Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

The two of them came to the counter on the first floor, where the pudgy shopkeeper with big ears smiled and said:

"It’s a total of 41 middle-grade Spirit Stones. Since it’s your first time and you’ve already paid 1 Spirit Stone, you only need to pay 39 more."

He had a special skill; once he saw someone’s face, he would remember it for decades.

After Ji An paid the Spirit Stones and left, he found a broker and said:

"Return to Xuelan Street, I want to buy some Pearl Blood Rice."

The best Spirit Rice in the Western Continent is Jade Marrow Rice, which is only Tier One Middle Grade and completely incomparable to Pearl Blood Rice.

He wanted to experiment with whether Spirit Rice could be grown in the Gourd World and later try it at Red Flame Peak as well.

Li Zhonghe hesitated for a moment and said:

"Are you buying it for consumption or for planting? This type of Spirit Rice can only be cultivated in high yields by the Sunx Clan of Red Cloud Mountain."

He received some cultivators buying Spirit Rice for planting every year but had never heard of any cultivator achieving high yields.

Spirit Rice is a major commodity, and not achieving high yield means no profit.

"A bit of both; I’ll have a friend try planting some."

...

The two of them returned to Xuelan Street, where Ji An purchased a thousand catties of Pearl Blood Rice, spending fifteen middle-grade Spirit Stones.

After walking out of the Sunx Clan’s shop, Li Zhonghe said:

"Elder, do you have any plans for the afternoon, or shall we just wander around?"

"Let’s find a reliable talisman shop and a pill medicine shop. I want to discuss some collaboration."

Ji An replied, recognizing this as the first step in expanding his network. He planned to gradually connect with those families controlling mines and look for areas rich in Metal Qi.

In fact, sect mines occasionally have areas where Gold Generates Water, but such areas are too few and far between, much less than in Red Rock Immortal City.

Families controlling the mines have turned this into a business, selling leasing rights whenever they discover a place where the Spiritual Mechanism of Metal gathers.

In the afternoon, Ji An used his refined pills and talismans as an entry point, successfully reaching agreements with two shops to start supplying them from the next month.

The sunset bathed the mountains and stones of the Immortal City in an orange glow, with the stones reflecting a multicolored halo.

Ji An and his companion walked out of the Spirit Pill Pavilion. "One last thing, take me to lease a grotto mansion, requiring at least Tier Two Upper Grade."

"Yes, sir, please follow me."

Li Zhonghe was internally shocked. The level of a cultivator can generally be deduced from the grotto mansion they lease. A Tier Two Upper Grade grotto mansion’s lessee is at least at the Third or Fourth Transformation of the Chao Origin Stage.

If one’s cultivation isn’t high enough, leasing such a luxurious grotto mansion would be a waste.

Half an hour later, Ji An signed a rental agreement, leasing it for three years at six thousand Spirit Stones per year, with a three thousand Spirit Stone deposit.

The rental price of the grotto mansion is much higher than in Silver Moon City.

Since he would be staying in the Immortal City for a long time, he extravagantly leased a mansion with a top-grade Spiritual Vein.

Ji An lightly shook his head, realizing that everything required Spirit Stones when away from home, making him miss the sect more and more.

"Elder, if you’re staying in the Immortal City from now on and need any help, you can contact me anytime.

You can pass a message to me through any broker you come across."

Li Zhonghe said earnestly, having witnessed the wealth and capability of the other party and understanding deeply that this was a high cultivator who wasn’t short of money.

Ji An nodded slightly and smiled:

"In fact, I have a task for you. Help me find a few Treasure Dragon Fish, at the Qi Refining Stage level, and they need to be alive!"

The environment in the Gourd World is uniquely endowed, created through special modifications by the Stone Turtle, and includes a Heaven and Earth Spirit Root to stabilize it.

He wanted to test whether Spirit Fish could be raised in the pond; if not, there would be no loss. If successful, it would be hugely profitable.

This would mean many Spirit Plants or Spirit Fish, which could only grow in specific areas, could survive in the Gourd World.

Li Zhonghe was stunned momentarily but then nodded earnestly:

"Rest assured, elder. It’s the peak season for catching Treasure Dragon Fish recently. I’ll notify you immediately once there is news.

If you plan to cook them, there isn’t much to pay extra attention to, but there’s something I should inform you.

These Spirit Fish won’t survive a night after leaving the Nu Lan River, and even if you fill the pond with river water, the Spirit Fish won’t survive for long either."

He cautiously warned, as his professional ethics dictated, and because of his honesty and reliability, he had managed to purchase a small house on the outskirts of the city after starting as a wanderer without a fixed residence.

With a bit more effort in this life, he might secure a home for his descendants within the Immortal City.

Ji An nodded lightly, "Just go ahead. What’s a reasonable price for acquiring Spirit Fish?"

"A small fish the size of a palm can be purchased for twenty Spirit Stones."

The Treasure Dragon Fish is incredibly delicious and can be cooked in many ways – pan-fried, grilled, steamed, or stewed – all taste wonderful.

"Not too many, around ten will be enough."

Ji An handed over five Spirit Stones to the other party and added:

"This is for your efforts, and there will be more rewards once the Spirit Fish are delivered."

He naturally liked eating fish, and if he could raise various delicious Spirit Fish, he would have fish to eat wherever he went, how delightful!

"Thank you, elder. It won’t take many days to get results. You just need to wait."

Li Zhonghe happily accepted the Spirit Stones and said, "I take my leave, elder."

...

In the grotto mansion, Ji An carefully inspected everything, finding it immaculately clean, indicating regular cleaning.

He summoned a few Beast Taming creatures, fed them with Spirit Feeding Pills and Spirit Fruits, and then stationed Dahuang and Golden Fur at the entrance.

Dahuang’s size was getting larger, occupying half of the room, while Golden Fur shook its fur a few times and hopped onto Dahuang’s back.

Ji An returned to the Quiet Chamber; his mind immediately sank into the Dantian and connected with the Stone Turtle.

"Enter the Gourd World!"

His figure disappeared as the Gourd Stone emitted a soft glow, filling the room.

"I’m bringing good stuff in."

Ji An smiled, taking out the Spirit Devouring Insect nest and placing it three feet away from the Gathering Essence Tree. The concentration of Spiritual Qi in this Spirit Field was slightly higher than the others.

There were invisible barriers between each Spirit Field in the Little World, but he believed there might be connecting passages underground.

However, this was only his speculation, lacking concrete evidence.

A moment later, there was movement in the Spirit Insect nest, and the insects crawled out, spitting out transparent Spiritual Liquid and started building nests like swallows with mud.

"So diligent?"

Ji An chuckled, capturing a dozen or so Spirit Insects, as yellow clouds formed under his feet, and he flew towards the black soil.

These little insects played dead instantly when caught, which is one reason why Spirit Devouring Insects are difficult to cultivate outside. Playing dead doesn’t avoid death, just makes it more convenient for predators to eat.

When he flew over the pond, Ji An scattered half of the Spirit Insects.

After hitting the water, these insects struggled and slowly sank to the pond’s bottom. Before they fully reached the pond bottom, Spirit Fish swam rapidly to them, starting to tear and swallow.

The pond suddenly became lively as most Spirit Fish joined the scramble.

Ji An’s face showed a smile; it seemed these Spirit Insects were indeed excellent bait.

Even if Spirit Devouring Insects didn’t improve the soil, it was still worthwhile.

He rode his cloud over the yellow soil and reached the red earth region, scattering the rest of the Spirit Insects by the Fire Crystal Ants’ nest.

Perhaps the insects had a special scent, as they were quickly discovered by the Fire Crystal Ants and dragged into the nest.

Moments later, Ji An’s Divine Sense entered the ant nest to engage in Spiritual Communication with the Ant Queen.

’Master, I just tasted delicious food.’

The Ant Queen’s spirit seemed joyful, clearly indicating the Spirit Devouring Insects were a delightful treat.

’Very well, you’ll have more to eat in the future.’

Ji An’s mood improved; both Spirit Fish and Fire Crystal Ants liked eating Spirit Devouring Insects so that the insect population wouldn’t become overwhelming.

He intended to have a very spiritual puppet crafted that would be responsible for feeding Spirit Fish and Fire Crystal Ants regularly. The ecosystem here would become increasingly complex, with biodiversity gradually cultivated.

He went near the Spiritual Peach tree and planted an acre of Pearl Blood Rice, then used the Cloud Dragon Rain Technique.

Rolling dark clouds covered the Spirit Field, with small electric lights flowing, and Spirit Rain, as pure as white jade beads, fell.

A nourishing aura spread, and mist quickly rose and dissipated again soon after.

Seedlings with red stripes sprouted from the ground, swaying with the rain.

"Let’s see how the yield turns out!"