"Help! Help!" Ning Yutan exclaimed suddenly.
She tightly grabbed Li Ji'an's clothes, constantly dodging around him.
She was in the initial stage of Bone Forging, possessing Small Thousand Jin Strength, while Ning Sujin and Li Ji'an, with Solid Flesh Perfection, had a full strength estimated at five hundred jin.
Yet Ning Yutan focused on Inner Strength advancement, without distracting herself with External Skills, akin to guarding a treasure mountain without access.
Ning Sujin had clearly cultivated some superior Qinggong-style body technique, maneuvering perfectly to maximize her strength.
"Slap!" A crisp slap immediately resounded.
"I'll fight you!" Ning Yutan's whole body bent backward, one hand covering her rounded bottom that Ning Sujin had heavily slapped, while the other pushed toward Ning Sujin.
Unfortunately, martial Dao realm doesn't equate to strength; without practicing External Skills, she couldn't even touch Ning Sujin with her initial Bone Forging strength.
"Ah! It hurts, let go." Her attempted push missed, and Ning Sujin caught her right ear with one hand.
In her shock, she reached one hand toward Ning Sujin's hand clutching her ear and pushed toward Ning Sujin in front of her with the other.
"Ah! I'm wrong, my ear is falling off, sister, I'm wrong." She ended up having her left ear caught by Ning Sujin too.
Then Ning Yutan completely gave up, hurriedly protecting her ears with both hands, pleading bitterly.
"Hmph!" Ning Sujin stopped, coldly glaring at Ning Yutan, then looked at Li Ji'an, who was entertained by watching the scene.
Li Ji'an watched calmly, with a hint of envy in his eyes.
He was very eager for the body technique Ning Sujin had just displayed.
Even with his three lives of spiritual power accumulation, discovered in Shangyi County Martial Arts Academy, he possessed extraordinary comprehension as well as higher sensing power than others; however, he still couldn't capture Ning Sujin's real-time position when she displayed that technique.
This cultivation technique's use of inner strength was evidently masterful.
"Li Ji'an? Second in the whole mansion?" Ning Sujin's expression softened.
Li Ji'an smiled and nodded.
"Hey, he's already my junior, has nothing to do with you, don't try anything on him." Suddenly, Ning Yutan urgently interrupted, declaring her claim.
"Hmm?" Ning Sujin swept her cold gaze over.
Ning Yutan instinctively dodged, fearing eye contact, but the next second, she summoned courage to glare back: "Don't believe it? Then ask him, isn't he on my side? I'm even going to reward him with snacks made by my mom, are you jealous?"
"Childish!" Ning Sujin mocked, turned to look at Li Ji'an: "Want to learn Qinggong body technique?"
Ning Yutan jumped: "You're actually going to teach Su Family's ancestral body technique to an outsider just to rival me? Junior, don't listen to her, if you learn her family's technique, the Su Family will surely kill you; come here quickly, we're on the same side, I'll share all good food with you."
"Who told you I only know one Qinggong body technique? Li Ji'an, follow me, I have several unclaimed cultivation techniques for you to choose from." Ning Sujin explained herself.
"Don't trust her, come here, the snacks my mom makes are worth a fortune."
...
Watching the two girls, Li Ji'an smiled softly.
Fourteen or fifteen-year-old girls, born into noble families, never experiencing life's hardships, with limited ideas and knowledge, still children after all.
Without much thought, Li Ji'an turned and entered, leaving the two young ladies outside, facing each other in the breeze.
With his experiences from three lifetimes, especially from pre-transmigration urban modern life, he had a clear grasp of the banter between Ning Yutan and Ning Sujin, an accurate understanding of their personalities and the conflicts between them.
They merely saw him as a tool for competition.
Neither regarded him for who he truly was, not even considering him as a person, just a tool for their competitive desires.
However, in such situations, utilizing their competitive psychology, one could benefit or establish connections by taking advantage.
Indeed, establishing relations with the Dingyuan Marquis's Mansion could provide great security for his next life's childhood.
If at eight years old in the next life he could enter the Marquis Mansion, grow up in the mansion, surely his foundation would be better.
But that requires sincerity and mutual trust.
If the relationships were gained through manipulation, he wouldn't trust them himself.
Moreover, this life, with good childhood development, early body forging entrance, ample qi and blood, barring accidents, living to seventy or eighty isn't hard, "Rejuvenation" wouldn't be necessary until after fifty, giving sufficient time.
Thus, concerning accumulating resources for the next life's childhood, he prefers to let things take their natural course, ideally finding someone trustworthy like a senior, weathering the tests of time, uncovering their true nature, establishing genuine trust is the right path.
His approach is not to force, not to initiate, not to refuse, leave it to fate.
Certainly wouldn't put all hope in others, self-reliance remains the ultimate reliance.
After all, for typical wealth, power, even divine skill manuals, perhaps he could have steadfast lifelong friendships; but, once involved in the mystery of immortality, secrets of rejuvenation, not just old friends but even his own children, his own parents, he wouldn't trust.
Moreover, in this life his greatest goal is hoping to become an Immortal Seedling, to verify the existence of immortals, not hastily plotting for the next life.
As for practicing External Skills... Given current circumstances, relying on External Skills for survival would already be a disadvantage.
The martial world isn't about endless fighting, adapting to the environment, following the trend, avoiding struggle and conflict, forming friendly relations, avoiding enmity, not standing under dangerous walls, picking the right side are the things Li Ji'an, blessed with "Rejuvenation" external support, would consider.
In dangerous wars, untamed battles, how could he be one to act recklessly?
In such a world, the court controlling most martial Dao resources is the strongest entity; if hopeful to be a highly regarded Immortal Seedling, naturally the court would provide protection.
Even if practicing External Skills for self-defense, that should wait until after thirty, when chances of becoming an Immortal Seedling are thoroughly lost.
Thus practicing External Skills isn't the priority; focusing inward, cultivating the body, aiming for Blood Exchange Perfection before twenty, or Bone Marrow Forging even Refining the Internal Organs before thirty is key.