Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 121: Chapter 118: Eruption

Ji An cast the technique with special skill, the Small Cloud Rain Technique did not bring rain, only endless thick mist rose.

Covering an area of ten acres, with a thickness close to twenty feet, a vast expanse of whiteness.

The fireball hit the ground, exploding into a thousand sparks, the shockwave spreading outwards.

The cloud of mist was blown away, revealing open ground, but it was soon filled again, the place remained a sea of mist.

Ji An moved positions within the mist, and after casting the Small Cloud Rain Technique again, the mist grew thicker, visibility was less than one foot.

Huang Feihu was not far away planting Talisman Grass, seeing this situation, he immediately dashed into the mist, cautiously hiding himself.

As the mist spread, the two attacking cultivators immediately flew up into the air, looking at the rapidly rising mist, they were dumbfounded.

The Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator asked:

“Boss Dong, what kind of magic technique is this, what should we do now?”

Their leader had taken them for a big job, anticipated all sorts of situations, but hadn’t foreseen this scenario.

The mist now was over thirty feet thick, completely unaware of the situation below.

Two flying shuttles slowly approached, the cultivators on them had yet to join the battle, surprised to see the white mist rising.

“If I’m not mistaken, this is the Small Cloud Rain Technique that all Spirit Farmers know.”

Boss Dong’s face was dark, he was a branch disciple of the Pu Yun Chen Clan, secretly helping the family with many shady dealings.

Either intercepting competitors’ clients, or clearing family obstacles like today’s affair.

In the genealogy, he had been declared dead many years ago, his cultivation technique unrelated to the family.

The target of this task was a Spirit Farmer who had just reached Foundation Establishment for a year, thought to be easily captured, but the target was not like other Spirit Farmers with no magical combat experience, rather quite quick-witted.

If in the wilderness, the opponent still wouldn’t escape slaughter, but here was Golden Spirit Sect’s territory, time was not on their side.

“Boss, time isn’t on our side, let’s retreat.”

The Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator urged, they had not made any plans for this situation, seeking a breakthrough would take too long, better to leave early.

“Retreat!”

Boss Dong reluctantly boarded the shuttle and left, wanting the group to use Fire Element Techniques to dispel the mist, but the target could continuously cast to increase the mist’s density, they had no time to spend here.

…

Two double hours later.

Ji An cupped his hands and said:

“Thank you, brothers, for coming today, I was casting rain over the Spirit Field…”

He recounted the situation at that time, angrily pointing at Zhang Erniu’s corpse:

“I think the enemies had premeditated, before casting I habitually observed around, and saw no flying shuttles pass by the nearby sky.

But once I began the rain casting, I saw the thieves on shuttles skim and arrive, likely coming out suddenly from some woods.”

Ji An felt guilty, he could sense the enemies targeted him, Zhang Erniu’s death was likely tied to him.

Muu Songde’s expression was stern, he said gravely:

“Junior Brother, can you recall the direction the thieves came from? We should check, maybe we will discover something.”

He had served in the Law Enforcement Hall for nearly a century, Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment, Vice Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall.

This was the third time he encountered sect cultivators being ambushed within the sect’s jurisdiction, the previous two occurred outside the sect’s territory, the thieves succeeded, one of the victims was his friend.

When law enforcement arrived, fellow cultivators had been dismembered into pieces.

The sect ordered a thorough investigation in anger, but due to lack of clues it ended unresolved.

This time it happened under his watch guarding the Map of Mountains and Rivers, seeing a fellow sect member ambushed near the sect’s Spiritual Vein, he came to aid in anger.

“Of course I remember, it was from that direction, I will go with senior brothers.”

Ji An pointed out the direction, directed Huang Feihu to gather Zhang Erniu’s remains.

He, along with two law enforcement cultivators, went to search, Muu Songde patted his Storage Bag, releasing a squirrel-like Spirit Beast.

After half an hour of searching, they found the thieves’ hiding place, the squirrel Spirit Beast sniffed continuously, finally jumping back onto its master’s shoulder.

Muu Songde looked grim, his eyes cold:

“The thieves came prepared, covered their bodies with scent-concealing medicinal powder, my Spirit Beast couldn’t smell any trace.

Junior Brother, do you have any enemies?”

In his view, true Tribulation Cultivators would never act within sect territory.

The thieves risked great danger acting within the sect’s range, there must be an irreconcilable feud, otherwise no sane person would act thus.

Ji An kept his gaze deep, shook his head lightly:

“Senior Brother, I’m just a Spirit Farmer, living a secluded life, even wishing to make enemies, there’s no opportunity.”

These cultivation years, only three cultivators had malice against him, Pang Mingde from Pang’s Treasure Talisman Shop in Cyan Cloud Immortal City being one, but the other lacks such influence to find Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators to attack him.

The other two were Zhu Qinghao and Chen Xingzhou, he had embarrassed them, though there was discord, it shouldn’t reach a life-and-death situation.

“If there are no clear enemies, then possibly other regional wandering Tribulation Cultivators did it, if we ask the neighboring forces, we can make a judgment.

Tomorrow I will send Law Enforcement Hall cultivators to inquire the forces near Red Flame Peak, during this time, Junior Brother needs to be cautious.”

Muu Songde exchanged Magical Marks with Ji An, and then said:

“Quickly in two days, slowly in four or five, I will inform Junior Brother of the situation.

Junior Brother Ji, let’s part here.”

…

By the Cold Pool, Ji An pressed his lips together, silent as he pondered whether there was a deeper reason behind today’s attack.

Huang Feihu stepped over, speaking softly:

“Zhang Erniu’s body has already been cremated; the ashes will be sent to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall tomorrow, awaiting his family to claim them.”

“Notify the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall over there; if Er Niu’s family comes, have them come to the Red Flame Peak.

As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, permitting sect disciples to be killed openly by thieves fills me with guilt.

If possible, I would like to make recompense to his family.”

Ji An slowly exhaled a breath, his heart troubled.

“Junior Martial Uncle, you didn’t do anything wrong; it’s all those damn Tribulation Cultivators.”

Huang Feihu offered comfort with a word, and gently withdrew.

He lamented the fragility of life in his heart, as Zhang Erniu was the first comrade he met after arriving at Red Flame Peak; in his prime yet struck by this unwarranted disaster, it left him deeply sighing.

Three days later, Ji An received a Communication Talisman Sword from Muu Songde.

’Upon investigation, there have been several incidents of cultivators going missing in the territory near Red Flame Peak and witnesses have seen Tribulation Cultivators acting ferociously.

Your encounter, Junior Brother, points to a great likelihood of Tribulation Cultivators causing trouble, but please remain vigilant.’

…

Red Copper Mountain.

Chen Xingyun welcomed his clan brother into the grotto mansion, dismissing others before activating the Dharma Prohibition, smiling:

“Did you bring good news?”

Chen Xingzhou gently shook his head:

“The mission failed, Golden Spirit Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall is still secretly investigating the matter.”

The operation was unsuccessful, and the situation is tense now; it’s difficult to organize another action in the short term, need to wait until things settle down before discussing further.

Chen Xingyun’s expression became serious; with the target surviving the assassination attempt, he will likely be suspected by the target.

Once Red Flame Peak erupts again, the target might piece together the cause and effect; among Immortal Cultivators there are warriors, but no fools.

He took a deep breath, his tone with a hint of complaint:

“What level are the cultivators executing the mission? Do they not understand the principle of going all out like a lion hunting a rabbit?”

“We already prepared for contingencies, deploying four Foundation Establishment Cultivators against a First-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator.

There was a Seventh-Layer, a Fifth-Layer, and two Third-Layer cultivators; isn’t that lineup strong enough?!”

Chen Xingzhou recounted the events roughly, smiled bitterly:

“The target reacted swiftly, eventually casting a magic technique to create dense fog, completely unexpected, and those executing the mission could not afford to sustain, thus had to retreat.”

Chen Xingyun remained silent, he was at Third-Layer Foundation Establishment; such a lineup was more than enough to deal with him, and he could not fault the clan for a lack of diligence.

“Eighth Brother, we detected that Golden Spirit Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall cultivators frequently roam near Red Flame Peak; we can only remain inactive.

When Red Flame Peak erupts again, will it impact you greatly?”

“Ji An will certainly suspect me, suspecting our Pu Yun Mountain Chen Clan, but without concrete evidence, it’s merely suspicion.

Even if the sect is notified, as long as we do not expose ourselves, Ji An and the sect can’t do anything to me; now, it depends on how the other party deals with it after Red Flame Peak erupts.”

Chen Xingzhou nodded slightly, and slowly said:

“I believe the other party will not report the acquisition of various spiritual objects to the Golden Spirit Sect after the eruption.

People die for wealth, birds die for food; such a large gain could tempt our clan, let alone a mere spirit farmer!”

With an annual sideline of four to five thousand spirit stones, it’s hard not to be tempted.

He had managed the clan’s assets through trials and tribulations, considering himself clear about human nature.

Chen Xingyun squinted, sneering:

“So, the secret of Red Flame Peak won’t be known to the sect for now.”

“Right, we still have a chance.”

…

Since the attack happened, Ji An’s vigilance heightened significantly.

Every time he went out to cast a magic technique on the Spirit Field, he would command Huang Feihu to ride a Flying Shuttle to scout around the Mountain Protection Array at Red Flame Peak, passing by three months calmly.

The bright moon hung high, golden fiery evil qi boiling chaotically.

Ji An stared at the summit of Red Flame Peak, billowing with gold-red mist, his eyebrows raised high.

Sect records mentioned that Red Flame Peak erupts once every year recently; being reincarnated twice, he had never experienced such a spectacular scene.

After days of brewing, Ji An sensed vaguely that the fire vein power accumulated within the earth had reached a critical point.

He had already activated the Mountain Protection Array, shielding the grotto mansion and several important locations, quietly waiting for the Earth Lung Fire Vein to surge into the sky.

Not long after, the lava, bright as burning spiritual charcoal, erupted, soaring a hundred zhang into the air, resembling a fire tree growing from the mountain summit.

The night sky was rendered orange-red, as if ignited.

The ground trembled, rumbling, volcanic ash fell like rain.

The eruption lasted an extremely short time, only one or two seconds.

Then Ji An saw the lava slowly overflow from the mountain top, surging like tides downhill.