Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 54: Chapter 20: Pill Fire First Formed

”This is Pill Fire.”

That day, Li Ji’an returned home and tried once again to condense Pill Fire.

A faintly red flame emerged from his palm, marking the moment when Li Ji’an could barely be considered an ”Immortal.”

Because this was the first magic he had learned.

Pill Fire and Fire Bomb technique are similar, both require magical power to condense. The difference is that the former requires continuous magical power input, with adjustments to the Pill Fire’s temperature and the proportion of spiritual energy contained within, while the latter only needs to be released.

Thus, strictly speaking, those who can condense Pill Fire can perform the Fire Bomb technique, but the reverse is not necessarily true.

”Poof~” However, just as Li Ji’an was about to savor his achievement of unleashing a non-human ”Immortal Technique” for the first time in his five lifetimes, that already fragile flame flickered out.

”The magical power is still too thin!” Despite many attempts, the outcome remained the same.

He was at Qi Cultivation 1st Layer, his Dantian magical power was too sparse, unable to last for more than three breaths.

He had prepared himself mentally for this; after all, those in this realm who can engage in magical combat usually need to be middle-stage cultivators in Qi Cultivation.

”Alchemy clearly won’t work, but can it still be activated?” With this thought, Li Ji’an condensed Pill Fire once more.

This time, he did not focus on the so-called spiritual energy content or temperature control but instead instantly pushed the flame to the maximum extent he could condense.

Having comprehended the core logic and method of condensing Dantian magical power, understanding one technique leads to understanding them all.

”Boom~” A fist-sized fireball suddenly emerged from his palm.

”Poof~” Unfortunately, his Dantian could no longer provide magical power to activate it outwardly, and the fireball extinguished in one breath.

”I really need to advance to middle-stage Qi Cultivation to have the means for engaging in magical combat... but there’s no rush, I have already entered the mid-stage Tier One body refining... Oh?” Spirit flashed in his mind, Li Ji’an smiled slightly and condensed the fireball again.

This time, just as the fireball was condensed, his internal qi and blood suddenly became turbulent and surged out from beneath the fireball in his palm, propelling the fireball towards the wall in front.

”Bang!” In the next moment, sparks flew, leaving a fist-sized hole in the wall, which was claimed by the market’s management to be built by a late-stage Earth Element cultivator to withstand a middle-stage Qi Cultivation strike.

”The power actually accumulated!” Li Ji’an was delighted. He had tried using qi and blood activation before; as long as it wasn’t a physical strike, the wall remained unharmed.

But now, the combination of qi-blood activation, the fireball, physical impact, and magic explosion had such a miraculous effect.

This brought joy to Li Ji’an’s heart.

He remembered in the sandstorm, when two cultivators at Qi Cultivation Layer 4 attacked with Fire Bomb technique, their speed was slow, and he could easily dodge using his sensing and body technique.

But back then, he lacked confidence in his ability to withstand the fireball they conjured.

Now, combining qi-blood of a mid-stage Tier One Body Cultivator with a fireball condensed by magical power, allows him to perfectly solve this issue, merging speed and power!

So, if he needs to attack or defend, he doesn’t have to engage in close combat.

”Contentment!”

Li Ji’an nodded in satisfaction.

This was one of his biggest gains over the past six months.

The method of condensing Pill Fire could be found for sale in the market. However, the condensing of Pill Fire is closely related to refining pills, and different condensing methods lead to varying differences in Pill Fire, particularly in spirit fusion amount and temperature control.

Naturally, Alchemist Mo’s method of condensing Pill Fire was better.

But learning this wasn’t easy. For the first three months, Alchemist Mo only allowed him to prepare beforehand and clean up afterwards, forbidding him from observing the alchemy process in the Alchemy Room.

Three months later, seeing Li Ji’an’s steady heart nature and pragmatic attitude without any impatience or resentment, seemingly resigned, and considering his age, cultivation, and spirit root, Alchemist Mo judged he couldn’t aspire to become a Pill Master. Only then was he allowed to participate throughout the process.

During this period, he noted down many fragmented pieces of advice from Alchemist Mo occasionally given to Yan Qingwan, along with methods for condensing Pill Fire.

After accumulating these bits over time, today he finally pieced together a complete understanding.

”Buzz~” At that moment, a Communication Talisman in his bosom vibrated slightly.

Li Ji’an took it out and saw that one of the two Communication Talismans flashed with light briefly.

”Yan Qingwan is back?”

Raising an eyebrow, Li Ji’an held the Communication Talisman and sensed inwardly.

”Old place.” Her familiar gentle voice emerged.

Wasting no time, Li Ji’an pocketed the Communication Talisman and headed to the Noble Area towards the west of the market.

Since three months ago, they’ve been using this method to have secretive interactions.

Soon, Li Ji’an reached the door of a courtyard in the core Spirit Vein Area of the West District, knowing the route well.

No need to knock, a thin trace of Dantian magical power flowed in a specific pattern, unlocking the restriction, and he entered smoothly.

Then he strolled into the main room of the secondary courtyard.

This was Yan Qingwan’s Alchemy Room.

Yan Qingwan was dressed in a moon-white long dress, her expression calm, and she nodded slightly upon seeing him: ”You’ve worked hard.”

Li Ji’an didn’t waste words, furrowed his brow tightly, pretending to recall.

He then began to demonstrate Alchemist Mo’s entire alchemy process from today.

It’s worth mentioning that three months ago, Li Ji’an deliberately showed himself openly lacking memory and clarity, prompting Yan Qingwan to personally teach him the Secret Technique for condensing Spiritual Sense.

Initially, he only knew his powerful Divine Soul from four times of ”Rejuvenation,” uncertain of how strong it really was, as the Divine Soul was formless and intangible, only enhancing his energy and improving sensing.

After obtaining Yan Qianwan’s method of condensing Spiritual Sense, upon condensing Spiritual Sense, he realized his Qi Cultivation 1st Layer Spiritual Sense was already stronger than Yan Qingwan’s Qi Cultivation Layer 6 Spiritual Sense.

A cultivator absorbs Spiritual Qi and refines it into magical power, during which the Spiritual Qi autonomously nourishes the body’s qi and blood and refines the Divine Soul, thereby synchronizing the enhancement of the body and Divine Soul.

Typically, unless one is born with a strong Soul Body or has learned the Divine Soul Secret Technique, cultivators of similar realms have comparable Divine Souls, even if the methods for condensing Spiritual Sense differ in quality, the difference isn’t significant.

Li Ji’an was entirely an outlier!

Spiritual Sense can clear the Sea of Consciousness, enhance memory, and specifically target sensing.

Though it’s not as evolved as Divine Sense that covers a domain like seeing through everything after Foundation Establishment, it was already quite miraculous for Li Ji’an.

”How many and what quality are the refined pills?” After him completing the demonstration, Yan Qingwan asked once again.

”Five refined pills, three high-quality two low-quality.” Li Ji’an reported truthfully.

”Creak!” The pear wood armrest in Yan Qingwan’s hand distorted instantly, indicating her inner anger.

Li Ji’an shook his head inwardly at this; it wasn’t Yan Qingwan’s fault for losing composure; Alchemist Mo was indeed unreasonable.

Despite being a middle-level Tier One Pill Master capable of refining middle-level pill medicine like the Spirit Condensing Pill refined that day, which is highly effective for the magical power condensation of middle-stage Qi Cultivation practitioners and is quite rare in the market.

Yet he always found various excuses, stubbornly refusing to teach Yan Qingwan.

Each time, it was only when Yan Qingwan had clan matters to attend to and had temporarily returned to Hui Race that he suddenly decided to open the furnace, not even providing her the opportunity to watch.

Now, carrying heavy clan responsibilities, Yan Qingwan even gave up being stationed at a Tier Two Spirit Vein Dao Field in the clan to stay in the market for three years, yet only learned the refining of basic pill medicine.

”Thank you!” After calming down, Yan Qingwan squeezed out a reluctant gentle smile, still offering him two Spirit Stones as compensation.

This reward wasn’t included in the promise made by the Pill Shop, but was a personal reward given by the young lady.

”Thank you, young lady.” Li Ji’an expressed his gratitude.

During this half year, it was precisely these extras that allowed his life to be slightly better, enabling him to have a meal of Spirit Rice every three days, which increased his magical power refining efficiency by at least twenty percent.

”Wait!” Just as he turned to leave the Alchemy Room, Yan Qingwan suddenly stopped him.

”Don’t leave tonight...”