Chapter 1011: 青女 Forms Elixir Perfectly

Chen Mobai always helped those around him whenever he could.

Venerable Yu Yi had once helped him refine Water Spirit Talismans, a favor he never forgot. Therefore, when they were researching "Instant Bloom" to forge a new path to Spirit Transformation, he immediately arranged for her to join, given her suitable abilities.

After ending the call, Chen Mobai created a small group chat. The six Nascent Soul Venerables involved in the project quickly joined. As the leader, Chen Mobai first shared his ideas, mainly extracting core content from the Evergreen Emperor's Longevity Scripture concerning life-bound spiritual plants, guiding Yuan Xu and others to research in that direction.

While everyone was greatly impressed by his insights, Chen Mobai used the excuse of a cultivation breakthrough to announce he would enter seclusion for a period, entrusting the project to them.

Cheng Xuan: "Pure Yang, cultivation requires a balance of work and rest. Don't push yourself too hard."Wenren Xuewei: "Slow down a bit; give me some hope of catching up to you."Yuan Xu: "This time, I personally witnessed Pure Yang Venerable's Danfeng Chaoyang Diagram breakthrough. His divine sense has surpassed his current realm; he's at the ninth layer of Nascent Soul."Meihua: "Truly the most talented person in the Immortal Sect, past and present."Yu Yi: "Amazing!"

Chen Mobai returned to the East Barrens with everyone's praise.

Upon his return, the first thing he did was to inform Qing Nü about Gu Changfeng, but she was in seclusion in the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode, aiming to break through to the perfected Golden Core stage in the shortest possible time. Chen Mobai didn't want to intrude and disturb her, so he left her a message and then went to Beiyuan City to handle other matters.

Chen Lingming's injuries had healed, and his cultivation realm was consolidated. It was time for him to go to Five Emperors Mountain. Chen Mobai once again explained all the details and gave Chen Lingming a communication talisman for contacting Su Zilu.

"This disciple will certainly do his utmost and not fail in his mission," Chen Lingming solemnly declared. After bowing, he transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into Beiyuan Mountain.

Next, Chen Mobai dealt with some other miscellaneous tasks.

Half a month later, Qing Nü emerged from seclusion in the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode. Upon seeing Chen Mobai's message, she immediately called anxiously: "Can I go back and see him? Will it be inconvenient?" Even in this situation, Qing Nü was still worried that her presence in the Immortal Sect might affect Chen Mobai's prospects there.

"It's fine," Chen Mobai replied. "No one in the Immortal Sect can make things inconvenient for me now." He was already the Palace Lord of the Orthodox Law Hall in the Immortal Sect, with only Spirit Transformation cultivators above him. The Spirit Transformation cultivators, however, didn't interfere in affairs and trusted him implicitly. Thus, Chen Mobai could now be said to be a powerful figure who could practically control the Immortal Sect. Arranging a meeting between Qing Nü and Gu Changfeng was effortless with his authority.

After the two returned to the Immortal Sect, Chen Mobai called Zhongli Tianyu. Soon, Gu Changfeng, who had been determined by the Immortal Sect's medical department to have exhausted his lifespan and could no longer retain his spiritual power, began to receive out-of-prison medical care and supervised nursing, according to the Immortal Sect's regulations.

Not far from Yumu City prison, there was a sanatorium called Qingting. Gu Changfeng, having completed his diagnosis, was about to be transferred here to spend the last days of his life.

Chen Mobai, who had arrived via Great Void Teleportation, sat in an office, gazing at Qing Nü, who had just changed her clothes, his eyes filled with memories. "The first time I met you, you were wearing this very outfit."

Qing Nü wore a neat nurse's uniform, her hair tied up and topped with a white cap, her delicate face covered by a mask, thoroughly concealing herself. However, compared to the vibrant and youthful girl he first met, she now possessed a mature gentleness, standing there with a dignified aura.

"Thank heavens that at that time, you were brought before my eyes," Qing Nü said, her gentle eyes fixed on Chen Mobai.

"No, it should be me thanking you," Chen Mobai replied with a smile.

*Knock, knock, knock!*

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, indicating that Gu Changfeng had arrived.

"Go," Chen Mobai told Qing Nü. "You two, as master and disciple, must have a lot to talk about." In Yumu City, elders like Gu Changfeng, whose dantian and qi sea could no longer retain spiritual power, were all sent to this sanatorium.

Qing Nü nodded, turned, and opened the door. Along with the head nurse who was organizing work outside, she helped Gu Changfeng, who was in a wheelchair with vacant eyes and heavily wrinkled skin, out of the vehicle at the entrance. Besides them, there were also two supervising cultivators from the Enforcement Department, both only at the Qi Cultivation stage. In Yumu City, this was the kind of personnel available. Furthermore, even in his dying state, Gu Changfeng's cultivation was sealed, so there was no need to worry about being unable to subdue him if he had any suicidal thoughts.

"You..." As Gu Changfeng got out of the vehicle, he saw Qing Nü. His vacant gaze suddenly sharpened, fixed on her lower face, obscured by the mask, yet still showing a somewhat familiar outline. He hesitated slightly.

"Hello, Mr. Gu. I am Nurse Xiao Chen, who will be responsible for your care from now on," Qing Nü said, nodding professionally.

As soon as Gu Changfeng heard her surname was Chen, he immediately reverted to his previous state, realizing he had mistaken her. Perhaps he was nearing death and missed his old relatives; seeing someone with a similar facial outline made him think of his disciple. Yet, their temperaments were completely different. This woman was dignified, gentle, and graceful, while his disciple was somewhat introverted and withdrawn. He wondered how she was doing now and if she had been taken away by Patriarch Longhu. But her boyfriend was so powerful; he should be able to protect her, right? Not necessarily. That fellow was rumored to be a scoundrel, and now that he held such high authority, he might have long since abandoned Qing Nü...

As Gu Changfeng's mind wandered, Qing Nü pushed his wheelchair, bringing him to a detached small courtyard. In front was a garden, and nearby was a small river, beyond which lay Yumu City's characteristic vast green forests. The environment was beautiful and the air fresh, though the spiritual energy was a bit thin. This was the best place in the sanatorium. Gu Changfeng assumed it was because he required individual care, which was why he was arranged here. After all, he had practiced the Spirit Devouring Art. If he came into contact with outsiders and taught them this forbidden technique, it would be considered dereliction of duty for the Orthodox Law Hall.

"Mr. Gu, Nurse Xiao Chen will be your professional caregiver from now on. These two gentlemen will also take turns, working with Nurse Xiao Chen to care for you for the remainder of your life," the elderly head nurse briefly introduced the sanatorium, pointing to Qing Nü and the two supervising cultivators from the Enforcement Department.

"Thank you," Gu Changfeng said politely. At his age, he had lost all his temper.

"Can I watch TV?" Gu Changfeng asked, seeing the screen mounted on the wall. He had only read some very old newspapers during his more than a hundred years in prison. Regarding the changes in the Immortal Sect over the years, he only remembered the major events. For instance, the succession conventions, the pioneering wars, new Nascent Soul Venerables, significant breakthroughs in Void Dao research, new Spirit Transformation cultivators, new Three Palace Lords, and so on. Among these, many involved a person Gu Changfeng was familiar with: Chen Mobai. This young man, whom he once considered just a naive youth, had actually risen through the ranks to become one of the Immortal Sect's Three Palace Lords. This made Gu Changfeng lament that he had truly misjudged people back then. He hadn't seen any trace of such an astonishing talent. If he had known his talent was so strong, he should have entrusted Qing Nü to him after meeting Lan Haitan. Recalling the past, Gu Changfeng's memories, apart from the monotonous century in prison, were mostly of Qing Nü and Chen Mobai in his pharmacy.

"Yes, you can." As Qing Nü spoke, she picked up the remote control and turned on the wall-mounted television. What was playing was the Immortal Sect's most current and popular news.

The project spearheaded by the Orthodox Law Palace Lord, bringing together the four top universities — Butian, Wuqi, Gou Mang, and Tianshu — has officially begun. Venerable Yuan Xu announced this at a press conference yesterday. Relevant departments of the Orthodox Law Hall and the Immortal Affairs Hall are currently implementing new forestry regulations based on the proposals from the four universities, with the Kaiyuan Hall closely monitoring. If this project succeeds, the Immortal Sect will gain another practical and universally applicable path for breaking through to the Spirit Transformation realm. According to the press conference, the project was proposed and led by the Orthodox Law Palace Lord, who also assembled the research team...

Gu Changfeng's eyes widened as he watched the news broadcast. What was going on? He had only been imprisoned for a little over a hundred years; had the Immortal Sect progressed so rapidly? A Spirit Transformation path applicable to everyone was already a funded research project, and that kid was leading it! Gu Changfeng looked at Chen Mobai on the screen, dressed in formal attire and looking vibrant, and couldn't help but sigh, "The waves behind push the waves ahead; a new generation replaces the old."

For many years in the Immortal Sect, the transition from Nascent Soul to Spirit Transformation largely depended on a cultivator's individual talent, with no reliance on elixirs or similar aids. If this project succeeded, the Immortal Sect might consistently maintain three or four Spirit Transformation True Monarchs in the future. Perhaps in several years, the first cultivator to reach the Void Refinement stage on Diyuan Star would even appear.

After watching the day's news on TV, Gu Changfeng began watching previous replays, episode after episode. Before he knew it, the sky had grown dark.

The two cultivators from the Enforcement Department built a residence on an open space outside using a wooden hut talisman. One rested while the other continued to stand guard.

"It's time for your medicine and rest." Qing Nü checked the time and handed Gu Changfeng a glass of water and a few pills. He obediently took and swallowed them. Although his spiritual power was dissipating, Gu Changfeng's physique, honed in prison, was quite good. Apart from his legs being unable to walk, his carving hands remained remarkably steady. After taking his medicine, Gu Changfeng obediently rested.

Day after day, night after night. Qing Nü cared for Gu Changfeng during his final days, just as if he were her own father.

One day, Gu Changfeng, who was watching a news broadcast from thirty-six years ago, suddenly had his eyes dim. His aura became so faint it was almost imperceptible. Qing Nü immediately came to his side and placed a few red pills into his mouth.

"Cough, cough, cough... Is this what it feels like when death comes?" After taking the medicine, Gu Changfeng's face, as wrinkled as tree bark, suddenly flushed with color—a brief resurgence of vitality before death.

"Do you have any last wishes?" Qing Nü asked, her eyes slightly red.

"Last wishes? My parents, relatives, and elders have long passed away, and I never married. I am alone, except for a disciple I once had. I wonder how she's doing now?" Gu Changfeng lay on the wheelchair, his breath faint, his face full of regret.

"She's very well, and very happy now," Qing Nü replied firmly.

"Is that so? That's good, that's good..." Gu Changfeng nodded happily, but then quickly realized something was amiss. He struggled to turn his head to look at Qing Nü beside the wheelchair. "How do you know that?"

Upon hearing this, Qing Nü reached behind her ear and removed her mask. That face, though mature, was almost unchanged, causing Gu Changfeng to open his eyes wide, breathing heavily with excitement, struggling to rise from the wheelchair.

"Teacher, I'm here to see you off one last time," Qing Nü said, extending her hand to grasp Gu Changfeng's trembling, emaciated right hand, suppressing her tears.

"How could... you be here?" Gu Changfeng's breathing grew fainter, but his face appeared increasingly relaxed as he looked at Qing Nü, asking with satisfaction.

"He informed me about you, and I wanted to care for you in your final days, so he arranged for you to be brought here," Qing Nü explained concisely. She didn't say who "he" was, but Gu Changfeng knew it could only be Chen Mobai, the Orthodox Law Palace Lord.

"Good, good, good..." Knowing that Qing Nü was still with Chen Mobai, Gu Changfeng completely relaxed, letting go of all worries.

The master and disciple talked for a while longer. Primarily, Gu Changfeng asked questions, and Qing Nü answered. When he learned that Qing Nü was already at the late Golden Core stage and on the verge of perfecting it to attempt Nascent Soul formation, his face filled with pride.

"Though I am only at Foundation Establishment, I have taught a disciple who is about to form a Nascent Soul..."

"Mainly, it was his help, providing me with various resources for Golden Core formation and cultivation. Otherwise, I wouldn't have advanced so quickly," Qing Nü attributed the credit to Chen Mobai.

"Help me apologize to him. Fortunately, you two didn't break up because of me back then, or I would regret it even in death," Gu Changfeng said, having learned that Qing Nü and Chen Mobai had become cultivation partners, expressing a thought that had weighed on his heart for a long time.

Qing Nü: "He never held it against you." Qing Nü had heard about Gu Changfeng from Chen Mobai. She also knew that while Gu Changfeng taking her as a disciple was due to Patriarch Longhu's guidance, her ability to live in Danxia City after leaving the orphanage was ultimately thanks to Gu Changfeng's help. Judging by his actions rather than his intentions, everything Gu Changfeng did for Qing Nü was an act of kindness.

"With him by your side, I can leave peacefully," Gu Changfeng said, then closed his eyes with a satisfied smile, free of all earthly ties.

Qing Nü felt his pulse disappear completely, and her tears, no longer restrainable, streamed down her pale cheeks. A silver light brightened in the room, and Chen Mobai appeared beside Qing Nü. She couldn't help but rush into his arms, beginning to sob.

"When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. Everyone has their day of death. But I hope we two can walk hand in hand to the end of time," Chen Mobai said, embracing Qing Nü to comfort her.

Qing Nü listened, then lifted her head and nodded firmly: "Mm."

With no news from Kong Feichen and Yang Jing, and now having lost Gu Changfeng, Qing Nü truly only had Chen Mobai as family. She didn't want to experience the pain of losing a loved one again. Nor did she want Chen Mobai to feel the grief of losing her. So, she would strive with unprecedented effort to keep pace with Chen Mobai's cultivation. Qing Nü's Dao heart had never been as steadfast as it was at this moment.

At this very moment, the spiritual power within her surged like a tide, and the last bottleneck holding her back shattered with a roar in an instant. A vast spiritual power, like an ocean abyss, erupted from within her, carrying a complete vital energy. Had Chen Mobai not timely cast the Void Lock to restrict the surroundings, it was probable that not only Yumu City but even the neighboring Danxia City would have sensed her breakthrough to the perfected Golden Core stage.

Chen Mobai immediately transported Qing Nü into his own domain, then took out a handful of high-grade spirit stones and set up a spirit-gathering array around her to supply the spiritual energy needed for her breakthrough to the perfected Golden Core stage. Over the years, influenced and guided by Chen Mobai, Qing Nü had continuously taken elixirs to improve, having already accumulated sufficient spiritual power within her. However, she had always been unable to cross the threshold to the perfected Golden Core stage. Unexpectedly, today, at the moment of Gu Changfeng's death, she comprehended her true heart and broke through the barrier.

The Black Emperor's Abyssal Scripture, which Qing Nü cultivated, now transformed into a dark, profound vortex centered around her, continuously drawing the pure spiritual energy from the spirit-gathering array into her body, refining it into Abyssal True Water. The efficiency of this refining was faster than Chen Mobai had ever witnessed. It was almost comparable to the efficiency he achieved when he first formed his Nascent Soul, cultivating with the Pure Yang Scroll and refining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Yet Qing Nü was only at the perfected Golden Core stage, which demonstrated the terrifying power of the Black Emperor's Abyssal Scripture. However, it was precisely because of this that this cultivation method became one of the sources of demonic cultivation in the ancient times of the Tianhe Realm.

Refining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth with the Black Emperor's Abyssal Scripture allowed for Nascent Soul level efficiency at the perfected Golden Core stage. If it directly refined a cultivator's spiritual power, the effect would be even more significant. This was the Sea Devouring Demonic Art. Qing Nü reached the late Golden Core stage more than ten years slower than Yin Qingmei, but her time to reach the perfected Golden Core stage was similar. Besides having plenty of elixirs, the main reason was the Black Emperor's Abyssal Scripture. Furthermore, the deeper the cultivation realm, the faster the Black Emperor's Abyssal Scripture refined the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. This Water Element Immortal Scripture of the Longevity Sect emphasized accumulation and gradual release. Its speed during Golden Core formation was considered normally fast, but when reaching the Nascent Soul and Spirit Transformation stages, the cultivation progress speed would far surpass that of peers.

The only drawback was the high risk of qi deviation. The improvement speed of divine sense and physical body couldn't keep up with the Abyssal True Water, leading to self-combustion and death. The divine sense aspect was manageable; Chen Mobai could teach her the Spirit Devouring Art to solve that. However, in terms of body tempering, Qing Nü would need to work twice as hard in the future. As an alchemist, this wasn't a major issue for her, as body tempering primarily required sufficient nourishment and ample elixirs.

After seven days and seven nights, Qing Nü had completed the refinement of her Abyssal True Water and consolidated her perfected Golden Core realm. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Chen Mobai's concerned face before her, feeling happiness filling her entire being.

"Thank you for guarding me."

"We're an old couple; what's with all this formality? Let's go out and handle Gu Changfeng's funeral arrangements," Chen Mobai reminded Qing Nü that Gu Changfeng's body was still fresh. Qing Nü exclaimed upon hearing this.

Gu Changfeng's funeral arrangements were very simple. He had no direct relatives, and his collateral relatives had all cut ties with him after he was imprisoned. After the Enforcement Department verified his death, the sanatorium contacted the crematorium. And at the sanatorium, since Qing Nü had been caring for Gu Changfeng, this task fell to her.

Half a day later, Qing Nü emerged holding a box of ashes. She then found a public cemetery, chose a auspicious plot, and buried Gu Changfeng there. Chen Mobai also came to offer an incense stick.

"You can come again in the future," Chen Mobai said after offering incense, seeing Qing Nü's sorrowful expression. While Qing Nü was arranging Gu Changfeng's cremation, Chen Mobai had already erased all traces of her at the sanatorium, having a genuinely surnamed Chen nurse join the staff and replace Qing Nü's information.

"Mm." Qing Nü nodded gently, then reached out and held Chen Mobai's hand. The two transformed into silver streaks of light and returned to the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode.

Upon their return, they sensed that the sky above the cave abode was surprisingly covered with dark clouds, accompanied by lightning and thunder. "This is... a heavenly tribulation? Whose is it?" Chen Mobai asked, slightly surprised by the scene in the sky. Judging by the aura, it seemed to be a Golden Core heavenly tribulation. However, inside the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode were mostly disciples from the Five Elements Sect's Spiritual Plant Department. Although there were many Foundation Establishment cultivators, there shouldn't be any geniuses who could form a Golden Core without spiritual medicine, right?

"It's Jing'er!" Qing Nü, on the other hand, quickly thought of something and led Chen Mobai to a pool within the cave abode. After lifting the restrictions here, they saw the Heaven-Devouring Snake, coiled up, struggling to shed its skin and undergo a new birth.

"I had forgotten about it," Chen Mobai said with a smile upon seeing this. After Qing Nü arrived, he had entrusted the Heaven-Devouring Snake to her. Qing Nü cared for it like a younger sister, providing it with spirit fruits and vegetables every meal and often refining elixirs specifically for spiritual beasts. Among these, Chen Mobai had also given Qing Nü the True Spirit Transformation Art, which he obtained after slaying the Poison Dragon Ancestor, asking her to teach it. This was why the Heaven-Devouring Snake, whose cultivation speed should have been far inferior to humans, was able to advance to the third-tier level in less than a century. Qing Nü had long sensed that the Heaven-Devouring Snake was on the verge of a breakthrough, so she had prepared various resources by the pool that could help spiritual beasts break through. As the Heaven-Devouring Snake consumed the elixirs one by one, its aura grew stronger and stronger.

When the shedding was complete, a long snake, as transparent as black jade with an emerald sheen, shot into the sky. Chen Mobai saw that it had even grown two crystalline small horns on its head. It was beginning to transform into a dragon. The True Spirit Transformation Art was indeed useful. He just wondered what kind of dragon's true spirit blood it would evolve.

As he thought this, Qing Nü, standing beside Chen Mobai, took out a piece of cloth from her storage bag and tossed it to the Heaven-Devouring Snake, which was about to fly out to undergo its tribulation. The Heaven-Devouring Snake coiled its tail, flicking the stitched fragment of the Profound Light Soaring Flag to its head. As rich and pure demonic energy was injected, a brilliant blue spiritual light instantly activated, enveloping its entire body.

*Boom!*

After flying out of the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode, the heavenly tribulation that had formed in the sky immediately struck down, transforming into streaks of crimson-gold lightning that covered the long, slender Heaven-Devouring Snake. The nearby Wind and Rain Immortal City naturally sensed this commotion, and a golden light shot out first—it was Mo Douguang, who was guarding the city. Chen Mobai immediately transmitted a message to him. Upon hearing it, Mo Douguang immediately stopped and simultaneously prevented the other cultivators flying out from the Immortal City.

Before long, many people in the sky above Wind and Rain Immortal City floated in mid-air, watching the rare spectacle of a spiritual beast undergoing tribulation next door.

"It's said to be the Sect Master's wife's pet beast. It looks like it might have a trace of true spirit bloodline.""With two horns on its head and an ink-black body, could it be a true spirit bloodline from the Xuanjiao Royal Court?""Possibly. Those flood dragons from Xuanhai are very promiscuous, seeding all over the world. Any snake that achieves something can basically go to the Xuanjiao Royal Court to claim kinship."

While everyone was discussing, the Heaven-Devouring Snake had already easily passed the first few waves of tribulation lightning. However, perhaps because it had evolved a true spirit bloodline, this third-tier heavenly tribulation was unexpectedly prolonged and powerful. But relying on Qing Nü's fragment of the Profound Light Soaring Flag, it ultimately passed through safely, though not without fright.

Watching the Heaven-Devouring Snake disappear back into the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode, Mo Douguang was the first to transform into a sword light and go to visit Chen Mobai and his wife. As for the others, they naturally dispersed.

Among them, a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a blank expression witnessed the entire scene of the Heaven-Devouring Snake's tribulation. "The scale of this heavenly tribulation suggests it's likely not an ordinary true spirit bloodline, and I also sensed the aura of the True Spirit Transformation Art..." This Foundation Establishment cultivator left Wind and Rain Immortal City and spent some time sensing the water surface at the edge of the heavenly tribulation, muttering to himself.

He was a disciple sent by the Beast Taming Sect. After the Poison Dragon Ancestor was slain, the Myriad Spirits Sect in Zhongzhou received the news and subsequently sent a messenger to the Beast Taming Sect in the Eastern Lands, instructing them to investigate the true cause. In response, the Beast Taming Sect simply inquired at the Heavenly Meal Pavilion and learned the truth. The Poison Dragon Ancestor had emerged, but unluckily encountered Chen Guixian of the Five Elements Sect and was slain. At that time, it was widely rumored throughout the Eastern Lands that Chen Guixian was Chen Qingdi, the Daoist Son cultivated by the One Yuan Dao Palace in the East Barrens, and that he had an exceptionally close relationship with Ye Qing of the Nine Heavens Demon Extermination Sect. Therefore, a few Nascent Soul cultivators from the Beast Taming Sect conferred and felt that he was not to be provoked. They truthfully reported the matter to the Myriad Spirits Sect and then symbolically sent a disciple to the East Barrens.

This was the Foundation Establishment cultivator with the blank expression, named Mei Longzheng. He had been banished here by his sect for offending the offspring of a Nascent Soul Grand Ancestor. The Beast Taming Sect told him he could only return to the sect if he made a significant discovery. He had originally thought he would never get the chance in this lifetime.