Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 122: Chapter 119: Ten Years

Chen Xingzhou gazed up at the sky, as if it were being scorched, his eyes cold and piercing.

Tonight, Red Flame Peak erupted.

After tonight, the target would discover the secret that the Chen race desperately wanted to conceal, and from then on, the clan and the target would be utterly antagonistic, with no room for reconciliation.

At this moment, he wondered if attacking the target before he settled at Red Flame Peak, bypassing his elder cousin, would have led to a different outcome.

After pondering for a while, he shook his head to dispel this fanciful notion.

Before the target moved to Red Flame Peak, he had been cooped up at Ningcui Cliff, which was the heartland of the Golden Spirit Sect.

The cultivator tasked with the assassination would need to embrace a fearless spirit of sacrifice, and outsiders knowing they’d face certain death would be unwilling to take such action unless it involved their own sect’s cultivators.

Those aging clan members were willing to burn their last life for the family, but doing so would greatly increase the risk of exposing the Chen race, and the clan leader wouldn’t dare take such a perilous chance.

A lonely, bitter smile appeared on his face; he had never thought the target would be the kind to hide in his grotto mansion and diligently cultivate, not playing by the usual rules.

After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage for a year or two, shouldn’t cultivators be visiting friends and establishing new social networks?

The target, on the contrary, stayed indoors for a whole year, and many in the sect might not even know of such a person’s existence.

…

Countless red dots descended from the sky, tracing fiery lines like a rain of fire, which were chunks of lava ejected by the volcano.

It seemed as if ten thousand stars fell, dazzling the night sky.

A red light in Ji An’s eyes grew brighter and brighter; he estimated where the rock would land and shifted slightly to the side.

The lava spewed from the mountain peak steadily flowed downward, but Red Flame Peak wasn’t large, and within less than half an hour, the lava’s advance came to a halt.

The lava’s hue gradually dimmed from bright orange-red, and Ji An estimated that the lava was still seventy to eighty zhang from the grotto mansion, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Although blocked by the magic array, if the lava blocked the grotto mansion entrance, it would require the effort to excavate.

The agitated Spiritual Mechanism began to calm down slowly, but by now, it was unbearably hot inside the grotto mansion, and Ji An prepared to rest in a stone house by the Cold Pool.

As he turned around, he suddenly caught sight of a bright red object lying nearby, causing him to pause slightly.

With a casual use of the Object Control Technique, he drew the unknown object to his eyes and examined it carefully.

“It’s actually a Red Flame Crystal, what had just fallen from the sky wasn’t a burning rock.”

Having supplemented his basic cultivation knowledge, Ji An knew that the Red Fire Crystal was a Tier One top-grade spiritual object, and adding a small amount when refining a magical artifact could slightly enhance the fire element attack of the artifact.

This was a material for refining first-tier top-grade magic artifacts; a piece the size of a pigeon egg in his hand could sell for twenty to thirty Spirit Stones.

The Red Fire Crystal was also one of the spiritual objects that sect Foundation Establishment cultivators needed to submit for mandatory tasks; in a few months, he would have to hand over corresponding Five Elements spiritual objects to complete the sect’s mandatory tasks.

Ji An’s lips curled into a faint smile; what could be more delightful than having fortune fall into one’s lap while leisurely at home?

Moreover, this unexpected fortune was a gift from nature and didn’t come with a price marked by fate.

He held the Red Fire Crystal in his hand, feeling its warm, jade-like texture, much harder than ordinary jade.

At this moment, Ji An no longer felt like resting, so he took out the Beast Taming Token and began to summon the Spirit-Seeking Rat; he wanted to explore an area and roughly estimate how many treasures had gushed out with the eruption of the Earth Lung Fire Vein.

If the number was scarce, he’d have Huang Feihu take the Spirit-Seeking Rat to search tomorrow.

These days, the Spiritual Mechanism had been more rampant, and Huang Feihu, Liang Hill, and his grey-feathered sand geese had all gone out to “take refuge.”

The Spirit-Seeking Rat, being an earth element demon beast, could bury itself into the moist soil by the Cold Pool, so it hadn’t left.

Just when he spiritually communicated with the Spirit-Seeking Rat through the Beast Taming Token, he sensed an excited emotion coming from the beast.

After a while, he saw the Spirit-Seeking Rat run over on its hind legs, hugging a rock the size of a baby’s fist.

Its golden-brown fur fluffed out, reflecting a gentle sheen in the moonlight.

“Squeak, squeak.”

The Spirit-Seeking Rat raised the rock above its head, emitting a boastful cry.

Ji An picked up the rock and discovered it was a Red Blood Copper Ore.

He placed the rock into his storage bag and tossed a Spirit Feeding Pill to his beast, then they set off on their treasure hunt.

These spiritual objects were scattered across the ground, full of Spiritual Qi, and the Spirit-Seeking Rat searched very quickly.

Half an hour later, they had covered a few hundred mu of land.

Ji An’s heart kept sinking: the number of spiritual objects he found was truly overwhelming.

Purple Gold Copper Ore, Flame Heart Iron Ore, various ores, and fire element spiritual objects—even a piece of Li Fire Crystal the size of a finger bone.

The Li Fire Crystal was a fiery red, with what seemed like liquid lava flowing within.

This was a Tier Two upper-grade spiritual object, usable for refining spiritual artifacts for Chao Origin Stage cultivators, and could only be found deep within the Earth Lung Fire Vein.

Now, he completely understood why Chen Xingyun was willing to let him choose another grotto mansion and figured out the prelude and aftermath of his attack—the attackers must have been sent by the Chen race.

The fact that the eruption of Red Flame Peak’s Earth Lung Fire Vein yielded so many spiritual objects—the sect surely didn’t know about it; otherwise, they wouldn’t rent it out.

The harvest of spiritual objects likely started after the Chen race rented it; he hadn’t finished searching the area and already had such a huge haul—no wonder the Chen race wanted him dead.

Cutting off someone’s source of wealth is like hindering their path to advancement; this grudge was enormous and irresolvable.

Ji An was certain, even if he were to leave the Chen race and return to Red Flame Peak now, their relationship wouldn’t improve.

Such knowledge would be like a fishbone stuck in their throat.

He had heard from nearby spirit farmers that Red Flame Peak erupted once every year, meaning this source of wealth was continuous.

Should he report it to the sect?

He pondered for a moment, then shook his head slightly. Reporting it to the sect wouldn’t prove that the Chen Clan had assigned Tribulation Cultivators to attack him, as all clues had been cut off.

At that time, any discerning person could see the Chen Clan’s suspicion, but it was impossible to topple them based solely on that, and the sect couldn’t send someone to be his bodyguard.

He took out a Communication Talisman Sword and input the information:

’After the Earth Lung Fire Vein erupted, it caused damage to the Mountain Protection Array.

I need to reorganize the earth vein and place the array disc, temporarily sealing Red Flame Peak. I will notify you to return to the mountain once the task is completed.’

Then, he activated the talisman sword to inform Huang Feihu.

The fewer people know about the situation here, the better.

Ji An’s eyes flashed with a fierce look as he sealed the Li Fire Crystal with the Spirit Sealing Technique, continuing to search for spiritual objects with the Spirit-Seeking Rat.

Over five days, he and the Spirit-Seeking Rat completely searched the area covered by the magic array, not missing the lava that flowed out and cooled.

As long as the Spirit-Seeking Rat could detect the possibility of spiritual objects inside, he would use magic to excavate the rocks.

The Geng Metal Finger, a Slaughter Technique, became his production magic technique for digging holes and breaking rocks.

Aside from those unpriced Tier Two spiritual objects, the harvest in Ji An’s hands would sell for at least three to four thousand spirit stones.

If he received such a harvest annually, anyone daring to rob him might prompt murderous thoughts.

Considering the past few days’ gains, he would always be in danger.

Now Ji An no longer harbors thoughts of reconciliation, deciding to stay honestly on Red Flame Peak, quietly cultivating and strengthening himself.

Just like enduring a prolonged contest, let’s see who cannot endure first.

Due to the Stone Turtle’s presence, his growth rate exceeds everyone’s expectations.

Once he begins taking action outside, it indicates he already possesses self-defense capabilities.

…

Beside the Cold Pool, in a stone house, Ji An sipped Spirit Tea, appearing heavy-hearted.

After drinking half a cup, he chuckled wryly:

“Ever since the last encounter with Tribulation Cultivators outside, I’ve had a lingering sense of unease.

The eruption at Red Flame Peak in recent days has stirred even more unrest in my heart.

Flying Tiger, I’m no longer going out to use magic for planting on the spirit field outside, you take over the planting.”

This was a decision he made after careful deliberation, abandoning a hundred acres of Talisman Grass yield annually, amounting to around three thousand spirit stones annually.

Besides acquiring some Tier Two spiritual objects each year, he hasn’t gained extra spirit stones.

“Okay, I understand.”

Huang Feihu felt a bit bitter, unable to manage so many spirit fields alone. If he hired people, the profit would be minimal.

Previously, while managing the spirit fields, he mainly handled Talisman Grass harvesting and talisman making. According to the previous agreement, he earned forty or so spirit stones monthly, which was much more cost-effective than self-planting.

He thought Ji An was being overly cautious; this was the sect’s territory, and since the last incident, sect cultivators have been patrolling periodically.

“I’ve already informed Fellow Daoist Wei, canceling talisman paper transactions in the future, only conducting talisman transactions, and I will purchase Middle Grade talisman papers from you.”

Ji An paused, then continued:

“If you need to hire workers in the future, ensure they’re not unfamiliar faces.”

Since the conflict cannot be resolved, he won’t entertain illusions.

…

The leaves turned yellow and green, then green and yellow again.

In the Grotto Mansion, Chen Xingzhou said with a complex expression:

“Eighth Brother, is that Ji An a turtle? Ten years have passed, and he hasn’t budged an inch.

The birds we’ve sent to monitor Red Flame Peak have been preyed upon hundreds of times without ever spotting him outside.”

He had predicted the target, having obtained spiritual objects with the eruption at Red Flame Peak, would be extremely cautious, but never expected such extreme caution.

For ten years, he has stayed at Red Flame Peak, not even venturing out for spirit field cultivation.

They prepared thoroughly, buying a large number of one-time-use Fire Thunder Magical Artifacts, precisely to dispel the fertilization fog.

As long as they’re given another chance, they’re bound to succeed, but they can’t find any opportunity at all.

Chen Xingyun’s face was equally complex, he sighed and said:

“The target is a Spirit Farmer, tasked by the sect with refining Spiritual Charcoal and raising Spirit Fish.

I’ve investigated privately; his task completion is excellent, and the quality of the Spiritual Charcoal is superior, satisfying the alchemists.

The only chance to force him out is the mandatory task of submitting spiritual objects, but these objects were obtained during Red Flame Peak’s eruption.

Currently, the only thing to do is wait for an opportunity.”

“It’s been ten years! How many ten years do we have! You need to think of a way; without opportunities, create them.”

Chen Xingyun grinned and said:

“I heard from Zhu Qinghao that Ji An has even repeatedly declined his master’s summons. What opportunities can I create?

But his good days are near the end; from a conversation with my master, I learned the sect is brewing a great plan, requiring many cultivators to travel to the heart of the Ten Thousand Mountains for missions.”

“Ji An has been at the Foundation Establishment for years, and in a not-so-important position; surely he’ll receive the sect’s summons when the time comes.”