Chapter 1193: Xuanjiao Whisk

Previously, to exchange for the Spirit Ascension Divine Pill, Xing Ji had offered the Immortal Jade Slips for the major Holy Lands to study. Chen Mobai and Qing Nü easily comprehended the formula for the Three Lights Divine Water, and Chen Mobai even deciphered the method to craft the Jade Pure Glazed Bottle.

It now appeared that True Monarch Wuchen and his group had only managed to decipher the original version of the Three Lights Divine Water formula. This version was clearly different from the one perfected over generations by the Starry Heavens Dao Sect. Even for a major alchemy sect like the Dao Sect of Virtue, it would take a long time and considerable resources to perfect the formula. Therefore, the opportunity to get the complete solution directly greatly interested True Monarch Wuchen.

Another main reason was that the Dao Sect of Virtue still had more than one Spirit Ascension Divine Pill left from their previous batch. Xuande's cultivation was still far from ready; he wouldn't need to take it for at least several decades. This extra pill was a complete windfall. In True Monarch Wuchen's view, exchanging it for the perfected Three Lights Divine Water formula from the Starry Heavens Dao Sect would be a worthwhile deal. With this, the Dao Sect of Virtue's foundation would be greatly enhanced, solidifying its reputation as the foremost alchemy sect in Eastern Continent.

However, this could potentially create a new Holy Land, so Wuchen needed to consult Chen Mobai and the others. If anyone among the Four Great Holy Lands objected, Wuchen would refuse Xing Ji accordingly. He certainly valued the current relationship with the Holy Land alliance more than the Starry Heavens Dao Sect.

"I have no objections," True Monarch Dakong spoke first. Although the formula was for the Dao Sect of Virtue, True Monarch Wuchen had promised that any Holy Land present would receive sufficient Three Lights Divine Water if needed in the future. For the Grand Void Misty Palace, just having the Three Lights Divine Water was enough, and it also allowed them to do the Dao Sect of Virtue a favor.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai knew that these two senior cultivators had already discussed and agreed before their arrival.

"Sect Master Chen, what do you think?" Ni Yuanzhong said this, implying that Chen Mobai's word was final and that the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect's opinion aligned with the Five Elements Sect.

"Since Xing Ji's devotion to the Dao is so firm, it might be good to give him another chance." Chen Mobai thought of the ten thousand acres of Coiled Dragon Spirit Rice Xing Ji had given him earlier and did not object. He was certainly willing to do a favor like this. After all, even if Xing Ji successfully reached the Divinity Transformation stage, he would still be someone Chen Mobai could easily suppress.

"Since none of the three fellow Daoists object, I will proceed with this transaction with the Starry Heavens Dao Sect. In the future, if any of you need Three Lights Divine Water, simply inform our sect in advance." Wuchen was very pleased to see the three Divinity Transformation cultivators present showing him such respect.

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Wuchen. By the way, my wife and I jointly comprehended the method for crafting the True Three Lights Divine Water from the Immortal Jade Slips. Although we currently lack a Rank 6 water-elemental material, I have only managed to refine a Rank 5 Jade Pure Glazed Bottle so far. Each dose takes a century to condense, but for Divinity Transformation cultivators like us, it's a spiritual medicine capable of bringing the dead back to life. If any of you need it in the future, you can also inform us in advance."

Chen Mobai also brought up the matter of the Jade Pure Glazed Bottle. Although Qing Nü's Danxia Pavilion had already captured most of the low-end elixir market in Eastern Continent, it still lacked a sufficient quantity of high-quality goods in the high-end elixir sector. Elixirs assisting Divinity Transformation could not yet be revealed, but this True Three Lights Divine Water was perfectly suitable. In recent years, besides what he obtained from the Immortal Sect, Chen Mobai had also acquired two more Rank 5 materials through the Flying Sand Sect of the Barren Sea and refined two Jade Pure Glazed Bottles, which he placed in the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode. There, a pond collects Heaven and Earth spiritual dew, and the Sky Curtain Earth Vein Grand Formation actively gathers the light of the sun, moon, and stars, which can halve the condensation time. Using this as Danxia Pavilion's most prized treasure would surely establish its reputation across the Five Continents and Four Seas.

"Young friend and your esteemed wife are indeed prodigies of immense talent, to have comprehended even the method for crafting this Jade Pure Glazed Bottle. This is one of the Star Palace's foundational treasures." True Monarch Dakong was greatly astonished upon hearing what Chen Mobai said.

"Young friend, if the Star Palace learns of this, there might be some trouble," True Monarch Wuchen kindly warned him. The leakage of the Starry Heavens Dao Sect's Three Lights Divine Water formula was tolerable to the Star Palace because they possessed the method for crafting the True Three Lights Divine Water, which was an extremely valuable healing divine medicine for Divinity Transformation cultivators. It was precisely by relying on this that the Star Palace could exchange for the high-level resources they needed from various Holy Lands across the Five Continents and Four Seas. Therefore, if True Monarch Yuanchen learned that Chen Mobai had comprehended this, and even refined a Rank 5 Jade Pure Glazed Bottle, he might very well stir up trouble over the matter.

"This was a fair and open transaction with the Starry Heavens Dao Sect, which all you senior Daoists can attest to. I didn't steal it from their Star Palace. If True Monarch Yuanchen wishes to fight me over this, then it might mean another Divinity Transformation cultivator will fall in Northern Continent." Chen Mobai, however, was not too concerned about this. The Bone King he had previously slain was a Demonic Dao Divinity Transformation cultivator from Northern Continent. After he cultivated his Dharma Domain, he even slew the old flood dragon. Now, throughout the entire Heavenly River Realm, only those major Holy Lands with Rank 7 Dao-Attainment treasures could make him somewhat wary. However, if True Monarch Yuanchen did not make a move, he would not provoke him either. At most, it would be a competition in the marketplace, relying on the quality of their respective products.

"Young friend speaks wisely." True Monarch Wuchen nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. If their Dao Sect of Virtue were to sell ordinary Three Lights Divine Water, it would likely displease the Star Palace. With Chen Mobai willing to bear the brunt, Wuchen no longer had to worry about it. After all, no matter how strong True Monarch Yuanchen was, he couldn't be stronger than the old flood dragon of the Profound Sea.

"I recall that the Dao Sect of Virtue's Weak Water Pond can produce Rank 6 Azure Origin Crystals. These can be used to refine the Jade Pure Glazed Bottle, can't they...?" At this moment, Ni Yuanzhong suddenly spoke. True Monarch Wuchen and Shen Xi exchanged glances. Chen Mobai was also stunned on the spot. When his Primordial Chaos Bell was being upgraded, the Dao Sect of Virtue, out of humanitarian considerations, had supplied an Azure Origin Crystal. He hadn't realized it came from this very pond.

"The Weak Water Pond does indeed still have a mature Rank 6 Azure Origin Crystal. If fellow Daoist needs it, I am willing to trade. However, the last Rank 6 artifact successfully refined in the Heavenly River Realm was by True Monarch Yiyuan, who has already ascended. Although your artifact crafting skills have reached their pinnacle, I advise you to consider it carefully." True Monarch Wuchen considered it for a moment and then continued Ni Yuanzhong's topic. For the Dao Sect of Virtue, this Rank 6 Azure Origin Crystal was historically used by cultivators who had refined the Supreme Goodness Dao Fruit, after reaching Divinity Transformation, to reconstruct their foundation and enhance their Natal Artifact. Yet, even with this Rank 6 material, it could only elevate an artifact to Rank 5. Therefore, even though Chen Mobai was already the foremost artifact crafter in Eastern Continent, True Monarch Wuchen still had reservations about him refining a Rank 6 Jade Pure Glazed Bottle. However, if Chen Mobai wanted the Azure Origin Crystal, Wuchen was willing to provide it, but it certainly wouldn't be free this time.

"Aside from the inner core, is there anything else from the old flood dragon's corpse that Senior Wuchen might be interested in?" Chen Mobai actually preferred a trade. If it were a gift, the favor would be too significant, creating an obligation; it was better to have a clear exchange of goods and money.

"Shen Xi only recently reached Divinity Transformation, and the horsetail whisk in his hand was barely upgraded to Rank 5, but its spiritual essence is quite weak. Does fellow Daoist have a way to help enhance it?" True Monarch Wuchen, being an experienced veteran, immediately understood Chen Mobai's implication and instead wanted him to help refine an artifact. Shen Xi, standing nearby, also looked expectant. His horsetail whisk artifact had consumed an unknown amount of Rank 5 resources from the Dao Sect of Virtue, even a Rank 6 Azure Origin Crystal, yet its grade was still inferior to the Fire Spirit Robe Chen Mobai wore. All the major Holy Lands in Eastern Continent hoped to enlist Chen Mobai, the foremost artifact crafter, to help refine artifacts. However, he often entered seclusion. This rare opportunity presented itself, and Shen Xi immediately presented his horsetail whisk.

"The refining technique is too crude; it's purely an upgrade by stacking materials to Rank 5..." Chen Mobai remarked after taking and examining it, his tone subtly envious, which, however, made True Monarch Wuchen and Shen Xi, the master and disciple, blush with shame.

"My dear, are the dragon whiskers and dragon tendons from the old flood dragon still available?" Chen Mobai turned his head and asked Qing Nü, who was conversing with Qi Jiansu outside the grass pavilion. She nodded and retrieved two brilliant golden-thread-like dragon whiskers and a dark-golden mass of dragon tendons from the gourd at her waist.

"I will refine this dragon tendon into the whisk's handle to serve as the new core of the artifact, then integrate the dragon whiskers, and then re-awaken the artifact's spiritual essence, merging and enhancing the original faint and chaotic spiritual energy..." After receiving the materials, Chen Mobai condensed water into a blueprint and explained his vision for upgrading the whisk to Shen Xi, the artifact's owner. He had originally intended to ask the client if they had any other ideas, so he could incorporate them all at once.

"Sect Master Chen, please proceed as you see fit. I trust your skill." But Shen Xi stated he had no other ideas, merely needing the whisk's grade to be better and its spiritual essence stronger than it currently was. This was also the norm for commissioned artifact crafting here: aspects like the artifact's functions and appearance were typically left to the artifact crafter's discretion, as long as the refinement was successful.

"In that case, it will be much simpler." Upon hearing Shen Xi's words, Chen Mobai did not add any unnecessary complications for himself and immediately began refining according to the initial blueprint. With his current artifact crafting attainments, re-refining a barely Rank 5 artifact was effortless.

The crucial dragon tendon wrapped around the end of the handle, then, under his Tushita Fire, transformed into an invisible dark-golden gas, like a black dragon vaguely emerging from clouds. It integrated into the wooden handle, appearing as if a mysterious black flood dragon, its tail unseen, had been engraved upon it. Once the texture was clear, Chen Mobai lightly pinched the two dragon whiskers, which instantly dispersed and transformed into a majestic dragon head. This head combined with the flood dragon patterns on the handle, perfectly forming a complete Dark Flood Dragon. As Chen Mobai gently waved the horsetail whisk in his hand, the dragon heads formed from the two dragon whiskers had also merged with the myriad white strands. However, upon closer inspection, two golden dragon whiskers could still be found amidst the pure white.

"Fellow Daoist, please try it and see if there are any aspects that don't feel right." Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Chen Mobai had finished re-refining Shen Xi's horsetail whisk in merely half an hour. Shen Xi took it, infused his Supreme Goodness True Qi, and immediately, an earth-shaking dragon roar resonated.

As he waved the whisk, a dark Xuanjiao True Dragon, accompanied by faint clouds and mist, roared forth. Under Shen Xi's mental command, it circled and ascended around the Weak Water Pond, causing the Rank 6 water-vein spiritual energy to tremble and ripple. Using the consecration incantation Chen Mobai had taught him, Shen Xi immediately found the Xuanjiao True Dragon to be even more responsive, as if an extension of his arm. Moreover, the newly born dragon-shaped spiritual essence of the horsetail whisk even spontaneously imparted divine abilities like Dragon Roar Wave and Profound Nether Thunder Sea. These were the innate bloodline divine abilities of the Xuanjiao clan, but Chen Mobai had perfectly preserved all the essence of the dragon whiskers and tendons during refinement, allowing these abilities to be wielded through the artifact.

"Excellent! Excellent!" The more Shen Xi tried, the more formidable he found his horsetail whisk to be. As his vast True Qi and divine sense surged into it, the Dragon Roar Wave immediately shook the heavens, causing the entire Weak Water Pond to churn with rising water pillars. The ascending spray gathered into dark storm clouds above the valley, and dazzling bolts of lightning emerged with deafening roars.

"Young friend's artifact crafting attainments seem even more exceptional than before." True Monarch Wuchen was greatly amazed by this. When Chen Mobai had previously refined the Rank 5 robe, he had also shown mastery, but not the same effortless ease as today. As for Dakong, this was his first time witnessing Chen Mobai refine an artifact, and his eyes were wide with shock.

"With young friend's skill level, I fear he truly might be able to refine that Rank 6 Jade Pure Glazed Bottle." Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai remained very modest: "Not at all, Rank 6 and Rank 5 are still quite different. I've only successfully advanced my own flying sword and the Primordial Chaos Bell, but both of those already had a solid foundation. Refining a Rank 6 artifact from scratch would still be quite challenging for me."

At this point, Shen Xi, at True Monarch Wuchen's glance, finally ceased wielding the horsetail whisk. The immense commotion had already drawn all the Dao Sect of Virtue disciples in the valley to gather. Shen Xi immediately clutched the whisk, held it before his chest, and conjured a cloud resembling a black dragon's phantom. He straightened his back, like an immortal riding a dragon, and strode towards the dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators of the Dao Sect of Virtue who had gathered around.

Soon after, the Dao Sect of Virtue disciples, having learned the truth, all looked enviously at the Dark Flood Dragon Whisk in Shen Xi's hand. Some Nascent Soul fellow disciples who had good relations with him even came closer, and Shen Xi generously offered it for them to admire his prized artifact.

"Forgive my junior's display, young friend," True Monarch Wuchen, in the grass pavilion, saw this scene and spoke to Chen Mobai with a hint of embarrassment. For the Dao Sect of Virtue, successfully refining a batch of Rank 5 elixirs was commonplace, but a powerful and highly spiritual Rank 5 artifact was something they might not encounter for hundreds, or even a thousand, years.

After Chen Mobai's skilled hands worked on it, Shen Xi's horsetail whisk was now a high-grade Rank 5 artifact, placing it among the top treasures even within the Dao Sect of Virtue's treasury. One reason was that the materials for the whisk were originally excellent. When Chen Mobai re-refined it, he activated the spiritual essence of the Azure Origin Crystal and other materials, merging them with the dragon tendons and whiskers, which allowed it to so easily ascend to high-grade Rank 5. Of course, the greatest credit undoubtedly belonged to Chen Mobai, the artifact crafter.