Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

However, this matter is not urgent. He estimated that the third layer of the stone box most likely contains a Tier Three Talisman Inheritance.

After all, that Talisman Master, being a Core Formation True Man, couldn’t possibly only possess Tier Two Talisman Art.

Over the past year, Jiang Yunzhou’s steward visited twice.

The first time was to inform him that the Law Enforcement Hall had reprimanded the Spirit Beast Mountain, but Spirit Beast Mountain adamantly denied any connection with Guo Qi.

The second time was to remind Li Ji’an that Wu Weixiong was wanted across the region and was forced into the Great Marsh Mountain two months ago, with the possibility of him returning to Cangyun State.

In addition to having Xiaoqiao strengthen the protective early warning array on Solitary Peak, Li Ji’an also buried warning talismans within a hundred feet of Solitary Peak, just in case.

Wu Weixiong’s Body Cultivation Boxing Technique posed a threat to Li Ji’an, especially since there was also that Second Tier Peak Earth-Split Bear, which could not be underestimated.

However, Second Tier demon beasts don’t have the ability to sense their severed limbs from a distance, and besides, the severed palm was roasted inside and out by Little Fire Spirit early on, making it unlikely for Wu Weixiong to come looking for him.

That day, Li Ji’an received a new monthly pill medicine task.

As expected, Pill Cauldron Peak was still probing his production capacity.

Over this past year, the monthly tasks had already been increased three times.

He didn’t mind this. Now that his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage was stable and his cultivation had returned to normal, there was no rush. Moreover, after advancing to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, his magical power was somewhat stronger. In theory, he could increase production slightly, as long as it was controlled within eight furnaces of second-tier middle-stage pills per month, it wouldn’t seem too exaggerated.

The main thing was that he indeed needed sect contribution points to exchange for several pre-established categories of resources.

Firstly, among the alchemy inheritance obtained from the Abyssal Cave Mansion, the Crystal Condensing Pill stood out, and after two years of research, Li Ji’an acknowledged its significant role as described in assisting Core Formation.

Its principle was developed based on the effect of the Seven-Colored Jade Tree, a Core Formation Spirit Treasure, on cultivators when they condense solid-state pill marbles in their dantian.

If taken during Core Formation, it benefits the solidifying process.

It is a resource he must plan for his lifetime pursuit of Core Formation.

Most of the medicinal materials required are Tier Three, and among the entire Cangyun State, only Biyun Sect has substantial reserves and is more likely to gather them all.

However, Tier Three medicinal materials can’t be exploited from alchemy, and can only be exchanged through contribution points.

Secondly, Core Formation requires at least a Tier Three Dao Field to charge, and the abundance of spiritual qi is crucial for the success of Core Formation. Within Cangyun State, only the Inner Sect Cave Mansion of Biyun Sect meets the requirements.

Essentially, the entire Celestial Cyan Domain hardly has scattered cultivators reaching the True Core Stage because the Dao Fields in Celestial Origin Province and Dao Source State are not easily accessible, especially for loose cultivators.

The Tier Three spirit vein Cave Mansions of Biyun Sect require a significant amount of contribution points to use.

Of course, this is just a possibility, and whether an honored guest elder can actually use the sect’s Tier Three Cave Mansion for Core Formation is unprecedented in Biyun Sect’s thousands of years of history.

After all, those who can become honored guest elders of Biyun Sect are mostly loose cultivators, and even though their skill and talent might be extraordinary, their cultivation talent is not particularly good, often delayed by their skills, many either missed the optimal age for Core Formation or their potential was exhausted, making it impossible to cultivate to Foundation Establishment Perfection.

”There’s still fifty years before reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection, anything’s possible!” Li Ji’an wasn’t excessively worried about this.

After checking the newly added type of second-tier middle-stage pill that day, Li Ji’an spent half a day contemplating, and eventually rode his escape light to Pill Cauldron Peak.

Although this pill was a new product for him, it wasn’t difficult. However, he took this opportunity to consult with Master Jade Pill.

His current strategy was to avoid frequently seeking him out, instead taking the initiative to consult once or twice every couple of years.

Besides genuinely learning the strengths of his alchemy skills, it was also to accumulate connections in advance, preparing for Core Formation in this lifetime.

Unfortunately, ever since Xiao Changfeng himself passed the honored guest elder test, he went into seclusion. Otherwise, he would have been able to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the sect’s situation.

Having tempered himself at the relic for many years, he was not lacking in foundation, and now, accompanied by the mentorship of True Pill Elders and victory in magical combat against sects from other states, he gained ample resources. Rumor even had it that there might be a potential for promotion to a true inheritor.

”Alchemist Li, Hall Master Jiang has issued strict orders. As an honored guest alchemist, it’s recommended that you work diligently on Outer Peak and not leave unless necessary.”

Just after entering the range of the sect protection array, a patrolling disciple from the Law Enforcement Hall glanced at Li Ji’an and warned him.

Aside from a group of disciples and stewards from Pill Cauldron Peak, Li Ji’an was not particularly esteemed by other Inner Sect disciples. Among the Inner Sect disciples, an honored guest alchemist was only regarded as a technician serving them.

Moreover, the distribution of their resources was managed directly by the Internal Affairs Hall, and they hardly needed to interact with Pill Cauldron Peak, nor heed its opinions.

Of course, the main reason was that becoming an honored guest alchemist essentially fixed Li Ji’an’s potential for life.

The best outcome would be laboring for the remainder of his life, accumulating sect connections and resources for his descendants.

Li Ji’an nodded slightly, long used to the attitude of most disciples towards his honored guest status.

However, he continued straight towards Pill Cauldron Peak, disregarding the patrolling disciple’s advice.

Then he encountered Master Jade Pill.

Master Jade Pill perceived the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage magical power aura from Li Ji’an, and his untidy painted face froze abruptly.

”Alchemist Li, have you advanced to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage?”

”Hiss~ You’ve only been in Foundation Establishment for sixteen years, and you’ve already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage?”

No wonder Master Jade Pill was surprised, considering that normally, progressing from Foundation Establishment Early Stage to Middle Stage, even with an Upper Grade Spirit Root, would take approximately thirty years of cultivation. With the help of pill medicine and magical combat, it could cut the time in half. However, this estimate didn’t even account for the Middle Stage bottleneck.

Under regular conditions, the sect’s typical Inner Sect disciple might not even break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage within twenty years.

Those like Jiang Yunzhou and Xiao Changfeng, with ancestral fortune blessing the former, and the latter blessed with profound destiny, only appear once every few years.

Li Ji’an intentionally showcased his cultivation progress to him this time, not concealing it: ”This junior’s talent may be average, only relying on the principle that Heaven Rewards Diligence and additional pill medicine supplements.”

”Additional pill medicine supplements...” Master Jade Pill directly overlooked Heaven Rewards Diligence, focusing on the key point.

Then he nodded secretly, he could clearly sense that Li Ji’an, although at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, had magical power aura inferior to that of the sect’s Inner Sect disciples. It was likely related to inadequate cultivation techniques or excessive pill consumption leading to accumulation of pill toxins.

However, his smooth breakthrough of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage bottleneck, even with the aid of a Breaking Rank Pill, demonstrated remarkable comprehension.

”Could this young man also be aiming for Core Formation?”

Being relatively young and eager to advance in realm was clearly purposeful.

Yet, after repeatedly sensing the magical power aura of his dantian, Master Jade Pill shook his head inwardly.

Even if he could cultivate to Foundation Establishment Peak, considering his magical power situation, it might be difficult for him to attain success in Condensing Pill.

Moreover, Foundation Establishment Middle Stage to Late Stage requires considerable resources, and with his current alchemy contribution, who knows how many years he would take to gather them.

After a moment of silence, Master Jade Pill voiced with quite some anticipation: ”If Alchemist Li truly achieves becoming a Tier Three Pill Master, then I’d need to step back.”

For more than a year, he personally oversaw Li Ji’an’s delivered pills, discovering their consistently high quality and unique efficacy, which allowed him to infer Li Ji’an’s alchemical methods and skills, confirming his innate talent in Alchemy Dao.

It’s just unfortunate that, given his loose cultivator background, he might never touch Tier Three. Otherwise, if he truly becomes a Tier Three Pill Master, many collected Tier Three pill formulas in the sect might actually have a place to be used.

Currently, Li Ji’an undoubtedly gave him a glimmer of hope.

Although, this hope was very slim.

During the subsequent exchange of alchemical knowledge, Li Ji’an clearly felt Master Jade Pill’s enthusiasm noticeably rise.

Until the moment of departure, Master Jade Pill suddenly called out to Li Ji’an again: ”Oh yes, Alchemist Li, although the sect has announced closure to outsiders, new blood is still needed. Currently, the recruitment of new disciples is imminent. The Internal Affairs Hall requires us to come up with an aptitude test regarding Alchemy Dao insights, why not let you complete this task? There are also sect contribution points.”

”Me to come up with the entrance examination question?” Li Ji’an couldn’t help but pause.