Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

During the time he went to Mingfeng Mountain, the spirit medicine in the grotto mansion’s medicinal garden probably accumulated a year less in age.

Also, only when he stayed at Red Flame Peak could the Stone Turtle fully absorb the effects of the Spiritual Mechanism.

As half an hour passed, the blood-red spirit light around him slowly receded.

…

The sun was setting in the west, and the living room began to darken as the shadows of the Celestial Essence Pear trees by the Cold Pool grew long.

Liu Yu and Ge Luoying stood up to say goodbye, each having their own matters to attend to.

Wei Songnian sighed, speaking with a heavy heart:

“I don’t know how long the Demon Calamity will last, it’s such a hard time for me to endure.”

He relied entirely on buying low and selling high to sustain his cultivation, but with the calamity ongoing, the sect had started centrally managing all strategic materials, so he couldn’t participate in such businesses.

In a few days, the combat tasks would be heavy, and he wouldn’t be able to avoid being drafted by the sect. Whether he could safely survive this Demon Calamity remained uncertain.

He paused and said with a pleading tone:

“Senior Brother, Qiuyun is already pregnant. If she could be taken into the sect, I could take care of her nearby.

If I unfortunately die in battle while on a mission, please, in light of our past friendship, take care of her.”

He lacked the skills to bring any other value to the sect and would only be assigned to combat missions, where he might one day face an irresistible demon beast.

“Junior Brother, your words are so inauspicious; we will all survive this Demon Calamity.”

Though he said this, Ji An understood that what the other said might actually come true.

Even the Golden Core Ancestors didn’t dare to make such promises amidst the flood of major events, let alone them, the Foundation Establishment junior cultivators.

Seeing the expectant gaze of the other, Ji An solemnly nodded:

“If I have the ability, I will certainly ensure the safety of your family.”

If he lacked the ability, he could only say sorry.

Wei Songnian stood up and bowed deeply:

“Many thanks, Senior Brother!”

The other’s words were not fully committed, but he was already very gratified.

…

Wei Songnian’s flying ship disappeared from view, and all the guests had left.

By the Cold Pool, Ji An looked up at the sky, his gaze deep and contemplative.

After a quarter of an hour, he suddenly shook his head to dispel the worries in his heart.

He took out the seed of the Longevity Peach and performed the Jade Wood Transformation Skill.

Emerald light and various illusions emerged, a faint fragrance wafting.

Ever since further comprehending the Rejuvenation Technique, his wood element skills had become more wondrous.

Techniques like the Entanglement Technique, All Grass and Trees Are Soldiers, and Jade Wood Flowering Skill had all undergone new changes.

The second realm of Magic Intent Transformation could bring more complex sensations.

Burgeoning life force continued to merge into the seed, making its shell appear more lustrous and vivid.

Seeing the seed could no longer absorb more life essence qi, Ji An instructed:

“Huang Xuan, clear an area near the Ghost Moon Cyan Jade Tree with Li Cheng; I want to plant a Spirit Tree.”

The Longevity Peach Tree is a wood element spirit plant, its fruit containing a rich power of life, which is the fundamental reason it can enhance lifespan.

“As you command.”

Huang Xuan immediately agreed, knowing fully well that any spirit wood eligible to be planted near the Ghost Moon Cyan Jade Tree had great potential.

Ji An glanced across the Cold Pool, communicating with the Cyan Water Turtle through the blood contract and beast taming.

The Cyan Water Turtle, lazily retracting its head on the opposite bank, suddenly stretched out its head, glanced around, then plunged into the water.

Using its limbs and tail, it quickly swam through the waves, leaving a long trail of spray behind.

The Cyan Water Turtle, now as big as a millstone, had grown in size, but its cultivation remained stagnant.

When Ji An left, it was still the same Qi Refining Fourth Level, emphasizing stability.

Under the twilight, its blue shell was tinged with a crimson veil, and the Cyan Water Turtle extended its neck, revealing a naive expression.

Ji An squatted down, flicking the cold shell with a laugh:

“Improving this slowly, what use are you!”

He anticipated the slow advancement of turtle-type demon beasts but didn’t expect it to be this slow.

This time, after the Tier One Upper Grade Celestial Essence Pear matures, he must keep it all for ’fertilization.’

The purpose of raising beast companions was for battle, not for being mascots.

Although this blue turtle was truly beautiful, in his eyes, looks didn’t count for much; he preferred fierce warriors.

Sensing its master’s mood, the Cyan Water Turtle snorted indignantly.

Back in the pool, it released demon qi, cold air spreading and quickly forming a block of slightly blue solid ice.

The Cyan Water Turtle raised its head proudly, ’Now I’m really useful!’

“I have no use for these ice blocks,” Ji An shook his head, releasing the Cold Wind Technique with a wave of his hand.

The frost-white gale swept through, instantly forming an ice surface over two meters wide and six meters long on the water.

Under the afterglow of the sunset, the ice surface shimmered with a reddish-orange light.

The Cyan Water Turtle opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth, astonishing the turtle!

Xia Yu Lian came over and happened to see the dazed look of the Cyan Water Turtle, curiously asking:

“Junior Martial Uncle, what happened?”

“I told it it’s useless, and it demonstrated an ice-making ability. Do I still need ice cubes?”

Ji An said lightly, such ice creation ability was of no use to him.

“Junior Martial Uncle, Lan Bei’s ability is indeed practical.

Preserving meat and chilling berries require ice; we don’t know Cold Wind Technique, so Lan Bei is very helpful.”

Normally, Xia Yu Lian often used the ice made by Lan Bei to preserve ingredients, ensuring optimal taste.

Seemingly understanding the female disciple’s words, the Cyan Water Turtle nodded continuously.

Ji An subtly shook his head; he needed to find someone to inquire about speeding up turtle beast taming. Solely relying on the nurturance of the Celestial Essence Pear, the enhancement was still too slow.

These minor abilities were meaningless to him; he needed a reliable beast to stand independently.

Li Cheng maneuvered a Talisman Bird and flew over, “Junior Martial Uncle, the clearing is ready.”

…

Spirit Rain, like crystal jade beads, spread nurturing magic intent.

A green plant broke through the soil, luxuriantly stretching in the rain.

The bark of the Longevity Peach Tree appeared dark green, its leaves were an even brighter green, and the veins were red like fire.

Apart from the color, its appearance was not much different from regular Spiritual Peach Trees.

As the white mist dispersed, the Longevity Peach Tree had grown to one foot high, and its branches swayed gently in the breeze.

Huang Xuan looked at the spirit wood reaching his knee and asked:

“Junior Martial Uncle, what spirit tree is this?”

“Longevity Peach, consuming it can increase life span, and it’s also the primary ingredient for refining Lifespan Extension Pill.”

Huang Xuan and Li Cheng exchanged glances, awe flashing in their eyes.

Their reputation for the Lifespan Extension Pill was well-known.

Now that Junior Martial Uncle had begun cultivating the Longevity Peach, wouldn’t it mean they could ask for seeds to cultivate themselves in the future!

…

The Golden Spirit Sect was the first sect to encounter demon beasts, oddly enough, the demon beasts bypassed this monumental entity, proceeding to slaughter those family residences.

Initially, the sect frequently dispatched disciples to rescue nearby families, but later realized that the demon beasts used these families as bait to push their attacks, thus stopping the rescue.

Without support from a magic array, the Human Race cultivators had no advantage over those of the same stage as the demon beasts in the wild, at least below Foundation Establishment Stage.

Because of the peculiar circumstances, Ji An was not conscripted, as the Golden Feathered Eagle Demon King would appear daily at the west side of the sect, each time for half an hour.

At Red Flame Peak, he spent most of his time cultivating and using magic techniques on the Spirit Field in his remaining time.

Half a year quickly passed.

On a moonlit night, the branches and leaves of the Ghost Moon Cyan Jade Tree collided in the wind, producing pleasing chirps.

Ji An sat cross-legged under the tree, running the Evergreen Wood Skill, various lights flowing around him, the nearby spiritual energy drawn to him, forming a whirlpool above his head.

He suddenly opened his mouth, instantly swallowing all the lights and spiritual energy, causing the moonlight in the sky to warp momentarily.

The spiritual pressure on him suddenly increased, effortlessly reaching the Eighth Layer Foundation Establishment!

The immortal veins within grew slightly, sprouting more branches, and the speed of refining spiritual energy when operating the cultivation technique increased by another half percent.

…

The next day.

Ji An maneuvered the Flying Shuttle to Ningcui Cliff, finding his master’s appearance a bit older.

After exchanging pleasantries, he softly said:

“Master, I have heard you refined Lifespan Extension Pills, why not consume one?”

“My vitality began declining years ago; even consuming a Lifespan Extension Pill is meaningless without hope of breaking through to the Chao Origin Stage.

A person’s life is like the mortal world’s four seasons.

Spring brings forth all things, summer flourishes, autumn bears harvests, winter brings wind and snow.

I’ve experienced prosperity; I can peacefully accept decline.”

Ge Ying showed a look of acceptance over life and death, smiling kindly:

“I’ve made all necessary arrangements; it’s unnecessary to strain to survive. Living ten more years holds no expectations.

The Lifespan Extension Pill should be left to those who need it more.”

Using the Lifespan Extension Pill for cultivators about to break through the Great Realm maximized the benefits; it was wasted on her.

“Master doesn’t wish to see disciples breaking through to Chao Origin Stage?”

Ji An said, emitting Eighth-Layer Foundation Establishment spiritual pressure.