Chapter 30: Alchemy in the Medicine Garden

The news of the patriarch’s mutual defeat spread swiftly within the clan, plunging the atmosphere into tense unease. Yet Li Ji’an waited three days without seeing the clan-protecting formation rise. During this time, he observed carefully and found that neither Yan Qingwan nor Yan Hongsheng exhibited any genuine worry or anxiety. He surmised that the Yan family patriarch must still possess some strength. If the patriarch were truly gravely injured, the protective formation would have been activated immediately, for who could guarantee that opportunists would not attempt to profit from their misfortune?

How did the Eight Great Clans of the Wilds come to be? Merely a struggle among ambitious heroes, whittled down to those who could not swallow each other in the end. As for deliberately not raising the defensive formation to feign emptiness—impossible! A single probe from a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s divine sense would reveal the truth.

This put Li Ji’an somewhat at ease. He decided to continue his observations for now. After all, with both patriarchs having already clashed, tensions had reached a boiling point, and assassination or ambushes around the Yan family’s territory could not be ruled out. He resolved to wait; if nothing else, he would leave only when open battle broke out between the two clans at the frontlines.

“Heh~ What’s got you so absent-minded? Worried the Yan family will be wiped out?” Master Mo, the alchemist, laughed and scolded him.

Li Ji’an forced a sheepish smile. “Your insight is as sharp as ever. Do you think we might be in danger?”

Master Mo shot him a glance. “Set your mind at ease! I am merely a contracted alchemist, responsible only for refining pills. You are but my assistant. Whether the Yan family stands or falls, what does it matter to us?”

“I simply can’t bear to lose this second-grade spiritual vein cultivation ground,” Li Ji’an sighed.

“Hmph! As long as you stay by my side, benefits will come to you in due time. Besides… who told you that if the Yan family falls, we can’t remain here?” Master Mo sneered.

Before Li Ji’an could respond, the old man added, “I am a senior alchemist. No matter who claims this ground, do you think they can just drive me out? Relax. Should the Yan family perish, the cultivation field will remain, and our days might even improve.”

Having long since gauged Master Mo’s character, Li Ji’an nodded in agreement.

“Work hard. You’ve been with me for over six years now. If you remain obedient and serve me well, perhaps I’ll reward you with a Breakthrough Pill someday,” Master Mo said offhandedly.

Li Ji’an had long been choked by such empty promises over the years, but he still feigned eagerness and anticipation.

Seven days passed, and the Yan family’s territory remained undisturbed. Meanwhile, the medicinal field deep within the wasteland became the frontlines once again, and Zhang Tiezhu and the others set out on another expedition. With most of the clan’s core strength sent away, peace returned to the family grounds.

On this day, Master Mo attempted to refine the Nurturing Essence Pill for the third time and failed once more. Each failure meant losing medicinal ingredients worth at least two hundred spirit stones, and after three such failures, even Master Mo was beginning to lose his composure.

In a fit of frustration, he kicked over the pill furnace and strode off to see the clan head, his resolve clear.

“Hmph! I told you long ago—my family’s secret recipe for the Nurturing Essence Pill requires the Earth Source Fruit to be placed into the furnace immediately upon picking. Any delay, and the vital energy dissipates, greatly reducing the success rate. This time, I demand a clear answer from the clan head. Will I be allowed to refine pills on-site in the hidden herb garden or not? If not, then I simply cannot make the Nurturing Essence Pill, and you’ll have to find someone else!” he grumbled loudly as he walked, clearly intending for Yan Qingwan to hear.

Li Ji’an was already familiar with Master Mo’s complaints. He’d heard the very same on Master Mo’s first attempt at refining this pill, when the issue was raised before the clan head, with Li Ji’an present. It was then that he learned the Yan family’s primary business had once been the sale of talismans and spirit rice, only later shifting to alchemy and hiring a master alchemist at a high price.

The impetus for this change was the accidental discovery of a secret cave mansion more than a decade ago. Within the cave lay a uniquely crafted herb field, likely arranged by a predecessor to harness the local ley lines, where over a dozen Earth Source Fruit trees grew—the main ingredient for the Nurturing Essence Pill.

These few trees ignited hope among the Yan family’s upper echelons for their clan’s rise. The Nurturing Essence Pill was a sacred treasure for cultivators whose spiritual roots had not yet fully formed. Consumed in youth, it greatly enhanced the growth of one’s roots and was coveted by all. Its difficulty to refine and the rarity of its main ingredient made it extremely lucrative.

The clan head had chosen Master Mo as their contract alchemist specifically because of his ancestral inheritance of the Nurturing Essence Pill formula.

After a while, Master Mo returned, his face alight with anticipation.

“Good, good! This time I will surely succeed in refining the Nurturing Essence Pill. Xiao Li, when you take a wife and have children, I shall gift you one,” he announced, brimming with confidence.

Though he knew the old man was once again painting castles in the air, Li Ji’an acted both grateful and respectful.

“Qingwan, this time I will teach you every step in detail. You must learn well, and I hope you will make the Mo family’s alchemical arts renowned,” Master Mo said.

Yan Qingwan’s eyes shone with excitement and expectation. Six years had passed—nine if she included the three years before Li Ji’an arrived. In the first three years, she’d learned only the basics, but with Li Ji’an’s demonstrations and guidance over the last six, her skills had advanced steadily. She was now not far from becoming a senior alchemist herself. In less than three years, she should be able to refine the Nurturing Essence Pill independently.

“All right, prepare yourselves. In three days, you’ll accompany me to the herb garden to refine pills!”

Three days later, Li Ji’an rose early and used up the last bit of Thunderflame Crystal in his possession, consolidating his late-stage first-level body cultivation. For now, though, he had no more body-tempering fire crystals left.

Soon after, Master Mo summoned him. When Li Ji’an arrived at the pill chamber, Yan Qingwan was already there, visibly eager.

Besides Yan Qingwan and Master Mo, the renowned talisman master, Elder Yan Kongyi, was also present. After packing up the pill furnace, auxiliary herbs, and other essentials, Li Ji’an was called over to the elder’s side.

He felt a gentle surge of magical power envelop him, and in the next instant, a talisman in the elder’s hand flashed with light. The ground vanished beneath his feet, and the scenery began to rush by as if he were passing through a tunnel in space and time.

In a heartbeat, his feet were steady again, and the world before him had changed. They stood within a modest mountain cave. In the center, a carefully tended medicinal field, about half an acre in size, came into view.

“Please proceed, Master Mo. Pay me no mind,” the elder said, seating himself cross-legged with his back to the group.

“Thank you, Elder, for using a Minor Teleportation Talisman. I am truly grateful,” Master Mo said with a cupped fist.

Li Ji’an looked around the cave with growing amazement. Outside, he sensed a formation that shielded spiritual perception—it was only upon entering the cave that he became aware of it. From outside, divine sense would reveal nothing. Furthermore, the Yan family’s willingness to use a precious Minor Teleportation Talisman rather than simply walk them in showed both the importance they placed on this place and their lack of trust in the others.

Though only a first-grade talisman, the Minor Teleportation Talisman involved space laws, and only highly skilled talisman masters could craft one. It required top-grade Kongsang Wood as material, making each talisman cost nearly thirty spirit stones. Its range was limited to thirty miles, so few ever made them. That it was used now spoke volumes of the Yan family’s attitude toward the medicinal field.

“All right, Xiao Li, follow the customary rites—light incense and pray for the Pill Sovereign’s blessing!” Master Mo took five sticks of incense from his bag and passed them to Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an lit the incense and placed it on the pill furnace as instructed.

Master Mo led Yan Qingwan in solemn, murmured prayers on their knees, while Li Ji’an stood aside, unqualified to join. This time, Master Mo’s prayers lasted much longer than usual—a full cup of tea’s time—before he finally rose.

Seeing the ritual complete, Li Ji’an stepped forward to present the auxiliary herbs, preparing to observe the Nurturing Essence Pill’s refinement process closely.

But just then, as Yan Qingwan was about to move closer to watch Master Mo at work, she stumbled. If not for Li Ji’an’s quick reflexes, she would have fallen.

“Girl, you… Something’s wrong, it’s poison!” the elder suddenly shuddered, whipping his head around, eyes sharp as blades as he fixed Master Mo and Li Ji’an in his gaze.