Chapter 636: Starting the Advancement

Once Chen Mobai and the other two reached a consensus, things progressed rapidly.

Zhuo Ming and Luo Yixuan first took the Soul Nurturing Wood to Xiaonan Mountain to prepare the environment for its advancement and connect it to Xiaonan Mountain's leyline.

Afterward, Chen Mobai issued a sect leader's decree, doing something he had long wanted to do: instructing the sect's Spiritual Vein Department and Formation Department to work together to upgrade Xiaonan Mountain's spiritual vein level.

Both the Spiritual Vein Department and the Formation Department looked grim about this.

A minor upgrade would not have been difficult for them.

However, Chen Mobai's order was to directly elevate Xiaonan Mountain's spiritual vein by a major tier, from Tier 3 to Tier 4.

This would require significant financial strain for the Divine Wood Sect.

In the Sky River Realm, there are only two ways to upgrade spiritual veins.

One method involves a geomancer altering the landscape, such as moving mountains or redirecting rivers, to draw nearby spiritual veins, essentially damaging other spiritual veins to enhance one.

The second method is to bury spirit stones and then use formations to merge them with the spiritual vein, continuously nourishing and elevating its level with the immense spiritual energy from the stones.

Generally, a Tier 1 spiritual vein requires 10,000 spirit stones, Tier 2 needs 100,000, Tier 3 needs one million, and Tier 4 starts at a minimum of ten million.

If the first method were adopted, it would require diverting energy from the three Immortal Wood cultivation grounds at the core of Giant Wood Ridge, which would damage the spiritual veins used by the three Ancestors for their cultivation.

Not wanting to risk their lives, the two department heads naturally rejected this method.

Thus, only the second method remained.

But there was a significant problem!

The Divine Wood Sect's current annual net income in spirit stones was only one to two million.

In previous years, due to the war with demonic beasts in Yunmeng Marsh, more than half of the sect's reserves, steadily accumulated over Chen Mobai's ten years in office, had been depleted.

If another ten million spirit stones were spent to upgrade Xiaonan Mountain to a Tier 4 spiritual vein, it was estimated that sect disciples would not receive spirit stone allowances for the next three years.

Luo Xue'er, facing the heads of the Formation and Spiritual Vein Departments who came to her with Chen Mobai's decree asking for spirit stones, also frowned deeply. She dared not disobey, but neither did she dare to completely deplete the sect's treasury.

She could only state that there weren't enough spirit stones in the Hall of Rewards and Good Deeds, hoping to stall for time.

Upon hearing this, Yi Shaoqing of the Formation Department and Ma Gang of the Spiritual Vein Department couldn't force her, so they reported the matter to Yue Zutao, asking him to relay it to the sect leader.

"The sect leader already knows about this," Yue Zutao told them. "He asked me to give this to you."

Yue Zutao was waiting for them in the Divine Wood Hall, and then took out a storage bag, emptying its contents onto the table.

A thousand crystal-clear, perfectly square high-grade spirit stones shimmered with dazzling brilliance, causing even Yi Shaoqing and Ma Gang, who were quite experienced, to tremble with excitement.

In their entire lives, they had never possessed more than five high-grade spirit stones!

"Complete the sect leader's instructions as quickly as possible; he is very concerned about this matter," Yue Zutao emphasized.

Yue Zutao's emphasis made Yi Shaoqing and Ma Gang nod solemnly. Holding the thousand high-grade spirit stones, they instantly felt full of confidence.

Moreover, upgrading to a Tier 4 spiritual vein was a rare and valuable experience for them, so all the elites from both departments wanted to participate.

However, there was still one problem.

If spirit stones were used to upgrade the spiritual vein to Tier 4, something would be needed to stabilize it.

Otherwise, the forcibly elevated spiritual vein would slowly dissipate and eventually revert to its original tier.

For example, the Earth Mother Stone at the peak of Hanshan, or a Tier 4 spiritual plant like an Immortal Wood, or even several Tier 4 medicinal herbs would barely suffice, or specialized spirit-gathering treasures, and so on...

Although the Spiritual Plant Department had not yet received the sect leader's decree, its head, Shi Fengping, had already begun searching for suitable Tier 4 spiritual plants within the seven nations under the Divine Wood Sect's jurisdiction.

He personally inspected the Void-Rushing Immortal Ganoderma, Emerald Spirit Flower, and Resurrection Grass of Giant Wood Ridge, as well as the Five-Horned Ancient Maple at the Tianpeng Mountain Villa in Yun Kingdom, and the Cloudwood Dragon Vine at the Dayun Villa in Jianguo, among others. He prepared transplanting plans in advance, aiming to make a good impression when the sect leader inquired.

However, Shi Fengping soon realized his efforts had been in vain.

Yi Shaoqing and Ma Gang, who were upgrading the spiritual vein at Xiaonan Mountain, discussed it with the local manager, Zhuo Ming. They learned from her that the immortal peach tree on the mountain peak had shown signs of a breakthrough. To ensure its success, Sect Leader Chen had mobilized sect cultivators and even sacrificed ten years' worth of earnings from the medium-sized spirit stone mine in Feng Country, obtained after his Core Formation, to help this spiritual plant upgrade.

If the immortal peach tree successfully advanced, there would be no need for other Tier 4 spiritual items to stabilize the spiritual vein.

Upon hearing this, Shi Fengping couldn't help but look crestfallen.

He had originally thought he could curry favor with the sect leader.

Shi Fengping was also at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Although he might be over two hundred years old by the time he reached the perfected Foundation Establishment, seeing Meng Hong, who had regained his youth, ignited his desire for Core Formation.

Not just him, but virtually all late Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Divine Wood Sect were now keenly observing Chen Mobai's every move.

They all knew Chen Mobai still possessed an unorthodox Golden Core. Even if its attributes weren't suitable, they could wait for the sect leader to display his might again in the future and slay another Tier 3 demonic beast.

Therefore, after Chen Mobai's return, he found that many Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Three Halls and Twelve Departments were trying to find excuses to pay him a visit.

He paid no attention to them, having Gu Yan turn them all away; he met no one.

It was precisely for this reason that when Chen Mobai wanted to upgrade Xiaonan Mountain's spiritual vein to Tier 4, Yi Shaoqing and Ma Gang initially thought sect spirit stones would be used. Although they felt something was off, they didn't object, their first thought being to help the sect leader accomplish the task well.

Now that Chen Mobai himself had provided the spirit stones, they worked even harder. The two departments collaborated and completed all the work in just one month.

Of course, it was mainly due to the assistance of Zhuo Ming, the local manager. Once the spirit stones were buried and the Spirit-Nourishing Formation was set up, the Formation Department also began to guide the scattered spiritual energy from the Myriad Woods Grand Formation.

Within the vast Giant Wood Ridge, the spiritual energy naturally dissipating from the earth's leyline each day was also immense.

Even Core Formation cultivators like Chen Mobai could only absorb a limited amount of spiritual energy daily.

Most of the remainder naturally cycled, returning to the earth's spiritual veins, but a significant portion of the lighter spiritual energy would continuously rise towards the heavens.

After cultivators in the Sky River Realm discovered this, they developed spirit-locking methods, using their sect's protective mountain formations to lock in this lighter spiritual energy. Then, through techniques like spirit-gathering formations, they would collect, refine, and absorb it.

The Divine Wood Sect's Myriad Woods Grand Formation functioned in this way. This vast amount of lighter spiritual energy accumulated above Giant Wood Ridge. Once it exceeded a certain alert level within the formation, the formation would guide and transport it. Some was condensed by the Alchemy Department into "Pure Spirit Morning Dew," while the greater portion was dispersed among the Three Halls and Twelve Departments, provided to the various Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Because this lighter spiritual energy was of extremely high quality and very easy to refine, it was almost exclusively reserved for higher-level cultivators.

The Myriad Woods Grand Formation typically stored lighter spiritual energy equivalent to one million spirit stones. This energy served as lubrication for the various formation flags and spiritual pivots when activating the formation, allowing its power to be unleashed to the maximum in the shortest time.

For Xiaonan Mountain to upgrade to a Tier 4 spiritual vein, this lighter spiritual energy, originally intended for the Three Halls and Twelve Departments, was naturally all requisitioned.

Zhuo Ming also put aside all her tasks and moved into the wooden hut on the mountaintop. Every day, she used the Myriad Things Spiritual Rhino and the Myriad Things Virtuous Cauldron to help Xiaonan Mountain's spiritual vein refine the spirit stones and spiritual energy.

With their combined efforts, Xiaonan Mountain's spiritual vein rapidly began to ascend!

Within half a year, it upgraded to the peak of Tier 3!

After reaching this point, Zhuo Ming stopped.

Because if it were to upgrade to Tier 4 now, the immortal peach tree might not be able to stabilize it. It was better to leave it as is for now.

Anyway, when the time came, Fu Zongjue would control the Myriad Woods Grand Formation, drawing spiritual vein energy from the three Immortal Woods at Giant Wood Ridge, so there was no need to worry about insufficient spiritual energy.

That day!

In the Divine Wood Hall, the sect's routine meeting was underway.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Three Halls and Twelve Departments were discussing Ancestor Chen's expenditure of ten million spirit stones to upgrade Xiaonan Mountain's spiritual vein, their voices filled with envy.

Among them, the wealthiest only possessed a few hundred thousand spirit stones.

Ancestor Chen, without batting an eye, spent ten million spirit stones—truly extravagant!

As they chatted casually, Chen Mobai entered, accompanied by Yue Zutao and Gu Yan.

Everyone was immediately stunned.

As a Core Formation Ancestor, Chen Mobai typically didn't attend these routine meetings unless there was a major issue; Yue Zutao usually handled them on his behalf.

Why had he suddenly shown up today?

As everyone wondered, another Core Formation spiritual light descended, and Fu Zongjue appeared in the Divine Wood Hall.

Something big?!

Seeing two Core Formation Ancestors appear simultaneously, this thought flashed through everyone's minds, and then everyone's expressions turned serious as they stood at their designated places.

"In seven days, the immortal peach tree I planted on Xiaonan Mountain will begin its advancement and undergo tribulation," Chen Mobai announced. "To ensure its success, I've invited Senior Brother Fu to help control the Myriad Woods Grand Formation to supply spiritual energy."

"You must notify every disciple in the sect about this, because at that time, most of the spiritual energy in the air above Giant Wood Ridge will be drawn to Xiaonan Mountain. If anyone cultivates then, there's a very high chance of spiritual energy depletion leading to failure."

"Furthermore, no one is permitted to observe this tribulation. I do not wish to see any sect cultivators within a five-mountain-range radius of Xiaonan Mountain."

After Chen Mobai finished speaking, everyone nodded in assent.

After the meeting concluded, Chen Mobai and Fu Zongjue bid farewell; the latter also needed to take Yi Shaoqing to prepare the formations.

Chen Mobai, meanwhile, went to Qingdai Mountain.

"Greetings, Foster Father!"

Yin Qingmei's beautiful face lit up with joy as she saw him descend from the sky, and she respectfully saluted him.

"Qingmei," Chen Mobai said, "I need to perform the 'Forced Growth and Enlightenment' art to help the immortal peach tree advance. To avoid any accidents, I've come to draw some of your Azure Emperor Longevity spiritual energy."

Chen Mobai had only mastered this "Forced Growth" art by relying on their dual cultivation method and borrowing Yin Qingmei's spiritual energy.

Over the past six months, he had fully grasped all the Tier 4 intricacies of this grand art from the Heavenly Calculation Orb. Although he felt highly confident, Chen Mobai still wanted to avoid any mishaps.

"Yes, Foster Father," Yin Qingmei agreed without hesitation, then asked somewhat shyly, "...How will you draw it?"

"Relax," Chen Mobai said with a smile. "Just transfer your spiritual energy to me; I have my own way!"

Chen Mobai smiled and manifested his external avatar. Yin Qingmei's face was filled with awe as she saw the Myriad Swords Dharma Body for the first time, a colossal figure as large as half a mountain.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Within a small void he had cleared in one of his vertebrae, Chen Mobai had already stored Yin Qingmei's Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture spiritual energy using the Primordial Restoration Secret Art.

As she watched Chen Mobai leave, Yin Qingmei, whose spiritual energy had been drained three times, was so weak she could barely stand.

Chen Mobai felt a little awkward about this, so he gave her two pearls for restoring her spiritual energy.

The water spiritual energy of these pearls was highly nourishing for the Jade Phoenix Tree. Upon seeing them, Yin Qingmei's pale face instantly brightened. She asked Chen Mobai if he still needed spiritual energy, stating that she could draw out a bit more without harming her essence.

However, spiritual energy stored from others using the Primordial Restoration Secret Art would gradually lose its vitality.

Chen Mobai had experimented and found that seven days was the maximum storage time.

After leaving Qingdai Mountain, he flew directly to Xiaonan Mountain.

The timing was perfect; Fu Zongjue had just sent him a message via the Omniscient Instrument.

The core of the Myriad Woods Grand Formation consisted of three Immortal Woods. He led Yi Shaoqing and other elites from the Formation Department to unleash the spirit-gathering power of the formation to its maximum extent in his own cultivation ground.

They watched as white long rainbows, shimmering with faint seven-colored light under the sun, poured from a towering Immortal Wood towards the distant Xiaonan Mountain, resembling a waterfall of spiritual energy.

On the shaded mid-slope of Xiaonan Mountain, Chen Mobai, Luo Yixuan, and Zhuo Ming stood around the Soul Nurturing Wood.

Zhou Shengqing, who had initially resided within the Soul Nurturing Wood, was transferred to a section of Soul Nurturing Wood that belonged to Granny Ming, as Granny Ming no longer needed it after becoming Luo Yixuan's external avatar.

"Let's begin!"

After confirming with Fu Zongjue via the Omniscient Instrument, Chen Mobai took a deep breath and extended his right index finger.

He unleashed the Tier 4 "Forced Growth" art!

A yellow-green spiritual light burst from his fingertip, precisely landing on the Soul Nurturing Wood.

Then, as if time had accelerated, the surrounding Yellow Springs soil began to emit dense Yin energy, like wisps of black smoke, which were absorbed by the dark branches. The Soul Nurturing Wood began to sprout and grow continuously.

Granny Ming, now inhabiting Luo Yixuan's body, activated the pre-arranged domain formation, the Minor Underworld, without hesitation, following Chen Mobai's lead.

This formation was developed by ghost cultivators to compensate for their inability to unleash more than 70-80% of their power when fighting cultivators in the mortal realm due to environmental limitations.

Within this Minor Underworld formation, ghost cultivators could exert their peak strength, while mortal realm cultivators would be suppressed.

However, today this formation was not for combat.

After Granny Ming acted, all sunlight vanished from the shaded back slope of Xiaonan Mountain, transforming it into a desolate ghostly domain. Waves of chilling Yin energy surged from underground, forming an even more terrifying cold current that made Zhuo Ming, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, shiver uncontrollably.

Chen Mobai was about to intervene but noticed the cold energy suddenly began to weaken.

He looked closer and saw that the Soul Nurturing Wood had begun to unfurl a tender, yellowish sprout resembling jade crystal. This sprout continuously absorbed the surging cold current, growing larger and larger.

In the blink of an eye, the Soul Nurturing Wood had already put forth three black leaves and a dark yellow spiritual flower!