Cliff Mountain

Half an hour earlier, Room Four of the Heaven tier.

Zhang Yuanshan and the other two had arrived first and gathered together to chat about what they had each gained in the sect over the past half year.

"After entering the Artifact Refining Hall, I'd been assisting my clan uncle.

I discovered that I actually had some talent for artifact refining. The clan increased its efforts to train me, allowing me to advance to Qi Condensation Layer 5 within half a year.

Half a month ago, I was even able to forge an artifact embryo on my own."

"Senior Brother Zhang has boundless prospects ahead of him. It truly makes one envious.

This little sister had barely broken through to Qi Condensation Layer 4 a month ago. I'm far behind."

Chu He said in his deep, muffled voice:

"Senior Sister, don't be so modest. I only broke through to Mid Qi Condensation yesterday. Doesn't that make me seem terribly stupid?"

"Haha, everyone has a bright future ahead," Zhang Yuanshan said, smoothly changing the subject without betraying a hint of it.

"A few months ago, Ji An came to Red Copper Mountain looking for us, saying he wanted to borrow Spirit Stones.

At the time, I saw that although he was only at the Second Layer of Qi Condensation, he had cultivated the Minor Cloud and Rain Art to the minor mastery stage. Coupled with his persuasion, I nodded and agreed. He borrowed two Spirit Stones each from the two of us."

"Ah, he borrowed Spirit Stones from you two as well?"

Zhao Mengyao was stunned.

"As well? Junior Sister borrowed Spirit Stones from him too?"

Zhao Mengyao nodded, her expression faintly embarrassed.

"I too saw that, with only the little spiritual power of the Second Layer of Qi Condensation, he had actually cultivated the Minor Cloud and Rain Art to minor mastery within a month. That was why I decided to support him with Spirit Stones."

She suddenly regretted it somewhat and added:

"Now that I think carefully about it, a minor mastery Minor Cloud and Rain Art can only increase Spirit Grain yields by around ten percent."

The three of them calculated it together. Good heavens—Ji An already owed sixteen Spirit Stones. That should have exceeded the limits of what an Early Qi Condensation cultivator could repay, shouldn't it?!

Chu He clenched his fists and said angrily:

"I have to scrimp and save Spirit Stones just to sustain my cultivation, while this guy—!"

Zhang Yuanshan pondered for a moment before saying:

"For a Spirit Farmer to truly be useful, he must cultivate at least one of the Minor Cloud and Rain Art, Thick Earth Art, or Wither and Flourish Art to the major mastery stage.

Ji An has rather high comprehension in Water Element Spells, but who knows how long it will take him to cultivate the Minor Cloud and Rain Art to major mastery.

He promised to repay us a batch of Spirit Stones in half a year. We'll see how he performs then.

But we can't lend him Spirit Stones again in the future. Today, we need to give him a warning.

Also, it's time to bring up the matter of using the beast-controlling secret art to pay off his debt."

The true test of talent for spells was crossing from minor mastery into major mastery. The entry and proficient stages could quickly be raised to minor mastery as long as one was willing to practice enough.

But to rapidly raise a minor mastery spell to major mastery, mere practice was not enough. Without sufficient comprehension, one would inevitably squander the years before reaching it—or never reach it at all.

A promising Spirit Farmer was worth befriending, but continuously lending Spirit Stones to cultivate that friendship was more loss than gain.

The other party's debt was simply too heavy.

He had never noticed before that one could actually cultivate by borrowing Spirit Stones.

Damn it, it was all because that guy was too good at talking. The contrast with his dullness before opening his meridians was simply too great.

Ji An took in all their expressions. He straightened in his seat and said mildly:

"Senior Brother is absolutely right.

The sect gives new disciples a three-year assessment period. Relying solely on minor mastery Farming Spells, it would be absolutely impossible to repay the debts within a few years."

"You know that too?!"

Holding back his strength, Chu He punched the table. That wasn't what the hell you said when you borrowed the Spirit Stones!

"Minor mastery spells won't do, but what about major mastery spells?

This Junior Brother is untalented, but some days ago, I cultivated both the Minor Cloud and Rain Art and the Thick Earth Art to major mastery.

I planted two mu of Spirit Grain and harvested a total of 580 jin of Yellow Bud Rice the day before yesterday.

This year, I don't need to pay the sect any field rent or taxes. If I sell it all, I can obtain 580 Spirit Crystals."

Ji An cupped his hands, his words sincere.

"After today's small banquet, please come to my residence and stay for half a day, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. I'll treat you to wine and meat from this harvest."

Zhang Yuanshan's gaze sharpened. Less than half a year, and two spells at major mastery?!

Zhao Mengyao's eyes likewise held a trace of shock. If this was true, they would have to reassess his potential for spells!

Zhang Yuanshan gave an "Mm" and smiled.

"With such accomplishments, Junior Brother, this Senior Brother shares in your glory.

We'll impose on Junior Brother tonight and drink to our hearts' content."

Give him a warning? Warning my ass!

Disciples arrived one after another. Zhang Yuanshan swept his gaze around and saw that all sixteen disciples from their intake had arrived, then instructed the restaurant to serve the dishes.

Cups passed back and forth, and everyone was in high spirits.

When the wine was half gone, Zhang Yuanshan gently set down his cup and sighed.

"What a pity. I wonder whether I'll still be able to return here and drink with everyone half a year from now."

His voice was not loud, yet it was just enough for everyone to hear clearly.

Zhao Mengya asked in surprise:

"What do you mean, Senior Brother? Did you receive a sect mission that requires you to go out?"

Sometimes, the sect assigned garrison duties to disciples at Qi Condensation Layer 4 and above, but those were aimed at disciples with poor productive ability. Moreover, during a disciple's first three years in the sect, the sect generally would not force assignments upon them.

At this time, the disciples had only just entered the sect. Their spells were still unpolished, and their safety could not be guaranteed.

Everyone questioned him in turn, their voices full of concern.

If newly initiated disciples were all being sent out, something major must have happened.

The sect was not without enemies. Leaving aside the friction within the human race, the Demon Race deep in the northwestern mountains often engaged the sect in bloody battles.

"More or less, but it's a good thing," Zhang Yuanshan said with a smile.

"My clan uncle told me yesterday that some time ago, the sect's great cultivators fought several battles with the Green-Eyed Demonic Ape clan of Cliff Mountain and killed the Ape King.

The sect has now occupied Cliff Mountain. There is a Grade 1 High-tier Spirit Vein there, and once the mountain-protecting grand formation has been set up, cultivators will be sent there to garrison it.

My clan uncle was selected, so I'm benefiting from his favor and going along with him.

The official news will probably be released in a few days. If any Junior Brothers have connections, you may as well make arrangements."

"Cultivating within a Grade 1 High-tier Spirit Vein, Senior Brother's cultivation will surely advance a thousand miles a day. Mengyao wishes Senior Brother an early breakthrough into Late Qi Condensation."

"Congratulations, Senior Brother."

Everyone offered their congratulations. Ji An, too, was filled with envy. He wondered, if he could also cultivate within a Spirit Vein, how much spiritual essence would the Stone Turtle be able to absorb in a day?

But he merely thought about it. Such a good opportunity could never fall into the hands of someone like him, alone and without support.

This matter also made him want to advance to Late Qi Condensation as soon as possible and take a good master. With a great tree at one's back, one could enjoy the shade.

The sect placed great importance on master-disciple lineages. Only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage or above were qualified to take disciples.

To ensure that masters taught their disciples wholeheartedly, masters received Contribution Points after accepting disciples.

If a disciple was at the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation, the master could receive 700 points per year. If the disciple raised their cultivation by one layer and entered the Eighth Layer of Qi Condensation, the master would receive 800 Contribution Points per year, along with an additional reward of 700 points.

Each Foundation Establishment Cultivator had only four slots for disciples below Foundation Establishment. If a disciple advanced to Foundation Establishment, the master could receive even greater rewards.

There was another benefit to taking a master: one could enter the circles of Foundation Establishment Cultivators ahead of time, gain access to more inside information, and suffer fewer losses when resources were distributed.