After a decade apart, seeing Grand Elder Yan Kongyi again, Li Ji'an's face showed a sincere smile.
Counting his previous life, he had known Yan Kongyi for fifty-eight years now.
Especially since in his previous life, he was pressured into marriage by her, and in this life, she taught him the Talisman Art, their relationship was profound.
If it weren't for her cultivation in the Wood Elent Technique, apart from the path of talismans, being also adept in health care, she might have passed away long ago at the age of one hundred and thirty.
"Grand Elder!"
Yan Kongyi glanced at him with a hint of reproach, saying sharply, "How have you been all these years? Have you been bullied?"
Li Ji'an shook his head with a smile, stepped forward two steps, and firmly supported her arm, leading her into the courtyard.
Two years older than Li Ji'an, Yan Qing finally relaxed as he entered the courtyard. Having lived for thirty-eight years, this was his first ti leaving the desert, and entering the Immortal City today made him quite uneasy.
Especially with the occasional Foundation Establishnt Escape Light flying over the city gates, which made him feel unsafe.
"Hmm?" Just as she entered the main hall, Yan Kongyi saw fifteen-year-old Xiaoqiao quickly hide into the inner room, turning around to stare at Li Ji'an.
"A descendant of an old friend, a pitiable child." Li Ji'an explained.
Yan Kongyi's old eyes showed so doubt, but upon eting Li Ji'an's clear and unwavering gaze, she was half convinced.
Li Ji'an understood her misunderstanding.
Over the past two years, Xiaoqiao's mood had improved significantly. With plenty of good food, her physical developnt was quite good. Apart from her still slightly childish face, she had matured in other aspects.
However, her personality was still sowhat timid and withdrawn. Except for Li Ji'an, she still did not interact with anyone, only relaxing when with Gugu and the Fire Spirit.
After inviting Yan Kongyi and Yan Qing into the main hall, Li Ji'an personally brewed Spirit Tea for them.
After answering a few of Yan Kongyi's caring questions, Li Ji'an believed what Yan Qingwan had said in her previous ssages.
She had said that the Grand Elder often inquired about his situation in the Immortal City, but whenever Yan Qingwan told her, she wouldn't believe it, thinking it was a lie.
But when prompted to ssage Li Ji'an directly, she was too proud to reach out.
"Brother, it hasn't been easy living in the Immortal City all these years, has it?" Yan Kongyi asked, followed by Yan Qing.
Li Ji'an nodded, "Life in the world is never easy."
"I should say, you should have stayed with the family back then, now..."
But before he could finish, Yan Kongyi slapped him on the head: "What nonsense! Can't you see this young man is doing well now, he's already at the Qi Cultivation Peak."
"Ah?" Yan Qing was taken aback, hastily sensing again.
Li Ji'an shook his head slightly, "It's just luck, luck, thanks to Aunt's teaching in Alchemy Skill, and the Grand Elder teaching Talisman Art."
Yan Qing's face imdiately turned sour.
For the past decade, he was stuck at the Qi Cultivation 6th Layer, until recent wars, under his father Zhang Tiezhu's guidance, he made significant achievents in battle. Three years ago, he received a Breaking Rank Pill and broke through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation.
Now, he's barely at the Qi Cultivation 8th Layer.
This year, he formally beca a candidate for a Yan Family Elder.
Regarding the loose cultivators making a living in the Immortal City Marketplace, his lifelong perception, including education from the clan hall and what he personally witnessed at the United Marketplace, was that it was extrely difficult and with no hope for the future.
Li Ji'an's current situation challenged his understanding.
While Yan Qing was at a loss for words, Yan Kongyi took a sip of the Spirit Tea.
"Hmm? Not bad, what kind of tea is this?" The taste was fragrant, and it was filled with spiritual energy, even having a calming and mind-clearing effect.
"Seven Realizations Star Sea."
"This is Seven Realizations Star Sea?" Yan Kongyi was montarily stunned, then realized he had misspoken and held his breath.
More than a decade ago, when teaching Li Ji'an Talisman Art, he had bragged that drinking Spirit Tea while drawing talismans was a perfect match, and the best Spirit Tea he ever had was the Second Tier Seven Realizations Star Sea, which not only cald the mind and concentrated the spirit but also enhanced understanding of talismans.
Li Ji'an's regular preparation of this tea was indeed due to his advice.
A second-tier Spirit Tea, priced at thirty Spirit Stones per tael, was indeed not cheap for an average cultivator.
Nowadays, Li Ji'an only drank this tea while making talismans.
"Grand Elder, I'm not sure if it's truly this, it was a gift from a friend." Li Ji'an tactfully said to spare Yan Kongyi's pride.
"Oh." Yan Kongyi let out a sigh of relief but didn't press further, drinking his tea in silence.
Yan Qing was startled again, "A friend who can give you Second Tier Spirit Tea surely isn't simple?"
"Not really, just soone I happened to et during a Sect trial long ago." Li Ji'an shook his head calmly.
"Biyun Sect's cultivator!" Yan Qing's eyes widened further.
This fit the perception of sect cultivators by the desert cultivators, just like ten years ago when Li Ji'an and his peers talked about sect disciples during the ten-year agreent.
Seeing Yan Qing's willpower waver, Yan Kongyi gave him a glare and coldly snorted, "What's so surprising? This kid inherited his father's extraordinary comprehension and Alchemy Dao talent; where wouldn't he thrive?
If your father had passed down such talents to you, you could too."
Yan Qing suddenly ca to his senses, gradually calming down.
Worried that Yan Qing might be further impacted, Yan Kongyi took his tea and followed Li Ji'an into the Alchemy Room.
"Young man, I'm here today with a request for you."
Li Ji'an quickly responded with a smile, "Grand Elder, why say such things? It's my pleasure to help if it's within my ability."
Yan Kongyi then clearly explained the situation.
Since two and a half years ago, after roving bandits bypassed the Beast Taming Liu Family and entered the desert, no faction has resolved this issue, and they have taken root in the desert.
Two years ago, they seized a clan territory held by the Zheng Family.
This led to a tripartite balance of power.
The Zheng Family had exclusive control over two Second Tier Dao Fields, the bandits occupied one, and the other five great clans banded together.
Recently, the Zheng Family and the bandits intended to ally, placing great pressure on the five clans.
Thus, Yan Kongyi was secretly sent to the Immortal City to purchase strategic supplies.
The intended trading partner was the Nine Tripods Comrce Association, which Yan Qingwan had visited before.
But when Yan Kongyi visited today, he couldn't et the proprietor, as Yan Qingwan had directed him to seek out Li Ji'an.
Li Ji'an furrowed his brows slightly at the ntion of the mature and voluptuous proprietor, Tong Xiangyu, whom he had only t once in the past decade.
Moreover, Zhao Shuyao had previously hinted that Li Ji'an should avoid appearing too much under Tong Xiangyu's gaze.
"Alright! I'll do my best." Without much thought, Li Ji'an nodded in agreent.
Soon, the three arrived at the Nine Tripods Comrce Association building.
"Greetings, Honored Guest Li."
"Honored Guest Li,"
"Honored Guest Li, should we call the shopkeeper?"
...
As soon as they stepped into the first floor of the Pill Cauldron Pavilion, the attendants and stewards all greeted him, showcasing Li Ji'an's reputation and status there.
Yan Kongyi's aged face showed surprise, while Yan Qing, with his head lowered, was utterly dumbfounded, hardly believing his eyes.
They had been here earlier; the first ti standing before the grand and majestic Nine Tripods Comrce Association building, Yan Qing was deeply shaken. When he first went inside, every glance from the attendants made him feel as if they were saying he had no Spirit Stones.
Yet, at this mont, Li Ji'an received such respectful treatnt upon his entry.
Li Ji'an directly took Yan Kongyi to see Shopkeeper Wu, asking him to help send a ssage to the fifth floor.
Shopkeeper Wu readily agreed.
Watching Shopkeeper Wu's departing figure, Yan Kongyi felt uncertain.
Earlier, following Yan Qingwan's instructions, they had done the sa, seeking soone to pass along a ssage, only for the proprietor to frankly state that tis have changed, and everything was in vain, refusing even to et.
But before they set out, because of the consensus reached between Yan Qingwan and this side, they ca here.
Soon, Shopkeeper Wu returned.
"Honored Guest Li, the proprietor wants you to go up alone."
Hearing this, Li Ji'an felt the matter might be difficult, but he still comforted Yan Kongyi and went upstairs alone.
Compared to their first eting ten years ago, she looked almost unchanged, her mature and voluptuous figure leaning half against a rattan chair, eyes half-closed, appearing tired and lazy.
"Do you all enjoy asking favors for others?" she asked lazily, without looking at Li Ji'an.
"Please understand, Proprietor, I was practically raised in the Yan Family, and it's not an exaggeration to say they raised . Now that the family is in crisis, my cultivation and strength fall short, and I'm unable to help in any other way. I can only do what I can." Li Ji'an replied honestly.
Finally, Tong Xiangyu slightly turned her gaze, looking at Li Ji'an.
Her lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Honored Guest Li, ordinarily, for your first request, I shouldn't turn you down, but... with the current situation about to change drastically, the future dynamics are uncertain. There's temporarily no point in discussing cooperation; we need to wait until things stabilize to proceed."
"Hmm?" Hearing this, Li Ji'an beca alert.
A drastic change in the situation?
"May I ask, Proprietor, what situation is to change?"
Tong Xiangyu turned her gaze again and glanced at him, "The Immortal City!"
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