Chapter 1087: Righteous Chen the Sect Leader

"Since I have achieved Deity Transformation today, it is only fitting that we celebrate. If Fellow Daoists Pao Long and Peng Feng are also present, they should be invited as well."

Chen Mobai nodded upon hearing Qing Nü's words. Zhuo Ming immediately took out her Omniscient Compass to relay the message. Over the years, Zhuo Ming had become good friends with the two Nascent Soul cultivators, Pao Long and Peng Feng, through the spiritual wine she brewed, often exchanging cooking and brewing techniques with them.

"The sect should also be informed, right?" Qing Nü reminded him.

"Then let them all go to Beiyuan City. This news should also be made known to all disciples of the Five Elements Sect." Chen Mobai waved his hand, took out his Omniscient Compass, and first announced his successful Deity Transformation in the Nascent Soul channel. In that instant, the entire Five Elements Sect erupted in excitement.

"Brother, Junior Brother truly succeeded!"

At Giant Wood Ridge, Fu Zongjue, who had been anxiously awaiting news after the tribulation phenomena dissipated, beamed with joy upon hearing Chen Mobai's personal voice message.

"Excellent, excellent! Our Five Elements Sect will now be a sacred land in the Eastern Continent!" Zhou Shengqing could not help but show his excitement at that moment.

Without any delay, both immediately took the teleportation array to Beiyuan City.

Since Chen Mobai had no intention of keeping it a secret, the news quickly spread among the Core Formation cultivators, such as E Yun, who came to greet them, as the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Five Elements Sect gathered. Immediately afterwards, except for Mo Douguang and others who were still in the Eastern Mausoleum Region, all other high-ranking cultivators of the Five Elements Sect rushed from various locations to attend Chen Mobai's Deity Transformation Dao Assembly.

When Chen Mobai arrived at Beiyuan City with Qing Nü, Nascent Soul cultivators like Zhou Shengqing, Fu Zongjue, Zhou Ye, Chen Lingming, and Su Zilu led dozens of Core Formation cultivators, all standing in mid-air to welcome him.

"Congratulations, Sect Master, on achieving Deity Transformation!" All cultivators of the Five Elements Sect shouted in unison at that moment, their voices shaking the clouds.

Witnessing this scene, Chen Mobai could not help but smile. With a flick of his sleeve, a gentle force lifted everyone, whether Nascent Soul or Core Formation, causing them to involuntarily rise. This sight left everyone astonished by the power of Deity Transformation.

"You are too kind, everyone." Chen Mobai flew over with Qing Nü, spoke with Zhou Shengqing and the others, and together they headed towards the Heavenly Feast Pavilion. Having successfully achieved Deity Transformation, he planned to host a month-long banquet, allowing the cultivators of the Five Elements Sect, and even Beiyuan City, to share in the joy and celebration.

"Congratulations, Sect Master Chen, on your Deity Transformation!"

Waiting at the entrance of the Heavenly Feast Pavilion was Head Chef Ren Qiu. Chen Mobai had met him several times before and could not help but smile as he conversed, "I heard that Fellow Daoists Pao Long and Peng Feng are also here. Since it's my Deity Transformation Dao Assembly today, why don't we invite them to join us?"

Zhuo Ming had previously sent a message via the Omniscient Compass but received no reply, so this time Chen Mobai extended the invitation personally.

"Thank you, Sect Master Chen. However, the two Old Ancestors recently received an urgent message from the Eastern Lands headquarters and are currently communicating with them using a secret technique. They should be emerging from seclusion very soon," Ren Qiu nodded repeatedly and explained.

The Heavenly Feast Pavilion, a renowned intelligence organization in the Eastern Continent, had branches across all major human territories. In the absence of an Omniscient Compass, their message delivery was the fastest. This was due to a secret technique called "Mind Transmission," which, with sufficient cultivation, allowed them to imprint messages in their minds and transmit them across distances using divine sense to others who practiced the same technique.

"It seems it's not a minor matter then. Let the two fellow daoists attend to their business first. My banquet will last for a month anyway, so there's no rush..." Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai realized why. He had been wondering why someone would not show respect to a Deity Transformation cultivator; it turned out they were indeed delayed by something important.

"Thank you for your understanding, Sect Master Chen. I will now lead all the disciples in the pavilion to start serving your dishes!" Ren Qiu finally breathed a sigh of relief. After all, he was conversing with a Deity Transformation cultivator, the pinnacle of this world. Fortunately, he was also a well-traveled person; even as an apprentice, he had followed Old Ancestors Pao Long and Peng Feng to prepare a birthday banquet for True Lord Xuantian.

After understanding the situation, Chen Mobai led the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Five Elements Sect to the top floor.

"Congratulations, Master!"

Soon after, Liu Wenbai also arrived. He had been developing the Little Southern Mountain shop overseas and returned immediately upon receiving Zhuo Ming's message. He came with Jiang Zongheng, and both disciples had prepared gifts. Liu Wenbai's gift was a coral spiritual treasure, a rare overseas wonder that served as both a fourth-tier medicinal ingredient and a naturally formed magical artifact, truly mysterious. Jiang Zongheng's gift was a copy of the Five Elements Laws, revised over several decades, considered the most rigorous version to date.

"Excellent, excellent! You both are very thoughtful. Please, have a seat!" Chen Mobai smilingly accepted the gifts from his two disciples. Comparatively, he inwardly preferred Jiang Zongheng's Five Elements Laws, as it represented decades of arduous effort on Jiang Zongheng's part in the Eastern Barrens, helping him cultivate the fruits of Daoist law and the crystallization of the Nine Virtues of the Saint King. However, in front of so many people, he maintained impartiality. After exchanging a few words with each disciple, he instructed them to sit at the adjacent table, where Zhuo Ming was already seated.

"It's a pity Xuan'er is still in the Eastern Mausoleum Region..." Qing Nü sighed softly, observing the scene. The disciples of the Little Southern Mountain lineage had not gathered together for a long time, especially as their cultivation levels grew higher.

"There's still plenty of time in the future. I'll hold a birthday banquet every hundred years, so there will be many opportunities for us to gather," Chen Mobai said with a smile, causing the Nascent Soul cultivators present to chuckle.

Cultivators in the Sky River Realm did not place much importance on birthday banquets, especially for Deity Transformation Old Ancestors, who typically only held a grand celebration upon reaching their thousandth year. After all, for Deity Transformation cultivators, a single seclusion could sometimes last for decades, easily passing multiple hundred-year milestones.

"Master, this is a fourth-tier Five-Colored Spiritual Wine I brewed. Please have a taste!"

As she spoke, Zhuo Ming noticed that most people had arrived and presented her gift. She held a large jar in her right hand and offered it to Chen Mobai.

"Is the ingredient Five-Colored Rice? The aroma is rich..." Chen Mobai was quite an expert on spiritual wine. After all, Zhuo Ming loved brewing wine whenever she had free time, and with the abundance of spiritual rice in the Five Elements Sect, each wine had its unique characteristics.

As the wine was poured, Chen Mobai observed the clear liquid, which shimmered with five-colored light under the sun. He took a sip, and the robust and potent taste, combined with the continuously evolving, rich aftertaste from the blend of five elements spiritual energy, left him slightly intoxicated.

"This wine, at different temperatures, offers varying tastes for cultivators practicing different attribute cultivation methods. For instance, for fire-attribute cultivators, it's most compatible when brewed for about two 'zhancha' (about 30 minutes) at a near-boiling state; for metal and water attributes, it needs to be chilled at a low temperature..." Qing Nü, standing by, also smiled and helped Zhuo Ming introduce the wine. She had also assisted in its research and development. Of course, the two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Heavenly Feast Pavilion had tasted it multiple times and offered suggestions for improvement, leading to today's finished product.

"Excellent, excellent! Then I must certainly have a good taste!" Chen Mobai grew interested after hearing Qing Nü's explanation.

After pouring wine for Zhou Shengqing and the other Nascent Soul cultivators, Zhuo Ming immediately took over the task of brewing the wine.

Just then, two unfamiliar Nascent Soul auras appeared within the Heavenly Feast Pavilion, and Chen Mobai immediately noticed them. Soon after, Ren Qiu led a man and a woman inside. Both had slightly plump figures, round faces, and large bellies. However, upon seeing them, Chen Mobai sensed the powerful true qi contained within their bodies. They were clearly the two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Heavenly Feast Pavilion: Pao Long and Peng Feng!

"Greetings, Sect Master Chen. Something came up in the Eastern Lands, and we are late. Please forgive us!" The male cultivator entered, immediately clasped his hands in greeting towards Chen Mobai, a look of apology on his face.

"Not at all, not at all. I have long admired you two from afar, and today we finally meet. Please, have a seat!" Chen Mobai showed great respect to Pao Long and Peng Feng, personally rising to invite them to sit.

Pao Long and Peng Feng exchanged glances, did not decline, and politely took the two empty seats. With this, the Nascent Soul table was complete. At that opportune moment, Zhuo Ming had also finished brewing the Five-Colored Spiritual Wine and served a cup to each cultivator at the table.

"Fellow Daoists, this cup is for you. In the past, when the Five Elements Sect was weak, we received much help from your Heavenly Feast Pavilion..." Chen Mobai raised his wine cup and addressed Pao Long and Peng Feng. Although for the Heavenly Feast Pavilion, these were merely normal intelligence transactions, for the Five Elements Sect, they were extremely crucial, such as the information received when True Lord Bingyun first arrived, or even during the conflict between the three major Eastern Yi sects.

"Sect Master Chen, you exaggerate..." Pao Long and Peng Feng immediately stood up and quickly drained their cups.

"Do the two fellow daoists seem troubled?" After drinking, Chen Mobai savored the even more profound and rich aftertaste of the five-colored spiritual wine after it was brewed, then pointedly asked. Since Pao Long and Peng Feng entered, he had noticed they seemed preoccupied, their smiles forced. Could it be that his Deity Transformation had displeased them?

"I didn't expect Sect Master Chen to notice. It's like this: my junior sister and I just received a message from the Eastern Lands headquarters via a secret technique. Sect Master Ni Yuanzhong of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect passed his Deity Transformation tribulation but attracted an encirclement by a demonic Deity Transformation cultivator and a fifth-tier flood dragon. It's said that several mountains near Sky-Reaching Peak have already collapsed..." Pao Long did not conceal anything, sharing the news he had just received with a worried expression.

*Crack!*

Upon hearing this news, Chen Mobai, expressionless, crushed the wine cup in his hand into powder. Everyone immediately turned their gaze towards him.

"Master, the chilled wine is ready!" At this moment, Zhuo Ming handed him another cup of wine.

"Leave it for now. I'll go to the Eastern Lands and drink it when I return!" Chen Mobai said, then transformed into a streak of silver light and vanished from his spot.

"This..." Witnessing this scene, Pao Long and Peng Feng were utterly stunned. Although they had heard that Chen Guixian, the Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect, was a man of great loyalty and high moral character, they had not anticipated such an extent of nobility. He had just achieved Deity Transformation, and upon hearing the news of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect being besieged, he eagerly rushed to their aid.

"There are three Deity Transformation cultivators besieging Sky-Reaching Peak! One is suspected to be the Bone King, a top demonic expert in the Sky River Realm, and the other two flood dragons are true spirit bloodline descendants of the Black Flood Dragon Royal Court. Sect Master Chen is too impulsive!"

After recovering from their shock, Pao Long and Peng Feng felt a pang of regret. If they had known Chen Mobai was so generous and righteous, they should have explained the situation more clearly. With the strength of someone who had just achieved Deity Transformation, he would have no chance against either the Bone King or the two true spirits of the Black Flood Dragon Royal Court. If Chen Mobai were to die at Sky-Reaching Peak out of righteousness, their Heavenly Feast Pavilion would likely transform from an ally of the Five Elements Sect into an enemy. Thinking this, they felt restless and somewhat wished to take their leave.

"Let the banquet proceed as usual. He won't be delayed for too long." However, at that moment, Qing Nü spoke, even raising her own wine cup first.

Although Zhou Shengqing and the others were also worried about Chen Mobai's safety, knowing their Sect Master junior brother's loyal and righteous character, they could only pray that he and Ni Yuanzhong, working together, could repel the demonic cultivators and the true spirits of the Black Flood Dragon Royal Court. Pao Long and Peng Feng could only brace themselves and join her in a drink.

"Since it is Sect Master Chen's Deity Transformation banquet, my junior sister and I should rightfully cook. Please wait for us!" After finishing their drink, Pao Long tried to excuse himself from the table. However, Qing Nü shook her head, stating that as guests, there was no reason for them to cook. Even if they were to cook, it would only be after the first day's banquet.

Upon hearing this, Pao Long and Peng Feng both felt a slight sweat break out on their backs. They felt as though the Five Elements Sect intended to detain them; if something were to happen to Chen Mobai in the Eastern Lands, they might have to pay with their lives as well. At this moment, Pao Long deeply regretted ever having revealed that piece of news.

At this moment, Chen Mobai felt immensely grateful that, for the sake of establishing the Five Elements Sect, he had long ago invested heavily in constructing a large-scale teleportation array connecting to the Eastern Lands. Using Great Void Teleportation, he directly located Mirror Immortal City in Eastern Yi with his divine sense. This city possessed a large-scale teleportation array that could directly reach Nine Heavens Immortal City.

However, upon arriving at the teleportation array, he discovered that the array to Nine Heavens Immortal City had been shut down. This could be due to spirit vein tremors causing the array to malfunction, or perhaps the other side was using their array frequently, leaving no time to accept external teleportation requests. Under normal circumstances, Chen Mobai might have diverted to Golden Crow Immortal City to try his luck there, but at such a critical juncture, with his good brother's life at stake, he could no longer afford such considerations.

The Grand Void Ethereal Palace monopolized the teleportation array business not because the technology was particularly difficult, but because their power was formidable and their strength overwhelming! With Chen Mobai's talent in void-related arts, he had thoroughly dismantled and analyzed teleportation arrays long ago. With his Deity Transformation cultivation, he quickly bypassed the hidden backdoors left by the Grand Void Ethereal Palace within the array, gaining control of Nine Heavens Immortal City's array from this side. Then, amidst a violent flash of silver light, he vanished from his spot.

"Who are you?!" When Chen Mobai stepped out of the teleportation array within Nine Heavens Immortal City, the Core Formation cultivator guarding outside was utterly shocked. To maximize the power of the immortal city's grand array, all spirit veins had been channeled into the city's protective array. Furthermore, the spiritual energy fluctuations caused by the Deity Transformation cultivators' battle made teleportation extremely dangerous, which was why the array had been deliberately sealed.

"Which direction is Sky-Reaching Peak?" Chen Mobai, unwilling to waste time, directly unleashed his Deity Transformation aura, far surpassing that of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and asked.

"Senior, are you True Lord Wuchen or True Lord Dakong? Sky-Reaching Peak is to the north..." The Core Formation cultivator guarding the teleportation array was clearly a member of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect. Upon sensing Chen Mobai's aura, his expression immediately turned respectful, and he pointed the way.

Chen Mobai's vast and boundless divine sense surged northward, instantly spanning ten thousand li, and he saw Sky-Reaching Peak, which was almost submerged. He saw the dense, gloomy black clouds in the sky. Within the range covered by his divine sense, all water spiritual energy was controlled by a powerful will, transforming into a terrifying black sea of thunder that continuously bombarded the Sky-Reaching Dao-Refinement Pagoda at the mountain's summit. Within this black sea of thunder and water, a skeletal figure, glowing with colorful glazed light, wielded bone swords, clashing with the sky-filling Heavy Elemental Sword Radiance, unleashing violent roars.

"This Venerable One, Chen Guixian of the Five Elements Sect!"

After announcing his name, Chen Mobai vanished instantly from Nine Heavens Immortal City! The Core Formation cultivator, upon hearing this, widened his eyes in disbelief, but then a look of wild joy emerged. After all, the Eastern Mausoleum Region had been open for a long time, and the news of Chen Mobai possessing Deity Transformation battle strength had long since reached the Eastern Lands.

"As expected of Dao Son's close friend! So righteous and loyal, he came at such a critical moment!" Upon learning this news, a surge of hope welled up in the hearts of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect disciples left guarding Nine Heavens Immortal City, who had originally felt somewhat despairing.

At this moment, Ni Yuanzhong, who had just achieved Deity Transformation, had reached his limit. The Grand Harmony Sword in his hand struggled to block the sixth-tier peak Abyssal Calming Sea-Suppressing Pearl. He also expended his essence to activate the Sky-Reaching Dao-Refinement Pagoda's power, deflecting and neutralizing the Profound Darkness Yin Thunder unleashed by the two flood dragons. However, he could only meet the Bone King's demonic spells directly with his Heavy Elemental Sword.

*Bang!*

The fifth-tier Heavy Elemental Sword finally gave way. Under the Bone Relic's onslaught, it disintegrated into scattered water light. Having just transformed into a Deity, his realm had not yet fully consolidated. If not for the assistance of the sect's grand array, which provided an almost inexhaustible supply of true qi, he would have perished under the assault of the three Deity Transformation cultivators long ago. Even so, he could no longer hold on.

The eerie white bone bead, shimmering with glazed light, shattered the myriad sword-light shields Ni Yuanzhong had cast and slammed heavily into his chest. Along with the sound of cracking bones, Ni Yuanzhong spat out a large mouthful of blood, his chest caving in from the impact. Yet, he mustered his last reserves of strength to send the Bone Relic flying.

"Ni Yuanzhong, if you must blame someone, blame yourself for being Yuan Qingque's disciple! Die!" Witnessing this, the Bone King burst into laughter. Unable to defeat Yuan Qingque, killing his disciple was a satisfying way to vent his frustration.

"Enough idle talk, act quickly! Don't give the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect a chance to activate their hidden trump card!" At this moment, a dragon-shaped being, faintly discernible within the black sea of thunder, spoke to the Bone King. As one of the Sky River Realm's oldest and most enduring powers, nearly on par with the Water Mother Palace, the Black Flood Dragon Royal Court knew far more than the demonic cultivators.

"Heh, alright!" The Bone King, now close to exacting his revenge, did not mind being a mere tool. In any case, he had no intention of ascending to the Spiritual Void Immortal Realm. With colorful glazed light flickering in his eyes, the Bone Relic transformed into a slender bone spike, carrying a pale, chilling glow as it thrust towards Ni Yuanzhong's glabella. This was the Bone Dao's Soul Thorn; once the Nascent Soul was pierced, it would instantly dissipate, and the physical body would become an unconscious zombie, controlled at will by the Bone King.

Witnessing this, one of the slightly smaller fifth-tier flood dragons nodded slightly. But at that moment, the other dragon's expression suddenly changed.

*Boom!* A tremendous sound!

The topmost layer of the Sky-Reaching Dao-Refinement Pagoda suddenly erupted with unprecedented brilliant spiritual light, and then a graceful and lithe figure flew out from the top of the pagoda. At the same time, a silver-glowing figure stepped out from the void and, together with the graceful figure, appeared before Ni Yuanzhong, intervening to intercept the Soul Thorn.

Chen Mobai was slightly surprised to see Yuan Zhen, who had completely transformed and exuded a terrifying aura. Yuan Zhen, upon seeing him, was equally shocked.

*Clang!*

His second Nascent Soul, wielding the Primal Yang Sword, flew out and struck away the Bone King's Soul Thorn.

"You actually achieved Deity Transformation!?" Yuan Zhen stopped her movement upon seeing Chen Mobai act, her expression a mix of surprise and despondency.

As she flew out, the entire Sky-Reaching Dao-Refinement Pagoda seemed to have been drained of all its power, suddenly dimming. Then, the restrictions on the pagoda's body abruptly emerged, glowed for a moment, and then dissipated into smoke. Numerous openings, like pagoda windows, appeared, and accompanied by roars that sounded as if they had been suppressed for millennia, various monstrous beasts rushed out from within, riding on different escape lights, scattering in all directions from Sky-Reaching Peak. The Nascent Soul cultivators of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect did not pay attention to this scene; everyone was looking at the sky. After all, if this tribulation could not be overcome, neither they nor the sect would exist. Compared to that, these monstrous beasts were a minor matter.

"Eh? The Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect actually has a hidden Deity Transformation cultivator!" The Bone King was startled when he saw Yuan Zhen flying out from the top of the pagoda and the suddenly appearing Chen Mobai.

At that moment, Chen Mobai and Yuan Zhen simultaneously turned their heads. As his gaze met theirs—the familiar coldness of the former and the indifference of the latter—he suddenly shivered.

"I didn't expect the rumors to be true. You Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect really possess a method of descent from the upper realm!" At this point, the old flood dragon spoke.