Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Facing Liu Jiuqian’s apparently somewhat angry attitude, Li Ji’an did not choose to play the fool again this time, nor did he back down.

Otherwise, what use would the promised outcomes be?

He took out the Nine Tripods Commerce Association’s Honored Guest Elder identity token from his storage pouch and slightly released his pure magical power.

”Please calm down, elder. I am someone who knows how to repay kindness. If I am fortunate enough to establish my foundation and become a Second Tier Pill Master, I will not fail you for today’s actions.”

The Honored Guest Elder identity token demonstrates his wealth, and the pure magical power reveals potential for Foundation Establishment.

With just these two points, a wise person would understand.

Moreover, now that the Immortal City has a new master, and just yesterday a single Upper Grade Foundation Establishment Pill was auctioned, it indicates that resources for Foundation Establishment Pills will no longer be as controlled by the upper echelons of Cangyun State.

If it were before, even if Li Ji’an showed his wealth and potential, he might still not have hope for Foundation Establishment.

But now, as long as one has financial resources and connections through the Commerce Association, the possibility of acquiring a Foundation Establishment Pill is very high.

”Hmph!” Liu Jiuqian snorted coldly, her eyes narrowed, but the anger from just a moment ago had dissipated considerably.

A wanderer at the Foundation Establishment level, she need not pay attention to.

In her perception, even if Li Ji’an is a commerce Honored Guest Elder, a Tier One Pill Master wanting to gather enough wealth for a Foundation Establishment Pill wouldn’t achieve it in a year or so; by the time he truly establishes his foundation, she herself might be at the middle or even late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Moreover, as a loose cultivator, even if he has a Foundation Establishment Pill, whether he can successfully establish his foundation is uncertain.

However, if he were to become a Second Tier Pill Master... she might not care, but the family would not overlook it.

She pondered for a moment.

Suddenly, a flash of insight appeared in Liu Jiuqian’s eyes.

”I’ve said before, I am not one to go back on my word, nor am I the type to bully juniors like you, just wait.”

With that said, she left gracefully in red clothing.

Li Ji’an raised an eyebrow: ”It’s settled.”

”Greetings, Ninth Elder.” When Liu Jiuqian arrived at the third-floor Beast Pill Room, the steward asked hastily.

”Bring me that Blood Pill from prior years.”

The steward was momentarily stunned and carefully recalled.

”Was it the one researched a few years ago?” After a while, the steward remembered and asked aloud.

Liu Jiuqian nodded.

The steward’s eyes lit up instantly: ”Is someone willing to buy this pill?”

Demon Beast advancement is mainly through bloodline evolution, and Blood Pills are refined using high-grade bloodlines of Demon Beast Essence Blood along with many Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials. They can stimulate a demon beast’s bloodline, promote bloodline evolution, ultimately reaching transformation and advancement.

However, Demon Beasts also have Five Elements, and the effects of bloodline stimulation will greatly diminish if not of the same affinity. Generally, buyers of Blood Pills would determine their spirit pet’s affinity.

In years past, a clan Elder specializing in Beast Pills had an inspired thought and developed a dual-affinity Blood Pill, targeting a clan spirit pet they had been trying to cultivate but hadn’t succeeded with, such as the Vermilion Toad.

This type of spirit beast supposedly carries the bloodline of the ancient Wilderness Divine Beast, Heaven-Swallowing Vermilion Toad, but when cultivated, they are all Lower Grade bloodlines, and none had successfully advanced to the Second Tier over decades.

Earth Attribute Blood Pills and Water Attribute Blood Pills had both been tried.

Previously, other amphibious spirit beasts like the Teng Snake or Three-headed Lizard only needed to choose their primary attribute to advance.

So that Elder tried to refine a blood pill combining both Earth and Water attributes, theoretically more aligned with amphibious spirit beasts’ bloodline stimulation.

The result was that the amphibious Vermilion Toad experiment did not succeed, leading to abandonment.

This pill’s stimulation on other spirit beasts was further halved, and most failed to advance.

That furnace produced ten Blood Pills, consuming numerous high-grade bloodline spirit beast essence bloods of two affinities within the clan, and countless Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials of two attributes, doubling the cost compared to ordinary Blood Pills.

Although abandoned long ago, one was unexpectedly found during last year’s inventory.

The steward constantly worried about how to handle this Blood Pill.

”Don’t ask what you shouldn’t.” Liu Jiuqian took the Blood Pill and turned to leave.

Not long after,

The next time Li Ji’an met Liu Jiuqian, her face was cold and arrogant, chin held high, her eyes fully impatient.

”This pill’s market value is two thousand, but I’ll give you sixty percent off.”

”The elder is true to her word, of noble character, the junior is impressed!” Li Ji’an immediately clasped his hands in respect, saying flattering words, though in his mind he remained vigilant.

This woman is moody and deeply scheming, not akin to kindness, and shouldn’t be so generous.

Soon after, Liu Jiuqian tossed the Blood Pill over.

Li Ji’an quickly used his Divine Sense to inspect it.

Shape, color, smell all normal, undoubtedly a genuine Blood Pill.

”Hmm? Fusion of Earth and Water attributes? Is this specifically customized for amphibious spirit beasts like Gugu? Does she know my spirit beast is a frog?”

”Why are you dawdling?” After tossing the Blood Pill, Liu Jiuqian urged.

Li Ji’an was puzzled about how Liu Jiuqian knew his spirit beast was Gugu and quickly took out a bag of Spirit Stones to hand over.

”The promise of that day fulfilled, you and I no longer have any dealings, withdraw.” Having received the Spirit Stones, Liu Jiuqian eagerly issued an eviction order, as if not wanting to look at Li Ji’an any longer.

------------

”Could it be that she sensed Gugu’s presence while at Flame Mountain?”

”Is it because Gugu was nurtured and sold by her clan, so they have some special Beast Taming Technique to sense it?”

Not until he left the Liu Family’s residence did Li Ji’an understand the situation.

This made him wary of the Liu Family, deciding that unless special circumstances arise, he will never let Gugu appear near anyone of the Liu Family.

Taking one last look at the Liu Family’s residence, Li Ji’an’s brows relaxed.

Although there was a bit of a minor setback, the outcome was satisfactory overall.

Not only did he save eight hundred Spirit Stones compared to his expectations, but he also received a Blood Pill specifically targeting Gugu’s dual attributes. He was content with the result.

Once he exited the inner city, Li Ji’an reached a remote location, fully expanded his Divine Sense, and checked himself thoroughly, including the Blood Pill, ensuring there were no marks or strange auras, before heading back.

As soon as he returned to the courtyard, Gugu’s keen sense of smell detected the scent instantly and jumped to Li Ji’an’s side from Xiaoqiao’s vicinity.

Li Ji’an patted the frog’s head: ”Quite a sensitive nose.”

Having said that, he took out the Blood Pill.

”To acquire this Blood Pill for you, I endured great humiliation and expended much effort. You must strive to succeed so as not to let me down.”

After speaking earnestly, he directly tossed the Blood Pill to it: ”Don’t rush to consume it, first adjust your state to optimal, then I’ll give you a Spirit Supplement Pill, and strive for success in one go!”

”Gua~” Gugu caught the Blood Pill in one gulp, placing it into its mouth’s inner space, then looked at Li Ji’an with watery, worried eyes, standing upright to seek a hug.

Li Ji’an, slightly disdaining, pushed it away: ”Successfully advancing is the greatest reward for me.”

Then he ignored it and entered the alchemy room to organize the auction’s harvest.

”These three supplementary herbs are among the rarest for the Foundation Establishment Pill. The other supplementary herbs are much simpler, and now only the main herb—the Nine-Star Fushen—is lacking. Zhao Shuyao should be back soon, right?”

The Pill Formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill has been optimized and refined for generations; the most advanced formula is no longer a secret.

It is clearly recorded in the Second Tier inheritance that Yan Qingwan obtained years ago.

According to Li Ji’an’s years of experience in alchemy and his deep understanding of the Second Tier inheritance, he could start refining Foundation Establishment Pills even now, with few issues, although ensuring the quality might be difficult, he is confident in producing Refined Pills, as the fundamentals remain unchanged. With the skill to refine Tier One Upper Grade Pill Medicine, precise control of Pill Fire, Spiritual Pressure adjustments, and Timing Mastery are almost at perfection.

Of course, aside from the main herb, a Second Tier Pill Furnace is also needed now.

Today, Li Ji’an once again followed the Divine Soul Mark to the inn where Alchemist Mo was staying.