Chapter 634: Molten Fire Technique

It was Luo Yixuan who bowed.

Her successful Core Formation brought great joy to Chen Mobai. Although it was Granny Ming's ghost core, once refined into an external avatar, it effectively became Luo Yixuan's own strength. At least when facing Foundation Establishment cultivators, she could easily overwhelm them with her realm. This meant the Divine Wood Sect now possessed four Core Formation level combatants. Even without counting Mo Douguang, it was undeniably the foremost sect in the Eastern Barrens.

“Come here,” Chen Mobai said, smiling. “Your Senior Disciple Brother and I have been waiting for you here for days.” He waved at Luo Yixuan, who had just stepped ashore. She immediately rode the water, sweeping past a stunned and motionless Han Zhiling, to arrive beneath the Green Cicada Tea Tree.

“Master, these are your items.” Upon arriving, Luo Yixuan immediately handed a storage bag to Chen Mobai. Inside were the Formless Puppet and the Vast Heaven Mirror. If she encountered ghost cultivators on the Path of Yellow Springs, as long as they weren't fourth-tier Ghost Kings, the Pure Yang Fire would at least ensure Luo Yixuan could safely withdraw.

“How do you feel after achieving Core Formation?” Chen Mobai nodded to Granny Ming, hidden within Luo Yixuan's shadow, then reached out, took the items, sent them into his personal domain, and asked. After all, this particular method of Core Formation was a first in the Eastern Barrens.

“Reporting to the Holy Son,” Granny Ming concisely stated, “everything proceeded as smoothly as we anticipated.” While plans often have variables, there were no unexpected incidents this time. After entering the Path of Yellow Springs, they located a spiritual site with a Yin Vein and began the Core Formation process. Although one or two minor spirits unconsciously wandered near during this time, Granny Ming dispersed them all, converting them into Yin Qi for the Core Formation. After all, Granny Ming was originally a powerful ghost cultivator nearing the perfected Core Formation stage. Re-condensing a ghost core this time was a familiar process, leading to effortless success.

After Core Formation, the two of them didn't linger on the Path of Yellow Springs. They immediately returned to the Eastern Barrens and then found their way here. When Luo Yixuan saw Chen Mobai, she couldn't help but want to show off her achievements to her master, so she had Granny Ming display their current power, which created a considerable commotion.

“Excellent, excellent, very well done,” Chen Mobai said, not stinting on praise. He then asked, showing concern, “Is there anything unusual about your body?” Luo Yixuan's face lit up with even more joy upon hearing this.

“Master, I feel better than I ever have,” Luo Yixuan replied. As she spoke, she skillfully extended her hand, inviting Chen Mobai to check her pulse.

“Hmm, your Yellow Springs spiritual energy has condensed into a ghost core, perfectly integrated,” Chen Mobai mused. “However, you yourself are still only in the early Foundation Establishment stage, so in the future, never try to forcefully wield it. If you encounter an enemy you cannot defeat, let your external avatar take action.”

Luo Yixuan's current state was peculiar. The ghost core condensed by Granny Ming occupied the central position in her Dantian and Qi Sea, and her physical body had also transformed to the third-tier. Yet, her own Black Water spiritual energy, which she cultivated, still rippled like water, occupying a corner. If she were to act on her own, she could only control this Black Water spiritual energy, effectively performing as an early Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, if she activated her external avatar and allowed Granny Ming to control her body, she could instantly unleash Core Formation-level Yellow Springs spiritual energy. It was akin to having two modes, a main and a sub, that could be switched seamlessly, offering great flexibility.

“Yes, Master!” Luo Yixuan nodded obediently after withdrawing her hand. Although she was now considered a Core Formation cultivator, she didn't believe she could compare to her Master, who appeared like a celestial being before her, and she humbly understood her place.

“However, after condensing the ghost core, you will face no bottlenecks in cultivating the Black Water Art all the way to the early Core Formation stage,” Chen Mobai continued. “It seems among my disciples, you will surpass the others and become the one with the highest cultivation.” Chen Mobai had discovered this during his examination. Upon hearing it, Luo Yixuan's eyebrows curved with delight. This meant she only needed to focus on enhancing her spiritual energy. In the future, when she attempts Core Formation, Luo Yixuan will only need her divine sense transformation to be complete for success. Of course, a heavenly tribulation will be unavoidable. Moreover, due to her cultivation of Yellow Springs spiritual energy, the power of this heavenly tribulation might be compounded, making it truly terrifying.

Luo Yixuan's unique situation reminded Chen Mobai of a forbidden art he had once encountered. It was the “Two-Part Divine Art” cultivated by Yang Jing and Kong Feichen. Luo Yixuan and Granny Ming, her external avatar, were a natural “two-part” entity, and since Granny Ming had sworn a Dao Heart Oath, there was no risk of backlash against Luo Yixuan. Would cultivating this art to enhance her divine sense be perfectly suitable?

However, after some thought, Chen Mobai decided against it. After all, the Two-Part Divine Art was a forbidden art. To resolve the peril of their secondary personalities, Yang Jing and Kong Feichen had even betrayed their Immortal Sect and defected to the Ascension Cult. Luo Yixuan, despite her youth, now possessed Core Formation level power. Chen Mobai observed that she was already somewhat complacent, remaining obedient only in his presence. It would be better to let her diligently cultivate her divine sense and solidify her foundation herself. If, in the future, her divine sense truly became a bottleneck, then he would reconsider whether to acquire and impart the Two-Part Divine Art to her.

Just then, Han Zhiling approached, carrying the prepared meal. Liu Wenbo immediately stepped out of the protective barrier and brought the items back inside.

“Bring her in as well,” Chen Mobai instructed. Seeing Han Zhiling preparing to leave, Chen Mobai spoke to his eldest disciple. Liu Wenbo, upon hearing this, set down the meal, exited the barrier once more, and led Han Zhiling inside.

“What you witnessed today, you must not reveal a single word to outsiders.” Since Luo Yixuan had condensed a ghost core, Chen Mobai had no intention of publicizing this matter. Furthermore, her Core Formation-level combat power would be more effective if kept hidden. Therefore, he calmly instructed Han Zhiling. Of course, this was primarily Luo Yixuan's fault; if she hadn't been unable to resist showing off, Han Zhiling wouldn't have witnessed it. But Luo Yixuan also felt wronged. She had assumed Chen Mobai and Liu Wenbo had found a secluded spot, just the two of them, completely unaware that an outsider, Han Zhiling, was present, cooking and serving them.

“Yes, Sect Master!” Without hesitation, Han Zhiling swore a Dao Heart Oath in front of the master and two disciples.

“You, my girl, are somewhat fated with me,” Chen Mobai said with a gentle expression, being fond of teaching. “Having partaken of your meals these past few days, you may freely ask me any cultivation-related questions you have.” The striking young woman hesitated briefly upon hearing this, then gritted her teeth and directly knelt before Chen Mobai, performing a deep bow.

“Please, Sect Master, accept me as your disciple!”

Chen Mobai's renown as a Great Sage and Teacher had spread throughout the Eastern Barrens over the past one or two decades, with countless cultivators seeking his guidance. After her father's passing, Han Zhiling keenly felt the impermanence of life. If she didn't strive for courageous advancement, she would ultimately amount to nothing more than a handful of dust. However, if she could become a disciple of Chen Mobai, she could at least guarantee achieving Foundation Establishment in the future. Previously, Han Zhiling might not have possessed such courage, but after witnessing Luo Yixuan reveal her Core Formation power, she was profoundly shaken. The cultivators of the Divine Wood Sect all knew that Chen Mobai had four inner-sect disciples, each one an outstanding talent of the sect. His third disciple, known as the Southern Mountain Fairy, was said to possess the highest talent and was the first among Chen Mobai's four disciples to achieve Foundation Establishment, though she had reportedly been missing for over a decade. It was unexpected that she had actually gone into seclusion for Core Formation. Truly, she was the legendary genius among Chen Mobai's disciples, the one most resembling him! It was precisely for this reason that when Chen Mobai offered to guide her cultivation, Han Zhiling immediately bowed her head in obeisance.

“Rise… I do not accept Qi Cultivation stage cultivators as disciples.” Chen Mobai refused with the same reasoning he had given Song Huangda, though his tone towards Han Zhiling was slightly more tactful. Han Zhiling was gently lifted by a surge of Pure Yang spiritual energy, her striking face filled with disappointment.

“Guidance from the Master is a rare opportunity; do not let it pass you by,” Liu Wenbo reminded her, being a kind-hearted person. Upon hearing this, Han Zhiling immediately composed herself and brought forth all the confusions she had encountered in her cultivation. When she was at the Longevity Academy, she had already reached the peak of the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation. After a year in the Divine Wood Sect and cultivating within the third-tier spiritual vein of the Flying Dragon Pond, she had already shown signs of a breakthrough but had consistently been unable to cross her bottleneck.

“What cultivation method do you practice?” Chen Mobai asked. To offer guidance, he first needed to know this.

Han Zhiling replied that it was the “Molten Fire Art,” a dual earth-fire attribute cultivation method. Her father had specifically sought it out for her after her spiritual root attributes were tested, back when she first became able to cultivate. Among rogue cultivators, this method was considered high-grade. After reaching the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation, one could smelt spiritual energy into true fire. It also included three spells: Fireball, Fire Mist Dust, and Molten Fire Blade. It was by relying on the power of this cultivation method that Han Zhiling had managed to win the top prize at the Longevity Academy.

“Master,” Liu Wenbo transmitted, knowing Chen Mobai's unfamiliarity with local cultivation methods, “the sect only possesses the part of the Molten Fire Art that cultivates up to the early Foundation Establishment stage. The subsequent cultivation content is the Earth Core True Fire Art from Heaven Return Valley…” It turned out that the Molten Fire Art was a simplified version of the Earth Core True Fire Art, originating from Heaven Return Valley. Among rogue cultivators, anyone capable of cultivating this method beyond the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation would generally be accepted as a disciple if they went to Heaven Return Valley. After all, as long as one cultivated true fire, even if they knew nothing else, serving as a fire-stoking attendant was perfectly acceptable. Heaven Return Valley's alchemy business spanned the entire Eastern Barrens. Any pills they refined were immediately snatched up by cultivators, so they accepted all qualified cultivators without exception.

Chen Mobai asked Han Zhiling to recite the contents of the Molten Fire Art. The young woman, thinking the Sect Master was testing her understanding of the cultivation method, finished reciting and then pondered how to answer his next question. However, Chen Mobai simply didn't know the cultivation method himself. Given his Core Formation realm, even without using the Formless Puppet for deduction, he easily identified numerous issues in Han Zhiling’s cultivation. After he pointed them out one by one, a look of sudden realization dawned on Han Zhiling's face. She actually entered a state of epiphany right before the three of them, absorbing spiritual energy to break through her bottleneck and advance to the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation.

“This child has excellent comprehension,” Liu Wenbo remarked, quite impressed. Luo Yixuan, on the other hand, remained primly silent. She had always felt her Master had a few too many disciples, and Han Zhiling’s earlier attempt to become one had somewhat displeased her.

Two days later.

“Many thanks for your guidance, Sect Master!” After stabilizing her realm, Han Zhiling opened her eyes and performed a deep bow to Chen Mobai, expressing her gratitude.

“Your talent is also exceptional,” Chen Mobai replied. “By the way, channel a stream of spiritual energy into me.” Chen Mobai habitually checked her spiritual roots. Although Han Zhiling was somewhat bewildered, she obediently channeled the spiritual energy under his guidance. After a moment, however, no values for the five-element spiritual roots appeared on the screen. It seemed the little device had aged with prolonged use. Chen Mobai calculated: he had purchased this spiritual testing device from Qing Nv when he was in his final year of high school, and thirty-seven years had passed since then. How quickly time passes!

Lost in thought, he accepted the Green Cicada Spiritual Tea offered by Luo Yixuan. After slowly drinking more than half of it, he raised his palm once more. This time, all the values for the five-element spiritual roots appeared on the spiritual testing device. Upon seeing them, Chen Mobai couldn't help but be slightly astonished!

Metal: 4, Wood: 12, Water: 5, Fire: 62, Earth: 20.

Aside from the fact that the total sum of the five-element spiritual roots was 103 points, the 62-point Fire spiritual root alone was quite astounding, wasn't it? It was worth noting that even Yun Yangbing and Ming Yihua, who were in the same cohort as Chen Mobai, did not possess a higher Fire spiritual root value than Han Zhiling.

What did she say just now? Did she want to apprentice under him?