Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Keeps the promise?

The eyes of Alchemist Mo rapidly dimmed in his dying moments, never recalling what exact promise it was because, in his lifetime, he had made too many empty promises to too many people.

Quickly collecting the spoils of battle, a fire cloud reduced it to ashes. Then, Li Ji’an slipped into the world within Gugu’s mouth and instantly fled far away.

Now that Gugu had advanced to a Second Tier Spirit Beast, the world in its mouth expanded again, larger than a large courtyard, with a height of five zhang. The only drawback was that living beings couldn’t stay inside for long periods.

If not, he would have liked to arrange it well inside.

”It truly is an Upper Grade Second Tier Pill Furnace!” With his Divine Sense, he checked all the spoils to ensure there were no other marks before prioritizing the acquisition of that Upper Grade Pill Furnace.

Trying it slightly with Pill Fire, it surpassed Li Ji’an’s previous expectations, performing several times better than the one Yan Qingwan had gifted him.

With his Alchemy Skill, which allowed him to refine Top-Grade Late Period Pill Medicines using a Tier One Middle Grade Pill Furnace for years, even the quality rate of Tier Two Pill Medicines would probably be high with this Pill Furnace.

Not until he returned to the Immortal City did he reluctantly put down the Pill Furnace and started to count the other spoils.

After counting, he clicked his tongue silently.

”The Zheng Family is going to be severely injured now!”

Apart from that Pill Furnace, there were finished late-period Pill Medicines worth nearly three thousand Spirit Stones and various medicinal ingredients worth over two thousand Spirit Stones in the other three’s storage pouches.

Additionally, there were over a thousand Spirit Stones and three Middle Grade Magical Artifacts left.

The Zheng Family had directly brought nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones to the Immortal City for procurement.

Unfortunately, they did not manage to procure Second Tier strategic resources beneficial to the battle.

Besides that, there were nearly eight hundred Spirit Stones and several Middle Grade Magical Artifacts in the storage pouches of the five people who had previously robbed Alchemist Mo.

This wave was equivalent to Li Ji’an’s hard work in Alchemy for three years.

He naturally understood the notion of getting rich quick through violence, but he also knew this wasn’t a long-term strategy and didn’t align with his values.

This search for Alchemist Mo was merely to draw a line of closure regarding their past acquaintance.

”These Pill Medicines are of such poor quality; they can only be offloaded on the black market, along with these Magical Artifacts.” He placed a pile of goods that couldn’t be openly sold in one place and then sorted out all the Spirit Stones.

The number of Spirit Stones he had reached over eight thousand once more.

”The materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill are sufficient now!”

For some time after that, apart from his daily Alchemy, getting accustomed to the Upper Grade Second Tier Pill Furnace, he frequently searched within the Immortal City.

In the meantime, he procured some auxiliary ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

It was obvious that the resources in the Immortal City’s shops had qualitatively improved compared to when the Biyun Sect was in control.

Additionally, the rules in the Immortal City subtly changed.

Now, to enter the city gates, non-residents of the Immortal City had to pay an entry fee of one Spirit Stone.

Moreover, a specific marketplace area was opened, allowing individuals to set up their stalls by paying a fee.

Many regulations previously set by the Biyun Sect in an attempt to control rather than facilitate commerce gradually disappeared. As Li Ji’an predicted, the economic atmosphere of the Immortal City became increasingly vibrant.

The daily number of cultivators entering the city continued to rise, and more and more cultivators chose to settle in the Immortal City, causing rental prices within the city to skyrocket.

Simultaneously, incidents of malicious ambushes near the Immortal City increased with each passing day.

Two months later, Li Ji’an received a Communication Talisman from Yan Qingwan with good news.

It seemed that a group of external cultivator reinforcements from the Zheng Family inexplicably engaged in an internal conflict. Those roving bandits seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. However, the Zheng Family unexpectedly concealed a Second Tier Illusion Array, trapping a leading Foundation Establishment bandit and ultimately ending with the Zheng Family’s leading Mid-Foundation Establishment ancestor severely injured, and one Foundation Establishment bandit was slain.

Both parties suffered heavy losses.

The Five Clans Alliance, represented by the Yan Family, became the biggest winner, reclaiming a previously Zheng-occupied Upper Grade Medicinal Field and recovering the United Marketplace taken by the bandits.

This outcome was something Li Ji’an expected when assessing the spoils from Alchemist Mo’s group.

However, before he had long to rejoice in this news, a Communication Talisman, which had remained silent for twelve years, suddenly vibrated.

It was the one Li Ji’an had left for Chen Qingling before he departed for Golden Splendor Immortal City back then.

A bad, yet expected, piece of news.

Chen Zhaohu, the one who had been a guide for him in this world, passed away of old age at one hundred and eight years.

Back when he left, Li Ji’an sensed his deteriorating Qi and blood situation and estimated he wouldn’t survive past ten years. Leaving him a bottle of Qi Blood Pills as he departed probably extended his life by several years.

After expressing condolences through the communication talisman, he naturally inquired about his master, Red Stone Wanderer’s condition.

He was informed that it was as usual, venturing in and out of deep mountains and dense forests, with no accidents.

”His age should be close to two hundred. The theoretical lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is three hundred years, but few actually live to three hundred. Typically, ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators reach about two hundred fifty or sixty. If there’s any injury or other accidents... it seems I might have a chance in this life,” Li Ji’an calculated his lifespan with some anticipation.

Afterward, he relayed the news of Chen Zhaohu’s passing to Dong Jiangling and Zhang Tiezhu.

Zhao Shuyao, having left with Tong Yaoyao years ago, was beyond the transmission range of a regular communication talisman, and he still couldn’t contact her.

Chen Zhaohu could be considered their guide sixty-seven years ago when they came to this world, the first to introduce them to this cultivation realm.

Zhang Tiezhu immediately expressed that, with the current desert situation slightly stabilized, he wanted to represent their group of five to see him off.

At the same time, both Zhang Tiezhu and Dong Jiangling felt touched, realizing that with Chen Zhaohu gone, their time might not be far off either.

Both also inquired about Zhao Shuyao’s situation, and Li Ji’an told them truthfully.

Unexpectedly, just three days later, Li Ji’an received an unexpected message from Zhao Shuyao.

”Xiaofan, Aunt Yao is coming back soon. Your Foundation Establishment is hopeful!”

Upon receiving this news, Li Ji’an was suddenly startled.

Previously, Zhao Shuyao had implicitly expressed the idea of doing her utmost to support him.

However, given her status, Li Ji’an didn’t expect much. In fact, just being introduced to the Nine Tripods Commerce Association was already a great satisfaction for him.

Later, when Zhao Shuyao mentioned that the main material for the Foundation Establishment Pill wasn’t a problem for Tong Yaoyao, it gave him hope, waiting for Tong Yaoyao’s return to find a way to purchase the main material, the Nine-Star Fushen, from her.

This time, Zhao Shuyao’s straightforward and affirmative words surprised Li Ji’an.

A month later, Zhao Shuyao returned to the Immortal City and immediately called Li Ji’an over.

”Aunt Yao.” Upon seeing Zhao Shuyao again, her hair was almost entirely white, and her face was increasingly aged. After all, at ninety-five, even with Tier One peak body cultivation, she only had at most twenty years of lifespan left.

”Hmm, not bad. Your Qi and blood are strong, and your magical power is pure. You’ve also reached the Qi Cultivation Peak, which hasn’t disappointed me.” Zhao Shuyao, looking kindly at Li Ji’an, didn’t have time to speak before Tong Yaoyao, hands behind her back, walked over and glanced at Li Ji’an approvingly.

”Thank you, Aunt Yaoyao.” Li Ji’an looked at Tong Yaoyao again. After many years, she remained youthful and beautiful, with an even more imposing presence, clearly having made another breakthrough.

”You, young man, indeed look more pleasing than your father. How about it? Do you have a Dao companion now?” Tong Yaoyao nodded, suddenly asking.

Li Ji’an shook his head, ”Aunt Yaoyao jokes. Given my situation, how could I have the qualifications to seek a Dao companion?”

”Indeed, not now, but after Foundation Establishment, you will.”

Zhao Shuyao chuckled, shaking her head, interrupting Tong Yaoyao’s playful words, ”Yaoyao, stop teasing Xiaofan and give him the items.”

”Aunt Yao, I’m not joking. I’m now a mid-stage Foundation Establishment adept, a senior worthy, isn’t it appropriate to worry about a junior’s lifelong matters?” Tong Yaoyao retorted playfully yet affectionately, entwining her arm with Zhao Shuyao’s, showing no hint of the mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator’s majesty.

”You... heh,” Zhao Shuyao, smiling fondly, patted Tong Yaoyao’s hand.

This scene was heartwarming, especially in such a cultivation realm, making it even more precious.

Not to mention Tong Yaoyao’s exceptionally gifted spirit root, her future achievements are boundless, even now, her mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation is outstanding throughout Cangyun State.

Generally, in Foundation Establishment clans, even among the Five Great Clans, any established Foundation Establishment cultivator would immediately change their attitude, but someone like Tong Yaoyao is indeed rare.

This has much to do with her family background.

”Hey, remember this is your Aunt Yao giving up her advancement to Tier Two body cultivation for you. Keep this kindness in mind.”

Also, don’t let my mother know. Go find a Tier Two Pill Master in the Immortal City for refining yourself.” Tong Yaoyao handed a storage pouch to Li Ji’an with a backward toss.

”Hmm?” Li Ji’an got the storage pouch and paused immediately.

Inside was a complete set of materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

This was truly unexpected.

In the cultivation realm, for the opportunity to build a Foundation Establishment, it’s not uncommon for siblings to kill each other, masters and disciples turning against each other, even father and son becoming enemies.

Although he knew of Zhao Shuyao’s kindness, he never imagined she would give such a generous gift.

He’s not one to take advantage of others, nor intended to take anything for free. Even on the way here, he had brought enough spirit stones, prepared to express gratitude and willing to purchase at a high price if Tong Yaoyao could help find a primary herb.

But never did he imagine taking it for free.

Yet at this moment, looking into Zhao Shuyao’s eyes, seeing her satisfaction, the hope in her eyes, also the comforting expression, his hand, reaching for the spirit stones, hesitated slightly...