Chapter 643: Refining the Earth Vein Pill

A flock of black plague birds suddenly appeared in the Rain Kingdom, led by a powerful second-tier demonic beast. It seemed a loophole had appeared in the defense line bordering Yunmeng Marsh. Moreover, after Hong He "died in battle," he was replaced as the guardian of the Rain Kingdom by Fei Zhongyu, an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Hall of Punishing Evil, who found himself unable to control the situation.

Although Fei Zhongyu had mobilized all the Divine Wood Sect cultivators in the Rain Kingdom and received assistance from various major families, they were still unable to completely eradicate the freely flying black plague birds. A while ago, two small families had their defensive formations breached by the black plague birds, and dozens of cultivators were brutally killed.

Faced with this situation, several families in the Rain Kingdom began to withdraw. Their leading Foundation Establishment cultivators each summoned their own members and started guarding their clan territories, aiming to protect their spiritual rice and medicinal herbs from being completely devoured by these vile beasts.

Without the manpower from the major families, Fei Zhongyu found himself with an insufficient number of Divine Wood Sect cultivators. He could only retreat to Liuhua Market City and send a request for assistance to the sect.

Normally, in such a situation, the Divine Wood Sect would have two methods of response. One is to directly list the demon-extermination mission at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, waiting for a Foundation Establishment cultivator who is available and wishes to earn sect contributions and spirit stones to accept it. If Fei Zhongyu, the one requesting aid, had a more prominent background, then Chen Mobai and other high-ranking sect members would directly assign powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators to intervene. Alternatively, they could summon the Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed on various islands and market cities in Yunmeng Marsh.

Unfortunately, Fei Zhongyu was merely the most ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Divine Wood Sect. Although he had a few acquaintances among his fellow disciples, they were merely nodding acquaintances. Furthermore, being advanced in age with his potential exhausted, he had obeyed orders to leave the Hall of Punishing Evil and come to the Rain Kingdom with Hong He, hoping to earn more spirit stones in his twilight years.

However, two years ago, his immediate superior unexpectedly died in battle in Yunmeng Marsh. Due to the manpower shortage at the time, he was forced to become the acting guardian of the Rain Kingdom. Fortunately, the beast tide in Yunmeng Marsh had largely subsided by then, and his diligent efforts ensured no major mistakes were made.

When it came time to select a permanent guardian for the Rain Kingdom, all qualified Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Divine Wood Sect declined the position. One reason was the fear of repeating Hong He's fate and dying in battle in Yunmeng Marsh. The second reason was that the guardian position was typically a stepping stone for future sect masters, and after Hong He's death, no one in the sect could compete with E Yun and Zhou Wangshen for that path. Consequently, with no one stepping forward to compete, Fei Zhongyu continued to serve as the acting guardian of the Rain Kingdom for over two years.

Fei Zhongyu was initially quite pleased. As the guardian of a kingdom, his status was second only to the high-ranking members of the sect's Three Halls and Twelve Departments, and he could also earn more spirit stones and other emoluments. However, after the black plague bird demonic beasts landed, he began to regret not having resigned earlier, citing insufficient ability.

Amidst sharp screeches, hundreds of black plague birds formed a massive dark cloud above the market city. Led by the second-tier great bird, they unleashed streams of sharp, azure wind blades at the market city's grand formation. Fei Zhongyu was naturally not afraid that the market city would be breached. Even if three times more demonic beasts appeared, he was confident he could defend it by relying on the grand formation. Even if he couldn't hold it, he could escape using the teleportation array.

However, if that happened, the Divine Wood Sect's prestige in the Rain Kingdom would be utterly disgraced. Furthermore, after escaping, he would likely be executed by the enraged higher-ups. Fei Zhongyu now only hoped that his request for aid mission would be accepted by a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the sect as soon as possible. Normally, it would take about a month for the Three Great Halls to instruct the Spirit Treasure Pavilion to review and clear out tasks. Today was the seventh day.

Fei Zhongyu only regretted why, upon learning of the situation, he hadn't immediately sought aid from the sect. Instead, he had tried to prove his own capabilities by rallying the Rain Kingdom's cultivation families to surround and annihilate the demonic beasts, thus wasting a precious half-month.

Just as he was praying that these black plague birds wouldn't rampage through other spiritual lands in the Rain Kingdom for the next month, the teleportation array within the market city suddenly lit up.

"Huh?"

As Fei Zhongyu frowned, someone he never would have expected emerged. The newcomer was of average height and build, with an ordinary face, but sharp eyes and an imposing posture, like a sword sheathed.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Fei Zhongyu's face lit up with great joy. "Minister Xie, I didn't expect you to grace us with your presence!"

The person who teleported over was none other than Xie Yuntian, reputed to be the Divine Wood Sect's foremost Foundation Establishment cultivator. But upon seeing him, Fei Zhongyu felt a strange wonder. He had no prior acquaintance whatsoever with the sect's top Foundation Establishment cultivator, so why had Xie Yuntian taken on this mission?

"You've been too negligent," Xie Yuntian reprimanded. "When you encounter something you cannot handle, you should report it to the sect promptly. A single day's delay means greater losses for the sect's properties and our major allied families in the Rain Kingdom!"

After Xie Yuntian emerged from the teleportation array, he first severely reprimanded Fei Zhongyu. The latter, naturally, dared not retort and could only lower his head, enduring the scolding. However, Fei Zhongyu felt even stranger. How was the sect's response so swift this time? And why had Xie Yuntian himself come?

And just as he was pondering this conundrum, Xie Yuntian wasted no time! He glanced at the demonic beasts besieging Liuhua Market City from above, sneered, and then unleashed a stream of azure-green light from his mouth. It was as if a sudden thunderbolt appeared in the sky, a beam of light illuminating the heavens and earth, violently tearing apart the massive dark cloud formed by hundreds of black plague birds!

Amidst a startled roar, the second-tier black great bird within the flock rapidly flapped its wings, bursting with incredible speed, narrowly dodging being split in two by the earth-shattering, azure-green light beam. Nevertheless, half of its black wing was severed by the azure flame sword-energy, burning with fierce flames as it plummeted to the ground, leaving a trail of black smoke like dissipating ashes in mid-air.

"Impressive beast, to have withstood one of my sword strikes!" Xie Yuntian remarked. "Now, let's see about this second one..."

Xie Yuntian, who had ascended on his sword from the center of the market city, witnessed this and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Then, once again imitating the sect master, he unleashed a second stream of azure flame sword-energy from his mouth!

With its wing severed, the black plague bird no longer possessed the divine speed to evade the sword-energy. Although it desperately spat out consecutive azure wind blades and commanded hundreds of surrounding first-tier black plague birds to form a defensive shield cloud, under the sword-energy's divine might, it was like a cloud ripped apart by the blazing sun.

In the eyes of the many cultivators in Liuhua Market City, they witnessed two consecutive azure-green fiery streams of light erupting, completely tearing apart the demonic beast flock that had obscured the sky for seven whole days. That exceptionally majestic black great bird, capable of summoning wind and thunder, was also cleaved into two halves by the second fiery stream of light. Amidst a shower of blood, the black plague bird flock that had besieged Liuhua Market City for seven days completely disintegrated!

After consecutively unleashing two sword-energies, Xie Yuntian felt his spiritual energy somewhat depleted and ceased to exert such terrifying power. Instead, he controlled his flying sword to hunt down and kill the black plague birds fleeing in all directions. Fei Zhongyu naturally wouldn't miss the chance to redeem himself. He immediately commanded the Divine Wood Sect cultivators within the market city to begin the pursuit.

However, since only Foundation Establishment cultivators could fly, it was primarily Xie Yuntian, Fei Zhongyu, and one other Divine Wood Sect Foundation Establishment cultivator who managed to kill over a hundred black plague birds. The rest escaped.

"Issue an order to all major families in the Rain Kingdom in the name of the sect," Xie Yuntian commanded, "to fully encircle and eliminate this group of demonic beasts. Remember, do not let them harm mortals!"

After feeling his spiritual energy somewhat depleted, Xie Yuntian stopped his pursuit. Shortly after he returned to Liuhua Market City, Fei Zhongyu also arrived, and Xie Yuntian immediately issued commands.

"Yes, Minister Xie," Fei Zhongyu replied earnestly. "We truly owe it to you this time; otherwise, I'm afraid the small families and mortals in the Rain Kingdom would have suffered greatly." Fei Zhongyu spoke with sincere gratitude. Ever since the major families had started looking after only their own interests, he had been forced to strictly guard his own territory. If the black plague birds had realized their opportunity and stopped besieging Liuhua Market City, instead spreading out to rampage and prey on people throughout the Rain Kingdom, he would have been guilty of severe dereliction of duty and would have faced heavy punishment upon returning to the sect.

"It's merely my duty!"

After speaking, Xie Yuntian produced the document for the Spirit Treasure Pavilion's mission scroll and had Fei Zhongyu sign to confirm its completion.

"Minister Xie, you must be weary from slaying the demonic beasts. I have already prepared the best third-tier cave dwelling in the market city for you..."

"I won't be staying," Xie Yuntian interrupted. "I need to return to hand over this mission and take on the next one."

Xie Yuntian directly waved his hand in refusal. After confirming that this group of demonic beasts no longer posed a significant threat, he immediately used the teleportation array to depart.

"This..." Fei Zhongyu watched Xie Yuntian arrive and depart in such a rush, looking utterly bewildered. Was the esteemed foremost Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Divine Wood Sect still lacking spirit stones and contributions?

After Chen Mobai transplanted the Jasper Phoenix Tree into his own domain, he left a Faceless Puppet within the sect to await Xie Yuntian's return. Although Yin Qingmei was to be used as bait, it couldn't be too blatant. As a dignified Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivator, if the sect suddenly allowed her to travel alone, it would certainly arouse the enemy's suspicion. Sending Xie Yuntian, the Divine Wood Sect's foremost Foundation Establishment cultivator, as a bodyguard would be perfectly logical. This news could also be revealed by Song Huangda, further increasing his trustworthiness in the eyes of the moles.

Meanwhile, Chen Mobai's true body wasted no time and returned to the Immortal Gate. In the fourth-tier workshop of Crimson Cloud Academy, he was currently refining Earth Vein Pills! The Immortal Gate's alchemy system had largely achieved automation. The Earth Vein Pill, an Immortal Gate formula, was unlike the traditional Golden Crow Sun-Seizing Pill, which required constant stove management and fire monitoring. Nevertheless, he still left another Faceless Puppet to oversee the process in the workshop.

When Chen Mobai returned, he saw two gases mixing with different mineral fragments in a long glass tube, constantly reacting under a plant-based gel. If the pill formula for the Earth Vein Pill were shown to alchemists from the Heavenly River Realm, they would likely be completely bewildered. The two main ingredients were ethereal gases like Dragon Vein Qi and Earth Vein Qi, while the auxiliary ingredients included various minerals in addition to plants that aided in the chemical reaction. This was a metallic-mineral pill!

Therefore, the Earth Vein Pill was far more difficult to refine than the regular Golden Crow Sun-Seizing Pill. Even though Chen Mobai fully understood the refining process, he still failed once. This was his second attempt. Fortunately, collecting the materials for the Earth Vein Pill was much easier than for the Golden Crow Sun-Seizing Pill, so even if he failed ten or twenty times, he could still afford it.

However, he had underestimated his own abilities. Thanks to the comprehension of the pill formula gained from the Enlightenment Tea, the auspicious blessing of the Vermilion Phoenix Facing the Sun Diagram, and the equipment of this fourth-tier workshop, he actually succeeded on his second attempt. Chen Mobai joyfully took out the yellowish-brown pill and placed it on the instrument for measuring pill toxins.

The reading was slightly excessive! When Chen Mobai saw the number, he couldn't help but frown slightly. Although he possessed Green Cicada Spiritual Tea and the Lantern-Lighting Art to neutralize toxins, the pill toxins from the Golden Crow Sun-Seizing Pill in his body had not yet been completely refined. It was better to minimize any additional burden on his body.

Chen Mobai attempted to refine the Earth Vein Pill a third time. Although he succeeded again, the pill toxin content still left him somewhat dissatisfied. Just as he was preparing for his fourth attempt at refining, the Faceless Puppet he had left in the sect sent him a message: Xie Yuntian had completed the mission and returned!

Chen Mobai pondered for a moment and organized the issues he encountered during these three alchemy attempts into a document, which he then sent to Qing Nv, asking for her guidance. However, Qing Nv appeared to be busy and did not reply immediately. Chen Mobai was not anxious. He left another Faceless Puppet with a split consciousness to continue automating the refining of Earth Vein Pills to gain proficiency, while his true body returned to Giant Wood Ridge.

"Greetings, Sect Master!" In the Divine Wood Hall, Xie Yuntian immediately rushed over upon being summoned.

"I am sending Qingmei to Rainbow Kingdom to assist Ming'er with sand control," Chen Mobai explained. "However, she is, after all, a Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivator, and I fear enemies may attack her on the way, so I wish for you to escort her."

"Yes, Sect Master," Xie Yuntian replied. "But when Senior Sister Yin reaches the Eastern Desolate Plateau, might she not also be ambushed by enemies? Do I need to protect her there long-term?"

In the past, Xie Yuntian would certainly not have been willing to act as a long-term bodyguard, even for the sect's Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivator, who was destined to form a Golden Core. But now his mindset was completely different. He thought that if he protected Yin Qingmei and the sect master's two disciples, and once the Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill was successfully refined, the sect master would surely recognize his arduous efforts and grant him the highest contribution.

"You only need to escort Qingmei there," Chen Mobai clarified. "On the Eastern Desolate Plateau, I have made other arrangements for her protection."

Chen Mobai's words left Xie Yuntian somewhat disappointed. However, this mission, personally assigned by the sect master, offered a high reward of three thousand sect contributions! If it went smoothly, using the teleportation array, it could be completed in about half a month, making it extremely cost-effective!

After Xie Yuntian left the Divine Wood Hall, Du Feng immediately received the mission scroll bearing the Sect Master's decree. Seeing content identical to the intelligence he had received not long ago, his trust in Song Huangda deepened. He was already considering how to help Song Huangda climb higher and higher within the Little Southern Mountain lineage.

Of course, Du Feng did not forget his primary duty. He immediately conveyed the intelligence about Xie Yuntian escorting Yin Qingmei to Xu Shengbing!