Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

After a separation of ten years, seeing the towering Immortal City again, Li Ji’an still felt a sense of awe.

At the city gate, right after the registration was completed, Zhao Shuyao had already walked over.

Now eighty-four years old, Zhao Shuyao had the appearance of a kind old grandmother, with a head full of silver hair and a warm smile.

”Xiaofan, it’s good that you’ve arrived safely, just good.”

”Aunt Yao.”

During these ten years, they had maintained contact, mostly with Zhao Shuyao’s concern.

In a way, among the five who came here from the Immortal Dynasty, only Li Ji’an’s descendants were seen as the true heir and continuation by them.

Zhao Shuyao had never married or had children, Zhang Tiezhu’s child took the surname Yan, Dong Jiangling had a daughter, and none of them had informed about the Immortal Dynasty, only Li Ji’an continued their past.

People have two deaths: the first is the death of the body, the second is being forgotten by everyone.

This forgetting is not only about forgetting the person but also includes their past, their experiences, and the traces of their existence.

If there were no Li Ji’an in this world, after a few decades when the three of them passed away, there would be no one left who knew about their past.

And this is what Tong Yaoyao, even the natives of the Cultivation Realm, could not understand about her.

”Let’s go, Aunt Yao will take you to meet our boss, she should give me some face.” Zhao Shuyao pulled Li Ji’an towards the Nine Tripods Commerce Association inside the Immortal City.

Plan carefully before moving.

Ten years ago, Li Ji’an had already understood the living conditions within the Immortal City.

The residences, Dao Fields, and even specialized Cave Mansions for breaking through realms in the Inner City are located at the core of the quasi-Third Tier Spirit Veins, and all are expensive.

Except for renting cave mansions temporarily to break through, those who rent in the Inner City’s residences long-term are all bases or offices of major powers within the city, with almost no individuals.

It’s really too expensive, not cost-effective.

And the real personal residences are the archways and small courtyards on the edge of the Inner and Outer City, with Spirit Veins ranging from Tier One Middle Grade to Tier Two Lower Grade, and the prices are not cheap.

The lowest level of rental housing also costs fifty Spirit Stones a year and doesn’t have the space like the tenement buildings in the United Marketplace.

Living resources such as Spirit Rice and Spirit Noodles within are also relatively more expensive, increasing living costs.

The prices of cultivation essentials such as Alchemy Tools, Talisman Arrays, and Pill Artifacts are also inflated, but craftsmen’s earnings are not high.

This is because personal stall selling is not allowed within the Immortal City, and most buying and selling must go through shops.

And because there are many craftsmen, the purchase prices in shops are rolled back, resulting in very low purchase prices.

In short, it’s not easy for ordinary people to live in the Immortal City.

However, countless people still want to enter the Immortal City at any cost because it is safe, stable, and full of opportunities.

What Li Ji’an values are the first two points.

Of course, also because the maximum limit of small marketplaces’ Spirit Veins is too low, and the Spiritual Qi is not abundant enough.

And his confidence lies in his solid hard skills as a Fine Product Pill Master and the soft skills of networking with Zhao Shuyao’s boss.

There is no shortage of Tier One Pill Masters, not even experienced Tier One Pill Masters here, as supply exceeds demand, causing fierce competition and low prices.

However, Tier Two and high-quality Fine Product Pill Masters are relatively rare.

Especially Tier Two Pill Medicine, due to a lack of supply, prices remain high, and some particularly crucial Pill Medicines are even unavailable on the market, such as Foundation Establishment Pill, Face Stabilizing Pill, etc.

As a Fine Product Pill Master capable of consistently producing high-quality Pill Medicines, Li Ji’an has the confidence to establish himself here.

Becoming an Honored Guest Elder at major shops is the first choice for all types of craftsmen within the Immortal City, and Li Ji’an intends to prioritize this as well.

Because once you become an Honored Guest Elder, you won’t worry about the sales of Pill Medicines, and you can get a 10% sale mark-up compared to other Pill Masters selling in shops. The price for purchasing herbs will also be discounted, yielding 30% higher than ordinary Pill Masters.

However, the competition is equally fierce.

Fortunately, Zhao Shuyao’s boss at the Nine Tripods Commerce Association deals in Pill Medicines and hires Honored Guests.

After learning of this idea, Zhao Shuyao proactively offered to provide him with networking resources, and he gratefully accepted.

Not long after, Zhao Shuyao led Li Ji’an to the Pill Cauldron Pavilion of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

”Shopkeeper Wu, is the boss upstairs?” Zhao Shuyao brought Li Ji’an into the rear hall with familiarity.

”Sister Zhao, the boss is indeed here, but... the boss is not in a very good mood right now.” Shopkeeper Wu lowered his voice to remind them.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shuyao pondered for a moment and spoke to Li Ji’an: ”Xiaofan, please wait for a while, I’ll go check the situation.”

”Alright, Aunt Yao.”

”Shopkeeper Wu, this is my nephew, Li Fan. Please take good care of him.” Zhao Shuyao introduced to Shopkeeper Wu once more.

”Oh, haha, so it’s Sister Zhao’s nephew, family, family, Li Fan, right? Come with me to the elegant hall and wait for a while,” Shopkeeper Wu said with a smile to Li Fan.

”Thank you, Shopkeeper Wu.”

Watching Zhao Shuyao head upstairs, Li Ji’an followed Shopkeeper Wu through the main hall to the elegant hall.

”Shopkeeper Wu, outside there’s another Pill Master wanting to apply for Honored Guest, what do you think?” At this time, an attendant came to deliver the message.

”What’s their grade? What’s their cultivation?” Shopkeeper Wu smiled at Li Ji’an, then asked the attendant.

”Qi Cultivation 7th Layer, Tier One experienced Pill Master, claiming to have successfully refined high-grade Pill Medicines,” the attendant spoke unconfidently.

Shopkeeper Wu immediately turned to her, ”Took benefits from someone again? Hmph, how many times have I told you, what you can take and what you can’t, don’t you have the numbers? A mere Qi Cultivation 7th Layer experienced Pill Master, qualified to apply as our Pill Cauldron Pavilion’s Honored Guest?”

”Shopkeeper Wu, I was wrong, I dare not again; it was a trusted person’s request, really hard to refuse, I humbly ask for forgiveness,” the attendant hurriedly bowed in apology.

Shopkeeper Wu waved his hand, ”Remember, we work for our boss, and must live up to the boss’s training! Go, but next time, there will be no leniency.”

Li Ji’an observed clearly from the side and felt a bit pressured.

He had known the Nine Tripods Commerce Association was a powerhouse, but hadn’t expected it to dismiss experienced Pill Masters so nonchalantly.

If it weren’t for Zhao Shuyao’s connections, he probably wouldn’t have even gotten his foot in the door.

After leading Li Ji’an to the entrance of the elegant hall, Shopkeeper Wu left for some other matters.

Inside the elegant hall, the other two people glanced at Li Ji’an upon his entry, scrutinized for a moment, and inquired, ”Are you a Pill Master as well, fellow Daoist?”

”Indeed.”

”Here to apply for Honored Guest as well?”

Li Ji’an nodded again.

”Hiss~ Young friend dares to apply for the Honored Guest Pill Master at the Pill Cauldron Pavilion with only Qi Cultivation 6th Layer cultivation?” A more senior Pill Master asked in surprise.

”Could it be that you’ve refined top-grade Pill Medicine?” The younger one asked again.

Li Ji’an slowly shook his head, having gained deeper insights into Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanisms after studying Talisman Painting in this world, yet still hadn’t succeeded during alchemy refining.

The two Pill Masters exchanged glances and then both let out a sigh of relief.

The quota for this month’s Honored Guest Pill Masters just had one spot left, and they were already somewhat anxious, seeing one more candidate made them even more nervous. Knowing Li Ji’an’s level of Alchemy Skill, they were finally able to relax.

Li Ji’an scanned with his Divine Sense, both individuals before him had Qi Cultivation 9th Layer cultivation, and judging by the medicinal smell on them, they had probably been refining pills for most of their lives.

Truly intense competition!

Not long after, footsteps were heard outside the elegant hall.

On hearing the sound, the two Pill Masters immediately stood up, eagerly watching the door.

”Xiaoli, quick, quick, quick, the boss wants to see you,” Shopkeeper Wu came in with joy to announce.

Under the amazed and envious gazes of the two Pill Masters, Li Ji’an followed Shopkeeper Wu to the quiet chamber on the fifth floor where the boss resided.

Shopkeeper Wu helped push open the door, and Li Ji’an stepped inside.

Upon entering, he saw by the window of the quiet chamber, a somewhat plump mature female cultivator sitting in a Grandmaster’s Chair, eyes closed in repose.

Zhao Shuyao stood by her side, smiling as she looked at him.

”Little Yao asked a favor on your behalf, and I complied. Regardless of your current Alchemy Skill, I hope you will work hard in the future and not disappoint your Aunt Yao’s expectations.”

Li Ji’an slightly raised his brows, ”Thank you, Senior, thank you, Aunt Yao.”

Connections and background are also a part of one’s strength.

If one can develop the great figures of this world into their network, what worries would there be?