Wanfa Daojun, starting from the Little Cloud and Rain Technique

Chapter 590: Spring comes out of dead trees
The blue lightning illuminated the area, spiritual energy gradually decreased, but the understanding of magic continued to increase.

After an unknown amount of time, the stone tortoise space closed, and Ji An's consciousness returned to his body.

【Yi Wood Divine Thunder (Perfect 97% → Perfect 100%)】

The words "Yi Mu Shen Lei" faded quickly and eventually disappeared.

The Jia wood seed in the Huagai acupoint and the Yi wood seed in the liver's wood palace suddenly flashed, and a special aura permeated the body.

"Hehe, after all these years, my wish has finally come true."

Ji An smiled broadly. He had a plan he wanted to execute, and he was just waiting for the Yi Wood Divine Thunder to reach the Great Perfection level. Now, his wish had finally come true.

He drank two more cups of tea, then probed the Void Stone with his divine sense for a moment, and took out a dark red rectangular wooden box.

A second-grade top-quality spirit-sealing talisman was pasted on it, its spiritual light already dimmed.

"This box is over a hundred years old!"

The box is made of Xuan Yang wood, and it is full of memories of Crimson Flame Peak.

Ji An sighed, opened the box, and revealed a section of dried black tree root.

This is the root of a second-grade top-quality spirit peach tree, the spirit peach tree that our sect had cared for for many years.

At this moment, he couldn't help but think of his master, Master Zhengyang, and many other people. Memories that had been dormant in his heart surged up, and the past events came vividly to mind.

He hadn't forgotten anything from the Golden Spirit Sect; he had simply buried it deep within his memory.

After a long while, Ji An came to his senses:
"Hey"

A long sigh escapes, reflecting on the passage of time.

The spirit peaches in the small world are now at the mid-grade level of the third rank, but they can no longer taste the same as they did back then.

He took out the tree root, activated the Azure Lotus Heart-Burning Flame, and three-colored flames shot out from his fingertips, instantly engulfing the wooden box.

This century-old object turned to ashes and fell to the ground, just like the passing years and the past that can never be returned to.

"All that is past, let us look forward."

Ji An clenched his fist, his gaze sharpening again as he reminisced over the past. The calamity of the true demon was drawing ever closer, and he needed to find opportunities amidst the danger.

He stood up, tossed the tree root onto the open ground, and rapidly changed hand seals to release the Wood Divine Thunder, controlling the thunder magic with extreme precision.

Azure lightning appeared, as if the void itself was about to crack open, and the tip of the lightning struck the withered tree roots.

The thunder subsided, the lingering effects of the spell vanished, and it was as if nothing had happened.

Ji An used his telekinesis to grab the tree root, and was suddenly overjoyed. He didn't know if it was luck or not, but he got the result he wanted.

Thunder possesses destructive power, but because it is generated by the interaction of Yin and Yang, it also contains a trace of creative power.

The tree roots were completely charred, half carbonized, while the other half emitted an extremely faint glow, resulting in uneven quality.

For spiritual plants, the divine lightning of the Wood element has the power to turn death into life, just like how a dead tree in the mortal world is struck by lightning and then sprouts again; this is the principle behind a dead tree coming back to life in spring.

The roots of the Spirit Peach had lost their last bit of vitality, but now life has returned!

The spirit peaches grown in the gourd world are not particularly rare varieties, but if it is a lightning-struck spirit peach that has been reborn from the dead, it not only lives a second life, but also becomes a brand new variety.

Ji An felt that this spirit peach had already surpassed some precious plants in potential and might reach the height of the phoenix tree in the future.

He summoned the Azure Lotus Banner to his side, and carrying the tree root as if it were a precious treasure, he went to the Crimson Spirit Field and planted it on the side near the Gathering Yuan Tree.

He then released the Earth Vein Ascension Technique, allowing the earth element's nourishing power to permeate the lightning-struck spirit peach.

He then unleashed the Azure Dragon Water Moon Technique and the Azure Sky Yangming Technique in turn, as if the sun and moon were in the sky, with the bright and warm golden light and the moist and cool silver light blending together.

Two azure dragons let out soft, long roars, their azure light filling the sky, and a gentle, nourishing rain fell silently, nourishing all things.

The mist then spread, transforming the place into a fairyland.

As the rain stopped and the fog dissipated, the sun and moon faded and disappeared, and a spirit peach sprouted from the soil.

It is only half a foot tall, with a trunk as red as fire and covered with blue spots.

A dozen or so emerald green leaves hung sparsely on the branches, their edges serrated, occasionally flashing with a streak of lightning.

Ji An placed his hand against the leaves and could feel a faint surge of electricity when the lightning flashed.

"Haha, this is such a wonderful occasion, we should have a few drinks to celebrate!"

He was in high spirits. This lightning-struck peach seemed to be an extension of his master's life and a testament to the past.

He rode the cloud back to the Gathering Yuan Tree and instructed the puppet:

"Stew a precious dragonfish, roast a red grouper, bring two plates of vegetables and a dish of fennel beans, and put out two jars of third-grade pine nut wine."

Waking up feeling full of energy, Ji An practically jumped out of bed; this was probably what it meant to be riding high on success.

The lightning-struck spirit peach, having survived death, produces spiritual fruits that contain a trace of life force, making it even more effective than the longevity peach, especially for cultivators nearing the end of their lifespan.

He left the small world and returned to his cave. He sensed a strange fluctuation of magical power coming from outside and immediately realized that a golden sword had arrived to deliver a message.

He strode out of the cave, made a hand seal to open the magical barrier, and a golden light flew to his side.

Ji An grasped the golden sword that conveyed the message and extended his divine sense, discovering that it was the magical imprint of True Man Xuanmu. He read the information within and rode a cloud away from the cave.

A crimson aura, like a sharp sword, cleaved the sky as Ji An arrived at the Cloud Sea Immortal City, landing beneath the empty Golden Puppet Pavilion. He stepped inside, found True Person Xuanmu, and after exchanging pleasantries, the two took their seats in the VIP room.

Master Xuanmu said:

"We have received orders from the Merchant Alliance to send a merchant airship to the Western Continent in half a month, and arrive in about six months."

He felt quite relaxed. The situation in Misty Mountain had shown signs of becoming tense in recent years, and there were rumors that the Merchant Alliance was preparing to recruit a group of cultivators to go there.

Leaving at this time would avoid the possibility of being conscripted. As a puppeteer, being conscripted would mean sacrificing a lot of time to participate in operations, which would be very unwise.

Ji An took out a jade slip and handed it over, saying:
"I would like to trouble you to take the jade slip to the Western Continent and give it to any Golden Core cultivator in the Golden Spirit Sect. The key to the jade slip is the operational route map of the sect's cultivation technique, the Fire Element chapter."

The jade slip contains a key; if it is forcibly opened, it will be automatically destroyed.

He left the recipe for the Fire Essence Pill and his refining experience in the jade slip, and invited the sect to send cultivators to him.

He felt that the sect should not only focus on the Western Continent, but should also look towards the entire cultivation world. Regular exchanges with extremely prosperous states like the Central Continent were essential.

At the same time, if he maintains such a connection with the sect, it would be reasonable for him to have high-level spiritual plants flowing out of his possession.

Master Xuanmu accepted the jade slip and smiled:
"Don't worry, I will definitely deliver the jade slip."

It's a simple favor that can deepen our friendship, so why not do it?
The calamity of the true demons is about to erupt, and there's no escaping it. Having more friends means having more options.

Not only should you have many friends within the sect, but you should also make many beneficial friends outside the sect.

Ji An took out ten high-grade spirit stones. "This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it, fellow Daoist."

For the other party, delivering a jade slip on the way was simple, but for him, it was a great help, so he had to reciprocate.

Master Xuanmu waved his hand, declining the offer:

"Fellow Daoist, you're too kind. It was just a small favor."

"Your help has been of great assistance to me. I owe you a favor, so please accept the spirit stones as payment."

Personal relationships are personal relationships, and compensation is compensation.

Unable to refuse, Master Xuanmu picked up two high-grade spirit stones.

“I’ll accept the reward. Please take the rest back, fellow Daoists. You’re too kind. It’s just mutual help between friends.”

After this little incident, the two grew even closer and began talking about cultivation.

Master Xuanmu sighed softly and said:
"It has been 150 years since I broke through to the Golden Core stage, and I have wasted nearly 40 years trying to break through to the middle Golden Core stage."

If I still can't break through in five years, I'll have to seek out pills to help me achieve that breakthrough.

The Golden Puppet Sect is rich in resources, and coupled with his superb puppet-making skills, he has no shortage of pills during cultivation.

He reached the peak of the early Golden Core stage in just over a hundred years. He never imagined that he would waste so much time due to a bottleneck.

Although cultivators may seem to have long lifespans, they are actually still competing with the heavens for longevity.

Ji An scratched his head. He was now also feeling the bottleneck, and the other party's situation was something he was worried about.

"What causes the bottleneck in the early stages of the Golden Core realm? I mean, what aspect of the bottleneck is it?"

Throughout his cultivation journey, he encountered a bottleneck during the Qi Refining stage due to his aptitude, but since breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, he has never encountered a bottleneck that has lasted for a long time. At most, he can complete the breakthrough in a dozen years.

The Jinling Sect used the Five Elements Revolving Scripture as its inherited practice for a relatively short period, and did not leave behind a wealth of previous experience for them to refer to.

Master Xuanmu pondered for a moment, then spoke:

"The purity of one's magical power, understanding of the cultivation technique, the cultivator's own innate talent, the strength of their spiritual power, and whether there are any hidden injuries in the body, etc., can all be reasons for a bottleneck."

Besides sharing his knowledge of sect secrets, he openly discussed everything he knew, and his sincerity made it easier for him to make true friends.

The two engaged in a friendly exchange, and Ji An was greatly inspired.

After exchanging cultivation experiences, Master Xuanmu lowered his voice and said:
"The situation at Misty Mountain has changed, and cultivators may be recruited there in the next few years. Fellow Daoist, you should prepare more resources to resist the pollution of demonic energy."

Even if there's no draft, these things will still come in handy later.

This news is known to all the powerful Golden Core cultivators, so his revelation is not considered a leak.

Ji An nodded slightly and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Thank you for informing me, fellow Daoist. I will make preparations as soon as possible."

Master Feiyun mentioned this news some time ago, but it doesn't seem to have much impact on him.

Even if the battle is intense, they wouldn't immediately summon him, the alchemist, would they?

Besides, he has been quietly accumulating resources all these years, so even if the True Demon Tribulation were to erupt now, he wouldn't be caught off guard.

Master Xuanmu changed the subject, saying:

"Fellow Daoist, you have left your sect to travel here. I wonder if your sect can offer some third-tier spiritual plants in exchange for resources? I hope they can cultivate enough Azure Dragon Wood."

The departure of Ling Nong, a Golden Core cultivator, must have had a significant impact on a sect in the Western Continent.

Ji An smiled mysteriously, "Fellow Daoist should be able to purchase enough high-quality Azure Dragon Wood."

(End of this chapter)