Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 88: Chapter 2: Heart Demon Resolved

Under the pressure of Foundation Establishment, everyone below was filled with dread.

Not until the divine rainbow stopped above the gathering did someone timidly peek, and upon seeing that charming figure, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

”Junior from Iron Bamboo Stream’s Yuan Family pays respects to Pill Master Yan.”

”Qingshui River Li Family pays respects to Fairy Yan.”

”...pays respects to Pill Master/ Fairy Yan.”

...

In the next moment, nearly all the cultivators in the Central Plaza bowed in respect to Yan Qingwan above them.

The status of the Eight Great Clans is one reason, Foundation Establishment cultivation is a second, and being a seasoned alchemist is a third. However, what truly brought Yan Qingwan such fame in recent years, and doubled the business of her Pill Shop, is her remaining gentle and unassuming, approachable on top of these three foundations.

Otherwise, even if the Zheng Family’s first ancestor in the late stage of Foundation Establishment came personally, it might not have garnered such respect.

Of course, her persona is valuable only when combined with the first three; alone, it is meaningless.

Li Ji’an watched this scene, feeling happy for Yan Qingwan, but also secretly shaking his head.

Yan Qingwan’s high moral character is true, her easygoing nature is true, but to say she is truly approachable may not be so.

Her family background, her growing environment, her knowledge and vision all subtly influenced her. I still remember the first time we met, although she showed no overt disdain towards Li Ji’an, the innate sense of superiority was quite evident.

Only when he exhibited remarkable alchemy comprehension and saved her life, earning her recognition, did her attitude towards Li Ji’an truly change.

Of course, this doesn’t mean Yan Qingwan is hypocritical, it just shows that people are too naive.

”Rise!” Yan Qingwan’s rosy lips gently opened.

At this moment, someone below noticed that Yan Qingwan seemed different today.

When they occasionally encountered her buying pills at the Pill Shop, Yan Qingwan would smile and nod, showing no airs of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

But at this moment, her attitude was evidently somewhat perfunctory, not even glancing at them directly, instead continuously searching the crowd with her divine sense.

Seeing a trace of anxiety on her face, Li Ji’an did not want her persona to collapse because of him, so he immediately took out the Yan Family’s Immortal Ascension Order from his pocket.

”Whoosh~” The aura from the Immortal Ascension Order instantly caught Yan Qingwan’s attention, and with a flash, she was right in front of Li Ji’an.

”Fairy Yan!” Many people were seeing the renowned Yan Qingwan of the desert this close for the first time and were instantly excited.

And seeing that Yan Qingwan did not drive away the people around her, others rushed towards her as well.

”Who is that young guy?”

”That young guy looks extraordinary at first glance.”

”With a face like beautiful jade, resembling Honghai, he must be the pride of heaven, a dragon among people...”

...

In a breath, Yan Qingwan and Li Ji’an became the center of attention.

Yan Qingwan didn’t even look at the Immortal Ascension Order in Li Ji’an’s hand, instead, her eyes fixed intensely on Li Ji’an, filled with disbelief, questioning, guilt, and a trace of indistinct loss.

She stared at the eight-year-old Li Ji’an just like that.

Li Ji’an also looked up, with an innocent and pure expression at Yan Qingwan.

Nine years had passed, and time hadn’t left any marks on Yan Qingwan’s face, possibly due to her ascending to Foundation Establishment, making her look even more youthful and beautiful.

”Foundation Establishment, capable of living for three hundred years... I wonder if there’s a chance in this life?”

After staring at each other for a while, Yan Qingwan only came back to her senses after someone around shouted, wanting to inquire, but there were too many people and eyes.

Just when she was hesitating.

”Qingwan, be careful of the trap!”

”Disperse, all of you disperse for this old man!”

Two urgent shouts came from behind.

Li Ji’an didn’t even need to look, he recognized the voices as familiar.

One was the Grand Elder Yan Kongyi, the other was the Seventh Elder Yan Hongsheng.

Both were in late-stage Qi Cultivation, controlling magical artifacts swiftly, not slow by any means.

But compared to Foundation Establishment cultivators who rely solely on their vast magical power to control the divine rainbow, they were still far behind.

Moreover, as soon as Yan Qingwan saw the letter, she flew off, giving them no time to react.

”Get lost!” Above the crowd, Yan Hongsheng roared again.

He had none of the demeanor of a senior grand cultivator in late-stage Qi Cultivation, coarse and violent to the extreme.

Yet this was highly effective.

Yan Qingwan couldn’t drive them away, but Yan Hongsheng could.

This is precisely the role of Yan Hongsheng’s persona within the family.

The crowd instantly dispersed, and Yan Kongyi landed solemnly beside Yan Qingwan, not having had time to observe Li Ji’an, he spoke in a deep voice: ”Qingwan, you absolutely must not act impulsively like this again, now you’re not only representing yourself, but also the family’s honor and disgrace, its rise or fall.

There are many who wish to quickly eliminate you! What if you fall into their trap?”

Yan Qingwan slightly frowned, finally taking a deep breath: ”I will remember.”

”Hmm. Is this the son of that brat?” Yan Kongyi finally looked at Li Ji’an.

His withered eyes flashed with brightness, and without Li Ji’an’s consent, he placed his hand on Li Ji’an’s head: ”Seems like it’s truly a misunderstanding, this boy’s bone age is eight years, calculating the time, that brat probably left the family to find that so-called loved one, and impregnated her upon meeting.”

Yan Kongyi pursed his lips, venting his grievance from years ago, when Li Ji’an rejected his granddaughter, accusing him of not understanding love, onto the present Li Ji’an.

”You little brat, where’s your worthless father? Tell him to come out, I want to see how his loved one compares to my granddaughter.”

Before Li Ji’an could answer, Yan Hongsheng, having dispersed the onlookers, arrived with large strides.

”Hey! Boy, let this old man take a look at your roots, see if you’ve inherited your father’s roots; if they’re outstanding, I’ll take you as my disciple.”

The two of them drowned out Yan Qingwan’s chance to speak.

”Uncle, Seventh Uncle, can you two step aside for a moment?”

Yan Kongyi and Yan Hongsheng paused for a moment, seeing Yan Qingwan’s less than pleased expression, they quietly turned around.

Yan Qingwan then released a shield, enveloping herself and Li Ji’an inside.

”Are you called Li Fan? Don’t be afraid, tell me the truth, are you truly Li Chang’an’s biological son?” While asking, Li Ji’an felt a powerful divine sense enveloping him.

Li Ji’an nodded, then asked: ”Are you Auntie?”

Boom~

The word ”Auntie” entered her ears, and Yan Qingwan’s heart shook, recalling the words she once said to Li Ji’an.

”As long as he is willing to call me Auntie, I will protect him for a lifetime!”

”Yes, Fan’er, dear, I am Auntie.” Yan Qingwan pressed her red lips together, squatted down slowly, and embraced Li Ji’an in her arms.

This call of Auntie awakened the former promise and unraveled years of guilt and heart knots within her.

When Li Ji’an left back then, she was already in secluded cultivation, attempting to ascend to Foundation Establishment.

It wasn’t until three years later, having fully prepared, that she secretly went to Golden Splendor Immortal City, and at an auction, she secured an authentic Foundation Establishment Pill for four thousand eight hundred spirit stones, then spent one thousand spirit stones to rent a Dao Field with an Upper Grade Second Tier Spirit Vein in the Immortal City, attempting Foundation Establishment on the spot.

A year later, she finally succeeded in establishing her Foundation.

When she learned of Li Ji’an’s matter, it was already four years after he had left the family.

Her first response was guilt, unease, and self-blame, thinking that her presence led to the great merit of Li Ji’an being expelled.

She searched extensively around the surrounding markets and gathering areas at the time.

As time passed, as her status in the family continuously rose, as she repeatedly failed at refining Second Tier pills, as fewer people talked to her... silently and insidiously, she began to nostalgically remember Brother Li, the one who patiently guided her alchemy skills, who risked his life to save hers, and, to not hinder her path, resolutely left.

Especially in the past two years, whenever she experienced the clamor and glory outside, the quiet solitude after returning to the Alchemy Room intensified her longing.

She even came to a sudden realization that perhaps the ”loved one” Li Ji’an mentioned was her.

And through repeated self-hypnosis, a newfound feeling grew...

Receiving Li Ji’an’s handwritten letter today, her heart almost leaped out at that moment.

But the ”son” mentioned in the letter sobered her considerably.

Until now, hearing this call of ”Auntie,” she instantly realized.

Perhaps... her absurd thoughts over the years were but heart demons!

At this moment, the heart demons should be unraveled!

”Fan’er, is your mother... beautiful?”