Wanfa Daojun, starting from the Little Cloud and Rain Technique

Chapter 414 Which Golden Core cultivator is so incompetent?
Ji An flew to the mountainside cave on a cloud. Two spiritual pines, their light shimmering like clouds, seemed to sense his presence and swayed gently.

He smiled and placed his hand on the pine tree, nourishing the spiritual wood with his magic. The pine needles shone brightly, like flickering crimson flames.

"Haha, old buddies, you haven't reached the second-tier high-grade level yet, you'd better work harder."

Ji An made a hand seal to open the magical restrictions on the cave, where there was a faint smell of dust.

It's quite normal for someone to not return for more than a decade.

He considered raising some spirit lizards, these practical low-level demonic beasts, similar to geckos, which could at most reach the mid-stage of Qi Refining. They usually ate dust and caught flying insects, which could keep the cave clean.

Ji An began to hold his breath and released the Lesser Cloud Rain Water Technique to clean the cave. The putrid, dusty smell quickly disappeared without a trace.

In the herb garden, he shook his head helplessly at the growth of several medicinal herbs, including the Heavenly Origin Ginseng.

If he had stayed in the sect all these years, these medicinal herbs would have accumulated at least a hundred years of medicinal age. Now it seems that they are at most forty or fifty years old.

Relying solely on the spirit field's own grade is far from achieving the efficiency he frequently displays when casting spells.

He made hand seals, releasing the Yellow Dragon Enhancing Vitality Technique, the Azure Dragon Awakening Insect Technique, and the Cloud Dragon Spreading Rain Technique in sequence, causing various colors of light and shadow to intertwine on the rock wall.

The air was filled with the power of nourishment, growth, and moisture, and the medicinal herbs stretched their branches and leaves freely in the rain.

He left the herb garden with his hands behind his back, went to the quiet room, took out the Flame Banner, and used the essence of fire to nurture the spiritual weapon.

Strands of crimson light seeped into the banner of the magical artifact, like a thieving kitten, constantly devouring the essence.

More than ten thousand strands of Fire Phoenix Soul-Burning Aura are still preserved in the Void Realm, but he does not intend to use them now.

I plan to use these high-level items when the artifact is at a critical juncture, which should help cultivate the artifact spirit.

After the Flame Banner absorbed more than 2,700 strands of essence, it returned to his dantian. Ji An then summoned the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner.

This is his future life-bound magic weapon, destined to become the central element of the Five Elements Flag.

He needs to figure out a feasible plan to combine these magical artifacts in battle.

After feeding the Wuji Apricot Yellow Flag to its heart's content, he sat cross-legged on the futon, his mind sinking into his dantian to connect with the stone tortoise.

[Pointing to the Ground to Form Steel (51% Complete)

Earth Escape Technique (96% Perfection)

Fire Dragon Burning Heaven Technique (92% complete)

Xuanming Qi (42% full)

Mental Roar (Minor Success 8%)

The Silk-Pulling Spell (Mastery 36%)

Having been away from home for years without enough spiritual tea to replenish the spiritual energy depleted by consuming qi, Ji An dared not practice magic for extended periods.

Now that I'm back in the sect, I can prioritize practicing the Earth Escape Technique and the Fire Dragon Burning Heaven Technique to the Great Perfection level.

The Crimson Flame Peak possesses all eight spiritual energies, and the stone tortoise can be used to cultivate the gourd space.

Once the spiritual vein node here is cultivated to the second-tier top-grade, another wave of Dao essence will be harvested, which can all be used to stabilize the small world.

As long as even a low-grade first-order spiritual vein is born inside, it means that the space has stabilized and planting can begin!
At that time, this little world will be able to truly come into play.

Ji An's consciousness returned to his body, and he felt a surge of joy.

Then he calmed his mind and activated the Metal Element Chapter of the Five Elements Revolving Scripture. The spiritual energy in the cave quickly gathered in the quiet room, soon forming a light mist.

Sunlight slanted across the mountainside, making the plaque above the main hall gleam brightly, the three characters "Treasure Pavilion" shining brilliantly.

Ji An landed, dispelled his cloud aura, and strode into the hall, laughing:
"Senior brothers and sisters arrived so early."

Han Yan and Liu Yu were already there, counting the supplies with their senior brother Jia Yu.

“Junior brother’s dojo is quite far from Chaoyang Peak, so it’s normal that he arrived late.”

Liu Yu smiled and said that he still had a lot of materials from late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beasts that he needed to process, and exchanging them for minor merits in the Treasure Pavilion was the best option.

The sect offered a reasonable price and wouldn't deceive its disciples, so he didn't need to run around selling it, which suited him perfectly.

Jia Yu put down the animal hide in his hand and smiled:

“It’s wonderful that the three of you have returned safely. I visited the Ancestor a few days ago, and he was still talking about you.”

"Ji An, you know what's been going on at Crimson Flame Peak these past few years, right?"

"I know that the production of various spiritual items has been severely reduced, and the harvest has been greatly reduced after paying rent to the sect."

"Well, then I won't say any more. I'll transfer these small merits I've accumulated over the years to you later. I remember it's over 300,000."

Han Yan put her hand to her forehead and grinned, saying:

"Even with such a severe reduction in production, we still have such a huge harvest! The level of a big landowner is truly different!"

This junior brother truly achieved the state she had always dreamed of: being able to do nothing and still have a constant stream of resources to draw upon.

"It turns out the best craft isn't alchemy, weapon crafting, or formation making, but spirit farming! I wonder if it's too late for me to switch to spirit farming now."

Even if she stayed in the sect, she could normally earn 500,000 minor merits in seventeen years, and that would be under the condition that there were plenty of pill refining tasks.

Hearing the exaggerated tone in the other person's voice, Ji An nodded seriously:

"It's not too late. As long as you're willing to put in the time, it's never too late."

Jia Yu couldn't stand it anymore and said:
"Don't listen to Junior Sister Han complaining about being poor. Over the years, thanks to the profits from the Red Pine Pill, she has earned fifty to sixty thousand minor merits."

The value of the elixir will become even more apparent in another decade or so. Liu Yu gave a wry smile, "So, it turns out I'm the most miserable one."

He has no skills, and if he doesn't carry out missions or hunt monsters, he will run out of food!

At this moment, he also began to waver, wondering if he should learn a trade.

However, he quickly shook his head, reminding himself not to get distracted and to make a decision after breaking through to the Golden Core stage.

The group chatted about the changes in the sect over the years, and Jia Yu sighed:
"The Refining Hall, Pill Refining Academy, Puppet Hall, and Agriculture Hall have undergone tremendous changes in recent years. The sect no longer needs so many disciples to maintain its operations."

Five years ago, the patriarch ordered a reduction in the number of disciples recruited. The number of people in the sect will gradually decrease, and the average resources obtained will continue to increase.

Junior Brother Ji's method has won unanimous praise from the ancestors, and you will receive a great reward in the future.

He slammed his hand on the table in frustration and continued:
"It's a pity that my junior brother's method has been learned by other forces. We should have kept the news secret back then."

No one expected such a significant change to occur within the sect, and the secrecy measures were rendered ineffective.

Ji An shook his head slightly and said:
"Unless we never allow our disciples to go out, it's only a matter of time before this method is leaked."

If sects raise disciples in captivity, they will truly become sweatshops!

Disciples join the sect to cultivate the Tao, not to be cogs in the machine.

After chatting for a while, Ji An and the other two learned about some of their fellow disciples in the Chaoyuan stage.

With the sect's resources, Lin Jiuxiao and Lin Qiubai both reached the fifth level of the Chaoyuan realm and had already traveled together several years ago.

When they return, they will likely have reached the Five Elements Gathering stage and be ready to break through to the Golden Core stage.

Li Haoran also broke through to the fourth stage of the Chaoyuan period a few years ago and is currently opening up the Fire Element Divine Palace.

Han Yan's eyes gleamed with admiration as she exclaimed:
"Our sect is flourishing. In just a few years, we will become the number one power in the Western Continent!"

Like a spiritual tree that has finally blossomed and borne fruit after years of accumulation, several geniuses have emerged among the disciples of the sect in the Chaoyuan stage. It is unknown how many of them will break through to the Golden Core stage before the patriarch passes away.

She was in high spirits and felt honored.

"Haha, that's true."

Jia Yu, in high spirits, said again:

"The animal hides and other supplies you handed over can be exchanged for a total of 130,000 minor merits."

Liu Yu took out his identity jade token and said:

"Exchange everything, and also exchange some Earthly Soul-Soothing Pills."

"You've been away from the sect for almost eighteen years, so you can receive twelve pills and other corresponding supplies. How many more pills do you plan to exchange for?"

Jia Yu asked, "The sect's secret treasury has been gradually replenished over the years."

Ji Anxin thought the sect's treatment was really good. He hadn't made any contributions over the years, yet he still retained his benefits.

After making a rough calculation in his mind, Liu Yu said:
"Let's exchange for eight first."

After the two completed the transaction, Han Yan received the supplies she had accumulated over the years and exchanged them for eight pills.

Ji An received eighteen high-grade spirit stones, twelve White Tiger Profound Gold Pills, three Soul Nourishing Pendants, sixty trays of Soul Incense, and 360,000 minor merits.

The Beast Taming Hall owed him over 200,000 merit points, meaning that his previously empty jade token suddenly had around 600,000 merit points.

Han Yan stood up, cupped her hands in greeting, and said:

"Senior Brother Jia, let's go to the Wuji Hall to pay our respects to the Ancestor. We'll talk again later. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye. By the way, Ji An, have you been back to the Ministry of Agriculture?"

"Not yet, I plan to return after paying my respects to the ancestor."

"The sect has found some good spirit seeds and sent them to the Ministry of Agriculture. You can exchange a few for them."

Ji An laughed heartily and said, "This is good news."

Wuji Palace.

Master Zhengyang nodded in satisfaction and smiled:
"The three of you actually returned to the sect together. Did you meet in the Southern Continent, or did you just happen to bump into each other on your way back?"

"Two years ago, some cultivators from the Earthly Fiend Sect bullied me. I killed several of them and then chased after them. Luckily, I ran into Senior Sister Han and Junior Brother Ji. Otherwise, I would have been in grave danger back then."

"The Earthly Fiend Sect has become increasingly eccentric in recent years. Have any of you been injured?"

"I was not injured."

Han Yan subconsciously lowered her voice and said:
“Ancestor, we are still being chased by a Golden Core cultivator. In order to escape, we used the Bing Fire Divine Thunder Talisman that you gave us.”

Master Zhengyang raised an eyebrow, exhaled, and said:
"It's good that you're all safe and sound. The purpose of the talisman is to protect you."

He was heartbroken, but compared to his disciple's life, exchanging two mid-grade third-tier talismans was a worthwhile deal.

Han Yan giggled and said:
"But it shouldn't be a loss, since we killed that Golden Core cultivator."

"what?!"

Master Zhengyang was speechless, thinking to himself which Golden Core cultivator was so incompetent that he was killed by a few Chaoyuan stage disciples. What a disgrace!

Ji An coughed lightly and took out the body bag:
"We dare not open this thing, and we also obtained a Void Stone. I wonder if the Ancestor has any spiritual items that can corrode space?"

Master Zhengyang's eyes widened in horror, "You actually killed cultivators from the Earthly Fiend Sect?!"

(End of this chapter)