Chapter 1042

Purple Lightning Emerges

"You should cultivate well here. I have other important matters to attend to and will need to leave for a long time." Chen Mobai said this to Yin Qingmei, who was standing before him. The Startling God Melody concerned the Divine Transformation stage, and after listening to it, he would certainly need to go into seclusion. When he reappeared, it would likely be when the Eastern Continent's development began.

"Yes, Godfather, I will cultivate diligently and live up to your teachings." Yin Qingmei immediately stood up and replied.

Chen Mobai nodded gently to her, then transformed into a silver light and vanished from the treetop.

Yin Qingmei remained in her bowing posture, only lowering it after a long time. She looked at where Chen Mobai had disappeared, feeling a sense of loss despite her cultivation having advanced further than before.

While they cultivated together, Chen Mobai's Innate Pure Yang Qi rotated with the Azure Emperor Evergreen True Qi, repeatedly refining her true qi and making it purer and more concentrated. This alone saved her almost a decade of arduous effort. And they had only cultivated together for two years at this Long-Life Wood Dao Field. If possible, Yin Qingmei truly wished they could continue like this forever. Unfortunately, Chen Mobai was the one in control; if he wanted to leave, she had no way to keep him.

But Yin Qingmei quickly calmed her emotions. After all, as long as she remained in the Five Elements Sect and was the sole practitioner of the Azure Emperor Evergreen Scripture, she would be useful to Chen Mobai and would surely get such an opportunity again. She sat down again on the meditation platform among the branches, closed her eyes, and immersed her mind, attempting to commune with the Long-Life Wood without Chen Mobai's guidance. During this process, her true qi slowly circulated, merging with the essence of the Long-Life Wood, and then began to be absorbed into her body, allowing her to cultivate the Longevity Art. A practitioner of the Azure Emperor Evergreen Scripture could directly cultivate this grand art. She hoped to gain more profound insights into this art and demonstrate more of her value before Chen Mobai returned.

While Yin Qingmei used every moment to improve herself, Chen Mobai was also bidding farewell to Fu Zongjue.

"Senior Brother, I hope that by the time I return, you will have successfully formed your Nascent Soul." Chen Mobai had guided Yin Qingmei's cultivation for two years. During this period, he had activated the Sky Curtain Earth Vein Grand Array, drawing spiritual energy from various spiritual veins across the Eastern Barrens to Giant Wood Ridge, raising the spiritual energy here to the level of a fifth-grade mid-tier. Besides helping the Long-Life Wood advance, this was also because Fu Zongjue had reached the perfected Golden Core stage and could now attempt to form his Nascent Soul.

"I'll take your auspicious words to heart." Fu Zongjue nodded, speaking with a relaxed expression. He had already received his share of Nascent Soul-forming resources. Chen Mobai had long since given him the Sea Soul Agate and Reverting Yang Spiritual Water. Even if he failed to form a Nascent Soul, he could immediately transform into a Dharma Body Nascent Soul on the spot. With double insurance in hand, the Nascent Soul barrier, which was like a chasm between life and death for many, held no tension for him. He even chatted and laughed with Chen Mobai as he saw him off.

"Currently, the transformation of the Long-Life Wood has stabilized, but just to be safe, Senior Brother Fu, it would be better to have Senior Brother Zhou oversee things when you form your Nascent Soul." Chen Mobai, being habitually cautious, said this before leaving.

After visiting Sheng Zhaoxi, Zhou Shengqing went to guard North Abyss City, as there was no Nascent Soul cultivator stationed there. After all, as the foremost immortal city on the Eastern Barrens frontier, North Abyss City had an enormous daily spiritual stone trade. Without a Nascent Soul cultivator present, many cultivators might be tempted to take risks. Fu Zongjue nodded upon hearing this. Chen Mobai personally arranged the matter, sending Mo Douguang to North Abyss City to temporarily guard it. Zhou Shengqing quickly returned via a teleportation array.

"Don't worry, Junior Brother. I will guard Giant Wood Ridge without leaving your side until you emerge from seclusion." Zhou Shengqing said with a solemn expression.

After leaving Giant Wood Ridge, Chen Mobai also made sure to bid farewell to Qing Nü. Calculating the time, his Purple Lightning Sword had also just finished its tempering process, so he went directly to Myriad Transformations Immortal City.

"Master, you've finally come to pick me up!" From the Sword Washing Pool, the sword spirit, with purple hair and purple eyes, sat atop an eight-sided sword blade, breaking through the water's surface. With a joyful expression, it flew towards Chen Mobai with open arms.

"Not bad, you've made progress." Chen Mobai reached out and gripped the round hilt of the Purple Lightning Sword. Sensing that it was now a fifth-grade high-tier sword artifact, he nodded in satisfaction.

"Master, I've worked so hard these past years! Every day, besides soaking in the pool, I was refined by the Grand Pure Fire. I didn't rest at all..." The Purple Lightning Sword Spirit sat on the blade, recounting its hardships with an air of seeking praise.

"You rascal, you should be secretly laughing to have such an opportunity, yet you're complaining." Chen Mobai flicked the sword's body with his finger, causing the Purple Lightning Sword Spirit to stumble involuntarily. It pouted, thinking that next time, given the chance, it would definitely raise its price.

"I'll go up to the sky to practice a bit..." Chen Mobai, holding the Purple Lightning Sword, said to Qing Nü beside him, who nodded with a smile. Chen Mobai was concerned that after the Purple Lightning Sword's advancement, he might not be able to wield its power as skillfully as before. So, before returning to the Immortal Sect, he specifically practiced with it. However, it turned out he had overthought things. In the state of Sword-Human Unity, everything about the Lightning Sword appeared in his mind, and he still felt as if it were an extension of his arm, perfectly at ease.

In the sky above Myriad Transformations Immortal City, purple sword light roared like thunder tearing through the firmament, yet it also moved with flowing grace and boundless ingenuity. Chen Mobai merely floated, activating the Purple Splendor Sword Intent he had extracted, controlling the sword with his divine sense, and performing the sword techniques recorded in the Purple Splendor Sword Canon. The Purple Lightning Sword's aura surged continuously, and soon, the sky transformed into a domain of purple lightning, filled with terrifying, destructive fifth-grade sword qi that crisscrossed everywhere.

The Myriad Swords Dharma Body had appeared behind Chen Mobai at some unknown moment. The purple lightning sword domain, centered around it, began to operate with traces of the "Dao Annihilation" concept. Over the years, thanks to the continuous supply of Five Elements Essence Qi from the cultivators under the Five Elements Sect, Chen Mobai had long since perfected the "Heavenly Star" realm of his Myriad Swords Dharma Body. He only needed to refine enough Nine Heavens Pure Qi to advance into the fifth-grade "Heavenly Garment" realm. For cultivators in the Heavenly River Realm, this step was actually slightly easier than the Heavenly Star realm. This was because the Nine Heavens Pure Qi flowed within the Heavenly Gang, not requiring the arduous collection efforts of the Seventy-Two Earth Fiend Qi. As long as one's cultivation was sufficient, they could ascend to refine it. However, the closer to the ground, the rarer the pure qi became, requiring significant luck for Nascent Soul cultivators to encounter it. Similarly, the higher one ascended within the Heavenly Gang, the closer to the extremely high points of heavenly tribulation, the greater the probability of encountering Nine Heavens Pure Qi. It was most abundant at the points of intersection with the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation, but a single mistake could lead to being reduced to ashes by the powerful tribulation energy.

According to the Heavenly River Realm, the so-called Nine Heavens Pure Qi was actually seventh-grade immortal spirit qi that had dispersed from the Spirit Void Immortal Realm and fallen into the mortal world. After being refined by the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation, it scattered into the pure spirit qi that enveloped the entire Heavenly River Realm. Therefore, within the heavenly tribulation itself, pure spirit immortal qi was even more abundant. After perfecting his Heavenly Star realm, Chen Mobai once ascended to try and, relying on the good fortune of the Vermilion Phoenix Facing the Sun Diagram, found a cluster. After refining it, he felt that his Myriad Swords Dharma Body had indeed advanced, and he desired more. However, he never encountered any again afterward. He attempted to ascend higher into the Heavenly Gang and, as expected, detected several clusters of pure spirit immortal qi. Yet, out of caution, he paused his ascent upon sensing the ominous energy of the heavenly tribulation directly above him, not risking going any further. After all, at his current realm, just the first layer of the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation could reduce him to ashes. If he were unlucky and a heavenly tribulation happened to strike while he was capturing and refining the pure spirit immortal qi, he might perish. So, he decided to wait until he reached the Divine Transformation stage, or perhaps directly refine the Heaven-Earth Embryonic Membrane for a single-step breakthrough.

Even though the Myriad Swords Dharma Body was still at the peak of the fourth-grade after refining a cluster of pure spirit immortal qi, it had already gained a hint of fifth-grade profundity. The Purple Splendor Sword Intent that Chen Mobai had extracted, using the Myriad Swords Dharma Body as its core, began to merge with the Dao Annihilation Sword Intent, attempting to recreate Zhang Daosun's sword dao. At its pinnacle, the sword dao could follow the Grand Daos of Destruction and Killing Fortune. Chen Mobai believed that Zhang Daosun's Dao Annihilation was likely his attempt to walk these Grand Daos. If he succeeded, it would mean an additional Grand Dao. However, his realm was still too low. Although his ideas were excellent and he had completely mastered the Purple Splendor Sword Intent, even surpassing Qing Shi, the founder of this cultivation method, he still lacked the power to merge it with the Dao Annihilation Sword Intent.

In the sky, the purple lightning sword domain, which had been roaming freely and expanding majestically, violently dispersed after an extremely dazzling flash of light. It resembled a vast meteor shower, transforming into a circle of purple halo that sped outwards from above Myriad Transformations Immortal City, scattering in all directions. Chen Mobai sighed faintly but remained undiscouraged. He immediately maneuvered the somewhat out-of-control Purple Lightning Sword back. The power condensed within the sword domain just now had made it almost uncontrollable.

"Master, I..." The Purple Lightning Sword, which had just emerged from seclusion and considered itself invincible, now looked dejected and dispirited. Although it didn't know what Chen Mobai had been doing, it instinctively felt that it was crucial for its own further advancement. Thus, after failing to merge with the Dao Annihilation Sword Intent, it became sullen.

"I was too impatient. I should have waited until you reached the peak of the fifth-grade before trying." Seeing the Purple Lightning Sword Spirit's dejected look, Chen Mobai couldn't help but comfort it. To bear a Grand Dao with a sword, or even reach the Void Refinement stage, only Bai Guang had achieved this in the entire Immortal Sect. Chen Mobai's talent in the sword dao was akin to a blank slate, so failure was already anticipated. He saw that the Purple Lightning Sword seemed to have become somewhat arrogant after its advancement, so he used this to temper it, to let it know that the peak of the fifth-grade was not the end; there were still higher realms.

"Don't worry, Master! I will work even harder from now on and strive to become the Immortal Sect's first flying sword to advance to the sixth-grade!" Upon hearing Chen Mobai's words, the Purple Lightning Sword felt it couldn't disappoint its master and began a phase of grand ambitions.

"Yes, I will help you too!" Chen Mobai naturally said this, but in his heart, he wondered if Bai Guang's Oblivion Sword had also advanced with her entry into the Void Refinement stage. Before leaving the Local Star, Bai Guang had already used the resources obtained on Dragon God Star to elevate her natal flying sword to the peak of the fifth-grade. If it had advanced, it would undoubtedly be the Immortal Sect's top sword. It could only be said that choices determine one's height. For so many years, the Zhi Xuan, Yuan Yang, and Ding Hai swords had not only failed to break through but were struggling just to maintain their realms, while the Oblivion Sword had surpassed them from behind. Perhaps soon, the Purple Lightning Sword might even surpass them.

Upon realizing this, Chen Mobai felt it was necessary to give the Immortal Sect's veteran flying swords an opportunity. For example, the Yuan Yang Sword! Coincidentally, the server upgrade for the Lesser Scarlet Heaven was completed this year, and the Nine Dragons Cauldron was now its new core. Prompted by the Righteous Law Hall, the relevant departments of the Immortal Sect were also swiftly disconnecting the Yuan Yang Sword from the Lesser Scarlet Heaven. Calculating the time, it should be almost done by now.

After retracting the Purple Lightning Sword into his inner world, Chen Mobai landed in Myriad Transformations Immortal City and bade farewell to Qing Nü.

"I hope you can achieve the Divine Transformation Dao this time." Qing Nü said with an expectant expression.

Chen Mobai could only let out a laugh in response; he didn't have that much confidence in himself.

After using his Turtle Treasure to return to the city, Chen Mobai's figure appeared atop Mount Danxia. He first picked up his phone and called Lan Haitian, inquiring about matters related to the Startling God Melody.

"With the assistance of True Lord Yuan Xu, Xiao Yuping has successfully cultivated the Asura Dharma Form. The Three Halls have already verified it; it is indeed equivalent to the Nascent Soul realm here in the Immortal Sect and can serve as the core for playing the Startling God Melody..." Lan Haitian informed Chen Mobai of what he knew. Lan Haitian, usually calm, spoke with a rare hint of excitement in his voice. It was the Startling God Melody, after all. The Immortal Sect's foremost auxiliary divine art. Its last performance had directly added four Divine Transformation True Monarchs to the Immortal Sect. If Lan Haitian could see his path to Divine Transformation while still in the Nascent Soul realm, he could at least save a century, or even several centuries, of detours in the future. At least compared to their predecessors, their generation was far luckier.

"You've worked hard. Has the performance location for the Startling God Melody been arranged?" After listening, Chen Mobai asked another crucial question. He had largely faded out of the Three Halls in recent years, having long since handed over power to Wenren Xuewei. Lan Haitian being able to report to him immediately made Chen Mobai realize that this person was indeed worthy of being the future Head of the Immortal Affairs Hall.

"After consulting with Grand Ancestor Qi Yuheng, it was decided that the performance would take place at Five Peaks Immortal Mountain. At that time, the Grand Ancestor will control the Sky Curtain Earth Vein Grand Array to prevent disturbing outsiders. Besides our Immortal Sect's Nascent Soul cultivators, from the sea domain, Grand Ancestor Shuixian will also bring some King Lords to listen. They will sit with the Kunpeng lineage. Currently, Councilor Xiao Yuping is consolidating his realm, while Hall Master Ye Yun'e is leading all the cultivators of Profound Sound and Marvelous Techniques from the Cultural Department, residing at the Welcoming Immortals Hotel, preparing for the final performance rehearsal..." Chen Mobai had only asked one question, and Lan Haitian had already informed him of all the arrangements for the Startling God Melody. Most of it was within his expectations.

However, the specific seating arrangements for listening to the Startling God Melody would still require a meeting among the leaders of the Three Halls and Four Lineages to determine a protocol. According to Qi Yuheng's suggestion, the Kunpeng lineage would go to his Ambition Immortal Peak, the Heaven-Mending lineage to Qian Xing's Gathering Immortal Peak, and the Artifacts lineage to Chen Mobai's Gazing Immortal Peak. The Jumang lineage and other Nascent Soul cultivators without significant backing would listen from the Welcoming Immortals Hotel, which was relatively close, though the spiritual energy there was a bit weaker. Besides that, the other two inhabited areas of the Five Peaks Immortal Mountain would be isolated by Qi Yuheng using the grand array. After all, the Startling God Melody was extraordinary and transcendent. If ordinary cultivators listened to it, they might become directly absorbed into the Grand Dao, leading to mental exhaustion and death. At that time, besides the performers, only those at the Nascent Soul stage would be qualified to enter.

"If it really doesn't work out, just come to Gazing Immortal Peak and squeeze in." Chen Mobai thought that since the Jumang lineage was his ally, he couldn't bear to see them treated specially, so he offered. After all, if someone truly had an epiphany and was on the verge of breaking through during the Startling God Melody, it would be best to do so with the assistance of sixth-grade spiritual energy. Their three lineages, across three mountain peaks, currently all had sixth-grade spiritual energy. And besides the Jumang lineage, the only Nascent Soul cultivator in the Immortal Sect without a background was Yu Yi. After so many interactions and exchanges, she already considered herself part of the Artifacts lineage. Chen Mobai felt it was necessary to help her further in this matter to deepen her sense of belonging.

"Then I will try to communicate about it..." Lan Haitian immediately nodded after hearing his words.

Next, Chen Mobai asked about the Lesser Scarlet Heaven and received good news: the Yuan Yang Sword had been retrieved from the Lesser Scarlet Heaven half a month ago and was currently in the custody of the Immortal Affairs Hall. Initially, Gongye Zhixu had retrieved this sword from the Pure Yang Academy and placed it into the Lesser Scarlet Heaven. Now that it had been taken out, according to protocol, Gongye Zhixu should personally return it to the Pure Yang Academy.

"If the Head of the Righteous Law Hall desires the Yuan Yang Sword, I can communicate on your behalf with Hall Master Gongye and Principal Nangong. After all, during the last pioneering war, this sword was promised to you, and with only a few decades left until the next pioneering war, we can use that as a reason to give the Yuan Yang Sword to you again. However, if that happens, the Ding Hai Sword, which you acquired back then, would need to be returned. But your choice to take the Ding Hai Sword was out of necessity, as it completely conflicted with the attributes of your Pure Yang Scroll. This arrangement would actually be better, as it would be setting things right. Hall Master Gongye certainly won't object to this matter; he is mainly focused on finding an opportunity to reach Divine Transformation during the next pioneering war. But we also shouldn't put him in a difficult position, so the key lies with Principal Nangong..." As soon as Lan Haitian heard Chen Mobai mention the Yuan Yang Sword, he already guessed Chen Mobai's intentions and immediately explained all the relevant details. As the future Third Sage of the Immortal Sect, almost everyone would give Chen Mobai face, so Lan Haitian also hoped to help him handle this matter well.

"Deputy Hall Master Lan, don't worry. Just let the Immortal Affairs Hall follow protocol and return the Yuan Yang Sword to the Pure Yang Academy. I will arrange the rest." Chen Mobai had long since reconciled with Nangong Xuanyu, and an agreement regarding the Yuan Yang Sword had been reached eight years ago. At that time, his appointment as honorary principal of the Pure Yang Academy had even caused a stir. But everyone knew among the Immortal Sect's higher echelons that he and Nangong Xuanyu had once been at odds. But people only assumed it was due to True Lord Yuan Xu's influence, combined with Chen Mobai's increasingly strong trajectory toward Divine Transformation, that Nangong Xuanyu had relented. When Lan Haitian heard Chen Mobai's words, he naturally recalled this matter and couldn't help but show an expression of realization.

"Please rest assured, Head of the Righteous Law Hall, the Immortal Affairs Hall will complete the process as quickly as possible and return the Yuan Yang Sword to the Pure Yang Academy." Hearing Lan Haitian's words, Chen Mobai knew he had understood his hint and couldn't help but marvel at how easy it was to talk to intelligent people.

"Then I'll trouble Deputy Hall Master Lan."

After ending the call, Chen Mobai looked at the other unread messages on his phone. There were many good news and some bad news. One piece of good news was that Yan Qiongzhi had successfully formed her Nascent Soul, relying on the Nascent Soul-forming resource package he had provided. Besides Yan Bingxuan delivering the good tidings, Yan Qiongzhi had also personally called him, but Chen Mobai was in the Heavenly River Realm at the time, so he hadn't answered. He thought for a moment, then sent a text message back to Yan Qiongzhi: "Congratulations on forming your Nascent Soul." After sending it, Chen Mobai called Yan Bingxuan back and told her about emerging from seclusion. However, because of the Startling God Melody, he wouldn't be going surfing at the Nature Academy this time. Yan Bingxuan's tone was somewhat disappointed when she heard he wouldn't be coming, but she was still very understanding.

Next, Chen Mobai went directly to Mount Chicheng to discuss the Startling God Melody with True Lord Cheng Xuan.

"Excellent, excellent! I never thought I would actually live to see this day!" The news of Xiao Yuping successfully cultivating the Asura Dharma Form was still confidential among the Three Halls, and True Lord Cheng Xuan was unaware. When Chen Mobai informed him, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion, pacing back and forth in his office.

"This matter should also be relayed to True Lord Yuxiao." The Artifacts lineage currently had three Nascent Souls. Although Jiang Xuanzhu was essentially a spirit artifact, she was still part of their lineage, and by seniority, they had to address her as a senior.

"Yes, I'll inform her." True Lord Cheng Xuan didn't hesitate after hearing this. He took out his phone and told Jiang Xuanzhu about the matter.

"I'll be right there." Jiang Xuanzhu didn't say another word and immediately booked a ticket to Chicheng Grotto-Heaven.

Next, Chen Mobai also informed True Lord Yu Yi of the matter. The latter was naturally full of gratitude, and after hanging up the phone, she felt that the most correct decision she had made in her entire life was helping Chen Mobai.

"What about the Jumang side?" After informing all his own people, True Lord Cheng Xuan remembered their allies and asked Chen Mobai.

"Wenren must already know. We just need to wait for her or True Lord Taohua to call." Chen Mobai said. Even if he wanted to help, he couldn't be too eager to offer proactively. He definitely had to wait for the other party to ask, as that truly counted as a favor. True Lord Cheng Xuan understood Chen Mobai's meaning. After nodding, he said with emotion, "Speaking of which, if our lineage hadn't produced someone like you, we might have been surpassed by the Jumang lineage in a hundred years."

Over the past years, due to the Startling God Melody, all Immortal Sect cultivators who had acquired Nascent Nurturing Pills had taken them one after another. Wang Shuye and Hong Mengkui of the Artifacts lineage still lacked sufficient fortune and foundation. Even with the Nascent Soul-forming resource package provided by Chen Mobai, they still failed. As for the Jumang lineage, Pei Qingshuang had emerged from seclusion. Not only had she successfully formed her Nascent Soul, but it was said that an unusual celestial phenomenon had occurred, with a peculiar fragrance permeating the entire Linwu Grotto-Heaven, causing anyone who smelled it to have all illnesses vanish and spirits invigorated a hundredfold. Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai knew that Pei Qingshuang had likely fully activated her Longevity Immortal bloodline. He was also pleased about this. After all, she was his friend, and for the Azure Frost Sword to follow her like this was certainly not a disgrace.

"Yan Qiongzhi successfully formed her Nascent Soul, so our lineage has gained a new Nascent Soul cultivator..." When Chen Mobai emerged from seclusion, he had already received the bad news of Wang Shuye and Hong Mengkui's failure. After sighing, he relayed this good news to True Lord Cheng Xuan as a buffer.

"It's a blessing in disguise, I suppose." As True Lord Cheng Xuan spoke, Chen Mobai brought up the other two lineages. Among them, like the Artifacts lineage, the Kunpeng lineage had no successful breakthroughs. Upon hearing this, True Lord Cheng Xuan's mouth twitched slightly as he suppressed his emotions. The fact that someone else shared their misfortune made him feel a little schadenfreude.

"Actually, in terms of origin, Lan Haitian belongs to the Kunpeng lineage, but he's now categorized under the Heaven-Mending lineage," Chen Mobai explained. This time, with a total of ten Nascent Nurturing Pills, the success rate for forming a Nascent Soul was relatively higher than before. Lan Haitian, Yan Qiongzhi, and Pei Qingshuang were the three successful ones. According to the Immortal Sect's big data, the success rate of forming a Nascent Soul after taking a Nascent Nurturing Pill was only 12.68%, far lower than with Infant Nurturing Pills and Infant Transformation Pills. This time, however, the 30% success rate led many in the Immortal Sect to exclaim that it was an unprecedented golden age. Without a prodigy like Chen Mobai, these three individuals would be considered top-tier geniuses throughout the Immortal Sect's history.

"So, this means among our Four Great Daoist Academies, only the Kunpeng lineage doesn't have a new Nascent Soul cultivator this time," True Lord Cheng Xuan finally couldn't help but laugh out loud as he spoke. Lan Haitian and Yan Qiongzhi, as the Immortal Sect's previous twin prodigies before Chen Mobai, could both be considered to originate from the Kunpeng lineage. But ultimately, one chose Heaven-Mending, and the other was recruited by their Artifacts lineage. This feeling of poaching talents made True Lord Cheng Xuan very happy. Chen Mobai, meanwhile, smiled somewhat reservedly.

At this moment, his phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was Yan Qiongzhi calling. After Chen Mobai answered, she immediately expressed her thanks and personally told him about her successful Nascent Soul formation. Chen Mobai also told her that the Startling God Melody was about to be performed and asked her to book a ticket to the Artifacts Daoist Academy. Then, their group would travel together to Five Peaks Immortal Mountain. Naturally, Yan Qiongzhi agreed.

Chen Mobai stayed at Mount Chicheng for two days, and soon all the Nascent Soul cultivators of their lineage gathered together.