Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

”Burned in the fire, your death is befitting, time to go!”

Ji An muttered a few words, then pointed downward, igniting the Spiritual Charcoal with a fist-sized blue flame.

After two double hours, the Spiritual Charcoal extinguished, leaving only ashes and some bones.

Ji An felt a sense of lament; this enemy didn’t know how long it took to break through to the Golden Core Stage and achieve their former status.

But everything was over, disappearing in smoke in such a short time.

He initially thought of not burning the body and burying it in the ground instead, but was worried about the special abilities of the Earth Evil Sect cultivator’s body.

If the body didn’t decompose and became a zombie, it would be trouble, so after much consideration, he decided burning it was the safest.

Ji An sprinkled the ashes and bones near the roots of the Soul Nourishing Wood, then began the Yellow Dragon Essence Enhancement Skill.

Yellow spirit light illuminated the cave brightly, nourishing the deep Magical Intent that permeated, as the leaves of the Soul Nourishing Wood emitted a deep purple light.

Above the cave, a dark shadow swayed like the Nine Netherworld.

The earth nourishes all things and accommodates all remains; the Path of Earth carries everything with its heaviness, including life and death.

A tremor emerged from the depths of the earth, as if a true yellow dragon was traversing the earth vein, and fish-scale patterns reappeared on the ground.

The ashes of the Golden Core cultivator were evenly spread in this soil, allowing the Soul Nourishing Wood to absorb the nutrients, surely facilitating its faster cultivation to the Tier Two level.

The Phoenix Wood has the highest potential, but the Soul Nourishing Wood is more important to him; the benefits of a powerful Spirit Soul are well understood.

Ji An released the Azure Dragon Shocking Skill, which only had growth Magic Intent without Wood Element Spiritual Energy, ending the night’s work.

He continuously used the Earth Escape Technique around the grotto mansion, then began practicing magic techniques.

Alternating between the Earth Escape Technique and the Fire Dragon Heaven-Burning Technique, the moon set in the west without a word.

One night passed uneventfully.

The next morning at 7:00 AM, after releasing the Spirit Sealing Technique on the last spirit plant, Ji An said:

”Let’s go, I’ll wait for you at Ningcui Cliff.”

”Yes, sir!”

Wei Songtao rode the Spirit Ship, flying at maximum speed.

Ji An watched the ship fade into the distance, then rode a cloud down the mountain to a stone house, entered the teleportation array, and after a flash of distorted light, arrived at Ningcui Cliff.

...

Agricultural Hall, rear hall.

Lin Lan and Han Mountain bowed deeply, loudly saying:

”Greetings, Master, congratulations on your breakthrough in cultivation!”

Their Master had now become one of the most prestigious cultivators, second only to the ancestor, both in cultivation and status.

How many in the sect are of the Fourth Transformation of the Chao Origin Stage!

As disciples of such a master, how could they not be excited?

Ji An smiled kindly, saying:

”No need to be formal, sit and talk.

It’s been over ten years since we last met; tell me about your experiences over the years.

Lin Lan, you’re the senior sister, you go first.”

The disciples’ Qi Mechanism was harmonious, with no spiritual power leakage, so he couldn’t tell their cultivation levels without using Divine Sense, which would be disrespectful.

Lin Lan coughed lightly, a faint dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth:

”Reporting to Master, after you left the sect to travel, I profoundly reflected on my mistakes, deciding to master a single magic technique to its peak and join other fellow disciples’ groups.

In the third year after your departure, I improved the Jade Wood Transformation Skill to Perfection Level... and now I’m at the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment.”

Master once mentioned having three Perfection Level techniques during their own Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and she finally accepted being an ordinary cultivator, forsaking ignorant pride and diligently improving herself.

Years passed without a day’s laxity.

”Very good, I’m quite pleased; you now finally exhibit the maturity and reliability of a senior sister.”

Ji An turned to his second disciple, saying:

”Han Mountain, tell us about yourself.”

”My cultivation is the same as senior sister, having reached the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment.

The Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell advanced to its peak two months ago, and I can clearly feel its immense power...”

Holding back his excitement, Han Mountain spoke profusely.

Among spirit farmers his age, no one else had pushed any technique to its peak.

”Excellent, if you aim to elevate other magic techniques to even higher levels, I won’t oppose it, but act within your limits.

Now share the difficulties you’ve encountered in cultivation, and I’ll provide some guidance.”

Both disciples shook their heads, ”Master, we currently have no questions.”

Lin Lan explained with a smile, ”Half a month ago, Senior Uncle Jia Yu visited the Red Flame Peak Range, addressing all our accumulated queries.”

Ji An chuckled:

”I see.”

He thought Senior Brother Jia was indeed generous, having not taken the Spirit Wine for nothing.

The master and disciples chatted, and through them, Ji An learned about the open and covert conflict between Lin Mao and Kong Yunyi back then.

As long as it didn’t affect official matters, he wouldn’t interfere with the disciples’ private grievances.

Half an hour later, Ji An offered some encouragement, and the two disciples took their leave.

...

At 5:00 PM, Wei Songtao arrived at Ningcui Cliff with the Spirit Ship, releasing a Communication Golden Sword.

A moment later, Ji An emerged riding a cloud, beginning to transplant the Spirit Wood.

”How many spirit plants have been dug up in total?”

Wei Songtao replied:

”Over seventy Tier Two Lower-grade Jade Leaf Mulberries, two Tier Two Spiritual Apricots, and thirty Tier Two Lower-grade Copper Patterned Mulberries.”

The land occupied by the Spirit Wood was considerably larger than that of the Jade Leaf Mulberry, which is why the most dug up were Spiritual Mulberries.

Ji An planted this batch of spirit plants in every nook and corner around the Agricultural Hall, lightly exhaling:

”With so many spirit plants, I wonder how many can survive?

If all these over two hundred plants die, we will stop transplanting spirit wood altogether and just cut everything down.”

According to predecessor experiences, as long as the transplanted spirit wood grows a lot of roots, it is considered successful.

Last time when he transplanted spirit wood, not even one survived; the sample size was too small to be informative, but this time the amount is sufficient.

Wei Songtao bowed his head in response:

”Understood. Ancestor, the matters here are finished, I shall take my leave.”

”Hmm, return to Red Flame Peak.”

...

Everything at the Agricultural Hall was running smoothly, and Ji An did not stay at Ningcui Cliff but instead rode the clouds to the mining site at Red Copper Mountain.

The steward of the mining site, seeing it was a Chao Origin Stage Junior Martial Uncle, quickly went up to greet him:

”Disciple greets Junior Martial Uncle, is there anything you need me to do?”

”I have opened the Gold Element Divine Mansion and now need to absorb Gold Element Qi. Find someone to guide me as I acclimate to the terrain.”

The Red Copper Mountain Range has diverse mineral deposits buried deep underground; to absorb qi, one must delve downwards.

”Today happens to be quiet, I will lead the way for Junior Martial Uncle, please follow me.”

”Thank you, nephew.”

”It’s just a small thing, not deserving of Junior Martial Uncle’s gratitude.”

The steward walked ahead, talking ceaselessly:

”Most of those going into the mines are Body Cultivators; they are also sect disciples.

Occasionally, disciples who err come to serve labor, ranging from several months to years.”

Mining sounds echoed endlessly in the tunnel, clanging and dinging.

After walking for about a double hour, the steward halted and said:

”Further on, the evil qi is beyond what I can withstand, I will wait here for Junior Martial Uncle. We can leave together later.”

”No need to wait for me here; after absorbing qi, I will execute the escape technique to leave directly.”

As Ji An spoke, he handed over a few spirit stones to the other party.

No matter their intent, accompanying him thus far deserved a reward.

Ji An continued walking downward, pondering the essence of the path of gold.

The gold element has sharp, durable, and murderous magic intents.

Sharpness is easy to understand; the path of Geng Metal is the yang of metal, durability represents the yin of metal. Only when yin and yang harmonize does the gold element path complete.

But is the murderous intent of metal yang or metal yin? Or is it formed through the union of yin and yang?

In his current understanding, the ultimate essence of the path of wood is growth, the path of fire is ascension, and earth emphasizes heaviness and inclusion. What is the gold element, truly?

Saying the gold element refers to metal is a very narrow assertion.

The five elements represent various characteristics or a concept, rather than an actual substance.

Unknowingly, he had reached the end of the tunnel.

Ji An contemplated a while longer and began preparations for absorbing qi.

He spread his legs shoulder-width apart, raising his hands from the navel up to the breast, tilting his head back and pushing both hands slowly forward.

During this motion, he emitted a ”heee” exhaling sound.

Ji An had never absorbed Gold Element Qi from an earth vein before; this was his first time.

Doing so repeatedly, he suddenly felt a spicy stream of qi swallowed into his mouth, instinctively gulping down his first wisp of Gold Element Qi, as his lungs shone with silvery brilliance, overwhelmingly dazzling.

As Ji An repeated the exhaling motion, he felt a cold wind blowing out of his mouth, his teeth turning icy.

He continued wandering in the mine, having absorbed twenty-four wisps of qi, then used the Earth Escape Technique to leave.

Ji An returned to the surface and felt the vastness of heaven and earth upon seeing daylight again.

He summoned the Earth-Departing Flame Banner, his body enveloped in fiery radiance, like a flying rocket speeding toward Red Flame Peak, cleaving the sky in half.

The journey from Red Copper Mountain to Red Flame Peak was nearer than to Ningcui Cliff, so he returned directly to the Dao Field.

When Ji An landed at the Cold Pool, Wei Songtao quickly approached and said:

”Ancestor, the pits dug for transplanting have been filled, ready for spirit wood planting.”

”Well done, don’t forget the reward of ten spirit stones.”

”Thank you, ancestor,” Wei Songtao said with a happy grin, the ancestor unchanged and as generous as ever after years of wandering.

Ji An first came to the Spiritual Peach Garden, planted the Lingxiao Cloud Tree, then controlled the output of magical power, releasing a millstone-sized Cloud Dragon Rain Technique.

As the pearl-like, lustrous spirit rain descended, a small tree burst from the earth boasting purple skin.

Upon the spirit rain’s duration ending, it stood just over half a foot tall and thumb-thick, sparsely bearing four ink-green leaves.

”Truly a Tier Two Top-grade Spirit Plant, only able to grow this tall!”

Ji An praised it then released the Zhurong Divine Fire Spell and Yellow Dragon Essence Enhancement Skill before departing.

He rode the clouds to a nearby tea tree area, sowed all the tea seeds.

Exerting his full strength, with clouds boiling and spirit rain pouring down, the seeds swiftly rooted and sprouted.

”In the future, I shall become Western Continent’s largest tea merchant!”

Ji An, driving a golden auspicious cloud, flew to the Copper Patterned Mulberry Field, planting the Vajra Bodhi.

He cast the Cloud Dragon Rain Technique; the seed maintained a stone-hearted stance, unchanged.

Unease rose in his heart, ’Does this thing also require refinement of its outer skin?’

Ji An scratched his head and released the Yellow Dragon Essence Enhancement Skill.

The nourishing aura permeated the land without movement.

He hesitated to dig the seed out, then probed with divine sense, realizing it had rooted and sprouted, albeit the sprout being merely an inch tall.

’Fabulous, it’s good that it’s planted.’