The other aspects of the Sacred Beast Pill formula were already figured out by him during the return journey. For him, at present, whether it is the beast blood, beast bone, or the quasi-third tier spirit medicine, none is difficult.

Only the main medicine, the innate origin essence blood.

The so-called innate origin is an accompaniment within the womb, but once born, this innate origin will be absorbed and refined little by little.

And the essence blood needed for the Sacred Beast Pill must be extracted from the demon core.

This is even more challenging.

After all, any demon beast that has condensed a demon core is already a second-tier demon beast, where would there still be any innate origin left?

So, ninety-nine percent of the demon beasts in this world are not suitable.

However, the Sacred Beast Pill formula that the Liu Family accidentally acquired records a few special demon beasts at the second tier that still contain innate origin essence blood.

The Red Blood Dragon Mound was once one of them.

According to the description of the Red Blood Dragon Mound’s habits, in the entire Celestial Cyan Domain, only the outskirts of Flame Mountain are suitable for survival.

However, such demon beasts are solitary dwelling and territorially aware, with only one surviving within a region.

"You have already consumed the Sacred Beast Pill refined from the essence blood of the Red Blood Dragon Mound, even if there is another one, its effect on you will be greatly reduced."

"Gugu~"

A person and a gugu nodded simultaneously.

"The Five-Colored Brocade Eel... prefers to dwell in the deep sea... we are inland, so forget it." The second one was abandoned again.

"The Golden-winged Ink Carving... loves the desert, soaring above the Nine Heavens, alone... practically forget about the Nine Heavens." Li Ji’an rejected it again.

"The Illusory Moon Glaze Snake... prefers dark and decaying places, hiding in swamps, males and females stay together... this one can be anticipated." Until the last one recorded, Li Ji’an nodded under the expectant gaze of Gugu.

He knew of a place within the Celestial Cyan Domain that has a swamp. When he first went to Celestial River Immortal City, he accidentally picked up a Pure Lotus Seedpod and learned from a medicine gatherer that it was found on the eastern side of the Mist Forest Forbidden Land in the Black Water Swamp.

To seek another Crystal Condensing Pill for the next life, he must visit the Black Water Swamp.

At that time, he may try his luck.

"Gugu~" However, at the moment of seeing the illustration of the Illusory Moon Glaze Snake, Gugu was startled.

Snake-type demon beasts inherently suppress its bloodline.

"Don’t be afraid!" Li Ji’an patted Gugu’s head. "You are to become the Frog Celestial Emperor, how can you be afraid of mere worms?"

"Gugu~" Gugu slightly raised its head, blinked its large bulbous eyes.

"Alright, your Sacred Beast Pill is just short of the origin essence blood. I shall first refine some beast pills for you." Li Ji’an stood up from Gugu.

At this time, nine months had passed since the Core Formation celebration.

The main reason was to visit the Liu Family for Gugu’s advancement.

Now it can be considered temporarily concluded.

In the coming period, Li Ji’an will put the theory of beast pill into practice.

He redeemed a lot of beast pill materials from the sect treasury.

However, after Gugu consumed a second-tier mid-stage beast pill, Li Ji’an found its cultivation speed indeed improved, but the barrier at the second-tier late period remained unmoved.

Without the Sacred Beast Pill to enhance its bloodline quality further, it can only stop at second-tier mid-stage.

Afterwards, he put Gugu’s matter aside and devoted himself fully to puppet refinement and tier-three talisman drawing.

Four months later, all tier-three talisman materials were consumed, ultimately possessing a total of nine tier-three spirit talismans.

Additionally, during this period, sect elders also came seeking pill refining, which he basically completed at Master Jade Pill’s level with a ten percent reduction in results.

Although he still received praise from the elders, those coming for pill medicine became fewer.

Apart from the displayed alchemy skill temporarily not being as good as Master Jade Pill, it was also because the materials needed for tier-three pill medicine were not only expensive but also hard to gather, being able to open the furnace three to five times a year was already rare.

Li Ji’an was very satisfied with this, essentially being in a subtle state where the sect needed him, but not greatly, yet couldn’t do without him.

He had enough freedom and authority.

During this period, he exchanged for the five types of Crystal Condensing Pill materials available in the sect.

Furthermore, after advancing to the fake pill, he gained access rights to the sect’s secret techniques, although core techniques and secret techniques above the earth level were still inaccessible.

Nevertheless, the techniques and secret arts he can borrow freely after leaving a soul contract are already the finest kind seen in the various immortal cities.

Basically at the profound level at minimum.

These techniques and secret arts, purely for cultivation, have little use for Li Ji’an since he never thought of using magic techniques in battle unless absolutely necessary.

However, as a database, it greatly enriched his cultivation technique database.

These foundations are his groundwork for creating a cultivation technique in the future.

"I must make a trip!" On this day, a year after the Core Formation celebration had just passed, Li Ji’an checked his main talisman trump cards, flew out from the outer peak with Gugu.

Now his puppetry skill finally broke through the second-tier, able to barely refine a quasi-second-tier puppet, yet, he didn’t yet have the second-tier puppet materials, nor was it convenient to exchange in the sect.

A half-day later, Li Ji’an arrived at Golden Splendor Immortal City.

These years he seldom came here, mainly because with the century lease limit nearing expiry, the desolation within Golden Splendor Immortal City was apparent.

In about twenty years, the Biyun Sect will reclaim the Immortal City’s managing rights, and by then, certain systems in the city will definitely change significantly.

Added to this, as Eighteen Spirit Strongholds grow increasingly stable, it serves as a transit point between Celestial Origin Province and Cangyun State, now becoming the must-pass place for cultivators below Core Formation traveling between the two states, and the Spirit Village Marketplace it established because it is freer, with a better commercial environment, has become the first marketplace in Cangyun State in name and truth.

Li Ji’an entered Golden Splendor Immortal City, the street edge bustling no more, many shops returning to low-end products as they did during the Biyun Sect’s controlling period, mainly tier one.

After a tour, he only managed to purchase materials for two second-tier puppets.

Before leaving, he visited the Master Collection Courtyard, finding no familiar faces within.

Doctor Bai couldn’t resist the opportunities at Eighteen Spirit Strongholds back then, joining a loose cultivator group, eventually failing in competition, perishing in chaos.

Flower Vase Master left Immortal City not long after Doctor Bai as well, seemingly because her master’s lifespan was nearing its end, called her back to Celestial Origin Province to inherit the industry.

As for the others, they were squeezed out and lost favor during the first wave of competitive selection by second-tier artisans from Celestial Origin Province.

Without further pause, Li Ji’an headed towards Eighteen Spirit Strongholds.

A month later, Li Ji’an arrived at the Great Marsh Mountains where he discovered relics back in the day.

This place no longer resembled wasteland like before, instead, eighteen forces occupied each a Spirit Vein Dao Field, crafting a large Dao Field stretching thousands of miles.

The Spirit Village Marketplace is at the center of the eighteen Dao Fields.

Li Ji’an preemptively disguised as a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator, approached cautiously.

"Hmm?" Yet, as he neared the mountain range edge, several fierce socio-atmospheres came from a dense forest.

Eighteen Spirit Strongholds sitting on the Celestial Origin Province and Cangyun State border isn’t managed by either side, and he experienced its chaos firsthand in the past.

The robbers could dare intercept individuals like the Fake Pill Clan’s Qin Chuan, which shows their fierceness.

"Buzz~" After carefully sensing the opponent’s number and strength, Li Ji’an walked forward as if he hadn’t heard, soon "caught" in their trap.

He entered a second-tier array.

"Swish~" Four figures concealing their breath sprang out from the forest.

Each held an array flag, controlling a direction.

"Hmph, hand over your storage pouch, spare your life, otherwise, turn to ashes at once." The red-flag holder shouted sternly.

All four had their faces covered in black silk, which also inhibited divine sense probing, clearly not ordinary magical artifacts.

Li Ji’an stood still within the array, his expression indifferent, not glancing at them.

"Hmm? Looking for death?" The red flag holder immediately took action, waving the flag.

Whoosh~

A fire snake suddenly shot out from underground, but its might withdrew just as it was about to strike Li Ji’an.

They hesitated to kill instantly for fear the array fire would destroy the storage pouch.

However, at the moment within the Four Symbols Killing Array when the fire snake touched Li Ji’an, the red-flag holder’s face changed.

"No, this person has been hiding his cultivation!" Their recently released fire snake, although its might was withdrawn, was enough equal to a full strike of Foundation Establishment early stage, yet this strike on Li Ji’an was effortlessly blocked by his body-protecting dharma shield.

"Escape!" Almost instantly, the red flag holder flew rapidly into the mountain depths.

The reason the Four Fierce Celestial Phenomena survived until now was their cautiousness.

"Heh~" Li Ji’an was somewhat surprised, not expecting such a quick response from them.

However, Gugu had already cut off their escape route.

His reason for not bypassing them was to test the Faceless Mask!