After returning to the Eastern Wilderness, Chen Mobai consulted E Yun about the current situation in the Eastern Continent and learned that there was nothing requiring his intervention. However, for him, now a Deva, only the movements of the Black Flood Dragon Royal Court would likely prompt him to act.
"Sect Master, among the cultivators venturing out to sea from the Eastern Yi region, encounters with demonic beasts from the Black Sea are indeed frequent. Both the power level and the number of these beasts are significantly higher than before..."
E Yun relayed the intelligence Chen Mobai was interested in: many demonic beasts from the Black Flood Dragon Royal Court had gathered along the coastline near Golden Crow Immortal City. However, they were merely amassed and waiting, not yet officially emerging from the sea to attack the Eastern Continent's mainland.
In addition to the territory of the Sunken Sun Sea, the Five Elements Sect also possessed a small area bordering the Black Sea. Cultivators from the Eastern Yi region believed that with Chen Mobai, a Deva True Lord, presiding over the Five Elements Sect, the Black Flood Dragon Royal Court would show some deference, so they consistently chose that route for their sea expeditions. Little did they know, Chen Mobai was precisely the one the Black Flood Dragon Royal Court detested most.
However, since a full-scale war had not yet erupted, many rogue cultivators remained unaware of this high-level intelligence and continued to bravely venture out to sea in search of underwater resources. Even when treasure ships capsized in the Black Sea, people simply attributed it to the misfortune of those aboard.
"Issue a notification in the sect's name to prevent unnecessary casualties."
Chen Mobai was also unprepared for a large-scale war with the Black Flood Dragon Royal Court. After all, though the Five Elements Sect could currently mobilize over a million cultivators, they still couldn't compare to the forces of the Black Sea. It would be better to reconsider this matter after the Eastern Mausoleum Region is fully developed, the major righteous sects of the Eastern Continent can spare their efforts, and those few Soul-Connecting True Spirit Pills have yielded their results. The Black Sea is not like the Barren Sea.
With this in mind, Chen Mobai inquired about the situation in the Eastern Mausoleum again. By now, Xing Ji and Tu De should have settled their contest.
"Sect Master, because Sect Master Shen Xi of the Daoist Sect successfully passed his Deva Heavenly Tribulation a year ago, True Lord Wuchen is currently assisting him in consolidating his cultivation. As a result, True Lord Wuchen cannot spare time to go to the Eastern Mausoleum Region, and thus, the exchange for the final half Soul-Connecting True Spirit Pill has been further postponed..."
E Yun replied with the information he possessed, which had been relayed by Five Elements Sect disciples stationed in the Eastern Mausoleum. This matter had also caused quite a stir a year prior. At that time, Xing Ji's Morality Coins had already surpassed Tu De's, meaning he could, according to their prior agreement, exchange for and receive the Soul-Connecting True Spirit Pill. However, this current delay could very well lead to complications.
Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai mused that Tu De had rather good fortune to be granted such an extension. If Tu De could seize this opportunity to hunt a Fourth-Tier demonic beast, he might even be able to surpass Xing Ji.
"Currently, the Star Heaven Dao Sect is using public opinion to exert pressure, aiming to finalize the ranking first, with the Soul-Connecting True Spirit Pill exchange to follow. The One-Yuan Dao Palace, however, insists that the actual exchange time should be the determining factor."
E Yun detailed the situation in the Eastern Mausoleum Region, noting that the overall stability was maintained due to the presence of numerous Nascent Soul cultivators from the Daoist Sect, reinforced by personnel from the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect and the Grand Void Misty Palace.
"Sect Master, since the One-Yuan Dao Palace is now our branch sect, should we intervene and offer assistance?" After completing his report, E Yun couldn't help but pose the question. Having followed Chen Mobai for many years, his perspective had broadened considerably. Assisting their own would certainly be better than helping outsiders.
"True Lord Wuchen personally made the decision regarding this matter back then. He has his own judgment, so I will not get involved." Chen Mobai shook his head. Apart from that reason, it was also because he had pledged neutrality when he originally departed the Eastern Mausoleum Region.
The Coiled Dragon Spirit Rice is now one of the Five Elements Commerce Association's signature products. Zhuo Ming even intends to crossbreed it to cultivate new Fourth-Tier spirit rice. Given his current status and cultivation realm, it would be impossible for him to renege on his word after accepting gifts.
"Yes, Sect Master. There's one more piece of highly confidential intelligence from the Sky Restaurant regarding the Grand Void Misty Palace. It states that Palace Master Biluo likely also consumed a Soul-Connecting True Spirit Pill, but it seems she may have failed."
As E Yun spoke, he produced a jade slip. The two Nascent Soul cultivators, Pao Long and Peng Feng, had been completely won over by Chen Mobai. Moreover, in the Eastern Wilderness, using precious ingredients such as the flesh of the Li Li beast and flood dragon blood, they had achieved rare breakthroughs in their cultivation. Consequently, any intelligence gathered by the Sky Restaurant that was deemed important to the Five Elements Sect was now copied and sent to E Yun.
After Chen Mobai took the jade slip and finished reading, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly, a look of disappointment on his face. Among the three Sect Masters of the Eastern Lands Holy Sites, both Shen Xi and Ni Yuanzhong had successfully ascended to the Deva realm, but Palace Master Biluo had failed. Given that the Grand Void Misty Palace is the foremost holy land in the Heavenly River Realm, with foundations undoubtedly superior to those of the Daoist Sect and the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect, her failure could only be attributed to insufficient talent. Fortunately, Zhang Pankong and Shan Miaosu of this generation possess exceptional talent; otherwise, Chen Mobai would genuinely worry about a lack of successors for the Grand Void Misty Palace in the Eastern Continent after True Lord Dakong.
Next, Chen Mobai recalled his promise to Palace Master Biluo when he was in Eastern Mausoleum Immortal City: to bring someone to benefit from the Fifth-Tier artifact refiner's quota when forging magical artifacts. He currently possessed materials from two true spirits, the Golden Flame Suan Ni and the Li Li. He planned to refine a Fifth-Tier magical robe for himself using the former. After all, the Pure Yang set offered greater combined power, and in future duels, his second primordial spirit would primarily wield it, necessitating a separate robe for his main body. For some time, he had been working on design plans and sketches, which were now nearing completion. As for the Li Li's fur and tusks, he intended to refine a magical robe and a pair of hooked flying swords for Zhuo Ming.
Beyond these, what he valued most was the upgrading of the Eight Sceneries Lantern of Tushita. However, as not all the necessary materials had been collected, he could only postpone it for now. Once he refined his Five Elements Immortal Spirit Root using the Immortal Art of Mending Heaven, he could begin preparations for refining the two magical robes and flying swords.
After giving E Yun some final instructions, Chen Mobai returned to the Yellow Dragon Cavern. Qing Nü was still in seclusion, so he instructed the little Yellow Dragon Maiden before sealing off his cultivation chamber. With a wave of his hand, two glass bottles and a Grand Chun Immortal Fruit materialized beside him.
The glass bottles, of course, contained Heavenly Realm Pure Water. One was full, while the other had only a thin layer left at the bottom. The full bottle had been requested by Chen Mobai from the Water Immortal; since it could be refined again in the future, there was no need to preserve it for legacy. The Water Immortal granted it without hesitation the moment he asked. The other bottle contained the remainder from Chen Mobai's own use.
Gold: 40, Wood: 53, Water: 99, Fire: 100, Earth: 100.
After activating his spirit testing device and examining his current spiritual root data, Chen Mobai nodded in satisfaction. He had intentionally kept his Water Spirit Root at its current level; refining just one drop of Heavenly Realm Pure Water would complete it to 100 points, allowing him to attain comprehension of the Dao for the Immortal Spirit Root. His Gold Spirit Root, on the other hand, was the result of his arduous cultivation of Alchemy over the years. With the Grand Chun Immortal Fruit now in his possession, he no longer needed to wait for his Gold Spirit Root to reach 50 points. He merely needed to utilize the Immortal Art of Mending Heaven to fully charge his Gold Spirit Root using the values of his Wood and Water Spirit Roots, then replenish the rest using Heavenly Realm Pure Water and the Grand Chun Immortal Fruit.
Before that, Chen Mobai decided to first attempt to comprehend the Dao with his Immortal Water Spirit Root, to see if he could seize two opportunities for enlightenment — one before and one after performing the immortal art. He opened the nearly empty glass bottle and carefully condensed the last thin layer of Heavenly Realm Pure Water inside into a single drop, which he then extracted. With a gentle intake, this drop of Heavenly Realm Pure Water was absorbed into his kidney and bladder organs. He was intimately familiar with this process. With each breath, Chen Mobai felt his Water Spirit Root seemingly complete its final increment, achieving a state of perfection.
Chen Mobai closed his eyes with a hint of anticipation. Gradually, he felt his primordial spirit seemingly turn transparent, enveloped by an inexplicably gentle force, as if it traversed infinite void and ascended to the highest heavens. In that moment, he felt as if he had become a single drop of water, joining countless other water droplets around him, he transformed into a gentle, continuous rain, descending from the sky with life-nourishing vitality. His consciousness ceaselessly roamed and transformed within the forms of rain, dew, and mist. Some drops fell into high mountains, becoming springs; others formed rivers and vast lakes. Each drop of water conveyed the power of this Great Dao to Chen Mobai, along with the past and future it encompassed.
Chen Mobai felt the power of water: its inclusivity, its formlessness, its gentleness. It nourished all things, yet could also destroy everything. The Water Dao Fruit he had previously comprehended was now thoroughly understood. He even felt he could easily achieve the Deva realm now, even if he were to cultivate the Black Emperor Profound Darkness Scripture.
As his comprehension of the Dao deepened, Chen Mobai's consciousness expanded further. He seemed to hear the sounds of every body of water in the Heavenly River Realm and feel the pulse of every flowing current. His primordial spirit also appeared to be cleansed and softened during this process, gradually undergoing a profound transformation that even he did not consciously perceive.
Suddenly, Chen Mobai felt his consciousness, along with countless water flows, merge into the boundless ocean, moving deeper and deeper with the circulating seawater. Gradually, a dark, profound sea eye appeared before him. It is said that at the dawn of the Heavenly River Realm's creation, there was a spring from which an endless supply of water flowed. Under the guidance of the Water Mother, this water irrigated a vast Heavenly River within the void. Could this be the very spring from creation?
This thought flashed through Chen Mobai's mind. He felt his consciousness being drawn by a faint, ethereal glow, compelling him to rush forward and merge with the spring. As he drew nearer, he seemed to perceive the fundamental origin of the Heavenly River Realm—a splendor that defied verbal description. He could discern all the Great Daos he cultivated being nurtured within it, while those he couldn't comprehend were likely the remaining Great Daos. Chen Mobai wanted to ascertain if there were indeed three thousand Great Daos, but at that moment, a bell chime seemed to resonate from beyond the heavens, reverberating through the deepest core of his mind.
Inside the Yellow Dragon Cavern, Chen Mobai abruptly opened his eyes, infinite ripples of water seemingly undulated within their depths. He had been pulled back from his Dao comprehension by his natal magical artifact, the Morning Bell. Had he continued to immerse himself, he might have risked assimilation with the fundamental Great Dao of the Heavenly River Realm.
He breathed gently. As he inhaled, the dense water spiritual qi within the Yellow Dragon Cavern surged into his mouth and nose like mist. The moment he exhaled, it transformed into a life-nourishing rain, brimming with vitality and vigor, as if sustaining all creation. This was the culmination of his Dao comprehension: a complete enlightenment of all the inheritances contained within the Water Dao Fruit. However, for Chen Mobai, it was rather regrettable, as its practical utility to him was limited. After all, with Lü Wuyin's assistance and his existing Deva realm cultivation, he would have achieved this sooner or later anyway.
He sat upright on his meditation cushion, unable to resist closing his eyes and replaying the process of his recent Dao comprehension. He had an intuition that the spring he had witnessed was likely the very origin of this world. If that spring contained the power of creation, a fusion of the Three Thousand Great Daos, then his previous conjectures could essentially become reality. At this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. If it were truly the power of creation, he wouldn't dare covet it in the slightest. If he had known this sooner, he would have sought enlightenment on Geo-Star. To encounter such a vast opportunity in the Heavenly River Realm, yet not dare to entertain any thoughts of seizing it. After all, he was only at the Deva realm currently.
"It seems this opportunity for Dao comprehension was wasted..." After calming his mind, Chen Mobai spoke with a hint of regret.
Just as he projected his second primordial spirit and prepared to cast the Immortal Art of Mending Heaven upon himself, he noticed something amiss.
"Hmm!" Chen Mobai carefully observed his second primordial spirit. Though its appearance was identical, he could sense that the primordial spirit itself had undergone a change. The second primordial spirit's true form was the Pure Yang Treasure Pearl, condensed from innate fire spiritual qi. It always emitted an aura of extreme Yang and extreme rigidity. But now, this aura had inexplicably changed, becoming notably softer. Chen Mobai immediately immersed his consciousness, beginning a more detailed and comprehensive control of his second primordial spirit to discern the profound changes within it. But he soon discovered that his main primordial spirit had also undergone the same change.
He couldn't help but enter meditation, beginning to investigate the source of this change. Gradually, the Fifth-Tier water spiritual qi within the Yellow Dragon Cavern continuously surged towards him. In the deepest recesses of his mind, the true meaning of the Pure Yang Scroll left by Daoist Zixiao was activated. He glimpsed a corner of a Great Dao that he had long been unable to access: The Innate Yin-Yang Great Dao! This was the Great Dao through which Daoist Zixiao attained transcendence. As a student of Zixiao Palace, Chen Mobai had also held aspirations for this, but even Lü Wuyin possessed no means of comprehending this particular Great Dao.
He had always believed that the Yin-Yang Great Dao was simply the combination and sublimation of pure Yang and pure Yin. Only now did he realize how fundamentally mistaken that belief was. While the combination of pure Yang and pure Yin does represent Yin-Yang, it is merely one of the countless manifestations of the Yin-Yang principle. This Great Dao encompasses all forces in heaven and earth that are both opposing and interdependent. Pure Yang and pure Yin embody the Yin-Yang Great Dao; cold and heat are also aspects of the Yin-Yang Great Dao; light and darkness are quintessential Yin-Yang; and water and fire similarly represent the Yin-Yang Great Dao.
During this process of comprehending the Dao with his Immortal Water Spirit Root, Chen Mobai's understanding of both the Water and Fire Great Daos reached a state of perfect unity in opposition. This passively triggered the true meaning of the Pure Yang Scroll left by his teacher, thus allowing him to embark on the Innate Yin-Yang Great Dao.
[1 minute ago] Chapter 297: "Reappearance"
[1 minute ago] Chapter 2686: Select One
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