Chapter 553: Fangcun Calligraphy Mastered

Pure Nine Gates:

With the emergence of the sword light, the outcome was no longer in question.

Chen Mobai flicked his sleeve, and a gentle cloud of mist and light flew out, softly catching Yin Qingmei as she fell from the platform and guiding her safely to the ground. This Crimson Cloud Silk Veil, refined by Ming Yihua, was already a low-grade third-tier magical artifact. While its defensive capabilities were only barely adequate for a third-tier artifact, its crucial feature was the potential for continuous upgrades, with the required materials and progression path clearly defined. Should Chen Mobai acquire third-tier spirit materials such as Crimson Cloud, Clear Wind, Jade Dew, and Misty Flow, he could upgrade it to a peak third-tier magical artifact. Furthermore, if he could obtain fourth-tier versions of five of these materials, it could then be upgraded to the "Taiyi Five Smoke Veil." In its complete form, this magical artifact could reach the peak of the fourth tier. Moreover, when combined with formations and infused with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, it could potentially unleash power beyond the fourth tier. However, this feat was only ever accomplished by Ancestor Yun Ya of the Weapon Dance Daoist Academy.

"Sect Leader, I have disappointed you." Yin Qingmei immediately came before Chen Mobai to apologize after landing.

"It's fine." Chen Mobai merely smiled and uttered two words. Yin Qingmei had performed exceptionally well; though she didn't defeat Bai Si, she had enabled him to complete his final puzzle.

His left eye slightly opened, and the golden lines within it had completely rendered Bai Si's form. With this, he had finally mastered the fundamentals of the *Inch Scroll*. He had dedicated significant effort to cultivating this primary supplementary technique of the Immortal Sect during his studies at the Heaven-Mending Daoist Academy, yet he had consistently failed to grasp its essence. The reason, simply put, was his lack of comprehension. Chen Mobai hadn't worried excessively about it. After all, following the path of the Pure Yang Scroll would lead to the Grand Dao, and the presence or absence of the *Inch Scroll* would not significantly alter his future. However, whenever he had free time, he would still attempt to cultivate it. Perseverance, it turned out, was key to everything.

After Chen Mobai formed his Golden Core, he eventually, during an accidental encounter, entered the state of the *Inch Scroll*. It was combat, specifically his battle with Nan Xuanjing! However, during that life-and-death duel, Chen Mobai was unaware it was the *Inch Scroll* state. He merely believed his combat talent was exceptional, allowing him to naturally enter that profound state of analyzing both himself and his opponent. Yet, later, when he reviewed the battle, he discovered something was amiss. While Chen Mobai had come to realize over the years that his combat talent was somewhat exceptional, even exceptional talent couldn't enable him to visualize and quantify his opponents and himself in such detail, creating elaborate models and data comparisons! He realized that at that moment, his essence, qi, and spirit might have spontaneously aligned with the *Inch Scroll*'s requirements, naturally propelling him into that realm.

Upon this realization, Chen Mobai replayed his battle with Nan Xuanjing hundreds of times within his sea of consciousness, finally grasping the crucial moment that allowed him to master the *Inch Scroll*. It was combat! Because only during combat was his mind operating at its peak, meeting the requirements for mastering the *Inch Scroll*. Chen Mobai made numerous attempts within the Minor Crimson Heaven, but knowing that the battles there weren't true life-or-death struggles, the progress of the *Inch Scroll* remained slow and inconsistent. The true breakthrough, however, came when Zhuo Ming cultivated second-tier Enlightenment White Tea! It still came down to resources! After all the detours, Chen Mobai found himself back on the path to prosperity.

He drank a cup of Enlightenment White Tea daily. Although only the first cup was truly effective, he would continue to refill and drink the subsequent infusions until no tea flavor remained. While these later cups didn't induce an enlightenment state, they still enhanced his mental processing. He would even swallow the tea leaves afterward, a testament to his frugality.

Yet, the true breakthrough in mastering the *Inch Scroll* occurred during his battle with the Flower Bloom Dean. That was an undeniable life-and-death duel, and unconsciously, Chen Mobai once again entered that profoundly calm and serene state. Leveraging the successive attacks of Gongsun Jielu and Lan Haitain, he barely managed to construct a three-dimensional model of the Flower Bloom Dean. Only after negotiating a reward for three sword strikes with the Purple Lightning Sword did he finally secure a hard-won victory! After slaying the Flower Bloom Dean, Chen Mobai drank all his remaining Enlightenment White Tea under the Jade Phoenix Tree. He even requested half a pound more from Wenren Xuewei, just to firmly grasp the *Inch Scroll* state.

However, Chen Mobai discovered that his *Inch Scroll* manifestation seemed somewhat unconventional. He could only access its benefits during combat. Feeling a bit uneasy about this, Chen Mobai consulted a professional: Ding Chunzhi from the Star-Gazing Academy. He informed Chen Mobai that this was normal. For instance, he cultivated the *Inch Scroll* to enhance the accuracy and speed of his deductions when observing stars. However, with advancements in cultivation and the refinement of divine sense, the *Inch Scroll*'s empowering scope would naturally broaden, depending on the individual. Venerable Yuan Xu's *Inch Scroll* was entirely focused on research applications. Indeed, this was the *Inch Scroll*'s original purpose. Its use in combat was merely a basic, supplementary analytical function. Most individuals who mastered the *Inch Scroll* could achieve this, but few would delve deeply into researching or applying it for combat.

"Brother Chen is an unparalleled genius in the sword dao. Therefore, upon mastering the *Inch Scroll*, its power automatically augmented your most formidable combat abilities, making them even stronger. With continued practice, its influence will spread to other areas, such as farming, talisman crafting, and so on. This is merely due to your exceptionally powerful combat talent; there's no need to worry!" Ding Chunzhi analyzed Chen Mobai's *Inch Scroll* over the phone and reached this conclusion. Chen Mobai found his explanation quite logical, confirming that it certainly wasn't due to his own lack of talent, which would only allow him to master a basic version of the *Inch Scroll*.

Today, facing Bai Si, was the perfect opportunity to utilize the *Inch Scroll*. This was also Chen Mobai's first time consciously controlling his entry into this detached yet profound observational perspective. Within his eyes, Bai Si, initially just an external form, gradually had her internal strengths and weaknesses filled in by golden lines over the course of the four duels, making her completely transparent to him.

"For the final match, Mu Yuan, you're up." Chen Mobai spoke with ease. Mu Yuan, who received his telepathic message, flashed a hint of shock in his eyes before nodding and ascending to the platform.

"Oh, Sect Leader Chen, do you believe no one in your esteemed sect can match Junior Sister Bai, and thus you don't intend to fight the remaining three matches?" Zhu Jinyu, who was nearby, asked with some curiosity when she heard Chen Mobai's words.

"No, Sect Leader Zhu, you misunderstand. It is simply that Junior Niece Bai will lose this match, rendering the subsequent three unnecessary." Chen Mobai delivered his words with a smile, leaving Zhu Jinyu momentarily speechless. She held strong confidence in Bai Si, not believing that Bai Si, who had mastered sword light, would lose to a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Divine Wood Sect. However, given the presence of a Golden Core cultivator, she refrained from refuting him. She planned to wait until Mu Yuan's defeat, then raise her teacup to Chen Mobai and offer a triumphant smile.

A cup of tea later, Zhu Jinyu stood up, her hands trembling. She watched as Bai Si on the platform was utterly overwhelmed by Mu Yuan's Spirit Light Myriad Transformations Art. Regardless of the techniques Bai Si employed, her opponent consistently found the flaws in her sword moves and delivered the most difficult-to-parry counterattacks. Bai Si finally found an opportunity to unleash her sword light, but it proved to be a feint by her opponent. Mu Yuan blocked it with a light shield conjured from Heaven Wood Spirit Light, and in doing so, Bai Si, having expended too much spiritual energy on her sword light, exposed a fatal weakness.

Naturally, Mu Yuan didn't miss this opportunity. His Spirit Light Weapon Integration Art once again manifested a translucent divine wood sword, aiming for Bai Si's heart. Bai Si's spiritual energy circulation was too slow; unable to execute sword techniques to defend herself, she could only retreat to evade the Spirit Light Divine Wood Sword. But after that single step back, Bai Si suddenly froze, her expression vacant, standing rooted to the spot. It had been agreed beforehand that a single step back would constitute a loss. After forcing her back, Mu Yuan immediately dispersed the Spirit Light Divine Wood Sword that had burst from his fingertip. He then raised the light shield in his left hand, redirecting the deep blue sword light that had been pressed against it.

After Chen Mobai contributed the Spirit Light Myriad Transformations Art and the Spirit Light Weapon Integration Art—obtained from the Divine Tree Secret Realm—to the sect, Mu Yuan was the first Foundation Establishment cultivator to acquire them from the Skill Transmission Department. With his excellent wood spiritual root, diligent cultivation, and Meng Hong's support, he not only mastered the Spirit Light Myriad Transformations Art but also integrated a pair of high-grade second-tier divine wood sword and divine wood shield into his Heaven Wood Spirit Light. This effectively meant he possessed second-tier Natal Magical Artifacts even while in the Foundation Establishment realm. Even if Bai Si hadn't set the condition of losing by taking a single step back, given Chen Mobai's insights derived from the *Inch Scroll*'s calculations, she would still have ultimately lost the spiritual energy duel at the same early Foundation Establishment stage. Because in Chen Mobai's eyes, Bai Si was riddled with flaws! Not a single one of her moves was perfect. If he were to suppress his spiritual energy to match hers and attack, a single finger would suffice to grant her a complete and utter defeat.

"Sect Leader, I have not failed your trust." Mu Yuan walked down at this moment, bowing respectfully to Chen Mobai.

"Good, good." Chen Mobai said with a smile, then offered words of comfort to Bai Si, who remained dazed on the platform. "For a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, Junior Niece Bai is quite commendable."

After saying this, Chen Mobai stood up and said one last thing to Zhu Jinyu. "Regarding the border line, my word stands. In the future, should any cultivator from your Snowwind Palace cross the border without reporting to our Divine Wood Sect, and subsequently disappear, do not blame us." Having delivered these words, Chen Mobai smiled, flicked his sleeve, and departed from Snowwind Palace with Mu Yuan and his companions.

"Sect Leader Chen, do you not think you're going too far?" Just as Chen Mobai stepped out of Snowwind Palace, a mass of cold mist drifted in the air, coalescing into a large face with a high chignon, hovering centrally in the sky.

"True Monarch Kong, you finally deign to appear!" Snowwind Palace had only one Golden Core cultivator, so Chen Mobai immediately knew who the newcomer was.

"This humble one is at a crucial juncture in her cultivation and cannot greet you in person at this moment. However, with your Golden Core cultivation, Sect Leader Chen, do you not find it rather excessive to oppress the Foundation Establishment cultivators of my palace?" From the air, the hollow eyes within the cold mist face stared directly down. A shiver-inducing chill emanated, causing the members of the Divine Wood Sect to turn slightly pale, their brows even glistening with frost.

Chen Mobai, of course, disagreed. As a staunch proponent of the realm-based faction, he had previously been compelled to be peerless among those of the same cultivation tier due to circumstance. Now, having formed his Golden Core, he naturally wished to emulate his idol, Venerable Qingping, by overwhelming Foundation Establishment cultivators and experiencing the thrill of realm suppression. He secretly wished he were the only Golden Core True Monarch in the entire Eastern Barrens. That way, he wouldn't have to engage in endless schemes and calculations; he could simply, with a single person and a single sword, eradicate all other forces and unify the Eastern Barrens! These thoughts, however, remained solely in his mind. In the Eastern Barrens, Chen Mobai had consistently maintained the demeanor of a sword dao grandmaster, an image he needed to uphold.

"Indeed. In that case, I shall take the liberty of oppressing True Monarch Kong myself!" As Chen Mobai spoke, his entire being suddenly ignited with a layer of golden flame, as if he had transformed into a spirit of fire. After dispelling Kong Lingling's chilling aura, he surged upwards like a blazing sword, charging with a resounding crash into the cold mist face in mid-air.

"Golden Flames?! How is this possible!" Kong Lingling clearly hadn't anticipated that Chen Mobai, merely an early-stage Golden Core cultivator, had actually mastered the Blazing Sun Slash, the perfected form of the Crimson Flame Sword Art! At this point, however, she found herself in an intractable situation. Having made her appearance, a confrontation between the two was now inevitable! Fortunately, her cultivation was already at the peak of the middle Golden Core stage, and she possessed a geographical advantage. Her Natal Magical Artifact, the Cold Moon Twin Hooks, transformed into two clear, icy arcs that crossed into an X-shape, preparing to collide with the soaring flaming sword.

However, an ancient mirror flew out, intercepting the Cold Moon Twin Hooks preemptively, causing both to recoil. With the Natal Magical Artifact momentarily dealt with, Chen Mobai's Blazing Sun Slash met no further resistance. As he pointed his finger, it fiercely clashed with the surrounding cold air, erupting in bursts of steam, poised to pierce directly through the cold mist face. At this moment, the spiritual ley lines of the entire Snowwind Palace seemed to unleash a seal. In an instant, terrifyingly vast icy spiritual energy erupted, like roaring white dragons, surging into the sky.

Chen Mobai, like a spirit of golden flame, was instantly encased within a colossal block of ice, resembling an iceberg!

"Sect Leader..." Below, Mu Yuan and the others watched the scene, their expressions drastically changing, poised to act.

With a crack! A dazzling golden radiance flared, and the iceberg shattered completely. As Chen Mobai's golden flame expanded, an intensely scorching airflow began to melt the ice-sculpted Snowwind Palace below into slush.

"Sect Leader Chen..." Kong Lingling was about to speak further, but Chen Mobai had already conjured and unleashed another sphere of golden flame. The Cold Moon Twin Hooks flew out again, unleashing slashes like snow and moonlight, transforming into waves of icy light. With extremely cold spiritual energy, they sought to suppress the supremely yang and rigid golden flames.

As these two most extreme spiritual energies clashed, muffled thunder suddenly rumbled in the air. At some point, Kong Lingling's misty human face had shattered, dissolving into pervasive steam. Two spheres of golden flame appeared faintly within, circling a young figure in red and black robes.

Rumble! In mid-air, the golden flames and icy blue cold qi continuously clashed and flickered. These two terrifying spiritual energies, capable of making Foundation Establishment cultivators tremble, exchanged an unknown number of blows until, finally, a loud laugh echoed through the sky-filling mist.

"True Monarch Kong, I accept your concession." With these words, a scorching warm current surged forth, sweeping away the icy mist from the sky. Then, Chen Mobai appeared before everyone's eyes, holding two golden spheres of flame in his hands, his demeanor relaxed.

So fast! Kong Lingling had lost?