Chapter 9: I Can Be Young Again

The carriage to the prefectural city was provided by the Martial Academy, and the county yamen had also assigned officers to escort them. The journey passed without incident, and after half a month, they arrived safely.

His experiences in his previous life had left him thoroughly familiar with Shangyi County, and with the Purple Mist Monastery as his backing, he had little to worry about within its borders.

However, upon arriving in Chong’an Prefecture, Li Ji’an instinctively became more cautious and reserved. He declined the kind offer from the academy’s seasoned coachman to show him around the city—a place several times more prosperous than Shangyi County—and went straight to the Seeking Immortals Institute to report in.

“A dragon rises from the shallows! Young friend, your future is boundless. Sit here for a moment while I prepare your credentials,” said the steward, who was particularly courteous to Li Ji’an thanks to his impressive achievement of placing second in the entire prefecture’s martial examination, and was not stingy with his praise.

Li Ji’an bowed respectfully. “Sir, your praise is undeserved. I am deeply grateful that you would handle this personally.”

The old steward raised his brows slightly, scrutinizing Li Ji’an once more. “Excellent, excellent. So young and accomplished, yet without a trace of arrogance, your temperament is outstanding. Your future holds endless possibilities.”

Li Ji’an bowed again.

Though he had never set foot in the prefectural city in his previous life, he had learned much through various channels. The Seeking Immortals Institute of the prefecture belonged to the highest authority in the Immortal Gifted Dynasty—the Seeking Immortals Palace.

The master of this palace was appointed directly by the reigning emperor, generation after generation. All matters in the world could be delayed, except for the selection of immortal seedlings—this was the Zhao imperial family’s time-honored maxim.

Even the prefectural magistrate of the fourth rank would not dare exert his authority before the steward of Chong’an’s Seeking Immortals Institute. To hold such a position, one had to be, at the very least, a consummate Blood-Change Grandmaster.

Skin, flesh, bone, blood, marrow, and organs—the grinding of the skin was only the foundation, the strengthening of the flesh was an entry point, and the forging of bone was a real hurdle, barring eighty percent of martial artists from progression. As for blood-changing, it was a true chasm, with ninety-nine percent of people left behind.

Only after refining the mundane blood with pure vital energy could one truly shed the mortal shell and gain extraordinary strength—capable of subduing dragons, restraining tigers, and standing alone against ten thousand soldiers.

The true “immortal seedlings” of the Seeking Immortals Palace were limited to those who had achieved consummation in blood-changing.

In this life, Li Ji’an had a strong foundation from medicinal supplements starting at age eight, coupled with a decade of martial training from his previous life, and now, with the added benefits of youthful insight, he had managed three months of stance training, six months of skin grinding, and a year of flesh strengthening—an impressive rate of progress.

Yet even so, he dared not underestimate the next hurdle: bone forging. As for reaching consummation in blood-changing before the Immortal Seedling Grand Ceremony, he was not overly confident.

Five years prior, there had already been a selection for immortal seedlings. In theory, Li Ji’an still had two more chances: one at age twenty, five years from now, and another at age thirty, fifteen years hence.

If he could achieve blood-changing consummation in five years, the prospects were promising. But at the age limit of thirty, he would receive almost no points for youth, and to stand out among the entire dynasty’s candidates, he would have to reach consummation in marrow refinement, or at least achieve minor accomplishment in organ tempering to be competitive.

“This is your badge—keep it with care. With this, no one in the entire Chong’an Prefecture would dare offend you,” Steward Hao said, handing Li Ji’an the inscribed token with a casual reminder.

“Thank you, sir!”

The more Steward Hao looked at Li Ji’an, the more he liked him. Sensing the youth’s vigorous vitality up close, he nodded repeatedly, though his gaze revealed a hint of regret.

“Ah, youth is truly a blessing.” Having passed seventy, his own vitality was fading fast, his decline accelerating each day. He regretted his own youthful arrogance and pride even more bitterly. Seeing Li Ji’an now, he was reminded of his former self.

Back then, he hadn’t achieved flesh strengthening at fifteen like Li Ji’an, yet he had been self-important and complacent, lost in the flattery of others and the temptations of the world. With the talent to become a grandmaster of vitality, he ultimately stagnated at blood-changing, watching helplessly as his body withered and decayed.

He dreamed of returning to his youth, but alas, flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns.

“Li, early success in youth is no blessing; greatness often comes later. Work hard and do not squander your talent.” Before leaving, Steward Hao could not help but offer his advice.

But that was all—youth seldom heeds such wisdom, especially when blessed with extraordinary achievement and no worldly experience.

No matter how true the lesson, without personal experience or guidance from elders from an early age, it cannot be understood.

Li Ji’an deeply agreed with the steward’s counsel.

However, for him, the lesson did not quite apply. With his ability to “regain youth,” he could indeed “be young again” and would likely experience many more early triumphs, making the prospect of late-blooming greatness nearly impossible.

Besides, how could so-called late-blooming greatness compare to the accumulation of countless lifetimes?

After bidding farewell to Steward Hao, he was escorted by an attendant to the residential area of the Seeking Immortals Institute.

“Master Li, as the second-place candidate in the entire prefecture city, you have been specially assigned a private residence in Section A. This way, please.” The attendant led the way, explaining the layout and rules of the institute as they walked.

“Thank you!” Ever steady, Li Ji’an had already learned everything he needed to know from the head of the Martial Academy in Shangyi County to ensure his safety within the institute.

The Seeking Immortals Institutes of the dynasty’s thirteen prefectures were under great pressure—the penalty was severe if they failed to send a qualified immortal seedling to the palace in the capital for ten consecutive years.

If the emperor was angered, there were even cases of execution for dereliction of duty.

Chong’an Prefecture’s Seeking Immortals Institute had already failed for three consecutive years to produce a suitable candidate.

Thus, they treated all prodigies and potential immortal seedlings with special favor.

The attendant remained respectful and ingratiating toward Li Ji’an the entire way. But as they reached the main gate of Section A’s residence, he suddenly frowned, offered Li Ji’an an apologetic smile, and strode ahead.

“Gentlemen, have you forgotten the rules of the institute?”

Before the gate stood five youths shoulder to shoulder. Their casual demeanor vanished the moment they saw Li Ji’an and the attendant approach, replaced by solemnity.

Ignoring the attendant’s admonition, the five stepped forward to greet Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an raised an eyebrow, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

He recognized one of them—Xiao Wu—the very boy who had entered the Martial Academy in Li Ji’an’s eighth year there during his previous life.

At thirteen, Xiao Wu had just joined the academy, still innocent, and leaving his parents’ care for the first time, he had been lonely and forlorn.

Mistaking Li Ji’an for a fellow student—since Li Ji’an had no airs and was always kind and humble—he grew attached to him.

Upon learning Li Ji’an’s true identity, his shock only deepened their bond, and they became close friends despite the age gap.

Childish words know no restraint—he often teased Li Ji’an about being older than his own father, yet still practicing martial arts and acting as a senior brother, saying it was embarrassing.

Yet he alone was allowed to tease Li Ji’an—if others did, he would fight them over it.

Li Ji’an remembered how, before the martial examination, Xiao Wu had thumped his chest and vowed that if he succeeded, he would look after Li Ji’an in the future, and if Li Ji’an had a son, he would provide him with medicinal herbs to strengthen his muscles and bones.

But before that could happen, Li Ji’an had “regained his youth.”

He spent the next five years secluded in Purple Mist Monastery, losing contact with the outside world.

When he entered the Martial Academy two years ago, he learned that Xiao Wu had failed his first martial examination, barely scraping by on his second attempt two years later to enter the Seeking Immortals Institute, where he had now been for five years.