Chapter 361: Chapter 317: Accepting Disciples
Ji An often heard the name ’Lin Mao’ from his master’s mouth; the latter was mainly responsible for cultivating the Sect’s Earth and Metal Element spirit plants.
He quickly glanced at the other person, only to see a slightly dark complexion and subtly reddened, deeply lined cheeks.
Gray-white hair and somewhat cloudy eyes were unmistakable signs of the other’s advanced age.
Cultivators only reveal such aging when their vitality begins to decline, suggesting that the other’s lifespan was not particularly abundant.
"No need for such formality, Hall Master. It is our duty to alleviate your burdens and cultivate more high-tier spirit plants for the Sect."
Lin Mao slightly bowed his head, with a complex look flashing in his eyes, quickly concealed.
At over one hundred thirty years old, he had only then broken through to the late-stage Foundation Establishment Stage, knowing that reaching the Chao Origin Stage was hopeless, he put more effort into cultivating spirit plants, achieving considerable success.
When the Sect established the Agricultural Hall, he thought that his qualifications would make him a sure candidate for Hall Master, never expecting that somehow a Spirit Farmer at the Chao Origin Stage had emerged in the Sect.
Kong Yunyi, with two mousy mustaches, looked thin and slightly seedy.
He squinted his mung bean-sized eyes and laughed:
"Hall Master, let me introduce the other stewards to you, this one is..."
Through his introduction, Ji An formed an initial impression of each person.
"Everyone, starting tomorrow, the Agricultural Hall will commence operations.
I am not familiar with the operations, so everyone should first perform their duties.
If there are any changes or decisions, I will discuss them with everyone in advance."
You all handle the work first; I’ll observe and assess.
Lin Mao’s expression brightened as he said:
"Hall Master, perhaps others could leave for now; Junior Brother Kong and I can acquaint the two Hall Masters with the Agricultural Hall’s environment."
The implication was to refrain from intervening in specific matters, which pleased him greatly.
With no hope of improving his personal cultivation, he had recently become enamored with giving orders.
Ji An nodded slightly and said:
"The others may leave."
The Agricultural Hall is divided into four rows, with the front hall serving as the place for receiving disciples and issuing tasks.
The second row houses various accounting records and is also where the stewards and Vice Hall Master reside.
The rear row is a warehouse, where the Agricultural Hall manages material resources.
The farthest hall is the Hall Master’s place of seclusion.
Behind the hall, a forest of Azure Dragon Wood grows, beyond which are steep cliffs.
Zhang Zizhao sat for a moment in the rear hall before rising to take his leave, saying:
"Junior Brother, you must be very busy having just taken charge of the Agricultural Hall, so I will not impose any longer and will take my leave.
If you need any assistance, feel free to ask."
"Alright, take care, Senior Brother."
Ji An saw him off and returned to the main hall to listen to the daily arrangements reported by the two Vice Hall Masters.
He nodded slightly and said:
"Proceed according to this agenda, and adjust if anything is amiss."
The Sect had never before established an Agricultural Hall, so the current rules were cobbled together from the systems of other halls.
Both Lin Mao and another responded in unison:
"The Hall Master’s words are very true."
Ji An stood up and pushed open the window, leaning his head out.
The setting sun sank in the west, and the mountains appeared like a mottled ancient painting.
"I won’t stay here today; I will return tomorrow."
"Farewell, Hall Master."
Ji An did not leave directly but instead went into the forest behind the main hall, as this double hour was suitable for Qi Eating.
Facing east, he assumed a pose, exhaled with effort as he opened his eyes, then breathed naturally.
Strands of cool air entered his throat and were swallowed down, the Wood Element Qi flowing through the Immortal Vein, eventually accumulating in the Wood Element Divine Mansion.
The outer and inner vein patterns in the liver lit up in sequence, slightly enhancing the core of the Divine Mansion.
Upon failing to successfully gather Qi by the third attempt, he tried several more times with the same result.
Ji An shook his head slightly; this grove of Azure Dragon Wood was only Tier Two Lower Grade, with quite a few of Tier One level.
Having gathered two strands of Qi now, who knows how long it would take to gather more.
The core Spirit Vein Node at Ningcui Cliff reached a Top-Grade level, while the area where the Agricultural Hall was located had only Tier Two Middle Grade spirit wood, suggesting neglect in daily care.
Though the Sect seemed to have an abundance of spirit farmers, the vast majority were Qi Refining disciples.
Frankly speaking, they weren’t very useful, as the proportion of Foundation Establishment Spirit Farmers was too low.
In his view, the most urgent task for the Agricultural Hall was to cultivate more Foundation Establishment Spirit Farmers.
However, this needed to be approached slowly, without haste.
Ji An formed a spell, sequentially releasing the Yellow Dragon Essence Enhancement Skill, Azure Dragon Shocking Skill, and Cloud Dragon Rain Technique, then rode a cloud to leave.
...
After Ji An left, the two Vice Hall Masters went into the forest, and Lin Mao looked at the finely fragmenting, billowing dark clouds, muttering:
"Is this the might of Chao Origin Stage spells?"
The moist atmosphere that greeted them evoked endless emotions in him.
Compared to this spell, his Spring Breeze and Rain Skill was indistinguishable from ordinary rainwater.
That wasn’t even the most disheartening part; his proud Thick Earth Returning Origin Spell was hardly stronger than the lingering effect of the Hall Master’s spells.
Kong Yunyi scratched his head and sighed:
"The Hall Master’s spell level must have reached profound heights; otherwise, the Magic Intent wouldn’t be so strong.
Wasn’t it said that he only broke through to the Chao Origin Stage three years ago? The speed at which he comprehended the Magic Divine Intent is astonishing!"
His most proficient magic technique is Water Element Magic, and the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill has been practiced to its utmost perfection.
He spent seven years perfecting this Foundation Establishment Stage spell, and another twenty years to hone it to its peak.
Yet, the Spirit Rain summoned by the ultimate-level magic is far weaker than the nourishing Magic Intent contained in the Hall Master’s spell.
He couldn’t imagine how fast the other could cultivate Spirit Plants, with such a significant difference in the effect of a single spell. Over time, the disparity cannot be measured by logic.
...
Ji An flew on auspicious clouds around Ningcui Cliff, casting spells on the Spirit Fields of each medicinal garden.
Today, he officially took charge here, bearing all the responsibilities. He would treat the Spirit Plants in the medicinal gardens with the same care as those on Red Flame Peak.
Red Flame Peak grows Spirit Fruit, which must be paired with the Spirit Medicine produced by the medicinal gardens to maximize their effect.
After circling the four medicinal gardens, Ji An descended on the auspicious clouds before the grotto mansion at the mountain top and stepped inside.
His Master no longer held any position, but this grotto mansion still belonged to her.
Ge Ying asked with a smile:
"Finished with everything? How do you feel?"
"Just getting familiar with the situation, nothing much to feel."
"Don’t you feel the thrill of deciding other cultivators’ fates with a single thought?"
Ge Ying pressed on, for holding a hall of authority means the disciple is now a powerful cultivator, and every decision will impact many disciples.
Ji An slightly shook his head and calmly said:
"From the perspective of power, a High-Tier Cultivator can naturally decide the fate of a Low-Tier Cultivator, but what does that mean?
For us, the most challenging thing is mastering our own fate.
Without achieving immortality, all prosperity will eventually fade."
He hadn’t encountered any bottlenecks in improving his cultivation, and this was a time for vigorous progress.
He felt no special sensation from wielding power, as there were higher pursuits to strive for.
"I hope you can always maintain your current mindset, unwavering, like the Wood Element Magic Intent that grows exuberantly upwards."
Ge Ying felt relieved, knowing that in the path of cultivation, one must forge ahead or fall behind.
A disciple undistracted by external matters and with a firm Dao Heart has the hope of reaching the pinnacle.
Her life ended at this point, but she hoped the future generations could reach higher realms and see the scenery ahead for her.
"I shall keep it in mind."
He paused, then added:
"Master, excuse me for a moment, I need to cast spells on the Spirit Medicine in the medicinal garden."
"Mm, don’t forget the two Spiritual Peach trees above."
Ji An smiled, "Of course, I won’t."
...
The next day.
After Qi Eating, Ji An sat down to cultivate the Five Elements Reincarnation Scripture.
Although the Agricultural Hall region is established on a Tier Two Middle Grade Spiritual Vein, the effect of cultivation is inevitably less than here.
As the cultivation technique operated, all colors of the Five Elements Spirit Light surrounded him, and nature’s spiritual energy surged into his body.
Ten Dao Seeds flickered in succession, consuming the spiritual energy, but reciprocating with a trace of special spiritual energy containing Magic Intent.
His liver glowed with a verdant hue, and the colorless spiritual energy turned green as it flowed toward the heart.
As the spiritual energy was transmitted, the liver’s glow dimmed.
The heart’s surface lit up with faint golden vein patterns, pounding powerfully like a drum, and emitting a clear, bright radiance like a forge’s flame.
The spiritual energy turned red, converging in the spleen, and the heart’s glow dimmed.
Yellow Spirit Light shimmered around the spleen, exuding a robust and nurturing aura.
Yellow spiritual energy flowed to the lungs, flashing silver-white light.
Finally, silver spiritual energy entered the kidneys, turning them deep and pitch-black, with a faint misty cloud-like pattern rippling across the surface.
If a Daoist Master of the Sect knew of Ji An’s current cultivation state, they would be greatly surprised, as this state already holds a hint of the Five Elements Mutual Generation.
Normally, this phenomenon occurs only after opening five Divine Mansions.
This benefit came entirely from Ji An opening vein patterns during the Foundation Establishment Stage, with all five organs having been opened with vein patterns, plus the ten Dao Seeds also provided enhancement.
After three Grand Circulations, the crystalline and emerald magical power flowed from the liver into the Dantian, where the Stone Turtle and Primordial Life Fire each consumed a tenth.
Ji An estimated the time and ended his cultivation at 7:00 AM, then flew on a cloud to the stone house at the mountain’s foot.
He activated the Teleportation Array and in the next instant arrived at Ningcui Cliff.
"Disciple Tian Qingbai, greets Junior Martial Uncle Ji!"
Tian Qingbai bowed and cupped his hands, stealing a glance at the cultivator before him.
His heart was stirred, recalling the name ’Ji An’ with an impression.
After the other broke through Foundation Establishment, he chose a place in the Sect’s Far West for a grotto mansion, and since then he had rarely heard news.
He never expected that upon meeting again, the other would have become a Chao Origin Stage Junior Martial Uncle, stirring a complex mix of emotions within him.
Ji An was briefly taken aback, feeling as if time had intertwined, a shadow from deep memory overlapping with the cultivator in front of him.
"Ah, it’s Nephew Tian, more than forty years have passed... what brings you here?"
He sighed inwardly, having met the other when he first came to the Sect, later interacting a few times.
To seek apprenticeship, he even gifted several Spirit Stones.
Later, the other ’returned the favor’ with a tin of Spirit Tea, and the matter passed like that.
Tian Qingbai’s hair, once jet-black, was now touched by White Snow, with two large eye bags hanging, a face full of wrinkles, only the contour barely recognizable.
Tian Qingbai felt a throb at his temples and quickly said:
"It’s truly an honor that Junior Martial Uncle still remembers this disciple.
Diligence Hall has ordered me to bring some disciples with Top-Grade Talent for you to select as disciples."
