Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

After delivering the pills, Li Ji’an purchased another batch of medicinal herbs and upper-grade talisman paper.

He then headed to the Spirit Rice Shop in the Outer City, buying spirit rice, spirit noodles, and demon beast meat. Additionally, he reluctantly spent a hundred spirit stones at the Spirit Pet Shop to purchase a late-period beast pill for Gugu.

The beast pill for spirit beasts fundamentally differs from the pill medicine that human cultivators consume. Not only are the materials distinct, but the core efficacy also varies greatly and cannot be equated; only the Beast Taming Clan has significant research on this.

The spirit stones he just acquired were nearly gone before they even warmed up.

Last month, he was practically consuming his old savings, paying five hundred spirit stones in rent, against almost wiping out purchasing herbs and rice noodles, leaving him with just over two hundred spirit stones in savings now.

Once his shopping was complete, Li Ji’an arrived at the Taiping Inn, the largest inn in the Immortal City, where Yan Qingwan had brought him eleven years ago.

Beyond gathering resources for Foundation Establishment and improving skills, another key aspect of leaving the desert for the Immortal City was to acquire information and gain a deeper understanding of this world.

Information barriers exist everywhere, only deeper in such a world.

”Alchemist Li, you finally decided to step out.” Just as he reached the inn’s entrance, a greeting came from behind.

Li Ji’an turned around and saw an old woman with a little girl.

”Fellow Daoist You, Xiaoqiao.” Li Ji’an nodded with a smile.

The grandmother-granddaughter duo were neighbors. A few days after Li Ji’an moved in, they visited, indicating people residing there often possessed exceptional skills, typically lone loose cultivators, and mutual networking and resource-sharing were customary.

Granny You is an experienced array master who once held a position with the Array Formation Liu Family among the Five Great Clans. However, she wasn’t greatly valued, being given only the Honored Guest Elder status. Following a failed factional dispute, she settled here over several decades.

Her granddaughter Xiaoqiao, whom she took in two years back, is now five years old.

Xiaoqiao appeared somewhat shy, peering at him with wide eyes from behind Granny You.

”I initially thought I might have to pay a visit today, but it turns out to be serendipitous.” Granny You chuckled.

Li Ji’an nodded, guessing she might want to buy pill medicine. During a previous visit, they exchanged gifts, with him giving Granny You a middle-grade Qi Replenishing Pill, and her reinforcing the protective array of his small courtyard.

Pill quality is assessed based on effects, pill poison, drug resistance, and other factors, making it hard to detail further. Thus, even similar middle-grade pills may have subtle differences.

Li Ji’an is confident in the quality of his pill medicine, evident to seasoned cultivators.

It’s why Granny You seemed much warmer than the first time they met.

”A chance encounter is better than an invitation, Alchemist Li, may I host you today?”

”A gift from a senior cannot be refused, so I leave it to Fellow Daoist You to treat us.” Li Ji’an replied with a smile, as his intent here was to gather information.

The three soon entered the inn’s main hall. Coincidentally, Granny You chose the same seat Yan Qingwan picked eleven years ago—a secluded corner.

Granny You ordered a substantial amount of spiritual food, expensive desserts for Xiaoqiao, and a pot of spirit wine for Li Ji’an, while she had a pot of spirit tea.

This showed her financial capacity as a seasoned array master.

Array mastery is challenging at both entry and advanced levels, requiring a strong divine soul, foundation in talisman painting, and inscription skills, as well as mastery over heavenly principles and earthly conditions, adept in Five Elements Feng Shui and Geomancy. Thankfully, magical power demand is not high.

Compared to Alchemy Dao and Talisman Dao, entry is tough for the average loose cultivator.

This also relates to arrays having lesser market demand than pills and talismans.

She graciously hosted Li Ji’an, conversing broadly without prying into personal matters.

Li Ji’an enjoyed chatting with such knowledgeable senior cultivators, with fluid conversation devoid of awkwardness from privacy probing, making the interaction relaxed and casual.

Xiaoqiao hid behind Granny You, sneaking bites of dessert.

”Alchemist Li, oh, I blame myself today for being inconsiderate, unsure if young people like these places. Next time, it’s better to host you at Spring Breeze Building for leisure.” With the previous topic ending, Granny You sipped spirit tea and smoothly transitioned to another conversation.

Li Ji’an chuckled awkwardly, ”Fellow Daoist You thinks too much. I, Li, prefer cultivating and quietude, seldom visiting such places. This spot suits me well.”

”Oh? Alchemist Li truly surprises me, youthful and vibrant yet able to remain composed. Admirable, I toast you with tea instead of wine.” Granny You remarked.

”I’m flattered.” Li Ji’an raised his cup.

”I favor this inn not for its bustle, but to learn of worldly happenings, preventing societal obsolescence.”

”If Fellow Daoist You seeks current events, why not subscribe to the Imperial Gazette?” Li Ji’an recently considered subscribing to it.

However, the Imperial Gazette isn’t cheap, a single subscription seems unwise, prompting the thought of sharing a subscription with Granny You.

Granny You shook her head, ”Haha, the Imperial Gazette, three truths to seven lies, governed by the sect, shows only what they wish you to know, better relying on travelers’ tales from across the land.”

Li Ji’an affirmed with a smile, understanding this strategic truth, aware he shouldn’t wholly dismiss it.

Given sect leadership, while the Imperial Gazette appears influenced by sects, its trends can reveal sect circumstances.

They conversed awhile, with spiritual food barely touched, yet Xiaoqiao unknowingly finished all the dessert.

Li Ji’an rose to leave.

Granny You followed him back to the residential area.

Indeed, reaching the courtyard, Granny You expressed interest in purchasing pill medicine.

The price she offered exceeded common pill masters selling to pill shops, yet slightly below his Honored Guest Elder rates to the Pill Cauldron Pavilion.

Li Ji’an didn’t haggle, selling upper-grade pills with minimal difference, reciprocating her conversation companionship with emotional value.

He’s not one to quibble over small matters.

”Alchemist Li, your youth and exquisite alchemy skill earn my admiration,” Granny You praised again post-transaction.

”Huh, Alchemist Li also crafts Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills, such a rare pill?”

Today’s pill delivery nearly emptied his stock of premium-grade pills, mixing remaining middle-grade pills with others before for more room in the jade bottle.

Now Granny You’s pills bore traces of his earlier refined batch of premium Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills for a future self.

”Fellow Daoist You is quite versed with Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills?” These are body cultivators’ youthful Nourishing Vein Pills. This realm’s scarcity partly due to youths with spiritual qi not needing them much.

Furthermore, normal people can’t identify pill types solely by scent following unfamiliarity.

”Haha, in my clan past, befriended a pill master adept in such pill crafting,” Granny You chuckled.

Shua~

Before her voice faded, a flash of insight sparkled in Li Ji’an’s mind…