Chapter 41: Protecting You

The Breakthrough Pill, a special elixir that forcibly condenses dantian mana to trigger an instant qualitative transformation, can only be successfully refined by veteran alchemists. The reason lies in its unique nature: it has no grades of quality. If even a single step in pill condensation is lacking, it will not form at all.

Seeing the Flying Cloud Pill in Yan Qingwan's hand, Li Ji'an was somewhat surprised.

In recent years, the clan had spared no expense in supporting Yan Qingwan's alchemical pursuits, pouring in resources without concern for the cost. Additionally, the early development of that medicinal field required hefty investment. As far as he knew, the clan's finances were not in good shape, resulting in fierce competition among members waiting for the Breakthrough Pill.

Moreover, the pill shop's business had been bleak over the past year. The pressure weighed heavily not only on Yan Qingwan but also on the clan elders who supported her wholeheartedly.

It truly wasn't easy for her to secure a Flying Cloud Pill for him at this time.

"Brother Li, we've known each other for eleven years now. I can't even count the times you've helped me. My achievements in alchemy today are due primarily to you, not to mention the debt I owe you for saving my life. What I have done for you pales in comparison. Over these years, I have long regarded you as family, an elder brother. Please, do not refuse!" Seeing Li Ji'an's expression, Yan Qingwan stepped forward and spoke earnestly.

"Very well! I will remember this kindness always," Li Ji'an replied solemnly, accepting the Flying Cloud Pill.

Yan Qingwan smiled with satisfaction. "Brother Li, you overstate it. This is not even a tenth of what I owe you."

"Why not attempt your breakthrough now? I will stand by and guard you."

"Guard me?" Li Ji'an gave a wry smile in his heart.

Breaking through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining was considered the smallest and lowest hurdle on the path of cultivation. Ordinarily, there was no need for someone to stand guard—only major breakthroughs, like Foundation Establishment or Core Formation, warranted such caution.

Still, he understood her concern. With only two strands of spiritual root, perhaps Yan Qingwan had never seen anyone with such meager talent attempt a mid-stage Qi Refining breakthrough. In the Yan clan, one needed at least five strands of spiritual resonance to qualify for a Flying Cloud Pill.

"Alright, you can stand guard for me," he replied, though his mind wandered: "I wonder if in my next life, I'll have a chance to guard her?"

His dantian had long since fully transformed, and his understanding of mana refinement was already profound. Now, with the Flying Cloud Pill, the breakthrough would be like pushing a boat along with the current.

He calmed his breath and mind, then placed the Flying Cloud Pill in his mouth...

A cool sensation spread, turning into a stream that slowly flowed into his abdomen, then dispersed through every inch of his body.

Li Ji'an carefully sensed how the pill refined his mana, committing every subtle change to memory.

In less than the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, the medicine, which had been slowly flowing through his limbs, suddenly accelerated. The spirit energy that had permeated his body surged towards his dantian.

"So this is how it is..." Feeling the sudden spike of spiritual pressure within his dantian, the once-thin gaseous mana began to gather, showing clear signs of impending liquefaction.

At this point, he understood this so-called first threshold of cultivation completely.

Given his circumstances, he reckoned that with six or more strands of spiritual resonance, he would have the confidence to break through without external help, though it might take more time.

It took half an hour for the mana in his dantian to fully condense.

When the effects of the pill finally faded, the mana within his dantian had undergone a qualitative transformation.

Compared to the early stage of Qi Refining, his mana remained thin but was now much more refined, and the total energy was at least three times greater.

That year, Li Ji'an was forty-one years old when he advanced to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

He now possessed a sliver of strength for magical combat, no longer the absolute bottom rung of the cultivation world.

Yan Qingwan had watched attentively from the side, only relaxing when she sensed his mana soar.

She had indeed been worried, fearing that with such poor spiritual roots and advanced age, Li Ji'an might die attempting a breakthrough.

"Congratulations, Brother Li, on reaching the backbone of the mid-stage Qi Refining!"

"All thanks to your Flying Cloud Pill," Li Ji'an replied, eyelids twitching.

Mid-stage Qi Refining... backbone... He felt a bit embarrassed by such congratulations.

For the following month, Li Ji'an stayed in the western courtyard, consolidating his cultivation and contemplating the fundamentals of mid-stage Qi Refining.

"Hah, it's all the same. The higher you climb, the less you can rely on effort alone to succeed," he murmured after his practice, shaking his head slightly.

Innate talent sets the ceiling, while hard work only guarantees the minimum.

Once he reached mid-stage Qi Refining, daily cultivation was no longer about accumulating sheer volume of mana, but also about the refinement of that mana. Without completing a full cycle of refinement, even immense reserves would be useless.

"Barring any surprises, mid-stage Qi Refining will be my peak in this life."

He accepted this fact with equanimity.

He had no kingly ambition to defy fate.

He did, however, look forward to his next life's talent, though with some anxiety—after all, he could only "return to youth" at age eight, and before then, he would still be trapped in the deadlocked state of a place devoid of spiritual energy.

"Once I return to youth, I must enter a spiritual vein ground as soon as possible to sense energy."

"And then, the Nourishing Essence Pill!" Without it, he wasn't very confident.

"Hmm, and a high-grade cultivation method." In this life, aside from poor spiritual roots, his low-grade "Nine Yang Art" also held him back—its mana refinement was terribly inefficient.

Apart from mana, he also intended to prepare some body-tempering spirit crystals for the next life.

Since his mana would hardly progress further, he wanted to push his body refinement a bit more.

The "Hundred-Forge Golden Body Technique" Chen Zhaohu had passed to him was quite remarkable, at least supporting him through the second tier of body cultivation.

Unfortunately, business at the pill shop was bad, so there were no dividends. Living only on his monthly wage of eight spirit stones, he couldn't afford enough Thunderflame Crystals.

After assessing himself and planning for the future, Li Ji'an left the small courtyard and headed for the pill shop.

He could start trying to refine pills himself now.

Although his alchemical fire could only support the refinement of pills suitable for mid-stage Qi Refining, he was confident in the quality of his products.

"Honored Guest Li, you've really kept me waiting," came a cheerful voice as soon as he stepped out. A young man, as if waiting especially for him, greeted him with a smile.

"And you are?" Li Ji'an paused in surprise.

The young man grinned obsequiously. "Honored Guest Li, never mind who I am. All you need to know is that your luck is about to change!"

Li Ji'an's eyebrow twitched, a suspicion forming in his mind.

Sure enough, the young man continued, "You're truly fortunate, having caught my young master's eye. He's sent me to invite you to the finest establishment in the market—the Celestial Pavilion. Come, let's go."

Li Ji'an remained calm but sighed inwardly.

Over the past year, he had almost never crossed paths with Zheng Tianxiang, and outside the pill shop, he had kept his presence as low as possible.

Yet Zheng still managed to find him.

"The laborers in the pill shop will have to go," he thought, following the youth to Celestial Pavilion.

This was not something he could refuse. Calling it an "invitation" was mere flattery for his sake.

As the Zheng family's heir, Zheng Tianxiang had to weigh the consequences of moving against Yan Qingwan, but for an old, low-ranking, non-clan cultivator, there was no need to worry.

Brothels in the cultivation world were not like the mundane world's dens of fleshly pleasure. Beyond carnal enjoyment and the dual release of body and spirit, they were closely tied to cultivation.

Heaven and earth, yin and yang in harmony—this was the true Dao, not something sordid or shameful.

The part-time female cultivators here were all genuine practitioners, required to master dual cultivation secret arts before taking up such work.

Furthermore, clients could not expect to gain pleasure, spirit stones, and cultivation benefits all at once. Nearly all the dual cultivation energy or soul power would be fed back to the client, with only a fraction retained by the practitioner.

Of course, aside from the "meaty" options, there were also "vegetarian" ones: musical performances, massage, ritual cleansing—aimed at purifying the mind, quieting the spirit, dissolving worries, and relieving stress, all of which benefited one's mental state.

Zheng Tianxiang awaited in a private room on the third floor of Celestial Pavilion.

"Honored Guest Li, forgive my bold invitation. Please, have a seat," he greeted with a warm smile as Li Ji'an entered.

Seeing Zheng's demeanor, Li Ji'an felt a twinge of unease. Along the way, he had considered several possibilities, the easiest being that Zheng would be an arrogant, brainless villain he could play off against others.

The most difficult was this—soft words, hidden blades, lethally polite.

"Someone, call up all the fairy maidens. Let Honored Guest Li choose as he pleases!" Zheng commanded the madam of Celestial Pavilion before Li Ji'an could respond.