Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 168: Chapter 165: Mo Mountain Pays a Visit

A gentle breeze rustled through, turning the leaves into a symphony of delightful sounds.

For Spirit Farmers, this was nature’s melody.

“Senior Brother, there are a total of two hundred and fifty-six plants, correct?”

Ji An spoke softly, trying to keep his tone emotionless, so as not to provoke the other party.

Winning the bet had left the opponent in a tough spot; there was no need to be petty.

According to their original agreement, he provided the raw materials and site, while the other party supplied the technique, with the profits split sixty-forty after success.

Of course, he wouldn’t leave him with nothing.

Du Huaiyuan grimaced, forcing a smile:

“I lost, and willingly admit defeat.”

However, he quickly brightened up, laughing heartily:

“In the future, I shouldn’t make such bets with you again; it’s such a loss to not take the agreed benefits.”

In the past, his brewing materials were mostly Tier One Upper Grade spirit fruits and spirit medicines, rarely did he use top-grade materials in large quantities.

In the future, there would be more and more top-grade Jade Leaf Mulberries here, and his potential earnings would also increase.

More importantly, brewing high-tier spirit wine brought him joy, even more so than advancing his cultivation.

Du Huaiyuan patted Ji An on the shoulder, asking:

“How did you do it? When we made the bet, I had already assessed that theoretically, it’s impossible for so many top-grade spirit mulberries to appear.

Of course, if it involves your secret technique, you don’t need to answer.”

When he bet, he must have been confident; otherwise, why place a losing bet?

Ji An smiled, flashing his eight white teeth, and stomped his foot hard, asking:

“Senior Brother, have you noticed that the soil here is slightly different than before?”

Du Huaiyuan’s attention was drawn to his feet, and he squatted down to examine closely, remarking:

“Junior Brother, you’ve put me in a difficult spot; I never paid attention to the soil quality here before.”

His focus had always been on the spirit mulberries, never concerning himself with the land beneath.

Ji An felt like he was performing for the blind, as he used the magic excavation to cast the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell, and a gentle spirit light spread, accompanied by a deep resonance.

“My secret technique is quite simple, elevating the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell to its extreme.”

Du Huaiyuan felt an urge to punch him, clenching his teeth:

“You call raising a magic technique to its extreme simple? Speak plainly!”

He had never mastered any magic technique to its extreme.

Among those he knew, only those veteran Ninth-Layer Qi Refiners and Foundation Establishment cultivators who had no hope of advancing had such abilities.

Take his best Water Control Technique for example, he used it during alchemy and brewing, essentially integrating it into his life and cultivation.

But he sensed he was still a step away from reaching its peak.

Du Huaiyuan, feeling the magical intent slowly seep into the soil, sighed deeply, feeling a blow to his pride!

The Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell was a magic technique learned only by Foundation Establishment cultivators, and his junior brother had only been at Foundation Establishment for a mere ten years. Had he not felt any bottleneck while practicing it?

With such talent, if he studied Earth Element Skills, who knows how strong he could become.

He waved his hand, saying:

“Enough talk, I need to go prepare for the brewing process, you should send some people to pick fresh mulberries.”

He paused and added:

“Let’s not use middle-grade mulberries for brewing anymore.”

With better options, there’s no desire to use anything inferior again.

Ji An nodded slightly:

“I’ll dispatch Flying Tiger now to recruit helpers, spirit wine brewed from top-grade mulberries will still give you forty percent.”

“No need, since I lost the bet, I’ll accept the outcome. Just let me have more to drink when I visit Red Flame Peak.”

Du Huaiyuan declined the offer, determined to keep his word from the bet proposal, otherwise, it would seem like he couldn’t handle losing.

He put on a flattering smile and rubbed his hands, saying:

“Junior Brother, how many pounds of Tier Two Pine Nuts will be available for brewing Pine Nut Wine this year?”

“I estimate at most two hundred pounds. I’ve already struck a deal with Senior Brother, needing eight hundred pounds of spiritual objects for the transaction, over three consecutive years.”

Ji An replied, estimating that after fulfilling Li Yuangong’s share, only about three to four hundred pounds would remain for roasting and gifting, leaving not much left.

Du Huaiyuan lamented:

“What a pity!”

“Buzz…”

A White Jade Bee flew past them, catching Du Huaiyuan’s attention, who then smiled:

“This year’s honey should be bountiful. What’s the grade of the Bee King now?”

Honey and royal jelly are both valuable, and with the abundant quality nectar sources at Red Flame Peak, various high-tier spiritual objects would be produced continuously in the future.

“The Bee King is only at Fifth-Layer Qi Refining, and the expansion of the bee colony is much slower than the Fire Crystal Ants.”

When they returned to the brewery, various ingredients had already been transported and stored in the warehouse.

Du Huaiyuan laughed:

“Junior Brother, you’ll need to build an underground storage for the spirit wine here; the Cold Pool simply can’t hold everything.”

Ji An nodded:

“I’ll arrange it.”

…

As the mulberries ripened en masse, Du Huaiyuan became extremely busy, and so did Huang Feihu and the others.

Red Flame Peak recruited ten to twenty disciples daily to help out, yet even then, it wasn’t enough manpower.

By the Cold Pool, Mo Mountain habitually reached for mulberries to eat, only to find the plate empty again.

He patted his belly, laughing:

“Haha, accidentally ate a bit too much, pardon me, Junior Brother.”

This was his third plate of top-grade Mulberries; the Jade Leaf Mulberry is a wood element spirit plant, and since he cultivates fire element techniques, it tasted particularly delicious to him, and the magical power within his body seemed to become lively.

Ji An said:

“No worries, I’ll have someone pick some more; today we’ll let Senior Brother indulge.

And congratulations on successfully breaking through to the late-stage Foundation Establishment. I’ll have you take some back with you later.”

Just over a month ago, the other party was still seeking to purchase a Purple Heart Barrier-breaking Pill, and now he achieved his wish and made the breakthrough.

Just earlier, the two had completed a significant transaction; Ji An sold Copper Patterned Mulberry Leaves, earning over seven hundred spirit stones.

They agreed to supply goods every six months, ensuring continuous profits in the future.

The effects of the Great Perfection Level “Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell” were beginning to show clearly, and they were equally powerful for both metal and earth element spirit woods, with all four Earth Spirit Fruit Trees now cultivated to a top-grade level.

In the Copper Patterned Mulberry Field on Red Flame Peak, there were over 120 top-grade Mulberry Trees, and their numbers were steadily increasing.

“Thank you, Junior Brother. I see you’re still brewing wine, never mind, when you complete the brewing of top-grade Mulberry Wine, remember to inform this old brother.

I also quite enjoy this cup.”

Ji An nodded slightly and smiled:

“Certainly, I heard from my senior brother that Mulberry Wine is best after being cellared for three years, I will inform Senior Brother Mo by then.”

“Good.”

Mo Yuan laughed heartily; in the sect, spirit wine above top-grade level was never enough for the many drunkards of the Artifact Refining Hall to consume.

Now that he found a new source, how could he not be happy?

He gave a light cough and said again:

“The other day, Junior Brother was acquiring Profound Yellow Soil. Did you manage to get enough?

If not, I recently acquired a pound and can let you use it.”

Ji An rejoiced and said:

“Still short by half a pound, Senior Brother, you’re truly a blessing in disguise. Do you want spirit stones, or would you prefer other spiritual objects?”

With the Profound Yellow Soil in hand, the apricot yellow banner only lacked the flag surface.

Once Liuu Suyun gathered enough Golden Spot Spider Silk, he could proceed with the weaving.

Now he finally felt the benefits of having a wide network, but all of this was built on the foundation of being able to meet others’ needs.

This Spirit Field still needs continued planting, and eventually expanding into the high-end market.

Once he could stably supply a large number of Tier Two Lower-grade Spiritual Objects, he would have a standing in the sect.

“I’m not short on spirit stones; do you have Red Flame Iron, or any other artifact-refining materials?”

Mo Mountain said; being an artifact refiner, he earns spirit stones quickly and needs various artifact-refining materials more.

“Yes, how shall we exchange?”

“Let’s barter, materials of equivalent value. Half a pound of Profound Yellow Soil for half a pound of Red Flame Iron, how about it?”

“Alright, please wait a moment, Senior Brother, I’ll go fetch it from my grotto mansion.”

After Ji An finished speaking, he summoned his flying shuttle and headed towards the grotto mansion on the mountainside.

…

The setting sun reflected on the water, creating a shimmering surface. Ji An squatted by the Cold Pool, practicing the Water Control Technique, forming several small vortices at his fingertips.

Du Huaiyuan plopped down on a chair and sighed:

“I’m exhausted.”

After more than a month of busy work, the Mulberry Wine was finally brewed and just needed a few years of fermentation before being sold.

Ji An turned his head and said:

“Hard work, Senior Brother. I’ll catch a Red Grouper for dinner.”

The Red Grouper is the most expensive spirit fish in the Cold Pool, with the freshest flesh and highest spiritual qi content, annually requiring a batch to be handed over to the sect.

“I’ll do it, catching fish is a nice diversion.”

Du Huaiyuan walked to the edge of the Cold Pool, squatted down, and performed the Water Control Technique.

The Red Grouper is a deep-water fish, dwelling in the lower layers of the Cold Pool.

At the moment of releasing the spell, Du Huaiyuan sensed that everything seemed slightly different.

Controlling the water flow felt like an extension of his own body, and his divine sense melted into the water, able to feel the minute vortices stirred up by fish tails deep below.

Guided by intuition, he controlled the water flow and caught a fish nearly three feet long, its vibrant red scales glistening in the sunset.

Ji An was surprised:

“So fast?”

Red Groupers are hard to catch; usually, it would take him at least a quarter of an hour to catch one.

“Haha.”

Du Huaiyuan laughed aloud, released his magical power, and let go of the Red Grouper in his hand.

The spirit fish splashed on the water surface, quickly diving back into the green waves and disappearing.

Du Huaiyuan once again performed the Water Control Technique, pulling a two-and-a-half-foot Red Grouper from the water.

Ji An was amazed and asked:

“Senior Brother, how did you manage it? Did you master a secret technique? Teach me!”

Du Huaiyuan smiled modestly and said:

“My secret technique is actually simple, just elevate the Water Control Technique to its peak.”

He looked at Ji An with interest, anticipating his next expression.

’Just that?’

Ji An did not voice his inner thoughts but instead, flashed a surprised expression, and after a brief moment, cupped his hands and said:

“Congratulations, Senior Brother! I don’t know when I can reach your level.”

He sighed again and his gaze turned to envy.

The other party worked hard without reward to brew wine for so long; he deserved some emotional appreciation.

“Haha, let’s have this one tonight!”

Du Huaiyuan felt satisfied. Although the Water Control Technique is just a basic spell, without sufficient understanding of water element magic, one couldn’t possibly reach the current level.