The Spirit Absorption Array in Hand

Three months later, it was once again the season for harvesting Spirit Grain.

The bright moon shone through the pines, and specks of yellow-green light flickered across the mountain wilderness—the glow of fireflies.

The mountain's outline resembled a crouching giant beast, while black tree shadows swayed.

The bamboo house was filled with the fragrant aroma of Yellow Bud Rice.

Two beeswax candles as thick as a child's arm burned quietly, making the little house as bright as day.

Ji An was cutting Talisman Paper. The candlewick occasionally crackled, sending tiny droplets of wax flying.

After finishing the task at hand, he stretched lazily, his bones cracking crisply.

After counting the Talisman Paper, he smiled smugly.

"Two mu of Talisman Grass produced 120 sheets of Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper, with a premium rate exceeding thirty percent. I'll be able to make a fortune just by making Talisman Paper from now on."

Ji An inspected the talisman ink one bottle at a time. A faint scent of pine drifted from the jade bottles.

He put away the Talisman Paper and talisman ink, then placed the cutting tools beneath the table before walking to the entrance of the bamboo house and opening the door.

Forming hand seals, he covered the small courtyard in an earthy yellow spiritual glow, tinting even the emerald vegetable leaves a withered yellow.

He switched hand seals again, and white clouds and mist enveloped the courtyard inside and out. Dense raindrops pattered onto the bamboo house and vegetable leaves, their sound lively and crisp.

Listening quietly to the rain, Ji An's thoughts gradually became peaceful and detached.

After a while, he returned indoors and lay down on the bed.

Before sleeping, he linked his consciousness to the Stone Turtle.

Within his dantian, the Stone Turtle emitted an almost imperceptible faint spiritual glow, floating amid gaseous spiritual power.

Master: Ji An

Dao Rhyme: 0

Spiritual Inspiration: Kan Spirit 36.8, Kun Spirit 0.1, Xun Spirit 18.2

Spells: Minor Cloud and Rain Art (Perfection 6%)

Thick Earth Art (Great Accomplishment 82%)

Wither and Flourish Art (Great Accomplishment 29%)

Blazing Fire Spell (Proficient 68%)

Sharp Metal Art (Great Accomplishment 5%)

After the Minor Cloud and Rain Art reached Perfection, it was no longer realistic to rapidly improve it by refining Spiritual Inspiration—at least not for now.

The Kan Spirit he accumulated in a month could only increase its progress by 1%. Ji An simply saved all his Kan Spirit in case of emergencies.

Only when he entered a Spirit Vein Node to cultivate, allowing the Stone Turtle to absorb more Spiritual Inspiration, would this predicament ease.

The Minor Cloud and Rain Art was a spell that needed constant use. His comprehension was quite good, and he could increase his proficiency by around 1.5% each month.

Even without refining Spiritual Inspiration, five or six years would be enough to practice the spell to Grand Perfection.

The Wither and Flourish Art at Great Accomplishment was already sufficient, so Ji An stored up his Xun Spirit as well.

His consciousness grew increasingly hazy, and at last he fell into a deep sleep.

Once Li Changqing came to collect the Spirit Grain at the appointed time, Ji An set aside the Spirit Grain crystals needed to exchange for grain seeds and pay the field rent and taxes. Then, carrying all his possessions, he rode a Talisman Bird to Azure Water Market.

"Junior Brother, didn't we agree that I'd come find you tomorrow?"

Wei Songnian asked in surprise. He had only just arrived at the plaza, and had not even finished laying out the goods from his Storage Bag.

"I couldn't wait."

Ji An patted the small bundle hanging from his chest, his eyes burning with excitement. From now on, he would be someone who could use a Spirit Absorption Array too.

With that, pills, spiritual rice, and an array—he had all three. His external cultivation resources could be considered fully stocked.

His aptitude was only average, and half the spiritual power he refined was devoured by the Stone Turtle, but none of that was a problem!

Among Qi Condensation Stage disciples, a saying was widely circulated: as long as there were enough crystals, even a pig could be piled up to Foundation Establishment.

However, the problem facing the overwhelming majority of disciples was that they did not have enough crystals.

Taking Spirit Farmers as an example, Old Huang had said that many Spiritual Farmer Disciples spent three years in the sect merely cultivating the Minor Cloud and Rain Art and Thick Earth Art to Minor Accomplishment.

After paying the sect's field rent and taxes, their harvest from planting was only enough to buy a few pills to aid their cultivation.

A few pills every three months was the true situation for most disciples. Only after disciples broke through to Mid Qi Condensation would their circumstances gradually improve.

Newly initiated disciples had low cultivation, and even if they wanted to practice more spells, they did not have enough spiritual power to use. This was also the most difficult stage for the majority of Qi Condensation Stage disciples.

"Once I pack up my stall, we'll find somewhere to trade."

Wei Songnian picked up the jars and bottles one by one and put them back into his Storage Bag, his words carrying a trace of envy and respect.

"With a Spirit Absorption Array, Junior Brother's cultivation conditions won't be much worse than those direct descendants of great lineages.

Tsk, tsk. I remember that only after I broke through to Late Qi Condensation did my lineage reward me with a set of ordinary-quality Spirit Absorption Arrays."

"You flatter me, Senior Brother. Even with an array, it still needs Spirit Stones to support it.

I've calculated it. Based on my current harvest, even if I get the Spirit Absorption Array, I won't be able to use it more than a few times a month."

Ji An said with a laugh. Using the Spirit Absorption Array was like drinking Spirit Stones; he did not have the wealth to use it every day.

There was no point in keeping crystals in his hands. Instinctively, he wanted to spend them—turning them into even a little more strength would be excellent.

"Junior Brother is too modest. Once your cultivation improves, you'll be able to plant more Spirit Fields and harvest more crystals for cultivation.

What a perfect cycle that is!"

Wei Songnian had already put away all his goods. He folded the animal hide spread on the ground and stuffed it into his Storage Bag.

"Come on, let's trade at Junior Brother Liang's place, then have a couple of drinks while we're at it."

The two arrived at Liang Qiu's small tavern and entered a private room upstairs.

Wei Songnian took out a brand-new set of bronze disks and placed them on the table.

"This is the Spirit Absorption Array."

There were five array disks, each the size of a plate and four fingers high, their surfaces engraved with elegant patterns.

"The seller left five nearly exhausted Spirit Stones inside the array. They can probably last another half hour. I'll activate it, Junior Brother, and you can feel the effect."

Wei Songnian placed the array disks around the room, adjusted their positions, and activated the array.

The patterns on the array disks seemed to come alive, transforming into tender, verdant green leaves, with streams of light occasionally flashing across them.

A faint white mist quickly rose within the array. It was the manifestation of dense spiritual energy.

"Junior Brother, go inside and cultivate for a while. Feel the effect for yourself."

"Alright!"

Ji An let out a breath and stepped into the Spirit Absorption Array.

He felt every pore on his body open in an instant, as though he had downed a pot of ice water in the blazing summer heat. It was incomparably refreshing.

"I've been to Green Bamboo Peak and Red Copper Mountain. The spiritual energy density feels no different from those two places."

"Haha, it actually can't compare.

Junior Brother probably never entered the core areas of Green Bamboo Peak and Red Copper Mountain. Those two places were built atop Grade 1 High-tier Spirit Veins, and their core regions have Spirit Gathering Arrays, so the spiritual energy does not leak out."

Wei Songnian let out a long sigh and explained.

"Though the Spirit Absorption Array is strong, it is far from capable of such an effect.

The cultivation environment provided by our set of Spirit Absorption Arrays lies between a Grade 1 Low-tier and a Mid-grade First-tier Spirit Vein.

Junior Brother, don't waste time. Quickly circulate your cultivation technique and experience what it feels like to cultivate atop a Spirit Vein!"

Ji An sat cross-legged on the ground, circulated the Clear Origin Scripture, and greedily breathed in the dense spiritual energy.

The spiritual energy circulated through his immortal veins, and he faintly felt as though he had eaten his fill. His speed of refining spiritual power was several times greater than usual.

After an unknown amount of time, Ji An sensed the spiritual energy density outside rapidly declining. He assessed the cultivation results and slowly withdrew from meditation.

Wei Songnian leaned in with a half-smile.

"Junior Brother, half an hour has just passed. How did it feel?"