Chapter 63: Bestowing the Longevity Pill

Faced with Duanmu Qin’s seemingly heartfelt and passionate candor, Li Ji'an believed about thirty percent of it.

Both were seasoned rogue cultivators who had clawed their way up from the very bottom of the cultivation world for many years; it was impossible to truly bare one's bottom line to anyone.

Yet there were numerous flaws in her story, and it failed to align with the bait of the Core Formation opportunity she had previously dangled.

There were quite a few rogue cultivators in the cultivation world selling so-called treasure maps—not to say they were entirely false, but at the very least, ninety-nine percent of them were fake.

She had originally been a rogue cultivator in Tianyuan Prefecture. Because Tianyuan Prefecture was jointly established and mutually checked and balanced by five Core Formation sects alongside the Myriad Dharma Palace, the living space for rogue cultivators was considerably larger, and at least the resources for the pre-Core Formation stages were somewhat more abundant.

Aside from safety being slightly lacking, it was far more suited for rogue cultivators to cultivate.

Her claim that she had migrated here merely because of a single treasure map was naturally unbelievable.

What was more, the fact that she had been so certain beforehand that a Core Formation opportunity lay within, going so far as to describe it in such detail and placing special emphasis on the inheritance of the Way of Music, sufficiently demonstrated that her source of information regarding this cave dwelling was one she trusted implicitly.

However, as an adult, Li Ji'an tactfully chose not to expose her, let alone probe for the root cause. Doing so would only give rise to a multitude of further lies and force Duanmu Qin to rack her brains fabricating them.

On the other hand, by telling such an obvious lie about a treasure map, Duanmu Qin was also making it clear to Li Ji'an that he should not inquire too deeply into the source of her information.

Li Ji'an was not concerned with the source of the information either; from her description alone, he extracted the key credible details.

First, the opportunity within the cave dwelling could not be false. As for what exactly lay inside, though uncertain, one could judge from Duanmu Qin's actions that it was bound to be extraordinary. Otherwise, she would not have lurked in the immortal city for fifty years for its sake, nor would she have handed her greatest handle over to him this time simply to win his trust.

Second, the cave dwelling was located not far from the ruins excavated by the Biyun Sect, and in all likelihood, it was the old site of the same ancient sect. Judging by the Biyun Sect's excavation of these ruins, the risks were not high.

Generally speaking, as long as no strange or anomalous entities had bred within such ancient sect ruins, the dangers would not be too great. After all, it had been the location of a sect, so it would not be rigged with an overwhelming number of lethal traps; the primary issue would be the restrictive arrays.

Third, this opportunity was temporarily not meant for him.

The Biyun Sect had already made all the necessary gestures regarding the current situation, and it had long since issued a kill-on-sight order for anyone trespassing into the forbidden zone.

Putting aside the fact that he temporarily lacked the strength to face the sect's high-level figures, even if he were fortunate enough to escape from their grasp, Cangyun Prefecture would no longer hold any place for him to settle down.

Given his current strength and status, looking across the entire Tiancang Domain, only a region exclusively ruled by a single sect like Cangyun Prefecture could offer the highest degree of safety and the greatest status privileges.

If he had not regained his youth, lacked specialized skills, and harbored no hope, it would naturally be more fitting for him to go to a place with greater freedom and a higher probability of opportunities, where there would be more hope of creating a miracle.

However, for him today, safety outweighed freedom and opportunity.

"Regarding the dismantling of the restrictive arrays, Li can give Fairy a guarantee. However, the matter of trespassing into the forbidden zone will not be considered for now," Li Ji'an stated candidly.

"Furthermore, judging by the current situation, Li believes that the cave dwelling Fairy mentioned will, in all likelihood, not be easily discovered. For one thing, the forbidden zone isolates outside cultivators; for another, the Biyun Sect's energy is currently being consumed by external enemies and the ruins.

Therefore, Li suggests that Fairy quietly bide her time and refrain from acting rashly."

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Qin cast an appreciative glance at Li Ji'an.

He had neither questioned nor pursued the matter further, yet he was able to swiftly analyze the key points and offer the most sensible advice.

One had to admit, this also gave Duanmu Qin a much-needed sense of reassurance.

A few years ago, when the Biyun Sect was vigorously excavating the ruins and drawing closer and closer to that cave dwelling, she had acted impulsively, but she had failed to break through the restrictive arrays.

Afterward, the Biyun Sect designated the area as a forbidden zone, and she had almost taken a desperate risk—her only shortfall being a lack of Tier 2 restriction-breaking talismans.

By now, she actually harbored thoughts similar to Li Ji'an's deep down, yet she still felt a lingering sense of apprehension.

At this moment, Li Ji'an's advice set her mind considerably at ease.

"Qiner truly did not misjudge her man. Brother Li must be exhausted from just now; go ahead and enjoy yourself in peace," Duanmu Qin said, her mood pleasant as she flipped over and straddled Li Ji'an's body.

Although she had decided to engage in a profound exchange with Li Ji'an earlier, she had still harbored a lingering trepidation about handing her weaknesses over to someone else.

Even at every moment, she had remained on guard against being excessively drained.

At this moment, however, her fondness for Li Ji'an doubled, and her body and mind relaxed completely.

Accompanied by a pair of slender, delicate hands pressing and kneading every inch of his sinews and bones, Li Ji'an finally realized that Duanmu Qin's previous massage techniques had still held something back.

What made him feel most different was that this time, while Duanmu Qin was massaging him, the water-attribute spiritual power within her Dantian flowed endlessly.

Not only did it soothe his sinews and bones, but it also carried a serene, gentle, and nourishing force.

Feeling the smoothness akin to essential oils, every cell in his body was involuntarily sucking it in.

"It has such a strong nourishing effect even on the physical body of my Tier 2 body cultivator?" A moment later, pleasant surprise filled Li Ji'an's heart.

The water-attribute cultivation method practiced by Duanmu Qin was definitely not simple. In daily perception, it had seemed ordinary, but at this moment, he could clearly feel the highly effective nourishing properties of her water-attribute spiritual power.

Moreover, her spiritual power was both refined and robust.

It seemed she possessed certain Qi-concealing techniques that even the divine sense of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator could not pierce through.

Duanmu Qin initially pressed and kneaded with both hands, then glided her entire body across Li Ji'an's, and finally roamed his entire body using particularly prominent points...

At that instant, he had the surreal sensation of returning in a dream to the wellness centers of his first life.

The next day.

Li Ji'an was fully dressed and groomed. He glanced at Duanmu Qin, who was lazily and limply sprawled across the warm jade bed, and said, "Fairy Qin has worked hard; get some good rest, Li will go refine some pills first."

With eyes rippling like autumn waves, Duanmu Qin gazed infatuatedly at Li Ji'an, who remained full of vitality and devoid of any sign of fatigue, filled with wholehearted admiration.

Although her spiritual power arts could nourish and repair a man both internally and externally, last night's unbridled gallop and rampage had far exceeded the scope of her spiritual power's restorative reach.

Had she not sensed that Li Ji'an's vital blood was completely normal, she would have suspected that he also practiced body refinement on the side.

—

Three days later, inside the alchemy room.

"Hum~" The chime of a pill rang out.

The Fire Spirit withdrew its blazing spiritual flames, floated out from Li Ji'an's Dantian, and returned to rest upon that dark-red stone.

With a single-handed summon from Li Ji'an, three longevity-extending pills drifted out from the top-grade alchemy furnace.

One was of premium grade, extending life by ten years, nearly reaching the limit of Tier 2 longevity pills.

Two were of middle grade, extending life by seven years, which could be considered the normal standard for ordinary alchemists—though this was the result of Li Ji'an deliberately squeezing out their potential.

In order to obtain that premium-grade longevity pill, Li Ji'an had squeezed the remaining medicinal properties dry; otherwise, three top-grade pills or four middle-grade pills would have been his normal yield.

Storing the premium-grade longevity pill into a jade bottle without delay, he headed straight for the core district and arrived at the Nine Cauldrons Commerce Guild.

Ever since Zhao Shuyao's centenary birthday four years ago, which happened to coincide with the public disclosure of the Biyun Sect's ruins, Li Ji'an's visits over these past four years had grown fewer. Especially during the turmoil at the ruins over the past two years, when the commerce guild received special warnings from the Biyun Sect, Li Ji'an had practically stopped coming altogether.

Previously, every time he saw Zhao Shuyao, a bit more senile aura would cling to her, and her lifespan would dwindle at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Although Li Ji'an had long since grown accustomed to life and death and possessed a high degree of acceptance toward parting ways, Zhao Shuyao had, after all, abandoned her chance at becoming a Tier 2 body cultivator to trade for the main Foundation Establishment ingredients for him.

Normally, had Zhao Shuyao advanced to a Tier 2 body cultivator, her lifespan could have been extended by at least another twenty or thirty years. Regrettably, she had already missed the optimal window for advancing to a Tier 2 body cultivator.

Now, he could only present her with a longevity pill as a slight repayment.

Before long, Li Ji'an arrived at the backyard of the commerce guild and met the one-hundred-and-four-year-old Zhao Shuyao.

Tong Yaoyao, who was a dignified mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was affectionately combing through Zhao Shuyao's silvery hair.

"Aunt Yao, Aunt Yao." Li Ji'an stepped forward with a smile.

"Little Fan is here." Zhao Shuyao looked at Li Ji'an with benevolent eyes.

"Hmm? You fellow..." Tong Yaoyao, however, stirred instantly, flashed to Li Ji'an's side, and swept her divine sense up and down over him.

"Tsk tsk, didn't you say you weren't looking for a cultivation partner? Not bad at all, though. Water-attribute female cultivators provide the best dual cultivation gains. Oh? This female cultivator..."

Li Ji'an was slightly startled. After dressing and tidying up earlier, he had long since cleared away all traces of external aura, to the point that even his own late Foundation Establishment divine sense could detect no lingering aura whatsoever.

Yet Tong Yaoyao had sensed it the moment they met.

"Little Fan has found a cultivation partner? Good, good. When will you bring her over for Aunt Yao to see?" Joy blossomed across Zhao Shuyao's face.

"Aunt Yao, Aunt Yao, fellow Daoist—she is merely an ordinary fellow Daoist, not a dual cultivation partner," Li Ji'an explained with a smile.

"Hah, you rascal, still not being honest. Can you hide a matter like this from your Aunt Yao?" Tong Yaoyao pouted.

"Still, I truly didn't expect that you, fellow, would have such good fortune to find a partner like this. Later, when my mother passes that cultivation method down to me, Aunt Yao will pass it on to you. That is definitely a supreme dual cultivation sacred law beyond anything you can imagine, absolutely incomparable to ordinary dual cultivation methods. If you possess that sacred law and engage in dual cultivation with a female cultivator of this caliber, there's no telling but that Core Formation might be within reach."

"Many thanks, Aunt Yao!" Li Ji'an expressed his gratitude.

Having not practiced dual cultivation methods prior to this—apart from preferring the pure blending of flesh and soul—was also because the spiritual power gained from dual cultivation methods bore a certain similarity to taking medicinal pills.

The spiritual power gained from ordinary dual cultivation methods tended to be rather thin and unrefined.

If he could obtain a top-tier dual cultivation secret art that satisfied his stringent demands for spiritual power, it wouldn't be impossible to incorporate mutual spiritual power assistance after the fusion of souls.

After all, the physique of a Tier 2 body cultivator was entirely capable of enduring it.

Especially given the prospect of "Core Formation within reach" that Tong Yaoyao had mentioned.

Over decades of association, he had gained a general understanding of Tong Yaoyao's family background.

She possessed a deep and formidable heritage within the Myriad Commerce Cultivation Domain; however, Tong Xiangyu seemed to have committed a major taboo within the clan and was sentenced to confinement in Cangyun Prefecture.

Therefore, no matter how extraordinary Tong Yaoyao's words sounded, Li Ji'an did not doubt their authenticity in the slightest.

Subsequently, Li Ji'an produced that longevity pill.

This action won him high praise from Tong Yaoyao.

Given the reasons for her mother's punishment by the clan, there were many things she was powerless to change; she could only ensure her own needs were met, yet she was unable to provide Zhao Shuyao with resources exceeding her official position and status.

After all, the commerce guild valued profit above all and looked lightly upon parting ways.

It strongly opposed behavior where emotion outweighed profit.

"Knowing gratitude and returning kindness—you rascal are not bad. Aunt Yao likes you more and more." Tong Yaoyao patted Li Ji'an on the shoulder and said earnestly.

Li Ji'an smiled wryly and said nothing more. He personally served Zhao Shuyao as she ingested the longevity pill and helped her refine and absorb its medicinal properties.

Once the premium-grade longevity pill was fully refined, a distinct breath of vitality returned to Zhao Shuyao's face, and her spirit improved significantly.

Just as Li Ji'an finished confirming the medicinal efficacy, Xiao Qiao sent a message stating that Liu Jingchun had arrived at the establishment to collect his pills.

Bidding his farewells, Li Ji'an returned to the Li residence.