Rebirth of a Reincarnated Immortal Cultivator

"This Ni family is really something else..." Han Li raised an eyebrow, his gaze curiously sweeping around.

"Fellow Daoist, this way please." The richly dressed young man cupped his hands and led Han Li through the courtyard.

Along the way, many Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators bowed to the two of them.

Han Li followed the young man to a secluded pavilion, where two Golden Core cultivators stood at the entrance. After the young man whispered a few words to them, one of the Golden Core cultivators took out a jade token and gently waved it at the pavilion door. A flash of spiritual light appeared, and the door slowly opened.

Upon entering the pavilion, Han Li found it to be extremely luxuriously furnished, with a dazzling array of rare magical treasures on display. Various rare spiritual materials were arranged on the green wooden spirit table. The rich aroma of wine was mouthwatering, truly a celestial delicacy.

The young man smiled and said, "This is the place my master uses to receive distinguished guests. Fellow Daoist Han, please make yourselves at home."

Han Li nodded, but in his heart he wondered: What is the origin of this Ni family that they have such a background?

If he was correct, this wine was called Purple Crow Wine, made from thousand-year-old He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) and brewed using a secret method of spiritual liquid. A single drop could prolong life for mortals. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators could greatly enhance their cultivation by consuming it.

The ingredients were also extraordinary; they were all made from the essence and flesh of Foundation Establishment stage demonic beasts, which could replenish a large amount of essence for Qi Refining stage cultivators.

As Han Li was thinking, a middle-aged man wearing a gray robe and with bright, star-like eyes walked in. He had an imposing presence and was probably the head of the Ni family.

"I am Ni Zhendong, the head of the Ni family. This must be young friend Han."

"I am Han Li, greetings to Patriarch Ni." Han Li stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and was extremely respectful.

"Hehehe, young man, please take a seat. This banquet is only to thank you. Let's chat and drink together, there's no need to be reserved." Ni Zhendong smiled and gestured for Han Li to take a seat.

"In that case, I will respectfully comply."

Han Li nodded and sat down calmly, but a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

Although he saved Ni Xuxin, he was just a minor Qi Refining stage cultivator, so how could he possibly catch the eye of a Golden Core stage cultivator?

"Young friend Han, you are already a Qi Refining stage cultivator at such a young age. I heard from that kid Xu Xin that you, at the first level of Qi Refining, were able to defeat a ghost cultivator who was comparable to the third level of Qi Refining. Such strength is definitely not that of an ordinary cultivator. May I ask which sect you belong to?"

After several rounds of drinks, the host and guests were all in high spirits. Just as Han Li, who couldn't hold his liquor, was feeling quite tipsy, the head of the Ni family suddenly changed the subject.

"Patriarch, you flatter me. My meager cultivation is truly nothing to boast about. I was merely fortunate enough to obtain a cultivation manual called the Everlasting Spring Technique, which allowed me to break through to the Qi Refining stage a few months ago. As for sect, I am but a rogue cultivator, without any affiliation or sect," Han Li said slowly, his manner unusually polite as he drank his wine.

"To be able to defeat a Heshan Sect cultivator with a higher cultivation level as a rogue cultivator, you must have extraordinary abilities. Moreover, I observe that although you are only at the first level of Qi Refining, your internal mana is not much weaker than that of a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator. This shows that you must have exceptional talent and outstanding spiritual roots."

Upon hearing this, Han Li gave a wry smile and remained silent.

His powerful magical strength was partly due to several months of refining essence into qi, but mostly due to his Yin-Yang Reincarnation Body. Otherwise, he would only be slightly stronger than an ordinary Qi Refining Level 1 cultivator.

"I've heard that your swordsmanship is incredibly skillful, young friend. My Ni family practices swordsmanship, so I wonder if you could demonstrate it for me? I could also offer some pointers." The Ni family head said, his gaze falling on the Frost Sword behind Han Li.

"Since the patriarch has spoken, I will demonstrate a thing or two, and make a fool of myself."

Han Li was taken aback, seemingly not expecting the other party to be interested in his sword control technique. Sword control was one of the popular supernatural abilities in the cultivation world, and it wasn't anything special.

However, the sword control technique he practiced was a version passed down from the Spirit Realm, which was somewhat more profound than the sword control techniques of the Human Realm. With the opponent's Golden Core stage cultivation, he shouldn't be able to discern anything.

Thinking of this, Han Li slowly stood up, made a sword incantation with his hands, and summoned the lightning-struck wooden sword within his body.

“A natal magic weapon! No, this magic weapon doesn’t have a natal imprint, and its grade is far too low.”

When Ni Zhendong saw that Han Li had summoned a flying sword from his body, he was startled.

The successful crafting and fusion of one's natal magic weapon is only possible if one reaches the Core Formation stage.

Given the opponent's cultivation level at the Qi Refining stage, it was naturally impossible for them to do so.

The cultivation technique Han Li practiced was the sword-concealing technique within his dantian. By using special patterns carved into objects with sword control techniques, he could hide the blade within his body and continuously nurture it with his internal magical power.

This method was created by Lingbao Tianzun, a renowned Mahayana cultivator in the Spirit Realm. It can greatly improve the nurturing efficiency of one's natal magic weapon, enabling the magic weapon to break through its original limitations and reach a higher grade than its master's cultivation.

This Celestial Venerable Lingbao used the Hidden Sword Technique, derived from the Sword Control Technique, to elevate his natal magic weapon to the level of a celestial artifact, thus enabling him to overcome the tribulation and ascend to the celestial realm.

Although this lightning-struck peach wood sword is merely a talismanic artifact, it reaches the level of a magic weapon through the sword concealment technique. However, because it is not a natal magic weapon, its highest level is still only a magic weapon. But for Han Li, who is in the Qi Refining stage, this is more than enough.

At this moment, Han Li strutted with the power of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, his entire body enveloped in a faint blue light. As he channeled his magic power, the lightning-struck wooden sword emitted a dazzling red light, transforming into five identical sword shadows under the enhancement of the sword control technique.

Even Ni Zhendong, who was at the Core Formation stage, couldn't tell the difference between the real and the fake for a while.

"Young friend's sword control technique is indeed exquisite. Compared to it, what is circulating in the cultivation world nowadays is nothing more than a minor skill. However, for some reason, this technique gives me a very familiar feeling."

"Ahem, young friend, I have a favor to ask. I wonder if you could pass on this sword control technique to my Ni family? If you are unwilling, then forget it, just pretend I never mentioned it." Ni Zhendong smiled and said something that greatly surprised Han Li.

It seems that this was their main reason for inviting me here.

While the sword control technique is exquisite, the sword concealment method derived from it is the fundamental technique.

All they wanted was the sword control technique, which Han Li was not unwilling to accept.

"I am grateful for the kindness of the Ni family head. This sword control technique is just a simple supernatural ability. Since the family head wants it, I will not refuse."

As he spoke, Han Li used his divine sense to transmit the method of practicing the sword control technique, along with the precautions for cultivating it.

As expected of the Ni family patriarch, a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, he mastered it in just half an hour.

He strode to the door, and with a thought, summoned a red spiritual sword. The sword shimmered with spiritual light, emanating astonishing spiritual energy; it was clearly no ordinary magical artifact.

At this moment, crimson spiritual energy swirled around Ni Zhendong's right arm, and the sword's trajectory was ancient and heavy, as if he were wielding not a sword, but a small mountain weighing tens of thousands of pounds.

As Ni Zhendong unleashed his sword control technique, terrifying spiritual energy and magical power surged forth from his body, and twenty identical sword shadows suddenly appeared around him, circling him in rows, creating a spectacular sight.

The agile flying sword soared up and down, and the surrounding plants and trees danced with the spiritual energy he exhaled.

He released the spirit sword in his right hand, supporting it with his spiritual energy, and formed a sword incantation with his left hand. He pointed at the artificial hill not far away, and more than a dozen flying swords flew out simultaneously, slicing the artificial hill in front of the door into pieces.

"I remember now... Sword Control Technique, Sword Control Sect, have you ever heard of it, young friend?"

"The Imperial Sword Sect?" Han Li was taken aback.

"The Imperial Sword Sect is a top-tier sword sect passed down from ancient times. It is rumored that the current Golden Phoenix Sword Sect and Star River Sword Sect both originated from the Imperial Sword Sect. If the rumors are true, then this shows just how powerful this legendary ancient sect is."

Upon hearing this, Han Li frowned. He had never expected that the sword control technique he had practiced would have such a background.

"Several hundred years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet a senior who claimed to be a successor of the Imperial Sword Sect. This person called himself Wei Wuji, and his sword skills were superb. In addition, with his cultivation at the late Nascent Soul stage, he once overwhelmed the five major sects. Even my Ni family patriarch was defeated by him."

"Back then, I was just a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator who witnessed this battle from afar. On that day, the heavens and earth changed color, and there were over a hundred crimson-gold flying swords. I still can't forget that scene. If it weren't for the fact that the sword control technique you used today is extremely similar to the one used by that person that day, and that I hadn't fully mastered it by then, I wouldn't have been able to be certain that the sword control technique you practiced most likely originated from the Sword Control Sect."

"You got it, which is quite a stroke of luck," Ni Zhendong said with a smile.

"Does the senior know why the Imperial Sword Sect suddenly disappeared?" Han Li asked after thinking for a moment.

"I don't know either. Perhaps only my ancestor or the Nascent Soul stage expert from back then would know. What, young friend, are you interested in the Imperial Sword Sect?"

Han Li nodded.

"That's right. Young friend, you are fortunate to have obtained the sword techniques of the Imperial Sword Sect, which means you are destined to be with the Imperial Sword Sect."

"Although the Imperial Sword Sect has disappeared without a trace for some reason, the remaining architectural ruins still exist. You can use this pass to travel to Mount Jiuyi, where the Imperial Sword Sect ruins are located."

"However, the ruins are surrounded by barriers left by the five major sects, and without this access jade token, you can't get in at all. Perhaps you can go there and see if you can have some unexpected encounters."

Ni Zhendong smiled, then took out a storage bag from his pocket and handed it to Han Li.

"In that case, I shall accept your offer without hesitation."

He took the storage bag and scanned it. Inside, there were a full 1,500 low-grade spirit stones, three bottles of Purple Crow Wine, and a black token. This was enough to keep him relaxed for a long time.

Faced with such a generous gift, Han Li did not refuse, and his goodwill towards the Ni family increased considerably.

After a hearty meal, Han Li took his leave. During this time, he consulted Ni Zhendong about cultivation and events in the cultivation world, which he found very helpful. After finishing his business, Han Li left Wuling City without lingering.

“Patriarch, why are you so respectful to such an unknown nobody? If he wants this sword control technique, he can simply force him. Why give him so many things? With the strength of my Ni family, he wouldn’t dare to say anything.” At this moment, the steward Yang Yi spoke up.

"Hmph, do you know what you're saying? Putting aside the fact that young friend Han saved my son's life, my Ni family would never do such an ungrateful thing."

"With the talent and intelligence that young friend Han has shown, if he doesn't die young, he will at least break through to the Core Formation stage, and the Nascent Soul stage is also very likely. Moreover, this person is very likely to be related to that person. Even if there is only a one in a thousand chance, I cannot take action, otherwise it may bring a catastrophic disaster to my Hao family."

"Are you talking about Wei Wuji? Isn't there a rumor that he has already perished?"

“If a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator were so easy to perish, then probably no one in the entire Ningzhou would survive,” Ni Zhendong replied.

……

Three days later, a streak of azure light shot out from the mountain range where Falling Phoenix Mountain was located. After circling once, Han Li's figure appeared in the sky.

He turned around, glanced indifferently at Yifeng City behind him, and then shot away again in a flash of light.

Over the course of three days, Han Li first traveled from Wuling City to Yifeng City via a teleportation array, where he purchased a small cave dwelling on a spiritual vein at the Yifeng Mansion.

Cultivating in a cave dwelling opened up by a spiritual vein is a highly efficient way to achieve twice the results with half the effort.

It cost him nearly five hundred low-grade spirit stones to purchase the cave dwelling, which was only by chance that he managed to snatch a cave dwelling on the edge of a spirit vein. In fact, even the lowest-grade spirit vein would require more than a thousand spirit stones.

It was only because his cave dwelling was too remote that no one had visited it until Han Li arrived.

Without the spiritual energy within the cave, with his pseudo-spiritual root talent, it would have taken him forever to reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, let alone participate in the Ascension Conference and obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill.

This is all thanks to the spirit stones given by the Ni family; otherwise, it would have taken him at least a year and a half to earn that many spirit stones on his own.

Han Li also used the money to purchase a second-tier alchemy furnace and a second-tier artifact cauldron, as well as some magical treasures and ornaments.

His next plan is to first refine the spiritual energy contained in the Purple Crow Wine to see if he can break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining. Then he will go to Heshan to find materials to refine the Essence Pill and the Qi Nourishing Pill, and use these two pills to quickly improve his cultivation and mana. After that, he will hunt some demonic beasts, refine some top-level talismans and magic treasures, and sell them to exchange for some spirit stones.

As for the ruins of the Imperial Sword Sect, Han Li plans to explore them after he breaks through to the late stage of Qi Refining.

Although the ruins weren't particularly dangerous, Han Li decided to focus on improving his strength first, just to be on the safe side, in case anything unexpected happened.

As Han Li was pondering this, he had unknowingly flown dozens of miles away.

As he got closer to the spiritual vein, the spiritual energy in the air became increasingly concentrated.

As the clouds and mist in the mountains dissipated, a figure in cyan slowly emerged, none other than Han Li.

Before him stood a waterfall tens of meters high, its rushing waters creating a constant, refreshing sound, imbued with a rich spiritual energy that soothed the soul.