Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation.

Chapter 379 Xiao Qiao Reaches Core Formation
Faced with the real person, Zhang Xiuyuan immediately knelt down in fear and trepidation.

However, the fear in my heart dissipated a lot because of his real aura.

After all, the True Person wouldn't care about the little spiritual resources he brought from the Yan family, nor would he relentlessly pursue a small, extinct Foundation Establishment family.

Of course, the most crucial thing is Li Ji'an's true face after he removed his disguise.

"Get up and answer." Li Ji'an gently stroked the chubby boy's head, channeling calming and nourishing magic into him to relieve his trembling, and then used his magic to help Zhang Xiuyuan up.

Zhang Xiuyuan couldn't help but steal glances at Li Ji'an's face, his excitement barely contained.

"Senior... my real name is Yan Xiuyuan. I am hiding my identity here to avoid the cultivators of the wasteland from taking advantage of the Yan family's misfortune." This time, Yan Xiuyuan did not try to deceive anyone.

Li Ji'an nodded slightly.

He already knew the whole story of how the Yan family was wiped out.

Yan Qingwan returned to her clan from the front lines a few years ago, and then died of old age.

After Yan Qingwan was no longer a deterrent to the Yan family, Yan Xiao took full control and began to invest recklessly in his own attempt to break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. As a result, the Yan family, which was originally a giant in the wasteland, became weaker day by day.

In particular, for the sake of his own path, he sold off all the resources in his clan that should have been used for the Qi Refining stage, and finally obtained pills and rare treasures to use for breaking through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

It was these high-grade pills and rare treasures that drew the attention of the Four Bloodthirsty Demons, who were originally just passing through the wasteland and looked down on these Foundation Establishment families, to the Yan family.

In the end, Yan Xiao was killed, and most of the clan's elders were killed or injured.

If that were all, the Yan family would still have a chance to preserve their lineage.

However, the Yan family, which was rumored to have been wiped out by the Four Bloodthirsty Demons, was actually robbed by other cultivators in the wasteland.

These opportunists, who took advantage of the chaos, encompassed almost everyone in the wasteland who aspired to a higher path. Their actions were unrelated to character or morality, nor to any grudges or entanglements; they were simply driven by the prospect of profit and the low risk involved.

To avoid retaliation from the Yan family if they were to rise again, the Yan family was almost wiped out.

"Zhang Tiezhu, which generation are you from?" Li Ji'an then asked.

shuh~
Upon hearing this, Yan Xiuyuan suddenly looked up and stared directly at Li Ji'an, his excitement barely contained.

"Does the senior know my great-grandfather?"

Before Li Ji'an could respond, he tentatively asked again, full of anticipation, "Senior, are you the person in the painting of my Qingwan clan ancestor?"

Li Ji'an smiled slightly, but did not respond directly. Instead, he said bluntly, "I have already killed the Four Bloodthirsty Demons and the Yan family is gone. Do not be stubborn about grudges. I can give you an opportunity. You can choose for yourself."

"Firstly, one inner sect spot in either the Biyun Sect or the Qishi Forest."

"Secondly, a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"Whoosh~" Yan Xiuyuan exhaled heavily, his heart surging with uncontrollable excitement.

Foundation Establishment Pills are now readily available. Since the two domains entered the Heavenly Azure Domain, the number of low-level cultivators has been increasing. Although Foundation Establishment Pills are no longer restricted and are supplied by merchants from other domains, they can be purchased as long as one has spirit stones.

However, there are too many low-level cultivators, and the supply cannot meet the demand, causing prices to skyrocket.

Even without purchase restrictions, it's still not something the average person can afford.

Nowadays, a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill in the wasteland is being sold for nine thousand spirit stones.

Yan Xiuyuan had never dared to hope for a Foundation Establishment Pill in his entire life.

However, after a brief moment of excitement, he forcibly suppressed his desire for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

After all, Foundation Establishment Pills can only be taken in the late Qi Refining stage, and even then, it's not certain whether one can achieve Foundation Establishment.

Their current cultivation environment is increasingly depleted of spiritual energy, and there is a shortage of cultivation pills for the Qi Refining stage. Even if they had Foundation Establishment Pills, they might never be able to reach the late stage of Qi Refining in their entire lives.

As for the inner disciples of Biyun Sect and Qishi Forest, they would have been the top choices in the past. But now, even within Biyun Sect, let alone Qishi Forest, inner disciples may not receive Foundation Establishment Pills from the sect.

Most of them still have to venture out into the world and carry out missions to seek their hopes.

Moreover, there are frequent rumors that these two forces may be purged.

Faced with the unbridled demonic cultivators, these two forces could be destroyed at any moment.

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. If that day ever comes, the inner disciples may have to sacrifice themselves for the sect.

However, compared to their current situation, the two major powers are naturally a hundred times better off in terms of cultivation environment and future prospects.

"Thank you for your great kindness, senior. I am... I am having some difficulty in making a decision. May I discuss this with my family?" After a moment's hesitation, Yan Xiuyuan kowtowed with utmost respect.

“Okay!” Li Ji’an nodded, then turned and went out.

I will leave in fifteen minutes.

After seeing Li Ji'an off, Yan Xiuyuan's expression immediately turned solemn, and he hurriedly called for his Daoist partner and eldest son.

Soon, the family of four gathered in one room.

"What? That fellow Daoist is a Core Formation True Person!" Yan Xiuyuan exclaimed in shock after explaining the situation.

“I am over fifty years old and of low talent. This opportunity is useless to me. It is up to Han’er and Dunzi.” Yan Xiuyuan immediately looked at his two sons.

The chubby boy had already calmed down thanks to Li Ji'an's magical protection. However, at only six years old, he was still clueless about cultivation and the path of Tao, and did not know what this opportunity meant.

In fact, the choice has already been handed over to the eldest son.

The child's spiritual veins are not yet fully formed, and his innate talents are unknown.

The eldest son is already twenty-five years old, with the highest level of eight strands of earth-elemental spiritual roots, and has been stuck at the sixth level of Qi Refining for nearly three years.

"Han'er?" Yan Xiuyuan broke the silence and looked at Yan Mohan.

Yan Mohan remained calm, her eyes like pools of autumn water, as she met her father's gaze: "Father, let Dunzi go."

"You don't want the Foundation Establishment Pill?" The mother looked at Yan Mohan with surprise and suspicion.

Yan Mohan smiled gently: "Mother, I am not talented enough. If I continue on this path of cultivation, even if I have Foundation Establishment Pills, I will probably not be able to use them, so I won't waste them."

"Then why don't you go to a sect? There you'll find more senior experts to guide you, and perhaps you'll have a chance to glimpse the brilliance of Foundation Establishment!"

"Mother, my ambitions lie elsewhere!" Yan Mohan replied with a faint smile.

Upon hearing this, Yan Xiuyuan immediately thought of Li Ji'an's instructions and said in a deep voice, "Senior has already killed the four demons and avenged the Yan family. Han'er, you must not have such thoughts again."

Upon hearing this, Yan Mohan's gentle face showed a slight change in expression. He subconsciously glanced at the pedestrians outside the window and scoffed, "Did you report it?"

Yan Xiuyuan and his mother both frowned.

This child received too much love and kindness from his clan when he was young, and his attachment to it is too deep.

"Han'er..."

"Father, Mother, I know what I'm doing, there's no need to say more." Yan Mohan appeared gentle on the surface, but in reality, she was extremely resilient.

"Sigh!" The two men, who knew their son well, could only sigh heavily in the end. Less than fifteen minutes later, Yan Xiuyuan's room door opened.

The family of four respectfully arrived at the door and knelt before Li Ji'an.

"I will never forget your great kindness, senior." Yan Xiuyuan kowtowed heavily, without using any magical power to protect himself, and his brows instantly turned crimson.

"Dun'er, kowtow to your senior. From now on, whatever your senior tells you to do, you must do. Never disobey him." Then he turned to look at the boy beside him.

"Bang!" The fat guy had already been persuaded by the couple, so he didn't hesitate at this moment.

However, the clever trick of secretly holding a piece of gravel in his hand and smashing it on the ground while kowtowing still made Li Ji'an smile in his heart.

It was as if I could see the first time I met Lau Ching-wan in my third life.

"Slap!" His actions naturally didn't escape the notice of his parents, who were both cultivators. Yan Xiuyuan slapped him hard, his face instantly turning red. He hurriedly kowtowed, "Senior, please forgive me. My son is naughty..."

"It's alright." Li Ji'an smiled faintly.

"Let's go." He then used his magic to envelop the fat man.

"Father, Mother, Big Brother, I don't want to leave you, I..." The chubby boy, who had just been comforted by the couple, suddenly forgot everything at this moment and immediately burst into heart-wrenching sobs.

"You good-for-nothing! It's a blessing from your past lives that your senior is taking you with him. If you don't behave, we'll spank you until your bottom is raw!" the couple scolded hastily.

However, the couple's usual threats, which always worked, were ineffective this time.

The chubby boy kept struggling.

It wasn't until Yan Mohan, who had been keeping her head down and silent, slightly raised her head, that her pupils narrowed slightly as her gaze met that of Yan Zhiwei, who was struggling.

The chubby boy instantly calmed down and lowered his head resignedly.

Li Ji'an glanced at Yan Mohan unexpectedly, and the latter immediately lowered her head.

He didn't eavesdrop on the family of four's discussion, but he had actually anticipated this outcome.

Although he now has a certain degree of freedom and is willing to take care of the descendants of his old friend Zhang Tiezhu, as well as to preserve the Yan family line and future, he is also mindful of his limits and will not take on too much or force others to do what they want.

A month later, Li Ji'an brought the chubby boy to the Strange Stone Forest.

Along the way, the little fat boy's previous relationship with Li Ji'an had completely changed, and he could no longer treat Li Ji'an as a friend in the same innocent way as before.

Upon arriving at the Strange Stone Forest, Li Ji'an instructed the chubby boy to familiarize himself with the area first, and ultimately, he could decide whether to stay in the Strange Stone Forest or the Azure Cloud Sect.

"Ping An, I heard three months ago that you were taken away by the Holy Son. I was so worried. Thank God, you're finally back safe and sound." As soon as Xiao Qiao saw Li Ji'an, she came up to check on him with great concern.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister. I'm fine." Li Ji'an didn't mention a single word about the Dragon Burial Cave, worried about getting involved. She then changed the subject, saying she wanted to check on the spiritual plants in the spiritual field.

Xiao Qiao also noticed Li Ji'an's evasive attitude towards the matter, and wisely refrained from asking further questions.

However, when she first learned that Lin Xiuzhu and the other two had gone to Biyun Sect to take Li Ji'an away, she didn't actually think that Li Ji'an would have an accident. Instead, she thought that it was more likely that Lin Xiuzhu and the other two would have an accident.

After all, she still vividly remembered the scene ten years ago when Li Ji'an plotted with her to kill the Nascent Soul of the Myriad Laws True Monarch. She had a certain degree of confidence in Li Ji'an's trump cards and his cunning.

The only concern is the existence of the supreme being behind Lin Xiuzhu and his three holy sons.

The fact that Li Ji'an was able to come to the Strange Stone Forest at this moment most likely means that he did not leave any hidden dangers that might have offended figures like the Golden Puppet Saint King or the Blood Spirit Saint Mother.

Otherwise, given his intelligence, he certainly wouldn't have come here.

When she was being harassed by the Holy Son of the Hehuan Sect, her first thought was to ask her junior brother for help, but she was worried that this would attract the attention of powerful figures to her junior brother, the Biyun Sect, and the Qishi Forest, so she held back.

Later, when the mysterious old man inexplicably came to the Strange Stone Forest and lured away the Holy Son of the Hehuan Sect, she didn't think much of it.

But when she suddenly heard that the holy son had died, she immediately thought of the junior brother in front of her.

She was almost certain that the old man was her junior brother in disguise, and that his purpose was to help her deal with the Holy Son of the Joyful Union Sect.

Therefore, she now feels even more strongly for this junior brother, and has a sense of security that comes from having family to stand up for her when she is bullied.

“Ping An, these three third-tier spiritual herbs are all mature.” Xiao Qiao led Li Ji’an to the front of the spiritual field and pointed to the three spiritual plants.

Two of them were collected by Xiao Qiao by chance, and one was brought by Li Ji'an from Wan Shang Yu.

Coincidentally, two of these three plants are the main ingredients for Condensing Crystal Pills.

"Not bad, it's ready to be used in medicine!" Li Ji'an stepped forward to examine it and nodded in satisfaction.

"Senior Sister, have you fully honed your magical power?" Li Ji'an then looked at Xiao Qiao and used his divine sense to examine her physical condition.

Xiao Qiao nodded: "Having been tempered by the earth's veins, it is now fully developed."

"Are you ready to strive for Core Formation?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiao's expression turned slightly serious.

Which cultivator in this world doesn't want to reach the Core Formation stage?
Only those who have reached the Core Formation stage can be considered to have temporarily established a foothold in this world.

However, although the Qishi Forest was protected by the Qin family and Wu Weixiong and was not purged by the major sects, it was constantly harassed by scattered demonic cultivators. In recent years, it has been in a state of seclusion and isolation, and its spiritual resources have been greatly depleted.

They no longer harbored any thoughts of coveting the Core Formation Treasure.

"I'm ready. I'll start my assault in six months," Xiao Qiao said firmly.

"Senior Sister has a Core Formation Spiritual Treasure?" Li Ji'an was somewhat surprised.

Xiao Qiao shook her head with a wry smile: "Hehe, of course not. However, once I merge with the earth's veins, the earth's spiritual energy will gather. After many attempts and deductions, it should have the effect of forming a core spiritual treasure."

Moreover, the spiritual veins here have long been connected with my mind, and forming my core here will be of great benefit.

I don't crave the real elixir; I'll be content with the fake one.

In addition, Uncle Li gave me quite a few protective pills before he died, which should have some effect. Even if it doesn't work out, it should at least save my life.

Li Ji'an nodded secretly, then stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Senior Sister, please prepare with peace of mind. Junior Brother will give you a Core Formation Spiritual Treasure when the time comes!"

“Ping An, you…” Xiao Qiao’s expression changed instantly.

The Core Formation Treasure is extremely precious. Without the accumulation of ancestors or sects, ordinary cultivators, even those who have successfully formed their Core, cannot easily obtain it.

Moreover, Xiao Qiao knew that when her junior brother was close to forming his core, the Biyun Sect was too weak to provide him with the necessary spiritual treasures, which meant that he ultimately formed his core entirely through his own efforts.

It's already incredibly difficult for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to obtain even one Core Formation Spiritual Treasure for themselves, let alone have any left over.

However, she was suddenly overjoyed when she thought of the Nascent Soul of the Myriad Laws True Monarch that they had jointly destroyed ten years ago.

Could it be a remnant from the Qiankun Ring of the True Lord of Ten Thousand Laws?
"Senior Sister, there's no need for further words between us. To be honest, this Core Formation Treasure is not something that nature produces, but rather a refined elixir!" Li Ji'an stated frankly.

"Pills?" Xiao Qiao's eyes widened immediately upon hearing this.

A pill that can help one form a golden core is even more precious than any rare and precious elixir for achieving that core.

(End of this chapter)