Chapter 72: Chapter 72: News of Zhou Cang

The villa at the foot of the mountain where Li Jizhou lived was an East Four Two-courtyard layout. He almost never went to the three rooms in the backyard, which now seemed suitable for Yang Yan to reside in.

As for the place where Li Jizhou originally conducted his alchemy and talisman-making activities, it was all in the front yard, and the pond dug by himself was also in the front yard,

Li Jizhou instructed Yang Yan to stay in the backyard from now on and not to come out if there were no special circumstances.

That evening, he set up the room next to the one where Yang Yan was staying as a pill room.

Yang Yan had studied alchemy before and had brought her own Pill Furnace, which was the same five-inscription Pill Furnace as Li Jizhou’s.

This once again demonstrated the Yang family’s determination to cultivate a Pill Master within their family.

Indeed, a Pill Master is considered the foremost craft in the cultivation world.

Three years ago, the Yang family’s Third Elder had hoped to cultivate a talisman-making descendant, but the offered payment clearly lacked sincerity.

“Let me see your Pill Fire!” After settling Yang Yan, Li Jizhou did not delay and went straight to the point.

Yang Yan sat cross-legged, circulating the Fire Attribute Magical Power within her body, a small flame rising slowly from her palm.

As Yang Yan’s Magical Power fluctuated, Li Jizhou raised his eyebrows slightly.

This woman actually majored in Fire Attribute Cultivation Technique and was already a cultivator at the middle-to-late stage of Qi Cultivation.

Moreover, her Pill Fire was even more vigorous than the Condensed Pill Fire of Li Jizhou.

Li Jizhou’s Fire Attribute “Flame Phosphorus Skill” was currently only at about the level equivalent to the third level of Qi Cultivation, merely classified as a Tier One Lower Grade Pill Fire.

However, although Yang Yan’s mastery of Fire Attribute Cultivation was higher and her Pill Fire was more vigorous, due to the insufficient means of condensing the Pill Fire, its quality was not as good as Li Jizhou’s.

“Your Pill Fire forms but the essence scatters, making it difficult to guide precisely. Tomorrow, I will provide you with insights on condensing Pill Fire. Come to me once you’ve condensed a lower-grade Pill Fire within three months.” Li Jizhou said directly.

Yang Yan’s eyes slightly opened and closed as she heard this, looking at Li Jizhou somewhat surprised.

The previous Pill Master worshipped by her family had often praised the cohesion of her Pill Fire, saying it was imposing, yet Li Jizhou immediately pointed out its insufficiency.

“So, the previous Pill Master either had standards that were too low or was simply giving empty praise!”

Yang Yan squinted her eyes slightly and then nodded earnestly.

For the next three months, Yang Yan did not step out of the backyard, having brought enough supplies to be self-sufficient for a while, cooking for herself, all without affecting Li Jizhou.

Three months later, following the insights on condensing Pill Fire provided by Li Jizhou, she indeed advanced her Pill Fire, which she originally thought adequate for alchemy.

A wisp of dark blue flame rose in her palm, its divine power restrained, not comparable to three months ago.

“This guy indeed has some skill!” Feeling the progress first-hand, a smile appeared on Yang Yan’s usually stern face.

After confirming the results with multiple practices, she finally came to the conjunction of the backyard and the front yard, cleared her throat, and called softly: “Pill Master Li, may I seek your guidance.”

Meanwhile, Li Jizhou was holding the Jade Talisman of the official bulletin, slightly lost in thought.

The latest edition of the official bulletin was updated today,

Two months ago, the armies of the Three Sects and Five Families arrived at Inverted Mountain,

However, they only surrounded, not attacked.

The Golden Sun Sect led its disciples and the Maple Forest Wang family straight in from the northeast, traveling five thousand miles, directly breaking through the robbery cultivator gathering place outside Inverted Mountain, and then set up camp a hundred miles outside.

The Divine Intent Sect led its disciples and the Sword Tomb Mu family, the Beast-Taming Xiao family straight in from the northwest, traveling three thousand miles, and set up camp a hundred miles outside.

Cold Wind Valley led the Artifact Refining Zhong family, the Array Liu family straight in from the southwest, traveling eight thousand miles…

For two months, no further actions were taken.

Inverted Mountain was on high alert, with a three-layered city protection array already in place, and the fourth layer was almost ready to be set up.

However, just before the armies of the Three Sects surrounded it, the outer city robbery cultivators fled at the news. A small number entered Inverted Mountain, becoming part of the defense forces, while most escaped through the southwest exit, blending into various Immortal City markets.

Li Jizhou frowned slightly upon reading this.

With so many robbery cultivators escaping, and the Three Sects’ attention all on Inverted Mountain, I’m afraid there will be trouble outside again.

The city should be relatively fine; the main issues lie outside.

He made up his mind to not leave the city until he reached the late stage of Qi Cultivation.

Besides this, another arrest warrant also caught his attention.

“Wanted: Remaining Forces of the Demon Sect!”

Upon closer examination, it turned out to be the forces that had previously harassed the Maple Forest Wang family multiple times.

Three months ago, the Wang family announced their intention to be of one heart and one mind with the Golden Sun Sect, united as branches on the same tree, thus leading the family elites personally and following them.

Indeed, half a month later, the Demon Sect’s remnants attacked the Wang family’s ancestral home again.

As a result, not only did the Wang family’s ancestor, leading the family elites, suddenly appear, but also a True Core Elder from the Golden Sun Sect came to assist.

The situation turned instantly,

The Demon Sect’s remnants knew they had been deceived and fled immediately.

However, this time the Wang family was determined to thoroughly resolve the issue, having preemptively blocked their retreat path back to the Purple Vine Mountain Range.

Ultimately, outnumbered, the Demon Sect’s remnants scattered and fled.

The Wang family captured many Demon Sect remnants and, through coercion or Soul Searching, learned the identities of some who escaped, thus commissioning the Spiritual Painter to create portraits from memory for a nationwide arrest.

At the top of the list: Yu Ziyu, remnants of the Yu family, destroyed five hundred years ago, female, with cultivation at least at the Foundation Establishment level, but possessing some Secret Technique, capable of concealing her cultivation, indistinguishable below the True Core, and she bears a unique treasure for altering appearances, with no one having ever seen her true face.

Bounty: Ten thousand Spirit Stones.

For reliable information: Five thousand Spirit Stones!

…

What surprised Li Jizhou most was seeing a familiar name on the wanted list.

Fugitive, Demon Sect disciple, Zhou Cang, with portrait attached.

The image of Zhou Cang showed a fierce expression and overbearing presence, looking much rougher than the last time they met eleven years ago, now sporting a beard.

However, Zhou Cang was probably just a minor character. The warrant barely mentioned him, without much annotation.

“Zhou Cang…” Li Jizhou murmured the name, shaking his head slowly.

His interest in Zhou Cang stemmed from how Zhou Cang embodied the ambitious spirit of youth.

Just like himself when he first transmigrated.

Like a youth untouched by the harsher realities of life.

However, in this cultivation world where most resources are already firmly controlled by the ruling powers and their interest groups,

The path to success had long narrowed,

Without significant opportunities or extraordinary talents,

Most people’s paths are already predetermined at birth.

Either doing tasks the higher-ups disdain, or serving those above, willing to be just a cog in their machine.

Or, like the small Yang family by Qingshui River, enduring and meticulously managing over generations, only slightly altering their social stratum through persistent endeavors.

The once ambitious youth, in the end, would have their edges worn down, bow their heads, bend their spines, and acknowledge their ordinariness, struggling through life…

Of course, aside from that, there are those like Zhou Cang, who take desperate measures and become fugitives!

Using their lives to gamble for a chance.

“Every choice bears its consequences!” he smiled slightly, pondering no further.

Coincidentally, at that moment, Yang Yan’s voice calling him from the backyard could be heard,

“It must have succeeded!”

“It’s time to teach her thoroughly now, can’t waste the five hundred Spirit Stones tutoring fee!” Li Jizhou put away the Jade Talisman, got up, and walked towards the backyard.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep