Chapter 627 - 498: Artifact Spirit of the Cyan Lotus Treasure Banner

Wei Songnian was very pleased with his luck. He looked at his partner, his eyes full of tenderness.

This spiritual plant was discovered by his partner during an outing, and they discovered two of them at once!

Because they found two, he was willing to present one; otherwise, he would secretly plant it as part of the family legacy.

Although the Soul Nourishing Wood is a treasure plant, he already gave one to Ji An, which greatly reduced its allure.

He had hesitated about which faction to give the extra treasure plant, and after much thought, he chose an old friend.

He trusted the other’s integrity very much and wasn’t worried about them turning on him in the future.

Yinn Qiuyun returned the smile, happiness sparkling in her eyes. Over the years, the two got along very well.

Ji An said softly, "How should I thank you!"

This spiritual plant is of great significance; it hasn’t been planted in the Gourd World yet!

Even if he leaves the sect in the future, he’ll not lack spiritual objects to enhance his spirit soul. Theoretically, as long as the tier of the Soul Nourishing Wood keeps up, it can support him until breaking through to Nascent Soul Stage.

Hearing his words, Wei Songnian was pleased; it meant the gift was accepted:

"Friend, with so much assistance to the Wei Clan, this spiritual wood is just a token of gratitude, not expecting anything in return."

No matter the true intent, the words must be spoken beautifully.

For such principled cultivators, you don’t need to ask; just wait for them to give.

Ji An thought for a moment and, with a wave of his wide sleeve, put away the jar, saying gravely:

"Since I entered the sect, you were the first fellow disciple I met and took great care of me.

Your assistance didn’t decrease as my cultivation improved. I once said I could take one member of the Wei Clan as a disciple; now that number extends to two.

As long as I stay with the sect, the trade between Red Flame Peak and Little Bamboo Mountain will proceed normally."

He made a promise and then transmitted:

"I’ve observed that Qiuyun’s aura has reached the eighth-layer Foundation Establishment. How old is she this year?"

"She just turned one hundred and forty. Qiuyun has been diligent in her cultivation and is also gifted."

"Would you feel at ease if she were to be nurtured into a Chao Origin Stage cultivator?"

Wei Songnian was stunned; he had dreamed of witnessing Little Bamboo Mountain become a Chao Origin family within his lifetime, but those were just dreams.

He never expected the opportunity to be before him, and his heart pounded wildly.

Offering the Soul Nourishing Wood again was to maintain a longer relationship, but if the family produced a Chao Origin Stage cultivator, it would endure!

Within the Golden Spirit Sect’s jurisdiction, there were currently only two Chao Origin families.

He took a deep breath and transmitted:

"Friend, may I have some time to consider?"

The first Chao Origin Stage cultivator in a family holds great significance, leaving him indecisive and requiring careful deliberation.

Yinn Qiuyun was his partner, and he trusted her very much. Logically, he shouldn’t hesitate, but she didn’t bear the surname Wei.

The injuries to his dantian left him with no possibility of advancement and would inevitably have him pass away before his partner.

If he were to die, where would Little Bamboo Mountain’s Wei Clan go?

Ji An transmitted, saying:

"I know this matter is significant, so how about I give you fifty catties of Tier Two Middle Grade Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea when you leave?

In the future, I’ll give you a Nourishing Yuan Pill, and as for nurturing someone to become a Chao Origin Stage cultivator, you can decide on your own."

He changed his mind because he suddenly felt it best not to meddle much in the affairs of the other’s family.

...

In the evening, Wei Songnian politely declined the invitation to stay and took his leave.

Ji An watched the flying ship depart, then rode a cloud back to his grotto mansion.

Only then did he allow himself to laugh heartily; with this Soul Nourishing Wood, he felt a sense of completion.

Enhancing the strength of one’s spirit soul was a lifelong task for cultivators, and the Gourd World would now be his formidable support, rivaling the role of the Stone Turtle.

He returned to the quiet chamber, letting his mind sink into his dantian to connect with the Stone Turtle.

"Enter the Gourd World!"

He could sense his joyous emotions, as if his soul had become lighter.

In the next moment, space and time shifted. Ji An stepped onto the land of the Little World and felt that the colors here were so bright and the Qi mechanism so exuberant.

From his dantian, the Wuji Xinghuang Banner flew out, transforming into a lustrous yellow spirit cloud, hovering above the Gathering Essence Tree.

Ji An broke the pot, burying the soil and the Soul Nourishing Wood into the earth.

The original soil didn’t need to be removed as it would soon be assimilated into the same soil structure.

He performed the Yellow Dragon Essence Enhancement Skill, and the spirit light spread out, suffusing the air with a soul-calming presence.

A gentle tremor came from deep within the earth, with the surface’s fish-scale pattern dispersing and reorganizing, as if rippling with micro-waves.

The Soul Nourishing Wood is currently only Tier One Lower Grade, although some primordial qi was consumed, it would recover in a few days.

However, the Soul Nourishing Wood is very challenging to cultivate; accelerating its growth requires the ashes of high-tier creatures.

Ji An currently didn’t have such resources, but he could find a way once he became a Golden Core Cultivator.

As long as he could reach the Golden Core Stage, with his accumulated Spiritual Mechanism, learning magic techniques would allow for quick advancement.

For him, there was no newbie stage.

...

The mulberry flowers of Red Flame Peak bloomed and withered again. Under Ji An’s care, the place was full of vitality.

Time flowed like a cheerful mountain stream, and a year passed in a blink.

This period was very peaceful in the Western Continent, with the demon cultivators hiding away, fostering a scene of prosperity.

Inside the grotto mansion, Ji An ended his cultivation, connected to the Stone Turtle, and lines of words emerged in his sea of consciousness, their colors initially pale, then quickly saturating into a spiritual, serene black.

Though dark, the ink brought peace.