Chapter 1294: United Joint Garrison

"Master, I finally succeeded!"

The Seamount Sword cheered with joy after its successful advancement. These past few years had been the most painful it could remember, yet it had endured it all for this very moment. The exhilaration of breaking through to the sixth rank made the Seamount Sword feel that all its suffering and hard work had been worth it. It seemed its previous failures had simply been due to a lack of sufficient effort.

"It's alright," Chen Mobai replied, his expression calm and unbothered. A sixth-rank flying sword no longer stirred much emotion in him. After all, for him now, crafting a sixth-rank magic artifact was almost always successful, provided he was willing to spend the time.

At that moment, Chen Mobai spotted Chen Lingming and others flying towards him from above Wind-Rain Immortal City. However, they stopped before reaching him. Chen Mobai put away the Seamount Sword, finding it unnecessary to show off to these individuals. After sheathing the sword, he waved at Chen Lingming, who was at the front.

"Greetings, Ancestor!"

Chen Lingming instructed Ruan Lilong and the others to stay put, then descended onto the lake surface and respectfully bowed to Chen Mobai.

"Why the sudden visit to Cloud Dream Lake?" Chen Mobai asked, somewhat puzzled. Chen Lingming's primary role was currently as a director for the Five Elements Sect at the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance, representing Chen Mobai, a True Monarch of Spirit Transformation. He typically resided in the East Mausoleum Region. His only recent return to the Eastern Wilderness had been to craft magic artifacts.

"Ancestor, it's like this..." Chen Lingming explained immediately. In the past, cultivators like Ruan Lilong from the Barren Sea had fled to the Eastern Wilderness like refugees, primarily because the strongest elite forces of the Myriad Star Alliance, including those like Taishi Weiguang, who was close to Spirit Transformation and possessed fifth-rank magic artifacts, had been buried in the Barren Abyss Grand Canyon and couldn't escape.

Now, decades later, while the Barren Abyss Grand Canyon remained a forbidden zone from which none returned, the Barren Sea itself had at least become peaceful. Under these circumstances, they were considering returning. After all, most high-grade spiritual veins on the Eastern Continent were already claimed, and spiritual veins below the fourth rank were of little use to Nascent Soul cultivators like them. Although they could purchase fifth-rank spiritual energy from the Five Elements Sect with spirit stones, and even access many high-grade elixirs, artifacts, and resources unavailable in the Barren Sea, decades of living there, compounded by supporting their disciples and followers, had depleted even the most substantial family fortunes. Furthermore, they simply couldn't compete with the local merchants on the Eastern Continent. Having lost the Barren Sea as their base, their possessions dwindled with each sale, and they had essentially been living off their savings for years. With their pockets nearly empty, they yearned for the good old days when they had reigned supreme and lived freely in the Barren Sea.

Ruan Lilong gathered his fellow refugees, and they quickly agreed that they all wished to return. Their desire to return wasn't because North Abyss City was undesirable; they had grown accustomed to big city life over the years, where nearly any valuable item could be acquired with spirit stones. Primarily, they wished to send their companions back, resume their former occupations, and reopen the trade routes between the Barren Sea and the Five Elements Sect. This way, by increasing income and reducing expenses, these Nascent Soul Ancestors could live better lives in North Abyss City. Since Chen Mobai had entrusted Chen Lingming with handling the initial batch of Barren Sea refugee cultivators, they had naturally approached Chen Lingming about their desire to return this time.

"...Although the Barren Abyss Grand Canyon is currently calm, it is, after all, a dangerous forbidden zone that has swallowed many Nascent Soul cultivators. So, Ruan Lilong and the others are concerned about encountering danger again upon their return. They hope to ask the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance for help in deploying a joint cultivator force to garrison the Barren Sea..."

Chen Lingming's presence with Ruan Lilong and the others on this trip was to represent the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance and conduct a preliminary on-site inspection of the Barren Sea. Naturally, a joint garrison wouldn't be free. Ruan Lilong and the other representatives of the Barren Sea promised that once they regained control of the region, they would surrender thirty percent of the profits to the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance as protection fees.

"Only thirty percent?" Chen Mobai responded with just three words after hearing the proposal.

"Thirty percent is the initial figure," Chen Lingming clarified. "However, Daoist Ruan privately approached me and promised that if our Five Elements Sect were willing to garrison the area alone, we could have all thirty percent."

Chen Lingming's words made Chen Mobai ponder. To him, the Barren Sea territory was essentially his backyard, so taking only thirty percent felt insufficient. Yet, the fact that the Heavenly Fortune Pearl would issue a warning whenever he thought of the Barren Abyss Grand Canyon reminded Chen Mobai that it was better to be cautious in this matter.

"Since this has already been brought up in the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance," Chen Mobai decided, "our Five Elements Sect shouldn't monopolize the profits. We are all righteous cultivators of the Eastern Continent; let the joint forces share it."

Chen Mobai's words made Chen Lingming nod repeatedly, feeling he had learned something new. After all, Chen Lingming had initially been inclined for the Five Elements Sect to seize all the profits from the Barren Sea when accompanying Ruan Lilong alone on this trip. Compared to the Ancestor, his perspective was indeed too narrow.

"When it comes to distributing the profits, our four great Sacred Lands should ideally be united. Then, we can allocate another ten percent to other Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance factions willing to send cultivators to participate in the joint garrison. Everyone can share..." Although Chen Mobai had retired, he couldn't help but offer guidance when such matters arose. "When you go to the Barren Sea, do not venture into the Barren Abyss Grand Canyon. It's a bit dangerous there." Finally, Chen Mobai cautioned Chen Lingming, lest his curiosity lead him astray.

"Yes, Ancestor." Chen Lingming was slightly surprised upon hearing this. In his view, Chen Mobai was the foremost figure in the Eastern Continent, possibly even in the entire Heavenly River Realm, theoretically capable of traversing all five continents and four seas without hindrance. If even he deemed the Barren Abyss Grand Canyon dangerous, then it was clearly perilous indeed. Before this, Chen Lingming had actually intended to explore the area.

After their conversation, Chen Mobai returned to the Yellow Dragon Grotto. Chen Lingming watched him disappear beneath the water before turning and flying back to Ruan Lilong and the others.

"Did Ancestor Chen refine another sixth-rank divine sword? It looked like it was water-attributed," Ruan Lilong said expectantly. The Flying Sand Sect, after all, originated from the Ten Directions Temple and thus possessed some heritage. Ruan Lilong had discerned that the Seamount Sword was undergoing an advancement. Comparing it to his own Five-Directional Divine Sand, and considering that Chen Mobai had refined two other sixth-rank magic artifacts in recent decades, he quickly guessed the truth.

"Indeed." Chen Lingming had just inquired about this with Chen Mobai and received confirmation. Ruan Lilong and the other Barren Sea cultivators listened with expressions of envy. The most powerful magic artifact they had ever witnessed was the Five-Directional Divine Sand, which was merely fifth-rank.

"Ancestor Chen is truly remarkable. Refining a sixth-rank magic artifact seems as simple as eating and drinking to him. Could it be that he intends to refine five sixth-rank swords, each corresponding to a different element, before ascending?" Ruan Lilong mused, recalling that Chen Mobai already possessed the sixth-rank Primal Yang Sword and Violet Lightning Sword, and now had added a water-attributed one. Coupled with the Five Elements Sect's name, this possibility came to mind. He even considered offering the refining blueprints for his Five-Directional Divine Sand, as this set of artifacts seemed a perfect match for the Five Elements Sect's cultivation methods.

"I don't know about that," Chen Lingming replied. "However, regarding our trip to the Barren Sea, the Ancestor has expressed his support. He believes that as members of the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance, we should help each other and will work to persuade the other three great Sacred Lands to participate in a joint garrison."

Chen Lingming's words brought expressions of both surprise and joy to Ruan Lilong and the others. The surprise stemmed from the fact that more factions in the Barren Sea would inevitably mean fewer local profits for them. However, the joy came from the prospect of other Sacred Lands acting as a counterbalance, preventing the Five Elements Sect from dominating, and potentially allowing them to navigate the situation to secure a stable position for themselves.

For Chen Mobai, such minor matters were simply things he encountered and briefly inquired about. If he remembered later, he might ask about the outcome. It was utterly impossible for him to dedicate time to them. Even a business involving hundreds of millions of spirit stones now felt insignificant to him.

Upon returning to the Yellow Dragon Grotto, Chen Mobai released the successfully advanced Seamount Sword. Following its unspoken wish, he also released the Primal Yang Sword and the Violet Lightning Sword. Subsequently, every creature residing in the Yellow Dragon Grotto felt their hairs stand on end involuntarily. The Seamount Sword and the Violet Lightning Sword had escalated from verbal jousting to actual combat, clashing mid-air with ringing sounds. Chen Mobai, also curious to see the power of the sixth-rank Seamount Sword, allowed them to fight. The Primal Yang Sword, meanwhile, watched from the sidelines, ready to intervene and separate them if their conflict grew too intense. This was Chen Mobai's intention; its Harmonious Peace Sword Intent was not strong offensively, but its defensive capabilities were excellent.

However, Chen Mobai soon remembered that Qing Nü was in secluded cultivation within the Yellow Dragon Grotto, and the clashing of these two sixth-rank swords might disturb her practice. So, he waved his sleeve, opened a void portal, and banished them outside. This, then, spelled trouble for Cloud Dream Lake and its surrounding shores.

Chen Lingming and the other Nascent Soul cultivators, who had just teleported from Wind-Rain Immortal City to East Wu's Huangwu Immortal City, felt three immense, irresistible sword intents sweeping across the sky, chilling them to the bone. Any single one of these sword intents, if it descended, could reduce their group of Nascent Soul cultivators to dust. *Is this the true power of a Sacred Land!* Witnessing the terrifying sword light spreading across the sky and extending towards East Wu, Ruan Lilong and the others felt their resolve to settle in North Abyss City grow ever stronger.

After the Seamount Sword reached the sixth rank, Chen Mobai relaxed. He then focused on his Morning Bell, helping his soul-bound artifact absorb and elevate the Yin-Yang Spirit Pearl. When he had free time, he would offer guidance to other beings residing in the Yellow Dragon Grotto.

Besides unique beings like Yang Jing, Qing Nü's eldest disciple, Jin Ling'er, was naturally not forgotten. As a Heavenly Gold Spirit Root, her cultivation speed was exceptionally rapid; she was already in the middle stage of Core Formation. It was estimated that in about ten years, she could attempt to break through to the late-stage bottleneck.

"Cultivate diligently," Chen Mobai praised Jin Ling'er, "I have high hopes for you to become the next Saintess of the sect after Ming'er and the others." Chen Mobai praised Jin Ling'er because he found her foundation solid, her spiritual energy pure, and her mind stable. There was nothing much to teach her, so he could only offer praise.

"You're too kind, Grand-Ancestor," Jin Ling'er replied, indicating she didn't highly value the position of Saintess. "I am of the same generation as Senior Sister Zhuo. If I were to compete with the next generation for the Saintess position, wouldn't outsiders laugh?" As Qing Nü's eldest disciple, she essentially had whatever she desired. At times, even the sect's Nascent Soul cultivators had to seek her out to ask her to request elixirs from Qing Nü. Because of this, Jin Ling'er, though young, had already become somewhat devoid of ambition.

"That's true," Chen Mobai conceded. "However, the Dao Child and Saintess represent the sect's prestige. If you don't take the position, I don't know who among the next generation could bring glory to the sect?" Chen Mobai noticed that this junior, whose personality and appearance were somewhat excessively cold, lacked ambition. He felt this wouldn't do and needed to find some motivation for her.

"Junior Brother Yiku and Junior Sister Sizhu, their talents are no less than mine, and they are extremely disciplined in their cultivation, possessing strong inner drive..." Jin Ling'er, however, suggested Qing Nü's two other disciples.