Chapter 528: South Xuanjing's Storage Bag

Chen Mobai sat upright in his cultivation hut, holding a talisman brush and concentrating fully on drawing a talisman. Beside him lay a storage bag. It was Nan Xuanjing's! Having been in the Tianhe Realm for so many years, he was accustomed to opening storage bags, but a Golden Core cultivator's bag still filled him with anticipation.

The reason he hadn't opened it immediately was that his spiritual sense cultivation was inferior to Nan Xuanjing's, preventing him from unlocking it. His usual solution, a blank talisman, was ineffective because his talismanship level was still at the second tier. The simplest method would be to go to the Immortal Sect and commission a third-tier blank talisman from a third-tier talisman master, but Chen Mobai, being cautious by nature, refrained from doing so. This was because every blank talisman traded within the Immortal Sect had to be registered with the Enforcement Department. Therefore, Chen Mobai had no choice but to practice making one himself.

Fortunately, he was now a Golden Core cultivator. With his full dedication, the third-tier talismans that had once been challenging were gradually being mastered. As the final details were filled in, the third-tier blank talisman glowed with spiritual light, fully taking shape. Chen Mobai breathed a sigh of relief and placed the talisman brush back on its stand. At that moment, a distinct "crack" sound echoed. Chen Mobai instinctively looked up and saw a fine crack had appeared on the tip of the recently used talisman brush.

"I need to find a way to upgrade my primary talisman brush," Chen Mobai muttered to himself. These two primary talisman brushes had been custom-made by Ming Yihua over twenty years ago and had served him well. However, now that he had reached the Golden Core stage, his cultivation level propelled his immortal cultivation skills, allowing him to delve into third-tier talismans. These two second-tier primary brushes were no longer sufficient. It seemed he would need to return to the Immortal Sect when he had time, to inquire at the Talisman Master Association whether custom-making or directly purchasing a new brush would be more cost-effective. For a third-tier talisman brush, Chen Mobai had no intention of gathering materials in the Eastern Barrens. This was because third-tier spirit beasts were scarce in the Immortal Sect, and he couldn't casually produce materials of that grade. He planned to reserve the excuse of a "void blind box" for more crucial items. Alternatively, he could look around the Eastern Barrens for a suitable third-tier talisman brush.

With that thought, Chen Mobai picked up the third-tier blank talisman on the table, which he had painstakingly practiced for a month to master. After infusing it with spiritual energy, he slapped it onto Nan Xuanjing's storage bag. With a rustling sound, Chen Mobai's wooden hut was instantly overflowing. If he hadn't swiftly lifted the roof, he might have been crushed by the sheer volume of items spilling out of the storage bag. He had never imagined Nan Xuanjing's storage bag would contain so many things.

Besides gleaming spirit stones, there was a mountain of Golden Crystals, totaling two thousand pieces when counted. Seeing this, Chen Mobai's face lit up with joy. With these, plus what he had obtained from the Barren Ruins, he would have nearly enough resources to cultivate his *Falling Treasure Golden Light* technique to its highest realm. As for why Nan Xuanjing possessed so many Golden Crystals, Chen Mobai had a few theories. Within the Xuanxiao Dao Palace, Golden Crystals were even more precious cultivation resources than spirit stones. Many spells required refining the golden qi from these crystals to be mastered, such as the famous *Sun-Shooting Divine Halberd Art* and the less common *Falling Treasure Golden Light*!

As Nan Xuanjing was the Ancestor of the Nanxuan Sect, these Golden Crystals were likely distributed to him by the Xuanxiao Dao Palace. In addition to his personal cultivation resources, they probably also served as the stipend for all Nanxuan Sect disciples in the Eastern Barrens. However, these Golden Crystals were originally meant to be distributed annually, perhaps representing ten or even twenty years of expenses. After Nan Xuanjing was killed by Chen Mobai, all of them, along with his storage bag, fell into Chen Mobai's hands.

After carefully storing the Golden Crystals in a separate storage bag, Chen Mobai used his spiritual sense to count the spirit stones. This surprised him even more. Nan Xuanjing was quite wealthy, possessing 256 high-grade spirit stones, making him far richer than Chen Mobai himself. However, Chen Mobai estimated that a Golden Core cultivator in the Eastern Barrens should have at least a thousand high-grade spirit stones in their storage bag. Perhaps his impression of Fu Zongjue casually giving him 100 high-grade spirit stones was too strong, leading him to overestimate.

After bagging the spirit stones separately again, Chen Mobai finally turned his attention to the remaining miscellaneous items. There were beds, tables, chairs, and more, indicating that Nan Xuanjing also enjoyed comfort. After his spiritual sense confirmed they were merely ordinary spirit wood, Chen Mobai promptly burned them all. What remained were some magical artifacts. There were fragments of the Splendid Pearl, shattered by his Purple Lightning Sword, and also a series of refined golden halberds, from first to third tier, crafted using the Xuanxiao Dao Palace's secret methods. These were likely intended as rewards for the Nanxuan Sect's disciples. Chen Mobai selected one of each tier for his collection and put the rest into a miscellaneous storage bag. He planned to give them to the Artifact Forging Department later to see if they were better melted down or used to replenish the sect's treasury.

Finally, there were more than a dozen bottles of elixirs. Chen Mobai had always been wary of elixirs from the Tianhe Realm, but a Golden Core cultivator's personal collection was certainly valuable. To avoid waste, and out of curiosity, he summoned Zeng Wolong.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, this is Ink Blood Elixir... this is Aperture Essence Elixir... this is..." Zeng Wolong, as expected of the head of the Elixir Refining Department, opened each bottle, smelled its contents, and then identified the elixir's name and effects. However, he was unsure about one black elixir.

"This, it might be the Blood-Shattering Essence Elixir. After consumption, it can completely heal injuries and even lead to a breakthrough in cultivation. It's a demonic elixir, not circulated on the market, and I've never seen it, so I can't confirm." After hearing this, Chen Mobai recalled his battle with Nan Xuanjing and nodded, acknowledging Zeng Wolong's judgment.

"This... could it be... the Profound Sky Dark Gold Elixir!" Finally, Zeng Wolong looked at a thumb-sized, dark golden elixir, his voice trembling slightly.

"Oh, is this elixir very famous?" Chen Mobai asked, a little surprised.

"This is the most renowned elixir of the Xuanxiao Dao Palace. Anyone who takes it can extend their lifespan by twenty years."

"Extend lifespan!" Chen Mobai was greatly astonished to hear this. This was a way to extend one's innate lifespan, the most precious type of elixir in the Immortal Sect. He hadn't expected the Xuanxiao Dao Palace to possess such a miraculous elixir.

"Although the Profound Sky Dark Gold Elixir becomes less effective with repeated use, it is still hailed as the number one spirit elixir in Dongyi. Ancestor Jinfeng relied on this elixir to survive to this day." After listening to Zeng Wolong's words, Chen Mobai nodded. This was truly the most valuable item in Nan Xuanjing's storage bag. However, whether it could be consumed still required examination by a professional.

As he pondered whether he should fly to Wangwu Grotto-Heaven to find Qingnu at the end of the year, or have Qingnu come to Yumu City to find him, Chen Mobai's Heavenly Communication Device suddenly rang. Yue Zutao was looking for him. After dismissing Zeng Wolong, Chen Mobai answered the device. Upon learning the matter, he notified the Inner Cabinet to convene a meeting.

After sorting and dealing with all the items from Nan Xuanjing's storage bag, Chen Mobai looked up again at the Longevity Tree where Zhou Shengqing resided. As the signs of Nascent Soul formation grew increasingly prominent, the spiritual energy in Giant Wood Ridge became more and more uncontrollable. This caused the sect cultivators remaining in Giant Wood Ridge to complain bitterly.

"Sect Master, even Qi Cultivation disciples no longer dare to meditate and cultivate," Yue Zutao reported. Chen Mobai felt a headache listening to Yue Zutao's report. The spiritual energy of Giant Wood Ridge was being drawn by Zhou Shengqing's Nascent Soul transformation, and even he, a Golden Core cultivator, could only barely compete for it. Foundation Establishment cultivators were somewhat better off; with their ample wealth, they could draw spiritual energy from spirit stones for a short period. But Qi Cultivation cultivators were not. Many disciples were already struggling, saving their spirit stones only for crucial breakthroughs. Consequently, unable to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the Qi Cultivation disciples of the Divine Wood Sect began to voice their grievances.

Chen Mobai: "How many Qi Cultivation disciples are there currently in the sect?"

Yue Zutao: "There are 2,687 registered disciples, with approximately 1,500 of them in Giant Wood Ridge. Recently, many disciples have been taking on missions at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, preparing to leave."

The Divine Wood Sect boasted three thousand Qi Cultivation disciples, but three consecutive wars had resulted in the loss of four to five hundred disciples. However, two years ago, they recruited one to two hundred new members from the six nations, replenishing their ranks. When the Six Nations' Guardians left the sect, they each took roughly a hundred Qi Cultivation disciples with them. Among them, besides low-level Qi Cultivators, there were also many former true disciples. For example, Qi Hou, whom Chen Mobai knew, had followed E Yun to Yan State. After failing Foundation Establishment more than twice, these individuals had already suffered some loss of vital essence. They were no match for the newly promoted true disciples within the sect and had little chance of obtaining another Foundation Establishment Elixir, so they sought one last chance. For this reason, those who remained in the Divine Wood Sect were the backbone and the future of the sect.

"Everyone, please share your thoughts on how we can resolve this." Chen Mobai sat upright on the main seat of a side hall in the Divine Wood Hall. Below him, on both sides, sat Meng Hong, Mu Yuan, Yue Zutao, Xi Jinghuo, Luo Xue'er, and Yan Jinye—six individuals in total. This was the nascent form of the Inner Cabinet, and today marked their first meeting, convened to discuss solutions for the Qi Cultivation disciples' inability to meditate and absorb spiritual energy.

"Let's distribute spirit stones to everyone. Ancestor Zhou's Nascent Soul formation will last at most two years. We can provide 5 low-grade spirit stones per month to each Qi Cultivation disciple in Giant Wood Ridge, which would only amount to a little over ten thousand stones." Xi Jinghuo spoke first, but Luo Xue'er immediately shook her head in refusal. As the head of the Hall of Rewards, she was most aware of the current financial situation.

Luo Xue'er: "Three major wars have nearly depleted the sect's spirit stone reserves. What's left must be saved for unforeseen circumstances. Originally, the sect's stipends, which were in spirit stones, had to be replaced with spirit rice. We simply don't have any spare spirit stones. If they're willing to accept IOUs, I have no objection."

Yue Zutao: "These spirit stones are essential for Qi Cultivation disciples to cultivate in Giant Wood Ridge. If we start issuing IOUs again, I fear morale will truly collapse."

Yan Jinye: "Then how about distributing elixirs instead?" Although after Chen Mobai's teachings, Qi Cultivation disciples in the Divine Wood Sect who yearned for Foundation Establishment no longer consumed elixirs without restraint as before, their market price remained high, and they were still very popular among rogue cultivators and lower-ranking disciples.

Chen Mobai: "Nephew Meng, what is your insightful opinion?" After everyone had spoken, Chen Mobai saw that Meng Hong remained unperturbed and turned to him with the question.

Meng Hong: "Reporting to the Sect Master, the method of distributing subsidies such as spirit stones or elixirs is absolutely unfeasible." As soon as he spoke, everyone's gaze turned to him. Chen Mobai smiled faintly, motioning for him to continue.

"If we are to distribute, then besides the Qi Cultivation disciples within the sect, those outside the sect must also be considered, for it's not scarcity that causes discontent, but inequality. However, if we do that, the disciples in Giant Wood Ridge will feel unfairly treated. Why should those outside the sect enjoy the same benefits they've suffered for within the sect? This bowl of water can never be perfectly leveled." After hearing Meng Hong's words, everyone's faces showed realization. Indeed, the older the ginger, the spicier it is. His perspective on the problem was far more thorough and profound than theirs.

Chen Mobai: "Then, in your opinion, how should this matter be handled?"

Meng Hong: "The best approach is to act as if we are unaware. If any disciples below dare to complain about this, it constitutes disloyalty to the sect. We should directly dispatch the Hall of Punishment to apprehend and suppress them!" As soon as this was said, everyone fell into contemplation. Chen Mobai looked at Meng Hong, who had uttered such ruthless words with a calm expression, and couldn't help but sigh. The Eastern Barrens truly differed from the Immortal Sect. Here, there was no need to consider public grievances; high-pressure rule was the most favored method. Compared to Zhou Shengqing forming his Nascent Soul, even if all the Divine Wood Sect's Qi Cultivation disciples sacrificed themselves, it would likely be acceptable in Meng Hong's eyes.

Chen Mobai: "Does anyone else have other suggestions?" Yue Zutao's expression was hesitant, but after thinking it over carefully, he still felt Meng Hong's method was the most suitable for the current situation.

"How many distributable tasks are there within the sect?" Chen Mobai asked when he saw they remained silent.

Luo Xue'er immediately replied, "Reporting to the Sect Master, routine duties such as patrolling branch courtyards, harvesting spirit and medicinal fields, and cultivating spirit beasts can accommodate another 300 disciples." As all spirit stone budgets for the three halls and twelve departments were disbursed through her annually, she could provide a rough estimate for these tasks.

Chen Mobai: "What about Yunmeng Marsh?" At his words, everyone exchanged bewildered glances. As the Eastern Barrens' foremost treasure land, Yunmeng Marsh could accommodate not just the Divine Wood Sect's cultivators, but even half of the Eastern Barrens' Qi Cultivation cultivators if they poured in.

"We'll leave enough personnel to activate the Myriad Wood Grand Array. For the rest, we can open up monster hunting missions for the sect disciples and dispatch them to the market town in Yunmeng Marsh. Additionally, we can assign some personnel to the Six Nations: mining in Yan State, aquatic products in Yun State, spirit fruits in Yu State, and so on. We'll ask the guardians of each state to cooperate. This would provide them with manpower and be mutually beneficial. As for the remaining disciples within the sect, we can have the Array Formation Department and the Spiritual Vein Department jointly designate an area and set up an array to stabilize the spiritual energy, allowing them to cultivate normally."