Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation.

Chapter 195 Middle Stage of Foundation Building
There is no need to say much about the medicinal ingredients and holy beast pills that I personally refined to transform the bloodline of spiritual pets. The only thing I am not sure is how much the quality of the Gua Gua bloodline can be transformed.

"If you can transform into a mid-grade bloodline, there's hope that our bond can continue for hundreds more years!"

Li Ji'an stroked the frog's head gently with a smile in his eyes.

Having been together for more than seventy years in two lives, he is very satisfied with Gua Gua. At least Gua Gua is simple and doesn't think too much like humans. He is relatively controllable.

"Quack~" Quaqa raised his head and chased Li Ji'an's hand.

It understood that the master was on this trip for the purpose of transforming its bloodline.

Li Ji'an nodded and gave the medicine and the Holy Beast Pill to Gua Gua for safekeeping, waiting for further preparations to be completed before swallowing and refining.

Then, Li Ji'an's eyes fell on the unexpected gains that Gua Gua had secretly brought back.

A two-meter-long lizard beast with an exploded belly.

It was the late second-stage spiritual pet of the fifth elder of the Liu family.

After the White Ape King transformed into a Taoist, Gua Gua secretly swallowed Guo Qi while he was attracting everyone's attention.

For monsters of the same attributes, especially those that have already condensed their monster cores, devouring each other's monster cores will be beneficial to their own promotion.

Gua Gua stole the corpse of the lizard, but did not secretly devour the demon core, which made Li Ji'an even more satisfied with him.

"This demon core is your trophy. Keep it for yourself and refine it after your bloodline has transformed."

"Quack!" Quack was ecstatic, and his tongue instantly inserted into the belly of the lizard, rolling away a yellowish-brown demon core.

Li Ji'an then separated the skin, flesh and bones. He prepared to refine the hide into talismans, and temporarily keep the bones, which might be used to refine weapons in the future. The flesh and blood would be prepared as food for a period of time. It contained earth essence and spiritual power, which was beneficial to the cultivator's mana and physique.

It can be said that the whole body is a treasure.

After dealing with the lizard beast, Li Jian looked at the bear paw that was covered in blood and had jagged edges.

The severed limb of a peak-level second-level Earth-Splitting Bear.

The five inch-long black blades on the top of it are shining with a sharp light, and are excellent materials for making top-level magical weapons.

Li Ji'an put it into a jade box and sealed it temporarily.

Finally, there was Guo Qi’s storage bag, which he was most looking forward to.

This was the first time in his life that he had opened a storage bag for a major overhaul in the late stage of foundation building, and he was a middle-level figure in a force like Lingshou Mountain in Tianyuan Prefecture. Guo Qi's magic spells in particular made him particularly jealous.

In this life, I am just a casual cultivator, and most of my skills and secret techniques come from the Yan family in the wilderness.

The Yan family is considered to be at the bottom of the entire Tiancang Domain's cultivation world, so naturally their skills and secret techniques are not very good.

Even after decades in the Immortal City, he had never seen any secret techniques or skills beyond the top-grade Xuan level.

This has nothing to do with the control of the Biyun Sect. It is mainly because the higher the level of the martial arts and the rarer the secret techniques, the less willing the holders are to spread them.

"This is... Could this be a mid-grade spirit stone?" Before he found the jade slip for the technique, Li Ji'an's eyes were attracted by two crystal stones the size of a baby's fist, similar in color to ordinary spirit stones.

Before being used as a circulating currency, the main use of spirit stones was for the spiritual energy of heaven and earth contained within them. Cultivators could refine spirit stones and absorb the spiritual energy within them, similar to the effect of qi-replenishing pills.

However, after a cultivator in the Qi training stage refines low-grade spirit stones, he cannot quickly absorb the spiritual energy contained in them, and the spiritual energy will eventually dissipate, causing waste. The cost-effectiveness is not as good as that of Qi-replenishing pills.

The second is to provide energy for a series of energy-consuming objects such as formations, puppets or flying boats.

The mid-grade spirit stone in his hand contains more and purer spiritual energy, which is enough for a Jindan Zhenren to replenish in an emergency. In fact, due to the lack of spiritual energy-purifying elixirs of level three and above, some wealthy Zhenren will use it as a consumable material to improve their cultivation level. It can also be used as energy for high-level energy consumables and is a cultivation resource of level two and above.

Although it has not become a popular currency, it can be used as a trading commodity for many high-level resources.

After feeling the pure spiritual energy contained in it, Li Ji'an nodded secretly. It contained more and purer spiritual energy than the second-level fine spiritual-replenishing elixir he had refined.

However, apart from these two mid-grade spirit stones, Guo Qi, a middle-level leader of the Lingshou Mountain faction in Tianyuan Prefecture, does not have many spirit stones, only less than two thousand.

It's a bit inconsistent with the status of a cultivator in the late stage of foundation building.

However, Li Ji'an soon understood the reason.

This was because he carried a lot of elixirs to replenish his cultivation. The second-stage late-stage elixirs were already very valuable, and the dozen or so bottles and jars of elixirs were worth about five thousand in total.

In addition, there are many medical potions and several poisons that are effective for cultivators in the late stage of foundation building.

There are also three jade boxes filled with medicinal herbs.

Until finally, the three jade talismans in the innermost layer of the storage bag were found.

One is the inheritance of medicine and poison, which is similar to the one given by Doctor Bai back then. Both are only at the second level, but the focus is different, so they can complement each other.

The other two made Li Ji'an happy, both of them were magic.

A wood-based spell called "Rattan Silk Hand". Based on the description inside, Li Ji'an judged that it was at least a top-grade Xuan-level spell. Not only did it have the ability to bind and exert more than 70% of its own magic power, it also had a paralyzing toxin. Most importantly, it had a bit of the flavor of an evil technique and could absorb human essence and blood to replenish itself.

The other is called "Phantom Leaf Killing", which is also a wood-based spell. It can kill a group of people in a range of area with green leaves all over the sky. The first level can transform the green leaves all over the sky into sharp blades in the wind, with extraordinary range killing power. The second level has a magical power similar to teleportation, which can instantly switch places with any green leaf in the sky.

After reading the spell description and comparing it with Guo Qi's actions, Li Ji'an became more certain.

It has to be said that these two spells are the best he has seen in his two lifetimes in the cultivation world.

The only pity is that his wood magic is only a secondary skill in this life, and the power of these two spells is limited.

"It may not be impossible to study this technique in depth and create similar fire spells." Li Ji'an didn't care. As long as there were advanced techniques for him to comprehend and enrich his database, it would be fine.

After all the items were sorted, Li Ji'an nodded with satisfaction. He was content with the excess profits he had made on this trip.

Moreover, in theory, the Liu family still owed him compensation for the second-stage late-stage beast skin.

Then he sent Gua Gua and Xiao Huo Ling away and reviewed the effects of taking the Blood Burning Pill.

A fine Blood Burning Pill allowed his Dantian's mana to surge to the threshold of the late Foundation Establishment stage, but the cost was the consumption of Qi and blood.

After careful sensing and comparison, he judged that rejuvenation in this life might be achieved about ten years earlier.

Theoretically, once the foundation is established, the upper limit of lifespan may reach 300 years. However, that is for cultivators who have good health preservation methods, avoid fighting, and have no injuries to their body and soul. Generally, the average lifespan of a foundation-building cultivator reaches the limit at 250 years old.

Li Ji'an had previously consulted relevant information and asked several familiar elderly foundation-building cultivators, such as Doctor Bai and Master Zou Dan, and concluded that at around the age of 180 or 190, the Qi and blood began to decline, and vitality went downhill.

"There are still at least two more sixty years, so the impact won't be significant."

According to his past cultivation progress, if nothing unexpected happens, he will reach the peak of foundation building in this life at the age of about 100, which means he still has another 50 years.

After that, he would have fifty or sixty years to pursue the formation of the elixir. If he could not succeed in forming the elixir within fifty or sixty years, living ten more years would be of no use.

After confirming the details of this trip, Li Ji'an summoned the deacon of Danding Peak to report what happened during this trip.

Now as a guest official of the Biyun Sect, he can barely be considered a member of the sect. If he encounters any problems outside, he must naturally report them. This is also the role of having a backer.

As expected, True Man Yudan soon came to visit with the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Master Li Dan, don't worry. The sect will definitely seek justice for you this time." Master Yudan met and comforted him.

Jiang Yunzhou looked at Li Ji'an and sighed secretly. He had obtained a large amount of resources and was in seclusion for cultivation, but was forcibly called over by Master Yudan.

I thought it was a big deal, but it turned out to be something that happened when Li Ji'an, the guest alchemist, was out taking private jobs.

After patiently listening to Li Ji'an's description, Jiang Yunzhou felt even more helpless. If it were an ordinary disciple, he would probably have scolded him first.

Although the Spirit Beast Mountain in Tianyuan Province is not as good as the Biyun Sect, it is a subsidiary force of the Lieyang Sect. Moreover, it has already crossed the state. Should he be asked to seek justice for Li Ji'an?

Fortunately, the sect leader had already announced that he would close the sect and practice in seclusion.

"Master Li Dan, we in the Law Enforcement Hall have learned about this matter. We will negotiate with Lingshou Mountain afterwards and issue a warrant for the arrest of the Lingshou Mountain bandit cultivator. In addition, we will order the Liu family of Beast Taming to come to the sect to explain the matter. We will notify you of any subsequent news." Jiang Yunzhou could do nothing about the bandit cultivators from other states, but he could let the Liu family take some responsibility.

"Also, I advise Master Li Dan that it is better not to leave the mountain gate during these troubled times." Jiang Yunzhou said in a slightly stern tone at last.

True Man Yudan also nodded in agreement. "Master Li Dan, although the guest contract does not restrict you, what Hall Master Jiang said is correct. Now that the three states are connected, the outside world is indeed a bit chaotic. It is better to concentrate on refining pills in the sect in the future. The contributions you earn from refining pills can also be exchanged for resources in the sect's treasury. There is really no need to go out and take risks."

Li Ji'an apologized with shame, thanked the sect for its support, and thanked the two men for their kindness.

But to be honest, if it weren't for the hope of Gua Gua's bloodline transformation, he really didn't want to go out.

After seeing the two off, Li Ji'an resumed his leisurely life of cultivation.

A month later, he began the sect's alchemy mission.

It was easier than he expected. It might be because of the care he received from the new alchemist. He was completely satisfied with just opening the furnace four times a month.

Three months later, the head of the Liu family came to Biyun Sect.

To Li Ji'an's surprise, Liu Jiuchan was among the entourage.

He was called to the main hall that day, and after listening to the explanation of the head of the Liu family, he learned that not long after he was chased away that day, Wu Weixiong's Earth-Splitting Bear supported its seriously injured body and took its master away.

Afterwards, the four elders of the Liu family were rescued.

On behalf of the Liu family, the head of the Liu family and Liu Jiuchan sincerely thanked Li Ji'an for his heroic act of leading Guo Qi away in a critical moment, and willingly offered the promised reward.

He was very knowledgeable about human nature and when answering Jiang Yunzhou's questions, he did not say that Li Ji'an had escaped, but that he had bravely led the thief away.

As for why the thief cultivator did not return in the end, no one suspected Li Ji'an. After all, Guo Qi was a cultivator in the late stage of foundation building, and theoretically he would never be killed by Li Ji'an, an alchemist in the early stage of foundation building.

In addition, according to the Liu family, they had expressed their anger towards Lingshou Mountain a month ago and reported the matter to the Lieyang Sect. However, because they failed to provide effective evidence, there was no result.

Moreover, Lingshou Mountain insisted that Guo Qi and Wu Weixiong were definitely not inside the mountain gate, and they had no idea what they had done outside. They had already issued a wanted order in Tianyuan Prefecture.

At this point, the matter of the Holy Beast Pill came to a temporary end. Li Ji'an estimated that the Liu family would have no choice but to accept it in the end.

At most, I can find Wu Weixiong to vent my hatred.

Afterwards, Li Ji'an's practice life returned to peace. Eight months later, four months ahead of schedule, he successfully reached perfection in the initial stage of foundation building.

In addition to the fact that the spiritual energy here is more abundant, it is also related to the environment here. There is no one to disturb you, the mind is empty, and you can achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Then we will face a mid-term bottleneck.

Generally, when cultivators reach this stage, in addition to taking pills to replenish their understanding and break through, they often break through through fighting or meditation.

Li Ji'an had anticipated this bottleneck long ago, and when he was at the third level of foundation building, he often felt the changes in the Dantian magic liquid during the foundation building period. Now he achieved it in one go, breaking through to the middle stage of foundation building without any stagnation.

Feeling the exponential growth of the magic power in his dantian, Li Ji'an could finally start to replenish his talisman trump cards and enhance his means of protecting himself.

In the previous incident of the Holy Beast Pill, he had used up the second-grade fine Golden Bell Talisman and Golden Arrow Talisman that he had nurtured for several years, and had not replenished them yet. He was waiting to be promoted to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

Now, he has no shortage of late-stage second-order talisman materials, but what he lacks is the long-lasting magic power.

The magic power in the middle stage of foundation building can barely support him to draw the late second stage talismans.

Once he can successfully draw a masterpiece of the late second stage, he will have no fear when facing fellow practitioners in the foundation-building stage. Even if he is a fake elixir master, he will have a way to save his life.

The so-called fake pill is a pill that successfully condenses and solidifies the liquid magic power in the first step of pill concentration, but is powerless afterwards, unable to remove impurities, unable to attract the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and fails to transform the pill. Therefore, it has only half the magic power of a real pill cultivator and eighty percent of the lifespan. And the most crucial point is that once the fake pill is formed, there will be no possibility of further advancement and the path will be cut off.

"Hu~" After Li Ji'an entered the middle stage of foundation building, he slowly exhaled towards the rising sun. Looking at the red sun among the colorful clouds, he grinned, confident and determined.

"Quack!" Looking down, he saw Guagua squatting by the Tianchi Lake on the top of the mountain, practicing meditation while facing the rising sun.

"Swish!" Without waiting for Guagua to respond, several vines shot towards it.

This was the "Rattan Silk Hand" technique that Li Ji'an had taken time out to practice in the past few months.

"Swoosh!" The next moment, a thumb-thick vine completely bound Gua Gua.

"Quack~" Quaq looked up at Li Ji'an and then rolled his eyes.

"Bang bang bang~" Gua Gua just shook lightly, and all the vines wrapped around it broke.

Li Ji'an raised his eyebrows slightly, but he didn't care. He was just getting started, and his wood magic power was only equivalent to the middle stage of Qi training. Naturally, he couldn't really trap the second-level monster Gua Gua.

As for "Phantom Leaf Murder", he has not yet mastered it. This technique requires at least the wood-type magic power of the late stage of Qi training.

Smiling and shaking his head, Li Ji'an came down from the peak, entered the alchemy room, and began to draw the second-stage late talisman.

It was not until half a month later, after seven failures and wasting seven precious second-level late-stage animal skin talismans, that he finally succeeded in drawing the first late-stage attack talisman.

Unfortunately, it is only of medium quality.

Its power was only 60% of that of an ordinary late foundation-building talisman, not much different from the mid-stage fine golden arrow talisman that he had nurtured for several years.

"My magic power is still a little insufficient!" After summing up his experience, Li Ji'an had no choice but to give up temporarily and decided to stabilize his mid-stage foundation-building realm first.

And it was on this day that Gua Gua finally adjusted his condition to its peak.

It can allow its bloodline to transform.

(End of this chapter)