Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

The situation in the Desert had shown signs before.

After over five hundred years of rampant development, the Desert families have now been stable for over two hundred years. Inevitably, they will move towards unification, and eventually, only one overlord will rule the Desert.

The eight Foundation Establishment Clans are vying for dominance in the Desert, but who will emerge victorious is still uncertain.

This is the trend of the times, not subject to personal will.

Li Ji’an did not feel differently because the Yan Family was involved; he was only curious about how the war was triggered.

After all, having been in the Desert for decades, he understood that each family had established themselves and their reputation there, and they were no ordinary people.

Yet Zhang Tiezhu, being an elderly cultivator within the clan, had declining combat power during his advanced years. His mid-stage Qi Cultivation level was already not high, and it was only diminishing. He clearly did not know the specifics, only aware that a war had started.

Li Ji’an guessed that there must be external forces involved, as it could not have triggered so quickly otherwise.

He calmed his mind and decided to head to the Pill Cauldron Pavilion to deliver the Pill Medicines first.

This past half-year, in order to break through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation, the expenses on demon beast meat and premium Pill Medicines had increased. Now, although it was merely mid-month, he had no extra Spirit Stones and needed to pay the rent for the new year, forcing him to liquidate assets early.

”Congratulations, Honored Guest Li.”

”Congratulations, congratulations.”

...

”For what occasion is the congratulation?” As soon as he entered the Pill Cauldron Pavilion, everyone he encountered clasped their hands in congratulations, leaving Li Ji’an slightly puzzled.

”Hahaha, Honored Guest Li, worthy of congratulations! In last year’s Tier One Pill Master selection within the Immortal City, you ranked third. Now, you have become the leader among the loose cultivator Tier One Pill Masters in the entire Immortal City.” Hearing the news, Shopkeeper Wu came out, warmly welcoming him from afar.

”Tier One Pill Master selection? Third place?” Li Ji’an was taken aback, as he was unaware of this beforehand.

”Yes, at the request of the Immortal City, all commerce associations and shops nominated their Honored Guest Elders from various fields, with a comprehensive evaluation based on the quantity and quality of deliveries throughout the year. You unsurprisingly ascended to the third spot among Tier One Pill Masters.” Shopkeeper Wu explained excitedly.

”Why haven’t I heard of this before?” Previously, when understanding the circumstances of the technicians in the Immortal City, this was not part of it.

”This was proposed by the newly appointed commander of the Biyun Sect this year. It’s also to promote trade in the Immortal City, beneficial for both you personally and our Pill Cauldron Pavilion. The owner is also very pleased, and hence, the buyback price for your Pill Medicines will increase by 20% in the future.

Soon, the Immortal City will also issue honors and rewards to you all.”

”...”

After pondering for a moment, Li Ji’an nodded.

Being a stable income-generating large industry of the Biyun Sect, their attention to Golden Splendor Immortal City is unsurprising. This action could not only enhance competitiveness among technicians but might also expand the influence of the Immortal City.

In the Immortal City, he did not have the fear of being ”the pig that gets fattened up gets slaughtered.”

Moreover, he was only a Tier One Pill Master now. In the eyes of major powers, he at most had a bit of potential.

With this official certification, his income would also increase.

As for ranking third, he didn’t think there was much underhandedness involved.

After all, he got acquainted with quite a few Pill Masters this past year, gaining a deeper understanding of the Pill Masters’ group within the Immortal City.

Apart from those tributors of major forces, most of the Pill Masters coming to the Immortal City were loose cultivators, a lot of whom had spent a large part of their lives as Pill Children in small places, and, having achieved some success, wanted to try their luck in the Immortal City, only to end up as bottom-tier Pill Masters barely getting by.

Some others served as family tributors in small places, plotting for Foundation Establishment after reaching the late stage of Qi Cultivation, hoping to find opportunities here, only to squander them.

Most of them didn’t have great alchemical talent.

Those with real talent were taken by major forces when they were young.

However, apart from the Biyun Sect, almost none of the major forces in Cangyun State could groom a second-tier tributor Pill Master, as they couldn’t afford it.

Upon further inquiry, he learned that the highest-ranked first-tier Pill Master was the closed-door disciple of the city’s leading second-tier Pill Master, now in his seventies, who had concentrated on alchemy for fifty to sixty years.

The second place was also quite old.

Basically, the time they had spent mastering alchemy was similar to Li Ji’an’s two lifetimes.

Afterward, Shopkeeper Wu repurchased the Pill Medicines Li Ji’an brought this time at a 20% increase in price.

The total buyback price was four hundred and eighty pieces, nearly a hundred more Spirit Stones than he expected, which was just enough to cover the rent for the next year.

The reason he delivered less for the past half month was to stabilize his realm, as he reduced the frequency of furnace openings and also increased his own consumption, leaving less excess.

”Honored Guest Li, next month, you need to refine more Spirit Supplement Pills, at least thirty Upper Grades.” When procuring medicinal materials, Shopkeeper Wu specifically reminded him.

”Oh?” Li Ji’an was slightly taken aback. Throughout the year, the Pill Cauldron Pavilion had never imposed such demands. As long as the Pill Medicines weren’t particularly unpopular, they would generally be bought back at market price, never customized.

”Don’t misunderstand, Honored Guest Li. This is also the Immortal City’s requirement,” Shopkeeper Wu explained.

The Immortal City needs Spirit Supplement Pills? No, it’s the Biyun Sect that needs Spirit Supplement Pills!

The Spirit Supplement Pill is a medicine for replenishing Spiritual Qi in the late stage of Qi Cultivation, mainly used when the Spiritual Qi in the cultivation Dao Field is insufficient or when one needs to stay for a long time in Spirit Starved Land or Absolute Spirit Land.

Moreover, being able to request such orders from the Pill Cauldron Pavilion indicates a massive demand.

After all, the Biyun Sect has its own Sect’s Pill Peak, not only fulfilling the exchange needs of Sect Disciples but also selling in the Immortal City.

”May I ask, Shopkeeper, regarding this matter...” Li Ji’an lowered his voice inquisitively.

Initially, he wouldn’t have thought much if it was just about the technician evaluations; however, adding this into the equation, he couldn’t help but wonder.

Shopkeeper Wu smiled wryly and shook his head, pointing upwards: ”With our insight, what can we know? We just follow the instructions from above.”

”Oh, alright, I’ll take note.” Li Ji’an nodded and didn’t make things difficult for Shopkeeper Wu anymore.

On the way to the Immortal City’s administrative office, Li Ji’an’s thoughts raced.

”Judging by this, the so-called technician evaluation is probably a disguised census and statistics. The Biyun Sect is planning something big.”

”However, the lack of information leaves one completely clueless. I must spend Spirit Stones to subscribe to the Imperial Gazette.”

Pondering along the way, considering any situation that might affect him, he found no results.

Until he was paying the rent, one sentence from the administrator made Li Ji’an feel different again.

”The Immortal City now offers a privilege. If you pay rent for ten years in one go, you’ll get a 20% discount, and for thirty years, a 30% discount...”

If it weren’t for the Biyun Sect’s mountain gate being there and the Spirit Vein irremovable, he would have suspected that the Biyun Sect was about to flee.

Barely having enough, he paid one year’s rent at the original price, and Li Ji’an decisively went to the Wan Tong Building in the Inner City.

This place, claiming to connect myriad worlds, specializes in intelligence and information services.

Aside from the public Imperial Gazette, they also engage in deeper intelligence transactions.

Many forces run intelligence businesses, the Nine Tripods Commerce Association included. However, only Wan Tong Building handles the Imperial Gazette.

Depending on the covered region, timeliness, and frequency, the subscription prices for the Imperial Gazette vary.

After purchasing medicinal materials and paying rent, Li Ji’an had less than two hundred Spirit Stones left, so he had to opt for the lowest tier of a hundred and twenty Spirit Stones annual subscription for a monthly issue.

Receiving a Communication Jade Talisman, which would deliver a piece of news of major power within ten thousand miles of the Biyun Sect every month, as well as some anecdotes from the area, wasn’t unfamiliar to Li Ji’an.

Returning to his residence, he prioritized browsing the previous month’s Imperial Gazette that was given as a bonus.

The very first item left him astonished.

”Seize the Opportunity! Biyun Sect Plans to Expand Disciple Enrollment for Sect Development Strategy This Year.”

In recent communications with Xiao Changfeng, he explicitly mentioned an increase in exchange contribution points within the Sect, with exchanges becoming more challenging. Also, Sect missions and trials have increased, distinctly indicating resource inadequacy. Surprisingly, they are expanding enrollment?

Coupled with the statistics of various technicians in the Immortal City, the demand for Spirit Supplement Pills, and the enticing prepayment rent offers, are they preparing for external warfare? And is it warfare in areas with insufficient Spiritual Qi?