Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique - Chapter 365 - 320: Insect Plague

The void ripples, and a three-zhang-long Cyan Dragon emerges, elegantly spiraling in the air.
The dark gold dragon horns emit a hidden treasure glow, with shimmering streams passing by occasionally; the dragon whiskers sway with the wind like water plants unfurling in the water, creating a special sense of agility.
The dragon scales exhibit a transparent jade-like sheen, with flickering light shadows faintly visible, akin to the burgeoning and growth of forest greenery.
The eyes of the Cyan Dragon flash with radiance, its mouth slightly open, spreading the Dragon’s Roar outward. The sound isn’t loud, yet it resonates deeply within the heart.
Suspended in the air, a verdant pillar of light centers around it, piercing straight into the clouds.
Then the light pillar spreads outward, enveloping the entire Azure Dragon Wood.
Emerald spiritual beads radiating with life brilliance descend from the celestial vault, with the Cyan Dragon’s shadow soaring within them, sending out intense burgeoning growth vibes outward like shockwaves.
The spiritual beads do not fall to the mortal dust, but swiftly embed into the Azure Dragon Wood, seemingly disappearing without a trace.
On the ground, azure light flickers, transforming into various illusions.
Green grass sprouts, flowers bud, saplings emerge from trees, and in an instant, flowers blossom in full bloom, lush grasses grow thickly, and saplings have become towering trees.
Spirit woods sway, the leaves rustling as if blown by the wind, yet no wind actually assaults at this moment.
Two breaths later, the Cyan Dragon gradually becomes illusory, finally dissipating like a bubble, and all light and shadow visions vanish.
The bark of the Azure Dragon Wood shimmers vibrantly, and its branches and leaves radiate a dazzling spirit light.
Ji An grinned, the ’special effects’ of the magic technique’s light and shadow were even more explosive; he just wondered about the actual effect it would ultimately bring, but supposed it should be satisfactory.
Because at this moment, the magic technique had completely dissipated, yet the residual magic intent remained more abundant than usual.
Ji An turned his head, glancing at the orange-red sunset, pinching the spell to ride the green Auspicious Cloud away.
Off work on time, never delayed.
What he did not notice was that many grass buds had sprouted all over the mountains.
…
When the Dragon’s Roar echoed, Lin Mao felt his consciousness hazily stirred, with a tinge of green emerging in his view.
Under the mental shock, he recalled a certain night he was awoken by spring thunder before he’d opened his meridians.
A feeling of all things sprouting in his heart burgeoned, much like before.
Kong Yunyi rushed into the room, asking:
“Did you sense any special phenomena in the Dragon’s Roar just now?”
Lin Mao nodded, “I felt the sound conveyed the magic intent of the Wood Element spiritual energy flourishing and growing; did you feel it too?”
Kong Yunyi nodded firmly, excitedly saying:
“Can you say what exactly happened, how could the Hall Master’s magic technique have such an effect!”
The fact that sound was conveying magic intent was something he’d never heard of.
He paused and added:
“The Hall Master’s magic technique is so mysterious; what level do you think it is?”
Lin Mao shook his head and said:
“The power of Chao Origin Stage Technique is beyond what we can speculate.”
He couldn’t discern the level of the Hall Master’s magic technique, but was sure that the Hall Master’s comprehension in magic techniques far surpassed ordinary cultivators.
…
Ji An landed atop the mountain, stepped into the Grotto Mansion, and said with a smile:
“Senior sister is back too; was the mission smooth?”
Every evening when leaving Ningcui Cliff, he would bid farewell to his master.
“Smooth enough, the situation of Demonic Cultivation Technique proliferation has been curbed.
On the surface, at least.”
Ge Luoying replied, the sect and various families united, exterminating a great number of loose cultivators practicing demon skills with a thunderous force.
However, completely eliminating the impact caused by the proliferation of demonic techniques had much further to go.
A hint of pride showed on her face, the excitement barely suppressed:
“Through these years of constant battling, I have truly grasped Sword Intent.
With a few more years of honing, I should be able to achieve Sword Intent Transformation.”
As a Sword Cultivator, one must first comprehend Sword Qi, then Sword Intent, and lastly achieve Sword Intent Transformation to be truly a Sword Cultivator entering the doors of mastery.
Ji An’s eyes brightened sharply, he clasped his hands sincerely, saying:
“Congratulations senior sister for progressing further; when you breakthrough to Chao Origin Stage, our Yingyue Peak line with three Chao Origins will surely be a spectacle of the sect.”
Li Haoran has the potential of Golden Core, the sect’s Sword Cultivator line would surely grow stronger.
Sword Cultivators are the most combat capable within the Cultivation Realm, and with more Sword Cultivators in the sect, the disciples feel greater safety.
Ge Ying nodded slightly, a look of expectation in her eyes:
“I have one to two decades of lifespan left; I should witness Luo Ying breakthrough to Chao Origin Stage.
Liu Yu and Yue Fei are also Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivators, bringing growing influence to the Ningcui Cliff line within the sect.”
Such a scene was beyond her dreams in the past.
Ji An laughed heartily, “It’s all thanks to Master’s excellent teaching.”
Ge Ying chuckled and said:
“Utter such nonsense; you and Liu Yu are the disciples I taught the least.”
Liu Yu, being a Law Enforcement Hall cultivator, focuses on military formation clashes, while she was merely a Spirit Farmer and Alchemist, completely inexperienced in imparting related knowledge.
She could only refine more pills for disciples, providing logistic support.
Her tone shifted as she asked:
“How is the Agricultural Hall faring? The sect hopes you can train more Spirit Farmers, but you seem to have made little progress.”
Recently, the Vice Hall Master of Diligence Hall came by, subtly hinting at this intention.
Regarding why Diligence Hall doesn’t directly communicate with the disciples, she doesn’t know the reason.
Ji An pondered and said:
“The sect recruits disciples every three years, and halls like Artifact Refining Hall, Beast Taming Hall, Dan Ding Institute, and Array Hall choose the most talented disciples, while the remaining ones are distributed to other halls.
This model doesn’t change, making it difficult for Agricultural Hall to have a major breakthrough.”
“What do you plan to do now, request more talented disciples from the sect?”
“No, this will affect other halls. Even if we acquire some disciples, without forming a numerical advantage, there won’t be a significant change.
Besides, making such requests without any achievements will affect other senior brothers’ opinions of me, making it harder to fight for greater benefits.”
Ge Ying’s gaze was somber; without excellent disciples joining, coupled with the low status of Spirit Farmers, Agricultural Hall was in a rather awkward position.
Ji An continued:
“I already have a plan, but my cultivation has reached a critical point. I’ll execute the new plan after a year.”
During these three years, he wasn’t idle; he already understood how Agricultural Hall operates.
Once the Fire Element Divine Mansion is established, he plans to slow down the establishment of other Divine Mansions to make time for his own plan.
Ge Ying nodded:
“As long as you have a clear mind.”
She was somewhat curious about what the disciple planned to do, but since he didn’t say, she wouldn’t ask.
…
Ji An activated the teleportation array to return to Red Flame Peak, flying on auspicious clouds to the tea trees, and began Qi Eating.
The Ghost Moon Cyan Jade Tree had grown more branches compared to three years ago, producing eight pounds and six taels of Jade Dew Golden Bud this year, of which he could keep six and a half pounds.
The yield of Cloud Peak Silver Needle reached twenty-nine pounds and eight taels, and he could keep twenty-five pounds.
With Soul Incense added, it basically satisfied his needs for restoring Divine Sense and nourishing Spirit Soul, which accelerated his pace in establishing Divine Mansions.
Currently, the tea yield from Cloud-Top Jade has reached its peak; this year’s yield is only two taels more than last year, estimated to stabilize at thirty pounds in the future.
Fortunately, the yield of Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea is steadily increasing, and he estimates the yearly yield should exceed ten pounds.
Five strands of Qinghua Qi were swallowed into his abdomen, nourishing the core of the Divine Mansion, with the liver’s meridian patterns shining brilliantly.
Ji An nodded in satisfaction, riding the auspicious clouds back to Cold Pool, where two disciples were respectfully waiting for him.
Today was the day for the monthly routine assessment.
“Greetings, Master.”
The disciples saluted respectfully; both were now at the Eighth-Layer Qi Refining cultivation.
“Rise. Have you made any progress in magic techniques this month?”
After accepting the two disciples, Ji An didn’t directly ask them to practice planting techniques but provided them with the best conditions to cultivate them to late-stage Qi Refining.
Without enough magical power, practicing techniques is extremely inefficient.
They spent a year breaking through to late-stage Qi Refining and then started practicing planting techniques.
Ji An instructed his disciples to practice all five techniques, ensuring the practice time was balanced each day.
He didn’t expect the two to be all-rounders, but rather aimed to identify which category of techniques they had better comprehension of.
Lin Lan discreetly glanced at the junior beside her and smiled:
“Reporting to Master, I have also practiced Life and Death Technique to Great Success.”
Currently, she had achieved Great Success Level in Small Cloud Rain Technique, Thick Earth Technique, and Life and Death Technique, while the other three techniques reached Minor Achievement.
“Not bad.”
Ji An nodded slightly; achieving Great Success in three techniques within two years is commendable within the ordinary cultivator community.
Han Mountain solemnly said:
“Master, I have also practiced Life and Death Technique to Great Success.”
He only had two techniques reaching Great Success Level; the other was Flame Fire Spell.
“Keep up the pace. Before Foundation Establishment, you must maintain this rhythm.
Regarding Foundation Establishment Pill, I have already prepared them for you. You can repay me three thousand Spirit Stones after your Foundation Establishment.”
As a Chao Origin Stage Cultivator, a word in advance could resolve the Foundation Establishment Pill issue.
Dan Ding Institute always keeps a few Foundation Establishment Pills on hand for such situations.
Lin Lan and Han Mountain were both ecstatic, “Master’s great kindness, we will always remember.”
When they decided to become the master’s disciples, they were prepared to care for the Spirit Field every day and weren’t expecting such favorable treatment.
Other disciples need to wait several years to exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill.
Ji An waved his hand, “Quickly undergo Foundation Establishment, then you can assist me.”
Once they succeed in Foundation Establishment, he plans to assign them to Agricultural Hall, where they would naturally be his trusted disciples.
…
The next day.
Ji An arrived at Agricultural Hall, as usual running the Dharma Gate to establish the Fire Element Divine Mansion.
He didn’t know how long had passed when Lin Mao’s call startled him awake.
He frowned slightly, performing a spell to open the Dharma Prohibition and let the visitor in.
Lin Mao rushed into the hall, anxiously exclaiming:
“Hall Master, it’s bad news. The northern region of the sect suffered a severe insect plague overnight, affecting over three thousand acres of Spirit Field.”
The insect plague is extremely severe; if not quickly handled, the disciples’ Spirit Grain will fail to harvest.
Ji An’s gaze turned cold:
“What kind of insect plague is this; were there any signs before the incident?”
An overnight large-scale insect plague, he sensed the scent of a conspiracy.


