Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 134: Chapter 131: Silk Cave

“The cave is too small to fully showcase the power of the spiritual artifact. Please, follow me outside,” said Zhao Lei, stepping out of the cave, with the other two following behind.

In Zhao Lei’s hand appeared a small, square banner about the size of a palm, its surface dark-gold, adorned with golden lotuses and Qilin beasts, emanating an aura of auspiciousness.

Outside the cave, Zhao Lei stood firm and proudly said:

“The refining method for the apricot yellow Banner was obtained by the sect ancestor during travels in the Central Continent, reportedly a replica of the innate spiritual treasure Wuji Xinghuang Banner.

It can block attacks from spiritual and magical artifacts, as well as various dharma lights and sword lights.

Theoretically speaking, as long as the magical power is sufficient, it can defend against enemies several minor realms higher than oneself.

My junior brothers, you may attack at will.”

He executed a spell, and the small banner immediately enlarged in his hand. The next moment, a yellow protective treasure light surrounded him, with lotus flowers blooming in the air.

Compared to magical artifacts that cannot change shape, spiritual artifacts have the Size-Shifting Restriction Technique, allowing them to change size for easier manipulation.

It is said that the magical treasures of Golden Core Cultivators can, after years of sacrificial refinement, undergo transformation.

Like a divine dragon capable of becoming large or small, rising or hiding, creating clouds and fog when large, concealing when small, truly achieving size at will.

“Senior Brother, you are an Artifact Refiner, surely you have many high-tier magical artifacts. How about you use them for the attack?”

In Ji An’s hand were only the Mountain and River Seal and the Stone Turtle Shield, trinkets used during the Qi Refining Stage, so he refrained from bringing them out to avoid embarrassment.

“Just a few days ago, a set of top-grade magical artifacts ordered by a senior brother was completed, so today I’ll test their edge.”

Zhang Yuanshan nodded slightly and exclaimed loudly,

“Senior Brother Zhao, this is unfair; your apricot yellow Banner is a spiritual artifact, and we have no advantage using magical artifacts to attack.”

“I’ll only input magical power once. Let’s see how long it takes for your attacks to wear down the protective spirit light.”

Zhao Lei nodded, understanding that if he continued to input magical power, his two junior brothers might exhaust their magic and still be unable to harm him.

Ji An and Zhang Yuanshan split up, forming a pincer attack.

Zhang Yuanshan wielded three cone-shaped magical artifacts, each the length of an arm, exuding a dim treasure light.

When the magical artifacts flew, only vague shadows could be seen flickering.

The three artifacts flew in a triangular formation toward Zhao Lei, while the golden lotus flowers in the air shifted positions to block the incoming artifacts.

The gold lotuses, formed by spiritual energy, were pierced by the artifacts, dimming the spirit light slightly.

When the artifacts pierced into the protective treasure light, Zhang Yuanshan felt as though the artifacts had sunk into a quagmire, their speed significantly reduced.

“Relying solely on sturdiness will eventually be pierced by something even harder, so the protective treasure light activated by the apricot yellow Banner has a quicksand quality, offering both defense and impediment,” Zhao Lei smiled. Though not adept in combat, he prided himself in having top-tier defense among the sect’s late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Zhang Yuanshan controlled his magical artifacts to return to his side and launched another attack.

This time, the artifacts rotated in mid-air, flames spouting from their tails, their cone tips glowing like red-hot branding irons, further accelerating their flight speed.

As a buzzing sound echoed, the artifacts had broken through several outer gold lotuses and pierced into the protective treasure light, while the obstructing golden lotuses slowly dissipated.

Ji An executed a spell, condensing bright yellow fireballs in his hands, faintly emitting a blue flame.

The air filled with a scorching aura as the fireballs whistled toward Zhao Lei, with Ji An releasing four Bursting Fireballs in succession.

In this attack, he used eighty percent of his strength.

Zhao Lei noticed the nearby golden lotuses had exhausted themselves, the protective spirit light completely dimmed, and remarked, with a smile, “You may stop for now. I hadn’t expected both junior brothers’ attacks to be so formidable.”

Both junior brothers were a Spirit Farmer and an Artifact Refiner. He thought he could hold out for a long time.

Unexpectedly, Junior Brother Zhang’s artifacts were uniquely crafted, surpassing typical top-grade magical artifacts, nearly on par with ordinary attack-type spiritual artifacts.

Junior Brother Ji’s magic technique results further astonished him, making him feel as if he were facing a middle to late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator practicing Fire Element Technique.

After saying this, his hand executed another spell, and the apricot yellow Banner expanded with the wind, its staff about the height of a person, and the banner’s surface enlarging accordingly.

Gently flicking it downward, the spiritual artifact’s handle embedded into the solid rock, the ground beneath turning completely golden, as if cast from bronze.

“The strongest defensive state of the spiritual artifact is when it is embedded into the earth, simultaneously absorbing Earth Element Spirit Qi from the nearby earth vein to replenish what is consumed under attack.

The richer the Earth Element Spirit Qi in the earth vein, the more efficient the absorption. If the enemy’s attack doesn’t reach a certain level, it can basically ignore the attack.

My junior brothers, please try again.”

Ji An and Zhang Yuanshan exchanged a glance and resumed their attack.

This time, after Ji An released six Bursting Fireballs in tandem with Zhang Yuanshan, they managed to barely wear down the protective spirit light of the apricot yellow Banner.

Zhao Lei signaled the two to cease their attack, executed a spell to retract the apricot yellow Banner, and said with a smile, “Are you satisfied with the spiritual artifact’s defense power?”

His tone carried a hint of confidence. This apricot yellow Banner was crafted for himself, using the best materials he could find, intended to confront the impending demon calamity.

Additionally, space was left in the spiritual artifact’s handle, allowing for the integration of better materials in the future to increase the number of Dharma Prohibitions, potentially enhancing it to Middle Grade quality.

In that case, even if he manages to break through to the Chao Origin Stage, it would still serve him well.

“Extremely satisfied,”

laughed Zhang Yuanshan. This was his first time experiencing the power of a defensive spiritual artifact, and it truly didn’t disappoint, being exactly the kind of spiritual artifact he needed.

Ji An also smiled and nodded. Not mentioning that last type of defensive mode that creates a prison, the fact that the opponent can stand still and withstand several attacks from both him and Zhang Yuanshan is already quite impressive.

During magical combat, it’s impossible to just stand in place and become a target; one will always use the flying escape technique to dodge attacks.

For example, even if it’s sometimes impossible to completely avoid a Bursting Fireball, the difference in damage between a direct hit and the residual spell and magical power is significant.

“Senior Brother Zhao, to refine a Spiritual Artifact with similar defensive effects as the one in your hands, how much would it cost?”

“Junior Brother’s request will cost quite a bit; it takes several months to refine such a Spiritual Artifact, with a refining fee of fifteen hundred spirit stones.

I’m not in a hurry for the refining fee, but Junior Brother will need to personally gather the necessary materials.”

Zhao Lei nodded slightly; every time a Spiritual Artifact is refined, it’s a rare experience, so the craftsmanship fee can be paid slowly.

He took out a blank jade slip, recorded the required materials into it, and tossed it over, saying:

“They are all Tier Two Spiritual Objects, including a few of Middle Grade.

You’ll also need spider silk woven into a flag surface from a late-stage Foundation Establishment Golden Spot Spider, and as far as I know, such a demon beast is only reared by Junior Sister Suyun in the Beast Taming Hall of the sect.

Junior Sister Suyun is skilled at weaving magical robes; my flag surface was made by her. If you wish to refine an apricot yellow Banner, you also need her help.”

The work of weaving the flag surface is also quite costly. The reason I only charge a fifteen hundred spirit stone refining fee is because I’m not responsible for weaving the flag surface.

Ji An took the jade slip and placed it on his forehead to roughly browse through it, nodding slightly.

Most are Earth Element Spiritual Objects, with a few Golden Element Spiritual Objects. He has about half of the Golden Element Spiritual Objects at hand.

It shouldn’t be difficult to exchange some Earth Element Spiritual Objects with the gold and fire Spiritual Objects obtained from Red Flame Peak, so the most urgent task now is weaving the flag surface.

“Junior Brother, let me make a copy as well.”

Zhang Yuanshan said, because whether he refines it himself or entrusts Senior Brother Zhao to refine it in the future, he’ll need to collect the materials properly.

Ji An used the Object Control Technique to send the jade slip to the other side, then turned his head and said:

“Senior Brother Zhao, could you help introduce me to Senior Sister Su Yun?”

When he decides to do something, he never procrastinates; obtaining the Spiritual Artifact a day earlier is more reassuring.

“Of course, seizing the moment is better than waiting for the right day. Junior Sister Suyun seldom goes out; as long as Junior Brother is free today, we can set off now.”

Zhao Lei said, within the sect, besides the master, he is the only Artifact Refiner capable of refining an apricot yellow Banner.

If the other party gathers the materials, there’s a high chance they’ll still have to entrust him with the refinement.

He has only learned the method to refine the apricot yellow Banner in recent years and is eager to improve his refining experience.

Zhang Yuanshan, knowing Senior Brother Zhao’s fiery temperament, shook his head and said:

“The two of you leaving without even having a drink makes it seem as if I’m not a good host. Have a cup of spirit tea before leaving; there’s no rush.”

Ji An laughed and said:

“Since Senior Brother Zhang invites us so graciously, let’s enjoy a cup of spirit tea; it will only take but a couple of moments.”

Zhao Lei scratched his head: “Alright then.”

In his eyes, drinking tea wasn’t important.

…

Cloud Dream Peak, Silk Cave.

Ji An controlled the flying shuttle to descend slowly at mid-mountain; Senior Brother Zhao took him to introduce him to the sect’s senior sister, so naturally, he’s the ’driver.’

When he saw the three elegant, cloud-like characters carved on the rock above the grotto mansion, he couldn’t help but fall silent.

The gentle breeze tousled his hair; these three words held special meaning in his memory.

Zhao Lei smiled and said: “Junior Sister Suyun is particularly adept with various spider-type demon beasts, thus naming her mansion ’Silk Cave,’ quite fitting.”

The Dharma Prohibition of the grotto mansion slowly opened, and a cold voice was heard:

“Please sit in the guest hall; I’m currently tending to the spiritual creatures and will be with you shortly.”

Zhao Lei was familiar with this, saying as if nothing was out of the ordinary:

“Junior Brother, let’s sit. Junior Sister Suyun has a cold disposition and doesn’t take apprentices.”

Ji An looked around; the guest hall was quite simple, with only two elegant light green vases on the stone table, each holding a silver willow.

The branches were withered, and the flower buds had already wilted, as if they hadn’t been replaced for a long time.

Two moments later, light flashed at the rear side of the guest hall, revealing a brick area that opened to a small archway, allowing only two people to walk abreast, and a middle-aged female cultivator in a goose-yellow magical robe emerged.

The female cultivator wore a cold expression, her black hair styled high with a yellow jade hairpin inserted, and even her loose magical robe couldn’t fully conceal her admirable curves.

Zhao Lei got up, smiling:

“Junior Sister Liu, let me introduce you. This is Junior Brother Ji An, and he wishes to refine an apricot yellow Banner and needs your help to weave the flag surface.”

“Greetings, Senior Sister,” Ji An cupped his hands. The spiritual pressure emanating from the female cultivator across from him was late-stage Foundation Establishment, even stronger than Zhao Lei’s.

“Please be seated, the both of you.”

Liuu Suyun spoke faintly, adding:

“If you wish to purchase Tier Two Golden Spot Spider silk, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a few more years.

The late-stage Foundation Establishment Golden Spot Spider I raise has just laid eggs and is severely depleted; it’s not suitable to force it to continue spinning silk.”