Chapter 21: Selling the Immortal City

In the ten years since Li Ji'an arrived in Immortal City, he had remained diligent and steady. His alchemy skills had improved rapidly, and his temperament was calm and focused. He never sought trouble and, aside from initially asking Zhao Shuyao for a favor, had never bothered the Chamber of Commerce.

Because of this, Tong Xiangyu was quite satisfied with this junior. That was why she had granted him the honor of coming upstairs to see her. Seeing that he still remembered the kindness of the Yan family and was not an ungrateful person, she held him in even higher regard. Sixty-six years ago, she had valued Zhao Shuyao for the same reason—that she lacked the cold-hearted and ungrateful nature common among cultivators. Li Ji'an was the same. A junior who was enterprising, noble in character, humble, and polite—who wouldn't like such a person?

"Just keep this matter in mind; there is no need to ask further. In essence, it won't affect you much; the impact is primarily on the higher-ups. You can tell the other party to wait for a while. There should be a result in about a month," Tong Xiangyu said, her tone and attitude noticeably softer.

"Many thanks, Proprietoress," Li Ji'an said, cupping his hands in gratitude.

Tong Xiangyu smiled and shook her head, "No need to be so formal. In the future, you may just call me Sister."

Li Ji'an raised an eyebrow slightly. He suddenly recalled Zhao Shuyao's warning, which seemed to be related to the cultivation technique she practiced. He also remembered the rumors regarding Tong Yaoyao's biological father. After holding his breath for a moment, he cupped his hands again, "Thank you, Sister Yu."

If one were to count his actual years lived—excluding the thirty or so years of his life on Earth before transmigrating—Li Ji'an was already one hundred and ninety-three years old. His age was not far off from Tong Xiangyu’s, so calling her "Sister" was appropriate. It was just that the generational hierarchy was now a bit messy. How would Tong Yaoyao handle this in the future? Fortunately, in the world of cultivation, unless there was a close blood relationship, there wasn't much focus on seniority; cultivation level was what mattered most.

However, after this incident, he decided to heed Zhao Shuyao’s warning: unless absolutely necessary, he would never linger under Tong Xiangyu’s gaze again. He preferred to rely on his own efforts.

After heading downstairs, Li Ji'an did not leak the secrets Tong Xiangyu had shared, merely advising the others to wait a while as instructed. Yan Kongyi had come representing the five families of the Wilderness, hoping to purchase a batch of second-tier strategic supplies. Such resources were sensitive in Cangyun Province, and trading them between local factions was not easy. Only foreign entities like the Nine Tripod Chamber of Commerce could handle it more easily, but even they had to respect the Biyun Sect’s wishes. With the current uncertain situation, such transactions required caution. Compared to the fact that he hadn't even been able to see her when he came alone, Yan Kongyi was already very satisfied that Li Ji'an could bring word back. At the same time, he gained a new understanding of Li Ji'an's status in Immortal City. Subsequently, Yan Kongyi and Yan Qing settled into an inn in the city, waiting quietly for good news.

During this period, Li Ji'an successfully refined his first supreme-grade pill. It was a late first-tier supreme-grade Cleansing Jade Pill, which could significantly refine the spiritual power in the Dantian, laying a solid foundation for the crucial Foundation Establishment stage. At the same time, the creation of his first supreme-grade pill marked the possibility of Li Ji'an advancing to become a third-tier Pill King.

In the hundred arts of immortal cultivation, the higher one goes, the more the requirements for comprehension and talent increase, beyond just spiritual power and divine soul. An ordinary first-tier alchemist, even if their power and soul reached second-tier requirements, might not be able to grasp the refining methods of second-tier pills even if given the inheritance. Second-tier pills were meant for Foundation Establishment cultivators; their medicinal properties and effects were vastly different from those used in the Qi Refining stage. If an alchemist could produce refined first-tier pills, they could generally advance to second-tier once their power and soul reached the requirements. If they could produce supreme-grade pills, they had the potential to become third-tier alchemists. In Cangyun Province, and even the entire Tiancang Domain, a third-tier alchemist was known as a Pill King.

Half a month later, Yan Kongyi, unable to contain his impatience, finally came to find Li Ji'an, wanting to see for himself to what level his talisman-making skills had reached. The talisman insights Li Ji'an had left behind when he left the clan ten years ago had increasingly shocked Yan Kongyi. His understanding of that inheritance far exceeded what he had previously shown. Many of his insights had been enlightening, even improving Yan Kongyi’s own skills. However, knowing was easier than doing, and Yan Kongyi was unsure if Li Ji'an's practical skills matched his theoretical knowledge.

"Boy, come, let this old man see if your talisman skills have made any progress," Yan Kongyi said, looking at Li Ji'an with anticipation.

Li Ji'an shook his head sheepishly, "I'm afraid to disappoint you, Great Elder. Over these years, to settle down in Immortal City, most of my energy has gone into alchemy, and my talisman skills have truly become rusty."

"Hmph! You think I don't know you? At such a young age, you are so cunning. There's no one else here, and we are in Immortal City—stop hiding it."

Li Ji'an apologized repeatedly, determined not to reveal anything, "Great Elder, I know your expectations for talisman arts, but unfortunately, my energy and talent are truly limited. I have failed you in this life. However, if I have children in the future, I promise you I will have them do their utmost to carry forward the talisman path you taught me."

Yan Kongyi frowned, his face showing disappointment. Finally, he could only sigh, "Ah, very well, very well."

This was about what he had expected. After all, a person’s energy was limited; to excel in alchemy while settling down in Immortal City required full dedication.

"Since you’ve said that, I will trust you one last time. I will also tell you a secret: this talisman inheritance I possess is absolutely extraordinary. My ancestors obtained it by accident three hundred years ago while pioneering the wilderness. There might be an even higher inheritance there, but the clan never had anyone with talent for talisman arts, causing it to gather dust for so many years. If your descendants can master this first-tier inheritance, they can go to the depths of the Fallen Dragon Ridge. There is an inconspicuous ancient tomb there; we cleared the outer layer long ago, but the inner layer can only be opened with a special Spirit-Awakening Talisman from this inheritance."

Before he finished speaking, Yan Kongyi pulled a jade slip from his storage bag: "Inside is the analysis of the Spirit-Awakening Talisman from that inheritance, as well as the location of that tomb."

Li Ji'an became solemn instantly, looking up at Yan Kongyi. At this moment, he finally understood why Yan Kongyi had been studying talisman arts all these years, and why he had valued him so highly back then, even wanting to keep him in the clan. A common first-tier talisman inheritance wasn't worth much, but an ancient second-tier inheritance was enough to establish a powerful Foundation Establishment family. Unfortunately, the Yan family hadn't produced a talisman genius in over three hundred years, partly because they lacked the resources to cultivate one, and partly because most clansmen had given up. Now, with the situation in the Wilderness tense and the Yan family's fate uncertain, Yan Kongyi was likely desperate, not wanting the inheritance to be lost, and thus placed his hopes in Li Ji'an.

"If my descendants have this fortune, I will ensure they pass the inheritance within to the clan!" Li Ji'an promised solemnly.

Yan Kongyi nodded, showing little reaction. Given the current situation in the Wilderness, he wasn't even sure if the Yan family would exist in the future, which was why he was revealing this secret to an outsider. Having unburdened himself of this long-held concern, Yan Kongyi suddenly felt a sense of relief, as if an invisible weight had been lifted. He then dismissed Li Ji'an, drank some second-tier spirit tea, used Li Ji'an’s alchemy room, and holding the talisman brush he had gifted Li Ji'an, cast aside all distractions and began to draw talismans. He hadn't been in this state since the troubles in the Wilderness began.

Li Ji'an activated the restrictive formation and went to the courtyard. Yan Qing was there, practicing in meditation. Ever since the Wilderness fell into chaos ten years ago, he had spent most of his time on the front lines, and his practice was often fragmented. Coming to Immortal City was a rare opportunity for him to practice in peace. Especially after seeing Li Ji'an's current cultivation at the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Refining, his own sense of accomplishment in the clan was shaken.

"Buzz~" Just then, the communication talisman in his pocket vibrated. It was from Xiao Changfeng, from whom he hadn't heard since they parted ways last year.

"My foolish brother has been blessed by heaven and has successfully achieved Foundation Establishment. I cordially invite Brother Li to gather on the fifteenth of next month."

"He reached Foundation Establishment!" Li Ji'an was surprised. When they had shared drinks last year, Xiao Changfeng had confessed that he had almost saved enough resources for Foundation Establishment, but the sect suddenly faced a shortage, and his master told him to wait a few more years to refine his foundation. He hadn't expected him to succeed so soon. Once an inner-sect disciple reached Foundation Establishment, they could have their own cave dwelling and the right to invite friends from outside the sect. In Cangyun Province, whenever a clan cultivator reached Foundation Establishment, the family would celebrate for seven days and nights to show off their strength. For the Biyun Sect, a disciple reaching Foundation Establishment was also a joyous occasion, though they would not be too ostentatious, allowing disciples to host banquets for friends and family in their own dwellings.

"Who reached Foundation Establishment?" Yan Qing, who had been practicing, asked hurriedly.

Li Ji'an snapped out of his thoughts and told him what had happened.

"What! An inner-sect disciple of the Biyun Sect reached Foundation Establishment and invited you to celebrate?" Yan Qing’s eyes widened instantly. The inner-sect disciples of the Biyun Sect already felt distant to him. A Foundation Establishment master within the sect was an even more super-powered figure he dared not look directly at. Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators were a cut above the Foundation Establishment ancestors of their own families in terms of both status and identity. After all, the Wilderness ancestors had almost no potential left, while sect Foundation Establishment cultivators had the possibility of becoming True Immortals.

As Yan Qing was lost in his thoughts, he recalled the Foundation Establishment celebration of Ancestor Qingwan that he had experienced as a child. He was only six then, and it was the most times he had ever seen Foundation Establishment masters in his life. It was also the Yan family's greatest moment of glory. Coming back to himself, he looked at Li Ji'an, feeling a sense of strangeness. It had only been ten years; back then, both he and Li Ji'an were in the mid-stages of Qi Refining. He never expected that after Li Ji'an left the family and came to Immortal City, he would attain such status and standing—a guest of a Chamber of Commerce, received personally by the owner, having connections with sect disciples, and even being qualified to attend the celebration of a Foundation Establishment master…

Seeing Yan Qing's state of mind undergoing a drastic change, Li Ji'an quickly recited a Cleansing Heart Mantra and tapped his finger between Yan Qing's eyebrows. "Brother Qing, calm your mind. Everyone has their own opportunities; there is no need to compare."

Under the influence of the mantra, Yan Qing’s mood gradually stabilized, but his eyes still held a look of disbelief. In the days that followed, his attitude toward Li Ji'an was no longer as casual as before, and his words and actions carried a hint of subtle awe. As for Yan Kongyi, after experiencing a few days of mental clarity, the news from the clan made him anxious again, and his stay in Immortal City became increasingly agonizing.

Until that day, half a month later.

A piece of news exploded in Immortal City like a thunderbolt.

"The Biyun Sect is selling the century-long control of Jinhuang Immortal City!"

"Limited to local factions in the Tiancang Domain, a one-time payment grants full control for a hundred years."

"Public auction in three days, to the highest bidder!"

…

For a time, almost all topics in the city were related to this. When Li Ji'an received the news, although he had guessed it nine years ago and had been tipped off by Tong Xiangyu last month, he still felt it was incredible.

"What exactly is the Biyun Sect doing?"

"Why are they so urgently raising such a massive amount of spirit stones?"

Nine years ago, when they started ordering large quantities of Spirit-Replenishing Pills, Li Ji'an had guessed they might be planning a major external move. When they took Grandmother You away, he guessed it was related to breaking a formation. Now… it was time to show their hand.