Chapter 1385: Immortal Sect's Grand Strategy

Novel

“Chunyang, what a magnificent sword!”

When Chen Mobai completed the final sword, Qianxing was the first to fly over, his eyes gleaming as he gazed at the weapon standing majestically between the heavens and the ocean. Although he himself had once forged a Tier 6 Star-Pulling Sword, that achievement was purely a stroke of luck. It occurred during the Immortal Sect’s gravest hour, when its very survival hung in the balance. Qianxing, through a stroke of divine inspiration, ascended to a profound state, sacrificing everything from his past life, as if divinely aided, to achieve it. Were Qianxing to attempt it ten more times, success would still not be guaranteed. In contrast, Chen Mobai’s effortless refinement of a Tier 6 sword today clearly demonstrated his true mastery, not mere fortune.

“This sword has absorbed the essence of mountains, rivers, the earth, and the vast oceans. Furthermore, the sword intents of generations of Mountain and Sea Academy sword cultivators, epitomized by Hao Cao, converged within it, giving birth to its sword spirit. I propose we name it ‘Mountain and Sea’.” Chen Mobai flicked a finger at the sword hovering before him, and instantly, a resounding sword hum echoed through the heavens.

“A splendid sword, a fitting name!” The surrounding members of the Immortal Sect offered their enthusiastic praise.

“Thank you, True Monarch, for bestowing the academy’s name upon it. This will be a great honor for every student of the Mountain and Sea Academy.” At that moment, a middle-aged man with slightly graying temples flew forward, bowing to Chen Mobai in gratitude. He was none other than Yan Feng, the current principal of the Mountain and Sea Academy.

“Ah, it’s you. Long time no see.” Chen Mobai, seeing Yan Feng, showed a hint of surprise before smiling faintly. Yan Feng had been a high school classmate of his. During the entrance examination, had he not been defeated by Chen Mobai and expended the Heavenly Heart Sword Talisman in the process, he would likely have ranked first in their cohort. Of all the high school seniors from Danxia City in their generation, only Yan Feng had formed a Golden Core, besides Chen Mobai, Qingnu, and Yan Bingxuan. Remarkably, his current cultivation level even rivaled that of the Yan family ancestor who first created the Heavenly Heart Sword Talisman. Spotting a familiar face, Chen Mobai felt a genuine sense of pleasure.

“I never imagined the True Monarch would still remember me.” Yan Feng was visibly flattered by Chen Mobai’s words. While they had shared a good relationship in their youth, Chen Mobai was now a Void Refinement cultivator, a level far beyond him. As the two caught up, the Immortal Sect members present also took note of Yan Feng, resolving to offer assistance to the Mountain and Sea Academy should it ever need help in the future.

“The Mountain and Sea Academy, as the Immortal Sect’s premier sword cultivation university, upholds ancient principles and has guarded this Heavenly Sea Stone Sword for generations. Now that I have refined it into a true sword, it is only fitting that the Mountain and Sea Academy continues to safeguard it.” After his conversation with Yan Feng, Chen Mobai abruptly addressed the gathering. Then, before everyone’s eyes, he waved his sleeve, sending the Tier 5 Heavenly Sea Swords he had previously collected, along with the Tier 6 Mountain and Sea Sword, into the top floor of the Mountain and Sea Academy’s renowned Sword Pagoda. In his youth, he acquired the Purple Lightning Sword within this very pagoda, establishing his formidable reputation as an unrivaled sword cultivation genius. Later, during the wars of expansion, he acquired the Sea-Stabilizing Sword. As these two swords certainly could not be returned to the pagoda now, the Sword Pagoda, renowned as a sacred land of sword dao, notably lacked any top-tier sword collections. Today, this also served as a fitting opportunity to repay that karmic debt.

“Chunyang, these swords are of such exceptionally high caliber. Will the Mountain and Sea Academy truly be capable of safeguarding them on its own?” Qianxing, observing Chen Mobai’s actions, voiced his concerns. After all, the Mountain and Sea Academy currently had no Nascent Soul cultivators, and Principal Yan Feng himself only possessed a Tier 3 sword. Abruptly entrusting him with six Tier 5 Heavenly Sea Swords and one Tier 6 Mountain and Sea Sword was indeed asking too much of the academy.

“We can simply transfer some Nascent Soul cultivators here. Furthermore, as the White Stone Cave Heaven borders the sea, I imagine Shuixian will also oversee it.” As soon as Chen Mobai spoke, everyone’s gaze shifted to Shuixian, who gaped and pointed a finger at herself, mouthing: “Me?” Given Shuixian’s usual indolence, she was undoubtedly reluctant. However, having just accepted a Heavenly Sea Sword, she found it difficult to refuse.

“After the Spirit Venerable refines the Profound Yellow Pagoda, he will likely also come here to select a suitable sword…” Noticing Shuixian’s reluctant expression, Chen Mobai offered this half-finished sentence.

“Consider it handled. From now on, my divine sense will constantly envelop this area.” Shuixian no longer hesitated, patting her chest to affirm her commitment to duty and her intention to guard the place as if it were her personal treasury.

“That works well too. It will further specialize the Mountain and Sea Academy’s expertise as a sword cultivation university.” Qianxing, hearing Chen Mobai’s arrangements, no longer had any objections. As for which Nascent Soul cultivator from the Immortal Sect would be dispatched to manage the Sword Pagoda under Shuixian, the present Cultivation Gods did not inquire. After all, among the Immortal Sect’s four great Dao Academies, the Instrument Dao lineage now boasted the most Nascent Soul cultivators, their numbers already in the double digits. Furthermore, these swords were refined by Chen Mobai himself.

“The Immortal Sect of today is unlike our era, when spiritual energy had to be meticulously conserved. Any Nascent Soul or even Golden Core sword cultivator from the Immortal Sect, if interested, may come to the Sword Pagoda to attempt to commune with these swords. Should they gain a sword spirit’s recognition, they are welcome to take the sword directly. Just as I once took the Purple Lightning Sword. My current accomplishments in sword dao owe no small debt to the early assistance of the Purple Lightning Sword. Naturally, the Purple Lightning Sword itself has also achieved extraordinary feats, now likewise a Tier 6 weapon.” When Chen Mobai announced that the swords within the Sword Pagoda would be accessible to the entire Immortal Sect, everyone present’s eyes lit up. While they were all Cultivation Gods themselves, the factions they represented still boasted numerous Nascent Soul cultivators. As for Chen Mobai’s subsequent self-congratulatory remarks, the others simply disregarded them. Only a few individuals mused on the Purple Lightning Sword’s discerning eye, marveling that it had chosen Chen Mobai, then merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, from among so many others. This was particularly true for Pei Qingshuang, who stood silently beside Wenren Xuewei. Purple Lightning and Azure Frost were once equally renowned. However, the Azure Frost Sword, in her possession, was currently only Tier 5. Furthermore, its Tier 5 status was achieved while it was with Chen Mobai; after it returned to her, it had made no further progress whatsoever. Each time she wielded the Azure Frost Sword, Pei Qingshuang could faintly perceive the sword spirit’s indifference. Yet, she dared not voice any complaint. After all, having witnessed Chen Mobai’s immense power, she, the original owner, felt quite weak in comparison.

Once the news spread that Chen Mobai had refined swords by the sea and that these powerful weapons were now housed in the Sword Pagoda, the White Stone Cave Heaven instantly saw an explosion in visitors. While it was stated that only Golden Core cultivators could attempt to commune with the Heavenly Sea Swords, every sword cultivator harbored a dream of emulating True Monarch Chunyang. What if, just like True Monarch Chunyang, a sword spirit recognized them while they were still in the Foundation Establishment realm? Even many Qi Refinement sword cultivators desired to visit and admire the place where Chen Mobai had forged the swords, hoping to sense powerful sword intent left behind by True Monarch Chunyang. Chen Mobai, however, no longer concerned himself with these matters. Since Qianxing and the others were present, he discreetly sent a voice message to Meng Huang’er at the hotel, informing her that he was returning to Wangwu Cave Heaven first and that she should come to the Mountain and Sea Academy in a few days.

“I’ve made all the arrangements. Once you enter the Sword Pagoda, go directly to the Heavenly Sea Sound Sword with the five apertures. At that moment, the sword spirit will hum, feigning compatibility and acknowledging you as its master.” Meng Huang’er, who had been feeling down that her pleasant time with Chen Mobai had concluded so abruptly, instantly brightened upon hearing the final part of the message. She yearned to leave the hotel immediately and go to the Mountain and Sea Academy to commune with the sword, thereby showcasing and solidifying her image as a genius.

Upon his return, Chen Mobai did not forget Yan Bingxuan. Having lost some of the initial novelty with Meng Huang’er, he simply took advantage of the night to teleport to the Natural Academy for a ‘session’. After their intimate moments, Chen Mobai conveyed a similar message to Yan Bingxuan.

“I already have the Tier 4 Cold Skin Sword you gave me previously, and with no new wars of expansion in the Immortal Sect lately, I feel it’s perfectly sufficient.” Yan Bingxuan, however, felt that Chen Mobai had already given her more than enough. She wasn’t particularly keen on combat, preferring instead to dedicate herself to teaching and nurturing others.

“Just because there hasn’t been one recently doesn’t mean there won’t be in the future. That Heavenly Sea Ice Sword was specifically crafted by me to match your cultivation method’s attributes. No one else in the Immortal Sect, apart from you, can fully unleash its power.” Chen Mobai persuaded her earnestly. This was Yan Bingxuan’s one notable trait: even in their most intimate moments, she remained unwilling to use him to gain any ‘extra-canonical’ benefits, fearing it would tarnish Chen Mobai’s reputation.

“My grand-aunt and your daughter both possess higher cultivation levels than I do; they would certainly be more suitable.” Yan Bingxuan uttered a statement that left Chen Mobai at a loss for a counter-argument. Chen Xiaohei had already thoroughly mastered the Three Yin Sutra he obtained from the Heavenly River Realm. Her Pure Yin Body was beginning to manifest its power, and her cultivation speed was showing a trajectory similar to that of Patriarch Yuanyang’s in his prime. As for Yan Qiongzhi, it went without saying: possessing an Innate Ice Spirit Root and a genius renowned alongside Lan Haitan, she surpassed Yan Bingxuan in both aptitude and natural talent.

“It’s almost dawn; let’s not discuss this now.” Chen Mobai glanced at the morning light filtering through the curtain gap, mindful of a minor meeting at the Instrument Dao Academy scheduled for later that day. He couldn’t help but tighten his grip, causing Yan Bingxuan, nestled in his embrace, to shiver involuntarily, a blush spreading across her pale cheeks and down her entire body.

After their intimate encounter, a radiant Chen Mobai appeared punctually at Mount Chicheng via instant teleportation.

“Greetings, Old Ancestor!” The Nascent Soul cultivators of the Instrument Dao Academy, led by Deng Daoyun, had been waiting in the conference room for half an hour prior. Upon seeing Chen Mobai’s figure, they immediately rose and saluted.

“Let’s be brief. I’ve used Dao Merits to acquire numerous spirit veins. From this point forward, the Immortal Sect’s policy will transition from conservatism to proactive expansion. This star map delineates the Immortal Sect territories I’ve secured. My plan is to select 360 stars to construct the Grand Array of the Revolving Heavens, Star Constellations, Rivers, and Luo. Each star must first be secured by personnel. This is a plan that will require millennia, perhaps even ten millennia, to complete. I hope the Instrument Dao lineage can courageously lead the charge. For you, the ultimate pursuit is resources for ascending to the Cultivation God realm. If we remain confined to Diyuan Star, it’s impossible for everyone to achieve this. However, by venturing out and expanding, as long as you make significant contributions, I can guarantee that every person present will have an opportunity to reach the Cultivation God realm…”

Chen Mobai had already shared this grand vision for the Immortal Sect’s future expansion with Qianxing and the other Cultivation Gods. While astonished by the sheer scale of the plan, they also felt a long-forgotten surge of excitement. After all, for them, remaining confined to Diyuan Star would inevitably prevent them from reaching the Void Refinement realm. Even though Chen Mobai and his group had now successfully charted a stellar path to the Mystic Gourd Dao Field, for these Cultivation Gods, that destination remained exceedingly distant. If they could gather the stars of the Revolving Heavens and coalesce them into more potent spirit veins, then cultivating to the Void Refinement realm within the Immortal Sect would no longer be a dead end in the future. Cultivation Gods desired Void Refinement, and Nascent Souls yearned for the Cultivation God realm!

Upon hearing this, the Nascent Soul cultivators from the Instrument Dao Academy eagerly volunteered, expressing their readiness to become the Immortal Sect’s first pioneers in exploring and developing external planets. Initially, the focus would undoubtedly be on terraforming planets within the Heavenly Sun star system. With Chen Mobai already in the Void Refinement realm, venturing to these planets would certainly be safe. As long as they completed their tasks, it would be considered a major contribution, guaranteeing access to Cultivation God resources.

“Nascent Soul cultivators can apply to independently lead teams to develop external planets, but you must assemble a complete planet construction team yourselves. Currently, the first planet is already being terraformed by Yuanxu. Those interested can accompany him to observe and learn first…” After Chen Mobai outlined the Immortal Sect’s grand strategy for the next ten millennia, he refrained from making specific personnel assignments. He aimed to fully stimulate the initiative of everyone present.

“There’s one more matter: the Sword Pagoda requires a Nascent Soul cultivator to oversee it. Who among you is interested?” Chen Mobai suddenly remembered this and asked. To his surprise, however, everyone remained silent. Had he not previously unveiled the grand strategy of developing external planets, idle Nascent Soul cultivators like Bian Jingchun might have shown interest. But now, their minds were consumed by a single ambition: to venture into the cosmic expanse, to personally witness and reshape a planet. Compared to the boundless sea of stars, a mere Sword Pagoda offered little allure. Even the prospect of closely comprehending numerous Tier 5 swords, or even the Tier 6 Mountain and Sea Sword, paled in comparison. This was particularly true for individuals like Yu Yi, who had previously failed in their ascension to the Cultivation God realm; they were even more eager to seize this second opportunity, which only became available after Chen Mobai reached Void Refinement.

“If none of you are interested, then perhaps I could take on the responsibility.” Just as Chen Mobai was about to instruct the Three Great Halls to assign someone, Meng Huang’er unexpectedly raised her hand. Having received news of the meeting, she had immediately used Void Teleportation to rush over from the White Stone Cave Heaven. She was well aware of her own capabilities; leading a single department was already her limit. Tasking her with building a planet would genuinely be too challenging. However, it was clear that with the unveiling of this grand strategy, all ambitious Nascent Soul and even Golden Core cultivators within the Immortal Sect would undoubtedly aspire to venture beyond Diyuan Star and expand the Immortal Sect’s territories. If she didn’t participate, she would seem out of step with the others. Yet, if she did go, she feared she wouldn’t perform adequately. Conveniently, Chen Mobai had already arranged a Heavenly Sea Sound Sword for her. Taking charge of the Sword Pagoda would provide a natural and legitimate opportunity for her to commune with the sword, solidifying the perception that she was truly devoted to the sword and had gained its recognition.

As soon as Meng Huang’er spoke, Chen Mobai’s thoughts shifted. He considered that she might believe he would arrange Cultivation God resources for her, thereby dampening her ambition to venture into the vast cosmos. And he wasn’t entirely wrong. For Chen Mobai now, Cultivation God resources were indeed no longer an obstacle. Furthermore, if Meng Huang’er wished to reach the peak of the Nascent Soul realm, it would certainly take a considerable amount of time, and by then, arrangements could certainly be made.

End of Chapter.