Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

After a moment, Guu Tai raised his head and said self-deprecatingly:

”Let Fellow Daoist see me as a joke.”

Ji An shook his head, ”How could I ridicule the emotions of a grandfather for his grandson!”

Emotions can make a person weak, but they can also make a person infinitely strong; this is the key factor that distinguishes humans from animals.

Guu Tai sighed, ”Although in my heart I know we can meet again, at the moment of parting, I still can’t bear it in my heart.”

A child in their teens leaves their hometown, loses the protection of parents and relatives, and must learn to be strong on their own.

He paused for a while and then said:

”Fellow Daoist, follow me; let’s test your Spirit Armor.”

The two of them walked into the Earth Fire Chamber, and Ji An saw the leg armor and face armor placed on the desk.

The style of the leg armor is no different from the chest armor; the size and style of the armor plates are also similar. The armor plates used for the face armor are much smaller, only half a fingernail in size, and much thinner, like a thicker sheet of paper.

The only advantage is that the Spirit Light is more intense, and the texture is surprisingly like the skin of a baby.

Ji An frowned slightly, somewhat worried and said:

”Fellow Daoist, can the defense of the face armor also reach Tier Two top-grade spiritual artifact?”

This question should not have been asked, as it might seem disrespectful, but he was genuinely worried.

”Haha, I knew Fellow Daoist would have doubts.”

Guu Tai showed a proud smile and transmitted:

”The area covered by the face armor is much less than the chest and leg armor, but the Transforming Essence Divine Mud added within is the same amount as in them.

Fellow Daoist, does this reassure you?”

After speaking, he activated the spell, and the tiny armor plates gathered together, floating in mid-air:

”Fellow Daoist, feel free to test. As long as the attack doesn’t reach the Golden Core level, there won’t be any problems.”

What is the best way to earn trust from others? Of course, it’s an on-site test to dispel doubts.

Since the other person said so, Ji An no longer hesitated and released the Bursting Fireball.

The fireball with white flames appeared instantly, and Guu Tai suddenly widened his eyes.

He recognized the Bursting Fireball, but had never seen a fireball of this color.

The Light from the flames scattered like sparks from iron forging, and the dull bronze-colored face armor bore all of it, remaining stationary in mid-air.

”Seems I’ve underestimated you, Fellow Daoist, you are well-intentioned; I will remember this.”

Ji An immediately adjusted his attitude; judging from the test results, the addition of Transforming Essence Divine Mud played a crucial role in the face armor.

Considering this, the material cost of this Spirit Armor should exceed the original price of forty Spirit Stones.

Benefits received without effort shouldn’t be accepted lightly; the benefits given by the other party will be repaid to Guu Hongming.

Guu Tai smiled, ”Fellow Daoist, you are too courteous. On this journey to the Western Continent, I’m entrusting my child to you.”

Ji An solemnly said:

”I won’t say much pleasantries. I will earnestly request the Sect’s best Artifact Refiner, Senior Brother Zhuu, to guide him.”

Though it implies an exchange of interests, if one honors me a foot, I shall honor them a yard.

”Fellow Daoist’s promise is as good as gold, I naturally believe it.

Quick, give it a try; few cultivators are willing to customize a full set of Spirit Armor, those short-sighted fellows!”

Guu Tai transmitted the new incantation and explained the variations of the accompanying hand seals.

Ji An chuckled, if I hadn’t customized the full set of Spirit Armor, I might have been one of those short-sighted fellows mentioned by the old man.

He took out the chest armor; after activating the spell, all the armor plates disassembled and floated in mid-air.

As the hand seal changed, the armor plates spun quickly and swiftly attached to his body.

Guu Tai took out a bronze mirror, and Ji An saw a Golden Armored Man appear inside.

Because of the texture of the armor plates, he didn’t look like Iron Man at all; instead, he resembled an Iron-blooded Warrior with changed skin.

He opened his mouth slightly, and the expression of the person in the mirror changed quickly.

Guu Tai asked:

”How do you feel, Fellow Daoist?”

”It’s magnificent; I love this look.”

Ji An sighed gently and continued:

”If only I were a Body Cultivator, it would be incredible! Wearing this kind of armor for fighting and demon hunting would definitely be delightful.”

”Haha, if you were a Body Cultivator, you might need to prepare more sets of Spirit Armor.”

Body Cultivators are better at melee combat, fists hitting flesh though satisfying, will cause greater wear and tear on Spirit Armor.

In Guu Tai’s view, Body Cultivators are not his target customers; those muscle barbarians have more confidence in their muscles and skeletons.

After chatting for a while, Ji An settled the remaining balance and cupped his hands, saying:

”Fellow Daoist, until we meet again, let’s drink and enjoy when we reunite someday.”

After speaking, he took out five jars of Pine Nut Wine:

”These Spirit Wines are gifts for Fellow Daoist. If you ever visit the Golden Spirit Sect, you can drink to your heart’s content.”

After the farewell, Ji An took Guu Hongming and rode the flying cloud southward swiftly.

Guu Tai gazed at the silhouette disappearing into the distance and sighed softly.

A middle-aged man who looked like him came out of another Earth Fire Chamber, ”Father, is it safe to entrust Guangming to him?”

”From the news received from the Western Continent, Fellow Daoist Ji’s character is not questionable.”

”Those people, to get the formula, would they send someone to loot Hongming?”

The Guu Clan’s possession of the Transforming Essence Divine Mud formula somehow got leaked, leading to cultivators hiding in the shadows threatening them to hand over the formula.

To the Guu Clan, the formula is their lifeblood, leaving no room for compromise.

Worried about the family legacy’s security, they decided to send their most promising offspring away.

Sending them under a Nascent Soul Cultivator would’ve been the best choice, but the formula’s value wasn’t enough for a Nascent Soul Cultivator to accept disciples.

Even entrusting them with a Golden Core Cultivator didn’t reassure them, as they believed the mysterious cultivators were affiliated with a Golden Core Daoist Master.

Guu Tai’s face showed a fleeting gloom as he clenched his fists, saying:

”If they dare to threaten us like this, I’ll offer the formula to Tianshui Daoist Monarch.

Besides, if others perceive Fellow Daoist Ji as an ordinary cultivator, they must be blind.”

The news of the upheaval in the Nine Netherworld has already spread, such events are impossible to conceal.

The death of dozens of Chao Origin Stage cultivators who were comprehending the Five Elements Mutual Generation negatively impacted the entire Red Rock Immortal City.

Only four cultivators survived, Ji An being one of them.

Anyone naïve enough to think it was mere luck is surely foolish.

...

In a grotto mansion in the Immortal City, a cultivator rushed in.

”Brother Han, Guu Tai’s most cherished grandson was taken by an unknown cultivator, they’ve fled south,

I’ve already instructed Song Tao to follow them, he’ll leave secret marks.”

”How many cultivators?”

”Just one.”

”Haha, I initially suspected they had the formula, now it’s almost confirmed.

Let’s go chase them down and capture Elder Guu’s grandson alive.

As for the fellow who helped send Elder Guu’s grandson out of the city, leave them a whole corpse!”

The cultivator referred to as Brother had a vicious grin, feeling he was about to strike it rich.

It was extortion, betting the Guu Clan wouldn’t dare make it public, as long as the clan’s members stayed in the Immortal City, they wouldn’t act.

A hundred years ago, he witnessed a Golden Core Loose Cultivator looting near the Immortal City, only to be killed by Primordial Daoist Monarch.

The Immortal City has three Daoist Monarchs, and he, merely a Fifth Transformation of the Chao Origin Stage cultivator, wouldn’t dare act openly.

An hour later, the Han-named cultivator and his followers spotted the tracker Song Tao suspended in the air, dazed.

”What’s going on? Where are the people you were tracking?”

Song Tao, with a sullen face, replied:

”Brother, I’ve lost them.”

The Han-named cultivator murmured in disbelief, ”How is that possible? Your flying escape speed is much faster than mine!”

Song Tao was the intel-gathering cultivator of their small group, equipped with a flying spiritual artifact, his speed rivaled Sword Cultivators.

”Initially, I thought not to get too close to avoid startling them, so I kept a distance.

But later when their speed increased, I wanted to chase but was already outpaced.”

Song Tao remained in shock, knowing well the speed when fully activating the spiritual artifact, theoretically a Chao Origin Stage cultivator eluding his sight seemed nearly impossible.

”Did he spot you?”

”I don’t think so, I’m sure of it. He and Elder Guu’s grandson never turned back.”

”Has the direction he’s flying escaped ever changed?”

Song Tao shook his head, saying:

”The opponent flew in almost a straight line the entire time.”

The Han-named cultivator pondered briefly, unwilling to give up:

”If he didn’t notice your anomaly and didn’t change direction, perhaps he’s simply traveling.

Let’s take turns using your flying spiritual artifact to continue the pursuit; when night falls, he’ll surely stop to rest, that’s our chance.”

Capturing Elder Guu’s direct grandson as a hostage would make coercing them easier.

”Alright, I’ll follow the leader.”

The next morning, as the sun rose, the three trackers exchanged bewildered looks.

They pursued throughout the night, only to yield no results.

...

At this moment, Ji An was flying with the Earth Flame Light Banner, leaving a long trail of flames that gradually dispersed.

Eager to return to the sect, he didn’t rest last night, maintaining full-speed flying escape.

Rotating the use of three Five Elements Banners minimized his exhaustion as they stored significant Spiritual Power themselves.

Guu Hongming initially rode the Five Elements Cloud, his face full of excitement, soaring at such speeds in the air was beyond imagination.

However, once the initial novelty faded, everything slowly became monotonous.

Now his expression was weary, his face etched with fatigue.

”Grandpa Ji, aren’t you going to stop and rest?”

Ji An waved his hand, ”We’ll rest tonight, stay alert!”

Adequately fuelled by magical power, he could endure for most of the day.

If no detours were taken, based on his current speed, it’d take only a month to cross the Gulal Pass and return to the Western Continent.

The route would pass by Silver Moon City, but he wouldn’t enter it, having taken Zhu Mingli’s Grotto Void Stone years ago.

Zhu Mingli and his sister, disciples of the Silver Moon City’s City Lord, hadn’t opened the Grotto Void Stone; despite the improbability of the City Lord tracing anything after so many years, less trouble is better.