Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique - Chapter 190 - 187: The Great Merchant

Chapter 190: Chapter 187: The Great Merchant
Ji An caught the fruit seed and put it into his Storage Bag. Currently, there aren’t enough Spirit Vein Nodes to plant the Earth Spirit Fruit Trees, so these seeds can be crushed and used as fertilizer, squeezing out their value.
He stepped into the deepest part of the cave, where he had planted four Spirit Trees that belonged solely to him.
He placed the clay jar close to the rock wall and released the Golden Light Technique.
Gold Element Spiritual Qi covered his hand as he started digging. If others knew he was using the Slaughter and Protection Skill for this task, it’s hard to say what they would think.
“Junior Martial Uncle, the black soil is here, where should I put it?”
Huang Xuan shouted. He hadn’t been inside yet, and the light wasn’t bright, giving him an inexplicable sense of eeriness.
“Follow the small tunnel to loosen, be careful not to touch the Spirit Plants.”
Upon hearing this, Huang Xuan realized there was another entrance inside.
“Let’s get to work.”
He whispered, using the Object Control Technique to carry three burlap sacks inside, Li Cheng following closely behind.
At this time, Ji An had already removed the Golden Light Technique and, seeing the two enter, instructed:
“Stack them against the wall.”
The two placed down the burlap sacks and took out half a burlap sack of black soil each from their Storage Bags.
“Junior Martial Uncle, do you think this is enough?”
“Bring over the same amount of bags again, and bring some mulberry leaves, twenty to thirty pounds will do.
Also, bring a bag of mulberry wood ash.”
As more Jade Leaf Mulberries matured to a Top-Grade Level, the initial density of the Spirit Plants became inappropriate.
Some top-grade level Spirit Wood would be felled, burned to ash, and returned to the field.
“Alright, we’ll bring it over right away.”
Huang Xuan agreed, and the two quickly walked out.
After leaving the cave, Li Cheng whispered:
“I wonder what Junior Martial Uncle is planting; it feels so mysterious.”
“Do your work well, Junior Martial Uncle doesn’t tell us, so we shouldn’t ask.
I’ll go dig the black soil, you handle the mulberry leaves and the mulberry wood ash.”
…
After sensing the underground turbid Qi, Ji An stopped digging, having already dug a well about ten feet deep and five feet in diameter.
He left two bags in reserve and poured the other black soil in, filling the well halfway.
He used the Object Control Technique to toss a few Fire-toothed Rabbits caught by Golden Fur into the well, then cut them with the Golden Light Technique.
He poured in the mulberry wood ash, dumped a bag of black soil into the well, and dug out a small hole in the middle.
Carefully, he smashed the clay jar, holding the soil block that wrapped around the Soul Nourishing Wood and placing it into the hole.
Carefully sealing the soil, he scattered mulberry leaves around the sapling, covering it with the last bag of black soil.
Light flickered in the cave as he cast three Great Perfection-level Magic Techniques: Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell, Jade Wood Transformation Skill, and Spring Breeze and Rain Skill.
The Soul Nourishing Wood isn’t a Five Elements Spirit Wood; it belongs to the Yin nature of Yin and Yang. A cultivator’s soul quality is Yin, so wearing Soul Nourishing Wood can strengthen the spirit soul, thereby improving Divine Sense.
“I wonder how many years it will take to cultivate it.”
Ji An said softly; the Soul Nourishing Wood grows slowly, and the inheritance from the Spirit Farmer given by his master only had a brief introduction, without any corresponding secret techniques, so he could only explore and cultivate it himself.
Having finished everything, he called Golden Fur, saying:
“From now on, guard here.”
The rarity of Soul Nourishing Wood demands that it be guarded by Beast Taming to ensure peace of mind.
“Squeak squeak.”
Golden Fur nodded; it felt a very special allure from this small black tree.
After carefully surveying the environment, it happily decided to sleep between the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree and the small black tree from now on.
…
Ji An returned to the stone house by the Cold Pool, smiling:
“Junior Brother, where were we just now?”
“Talking about purchasing supplies, this time I spent 3,500 Spirit Stones and need to give Senior Brother 3,700 Spirit Stones.”
Ji An nodded slightly, turning his head to instruct:
“Take out the talismans.”
Xia Yuhuan placed the talismans on the table, saying:
“Junior Martial Uncle, one thousand Top-grade Explosion Talismans, ten Top-Grade Bursting Talismans, twenty Top-grade Rejuvenation Talismans, five Foundation Establishment Early Stage Talisman Soldiers.”
“Senior Brother can already draw Rejuvenation Talismans?”
Wei Songnian asked in delight; with a large number of cultivators hunting demons in the wild, the demand for Rejuvenation Talismans and medicinal talismans was continuously growing.
Several sects were also quietly storing these supplies, with the market demand booming and supply tight.
The Wei Clan of Little Bamboo Mountain lacks these types of healing talismans in their shop in Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City.
“I’ve been privately trying to draw Rejuvenation Talismans these years and finally achieved some results.”
Ji An said, in fact, he only began drawing Rejuvenation Talismans in the last two months.
Due to material limitations, he can only draw Top-grade Talismans for now.
He paused and continued:
“In future transactions, I can provide you with fifty Top-grade Rejuvenation Talismans; if you can supply more Wood Element Demon Beast Essence Blood, I can draw more Rejuvenation Talismans.”
The benefits of the Soul Nourishing Wood he received have already started to show, and surely he’ll obtain more resources from this client in the future.
“Thanks for the support, Senior Brother. With this batch of talismans, the family shop can attract more business; I’ll do my best to acquire more Wood Element Demon Beast Essence Blood.”
Wei Songnian said happily, as the increase in these popular talismans would certainly bring greater crowd flow and increase the possibility of transactions.
“Are the alchemists in your clan able to refine Jade Bee Pills?”
Ji An asked again, most of the top-grade honey produced by Red Flame Peak has been handed over to the sect in exchange for contribution points, he decided to support the other family with some.
Wei Songnian shook his head lightly:
“Due to the actual situation of Little Bamboo Mountain, the family has not cultivated spirit bees, and without a stable source of honey, the family has not collected the pill formula for Jade Bee Pill.
If Senior Brother can supply honey, I can have the family collect the pill formulas.”
The Wei Clan’s alchemists number only four, and one is an employed loose cultivator guest elder; among them, only one can refine Foundation Establishment early stage elixirs.
Their family used to focus primarily on the sale of low-tier spirit grain and Qi Refining Stage elixirs, as well as mid-to-high-grade talismans.
“Jade honey requires top-grade honey as a raw material, but the top-grade honey from Red Flame Peak will steadily decrease, while the top-grade honey will increase more and more.
You can collect the relevant Foundation Establishment Stage pill formulas, and in a few years, I will be able to stably supply some top-grade honey to you.”
“It seems like we are not fated to enjoy Senior Brother’s generosity.”
Wei Songnian grinned, top-grade honey can be used to refine mid-stage Foundation Establishment elixirs, but the family’s alchemist is only at the second layer Foundation Establishment stage, old and with not much lifespan left, the family cannot invest in his experience for refining new elixirs.
Ji An was silent; the other family can’t be called a large family, they lack various inheritances, which is the case for most small families.
It’s still good to rely on the sect, anything he cultivates can be put to use.
“Senior Brother, a top-grade Flame Bursting Talisman is 4 spirit stones, a top-grade Rejuvenation Talisman is 8 spirit stones, a top-grade Bursting Talisman is 50 spirit stones, a talisman soldier is 200 spirit stones, I need to pay you a total of 5660 spirit stones, plus the 3700 from just now, I need to pay 9360 spirit stones.”
Wei Songnian sighed inwardly, he is also capable of handling transactions involving tens of thousands of spirit stones like a big merchant.
In the entire family, he is the only one with the connections to conduct such huge transactions.
The top-grade Bursting Talisman and talisman soldier have no profit; they are sold at almost purchase price, aimed at enhancing the shop’s image in the minds of cultivators.
Ji An interrupted the act of paying spirit stones, asking:
“Why is the quantity of Cyan Lotus Pills so little this time?”
This kind of mid-stage Foundation Establishment elixir he can only receive 18 pills annually from the sect, additionally, he can buy about 20 pills through relationships like Li Lingyu with other alchemists.
He is currently consuming one pill every three days, with a shortage of about 80, far from meeting the demand.
Wei Songnian said with a bitter smile:
“Senior Brother, I have not seen any other mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator able to consume pills like you do.”
At Luofeng Valley’s Zhen Dan Workshop, there are many restrictions on high-tier elixir sales; purchasing with spirit stones alone is not feasible.
Our family’s credibility there allows us to purchase only this much.”
Among mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators he knows, many only consume three or four pills a month.
“Is it feasible to buy them at a premium with spirit stones?”
Ji An asked; among the Three Sects, Luofeng Valley has the most sufficient supply of elixirs.
The main ingredient for Cyan Lotus Pills is a Water Element spirit plant, which the sect has far fewer plantings compared to Luofeng Valley.
“Buying at a premium, Zhen Dan Workshop asks for 80 spirit stones per pill, much higher than normal prices, and requires using the sale of Tier Two spiritual objects to qualify for exchange.”
Wei Songnian detailed Zhen Dan Workshop’s rules, saying:
“They collect Tier Two spiritual objects in this way; we can only follow their rules.”
The vast majority of Tier Two spiritual objects acquired by Wei Clan members and shop have been exchanged for purchase qualifications to supply the mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators of the family and Senior Brother Ji’s consumption.
“I see.”
Ji An frowned slightly, feeling the difficulty, the Tier Two spiritual objects in his hand were diminishing; Tier Two Pine Seeds still need to be handed over to the secret vault in exchange for small merit to later exchange for spiritual objects refinement.
He left five thousand spirit stones behind, saying:
“These spirit stones are for Junior Brother, to acquire Tier Two spiritual objects exceeding market price, help me exchange for eligibility to buy Cyan Lotus Pills.”
Spending more spirit stones is acceptable, as long as it can maintain cultivation expenditure, he does not care about how much the Wei Clan benefits, as long as it’s not excessive, he can turn a blind eye.
After all, to make the horse run fast, you need to let it eat grass.
“Senior Brother, I can’t guarantee I can buy Cyan Lotus Pills.”
“Just do your best.
Another matter, when Junior Brother bought Soul Nourishing Wood, did he inquire about the living environment around those loose cultivator spirit woods?”
Ji An asked; this is a very important reference, perhaps it can provide him inspiration.
“Uh, no I didn’t, I was worried that asking too much would alert them.
Senior Brother, you know, these people have long mixed in the outside world; they’re as sharp as monkeys. If they realize the true value of the items, I’m afraid…”
Ji An nodded slightly, diverging from the topic, the two began chatting idly, discussing their cultivation experiences until it was noon.
Xia Yu Lian entered the stone house and said:
“Junior Martial Uncle, lunch is ready. Shall I serve it now?”
“Serve the food.”
Ji An stood up and said:
“Junior Brother hasn’t tasted the cuisine from Red Flame Peak for months; today we shall have a few drinks.
Yu Han, go and fetch a jar of Tier Two Pine Nut Wine.”
“Yes,” the maid responded, leaving.
Wei Songnian’s eyes gleamed, and he smiled:
“I am fortunate!”
The two walked to the stone table by the cold pool, savoring the delicious meal, rejoicing as the host and guest.
“Why haven’t I seen Flying Tiger today; has he gone out for some business?”
Wei Songnian asked, usually when he stayed here for meals, Huang Feihu would also sit down to drink a few cups.
“Flying Tiger has established his Foundation now; he should be accompanying Old Huang at your Little Bamboo Mountain.”
Ji An softly spoke, remembering Old Huang is close to 90 years old, theoretically with a dozen or so years left to live.
“That’s good news, Old Huang fulfills his wishes!
If Junior Brother Huang leaves the sect in the future, he can establish a family of his own.”
Wei Songnian was very pleased, his connections increasingly broad; as long as he can smoothly get through the demon calamity, the future is bright.


