage of Core Formation."

He then added, "To hand over the family to such a heartless and insane old thief would be a disservice to our ancestors!"

Li Ji'an could sense the murderous intent in his heart.

"Help me kill that old thief, and I'll split the merchant alliance with you!" Finally, he stared intently at Li Ji'an, his eyes filled with anticipation.

She had no doubt about Li Ji'an's ability to rescue her from the Hehuan Sect.

Although on the surface its strength was not as good as his own, the third-tier great demon and the secret technique of pretending to be a True Monarch, as Li Ji'an himself said, were great help.

"All I need is for you to help me intimidate the old thief with the power of a True Lord, and for that great demon to assist me."

"That old thief lacks natural talent and only managed to reach the late stage of Core Formation by relying on his family's spiritual resources. In terms of actual combat strength, he is at most on par with me now. I'm 60% confident!" Tong Yaoyao added again, worried about Li Ji'an and Li Fan's cautious nature.

"Okay!" Li Ji'an smiled faintly and agreed without hesitation.

Tong Jiesheng and Chun Yuan are two agents of the Northern Mysterious True Lord in the eastern part of the Great Swamp.

The old thief Chun Yuan has now been completely subdued by him and is no longer a threat.

Tong Jiesheng must be eliminated.

If he were to die, leaving only the old thief Chun Yuan, it would be even more advantageous for him.

Furthermore, when they were at Funiu Mountain, Tong Jiesheng had already made a bet with Li Ji'an, and he had already lost his life.

Now it's time to fulfill the bet.

"Hmm? Good, you haven't inherited your master's temperament." Tong Yaoyao was taken aback by his quick agreement, then delighted.

"However, the old thief is probably as frightened as a bird now, so we'll have to put in some effort to find him." Then they began to formulate a plan.

“That’s not a problem, we have another reliable helper.” Li Ji’an no longer hid anything and brought up the old thief Chun Yuan.

(End of this chapter)