Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 151: Chapter 148: Silver Armor

After bidding farewell to Wei Songnian, Ji An returned to the grotto mansion, where his Body Refining Technique was about to break through to Silver Armor today.

He began mixing the potion, carefully weighing various metal powders according to strict proportions, and adding them to the potion, stirring evenly.

The medicinal mud concocted this time looked much better, glittering in a pale silver hue.

The smell wasn’t pungent, even carried a faint fragrance, with threads of coolness.

Ji An removed his Daoist robe and inner garment. After a year of body refining baptism, the muscles on his body had already taken shape.

Though he couldn’t match those frenzied iron-pumpers, he had acquired a decent set of abdominal and back muscles.

He applied the medicinal mud to his body. Due to the breakthrough, the layer of medicinal mud was as thick as a finger.

He used his Divine Sense to gauge the thickness of the mud over his body, ensuring it was evenly spread. Once completed, his whole person appeared bloated by a sizable amount.

Ji An activated the Body Refining Method, absorbing the Gold Element Spiritual Qi from the mud, instantly feeling a sharp aura seeping into his skin and muscles.

The mud felt like cold clay, with the chill penetrating the marrow, as if standing naked atop a snow-covered mountain peak, while icy winds sliced like knives.

The spiritual essence within the metal powder was stirred by the cultivation technique, continuously entering his body.

It felt like countless steel needles pricking him, causing him to shiver all over.

How could this feeling be anything less than an exhilarating soreness?

Ji An clenched his teeth tightly, bearing the pain while continuing to activate the cultivation technique, as countless dots of light within the mud glimmered intermittently.

Body cultivation is inherently much tougher than magic cultivation, but it has a benefit; training the tendons, bones, and skin provides immense defense power, granting higher resistance to harsh environments even without activating any magic techniques.

When the body experiences pain, time seems to stretch, and Ji An labored repeatedly to activate the technique.

This chance must not be relaxed, for a disruption in the breakthrough would mean enduring the same suffering again, inflicting dual damage both mentally and physically.

The cold sensation gradually faded away, replaced by a burning heat within Ji An, as though his internal organs were ablaze.

The permeability of the mud was excellent, allowing a large amount of heat to escape through the pores, causing mist to waft throughout the grotto mansion.

Ji An lost track of time, enduring the torment of alternating cold and heat.

He felt his skin grow tighter and his muscles tense and constrict.

After what felt like an eternity, the sensation of pain washed away like a tidal wave, and a boundless power seemed to surge from beneath his feet.

Ji An clenched his fist as the mud on his body dried and peeled off like powder, a feeling of overwhelming strength spontaneously arose.

This sensation of power came as quickly as it vanished, replaced by an unending hunger.

His internal organs clamored with a symphony, and his stomach seemed to grow a tiny black hole, greedily devouring everything around.

He felt as though those organs were disappearing, while every cell in his body screamed with hunger, with even his strands of hair trembling incessantly.

Ji An’s legs gave way, causing him to collapse onto the ground.

He used his trembling hands to perform the Object Control Technique, fetching a vial of pills.

“Thank the Taoist Ancestor I still have Fasting Pills.”

Ji An felt grateful for his good habits, even if he seldom consumed such pills; he always kept a few nearby.

He poured out the pills, stuffing one into his mouth.

As the sense of hunger slightly subsided and his strength returned somewhat, Ji An wobbly stood, took hold of his Daoist robe, and donned it.

Upon exiting the grotto mansion, he summoned the Flying Shuttle and rushed to the Cold Pool at the foot of the mountain.

“Yu Han, Yu Lian, hurry and bring some fresh fruit and dried meat, and also immediately cook a large pot of rabbit meat.”

Ji An called out, even though he had consumed a Fasting Pill, he felt as though he could devour an entire ox.

“Yes, Junior Martial Uncle, please wait a moment.”

The two sisters exchanged a glance; though unsure why, they promptly carried out the orders.

The older sister went to fetch the dried meat, while the younger sister picked up the dried rabbit meat, washed it several times, then placed it in a pot, igniting Spiritual Charcoal to stew it.

Ji An transformed into a glutton, clearing away the food brought by Xia Yuhuan and devouring half a pot of spicy rabbit meat before feeling restored.

“Ah, comfortable.”

He exhaled deeply, finally having the leisure to assess the results of his body refining.

His skin had become more refined and elastic, turning from a bronze hue to ivory white, and upon closer inspection, it gave a metallic sheen.

Not just his skin, but his muscle density had increased significantly, providing greater explosive power.

He sighed inwardly:

“What a pity, the shortcut method can’t refine bones and organs, otherwise I’d be invincible.”

…

Half a year passed.

In the cave, the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree was laden with walnut-sized yellow fruits, emitting a faint fragrance.

The fruit skin was crystalline and radiant, resembling jade.

Ji An inhaled deeply, feeling utterly content.

“Squeak squeak.”

Golden Fur leapt excitedly around the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree, having waited long for this day.

A ripe fruit fell from the Spirit Tree, seemingly about to hit the ground.

Golden Fur activated Earth Element Technique, disappearing instantly, only to reappear with both front paws steadily catching the fruit.

“Squeak squeak.”

He turned his head and squeaked excitedly towards his master, as if saying:

’The time has come to fulfill the promise.’

Ji An let out a smile, bent down, extended his hand, and said:

“Good boy, you can’t eat this one.”

The fruit from this tree is produced by a top-grade fruit tree and needs to be reserved for the Golden Spot Spider to consume.

The Earth Spirit Fruit matured three months earlier than he anticipated, allowing him to obtain the apricot yellow Banner sooner.

“Squeak squeak.”

Golden Fur shook its head like a rattle, turning sideways to hide the fruit. It knew very well which fruit was most beneficial to it.

Ji An pointed to the top-grade Earth Spirit Fruit Tree and said:

“I can leave more fruits for you from these two Spirit Trees, but I can’t do the same for the top-grade fruit trees’ fruits. I need them.”

Golden Fur kept shaking its head, looking pitifully at its owner, seemingly about to shed tears from its dark eyes.

Selling sorrow now, so much drama…Ji An grinned, taking out the Beast Taming Token.

Reasoning is sometimes ineffective; threats are needed.

Golden Fur’s expression immediately changed, raising the found fruit high, calling out flatteringly:

“Squeak squeak.”

Ji An took the fruit, feeling a warm touch.

He stroked the fur on the Spirit-Seeking Rat’s back, comforting:

“You’re only at the early-stage Foundation Establishment, eating top-grade fruits would waste the medicinal power.

This year, I’ll plant a few more Earth Spirit Fruit Trees, and in a few years, you’ll have as many fruits as you want.”

Golden Fur displayed a silly cute expression, blinking its glossy eyes and nodding.

Ji An walked out of the underground cave and took out a Communication Talisman Sword, using Divine Sense to record a message:

“Senior Sister, the Earth Spirit Fruits are starting to mature, please come to Red Flame Peak for a meeting.”

He hadn’t yet informed Liuu Suyun about the top-grade Earth Spirit Fruit Trees’ quality improvement and wondered what her reaction would be upon seeing the two top-grade trees.

The Communication Talisman Sword was activated, like a silver flying fish, quickly disappearing in the sky.

…

The next day, at noon.

Liuu Shuyun descended slowly on a colorful Flying Carpet by the Cold Pool.

Today, she wore a deep green Silk Skirt, with a vivid green belt, her clothes fluttering gracefully, with an exceptional charm.

“The Earth Spirit Fruit Trees there just showed signs of blooming, yet the fruit trees transplanted by Junior Brother have already borne fruit and matured. The impact of a High-tier Spirit Farmer on Spirit Plants is indeed tremendous.”

“That’s called professionalism,” Ji An smiled, continuing:

“Senior Sister, you’ve flown a long way; let’s first sit and have a cup of Spirit Tea.”

“The Spirit Tea can wait. I want to see the fruit trees now.”

Liuu Suyun waved her hand, patting the Spirit Beast Bag at her waist:

“The Golden Spot Spider is my most cherished beast, and it’s still very weak. I want to get it to consume the fruits as soon as possible.”

“Very well, right this way, Senior Sister.”

Ji An led the way into the underground cave, then asked:

“I don’t understand much about Alchemy. Can’t Earth Spirit Fruits be refined into Pills for the Golden Spot Spider to consume?”

As far as he knew, Earth Spirit Fruits could be refined into several kinds of Pills for cultivators to use.

Liuu Suyun shook her head, saying:

“Junior Brother might not know, but the purest Earth Element Spirit Qi in Earth Spirit Fruit Trees is excellent for replenishing the Golden Spot Spider’s Primordial Qi.

When refined into Pills, the effect from adding other Spiritual Qi becomes negligible.”

Eating directly has a sufficiently good effect; refining into Pills requires extra auxiliary herbs, which is a waste.

“I see.”

Ji An realized that not all Spirit Fruits improve when refined into Pills; some have better effects when directly consumed.

Liuu Suyun laughed behind her hand, saying:

“Junior Brother studying in the Ningcui Cliff lineage, isn’t planning to learn the Alchemy Technique?”

“Maybe later.”

Ji An replied, intending to explore other skills once all his Planting Techniques reached the Great Perfection Level.

For now, having expertise in Planting and Talisman Making was sufficient.

The two arrived at the underground cave’s deepest level, Liuu Suyun’s eyes lit up, smiling:

“Is this Spirit-Seeking Rat your beast, Junior Brother? So cute!”

Golden Fur was seen squatting like a dog on the ground, with several mature fruits under its paws, staring directly at them, mouth with a shimmering thread of saliva.

Before Ji An could answer, Liuu Suyun sensed the fragrance emanating from the fruit trees, exclaiming:

“Top-Grade Earth Spirit Fruit.”

She flew to the Spirit Tree’s side, looking at the tree full of sparkling fruits, stars glimmering in her eyes.

Ji An stepped over to her side, smiling:

“Two top-grade fruit trees yielded 81 fruits, and two top-grade fruit trees yielded 76 fruits.

Senior Sister, do you think the Golden Spot Spider could recover how much of its Primordial Qi?”

“It should recover about sixty percent, based on the effect of the Spirit Fruits I cultivated, but using these fruits, it should recover even more.”

Liuu Suyun replied; she originally had only one top-grade Earth Spirit Fruit Tree, which produced more than 30 fruits every three years.

She estimated the Golden Spot Spider needed to consume over a hundred fruits to fully recover, which is why it took more than a decade to produce Spirit Silk again.

In eight or nine more months, her grotto mansion’s top-grade Spirit Tree would also bear fruit, along with some other methods, the beast might produce Spirit Silk this year.

Golden Spot Spider Silk is her most valuable Spiritual Object, and an earlier beast recovery is significant for her.