Chapter 406: Chapter 29: Departing from the Sect

"Dong dong dong!" The sect’s great bell rang urgently.

"Elder Li has been gravely injured!"

"Quick, alert the sect elders."

"Immediately send a communication talisman to Pill Cauldron Peak!"

...

Two months later, just as the Celestial Cyan Domain was shocked by the All Living Beings Sect, Li Ji’an fell gravely injured and in critical condition at the entrance of Biyun Sect, causing a wave of panic.

Soon after being carried into Pill Cauldron Peak, Li Ji’an slowly regained consciousness after taking the healing elixir personally refined by Master Jade Pill.

He claimed that while pursuing and killing the sect disciples’ assailants in the Great Marsh Mountains, he was attacked by several thief cultivators, among them a Fake Pill True Man, narrowly escaping death to return.

A sect physician later came to diagnose and stated that his essence was injured, his lifespan greatly reduced, and unless the legendary Ancient Holy Pill—Nine Revolutions Returning Pill—was refined, even if he recovered, he wouldn’t have many years left.

"Master! It’s all my fault! You must hold on, from now on I will cultivate diligently, perfect my alchemy skills, and do everything I can to find that Nine Revolutions Returning Pill formula!" Xu Xiaochun knelt before the warm jade bed, tears streaming down.

Guo Wanzhi bit her thin lips, eyes blurred with tears, and gently wiped the marks off her master’s body.

"How could it be? How could it be?" Master Jade Pill’s eyes were clouded with age, sighing repeatedly.

He had already planned that when his life came to an end, Alchemist Li could take over serving the sect, but now it seemed Li was going to be ahead of him.

As for that legendary Holy Pill... forget a mere Fake Pill Elder, even the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws in the Ten Thousand Laws Palace might not have such luck.

Half a month later, Li Ji’an’s internal injuries improved enough for him to recuperate on his own.

"It’s fate, no need for such concern, in this life having achieved the magic pill is enough for me." Leaving Pill Cauldron Peak, Li Ji’an decided to return to the outer peak to recuperate in seclusion, comforting those close to him before departing.

Especially advising Xu Xiaochun not to be affected by him.

Li Ji’an then returned to Solitary Peak and activated the restriction.

"Phew~" Back at the outer peak, Li Ji’an dispersed his weary appearance.

The so-called serious injury was merely a pill medicine with effects similar to those studied from the Fake Death Pill.

The purpose was just to find a reasonable way to retreat for his rejuvenation.

This life is different from previous ones, the sect has a soul lamp left, once he undergoes rejuvenation and divine soul reshaping, the soul lamp in the sect will extinguish.

In the subsequent three years, Li Ji’an secluded himself, focusing on puppet mastery.

The second-tier puppet materials he purchased during his trip to Celestial Origin Province were almost exhausted, and he finally firmly entered the second-tier Puppet Master ranks.

Successfully crafting five complete middle-stage second-tier puppets.

Compared to the frog puppet he made for Gugu, these five puppets were all humanoid, with attack and defense abilities fully comparable to middle-stage Foundation Establishment human cultivators.

No need for his precise Puppet Control Technique, simply setting instructions would allow the five puppets to surround and defeat a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Unfortunately, it requires at least early-stage Foundation Establishment divine sense to imprint and control with the Puppet Control Technique.

Apart from puppet mastery, the greatest gain in these three years was the divine soul secret technique—Soul Shocking Needle—taught by the life soul in the soul wood protective headband.

Before returning to the sect, he quietly visited Odd Stone Forest and had a brief exchange with Ning Sujin.

After Ning Sujin examined, there was nothing wrong with the Soul Shocking Needle secret technique, and they agreed to start studying it together.

Li Ji’an took only a year to grasp Soul Shocking Needle, his divine sense could already condense into a tangible soul needle, and now after three years, while its power was still lacking, its precision was exquisitely refined.

"Huh?" Just after finishing a set of "Taigu Demon-Suppressing Fist," Li Ji’an’s sea of consciousness rippled lightly, a vague sense of familiarity arose suddenly.

"Is this... a sign that something will happen?"

In these three years, his divination skills had not slackened, though still far from mastery, he had nonetheless gained insights.

Among them, the fundamental Dao charm connection of divination required the merging of soul and heart seas, with heart sea connecting the fundamental Dao charms of heaven, earth, and human.

Now the heart sea had somewhat merged with the sea of consciousness, theoretically it could produce a vague sensing, akin to a sixth sense.

This was merely the foundation of divination, though only providing some sensing; furthermore, because of the initial merging of the heart sea, some sensations might not be perceived, let alone understanding what will happen or its auspiciousness.

"Master, how are you? Can you emerge from seclusion?" Soon, Sudden Xiaochun’s voice came from beyond the restriction.

In these three years, only he, Guo Wanzhi, and Master Jade Pill occasionally came to show concern for his recovery.

And Xu Xiaochun, this kid, almost unfailingly, came every month.

Initially, mostly self-reproaching and showing concern outside the array.

Later, as Li Ji’an grew tired of it, he sent a sound transmission saying he was fine, ordering not to disturb unless necessary, bringing a quiet relief.

"What’s the matter?"

"Master, just now a True Man visited, claiming to be your close relative." Xu Xiaochun rejoiced immediately upon receiving Li Ji’an’s response.

Li Ji’an raised his brows slightly.

The heart sea sensing was indeed accurate.

But then he became alert.

His close relative?

And a True Man?

Racking his brains, Li Ji’an could not recall such a person within the Celestial Cyan Domain.

"How do they address themselves?"

"Disciple doesn’t know, only that Elder Zhenzong Wang has already led all elders to welcome them into the sect."

Just then, Master Jade Pill’s communication talisman trembled.

"Fuyao Fairy? Peak of Middle-stage True Core?"

Li Ji’an’s face grew more grim.

Currently, the sect’s True Core cultivators were still exploring the ancient tomb, with only three Fake Pill cultivators guarding, a peak middle-stage True Core True Man posed a significant threat.

However, he shook his head slightly, with the sect’s grand array, even a peak True Core master would have to weigh their actions.