Chapter 632: Luo Yixuan Forming the Core (Additional Chapter for 13,600 Monthly Votes)

Pure Nine-Lotus Treasure Lamp

After spending a wonderful night with Yan Bingxuan, Chen Mobai returned to Shenmu Sect.

He first summoned Zeng Woyou to inquire about the collection of materials for the Golden Crow Sun-Swallowing Pill and received good news.

This time, Chu Zuoshu was very effective. He managed to go through an outer sect elder of the Bathing Sun Sea and acquired the two most crucial main ingredients: Fire Dragon Tree Ganoderma and Black Crow Gold Feather.

Moreover, he learned his lesson this time. After acquiring the items, instead of attempting to deliver them himself, he entrusted them to the Stellar Heavenly Grand Merchant Association for shipment.

Given Chen Mobai's reputation, the Stellar Heavenly Grand Merchant Association would certainly assist with such a minor matter. Furthermore, as the overlords of Dongyue, they wouldn't tarnish their name for two Tier 3 spirit items.

However, due to the long distance, it would still take about a month for the items to be delivered to Shenmu Sect.

As for the other auxiliary ingredients, Zeng Woyou had already finished collecting them.

After all, it was Chen Mobai's matter, and no one dared to neglect it.

“Sect Master, let me be upfront. When refining new Tier 3 elixirs, I usually fail a few batches as practice. But rest assured, this time I have thoroughly comprehended the pill formula. I will at most fail twice before producing a qualified finished product.”

Zeng Woyou had previously failed for a long time when refining the Elixir of Longevity, wasting many resources and enduring significant pressure at every sect meeting. Therefore, before refining the Golden Crow Sun-Swallowing Pill this time, he first tried to alleviate his own stress.

“Don't worry, this time I've invited a master alchemist, so I won't trouble you.”

Chen Mobai, however, intended to personally handle the refining, as he had already comprehended the pill formula through the Enlightenment Tea.

“Is the Sect Master planning to ask Master Yan for help?”

Zeng Woyou was slightly surprised upon hearing this. In the entire Eastern Barrens, he only acknowledged Yan Shaoyin as his superior in alchemy.

He hadn't expected the Sect Master to have such a good relationship with Master Yan!

“Don't ask what you shouldn't. Just give me all the medicinal ingredients.”

Chen Mobai spoke cryptically. Zeng Woyou nodded, then returned to the Alchemy Department and packed the auxiliary ingredients for the Golden Crow Sun-Swallowing Pill into a storage bag.

Once he had the auxiliary ingredients, Chen Mobai, for caution's sake, took each one out and inspected it.

It had to be said that everyone in Shenmu Sect treated his matters with utmost priority. All these auxiliary ingredients were of the highest quality; if taken to the Immortal Sect, they would at least be considered top-grade.

However, the spiritual stones spent were considerable; this storage bag alone cost around 50,000.

But the most expensive items were the two Tier 3 main ingredients, which, including the costs for 'going through channels,' set Chu Zuoshu back 80,000 spiritual stones.

In other words, the material cost for this single batch of elixir was already 130,000 spiritual stones.

If the refining failed, it could practically bankrupt a small sect.

Even a Core Formation cultivator would feel a pang of regret if it failed.

Naturally, Chen Mobai would not refine the Golden Crow Sun-Swallowing Pill within Shenmu Sect. He returned to the Immortal Sect and reserved the best workshop at Chixia Academy.

This workshop was personally established by the Bloom Court Master, whose identity had not yet been exposed. It drew upon Tier 4 fire vein qi, suitable for both alchemy and artifact refining.

Even within a Grotto-Heaven city, it would be considered top-tier.

As the Golden Core True Monarch overseeing Danxia City, if he required this Tier 4 fire vein workshop, it would certainly be prioritized for his use.

After all external conditions for alchemy were prepared, only the two main ingredients were left.

Chen Mobai specifically estimated that the Golden Crow Sun-Swallowing Pill within him would likely run out of efficacy in about half a month. He wondered if he should set off for the Eastern Barrens Plateau, then enter the Desolate Ruins, and meet the Stellar Heavenly Grand Merchant Association halfway to acquire the ingredients as quickly as possible.

However, another matter interrupted this thought.

“Holy Son, we have completed our integration and are ready for Core Formation at any time!”

At Lesser Southern Mountain, 'Luo Yixuan,' clad in palace attire with skin as white as snow, said respectfully to Chen Mobai.

After a year of familiarizing herself with the host body, Granny Ming believed she had a 70-80% chance of forming a Ghost Core.

Under her devoted guidance, Luo Yixuan also successfully cultivated the External Incarnation, and the two recently reached a mutual understanding.

Chen Mobai asked her to demonstrate. Suddenly, in the bright daylight of Lesser Southern Mountain, a chilling, icy yin qi permeated the air. Yet, behind Luo Yixuan, a radiant, sacred silver-white light blossomed, illuminating a phantom female shadow, three to four meters long with a waist the size of a palm. This extremely disproportionate body width, combined with the sacred silver-white light, created an aura of incredibly eerie, bizarre, and sinister gloom.

At this moment, a strong, clear fragrance of peach wood suddenly intensified. The slender figure behind Luo Yixuan instantly flickered and became illusory, before finally receding back into the shadow beneath her feet.

“Master, this peach wood repels evil. Ever since I cultivated the External Incarnation, I have already moved back to my Miao Mountain.”

After Luo Yixuan retracted Granny Ming, she looked at Chen Mobai with a hint of pity in her eyes.

The Tier 3 top-grade Immortal Peach Tree at the peak of Lesser Southern Mountain wouldn't be a concern for her if she formed a Ghost Core. However, now that she had actively merged with Yellow Springs spiritual energy and was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, living there daily had become extremely uncomfortable.

“Haha, wait a while. Your master will transform this Immortal Peach Tree into a Tier 4 one, making you even more scared!”

Seeing her expression, Chen Mobai teased her, causing Luo Yixuan's cheeks to puff out slightly.

At this moment, a yellowish-brown spiritual light flew up from the mountain, revealing Zhuo Ming.

“I'm taking Xuan'er to the Yellow Springs to form her core. Watch over the sect!”

Chen Mobai instructed Zhuo Ming, and upon hearing this, Zhuo Ming's pupils constricted in shock. Although she had long known this day would come, the thought of Luo Yixuan truly ascending to become a peak Core Formation cultivator in the Eastern Barrens still deeply astonished her.

“Yes, Master!”

After a while, Zhuo Ming regained her composure and bowed to Chen Mobai.

To successfully form a Ghost Core, it was best to do so within the Yellow Springs Path. This way, one could constantly replenish yin and cold spiritual energy and avoid the heavenly tribulation of the mortal realm. Granny Ming had mentioned this to Chen Mobai long ago.

When leaving with Luo Yixuan, Chen Mobai naturally informed Zhou Shengqing and Fu Zongjue. Both understood that this was for the advancement of the Soul-Nourishing Wood, but they also cautioned him to prioritize his own life if he encountered any unforeseen circumstances in the Yellow Springs.

Soon after, news of Sect Master Chen's departure from Giantwood Ridge began to circulate within a small circle.

Ostensibly, he had left to visit a friend.

However, some well-informed individuals knew that the Sect Master had gone to Return-to-Heaven Valley.

Yan Shaoyin, who had received the news through certain channels, specifically stopped the batch of elixirs he was refining, sealed his furnace early, and cleared his schedule, eagerly awaiting Chen Mobai's arrival.

However, half a month passed, and Chen Mobai never visited.

Naturally, Yan Shaoyin dared not blame Chen Mobai for this. He could only secretly curse the person who had given him false information.

Just as Yan Shaoyin was about to relight the furnace for the sealed batch of elixirs, a disciple suddenly came to report.

Sect Master Chen of Shenmu Sect has arrived.

Yan Shaoyin was naturally overjoyed. He had been studying the pill formulas from the three volumes of the 'Elixir of Longevity Scripture' for a long time, gaining new insights and doubts, and had been wanting to consult Chen Mobai, the Holy Son of the Longevity Sect.

However, it was inconvenient for him to go to Giantwood Ridge, so he was very pleased to hear that Chen Mobai was coming this time.

“Sect Master Chen, what a rare visitor…”

Chen Mobai returned Yan Shaoyin's smile as he approached, his face beaming. As the two peak Core Formation cultivators of the Eastern Barrens exchanged insights, all other Tier 3 alchemists from Return-to-Heaven Valley also came to listen.

These were disciples who had received Yan Shaoyin's true teachings, and they had also heard from their master that Sect Master Chen's alchemy attainments were extraordinarily high.

Listening in on their exchange this time, they indeed benefited greatly.

Chen Mobai's Immortal Sect mindset, with his casual mentions of norms, standardization, and criteria, made them feel as though they were hearing the true essence of alchemy passed down from the Longevity Sect, and vaguely glimpsing the flourishing era of ancient cultivation's Dao of Alchemy.

After three days of exchange, just as Chen Mobai was about to bid farewell, Yan Shaoyin enthusiastically urged him to stay, even bringing out his treasured Coiling Dragon Spirit Rice and Green Cicada Spirit Tea for daily hospitality.

Chen Mobai also had his own agenda, so he feigned reluctance and stayed for another three days.

Three days turned into another three days, until half a month had passed. When Yan Shaoyin, feeling that all his questions had been answered and having gained much, prepared to demonstrate a batch of Reversion Pills on the spot, Chen Mobai excused himself, citing the inconvenience of prying into Return-to-Heaven Valley's alchemy techniques, and departed.

In response, Yan Shaoyin personally escorted him out of Xia Country.

I wonder how Xuan'er's Core Formation progress is coming along?

As he watched Yan Shaoyin's departing figure, Chen Mobai, who had just flown past the border, pondered this question in his mind.

The rift between the Yin and Yang realms, which Granny Ming controlled, was located within Ming Country. Although Chen Mobai was confident he could discreetly smuggle Luo Yixuan in, he thought it safer to have his Formless Puppet escort her.

After all, in the Yellow Springs, one could never tell what unexpected situations might arise.

What if, during the Ghost Core formation, they unluckily encountered a wandering Tier 4 Ghost King? Even with his Pure Yang spiritual energy, he wouldn't be confident in confronting such an entity directly.

Meanwhile, his true self had gone directly to Return-to-Heaven Valley to exchange insights with Yan Shaoyin, thus drawing the attention of all interested parties.

A month ago, the Formless Puppet had already taken Luo Yixuan into the Yellow Springs Path.

Chen Mobai also didn't want his true self to go to Ming Country again, to avoid Zhou Ye finding out and raising suspicions.

He considered for a moment. It seemed the two transplanted Green Cicada Tea Trees were nearby. He wasn't sure how the dragon vein qi collection was progressing, so he decided to visit Dragon Horn Gully first.