Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation

Li Ji'an's straightforward words made Liu Jiuchan slightly narrow his eyes.

He wanted a promise!

Promises in the cultivation world are not easily given.

Although not as extreme as heart demon oaths or soul contracts, which would inevitably lead to backlash upon violation, they still concerned the cause and effect in the dark, and ordinary cultivators would not easily break their promises unless in special circumstances.

"What kind of promise do you want?" The fact that he could so directly ask for benefits showed that he was not an ordinary, inexperienced rogue cultivator. Liu Jiuchan knew that he was not easy to fool, so he simply stopped pretending.

"I hope that one day, Li can purchase a demon beast core from you, Fellow Daoist Liu." Li Ji'an did not specify a blood core, as that would be too obvious. It was not yet appropriate to expose the trump card of Gua Gua before Foundation Establishment.

"Purchase a demon beast core?" Liu Jiuchan's expression relaxed slightly.

Then, he used the unique Spirit Controlling Art of the Beast Taming family to sense around, but did not detect any spirit beast aura near Li Ji'an.

"Alright, as long as you are not a wanted thief cultivator in the territory, nor a demonic or heretical cultivator, I can give you this promise. I can sell you a demon beast core in the future."

Li Ji'an cupped his fist and pointed to the three Spirit Restricting Talismans in Xiao Changfeng's hand: "Fellow Daoist Liu is generous. These three Spirit Restricting Talismans will be sold to you at an 80% discount."

With Li Ji'an's consent, Xiao Changfeng handed the three Spirit Restricting Talismans to Liu Jiuchan.

"No need!" Liu Jiuchan did not appreciate the gesture. After receiving the Spirit Restricting Talismans, he directly threw out fifty spirit stones.

Spirit Restricting Talismans were too niche and not particularly difficult to draw. These three were only mid-stage Spirit Restricting Talismans, and the market price was at most fifteen spirit stones each.

He gave fifty spirit stones, which was a slight premium.

"Fellow Daoist Liu is generous," Li Ji'an complimented.

"Farewell!" After obtaining the Spirit Restricting Talismans, Liu Jiuchan did not waste any more time and flew away.

Watching Liu Jiuchan's change in attitude before and after obtaining the Spirit Restricting Talismans, Xiao Changfeng frowned slightly, and his eyes showed a hint of recognition towards Li Ji'an.

If he had followed his own subconscious thought of giving the three Spirit Restricting Talismans to the other party as a favor, hoping that the other party would remember this kindness, it would have seemed a bit naive.

It was far better than Li Ji'an's approach, with actual spirit stone income and a concrete promise.

After a moment of silence, he felt that he had learned something.

"Brother Xiao, I'll go over there to try my luck again," Li Ji'an said, bringing him back to his senses.

"Okay, Brother Li, be careful."

——

After parting with Xiao Changfeng again, Li Ji'an took Xiao Qiao and followed the direction of Gua Gua.

Three days later, as they were about to enter the forbidden area of ​​Flame Mountain, the little spirit flame finally stopped, curling up weakly next to a stone underground.

Gua Gua kept its distance, silently staring.

After Li Ji'an arrived near the area, he did not act rashly, but carefully advanced, burying Spirit Restricting Talismans around the perimeter.

He now had six mid-stage and three late-stage talismans left, which was enough.

A moment later, with the spirit flame as the center, a mid-stage Spirit Restricting Talisman was buried in each direction within a thirty-foot radius. With the effective range of four mid-stage Spirit Restricting Talismans, the entire area was almost completely enveloped, and even if the spirit flame was alarmed, it would not be able to escape.

"Swish~" When everything was ready, Li Ji'an stood twenty feet away and suddenly activated a mid-stage Spirit Restricting Talisman towards the location of the spirit flame.

The spirit flame was startled when the talisman shot into the ground, but its reaction was still a bit slow.

"Open!" As Li Ji'an used his divine sense to activate the Spirit Restricting Talisman, a circle of vibration spread out from the center of the Spirit Restricting Talisman, instantly enveloping the spirit flame that had not yet moved.

"Success!" Li Ji'an was overjoyed and quickly stepped forward.

Through Gua Gua's vision, the overall fire spirit power of the spirit flame plummeted the moment it was enveloped by the Spirit Restricting Talisman, and its momentum weakened by seventy or eighty percent.

Gua Gua immediately drilled out of the ground, taking Li Ji'an and Xiao Qiao with it into the ground.

"Huh?" However, in this brief moment of going up and down, when they tunneled underground again, where was the spirit flame within the Spirit Restricting Talisman?

"What's going on?" Li Ji'an frowned.

According to many ancient books, spirit flames have no intelligence and rely only on instinct. Once they lose their spirit machine induction, they will petrify on the spot, and can simply be collected with a special jade bottle imprinted with a solid spirit rune.

He had clearly just seen it trapped within the range of the Spirit Restricting Talisman, so how could it run away on its own?

Without time to think, he directly activated the four Spirit Restricting Talismans previously buried.

"It's there!" Xiao Qiao suddenly pointed in a direction and shouted.

"Chase!" Gua Gua hurriedly accelerated its tunneling speed.

The next moment, within the range covered by the Spirit Restricting Talisman previously arranged, a spirit flame with a darker color was desperately trying to escape outward.

"That's not right!"

Seeing with his own eyes that it could still move within the area already covered by the Spirit Restricting Talisman, Li Ji'an's heart skipped a beat.

"Could it be that this thing is not a spirit flame?"

Amidst surprise and doubt, Li Ji'an had no time to think carefully, and took out all three late-stage Spirit Restricting Talismans from his storage bag.

"Restrict!" Seeing that the spirit flame was about to escape the range of that mid-stage Spirit Restricting Talisman, Li Ji'an unhesitatingly activated a late-stage Spirit Restricting Talisman.

Buzz~

Compared to the former, the late-stage Spirit Restricting Talisman had a larger range and a stronger degree of isolating the spirit machine.

The moment the spirit flame was enveloped, its momentum dropped by another three points.

However, it still had the strength to slowly move forward, wanting to escape the range of the Spirit Restricting Talisman.

"Hmm?" Li Ji'an's expression froze.

This late-stage Spirit Restricting Talisman could theoretically trap a second-order spirit flame, but this small flame, which was obviously weaker than a first-order spirit flame, could still move.

"Restrict!" Li Ji'an activated the second late-stage Spirit Restricting Talisman again.

The small flame's momentum weakened once again, but it could still move.

However, with the blessing of two late-stage Spirit Restricting Talismans, its movements were already faltering.

Li Ji'an stepped forward to observe carefully. The small flame was only the size of a palm, and only had one cluster of flame core. Its fire-based power was also weak.

"Apart from the lack of power and poor flame color, it is no different from a first-order spirit flame..."

After examining it for a long time, Li Ji'an was even more puzzled.

"Could it be that the ancient books are wrong?"

"Eh? This is..."

However, just as he began to doubt the records in the ancient books, an unexpected scene appeared again.

He saw the spirit flame trying hard, but when it finally gave up, it suddenly slowly lowered half of its flame towards Li Ji'an's direction, and floated up and down.

"This... is it bowing? This thing has intelligence!" Li Ji'an was really shocked.

He immediately released his divine sense to try to sense it.

"Sure enough!" As soon as his divine sense made contact, the spirit flame had no reaction. After several probes, he actually sensed the weak divine soul power released within the spirit flame.

This proved that this spirit flame also possessed intelligence.

Even though the divine soul power it released was weak, the intelligence contained within seemed to be no less than that of Gua Gua.

Before long, after many attempts, Li Ji'an connected with the other party's spiritual thoughts with his divine sense.

Compared to the initial communication with Gua Gua, communicating with this spirit flame was even more difficult.

This spirit flame's communication method was very primitive and obscure. It took nearly an hour to resonate with some basics.

Finally, after communication and exchange, Li Ji'an's surprise and doubt were explained:

"It is not a spirit flame alien fire that has been shed without life or intelligence, but a fire-type holy spirit born here for nearly a hundred years!"

This result shocked the already surprised and doubtful Li Ji'an even more.

Holy Spirit!

A fire-type holy spirit that only existed in legends of the ancient times!

A hundred years for a load, a thousand years to take shape.

The naturally born and raised holy spirits possess far more power than other races, and are invincible at the same level in the battle of all races.

It is also because of its small number and long growth period, otherwise, it might have become the supreme being in this world long ago.

Li Ji'an did not hesitate to try to establish a divine soul contract with it using divine soul secret techniques.

Compared to the spirit flame, the fire spirit in front of him was naturally more precious and had a promising future.

The most ⊥ new ⊥ small ⊥ say ⊥ in ⊥ six ⊥9⊥⊥ book ⊥⊥ bar ⊥⊥ first ⊥ hair!

"Little Fire Spirit, follow me from now on, I will raise you, you don't have to be afraid here anymore, and you don't have to worry about insufficient spirit machine. I have fire-based mana, and I can also find fire-based heavenly materials and earthly treasures for you..."

While trying to forcibly suppress it with his divine sense, he also sincerely recruited it.

During the period, he also activated the fire-based mana in his dantian to wrap the fire spirit, inducing it to devour and absorb it.

"Huff~ Huff~" Although the little fire spirit had been born for nearly a hundred years, it was considered less than one year old among the holy spirits. Sensing the meaning expressed by Li Ji'an, it was a little confused.

However, feeling Li Ji'an's fire-based mana, it felt very comfortable. Although it contained insufficient spirit machine, the fire-based energy was sufficient, and it liked to absorb it very much.

Just as it was absorbing the fire-based mana, inattentively, Li Ji'an's divine sense imprint took advantage of the opportunity.

"Buzz~" The little fire spirit's body suddenly straightened, and an unusually clear and magnificent sound appeared deep in its soul, and there was an irresistible force that made it subconsciously want to execute.

"I will be your master from now on, you have to listen to me, I will treat you well."

The moment the imprint was branded, Li Ji'an was delighted.

Unless the imprint was cleared by others, or it broke through the imprint on its own, it would obey his orders.

Compared to the spirit pet contract with Gua Gua, this divine soul imprint control was still a bit weak.

However, for the little fire spirit, which was only equivalent to a one-year-old human, it was enough for the time being.

"Receive!" With a thought, the little fire spirit's flame power converged. Li Ji'an cautiously reached out and touched it, and could only feel a trace of warmth, without any burning sensation.

Then, he wrapped it with fire-based mana and put it into his dantian.

Inspecting his dantian, the little fire spirit felt satisfied upon entering it, and greedily absorbed the fire-based mana.

Fortunately, it was still small and needed very little mana. It was already satisfied after a few mouthfuls, and enjoyed the moisturizing sensation of being wrapped in fire-based mana even more.

"What a great surprise!" After carefully observing for a long time and confirming that there was nothing wrong, Li Ji'an breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on his face.

This fire spirit had been born for nearly a hundred years, and was theoretically a first-order holy spirit, but because the spirit machine here had been relatively scarce during these hundred years, and the fire-based spiritual energy was almost cut off, its growth had been somewhat delayed.

As long as there was sufficient fire spirit nourishment in the following years, it should soon be able to restore its true first-order power.

When it restored its first-order fire spirit power, it would have a pill fire equivalent to a second-order alchemist, which could assist him in refining second-order pills.

"This trip is complete!" Li Ji'an instructed Gua Gua to take him out of the ground.

He wanted to seek a spirit flame, but unexpectedly obtained a fire-type holy spirit.

In addition, he also laid a foundation for Gua Gua's future need for an advanced blood pill.

"Uncle Li, that stone is special." Just as he was about to send a message to Xiao Changfeng to return home, Xiao Qiao suddenly tugged at Li Ji'an's clothes and said.

"Stone?" Li Ji'an followed Xiao Qiao's finger, remembering that he had seen it through Gua Gua's vision before. It was the stone where the fire spirit lived.

"Could there be another surprise?" With joy, Li Ji'an communicated with the little fire spirit.

"Huff~ Huff~" The fire spirit quickly responded.

"You were born from that stone?" Li Ji'an's breathing stagnated.

How could a stone that could give birth to a fire-type holy spirit be simple?

"Gua Gua, take me down." Immediately, Li Ji'an went down to the ground.

The stone in front of him, which seemed no different from other stones that had been baked by hot air for many years, was actually able to give birth to a fire-type holy spirit.

Li Ji'an fully released his divine sense, but could not see the slightest abnormality.

He released his mana to probe, but there was also no reaction.

If Xiao Qiao and the fire spirit had not revealed its peculiarities, he would have really regarded it as an ordinary stone.

It was the size of a washbasin, black and red without luster, without any divine soul feedback, and without any unusual aura.

He weighed it in his hand, and the weight was also normal.

Unable to discern its secrets for the time being, Li Ji'an no longer hesitated, and let Gua Gua swallow it into the space within its mouth. He would return to Immortal City and thoroughly investigate the secrets of the birth of fire-type holy spirits. There should be some gains.

"Now it's completely complete!" Returning to the ground again, Li Ji'an smiled contentedly.

He touched Xiao Qiao's head: "Xiao Qiao, Uncle Li has to thank you properly this time. What do you want?"

Having known Xiao Qiao for nearly eight years, her attitude towards Li Ji'an had changed from initial timidity to acceptance, and then to closeness after Granny You entrusted her to Li Ji'an. Especially after she and Gua Gua became playmates and relaxed, she now had some reliance on Li Ji'an.

Whether it was because of her experience of being abandoned since childhood, or because she felt Li Ji'an's sincerity and kindness, she had taken the initiative to inform Li Ji'an of her divine ability before this trip, in her own words: she could see special things underground since she was a child.

After this trip to Flame Mountain, Li Ji'an was completely convinced.

"Don't leave me behind," Xiao Qiao stared at Li Ji'an with her big eyes, expressing her heartfelt request.

Li Ji'an paused, and said affirmatively: "Okay! I promise you."

After speaking, Li Ji'an first took Gua Gua back into the spirit pet bag, then picked up Xiao Qiao, and then sent a message to Xiao Changfeng.

Before long, Li Ji'an and Xiao Changfeng met.

"Brother Li, perhaps the traces we saw before were not spirit flames, but some kind of fire-type monster beast," Xiao Changfeng also had the intention of leaving.

Apart from the five months on the road, he had already spent a month in this hot land.

He had been remembering the tragedy he had seen on the way, and was even more interested in taking on this task of the sect.

"Brother Xiao is right, it's time to give up. We'll return immediately," Li Ji'an nodded.

A month and a half later, the two passed by the Ma family's territory again, but this time Xiao Changfeng did not stop.

At this time, it was exactly five and a half months since the gang of bandits left this place, and he received a message from Yan Qingwan.

First, she thanked him for his timely notification. A few days ago, the gang of bandits really arrived in the wilderness and intended to attack a Foundation Establishment family.

Fortunately, they had made arrangements in advance. Apart from the Zheng family, the other five Foundation Establishment families were on guard at all times.

Just as they were about to attack, the five families unexpectedly launched an attack, catching them off guard.

However, there were many bandits, and at least three Foundation Establishment Daoists were in charge. They did not severely damage the other party, and now the situation in the wilderness was becoming increasingly chaotic.