In the end, Li Ji’an did not outright deny him nor prevent his development in the Poison Dao, only explained the pros and cons.

He is not the ruling class, so naturally, he doesn’t need to worry about the chaos under his rule and abstain from opportunities in fear of minor risks.

Whether it’s poison or demon techniques, in his view, they are merely means; the distinction between good and evil lies in who uses them and for what purpose.

"Understood, Master!" Li Ji’an neither reprimanded nor stopped him from delving into the Poison Dao. Xu Xiaochun sighed in relief.

"Mind your state of mind, hatred only blinds a person’s eyes; treating it as a cause and effect would be better. There’s no need for you to worry about my affairs. Cultivate well, and I’ll be content as your master." Li Ji’an glanced at him with a smile.

"I shall obey Master’s command!" Xu Xiaochun was overjoyed and bowed respectfully.

Li Ji’an suddenly understood; this young man’s offer to help him seek revenge was just an excuse. Even if he might truly have such intentions, he mostly wanted recognition for his Poison Dao from Li Ji’an.

It’s considered finding some support, a kind of safeguard.

"Master, these are the pill medicines I have refined over the past six years. Please inspect them." Guo Wanzhi’s temperament is still so graceful and respectful.

Li Ji’an took the pill medicines she crafted and was quite pleased; her alchemy skill was comparable to his own during his early years in the Immortal City. Truly, the new wave pushes the old wave forward.

After all, his own achievements in this life were based on several decades of alchemy skill from his previous life.

"Good!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"From today onwards, you can temporarily slow down your progress in the Alchemy Dao and prepare fully for the Foundation Establishment stage." Finally, Li Ji’an pointed them towards a direction.

He himself had approximately more than ten years until Rejuvenation, and he hoped that before this, he could lend them some more support.

Afterward, Li Ji’an arrived at the Law Enforcement Hall and received the Elder Token along with the communication spirit talismans from the Law Enforcement Teams.

Unexpectedly, the person handing over the duties to him turned out to be Zhao Qi!

As the sect’s former Chief True Inheritor, Zhao Qi temporarily held the duties of the Law Enforcement Hall after the sect went to the Black Water Swamp Ancient Tomb, and now he handed them over to Li Ji’an.

"Greetings, Elder Li." Upon meeting again, Zhao Qi’s demeanor was calm and composed, unlike the awkwardness seen previously.

Since Li Ji’an succeeded in Core Formation, Zhao Qi used the excuse of patrolling the province to avoid returning to the sect for several years until the opportunity at the Ancient Tomb led him to temporarily manage the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Senior Brother Zhao flatters me." Li Ji’an smiled lightly.

Zhao Qi could have attempted Core Formation long ago, but he couldn’t ensure the formation of a True Pill without a superior Core Formation Spiritual Object, hence delaying the attempt.

This is a testament to Zhao Qi’s willpower.

Simultaneously, for Li Ji’an, Zhao Qi has always been a hidden danger.

Li Ji’an has always believed in the principle that causes are bound to produce effects; whoever sows evil causes shall bear evil effects.

In the same vein, he never expects others to be merciful to him, resolving grudges with a smile.

Therefore, from the day he decided to help Xiao Changfeng, he was destined to have sown evil causes with Zhao Qi.

Previously, because he had more than three hundred years left, he wasn’t concerned about Zhao Qi, but now, in a little over ten years, he would face Rejuvenation again. Zhao Qi is his greatest threat in the next lifetime.

After the duties handover, Zhao Qi took his leave and went on external duties again.

Li Ji’an examined Zhao Qi’s patrol routes, which had been primarily in the eastern part of Cangyun State near the Fire Domain Area these past few years.

After sorting out the official matters of the Law Enforcement Hall, Li Ji’an returned to the Outer Peak.

Over six years, the Outer Peak’s Restriction Array remained intact, never activated or subjected to violent attack.

For the upcoming half-year, Li Ji’an stayed within the peak, frequently refining pills. Besides contributing to Pill Cauldron Peak, he also refined many Second Tier Pill Medicines.

Mainly to warm up for refining Foundation Establishment Pills and Crystal Condensing Pills after the Little Fire Spirit awakened.

Gugu, after consuming the Sacred Beast Pill, also submerged into the cave at the bottom of the peak to refine the Sacred Beast Pill and transform its bloodline.

Until this day, half a year later, the Little Fire Spirit finally awoke after two years of absorbing Tier Three Spirit Flame Chaos.

"Little Fire!" While refining a batch of pills, Li Ji’an sensed the stirring of the Little Fire Spirit within his dantian and immediately abandoned the batch to fully communicate with the Little Fire Spirit.

This is the foundation for him to refine the Crystal Condensing Pill.

Without the might of the Little Fire Spirit’s spirit flame, his Pill Fire from Fake Pill Cultivation could hardly guarantee the quality and pill formation success rate of the Crystal Condensing Pill.

"Whoosh~" The just-awakened Little Fire Spirit appeared dazed, merely closely absorbing the Fire Element Magical Power from Li Ji’an’s blazing Fake Pill.

Until half a day later, the Little Fire Spirit fully awakened.

It emerged from Li Ji’an’s dantian and exuberantly danced with fiery flair.

"Quasi Tier Three Fire Spirit!" After exchanging information, they confirmed its current tier level.

Though it hadn’t breached Tier Three, it jumped from Middle Stage Second Tier to Second Tier Peak, nearly one step away from Tier Three Holy Spirit.

The Heaven and Earth Holy Spirit naturally undergoes transformation but once in a hundred years, a millennium forms; the pace at which the Little Fire Spirit advanced under Li Ji’an’s guidance within less than a hundred years is already quite remarkable.

As for breaking through the significant bottleneck of Tier Three, even the Little Fire Spirit remains unsure.

But this isn’t a matter to worry about in this lifetime.

In the following days, Li Ji’an tested the might of the spirit flame from the quasi Tier Three Little Fire Spirit and the results exceeded his expectations.

Previously, in True Man Chunyuan’s pill-making cave mansion, witnessing his alchemy post Core Formation firsthand, those Pill Fires combined with Tier Three spirit flames were almost comparable to the strength of the current Little Fire Spirit.

After reacquainting with the essence of Fire Spirit’s might for half a month, Li Ji’an finally began preparing to refine Foundation Establishment Pills for his next lifetime.

Two months later, accompanied by a celestial rumbling at the peak, a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills was completed.

One premium pill, one upper-grade pill.