Chapter 1041: 青帝长生真气

After returning to the Eastern Desolate, Chen Mobai personally diluted a drop of fifth-grade Myriad Transformation Thunder Water and poured it onto the Five-Horned Ancient Maple. Zhuo Ming, standing nearby, guided the spiritual plant to absorb the scattered Myriad Transformation Thunder Water.

Under the effect of the Omniscient Spirit Connection, the already vibrant Five-Horned Ancient Maple instantly erupted with a strong fiery red glow. The veins on its blood-red, five-pointed leaves lit up one by one, as if infused with endless vitality, becoming crystal clear and shimmering with a faint orange-yellow luminescence. Even the tree trunk began to swell slightly, as if decades of growth had occurred in mere breaths. Leaves and branches sprouted, transitioning from verdant green to bright yellow, and finally to a rich, blood-red hue, making the tree even more luxuriant.

Pharmacists attending classes at the cultivation base at the foot of Sky Roc Mountain suddenly caught a refreshing aroma wafting from the mountaintop. They couldn't help but look up towards the peak with curiosity.

Chen Mobai stood quietly to the side, spiritual light flickering in his eyes, but he was mostly listening with his 'Sound of the Empty Valley' technique. He could roughly perceive the changes in the Five-Horned Ancient Maple. After the watering, he left the rest to Zhuo Ming. With her right hand resting on the tree trunk, as she closed her eyes, the terrestrial energy of the entire mountain range began to stir, flowing towards the Five-Horned Ancient Maple to help it digest the Myriad Transformation Thunder Water, which contained immense vitality.

"It's truly wonderful to have a disciple like Ming'er," Qing Nü remarked, looking at the scene where the Five-Horned Ancient Maple's branches swayed gently under Zhuo Ming's guidance, its leaves seemingly whispering.

"Indeed!" Chen Mobai also looked content. In the Heavenly River Realm, apart from transforming the Five Elements Sect into an immortal sect, his proudest achievement was undoubtedly nurturing Zhuo Ming into such an outstanding disciple. This made him feel as though he had truly established roots in the Eastern Desolate, leaving behind his own lineage.

As the couple spoke, spiritual energy around the mountaintop began to gather, condensing into clouds and mist that settled on the branches and leaves of the Five-Horned Ancient Maple.

"Master, it's done." Zhuo Ming opened her eyes, released her hand from the tree bark, and turned to bow respectfully to Chen Mobai. This scene indicated that the Five-Horned Ancient Maple had begun to digest the fifth-grade Myriad Transformation Thunder Water. Chen Mobai, through his 'Sound of the Empty Valley,' also heard subtle, warm yet vibrant streaks of thunder force continuously moving through the tree's trunk and branches, merging with the external spiritual energy and the terrestrial energy of Sky Roc Mountain, constantly refining the spiritual plant.

At this rate, it would surely reach the peak of the fourth grade within ten years. However, because this concerned his own Divine Transformation, Chen Mobai instructed Zhuo Ming to remain on Sky Roc Mountain for the next ten years to personally care for the Five-Horned Ancient Maple.

"Ming'er, I'll need you to work hard on this. This matter concerns my Divine Transformation, and only with you in charge can I feel at ease." As he spoke, Chen Mobai handed the remaining fifth-grade Myriad Transformation Thunder Water to Zhuo Ming. Hearing that it was related to her master's Divine Transformation breakthrough, she took it with both hands, a slight apprehension on her face, but nodded with firm resolve.

"Master, don't worry, I won't leave its side."

"You don't need to be so tense. When you have free time, you can also go to the pharmacist training base down the mountain and teach those disciples..." Chen Mobai said, explaining that the spiritual脉 of Sky Roc Mountain had long been incorporated into the Eastern Desolate's Heavenly Curtain and Earth Vein Great Array, so there was no need to worry about safety. The main reason he wanted Zhuo Ming to stay was his concern that the fifth-grade Myriad Transformation Thunder Water contained too much vitality, which the Five-Horned Ancient Maple might not be able to withstand even after dilution. With Zhuo Ming, the Five Elements Sect's foremost spiritual plant cultivator, taking care of it, he could enter secluded cultivation with peace of mind.

"If I have time, I'll also come here more often to keep Ming'er company," Qing Nü added. As it was a resource concerning her husband's Divine Transformation, she felt it necessary to pay close attention while Chen Mobai was in seclusion.

"Then I thank you for your trouble, my dear."

After dealing with matters here, Chen Mobai made a trip to North Abyss City. Yin Qingmei, Xi Jinghuo, and Yan Jinye were already waiting for him.

"Greetings, Sect Master!" Seeing Chen Mobai enter, the three stood up simultaneously and bowed.

After some pleasantries, Chen Mobai first spoke amicably with Xi Jinghuo and Yan Jinye, gifting each a Dharma artifact he had personally refined. In addition, he also gave Xi Jinghuo an extra set of talismans. These were related to the Scarlet Flame Sword Scripture, ranging from first-grade Scarlet Flame Sword Talismans to fourth-grade Great Sun Sword Talismans. In the Eastern Lands, such a complete set of talismans could fetch a price of over a million spirit stones, thanks to Master Chen Mobai's reputation. For Xi Jinghuo, however, this set of talismans provided the correct reference direction for cultivating the Scarlet Flame Sword Scripture in the future, saving him a lot of time.

For Yan Jinye, its utility was not as significant; it could at most be used for self-defense or collection. Considering this, Chen Mobai gave her a wisp of Dusky Heaven Fire. If she could master this, her success rate in concocting pills would greatly increase in the future.

"This is a wisp of immortal fire. I'll teach you the method to control it, but it will be very difficult for you to master..." Chen Mobai explained the situation with the Dusky Heaven Fire and finally told Yan Jinye that she could seek guidance from Qing Nü. After forming her Nascent Soul, Qing Nü could already blend water and fire to concoct pills with Dusky Heaven Fire without Chen Mobai's help. Her experience in controlling Dusky Heaven Fire was the most extensive. After all, Chen Mobai had a fire spirit body; once the Dusky Heaven Fire was cultivated, he could use it with perfect mastery, but he lacked experience in subduing it.

"E Yun, take them to the library and let them choose Nascent Soul cultivation techniques and divine abilities." After presenting the Golden Core grand gift packages to his two old friends, Chen Mobai instructed E Yun, who immediately nodded and smilingly led Xi Jinghuo and Yan Jinye out of the main hall.

"Greetings, Godfather." When only the two of them remained in the hall, Yin Qingmei charmingly called out, her eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at Chen Mobai. Although she formed her Nascent Soul a step later than Qing Nü for the sake of stability, she had successfully done so nonetheless. This was a Nascent Soul, after all—the pinnacle of cultivators in the Eastern Desolate. From now on, she could live for at least a thousand years, and relying on the sect's resources, she might even be able to glimpse the Divine Transformation realm. After all, she cultivated the Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture and possessed the Jade Phoenix Tree, a spiritual plant of heaven and earth.

"Your successful formation of a Nascent Soul doesn't betray the sect's or my expectations of you. In the future, you must continue to strive, aiming to become the sect's first cultivator to achieve Divine Transformation using the Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture." Chen Mobai also had great expectations for Yin Qingmei, as he had learned that the Heavenly Venerate's Dao Fruit in the Divine Tree Secret Realm could only be refined by Divine Transformation cultivators who practiced the Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture. That was also a complete path to Void Refinement. Furthermore, Chen Mobai suspected whether the Great Dao contained within was the Nirvana Great Dao. After all, once the Longevity Art was cultivated to perfection, as long as the tree remained, a cultivator could store their essence blood and spiritual consciousness in their fated spiritual plant in advance, allowing them to resurrect even if slain outside.

"This disciple will certainly do her utmost, not to disappoint Godfather and the sect's expectations." Yin Qingmei was also very excited by what Chen Mobai said. After the Nascent Soul stage, everyone would yearn for Divine Transformation. The Nascent Soul realm merely allowed one to dominate a single region, while Divine Transformation cultivators were truly the supreme beings of the Heavenly River Realm. Yin Qingmei now possessed Divine Transformation cultivation methods, the Five Elements Sect had a fifth-grade spiritual vein, and with the Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture and the vast lifespan provided by cultivating the Longevity Art in the future, she felt she had hope for Divine Transformation.

However, since the Five Elements Sect's history of several hundred years only saw Nascent Soul cultivators as its strongest, the path and insights related to Divine Transformation were blank, leaving her very apprehensive. But now, with Chen Mobai's words, she suddenly gained confidence. After all, she knew that her godfather had obtained the complete legacy of the Longevity Sect, a major sect that had produced numerous Divine Transformation cultivators and even Void Refinement Heavenly Venerates in ancient times. It was likely not lacking in knowledge regarding the Divine Transformation realm.

"Senior Brother Fu wishes to refine a Longevity Azure Dragon, but currently the sect lacks a fifth-grade Azure Dragon Wood. Now that you've formed your Nascent Soul, you can be of great help." Chen Mobai explained the main purpose of calling Yin Qingmei today.

"But Godfather, my fated spiritual plant isn't Longevity Wood?" Yin Qingmei raised her question after hearing him. For Longevity Wood to upgrade into a fifth-grade Azure Dragon Wood, a cultivator of the Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture needed to make it their fated spiritual plant and nurture it with their True Qi.

"You only need to focus on providing True Qi; I'll handle the rest," Chen Mobai said. He had already considered all the various crucial points before Yin Qingmei formed her Nascent Soul, but whether it would actually succeed still depended on practical application.

"Yes, Godfather."

Next, the two left North Abyss City and arrived at Giant Wood Ridge, where the two central divine trees still towered immensely. Chen Mobai led Yin Qingmei to his Longevity Wood cultivation ground, which he hadn't visited in a long time. Within the Five Elements Sect, peak fourth-grade Longevity Woods were few and far between. The three trees in the Divine Tree Secret Realm had too significant origins; Chen Mobai didn't want to use them as experimental subjects. In Giant Wood Ridge, there were originally three such trees, said to have been transplanted by True Monarch Yiyuan when he cultivated the Longevity Art. Zhou Shengqing's original tree had already been condensed into a tree seed, leaving only Chen Mobai's and Fu Zongjue's.

"Junior Brother, let's use mine," Fu Zongjue said. Fu Zongjue, who had rushed over upon hearing the news that Chen Mobai planned to try and elevate Longevity Wood into Azure Dragon Wood with Yin Qingmei, immediately pointed to his own tree.

"Senior Brother, let's talk about yours another time. Besides, this elevation might not be a quick process. Junior Niece Yin will likely need to practice here at Giant Wood Ridge for a long time. My cultivation ground here has been empty for decades, so she might as well take up residence." Despite Fu Zongjue's eagerness, Chen Mobai had other arrangements. Although this was where he started, this fifth-grade spiritual脉 cultivation ground had been idle for decades. To someone from an immortal sect like him, it was a waste, so it was better to make full use of the opportunity now. Besides elevating Longevity Wood to Azure Dragon Wood, Yin Qingmei could also try cultivating the Longevity Art after forming her Nascent Soul. And this also required Longevity Wood.

"Then I'll follow Junior Brother's arrangements." Fu Zongjue nodded repeatedly after hearing Chen Mobai's explanation. In truth, he was somewhat reluctant to part with his own Longevity Wood, but since Chen Mobai was offering a Longevity Wood to help him refine and research the Longevity Azure Dragon, he felt a bit embarrassed. Now that there was a reason, he felt at ease.

"Senior Brother Fu, Junior Niece Yin and I will be practicing here, which might trigger some unusual phenomena. Although I will set up formations, please ensure that no sect disciples approach, and it would be best if they do not enter seclusion, to avoid being disturbed by drastic spiritual energy fluctuations." Chen Mobai instructed further. Although he had perfected the theory of elevating Longevity Wood with Yin Qingmei using the Dual Cultivation Technique, he couldn't guarantee success. Moreover, he wasn't sure what kind of phenomena would occur when Longevity Wood advanced to Azure Dragon Wood. To be safe, it was better to have the sect disciples be mindful during this period.

"Leave it to me." Fu Zongjue nodded repeatedly, then turned directly to the Divine Wood Immortal City to arrange the matter.

In the cultivation ground, Chen Mobai flew with Yin Qingmei to the canopy of the Longevity Wood, where a wooden house he had used for cultivation long ago stood. "You sit there." The wooden house rested on two massive branches, and at the end of one branch, there was a meditation platform resembling a futon. Chen Mobai pointed to it. Yin Qingmei nodded and floated gracefully onto the futon. Chen Mobai landed on the other branch, sitting suspended opposite her.

"You should be familiar with the Dual Cultivation Technique..." After Chen Mobai explained all the details, Yin Qingmei understood his approach and nodded gently.

Next, the two began their first attempt. The two, sitting suspended in the air, each raised a hand, facing each other in the void. Under the Dual Cultivation Technique, Chen Mobai first channeled his fire-elemental True Qi into Yin Qingmei's body. His True Qi had all transformed into Primordial Qi, which was not only vast and powerful but also supremely Yang, firm, fiery, and pure. Even though he controlled the amount, just a single strand entering her made Yin Qingmei feel an overwhelming might she could barely bear.

"Godfather, your True Qi is too powerful; I can't quite handle it," Yin Qingmei's gasp echoed in Chen Mobai's sea of consciousness. In their dual cultivation state, they could communicate directly through their minds. When she formed her Nascent Soul, she condensed thirty-six strands of Azure Emperor Longevity True Qi, which was already the most profound foundation in the Five Elements Sect apart from Chen Mobai. After solidifying her realm, her True Qi volume had multiplied several times within just a few years. But as Chen Mobai's Primordial Pure Yang Qi entered, she felt her proud Azure Emperor Longevity True Qi was like a leaf meeting a heated blade—weak and powerless, utterly incapable of resistance, about to be swept up and ignited, turning into fuel for flames. She felt she might need dozens of strands of her True Qi to match just one of Chen Mobai's.

"Relax, I'll guide it..." Chen Mobai reassured her, then dispersed his Primordial Pure Yang Qi into threads, which began to circulate and combine with her True Qi in her Dantian and Qi Sea according to the cycle of five elements generation. This step was the secret Dual Cultivation Technique of the Longevity Sect. Yin Qingmei gritted her teeth, suppressed the urge to panic, and began to circulate her True Qi in sync with Chen Mobai's. Although they hadn't dual-cultivated for a long time, their cooperation was still very harmonious. The key to this step was to have no fear or self-interest, but rather to have unreserved trust in the guiding party. Yin Qingmei clearly achieved this.

After their True Qi had dual-cultivated in a five-element cycle, Chen Mobai also began to activate the "Comprehension Pact." The Longevity Wood beneath them had long ago been 'comprehended' by him using this secret art, so he smoothly turned it into his fated spiritual plant. In the state of True Qi circulation and dual cultivation, Chen Mobai and Yin Qingmei were now effectively a single entity. Therefore, at the moment the Comprehension Pact was cast, Yin Qingmei also felt she had achieved a novel symbiotic state with the Longevity Wood beneath her. This state was very familiar to her, exactly like with her Jade Phoenix Tree. Now, this Longevity Wood also became her fated spiritual plant.

An indescribable joy and surprise immediately welled up in Yin Qingmei's heart. The joy, naturally, came from acquiring another fated spiritual plant, and in this state, absorbing the essence of the Longevity Wood would make cultivating the Longevity Art twice as effective. The surprise, on the other hand, stemmed from the unexpected discovery of such profound and mysterious legacies within the ancient Longevity Sect. In her view, the secret art Chen Mobai used to guide her in dual cultivation and make the Longevity Wood her fated spiritual plant could only belong to the Longevity Sect. Indeed, there was still much for her to learn. She must not become complacent just because she had formed her Nascent Soul.

As Yin Qingmei thought this, Chen Mobai had already begun to guide her True Qi again, flowing it out of her body and into the Longevity Wood. With her Azure Emperor Longevity True Qi as a primer, he immediately cast the "Pulling Shoots to Aid Growth" spell. This grand art of the Longevity Sect indeed did not disappoint him. The peak fourth-grade Longevity Wood, which had grown for thousands of years in Giant Wood Ridge, began to undergo an unprecedented dramatic transformation. Centered around the area where the Azure Emperor Longevity True Qi was channeled, the rough, ancient bark began to crack, and the rich energy accumulated within the trunk for countless years began to be activated by the Azure Emperor Longevity True Qi, transforming into higher-grade wood energy. This spread like a chain reaction, gradually extending throughout the entire divine tree.

Amidst crackling sounds, the Longevity Wood, standing at the heart of Giant Wood Ridge, suddenly expanded, its entire bark splitting open. Streams of verdant spiritual light glowed from the bark's fissures, radiating outwards like spotlights, causing the spiritual energy within the entire great formation to oscillate. Chen Mobai, at his Earth Spirit resonance realm, also perceived the spiritual脉 of Giant Wood Ridge vibrating. He recalled what Venerable Peach Blossom had said about the Heavenly Curtain and Earth Vein Great Array suppressing the growth of spiritual plants, so he abandoned the idea of suppressing it with the formation. Fortunately, he had notified Fu Zongjue in advance. Under the latter's command and coordination, all disciples in Giant Wood Ridge entered specially constructed spiritual energy calming zones. This was a facility Chen Mobai had spearheaded the construction of, precisely to prevent high-realm cultivators' breakthroughs from causing chaotic fluctuations in heaven and earth spiritual energy, which could injure disciples undergoing secluded cultivation.

After Chen Mobai communicated with Fu Zongjue via illusory projection, he then swept the entire Giant Wood Ridge with his vast spiritual sense, discovering, as expected, more than a dozen cultivators still outside the designated safe zones. Unsure if the sect hadn't notified them or if it was their own oversight, Chen Mobai proactively acted, drawing talismans from a distance and establishing spiritual energy calming zones around them.

"Do not step outside the designated circles!" After drawing the talismans, Chen Mobai transmitted a warning to these dozen or so disciples. If they still disobeyed and stepped out of the circles, they would have only themselves to blame.

With no further worries, Chen Mobai actively employed his Earth Spirit resonance realm to fully perceive the Longevity Wood's advancement. Because Azure Emperor Longevity True Qi was indispensable during this process, he needed to maintain the dual cultivation state with Yin Qingmei throughout. He first took out three tubes of fourth-grade Myriad Transformation Thunder Water, and without diluting them, directly sprinkled them onto the roots of the Longevity Wood beneath his feet. Yin Qingmei, witnessing this, couldn't help but gape. Her Jade Phoenix Tree, even with Qing Nü's Myriad Transformation Thunder Water and her own True Qi nurturing, had taken several years to fully refine. Yet, Chen Mobai now poured three tubes directly, which only served as a slight catalyst for this Longevity Wood. It could only be said that the difference between trees was truly immense.

In their dual cultivation state, Yin Qingmei perceived, through Chen Mobai, that the Longevity Wood was transforming and sublimating. However, the energy it had accumulated over thousands of years was simply too vast, and the Azure Emperor Longevity True Qi she injected was too scarce. So, while a portion was already evolving, much more remained dormant. At this rate, it might take another five or six years for this Longevity Wood to completely transform and begin its advancement. Chen Mobai certainly didn't have that much time to wait. After all, the immortal sect was about to arrange the "Startling God Melody."

At this moment, Chen Mobai, still in dual cultivation, noticed Yin Qingmei beginning to tremble slightly, her face pale. This was a sign of excessive True Qi consumption.

"Remember this feeling. In the future, you can try injecting more of your True Qi into the Longevity Wood and commune with it." To prevent Yin Qingmei from losing her essence, Chen Mobai stopped guiding her True Qi outwards and instead guided her to communicate spiritually with the Longevity Wood. According to the immortal sect's theory, as long as a cultivator's essence and spiritual consciousness were strong enough, they could have more than one fated item. Although Yin Qingmei already had the Jade Phoenix Tree, she could still try to make the Longevity Wood her second fated spiritual plant. After all, to refine a Heavenly Venerate's Dao Fruit, previous practitioners had always used Azure Dragon Wood as a vessel.

"Yes, Godfather." Yin Qingmei nodded, greedily perceiving the state of communing with the Longevity Wood. Chen Mobai did not break off the dual cultivation until the spiritual脉 vibrations in Giant Wood Ridge ceased and the violently shaking Longevity Wood beneath them calmed down. Only then did he release his right hand, which had been suspended opposite hers.

For the next two years, besides accumulating his Primordial Pure Yang Qi, he spent his time guiding Yin Qingmei in dual cultivation. He also took this opportunity to try cultivating the Longevity Art. However, the concept of the Longevity Dao Body transforming and sublimating into the Longevity Art had never been achieved by anyone in the Five Elements Sect, and many crucial points still required self-exploration. Thus, progress was almost negligible. Chen Mobai, naturally, would not engage in such time-wasting endeavors and directly chose to abandon it.

That day, he opened his eyes, breaking off his dual cultivation with Yin Qingmei. News came from the immortal sect: the "Startling God Melody" could now begin.