Ji An left Sunrise Peak, riding the cloud to Lingxiao Mountain, arriving at the Inheritance Hall.

Upon reaching the second floor, he saw Senior Brother Moo Feiyu engrossed in reading a book with a thread-bound cover.

He glanced over and unexpectedly discovered it was a cultivation novel fabricated by mortals.

Laughing to himself, he thought, before guarding the Transmission Hall, the other was an ascetic cultivator and probably hadn’t experienced mortals’ lives.

"Hmm," he lightly coughed and said:

"Senior Brother Moo, I came to choose some magic techniques."

Moo Feiyu’s eyes didn’t leave the book as he waved his hand:

"Junior brother, feel free to choose on your own. Look for me when you need to copy them."

Ji An smiled and shook his head, setting off to select the magic techniques on his own.

The sect did not have many Chao Origin techniques, and after careful selection, he retrieved a jade slip.

"Senior brother, this is it. Please help me make a copy."

The Five Elements Attack Technique was incomplete, but all Five Elements Escape Techniques were available. The sect’s intent seemed to be that each disciple learns a skill or two for survival.

"Let me see."

Moo Feiyu put the book down, "Fire Dragon Heaven-Burning Technique, Mixed Gold Profound Armor Spell, Profound Nether Daoist Qi, Wood Escape Technique, Gold Escape Technique, Fire Escape Technique, Water Escape Technique."

He scratched his head and earnestly said:

"Junior brother, the value of magic lies in precision, not quantity. I remember you have already learned many Planting Techniques; do you have the energy to study so many techniques?

Moreover, the battles of cultivators above the Chao Origin Stage often rely on spiritual artifacts and magical treasures.

Learning one or two techniques is enough; otherwise, you’ll bite off more than you can chew."

"What Senior Brother says is true, I am only taking them as references to determine which techniques suit me the best," Ji An said. If not for the Stone Turtle’s help, he certainly would have chosen just a few techniques to practice diligently.

His senior brother’s advice was well-meant, but he was unaware of Ji An’s actual situation.

"Excuses, fine, the wasted small merit is yours anyway."

Moo Feiyu no longer persuaded; everyone makes their own choices.

The sect intended for disciples to learn techniques at a low cost, but who would have thought there would be cultivators like Junior Brother Ji who enjoyed ’collecting’ techniques.

He copied the cultivation techniques, saying:

"Seven techniques, totaling seven thousand small merit.

The password for the jade slip is the route map for the Fire Element Technique section of the Five Elements Reincarnation Scripture."

He felt the sect should formulate new rules where after exchanging a certain number of techniques, a higher cost is required for new techniques.

Ji An put away the jade slip and immediately handed over his jade token:

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Moo Feiyu placed the jade token on the Spirit Disc and exclaimed:

"When did you pay off the small merit owed for the cultivation technique? So fast."

He could see the disciples’ debts to the sect as well as their exchange records at the Inheritance Hall, but not those from other halls.

If he knew the cultivator in front had just spent over three hundred thousand small merits at the Treasure Pavilion, he would be curious what he might think.

"Hehe, the yield from Red Flame Peak was quite abundant, so I earn small merit at a slightly faster pace than others."

Ji An didn’t directly answer the query, having long since repaid his merits.

"I see, no wonder you’re willing to spend so much merit on techniques, it seems you’re quite affluent."

Moo Feiyu deducted the small merit and returned the jade token.

The two chatted for a moment before Ji An took his leave.

When he exited the Inheritance Hall, a faint sunset just happened to cast its light at the entrance.

He stretched greatly and let out a deep breath.

After a day of running around, he finally completed his tasks. Now, he just needed to diligently advance his cultivation and gather fire element spiritual materials.

Cloud-riding upward, the air grew thinner, carrying a slight chill.

Upon ascending to a certain height, he unleashed the Five Directions Spirit Gathering Technique with full force, attempting to collect the Late Sunset Qi.

The technique enveloped an area of over thirty zhang, gathering a few strands of red twilight light in his palm.

The twilight light resembled extremely fine silk threads, almost impossible to see.

"Oh dear," Ji An grimaced; his technique was at the Great Perfection Level.

With this efficiency, he had no idea when he’d gather enough twilight light to weave into a banner.

Momentarily dazed, the collected Late Sunset Qi slowly dissipated.

Ji An immediately regained his focus, cloud-riding toward Red Flame Peak.

The distance from here to Red Flame Peak and Ningcui Cliff was about equal, making teleportation arrays unnecessary.

He occasionally halted, performing the Five Directions Spirit Gathering Technique to collect twilight, then quickly storing it in a jade bottle.

The bottle reflected fiery light, ever-changing, as splendid as the twilight itself.

The Late Sunset Qi cannot be stored long, even with restrictions on the jade bottle, at most three days before it must be refined into a strand of Spirit Silk along with Morning Glow Qi.

Gathering twilight, he also absorbed the power of the Dao of Fire Element.

As twilight faded, the stove-red evening glow and clouds outlined in gold disappeared into the night sky.

...

Under a moonless firmament, stars spread like a sea.

The Fire Element Auspicious Cloud shimmered with passionate red light, trailing a long fiery tail, adorning the night.

Back at his grotto mansion on Red Flame Peak, Ji An performed the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill, enjoying a refreshing cold shower before feeling invigorated, heading into the Quiet Chamber.

He retrieved a few Bodhi Leaves from his storage bag, steeping a cup of Spirit Tea.

After drinking the tea, he burned some incense made primarily from Bodhi Fruit, feeling a refreshing coolness in his Sea of Consciousness.

The Bodhi Tree, already a Tier Two Lower Grade Spirit Wood, seemed to enhance comprehension, inducing a state of lively thoughts.

Ji An sat on the Pudun woven from Soul-Calming Grass, placing the jade slip of the Mixed Gold Profound Armor Spell on his forehead, extending his Divine Sense to absorb its contents.

He first read a few times, and then pondered the essence of the magic technique.

With a strong spirit and decent comprehension, coupled with the Dui Metal Dao Seed and Bodhi Tea, he took about a double hour to master the casting technique of the spell.

In his view, this magic technique is considered a high-tier version of the Golden Armor Technique, but with extra effects.

Cultivators can actively unleash all the spell’s energy, forming a more powerful protective shield, lasting half a breath.

Ji An began casting the spell, with magical power circulating in the Dantian, forming a golden halo on the body surface in coordination with the Dharma Seal in his hand.

The halo shook violently a few times and quickly dissipated, the first attempt at casting announcing failure.

He recalled the rhythm during casting, took out the Jade Slip for careful comparison, and cast the spell again.

Once again wrapped in a golden halo, countless Dao Patterns formed on the body surface, quickly disappearing beneath the skin.

His skin seemed like copper-cast, carrying a dull metallic sheen.

[Magic Technique: Mixed Gold Profound Armor Spell (Entry 1%)]

The magic technique had reached entry level, Ji An showed a slight smile, and he sank his mind into the Dantian, connecting with the Upper Stone Turtle.

"Refine Spiritual Mechanism, enhance the Mixed Gold Profound Armor Spell!"

His Divine Sense entered the Profound Mysterious Space of the Stone Turtle, with both feet stepping on the Dui Position.

Pale gold spread from underfoot, quickly covering the entire Dui Position.

The Spiritual Mechanism decreased bit by bit, while the insight into the magic technique increased rapidly.

[Magic Technique: Mixed Gold Profound Armor Spell (Entry 1%→Perfection 21%)]

"Haha, the feeling of rapid enhancement, it’s really delightful!"

Ji An laughed loudly, rested his eyes for a moment, and took out the Jade Slip of the Fire Dragon Heaven-Burning Technique to study.

He exchanged so many magic techniques, the first thing to do is to reach entry level, so that during routine times he can practice anytime.

Thanks to the support from the Dao Seed, he wanted to elevate the magic technique to the Great Perfection Level, which would take much less time than other cultivators.

A double hour later, Ji An left the grotto mansion, initiated the Fire Dragon Heaven-Burning Technique, and blue long-strip shaped ’Fire Snake’ whistled out.

[Magic Technique: Fire Dragon Heaven-Burning Technique (Entry 1%)]

Looking unremarkable, given it was just entry level.

The night dew was heavy, and the tense nerves relaxed, Ji An felt spirit soul fatigue.

He returned to the grotto mansion, steeped a cup of Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea, drank it down, and then fell into a deep, satisfying sleep.

...

The next morning, before the sun rose, Ji An soared above the nine skies, busy collecting Morning Glow Qi.

Compared to Late Sunset, Morning Glow was more vibrant, emitting a golden light amidst the red.

After two quarters, the sun leaped out from the horizon.

The gentle light immediately became fierce, and Ji An promptly stopped his actions, put away the Jade Bottle.

Facing the sunrise, he slightly opened his mouth:

"Ha!"

Qi Eating is more important than collecting radiant glow, expanding the Fire Element Divine Mansion is the essence of cultivation.

After the Qi Eating time, Ji An took advantage of the glow not yet dispersed and continued flying escape under the celestial vault to collect Morning Glow Qi.

Once the sun fully rose, he landed at the Cold Pool and walked into the living room.

He placed two Jade Bottles together, pinched a technique and drew out threads of glow from each.

Two threads of dispersion collided in the air, igniting a light resembling a firecracker’s fuse.

After burning, a red thread of silk floated mid-air.

Ji An caught the silk thread, wrapped each around two index fingers, and gave a hard pull.

The fingers were tightly strained, but the silk remained intact as new.

"This strength is satisfactory."

He smiled self-talking, as a Body Cultivator at the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, he possesses considerable strength.

...

Three days later.

In the Agricultural Hall, Ji An took out some Tier Two Middle Grade pine nuts, placing them on the table, and laughed:

"Senior Brother, let’s chat while eating.

How do you feel after listening to the ancestor’s teachings?"

"It has clarified the path ahead, making me feel full of energy.

During this period, I returned to the Law Enforcement Hall, and am now acting as Vice Hall Master."

Liu Yu’s eyes were fiery, he being a Fire Dao Body, the speed of opening the Fire Mansion would be fast.

In his view, this was a good opportunity to quickly shorten the gap with Junior Brother Ji.

At this moment, he still hadn’t realized Ji An had already broken through to the Second Transformation of the Chao Origin Stage.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Congratulations as well," Liu Yu grinned, his smile warm.

He paused, and continued:

"Recently, the patrolling range of Law Enforcement Hall disciples has expanded greatly, and now, the sect along with families in the jurisdiction are combined to start clearing out hidden Demon Cultivators and Demon Cultivators.

As a result, several family’s high-level members and large numbers of disciples have inexplicably disappeared.

This matter has drawn Senior Brother Lin’s high attention, demanding a thorough investigation into the cause.

Li Yuangong Senior Brother has already led numerous disciples leaving the sect, not knowing what they will find."

For three years, he wouldn’t need to undertake missions, thus happily idle, focusing fully on opening the Fire Element Divine Mansion.

Ji An furrowed his brows slightly, cautiously spoke:

"This matter reeks of oddity, what’s the reason for high-level disappearance? Could it be that they did something they could not disclose, hence escaped?"

Liu Yu agreed:

"Who’s saying otherwise, the ancestor also knows of this, not sure how this matter will progress in the future."