Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

As long as the master can consume a large amount of blood and qi, his strength can quickly recover, and he can break through the seal to escape.

By then, even if it attracts the attention of High-Tier Cultivators, it doesn’t matter anymore.

...

After the guests left, Ji An sighed deeply while looking up to the sky in the grotto mansion.

"Those two lucky dogs! I wonder which cultivator they finally invited to break the formation!"

If the cultivator they invited returns safely, it implies that these two are still worth interacting with.

Since the benefits involved in the ruins are substantial and no one moved to monopolize them ruthlessly, it shows a certain degree of integrity in character, at least for a cultivator.

He shook his head, dispelling the faint sense of jealousy that arose in his heart. When it comes to luck, he had never been convinced by anyone!

Aside from the Stone Turtle, resources like the Little World and the Heaven and Earth Spirit Root are rare treasures that very few in the Cultivation Realm have the fortune to acquire.

Moreover, the Soul Nourishing Wood and Phoenix Wood in Red Flame Peak are also top-tier resources that can support a cultivator in reaching the top-grade level of Golden Core stage.

The only thing that made him uncomfortable was that he was like the "former who planted trees for the later generations to enjoy the shade," and he didn’t benefit much from many of the achievements himself.

Ji An composed himself, smiled, and walked out of the grotto mansion, not having had his lunch after completing the transaction a moment ago.

...

Half an hour later, Ji An left the Drunken Immortal Inn.

He was a regular here, spending hundreds of Spirit Stones on meals every day, so the restaurant no longer charged him an "entry deposit."

He walked briskly to Xuelan Street and found Zhou’s Spiritual Rice Shop.

The clerk came forward respectfully and said:

"Senior, are you here to sell or to shop?"

"I need to purchase some Tier Two Lower Grade spirit soil. Is Shopkeeper Zhou Changji available?"

"Yes, please follow me, Senior."

The clerk led the way because he was not qualified to be involved in transactions of Tier Two materials, which were always handled by the shopkeeper.

They arrived at the VIP room, and the clerk said:

"Please have a seat, Senior. I will invite the shopkeeper over."

Ji An nodded slightly, noting the different treatment since his first visit, when he had to be announced before seeing the shopkeeper. Now, just stating his needs sufficed for an audience.

As he sat down, the round-faced shopkeeper walked in.

"Senior’s presence is a great honor, bringing light to our humble store."

Ji An nodded gently, exchanged some polite remarks, and then stated his purpose:

"Black Moisture Soil, White Condensed Soil, Cyan Splendor Soil, Red Flame Sand, and Earth Yellow Crystal—three thousand catties of each."

The spirit soil he purchased last time had been completely consumed, and refilling it was urgent, as cultivating the spirit field in the Gourd World was crucial.

Once the tier of the spirit field was upgraded, it would nurture the Earth Vein, something he valued highly.

Only when the Spiritual Vein in the Gourd World reached Tier Two Lower Grade could its products gain higher value.

Zhou Changji’s smile instantly widened, his small eyes reduced to slits:

"Senior has come just in time; a batch of spirit soil just arrived at our warehouse a few days ago, otherwise we wouldn’t have enough.

Cyan Splendor Soil, Red Flame Sand, and Earth Yellow Crystal are eight Spirit Stones per catty, Black Moisture Soil and White Condensed Soil are six Spirit Stones per catty."

He quickly calculated and said warmly:

"That totals one hundred and eight thousand Spirit Stones."

Such a large single transaction only came by once every few years, and he felt quite pleased inside.

Upon completing the transaction, he would receive a considerable reward from his family, allowing him to buy some treasure medicine combining dragon and tiger influences to properly discipline the few concubines at home.

Ji An slightly frowned, "No discount?"

With such a large transaction amount, it would be unreasonable not to offer a discount.

"Of course, there is, I hadn’t finished. A discount of three thousand Spirit Stones."

Ji An was dissatisfied, having previously received a discount of four thousand Spirit Stones for ten thousand catties of spirit soil, yet today, for fifteen thousand catties, the discount was even less.

"The shopkeeper is too stingy, make it one hundred thousand Spirit Stones, we will cooperate more in the future."

The shopkeeper remained silent, finally showing a pained expression, "Such a level of discount will likely lead to scolding from the owner, but making friends with you, Senior, is worth it!"

Ji An chuckled, as the phrase "making friends" sounded very familiar.

He took out a batch of wooden boxes with the Spirit Sealing Technique applied, saying:

"Inside are Tier Two Upper Grade Spiritual Peaches, Biluo Fruits, Celestial Essence Pears, and Dragon Blood Fruits. As long as the price is right, I will sell them to you."

These Spirit Fruits were brought from the Sect, now coming in handy, as his middle-grade Spirit Stones were insufficient, and he was reluctant to use top-grade Spirit Stones for payment.

Zhou Changji’s smile became even more amiable, as acquiring resources meant even more profit. He carefully opened the boxes for inspection.

Moments later, after examining all the Spirit Fruits, he praised:

"The fruits are abundant with Spiritual Qi, with excellent quality. Would you be interested in long-term cooperation with us, Senior?"

Having been in the shopkeeper position for seventy years, his keen eye could easily discern the quality of Spirit Fruits.

Ji An shook his head, "These Spirit Fruits were brought from the Outer Continent, so long-term cooperation isn’t possible."

"Seeing good things always brings the thought of cooperation, hope you understand, Senior."

Zhou Changji pondered for a moment before proposing a reasonable price:

"Fifty Top-grade Spiritual Peaches, each at three hundred Spirit Stones;

One hundred and fifty Biluo Fruits, each at two hundred Spirit Stones;

Ten Celestial Essence Pears, each at two hundred fifty Spirit Stones;

Five Dragon Blood Fruits of five hundred years of medicinal age, each at three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. Are you satisfied with this price, Senior?"

He tried to show enough sincerity, even though the other party refused his cooperation proposal, it appeared that they had strong backing and exceptional planting abilities.

As for their refusal, it could only be seen as a mere pretext.

"Not bad, let’s settle the accounts."

"Alright, the Spirit Fruits are valued at sixty-five thousand Spirit Stones, you just need to pay an additional thirty-five thousand Spirit Stones, Senior."

Ji An took out the Spirit Stones, and the shopkeeper, after verifying them, left the room to instruct the clerk outside:

"Go retrieve Black Moisture Soil, Earth Yellow Crystal... three thousand catties of each."

After a while, the clerk delivered the spirit soil, and after Ji An verified it, he left.

The shopkeeper saw him off at the store’s entrance, warmly saying:

"If you have other needs, Senior, feel free to come to our store."

...

Ji An returned to the grotto mansion, instructed Dahuang and Golden Fur to guard the entrance, and then communicated with the Stone Turtle in the Quiet Chamber to enter the Gourd World.

The Wuji Xinghuang Banner immediately flew out of his Dantian and hovered over the Gathering Essence Tree.

Ji An approached the Spirit Tree, caressing its five-colored leaves and fell into contemplation.

From the inheritance obtained from the Middle Continent Cultivators, there was only a brief introduction to the Heaven and Earth Spirit Root, with no mention of the uses of the output from these Spirit Plants, and he had to verify these himself.

However, Spirit Plants were nothing more than roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, trunks, bark, etc., that could be utilized. To him, roots, trunks, and bark could be eliminated first, and since there were no flowers or fruits now, only the leaves could be started with.

Leaves could be used in medicine, or fried into tea leaves. Studying medicinal properties was difficult, as his current knowledge was insufficient, but frying tea leaves was relatively simple.

The Gathering Essence Tree was currently only at the Tier One Top Grade level, and its branches and leaves were not abundant. He planned to wait until it became a second-line Spirit Plant to try, but he intended to handle the frying of tea leaves by himself.

With an idea in mind, Ji An took out the Earth Yellow Crystal, weighed a hundred catties, and scattered it into the yellow soil, then initiated the Yellow Dragon Essence Enhancement Skill.

Yellow Spirit Light shone, and the spirit soil quickly integrated into the soil, causing deep tremors, as nourishing qi of the Dao of Ji Earth surged from the depths.

Ji An placed the Storage Bag with the Earth Yellow Crystal in a small house. As he prepared to ride the clouds away, a violent surge of Spiritual Qi erupted behind him.

Turning sharply, he witnessed the Gathering Essence Tree grow an entire foot taller before his eyes, with its leaves enlarging significantly.

The Wuji Xinghuang Banner suddenly enlarged, drove itself into the soil beside the Spirit Tree, and flapped with a rush, while the Earth Qilin let out a deep and resonant roar.

It resembled thunder from the nine heavens, exuding a mighty celestial presence.

Ji An rushed to the Gathering Essence Tree, eagerly placing his hand on its trunk to feel its Life Force.

Inside the Spirit Tree, it seemed like endless yellow soil was churning, and he felt the grandeur of the vast earth bearing all things and nurturing life.

Life began here and ended here, with the earth wordlessly observing all.

"Tier One Top Grade level, this growth speed is astonishing!"

Ji An marveled, for if he hadn’t witnessed the Spirit Tree’s growth himself, he would not have believed it.