Chapter 807: Information on the Ruins

Ji An devoted himself entirely to body refining, with each step causing a vibration on the ground.

Every exhale from his nostrils released white smoke, similar to steaming hot vapor.

The blood and Qi within his body surged along five routes, converging into the Five Elements Divine Mansion.

The veins on the surface of the Divine Mansion emitted a faint golden glow, with the ‘Blood Qi’ flowing out from the Divine Mansion gathering at the chest acupoint—this Blood Qi was his own Divine Thought Will.

The Golden Core rotated at a uniform speed, its surface shining with silver light.

Inside the Golden Core, the Divine Thought Will entered the core to strengthen and enhance it.

While Ji An’s body was in motion, his Sea of Consciousness remained calm like a tranquil lake, devoid of any ripples.

Between movement and stillness, a mysterious rhythm began to emerge.

The Puppet approached carrying a bird’s wing, extending two fingers.

Feeling that his physical strength had mostly depleted, Ji An stopped and, seeing the Puppet’s gesture, understood that it took two double hours for the bird’s wing to recover to a fleshy state.

He took the bird’s wing and glanced at it, noticing that no blood was seeping from the fracture.

“Two double hours, can a creature petrified for so long still come back to life?”

Ji An murmured softly, thinking it unlikely.

Flicking his fingertips, a flame appeared to burn the bird’s wing, then he went to a wooden cabin to perform the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill, bathing under the nourishing Spirit Rain that could relieve muscle fatigue.

Changing into an ochre Daoist Robe, he sat down beneath the Soul Nourishing Tree while the smart Puppet lit the Purple Sandalwood Soul Nourishing Incense.

Ji An took out a Purple Cloud Jade Ganoderma Pill and began to operate the Five Elements Reincarnation Scripture.

Perhaps due to excessive consumption, or maybe because of increased cultivation, the effect of the pill slightly diminished.

His body worked like a highly efficient precision machine, requiring just over two double hours to refine the pill.

Without the pill’s Spiritual Power supply, spiritual energy in the Little World quickly gathered around him, forming a Spiritual Qi Vortex.

The Spiritual Mechanism from the Spirit Field was absorbed along with the Spiritual Qi entering his body.

The Spiritual Qi was refined into Magic Power Crystals, nourishing the Golden Core and the Primordial Life Fire, also sustaining the Stone Turtle.

The Five Elements Spirit Liquid was refined within the Divine Mansion, flowing into the Middle Dantian where it was greedily absorbed by the Golden Core.

A Tier Three Upper Grade Spiritual Vein could entirely satisfy his cultivation needs, and long-term cultivation here could compensate for the reduced effect of the pill.

…

At 7:00 AM, Feiyun Zhenren descended, looked at the cultivator outside the Grotto Mansion with cupped hands, and smiled:

“The spirit wood here is growing so well, I see many have reached the Tier Three Level. Spending sixty years cultivating so many high-tier spirit plants, the friend renting the Grotto Mansion can earn quite a few Spirit Stones.”

She was unaware that these spirit woods were the second batch, and Ji An decided to correct her, saying:

“It only took thirty years. After returning from the Wulan Mountain area, I sold the initial batch of spirit woods to the Golden Puppet Pavilion.”

“Really? Truly?”

Feiyun Zhenren was unsettled, such planting ability rivaled the best of late-stage Golden Core Spirit Farmers from the Divine Wood Sect, perhaps even surpassed them.

Ji An nodded, “I wouldn’t deceive you, my friend. You can inquire at the Golden Puppet Pavilion to know the truth. This isn’t the place for conversation, please enter the Grotto Mansion to chat.”

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m just surprised by your planting technique and alchemy skills.”

As they walked into the Grotto Mansion and sat down, the Puppet served a pot of Spirit Tea and two types of pastries, White Jade Honey Osmanthus Cake and Purple Gold Honey Osmanthus Cake.

Ji An specifically brought the Puppet out from the Little World to decorate, otherwise his place would seem too deserted.

“The conditions are a bit simple, please don’t mind.”

Feiyun Zhenren sniffed the tea aroma, saying:

“Tier Three Middle Grade Yun Ding Silver Needle Tea, these conditions are not simple at all.”

Being quite knowledgeable about Spirit Tea, she could discern the tier and quality just by smelling.

Ji An smiled with pride, “As you’ve seen, I have learned much in the way of planting. Back in the Western Continent, I cultivated many Tier Three spirit plants for the sect. Though now in Central Continent, I remain in contact with the sect, and fellow members bring some Spirit Tea, Spirit Fruit, and other spirit plant products. Try these pastries, they have a subtle marvel.”

His words clarified the origin of his ‘agricultural products,’ and he spread this narrative to familiar cultivators, releasing only a small amount to avoid attracting too much attention.

“I see, your relationship with the sect is indeed favorable.”

Feiyun Zhenren used Object Control Technique to pick up a piece of pastry, put it in her mouth, covered her mouth with her hand, and began to chew, experiencing the sweet fragrance overflowing in her mouth, saliva spontaneously generating.

After swallowing the pastry, she said:

“Using Tier Three Middle Grade honey for pastry making, your way resembles that of a top Nascent Soul Sect.”

Within the family, she rarely had the opportunity to taste pastry made with Tier Three honey, and such pastries were not shabby for entertaining guests.

Ji An scratched his head, “That doesn’t sound much like a compliment.”

“Why not, you’re overthinking it. Most forces, upon acquiring high-tier resources, would strive to refine them into pills that boost cultivation, hence there are so many peculiar pill formulas.”

Ji An pointed to the other side of the tray, the pastry, and said:

“Try some of these pastries, the taste is unique.”

Both kinds of pastries use Pearl Blood Rice as the main ingredient, with a dark red color, indistinguishable by appearance.

“I must give it a try,” Feiyun Zhenren used the Object Control Technique to pick up a piece and slowly chewed it.

“The honey used is different, clearly of a much higher tier, Tier Three Upper Grade honey. You’re lavish indeed, fellow Daoist.”

A moment later, the surprise on her face deepened, as she felt the Fire Element Divine Mansion being nourished by the substances in the pastry.

Suddenly, Feiyun Zhenren felt unable to see through the other party. Could their sect be this powerful?

Ji An gently shook his head, “These things have been accumulated for many years before we got them. Each Golden Core Daoist Master in our sect can be allocated some, while more is kept to exchange for resources. I’m reluctant to use them. Since you’re here today, I’ll take out some treasured items.”

“I’m flattered,” Feiyun Zhenren’s eyes curved into crescents, feeling quite pleased.

The two exchanged joyfully as they ate and chatted, and soon the plate of pastries had vanished, mostly into Feiyun Zhenren’s stomach.

Her face slightly reddened, she moved to the main topic:

“Since you possess the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire, our family would like to collaborate with you in refining Pills like the Nourishing Yuan Pill and the Gold Core Pill. The cooperation model would be similar to the Certification Association. Are you interested?”

The quality of such Pills, essential for a breakthrough to the Great Realm, even if slightly improved, can benefit any cultivator.”

If it wasn’t necessary to reserve some herbs for the family’s alchemists to refine, she would hand it all over for them to refine.

“Of course I’m interested, but what kind of remuneration are you offering?”

Ji An readily agreed, as long as the reward was satisfying, he would gladly refine any Pills.

Feiyun Zhenren didn’t answer directly, and instead asked:

“What kind of reward would you like, fellow Daoist?”

She was a bit reluctant to speak of the remuneration initially prepared; the pastries made from Tier Three Upper Grade Purple Crystal Honey had given her quite a shock.

“Nothing else, I only want the Purple Cloud Jade Ganoderma Pill, or a full set of ingredients for it.”

Maintaining a rapid cultivation improvement necessitates consuming pills.

“You’ve advanced to Mid-stage Golden Core, congratulations! However, the Purple Cloud Jade Ganoderma Pill is a Tier Three Middle Grade Pill, while the Nourishing Yuan Pill is only Tier Two Lower Grade, and the Gold Core Pill can be regarded as Tier Three Lower Grade.”

If you request the Purple Cloud Jade Ganoderma Pill as compensation, I demand that the reward be settled only after reaching one pill.”

Feiyun Zhenren’s meaning was clear: work first, then pay, leaving Ji An with greater risk.

Ji An nodded, “No problem, but I also have a condition: the reward must be settled immediately once the conditions are met.”

“Deal.”

The two negotiated the details, finally signing an entrustment agreement.

The parties agreed to a baseline of 40%, ensuring the rights of the herb provider.

Any extra Pills belong to the Alchemist, agreeing on two Gold Core Pills or twenty Nourishing Yuan Pills to be exchanged for one pill of the same tier Purple Cloud Jade Ganoderma Pill.

Although Ji An was a bit disadvantaged, his desire for the Purple Cloud Jade Ganoderma Pill was greater.

Feiyun Zhenren put away the agreement and said:

“I will convey the message back to the family, and a reply is guaranteed within a month. Then, other family members will contact you instead of me. This collaboration is just the beginning; I trust we’ll have broader cooperation in the future.”

“I look forward to it,” Ji An politely smiled and then asked:

“Could you give me an idea of how many furnaces of Pills you can refine each year?”

If it takes two to three years to gather enough for one Purple Cloud Jade Ganoderma Pill, his anticipation would plummet.

Feiyun Zhenren smiled sweetly, teasing:

“As long as you can ensure the quality of the Pills, the orders will continually arrive.”

The family would receive numerous alchemy orders, and as long as the quality was recognized by clients, more orders would follow, which would then be transferred—pretty much securing something for nothing.

She believed the Clan Leader would keep allocations for cultivating in-house alchemists and then send more orders here.

Ji An saw he couldn’t extract a definitive answer and changed the topic:

“I’ve studied the map of Central Continent and found that the Phoenix Dance Mountain Range is located over twenty thousand miles southwest of the Wanhua Mountain Range. Is your family concerned about the situation there?”

“Wanhua Mountain Range?” Feiyun Zhenren understood and said:

“Are you planning to try your luck at the Five Elements Sect ruins?”

This ruin is favored by Loose Cultivators and smaller forces due to the many explorations conducted there, and detailed maps are sold within the Cultivation Realm.

As long as you avoid dangerous areas and conflicts with cultivators, safety can be assured.”

Ji An openly nodded, hiding nothing about his intent:

“Yes, the Five Elements Sect once stood as the top sect within the Cultivation Realm, and obtaining something from there might benefit me for years.”

“If you enter the ruins, you might be disappointed; the valuable things inside have been almost entirely scavenged. According to past experiences, the seal on the Grand Array of the ruins will slacken every hundred years. However, should the Demon Fog enshroud Wanhua Mountain Range, entrance could occur sooner.”

“It’s said that within the valuable areas remain many twisted, bloodthirsty monsters. If you wish to explore, better early preparation is advised, ideally forming a team with familiar cultivators.”