Chapter 6: Far-Reaching Schemes

Yan Qingwan had always hoped that Li Fan’s spiritual root could be just a little better. She hadn’t dared to expect much—if he possessed more than five strands of fire spiritual root, she would have found a way to support Li Fan in breaking through to the later stages of Qi Refining. With his aptitude, becoming a senior first-tier alchemist would have been enough to bring honor to his father and cultivate a reserve alchemist for the family. After all, Li Jian’an’s previous life had only two strands at most, so how good could his offspring be? She didn’t believe that Li Jian’an, with his mere mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation and no support, could find a cultivator partner with exceptional roots. So she had never considered the possibility that his spiritual root might be too outstanding.

But now... his spiritual root exceeded her expectations by a wide margin. Even a medium-grade wood root with fourteen strands would have been acceptable to her. Yet now, with a root approaching high-grade, combined with his childhood intelligence and extraordinary perception, his prospects for Foundation Establishment were significant.

However, in this world, cultivation wasn’t just about having spiritual root, perception, and temperament, nor was providing him with a place of practice enough. Without supplemental spiritual resources, even a genuine high-grade spiritual root might not achieve Foundation Establishment. And, most crucially, there was the Foundation Pill!

But he was, after all, not a member of the Yan family.

The Yan family and the other seven great families of the Wilderness appeared to be at the pinnacle, but their actual resources were limited. Although yearly profits exceeded ten thousand spiritual stones, the family was large and every member had to be considered, so the savings amounted to barely a few thousand. There were investments, subsidies for various industries, reserves for unexpected risks, medicinal reserves, strategic reserves... In each generation, being able to accumulate enough for one Foundation Establishment was already fortunate, ensuring at least one ancestor to safeguard the clan.

This generation had Yan Qingwan achieve Foundation Establishment mainly because of her potential as a senior alchemist; the clan, seeking a second-tier alchemist, had dared to use its reserves to support her. Not to mention this generation, even the next, barring unforeseen events, the clan likely wouldn’t have resources to support another Foundation Establishment.

Let alone Li Jian’an, an outsider!

How to treat Li Fan in the future became Yan Qingwan’s present dilemma.

Besides this, she truly couldn’t imagine what kind of cultivator partner Li Jian’an had found.

“With Brother Li’s poor spiritual roots... could he have found a peerless genius with earth-grade roots?”

“Would a genius with earth-grade roots willingly join him?”

Great powers in this world had long studied one’s innate source, determining that most of it came from the parents, and related to both. If the parents had good roots, the offspring had a higher chance of good roots; otherwise, the likelihood was low. Of course, innate sources could mutate, but the probability was minuscule, and there was a limit. It was impossible for parents with both low-grade roots to have a child with high-grade roots.

“Brother Li, you’ve given me a tremendous surprise... and equally, a tremendous challenge!” Yan Qingwan’s gaze dimmed, and she sighed softly.

---

Meanwhile, Yan Kongyi and Yan Hongsheng were not as conflicted as she was; aside from shock, they were delighted. Like the rest of the clan, the emergence of a junior with immense potential meant a deeper foundation for the family’s future—a matter of great joy.

At that moment, the earth spiritual root displayed on the measurement stone: eleven strands of spiritual aura.

Li Jian’an stared intently at the five elements displayed on the measurement stone, unable to suppress the smile at his lips. It was far beyond his expectations.

“So my innate source is so strong... If not for those eight wasted years, could I have truly had a high-grade spiritual root?”

“Is there some miraculous elixir or ancient secret method in this world that could further supplement it?”

His emotions surged, and he exhaled deeply.

The greatest obstacle to his ultimate goal of immortality over myriad lifetimes was gone!

Even if he never achieved high-grade roots, but only the current limit of his innate source, he was content and brimming with confidence.

Li Jian’an left the measurement stone, first thanking Yan Qingwan and the clan’s senior members, then the assembled clansmen.

Exceptional aptitude, future potential, and “sincerity”—a winning combination.

Even those female cultivators in the clan who had previously harbored resentment toward Li Jian’an’s past life instantly felt ashamed, and no longer held any negative feelings toward him.

---

In the council hall, Yan Zongsheng and the elders stared at Yan Qingwan in shock and confusion.

“If our clan produces another senior alchemist or talisman master, we’ll advance further, perhaps even rival the Zheng family!” Yan Zongsheng was the first to voice his opinion.

“That’s right, I can guarantee that boy will master talismans in less than thirty years!” Yan Kongyi, usually steady and reserved, was now eager and in agreement.

“Qingwan, think carefully. We all like this young fellow.” Yan Hongsheng kept signaling the other elders.

Yan Qingwan looked calmly at the elders, her expression firm.

“Ah, Qingwan, you’re worried he has the potential for Foundation Establishment and might leave the clan to seek his chance, aren’t you?” Someone suddenly realized the key point.

“With roots approaching high-grade, he certainly has the potential, but... Qingwan, I think you may be over-worrying. With his background, even if we can’t help him establish a foundation, he can’t find better chances elsewhere. In the end, he’ll stay in the clan.”

“That’s right. We’ve treated him sincerely—who else could offer him such care? Even if he joins another family, it won’t be better than here. We should have confidence in this.”

“As for anything else, he wouldn’t choose to become a wandering cultivator. Even as a first-tier senior alchemist or talisman master, he could only establish himself in the Immortal City. As for seeking Foundation Establishment resources—it’s nearly impossible, unless... he has the talent of an Alchemy King or Talisman Sage!”

...

Yan Qingwan nodded slowly, then rose and bowed to the elders. “Honored elders, please forgive my willfulness this time.”

“Qingwan!” Yan Zongsheng frowned tightly; no one knew his daughter better than he did, and he could see her determination.

“I am willing to forgo the possibility of advancing further, and devote myself to the path of alchemy to make up for this willfulness. I ask the elders to grant it!” Yan Qingwan spoke with resolve.

“Ah, Qingwan, why go so far?”

---

The elders were stunned.

Yan Qingwan took a deep breath, looked at the elders, then at Yan Zongsheng. “Consider this my obsession, or even my inner demon. Sixteen years ago, I wronged him; now, I cannot wrong Fan’er again.

My mind is made up. Soon, I will send him to the trials of the Azure Cloud Sect!”

After three days and nights of deliberation, Yan Qingwan finally decided.

If Li Jian’an stayed in the clan, he would never have the chance for Foundation Establishment. As the elders had said, even if he refined his skills in alchemy or talismans within the clan, unless he reached legendary heights, he would struggle to gather resources for Foundation Establishment in the Immortal City. After all, first-tier alchemists or talisman masters were not rare.

The only path she saw for Li Fan to have a chance at Foundation Establishment was through the sect.

Faced with Yan Qingwan’s steadfast attitude, the elders had no choice but to compromise.

They had always viewed the matter from the clan’s perspective, believing that Yan Qingwan worried she had painstakingly cultivated Li Jian’an into an alchemist or talisman master, only for him to leave, causing losses to the family.

But the truth was, it was because she owed him.

Having brought him here, and now sending him away, they could not object.

That night, Yan Qingwan informed Li Jian’an of her decision.

It was an unexpected delight for Li Jian’an.

Compared to a family, a sect offered more openness. The Azure Cloud Sect dominated Cangyun Prefecture, unrivaled in wealth and influence—he had investigated this thoroughly in his first year in the cultivation world. Once admitted to the Azure Cloud Sect, he could walk unhindered in all of Cangyun Prefecture.

Moreover, as long as he demonstrated his potential or actively completed sect missions, the Foundation Pill, so rare outside, could be exchanged by inner disciples.

Furthermore, once he joined the Azure Cloud Sect, the blood slave-hunting family from the Celestial Dynasty would no longer be a threat.

“Yet... these spiritual roots in my life may still not be enough. Medium-grade roots are only the minimum requirement for the examination...” Based on his prior knowledge, Li Jian’an was not confident. Had he been certain, he would have planned long ago.

Nevertheless, whatever the outcome, Yan Qingwan’s actions deeply moved Li Jian’an.

A parent’s love means planning far ahead for their child.

Yan Qingwan truly treated him as her own.

This affection, he would remember always!