Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

After sending off Steward Qi, the six masters in the collection courtyard exchanged smiles.

Some had helplessness in their eyes, some were indifferent, and some were confident and unconcerned.

In fact, they all observed the situation unfolding. Ever since the ruins were exposed, and a large number of loose cultivators from the two provinces entered the Great Marsh Mountains, the future trend was already inevitably changing.

”No matter what happens in the future, I will remember our camaraderie here. If any of you encounter difficulties in the future, I will still be the same as always,” Doctor Bai was the first to express his attitude.

He belonged to the confident type because there were very few in the cultivation realm who excel in medical techniques, and his mastery of the Medical Dao was almost unrivaled in the Celestial Cyan Domain except for a few sect elders who studied medicine in their old age.

Hua Hongling was also confident, though perhaps somewhat blindly.

Master Qian and Alchemist Zou felt helpless, especially Alchemist Zou, who had a large family. If they couldn’t live here and had to rent another dao field in the Inner City, the costs would be much higher.

Master Zhouyi, however, was indifferent. Unmarried, without children, and advanced in years with only two disciples, he could spend the rest of his life anywhere.

After returning from Doctor Bai’s residence, Li Ji’an basked in the sun in the backyard for a while and observed Xiaoqiao cultivating the Earth Book.

He could sense the fluctuation as Xiaoqiao guided the Earth Spirit Mechanism into her body but couldn’t fully comprehend the cultivation principles.

Without disturbing Xiaoqiao, he glanced at the neatly tended medicinal field, into which Xiaoqiao had poured considerable effort and nurtured with the Earth Spirit Mechanism for several years, feeling it was a pity to leave it.

Before leaving, he took one last look at the withered branch in the center, and a smile spread across his face.

During the past half year, he had accidentally purchased an ancient book at a stall in the Immortal City, which included more descriptions of Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasures.

Although he still didn’t find information on the withered branch and the red stone, he understood why some divine objects in this cultivation realm remained hidden.

Without reaching a certain realm or having sufficient understanding of heaven and earth, one might not be able to recognize a true divine object even if it was right in front of them.

Back in the Alchemy Room, Li Ji’an started alchemy directly.

However, since receiving an invitation from the Biyun Sect, he stopped using the Fire Spirit for alchemy and instead relied on the Pill Fire condensed from his own magical power.

That was because the Peak Master of Pill Cauldron Peak in Biyun Sect was a Fake Pill True Man, naturally gifted with an Earth Spirit Root, considered the true inheritor back then. Ever since entering the sect, he had progressed steadily, but despite waiting for years, he couldn’t acquire the Core Formation Spirit Treasure to assist him, relying solely on his Spirit Root, Dantian Magical Power, and Divine Sense to attempt Core Formation.

Ultimately, he fell short and formed a Fake Pill.

A Fake Pill meant a dead-end for his Dao path, with no further advancement in cultivation. Thus, he focused on studying magic secret techniques. However, the lifespan of a Fake Pill is only twenty percent shorter than the five hundred-year lifespan of a True Pill. Without the hope of progression, he had plenty of free time within a four-hundred-year lifespan.

Until his late 290s, he delved into pill medicine and discovered unexpectedly impressive alchemy talent, coupled with his already high cultivation, magical power, and divine soul depth. He advanced his Alchemy Dao to Tier Three in one go.

Currently, all the pill medicine consumed by True Man level members of the sect came from him, earning him high prestige.

Moreover, he held veto power as a Honored Alchemist of the sect, and could personally assess alchemy skills.

Li Ji’an was worried that he might discover Li’s chance encounter with the Fire Spirit, so it wasn’t safe to use the Spirit Flame of the Fire Spirit for alchemy.

With the Pill Fire condensed from his magical power nearly at mid Foundation Establishment, refining early Tier Two pill medicine posed no issues. However, to prevent the possibility of failing the assessment, he required himself to refine a Upper Grade mid-level Tier Two on the spot.

He spent the past month honing his Pill Fire.

Half a month later.

On this day, the Pill Furnace emitted a crisp sound.

A batch of mid-level Second Tier Nine Elements Pill was completed, with two refined pills, one Upper Grade, and one Lower Grade.

The Nine Elements Pill, which enhanced comprehension and sensing of Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism, leaned towards the divine soul type, making it difficult to refine even for late Second Tier Pill Masters.

Because of this, Li Ji’an had great confidence in the sect’s Honored Alchemist assessment.

Coincidentally, on this day, a new steward arrived at Golden Splendor Immortal City.

New regulations for the Immortal City were also announced.

All restrictions affecting trade were lifted, under the banner of fairness, openness, and justice, but it was clear that Spirit Stones were the true law.

One rule that made Li Ji’an amused was: Double compensation for damage to property in private duels within the Immortal City.

The new rule that affected Li Ji’an’s collection courtyard the most was that the Immortal City Collection Courtyard was built exclusively for Skill Masters, with an annual skill evaluation, and only the best could reside there.

After this regulation was announced in the Immortal City, someone familiar but unseen for a long time came to the Li Mansion.

The Ninth Elder of the Beast Taming Liu Family, Liu Jiuqian.

Since Li Ji’an’s Foundation Establishment celebration, when she represented the Liu Family and presented a generous gift of Demon Beast Essence Blood, there had been no active contact.

During this time, the cooperation between Liu Family and him was handled by the steward of Liu Family in the Immortal City.

After years of absence, Liu Jiuqian’s tall figure still stood out prominently in the crowd.

However, since Li Ji’an’s Foundation Establishment, her face no longer showed the arrogance and coldness of before.

”What brings Fellow Daoist Liu to this humble abode?” Li Ji’an wasn’t fond of Liu Jiuqian, especially since Gugu almost failed to reach the Second Tier because of past grievances.

Liu Jiuqian was still dressed in bright red, with exquisite features and slender eyes. Though her beauty was impressive, she gave off a feeling of shrewdness and sharpness.

”Haha, why is Alchemist Li so distant? We’ve known each other for nearly twenty years, aren’t we old acquaintances?” Liu Jiuqian’s smile was warm.

Li Ji’an smiled and nodded, ”Fellow Daoist Liu’s words are indeed true.”

”Alchemist Li, Jiu Chan is here on behalf of the Liu Family to sincerely invite you to become our Honored Alchemist. In addition to offering a Middle Grade Second Tier Spirit Vein Dao Field, there’s a monthly salary of three hundred Spirit Stones, and the female cultivators from within the Liu Family are at your discretion, plus an opportunity to obtain a Spirit Pet with at least Upper Grade bloodline,” Liu Jiuqian earnestly stated, no longer joking around.

Prior to Li Ji’an’s Foundation Establishment, the family had specifically instructed her to foster good relations with him, recognizing his outstanding alchemy skills in producing top-grade pill medicine even before Foundation Establishment.

However, at that time, the Liu Family’s Honored Alchemist was still present, and Li Ji’an’s status in the Immortal City was stable and favorable, so they couldn’t offer a higher price.

Now, with their Honored Alchemist aging and likely unable to continue for many years, the changing circumstances of the Immortal City made Li Ji’an’s status seem less advantageous, prompting them to extend the olive branch urgently.

Li Ji’an smiled and clasped his hands, ”The kind offer from Fellow Daoist Liu and the Liu Family is deeply appreciated by Li, but... I just received an invitation from the Upper Sect and plan to give it a try, so I’m afraid...”

”Oh? The Biyun Sect invited Fellow Daoist Li?” Liu Jiuqian’s eyes widened instantly.

If Li Ji’an successfully became a Honored Alchemist of Biyun Sect, his status and position would elevate significantly.

The key issue was, how could their Liu Family possibly compete with Biyun Sect?