Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

The Earth Dragon Beast’s eyes sparkled with keen insight, shaking its head as it spoke:

”Tsk tsk, I remember you. You once asked me for blood in exchange for a top-grade Earth Spirit Fruit.”

Its tongue licked its lips, seemingly savoring the taste of past delicacies.

Ji An smiled, ”I’ve now cultivated a Tier Two Top-grade Earth Spirit Fruit Tree. It hasn’t borne fruit yet, but the next time we meet, I’ll give you two to taste.”

”I’m starting to like you, more so than Zhengyang and the others!”

The Earth Dragon Beast’s eyes shone brightly. The sect wasn’t wealthy, so it seldom tasted high-tier spirit fruits and simply delved into the depths of the earth vein to sleep.

This natural method could enhance cultivation without worrying about sustenance, maintaining itself by absorbing Earth Element Qi.

It was a helpless act. The creature also wished to devour high-tier spirit fruits for faster advancement, but lacked the conditions to do so.

The Earth Dragon Beast blinked its large eyes toward Daoist Master Zhengyang, ”It seems the sect’s foundation is growing rapidly. Previously, the only Tier Two Top-grade spirit plant the sect could harvest was the Spiritual Peach.”

The taste of the Spiritual Peach was not to its liking, but it was the favorite of the Li Fire Turtle.

Daoist Master Zhengyang returned a smile, ”Daoist Master Xuanqing is a Spirit Farmer, and his ability to cultivate spirit plants is top-notch, even in the Central Continent.

We are about to purchase some Golden Core level planting technique jade slips, and perhaps in the future, we may enjoy Tier Three spirit fruits.”

The Earth Dragon Beast mischievously blinked its large eyes, ”You didn’t catch my meaning. Daoist Master Xuanqing knew to give me two Tier Two Top-grade spirit fruits; doesn’t the sect have anything to say?”

Daoist Master Zhengyang scratched his head, ”The Earth Spirit Fruit Tree is planted in Ji An’s private spirit field. The sect doesn’t have a stable access to it.

However, we do have a lot of Tier Two Upper-grade Biluo Fruits. Do you want some?”

”You miser! Ever since you became the Sect Leader, that’s how you’ve been. That generous young man will never return.”

The Earth Dragon Beast shook its head, ”No more talking. I’m going back to sleep. Don’t bother me unless necessary.”

It turned to Ji An, ”Daoist Master Xuanqing, you can come and converse with me anytime.”

Ji An nodded, ”Alright, as long as the Rock Ancestor doesn’t mind my chatter.”

”How could I mind? We are friends,” the Earth Dragon Beast’s scales shimmered with yellow spirit light, then it disappeared from sight.

Daoist Master Zhengyang shook his head with a wry smile, ”Ah, there’s a saying in the mortal world, ’You don’t know the cost of firewood and rice until you run a household.’ Only after becoming the Sect Leader did I realize how difficult it is to maintain and develop a sect.

Our sect doesn’t have many resources—two small spirit stone mines, one medium-sized spirit stone mine, and a few metal veins. That’s all the assets we have.

When the sect established its mountain gate here, there were hardly any usable spirit plants.”

It was only in this generation of disciples that the sect truly began to thrive rapidly.

Ji An consoled, ”Senior Brother, everything is improving.

Yunhe Mountain is the core node of the Yin Vein. Now that the Yang Vein has been elevated to Tier Three for over 150 years, the entire Yin Vein should be close to reaching Tier Three level, right?”

With him here, cultivating Tier Three spirit plants was only a matter of time.

They had now acquired the pill formula for the Gold Core Pill. In due course, the sect’s Golden Core inheritance would be firmly established, requiring no external help.

Daoist Master Zhengyang looked pleased, ”Junior Brother Yuxiao said that within thirty to fifty years, it would undoubtedly reach Tier Three level. To witness the elevation of the sect’s two main veins would fulfill my duty to the ancestors.”

It took over two thousand years for the sect to grow from a Chao Origin Stage force to the Golden Core level. Who knows how many years it would take to reach Nascent Soul level? Whether that day would come, only time would tell.

But these matters were not for him to worry about, leaving it to future disciples to strive.

He pointed to various doors, explaining what kind of spiritual objects were stored inside, and finally said:

”Junior Brother, how much of those Tier Three resources do you need?”

”Half a pound of Transforming Essence Divine Mud, half a pound of Wuhua Treasure Soil, and three taels of Phoenix Stone.”

Ji An said, he had thought the sect didn’t have many Tier Three resources. Now it seemed there was quite a bit stored, accumulated over many years by previous generations.

”Little Jia, bring out the Tier Three resources mentioned earlier.”

”As you command,” Jia Yu entered different halls to retrieve the resources, presenting them with cupped hands before saying:

”Ancestor, exchanging for half a pound of Transforming Essence Divine Mud requires four thousand great merits, half a pound of Wuhua Treasure Soil three thousand great merits, and three taels of Phoenix Stone require four thousand five hundred great merits, totaling eleven thousand five hundred great merits.”

Ji An scratched his head, ”Senior Brother, I might have to buy on credit.”

A great merit was equivalent to a hundred small merits, and over a million small merits were gone. He still owed small merits for exchanging cultivation techniques too.

But it was a small matter to him; it wouldn’t take more than twenty years to repay. As Red Flame Peak’s Tier Two Top-grade resources increased, the speed of repaying the debt would be faster.

”That’s fine. This is a privilege enjoyed by Golden Core cultivators, but it must be repaid within thirty years.

Little Jia, make a record.”

Jia Yu lowered his head, ”As you command, Daoist Master Xuanqing, please leave a Magical Mark as proof.”

”Thank you,” Ji An left his mark, took the Tier Three resources, placed them in a Grotto Void Stone, and asked:

”When will the sect purchase Nourishing Yuan Pills?”

The disciples were waiting for the Nourishing Yuan Pills to make breakthroughs.

”Wait a few days more until Senior Brother Zhang Zizhao of the Diligence Hall finishes his work, and then the two of us will go to Cyan Cloud Immortal City together.”

Jia Yu sighed, ”The increased demand for Nourishing Yuan Pills is a good sign. If it weren’t for the rapid development of halls like the Agricultural Hall and the Artifact Refining Hall in recent years, we would be in deficit.”

Daoist Master Zhengyang chuckled happily, ”In recent years, we’ve spent a lot of our foundation acquiring various knowledge inheritances, but things will soon improve.

Junior Brother, do you think I will see Tier Three spirit plants cultivated in my lifetime?”

Ji An wore a serious expression and nodded firmly:

”It is most definitely possible.”

”The Purple Gold Phoenix Wood on Sunrise Peak, the Star Tree on Red Copper Mountain, and the Canglan Mist Pine on Yunhe Mountain are all spirit plants planted nearly a thousand years ago. Now that my junior brother is taking care of them, I eagerly anticipate their advancement to Tier Three.

By the way, isn’t doing this a waste of your energy?”

”With the teleportation array connected, there’s no need to spend time on travel. Besides, I can maintain the effect for seven days with one spell.”

”Ha ha, then I can be assured.

My junior brother, repaying your debts will be simpler than for anyone else. Cultivating a Tier Three spirit plant will earn you a reward of five thousand great merits.”

Ji An smiled, ”It does sound simple indeed.”

He secretly added in his heart, ’In reality, it’s not difficult at all.’

A Golden Core early-stage cultivator can manage up to one hundred and fifty acres of spirit fields, and the produce from these fields is ”tax-free.”

A middle-stage cultivator has two hundred acres, while a late-stage one has three hundred acres.

However, Ji An would not enjoy these benefits for long; once he cultivated a Tier Three spirit plant and obtained the seeds of all treasure plants, it would be his time to leave.

...

The teleportation array flickered, and Ji An and his companion arrived at Cyan Cloud Immortal City.

Daoist Master Zhengyang said with interest, ”Yesterday I returned to the sect, and today I visit again, feeling different each time. Now I only feel full of hope.”

In the sect, there are three Golden Core seeds he has high expectations for. When he finally returns to the earth, he can face all the sect leaders with a smile.

Proudly telling them, ’The sect now has several Golden Core Daoist Masters!’

Ji An jokingly said:

”Senior Brother Sect Leader, you are wise and powerful, ushering in a flourishing era for the sect.”

”Ha ha, I like those words. You can say more, junior brother.”

The two of them laughed as they left the sect’s base, flying away to board the merchant flying ship.

Daoist Master Zhengyang walked ahead, familiar with the way, to the Scripture Pavilion where spells and various inheritances were sold by the Business Alliance.

He said to the steward who approached, ”I want to purchase Golden Core level spells; who should I talk to?”

Though he rode a merchant flying ship back, he was unfamiliar with the Scripture Pavilion, as he originally thought he wouldn’t need to deal with it anytime soon.

”Please follow me, you two seniors,” the steward understood that such transactions required the pavilion master’s presence. In the cultivation realm, there are many unspoken rules; customers at the Golden Core level need to be attended to by cultivators of corresponding levels.

He was only at the Chao Origin Stage and unqualified to handle such transactions.

The steward led the two to a VIP room, apologized, and left quickly.

In the room, blue smoke curled up from an incense burner shaped like a divine bird spreading its wings. Ji An took a breath, raising his eyebrows:

”It’s actually Tier Two Upper Grade soul incense, quite luxurious.”

In the sect, even artifact refiners and alchemists were reluctant to use such soul incense.

Daoist Master Zhengyang said, ”The place caters to Golden Core cultivators, so the standards are naturally higher.

By the way, I forgot to ask, which thunder technique are you planning to learn, junior brother?”

”The Metal Divine Thunder,”

Ji An replied, the Metal Divine Thunder was the most powerful, swift, and forceful upon activation. More importantly, only the Qian and Dui Spiritual Mechanisms had ample reserves in the Stone Turtle, while others were needed to enhance planting magic.

A few moments later, a scholarly-looking cultivator entered with a gentle smile:

”Apologies for the wait, esteemed guests. I am the Pavilion Master of the Scripture Pavilion, Daoist Cloud Pine. May I ask how you wish to be addressed?”

”I am Daoist Master Zhengyang.”

”I am Daoist Master Xuanqing.”

After some pleasantries, Daoist Master Zhengyang got straight to the point:

”We want to purchase all Golden Core level planting magic techniques. Which ones do you recommend?”

”You’ve come to the right place, friends. The planting techniques we have collected are used even by the cultivators of the Divine Wood Sect.

Everything except the Metal Element is available.

The Water and Wood Mutual Generation Technique, Cyan Dragon Water Moon Technique, is suitable for Water Element and Wood Element spirit plants.

The Wood and Fire Mutual Generation Technique, Azure Sky Yangming Technique, suits Fire Element plants.

For Earth Element techniques, we have the Earth Vein Spirit Ascension Spell, which not only promotes the growth of spirit plants but also helps enhance the tier of spirit fields, applicable to spirit plants of all Five Elements attributes, except for certain waterborne water element plants.”

Ji An softly asked, ”What’s the price?”

The emergence of mixed magic techniques indicated an increase in practice difficulty, but it affected him very little.

”This is a collaboration between the Divine Wood Sect and the Business Alliance; we are merely intermediaries. Each technique costs one hundred and twenty top-grade spirit stones; no bargaining allowed.”

Ji An glanced at the sect leader, transmitting his voice:

”Are these truly used by the Divine Wood Sect cultivators?”

Daoist Master Zhengyang gave a slight nod, transmitting his voice back:

”When I was in the Central Continent, I communicated with a cultivator from the Divine Wood Sect. This is true.

The Divine Wood Sect collaborates with many business alliances; they are not afraid of other cultivators learning these techniques.”

He cleared his throat softly and said,

”I accept this price, but how much discount can I get on the purchase of the Metal Divine Thunder?”