Chapter 1007: One Yuan Daozi

This year, Chen Mobai was 162 years old.

To reach the eighth layer of the Nascent Soul realm at this age was certainly unprecedented in the Immortal Sect, and likely would never be surpassed.

Chen Mobai sat upright on the peak of Beiyuan Mountain, carefully savoring his current realm.

Under the Heavenly Blessing and Earthly Resonance, through the core fifth-grade spiritual meridian of this Nine Palaces Reversal Array, he felt as if he had transformed into this entire plateau.

His divine sense spread outwards like waves; every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, and every river around the spiritual meridians of the Eastern Barrens Plateau were reflected in his mind.

He could feel the surge of spiritual energy in the meridians, see flowers bloom and wither on the earth, hear the fierce winds howl in the sky, and even perceive the faintest breath of the tiniest insects hidden in every corner.

The Crown of All Beings had settled on his head at some unknown moment. The Dao-Law Fruit upon it pulsed with a deep, serene glow, and through the threads emanating from it, Chen Mobai heard one voice after another.

These were the prayers and pleas of all living beings directed at him.

Chen Mobai's mind followed several of these threads to their ends, listening to the requests of the beings under his dominion.

Most were trivial matters.

For him, these could be accomplished with a mere thought.

Chen Mobai tried resolving the requests from two of the threads. Afterwards, he felt these two threads suddenly glow with an even more profound and serene light, which then flowed into the Dao-Law Fruit.

This recently formed Dao fruit imperceptibly grew stronger by a tiny bit.

At the same time, in the Nine Virtues realm of the Phoenix Facing the Sun Diagram, the progress bar for the "Kind" virtue advanced slightly.

It was about one ten-millionth of the progress.

This was the cultivation method for the Dao-Law Fruit and the Nine Virtues.

It would be impossible for Chen Mobai alone to resolve all the requests.

Fortunately, he had a powerful sect and had established an unprecedented unified dynasty. In this era of peace and prosperity, the work could be accomplished through the collective and organizational strength.

Since the end of the War Between Righteousness and Demonic Paths, the Five Elements Sect, under his command and arrangements, had not only governed the tens of millions of Eastern Barrens inhabitants in an orderly manner, bringing peace and prosperity to the land, but had also properly settled the populations from Dongwu and Dongyi who had surrendered.

To this day, the eight new cities outside the Eastern Barrens have all been completed, and according to Chen Mobai's instructions, new territories were divided into the six counties of the Barren Ruins and Yunmeng County.

In Dongyi, Zhou Ye similarly divided the land into twelve counties.

Currently, the Five Elements Sect collectively governs 38 counties, which serve as the foundation for the growth of the Dao-Law Fruit.

The largest territory, naturally, was Yunmeng County, which also had the most abundant resources. However, due to being mostly water, mortals were few, and it was essentially a realm dominated by cultivators.

Some families from Dongwu who had surrendered could not adapt to the environment of the Eastern Barrens, or were ostracized by local forces. They could only pilot their family's treasure ships, hunting and selling demonic beasts in the Yunmeng Marsh to sustain their large families.

Thanks to the Five Elements Sect having eliminated all demonic beasts of third-tier and above in the Yunmeng Marsh, the area was virtually risk-free for these families.

Under these circumstances, the long-standing overpopulation of demonic beasts in the Yunmeng Marsh actually began to face a crisis of overfishing.

Upon learning of this, Chen Mobai immediately introduced a new policy of a closed hunting season.

However, considering the difficulty for various families to make a living, he specifically opened up jobs in desertification control, mining, and farming in the Eastern Barrens, allowing cultivators from Dongwu to compete for them.

In the Eastern Barrens, after an initial period of intense competition, many cultivators, having earned enough spiritual stones to sustain themselves, began to "lie flat," choosing a more relaxed lifestyle.

This led to a severe labor shortage in many physically demanding jobs, such as desertification control and mining.

Previously, considering the recent surrender of Dongwu, Chen Mobai had slightly protected local employment.

Now, however, he treated everyone equally, directly opening up opportunities and allowing all these cultivators from Dongwu to enter. He also instructed the Five Elements Sect to open up missions at the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion for them.

Upon hearing this news, many rogue cultivators in Yunmeng Marsh, who had never worked a proper job in their lives, cleared their identities, hoping to get legitimate work, buy a house, and settle down.

In addition, Chen Mobai also instructed Jiang Zongheng to center a new civilization around the native culture of the Eastern Barrens, integrating the customs of Dongwu and Dongyi, to culturally unify the mortals of the three regions and establish a greater unified dynasty, creating a "New Eastern Barrens Civilization that weaves heaven and earth."

Through this series of measures, Chen Mobai's progress in the Nine Virtues advanced rapidly after the War Between Righteousness and Demonic Paths.

Currently, the Nine Virtues combined have reached 37% progress.

The highest, naturally, remained "Ruler" at 10%. The battle that ignited Dongwu made him renowned even in Dongtu.

Next was "Elder" at 8%. Chen Mobai had always prioritized education and now placed even greater emphasis on it.

Besides the original six major academies, Chen Mobai also established three new academies in Yunmeng Marsh, the Barren Ruins, and Dongyi, allowing forces from Dongwu and Dongyi to access the excellent teaching staff of the Five Elements Sect without the previous hardship of buying property in the Eastern Barrens.

Beyond cultivator education, Chen Mobai also had Jiang Zongheng focus on fundamental enlightenment and education for mortals.

In the past, only children of wealth and power could afford private schools. Now, schools were officially run, and students could enroll by paying only a small textbook fee.

These schools also took on the role of spreading civilization and unifying thought.

With this ideological allegiance, Chen Mobai received increasing support and admiration from all beings. His "Modest" virtue reached 5%, "Obedient" 4%, "Wise" 3%, and "Cultured" 2%.

The lowest virtues, "Kind" and "Associative," also broke through zero, with the former at just over 1% and the latter barely approaching 1%.

This was mainly due to Chen Mobai's diligence in governance over the past decade. However, compared to the people of the Eastern Barrens, he possessed advanced experience and knowledge from the Immortal Sect, allowing him to make most decisions independently, with few able to propose strategies that truly impressed him.

Most recently, Or Yun and Liu Wenbo had devised a plan to gain control over all non-sect spiritual meridians in the Eastern Barrens.

However, compared to the Five Elements Sect cultivators nurtured by him, the Foundation Establishment cultivators from these Eastern Barrens cultivation families had a significantly weaker foundation.

Of the seven people who consumed the Golden Elixir Jade Restoration Pill, all failed to form a core, with not a single success.

This caused suspicion regarding the Five Elements Sect's Core Formation spiritual medicine, with people doubting its high success rate.

The remaining three people also hesitated, reluctant to consume the pill.

Fortunately, another effect of the Golden Elixir Jade Restoration Pill was verified: after failing to form a core, one would only lose some vital energy, with no danger to life.

Previously in the Eastern Barrens, most Foundation Establishment cultivators attempting Core Formation would die upon failure.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai felt it necessary to establish another successful example. He then reviewed the information of the remaining three Foundation Establishment cultivators and selected Bai Jinghong of the Bai family, whom he had some impression of.

This Bai family was the Snow Peak Bai Clan, renowned for producing Snow Needle Immortal Sprout.

In the past, Chen Mobai had a good relationship with their patriarch, Bai Dingxian. When the latter heard Chen Mobai was collecting various tea trees, he specifically gifted him an ancient Snow Needle Immortal Sprout tea tree, a family heirloom.

Chen Mobai had always remembered this. When Bai Dingxian passed away, he even sent his eldest disciple, Liu Wenbo, to offer incense.

After Bai Dingxian's burial, Bai Jinghong became the head of the Bai family. He had even accompanied Liu Wenbo to Little Nanshan to pay respects and express gratitude to Chen Mobai.

It was for this reason that Chen Mobai remembered him.

Bai Jinghong had not only reached Foundation Establishment perfection, but his divine sense, due to long-term consumption of Snow Needle Immortal Sprout, was nearly transforming to the Core Formation level, making him the most likely among all Eastern Barrens family Foundation Establishment cultivators to successfully form a core.

Even so, Chen Mobai was not entirely at ease. After all, people here took pills without any restraint, unlike him who had the Lamp Lighting Art for blessings and the Phoenix Facing the Sun Diagram for protection.

To ensure Bai Jinghong's successful Core Formation and to establish him as another positive example for the Golden Elixir Jade Restoration Pill, Chen Mobai sent a message to Jiang Zongheng, his disciple in charge of education, instructing him to visit the Snow Peak Bai Clan and provide guidance.

The remaining two besides Bai Jinghong were Liang Daonian of the Liang family and Tie Lan of the Tie family.

Although he hadn't met them, Chen Mobai had dealt with both families when he was younger. Liang Jinggui, the previous generation's patriarch of the Liang family, had even given him two Azure Phoenix Birds, which Zhuo Ming had now raised to second-tier upper grade.

Out of consideration for these past connections, Chen Mobai instructed Qing Nü to refine a batch of Small Nirvana Pills and make them available in the Danxia Pavilion, granting purchasing rights to those who had exchanged for the Golden Elixir Jade Restoration Pill.

If, even with these measures, no one could successfully form a core, it would indicate that these cultivation families in the Eastern Barrens lacked sufficient fortune and needed more accumulation.

Aside from these outsiders, among the seven internal Five Elements Sect disciples who had exchanged for the Golden Elixir Jade Restoration Pill, Ding Ying and Lian Maozhi were fortunate enough to succeed in Core Formation.

Among them, Qi Rui's failure was a great pity to Chen Mobai.

However, with this experience, the probability of success in his next attempt would be much higher.

Conveniently, Chen Mobai still had one extra Golden Elixir Jade Restoration Pill, and he had already informed Or Yun to reserve it for Qi Rui's exchange.

Ding Ying and Lian Maozhi were both sect disciples rooted in the Eastern Barrens' education sector for over a hundred years. After their Core Formation, Chen Mobai dispatched them to preside over the newly established academies in Dongyi and the Barren Ruins, respectively.

As the Nine Virtues continued to progress, Chen Mobai's divine sense realm also advanced by leaps and bounds. He was now at the peak of the Nascent Soul Eighth Layer, poised to break through to the Ninth Layer at any moment.

This was because Chen Mobai wanted to solidify his foundation.

It took him twenty-two years to advance from the seventh to the eighth layer of the Pure Yang Scroll, making it the longest period for any minor realm breakthrough.

This also accounted for the earlier years spent accompanying Shi Wanyu, with most of that time dedicated to cultivating the Lamp Lighting Art. This was also Chen Mobai's long-awaited breakthrough achieved solely through arduous cultivation and accumulation, without consuming any pills.

However, this was also within his plan.

He had twenty-eight years left before leaving the barren lands, ample time to cultivate to the Nascent Soul perfection realm. Then, with the Saint-Connecting True Spirit Pill, he could attempt Spirit Transformation.

But before that, the matter of the Yuan Dao Palace had to be resolved.

Thinking of this, Chen Mobai pondered the intelligence Su Zilu had sent over the years.

After she went to Dongtu, she first circled around Five Emperors Mountain. After the War Between Righteousness and Demonic Paths, the mountain's封禁 had been lifted.

Due to Su Zilu's special identity, after much deliberation, she first went to Dongli to learn about the internal situation of the Yuan Dao Palace from Xiao Yu, and then specifically sought out three Nascent Soul elders of the outer sect.

Outer sect elders were positions held by those who failed to be elected as Five Virtues Elders.

Although they were also Nascent Soul cultivators, they would be the first to be sacrificed if a Dao Son or Saintess needed to cultivate the Primordial Unity Dao Fruit. Thus, they generally harbored resentment towards Five Emperors Mountain.

However, when Su Zilu approached them and revealed her identity, stating that someone within Five Emperors Mountain was colluding with demonic cultivators, the three outer sect Nascent Soul elders' expressions changed dramatically. They angrily denounced her for spouting nonsense and deceiving the masses.

After all, compared to the Five Virtues Elders on Five Emperors Mountain, they had been stationed in Yuan Immortal City during the sealing of the mountain and were aware of various news from Dongzhou.

When Master Zuo Dong of the Overseas Flying Sand Sect died under Primordial Unity True Qi, they, as representatives of a Holy Land, were invited by the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect to inspect the scene. After deliberating, they concluded that it was most likely done by Su Zilu, the saintess who was unaccounted for at the time.

In their view, Su Zilu was the one truly colluding with demonic cultivators; she might even be a demonic cultivator herself now.

If not for their cultivation methods being inherently suppressed by Primordial Unity True Qi, they would have been tempted to capture Su Zilu on the spot and bring her to Five Emperors Mountain.

Su Zilu also knew her identity wouldn't convince these outer sect elders, but she immediately invoked the Five Elements Sect.

She stated that she represented the Yuan orthodox lineage and that soon, Sect Leader Chen Gui would personally arrive to settle accounts with Five Emperors Mountain.

Hearing this, the three outer sect elders laughed in extreme anger. A branch sect created by someone expelled from Five Emperors Mountain now dared to call itself orthodox—it was truly laughable.

They probably wouldn't even be able to enter the gates of Yuan Immortal City, let alone ascend Five Emperors Mountain.

To this, Su Zilu merely said one sentence: that her visit this time had been reported to the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect, and that the Five Elements Sect, as the Yuan orthodox lineage, was recognized by the other Holy Lands of Dongzhou.

Hearing this, the three outer sect elders were half-believing and half-doubting, but they no longer staunchly supported Five Emperors Mountain as they initially did.

"Then let's wait until that Chen Gui Immortal dares to come," said Lianshui, the most senior of the three outer sect Nascent Soul elders in Yuan Immortal City.

This meant that, no matter what, Chen Mobai needed to personally go to Dongtu.

Originally, after receiving the news, Chen Mobai wanted to set off immediately.

However, at that time, Heavenly Blessing began to give Heavenly Heart Warnings. Although the warning was not very strong, it indicated that his going would not yield good results.

Chen Mobai did not rush. If he were to go to Five Emperors Mountain, he would have to subdue everyone in the Yuan Dao Palace in one fell swoop.

Since the time was not yet ripe, he would wait a little longer.

Thinking of this, Chen Mobai again considered going to Five Emperors Mountain. This time, although there was still a Heavenly Heart Warning, it was much weaker than before.

As he pondered, the surrounding five-element spiritual energy suddenly began to boil, then gathered towards the sky, forming brilliant five-colored clouds that covered almost half of Beiyuan City.

Chen Mobai was slightly surprised.

Had Zhuo Ming emerged from seclusion?

Ten years ago, when the Five Elements Spiritual Fruit matured, Zhuo Ming, under his protection, spent three years successfully refining it, condensing forty-nine strands of Primordial Unity True Qi at the Core Formation realm. She also smoothly broke through her Nine Ren Dharma Body cultivation to the seventh stage, equivalent to the third-tier upper grade Body Tempering realm.

After that, Zhuo Ming returned to Dongwu to continue repairing the land and spiritual meridians there.

It wasn't until last year that Zhuo Ming, while cultivating five-colored rice, reached spiritual power perfection and perceived the opportunity for breakthrough.

She dared not delay, and after reporting to Chen Mobai and receiving permission, she immediately came back to Beiyuan Mountain to go into seclusion, intending to break through to the late stage of Core Formation.

With her Immortal Earth Spiritual Root, combined with her deep and solid foundation, there would naturally be no problem with her breakthrough.

However, Chen Mobai quickly noticed something was amiss.

The five-element spiritual energy condensing in the sky was not descending towards Zhuo Ming's cave dwelling. Moreover, this five-element spiritual energy was far too balanced, showing signs of condensing Primordial Unity True Qi or Five Elements True Qi.

It was for this reason that he initially thought it was Zhuo Ming.

Because in Beiyuan City, besides himself, only Zhuo Ming cultivated Primordial Unity True Qi.

At this moment, the brilliant clouds formed by the condensing five-element spiritual energy grew larger and larger, gradually covering almost the entire Beiyuan City.

"This is... Nascent Soul formation!"

After observing for a moment, Chen Mobai exclaimed in surprise!

Who was this person, so ignorant of the rules?

Didn't they know that the spiritual energy in Beiyuan City was charged?

And to come to his territory to form a Nascent Soul was to trust the Five Elements Sect excessively.

But to absorb fifth-grade spiritual energy directly without even a greeting made Chen Mobai feel it necessary to make this unfamiliar cultivator learn a lesson.

Thinking of this, Chen Mobai immediately took the Beiyuan Mountain spiritual meridian array disk into his palm, activating the Sky Screen Earth Vein Grand Formation to gain control of all the boiling five-element spiritual energy gathering in the sky.

These five-element spiritual energies gathered above Beiyuan City, forming increasingly dense colors and clouds, gradually transforming into a five-colored vortex. However, under the effect of the grand formation, not a single wisp of spiritual energy fell from the sky.

Even the heavenly tribulation was delayed from forming because of this.

This scene amazed all the residents of Beiyuan City. They called their friends and stood together on the streets, watching the marvel in the sky.

"This must be Immortal Venerable Chen practicing a technique!"

"Such power, and clearly five-element spiritual energy, it must be him."

"Why do I feel something isn't right? This looks a bit like... Nascent Soul formation!"

In a courtyard in Beiyuan City, Du Mengyun muttered as she watched the anomaly in the sky. After the War Between Righteousness and Demonic Paths ended, all entry restrictions for cultivators from outside the Eastern Barrens were lifted, and she had taken the opportunity to come to this safest place.

It turned out she had gambled correctly.

After the three Spirit Transformation demonic cultivators were killed by Yuan Qingque, Dongli fell completely, and the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect had to relocate all its inheritances and resources from its main altar.

Among these, the soul lamps, which concerned the life and death of every disciple, were obviously included.

During this relocation, it was discovered that Du Mengyun was still alive.

Upon learning this, Diao Xianlan felt that Du Mengyun had faked her death to escape the battlefield and her decade-long absence clearly indicated cowardice and unwillingness to serve the sect. Coupled with Wen Buyue's instigation, Diao Xianlan directly blamed Du Mengyun for the annihilation of the Profound Mechanism Demonic Sect in Dongwu.

Now, Du Mengyun was not only stripped of her saintess position but also expelled from the sect. Kuang Jiyuan of the Profound Mechanism Demonic Sect even issued a warrant for her capture, notifying the entire Dongzhou demonic path to assist in her pursuit.

Du Mengyun had several clones among other demonic forces, so she naturally received this news.

She felt that if she hadn't been hiding in Beiyuan City all these years, she would probably have been found long ago.

Especially with Wen Buyue, as the two had each cultivated half of the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect's inheritance, being close to each other would naturally create a spiritual resonance.

Knowing this, Du Mengyun had not dared to leave Beiyuan City for the past two decades, rarely even stepping out of her small courtyard.

Even if there was something to be done, she would send Hong He to handle it.

She had originally thought that she was the one hiding in Beiyuan City with the deepest cultivation and the most scandalous background. But now, someone was forming a Nascent Soul, and judging by the core towards which the five-colored vortex in the sky was directed, it seemed to be right next door to her.

Upon realizing this, Du Mengyun cried out "bad" in her heart.

The commotion of Nascent Soul formation would definitely attract the "god of slaughter," Chen Mobai, to personally investigate. Although she was very confident in her avatar's demonic sect concealment art, her own Core Formation cultivation could not be hidden.

If she attracted Chen Mobai's attention, she would definitely become a focus of the Five Elements Sect, and then she might not be able to stay in Beiyuan City.

Just as Du Mengyun was considering how to leave to avoid the limelight, a tall figure, shrouded in five-colored light and wearing a Pure Yang Immortal Robe, flew from the peak of Beiyuan Mountain in the center of the immortal city and descended above this street.

A vast and mighty divine sense swept over, making everyone feel as if they were completely exposed in Chen Mobai's eyes.

Du Mengyun felt a divine sense much stronger than her peak self fall upon her. Gritting her silver teeth, she activated the concealment art of the Avatar Demonic Sect to its extreme, hoping to remain undetected.

Chen Mobai, guided by the center of the five-element spiritual energy convergence and aided by the Sky Screen Earth Vein Grand Formation, quickly pinpointed where the cultivator causing the spiritual energy anomaly was.

After he arrived, his spiritual eye pierced through the roof's cover, revealing Chen Lingming sitting on a futon at the very center of the cave dwelling.

Chen Lingming held two supreme-grade spirit stones in his hands, drawing out pure and vast spiritual energy from them, which formed a dense shroud around his body, continuously being refined by him.

The golden core in his Qi Sea shone brightly, as if thirsting for spiritual energy, seeking to accumulate the immense power needed for the core to break and the Nascent Soul to emerge.

However, all the spiritual energy in Beiyuan City had been controlled by Chen Mobai through the Sky Screen Earth Vein Grand Formation at this moment. Although it gathered above Chen Lingming's head, not a single wisp could be absorbed.

Chen Mobai looked at the handsome, young, and extraordinary Chen Lingming, wondering who this person could be. Judging by the spiritual energy convergence phenomenon, his true qi accumulation was clearly profound, at least several times that of Mo Douguang and Zhou Ye.

Such a figure could certainly not be a rogue cultivator.

But if not a rogue cultivator, why didn't he form his Nascent Soul in his own spiritual meridian, and instead came to Beiyuan City?

Could it be that there were powerful enemies nearby, and knowing that the Eastern Barrens was a pure land and a place of peace in Dongzhou, he specifically came here?

As Chen Mobai's thoughts swirled, he glanced at Du Mengyun next door, noticing her Core Formation cultivation. He couldn't help but sigh that Beiyuan City was becoming increasingly a mixed bag of good and bad people. He decided to find a way to conduct a thorough background check on the entire city later; at the very least, cultivators of the Core Formation and Nascent Soul realms should not be allowed to hide.

Thinking this, Chen Mobai reached out and pushed upwards towards the sky. The vast five-element spiritual energy vortex above Beiyuan City, as if guided by his palm, slowly ascended higher, moving further away from Chen Lingming.

Regardless of whether Chen Lingming succeeded in forming his Nascent Soul, this event must be publicized; at the very least, house prices could rise significantly again.

"Fellow Daoist's settlement in Beiyuan City brings joy to our sect; however, forming a Nascent Soul without a word has angered me; if I were not here, and the heavenly tribulation descended, the losses to Beiyuan City would likely be unbearable for you..."

Chen Mobai's clear voice resonated through the air, spreading grandly and informing all cultivators in Beiyuan City that the anomaly in the sky was caused by someone forming a Nascent Soul.

Immediately, many people's eyes widened, especially those cultivators already residing on this street. If Chen Mobai hadn't been suppressing the area from above, they would have rushed over to see.

Chen Lingming, on the futon, though in the midst of his breakthrough, had only just begun. His divine sense had enough capacity to attend to outside, so he naturally heard Chen Mobai's words.

His divine sense manifested a five-colored avatar above the roof. He immediately saw Chen Mobai in mid-air, holding the enormous five-element vortex with one hand. Though shocked, he gritted his teeth and knelt directly before Chen Mobai.

"Please forgive me, Little Grand-Master. This disciple, while meditating today, suddenly experienced an epiphany and took this step."

"This disciple originally intended to report to you, Little Grand-Master, before forming my Nascent Soul, but the breakthrough opportunity came too suddenly, and I feared that if I missed it, I would never have a second chance in this life."

"This disciple has resided in Beiyuan City for these past years and has long regarded it as my dearest home. I absolutely have no intention of causing any damage. It was only under desperate circumstances that I had no choice but to form my Nascent Soul."

Chen Mobai stared at Chen Lingming kneeling before him, utterly stunned.

"Wait, what did you call me? Little Grand-Master? Which generation disciple are you?"

"This disciple is of the seventh generation."

At this life-and-death moment of Nascent Soul formation, Chen Lingming dared not hide anything. He answered whatever Chen Mobai asked.

"Seventh generation? Newly inducted! No wonder you don't understand the rules."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai's expression subtly shifted to realization.

Since he established the seniority system in the Five Elements Sect, the newest batch of disciples admitted was indeed the seventh generation.

But even a seventh-generation disciple shouldn't call Chen Mobai "Little Grand-Master"; simply addressing him as "Sect Leader" would suffice.

"You must have concealed your identity and entered the sect with existing skills, correct? However, since you call me Grand-Master, I will give you a chance. Honestly disclose your identity and background. If there are excusable circumstances, I will release the spiritual energy restriction and allow you to form your Nascent Soul."

Chen Mobai had absolute confidence in his strength. Even if Chen Lingming successfully formed his Nascent Soul, it would just be a matter of one sword strike. So, he interrogated him calmly.

"Reporting to Little Grand-Master, this disciple is not a seventh-generation member of the Five Elements Sect, but of the seventh generation of the Yuan inheritance, Five Emperors Mountain branch sect's Dao Palace, named Chen Lingming..."

Feeling his main body's golden core's intense craving for spiritual energy, Chen Lingming did not hesitate at all. He immediately revealed his identity, true name, even his birth details, and when he came to the Eastern Barrens, in full detail.

"What! You are the missing Yuan Dao Son!"

Chen Mobai was greatly astonished upon hearing this.

During the War Between Righteousness and Demonic Paths, as Xiao Yu led the Yuan Dao Palace cultivators out of the mountains, Dongtu also learned that Chen Mobai was not the so-called Yuan Dao Son.

However, Chen Mobai had never admitted this, and had always refuted it. Coupled with the intentional guidance of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect, most people in Dongtu, upon learning the truth, condemned Ancestor Bai Wu for spreading false information due to personal vendetta, attempting to incite various forces against his enemy.

It was also at that time that Dongtu learned the news that Chen Lingming, the true Yuan Dao Son, had gone missing decades ago when he descended the mountain.

Chen Mobai initially hadn't thought of Chen Lingming. Now, after his self-disclosure, he looked at the five-element vortex he was holding in the sky and suddenly understood.

He then looked at the five-colored avatar Chen Lingming had manifested on the roof; it seemed somewhat like a simplified version of an External Avatar.

"This disciple was not missing; rather, there was an internal traitor within the Five Emperors Mountain branch sect who secretly persecuted me to monopolize the Primordial Unity Dao Fruit left by Ancestor Yuan. This disciple had no choice but to flee during an opportunity to descend the mountain."

"Please, Little Grand-Master, on account of us both belonging to the Yuan Dao lineage, grant this disciple a chance."

"If this disciple can successfully form his Nascent Soul, I will work like an ox or a horse to repay your great kindness, Little Grand-Master!"

Chen Lingming felt that one of the supreme-grade spirit stones in his main body's palm had been mostly consumed, becoming even more anxious. He repeatedly bowed to Chen Mobai.

"Alas, I didn't expect you to have such hidden circumstances. Never mind, after all, you are a disciple of the Yuan Dao lineage."

"Although our Five Elements Sect inherits the Yuan orthodox lineage, there is no distinction of main or branch. We treat all inheritors of Ancestor Yuan as our own disciples."

"Since you call me 'Little Grand-Master,' then I naturally must help you."

Chen Mobai had been in the Tianhe Realm for so long, and never met someone of Chen Lingming's cultivation who was also so well-behaved.

Coincidentally, he lacked an excuse to go to Five Emperors Mountain. He never expected that Providence had already arranged him to be in Beiyuan City.

As he spoke, he lowered the hand that was holding the five-colored vortex.

As the restrictions of the Sky Screen Earth Vein Grand Formation were lifted, Chen Lingming, who had previously felt no external spiritual energy, now felt like a fish that had flopped on the beach for a long time and finally leaped back into the water.

The vast five-element spiritual energy transformed into a dazzling five-colored light pillar, descending from the center of the five-colored vortex and enveloping Chen Lingming.

In an instant, five-colored light swirled around Chen Lingming. No matter how much five-element spiritual energy descended, it was completely devoured by the Yuan Golden Core in his Dantian Qi Sea.

"You can form your Nascent Soul with peace of mind, I will protect you!"

As Chen Mobai's words fell, Chen Lingming's five-colored avatar on the rooftop bowed deeply again.

"This disciple prostrates in thanks to Little Grand-Master!"

After Chen Lingming spoke, his avatar dispersed, and his divine sense retreated back into his Violet Palace and Sea of Consciousness.

For the subsequent process, he needed to concentrate fully and could no longer be distracted.

At this moment, streaks of spiritual light lit up across Beiyuan City, belonging to the Five Elements Sect's Core Formation cultivators stationed there.

Having received Chen Mobai's nod, Or Yun led everyone over.

After all, the process of Nascent Soul formation was a rare event, even for them.

"Qingmei, come here. This is a good opportunity for me to explain the various details of Nascent Soul formation to you."

Among them was Yin Qingmei, who had come from Liujia Mountain.

This year, she had finally cultivated to the Core Formation perfection realm and naturally came to Beiyuan City to seek Nascent Soul formation spiritual medicine.

Chen Mobai gave her the Three-Light Divine Water and Infant Nurturing Pill he had promised.

Among these, the Nascent Nurturing Pill, being a first-time refinement, had slightly insufficient vital energy upon being taken out of the furnace, so Qing Nü had put it back. It would need some more time to condense.

However, Yin Qingmei was already very satisfied.

After all, she knew that Chen Mobai, Mo Douguang, and Zhou Ye had all successfully formed their Nascent Souls by taking the Infant Nurturing Pill.

This was the Longevity Sect's foremost Nascent Soul forming spiritual medicine, and the Three-Light Divine Water was even more so a sacred medicine that even the Holy Lands of Dongtu sought.

When Yin Qingmei received these two items, she felt as if in a dream.

She couldn't believe that the Divine Wood Sect, which once lacked even Core Formation spiritual medicine, now possessed such a profound foundation and could provide so many Nascent Soul formation resources.

She naturally knew who had changed the Divine Wood Sect, and even the entire Eastern Barrens.

While waiting for the Nascent Nurturing Pill, Yin Qingmei did not return to Liujia Mountain. On weekdays, whenever she had free time, she would go to the peak of Beiyuan Mountain to pay her respects to Chen Mobai and consult him using insights on Nascent Soul formation copied from the library.

"Thank you for your guidance, Sect Leader."

Yin Qingmei came to Chen Mobai's side and bowed respectfully.

"The key to forming a Nascent Soul lies in nurturing that wisp of spirituality at the very beginning..."

Chen Mobai pointed at Chen Lingming, who was gradually changing below, and began explaining to Yin Qingmei in detail.

Or Yun and others beside them watched this scene with envy.

In the Five Elements Sect, as long as a disciple reached Core Formation perfection, Chen Mobai would write a note, granting them full access to the insights on Nascent Soul formation in the library.

Or Yun and Zhou Wangshen had recently reached the peak of the Core Formation middle stage and felt that they could break through like Zhuo Ming in a few years, so they too were now yearning for Nascent Soul formation.

Time quickly passed, and a month went by.

On this day, a powerful spiritual light illuminated the sky above the teleportation array in Beiyuan City's suburbs, arriving shortly after.

It was Zhou Shengqing, who had received the news. The news of the Yuan Dao Son forming his Nascent Soul in Beiyuan City had spread throughout the Eastern Barrens, and it was even estimated that the Heavenly Feast Tower in Dongtu had sent this explosive news, causing a huge sensation.

As Chen Mobai chatted with Zhou Shengqing, Mo Douguang also arrived.

He came to watch the commotion, but Chen Mobai called out to him.

"Brother Mo, please help protect Junior Nephew Chen. Ming'er seems to be close to emerging from seclusion, I'll go check on her..."

Chen Mobai pointed at Chen Lingming below. Since the latter called him "Little Grand-Master," then Mo Douguang, who was his peer, was also Chen Lingming's elder.

"Alright."

Mo Douguang didn't hesitate, immediately taking out his Longevity Sword and sitting cross-legged in mid-air, taking over Chen Mobai's duty of protecting Chen Lingming's Nascent Soul formation.

Chen Mobai thanked him repeatedly, then returned to the peak of Beiyuan Mountain. Zhou Shengqing stayed to chat with Mo Douguang, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

Du Mengyun, who hadn't dared to leave her home for a month, saw that after Chen Mobai left, two more Nascent Soul cultivators from the Five Elements Sect appeared above. She shrunk her head further, daring not to make any move.

Inside, however, she was furiously cursing Chen Lingming next door.

The dignified Dao Son of the Yuan Dao Palace, of all places to form a Nascent Soul, why did he have to come to Beiyuan City? And he was even shameless enough to recognize the Five Elements Sect, a mere branch sect of the Yuan Dao Palace, as the orthodox lineage. No wonder he couldn't even stay in Five Emperors Mountain...

As Chen Mobai left, he sent a telepathic message to Or Yun about Du Mengyun being a Core Formation cultivator, instructing him to investigate her background.

Zhuo Ming's place of seclusion was Chen Mobai and Qing Nü's cave dwelling on Beiyuan Mountain peak, the very center of the fifth-grade spiritual meridian.

Chen Lingming's Nascent Soul formation had absorbed a portion of the spiritual energy from the peak, causing the spiritual energy here to slightly weaken. However, for Zhuo Ming, the fifth-grade spiritual energy she could absorb for her breakthrough to the late Core Formation stage was less than one percent.

But after Chen Mobai detected this, he still used the Sky Screen Earth Vein Grand Formation to draw spiritual energy from other immortal cities on the Eastern Barrens Plateau to replenish Zhuo Ming's cultivation chamber.

Half a month later, the entire Beiyuan Mountain imperceptibly trembled three times.

Then, a large cauldron appeared above the cultivation chamber, absorbing and refining the dense spiritual energy around it and injecting it into Zhuo Ming's body inside the room.

Under the Heavenly Blessing and Earthly Resonance, Chen Mobai found that the earth veins of the entire Eastern Barrens Plateau, during Zhuo Ming's breakthrough, eagerly transmitted their most pure earth qi to this location through the spiritual meridians.

It was for this reason that Beiyuan Mountain trembled.

However, only a little of this earth qi had been transported before Zhuo Ming effortlessly broke through her bottleneck.

Next, Chen Mobai sensed that Zhuo Ming had used the Earth Mother Seal, soothing the land of the Eastern Barrens Plateau and sending the gathered pure earth qi back the way it came.

Another half month later, Zhuo Ming consolidated her realm and emerged from seclusion to stand before Chen Mobai.

"Greetings, Master!"

Looking at his disciple, with skin like yellow jade, an apricot-yellow mark between her eyebrows still visible due to her recent breakthrough, and a round face in a yellow robe, Chen Mobai felt greatly gratified.

"Rise. Once your Master subdues Five Emperors Mountain, I will confer upon you the title of the new generation Yuan Saintess."

Each generation of Dao Sons and Saintesses had a term limit. Now, this generation, including Ye Qing, had matured and become the pillars of the Holy Land. It was time to select the next generation of Dao Sons and Saintesses.

Chen Mobai surveyed the Five Elements Sect; only Zhuo Ming was qualified to be the Saintess.

Only a Dao Son was still missing.

Among the Five Elements Sect's Core Formation cultivators, there were many talented male cultivators, but compared to Zhuo Ming, they fell far short, not even comparable to Yuan Zhen.

If he had to find someone, perhaps only Jiang Zongheng had a slight possibility.

"Really?"

Zhuo Ming asked, her face full of hope.

That was the Yuan Saintess!

"Of course. See those five-colored clouds over there? The Yuan Dao Son is forming his Nascent Soul there. By seniority, he'd have to call you Little Martial Aunt."