Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 102: Chapter 100: The Path of Cultivation

Ji An laughed heartily, venting his inner excitement.

All the hardships experienced during Foundation Establishment became a scenic journey, making the present moment even more beautiful.

Outside the bamboo pavilion, the grey-feathered sand geese sensed the spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, their eyes rolling around before they let out a flattering screech.

The Spirit-Seeking Rat leaped around, squeaking incessantly.

After a while, once his emotions calmed down again, Ji An began his first cultivation since Foundation Establishment to stabilize his realm.

At this time, the Qingyuan Scripture seemed inadequate; its capacity and efficiency in absorbing nature’s spiritual energy could no longer meet the current needs, as the spiritual energy could be refined instantly without delay.

He introspected within his body, discovering the Immortal Vein had become more robust and thick, branching into many smaller veins resembling capillaries.

Suddenly, his face lit up with joy, his spirit nearly disrupted the cultivation technique’s operation.

Ji An gathered his spirit, continued to activate the cultivation technique, and immersed his spirit into the Dantian.

The Stone Turtle floated within the Magical Jade Liquid, its surface dimly glowing with spirit light, possessing a more ancient and weighty aura, giving him a faint illusion that it was a living creature.

Its spirituality had strengthened, but it wasn’t the reason for Ji An’s earlier spirit disruption.

He felt the refined magical power drip into the Dantian, the Stone Turtle still devouring, but at a much lesser ratio than before; only thirty percent of the refined magical power was consumed.

By strengthening the Immortal Vein through Foundation Establishment, his aptitude improved, the Stone Turtle’s consumption decreased, and his efficiency in elevating cultivation would be higher, saving many Spirit Stones—a triple delight.

…

Ge Ying looked at the disciple whose spiritual pressure occasionally leaked, nodding appreciatively with a gentle voice:

“Very good, truly only after Foundation Establishment can one be considered to have stepped onto the Immortal Path. Given your current age, the Sect will certainly intensify its cultivation efforts.”

Every three years, the Sect recruits disciples from various Daoist Schools, each batch numbering between two thousand to three thousand.

With numbers too high to manage comprehensively, they adopt a laissez-faire attitude towards Qi Refining disciples.

Emerging successfully under such circumstances demonstrates further cultivation value.

The Sect knows this method is unfriendly to disciples without backgrounds, but has yet to find a better solution.

Though resources are plentiful, distributed individually they still feel insufficient.

“Thank you, Master, for your cultivation. Without the high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill you provided, I fear I would have encountered setbacks during Foundation Establishment.”

Ge Ying waved his hand, smiling:

“No need to be modest. Aside from the Dao seeds with Earth Grade and above aptitude destined to achieve Foundation Establishment, I don’t see much difference between having a sixty to seventy percent chance and eighty to ninety percent chance.

The outcome is simply either success or failure; I’ve even seen people fail despite having a ninety percent chance.”

Who could be so unlucky, Ji An thought, grimacing, wouldn’t this mean being nailed to the pillar of shame for life?

Ge Ying contemplated for a moment before slowly speaking:

“Now that you’ve succeeded in Foundation Establishment, you soon face the question of choosing cultivation methods; I’ll share my experiences as a reference.

Foundation Establishment marks the true beginning of encountering the mysteries of cultivation, where the magical power derived from cultivation methods carries distinct characteristics.”

“Some cultivation methods exhibit traits like wind, thunder, and ice, where such methods demand specific physical constitutions.

More often, cultivation methods belong to the Five Elements, where the magical power displays Five Element intents. Some methods have single attributes, others multiple, such as water-wood, wood-fire, and even those with three or more Five Elements traits.

Foundation Establishment cultivators do well to choose a single attribute method to thoroughly comprehend, akin to stepping half a foot into the threshold of the Chao Origin Stage.”

“Cultivating Wood Element methods makes magical power exhibit the characteristics of vigorous growth and vitality, while Gold Element methods show a solemn and desolate imagery.

We comprehend the cultivation technique divine intent, making it easier to grasp the magic intent of similar techniques.”

“Your talent for planting is excellent, cultivating water, wood, and earth types are all beneficial for planting.

I recommend cultivating Water or Wood Element methods, useful for alchemy studies later; these types of methods are greatly beneficial.

I highly recommend the Wood Element method; it’s advantageous for your future development and also extends lifespan.”

For a sect, it’s significant when a Spirit Farmer cultivates Earth Element methods for cultivating the Spiritual Vein.

However, this requires a generation of top Foundation Establishment Spirit Farmers throughout disciples, which the Sect evidently cannot fulfill, hence Ge Ying considers the disciple’s future, not recommending Earth Element Skills.

“Without using the Lifespan Extension Pill nor suffering severe damage ruining the foundational base, Foundation Establishment cultivators have a lifespan limit of two hundred years.

Depending on the level of comprehension of the cultivation method divine intent, Wood Element cultivators can extend their lifespan by twenty to fifty years; as Master, my lifespan now exceeds other cultivators by four to fifty years due to Wood Element cultivation.”

Ji An pondered for a while, saying:

“Master, since comprehending cultivation methods helps us better grasp the magic intent within techniques, would grasping the magic intent of Water Element techniques also aid in comprehending the cultivation method divine intent?”

Ge Ying paused, then said:

“Yes.

Though you’ve already grasped some Water Element magic intent, it’s not complete, but only a part of the Water Element magic.”

“Everything possesses the attribute of Yin and Yang, Water Element distinguishes between Ren and Gui.

What you’ve grasped is the Gui Water magic intent; only after understanding the Ren Water magic intent, alongside the yin-yang harmony, can you truly enter the Entry.”

“We could switch to different types of cultivation methods, although this would cost some magic power, it’s best avoided.”

Ge Ying stopped talking, giving the disciple time to think.

After listening to the master’s explanation, Ji An felt relieved. Others comprehend the Cultivation Technique Divine Intent first and then assist in realizing the Magic Intent, but he could do it the other way around—realizing the Magic Intent first and then assisting in understanding the Cultivation Technique.

“Master, I choose the Wood Element Technique.”

After careful consideration, he made his decision, thinking that living longer has its perks.

Because of the Stone Turtle, his cultivation of magic techniques is far more advantageous than others, making it easier to improve magic technique levels, which is his reliance.

Therefore, even if he practices the Wood Element Technique, the effect of him using Gold and Fire Element Techniques won’t be inferior to those cultivators practicing these techniques.

After advancing to Foundation Establishment, as long as the sect can meet his cultivation needs, he would honestly stay in his own grotto mansion.

He didn’t need to train through fighting like a Sword Cultivator; he just needed to occasionally go demon hunting with a few familiar Daoist friends to maintain his magic combat standards.

If it weren’t for the threat of a demon calamity, he probably wouldn’t want to go demon hunting either.

Some cultivators emphasize fighting and seizing during cultivation for what main reason?

Because there are only so many resources, if they didn’t fight or seize them, would they just starve and cultivate drinking the northwest wind? If there were any other choices, no cultivator would want to risk their lives every day to seize opportunities.

Walking by the river often, how could one not get wet shoes? You never know when you’ll encounter force majeure and find yourself in trouble.

He has skills in planting and talisman making, and now with improved aptitude, his requirements for cultivation resources have reduced compared to before.

“The cultivation method I practice is the Wood Element Technique, Evergreen Wood Skill, and this method can support our cultivation up to the Chao Origin Stage without needing to switch techniques along the way.

If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask me.

You established the foundation before turning thirty, meeting the sect’s criteria for key cultivation, allowing you to freely exchange for cultivation techniques at the early and middle stages of the Foundation Establishment.”

Disciples without family backgrounds are given more attention by the sect, while those family disciples who want to squeeze into the sect’s core must gradually sever ties with their family.

Otherwise, if a disciple is trained with great effort but their heart is set on their family, how can the sect talk about cohesion?

“I will seek Master’s guidance more often in the future.”

Ge Ying’s expression turned solemn, saying in a deep voice:

“We’ve always said that only Foundation Establishment truly steps into the Immortal Path, and a very important reason is that the concept of cultivation after the Foundation Establishment is entirely different from the Qi Refining Stage.

The Qi Refining Stage is entirely about seeking outward; cultivators draw spiritual qi from nature or various pills and spiritual objects to nourish themselves.

In the Foundation Establishment Stage, while seeking externally, one needs to also seek internally, using the body as a furnace and spiritual qi as fire, refining the great medicine of the body.”

“The breakthrough characteristic from the Qi Refining Stage to Foundation Establishment is the transformation of magical power into liquid, while the breakthrough characteristic from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Chao Origin Stage is the ignition of the Primordial Life Fire.

Primordial Life Fire has nothing to do with Fire Element Qi but refers to the Fire of Life.

It’s too early to talk about these now; once you break through to the Late-stage Foundation Establishment and comprehend the Cultivation Technique Divine Intent, you will naturally gain insight.”

Seeing Ji An’s somewhat puzzled expression, Ge Ying smiled and said:

“There’s no need to think too much about these things now; thinking too much just breeds worries. When your realm reaches a certain point, you’ll naturally understand what needs to be understood.”

“I’m delighted that you’ve quickly reached Foundation Establishment, but the medicinal garden needs someone to manage it, and it’s unlikely to find another spirit farmer of your level.

However, I’m currently burdened with many alchemy tasks, so please go to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and post a task to recruit one or two spirit farmers with adequate magic technique levels.

The requirement is that either the Small Cloud Rain Technique or the Thick Earth Technique is at Perfection, and the other should at least be at Great Success Level.”

“I will spend more time at Ningcui Cliff, helping to oversee and select suitable candidates for Master.”

Ji An chuckled and added:

“Actually, I had a recommended candidate, a disciple who joined the sect seven or eight years ago, and he has some planting talent.

But his magic techniques aren’t at the Perfection Level, so he had to be ruled out.”

He was referring to Huang Feihu, who seemed to lack this fortune.

That’s not a bad thing either; Ji An needed someone to manage things, and Huang Feihu would be perfect.

Ge Ying’s eyes flickered slightly as he nodded gently:

“I appreciate it.”

After a long conversation, Ji An bade farewell to his master and made a trip to the medicinal garden.

Xiang Yong felt the spiritual pressure emanating from him, causing his eyebrows to twitch:

“Congratulations, Junior Martial Uncle!”

Having successfully established his foundation, Ji An was expected to leave, and Xiang Yong felt very reluctant since the days were much easier when Ji An was around, and there were opportunities for extra income.

He didn’t know what level the successor would be, but certainly not comparable to Ji An.

“Congratulations to you too.”

Ji An waved and smiled, saying:

“Old Xiang, you’re experienced in the medicinal garden, so make sure to mentor the newcomers in completing their assigned tasks.”

After encouraging a few words, Ji An noted that the new spirit farmers would need a period of adaptation, during which Old Xiang would need to shoulder more responsibilities.

“Rest assured, Junior Martial Uncle, I will ensure the tasks are completed splendidly.”