Jade Slip for Spells

"Strike it rich, Junior Brother Ji!"

After Wei Songnian finished counting the talisman paper, the heat in his eyes was enough to melt a person.

Recently, the sect had seized another Spirit Vein. The establishment of the new stronghold was bound to draw a large number of disciples there to hunt monsters and search for spirit herbs.

In the past, Qi Condensation Stage disciples had not dared venture deep into the heart of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. If they encountered a powerful monster, even escaping would have been a vain hope.

Now that a new stronghold had been established, once the mountain-protecting grand formation was set up, they would have a secure rear base.

With the new stronghold as its center, the sect would certainly send Foundation Establishment cultivators to clear out or drive away the high-level monsters within a hundred li.

Compared to before, the risks and costs of monster hunting had fallen. Entering a land previously scarcely touched by human footprints would also bring greater gains, greatly stoking the disciples' enthusiasm for hunting monsters.

Artifacts, talismans, pills, and the like were all easier to sell than before.

Artifact Refiners, Talismans Crafters, and Alchemists were all making a fortune, their bowls brimming and their pots overflowing. He, too, had gotten a mouthful of rich broth.

"I heard that a Monster Hunting Squad found the main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill. When the sect refines Foundation Establishment Pills next time, they may well produce several more batches."

Wei Songnian shook his head, then added, "I have no idea what the sect is thinking. They actually set up a market in our new territory and even allow independent cultivators in to resupply. Aren't they just giving away profits?!"

Listening to his rambling, Ji An lowered his eyes and said leisurely, "There are more and more independent cultivators in our Western Continent. I heard that Azure Cloud Immortal City and all the large and small markets can no longer meet the demand.

"Behind the scenes, the independent cultivators' resentment toward the three major sects and the great families has also been growing.

"This is quite good now. The independent cultivators have been given a way out, and their relationship with the sect can ease somewhat as well."

The three major sects occupied the best Spirit Veins in Western Continent, along with those claimed by the major cultivation families. Independent cultivators had never had an easy life.

"Ha, weren't all these problems caused by the sect itself?

"I heard from the elders of my family that a hundred years ago, the sect increased its production of Meridian Opening Pills. They not only distributed them to the Dao Academy but also sold them outside.

"Though thirty-six Spirit Stones was an expensive price, if those Late Qi Condensation independent cultivators had no intention of advancing further, they could still scrape enough together in ten or eight years."

The medicinal ingredients for refining Meridian Opening Pills were not particularly precious. Any cultivation family with some history could refine them as well.

Wei Songnian could not figure out why the sect had done this. In the past, the sect and the great families had tacitly controlled the number of cultivators. Otherwise, independent cultivators would have multiplied like locusts.

There were only so many Spirit Veins, unable to bear too many cultivators drawing spiritual energy day and night.

The amount of resources produced was likewise fixed. Too many cultivators could only stir up conflicts among themselves.

Seeing what the sect was doing, the major families could only follow suit and refine more Meridian Opening Pills.

With more independent cultivators at the Qi Condensation Stage, the number of family cultivators would inevitably have to rise as well. There had been many precedents of independent cultivators banding together to forcibly seize resources.

Ji An formed a vague guess about the sect's actions. Smiling, he said, "The sect must have considerations in other respects. No one is willing to pick up a stone only to smash their own foot."

"That's true. Without reaching Foundation Establishment, one cannot be considered to have truly stepped onto the immortal path. Little Qi Condensation cultivators like us have no right to know so much."

Wei Songnian had already settled the account. "Junior Brother, your talisman paper and talisman ink come to 6,550 Spirit Crystals."

He scratched his head. This income was greater than what most Qi Condensation cultivators risking their lives to hunt monsters earned, and it was safe and risk-free.

After hearing that Ji An planned to cultivate fifteen mu of Spirit Fields, he had roughly calculated the profits. Yet now that he was truly faced with this pile of crystals, his heartbeat still sped up against his will.

He recalled that when he was at the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation, he had once earned thirteen Spirit Stones in a month and been so excited that he could not sleep for half the night.

"Senior Brother, how many Shengyuan Pills do you have on hand now?"

Excitement appeared in Ji An's eyes. During these three months of cultivation, the spiritual power in his body had always been utterly drained, and he had yet to open even half an inch of the immortal vein branch.

Earning crystals was important, but opening up his immortal veins and improving his aptitude was even more important.

"Twenty! But pill prices have risen recently, so each pill costs an extra ten Spirit Crystals."

"I'll take them all. Also, prepare twenty portions of talisman ink materials for me."

Wei Songnian beamed. He loved Ji An's forthright manner, which was why he had deliberately saved so many pills for him.

If he had not lacked enough crystals himself, he would have stocked up on more as well.

Sure enough, when it came to spending crystals, Ji An had never disappointed him.

"Talisman ink materials have dropped in price lately. I'll count each portion as fifty-five Spirit Crystals for you, Junior Brother. You still have twelve Spirit Stones left."

Ji An nodded slightly. "Ten Spirit Stones will go toward my debt, and the remaining two will serve as a deposit.

"Senior Brother, I want a formation array that can protect my small courtyard.

"I planted Spirit Fruit Trees, as well as a batch of Fire Cloud Ginseng. I cannot afford to be careless.

"I do not need the formation to be particularly powerful. It only needs to seal off the inside from the outside."

After this transaction, not a single Spirit Stone remained in his hands again.

Stroking his chin, Wei Songnian agreed. "You truly cannot be careless. Some small monster might sneak in and steal food.

"Your courtyard is not large. An ordinary sealing formation is cheap, and around twenty Spirit Stones should be enough.

"Business has been good lately. I'll be going to Azure Cloud Immortal City again in a month, and I'll buy you a set then."

"Can't the sect's Formation Masters make one too?" Ji An asked. He was rather anxious.

"They can, but learning formations is quite difficult. At the very least, one needs Late Qi Condensation cultivation before dabbling in them.

"The sect's Formation Masters are all at Foundation Establishment. For one thing, I have no connections with them. For another, they probably would not think much of such a small job."

"All right, I'll wait."

Once the transaction was complete, Ji An hurried away with the pills and talisman ink materials.

Without a formation array to protect it, he felt uneasy whenever he was away from the courtyard for too long.

Early the next morning, Old Huang and his grandson helped Ji An transport Spirit Rice to the General Affairs Hall to pay his field rent.

After buying grain seeds, he took out another ten Spirit Stones and exchanged them for two hundred Contribution Points, finally obtaining the Jade Slip for Spells he had been longing for.

He rushed back to the bamboo lodge without stopping, and Ji An eagerly pressed the jade slip to his forehead.

After a long while, he lowered the jade slip and began considering which spells to practice.

There were many spells in the jade slip: offensive, defensive, and supportive. All told, there were more than a dozen varieties.

A person's energy was limited; he had to focus on certain things.

After deliberating for a long time, Ji An made his choice. He decided to first learn four spells: the Object Control Art, Geng Metal Finger, Water Curtain Art, and Wind Riding Art.

The Object Control Art was the foundation for wielding artifacts, and it was also extremely practical.

After learning it, whether tending Spirit Fields, harvesting Spirit Rice, or making talisman paper, everything would become much more convenient. It was a must-learn.

Among the Five Elements Spells, Metal Element and Fire Element Spells were more powerful offensively. He had a greater understanding of how to use Metal Element Spiritual Energy, so he chose Geng Metal Finger.

The Water Curtain Art was a Defensive Spell. Although Water Element Spells were not particularly strong in defense, he still had a large amount of Kan Spirit to use. He only needed to get started with this spell.

The Wind Riding Art could improve his speed and agility. He could use it even after breaking through to Foundation Establishment. If he could not defeat a monster but could outrun it, that was a skill in itself.

This way, he would have offensive, defensive, and supportive spells. Once he mastered them and broke through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation, he could get himself a set of artifacts and take part in monster hunting.