Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

At 7:00 AM the next day, Ji An and Han Yan went together to Sunrise Peak’s Wuji Hall.

"Greetings, ancestor."

Daoist Master Zhengyang gestured to a chair beside him and kindly said:

"No need for formalities, sit down and let’s talk."

Once the disciples were seated, he took out two jade slips and gave them to them:

"The Southern Continent is full of mountains and rivers; whether it’s high mountains, deep valleys, or wide rivers, and large lakes, it has it all. It is a good place for Earth Eating Qi and Water Element Qi.

The situation there is more complicated and intertwined than in the Western Continent. Remember to avoid conflicts with other cultivators, but you should also not be overly forbearing.

When it’s time to act, do so with thunderous means."

Knowing the two disciples came to bid farewell, he started to explain the situation in the Southern Continent.

"There are two powers in the Southern Continent to avoid provoking: the Shadowless Sect and the Earth Evil Sect.

The Shadowless Sect is a ghost cultivator force, with a notable feature that the cultivators have an unhealthy pallor, bloodless complexion, and cold aura, often wearing white clothes.

The Earth Evil Sect excels at corpse nurturing, having a faint stench of decay and prefers to wear yellow clothes.

They carry many gray bags called Corpse Nourishing Bags.

Cultivators from these two sects are extremely protective and quick to seek revenge if offended, so if possible, keep your distance.

However, if conflict occurs, remember to eliminate the root cause; otherwise, there will be endless trouble."

"Cultivators in the Southern Continent excel at using Gu worms. Although some Gu worms are extremely tiny, with the sensitivity of a Chao Origin Stage cultivator’s spirit soul, you will surely notice, and as long as you are careful, there should be no danger of falling victim to them..."

Daoist Master Zhengyang gave many instructions and concluded by saying:

"All I have mentioned is recorded in the jade slip, frequently review them and keep them in mind.

Don’t ask for trouble, but don’t be afraid of it either. If trouble truly finds you, you can’t avoid it."

"We will heed the ancestor’s teachings," Ji An and Han Yan responded in unison.

Daoist Master Zhengyang took out two talismans adorned with vivid red runes, looking rather reluctant:

"These two talismans are my treasured possessions, given to you for protection; I hope you never have to use them.

This is the Bing Fire Divine Thunder Talisman. Although of only Tier Three Middle Grade quality, its power is equivalent to a full-strength strike from a Fourth-Layer Golden Core cultivator."

Ji An sensed a feeling of danger, the talisman containing an extremely powerful force, making him feel as if he were standing at the brink of an erupting volcano.

"Thank you, ancestor, for bestowing this treasure talisman!"

Han Yan felt delighted, feeling much more secure this way.

Thunder techniques have long been known for their deadly force and are considered the top attack techniques.

There are the Five Elements Divine Thunder, Yin Yang Divine Thunder, Purple Sky Divine Thunder, and many other thunder techniques, but only Golden Core cultivators are qualified to learn them.

It is said that without the cleansing of thunder tribulation, one cannot comprehend the true intent of thunder techniques nor start learning them.

She carefully took the talisman with both hands and stored it in the Grotto Void Stone, which she kept hidden in her bracelet.

"Thank you, ancestor," Ji An said, feeling a surge of emotions as he took the Thunder Talisman. The power of thunder techniques filled him with admiration.

"If the talisman is unused, remember to return it to me so other disciples can use it at that time."

Daoist Master Zhengyang emphasized again, as the talismans were too precious and the sect was a relatively young force with only under 500 years of Golden Core inheritance.

All Tier Three level resources are the sect’s foundation. If not for these two disciples being highly valued, he would have only given a few Tier Two Upper Grade talismans.

"Ancestor, does the sect have any thunder techniques?"

Ji An asked with anticipation; the Stone Turtle should be very helpful in learning thunder techniques, and at least mastering various Five Elements Divine Thunder would be no problem.

Daoist Master Zhengyang gave a wry smile, "We do not. The sect only has two Golden Core Stage techniques in possession. In the future, it will rely on you to carry forward the sect."

The Golden Core inheritance is already very precious; if it weren’t for him entering the Five Elements Sect ruins and obtaining the Five Elements Reincarnation Scripture, the sect might not even have a Golden Core Stage technique now.

After he advanced to the Golden Core, the sect once considered using all its resources to purchase a Golden Core Stage technique.

The Middle Continent cultivators surprisingly proposed making the Golden Spirit Sect a vassal. Usually, becoming a vassal of a strong power is nothing, but their conditions were excessively harsh, almost treating the sect as slaves, so the negotiations ended unpleasantly.

The third generation sect leader had the mindset of rather ruling a chicken’s head than being the tail of a phoenix when they decided to move to the Western Continent.

Ji An’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment, but he firmly said:

"The future of the sect will definitely become brighter."

Being able to join the Golden Spirit Sect was a fortune. Wherever there are people, there are bound to be interests entangled, but he lived comfortably in the sect.

With greater abilities in the future, he would like to leave behind more knowledge and inheritance for the sect.

...

After bidding farewell to the ancestor, Ji An and Han Yan stepped onto the teleportation array heading to Cyan Cloud Immortal City.

The magic array flashed, and they arrived at the sect’s station in the Immortal City.

Han Yan sighed softly:

"It is truly convenient and fast. The demon calamity caused massive devastation to the Western Continent, but without it, the sect may not have established a teleportation array here."

In just an instant, covering several thousand miles, the convenience brought by the teleportation array is undeniable.

"Convenient indeed, but the cost is also very high."

Ji An laughed, explaining that the distance between Red Flame Peak and Ningcui Cliff is just over six hundred miles, requiring only two Middle-Grade Spirit Stones to activate once.

The sect’s teleportation array is more than five thousand miles from Cyan Cloud Immortal City; he had once heard it from Senior Brother Chu Huai’ge, that there are several thresholds in teleportation distance.

One thousand miles, five thousand miles, ten thousand miles, fifty thousand miles, and so on. Every time a threshold is surpassed, the consumption of Spirit Stones for teleportation rises sharply.

From the sect to be teleported here, they each paid sixty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones.

"It’s rare for a wealthy junior like you to feel the pinch."

"Only when you need Spirit Stones, you regret having too few."

They both stepped down from the teleportation array, immediately greeted by disciples:

"Two Junior Martial Uncles, this is the back hall of the sect’s Artifact Refining shop. If you want to go to the Immortal City, you can go out through the back door."

Han Yan nodded slightly and asked:

"Where is the Central Continent’s merchant flying ship located?"

"Just above the northern sky of the Immortal City, you can’t miss it."

Ji An and Han Yan left under the disciples’ respectful farewell, gazing northward, where they saw a massive ’black island’ floating in the sky.

This was comprised of more than ten gigantic spirit vessels combined, with the vessels’ undersides covered in dharma prohibitions that flickered with spirit light.

"Truly awe-inspiring, such a huge spirit vessel, there’s no force in the Western Continent that can create it."

Han Yan whispered, building a spirit vessel requires considering numerous factors, making it a veritable grand project.

She had seen merchant flying ships up close several times, but every time instilled a sense of reverence.

The vessel’s massive size and the incredible wind resistance it encounters in flight demand very high technical standards for swift flying escape.

Ji An looked at the distant shadow, his tone equally filled with admiration:

"It’s said that the cost of such a gigantic spirit vessel is much higher than a Golden Core Cultivator’s magical treasure.

The vessel is also equipped with powerful attack arrays, posing a considerable threat to late-stage Golden Core Cultivators."

He felt that the Middle Continent cultivators were showcasing their might, as a powerful image can genuinely inspire awe from within.

"Junior, have you ever roamed a merchant flying ship?"

"No," Ji An shook his head; he was a true ascetic cultivator, spending most of his time within the sect, with few opportunities to venture out.

Han Yan conjured an auspicious red cloud underfoot and said:

"Let’s go, let’s take a look now."

The two rode the cloud together, seeing palatial buildings, pavilions, and towers on the spirit vessel, resembling a sky city.

On roads that were ten zhang wide, people crowded together.

"Every arrival of a merchant flying ship is a grand event for Western Continent cultivators.

Loose cultivators bring out various undiscernible items, hoping for luck.

Indeed, rare treasures have been discovered, though such occurrences are extremely rare."

Han Yan pointed to a platform occupying ten mu and added:

"Similar to the Immortal City, the spirit vessel has a no-fly array, but their array is far more potent, able to restrain cultivators below the Nascent Soul Stage."

Ji An saw a crowd on the platform, with cultivators orderly queuing to enter.

They descended on a cloud, and Han Yan skillfully approached a sparsely populated passage, took out two middle-grade Spirit Stones:

"Two people."

The guard was a towering strong man, wearing a short shirt and adorned with red and white tattoos, likely a Body Cultivator.

He received the Spirit Stones and handed out two Jade Tokens, speaking in a rumbling voice:

"Two Daoist friends, you may stay inside until the vessel departs, then return the Jade Tokens.

If you leave the merchant flying ship midway, reentry will still require Spirit Stones.

The Jade Token contains a detailed map of the vessel, marking all shops, visible through Divine Sense.

Any magical combat is strictly prohibited on the vessel; violators will be expelled immediately, and causing harm to guests will result in double penalties."

The strong man paused with a smirk at the corner of his mouth:

"If you can’t pay the fines, prepare to be caught as a mining slave for life."

"Thank you, I understand the rules."

Han Yan took the Jade Tokens, handing one to Ji An, "Junior brother, please follow me."

Saying that, she strode forward.

Ji An felt the light twist slightly, as if passing through a colorful membrane, instantly disappearing.

He too stepped inside, feeling like walking through a stream, yet sensing no dampness on his body.

"Senior sister, entering the spirit vessel costs a middle-grade Spirit Stone, these Middle Continent cultivators reap a fortune from Western Continent without lifting a finger."

Han Yan sighed helplessly, saying:

"There’s no help for it; though this is Western Continent’s land, once aboard the vessel, it belongs to them.

The Central Continent Business Alliance’s advanced stewards all possess late-stage Golden Core strength.

By the way, junior brother, are you planning to stroll through the vessel or do you have a specific goal?"

"I plan to explore it, broadening my horizons is always good."

Ji An used his Divine Sense on the Jade Token, starting to observe the map.

Han Yan laughed, "I guessed correctly, any cultivator visiting for the first time makes this choice.

But keep an eye on your Spirit Stones, don’t buy everything you see, for there are truly too many good things here."

Ji An smiled and said:

"Rest assured, senior sister, if something is of no current use to me, no matter how good, I won’t buy it."

He was a thorough pragmatist, never buying things on impulse.