Chapter 2: The Inner Demon Vanquished

Under the pressure of the Foundation Establishment cultivator, everyone below was seized with fear. It was only when the divine rainbow halted above the gathering area that some dared to sneak glances. Upon seeing the graceful figure, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"The young cultivator of the Yuan family from Iron Bamboo Ravine greets Master Yan the Alchemist."

"The Li family from Clearwater River pays respects to Lady Yan."

"...Greetings to Master Yan the Alchemist and Lady Yan."

One by one, nearly all the cultivators in the central plaza bowed respectfully to Yan Qingwan, who hovered overhead. The eight major families gave her status, her Foundation Establishment cultivation added to her prestige, and her credentials as a veteran alchemist further solidified her reputation. Yet what truly elevated Yan Qingwan’s fame and doubled the business of her pill shop in recent years was her gentle, unassuming nature, which persisted atop all these achievements.

Otherwise, even if the Zheng family’s eldest ancestor, at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, had come in person, he might not have received such widespread reverence. Of course, this reputation depended on her character as much as her status and cultivation; without all three together, it would mean little.

Li Ji’an watched the scene, feeling happy for Yan Qingwan, but he could not help but shake his head inwardly. Yan Qingwan’s noble character and agreeable temperament were not in doubt, but she was not as approachable as everyone believed. Her family background, her upbringing, and her broad perspective had subtly shaped her. He still remembered their first meeting: while she had shown no outward disdain for him, the innate sense of superiority was obvious.

It was only after he demonstrated remarkable talent in alchemy and saved her life, earning her genuine approval, that her attitude toward him truly changed. This did not make Yan Qingwan a hypocrite; rather, it showed how naive these people were.

"Rise," Yan Qingwan spoke softly.

At that moment, someone below noticed something unusual about her today. Whenever they visited her pill shop in the past, she would smile and nod at them, never displaying the airs of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. But now, her demeanor was clearly perfunctory; she did not even look directly at them, instead scanning the crowd incessantly with her divine sense.

Seeing a hint of anxiety on her face, Li Ji’an, unwilling for her image to crumble because of him, promptly took out the Yan family’s Ascension Token from his sleeve.

The aura from the token instantly drew Yan Qingwan’s attention. In a flash, she appeared before Li Ji’an.

"Lady Yan!" For many, this was their first time so close to the famed Yan Qingwan, the most celebrated figure in the wastelands, and they were beside themselves with excitement. Seeing that she did not drive away those nearby, people from farther off began to surge toward her.

"Who is that young man?"

"He looks extraordinary."

"With a countenance like jade and the bearing of a dragon among men, he must be a prodigy..."

In the blink of an eye, Yan Qingwan and Li Ji’an became the focus of all.

Yan Qingwan did not even glance at the Ascension Token in Li Ji’an’s hand. Instead, her eyes locked onto him, filled with disbelief, doubt, guilt, and a faint trace of disappointment.

She stared intently at the eight-year-old Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an looked up, his face innocent and childlike as he gazed at Yan Qingwan.

Nine years had passed, and time had left no mark on Yan Qingwan’s face. If anything, her advancement to Foundation Establishment had invigorated her, making her appear even more youthful and radiant.

"Foundation Establishment... Three hundred years of life, perhaps... Will there be such a chance in this world?"

They stared at each other for a while, until a voice from the crowd brought Yan Qingwan back to herself. She wished to inquire, but the crowd was too dense.

Just as she hesitated—

"Qingwan, beware of falling into a trap!"

"Disperse! All of you, disperse at once!"

Two urgent shouts rang out from behind.

Li Ji’an recognized the voices without needing to look: Elder Yan Kongyi and Seventh Elder Yan Hongsheng.

Both were late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, riding their magical artifacts at impressive speed. Yet compared to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, who controlled the divine rainbow with overwhelming spiritual power, they were still far slower.

When Yan Qingwan saw the letter, she had dashed off instantly, giving them no time to react.

"Move aside!" Yan Hongsheng roared again from above the crowd, showing none of the grace expected of a senior cultivator. He was blunt and fierce, but it was effective.

Yan Qingwan would not drive people away, but Yan Hongsheng could.

Such was Yan Hongsheng’s role in the family.

The crowd scattered at once. Yan Kongyi landed beside Yan Qingwan, face grave, not even sparing a glance at Li Ji’an before speaking in a deep voice, "Qingwan, you must not act on impulse any longer. You now represent not just yourself, but the honor and fate of the family. Many wish to see you eliminated! What if you fall prey to their schemes?"

Yan Qingwan frowned slightly, then took a deep breath. "I will remember."

"Mm. Is this the son of that man?" Only then did Yan Kongyi look at Li Ji’an.

His sharp, sunken eyes gleamed as he pressed a hand atop Li Ji’an’s head without asking permission. "So it was truly a misunderstanding. This child’s bone age is eight years—counting the years, that old scoundrel must have left the clan to seek his beloved, and conceived the child upon meeting her."

Yan Kongyi pursed his lips, venting his old resentment at Li Ji’an for rejecting his granddaughter and ‘not understanding love’ onto the current Li Ji’an.

"You little rascal, where is your good-for-nothing father? Tell him to come out—I'd like to see how his beloved compares to my granddaughter!"

Before Li Ji’an could reply, Yan Hongsheng strode up, having driven off the onlookers.

"Hey, boy, let me see your spiritual roots—did you inherit your father's talent? If your roots are exceptional, I’ll take you as my disciple!"

The two elders spoke over each other, leaving Yan Qingwan unable to get a word in.

"Uncle, Seventh Uncle, could you please step aside?" Yan Qingwan said.

Yan Kongyi and Yan Hongsheng paused, seeing her displeased expression, and silently turned away.

Yan Qingwan released a protective shield, enclosing herself and Li Ji’an within.

"Your name is Li Fan? Don’t be afraid. Tell me honestly—are you truly the son of Li Chang’an?" As she spoke, Li Ji’an sensed a powerful divine sense enveloping him.

Li Ji’an nodded, then asked, "Are you my aunt?"

Boom—

The word "aunt" struck Yan Qingwan’s heart, recalling the promise she had once made to Li Ji’an:

"As long as he calls me ‘aunt,’ I will protect him for a lifetime!"

"Yes, good child, I am your aunt." Yan Qingwan pressed her lips together, slowly knelt down, and embraced Li Ji’an.

That single word awakened her old promise, and released years of guilt and emotional burden.

When Li Ji’an left the clan years ago, she was already in secluded cultivation, striving for Foundation Establishment. Three years later, fully prepared, she secretly traveled to Golden Radiance Immortal City, where she bought a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill at auction for 4,800 spirit stones, then rented a second-tier, top-grade spiritual vein for another thousand spirit stones, and began her breakthrough.

A year later, she succeeded.

By the time she learned of Li Ji’an’s situation, four years had passed since he left the clan.

Her first reaction was guilt, thinking that, because of her, Li Ji’an—who had rendered such service to the clan—had been driven out. She searched all the nearby markets and gathering places.

As time passed and her status in the clan rose, as her attempts to refine second-tier pills failed again and again, as fewer and fewer people could speak with her, she found herself silently longing for the elder brother Li who had patiently guided her alchemy, risked his life to save her, and left so as not to hinder her path.

Especially in the past two years, every time she returned from the bustling outside world to the quiet solitude of her pill chamber, her yearning grew stronger.

She even realized, in a sudden epiphany, that the ‘beloved’ Li Ji’an spoke of might have been herself.

Through repeated self-reflection, she developed feelings she had never experienced before.

Today, upon receiving Li Ji’an’s handwritten letter, her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.

But the mention of a ‘son’ in the letter sobered her.

Now, hearing the word ‘aunt,’ she woke to the truth.

Perhaps... all those years of wandering thoughts were merely inner demons.

Now, perhaps those demons were dispelled.

"Child, is your mother... beautiful?"