Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique-Chapter 199 - 196: Canglan Secret Realm

The response was expected, Ji An said gently:

"Senior Brother, please wait.

Yu Han, go to the warehouse and fetch a hundred pieces of Celestial Essence Pear."

The two sat down for small talk, and the maid quickly brought out ten jade boxes sealed with Sealing Spirit Talismans, saying softly:

"Junior Martial Uncle, each box contains ten Spirit Fruits, please check."

The conversation between the two Junior Martial Uncles didn’t avoid her, and she couldn’t help but admire how easily Junior Martial Uncle Ji earned Spirit Stones.

In such a short time, six thousand Spirit Stones were in hand, enough to exchange for two Foundation Establishment Pills.

Du Huaiyuan nodded and proceeded to check each box.

After going through them, he nodded slightly, took out sixty Middle-grade Spirit Stones and handed them over:

"The Spirit Fruits are precisely one hundred pieces."

After the transaction was completed, Du Huaiyuan continued:

"Junior Brother, I’ve consulted with the Master and an Artifact Refiner, and the most suitable Spiritual Artifact for me is the Tide Surge Wave Bead, well-rounded in both offense and defense.

It can both trigger Water Element Spiritual Power for protection and unleash attacks similar to the Stacked Wave Technique."

He had inquired in detail with the Artifact Refiner, as the protective means involved constantly flowing Water Element Spirit Light, making the artifact’s defense power substantial.

The activated Stacked Wave Technique, equivalent to the Perfection Level magic effect, was sufficient for him.

Ji An put away his Spirit Stones, saying:

"Congratulations, Senior Brother, crafting such an artifact will meet most of your needs."

His tone carried a hint of envy, as well-rounded Spiritual Artifacts seemed exclusive to Water Element Artifacts.

Du Huaiyuan shook his head with a wry smile:

"Crafting Spiritual Artifacts requires a large amount of Tier Two Water-elemental Spiritual Objects, which are quite scarce in the Western Continent. Gathering enough materials might take a long time.

I estimate encountering a Merchant Cloud Ship from the Central Continent is my only chance; waiting too long, I feel a bit impatient."

Once acquiring the artifact, regular refining practice is necessary for optimal use.

Water-elemental Spiritual Objects are abundant in the East Sea Land, but the Western Continent lacks large lakes; only a grand river stretches through the heart of the Ten Thousand Mountains, offering cultivators limited opportunities to obtain Tier Two Water-elemental Spiritual Objects.

Ji An thought for a moment and said:

"The Cloud Ship from the Central Continent travels once approximately every thirty years, and it’s been over twenty since the last visit, so Senior Brother, rest assured and just wait."

After joining Ningcui Cliff, he once encountered a mountain-like Flying Ship in the sect; that was indeed the Cloud Ship from the Central Continent.

Inside that Cloud Ship were Golden Core Stage Array Masters, as the sect needed them to upgrade Spiritual Veins, otherwise they wouldn’t permit such Cloud Ships to enter the mountain gate.

Du Huaiyuan brooded for a moment and whispered:

"Junior Brother, when dealing with Tier Two Spiritual Objects transactions, it’s usually barter, and Spirit Stones can only cover the price difference.

If by then I lack sufficient bargaining chips, could I borrow some Spiritual Objects from you?"

His Spirit Stones were gradually ample, but he didn’t have enough Spiritual Objects that could be traded; he feared that even if he encountered the Cloud Ship, he wouldn’t possess enough Spiritual Objects to exchange for materials.

Junior Brother had already cultivated Tier Two Spirit Plants, so his resources should be relatively rich.

"No problem."

Ji An promptly agreed, as the Demon Calamity was about to break out, refining Spiritual Artifacts was crucial.

They both hailed from the same sect, their relationship was good, and they shared common interests; he was willing to lend assistance if his resources allowed.

Du Huaiyuan cupped his hands with a smile:

"In crucial times, relying on one’s Senior Brothers is trustworthy—my gratitude in advance."

He planned to stockpile some high-quality Foundation Establishment Pills and late-stage pills, and only if these couldn’t be exchanged for necessary materials would he ask for a loan.

"Senior Brother, you’re being too polite."

Du Huaiyuan pondered:

"Junior Brother, calculate the time—it’s just a decade until the Canglan Secret Realm opens.

Inside, there are invaluable Treasure Plants; do you have any plans?"

The Secret Realm is a fragmented minor world attached to the Cultivation Realm, where due to its enclosed environment and unique laws, specific high-tier Spirit Plants and Spiritual Objects are more likely to form.

The Canglan Secret Realm, situated among the Three Sects in the Western Continent near Cyan Cloud Immortal City, opens once every sixty years, allowing cultivators to enter and search for resources, then opens again six months later.

Inside, the spiritual environment for Wood Element and Fire Element is extraordinarily rich, and the Spirit Plants and Spiritual Objects it nurtures tend to lean toward these two elements.

"No particular plans, the sect will only dispatch Law Enforcement Hall cultivators into the Secret Realm.

Senior Brother Liu is likely to enter, and I’m planning to ask him to help gather Spirit Seeds and seedlings."

Ji An replied, noting that due to the restrictions of the Secret Realm’s laws, only cultivators below the Chao Origin Stage could enter.

Within are numerous Demon Beasts at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Level, with rumors even suggesting beasts having stepped into the Chao Origin Stage.

Entering the Secret Realm entails facing life and death challenges, with inevitable clashes between cultivator and Demon Beast, and cultivator versus cultivator, so the sect sends Law Enforcement Hall cultivators seasoned in Magical Combat.

Access to the Secret Realm is controlled by the Three Major Sects, limiting entry numbers but issuing entry permits to Loose Cultivators, each permit costing five thousand Spirit Stones, with a requirement to hand over thirty percent of harvested resources.

Each of the Three Sects dispatches one hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, while two hundred spots are allotted to Loose Cultivators.

"Senior Brother Liu has emerged as a standout in the Three Sects’ competition; his combat prowess is without question. Once the Secret Realm opens, he will surely breakthrough to the Sixth-Layer Foundation Establishment. With decent luck, he is bound to gain richly.

The main ingredient for the Nourishing Yuan Pill, Celestial Essence Ginseng, is within, and should he get one with sufficient age... just sensational; if my magical combat prowess were strong, I definitely would venture in."

Du Huaiyuan praised, as Liu Yu, despite being at the Fourth-Layer Foundation Establishment, held prominent victories in the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment group, coupled with formidable magical combat skills, was unparalleled by regular Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Ji An pressed his lips; based on his observations over the years, there’s a high probability that in ten years, Senior Brother Liu will breakthrough to Late-stage Foundation Establishment.

By then, if he sponsors Liu with good resources, Liu could navigate through the Foundation Establishment Stage with ease.

Du Huaiyuan didn’t continue on the subject of the Secret Realm; to him, it merely offered entertainment.

"Junior Brother, the current count of Top-grade and Upper-grade Jade Leaf Mulberry—I’ll draft a list of wine ingredients; preparations must be made before the mulberries mature in large quantities."

Xia Yuhuan promptly replied:

"I’ll go fetch paper and pen."

Ji An nodded slightly, saying, "Both types of Jade Leaf Mulberry are around three thousand trees."

Currently, the number of Jade Leaf Mulberries had greatly dwindled, but fortunately, the quality of Spirit Wood had significantly improved, otherwise the White Jade Bee population would have reduced considerably.

Du Huaiyuan grinned and said:

"In a few more years, we won’t be brewing Upper-grade Spirit Wine, and those Qi Cultivation Stage Wine Bugs will suffer, won’t they?"

A few years ago, all the Red Cloud Pines on Red Flame Peak reached top-grade level, and the production of top-grade Spirit Wine has been decreasing year by year. Once more Jade Leaf Mulberries are cultivated to the top-grade level, they will completely withdraw from the top-grade Spirit Wine market.

Ji An smiled:

"It’s the inevitable outcome."

In the future, Red Flame Peak will be synonymous with high-end, targeting only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage and above.

The maid brought paper and pen, spreading them on the stone table. After Du Huaiyuan finished writing the list, he instinctively blew a breath and said:

"I estimate the materials will cost about five thousand Spirit Stones."

Ji An took out a Storage Bag and placed fifty-five middle-grade Spirit Stones in it:

"Yu Han, hand over the list to Huang Xuan and let him and Li Cheng go out for procurement tomorrow."

"As you command," Xia Yuhuan took the list and the Storage Bag and left.

...

After dinner, a slightly tipsy Du Huaiyuan went to the Cold Pool to refine the Spirit Wine.

In the past, he wouldn’t have done this; falling asleep in a drunken stupor was his favorite.

Here, the Water Element Spiritual Power is ample. After refining the Spirit Wine, he simply started cultivating.

Xia Yuhuan and her sister, after tidying up the kitchen, came out chatting and laughing.

When they saw the figure enveloped by Water Element Spirit Light by the Cold Pool, they immediately fell silent and quietly returned to the stone house.

"Junior Martial Uncle Du has changed a lot from before."

Xia Yu Lian whispered, remembering how he would always get drunk and then go back to his room to sleep.

He usually woke up at 7:00 AM the next day, by which time Junior Martial Uncle Ji had already been cultivating for two hours.

"Maybe he’s been through some kind of shock."

Xia Yuhuan whispered, as Junior Martial Uncle Du’s several junior brothers and sisters had broken through to the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment years ago, and he should be feeling some pressure.

Cultivators are also human; they love to compare with people close to them.

After more than an hour, Du Huaiyuan finished cultivating, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

"Hmm, the effect of cultivating near a Water Vein is indeed better."

The effect of cultivating at Mingfeng Mountain was noticeably different from here.

Du Huaiyuan stood up and noticed a faint beam of light in the Mulberry Field.

He was somewhat surprised and flew to the target location to check it out.

The white leaves of a Spirit Tree appeared exceptionally crystalline under the moonlight, with golden light flowing through the leaf veins.

"It really is a Ghost Moon Cyan Jade Tree, Red Flame Peak has more and more good things."

Du Huaiyuan grinned, thinking that while Alchemists and Artifact Refiners are said to easily earn cultivation resources, he felt that Spirit Farmers who manage to make it big are the ones living the most content life.

"Junior Brother Ji, you deserve to be rich."

He sighed deeply, went back to his guest room, took out a Wine Gourd, filled a cup, and drank it slowly, savoring it.

After one cup, he decisively stopped and went to sleep.

...

Half a month later, in the afternoon.

The Mulberry Field was bustling, with several Qi Refining disciples carrying baskets and picking mulberries.

Huang Xuan was riding a Talisman Bird, patrolling above the Mulberry Field, calling out:

"Be careful, and check again from the beginning later."

Fortunately, the Mulberry Field is far enough from Red Flame Peak, and the Gold and Fire Spirit Mechanism here isn’t too strong, so the Qi Refining disciples can tolerate it.

An elderly-looking disciple stuffed a few fresh mulberries into his mouth, feeling the sweet and tangy flavor spread in his mouth, and nodded in satisfaction:

"These Spiritual Mulberries’ tier is getting higher, but their quantity is decreasing.

I remember in the years right after we planted the Jade Leaf Mulberries, during harvest season, even with twenty or thirty people we couldn’t finish the work."

Here, having a little snack occasionally is permitted.

The disciple next to him also grabbed a few mulberries and ate them, saying with envy:

"So much high-tier mulberry wine, imagine how many Spirit Stones it can earn!"

The mulberries here are the size of a finger, and after eating a dozen, one feels quite full.

He wished he could sit down now and practice cultivating with the Spiritual Power within.

"Hey, Red Flame Peak’s annual harvest is more than we’ll earn in a lifetime.

Every disciple who has worked here thinks Junior Martial Uncle Ji is the best Spirit Farmer in the sect."

When Jiang Wanrong arrived at Red Flame Peak on a Flying Ship, she saw the scene of busy disciples picking, and smoke steaming from the distillery.

She landed beside the Cold Pool and saw Ji An practicing Magic Techniques by the water.

Since they often interacted, she knew that Senior Brother Ji wasn’t busy in the afternoon, so she could interrupt.

Ji An also saw her coming, stopped his Magic Technique, and flew over, saying:

"Junior Sister, you don’t look well. Did something troublesome happen?"

Her face was full of distress, and the words "not happy" were written all over her face.

He suddenly thought of a funny phrase: If something is bothering you, tell me so I can be amused.

Jiang Wanrong took out a Storage Bag, sighed, and said:

"It hurts, I have to use all the Spirit Stones I’ve accumulated over so long to pay off a debt. Is there no other way to repay it?"

She blinked her eyes as she finished, revealing an unusual charm.

Every day, ten jins of Tier Two Mulberry Leaves, over half a year, equals nine thousand Spirit Stones.

No way to renege on the debt!

Ji An was unfazed, smiled and said:

"With half a year’s supply of Tier Two Mulberry Leaves, Junior Sister will surely cultivate top-grade Spiritual Silkworms."

He took the Storage Bag, counted the Spirit Stones inside:

"The number of Spirit Stones is correct. As our first customer for Tier Two Mulberry Leaves, I’ll give Junior Sister an extra ten jins of mulberry leaves later."