Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation

Ning Yutan was only two months shy of seventeen when she reached the Bone Forging Realm's completion, a feat that would rank her among the top ten in the entire Chong'an Prefecture's historical records.

If there were no unexpected events, she would likely become a true Immortal Seed in the Immortal Seed Grand Ceremony three years from now.

Therefore, Marquis Dingyuan was overjoyed and hosted a banquet for guests from all directions.

The fellow students of the Immortal Seeking Academy were naturally invited to the Marquis's mansion.

The carved beams and painted rafters, the winding paths leading to secluded spots—everywhere in the Marquis's mansion exuded an aura of splendor, filling everyone with admiration and envy.

In the Immortal-Bestowed Dynasty, due to the relationship between the royal family and immortals, true martial arts were revered, and almost all power and glory were tied to martial arts and, even more so, to Immortal Seeds.

Marquis Dingyuan's ancestor was a founding meritorious official who was granted the title of Marquis. To preserve this title or even advance further, one's fate was also tied to Immortal Seeds. If the Marquis's mansion could produce a true Immortal Seed, there would be a chance to enter the imperial city and be promoted to Duke.

To cultivate Immortal Seeds, the Marquis's mansion not only frequently arranged marriages with meritorious nobles and martial arts families but also recruited martial arts experts. Therefore, they had a close relationship with the Immortal Seeking Academy.

They also paid close attention to the good seedlings of the Immortal Seeking Academy.

"Father, Mother, this is Li Ji'an. He has great talent. In the Immortal Seeking Academy, he's only slightly behind me and has a limitless future," Ning Yutan introduced Li Ji'an separately while the others from the Immortal Seeking Academy offered their congratulations.

This action immediately drew the attention of the dignitaries in the hall.

A young girl in love?

"Ah, Yutan, don't be rude, and don't be complacent. Nephew Li is as handsome as jade and has an extraordinary bearing. It's clear he's no ordinary person. You're just progressing a little faster now, but you must know that there are many in this world who accumulate strength before unleashing it, achieving late but great success," Marquis Dingyuan said, maintaining his composure and profoundness, resolving the awkwardness with a casual remark.

He also took the opportunity to size up Li Ji'an, feeling very satisfied in his heart.

Now seventeen years old, Li Ji'an was already over eight feet tall. He tempered his Qi and blood year-round, resulting in strong bones and tendons, without an ounce of excess fat. His physique was slender yet robust.

With sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, a high nose bridge, and a face like a knife-carved sculpture with distinct features, the childishness on his face had almost completely faded, making him a handsome and refined young man.

In particular, observing his peaceful demeanor and gentle temperament, he did not seem like an impetuous or biased youth.

He subconsciously glanced at his eldest daughter, Ning Sujin, who reluctantly followed behind. The Marquis felt they looked more and more like a good match.

Although the descendants of martial arts experts were not guaranteed to have good aptitude, the probability was relatively high. That was why he had painstakingly coaxed Ning Sujin's mother, Su Susu, into the Marquis's mansion back then.

Of course, what pleased him most was Li Ji'an's family background: an orphan!

As for Ning Yutan, this Immortal Seed, there was certainly no need to worry about her marriage, as she would be entering the Immortal Realm and becoming an immortal ancestor.

After introducing him, Ning Yutan smiled ingratiatingly at Li Ji'an and then turned her head triumphantly to look at Ning Sujin, who was acting as a foil.

Ning Sujin wore a constant frown, only occasionally glancing at Li Ji'an.

After three rounds of wine, the host and guests were all happy.

The Marquis and his wife deliberately kept Li Ji'an to say a few more words, and they didn't speak in vain, gifting him a thousand taels of silver before he left.

From then on, Ning Sujin bided her time, appearing to work as hard as Ning Yutan on the surface, but secretly she was almost frenzied.

A year later, she reached the Bone Forging Realm's completion and began the Blood Exchange.

This made Ning Yutan, who had already achieved minor success in Blood Exchange, feel a sense of crisis again, and she practiced even more diligently, trying to widen the gap again.

The two girls chased after each other, making Li Ji'an very envious. Under the same effort, the other party's aptitude was better than his, so their progress was faster. There was nothing he could do, especially since they had better aptitude and were even more hardworking than him.

However, he didn't panic and followed his own pace. Half a year later, he finally reached the Bone Forging Realm's completion and stepped into the Blood Exchange.

At this moment, there was only a year and a half left until the once-in-a-decade Immortal Seed Grand Ceremony.

He knew that he would not be able to complete the Blood Exchange by this Immortal Seed Grand Ceremony, but he did not slack off in the slightest, after all, he still had that opportunity at the age of thirty.

As expected, a year and a half later, as the day of the Immortal Seed Grand Ceremony approached, the Immortal Seed selection of the Chong'an Prefecture's Immortal Seeking Academy also reached its final deadline.

"Ning Yutan, bone age nineteen years and nine months, Blood Exchange complete, lives up to the imperial grace, honored as an Immortal Seed, departs for the imperial city in three days to meet the emperor and await the immortals!"

"Ning Sujin, bone age twenty years and eight months, Blood Exchange great success, remarkable talent, ranked as a reserve, can enter the Immortal Palace in the capital together, may have a chance to be honored as an Immortal Seed in ten years."

"Li Ji'an, bone age nineteen years and eleven months, Blood Exchange minor success, remarkable talent, ranked as a reserve, can enter the Immortal Palace in the capital together, may have a chance to be honored as an Immortal Seed in ten years."

...

To Li Ji'an's surprise, he, who had only achieved minor success in Blood Exchange, actually had the qualification to enter the Immortal Palace as a reserve in advance.

"Does the Immortal Seeking Palace also have a lot of pressure? Are they so short of Immortal Seeds?"

In the end, three people from the entire Chong'an Prefecture entered the Immortal Palace in the imperial city this year. The Immortal Seeking Academy celebrated the entire academy, and the Dean's hanging heart finally landed. Not only did he not have to worry about punishment, but he also received rewards.

The Marquis Dingyuan's mansion was even more decorated with lanterns and colored banners, and drums and trumpets filled the air. Along with the selection results of the Immortal Palace in the imperial city came the imperial decree to promote him to Duke and ten thousand taels of gold.

Entering the imperial city, titled Duke Dingguo!

While the entire mansion was celebrating, Li Ji'an stood quietly under the peach tree in the courtyard, his brows furrowed.

Before transmigrating, he had studied a classic masterpiece and read a sentence: In a feudal imperial society, except for those who objectively know the consequences, everything that is forbidden is beneficial but not meant to be shared with you, and everything that is advocated, encouraged, and heavily promoted has a pit that needs you to fill.

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Similarly:

If praying to Buddha was really useful, you wouldn't even be able to enter the temple gate.

If farming could really make you rich, farmers would have no land to farm.

If diligence could really lead to wealth, you would need connections to sweep the streets.

If donating blood was really good for your health, would it be your turn!

So... is this so-called Immortal Seed real? Is it a good thing?

On the surface, it seems like there are no problems, but looking at the essence through the phenomenon, why would immortals go to so much trouble to select Immortal Seeds nationwide? What benefit would ten Immortal Seeds every ten years bring to the immortals?

Could it be that the Immortal Masters are all saints, and they really just want to give us mortals a chance to cultivate immortality?

Li Ji'an became more and more cautious.

He also temporarily changed his goal in this life.

Fortunately, he was not an Immortal Seed this time, but only a reserve, and it was highly likely that he would not be able to become an Immortal Seed in ten years. Being able to go to the imperial city to verify the truth of "immortals" would be a success.

"Brother Li, my father asked me to invite you to go to the imperial city with us, okay?" Ning Yutan invited Li Ji'an at the first opportunity.

"Okay, thank Duke Dingguo for me!" The journey to the imperial city was long and the unknown risks along the way were not small. With Duke Dingguo's protection, it would be much safer.

"That's great, with Brother Li traveling with me, I won't be bored on the road," Ning Yutan cheered.

Looking at Ning Yutan's nature, which had hardly changed in the past five years, Li Ji'an had a certain recognition of her character.

Apart from her b*tchiness when targeting Ning Sujin, she was a simple-minded, beautiful, and kind-hearted little girl.

"Brother Li, that old woman is really terrible. She actually cursed that my trip to the imperial city would be an ominous omen. She is clearly just jealous. Let's not talk to her in the future."

Li Ji'an chuckled. He was originally prepared to not respond to such topics as always, but suddenly his heart stirred.

"Hmm? She said your trip to the imperial city would be an ominous omen? Did she say why?"