Chapter 1284: Uninstalling the Position of Sect Leader

Pure Nine-Lotus Treasure Lamp.

Because the Pure Yang Grand Dao was present, Chen Mobai didn't need to worry about his cultivation realm being unstable.

He began to experience his current realm.

Perfected Deity Transformation was already the pinnacle of post-natal cultivation.

The next step was to step onto the Grand Dao, where every gesture would be infused with the power of the Grand Dao.

Chen Mobai's chosen Grand Dao was the Grand Dao of Saintly Virtue.

However, in the Tianhe Realm, this Grand Dao was already occupied by the Patriarch of the Qianqiu Brushwood Forest, so he couldn't undergo Void Refinement here. He would need to go to the Zixiao Universe for that.

Meanwhile, Chen Mobai didn't know if he would still retain his Void Refinement cultivation upon returning to the Tianhe Realm if he were to achieve Void Refinement with the Grand Dao of Saintly Virtue in the Zixiao Universe.

It might trigger a conflict between the Grand Daos of the two worlds, or it could simply be a case of "once verified, always verified."

Following a cautious approach, Chen Mobai planned to finish all his affairs in the Tianhe Realm, then directly undergo the Nine-Layer Heavenly Tribulation. Mid-way through, he would use the Turtle Treasure to return to the Zixiao Universe, waiting until he reached Dao Integration and possessed the power to face the Qianqiu Sage directly before returning.

Of course, he was also quite curious about the Lingkong Immortal Realm, so ascending to visit wouldn't be out of the question either.

In short, the core idea was that Void Refinement must occur in the Zixiao Universe.

And now that Deity Transformation was perfected, it was time to consider the Hanging Void Pill.

However, before that, he still needed to leave behind a sufficient foundation and power for the Five Elements Sect.

After all, the sect currently relied solely on him. If he were to ascend amidst these impending great changes in heaven and earth, it probably wouldn't be long before it followed the fate of the Ice and Snow Sect.

With this in mind, Chen Mobai merely familiarized himself slightly with his rapidly increased power before exiting his seclusion.

Because the commotion from his breakthrough was a bit large, Luo Yixuan informed Qing Nü and others, so Qing Nü, Zhuo Ming, and the rest were currently waiting at Mount Panghuang.

"Welcome, Master, from your seclusion!"

When Chen Mobai descended from the mountain peak, riding colorful clouds, Zhuo Ming and the other disciples greeted him with joyful surprise.

"How rare, you're all here."

Chen Mobai looked at his four disciples gathered together, smiling slightly and signaling them not to be overly formal. They found a place to sit, drinking wine and discussing the Dao.

"'It's rare for you to be in seclusion for such a long time; it's not just them, but many elders in the sect are also quite concerned...' Qing Nü sat beside Chen Mobai and explained the reason."

Although Chen Mobai often used seclusion as an excuse to travel between the two realms, this period was his longest, making it a significant event for the Five Elements Sect.

However, for Deity Transformation cultivators, seclusion for several decades was quite common; some even lasted for hundreds of years.

"'Xuan'er's spiritual energy is complete; it seems she can try to form her Nascent Soul. Are all the resources ready?' Chen Mobai looked at his four disciples, his gaze falling on Luo Yixuan, and asked with concern."

"'Mistress has already arranged everything,' Luo Yixuan nodded gently."

"'I've been in seclusion for decades; it's been hard on you, my lady,' Chen Mobai said with a smile to Qing Nü. She shook her head, indicating it was as it should be."

Next, Chen Mobai asked about the location for forming the Nascent Soul, Dharma treasures for tribulation, and similar matters.

"'This disciple hasn't considered these matters, thinking to discuss them after Master exits seclusion,' Luo Yixuan answered truthfully."

"'Then let's do it here; your master will have a clone overseeing things,' Chen Mobai said, handing his Taiyi Five Smoke Net to his disciple. With this fifth-rank Dharma treasure, even the strongest Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation would be no cause for concern."

Even in unexpected circumstances, Mount Panghuang's sixth-rank grand array could provide a fallback.

"Yes, Master!"

Luo Yixuan respectfully received it with both hands.

"'Wenbai is steady and solid, also very good...' Next, Chen Mobai checked his eldest disciple's cultivation and mainly offered praise."

"'This disciple is dull; it might take another hundred years to perfect Core Formation.' Liu Wenbai, however, had a clear understanding of himself. Although his spiritual root had improved, his other aspects, like comprehension, couldn't compare to Zhuo Ming and the others. Moreover, he had only reached the late Core Formation stage three or four decades ago, so currently, his realm could only be described as stable, with gradual improvement."

"'With such a foundation, your chances of forming a Nascent Soul are not small,' Chen Mobai said, greatly boosting Liu Wenbai's confidence. He felt that his persistence in never taking pills for advancement after joining Mount Xiaonan had been the right choice."

Over the years, as the eldest disciple, he had watched Zhuo Ming and his other junior disciples all surpass him, and his mindset had become very peaceful.

If one wasn't as good, then one simply wasn't; there was nothing to be ashamed of.

He just needed to be himself.

"'Your master is now only half a step away from ascension and could depart at any time. At that point, it will be up to you all to support each other.' Chen Mobai first brought this up, causing the originally somewhat joyful atmosphere to suddenly fall silent."

Although ascension was a good thing, over the past two hundred-odd years, they had all grown accustomed to having Chen Mobai as their towering support and had come to regard him as their closest kin.

"This disciple offers early congratulations to Master on his ascension."

Jiang Zongheng was the first to speak, raising his wine cup. Zhuo Ming and the others immediately followed suit.

"'Although I've said this before, today, while you are all here, I shall make it clear: after I ascend, Zhuo Ming will inherit the legacy of the Mount Xiaonan lineage. Do any of you have objections?'"

The other three disciples present all nodded, indicating their acceptance of Zhuo Ming as the chosen successor.

"Thank you, Master."

Zhuo Ming also showed joyful surprise at this; although Chen Mobai had said it many times, truly taking over her master's legacy still made her very happy.

"'My lineage doesn't have too many precious items, so let this lamp serve as the inheritance token. However, because this lamp is still at a critical stage of breaking through to the sixth rank, I will keep it for now. When I ascend and depart in the future, it will be fine to drop it down from the Heavenly Tribulation.'"

Chen Mobai took out the Tusita Eight Scenery Lamp, which he hadn't used in a long time, and designated this Dharma treasure as the inheritance treasure of the Mount Xiaonan lineage.

Because once this lamp was promoted to the sixth rank, it would form a Dharma Realm called "Tusita Heaven" for cultivating spiritual plants, which would be a perfect match for Zhuo Ming.

It was also very suitable to serve as the sect's foundation.

"Yes, Master!"

The other three disciples present, although envious, also had no objections.

Since Chen Mobai had long ago arranged spiritual vein cave dwellings, natal Dharma treasures, and similar items for his four disciples, the step of dividing family assets was directly omitted.

After confirming Zhuo Ming's status as heir, Chen Mobai then used the Heaven-Connecting Instrument to inform all Nascent Soul cultivators of the Five Elements Sect.

During the years Chen Mobai was in seclusion, the Five Elements Sect had also flourished.

Not only were many Core Formation cultivators emerging, but even E Yun and Zhou Wangshen had successfully formed their Nascent Souls one after another.

Knowing this, Chen Mobai no longer lingered. He immediately took Qing Nü and his four disciples back to the Eastern Barrens, preparing to pass down the position of Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect.

As soon as this news came out, everyone congratulated E Yun. After all, cultivators of some standing knew that Chen Mobai had only held onto the position of Sect Master to allow E Yun to take over, which was why he had occupied the position all this time.

However, there were still some minor incidents during the succession process.

Because Zhou Wangshen had also formed his Nascent Soul, he, who had contended with E Yun his entire life, also wanted to contend for the position of Sect Master.

Supporting Zhou Wangshen from behind was naturally Zhou Shengqing, the Nascent Soul cultivator with the highest seniority.

After all, he was family, and when asked for help, Zhou Shengqing would certainly come out to support him.

Chen Mobai also showed respect to Zhou Shengqing, stating that the position of Sect Master would be democratically elected, with every Nascent Soul cultivator allowed to vote, and he, as the current Sect Master, would not participate.

But even so, E Yun was still elected with a high number of votes.

Because the only one who voted for Zhou Wangshen was Zhou Shengqing himself.

Everyone knew that E Yun was Chen Mobai's person. Even older generation Nascent Soul cultivators like Mo Dougong, Fu Zongjue, and Sheng Zhaoxi, who had very good relationships with Zhou Shengqing, all chose to abstain.

And abstaining was already a great show of respect to Zhou Shengqing.

The rest of the younger generation, including Yin Qingmei, Zhuo Ming, and Jiang Zongheng, all voted for E Yun.

Zhou Wangshen also accepted this result calmly.

The reason he contended was that his Dao heart, which had persisted in cultivation until now, was to compete with E Yun. So even if he knew his chances were slim, he still stepped forward to uphold his belief.

And Chen Mobai and Zhou Shengqing also knew this.

This was also beneficial for the Five Elements Sect.

If there was truly no competition, people might become complacent and lose motivation.

The same applied to E Yun.

With Zhou Wangshen as his opponent, E Yun, even after succeeding to the position of Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect, would constantly reflect and fulfill his duties.

"From now on, the sect is entrusted to you."

In the main hall of the sect in Beiyuan City, Chen Mobai smiled as he handed the Dharma treasure, symbolizing the Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect, to E Yun, who received it with a respectful expression.

E Yun was very familiar with this Dharma treasure; it was precisely the Sword Gourd.

This Dharma treasure was no longer useful to Chen Mobai, but for any cultivator of the Five Elements Sect, it was a peerless treasure.

Within the Sword Gourd, a peak fifth-rank Primordial Yang Sword Qi was cultivated. Anyone below the Deity Transformation realm encountering it would be instantly killed.

Even a Deity Transformation cultivator would be injured if not careful.

Nowadays, in the Eastern Continent, this Sword Gourd also had an alias: the Azure Emperor's Demon-Slaying Gourd!

Because in the past, when E Yun oversaw the development of the barren ruins around the Five Elements Sect, he, with his Core Formation cultivation, activated this Sword Gourd and slew several fourth-rank demonic beasts. Among them was the Golden-Eyed Jade Toad, which had a past grudge with Chen Mobai, thus opening up a large territory for the Five Elements Sect.

Nowadays, not to mention cultivators in the Eastern Continent, even the sentient demonic beasts in the barren ruins would instinctively cower upon seeing cultivators wearing gourds at their waists.

"This disciple will certainly not fail to live up to the Ancestor's expectations."

After receiving the Sword Gourd and solemnly wearing it at his waist, E Yun became the second Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect.

Although the Five Elements Sect's seniority began with True Monarch Yiyuan, the position of Sect Master began with Chen Mobai, for it was he, the Deity Transformation Ancestor, who had used his sword to establish the current foundation.

As a sacred land in the Eastern Continent, the Five Elements Sect changing its Sect Master was naturally a major event.

Not only did the other three great sacred lands send representatives, but the various major forces that had joined the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance also had their Core Formation or Nascent Soul Ancestors personally attend the banquet.

Chen Mobai, as the foremost person in the Eastern Continent, rarely appeared in public.

At this banquet, many Ancestors of the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance all took the opportunity to approach Chen Mobai and introduce themselves.

However, there was still an invisible threshold; the Core Formation cultivators who approached were mostly stopped by the new Sect Master E Yun, and only those at the Nascent Soul realm could come up and offer a toast.

After three rounds of drinks, Chen Mobai handed the stage over to E Yun and, taking his friends who had come to the banquet, such as Ye Qing and Zhang Pankong, they drank heartily in his own cave dwelling at the peak of Mount Beiyuan.

"Those Nascent Soul cultivators all want the Longevity Grand Dao Pill!"

Zhang Pankong finished the contents of his cup and said with some emotion.

Over the past few decades, Qing Nü's reputation in the Eastern Continent had been soaring.

Not only had she successfully refined the Longevity Grand Dao Pill, but various different fifth-rank elixirs had also been put on sale in the Danxia Pavilion, making all cultivators aware that she was not an ordinary fifth-rank alchemist.

Some cultivators even deduced, based on the quality of the fifth-rank elixirs she refined, that even True Monarch Wuchen's alchemy level might not be above hers.

True Monarch Wuchen's title as the Eastern Continent's foremost alchemist was already beginning to waver.

And for the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Eastern Continent, the most coveted item was naturally the Longevity Grand Dao Pill, which could aid in Deity Transformation.

Unfortunately, after that batch of elixirs was refined, the Five Elements Sect sealed it away.

"'Brother Zhang's cultivation has also reached perfected Nascent Soul. I presume you're also preparing for Deity Transformation, right?'"

As soon as Chen Mobai heard Zhang Pankong's words, he understood his underlying meaning and immediately followed up on the conversation.

"'Indeed. Unfortunately, the main lineage currently doesn't have extra Deity Transformation resources, so I can only wait,' Zhang Pankong sighed. 'Of the previous two Saint-Reaching True Spirit Pills, one was wasted by the Palace Master of Biluo Palace, and one allowed Shan Miaosu to achieve Deity Transformation. If the Eastern Continent's Boundless Misty Palace could obtain a third one, it would definitely belong to me, the Dao Son.'"

Alas, there wouldn't be a third Saint-Reaching True Spirit Pill in a short time.

But the Longevity Grand Dao Pill refined by the Five Elements Sect gave him hope.

However, because Chen Mobai was in seclusion, no one dared to distribute this precious elixir.

Even though Qing Nü knew that Zhang Pankong was Chen Mobai's good friend.

"'Brother Zhang, given the friendship between us, I will certainly help you. How about this: I'll give you a list. If you can gather these resources, the first Longevity Grand Dao Pill will be yours.'"

Chen Mobai handed a list of sixth-rank resources to Zhang Pankong, whose eyes lit up, and he immediately took it.

After reading it, he nodded repeatedly and said, "Brother Chen, thank you very much!"

Next, Zhang Pankong toasted him three times in a row. After finishing the drinks, he directly took his leave.

He was in a hurry to collect these resources.

After stepping down from the position of Sect Master, Chen Mobai also relaxed.

First, he guarded his disciple Luo Yixuan as she formed her Nascent Soul. Luo Yixuan's foundation was already complete, and with the full set of resources prepared by Qing Nü, she easily passed the three stages, breaking her Core and giving birth to her Nascent Soul.

However, her Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation was indeed as powerful as expected.

After all, the spiritual energy of her Yellow Spring power, no matter how deeply hidden, would leave traces between heaven and earth as long as her cultivation improved, thus triggering the corresponding Heavenly Tribulation.

Facing the double-layered Heavenly Tribulation, she was only able to pass through after the fifth-rank Taiyi Five Smoke Net unfolded its grand array.