Chapter 1010: New Path to Transformation

Chen Mobai finished approving all the accumulated matters, then called his secretary.

Soon, Zhuang Jialan had organized all the files on Gu Changfeng and Chansi from recent years and brought them in.

Chen Mobai first opened Gu Changfeng’s file and began reading.

It detailed his excellent behavior while serving time in prison.

Gu Changfeng had originally been sentenced to sixty years for practicing forbidden arts. Later, due to Chen Mobai’s interrogation, it was revealed that he had colluded with the Ascension Sect’s Dragon-Tiger Patriarch and followed the latter’s instructions to guard Qing Nü. His sentence was directly increased to life imprisonment.

Gu Changfeng is still serving his sentence in the prison of Yumucheng.

However, considering his old age, and because Chen Mobai had spoken to the subordinates for Qing Nü’s sake, Gu Changfeng has been living a comfortable, retired life in prison in recent years. He not only resides in a separate courtyard but can also read and plant flowers.

Besides her younger siblings, Gu Changfeng is considered a half-relative to Qing Nü in the Immortal Gate. Although Chen Mobai had told her that Gu Changfeng took her as a disciple due to instructions from the Ascension Sect, given her personality, she would likely still remember this kindness.

Therefore, after much deliberation, Chen Mobai decided to tell her about this matter.

He copied the relevant documents concerning Gu Changfeng, then began looking at Chansi’s file.

After Chen Mobai reported Chansi, he was brought back to Wangwu Grotto-Heaven, where Patriarch Qianxing personally interrogated him.

It’s unknown what they discussed, but afterward, according to Patriarch Qianxing’s wishes, Chansi was arranged to be held in the prison of Xixuan Grotto-Heaven.

That was where the Heaven-Mending Dao Academy was located.

Subsequently, during Chansi’s incarceration, there were several records of Grandmaster Yuanxu interrogating him.

Chen Mobai checked the reason for the interrogation: “Researching forbidden arts.”

It was quite straightforward, characteristic of Yuanxu.

Chen Mobai and Yuanxu were now partners, so he called him directly.

“The forbidden art ‘Ephemeral Bloom’ is quite useful. After I learned about it, I cultivated a spirit plant in the realm myself, intending to treat it as my destined spirit plant, just like a destined magical artifact. This way, when it eventually burns and transforms into an immortal flower, since I personally cultivated it from growth, it will definitely be 100% compatible, and the chances of achieving Divine Transformation will be greater…” Yuanxu, after hearing Chen Mobai’s question, did not hide anything, meticulously detailing his research findings on the forbidden art ‘Ephemeral Bloom’ over the years.

As they chatted, Chen Mobai felt that Yuanxu was truly a talent.

This was almost reaching the same destination as the “Azure Emperor’s Evergreen Scripture” through different paths.

However, the “Azure Emperor’s Evergreen Scripture” required shared growth with a destined spirit plant and did not include content about burning the spirit plant as a sacrifice for the cultivator, emphasizing harmonious coexistence.

But Chen Mobai quickly thought of another aspect based on Yuanxu’s research.

Although Yin Qingmei possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root and cultivated a Divine Transformation Immortal Scripture, her ultimate chance of achieving Divine Transformation was still very slim.

After all, even with his talent, he wasn’t completely confident.

If Yuanxu’s research could be incorporated—for example, by modifying the “Azure Emperor’s Evergreen Scripture” to allow Yin Qingmei to completely merge her destined spirit plant into her body upon reaching the perfected Nascent Soul stage, then combining the power of both through the forbidden art ‘Ephemeral Bloom’—her probability of breaking through to Divine Transformation would certainly be much higher.

The difficulty here lay in whether the cultivator would be severely weakened by merging with and consuming their destined spirit plant.

After all, according to the “Azure Emperor’s Evergreen Scripture,” the cultivator and the destined spirit plant thrived or suffered together.

Just like a destined magical artifact.

If Yin Qingmei’s destined spirit plant were to burn and condense into an immortal flower via ‘Ephemeral Bloom’, and then be consumed by Yin Qingmei, theoretically achieving "thriving" without "loss," this would require extensive research.

Not just on ‘Ephemeral Bloom,’ but also on the “Azure Emperor’s Evergreen Scripture.”

Chen Mobai certainly wouldn’t have this capability before mastering the “Rhythm of Five Sounds.”

Yuanxu, however, should be able to do it.

But Chen Mobai found it difficult to reveal the “Azure Emperor’s Evergreen Scripture,” as even if he were a genius, he couldn’t possibly create a Divine Transformation cultivation method completely unsuited to his own attributes out of thin air.

He couldn’t just say it came from a “Void Blind Box,” as that would be too obvious.

If it came from the Purple霄 Palace, it might be more believable.

But unfortunately, the Purple霄 Palace hadn’t opened yet.

However, if this idea could succeed, it would truly benefit generations, so after careful consideration, Chen Mobai decided to gather the most talented individuals under his command and leverage collective strength to overcome this challenge.

The first person to convince, naturally, was Grandmaster Yuanxu.

Chen Mobai: “Listening to you gave me a great inspiration. Let’s talk about it in person.”

Although he couldn’t reveal the “Azure Emperor’s Evergreen Scripture,” Chen Mobai felt he could present the content related to destined spirit plants as his own inspiration to Yuanxu, pointing him in the correct research direction.

If it truly succeeded, it might pave a path to Divine Transformation for the Immortal Gate, or even the Five Elements Sect, almost akin to the “Enlightenment True Spirit Pill.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you…”

Before Yuanxu could finish speaking, he sensed a sudden void fluctuation above his research institute.

Chen Mobai had already used Great Void Teleportation to arrive at the Heaven-Mending Dao Academy.

“You’re really fast.”

Yuanxu also came into the air to greet him, seeing Chen Mobai instantly teleport from Wangwu Grotto-Heaven while speaking. He couldn’t help but speak enviously.

“Once I gain a deeper understanding of the ‘Universal Heaven Scroll’ and further simplify ‘Great Void Teleportation,’ lowering the threshold for ‘Void Doppelganger,’ I’ll enable all Nascent Soul cultivators in the Immortal Gate to use it.”

Chen Mobai continued to maintain his genius persona, and Yuanxu nodded expectantly after hearing this.

He had achieved remarkable accomplishments in various research fields, but only in void cultivation was talent paramount, and his “Inch Square Scripture” couldn’t help there.

As the two spoke, many Golden Core true cultivators in the Heaven-Mending Dao Academy had already detected the sudden appearance of a Nascent Soul aura and looked over from various offices.

“Let’s go downstairs to talk.”

Yuanxu immediately led Chen Mobai into his research lab below.

“Let me first explain my thoughts. I think your research on ‘Ephemeral Bloom’ is on the right track, but the scope is a bit small…” Chen Mobai sat down and, without even taking a sip of water, began guiding Yuanxu towards thinking about creating a new secret technique.

“If this research succeeds, we can allow talented individuals in the Immortal Gate who have the potential to achieve Divine Transformation to adopt a spirit plant matching their cultivation method’s attributes from a young age.”

“For example, the Jade Phoenix Trees in Danxia City. Students of Danzhu and Chixia Academies have a custom of receiving a young phoenix tree seedling upon enrollment. Now there are phoenix tree forests all over the mountains, but most of these students have ordinary talents, finding even Foundation Establishment difficult. So, many of these phoenix trees are only first-tier, with very few reaching second-tier.”

“But if they are children who have shown genius from a young age, they can choose their main cultivation method and adopt a seedling. After hundreds of years, as they progress through Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul, that seedling, nurtured carefully by them, will certainly grow to fourth-tier. And because it was cultivated from a young age, performing ‘Ephemeral Bloom’ to integrate it into oneself will certainly be 100% compatible with no issues.”

“For others, this might waste time and delay cultivation, but for the geniuses of the Immortal Gate, most of their lives are spent waiting for breakthrough elixirs. If this path is opened, it could perfectly fill that empty time for them.”

“Furthermore, since the spirit plant is cultivated by the cultivator themselves, the three great halls of the Immortal Gate won’t need to expend any resources, and it can also circumvent relevant Dao Law restrictions.”

After Chen Mobai finished speaking, Yuanxu had already stood up, somewhat agitated.

He thought carefully, and it seemed truly to be the case.

‘Ephemeral Bloom’ had been verified as feasible in recent years, but the only issue with using this forbidden art in the Immortal Gate was that it wasn’t environmentally friendly.

Moreover, many high-tier spirit plants in the Immortal Gate belonged to the collective; anyone using them would cause dissatisfaction, leading to vibrations in the Fruit of Dao Law.

But cultivating one’s own from childhood was different; ownership was clear.

No one could object to using one’s own property.

“The Immortal Gate currently doesn’t seem to have laws in this area. You can discuss it with Ying Guanghua then and jointly promote it, adding this as a new rule, so that people below can cultivate their destined spirit plants with peace of mind without worrying about resource expenditure.” Grandmaster Yuanxu offered a supplementary suggestion, and Chen Mobai nodded directly.

Operating according to rules was a principle of the Immortal Gate.

With rules in place, this path would be easier to implement.

“Let’s go, let’s meet with the Abbot of Blooming Court together…”

After Chen Mobai and Grandmaster Yuanxu reached an agreement, the latter immediately took him to meet the person most familiar with ‘Ephemeral Bloom’ without the former needing to say anything.

“If this path is to be successfully pioneered, it will require the participation of people extremely proficient in spirit plants, cultivation methods, or destined artifacts.” Chen Mobai added his thoughts as he stood up.

“Then let the Jumang Dao Academy also send someone. Who do you think is suitable?” Yuanxu politely consulted Chen Mobai for his opinion.

Because at this moment, Yuanxu suddenly saw his hope for Divine Transformation.

Previously, although he had some hope for ‘Ephemeral Bloom,’ it wasn’t much.

But now, after Chen Mobai’s reminders, he discovered that his path was right here.

“Wenren Xuewei. She has mastered the ‘Everspring Cultivation Method,’ and if we need to test cultivation methods later, she’d be suitable.” Chen Mobai, without hesitation, named his closest collaborator.

“Indeed!” Yuanxu nodded immediately after hearing this.

Cultivators of the ‘Everspring Cultivation Method’ were perfectly suited for testing new cultivation methods and secret arts.

“Principal Chengxuan tried ‘Ephemeral Bloom’ once, and he’s the most knowledgeable person in the entire Immortal Gate regarding destined magical artifacts. Inviting him to join would certainly help us avoid many detours.” Chen Mobai began naming the second candidate for the team, and Yuanxu naturally had no objections.

“When Principal Chengxuan last attempted ‘Ephemeral Bloom,’ Grandmaster Yu Yi of the Heavenly Book Academy participated throughout. Among all Nascent Soul cultivators in the Immortal Gate, she knows the most about various cultivation methods and secret arts. How about inviting her to join as well?” Yuanxu hesitated upon hearing Yu Yi’s name.

She wasn’t from one of the Four Great Dao Academies.

However, Chen Mobai’s point was valid, so he couldn’t refuse easily.

“Grandmaster Meihua of the Star-Gazing Academy has deep research into unique arts, strange methods, and various ancient forbidden arts. I think he could also be invited to participate.” After Chen Mobai selected three of his own people for this great project, Yuanxu thought for a moment and pulled in one of his own.

“Excellent.” Grandmaster Meihua was also a disciple of Qianxing. Moreover, because he was previously groomed as a successor to the Divine Mechanism Pavilion, he was an authority on various ancient texts and histories. With his inclusion, Chen Mobai felt the project’s success was more likely.

After the two tentatively confirmed the team members, the prison guards had already brought Chansi.

Guarding this prison were three Golden Core cultivators from the Heaven-Mending Dao Academy, one of whom was even at the ninth-tier Golden Core stage and held a concurrent position in the Military Department of the Law Enforcement Hall.

However, his primary duty was with the Military Department in Xixuan Grotto-Heaven, so he couldn’t personally pay respects to Chen Mobai, his direct superior, without orders.

Chen Mobai recognized the two Golden Core cultivators guarding there now.

Lou Fengcheng and Daoist Master Ling.

Both were former chief disciples of the Heaven-Mending Dao Academy and both had been defeated by him.

Among them, Lou Fengcheng was on duty, while Daoist Master Ling was temporarily transferred there. After Chansi achieved Golden Core, the Grotto-Heaven Master of Xixuan Grotto-Heaven feared a breach.

“Hall Master, the prisoner has been brought.”

Lou Fengcheng walked in first, handing the interrogation document to Chen Mobai for signature. Behind him was Daoist Master Ling, escorting Chansi.

“Hmm, thanks for your hard work.” Chen Mobai signed his name and filled in the reason, then handed it to Yuanxu beside him.

After Lou Fengcheng and Daoist Master Ling received the documents signed by the two Nascent Soul Grandmasters, they left Chansi alone and exited the room.

Chen Mobai looked at the evil path giant before him and couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Regardless, the person the Abbot of Blooming Court had seized was someone he knew.

Unfortunately, after being seized, even a Divine Transformation True Monarch couldn’t save them.

Especially at the hands of those old cultivators from the Ascension Sect. It was precisely because of this that Chen Mobai and Qing Nü had, in their hearts, already considered Kong Feichen and Yang Jing as deceased.

“You certainly are quite resourceful. Even with your cultivation sealed, you managed to achieve Golden Core.” Chen Mobai spoke his first sentence.

Cultivators in the Immortal Gate’s prisons had their Dantian and Qi Seas sealed, theoretically unable to absorb and refine spiritual energy, at most meditating on their cultivation methods.

But the Abbot of Blooming Court had successfully achieved Golden Core under these circumstances, a matter that greatly inconvenienced the Law Enforcement Hall and led to accusations of dereliction of duty from the other two halls.

As the current head of the Law Enforcement Department, Zhongli Tianyu had personally interrogated her after Chansi achieved Golden Core and understood how she managed to do it.

It was through enlightenment to Golden Core!

The Immortal Gate’s seals, before the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, were naturally powerless.

The Abbot of Blooming Court raised her head. Her eyes, compared to before, held no light, only a serene calm, but upon seeing Chen Mobai, an uncontrollable look of surprise appeared.

“You’ve achieved Nascent Soul!”

Those in prison received no news from the outside, and given her special identity, to prevent her from harming others with the Soul Devouring Art, the Immortal Gate would not allow her to contact any newcomers.

So her impression of Chen Mobai was still stuck at the moment she was captured.

“That was almost eighty years ago.” Chen Mobai chuckled softly, shaking his head.

“Allow me to introduce you. This is now the Hall Master of the Immortal Gate’s Law Enforcement Hall, and he’s expected to achieve Divine Transformation soon.” At this moment, Grandmaster Yuanxu beside him spoke to the Abbot of Blooming Court about Chen Mobai’s current status. Upon hearing it, her face showed even greater shock.

“Is this the Immortal Gate’s top genius…” The Abbot of Blooming Court murmured to herself. She had initially underestimated Chen Mobai, the genius who grew up in the Danxia City she presided over, thinking he would at most be another Yu Tianguang.

And now, this young man before her, with a clear mind, elegant bones, and solemn demeanor, told her that he was not just anyone; he was Chen Mobai of the Immortal Gate.

The next Divine Transformation True Monarch!

“Can you give me a way out?” The Abbot of Blooming Court understood Chen Mobai’s current status and immediately set aside her huge emotional upheaval, preparing to seize this opportunity to speak.

“What way out do you want?” Chen Mobai asked.

“A path to life. I’ve undergone Corporeal Dissolution twice and don’t have much lifespan left. Although I fortunately achieved Golden Core through enlightenment this time, if I don’t break through to Divine Transformation, I’ll soon be nothing but withered bones. I don’t want to waste my remaining precious time here.” After the Abbot of Blooming Court finished speaking, she looked at Chen Mobai with a yearning gaze.

“How did Patriarch Qianxing negotiate with her back then?” Chen Mobai, after hearing this, turned to ask Yuanxu beside him.

“She disclosed everything, and Master promised to spare her life, allowing her to enjoy her golden years and pass away peacefully when her lifespan ended.” Yuanxu indeed knew the details of Patriarch Qianxing’s conversation with the Abbot of Blooming Court, and he spoke directly when Chen Mobai asked.

“Since that’s the case, let’s proceed according to the Patriarch’s wishes.” Chen Mobai said this after hearing him.

“I want freedom, I want to cultivate, I still have a chance at Divine Transformation!” The Abbot of Blooming Court said eagerly.

“You need to understand something: you are alive now because you seized another person’s life, and that person was my friend. You are able to stand before me and speak safely because Patriarch Qianxing made a promise to you. This is already your path to life; one shouldn’t be greedy.” Chen Mobai said with a calm expression.

“If you release me, I can cultivate under your Immortal Gate’s supervision. I can even return this body to you. Aren’t there artificially synthesized immortal sprouts? I can get a new body…” Halfway through the Abbot of Blooming Court’s words, Chen Mobai sighed, then reached out and sealed her with a Void Lock.

“You handle the interrogation. I’m going back.” After saying this, Chen Mobai teleported away.

He somewhat regretted coming to interrogate her with Yuanxu. Although the Immortal Gate’s investigation found that Chansi had been seduced into practicing the Soul Devouring Art while at Chixia Academy, Chen Mobai had, after all, shared a period of friendship with her.

Now, seeing the Abbot of Blooming Court’s appearance, he couldn’t help but recall the carefree days of his Qi Cultivation period.

Unfortunately, what’s past is past.

Even having reached his current cultivation realm, there were still many unsatisfactory things.

“It’s ultimately not like the youthful wanderings.” Chen Mobai suddenly remembered the moment he parted ways with his classmates in Danxia City, and even now, his feelings could still be described by this poetic line.

Time rolled forward, relatives, friends, and bonds disappearing little by little.

As one aged, the threads binding them would become fewer and fewer, but one would also become emptier, closer to that realm of void.

However, looking back, the time one most wished to hold onto was youth. Back then, there weren’t so many regrets and sorrows; everything was so beautiful and pure.

If, at the very end of cultivation, all loved ones were by his side, and all friends were alive, how wonderful that would be.

Chen Mobai suddenly discovered what he desired most.

It was at this very instant that his already vast and mighty divine sense in his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness broke through another bottleneck, transforming into an even more boundless storm of spiritual energy. The phoenix phantom on the Jade Phoenix Tree at its very center slowly solidified, its feathers radiating faint colorful light, like a colorful sun floating in the sky.

This was the divine sense realm breaking through to the ninth-tier Nascent Soul.

Chen Mobai closed his eyes, beginning to feel his extraordinarily powerful divine sense. He had a premonition that if he were to fully unleash his divine sense now, it could cause the Immortal Gate’s Heaven-Veil Earth-Net Grand Formation to tremble.

A fiery light appeared behind his head; it was the Pure Yang Pearl.

At the instant his divine sense broke through, his second Nascent Soul also ascended, easily condensing more innate Pure Yang Qi, reaching the ninth-tier Nascent Soul realm of the Pure Yang Scroll.

At this point, theoretically, he could attempt to break through to the Divine Transformation realm.

However, Chen Mobai would certainly not do so.

He always prepared redundancies.

Moreover, the key to his second Nascent Soul’s breakthrough lay in himself.

Just then, a silver light flashed.

It was Yuanxu.

The moment Chen Mobai’s second Nascent Soul broke through, Yuanxu keenly sensed the terrifying aura that made even him shudder, immediately stopped the interrogation, and teleported over.

“Upon seeing an old acquaintance, I felt something, and the ‘Phoenix Embracing the Sun Diagram’ made a small breakthrough…” Chen Mobai saw Yuanxu approach and explained, simultaneously retracting his second Nascent Soul, transforming it back into a pearl resembling a great sun, and it sank behind his head.

“Your talent is a bit too much…” Yuanxu’s mouth twitched after hearing this, and he sensed the second Nascent Soul’s aura, then spoke that sentence.

He had cultivated arduously for hundreds of years, relying on resources and rewards gained from the opening war, and had only recently cultivated to the ninth-tier Nascent Soul stage.

But how long had it been since Chen Mobai achieved Nascent Soul? Not even a century, yet he already possessed a second Nascent Soul of equal realm to his own.

This made Yuanxu feel as if he was somewhat mediocre.

“It’s mainly because the Mother Queen Core that Grandmaster Baiguang left me is of high grade. After refining it, I only need to improve my divine sense realm. Coincidentally, I’m also very compatible with the ‘Phoenix Embracing the Sun Diagram.’ These past years, by adhering to the Immortal Gate’s system and practicing the Nine Virtues of the Sage King, this aspect has progressed by leaps and bounds…” Chen Mobai’s words were entirely true, just not exhaustive.

However, in the Immortal Gate’s history, he was the first to cultivate the ‘Phoenix Embracing the Sun Diagram’ to the seventh layer, so he was the authority.

When he said it was because the ‘Phoenix Embracing the Sun Diagram’ allowed for rapid divine sense breakthrough and improvement, Yuanxu could only nod.

“But I still think it’s mainly because of your high talent, not much to do with the cultivation method.” Although Yuanxu believed Chen Mobai’s words, he still stuck to his own opinion.

After all, when Patriarch Yuanyang cultivated the Pure Yang Scroll in the Heaven-Mending Dao Academy, he also referenced the ‘Phoenix Embracing the Sun Diagram.’ Ultimately, the Heaven-Mending Dao Academy’s predecessors believed that this divine sense cultivation method was exceedingly difficult to master under the Immortal Gate’s circumstances because of the Heaven-Veil Earth-Net and the Fruit of Dao Law, effectively cutting off most of the ‘Connecting Heaven’s Blessings’ and ‘Responding to Earth’s Spirits’ realms.

As for the final ‘Gazing at Nine Virtues,’ mastering it required reliance on a powerful, unified, and peaceful world, introducing too many uncertain factors.

In comparison, other divine sense cultivation methods could be achieved through one’s own diligent effort, with the future remaining in one’s own hands.

So, when Chen Mobai initially chose the ‘Phoenix Embracing the Sun Diagram,’ the upper echelons of the Immortal Gate were quite surprised.

But now it was proven that Chen Mobai’s choice was correct.

Although the ‘Phoenix Embracing the Sun Diagram’ was difficult, once mastered, with the blessings of various phoenix auspicious omens, the future path of cultivation would be almost smooth sailing.

“How was the interrogation?” Seeing that Yuanxu seemed to want to ask more about the ‘Phoenix Embracing the Sun Diagram,’ Chen Mobai immediately changed the topic.

“It was mostly information I already knew. Everything she knew was already extracted by Master back then, mostly just details about the inheritance of the ancient Blooming Court sect…” Yuanxu said, as due to the Ascension Sect’s impoverishment, the Abbot of Blooming Court herself had never attempted ‘Ephemeral Bloom.’

However, the Blooming Court lineage did have a history of successful Divine Transformation using this technique.

It was precisely because of this that Yuanxu had come to inquire repeatedly during his research.

“Since she’s in your hands, and Patriarch Qianxing offered her a path to life, I’ll leave everything to you.” Chen Mobai nodded after hearing this, stood up, and prepared to leave.

He had full confidence in Yuanxu’s professional abilities.

After delegating this matter, he planned to return to the Eastern Wasteland to inform Qing Nü about Gu Changfeng.

“Please notify Wenren Xuewei and the other two. I’ll call Grandmaster Meihua.” Yuanxu escorted Chen Mobai into mid-air, not forgetting to remind him.

“Yes, I imagine they’ll be very eager to join.” Chen Mobai nodded, transformed into a silver light, and disappeared from the spot.

In the office of the Hall Master of Law Enforcement.

When Chen Mobai returned, Zhuang Jialan was tidying up the documents on the desk. Seeing his sudden appearance, she looked accustomed to it.

“Principal, hello, there’s something…” Chen Mobai took out his phone and immediately called Grandmaster Chengxuan. The latter, hearing about it, instantly expressed his willingness to join, and after ending the call, also used Great Void Teleportation to go directly to Heaven-Mending Dao Academy to discuss the specifics with Yuanxu.

“Excellent, excellent, I haven’t misjudged you as a friend.” Wenren Xuewei, needless to say, was even more thrilled. Although she had mastered the Everspring Cultivation Method, she had no confidence in achieving Divine Transformation, so hearing this news brought her immense joy.

“Me?” Grandmaster Yu Yi, the last to receive the news, was even more incredulous.

Such a good opportunity actually fell to her, a “little transparent”!