Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Another aspect, Li Ji’an has a Middle Grade Spirit Root in this life. This aptitude for Spirit Roots during Foundation Establishment does not provide any additional bonuses, only a twenty percent upper limit increase for his Magical Power, Divine Soul, and physique.

With his current refinement level of Magical Power, although tempered by a Fire Spirit, it still lags far behind the pure and robust Magical Power cultivated by those with Ultimate-grade Cultivation Techniques, Holy Techniques, and Immortal Scriptures, providing at most a ten percent increase.

However, he is confident in his physique and Divine Soul, estimating a full twenty percent boost in those areas.

Thus, without relying on external items, if he attempts Foundation Establishment on his own, the success rate is only fifty percent.

If the Foundation Establishment fails, at best, his foundation will be damaged, requiring costly resources to nurture for years before having another chance to attempt it, and at worst, his Dantian will shatter on the spot, ending his life and path.

Therefore, for his Foundation Establishment in this life, he must have a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Currently, his financial resources are insufficient to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, requiring further accumulation. Additionally, after acquiring it, he still needs to rent a Second Tier Cave Mansion within the Immortal City to ensure abundant Spiritual Qi. Such a cave mansion, equipped with a Gathering Spirit and various beneficial Foundation Establishment Arrays, is not cheap to rent, costing over a thousand Spirit Stones per month, and the process of attempting Foundation Establishment will take at least three months, resulting in considerable expenditure.

Another point is that the Fire Spirit, after a year of nurturing, has not yet reached its peak state and needs more time.

After letting the three little fellows play, Li Ji’an activated the Alchemy Room’s Restriction again and organized a batch of Talismans processed over nearly six months.

Aside from the previous six trump cards, today’s newly crafted Blazing Talismans further enrich the stockpile, and there are nearly fifteen ordinary late-stage Talismans left, varying from Lower Grade to Upper Grade.

These fifteen practice Talismans, excluding the cost of failed Talisman Materials, accumulated a cost of approximately fourteen hundred Spirit Stones.

If sold, based on typical Talisman shop buy-back prices, they wouldn’t exceed fifteen hundred Spirit Stones.

Private sales could fetch around sixteen hundred Spirit Stones.

As an Honored Guest Elder at a Talisman shop, they could sell for sixteen hundred fifty.

After all, the quality isn’t high, so low profits are expected.

However, Li Ji’an had already decided that he would not display his skills in Talisman art at crucial moments.

Besides Granny You’s previous lessons, the all-encompassing abilities of a Talisman Master are highly valuable, and since he is already a well-known Tier One Pill Master in the Immortal City, being proficient in Talisman art could lead others to think he obtained some heaven-defying fortune, attracting unwanted attention.

In the following days, he sold the fifteen Talismans in batches at several Talisman shops, using the excuse of offsetting Pill medicine with other Talisman Masters as a cover.

The day he finished selling the last few Talismans, Li Ji’an arrived at the Taiping Inn, immediately hearing everyone engaging in lively discussions.

All were about the Infinite Secret Realm.

It was then that Li Ji’an learned the exact opening date of the Infinite Secret Realm, which was scheduled for half a month later.

That evening, he sent a message to Xiao Changfeng, wishing him good fortune and the greatest opportunities in the Secret Realm.

A year ago, in Flame Mountain Forbidden Land, he felt Xiao Changfeng’s luck was indeed extraordinary, and he might have borrowed some of it, so he was eager to maintain good relations with Xiao Changfeng.

If there were future opportunities, he hoped to bring him along as well.

However, the response he received not long after surprised Li Ji’an.

”Brother Li, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. The sect temporarily replaced me with another newly admitted True Disciple.”

It was easy to hear the disappointment and a bit of resentment in his words.

Xiao Changfeng had previously mentioned that, except for the True Disciples, nearly all of them were under the tutelage of the Fake Pill Elder.

While the True Disciples were under the Sect Leader, regardless of status, position, or resource allocation, they were incomparable.

Originally, his master had secured the place for him in the Secret Realm.

Li Ji’an didn’t immediately think about the hierarchy within the sect but instead wondered if this matter had anything to do with him.

Without pondering further, Li Ji’an immediately invited Xiao Changfeng to the Immortal City.

Soon after, Xiao Changfeng, trying to appear calm, was led by Li Ji’an to the largest Spring Breeze Building in Golden Splendor Immortal City.

”Brother Li?” Xiao Changfeng looked at the lavishly decorated Spring Breeze Building, slightly surprised.

Spring Breeze Building was the most famous leisure establishment in Cangyun State and wasn’t cheap.

For ordinary Dual Cultivation, a night in the Spring Breeze with the cheapest Female Cultivator cost thirty Spirit Stones, and with added talents and melody, the base price was fifty Spirit Stones.

This was only for ordinary Female Cultivators. For the few Courtesans, or the building’s stars and top choices with special talents, three to five hundred Spirit Stones a night was also common.

A true gold-squandering den.

As an Inner Sect Disciple of the Biyun Sect, Xiao Changfeng was taught from the start not to indulge in such trivial Dual Cultivation Techniques and was often warned about how the Joyful Union Sect enchantresses, adept in Ancient Times Dual Cultivation Secret Techniques, wreaked havoc on various righteous path cultivators.

Of course, the main reason is that for an Inner Sect Disciple who converts all sect tasks into Contribution Points, he usually doesn’t have much extra money to come here.

”Brother Xiao, no need to stand on ceremony between you and me. Tonight, we won’t leave until we’re drunk, so please enjoy to the fullest!” Li Ji’an waved enthusiastically and led the way inside.

Later, he booked a private room upstairs, ordered a full table of Spirit Banquets,

and let the brothel madame bring in Female Cultivators, letting Xiao Changfeng choose at will.

When a man feels down, to comfort him, nothing needs to be said. A drink and a joyful experience are enough!

Xiao Changfeng’s slightly depressed mood gradually became cheerful and excited in the hands of two Female Cultivators skilled in melody and bathing techniques, his passion igniting.

Li Ji’an also experienced a true musical cleansing, purifying his mind.

The next day.

As they left Spring Breeze Building hand in hand, although it couldn’t guarantee their friendship reached a new level, their relationship was certainly more intimate.

”Brother Li, you really went out of your way! I will always remember this,” Xiao Changfeng said, tightly grasping Li Ji’an’s hand.

A single night costing nearly two hundred Spirit Stones—more than what he could earn in sect Contribution from a single task.

Li Ji’an spent it so generously to comfort him.

Xiao Changfeng had previously heard from Li Ji’an, knowing that despite his outstanding alchemy skill, which was equivalent to a Seed Alchemist in the sect, a Tier One Pill Master’s earnings were limited, with monthly earnings of a hundred Spirit Stones considered exceptional.

Moreover, he needed to save Spirit Stones for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

This sincere gesture from Li Ji’an truly stands out!

”Dear brother, you’re being too polite. If it means you’ll feel at ease, then everything was worth it,” Li Ji’an said, patting his shoulder.

”Hmm, Brother Li is right. No one’s life can be smooth sailing. Great heroes throughout history faced many trials. I, Xiao Changfeng, may someday become a great hero like those in the tales, overturning the heavens!” Xiao Changfeng said, exuding the spirited confidence of his youth amidst his thick alcohol breath.

Li Ji’an laughed and nodded, expressing approval.

Whatever his current state or thoughts, Li Ji’an didn’t care. To him, it was merely repaying the chance gained from the Flame Mountain.

What he didn’t know was that this casual gesture not only soothed Xiao Changfeng’s disappointment over being replaced for the Secret Realm but also untangled a knot in his heart for nearly a year. Upon returning, his mindset aligned, and his cultivation advanced.

A year later.

On this day, Li Ji’an felt the immense Fire Elemental power from the Little Fire Spirit and the rich Fire Spirit Mechanism, a smile appearing on his face.

”Finally recovered its Tier One Fire Spirit power! Now, I can attempt to refine the Second Tier Pill Medicine.”

His Tier One Pill Master legacy stems from Alchemist Mo, not through direct teaching, but through extraordinary comprehension, daily observation, simulation, and numerous attempts with Yan Qingwan’s help.

The Second Tier Pill Master legacy comes from an unknown source obtained by Yan Qingwan. During the First Tier Pill Medicine refining over the years, he’d constantly pondered it, and now, with the Fire Spirit providing ample Pill Fire power, it felt like a natural progression.

However, he didn’t plan to refine Second Tier Pill Medicine yet, as his Pill Furnace was still the one given by Yan Qingwan and unsuitable for it; thus, he needed to buy a Second Tier Pill Furnace first.

Cangyun State lacks master craftsmen skilled in Artifact Refining, so Second Tier Magical Artifacts are rare here, let alone a Second Tier Pill Furnace.

Ordinary sect Second Tier Pill Masters or those from large factions often go to Celestial Origin Province to purchase Pill Furnaces, leading to a scarce market demand in the state, and the few available ones in Immortal City shops are generally of low quality.

When Yan Qingwan obtained the Second Tier Pill Master legacy, she bought a Second Tier Pill Furnace in Golden Splendor Immortal City, but the result was unsatisfactory.

”I can first try refining a Tier One Ultimate-grade!”

Just as Li Ji’an was about to attempt refining the Ultimate-grade Pill Medicine, there was a knock at the door.

”Xiaofan, are you in?” A familiar voice followed shortly after.

Li Ji’an was slightly taken aback; he hadn’t heard this voice in many years.

Having left the Yan Family at the age of twenty-six, he was now thirty-six, exactly a decade later.

”Brother Qing.” Upon opening the door and seeing the now middle-aged-looking Yan Qing, Li Ji’an felt a sense of familiarity.

Yan Qing smiled at Li Ji’an, stepping aside to reveal another familiar elderly figure behind him.

”You little rascal!”