Returning to Childhood

"Greetings, Old Li. This junior is entering the pavilion to study martial arts. Here is my identification token."

At the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, Li Ji'an sat in the Grand Tutor's Chair that Old Shi had once occupied, resting with his eyes closed. A young man, deemed an unpromising Immortal Seed, bowed respectfully.

Without opening his eyes, he waved a hand dismissively. "The evening drum is the signal. Don't be late."

"This junior understands. Thank you, Old Li."

After the young man disappeared into the Scripture Pavilion, Li Ji'an slowly opened his eyes and shook his head with a smile.

"Without realizing it, I've also acquired the title 'Old'..." Unlike the 'old' of Old Cripple Li in his previous life, this 'old' was a term of utmost respect.

When Prince Yun ascended the throne, Li Ji'an was exactly thirty years old. He successfully avoided the possibility of becoming an Immortal Seed and, relying on his relationship with the Imperial Grandson, remained in the Scripture Pavilion of the Immortal Palace.

Seven years later, the old Prince Yun, due to old wounds sustained during the "Loyalty to the King" campaign, passed away on the dragon throne before he could receive the Immortal Pill promised by the Immortal Master.

Zhao Yunsheng's biological father smoothly succeeded him, and Zhao Yunsheng naturally became the Crown Prince.

At that time, Li Ji'an was fully focused on cultivating his internal energy. He had already achieved minor success in Marrow Cleansing, completing it in three years. Afterward, he dedicated himself to Organ Refining, achieving full mastery in eight years. At the age of forty-one, he successfully entered the ranks of Qi and Blood Grandmasters.

It was precisely then that he outlived Old Shi and successfully took over his position, transitioning from a Scripture Pavilion guard to a Scripture Pavilion Elder.

For the next twenty years, he resided in the Scripture Pavilion, absorbing all the martial arts in the world. He continued to refine his Vital Energy and Blood, striving for the Grandmaster realm, the pinnacle of the Martial Path in this world. Simultaneously, he meticulously studied martial arts based on the top-tier techniques on the Martial Arts Ranking, venturing out only twice.

The first time was ten years ago. Leveraging his position, he possessed the most top-tier martial arts in the world. After ten years of dedicated study, he unexpectedly realized that all top-tier martial arts that could unleash over seventy percent of their power by stimulating Vital Energy and Blood shared a common trait—they could, in that instant, feed back into one's own Vital Energy and Blood.

The stronger the unleashed power, the better the feedback effect.

Although it was very weak and fleeting.

This still surprised Li Ji'an immensely, sparking wild ideas.

He then entered seclusion for three months, neglecting food and sleep.

Finally, at the moment his head was about to explode, he seized that fleeting spark of inspiration!

If one could integrate the Vital Energy and Blood stimulation methods for the Extraordinary Meridians and the Twelve Regular Meridians from top-tier martial arts, it would theoretically form a peerless martial art capable of unleashing nearly one hundred percent of Vital Energy and Blood, while also greatly enhancing internal energy cultivation.

Unfortunately, although the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion housed seventy-nine top-tier martial arts, the stimulation methods for the Extraordinary Meridians and the Twelve Regular Meridians had many overlaps. He was still missing two top-tier martial arts with different stimulation pathways.

Thus, he took the opportunity to attend Prince Qing Ning Haichan's funeral and visited Prince Qing's manor. While paying respects to Ning Haichan, he obtained the inherited fist techniques left by Chen Xiaosheng, as well as the Su Family's Stormy Pear Blossom Needles.

These happened to correspond to two different Vital Energy and Blood stimulation pathways.

Three years later, he successfully created the ultimate martial art of this realm, not only unleashing ninety-nine percent of his Vital Energy and Blood but also greatly enhancing the refinement of his Vital Energy and Blood, doubling his internal energy cultivation.

With this divine skill, just six years later, his Vital Energy and Blood surged like a dragon, and he successfully reached the Qi and Blood Grandmaster realm.

Combined with his self-created ultimate martial art that could unleash ninety-nine percent of his Vital Energy and Blood's power, and being in his prime with peak Vital Energy and Blood, plus his mastery of the signature martial arts of other Grandmasters in the world... being number one in the world was virtually guaranteed.

It was about a year ago that he went out for the second time.

A year ago, the new Emperor had been on the throne for twenty-three years and was presiding over the Immortal Ceremony for the third time.

However, after the Immortal Master departed, the Emperor was discovered critically wounded in the Immortal Hall and died before he could be brought back to the imperial palace.

No one knew what exactly happened, and the Immortal Seed candidates that year were all exceptional. The only explanation was that the Emperor had inadvertently spoken a forbidden word that angered the Immortal Master.

Subsequently, a bloody struggle for succession, the Nine Dragons Seizing the Heir, erupted within the palace.

Pitiable Zhao Yunsheng, the most legitimate Crown Prince, possessed the least talent for the Martial Path. Other princes didn't even consider him a competitor.

After all, when his father appointed him Crown Prince, he never intended to pass the throne to him. Martial Artists who refined Vital Energy and Blood had relatively longer lifespans, especially since they could potentially receive Longevity Immortal Pills from the Immortal Master every ten years. Apart from the Great Ancestor, it was traditional to pass the throne to the Imperial Grandson.

Li Ji'an had no interest in the succession struggle initially, as Zhao Yunsheng also had no interest in the throne.

However, the Eighth Prince, ruthless and wicked, intended to eliminate all threats after successfully seizing the throne.

Thus, Li Ji'an left the Scripture Pavilion for the second time.

Zhao Yunsheng was forced to ascend the throne.

Li Ji'an passively ascended to the top of the Grandmaster Ranking.

"Am I already starting to decline at sixty-one?" After multiple sensations, confirming the truth, Li Ji'an frowned slightly, then broke into a smile.

"Ah well, this life has run its course."

For the past half-year, he had had occasional premonitions. The "Rejuvenation" that he had overlooked in his previous two lives actually had an early warning sign.

Qi and Blood Grandmasters theoretically could live for nearly a hundred years, but their peak was typically in their fifties and sixties. Afterward, their Vital Energy and Blood would slowly decline. The decline was slower before seventy, accelerating rapidly around eighty, and by ninety, they would be frail.

Li Ji'an was content with this outcome.

This life had far exceeded his expectations. Not only had he reached a dead end in the Martial Path, but most importantly, he had created a martial art that could accelerate internal energy body tempering, filling him with confidence for the next life.

More importantly, during the time he spent in the imperial palace with Zhao Yunsheng last year, he accidentally discovered secret records from the Emperor during the Martial Dao Cataclysm and managed to study the Talisman used to receive messages from the Immortal Master.

Martial Dao Grandmasters could indeed injure cultivators!

This strengthened his resolve to journey to the cultivation world in his next life.

Five days later, Li Ji'an bid farewell to Zhao Yunsheng, stating his intention to travel the world, seeking fated seedlings, and contributing to the Immortal Ceremony that troubled Zhao Yunsheng.

Afterward, Li Ji'an first returned to Qingzhou, visited Xiao Wu's grave, and then returned to Purple Heaven Temple to see Qingyun, whose hair and beard had turned white.

Finally, after paying respects to his Master and Senior Brother, he departed gracefully.

Although he had already personally seen the exploration maps of senior experts and the Imperial Family, he still traveled around the Immortal Bestowed Dynasty once, as a form of verification.

Six months later, as the sensation grew stronger, he quietly returned to the Imperial City and moved into a house he had prepared long ago, located closest to the Immortal Palace.

One month later, he woke up and found himself back at the age of eight.

The powerful body, which had been full of Vital Energy and Blood just moments before, suddenly felt weak and feeble, leaving Li Ji'an slightly unaccustomed to it.

However, after closing his eyes and concentrating for a moment, he couldn't help but smile, feeling his Spirit was more energetic and his mind sharper than even at the peak of his previous life.

Without further hesitation, he took out the Marrow Cleansing Pill he had prepared in a hidden compartment and swallowed it whole. He then poured the boiling hot water, now at a moderate temperature, into a wooden tub filled with precious medicinal herbs and spirit grasses, no less valuable than the Marrow Cleansing Pill itself, and jumped in.

The Marrow Cleansing Pill cleansed his bones and organs from within, while the medicinal bath cleansed his Muscle and Membrane and flesh from the outside.

Li Ji'an felt as if he underwent a complete Rebirth and Bone Transformation in an instant.

"This life, I shall enter the Immortal Realm!"