Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 147: Chapter 144: White Jade Bee

Half a year later.

The setting sun leaves only the last remnants of its glow, and the Cold Pool is interwoven with gold and green, rippling out a dreamy hue.

Ji An pinched the Spell to release the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell, and the gentle yellow Spirit Light scattered down, as if a layer of golden tiles had been laid on the ground.

A breeze blew, causing the Jade Leaf Mulberry Field to roll in green waves.

Ji An stood with his hands behind his back, quietly feeling the weak “joy” emotion released by the Spiritual Mulberry after the Magic Technique was released, pondering the true meaning of the words ’Wood Overcomes Earth’.

Trees root deeply in the soil, absorb nutrients, break through the earth, and grow strong. He believed that the growth of wood was both overcoming and relying on the earth.

The so-called Wood Overcoming Earth should not be merely restraint or opposition, but also contain the meaning of mutual restriction and dependence.

The Earth Element Spirit Light was gradually absorbed by the earth, and the Magic Intent of carrying and receiving was also gathered into the soil, becoming imperceptible.

He pinched the Spell to release the Jade Wood Transformation Skill, and above the Mulberry Field, it seemed as if a green galaxy was hanging, with light flashing like a fairyland.

Ji An saw that in some areas, the light spots were significantly denser than in others, and couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows slightly. Could it be?

He slightly raised the corners of his mouth and walked to the place where the anomaly occurred after the Spirit Light dissipated.

The branches of the Jade Leaf Mulberry before him were noticeably thicker than those of its peers nearby, and the leaves appeared greener, with several yellow flowers large as wheat ears protruding from under the lush leaves.

He released his Magical Power to feel the Spiritual Mechanism within the mulberry wood, and his face immediately lit up with joy.

This Spiritual Mulberry had reached Tier One Upper Grade, and instinctively knew to absorb more Spiritual Mechanism to nourish itself.

After a rough count just now, there appeared to be a dozen places where anomalies occurred, meaning that over a dozen Tier One Upper Grade Jade Leaf Mulberry had been cultivated.

This is just the beginning, and there will be more and more Tier One Spiritual Wood cultivated in the Spirit Field.

The flowering period of the Spiritual Mulberry has also arrived, and it’s time to start nurturing Spirit Bees.

“Good!”

Ji An’s cheerful laughter startled the returning Flying Birds, and the grey-feathered sand geese playing in the water glanced at the laughing person before diving into the pool.

Ji An’s fingers turned into a blur, changing the Dharma Seal to release the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill.

The clouds gathered and dispersed, enveloping the Spirit Field, reflecting the golden-red color under the sunset.

The Spirit Rain gently fell, striking the mulberry leaves like fingers plucking the strings of a zither to play a joyful tune.

He returned near the group of stone houses and instructed:

“Yu Han, go to Luoyan Mountain tomorrow morning and invite your Junior Martial Uncle Jiang Wanrong to visit here at noon.”

Xia Yuhuan bowed gracefully, softly replying:

“Yes.”

Ji An nodded slightly, raised the Flying Shuttle, and began his routine tour of Red Flame Peak.

Which Spirit Field needs rain and which needs the Flame Fire Spell are all things remembered in his mind.

After two double hours, Ji An finished his busy work and returned to the Grotto Mansion of Dioscorea, close to midnight.

He took out a Jade Bottle, poured out a Cloud Mushroom Pill, swallowed it, and sat cross-legged on the stone bed to start the operation of Cultivation Technique to dissolve the Medicinal Power.

The silent moonlight illuminated the entrance of the Grotto Mansion and the two lush Red Cloud Pines.

…

The next day, at noon.

Ji An and Jiang Wanrong sat across from each other at a stone table, with two kinds of small dishes and a Tail Spirit Fish placed on it.

Xia Yuhuan’s two sisters were serving beside them, diligently filling their wine cups.

Jiang Wanrong put down the wine cup and softly said:

“It’s been two months since I saw you, finding the Spiritual Mulberry grown by senior brother even more lush, congratulations.”

After arriving at Red Flame Peak today, she realized that senior brother had invited only her, and some unusual feelings rose in her heart. Could it be…

Her heartbeat unconsciously quickened, and her eyes became even more tender.

After gathering together a few times, she had already investigated the situation of senior brother.

Foundation Establishment before the age of thirty, three layers in ten years, cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and cultivation and demeanor are also excellent.

Red Flame Peak is abundant in resources, and senior brother’s planting talent is extraordinary. It seems that the pills and spiritual objects needed for cultivation will surely not be lacking.

If senior brother has interest in her, the two could become Dao companions, and her path would be much smoother.

Ji An gently nodded and laughed:

“This invitation to junior sister is precisely to discuss matters regarding Jade Leaf Mulberry.

I found that Tier One Upper Grade Spiritual Mulberry has begun to emerge in the Mulberry Field, and I can provide junior sister with high-quality mulberry leaves in the future.”

It’s time to recover the costs. The other party had once expressed the need for fresh Tier One Upper Grade Jade Leaf Mulberry, and he kept the customer’s needs in mind.

Just for the mulberry leaves?

Jiang Wanrong felt her face stiffen a bit, hurriedly lifted the Spirit Tea to take a sip.

She lightly coughed to regain her composure, forcing a smile as she said:

“Cultivating Tier One Upper Grade Spiritual Mulberry so quickly, senior brother is truly talented! And how many Tier One Upper Grade Spiritual Wood are there now?”

She drove away the internal disappointment, pretending to be calm as she tidied the strands of hair falling by her ear.

“A total of twenty-three. In less than a month, the quantity of Upper Grade Spiritual Mulberry will surely multiply severalfold.”

Ji An’s lips curled into a smile. This morning, he deliberately checked the experimental field thoroughly.

If there are a hundred Spiritual Mulberry trees, it’s possible to nourish a small Spirit Silkworm flock.

He paused, then spoke again:

“Junior sister, you previously mentioned needing fresh mulberry leaves, does that still stand?”

“Of course, it counts. My Spiritual Silkworm swarm often needs to be fed with the leaves from middle-grade mulberry trees. The quality of the silk is not good enough, and it’s quite difficult to elevate the tier of the Spiritual Silkworms.

Senior Brother, being able to provide a stable supply of top-grade mulberry leaves, you’re really helping me a lot.”

“I’ve heard that the price for fresh top-grade mulberry leaves within the sect is one Spirit Stone per hundred catties. Shall we go by this price, Junior Sister, what do you think?”

The leaves of the Jade Leaf Mulberry are quite weighty, and one Spiritual Mulberry tree can produce about four catties of tender leaves.

If the mulberry leaves are carefully cultivated after being picked, they will regrow in a little over half a month.

Here at Red Flame Peak, over three hundred mu of Jade Leaf Mulberry is planted, with a hundred mulberry trees per mu of Spirit Field.

Ideally, the output of these Jade Leaf Mulberry trees could reach fourteen hundred Spirit Stones every half month.

After deducting the rent paid to the sect and the fees for hiring disciples to pick the leaves, approximately eight to nine hundred Spirit Stones could be left over.

For about half of the year, fresh tender mulberry leaves can be sold, which equates to ten thousand Spirit Stones in hand.

Of course, this is mere speculation. Cultivating all these mulberry trees to top-grade would take an unknown number of years, and there are also various reasons that might cause a reduction in yield.

However, when factoring in the honey produced by the Spiritual Bees, the net income per year could be about ten thousand Spirit Stones.

Considering the income of the entire Red Flame Peak, he feels that his income should be at the forefront among the Foundation Establishment Stage disciples.

“Alright, let’s sign the agreement now.”

Jiang Wanrong said, although the price within the sect is as stated, often there isn’t enough top-grade mulberry leaves available for purchase.

The agreement the two signed was marked by each of their Magical Marks.

Having concluded the business, Ji An was quite satisfied and raised his glass, saying:

“Junior Sister, let us finish this cup.”

“Senior Brother, I feel that I am not able to handle more alcohol today, I cannot drink anymore.”

Jiang Wanrong seemed a little disinterested, gently shaking her head.

…

Cui Bamboo Peak.

Ji An walked into the Beast Taming Hall, where immediately a female disciple in a light green silk skirt greeted him.

“Junior Martial Uncle, is there anything you need?”

“I need to purchase some Spirit Bees for collecting Jade Leaf Mulberry flower nectar. Do you have any recommended species?”

“The White Jade Bee is very suitable for collecting mulberry flower nectar. Junior Martial Uncle, about how many mu is your Spirit Field? I’ll calculate how many Spirit Bees you need.”

“About three hundred fifty mu, but the Spirit Mulberries are only planted this year, and it’s only recently I’ve discovered some are flowering. Not many Spirit Mulberries are ready for nectar collection, let’s calculate for fifty mu.”

Ji An estimated that this year only the Jade Leaf Mulberry near the Cold Pool experimental field might flower. Buying too many Spirit Bees now would be wasteful because they still need to be maintained when there are no flowers to collect nectar from.

The disciple smiled and said:

“Considering Junior Martial Uncle’s current situation, it’s too early to purchase a White Jade Bee swarm.

How about this, I’ll provide a Bee King and two hundred White Jade Bees for now.

Once the nectar source becomes large enough, the Bee King will accelerate egg-laying to nurture new Spirit Bees.”

“Let’s do as you say, and also, I’d like to purchase a set of secret techniques for raising Spirit Bees and enough food for the swarm for half a year.”

Ji An trusted the professional advice, of course.

“Junior Martial Uncle, we happen to have a Bee King in the pupation stage in the hall right now, which you can take away today.

Please, have a seat and wait a moment, I’ll go to the breeding room to get the bee pupa.”

The female disciple flashed a sweet smile, led Ji An to a seat, and then quickly left.

Shortly, she returned with a chrysalis as thick as a thumb, shimmering with a jade-like color.

“Junior Martial Uncle, please initiate the Blood Contract.”

Ji An cast the Object Control Technique to bring the bee pupa to his hand, skillfully forcing out his Essence Blood and channeling the Spell to initiate the Blood Contract.

The Blood Contract is tied specially to the soul of the cultivator, and the patterns triggered by the same Spell will differ slightly for each person.

The jade-like bee pupa soon became stained with bright red, growing more luminous.

Suddenly, the blood color on the surface of the pupa quickly dimmed, and then a plump Bee King emerged from it, with a body resembling white jade, faintly revealing internal organs.

The female disciple opened a round white jade box and handed it over, saying:

“Junior Martial Uncle, the Bee King is still very weak upon hatching. Please apply some of this specially made honey to your fingertip, a glob as large as a soybean will do.”

Ji An picked up the jade spoon in the box, scooped out some honey, and applied it to his index finger, then placed his hand in front of the Bee King.

The Bee King immediately crawled onto his hand, swiftly consuming the honey.

The female disciple took out a Jade Slip and a porcelain jar from the Storage Bag, saying:

“Junior Martial Uncle, the porcelain jar contains a mixture formulated to feed Spirit Bees, made from various pollens. The Jade Slip contains secret techniques for beekeeping.”

She also took out a hive from the Spirit Beast Bag, filled with densely packed eggs.

“Here are a hundred and ten eggs that will soon hatch. Since there might be some dead eggs, I’m providing ten extra.

Altogether, they cost two thousand Contribution Points.”

Ji An took out the Jade Token to pay the Contribution Points and returned to Red Flame Peak on a Flying Shuttle.

He handed the beekeeping Jade Slip and the bee swarm to Xia Yuhuan, saying:

“You two sisters study up on how to raise Spirit Bees; I’ll give you five extra Spirit Stones monthly.

Additionally, depending on the amount of honey produced, I’ll offer additional rewards.”

As long as he controls the Bee King, he controls the swarm, leaving beekeeping to others.