Chapter 7: Granny You

After delivering the medicinal pills, Li Ji'an purchased another batch of medicinal herbs and high-quality talisman paper. He then made his way to the spirit rice shop in the outer city, where he bought spirit rice, spirit flour, and monster beast meat. Along the way, he stopped at a spirit pet shop and, gritting his teeth, spent one hundred spirit stones to buy a late-stage beast pill for his pet, Gua Gua.

Beast pills intended for spirit beasts are fundamentally different from the pills consumed by human cultivators; not only do the ingredients differ, but their core efficacy is entirely distinct. They cannot be spoken of in the same breath, and knowledge of them is largely confined to the beast-taming families.

The spirit stones he had just acquired were barely warm in his pouch before seventy or eighty percent of them were gone. He had been living off his savings for most of the past month; five hundred spirit stones had gone to rent, and the cost of herbs and food had nearly drained the rest. Now, his remaining savings amounted to little more than two hundred spirit stones.

With his shopping complete, Li Ji'an arrived at the Taiping Inn—the same establishment where Yan Qingwan had brought him eleven years ago. It was the largest inn in the Immortal City. Leaving the wilderness for the Immortal City, aside from seeking resources for Foundation Establishment and honing his skills, another key objective was to gather information and gain a deeper understanding of this world. Information barriers exist everywhere, and in a world like this, they run deep.

"Alchemist Li, you have finally decided to step out," a voice called from behind him just as he reached the entrance of the inn.

Li Ji'an turned to see an old woman accompanied by a young girl.

"Fellow Daoist You, Xiao Qiao," Li Ji'an said with a smile and a nod.

The grandmother and granddaughter were his next-door neighbors. They had visited him a few days after he moved in. Those who could afford to live in that particular area generally possessed extraordinary skills and were mostly independent rogue cultivators; sharing resources and building connections were common practices.

Old Woman You was a veteran formation master. She had once served the Liu family, one of the five great clans, but she had never been truly valued, receiving only the status of an honored guest. Later, due to internal strife within the clan, the faction she was aligned with fell, and she left. She had been settled here for several decades. Her granddaughter, Xiao Qiao, had been taken in two years ago and was now only five years old. Xiao Qiao was somewhat shy, hiding behind her grandmother and blinking her large eyes as she peeked at him.

"I was just thinking that I would have to pay you a visit today; it is quite a coincidence," Old Woman You said with a chuckle.

Li Ji'an nodded, guessing she likely wanted to purchase medicinal pills. During their last meeting, they had exchanged gifts; he had given her a mid-grade Qi-Replenishing Pill, and she had helped him reinforce the protective formation around his small courtyard. The quality of medicinal pills is judged by a combination of efficacy, pill toxins, and drug resistance, but it is difficult to categorize them finely. Therefore, even among mid-grade pills, there are subtle differences. Li Ji'an had confidence in his own alchemy, and a veteran cultivator would certainly be able to discern the quality. This was why, during this encounter, Old Woman You appeared much more cordial than during their first meeting.

"Since we have met by chance, Alchemist Li, would you do me the honor of letting me be the host today?"

"A gift from an elder should not be declined. Then I shall let Fellow Daoist You go to the expense," Li Ji'an replied with a smile. After all, he had come here specifically to keep his ears open.

The three of them soon entered the main hall of the inn. Coincidentally, Old Woman You chose the same corner table—secluded and quiet—that Yan Qingwan had chosen eleven years ago. She ordered quite a few spirit dishes, specifically ordering some pricey snacks for Xiao Qiao, a pot of spirit wine for Li Ji'an, and a pot of spirit tea for herself. This clearly demonstrated her financial standing as a veteran formation master.

Formation mastery is difficult whether one is a beginner or an expert. It requires not only high demands on one's spirit and soul but also fundamental skills in drawing talismans and engraving inscriptions. Furthermore, one must be proficient in the laws of nature and topography, and be skilled in geomancy and the Five Elements. The one advantage is that it does not have high requirements for mana. Compared to alchemy and talisman making, it is generally difficult for a rogue cultivator to even get started. However, this is also related to the fact that the market demand for formations is not as high as it is for pills and talismans.

She greeted Li Ji'an courteously and chatted about everything under the sun, yet she was very tactful and avoided asking about any private information. Li Ji'an found it easy to talk to such a knowledgeable and experienced elderly cultivator; he didn't have to worry about the awkwardness that arises when someone lacks social grace and pries into his privacy. The conversation was relaxed and casual. Xiao Qiao hid behind her grandmother, eating her snacks in secret.

"Alchemist Li, ah, you must forgive me for today. I didn't consider that a young man like you might not enjoy this kind of place. If there is another opportunity next time, I should treat you to some entertainment at the Chunfeng Pavilion instead." As the previous topic concluded, Old Woman You took a gentle sip of her spirit tea, preparing to transition smoothly to the next subject.

Li Ji'an gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Fellow Daoist You is overthinking it. I prefer to cultivate my character and lead a simple life; I don't really care for such places. This is quite nice."

"Oh? Alchemist Li certainly earns my respect. Young, promising, and full of vitality, yet still able to show such restraint—that is truly commendable. I shall toast you with tea in place of wine."

"I wouldn't dare," Li Ji'an said, raising his cup.

"I love coming here, not because I enjoy the bustle, but because I want to hear what is happening in the world so that I am not left behind by the times."

"Since you are interested in current events, Fellow Daoist, why not subscribe to the official gazette?" Li Ji'an had been considering subscribing to the gazette himself recently. However, it was not cheap, and subscribing alone was not cost-effective; he took this opportunity to suggest a joint subscription with Old Woman You.

Old Woman You shook her head. "Heh, that gazette? It’s thirty percent truth and seventy percent lies. Under the sect's rule, you only see what they want you to see. It is better to listen to the wild rumors and gossip of travelers from all corners of the world."

Li Ji'an smiled and nodded. The logic held, and he was naturally aware of it, though he couldn't dismiss it entirely. Under the sect's governance, while the gazette's news might seem influenced by the sect, one could still use its prevailing trends to infer the sect's internal situation.

After chatting for a while, they had barely touched the spirit food, though Xiao Qiao had unknowingly polished off all the snacks. Li Ji'an rose to take his leave, and Old Woman You accompanied him back to the residential area.

Sure enough, once inside the courtyard, Old Woman You expressed her desire to purchase some pills. Compared to what an ordinary alchemist would sell to a pill shop, Old Woman You offered a slightly higher price, though it was still slightly lower than what he could get selling to the Pill Cauldron Pavilion under his status as an honored guest. Li Ji'an did not haggle; he was selling top-grade pills, and the difference was negligible. He took it as a return for her company and the emotional value she had provided. He was not a man who nitpicked over such things.

"Alchemist Li is so young, yet his alchemy is so exquisite. I am truly impressed," Old Woman You praised him once the transaction was complete. "Wait, does Alchemist Li also refine the Marrow-Cleansing Pill, such a niche medicine?"

By delivering the pills today, he had basically cleared out his stock of refined pills. Before leaving, to make room in his jade bottles, he had mixed the remaining mid-grade pills and other varieties together. At that moment, the pills he gave Old Woman You were faintly scented with the top-grade Marrow-Cleansing Pills he had refined in advance for his next life.

"Fellow Daoist You is quite familiar with the Marrow-Cleansing Pill?" The Marrow-Cleansing Pill was used by young body cultivators to nourish their meridians. On one hand, there were few body cultivators in this world, but more importantly, young people who were nourished by spiritual energy did not really have a great need for such pills. As for ordinary people, even other alchemists, if they were not familiar with a specific pill, they wouldn't be able to name it just by smelling it.

"Heh, I once had a friend who was an alchemist within the clan, and she was quite skilled at refining such pills."

*Swish.*

Before the words had even faded, a flash of insight crossed Li Ji'an's mind...