Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation.

Chapter 67 Returning to Hometown
Li Ji'an packed up and went to the clan lobby with Zhang Tiezhu.

Now they are both outsiders of the family and need to register when entering or leaving the family.

To be precise, Zhang Tiezhu was recognized by the Yan family by his meritorious service, and was first hired by the Yan family as an external employee. Then, because of his great merit in the clan war, he was promoted to a member of the Yan family with a different surname.

Compared with the people who were given surnames, they were of a lower class. They enjoyed a marginal Taoist temple within the clan that was comparable to a first-grade inferior spiritual vein, and were supplied with ten kilograms of spiritual rice every month. They were eligible to marry women within the clan, and once they married a woman within the clan, their status would be raised to a higher class, and they would enjoy the same rights as the people who were given surnames.

If one can give birth to a child with extraordinary talent, there will be a generous reward.

Of course, the offspring must have the surname Yan.

Li Ji'an's words were somewhat special. To those who didn't know him well, he was just a servant who had luckily sneaked in with Master Mo Dan. This was considered a blessing from his ancestors.

After that, Master Mo Dan betrayed the family, but instead of being expelled from the family, he was even rewarded.

An outsider who had never shed blood on the front line for his clan then became the eldest lady's alchemy assistant.

Not only can he enjoy the dojo next to the core spiritual vein, which is only available to the clan's high-ranking members, but he can also chat and laugh with several elders and the eldest lady.

The most important thing is that he is nearly forty years old, but he is still only a minor cultivator in the early stage of Qi training and has no potential at all.

Of course, the reason for this is that the top management of the Yan family wants to push Yan Qingwan to the forefront, to become the hope and spiritual pillar of the clan members, to inspire them to move forward, and also to pave the way for Yan Qingwan's future.

In the eyes of the lower-class members of the Yan family, Yan Qingwan must be a genius in alchemy. She learned all of Master Mo's alchemy skills in just nine years, all thanks to her own talent and hard work.

As for the secret matters of the medicine garden, no one else will know about them.

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

Just after completing the registration procedures, a familiar gentle voice came.

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

"Yes, it's been ten years since we last met, and I made an agreement with my old friend." Li Ji'an responded with a smile.

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

“The fastest is a day of round trip, the slowest is three to five days.”

"Okay, you ride my Dongxue, go quickly and come back quickly." Yan Qingwan handed a beast-controlling card to Li Ji'an.

This is the soul tag of her exclusive spirit horse.

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

He had been in the Yan family for ten years and had heard the story of Yan Qingwan and her Dongxue. Dongxue was extremely important to Yan Qingwan.

It is said to be related to her deceased mother.

Even the tribe members who are responsible for taming beasts cannot touch it.

Zhang Tiezhu stared at Li Ji'an's back with burning eyes, his heart in turmoil.

"Brother Li is about ten years older than the eldest lady, right?"

"Furthermore, the eldest lady has mid-grade spiritual roots and is extremely talented in alchemy. She is very likely to be the future head of the family or even the ancestor who protects the clan..."

"Brother Li hasn't even broken through to the initial stage of Qi training yet. I'm afraid there's no hope for him in this lifetime. He...what's his reason?"

It wasn't jealousy, nor was there any resentment, he was just genuinely amazed.

It was completely beyond his knowledge.

He admitted that Li Ji'an was extremely talented in the Xianci Dynasty, but... even the emperor of the Xianci Dynasty was like an ant in front of the eldest daughter of the Yan family.

Two years ago, I saw Li Ji'an and the Seventh Elder fighting, and finally found out that it was because of Master Mo Dan.

But now that Master Mo Dan has left, what can he rely on?
"Just because of his handsome appearance?"

When Zhang Tiezhu was surprised, Li Ji'an waved his hand and said, "I appreciate your kindness, Miss. It's enough for me to ride an ordinary spirit horse." As the saying goes, you can afford a good horse but not a good saddle.

Yan Qingwan's spirit horse was naturally fast, but it consumed at least one beast essence pill for every hundred kilometers, and he felt a little distressed.

Although he now has a special status in the Yan family, has a place to practice Taoism, eats with the eldest daughter, and is treated very well, but... he has no salary.

Moreover, he has already obtained so many resources that others only dream of, so there is no reason for him to ask for a salary.

There was no place to spend spirit stones originally, but with one more frog, there was an additional expense.

Although the minimum feeding rate has been maintained for the past two years, the spirit stones that have been saved before are almost used up.

Ordinary low-grade spirit horses in the clan don’t even need to be fed with beast essence pills; it is enough to let them eat some wild grass.

"Brother Li, what are your concerns? You might as well speak frankly." Yan Qingwan asked frankly. She did not have the same concerns as Zhang Tiezhu. She was just worried that Li Ji'an would never come back.

In that case, she felt that her progress in the path of alchemy would be greatly reduced, or even stagnate.

They worked together for eight years, and although others didn't know, she later realized Li Ji'an's talent in the art of alchemy.

It turned out that before Master Mo Dan betrayed her, Li Ji'an's detailed and in-depth guidance and drills for her were not entirely imitations of Master Mo Dan, but his own understanding.

Unfortunately, Li Ji'an's magic power is too poor and his spiritual roots are inferior. Otherwise, if he could advance to the late stage of Qi training, he would definitely become a first-class senior alchemist.

Of course, it is precisely because of this that she relies more on and trusts Li Ji'an more.

If it was someone with good spiritual roots and such talent in alchemy, she would still worry that he had bad intentions.

She is now highly regarded by the elders of the clan and is under a lot of pressure. She really cannot do without Li Ji'an.

Li Ji'an smiled and said, "It's not a long distance anyway, so there's no need to ride a very fine spirit horse."

"Of course I know it's not far, but... you are in the early stage of Qi training and you still have to cross a large wilderness area. I am worried that you will encounter a robbing cultivator or a monster. My Dongxue's speed is comparable to that of a peak Qi training cultivator controlling a flying magic weapon, so it should be able to keep you safe." Yan Qingwan explained worriedly.

“…” Zhang Tiezhu was completely stunned this time.

"I'm worried about your safety...tsk tsk." Is the young lady so blatant? I'm still here.

His head lowered lower and his face became redder.

However, the next moment, he frowned. He went out with Brother Li. Brother Li rode a fast horse, while he rode an inferior horse. If they encountered danger, Brother Li could run away, but what about him?

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

Li Ji'an stopped refusing after hearing that. Safety was more important than anything else. It was just a Beast Yuan Pill.

The main reason was that he suddenly thought of the story of "Fighting Qi turning into a horse". As long as my horse is fast enough, what can the Fighting Emperor do to me?
"Be careful! Protect your brother Li." Yan Qingwan gave Li Ji'an and Zhang Tiezhu a reminder after watching them leave. The former was said to Li Ji'an, and the latter was naturally said to Zhang Tiezhu.

"I will be careful!"

"Don't worry, Miss. No one can hurt Brother Li unless they step over my dead body!" Zhang Tiezhu was very excited.
-
In the vast wilderness, two spirit horses were galloping at high speed.

Before the sun set, the two had arrived at the gathering area where they had parted ways ten years ago. The journey was smooth and without any danger.

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

Some are walking fast, some are strolling leisurely, some are happy, some are sad...

The biggest difference may be the people.

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

"Brother Li! Tiezhu!"

(End of this chapter)