After a round of flattery, Li Ji'an understood the five people's intentions.
The five were all outstanding individuals from Shangyi County's Martial Academy who had entered the Looking-for-Immortals Academy.
Besides Xiao Wu, the other four all intended to befriend the prospective Immortal Seed.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, inquired about “Li Jichang's” situation.
After dismissing the other four and the attendants, Li Ji'an led Xiao Wu into his private courtyard.
“Strictly speaking, you should call me uncle!”
Li Ji'an recounted to Xiao Wu the most logical rumors circulating in Shangyi County, which made Xiao Wu sigh repeatedly.
After a moment of remembrance, Xiao Wu, who was already twenty-two, spoke with a slightly profound tone, delivering a shocking statement.
“I promised your father I would look after you. If you have any problems in the future, come to me anytime.” Before Li Ji'an could process the previous sentence, Xiao Wu added earnestly.
Li Ji'an suppressed his smile. Xiao Wu had just mentioned his current situation: having entered the Looking-for-Immortals Academy at twenty, he had basically given up on becoming an Immortal Seed. What he sought was merely further advancement in the Martial Dao and the Looking-for-Immortals Academy's true external Cultivation Technique.
Now, at twenty-two, he had achieved Bone Forging Minor Achievement and learned the Looking-for-Immortals Academy's mid-tier Cultivation Technique, “Wave Chasing Blade Art.” He could be considered accomplished at a young age, having joined the prefecture city's constabulary and already been promoted to deputy constable.
He had also brought his parents from Shangyi County to live and work peacefully in the prefecture city, and he had gotten married last year.
Aside from practicing martial arts during his days off and after work, he wore his uniform and patrolled an area with his five subordinates.
After only a brief hesitation, Li Ji'an erased Xiao Wu's youthful image from his memory, immediately stood up, and bowed solemnly to Xiao Wu: “Thank you, Uncle Xiao.”
With “Returning to Youth,” such scenes and changes in interpersonal relationships were bound to be common in his future life.
It didn't matter if he was at a disadvantage or advantage in terms of titles or relationships.
On the contrary, these relationships could become his capital and backing in his next life; each additional one could reduce the risks of growing up during his childhood.
“Hmm! Remember to work hard and not waste your talent or your father's expectations.
In my five years at the Looking-for-Immortals Academy, I've seen many exceptionally talented individuals who entered the Looking-for-Immortals Academy with excellent results, but couldn't resist the many temptations of the prefecture city and eventually faded into obscurity.
Among them were even Geniuses with extraordinary bone structures…
Furthermore, Martial Dao Realm and strength are not interchangeable. Without external martial arts techniques, it's like guarding a treasure mountain without being able to enter. You must seize every opportunity to practice external martial arts.
Seeking Immortality and the Dao is too ethereal; there's no need to deliberately pursue being an Immortal Seed. If you can learn a martial art, you can establish yourself in this world.” Xiao Wu earnestly advised.
“This junior will definitely remember Uncle Xiao's teachings!” Li Ji'an bowed again.
Xiao Wu stroked Li Ji'an's head with satisfaction: “You're much stronger than your father! Good, good. Also, if you're not used to staying in the academy, you can move to my house.”
Li Ji'an declined Xiao Wu's kind offer, then listened to Xiao Wu reminisce about past hardships and sweet memories, recalling bits and pieces of his interactions with Li Ji'an in his previous life, before finally seeing him off.
Before leaving, Xiao Wu repeatedly invited Li Ji'an to visit his home to meet his aunt.
“This kid…” Li Ji'an smiled knowingly as he watched Xiao Wu walk away.
During their recent reminiscence, Xiao Wu's words were mostly to establish a grand image for Li Ji'an's previous life, with many falsehoods.
Things like him confronting the instructor for Li Ji'an.
Fighting more than a dozen other apprentices with him, two against many.
He even fabricated the glorious story of Li Ji'an taking him to a brothel for the first time…
“Hey ~ Are you Li Ji'an, the second-ranked in the entire prefecture?” Li Ji'an, immersed in his memories, was suddenly startled by a playful, clear voice.
He turned his head to see three young maidens standing at the entrance of the private courtyard to his left. The one in the lead was mischievous and lively, her almond-shaped eyes curiously fixed on Li Ji'an.
“I am Li Ji'an.” Li Ji'an smiled and nodded.
At the same time, he had already matched her with the information he had gathered beforehand.
Without a doubt, this girl was Ning Yutan, the top scorer in this year's Chong'an Prefecture Martial Examination.
Besides her well-known identity as the top Martial Examination scorer, Li Ji'an also learned a secret not publicly disclosed through the Shangyi County Martial Academy's dean: she was also the Genius legitimate daughter of Dingyuan Marquis, the most powerful figure in the entire Chong'an Prefecture.
She was still three months shy of her fifteenth birthday, but had already entered Bone Forging, her talent could be described as extraordinary.
According to the dean, the Marrow Cleansing Pill awarded to the Dingyuan Marquis Family by Emperor Taizu back then was likely given to her.
Of course, her eligibility to take that Marrow Cleansing Pill also proved that her own Innate bone structure and talent were exceptionally outstanding; taking it was merely icing on the cake.
“Not bad, not bad. You really helped me let out some steam, Young Miss. I should reward you. Chunfeng, Qiuyue, bring the snacks my mother gave me.” Ning Yutan, speaking her mind, then sent the two maids to fetch the items.
She, meanwhile, walked briskly to Li Ji'an's side, examining him while casually saying, “My name is Ning Yutan, and I'm the top scorer of this Martial Examination. In the Martial Dao, the most accomplished come first, so you can call me Senior Sister from now on. We're a team from now on.”
Innocent and uninhibited.
In this era, only families of great wealth and status could raise such children.
And a girl, at that.
It was enough to show how pampered she was within her Family.
“So it's the Champion, my respects!” Li Ji'an complimented, but did not take her up on her offer.
“Hehe ~ *cough cough*, Minor Achievements, nothing to mention, nothing to mention. Hey, you haven't taken a Marrow Cleansing Pill, have you?” Ning Yutan smiled triumphantly, then feigned modesty, and then asked with some anticipation.
Li Ji'an smiled bitterly and shook his head. A Divine Pill Immortal Treasure like the Marrow Cleansing Pill, capable of Marrow Cleansing and improving Innate bone structure—it was said that even the lowest-grade bone structure could be elevated to a high-grade one with a single Marrow Cleansing Pill. It was a rarity in the world; how could ordinary people enjoy it?
“Excellent!” Ning Yutan immediately clapped her hands, ecstatic.
“I knew it! How much use can one Marrow Cleansing Pill be? It mainly depends on one's talent and effort. You didn't take a Marrow Cleansing Pill and still got second place…”
Becoming more and more agitated, Ning Yutan immediately shouted towards the private courtyard to Li Ji'an's right: “Ning Sujin, did you hear that? Li Ji'an didn't even take a Marrow Cleansing Pill, yet he completely crushed you. How dare you still say I'm stronger than you because I took a Medicinal Pill? Aren't you ashamed?”
“Ning Sujin?” Li Ji'an was slightly startled.
In the information he had gathered, this year's third place was a girl named Su Sujin.
She was said to be a girl from a Qi-Blood Grandmaster Family.
Like him, she had achieved Flesh Perfection, but because her bone age was nine months older than his, she was ranked after him.
“Are you itching for a beating again?”
Before Li Ji'an could react, a cool, detached woman appeared at the entrance of the neighboring courtyard.
She wore a simple, blue, fitted outfit, her hair tied high in a bun, and her figure was tall and slender. If not for her bright, clear, and somewhat feminine voice, at first glance, she looked like a handsome Young Master.
Upon closer inspection, her appearance bore a six-tenths resemblance to Ning Yutan.
“What are you going to do? I'm warning you, this is the Looking-for-Immortals Academy, not the Marquis's Residence!” Ning Yutan was clearly very afraid of Ning Sujin, almost immediately hiding behind Li Ji'an the moment she heard her voice.
“Hmph! Did you forget what your father told you? When outside, the elder sister is like a mother. If I discipline you, who can say no?”
Before her words finished, Li Ji'an felt a momentary blur before his eyes. Ning Sujin's figure became ethereal and indistinct. The next moment, a phantom image flashed, and she had already appeared beside Ning Yutan…