The north wind howled, heralding the arrival of the harsh winter.
Upon returning to his homeland and witnessing everything, Li Ji'an became even more resolute in his decision to stay at the Immortal Palace and not step out ever again.
With his current Blood Exchange Perfection, mastery of the enhanced version of the Floating Willow Step, and a few rudimentary Qi and Blood Activation techniques he developed himself, he was considered a top-tier martial artist in the world. Yet, in the face of the impending chaos, he couldn't guarantee not being swept up in the turmoil.
Still, the Immortal Palace was safe.
No matter how chaotic it was outside, the Immortal Palace remained a place of eternal peace, with abundant resources. Most were striving to become Immortal Seedlings, except for Li Ji'an.
After achieving Blood Exchange Perfection, his cultivation of Inner Strength evidently slowed, prompting him to focus more on the lethal means of External Skills and Qi and Blood Activation.
He feared a mishap at the next Immortal Scripture, where he'd be pushed onto the stage unprepared.
Though not fully prepared, he had to do his utmost to arm himself to the fullest in order to enter the Cultivation Realm.
"Elder Shi, the old rule: best two out of three, how about it?" On this day, Li Ji'an once again arrived at the Scripture Pavilion of the Immortal Palace.
This place was built by the Emperor to collect Martial Arts from all under heaven and was only accessible to the reserve Immortal Seedlings who had ultimately failed to ascend to the Immortal Realm, aiming to cultivate Martial Dao power for the Dynasty.
As a rule, one could only enter after completely losing the possibility of becoming an Immortal Seedling at the age of thirty. However, over the past hundred years, only ten people every ten years managed to ascend with an Immortal Master. The fate of many reserve Immortal Seedlings ended in failure, so this rule had long been adapted, and those who hadn't ascended during the first Immortal Scripture could enter.
The only limitation was that the permission was restricted to the lower three floors.
To go further up, one had to join the Court and accumulate military exploits.
Moreover, these lower three floors corresponded to Blood Exchange, Bone Marrow Forging, and Refining the Internal Organs.
Li Ji'an, a newcomer to Bone Marrow Forging with slow progress, theoretically could only enter the 1st Layer and practice second-tier Martial Arts.
Fortunately, over the past three years, Li Ji'an, who deeply understood how to amuse the old man, had formed a bond with Old Shi at the Scripture Pavilion,
Initially teaching him patience in chess, allowing Old Shi, starved of entertainment and just passing time waiting for death, gradually become addicted.
Subsequently, he was free to come and go from the lower three floors as he wished.
"Hey, boy, you're just in time. This old man has burned the midnight oil for three nights, specifically studying how to deal with you. See if today, I don't beat you to pieces!" Elder Shi, hearing Li Ji'an's voice, immediately put down the disordered chess manual in his hand, his old eyes lighting up.
"Oh? Since you're this confident, why not raise the stakes?" Li Ji'an took the opportunity to provoke.
Elder Shi was just about to agree, but then looked at Li Ji'an with suspicion: "What, you still want to go up to the middle three floors? No way, no way, this old man wants to retire here."
"Heh~ I thought you were more confident. Since that's the case, I have an understanding. Come on, I'll play black and go first." Li Ji'an said with a smile, taunting.
The result was undisputed; Li Ji'an narrowly won two consecutive games.
"Elder Shi's moves were indeed extraordinary this time; you almost won. You only lacked a bit of courage and confidence to press on. Thanks for the match!"
Leaving behind Elder Shi, who was still staring at the chessboard unwillingly, Li Ji'an stepped up to the 3rd Floor of the Scripture Pavilion.
"Long-Distance Qinggong, Tengnuo Body Technique, Fist Technique, Palm Technique, Saber Technique, Staff Technique, Sword Technique... hmm, still missing Hidden Weapon and Defense..."
Coming here nearly once a month, he had studied a lot of the common Martial Arts over three years.
Although the Martial Arts on the lower three floors only excited around thirty percent of the Qi and Blood power and weren't worthy of Li Ji'an's dedicated study, they served as foundational knowledge to build a database of Qi and Blood Activation.
Based on these first- and second-tier Martial Arts from the lower three floors, he had barely managed to create half a set of Fist Techniques over three years, with a Qi and Blood Activation power close to that of a top-tier, at least fifty percent.
The evening bell tolled as Li Ji'an left the Scripture Pavilion.
"The Hidden Weapons Techniques are still lacking, but unfortunately Ning Sujin has not yet practiced the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle... no hurry, there's ample time to plan after five years when the Immortal Scripture is over."
Talking to himself about Ning Sujin along the way, he returned to the courtyard to find Ning Sujin had already been waiting for a long time.
"I recently sensed a sudden change in fate." Ning Sujin said, getting straight to the point with a calm expression.
Her sensing of the mysteriously unknown could only be shared with Li Ji'an.
"Tell me, is it auspicious or ominous?" Li Ji'an instantly became serious.
Ning Sujin shook her head: "It's different from usual; it's uncertain whether it's good or bad, fortune or misfortune."
"In the past, I could sense the fortune or misfortune when someone close had actions or intentions, and for myself, there would be a sense of good or bad when I intended to do something. This time, however, I sensed a sudden change without any intention to act."
Li Ji'an frowned for a moment: "Is someone planning to do something to you?"
"Most likely," Ning Sujin concurred.
"However, no matter how I deduce, there's no way to resolve it."
"Leaving the Imperial City isn't an option?"
"All conceivable options have been tried, and none can change it."
Over the past five years, Ning Sujin had ceaselessly cultivated and was about to achieve Bone Marrow Forging Perfection, with hopes to succeed in Refining the Internal Organs during the Immortal Scripture in five years, possibly becoming an Immortal Seedling.
The sudden change left her feeling helpless.
"Now the Duke holds great power, and both Uncle Chen and your grandfather are here, yet it can't be changed... unless, it is the Immortal Master?" Li Ji'an reasoned.
"The Immortal Master?" Ning Sujin's face turned grave.
"There are still five years until the Immortal Scripture, and for a century, the Immortal Master's descent every ten years has never changed..."
Except for the Immortal Master, Li Ji'an couldn't think of anyone else who could forcibly influence Ning Sujin's fate given her current status and background, someone she couldn't avoid even if she tried.
Even if the Emperor wanted to execute the entire Duke's Mansion, she could evade it by hiding in the Red Dust.
"What about me?"
Ning Sujin shook her head, "No change."
"What about the Duke?"
She shook her head again.
...
So, it was indeed aimed at Ning Sujin.
After a long silence, Ning Sujin exhaled deeply.
"Ji'an, were you truly rejecting my mother's intentions because of your desire to seek immortality?"
Actually, she had this premonition five days ago. She came to find Li Ji'an today, not to seek a solution, but resigning to her fate, losing control over her destiny.
Yet in accepting this fate, ten years—five years in Chong'an Prefecture and five in the Immortal Palace—had unknowingly caused Li Ji'an to take root deep in her heart, nearly overshadowing her childhood obsession with her brother.
She didn't know if there would be any more chances after this fate changed.
Li Ji'an saw through Ning Sujin's intention, smiled bitterly, and firmly nodded.
"Nonsense! You're only beginning Bone Marrow Forging; progress has been slow over the past three years. The Immortal Scripture in five years is hopeless; you can definitely give up on the dream of becoming immortal in this life." Ning Sujin suddenly became agitated.
But I still have the next life.
Li Ji'an could only smile awkwardly.
"So, is it because you don't want to burden me, because you understand me? Isn't it?" Ning Sujin suddenly stood up, staring intensely at Li Ji'an.
"Is there really no way to resolve it?"
"None!"