Ning Yutan was still two months shy of seventeen, yet had already reached Bone Tempering Perfection. In the hundred-year records of Chong'an Prefecture, that achievement ranked among the top ten.
barring any unforeseen circumstances, at the Immortal Seedling Ceremony three years later, she had a very good chance of becoming an immortal seedling.
Thus, Marquis Dingyuan was overjoyed and hosted a banquet for guests from far and wide.
Naturally, the teachers and students from the same class at Immortal Seeking Academy were invited to the marquis's residence as well.
The marquis's residence, with its carved beams and painted rafters, winding paths that led to secluded spots, and air of opulence at every turn, left everyone amazed and envious.
In the Immortal Bestowed Dynasty, because of the relationship between the imperial clan and the immortals, the martial way truly reigned supreme. Nearly all power and glory were tied to martial arts—and to becoming an immortal seedling.
Marquis Dingyuan's ancestor had been a founding hero and had been granted a marquis title. Keeping that title, let alone rising higher, was also tied to immortal seedlings. If the marquis's residence could produce a true immortal seedling, it might earn the chance to move to the imperial capital and be elevated to a duke's house.
To cultivate an immortal seedling, the marquis's residence not only arranged marriages with meritorious nobles and Martial Families, but also recruited many accomplished martial artists. As a result, it had frequent dealings with Immortal Seeking Academy.
They also kept a close eye on the academy's promising students.
"Father, Mother, this is Li Ji'an. He's very talented. Right now, he's only a little behind me at Immortal Seeking Academy, and his future is boundless." As everyone from the academy offered their congratulations, Ning Yutan rather discourteously introduced Li Ji'an on her own.
That move instantly drew sidelong glances from the dignitaries filling the hall.
A young maiden's first stirrings of love?
"Now, Yutan, don't be rude, and don't get conceited. Nephew Li is handsome as jade and carries himself with poise. At a glance, it's clear he isn't destined for an ordinary life. You've simply gotten a little ahead for now. You must remember that in this world, some people build up their strength over time, then surge ahead and overtake those who started sooner." Marquis Dingyuan was remarkably composed and shrewd, smoothly dispelling the awkwardness with a casual remark.
He also took the opportunity to study Li Ji'an a few more times, and was quite pleased with what he saw.
At seventeen, Li Ji'an already stood over eight feet tall. Years of tempering his qi and blood had left him with sturdy bones and long, sinewy limbs, not an ounce of excess flesh. He was tall, lean, and strong.
His brows were like swords, his eyes like stars, his nose high-bridged, and his face sharply sculpted, with distinct features. Nearly all traces of childishness had faded from his face; he was every bit the elegant young gentleman.
In particular, his features were peaceful, and his temperament gentle and refined. He didn't seem like the sort of youth who was reckless or had a crooked disposition.
He then subconsciously glanced at his eldest daughter, Ning Sujin, who was following behind them with obvious reluctance. The more the marquis looked, the more he felt they made a good match.
Though the children of accomplished martial artists weren't always blessed with good Root Bones, their chances were considerably higher. That was why he'd gone to such lengths to coax Ning Sujin's birth mother, Su Su, into the marquis's residence all those years ago.
Of course, what pleased him most about Li Ji'an was his family background: he was an orphan!
As for Ning Yutan, an immortal seedling, there was certainly no need to worry about arranging a marriage for her. After all, she was destined to enter the Immortal Realm and become an immortal, an ancestor among immortals.
After introducing Li Ji'an, Ning Yutan smiled at him ingratiatingly, then proudly turned to glance at Ning Sujin, who was merely there as a foil.
Ning Sujin wore a sour expression the entire time, only occasionally glancing toward Li Ji'an.
After several rounds of wine, host and guests alike were in high spirits.
The marquis and the madam deliberately kept Li Ji'an to talk with him a little longer. It wasn't just talk: when he left, they gave him a thousand taels of silver.
After that, Ning Sujin bided her time and endured hardship. On the surface, she worked about as hard as Ning Yutan, but in private, she pushed herself almost to the point of madness.
A year later, she reached Bone Tempering Perfection and began Blood Transformation.
Ning Yutan, who had already reached Minor Blood Transformation, sensed the threat once more and trained even harder, determined to widen the gap again.
The two girls chased each other forward, leaving Li Ji'an quite envious. They put in the same effort, yet their Root Bones were better than his, so they advanced faster. There was nothing he could do about it. And not only were their Root Bones better than his, they worked even harder than he did.
Still, he didn't lose his composure. He continued steadily, and only half a year later did he reach Bone Tempering Perfection and step into Blood Transformation.
By then, just a year and a half remained until the Immortal Seedling Ceremony, held once every ten years.
He knew he couldn't reach Blood Transformation Perfection in time for this ceremony, but he didn't slack off in the slightest. After all, he would still have another chance at thirty.
Sure enough, a year and a half later, as the Immortal Seedling Ceremony drew closer, the selection of immortal seedlings at Immortal Seeking Academy in Chong'an Prefecture reached its final deadline.
"Ning Yutan, Bone Age: nineteen years and nine months. Blood Transformation Perfection. You have not failed the imperial grace and are hereby elevated to immortal seedling. In three days, you will depart for the imperial capital to pay your respects to the emperor and await the immortals!"
"Ning Sujin, Bone Age: twenty years and eight months. Major Blood Transformation. Your talent is commendable. You are placed among the reserves and may travel to the capital and enter the Immortal Palace. In ten years, you may have the chance to be elevated to immortal seedling."
"Li Ji'an, Bone Age: nineteen years and eleven months. Minor Blood Transformation. Your talent is commendable. You are placed among the reserves and may travel to the capital and enter the Immortal Palace. In ten years, you may have the chance to be elevated to immortal seedling."
To Li Ji'an's surprise, even though he had only reached Minor Blood Transformation, he had qualified to enter the Immortal Palace reserves ahead of time.
"Does the Immortal Seeking Palace seem to be under a lot of pressure? Are they that short on immortal seedlings?"
In the end, three people from Chong'an Prefecture's class were selected to go to the Immortal Seeking Palace in the imperial capital. The entire academy celebrated, and the headmaster's anxious heart finally settled. Not only would he avoid punishment, he was even rewarded.
The marquis's residence was even more festive, with lanterns and streamers everywhere, drums and gongs booming. Along with the selection results from the Immortal Seeking Palace in the imperial capital came an imperial decree elevating the marquis's house to a ducal house, as well as ten thousand taels of gold.
Move to the imperial capital and be granted the title of Duke Dingguo!
Amid the jubilation throughout the residence, Li Ji'an stood beneath the peach tree in the courtyard, his brows slightly furrowed.
Before transmigrating, he'd come across a line while studying a classic work of literature: in a feudal imperial society, anything forbidden—unless its consequences were already known—was something beneficial that they didn't want to share with you. Anything promoted, encouraged, and widely publicized was a pit they needed you to fill.
By the same logic:
If worshiping Buddha really worked, you wouldn't even be allowed through the temple gates.
If farming really made people rich, the farmers would have no land left to till.
If hard work really made people wealthy, you'd need connections just to sweep the streets.
If donating blood were truly wonderful for your health, would they leave it up to you?
So... were these so-called immortal seedlings real? Was it a good thing?
On the surface, it seemed fine. But if he looked past appearances to the heart of the matter, why were the immortals going to such lengths to select immortal seedlings across the whole empire? What benefit did ten immortal seedlings every ten years bring them?
Could it be that the immortal masters were all saints, genuinely giving ordinary people like them a chance to cultivate immortality?
Li Ji'an grew more and more cautious.
He also changed the goal he'd set for himself in this world.
Fortunately, he wasn't an immortal seedling this time, only a reserve. And there was a good chance he still wouldn't become one ten years from now. Being able to go to the imperial capital and find out whether the "immortals" were real would be a success in itself.
"Brother Li, my father asked me to invite you to travel to the imperial capital with us. Will you come?" Ning Yutan asked Li Ji'an right away.
"Gladly. Please thank Duke Dingguo for me!" The journey to the imperial capital was long, and there were plenty of unknown dangers along the way. With Duke Dingguo's protection, they would be much safer.
"Wonderful! With Brother Li coming along, I won't be bored on the road." Ning Yutan cheered.
Seeing that Ning Yutan's nature had hardly changed at all in the past five years, Li Ji'an had come to trust her character to a degree.
Apart from how insufferably two-faced she could be when dealing with Ning Sujin, she was a kind-hearted, beautiful girl with a simple mind.
"Brother Li, that old woman is just awful. She actually cursed me, saying I'd meet great misfortune on the way to the imperial capital. She's obviously just jealous. Let's stop talking to her from now on, okay?"
Li Ji'an chuckled. He had been about to ignore this sort of topic as usual, but then a thought suddenly stirred in his heart.
"Hmm? She said you'd meet great misfortune on the way to the imperial capital? Did she say why?"
Before you continue