Chapter 435 - 40: Five Years of Cultivation (Part 2)

Although Yao Rui’s Spirit Root was a few strands higher than his, her Physique and Divine Soul couldn’t compare. After advancing to the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation, she was no longer able to cultivate tirelessly like Li Ji’an.

Especially after she advanced to the 9th Layer of Qi Cultivation last year, she began to hone her Magical Power and even embarked on external expeditions.

As for the other two True Inheritors, Hu Zaiyi and Shen Xingchen, they took Sect tasks almost yearly over these five years, honing their Magical Power while depleting the Magical Power in their Dantian.

With a pause, Li Ji’an then asked, "Any news from Odd Stone Forest? Any trace of Senior Brother Zou?"

Lao Huang waved his hand, "Not a word in these three years."

Ever since Lao Huang visited Odd Stone Forest again five years ago, he frequently made trips there.

Clearly, he was quite concerned about Zou Qi.

However, three years ago, Zou Qi left a letter saying he intended to undertake the Red Dust Heart Refinement and then departed forever.

This departure was devoid of any news.

"Young master need not worry. Although Xiaoqi seems somewhat stubborn, he isn’t foolish. Moreover, as he is older and just entered as a Sword Cultivator, he must quickly find his Sword Dao path, or his life will be wasted." Lao Huang immediately comforted.

Li Ji’an stared at him, deeply suspecting Zou Qi was coaxed by him into the Red Dust Heart Refinement.

"Heh, why is young master looking at this old man like that?" Lao Huang smiled with a guilty conscience.

Li Ji’an waved his hand, letting go of thoughts about Zou Qi. Everyone has their own path, unless in life-threatening danger, he never intended to interfere with others’ paths, as everything is determined by fate.

"Has Xu Xiaochun come by?"

Lao Huang slightly furrowed his brows, "That little poison might be in trouble this time."

"Tell me." Li Ji’an remained calm, having some anticipation.

Five years ago, Xu Xiaochun risked entering the domain’s most dangerous Black Pool Cave for a middle Foundation Establishment opportunity, resulting in his Soul Jade shattering. Xiao Changfeng traveled tens of thousands of miles to rescue him.

Luckily, his fate wasn’t to perish, as Xiao Changfeng saved him from the brink.

However, his act of using Second Tier poison to kill numerous disciples from Dongli Sect and Qingmen Sect was revealed by surviving bystanders.

Subsequently, under the pressure from the two sects on Biyun Sect, Xiao Changfeng and Master Jade Pill staunchly supported him, along with Biyun Sect’s current understanding of the domain’s situation, they forcefully protected him.

He was spared due to the justification that Xu Xiaochun acted in self-defense.

Nonetheless, when he narrowly escaped and visited Li Ji’an, he shared his insights with no hesitation: Ping’an, remember, in the Cultivation Realm, always strike first and ensure no one survives to tell the tale, don’t be soft-hearted.

It’s clear, under the current domain environment, Xu Xiaochun is bound to be in trouble again.

"Half a year ago, after stabilizing his middle Foundation Establishment stage, the little poison visited Eighteen Spirit Strongholds and poisoned a Late Period Foundation Establishment True Inheritor from Qingmen Sect, reportedly one of Qingmen’s planned True Pill Seeds. Qingmen Sect is now furious, determined to exact revenge! The key is, there’s no evidence proving the other party struck first." Lao Huang clicked his tongue.

"..." Li Ji’an frowned deeply.

A True Pill Seed murdered by Xu Xiaochun, no sect would let it go.

"Where is Xu Xiaochun now?"

"He’s been confined in the back mountain."

Li Ji’an furrowed his eyebrows once more.

Why didn’t he flee at such a time, why come back?

But then, with an inevitable sigh.

Even though he spent a significant time in the sect in his past life, familiar with sect disciples’ situations.

It doesn’t compare to experiencing it firsthand in this life as a sect disciple, bringing greater clarity to their mentalities.

Like Xu Xiaochun, enduring a difficult childhood, humble like dirt, then entering the Upper Sect in adolescence, experiencing decades of sect ideology and comradeship, he holds high regard for the sect.

He’s fundamentally treated the sect as his real home, also a spiritual haven.

Unless faced with extreme grievances, resulting in complete disillusionment, he generally wouldn’t easily betray the sect.

"Follow me to the back mountain!" Li Ji’an commanded.

"Alright!" Lao Huang grinned, rising to lead the way.

The forbidden area in the back mountain is off-limits to ordinary disciples without permission, but Li Ji’an’s status as the Chief True Inheritor grants him this privilege.

"Senior Brother, don’t worry, Master and Uncle are trying to find a way. Don’t lose hope..."

Upon arriving at the back mountain, they immediately heard Guo Wanzhi shouting.

Due to the Divine Sense restrictions in the forbidden area, Guo Wanzhi couldn’t transmit her voice through Divine Sense, resorting to shouting at the entrance.

Usually gentle and elegant, Guo Wanzhi’s desperate screams clearly indicate her emotions towards Xu Xiaochun.

"Your Senior Sister comes daily." Lao Huang softly explained.

Li Ji’an flickered and quickly reached the entrance.

"Senior Sister, I’m going to see Senior Brother. Whatever you wish to say, tell me."

"Ping’an, your Senior Brother..." Upon seeing Li Ji’an, Guo Wanzhi could no longer hold back and burst into tears.

"Senior Sister, don’t worry too much. Master and Uncle might have a solution. I’ll see Senior Brother first."

"Ping’an, remind him never to give up on himself." Guo Wanzhi reiterated once more.

Li Ji’an nodded and glanced at the guard.

The guard immediately opened the restriction.

Soon, in a cave with only one layer of restriction, Li Ji’an saw Xu Xiaochun with disheveled hair.

At this moment, Xu Xiaochun no longer bore his usual cheerful demeanor, his face was blank and lost.

"Senior Brother." Li Ji’an stood outside the cave, softly calling.

"Ping’an!" Upon recognizing Li Ji’an’s voice, Xu Xiaochun suddenly returned to himself.

His eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating months without sleep, excessively drained in mind.

"What’s the situation now? What did the Sect Leader say? Did Uncle pass any word?" Xu Xiaochun’s voice was urgent, revealing true fear this time.

Li Ji’an, having lived six lifetimes, personally witnessed the fearless ones, mainly those devoid of desires or hope.

Xu Xiaochun still had ambition and hopes, responsibilities too; his fear wasn’t merely of death, but of unfulfilled ambitions and failures.

Li Ji’an shook his head, "Senior Brother, one must rely on oneself."

"I..." Xu Xiaochun’s face instantly dimmed.

"Ping’an, this wasn’t Senior Brother’s bloodlust; they deliberately used the Nine Revolutions Returning Pill remnants as bait to kill me..."

Li Ji’an unceremoniously interrupted him, "Senior Brother, none of that matters now. It’s all because the opponent was Qingmen’s True Pill Seed, while you’re merely a regular Inner Sect disciple, a commonplace Second Tier Pill Master!"

"Senior Brother, at any time, the most reliable support is yourself!" Unavoidably, he urged once more.

Xu Xiaochun looked directly at Li Ji’an, understanding his message, but the sect represented his spiritual home, the ease of routine, yet simultaneously a shackle locking him in.

Since joining the sect, everything was within it. Leaving it meant losing everything.

Seeing Xu Xiaochun still hesitant, Li Ji’an sighed, then relayed Guo Wanzhi’s words.

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

Unfortunately, the guarding disciple said Elder Changfeng had already been away for a month and hadn’t returned.

"I wonder what’s happening with Qingmen’s Fairy Yun Yao?" Under the current situation, perhaps only Xiao Changfeng and Fairy Yun Yao’s relationship offered a glimmer of hope.

However, since witnessing Fairy Yun Yao in the previous life, Li Ji’an heard no news of Xiao Changfeng with her.

Thinking it over, Li Ji’an shook his head.

Unless Xiao Changfeng and Yun Yao became Dao companions, Qingmen Sect as an Upper Sect, with their True Pill seedlings poisoned, must make a stand.

After much contemplation, Li Ji’an felt placing hope of survival in others was truly irresponsible.

If it were him, irrespective of being discovered or not, he wouldn’t return to the sect awaiting judgment!

"Enough! Leave it to his own fate." Returning to his Cave Mansion, Li Ji’an slowly exhaled, focusing his mind on his own path.

Now the Qi Refining Realm was achieved with Perfection. After some consolidation and honing the purity of Magical Power, it would be beneficial for advancing to Foundation Establishment.

Tomorrow, he applied for an external expedition.

The goal was to revisit the Immortal Dynasty!