Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 165: Chapter 162: The Wager

Ji An reached out to touch his chin, his eyes deep and mysterious.

The Dao Seed of Ji Earth is called ’Earth Element Cultivation’, with the Magic Intent being ’Earth-Nurtured Pure Spirit’, but what is that dark and obscure aura when the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell reaches the Great Perfection Level?

He formed the Spell with his fingers, lightly flicking the changing Dharma Seal, and a warm, earthy yellow Spirit Light once again illuminated the dark underground space.

On the rock wall, there seemed to be a shadow flashing by, or perhaps there wasn’t.

Ji An carefully sensed it; the dark and obscure aura still existed, harmoniously coexisting with the nourishing and embracing aura, as if they were inherently one.

“Squeak, squeak.”

Golden Fur let out a low growl, as if there was an invisible enemy lurking here.

After a long while, Ji An’s tightly furrowed brows slightly relaxed, and he nodded as if enlightened.

He squatted down, stroking Golden Fur’s fully fluffed soft fur, and smiled:

“It’s a pity that even as an Earth Element Demon Beast, your understanding of the Earth Element Divine Intent is still not as good as mine.”

“Squeak, squeak,” Golden Fur, sensing the master’s relaxation, also lowered its guard, its eyes slightly squinted to enjoy the gentle caress.

Ji An patted its back and stood up to leave.

The earth symbolizes bearing and embracing, while also having the characteristic of nourishing.

The Dao of Ji Earth emphasizes more on embracing and nourishing, supporting wood to give birth to metal.

When the life of all things comes to an end, the earth is their final resting place, embracing the inauspiciousness at life’s end.

The earth embraces and decomposes all things’ corpses, providing more nutrients for new life, accepting impurities, and nurturing the potential for purity.

There is an Earth-elemental Spiritual Object called Netherworld Soil, which can nourish Yin Souls and is a sacred object for Ghost Dao Cultivators.

…

At noon, Ji An took a short break and came to the edge of the Cold Pool.

He formed the Spell to control the water flow, and a Spirit Fish about a foot long was swept by the undercurrents, tumbling continuously in the water.

After a long while, the Spirit Fish finally broke free and dived into the deep water in a panic.

Ji An paced the shore, searching for the next target, enjoying the fun of wrestling with the Spirit Fish.

The afternoon was his time to practice Cultivation Techniques, practicing the Water Control Technique by the Cold Pool, practicing the Bursting Fireball and Golden Light Technique on Red Flame Peak, and practicing the Fire Control Technique in the Earth Fire Chamber within the Grotto Mansion.

When the sunset fell, Ji An returned to the Cold Pool under the afterglow.

The breeze rippled the pool water, with half the pool green and half orange.

He sat by the stone table waiting for dinner, his mind sinking into his Dantian.

[Master: Ji An]

[Dao Rhyme: Metal 2.2, Water 0, Wood 0, Fire 0.6, Earth 3.1]

[Spiritual Mechanism: Kan Spirit 78.6, Gen Spirit 371.4, Zhen Spirit 30.3, Xun Spirit 190.2, Kun Spirit 58.9, Qian Spirit 101.5, Dui Spirit 19.6, Li Spirit 87.2]

[Magic Techniques: Jade Wood Transformation Skill (Perfection 78%)

Spring Breeze and Rain Skill (Perfection 92%)

Five Directions Spirit Gathering Technique (Perfection 6%)

Golden Light Technique (Perfection 67%)

Bursting Fireball (Perfection 42%)

Water Control Technique (Great Success 54%)

Fire Control Technique (Great Success 15%)…]

Seeing more and more Magic Techniques about to reach the Great Perfection Level, Ji An’s heart was filled with infinite joy.

At this moment, it felt like watching the achievements in a game being completed; as each Magic Technique disappeared from the list, a sense of achievement welled up naturally.

After dinner, Ji An flew to the Mulberry Field, fully casting the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell.

The range covered by the Spirit Light reached a staggering forty-plus acres, about half an increase from before, but the magical power consumption not only didn’t increase but decreased, only a little over eighty percent of what it was before.

As the warm Spirit Light gradually penetrated the earth, the dark and obscure aura also completely vanished; the mulberry leaves shimmered with emerald-green light under the moonlight and soon disappeared.

Ji An smiled; the power of the Great Perfection Level Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell would be tested in a few months.

…

“Senior Brother, here are the various metal powders you wanted, costing a total of four thousand two hundred Spirit Stones.

In the past two months, I took two thousand Flame Bursting Talismans and ten Bursting Talismans from you, sold them for two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, and now there’s a balance of three hundred Spirit Stones.”

Wei Songnian handed over a Storage Bag and three pieces of Middle-grade Spirit Stones, sighing in his heart that Senior Brother was still the same Senior Brother, unchanged.

He was very capable of earning Spirit Stones, as well as spending them.

He had, in fact, become an agent and supplier, giving generous discounts in exchanges and not making much Crystal Stone profit.

But with Senior Brother’s channels, he had expanded his pathways and connections.

Ji An took the Storage Bag and handed it to Xia Yuhuan behind him, who opened the Storage Bag to check the inventory.

To cultivate the Glaze-Gold Jade Bone Body, he spent about two thousand Spirit Stones on materials every month.

One could say all the Spirit Stones earned through Talisman Making were invested into Body Refining.

The investment was substantial, but the returns were also good.

His skin’s defense strength was now equivalent to the thick skin of a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Beast, and he felt that it wouldn’t be long before he broke through to the Late-stage Silver Armor.

“Junior Martial Uncle, the numbers are correct.”

Xia Yuhuan said, taking out a stack of Flame Bursting Talismans and some Bursting Talismans:

“Junior Martial Uncle Wei, these are the Talismans from this transaction.”

Wei Songnian quickly counted the numbers and collected the Talismans with a smile:

“Senior Brother, the numbers are correct.”

Ji An nodded slightly and asked:

“When are you leaving the Sect?”

After Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City was completed, he estimated that his time spent in the Sect throughout the year was less than two months.

“I’ll stay in the Sect for one or two months for a few trade fairs to see if I can buy some rare items.”

Wei Songnian said; it was the fixed trading season for several circles he had integrated into every year during this period.

“When it starts, call me, so I can go with you.”

Ji An said, calculating that in about six months, he could get the flag surface of the apricot yellow Banner from Senior Sister Su Yun.

He needed to hurry to gather other materials and ask Senior Brother Zhao Lei to refine them.

With the opening of Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City, Artifact Refiners had ushered in their spring; Senior Brother Zhao had become extremely busy, reportedly holding a large number of Top-Grade Magical Artifact orders.

“The earliest would start in ten days; I’ll inform you in advance, Senior Brother.”

Wei Songnian paused, then added:

“Most of the time at the trade fairs, goods are bartered, and Spirit Stones are used to make up for differences.

“Artifact Refining materials, high-tier Spiritual Medicine, finished Pills, and Tier Two Spiritual Objects are hard currency.”

“Are top-grade Bursting Talismans popular?”

“I’m afraid not.

Most participants in these trade fairs are Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters skilled in artifact refining and alchemy.

Selling high-tier talisman-making materials is feasible, but selling finished Talismans is quite difficult. Senior Brother’s Talismans would find a market only at the trade fairs in Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City.”

Ji An nodded slightly and said:

“I understand, I will make sure to prepare well.”

So it’s a trade fair for artisans, probably aiming to purchase materials and sell finished products.

This is exactly the time for someone like Wei Songnian to shine.

He’ll first try to complete material acquisitions at the Sect’s internal trade fair; otherwise, he’ll have to make a trip to Mingfeng Mountain.

…

Du Huaiyuan tilted his head back, gulped down half a jar of Spirit Wine, and sighed:

“I, Du Huaiyuan, am back!

Junior Brother, you have no idea what my life at Mingfeng Mountain was like this past year, truly becoming an alchemy puppet.

Each morning when I woke, the first thing I thought of was how many Foundation Establishment Pills I had to hand over.

Over the year, I refined more than five hundred Foundation Establishment Pills; I’ve had enough of those monotonous days!”

After speaking, he tilted his head again to finish the remaining Spirit Wine in the jar.

Ji An laughed and said:

“Gains and losses coexist; congratulations to Senior Brother on breaking through to the Third-Layer Foundation Establishment.

Since you are back at the sect, you won’t be leaving soon, will you?”

It was apparent that he harbored significant resentment.

Du Huaiyuan’s face looked like he had eaten a bitter melon, a mix of tears and laughter:

“Rest for half a year, and then I have to report to the Pill Medicine Pavilion at Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City again, life’s so hard for me…”

There was a desolate melancholy in his voice.

Normally, after completing external assignments, cultivators wouldn’t be recalled for two to three years.

Ji An grinned and said:

“The more capable, the more work; clearly proving how highly the sect values you, Senior Brother.”

“Hmph!”

Du Huaiyuan stared ruefully at Ji An across the way.

Ji An lightly coughed twice, redirecting attention and said:

“Senior Brother, your return is timely, in about two months, the Jade Leaf Mulberries will bloom, around three hundred acres of top-grade Spirit Mulberry.

Before leaving the Sect, you need to brew this batch of mulberry wine; most importantly…”

He paused, pointing to the Mulberry Field around the Cold Pool and said:

“In the Spirit Field, top-grade Jade Leaf Mulberries have started appearing continuously, and I have currently discovered four trees.”

Indeed, Du Huaiyuan’s attention was drawn over; he thought for a moment and shook his head:

“Four top-grade Spirit Mulberries are too few, barely ten pounds of mulberries, not of much use.”

“There are still two months; how does Senior Brother know I can’t cultivate more top-grade Jade Leaf Mulberries!”

“Though I have some understanding of planting, Junior Brother’s magic techniques are impressive and admirable, basic rules should still be observed.

In two months, I bet the number of Tier Two Jade Leaf Mulberries in your Spirit Field won’t exceed eighty.”

Du Huaiyuan hurriedly waved his hand and added:

“Not exceeding a hundred, dare to bet?”

He felt adding another twenty was safer, as there is quite a span between top-grade Spirit Wood and top-grade Spirit Trees, requiring certain potential of the trees themselves.

Though Junior Brother is impressive, completing this task in two months seems unlikely.

Ji An laughed and said:

“Why not! What’s the wager?”

The Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell has reached the Great Perfection Level, typically an achievement only Late-stage Foundation Establishment Spirit Farmers attain.

“Hehe, my diet while refining elixirs at Mingfeng Mountain was far inferior to when I was in the Sect.

If I win, I’ll freeload meals here for a month, with each meal at today’s scale.”

“No problem, and if you lose?”

“Me, lose? How is it possible?!

If I lose, for this year’s entire batch of mulberry wine, you only have to provide the Spirit Stones to buy raw materials, and I won’t take a single jar; I’ll work for free. How about it?”

Ji An pondered and said:

“If I lose, I’ll host Senior Brother for two months.”

Du Huaiyuan was taken aback, saying:

“So confident? Are you hiding the number of top-grade Spirit Mulberries?”

“Senior Brother can inspect them; the difference between top-grade and top-grade is quite significant, easily noticeable.

The best Mulberry Field is near the Cold Pool; I just inspected it before Senior Brother arrived.”

Du Huaiyuan’s eyes changed and said:

“I need to go and see.”

He summoned the Flying Shuttle and flew towards the Mulberry Field.

Xia Yuhuan whispered:

“Junior Martial Uncle Ji, why did you raise the wager by a month?”

Ji An calmly said:

“Because I think I have a greater chance to win; this way it’s fair.”

A quarter of an hour later, Du Huaiyuan flew back with full confidence and said:

“I bet!”

He had inspected and indeed found only four top-grade Spirit Mulberries in the opposite Spirit Field; missing even one wouldn’t matter much.

Ji An nodded slightly, smiling as he said:

“Senior Brother, drink!

Yu Han, take these dishes to heat them up.”