Chapter 187 Soul-Nourishing Wood

Another fellow cultivator has successfully established his foundation. Ji An was overjoyed and, after dismissing the crowd, flew back to the mountainside.

Instead of entering the cave, he leaped to a nearby pile of rocks and practiced the Gengjin Finger technique by performing hand seals.

Because of my obsessive-compulsive disorder, after learning so many spells, I have to practice them to the highest level of perfection, otherwise I always feel uncomfortable.

Golden beams of light raged, leaving smooth little holes in the rocks. He could now cast spells from any finger, making it impossible to defend against.

Ji An still had a considerable amount of magical power remaining in his body, and his immortal veins were exceptionally resilient, allowing him to cast spells fearlessly.

About half an hour later, Ji An had little magic power left in his body, so he focused his mind on his dantian.

Perhaps it was the benefit of both the Sharp Metal Technique and the Golden Light Technique reaching their peak that made him notice that his Geng Metal Finger technique improved very quickly.

[Spell: Geng Metal Finger (Perfection 29% → Perfection 30%)]

Ji An reminisced about the exhilarating feeling of rapidly increasing his spiritual energy through refining:

"It's still too slow!"

He shook his head slightly, suppressing the urge to refine the spiritual energy.

With just half an hour each day, it won't take many days to master the spell, and there's no need to expend any more spiritual energy.

The spell list only has a dozen or so spells, which can't withstand his practice over the years.

The following day, after the luncheon, Ji An and his companion entered the stone house.

Huang Feihu bowed deeply and solemnly said:

"Senior brother, without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. Please accept my bow!"

Ji An accepted the other person's bow with composure, helped him up, and smiled:

"You two met when you were both humble beginnings, and it's not easy for you to be together. Please keep in touch more often in the future."

"Come, sit down and talk."

The other party had helped him a lot, and although there was a financial relationship involved, it did save him a lot of time and energy.

Moreover, he remembers those who are dedicated and hardworking.

"Haha, I will come to Crimson Flame Peak often, as long as Senior Brother doesn't mind me bothering you."

Huang Feihu scratched the back of his head and chuckled.

Having known each other for many years, he knew the other person's temperament very well; he was the kind of person who didn't like to move around much.

It's said that we should visit more often, but that means he has to come frequently.

The two looked at each other and exchanged knowing smiles.

Ji An coughed lightly and said:

"In recent years, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in sects has increased significantly, and there are probably not many suitable cave dwellings."

When you go to the Diligent Work Hall to choose a cave dwelling, ask Senior Brother Ye for advice.

"clear."

"After establishing your foundation, choosing a cultivation method is a crucial issue, as it relates to the path we will take in the future. Let me tell you about this."

Ji An repeated what he had once told Liang Qiu, saying:

"The planting spells at the Qi Refining stage happen to have all five elements. I suggest you choose the one you are most talented in."

Many cultivators are naturally more suited to a certain type of magic. Generally speaking, they will have a smoother path if they choose a cultivation method of the same kind.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior brother. I have already practiced the Thick Earth Technique to its limit. I feel that I am more suited to the Earth Element Technique."

"It's not really about giving guidance. You can ask your senior brothers or uncles in the Transmission Hall for this kind of knowledge, and they will patiently answer your questions."

Ji An smiled, sometimes gaining new insights when explaining things to others.

He paused, then asked:

What are your plans next?

Huang Feihu sat up straight and said seriously:

"I will head to the Qin Gong Hall first thing tomorrow morning. I will leave directly without saying goodbye to my uncle."

After choosing my cave dwelling and cultivation method, I will leave the sect and go to Xiaozhushan to spend half a month with my grandfather before returning to set up my cave dwelling.

I need to borrow my senior's flying shuttle. Is that convenient?

"You're welcome. I don't have any plans to go out recently."

"By the way, Junior Brother Liang said he spent over two thousand spirit stones setting up his cave dwelling and other expenses. You probably don't have enough spirit stones, do you?"

Huang Feihu scratched his head sheepishly and said:

"I'd like to ask my senior brother for another thousand spirit stones."

If he were to borrow more spirit stones, he would owe the other party five thousand spirit stones, which would be too difficult to ask for.

"Take this. If you have any difficulties, just ask. Don't be shy."

Wei Songnian piloted his flying boat to land on the cold pool, saw the Tianyuan pears the size of walnuts, and laughed:

“Senior brother, this place is full of spiritual plants and abundant fruits, and it has an increasingly celestial aura.”

Ji An withdrew his spell, released the captured red grouper, and replied:

“I think it’s more like a farmhouse. Let’s go to the stone house to talk.”

"Xiannong's Courtyard!"

Ji An smiled; this fat man was as eloquent as ever.

The two arrived at the stone house and took their seats as host and guest, with Xia Yuhan brewing tea beside them.

Wei Songnian took out an account book and said:

"Senior brother, please take a look at the sales figures for the spirit wine over the past few months."

There's a problem with selling Lingjiu: restaurants that can consistently sell large quantities of liquor tend to delay payment, usually holding it for six months.

The spirit wine produced by Crimson Flame Peak has a more fragrant and mellow taste, and contains more spiritual energy than similar spirit wines. Wei Songnian managed to settle the bill once every three months.

Ji An hummed in agreement and took the ledger to examine it carefully.

After deducting the commission paid to the other party, the mulberry wine account received 2,500 spirit stones, and the pine nut wine account received 4,700 spirit stones, of which 40% was Senior Brother Du's "craftsmanship fee".

"No problem, tell me about the transaction I entrusted."

He entrusted the purchase of the corresponding Five Elements Essence, elixirs, and the collection of rare high-level spiritual plants to the other party.

He often doesn't have enough spirit stones to sell the spirit wine, so he has to subsidize some of them.

His rapid advancement in cultivation was partly due to his willingness to spend spirit stones on medicine.

"It costs two thousand spirit stones to purchase the Five Elements Essence, and thirty Azure Lotus Pills cost one thousand five hundred spirit stones."

Wei Songnian paused, took out a black earthenware jar about a foot tall, and smiled mysteriously:

"By sheer luck, I managed to buy a precious plant from a few rogue cultivators and present it to my senior brother!"

The earthenware pot was as thick as a bucket, with a spirit-sealing talisman pasted on the lid and the body of the pot, its spiritual light already dimmed.

Ji An raised an eyebrow. To call it a precious plant, it must be a spiritual plant that can grow to the third rank.

He took the earthenware pot and was about to open it when he was stopped by someone.

"Senior brother, there's a certain smell in here that's not suitable for opening the door inside. Let's go to the bamboo forest outside."

Ji An was even more puzzled. He carried the jar to the bamboo forest and sealed most of his nostrils.

Upon tearing off the sealing talisman and opening the lid, a faint stench of decay immediately filled the air.

It's like turning over years of fallen leaves in a forest, mixed with bird droppings and rotting corpses—it's awful.

Even though he only smelled a tiny bit, it made him feel nauseous.

He completely closed his nostrils, gagged a few times, and then cast the Thick Earth Returning to Origin Mantra by making a hand seal.

A warm, yellow aura swirled within the earthenware pot. As the light dissipated, Ji An opened his nostrils.

The flavor had faded considerably, leaving only a faint trace, almost imperceptible.

The Thick Earth Returning to Origin Mantra contains the divine will of inclusiveness and nourishment, which can enhance the fertility of the soil and also gather all the energy into the soil.

Wei Songnian asked in surprise:

"What do you mean by this, Senior Brother?"

This isn't about planting, so there's absolutely no need to use magic.

"You don't need to close your nasal passages anymore, give it a try."

As Ji An spoke, he began to carefully observe the spiritual plants in the jar.

The four-inch-tall sapling showed signs of withering.

It is about the thickness of a thumb, entirely black, with white crack patterns on its surface.

The three spoon-shaped leaves are also black, with a slight purplish tinge, and the veins are white.

"Soul-nurturing wood?!"

Ji An exclaimed in disbelief, "The Soul-Nourishing Wood can definitely be called a treasure plant, as its growth potential can reach the fourth rank!"

The Soul-Nourishing Wood has no seeds, and its reproduction method is a mystery. Cultivators have tried to cultivate it by cutting off the roots of the spirit tree, but without exception, these roots wither quickly after being separated from the mother tree and cannot be kept alive at all.

I heard that the sect has a Soul-Nourishing Tree, and cultivators in the Chaoyuan stage can receive a branch every few years.

"Junior brother, what do you want?"

Ji An put the lid on the jar and looked intently at Wei Songnian.

Wei Songnian, who always had a playful and carefree demeanor, turned serious and solemnly said:

"I said it was for my senior brother, how could I go back on my word?"

Ji An tapped the jar rhythmically with his fingers, paused for a moment, and then said in a deep voice:

"The value of the Soul-Nourishing Wood cannot be seen now, but its value will become apparent once it is cultivated to the second tier."

It is of great significance to both sects and families, and its significance only grows stronger over time.

If you offer it to the sect, you will receive far more than I can give.

"There are some things that the sect will not give."

Wei Songnian sighed softly and continued:

"With my qualifications, I could at most become a hall steward in the sect."

When the time is right, I want to return to the family.

He had also heard about the impending demonic calamity, and it was not safe to keep the Soul-Nourishing Wood in the family.

Offering spirit wood to a sect yields nothing more than inanimate items such as pills, spiritual objects, contribution points, and merit points.

He wanted something for the long term, and this Soul-Nourishing Wood was an investment for him.

"Are you gambling? You have that much faith in me?"

Ji An said quietly, he roughly understood the other party's mindset.

His question was ambiguous, asking about the other person's confidence in his character and future potential.

Wei Songnian's eyes were clear, and he smiled:

"Let's just call it a gamble."

He had succeeded once, and he was now craving more.

Having witnessed his senior brother's growth firsthand, he felt that in the sect, apart from those disciples with extraordinary talent, no one could surpass him.

"Haha, great! Junior brother has confidence, and so do I!"

Ji An raised his right hand, and the two palms clapped together heavily.

He made no promises, and the other party did not ask for anything; everything was understood without words.

Supporting the bottom of the earthenware pot, Ji An said:

"Junior brother, please go back to your room and have some tea. I need to plant it as soon as possible, and I'll come back to entertain you later."

Soul-nourishing wood needs constant nourishment from the earth's veins, otherwise it will easily wither.

Wei Songnian cupped his hands and smiled:

"Senior brother, please go ahead. There are important matters to attend to."

Ji An used his wind manipulation technique to find Huang Xuan:

"Pack the black soil from the mulberry fields into several sacks and transport them to the underground caves as soon as possible."

"Yes, ma'am."

Ji An nodded slightly and flew to the underground cave.

Golden Light, who was fast asleep under the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree, opened his hazy eyes, glanced around, and then closed them again to continue his deep sleep.

Aside from the owner, almost no one else comes here on ordinary days.

Ji An took out a spirit fruit and threw it out.

Jin Guang scrambled to his feet, leaped into the air, and caught the spirit fruit, a bewildered joy on his face.

"Didn't we just eat that a few days ago?"

"Go out and hunt a few Firefang Rabbits and bring them over, now, immediately!"

"Squeak squeak".

Jin Guang quickly finished eating the fruit, threw the seeds back, and disappeared into the rock.

(End of this chapter)