Call Me Uncle

After some flattery and compliments, Li Ji'an understood the five people's intentions.

All five were elites from Shangyi County Martial Arts Academy who had entered Immortal Seeking Academy.

Except for Xiao Wu, the other four intended to befriend a potential immortal.

Xiao Wu, on the other hand, inquired about "Li Jichang's" situation.

After sending away the other four and their attendants, Li Ji'an led Xiao Wu into his private courtyard.

"Strictly speaking, you should call me Uncle!"

Li Ji'an recounted a story based on the most logical rumor circulating in Shangyi County, which made Xiao Wu sigh deeply.

After a moment of reminiscing, Xiao Wu, who was already twenty-two years old, spoke with a touch of solemnity that was surprisingly profound.

"I promised your father I would look after you. If you have any problems in the future, feel free to come to me anytime." Without waiting for Li Ji'an to process his previous statement, Xiao Wu added earnestly.

Li Ji'an suppressed a smile. Xiao Wu had also mentioned his current situation moments ago. Having been admitted to Immortal Seeking Academy, the thought of becoming an immortal was basically out of the question for him. His only pursuits were to further advance in the Martial Path and obtain the true External Cultivation Methods from Immortal Seeking Academy.

Now, at twenty-two, he had achieved minor success in Bone Tempering, learned the intermediate-level Immortal Seeking Academy technique, the Wave Chasing Saber Technique, and could be considered a young achiever. He had joined the Prefecture City Constabulary and had already been promoted to Deputy Captain.

He had also brought his parents from Shangyi County to live comfortably in Prefecture City. Last year, he had gotten married.

Except for his days off and the occasional free time after work to practice martial arts, he was always in uniform, leading five subordinates to patrol the area.

After a brief hesitation, Li Ji'an erased the image of Xiao Wu as a youth from his memory and immediately stood up, bowing respectfully to Xiao Wu. "Thank you, Uncle Xiao."

With "Rejuvenation," such scenes and changes in relationships were bound to happen frequently in his future life.

It didn't matter whether he gained or lost something in terms of titles or relationships.

On the contrary, these relationships could become capital and support for his next life. Each additional one could reduce the risks of growing up during childhood by one point.

"Mm! Remember to work hard and don't squander your talent or your father's expectations.

I spent five years in Immortal Seeking Academy and saw many individuals with exceptional talent who entered the academy with excellent results, but couldn't resist the many temptations of Prefecture City and ultimately became ordinary.

Among them were geniuses with extraordinary roots...

Furthermore, Martial Path realm and strength are not the same. Without external martial arts techniques, it's like guarding a treasure mountain but being unable to enter. You must seize opportunities to practice external martial arts.

Seeking immortality is too ethereal. Don't deliberately pursue becoming an immortal. If you can learn a martial art, you can establish yourself in this world." Xiao Wu advised earnestly.

"Your nephew will definitely remember Uncle Xiao's teachings!" Li Ji'an bowed again.

Xiao Wu patted Li Ji'an's head with satisfaction. "You're much better than your father! Good, good. Also, if you don't get used to staying in the academy, you can move in with me."

He declined Xiao Wu's kind offer and listened as Xiao Wu reminisced about their past interactions for a long time before finally seeing him off.

Before leaving, Xiao Wu repeatedly invited Li Ji'an to visit his home and meet his aunt.

"This kid..." Watching Xiao Wu leave, Li Ji'an smiled knowingly.

During their reminiscing, Xiao Wu's words were mostly to build up a heroic image of Li Ji'an's past life, with many exaggerations.

Things like confronting instructors for his sake.

Fighting more than a dozen other apprentices with him, two against many.

He even fabricated glorious stories about Li Ji'an taking him to a brothel for the first time...

"Hey~ Are you Li Ji'an, the second-ranked person in the Prefecture?" Li Ji'an, lost in thought, was suddenly awakened by a playful and melodious voice.

He turned his head and saw three young girls standing at the entrance of the private courtyard to his left. The one in the lead was mischievous and looked at Li Ji'an with her almond-shaped eyes filled with curiosity.

"I am Li Ji'an." Li Ji'an nodded with a smile.

At the same time, he mentally matched her with the information he had gathered beforehand.

If nothing unexpected happened, this girl was Ning Yutan, the first-ranked person in this year's Chong'an Prefecture Martial Arts Examination.

Besides her widely known status as the top scorer in the Martial Arts Examination, Li Ji'an had also learned a secret from the dean of Shangyi County Martial Arts Academy that had not been publicly disclosed: she was also the genius legitimate daughter of the most powerful figure in Chong'an Prefecture, Marquis Dingyuan.

She was still three months shy of fifteen years old but had already entered the Bone Tempering stage, her talent could be described as extraordinary.

According to the dean, the Marrow Cleansing Pill that the Marquis Dingyuan's mansion received as a reward from the Founding Emperor back then was likely given to her.

Of course, her eligibility to take that Marrow Cleansing Pill also proved that her innate roots and talent were exceptionally outstanding. Taking it was merely adding splendor to an already magnificent tapestry.

"Not bad, not bad. You helped me vent my anger, so I should reward you. Chunfeng, Qiuyue, bring me the pastries my mother gave me." Ning Yutan said straightforwardly before sending her two maids to fetch the items.

She then skipped over to Li Ji'an's side, circling him and appraising him as she casually said, "My name is Ning Yutan, and I'm the first in this year's Martial Arts Examination. In the Martial Path, the capable take precedence. You can call me Senior Sister from now on. We're a team from now on."

Innocent and unrestrained.

In this era, only families of great wealth and status could raise such children.

And a girl at that.

It was enough to show how doted upon she was within her clan.

"So you're the champion, I'm impressed, I'm impressed!" Li Ji'an complimented, but did not directly respond to her suggestion.

"Hehe~ Cough, cough, it's just a humble achievement, nothing worth mentioning, nothing worth mentioning. Hey, you haven't taken a Marrow Cleansing Pill, have you?" Ning Yutan chuckled proudly, then feigned humility before asking with some anticipation.

Li Ji'an shook his head with a wry smile. Marrow Cleansing Pills were such divine treasures that could cleanse the marrow and improve innate roots. It was said that even the lowest grade of roots could be elevated to upper-grade roots with a Marrow Cleansing Pill. They were extremely rare in the world, how could ordinary people have access to them?

"Wonderful!" Ning Yutan clapped her fist against her palm, extremely excited.

"I knew it. What good can a single Marrow Cleansing Pill do? It mainly depends on one's own talent and effort. You were able to get second place even without taking a Marrow Cleansing Pill..."

Getting more excited as she spoke, Ning Yutan immediately shouted towards the independent courtyard to the right of Li Ji'an: "Ning Sujin, did you hear that? Li Ji'an here didn't take a Marrow Cleansing Pill either, and he still completely crushed you. How dare you say I'm better than you because I took a pill? Aren't you ashamed?"

"Ning Sujin?" Li Ji'an was slightly taken aback.

According to the information he had gathered, the third-place finisher this year was a woman named Su Sujin.

She was reportedly from a family of Qi and Blood Grandmasters.

She had also reached Muscle Compaction completion like him, but because her Bone Age was nine months older than his, she was ranked behind him.

"Feelin' itchy again?"

Before Li Ji'an could react, a cold woman appeared at the entrance of the neighboring courtyard.

She wore a simple green martial uniform, her hair tied up high, and her figure was tall and slender. If not for her voice, which was bright and clear yet somewhat feminine, she would have looked like a dashing young nobleman at first glance.

Upon closer inspection, her appearance bore a six-tenths resemblance to Ning Yutan.

"What are you doing? I'm warning you, this is Immortal Seeking Academy, not the Marquis's manor!" Ning Yutan was clearly very afraid of Ning Sujin. Almost the moment she heard her voice, she hid behind Li Ji'an.

"Hmph! Did you forget what your father said? When you're out and about, your Eldest Sister is Like a Mother. If I discipline you, who can say no?"

Before the words even fell, Li Ji'an felt a blur before his eyes. Ning Sujin's figure became indistinct and ethereal. The next moment, a afterimage flashed, and she had already appeared beside Ning Yutan