As Ye Changqing's flying vessel grew smaller and smaller in the distance, Ji An patted the spirit beast pouch at his waist and released his two beasts.
The gray-feathered sand goose sensed the blazing, untamed spiritual energy in the air, let out a few sharp cries, and dove straight into the cold pool below.
Ji An took out the beast-control token and made a simple mental connection with it, instructing the creature to locate the underwater spring.
He hadn't learned any water-controlling techniques, and he definitely couldn't dive that deep himself.
The sand goose happily accepted the task and plunged beneath the surface with a splash.
Meanwhile, Ji An brought the spirit-seeking rat along to survey the terrain. He wasn't a formation master, but picking a suitable spot to place an array didn't require much skill; anyone with hands could do it.
His main goal was to see if the area hid any potential dangers.
The mountain's metallic wind was fierce, and the little rat quickly lost its enthusiasm. The environment was far too harsh for it, and even Ji An himself found it hard to bear much worse than the pressure he'd felt from outside the formation a few days ago.
The air cut against his skin like grinding sand and burning iron; a fiery sting prickled across his flesh.
When he drew the ambient spiritual energy into his body, it was as though his meridians were being scorched. Every inch of him, inside and out, felt raw and uncomfortable.
They made their way into the cave-residence halfway up the mountain, where the conditions were slightly better. Still, the air inside was like a steaming cauldron.
After a few moments, the spirit rat could endure no more. It squeaked miserably, begging to leave.
Ji An took one look around and quickly discovered the problem: several ground-fire vents inside the cave had been opened and never sealed.
The Chen clan, before leaving, had dismantled their array, leaving the earth-flame veins to spew violent heat unchecked.
"Those bastards! You dig the holes and can't even bother to fill them back up before leaving?!"
He cursed under his breath and left with the rat. Even he couldn't stand the searing aura much longer.
Back at the foot of the mountain near the cold pool, the air felt blissfully cooler.
After seven or eight days of surveying, Ji An finally finished mapping the terrain and burying his array cores.
The Inverted Five Elements Array he set up was designed primarily for defense, concealment, and entrapment. It could generate a faint mist to obscure visibility and block outside probing.
Though it lacked offensive power, its defensive strength was outstanding, perfect for guarding one's base.
Here, the convergence of the five elemental energies further enhanced its protective power.
Ji An had no intention of using formations to kill anyone, at least not yet. If someone came to attack, he'd simply call for reinforcements.
The mountain-guarding formation drew energy directly from the local ley lines. Breaking it would require several late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators attacking continuously for days. In short, it was very secure.
And besides, though Crimson Flame Peak lay on the outer perimeter, attacking it would be tantamount to slapping the sect in the face.
...
Once all was done, Ji An rode his spirit shuttle back to the sect's inner region early the next morning.
He purchased a few small formations specialized for sealing off ground-fire vents, then flew back to Verdant Cliff to pay respects to his master.
Hearing that her disciple was preparing to move away, Master Ge Ying smiled faintly and nodded.
"You've been my disciple for the shortest time," she said warmly, "so you haven't learned much directly from me.
I've compiled my personal insights on spirit planting and alchemy. I hope they'll help you make progress in both paths.
I won't insist that you pursue alchemy right away. Study it only when you have spare time, think of it as a form of rest.
Above all else, focus on advancing your cultivation."
As she spoke, Master Ge Ying produced seven or eight jade slips, then used a control technique to float them gently toward her disciple.
"So many?"
Ji An's eyes widened in surprise. He immediately stood up and gave a deep bow.
"A gift from my master cannot be refused. I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Master. I will study them with utmost diligence."
This was equivalent to receiving two complete inheritances, a sign of profound trust and affection.
"Your grasp of planting techniques is exceptional," Ge Ying said warmly. "You were already thriving during the Qi Refining stage by relying on the power of your spellcraft alone. But when it comes to cultivating first-grade supreme-tier or higher spiritual herbs, there's far more subtlety involved.
If you only rely on the raw strength of your planting spells, it will be difficult to achieve the best results."
Her tone was gentle, carrying a rare warmth. She had always been rather fond of this disciple; he had never caused her any trouble and had managed to reach Foundation Establishment smoothly.
He'd entered the sect with nothing and no one to rely on, yet through perseverance alone had climbed to where he stood today. His talent and willpower were clearly exceptional. If he could maintain this momentum, there was even a chance he might one day break through to the Origin Ascension Realm.
Though Ge Ying herself had never reached that level, if she could raise a disciple who did, that too would be a lasting legacy and a source of pride.
...
After taking his leave, Ji An went to the herbal garden and found Xiang Yong.
"Old Xiang, I have a job for you, casting spells on some spiritual herbs. You interested?"
He explained the situation with the Firecloud Ginsengs in his courtyard, then added:
"If you don't have the time, recommend someone suitable. I need someone whose Minor Rain Technique and Flamefire Incantation are both at the mastery level, and whose Thick Earth Art has reached perfection. You'll also need to activate a Wood Essence Bead every few days."
Xiang Yong's eyes darted thoughtfully.
"Uncle, what's the pay?"
It was simple work, and his place was nearby; it would be easy money.
"One spirit stone a month, plus a five-stone bonus when the herbs mature."
"Uncle, I'll do it."
Ji An smiled, took out six spirit stones, and handed them over.
"I'll send someone to check every six months. If the plants are thriving, there'll be extra rewards."
They knew each other well, and Ji An could trust him. In just three or four years, the Firecloud Ginsengs would be ready for harvest.
"Thank you, Uncle Ji!"
Xiang Yong grinned from ear to ear as he pocketed the stones. Easy work, easy money, what wasn't to love?
"Come on, I'll show you the place."
Ji An handed him the control token for the formation, then summoned his spirit shuttle. The two of them soared toward the spiritual fields.
...
Once the courtyard matters were settled, Ji An brought Huang Feihu and flew to the fish ponds of Bishui Lake to find Liang Qiu.
"Daoist Liang, I've leased all of Crimson Flame Peak. There's a cold spring there, but I need someone to raise spirit fish. I'd like to invite you to take on the role.
I'll cover all the feeding costs. You'll keep ten percent of the profits, and I'll also pay two spirit stones per month for preparing our meals.
You'll only need to manage the fish, nothing else. What do you say?"
Ji An's offer wasn't extravagant, but the chance to cultivate in a second-tier spirit vein was extremely tempting for a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
Just being able to breathe that concentrated aura would save him a fortune in spirit stones for pills.
"I'm honored by your offer. I'd be glad to go. But please allow me two months; my current pond is nearly ready for harvest. Once that's done, I'll head straight for Crimson Flame Peak."
"Deal," Ji An said with a smile.
Liang Qiu quickly prepared a lavish fish banquet, and the group feasted to their hearts' content.
After the meal, Ji An carefully described the exact location of Crimson Flame Peak before heading back to the small courtyard at Bishui Lake with Huang Feihu.
The two dug up the spirit fruit trees with great care. Ji An cast the Spirit-Sealing Technique to preserve their vitality, then mounted his shuttle and sped toward Crimson Flame Peak, refreshing the spell several times along the way.
Under the setting sun, birds returned to their nests, chirping softly. The air around Crimson Flame Peak felt serene.
In the valleys beyond the spirit vein, faint wisps of cooking smoke rose from bamboo cottages; these belonged to the Qi Refining disciples who had rented the nearby spirit fields.
Unlike other peaks, the spiritual vein of Crimson Flame Peak ran deep underground, isolated from the rest of the sect's ley lines almost as if cut off from the sacred mountains entirely.
The shuttle landed beside the cold pool at the foot of the mountain. Huang Feihu stepped off, spread his arms wide, and laughed heartily.
"To be able to cultivate in such a place overflowing with spiritual energy, what a blessing!"
He truly felt lucky. At the start of his cultivation, his grandfather had supported him; now, fate had brought him a generous benefactor and mentor. It was practically like being taken in as a disciple.
Ji An chuckled.
"You won't think that once daylight hits."
He gestured toward the nearby houses.
"Pick any room you like. Tomorrow, go beyond the mountain's formation barrier and look for open land suitable for new spirit fields."
During the daytime, the spiritual energy here was so intense that spiritgrass could hardly grow at all, so it would have to be planted outside the formation instead.
"We'll also need to replant new saplings," Ji An said. "Hire a few disciples from the valley to take care of that.
For now, clean up your room quickly, then come with me. We'll prepare the seedlings for tomorrow."
The sect had already harvested all the mature spirit trees, so for the time being, there was no income to expect from them. Ji An would have to return to his old trade, cultivation and planting.
Various spiritual herbs also needed to be sown. The coming days, he knew, would be busy ones.
"Understood!" Huang Feihu replied briskly and went off to tidy his quarters.
Ji An moved to the spot he had marked earlier and replanted the spirit fruit trees, then successively cast the Thick Earth Returning Chant, Verdant Wood Vitality Art, and Spring Breeze and Gentle Rain Technique.
Multicolored spiritual light shimmered around him; a soft, luminous rain fell, moistening the soil.
He wasn't merely planting trees; he was planting hope.
Afterward, he summoned the Gray-Feathered Sand Goose, still splashing happily in the cold spring, and flew up toward the mountain's mid-slope cave residence. There, he activated the sealing formation to block the open vents in the earthfire chamber, which were spewing hot air through the tunnels.
Then the two of them followed the cold spring's edge, circling clockwise around the mountain, cutting branches suitable for grafting.
They skipped over the Clear Spirit Bamboo, which didn't require grafting, and under the silver light of the moon, they harvested over twenty thousand forearm-length branches of Xuanyang Wood enough to fill the vacant spaces in the forest.
Xuanyang Wood was a first-grade superior spiritual tree; in five years, Ji An would have to pay the sect a small amount of refined materials and a large supply of spirit charcoal as tax.
Huang Feihu dug a deep pit, and together they used their Control Object Technique to heap all the branches into it. Ji An cast the Verdant Wood Vitality Art and Spring Breeze and Gentle Rain Technique again, nourishing the branches with life essence. When the mists finally dispersed, they covered everything with a thick layer of soil.
"Tomorrow at the beginning of the Yin hour (around 3 a.m.), we'll prepare more branches," Ji An instructed.
"We stop before sunrise, and the grafting must wait until after sunset.
These days will be hard work, be ready for it."
"Thinking about the future harvest, how could it not be worth it?" Huang Feihu replied with a grin.
He already knew that the fiery gales and blazing heat of daytime made planting impossible, but only night and early morning were safe for cultivation. Even so, the survival rate of the trees couldn't be guaranteed.
Still, what amazed him most was the power behind Ji An's spells. His companion had reached the Foundation Establishment stage only a few months ago, yet the aura gathered by his high-level planting spells was several times stronger than the likes of the basic Minor Rain Technique.
Ji An simply smiled kindly.
"Tomorrow, we'll hire some more disciples to help. That'll make things easier."
He lifted his gaze to the moon high above and nodded slightly.
"It's already midnight. Let's head back and rest."
He summoned his spirit shuttle, and the two of them rose into the night sky.
The wind rustled through the leaves below, whispering almost as if bidding them farewell.
When Ji An returned to his cave dwelling halfway up the mountain, he used the Minor Rain Technique to gather clean water and wash himself, then lit a stick of Spirit-Calming Incense.
Thin blue smoke curled through the air, hazy as mist, carrying a faint, soothing fragrance.
He sat cross-legged on the stone floor, began circulating the Evergreen Aetherwood Art, and smiled faintly.
If he went even a single day without cultivating, he felt as though something essential in life was missing.
Now, with the earthfire vein at its calmest, it was the perfect time to train.
Afterward, he would still have half an hour left for sleep, and for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, going ten or fifteen days with little rest was hardly a problem.
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