Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 116: Chapter 113: Settling In

Ji An’s consciousness gradually woke up. He didn’t open his eyes immediately but instead sank his Divine Sense into his Dantian.

The Stone Turtle floated leisurely on the surface of the Sea of Magical Power, with lines of text appearing in his mind.

[Master: Ji An]

[Dao Rhyme: 0]

[Spiritual Mechanism: Kan Spirit 555.5, Gen Spirit 530.6, Zhen Spirit 0.2, Xun Spirit 25.2, Kun Spirit 72.6, Qian Spirit 2.7, Dui Spirit 0.8, Li Spirit 1.4]

Ji An sat up, a smile appearing on his lips.

Overnight, all the Spiritual Mechanisms had improved. Given time, he would definitely master a large number of Five Elements Magic Techniques.

By then, he would become a very well-rounded cultivator, truly mastering various magic techniques, capable of responding to any enemy.

What he needed to do was to cultivate steadily in Red Flame Peak.

Walking out of the Grotto Mansion, he saw the moonlight had become faint, and the coolness was palpable.

Ji An summoned the Flying Shuttle and dived down the mountain.

This Magical Artifact could be activated without loading a Spirit Stone, only requiring a stable input of Spiritual Power.

The area of Red Flame Peak was not vast, so there was no need to use Spirit Stones to activate it. It was still necessary to save Spirit Stones where possible.

A subtle mist rose from the Cold Pool, enveloping the surrounding Spirit Fields.

Ji An first went to check the area where fruit trees were planted. He found the Spirit Peach Trees with branches and leaves as lively as before, while some leaves of the Spiritual Apricot Trees were drooping, with half the tree’s blossoms slightly withered as if the flowering period was about to end.

He channeled his Divine Sense into the soil and sensed that the roots of the Spirit Peach Trees had grown many fine hairs, whereas the roots of the Spiritual Apricot Trees had far fewer fine hairs.

Ji An nodded slightly, as transplanting Spirit Fruit Trees during the flowering period inflicted significant harm, and they naturally experienced a long period of “painful labor.”

Now that the fruit trees were starting to re-root, the transplantation could be considered successful.

Currently, the Spiritual Apricot Trees could only be considered Tier One Lower Grade Spirit Plants. Thanks to the aid of the Spirit Sealing Technique and his sufficiently effective spell, the transplantation was smoother than expected.

By diligently tending to them for the next few days, the impact of the transplantation could be minimized.

He formed a spell, and countless emerald green luminous dots appeared like swallows returning to their nests, either merging into the Spirit Trees or sinking into the soil. He sensed that the Dao Seed of Wood of Yi in the Jade Spring Acupoint flickered with Spirit Light while casting the spell.

The leaves of the fruit trees appeared even greener and more spirited, and the blossoms on the Spiritual Apricot Trees unfurled their petals under nourishment.

A light breeze blew through, gently swaying the branches and spreading a subtle fragrance.

Ji An then formed another spell to release the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell, with warm, earth-yellow Spirit Light spreading and the nourishing breath permeating the Spirit Field, quickly merging into it.

Both Spirit Fruit Trees were Fire Element Plants, and with the sufficient nurturing Spirit of the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill, there was no need for frequent watering.

At this moment, Huang Feihu was already waiting outside the house, stretching to dispel fatigue, and Ji An called him to board the Flying Shuttle and leave.

By the time the morning sun rose, they had prepared about ten thousand branches of Purple Sun Wood.

This was Tier One Lower Grade Spirit Wood, with some planted on Ningcui Cliff for gathering Wood Element Beads.

Ji An suddenly thought that in a few years, simply gathering Wood Element Beads from the Spirit Wood could yield a considerable harvest.

His Life and Death Technique had reached the Great Perfection Level, with high efficiency in gathering Wood Element Beads. By hiring some Spirit Farmers, this would become a continuous source of income.

Although the price of Wood Element Beads wasn’t high, with several thousand acres of Spirit Wood, even the thinnest profit could accumulate into significant returns given a large enough base.

A Golden Sun shone on the mountain peak, and soon after, gold-red mist began to rise from the mountain’s mouth.

Huang Feihu felt the skin-peeling wind, his face instantly showing bitterness—this sensation was too painful.

Even though he had mentally prepared, he hadn’t anticipated the environment to be so harsh. It was just early in the double hour, not yet the peak of the Golden Wind and Fierce Fire.

He truly couldn’t imagine how intense the Spiritual Mechanism would become by noon.

“Things will be better near the Cold Pool, but it’s still uncomfortable for those in the Qi Refining Stage to meditate and cultivate.

However, I believe that if you persist in cultivating several Grand Circulations daily, you can refine your Magical Power through this, making it more conducive to reaching the Foundation Establishment.”

Ji An spoke and once again summoned the Flying Shuttle to bring Huang Feihu back to the Cold Pool.

The grey-feathered sand geese fluttered their wings, flying over to claim credit, having found the location of the spring.

Ji An tossed a Spirit Feeding Pill, which the sand goose swallowed in one gulp, then began complaining that the largest Spirit Fish in the Cold Pool was only an inch long.

Feeling the emotions of the Beast Taming, Ji An slightly shook his head.

The Chen Clan took everything they could when they left, as if scraping off a layer of earth.

…

Foundation Establishment cultivators still couldn’t sustain life by absorbing Spiritual Mechanism from the wind and dew, so Huang Feihu busied himself with preparing meals.

Ji An left the Cold Pool area, simultaneously feeling the piercing pain of the Golden Wind and Fierce Fire and experiencing the Spiritual Mechanism within, while beginning to practice the Sharp Gold Technique, verifying the two against each other.

Despite the fierce Spiritual Mechanism at the foot of the mountain, he could endure it, and it didn’t hinder him from practicing magic techniques. He believed that in such an environment, it should be beneficial for comprehending Metal Element and Fire Element Techniques.

Soon after, Huang Feihu prepared a meal and called him back.

Ji An picked up the Spirit Rice and said:

“Once the Spirit Wood is replanted, try to buy some Spirit Beasts to raise in the mountain forests.

If the Spirit Beasts can survive, we will also have a source of meat.”

Eating Spirit Beast Meat makes it easier to cultivate the Qi and blood, whether during the Qi Refining Stage or Foundation Establishment Stage; robust Qi and blood are beneficial.

Huang Feihu kept nodding and said:

“I think raising some herbivorous Spirit Beasts that are active at night might work. It would be best if they can dig.”

If Spirit Beasts can hide in the earth, they avoid the hardest hours of the day and come out at night to graze without affecting their fattening.

“You decide on that. When the Spirit Wood gradually grows, it will need to be felled to burn into Spiritual Charcoal.

You don’t have experience in burning, and you surely can’t handle it alone, so you need to prepare in advance.”

The two talked about future details, and after finishing their meal, they parted ways. Huang Feihu headed outside the Magic Array to recruit manpower and survey the terrain.

Ji An flew to the grotto mansion on the hillside; he wanted to test how effective the Cultivation Technique would be during the day.

He sat cross-legged, operating the Evergreen Wood Skill, absorbing the wandering nature’s spiritual energy into his body. He immediately felt the exhilarating rush of Spirit Mechanism rampant within.

Previously, at the start of cultivation, the Immortal Veins seemed to be nourished, and the whole body felt comfortable.

But now, as cultivation begins, there’s a faint sensation of tingling and burning in the Immortal Veins, caused by the Gold and Fire Qi refining them.

Ji An felt that although the Spirit Mechanism was fierce, it was still within bearable limits, so he continued operating the Dharma Gate, allowing the Spiritual Qi to oscillate back and forth within the Immortal Veins.

Refining Spiritual Power took much more effort than usual, and was much less efficient.

Once fully refined, the Magical Power merged into the Dantian, and the Stone Turtle advanced to devour its portion, its shell gleaming slightly, seemingly satisfied.

After about half an hour, Ji An paused the operation of the Cultivation Technique because the pain in the Immortal Veins grew stronger, becoming unbearable.

He circulated the Magical Power throughout his body, realizing that the refined Magical Power was indeed purer than usual today, nodding quietly in approval.

From now on, he could quickly enhance his cultivation by consuming pills at night and dawn and devote time during the day to refine and purify the Magical Power.

This way, he wouldn’t end up with a superficial realm due to excessive pill consumption, provided he could withstand the ordeal of the Gold and Fire Qi.

Ji An nodded slightly, having a plan in his heart, deciding to devote time to purifying the Magical Power daily, to fully exploit the special role of this Spiritual Land.

The Gold and Fire Spirit Mechanism grew even fiercer; he stepped out of the grotto mansion, golden light flickering at his fingertips, as if ready to devour someone.

…

Huang Feihu made a big circle in the valley, his brows tightly knitted.

He couldn’t understand why the concentration of Spiritual Qi in Red Flame Peak clearly reached the level of Tier Two Spiritual Vein, but outside the Magic Array, the Spiritual Qi concentration drastically diminished to only Tier One Lower Grade level.

He found a disciple currently casting rain over Spirit Grain and cupped his hands in greeting:

“Junior Brother, greetings. I am Huang Feihu, cultivating with Junior Martial Uncle Ji on Red Flame Peak.

I’m new here and unfamiliar with the situation. I’d like to ask Junior Brother about this place.”

Junior Martial Uncle referred to him as Dao friend, which was quite an honor; outside, he needed to uphold Junior Martial Uncle’s face.

“Senior Brother is quite fortunate to cultivate alongside a Foundation Establishment cultivator, enviable indeed. My name is Zhang Erniu; Senior Brother can just call me Er Niu.”

Zhang Erniu chuckled honestly and started to explain:

“The sect’s other Spiritual Veins rise and fall with the mountains, so the reduction in Spiritual Qi concentration feels gradual.

It’s said that the area around Red Flame Peak was revealed because several deep-buried Spiritual Veins clashed, thus exposing the Spirit Vein Node. The direction of the Spirit Vein is almost vertical.

So, the Spirit Mechanism inside Red Flame Peak is abundant, while the surroundings and regions without Spirit Veins passing by are not much different.”

Red Flame Peak is a Tier Two Spirit Vein Node, thus allowing more Earth Vein Spirit Mechanism to nourish the surrounding land; otherwise, the spirit fields in this valley would all be unranked.

Huang Feihu laughed bitterly; ranked spirit fields were already claimed by other disciples, leaving them to cultivate Spirit Valley Talisman Grass by opening up unranked wilderness.

The spirit field by Jade Water Lake had already been cultivated to Tier One Lower Grade level; now they had to cultivate spirit fields anew, an exhausting thought.

He sighed and added:

“Junior Brother Er Niu, Junior Martial Uncle Ji is looking for people to plant saplings, starting work at 5:00 PM and finishing at midnight, paying two spirit stones per shift. Are you interested?”

Zhang Erniu’s eyes lit up, continuously nodding:

“I’m in! How many people does Junior Martial Uncle need?”

This work is commissioned as a task every year by the sect, and all the senior brothers and sisters in this valley are skilled.

Also, we’re proficient in burning Spiritual Charcoal.”

While growing Spirit Grain here, after deducting costs, I only earn two or three spirit stones per acre of spirit field each month.

The spiritual stones one can save are even fewer to improve their cultivation.

Fortunately, there are sect tasks that allow extra earnings of contribution points.

“How many people are you in total?”

Huang Feihu asked with a smile; now the problem of burning Spiritual Charcoal was solved too.

“Over twenty, the location here isn’t great; if it weren’t for some ranked spirit fields for planting, nobody would be willing to come.”

“I saw dozens of acres of spirit fields planted with Talisman Grass over there. How many of you can make Talisman Paper?”

“Everyone can. Planting Talisman Grass and making Talisman Paper are extra income methods for seasoned Spirit Farmers.”

“That’s excellent! Junior Martial Uncle Ji also plans to open up wilderness and mass-grow Talisman Grass, needing a lot of manpower.”