Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation

The news of the Ancestor's mutually destructive injuries sent a wave of tension through the clan.

However, Li Ji'an waited for three days, but the clan's protective formation was not activated.

During this time, he observed carefully and noticed that Yan Qingwan and Yan Hongsheng didn't seem to have the kind of heartfelt worry or anxiety one would expect.

He speculated that the Yan family's Ancestor probably still had some strength left.

If the Yan family's Ancestor was truly seriously injured, the protective formation would definitely be activated immediately, as one could never be sure if someone would try to steal their peaches.

How did the eight great families of the wilderness come to be? They were simply the victors in a battle royale, the ones who ultimately survived and couldn't be swallowed by anyone else.

As for deliberately not activating the protective formation to put on a show of strength? Impossible!

A scan with a Foundation Establishment cultivator's divine sense would reveal the truth.

This made Li Ji'an feel slightly relieved.

He decided to observe for a little longer.

In any case, now that the two clans' Ancestors had fought, the conflict had reached a fever pitch, and it was hard to say whether there were ambushes lying in wait around the Yan clan's territory.

He would wait a little longer; if it really came down to it, he would leave when the two clans were engaged in a major battle on the front lines.

"Heh~ You little brat, you seem distracted. What's wrong? Are you worried about the Yan family being destroyed?" Master Mo scolded with a smile.

Li Ji'an gave a sheepish smile: "Your old eyes are sharp. Will we be in danger?"

Master Mo glanced at him: "Put your heart at ease! This old man is just a consecrated alchemist, only responsible for refining pills, and you are just my pill apprentice. What does the Yan family's destruction have to do with us?"

"I'm just reluctant to part with this second-order spiritual vein dojo," Li Ji'an sighed.

"Hmph! As long as you follow this old man faithfully, you will naturally not lack benefits. Moreover… who told you that if the Yan family is destroyed, we can't stay here?" Master Mo sneered.

Without waiting for Li Ji'an to respond, he added: "This old man is a high-level alchemist. No matter who occupies this dojo, they can't possibly drive me away, right? Don't worry, even if the Yan family is destroyed, the dojo will still be here, and our lives will go on as usual, even better."

Li Ji'an, who had long speculated about Master Mo's character and thoughts, nodded in agreement.

"Work hard. You've been following this old man for more than six years. If you can continue to be obedient and sensible in the future and serve this old man well, maybe I'll reward you with a rank-breaking pill," Master Mo said casually.

Li Ji'an had long been choked by his empty promises over the past six years, but he still showed a strong expression of anticipation and longing.

Seven days later, nothing unexpected had happened to the Yan family's territory.

The medicine field in the depths of the wilderness once again became the front line, and Zhang Tiezhu and others set out on another expedition.

With most of the clan's mainstay combat force leaving the clan, the territory returned to its usual tranquility.

That day, Master Mo tried to refine the Yangyuan Pill again, but failed for the third time.

Medicinal materials worth at least two hundred spiritual stones were wasted just like that three times in a row.

This made Master Mo somewhat unable to hold back.

He kicked over the pill furnace on the spot and went to find the family head with a determined look on his face.

"Hmph! This old man said long ago that my ancestral Yangyuan Pill recipe requires the Diyuan Fruit to be put into the pill furnace as soon as it is picked. Once delayed, the source energy will be lost, greatly reducing the success rate.

This time, this old man wants the family head to give me an answer: whether or not I can go to that secret medicine garden to refine pills on-site?

If that's still not possible, then this old man can't refine this Yangyuan Pill. Please find someone else!" He walked along, muttering and complaining, clearly saying it for Yan Qingwan to hear.

Li Ji'an had heard Master Mo complain like this many times.

He did say this to the family head the first time he tried to refine the Yangyuan Pill, and Li Ji'an was by his side at the time.

It was also at that time that Li Ji'an learned that the Yan family's largest industries were originally selling talisman papers and spiritual rice, and that the reason they suddenly switched to pills and hired alchemists at high prices was all because of a secret cave that they had accidentally discovered more than ten years ago.

In that cave, there was a relatively special medicine garden, suspected to have been carefully built by predecessors, connected to the earth's veins, and planted with more than a dozen Diyuan Fruit trees, which were the main ingredients for the Yangyuan Pill.

It was these dozen or so Diyuan Fruit trees that allowed the Yan family's higher-ups to see the hope of the family's rise.

The Yangyuan Pill was a sacred object for people in this world before their spiritual roots were fully formed. Taking it in their youth would greatly increase the growth of their spiritual roots. It could be said to be a divine pill that everyone dreamed of.

In addition, its refining difficulty was not low, and the main ingredient, Diyuan Fruit, was rare, so it was in short supply and extremely profitable.

The reason why the Yan family head chose Master Mo as the consecrated alchemist back then was because his ancestors had a Yangyuan Pill inheritance!

After a while, Master Mo returned.

His face was filled with an expectant smile.

"Good, good, this time this old man will definitely refine the Yangyuan Pill. Little Li, when you get married and have children, this old man will give you one." He was full of vigor.

Although he knew that this old guy was drawing empty promises again without thinking, Li Ji'an still appeared frightened and grateful, thanking him for his great kindness.

"Qingwan, this time this old man will teach you every step in detail. You must learn well, and I hope you can make this old man's ancestral alchemy skills famous."

Yan Qingwan's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but feel even more expectant.

Now, six years had passed. Including the three years before Li Ji'an came, she had studied with Master Mo for a full nine years.

In the first three years, she had learned almost only the basics. In the last six years, with Li Ji'an's demonstrations and guidance, her alchemy skills had steadily improved. Now, she was not far from being a high-level alchemist, and she should be able to refine the Yangyuan Pill independently in less than three years.

"Alright, go back and prepare well. Three days later, follow this old man to the medicine garden to refine pills!"

Three days later,

Li Ji'an got up early and consumed the last bit of Thunderflame Crystal he had left.

His first-order late-stage body cultivation was basically consolidated.

It was just that he had no more body-tempering flame crystals for the time being.

Not long after, Master Mo sent a message to summon him.

When he arrived at the alchemy room, Yan Qingwan was already there, and she looked full of anticipation.

In addition to Yan Qingwan and Master Mo, there was also the Yan family's famous talisman master, Grand Elder Yan Kongyi.

Li Ji'an properly packed up the pill furnace, auxiliary medicines, and other necessary items, and was called to the Grand Elder's side.

Immediately, he felt a gentle magic power bind him. The next moment, a talisman in the Grand Elder's hand flashed with light, and he felt his feet leave the ground, and the scenery in front of him began to fly by, as if traveling through a space-time tunnel.

In an instant, his feet were solid again, and the scenery in front of him had changed.

What came into view was a small cave.

In the center of the cave, a neat and tidy half-acre medicine garden came into view.

"Master Mo, please do as you see fit. Don't mind this old man," the Grand Elder said, then immediately sat down cross-legged, with his back to the others.

"Thank you, Grand Elder. It's really embarrassing to have you expend a Small Teleportation Talisman," Master Mo said with a smile, cupping his hands.

Li Ji'an looked around the cave, his heart slightly moved. There was clearly a formation outside that shielded the detection of divine sense. He had only noticed it now that he was inside the cave. If he were outside the cave, his divine sense probably wouldn't be able to sense anything.

In addition, the Yan family was willing to expend a Small Teleportation Talisman rather than walk them in, which was enough to show how much they valued this place and how much they distrusted them.

Although the Small Teleportation Talisman was only a first-order talisman, it involved the laws of space and could not be drawn by a first-order high-level experienced talisman master, and it required first-order high-grade Kongtong wood as the talisman-making material, costing nearly thirty spiritual stones.

Therefore, few talisman masters generally drew this talisman.

The fact that it could be used at this time could indeed reflect the Yan family's attitude towards this medicine garden.

"Alright, Little Li, follow the procedure. First, burn incense and pray for blessings, hoping that the Pill Emperor will bless us!" Master Mo took out five incense sticks from his storage bag and handed them to Li Ji'an.

Li Ji'an took the incense, lit it as instructed, and inserted it into the pill furnace.

Master Mo then led Yan Qingwan to kneel and worship, chanting words, while Li Ji'an stood on the side. He was not qualified.

This time, Master Mo's prayer time was much longer than usual, lasting a full cup of tea before he got up.

Seeing that Master Mo had finished praying for blessings, Li Ji'an stepped forward to hand over the auxiliary medicines, preparing to carefully observe the refining process of the Yangyuan Pill.

However, just then,

Yan Qingwan, who was also preparing to walk up to observe Master Mo's pill refining, stumbled as soon as she lifted her foot. If Li Ji'an hadn't been quick-witted, she would have definitely fallen to the ground.

"Girl, you… not good, there's poison!"

The Grand Elder suddenly shuddered, abruptly raised his head, and looked sharply at Master Mo and Li Ji'an.