Chapter 617: Turbulence

It was quite inconvenient that Meng Huang'er was touring with an arts troupe in another city when Chen Mobai arrived for his performance review this time. However, there are always more solutions than problems. Meng Huang'er checked her tour itinerary and had Chen Mobai book a train ticket. The station where she boarded was a tour stop, and the next city on her itinerary was also conveniently accessible by this train. Although it was only a little over two hours, a short time for two people who hadn't seen each other in so long, it was still enough to express their long-held feelings of longing.

The carriage constantly jolted and vibrated as the train moved along the tracks. At some point, a thin layer of mist had formed on the thick window. Through the hazy obscurity, a slender, fair right hand with five fingers appeared, pressed against the glass. It slowly slid down, leaving a faint trail, before abruptly disappearing.

Afterward, a radiant Meng Huang'er dressed herself, but when she was about to get off the bed, she couldn't find her high heels beside it. Only after her spiritual awareness spread out did she find them at the leg of the table in front of the sofa. She immediately recalled that when she had first entered this carriage, they had shared a few drinks by the sofa. Halfway through, she couldn't resist the long-held longing in her heart and began to ask Councilor Chen for his "guidance." Thinking of this, Meng Huang'er's pretty face flushed slightly. Barefoot, with her fair and slender feet, she got off the bed and walked to the sofa to sit down.

Just as she picked up her white stiletto heels to put them on, the door to the adjacent bathroom opened, and Chen Mobai emerged after his shower.

"Don't forget the things on the table."

Hearing Chen Mobai's words, Meng Huang'er saw the eight clear, smooth, large pearls placed on the table, and her heart filled with unprecedented sweetness and happiness. It was these very pearls that had made her lose control earlier.

"It's a pity time is so short," Meng Huang'er said, clearly wanting more. At this point, she had put on her high heels, fastening the slender ankle straps. The lines of the patent leather perfectly complemented her graceful, fair instep. Chen Mobai's gaze followed upward to her straight, slender calves; years of stage performance made her movements light and elegant as she rose.

Meng Huang'er turned, intending to adjust her makeup in front of the glass, when she suddenly felt her waist tighten. Chen Mobai had already sat on the sofa and pulled her into his embrace.

"I'm getting off at the next station..."

As Meng Huang'er spoke, her striking figure swayed slightly, losing balance. She instinctively raised a hand, pressing it against the glass behind the sofa to steady herself. Although the glass had enchantments allowing only one-way viewing from inside the carriage, in this particular situation, especially with the ticking clock emphasizing the urgency, it made her feel incredibly stimulated.

"There's still half an hour, that's enough..."

During their brief exchange, the air in the room began to warm, and faint mist from their breaths spread across the glass. A crisp "clack" sound rang out; Meng Huang'er's recently fastened high heel ankle strap had come undone again amidst the train's violent jolting, followed immediately by the sound of her high heel dropping to the floor. The train whistle blew repeatedly, signaling to passengers that the train had arrived at the station. Having hastily put on her shoes, Meng Huang'er disembarked from the carriage wearing sunglasses and a hat.

When Chen Mobai alighted in Yumucheng, the lingering sweet, melodic hum of Meng Huang'er's soft singing still echoed in his ears. He raised his palm, as if the slick, sweaty sensation in his palm still remained. At this point, their mutual assistance in cultivation no longer had a significant effect, but the spiritual and physical pleasure they experienced brought them an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. Sometimes, this kind of profound comfort throughout one's being could truly make a cultivator indulge to the point of being unable to extricate themselves. Fortunately, Chen Mobai was a person of firm will; after only half a day of savoring the memory, he returned to his duties.

Since Wang Shuye had taken full responsibility for the matters in Danxia City and Chen Mobai only needed to wait for the results, he returned to Giantwood Ridge. As soon as he emerged from seclusion, a familiar figure arrived at his door, carrying two fish.

“Sect Master,” the person began, “I heard you displayed immense power in Cloud Dream Lake, slaying two third-tier demonic beasts. Those inner cores...”

The old sect master, Meng Hong, prattled on for a long time before finally, with a hint of shamelessness, revealing his true purpose. It was none other than the Heretical Golden Core art! For him, this might be the only chance to experience the Core Formation realm.

“These two inner cores are wind and water attributed, respectively,” Chen Mobai said. “They're not a perfect match for your Evergreen Scripture.” When Chen Mobai first established his foundation, Meng Hong had helped him a great deal, and the Flying Sparrow Hairpin had earned significant merit for his sword cultivation renown. Naturally, he was willing to bestow an inner core upon Meng Hong.

“Wind attribute is related to wood spirit root,” Meng Hong countered. “I think it’s worth a try.”

Although the research on spiritual roots in the Eastern Desolation was not as thorough as in the Immortal Sects, there was still a basic understanding. The wind spirit root mutated from water and wood spirit roots, so if Meng Hong cultivated the Heretical Golden Core art with it, there was indeed a plausible path. If the two third-tier inner cores in Chen Mobai's possession could truly foster two Core Formation stage combatants, then the Divine Wood Sect could genuinely dominate the Eastern Desolation. Unfortunately, Meng Hong and Chu Zuoshu, who were currently qualified to use the Heretical Golden Core in the sect, both cultivated the Evergreen Scripture. The wind-attributed demonic beast inner core would certainly be given to the more senior Meng Hong, but Chu Zuoshu could not use the remaining water-attributed inner core. However, Chen Mobai had already made up his mind: benefits should stay within the family. This inner core would be given to Luo Yixuan, who had suffered ten years in the Yellow Springs for him. Because she had been transformed into a Ghost Son's primordial embryo, she had already lost ten years of cultivation time. As her master, he certainly had to find a way to compensate her.

“How many sect contribution points do you still have in your account?” Chen Mobai asked Meng Hong. He noted that these demonic beast inner cores might become available again in the future, and for the sake of the sect's development and cohesion, they would definitely be put up for sale in the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion then. He needed to establish a redemption standard.

“After many years of accumulation, I have 470,000.” Meng Hong replied truthfully; as a sect master, he could be considered upright and incorruptible.

“Then let's set it at 300,000 sect contribution points for one third-tier demonic beast inner core.”

Chen Mobai's words made Meng Hong nod happily. Soon after, Luo Xue'er received a message via the Omniscient Orb, as any spiritual item of third tier or higher to be put up for sale in the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion needed to be approved by her, the actual manager of the Hall of Rewards. When Luo Xue'er heard it was a third-tier demonic beast inner core, she looked at Meng Hong with an envious expression. She was also a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and believed she could also attempt Core Formation. Although the Golden Core Transposition method was extremely dangerous, she would certainly not hesitate if she were given a Heretical Golden Core.

Chen Mobai exchanged the third-tier inner core for 300,000 sect contribution points at the Hall of Rewards. The Hall of Rewards then listed it in the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion's exchange catalog, from which Meng Hong would finally redeem it.

“To refine this third-tier inner core into a Heretical Golden Core,” Meng Hong said, “it will require the expertise of an excellent alchemist and an artificer. I'll go find Zeng Woyou and Wang Tingbo.”

After the internal decision was made, Meng Hong began preparing to refine the Heretical Golden Core. However, Chen Mobai felt that Zeng Woyou's skill might not be sufficient. Since he was about to make a deal with Yan Shaoyin, he decided he might as well help Meng Hong out while he was at it.

“Thank you, Sect Master!” Meng Hong was deeply moved when he heard that Chen Mobai was going to ask Yan Shaoyin to help him refine the Heretical Golden Core. He hadn't been entirely confident in Zeng Woyou's skill, especially since this was his only inner core. Yet, throughout the entire Eastern Desolation, Zeng Woyou was the best alchemist he could find. Above that level were Yan Shaoyin and his two disciples. But in Meng Hong's mind, the Heaven-Returning Valley would certainly not help the Divine Wood Sect gain another Core Formation stage combatant. So hearing Chen Mobai say this made him feel even more that the Sect Master was immensely capable.

“Don't spread word of this matter,” Chen Mobai cautioned. “My cooperation with Yan Shaoyin still needs to be settled through a personal meeting and discussion.”

After Chen Mobai returned, he received a message from Liu Wenbai stating that after Yan Shaoyin had finished reading the catalog of the Evergreen Elixir Scripture, his hands were trembling, and he immediately proposed a meeting with Chen Mobai to discuss the matter. The meeting location was tentatively set at the border intersection. There was a Myriad Manifestations Mountain there, on which stood a market town established by the Rogue Cultivators Alliance. Located in the gap between the three major sects—Five Elements, Divine Wood, and Heaven-Returning—disciples from these sects often came to the market to exchange spiritual items, giving it a minor reputation in the Eastern Desolation. Because it was currently the harvest season for Coiled Dragon Spiritual Rice, Yan Shaoyin did not want people from the Star Heavens Grand Merchant Guild to know about his transaction with Chen Mobai, so he chose this location.

After handling the sect's affairs, Chen Mobai did not waste any time and quietly departed directly for Myriad Manifestations Mountain. There was also a Small Nanshan Shop here. Chen Mobai waited for a while on the second floor. Then Liu Wenbai came up, bringing Yan Shaoyin with him.

“It's been a long time, Sect Master Chen!” Yan Shaoyin greeted him politely. Chen Mobai smiled and invited him to sit down, while Liu Wenbai poured tea, beginning to serve the two Core Formation cultivators.

“Which three elixir formulas does Master Yan wish to choose?” Chen Mobai asked. Yan Shaoyin agreed immediately to the enticing offer, without any hesitation. However, Liu Wenbai had only brought a catalog; the actual elixir formulas were still with Chen Mobai. Due to their immense value, Chen Mobai needed to be present in person.

“Infant Nurturing Elixir, Returning to Truth Elixir, Nirvana Elixir!” Yan Shaoyin stated his choices.

The Infant Nurturing Elixir went without saying. The Returning to Truth Elixir was a pill that enhanced the spiritual power of late-stage Golden Core cultivators, which was precisely useful for Yan Shaoyin. The Nirvana Elixir, on the other hand, was for enhancing the physical body. It could allow a cultivator to undergo a single transformation, elevating their cultivated body-refining method by one level. While invigorating their vital energy and blood, it could also repair physical defects and remove partial impurities, such as elixir toxins, from the body during the process. For Eastern Desolation cultivators who constantly relied on elixirs for enhancement, it was truly a peerless spiritual elixir.

“That's acceptable, but I have three conditions.” Chen Mobai's words did not surprise Yan Shaoyin, as the value of these three elixir formulas surely exceeded that of three Green Cicada Spirit Trees.

“Please state them, Sect Master Chen!”