Chapter 40: Rain Clouds Gather, Spiritual Qi is Born

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Rain Clouds Gather, Spiritual Qi is Born

Li Changsheng smiled and stroked the Little White Jade Fox, then picked up the book and began to carefully study the meridian pathways and precautions for the Lesser Cloud Rain Spell.

After reading it through twice, a complex diagram of the meridian pathways formed in his mind.

Compared to the Golden Turtle Shield, the meridian network for the Lesser Cloud Rain Spell was simpler, but it required more time to master.

This was because the meridian pathways for the Golden Turtle Shield were over halfway compatible with the Golden Turtle Spirit Technique. After he had mastered that Cultivation Technique, more than half of the required meridians were already open.

The Lesser Cloud Rain Spell, however, was different. None of the meridians that needed to be opened overlapped with those for the Golden Turtle Spirit Technique, so he would have to start from scratch.

After feeding the Little White Jade Fox, Li Changsheng summoned the two Red Foxes and gave them some food.

「Time passed quietly.」

Li Changsheng carefully studied the notes and insights in the book and couldn’t help but marvel inwardly, ’Steward Ye really is an honest man.’

Not only did he help him choose a plot of land, but he also gave him a Rune Hoe and a journal of insights on cultivating Magic.

’Those fifteen Spirit Stones were so worth it.’

After reading it over a few more times and committing it to memory, Li Changsheng began his formal cultivation.

He sat cross-legged, meditating and focusing his mind.

After an unknown amount of time, the meridian pathways for the Lesser Cloud Rain Spell appeared in his consciousness.

Li Changsheng dared not be careless. He circulated his Spiritual Power and, following the insights from the book, carefully guided it into one of the tiny meridians.

Immediately, a faint, sharp pain pricked him.

Li Changsheng steadied his mind and circulated his Spiritual Power, sending it gushing into the meridian like flowing water.

As he opened the meridians one by one, they gradually formed a complex diagram.

When the final meridian was opened, Spiritual Power suffused the entire diagram, connecting all the pathways.

HUMMM...

The meridian diagram solidified, glowing with a hazy light.

A suction force emanated from it, and Spiritual Power flowed in rapidly until one-fifth of his reserves had been consumed.

A sudden inspiration struck Li Changsheng. He opened his eyes, formed a hand seal for the technique, and softly chanted, "Lesser Cloud Rain Spell, condense!"

HUMMM...

Inside the room, wisps of cloud and mist gathered from all directions.

In just a moment, a dark cloud about a meter across had converged and taken shape inside the room.

Li Changsheng’s consciousness connected with the cloud. With a slight shift in his thoughts, he whispered, "Fall!"

The word had barely left his lips when fine threads of rain began to fall from the cloud.

The rain pattered on the wooden floor, and soon a thick vapor filled the room, accompanied by the faint emission of Spiritual Qi.

The drizzling rain lasted for a Cup of Tea’s Time before the cloud dissolved into mist and drifted away through the cracks in the cabin’s windows.

Li Changsheng took a deep breath. The cool, moist air and Spiritual Qi flooded his lungs, greatly reviving his weary spirit.

’I’ve mastered the Lesser Cloud Rain Spell. Now I just need to keep nurturing it and using it until it reaches grand completion.’

’I have the Rune Hoe for the Sharp Metal Spell, so that’s not urgent for now.’

’And I have Xiaohua for the Brute Force Spell, so that can wait too...’

Li Changsheng pondered for a moment, then turned, went downstairs, and walked into the courtyard.

The sun had already begun to set. Xiaohua was lying next to Big Flower. Big Flower, who was in the midst of advancing, had visibly grown a size larger.

Li Changsheng wasn’t in a hurry to clear the Spirit Field. He found a clean piece of wood to sit on, took out his storage pouch, and began to organize his belongings.

First, the Spirit Stones.

He had given Jiaoyang one hundred and ten Spirit Stones for a new cultivation spot. It was hard to say whether that was a loss or not.

He had given Steward Ye fifteen Spirit Stones in exchange for a Rune Hoe, a book of magical insights, and a designated Spirit Field. That was a huge profit.

Renting 2.3 mu of Spirit Field for a year had cost two hundred and thirty Spirit Stones.

Buying Yellow Rice seeds had cost three Spirit Stones.

"Sigh... Cultivation is hard..."

Looking at the small pile of less than fifty Spirit Stones he had left, Li Changsheng sighed.

One trip to the Wanzhong Mountains Range had drastically reduced his assets, but it wasn’t all bad. Compared to the Beast Valley, at least he was free from restrictions.

Besides the Spirit Stones.

A book recording the First-rank Middle-grade Technique, "Spiritual Eye Technique."

A statue fragment depicting only a lower body.

A jade bottle containing Spirit Gathering Pills.

Five stalks of Jade Grass, six stalks of Blood Essence Grass, a bundle of Blood Bamboo Vine, and a small pile of dried meat.

Looking at the medicinal herbs, which were not enough for even a few meals for Xiaohua and Big Flower, Li Changsheng’s brow furrowed. ’Once the Spirit Field is tilled,’ he thought with a sigh, ’I’ll go see if anyone else is growing them.’

’If not, I’ll go check the Marketplace on the mountain peak. They’re bound to have some there.’

After putting his belongings away, Li Changsheng took out the half-statue.

This statue fragment looked a lot like the flawed Cultivation Techniques one could buy for a single Spirit Stone in the Beast Valley.

Li Changsheng fixed his gaze on the half-body statue.

[Wolf Demon Body Refining Skill, Recorded, Incomplete, Cultivatable...]

’It really is one, and it’s even cultivatable.’

A look of joy appeared in Li Changsheng’s eyes, but it was quickly followed by hesitation. ’A Body Refining Technique...’

Everyone knew that Body Refining Cultivators were tantamount to spendthrifts.

Although they became incredibly powerful upon mastery, that power was built by burning through mountains of Spirit Stones.

’Forget it, I’ll think about it later. My Qi Cultivation is already a struggle. If I add Body Refinement on top of that, I doubt I’ll ever advance to the Pulse Condensation realm in this lifetime...’

After some thought, Li Changsheng abandoned the idea of practicing Body Refinement at the same time.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to; his current circumstances simply didn’t allow for it.

Putting the statue away, Li Changsheng ate some dried meat and took out the book to study the meridian pathways and precautions for the "Sharp Metal Spell."

「Time passed slowly.」

He was startled awake by a sharp squeal as the sun set behind the western mountains.

Li Changsheng turned his head to look.

Big Flower had woken up and was nuzzling affectionately against Xiaohua.

Although Big Flower’s body had also grown, she was still more than a full size smaller than Xiaohua.

Li Changsheng got up, walked over to Big Flower, and fixed his gaze on her.

[Target: Big Flower]

[Species: Tusked Pig (Female)]

[First-rank Middle-grade: 1%]

[Talents: Hard Skin, Sharp Teeth.]

[Status: Healthy.]

Li Changsheng shook his head and sighed. ’She advanced to middle-grade, but it’s a shame she didn’t awaken an innate magical ability...’

His hopes dashed, Li Changsheng didn’t want to delay any longer.

He glanced at the sun, herded Big Flower into the animal pen, put the little piglet in with her, and secured the gate.

"Let’s go, Xiaohua."

Li Changsheng picked up the homemade plow and, with a thought, rushed toward the Spirit Field with Xiaohua and the swarm of insects in tow.

The Spirit Field was less than twenty meters from the cabin, and he reached its edge in just a few steps.

The weeds in the Spirit Field were lush and overgrown, some reaching more than a person’s height.

"Xiaohua, come here."

Li Changsheng beckoned Xiaohua over. He wrapped two tree vines around its neck, looped another around its back, and then attached the vines to the two wooden handles of the plow.

"Xiaohua, forward!"

"Hup, hup, hup..."

Li Changsheng channeled some Spiritual Power into the Rune Hoe serving as the plowshare. Gripping the wooden handles with both hands, he urged Xiaohua forward.

GRUNT GRUNT...

Xiaohua was a bit uncooperative. Instead of going straight, it turned and started walking along the edge of the Spirit Field.

Not caring whether it was going in the right direction, Li Changsheng pressed down slightly, and the sharp Rune Hoe instantly dug into the soil of the Spirit Field.

GRUNT GRUNT...

Feeling the resistance from behind, the walking Xiaohua let out a grunt and stopped in its tracks.

"Get going, Xiaohua."

"Hup, hup, hup..."

It was unclear if his urging had worked or if Xiaohua had just gotten impatient.

GRUNT GRUNT...

Xiaohua let out another grunt, its muscles tensed, and it strode forward.

RIIIP...