Chapter 412: Chapter 31: Sect Childhood (Part 2)

But this matter cannot be put on the table for discussion.

Thus, after Elder Tian spoke righteously, both Xiao Changfeng and Master Jade Pill were speechless.

Finally, the Sect Leader announced the decision: "What Elder Tian said is reasonable. However, Alchemist Li has been in the sect for more than sixty years and has refined countless Pill Medicines for the sect. We cannot chill people’s hearts. Since Xiao Ping’an is now without support, let Xiao Ping’an reside on Pill Cauldron Peak for the time being. Once his Spirit Root matures, he can participate in the sect’s trials."

"Good!" Everyone echoed.

Li Ji’an nodded secretly. Although it was somewhat different from his past life’s plan, and he couldn’t enter as a direct lineage of the sect, being able to grow on a Spirit Vein Dao Field like Pill Cauldron Peak was satisfying enough.

This starting point was already among the top tier in the entire Celestial Cyan Domain.

Moreover, with his confidence in this life and his familiarity with the sect trials, he was also confident that he could become a True Disciple without relying on direct lineage bonuses.

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"Xiao Ping’an, once you’ve reached Pill Cauldron Peak, treat it like your own home. If anyone bullies you, just come to find your grandmaster. Oh, and you have a senior brother and a senior sister too." Once everything settled, Master Jade Pill took Li Ji’an back to Pill Cauldron Peak.

Before long, Li Ji’an, who had been away for ten years, set foot on Pill Cauldron Peak once again. Everything felt so familiar.

And at this moment, outside the Peak Master’s Mansion, a group of disciples stretched their necks to look inside.

"Junior Brother, Senior Brother is here!" Shortly after, a figure rushed in energetically.

It was Xu Xiaochun.

"You... are the Junior Brother? Junior Brother, from now on, Senior Brother will be your strong support! If anyone bullies you, just tell me." Xu Xiaochun went up and picked up Li Ji’an upon seeing the child in the hall.

"Smack!" Master Jade Pill slapped the back of his head: "So reckless, no manners at all. How can you set an example for your Junior Brother? You? A support? Take care of yourself first."

"Hiss~ Grandmaster, I’m wrong, I’m wrong. I’m just happy to see my Junior Brother." Xu Xiaochun put down Li Ji’an and quickly apologized with a smile.

"Senior Brother, slow down!" Guo Wanzhi hurried to catch up and finally arrived.

"Xiao Ping’an?" She gazed warmly at the child, a glimmer of affection in her eyes.

Then she knelt on one knee and gently held Li Ji’an in her arms: "Dear Ping’an, I am your Senior Sister. From now on, I’ll take care of you, alright?"

"Mm, thank you, Senior Sister." Li Ji’an nodded with a smile.

"Call me Senior Brother." Xu Xiaochun also squatted down quickly, looking at Li Ji’an with joy.

However, as he looked, his eyes gradually turned red.

This month, he had vaguely heard about the message that Master sent to Elder Changfeng, and seeing the little Junior Brother now also meant he would never see Master again.

Embracing Li Ji’an as well, Xu Xiaochun and Guo Wanzhi both remained silent for a long time.

That day, Xu Xiaochun brought Li Ji’an into his former cave mansion. By rights, after his death, this cave mansion should have been reclaimed to await the next Pill Master Elder to move in.

However, currently on Pill Cauldron Peak, only Xu Xiaochun and Guo Wanzhi, the two Foundation Establishment Stage Second Tier Pill Masters, had this hope.

Moreover, the two had always followed Li Ji’an in this cave mansion to hone their Alchemy Skills, so no changes were made.

Xu Xiaochun and Guo Wanzhi still lived in their respective side rooms of the cave mansion, leaving the main chamber to Li Ji’an.

Thus, after Rejuvenation, Li Ji’an completely settled down on Pill Cauldron Peak.

In a Tier Three Spiritual Qi environment, with the sect’s superior Qi Sensing Techniques, and enough Source Supplement Pills to restore his Spirit Vein, Li Ji’an noticeably felt his affinity for Spiritual Qi grow rapidly.

Moreover, Xu Xiaochun frequently had sudden inspirations to refine some pills beneficial to children’s Spirit Root development for him.

However, those were merely insights and enlightenment from Li Ji’an’s previous life when researching the Source Supplement Pill, organized in the "Li’s Pill Records" he gave to Master Jade Pill.

Their effectiveness couldn’t compare to the Source Supplement Pill, but it was better than nothing, with a slight effect.

Additionally, this also helped hone his Alchemy Skill, so Li Ji’an did not refuse.

Even though he could not become a direct-lineage child of the sect, Master Jade Pill still allowed him to attend the sect’s children’s classes every day.

Besides literacy, Qi Sensing insights, various talisman scripts, inscriptions, and Dao Seals were taught as well.

Of course, the sect’s core values along with the major influences in the domain, as well as the sect’s history and development, were also important ideological education.

Li Ji’an found the inscriptions and Dao Seals particularly interesting, things he couldn’t access in his past life.

This day, Guo Wanzhi, as usual, escorted Li Ji’an to the sect’s Dharma Transmission Peak for class.

"Ping’an, study well. Today, Senior Sister has to practice Alchemy. After class, your Senior Brother will come to pick you up," Guo Wanzhi said gently.

"Mm, take care, Senior Sister." Li Ji’an waved with a smile.

Watching Guo Wanzhi leave, Li Ji’an stepped into the inner hall.

"An, why are you so late today?" A tall, strapping ten-year-old in the hall turned his head and shouted loudly.

"Senior sister was up late doing alchemy last night, which delayed things," Li Ji’an said casually.

"When the class is over, let’s go to the back mountain. There’s a good show to watch. Are you coming?" The big guy leaned in, eyes dancing with excitement.

Li Ji’an avoided him disdainfully, casting him a scornful look.

This kid was the great-grandson of the Pill Master of the Treasure Artifact Peak, Golden Stone True Man. He was two years older than Li Ji’an and somewhat resembled Golden Stone True Man. Born tall and strapping, he always relied on his strength, which was greater than that of ordinary children, to bully other students.

However, since half a year ago when he and Li Ji’an competed in strength and was subdued with one hand by the seemingly delicate Li Ji’an, although he remained verbally defiant, his actions showed that he had come to admire Li Ji’an considerably.

"Not interested!" Li Ji’an sat back in his seat, directly refusing.

"It’s really a good show. I, Pang Lei, never lie," the big guy continued to nudge closer and said.

Li Ji’an, impatient, pushed his big face away with one hand and said, "Spit it out, what’s the big show?"

"A male disciple from the Treasure Artifact Peak secretly arranged to meet a female apprentice from my grandfather’s Artifact Refining Room at the back mountain..." Pang Lei said with a vulgar grin.

"..." Li Ji’an’s face darkened, casting him an eye full of disdain.

The great-grandson of a Fake Pill Elder, and yet so vulgar.

Doesn’t he know that with his status, what female cultivators he wants can be his in the future?

"Get lost!" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

After dismissing Pang Lei, Li Ji’an calmly focused his spirit, waiting for the class to begin.

"Hmm?" Suddenly his spiritual sense moved, the little girl in the front row, carrying a scent of morning dew, turned around and handed over a box of pastries.

"Brother Ping’an, I made these myself. Have a taste," said the girl, just six years old. The pastries she made were a bit of a sight, but her small face was full of sincerity.

Her parents were ordinary disciples of the Inner Sect. Her father fell in an old tomb five years ago, and her mother met her end in the belly of a demon beast while gathering herbs in the Great Marsh Mountains a couple of years back. She was truly a direct lineage of the sect.

When Li Ji’an started attending classes half a year ago, he found her gloomy all day, so he often offered guidance, and slowly she managed to put her troubles aside.

Since then, the little girl also treated him like her own brother.

"It smells wonderful~~ Yanyan, you’re amazing." Li Ji’an took a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, sparing no compliments.

Little Zhaoyan instantly beamed with joy, her two big eyes curving into crescent moons.

The class hadn’t finished yet when Xu Xiaochun slipped in at some point.

When Li Ji’an got up, he was already chatting familiarly with the female cultivator in the lecture hall.

As the most promising Alchemist in the Biyun Sect, Xu Xiaochun’s status among the sect disciples was considerable, with all but the true disciples giving him some leeway.

Even when the other classmates had left, Li Ji’an quietly remained seated, waiting.

Seeing that Xu Xiaochun probably wouldn’t finish chatting anytime soon, he simply started practicing the Divine Grinding Soul Technique.

Currently, his body’s tendons and bones were not fully developed, and his spirit roots had not formed yet; only his divine soul could be trained.

After finishing a round of the Soul Forging Technique, and seeing that Xu Xiaochun was still not done talking, Li Ji’an finally had to bring up Senior Sister to get Xu Xiaochun to come to his senses, leading him back to the Pill Cauldron Peak.

However, not long after returning to the Pill Cauldron Peak, the sect’s Golden Bell suddenly rang out sharply.

Soon after, a furious Fake Pill energy surged towards the Pill Cauldron Peak.

Golden Stone True Man stormed into Li Ji’an’s residence, livid, not letting them explain.

"Golden Stone Elder, please calm down," Xu Xiaochun immediately stepped in front of Li Ji’an.

Followed closely by Guo Wanzhi, rushing out from her closed-door alchemy session.

Master Jade Pill also exited seclusion at once, arriving with a head of wild hair.

Even before Golden Stone True Man could speak, Xiao Changfeng’s powerful True Pill aura transmitted from the main peak.

"No need for misunderstandings. I just want to ask Xiao Ping’an, did he hear Little Pang say anything about going to do anything after today’s class?" Golden Stone True Man suppressed his anger and said.

"What happened to Pang Lei? Before class today, he invited me to go to the back mountain after class, claiming he overheard an Inner Sect disciple from the Treasure Artifact Peak inviting a female disciple from the Elder’s Artifact Refining Room for a private meeting there," Li Ji’an’s expression shifted slightly.

"Little Pang was just attacked. His Soul Jade was destroyed; thankfully, he had a protective magical artifact that saved his life!" Golden Stone Elder replied truthfully.

"Pang Lei was attacked..." Li Ji’an frowned slightly.

It’s normal for male and female disciples within the sect to fall in love, the sect never interferes. There’s no reason to attack someone for sneaking a peek at a private meeting.

Especially within the sect grounds.