Sudden Change in Destiny

The north wind howled, and winter was fast approaching.

The sights and sounds from his return to his old stomping grounds this time only strengthened Li Ji'an's resolve to stay put in the Immortal Palace and never take another step outside.

With his Blood Transformation Perfection, mastery of the enhanced Floating Duckweed Steps, and a few crude Vital Energy and Blood activation techniques he'd developed himself, he was considered a top-tier Martial Artist in the world. However, facing the impending chaos, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't be swept up in it.

The Immortal Palace was safer.

No matter how chaotic the outside world became, the Immortal Palace would always be a place of peace and harmony, with ample resources. Most people strived to become Immortal Seeds, except for Li Ji'an.

After reaching Blood Transformation Perfection, his internal cultivation had noticeably slowed, and he focused more on external combat techniques for Vital Energy and Blood activation.

He was afraid that if there were any more mishaps with the Immortal Seeds in the next Immortal Ceremony, he'd be forced into action.

Even if he wasn't fully prepared, he at least needed to arm himself to the best of his ability before entering the cultivation world.

"Old Stone, same old rules, best of three, how about it?" Li Ji'an arrived at the Immortal Palace's Scripture Pavilion once again that day.

This place was built by the Emperor to collect martial arts from across the land. Only reserve Immortal Seeds who ultimately failed to Ascend to the Immortal Realm were qualified to enter, with the purpose of cultivating martial power for the dynasty.

Technically, one could only enter after the age of thirty if they had completely lost the possibility of becoming an Immortal Seed. However, over the past century, only ten people managed to Ascend with an Immortal Master every ten years. Many reserve Immortal Seeds ultimately failed, so this rule had long since been amended: anyone who didn't Ascend in the first Immortal Ceremony could enter.

The only drawback was that access was limited to the lower three floors.

To go higher, one had to join the imperial court and accumulate merit.

Furthermore, these lower three floors corresponded to Blood Transformation, Marrow Cleansing, and Organ Refining.

Li Ji'an had just entered Marrow Cleansing, and his progress was slow, so theoretically, he could only access the first floor and practice second-rate martial arts.

Fortunately, over the past three years, Li Ji'an, who was adept at teasing the old man, had become close friends with Old Stone, the caretaker of the Scripture Pavilion.

Initially, he patiently taught Old Stone chess, and the old man, lacking entertainment and resigned to his fate, gradually became addicted.

Later, he got his wish and could come and go freely on the lower three floors.

"Heh, kid, you've come at the perfect time. This old man has toiled for three nights, specifically devising a way to beat you. Today, I'll leave you with nothing!" Hearing Li Ji'an's voice, Old Stone immediately put down the haphazardly drawn chess notation in his hand, his old eyes gleaming with light.

"Oh? Since you're so confident, why not raise the stakes?" Li Ji'an pressed.

Old Stone was about to agree when he suspiciously glared at Li Ji'an, "What? You're not thinking of going to the middle three floors, are you? No, no, this old man wants to retire here."

"Heh~ I thought you were more confident than that. In that case, I understand. Come on, you take black and go first." Li Ji'an taunted him with a smile.

The outcome was no surprise. Li Ji'an narrowly won both games.

"Old Stone, your moves this time were indeed excellent. You almost beat me, but you lacked the courage and confidence to press forward. I concede!"

Leaving Old Stone still staring intently at the chessboard, unwilling to give up, Li Ji'an walked up to the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion.

"Long-distance movement techniques, evasive maneuvers, fist techniques, palm techniques, saber techniques, staff techniques, sword techniques... Hmm, still lacking in hidden weapons and defense..."

He visited almost once a month, and over three years, he had studied many common martial arts.

Although the martial arts on the lower three floors only activated about thirty percent of Vital Energy and Blood's power, not enough for Li Ji'an to dedicate himself to studying them, they served as a knowledge base, accumulating a database for his Vital Energy and Blood activation.

Based on these first and second-rate martial arts from the lower three floors, he had managed to create half a set of fist techniques over the past three years. The power of their Vital Energy and Blood activation was comparable to that of super-first-rate techniques, at least fifty percent.

The evening drum sounded, and Li Ji'an left the Scripture Pavilion.

"Even the hidden weapon martial arts are lacking. It's a shame Ning Sujin hasn't learned the Stormy Pear Blossom Needles yet... No rush, after the Immortal Ceremony in five years, there will be plenty of time to plan."

Muttering about Ning Sujin along the way, he returned to his courtyard to find her already waiting.

"I've recently had a sudden premonition of a drastic change in my fate," Ning Sujin said calmly, without preamble.

Her vague premonitions could only be communicated with Li Ji'an.

"How is it? Good or bad?" Li Ji'an immediately became serious.

Ning Sujin shook her head, "It's different from usual. The outcome is uncertain, and misfortune or fortune is unpredictable."

"Usually, when someone close to me is about to take action, I can sense the fortune or misfortune of their journey. And for myself, when I'm about to do something, I get a sense of good or bad luck. But this time, I haven't made any changes, yet I suddenly sense a shift."

Li Ji'an frowned for a moment, "Is someone planning something against you?"

"Most likely," Ning Sujin agreed.

"However, no matter how I deduce it, I can't resolve it."

"Even fleeing the Imperial City won't work?"

"I've tried every possible scenario, and none of them can change it."

Over the past five years, Ning Sujin had cultivated diligently and was on the verge of Marrow Cleansing Perfection. If nothing unexpected happened, she should achieve Organ Refining success in the Immortal Ceremony five years from now, giving her hope of becoming an Immortal Seed. This sudden change left her feeling powerless.

"With the Duke's immense power currently, and with Uncle Chen and your maternal grandfather, they still can't change it... Could it be an Immortal Master?" Li Ji'an reasonably speculated.

"An Immortal Master?" Ning Sujin's expression turned grave.

"There are still five years until the Immortal Ceremony, and since the Immortal Masters descended a hundred years ago, the decennial descent has never changed..."

But besides an Immortal Master, Li Ji'an couldn't think of anyone else, given Ning Sujin's current background, who could forcibly influence her fate, someone she couldn't even evade. Even if the Emperor wanted to exterminate the Duke's entire family, she could have hidden herself in the mortal world to escape.

"What about me?"

Ning Sujin shook her head, unwavering.

"And the Duke?"

She shook her head again.

This meant it was truly targeting Ning Sujin.

After a long silence, Ning Sujin let out a long sigh.

"Ji'an, are you truly refusing your First Wife's intentions because of your desire to seek immortality?"

In truth, she had sensed this five days ago. Coming to find Li Ji'an today wasn't to seek a solution, but because she was truly powerless to cope, resigned to losing control of her fate.

But even as she resigned herself, ten years of acquaintance, five in Chong'an Prefecture and five in the Immortal Palace, had unknowingly taken root in Ning Sujin's heart. Even in her calm self-reflection today, she realized Li Ji'an's place in her heart had almost overshadowed the childhood obsession with her brother.

She didn't know if there would be a future after this change in her fate.

Li Ji'an saw through Ning Sujin's thoughts and gave a wry smile, nodding firmly.

"Nonsense! You've only just begun Marrow Cleansing. Your progress has been slow for three years. The Immortal Ceremony in five years is hopeless. You should abandon any thought of becoming immortal in this lifetime." Ning Sujin suddenly became agitated.

But I still have the next life.

Li Ji'an could only offer an awkward smile.

"So, you're doing this to avoid dragging me down, because you understand me? Is that right?" Ning Sujin suddenly stood up, staring intensely at Li Ji'an.

"Is there really no way to resolve this?"

"No!"