Chapter 161 Return

The sunset was magnificent, like the reflection of red leaves all over the mountains in the sky.

A massive flying boat raised a protective shield of spiritual energy and slowly took off.

On the deck, a large number of spiritual plants were fixed in place, turning the place into a medicinal garden.

The soil clods encasing the roots of the spiritual plant were covered with spirit-sealing talismans, their surfaces shimmering with spiritual light.

Han Qingshan looked at the ever-shrinking Mingfeng Mountain and laughed:

"It's finally over. It's much more comfortable staying in the sect."

Although he had only been in the battle for a day, he felt he couldn't handle the intense stimulation.

Ji An pressed his temples and said:

"It's certainly comfortable in the sect; you don't have to fight to the death with demonic beasts."

However, on the other hand, we'll inevitably have to fight against demonic beasts in the future, so Senior Brother should also appropriately improve his combat skills.

The outbreak of the demonic calamity is inevitable, and no cultivator can afford to be complacent.

"I understand. In the future, I will buy offensive magic weapons and practice one or two combat spells to make up for my weaknesses as much as possible."

Ji An nodded slightly and then said:

“When fighting, magical artifacts and spells are one aspect, but combat instincts are another. Senior brother, why don’t you find some Qi Refining stage demonic beasts to practice on?”

Upon hearing that the other party had such plans, he said a few more words.

In his view, the first step in fighting is to overcome fear and remain calm in dangerous situations in order to maximize one's combat effectiveness.

"Thank you for the suggestion, Senior Brother," Han Qingshan scratched his head and said:

"Senior brother, you are also a spirit farmer, yet you have such rich experience in combat. How did you manage to do that?"

The other party not only possessed superb planting magic, but also had an extraordinary skill in creating explosive fireballs, and was also a talisman maker capable of drawing top-grade talismans.

Such a spirit farmer is probably unique in the sect, and most importantly, he is very young.

During their conversation, he learned that the other party had only been at the Foundation Establishment stage for a little over ten years. Normally, these qualities shouldn't all be present in a young spiritual farmer at the same time.

Ji An didn't speak. His consciousness sank into his dantian for a moment, and when he saw the faint spiritual light shimmering on the stone tortoise, he smiled.

"My spiritual energy has been severely depleted lately, and I'm feeling a bit unwell, so I'm going back to my cabin to rest."

"I'm going back too. I haven't slept well these past few days. I'll go to bed early tonight."

There were far fewer cultivators on the return flight, and everyone was assigned a cabin.

Piloted by his Uncle-Master Jia Yu, the flying boat was as fast as a cultivator in the Chaoyuan stage, so Ji An was not worried about safety.

After returning to his cabin, he swallowed a fasting pill and fell asleep immediately.

"Upon arriving at the sect, everyone came out to move the spiritual plants."

In a daze, Ji An was awakened by the ever-present voice of his Uncle Jia.

He was stunned for a few seconds before he came to his senses. We're already back at the sect?

The flying boat sped along Mingfeng Mountain for two days and two nights.

Ji An hadn't expected to sleep for so long, so he made a hand seal to release the Lesser Cloud Rain Technique.

A cloud of mist the size of a human head rolled and rained down, and he cupped his hands to wash his face.

When he woke up, the pain from the excessive consumption of his spiritual energy had lessened by about 70-80%, and he felt much more refreshed.

Ji An then made a hand seal and released an explosive fireball. Rain fell on the surface of the fireball, causing the flames to rise even higher and brighter.

The cloud formation quickly dissipated due to the rising heat, and Ji An calmly walked out of the cabin onto the deck.

He saw the flying boat docked above the Qin Gong Hall on Lingxiao Mountain, and a considerable amount of spiritual energy had already been transported down.

Jia Yu glanced at him and feigned anger, saying:

"You little rascal, how dare you slack off."

I was wondering why we felt like we were short-handed. Get back to work!

Ji An grinned, his face contorted in a grimace, and said:

"Uncle-Master, I'm innocent! I drew spirit-sealing talismans for ten consecutive days, and my spiritual energy was severely depleted, so I slept very soundly."

He explained briefly, then immediately began using his object manipulation technique to move the spiritual plants.

Jia Yu smiled faintly and flew away from the flying boat using her inner energy.

Object manipulation is the most frequently used spell among all cultivators. For most Foundation Establishment cultivators, moving five or six hundred pounds of objects by casting spells is not a problem.

In less than a quarter of an hour, all the spiritual plants on the flying boat had been unloaded and taken away by the disciples of the various herb gardens.

The disciples of the Diligent Work Hall set up several tables outside the main hall and distributed contribution points to the returning cultivators. The spirit farmers handed over their tasks and left one after another.

Ye Changqing smiled and handed over the jade token, saying:

"Junior Brother Ji, not bad!"

After being away for more than half a month, I easily earned more than 30,000 contribution points and 50 minor merits.

Most other spiritual farmers barely have 10,000 points.

This was beyond his expectations; the difference was too obvious.

This is a combat mission. The fact that the other side has been able to obtain so many contribution points means they should be on par with some front-line combat cultivators.

Ji An tapped his temple with his finger:

"I drew a thousand spirit-sealing talismans in ten days, and I still have a headache."

Every contribution point earned is soaked in blood and sweat.

Ye Changqing laughed heartily:

"The capable should do more work."

Ji An placed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and smiled:

"Senior brother, there are more than forty mature Xuan Ye Sword Bamboo plants. Exchange them for a few bamboo shoots for me."

The growth potential of the Xuan Ye Sword Bamboo is even higher than that of the Spirit Peach given by the master. It can be used to make friends with high-level weapon refiners in the future.

Ye Changqing pondered for a moment and said:

"With your abilities, Junior Brother, I can entrust you with planting a few Xuan Ye Sword Bamboo plants, but there is a condition: if any weapon refiners in the sect seek to purchase bamboo leaves, we must give them priority."

Second-tier spiritual items should be reserved as strategic resources. The richer the resources in the sect's secret vault, the stronger the cohesion among the disciples.

“No problem. My purpose in planting Xuan Ye Sword Bamboo is to supply the sect’s weapon refiners.”

Ji An patted his chest and said that the sect has two major pillar industries: beast taming and weapon refining.

The spirit plants such as Jade Leaf Mulberry are supplied to the Beast Taming Hall, while Iron Birch and Mysterious Leaf Sword Bamboo are supplied to the Weapon Refining Hall. The industrial chain of Crimson Flame Peak can be said to have truly formed a scale.

He is working hard to cultivate his irreplaceable value, and he will finally succeed when he can stably produce second-tier spirit items.

Ye Changqing extended his palm and said:

"The mature Xuan Ye Sword Bamboo plants will be transplanted to the sect's medicine garden. Junior brothers can exchange them for five bamboo shoots, each worth two thousand contribution points."

"Thank you, senior brother. In a few years, Uncle Jia, who is in charge of the secret treasury, will be able to receive the bamboo leaves I handed over."

Ji An handed the jade token to the other party, explaining that a transaction record must be left when exchanging goods.

"What bamboo leaves?"

Just as Jia Yu walked out of the main hall, he overheard this and asked a question. Beside him was Zhang Zizhao, the head of the Qin Gong Hall, who had come out to see him off.

Ji An replied:

"The leaves of the black-leaved sword bamboo."

"The sect's secret vault is full of second-tier resources, so you still need to work harder."

"Hehe, I have already cultivated a second-grade low-quality Crimson Cloud Pine. In a few months, I will be able to submit some higher-quality pine nuts."

Ji An said this as if showing off, trying to make his presence known to the sect elders.

Jia Yu's eyes lit up:

"Not bad. Keep the pine nuts, and accumulate enough to brew a few jars of second-grade pine nut wine!"

He prefers pine nut wine to roasted pine nuts.

Ji An summoned his flying shuttle, replaced the spirit stone, and rushed back to Crimson Flame Peak as quickly as possible.

The sky, like a burning furnace, bathed the mountains in rosy light.

He returned to Crimson Flame Peak before the last glimmer of light disappeared, landing near Copper Pattern Mulberry Field.

"What a pity."

Ji An sighed softly, made a hand seal to release the Thick Earth Returning to Origin Spell, then pulled up a few Copper Pattern Mulberry plants and planted Xuan Leaf Sword Bamboo.

He has always been reluctant to waste any inch of arable land, and there is no extra space left for the spirit bamboo.

A crescent moon quietly peeked out, and Ji An flew back to the cold pool under its light.

Several luminous pearls hung outside the stone house, their soft light blending with the moonlight, making them appear even brighter.

Liang Qiu and the others stepped forward and congratulated him in unison:

"Congratulations on your safe return, Uncle-Master!"

A few days ago, Zeng Rui came back and told them that their martial uncle would be back soon, but they didn't expect to wait for so many days.

Everyone felt uneasy, worried that something unexpected might happen.

"Haha, no need for formalities. Quickly prepare the spirit wine and food; the food outside is really terrible."

For so many days, he had either been consuming fasting pills or eating boiled wolf meat, so his mouth was bland and tasteless.

Liang Qiu cupped his hands and smiled:

"Please wait a moment, Uncle-Master, I'll go prepare."

Yuhan, go and find two bamboo shoots.

"Yulian, bring out some dried meat and pine nuts."

The three went about their own business, and Ji An released the beast from the spirit beast bag.

The golden retriever squeaked and ran towards the underground cave, while the grey-feathered sand goose cried out and jumped into the icy pool with a splash.

Ji An sat down on the stone bench and asked:

"Is Crimson Flame Peak relatively safe lately?"

Huang Feihu nodded slightly:

“I patrol the mountains and forests every day and have found that there are two spirit trees near the second-tier Crimson Cloud Pine, which have begun to be affected.”

Ji An frowned slightly and said:

"After this year's pine cone harvest, let's cut down the affected spirit trees."

This plan should be followed in all future occurrences of this situation.

High-level spirit trees inevitably require more living space; only wild grasses that don't need much nutrition can grow nearby.

Fifteen minutes later, Xia Yuhan began serving the first hot dish.

Ji An sipped the spirit wine and enjoyed it immensely. After he was full of wine and meat, he activated a communication talisman sword to report his safety to his master.

Instead of patrolling the mountains and forests as before, he spent half an hour cultivating in the mulberry field by the pool before returning to his cave to sleep early.

Half a month later, many notices were posted in Qingyun Immortal City, which immediately attracted heated discussions among all cultivators.

A small market town a few dozen miles away from the Immortal City, it is a gathering place for independent cultivators who are unable to settle in the Immortal City.

"Hey, Lao Zhang! Have you heard? The three major sects have seized Mingfeng Mountain, a second-tier high-grade spiritual vein in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, and are now selling shops and cave dwellings."

The current price is only 80% of that in Qingyun Immortal City!

"What's the use? Even if it's only half price, I still can't afford it!"

Old Liu, you seem so happy, but can you actually afford it?

Old Zhang scoffed. He had the skills of a talisman maker, and after thirty years of hard work, all the spirit stones he had accumulated in his spare time from cultivation were still less than two thousand.

He could buy an ordinary cave dwelling, but he should save his spirit stones for important matters.

Old Liu leaned closer with a lewd grin and said mysteriously:

"You're not interested in shops and cave dwellings, but there are things that will interest you!"

Three months later, an auction was held at Mingfeng Mountain, offering fifty Foundation Establishment Pills with a starting price of only one thousand spirit stones.

So many Foundation Establishment Pills?!

Old Zhang suddenly stood up. A few years ago, he had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining and was looking for a way to buy Foundation Establishment Pills.

Qingyun Immortal City also holds an annual auction for Foundation Establishment Pills, but only three to five pills are offered each time.

He opened his mouth, then slumped back down. A hundred Foundation Establishment Pills sounded like a lot, but he couldn't compete with those family cultivators.

"Fifty pieces? That's not even a chance for me."

"What if it were fifty pills a year?"

Old Zhang's eyes widened: "Impossible!"

Fifty seeds a year? Are you kidding me?!

"For the first three years, fifty Foundation Establishment Pills will be auctioned each year, and ten will be auctioned each year thereafter."

Furthermore, the pill shops run by various sects also sell Foundation Establishment Pills refined using demon cores.

(End of this chapter)