Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation

The second-tier alchemist inheritance that Yan Qingwan obtained from an unknown source back then was not very profound. However, like Alchemist Mo's inheritance, Li Ji'an used it as a foundation to optimize and improve upon it.

Since the Fire Spirit recovered to its peak, comparable to a second-tier alchemic flame, he had made many attempts and adjustments.

He had also simulated the entire Foundation Establishment Pill refining process in his mind many times.

Although this was his first time, it was not unfamiliar.

Li Ji'an sat cross-legged, held his breath, and focused his mind, urging the power of the Fire Spirit. As the Fire Spirit's original spiritual flames emanated from under the alchemy furnace, Li Ji'an followed the steps, sequentially placing the medicinal materials, adjusting the temperature, controlling the spiritual pressure, and refining the essence of the medicinal materials...

Until half a day later, all the auxiliary medicines were completely refined, extracting their essence.

This was nearly half the time shorter than recorded in the inheritance and what Li Ji'an had expected.

Refining the essence of medicinal materials mainly depends on the power of the alchemic flame and the control techniques. An ordinary second-tier alchemic flame would take at least a day to refine all the essence of these auxiliary medicines.

Moreover, the longer the essence of the medicinal materials is refined, the easier it is for the medicinal essence to be lost. This is also why a deficient alchemic flame cannot refine second-tier elixirs, as it cannot guarantee the quality of the elixir.

This step gave Li Ji'an a pleasant surprise. The shortening of time allowed the essence of these auxiliary medicines to be almost completely preserved, which greatly helped the subsequent fusion of the auxiliary and main medicinal essence into an elixir.

"Little Fire's spiritual flame is much more powerful than the recorded heaven and earth spiritual flames!"

He was overjoyed and placed the most crucial main medicine, half a Nine Star Tuckahoe, with great anticipation.

As a second-tier main medicine, an ordinary second-tier alchemic flame would need nearly two days to refine the essence of the Nine Star Tuckahoe.

After another half day, the initial refinement of the main medicine, Nine Star Tuckahoe, was completed, and the medicinal properties were fully stimulated. After another half day of refining, the essence would be further concentrated, and the next stage of fusion could begin.

At the same time, the three people outside the neighboring cave were all beaming with joy.

In the mirror image, they clearly saw Alchemist Zou complete the refining of all the auxiliary medicines and begin adding the main medicine.

"Alchemist Zou is indeed experienced, every step is so skillful."

"It's still half an incense stick away from a day, Alchemist Zou's skills have obviously improved further." The two elixir seekers smiled.

Xie Gui was also proud: "Haha, you are truly blessed. To be honest, my master recently refined a fire-attributed heaven and earth spiritual object, and the alchemic flame is indeed three points stronger. This time, there is almost no worry."

"May the heavens bless us, may the heavens bless us." The two elixir seekers were overjoyed. They were core descendants of two well-connected Foundation Establishment families in the southwest of Golden Brilliance Immortal City. After more than twenty years of accumulation, they cooperated to gather the materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill. This time, they didn't expect any surprises, they only asked for one low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill each as a guarantee, so that the friendship between the two families could continue for hundreds of years.

Xie Gui nodded with a smile, then looked at Li Ji'an's cave next door.

He had specially learned about Li Ji'an, who had been on the list with him for more than ten years.

He didn't care at first, after all, age was a factor. With his knowledge, how good could a loose cultivator's alchemy skills be without decades of immersion?

Most likely, it was promoted by the Nine Tripod Chamber of Commerce behind him.

However, after several sessions of the Alchemist Ranking selection, he found that more and more customers who had previously bought elixirs from him privately were being lost. Eventually, he discovered that many had become Li Ji'an's customers.

After inquiring, he learned that many customers felt that Li Ji'an's elixirs were better than his.

He did not agree with this. He believed that Li Ji'an was able to have a reputation comparable to his at a young age, coupled with the fact that he was younger, so he had more potential in the eyes of others.

He firmly did not believe that Li Ji'an's alchemy skills were better than his.

When they met today, the other party actually wanted to refine top-grade elixirs, which, as his master taught, was indeed a bit too ambitious.

He had been deeply involved in alchemy for decades, and he had not even fantasized about being able to refine top-grade elixirs.

After carefully sensing it, there was no special change above Li Ji'an's cave. Xie Gui shook his head and stopped paying attention.

——

"The most critical step!" After another half day, Li Ji'an looked solemn, his divine sense completely concentrated in the alchemy furnace, carefully sensing the fusion of several medicinal essence.

This was the most critical step. It not only required adjusting the alchemic flame as a whole according to the condition of the medicinal essence, but also required dividing the alchemic flame according to the subtle differences in the respective positions of the medicinal materials, controlling the temperature locally, which was almost equivalent to instantly dividing the alchemic flame into several parts, and the power released by each part of the alchemic flame varied depending on the temperature tolerance of the various medicinal essence.

In addition, the spiritual pressure and humidity in the alchemy furnace also needed to be precisely controlled and fine-tuned in time according to the fusion of several medicinal essence.

Divine sense played a great role at this time. If the divine sense was insufficient and changes could not be detected in time, all previous efforts would be in vain.

Similarly, the quality of the alchemy furnace also played a key role at this time. The refined sensitivity control could greatly reduce the difficulty of the alchemist's operation.

An hour later, all the medicinal essence successfully fused into one.

The most critical step was completed, and theoretically it had already determined whether or not the elixir could be formed.

Obviously, Li Ji'an's first Foundation Establishment Pill refining was bound to succeed, the difference lay in the number and quality of the elixirs formed.

After another hour, the medicinal liquid in the alchemy furnace slowly rose under the action of spiritual pressure, and was gradually squeezed into a ball, gathering into a sphere.

For his first elixir formation, Li Ji'an didn't ask for too much, not seeking the number of elixirs formed, nor seeking the quality of the elixirs formed, only selecting the most core medicinal liquid, and abandoning the remaining marginal medicinal liquid that might cause impurities in the elixir.

"Peng~"

Half an hour later, the spiritual pressure collided, making a soft sound.

Indicating that this furnace had succeeded.

Taking a deep breath, Li Ji'an opened the alchemy furnace and used his magic power to lift a pill with a milky white color, round shape, and almost no visible impurities to his eyes.

"This is the Foundation Establishment Pill that 90% of the cultivators in this cultivation world dream of but cannot obtain."

After roughly examining it, he stopped looking at it, and supplemented it with a Spirit Replenishing Pill and a Qi Replenishing Pill, and began to adjust his breath and recover.

At the same time, he fed and nourished the Fire Spirit in his dantian with magic power.

Fortunately, the Fire Spirit was still alive and kicking at the moment. After all, the level of spiritual flame power just now was normal for it, the real difficulty was Li Ji'an's refined control.

"It's still a bit conservative, the abandoned medicinal liquid essence is enough to condense another pill." After a long while, Li Ji'an's divine soul and magic power recovered, and he felt a little regretful.

But he didn't regret it, after all, being able to achieve a genuine product for the first time was already a success.

Not long after, Li Ji'an communicated with the Fire Spirit again and immediately began the second furnace of refining.

"This time, I'll do my best and release more original spiritual energy."

Ordinary alchemists only use their own alchemic flame as a source, and refining a Foundation Establishment Pill once almost completely consumes the magic power in their dantian, and many alchemists even need to take Qi Replenishing Pills in the middle.

Moreover, the greater the difficulty of the elixirs being refined, the greater the consumption of divine soul.

Li Ji'an refined with spiritual flames, the consumption of his magic power was very small. As long as the Fire Spirit was not over-consumed, he could immediately refine it.

In terms of divine soul, because the accuracy of the alchemy furnace was high, the consumption was actually a little less than when he used a first-tier middle-grade alchemy furnace to refine late-stage high-quality elixirs. Now that he had taken a Spirit Replenishing Pill, it was still at its peak.

Of course, the most important thing was that the Nine Star Tuckahoe was divided into two. If it was not added to the medicine in time, it would easily cause the loss of medicinal effect.

At this time, refining the elixir again, although all the external environment was almost the same as the last time, even because the main medicine was cut open for half a day, the conditions were not as good as the first time, the mentality was completely different.

Having already had a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill as a guarantee, there was no pressure at all.

A day and a half later,

The three people outside Alchemist Zou's cave were all looking nervous.

"Alchemist Xie, this... it's been three days, Alchemist Zou, how come..." one person tentatively asked.

Xie Gui's eyelids twitched slightly. Under normal circumstances, the elixir should have been formed an hour ago, but there was still no movement at the moment.

"Could it be..."

"Bah, bah, bah! Don't talk nonsense, we should trust Alchemist Zou." One person hurriedly stopped him.

Xie Gui was suspicious for a moment, and after careful observation, his eyes suddenly lit up.

"This is... could it be that Master wants to seek a high grade?"

Alchemist Zou has been refining Foundation Establishment Pills for more than 50 years, always seeking stability and striving to ensure the number of elixirs formed. In recent years, it has become more stable, with two low-grade elixirs per furnace, and occasionally a burst of luck, there will be three.

But he has never produced a middle-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

This time, the alchemic flame has improved further, I'm afraid he wants to seek a middle-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

This made Xie Gui ecstatic.

If Alchemist Zou refines a middle-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, he will definitely become famous, and at that time, his status as a disciple will naturally rise to a higher level.

In the midst of joy, his peripheral vision inadvertently glanced at the cave next door.

"What elixir is this kid refining, it hasn't been formed after three days?"

"Zheng~" At this moment, a sudden sound of metal humming sounded.

The most ⊥ new ⊥ small ⊥ said ⊥ in ⊥ six ⊥ 9 ⊥⊥ book ⊥⊥ bar ⊥⊥ first ⊥ hair!

Then Xie Gui felt a burst of spiritual energy riot around him.

"This is... it's done!"

Not only Xie Gui, but also the two elixir seekers beside him suddenly cheered up.

Although the sound of the elixir was short, it was also the famous sound of the elixir cauldron in the cultivation world.

Those who can have this kind of elixir sound are either top-grade in first-tier elixirs, or top-grade or above in second-tier elixirs.

However, top-grade elixirs are too rare, and most of these elixir sounds are second-tier elixirs.

"How is it possible? Could it be that Master refined a top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill?" Xie Gui looked shocked.

The other two elixir seekers turned pale. What they originally sought was only two low-grade elixirs, because they needed to be divided between two people, and also because they understood Alchemist Zou's alchemy skills.

If a top-grade one is really produced, then there can only be one, after all, the improvement in quality will definitely sacrifice quantity. Two middle-grade Foundation Establishment Pills may appear, but only one can be produced above top-grade. This is the consensus of the cultivation world.

First ecstasy, then, both of them vigilantly looked at each other.

The Foundation Establishment Pass is related to the Great Dao. Once the Foundation Establishment fails, the immortal path will be forever separated. One more success rate is one more hope of pursuing the immortal path. Who doesn't want to use a higher-grade Foundation Establishment Pill?

As for family friendship, in the face of the immortal path, it is nothing but floating clouds.

"Eh, no, Master hasn't opened the furnace yet!" At this time, Xie Gui saw that the master in the mirror image was still in the final stage of condensing the elixir.

"Then this is..." The atmosphere between the two also instantly relaxed.

The three looked at Li Ji'an's cave almost at the same time.

"Could it be that he really refined a top-grade elixir?" Xie Gui had a ghostly expression.

Once the news that Li Ji'an refined a top-grade elixir spreads out, the future alchemist ranking will definitely become the first, even if he has a second-tier alchemist master to endorse him.

"Peng~" At this moment, another soft sound came from the mirror image.

Alchemist Zou's furnace was also completed.

Not long after, Alchemist Zou finished adjusting his breath and slowly walked out of the cave.

"Hahaha, congratulations to Alchemist Zou for taking his alchemy skills to the next level and refining a high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, congratulations."

As soon as Alchemist Zou came out of the cave, a congratulatory voice came from not far away.

"Congratulations to Alchemist Zou."

"Come, come, let us all open our eyes."

...

Then, many inner city cultivators with status who came because of the spiritual energy riot and the sound of the elixir gathered one after another. They had already rushed over when they sensed it, but they were worried about affecting Alchemist Zou, so they waited far away. At this moment, seeing Alchemist Zou leave the customs, they rushed to congratulate him.

"Huh?" Alchemist Zou looked at the people who congratulated him with a confused expression.

"Thank you, Steward Qi, thank you, fellow Taoists, but... what are you talking about?"

Seeing his expression, everyone immediately joked: "Alchemist Zou still wants to hide his clumsiness from us? The elixir sounded through the heavens just now, and then there was a surge of spiritual energy, you can't hide it."

"The elixir sounded through the heavens? A surge of spiritual energy? Is there?" Alchemist Zou was even more confused, and then looked at his disciple Xie Gui and the other two elixir seekers.

The three looked at the inner city seniors who were gathering around, hesitating to speak.

Xie Gui's face was even redder, and his eyes kept glancing at Li Ji'an's cave, but he didn't know how to speak.

"Are you all mute? Xie Gui, tell me, did the elixir sound really ring just now?" Alchemist Zou became more and more anxious.

Today, he really wanted to try to improve the quality of the elixir, so the final condensing stage took a little longer.

But he only tried it, and felt that if he forced the elixir to condense again, not only would he not be able to guarantee the production of a middle-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, but he might even cause the failure of another pill. In the end, he chose to be safe and still formed two low-grade pills.

However, at this moment, hearing that the elixir sounded through the heavens just now, and even the spiritual energy surged, he immediately regretted it.

Maybe he just went all out, and there was a possibility of becoming a middle-grade.

"Eh, no, the elixir sounded through the heavens..." Suddenly, he came back to his senses again. What he tried was only middle-grade, and middle-grade would not have the elixir sounding through the heavens.

"Reporting to Master, reporting to all seniors, the elixir sounded through the heavens just now, but... not Master's cave, but Alchemist Li's cave." Xie Gui mustered up his courage and said in one breath.

"What? That kid..." Alchemist Zou finally understood the reason why these people gathered around, and suddenly looked at Li Ji'an's cave.

"Alchemist Li? In this Immortal City, the quasi-elixir king who can refine top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, I don't even know?" Some people have not paid attention to the ranking of first-tier alchemists.

"I remember that Little Li is a first-tier alchemist? How could he refine an elixir that can produce the sound of the elixir... hiss, could it be that he refined a top-grade first-tier elixir?" The steward of the City Lord's Mansion knew Li Ji'an.

"Someone in the Immortal City actually refined a top-grade elixir? Today, I really have to open my eyes!"

"Top-grade elixirs need the spiritual energy to descend from the heavens. Being able to refine top-grade elixirs requires great blessings."

...

I thought it was a top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, but at this moment, the situation changed suddenly. It was almost certain that it was a top-grade first-tier elixir. Although it was not as valuable as a top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, this made a group of inner city cultivators equally expectant.

Inside the cave,

Li Ji'an dispersed the isolation formation, sensed the situation outside the cave, and frowned!

Previously, my little bit of fame from the alchemist selection wasn't a big deal. After all, I was only a first-order alchemist, and mostly Qi training cultivators paid attention. By the time I reincarnate and "rejuvenate," they'll all be dead and gone.

However, if I become famous enough to attract widespread attention from Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, it would be extremely detrimental to my "rejuvenation."

At the very least, any hope of "rejuvenating" in a city of immortals would be completely extinguished.

Most importantly, once this Foundation Establishment Pill in my possession appears, I can't guarantee I'll be able to protect it!

"I still underestimated the power of a Heaven and Earth Saint Spirit. It's not even on the same level as the recorded Heaven and Earth Spiritual Flames!"