Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation.

Chapter 133: Dragon and Snake Transformation
People are changeable, and their attitude changes with the identity, status, and value of the person they are facing.

When they first met in Flame Mountain four years ago, Liu Jiuchan, a core descendant of the Liu family, one of the five major families that control beasts, would never have looked at him directly unless he needed all the soul-trapping talismans he had.

When he came to buy the blood pill less than a year ago, he had already successfully established his foundation. He looked down on Li Ji'an as a senior master and tried to force him to give up his promise.

At this moment, Liu Jiuchan smiled sweetly. Although she was still dressed in red, her posture was warm and gentle, making people feel sincere and approachable.

Li Ji'an has always been calm and open-minded. He doesn't want to make enemies with others, and even less willing to bear grudges. After all, hatred can easily make people unbalanced, affect their judgment of some things, and may even lead to obsession and inner demons.

However, some things or people that had an impact on his ultimate goal of eternal immortality ultimately sowed the seeds.

It is destined to bear fruit.

Otherwise, if the thoughts are not clear, it will still have more or less impact on the state of mind.

This was the case with Master Mo Dan, Wei Huairen, Zheng Tianxiang and others before him, as well as the unknown family that raised blood slaves.

The results of these causes and consequences are not much different from those of hatred. It just lies in the different state of mind. One kind of hatred is deep and bitter, and people hold grudges every day, even without regard for the consequences. The other kind of hatred is a breeze that blows by without leaving any trace, and people do things if they can, and delay if they can't.

Although Liu Jiuchan in front of him did not directly cause him life-threatening consequences, her problematic blood pill almost caused the guardian frog to face life and death crisis.

This is the cause. As for what kind of result it will produce, Li Ji'an has no conclusion yet.

First, if it is a favor, we should judge by deeds rather than intentions. We should only look at what the person did, not what he was thinking at the time.

But if it is a grudge, in addition to the consequences, we still need to consider its original intention to determine what kind of result it will produce.

If the original intention is to harm others, to kill one's own pet, then it is no surprise that the result will be the worst, even if the goal is not achieved in the end.

If the mistake is unintentional and the original intention is very different from the consequences, then the result will naturally not be the same as the worst result.

Of course, the final outcome and whether the outcome can be guaranteed does not depend solely on his own wishes, but also depends on the other party's strength and influence.

After all, he believed that he was not a man destined to be enemies of the world, so he could make enemies everywhere and still guarantee to survive to the end.

Anything that goes against the ultimate goal of eternal immortality is not allowed!
"I am so honored that Fellow Daoist Liu came to congratulate me in person. I am really flattered." Li Ji'an smiled and bowed.

He had a clear self-awareness. He was just a first-level casual cultivator. Even if he had successfully established his foundation, how could he compare to the younger generations of the five major families who had established their foundation?
And he is also the core genius of the clan.

Liu Jiuchan landed gracefully in front of Li Ji'an and smiled. "Haha~ Fellow Daoist Li, have you become estranged from Jiuchan so quickly? We've known each other for four years, and we share a deep connection. You even helped Jiuchan nearly capture a rare spirit beast. Jiuchan will always remember this kindness."

"..." Even though Li Ji'an had lived for several lifetimes and had known countless people, he was still impressed by Liu Jiuchan's smoothness, fickleness, and shamelessness.

This girl can accomplish great things!
Liu Jiuchan's expression was calm and his words were natural, but he was extremely depressed in his heart.

When Li Ji'an was looking to buy the Blood Pill a year ago, she judged that he had the potential to build a foundation because of his status as a guest alchemist of the Jiuding Chamber of Commerce and the purity of his magic power.

That's why I didn't break my promise just now.

But, that's all.

After all, a second-level casual alchemist was not enough to make her look at him differently.

However, a few months ago, news spread throughout the Immortal City that Li Ji'an had actually refined the top-grade Ningbi Pill.

Then he successfully built the foundation this time.

The most crucial thing is that this time when he is building his foundation, he actually has the young master of Jiuding Chamber of Commerce, who is in the middle stage of foundation building, to personally protect him!

As a result of this series of effects, Li Ji'an's status and position underwent a drastic change.

A second-level senior alchemist with the potential to be the King of Alchemy!
A second-level senior alchemist who has a close relationship with the Jiuding Chamber of Commerce!

As a result, her clan notified her overnight to express goodwill as soon as possible.

It's nothing, it's just that the beast-taming Liu family is located in the jurisdiction of the Biyun Sect in Cangyun Province, and there are many restrictions on the trading of spirit beasts within the family. If they can board the big ship of the Jiuding Chamber of Commerce and export the spirit beasts of the family to other places, or even to the "Demon Realm" that only the Jiuding Chamber of Commerce can enter and exit safely, then the Liu family will have a great day.

Over the years, the Liu family's top management has contacted the Chamber of Commerce many times, but has never even met the mysterious boss.

In addition, the Liu family also hopes to have a reliable and experienced second-level alchemist for long-term cooperation.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I wonder if you have used the blood pill I bought last time? If not, Jiuchan suggests that you use this one. It will be considered a gift from the Liu family." Seeing that Li Ji'an did not respond, Liu Jiuchan took out a jade bottle and handed it to Li Ji'an without any embarrassment.

Li Ji'an's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh? Then, is there something wrong with the blood pill that Fellow Daoist Liu sold me earlier?"

"Friend Li, you're worrying too much. That blood pill is undoubtedly genuine. However, the slight difference is that it contains two properties, which makes it more suitable for amphibious spirit beasts. For ordinary spirit beasts, the medicinal properties of a single attribute may be slightly insufficient. If the spirit beast's bloodline is not strong enough, it is easy to fail in its promotion." Liu Jiuchan explained with a smile, his eyes sincere and without dodging.

"I see." Li Ji'an nodded.

At that time, he also keenly sensed the situation of the blood pill, which was consistent with what Liu Jiuchan said at the moment.

If Gua Gua doesn't risk his life like that, the worst result will be failure to get promoted.

However, this also confirmed that Liu Jiuchan sold him the blood pill on purpose and it was not done with good intentions.

The cause has been planted, and as for when it will bear fruit, we will leave it to time.

"Fellow Daoist Li, please accept this gift." Liu Jiuchan handed the jade bottle forward again.

Li Ji'an smiled and bowed, "I appreciate your kindness, Taoist Liu. However, to be honest, I asked for the elixir last time to repay a favor. Now that the favor has been repaid, I don't need it anymore."

A trump card that is known to others is no longer a trump card, and Gua Gua does not want others to know this trump card unless it is absolutely necessary.

Now that he has established his foundation, he is a second-level senior alchemist, and he also has the background of Tong Yaoyao from the Jiuding Chamber of Commerce. These identities are enough to ensure a safe and secure life in Cangyun Province, and there is no need to reveal more to raise his own status.

"Oh, it's all Jiuchan's fault for not being thoughtful enough and not understanding Fellow Daoist Li's needs in advance. This..." Liu Jiuchan suddenly looked annoyed.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, please don't do this. This is truly humiliating to me. I am already extremely grateful that you have come in person to congratulate me. I will always remember this kindness.

I'll celebrate my foundation building soon, and I've got the audacity to invite Fellow Daoist Liu over for a drink. "Cause and effect are cause and effect, but we can't let her think I've wronged her and create a grudge for nothing."

Especially when facing this kind of foundation-building cultivator who is scheming, narrow-minded, but has a strong background and wide social connections.

Liu Jiuchan's brows finally relaxed, and he stopped arguing: "Okay! Then Jiuchan will wait for Fellow Daoist Li's wedding and will definitely prepare new gifts by then."

After watching Liu Jiuchan leave, Li Ji'an also left the cave immediately and prepared to go to Jiuding Chamber of Commerce first.

The success of his foundation building this time was entirely due to the foundation-building pill materials Zhao Shuyao had gifted him; this favor was immense. Tong Yaoyao's protection had unexpectedly boosted his status and position, serving as a kind of endorsement. In the future, even the five major families would show him some respect when he made his way around Cangyun Province.

This is also a favor.

"Hello, senior. This is the extra rental fee this time. Please keep it." After leaving the cave, Li Ji'an first went to the management office to return the cave formation card and settle the rental fee.

I originally paid half a year's rent, but this time I only used it for four months and refunded the excess fees.

"Senior, walk slowly."

……

Facing the compliments from the Qi family cultivators in the late stage of Qi training in the management office, Li Ji'an smiled faintly.

After sixty-seven years in this cultivation world, he has finally become a senior in the eyes of ninety-nine percent of the people here.

On the way to the Jiuding Chamber of Commerce, although he did not release any special foundation-building aura, he was still respectfully called senior by many cultivators he met on the way. Fortunately, he was called senior for many days in the Xianci Dynasty in his previous lives, so he could accept it calmly.

"I've seen Senior Li."

"Congratulations, Senior Li."

Until he arrived at Jiuding Chamber of Commerce, he was greeted respectfully by everyone again.

Upon hearing the voice, Shopkeeper Wu came over from afar, but when he got closer, he became like the others, timid and respectful in his words, lacking the familiarity of the past.

"Shopkeeper Wu, there's no need for this between you and me." Li Ji'an smiled and patted Shopkeeper Wu's shoulder.

The two of them had known each other since the first day they came to the Immortal City, and twelve years had passed until now, and their relationship had always been complementary.

Li Ji'an brought enough high-quality pills to Manager Wu to help him complete his performance appraisal.

Shopkeeper Wu always did his best to pay Danchou for Li Ji'an.

They complement each other, cooperate for mutual benefit, and have a good relationship.

"Senior Li..." Shopkeeper Wu was shocked and moved by Li Ji'an's attitude.

He has lived for nearly a hundred years and has seen many foundation-building cultivators. Except for the young master who cannot be measured by common sense, the rest of the foundation-building cultivators all changed their identities in an instant after successfully building their foundation. Few are as consistent as Li Ji'an.

Especially those independent cultivators who were looked down upon before they established their foundation. The more they were looked down upon before, the more they look down upon those who have not established their foundation after they have established their foundation.

"I'll go see Aunt Yao first." After exchanging a few words with Shopkeeper Wu, Li Ji'an walked inside.

The first thing he did when he came out of quarantine was to see Zhao Shuyao. In addition to expressing his respect, he also wanted to give something in return.

Previously, I refined one foundation-building pill, one of low quality and one of high quality.

When he was building his foundation, he understood that the grade of the foundation-building pill would not only increase the success rate, but would also be beneficial to his magic power after building the foundation. Therefore, not to mention that in his next life he might not need the help of foundation-building pills because of his superior spiritual roots, even if he still needed to rely on foundation-building pills, he would definitely take a high-quality or even higher-quality foundation-building pill.

Therefore, this extra low-grade foundation-building pill is of little use to him except for selling it at the auction house.

However, compared to auctioning it for cash, he would rather give it to Zhao Shuyao. Strictly speaking, the medicinal materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill that Zhao Shuyao gave him produced two pills. He took one, and the remaining one should belong to Zhao Shuyao.

"Auntie Yao! I'm out of isolation."

"Xiao Fan, let Aunt Yao see what changes have taken place after you established your foundation?" Zhao Shuyao smiled brightly when she saw Li Ji'an, and she looked at him for a long time.

Tong Yaoyao frowned as she watched from the side. She had clearly established her foundation a long time ago and was always by Zhao Shuyao's side, but she had never seen Zhao Shuyao look at her like that.

This made her feel that she might have built a false foundation?

"Thank you, Aunt Yao, for your protection before." Li Ji'an thanked Tong Yaoyao again.

"Just don't forget what you promised me before." After saying that, Tong Yaoyao pouted and left.

Zhao Shuyao looked around and nodded with satisfaction: "Okay, good, my Xiaofan has also become a Foundation Establishment Senior."

Li Ji'an smiled and shook his head: "Aunt Yao, you are too kind. Building a foundation is only the first step on the path to immortality. How dare you call yourself a great master?"

Zhao Shuyao's expression froze. "Xiao Fan, don't underestimate yourself. You don't know how much your father and I envied the Foundation Establishment cultivators back then. When we were in the wilderness, those Foundation Establishment cultivators were all ancestors of nearby families. They were high and mighty, looking down on everyone. We weren't even qualified to look at them."

Li Ji'an agreed with a smile and did not argue with her. After all, what she said was the truth.

Seeing that Li Ji'an didn't seem to care, Zhao Shuyao said more seriously:
"Xiao Fan, remember, your father once said that a gentleman should be able to transform himself into a dragon or snake. When conditions are insufficient, he should fall to the ground and become a snake, crouching in the grass, living with ants, dwelling in muddy holes, and eating dirty food in order to find a safe place to live.

When the conditions are right, the sky will become a dragon, flying thousands of miles, able to call the wind and rain, swallow clouds and spit out mist, and send down sweet dew, showing its full talents.

When you are a snake, you should not sink into despair and become discouraged just because you were once a dragon.

Even after becoming a dragon, she does not feel inferior or guilty because she was once a snake.

No matter what you were like before, now you have transformed into a dragon. Don't underestimate yourself anymore. Look at the foundation-building cultivators outside. You still need to have the proper attitude!"

"..." Li Ji'an was a little distracted.

These were the words he used to comfort the four people when he led them to escape from the Storm Desert. At that time, the four people were hit by the "immortal" and were quite disheartened.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Shuyao actually remembered it so clearly and even warned him in return.

"Yes, I will definitely remember Aunt Yao's teachings!"

After some discussion, Li Ji'an took out the foundation-building pill.

When he said he wanted to give it to Zhao Shuyao, Zhao Shuyao rejected it outright.

"Oh~ Aunt Yao is old, what use is there for me? You have just established your foundation, and you will need more resources in the future. At least your current residence can no longer meet your needs for cultivation. You should sell it."

After several refusals, Li Ji'an had no choice but to take back the Foundation Establishment Pill.

However, during his conversation with Zhao Shuyao, he also had a plan...

(End of this chapter)