Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 191: Chapter 188: Double Blessings

The next day.

Ji An came to the underground cavern and found that the Soul Nourishing Wood’s condition hadn’t improved much, still drooping.

He extended his Divine Sense deep into the soil, and upon discovering some new roots sprouting from the Spirit Wood, he felt relieved.

As long as the transplanted Spirit Wood could take root, it was more than halfway to success.

“Chirp chirp.”

Golden Fur chirped pleasingly twice, pointed to the Soul Nourishing Wood, and then mimicked a gesture of sleeping peacefully.

Last night, it slept quite comfortably.

Ji An smiled, thought for a moment, and said:

“From now on, every ten days, catch a live Fire-toothed Rabbit and a Red-tailed Squirrel here. Kill them and bury them here.

Make sure to keep it a bit away from the black sapling’s roots.”

“Chirp chirp.”

Golden Fur nodded obediently; it often ventured out for hunting, catching a Demon Beast along the way was no problem.

The Soul Nourishing Wood can nourish the Spirit Soul; reportedly, branches of High-Tier Spirit Wood can store soul essences.

The Demon Beast’s Spirit Soul of Low-Tier Cultivators is fully dependent on the physical body. Once the body perishes, the Spirit Soul separates and can be blown away by the wind.

Under the scorching sun, it melts instantly, like snowflakes falling into hot water.

The Spirit Soul of High-Tier Cultivators is much sturdier, able to withstand gusty winds. Once sufficiently cultivated, it can even manifest under sunlight, unharmed by its burns.

Thus Ji An believed that the Demon Beast’s Spirit Soul might possibly nourish the Spirit Wood.

However, he did not hold much hope, as no rumor claimed that the Soul Nourishing Wood is a wicked tree that absorbs soul essences.

Nonetheless, the body of a Demon Beast undoubtedly has an effect on the Soul Nourishing Wood.

Ji An activated the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell, enveloping the Soul Nourishing Wood and Earth Spirit Fruit Tree with gentle Spirit Light, spreading out profound Magic Intent.

The bodies buried here, under the influence of the Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell, can decompose at a very fast pace.

Within days, the flesh turns into fertile soil, and the bones will dissolve in ten days to two weeks.

Fire-toothed Rabbits and Red-tailed Squirrels are merely early-stage Qi Refining Demon Beasts, and their bodies will decompose even faster.

Ji An left the cavern and returned to the Cold Pool.

The Celestial Essence Pear changes day by day, and only a few days have passed, yet it has grown to the size of a goose egg.

As the pear grows to the size of a fist, it gradually stops growing, with its nutrients infused into the flesh, increasing Spiritual Qi.

Looking at the blueberry-colored fruit, he chuckled:

“Yu Han and Yu Lian, have you counted how many pears were produced this year?”

“Of course we counted, a total of 312 pieces.”

“What Sister said is incorrect, I counted 314 pieces.”

“Surely it was younger sister who counted wrong.”

“Why wasn’t it sister who counted wrong?”

Both claimed they were correct, and began bickering.

Next to them, Huang Xuan remained silent, as counting fruits is an activity prone to errors.

Ji An watched the mature, spirited bickering of the two female cultivators, smiling as he left.

Over 300 fruits, acquainted cultivators can each receive a few, keeping some for themselves, while the rest can be sold to Alchemists.

The Celestial Essence Pear is suitable for refining Water Element Spirit Pills; if Senior Brother Du buys them, the Spirit Wine shares can be reduced.

…

Three months later.

The Celestial Essence Pears of Red Flame Peak were ripe; with the collaboration of Tier Two Spiritual Vein and the Great Perfection Level Planting Technique, the maturity time of Spirit Fruits was greatly shortened.

“Caw!”

A grey-feathered sand goose flew over, calling out in a pleasing manner, having coveted these Spirit Fruits for a long time but not daring to steal them.

But if it came openly to request, its master would reward it with a taste.

Ji An activated the Object Control Technique, plucking a Celestial Essence Pear and tossing it to the Beast Taming.

The sand goose caught it in its mouth and flew to the opposite side of the Cold Pool.

Huang Xuan placed the last fruit into the basket, laughing:

“Junior Martial Uncle, counting the one given to the sand goose just now, a total of 318 Spirit Fruits, Yu Han and Yu Lian counted many times, but never got it right, haha.”

Xia Yu Han coughed slightly, saying:

“With leaves blocking, inaccurate counting is normal!”

Xia Yu Lian blinked:

“My number is closer to the truth, stronger than Sister.”

“Right, you’re strong, you’re amazing.”

The two sisters began their daily bickering, neither backing down.

“Alright, stop quarreling, you two wash some fruits, each of us will have one.”

Ji An interrupted them.

“Yes,” the sisters responded warmly, with a hint of joy in their eyes.

Huang Xuan and Li Cheng also showed excitement, as top-grade fruits are much more effective for Qi Refining disciples than pills.

Ji An took out a piece of paper filled with names and a Flying Shuttle, continuing his instructions:

“Huang Xuan, Li Cheng, I’ve listed some names. Tomorrow, head out and deliver four Celestial Essence Pears to each person.

I’ll lend you the Flying Shuttle; arrange your route to finish deliveries in a day.”

Friends might be away on missions, but they will surely have maids watching over their mansions.

Huang Xuan reached out and received the Flying Shuttle and paper: “As you command.”

The two sisters washed the fruits and brought them over, Ji An picked one up, took a bite, and immediately felt a rich aroma in his mouth, with a slight refreshing chill.

The Celestial Essence Pear is cold-natured, has effects of clearing heat, and can nourish internal organs.

It is said that the group of Body Cultivators on Yuanhe Mountain are extremely fond of swallowing Celestial Essence Pears.

Body Cultivators primarily refine body blood and Qi; during cultivation, the entire blood in the body boils, putting significant strain on the internal organs over time.

After finishing cultivation, when the body quiets down, consuming a Celestial Essence Pear helps recuperate faster.

“Great! After you finish eating, quickly proceed with refinement.”

Ji An smiled, noticing the juice was abundant and the dregs were sparse, and the contained Spiritual Qi exceeded his expectations.

After speaking, he turned and left, flying to the Mulberry Field to operate the Evergreen Wood Skill.

The sun was blazing, but he felt that the Gold and Fire Spirit Mechanism was much weaker than usual.

…

Huang Xuan picked up the fruit and took a small bite, exhaling a white mist.

“So invigorating!”

He felt abundant spiritual energy rising in his belly and began eating quickly.

With the first bite of the Spirit Fruit, the spiritual energy started to disperse outward, so he needed to finish it quickly.

Some Spirit Fruits have spiritual energy that dissipates very quickly, requiring them to be swallowed whole, with the pit spat out at the end.

When he finished, others saw that a layer of white frost had condensed on his eyebrows and temples, due to the extreme coldness of the Spirit Fruit.

Huang Xuan trembled all over and immediately sat down cross-legged to operate his cultivation technique and refine it.

For cultivators, it’s not always better to have higher-tier Spirit Fruits. Low-tier cultivators consuming high-tier Spirit Fruits might get burst by the spiritual energy they contain, ending up like an exploded tomato.

A “boom” sound is the best outcome.

These top-grade Spirit Fruits could still be enjoyed by these Late-stage Qi Refining disciples; otherwise, Ji An wouldn’t have given them.

…

In just two quarters of an hour, Ji An had completely refined the Spirit Fruit. Currently, the refinement speed of the Evergreen Wood Skill is famously fast.

He returned to the Cold Pool and found several Qi Refining Stage disciples sitting cross-legged around a stone table, refining Spirit Fruits, with water traces still on their temples.

Judging from his recent experience, those disciples would inevitably waste a lot of spiritual energy, and things would improve only when they reached the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining.

Not everything is better if it’s stronger; being just right is the best.

Ji An flew to the vicinity of the grotto mansion’s entrance and began practicing the Geng Metal Finger.

The mountains here looked like honeycomb coal, with many bright spots.

Golden lights crisscrossed, emitting an incomparably sharp aura, lowering the air’s temperature.

After an unknown period, Ji An suddenly found the magic technique changed.

Originally, the range of attack was only three zhang, but now it extended to five zhang, with increased power and less magical power consumption.

“Heh heh, only a magic technique at the Great Perfection Level is the real deal.”

There was no need to guess; Ji An knew the Geng Metal Finger had reached Merit Perfection.

He squinted his eyes, sinking his mind into his Dantian, linking with the Stone Turtle.

[Magic Technique: Geng Metal Finger (Perfection 99%→100%)

Five Directions Spirit Gathering Technique (Perfection 19%)

Bursting Fireball (Perfection 88%)

Rejuvenation Technique (Perfection 7%)

Water Control Technique (Perfection 49%)

Fire Control Technique (Perfection 38%)

Entanglement Technique (Great Success 92%)…]

The script of the Geng Metal Finger slowly faded and finally disappeared.

A spark brightened in the Geng Metal Dao Seed within the Taiyuan Acupoint.

’Which lucky fellow should I target next?’ Ji An pondered.

Since he needed to extract essence every day, the Five Directions Spirit Gathering Technique was always in use.

Every few days, he needed to add Earth Fire to the Purple Fire Gourd, so there was no hurry to practice the Fire Control Technique to the Great Perfection Level, as it would naturally improve.

Ultimately, he decided not to dwell on it and chose the Bursting Fireball, preparing to take advantage of the time to push this technique, which was closest to the Great Perfection Level, further.

“Refine Spirit Mechanism, enhance Bursting Fireball.”

Ji An’s divine sense entered the Profound Mysterious Space within the Stone Turtle, finding himself standing on the Li Position, where the ground turned crimson, as if standing in a sea of fire, the aura blazing.

During the magic technique practice, the Fireball could change into an ellipse according to his will, with a subtle curve in its trajectory.

When the remaining Spirit Mechanism was insufficient to refine, his divine sense returned to his body.

[Magic Technique: Bursting Fireball (Perfection 88%→89%)]

Ji An moved his hands to activate a spell, summoning a flat, bright yellow Fireball, with tiny wings on either side.

“Boom!”

The mountain rocks shattered, flames scattered like rain, resembling blooming fireworks.

When Foundation Establishment Stage magic techniques reached the Perfection Level, the improvements brought by refining Spirit Mechanism slowed down.

The most important role of the Spirit Mechanism should be to quickly elevate a magic technique to a relatively high level, significantly shortening the growth period.

Once he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, he could use the Perfection Level Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell and Spring Breeze and Rain Skill, making it easy for him to cultivate Spirit Woods.

The accumulation phase of capital is the most difficult; the Spirit Mechanism allows him to skip this phase, which is truly enviable.

…

At 5:00 AM, the most diligent birds hadn’t yet left their nests, and Ji An stepped out of the grotto mansion, flying from the mountainside to the Cold Pool.

From afar, he noticed a Biluo Tree, with its leaves shimmering emerald green, waving at him.

“Not bad!”

Ji An joyfully flew to the Biluo Forest and found a second Spirit Wood shimmering with spirit light.

“Good things truly come in pairs!”

Ji An laughed heartily, placing his hand on the second-tier Biluo Tree, channeling magical power into it.

The Spirit Wood’s leaves rustled, conveying a joyful sentiment.

The tier two Biluo Tree’s value surpassed the Jade Leaf Mulberry, so he unhesitantly sent two Communication Talisman Swords to notify Ye Changqing and Li Minghui of this good news.

Once his emotions calmed, Ji An flew towards the Mulberry Field, where the proximity to the Cold Pool benefited cultivation techniques.

He hovered above the Mulberry Field and began counting “stars.”

“One, two, three…eight, nine, another one sprouted!”

Ji An grinned, “Wow! What a day of fortune today?!”

In one night, not only did two more tier two Biluo Trees appear, but also an additional tier two Jade Leaf Mulberry.

With six new tier two Spirit Mulberries over three months, if this pace continues, Red Flame Peak could provide enough Mulberry Leaves and Biluo Fruits for Junior Martial Uncle He.

A moment later, Ji An vigorously shook his head, dispelling his daydreams.

He found a suitable area to sit cross-legged, taking out Azure Dragon Wood, Profound Yellow Soil, and Jade Wave Water, closing his eyes to calm his spirit and quiet his mind.

Waiting until he reached a state with no distractions, entering the Void Spirit Realm, Ji An began operating the Evergreen Wood Skill.

The green, yellow, and transparent spirit lights respectively rose from the Mulberry Wood, the earth, and the Cold Pool, merrily swirling around him.

With each breath, they danced gracefully, light and shadow interweaving, as if in a splendid dreamscape.