Chapter 376 Autumn Leaves

"Okay, please wait a moment while I calculate the required resources."

Chu Huaige sat down in a chair, took out counting rods, and began to calculate.

Seeing that it was getting dark outside, Ji An gave the following instructions:

"Cuihua, go prepare dinner. Tonight I will be drinking with my fellow disciples."

If you're too busy, ask Songtao and the other guy for help.

"Yes, ma'am," Zhang Cuihua said, taking quick, small steps as she walked out of the living room.

Half an hour later, Chu Huaige let out a long breath and handed over the jade slip:

"The resources needed to upgrade the spiritual veins are recorded in detail inside. This time, the resources consumed by Crimson Flame Peak for the upgrade are more than four times more than the last time, including a considerable portion of second-tier top-grade resources."

To sustain the operation of the magic array, approximately 300,000 spirit stones need to be invested annually.

He was filled with envy; such a huge investment contained the ancestor's earnest expectations.

After the spiritual veins are upgraded to the highest grade, Junior Brother Ji's dojo will be a top-tier dojo, second only to Chaoyang Peak, and will be able to support cultivators to the Golden Core stage.

Within the sect, there are fewer than fifteen training grounds that have reached the second-tier top-grade spiritual vein.

Other dojos were passively improved due to the enhancement of the sect's main spiritual vein, while Crimson Flame Peak was specially cultivated, so its significance is naturally different.

Zhang Zizhao took the jade slip, made a copy, and said:

"The consumption of 300,000 spirit stones is nothing; the Diligent Work Hall has a large quantity of low-level resources."

However, there are many different types of Tier 2 resources. Junior brother, please see if you can gather enough.

He discovered that many rare and top-quality spiritual items appeared in the jade slip, and he didn't have much hope of gathering the necessary resources.

Jia Yu took the jade slip and stuck it to his forehead, then took out a jade slip containing records of the treasure pavilion's inventory and compared it with the records from time to time.

After comparing them, he chuckled and said:

"Fortunately, we were able to gather all the resources. When the sect upgraded the main spiritual vein, there were still resources left over from the purchase. I will bring the resources to Crimson Flame Peak tomorrow."

The surplus resources were originally intended to be traded after the arrival of the Central Continent cultivators' merchant ships, but now they can be used directly, avoiding another round of exploitation.

Zhang Zizhao's eyes lit up, and he said:

“That’s great. I can allocate the resources by tomorrow afternoon.”

"Junior Brother Chu, you will be stationed at Crimson Flame Peak the day after tomorrow. Set up the formation to enhance the spiritual veins as soon as possible."

Chu Huaige nodded:

"No problem. I will invite a few disciples to complete the task together. We can finish the magic array in about half a month."

Two months later, at the hour of Wei (1-3 PM).

Chu Huaige's expression was somewhat helpless, and he said with a wry smile:

"When I was assisting the array masters in Zhongzhou, they seemed to finish the task quite easily, but when I was in charge, it was a complete mess."

He boasted that he could complete the construction of the magic array in just over half a month, but it actually took four and a half months. Luckily, his skin was slightly dark, so you couldn't tell he was blushing.

Crimson Flame Peak prepares abundant spiritual food every day; he feels truly guilty for delaying the project for so long.

Ji An comforted him:

"Practice makes perfect, and it's already admirable that you completed the task perfectly without having led the construction of this type of magic array before."

The art of formations is profound and complex, far more difficult than refining weapons or alchemy. In his opinion, the other party had indeed done a very good job.

A second-tier top-grade magic array can be built in just two months, making him arguably the sect's number one array mage.

The opponent was indeed the number one array master, because there was only one array master in the sect at the Chaoyuan stage.

Chu Huaige quickly waved his hand and smiled sheepishly:

"Junior brother, stop talking, or I'll be too ashamed to face you."

The magic array is now activated. I come to Crimson Flame Peak every year around this time to maintain it and replenish the spirit stones. Farewell.

He bowed and said goodbye, then hurriedly left with his disciples. If he stayed any longer, he would have to cool his face with ice water to prevent it from burning.

Ji An saw the guests off and couldn't help but smile.

He could sense the other person's shame; this senior was so responsible.

At this moment, Zhang Cuihua walked over, bowed slightly, and said:

“Grandmaster, I have thoroughly studied the basic techniques for raising spirit fish. You may now invite Uncle Liang to come.”

Ji An nodded slightly, took out two golden communication swords, entered the information, activated them, and said:

"I invite Fellow Daoist Liang and Fellow Daoist Huang to visit Crimson Flame Peak in three days. Please prepare a feast."

At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), Liang Qiu and Huang Feihu arrived one after another.

Huang Feihu piloted his flying shuttle, circling it several times above the icy pool before slowly landing on the open ground, a broad smile on his face.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist! The number of second-tier spiritual plants in Crimson Flame Peak has reached a new high!"

He still remembered the scene when he left this place. At that time, there were not many second-tier spiritual plants. He never expected that after so many years, non-second-tier spiritual plants here would become so rare.

The orchards were filled with second-tier spiritual plants.

Ji An pointed to the stone bench and replied:

"Tongxi, sit down and let's talk."

The three chatted about their recent situations, but the conversation lacked the harmony they once shared.

After lunch, Ji An pointed to the cold pool and said:

"Now the spiritual veins of Crimson Flame Peak have been upgraded to the second-tier high-grade, and the cold spring at the bottom of the pool has also been upgraded to this level."

I'm wondering if it's possible to raise some new species of spirit fish, and I hope Fellow Daoist Liang can provide a solution.

Liang Qiu asked:

"What are your requirements, fellow Daoist? Is the spirit fish intended for trading or consumption?"

Ji An laughed heartily and said:

"No need for trading, use it all for consumption, the tastier the better."

He no longer expects to obtain much spiritual energy from the spirit fish. The spirit fish at the Foundation Establishment level can hardly meet his needs, but he doesn't know how many years it would take to raise the spirit fish to the Origin Rejuvenation level.

This is the drawback of farming; it requires more time to reap the benefits.

For him, this method was inefficient because he could not accelerate his growth through magic.

"I recently documented a variety of delicious fish, and I selected some that are suitable for raising in cold water."

Liang Qiu took out several jade slips and looked them over, recording the relevant information into blank jade slips.

"Fellow Daoist, there are six kinds of spirit fish here, and you can obtain fish fry from the sect."

In addition, I have also recorded the breeding methods here. As long as you follow the methods above, there will definitely be no problems.

Thank you.

Liang Qiu forced a smile and said:

"You are welcome."

When he came to Crimson Flame Peak again today, he felt uneasy all over, with a strange sense of constraint.

Ji An took the jade slip, placed it on his forehead to probe his divine sense and read the information, and finally handed the jade slip to Zhang Cuihua:

"Take a look and see if you have any questions. You can ask them while Fellow Daoist Liang is here."

“Yes,” Zhang Cuihua took the jade slip, placed it on her forehead, studied it carefully, and began to communicate with Liang Qiu.

Half an hour later, she cupped her hands and said:

"Thank you for your explanation, senior. I have no further questions."

She originally wanted to address him as her senior uncle, but that would make her a generation below Ji Shizu.

They addressed each other as fellow Daoists, but the difference in their seniority made it very awkward, and she could sense the subtle tension in the atmosphere.

After chatting for a while longer, Huang Feihu and his companion exchanged a glance and stood up, saying:

"I am deeply grateful for your kind hospitality, fellow Daoist."

"We have important matters to attend to in our cave today, so we must take our leave."

Ji An nodded slightly and said:

"Since you two are busy, I won't keep you any longer. I've prepared some spiritual fruits for you, please don't refuse."

"Cuihua, bring the gift box up here."

The gift box given to Liang Qiu contained four second-grade low-level Heavenly Origin Pears and two mid-grade Heavenly Origin Pears, because the other party had chosen the Water Element Technique.

The gift box given to Huang Feihu contained the same grade and quantity of spiritual fruits, except that since Huang Feihu cultivated the Earth Element Technique, he received Earth Spirit Fruits.

Zhang Cuihua took out the gift box, and after some polite refusals, the two accepted it and then flew away together in their flying shuttle.

Ji An watched the shuttle fly out of Crimson Flame Peak and shook his head almost imperceptibly.

He has now advanced to the Chaoyuan stage, while these two fellow Daoists are at the third and fourth levels of Foundation Establishment, respectively.

As the gap in their cultivation levels gradually widened, their once close relationship slowly grew distant, and they could never go back to what it was before.

Neither Liang Qiu nor Huang Feihu are the type to curry favor; their paths will likely remain parallel, never intersecting again.

These two friendships, which were established after joining the sect, faded with time and eventually turned to dust.

Ji An paced back and forth by the cold pool with his hands behind his back, pondering whether he would become a lonely person when he reached the end of his cultivation.

Of the people he initially knew, Lao Huang and Chu He were no longer alive, and his contact with Zhao Mengyao and Zhang Yuanshan gradually decreased.

With Wei Songnian's return to Xiaozhushan, the distance between them will grow further and further. The only one who is close in rank is his senior brother Liu Yu.

He gently shook his head. Each stage of cultivating immortality has its unique scenery, allowing one to meet different people and experience different things.

Old friends may drift apart for various reasons, while new friends may be made for the same reasons.

Whether in past or present life, whether in the life of an ordinary person or the life of a cultivator, life is a process of constant gain and loss.

Time may fade many cherished relationships, but it cannot be denied that the feelings of the past were not genuine.

Ji An looked up; the setting sun was like blood, but the evening glow was magnificent.

Facing the setting sun, he opened his arms wide, the orange light shining on his cheeks, and he loosely clasped his hands as if embracing the whole world.

Two years later.

Outside the sect, fallen leaves rustled, presenting a scene of decay and withered yellow.

The autumn wind blows mournfully, and the dry leaves rustle softly, powerless to resist the wind and frost, they can only silently endure it.

At Ningcui Cliff, Ge Ying, her face full of wrinkles, walked with a lighter step than usual. She stepped out of the cave and looked at the golden sunrise in the distance, a smile appearing on her lips.

It's a brand new day, she called out as she turned around:

"Jin'er, bring out my chair, I want to watch the sunrise!"

The maid Tian Jin brought out a grand chair made of Xuan Yang wood, covered it with fox fur, and helped the other person sit down.

"Uncle-Master, slow down."

For the past month, the other party has been going out to watch the sunrise every day.

Ge Ying pulled away the maid's hand that was supporting her and smiled:

"I'm not that weak yet."

She slowly sat down in the chair, quietly gazing at the increasingly brilliant sky.

The red sun leaps above the horizon, selflessly showering the earth with light and heat.

Joy shone in Ge Ying's eyes. She felt her body getting lighter and lighter, and a mountain breeze blew her into the air.

With a faint smile on her face, her consciousness drifted into a hazy state, her body slowly slumped to the side, and her eyes closed as if she were fast asleep.

A yellow leaf drifted in the air, swirling and slowly falling.

(End of this chapter)