Chapter 299 Three Layers of Flame
Ji An steered the flying boat forward, pointing to the Crimson Cloud Pine Forest and saying:
"The lava cave where the Emerald Leaf Red Lotus is located is where the pine forest meets the foot of the mountain, and fire crystal ants patrol the passage."
These demonic insects are quite aggressive, so everyone be careful later.
The soldier ants patrolling the passage include those at the Foundation Establishment stage. The demonic insects have too small a brain capacity, are very stubborn, and do not know what fear is.
When encountering enemies entering their territory, they will recklessly charge forward, only descending into chaos after the tribe's leader is beheaded.
He meant that everyone should show mercy and not accidentally kill the demonic ants.
The flying boat circled once above the pine forest, and Ji An then introduced:
"This spiritual field covers about fifty acres, of which three acres are mid-grade second-level spiritual fields."
There are currently eight mid-grade Tier 2 plants, and two more at the entrance of my cave, making a total of ten.
There are 160 second-grade inferior pine trees. I plan to reduce the density of the pine forest to 20 trees per acre in the future.
With the Zhurong Divine Fire Spell, he felt that the number of second-tier spirit pines would increase.
A glimmer of hope flashed in Ye Changqing's eyes. Perhaps one day, he could truly realize the grand vision he had once described.
'Cultivate them all into second-tier spirit pines!'
Jia Yu nodded repeatedly and smiled:
"Among the disciples in the sect who cultivate fire-element techniques, plus the second-tier spiritual items that my junior brother has handed over, the stock of fire-element spiritual items in the treasure pavilion has been increasing year by year."
This phenomenon is estimated to continue for another twenty to forty years, something that has never happened before.
Before the demonic calamity broke out, there was never a sufficient supply of fire-elemental spiritual items; the supplies were exchanged away one after another within seven or eight months of being stored in the warehouse.
Many disciples perished in the demonic and monster calamities, greatly reducing the demand for spiritual items. However, the spiritual items that could be obtained through cultivation not only did not decrease but increased year by year.
Once order is stabilized in the Western Continent, the sects will inevitably enter a period of rapid development.
Actually, if you think about it, the cultivation world is very cruel. Later cultivators walk on the corpses of their predecessors, which is why there is prosperity and flourishing generation after generation.
Han Yan looked down at the earth, and the flying boat seemed to be traveling through fiery clouds, a unique and breathtaking sight.
"I'm thinking, could I create a formula that uses pine nuts as the main ingredient?"
She had just quietly inquired with Ge Ying and learned that the current state of Crimson Flame Peak was not due to the legacy of its predecessors, but entirely created by Junior Brother Ji after he took over.
At this moment, she was fully confident that Crimson Flame Peak could become even more prosperous; it was only a matter of time.
The other party is only seventy years old now. When he was in the Foundation Establishment stage, he cultivated longevity techniques such as the Green Wood Everlasting Technique. He still has five hundred years of lifespan to squander.
In the future, we will definitely be able to cultivate more and more second-tier spirit pines. It would be such a waste to use these pine nuts only as spiritual materials for refining!
Upon hearing this, Jia Yu raised her eyebrows slightly and said solemnly:
"It's worth a try! Pine nuts have a high yield, and there's a harvest every year."
Although pine nuts contain relatively little spiritual energy and medicinal power, the quantity is plentiful!
If we only consider the output of Chiyan Peak, it is at least 50,000 jin per year, and the output will inevitably increase year by year.
If we can test and find pills that can improve cultivation, we can greatly alleviate the shortage of fire-element pills.
Han Yan pondered for a moment and said:
"I will report back to the Diligent Work Hall after I return and ask for Senior Brother Zhang's support."
The sect strongly supports the experimentation with new elixirs because it means huge profits.
Sects usually provide raw material support, but a detailed pharmacological report is required.
She turned her long, slender, white neck and asked:
"Since Junior Brother Ji has a swarm of fire crystal ants here, how is the yield of pine honey?"
She felt that after refining the essence of pine nuts, pine honey could be added to harmonize the medicinal properties.
Ji An thought for a moment, "There are more than 400 catties of second-grade low-grade pine honey, and only 40 to 50 catties of second-grade mid-grade pine honey."
Pine honey can also be used in medicine, but it is used in small quantities and is not highly valued.
Most of the pine honey was left in the ant nest to feed the fire crystal ants, while the pine honey in the warehouse was used to roast meat.
Han Yan pondered for a moment and said:
"We may need to use pine honey extensively in the future, so please support us then."
Jia Yu interjected:
"If refining pills requires a large amount of pine honey, I will increase the minor merit required to exchange pine honey."
If the value of the goods is recognized, the 'purchase price' will inevitably increase.
“No problem,” Ji An said with a gentle smile, cupping his hands in greeting.
"Senior Sister has the ability to test new pill formulas, I admire you!"
After so many years of development, the cultivation world has a very complete collection of various elixir formulas.
The ability to research new elixir formulas requires a very high level of skill from alchemists. Without profound pharmacological knowledge and rich refining experience, it is impossible to do this. He is far from being able to do so.
Han Yan smiled modestly, "I don't deserve your praise, Junior Brother. Perhaps it's not a new pill formula. Refining pills inevitably involves using locally sourced materials, which have obvious regional differences."
In places near large lakes and oceans, the ingredients for elixirs are primarily aquatic medicinal herbs.
The flying boat slowly landed at the foot of the mountain, and Ji An made a hand seal to open the magical barrier.
The cave entrance was revealed where there used to be dark rocks. You could see luminous pearls embedded in the rock walls of the passage, and giant, fiery red ants as long as an arm crawling on the ground.
Ji An released his own scent to mask the smells of the others, "Stay close to me and try not to get close to the fire crystal ants."
He could actually communicate with the queen ant and have the ant colony stop attacking, but he wanted the ant colony to constantly guard the passage.
Ji An took the lead and walked at the very front. Whenever he encountered a silly person blocking his way, he would kick them to the edge of the passage.
The group filed in and soon arrived at the entrance to the lava pool.
A simple sealing array was set up here to isolate the internal and external energies.
Ji An activated the magic barrier, and a wave of heat mixed with rich fire elemental energy rushed towards him.
Ge Ying felt slightly uncomfortable because the spiritual energy clashed with her cultivation method.
Glory's expression remained unchanged; the environment here did not move him at all, while the others all looked as if they were basking in a spring breeze.
The group used their magical power to float above the lava pool, where the emerald lotus leaves stood out against the crimson environment.
The lotus leaves and stems radiate a bluish glow, pulsating with vibrant life. The lotus pods are dark green with pale red flame patterns on them.
If you look closely, you can see that these patterns are actually moving slowly.
Just then, a cluster of flames the size of a candle flame emerged from the center of the lotus seedpod, disappearing in a flash.
"Hey, did you guys see that?"
Han Yan's tone was filled with ecstasy; she felt her heart pounding and her chest heaving.
Jia Yu's eyes widened in surprise:
"Of course I saw it!"
Ge Ying whispered, "I saw it."
There was a unique gentleness in her words, as if she were afraid that her voice would be too loud and disturb something.
Ji An was equally excited, his breathing quickening. "This is the first time I've ever seen flames leaping out!"
The flickering flames were divided into three layers: the inner flame was emerald green, the middle layer was crimson and crystalline, and the outer flame was faintly white.
This rare plant of heaven and earth has clearly lived a third life, which is why it can nurture the Azure Lotus Burning Heart Flame with three layers of flames, making it the best of the best.
Each cycle of life of the Green Leaf Red Lotus can accumulate nine hundred years of cultivation, which means it is about to accumulate two thousand seven hundred years of cultivation.
Ye Changqing and Ge Luoying looked at each other, not knowing much about this spiritual plant and not understanding why everyone was so excited.
Glory transmitted his voice:
"Grand-aunt, why are my uncles so happy?"
Ge Ying briefly described the information about the Green Leaf Red Lotus, which caused Ge Luoying's expression to change in surprise.
Han Yan stared intently at the green leaves and red lotus, and asked:
"Junior Brother Ji, when did the lotus wither?"
"It was about four years ago. I remember when I broke through to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, I found that the lotus had withered."
Han Yan quickly calculated in her mind, then smiled foolishly:
“Junior brother has now cultivated the planting techniques of the Chaoyuan stage. Perhaps it will only take more than two hundred years to nurture the precious lotus to maturity.”
Two hundred years later, the veteran cultivators of the Chaoyuan stage in the sect will either break through to the Golden Core stage or die.
At that time, she was only over three hundred years old, making her one of the most senior cultivators in the sect.
Heavenly and earthly spiritual fires are of great use to both alchemists and weapon refiners, but the Azure Lotus Burning Heart Fire is more suitable for alchemists.
There is a high chance of obtaining one of the spots for the Azure Lotus Burning Heart Flame.
"It definitely won't take two hundred years." Ji An stroked his chin, his gaze fixed intently on the lotus seedpod.
The patterns on the lotus seedpod flowed quietly, like flames slowly rising.
Ge Ying felt the fire elemental energy growing stronger, and her immortal veins began to feel a burning sensation. She said:
"I'm not feeling well, I'll go back outside and wait for you."
Ji An snapped out of his daze. "We've seen all the spiritual plants, let's go together."
He broke the spell, and everyone flew out of the lava pool.
Han Yan was the last to arrive at the cave entrance, and when she reached it, she turned back and gave it a deep, affectionate look.
She secretly resolved to cultivate even more diligently and continuously improve her alchemy skills, so that she would have a better chance of securing a spot in the future.
The airship circled Chiyan Peak westward. The setting sun was a round, orange-red hue, and the golden-red mist on the mountaintop had already subsided, creating a unique sense of tranquility.
Jia Yu pointed downwards and said:
“It’s a waste for these ironwood trees to grow here; we should plant more valuable spirit trees instead.”
Ji An smiled and said:
"This is the shady side of the mountain; planting other spiritual plants here would actually hinder their growth."
The forest south of the mountain planted with Purple Yang Wood and Profound Yang Wood could be replaced with other tree species, but Crimson Flame Peak is currently the sect's most important source of spirit charcoal, and cannot be easily disturbed.
Spirit charcoal is required for Qi Refining stage pills and a large portion of Foundation Establishment stage pills.
He cannot change the tree species until the sect finds a better alternative.
The benefits and privileges enjoyed by the sect are an obligation.
The sect couldn't find such a high-quality "supplier" before, and it will be even less likely to find one in the future.
As they passed through the ironwood forest, they saw a silvery ocean and golden floating islands, and the evening breeze carried the soft clang of metal striking metal.
Ji An stretched out his hand and pointed ahead, giving off a sense of commanding the world.
"The silver-leaved ones are copper-patterned mulberry trees, there are 195 second-grade low-quality spirit mulberry trees and 7 mid-grade spirit mulberry trees."
I heard from Wu Yan of the Beast Taming Hall branch that this place houses 20% of the sect's high-grade Golden-Bearded Silkworms.
“Where the golden light shines, there are 158 low-grade second-tier spirit bamboos and 8 mid-grade sword bamboos.
It's not as good as the sect's herb garden yet, but there's hope it will surpass it in the future.
Lin Mao, who was in charge of planting the Xuan Ye Sword Bamboo in the sect's medicinal garden, was in the late Foundation Establishment stage and had reached the ultimate level in cultivating the Thick Earth Returning to Origin Mantra.
Furthermore, the sword bamboo is planted in a second-grade high-quality spiritual field, giving it an advantage that he cannot match.
Currently, the spiritual fields of Crimson Flame Peak have been upgraded to the middle grade of the second tier. With the addition of his perfected Yellow Dragon Yuan Enhancement Technique, there is no problem in making up for the difference in the grade of the spiritual fields.
Jia Yu took out a gourd, took a sip, and smiled:
"I often hear Senior Brother Zhu say that after the sect planted Xuan Ye Sword Bamboo, it greatly accelerated the process of nurturing the spirituality of metal-elemental magical artifacts, and also made the flying swords and other magical artifacts that were refined more popular among the disciples."
From then on, our development was less hampered by Maple Valley.
In the past, the sect had to purchase a large amount of spiritual plant resources from Falling Maple Valley every year. Now, the types and quantities of resources in short supply are decreasing, which is a predetermined phenomenon.
Ye Changqing nodded in agreement, "The number of high-level spirit farmers in the sect has already restricted the development of the Weapon Refining Hall and the Beast Taming Hall. I heard from the Hall Master that the sect plans to set up a separate hall to be responsible for cultivating spirit farmers."
Jia Yu nodded, looked at Ji An, and smiled mysteriously:
"The Ancestor has already given his approval to this matter and is preparing to establish a Ministry of Agriculture, with a status equal to that of the Ministry of Alchemy."
Preparations are currently underway; once things are settled, the Lingnong will be separated from the various halls.
Ji An was taken aback; this was clearly a work opportunity.
If the sect establishes such a hall, he will definitely have to take up a post there.
Even if you're not the temple master, you still have to hold the title of deputy temple master.
There's no way around it; it wouldn't make sense for the only Chaoyuan-era Lingnong not to be included in the Ministry of Agriculture.
He grinned, hoping that there wouldn't be too many trivial matters in the future.
A clear cry came from above, and the golden-feathered eagle swooped down and circled the flying boat.
The crest of the beast stood upright, tinged with a faint red by the setting sun.
Ji An reached out of the flying boat and stroked the feathers on its neck. The golden eagle let out two comfortable chirps and flew into the sky again.
Han Yan smiled slightly and said:
"The Golden Feathered Eagle is the most popular flying beast in the sect."
I also kept one. Back then, to get a single bird egg, I helped Senior Sister He refine over a dozen batches of pills.”
The shuttle returned to the icy pool. Jia Yu shook the gourd, a regretful expression on his face.
"There's not much spirit wine left."
"I'll add some for my senior brother."
Ji An didn't dare to say "fill it up," because who knew how much capacity the other person's wine gourd actually had!
"I'm so sorry," Jia Yu said, handing over the gourd very naturally.
"Fellow Daoist Ye, give me your wine gourd too."
Ji An said, "We can't favor one over the other."
Ye Changqing readily handed over the gourd and laughed:
“I’m a very straightforward person, so I don’t use polite phrases like ‘I’m sorry’.”
Jia Yu laughed and scolded:
"You old hag! You've gone too far, actually mocking your martial uncle."
The crowd chuckled, and the air was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
Ji An handed the gourd to Wei Songtao and transmitted his voice:
"Pack each of them with two hundred catties of second-grade low-quality pine nut wine, and then take out two small jars of second-grade mid-quality spirit wine."
Wei Songtao respectfully accepted the gourd and strode towards the warehouse.
Ji An then transmitted his voice again:
"Cuihua, go to the orchard and get thirty dragon blood fruits. Put them in gift boxes, four in two gift boxes, and two in the rest."
Master and Senior Brother Ye took gift boxes containing four fruits, while the other fellow disciples and two cultivators in the Chaoyuan stage took gift boxes containing two fruits.
Zhang Cuihua slightly bent her knees and walked towards the orchard.
(End of this chapter)
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