Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 64: Chapter 30: Alchemy in the Herb Garden

The news of the ancestor’s mutual injuries spread back to the clan, instantly tightening the atmosphere.

However, Li Ji’an waited for three days and did not see the Clan Protection Array activated.

During this time, after carefully observing multiple times, Yan Qingwan and Yan Hongsheng seemed to show no genuine worry or anxiety.

He speculated that the Yan Clan ancestor should still have some strength left.

If the Yan Clan ancestor were truly seriously injured, the Clan Protection Array would surely be activated immediately, just in case anyone tried to pluck peaches.

How did the Eight Great Families of the wilderness come into being? They were nothing but contenders battling each other, with the remaining victors unable to swallow each other up.

As for deliberately not activating the Clan Protection Array because it’s a bluffing tactic? Impossible!

A simple probe with the Foundation Establishment Stage divine sense would reveal the truth.

This made Li Ji’an slightly more at ease.

He decided to keep observing.

After all, now that the two ancestors have clashed, the tension has reached a fever pitch, and it’s hard to guarantee there won’t be ambushes or intercepts around the Yan Clan Territory.

He waited a little longer and, if truly necessary, he would leave when the two clans went to battle on the front lines.

”Ha~ what’s the matter with you, boy? Worried the Yan Clan might be annihilated?” Alchemist Mo teased with laughter.

Li Ji’an awkwardly smiled, ”Your wisdom is unparalleled, will there be danger for us?”

Alchemist Mo gave him a glance, ”Relax! I am just an Honored Alchemist, only responsible for alchemy, and you are merely my Pill Child. Whether the Yan Clan is extinguished or not has nothing to do with us?”

”I am just reluctant to leave this Second Tier Spirit Vein Dao Field,” Li Ji’an sighed.

”Hmph! As long as you follow me closely, your benefits are assured. Besides... who told you that if the Yan Clan is destroyed, we can’t stay here?” Alchemist Mo sneered.

Without waiting for Li Ji’an to respond, he added, ”I am a high-level Pill Master. No matter who claims this Dao Field, they can’t chase me away, right? Rest assured, if the Yan Clan is extinguished, the Dao Field remains, and our days will still be good, perhaps even better.”

Having long gauged Alchemist Mo’s personality and mindset, Li Ji’an nodded in agreement.

”Work hard, you’ve been following me for more than six years now. If you continue to be obedient and sensible, and serve me well, I might reward you with a Breaking Rank Pill,” Alchemist Mo remarked casually.

After over six years, Li Ji’an felt choked by his promises, but still showed strong anticipation and longing.

Up until seven days later, nothing unexpected happened in the Yan Clan Territory.

In the deep wilderness, the medicinal field once again became a frontline site, and Zhang Tiezhu and others set out on another expedition.

As most of the clan’s key combat forces left the territory, the clan territory restored its usual calm.

That day, Alchemist Mo attempted to refine the Nourishing Source Pill again, failing for the third time.

More than two hundred Spirit Stones worth of medicinal materials were thus wasted three times in a row.

This made Alchemist Mo slightly agitated.

He kicked over the Pill Furnace on the spot and resolutely sought the patriarch.

”Hmph! I told you earlier, my ancestral Nourishing Source Pill formula requires the Earth Source Fruit to be placed in the Pill Furnace immediately upon picking. Any delay would cause Source Qi to dissipate, greatly reducing success rates.

This time I demand the patriarch give me an answer on whether I can go to the secret medicinal field to refine pills onsite!

If not, then I can’t refine this Nourishing Source Pill at all, you may seek another expert!” He cursed as he walked, clearly speaking for Yan Qingwan to hear.

This kind of complaint was not the first time Li Ji’an heard from Alchemist Mo.

He indeed mentioned this during his very first attempt at refining the Nourishing Source Pill, with the patriarch present, and Li Ji’an was also there.

It was then that Li Ji’an learned the Yan Clan’s main industry used to be selling talisman paper and Spirit Rice, before suddenly turning to Pill Medicine and hiring Pill Masters at high prices.

All because of an unexpected discovery more than ten years ago—a secret cave mansion housing a fairly unique medicinal field, suspected to be crafted meticulously by predecessors, connected to the Earth Vein, with over a dozen Earth Source Fruit trees planted, the primary ingredient of the Nourishing Source Pill.

It was these over a dozen Earth Source Fruit trees that offered the Yan clan’s upper echelon hope for family rise.

The Nourishing Source Pill is a sacred object for a human Spirit Root that has not completely formed yet, used during youth to significantly bolster Spirit Root growth, making it a dream Divine Pill for everyone.

Additionally, its refinement is not easy, and the primary ingredient Earth Source Fruit is rare, thus supply falls short of demand, with significant profits.

The Yan clan patriarch chose Alchemist Mo as Honored Pill Master precisely because his ancestors had the Nourishing Source Pill’s legacy!

Long after, Alchemist Mo returned.

He had a smile of expectation.

”Good, good. This time I must refine the Nourishing Source Pill. Xiaoli, when you get married and have children, I shall gift you one,” he said spiritedly.

Although aware that the old fellow was painting another empty promise, Li Ji’an still showed reverent gratitude and thanks.

”Qing Wan, this time I shall carefully teach you every step, I hope you can make my family’s alchemy skill renowned.”

Yan Qingwan’s eyes brightened, her heart surging with further anticipation.

Now, after six years have passed, combined with the three years before Li Ji’an’s arrival, she’s studied under Alchemist Mo for a total of nine years.

The first three years were largely spent on basics, but in the subsequent six years, with Li Ji’an’s demonstrations and guidance, her alchemy skill steadily progressed, now close to a high-level Pill Master, likely able to independently refine Nourishing Source Pill within three years.

”Alright, everyone go back and prepare well. Three days from now, follow me to the medicinal field for alchemy!”

Three days later,

Li Ji’an rose early, consuming the last bit of Thunder Flame Crystal.

His Tier One Late Period Body Cultivation was basically consolidated.

Only for now, he had no Body Refining Flame Crystal left.

Soon after, Alchemist Mo sent a message to summon him.

When he arrived at the alchemy room, Yan Qingwan was already there, visibly filled with anticipation.

Besides Yan Qingwan and Alchemist Mo, there was also the renowned Talisman Master Grand Elder Yan Kongyi of the Yan Family.

Li Ji’an efficiently organized all necessary items, such as the Pill Furnace and auxiliary herbs, and was then asked to stand beside the Grand Elder.

Soon, he felt a gentle force binding him, and in the next moment, a talisman gleamed in the Grand Elder’s hand, causing him to feel the ground beneath him give way, and the scenery ahead began dashing by as if traveling through a tunnel in space-time.

In the blink of an eye, his feet touched solid ground once more, and his surroundings had changed completely.

He stood before a small mountain cave.

In the center of the cave was a tidy, half-mu-sized medicinal field.

”Alchemist Mo, feel free, don’t mind me.” The Grand Elder said before sitting cross-legged, facing away from the group.

”Thank you, Grand Elder, for expending a Small Shifting Talisman. I’m truly embarrassed.” Alchemist Mo bowed politely.

Li Ji’an surveyed this mountain cave, his heart slightly stirred. There was evidently an array outside shielding spiritual sense perception, only noticed because he was inside the cave; if outside, his spiritual sense would likely detect nothing.

Moreover, the Yan clan was willing to use a Small Shifting Talisman rather than walking them in, well illustrating their emphasis on this location and their distrust.

Though a Tier One talisman, a Small Shifting Talisman, because it involves Spatial Law, cannot be drawn by anyone except advanced Tier One talisman masters, requiring Tier One Upper Grade Kongtong Wood as a material, with a cost of nearly thirty Spirit Stones.

Plus, a Tier One Small Shifting Talisman’s distance is limited to thirty li at most.

Due to this, it is rarely drawn by talisman masters.

Its use now indeed reflects the Yan clan’s attitude toward this medicinal field.

”Good, Xiaoli, follow procedure—burn incense and pray, may the Pill Emperor bless us!” Drawing five incense sticks from the Storage Pouch, Alchemist Mo handed them to Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an took the incense, lit them as directed, and inserted them into the Pill Furnace.

Alchemist Mo then led Yan Qingwan in a kneeling prayer, murmuring under his breath, while Li Ji’an stood to the side, being unqualified to join.

This time, Alchemist Mo’s prayer lasted noticeably longer than usual, lasting the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before rising.

Seeing Alchemist Mo finish his prayer, Li Ji’an approached with auxiliary herbs ready, intent on closely observing the Nourishing Source Pill refining process.

However, just at that moment,

as Yan Qingwan was just about to step forward to watch Alchemist Mo’s alchemy, she stumbled, and if it weren’t for Li Ji’an’s quick reflexes, she would have surely taken a fall.

”Girl, you’re... bad, there’s poison!” The Grand Elder suddenly trembled all over, raising his head abruptly to glare at Alchemist Mo and Li Ji’an with a piercing gaze.