Logo
Home

Chapter 596: Haotian Mirror

“That’s pretty much it.”

Half a month later, Hong Mengkui, with a satisfied expression, saved the perfected Haotian Mirror blueprints. Chen Mobai, on the other side of the video call, immediately thanked him. Without the help of Hong Mengkui, a Grandmaster Artifact Forger of the Fourth Tier, Chen Mobai estimated it would have taken him several years of slowly accumulating large quantities of Enlightenment White Tea to complete this work on his own.

“However, the problem remains: felling spirit wood of Tier 3 and above within the Immortal Gate’s territory requires the joint approval of departments like the Forestry Bureau of Wangwu Grotto-Heaven. Even with your background, it would be very troublesome. And if you use ordinary Tier 3 spirit wood to make the mirror frame, it might actually lower the original grade of your Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror, your natal artifact.” As Hong Mengkui transmitted the complete digital blueprints to Chen Mobai, he also discussed the difficulties of forging the modified Haotian Mirror.

The core issue was still insufficient resources. Although there was the Tier 4 Jade Phoenix Parasol Tree nearby, the Martial Arts Academy had a Tier 5 Vermilion Fruit Tree, and the Gou Mang Academy even boasted a Tier 6 Great Toon Tree—all rare treasures unseen even in the Eastern Wilds. However, these were protected resources. Even if Chen Mobai only needed a small amount of spirit wood for the mirror frame, the approval process for various permits was exceedingly cumbersome. Even for the Tier 4 Garan Elm in Yumu City under his governance, though he had the authority to apply for branch pruning, as a cultural relic, it required not only an application to the Forestry Bureau but also one to the Cultural Relics Protection Bureau.

For Tier 3 spirit wood resources, the restrictions were slightly less severe, and similar spiritual materials would occasionally appear on the Immortal Gate Network. But his Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror was already a top-grade Tier 3 artifact. A mirror frame of similar quality would maintain its stability, but if only mid-grade or lower Tier 3 spirit wood were used, it would lead to Hong Mengkui’s concern: directly lowering the Haotian Mirror’s grade.

“There’s a top-grade Tier 3 Mulberry Leaf Tree in Qingsang Academy, and four other top-grade Tier 3 spirit trees in Yumu City. I’ll think of a way to see if I can manage something.” Chen Mobai had already prepared an excuse for this. Yumu City, under his administration, might lack other resources, but it was rich in timber. If he could leverage his connections with Wangwu Grotto-Heaven, acquiring enough spirit wood for two or three mirror frames wouldn’t be an issue.

“I forgot you were there, kid.” Hearing this, Hong Mengkui smiled leisurely, his worries easing.

“I’m truly grateful for your help this time, Teacher Hong. If it weren’t for my duties keeping me from leaving, I’d sincerely bring two jars of good wine to thank you in person.” Chen Mobai sincerely expressed his gratitude to the elder on the video call. They had been working sleeplessly for half a month. Hong Mengkui, however, waved his hand.

“After all, you’re also my student; helping you is only right. But you really do have astonishing luck, opening a blind box to get blueprints for such an ancient treasure. This was probably developed by the Immortal Gate during some pioneering war to condense True Sun Fire Thunder in other realms. However, with the Sky Veil now covering the entire Elemental Star, even if you modify your Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror into a Haotian Mirror, at most it will only speed up the condensation of solar primordial energy. Pure Yang Purple Qi isn't of much use to a genius like you, who is sure to break through anyway.” Hong Mengkui remarked with some emotion. In his view, the Haotian Mirror’s function of condensing Grand Sun Fire was somewhat redundant. In the Immortal Gate’s era of peace and prosperity, there was no need to waste time on combat-oriented divine abilities. As for the other function, condensing solar primordial energy, for a Pure Yang Scroll cultivator like Chen Mobai, it could significantly increase the speed of condensing Pure Yang Purple Qi. However, Chen Mobai's persona within the Immortal Gate was that of a potential Spirit Transformation cultivator, for whom breaking through realms was as simple as eating and drinking. He essentially had no need for such external aid. That was why Hong Mengkui spoke as he did.

“While I may not need these things, many of my Core Formation colleagues in the Immortal Gate are stuck at bottlenecks. When I condense Pure Yang Purple Qi in the future, I can exchange it for things I need.” Chen Mobai said this on the surface, but inwardly, he thought, the more Pure Yang Purple Qi, the better. The reason his previous breakthrough to the second layer of Core Formation had been unimpeded was that he had used the Pure Yang Purple Qi that his Formless Puppet had condensed for a long time. Although it wasn't even a full strand, coupled with his Fire Spirit Body and Heavenly Fire Spiritual Root, breaking through minor realm bottlenecks was as simple as piercing a thin sheet of paper. Once the Haotian Mirror was forged, with this natal artifact complementing his Formless Puppet, Chen Mobai felt he would no longer lack Pure Yang Purple Qi in the future.

After ending the video call with a yawning Hong Mengkui, who hadn't slept for half a month, Chen Mobai, however, did not rest. As a young man, he only felt energetic. He first went out to the Immortal Gate’s official office building in Yumu City. City Lord Wen Ping was very surprised to see him, her eyes even showing a hint of apprehension. After all, Chen Mobai, as Yumu City’s highest leader, had never arrived without prior notification. Wen Ping thought she had done something wrong recently and nervously rose to welcome Chen Mobai in.

“Don’t be nervous,” Chen Mobai naturally saw Wen Ping’s expression and, without wasting time, smiled and explained his purpose for coming. “I’m here to acquire some top-grade Tier 3 spirit wood, within the bounds of regulations…” His Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror had a clean origin and could be legitimately used within the Immortal Gate. Naturally, the materials for its future upgrade into the Haotian Mirror also needed to be acquired through proper channels and withstand scrutiny. After all, in the foreseeable future, this artifact would become a significant symbol for him, drawing widespread attention.

“Councilor Chen, please wait a moment; I’ll make the arrangements!” Wen Ping breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing it was about this matter. Although the felling and trading of Tier 3 spirit wood materials within the Immortal Gate also required applications to Wangwu Grotto-Heaven, Yumu City still had some legally acquired inventory. Chen Mobai sat in the office drinking tea, while Wen Ping went out to make calls. Soon, she returned with three relevant individuals, and together they deliberated on how to proceed.

Three days later, Yumu City submitted a financial deficit report to Chen Mobai, its highest leader, stating that many departments’ expenditures had been overdue for a long time, and the local treasury was on the verge of collapse. They hoped Councilor Chen would approve the sale of some inventory items in exchange for Merit Points. Chen Mobai initially wanted to approve it immediately, but Wen Ping advised him to wait seven days before stamping, to avoid making the operation too obvious. Chen Mobai, who had always considered himself talented in governance, only now truly understood the difference between a village official and a county official. The knowledge he had learned from his grandfather was indeed somewhat inferior compared to Wen Ping, the county official. He immediately began to humbly learn. Wen Ping, seeing this Core Formation True Lord so courteous, was quite apprehensive but answered all his questions without reservation.

Seven days later, Wen Ping submitted the document, signed and stamped by Chen Mobai, to the Immortal Gate’s superior departments. Soon after, Wangwu Grotto-Heaven sent people over. After an investigation, confirming the local financial difficulties, Yumu City was allowed to sell valuable spirit wood resources through the official Immortal Gate Network. Among these, the most valuable was a section of Tier 3 Spirit Elm wood. At this time, Chen Mobai’s one-month cooldown for Tier 3 user privileges expired, and he immediately reserved this section of Tier 3 Spirit Elm wood. The price was not expensive, only a mere six million Merit Points. However, the series of operations and processes involved before this section of Spirit Elm wood reached Chen Mobai's hands felt troublesome and complex even to him, a Core Formation True Lord. Had it not been for Wen Ping, the City Lord, being a local of Yumu City and adept at managing all departments, even if Chen Mobai had personally intervened, he would likely have been stuck in some procedural bottleneck. Of course, it also helped that he had pulled some strings; among the investigation team from Wangwu Grotto-Heaven was a senior alumnus from the Martial Arts Academy. Chen Mobai treated him to a meal and drinks, and with the matter being procedurally compliant, they opened a green channel for him.

“It’s still freer and more enjoyable back in the Eastern Wilds!” Returning to Giant Wood Ridge with the newly modified Haotian Mirror, Chen Mobai breathed in the unrestrained, abundant spiritual energy filling the air and couldn’t help but voice his true feelings.

“Godfather, is this right? Should I change my posture?” On Qingdai Mountain, Yin Qingmei communicated with her natal spiritual plant, constantly directing the Jade Phoenix Parasol Tree to adjust its branches and leaves.

“Yes, just like that. The sunlight is coming from this direction.” Mid-air, Chen Mobai manipulated his modified Haotian Mirror, fine-tuning its angle to ensure it directly faced the rising sun just emerging from the horizon. Soon, vast amounts of solar primordial energy, enveloping the heavens and earth, began to be drawn in, flowing continuously towards the mirror before him.

For this Haotian Mirror, Chen Mobai used his original Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror as the mirror body. As for the frame, it wasn't Spirit Elm wood but rather Golden Sun Spirit Wood from the Divine Wood Sect. When Chen Mobai first consulted Hong Mengkui, he proposed the idea, hoping to be able to change the mirror frame at any time. Hong Mengkui believed that with Chen Mobai’s potential for Spirit Transformation, he would certainly form a Nascent Soul in the future, at which point acquiring a section of Tier 4 spirit wood would not be an issue. Therefore, he enthusiastically incorporated this design.

After printing all the blueprints for converting the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror into the Haotian Mirror, Chen Mobai drank all his remaining Enlightenment White Tea in Yumu City’s highest-grade artifact forging workshop. The result was the Haotian Mirror now in his hand, which could be fitted with two different frames! Upon his return, Chen Mobai immediately came to Qingdai Mountain to find Yin Qingmei and try the dual cultivation method of the Fire and Wood Immortal Scriptures. After conducting a comparison, he discovered that while the Spirit Elm wood frame also worked, its efficiency in gathering solar primordial energy and condensing Grand Sun Fire was only sixty percent that of the Golden Sun Spirit Wood. Chen Mobai had already prepared himself for this. After all, the Tier 3 Haotian Mirror described in the Crimson Emperor’s Universal Illumination Scripture used Golden Sun Spirit Wood as its primary material. This material configuration, perfected by the Longevity Sect over thousands of years, was certainly more refined and rational than what Hong Mengkui designed in half a month by himself.

“Godfather, I feel full to bursting. It’s too hot. The spiritual plant has reached its limit.” Just as Chen Mobai’s thoughts raced, Yin Qingmei’s voice from Qingdai Mountain below echoed in his ears. She was communing with the Jade Phoenix Parasol Tree, directing it to absorb the dense solar primordial energy from its surroundings. Bathed in the mirror light shone down by the Haotian Mirror, she felt unprecedented progress since she began cultivating the Azure Emperor’s Longevity Scripture, her entire body’s spiritual energy seeming to be cleansed and purified. However, she was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Dual cultivating fire and wood with Chen Mobai, a Core Formation Ancestor, for just half an hour made her feel as if her entire body was on fire, her blood qi boiling. The Jade Phoenix Parasol Tree she communed with was only Tier 1 and even less capable, quickly transmitting a sensation of swelling pain from being fully saturated with energy, unable to absorb any more.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai immediately redirected the Haotian Mirror, ending their dual cultivation session. But then he closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on a cloud in the void, beginning to activate the Grand Sun Fire condensation method from the Crimson Emperor’s Universal Illumination Scripture. He manipulated the Haotian Mirror, focusing all its mirror light into a single point. Vast pure Yang spiritual energy surged in, beginning to mimic the properties of universal illumination spiritual energy, gradually enhancing the power of this natal artifact. Without Yin Qingmei and the Jade Phoenix Parasol Tree holding him back, Chen Mobai quickly ignited a brilliant, dazzling pure white spark at the center of the mirror surface. This was Grand Sun Fire! Seeing this, Chen Mobai revealed a happy smile. As long as he had this spark, he could use the Pure Yang Scroll’s Ignition Art to continuously produce it. Taking out a pre-prepared spirit-sealing tube, Chen Mobai carefully drew the spark of Grand Sun Fire into it, then affixed a Spirit Condensing Talisman. While condensing Grand Sun Fire just now, Chen Mobai made a comparison: although the Haotian Mirror's condensation speed was not slower than the Ignition Art, it required the exclusive use of the artifact. Since he possessed the Ignition Art, the Haotian Mirror could be freed up to condense Pure Yang Purple Qi while gathering solar primordial energy. This was precisely his main reason for seeking Hong Mengkui’s design in the first place. Earlier, on Five Peaks Immortal Mountain, when Zhongli Tianyu introduced the Pure Yang Mirror of Old Ancestor Yuanyang with this function, Chen Mobai had been filled with envy. Now, although his own mirror had not been upgraded to Tier 4, it could also achieve this. However, without his direct activation, the Haotian Mirror required guidance from a cultivator of the Azure Emperor’s Longevity Scripture.

“Godfather, my spiritual plant suddenly lost connection with me and isn’t responding. Can you come take a look?” Just as Chen Mobai was pondering how to focus on cultivating Yin Qingmei in the future, her slightly tearful voice echoed in his ears. Chen Mobai didn’t hesitate and immediately flew down. He saw wisps of green smoke seeping from between the cracks in the Jade Phoenix Parasol Tree’s bark, as if it were overheating. The spiritual energy from Qingdai Mountain’s ley lines, connected to its roots, was also continuously surging out, seemingly helping it cool down. Seeing this, Chen Mobai burst into laughter.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “The Jade Phoenix Parasol Tree excels at regulating fire meridians. Under the universal illumination of my mirror light, its instincts were activated, and combined with absorbing sufficient solar primordial energy, this is a sign of it transforming to Tier 2!” He had specifically studied the Jade Phoenix Parasol Tree when nurturing the Qingtong saplings years ago, so upon seeing this, he immediately understood what was happening.

“So that’s it!” Yin Qingmei breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but a faint trace of worry still lingered on her delicate face.

“Ming’er, your master is on Qingdai Mountain. Come over here.” However, it was Chen Mobai’s first time witnessing a Jade Phoenix Parasol Tree advancing a tier, and being in a foreign land, he decided to use the Omniscient Compass to summon his beloved disciple, letting her, the Divine Wood Sect’s foremost spiritual plant cultivator, take a look.

Many thanks to Wei Labao for the silver.

Today marks another ten-thousand-character update. Please give me your monthly votes, or else the bonus chapter for monthly votes on the fourth day will be finished…

(End of this chapter)

COMMENT
Write Novel
Qingshan

14639 · 0 · 36

Beyond the Divine States

10557 · 0 · 17

The Primordial Law

8653 · 0 · 17

Dragon Prince Yuan

27411 · 0 · 19

Sword Of Coming

45100 · 0 · 35