Jia Yu coughed and said:

"Junior Brother, let us first go to fell the Azure Dragon Wood. Tomorrow, I will go with Ancestor to Cyan Cloud Immortal City.

It has been a long time since I last heard you talk about Red Flame Peak. Once the main tasks are done, take us for a tour."

Ji An saw Daoist Master Zhengyang and said:

"Tea hasn’t touched Ancestor’s lips since his arrival; let’s wait a moment."

"Business first, Spiritual Tea can be savored slowly."

Upon hearing Ancestor’s words, Ji An smoothly extended his arm and said:

"In that case, please!"

The three soared on clouds, passing over the Earth Element Spirit Plant Garden and Fire Element Plant Garden, and landed among the Azure Dragon Wood forest.

"Here we have forty Azure Dragon Wood trees planted, and among them, eight have reached Tier Two Top Grade. I plan to fell six, and Senior Brother can help me sell a few to exchange for Top-Grade Spirit Stones."

Ji An said, this time venturing abroad, he couldn’t always stay in the deep mountains hunting alone; he needed to constantly enter other forces’ territories to buy information.

Only relying on his own search might miss many opportunities.

Also, he only had over a hundred and seventy Top-Grade Spirit Stones in hand, not enough to commission the Cyan Lotus Treasure Banner.

"No problem, did Junior Brother sell the Azure Dragon Wood that was felled last time?"

"Yes, it was sold to the Golden Puppet Pavilion, earning thirty Top-Grade Spirit Stones."

Jia Yu gently shook his head and said:

"Judging from the size of the Spiritual Materials Junior Brother obtained, the selling price was too low. This time, watch how I raise the price."

"Then, I must thank Senior Brother first. Once it’s done, I will invite you for a drink."

"Haha, for those words alone, I will give it my all to sell one more Top-Grade Spirit Stone."

The two began to fell the trees, six Spirit Woods, leaving one taken by the Sect as rent, Ji An kept one, able to sell four.

This time the Spirit Wood felled was thicker and sure to fetch more Spirit Stones.

After felling, they quickly pruned the branches, bundled the thicker twigs for storage.

After busying themselves for a double hour, they finally completed the menial tasks.

The Azure Dragon Wood is dense, the Top-grade Azure Dragon Wood even Foundation Establishment Disciples find it difficult to budge, only the two could handle them personally.

Jia Yu asked:

"Junior Brother, how many Top-grade Spirit Woods are in Red Flame Peak?"

"Eight Azure Dragon Woods, now two are left; two Biluo Fruits began transforming two months ago;

also, there are two Spiritual Peaches, Cloud-Top Jade Trees, Red Cloud Pines, Dragon Blood Trees, Profound Leaf Sword Bamboos each with signs of transformation in the last half-month."

Ji An paused and said:

"I’ll take Ancestor and Senior Brother for a tour."

Daoist Master Zhengyang laughed heartily, "So many Top-grade Spirit Plants, a blessing to the Sect!"

Since the upgrade of the main Spiritual Vein Grade, the number of Top-grade Spirit Plants in other areas of the Sect has slightly increased, but the number cannot match the Red Flame Peak region.

....

The three flew around the Spirit Field and later entered the magma pool where the Phoenix Wood is planted to have a look.

Daoist Master Zhengyang withdrew his hand from the Spirit Wood trunk and sighed softly:

"Treasure Plants are good, but their growth rate is so slow, it’s truly a torment. Surely in Central Continent Sects, there are secret methods to accelerate the cultivation of Treasure Plants.

It’s a pity we don’t have them."

Ungrown Treasure Plants produce no value; instead, they are a burden. This Treasure Plant is only at the Tier Two Lower Grade level.

To cultivate it to Tier Three, who knows how many years it will take.

Ji An said, "There are multiple reasons for the slow growth of Treasure Plants; the Spiritual Vein Grade at this point is only Tier Two Upper Grade, which is a critical factor."

Jia Yu transmitted, "Junior Brother, the Soul Nourishing Wood in Red Flame Peak has been cultivated to Tier Two Upper Grade, how did you manage it, are you able to share the method?

If you don’t wish to say, just ignore my question."

The Sect has another Soul Nourishing Wood, currently only Tier Two Middle Grade; if it can be cultivated to Tier Two Upper Grade, it would be a blessing for the Chao Origin Stage peers.

Ji An responded:

"The method is simple; I buried the ashes of a Golden Core Cultivator."

Where did you obtain the ashes of a Golden Core Cultivator?

Jia Yu really wanted to ask but ultimately did not express it.

If he asks any further, it might touch upon others’ secrets; they can tell, but he must not inquire.

Daoist Master Zhengyang could sense the disciples’ spiritual communication, but couldn’t hear the content.

He pointed to the Cyan Leaf Red Lotus and asked:

"Ji An, how long do you estimate until the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire is fully matured?"

Ji An pondered for a moment and shared his guess:

"Approximately over a hundred years, to be more specific, between one hundred to one hundred fifty years."

"So long; perhaps I won’t witness it."

Daoist Master Zhengyang shook his head and sighed, then said, "Let’s move to the next location."

...

The three left the Flame Cave and visited the Top-Grade Profound Leaf Sword Bamboo.

Ji An pointed to the bowl-sized Spiritual Bamboo and said:

"It is currently shedding its skin, previous skins resembled dead bamboo, without a trace of vitality, now revealing a yellow jade-like texture, somewhat akin to the state of the Top-Grade Earth Spirit Fruit Tree.

However, the texture is more delicate, and one can sense an abundant Earth Element Spirit Power flowing within the branches, giving a particularly peaceful feeling."

The Tier Two Top-grade Earth Spirit Plants unexpectedly have the trait of soul calming, which he hadn’t anticipated.

If the life of the Spiritual Bamboo comes to an end, its main body holds considerable value.

Daoist Master Zhengyang approached the Spiritual Bamboo, extended his Divine Sense to feel it for a moment, and said:

"There is indeed a sense of peace, as if wandering in the spring breeze.

The main Spiritual Vein of Luofeng Valley has been cultivated to Tier Three eight hundred years earlier than ours, which suggests their accumulated foundation is more substantial than I anticipated."

He smiled again, looking at Ji An, feeling even more satisfied.

"Unfortunately, they don’t have a Chao Origin Stage Spirit Farmer, even if they did, they couldn’t reach your level."

This disciple’s achievements in planting have amazed him countless times, he believed the other was a heaven-sent opportunity for the sect’s prosperity, more important than having an extra disciple with Celestial-Grade Talent!

"Ancestor, you flatter me."

"No need for modesty, in the long run, your impact on the sect is stronger than an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator, and that’s even without you breaking through to the Golden Core Stage.

We need to accumulate more resources to see if we can purchase planting techniques at the Golden Core Level."

Daoist Master Zhengyang produced a yellow cloud under his feet, "Let’s go, take us to see the Soul Nourishing Wood."

...

In the underground cave, the Golden Fur stuck to the rock wall, squeaking miserably.

It could sense the power contained within Daoist Master Zhengyang, an intuitive sense from the unknown.

It felt that the other could strike it down the moment it cast the Earth Element Technique, scaring it into immobility.

Ji An watched the terrified Beast Taming, squatting down to soothe it, only to find the beast constantly tense.

Jia Yu laughed:

"Junior Brother, let your beast leave this place. This Spirit-Seeking Rat is very spiritual, feeling the ancestor’s authority, naturally it’s afraid."

Ji An communicated spiritually with Golden Fur, ordering it to leave.

Golden Fur, as if receiving amnesty, first moved slowly, then immediately used the Earth Element Technique once its master shielded it.

Daoist Master Zhengyang was also surprised, saying:

"This Spirit-Seeking Rat has pure bloodline, worthy of careful cultivation; reaching the Chao Origin Stage level in the future should not be difficult."

As he said this, he took out a Yellow Jade Bottle, sighing softly:

"Inside it is a Mysterious Soil Vein Refining Pill, initially intended for my Spirit-Seeking Rat, but unfortunately it was killed by an array during an expedition, so it’s no longer needed."

At that time, he was traveling in the Central Continent, exploring with friends in the ruins of the Five Elements Sect, where he obtained the Five Elements Reincarnation Scripture.

The cost back then was great, of the five who entered, only two came out alive, all his tamed beasts played dead inside.

Later, he returned to the sect from the Central Continent, never to cultivate beasts again.

Jia Yu nudged Ji An with his shoulder, "The ancestor’s gift, hurry up and receive it."

"Thank you, ancestor, I will definitely make an effort to cultivate Golden Fur."

Ji An reached out, took the Jade Bottle, and stored it in the Void Realm Space.

"So, it’s called Golden Fur, very fitting."

Daoist Master Zhengyang nodded with a smile and wandered over to the Soul Nourishing Wood, asking:

"This Spirit Wood is already Tier Two Upper Grade, can the method you used be repeated?"

"Ancestor, while in the Southern Continent, I obtained the corpse of a Golden Core Cultivator and scattered the ashes by the Spirit Wood.

This probably accelerated its rapid growth; the method could be said to be repeatable."

Fertilizing is the simplest way to promote Spirit Plant growth.

"Is the reason really that simple? It seems if I were to pass away, I should scatter my ashes near a Treasure Plant, what do you say, near which Spirit Plant should I scatter them?"

Jia Yu quickly said:

"Ancestor, the sect needs your leadership, how can you speak of passing away so casually?"

Daoist Master Zhengyang shook his head, "For us cultivators, matters of life and death are nothing to avoid.

If neither of you wants to speak, I’ll think about it carefully when I return."

He then lowered his voice and said self-deprecatingly:

"To think that even after death, I can still contribute to the sect, there would be no regrets in dying."

...

The three returned to the Cold Pool on a cloud, the atmosphere somewhat dull, Ji An took out the Water-Resistant Bead, and spoke softly:

"Ancestor, Senior Brother, please enter the water and have a look."

Daoist Master Zhengyang laughed, "There are good things hidden underwater too."

Ji An grinned, "While traveling in the Southern Continent, I acquired a Spirit Seed. Let me keep the suspense, let’s see if the ancestor can recognize what Spirit Plant it is."

"I may not be a Spirit Farmer, but my knowledge isn’t lacking!"

The three began to dive, quickly reaching the bottom of the pool.

Daoist Master Zhengyang stopped by the Spiritual Lotus, lifting his brows slightly.

"Treasure Plant Pure Water Lotus, not bad luck. I traveled for so many years and never came across a Treasure Plant Spirit Seed; it’s quite unfortunate."

He once encountered Treasure Plants in the Five Elements Sect ruins, but they were guarded by arrays, with no chance to obtain them.

The disciples traveled for a dozen years and had huge gains, paving the way for more distant journeys.

Jia Yu laughed, "Junior Brother, I once heard Ge Ying say you have quite the luck. It seems to be true!"

The sect had accumulated over thousands of years, only acquiring four Treasure Plants; on the thousands of acres of Dao Field of Red Flame Peak, three were being cultivated, if not luck defying the heavens, what else could it be?

Ji An scratched his head, "Thinking it over, it indeed seems I’ve got some luck."

To be able to traverse to this world, a bit of luck was essential.