Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

”Good, very reasonable.”

Lin Jiuxiao was satisfied; the effect of two hundred jars of Spirit Wine was equivalent to eighteen Jade Radiance Pills.

With the full support of the sect, he averaged only ten Jade Radiance Pills a year.

Jia Yu took out a jade slip and recorded the information, saying:

”Junior Brother, let’s sign the agreement.

This agreement will be effective for fifty years, during which time we must strictly adhere to the contents of the agreement.”

Ji An received the jade slip, pressed it to his forehead, and carefully read it with his Divine Sense.

In addition to the agreed-upon distribution ratio, there was also a clause prohibiting them from revealing the formula to others.

He left his Magical Mark on it and passed it on:

”Senior Brother Du, take a look.”

Du Huaiyuan examined the agreement and left his Magical Mark.

Jia Yu took the jade slip, checked it, and laughed:

”Admirable how Fellow Daoist Du figured out the formula for Cyan Leaf Wine!

It’s said that the Pine Nut Wine from Red Flame Peak was also made by you; you’re undoubtedly the sect’s foremost brewer!”

Du Huaiyuan smiled somewhat awkwardly, ”Not at all, it’s all thanks to the yield from Red Flame Peak.”

Previously, when he came to exchange spiritual objects at the Treasure Pavilion, they usually called him Little Du or Nephew Du. When had they ever spoken to him like an equal!

’Is this what Junior Brother Ji meant by the benefits of honor?’

He shook his head inwardly, thinking there was some truth to it, but the greater reason was his backing by Ningcui Cliff’s lineage.

Junior Brother Ji and Senior Brother Liu have successively broken through to the Chao Origin Stage, boosting Ningcui Cliff’s prestige within the sect.

”Ever since Junior Brother Ji settled in, Red Flame Peak slowly turned into a treasure vault.

The ancestor once made a vow that if Junior Brother Ji cultivated fifty Tier Two High-grade Spirit Plants, the tier of Red Flame Peak’s Spirit Field would be elevated.”

Ji An extended his right hand and made a gesture with a smile:

”As of now, Red Flame Peak has three Top-grade Spirit Wood, two Jade Leaf Mulberries, and one Red Cloud Pine.”

Jia Yu grimaced, ”So quickly?”

Lin Jiuxiao raised an eyebrow and asked:

”How many years has the junior brother been residing at Red Flame Peak?”

”Over seventy years.”

Lin Jiuxiao was silent; the speed at which such spirit plants were cultivated far surpassed the sect’s other spirit farmers.

...

Led personally by several sect ancestors, a large number of hidden Demon Cultivators and demon beasts was eradicated.

The situation in the Western Continent stabilized, and the rampant spread of demonic cultivation techniques was contained.

Time flew like water, and three years passed.

Ji An fused several strands of Morning Glow Qi and Late Sunset Qi to form a tangible red silk thread.

”The materials for the banner are finally complete, ready to find Senior Brother Zhuu for artifact refining.”

He exhaled long, descended on clouds to the grotto mansion halfway up the mountain.

From the secret vault, he took out relevant materials and flew out of Red Flame Peak on clouds.

Ji An closed his eyes, sinking his mind into his Dantian, connecting with the Stone Turtle beside the Primordial Life Fire.

[Master: Ji An]

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

[Spiritual Mechanism: Kan Spirit 356.7, Gen Spirit 205.9, Zhen Spirit 3.5, Xun Spirit 1238.8, Kun Spirit 101.6, Qian Spirit 47.8, Dui Spirit 41.9, Li Spirit 273.6]

[Spirit Sealing Technique (Great Success 18%)

Antitoxic Technique (Perfection 97%)

Geng Metal Spirit-Slaying Sword (Perfection 55%)

Earth-to-Steel Technique (Perfection 16%)

Earth Escape Technique (Perfection 5%)

Mixed Gold Profound Armor Spell (Perfection 34%)

Fire Dragon Heaven-Burning Technique (Great Success 89%)...]

Due to needing to open the Divine Mansion and capturing the glow of the clouds, he had little time to practice magic techniques these years.

Aside from Planting Techniques, he occasionally practiced the Geng Metal Spirit-Slaying Sword and Mixed Gold Profound Armor Spell; other techniques improved mostly by Spiritual Mechanism.

A year ago, he progressively advanced the Yellow Dragon Essence Enhancement Skill and Cloud Dragon Rain Technique to Great Perfection Level, achieving Merit Perfection for all planting techniques of the Chao Origin Stage.

Currently, the Ji Earth Dao Seed and Gui Water Dao Seed reached Middle Grade, and there were fifty Tier Two High-grade Spirit Plants in Red Flame Peak.

Ji An took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

Contentedly, he entered the stone house, replaced the Spirit Stone in the Teleportation Array, and stepped into it.

The scene immediately shifted to Ningcui Cliff, and he entered the neighboring grotto mansion, solemnly cupping his hands:

”Greetings, Master.”

Master’s condition was worsening day by day, looking rather drowsy, the decaying aura of life nearing its end becoming increasingly evident.

Ge Ying asked in bewilderment:

”I recall today you need not go to the Agricultural Hall.”

”Indeed, but I’ve already gathered materials for artifact refining to visit Senior Brother Zhuu at Red Copper Mountain.

This morning, while routinely counting Tier Two Spirit Plants, I found a Cloud-Top Jade Tree transforming, rounding up to fifty Upper Grade Spirit Plants.”

Ge Ying’s muddled gaze suddenly brightened, ”Wonderful, the ancestor is going to fulfill the promise!”

Ji An laughed:

”Exactly, I plan to visit Sunrise Peak shortly.”

”Hurry and go then, there’s no need to stay here chatting with me.

Once you’ve dealt with urgent matters, find time for a proper chat.”

Ge Ying waved to dismiss the disciple.

”Disciple takes leave.”

...

Red Copper Mountain.

In the grotto mansion, Ji An took out a storage bag:

”I have gathered the materials. Please, Senior Brother, help refine the spiritual artifact.”

Zhuu Xiangrong hurriedly took the storage bag and took out the materials one by one:

”Junior Brother’s speed is truly fast. I will finish the spiritual artifact I’m currently refining and, after resting for half a month, I will begin yours.”

He selected two types of spirit silks and took out a jade slip:

”This is the rune pattern that needs to be woven. Junior Brother can find a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Weaving Girl to get it done.

Ask the person to finish within a month and then send it to my grotto mansion.

The entire spiritual artifact will take about two months to complete, and I’ll inform you before it’s done.”

Ji An put away the jade slip, ”Before it’s done?”

He was a bit puzzled. Was it a slip of the tongue?

Zhuu Xiangrong nodded affirmatively:

”If Junior Brother wishes to make the spiritual artifact the artifact embryo of a lifebound magical treasure, a blood sacrifice is needed. This will also help the spiritual artifact to gain spirituality and make it easier to refine.”

Ji An still hadn’t decided which spiritual artifact to make as his lifebound magical treasure. A blood sacrifice for the Earth-Departing Flame Banner wasn’t unreasonable.

However, he had doubts and asked:

”If I kill an enemy and obtain a blood-sacrificed top-grade magical artifact, wouldn’t it be impossible to sell?”

If you kill for a treasure and can’t use it, isn’t that a huge loss?

”No, the mark within a top-grade magical artifact can be gradually erased by a cultivator.

However, a spiritual artifact without a blood sacrifice is not suitable as an artifact embryo, because it’s harder for it to give birth to an artifact spirit.”

Zhuu Xiangrong explained and chuckled:

”Why, you, a spirit farmer, are thinking of going out and slaughtering all around!”

Ji An patted his chest solemnly:

”With two top-grade spiritual artifacts on me, one for attack and one for defense, killing a few enemies isn’t excessive, is it?”

”It’s somewhat excessive. Top-grade spiritual artifacts are significant for us cultivators, but during magical combat, unless there’s a massive gap, it’s not easy to kill cultivators of the same level.”

The two chatted for a while, and then Ji An took his leave, flying towards Cloud Dream Peak on a cloud.

Half an hour later, he landed at the Silk Cave, forming his voice into a line and speaking towards the grotto mansion:

”Ji An is here to visit, Fellow Daoist.”

Liuu Suyun heard the noise, stopped cultivating, and came out to greet him:

”How come Fellow Daoist has time today?”

The other party usually liked staying in the Dao Field, cultivating diligently, and seldom ventured out.

Ji An lightly coughed and said:

”I need to refine a spiritual artifact and would like to ask for your help in weaving the flag surface. Do you have the time?”

The other party was focused on breaking through to the Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment. If she was unavailable, he would have to find someone else.

Liuu Suyun smiled:

”Since you’ve asked, I’m definitely willing to help.”

Her four Earth Spirit Fruit Trees were being nurtured at Red Flame Peak, with three at Tier Two Middle Grade and one at Lower Grade now.

The other party’s planting skills were so good, leaving her in debt.

Agreeing to this request was partly to repay a favor and partly to reduce her debt, killing two birds with one stone.

Ji An took out dozens of arm-sized bundles of thread — golden Flame Spider silk and red Sunset Light silk.

The glowing spirit silk immediately caught Liuu Suyun’s eye, as she reached out to touch it, startled:

”Tier Two Top-Grade Spirit Silk? Fellow Daoist, are you refining a top-grade spiritual artifact?”

As a cultivator who enjoyed raising spider-type demon beasts, she had never seen top-grade spirit silk, but the unique glow and feel allowed her to identify its tier.

”That’s right. Fellow Daoist, estimate how much Small Merit it will cost.”

Ji An took out the jade slip handed to him by Senior Brother Zhuu, ”This is the pattern for the flag surface.”

Liuu Suyun placed the jade slip on her forehead, calculating in her mind the time and effort required.

”Two thousand Small Merit.”

”Agreed, deduct it from your debt.

Also, the Artifact Refiner wants it completed within a month, can you manage?”

”No problem.”

”Thank you for your help,” Ji An took out a porcelain pot the size of a casserole from the storage bag:

”This is Tier Two Middle Grade Cloud Peak Silver Needle. Hopefully, it will help you.”

Spirit tea is quite effective for recovering divine sense, and the better her mental state, the higher her efficiency.

...

The brilliant red Auspicious Cloud entered Sunrise Peak, descending at the Wuji Hall atop the mountain.

”Disciple Ji An seeks an audience with the ancestor.”

A light curtain shimmered at the entrance of the main hall, the Dharma Prohibition opened, ”Come in.”

Ji An stepped inside and cupped his hands:

”Reporting to the ancestor, the fiftieth top-grade spirit plant at Red Flame Peak is in a state of transformation.

I came here today to ask when you would be free to visit so I can make arrangements in advance.”

The implication was clear, ’Ancestor, it’s time to fulfill our promise!’

Daoist Master Zhengyang put down the jade slip in his hand and stood up:

”Today, we set off now.”

Fifty isn’t a small number. When he made the promise, he thought it would take the other party at least twenty years.

Yet the disciple completed the task in less than ten years, making him exceptionally joyful.

He had traveled through the Central Continent, and even the Divine Wood Sect cultivators, known for having the strongest spirit farmers, shouldn’t have a spirit farmer as excellent as this disciple.

The two walked out of the main hall. Daoist Master Zhengyang performed a spell to reopen the Dharma Prohibition of the hall, and a lively, transparent red cloud rose from beneath his feet:

”Get on, let me show you the speed of a Golden Core Cultivator riding the Fire Element Auspicious Cloud.”

Ji An leaped onto the Auspicious Cloud, immediately feeling a warm embrace surrounding him.

”Stand firm.”

With a low shout from Daoist Master Zhengyang, the fire cloud shot out like a light beam, leaving Wuji Hall far behind in a blink of an eye.