Senior Brother's Ascension

Ning Sujin, who had maintained a cool and aloof demeanor, frowned the moment she heard "femme fatale."

"What femme fatale? Isn't it just men's lust that causes trouble?"

The old man froze instantly at her words and hurriedly bowed. "Ah... yes, yes, yes, I was talking nonsense, utter nonsense."

"Speak! What exactly happened?"

Ning Sujin had a relatively deep impression of Xiao Wu. After all, during those five years at the Immortal Seeking Academy in Chong'an Prefecture, Xiao Wu was the closest person to Li Ji'an. He often helped Li Ji'an deliver Spirit Beast meat. Ning Yutan, that little vixen, even tried to get closer to Li Ji'an by winning over Xiao Wu at first.

Ning Sujin also understood Xiao Wu's character. He was upright, content, and dedicated to his duties.

"I..." The old man shrunk his head, afraid to speak carelessly and invite trouble. After all, he was demoted to guard duty at the city gate for speaking a word of justice for Xiao Wu. He could only look at Li Ji'an with pleading eyes.

Li Ji'an nodded. "It's fine. This is the Duke Zhenguo's beloved daughter, and also the Princess Wenjin, personally enfeoffed by His Majesty. She is most righteous and eager to help the oppressed!"

Before he finished speaking, Ning Sujin's murderous gaze had already fixed on Li Ji'an.

For the past two years, she had grown accustomed to Li Ji'an showering her with praise.

This was forcing her to get involved and help him save his Uncle Xiao.

However... even though she knew she was being used, she didn't feel any resistance. Instead, she enjoyed it. What that guy said sounded rather pleasant.

Li Ji'an smiled faintly. While he couldn't stand by and watch an old friend suffer, it was best if he didn't have to get directly involved.

Most importantly, the fact that the other party could command the City Guard to act so crudely against Xiao Wu of the Prefecture Office meant their influence was not small. With his current status as a reserve Immortal Seed, he might not be able to handle it properly.

It was even possible that the other party knew his status as a reserve Immortal Seed before they moved against Xiao Wu.

He was no longer trying to prove his age. If he could leverage help, he wouldn't stubbornly go it alone.

As for hiding Ning Sujin's identity and revealing it at the last moment for a dramatic reveal, he had no such thoughts. It would only create unnecessary trouble.

"Your subordinate greets Your Highness the Princess!" The old man's eyes lit up instantly.

There was hope. His boss would be saved.

If it were just Li Ji'an, he wouldn't have had much confidence, given the other party's immense power.

"You are excused! Speak truthfully," Ning Sujin said, tilting her chin slightly.

"Yes, yes. Half a month ago, the captain and I were on normal patrol and apprehended three refugees who had snuck into the city. After questioning, we determined they were not wicked individuals. The captain, pitying their hardship, let them go.

The very next day, the City Guard stormed the Prefecture Office and arrested the captain, claiming a rebel had confessed and that the three people apprehended were the refugees released the day before. I stake my life that they were absolutely not rebels.

On the same day the captain was imprisoned, a steward-like person went to the captain's home to coerce and entice his wife. I was demoted because of this incident..."

After listening, Ning Sujin's face showed a hint of disdain and disgust. "Hmph! Such a lecherous fiend, so audacious, daring to forcibly abduct another man's wife! This is outrageous. I will handle this matter. To the Prefecture Office!"

Less than an hour later, a battered and bruised Xiao Wu walked out of the prison, reinstated to his former position.

At the same time, the old steward who had coerced and enticed Xiao Wu's wife was beaten to death by his master in front of everyone. A captain of the City Guard was demoted for corruption.

One advantage of a society without rule of law is that as long as you hold power, you can do whatever you please.

After this incident, neither of them felt like staying overnight in Chong'an Prefecture. They spurred their horses and continued their journey, arriving at the Purple Heaven Temple in Shangyi County two days later.

Seven years had passed, but the Purple Heaven Temple remained the same in Li Ji'an's heart.

Stepping into the temple, he felt a sense of relief wash over him.

That was until he saw his Senior Brother, Liu Deshan, frail and old on his sickbed.

In his memory, his Senior Brother had been plump since childhood, but now he was gaunt, his eye sockets sunken, and his face deeply wrinkled.

"Chang'an... you're back." His cloudy eyes struggled to open, and he laboriously raised a hand.

Li Ji'an knelt by the bedside, clasped his withered hand, and slowly channeled Vital Energy and Blood to warm his heart. "Master, Chang'an is back."

"Good, good, good..." He looked Li Ji'an over with all his might, and Liu Deshan repeatedly said "good."

"I'll go immediately and inform Junior Brother of the good news. What he couldn't accomplish, Chang'an, you have achieved. An Immortal Seed... Junior Brother will be comforted when he knows."

Looking at his Senior Brother, who was almost unrecognizable, Li Ji'an's mind flashed with memories of his past life.

Scenes of his Senior Brother from childhood to adulthood, and then to middle age, flickered by.

Flowers bloomed and faded, clouds gathered and dispersed... a life rushed by.

That night, Li Ji'an stayed by Liu Deshan's bedside, listening to his Senior Brother lament for half the night.

There were no entrustments, no requests, only encouragement and comfort.

In his dying moments, his Senior Brother seemed at peace, without the desperate clinging to life and fear of death that some experience before death.

Li Ji'an was unsure if it was because he had no regrets or desires, or if he felt that life was meant to be this way, or perhaps he simply didn't know that cultivators truly existed in the world, or that human lifespans could truly break through limits.

Three days later, Houde Zhenren ascended.

Thus, the two people closest to Li Ji'an in his past life were gone.

Qingyun also matured in an instant, inheriting Liu Deshan's mantle.

At the same time, after seven years of only communicating through letters, Qingyun's sense of unfamiliarity towards Li Ji'an was evident.

Reverence outweighed affection.

Several times, he looked at Ning Sujin's beautiful figure, wanting to ask Li Ji'an something, but he never voiced it.

Finally, Li Ji'an teased him a few times, which barely brought back some of their childhood closeness, but it was still far from what it used to be.

After handling his Senior Brother's funeral rites, Li Ji'an once again left his haven from his past life.

This time, he gazed back for a long while, truly preparing to leave.

On the way back to the Imperial City Immortal Palace, Li Ji'an regained his usual calm and carefree demeanor. Besides occasionally teasing Ning Sujin to alleviate the boredom of the journey, he also actively discussed his Vital Energy and Blood stimulation experiences with her.

Ever since he saw an "immortal" two years ago and formulated a clear plan for his future, he had begun studying external techniques for Vital Energy and Blood stimulation in his free time from internal cultivation.

After all, since that "immortal" was a cultivator, there were naturally differences in strength. Mortal Martial Path techniques might not be able to pose a threat to weaker cultivators.

During these two years of study, he was pleasantly surprised to find that his four lifetimes of accumulated comprehension had a miraculous effect on the methods and techniques for Vital Energy and Blood stimulation in external cultivation.

Ning Sujin's top movement technique, the Floating Duckweed Steps, which was rumored to be mastered in one month, he had entered the hall and reached proficiency in just half a month. He not only fully grasped its core and the key to Vital Energy and Blood circulation but even made three minor adjustments, further perfecting the technique.

Internal cultivation largely depended on Bone Structure and meridians, especially in the first few minor realms. External cultivation, however, had almost nothing to do with physical aptitude; it was all about how to mobilize Vital Energy and Blood within the body, how to circulate it, and how to maximize its use. It relied most heavily on comprehension.

This gave Li Ji'an assurance for his plans in the next life.