Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 112: Chapter 109: Resource Integration

The reappearance of demon cultivators, who had long vanished from the Cultivation Realm, sounded an alarm in everyone’s hearts.

Ji An suddenly thought of a question: how does the sect determine the outbreak time of the demon calamity, and what is the margin of error?

“Do you think the demon calamity might break out earlier than the ancestors predicted?”

Liu Yu gently nodded:

“I think it might be a few years earlier than estimated, but the possibility of it being much earlier is small. However, who can say for sure? We can only prepare as much as possible.”

Mu Qingwan pondered:

“I have looked up records about demon calamities. Each outbreak of the demon calamity is a catastrophe for cultivators.

For the Central Continent, the sects and various families of the Western Continent serve as a buffer in wars. After each great war, only two or three out of ten forces can survive.”

Du Huaiyuan operated his cultivation technique to refine the spirit wine, and the drunkenness in his eyes quickly dissipated:

“Small boats fear the storm, and large ships are hard to turn. Once a sect is established, it is impossible to avoid this war. The sect ancestors can only consider expanding the sect’s power before the storm hits.

I think what the sect is doing now is quite good, always expanding its strongholds outward.

The other two sects are doing the same. If the established strongholds are numerous enough and penetrate deep into the inner areas of the Ten Thousand Mountains, it would be equivalent to driving a lot of stakes into the riverbed before the flood comes, which can certainly help delay the demon calamity’s advance.

It is said that in recent years, loose cultivators can also rent grotto mansions in the wild long-term, which allows for better utilization of the loose cultivators.”

After learning from his master about the imminent demon calamity, he also looked up related records and found that after each demon calamity, a batch of sect families would migrate from the Central Continent.

Among the three sects, the Golden Spirit Sect and Yuanhe Mountain migrated from the Central Continent three thousand years ago.

He was optimistic about this crisis because Luofeng Valley had survived the last demon calamity when there were only three Golden Core Stage cultivators in the entire Western Continent.

After continuous mergers, only three major sects remain in the Western Continent, with all other medium and small sects having disappeared, making the unification of forces easier.

More importantly, there are now seven Golden Core Ancestors in the three sects, which gives reassurance in terms of top-level battle strength.

In three thousand years of breeding, the strength of the human cultivators is more prosperous than when the last demon calamity broke out.

Ji An nodded slightly and smiled:

“I think the three sects should yield more benefits to tie more loose cultivators to their chariot.”

The combat power of loose cultivators is inferior to that of sect disciples, but their numbers far exceed that of the three sects.

If used properly, they can alleviate a lot of pressure.

After the outbreak of the war, the sect will conscript loose cultivators, but there will certainly be a considerable number who will shirk their duties.

More loose cultivators will hide in places with scarce spiritual qi, as they have no vested interest, why risk their lives?

They will wait for the sect to slowly clean up the situation because the main targets of the demon beasts will inevitably be the various spiritual veins.

Liu Yu nodded slightly and smiled:

“That’s something for the sect ancestors to consider. We just need to follow orders.

The sect is doing its best to cultivate the spiritual veins. The master mentioned that it will take about ten to twenty years to cultivate them to Tier Three.

By then, the Mountain Protection Array of the sect will be impregnable even under the siege of many Golden Core level great demons, unless a Nascent Soul Stage great demon personally takes action, and there is no record of Nascent Soul Stage great cultivators participating in a demon calamity before.

I truly believe this demon calamity is a great opportunity for everyone. In the battles, one can temper an indomitable Dao Heart, and as long as one survives the war, a better future is assured.”

That is also the real reason he joined the Law Enforcement Hall, to fight against fate and earn resources for advancing to the Chao Origin Stage.

He possesses a Fire Dao Body, and his chosen cultivation technique is the Fiery Sun Melting Furnace Scroll, which provides good advantages for both enhancing cultivation and practicing fire element techniques.

“Haha, I was still calculating how to survive by enduring in the war, while Senior Brother was thinking about the opportunities hidden in danger. I am far inferior.”

Du Huaiyuan raised his eyebrows, feeling quite a bit of admiration.

He took another jug of spirit wine from his storage bag and opened the sealing mud under the table:

“After hearing Senior Brother’s words, a big toast is in order.”

Mu Qingwan said solemnly:

“Senior Brother has extraordinary demeanor, and Qingwan admires it just as much.”

The few of them raised their cups and drank deeply, Du Huaiyuan laughed:

“Senior Brother’s path is too arduous and not suitable for me. I will stay in the rear to handle the logistics for everyone.

When I return, I will study the Alchemy Dao intensively. When the sect sees that I can create more value in the rear, it will surely reduce my combat assignments.

Senior Brother, when you seek me out to purchase pills then, I’ll give you a discount!”

Li Lingyu pouted slightly and said:

“Senior Brother practices fire element techniques; how could he buy pills from you, a Water Technique alchemist? That’s just cheap talk, not genuine.

Even if he buys pills, he would look for Junior Sister Mu.

Sister, don’t you agree?”

Her face turned to Mu Qingwan, and on the side unseen by others, her large eye cheekily winked.

Du Huaiyuan, astonished, said:

“No way, Junior Sister Li is also an alchemist. The pills you refine, filled with wood element essence qi, are also suitable for Senior Brother Liu. There’s no need to exclusively find Junior Sister Mu.”

Mu Qingwan’s face blushed slightly with shyness.

Liu Yu remained calm and said:

“Speaking of pills, are the sect’s pill reserves adequate, with several Junior Brothers and Sisters working at the Dan Ding Institute?”

Mu Qingwan coughed lightly and said gently:

“Currently, they are very adequate, but our alchemy tasks are becoming increasingly onerous.

When I first joined the Dan Ding Institute, I could complete my daily alchemy tasks in a little over a double hour, and now it takes three double hours, even with my increase in pill production.”

Du Huaiyuan nodded in agreement:

“The sect has already started to stockpile a large amount of pills. It is said that the spirit medicines in various medicinal gardens are maturing successively, and the heavy alchemy tasks will continue for a few years.”

He turned his head and asked:

“Junior Brother, where have you chosen for your grotto mansion, and what kind of sect mission are you planning to take on in the future?”

Ji An replied: “I’m just a Spirit Farmer, so of course, the sect missions I’ll choose involve various planting tasks.

The grotto mansion is chosen at Red Flame Peak, perhaps due to the increase in refining elixir tasks, the sect has a growing demand for various Spiritual Charcoal, and Red Flame Peak is more suitable for cultivating Spirit Wood to make Spiritual Charcoal.

Spirit Wood is also easier to manage, with more time to improve cultivation and practice magical techniques.”

Du Huaiyuan scratched his head, pondering:

“I know that place, I once had the thought of choosing Red Flame Peak myself, it is particularly suitable for brewing Spirit Wine.

But I chose the Water Element Cultivation Method, and indeed choosing there made it too difficult to improve cultivation, so I had to let it go.

Junior Brother cultivates with a Wood Element Technique, going there won’t be pleasant either; you must have set your eyes on the sect giving extra ten acres of Spirit Field, right?”

“That’s part of the reason.”

Liu Yu said, somewhat surprised:

“I also know that place, the Spiritual Mechanism at Red Flame Peak is too intense, not suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators to stay for long.

Choosing there as a grotto mansion might slow down cultivation progress, but one can use the domineering Golden Wind and Red Flame aura to refine magical power.”

The purpose of Foundation Establishment cultivation is to comprehend the Cultivation Technique Divine Intent, using it as an opportunity to purify magical power and refine oneself, eventually igniting the Primordial Life Fire.

He thought to himself, Junior Brother Ji must have the ambition to break through to the Chao Origin Stage, which can be seen from the choice of the grotto mansion, as for the claim of being interested in the additional Spirit Field, it shouldn’t be taken seriously.

However, now it seems too early to choose Red Flame Peak as a grotto mansion, it would be more advantageous to move in during the late-stage Foundation Establishment.

He paused for a moment and then smiled:

“In the future, I’ll need to trouble you quite a bit, Junior Brother, I plan to visit your place every now and then to purify magical power.”

Originally, Red Flame Peak was rented out to the Chen Clan of Pu Yun Mountain, even if he wanted to use the Golden Wind and Red Flame aura to refine magical power, he couldn’t visit often.

Now it’s better, as it becomes the grotto mansion of his Junior Brother, there’s no concern anymore, and he can get closer to the ambitious Junior Brother.

“Haha, welcome, Senior Brother, I will always be ready to receive you.”

Ji An laughed, relationships deepen with the give-and-take exchange.

He inquired about the preparations required for everyone moving into their grotto mansion, subtly mentioning the previous unpleasant meeting with Chen Xingyun and Zhu Qinghao.

Du Huaiyuan lightly thumped the table, speaking coldly:

“Senior Brother Zhu is really something, Junior Brother unwilling to change and get a different grotto mansion and yet forcing him along with outsiders, I figured it out, he doesn’t certainly see us as true brothers in his heart.”

Mu Qingwan agreed:

“Due to the Master’s preference in taking disciples, the gap in realms between us and other Senior Brothers and Sisters is large, lacking the sentiment of learning under the Master’s seat together, it’s normal for the relationship to be shallow.”

Li Lingyu spoke in a solemn tone:

“Junior Brother’s decision might be viewed as a deep-cutting animosity taking away their financial road by the Chen Race.

It’s important to be cautious, Junior Brother should watch out.”

Father was a Loose Cultivator, had shared many stories of the sinister nature of the human heart.

Ji An smiled and said:

“Thank you, Senior Sister, for the reminder, within a few years I don’t plan to leave the sect, no one can do anything to me.”

In a few years, his magical techniques would be practiced to a proficient level, making his self-defense capability much stronger.

This was a resource integration exchange meeting, Liu Yu often handles Demon Beast Materials, Ji An preordered a batch of Beast Hide and Demon Beast Essence Blood, planning to pick up talisman making skills again in the future.

After improving the alchemist’s proficiency, completing the sect’s alchemy tasks would yield extra pills, typically acknowledged as the alchemist’s extra earnings.

Li Lingyu is now mainly responsible for the refinement of Cyan Spirit Pill, and Ji An made a deal to purchase some pills from her.

There was a significant reduction in the supply of Foundation Establishment Pills, and without a familiar alchemist, it was difficult to buy extra pills.

Li Lingyu and Mu Qingwan also preordered a batch of Spiritual Charcoal and Alchemy Auxiliary Medicines from Ji An.

“Junior Brother hasn’t yet moved into the grotto mansion, but the future gains are evident, I’m truly envious.

I would like to order some Spiritual Charcoal as well, specifically those made from Purple Sun Wood and Clear Spirit Bamboo, five hundred pounds annually, cash on delivery.”

Ji An was astonished: “Senior Brother uses Water Technique Alchemy, what do you need Spiritual Charcoal for?”

“It has a special use, you’ll understand in the future.”

Du Huaiyuan smiled mysteriously and then said:

“Junior Brother, let’s make a deal: the Hidden Pool at the foot of Red Flame Peak is excellent for fermenting Spirit Wine, let me use the treasured land in the future, how about it?

You won’t lack benefits, every time I start the brewing, I will give Junior Brother a few jars of each kind of Spirit Wine.”

“Senior Brother, feel free to use it, as long as you’re not afraid of me sneaking a sip.”

Du Huaiyuan scratched his head:

“I will keep track of the Spirit Wine quantities.”

Everyone chuckled fondly, chatted a bit more, and then each departed.

Outside the grotto mansion, the setting sun cast its slanted glow on the green bamboo, with purple tear marks crimson like blood, carrying an aesthetic with a unique flavor.

Ji An stayed until the end, taking out a flame-colored Magic Sword, smiling wryly:

“Senior Sister, it’s been three years and I’ve yet to sell it, I’ll have to visit the Immortal City for selling.

Soon we can go to Cyan Cloud Immortal City together, sell the Magical Artifact, and split the Spirit Stones.”

He planned to go to the Immortal City to purchase an Array Disc and other materials, having someone accompany him gives him peace of mind.

Li Lingyu nodded: “Alright, confirm the date and let me know, Junior Brother.”

The sect doesn’t sell the main Spirit Medicine for refining elixirs, and she lacks a familiar Spirit Farmer to collaborate with, so she can only go out for purchases.