Chapter 623: Externalized Avatar

Pure Nine Gates: ・・・、・・・、・、・・

Zhou Shengqing's soul was housed within that peak-fourth-tier Soul Nurturing Wood. Chen Mobai instructed Zhuo Ming to tend to it regularly. As a spiritual plant cultivator of Zhuo Ming's caliber, it wasn't long before she naturally recognized the rare spiritual treasure she was caring for. The use of fifth-tier Soul Nurturing Wood to transform a Dharma Body into a Nascent Soul was recorded in the Divine Wood Sect's spiritual plant texts. Thus, Zhuo Ming became the third person in the entire Divine Wood Sect, besides Chen Mobai and Fu Zongjue, to know about Zhou Shengqing's condition.

However, this was mainly because Zhou Shengqing often offered guidance while she was tending to the wood. Over the years, they had become both teacher and friend. Therefore, after learning about the "Pulling Shoots to Aid Growth" grand art, Zhuo Ming's first thought was whether it could trigger a breakthrough for the peak-fourth-tier Soul Nurturing Wood. Upon realizing this, Chen Mobai was also exceptionally excited.

"Xuan'er, stay and guard the house. Ming'er, come with me." As soon as Chen Mobai finished speaking, a five-colored cloud mist enveloped Zhuo Ming, transforming them into a streak of cloud light heading towards Zhou Shengqing's location at the Longevity Wood Dao field. "Such an immortal art actually exists!"

Zhou Shengqing's ethereal form was summoned by Chen Mobai. Upon hearing about "Pulling Shoots to Aid Growth," he couldn't help but become emotional. At that moment, he no longer cared about maintaining his image as a reclusive master in front of Zhuo Ming, nervously pacing around the Soul Nurturing Wood. "Ming'er, communicate with this spiritual plant and see what the success rate would be if we use this art to trigger its breakthrough." Given that this was likely the only near-fifth-tier Soul Nurturing Wood in the entire Eastern Barrens, Chen Mobai had to be cautious.

Zhuo Ming nodded solemnly, then activated her "Myriad Spirit Empathy." Shortly after, she opened her eyes with a slight sense of relief and nodded firmly under Zhou Shengqing's anxious gaze. "It was already at peak fourth-tier and had accumulated enough power to break through. It was only because it was brought out of the Underworld's Yellow Springs that it became trapped in this bottleneck." According to Zhuo Ming's communication with it, if the Soul Nurturing Wood could break through, there was an approximately 70-80% chance of it ascending a tier.

"Alright, Ming'er, prepare for the Soul Nurturing Wood's breakthrough. I'll go consult another expert." After returning to his Longevity Wood Dao field, Chen Mobai took out the piece of Soul Nurturing Wood where Granny Ming resided and asked her about the Soul Nurturing Wood's advancement. "I have a peak-fourth-tier Soul Nurturing Wood. If I take it into the Yellow Springs Path and use the 'Pulling Shoots to Aid Growth' grand art to trigger its breakthrough, do you think it can succeed?"

Granny Ming was an expert on both Soul Nurturing Wood and "Pulling Shoots to Aid Growth." As soon as Chen Mobai spoke, she nodded with certainty. "A peak-fourth-tier, with a sufficient supply of Yellow Springs yin energy, is essentially guaranteed to successfully break through." Hearing Granny Ming's words, Chen Mobai felt relieved. As he was about to teleport to the Great Dao Tree to elevate the grade of his grand art, Granny Ming hesitated, then gritted her teeth and called out to stop him.

"Holy Son, if the Soul Nurturing Wood is triggered to break through to the fifth-tier in the Underworld's Yellow Springs, it will cause a surge of yin energy, and such a commotion could easily attract fourth-tier Ghost Kings from the depths of the Yellow Springs..." A fourth-tier Ghost King was equivalent to a Nascent Soul realm cultivator. Although Chen Mobai was confident in his Pure Yang Scroll, he was still unwilling to confront such an entity merely for the advancement of a Soul Nurturing Wood. After all, while the Pure Yang Scroll was the Immortal Sect's foremost demon-dispelling grand art, a difference of an entire major cultivation realm was like heaven and earth. Chen Mobai did not want to take that risk.

"If it's not in the Yellow Springs, will a breakthrough for the Soul Nurturing Wood in the mortal world not have a 100% success rate?" Chen Mobai asked hesitantly. Granny Ming nodded, but then she proposed a solution. "If I were to inhabit your disciple's body, I could control Yellow Springs spiritual energy and artificially create a small Underworld, which would make assisting the Soul Nurturing Wood's breakthrough virtually guaranteed."

Hearing Granny Ming's words, Chen Mobai finally understood why she had brought this up. He couldn't help but frown.

"Holy Son, rest assured, I can swear a Dao Heart Oath that I will not harm your disciple in any way. As soon as the Soul Nurturing Wood successfully advances, I will immediately leave her body." After hearing her guarantee, Chen Mobai shook his head. "I need to discuss this matter with Xuan'er." After saying this, Chen Mobai retrieved Granny Ming and then activated his turtle treasure to teleport before the Great Dao Tree.

Gazing at the towering Great Dao Tree before him, he felt as if he were back in his own backyard. He manipulated the Formless Puppet to display its Foundation Establishment realm strength, walking to the tenth step. Green leaves fell, and a vast essence merged into him. And this time, he finally had a grand art from the Longevity Sect that could be empowered by the Great Dao Tree's anointing. "Pulling Shoots to Aid Growth" quickly ascended to the second tier. He then pulled out the Formless Puppet and walked to the tenth step before the Great Dao Tree a second time. After four consecutive times, he easily upgraded both "A Leaf Blinding the Eye" and "Pulling Shoots to Aid Growth" to the third tier.

Then came the fifth time. He took out a Celestial Calculus Bead with a slight crack. The fourth-tier Pure Yang Slash true intent originally stored within it had long been completely comprehended and integrated into his cultivation. He only needed to gather the necessary external materials to cultivate the Crimson Flame Sword Art to Grand Perfection! However, for the "Heaven-Severing Lifespan Sword Intent," Chen Mobai had yet to gain any insight over the years. This level of swordsmanship had long surpassed the limits of the Eastern Barrens. Even Zuo Gong, the head of the Sword Manipulation Department at the Weapon Dance Dao Academy in the Immortal Sect, couldn't hope to match it. Thus, Chen Mobai had no one to consult, so it had remained stored within this Celestial Calculus Bead.

After clearing the memory of Pure Yang Slash, Chen Mobai used this bead to store the fourth-tier "Pulling Shoots to Aid Growth" realm. However, this grand art seemed far more profound than Pure Yang Slash, and the slight crack on this third-tier Celestial Calculus Bead had now deepened. Chen Mobai estimated it would be rendered useless after at most two or three more uses. He made up his mind that, in the future, unless it was a crucial grand art, he wouldn't use the Great Dao Tree's anointing. After all, for him, a fourth-tier Pure Yang Slash was sufficient. Although he didn't know the exact purpose of this "Heaven-Severing Lifespan Sword Intent," since it was "one sword generating myriad laws," there was no harm in keeping it. Perhaps in the future, it could be used in the Immortal Sect to maintain his persona as an unparalleled sword dao genius.

As Chen Mobai pondered how to have the Heaven-Mending Dao Academy custom-make another third-tier Celestial Calculus Bead for him, he activated his turtle treasure once more, returning to Giant Wood Ridge.

"Master, I am willing!" On the summit of Mount Xiaonan, after Chen Mobai finished explaining the matter of the Soul Nurturing Wood to Luo Yixuan, she was shocked to learn the sect's greatest secret, but also nodded, expressing her willingness to contribute to the matter. "The sect and I will not forget your contribution." Chen Mobai nodded solemnly to Luo Yixuan, then handed her the Soul Nurturing Wood with Granny Ming residing in it.

"Holy Son, the Yellow Springs spiritual energy provided by a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator might not be enough for the Soul Nurturing Wood to upgrade to the fifth tier..." After they had each made their Dao Heart Oaths, Granny Ming suddenly added, making Chen Mobai frown with displeasure. "Are you trying to seize this opportunity to form a Golden Core with Yellow Springs spiritual energy? If so, wouldn't Xuan'er only be able to cultivate the Ghost Dao in the future? Wouldn't all my effort in helping her seal the Yellow Springs spiritual energy be in vain!"

"Holy Son, there is actually a mutually beneficial solution. You can teach her the grand art of 'External Incarnation.' After I form a Golden Core with Yellow Springs spiritual energy, she can use this art to refine me into an 'incarnation.' This way, I can not only become her Dao Protector but also escape my current predicament and resume cultivation." Granny Ming said something that left Chen Mobai bewildered. What was "External Incarnation"?

"The Myriad Dharma Body that the Holy Son cultivates is an External Incarnation. This is also one of the twenty-four grand arts of my sect. Because the Celestial Venerable's main body cannot move, this grand art is often used for traveling via incarnations. And when this External Incarnation is cultivated to its peak, it becomes 'Heaven and Earth Dharma Manifestation.'" After hearing Granny Ming's explanation, Chen Mobai finally understood. However, he truly hadn't expected that the Myriad Ancient Sect, the former overlord of the Eastern Barrens Five Elements Sect, and its strongest Myriad Dharma Body, could be traced back to a legacy of the Longevity Sect.

"This matter is truly feasible!" "Holy Son, I can swear a Dao Heart Oath that if I can escape my current predicament and continue cultivating, I am willing to become Miss Luo's Dao Protector Incarnation and protect her for her entire life!" Granny Ming was throwing caution to the wind. This was the only way out she had figured out during her years of contemplation within the Soul Nurturing Wood and from the limited information she gathered during rare opportunities to observe the outside.

"You can swear your oath first, but whether we proceed with this, I still need to carefully consider it." Chen Mobai remained very calm and was not swayed by Granny Ming's few words. "Master, I am willing!" At this moment, Luo Yixuan, who had been observing, spoke up. But Chen Mobai glared at her and shook his head. "You are my disciple. You were already transformed into a Ghost Embryo because of me. I am responsible for the rest of your life. I need to thoroughly evaluate the feasibility of this matter and ensure it causes you no harm before making a decision."

After hearing Chen Mobai's somewhat stern words, Luo Yixuan felt a sweet warmth in her heart. She knew that her Master was concerned about her safety. "Write down what you intend to do in detail and provide it to me." Chen Mobai said to Granny Ming. If it truly worked as she claimed, then Luo Yixuan would gain a Golden Core realm Dao Protector, which would be a good thing. However, this matter couldn't simply be believed based on her verbal assertion.

"Yes, Holy Son!" Granny Ming was very forthright about this. She had contemplated this step for six full years. She was confident that if they followed her plan, there would be no issues. However, it was fortunate that the Soul Nurturing Wood provided this opportunity; otherwise, she wouldn't have known how to bring it up.