Chapter 4: The Vast Immortal City, Difficult to Reside In

After ten years apart, seeing the majestic Immortal City once again, Li Ji’an still felt overwhelmed.

Just after finishing the registration at the city gate, Zhao Shuyao had already come over.

Now eighty-four years old, Zhao Shuyao appeared as a kindly grandmother, her hair silver-white, her smile warm.

“Xiaofan, the important thing is that you arrived safely, that’s all that matters.”

“Aunt Yao.”

Over the past decade, the two had kept in touch, mostly with Zhao Shuyao showing concern.

In a way, among the five who came from the Immortal Bestowal Dynasty, only Li Ji’an’s descendants were truly regarded as a genuine legacy and continuation.

Zhao Shuyao had never married or had children; Zhang Tiezhu’s child bore the surname Yan, and Dong Jiangling had a daughter, but neither had disclosed anything about the Immortal Bestowal Dynasty. Only Li Ji’an carried on their past.

People experience death twice: the first is the death of the body, the second is being forgotten by all.

This forgetting not only erases the person but also their past, their experiences, and all traces of their existence.

If Li Ji’an were gone from this world, then after several decades when the other three passed away, no one would remember their past.

This was something even Tong Yaoyao, and the native cultivators of this realm, could not understand about her.

“Come, Aunt Yao will take you to meet our master; maybe she’ll show me some favor,” Zhao Shuyao said, pulling Li Ji’an toward the Jiuding Trade Guild inside the Immortal City.

Plan thoroughly before acting.

Ten years ago, Li Ji’an had already grasped the living conditions within the Immortal City.

The mansions, cultivation halls, and even the special cave dwellings for breakthrough stages were located at the core of quasi-third-tier spiritual veins, and all were expensive.

Except for temporarily renting those breakthrough cave dwellings, those who rented mansions long-term in the inner city were almost exclusively large forces’ bases or offices; individuals were rare.

It was simply too costly and not cost-effective.

The true personal residences were at the boundaries between the inner and outer city, featuring archways and small courtyards, with spiritual veins ranging from mid-first-tier to lower second-tier, all priced steeply.

The lowest tier rentals still required fifty spirit stones yearly and were smaller than the tube-like buildings in the United Market.

Daily necessities such as spirit rice and spirit noodles were also relatively expensive, making the cost of living high.

Prices for pill refining tools, talismans, and formation essentials were inflated, yet artisans’ incomes were low.

This was because personal stalls were forbidden within the Immortal City; most buying and selling had to occur in shops.

With many artisans competing, shops suppressed purchase prices, leading to low earnings.

In short, ordinary people found life in the Immortal City difficult.

Yet countless people still vied fiercely to enter the Immortal City, drawn by safety, stability, and abundant opportunities.

Li Ji’an valued the first two.

Of course, it was also because the spiritual vein ceiling in the small market was too low, and spiritual energy insufficient.

His confidence rested on his hard power as a top-tier pill master and the soft power of Zhao Shuyao’s master’s connections.

There was no shortage of first-tier pill masters here, even many senior first-tier pill masters, resulting in oversupply, fierce competition, and low prices.

However, second-tier pill masters and those who consistently produced top-quality pills were relatively scarce.

Especially second-tier pills, which due to high demand commanded high prices; some crucial pills like Foundation-Establishing Pills and Face-Setting Pills were priceless on the market.

Li Ji’an, as a pill master capable of reliably producing top-quality pills, had the confidence to establish himself here.

The first choice for various artisans in the Immortal City was to become guest experts at major shops.

Li Ji’an planned to do the same.

Once a guest expert, not only would pill sales be assured, but prices would be ten percent higher than ordinary masters selling in stores, and purchasing ingredients cheaper, raising earnings by about thirty percent.

However, competition was fierce.

Fortunately, Zhao Shuyao’s master, the Jiuding Trade Guild, was in the pill business and hired guest experts.

Upon learning of his intentions, Zhao Shuyao offered to connect him with this resource, which he gratefully accepted.

Soon, Zhao Shuyao led Li Ji’an to the Pill Pavilion of the Jiuding Trade Guild.

“Shopkeeper Wu, is the master upstairs?” Zhao Shuyao asked as they entered the back hall with ease.

“Sister Zhao, the master is here, but… she’s a bit displeased right now,” Shopkeeper Wu whispered a warning.

Hearing this, Zhao Shuyao paused briefly, then said to Li Ji’an, “Xiaofan, wait here a moment. I’ll check the situation.”

“Alright, Aunt Yao.”

“Shopkeeper Wu, this is my nephew, Li Fan. Please take good care of him,” Zhao Shuyao introduced.

“Oh, haha, so you’re Sister Zhao’s nephew. Family, family. Li Fan, right? Then come with me to the private hall to wait,” Shopkeeper Wu smiled at Li Fan.

“Thank you, Shopkeeper Wu.”

After seeing Zhao Shuyao upstairs, Li Ji’an followed Shopkeeper Wu through the main hall toward the private room.

“Shopkeeper Wu, there’s another pill master outside wanting to apply as a guest expert. What do you think?” a servant came with a message.

“What level? What cultivation?” Shopkeeper Wu gave Li Ji’an a sly smile before asking the servant.

“Qi Refinement stage seven, senior first-tier pill master, claims he’s successfully refined top-quality pills,” the servant said hesitantly.

Shopkeeper Wu immediately turned to her, “Taking bribes again? Hmph, how many times have I told you what you can and can’t accept? Still don’t know? A mere Qi Refinement stage seven senior pill master, worthy of applying to my Pill Pavilion guest expert?”

“Shopkeeper Wu, I was wrong. I won’t do it again. It was a favor from an acquaintance—I really couldn’t refuse. Please forgive me,” the servant hurriedly bowed in apology.

Shopkeeper Wu waved his hand, “Remember, we work for the master and must honor her trust! Go now. Next time, no mercy.”

Li Ji’an watched clearly from the side, feeling a bit pressured.

He had already known the Jiuding Trade Guild was powerful, but hadn’t expected it to look down on senior first-tier pill masters so much.

Without Zhao Shuyao’s connection, he probably wouldn’t have passed the threshold.

After bringing Li Ji’an to the private hall door, Shopkeeper Wu left on other business.

Inside, two others sized Li Ji’an up and asked, “Are you also a pill master?”

“Indeed.”

“Here to apply as a guest expert?”

Li Ji’an nodded again.

“Hiss~ You dare apply for the Pill Pavilion guest expert position with only Qi Refinement stage six cultivation?” an older pill master expressed surprise.

“Have you ever refined top-grade pills?” a younger one asked.

Li Ji’an shook his head slowly.

In this world, after focusing deeply on talisman engraving, his understanding of the world’s spiritual mechanisms was profound, but he had yet to succeed in pill refinement.

The two pill masters exchanged looks, then relaxed.

Only one guest expert spot remained this month.

They had been somewhat nervous already; seeing another applicant made them more so.

Learning Li Ji’an’s level eased their worries.

Li Ji’an’s spiritual sense swept over them; both were Qi Refinement stage nine, judging by the heavy medicinal scent on them, they had probably spent most of their lives refining pills.

The competition was fierce indeed!

Soon, footsteps approached outside the private hall.

Hearing this, the two pill masters stood eagerly, eyes fixed on the door.

“Xiao Li, hurry, the master wants to see you,” Shopkeeper Wu came jubilantly with the news.

Under the two pill masters’ suspicious and jealous gazes, Li Ji’an followed Shopkeeper Wu to the master’s quiet chamber on the fifth floor.

Wu pushed open the door, and Li Ji’an stepped inside.

By the window sat a slightly plump mature female cultivator in a grand chair, eyes closed as if resting.

Zhao Shuyao stood beside her, smiling at him.

“Xiao Yao has asked a favor on your behalf; I have granted it. Regardless of your current pill-making skills, I hope you’ll work doubly hard and not disappoint Aunt Yao’s hopes.”

Li Ji’an raised an eyebrow slightly. “Thank you, senior, and thank you, Aunt Yao.”

Connections and background were part of strength.

If he could make the big shots of this world his network, what was there to worry about?