Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 178: Chapter 175: Breaking Through to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment

One month later, Red Copper Mountain.

Ji An squinted slightly, looking at the row of five Purple Fire Gourds, three large and two small, on the table. The dark red gourd skin was adorned with golden flame patterns.

The large gourds were for nurturing flames, and the small ones were for holding wine.

In some ways, they were all considered space-type magical artifacts: one could collect various flames, the other could only hold liquids.

The small gourd had a warm and bright color, even looking better than the large gourd in terms of appearance.

From right to left, the gourd skins grew increasingly dull, with the one on the far left having no luster at all.

Ji An touched his nose and thought to himself:

“Could it be that Senior Brother’s skills have declined? That can’t be right; the more one refines similar magical artifacts, the more proficient their skills should become.”

The more advanced the magical artifact, the brighter its treasure light. As for spiritual artifacts and magical treasures, it goes without saying; it’s said that a high-tier magical treasure can dazzle the eyes of a low-tier cultivator.

Recognizing the thought in the client’s mind, Zhao Lei chuckled and said:

“Junior Brother, are you thinking that these magical artifacts seem somewhat rough in craftsmanship?”

Although the doubt in the other’s eyes flickered momentarily, it was still caught by his keen eyesight.

Ji An nodded slightly and said:

“As far as I know, magical artifacts with bright treasure light are considered superior.”

None of these large gourds for nurturing flames had the brightness of Zhong Yue’s Fire Gourd, causing doubt in his heart.

“Indeed, for those attacking and defensive magical artifacts and spiritual artifacts, the brighter the treasure light, the better.

However, for these types of nurturing magical artifacts, the duller the color, the better, as this ensures the spiritual qi is locked within the artifact.

Junior Brother, just watch!”

As Zhao Lei spoke, he input magical flames one by one into the large gourds.

Ji An observed that as the flame entered the magical artifact, the gourd with the dullest color shone the brightest.

Once the input was complete, the gourd’s color dulled again, becoming quite unremarkable.

Holding the far left Purple Fire Gourd, Zhao Lei said:

“This gourd is the one I am most satisfied with, having layered twenty-seven Dharma prohibitions, making it a rare fine piece.”

“Congratulations, Senior Brother, on reaching a new level!”

Ji An suddenly felt envious of the Artifact Refiner. A renowned Artifact Refiner could hone their skills with other people’s materials, earning their spirit stones in the process.

Meanwhile, a Spirit Farmer had to wait for the spirit plants to mature before they could reap the rewards.

“Haha, I should thank Junior Brother for this opportunity.

I happen to be free today; how about we two brothers have a little drink and enjoy some good conversation?”

Zhao Lei was in a great mood, having gained deeper insights into refining gourd-type magical artifacts after this round of refinements.

…

Ji An returned to Red Flame Peak, where many disciples were coming and going in the Jade Leaf Mulberry Field, picking mulberries and fresh mulberry leaves.

It was another busy harvest season, with a faint fragrance drifting in the wind, and White Jade Bees shuttling between mulberry fields and their hives.

Smoke curled up from the chimney of the winery.

Ji An controlled the Flying Shuttle to land at the entrance of the winery and shouted inside:

“Senior Brother Du, do you have some free time? I have a gift for you.”

Two weeks ago, Du Huaiyuan returned from Mingfeng Mountain, and after resting for two or three days, he enthusiastically threw himself into winemaking.

“What gift?”

Du Huaiyuan emerged from the winery, with an uncontrollable smile in his eyes.

Brewing and drinking wine was his happiest time when all worries faded away.

Ji An took out a gourd and tossed it over with a smile:

“I’ve had two wine gourds made, gifting one to Senior Brother. It’s a top-grade fire attribute magical artifact.”

Giving a wine gourd to a drunkard was a perfect fit for his tastes.

“Junior Brother understands me! It’s just perfect for holding Pine Nut Wine.”

Du Huaiyuan laughed heartily, activating the Mineral Technique to grab the gourd, and explored its insides with his divine sense.

While refining elixirs on Mingfeng Mountain, he often struggled with carrying enough spirit wine.

With a top-grade magical artifact, everything changed.

He had always wanted a wine gourd, but suitable materials were hard to find; today, his wish was fulfilled, and he felt delighted.

Retracting his divine sense, his eyes lit up as he gently caressed the surface of the gourd:

“The space is vast. Did the Artifact Refiner mention how much spirit wine it can hold?”

“Three thousand catties, no problem.”

“Great!”

Du Huaiyuan clapped his hands and laughed, stating that this one gourd of wine could sustain a year’s demand, with some to spare.

…

Two months later, the mulberry season passed, and the brewed spirit wine was stored away.

Ji An hosted a banquet, inviting the disciples who helped out to enjoy the wine.

He and Senior Brother Du set up a table in the stone house, feeling utterly content.

Du Huaiyuan, slightly tipsy, said:

“This year, there are about three thousand catties of top-grade mulberry wine and twelve thousand catties of top-grade mulberry wine.

From next year, we can begin large-scale external sales of the spirit wine.”

Ji An nodded lightly, exhaling:

“Finally, it’s going to be perfect.”

Being able to sell mulberry wine signified that all outputs from the spirit wood could be sold for spirit stones.

“Truly enviable, from now on, Junior Brother is going to live a life of reaping spirit stones while lying down.”

Ji An laughed and said:

“Senior Brother only talks about my glamorous moments. How could he forget that I perform magic on the mountains and forests every night?”

To accomplish anything well, nothing comes easily.

All of this is supported by several planting techniques at the Perfection Level, achieving sweetness after bitterness.

From now on, the industrial chain of Red Flame Peak is truly forming. He will be more relaxed and have more time to enhance his cultivation.

Before the banquet ended, Ji An instructed:

“Yu Han, let Flying Tiger gift a jar of top-grade Spirit Wine to others.”

They have long prepared some small five-pound jars as gifts.

…

After the busy period, Red Flame Peak returned to tranquility, and six months passed in the blink of an eye.

In the morning, Ji An sat cross-legged in the Jade Leaf Mulberry Field, practicing the Evergreen Wood Skill. Beside him, a cascading green galaxy seemed to hang, interspersed with a yellowish, pale white Spirit Light.

Spiritual Qi circulated within the Immortal Vein, moving faster and faster, like surging waves, one yet to cease as another comes rushing.

Continuous refinement of Spiritual Qi into Magical Power, then infused into the Dantian.

Within the Dantian, it was like a heavy rain was falling, with the Stone Turtle happily swimming, endlessly devouring Magical Power.

Long-term maintenance of rapid Spiritual Qi circulation caused slight aches in the Immortal Vein.

Ji An at this moment was operating the secret technique for a breakthrough, having been trapped in the bottleneck period for long enough.

For nearly two months, he has tried to break through once every few days, and now it is clear that the bottleneck has loosened considerably.

As he again infused Magical Power into the Dantian, he felt the Ancestral Acupoint suddenly open slightly, like a long whale drawing all the Magical Power in the Immortal Vein and other acupoints inside.

Ji An felt his body momentarily emptied, as if hearing a mysterious, clear sound beside his ears.

Within the Dantian, the Stone Turtle Shell’s Spirit Light shone, its brilliance shifting from weak to strong, then ebbing.

When everything calmed down, the emerald-colored Magical Power slowly emanated from the Ancestral Acupoint, with the Immortal Vein like a long-dried river greedily absorbing the flourishing Spiritual Mechanism within the Magical Power.

For a brief moment, he felt transformed into a sapling, with legs becoming roots, and hands and torso into branches.

The sapling grew tall and sturdy with the wind, its peak quickly reaching the clouds before the hazy illusion disappeared.

Ji An felt his liver tremble suddenly, and he noticed a leaf-vein shaped green pattern appearing on the liver’s surface.

The pattern was like ink dropped into clear water, fading more and more until completely merging into the liver.

Ji An felt everything seemed a bit different, but couldn’t tell where exactly it was different.

He didn’t dwell on this; when his realm advances naturally, he will come to understand.

He opened his eyes, with emerald light flashing in his pupils, gradually dissipating after a moment.

Feeling the surging Magical Power circulating throughout his body, Ji An let out a long howl, the Jade Leaf Mulberry nearby rustling with leaves without wind, echoing against the distant Red Flame Peak.

The sound and echo combined, sweeping across the forest, and ascended into Yunxiao.

Four years and eight months after breaking through to the Third-Layer Foundation Establishment, Ji An broke through again to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment not relying on pills.

…

Ji An stepped beside the stone house and called:

“Fellow Daoist Liang, prepare some food. In three days, I plan to throw a banquet to celebrate my breakthrough to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.”

Huang Feihu, Liang Hill, and others cupped their hands:

“Congratulations to Junior Martial Uncle for another advancement!”

They heard the joyous long call earlier, knowing something good happened, so they gathered here.

Huang Feihu felt deeply rueful; in a few months, he will receive the Foundation Establishment Pill from the sect.

He thought he would slowly close the gap with Junior Martial Uncle, only to suddenly find the gap has widened considerably.

He vividly remembers that Junior Martial Uncle took six years to break through to the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment.

’Isn’t cultivation supposed to slow down the further it goes? How can it be getting faster?!’

The same confusion lingered long in his and Liang Hill’s hearts.

Xia Yuhuan and her sister, along with Huang Xuan, Li Cheng, and four others, were overjoyed, as they are like servant disciples of Red Flame Peak. With Junior Martial Uncle’s breakthrough, benefits would follow.

They understood, when Huang Feihu and others succeed in establishing the foundation, they would leave, and the affairs of Red Flame Peak would be managed by them, promising invisible benefits in the future.

Ji An took out the Communication Talisman Sword, wrote the first invitation, and sent it off.

The talisman sword flew like a silver bird, exiting the Mountain Protection Array, heading towards Jade Dragon Ridge.

Early in the morning, he eagerly wanted Junior Brother Zeng to share in the good fortune.

He sent gifts three times for the other’s betrothal, wondering if there will be a fourth or fifth time, hoping for a return from them.

Liang Hill stepped forward and asked:

“Junior Martial Uncle, how many people are you planning to invite, so I can make the necessary arrangements.”

The invitees were certainly Junior Martial Uncle’s friends, most of whom have visited Red Flame Peak more than once.

The meat products of Red Flame Peak only included Fire-toothed Rabbit, Red-tailed Squirrel, and several Spirit Fish, some guests might be accustomed to these after so many years.

The sub-palace of the Beast Taming Hall was established on Luoyan Mountain, where wild bulls and elks are bred for their delicious taste, and these can be purchased as fresh meat.

Ji An pondered:

“Around twenty people, although some Senior Brothers might not be at home, or unexpected guests might arrive, prepare for a banquet of about forty.”

Better to over-prepare and under-use, for internally resolved excess.

This banquet is an announcement, which should not be shabby.

Liang Hill replied:

“I’ve noted it down. Please wait a moment, the breakfast will be ready soon.”

While waiting, Ji An closed his eyes and submerged his mind into his Dantian, linking up with the Stone Turtle.

Rows of words appeared in his mind, only he found one missing.

’Strange, why has the Jade Wood Transformation Skill disappeared?’

He frowned slightly, as the magic skill hadn’t reached the Great Perfection Level, and logically shouldn’t have vanished.