Chapter 360: Chapter 316: Agricultural Hall (Part 2)
Ji An readily agreed and took out five jars of Spirit Wine from his Storage Bag.
The Tier Two Middle-Grade Spirit Wine brewed was actually a low-quality version because there weren’t any Spirit Medicines with sufficient medicinal age available.
Aside from the main ingredient, pine nuts, the other ingredients were the same as those for Lower-Grade Spirit Wine, which couldn’t be helped.
Jia Yu stopped his turning motion, popped open the sealing mud, and leisurely inhaled the wine’s fragrance, nodding in satisfaction.
He performed a Water Control Technique, pouring the wine from the jar completely into a gourd, then unlocked the Dharma Prohibition and entered the Secret Vault.
Ji An felt a fleeting fluctuation of magical power in the Secret Vault, realizing it was the aura of the Earth Dragon Beast.
Jia Yu placed the resources on the table and said:
"Each Jade Radiance Pill costs one thousand small merits, and each plate of Soul Incense costs one hundred small merits."
"I’ll give you a total of sixty-six thousand small merits first, then deduct four thousand small merits; the procedure must be accurate."
Ji An handed over the Jade Token, verified the count, and put away the resources.
Jia Yu placed the Jade Token on the Spirit Disc for operation, "You currently have twelve thousand small merits in hand, deducting five thousand small merits for Cultivation Technique exchange."
"Senior brother, let’s repay all ten thousand small merits for the Cultivation Technique exchange.
Leaving so many small merits in hand without any resources to exchange would be pointless."
Ji An sighed inwardly, realizing that the sect was merely a Golden Core level force and was beginning to run short on Chao Origin Stage resources.
"Alright," Jia Yu’s face showed a hint of embarrassment.
Such accumulations of small merits typically happened to veteran Chao Origin Stage cultivators; who could have imagined such wealth would belong to a cultivator who had broken the realm merely three years ago!
He returned the Jade Token and continued:
"When the sect trades with Luofeng Valley, I’ll request more Jade Radiance Pills and Soul Incense from them.
You have plenty of small merits in hand, which can be exchanged for Spiritual Artifacts. I recall you’re still using a Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact, aren’t you?
As the future hall master, you should switch to a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact fitting for your status!"
Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts often cost tens of thousands of small merits, effectively consuming the small merits at hand.
Ji An shook his head, "I’m merely a Spirit Farmer; no need for such grandiosity!"
He paused, grinned, and said:
"I plan to take it one step further and refine a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact as the Artifact Embryo for my Lifebound Magical Treasure!"
Lifebound Magical Treasures can only withstand the refinement of Golden Core Thunder Tribulations if made from Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, which can also be nurtured within the Dantian.
Ge Ying had remained silent, listening to the ambition revealed in her disciple’s words, her smile growing.
For some reason, she now had complete trust in her disciple’s words.
Ningcui Cliff had yet to have a Golden Core Cultivator, something worth anticipating.
Jia Yu was momentarily stunned and then exclaimed:
"Good, you have ambition."
He once harbored similar aspirations but unfortunately never had enough time to establish all necessary Divine Mansions, leaving him shattered.
"There are still a few Top-Grade Artifact Refining Spiritual Materials in the Treasure Pavilion. If it’s insufficient, the sect can assist in arranging exchanges.
Have you decided what type of Lifebound Magical Treasure you’ll refine?"
A cultivator earning eighty thousand small merits per year was qualified to pose such a question.
"I haven’t decided yet."
Ji An contemplated the options for his Lifebound Magical Treasure, considering that magical treasures are categorized into three types based on basic functions: attack, defense, and support.
Attack-type treasures are the most common among cultivators, followed by defense, whereas few choose support-type treasures.
Later, Ji An anticipated traveling outside the sect, debating which type of treasure would offer the greatest assistance.
Jia Yu nodded slightly and said:
"Choosing a Lifebound Magical Treasure is indeed a careful decision. You can deliberate thoroughly and decide after establishing the third or fourth Divine Mansion, it’s not too late."
Lifebound Magical Treasures accompany cultivators throughout their life, irreplaceable but capable of growing with the cultivator’s advancement.
Cultivators can possess many treasures, but only one Lifebound Magical Treasure; some cultivators might have unique circumstances allowing for two.
After chatting for a while, Ji An bowed:
"I still have to visit the Diligence Hall today to complete the handover at Ningcui Cliff.
Senior brother, we’ll discuss more another day."
"Go ahead, when will you assume leadership of the Agricultural Hall?"
Jia Yu inquired. The entire scope of Spirit Farmers, Spirit Fields, and Medicinal Gardens would fall under the jurisdiction of the Agricultural Hall.
The Agricultural Hall will reorganize the planting of spirit medicines and cultivate more excellent spirit farmers.
Ji An replied:
"If possible, I’ll take charge today; tomorrow at the latest."
Handling everything efficiently at once would be ideal, saving time.
He waved and turned to leave.
Jia Yu communicated telepathically:
"Ge Ying, Ningcui Cliff is poised to develop into a lineage with stable Chao Origin cultivator inheritance."
Among the current generation of Ningcui Cliff disciples, besides Ji An who has already reached Chao Origin Stage, Zhong Yuefei and Liu Yu have significant potential to break through to the Chao Origin Stage.
Liu Yu is a Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator, possessing a Fire Dao Body. It’s merely a matter of time for him to break through.
Should Zhong Yuefei also break through, having three Chao Origin cultivators in a lineage constitutes a grand occasion.
Ge Ying communicated in return:
"It’s too soon to conclude anything. The disciples must excel, and we must also observe whether their disciples excel."
To truly establish stable Chao Origin inheritance, disciples must consistently break through to the Chao Origin Stage.
...
Diligence Hall.
"Your master can finally enjoy leisure now."
Zhang Zizhao handed over the Jade Token controlling the Magic Array, speaking solemnly:
"The Medicinal Garden at Ningcui Cliff comprises Spirit Fields of Tier Two Upper Grade and above, currently cultivating Spirit Medicines required for Chao Origin Stage Pills, directly tied to our cultivation."
"As you take over now, there’s hope for cultivating usable Spirit Medicines sooner."
The spiritual age required for Chao Origin Stage Pills generally ranges from six hundred to eight hundred years.
Based on previous experience, it typically takes around two hundred years for cultivation.
However, it was previously handled by Foundation Establishment Spirit Farmers. With a Chao Origin Stage cultivator in charge now, it’s unknown how long it will take, but he believed it could shorten by thirty to forty years at least.
Ji An received the Jade Token, wearing a confident smile:
"Next, let’s see how my skill fares."
In cultivating medicinal materials, mortals faced numerous factors like soil fertility, rainfall, pest infestations, and more.
Within a cultivator’s medicinal garden, pest infestation possibility was nonexistent, with soil nurtured by Spiritual Vein Earth Qi and Magic Techniques ensuring sufficient fertility, while rain was a matter of executing a technique.
In comparison, spirit farming was easier as long as the skill was superb and various planting techniques mastered proficiently.
"Haha, the Sect Leader Ancestor is particularly interested in this."
Zhang Zizhao smiled, noting how the sect never had a Chao Origin Stage Spirit Farmer before.
Cultivators are eager to see what achievements such a cultivator can attain.
"By the way, senior brother, when are you planning to take over the Agricultural Hall?"
"I’ll take over today, is that possible?"
Zhang Zizhao raised his eyebrows, "Of course, we can leave now."
The Vice Hall Master and the numerous stewards of the Agricultural Hall were already selected, and had been organizing archives at Ningcui Cliff during this period.
Ji An stood up, "Senior brother, please!"
...
Two auspicious clouds arrived at Ningcui Cliff, Ge Ying said:
"I won’t be visiting the Agricultural Hall, please take me to the mountain-top grotto mansion."
With a disciple taking on the Agricultural Hall, the sect might have confidential arrangements; her presence could potentially prove inconvenient.
Zhang Zizhao remarked with a smile:
"Junior brother, I’ll be waiting for you at the Agricultural Hall."
Having said that, he urged the brilliant red Fire Element Auspicious Cloud to depart.
Ji An watched with envy; the Fire Spirit Cloud was utterly beautiful.
Although not one to prioritize aesthetics, which cultivator wouldn’t adore a cloud possessing both beauty and speed!
Ji An accompanied his master back to the grotto mansion and then rode the cloud to the Agricultural Hall.
Outside the hall, a dozen cultivators stood, Zhang Zizhao waving to him.
"Let me introduce, this is the first hall master of the Agricultural Hall, Ji An! He is also the sect’s and Western Continent’s first Chao Origin Stage Spirit Farmer."
"Greetings to the hall master!" All the disciples bowed and cupped their hands.
Ji An made a modest gesture and said:
"Everyone, please rise. In the future, we must work together to cultivate more outstanding disciples for the sect and ensure all hall departments are well-supported."
"At the hall master’s disposal."
Zhang Zizhao continued:
"Junior brother, let me introduce you.
This is Vice Hall Master Lin Mao, and this is Vice Hall Master Kong Yunyi, both are Late-stage Foundation Establishment Spirit Farmers and have served the sect for many years."
Ji An smiled, nodding courteously:
"I’ve heard of you both, and finally meeting today.
I look forward to your support."
Though he was the hall master, he did not act haughty towards the cultivators under his command.
