Chapter 317 The Palace of Agriculture

Although he had used teleportation arrays many times, Ji An still felt a sense of awe.

He kept wondering what lay beyond that hazy passage, and in what form the cultivators were transported there.

The vision blurred for a moment and then gradually cleared, the feeling of traveling thousands of miles in an instant was so mesmerizing.

The Central Continent has teleportation arrays connecting hundreds of thousands of miles; how vast this world is!

In the Western Continent, as a cultivator in the Chaoyuan stage, he could be considered a high-level cultivator, but in the grand scheme of the world, he was probably just a frog in a well.

Stepping out of the cave, one could see cultivators in the distance riding various spirit boats, rising and falling from time to time; that was the location of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Si Nong Hall was completed six months ago and has been handed over to the other halls. It is just waiting for its official occupancy.

Ji An watched for a while, then turned and went to the cave next door.

Ge Ying sat quietly in the chair, holding a cup of fragrant tea with steaming water in her hands.

Sunlight shone on her, outlining a silhouette of interplay between light and shadow.

The crow's feet at the corners of her eyes started to increase again, and gray hairs began to appear among her black hair.

The vitality replenishment provided by the Longevity Pill is gradually failing to keep up with the depletion caused by the decline of Qi and blood.

When a cultivator's vital energy begins to decline, it's like a wooden bucket starting to crack.

Sadly, this rift cannot be mended.

Therefore, once a cultivator's vital energy begins to decline, it means that their potential has been exhausted.

Ji An keenly sensed that a faint sense of decay was spreading from his master.

'One cannot live forever, nor can one defy the passage of time!'

He sighed inwardly, but his smile was as warm as the sun:

"Greetings, Master. I have brought you some white jade bee honey, as well as some dried mulberries and mulberry wine."

He took out a storage bag and placed it on the table next to the other person.

Ge Ying's eyes were filled with a happy smile as she said kindly:

"Giving me so many good things is a bit of a waste; they should be given to the cultivators who need them more."

The disciple often brought her things, all of them high-quality, mid-grade items of level two.

Sometimes she would think that if she could continue to obtain so many spiritual items during the Foundation Establishment stage, she would have a high chance of breaking through to the Chaoyuan stage.

"Master, you are too kind. This is a gift from your disciple to show my respect. No one else is qualified to do so."

Ge Ying smiled, feeling as sweet as if she had eaten honey.

After chatting for a while, Ji An cupped his hands and said:

"Today marks exactly three years since I broke through to the Chaoyuan stage, and I must now shoulder the responsibilities that come with it."

I plan to first go to the Treasure Pavilion, then to the Hall of Diligent Work to hand over control of Ningcui Cliff, and finally officially take over the Hall of Agriculture.

"Time flies so fast. It feels like two years have passed in the blink of an eye."

Ge Ying stood up. "Let's go. Once you take over Ningcui Cliff, I can finally relax completely."

She was already in her twilight years, and the sect no longer assigned her any tasks.

As the two stepped out of the cave, green clouds rose from Ji An's feet, enveloping them both.

After the auspicious cloud took shape, it rose into the sky and flew away swiftly.

Even with someone with him, his speed was 20-30% faster than when he first learned to ride the clouds.

In less than half an hour, the green auspicious cloud descended on the mountainside of Chaoyang Peak.

The two stepped into the main hall, and Jia Yu smiled:

"Junior Brother Ji has finally decided to leave Crimson Flame Peak. It's not easy."

He now knows very well the other party's activity pattern: leaving the dojo once a year.

Listening to the ancestor preach and then exchanging spiritual items at the treasure pavilion is a model of single-minded dedication to cultivation.

Ji An took out several storage bags and smiled:

"From now on, I will be stationed at the Ministry of Agriculture. Senior brother, you can come and have a drink with me when you have time."

Also, please help me exchange these supplies for minor merit points so I can claim the benefits of a cultivator in the Chaoyuan stage.

"I knew it, Junior Brother wouldn't have come out unless there was something wrong."

Jia Yu skillfully took out the resources from the storage bag, began to weigh and record the points.

"Thirty thousand catties of second-grade low-quality pine nuts yielded three thousand minor merits;"

Two thousand catties of medium-grade pine nuts yielded two thousand minor merits.

"Three hundred catties of second-grade low-level sword bamboo golden leaves, yielding nine thousand minor merits; "

Thirty catties of medium-grade sword bamboo leaves yielded six thousand minor merit points, for a total of sixty-six thousand minor merit points.

He scratched his head and grinned, saying:

"If I had achieved such results back then, I would probably be a Golden Core cultivator by now!"

Jia Yu understood that this was part of the other party's earnings after paying the sect's land rent.

At least he knew that the other party rarely used second-tier mulberry wine and earth spirit fruit to exchange for minor merits, while bronze-patterned mulberry and jade-leaf mulberry were directly connected with the Beast Taming Hall.

Roughly calculated, he should earn around 80,000 yuan a year.

With such a great harvest, alchemists and weapon refiners at the Chaoyuan stage would need to have refining tasks every day.

What's even more amazing is that this is not the limit of the opponent; Crimson Flame Peak still has a lot of potential to be tapped.

With so many resources at hand, how many pills and spiritual items could be purchased to accelerate the growth of the divine palace core and the improvement of cultivation?

Jia Yu picked up the storage bag. "I'll go put the supplies into the warehouse and then take out your welfare benefits."

Ji An nodded slightly and said:

"Senior brother, now that I have so many minor skills, is there anywhere I can use them?"

"I knew you'd ask that. This year I specially applied for three extra Jade Pills and ten trays of Soul Incense for you. How are you going to thank me?"

"Haha, here are two jars of mid-grade pine nut wine!"

"Two jars? That's too few!"

Jia Yu shook his head vigorously, holding up one hand, "This is the number!"

He knew the quantity and approximate yield of second-grade mid-level Crimson Cloud Pine trees in Crimson Flame Peak, and could estimate roughly how many pine nuts were brewed into spirit wine.

"make a deal!"

Ji An readily agreed and took out five jars of spirit wine from his storage bag.

The brewed second-tier mid-grade spirit wine is actually a low-end version because there are no spirit herbs with sufficient medicinal age available.

Apart from the main ingredient, pine nuts, the other ingredients are the same as those for low-grade spirit wine, which is unavoidable.

Jia Yu stopped turning around, patted the seal, sniffed the aroma of the wine, and nodded in satisfaction.

He manipulated the water control technique, pouring every drop of wine from the jar into the gourd before breaking the spell and entering the secret vault.

Ji An sensed a fleeting fluctuation of magical power in the secret vault and realized it was the aura of the Earth Dragon Beast.

Jia Yu placed the supplies on the table and said:

"Each Bihua Dan costs one thousand small merits, and each plate of Hunxiang costs one hundred small merits."

First, I'll give you 66,000 small work points, then I'll deduct 4,000 small work points. The procedure must be correct.

Ji An handed over the jade token, and after confirming that everything was accounted for, he put away the supplies.

Jia Yu placed the jade tablet on the spirit plate and operated it, saying, "You currently have 120,000 minor merits, which need to be deducted for exchanging for cultivation techniques, totaling 5,000 minor merits."

"Senior brother, repay all 100,000 minor merits you exchanged for the cultivation technique."

"I have so many small merits to spare, but I can't exchange them for any resources."

Ji An sighed inwardly. The sect was only a Golden Core level power, and resources for the Chaoyuan stage were already becoming scarce.

“Okay,” Jia Yu said, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face.

In the past, cultivators who accumulated so much merit were all veteran cultivators in the Chaoyuan stage. Who would have thought that a cultivator who had just broken through to the realm three years ago would be so wealthy!

He returned the jade pendant and said:

"When the sect trades with Fallen Maple Valley, I will ask them to pay more Bihua Pills and Soul Incense."

Junior brother has many minor skills, which can be exchanged for spiritual weapons.

I remember you're using a low-grade spiritual weapon right now, aren't you?

"You're about to become the master of a palace; you need to upgrade to a high-grade spiritual weapon to match your status!"

High-grade spiritual weapons can easily cost tens of thousands of minor merits, which can severely deplete the opponent's minor merits.

Ji An shook his head, "I'm just a spiritual farmer, I don't need that kind of pomp and circumstance!"

He paused, then grinned and said:

"I plan to go all out and refine a top-grade spiritual weapon to serve as the blank for my natal magic weapon!"

A natal magic weapon can only be tempered by a top-grade spiritual artifact during the Golden Core Tribulation, while a top-grade spiritual artifact can be stored and nurtured in the dantian.

Ge Ying remained silent, listening to the high spirits revealed in her disciple's words, and the corners of her mouth kept turning up.

For some reason, she now trusts her disciple's words completely.

The Ningcui Cliff lineage has never had a Golden Core cultivator before, so this is something to look forward to.

Jia Yu was stunned for a moment, then said:

"Good, that's ambitious."

That's what he thought back then too, but unfortunately, in the end, he definitely didn't have enough time to open up all the divine palaces, and all his hopes were dashed.

"There are still some top-grade refining materials in the treasure pavilion. If it's not enough, the sect can help you exchange them."

Have you ever thought about what kind of natal magic weapon you want to forge?

A cultivator who can earn 80,000 minor merits a year has the right to say that.

"It's not settled yet."

Ji An was also pondering the choice of his natal magic weapon. According to its basic function, magic weapons can be divided into three categories: attack, defense, and support.

Offensive magic weapons are the most common type among cultivators, followed by defensive ones, with very few choosing auxiliary magic weapons.

In the future, Ji An will likely leave the sect and travel outside. He is struggling with which type of magical artifact will be more helpful.

Jia Yu nodded slightly and said:

"The choice of your natal magic weapon is indeed a matter of great importance. You can consider it carefully and make a decision when you have opened your third or fourth divine palace."

A cultivator's natal magic weapon accompanies them throughout their life and cannot be replaced, but it can grow as the cultivator improves.

A cultivator can possess many magical treasures, but can only possess one natal magical treasure. Some cultivators may have two, though this is a special case.

After chatting for a while, Ji An cupped his hands in greeting:

"We need to go to the Qin Gong Hall today to complete the handover of Ningcui Cliff."

Senior brother, let's talk again another day.

"Go then. When will you take over the Ministry of Agriculture?"

Jia Yu asked, "From now on, all spirit farmers, spirit fields, and medicinal gardens will be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture."

The Ministry of Agriculture will reorganize and plan the cultivation of spiritual herbs and cultivate more outstanding spiritual farmers.

Ji An replied:

"If possible, take over today, or at the latest tomorrow."

It's best to get these things done all at once to save time.

He waved and turned to leave.

Jia Yu transmitted his voice:

“Ge Ying, Ningcui Cliff is about to become a lineage with a stable lineage of Chaoyuan cultivators.”

Among the disciples of Ningcui Cliff in this generation, not counting Ji An who has already reached the Chaoyuan stage, Zhong Yuefei and Liu Yu have a high probability of breaking through to the Chaoyuan stage.

Liu Yu is already a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator and possesses the Fire Element Dao Body; breaking through is only a matter of time.

If Zhong Yuefei can also break through, achieving the third generation of the lineage, it would be a great event.

Ge Ying transmitted her voice:

"It's too early to say that now. Whether the disciples live up to expectations depends on whether their disciples live up to expectations."

Only when disciples in each generation are able to break through to the Chaoyuan stage can the Chaoyuan lineage be considered stable.

Qin Gong Hall.

"Your master can finally enjoy some peace and quiet."

Zhang Zizhao handed over the jade tablet controlling the magic array and solemnly said:

"The medicinal gardens at Ningcui Cliff are all second-grade or higher spiritual fields. They are currently cultivating spiritual herbs needed for the Chaoyuan stage pills, which are closely related to our cultivation."

Now that my junior brother has taken over, I hope we can cultivate usable spiritual herbs as soon as possible.

The required age for elixirs of the Chaoyuan stage is generally between six hundred and eight hundred years.

Based on past experience, it will take about two hundred years to cultivate.

However, it used to be the responsibility of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, but now it has been taken over by Chaoyuan stage cultivators. He doesn't know how long it will take, but he thinks it can be shortened by at least thirty or forty years.

Ji An accepted the jade pendant, revealing a confident smile:

"Next, please let me show you my skills, senior brother."

When ordinary people grow medicinal herbs, they need to consider many issues, such as soil fertility, rainfall, and pests.

In a cultivator's herb garden, the possibility of pests is zero. The soil is nourished by both spiritual energy and magic, so it is fertile. Rain is also a matter of magic.

Comparatively speaking, farming is easier, provided that one has excellent skills and a high level of mastery of various planting techniques.

"Haha, the sect leader is also very concerned about this."

Zhang Zizhao smiled and said, "In the history of our sect, there has never been a Spirit Farmer in the Chaoyuan stage."

Many cultivators are eagerly anticipating what kind of achievements these cultivators can make.

"By the way, when does Junior Brother plan to take over the Ministry of Agriculture?"

"Can we take over today?"

Zhang Zizhao raised his eyebrows. "Of course, we can set off now."

The deputy head of the Si Nong Hall and many other deacons have been selected and have been organizing the files at Ningcui Cliff.

Ji An stood up. "Senior brother, please!"

Two auspicious clouds appeared and saw Ningcui Cliff. Ge Ying said:

"I won't go to the Ministry of Agriculture. Just take me to the mountain cave."

The disciple is taking over the Ministry of Agriculture; there might be some confidential arrangements within the sect. If she were to go there rashly, it would be somewhat inconvenient.

Zhang Zizhao laughed:

"Junior brother, I'll be waiting for you at the Ministry of Agriculture."

After saying that, he urged the fiery auspicious cloud, as bright as the evening glow, to leave.

Ji An looked on with envy; Huo Lingyun was so beautiful.

Although he wasn't a looks-obsessed person, what cultivator wouldn't love auspicious clouds that combine beauty and speed!

Ji An escorted his master back to his cave and then rode a cloud to the Si Nong Hall.

A dozen or so cultivators were already standing in the open space outside the hall. Zhang Zizhao waved to them.

"Let me introduce you. This is Ji An, the first Hall Master of the Ministry of Agriculture! He is also the first Spirit Farmer of the Chaoyuan stage in our sect and even in the Western Continent."

"Greetings, Palace Master!" All the disciples bowed and clasped their hands in unison.

Ji An offered a slight gesture of support and said:

"Please excuse the formalities. From now on, we will need to work together to cultivate more outstanding disciples for the sect and provide logistical support for the other halls."

"I will obey the Lord's orders."

Zhang Zizhao interjected:

"Junior brother, let me introduce you."

This is Vice Hall Master Lin Mao, and this is Vice Hall Master Kong Yunyi. Both of them are late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and have served the sect for many years.

Ji An smiled and nodded, saying politely:

"I have long heard of you two, and today I finally get to meet you both."

I hope you will continue to support me in the future.

Although he was the temple master, he did not put on airs when dealing with the cultivators below him.

(End of this chapter)