Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Chapter 464: Chapter 394: Earth Evil Sect (Part 2)

"Squeak squeak," the stout Spirit-Seeking Rat held a finger-thick branch with two paws, adorned with a few plump leaves.

The leaves were light green with red fuzzy edges and extremely fine serrations, but not very noticeable.

Ji An bent down and picked up this Spirit Plant, his fingers spread out many roots piercing into the leaves, feeling the surging Spiritual Power inside, and he was instantly ecstatic.

Ignoring the medicinal properties, purely from the Spiritual Power contained, these few leaves contained more Spiritual Power than a Tier Two Middle Grade Spiritual Peach.

He made an effort to search his memory, but still couldn’t recognize what it was.

Ji An gave up thinking, carefully storing the Spirit Plant into the Void Realm Space, planning to have his sister test the medicinal properties.

"Well done," he praised, taking out a Spirit Feeding Pill and tossing it to Golden Fur, rewarding its excellent performance.

"Squeak squeak," Golden Fur chirped proudly, its fur fluffier.

Ji An commanded Golden Fur to start searching along the mountain ridge, while he spread his Divine Sense, searching alongside the Beast Taming.

Soon after, he had his first discovery, a small piece of fresh red Spirit Plant rhizome, somewhat resembling Blood Replenishing Ginseng, but it wasn’t the same species.

The rhizome’s cut was very irregular, not resembling marks from being torn by a Demon Beast.

Golden Fur also had a discovery, bringing over a Spirit Wood full of brown patterns, its leaves oval-shaped, only the size of a fingernail.

This Spirit Wood was similarly unrecognized by Ji An, but he felt the life level intensity of the Spirit Wood was only about Tier One Upper Grade, so he wasn’t too concerned, casually placing it into his Storage Bag.

At this moment, he basically confirmed that this should be a Secret Realm isolated from the world for many years, whose lifespan had reached its end, resulting from a space collapse explosion.

The unknown species inside might bring new vitality to the Cultivation Realm.

Ji An felt both excited and worried, excited that picking up inconspicuous things might be rare treasures, and worried that the news would spread.

Other powerful factions would quickly follow, and then it wouldn’t be just clearing the site.

"Speed up the search,"

Ji An commanded Golden Fur, and without hesitation, he consumed more Power of Divine Sense, searching faster.

He took out a fist-sized small bronze incense burner, lit Soul Incense, and advanced while holding the burner.

This helped replenish Divine Sense consumption, enhancing endurance.

Ji An and Beast Taming searched quickly, sometimes bumping into other cultivators, and he would unhesitatingly release Spiritual Pressure at the Chao Origin Stage level, avoiding conflicts.

Occasionally, he met cultivators of the same level, and everyone remained restrained; most understood that they could only take a share before powerful factions intervened.

The joy felt short, as he unconsciously saw fish-belly white light at the horizon.

Ji An now felt fatigue from his Spirit Soul, he stopped searching, looked around to determine his current location, preparing to rest and plan.

Now in the unfamiliar Southern Continent, he had to keep in a relatively good state; treasure hunting was crucial, but truly keeping the treasures was most important.

He placed Golden Fur into the Spirit Beast Bag, rode a cloud to a place two or three miles east of the mountain, and summoned the Golden Feathered Eagle.

He instructed the Beast Taming a few words, and the Golden Feathered Eagle let out a clear cry, spreading its wings to fly west.

Ji An sat on the Pudun, took out the Wind Furnace, lit Spiritual Charcoal, released the Small Cloud Rain Technique, collected a pot of water, and set it on the furnace to boil.

As the water just boiled, Han Yan flew over riding a cloud, with the Golden Feathered Eagle beside her.

Her face showed excited redness, with a slight shortness of breath.

Ji An raised an eyebrow and smiled,

"It seems sister had a great harvest, come and have a cup of Spirit Tea, regain your strength and keep it up later."

He took out a green porcelain jar, grabbed some Jade Dew Golden Bud for brewing; the richer the tea, the better it nourished the Spirit Soul.

Now was not the time to be stingy, racing against every second.

Han Yan came to his side, likewise taking out a Pudun, sitting cross-legged, and whispered,

"Thanks to you, I picked up a piece of Grotto Void Stone, with internal space measuring eight feet square."

She didn’t hide it, just a piece of Grotto Void Stone, besides, her junior brother’s wealth wouldn’t provoke envy.

Ji An exclaimed, "Sister is lucky!"

Grotto Void Stone is truly a great thing, with immense demand, as a hard currency, whether for trading Spirit Medicine or ores.

He had collected many stones, identified each, most were ordinary stones, the best find being an egg-sized Purple Gold Copper ore, worth merely a few dozen Spirit Stones.

He handed over the tea cup, "Sister, please drink."

"Hehe, thank you, junior brother."

Han Yan took the tea cup, blew gently, drank a sip, feeling the cool spread through her Sea of Consciousness, invigorating her fatigued Spirit Soul.

"Along the journey, thanks to junior brother’s good things, once back to the Sect, I must refine some pills as a gift for you."

Ever since leaving the Sect, every day she’s had a cup of Spirit Tea, either Tier Two Upper Grade Cloud Peak Silver Needle or Tier Two Middle Grade Jade Dew Golden Bud.

Such treatment didn’t resemble the wandering life, instead felt more comfortable than in the Sect.

"Haha, sister, you’re too polite."

Ji An’s tone shifted, jokingly saying,

"But I am eager to see what your gift will be."

He took out Tier Two Upper Grade Pine Nuts from his Storage Bag, inviting her to taste them together.

"I surely let junior brother feel satisfied."

"By the way, most Spirit Plants obtained are unseen before, when the time comes, we need sister’s help to test the properties."

"No problem, but otherwise, if we can test out useful new Spirit Medicine, this journey wouldn’t be in vain."

Han Yan lamented, such gains the Sect couldn’t even imagine.

Now she truly understands why the Law Enforcement Hall gathered so many outstanding fellow disciples; executing tasks outside is somewhat risky but occasionally could lead to windfall.

Inside the Sect’s Artifact Refiners, Alchemists and others were stable but resource accumulation was slow bit by bit.

The two drank tea and chatted, quickly restoring their consumed Divine Sense.

As a round of Golden Sun rose from the east, the ground temperature began to warm, Han Yan stood and said,

"Junior brother, time is precious, no more delays."

Ji An nodded, just as he stood up and suddenly saw many cultivators rising into the air and flying in this direction.

He was startled, not knowing what happened, then saw groups of those cultivators landing in twos and threes.

Han Yan also felt surprised, not knowing why those cultivators stopped treasure hunting.

She ascended on her cloud, quickly landed again, shook her head, and chuckled,

"A pink miasma has appeared in the ravine, without special methods, we probably can’t search inside."

Ji An, upon hearing the explanation, ascended to look, helplessly shook his head; the Peach Blossom Miasma’s poison wasn’t very potent, yet had hallucinogenic and aphrodisiac effects.

He descended, remarking,

"I wondered why so many were fighting night battles. The root cause was the miasma; those capable of handling it will find fortune."

Now it’s explained, toxins in the soil.

Han Yan sighed, "This is tricky, I checked the map, noticed that Lantao Mountain’s southern region over seven thousand miles is Earth Evil Sect’s territory.

It’s been two days; if they have rapid news channels in Rongman Immortal City, we probably have only two nights to search."

Earth Evil Sect is another overlord-level faction in the Southern Continent, with Nascent Soul Cultivators stationed.

Ji An was optimistic, smiling,

"Whatever we get is fate, can’t force it; if Earth Evil Sect wants to seize here, we’ll just leave."

The arm can’t twist the thigh; a few Golden Core Daoist Masters could drive all these cultivators here away.

Though many cultivators gathered here, they weren’t united and couldn’t contend with Golden Core Cultivators.

The two simply found a quieter place to stay, alternating between resting.

...

By evening, when the sunset no longer shone on the ravine, the miasma quickly dissipated, and cultivators rushed into Lantao Mountain to continue treasure hunting.

Around midnight, powerful pressures appeared in four directions—east, west, south, north—clearly at the Golden Core Level.

"We from Earth Evil Sect are taking over; everyone stop and leave in an orderly manner as we direct, but prior to departure, your treasures will be inspected; we’ll purchase suitable Spiritual Objects."

The ravine was in an uproar; Ji An grimaced; not only clearing the site but inspecting cultivators’ finds was too audacious?

"Earth Evil Sect is truly domineering; what if we refuse?"

Amongst the treasure hunters, two astonishing auras arose; two hidden Golden Core Cultivators emerged.

Ji An exhaled, now it was clear: with Golden Core Cultivators leading, Earth Evil Sect wouldn’t dare to be so brazen.

"Refused? No choice!"

A calm voice echoed from the celestial vault, instantly bringing a sandstorm and eerie winds.