Zhang Yuanshan and the others have already left, Jia Yu spoke:

"They are really fortunate to know you, Junior Brother."

As cultivators practice for a long time, their personalities become more aloof, and interactions among them tend to focus more on interests.

Ji An smiled slightly, "Meeting each other is a mutual blessing."

If it weren’t for Zhang Yuanshan and the others lending the original him some spirit stones, there would have been no Meridian Opening Pill to use.

When he crossed over here, even with the Stone Turtle, he couldn’t activate it without opening his meridians.

Later, he gradually received a few spirit stones from old friends, which were extremely important to him at the time.

Without those spirit stones, it’s no exaggeration to say that his growth would have been delayed by several years.

"A slow step leads to a slow lifetime" is not just a saying; if he had broken through the Foundation Establishment Stage a few years later, his life’s trajectory would certainly have deviated from what it is now.

"Haha, Junior Brother, you have high vision, that’s good."

"Senior Brother, I still have hundreds of thousands of small merits on my jade token. If I want to trouble you to exchange them for Geng Metal Divine Thunder Talismans, how many can I get?"

Jia Yu pondered for a moment and said:

"About fifty to sixty, but transactions with the Middle Continent cultivators require payment in top-grade spirit stones, and the sect’s inventory of top-grade spirit stones is limited. We must keep some for turnover.

You also know, Junior Brother, that the sect spent a huge amount to buy various knowledge inheritances. I can only help you exchange for at most ten Geng Metal Divine Thunder Talismans, no more."

These knowledge inheritances are currently only a foundation; their effect is a long-term process. It’s completely planting trees for future generations to enjoy the shade, hence the sect’s situation is not very good.

Ji An smiled, "Ten are fine, please help me exchange them, Senior Brother."

The inheritance and magic techniques purchased by the sect are available to him at very low prices, and now that the sect is in difficulty, he cannot demand more.

With these talismans as a base, he can clash with early-stage Golden Core enemies, gaining some self-preservation strength.

He has never been proud of the achievements of killing Golden Core cultivators, knowing that half of the Earth Evil Sect cultivators’ battle power lies in corpse refining.

If the last battle had encountered Golden Core cultivators from other factions, he would have met a terrible end.

"Junior Brother, await my message; there will certainly be results within three to five days, at which time I will bring the talismans to you."

Jia Yu took a sip of wine, gazed far out the door for a moment, and added:

"The ancestor is preparing to leave the sect, to depart alongside the Middle Continent cultivators’ flying ship, before leaving, go and see him."

"Did the ancestor mention the reason for going out?"

Ji An was a bit puzzled, given that the ancestor didn’t have much lifespan left, only a century or so; there was no need at this age to leave home.

"The ancestor did not say, and I can’t ask.

But he mentioned taking Junior Sister Han Yan along, so it should be related to pills."

Jia Yu suddenly chuckled, saying:

"Junior Sister Han has been especially busy recently because there are many pills to refine."

Leaving for decades before returning, certain pills can only be refined by her, so she has to be busy for a spell.

Ji An smiled; if Senior Sister Han researched the pill formulas, she’d be highly motivated, but constant pill refining would be exhausting.

"I shall go to the Wuji Hall to pay respects to the ancestor now, and in the next few days, I will hand over the tasks I have to others, then leave directly."

He took out ten jars of top-grade Pine Nut Wine, "So, I won’t come to bid you farewell, Senior Brother, but I will instruct disciples to bring a few jars of spirit wine each year."

A Geng Metal Divine Thunder Talisman is worth two top-grade spirit stones; the wine being drunk for free isn’t much, often it’s paid for with spirit stones.

Jia Yu patted the wine jars several times, saying solemnly:

"Junior Brother, take care."

One "take care" is worth a thousand words.

Travel isn’t a picnic; it’s fraught with danger.

A few years ago, the sect’s Chao Origin Stage cultivator Yue Yunlong went out traveling, and his soul lamp was extinguished.

He had gone to the Southern Continent to practice Earth Eating Qi, never to return.

Ji An cupped his hands, nodded cautiously, then smiled up, saying:

"When I return one day, let’s drink and make merry again, Senior Brother."

Chao Origin Stage enemies are no longer enough to intimidate him; as long as he’s keen not to provoke any Golden Core cultivators, he fears nothing much.

Of course, this refers to direct confrontation; the Cultivation Realm has many insidious methods, so he must remain cautious daily.

...

The wind swept through the corridor, the iron horse under the eaves clanging a martial melody, the Twenty-Eight Constellations Star Banner hanging in the hall rustling in the gusts.

Two large incense burners’ rising blue smoke was scattered by the wild wind, leaving no trace.

Daoist Master Zhengyang’s expression was grave, his voice low:

"As long as the sect cannot refine the Gold Core Pill, it will remain under the thumb of the Central Continent; they merely treat the Western Continent as a buffer zone for the demon calamities.

The demon calamity outbreak of previous years has shown that the various demon beast tribes, after thousands of years of suppression, can no longer threaten the Central Continent.

We once were a barrier, but now we are potential competitors, so my main task going to the Central Continent this time is to procure the pill formula for the Gold Core Pill, or at least purchase a few Gold Core Pills as a backup."

These past days, he has been sleepless, realizing that should the Central Continent cut off the supply of Gold Core Pills, the Golden Core inheritance of many sects in the Western Continent would be severed, something he desperately wished to avoid.

Ji An nodded slightly, knowing that core technology in the hands of others inevitably led to subjugation.

Without an alternate solution, one must endure severe exploitation; he had seen this much in his previous life.

"Ancestor, acquiring the Gold Core Pill formula should not be easy, right?"

Daoist Master Zhengyang smiled mysteriously and said:

"All things in the world rise and fall. There are many declining sects in the Central Continent. If you search carefully, you should be able to find forces willing to sell pill formulas."

In the Central Continent, there are at least dozens of forces that hold the Gold Core Pill formula. This formula is not a top secret; the Nascent Soul Pill is.

While obtaining the pill formula is not easy, it’s not impossible either.

Daoist Master Zhengyang waved his hand grandly, and in his hand appeared a talisman glowing with red spirit light:

"Two Tier Three Middle Grade Bing Fire Divine Thunder Talismans. Keep them well.

The source of the Profound Yellow Tower can no longer be drawn from, otherwise, it will seriously affect the use of the magical treasure. Otherwise, I would have given you another talisman treasure."

Ji An reached out with both hands to take the talisman, gratefully saying:

"Ancestor, I have already received so much kindness from you and the sect, I feel deeply ashamed for being unable to repay you."

"Haha, what the sect can do now is try to shield you from the winds and rains. In the future, there might come a day when we need you to shield the sect from winds and rains."

Daoist Master Zhengyang glanced up at the caisson above him and continued:

"I inquired about the sale of refined corpses. The Middle Continent cultivators are particularly harsh in pricing, so I plan to sell them after reaching there."

The prices are ridiculously low, selling them would be foolish.

"I listen to the Ancestor."

"What do you plan to exchange for the sale of the refined corpses? I suggest you exchange them for Tier Three materials and some top-grade spirit stones, as these things are hard currency anywhere."

Ji An pondered for a moment and said:

"Then please help me exchange them for Tier Three Spiritual Objects of the Water and Metal elements. As for the top-grade spirit stones, not too many, within ten pieces will do."

The Profound Yuan Water Control Banner and the Plain-Color Cloud Realm Banner have not yet been obtained. If he had enough capital, he would certainly want to directly refine the magical treasures.

...

In the following days, Ji An took care of matters in the Agricultural Hall and entrusted the Ningcui Cliff Medicinal Garden to other spirit farmers for management.

Jia Yu, as promised, delivered ten Geng Metal Divine Thunder Talismans, costing him over fifty thousand in small merit points.

Five days later, Red Flame Peak was filled with guests, and fellow disciples gathered together. Ge Luoying and Li Haoran were also among the invitees.

Du Huaiyuan, with drunken eyes, voice like floating in the clouds:

"It seems like only yesterday when Junior Brother held the banquet before going on his journey, yet now he is about to leave again.

The return date is uncertain, and who knows if I will still be the same when he returns."

He is now one hundred and sixty-six years old. Even with the Lifespan Extension Pill, he has only about fifty years left to live.

He knows that Senior Sister Zhong, Junior Sister Li, and Junior Sister Mu all have hopes of breaking through to the Chao Origin Stage, and he counts himself as the least accomplished among his fellow disciples.

In the dead of night, he has often pondered whether he regrets his choices. After much reflection, he feels this is his true path.

Over the years, he and Xia Yu Lian have lived harmoniously, enjoying life, brewing various types of spirit wine, and having a pair of children, leaving little room for regret.

Since he began refining spiritual objects in the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, he realized that even if he strived with all his might, with his comprehension, he could hardly reach the threshold of the Chao Origin Stage.

With those words, a bit of melancholy was added to the table.

Ji An said solemnly, "Brother, why speak such discouraging words? Perhaps you have had too much to drink!"

Du Huaiyuan shook his head and raised his cup, saying:

"Only I know my own fate. If one day I depart this world, I just hope you all will help take care of my wife and children."

The atmosphere became somewhat heavy. For Foundation Establishment cultivators who cannot break through to the Chao Origin Stage, if Ji An stays away for a longer time, it might indeed be a case of ’this meeting being the last farewell.’

Li Haoran’s eyes lowered; in his view, if the other persists in cultivation, with the help of fellow disciples, there still is a significant hope of breaking through to the Chao Origin Stage.

Having chosen a life of comfort, one must accept all it brings.

As the sun sets, people start dispersing.

Ji An sent everyone off, and Zhong Yuefei transmitted a message:

"Junior Brother, my Life Light is growing stronger. By the time you see me again, I will be a Chao Origin Stage cultivator. Thank you for your support over the years with Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea."

Her gaze was calm, with a slight upward curve at the corner of her mouth.

’Is this like half-time champagne?’

Ji An shook his head abruptly, dismissing the wicked thought in his mind.

...

The sunset stretched over the mountain ranges like a painting; its golden light shone, making the mountains on the earth appear like gilded Buddha statues.

When the last ray of sunlight receded, the magnificent scenery in the sky ebbed away like a tide, disappearing into the profound night.

Ji An instructed his two disciples:

"I will leave tomorrow and won’t say goodbye again. Matters on Red Flame Peak are now entrusted to you.

Avoid getting involved with the trifles of the Agricultural Hall unless you can break through to the Chao Origin Stage."

If the disciples break through, he won’t intervene in their decisions anymore.

In his heart, he hopes for his disciples to persist in diligent cultivation because with his support, so long as their comprehension is adequate, they have a chance of becoming Golden Core cultivators.

"Yes, Master."

The two disciples responded in unison, Lin Lan pursed her lips and said:

"Master, this disciple will certainly do her best, whether in cultivation advancement or in taking care of the Spirit Field, and will make progress."

She secretly resolved in her heart that the next time they meet, she would break through to the Chao Origin Stage!