Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Ji An left Sunrise Peak, riding on an Auspicious Cloud heading west.

The setting sun cast its slanting rays as if welcoming him, distant mountains smiled, and under the evening glow, Flying Ships crossed like clouds of Talisman Birds.

The sound of birds calling their companions home reverberated faintly in the wind beside his ears, and the thousand-mile mountain ranges were peaceful and serene.

At this moment, drunk with the joy of spring, he felt that everything was beautiful.

About half an hour later, the Auspicious Cloud descended on Red Flame Peak, and Wei Songtao stepped forward, saying:

”Patriarch, Youyou remains motionless in the same posture today, could there be something amiss?”

The Cyan Deer had already become a Great Demon of the Chao Origin Stage, a time when it should be high-spirited, yet it lay stiff like a stone sculpture, which instinctively felt unsettling to him.

Ji An smiled and shook his head, ”Don’t bother with it, and besides, do not disturb it.”

He knew very well that the Beast was digesting its bloodline inheritance, a privilege only well-founded Demon Beasts could enjoy.

Demon Beasts can integrate inheritance into their bloodlines, and as their descendants’ cultivation improves, they can gradually unlock the secrets hidden in their genes.

It’s akin to providing future generations with a library, containing their race’s survival wisdom, talent techniques, and various knowledge.

This is something Human Race cultivators cannot achieve; even if High-Tier Cultivators have direct descendants, at best they inherit their aptitude and Dao Body, but knowledge inheritance is not passed on.

According to records, this world used to belong to the Demon Race, with True Dragons, Phoenixes, Golden Crows, and other Divine Beasts being members of the Demon Race, though these races were so powerful that they disdained interacting with other Demon Races, thus listed separately.

The Cyan Deer possesses the bloodline of the Five-Colored Deer, which is not qualified to be called a Divine Beast but is still referred to as a Heaven and Earth Exotic Beast, an Auspicious Beast, with deep foundations, so taking longer to digest its inheritance is normal.

Ji An’s eyes showed a contemplative expression, as it was unknown what happened in ancient times that led to the disappearance of Divine Beasts.

After hundreds of thousands of years of struggle, the Human Race rose under the shadow of the Demon Race, gradually gaining dominance, but far from claiming world supremacy.

The extreme west and north of the continent, the East Sea, and south of the Southern Continent are still Demon territories, forbidden zones to humans, with countless Transformed Great Demons.

He gently shook his head, as these matters were still far from him, and only if he became a Nascent Soul Daoist Monarch would he have the qualification to know the secrets sealed by time.

”Songtao, send a message to Songnian to reduce the acquisition of Fire Element Essence in the future, maintaining an annual supply of one hundred thousand threads.”

The warehouse holds over three million threads of Fire Element Essence, but there are hardly any places needing it now.

A long time ago, Red Flame Peak ceased using Fire Element Essence to nurture Red Cloud Pines, switching to scattering the red sand excreted by Fire Crystal Ants and the powder of Profound Yang Wood in the Pine Forest to improve the soil, allowing it to contain more Fire Spirit Power.

Ji An previously thought this method was useless, but planting inheritance obtained from Central Continent highly endorsed this approach.

It claimed that if continued persistently, it would show effects gradually in thirty years.

Currently, the only Spirit Plant needing Fire Element Essence nurturing is the Jade Flame Purple Spirit Gourd, which consumes about two hundred threads of essence daily, totaling over seventy thousand threads annually.

Once the gourd matures and is replanted, more Fire Element Essence will be needed, but for now, there’s no need to overly increase stock.

”Understood, I’ll have a friend bring the message back in a few days.”

Wei Songtao agreed, as every day’s delay for Little Bamboo Mountain was a loss.

Ji An instructed:

”Go get four jars of Top-Grade Pine Nut Wine from the Cold Pool for my use tomorrow.”

”Okay,” Wei Songtao took out a Water-Resistant Bead and dived into the pool, which was a standard Magical Artifact at Red Flame Peak due to frequent retrieval of wine jars from the water.

Zhang Cuihua approached with small steps, speaking softly:

”Patriarch, Xue Ning can fully replace me now.

Due to family affairs, I cannot stay by the patriarch’s side for much longer.”

Both she and her Dao partner were in their twilight years, and a few years ago, their youngest at home broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and excelled in Talisman Making, now established in a marketplace.

The son, grateful for her toil, wanted to bring her home for retirement.

This year she felt increasingly weak and had thoughts of leaving the Sect to return home.

Ji An pondered and said:

”Very well, when are you planning to leave? How will you go back?”

He hadn’t inquired about her exact age, but estimated she was over eighty, and with Qi Refining Disciples’ hundred-year lifespan, her time to enjoy life was indeed limited.

”My family will come to the Sect for trade at the end of this month, and we’ll return home together.”

The Sect’s Magical Artifacts and Puppets were inexpensive and good value, so her family’s shop could acquire some goods and earn about a ten percent profit.

”Before you leave, I’ll hold a farewell for you and send Han Mountain to accompany you back home.”

Looking at the snow-white hair of the disciple in front of him, Ji An sighed inwardly, lamenting how the decay of life most wears down a person’s spirit.

After she leaves, Wei Songtao and Tian Tiezhu will also gradually depart.

Red Flame Peak has stood for thousands of years, witnessing countless arrivals and departures.

Even he is just a passerby here, only staying relatively longer.

...

The next day, at the Treasure Pavilion,

Ji An placed the wine jar on the desk, setting some pine nuts, honey osmanthus cake, and sauced meat as well, the wine jar held five pounds.

”Only with wine and dishes can it be considered perfect.”

Jia Yu opened the sealing mud on the jar and inhaled the wine aroma with a smile, saying:

”You truly put thought into it, junior brother; I usually drink plain.”

He pinched a piece of cake and put it in his mouth, with the flavors of Tier Two Upper Grade honey and Spirit Rice and osmanthus spreading in his mouth, rich and fragrant.

The fried pine nuts were also Tier Two Upper Grade, while the sauced meat was Wild Beef of the Late-stage Foundation Establishment, undeniably extravagant.