Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 72: Chapter 38: Tiezhu Bows His Head

The news brought by Zhao Shuyao made everyone both surprised and delighted. After some discussion, they still couldn’t come to a foolproof conclusion, as their current status was too low. They could only look up to a third-rate small family like the Yan Family, let alone the Five Great Families.

For now, only Zhao Shuyao has the opportunity to find out more due to her backing from her employer, while Li Ji’an and the others have no chance at all.

Of course, if Zhu Linxian has indeed joined the Biyun Sect, it would make things much easier.

Finally, they all decided to remain vigilant on this matter and not to take it lightly and to wait until an opportunity arises.

During the discussion, Dong Jiangling proposed a suggestion: why not stir the waters and secretly release information, directing the blame towards the Five Great Clans by exposing their act of cultivating Blood Slaves in the Immortal Dynasty, and then let the matter develop over time.

Any force is bound to have adversaries, and perhaps at that time, they wouldn’t need to make a move themselves, as others might engage in mutual attacks, and the truth may eventually come to light, even without their involvement.

This idea was actually conceived by the others eleven years ago when they escaped from the Storm Desert, but it was ultimately rejected.

Firstly, they were unable to truly confirm the real purpose of the so-called Blood Slaves, nor assess the extent of conflict between its methods and local rules, making it uncertain whether it could be completely eradicated.

Secondly, the power dynamics here are intricate, especially concerning the relationships of the upper echelons, which they know nothing about. What if this family is working for the largest sect, the Biyun Sect?

Thirdly, if the matter were to be exposed, the five of them would inevitably become targets for everyone’s search, and it wouldn’t be long before they are exposed and lose control over their circumstances.

The root of the problem is that their current strength is too low, and if the situation were to develop unfavorably, they would have no means of self-protection.

Li Ji’an was the most opposed to such an act. Currently, the other side refrains from pushing them too hard for fear of mutual destruction, allowing him time to quietly develop within the Yan Family. If they were to expose themselves, there would be too many uncertain factors.

One must choose a lesser evil when comparing two harms!

Afterwards, the four of them parted ways again. Zhao Shuyao and Dong Jiangling each returned to their respective homes, Li Ji’an went to find Chen Zhaohu, while Zhang Tiezhu wanted to wait a few more days.

When Li Ji’an arrived at Chen Zhaohu’s residence, he happened to see him returning with his teammates.

”Haha, I wondered why today was so bountiful. It turns out Brother Li is here, come on in!” greeted Chen Zhaohu from afar.

”Brother Li!”

”Long time no see!”

Among them, he also saw two familiar figures. A decade ago, when he left here for the market, there were these loose cultivators who had sincerely advised him. Now ten years have passed, and one of them is still stuck at the early stage of Qi Cultivation.

Five years ago, when Li Ji’an followed Alchemist Mo into the Yan Family, Chen Zhaohu met Yan Hongsheng, but they failed to come to an agreement.

Only two years later, when both clans suffered heavy casualties, the Yan Family invited Chen Zhaohu to help again, but by then, Chen Zhaohu was unwilling to involve himself in such muddy waters.

Because three years ago, he ventured deep into the Fallen Dragon Ridge mountains and unexpectedly caught a Brocade Rat, believed to have a treasure-seeking bloodline. With this Brocade Rat, he found an immortal opportunity for Chen Qingling.

In the entire Fallen Dragon Ridge Desert, the renowned Red Stone Wanderer accepted Chen Qingling as a direct disciple!

He is renowned not only because he’s the only loose cultivator to establish a foundation in the Fallen Dragon Ridge Desert in the past twenty years but also because of his treasure-seeking skills, which are unmatched in the area.

It’s not only fame he possesses, but infamy as well, accounting for half.

He was once pursued by the leading family among the Eight Great Families of the desert, the Zheng Family, for nearly a decade, but it’s unknown how the matter was resolved.

The reason for the pursuit, however, is widely known — he dug up the Zheng Family’s ancestral grave!

Nowadays, few dare insult him face to face, and even the patriarchs of the Eight Great Families treat him with courtesy.

”Brother Li, if you need anything, just say the word!” Chen Zhaohu said straightforwardly as he led Li Ji’an into the inner room.

With Chen Qingling having found a good mentor, he felt at ease and invested in his own development, further advancing his body refining skills.

”Brother Chen, I’d like to ask you to keep an eye out for a kind of spirit insect called Soul-Holding Ants.” With two years of research into the Dao of Beast Taming, he had an idea for the next Rejuvenation and needed to experiment with this kind of spirit insect.

This spirit insect can temporarily store spiritual sense.

”Soul-Holding Ants? What do you need them for? Those little things are well-hidden and hard to come by.” Chen Zhaohu looked puzzled.

Besides temporarily storing spiritual sense, they have no other use, and their nests are deeply hidden.

”No rush, it’s not very urgent. Just keep an eye out during your patrols. If you spot any signs, just let me know.”

”Sure, it’s a small matter. I’ll keep an eye out from now on.” Chen Zhaohu didn’t ask further and confidently promised.

That evening, Chen Zhaohu warmly entertained him, and they chatted for a long time.

The next day, Li Ji’an prepared to return to the clan, but Zhang Tiezhu was still unwilling to leave, wanting to wait a few more days.

Understanding his intentions, Li Ji’an did not persuade him further and agreed to inform the clan on his behalf.

The same day he returned to the clan, Yan Qingwan immediately sent someone to urgently summon him to the alchemy room.

Seeing Yan Qingwan in disarray, looking exhausted with ashes covering her body, Li Ji’an could only sigh helplessly.

She had probably blown up the furnace again.

In his view, Yan Qingwan was not lacking in comprehension and was not careless by nature. She actually had the talent of a Pill Master, but she was too impatient now.

This was also because of the immense pressure the clan placed on her.

”Calm your mind. Failure is the mother of success. Let’s try again.” Without further ado, Li Ji’an helped Yan Qingwan regain her composure and continue with renewed effort.

The moment Li Ji’an entered, Yan Qingwan felt a lot less pressured and her mood improved: ”But you once said that when one succeeds, sometimes they could also forsake their closest ones. What if that happens?”

”Then, under the golden rod emerges a filial son!”

”Puff~”

Occasional jokes and banter were quite effective in adjusting one’s mindset.

Yan Qingwan quickly regained her focus, and under Li Ji’an’s guidance, she concentrated her spirit to attempt again.

--------

With the cooperation on that contested medicinal field between the two clans agreed upon, both families eagerly proceeded to develop it.

Two years later, the medicinal field began producing spirit medicine.

This also meant that Yan Qingwan had to take the stage.

The Pill Shop at the United Marketplace reopened, now with Yan Qingwan instead of Alchemist Mo overseeing it, and naturally, Li Ji’an needed to accompany her.

If it were two years ago, he might have been reluctant to part with the spirit vein within the Yan Clan territory.

But after two years of relentless cultivation, attempting to accumulate enough magical power to breakthrough to the middle stage of Qi Cultivation proved unsuccessful, and he now required less of the spirit vein.

Tier One and Tier Two are the same to him for now.

Moreover, he would receive a salary by accompanying Yan Qingwan to the Pill Shop.

The clan promised Yan Qingwan four-tenths of the profits from the Pill Shop, and Yan Qingwan voluntarily proposed to split it evenly with Li Ji’an.

This way, he no longer had to solely rely on hoping that Yan Qingwan could refine Breaking Rank Pills or Nourishing Source Pills.

As long as the Pill Shop’s business boomed, a year’s salary should suffice to buy a Flying Cloud Pill.

That year, Li Ji’an was forty years old and facing the looming ”Rejuvenation,” it was time to properly plan and prepare.

However, on the day before departing for the Pill Shop, Li Ji’an attended Zhang Tiezhu’s wedding feast.

It wasn’t about love, just a faint hope.

Two years ago, Zhang Tiezhu waited for half a month before returning to the clan in disappointment.

During these two years, cooperation between the Wei Family and the Yan Family led to mutual benefits, and there was no longer any conflict.

The Yan Clan was also busy with the medicinal field, putting expansion plans on hold temporarily. This made it harder for an outsider like him to gain merit opportunities, and losing his previous relatively favorable resource supply slowed his cultivation growth.

In the end, he had to bow his head to life!

Given the current situation, his best chance is to have offspring with strong spirit roots and talent for the Yan Family, which might exchange for the best possible resources.