Ge Yi Alchemist

Lan Chang'an considered whether he should hold himself back and refrain from advancing to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer for now.

After all, most of the able-bodied young men in the lineage at the Qi Refining Mid-Stage would be conscripted to the frontline Mine Area.

But after giving it some thought, he decided not to hold back.

For one thing, advancing to the Qi Refining Mid-Stage would bring a substantial increase in spiritual power. For Lan Chang'an, who was rebuilding his cultivation, his strength would rise by a great deal.

For another, this would also be a test.

If even a Talisman Master like him had to be conscripted to the front lines, it meant the situation had reached the point where ammunition and provisions were exhausted.

If that happened, there would be no need for Lan Chang'an to remain with the Mu Family.

If he truly wished to leave, with the methods from his Previous Life and high-quality Talismans, it would be difficult for anyone below the Foundation Establishment Realm to catch him.

A few days later.

Lan Chang'an smoothly broke through the bottleneck and advanced to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

This was the advantage of rebuilding one's cultivation.

For an ordinary Low-Grade Spiritual Root or Mid-Grade Spiritual Root cultivator, without a Breakthrough Pill, being stuck for one or two years—or even three to five years—was perfectly normal.

Of course, that was only a bottleneck in a minor realm.

If it were a major bottleneck such as Foundation Establishment, then with Lan Chang'an's aptitude in this life, he would still need a Foundation Establishment Pill to be safe.

"Twenty-seven years old, Qi Refining Fourth Layer."

"Starting from eighteen, it took two years to reach the Qi Refining Second Layer, three years to reach the Qi Refining Third Layer, and four years to reach the Qi Refining Fourth Layer..."

The advancement of the Evergreen Art truly was steady and gradual.

Without realizing it, Lan Chang'an had cultivated in the Mu Family for nine years.

During that time, he cultivated quietly and never stirred up trouble, so he encountered no real problems.

Lan Chang'an did not know.

The Ugly Woman of the Zheng Family, Zheng Feng, had been trying to take revenge on him all these years.

Yet she had never found an opportunity.

Because over the past nine years, aside from that appointment three years ago, Lan Chang'an had never once left the Mu Family's grounds.

Zheng Feng was so anxious she nearly suffered internal bleeding.

When Lan Chang'an broke through a minor realm, the disturbance in heaven and earth spiritual energy could not be concealed from the cultivators in the Medicine Garden residential area.

Only by going elsewhere to seek a place for breakthrough could one possibly conceal one's cultivation level.

"Congratulations, Brother Chang'an, on advancing to the Qi Refining Mid-Stage."

After he emerged from seclusion, Mu Yunfei was the first to come offer his congratulations.

"You flatter me, Brother Yunfei. Reaching the Qi Refining Fourth Layer at my age truly shows that I am slow-witted and mediocre."

Lan Chang'an smiled. Those words were not mere modesty.

At twenty-seven, reaching the Qi Refining Fourth Layer meant rather poor potential. The chance of achieving Foundation Establishment in the future was very small.

Normally, one had to advance to the Qi Refining Late-Stage before the age of thirty to have some hope of Foundation Establishment.

At Lan Chang'an's current pace, reaching the Qi Refining Seventh Layer before thirty was clearly impossible.

However, he had a lifespan of one hundred and eighty years during the Qi Refining stage, so there was no need for him to hurry.

"Brother Chang'an entered the path late. Though your advancement has not been swift, your cultivation has continued to progress. That is already no easy thing."

After Mu Yunfei spoke, his expression darkened slightly.

Lan Chang'an could tell that Mu Yunfei had been stuck at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer for many years, unable to advance to the Qi Refining Late-Stage.

Compared with Lan Chang'an's gradual advancement, this sort of utter stagnation was what truly drove people to despair.

"With Brother Yunfei's perseverance, once you exchange for a Breakthrough Pill in the future, you will certainly break through the bottleneck."

Lan Chang'an offered a word of comfort.

A Breakthrough Pill for the Qi Refining Late-Stage was exceedingly hard to obtain in the Mu Family. Even with contribution points, one had to wait in line.

Moreover, Mu Yunfei had lost an arm. Every future breakthrough would be more difficult for him than for ordinary people.

Over the following days.

Lan Chang'an wandered through the Medicine Garden to clear his mind.

Over the past half year, battles had occasionally broken out at the frontline Mine Area, though fortunately they had not escalated further.

At the very least, no Foundation Establishment cultivators had entered the fray.

The elders of the two lineages had also remained relatively restrained.

Two months ago, Li Ergou returned to the lineage to recuperate as an injured man.

Li Ergou's injury was rather bizarre.

One of his legs had broken, but it was not from an enemy attack. Rather, while retreating after a defeat, he had accidentally fallen and broken it.

The actual fighting had only left him with superficial wounds.

Half a month ago, Li Ergou specifically came to the Medicine Garden to thank Lan Chang'an and begged to buy a high-quality Wind Speed Talisman.

For normal Talisman Masters, the odds of producing high-quality Talismans were very low. Lan Chang'an expressed difficulty and said he would sell him one later if he had any.

In Li Ergou's words, he had been fortunate to have Lan Chang'an's high-quality Wind Speed Talisman at the time. Its effect had far exceeded expectations.

It was also because he ran too fast that he accidentally broke his leg while retreating to the main camp.

Fortunately.

Li Ergou received half a year to recover from his injuries and could return to the lineage to reunite with his wife and children.

Half a month later.

A lineage steward came to the Medicine Garden and conscripted Mu Yunfei for the frontline Mine Area.

After a year of recuperation, Mu Yunfei's injuries had only recently healed.

"Brother Yunfei, take care."

Lan Chang'an clasped his hands in salute, feeling a trace of pity.

His injuries had barely healed, and he was already being sent back to the front lines...

Mu Yunfei showed not the slightest complaint as he prepared to leave with the steward.

"No rush. There is something else to announce."

The steward wore a smile as his gaze fell upon Lan Chang'an. He declared:

"From today onward, the position of Medicine Garden Guardian shall be held by Lan Chang'an."

"Medicine Garden Guardian?"

Lan Chang'an's eyelid twitched. He had not expected this.

Why would the Mu Family let an outsider like him serve as Medicine Garden Guardian?

"Lan Chang'an, there is no need to decline. This is the result of the family head pushing through all objections."

The steward smiled amiably.

"The family head thinks highly of you. His evaluation was: 'Calm in the face of danger, meticulous in thought!'"

Lan Chang'an had underestimated Mu Maode's boldness.

Mu Maode knew Lan Chang'an's loyalty was insufficient. If he forcibly conscripted him to the front lines, it might well backfire.

But the lineage was truly short of manpower.

Mu Maode greatly appreciated the vigilance Lan Chang'an had shown before. None of the younger generation within the lineage was as seasoned as he was.

At a moment of crisis for the lineage, it would be a pity to waste such a talent. Better to place him in an important position.

Over the years Lan Chang'an had spent in the Mu Family, he neither competed nor fought, cultivating quietly. In terms of character, he had earned the Mu Family's basic trust.

Mu Maode chose to take a gamble.

He did not know what fate this helpless gamble would bring upon the Mu Family.

"Brother Chang'an! I believe you can take over my position and guard the Medicine Garden well."

Mu Yunfei gave him a trusting look.

Previously, Mu Yunfei had been temporarily serving as the Medicine Garden Guardian.

"Do not worry! The Medicine Garden is in the rear, able to watch over one another with Jade Moon Mountain Villa. Besides, Old Ge is here overseeing the alchemy."

With matters having reached this point, Lan Chang'an could not conveniently refuse.

He had previously assisted with guarding the place. Now, he had become the one in charge.

The greatest difference was that it would no longer be easy to slack off.

Compared to Mu Yunfei and Li Ergou, who had to fight and risk their lives on the front lines, this was not something he could not accept.

Nine years ago, Lan Chang'an had been taken in by the Mu Family and given a Spiritual Vein Dao Field in which to cultivate. The Mu Family had shown him kindness.

Within reasonable limits, it was only right for him to shoulder a certain degree of obligation.

Such a righteous atmosphere—where a cultivation lineage could tolerate outsiders settling within it—was not easy to find in the Cultivation World.

"Fortunately, I did not marry and have children in the Mu Family."

Lan Chang'an had no ties or burdens and could flee at any time.

The Mu Family could not easily control him.

Li Ergou was different.

His wife and children were all in the Mu Family. Over nearly ten years, he had completely integrated into the Mu Family and found it difficult to break free from this larger collective.

With the lineage facing a crisis, Mu Yunfei and Li Ergou could only step forward, even knowing they might be sacrificed.

One month later.

Lan Chang'an had adapted to his duties as Medicine Garden Guardian.

Several Mu Family youths at the Qi Refining Early-Stage followed his orders.

Every day, they had to inspect the formations. At night, someone also had to stand watch and patrol.

Of course, Lan Chang'an was not the top authority in the Medicine Garden. He too had to be kept in check.

There were two people in the Medicine Garden whose status surpassed his.

One was a dim-eyed Spiritual Planter at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, an elderly senior of the Mu Family. Judging by how laboriously he walked, his lifespan was nearing its limit, and there was no need to expect any combat ability from him.

The other was naturally Ge Yi Alchemist.

At the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and a First-Order High-Grade Alchemist, his status was lofty.

This man was arrogant by nature and ill-tempered. In their several dealings, he had always barked orders at others.

Lan Chang'an avoided him whenever possible.

"Little Lu! Why has no one delivered that two-hundred-year-old Snake Heart Grass yet?"

Ge Yi approached with an unhappy expression.

"According to procedure, taking precious medicinal herbs over two hundred years old requires the family head's approval."

Lan Chang'an lay on the grass, basking in the sun as he spoke leisurely.

Ge Yi did not treat him like a person, so Lan Chang'an saw no need to show him respect.

Beneath Ge Yi's weary, swollen eye bags, his eye sockets were deeply sunken. Under the anger, a trace of sinister gloom appeared.

He was talking to him while lying down?

After all these years in the Mu Family, not a single cultivator had dared show him such disrespect.

"This is a special period! The front lines urgently need pills. There can be no delay..."

Remembering that Lan Chang'an was an outsider and also a Mid-Grade Talisman Master, not someone easily manipulated, Ge Yi suppressed the anger in his heart.

"Fine! If you want to take it, go take it yourself. I will not bear the responsibility."

Lan Chang'an said indifferently.

This Ge Yi Alchemist often took medicinal herbs in violation of the rules, especially during this special period.

Who knew how much he had embezzled.

However, relying on his friendship with a Foundation Establishment Ancestor, even the elders who had previously guarded the Medicine Garden had always treated him with courtesy.

"You lazy brat! You neglect your duty every day. This old man will certainly report you to the lineage's upper ranks."

After throwing down that harsh threat, Ge Yi stormed away.

He went to take the precious medicinal herbs.

Could it be that the Mu Family Head wanted me to keep Old Ge in check?

Lan Chang'an was also helpless at this outcome.

He had already kept a low profile and yielded whenever possible.

Yet now that he occupied this position, he was destined to be unable to coexist peacefully with Ge Yi.

"This old fellow has definitely embezzled medicinal herbs."

Before long, Lan Chang'an saw Ge Yi take several precious medicinal ingredients, not just the two-hundred-year-old Snake Heart Grass he had mentioned earlier.

After taking the medicinal herbs, Ge Yi returned to his own large courtyard and shut himself away to refine pills.