Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation

Reality is always cruel.

Three months later, Li Ji'an mastered the entry level of the 'Golden Strength Skill', generating a wisp of Qi and blood, and began to temper his skin and membranes.

However, Qingyun had barely managed to grasp the seventy-two stances of the foundational exercises, and it was unknown when he would be able to integrate them.

"Four months! Four months! Have you… have you been putting your heart into it?" Ma Yuan's attitude towards Qingyun gradually became less amiable.

Qingyun looked aggrieved: "I'm sorry, Instructor Ma, it's because I'm stupid. I… I really tried my best. Maybe… maybe I just don't have the talent for this. I really don't have the face to stay under your tutelage. Why don't you let my dad come and take me away?"

"Huff~ Huff~" Ma Yuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the irritability in his heart.

"It's not that bad, it's not that bad! Well, however, knowing shame is akin to courage. I still believe in you. Put in more effort. Your innate talent is top-grade. Once you start practicing the 'Golden Strength Skill,' your advantages will explode. By then, even your junior brother won't be able to catch up with you even if he whips his horse."

Seeing that he hadn't given up yet, Qingyun was slightly disappointed and had to think of a way to make him completely lose hope.

At the same time, Wu Cheng constantly paid attention to Li Ji'an, and inadvertently reminded him not to be arrogant and complacent. Having good comprehension and progressing quickly in the foundational exercises, including mastering the 'Golden Strength Skill' quickly, was good, but the difference in innate talent would be reflected in the quality and quantity of Qi and blood refined later, as well as the speed at which Qi and blood tempered the skin and membranes.

Therefore, he should avoid arrogance and impetuosity and continue to work hard.

Li Ji'an agreed on the surface, but deep down he couldn't suppress his excitement.

His previous life's experience of ten years of skin tempering made him realize the advantage of his comprehension and the difference in his innate talent in this life.

Now that he had just mastered the entry level of the 'Golden Strength Skill,' the amount of Qi and blood refined in his body was already the same as when he had achieved minor success in his previous life, and he clearly felt that the efficiency of Qi and blood washing his skin and membranes was more than 30% faster than in the same period in his previous life.

"If this continues, when more and more Qi and blood is refined, I'm afraid I can complete skin tempering in a year!"

At this moment, he finally realized the difference between a genius and a mediocre person.

Half a year later,

It had been a full ten months since they entered the academy!

"What? Skin tempering is complete!"

"How is this possible? What kind of innate talent does that kid… have? It can't be top-grade innate talent, can it?"

"Ten months to complete skin tempering? Even top-grade innate talent might not be able to do it, right?"

"Hiss~ Old Wan said at the time that Qingyun was top-grade innate talent, but he didn't say anything about Li Ji'an. Could it be that two geniuses came at once, and Li Ji'an's innate talent is even better?"

"Is that really Li Laogui's son? I remember Li Laogui's innate talent was very poor."

…

Today, the news from Wu Cheng's disciples instantly detonated the entire martial arts academy.

Then, some people with ulterior motives found out that Qingyun, who had been receiving Ma Yuan's private tutoring for half a year, had not yet refined a trace of Qi and blood.

For a time, rumors and rumors with ulterior motives flew everywhere.

"Instructor Ma ruined a genius!"

"Instructor Wu is a true talent scout!"

"Qingyun was so serious and hardworking, but… alas."

…

Ma Yuan, who had been enduring all along, finally broke out completely after being stimulated by these gossips.

"You are really as stupid as a pig! No! Even a pig is stronger than you! You even have such top-grade innate talent, yet you are not as good as that Laogui's son. It's simply a waste of God's gift. What face do you have to live in this world? Get out! Get out of my courtyard!"

That day, Qingyun finally got his wish and waited for his father, True Person Houde.

Others don't understand Qingyun and would be deceived by him, but his father knows him too well. After simply asking a few questions, he suddenly looked at Qingyun.

Just as he revealed a hideous expression of wanting to eliminate relatives for the sake of righteousness, Li Ji'an stood up in a timely manner.

"Master, everyone has their own ambitions. Senior Brother has no intention of pursuing martial arts. Forcing him will not achieve anything.

Moreover, if he can take over your class and take charge of the Qingxin Hall in the future, it may still be a good thing, at least the incense will continue to burn."

As a second-generation Taoist, Qingyun is actually not bad. Being able to stay in the temple peacefully, being able to enjoy life steadily, not being too ambitious, and not thinking about proving himself is already a qualified successor.

His contented and happy mentality, coupled with the foundation laid by Liu Deshan for him, will make him happier than 99% of the people in the world if there are no accidents in this life.

What is the meaning of life?

Within one's ability, to live until death according to one's own heart.

Of course, this does not fully apply to Li Ji'an, who has "returned to his youth", there are still some differences. After all, he can avoid the real meaning of "death".

And this has become one of his original intentions, to avoid "being dead" as much as possible.

Secondly, he will never let himself fall into the desperate suffering of his childhood in his previous life.

Liu Deshan's habit of listening to advice is as always. It's not that he has no opinions, it's just that he is too lazy to think about many things.

In the end, Qingyun got his wish and tearfully bid farewell to Li Ji'an and left with Liu Deshan.

One year later,

Li Ji'an was fifteen years old, and his Flesh Forging was a great success!

There were still two months before the biennial martial arts examination.

The threshold for previous martial arts examinations was basically entry-level Flesh Forging, and minor success in Flesh Forging was a sure thing. As for those who achieved great success in Flesh Forging during the preliminary examination, there were only three people in Shangyi County in the past hundred years.

Li Ji'an's name as a genius has almost spread throughout Shangyi County.

Even more, well-wishers have compiled countless stories about his life.

The most widely spread is that his father was disabled but determined to develop for future generations, cultivating a genius. Even some details that Li Ji'an hadn't thought about before were compiled vividly.

This dispelled Li Ji'an's worries before his "rejuvenation" in his previous life that some details could not be done seamlessly.

"The ancients did not deceive me, after entering the customs, there will be great Confucians to argue for me!"

At the same time, Instructor Ma's reputation in the martial arts academy collapsed rapidly, while Instructor Wu flourished and received many praises.

Until two months later, Li Ji'an's Flesh Forging was complete, and he unexpectedly won first place in the Shangyi County martial arts examination, second place in the three cities and eighteen counties of the entire Chong'an Prefecture, and was successfully selected for the Chong'an Prefecture Immortal Seeking Academy.

The entire Shangyi County had fireworks for three days without ceasing.

The martial arts examination in this world does not have martial arts competitions or separate test items. The only evaluation criterion is the degree of physical鍛body, and it is linked to bone age. The younger the bone age, the higher the degree of鍛body, and the higher the ranking.

Li Ji'an, at the age of fifteen, completed Flesh Forging, creating a new record in Shangyi County.

It also gave the Shangyi County Martial Arts Academy unlimited expectations.

Once Li Ji'an is taken away by the immortal master when selecting immortal seedlings next time, the dean of the Shangyi County Martial Arts Academy and the teaching instructors will be directly promoted by three levels.

Moreover, even if he ultimately fails to become an immortal seedling, it is almost certain that he will become a Qi and Blood Grandmaster.

Therefore, before going to the Prefecture City Immortal Seeking Academy, the martial arts academy rewarded him with one thousand taels of silver, and the dean personally gave another thousand taels, and all the instructors raised another thousand taels to give to him.

Before rushing to the Prefecture City Immortal Seeking Academy, Li Ji'an returned to the Zixiao Temple again to bid farewell to his old friends and pay homage to his master.

The Prefecture City is three hundred miles away from Shangyi County. Given the convenience of transportation here, it is very likely that this trip will be a permanent farewell for ordinary people.

Li Ji'an, who is fifteen years old in this world, is at the time of vigorous vitality, the rising sun. Looking at his senior brother who is over fifty years old, with gray hair and temples, and his vitality beginning to decline, he inevitably feels a trace of sadness. Given his age, this farewell may really be a permanent farewell.

The abbot, on behalf of the Zixiao Temple, generously presented three thousand taels of silver notes, instructing Li Ji'an to write more letters, and his words were full of hope that Li Ji'an would take care of him in the future.

When leaving the Zixiao Temple again, Li Ji'an felt a lot more at ease. The seven years from the most precarious age of eight to fifteen in this world have passed safely, and he has some confidence. In addition to the six thousand taels of silver notes in his arms, the main thing is his current strength of completing Flesh Forging.

Completing skin tempering, his skin and membranes are as tough as cowhide, and ordinary swords are hard to hurt. He also has the strength of three hundred catties, and his reaction and speed are beyond ordinary people. Even if he uses a set of Wang Baquan, ordinary three or five strong men are not his opponents, and he can barely take care of himself.

Completing Flesh Forging, he has thick skin and flesh, and has the strength of five hundred catties. Even if he encounters a small group of mountain bandits and bandits, he also has the power to protect himself, and initially has the strength to travel the world.