"Celestial Master?" Li Ji'an tily inquired.
"Alchemist Li may not be aware, but when that demon raised blood slaves years ago, he unexpectedly found a Divine Favored who could foretell fortunes. It was thanks to this Divine Favored that the old demon remained unscathed all these years." Guo Zilan did not hold back.
"I see!" Li Ji'an suddenly understood.
"And the Divine Favored now?"
"Rest assured, Alchemist Li. When the old demon fled, sothing unknown happened, causing the Divine Favored to fall asleep. Now trapped by the Holy Palace's restrictions, they likely won't wake again."
"..." Upon hearing this, Li Ji'an nodded indifferently, though his heart tightened.
Ning Sujin in slumber? Already confined by the Ten Thousand Laws Palace!
It was just as he suspected.
Moreover, from Guo Zilan's words, Li Ji'an sensed that she probably didn't even know Ning Yutan existed.
Or perhaps, many were unaware of Ning Yutan's existence.
"Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist Guo. I am satisfied with my current situation and dare not ask for more at the mont." After a mont's contemplation, Li Ji'an withdrew his eagerness and politely declined the offer.
Though slightly disappointed, Guo Zilan understood Li Ji'an's concerns: "No worries, you are always welco at the Odd Stone Forest Dao Field as a guest, Alchemist Li."
"Xiaoqiao is also welco to visit anyti."
After seeing off Guo Zilan, Li Ji'an hesitated no longer.
Since the Ten Thousand Laws Palace has confined Ning Sujin and she is asleep, Ning Yutan here should pose no threat.
He then began preparing for the journey.
A month later, Li Ji'an reported to the Sect and, with Xiaoqiao, set off again for the Biluo Marketplace.
The Liu Family's main lineage was effectively wiped out, yet many subordinate branches nearby remained untouched due to their distant relations, so having severed blood ties long ago.
Furthermore, since the Liu Family's Spirit-Gathering Array was destroyed, the Spirit Qi returned to the branches, improving the spirit vein environnt for the vassal families.
Qin Henian not only took over the Odd Stone Forest Spirit Vein Dao Field but also beca the master of the Biluo Marketplace.
"Big brother, have you truly let go?" Inside the forr Liu Family Ancestor's Dao Field, Qin Henian asked solemnly, looking at the aging Liu Jingchun before him.
Liu Jingchun bitterly smiled: "Clan, Clan, had I not been burdened by this in the past, how could I have reached this point today?"
He was seen as the next-generation ancestor of the Liu Family due to his innate talent, receiving deeper and more extensive family teachings than his peers.
Adding the preferential treatnt he enjoyed from the clan since childhood, the concept of the clan was firmly rooted in his heart.
So upon discovering that the Liu Family Ancestor had practiced Demon Techniques, threatening the family's existence, he opted to conceal it first, then to prevent and eliminate it.
Even rebellion with other clan mbers was for the family's sake.
Had he reported the matter to the Biyun Sect upon learning of it, which would have ended it before the ancestor completed the Demon Body, the sect could have swiftly eradicated it, perhaps averting the family's doom.
Now with the family gone, he no longer clings to clan allegiance.
"Husband, even if not for the clan, we owe that girl too much." Guo Zilan had different thoughts after eting Xiaoqiao.
Liu Jingchun paused.
"Indeed, we owe her too much."
"Sister-in-law, rest assured. I will find a way to bring that girl closer and ensure she attains Foundation Establishnt." Qin Henian continued the conversation.
"Henian, we also owe you too much." Guo Zilan looked at Qin Henian, filled with guilt.
"What are you saying, sister-in-law? That girl is my granddaughter, it's a small matter." Qin Henian laughed casually.
Initially, he planned to secretly place Liu Jingchun's sole surviving bloodline on the Odd Stone Forest main vein and support her in rebuilding the Liu Family.
But Liu Jingchun no longer had such intentions.
----------
More than half a month later, Li Ji'an and Xiaoqiao re-entered Biluo Marketplace.
Upon entering the marketplace, he released Gugu to search for Ning Yutan through her scent.
In less than half a day, at a Spiritual Food Shop in the marketplace's comrcial district, Gugu found Ning Yutan.
This relieved Li Ji'an, having worried before that Ning Yutan might leave, making her hard to find.
"Fellow Daoists, please co in. Our Yu Jin Pavilion's Spirit Cake not only replenishes..." Just as Li Ji'an and Xiaoqiao entered the snack shop, a familiar yet strange, light voice sounded.
Ning Yutan quickly ca out, but halfway through her sentence, she stared at Li Ji'an's face, slightly lost in thought.
Li Ji'an now appeared in his thirties or forties. Due to years of Spiritual Qi nurturing since age eight and the nourishing Magical Power of the Foundation Establishnt Stage, he looked slightly different than he did in the Immortal Dynasty, but his overall contours and features had many similarities.
From a general view, one might still mistake him.
"Similar..." she muttered but quickly regained her composure.
With a closer look, she saw many differences.
Moreover, after 148 years without being led into the Cultivation Realm by the Guiding Immortal Master, Li Ji'an must have turned to dust long ago.
"Would fellow Daoists care to try our shop's speciality?"
"Sure." Li Ji'an nodded and sat with Xiaoqiao.
He didn't deliberately focus on Ning Yutan, but her reaction was too conspicuous, and he nearly spoke a line he'd heard countless tis in previous lives.
This showed Ning Yutan was genuine.
Compared to the deanor she unknowingly avoided Ten Thousand Laws Palace's cultivators detecting upon entering the market a year ago, her current deanor resembled the charming girl he rembered eting for the first ti.
"Spiritual Food Shop?"
"Why choose this place?"
When Ning Yutan went to the back kitchen to prepare Spirit Cake and Spirit Tea, Li Ji'an enveloped the area with his Divine Sense.
She was alone, and the kitchen was filled with ticulously prepared Spirit Cakes and tea snacks.
Soon, Ning Yutan brought out a Spirit Cake and a pot of Spirit Tea for Li Ji'an.
At this mont, Li Ji'an concealed his aura, appearing in the Late Qi Cultivation stage, and Ning Yutan didn't notice anything unusual, treating him as a peer.
While retreating to the counter, she occasionally peeked at Li Ji'an from behind it.
Seeing Li Ji'an and Xiaoqiao enjoying themselves, chatting and laughing, her eyes grew increasingly despondent.
Finally, as they were about to leave after eating, she couldn't resist.
"Are the fellow Daoists satisfied?" She actively engaged.
Li Ji'an glanced at her, nodded: "Quite. Fellow Daoist's Spirit Cake is tender and refreshing, aiding the refinent of Spiritual Qi, a rare delicacy."
"Hehe, thank you for the praise, fellow Daoist. Honestly, I learned it from my mother, her cooking is exceptional!" Ning Yutan proudly said, just as she introduced herself to Li Ji'an back then.
"May I ask your esteed na? With your taste, I'd be honored to call you a friend."
Li Ji'an slightly bowed: "You flatter , Ning. Call Li, single na Fan."
"Li... Fan." Ning Yutan's eyes lit with curiosity, seemingly surprised by another Li.
Li Ji'an raised an eyebrow: "Anything you wish to share?"
"Apologies, I just... thought you resembled soone I knew." Ning Yutan snapped back and apologized.
"Oh? This person you knew looked much like ?"
"Very much!" Ning Yutan nodded earnestly.
Li Ji'an chuckled subtly: "Really? Where might this person be? If indeed the resemblance is as you say, I'd love to et them."
Ning Yutan smiled forlornly: "I'm afraid you'd be disappointed. That acquaintance should have turned to dust by now."
Li Ji'an feigned a mont's shock, then shook his head with a laugh.
"May I ask the lady's surna?"
"Ning Yutan."
"I'll keep it in mind. Should I have spare ti, I'll return to sample your culinary skills. Farewell." Li Ji'an paid the Spirit Stones and took his leave.
"Farewell!"
As Li Ji'an's figure disappeared from sight, Ning Yutan's playful expression suddenly vanished, replaced by a solemn, serious deanor.
Simultaneously, a light voice echoed in her Sea of Consciousness: "Doesn't he look alike?"
"Yes!" she coldly replied.
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