Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 132: Chapter 129: Talisman Disc

The flying ship from Diligence Hall stopped outside the magic array of Red Flame Peak, Ye Changqing activated the Communication Talisman Sword, waiting for the restriction to open.

A streak of silver light flew into the magic array, and it wasn’t long before the portal opened, allowing the flying ship to slowly enter.

The flying ship arrived near the Cold Pool, and Ye Changqing gracefully leaped down, laughing heartily:

“Junior Brother Ji, after the spirit vein is upgraded, the boundaries need to be redefined, and we have to survey for any new nodes that have emerged. We’ll be imposing on you here for the next few days.”

Descending with him were a cultivator at the early-stage Foundation Establishment and four disciples at the late-stage Qi Refining.

Ji An cupped his hands, his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind:

“After the spirit vein was upgraded, I thought Senior Brother wouldn’t take long to come by, but I didn’t expect to wait for so long.”

The nearby valley had already turned into a spirit vein node, and Huang Feihu reported that the concentration of spiritual energy inside could at least reach Tier One Upper Grade.

Not only that, but on both the east and west sides of Red Flame Peak, more than twenty miles away, two low hills had risen, each with a very rich concentration of spiritual energy.

He estimated that in a few years, he would welcome several new neighbors.

By then, Red Flame Peak would no longer be the outermost spirit vein node of the sect, and this area would gradually become bustling, potentially developing into a small marketplace.

“The upgrade to a Tier Three spirit vein stretches from east to west for thousands of miles. We’ve divided into six groups, starting from the easternmost side to survey.

The ranges of the spirit vein nodes have all increased to varying degrees, and multiple sub-veins have appeared. The surveying task is substantial, so it’s taking a bit longer.”

Red Flame Peak is located on the far western side of the spirit vein, naturally making it the last in line.

As Ye Changqing spoke, his face was full of smiles. About seventy percent of the spirit vein nodes had upgraded in rank, and even those that hadn’t seen a rank upgrade saw a significant increase in spiritual energy concentration.

With the sudden addition of several hundred spirit vein nodes, within ten years, more Foundation Establishment cultivators will emerge in the sect.

Given time, the sect’s foundation will gradually catch up to Luofeng Valley.

The upgrade of the spirit vein to Tier Three has the greatest benefit of allowing the two ancestors to reside in the sect concurrently to enhance their cultivation.

The spirit vein was previously only a Tier Two Top Grade, and if it had to support the constant intake from two Golden Core cultivators, it might slowly deteriorate.

No other choice existed, so the two ancestors alternated keeping watch in the sect, using the spirit vein’s blessed land to enhance their cultivation while the other went out to seek opportunities.

Ji An nodded slightly: “Is there anything I can help Senior Brother with?”

“You just need to have two people accompany us, and let the others continue their work.”

Ye Changqing waved his hand; the tasks were nearing completion, and there was no need for him to personally rush things along. It was time to relax for a few days.

“Flying Tiger, you two accompany the members of Diligence Hall over the next few days.”

Ji An assigned the task and then gestured:

“Senior Brother, let’s sit inside the house and have a cup of tea.”

The two took their places as host and guest, and Ye Changqing pondered:

“I feel the Spiritual Mechanism here is much gentler, seemingly more conducive to cultivation?”

The spiritual energy here seemed denser than before, but the Gold and Fire Spirit Mechanism didn’t feel as intense as previously, which should not happen under the circumstances of a spirit vein upgrade.

Thus, the only possibility remained that the other kinds of Spiritual Mechanisms here have become much more vigorous, somewhat reducing the influence of the Golden Fire Spiritual Energy.

Ji An skillfully added Profound Yang Wood and Spiritual Charcoal into the Wind Furnace, smiling:

“It’s also due to good fortune, the Five Elements Spirit Mechanism at Red Flame Peak being more balanced, so the Golden Wind and Fierce Fire Qi doesn’t feel as vigorous as before.

However, this is only limited to the Cold Pool area. The sensory experience in other regions hasn’t changed much or has even increased slightly.”

“Junior Brother has good luck. The spirit vein at Red Flame Peak has reached Tier Two Middle Grade, comparable to the treatment for the uncles in the Chao Origin Stage.

Tsk tsk, the pace of improving your cultivation speed will quicken a bit more.”

In the sect, apart from a few Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment senior brothers, no cultivator could enjoy this treatment.

Ji An activated the spell, releasing a spark from his fingertip to ignite the spiritual charcoal:

“This indeed counts as my blessed land.”

Here, the Stone Turtle could absorb various Spiritual Mechanisms, enabling him to develop comprehensively without any weaknesses.

He paused and continued:

“Senior Brother, on the day of the spirit vein upgrade, I suffered quite some loss here.

I can still contribute the required amount of spiritual charcoal, but the pine nuts can’t be delivered as scheduled and as measured. Could you possibly convey this to the sect?”

Many Red Cloud Pines used for gathering pinecones fell. Although they were replanted upright and rooted again through his spell, a significant reduction in yield was inevitable.

“The sect had anticipated such cases in advance, so many tasks this year have had their requirements adjusted accordingly. Pine nuts are among those, and Junior Brother only needs to deliver fifty percent of what was usually required.”

…

Three days later.

Ye Changqing spread out the survey map drawn by the disciples across the stone table and said:

“Three additional spirit vein nodes have appeared nearby; two have reached Tier One Upper Grade, and the other has reached Tier One Middle Grade. The sect will soon relocate cultivators to guard them.

The spirit vein at Red Flame Peak has expanded by one circumference, and preliminary calculations show that the usable spirit field has increased by over fifteen hundred acres.

Junior Brother, do you have the capacity to contract them all?”

“Yes.”

Ji An agreed without hesitation, as after breaking through to the mid-stage Foundation Establishment, he would need increasingly more resources, so it was prudent to prepare in advance; cultivating more spirit fields was very worthwhile.

“Although cultivating spiritual trees is relatively easier, there are few people in the sect capable of taking care of so many acres of spiritual trees and tending to them as well as you do, Junior Brother, which explains why you earn so many contribution points.

There are only three months until the task deadline for this year, so during this time, Junior Brother needs to prepare, as starting next year, these spirit fields will require rent payment.”

Ye Changqing sighed, genuinely admiring his junior brother’s ability in cultivation management.

He turned his head and said to the cultivators behind him:

“Register and allocate these Spirit Fields under Junior Brother Ji’s name.”

…

One month later, Red Copper Mountain.

Chen Xingzhou stepped into the grotto mansion, his eyes brightened as he cupped his hands and smiled:

“Congratulations, Eighth Brother, on your cultivation advancement.”

“Fourteenth Brother, please have a seat,” Chen Xingyun waved his hand and sighed slightly:

“It took fifteen years to progress from the Fourth Layer Foundation Establishment to the Fifth Layer Foundation Establishment, and the time spent for each cultivation advancement will be even longer in the future.

This year, I am eighty-two years old, and I wonder if I can reach that stage in my lifetime.”

He recalled when he had just entered Foundation Establishment at thirty, full of spirit and even fantasizing about having the potential for Chao Origin.

Yet, fifty years had passed, and he barely managed to reach the Fifth Layer Foundation Establishment, leaving only a hundred years at most to improve his cultivation.

Based on the current situation, achieving Chao Origin Stage seems feasible only in dreams.

Chen Xingzhou sat below, speaking softly:

“Eighth Brother, with more disciples from Golden Spirit Sect appearing near Red Flame Peak, our chance of acting on the target is diminishing, and the clan leader decided not to execute the assassination plot within the Golden Spirit Sect’s mountain gate.

However, this person remains a threat. If Eighth Brother can monitor the target’s movements outside, we can act then.”

Over the years, they monitored that the target always stayed alone in the Magic Array during Red Flame Peak’s eruptions. The clan leader believed the target couldn’t disclose things to others, deciding years ago to abandon the assassination plan, but he never stopped thinking about executing it.

Chen Xingzhou had controlled Red Flame Peak for years, profiting significantly from the volcanic eruptions, having no shortage of pills, and rapidly advancing cultivation.

After leaving Red Flame Peak, his once-lavish days suddenly turned harsh, leaving him unsettled.

Chen Xingyun said gravely:

“I’ve thought seriously about this recently. Fourteenth Brother, you should persuade the clan leader.

Red Flame Peak is ultimately not family territory. The situation of erupting spiritual objects might be exposed someday. If the sect investigates deeply, the family will undoubtedly face severe punishment, likely resulting in significant harm.

Even if the situation is exposed now, we can evade it. After all, others don’t know how many years it has erupted, so the family only needs to hide knowledgeable clansmen.”

He only learned about the eruptions from Fourteenth Brother after Ji An chose Red Flame Peak as his grotto mansion.

Even if the pilfered spiritual objects are exposed, there’s room for negotiation, and the family can compensate. If the assassination of sect disciples is exposed, the family will face cleansing, implicating him too.

After ten years, he witnessed the opponent’s caution.

The real fear now is that if the target leaves any backhanded move, even if the assassination succeeds, the sect would know that high-tier spiritual objects surged during Red Flame Peak’s eruptions.

Chen Xingzhou lowered his gaze, silent.

…

Wei Songnian piloted the flying ship, enthusiastically landing at Red Flame Peak.

“Senior Brother Ji, long time no see!”

Ji An looked at the ruddy, spirited, and robust cultivator, laughing loudly:

“Junior Brother Wei, congratulations, congratulations.”

The other had already become a Foundation Establishment cultivator, further expanding his network.

“The sect’s spiritual vein upgrade succeeded, and when choosing grotto mansion, I discovered several spirit vein nodes newly emerged here at Red Flame Peak, decisively choosing the adjacent valley.

In the future, I will rely on Senior Brother Ji’s care.”

Wei Songnian cheerfully cupped his hands and spoke as the Spirit Fields allocated to him could employ Spirit Farmers for management, allowing him to integrate into the sect’s Foundation Establishment circle selling higher profit products.

“I was just looking for Junior Brother to show you something good.”

Ji An led him out of the Cold Pool, taking out a talisman disc adorned with crimson patterns and loaded it with four Bursting Talismans.

“Junior Brother Wei, take a good look.”

He activated the talisman disc with Magical Power, and the Magic Talismans flew out in sequence, flashing fire and striking the mountain rocks, accompanied by muffled sounds and flying debris.

Wei Songnian exclaimed in delight:

“Is this a talisman disc?”

Talisman discs were difficult to craft, and many Foundation Establishment Talisman Makers could not produce them.

He’s only heard of such good things, never witnessing them in person.

Ji An nodded proudly:

“Indeed! I’ve loaded it with only Middle Grade Bursting Talismans. If there were Top-grade Bursting Talismans inside, given a proper opportunity, they could strike the target, rendering a Qi Refining Stage cultivator capable of slaying an Early-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast, isn’t a wishful thought.”

Though somewhat exaggerated, it holds hope of severely injuring Foundation Establishment demon beasts with lower defense.

Even if not used against demon beasts, Qi Refining disciples could buy one for a trump card in self-defense.

After a pause, he continued:

“What value do you think this kind of talisman disc holds, Junior Brother?”

After half a month, he’d managed to craft four Bursting Talisman discs, the crafting difficulty remained high.

Once his talisman disc crafting skills improved, the creation pace would quicken, allowing him to attempt crafting Bursting Talisman discs.

Wei Songnian’s eyes gleamed, seemingly flashing countless Spirit Stones:

“Senior Brother, how many talisman discs can you produce in a month?”

Ji An: “…”