Chapter 30: Beginning the Alchemical Practice

At this moment, Zhao Shuyao’s thoughts were clear to anyone with a bit of experience.

This was a form of self-satisfaction that elders derive from their care for the younger generation—a genuine selfless act, not seeking any return, but truly fulfilled by meeting the needs of the juniors and succeeding in doing so.

The moment this matter was resolved, she had already attained her satisfaction.

What she needed was not the juniors’ modesty or repayment, but their joyful acceptance.

“Thank you, Aunt Yao!” Although by his nature, Li Ji’an would have preferred an equal exchange and disliked to see Zhao Shuyao give up advancing her physical cultivation for his sake, the situation was already set in stone. Zhao Shuyao’s vital energy was severely depleted now, with no chance for a second try. Li Ji’an accepted this gift.

“Hehe, silly child, why say such things to Aunt Yao?” Zhao Shuyao patted Li Ji’an’s shoulder.

Tong Yaoyao rose and said, “Spend some good time with Aunt Yao. I’m going to see my mother first.”

She actually didn’t care much about the materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill. She had never used one herself; in her eyes, the pill wasn’t anything extraordinary. She just felt a little pity for Zhao Shuyao.

But there was no choice; as a powerless freeloader, she couldn’t break the guild’s rules.

After Tong Yaoyao left, Li Ji’an chatted at length with Zhao Shuyao. He had done this many times before—teasing old folks—and was quite skilled at knowing what to say and ask to make them happy.

As they talked, Zhao Shuyao brought up his previous life and homeland again.

“Xiao Fan, do you know? Actually, your father’s and my hometown is the Burial Ground of Immortals. The reason there’s no spiritual energy there, and why heavenly punishments surround it, is because ancient immortals were buried there,” she said calmly.

“Aunt Yao, how do you know that?” Li Ji’an took it as a story.

“I just recently visited the neighboring Ten Thousand Commerce Cultivation Domain. An elder told me that over three thousand years ago, near the Phantom Maze Forest, they discovered some records from the ancient era.

“In our Great Marsh Cultivation World, there are nine true immortals buried, forming nine deadly zones.

“These nine zones aren’t forsaken by heaven; rather, the nine immortals drained all the spiritual energy there!”

“Places where immortals are buried? And the immortals themselves drained the spiritual energy?” Zhao Shuyao’s words reminded Li Ji’an of his experiences in the Immortal Bestowal Dynasty. Immortals? They were merely Qi Refiners.

Moreover, over sixty-seven years in this realm, he had researched many records and found that for over six thousand years of the Late Ancient period, no one in the Great Marsh Cultivation World had ascended even to the Divine Transformation Heavenly Lord.

“Did anyone truly ascend to immortality in the ancient times?”

“If they did, why did they perish? Shouldn’t immortals be immortal?” Although many legends from ancient times existed.

No matter how diverse cultivation systems were or how perfect the laws of heaven and earth seemed, most were only legends without substantial proof.

As for “immortals,” he remained skeptical.

“There should be some truth. That elder is a genuine expert; he wouldn’t lie to us,” Zhao Shuyao smiled faintly.

“What really happened in ancient times? If immortals existed, why did they become extinct?”

Zhao Shuyao was silent, shaking her head with a smile, then looked toward the Immortal Bestowal Dynasty as if murmuring to herself:

“Sometimes I think, how wonderful it would be if we weren’t born in the Burial Ground of Immortals.

“But then I remember the people here—more mortals with spiritual roots but unable to cultivate. Their intangible plight seems worse than those in my hometown who can’t see anything at all.

“If only no cultivator from that family had broken in.”

Her eyes grew moist as she spoke.

As people age, they long for their homeland, yearning to return to their roots. She wanted to go back to where she was born.

Li Ji’an wiped the tears from her eyes gently and whispered, “I will take you all back.”

Hearing this, Zhao Shuyao smiled, “Silly child, the Burial Ground of Immortals is very dangerous. Unless you find a loophole or great opportunity, you can’t enter or leave—even Realmspeak stage cultivators can’t. Ah, how did that family find the loophole?”

Li Ji’an smiled quietly, saying nothing.

Everything would become clear in time.

But the three of them might not live to see it.

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They talked late into the night. Before leaving, Li Ji’an left several bottles of vital energy pills, instructing Zhao Shuyao to take them daily to replenish her qi and blood.

Returning home, Li Ji’an adjusted his mindset, then took out all the medicinal materials Zhao Shuyao had given him.

There were thirty-six kinds in total. Among them, the Nine-Star Poria was the rarest main ingredient; three other herbs were also rather scarce, while the rest were relatively common.

He carefully inspected each herb—their ages were sufficient, and their efficacy intact, fully meeting the requirements to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill.

This batch could produce up to five pills, but only a second-tier quasi-Pill King could achieve such a perfect success rate, as refining Foundation Establishment Pills was quite difficult.

An ordinary second-tier veteran pill master could at best produce four pills.

In Immortal City, second-tier pill masters could produce at most two.

If they sought higher-quality pills, the success rate would drop further.

Li Ji’an focused his mind for three days, finally deciding to split the Nine-Star Poria—the main ingredient—into two portions.

Theoretically, he was very proficient, but this was his first practical attempt. He was confident but cautious.

The pill success rate mainly depended on the Nine-Star Poria. Dividing it meant his maximum yield would be two pills, but it would allow for one trial-and-error opportunity.

The auxiliary herbs he had gathered would be just enough for this.

After some time recovering, the Fire Spirit inside him helped replenish the consumed vital energy.

Li Ji’an fed it additional mana for several days to help it reach its peak.

On this day, everything was ready. He brought all the herbs and the pill furnace to rent a second-tier spiritual vein cave dwelling in the inner city.

Refining pills required high spiritual energy concentration and spiritual pressure. Foundation Establishment Pills, as special second-tier pills, demanded even more, at least a low-grade second-tier spiritual vein cave dwelling to ensure success.

At that moment, Zhao Shuyao sent a message.

“Xiao Fan, have you found a second-tier pill master to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill? Need Aunt Yao to help contact Pill Master Zou?”

Within Immortal City, among second-tier pill masters accepting Foundation Establishment Pill orders, Pill Master Zou was relatively easier to approach. The other two were guild dependents, hard to hire without certain status.

Although Pill Master Zou wasn’t as experienced, he had a lot of practice with this pill and could guarantee at least one genuine Foundation Establishment Pill.

“Aunt Yao, you’ve already helped me so much. No need to worry further. Wait for good news from me,” Li Ji’an replied and headed to the Immortal City management office.

It must be said that now that the Qi family managed Immortal City, many things were more convenient for customers.

When the Green Cloud Sect was in charge, no matter how many days you used, all cave dwellings required a minimum one-month rental, whether for pill refining or breakthrough training.

Now, the shortest unit was days, rented by the day.

Though the daily rate nearly doubled, it was much more cost-effective for someone like Li Ji’an who only needed the cave for pill refining.

Foundation Establishment Pills were not easy; they required three days before ignition.

“Ah, Pill Master Li is renting a cave for refining today as well?” The administrator knew Li Ji’an by reputation.

Li Ji’an bowed slightly, “Oh? Are there other pill masters refining today?”

“Haha, Pill Master Zou just completed procedures to help someone refine Foundation Establishment Pills. You might still catch him if you go over now,” the administrator said with a smile.

Li Ji’an raised an eyebrow; what a coincidence.

Paying one hundred and fifty spirit stones, Li Ji’an received the jade talisman controlling the cave.

He rented a high-grade second-tier cave dwelling specially designed for pill refining. Inside were ordinary energy gathering, focus, and restriction arrays, plus unique temperature control, humidification, and mirror arrays.

The mirror array allowed outsiders to directly observe the pill refining process—specifically for pill masters like Pill Master Zou who refined pills for others.

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However, only the pill seekers were allowed to watch from outside.

Of course, whether these arrays were activated depended on the pill master holding the control jade talisman.

“Pill Master Li, you’re refining here too?” At the cave rental area in the inner city, Li Ji’an indeed met Pill Master Zou.

Zou was accompanied by three people. One was very familiar and was the perennial top first-tier pill master, also Zou’s closing disciple, Xie Gui.

The other two looked like clients seeking Foundation Establishment Pills from Zou.

“Pill Master Xie, a pleasure. A sudden inspiration today, just trying something,” Li Ji’an smiled.

Then he saluted Zou, “Greetings, Pill Master Zou.”

Zou frowned slightly upon seeing Li Ji’an’s jade talisman, casting a sidelong glance.

“Little Li, since you share a name with young Xie on the list, I’ll give you some advice. As pill masters, we mustn’t be hasty. Build a solid foundation before climbing higher. You’re still young, with plenty of time. Don’t be impatient. Top-quality pills don’t depend only on rich spiritual energy.”

First-tier pill masters renting caves here had obvious intentions—trying to refine top-grade pills.

But top-grade pills were so rare that ninety-nine percent of pill masters might never produce one in their lifetime.

Zou had refined pills for nearly two centuries but never made a single top-grade pill.

Li Ji’an nodded respectfully, thanking him for the advice.

He knew Pill Master Zou well—no malicious intent, just fond of showing off his seniority to assert presence.

His public face at auctions proved this.

Without lingering, Li Ji’an entered his rented cave.

Zou glared at Xie Gui’s back, “Don’t learn from him.”

“My master’s orders,” Xie Gui replied quickly.

“Pill Master Zou is kind-hearted, willing to guide inexperienced juniors. A model for us all,” one client hurriedly flattered.

“Yes, with Pill Master Zou’s reputation in Immortal City, any wandering pill master would crave his guidance,” another echoed.

Zou waved it off with a smile, “I came here once alone, unsupported, no sect or master to guide me. Mistakes are easy to make. I’m just offering a few tips. Whether they listen depends on their own fate.”

Then he entered his cave alone.

Xie Gui comforted the two nervous clients, “No need to worry. Master has refined Foundation Establishment Pills over fifty times. Though no guarantees, it’s to avoid disputes. The actual success rate is reliable.”

“Yes, yes, we trust Pill Master Zou. We don’t need top-grade pills; two genuine ones are enough,” they replied eagerly.

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“Little Fire, it’s up to you this time.” Inside the high-grade second-tier cave, Li Ji’an activated all arrays except the mirror, then triggered a restriction talisman.

He then gazed into his dantian at the Fire Spirit, transmitting his soul’s voice.

The little Fire Spirit nodded repeatedly.

Without hesitation, Li Ji’an swallowed a pill to replenish the spirit, then another to restore qi.

After a moment of meditation, the high-grade second-tier pill furnace—one even Pill Master Zou hadn’t gotten—appeared inside the cave.

Next, the two portions of ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill were laid out in order.

“Let’s begin!”