Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation

Li Ji'an tidied himself up and came to the clan's main hall with Zhang Tiezhu.

Now that they were both considered outsiders of the clan, they needed to register and report whenever they entered or left the family grounds.

To be precise, Zhang Tiezhu had earned the Yan family's recognition through meritorious service. Starting as a reclamation laborer, he first became a contracted worker for the Yan family, and then, due to his great contributions in the clan war, he was promoted to an outer clan member.

This was a step below those who were granted the family name, but he enjoyed a cultivation ground on the periphery of the clan's territory, comparable to a first-grade low-quality spiritual vein. He also received ten pounds of spiritual rice each month, and had the right to marry women from within the clan. Moreover, once he married a clan woman, his status would rise again, granting him the same rights as those who were granted the family name.

If he could bear children with extraordinary talent, there would be even greater rewards.

Of course, the children had to bear the Yan surname.

Li Ji'an's situation was somewhat special. In the eyes of those who didn't know the details, he was just a menial servant who had been lucky enough to get in with Alchemist Mo. This was already considered a blessing from his ancestors.

After Alchemist Mo's betrayal, not only was he not expelled from the family, but he was even rewarded.

An outsider who had never shed blood for the clan on the front lines became the Eldest Miss's alchemy assistant.

He not only enjoyed a cultivation ground close to the core spiritual vein, a privilege usually reserved for the clan's higher-ups, but he could also chat and laugh with several elders and the Eldest Miss.

Most importantly, he was nearly forty years old, yet he was only a small cultivator in the early stages of Qi training, with no potential to speak of.

Of course, the reason for this was that the Yan family's higher-ups wanted to push Yan Qingwan to the forefront, making her the hope and spiritual pillar of the clan, inspiring them to move forward. It was also paving the way for Yan Qingwan's future.

In the eyes of the Yan family's middle and lower ranks, Yan Qingwan was a genius in alchemy, having learned all of Alchemist Mo's alchemy skills in just nine years, relying entirely on her own talent and hard work.

As for the secret matters of the medicine garden, they would not let others know.

"Brother Li, are you going back to your hometown?"

Just as they had completed the registration procedures, a familiar gentle voice came.

"Greetings, Eldest Miss," Zhang Tiezhu hurriedly took a step back and bowed respectfully.

"That's right. After ten years, I have a promise with an old friend," Li Ji'an replied with a smile.

Yan Qingwan's eyes trembled slightly, "When will you return?"

"As soon as the same day, or as late as three to five days."

"Alright, ride my Winter Snow. Go quickly and return quickly," Yan Qingwan handed a beast-controlling token to Li Ji'an.

This was the soul token of her exclusive spirit steed.

Zhang Tiezhu's eyes widened instantly behind Li Ji'an.

Having been in the Yan family for ten years, he had long heard the story of Yan Qingwan and her Winter Snow. Winter Snow was extremely important to Yan Qingwan.

It was said to be related to her deceased mother.

Even the clan members in charge of beast management were not allowed to touch it.

Staring intently at Li Ji'an's back, Zhang Tiezhu's heart churned.

"Brother Li is ten years older than the Eldest Miss, right?"

"And the Eldest Miss has a middle-grade spiritual root, and is extremely talented in alchemy, and is very likely to be the future head of the family, or even a clan-protecting ancestor…"

"Brother Li hasn't even broken through the early stage of Qi training, and probably has no hope in this lifetime. He… what does he have to rely on?"

It wasn't jealousy, and there was no resentment. He was just too surprised.

It was completely beyond his understanding.

He admitted that Li Ji'an's talent in the Celestial Bestowment Dynasty was outstanding, but… even the emperor of the Celestial Bestowment Dynasty was like an ant in front of the Yan family's Eldest Miss.

Two years ago, he saw Li Ji'an fighting with the Seventh Elder, and later learned that it was because of Alchemist Mo.

But now that Alchemist Mo has left, what is he relying on?

"Is it just because of his handsome appearance?"

While Zhang Tiezhu was surprised, Li Ji'an waved his hand, "I appreciate the Eldest Miss's kindness, but it's enough for me to ride an ordinary spirit steed."

As the saying goes, one can afford a good horse, but not a good saddle.

Yan Qingwan's spirit steed was naturally fast, but it consumed at least one beast essence pill per hundred kilometers, which he felt a little sorry about.

Although his status in the Yan family was special now, with a cultivation ground and eating and living with the Eldest Miss, his treatment was very good, but… he had no salary.

And since he had already received so many resources that others dreamed of, he had no reason to ask for a salary.

Originally, there was no place to spend spirit stones, but with the addition of a frog, there was an extra expense.

Although he had been maintaining the minimum feeding for the past two years, the spirit stones he had saved up before were almost exhausted.

Ordinary low-grade spirit steeds in the clan didn't even need to be fed beast essence pills. It was enough to let them eat some wild grass.

"What concerns do you have, Brother Li? Feel free to speak your mind," Yan Qingwan asked frankly. She didn't have the kind of thoughts that Zhang Tiezhu imagined. She was just worried that Li Ji'an would not return.

If that were the case, she felt that her progress in alchemy would be greatly reduced, or even stagnate.

After working together for eight years, others didn't know, but she belatedly realized Li Ji'an's talent in alchemy.

Before Alchemist Mo's betrayal, Li Ji'an's detailed and in-depth guidance and demonstrations were not entirely imitating Alchemist Mo, but were his own insights.

Unfortunately, Li Ji'an's magic power cultivation was too poor, and his spiritual root was inferior. Otherwise, if he could advance to the late stage of Qi training, he would definitely be able to become a first-grade senior alchemist.

Of course, it was precisely because of this that she was even more dependent on and trusted Li Ji'an.

If it were someone with a good spiritual root and such talent in alchemy, she would worry about their ulterior motives.

She was now heavily relied upon by the clan elders and was under great pressure. She really couldn't do without Li Ji'an.

Li Ji'an smiled and said, "There's not much distance anyway, there's no need to ride too good a spirit steed."

"I naturally know there's not much distance, but… you're only in the early stage of Qi training now, and you have to cross large swathes of wilderness. I'm worried that you'll encounter rogue cultivators or demon beasts. My Winter Snow's maximum speed is comparable to the peak of Qi training driving a flying magic weapon, which should be able to keep you safe," Yan Qingwan explained with concern.

"…" Zhang Tiezhu was completely stunned this time.

"I'm worried about your safety…" Tsk tsk. Is the Eldest Miss being so blatant? And I'm still here.

His head was getting lower and lower, and his face was getting redder and redder.

However, in the next moment, his brow furrowed. He and Brother Li were going out together. Brother Li was riding a fast horse, and he was riding an inferior horse. If they encountered danger, Brother Li could run away, but what about him?

"Oh, Brother Li's cultivation is poor and he's old, so he should run first." Then his brow relaxed again.

Li Ji'an stopped refusing upon hearing this. Safety was more important than anything else. It was just a beast essence pill.

Mainly, he had just suddenly thought of the saying "Battle Qi Transformation Horse". As long as my horse is fast enough, what can the Battle Emperor do to me?

"Be careful! Protect your Brother Li!" Watching Li Ji'an and Zhang Tiezhu leave, Yan Qingwan instructed. The former was said to Li Ji'an, and the latter was naturally said to Zhang Tiezhu.

"I'll be careful!"

"Don't worry, Eldest Miss. Unless you step over my dead body, no one can hurt Brother Li in the slightest!" Zhang Tiezhu was extremely excited.

——

On the vast wilderness, two spirit steeds galloped at top speed.

Before the sun set, the two had already arrived at the gathering area where they had parted ways ten years ago. The journey was smooth and uneventful.

Ten years had passed in a flash, but this place seemed to be the same as it was ten years ago.

Some people hurried, some people strolled, some people were happy, some people were sad…

The biggest difference was probably that the people were different.

Just as Zhang Tiezhu was about to sigh, a steady voice sounded.

"Brother Li! Tiezhu!"