Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

He probed the Spirit Disc with his Divine Sense, searching for information on disciples cultivating the Evergreen Wood Skill.

The improvement in a disciple’s cultivation level means a change in treatment, such matters are always reported to the sect.

After checking once, he found that currently, there was only one cultivator at the Eighth-Layer Foundation Establishment, who had just broken through half a year ago.

“Not impossible, exchange for 300 Purple Ganoderma Yuan Pills, a total of 18,000 small merits.”

“Then I’ll exchange 2,000 small merits for water-elemental spiritual objects, and the remaining small merits will repay the debt of the Nourishing Yuan Pill.”

“Okay,” Jia Yu picked up the Jade Token, “I’ll first credit the small merits for the spiritual objects into the inventory, then deduct the small merits for pills and other resources; the process cannot go wrong.”

“Your Jade Token still has more than a thousand small merit points left; after deducting for the pills and spiritual objects, you can repay thirteen thousand small merit points, leaving the same thirteen thousand in debt.”

“I won’t need to exchange spiritual objects and pills for the next two years, easily paying off the debt.”

Ji An smiled calmly, waiting only for the Spirit Fruits on the tree to mature, almost clearing the debt.

However, he couldn’t be complacent, as breaking through to the Chao Origin Stage would require even rarer and more expensive resources, and he had nothing left.

“Work hard, there will be many places to use small merits in the future.”

Jia Yu instructed, opened the Dharma Prohibition, and entered the Secret Vault to fetch the pills and the required amount of Trickle Spirit Water.

“Check it yourself, if there’s an issue after you leave here, I won’t be responsible.”

“Junior Martial Uncle will definitely not make a mistake.”

Ji An replied with a smile, but his body earnestly started checking, taking no chances.

After verifying everything was correct, he put away the resources, chatted for a moment, and then took his leave.

Earth Dragon Beast opened its eyes, sniffing while saying:

“This kid actually planted a Tier Two Middle Grade Earth Spirit Fruit, quite talented indeed!”

“Yes, Ji An is about to become the first Spirit Farmer in the sect’s history to reach the Chao Origin Stage.”

“Wonderful, maybe in the future, I’ll get to taste the top-grade Spirit Fruits cultivated by the sect.”

Earth Dragon Beast was quite pleased; since reaching the Golden Core Level, the Golden Spirit Sect could provide little help.

In recent years, it had been enhancing its Demonic Power purely by painstakingly enduring with time.

If a High-tier Spirit Farmer emerged, its life, along with that of the Li Fire Turtle, would be much more comfortable.

Earth Dragon Beast closed its eyes again, its consciousness gradually becoming drowsy, soon falling asleep.

Jia Yu pulled out the Communication Golden Sword, recording Ji An’s latest information within, and sent it off.

The Golden Sword flew out of the main hall, heading towards the mountain peak.

Half an hour later, a beam of golden light flew back to the Treasure Pavilion from outside.

Reaching out to catch the Communication Golden Sword, Jia Yu explored it with his Divine Sense and retrieved the information.

’If the Central Continent Merchant Flying Ship arrives, you can purchase Chao Origin Stage Planting Techniques, regardless of the cost.’

A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, even though Luo Feng Valley hadn’t nurtured a Chao Origin Stage Spirit Farmer yet.

Jia Yu began thinking about selecting some disciples with Spiritual Farmer Talent to place under Ji An’s tutelage.

…

The sunset descended westward, the setting sun and a solitary wild goose flew together.

A gentle breeze swept over treetops, with wild beasts running through the forest.

Ji An returned to Red Flame Peak, inwardly feeling quite pleased.

He wouldn’t worry about pills for three years, allowing him to boldly increase his cultivation level.

At the foot of the mountain, faint blue smoke bent in a soft arc as the disciples were making Spiritual Charcoal.

He slowly descended upon the Cold Pool, as the Golden Feathered Eagle cheerfully called out, jumping from the Flying Shuttle to ascend once more.

The intense Gold and Fire Spirit Mechanism had dissipated, making it an optimal time for flying.

Ji An’s skin turned crimson, with black patterns emerging.

He grinned slightly; that haunting Demon King was roaming outside the sect again.

“Stupid thing, I’ll see how many more years you can wander around!”

Spitting a glob of phlegm in anger, he pulled out a Celestial Essence Pear and began munching on it.

Perhaps it was psychological, but he always felt that eating a Water-elemental Spirit Fruit seemed to alleviate the symptoms of the Blood Transformation Soul-Chasing Curse somewhat.

Zhang Cuihua approached, speaking softly:

“Junior Martial Uncle, Martial Uncle Liu Yu was here half an hour ago and is waiting in the parlor.”

She was already accustomed to the peculiarities of her Junior Martial Uncle’s condition.

After learning about the reasons behind his affliction, she held great admiration for him, facing off against a Demon King of the Golden Core Realm and yet living so freely, never with a look of fear.

If it were her, even staying within the sect would leave her on edge.

Ji An nodded slightly, quickly swallowing the Spirit Fruit before striding into the parlor with a smile:

“Senior Brother, I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long. No tasks to complete today?”

Liu Yu placed down the teacup, speaking gently:

“Yesterday, under the leadership of Senior Martial Uncle Lin Qiubai, Senior Sister Luo Ying, Senior Brother Haoran, and I coordinated to destroy a Demon Beast stronghold.

We slew two Chao Origin Stage demon beasts and several Foundation Establishment Stage demon beasts, and Martial Uncle allowed us a few days of rest before assigning new battle tasks two days later.”

While the sect covered a vast territory, although demon beasts established many outposts on the fringes, two Demon Kings and a mere tens of thousands of demon beasts served merely as a distraction.

He paused, then continued:

“Junior Brother, do you have any Tier Two Celestial Essence Pears left?”

He was currently at the Eighth-Layer Foundation Establishment, but had broken through a year and a half later than Ji An.

Recently, he felt he’d gradually grasped the mastery of Water and Fire Complementing and contemplated eating some Water-elemental Spirit Fruits to see if they could accelerate his cultivation speed.

Having frequently discussed cultivation with him, he was well aware of Ji An’s incredible comprehension and the depth of his understanding of cultivation techniques.

Possessing a Fire Dao Body, he cultivated the Fiery Sun Melting Furnace Scroll, a cultivation technique practiced by the sect’s disciples through the ages, he felt he couldn’t let himself fall behind.

At the very least, he couldn’t allow the disparity to become too great.

“I have some. Does Senior Brother need any? How many?”

In recent years, three Tier Two Lower-Grade Celestial Essence Pears had gradually matured, and he still had over forty Spirit Fruits on hand.

“Two should suffice, I want to try something.

If the method I’ve deduced works, I’d like to purchase a batch of Spirit Fruits from you in the future.

Of course, if you find it inconvenient, just take it as if I never made this request.”

Liu Yu smiled faintly, subconsciously slowed his breathing, waiting for his response, knowing that Water-elemental Spirit Fruits were equally useful for cultivators practicing Wood Element Techniques.

Quickly calculating his own needs, Ji An pondered:

“No problem, if the fruits are useful to Senior Brother, I can sell some to you at the time.

Not too many, but twenty should be available.”

The first Tier Two Lower-Grade Celestial Essence Pear tree had already borne fruit, expecting another thirty-six fruits in half a year.

He currently consumed two Celestial Essence Pears each month, with a stock sufficient to last several years.

The other Tier Two Spirit Trees were also due to fruit within two years, ensuring continuity of supply.

Additionally, some Spirit Trees in the orchard should gradually cultivate to Tier Two.

“Thank you for your help, Junior Brother!”

Liu Yu laughed heartily, engaging in casual conversation:

“What did you do today, Junior Brother?”

He too was aware of his reputation as a “Stone Turtle Cultivator,” only moving when absolutely necessary.

“Went to the Treasure Pavilion to exchange for some pills.

Uh, dear Junior, I broke through to the Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment yesterday.”

Liu Yu was startled for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile:

“You’re quite overwhelming, I was hoping to catch up to you!”

He only felt a peculiar mix of emotions within him, a blend of joy and subtle sourness.

Among the current generation of disciples in the sect, he originally admired only one person, Senior Brother Li Haoran of Yingyue Peak.

With celestial-grade talent combined with a metal element Dao Body, the gap with ordinary cultivators was indescribable.

At just forty-six years old this year, he had reached the Foundation Establishment Perfection stage, and if not for honing his Sword Intent, he would likely have already broken through to the Chao Origin Stage.

A Sword Cultivator comprehending Sword Intent Transformation during the Foundation Establishment stage was so powerful it incited no jealousy whatsoever.

Throughout the Western Continent, he was the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment stage combat strength.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Yu clasped his hands solemnly and said:

“Congratulations, Junior Brother! Breakthrough to the Chao Origin Stage soon, and I’ll too share in the glory.”

This junior had surpassed him, a Senior possessing a Fire Dao Body.

Now, he was still accumulating Magical Power to raise his cultivation level, clueless how far away he was from touching the Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment bottleneck.

For some reason, he had a vague premonition: breaking through to the Seventh-Layer Foundation Establishment was the last high point for him as a Senior Brother.