Marrow Cleansing

The collapsed area of Li Household Hollow.

Liu Zhijian looked at Li Chengxuan in surprise. "Little brother, why are you still here?!"

Li Chengxuan remained calm. "I had nowhere to go, so I came back to take a look."

Understanding dawned on Liu Zhijian, and he nodded. He could hardly ask further, and since he happened to be bored fishing alone, he changed the subject and chatted with him.

After listening for a while, Li Chengxuan gained a general understanding of the first half of Liu Zhijian's life.

Liu Zhijian had originally been an ordinary farmer from a southern province, and he had loved fishing since childhood.

He had never married or had children. After his parents passed away, he had simply left his hometown to devote himself to fishing all over the country.

Liu Zhijian said with emotion, "When I was in primary school, our teacher asked us about our ambitions in life."

"Some wanted to be scientists, astronauts, police officers, teachers, and so on."

"I was the only one whose ambition was to be a fishing fanatic for life."

"Looking back, I think I'm probably the only one in the whole class who achieved his ambition."

Li Chengxuan nodded seriously. "Among the countless living beings, not one in ten thousand knows early on what they want to do for the rest of their life."

Liu Zhijian burst out laughing, looking rather proud of himself. Then he asked, "What about you, little brother? What's your ambition in life? Have you achieved it?"

Li Chengxuan was taken aback. He slowly said, "My ambition in life is to cultivate the Dao and attain immortality. Though the road ahead is uncertain now, I suppose I've gotten my wish."

Liu Zhijian nodded after hearing this, feeling a little closer to him as a fellow enthusiast. He couldn't help chuckling. "Little brother, forgive me for asking, but are there... really immortals in this world?"

Li Chengxuan pondered seriously for a moment and answered in earnest, "There probably aren't any immortals in this world. But there are in other worlds."

"Oh, oh, oh."

Since it concerned personal beliefs, Liu Zhijian didn't dare question him further. He merely joked, "Then take a look at me. Do I have the aptitude to cultivate the Dao?"

Li Chengxuan held two fingers together and swept them before his eyes. Two flashes of spiritual light flickered in them.

Liu Zhijian had only been joking, but then he saw Li Chengxuan's solemn expression and the strange gesture he made. His eyes suddenly lit up, giving Liu Zhijian a fright.

Were my eyes playing tricks on me just now?

Or was that reflected sunlight?!

The [Qi Observation Technique] was a Law Technique for surveying Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

It could also be used to examine a person's manifestations and destiny.

Li Chengxuan took one look and froze.

Liu Zhijian bore a striking manifestation of [Water Virtue].

Several clear, winding rivers encircled him, flowing endlessly.

Fish and shrimp could faintly be seen swimming in the rivers, while aquatic plants swayed.

What a rich manifestation of [Kan Water]!

Li Chengxuan took a deep breath and looked at Liu Zhijian. "You have the aptitude to cultivate, and it's excellent!"

Liu Zhijian wasn't delighted to hear it. Instead, he felt a little awkward.

I only asked as a joke. Why did this young Daoist take it seriously?!

Could this guy be part of some scam operation?!

"Haha, really?"

A trace of wariness arose in Liu Zhijian's heart, and he gave a perfunctory reply. "What a pity. Fishing is the only thing I've ever loved, so I'm afraid I have no affinity with the Dao."

Li Chengxuan had entered the Dao through [Mortal World Turbid Qi], so he naturally had some ability to probe people's hearts and discern their likes and dislikes. He could naturally sense the change in Liu Zhijian's thoughts.

Li Chengxuan paid no mind to such trifles, however. Instead, he had vaguely glimpsed the key to his own Dao Path.

A thought stirred in Li Chengxuan's mind, and he quietly sensed the [Two Worlds Pearl].

Deep within his sea of consciousness, the gray pearl bobbed up and down.

Li Chengxuan could faintly sense that he really could take Liu Zhijian back to Supreme Mystery Mountain!

So this is where the Two Worlds Pearl comes in!

The cultivation world has long been approaching the Age of Dharma Decline.

It's becoming harder and harder for cultivators to form manifestations and enter the Dao through Qi Ingestion.

But on Earth, it's just the opposite!

Among the ten billion mortals here, there are probably quite a few cultivation geniuses like Liu Zhijian, who have gained early enlightenment into the orchid cause and formed manifestations!

Yet Earth has no Spiritual Qi, so they can't cultivate!

If I could search Earth for promising cultivation talents and bring them back to Supreme Mystery Mountain...

Li Chengxuan let out a long breath.

He had entered the Dao through Qi Ingestion and possessed a supreme treasure, yet he had been forced to remain on Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Now, he finally saw a glimmer of hope of breaking free.

Seeing Li Chengxuan's expression change, Liu Zhijian stood up. "Little Daoist priest, I'll go fishing now. We can chat another time."

Li Chengxuan smiled faintly.

This fishing fanatic is wary, all right.

As expected of someone who has traveled north and south, fishing all over the country.

But this concerns my Dao Path. How could I let him refuse?

Li Chengxuan pointed at Liu Zhijian and said softly, "Come back!"

Liu Zhijian had already set off toward his fishing spot, but his body moved backward against his will, returning him to Li Chengxuan.

"Huh?!"

Liu Zhijian was terrified.

"Don't worry, I mean you no harm."

Li Chengxuan's expression was calm as he said softly, "You truly do have the aptitude to cultivate and an affinity with the Dao."

"I can't bear to see you sink into the mundane world. I intend to guide you into the Dao. Are you willing?!"

The more Liu Zhijian heard, the more frightened he became. He pleaded, "Master, I'm just a fishing fanatic. I don't have any money. And after fishing for years, my health isn't good either. Even my organs wouldn't be worth anything if you sold them."

"Please let me go."

Li Chengxuan didn't want to make things ugly. After a moment's thought, he took out a green pill and flicked it with a finger, sending it straight into Liu Zhijian's mouth.

Liu Zhijian swallowed it involuntarily and jumped in fright. "What was that?!"

It was a pill produced by Rejuvenation Valley that could aid Embryonic Breathing cultivators in their cultivation.

Liu Zhijian felt as though he had swallowed a ball of fire.

Then the fireball exploded with a roar, burning through his entire body.

Even his mind grew hazy.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Liu Zhijian slowly came to and saw Li Chengxuan nearby, holding his fishing rod and watching the water. He was about to curse him out when he suddenly sensed something was different.

Years of fishing outdoors, exposed to sun and rain, had left his body with plenty of aches and ailments.

Now they had all been swept away. His hearing and sight were sharp, and he felt as though he had been reborn. He felt wonderfully refreshed, as if he had gone back twenty years!

He glanced at his arm and froze.

A layer of black grime covered his skin, giving off a faint stench.

Liu Zhijian, who had read plenty of martial arts novels since childhood, suddenly had a thought.

This is... the legendary marrow cleansing and hair purging!

Could I really have met an immortal living in seclusion?!

Liu Zhijian's expression changed repeatedly.

In the end, he decided to take a gamble and dropped straight to his knees. "I, Old Liu, failed to recognize you. Please forgive me, Master."

Li Chengxuan didn't turn around, keeping his eyes on the float on the water. "Go wash yourself first."

"Yes."

Liu Zhijian immediately scrambled up and ran to another clean stretch of water. He quickly washed himself and changed his clothes, then walked back with a nervous expression.

Fishing was, of course, the great love of his life.

But what person from Huaxia had never dreamed of cultivating immortality?!

Though there had been a few twists and turns, his goal had finally been achieved.

Li Chengxuan decided to take the fishing fanatic with him that very day and see if they could cross back to the cultivation world. "Close your eyes," he said. "I'll take you somewhere."

It's getting more and more like a scene from a novel!

Liu Zhijian's heart shook. Brimming with anticipation, he closed his eyes.

A hand came to rest on his shoulder.

Then the ground suddenly vanished beneath his feet, and he felt as though he were falling into a deep cave.

He didn't know how long it was before his feet touched the ground again. Then he heard a voice say, "You can open your eyes now."

Liu Zhijian opened his eyes, and his expression changed drastically. "This is..."

Li Chengxuan was about to explain when he suddenly heard a thunderclap.

Across the entire Southern Edge Continent, the winds and clouds suddenly churned, and rolling thunder crashed down!