Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Songtao, after finishing, distribute ten Spirit Stones to each person as a reward, let everyone share in the good fortune.”

”As you command.”

Everyone responded loudly, Zhang Xueling’s eyes curved into crescents; this was her first time receiving a reward!

”Go busy yourselves,” Ji An waved his hand, taking out the Water-Resistant Bead and Luminous Bead, and dove into the Cold Pool.

At the bottom of the water, the Pure Water Lotus emitted a blue Spirit Light, its leaves already the size of pot lids, and a large number of Swimming Fish gathered here.

The Pure Water Lotus grew on the Spirit Vein Node of Tier Two Upper Grade, currently at the Tier Two Lower Grade level.

When it bears Lotus Seeds, cultivating more Spiritual Lotus will contribute to strengthening the Water Vein.

Ji An took out a wide, circular wooden board from the Void Realm Space, placing it on the mud, then took out a Pudun, sitting cross-legged in the center, and began to circulate the Water Element Chapter of the Five Elements Reincarnation Scripture.

As the Cultivation Technique operated, the Water Element Spiritual Qi was captured by his breaths, countless sesame-sized black Water Element Essence flew out of the pool water, entering his mouth and nose.

The pool water began flowing clockwise, gradually forming a slow whirlpool.

The Spiritual Qi flowed like water within the Immortal Vein, resembling sounds of flowing water in the body, sometimes slow, sometimes swift.

When slow, it was like a quiet, peaceful lake, silent and tranquil; when swift, like a sea stirred by fierce winds, waves roaring to the heavens, shaking the mind.

The two Water Element Dao Seeds were deep in color, with interchanging light and darkness.

When the Spiritual Qi flow was slow, the Gui Water Dao Seed radiated brightly, spreading magic intent that nourished silently.

When the Spiritual Qi surged like waves, the Gui Water Dao Seed’s brilliance receded, while the Ren Water Dao Seed flourished, like floodwaters surging through a canyon, waves endlessly overtopping each other.

Ji An had some comprehension: Flowing water has no form; water remains the same, unchanged, yet when still, it nourishes everything, and when in motion, it churns muddy waves that tower to the heavens, revealing vastly different traits amidst motion and stillness, yin and yang transformation.

The kidneys emitted a gentle and luminous glow, water Qi flowing, the Wood Element Divine Mansion green and vibrant, and after Wood Qi rose, the Fire Element Divine Mansion was surrounded by red light.

The motion and stillness extended to the Earth Element Divine Mansion, with Yellow Spirit Light as heavy as mountains and the Gold Element Divine Mansion gathering and hiding sharpness.

The Cultivation Technique circulated once, refining Spiritual Qi into Magical Power, merging into the Dantian like heavenly showers falling, the Stone Turtle opening its mouth to swallow vast amounts of Magical Power.

Time unknowingly passed during cultivation, and when Ji An finished cultivating and left the Cold Pool, the night wind was already chilly, and the remnant moon was hazy.

The stored Spiritual Qi in the pool was sufficient for his cultivation without issues, but due to high consumption, the nourishment received by Spirit Fish was reduced, making it hard to raise large fish in the future.

Ji An rode the Golden Cloud back to the Grotto Mansion, using magical power to nourish the Red Cloud Pine, then entered the Quiet Chamber, taking out the Earth-Departing Flame Banner, nurturing it with Fire Element Essence.

...

The next day.

Ji An teleported to Ningcui Cliff, arriving at the Agricultural Hall, seeing two Vice Hall Masters waiting outside the back hall door.

”Greetings, Hall Master.”

”Dispense with formalities,” Ji An opened the Dharma Prohibition of the main hall, ”Let’s talk inside.”

After everyone was seated, Ji An asked suspiciously:

”Has there been any trouble in the hall recently?”

Usually, even when these two report to him, they wouldn’t wait by the door early; he suspected there must be some thorny issue.

Kong Yunyi said solemnly:

”Hall Master, all is well. Occasionally, there are disputes among some group members. Vice Hall Master Yang and I can mediate, but such disputes have been increasing in recent years. The level of magic techniques among fellow disciples varies; some cultivators with lower technique levels affect the overall gains of the group, inevitably causing dissatisfaction among other members.”

Kong Yunyi smiled wryly; this is an unavoidable issue. A group of three cultivators, if one’s magic technique reaches Perfection Level, while another’s is only at Great Success, dissatisfaction is bound to arise.

He paused, then continued:

”Hall Master, there must be a regulation, or it will affect unity.”

Ji An nodded slightly; team cooperation inevitably leads to such situations, so the task now is to price various roles.

”Do you have any solutions?”

Yang Qi cleared his throat and said:

”Vice Hall Master Yang and I believe that clarifying everyone’s roles is necessary for better dispute resolution, but the difficulty lies in finding a method that everyone accepts. We’ve pondered over this and finally developed an approach to report to you, the Hall Master, for any improvements. We plan to designate some unranked Spirit Fields for a comparison, allocating cultivators with different technique levels to plant Yellow Sprout Rice.”

Ji An understood their intention; though this method cannot ensure absolute fairness, it is significantly more reasonable.

”Good, announce this decision in the next meeting; what is your more detailed plan?”

”Select outstanding individuals with mastery over various magic technique levels, divide them into different groups for planting, and results will be available within a month.”

Ji An slightly furrowed his brows and said:

”Since we’re conducting a comparative experiment, let’s make it clear once and for all. Selected disciples should each independently manage one Spirit Field, two jointly manage one, and three together for comparison. Group disciples with the same technique level, but different level disciples should also form groups. We should test all combinations. If possible, involve more disciples; a larger sample will yield fair conclusions. Finally, discuss a distribution scheme with everyone. Not only Foundation Establishment Stage disciples, Qi Refining Stage disciples should also be involved.”

If dividing spoils affects unity, set rules within everyone’s witness to ensure acceptance.

Yang Qi cupped his hands and said:

”Hall Master has thought thoroughly; we shall go back now to discuss the details.”

Ji An nodded, ”Today I need to visit Sunrise Peak. If there’s anything, make the decision yourselves; if a major issue arises, report using the Communication Golden Sword.”

In reality, the Agricultural Hall Master position is quite leisurely; ever since the Demon Cultivator Cyan Flood Dragon was killed by joint forces of the Three Sects’ Golden Core battle powers, things have been peaceful for years.

”As you command.”

Kong Yunyi responded loudly, knowing he intended to slack off, but the Hall Master had always been reluctant to manage things, so it didn’t matter if he stayed in the hall.

Ji An exited the main hall, riding a cloud and escaping away.

...

A golden auspicious cloud descended on the mountainside of Sunrise Peak; Ji An strode into the hall, pulling a chair to sit down.

The main hall was empty; Senior Brother Jia was nowhere to be seen, probably counting inventory in the Secret Vault.

Shortly after, Jia Yu returned from outside the hall, seeing the sitting cultivator, and smiled:

”Junior Brother must be here to collect his allowance today.”

Ji An scratched his head, ”Senior Brother, don’t speak so candidly!”

”I’ll fetch it for you.”

”Please, Senior Brother, wait; I wish to exchange some Canglan Treasure Light Pills; my cultivation broke through yesterday, so I’ll need them.”

Jia Yu bared his teeth, ”Your cultivation progress has already surpassed Junior Brother Li Haoran! Does the ancestor know?”

His expression was complex; he knew this junior brother’s background well, entering the sect as Middle-Grade Talent. Logically, such talent should only progress to early-stage Foundation Establishment.

Cultivation can enhance aptitude, but it is an extremely slow process; among countless low-grade talent cultivators worldwide, how few can persist until their aptitude improves?

”I haven’t informed him yet.”

Ji An shook his head; before, if he made progress, he would certainly seek to let more people know to enhance his significance in others’ eyes. Now, he no longer has the urgent need.

”Do inform the ancestor later; he’ll be very pleased. I’ll first fetch your allowance.”

Jia Yu opened the Dharma Prohibition, stepping briskly into the Secret Vault, quickly retrieving the needed items.

Two Jade Bottles, a Soul Nourishing Pendant, ten boxes of Soul Incense, and three pieces of Top-grade Spirit Stones.

The sect-cultivated Soul Nourishing Wood has also reached Tier Two Middle Grade, taking over two hundred years.

Jia Yu pointed to the Jade Bottles and said, ”One bottle of Heavenly Water Soul Cleansing Pill, one bottle of Canglan Treasure Light Pill, ten pills each. The price for each pill is fifteen hundred Small Merit; deducting two pills from the allowance, you need to pay twenty-seven thousand Small Merit.”

Ji An handed over his Identity Jade Token, ”The price of Water Element Spirit Pill is truly expensive.”

Wood Element, Fire Element Spirit Pills are the cheapest, each costing one thousand Small Merit.

”There’s no other way; the sect cannot refine Metal and Water Element Spirit Pills of Chao Origin Stage levels, and throughout Western Continent, such pills are scarce; Middle Continent cultivators naturally have the audacity to raise prices.”