Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation

Several instructors eagerly awaited Qingyun's selection.

However, Qingyun looked towards Li Ji'an.

Li Ji'an's gaze, however, passed over the seven instructors before him, landing on Instructor Wu, who was as diligent and earnest as ever in his teaching in the distance.

Fifteen years ago, when Li Ji'an entered the Martial Academy, Instructor Wu, known as Little Wu, had just returned from the Prefecture City's Immortal Cultivation Academy.

He was only twenty-one years old at the time, nine years younger than Li Ji'an.

He was a local of Shangyi County, having studied at this academy. However, his talent was only average. Despite his diligence and hard work, he failed the martial examinations twice. Eventually, he was recommended by the Martial Academy's former head instructor to study at a branch of the Prefecture City's Immortal Cultivation Academy, training to become an instructor.

After ten years of acquaintance, Li Ji'an had long understood Instructor Wu's character. He was a grateful person, returning to the Martial Academy primarily to repay the former head instructor's kindness in recognizing his potential.

He was introverted and taciturn, but exceptionally earnest and strict in teaching martial arts.

He didn't compete for fame or profit, and would teach anyone diligently, as long as they were willing to learn.

Even when facing Li Ji'an, who was already thirty years old and had missed the prime age for martial arts training, he did his best.

Otherwise, given Li Ji'an's age and physical condition at the time, even with the unsuccessful experience of practicing martial arts for a year in his previous life, it would have been impossible for him to refine the 'Golden Strengthening Skill' to the minor success stage, or even to perfect the skin tempering stage.

"Little Wu back then is now approaching forty.

Time is merciless," Li Ji'an sighed softly, looking at the traces of time on Instructor Wu's face.

"Young friend, I, Ma, value brotherhood the most. Seeing you like this, I can't help but miss my brothers from my youth. Today, I'll make an exception and take in your brother, no matter his talent, how about it?" Seeing Qingyun looking at Li Ji'an, Ma Yuan, who was the most quick-witted, immediately spoke.

Qingyun: "…"

Master Wan: "…"

You're thinking too highly of yourself!

"Thank you for Instructor Ma's kindness, but I think that instructor is the most earnest and doesn't smile much. My master taught me: 'A strict teacher produces outstanding students.' Therefore, I choose that instructor," Li Ji'an said directly, not wanting to beat around the bush or care about these people's feelings.

"Hmm?"

"Instructor Wu?"

The seven instructors, along with Master Wan, looked incredulously at Instructor Wu, who was still teaching diligently and hadn't paid attention to what was happening here.

"Boy, you want to choose that Instructor Wu? Have you thought it over? Little Wu has been at the academy for fifteen years, but he hasn't taught a single martial examination champion. The reason he didn't come to choose you is because he feels he can't mislead people," Ma Yuan immediately laughed, looking at Li Ji'an with amusement.

Li Ji'an didn't take it to heart. Instructor Wu simply didn't compete for fame or profit. As for not having taught a martial examination champion, it was only because he didn't have good seedlings. He didn't care whether the seedlings were good or not; he was truly practicing imparting knowledge, teaching skills, and resolving doubts.

Moreover, with Li Ji'an's ten years of experience in his previous life, having achieved minor success in the 'Golden Strengthening Skill' and perfected skin tempering, and with the physical condition of the Mang雀 physique in this life, and even stronger mental strength, he could likely achieve success in skin tempering within two years and enter the Prefecture City's Immortal Cultivation Academy, even without an instructor.

"I've thought it over. I'm willing to become a disciple of Instructor Wu."

"Alright, since you chose it yourself, then I can't say anything, but you better not regret it," Ma Yuan said immediately.

He was willing to accept Li Ji'an only for the sake of Qingyun, a high-quality disciple with superior talent.

Li Ji'an took the initiative to give up, and he was happy to see that. In any case, he had already expressed his attitude in front of Qingyun.

As for Li Ji'an's talent, not only him, but also the other six instructors didn't take it to heart. It couldn't be that there would be two superior talents who only appear every two years at once, right?

"Ah? Little Li, you…" Old Wan exclaimed, but then his mind changed. In his opinion, the level of several instructors in the academy was about the same. On the contrary, Little Wu's teaching attitude and character were the best.

In addition, Li Ji'an had the Mang雀 physique, so choosing any instructor would definitely lead to success in the martial examination.

Thinking of this, he stopped talking and looked at Little Wu, who was still teaching earnestly, with a hint of envy in his eyes.

"Does a fool have a fool's luck?"

This was a quasi-immortal seedling who was very likely to become a grandmaster in the future. Once he advanced to the Grandmaster Realm, based on Little Wu's master-disciple relationship with him… tsk tsk, he would definitely rise to prominence along with him.

"Young friend, follow me to cultivate," Ma Yuan stopped paying attention to Li Ji'an and stared at Qingyun.

"Then I'll cultivate with Instructor Wu," Qingyun said without hesitation.

"No!"

"No!"

Li Ji'an and Ma Yuan spoke almost in unison.

Ma Yuan was unwilling to lose this achievement that was about to be in his hands.

Li Ji'an thought that although Instructor Ma's character wasn't great, he was indeed willing to invest in geniuses and could obtain more resources, which would be more suitable for Qingyun if he really wanted to achieve success in martial arts.

Secondly, he didn't want Qingyun, a troublemaker who had no intention of practicing martial arts, to ruin Instructor Wu's Dao heart.

In Li Ji'an's opinion, there was no such thing as achieving great success in something one didn't want to do from the bottom of one's heart, especially in martial arts.

This kind of plot only existed in novels and TV shows.

Not even the most heaven-defying talent could do it.

After all, anything can only be achieved if one truly wants to do it from the bottom of one's heart, and only then can one work hard for it and succeed.

If one doesn't want to do it from the bottom of one's heart, even if forced to practice, one can't put one's heart into it, so how can one succeed?

Based on his understanding of Qingyun, this kid really didn't want to.

In this life, unless he encountered some particularly big change that changed his mind, he would never achieve success in martial arts!

"Ah? Then… Senior Brother, who do you say I should choose?" Qingyun was depressed, but he was used to obeying Li Ji'an.

After he finished speaking, the seven instructors in front of him all took a deep breath.

They never expected that this genius with superior talent would be so obedient to the boy next to him, even to the point where he didn't dare to have a single objection.

"Young friend, even though you will follow Instructor Wu in the future, I, Ma, guarantee that I will provide you with some extra resources," Ma Yuan hurriedly made a solemn promise, and also regretted that his attitude towards Li Ji'an was a bit bad just now.

The remaining six people looked at Li Ji'an, their eyes flickering, giving crazy hints.

Li Ji'an looked at Ma Yuan, turned his head and smiled slightly at Qingyun: "Since Instructor Ma values you so much, you should follow Instructor Ma to cultivate."

Qingyun nodded indifferently. His purpose was very simple: to slack off until the Martial Academy couldn't bear it anymore and sent him back, which would be the best.

"Hahaha, good, good, Qingyun, don't worry, I guarantee you won't regret today's choice," Ma Yuan was immediately excited.

He even walked up to Li Ji'an and nodded heavily at him: "Little Li, don't worry, if you need anything in the future, just come to me."

"Thank you, Instructor Ma," Li Ji'an nodded.

Master Wan stood aside, watching the dust settle, especially Ma Yuan's elated posture, and finally decided not to disrupt this harmonious scene.

Originally, the academy's regulations strictly prohibited revealing the aptitude of the students to the instructors, in order to ensure that the instructors treated everyone equally, rather than all wanting to choose good seedlings. However, over time, some people frequently violated the rules, and this regulation became a mere formality.

"In that case, Little Wu, there is a new student who will follow you to cultivate in the future," Old Wan shouted to Instructor Wu, who was not far away.

Instructor Wu heard this and walked over without any emotional changes.

He was used to this kind of scene. Often, after the other instructors had finished choosing, the ones they didn't want would be stuffed to him.

He didn't care, as long as he treated everyone equally.

"Li Ji'an?" Wu Cheng looked at the roster handed over by Master Wan, his memory paused slightly.

Then, a trace of reminiscence appeared on his usually serious face.

"What is your relationship with Li Jichang?"