Chapter 1234: Five Elements Sect's Imperial Court Atmosphere

Pure Nine-Lotus Treasure Lamp

While Chen Mobai was in seclusion, his maidservant Gu Yan naturally had little to do, so Qing Nü arranged for her to help out at Danxia Pavilion. Currently, Qing Nü's Danxia Pavilion is the leader in the low-end elixir market in East Continent. Its operations are very busy, even giving rise to the profession of personal shoppers, and Xue Ting was completely overwhelmed. However, compared to what was truly important, business was a minor matter.

Upon receiving the news, Gu Yan immediately rushed to Yellow Dragon Grotto-heaven. She was also very pleasantly surprised to see Chen Mobai.

"Old Ancestor, Madam, this is the latest news from Senior Brother Liang of Danxia Pavilion's Northwest East Continent Branch," Gu Yan said upon her arrival, bringing an urgent communication talisman.

After reading it, Chen Mobai was slightly surprised. Danxia Pavilion had now branched out across various regions of East Continent. Besides selling elixirs, it also served as an intelligence-gathering network. In the harsh and cold Northwest, Liang Lingzhen, an Outer Sect Golden Core cultivator from the Five Elements Sect, had been sent to oversee operations.

The communication talisman reported that a while ago, in the Northwest of East Continent, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth suddenly surged towards one location, as if a powerful cultivator was breaking through a realm. It was important to note that Liang Lingzhen had witnessed major events; in his youth, he had even fought alongside Chen Mobai. Comparing the current phenomenon to the formation of a Nascent Soul by Chen Lingming in Beiyuan City, he realized that the scale of this spiritual energy surge far surpassed that previous event.

In other words, someone achieved Deity Transformation!? The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was still surging, but there were no signs of a heavenly tribulation forming. Liang Lingzhen dared not venture closer to such a place, so he immediately sent the message. However, Chen Mobai figured that by the time he received it, other Sacred Lands in East Continent would likely also be aware.

Northwest East Continent, Deity Transformation... These two keywords immediately made Chen Mobai recall True Monarch Suiyu, whom he had encountered in the Frozen Mausoleum. Had the Sage-Reaching True Spirit Pill that Han Xingzi exchanged from him truly allowed Venerable Luoying to achieve Deity Transformation? Thinking of this, he couldn't sit still.

"What's wrong?" Qing Nü, who was beside him, saw Chen Mobai's solemn expression and couldn't help but ask curiously. It was worth noting that Chen Mobai's cultivation had already reached the pinnacle of the Heavenly River Realm; even the old flood dragon above the Profound Sea had been slain by him.

"I'm afraid I'll need to make a trip to the Northwest of East Continent," Chen Mobai said, handing the communication talisman to Qing Nü and sharing his speculation.

"If it truly is an ascended cultivator possessing someone, will there be danger?" Qing Nü listened and was very worried.

"Don't worry, my true body will remain here. I'll send my second primordial spirit to investigate." Chen Mobai, having learned his lesson once, wouldn't take risks even without Qing Nü's warning. Although there was no warning from the Tongtian Zhi this time, for caution's sake, he decided to use an avatar as a safeguard. Furthermore, Chen Mobai also informed the other three great Sacred Lands of East Continent about this matter. He figured that the emergence of a new Deity Transformation cultivator, possibly even an "ascended cultivator," would certainly pique the interest of Wuchen and the others.

"That's good then." Qing Nü was relieved after hearing that. A flash of fire behind Chen Mobai's head, and a crystal-clear treasure bead transformed into a rainbow light, piercing through the void. Carrying the Pure Yang Set, it departed Yellow Dragon Grotto-heaven and flew towards the Northwest of East Continent.

The Northwest region of Eastland, though harsh and cold, was not barren. As Chen Mobai's second primordial spirit slowly made its way there, he discovered that most of the soil contained spiritual energy; some areas were even direct spiritual fields. However, due to the cold climate, only a few types of cold-resistant low-grade spiritual rice could be cultivated, making it the least desirable place for cultivators in Eastland. Even the three great Sacred Lands of Eastland rarely came here to recruit disciples. This was because, compared to the core region of Eastland where one out of ten children might possess spiritual roots, the probability here was only 24%.

This region of Eastland had been the core of humanity since the establishment of the Eastland Imperial Court. Spiritual fields were everywhere, and spiritual veins could be found anywhere. One could simply sow seeds and harvest fragrant spiritual rice. It was for this reason that the human race, originally rooted here, was physically strong and full of vitality, with spiritual root holders being exceptionally common. According to the records that Jiang Zongheng brought back from the Imperial Court Secret Realm, during the prosperous era of the Human Emperor, almost every household had someone with spiritual roots. From grand immortal cities to humble villages, cultivators established private academies, charging spirit stones, spiritual rice, and other resources as tuition, and teaching Qi cultivation techniques and methods of immortal cultivation. It was precisely this massive base of cultivators that led to the grand achievements of the Eastland Imperial Court.

However, every dynasty has a time when prosperity wanes. With Eastland's abundant fertile land, naturally, there were those who coveted it. Many common people, hoping to secure an immortal path for their children, were willing to sell their spiritual land in exchange for cultivation resources, or even cultivation techniques and divine ability manuals. However, 99% of these efforts ultimately amounted to nothing. Meanwhile, the upper class continuously spread rumors of impoverished commoners achieving overnight success through immortal cultivation, using this method to entice and acquire the spiritual land resources held by the populace.

By the mid-period of the Eastland Imperial Court, land annexation had become extremely severe, with over 90% of the nation's spiritual fields in the hands of powerful aristocrats and major sects, leading to the common people being unable to afford spiritual rice. Under such circumstances, naturally, there were those who awakened. A failed scholar, whose family was ruined due to immortal cultivation, led the lower-class cultivators in an uprising, sparking widespread rebellions across the Eastland Imperial Court. Although the Eastland Imperial Court relied on its powerful heritage and strength to suppress all the rebel forces, it could not extinguish the raging fire burning in the hearts of the common people.

The surviving rebels had initially fled to the harsh and cold Northwest region of Eastland. While evading the pursuit of the Ten Directions Palace, they continued to fan the flames, making the world aware of the corruption of the Eastland Imperial Court. In this process, the rebel army, originally committed to righteousness, began to become radicalized, merging with the Demonic Dao, and even evolving into a part of it. What followed was centuries of slaughter by the Ten Directions Palace against the remnants of the rebel army.

Relying on its strong foundation, the Eastland Imperial Court suppressed and eliminated this uprising. However, to prevent such events from happening again, that generation's Human Emperor, unable to reform himself because the imperial family was the largest landowner, decreed that immortal cultivation was forbidden among the populace. Anyone discovered practicing it would have their Qi Sea destroyed and be exiled to the harsh and cold Northwest. In this way, the art of immortal cultivation became exclusive to the upper-class aristocrats and sects. As long as the lower classes had no power, any form of resistance could be easily suppressed. The Human Emperor intended to ensure the eternal stability of his reign through this.

Unfortunately, this action only weakened the Eastland human race, eventually leading to the Human Emperor's death in battle against a formidable enemy and the collapse of the Imperial Court. After the Eastland Imperial Court, the inheritors of this fertile land of Eastland were the three great Sacred Lands of East Continent. To prevent further uprisings, the Daoist Virtue Sect advocated a policy of small states with sparse populations. Within Eastland, there were over a hundred large and small countries. This arrangement prevented the formation of dragon veins and also kept them from accumulating power like sand gathering into a tower. Even if one country collapsed, it would at most lead to a localized deterioration, allowing it to self-regulate.

Moreover, under the Daoist Virtue Sect's allocation, each of these hundred-plus countries had, or once had, a Nascent Soul force, considered their designated territory. Even if one force rose and gained a few more Nascent Soul cultivators, the Nascent Soul forces in the surrounding countries would immediately become alert and unite to suppress them. Unless an extraordinary figure like Chen Mobai emerged against the natural order, it would be almost impossible for a new Sacred Land to develop under this policy. And in such circumstances, if a Sacred Land still managed to emerge through the competition, the Daoist Virtue Sect would acknowledge it. Compared to the Eastland Imperial Court, the current three great Sacred Lands of East Continent were willing to allow lower-tier forces to see a path for advancement. This aligned with the Immortal Sects' system. One could only say that all great paths lead to the same destination; the wisdom of the ancient sages led them to similar solutions.

However, because of this, the current situation in East Wilderness now somewhat resembled the prosperous era of the Eastland Imperial Court. After all, under the Five Elements Sect, thanks to Zhuo Ming, the master of agriculture, there was no shortage of food. Mortals could even have a meal of spiritual rice every few days. East Wilderness, being the earliest to implement agricultural reforms, experienced a population boom. A couple would have at least five or six children, some even more than ten. With sufficient spiritual rice and meat for nourishment, the physical quality of the new generation of humans had already caught up to that of the Eastland Imperial Court's prosperous era. Almost every household had children with spiritual roots. Furthermore, among the mortal families under the Five Elements Sect, a trend had emerged where they would continue to have children until one was born with spiritual roots.

In contrast to Eastland, where the three great Sacred Lands and hundreds of Nascent Soul forces shared the resources, the three border regions of East Continent were currently left for the Five Elements Sect to choose from. Parents of all children found to have spiritual roots would go to great lengths to send them to the various academies of the Five Elements Sect. This was even true for Eastland, East Mausoleum, and East Mountain—three regions not under the Five Elements Sect's direct control. Even students from the more distant East Dawn region were present in the Five Elements Sect's academies. Only those who were eliminated from these academies would consider joining other sect forces. It was precisely for this reason that, while the Five Elements Sect's number of Nascent Soul and Core Formation cultivators still lagged among the Sacred Lands, its Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation cultivators had, within the last century, surpassed others, making it number one in East Continent.

Chen Mobai recalled these matters because True Monarch Wuchen had mentioned them. The Deity Transformation cultivators of their four great Sacred Lands in East Continent were currently above the Snow Mountain Sect.

"Young friend Chen, given this trend, I imagine that in a few hundred years, the combined number of disciples from our three sects might not even compare to your Five Elements Sect alone," True Monarch Wuchen said meaningfully.

"Oh, I didn't expect the three border regions of East Continent to be managed by young friend into such a prosperous era like the Imperial Court," Grand Void True Monarch seemed to have just learned of this. Hearing Wuchen, he was greatly impressed and slightly surprised.

Ni Yuanzhong, on the other hand, remained silent.

Chen Mobai naturally understood their meaning and chuckled, "I was just lucky. In my youth, I took Ming'er as a disciple. She improved many spiritual rice seeds, and even mundane rice seeds, ensuring everyone had enough to eat, which led to the Five Elements' current prosperity."

True Monarch Wuchen, knowing Chen Mobai's character, praised Zhuo Ming a couple of times, then directly laid out the issue: "Young friend, you've been in seclusion these past years, but you might not know that in the hundred countries of Eastland, many children with spiritual roots are painstakingly sent by their parents to your East Wilderness for entrance exams, just to join your Five Elements Sect. This matter has caused considerable complaints among many local forces in Eastland, who have approached our sect, hoping we would represent them in conveying this situation to you."

The three great Sacred Lands themselves were not significantly affected, as those who could enter a Sacred Land would certainly not travel thousands of miles to the Five Elements Sect. This was because the Five Elements Sect treated everyone equally, regardless of their spiritual root talent. One had to pass an entrance exam and then maintain satisfactory grades throughout six years in the academy to qualify for joining the sect. In other words, there was one screening for academy admission, and another for sect entry. In recent years, those who managed to join the Five Elements Sect, aside from a few recommended by the academy, were all the most fiercely competitive individuals. Consequently, even being a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator doesn't guarantee a spot among the Five Elements Sect's top ten true disciples, given the intense competition. Last year, a peak Foundation Establishment disciple who failed to become a true disciple even managed to successfully form a Golden Core out of sheer frustration upon returning to his grotto-heaven. This matter greatly surprised Chen Mobai when he heard about it. He estimated that even his past self, if he were to compete, might not be able to suppress all cultivators of the same realm in the current Five Elements Sect.

"Since a senior has spoken, I will certainly show respect," Chen Mobai said. "How about this: After I return, I will issue a new policy to permit private academies, allowing forces other than the Five Elements Sect to establish academies and recruit students in the three border regions of East Continent. However, they may only use recruitment policies within permitted limits. Furthermore, after recruitment, students must study locally for a full six years, and only with the student's voluntary consent can they be taken to Eastland."

As Chen Mobai finished speaking, True Monarch Wuchen and the other two Deity Transformation cultivators all widened their eyes.

"Can our three sects also go?" Wuchen asked, a little embarrassed. Although the appeal of their three sects still surpassed that of the Five Elements Sect in East Continent, the hundreds of millions of robust people in the three border regions of East Continent, nearly matching the population during the Eastland Imperial Court's prosperous era, still made them extremely covetous. Primarily, if they didn't compete, in a few hundred years, the Five Elements Sect might single-handedly surpass their three sects combined in terms of disciple quantity and quality. However, Chen Mobai's cultivation was too strong, and their relationship was also quite good, so they couldn't resort to other means. Originally, they had planned to wait until Chen Mobai ascended, then find a way to divide the Five Elements Sect's massive demographic dividend. But unexpectedly, Chen Mobai was so agreeable and opened it up directly.

"Of course, fair competition is welcome," Chen Mobai said. "After all, it's not a good thing for my sect to be dominant alone. As my cultivation grows higher, it becomes impossible for me to micromanage every single matter below. As time passes, there will undoubtedly be corruption and collusion among sect disciples. Having major sects from your Eastland Sacred Lands come to establish academies can also impose some restraint on those below, preventing them from acting recklessly and getting carried away, and also providing them with some competitive pressure. We must learn from the lessons of the Eastland Imperial Court's past mistakes."

Chen Mobai's last sentence made Wuchen and the other two shiver slightly.