Chapter 11: The Goal in This World

"Help! Help!" Ning Yutan cried out in alarm, clutching tightly at Li Ji'an's clothes and circling around him to dodge. She had just entered the Bone Tempering stage, possessing the strength of a small thousand pounds, while Ning Sujin and Li Ji'an were both at the Perfection of Flesh-Tempering, with a full strength of five hundred pounds at most. Yet Ning Yutan, focused solely on advancing her internal arts, had neglected external training—like guarding a treasure mountain without a way in.

Ning Sujin had clearly mastered an advanced lightfoot technique, moving with such agility that her full strength was brought to bear. A crisp slap resounded.

"I'll fight you!" Ning Yutan arched her back, one hand covering her round bottom, smarting from Ning Sujin's heavy smack, the other pushing toward her cousin. But martial realm alone did not equal actual strength; without external techniques, her raw power was useless against Ning Sujin.

"Ow—let go, that hurts!" Her push missed, and Ning Sujin caught her right ear with one hand. Crying out, Ning Yutan grabbed for the hand on her ear with one hand and tried shoving Ning Sujin away with the other.

"Ah! I was wrong, I was wrong—my ear's coming off! Sister, I was wrong!" Now, Ning Sujin had both her ears in hand. Ning Yutan surrendered, hastily covering her ears with both hands and pleading for mercy.

"Hmph!" Ning Sujin stopped, glaring coldly at Ning Yutan before turning her gaze to Li Ji'an, who stood watching in amusement, a trace of envy in his eyes.

He was particularly taken with the lightfoot skill Ning Sujin had just performed. Although his three lifetimes of spiritual strength and his extraordinary perception had set him apart at the Wuyuan Academy in Shangyi County, he still could not track her movements when she used that art. It was clear that this technique had reached an extraordinary level of internal strength mastery.

"Li Ji'an? Second in the whole household?" Ning Sujin's expression softened.

Li Ji'an nodded with a smile.

"Hey, he's already my junior disciple, nothing to do with you. Don't get any ideas," Ning Yutan suddenly interrupted, asserting her claim.

"Oh?" Ning Sujin's cold gaze swept over.

Ning Yutan instinctively looked away but then mustered her courage to glare back. "You don't believe me? Ask him, isn't he on my side? I was even going to give him some of the pastries my mother made. Are you jealous?"

"Childish," Ning Sujin scoffed, turning to Li Ji'an. "Do you want to learn lightfoot techniques?"

Ning Yutan nearly jumped in outrage. "So you're going to teach the Su family's ancestral techniques to an outsider just to steal him from me? Junior brother, don't listen to her. If you learn her family's technique, the Sus will kill you. Come over here—you're with me. I'll share all my best treats with you."

"Who told you I only know one lightfoot technique? Li Ji'an, come with me. I have several unclaimed techniques for you to choose from," Ning Sujin retorted.

"Don't believe her. Come here, my mother's pastries are worth a fortune."

Watching the two girls bicker on either side, Li Ji'an couldn't help but smile. Fourteen or fifteen years old, daughters of noble families, untouched by hardship, their thoughts and vision were still childlike.

Without further thought, Li Ji'an turned and entered the house, leaving the two girls facing each other in the gentle breeze outside.

With his experience from three lifetimes—especially his life in the modern world before traversing—Li Ji'an could easily read their play-fighting, discern their personalities, and gauge the tension between them. They were simply treating him as a tool in their rivalry.

It was lucky for them they had met him; had they encountered a scoundrel with ill intentions, they would only get burned, trying to play games and ending up worse off.

It was much like back before he crossed worlds, when dating—some people loved hanging around with friends who were equally attractive, only to find that when two pretty girls vied for the attention of one man, competition was inevitable. It was simply in women's nature.

Usually, the one with the advantage would act reserved and confident, while the slightly less favored would try to attract attention with overt friendliness. At that point, it didn't matter if either of them truly liked the man—they merely wanted to win the contest. By playing into their rivalry, one could easily create opportunities, sometimes more easily than pursuing a solitary girl.

Talking more with the proactive one while giving the reserved one the cold shoulder would, in time, prompt the latter to join in, unable to bear losing to her rival. From there, it was simply a matter of keeping both in play until their feelings took over.

Girls were emotional; once they became infatuated, they often didn't even realize when or how their feelings had changed. If, before she regained her senses, you could foster dependence or admiration, she would be effectively ensnared.

Such situations often ended with both girls falling for the same man.

Especially now, with Li Ji'an living in a feudal society, once a woman gave her body, her feelings would only deepen; and with the rivalry between these two, there was no need to fan the flames.

Judging by their current state, they were already irreconcilable rivals, competing over everything. In such cases, a scoundrel would hardly need to lift a finger.

But he was no scoundrel, nor did he have any such intentions now.

With "Reverse Aging" in his grasp, he had the chance for a lifespan equal to the heavens. His main goal was to secure his own safety and longevity; anything else was not worth his time or energy for now.

Certainly, if he could forge a genuine connection with the Marquis of Dingyuan's household, it would offer great security for his next childhood. But that required sincerity and mutual trust; relationships built on cunning would never bring peace of mind.

Besides, in this life his body was healthy, he had begun physical training early, his vitality was abundant, and barring any accidents, living to seventy or eighty was no issue. "Reverse Aging" would not be necessary until after fifty, so time was on his side.

Therefore, when it came to preparing resources or relying on others for his next childhood, he preferred to let things take their natural course. If, in time, he met someone as trustworthy as his senior brother—someone whose true nature could withstand the test of years and inspire real trust—that would be the proper path.

His philosophy: don't force things, don't pursue, don't refuse—leave it to fate.

He would never place all his hopes in another; self-reliance was the strongest foundation.

After all, when it came to ordinary wealth, power, or even legendary manuals, perhaps one could trust old friends or confidants. But when it involved the secrets of immortality or reversing age, not even one’s own son or parents could be trusted.

For now, his greatest ambition was to become an Immortal Seed and test the reality of transcendents—there was no rush to plan for the next life.

As for cultivating external arts—in his view, by the time one needed external skills for self-preservation, one had already slipped into mediocrity.

The martial world was not about brawling but about adapting, going with the flow, avoiding conflict, making connections, and steering clear of enmities and danger. With "Reverse Aging" as his trump card, Li Ji'an's priority was to stand in the right camp.

In times of chaos and peril, he was not one for reckless heroics.

In this world, the imperial court, which controlled most martial resources, was the true power. If he could become a highly valued Immortal Seed, the court would naturally protect him.

Even learning external arts for self-defense was something to consider only after thirty, when becoming an Immortal Seed was out of reach.

So for now, external training was not his priority; he would focus on internal arts, strengthening his body, striving to perfect his blood transformation by twenty, or even reach marrow cleansing or organ refinement by thirty.

That was the key.