Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 183: Chapter 180: Liang Hill’s Foundation Establishment

Ji An grinned, finding it difficult to respond.

The other Spirit Farmers would be too ashamed to face anyone if they knew my current level of Magic Techniques.

Even those cultivators from the Law Enforcement Hall would fall silent collectively upon learning my level in Magical Combat Techniques.

Liu Suyun didn’t pursue the topic any further, pointing at the newly added tunnel in the cave, and asked:

“What is this for?”

Both the entrance and the inner rock walls had visible claw marks; she matched them up and realized it was the Spirit-Seeking Rat that left those marks.

Ji An responded:

“This is another Spirit Vein Node we discovered. We’re planning to plant new Earth Spirit Fruit Trees here. Want to take a look?”

This Spirit Vein Node can only support the planting of three or four Spirit Trees at most; we must expand to new areas.

“Sure.”

“Senior Sister, please follow me and be careful of the sharp rock edges.”

Ji An took the lead; the tunnel only allowed one person to pass, and the rock walls had many protruding edges.

He hadn’t participated in excavating this tunnel; it was all thanks to Golden Fur, leaving many flaws.

Overall, the tunnel sloped downwards, and despite having several Luminous Beads embedded, the light was still dim.

After walking about thirty to forty zhang, they reached a large cave, with three Luminous Beads embedded in the ceiling. The Spiritual Qi here was slightly denser than in the previous cave.

Ji An said:

“This node is smaller than the previous one. The further down you go, the harder the rocks become; the exploration can only end here.”

Digging further down would expose Evil Qi from beneath, making the roots unsuitable for Spirit Plant growth.

This node only had an air vent, where the air felt somewhat stale.

Liu Suyun glanced around and nodded slightly, saying:

“Very good, finding a Spirit Vein Node without a natural cave is already very lucky.

Junior Brother, how many Earth Spirit Fruit Trees are you planning to plant?”

“At most five or six, this node is too small; planting too many will affect the Main Spiritual Vein.”

Ji An responded, estimating as if all Spirit Trees reached Tier Two quality.

“In the future, when the new Spirit Trees are cultivated to the Top-Grade Level, I’ll still need to order some fruits. Remember to reserve a share for me, Junior Brother.”

“The Earth Spirit Fruit seeds came from you, Senior Sister; under the same conditions, you have priority in purchasing.”

Liu Suyun smiled:

“Thanks in advance.”

…

Three days later.

Ji An selected the best-quality Earth Spirit Fruits and handed over the others:

“Senior Sister, I’ve made my selection, could you please count the numbers?”

Liu Suyun looked at the boxes of Spirit Fruits and instinctively rubbed her hands; she had never been this prosperous before.

“A total of 157 Earth Spirit Fruits; excluding the 120 that belong to me, I need to pay for 37 fruits with Spirit Stones.

At 80 Spirit Stones per fruit, totaling 2,960 Spirit Stones; let’s round it to 3,000.

Five jin of Top-Grade Spider Silk, costing 400 Spirit Stones per jin, means I owe you 5,000 Spirit Stones, Junior Brother.”

She quickly calculated, taking out fifty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones.

Ji An collected the Spirit Stones, his lips curving slightly upward; these Spirit Stones were a windfall, only requiring a small expenditure of Magical Power.

As the Spirit Trees aged, the number of fruits produced would only increase.

After the transaction, Liu Suyun stood up, a charming smile on her lips:

“I must go, the little darlings in the Silk Cave must be starving.”

She eagerly returned to Cloud Dream Peak, bringing delicious Spirit Fruits to the Golden Spot Spiders.

The Golden Spot Spiders’ population had expanded, and with the help of Top-Grade Earth Spirit Fruits, by selecting and focusing on raising the strongest ones, gaining even a single spider capable of producing Tier Two Spirit Silk would be highly profitable.

Ji An grinned, thinking his Senior Sister had quite the “exquisite” taste.

“Please wait, Senior Sister, Yu Han, go fetch five jin of Tier Two Pine Seeds.”

The pinecones from the Tier Two Red Cloud Pines were the first to be harvested, and Du Huaiyuan had already begun brewing Tier Two Pine Nut Wine.

There was no need to sun-dry them; Immortal Cultivators had the means to quickly dry them, roasting five hundred jin as high-quality gifts.

Liu Suyun blinked:

“You’re always making me spend, Junior Brother.”

…

Two months passed, the Azure Dragon Wood had grown to several feet tall, and the brewing operations at Red Flame Peak were nearing completion.

Ji An operated the Evergreen Wood Skill to refine the spiritual objects, watching as many green roots spread from his palms, enveloping the Profound Yellow Soil and Azure Dragon Wood.

As the Cultivation Technique ran, the spiritual objects lost their color, gradually turning into ordinary yellow soil, while the Azure Dragon Wood seemed to have withstood centuries of wind and frost, decaying into rotted wood.

In front of him lay a small, two-inch deep white jade bowl; the Jade Wave Water, originally vibrant and brimming with Spiritual Qi, turned to clear water, devoid of any spiritual sense.

Ji An finished his cultivation, the green hue in his eyes deeper than before.

“Finally, I have results.”

He stood up and stretched with a big yawn.

He had chopped down a Tier Two Clear Spirit Bamboo, spending these days exploring which kind of wood-elemental spiritual objects were the most suitable for him, verifying if there were differences.

After careful comparison, he found the refinement of Azure Dragon Wood gave the most comfortable spiritual sense, followed by the Clear Spirit Bamboo, while the Cyan Maple Wood gave no particular feeling.

From now on, he would focus on nurturing Azure Dragon Wood.

He strolled back to the stone house, where Liang Hill and Huang Feihu were already waiting.

“Junior Martial Uncle, we received word that we can collect the Foundation Establishment Pills from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. We wish to request a leave of absence today.”

“Good news! Have your breakfast, and then you can proceed.”

Ji An patted them on the shoulders and continued:

“Once you have the Foundation Establishment Pills, come back and adjust your state before proceeding to Foundation Establishment.”

“Thank you for your care over the years, Junior Martial Uncle.”

“It’s hardly care; it’s been mutually beneficial.

Once you two successfully establish your foundations, let’s celebrate with a drinking feast.”

“A drinking feast? What’s worth celebrating that you didn’t tell me about?”

Du Huaiyuan walked out from the wine workshop just in time to catch the latter half of the conversation.

Ji An briefly explained the situation with Huang Feihu and the other person, then chuckled and said:

“Couldn’t do without you, Senior Brother!”

After breakfast, Ji An handed over the Flying Shuttle and reminded:

“Come back quickly.”

“Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle,” Liang Hill accepted the Flying Shuttle and left with Huang Feihu.

…

Du Huaiyuan unscrewed the Wine Gourd, took a sip, and smiled.

Ever since he acquired the Gourd Magical Artifact, whenever he was free, he would take a few sips.

“Junior Brother, all the pine nuts have been brewed into Spirit Wine and sealed. This year’s Tier Two Pine Nut Wine amounts to six hundred pounds, and Top-Grade Spirit Wine totals thirty-six thousand pounds.”

Ji An nodded slightly and said:

“Thank you, Senior Brother. The next step is to initiate sales. Do you have any channels?”

The pine nut wine brewed in previous years has been aged adequately; it’s time to begin selling as the storage space in the warehouse is limited.

Du Huaiyuan quickly shook his head, smiled wryly, and said:

“I used to be just a dabbler, brewing at most a few thousand pounds of Spirit Wine a year, which those wine friends I know could consume without any sales troubles.

I’m counting on Junior Brother to help with my share of the Spirit Wine.”

He enjoyed brewing wine and drinking it but had no interest whatsoever in selling it.

Ji An shook his head; he had no interest in business, with the pursuit of longevity at hand; running a business seemed a waste of time.

He immediately thought of the best agent, Wei Songnian. They had collaborated for years, and Wei handled matters reliably without greed.

Privately, he also investigated and found Wei offered enough discounts on prices.

Ji An said to the maid beside him:

“Yu Han, inform Huang Xuan to visit Cyan Bamboo Valley and see if Junior Brother Wei is in the Sect.

If he is, invite him over.”

“Alright,” the maid responded as she walked out of the stone house.

“Once the Spirit Wine begins selling, I will have enough Spirit Stones to buy Pills.”

Du Huaiyuan’s face lit with joy; he had lived in poverty over the years, never having enough Pills.

It was only in the last two years of refining Foundation Establishment Pills for the Sect that things turned around, but he still hadn’t reached saturation with Pills.

…

The next day.

At dusk, the smoke clouds painted the sky with spectacular hues, draping everything in a romantic blood-like color.

Liang Hill clasped his hands and said with firm resolve:

“Junior Martial Uncle, I have adjusted my state and completed all preparations; I will begin Foundation Establishment tonight!”

Huang Feihu clasped his hands and said:

“Same for me. This is the Tier Two Spirit Vein, and standing far apart, our simultaneous Foundation Establishment won’t interfere with each other.”

Ji An nodded gently and said:

“Since you’ve decided, give it your all. Tomorrow noon, we’ll drink and celebrate.”

Du Huaiyuan chuckled and said:

“May tomorrow come swiftly.”

He couldn’t wait to indulge in Spirit Wine.

…

The moonlight was enchanting as Liang Hill stayed by the Cold Pool’s stone house, while Huang Feihu stood at the underground grotto’s entrance, both beginning Foundation Establishment.

Xia Yuhuan and her sister guarded the Cold Pool; Huang Xuan and Li Cheng kept watch outside the grotto.

Ji An maneuvered the Flying Shuttle, performing his nightly essential task, casting Magic Techniques on the Spirit Wood.

Based on experience, the breakthrough to Foundation Establishment would yield results by early next morning.

In the Mulberry Field, flashes of yellow Spirit Light and green rain descended, followed by a vast white mist that obscured the moonlight.

Within the mist, brilliance flickered, Spirit Rain poured, and struck the mulberry leaves, playing a joyful tune.

Vigorous, nourishing, and nurturing aura filled the atmosphere, life flourishing among a myriad of trees.

…

At 5:00 AM, Ji An awoke from his sleep and upon exiting the cave mansion, saw the waning moon set behind the western mountain, and the starlight dimmed.

He unleashed the Wind Control Technique, swiftly moving down the mountain, finding the two in the process of breakthrough to Foundation Establishment still stable, thus he went to the Mulberry Field for cultivation with peace.

He chose a location far from the Cold Pool to ensure no disturbance to Liang Hill.

When he finished cultivation, it was broad daylight, with golden-red mist risen above Red Flame Peak’s summit, a magnificent scene.

Ji An returned to the stone house, where the spiritual fluctuations outside Liang Hill’s house had completely subsided, but Huang Xuan and the others looked grim.

He felt an uneasy chill and asked:

“What’s their situation now?”

By now, the success or failure of Foundation Establishment should be determined.

Huang Xuan lowered his head, and with difficulty, said:

“Reporting to Junior Martial Uncle; Senior Brother Liang succeeded in Foundation Establishment, but Senior Brother Huang… failed.”

Even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, success isn’t guaranteed.

A single Foundation Establishment Pill would nearly bankrupt most Qi Refining Cultivators, and only a few ordinary disciples could receive a second Foundation Establishment Pill.

“What’s the situation with Flying Tiger?”

“Senior Brother Huang emerged with a bloodied face and unstable steps; Junior Martial Uncle Du went in to examine.”

As they were speaking, Du Huaiyuan emerged.

Ji An approached, whispering:

“Senior Brother, how’s Flying Tiger? Have you found the reason for the failure?”

Du Huaiyuan grimaced and said:

“The Foundation Establishment Pill protected his heart meridian; the physical injuries aren’t severe, just appear more tragic, needing a few months to recuperate.

The main issue lies in his Divine Sense being injured, requiring gradual recovery—quickly in two to three years, slowly in four to five.

From his account, I deduced the failure was due to insufficient strength of Divine Sense.”