Chapter 1130: Bitter Bamboo Returns

On this day, Chen Mobai, who was refining pills with Qing Nü, suddenly received a message from Zhou Ye. The message stated that the cultivators of Kongsang Valley, who had been missing for a long time, had returned. Leading them was the Nascent Soul cultivator Kuzhu, along with the core disciples of Kongsang Valley whom he had taken with him during the righteous-demonic war.

After the war, to prevent ill-intentioned individuals from seizing Kongsang Valley's territory, Chen Mobai had entrusted its management to the Five Elements Sect. The core five-tier spiritual vein, lacking the suppression of a five-tier spiritual item like the Pure Bamboo, was continuously leaking spiritual energy. After his initial inspection, Chen Mobai had sealed it using his geomancy skills to prevent its grade from dropping, and he had also left a message. It was precisely because of this that Kuzhu, upon his return, immediately sent people to find the Five Elements Sect.

Zhou Ye was in charge of the Eastern Yi region. After meeting with the people from Kongsang Valley, he understood their requests and reported the matter.

"It seems Kuzhu is also a person blessed with good fortune," Chen Mobai remarked to Qing Nü, who was beside him, after reading the very detailed report.

"Since the people of Kongsang Valley have returned, should their territory be returned to them?" Qing Nü asked. According to local customs, if a spiritual vein was occupied by newcomers after its previous owners had left, then the ownership of that spiritual vein belonged to both parties. In such a situation, the most common local method would be applied: whoever had the bigger fist claimed it.

While Kongsang Valley's core five-tier spiritual vein had been sealed by Chen Mobai, the vast territory outside the vein could not be left to waste; it had long since been developed and utilized by the Five Elements Sect. Many areas had even been cultivated into herb gardens and spirit fields, filled with various medicinal herbs, spirit rice, and other crops. Qing Nü's Danxia Pavilion also held shares in all matters related to the Five Elements Sect's medicinal herbs. Therefore, she was particularly concerned about this matter.

"That depends on whether Kuzhu wants it," Chen Mobai replied with a smile.

Zhou Ye's report stated that Kuzhu wished to visit the Sect Master in Eastern Continent to express gratitude for preserving Kongsang Valley's spiritual vein. The person who had arrived earlier to handle this matter was Chen Mobai's acquaintance, True Monarch Mingwen, who was currently waiting in Beiyuan City. As soon as she received word, Kuzhu would immediately set off. Evidently, although Kuzhu had just returned, he had already thoroughly investigated the current situation in Eastern Continent and knew that Chen Mobai had reached the Incarnation stage, becoming the supreme authority of the three border regions of Eastern Continent.

"Please make the arduous trip to Beiyuan City," Chen Mobai said to Gu Yan, who was by his side. "Tell them that once my wife and I finish refining this batch of pills, we will find time to meet with Fellow Daoist Kuzhu." Gu Yan nodded softly and turned to carry out the task.

"It's time to light the fire," Qing Nü reminded him. At that moment, her hands were busy, continuously adding portions of already refined medicinal ingredients into the Pure Yang Cauldron. Chen Mobai nodded, lightly shook the Eight Scenery Lamp of Tushita in his hand, and the purplish-blue Tushita fire ignited, working in harmony with her.

The couple was currently refining the Living Blood Refinement Pill. Among the pill recipes obtained from the Pill Cauldron Jade Tree Dao Fruit, this particular one had relatively simple ingredients, as it could be refined from the first to the sixth tier. Qing Nü had previously succeeded in refining the first to third-tier versions, primarily for practice and to familiarize herself with the recipe. This current batch was a fourth-tier pill. If successfully refined, Zhuo Ming would easily be able to break through her Nine-Ren Dharma Body cultivation with its help. Furthermore, because the ingredients were quite valuable, it had taken the Five Elements Sect, despite its influence, many years to barely gather enough for one batch. Therefore, Qing Nü highly valued this endeavor and even enlisted Chen Mobai to assist with fire control.

With both of them working together, their combined skill could rival True Monarch Wuchen, Eastern Continent's foremost alchemist. The fourth-tier Living Blood Refinement Pill was naturally refined with ease, yielding ten perfect-quality pills. After successfully congealing the pills to her satisfaction, Qing Nü took them to Xiaonan Mountain. Chen Mobai, on the other hand, instantly teleported to Beiyuan City.

True Monarch Mingwen respectfully followed Gu Yan up Beiyuan Mountain. The property prices here had soared to an incredible degree during her years away from Eastern Continent, and the residence at the very top of the mountain belonged to the Incarnation stage Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect, the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Barrens. Thinking of the young man who was once at the Core Formation stage like herself, and who had achieved Incarnation and became one of the top cultivators in this realm in just over a century, True Monarch Mingwen felt as if an entire age had passed.

For cultivators, a century was neither short nor long. However, the century she had experienced felt like a complete upheaval. Kongsang Valley in the Eastern Yi region had undergone several wars, ultimately being destroyed and forced to flee to a distant land. And after their difficult return, the changes in Eastern Continent's landscape had reached a state she could never have imagined. She had originally believed that the three border regions—Eastern Wu, Eastern Barrens, and Eastern Yi—could never be unified. Yet, in the hands of the young man residing at the mountain's summit, this unification had been effortlessly accomplished.

"We're here," Gu Yan's soft voice announced. True Monarch Mingwen looked up and saw a young man with a clear spirit and refined features smiling at her in a courtyard filled with greenery.

"Long time no see." As his cultivation grew higher, the number of people Chen Mobai knew well was gradually decreasing. Thus, he was always delighted whenever he reunited with an old acquaintance.

"Greetings, True Monarch!" True Monarch Mingwen performed a grand bow with unprecedented reverence. Witnessing this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but let out a slight sigh.

"Have a seat." He took the lead, seating himself in the courtyard pavilion. Gu Yan skillfully picked up the tea set on the table and began to boil water for tea. While True Monarch Mingwen naturally didn't warrant Enlightenment Tea, he still offered her fourth-tier Purple Cloud Spirit Tea.

"Please forgive me, True Monarch," True Monarch Mingwen explained somewhat formally. "My Sect Master, Senior Brother, just received the news and is hurrying towards Beiyuan City..." Chen Mobai had instantly teleported over after emerging from seclusion, leaving no time for Kongsang Valley to react.

"No matter," Chen Mobai said, taking the teacup Gu Yan handed him. "Let's drink tea while we wait for him. Besides, I'm quite interested in the years you were missing after the righteous-demonic war."

"True Monarch, you must know that our Kongsang Valley's founding patriarch once studied at the Pure Upper Palace," True Monarch Mingwen began without any concealment, narrating her experiences of the past fifty years. "After his ascension, he left behind a sea chart leading to Western Continent..." The grand formation of Kongsang Valley was breached by an almost endless horde of demonic beasts pouring out of the Desolate Ruins. Kuzhu had no choice but to abandon the five-tier spiritual vein that had been passed down for over a thousand years, fleeing with their most precious possessions and a portion of their core disciples. They followed their patriarch's sea chart, enduring hardships as they traversed the Profound Sea and arrived at Western Continent.

However, Western Continent was very barren; its spiritual veins were even inferior to those in the three border regions of Eastern Continent. Although Kuzhu, relying on his Nascent Soul cultivation, managed to seize a four-tier spiritual vein, he also attracted powerful enemies. The owner of that four-tier spiritual vein had an older brother who was a Nascent Soul Elder of the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple, a sacred land in Western Continent. Although Kuzhu, relying on the powerful combat strength of a sword cultivator, fought that person to a draw, the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple had more than one Nascent Soul cultivator, and even an Incarnation stage cultivator. A lone sword like Kuzhu's could hardly contend against so many. Many from Kongsang Valley died in Western Continent, including Yi Chenghan, whom Chen Mobai knew well.

Hearing this, Chen Mobai let out a slight sigh. Another acquaintance was gone.

"Ultimately, relying on our patriarch's background and offering some precious spiritual items, we managed to get the Pure Upper Palace to mediate," True Monarch Mingwen continued. "Only then did the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple not deliver a fatal blow. However, they still ordered us to leave Western Continent, which is why we had to return..."

After True Monarch Mingwen finished speaking, Chen Mobai was slightly surprised. According to local customs, shouldn't the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple have pursued them relentlessly? However, it might be due to the significant influence of the Pure Upper Palace. After all, True Monarch Qingfeng was one of the Four True Ones. And although the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple's Incarnation stage True Monarch called himself "Little Thunder Immortal," he was far inferior to their founding patriarch, the "Great Thunder Immortal." The two Incarnation stage cultivators in Western Continent, by analogy, were like the difference between True Monarch Wuchen and Yuan Qingque. True Monarch Wuchen would certainly show Yuan Qingque respect.

"It's good to be back," Chen Mobai said. "Returning to your roots is definitely better than drifting abroad." He then recalled another acquaintance from Kongsang Valley. "I wonder if Junior Niece Xiao is still alive?" Back when Chen Mobai had just reached the Core Formation stage and returned to Eastern Continent, he had encountered Xiao Lingli being hunted in the Desolate Ruins, and later had met her a few more times. He had a strong impression of this exceptionally beautiful female cultivator.

"Thank you for your concern, True Monarch," True Monarch Mingwen immediately replied, visibly pained. "My disciple is still alive, but unfortunately, for most of these past fifty years in Western Continent, our sect was engaged in conflicts and battles. She originally had a chance to reach the Core Formation stage, but at a crucial moment, an antagonistic force attacked our location, and her efforts failed." True Monarch Mingwen replied immediately, her heart aching. When they had met before the Big Dipper Assembly, Xiao Lingli was already at the perfected Foundation Establishment stage. Kuzhu had taken them along precisely to purchase spiritual medicines for Core Formation, and they had successfully obtained a portion of Profound Ice Spiritual Liquid. However, while preparing for Core Formation, they encountered the righteous-demonic war. After finally securing a territory in Western Continent, they provoked even stronger enemies. To this day, she remains at the perfected Foundation Establishment stage.

"That's a pity," Chen Mobai said. "But if I recall correctly, Junior Niece Xiao isn't very old, so she still has a chance."

As Chen Mobai spoke, his expression suddenly shifted. He had sensed a Nascent Soul aura, not belonging to the Five Elements Sect, appearing at the location of the large teleportation array. He had met Kuzhu once before and immediately recognized him. Still, he was somewhat surprised because Kuzhu was already at the late Nascent Soul stage. No wonder he could withstand a Nascent Soul Elder of the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple in Western Continent and even wait for the Pure Upper Palace to intervene and save them. After roughly calculating Kuzhu's cultivation time, Chen Mobai realized how extraordinary it was. He was almost comparable to the Dao Children and Holy Maidens of the sacred lands.

Soon after, two Nascent Soul auras flew towards Beiyuan Mountain. The other was naturally Zhou Ye, who, whenever he had the chance, would travel to the Eastern Barrens, often bringing Chen Mobai local specialties or novel items from the Eastern Yi region. Accompanying Kuzhu this time provided a legitimate opportunity to formally meet Chen Mobai, so he naturally wouldn't miss it.

"Greetings, Sect Master!""Greetings, True Monarch!"

Upon entering, Zhou Ye and Kuzhu immediately bowed to Chen Mobai.

"Have a seat; the tea is ready." Chen Mobai gestured to the two seats beside him. Zhou Ye didn't stand on ceremony and sat down with Kuzhu, though he felt a slight disappointment when he saw that Gu Yan was serving Purple Cloud Spirit Tea.

"Thank you, True Monarch, for preserving Kongsang Valley's spiritual vein over these past few decades," Kuzhu said. "Please accept this small token of gratitude; it's merely a trifle." Kuzhu was also straightforward. After sitting down, he immediately presented the gift he had prepared. It was a box. Although Chen Mobai didn't open it, his five-tier "Sound of Empty Valley" cultivation allowed him to sense the unique rhythm of a heavenly material and earthly treasure he had once refined. It was Pure Bamboo. And its grade was even higher than the one he had refined previously, meaning it could only be a five-tier item! For an Incarnation stage True Monarch, this was considered a fine spiritual item.

"After all, we are neighbors; mutual assistance is only natural," Chen Mobai said. He allowed the five-tier Pure Bamboo to remain on the table without accepting it yet, and instead asked a question: "Now that Fellow Daoist Kuzhu has led your disciples back, do you plan to rebuild Kongsang Valley in Eastern Yi?"

"We only seek a place to settle, where the disciples of Kongsang Valley can live in peace and no longer suffer persecution." As Kuzhu spoke, his eyes held a hint of gloom, clearly indicating that his journey to Western Continent had caused some issues with his dao heart.

"This is the method for unsealing it." Chen Mobai took out a jade slip he had prepared earlier and handed it to Kuzhu.

"Thank you, True Monarch." Chen Mobai's accommodating nature made Kuzhu, who had experienced so much hardship in Western Continent, feel that his homeland was truly better, especially with such virtuous individuals.

Kuzhu received it with both hands and read through the jade slip, which contained the complete set of techniques Chen Mobai used to seal the spiritual vein. Kongsang Valley was renowned for its formations. Although Kuzhu was a sword cultivator, he also cultivated the path of formations. After reading it once, he understood how to remove the seal.

"Fellow Daoist, there's something I need to tell you upfront," Chen Mobai stated. "After the righteous-demonic war ended, to prevent potential future invasions by demonic beasts, I embedded formation plates and flags into all the spiritual veins under the Five Elements Sect's jurisdiction. This way, in case of danger, a massive formation can be activated to protect all humans under my sect's command. Your esteemed sect's Kongsang Valley spiritual vein is no exception. Even if you unseal it, you must not remove those formation plates and flags. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless." Chen Mobai's ambition was to cover all the Five Elements Sect's territory with the Heaven-Earth Net Great Formation, and naturally, Kongsang Valley's spiritual vein was not overlooked. Besides this, he had also secretly embedded the Primordial Five Elements Extinction Divine Thunder, but he chose not to inform Kuzhu, so as not to make him anxious and unable to meditate peacefully.

"Understood, True Monarch." Kuzhu had no leverage to bargain with an Incarnation stage True Monarch. Chen Mobai returning Kongsang Valley to him was already a great source of joy. He knew that upon learning of the situation after his return, he had originally planned to lead True Monarch Mingwen and others to open up a new spiritual vein in the Desolate Ruins. It was True Monarch Mingwen who knew of Chen Mobai's noble character, believing that since he had left a stele inscription, he would certainly not usurp the territory and was even willing to take the initiative to test the waters. Indeed, she was correct. The Azure Emperor of the Five Elements Sect was truly a rare and sagely figure in Eastern Continent.