Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 143: Chapter 140: Earth Spirit Bead

On the stone table were eight dishes and two soups, the aroma of spiritual food wafting gently in the breeze.

Ji An and the others sat around the table, and two female cultivators stood by his side, waiting.

The two were at the prime of their youth, and even clad in gray Daoist robes, their graceful figures were apparent.

Their looks were delicate, with matching eyebrows and eyes, obviously a pair of twins.

At this moment, the sisters were tightly pressing their lips together, their small hands clutching the hem of their Daoist robes, wrinkling it like a crumpled chrysanthemum.

Their future depended on this cooking; naturally, they couldn’t help but be nervous.

They had heard from Liang Hill about the situation here, that the Junior Martial Uncle had a very good disposition and didn’t treat people as mere servants, allowing for some leisure in daily life.

If selected to stay in this Tier Two spiritual land, they could greatly reduce the number of pills purchased and have a significant chance at Foundation Establishment.

When given a choice, no cultivator would neglect their path.

Ji An picked up his chopsticks and tasted each spiritual dish, nodding slightly and said:

“Not bad, though the cooking of the spirit fish lacks something, the savoriness of the other dishes is on par with Fellow Daoist Liang. Both of you may stay.”

He had been thinking of recruiting a female cultivator for a while, and now, encountering two good ones, he decided to accept both.

Once the Spiritual Mulberry is cultivated to Tier One Middle Grade, Red Flame Peak would become busy, so it’s the perfect time to reserve manpower.

“Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle!”

Xia Yuhan and Xia Yulian, the two sisters, bowed in salute, looked at each other, and saw the joy soaring on each other’s faces and eyes.

Ji An nodded slightly, paused for a moment, and then continued:

“Fellow Daoist Liang, do you have any secret recipes for cooking a fish in four styles? If so, I’d like to purchase them.”

The same ingredients and fire level, with different spirit chefs, could result in significantly different flavors, as every spirit chef likely had their secret recipe.

“I do have secret recipes, but I have no intention of selling my cooking skills for a living.”

Liang Hill handed over a jade slip and said with a smile, “I have been well taken care of over these years, so these are my insights on spirit chef skills and spirit fish cultivation, gifted to you, Fellow Daoist. Please do not refuse.

Before leaving, I will personally teach Yuhan and the others the method and recipe for cooking spirit fish.”

To be able to train in this Tier Two spiritual land and to purchase the Foundation Establishment Pill early, he owed it to Ji An, and the bond between them was something he was aware of.

Moreover, gifting these insights wouldn’t adversely impact him.

Ji An’s planting talent was extraordinary, diligent in cultivation. He neither needed nor had time to delve into spirit chef skills and spirit fish farming, so he wouldn’t later compete with him for livelihood.

“To refuse would be discourteous, so I’ll shamelessly accept.”

Ji An accepted the jade slip and raised a cup for a celebratory drink with everyone.

…

With the nourishment of the Tier Two spiritual vein and Ji An’s diligent care, the Jade Leaf Mulberry had grown taller than a person.

The gentle breeze swayed the emerald-green waves, the leaves rustling like ripples on a lake, creating a beautiful scene.

The height of the spirit mulberry had reached its limit and would only grow outward, developing more branches.

The Biluo Tree was nearly a zhang tall, its branches and leaves lush like a canopy, casting a wide shade under the sunlight with golden speckles peeking through leaf gaps.

On the stone table by the Cold Pool, lay an assortment of fresh berries, pine nuts, spirit tea, spirit wine, dried fruit, and meat jerky.

Wei Songnian exclaimed loudly:

“In less than two months, Senior Brother has managed to cultivate these thousands of acres of spirit wood to such a state.

In terms of planting ability, I’ve never seen anyone who can compare to you.”

He wasn’t exaggerating; among the spirit farmers he had encountered, the person before him was indeed unparalleled.

In his family, there was a Foundation Establishment Stage Elder who was a spirit farmer, yet in planting techniques, he was far inferior to Ji An.

Jiang Wanrong showed a hint of surprise and said:

“Were these spirit mulberries planted just two months ago?”

“Of course, if you don’t believe me, you can ask Senior Brother Ji himself.”

Ji An, noticing the questioning gaze, nodded slightly:

“These mulberry seedlings were indeed planted only two months ago.”

Today, he invited neighbors near Red Flame Peak for a banquet, to foster relationships, perhaps leading to mutual help in the future.

He glanced around, feeling amused that among the cultivators present, he had the highest cultivation level, while the other three had only achieved Foundation Establishment this year.

Zeng Rui, looking weather-beaten with a dark red complexion, was actually only in his fifties.

His eyes showed envy as he praised:

“Senior Brother’s planting talent is truly admirable, awe-inspiring!

I am a spirit farmer too, but compared to you, I am ashamed.”

His grotto mansion was to the west of Red Flame Peak, at the sect’s edge, on a Tier One Middle Grade spiritual vein.

The reason for choosing this location was that the sect provided special care, allowing an additional allocation of ten acres of spirit field for free farming.

Xia Yuhan and Xia Yulian, the two sisters, carried trays and brought steaming spiritual food:

“Here is spirit mushroom with stewed rabbit and roasted red-tailed squirrel. Please enjoy.”

Ji An picked up his chopsticks and said with a smile:

“Please, all of you, help yourselves to the demon beast meat produced here.”

“The flavor is marvelous!”

“Delicious.”

Ji An raised his wine glass again, and for a moment, the cups intertwined, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

After eating half full, Wei Songnian set down his chopsticks and said with a cheerful smile:

“Senior Brother Ji and Senior Brother Zeng are Spirit Farmers, while I dabble in buying low and selling high. I’m curious, Junior Sister Jiang, what kind of missions do you usually take from the sect?”

True to his nature as a businessman, he first probed everyone’s useful information to provide targeted services in the future.

After a few cups of Spirit Wine, a slight flush appeared on Jiang Wanrong’s cheeks, like blossoming red clouds.

She gently coughed and cleared her throat:

“I am a disciple of the Beast Taming Hall, specializing in raising Spiritual Silkworms and weaving Magical Robes. If the senior brothers ever need Magical Robes, you can come to me.”

Wei Songnian became interested and asked:

“I’m curious, what quality can Junior Sister’s woven Magical Robes reach?”

“Tier One Upper Grade. If provided with the materials, I can even weave a Top-Grade Magical Robe.”

Jiang Wanrong’s tone carried a slight pride. She became one of the first batch of Foundation Establishment Cultivators among the disciples who entered at the same time, relying on her skills in raising Spiritual Silkworms and weaving Magical Robes.

“Impressive.”

Wei Songnian praised her. Cultivators with good skills are valued everywhere, and Tier One Upper Grade Magical Robes are still very popular, giving him another avenue in the future.

“Not worth the senior brother’s praise.”

Jiang Wanrong nodded with a grin and turned to say:

“Senior Brother Ji excels at planting. If you cultivate Tier One Upper Grade Jade Leaf Mulberry in the future, you must sell me some mulberry leaves. I’ll need a large quantity.”

Her silkworm colony was unable to expand due to a lack of high-quality mulberry leaves. Now, with a High-tier Spirit Farmer as a neighbor, it’s a blessing.

“Once I cultivate Tier One Upper Grade Spiritual Mulberry, I’ll sign a long-term supply agreement with Junior Sister.

If Junior Sister has friends in need of high-tier Spiritual Mulberry fresh leaves, they can be introduced as well.

Of course, I won’t let Junior Sister do it for free. For each friend introduced who needs top-grade mulberry leaves, I’ll gift a hundred pounds of mulberry leaves.”

Ji An said with a smile. With over four hundred acres of Jade Leaf Mulberry, with his level of Magic Technique, it would only take a month or so for the mulberry leaves to regrow after being harvested.

He learned from other channels that Red Flame Peak was one of the areas with the most Spiritual Mulberry cultivation.

Once he has cultivated the Spiritual Mulberry, if the silkworm colonies raised by the sect and other disciples don’t expand accordingly, there’s a high chance of them becoming unsellable. Initially, he might worry about the sales.

“Great, it’s a deal.”

Jiang Wanrong beamed with joy. With a constant supply of high-quality mulberry leaves, she could attempt to breed higher-tier Spiritual Silkworms.

Using the high-tier Spirit Silk produced by her silkworms would yield higher profits.

The meeting turned into a business negotiation, and everyone was very satisfied.

Zeng Rui was also pleased. His Spirit Field grew Jade Marrow Rice and Spirit Medicine, which hardly conflicted with Red Flame Peak’s output.

While everyone was happily chatting, a silver light flew towards the stone table.

Ji An reached out to grab the flying Communication Talisman Sword, imbued his Divine Sense to read the message, then maintained his smile as he continued to drink tea and wine with the others.

It wasn’t until the sunset, when the evening clouds covered the sky, that everyone parted ways.

…

Under the sunlight, Red Copper Mountain shone with many colors, a light refracted from the ores.

Ji An slowly landed at the entrance of his Grotto Mansion, made a hand seal to retract his Flying Shuttle, and cupped his hands:

“I thought it would take another month to get the Magical Artifact from Senior Brother’s hands, but it arrived so early.”

“The material acquisition went smoothly this time, so it was much earlier than expected.”

Zhang Yuanshan said, handing over a fist-sized earth-yellow Dharma Bead.

Ji An took it and brought it near his eyes for careful observation. Last time, he didn’t look closely when he obtained the Earth Spirit Bead.

The Dharma Bead resembled a crystal ball, its surface covered with symbols as small as rice grains. Inside, yellow sand seemed to swirl and flow, and occasionally, a few Dharma Prohibition Rune Lines flashed inside.

He imbued it with Magical Power, and a faint Earth Element Spirit Light enveloped it like a cloud.

He deployed the Wind Control Technique to maneuver swiftly, and even casting the Explosive Flame Technique didn’t affect his spellcasting at all.

Ji An nodded in satisfaction, storing the Magical Artifact in his Storage Bag, and laughed:

“Senior Brother’s craftsmanship is becoming increasingly refined; you might not be far from independently refining a Spiritual Artifact.”

Zhang Yuanshan sighed, shaking his head:

“Still a long way to go. Refining a Spiritual Artifact demands high Divine Sense; I estimate that only when I reach the Sixth-Layer Foundation Establishment can I attempt it.

If only I could learn a secret technique to enhance Divine Sense, or acquire a Magical Artifact made from high-tier Soul Nourishing Wood to nurture my Divine Sense.”

The two methods mentioned are difficult to achieve; the sect doesn’t have any Dharma Gates for enhancing Divine Sense suitable for Foundation Establishment Stage, and high-tier Soul Nourishing Wood is beyond his reach.

If his Divine Sense was strong enough, he might be able to attempt refining a Spiritual Artifact after breaking through to the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

The two entered the Grotto Mansion and sat as host and guest, as a maid served Spirit Tea.

Zhang Yuanshan said: “Junior Brother, you’ve been at the Foundation Establishment Stage for ten years, but haven’t received any dispatch missions from the sect?”

“No, I guess the sect dismisses me as a Spirit Farmer with no combat power, so they’ve forgotten me.”

Ji An had wondered about it; all the cultivators he was familiar with had undertaken external missions, even Chu River, who was the last to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, had stationed at a base for two years.

“I’ve received news that the sect is planning a major operation, and many cultivators will be mobilized.

Junior Brother should prepare some combat supplies, just in case you’re mobilized and not caught off guard.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother; I’ll make sure to prepare.”