Chapter 87: Immortal Sect and Immortal City Disciples

Late at night.

In the residence.

The air was thick with the rich scent of herbs and the stench of blood.

Tempering his body in a medicinal bath, Li Chang’an held a Jade Scroll and pored over the alchemy inheritance it contained.

’The art of alchemy truly does have requirements for one’s Spiritual Power.’

This inheritance repeatedly emphasized the importance of Spiritual Power in alchemy.

Refining a single Elixir Pill was a lengthy process.

Throughout this process, just controlling the Pill Fire would consume a great deal of Spiritual Power.

’To refine Elixir Pills, you first have to refine the various raw materials into a medicinal liquid, removing any toxic substances. After all, every medicine has its poisons. This process also puts immense pressure on one’s spirit.’

The slightest misstep could ruin everything!

The ingredients for some Elixir Pills could number in the dozens.

Once the refining process began, there was no stopping midway.

One had to maintain absolute focus, refining each ingredient into a medicinal liquid, then carefully manipulating these liquids to fuse them, and finally forming the Pill.

No distractions were permissible during the entire process.

For this very reason, those who could become Alchemists usually possessed Spiritual Power that was far superior to that of other Cultivators at the same level.

Although the Zheng Family possessed a Tier Two alchemy inheritance, not every family member could become an Alchemist.

If their Spiritual Power wasn’t strong enough, they could only choose Skills with lower requirements, like crafting Spirit Wine or being a Spirit Chef.

’My Spiritual Power is far superior to that of other Cultivators at my level. Becoming a Pill Master shouldn’t be an issue.’

Li Chang’an mused.

Besides Spiritual Power, alchemy also had requirements regarding one’s Spiritual Root.

Cultivators with Fire or Wood Spirit Roots generally found it easier to become Alchemists than those with other types of Spiritual Roots.

’A Cultivator with a Fire Spirit Root can control the Pill Fire more easily, while one with a Wood Spirit Root benefits from the principle of "Wood feeds Fire" in the Five Elements Mutual Generation.’

Li Chang’an was secretly relieved that he met this condition as well.

Of course, these requirements weren’t absolute.

In the Cultivation Realm, there were even many masters with Water Spirit Roots who had become Alchemists.

It was just that meeting the requirements often led to faster progress in the early stages.

...

For the next half a month, Li Chang’an immersed himself almost completely in the alchemy inheritance.

On this day, he finally finished reading the entire Tier One Low Grade alchemy inheritance. Setting the Jade Scroll aside for the moment, he wasn’t in a hurry to look at the Middle and Top Grade sections.

’I’ll start by trying to refine a Low Grade Elixir. The Qi Nourishing Pill seems like a good choice.’

Li Chang’an pondered.

Qi Nourishing Pill!

This was one of the best-selling Tier One Low Grade Elixirs.

It was very beneficial to Early Stage Qi Refining Cultivators.

Back then, after selling his Talismans for the first time at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Li Chang’an had bought two bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills.

He never would have imagined back then that he would one day be able to refine such pills with his own hands.

’According to the inheritance, the Qi Nourishing Pill is relatively easy to refine. The materials are also simple—only three ingredients in total.’

The three required ingredients were Qi Replenishing Grass, Jade Spirit Root, and Nourishing Essence Flower.

All of them were inexpensive Tier One Low Grade Spirit Medicines.

’It shouldn’t be too difficult.’

Without hesitation, Li Chang’an immediately went out to purchase the treasures required for alchemy.

In the art of alchemy, the most important treasure was, naturally, the Pill Furnace.

According to the inheritance, the Pill Furnace had a significant impact on the final quality of the pills.

A good Pill Furnace could save an Alchemist a great deal of trouble.

’I’ll go check out the trading area in the Marketplace first.’

Li Chang’an thought for a moment and was just about to head to the trading area.

Suddenly.

A voice filled with delighted surprise rang out from behind him.

"Brother Li, you’re really here!"

"Hm?"

Li Chang’an turned at the sound of the voice.

Before him stood three Cultivators with extraordinary auras.

Two Female Cultivators and one male cultivator.

"Brother Li, it’s me! Don’t you recognize me?"

One of the Female Cultivators spoke, her voice clear and melodious.

She was dressed in a pale yellow gown, her figure graceful and slender. Her limpid eyes were fixed on Li Chang’an.

An expression of joy and excitement bloomed on her beautiful face.

"Yuyan?"

Li Chang’an found the young woman somewhat familiar.

Recalling the contents of Xu Fugui’s letter, he immediately guessed her identity.

It was indeed the little girl he had saved all those years ago.

"That’s great, Brother Li, you still remember me!"

Su Yuyan’s eyes curved into crescents as she beamed with joy.

Li Chang’an smiled as well.

"I can’t believe you’re all grown up."

"I know, but Brother Li, you haven’t changed a bit!"

Su Yuyan’s eyes were clear and bright, full of charm.

In her eyes, Li Chang’an was still as young as she remembered, but he now carried a gentle and refined air, like an ancient, evergreen tree.

At that moment, the male cultivator at Su Yuyan’s side smiled and asked gently, "Yuyan, is this the Daoist Li who accompanied you on your search for immortality?"

"Yes."

Su Yuyan immediately began making introductions.

The other Female Cultivator, Yuan Ying, was also a Cultivator from the Cyan Cloud Sect and her senior martial sister.

As for the male cultivator who had just spoken, his name was Huang Feng. He was not a disciple of the Cyan Cloud Sect but a Cultivator from Yellow Crane Immortal City, where he held a rather high status.

This was because his master was a disciple of Huang He Master!

That made him the grand-disciple of the Golden Core expert.

All three of them had impressive backgrounds, hailing from Golden Core Influences. Their distinguished auras made them stand out from the surrounding Loose Cultivators like cranes among a flock of chickens.

"Daoist Li, I’ve often heard Yuyan speak of you recently. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you."

Huang Feng said with a smile, showing little of the arrogance one might expect.

Yuan Ying, who stood beside him, was the same.

Li Chang’an exchanged a few words with them, and they became acquainted.

After that, he invited the three of them into his courtyard to sit down.

In the courtyard, Su Yuyan seemed to revert to the little girl she once was, holding onto Li Chang’an’s arm and chattering endlessly about her cultivation journey over the past decade or so.

"Brother Li, I wanted to come find you a long time ago, but my master kept a very strict watch over me. She wouldn’t let me leave the Sect at all. It was only after I reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining that she finally relaxed her rules a bit..."

"That’s a good thing."

Li Chang’an smiled and nodded.

Leaving the Sect during the Early and Middle Stages of Qi Refining was indeed quite dangerous.

After all, the Loose Cultivators outside were like a pack of hungry wolves. They knew Sect Disciples carried many Treasures, and it was likely some of the bolder ones would try to attack.

But a Cultivation at the Late Stage of Qi Refining was enough to ensure one’s own safety.

Su Yuyan herself had now reached the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

Coming from a Sect, her Cultivation Technique and Magic were both extraordinary. The Magical Artifacts she used were of the highest quality, and her prowess in Magical Combat was considered top-tier among those in the Late Stage of Qi Refining.

"Brother Li, you always protected me before. You have to keep protecting me in the future, okay?"

Su Yuyan smiled sweetly.

She did not ask about Li Chang’an’s Cultivation.

She hadn’t asked because she could already sense that Li Chang’an was merely at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

The big brother of her past now had a Cultivation far lower than her own.

’It makes sense, when you think about it. Li Chang’an’s Spiritual Root isn’t as good as mine, and he can’t compare to my cultivation resources. For him to struggle so hard among all the Loose Cultivators and still reach the Qi Refining Fifth Layer... that’s already quite an accomplishment.’

At this thought, Su Yuyan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.

’At his current rate of cultivation, Li Chang’an has no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment. But as for me, with the Sect backing me and the support of my master, the chances of reaching Foundation Establishment are high. Once I succeed in Foundation Establishment, I’ll have a lifespan of 240 years! Perhaps, in another hundred years, I’ll still be in my prime, while Li Chang’an will be nothing but a pile of dust.’

"Yuyan, what’s wrong?"

Li Chang’an noticed her spirits had fallen and immediately asked.

"It’s nothing, I was just thinking about the old days."

Su Yuyan broke into a smile, her voice sweet and clear.

"Brother Li, do you still remember, back in the Black Water Mansion..."

Recalling the past, it seemed she had an endless supply of stories to tell.

Back then, a famine had struck the Mortal Realm where they lived.

Her parents had been fleeing the famine with her when they met with an accident and died along the way.

She herself had been targeted by a group of thugs and was nearly sold into a brothel.

It was Li Chang’an who had stepped in, killing the thugs and saving her.

However, the thugs’ backer turned out to be the local Marquis’s Mansion.

The Marquis’s Mansion hired nine first-rate masters to surround and kill Li Chang’an.

"Brother Li, I remember that not a single one of those first-rate masters was a match for you."

Su Yuyan said with a smile.

She had been less than six years old at the time, but the battle had left a deep and lasting impression on her.

Li Chang’an, one against nine, had an overwhelmingly powerful aura as he crushed those so-called masters one by one.

Before dying, one of them had cried out in terror, shouting things like "Innate Master" and "Young Grandmaster."