The carriage heading to the Prefecture City was provided by the Martial Arts Academy, and government officials were also requested to escort it, ensuring a safe journey with no surprises, arriving safely half a month later.
His past life experiences made him well-acquainted with Shangyi County, and having the Purple Cloud Temple as a backing, there was hardly any worry within Shangyi County.
However, upon arriving at Chong'an Prefecture, Li Ji'an instinctively became cautious in his words and actions.
He declined the offer from an experienced chauffeur of the Martial Arts Academy to show him around the Prefecture City which was several times more prosperous than Shangyi County, and headed straight to the Seeking Immortal Institute to report.
"A flood dragon emerges from the shallow pond! Young friend, your future is boundless, please have a seat while this old man processes your credentials." Thanks to achieving the second place in the entire Prefecture for this martial arts examination, the steward of the Seeking Immortal Institute was quite courteous to Li Ji'an, lavish in his praise.
Li Ji'an respectfully replied, "Sir, you praise me too highly; I am unworthy. It's a deep gratitude for you to personally handle this for me."
The old steward raised an eyebrow and scrutinized Li Ji'an once more. "Not bad, not bad. Young and successful, yet without arrogance or rashness; your heart nature is excellent too. The future is limitless."
Li Ji'an bowed again.
Though he hadn't been to the Prefecture City in his past life, he had gained much understanding through various channels. The Seeking Immortal Institute in the Prefecture City was under the largest department of the Immortal Dynasty's authority—the Seeking Immortal Palace.
The Palace Master of the Seeking Immortal Palace is appointed directly by the Emperor through generations.
Everything in the world can be delayed, but matters concerning the Immortal Seedlings must not be handled carelessly.
This is the motto passed down through generations of the Zhao Royal Family.
The steward of the Seeking Immortal Institute in Chong'an Prefecture, the Standard Fourth Grade Prefect of Chong'an Prefecture, did not dare to flaunt his authority in front of him.
Moreover, to hold this position, one must at least have achieved Blood Exchange Perfection as a Grand Martial Artist.
Skin, flesh, bones, blood, marrow, internal organs—Skin Polishing is just basic, Solid Flesh is entry-level, Bone Forging is a barrier that blocks eighty percent of martial artists from entering.
As for Blood Exchange... it's an impassable chasm that barred ninety-nine percent of people outside.
Only when one's mundane blood is refined through pure qi and blood does it count as truly shedding mortal constraints, gaining extraordinary power, capable of subduing dragons and tigers, single-handedly holding back an army.
The true "Immortal Seedlings" of the Seeking Immortal Palace are limited to those with Blood Exchange Perfection.
In this life, due to the medicinal nurturing of his roots and bones starting at age eight, coupled with ten years of martial arts experience from the previous life, and the comprehension boost from "Rejuvenation," three months of stance training, six months of Skin Polishing, and a year for Solid Flesh, Li Ji'an's progress was considerable.
Yet, he dared not be careless regarding the upcoming hurdle of "Bone Forging."
As for achieving Blood Exchange Perfection before the Immortal Seedling Ceremony, he did not have much confidence.
Five years ago in this life, the selection of Immortal Seedlings was already held once, theoretically speaking, Li Ji'an still has two chances in this life: once at twenty years old, and another at thirty years old fifteen years later.
If he can achieve Blood Exchange Perfection five years later, hopes are high.
But by fifteen years later, at thirty years old, he's reached the age limit, getting almost no age-related points. To stand out within the Immortal Dynasty as one of the top ten, he probably needs Bone Marrow Forging Perfection, or even Minor Achievement in Refining the Internal Organs to be competitive.
"Here is your plaque, keep it safe. With this plaque, no one in Chong'an Prefecture would want to offend you." Steward Hao handed the plaque to Li Ji'an, casually advising him.
"Thank you, sir!"
The more Steward Hao looked at Li Ji'an, the more he liked him. He felt the strong qi and blood emanating closely and nodded frequently, his eyes full of endless regret.
"Ah, youth is good." Over seventy years old, his qi and blood were declining faster and faster; every day was downhill, increasingly regretting the arrogance and conceit of his youth. Seeing Li Ji'an today reminded him of his former self.
His former self was not even as good as the fifteen-year-old Li Ji'an who had achieved Solid Flesh Perfection; yet he was self-righteous, proud and complacent, reveling in flattery that could kill, lost in the mundane world with the talent destined to achieve Qi Blood Master, ultimately stopped at Blood Exchange, watching himself decay helplessly.
He dreamed of returning to his youth, but alas... flowers can bloom again, but one cannot relive their youth.
"Xiaoli, young success is not always a good thing; great achievements come slowly too. Work hard and don't waste your talent." Before leaving, Steward Hao couldn't help but advise.
But that's all he could do; young people without life experiences who have achieved great accomplishments find it hard to hold onto their core self.
No matter how correct the moral, without personal experience or elder guidance from childhood, understanding and enlightenment are impossible.
Li Ji'an deeply agreed with Steward Hao's advice.
However, this reasoning was not particularly applicable to him.
On the contrary, possessing the ability of "Rejuvenation," he can "relive youth," will experience numerous youthful achievements in the future, almost eliminating the possibility of great achievements coming late!
Moreover, compared to the so-called "great achievements coming late," how can it match the accumulation of countless lifetimes?
After bidding farewell to Steward Hao, an attendant led him to the residential area within the Seeking Immortal Institute.
"Young Master Li, you ranked second in the entire Prefecture City, so you are specially allocated a single residence in Area A. This way please." The attendant introduced the areas and precautions in the institute while leading Li Ji'an.
"Thank you!" Stable as he was, to ensure his thoroughness in the Seeking Immortal Institute within the Prefecture City, he had naturally gained detailed insights from the Martial Arts Academy's Dean in Shangyi County, having a clear plan in mind.
The pressure on the Seeking Immortal Institutes of the Immortal Dynasty's thirteen prefectures is quite high. If they fail to send a qualified Immortal Seedling to the Imperial City Seeking Immortal Palace continuously for ten years, there are severe penalties!
If the Emperor gets angry, there's even a record of dereliction leading to a death sentence.
Chong'an Prefecture's Seeking Immortal Institute hasn't sent an Immortal Seedling to the Seeking Immortal Palace for three consecutive years.
Hence, their treatment towards geniuses, Quasi-Immortal Seedlings, is particularly favorable.
The attendant was respectful to Li Ji'an throughout, not lacking flattery, yet upon arriving at the door of Area A's quarters, the attendant slightly frowned, gave Li Ji'an an apologetic smile, and quickly walked up.
"Haven't the students forgotten the institute's rules?"
Five people stood shoulder to shoulder at the door of Area A; their previously careless expressions became solemn the moment they saw Li Ji'an and the attendant arriving.
Ignoring the attendant's reprimand, the five walked towards Li Ji'an.
Li Ji'an raised his eyebrow slightly, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.
One among them he recognized, it was the little guy from his past life who joined the Martial Arts Academy in his eighth year there—Xiao Wu.
Thirteen-year-old Xiao Wu had just joined the Martial Arts Academy, with his childhood innocence yet to fade, and it was his first time leaving his parents' care, feeling quite lonely and isolated.
Thinking Li Ji'an was from the Martial Arts Academy and seeing how grounded and humble he was, Xiao Wu started to rely on Li Ji'an somewhat.
Later, upon knowing Li Ji'an's true identity, he was shocked yet grew closer, becoming almost like friends across generations.
With the audacity of children, he would often mock how Li Ji'an was older than his father, still coming to practice martial arts with him and calling him a brother, which was embarrassing.
Yet he allowed only himself to mock, not letting anyone else, because when others did, Xiao Wu had fought over it.
Still remember how before the martial examination, he patted his chest and promised Li Ji'an that as long as he succeeded in the exam, he would cover for Li Ji'an when he returned and even said he'd sponsor the nourishment herbs for Li Ji'an if he had a son.
However, Li Ji'an didn't wait for him to take the exam and went through "Rejuvenation."
Subsequently, five years were spent in the Purple Cloud Temple, losing touch.
Two years ago, when he first entered the Martial Arts Academy, he learned this lad failed in the initial exam and barely squeezed into the Seeking Immortal Institute after two years.
And now he's been in the institute for five years.