Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

"Master, you’re too kind. How could I possibly compare to you?" A confident smile finally appeared on Guo Wanzhi’s youthful face.

"How’s that kid doing these days?" Li Ji’an glanced again in the direction of the Alchemy Room.

"To answer Master, ever since the last time Master reprimanded him, Junior Brother has changed his ways and focused solely on the Alchemy Dao, doing his best to practice alchemy every day..."

"Stop making him look good!" Li Ji’an interrupted, cutting off the obvious excuse on behalf of Xu Xiaochun.

Because his Divine Sense had already detected that Xu Xiaochun was still sound asleep in the Alchemy Room at this time.

That was Xu Xiaochun’s hideout for lounging every time, as the room had a Restriction Array and strictly prohibited outside entry without permission. No one but Li Ji’an knew what he was actually doing inside.

"Call him over!" With this order, Li Ji’an stepped into the main hall.

Guo Wanzhi bit her lip lightly and, after agreeing with a nod, hurried toward the Alchemy Room.

The Alchemy Room here almost reached Tier Three, with a near Tier Three Restriction Array. Even a Fake Pill True Man’s Divine Sense would create some disturbance when probing it.

However, Li Ji’an’s actual early-stage True Core Divine Sense effortlessly comprehended the situation inside.

"Junior Brother, wake up quickly, Master is back!" Guo Wanzhi exclaimed softly as soon as she entered the Alchemy Room.

Xu Xiaochun rubbed his drowsy eyes, suddenly shivering: "Ah? Master’s back all of a sudden? Oh no, oh no, I haven’t even finished refining the hundred furnaces of Middle Grade Pills yet."

"Hmph, did you send a message to Master?"

Guo Wanzhi wrinkled her nose at him: "Don’t talk nonsense, I’m not that kind of person."

"Nor do you dare!"

"Hey, what did you just call me?" Xu Xiaochun, now a bit more awake, suddenly fixed his gaze on Guo Wanzhi.

Guo Wanzhi said nothing.

"Let me tell you again, I’m the Senior Brother, you’re the Junior Sister!"

"It’s Master who said I’m the Senior Sister and you’re the Junior Brother." Guo Wanzhi argued.

"That’s because Master was confused at the time. I clearly got to Master first and called him first!" Xu Xiaochun protested.

Guo Wanzhi’s eyes widened and she lowered her voice in criticism: "Do not slander Master; Master is not old at all!"

...

In the main hall, Li Ji’an watched this scene, a smile appearing on his face.

These past years, one of the great tools for adjusting his state of mind was watching these young disciples.

When a person lives for a long time and has seen many things, their experience and wisdom may increase, but they also lose a lot of their spirituality.

Without spirituality, one becomes dull and numb, losing interest and that kind of enthusiasm.

He was not averse to a disciple like Xu Xiaochun, who still had a youthful heart nature.

Before long, Xu Xiaochun, face covered in soot and hair a mess, ran out excitedly.

"Master, you’re finally back, I’ve missed you so much..."

Li Ji’an glanced at him, noting the soot on his face that hadn’t been wiped off, and his deliberately messy hair. More apparent was the black soot on his hands.

"You unruly disciple, dare you mimic your grandmaster again, and I’ll send you off to face the wall for a month in the back mountain!"

This wasn’t Xu Xiaochun’s first time imitating Master Jade Pill.

With a plop~"," Xu Xiaochun immediately knelt on the ground.

"Master, I’m wrong, I’m wrong, I won’t dare anymore."

Looking at his unapologetic face, Li Ji’an glared at him: "Have you finished the hundred furnaces of Pill Medicine?"

"Hehe, Master, well..." Xu Xiaochun hunched, squeezing out a wry smile.

"Hm?" Li Ji’an put on a stern face.

"But, Master, I’ve refined Qi Replenishing Pills! Upper Grade ones at that." Xu Xiaochun hurriedly took out a Jade Bottle from his Storage Pouch, pouring out a Qi Replenishing Pill.

Li Ji’an had tasked him with refining the basic Qi Absorption Pills, intended for those just entering cultivation.

Meanwhile, the Qi Replenishing Pill was for early Qi Cultivation cultivators, naturally more difficult.

Being able to refine Upper Grade Qi Replenishing Pills spoke volumes of Xu Xiaochun’s alchemy skill.

"Hmph!" Nonetheless, Li Ji’an coldly snorted.

"I instructed you to refine a hundred furnaces of Qi Absorption Pills, not Qi Replenishing Pills!

From today, you’ll be confined to the Pill Room; until you complete two hundred furnaces of Qi Absorption Pills, you may not leave. Otherwise, I will expel you from the sect."

He was well aware of Xu Xiaochun’s alchemy skill: smart, quick-witted, with plenty of imagination, so it was no surprise he could produce Upper Grade Qi Replenishing Pills.

However, his foundation was not solid enough; if he couldn’t finely hone his basics, his future achievements would be limited.

"Ah!" Xu Xiaochun was dumbfounded. He had hoped to gain his master’s praise with the Upper Grade Qi Replenishing Pill.

"Master, please calm down, your disciple obeys, this time I will strictly adhere to your commands." Seeing that Li Ji’an meant every word, Xu Xiaochun dared not play anymore and accepted his punishment.

Only then did Li Ji’an wave his hand and take the Qi Replenishing Pill from him, examining it carefully.

"Hmm, the pill is solid, the color is pure, and the efficacy is superior. Very good, it clearly shows your talent in the Alchemy Dao. However, remember, a mighty skyscraper starts with a solid foundation; without a firm foundation, you’ll regret it in the future." This time, Li Ji’an’s expression was calm, and there was even admiration in his eyes.

He did not hide his acknowledgment of Xu Xiaochun’s alchemy talent.

Now, Xu Xiaochun finally beamed with pride, looking at Guo Wanzhi with a sense of self-satisfaction, his smile nearly impossible to suppress.

Guo Wanzhi gave him a glare, but soon, even her eyes carried a hint of a smile.

Li Ji’an then formally instructed his two disciples.

"I am about to attempt Core Formation. From today, Wanzhi, you must supervise Xiaochun to diligently refine his alchemy skills. If he shows any lack of dedication, report it to your grandmaster. Of course, if there are any issues in Alchemy Dao, you can also ask for guidance."

Just as he finished speaking, Xu Xiaochun exclaimed: "Master, you’re going to attempt Core Formation!"

"Great, great, Master, you’ll definitely succeed in Core Formation!"