In the end, Li Ji’an chose to abandon nurturing the colored glass lamp.

Today, he possesses a Cyan Wood Magic Sword that is likely of the Upper Three Grades, and also the God-Binding Rope gifted by Xiao Changfeng, thus his anticipation for the colored glass lamp, also an embryonic Magical Treasure, isn’t as high.

Of course, the main reason is that this colored glass lamp still cannot be exposed to the light; otherwise, once the Fiery Sun Sect finds out, even if he acquired it due to the Earth Dragon Flipping Over incident in the Great Marsh Mountain, he would still be accused and it would definitely be taken back, let alone the fact that it was indeed him who killed the person.

In the days that followed, as the Core Formation celebration drew closer, he did not go into seclusion again.

As expected, three days later, Yan Qingwan and Liu Qiao arrived hand in hand.

Xiaoqiao was quite familiar with the Outer Peak, though she hadn’t visited for decades, her memories of everything here were still vivid.

For Yan Qingwan, this was her third visit to the Biyun Sect in her life; however, the first time she only reached the Outer Sect trial hall, and the second time she hadn’t even entered the Outer Sect, so this time was her true entry into the Inner Sect of the Biyun Sect.

For the Foundation Establishment Clans of the Desert, grand events of an Upper Sect are usually occasions they aren’t eligible to participate in unless they are needed as cannon fodder.

However, this time it’s her nephew’s Core Formation celebration, and it is Li Ji’an who specifically named and sent the invitation.

Just this one invitation is enough to stabilize the situation in the Desert for at least several hundred years.

"Fan’er, congratulations! Your father would also be blessing you from the afterlife!" Yan Qingwan looked at Li Ji’an before her, recalling the trial a century ago.

The pure and tender youth of fifteen now united with this hundred-year-old True Man.

True Man!

She never dared to imagine it.

She even advised Li Ji’an not to indulge in fantasies back then.

"Middle Grade Spirit Root, cultivating the same Cultivation Technique as I did, spending most of the time as a Loose Cultivator... It’s impossible that this would become reality, that is — man proposes!" Yan Qingwan was full of emotions!

"Thank you, Aunt. I have something to return to you." As he spoke, Li Ji’an handed a jade talisman imprinted with the Second Tier Talisman inheritance to Yan Qingwan.

This was the matter he promised to Yan Kongyi back then, that if he obtained the Talisman inheritance, he would share it with the Yan family.

An ancient Second Tier Talisman inheritance is alluring to many Foundation Establishment cultivators, even Fake Pill cultivators. During the Foundation Establishment Stage, Li Ji’an couldn’t protect such an inheritance, so he never took it out.

Now as a Fake Pill True Man, he could fully protect this Second Tier inheritance for the Yan family.

As for the Third Tier, it cannot be given to the Yan family for now, also it has to wait until they have a Second Tier Peak Talisman Master.

"A Second Tier Talisman inheritance!" Yan Qingwan, after a quick browse, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise and joy, naturally understood the value of this inheritance.

After catching up for a few days, Li Ji’an had Xu Xiaochun arrange for Yan Qingwan to stay at the cave mansion at Pill Cauldron Peak, while Xiaoqiao remained at the Outer Peak.

After Yan Qingwan left, Gugu and the Little Fire Spirit eagerly showed themselves.

"Gugu gu~"

"Hu hu~"

They first sensed the powerful aura surrounding Li Ji’an, both delighted, jumping and frolicking around him.

The Little Fire Spirit, more thrilled, dived into Li Ji’an’s dantian, adoringly swirling around the flame-like Fire Element Pill.

-----------

In the blink of an eye, the day of the celebration arrived.

On this day, the Pill Cauldron Peak of the Biyun Sect was bustling with decorations and people, a lively scene.

Not only did the Sect’s various peak Elders and True disciples gather, but even the Fake Pill Elders of the four major families in Cangyun State were in attendance, and people from Celestial Origin Province’s Sects also came to offer their congratulations.

Li Ji’an dressed in the Ice and Fire Robe gifted by Yan Qingwan years ago, seated at the main position, reciprocating the congratulations from each person.

"On behalf of the Biyun Sect, the Sect Leader congratulates True Man Li on his great joy of Core Formation, and presents a Tier Three Pill Furnace!"

Before long, the eagerly anticipated gift-giving session began, with the Biyun Sect setting an example for all invited guests.

This not only signified the attitude of the Sect but also highlighted the identity of Li Ji’an as a Tier Three Pill Master.

If it were an ordinary Fake Pill celebration, it wouldn’t usually have such grandeur.

The primary reason is Li Ji’an’s identity as a Tier Three Pill Master.

In this realm, cultivation skills and a cultivator’s realm are not directly proportional, as cultivation is just a foundation, while skills are more about talent.

A Core Formation True Man does not necessarily become a Tier Three Pill Master; the talent in Alchemy Dao differs from cultivation talents.

Officially, Li Ji’an had been a Second Tier Middle Grade Pill Master, limited by his cultivation, therefore lacking in Pill Fire and insufficient Divine Soul, and thus unable to become a Tier Three Pill Master. Now, with the success in Core Formation, becoming a Tier Three Pill Master naturally followed.

Additionally, in this realm, besides personal secluded cultivation, elixirs play a significant supporting role, and once elixirs of the Upper Grade or higher are consumed, pill toxicity and resistance are virtually negligible.

Without the aid of elixirs, the efficiency of cultivation is much slower.

Within the Sect, Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators still fare alright, with no shortage of Second Tier cultivating nourishing elixirs.

However, for Core Formation True Men, whether real True Pill Masters on the progressable path, or Fake Pill True Men who cultivate Secret Techniques to awaken potential, all kinds of Third Tier elixirs are relatively scarce.

Prior to this, only Master Jade Pill could brew Third Tier elixirs within the Biyun Sect, and the Sect’s three Supreme Elders mostly relied on his elixirs for cultivation, however, the efficiency was limited and the success rate wasn’t high, leading to a tight supply of Third Tier elixirs.

Now with the addition of Li Ji’an, the supply of Third Tier elixirs could be somewhat alleviated naturally.

"Supreme Elder Yun Qing congratulates Alchemist Li on the accomplishment of Core Formation, gifting a Ninth Grade Fire Jade."

"Elder Tian congratulates..."

...

Subsequently, even the Sect’s Supreme Elders, including Elder Tian, who previously tried to seize the Core Formation Spiritual Talent for his grandson, presented congratulatory gifts.

With the benchmarks set by the Sect, subsequent guests followed in offering their gifts.

During this period, Qin Henian came with Qin Chuan to congratulate Li Ji’an, presenting a Tier Three Spirit Medicine.

The Liu Family Patriarch, accompanied by Liu Jiuqian, offered a bottle of Quasi-Beast King Essence Blood.

These were all anticipated, but what surprised Li Ji’an was that the Fiery Sun Sect from Celestial Origin Province also sent someone.

Though they arrived last, they still brought gifts.

The gift was ordinary, merely a section of Second Tier Spiritual Bamboo, but the visitor slightly raised Li Ji’an’s eyebrows.

It was True Man Fu, one of the five True Pill Elders of the Fiery Sun Sect, and the ancestor of the Fu Family from Guan Mountain Bamboo Sea.

The Biyun Sect’s Sect Leader dared not neglect and enthusiastically received with Elder Tian.

However, Li Ji’an noticed that Fu’s interest wasn’t primarily in him, but occasionally shifted to Qin Henian from the start.

After the Si Shui Commerce Association decided to relocate back to the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, the business in Celestial River Immortal City mostly focuses on material acquisition, while the cooperation with the Qin Family regarding Purple Bamboo continues.

Li Ji’an sensed that the congratulation was merely in passing, the main purpose pertained to the Qin Family.

Upon seeing the visitor, Qin Henian’s expression immediately turned sombre.

Facing the Fiery Sun Sect, a Fake Pill family like the Qin Family has no choice but to rely on the Biyun Sect for room to maneuver.

Back then, when the Ten Thousand Laws Palace bypassed the Biyun Sect to grant the Odd Stone Forest Dao Field to the Qin Family, it almost pushed the relationship between the Qin Family and the Biyun Sect to a freezing point.

Fortunately, Qin Henian wisely gave away the Odd Stone Forest in turn.

Moreover, throughout the years, the transactions between the Qin Family and the Si Shui Commerce Association have greatly benefited the Biyun Sect. On the surface, the Qin Family still aligns itself primarily with the Biyun Sect, as part of its direct lineage.

After quick consideration, Li Ji’an thought the Biyun Sect wouldn’t let True Man Fu do as he pleased.

The present is not like the past. Back then, due to gaining a large amount of Spiritual Talent from relics, the Biyun Sect could lie low, avoiding conflicts with other Sects.

But now, with the great demon war draining them, they will not retreat as they once did, in order to expand influence and power.

Moreover, the annual tribute the Qin Family pays to the Biyun Sect is no small amount.

With that, Li Ji’an didn’t dwell on it anymore, and besides, matters at that level were beyond his involvement.

After the celebration, Li Ji’an bid everyone farewell but ultimately asked the Liu family to stay.

The Liu Family Patriarch and Liu Jiuqian, seeing this, were overjoyed.

Among so many congratulatory guests, True Man Li exclusively retained them, giving them a sense of standing out.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, please sit." Li Ji’an invited the Liu Patriarch into the cave mansion, gesturing with his hand.

As for Liu Jiuqian, who stood beside them with eyes full of anticipation, he was outright ignored.

Liu Jiuqian remained at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, his path essentially cut off, and in Li Ji’an’s eyes, he was no different from the masses.

"Thank you, True Man Li, but I wonder what service True Man Li requires of my Liu family?" The Liu Family Patriarch smiled.

Li Ji’an nodded, straightforwardly saying, "I currently face a bottleneck in my Alchemy skill and have quite an interest in your family’s Beast Pill method. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Liu is willing to enlighten me?"

Before forming the core, he had no qualifications to covet the secret of the Liu family’s Beast Pill, especially the Pill Formula of the Sacred Beast Pill, but now, he had the rightful qualification to discuss it openly.