Chapter 639: Outsider Golden Elixir Listed (16000 Monthly Votes Extra)

Chen Mobai saw that most people had arrived, so he announced his emergence from seclusion.

He had long decided on the list of recipients for the five Immortal Peach Fruits. The reason he made such a grand spectacle was to ensure all Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect were aware, hoping to motivate them.

After all, the high-level positions in the Divine Wood Sect's Three Halls and Twelve Departments, once fixed, rarely became vacant for decades or even centuries. This led to many Foundation Establishment cultivators being indifferent to sect matters, focusing solely on their own cultivation. It was only during major sect wars, compelled by their duties, that they would answer the call of the Core Formation Ancestors and take action. Chen Mobai clearly understood this was due to the lack of upward mobility.

Thus, after becoming the sect master, he had been pondering how to solve this problem. His attempt involved creating new positions, such as the Six Nations Guardians and their corresponding smaller Three Halls and Twelve Departments. The effect was acceptable, but it was still insufficient to satisfy the ever-increasing number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect.

However, Chen Mobai, with his experience from the Immortal Sect, knew very well that for cultivators, the advancement of cultivation provided far greater motivation than mere positional promotion. Yet, within the Divine Wood Sect, items that could truly entice Foundation Establishment cultivators were few and far between.

Elixirs like the Golden Liquid Jade Returning Elixir could not be mass-produced every decade, unlike Foundation Establishment Pills. As for other pills that could enhance cultivation, after Chen Mobai's popularization of knowledge, very few Foundation Establishment cultivators consumed them. Instead, there was a growing pursuit of pills that aided in breaking through bottlenecks.

Furthermore, another item favored by Foundation Establishment cultivators was high-grade spiritual rice. Low-grade Tier 2 Green Jade Spiritual Rice was gradually becoming insufficient to meet the needs of Divine Wood Sect cultivators. They began to seek mid-grade or high-grade Tier 2 spiritual rice. These spiritual rice varieties were primarily controlled by the Xiaonanshan lineage. Chen Mobai did not earn excessive spirit stones from the sect in this regard, generally selling them to the sect at market price. The Lingbao Pavilion would put these spiritual rice varieties up for sale annually, allowing Divine Wood Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators to scramble for them. However, compared to the sect-wide commotion caused by the Immortal Peach Fruits among Foundation Establishment cultivators, these spiritual rice varieties were insignificant.

After Chen Mobai emerged from seclusion, the Lingbao Pavilion quickly announced the cultivators who had qualified to exchange for the five Immortal Peach Fruits: E Yun, Zhou Wangshen, Quan Shanlin, Luo Xue'er, and Xie Yuntian. When the list of these five individuals was released, although most Foundation Establishment cultivators were disappointed, none dared to dispute it. After all, the list included two Deputy Hall Masters, the head of the Sword Practice Department (unofficially the leader of the Twelve Departments), and two Guardians with the strongest and deepest backgrounds! In fact, many had already guessed these five would be chosen. However, upon seeing the official announcement, some extreme-minded Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect still felt resentment, thinking, "Indeed, whenever there's something good, the sect only favors these high-ranking Foundation Establishment cultivators. Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators like us have no chance to distinguish ourselves within the sect!" Nevertheless, Sect Master Chen Mobai's prestige was supreme within the sect; even if they harbored resentment, no one dared to openly challenge the list he had decided upon. Yet, many Foundation Establishment cultivators who had rushed back from outside the sect, traveling thousands of miles, felt immense disappointment at that moment.

Just as they were disheartened and preparing to leave, they discovered two new items added to the Lingbao Pavilion's exchange catalog! Upon closer inspection, they couldn't help but tremble with excitement! Some Foundation Establishment cultivators, lacking sufficient composure, nearly fainted. These two items were: a Tier 3 Immortal Peach Fruit (one ripens annually on Xiaonanshan, can be reserved in advance, with priority given to those with high sect contribution), and a Heretic Core Formation Pill (exchangeable for those with significant contributions to the sect)! Upon seeing these two newly listed items, all those in the Divine Wood Sect who hadn't exchanged for an Immortal Peach Fruit completely forgot their previous disappointment and resentment. They all rushed towards the Elder on Duty, Liang Lingzhen, eagerly inquiring about the specific meaning of the notes accompanying these two items.

Even the five individuals who had just exchanged for Immortal Peach Fruits stopped, exchanged glances, and looked intently at the Heretic Core Formation Pill. Unfortunately, they were all well-informed and knew that this Heretic Core Formation Pill was water-attributed, making Luo Xue'er the only suitable candidate among them.

Quan Shanlin was the first to congratulate Luo Xue'er, who was visibly excited but still trying to maintain composure. "Oh no, no," Luo Xue'er replied humbly, though inwardly she was ecstatic, "I'm only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and the Heretic Core Formation Pill requires great contributions to the sect for exchange. I haven't participated in several major wars, so I'm probably not eligible..."

"After the three of us consume the Immortal Peach Fruits, we should also reach the perfected Foundation Establishment stage. At that point, you'll be the only one whose attributes align with this Heretic Core Formation Pill. If not you, then who?" Xie Yuntian remarked with emotion. Among the five who exchanged for Immortal Peach Fruits this time, besides E Yun and Zhou Wangshen, who were younger generations, the other three (Quan Shanlin, Luo Xue'er, Xie Yuntian) were considered second only to Meng Hong and Chu Zuochu in the Divine Wood Sect. They were just a step away from perfected Foundation Establishment. Chen Mobai giving them the fruits this time was also an acknowledgment of the contributions these three had made to the sect over the past century. Of course, there was also the consideration of maintaining a balanced power structure within the sect (upper, middle, and lower tiers). After all, once Meng Hong refined the Heretic Core Formation Pill, Chu Zuochu was the only cultivator remaining at perfected Foundation Establishment in the Divine Wood Sect, which was indeed insufficient for the foremost sect in the Eastern Desolate. Adding three more would be just right.

"If the Sect Master intended to give it to me, he would have hinted at it in advance, rather than listing it in the Lingbao Pavilion with the specific note about 'those with great contributions to the sect'," Luo Xue'er said. However, Luo Xue'er had come to understand Chen Mobai very well over the years, as he had been her subordinate when he was at the Foundation Establishment stage. After Chen Mobai formed his core, besides being the sect master, he was also the Hall Master of the Hall of Rewards, her direct superior. Having interacted for over thirty years, Luo Xue'er knew Chen Mobai had profound insights and a deep understanding, and he never acted without reason. For instance, with the distribution of Immortal Peach Fruits this time, he could have directly informed the five of them, but instead, he chose to make the entire sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators aware before announcing the list. She only now understood the deeper meaning behind it: The Sect Master intended to use the annual Tier 3 Immortal Peach Fruit to stimulate the enthusiasm of all Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect.

"So, what was the Sect Master's intention with the other new item added to the Lingbao Pavilion catalog, the Heretic Core Formation Pill?" Although Luo Xue'er couldn't fully comprehend it, she knew this was her greatest opportunity to form a core! If she failed to seize it, she would never be able to form a core in this lifetime!

She immediately bid farewell to Xie Yuntian and Quan Shanlin and returned to Chen Mobai's Longevity Wood cultivation ground. After knocking, as usual, Gu Yan came out to greet her. However, just as she was feeling anxious about whether she would be refused again, Gu Yan directly led her inside. After all, the list had already been announced, so there was no need to avoid suspicion.

"Greetings, Sect Master!" Luo Xue'er followed Gu Yan into the wooden house and saw Chen Mobai toying with a feather that had a golden rachis, dark shaft, and black down. She immediately saluted.

"Junior Niece Luo has already received the Immortal Peach Fruit; shouldn't you be consuming and refining it first? Why are you here?" Chen Mobai asked. The item in Chen Mobai's hand was the Black Gold Crow Feather, one of the main ingredients for the Golden Crow Sun-Swallowing Pill. At his feet lay a palm-sized piece of Fire Dragon Tree Ganoderma. These two main ingredients had long been sent by Qu Xiuxian from the Star Heaven Grand Chamber of Commerce, but he had put them aside as he was busy with the advancement of the Soul-Nourishing Wood and Immortal Peach Tree. His previous seclusion was for testing the medicinal properties of these two spiritual herbs to ensure they were suitable for refining the Golden Crow Sun-Swallowing Pill. It proved that the items from the Heavenly River Realm were indeed excellent. Both spiritual items possessed very potent medicinal properties.

"Reporting to the Sect Master," Luo Xue'er said, not daring to waste Chen Mobai's time, immediately stating her purpose, "after exchanging for the Immortal Peach Fruit, I saw the newly listed Heretic Core Formation Pill in the Lingbao Pavilion. I very much desire it, but I'm unsure how one qualifies as having 'great contributions to the sect'?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai showed a look of sudden realization. He hadn't specifically thought of Luo Xue'er; he merely wanted to list that item in the Lingbao Pavilion to provide all Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect with a greater incentive for self-improvement. "Junior Niece Luo, let's discuss this matter after you reach perfected Foundation Establishment," Chen Mobai said. After Chen Mobai said this, Luo Xue'er dared not ask further. She immediately saluted, took her leave, and followed Gu Yan out of the wooden house.

In fact, according to Chen Mobai's thinking, if someone in the sect reached perfected Foundation Establishment and was ready to form a core, as long as they had 100,000 contribution points, he would, like Zhou Shengqing, have Yan Shaoyin refine the Golden Liquid Jade Returning Elixir for them. Attempting Core Formation with a Heretic Core Formation Pill was a matter of life or death. If the Golden Liquid Jade Returning Elixir was an option, Chen Mobai believed Luo Xue'er would certainly not be willing to risk her life for Core Formation. However, the Golden Liquid Jade Returning Elixir concerned the Divine Wood Sect's highest secret regarding Core Formation, so Chen Mobai would not disclose it to Luo Xue'er for now.

However, upon further thought, Quan Shanlin and Xie Yuntian had participated in several major wars over the years, risking their lives for the Divine Wood Sect and achieving great merits. In comparison, Luo Xue'er, who managed logistics within the sect, while having significant merit in his eyes, indeed had less contribution compared to the other two. If the Golden Liquid Jade Returning Elixir were given to her then, it might not convince the public. Chen Mobai still held a favorable impression of this deputy. She had contributed significantly to the Divine Wood Sect overcoming the predicament of empty warehouses after the war, and she was, after all, considered one of his direct lineage. It seemed he needed to arrange some major contributions for her! He just wondered if she was willing to endure hardship?

After pondering, Chen Mobai thought of the designated recipient for next year's Immortal Peach Fruit and a plan formed in his mind.

After a period of registration, the Lingbao Pavilion announced that next year's ripened Immortal Peach Fruit was reserved for an unexpected Foundation Establishment cultivator: Yan Yuanhao, the Guardian of Hong Kingdom.