Chapter 35: The Transformation of the Dragon and the Serpent

Human nature is fickle; one’s posture shifts according to the identity, status, and value of the person standing before them.

Four years ago, at their first meeting at Flaming Mountain, Liu Jiuchan, as a core descendant of the Beast-Taming Liu family—one of the Five Great Clans—would not have even spared him a glance had she not needed the spirit-binding talismans he possessed.

Less than a year ago, when he sought to purchase a Blood Pill, she had already successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage. She looked down upon Li Ji'an from the lofty position of a senior expert and even attempted to force him to waive the promise made years prior.

At this moment, Liu Jiuchan wore a gentle, charming smile. Though she was still dressed in red, her demeanor was warm and soft, making her appear sincere and approachable.

Li Ji'an had always maintained a calm mindset and an open heart. He disliked bearing grudges or holding onto hatred, as such negative emotions easily unbalance one's state of mind, cloud judgment, and could even lead to obsessions or inner demons.

However, for matters or people that posed a threat to his ultimate goal of achieving eternal immortality, a seed had been sown.

A consequence was destined to follow.

Otherwise, if his thoughts remained obstructed, his cultivation state would be affected, sooner or later.

The likes of Alchemist Mo, Wei Huairen, and Zheng Tianxiang had all been such cases, as was the unknown family that raised blood slaves.

These causes and effects differed from simple grudges; the difference lay in the state of mind. One approach was deep-seated resentment, burning with malice and disregard for consequences; the other was like a breeze passing without leaving a trace—acting when possible, and yielding when not.

As for the Liu Jiuchan before him, although she had not caused him life-threatening harm, her problematic Blood Pill had nearly led to a fatal crisis for his guardian frog.

This was the cause. As for what kind of fruit it would bear, Li Ji'an had yet to reach a conclusion.

If it were a matter of favor, one judges by actions rather than intentions, looking only at what was done. But if it were a matter of enmity, one must consider the original intent alongside the consequences to determine the nature of the retribution.

If the intent was to harm, to kill his spirit pet, then undoubtedly, it would yield the most malicious of fruits, even if her goal was not achieved.

If it were an unintentional mistake, where the intent and the result diverged greatly, the fruit would naturally be less severe.

Of course, the final outcome did not depend solely on his own will; it also depended on the strength and influence of the other party. After all, he did not consider himself a protagonist destined to stand against the world, capable of making enemies everywhere while still surviving to the end.

Anything that ran counter to his ultimate goal of eternal immortality could not be done.

"To what do I owe the honor, Fellow Daoist Liu? Your personal visit to offer congratulations is truly flattering," Li Ji'an said with a smile and a bow.

He had a very clear self-perception. A mere first-tier rogue cultivator, even after achieving Foundation Establishment, how could he compare to a descendant of the Five Great Clans? Especially a core prodigy within the clan.

Liu Jiuchan landed gracefully before Li Ji'an and gave a charming smile. "Hehe, Fellow Daoist Li, have you become so distant with me so quickly? We have known each other for four years; it is quite a fate. Furthermore, you helped me nearly capture a rare spirit beast. I have kept that favor in my heart."

"..." Even with the experience of several lifetimes and having seen countless people, Li Ji'an was impressed by Liu Jiuchan's slickness, changeability, and shamelessness.

This woman was destined for greatness.

Liu Jiuchan’s expression remained composed and her words natural, though inwardly she was incredibly frustrated.

A year ago, when Li Ji'an sought to buy the Blood Pill, she had judged that he had a chance of reaching Foundation Establishment based on his status as a guest alchemist for the Nine Cauldrons Chamber of Commerce and the purity of his mana. That was why she had not forcibly broken her word.

But that was all. A second-tier rogue alchemist was not enough to make her pay special attention.

However, a few months ago, news spread throughout the Immortal City that Li Ji'an had successfully refined a supreme-grade Profound Jade Pill. Then, he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment. Most crucially, he had the mid-stage Foundation Establishment young master of the Nine Cauldrons Chamber of Commerce personally guarding his breakthrough!

With these factors combined, Li Ji'an’s status had undergone a seismic shift.

A second-tier veteran alchemist with the potential of an Alchemist King! A second-tier veteran alchemist with deep ties to the Nine Cauldrons Chamber of Commerce!

Her clan had ordered her overnight to express their goodwill immediately.

It was simple: the Beast-Taming Liu family was located in the territory of the Azure Cloud Sect in Azure Cloud Province, where there were many restrictions on spirit beast trading. If they could board the grand ship of the Nine Cauldrons Chamber of Commerce to export their beasts to foreign territories, or even the "Demon Domain" which only the Chamber could safely enter, the Liu family would see a day of great prosperity.

For years, the higher-ups of the Liu family had tried to contact the Chamber, but they had never even caught a glimpse of the mysterious owner. Beyond that, the Liu family also hoped to secure a reliable, long-term partnership with a veteran second-tier alchemist.

"Fellow Daoist Li, have you used the Blood Pill you purchased last time? If not, I suggest you use this one instead; let this be the Liu family’s congratulatory gift." Seeing Li Ji'an remain silent, Liu Jiuchan showed no awkwardness as she produced a jade bottle and offered it to him.

Li Ji'an’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh? So the Blood Pill Fellow Daoist Liu sold me previously... was there a problem?"

"You worry too much, Fellow Daoist Li. That pill was authentic, without a doubt. However, it contained two attributes, making it more suitable for amphibious spirit beasts. For ordinary spirit beasts, the single-attribute medicinal potency might be slightly insufficient, which could lead to failure in advancement if the beast’s bloodline is not strong enough," Liu Jiuchan explained with a smile, her eyes sincere and unwavering.

"I see." Li Ji'an nodded. At the time, he had keenly sensed the state of that Blood Pill, and it matched what Liu Jiuchan was saying now.

If his frog hadn't risked its life to push through, the worst-case scenario would have been failure. However, this confirmed that Liu Jiuchan had sold him that pill intentionally, and certainly not out of kindness.

The cause had been sown. As for when it would bear fruit, he would leave that to time.

"Fellow Daoist Li, please accept this gift." Liu Jiuchan held the bottle out again.

Li Ji'an bowed with a smile. "I appreciate your kindness, Fellow Daoist, but to be honest, I only sought that pill to repay a favor. That favor has been returned, and I have no need for it now."

A trump card, once known, is no longer a trump card. He did not want others to know about his frog unless absolutely necessary. Now that he had reached Foundation Establishment, was a recognized veteran second-tier alchemist, and had the backing of Tong Yaoyao of the Nine Cauldrons Chamber, these identities were enough to live securely in Azure Cloud Province without needing to reveal more to inflate his status.

"Oh my, that is my oversight for not understanding your needs sooner. This..." Liu Jiuchan immediately looked crestfallen.

"Please don't say that, Fellow Daoist; you are too kind. I am already grateful that you came to offer your congratulations in person. I will keep this sentiment in my heart. I am hosting a small celebration for my breakthrough soon; I would be honored if you could come and share a cup of wine." Cause and effect were one thing, but he could not let her think he held a grudge, which would only invite unnecessary enmity. Especially when dealing with such a deep-thinking, narrow-minded, and well-connected Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Liu Jiuchan’s brow smoothed, and she stopped pushing. "Very well! I shall wait for your celebration then. I will certainly bring a proper gift."

Watching Liu Jiuchan depart, Li Ji'an immediately left his cave dwelling, intending to make the Nine Cauldrons Chamber of Commerce his first stop.

His successful Foundation Establishment was rooted in the materials Zhao Shuyao had gifted him; that favor was too great to ignore. And Tong Yaoyao’s protection had unexpectedly elevated his status, effectively endorsing him. Henceforth, even the Five Great Clans would show him some respect when he traveled through Azure Cloud Province. This, too, was a favor.

"Farewell, Senior. Here is the excess rental fee; please accept it." After leaving the dwelling, Li Ji'an went to the management office to return the formation token and settle the accounts. He had paid for six months but used only four, so he was refunded the difference.

"Safe travels, Senior."

Facing the sycophantic praise of the Qi family's late-stage Qi Refining cultivators at the management office, Li Ji'an smiled faintly. Having been in this world of cultivation for sixty-seven years, he had finally become a "Senior" in the eyes of ninety-nine percent of the population.

On his way to the Nine Cauldrons Chamber, even though he did not intentionally release his Foundation Establishment aura, many cultivators he passed addressed him as "Senior." Fortunately, having spent a long time being addressed this way in the Immortal Gift Dynasty in previous lives, he could accept it with composure.

"Greetings, Senior Li."
"Congratulations, Senior Li."

It wasn't until he arrived at the Nine Cauldrons Chamber that he was greeted with reverence once more. Shopkeeper Wu heard the commotion and hurried over from afar, but as he drew near, he became timid and respectful, losing the sense of closeness they had once shared.

"Shopkeeper Wu, there is no need for such formality between us." Li Ji'an smiled and patted his shoulder. They had known each other since his first day in the Immortal City; twelve years had passed, and their relationship had always been one of mutual support. Li Ji'an provided the high-quality pills needed for Wu to meet his performance targets, and Wu always paid the maximum possible pill tokens in return. It was a mutually beneficial partnership.

"Senior Li..." Shopkeeper Wu was stunned by his gesture and quite moved. He had lived for nearly a century and seen many Foundation Establishment cultivators. Aside from the Young Master, whose behavior defied common logic, most cultivators changed the moment they broke through, becoming distant and arrogant. Very few remained as consistent as Li Ji'an.

"I am going to see Auntie Yao first." After a brief exchange with Shopkeeper Wu, Li Ji'an walked inside. He wanted to visit Zhao Shuyao immediately after his breakthrough, not just to show respect, but to offer a small return.

When refining the Foundation Establishment pills, he had produced one low-grade and one supreme-grade. He understood that the grade of the pill not only increased the success rate but also benefited the mana after the breakthrough. Even if he didn't need a pill for his next life, he would certainly use a supreme-grade one if he did. Thus, the extra low-grade pill was of little use to him beyond selling it. However, he preferred to give it to Zhao Shuyao. Strictly speaking, the materials had been provided by her, and since he had consumed one, the remaining one rightfully belonged to her.

"Auntie Yao! I've finished my seclusion."

"Little Fan, let me see! What has changed since you reached Foundation Establishment?" Zhao Shuyao’s eyes crinkled with joy as she looked him over. Tong Yaoyao stood to the side, frowning; she had reached Foundation Establishment long ago and was often by Zhao Shuyao’s side, yet she had never received such attention. It made her wonder if her own breakthrough had been fake.

"Thank you for your protection, Auntie Yao," Li Ji'an said, thanking Tong Yaoyao.

"Just don't forget what you promised me," Tong Yaoyao pouted and walked away.

Zhao Shuyao nodded with relief. "Good, very good. My Little Fan is a Foundation Establishment expert now."

Li Ji'an shook his head with a smile. "You flatter me, Auntie Yao. Foundation Establishment is merely the first step on the path to immortality; how could I call myself an expert?"

Zhao Shuyao’s expression grew stern. "Little Fan, do not belittle yourself. You don't know how much your father and I envied such cultivators back then. When we were in the wasteland, those Foundation Establishment cultivators were the ancestors of local clans, high above, looking down on the masses. We weren't even qualified to glance at them."

Li Ji'an nodded along without arguing; what she said was the truth. Seeing him seem indifferent, Zhao Shuyao became even more solemn.

"Little Fan, remember this: your father once said that a gentleman should be like a dragon or a snake. When conditions are poor, one should live as a snake, crawling through the grass, dwelling in muddy holes, eating filth, just to survive. When conditions are ripe, one should soar as a dragon, flying ten thousand miles, summoning wind and rain, swallowing clouds, and bestowing dew to display one’s brilliance. When you are a snake, do not lose heart because you were once a dragon. When you are a dragon, do not feel inferior because you were once a snake. Regardless of your past, you have now transformed into a dragon. Do not belittle yourself. Look at the other Foundation Establishment cultivators outside; you must carry yourself with the appropriate demeanor!"

"..." Li Ji'an was momentarily lost in thought. These were the very words he had used to comfort his companions when he led them out of the Stormy Desert, back when they were disheartened by the "Immortals." He never expected Zhao Shuyao to remember them so clearly and use them to advise him in return.

"Yes, I will keep your teachings in mind, Auntie Yao!"

After their conversation, Li Ji'an took out the Foundation Establishment pill. When he offered it to Zhao Shuyao, she refused point-blank.

"Heh, I am old, Little Fan. What use is this to me? You have just reached Foundation Establishment; you will need even more resources. At the very least, your current living quarters can no longer satisfy your cultivation needs. Go and sell it."

After several attempts to decline, Li Ji'an could only keep the pill. However, through his conversation with Zhao Shuyao, he had already formed a new plan...