Chapter 534: Visit Intent (Extra Chapter with Monthly Ticket 2)

Primordial Immortal City.

Zhou Ye took the invitation brought by Kong Shanxu and couldn't help but show a strange expression.

The invitation read: "I often hear my two senior brothers speak of the Immortal City's prosperity. As I have just taken charge of the Divine Wood Sect, I wish to come and see it for myself…"

The invitation was written by Chen Mobai, stating that he intended to visit the Five Elements Sect early next year.

“What does he mean by this?”

Although the Five Elements Sect and the Divine Wood Sect had signed a non-aggression pact, Zhou Ye vividly remembered the life-or-death struggle between the two sides during their split. Now, Chen Mobai, the Divine Wood Sect's greatest genius since its founding and its newly appointed Core Formation sect master, was actually coming to visit the Five Elements Sect, which truly perplexed Zhou Ye.

“Could it be that Zhou Shengqing really achieved Nascent Soul formation and is preparing to reclaim this Immortal City, sending him to test the waters first?” Green Pearl, who was standing nearby, listened, her delicate brows furrowed as she spoke with great concern.

“Isn't it natural for Second Senior Brother to achieve Nascent Soul formation and take charge of Primordial Immortal City, or even the Five Elements Sect?” Zhou Ye said, his expression unchanged, then put down the invitation and motioned for Kong Shanxu to go prepare for the matter.

Since Chen Mobai was coming, they certainly wouldn't refuse him. Whether his intentions were benevolent or malicious, they would only know after meeting him. Moreover, within this Primordial Immortal City, even if a Nascent Soul cultivator arrived, Zhou Ye was confident he could withdraw calmly.

“Besides our Five Elements Sect, Sect Master Chen of the Divine Wood Sect also seems to be planning to visit Rejuvenation Valley and Snowfall Palace,” Kong Shanxu mentioned before he left. After Zhou Shengqing had intervened and slain five Core Formation cultivators, he, Ye Bogui, and Xue Ting once again rushed to Giant Wood Ridge. Although they couldn't meet Sect Master Chen, the three exchanged notes when they left and discovered that each of them had received an invitation.

“Is he preparing to rule the Eastern Barrens?” Unexpectedly, this thought came to Zhou Ye. He stood up, his expression solemn.

He was not the only one thinking this way; Yan Shaoyin of Rejuvenation Valley and Kong Lingling of Snowfall Palace shared the same thoughts.

“Alas…” Yan Shaoyin sighed. Upon hearing that Zhou Shengqing had personally slain five great Core Formation cultivators, he felt both encouraged and disheartened. He was encouraged because, besides Zhou Shengqing, he was the closest to achieving Nascent Soul formation in the Eastern Barrens. If Zhou Shengqing could succeed, then theoretically, it was also possible for him.

However, once this hope truly emerged, Yan Shaoyin recalled his experience a century ago when he was forced to submit to the Five Elements Sect and refine pills for them under the oppression of the Primordial Patriarch. The only thing worth celebrating, however, was that the Divine Wood Sect had not held a Nascent Soul formation grand ceremony. This meant that Zhou Shengqing had most likely failed, or perhaps he hadn't even achieved Nascent Soul formation at all, and it was merely a tactic to draw out the Xuanxiao Dao Palace and those ghost cultivators.

Regardless, the most pressing matter now was this invitation. The new Sect Master Chen of the Divine Wood Sect was coming to visit. Theoretically, the sect master of Rejuvenation Valley should receive him, but Sect Master Chen was a Core Formation cultivator. Yan Shaoyin could only instruct Ye Bogui to make preparations, intending to personally receive Chen Mobai when the time came.

“Master, there's one more thing.” As Ye Bogui was leaving, he hesitantly handed Yan Shaoyin a communication talisman that the Star Heaven Grand Chamber of Commerce had just sent. The latter took it, his face turning slightly pale, and he sat down on a chair, letting out a long sigh.

It stated that his disciple, He Jintong, had failed to achieve Core Formation, but thanks to the pills Yan Shaoyin had prepared in advance, his life was not in danger. Recently, a batch of goods from the Star Heaven Grand Chamber of Commerce was to be transported to the Eastern Yi territory, and He Jintong would be brought along then, so Rejuvenation Valley should make preparations.

In the past, Yan Shaoyin had ruined several batches before finally managing to refine four Golden Liquid Jade Revival Pills. The Divine Wood Sect took two of them, and soon after, news of Chen Mobai's Core Formation spread. Yan Shaoyin's eldest disciple, He Jintong, had long since reached Foundation Establishment Completion. Upon hearing this, he was greatly encouraged and no longer hesitated. Taking a Golden Liquid Jade Revival Pill, he was arranged to go to the location of the Star Heaven Dao Sect to secretly attempt Core Formation. Unfortunately, not everyone could be like Chen Mobai. Moreover, most cultivators in Rejuvenation Valley had advanced by consuming pills, making their innate foundations unstable. Even the wondrous Golden Liquid Jade Revival Pill was powerless against such cultivators.

“Make arrangements, then, to go to Eastern Yi and bring Jintong back…” After hearing this news, Yan Shaoyin looked as if he had aged ten years. He sighed and waved his hand, dismissing Ye Bogui.

Compared to the flourishing Divine Wood Sect, Rejuvenation Valley, after the Five Elements Sect's split, had indeed earned a fortune by monopolizing the high-end pill refining industry in the Eastern Barrens. Even outstanding core disciples could receive two Foundation Establishment Pills at once. With this, they cultivated the largest number of Foundation Establishment cultivators among the major sects in the Eastern Barrens. However, they lacked not only top-tier talents like Chen Mobai but also even high-grade ones like Hong He. He Jintong was already considered to have the best foundation within Rejuvenation Valley. But even he couldn't take that step into Core Formation. The thought of this made Yan Shaoyin feel weary at heart.

He truly wished to abandon Rejuvenation Valley and wholeheartedly pursue the Nascent Soul realm. With his skills as a fourth-tier alchemist, he would never lack spirit stones no matter where he went. However, this was merely a thought. Alchemists most needed the backing of a powerful force, as high-grade pills required numerous auxiliary ingredients, and collecting them alone would be too time-consuming.

Snowfall Palace, still the same ice palace.

“Niece Xue Ting, you've worked hard.” Kong Lingling spoke calmly after hearing about Chen Mobai's impending visit. After Xue Ting left, Kong Lingling, Zhu Jinyu, and Lan Lingping discussed for a while longer, but faced with Zhou Shengqing's magnificent feat of slaying five Core Formation cultivators alone, they couldn't find any reason to refuse.

“I am at a critical juncture in my cultivation, so you might still need to show Sect Master Chen around when he arrives,” Kong Lingling said helplessly. Her cultivation technique was special; during a breakthrough, she had to freeze her physical body in a spiritual energy-rich location, rendering her immobile.

“Master, rest assured. Xue Ting is, in a way, an unofficial disciple of Sect Master Chen. We can have her represent the sect in hosting him, and if we are respectful, Sect Master Chen surely won't blame us.”

“For now, that's all we can do.” As Kong Lingling spoke, she recalled something weighing on her mind, and an inexplicable feeling of irritation welled up within her.

Chen Mobai, naturally, had no idea that his planned visit had caused tension among the Core Formation cultivators of the three major sects in the Eastern Barrens. In truth, he had no particular interest in Rejuvenation Valley or Snowfall Palace. He merely wanted to visit Ming Country, where the Five Elements Sect's Primordial Immortal City was located, to investigate the Returning Origin Sect, where Luo Yixuan had last been seen before her disappearance. However, visiting only the Five Elements Sect would be too targeted and might attract the attention of the two Core Formation cultivators from the Water and Fire Veins. Therefore, to conceal his true purpose, Chen Mobai added Rejuvenation Valley and Snowfall Palace to his itinerary, treating it as a formal visit after taking charge of the Divine Wood Sect.

The trip was scheduled for next year, not only to allow time for the other three sects and the Divine Wood Sect to prepare but also because he needed to return to the Immortal Sect to handle some matters. Under his guidance, the cabinet was already running very smoothly. Yue Zutao truly lived up to his reputation as a talent for governance, and with Meng Hong's assistance, coupled with the overt presence of Core Formation cultivators like Chen Mobai and the seemingly Nascent Soul-level Zhou Shengqing, and the diligent efforts of the six state guardians, the Divine Wood Sect was thriving both internally and externally. Chen Mobai confidently left behind his Formless Humanoid Puppet and returned to the Immortal Sect in his true body.