Chapter 1093: Human Hearts Align

**Volume One: Main Text**

Dao De Sect.

Patriarch Baiwu and the Nascent Soul cultivators from the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages were gathered in one hall, waiting with reserved expressions.

The surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged like tides, wave after wave, towards the back mountains of the Dao De Sect. With their cultivation levels, they naturally sensed that this was a realm far beyond what Nascent Soul cultivators could refine. Connecting this with various other signs, everyone knew that this was Divine Stream, the Sect Master of the Dao De Sect, undergoing apotheosis. Sensing the surging Tier 6 spiritual energy within the mountain range, orderly and clearly defined like rivers flowing to the sea, they knew it was practically a certainty.

Truly worthy of being an ancient Sacred Land in Dongzhou. Patriarch Baiwu and the others exchanged glances, all sighing inwardly. However, a trace of unconcealable worry was visible in their eyes.

After Hongyun obtained the Heaven-Penetrating True Spirit Pill, the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages' joint exploration mission was completed. Thus, apart from a few disciples still in the Dongling Region, their Nascent Soul patriarchs had long since returned to their respective territories. A few days ago, news of the Five Elements Sect Master's successful apotheosis in Donghuang arrived, causing everyone to feel uneasy and anxious. After all, due to Patriarch Baiwu, Hongyun had once assembled the Five Lineages, intending to act against the Five Elements Sect. However, the matter was dropped only because Ye Qing appeared with the Taihe Sword to deter them. According to local customs, harboring murderous intent meant an irreconcilable enmity.

Their greatest hope, Hongyun, had mysteriously disappeared after acquiring the Heaven-Penetrating True Spirit Pill. Therefore, they were extremely worried that Chen Guixian would use his greater power to bully them. Although this Five Elements Sect Master was known throughout Dongzhou as a virtuous individual, relying on another's benevolence for one's own survival could lead to problems with a cultivator's Dao heart, even causing qi deviation. Thus, when Patriarch Baiwu contacted everyone, proposing to fully pledge allegiance to the Dao De Sect at the cost of the Pure World Pot, everyone agreed after only a brief hesitation. However, knowing that the Dao De Sect was currently focused on supporting Divine Stream's apotheosis, they planned to visit later to pledge their allegiance to True Monarch Wuchen. But before they could act on this, a notification from the Dao De Sect arrived first. It stated that True Monarch Wuchen wished to meet the representatives of the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages, specifically naming all the heads of the five lineages to come.

A summons from an apotheosis stage cultivator could not be ignored. As Hongyun of Fire Cloud Palace was missing, the Second Elder, Venerable Yanyang, came instead. They had been discussing for a while in the hall and likely understood that their summons was definitely the Dao De Sect's attempt to distance themselves from any involvement, to show that Hongyun's disappearance had nothing to do with the Dao De Sect. But how would they prove it?

As everyone wondered, an unassuming Daoist walked in. Upon seeing the Daoist, Patriarch Baiwu and all the other Nascent Soul cultivators instantly rose and bowed to him, "Greetings, True Monarch Wuchen!"

"Everyone's here, that's good." True Monarch Wuchen glanced at the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages, nodded slightly, and then took a pot from his sleeve. "This Pure World Pot was borrowed from your Five Blazing Heaven Lineages for alchemy. Now that the furnace fire has extinguished, it's time to return it to its rightful owners. Take it."

As True Monarch Wuchen's words fell, Patriarch Baiwu and the others instantly froze in place. They had thought of many possibilities, but never expected the Dao De Sect to use such a method to prove itself. The outside world had been speculating that the Dao De Sect wanted to annex the Pure World Pot, a supreme treasure of the Blazing Heaven Holy Land, which was why they acted against Hongyun. Now that True Monarch Wuchen had directly returned the Pure World Pot, this rumor would be dispelled without effort.

"This isn't right!"

"Does the Dao De Sect not value the Pure World Pot?" Patriarch Baiwu and the others, thinking from their own perspective, truly couldn't understand why the Dao De Sect would give up a treasure they had in hand. One must know that besides being immensely useful to fire-attribute cultivators, the Pure World Pot was also a supreme treasure for alchemists. Furthermore, with deeper study, it could offer the benefit of early adaptation to the fire tribulation during the nine-layered heavenly tribulation. If they were in True Monarch Wuchen's position, they would seize this opportunity to obtain the Pure World Pot, even at the cost of their reputation.

Venerable Yanyang wanted to say something, but after True Monarch Wuchen placed down the Pure World Pot, he turned and gracefully left the great hall. The Nascent Souls of the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages dared not intercept an apotheosis stage cultivator. They could only watch him leave, then exchanged bewildered glances.

"Then... are we still pledging allegiance?" After a long silence, Venerable Huowan of Fiery Sun Pavilion asked with some hesitation.

"They just don't want to accept our allegiance, that's why they returned the item!" Venerable Yanyang said irritably after hearing this.

"What do we do then?" Patriarch Baiwu's tone was slightly flustered. Among the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages, only his Sun-Bathing Sea had enmity with the Five Elements Sect. If the other four lineages didn't want to get involved, given the virtue of that person, it was unlikely they would be pursued.

"Let's divide the Pure World Pot first..." Venerable Zixuan of Scarlet Firmament Mansion spoke up. The Five Blazing Heaven Lineages were not a monolithic entity; he had initially not wanted to help Hongyun obtain the Heaven-Penetrating True Spirit Pill. He had only agreed due to circumstances. Now that Hongyun was gone and he could reclaim the pot ring he was entrusted with, it was arguably the best outcome for him.

"The treasure pot has finally been reunited; I suggest we don't divide it again. At most, our five lineages can take turns keeping it..." Venerable Jingchi of Blazing Flame Sect, however, put forward a different suggestion. His lineage did not possess a physical part of the Pure World Pot, only the refining incantation, which they had contributed along with Sun-Bathing Sea this time. Therefore, he disagreed with the re-division of the pot.

"True Monarch Wuchen said to return it to its rightful owners. I think we should divide it." As Venerable Huowan spoke, he reached for the pot lid on the table, which belonged to his lineage.

"Wait..." Venerable Yanyang immediately stopped him.

Seeing this, Venerable Huowan winked at Venerable Zixuan, who understood immediately and moved with him, intending to secure his pot ring first. But Patriarch Baiwu and Venerable Jingchi were no pushovers; they immediately joined Venerable Yanyang. The qi auras of the five Nascent Souls surged forth, actually preparing to fight right there in the Dao De Sect's grand hall!

"How dare you!"

But as soon as the five had taken their stances, a vast divine sense, like the high heavens, surged forth and suppressed all five of them. Then a large hand flew in from outside the hall, and before the five's terrified eyes, it grabbed them, causing a dizzying spin, and directly threw them out of the Dao De Sect's mountain gate. When True Monarch Wuchen threw out the Nascent Souls of the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages, he also didn't forget to toss out the Pure World Pot with them, and incidentally stimulated its spiritual light for all to see.

Outside the Dao De Sect's mountain gate, there were numerous markets and streets, and many cultivators witnessed this scene. After returning the Pure World Pot, the Dao De Sect had essentially cleared away most of the suspicion regarding Hongyun's disappearance. Even if there were still many conspiracy theorists who remained suspicious, they only dared to harbor these thoughts internally and not voice them aloud. After all, for a Sacred Land to offer an explanation to the public was already considered a model of the righteous path. If anyone remained impudent, the Sacred Land also possessed thunderous means and would not hesitate to silence them permanently.

This matter was immediately known to Chen Mobai in Donghuang. Because Heavenly Meal Pavilion coincidentally had a branch outside the Dao De Sect's mountain gate, the two Nascent Soul cultivators, Paolong and Pengfeng, immediately informed Chen Mobai after receiving spiritual transmissions from their disciples. Heavenly Meal Pavilion was very clear about the grievances between the Five Elements Sect and Sun-Bathing Sea. Back when the Five Elements Sect's liaison department hadn't been established, they relied on Heavenly Meal Pavilion to gather information about Golden Crow Immortal City.

"If Patriarch Chen wishes to act someday, I can have my disciples raise flags in the city to respond!" Paolong finished relaying the news of the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages and the Pure World Pot being thrown out of the mountain gate by True Monarch Wuchen, then began to offer advice.

"Alas, we are all righteous cultivators of Dongzhou; even if there are some minor grievances, it wouldn't come to this." After True Monarch Wuchen's statement, it became even less likely for Chen Mobai to act against the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages. Originally, he only worried that the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages might pledge allegiance to another Sacred Land. Although he was confident of being unrivaled in the vastness of Dongzhou, he certainly couldn't fall out with other Sacred Land apotheosis cultivators over this. Among them, the Dao De Sect was the most likely to accept the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages' allegiance. After all, even Chen Mobai greatly coveted a supreme treasure like the Pure World Pot. Yet, he never expected True Monarch Wuchen to be so magnanimous. After Hongyun's disappearance, instead of annexing it, he simply returned it directly.

Regarding this, although True Monarch Wuchen did not explain the reason to Chen Mobai, the latter had roughly guessed it. It must have been the combat achievements and strength he displayed while rescuing the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect that led True Monarch Wuchen to weigh the situation, concluding that the Pure World Pot was not worth antagonizing the Five Elements Sect over. Thus, he made this move, which both cleared the Dao De Sect of suspicion and forged a good relationship with Chen Mobai. Without a Sacred Land as backing, Chen Mobai could deal with the mere Sun-Bathing Sea however he pleased. Under these circumstances, he would definitely use the method that would best uphold his reputation. A direct attack with the Five Elements Sect's army would be too crude and would certainly lead to casualties, which would be detrimental to his cultivation of sacred virtue. It would be more in line with his sage-like demeanor to have the other party willingly surrender the city.

Thinking of this, Chen Mobai asked Paolong about the situation in the Profound Sea. "After the two great True Spirits of the Black蛟 Royal Court fled back to the Profound Sea in disarray, they have already begun mobilizing troops. It is expected that soon, their vanguard will arrive in the coastal waters. Golden Crow Immortal City is protected by a Tier 5 grand formation; conventionally, as long as the two True Spirits don't personally act, it can be defended..." Heavenly Meal Pavilion also had branches on some of the larger immortal islands in the Four Seas, so Paolong answered Chen Mobai's question without hesitation. The center of Golden Crow Immortal City was the Tier 5 Sun Divine Tree, the most spiritually vibrant point in the three border regions of Dongzhou, and once the nest of the True Spirit Golden Crow. After being developed by the Sacred Lands of the Eastern Land, the immortal city formed was also the crystallization of the Blazing Heaven Holy Land's efforts, with a powerful Tier 5 grand formation for defense.

"I trouble you two Daoists to pay close attention. If Golden Crow Immortal City is truly in danger of being breached, as an apotheosis stage cultivator of Dongzhou's righteous path, I will not hesitate to act." Chen Mobai said solemnly. Paolong and Pengfeng thought to themselves that this Patriarch Chen was quite a good person, but on their faces, they naturally nodded repeatedly.

"Right, what ultimately happened to the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages and the Pure World Pot?" Chen Mobai asked about the matter from the beginning again.

"Two lineages definitely couldn't beat three. Fire Cloud Palace, Sun-Bathing Sea, and Blazing Flame Sect didn't want to divide it, so even if Venerable Huowan and Venerable Zixuan were unwilling, they could only accept this fact. The news I've received is that it will temporarily be kept by Fire Cloud Palace. In the future, every twenty years, a Five Lineages Fighting Convention will be held, limited to disciples below Core Formation stage. Whichever lineage the champion belongs to, that lineage will manage the Pure World Pot for the next twenty years!" Paolong finished relaying the news he had just gathered, and Chen Mobai's expression became slightly strange.

This felt like the beginning of a story. Could it be that in the future, a prodigiously talented disciple like himself would emerge from the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages, making a splash at the Fighting Convention, gaining the Pure World Pot's recognition as its master after winning, then unifying the five lineages, rebuilding the Blazing Heaven Holy Land, and so on...? After imagining a cultivation novel, Chen Mobai felt that this matter was a good thing for him. After all, if a supreme treasure like the Pure World Pot were to be scattered for a long time, its power would certainly weaken. In the future, perhaps when the Five Elements Sect leads exploration, they might encounter a fire-attribute True Spirit similar to the Golden Flame Suan Ni, and then there would be an opportunity to borrow it. Surely the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages wouldn't refuse to lend it!

After seeing off Paolong and Pengfeng, Chen Mobai then welcomed Zhong Yue Wen, a Nascent Soul Elder from the Dao De Sect. The Dao De Sect came to congratulate Chen Mobai on his apotheosis. The gift was naturally not as lavish as that from the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect; it was merely a bottle of Tier 5 pills refined by True Monarch Wuchen, with the effects of helping stabilize one's realm and improving cultivation, specifically for cultivators in the early apotheosis stage. For Chen Mobai, these pills were basically useless, but if others around him achieved apotheosis in the future, they would be precious pills.

"Please thank Senior Wuchen for me!" After accepting it, Chen Mobai also started pondering a return gift. After all, Paolong and Pengfeng had said that there were already signs of the apotheosis heavenly tribulation gathering above the Dao De Sect's mountain gate, so Divine Stream was probably about to emerge from apotheosis seclusion. Should he package a catty of Enlightenment Tea to send over? Or should he have Qingnu refine a Tier 5 pill to opportunistically establish the Danxia Pavilion's reputation in the Eastern Lands?

Just as Chen Mobai was considering this, Zhong Yue Wen took out a letter. "This is what my master asked me to give to True Monarch." Chen Mobai took it out of curiosity and his eyebrows subtly twitched. The letter spoke of a grand event in Zhongzhou. The Saint Dao Convention, held every sixty years by the Autumn-Thousand Brushwood Forest, invited apotheosis stage cultivators from all Sacred Lands in the Heavenly River Realm to participate. At the convention, the apotheosis cultivators would trade the Heavenly River Realm's most top-tier resources, and even Tier 7 heaven and earth treasures had appeared before. Conversely, without an invitation and certification from the Autumn-Thousand Brushwood Forest, a Sacred Land's title would merely be self-proclaimed and not recognized by all Sacred Lands across the Five Continents and Four Seas of the Heavenly River Realm.

Chen Mobai's Five Elements Sect would certainly not be invited currently. However, True Monarch Wuchen stated that he would help alongside True Monarch Dakong to see if the One Yuan Dao Palace's Sacred Land qualification could be transferred to the Five Elements Sect. After all, from a lineage perspective, One Yuan and Five Elements were one family. The Five Elements Sect's rise to power now was a restoration of order. The next Saint Dao Convention was exactly sixty years away. Usually by this time, the Autumn-Thousand Brushwood Forest would have dispatched their 'World Walkers' to distribute invitations to the various Sacred Lands across the Five Continents and Four Seas.

After reading it, Chen Mobai felt indifferent. If they didn't recognize it, then so be it. Anyway, regardless, his Five Elements Sect was now the Sacred Land of Dongzhou. An additional certification recognized by the Five Continents and Four Seas of the Heavenly River Realm didn't offer him any substantial benefits. He hadn't even fully dominated the market in Dongzhou yet. Perhaps only in the future, when the resources in Dongzhou could no longer significantly enhance him, would Chen Mobai consider venturing out and looking at the entire world. For now, it was better to accumulate resources steadily. Moreover, matters of Sacred Land certification ultimately depended on strength. When the Five Elements Sect produced a second or third apotheosis stage cultivator in the future, there would be no need to exert effort; the Autumn-Thousand Brushwood Forest would probably proactively send people to Dongzhou to certify their Five Elements Sect. However, True Monarch Wuchen's intentions were good, so after reading it, Chen Mobai also picked up a brush to write a polite reply filled with gratitude.

"Please convey this to Senior Wuchen." Zhong Yue Wen immediately accepted it with both hands. Chen Mobai personally escorted him to the door and then had Gu Yan help escort him to the teleportation array.

After the Dao De Sect, the remaining Grand Void Misty Palace naturally wouldn't fail to come; Zhang Pankong personally came to congratulate. Compared to Ye Qing, who now presided over the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect, Zhang Pankong was much more relaxed. So Chen Mobai kept him in Donghuang, personally treating him to good food and drink for three days, naturally also serving him Enlightenment Tea during this time.

"True Monarch, this item definitely has a huge market. Entrust anything outside of Dongzhou to me. Whatever resources you want, I will help you contact the Daozi and Saintesses of the various Sacred Lands in other states; they will certainly be willing to provide them." Zhang Pankong woke up after drinking the Enlightenment Tea and instantly realized its value, his eyes lighting up.

"Alas, I am naturally willing, but the production is not much..." Chen Mobai actually still had dozens of catties saved, but rarity made things valuable, so he naturally had to say that. Zhang Pankong's words also fit his intentions perfectly; he wanted to use the Grand Void Misty Palace's connections to gather some materials for himself. For the Eight Sceneries Lantern of Doushuai to be promoted, it already had the Sun Divine Tree's core as its wick, but other parts like the lamp body still lacked materials. He didn't crave Tier 6 materials; Tier 5 top-grade would suffice. Chen Mobai now had great confidence in his artifact refining skills, believing that with a complete set of Tier 5 top-grade materials, he could refine the Eight Sceneries Lantern of Doushuai into a Tier 6 low-grade artifact.

"These items, I estimate the Profound Fire Sect in Nanzhou might have. I'll ask for True Monarch when I return." Zhang Pankong had 'freeloaded' the Enlightenment Tea, so he was very enthusiastic about Chen Mobai's request. "The Five Blazing Heaven Lineages might also have some, but I'm not certain..." The Grand Void Misty Palace had Sacred Land branches in all five continents, so they generally knew which powers in the Heavenly River Realm possessed which rare treasures. After all, the Five Blazing Heaven Lineages originated from a divided Sacred Land; the contents of the Blazing Heaven Holy Land's treasury were emptied by their five lineages in the past.

"I'll entrust this matter to Brother Zhang." As Chen Mobai spoke, he handed Zhang Pankong three liang of prepared Enlightenment Tea.

"Oh, how could I accept this..." Although Zhang Pankong said this, his hand movements were not slow at all; he directly took it and put it into his storage bag. "I'll return to the sect immediately and help True Monarch inquire about these materials!" After receiving the benefits, Zhang Pankong's enthusiasm was fully charged. Chen Mobai also saw him off at the door.

All three Sacred Lands had sent gifts, which made Chen Mobai quite satisfied, indicating that he had considerable standing in the Dongzhou region. Three months passed quickly, and guests continued to arrive ceaselessly at Beiyuan City. Chen Mobai had Gu Yan specially compile a list, recording all the Dongzhou powers that had come to congratulate him on his apotheosis and present gifts. Except for a few marked with a red line, such as Sun-Bathing Sea, all others would be met with a friendly attitude from Five Elements Sect disciples in the future. As for those who didn't send gifts, Chen Mobai also remembered them.

For example, One Yuan Dao Palace! He, the dignified Sect Master of the main lineage, had achieved apotheosis, yet a mere branch sect hadn't even sent a single person. Chen Mobai wasn't really looking to receive gifts; he just felt that One Yuan Dao Palace was somewhat lacking in understanding of hierarchy. Just as he was planning to use this as an excuse to visit Five Emperors Mountain and see if he could "invite over" the Primordial Bell, someone from One Yuan Dao Palace actually arrived. However, it wasn't who he expected.

It was Xiao Yuli. She was brought in by Su Ziluo. This was because Chen Mobai had previously sent Su Ziluo to contact Xiao Yuli in the Eastern Lands to contend for the title of orthodoxy, and the two women had exchanged communication talismans.

"Greetings, Sect Master!" As soon as Xiao Yuli entered the grand hall, she performed a deep bow to Chen Mobai. However, her face was slightly pale, and her aura was very unsteady; she seemed to be severely injured.

"What happened?" With his Tier 5 Hollow Valley Voice technique activated, Chen Mobai immediately sensed the chaotic Primordial Qi within her body, and a sinister, bloody demonic qi was clinging to her Dantian and Qi Sea, constantly devouring her vital energy.

"Reporting, Sect Master, while at the Dongli sect, I was attacked by Diao Xianlan of the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect and her people. Because the demonic path used a Pulse-Breaking Pearl, the formation eventually failed, and our mountain gate was breached. My sect disciples and I scattered and fled. Relying on the profundities of Primordial Qi, I barely escaped from the Jade Mirror Saint Son's grasp..." Facing Chen Mobai, Xiao Yuli revealed everything about her situation over the past years without any concealment. In the past few years, with King Baigu leading the demonic counterattack, Nascent Soul cultivators like Xiao Yuli, who had painstakingly established foundations in Dongli, mostly met such fates. Those lucky enough could escape with their lives. Those unlucky, such as the four Nascent Soul cultivators guarding Mount Huangquan for the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect, had their minds shattered by King Baigu and were turned into zombies. Her escape from Dongli was also thanks to Diao Xianlan needing to arrange a sacrificial ritual, thus not personally pursuing her. Afterward, she returned to the Eastern Lands. However, because Earth Virtue had not returned, she couldn't ascend Five Emperors Mountain and could only recover in One Yuan Immortal City at the foot of the mountain. But when the mountain gate was destroyed, she was severely wounded by Diao Xianlan's attack, hit by a Blood Spirit Demonic Light. Even with Primordial Qi, she could only suppress it, not expel or dispel it. Moreover, as time passed, this Blood Spirit Demonic Light actually grew stronger by absorbing her vital energy.

Just as Xiao Yuli was in despair, she heard the news of Chen Mobai's successful apotheosis. After thinking it over, she recalled Chen Lingming's treatment and immediately packed her belongings and came.

"How preposterous! Although you are from a branch of One Yuan Dao Palace, you are still one of my Five Elements Sect's people. The demonic path has gone too far..." After hearing this, Chen Mobai let out a cold snort, expressing his irreconcilable stance against the demonic path.

"I came this time because I wish to abandon darkness and embrace the light! Please accept me, Sect Master!" Hearing this, Xiao Yuli, enduring her injuries, knelt down and performed a deep bow.

Chen Mobai immediately stopped her.