Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 97: Chapter 95: Hundred Herbs Scripture

Sitting atop the beast, Li Lingyu took out a simple, elegant light green porcelain bottle, and with her fingers, applied the black ointment to the injured areas on her arms and legs.

The strong medicinal aroma spread in the wind. After applying it once, she handed the porcelain bottle out:

“The muscles burned by the Fire Element Spiritual Energy don’t heal easily. Apply some ointment.”

Ji An guided the grey-feathered sand goose over, took the ointment, and applied it himself. Immediately, a cool sensation spread, relieving much of the burning pain.

“Thank you, Senior Sister, this ointment is much better than the one I had prepared.”

Expressing his gratitude, Ji An and Li Lingyu each took out a Spirit Stone, holding it in their hands to absorb its Spiritual Qi.

Although they mainly relied on talismans in battle, their own magical power was still significant.

After flying a dozen miles away from the combat site, they landed in a wooded area.

“Senior Sister, I’ll keep watch first while you continue to recover your magical power.”

Ji An spoke as he released the Spirit-Seeking Rat.

Due to the Stone Turtle’s devouring, his magical power was only at thirty percent. Without reaching seventy to eighty percent, he felt insecure.

“Thank you, Junior Brother,” Li Lingyu said without ceremony, swallowing a pill, then sat cross-legged, operating her cultivation technique to begin refinement.

After taking turns keeping watch and recovering their magical power, they once again rode the beast, reaching the next marketplace before sunset disappeared behind the mountains.

After this joint battle, their trust in each other deepened significantly.

Either of them facing that Foundation Establishment Stage Tribulation Cultivator alone would’ve been doomed, so they now shared a bond forged by shared life-and-death experiences.

In the marketplace inn, they rented two rooms and gathered to tally their gains and losses.

Ji An handed over his Storage Bag:

“Senior Sister, please erase the Divine Sense imprint on it while I count how many talismans I used.”

“Alright.”

Li Lingyu’s eyes gleamed brightly as she placed the remaining twenty or so talismans on the table and took the Storage Bag to erase the imprint with her own Divine Sense.

A Storage Bag isn’t an exclusive space for cultivators—erasing the original owner’s Divine Sense imprint opens it up, which also happens to train one’s Divine Sense.

After counting the number of talismans left, Ji An shook his head slightly. Nearly eight hundred talismans were used in this battle, equivalent to throwing Spirit Stones at the enemy.

He picked up the Yellow Flag Magic Artifact, a knowing smile on his face—it turned out to be a top-grade magical artifact, even more useful than the Stone Turtle Shield.

While it seemed like a total loss initially, they ultimately managed to defeat the Foundation Establishment Stage Tribulation Cultivator, recovering all their losses, to everyone’s satisfaction.

After erasing the last trace of the imprint in the Storage Bag, Li Lingyu explored its contents with her Divine Sense, took everything out, and laid it on the table.

She picked up the jade slips inside one by one, placing them on her forehead, and said with some disappointment:

“A Flying Ship, a few Artifact Embryos, and some mineral and metal materials. I’m not familiar with Artifact Refining Materials, so I don’t know their value.

The jade slips contain Tier Two Artifact Refining inheritance and Artifact Refining insights, not what I was expecting.”

Ji An had spent many Spirit Stones in the Tribulation Cultivator’s shop. She expected to find at least one or two hundred Spirit Stones in the Storage Bag, but there was not a single stone.

The Golden Spirit Sect is renowned for their Artifact Refining skills; such inheritance is quite redundant to them, even less useful than the insights.

After speaking, she handed the Storage Bag back over.

Ji An received the Storage Bag and examined it with his Divine Sense, then said with a smile:

“The space inside isn’t small either; it could still sell for seventy to eighty Spirit Stones.

The Artifact Embryos and minerals can be assessed by a trustworthy Artifact Refiner once we return to our sect. Given their inclusion by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they should be quite valuable.”

He took out a Blank Jade Slip and copied the Artifact Refining inheritance, then continued:

“After all, the opponent wasn’t a true desperado. It’s unlikely they would carry all their wealth while robbing others.

Let’s hope the sect can secure significant benefits from Cyan Bamboo Mountain Marketplace from our report, and we can share a portion of the gains.”

Li Lingyu stored the Inheritance Jade Slip in her Storage Bag, then took out the acquired Flying Sword Magical Artifacts:

“What should we do with these two top-grade magical artifacts, Junior Brother? Do you want them?”

Ji An shook his head; he currently urgently needed Spirit Stones to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill before considering other matters.

“Let’s sell them for Spirit Stones. If you want them, Senior Sister, you can compensate me with Spirit Stones.”

“The previous magical artifact was damaged, and I could use the defensive artifact after I establish my foundation, so I want it.”

After pondering for a moment, Ji An said:

“My Stone Turtle Shield was also damaged. How about we evaluate the value of everything with an Artifact Refiner in the sect once we return, sell off whatever we don’t need?

We’ll repair each other’s damaged magical artifacts and replenish my used talismans, then split the remaining Spirit Stones equally. How does that sound, Senior Sister?”

Clear accounts maintain good relationships; it’s best to sort things out clearly.

“Junior Brother, that suggestion suits me perfectly.”

…

Three days later, Ji An and Li Lingyu reached Cyan Cloud Immortal City following their original route, just in time to catch the sect’s flying ship for transporting goods back the next day.

Controlling their beast to land on the platform, they presented their respective Sect Jade Tokens and were granted free entry into the Immortal City.

Li Lingyu let out a soft sigh and said in a muffled voice:

“I wonder how many other disciples know about this; let’s head directly to the Artifact Refining shop.”

“Even if many people know, it’s not like they can sweep all the goods from the Immortal City.

Senior Sister, I’ll lend you some Spirit Stones later.”

Ji An suggested, feeling that she deserved some support after accompanying him on the arduous journey.

Li Lingyu glanced over with a slight smile in her eyes:

“Junior Brother, you’re very generous, so I won’t be polite.”

Ji An lent the other party two pieces of middle-grade spirit stones, and the two headed to the artifact refining shop area together.

They automatically skipped the sect’s shops and began their shopping journey.

Having visited nearly half of the hundred shops, leaving enough for staying at the inn and tomorrow’s flying ship expenses, Ji An finally spent all the spirit stones he had.

Although he slightly increased the purchasing price, the shops wouldn’t trade too many Five Elements Spiritual Objects with him, after all, they were normal operating shops and needed to keep some for artifact refining.

“Senior Sister, go book two rooms at Yingxian Inn, it’s cheaper there. I need to deliver the remaining talismans to the cooperating shops.”

Ji An handed the spirit stones to his senior sister, who took them and left after saying goodbye.

He shook his head lightly and quickly walked towards the talisman area, needing to explain things properly to the cooperating shops today.

The remaining talismans in his hand were worth at most over a hundred spirit stones, and after purchasing talisman ink and a talisman brush, there wouldn’t be many spirit stones left.

Half an hour later, Ji An walked out of a shop holding something in his hand, turned back to look at the sign, the five inked characters ’Pang’s Treasure Talisman Shop’ in a style with inherent grace and charm.

He slightly lowered his head, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

Just now, he let the spirit-seeking rat sniff the spirit stones he received from trading the talismans, and the beast taming alerted him that one of the spirit stones was smeared with the same powder as last time.

Should I find a broker to inquire about this shop’s background?

Ji An thought about it but gave up on the idea.

Brokers usually have cooperative relationships with shops, and inquiring rashly might alert the enemy.

…

The next day, after returning to the sect on a flying ship, Ji An and his companion hurried to Ningcui Cliff to meet their master.

After hearing their account, Ge Ying was both shocked and angry. Fortunately, they brought a large number of talismans this time, otherwise, the consequences could have been dire.

If these two disciples met misfortune, she would not only lose them but also twenty pieces of middle-grade spirit stones, and the sect would lose two future Foundation Establishment cultivators, not to mention one of them is a highly talented spirit farmer.

Her eyes flashed with cold light, and she snorted coldly:

“Daring to attempt to kill my disciples, how bold.

Tomorrow, I will visit Senior Brother Chen at the Law Enforcement Hall to get justice for you.

Rest assured, as it concerns the sect’s reputation, the Law Enforcement Hall will handle it strictly.”

In the Western Continent, the Three Sects are absolute overlords, and a promising disciple being hunted down will surely attract the sect’s attention.

“Hand over the magical artifacts and other items that can reveal identity as evidence that the other party is a tribulation cultivator, so the sect can negotiate with the Cyan Bamboo Mountain Marketplace.”

Li Lingyu reluctantly handed over two top-grade magical artifacts and a few magic technique jade slips, all loot from the tribulation cultivator she was holding.

Ge Ying scolded with a smile:

“No ambition, once the matter is handled, these things will still be yours.

The enemy is the shopkeeper of an artifact refining shop. As long as there is proof that the other party is a tribulation cultivator, the items belonging to that person in the shop will be sealed by the sect together with the marketplace.

At that time, you will receive bounties for killing a Foundation Establishment Stage tribulation cultivator, along with rewards from the sect.

With me here, you won’t miss a single spirit stone.”

“Thank you, Master,” Li Lingyu said sweetly.

“Hmph, neither of you is allowed to leave the sect before Foundation Establishment!

Currently, the sect’s nurturing of the spiritual vein is at a critical juncture, and when the forced mission notices are sent out, we will need to temporarily contract our power.”

Ge Ying took out several jade slips, copied a set, and tossed them to Ji An:

“Take these; they are the Hundred Herbs Scripture compiled by the sect, introducing various spirit herbs and medicines and cultivation methods.

It covers most spirit plants commonly used in the Qi Refining Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage. Study it well; I’ll test you in a few days.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Ji An cupped his hands, understanding the expectations his master had for him.

He scratched his head, showing a naive smile:

“Master, I feel my understanding is greatly lacking and I am eager to improve. Do you have any knowledge about various spirit trees?”

Inheritance techniques, spells, and various knowledge are invaluable, and it’s even better if they’re free.

Ge Ying squinted and said:

“Don’t bite off more than you can chew; study the Hundred Herbs Scripture thoroughly first.

There are hundreds of spirit plants in there, and their medicinal properties are introduced. You have plenty to study for a long time.”

…

After leaving the grotto mansion, Ji An asked:

“Senior Sister, do you know any artifact refiners?”

It’s time to evaluate the spoils, and it’s more practical to convert things currently not in use into spirit stones.

“The few artifact refiners I know are only at the Qi Refining Stage, and I’m concerned that they can’t assess the true value of the magic artifact embryo and ores.

Junior Brother, do you have any recommendations? The person should at least be a Foundation Establishment Stage artifact refiner.

If you don’t know anyone, we’ll have to ask other senior brothers and sisters for introductions.”

“I happen to know a Foundation Establishment Stage artifact refiner who is in the same Daoist school as I am and we have a good relationship.

If Senior Sister trusts me, we will visit him tomorrow.”

Li Lingyu laughed:

“How could I not trust Junior Brother? Let’s go together tomorrow.”