Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 115: Chapter 112: Planting Trees

Ye Changqing’s flying ship became smaller in his eyes as Ji An patted the Spirit Beast Bag, releasing two Beast Tamers.

The grey-feathered sand geese felt the scorching and unrestrained Spiritual Mechanism in the air, screeched a few times before jumping into the Cold Pool.

Ji An took out the Beast Taming Token and made simple spiritual communication, instructing it to locate the spring in the pool.

He hadn’t practiced the Water Control Technique, nor could he dive.

The sand goose gladly accepted the task and dove down.

Ji An, accompanied by the Spirit-Seeking Rat, surveyed the terrain. Though he was not an Array Master, choosing the right spot for array placement was a straightforward task.

His main objective was to check if there were any hidden dangers left here.

The Golden Wind was fierce, dampening the Spirit-Seeking Rat’s enthusiasm; the environment was too harsh for it, and Ji An felt uncomfortable as the setting was much harsher than what he’d experienced outside the array a few days ago.

The biting cold pierced like needles, his skin felt the fiery pain of stinging.

After the Spiritual Qi entered his body, it felt as if his Immortal Vein was burning, and there wasn’t a single part of him that felt comfortable inside or out.

They arrived at the grotto mansion in the mountain belly where the environment improved somewhat, yet inside the heat swirled like steaming and boiling; after a while, the Spirit-Seeking Rat couldn’t endure it anymore.

It cried out “Zhi Zhi”, wailing to express its desire to leave quickly.

Ji An took a look around and found that the reason the grotto mansion’s environment was this way was due to the few Earth Fire openings that hadn’t been sealed.

When the Chen Race left, they withdrew their array, causing the Earth Lung Fire Vein to continuously emit fierce Spiritual Qi.

“Those bastards, dug a pit and didn’t bother to fill it when leaving?!”

Ji An cursed softly, took the Spirit-Seeking Rat outside, as he couldn’t withstand the strong Spiritual Mechanism either.

Returning to the Cold Pool at the foot of the mountain, he felt much more comfortable.

Seven or eight days passed, and Ji An completed a terrain survey, laying down the array disc.

The Inverted Five Elements Formation focused on defense, concealment, and confining enemies, capable of releasing a faint mist that obscures external prying eyes.

Due to its lack of destructive functions, its defense power is very strong, making it ideal for guarding one’s lair.

Here, the Five Element Spiritual Energy converges, further enhancing the array’s defensive power.

Ji An doesn’t need the array to kill enemies, at least not now; if someone attacks, he’d call for reinforcements.

The Mountain Protection Array draws energy from the earth vein, and breaking through the array would demand several Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators attacking for days; its safety is guaranteed.

Though located on the outer perimeter, attacking the Red Flame Peak is akin to challenging the sect.

After completing all this, Ji An set off early morning flying back to the sect’s core area.

He bought a few small sealing arrays for Earth Fire, then flew back to Ningcui Cliff to visit his master.

…

Ge Ying smiled and nodded hearing the disciple wish to leave:

“You are my disciple with the shortest teaching time and haven’t learned much here.

I’ve compiled my experiences on planting and alchemy, hoping you can make achievements in these two areas.

I don’t require you to study the alchemy dao; research it during leisure as a form of rest, with the priority on improving cultivation.”

She said, using Object Control Technique to send seven or eight Jade Slips into the disciple’s hands.

“So many?”

Ji An exclaimed, stood up and bowed deeply:

“I cannot refuse the master’s gift; I am grateful for your kindness, master, and will definitely study earnestly.”

This was akin to granting him two inheritances, an expression of deep sentiment and weighty ties.

“Your understanding of Planting Technique is profound, as you managed to thrive in the Qi Refining Stage relying on powerful magic technique, but planting top-grade tier spirit medicine requires more insights.

Relying merely on the magic technique’s power makes achieving the best planting results difficult.”

Ge Ying spoke warmly, showing favor to this disciple, who basically succeeded in Foundation Establishment without troubling her.

He was alone upon entering the sect, and to have reached this point today meant his strength and Dao Heart were undoubtedly top choices; if he maintains this momentum, he has chances to break through to the Chao Origin Stage.

Although she herself hadn’t broken through to Chao Origin, cultivating several disciples into Chao Origin Stage cultivators would be a form of glory.

…

Saying farewell to the master, Ji An proceeded to the Medicinal Garden to meet Xiang Yong.

“Old Xiang, I have a task involving spirit medicine; are you interested?”

He explained about the Fire Cloud Ginseng in the small courtyard and added:

“If you’re unavailable, recommending a suitable candidate is fine.

Requirements are Small Cloud Rain Technique and Flame Fire Spell at Great Success, Thick Earth Technique at Perfection, and the activation of a Wood Element Bead every few days.”

Xiang Yong’s eyes rolled slightly, asking:

“Junior Martial Uncle, what’s the reward?”

The task was straightforward, and the location was nearby, easily handled.

“One Spirit Stone per month, with a bonus of five Spirit Stones upon the maturity of the spirit medicine.”

“Junior Martial Uncle, I’ll take it.”

Ji An smiled, directly handing him six Spirit Stones, saying:

“I’ll have someone check every half-year; if growth looks promising, there’ll be rewards.”

They were familiar with each other, and entrusting the courtyard to him was reassuring, in no more than three or four years, these Fire Cloud Ginseng would mature.

“Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle, for the reward.”

Xiang Yong accepted the Spirit Stones happily, feeling like he’d gained a windfall.

“Let’s go, come with me to recognize the place.”

Ji An handed over the array control jade token and summoned the flying shuttle to take them to the Spirit Field.

…

After arranging matters at the small courtyard, Ji An, along with Huang Feihu, flew to the fish pond at Jade Water Lake to find Liang Hill.

“Fellow Daoist Liang, I’ve contracted the entire Red Flame Peak. There’s a Cold Pool there, lacking someone to farm Spirit Fish, and I wish to invite you to come.

I will cover the costs of raising the Spirit Fish, and you’ll receive ten percent of the profits. Additionally, I’ll employ you to prepare meals for everyone, offering two Spirit Stones per month.

Your only duty is to care for the Spirit Fish, so you need not concern yourself with anything else. What do you say?”

The conditions offered by Ji An weren’t particularly generous, but cultivating in a Tier Two Spiritual Vein, resonating with Spiritual Mechanism, was a massive draw for late-stage Qi Refining disciples.

Monthly savings on Spirit Stones for buying pills would be significant. Any saving is a profit.

“I am honored by your regard and willing to go.

However, please give me two months; my fish pond is soon to be harvested. Once I’m finished here, I will definitely seek you at Red Flame Peak.”

“Alright, it’s settled then.”

Liang Hill organized a fish feast, and several people indulged delightfully.

After eating and drinking their fill, Ji An gave detailed instructions on the location of Red Flame Peak and then returned with Huang Feihu to the small courtyard at Jade Water Lake.

The two carefully dug out the Spirit Fruit Tree, and Ji An performed the Spirit Sealing Technique to lock the tree’s vitality, then returned swiftly to Red Flame Peak by flying shuttle.

During the journey, he reinforced the Spirit Sealing Technique several times.

…

Under the setting sun, the chatter of birds returning to their nests made the area around Red Flame Peak even more serene and tranquil.

Outside the Spiritual Vein’s valley, wisps of cooking smoke could be seen rising from several bamboo houses, the residences of Qi Refining disciples renting the sect’s Spirit Fields.

Unlike other places, Red Flame Peak’s Spiritual Vein dives deep underground, with a considerable distance from other Spirit Vein nodes, as if cut off from the sect’s beautiful Spirit Mountain vistas.

The flying shuttle landed by the Cold Pool at the foot of the mountain, where Huang Feihu spread his arms, looked up at the sky, and laughed heartily:

“To follow a Fellow Daoist to cultivate in such a Spiritual Mechanism-abundant place is indeed bliss.”

He felt truly fortunate. At the start of his cultivation, his grandfather supported him, and now he had met a benefactor, able to frequently consult on cultivation issues—a treatment akin to being apprenticed.

“You won’t think that during the day.”

Ji An smiled, gesturing towards the nearby houses, and continued:

“Choose a room for yourself. Tomorrow, go outside the mountain protection array to see which wasteland suits developing into Spirit Fields.

The Spiritual Mechanism is too strong here during the day, making it difficult for Talisman Grass to grow; you can only plant it outside the array.

We also need to re-graft seedlings. Hire disciples from the valley to handle these tasks.

Now, hurry and clean the room, then join me in preparing the seedlings needed for tomorrow.”

The sect had cut down all mature Spirit Wood, so there would be no income short-term, forcing him back to his old trade.

Various Spirit Medicines also needed planting, making the forthcoming days quite busy for him.

“Understood,” Huang Feihu replied, swiftly cleaning the room.

At a pre-planned location, Ji An replanted the Spirit Fruit Tree, then successively performed the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell, the Jade Wood Transformation Skill, and the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill.

All kinds of Spirit Lights shone, with light Spirit Rain drizzling down—not just planting a tree, but sowing hope.

Afterward, he summoned the grey-feathered sand geese playing in the Cold Pool, flew to the grotto mansion halfway up the mountain, and used a Sealing Array to block the hole in the Earth Fire Chamber.

…

Departing from the Cold Pool, they proceeded clockwise to harvest branches suitable for grafting.

Clear Spirit Bamboo didn’t need grafting, so they skipped it.

Under the moonlight, they collected over twenty thousand arm-length Profound Yang Wood branches, enough to fill the gaps in the Profound Yang Wood forest.

This was Tier One Upper Grade Spirit Wood, requiring submission of some Spiritual Materials and a large amount of Spiritual Charcoal in five years.

Huang Feihu dug a big pit, and the two used the Object Control Technique to gather the branches into it.

Ji An unleashed Jade Wood Transformation Skill and Spring Breeze and Rain Skill to strengthen the branches’ vitality, and when the clouds and fog dispersed, they covered the branches with a thick layer of soil.

“Tomorrow morning, we need to prepare more branches at the first quarter of 3:00 AM and stop before sunrise. Grafting will occur after sunset.

The coming days will be tough, so be prepared.”

“Thinking about the future harvest makes it not tough!”

Huang Feihu smiled, knowing that the place was scorched by Golden Wind and fierce fire during the day, understanding that planting had to occur at night and early morning.

Despite this, the survival rate still couldn’t be guaranteed to be high.

He was curious about the magic techniques Ji An employed. Though only a few months into Foundation Establishment, the high-tier planting techniques seemed newly learned, yet judging by the gathered Spiritual Mechanism, they were significantly stronger than the likes of Small Cloud Rain Technique.

Ji An smiled kindly, saying:

“Tomorrow, hire some disciples to help with the work, so it’ll be a bit easier for us.”

He glanced at the high-hanging moon, nodding slightly:

“It’s already midnight; let’s go back to rest.”

He summoned the flying shuttle, and under the moon, the two took to the air.

The night wind rustled the leaves, as if reluctantly bidding farewell.

Upon returning to the grotto mansion halfway up the mountain, Ji An performed Small Cloud Rain Technique to gather water for a cleansing, then lit a furnace with Calming Incense.

Light blue smoke spiraled like mist, the fragrance curling upwards.

He sat cross-legged on the stone chamber’s pudun, activating Evergreen Wood Skill, feeling that a day spent not cultivating left something missing in his life.

This time was when the Earth Lung Fire Vein was least active, an excellent time for cultivation.

After cultivating, he could even sleep for half an hour longer—a trifle for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to endure ten days or so.