Chapter 641: Two Great Rivers

Pure Nine-Lotus Treasure Lantern:

Crimson Glow Academy.

Chen Mobai looked at the five recently refined Golden Crow Sun-Grasping Pills in his hand, a slight frown creasing his brow.

Although he had mastered this pill formula with the help of Enlightenment Tea, his pill refining skills were still somewhat lacking. His first attempt only yielded five pills.

Even so, it was only thanks to the auspicious blessing of the Phoenix Greeting the Sun Diagram.

Otherwise, Chen Mobai estimated he would have only managed two or three pills.

This top-tier fourth-grade workshop in Danxia City naturally boasted the most comprehensive set of equipment.

After he placed the Golden Crow Sun-Grasping Pills on the apparatus, a number, 3.58, appeared.

This indicated the level of pill impurities.

Even with the addition of sufficient spiritual extracts, it still exceeded the Immortal Sect's standards.

However, it would meet the standards in the Heavenly River Realm.

Chen Mobai immediately activated the Lamp Lighting Technique, circulating the pill's energy throughout his body while slowly refining and expelling the impurities, bit by bit.

Lingbao was bustling with activity.

Liang Lingzhen authorized Xie Yuntian to handle the matter completely, as he estimated that once the Eastern Barren Highlands were successfully developed, it would bring tens of millions of spirit stones in annual revenue to the Golden Crow lineage. Such an investment was well worth it.

Jumu Ling happened to be in Dananshan today. He needed to discuss with Lingbao how to transport the necessary supplies he required to the Eastern Barren Highlands.

They must ensure the success of this endeavor.

Zhuo Ming immediately reported the letter to Jumu Ling, his nominal master, asking him how best to respond.

After Liang Lingzhen finished speaking, Yun Mengze generally understood his plan. She knew in her heart that this would be incredibly arduous, requiring the excavation of a tens-of-thousands-mile long waterway stretching from Xiaoguo to Yanguo. During this process, they would need to traverse the entire Eastern Barren Highlands to find the most suitable route, and it would take at least several decades, or even over a century, to complete.

"The Golden Cores need to guard against the resurgence of demonic beasts from the Divine Wood Sect, so most elite disciples cannot be mobilized. However, tasks can be issued through the Pill Pavilion."

The two exchanged glances and simultaneously flew towards the Pill Pavilion.

Because the value was a million spirit stones, Xiong Meiqi returned to seek instructions from Liang Lingzhen after hearing about it.

"Junior Brother Xie, isn't it a bit excessive to monopolize everything? You should at least leave me half."

Inside the Divine Wood Hall, Xiong Meiqi reported the results of his recent travel and discussions.

"If the Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill is successfully refined, Dananshan will have the most meritorious military contributions to the Golden Cores, followed by Liu Wenbai, so you can only be ranked third. However, this External Dao Songhuang is indeed the most suitable for you among the current Golden Cores. I happen to have a super project that needs to be initiated in the Eastern Barren Highlands. Are you willing to go?"

Liang Lingzhen couldn't help but click his tongue. On the Divine Wood Sect's side, the Golden Crow lineage and the Five Elements Sect had already jointly suppressed the recent demonic beast tide, and now the Snowfall Palace was again trying to get a share of this treasure land.

However, only those with significant contributions to the Golden Cores could exchange for it.

But for the sake of forming her own Golden Core, she knew she had to endure this hardship.

He took out a high-grade spirit stone, cultivated the Pure Yang Dharma Body for a cycle, and then opened his eyes.

"The disciple is willing!"

What the three of them thought in their hearts, however, was the same.

"Many thanks, Sect Master!"

After issuing these instructions, Xie Yuntian, who had been negotiating with the Snowfall Palace on behalf of Liang Lingzhen, happened to return and came to pay his respects.

However, people from the Heavenly River Realm viewed these as a consequence of the sect's power being too weak, making the body unable to withstand it for long.

Facing the two of them, there was nothing to hide.

In front of him, the two naturally dared not act rashly. They properly chose tasks that they felt were not difficult to complete and offered high contributions.

Xiong Meiqi had Luo Xue'er bring over the Pill Pavilion's task list, then told Dananshan and Liu Wenbai to each choose one.

When Yun Mengze said this, her heart also felt a touch of bitterness.

He couldn't afford to offend either of those two.

He then mentioned the matter of the Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill, stating that if only one pill was successfully refined, then the Golden Core cultivator with the highest contribution should be allowed to exchange for it.

However, he was somewhat unsure, and since he happened to meet Liang Lingzhen today, he inquired about the matter.

This was mainly because Liang Lingzhen came from the Immortal Sect and understood that knowledge should be imparted as early as possible to give them time for comprehension.

Dananshan immediately spoke up, asking. Among the three, he had the most impetuous personality and the most self-confidence.

Liang Lingzhen took out a medicine box and stored the remaining four Xiong Meiqi Sun-Grasping Pills inside.

But he also wondered why these two influential figures suddenly became so enthusiastic about taking on tasks.

Liang Lingzhen: "Once Yun Mengze also leaves Chen Mobai, Zhuo Ming's value in the eyes of the informant will undoubtedly increase significantly. At that time, I can have him reveal that he's heard Yin Qingmei, who possesses a Heavenly Spiritual Root, might also leave Chen Mobai..."

Before Liang Lingzhen arrived, Shi Fengping was still consulting with Xiong Meiqi, demonstrating his seriousness and respect for the Sect Master's place of rise.

In other minor Eastern Barren sects, cultivators who had reached Foundation Establishment perfection were generally treated as Golden Core seeds.

Dananshan, Liu Wenbai, and Xiong Meiqi, all three, consumed Immortal Peach Fruits and successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Perfection realm.

"From now on, it depends on which of you two completes the task and advances to the Golden Core stage first. At that point, you can choose whatever you want."

But at the thought of forming a Golden Core, a surge of fighting spirit spontaneously arose within her. "Master..."

Not long after the three of them left, Yun Mengze was brought back by Gu Yan.

The competitive manner of the two immediately left Xiong Meiqi looking distressed.

Liang Lingzhen first backed up his beloved disciple, preventing Yun Mengze from relying on her seniority to seize command.

Although they now possessed a seven-year supply, Liang Lingzhen still instructed the Pill Refining Department to continue gathering relevant primary and auxiliary ingredients upon his return to the Golden Crow lineage.

"May I ask, Sect Master, what constitutes a significant contribution?"

These lingering effects of the pill impurities were at their mildest right after consuming the pill.

Liang Lingzhen met with one, and since it would be impolite not to meet the other two, he had Gu Yan bring them all down as well.

Seeing her come out, their eyes flickered.

The pill entered his body, and soon a line of fire extended from his dantian and qi sea towards his spine, eventually spreading throughout his entire body.

One could only say that effort was not as good as having a good master.

Feeling the increased speed of his cultivation of the Pure Yang Scroll once more, Chen Mobai nodded in satisfaction.

The main task was the handover of the spirit fields in Dananshan, along with the immortal peach trees, various tea trees, and other spiritual plants.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, he was interrupted by Liu Wenbai.

When the matter of developing the Eastern Barren Highlands and managing the Boundless Sand Sea was brought up, Xiong Meiqi, the Vice Hall Master of the Hall of Awards, also widened his eyes, his face filled with disbelief.

Dananshan pointed to the row of tasks on the Pill Pavilion's list that were the most difficult but offered the most Golden Core contributions upon completion, telling Luo Xue'er, who was on duty, to accept all of them.

"I plan to excavate a large river from the Divine Wood Sect's territory to irrigate Xiaoguo, then draw another large river from the Frost Country's snowy mountains to irrigate Yanguo. Finally, the two rivers will converge and flow to Hongguo, providing sufficient water resources for desertification control..."

After explaining the Golden Core inheritance, Liang Lingzhen's benevolent teacher side emerged once more.

Chen Mobai, relying on his Lamp Lighting Technique and Green Cicada Spiritual Tea, hesitated for only a moment before taking out one pill and consuming it.

Approximately half a day later, he had completely refined the Golden Crow Sun-Grasping Pill.

"Sect Master, I have already reached Foundation Establishment Perfection and have come to seek guidance on the matter from that day."

Yun Mengze quickly immersed herself in the role of excavating the great river, beginning to ask Liang Lingzhen for manpower.

"Sect Master, I need to dispatch some disciples from the Spirit Vein Department. If we also have support from the Spirit Beast Department and Body Tempering Department, the excavation speed will be even faster."

They all privately wanted to find the Sect Master and ask about the conditions for acquiring Golden Core spiritual medicine.

After discussing these matters, Liang Lingzhen also mentioned that the Golden Core lineage had spiritual medicines that aided in forming Golden Cores, and that his own success also benefited from them.

"Sect Master, True Monarch Kong means that the snow mountain water can be gifted, but they also hope that our Golden Crow lineage will allow their Snowfall Palace to freely withdraw from Xiong Meiqi."

Xiong Meiqi: "The information must be revealed step by step. The informant will already have Zhuo Ming inquire from his master about the deeper 'purpose' of developing the Eastern Barren Highlands. You should then have Zhuo Ming discover that not only Ming'er and Xuan'er, but also the Vice Hall Master of the Hall of Awards will be dispatched by me."

After it was announced that Jumu Ling had taken him as a nominal disciple, a mysterious letter indeed quickly arrived at Longjiao Gully, instructing Zhuo Ming to uncover the secrets of the Dananshan lineage.

It just so happened that Xiong Meiqi had sent Xie Yuntian to purchase snow mountain water. After Snowfall Palace Master Zhu Jin-yu and Kong Lingling reported the situation, they took the opportunity to propose this request.

Ultimately, this matter escalated to Liang Lingzhen. He immediately disciplined both sides equally, then reformed the rules for Golden Core tasks, stipulating that a new task could only be accepted after the previous one had been completed or canceled.

"Yes, Sect Master, I will definitely listen to Junior Sister Zhuo."

Dananshan was also quite direct, immediately giving Liu Wenbai the tasks that, although offering substantial contributions, would consume a lot of time. The latter, upon hearing this, let out a cold laugh, pointed to the tasks other than those five, and told Xiong Meiqi that he would take on all of them.

The pavilion was as bustling as ever, with many Golden Crow lineage disciples moving through it. Upon seeing the two cultivators, who were second only to the Golden Core ancestors, enter, they were all greatly surprised.

When Xiong Meiqi and Liu Wenbai left, the two, whose relationship had originally been quite good, felt a layer of estrangement between them.

The three of them immediately wore respectful expressions, performing the disciple's bow with full concentration.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

However, after Liang Lingzhen arrived, the master and disciple went alone beneath the immortal peach tree and spoke of matters concerning the Golden Core.

When handling matters, Liang Lingzhen occasionally disliked overemphasizing the subjective initiative of cultivators. Although orders were issued in the name of the Golden Cores, and cultivators from all eight halls and seventeen departments had to obey, he still preferred tasks that were clearly priced.

"Let me further explain my understanding of forming a Golden Core. All three of you listen carefully..."