"Greetings Elder Li, I am here to study martial arts in the pavilion. This is my identity token."
At the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, Li Ji'an sat in the Grandmaster's Chair once occupied by Elder Shi, with closed eyes, resting, while a young Immortal Seedling of no apparent prospects respectfully performed the ceremonial bows.
Without opening his eyes, he waved his hand casually: "The evening bell is the signal, don't miss the hour."
"I understand, thank you, Elder Li."
After the young one disappeared into the Scripture Pavilion, Li Ji'an slowly opened his eyes and shook his head with a smile.
"Unexpectedly, I've earned the 'Elder' title..." Unlike the 'Elder' Li the Lame was called in his past life, this 'Elder' is a title of utmost respect.
When King Yun ascended the throne, Li Ji'an was precisely thirty years old, successfully avoiding the possibility of becoming an Immortal Seedling. Thanks to his connection with the Imperial Grandson, he remained at the Immortal Palace's Scripture Pavilion.
Seven years later, Old King Yun's old wound from his efforts for the kingdom resurfaced, preventing him from receiving the promised Immortal Pill from the Immortal Master, and he passed away on the Dragon Throne.
Zhao Yunsheng's father smoothly succeeded the throne, and Zhao Yunsheng logically became the Crown Prince.
At that time, Li Ji'an was fully cultivating Inner Strength. He had already achieved Minor Achievement in Bone Marrow Forging, and three years later attained Perfection. He then fully sprinted towards Refining the Internal Organs, achieving perfection in eight years, successfully entering the ranks of the Qi Blood Masters at forty-one.
It was precisely then that he outlived Old Shi, successfully taking over, becoming the elder of the Scripture Pavilion from a guardian.
In the following twenty years, he took charge of the Scripture Pavilion, collecting all martial arts. On one hand, he continued refining Qi and Blood, aiming for the Grandmaster Realm pinnacle of Martial Dao in this realm, on the other hand, he meticulously researched martial arts based on top-tier martial arts from the Grandmaster List, leaving only twice.
One time was ten years ago, relying on the convenience of his position, sitting with the most top-tier martial arts in the world, he accidentally sensed during ten years of intensive research that all top-tier martial arts activating more than seventy percent of Qi and blood power had a certain commonality—they could feedback their own Qi and blood at that moment.
The stronger the activation power, the better the feedback effect.
Though they were all very weak and vanished instantly.
But this still surprised Li Ji'an greatly, generating wild ideas.
Thus he secluded himself for three months, wasting neither time nor sleep.
Finally, at the moment his brain was about to explode, he grasped that fleeting spark of inspiration like an ephemeral flower!
If he could integrate the Qi and blood activation techniques corresponding to the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Twelve Main Meridians within top-tier martial arts, theoretically he would create a martial art with nearly ten percent Qi and blood activation, significantly enhancing Inner Strength practice.
Unfortunately, although there are seventy-nine volumes of top-tier martial arts collected on the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion, there is much repetition in the activation techniques corresponding to the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Twelve Main Meridians, still needing two different activation pathways of top-tier martial arts.
Thus, seizing the opportunity to attend Prince Qing Ning Haichan's funeral, he went to Prince Qing's Mansion, mourning Ning Haichan while obtaining Chen Xiaosheng's inherited fist technique and Su Family's "Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle."
Just right to correspond to Qi and blood activation techniques of two different meridian pathways.
And three years later successfully created a martial art that reached the apex of this realm, not only activating Qi and blood to ninety-nine percent of one's Qi and blood, but also greatly feeding back the refining of one's Qi and blood, doubling the cultivation of Inner Strength.
With this Divine Skill, merely six years later his Qi and blood flowed like a dragon, successfully stepping into the realm of Qi Blood Grandmasters.
Coupled with his self-created martial art that can activate ninety-nine percent of his Qi and blood power, being at the prime of Qi and blood, plus mastering the natal martial arts of other Grandmasters throughout the world...world leader prediction was practically assured.
It was just a year ago when he went out for the second time.
A year ago, the new Emperor had reigned for twenty-three years, precisely hosting the Immortal Scripture for the third time.
After the Immortal Master departed, the Emperor was found severely injured and dying in the Immortal Hall and collapsed before being dragged back to the Imperial Palace.
No one knew what had happened, moreover, the Immortal Seedlings from that term were quite exceptional—the only explanation was that the Emperor inadvertently spoke some taboo words angering the Immortal Master.
Subsequently, a bloody storm of a nine dragons succession struggle broke out in the palace.
Poor Zhao Yunsheng, with the most legitimate claim as the Crown Prince, was ironically the least capable in martial arts talent, not even considered a competitor by other princes.
After all, his father hadn't thought of passing the throne to him when making him Crown Prince—Martial Artists refine Qi and blood, their lifespans are relatively longer, especially since every ten years they might acquire the Immortal Master's Life-extending Immortal Pill, except for Grand Ancestor, traditionally the throne is passed to the Imperial Grandson.
Initially, Li Ji'an had no interest in the succession struggle, anyway Zhao Yunsheng had no interest in the throne.
Unfortunately, the Eighth Prince was ruthless and unscrupulous; after succeeding in the succession struggle he aimed to eliminate all threats.
Thus Li Ji'an left the Scripture Pavilion for the second time.
Zhao Yunsheng was forced onto the throne.
Li Ji'an involuntarily ascended to the top of the Grandmaster List.
"At merely sixty-one, am I already starting to decline?" After sensing repeatedly and confirming without error, Li Ji'an slightly furrowed his brows, then smiled again.
"Enough, this world has already reached its end."
Since half a year ago, he had occasionally sensed that the "Rejuvenation" overlooked in the past lives indeed had advance indications.
A Qi and Blood like a Dragon Grandmaster theoretically could live nearly a century, only during the peak at five or six decades, afterwards Qi and blood gradually declines, softening before seventy, sharply declining by eighty, reaching a heavily frail state by ninety.
Li Ji'an was already satisfied with this.
This world had far exceeded his expectations; not only had he reached the pinnacle in Martial Dao, but more importantly, he had created a martial art that accelerated Inner Strength body forging, giving him strong confidence for the next life.
Moreover, last year while accompanying Zhao Yunsheng in the Imperial Palace, he had inadvertently discovered the secret records of an Emperor during a martial catastrophe and researched the talisman receiving the Immortal Master's messages.
Indeed, Martial Arts Grandmasters can harm cultivators!
This intensified his resolve to venture into the Cultivation Realm in the next life.
Five days later, Li Ji'an bid farewell to Zhao Yunsheng, claiming to travel the world, seeking fated seedlings to aid Zhao Yunsheng's concerns over the Immortal Scripture.
Then Li Ji'an first made a trip back to Qing Province, visiting Xiao Wu's grave, then returned to Purple Cloud Temple, to meet Qingyun whose hair and beard were now turning gray.
Finally, he paid his respects to his master and senior brother, leaving with a light heart.
Even though he had long personally viewed exploration maps of senior figures and royalty, he still toured the Immortal Dynasty's perimeter as a form of validation.
Until half a year later, the sensing grew ever stronger, he quietly returned to the Imperial City, moving into a long-prepared residence closest to the Immortal Palace.
A month later, upon awakening, he returned again to the age of eight.
The moment before, his powerful body with Qi and blood like a dragon suddenly became weak and powerless, making Li Ji'an slightly unaccustomed.
However, after briefly concentrating, the Divine Soul that was even more vigorous in energy, flexible in thought than in the previous life's peak, made him smile.
Not hesitating further, he retrieved the long-prepared Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill from the secret compartment and swallowed it whole, then added the already boiled and now suitably warm hot water into the wooden barrel filled with treasure medicine liquid from spirit grasses, jumping in instantly.
The Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill scrubbed his muscles and bones internally, while the treasure medicine liquid cleansed his skin and flesh externally.
Li Ji'an only felt his entire being reborn in an instant.
"In this life, enter the Cultivation Realm!"