Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Ji An took the Jade Slip, skimmed through its contents, and nodded in satisfaction.

The pill formula’s content was very detailed, explaining how to handle various Spirit Medicines and the issues and solutions that might arise during Alchemy.

For him, he could follow the instructions and complete the refining.

He stored the Jade Slip in the Grotto Void Stone and handed over the Jade Slip recording the Fire Element Pill formula:

"Daoist friend, please have a look."

Feiyun Zhenren took the Jade Slip, pressed it against her forehead, and pondered whether the medicinal properties of the various Spirit Medicines on the formula were reasonable.

After a while, she took down the Jade Slip and smiled gently:

"How did you think of using Pine Nuts as the main ingredient at that time?"

In the Central Continent, various Pine Nuts are mainly used for brewing Pine Nut Wine, a Spirit Wine that is aromatic and mellow.

Ji An’s eyes revealed a hint of reminiscence as he recounted:

"In the Western Continent, the Sect planted many Red Cloud Pines, and the harvested Pine Nuts were primarily used as substitutes for Fire-elemental Spiritual Objects for Foundation Establishment Disciples to refine, while the remaining Pine Nuts were roasted or used to brew wine.

Due to the large number of Red Cloud Pines, a surplus of Pine Nuts accumulated in the Sect’s warehouse. To make full use of the resources, the Sect commissioned a senior sister to use them as the main material to refine pills that could help Foundation Establishment Cultivators improve their Cultivation.

The senior sister’s research was quite successful, and the stockpiled Pine Nuts found a purpose.

"Inspired by this, I thought of using Pine Nuts to refine Pills. Moreover, when I left the Western Continent, the Sect gifted me a large amount of Tier Three Pine Seeds, providing the material basis for creating the pill formula."

In fact, using Pine Nuts as the main material for refining pills was a forced choice, as there was no better alternative.

After hearing his story, Feiyun Zhenren said:

"It’s really not easy," Feiyun Zhenren sighed and continued:

"I will request the headquarters to gather resources from other regions to refine the Fire Element Pill. The benefits you earn will be settled every six months, so just wait for the profits to start coming in."

Ji An was not particularly optimistic about the other’s cheerfulness and asked with a smile:

"Daoist friend, how many batches of Pill materials do you think you can gather?"

Feiyun Zhenren’s voice was calm and unhurried:

"It will be at least five or six hundred batches. Six months later, I will inform you to take on the refining task."

Ji An’s eyes widened suddenly, saying, "Always ready."

If this statement is true, it indicates the other party is quite influential and well-connected, someone he would like to be friends with.

Moments later, he took his leave, and Feiyun Zhenren stood up to see him off.

Upon exiting the Certification Association’s gate, Ji An cupped his hands and said:

"Daoist friend, there’s no need to see me off. Let’s have a drink and celebrate another day."

Earlier, Feiyun Zhenren declined his invitation for a small drink, likely out of modesty.

"Alright, let’s meet again another day."

Ji An strode off briskly, and after walking a bit further, he started utilizing the clouds for travel, musing to himself:

’Being a platform certainly earns profits!’

Contribution Points are merely an abstract concept, much like the game currency from his previous life, yet they manage to involve countless craftsmen.

This is not something to envy. The existing order is already formed, and even if he breaks through to the Nascent Soul Layer in the future, he cannot interfere with the Certification Association.

Ji An flew to Yunhai Pharmacy and descended, drawing a Blank Jade Slip to replicate the Spirit Medicines on the Pill formula.

Stepping into the pharmacy, he handed the Jade Slip to the steward who approached:

"Purchase Spirit Medicine Seeds, enough for a hundred batches."

The materials for high-tier elixirs are expensive. To avoid significant losses from failed refining, each batch generally results in two Formed Pills.

The higher the tier of the elixir, the more Divine Sense is consumed during refining. If too many pills are formed, the consumption of Divine Sense increases, making it difficult to maintain control.

Out of a hundred batches, Ji An thought he could at least produce a hundred and thirty Formed Pills, which should be sufficient.

If things went well, the production could reach a hundred and fifty Formed Pills, with plenty to spare.

Thinking back now, if the Sect wanted to obtain a Golden Core level pill formula, it should not have been too difficult.

However, having only a pill formula is useless without an Alchemist. If the Alchemist is not of Golden Core Level, the failure rate is beyond what the Sect can handle.

Even with an Alchemist, there are no guarantees without Spirit Medicines. The prices of high-tier Spirit Medicines are steep, and sellers often price them based on the Pills refined.

The steward took the Jade Slip and placed it on his forehead, nodding sharply:

"Senior, please follow me to the VIP room for a short wait while I retrieve the Spirit Seeds from the warehouse."

The transaction for selling seeds might not be large, but given the type of seeds—uniformly, Tier Three Spirit Plant Seeds—it’s substantial enough to earn at least ten Top-grade Spirit Stones.

Ji An followed the steward to the VIP room, sipping the Spirit Tea served by a maid, waiting quietly.

Moments later, the steward returned with a red wooden tray, quickly entering and apologetically said:

"Senior, high-tier Spirit Seeds are relatively rare. Currently, there is a shortage of Purple Cloud Tree Seeds, and the Spirit Seeds for the Jade Ganoderma are just enough for thirty batches, while the other Spirit Seeds can only cover sixty batches.

The life force of spirit seeds is vigorous, and as long as they are planted on suitable land, their survival rate is extremely high."

When the pharmacy requires the sale of high-tier spirit seeds, it must be accompanied by the phrase ’planted on suitable land, the survival rate is extremely high.’

Because many high-tier spirit plants have special requirements for the soil environment, they cannot simply be planted in a high-grade spirit field and expected to thrive.

Ji An’s fingers gently tapped the tea table, producing a rhythmic sound.

"The Purple Cloud Fruit and Jade Ganoderma are the main ingredients for pills. These two spirit plants are scarce. How will I refine pills in the future? When will I be able to obtain these two spirit seeds?"

He only has one Purple Cloud Tree, and even if it bears fruit, it will be a matter of decades, maybe even a hundred years.

The medicinal age of the Yellow Ganoderma needs to reach one thousand five hundred years to be usable, and planting it in the Little World might take three hundred years.

Spirit seeds that can’t be bought at Yunhai Pharmacy are likely also difficult to find in other shops.

The steward scratched his head, "I don’t know about that."

Ji An squinted slightly and asked:

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Is there any Purple Cloud Fruit for sale?"

The steward shook his head, "A mature Purple Cloud Fruit is at least a Tier Three Middle Grade Spirit Fruit. These kinds of spirit fruits are always handed to the pill masters of the pharmacy for refining pills and are not sold externally."

"Since there’s a source for Purple Cloud Fruit, why are the seeds so scarce?"

"The seeds can be made into high-quality beauty medicinal mud," the steward answered, selling materials is certainly not as profitable as selling products.

"I want to offer a high price to buy a few seeds of the Purple Cloud Tree and Jade Ganoderma. How long would I have to wait to get them?"

"I don’t know, but I can find out for you."

Ji An nodded slightly, pointing at the spirit seeds on the tray:

"What’s the price?"

"Seven pieces of top-grade spirit stones," the steward didn’t expect that the warehouse’s stock was insufficient; otherwise, they could have traded for more than a dozen pieces of top-grade spirit stones.

Ji An began to inspect the number and vitality strength of the spirit seeds, "Go ask around, and I’ll check these spirit seeds."

The steward left the room and soon returned, smiling apologetically:

"Senior, the shopkeeper said it’s uncertain when they will have spirit seeds available. Currently, all the forces are preparing for the impending True Demon Tribulation, so most of the spirit seeds have already been pre-sold.

If Senior had come a few days later, this batch of spirit seeds would have been taken away."

With a helpless expression, Ji An shook his head and sighed. After counting the spirit seeds and paying with spirit stones, he left.

He wandered around the larger shops along the street, buying some spirit seeds, but still couldn’t find any Purple Cloud Tree seeds.

At this point, he thought that in a few years he should gift Master Qingfeng a canister of tea, not for any particular reason except that the tree seeds given by the other party were truly rare items.

...

Ji An returned to Black Stone Mountain, entered the Gourd World, and began planting the spirit seeds he acquired today.

The Jade Ganoderma and three types of spirit medicine are earth spirit plants, planted on the outermost area of the yellow soil, leaving space in the inner circle for high-tier spirit wood.

He successively released the Earth Vein Spirit Ascension Technique and the Green Dragon Water Moon Skill, the Cyan Dragons formed by the Cyan Lotus Treasure Banner and the magic technique roared concurrently, filled with vibrant magic intent.

The yellow light aura from the ground and the cyan light aura descending from the sky intertwined, accompanied by crystalline raindrops, merging the nourishment of the earth element with the moisture of the water element.

The spirit plants took root and sprouted, and the Jade Ganoderma extended its pale yellow form. Once its medicinal age reaches one thousand five hundred years, it will turn into pure jade white.

Ji An then planted the other spirit seeds, and due to the insufficient spirit fields, he also cut down some Jade Leaf Mulberry.

He found that as long as the spirit plants are planted in the soil corresponding to their element in the Five Elements, they can grow vigorously, which piqued his interest in the soil here.

He clearly understood that many high-tier spirit plants require specific soil environments to grow, but the Little World defied this rule. He never made targeted modifications to the spirit fields.

Whether it’s the special nature of the Little World itself, the role of the Gathering Essence Tree, or the modification of the Little World by the Stone Turtle, whatever the reason, he has gained tremendous benefits.

After completing the planting, Ji An returned to his recliner to rest, quietly watching a puppet capture Spirit Devouring Insects.

The puppet he purchased was of average intelligence and could only perform the most basic labor. He wondered if he should go to the Golden Puppet Pavilion to order a high-tier puppet.

While taking a merchant flying ship to the Central Continent, he had a pleasant conversation with Profound Wood Daoist Master and learned that a high-tier puppet requires a soul stone as the central core.

During his travels to the Far North, he obtained a few soul stones, originally intending to refine them into pills to enhance the power of his spirit soul. Now that he had the Dark Night Tree and his cultivation had reached the Golden Core stage, he no longer needed soul stones for pill refinement.

Ji An’s mind quickly branched out, and he realized that in a year’s time, it would be the date for the large auction at Yunhai Auction House.

As per convention, he would collaborate with the auction house to refine Gold Core Pills. After some cultivators purchase the pills, they choose to break through in Immortal City.

By then, he could harvest another batch of Dao Rhyme; he looked forward to it.

For the past few years, he had accrued approximately two hundred points of Dao Rhyme, all used to cultivate the Gathering Essence Tree. He wondered when the spirit tree would reach Tier Three Middle Grade.

Ji An gradually came back to his senses, and he rode on a cloud to the white land to check on the growth of the Vajra Bodhi Fruit.

After the Acala Bodhisattva Skill improved rapidly to the Washing Marrow stage, the speed of advancement slowed down significantly, and he urgently needed external aid.

The Vajra Bodhi Fruit is the most crucial component of the medicinal mud. He had purchased the other spirit medicine and was waiting for the spiritual fruit to mature.

Whether it’s the Bodhi Tree or the Vajra Bodhi Tree, the cultivation area for them in the Cultivation Realm is not large, making them relatively scarce.

Thus, it’s rare to find Vajra Bodhi Fruit in major shops, and high-tier Vajra Bodhi Fruits are even more scarce.