Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 90: Chapter 88: Dao Seed: Earth’s Essence

As the sun rose, Ji An looked up to see the sunlight cutting across the sky, bathing the mountaintop in golden light while the bamboo house at the foot of the mountain lay in shadow, as if the world were divided into two parts.

The three of them had stayed outside all night, wanting to witness the birth of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

The nature’s spiritual energy continued to surge violently into Mu Qingwan’s bamboo house, condensing into a faint spiritual mist.

The spiritual mist suddenly rushed into the bamboo house, and a spiritual pressure surpassing that of a Qi Refining Cultivator suddenly spread out. A clear, joyous voice rang out:

“Please trouble everyone to safeguard, I will come out to talk after I stabilize my realm.”

“Haha, congratulations to Junior Sister for successfully establishing the foundation.

Once I adjust my state today, I will also establish the foundation tomorrow night; we can’t let Junior Sister have all the glory.”

Du Huaiyuan took out his wine gourd, took a sip, and with a smile, walked back to his bamboo house:

“Time to sleep!”

“Congratulations to Senior Sister on her foundation establishment,” Ji An shouted, then turned and said:

“Senior Sister Li, I still need to go to Master’s medicinal garden, goodbye.”

“Junior Brother, go ahead, with your magic technique proficiency, you’ll quickly adapt to the tasks in the medicinal garden.”

Ji An called for the sand goose and flew towards the mountainside.

Three days later at dusk, red clouds edged with gold were stacked like mountains on the celestial vault.

At the foot of Ningcui Cliff, on the same clearing, the same table, were the same people from a few days ago.

“Congratulations to Senior Brother and Senior Sister on their successful foundation establishment, when do you plan to report it to Master?”

Li Lingyu was excited, the successful foundation establishment of the other two had boosted her confidence.

Once she honed her divine sense for another year or two, she could request Master to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill for her.

“We’ll visit Master early tomorrow morning and then report to the sect to select our Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation techniques and Grotto Mansion.”

Mu Qingwan glanced at the familiar land, feeling a little reluctant to leave. She had spent nearly ten years here, with many memories, both sweet and bittersweet…

“Have you decided what cultivation technique to practice, Senior Sister?”

“I plan to cultivate a Wood Element or Fire Element technique, which will aid in alchemy. I’ll ask Master which one suits me better.”

From the Foundation Establishment Stage, cultivation techniques begin to differ based on the Five Elements, and the refined magical power will carry certain properties.

Should one desire to become a Sword Cultivator, one must choose the Metal Element; those good at Artifact Refining choose Fire Element.

The sect always believed that the Foundation Establishment marked the true beginning of cultivation, for only after establishing the foundation do cultivators begin to touch upon the true mysteries of cultivation.

Techniques can be changed, but it would cause magical power to diminish, with more severe loss if the technique has a different elemental property. Cultivators only switch if they encounter a technique much better than their current one.

“I will definitely cultivate a Water Element technique, as it aids in brewing wine!”

Du Huaiyuan announced loudly. Without family backing, he had relied solely on his wine brewing skills to earn cultivation crystal stones when he first entered the sect.

Upon becoming Master’s disciple, he also chose to learn alchemy, selecting the Water Refining Technique.

“Junior Brother Ji, Senior Brother and Senior Sister are about to leave, and since our Ningcui Cliff is quite far from the trading marketplace, it’s not worth the hassle to travel back and forth for meals.

Eating Fasting Pills every day is quite tiresome; in the past, we agreed to take turns cooking, each person for three days.

Now it’s just the two of us left, do you think we should stick to this method?”

“Let’s stick to the old rule; I think it’s a good system.”

Li Lingyu nodded with a smile and said:

“There are some spiritual vegetables planted behind the bamboo house; the cost of spirit rice and demon beast meat will be shared.”

“Alright, I’m still cultivating the spirit fields at Jade Water Lake; I’ll plant more Jade Corn there.”

Ji An nodded. The spirit rice he cultivated had a slightly higher quality than that available in the market, and Li Changqing would often lament that another high-tier spirit farmer was lost when he encountered him.

They began discussing their future cultivation, and as the sky darkened, the bright colors of the sunset rapidly faded to gray, eventually disappearing into the night.

…

Ji An continued his stable cultivation in Ningcui Cliff. The concentration of spiritual energy at the mountain’s foot was equivalent to the levels achieved using the Spirit Capturing Array, saving him a significant amount of spirit stones.

Through enhancing cultivation, nurturing his immortal vein, and practicing spells, his strength steadily increased.

Additionally, he was also cultivating fifteen acres of spirit fields near Jade Water Lake, all brought to Tier One Lower Grade.

Three acres were planted with Jade Corn, and the rest with Talisman Grass, accumulating a vast amount of crystal stones through daily talisman painting.

Half a year passed, and the Stone Turtle absorbed more spiritual mechanism. Combined with Ji An’s unceasing practice, his spells improved to varying degrees.

He immersed his mind into his dantian, connecting with the Stone Turtle.

[Master: Ji An]

[Dao Rhyme: 0]

[Spiritual Mechanism: Kan Spirit 353.5, Gen Spirit 72.6, Zhen Spirit 8.6, Xun Spirit 502.6, Kun Spirit 885.2, Qian Spirit 0.2]

“Refine Kun Spirit, enhance Thick Earth Technique.”

As Ji An silently recited within his mind, his divine sense was drawn into the Stone Turtle’s space, standing on the Kun Position of its back, continuously practicing magic techniques, his comprehension steadily increasing.

When the Kun Spirit no longer decreased, Ji An felt as if he had transformed into a seed buried in the earth.

The world fell into darkness, yet a gentle spiritual mechanism enveloped him. He seemed to hear the earth vein’s pulsation, as the seed absorbed nutrients and began to sprout, and his vision became bright.

The line of Thick Earth Technique disappeared from the magic technique list, and a new Dao Seed formed.

[Dao Seed: Earth’s Essence (Unranked), hidden at the Chongmen Acupoint, comprehended True Intent of the ’Earth-Nurtured Pure Spirit’ Ji Earth technique, slightly enhanced Ji Earth’s technique comprehension.]

Ji An’s mind retreated from the Stone Turtle, yet he still closed his eyes, savoring the lingering magic intent.

The gentleness of Kun carries all beneath it, and the Dao of Ji Earth effectively enhances the spiritual nature of the earth veins by channeling earth Qi.

The formation of a new Dao Seed heralded the time to experiment with its effects.

This season’s Jade Corn had already reached the tasseling stage, and through comparing the yields and growth period of the Spirit Grain, he could see how much surprise the Dao of Ji Earth’s magic intent would bring.

…

The next morning.

Having completed his tasks for the day in the medicinal garden, Xiang Yong looked towards the grass hut in the center.

Half a year of interaction had deepened his admiration for Ji An.

The latter could complete tasks in less than two periods, more competently than him, who had spent most of his life in the spirit fields as a Spirit Farmer.

Every other month, when regions were exchanged, he could observe the subtle differences in the growth of spirit medicines in the two areas, which any experienced Spirit Farmer could discern.

While envying the strength of magic intent, he lamented his own dullness, invisible barriers keeping him from grasping the magic intent of the Small Cloud Rain Technique, even though he had sensed it several years back, and following his senior brother’s insights daily had yet to let him cross that threshold.

Stepping to the grass hut, Xiang Yong respectfully stood outside the door and spoke:

“Senior Brother, may I come in?”

Since the senior brother’s arrival here, there had never been a shortage of Wood Element Beads for use.

The Wood Element Beads condensed from Purple Sun Wood were full of spiritual nature, and could be traded for crystal stones by high-tier Spirit Farmers.

At that moment, Ji An was practicing the Sharp Gold Technique, and he paused his magic technique, formed a spell, and opened the door.

“Senior Brother, the Wood Element Beads we’ve accumulated over the past six months have sold for a total of sixteen spirit stones.”

Xiang Yong handed over the spirit stones. Recently, due to the sect’s medicinal garden collecting spirit medicines, there was a sharp increase in the demand for Wood Element Beads, leading to a slight rise in prices.

When Old Zhang was around, they rarely enjoyed such profits, as the Wood Element Beads they condensed barely sufficed for their needs.

The Purple Sun Wood belonged to the sect and could be made into spiritual charcoal. If a sect steward discovered an excessive extraction of spiritual mechanism from the Spirit Wood during inspections, they would be severely punished.