The grey-feathered sand goose landed halfway up the mountain, and Ji An energetically jumped off the back of the beast, striding towards the Diligence Hall.
"Thud!"
A heavy object fell to the ground behind him, and Ji An paused and turned back, only to see the sand goose collapsed on the ground, its wings spread out, and its long neck lying weakly on the ground.
After four or five consecutive days of intense flying, coupled with carrying a person, it had reached its limit.
Usually, upon reaching the destination, it would always give a few triumphant cries, but today, it was too exhausted.
It’s ti to purchase a flying shuttle for travel, Ji An thought to himself.
He perford a spell, and a mist about ten feet in diater rolled above the sand goose’s head, as if a hidden cloud dragon was lurking within.
As the rain drops imbued with nourishing spiritual energy pattered down, the beast’s condition improved slightly.
The sand goose’s physique inclined towards the Water Elent. Life on Red Fla Peak wouldn’t be easy for it, and it could only be kept in that Hidden Pool.
Ji An entered the main hall and saw Ye Changqing ditating with his eyes closed. He chuckled and said:
"Senior Brother, your daily life seems quite leisurely."
Ye Changqing had heard soone approaching a while ago, and upon hearing this, he finally opened his eyes:
"Although there are quite a few Foundation Establishnt cultivators in the sect, the assigned tasks often span years, and several junior brothers in the Diligence Hall specialize in running errands to collect task items, so this place is mostly quiet.
Junior Brother, you’re still young and at a vigorous age, while I’ve grown old and no longer seek progress in cultivation, so of course, my days appear idle."
He stood up, a hint of lancholy in his smile:
"Have you chosen your grotto mansion’s location?"
"I’ve chosen Red Fla Peak!"
"I’ve been there a few tis. Since you cultivate a Wood Elent technique, it will have quite an effect.
Are you sure? Once chosen, it’s difficult to change."
Ji An cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. I have my own plans."
"As long as you understand the pros and cons. Since you’ve made your decision, please leave a magical mark on the Map of Mountains and Rivers.
Tomorrow, on behalf of the sect, I will send soone to Red Fla Peak to notify them that they must relocate within a set ti."
"Early-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivators are entitled to twenty acres of Spirit Field, but the spiritual energy on Red Fla Peak is fierce, even affecting those cultivating tal and Fire Elent techniques.
The sect provides an additional subsidy for cultivators who choose such grotto mansions, allowing you to freely manage thirty acres of Spirit Field."
"Excellent," Ji An smiled, even more delighted by the additional benefits.
After leaving a magical mark on the Map of Mountains and Rivers, he stayed to chat.
The grey-feathered sand goose had exhausted its strength and needed more ti to recover before setting off.
He took out a blue porcelain jar containing Spirit Tea, smiling:
"I see you also have tea sets here, Senior Brother. Why not brew so tea for us to share?"
Ye Changqing glanced at the jar, a hint of a smile on his lips:
"Good tea, ’New Rain on the Empty Mountain’ from Yifang Studio. I’ll go get so spiritual charcoal."
"An expert indeed."
Ji An carefully examined the patterns on the jar, thinking that Tian Qingbai was rather generous, as he originally thought it was just ordinary Spirit Tea given at random.
Ye Changqing ca over, carrying a copper basin with one hand, cheerfully saying:
"If you delve into the art of tea brewing, there’s a vast body of knowledge within, including which spiritual charcoal pairs with which Spirit Tea."
He took out a bronze wind furnace sowhat resembling an ancient tripod, with three legs and two handles, polished to a shine from prolonged use.
Loading the silver-grey charcoal inside, Ye Changqing pointed a finger, and a fla sprouted from his fingertip into the furnace.
In the next instant, a fiery crimson glow reflected from the tiny furnace, though no flas were visible, nor was there any trace of smoke or fire.
Ji An used the Object Control Technique to place the water kettle on the wind furnace, curiously asking:
"Senior Brother, I noticed the sect’s tasks demand a significant amount of spiritual charcoal, and they even require Tier Two spiritual charcoal. Why is that?"
Isn’t it too wasteful to use Tier Two Spirit Wood, which takes at least twenty to thirty years to mature, to make spiritual charcoal? Surely it’s not just for the culinary treat of brewing tea?
Ye Changqing didn’t answer, but instead asked:
"Didn’t you learn the art of alchemy after joining the Ningcui Cliff lineage, Junior Brother?"
"No," Ji An paused and added:
"It seems Spirit Charcoal is only used for alchemy by Qi Refining disciples, while Foundation Establishnt alchemists replace it with Earth Lung Fire."
"At certain stages of alchemy, it’s necessary to simr the dicinal liquid for a long ti. Earth Lung Fire can be too volatile, potentially losing so dicinal essence.
While it’s not a big deal for ordinary pills, collecting ingredients for high-tier elixirs is already challenging, and any waste is unacceptable to alchemists.
Similar to brewing Spirit Tea, certain specific elixirs use specific spiritual charcoal, maximizing the dicinal properties.
Therefore, using high-tier spiritual charcoal during the simring stage of alchemy is essential. Senior Sister Ge Ying is a grandmaster in Alchemy Dao; you can ask her when you return."
Ji An felt slightly embarrassed. Most of his ti was spent enhancing his cultivation and practicing his techniques. He should catch up on his studies after this trip to avoid being secretly mocked.
As long as he reviewed the Jade Slips from the Inheritance Hall several tis, he could gradually broaden his horizons.
He changed the subject, asking:
"Senior Brother, which elder is overseeing the Inheritance Hall? I sensed a montary Fire Elent aura from him."
"It’s Elder Zhuu Xiangrong, who excels in Artifact Refining and cultivates a Fire Elent technique."
The kettle began to make a bubbling sound. Ye Changqing skillfully used the Object Control Technique to grab the kettle and started steeping the tea, as a faint fragrance mixed with mist wafted through the air.
...
Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.
As soon as Ji An stepped into the room, he heard the enthusiastic voice of Tian Qingbai.
"Junior Brother, where have you been wandering these past few days? I’ve already found a few suitable Spirit Farrs for you to choose from."
"I spent so extra ti conducting a field survey of the grotto mansion, thanks for your help, Senior Brother."
"Please wait a mont, Junior Brother, I’ll notify those disciples who et the conditions to co and let you choose."
Tian Qingbai picked up a few Communication Talisman Swords and sent them out, then said:
"Choosing a grotto mansion indeed requires prudence, and conducting a field survey is a necessary duty. Where did you choose your grotto mansion, Junior Brother?
If we’re close by, it would be more convenient for us to visit each other."
"The grotto mansion’s location is sowhat remote, at the Red Fla Peak on the sect’s outskirts."
"That’s quite a distance, what a pity."
Tian Qingbai didn’t actually know where this so-called Red Fla Peak was, but since it was on the sect’s outskirts, it must be at least a few hundred miles from his grotto mansion. Frequent visits could be avoided.
Ji An looked at Fatty Tian, who was speaking of it as a pity, yet his tone did not reflect any regret, and showed a polite smile:
"Indeed a pity."
Half an hour later, those Spirit Farrs who t the criteria arrived one after another. After personally overseeing the test, Ji An selected a Spirit Farr who had reached the Perfection Level in both the Small Cloud Rain Technique and Thick Earth Technique.
"Before 7:00 AM tomorrow, co find at Ningcui Cliff, and I’ll take you to the dicinal Garden."
"As you command, I’ll go back and prepare right away."
The Spirit Farr, with hair like frost, showed a joyful expression and respectfully said.
With his proficiency in magic techniques, managing the dicinal Garden wouldn’t take much ti, so it wouldn’t interfere with planting Spirit Grain, effectively earning quite a few contribution points each month for free.
Sotis, if the Upper Master was in a good mood, he might even get so rewards.
Ji An waved his hand, and after the person left, he bid farewell to Tian Qingbai and departed.
...
The grey-feathered sand geese joyfully skimd over the surface of the lake, letting out delightful cries. Returning to its most familiar area made it extrely excited.
The unpleasant experiences from the past few days had made it miss this place, where mountains and waters connect, very much.
Ji An could roughly guess the thoughts of the beast he’s tad, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth, with a hint of sympathy flickering in his eyes.
The sand goose landed in the Spirit Field. Ji An looked at the lush Talisman Grass and Spirit Rice, nodding with a smile.
In the days he was away, the Spirit Plants had been well taken care of.
He perford the Spell, casting the Thick Earth Technique and Small Cloud Rain Technique. This should be his last season of planting at Jade Water Lake.
In a few days, once he had entered into Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell and Spring Breeze and Rain Skill, the two Beginner Planting Techniques that had accompanied him for several years would slowly be buried in the dust of ti.
The nourishing aura spread in the air with the drops of Spirit Rain, the Spirit Plants swaying with the wind, and green waves rolling.
With hands behind his back, Ji An gazed at this piece of land that he had poured a great deal of effort and care into, his thoughts drifting back to the night he first entered the sect.
"Senior Brother, what have you been busy with these days?"
Huang Feihu, seeing the figure standing on the small path in the field from afar, shouted happily, as he was about to co and water the Spirit Field.
Having to care for dozens of acres of Spirit Field had exhausted him over the past few days, but now that his rightful owner was back, he could finally lighten his workload.
Ji An turned around, waved softly.
Huang Feihu ran over quickly, his face looking increasingly surprised:
"Senior Brother, did you reach Foundation Establishnt?"
"I was fortunate enough to reach Foundation Establishnt a few days ago, that’s why I’ve been busy with other things, thank you for your hard work these past few days, Junior Brother."
"It’s not hard, just what I should do."
Huang Feihu hastily waved his hand. Although he knew this day would co sooner or later, he hadn’t expected it to arrive so soon.
His eyes were filled with deep admiration. He knew the other had only joined the sect three years before him, and had advanced from First-Layer Qi Refining to Foundation Establishnt in eleven years.
Such talent was not inferior to those disciples with Top-Grade Talent and family support.
What inspired him most was that all this had been achieved by the other person through his own efforts.
This boosted Huang Feihu’s own confidence; although his talent couldn’t compare, by progressing step by step and with his grandfather’s support, breaking through to Foundation Establishnt wouldn’t be difficult.
He was now at the Eighth-Layer Qi Refining, and having already touched the bottleneck, after breaking through to the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining and accumulating for a few years, he could exchange for a Foundation Establishnt Pill and then focus on honing himself, awaiting breakthrough.
"Feihu, after my Foundation Establishnt, I recomnded you to help manage the dicinal Garden at Ningcui Cliff, but Master demanded at least one of the Small Cloud Rain Technique and Thick Earth Technique reached Perfection Level, so I couldn’t make it happen."
"That was due to my lack of capability, thank you for the recomndation, Senior Brother."
Huang Feihu laughed bitterly, knowing that he stood no chance against the Spirit Farrs who had tended the Spirit Fields for most of their lives, he could only say that the opportunity wasn’t ripe and the chance was wasted.
"Now that I’ve successfully reached Foundation Establishnt, I’ve chosen a grotto mansion and am missing soone to handle both internal and external matters. Would you be willing?"
The sect regulations allowed Foundation Establishnt cultivators to have two Qi Refining disciples assist with trivial matters, thus freeing up more ti for better cultivation, only needing to cover the contribution points the accompanying disciples had to submit each quarter.
For example, his Master’s entourage included two maidservants responsible for food and daily needs.
"I am willing!"
Huang Feihu bowed deeply; there was no need for hesitation. Being able to attach oneself to a Foundation Establishnt Junior Martial Uncle was sothing all ordinary disciples dread of achieving.
Not to ntion, being able to cultivate at a Spirit Vein Node would significantly enhance their efficiency in improving their cultivation levels.
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