Chapter 670: Dark Currents Surge

Pure Nine Gates

After acquiring the Azurewood Malevolence, Chen Mobai stayed in Xiaoguo for some more time.

Under his command, Yuan Chiyi quickly led the first batch of two hundred Qi Refinement cultivators from Yanguo as support. These were skilled workers, trained over several years for digging river channels. However, they were all rogue cultivators, long-term employees hired by Beiyuan City under the name of the Divine Wood Sect.

Following Chen Mobai's instructions, and because the two major rivers would be a massive project lasting at least twenty or thirty years, these rogue cultivators had to sign long-term contracts of at least ten years with the Divine Wood Sect.

Initially, this long-term contract was naturally not accepted by the rogue cultivators. After all, in the Eastern Barrens, rogue cultivators prized freedom. They would stay home to cultivate after completing a task, and it was normal for them to only seek work again after they had exhausted their spirit rice and spirit stones.

But the conditions offered by the Divine Wood Sect were simply too good! Especially after Zhuo Ming led people to reclaim tens of thousands of acres of spiritual fields in Yanguo and achieved self-sufficiency in spirit rice, all the rogue cultivators began scrambling to sign this long-term contract. Some even wanted to renew for decades or centuries, effectively working for the Divine Wood Sect for life. After all, receiving spirit stones as wages and spirit rice as benefits was a rare high-level treatment in the entire Eastern Barrens. If the Divine Wood Sect hadn't been the largest sect in the Eastern Barrens and had a decent reputation, the rogue cultivators would have even suspected it was a demonic sect's scam.

After some impoverished rogue cultivators, who literally couldn't afford spirit rice, confirmed it was true, the rogue cultivators in Beiyuan City went wild. Furthermore, after the news spread, cultivators from across the Eastern Barrens began flocking to Yanguo.

Previously, if rogue cultivators wanted to earn spirit stones, besides selling themselves to the major forces in the market, they would risk their lives in the Yunmeng Marsh. But working hard labor in Beiyuan City carried no life-threatening risks! Although it was a bit tough and tiring, and they had to obey the commands of the Divine Wood Sect's cultivators, clocking in and out on time, the long-term contracts at least ensured that by the time they were dismissed after ten or twenty years, they would have accumulated a significant amount of spirit stones. Perhaps enough to cover all their expenses for cultivation until they reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Rogue cultivators in the Eastern Barrens with some sense, after a brief comparison, began to flock in groups to Beiyuan City, a place almost like a wonderland.

Many astute sects and immortal cultivation families also discovered business opportunities. They stopped selling magical artifacts, elixirs, and talismans. Instead, they led their disciples and clan members to negotiate with Beiyuan City to contract certain sections of the river excavation work.

E Yun naturally agreed to this. Initially, Zhuo Ming was somewhat concerned that this would affect the project quality, but this method undoubtedly saved the Divine Wood Sect a lot of manpower. After all, rogue cultivators hired through conventional means required the Divine Wood Sect to dispatch capable personnel for supervision and training. When contracting to other forces, they only needed to provide the initial briefing, state the required objectives, and then periodically inspect the progress.

If the work was well done and the quality passed inspection, then E Yun from Beiyuan City would pay the corresponding spirit stones and spirit rice as progress payments. If Zhuo Ming was not satisfied, they would be told to redo it until it met her satisfaction. No spirit stones would be paid if she was not satisfied. Major sects and immortal cultivation families who wanted to contract had to abide by this principle. This was also because the Divine Wood Sect was already the sole dominant force in the Eastern Barrens, and because the contracting forces actively sought this business. Such strict, risk-free contracts for the Divine Wood Sect were still eagerly sought after.

The second batch of support personnel, led by Qi Rui, were these contractors from Yanguo. Over a dozen immortal cultivation families of varying sizes and second/third-rate sects, combined, surprisingly numbered five hundred Qi Refinement cultivators. Qi Rui and Luo Xue'er discussed it and assigned the relatively simpler sections of the Mo River, requiring less mountain excavation and ground breaking, to these Yanguo contractors as a trial. Zhou Wangshen, who was involved throughout as Xiaoguo's guardian, signed separate contracts with these thirteen contractors, specifying the various requirements for the acceptance of each river section upon completion.

"How come the immortal cultivation families and sect forces in Xiaoguo don't have such business acumen?" Zhou Wangshen couldn't help but shake his head and say after discussing this matter.

"This is also thanks to Junior Sister Zhuo's initial good reputation for providing spirit rice to the rogue cultivator laborers," Qi Rui explained. "The first to discover this business opportunity was Patriarch Hua Chong of the Hua family. He is a visionary person. After confirming that our sect genuinely intended to undertake a decades-long major project in the Eastern Barren Highlands, he even dispatched many disciples and clan members to personally participate in river excavation, spiritual field cultivation, and tree planting for soil stabilization, to investigate and research all the technical difficulties. After two years of practical involvement in various processes of developing the Eastern Barren Highlands, and confirming that they could complete the work profitably, Patriarch Hua then began discussing with Senior Brother E about contracting a section of the river construction. After the Hua family's example, other forces in Yanguo began to flock in. Until now, virtually all cultivators in Yanguo have participated in the Bai River project." Qi Rui explained the key points, and Zhou Wangshen and Luo Xue'er were filled with emotion after hearing it.

"Later, six contractors specializing in spiritual field cultivation and spirit rice sowing will arrive, led by Junior Niece Han. At that time, Senior Brother Zhou, please have the Xiaoguo personnel cooperate," Qi Rui then mentioned the third batch of personnel supporting from Yanguo. Xiaoguo's spiritual field resources were even better than Yanguo's. After all, it bordered the Yunmeng Marsh, and even though the Mo River hadn't been fully opened yet, the annual precipitation was good. However, most of the spiritual fields were land along the Yunmeng Marsh and were mostly occupied by local immortal cultivation families. Zhou Wangshen, following Chen Mobai's orders, did not seize these, but instead led sect disciples to reclaim new ones. But the spirit plant masters in Xiaoguo certainly couldn't compare to those from the Xiaonan Mountain lineage. Furthermore, most of the manpower had been sent by Zhou Wangshen to excavate river channels, leading to Xiaoguo lagging far behind Yanguo in both spiritual field development and spirit rice cultivation.

"Who is this Junior Niece Han?" Zhou Wangshen asked Qi Rui. The previous two batches of personnel were led by Foundation Establishment cultivators; why was the third batch suddenly led by a Qi Refinement cultivator?

"What, Senior Brother Zhou doesn't know...? She is Junior Sister Zhuo's disciple. Once she achieves Foundation Establishment, she will be the third-generation senior disciple of the Xiaonan Mountain lineage." As soon as Qi Rui said this, Zhou Wangshen immediately understood. He had indeed heard of Han Zhiling's name.

"I'll have Bingyan personally go and greet her." Zhou Wangshen did not slight Han Zhiling merely because she was still in Qi Refinement. After all, being able to become a disciple of Xiaonan Mountain must have been approved by the Sect Master. More importantly, Chen Mobai was still in Xiaoguo.

After the third batch of cultivators led by Han Zhiling arrived, the number of Qi Refinement cultivators in Xiaoguo and Yanguo was finally balanced. However, those Foundation Establishment cultivators had come voluntarily to help Zhuo Ming, so Chen Mobai could not easily command them. He could only ask the Spirit Treasure Pavilion to facilitate Zhou Wangshen by listing more tasks in Xiaoguo. Whether the Foundation Establishment cultivators would stay, once they arrived, depended on Zhou Wangshen's methods.

When Han Zhiling arrived, Chen Mobai had just finished refining all the Azurewood Malevolence into Azureflame Sword Malevolence. As his chosen third-generation senior disciple, Chen Mobai naturally wanted to meet her. Not long after Han Zhiling became a disciple of Xiaonan Mountain, she followed Zhuo Ming to Yanguo. Her talent was, of course, beyond doubt. Coupled with her diligent efforts, she was now a second-tier spirit plant master, specializing particularly in fire spirit rice. This was why Zhuo Ming had her lead the team here.

Chen Mobai, when meeting Han Zhiling, did not test her on this aspect. Instead, he asked if she had any questions about her cultivation. After all, in terms of spirit plants, he was already inferior to Zhuo Ming; it was better to stick to what he was good at. Han Zhiling was already at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, but she felt her foundation was not yet profound enough and wanted to wait two more years before attempting Foundation Establishment. With Chen Mobai personally inquiring, she naturally asked all the questions she had accumulated over time.

Chen Mobai, known as the Great Sage Teacher in the Eastern Barrens, found guiding a Qi Refinement cultivator effortless. After a series of answers, Han Zhiling no longer had any doubts about establishing her foundation with the Molten Fire Art, feeling confident that once her Qi Refinement was complete, she could take the Foundation Establishment Pill. However, after Foundation Establishment, the Molten Fire Art would reach its limit. Han Zhiling would then either cultivate the Earth Core True Fire Art of the Huittian Valley or switch to another fire-attribute cultivation method. Chen Mobai also asked her about her own thoughts on this. Han Zhiling hesitated for a moment and expressed her admiration for the Patriarch's divine sword mastery and her deep reverence for the Blazing Flame Sword Art.

"That's not impossible," Chen Mobai said. "But for now, focus on Foundation Establishment. I will help you resolve the matter of subsequent cultivation methods." If Chen Mobai was willing, creating an incantation to seamlessly transition between the Molten Fire Art and the Blazing Flame Sword Art would not be difficult, especially with the Formless Puppet in hand. Therefore, he did not ask Han Zhiling to switch cultivation methods immediately. After all, she had cultivated the Molten Fire Art for most of her life, and it was deeply ingrained. Switching now, at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, would definitely affect her Foundation Establishment. It would be better to consider changing cultivation methods after she had achieved Foundation Establishment. With his words, Han Zhiling was completely relieved.

After finishing his conversation with his grand-disciple, Chen Mobai left Xiaoguo. He did not go to Hongguo either. Instead, he planned to return first and master the Extreme Yang Slash.

What Chen Mobai didn't know was that his movements had been constantly monitored. After hearing he had left the Eastern Barren Highlands, Fang Xuanyang of the Southern Profound Sect, with a solemn expression, put down the letter that had just arrived from Dongyi. It contained the latest instructions for him from the Xuanxiao Dao Palace. Patriarch Jinfeng's negotiations with Kuzhu had broken down, and both sides were preparing to mobilize all their forces for a major confrontation.

As a Core Formation cultivator, Fang Xuanyang naturally had to be recalled. However, before returning, Patriarch Jinfeng also had an instruction regarding the Eastern Barrens: to make this place a retreat for the Xuanxiao Dao Palace. In case the war with Kongsang Valley was lost, their remaining forces could retreat here to lie low and prepare for a comeback. To turn the Eastern Barrens into a fallback for the Xuanxiao Dao Palace, the biggest problem was the Divine Wood Sect.

After all, according to the Xuanxiao Dao Palace's original strategy, after Mount Hanshan was destroyed, they would personally intervene, gradually encroaching upon Yanguo, Xiaoguo, and others, occupying the Eastern Barren Highlands, which connected to the Barren Ruins, and establishing branch sects and sub-palaces. Unfortunately, the Divine Wood Sect's resistance capabilities exceeded the Xuanxiao Dao Palace's estimates. Nan Xuanjing and Zhao Xuankang died one after another, and even Xuan Shu, on whom high hopes were placed, returned severely wounded.

When Fang Xuanyang was sent here, he was also terrified, deeply fearing that Chen Mobai and the other four Core Formation cultivators would directly attack and kill him. Fortunately, the reputation of Patriarch Jinfeng of the Xuanxiao Dao Palace was still enough to deter them. However, from this, Fang Xuanyang also guessed something: that Zhou Shengqing must not have successfully formed a Nascent Soul. A major sect with a Nascent Soul cultivator presiding would absolutely not allow any other Nascent Soul force to establish branch sects or sub-palaces within its territory.

Since he had guessed this, Fang Xuanyang naturally had to find a way to verify it. So he founded the Restoration Society and gathered the cultivators from Dongyi whose sects had been destroyed by the Divine Wood Sect. Utilizing their connections in the Eastern Barrens, he began continuously collecting intelligence. Among these efforts, when his Restoration Society's reach extended to Hongguo, he encountered another secret organization. He personally tested them but returned with apprehension. However, this organization also harbored a deep hatred for the Divine Wood Sect and surprisingly had planted many moles of considerable status within the major sects of the Eastern Barrens.

Fang Xuanyang immediately cooperated with this organization and indeed obtained more detailed and specific intelligence about the Divine Wood Sect. Unfortunately, this organization acted carelessly. Their traces were discovered by that killing god from the Divine Wood Sect, who then wielded his sword and attacked Mount Liujia. Another major sect in the Eastern Barrens was annihilated. Regarding this, Fang Xuanyang had mixed feelings of joy and worry. The joy was that after Mount Liujia's destruction, the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators led by Yu Changjian were not all killed; he found them in hiding and brought them under his command. The worry was the terrifying strength displayed by the Divine Wood Sect during the attack on Mount Liujia, which made him dare not command the Restoration Society to take any further action.

If it were possible, Fang Xuanyang wished for things to remain peaceful. But unfortunately, orders from the Xuanxiao Dao Palace forced him to prepare to break ties with the Divine Wood Sect. Fortunately, as a Core Formation cultivator, he had some standing, and his opinion was sought in this letter. Before the decisive battle with Kongsang Valley, the Xuanxiao Dao Palace intended to first clear out the Eastern Barrens, at least eradicating the Divine Wood Sect, their great enemy, to prevent being attacked by the Divine Wood Sect if they had to retreat to the Eastern Barrens after a potential defeat.

The key supporting the Divine Wood Sect now was their young Sect Master, Chen Mobai. As long as he was eliminated, the rest would not be a concern. For this purpose, Fang Xuanyang activated all the moles within the Restoration Society, closely monitoring Chen Mobai's whereabouts. He considered himself no match, so he had to wait for more powerful Core Formation cultivators from the Xuanxiao Dao Palace to arrive.

Unfortunately, this time was too late. Chen Mobai did not stay long in the Eastern Barren Highlands and returned. Regarding this, Fang Xuanyang remained very calm. After all, his Restoration Society had a high-ranking mole in Greatwood Ridge who could always know when Chen Mobai would next visit the Eastern Barren Highlands. Next time, when Sect Master Chen arrived, they would also eliminate his beloved disciple and that Heavenly Spiritual Root incidentally, completely severing any possibility of the Divine Wood Sect's resurgence!