Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

“That day will come soon.”

Ji An spoke lightly, but with unwavering confidence, making one feel a sense of conviction upon hearing it.

He paused and then said:

“Words alone are not enough. In five years, I invite you, Senior Brother, to Red Flame Peak, where you will see my achievements.”

He didn’t intend to hide anything, because once he performed spells on the spirit plants, his level of magic could not be concealed.

Moreover, why hide? He was a Spirit Farmer, and the sect would be more than happy if he became immensely strong!

As long as he could cultivate more high-tier spirit plants, he could request the sect to search for various rare spirit seeds, and they would certainly agree.

By then, with the power of the entire sect, he could continuously obtain high-tier spirit plants.

“Good! Actually, my requirements are not many; being able to drink Tier Two High-grade Spirit Wine from Red Flame Peak in this lifetime is enough.”

After saying this, Jia Yu raised the gourd and gulped down some spirit wine.

Once, he had splurged and bought Tier Two High-grade Spiritual Peach Wine from a cultivator in Luofeng Valley, and the taste was unforgettable to this day.

Even though the sect had accumulated quite a bit of Tier Two High-grade Spirit Plants, it wasn’t even enough for alchemy, much less to make wine.

“This wish will surely come true, Senior Brother. Rest assured, I will gift you a jar of it by then!”

Ji An was highly confident in cultivating Tier Two High-grade Spiritual Peaches, and if lucky enough, maybe even Tier Two High-grade Red Cloud Pine.

Pine nuts were highly productive and considered the most cost-effective spirit object for winemaking. Using other Tier Two High-grade spirit fruits for wine was too extravagant.

“I’ll remember your words. If you cultivate Tier Two Spirit Plants that can be used for winemaking and don’t fulfill your promise, I’ll go to Red Flame Peak every day to drink for free.”

The two laughed and chatted casually for a bit more, and Ji An took out the Flame Light Banner, bowed, and said:

“Senior Brother, I will hold a celebration in my grotto mansion in a few days, and I would like to invite your presence then.”

“Yes, it’s a good occasion to celebrate. I’ll inform the other Chao Origin Stage senior brothers about your breakthrough.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Ji An smiled, implying that he wanted his help in sending out invitations.

Upon stepping into the Chao Origin Stage, it was essential to integrate into the new circle and exchange insights on cultivation.

Unlike the Foundation Establishment Stage, the sect had only one cultivation technique for the Chao Origin Stage.

Everyone practiced the same technique, so frequent exchanges and discussions were immensely beneficial.

Jia Yu shook his wine gourd with a smile and said:

“Make sure to prepare enough food to entertain them. As per custom, unless there’s something urgent at hand, everyone will come to celebrate.”

Chao Origin Stage cultivators might live on air and qi, but unless at a critical moment in cultivation, they do not refrain from indulging in culinary pleasures.

“Rest assured, I’ll present the best hospitality.”

Ji An took out the Flame Light Banner from his storage bag, bid farewell again, and departed gracefully.

…

Ji An rode on his spiritual artifact, letting the fierce wind hit his face, as the bright yellow flame light dragged a blue tail, tearing through the sky.

He controlled the Flame Light Banner to land at the entrance of the bamboo forest in front of the Inheritance Hall, as a grand array protected the sect’s restricted area, and if he dared to fly over like this, he would undoubtedly be attacked.

Like a gust of wind, Ji An traversed the winding, deep path and soon entered the Inheritance Hall.

Teng Zhiyuan slightly raised his head and, seeing the visitor, gave an amiable smile and greeted:

“Junior Brother Ji, long time no see!”

“Long time no see,” Ji An responded while walking forward, “I’m here to exchange for the cultivation techniques and spells of the Chao Origin Stage.”

“What? Say that again?”

Teng Zhiyuan thought he heard wrong, considering the other person had only broken through to late-stage Foundation Establishment a few years ago!

Ji An exuded a hint of Chao Origin Stage cultivator’s aura, speaking gently:

“I was fortunate to break through.”

Teng Zhiyuan suddenly stood up, feeling extremely parched and swallowing hard.

“This, this… Junior Brother, no, Junior Martial Uncle, you kept it well hidden!”

Such an exaggeration!

He knew about the other’s breakthrough to the eighth-layer of Foundation Establishment, but he had not expected him to have broken through to the Chao Origin Stage by now, making him feel like he was dreaming.

“Haha, from now on, I’ll need you to take good care of the business at Red Flame Peak.”

“Certainly,” Teng Zhiyuan replied hastily, the sudden sense of unfamiliarity quickly dissipating with those words.

“Junior Martial Uncle, please follow me.”

He led the way, performing a gesture to activate the dharma prohibition in the depths of the grotto mansion, the wall twisting to reveal a four-foot-wide passage.

Luminous beads, the size of chicken eggs, were embedded every few feet in the passage, making it as bright as day.

“Please go ahead; the second floor houses the cultivation techniques of the Chao Origin Stage, and guarding the second floor is Senior Brother Moo Feiyu, a Fourth Transition of Chao Origin Cultivator.”

“Thank you,” Ji An stepped into the passage and ascended.

Teng Zhiyuan watched his back, his eyes filled with envy.

…

When he reached the second floor, Ji An found the setup similar to the floor below.

Niches were carved into the stone walls, containing jade slips, while the light from the dharma prohibition emanated outside the niches.

However, there were far fewer niches, only a few dozen.

An elder cultivator with white hair sat behind a desk, engrossed in a paper book.

Upon hearing footsteps, the cultivator raised his head, closed the book, and stood up:

“In recent months, three Junior Brothers have come to exchange for cultivation techniques one after another, haha, good!”

Ji An bowed respectfully and said with a smile:

“Greetings, Senior Brother Moo. I am Ji An, here to exchange for cultivation techniques and spells.”

“Hmm, let me explain the rules to you, my junior brother.”

Moo Feiyu pointed to the niche in the north, “The sect only has one set of cultivation techniques, which is the Five Elements Reincarnation Scripture. Exchanging it requires one hundred thousand small merits.

As for various spells, one spell costs a thousand small merits.

Exchange for Artifact Refining Inheritance, Beast Taming Inheritance, Alchemy Inheritance, and Array Inheritance requires twenty thousand small merits, and other inheritances require ten thousand small merits.”

He moved his hand to the east, and continued:

“Various cultivation insights and broadening vision jade slips like Miscellaneous Records of Cultivation are free. Junior brother can copy them yourself.”

Ji An grimaced and laughed bitterly:

“The cultivation techniques are so expensive?! I can’t afford them.

Senior brother, what benefits does the sect offer? Please tell me all of them.”

It’s equivalent to two Nourishing Yuan Pills; he doesn’t believe that a cultivator who has just broken through the realm can afford to exchange for cultivation techniques.

Currently, his small merits are far from sufficient, but he hasn’t heard Senior Brother Jia Yu mention any disciple without a cultivation technique.

Many Chao Origin Stage cultivators have no official duties and aren’t forced to take on tasks on a regular basis.

Since cultivation techniques cost so many small merits to exchange, there must be considerations for making mandatory contributions to the sect.

“Junior brother may not know, but the cultivation technique directly leads to the Golden Core Dao and includes all the cultivation from the Fifth Transformation of the Chao Origin Stage.

This set of techniques is intricately connected and cannot be dismantled.

Once you purchase and learn the cultivation technique, you can systematically cultivate up to the Five Qi Chaoyuan realm.”

“At that time, the sect will provide the secret techniques for breakthroughs for free, and you can consult the ancestors every year.

Moreover, a hundred thousand small merits are just five hundred thousand spirit stones, which is considered a bargain in the outside world.”

“The most important thing is that you can take the cultivation technique now, and starting from next year, repay the small merits in installments over twenty years.

Additionally, every cultivator can freely choose two spells, which are all sect benefits…”

Perhaps he had stayed alone for too long, Moo Feiyu talked incessantly for a quarter of an hour.

Ji An gently coughed and smiled:

“Senior brother, I’ll go choose spells, we can chat later.”

He quickly turned around, took out the jade token, and looked for the jade slips he needed.

Since there’s no choice in cultivation techniques, he took out the Five Elements Reincarnation Scripture, and all planting technique jade slips must be taken.

Not knowing the extent of consumption on the Spiritual Mechanism for Chao Origin Stage spells, he only selected one metal element attack spell and a few supporting techniques.

Repaying the debt of the Nourishing Yuan Pill, he didn’t have many small merits left, and since he didn’t have any urgent needs, these few spells would suffice for now.

Ji An handed the jade slips and identity jade token to his senior brother, saying:

“Could you copy them, senior brother?”

“Azure Dragon Shocking Skill, Zhurong Divine Fire Spell, Yellow Dragon Essence Enhancement Skill, Cloud Dragon Rain Technique, all these are planting techniques, junior brother is a spirit farmer?!”

Moo Feiyu exclaimed, then added:

“A few years ago, Junior Brother Li Haoran sent these jade slips, and I thought I’d wasted money.”

“Hehe, I’m not talented, but I love tending to the land and spirit plants, so I chose to be a spirit farmer.”

“Being a spirit farmer is great! Luofeng Valley doesn’t have a Chao Origin Stage spirit farmer.

Haha, in a hundred years, junior brother will add considerable depth to the sect.”

In the long run, being a spirit farmer is the most promising cultivation skill, but unfortunately, not many cultivators are willing to be spirit farmers.

Most cultivators’ aspirations are to roam unfettered and be admired, something a spirit farmer can’t fulfill.

Even Qi Refining Stage disciples rarely admire Foundation Establishment Stage spirit farmers.

Alchemists earn respect, but spirit farmers receive far less attention.

Moo Feiyu picked up the remaining jade slips to examine, “Earth Escape Technique, Earth-to-Steel Technique, Geng Metal Spirit-Slaying Sword? Junior brother, this is categorized as both a spell and a sword technique, and it’s not easy to cultivate.”

These spells had nothing to do with planting, and he thought the other had made the wrong choice.

The Earth Escape Technique was understandable, as learning an escape technique is necessary.

Ji An explained:

“I’ve always admired the grace of sword cultivators, and though I can’t become one, my spirit yearns for it.

Learning one metal element spell brings a little comfort to my past aspirations.”

“Ah,” Moo Feiyu sighed lightly.

Sword cultivators are famously the best in offense in the same realm; ask any cultivator, and they’ve likely dreamed of being a sword cultivator.

To shatter mountains with a single sword, or to split seas—just thinking about such scenes stirs the blood.

“A total of seven spells, two can be learned for free, so junior brother needs to pay five thousand small merits.

The small merits owed for the cultivation technique will start being repaid next year, with a minimum of five thousand small merits to be repaid annually.”

“Understood,” Ji An nodded, conjecturing that the ’minimum repayment amount’ was specified to prevent some cultivators from procrastinating indefinitely.

Moo Feiyu copied the jade slips, disclosed the key, and then said:

“Junior brother, which Dao Field do you cultivate in?

Let’s exchange magical power marks since you’ve broken through to the Chao Origin Stage, and will surely hold a celebration soon. I’ll come for a cup of spirit wine then.”

“You are most welcome. I’ll definitely inform senior brother when I host the celebration, and will warmly welcome you then.

I cultivate at Red Flame Peak, located in the northwest part of the sect.”

Ji An put away the jade slips, exchanged magical power marks, and explained the exact location of Red Flame Peak.

The sect has only a few dozen Chao Origin Stage cultivators, so maintaining contact is essential.

“Senior brother, I haven’t returned to my grotto mansion since the breakthrough. I’ll take my leave today.”

He couldn’t help but want to return earlier to explore the spells.