Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 137: Chapter 134: Industrial Chain

Early morning, Ji An woke up from his sleep and sat up, regulating his breath for a moment to restore his spirits.

He stretched his body lazily, stepped out of the grotto mansion, and rode the Flying Shuttle towards the Cold Pool, immersing himself in the mist-covered Clear Spirit Bamboo Forest, sitting cross-legged on a round stone slab to begin cultivating the Evergreen Wood Skill.

Ever since breaking through to the third layer of Foundation Establishment, he’s felt that something was lacking in his cultivation within the grotto mansion.

Recently, he tried cultivating in the mountain forest and found that the cultivation effect was best in the Clear Spirit Bamboo Forest after several attempts.

Although the concentration of spiritual qi here is only at Tier Two Lower Grade, the cultivation effect is not much different from staying in the grotto mansion and is more comfortable.

If not for the fact that staying in the grotto mansion at night allowed the Stone Turtle to absorb more Spiritual Mechanism, he would return to the grotto mansion much less often.

Now he only stays in the grotto mansion during the daytime while taking pills to cultivate, in order to utilize the Golden Fire Spiritual Energy to refine out some impurities from the pills.

Nature’s spiritual energy is absorbed into the body, circulated within the Immortal Vein, like rivers rushing across the earth.

The Dao Seed in the acupoint flashes with various spectral lights, subtly nourishing the Immortal Vein.

The spiritual qi either gathers or scatters, finally condensing into magical power in the dantian and sinking into the Qi Sea acupoint.

On Ji An’s skin, a jade-like glow moves, faintly showing a verdant hue, while strands of light appear in his hair as if bathed in sunlight.

With his breathing, the nearby Clear Spirit Bamboos rustle automatically without wind, producing a rhythmical melody.

A red sun leaps out from the mountains; the mist near the Cold Pool dissipates, sunlight filtering through the gaps, leaving golden mottles within the bamboo forest.

Young beasts rustle through the bamboo leaves, flocks of birds chirping and calling to each other, starting to forage, marking the true beginning of a beautiful day.

As Ji An reached the outer rim of the bamboo forest, he caught the fragrant aroma of food and couldn’t help but swallow.

On the stone table were dishes of stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat, spirit mushroom stewed rabbit, and two seasonal fruits and vegetables, each person having a bowl of Jade Marrow Rice, this was today’s breakfast.

Having spent many years together, Liang Hill had already perfected the timing, everything was just right.

“Tsk tsk,” Ji An sighed as he sat down and said:

“I wonder how much of your level your successor will have after you leave.”

Liang Hill laughed and said:

“Cooking is just a minor skill; I’ve already picked out two candidates for you, fellow Daoist.

They are relatives of a friend I met while raising spirit fish at Jade Water Lake, skillful with a talent for being a spirit chef, I’ll bring them to meet you in a few days when I’m free.”

Ji An nodded slightly:

“Very well, they should be trained early. After they arrive, they also need to take charge of raising spirit fish, don’t forget this.”

“Understood.”

Huang Feihu scratched his head and said:

“I need to speed up selecting people; the spirit farmers nearby are all quite old, even if hired, they wouldn’t be able to work for many years.

This year, many young disciples have moved in; I’m in the process of assessing them. By then, I’ll choose a few sharp-minded and efficient ones for you to screen.”

Ji An swallowed the bamboo shoots and said:

“There are still three to four years, there’s enough time, assess carefully without rushing.”

Sitting on a Tier Two Spiritual Vein is the biggest advantage; as long as he recruits disciples, those willing to join could line up from Red Flame Peak to Jade Water Lake.

After the three finished breakfast, Liang Hill began clearing the dishes.

“Two fellow Daoists, I have matters to attend to for a few days, guard the mountain gate well.”

Ji An bade farewell and took off with the Flying Shuttle.

…

Outside Red Flame Peak, large areas of Spirit Field have been cultivated; cultivators have already settled on the eastern and western Spirit Mountains.

Ji An navigated the Flying Shuttle around the mountains, planning to invite the neighbors as guests once Wei Songnian returned.

If nothing unexpected happens, they should be interacting for at least a hundred years.

Getting around might result in gaining several fellow Daoists advancing hand in hand, at the very least, it adds more channels for gathering information.

Heading towards where the morning sun rises, after half a day, he landed at the mountainside of Lingxiao Mountain.

Ji An performed a spell to retract the Flying Shuttle, and stepped into Diligence Hall.

In the main hall, Ye Changqing sat on a chair basking in the sunlight, resting with eyes closed, the shadow of an entering figure blocked the sunlight, which made him feel impatient.

His eyes squinted into a thin line, flashing with cold light.

When he recognized the visitor, his stern expression softened:

“This isn’t right, junior brother, why are you so active recently?”

Having heard that the Stone Turtle Cultivator wouldn’t leave his grotto mansion for years, his coming to Diligence Hall twice in a few months made Ye Changqing feel uneasy.

“Isn’t it just that I wanted to chat with senior brother!”

Ji An took out a bag of pine nuts, placing it on the table.

“Speak directly if you have business; I know you, the type who would rather lay down than sit!”

Ye Changqing grabbed a handful of pine nuts, skillfully peeled off the shells with his withered hands, and the pine nuts flew directly into his mouth.

“Handling business is just along the way!”

Ji An righteously corrected himself, pulling out a piece of talisman paper inscribed with vermilion:

“Senior brother knows I’ve newly acquired over a thousand acres of Spirit Field; recently, I’ve been pondering which crops to plant, and now I’ve finally decided.

I need a large amount of seeds and saplings, hoping senior brother can help out.”

He didn’t have ordinary paper, and given the scarcity of information, it wasn’t worth using a Jade Slip, so he luxuriously wrote on talisman paper.

Ye Changqing took the talisman paper and softly read:

“Fifty thousand Copper Patterned Mulberries, one hundred thousand Jade Leaf Mulberries, two thousand jin of Biluo Tree seeds, five hundred jin of Iron Wire Grass seeds.”

Iron Wire Grass is a top-tier ingredient for some Earth Element and Metal Element Demon Beasts. When intercropped with Copper Patterned Mulberry, its growth improves, and it also promotes the growth of Copper Patterned Mulberry, achieving two benefits at once.

Biluo Tree produces Biluo Fruit, which is as cherished by Demon Beasts as Jade Leaf Mulberry.

This is Ji An’s selection of the Spirit Woods most suitable for planting on Red Flame Peak. Moreover, after Jade Leaf Mulberry and Biluo Tree enter the flowering phase, Spirit Bees can be released.

Royal Jelly can enhance cultivation, nourish the body, and also serve as a supplementary material for many pills, having numerous uses.

In this way, Red Flame Peak’s industry chain has its framework established.

Once established to scale, the Sect will need to carefully consider before sending him on long-term missions.

“Damn, this is the demeanor that a High-tier Spirit Farmer should have!”

Ye Changqing suddenly felt that the sect was under-utilizing High-tier Spirit Farmers. He put down the Talisman Paper, pondering:

“The seeds you need are available in the warehouse, but the seedlings must be cultivated by cutting branches from the Spirit Woods. There are too many, so adjustments are needed.

Once adjusted, I’ll send someone to deliver them to you. Let me calculate how many Contribution Points are needed.”

He took out his counting rods and began calculating, “Copper Patterned Mulberry and Jade Leaf Mulberry branches, two branches for one Contribution Point… total of eighty-nine thousand Contribution Points.”

Ji An handed over his Jade Token and said:

“I’ll personally select the branches when cutting them; I’m not very confident in others’ spell abilities.”

His craftsmanship is likely among the top ranks of Spirit Farmers in the sect.

After cutting the seedling branches, spells are needed to maintain their vitality, and the sect would not dispatch a Spirit Farmer of his level for such minor tasks.

“How about this, junior brother, stay at my place tonight, and tomorrow morning we’ll visit the forest where these Spirit Woods are planted.”

Ye Changqing understood his actions and readily agreed.

“Junior brother still has two hundred forty-three thousand Contribution Points.”

Ye Changqing thought for a moment, then recorded the information in the Communication Talisman Sword and activated it, adding:

“I have already informed the junior disciple managing the Spiritual Mulberries, asking him to gather more disciples to assist tomorrow.

We’ll strive to have all the seedlings prepared in a day, and I’ll prepare a large enough Flying Ship to transport the seedlings back on the same day.”

“Thank you, senior brother, for your help.”

Ji An clasped his hands in genuine gratitude, acknowledging that with Ye Changqing’s assistance, things could be completed much faster.

Ye Changqing waved his hand:

“It’s my duty; no need to thank me.

The sect doesn’t have many High-tier Spirit Farmers, and your actions greatly benefit the Beast Taming Hall. The sect can cultivate more Middle-Low Tier Demon Beasts.”

Having spent many years in Diligence Hall, he is experienced and can see the impact these Spirit Woods will have on the sect once they mature.

He sighed inwardly, realizing the lack of High-tier Spirit Farmers is already affecting the development of the Beast Taming Hall.

Luofeng Valley possesses a more comprehensive legacy of Spirit Farmers, and in the cultivation of various Spirit Silkworms and Spirit Spiders, they have already exceeded the sect.

…

The next evening.

The moonlight blurred, stars like the ocean. The two stood side by side at the front of the Flying Ship, their clothes fluttering, the evening breeze filling their sleeves.

In front, Red Flame Peak’s outline vaguely appeared, akin to a crouching toad.

Ji An looked back at the mountain-like pile of seedlings on the deck, satisfied, saying:

“I estimate it’s almost 9:00 PM now. You’ve been tirelessly busy all day, senior brother. Tomorrow, let me treat you to a feast.”

Planting Spirit Seedlings at night is best. He can consecutively perform spells, ensuring a higher survival rate.

Ye Changqing nodded gently, smiling:

“Just waiting for you to say that, tomorrow we shall drink merrily.”

Arriving before Red Flame Peak, Ji An used a spell to open the Dharma Prohibition. After the Flying Ship landed, he called for Huang Feihu and two others to help, also summoning Golden Fur.

Several people and a beast dug several large pits and placed the branches inside. Ji An performed the Jade Wood Transformation Skill, releasing thousands of emerald green lights like a starry rain descending from the heavens.

Vigorous Wood Element Essence Qi erupted, covering the branches and slowly integrating with them.

He then transformed the spell to the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill, the clouds rolling under the starry sky, diffusing a nourishing aura.

Huang Feihu opened his arms to feel the moist atmosphere, sighing inwardly, wondering when he would reach that level himself.

…

Five days later.

The bright moon hung high, Ji An soared on the wind, overlooking the earth.

He gazed at the Spirit Farmers and the planting results, feeling relieved.

All the Spirit Seedlings were planted, the Spirit Seeds sowed.

Iron Wire Grass had already sprouted dark buds, and the seedlings cut days ago had begun to take root.

Even with the help of Magic Techniques, planting so many Spirit Woods left him physically and mentally exhausted. Planting hope often comes with labor.

However, he had already received the first rewards, with Stone Turtle absorbing over thirty points of Zhen Spirit.

The coming half month would be his busiest period.

Besides Copper Patterned Mulberry and Iron Wire Grass, other Spirit Plants must have either Spring Breeze or Jade Wood Transformation Skill cast daily to ensure the branches truly survive.

With his Third-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivation, his magical power isn’t sufficient; he needs to refine pills and absorb Spirit Stones to manage.

He also instructed Huang Feihu to trigger the previously condensed Wood Element Beads every morning, focusing the Wood Element Spiritual Energy on the dozens of acres of Jade Leaf Mulberry near the Cold Pool.

This area is extremely advantageous, and he must quickly cultivate these Jade Leaf Mulberries to Tier One Upper Grade.

Ultimately, he must nurture some Tier Two Spirit Mulberry, otherwise he’d be unworthy of his craftsmanship and this Tier Two Spiritual Vein.