Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 205: Chapter 201: Blessed by Fortune

The concept of luck is elusive, yet the higher-tier cultivators believe in it more deeply.

Because the higher they ascend, the more they need the perfect combination of celestial time, geographical advantage, and harmony to break through realms.

High-tier cultivators must venture out to seek opportunities; those with luck always gain something, while those less fortunate waste their time with little harvest, and the extremely unlucky perish.

In Ge Ying’s eyes, Ji An’s cultivation path was increasingly smooth, reaping frequent rewards within the sect, surely a sign of his great fortune!

“No rush, Master, take your time with the refining. I still have some Cyan Lotus Pills on hand.

In a few months, I can obtain more from the sect, enough to support my cultivation for over half a year.”

Alchemy, artifact refining, array formation, talisman making, puppet creation, and other cultivation techniques consume not only magical power but significantly drain divine sense too.

To cultivators, replenishing magical power is easy; consuming pills and meditating quickly restores it.

However, replenishing divine sense is much more challenging; only a handful of spiritual objects can swiftly replenish it.

Even though Soul Nourishing Wood primarily nourishes the spirit soul and strengthens divine sense, making it more resilient and long-lasting.

Ji An continued:

“With so many furnaces of pills to be refined, I can’t let Master work for free, the compensation must be paid according to the rules of alchemists.”

If it were only a furnace or two, he would feel comfortable asking his master for help, but over a hundred furnaces of pills were no small matter.

Ge Ying gently nodded:

“Let’s follow the rules for alchemists. We’ll consider the pill formation success rate at 40%, and I’ll take a fee of 50 Spirit Stones per furnace.

Additionally, any extra pills refined will be sold to you at market price.”

When hiring an alchemist to refine pills, both parties agree on fixed and variable compensations.

Fixed compensation refers to the number of spirit stones given per furnace, while variable compensation refers to the agreed pill formation success rate, with the alchemist taking the extra pills.

If the alchemist isn’t skilled enough, sometimes they might need to compensate the client with spirit stones.

Of course, this situation only applies if the alchemist is experienced with the pill formula.

No alchemist would guarantee a success rate for pills they have no refining experience with, especially those used to break through realms.

Ji An cupped his hands and said:

“Thank you, Master.”

For refining pills at the Cyan Lotus Pill level, other alchemists would offer at most a 30% pill formation success rate and charge higher fees, at least 60 Spirit Stones.

He counted out the Spirit Stones and placed them on the table, grinning from ear to ear:

“Once this batch of Cyan Lotus Pills is refined, they should suffice for my needs at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment.”

Counting the allotment from the sect each year and those purchased from other alchemists, the Cyan Lotus Pills could support his advancement to the perfection level of the sixth layer Foundation Establishment.

“Seeing your cultivation improving so rapidly brings me great comfort.

Keep up the effort; the day of the demon calamity isn’t too far off.”

There was a fleeting solemnity in Ge Ying’s eyes.

Her lifespan was running low, and she increasingly felt her energy waning compared to before.

Her vitality was drying up, and her spirit soul was slowly withering.

Theoretically, she had twenty years left to live, but she feared she might not last that long.

“Rest assured, Master. Though I’ve stayed on Red Flame Peak, I’ve been preparing for war constantly.”

Ji An felt that as long as he didn’t encounter a Chao Origin Stage Great Demon, he could handle most situations.

…

Three days later, Ji An boarded the Spirit Ship to Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City.

The fare was expensive, two middle-grade Spirit Stones.

This was the sect disciples’ discount; loose cultivators traveling from Cyan Cloud Immortal City would pay three middle-grade Spirit Stones.

There were about four to five hundred passengers aboard the Spirit Ship, with only thirty to forty Foundation Establishment cultivators, each having their private room.

The others were late-stage Qi Refining disciples, all with determined faces, likely seasoned by battle.

It was said that some disciples, after undergoing life-and-death trials, successfully established their foundation without using Foundation Establishment Pills, prompting more disciples to head to the battlefront.

Ji An had no intention of striking up a conversation, heading straight to his room.

He lit a furnace of incense and began meditating.

The efficiency of cultivation on the Spirit Ship was much lower than on Red Flame Peak, but he didn’t relax because of it.

Cultivating with Earth Element, Water Element, and Earth Element Spirit Qi so scarce brought new insights.

In an instant, Ji An felt like a plant rooted in the void, absorbing nutrients from the air.

The feeling was very subtle and fleeting, and he wasn’t sure if it was an illusion.

…

Ji An disembarked from the Spirit Ship to find Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City exceptionally prosperous.

The streets were wide, filled with people, and bustling with noise.

Walking along, he saw gilded buildings and lavishly decorated stores.

Passing by tea houses and restaurants, he smelled the rich aromas drifting out.

The sound cultivators’ gathering place emitted ethereal, void spirit melodies from zithers and flutes, but the sounds were intermittent, blocked by arrays.

Having often heard Wei Songnian and others speak of the Immortal City’s layout, Ji An stopped a sect’s Qi Refining disciple to ask:

“How do I get to Vermilion Bird Street?”

The Immortal City strictly prohibited cultivators from flying; only the Three Sects’ Law Enforcement Hall cultivators and Chao Origin Stage cultivators had the privilege.

The disciple, seeing it was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, hurriedly cupped his hands and replied:

“Junior Martial Uncle, follow this street for three intersections.”

“Junior Martial Uncle, are you looking for a specific shop? I can help guide you.”

“No need for that. Have you heard of the Wei’s Shop at Little Bamboo Mountain?”

Ji An waved his hand and said that he was looking for Wei Songnian, who was quite familiar with this place.

“Of course, I’ve heard of it. Wei Clan has several shops close together, and among them, the Talisman Shop and Spirit Wine Shop are quite famous.

When you reach Vermilion Bird Street, walk east about thirty zhang, and you’ll see their sign.”

Ji An took out two Spirit Stones:

“Thank you, here’s your reward.”

He strode forward and quickly found the place.

The Talisman Shop, Spirit Wine Shop, Rice Shop, and Grocery Store were lined up together. The sign was black with gold lettering, and not a trace of dust was visible, suggesting it was frequently cleaned.

Ji An stepped into the Talisman Shop, where a young female cultivator immediately greeted him.

“What might this senior need? We have a few Talisman Soldiers available.”

“I’m looking for Junior Brother Wei Songnian.”

“May I ask for your esteemed name, Senior?”

The female cultivator asked softly, recognizing the Golden Spirit Sect’s standard Daoist Robe and understanding that the cultivator before her was a fellow disciple of her elders.

“My name is Ji An.”

“Please wait for a moment, Senior, I will report this immediately.”

The female cultivator quickly went to the second floor, and soon the sound of footsteps echoed from above.

“Haha,” Wei Songnian chuckled before speaking, “Senior Brother’s visit adds glory to my humble shop. Please come upstairs quickly.”

When his niece came to inform him, he initially thought someone was impersonating him.

From what he knew of Senior Brother Ji, unless it was absolutely necessary, he rarely left Red Flame Peak.

They entered the guest room on the second floor. It was exquisitely decorated, with a Pine Crane Longevity Map hanging on the wall.

Blue smoke curled up from a bronze Three-legged Beast Ear Furnace, and the room was filled with a subtle fragrance.

After exchanging pleasantries, Ji An explained his purpose:

“I want to purchase a Demon Beast Cub, preferably a tiger or bear type with strong aggression. Ideally, its bloodline should reach Earth Grade.”

He currently had ample Spirit Stones and could nurture an Earth Grade bloodline Demon Beast to Foundation Establishment Level in five or six years.

Wei Songnian pondered:

“Top-grade Demon Beast cubs are seen in the Immortal City every day, but Earth Grade bloodline cubs are rare. How long does Senior Brother plan to stay in the Immortal City?”

Regardless of the type of Earth Grade bloodline Demon Beast, competition is extremely fierce, especially for ferocious tiger-type Demon Beasts.

In the Sect, some disciples from the Beast Taming Hall raise multiple Demon Beasts. In battles, they can form entire battalions and easily surpass several small realms.

“One month, then leave with the Sect’s Spirit Ship when it returns.

Junior Brother, you have broad connections. Just do your best to search. If I’m unlucky and can’t find a cub with Earth Grade bloodline, I’ll buy an excellent Top-grade bloodline Demon Beast from the Sect’s shop.”

For Ji An, Beast Taming is only a supplementary method. The best is great, but he can manage without it.

His Golden Light Technique has been polished to the Great Perfection Level, making him fearless even against late-stage Foundation Establishment enemies.

Although the Golden Light Technique’s level cannot advance further, the power of magic techniques is not constant.

As cultivation progresses, a cultivator’s magical power becomes more refined, and the power of their magic techniques increases accordingly.

Wei Songnian nodded slightly, appearing more relaxed:

“Understood, I’ll keep an eye on those powerful Beast Taming shops.

Senior Brother, it’s best to inform our Sect’s shops in the Immortal City.

We are the strongest Beast Taming Sect, and our prices are fair. Many loose cultivators are willing to sell their pure-blooded cubs to the Sect’s shop.”

As a Sect famous for its Beast Taming in the Western Continent, Golden Spirit Sect dominates forty percent of the Demon Beast business in the Immortal City.

Ji Xiao shook his head, both amused and frustrated:

“I asked our Beast Taming Hall’s Vice Hall Master, Senior Sister Li Minghui. She said the Sect’s orders are backlogged for years.

Unless the Sect acquires a large number of Demon Beast cubs with Earth Grade bloodline in a short time, there’s no hope for me.”

Because of this inability to obtain better cubs from the Sect, he came to Mingfeng Immortal City, also to observe the region’s situation firsthand.

Some things don’t have much impact if learned only through hearsay.

Wei Songnian chuckled awkwardly. Years ago, the Wei Clan also ordered Earth Grade Demon Beasts from the Sect.

However, they ordered Earth Element turtle-type Demon Beasts to cultivate a Mountain Guardian Spirit Beast.

“Regarding the Demon Beast cub matter, Junior Brother will do his best, but I won’t insist.”

Ji An then changed the topic, continuing:

“Have you heard of Wei Qingshu?”

Wei Songnian’s eyes slightly widened, and he replied suspiciously:

“That’s my clan uncle, but he has been missing for years. How did Senior Brother hear of his name?”

Wei Qingshu had Top-Grade Talent and was doing well after entering the Sect, but unfortunately, fortune didn’t favor him. During an outing, he was assaulted by a Tribulation Cultivator, resulting in bodily and Dantian damage, and his personality turned unapproachable.

If the clan uncle had been stable, the clan’s disciples entering the Golden Spirit Sect would have received greater care.

“Junior Brother Liang Hill’s Dao Field, Black Dragon Lake, has had strange occurrences. The Spirit Fish he was cultivating mysteriously underwent a significant reduction. He investigated… ”

Ji An recounted the entire story.

Wei Songnian sighed deeply after listening:

“It’s fate. With the clan uncle’s Dantian damaged, the hope of breaking into late-stage Foundation Establishment is slim, likely causing considerable discontent.”