Chapter 1243: West Continent Demonic Path

"Whose child is it?" was Chen Mobai's first thought.

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

"Well, well, Ku Zhu," Chen Mobai thought. "You look so upright, but who would have thought you were like this?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai finally understood the meaning of "you can't judge a book by its cover."

He had always believed Ku Zhu was an ascetic, like Mo Douguang, utterly dedicated to the sword.

While reflecting on his poor judgment, Chen Mobai asked Ye Qing for more details about Xuan Shui and Ku Zhu, but Ye Qing didn't know much more. However, it was evident that Xuan Shui was sincere, as Nascent Soul cultivators typically wouldn't have offspring unless it was out of true love.

Furthermore, after Ye Qing rescued Xuan Shui, her first request was to save Ku Zhu.

"Who attacked the couple?"

Although Chen Mobai had only met Xuan Shui a few times, she was still under his command, and he wouldn't stand by while she was bullied.

Ye Qing began to relay what he had learned from Xuan Shui: "The leader was a Nascent Soul Elder from Tianlei Zen Temple, accompanied by several other Nascent Soul cultivators from allied sects in the Western Continent. During the era of the Eastern Earth Imperial Court, the Great Thunder Immortal and our Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect shared a good relationship, so I was reluctant to kill them. I simply struck once with my sword, startling them into retreat."

"After rescuing Xuan Shui, I went to the place where she and Ku Zhu had separated, out of deference to you. Upon arriving in the Western Continent, the couple inadvertently entered an ancient ruin. Inside, they encountered an 'Emotion Flower' whose intoxicating scent induced desires, leading them into a marital union in their state of confusion."

"Ku Zhu proved to be a responsible man. Afterward, he and Xuan Shui became cultivation partners. They lived together in the ruins for many years, even preparing to abandon their animosity and remain there for the rest of their lives, which is why they decided to have a child."

"To their surprise, the ruin turned out to be a forbidden zone for the two major Holy Lands and several prominent sects of the Western Continent, who regularly dispatched disciples to collect resources there. After Ku Zhu and Xuan Shui were discovered, Ku Zhu fought with all his might to hold off the Western Continent cultivators, enabling Xuan Shui to escape. It was then, by great fortune, that she stumbled upon me."

"When I brought Xuan Shui to the ruin, I found it had been re-sealed. It seemed to be a legacy of an ascended cultivator, so I didn't dare to force my way in. Afterward, I visited Tianlei Zen Temple and discussed the matter with Little Thunder Immortal. However, he claimed that Ku Zhu was an enemy of their sect. He stated that their past grievances had been resolved through the mediation of Qingjing Shanggong, and Ku Zhu's return clearly indicated a desire for revenge, thus they would not spare him this time."

"Nevertheless, Little Thunder Immortal still showed me respect by permitting Xuan Shui to leave. But to prevent any future acts of vengeance, he demanded that Xuan Shui swear an oath never to set foot on the Western Continent again."

"I subsequently inquired with Wuchang Zhai. After seeing Xuan Shui off, Ku Zhu, despite being severely wounded and unable to overcome the numerous cultivators from the Western Continent, managed to retreat into the ruin. So, he should still be alive. However, if he isn't rescued before the next opening of the ruin, I fear Little Thunder Immortal himself will intervene and eliminate him."

As he listened, countless TV dramas he had watched flashed through Chen Mobai's mind.

If events unfolded this way, wouldn't it lead to a scenario where, centuries later, Ku Zhu and Xuan Shui's child would achieve formidable cultivation and journey to the Western Continent to find and rescue their father?

"How is Xuan Shui doing now?" Chen Mobai inquired again, feeling a natural concern for one of his own.

Ye Qing replied, "She didn't want to stray too far from the Western Continent. After I brought her away, she settled on an island near the Dark Sea, presumably intending to wait for Ku Zhu."

"How foolish!" Chen Mobai exclaimed, his heart aching upon hearing this. "How could mere Nascent Soul cultivators possibly resolve such a situation? She should have returned to the Eastern Continent and sought my help."

Ye Qing responded, "Perhaps Xuan Shui believed you wouldn't cross the vast ocean to intervene for a mere branch elder."

After all, rescuing Ku Zhu would mean confronting Tianlei Zen Temple, and for the Five Elements Sect, there was no strategic need to open a new front in the Western Continent. Furthermore, Ku Zhu was not a member of the Five Elements Sect, which would further solidify this perspective in local thinking.

However, for Chen Mobai, this was a minor issue. He didn't even need to send his true body.

After all, the strongest cultivator in the Western Continent was True Monarch Qingfeng, who could perhaps exchange a few blows with his second primordial spirit. But Little Thunder Immortal? He was merely an ordinary Soul Transformation cultivator.

"Brother Ye, thank you for informing me of this," Chen Mobai said. "Since I am now aware, I must certainly make a trip."

As Chen Mobai spoke, he rose to his feet.

"Brother Chen, you are formidable enough to move freely across the Western Continent," Ye Qing advised, "but please remember to show clemency."

Knowing Chen Mobai's temperament, Ye Qing offered only a mild word of caution.

"Understood."

Chen Mobai nodded, left a verbal message for Chen Lingming, then bade farewell to Shen Xi and the other Soul Transformation cultivators, before transforming into a streak of fire and vanishing from the spot.

The detailed matters concerning the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance were deliberated for a full three months.

Even with Chen Lingming's considerable energy, he felt mentally exhausted the moment discussions concluded.

He returned to Five Emperors Mountain and met with Xiao Yuli. During their conversation, Lianshui inquired about his sister Xuan Shui, who had originally accompanied Chen Lingming to Dongyi for work.

Chen Lingming simply stated there was no news yet. Sending Ku Zhu to the Western Continent had been a task personally assigned by Chen Mobai, and he had chosen Xuan Shui for it.

Since Xuan Shui's soul lamp in the One Yuan Dao Palace was still lit, Lianshui wasn't overly concerned and merely inquired.

It was only when Chen Lingming visited Chen Mobai at the Yellow Dragon Cave Mansion that he learned Xuan Shui had not only become cultivation partners with Ku Zhu but was also pregnant.

"This..." Even Chen Lingming, known for his composure, was dumbfounded upon hearing the news.

"I've already dispatched my avatar to the Western Continent," Chen Mobai stated, "so you needn't worry about this matter. Focus instead on the impending establishment of the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance." Chen Mobai's words immediately put Chen Lingming at ease.

Over the years, Chen Mobai's reputation had resounded across the Five Continents and Four Seas, solidifying his well-deserved title as the foremost figure in the Eastern Continent.

Although Tianlei Zen Temple in the Western Continent was also a Holy Land, it possessed only one Soul Transformation cultivator, Little Thunder Immortal. It was highly improbable they would risk offending Chen Mobai for the sake of a single Nascent Soul cultivator.

Following this, the two discussed further details regarding the Eastern 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," Chen Mobai stated. "Now that your cultivation has advanced to the mid-Nascent Soul stage, you are capable of bearing the karma of my One Yuan Dao lineage. Are you willing?"

The moment Chen Mobai finished speaking, Chen Lingming rose without hesitation and bowed deeply, indicating his willingness.

"Excellent."

Chen Mobai nodded, then imparted all the cultivation methods related to the Primordial Dao Fruit, personally guiding Chen Lingming through its refinement.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Chen Mobai's second primordial spirit had already arrived in the Western Continent, having utilized the super teleportation array of the Grand Void Ethereal Palace.

Upon his arrival, he was immediately greeted by True Monarch Dadao, a local Soul Transformation cultivator from the Grand Void Ethereal Palace.

After all, they were teleporting a top-tier Soul Transformation cultivator. The Eastern Continent must have notified True Monarch Dadao in advance, as the teleportation array could not be activated without his consent.

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

True Monarch Dadao was a lean, elderly man, and he greeted Chen Mobai with great courtesy.

"Greetings, Senior," Chen Mobai began. "You should already be aware of the situation, I presume... Alas."

Chen Mobai sighed and followed True Monarch Dadao to his cultivation cave mansion, where they drank tea and conversed.

Primarily, Chen Mobai was new to the Western Continent and unfamiliar with its customs, so he had to first inquire about the situation from the local True Monarch Dadao.

"After Junior Sister Shan informed me of this matter, I immediately investigated," True Monarch Dadao explained. "That Lanyuan Valley was once the cultivation abode of Daoist Tianlan. He possessed a spiritual beast, a pair of Yin-Yang snakes, who were particularly fond of brewing tea with the 'Emotion Flower'..."

Thousands of years after Daoist Tianlan's ascension, Lanyuan Valley was exposed due to a major earthquake and a shift in its spiritual veins. It subsequently became a forbidden zone for the major powers of the Western Continent.

However, the ascended cultivator's methods were extraordinary. Even with the shifted spiritual veins, Lanyuan Valley's grand formation continued to self-repair. After various Western Continent powers gained access, they acquired many of Daoist Tianlan's legacies. Among them, a fifth-tier formation master from Qingjing Shanggong, active thousands of years ago, comprehended these legacies and modified one corner of the formation flag. This alteration allowed their future disciples to open a portal for one month every century.

Lanyuan Valley contained numerous precious ten-thousand-year spiritual herbs and was also a sixth-tier spiritual vein. Seeds sown there would ripen and be ready for harvest after just a few openings of the portal.

Consequently, whenever the time came, the local powers of the Western Continent would dispatch cultivators to Lanyuan Valley.

As the largest trade guild in the Western Continent, the Grand Void Ethereal Palace typically acquired and processed most of the ten-thousand-year spiritual herbs produced in Lanyuan Valley.

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

True Monarch Dadao replied, "It just opened three years ago."

This meant Ku Zhu could remain safely inside for at least another ninety-seven years. But how exactly did the couple manage to enter in the first place?

It was known that both Qingjing Shanggong and Tianlei Zen Temple could only access it through hidden methods left by their predecessors.

"This is also what I'm curious about," True Monarch Dadao said, sharing his conjecture. "Perhaps this is why Little Thunder Immortal wants to kill him. After all, Lanyuan Valley is quite important to the powers of the Western Continent; it's considered the oldest medicinal field in this resource-scarce region."

In the entire Western Continent, besides desolate, uninhabited wilderness, Lanyuan Valley was the sole place where ten-thousand-year spiritual herbs could be found.

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

After understanding the situation, Chen Mobai bid farewell to True Monarch Dadao, who politely escorted him out of his cave mansion.

After watching Chen Mobai ascend in a streak of light and vanish, True Monarch Dadao paused in thought. He then notified True Monarch Qingfeng about the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Barrens' arrival in the Western Continent.

Chen Mobai was, after all, an outsider. While it was necessary to show deference to his Eastern Continent counterparts, True Monarch Dadao had resided in the Western Continent for centuries and maintained a good relationship with True Monarch Qingfeng, the supreme Soul Transformation cultivator of Qingjing Shanggong. Therefore, notifying him was imperative.

Although Chen Mobai had appeared mild-mannered in his presence, anyone familiar with Wuchang Zhai's records knew him to be a person of resolute character who tolerated no injustice.

For formidable beings like the Old Flood Dragon, once Chen Mobai's magical artifact reached mastery, he didn't hesitate; he went directly to the Dark Sea and slew it.

As for Little Thunder Immortal of Tianlei Zen Temple, he wasn't particularly sharp-witted and likely wouldn't back down easily. If a verbal dispute escalated and provoked the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Barrens, he might very well be slain with a single sword stroke.

True Monarch Dadao, wishing to avoid entanglement in this complicated affair, therefore notified True Monarch Qingfeng.

As the foremost figure in the Western Continent, if Chen Mobai and Little Thunder Immortal were to clash, he would be well-positioned to intervene and mediate promptly.

Upon receiving this news, True Monarch Qingfeng immediately informed Little Thunder Immortal, cautioning him against impulsive actions and advising him to seek a peaceful resolution should the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Barrens arrive.

Chen Mobai, of course, was unaware that his arrival in the Western Continent had been noted by the two major local Holy Lands, who were now on high alert.

Following the map provided by Ye Qing, he arrived in the waters off the Western Continent.

His Soul Transformation divine sense swept across the area, quickly pinpointing Xuan Shui's aura among the thousands of islands.

Xuan Shui, cradling two children with a pained expression, suddenly felt a vast, terrifying divine sense sweep over her, seemingly encompassing the very sky and sea. A wave of despair washed over her.

She naturally recognized this undisguised divine sense as belonging to a Soul Transformation realm cultivator.

Among all the Soul Transformation cultivators in the Western Continent, the only one who would seek out her and her two children was Little Thunder Immortal of Tianlei 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 certain death alone, a sword light descended from the sky. It landed before her, coalescing into a tall, familiar figure—one she never would have expected.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

An overwhelming surge of indescribable excitement swelled within Xuan Shui, and she immediately prostrated herself before Chen Mobai.

"Are these your children with Ku Zhu?"

Chen Mobai landed on the island and, after motioning for Xuan Shui to rise, looked at the boy and girl in her arms and couldn't help but ask.

"Yes," she replied.

Xuan Shui's mind quickly pieced together that Ye Qing must have informed Chen Mobai, as it was widely known throughout the Eastern Continent that the two were sworn brothers.

"Remarkable," Chen Mobai observed. "One possesses a Profound Yang Spirit Body, and the other an innate Yin Meridian..."

With just a glance, Chen Mobai discerned the children's remarkable talents, though he noted a peculiar reversal.

The girl possessed the Profound Yang Spirit Body, while the boy had an innate Yin Meridian.

The Profound Yang Spirit Body is a simplified version of the Pure Yang Body, and an innate Yin Meridian is akin to a partial Nine Yin Absolute Meridian. If the boy had possessed the Profound Yang Spirit Body and the girl the innate Yin Meridian, they would have had supreme cultivation physiques. However, in their current state, it was a terminal condition; in the Heavenly River Realm, it meant they would barely survive past the age of ten.

"Please, Sect Master, save Ku Zhu and our children!"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Shui understood that this was her family's only chance at survival, and she bowed deeply to Chen Mobai once more.

"Once we return to the Eastern Continent, bring these two children to the Yellow Dragon Cave Mansion," Chen Mobai instructed.

Chen Mobai stated that while he wasn't sure if anyone else across the Five Continents and Four Seas could cure them, Qing Nu certainly could.

After all, Chen Xiaohei's Nine Yin Absolute Meridian had been easily cured by San Jue.

Qing Nu, a top student from the Jumang Dao Academy, was also highly skilled in the medical arts.

Once cured, these children would possess aptitudes comparable to those with Heavenly Spiritual Roots.

Chen Mobai was even contemplating whether to impart the Pure Yang Scroll of Daoist Zi Xiao here.