Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 108: Chapter 105: Successive Breakthroughs

Zhu Qinghao’s face flushed, feeling a burning sensation as if he had been slapped.

Chen Xingyun brought generous gifts to ask him to act as a broker; among them was a Spirit Medicine he had searched for years but never found. After inquiring about the general situation, he heartily agreed.

Red Flame Peak was nothing special; although its Spiritual Mechanism was abundant, it was too domineering, reducing the time suitable for cultivation daily by half compared to other grottoes.

If Ji An agreed, he could not only make friends within the sect but also gain a large amount of Spirit Stones for free. If it were him, he would certainly agree when thinking from this perspective.

Originally, he thought it was a surefire plan, but even after saying so much, the other party remained stubborn, making him lose face as a senior brother.

What pained him more was that if he couldn’t get the task done, he would have to return the gifts he received, which he couldn’t bear.

Suppressing the nameless anger in his heart, Zhu Qinghao slowly spoke:

“Junior Brother, you should be aware that a Demon Calamity is about to erupt, and due to the direction of the Spiritual Vein, Red Flame Peak is located at the sect’s perimeter.

If the Demon Calamity breaks out, whether it’s the sect or other families, they will inevitably pull back their forces, and the sect may not have time to care for you staying at Red Flame Peak. How will you, all alone, protect the Spiritual Vein Grotto?

A wise man submits to circumstances; it’s better to take the immediate benefits and move to a grotto located at the heart of the sect.”

He couldn’t figure out why the other party kept refusing, so he brought up the danger of the Demon Calamity, hoping the other party would retreat.

Chen Xingyun interjected:

“After the Demon Calamity erupts, the sect and family forces will choose to steadfastly defend their core territories.

However, the Western Continent has the most loose cultivators, and these people, unburdened by family responsibilities, will inevitably engage in activities like taking advantage of others’ misfortunes or robbery.

The geographical position of Red Flame Peak is awkward; if the sect pulls back the defense line, the defense of this branch of the Spiritual Vein can only rely on the grotto’s owner.

Without the sect’s support, how can you, Junior Brother, hold on?

Junior Brother Zhu speaks reasonably; by exchanging for another grotto, we would all benefit from your favor, achieving multiple gains in one stroke.”

Ji An heard the faint threat in the words and replied with a cold tone:

“My choice of grotto conforms to sect rules, so both Senior Brothers should not bring it up again.”

The Demon Calamity would fully erupt in at least a few decades, and with enough Spiritual Mechanism help, he should grow to protect his interests by then. Red Flame Peak was absolutely not to be given up.

He followed the rules, and as long as he was cautious within the sect’s Map of Mountains and Rivers, he didn’t need to worry too much about others causing trouble.

With no consensus, the discussion inevitably ended unhappily, and Zhu Qinghao and his companion left in a huff.

Ji An bared his teeth, telling himself to be wary of the two of them in the future, and he also needed to be cautious concerning Chen Clan of Pu Yun Mountain.

In the eyes of the Chen Clan, he might be regarded as someone blocking their path to wealth, creating a significant grudge.

He boiled a pot of water and made a bowl of Spirit Tea, gradually calming his mood.

There’s no avoiding what must come; there’s no need to be entangled. Instead, it would be better to spend the time understanding cultivation techniques and Magic Techniques or reading Jade Slips to increase knowledge.

Ji An took a small sip, tasted it carefully, and shook his head slightly.

The flavor was indeed poorer than that at Senior Brother Ye’s place. When moving to Red Flame Peak in the future, he would also need to acquire a tea set.

Drinking a cup of Spirit Tea while cultivating is also a good way to relax.

He sat cross-legged on the Pudun and began to run the cultivation technique, refining the Spiritual Qi contained in the Spirit Tea.

Ji An felt somewhat disappointed; for him, the effect of Tier One Spirit Tea was relatively weak. When his cultivation improved by another one or two small realms, it could only be used to satisfy his hunger.

Sipping Spirit Tea, he picked up a Jade Slip containing various cultivation notes to expand his horizons.

After reading for half an hour, Ji An picked up the Jade Slip of the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell to study the Magic Technique.

This Magic Technique is an evolved version of the Thick Earth Technique, also belonging to the Dao of Ji Earth, which he didn’t find too strenuous to understand.

He believed his powerful Spirit Soul and the contribution of the Post-earth Seed of Essence were reasons for this.

Through studying the Magic Technique, he gained some insights into the Dao of Ji Earth.

Ji Earth is moist earth, nurturing all things, with a more evident role in producing metal and extinguishing fire.

The time spent studying the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell is noticeably less than that spent on the Jade Wood Transformation Skill, and Ji An felt he already grasped the key to casting the spell.

He picked up the porcelain bowl and drank in gulps; by now, the Spirit Tea was cold and tasteless, like plain water.

Walking out of the bamboo building, Ji An went to the vegetable garden at the back to cast spells; when his Magical Power passed through the Chongmen Acupoint, the Dao Seed emitted a faint Spirit Light.

After casting the spell, soil-yellow Spirit Light permeated, and a heavy, gentle aura merged into the earth.

Ji An’s eyes twinkled as he immersed his mind in his Dantian, connecting with the Upper Stone Turtle.

[Magic Technique: Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell (Entry 1%)]

“Refining Spirit Mechanism, enhance the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell.”

His Spiritual Illusion stood on the Kun Position, where it turned into a soil-yellow land, and he sensed an inexplicable Spiritual Mechanism lurking beneath his feet.

The accumulation of years was spent today, the Kun Spirit decreased like a waterfall, countless insights flooded into his mind like dazzling fireworks in the night sky.

All things in the world eventually come to an end; when the Kun Spirit hit zero, the splendor faded into silence.

[Magic Technique: Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell (Entry 1%→Perfection 3%)]

Ji An’s Divine Sense returned to his body; he felt dazed and only came to his senses after half a breath.

His mind was just full of insights, to the point where he lost track of time, the thrill of leveling up all at once was too intense, he found it hard to handle.

He decided that in the future, even if he stored a large amount of Spiritual Mechanism, he should upgrade in several rounds, with pauses in between, to avoid a shock to his mind and spirit.

Ji An cast the Spell again, and the Spirit Light of the Magic Technique appeared softer, covering a range of over a dozen acres, with an aura that was even more substantial and gentle.

Progressing at such a pace, when he breaks through to the Chao Origin Stage, he would probably be able to cultivate the sect’s high-tier Medicinal Garden all by himself.

The Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell is a Foundation Establishment Stage Spell, its function of nurturing earth veins should be much stronger than the Thick Earth Technique, and increasing the yield of Spirit Medicine is even more effortless.

In the future, he could choose those sect tasks related to submitting Spirit Medicine, making Spiritual Charcoal, etc., which are connected to cultivation, spending not much time while practicing Magic Techniques.

Thinking of this, Ji An felt even more passionate, he rested for a while, took out the Jade Slip of the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill, and pressed it against his forehead.

The number of Kan Spirits is more than the Kun Spirits, and keeping them in hand won’t hatch, so why not convert them into productivity.

The Jade Wood Transformation Skill, the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell, and the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill, all three Spells can help Spirit Medicine to rapidly age, and in the future, he would be the richest Foundation Establishment cultivator in the sect.

Practicing Magic Techniques, Refining Spirit Mechanism, when he divided the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill’s upgrade into two rounds to the Perfection Realm, he still had more than four hundred and eighty Kan Spirits left.

The mist covering more than twenty acres of land was gilded by the sunset, and the Spirit Rain struck the leaves of trees and grass, playing an ethereal symphony.

When the mist dissipated and the rain ceased, a rainbow hung over the bamboo tower.

…

Chen Xingzhou promptly approached his clan brother upon seeing his return, noticing his poor complexion, his heart sank slightly:

“Eighth Brother, things didn’t go smoothly?”

Chen Xingyun sat in the carved chair, his gaze sinister as he said:

“The negotiation didn’t go through, I even offered up to two thousand Spirit Stones, yet Ji An still didn’t relent.

I dare not and cannot continue to raise the offer, otherwise not only will Ji An become alert, but Zhu Qinghao might also become suspicious.”

No one is foolish; spending an unreasonably high price will only attract more attention and hinder their attempt to cover things up.

The Chen Clan has been renting Red Flame Peak for seventy to eighty years, and after many years of management, they bring in thousands of Spirit Stones annually for the family.

If it were only about this, it wouldn’t be enough for them to make enemies with sect disciples, who knows what the future holds for the opponent.

About twenty years ago, Red Flame Peak began to exhibit miraculous changes, with the Earth Lung Fire Vein erupting fiercely at fixed times each year.

The duration is short, with many Fire-element and Metal-element Spiritual Objects scattering around the peak following the eruption.

Among them are some Tier Two Middle-grade Spiritual Objects, and the number and quality of the erupted Spiritual Objects are increasing.

In recent years, simply selling the Spiritual Materials collected after the eruption could fetch four to five thousand Spirit Stones at least.

The Chen Clan started with Artifact Refining, and with years of accumulation, they have a good Artifact Refining Inheritance, these materials for Artifact Refining can create more value.

“If we let go of Red Flame Peak, the family’s losses would be significant, we must make up our minds…”

Chen Xingzhou didn’t continue speaking, making a downward gesture.

The items crafted by Artifact Refiners can be subdivided into Magical Artifacts, Spiritual Artifacts, Magical Treasures, etc., and there are even higher treasures, which are beyond the knowledge of ordinary cultivators.

The quality of a Magical Artifact mainly depends on the Artifact Refining Materials and Dharma Prohibition, they are used by Qi Refining Stage and Early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, some financially strained Mid-stage Foundation Establishment loose cultivators also use Top-Grade Magical Artifacts.

Ordinary Magical Artifacts have low material requirements, even Iron Essence refined from Mortal Iron can be used as Artifact Refining Materials, the main ingredient in many loose cultivators’ Magical Artifacts is Iron Essence.

Magical Artifacts must be controlled by a cultivator to be used, whether offensive or defensive, they’re relatively simple and lack variety.

Refining a Spiritual Artifact requires strict material criteria, adding enough Five Elements Spiritual Objects, and successful refinement needs a large amount of Five Elements Essence to nurture and cultivate spirituality.

Middle to Late-stage Foundation Establishment uses Tier Two Lower Grade Spiritual Artifacts, while Chao Origin Stage cultivators use Tier Two Middle Grade and above levels of Spiritual Artifacts.

Spiritual Artifacts have a certain growth potential, can be nurtured in a cultivator’s Dantian, if luckily a faint awareness forms into an Artifact Spirit, it can autonomously protect and warn the master.

The value of Tier Two Top-grade Spiritual Objects is beyond the purchasing power of Spirit Stones, whether refining Spiritual Artifacts for sale or using them to make connections with Chao Origin Stage cultivators, both benefit the Chen Race.

If the Chen Race has a cultivator reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage Perfection, they could exchange these Tier Two Top-grade Spiritual Objects for a Nourishing Yuan Pill, potentially becoming a large Cultivation Clan with a Chao Origin Stage cultivator stationed.

Chen Xingzhou’s gaze turned fierce and sinister as he said:

“The interests involved with Red Flame Peak are too significant for us to give up.

The opponent is just a Spirit Farmer, finding an appropriate opportunity, it can be done quietly without anyone knowing.”

The opportunity for family prosperity is right before their eyes, all who block the way of wealth are enemies.

“Xingzhou, since you have not entered the sect, you are unaware of the sect’s strong control over its domain.

If the opponent continues to hide within the sect, we won’t find the right moment, and can only act outside.

We need to discuss a foolproof plan, after making a move, we can’t give the opponent any chance, and we must cover all traces.”

Foundation Establishment stage cultivators can seek help via a Jade Token, the Map of Mountains and Rivers can locate and emit the position for help, and can even retrospectively show the scenario when the cultivator seeks help.

Chen Xingzhou nodded:

“Next month, the eruption cycle of Red Flame Peak is due, we have a year’s time to plan leisurely.

Returning to the clan, I will have people rear some ordinary birds and hawks for Beast Taming, to remotely monitor every move of the opponent.”