Chapter 547: Peach Blossom Master

Chen Mobai tested it with his Azure Sun Fire. After confirming that the Spirit Sealing Tubes and Spirit Condensation Talismans were effective, he took out a golden talisman. The patterns on this talisman resembled flames, dazzling and brilliant.

"What kind of talisman is this? Did you draw it?" Qing Nü asked curiously. She knew Chen Mobai was an excellent talisman maker. In the past two days, he had also shown off a bit, easily mastering Spirit Condensation Talismans from first to third tier. She felt that, given Chen Mobai's talent, his mastery in talisman making should be comparable to her own alchemy skills, perhaps even surpassing them. However, this was her misconception. Chen Mobai could achieve this solely due to his Core Formation realm cultivation.

"This is an ancient talisman I obtained from opening a Void Blind Box," Chen Mobai explained. "Two types of elixirs also came out with it, and I was just about to ask for your help in appraising them."

Qing Nü didn't know what a Void Blind Box was, as it was a precious resource only accessible to Golden Core cultivators. After Chen Mobai explained, a look of realization appeared on her face. She then curiously took the Xuan Tian Wujin Elixir and Blood Spirit Elixir, completing the appraisal with extreme professionalism. Their effects were fine, but the elixir toxins were slightly above standard. "It might be due to long-term storage or improper preservation," Qing Nü said, providing two reasons to spare Chen Mobai from making excuses.

"After years of research, I've discovered this ancient talisman is an extremely powerful true-fire talisman," Chen Mobai continued. "My Pure Yang Scroll can contain and control it, so I plan to refine it and cultivate it to add another combat technique."

As he spoke, Chen Mobai activated the Golden Flame Sword Talisman at his fingertips. After spiritual energy was injected, the patterns on the talisman began to burn like real flames. As golden fiery light flickered and emerged, a scorching heat stream, strong enough to slightly warp the void, emanated. Soon after, the ground began to char slightly, demonstrating the immense temperature of the golden flame.

Even Qing Nü, standing nearby and activating her Water spiritual energy, felt her body scorching and sweat continuously pouring out. Seeing this, Chen Mobai motioned for her to step back, then immediately picked up the Spirit Sealing Tubes.

Once the power of the Golden Flame Sword Talisman was activated, even if not directed at an enemy, it would slowly dissipate within three to four days. Chen Mobai had already fully comprehended the Scarlet Flame Sword Art. If he relied on his own pill fire and spiritual energy to refine Azure Flame Sword Qi, he could probably condense a trace of "golden flame" each day. It might take two to three years to refine the amount of golden flame contained in this sword talisman. After all, it was personally drawn by the Primal Chaos Ancestor, a Nascent Soul cultivator. This Golden Flame Sword Talisman was already at the peak of the third tier. Even if Chen Mobai could condense the same amount of golden flame, the sword talismans he drew would likely be far less powerful than this one.

He divided the golden flame, generated after activating the sword talisman, into three portions, injected them into three Spirit Sealing Tubes, and then affixed three pre-prepared third-tier Spirit Condensation Talismans onto them. This way, he would have the seeds of the golden flame. Next, he only needed to continuously refine it using the Flame Manipulation Art from the Pure Yang Scroll. Once he could completely control and master it, he could then use the Ignition Art to continuously expand and enhance the golden flame. Until the golden flame reached full mastery, which meant achieving the Blazing Sun Slash. By then, in terms of combat, even without using the Purple Lightning Sword, he would be formidable among Core Formation cultivators.

"I feel the power of this golden flame won't be inferior to the Great Sun Qianyang Fire."

After Chen Mobai sealed the golden flame, the scorching heat that had warped the void and charred the earth dissipated. Qing Nü gently wiped the fragrant sweat from her forehead and cautiously approached, a trace of lingering fear in her eyes. She felt that if even a single spark of that golden flame landed on her, it could instantly reduce her to ashes.

"It's pretty good," Chen Mobai said. "With these three tubes of golden flame as true fire seeds, I can quickly cultivate a high-grade third-tier true-fire sword art. In the future, by refining Great Sun Fire into it, I can even boost its power to the fourth tier."

The "Blazing Sun Slash" of the Scarlet Flame Sword Art is based on the golden flame condensed and sublimated from Azure Flame Sword Qi, while the "Extreme Sun Slash" requires further refining Great Sun Fire into it. This path is similar to the Great Sun Qianyang Fire, but its upgrade route is smoother. Furthermore, because it's used in conjunction with a sword art, its combat capability is stronger. One can only say that the Heavenly River Realm excels more in the study of combat techniques than the Immortal Sect.

Chen Mobai's Azure Flame Sword Qi had long since reached mastery. With the golden flame seeds and the profound techniques of the Pure Yang Scroll, he could easily cultivate the Scarlet Flame Sword Art to its peak, even without sparing spirit stones. This sword art was his intended signature technique for dominating the Eastern Barrens. Furthermore, in the future, he might even have the opportunity to acquire the subsequent grand spell from the "Burning Heaven Purifying Earth" lineage. Even without that opportunity, after mastering the Extreme Sun Slash, Chen Mobai could still find a way to switch to the Great Sun Qianyang Fire path, as both involve Great Sun Fire, allowing them to lead to the same destination by different routes.

"You're truly amazing!" Upon hearing this, Qing Nü couldn't help but look at Chen Mobai with an expression of admiration. Even with her Heavenly Spirit Root, she had painstakingly mastered only one third-tier true water spell, while Chen Mobai was already preparing to cultivate fourth-tier combat techniques.

"I merely have some talent in this area," Chen Mobai said modestly. He then attempted to draw a wisp of golden flame from a Spirit Sealing Tube and began refining it using the Flame Manipulation Art from the Pure Yang Scroll. This spell, reputed to control all fires in the world, finally showed its efficacy in his hands.

Three days later, Chen Mobai had completely mastered one tube of golden flame. Next was to use the Ignition Art. The power of this spell lay in its ability to use Pure Yang spiritual energy as fuel to ignite the heavenly and earthly spiritual fires that the cultivator had mastered. Chen Mobai immediately transformed the golden flame he had mastered with the Flame Manipulation Art into a seed, continuously injecting spiritual energy and Azure Flame Sword Qi to catalyze its growth and enhancement.

Unfortunately, this Ignition Art consumed too much Pure Yang spiritual energy. With Chen Mobai's cultivation at the first level of Core Formation, he could only sustain it for three days. After that, even while cultivating at the peak of the Danxia Mountain Range's most abundant fourth-tier spiritual vein, it would take him seven days of meditation to recover.

"This won't do, it's too slow!" Chen Mobai couldn't help but frown slightly. The main reason was that his current task was to guard this place. Moreover, besides Qing Nü, Lan Haitian would occasionally come over to update him on the latest clear-up situation in Danxia City. Under these circumstances, he didn't dare to use spirit stones for recovery. If he were willing to spend spirit stones, the time needed for spiritual energy recovery could be more than halved.

"Why isn't Tao Hua Shangren here yet?"

Just as Chen Mobai grumbled daily, he finally, on a beautiful sunny day, awaited the arrival of the principal of Jumang Dao Academy. Lan Haitian, along with a group of enforcement cultivators from Wangwu Grotto-Heaven, stood respectfully beside a beautiful woman in a pink and white long dress. She was riding on clouds in the sky, flying towards Chen Mobai's location.

This was Chen Mobai's first time seeing Tao Hua Shangren. To be honest, he had seen many beauties in his life. Whether it was Meng Huang'er or Yan Bingxuan, both possessed captivating beauty and charm. He had also met the youthful and vibrant Shi Wanyu, and Qing Nü, by his side, was an unparalleled beauty, stunningly gorgeous. But compared to Tao Hua Shangren, everyone else seemed a notch inferior.

Her beauty was almost otherworldly. She seemed to possess the beauty of every woman Chen Mobai had ever seen: ink-black hair flowing like silk, slender phoenix eyes carrying a clear smile like a bright moon or a tranquil lake, a high nose, rosy cheeks, and a flawless oval face paired with vermilion lips that made her skin appear snow-white and translucent as jade. Tao Hua Shangren possessed both the alluring figure of a mature woman and the delicate freshness of a youthful maiden. Her brows conveyed a youthful vivacity. When one's gaze fell upon her, one could find any female charm they desired.

"This is probably a fairy, isn't it!" Inexplicably, this thought surfaced in Chen Mobai's mind.

At that moment, Tao Hua Shangren, accompanied by Lan Haitian and a large group of people, landed at the peak of the Danxia Mountain Range. She gazed directly at the jade-green Wutong tree that overshadowed everything.

"Greetings, Shangren!" Chen Mobai immediately led Qing Nü forward to bow.

"Hello, Principal!" Qing Nü also followed him in greeting.

Hearing this, Tao Hua Shangren turned her head, saw Qing Nü, offered a smile, and lightly nodded in return. Then, Tao Hua Shangren continuously scrutinized the clear-minded and distinguished Chen Mobai, her eyes growing more satisfied with each look.

"Shuang'er has mentioned you to me," Tao Hua Shangren finally spoke when Chen Mobai began to feel uncomfortable under her gaze. "She said you're excellent."

"Senior Sister Pei's sword dao is astonishingly brilliant, and I deeply admire her," Chen Mobai replied. "Since our farewell at the Mountain Sea Academy, we've frequently exchanged insights on sword dao cultivation." This was true; Pei Qingshuang often sought Chen Mobai out to chat, mostly using the excuse of asking for advice on the sword dao. If it were anyone else, Chen Mobai would certainly have pretended not to notice. But with Pei Qingshuang, he was willing to exchange ideas and share his understanding of the sword dao.

Although Chen Mobai's sword dao realms were attained through the Dao Tree's empowerment, they were genuine realms. After years of practical application, his experience, at least in terms of usage, far surpassed that of Pei Qingshuang, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Especially his ability to morph sword light and manifest the Five Elements Sword Qi Array. Such a sword dao realm was achievable by only a handful of sword dao grandmasters in the entire Immortal Sect, such as Nangong Xuanyu.

Pei Qingshuang, at the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, spent the long wait for the Golden Liquid Jade Return Elixir cultivating Frost Sword Qi, in addition to fostering a bond with her Azure Frost Sword and attempting to achieve unity of person and sword, and a clear sword heart. Among Chen Mobai's Five Elements Sword Qi, his Water Element Sword Qi was based on Profound Ice Qi, similar to hers. Relying on his experience of having advanced two steps further, he often played the role of an expert when chatting with Pei Qingshuang.

His reputation preceded him! After Chen Mobai was mistakenly believed by the Immortal Sect to have achieved Core Formation through enlightenment, Pei Qingshuang already regarded him as a second Old Ancestor Baiguang, treating his words as a guiding principle. Moreover, Chen Mobai's sword dao realm was indeed two levels higher than hers, and his guidance provided truly useful experience, always leaving Pei Qingshuang greatly enlightened and making things clear for her. Consequently, whenever Pei Qingshuang returned home, she would praise Chen Mobai to Tao Hua Shangren as the greatest sword dao talent under heaven.

When the mother and daughter chatted privately, they would be a bit more unrestrained. In Pei Qingshuang's mind, she even believed that at the same age, Old Ancestor Baiguang was not as good as Chen Mobai. Furthermore, such an outstanding genius was actually someone who was indifferent to fame and fortune, wholeheartedly devoted to his family. Such virtue made him the ideal son-in-law. It was just a pity that Pei Qingshuang was still a bit thin-skinned. Whenever Tao Hua Shangren asked her if she had feelings for Chen Mobai, she would change the subject or simply run out the door, using the excuse of meeting Wenren Xuewei for tea to avoid the question.

"Chen Mobai, are you willing to join my Jumang Dao Academy?" Tao Hua Shangren suddenly asked, a question that greatly surprised Chen Mobai.

"This... I graduated from Wuqi Dao Academy, and my teaching position is still there. Shangren's kindness..." Among the Four Great Dao Academies, Jumang Dao Academy and Wuqi Dao Academy had the best relationship. Che Yucheng and Grandmaster Xinjie were sworn brothers back then. And Venerable Chengxuan's successful breakthrough to Nascent Soul was largely due to Jumang Dao Academy's past assistance of a tube of True Water of Heavenly Unity, which helped him avert the tribulation of heart-fire immolation. But even with such good relations between the two academies, wasn't it a bit inappropriate to poach someone in front of so many people? Not only Chen Mobai, but Lan Haitian also thought the same.

"I'm not asking you to transfer your position to Jumang, but rather to transfer your household registration here," Tao Hua Shangren clarified. "My Shuang'er, although she cannot bear children for you in the future, her appearance and figure are inherited from me, and the higher her cultivation, the more beautiful she becomes. Among all the excellent male cultivators in the Immortal Sect, you are the most pleasing to my eye. Are you interested in forming a Dao companion relationship with her and spending the rest of your lives together?"

Chen Mobai considered himself to have strong psychological resilience, but hearing Tao Hua Shangren's incredibly direct words still startled him somewhat. "This... I don't have any romantic feelings for Senior Sister Pei, and I am a dull person, only knowing how to cultivate and farm. I wouldn't be a good match. Let's just forget about it!"

After some thought, Chen Mobai decided to follow his heart and politely refused. In matters like these, indecision only leads to trouble; it's better not to be ambiguous. After he finished speaking, everyone present looked at him with shock. This was a direct marriage proposal from a Nascent Soul Shangren, and Pei Qingshuang could grow to possess beauty comparable to Tao Hua Shangren, arguably becoming the Immortal Sect's future most beautiful woman.

Only the gaze beside Chen Mobai wasn't shock, but tenderness and trust! It was Qing Nü. After so many years together, she had absolute confidence in Chen Mobai. She believed he was an extremely proud person, for whom family background or beauty were not criteria for choosing a partner. The friends he chose were soulmates with whom he shared a deep understanding. He would never treat someone differently just because they were useful or had status! So what if Pei Qingshuang was an "Immortal Second Generation"! In Chen Mobai's heart, her status was certainly not as high as Qing Nü's, perhaps not even as high as Yan Bingxuan's.

Thinking this, Qing Nü felt that all the hardships she had endured in her life were for the sake of meeting Chen Mobai, a partner with whom she could wholeheartedly share everything. "It is precisely because of you that I have been able to persevere until now in this sea of suffering that is the Immortal Sect." Qing Nü was an orphan; her younger brother and sister had left, and her teacher Gu Changfeng was dying. She had no other family ties in the Immortal Sect. Her only pillar of inner support was Chen Mobai.