Chapter 634 - 43: Ominous Signs Emerging

Three years have passed since the previous Blood Spirit Saintess perished.

During these three years, Li Ji’an’s Qi and blood power has advanced one more step. Besides his physique at the middle stage of Tier Three Body Refining, the Qi and blood power has become even stronger due to the True Dragon Essence Blood devouring the Phoenix Blood.

The most critical is that when he strikes the "Demon-Suppressing Fist" with his Tier Three middle stage physique, there is already a faint attachment of True Dragon Blood Fiend, appearing more fiercely mighty compared to the Dao Charm Fist Intent itself.

His Golden Core cultivation has also improved significantly compared to his time in the Biyun Sect, having been in Core Formation for twenty-eight years, making the mid-stage Golden Core a conceivable achievement in sight.

Normally, an ordinary lower-level True Core Cultivator in the early Core Formation stage needs to settle over a century to have the hope of advancing to the mid-stage Core Formation, and it also requires a large amount of supplementary cultivation elixir and spiritual resources, with most halting at the early Core Formation stage.

An upper-mid-level True Core Cultivator has the hope of advancing within eighty years if spiritual resources are abundant.

But Li Ji’an has hope with his Pathway Patterned Golden Core within sixty years.

The current progress has already exceeded his expectations.

Of course, the thousand-year accumulation of the Blood Spirit Sect has provided him a wealth of spiritual resources, which is key.

At least during this period, most of the beneficial elixir spirit medicines for the Core Formation stage, he has been able to obtain from the Blood Spirit Sect’s treasury for personal refinement.

Besides spirit medicine, he also rummaged through the Blood Spirit Sect’s treasury for a batch of Tier Three puppet materials and high-tier talisman materials, greatly enriching his library of aces.

Originally, he was preparing to conduct more meticulous research on Foundation Establishment matters of the Chaos Technique with Ning Sujin.

A year ago, Ning Sujin reached perfection at the Qi Cultivation Stage with the Chaos Technique, finally able to start planning Foundation Establishment.

Unfortunately, at the first Foundation Establishment barrier, the Foundation Establishment of the Chaos Technique differs from that of the Five Elements Technique.

In the insights and comprehension from the Profound Origin Celestial Monarch, the biggest difference between the Chaos Technique’s Foundation Establishment and the Five Elements Technique’s Foundation Establishment is that the Chaos Qi during the Qi Cultivation Stage remains gaseous after Foundation Establishment, unlike the Five Elements Technique which becomes liquid.

However, the process also requires strong spiritual pressure squeezing and refining to make the Innate Chaos Qi purer.

Nevertheless, there are many details to be mindful of.

At this moment, Li Ji’an’s Foundation Establishment experience can play a much smaller role.

Ning Sujin cannot retry, so the Foundation Establishment is critically important.

"Husband, I should temporarily slow down my Foundation Establishment matters and first properly deal with this urgent situation," said Ning Sujin, her face instantly turning grave after reading the Communication Talisman in Li Ji’an’s hand.

Because just when Li Ji’an finished reading the Communication Talisman, having made a choice in his heart, she passively sensed an ominous sign related to Li Ji’an.

Moreover, her Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil abilities could not accurately determine good or bad fortune, and it clearly showed signs of delay.

Normally, if someone’s intention or decision might influence Li Ji’an’s fortune or misfortune, given her current closeness to Li Ji’an, she would respond immediately.

But this time, it only faintly manifested after Li Ji’an finished reading the Communication Talisman.

And it was quite evident that there was an obstruction akin to a fog covering during this passive sensing.

This sort of situation has only appeared twice since she acquired the ability of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil.

The first time was several years ago in the Dragon Burial Cave, when Li Ji’an had the intention to cultivate a True Dragon of the present age, she proactively performed divination, resulting not only in strong obstruction but an instant backlash.

Although she proactively performed divination this time without experiencing backlash, the sense of obstruction was obvious.

Li Ji’an slightly furrowed his brow looking at Ning Sujin: "Is there a feeling of screenied heaven’s secrets obstruction? But without backlash?"

"I don’t know whether it’s because my divination ability is lacking, or the other party is skilled at this and far exceeds me." Ning Sujin conveyed her speculation.

"Far exceeds your divination Dao?" Li Ji’an’s brows furrowed even tighter.

In the next moment, he suddenly raised his head.

"Go!"

Ning Sujin’s words just now made him feel a strong sense of crisis.

Combining this with the content of the communication from Xiao Changfeng and Xiaoqiao, he couldn’t help but think of the worst outcome.

Both Xiao Changfeng and Xiaoqiao transmitted the same matter, saying that a senior from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain descended, inquiring about information from previous lives.

Moreover, they were probing him as a disciple of his previous life.

Twenty-eight years ago, in Feihong Immortal City in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, he assumed the identity of Huang Jie to form a Golden Core, at the time Master Chunyuan and Tong Shangren tried to recruit him.

Initially, he thought that the other party was merely coveting his fortune.

After years gradually assimilating the Divine Soul Memory Fragments of the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws, he finally realized that Beixuan True Monarch had not only chosen the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws to search for Divine Favored in the world but also Tong Shangren from the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

Li Ji’an couldn’t still ascertain the true nature of Beixuan True Monarch, who made even the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws, a fellow Nascent Soul True Monarch, humbly bow, could casually offer spirit resources for elevating to middle-stage Nascent Soul, and opportunities for Nascent Soul advancement—yet the level of threat to him is immensely high.

When Tong Shangren couldn’t keep "Huang Jie," he would stop at nothing to search.

When Li Ji’an went to the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain to avoid misfortune, he happened to meet Guo Wanzhi and Yao Rui, and—subsequent aiming for an ideal cultivation environment—had to leverage the goodwill accumulated in his previous life with the Si Shui Commerce Association and the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, thus establishing prior connections.

This led those who were interested in "Huang Jie" after his disappearance to inevitably investigate his previous life.

However, Li Ji’an initially thought this life’s identity should have little connection to "Huang Jie." Even if someone investigates, a middle-level True Pill should be able to hide the truth from a Golden Core.

Holding this belief, he didn’t think much upon receiving Xiao Changfeng and Xiaoqiao’s communication at first.

Even if facing Tong Shangren or old thief Chunyuan, with his several means to obscure his Core Formation aura, he could breeze by without revealing anything.

But Ning Sujin’s reminder suddenly made him think of the legendary Great Cultivator, Beixuan True Monarch.

If facing Beixuan True Monarch, his means would be rendered child’s play.

It’s possible even merely a treasure of Beixuan True Monarch might expose his true form.

Upon Li Ji’an’s pronouncement, Ning Sujin immediately conformed without hesitation.

On the same day, after giving direct instructions to Blood Kite, Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin departed without looking back, heading northward.

After they made this move, Ning Sujin once more performed a divination, this time it was noticeably a sign of good fortune, despite the continued sense of delay and obstacle.

Li Ji’an’s decided destination this time was the north side of Celestial Cyan Domain, the Yellow Heaven Domain.

For many years Tong Shangren and old thief Chunyuan had not come to Biyun Sect to investigate information about their previous life, now they suddenly appear, clearly fearing the Golden Puppet Holy Monarch and Blood Spirit Saintess.

The Golden Puppet Holy Monarch had returned to the Central Ten Domains years ago, and the Blood Spirit Saintess was stationed in the Celestial Cyan Domain.

Three years ago, news of the Blood Spirit Saintess’s demise spread, but given Tong Shangren and old thief Chunyuan’s caution, they surely suspected a ruse, waiting until now to have certain news before daring to come.

Thus, indicating that this time it is not led by Beixuan True Monarch, most likely the situation concerning "Huang Jie" was reported by the two old thieves.

In the memory of the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws, Beixuan True Monarch consistently secluded himself at an apex neutral Dao Field in the Central Ten Domains, uninvolved with worldly affairs. Besides casting a wide net, rarely engaging in actions himself; even upon acquiring Divine Favored, he would require regional proxies to deliver them.

As for matters of capturing Divine Favored by proxies, he’d at best bestow some divine objects as assistance.

Hence, as long as Li Ji’an avoids meeting the two old thieves, the other can’t confirm him as the one who condensed into Golden Core "Huang Jie," nor determine him as Divine Favored.

Moreover, it is said that the main hall of the Joyful Union Sect in Yellow Heaven Domain has great enmity with the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, with tension in relations, previously leading to mutual expulsion and extermination tragedies within each other’s territorial scopes.

Though the Nascent Soul Hall Master of Joyful Union Sect fell in the Central Battlefield a hundred years ago, and the successor hasn’t achieved Nascent Soul True Monarch status, yet is akin to the skill of Blood Spirit Saintess—a powerhouse Ascendant, Tong Shangren and old thief Chunyuan might not dare venture.

Above all, the essential factor still lies in the cultivation environment at the Golden Core realm level; aside from the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, Celestial Cyan Domain, only Yellow Heaven Domain and Boundless Domain have Spirit Vein Dao Fields adequate for his current cultivation.

"I wonder if Tong Yaoyao is still in Yellow Heaven Domain?" while sprinting urgently, half a year later a barren desert came into view; pass through this spirit-deficient desert to reach the destination of this venture, Li Ji’an suddenly thought of Tong Yaoyao, who in his previous life had gone to Yellow Heaven Domain after bidding farewell to him.

It’s said that years ago the conflict between the Nine Tripods Commerce Association and Joyful Union Sect was linked to her mother.