Chapter 1238: West Continent

Chen Mobai's first thought was to ask, "Whose child is it?"

Ye Qing replied, "She said it's Ku Zhu's."

"So it's Ku Zhu," he thought. "He always seemed so upright, but I never expected him to be this kind of person." Hearing this, Chen Mobai finally understood the meaning of the idiom, "You can't judge a book by its cover." He had always thought Ku Zhu was an ascetic, like Mo Douguang, solely devoted to the sword.

Lamenting his own poor judgment, Chen Mobai then asked about Xuan Shui and Ku Zhu. Ye Qing didn't know much, but it was clear that Xuan Shui was sincere; after all, Nascent Soul cultivators wouldn't have offspring if it wasn't true love. Furthermore, after Ye Qing rescued Xuan Shui, her immediate request was to save Ku Zhu.

"Who attacked them?" Chen Mobai asked. Although Chen Mobai had only met Xuan Shui a few times, she was still under his command, and he wouldn't tolerate her being bullied in such a way.

Ye Qing then relayed the information she had received from Xuan Shui: "The leader was a Nascent Soul elder from the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple, accompanied by several other Nascent Soul cultivators from West Continent sects allied with them. During the era of the Eastern Earth Imperial Court, the Great Thunder Immortal had a good relationship with our Nine Heavens Demon Extermination Sect, so I couldn't bring myself to kill them. I merely struck once with my sword to scare them off.

"After rescuing Xuan Shui, and out of respect for you, I went to the place where she and Ku Zhu had separated. It seems that after arriving in West Continent, the couple accidentally stumbled into an ancient ruin. Inside, there was a 'Love Flower' that stimulated desires, and its intoxicating fragrance confused them, leading to their marital relations while in a dazed state.

"Ku Zhu proved to be a responsible man; after that incident, he and Xuan Shui became dao companions. They lived together in the ruins for many years, even preparing to abandon their past grievances and remain there for the rest of their lives. That's why they decided to have a child.

"However, who could have known that the ruin was actually a forbidden area for the two major Holy Lands and several great sects of the West Continent, who would send disciples in periodically to harvest resources? After Ku Zhu and Xuan Shui were discovered, Ku Zhu fought with all his might to hold back the cultivators who entered the ruin, allowing Xuan Shui to escape. It was then that she fortunately encountered me.

"When I brought Xuan Shui back to the ruin, I found it had been resealed. It must have been left by an Ascended cultivator, so I dared not trespass. Afterward, I went to the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple and discussed the matter with Little Thunder Immortal. However, he claimed that Ku Zhu had a long-standing feud with their sect. He said that their grievances had already been settled through the mediation of Pure Serenity Palace, and Ku Zhu's return clearly indicated a desire for revenge, so they would not spare him this time, no matter what.

"Nevertheless, Little Thunder Immortal showed me respect by allowing Xuan Shui to leave. However, to prevent any future acts of revenge, he demanded that Xuan Shui swear an oath never to set foot on the West Continent again.

"Later, I inquired at the Wuchang Pavilion and learned that after sending Xuan Shui away, Ku Zhu, despite being heavily injured and unable to defeat the numerous cultivators from the West Continent, had retreated into the ruin. So he should still be alive. However, if he isn't rescued before the ruin reopens, it's likely that Little Thunder Immortal himself will descend and eliminate him."

Upon hearing this, countless TV dramas he had watched flashed through Chen Mobai's mind. If the story progressed like this, wouldn't it be that hundreds of years later, Ku Zhu and Xuan Shui's child would achieve great cultivation and embark on a journey to the West Continent to find and rescue their father?

"How is Xuan Shui doing now?" Chen Mobai asked again. After all, she was one of his own, and he felt it necessary to show concern.

Ye Qing replied, "She didn't want to stray too far from the West Continent. After I took her, she found an island near the Profound Sea, presumably to await Ku Zhu."

"How foolish!" Chen Mobai exclaimed with deep regret. "How could mere Nascent Soul cultivators possibly resolve this? They should have returned to the East Continent and sought my help!"

Ye Qing said, "Perhaps Xuan Shui believes you wouldn't cross oceans to intervene for a mere branch sect elder like her." After all, saving Ku Zhu would mean confronting the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple, and for the Five Elements Sect, there was no compelling reason to open a new battlefront in the West Continent. Furthermore, Ku Zhu was not a member of the Five Elements Sect, which, from a local perspective, would make intervention even less likely.

For Chen Mobai, however, this was a minor issue. He didn't even need to send his true body. After all, the strongest cultivator in the West Continent was True Monarch Qingfeng, who could perhaps exchange a few moves with his second primordial spirit. But Little Thunder Immortal was nothing more than an ordinary Spirit Transformation cultivator.

"Brother Ye, thank you for informing me. Now that I know, I will certainly make a trip there." As Chen Mobai spoke, he rose to his feet.

"Brother Chen," Ye Qing said, "you are powerful enough to move unhindered across the West Continent. Please remember to show mercy." Knowing Chen Mobai's character, Ye Qing merely offered a gentle word of caution.

"Understood," Chen Mobai nodded, left a message for Chen Lingming, then bid farewell to Shen Xi and the other Spirit Transformation cultivators before transforming into a streak of fire and vanishing.

The specific details for the East Continent Immortal Alliance were discussed for a full three months. Even Chen Lingming, with his vast energy, felt mentally exhausted the moment discussions concluded. He returned to Five Emperors Mountain and met with Xiao Yuli. During their conversation, Lianshui inquired about her sister Xuan Shui, remembering that Xuan Shui had accompanied Chen Lingming to the Eastern Yi region for work. Chen Lingming merely stated that there was no news yet. Sending Ku Zhu to the West Continent had been a task specifically assigned by Chen Mobai, and he had chosen Xuan Shui for it. Since Xuan Shui's soul lamp at the One Yuan Dao Palace was still lit, Lianshui wasn't overly concerned and only asked briefly.

It was only when Chen Lingming visited Chen Mobai at the Yellow Dragon Cave Mansion that he learned Xuan Shui had become dao companions with Ku Zhu and was pregnant.

"This..." Even with Chen Lingming's usual composure, he was utterly speechless upon hearing this news.

"I have already dispatched my avatar to the West Continent. You don't need to worry about this matter; just focus on the soon-to-be-established East Continent Immortal Alliance." These words from Chen Mobai put Chen Lingming's mind at ease. Over the years, Chen Mobai's name had resonated throughout the five continents and four seas, truly earning him the title of the foremost cultivator in the East Continent. Although the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple in the West Continent was also a Holy Land, it only possessed one Spirit Transformation cultivator, Little Thunder Immortal. It was certainly inconceivable that they would risk offending Chen Mobai for the sake of a mere Nascent Soul cultivator.

Next, the two discussed further details regarding the East Continent Immortal Alliance. After Chen Mobai imparted his insights, he re-extracted the Primordial Dao Fruit he had refined.

"I once promised to impart the Primordial Dao Fruit to you. Now that your cultivation has advanced to the mid-Nascent Soul stage, you are capable of bearing the karma of the One Yuan Dao Lineage from me. Are you willing?"

The moment Chen Mobai finished speaking, Chen Lingming, without a moment's hesitation, immediately rose and bowed deeply to him, signifying his willingness.

"Good," Chen Mobai affirmed. He nodded and imparted all the methods related to the Primordial Dao Fruit, then personally guided Chen Lingming through the refining process.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Chen Mobai's second primordial spirit had already arrived in the West Continent, utilizing the super teleportation array of the Grand Void Ethereal Palace. Upon his arrival, he was immediately received by True Monarch Dadang, a local Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Grand Void Ethereal Palace. After all, transporting a top-tier Spirit Transformation cultivator required prior notification to True Monarch Dadang from the East Continent. If he had not agreed, the teleportation array could not have been activated.

"I have long heard of Sect Master Chen's esteemed name," True Monarch Dadang said. "Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary."

True Monarch Dadang, a thin-faced old man, was very courteous towards Chen Mobai.

"Greetings, Senior. You should already be aware of the situation," Chen Mobai sighed. Chen Mobai sighed and followed True Monarch Dadang to his cultivation cave mansion, where they sat down for tea and conversation. Chen Mobai, being unfamiliar with the West Continent, could only rely on True Monarch Dadang for information on the local situation.

"After Junior Sister Shan informed me of this matter, I immediately investigated," True Monarch Dadang explained. "Lanyuan Valley was once the cultivation site of Daoist Tianlan. He had a spirit beast, a pair of Yin-Yang snakes, who were fond of brewing tea with Love Flowers... However, the methods of Ascended cultivators are extraordinary. Even with shifting spiritual veins, Lanyuan Valley's grand formation continuously self-repaired. After the West Continent forces entered, they obtained many inheritances from Daoist Tianlan. Among them, a fifth-rank formation master from Pure Serenity Palace, thousands of years ago, comprehended those inheritances and modified a corner of the formation flag, allowing future generations to open a portal every century and enter for one month."

True Monarch Dadang had already prepared the basic information before Chen Mobai's arrival and relayed it to him point by point. Lanyuan Valley contains many precious ten-thousand-year spiritual medicines and also boasts a sixth-tier spiritual vein. Seeds merely need to be sown, and after a few opening cycles, they can be directly matured and harvested. Therefore, whenever the time came, local West Continent forces would dispatch cultivators to Lanyuan Valley.

"As the largest mercantile association in the West Continent, the Grand Void Ethereal Palace essentially acquired and utilized all the ten-thousand-year spiritual medicines produced in Lanyuan Valley."

"When is the next opening?" Chen Mobai asked.

True Monarch Dadang replied, "It just opened three years ago." This meant Ku Zhu could safely remain inside for at least another ninety-seven years. But how exactly did the couple manage to enter? It was well known that Pure Serenity Palace and Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple could only enter by relying on hidden access points left by their predecessors.

"That's precisely what I'm curious about as well," True Monarch Dadang mused, sharing his speculation. "Perhaps that's also why Little Thunder Immortal intends to kill him. After all, Lanyuan Valley is quite important to the West Continent's various powers; it's considered the oldest medicinal field in this resource-poor region." Throughout the entire West Continent, the only place to find ten-thousand-year spiritual medicines, aside from desolate, untamed wilderness, was Lanyuan Valley.

"Thank you for the information, Senior," Chen Mobai said. "I'll go check on my sect's cultivator now."

After understanding the situation, Chen Mobai bid farewell to True Monarch Dadang, who courteously escorted him out of his cave mansion. After seeing Chen Mobai vanish in a streak of light, True Monarch Dadang considered for a moment and then informed True Monarch Qingfeng about the Azure Emperor of East Barren's arrival in the West Continent. After all, Chen Mobai was an outsider. While he had to show deference to his East Continent peers, True Monarch Dadang had resided in the West Continent for hundreds of years and maintained a good relationship with True Monarch Qingfeng, the top Spirit Transformation cultivator of Pure Serenity Palace. Thus, a notification was certainly necessary.

Although Chen Mobai appeared very gentle in his presence, anyone familiar with the Wuchang Pavilion's records knew that he possessed a resolute character and would tolerate no slight. As for an existence like the Old Flood Dragon, once Chen Mobai's magical artifact reached mastery, he immediately went to the Profound Sea and slayed it, without any hesitation. And Little Thunder Immortal of the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple was not particularly shrewd and likely wouldn't yield. Should a verbal conflict arise and ignite the rage of the Azure Emperor of East Barren, he might well be cut down with a single sword stroke. True Monarch Dadang himself had no desire to get entangled in this murky situation, so he notified True Monarch Qingfeng. As the foremost cultivator in the West Continent, if Chen Mobai and Little Thunder Immortal were to clash, he could then intervene to stop them and mediate in a timely manner.

Upon receiving this news, True Monarch Qingfeng immediately informed Little Thunder Immortal, cautioning him against impulsive actions and advising him to mediate properly should the Azure Emperor of East Barren come knocking.

Chen Mobai, of course, was unaware that the moment he arrived in the West Continent, the two local Holy Lands had learned of his presence and were now on high alert.

Following the map provided by Ye Qing, he arrived in the seas off the West Continent. His Spirit Transformation divine sense swept across the area, and among countless islands, he quickly pinpointed Xuan Shui's aura. Xuan Shui, who was holding a pair of children with a sorrowful expression, suddenly felt a vast and terrifying divine sense—as if encompassing the blue sky and clear sea—sweep over her. A wave of despair washed over her heart. She could naturally perceive that this undisguised divine sense belonged to a Spirit Transformation realm cultivator. And among all the Spirit Transformation cultivators on the West Continent, the only one who would come looking for her and her two children was Little Thunder Immortal from the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple.

Just as Xuan Shui was about to place her two children into two small treasure boats and cast them into the sea, preparing to face death alone, a sword light descended from the sky. It landed directly in front of her, transforming into a tall, familiar figure she never would have expected.

"Greetings, Sect Master!" Xuan Shui exclaimed. An indescribable surge of excitement welled up in Xuan Shui's heart, and she immediately bowed deeply to Chen Mobai.

Chen Mobai landed on the island, gestured for Xuan Shui to rise, and looking at the two children in her arms—a boy and a girl—he couldn't help but ask, "Are these your children with Ku Zhu?"

"Yes," she confirmed. Xuan Shui's mind quickly processed that Ye Qing must have informed Chen Mobai, as it was well known throughout the East Continent that the two were life-and-death friends.

"Not bad. One possesses a Profound Yang Spirit Body, and the other has innate Yin Meridians..." Chen Mobai only took one glance and immediately discerned the children's innate talents, though it was a pity they were somewhat reversed. The girl possessed the Profound Yang Spirit Body, while the boy had innate Yin Meridians. The Profound Yang Spirit Body is a simplified version of the Pure Yang Body, while innate Yin Meridians are akin to a partial Nine Yin Absolute Meridian. If the boy possessed the Profound Yang Spirit Body and the girl had innate Yin Meridians, they would have truly supreme cultivation physiques. As it stands, however, it's a terminal condition; in the Heavenly River Realm, they would barely survive past the age of ten.

"Please, Sect Master, save Ku Zhu and our children!" Xuan Shui pleaded. Upon hearing this, Xuan Shui understood that this was her family's chance at survival and bowed deeply to Chen Mobai once more.

"Once we return to the East Continent, bring these two children to the Yellow Dragon Cave Mansion," Chen Mobai instructed. He said he didn't know if anyone else in the five continents and four seas could cure them, but Qing Nv certainly could. After all, Chen Xiaohei's Nine Yin Absolute Meridian had been easily cured by San Jue. As a top student of the Jumang Dao Academy, Qing Nv was also highly skilled in the medical arts. Once cured, these children would possess innate talents no less than those with Heavenly Spiritual Roots. Chen Mobai was even considering whether to pass down the Pure Yang Scroll inheritance of Dao Venerable Zixiao here.