Chapter 336 Get on the bus first, pay the fare later

"Grand-aunt, is it true?"

Gloria pressed for details, finding the matter too shocking to believe.

Before the demonic calamity broke out in the Western Continent, news of cultivators in the Chaoyuan stage dying unexpectedly was rare.

In just over a decade, several Golden Core cultivators have perished; this is truly astonishing.

Ge Ying stated definitively:

"Of course it's true. This news should have spread throughout the entire Western Continent by now."

The demonic cultivators have suffered a severe blow; I believe this is the beginning of a glimmer of stability appearing in the Western Continent.

Although the demonic beasts still occupy areas thousands of miles away from the sect, and there is still a risk of war, order will inevitably be restored in the territories controlled by the human race.

"This is great news. For us, only a stable order can bring about rapid development."

Liu Yu said that the Western Continent had experienced both demonic and monster calamities, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of cultivators, whether from sects or independent practitioners.

"Yes, once the internal situation stabilizes, it's a good time to recuperate and rebuild."

Ge Ying nodded in deep agreement. She looked at her grandniece and asked:

"Have you informed your master about the breakthrough?"

"Not yet. I'll talk to you for a while and then return to Yingyue Peak to tell Master in person."

Ji An asked:

"Does the Ancestor know about your breakthroughs?"

Liu Yu smiled and said:

"We already know. Senior Brother Jia Yu informed the Ancestor after we notified him."

The patriarch has decided to summon us in three days to explain the cultivation process at the Chaoyuan stage.

The patriarch no longer hopes to improve his cultivation level and spends most of his time on sect affairs, so he can quickly free up some free time.

Growing laughed:

"Oh, right, Senior Brother Jia also asked us to pass on a message, asking you to visit the Treasure Pavilion when you have time."

"I understand. I don't need to go to the Ministry of Agriculture tomorrow, so I'll have time to go there."

Ji An nodded slightly. He was curious about what the other party wanted to see him about, since they had met not long ago.

Ge Ying began to speak:

"What's the current situation at the Ministry of Agriculture? Your plan has been in place for over four years; have there been any results?"

She was more concerned about her disciples' duties; the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture was training more high-level spiritual farmers would be of great help to the sect.

The disciple is the first Spirit Farmer in the Chaoyuan stage in the Western Continent, and has the potential to reach the Golden Core stage. Perhaps he can lay the foundation for the sect to achieve the Nascent Soul True Monarch stage.

"Currently, all the newly assigned disciples have reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and some outstanding ones have already reached the late-stage of Qi Refining."

I plan to give my disciples another year to discover the spells they are best at, at which point I will organize them into small groups.”

Ji An paused for a moment, then stated his plan:

"If my method proves highly effective, I will apply to the sect that all Lingnong disciples may be granted three years of cultivation time."

During this period, the Ministry of Agriculture will provide a certain number of pills. Disciples will not need to perform any tasks; they only need to cultivate and practice their spells.

The elixirs are not provided for free; instead, they are converted into contribution points, with interest paid and repaid over several years.

This is considered an extra benefit for a Lingnong disciple, allowing the disciple to first acquire the ability and skills to support themselves before repaying the sect for its training.

It's like getting on the train first and buying a ticket later; although it's just a change in order, it brings unexpected benefits.

Liu Yu analyzed:

"There is an ample supply of pills for Qi Refining disciples, and many disciples will break through to the late Qi Refining stage within three years."

Moreover, Lingnong disciples have few opportunities to go out, so staying in the sect is very safe.

"Junior brother's move was absolutely brilliant!"

He quickly understood the benefits: although the disciples were a few years late in serving the sect, they could create more value.

Ge Ying nodded with a smile, "It is said that in the major sects of the Central Continent, Qi Refining disciples with superior aptitude or above do not need to perform tasks. Tasks will be assigned to them gradually after they reach the Foundation Establishment stage."

After chatting happily for a while, Groying took his leave.

Liu Yu said:

"Once I open up the Fire God Mansion, I will become my junior brother's biggest customer. Please reserve more second-grade mid-level spirit peaches and spirit apricots for me."

The sect's supply of Foundation Establishment stage pills could not meet the disciples' needs, and the supply of Origin Stage pills would only become more strained; he needed to plan ahead.

After opening the Fire Palace, one can refine spiritual fruits to improve cultivation more quickly.

"no problem."

Ji An readily agreed, and then said:

"Senior brother, now that you've broken through to the Chaoyuan stage, relying solely on sect mission rewards for resources will likely be insufficient to sustain your cultivation."

Even if the other party goes out to hunt demons, how many Chaoyuan-stage demon beasts are there to hunt?

Besides, nobody knows the exact situation within the monster territory.

If a Golden Core stage demon king is left behind, going to hunt demons is like lambs to the slaughter.

Ge Ying began to speak:

"Liu Yu, you really need to consider learning a cultivation technique."

After the demon calamity breaks out, the number of demons also decreases significantly, making the harvest from hunting demons very unstable.

The remuneration received from holding a position in the sect is hardly enough to support one's own cultivation.

Liu Yu waved his hand and said:

"After so much killing, it's hard for me to settle down and hone my cultivation skills."

I will pay a visit to Master Lin to inquire about my future cultivation.

Having grown accustomed to fighting on the battlefield, how many people would honestly go back to learn a trade? Unless they are injured or disabled.

He began to understand the training methods of sword cultivators; learning a craft would only affect his speed when killing demons!

Ge Ying shook her head, but did not continue to persuade her.

Ji An stroked his chin and asked:

“Cultivation at the Chaoyuan stage requires many mid-grade second-tier resources. Where will you gather these resources, Senior Brother?”

Without resources, cultivators can only rely on their own cultivation techniques to improve their cultivation level.

Their cultivation level increases much slower than that of cultivators with resources.

Liu Yu smiled and said nonchalantly:

"There will always be a way, otherwise how did Senior Brothers Lin Jiuxiao and Lin Qiubai improve their cultivation?"

"At worst, I'll travel around and look for opportunities. It's not just me; Senior Sister Ge has the same idea."

In his view, there's always a way out.

Ji An raised his eyebrows slightly and said:

"The two of you, one of you should open up the Heart Fire Palace and the other should open up the Lung Metal Palace. This will allow you to meet your needs for absorbing Qi and improving your cultivation within the sect."

I suggest you wait until you break through to the second stage of the cultivation realm before venturing out to travel; that way, you'll have a better chance of success.

Liu Yu nodded:

"This is just our future plan; we have no plans to travel abroad for the next few years."

Ji An bid farewell to his master and arrived at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Han Shan stepped forward, bowed, and said:

"Greetings, Master."

"No need for formalities, please come inside to speak."

The disciples are guarding this place; they can tell something's up at a glance.

The two entered the main hall and took their seats. Han Shan chuckled sheepishly and said:

“Master, I will follow your advice and practice the Flame Spell regularly.”

Last night during the rehearsal, I felt that my magic had entered a completely new realm.

Furthermore, when I practice my cultivation techniques, I seem to be able to comprehend even more profound things.

The cultivation method he chose was the Crimson Fire Danxia Technique, which focuses on the Ding Fire Dao. The Flame Fire Curse is also a spell that focuses on the Ding Fire Dao.

“Good, I am pleased that you are able to practice your spells so consistently.”

Ji An nodded, a smile appearing on his face.

The disciple mastered the Flame Spell to perfection a long time ago, and entering a new realm means practicing it to its ultimate level.

His two disciples, the elder disciple Lin Lan is more unrestrained, while the younger disciple is more steady and resilient.

In his view, possessing these qualities is essential to going further in life.

"Most of the spiritual herbs and trees you grow in your cave are fire-elemental spiritual plants, which will be of great help to you."

Even Foundation Establishment disciples can only rely on the Flame Fire Spell to cultivate fire-elemental spiritual plants.

The sect's fire-elemental pills are in short supply, partly because too many disciples are choosing fire-elemental cultivation techniques, and partly because the cultivation of spiritual plants is too slow.

"Thank you for your teachings, Master. I still have some questions to ask you today."

Han Shan inquired about the problems he encountered while practicing the cultivation method.

After thinking it over, Ji An answered one by one. Although he had never cultivated the Crimson Fire Danxia Technique, he was, after all, a cultivator who had opened up the Fire Palace.

Moreover, the disciple's cultivation method is a simplified version of the Fire Palace chapter of the Five Elements Revolving Scripture, which is more than sufficient to guide the other party's cultivation.

In the evening, Ji An returned to Crimson Flame Peak and happened to see Wei Songtao and Qinglu returning to the Cold Pool together.

He laughed and scolded:

"You little rascal, you're quite the opportunist!"

The other party rented several acres of spiritual fields outside Crimson Flame Peak to earn some extra money.

Qinglu was able to use the Jade Wood Transformation Technique, but she was tricked by the other party and became a laborer.

Feed Youyou with spirit mulberry and spirit fruit from Crimson Flame Peak to increase her favorability and seek personal gain.

Wei Songtao revealed a simple and honest smile and said:

“Master, if I do this, Youyou can still practice her magic.”

"Yo yo".

The green deer let out a melodious cry, ran to its master, and rubbed its head, which had grown two small antlers, against its master's hand.

Ji An touched the deer antlers and chuckled:

"Foolish, getting sold out and still helping the seller count the money."

"Grandmaster has wronged me. Youyou is a Foundation Establishment stage spirit beast. If she sensed that I had bad intentions, how could she possibly help me?"

Wei Songtao explained that the green deer can sense people's goodwill and malice, which is very magical.

Patting the beast's head, Ji An rode a cloud and flew to the Xuan Yang Wood Forest.

With the combined effects of second-tier spirit fields and the spells of the Chaoyuan stage, second-tier Xuan Yang wood became common in Crimson Flame Peak.

"Oh!"

He exhaled forcefully and then inhaled naturally, swallowing a warm stream of air into his mouth.

The golden flame-patterned spiritual energy on the surface of the heart, the Ding fire in the wood and the Bing fire of the sun, are fused together and absorbed by the core of the divine palace.

A wave of warmth surged from my heart and spread throughout my body.

As he inhaled the twelve strands of Qi, Ji An felt completely refreshed.

There was no need to cast a spell for the spirit field tonight, so he used earth-遁术 (earth-遁术, a technique that allows one to escape from underground) to return to the vicinity of his cave.

Finding a secluded spot, he began practicing the Gengjin Spirit-Slaying Sword.

The golden light was like ten thousand swords being fired simultaneously, its sharp and annihilating aura tearing through the void, carrying a desolate sense of the annihilation of all things.

Because he needed to improve his planting spell first, he only had this spell and the "Turning the Earth into Steel" spell, both of which were at the Chaoyuan stage and could be used in combat.

"Turning the Earth into Steel" is more suited to digging tunnels and doing civil engineering, or dealing with cultivators who are proficient in earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magic that allows one to escape through the earth).

From now on, the only spell he can use is the Gengjin Spirit-Slaying Sword.

There are still many Spirit Essences in the Stone Turtle. I'll go to the Transmission Hall in a few days and see if there are any Metal Element Defense Spells that I can exchange for.

(End of this chapter)