Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Under the gaze of many Inner City cultivators, Li Ji’an’s cave mansion slowly opened.

”Xiaoli, congratulations, congratulations.”

”Quick, quick, quick, let me see your Upper Grade Pill.”

”I’ve lived most of my life and haven’t yet seen the Pill Pattern of an Upper Grade Pill blessed by the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism.”

...

Compared to their polite demeanor towards Alchemist Zou, the group was much more casual with Young Li Alchemist. Several bold ones were almost squeezing into the cave mansion.

”What pill did you refine? The lower level or middle level?” Alchemist Zou was the first to rush to Li Ji’an, his eyes slightly bloodshot from three nights of meticulous pill refinement, staring intently at Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an feigned surprise and quickly cupped his hands: ”Greetings, esteemed seniors.”

”No need for formalities, quickly bring out the Upper Grade Pill for us to see.”

”Yes, quickly take it out. If it’s a Middle Stage Upper Grade Pill, I’ll buy it at a high price and make offerings at home.”

”Xiaoli, did you have fortune come first in your heart before trying this?”

Seeing everyone’s excitement, Li Ji’an wasted no more time and pulled out a porcelain bottle.

As the bottle appeared, several strands of Divine Sense suddenly came forth. Li Ji’an directly opened the bottle and poured out the pill medicine inside.

”Hiss~” As the pill medicine appeared, there was a collective sound of people sucking in cold air.

”I actually misjudged, thought Young Li Alchemist could at most refine Lower-Middle Stage Upper Grade Pills, but never expected...”

”It turned out to be a Late Stage Tier One Green Condensation Pill!”

”This pill is beneficial for impacting Foundation Establishment, and it actually came out as an Upper Grade Pill!”

”Little...Young Li Alchemist, I misjudged you.”

...

Seeing clearly the crystal-clear, not only shimmering with golden light but also having a small flame Pill Pattern on its surface, the crowd’s attitude towards Li Ji’an significantly changed.

Most of them thought he would no more than try to refine Middle Stage Upper Grade Pills at best.

After all, Late Stage Pill Medicine generally has higher requirements for Pill Fire and Divine Soul, making it quite difficult to ensure quality.

And if one wishes to refine an Upper Grade Pill Medicine, even large amounts of good fortune, celestial blessings, still require excellent skills to be worthy of receiving such fortune from heaven.

Otherwise, if the alchemy skill is not refined enough, even having divine opportunities, they will be unable to refine Upper Grade Pill Medicine through sheer luck.

The emergence of the Upper Grade Green Condensation Pill displayed the sophistication of Li Ji’an’s alchemy skill and his future potential.

”He actually refined an Upper Grade Green Condensation Pill!” Xie Gui was the most shocked, standing on the outskirts, staring fixedly at the Green Condensation Pill, holding his breath.

At this moment, he finally understood why so many old customers had become Li Ji’an’s clients.

It turns out that it wasn’t because commerce associations raised him to fame, but because he had Alchemist Zou’s endorsement to stand in the first place.

Being a Tier One Pill Master himself, he understood the technical content of Li Ji’an’s Upper Grade Green Condensation Pill, excluding luck, the Green Condensation Pill, which can refine Dantian Magical Power and benefits the Foundation Establishment Barrier, has a very low boutique yield.

”Hmm, not bad, Xiaoli has profound fortune, even I am envious.” When the entire scene was shocked by the Upper Grade Pill in Li Ji’an’s hand and optimistic about his future potential in Alchemy Dao, Alchemist Zou forced himself to calm down, stroked his beard and praised, having the demeanor of a master evaluating a beginner.

Only the phrase ”profound fortune” hinted at sourness.

The tradition of using seniority is one aspect.

The second aspect is his identity as a seasoned Second Tier Pill Master who can consistently refine Foundation Establishment Pills after decades of cultivation in Immortal City.

The third is the bias against the wanderers who rely on themselves without sect inheritance.

He, as a seasoned Second Tier Pill Master capable of refining the high-difficulty Foundation Establishment Pills, being respected and envied by many cultivators, truly possesses the qualification to look down on a small Tier One wanderer Pill Master, firmly believing the latter’s situation is merely luck.

”Alchemist Zou praises too much, it’s all luck, just luck.” Li Ji’an humbly responded.

”No need to be modest, achieving such feats at a young age means there is hope for the future. If there are things you don’t understand, you can still come and ask me in the future.” Seeing Li Ji’an giving face, Alchemist Zou’s mood improved, and he hinted with his words.

Li Ji’an heard the meaning in his words, and not only was he not displeased, but happily accepted it.

Doing so meant he had a visible path in his progression of Alchemy Dao again.

After all, previously his Tier One alchemy skills could be attributed to Yan Qingwan’s teachings, and later Second Tier alchemy skills could also be credited to Alchemist Zou’s teachings.

Originally, the wandering cultivators shouting about wanting to buy Upper Grade Pills to worship at home kept silent now.

After all, Green Condensation Pills were never cheap, and Upper Grade ones were priceless; indeed, the most critical thing is that they hold very little value to them.

Should Li Ji’an take out the genuine Foundation Establishment Pills refined today, there would undoubtedly be situations of forced purchases.

After bidding farewell to the Inner City Foundation Establishment Stage seniors, Li Ji’an finally returned to his little courtyard.

”Fortunately, I had the previously refined Green Condensation Pill to use as a shield!”

He activated the Hospital Protection Array, then triggered the 3rd Floor Shield Talisman, before instructing Gugu to keep watch. Only then did he enter the alchemy room.

First, he checked on the Fire Spirit’s condition, seeing it still exhausted, shaking his head in concern.

”Why are you all so earnest and work so hard?”

During the refining of the second batch of Foundation Establishment Pills, he casually instructed the Fire Spirit to give it his all this time. As a result, this little fellow truly exerted all his strength, almost having exhausted a bit of its origin.

This reminded him of the time not long ago when the dumb Gugu rushed because of a casual phrase not to waste effort.

He carefully enveloped the Fire Spirit with magical power and then took out today’s main item from the storage pouch.

The first Foundation Establishment Pill was milky white, almost pure, undoubtedly genuine, capable of increasing Foundation Establishment success rate by 20%.

The second Foundation Establishment Pill was crystal clear, with three strands of circulating light, pure and dustless. Upon taking it out, pill fragrance filled the air, a boutique Foundation Establishment Pill!

This was somewhat unexpected for him.

In the second batch, with a calm mindset and having the experience of the first batch, this time he intended to try enhancing quality, satisfied with Mid-grade quality.

Therefore, the essence of the potion originally capable of refining two pills was all compressed and refined into one pill,

Unexpectedly, during the process, the Primordial Spirit Flame of the Fire Spirit burned, nearly attracting the Fire Spirit Mechanism.

If not for the current relative deficiency in the power of the Fire Spirit’s Spirit Flame, this time it might have achieved an Upper Grade!

”Fine grade Foundation Establishment Pill! Increases Foundation Establishment success rate by fifty percent.” After examining carefully for a long time, Li Ji’an was filled with emotion.

Twelve years ago, because the Yan Family couldn’t obtain even a Lower Grade Foundation Establishment Pill, he left the desert and came to the Immortal City.

Before the Immortal City changed hands, he was still worried about how to obtain a Mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

In the previous Immortal City auction, he was longing for that Upper Grade Foundation Establishment Pill...

And now, he holds a Fine grade Foundation Establishment Pill!

”Life’s opportunities are truly unpredictable; as long as one is alive, there are infinite possibilities!”

A while later, after properly storing the two Foundation Establishment Pills, Li Ji’an began to focus wholeheartedly on adjusting his breathing.

With the Fine grade Foundation Establishment Pill in hand, coupled with his physical body, magical power, and Divine Soul, the Foundation Establishment would proceed smoothly without any unexpected external factors.

To avoid unforeseeable long waits, he decided to establish his foundation as soon as possible.

Half a month later, his magical power and Divine Soul restored to their peak, and Little Fire Spirit also somewhat recovered.

On this day, he prematurely sent a message to Zhao Shuyao, intending to visit Tong Yaoyao.

He had extensively researched the Foundation Establishment techniques in various bookstores in the Immortal City, comparing them with the experiences and insights shared by Xiao Changfeng last year. He was well-versed in the theoretical knowledge of Foundation Establishment.

However, people are different, and Xiao Changfeng had quite a bit of good fortune; his experiences might not necessarily suit Li Ji’an.

Therefore, he planned to consult with Tong Yaoyao once more.

Verify thoroughly, address any oversights.

Soon, Zhao Shuyao sent a message back, saying Tong Yaoyao was still in the Immortal City recently.

Not long thereafter, Li Ji’an brought two food boxes and paid a visit.

”You’re considerate, kid, and quite skillful,” Tong Yaoyao’s free-spirited nature made Li Ji’an very envious.

Regrettably, this kind of disposition is not something an ordinary person burdened with pressure, striving for cultivation resources, can possess.

”Xiaofan, how’s the preparation of the Foundation Establishment Pill going?” Zhao Shuyao remained gentle and elegant, growing more kind and amiable with age.

Li Ji’an stepped forward to help Zhao Shuyao massage her shoulders with Qi and blood: ”Aunt Yao, rest assured, I am thoroughly prepared; today I simply wish to seek Aunt Yao’s insights on Foundation Establishment.”

”Good, good, you’re as opinionated as your father, I have no worries,” Zhao Shuyao nodded satisfactorily.

But then she turned the topic: ”However, you might have sought advice from the wrong person.”

Li Ji’an raised an eyebrow: ”Why?”

Zhao Shuyao glanced at him, smiling a bit helplessly: ”People are incomparable; this girl, she doesn’t need Foundation Establishment Pills for her foundation, and her Dao... is different from ordinary people.”

”...” Li Ji’an paused, looking at Tong Yaoyao with eyes full of curiosity.

Yet he didn’t probe into secrets, only feeling a bit emotional.

He thought possessing a Fine grade Foundation Establishment Pill had already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the cultivators in this realm, at least far beyond starting clansmen like Yan Qingwan’s family elders.

Yet in the presence of Xiao Changfeng and Tong Yaoyao, it still seemed insufficient.

After Tong Yaoyao finished Zhao Shuyao’s portion as well, Li Ji’an formally requested: ”Aunt Yao, I would like to ask you to be my Dharma Protector during my Foundation Establishment.”

”Why do you need a Dharma Protector for Foundation Establishment?” Tong Yaoyao looked at him disdainfully.

Li Ji’an felt awkward: ”The Immortal City has changed hands now, and the city defense has been altered; I plan to rent a cave mansion for breakthrough, worried about unexpected disturbances affecting me.”

If it were overseen by the Biyun Sect previously, he wouldn’t worry, but with the current Qi Family, he wasn’t assured about the city’s security defense.

His concern wasn’t about being targeted, but rather the impact of unforeseeable events, as he had always upheld a principle of widespread friendship, with no enmities to date.

”Yaoyao, let’s go together,” Zhao Shuyao spoke.

Tong Yaoyao readily complied with Zhao Shuyao’s words: ”Okay, okay, my Aunt Yao, but you’ll owe me ten more servings of this delicacy!”

”Agreed!” Li Ji’an felt reassured.

After bidding farewell to the two, Li Ji’an headed straight to the City Lord’s Mansion to rent a cave mansion once more.

”Young Alchemist Li, you’re about to impact Foundation Establishment? Congratulations.” This time, the rented cave mansion was arranged specifically for Foundation Establishment impacts; it’s a Second Tier Upper Grade cave mansion, distinct from Alchemy Cave Mansions as it focused more on spiritual pressure and Divine Sense concentration.

Indeed for ordinary Foundation Establishment impacts, a Second Tier Lower Grade cave mansion suffices, as all cave mansions in the Immortal City were arranged with array formations, ensuring ample spiritual energy and stable spiritual pressure almost universally.

Yan Qingwan once rented a Second Tier Lower Grade cave mansion and successfully established her foundation.

But for Li Ji’an, Spirit Stones were merely an external thing, unimportant; if they could be exchanged for an even slight improvement, he was willing.

Li Ji’an nodded: ”Thankful for the patron’s cultivation, offering opportunity; whether it succeeds is still unknown.”

”Hahaha, Young Alchemist Li is modest; I perceive your magical power to be pure, Qi and blood abundant, sure to succeed in one go, achieving Foundation Establishment! In the future, our Immortal City will have another Second Tier Alchemist, excellent!” The steward of the Immortal City has become more cordial with Li Ji’an ever since witnessing the superb Green Condensation Pill he refined last time.

”Then I’ll accept the steward’s auspicious words!”

Impacting Foundation Establishment is a lengthy process, short takes two to three months, long might be half a year or more, and once successful, stabilizing the realm requires another one or two months; Li Ji’an directly rented for half a year this time, with the option to add more as needed upon completion.

Steward Qi had calculated a discounted rate for him, collecting only four thousand Spirit Stones.

After processing the rental, Li Ji’an returned to the courtyard once more.

The Immortal City’s cave mansion rules forbid bringing Spirit Beasts without permission, and there’s an array underground preventing Earth Escape; Li Ji’an was uncertain if Gugu would trigger it.

Relaying the Foundation Establishment events to Xiaoqiao and Gugu, he prepared nearly a year’s worth of cultivation resources and daily supplies for them, then released the Fire Spirit, instructing the small trio to prioritize safety.

That day, he moved into the cave mansion.

Until three days later, after the cave mansion’s spiritual energy environment and various Divine Soul enhancing arrays fully acclimatized, and his spirit and energy adjusted to the optimal state, Li Ji’an slowly opened his eyes.

At this moment, his Sea of Consciousness was clear, Qi and blood at peak, and Dantian magical power reached its best condition.

His mind was more confident and stronger than ever before!

”Foundation Establishment must succeed!”