Chapter 680 - 537: Fulfilling a Promise

The second furnace yielded one ordinary quality Nourishing Yuan Pill, and the third furnace yielded one high-quality pill.

At this moment, Han Yan felt that her years of pride in her alchemy abilities seemed to be a joke.

But on second thought, she felt relieved.

The opponent is a Golden Core Daoist Master who is over two hundred years old, the youngest Golden Core Daoist Master both in the sect and the Western Continent.

Being surpassed by such a cultivator is an acceptable thing.

"Such a high pill formation success rate, I am impressed."

Achieving such a pill formation success rate isn’t very difficult, but being able to achieve it within one day is truly terrifying.

Han Yan thoughtfully packaged the pills in two jade bottles and handed them over.

Ji An put the jade bottles into the Grotto Void Stone and said with a smile:

"The main reason is having a good teacher, saving me a lot of time. Your experience is worth recording in detail for the sect’s core alchemists to consult."

His words greatly reduced the cost of trial and error.

Han Yan maintained a polite smile and said:

"I’ll consider it."

Certain techniques are better known by fewer people, ensuring one’s own interests and value.

Ji An roughly guessed what the other party was thinking and did not try to persuade further.

These experiences were gained from her repeated trials and errors; he could not deprive her of her achievements under the guise of nobility, as that would be no different from robbery.

Generosity at someone else’s expense is not the conduct of a gentleman.

Unless the sect introduces a reasonable regulation that can quantify such experiences, allowing skilled craftspeople to gain continuous benefits by sharing their experiences.

Only then can the issue of hoarding skills be resolved.

The sect’s previous rewards for creating pill formulas were very reasonable, but no policy has been introduced for specific experiences.

Should we establish "patents"? Purchasing a patent would allow access to the corresponding experiential knowledge.

Ji An felt this could work, but implementing it was very complex and would require a credible standard.

With this thought in mind, he planned to find an opportunity to discuss it with the sect leader brother later.

He changed the subject and asked:

"When do you plan to set out on your journey?"

"I still have a batch of elixirs to refine, probably departing in two months."

"Have you planned out the route?"

"Yes, the first stop is Silver Moon City in the Far North to comprehend Fire Generates Earth, then detour to Red Rock Immortal City to pursue opportunities to understand Gold Generating Water and Earth-Born Gold.

The sect has gained a foothold in Red Rock Immortal City, we can expect support."

Ji An slightly nodded; this route was the one he traveled back in the day.

Speaking of Red Rock Immortal City, he recalled that deeply hidden demon cultivator, now absent from the chaos they used to incite. Either they went into deeper hiding or encountered unexpected death.

He had a hunch that the first guess was more likely true.

Ji An took out several Purifying Talismans and handed them over, saying:

"A small-scale demon calamity once erupted in the Far North. These talismans can purify demonic qi contamination, bringing you more safety.

Additionally, these talismans can also provide excellent calming and spiritual focusing effects."

"Thank you, ancestor, for your generosity."

After chatting for a while, Han Yan stood up and cupped her hands, saying:

"Ancestor, I still have alchemy tasks to fulfill, please excuse me for not being able to stay long."

"Goodbye."

After Han Yan left, Ji An flew to the Cold Pool at the foot of the mountain and found Feng Xing, saying:

"Reach out to Clan Leader Wei of Little Bamboo Mountain as soon as possible, and ask him to come over quickly."

"Understood!"

...

Three days later.

Yinn Qiuyun arrived at Red Flame Peak, her face full of fatigue.

She was wearing a light-colored Daoist robe, a small white flower pinned to her hair, and her eyes were somewhat swollen.

Ji An’s heart suddenly sank as he asked:

"What happened to Fellow Daoist Wei?"

"His old ailment resurfaced; he passed away yesterday."

Yinn Qiuyun’s voice trembled lightly, tears streaming down her face.

Ji An had guessed this possibility, opened his mouth to say something, but couldn’t utter a word, only letting out a faint sigh.

A faint sorrow welled within him, lamenting the relentless passage of time and past events fading into the wind.

After a moment, he gently shook his head, composed his emotions:

"My condolences. Let’s speak in the living room."

The two went to the living room, took seats as host and guest, Ji An spoke:

"I met Fellow Daoist Wei when we both were insignificant; receiving this news greatly saddens me. What was the old injury?"

"It was his Dantian injury; he suddenly couldn’t maintain the storage of spiritual qi, aged rapidly, and within a day, his blood and energy completely deteriorated, closing his eyes that evening."

Yinn Qiuyun softly sobbed; it took her quite a while to recount the brief passage.

Ji An offered a few words of comfort, then changed the subject:

"Did he tell you about the promise I made to him?"

"A few years ago, he felt his health increasingly worsening, so he told me everything.

"Daoist Master, you promised to give the Wei Clan two Nourishing Yuan Pills, and the transactions with the Wei Clan will continue steadily for thirty years..."

Yinn Qiuyun mentioned each incident meticulously, and tears poured down like a flood.

Ji An nodded gently, acknowledging that the other party was completely correct, and he sighed softly:

"I sent a disciple to notify Fellow Daoist Wei, intending to fulfill one of the promises, but unfortunately, he can’t see it now."

He took out a Cyan Jade Bottle and handed it over, "Inside is a high-quality Nourishing Yuan Pill. I hope the Wei Clan can quickly nurture a Chao Origin Stage Cultivator, to comfort Fellow Daoist Wei’s spirit in heaven."

Yinn Qiuyun stood up and bowed deeply, receiving the jade bottle and said:

"Daoist Master’s virtue is noble, and the Wei Clan is immensely grateful.

Today, I have one more request: since my husband has passed away, I would like Bai Yang to return to Little Bamboo Mountain, to let the children send him on his final journey."

"That is only natural, I will notify Bai Yang to return now. How do you plan to travel back?"

"Replying to Daoist Master, I have brought two very fast Flying Shuttles."

"I will send a disciple back to Little Bamboo Mountain with you, to pay respects to Fellow Daoist Wei on my behalf."

Ji An took out two Communication Golden Swords, ordering Han Mountain and Wei Baiyang to return to the Red Flame Peak immediately.

Two double hours later, Wei Baiyang was the first to return. Upon learning of his father’s passing, his previously cheerful face immediately turned somber.

He clutched his chest and shook his head, "Impossible, the last time I saw my father, he was still in good health, how could he leave so suddenly!"

Mother and son faced each other with tearful eyes, and suppressed sobs arose.

Ji An sighed quietly and left the living room, closing the door behind him, which made the cries inside much louder.

A moment later, Han Mountain arrived at Red Flame Peak:

"Master, what are your instructions?"

"The father of your junior brother was an old friend of mine, and now this old friend has passed away. I am sending you and Bai Yang to Little Bamboo Mountain to pay respects."

"Disciple understands."

Half a double hour later, Han Mountain and the other two left.

Ji An felt uneasy inside, as another old friend departed, making him nostalgic.

He muttered to himself, "How can one escape the torment of limited lifespan?"

He didn’t know if immortality was attainable but knew achieving a higher cultivation could potentially reveal the answer.

At this moment, the self-satisfaction Ji An had after breaking through the Golden Core Stage faded significantly.

The Golden Core Stage is a transitional realm, transitioning from Refining Essence and Qi to Refining Qi to Divinity.

According to records, the Ancient Immortals divided cultivation into four stages: Refining Essence and Qi, Refining Qi to Divinity, Refining Spirit and Returning to the Void, and Refining Void and Merging Dao.

If these records are true, it’s very possible cultivators could achieve immortality.

He pondered another question: with so many realms on the path of cultivation, why is the combat power ceiling of the Cultivation Realm at the Nascent Soul Level?

Ji An began scratching his head, and after much contemplation, he gave up pursuing the answer.

Certain things are beyond your realm’s understanding, just like a grade-schooler attempting a high school math problem—it’s like reading a celestial script; even with the answer, it’s incomprehensible.

...

Two years later.

Beside the stone table by the Cold Pool, Ji An was having lunch, enjoying the flavor of the braised grouper, feeling very satisfied.

Occasionally sipping a bit of wine, his heart was delighted; after all those years of hard work, eating spiritual food was always a great comfort.

Although Qi and Mist Eating has the elegance of an Immortal Family, the satisfaction of taste is irreplaceable.

Feng Xing approached quickly, holding a fist-sized crimson fruit.

This was a Blood Soul Profound Origin Fruit, covered in white speckles, resembling a starry sky.

"Ancestor, during my routine patrol, I found this Spirit Fruit fallen and matured."

"Very well, go collect a reward of five Spirit Stones."

Ji An smiled and said, the plant of the Blood Soul Xuan Yuan Tree had now reached Tier Two Top Grade, and after maturing fully, the fruit had over five hundred years of medicinal age.

Elixirs refined from such a fruit could heal most physical injuries.

For example, if an arm was severed, as long as it was reattached, taking a Profound Origin Creation Pill could completely heal it in a few months, without affecting limb coordination.

"Thank you, Ancestor." Feng Xing placed the Blood Soul Profound Origin Fruit on the table and walked away happily.

Beside them, Zhang Xueling showed a look of envy; Feng Xing was mainly responsible for patrolling the Spirit Field and often received rewards for finding mature Spirit Fruits.

Just then, a Communication Golden Sword descended from the sky, hovering beside the round table, emitting special frequency waves.

Ji An caught the Communication Golden Sword, delving his Divine Sense into it to read the information, a smile involuntarily forming at his lips.

"Finally, the good news has arrived. Xue Ning, later, inform Feng Xing that each of you may collect a reward of ten Spirit Stones."

"Understood! Ancestor, what is the good news?"

"You’ll find out in a few days."

Ji An finished the Pearl Blood Rice in his bowl and flew on a cloud to the stone house at the mountain’s base.

He activated the Teleportation Array to arrive at Ningcui Cliff, going to the back hall of the Agricultural Hall.

Lin Lan came out of the hall to greet him, "Master, what brings you here?"

"Can’t I come here?"

Lin Lan laughed brightly and said:

"Master, you know that’s not what I meant."

Ji An chuckled a few times and instructed:

"You go personally and inform Han Mountain and Bai Yang that the spiritual vein at Yunhe Mountain is about to be elevated, and they can stay there for a few days.

When the spiritual vein elevates, the power of the Five Elements and Yin Yang will manifest. If you can comprehend anything, it will greatly aid in your future cultivation."

Even if nothing is comprehended, it will broaden their horizons.