Chapter 673: Reencounter with Xuanshu

Pure Nine Gates: ...............

This year, Chen Mobai celebrated his sixtieth birthday. Before heading to the Eastern Barren Plateau, he made a special trip back to Xianmen because many relatives and friends had sent him congratulatory messages.

Xianmen placed great importance on the sixtieth birthday banquet. Originally, Tang Pancui wanted to hold a grand celebration, but Chen Mobai, being a low-key person, only invited his relatives for a simple family dinner.

After dining with his family, Chen Mobai also had a meal with friends like Yan Bingxuan. Unfortunately, many people's attitudes towards him were overly respectful, which left Chen Mobai feeling a profound sense of loneliness and solitude.

After the dinner, he had a late-night snack with Yan Bingxuan, the only person he could still interact with normally, and expressed his lament about having fewer and fewer close friends. The next morning, after talking on the phone with Qing Nü and other friends who couldn't make it, Chen Mobai returned to Jumuling.

In Zhou Shengqing's Evergreen Wood Dojo, he calmly brewed tea and poured it for Chen Mobai, Mo Douguang, and Fu Zongjue.

"Junior Brother Mo, return to Jinguang Cliff tomorrow. It's best to create some commotion when you go back, so people know."

Mo Douguang was currently openly the top Core Formation cultivator in the Eastern Barren, and as a sword cultivator with formidable combat power, he was the person most feared by the Divine Wood Sect's adversaries. If the Profound Heaven Dao Palace intended to kill Chen Mobai, they would certainly ascertain his whereabouts to avoid encountering Mo Douguang unexpectedly during the attack.

Although surprised by Zhou Shengqing's arrangement, Mo Douguang did not object and nodded in agreement.

"Junior Brother Fu, you should also stay in the sect. Let those people think that Junior Brother Chen is merely on a whim, wanting to inspect the progress of the project on the Eastern Barren Plateau."

Fu Zongjue also nodded. With Zhou Shengqing accompanying them, as long as Ancestor Jinfeng did not personally appear, even if all six Core Formation cultivators from the Profound Heaven Dao Palace, excluding Fang Xuanyang, came to the Eastern Barren, they would be easily defeated.

Zhou Shengqing: "Before we leave, Junior Brother Chen, please have someone deal with Du Feng. He's no longer useful."

Chen Mobai: "Hmm, I've already made the arrangements."

Zhou Shengqing: "This is a Fourth-Tier Spirit Leaf Talisman I refined. Since you're putting yourself in danger, Junior Brother Chen, take it first to prevent the Core Formation cultivators from the Profound Heaven Dao Palace from having any desperate last-ditch moves before they die."

Chen Mobai: "Thank you, Senior Brother."

During their conversation, the four also discussed the possibility that if too many Core Formation cultivators from the Profound Heaven Dao Palace perished in the Eastern Barren, they might be unable to contend with the Empty Mulberry Valley in Dongyi.

"Even if Ancestor Jinfeng personally leads all the cultivators of the Profound Heaven Dao Palace here now, relying on our grand formation and geographical advantage, we are confident we can hold them off. After Senior Brother Zhou achieved Nascent Soul cultivation, we no longer need to fear. Moreover, the Profound Heaven Dao Palace has accumulated a thousand years of foundation in Dongyi. Ancestor Jinfeng won't have the resolve to abandon it unless they are truly at their wits' end, facing the destruction of their sect."

Chen Mobai voiced his opinion, which earned the nodding approval of Zhou Shengqing and the other two.

"This time, the Profound Heaven Dao Palace actively moved against Junior Brother Chen, so we definitely cannot tolerate it any longer. After eliminating Fang Xuanyang and the others, the entire sect will mobilize and prepare for a major war with the Profound Heaven Dao Palace."

"If the Profound Heaven Dao Palace truly comes from Dongyi, the first battlefield will be on the Eastern Barren Plateau. Beiyuan City's Sumeru Nine Palaces Formation is currently only Third-Tier. If it cannot be upgraded to Fourth-Tier, it probably won't be able to withstand a Nascent Soul-level battle."

"For a strategic victory and to ensure that the Eastern Barren interior is not affected by war, we need to control the conflict as much as possible on the plateau, preventing the Profound Heaven Dao Palace army from advancing even one step off the plateau."

In the room, there was also a three-dimensional topographical map representing the entire Eastern Barren territory, which Chen Mobai had commissioned the Spirit Vein Department to create. Zhou Shengqing pointed to the locations of Xiaoguo and Yanguo, explaining their countermeasures if a war broke out.

"Can we launch a preemptive strike and intercept the Profound Heaven Dao Palace army in the desolate ruins?"

Chen Mobai, however, uttered words that made Zhou Shengqing and the other two ponder. Although the desolate ruins were fraught with danger, rumored to even have Fourth-Tier demonic entities, if they could truly shift the battlefield there, it would be more beneficial than detrimental for the Divine Wood Sect and even the entire Eastern Barren.

After all, the Eastern Barren Plateau had been developed for so many years, and it was about to be a time of continuous harvest. If a major war truly broke out here, most of the hard work of Zhuo Ming and others would likely be ruined. Furthermore, if a Nascent Soul-level war truly occurred, Beiyuan City, with only a Third-Tier grand formation, would very likely be razed to the ground.

"After eliminating the Profound Heaven Dao Palace cultivators who come, I will personally go to the desolate ruins to see if there are any dangerous demon beasts or evil entities."

Zhou Shengqing spoke. He was now at the Nascent Soul realm and primarily cultivated the highly defensive Evergreen Immortal Scripture, so even if he encountered a Fourth-Tier demonic entity, he could find a way to escape.

After the group finalized their plans, they dispersed.

The next day, Mo Douguang directly left Jumuling via a teleportation array in front of many Divine Wood Sect disciples. This news was naturally learned by Du Feng immediately. He promptly used a communication talisman to transmit it to the Restoration Society's hidden agents stationed outside Jumuling.

"Many thanks for your guidance, Sect Master!"

In the Divine Wood Hall, Zheng Deming respectfully bowed to Chen Mobai.

"There's a traitor in the sect who has leaked much important information. Are you willing to help me eliminate him?" Chen Mobai asked after finishing imparting his Core Formation insights.

"Sect Master, please give your command!" Zheng Deming had guarded Yunmengze for nearly a century and could be said to be the most prolific killer among the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Divine Wood Sect; he showed no hesitation.

"Wenbai is waiting for you at the entrance. He will tell you who the traitor is." Chen Mobai nodded and waved his hand. Zheng Deming immediately rose and left the Divine Wood Hall.

At the entrance of the main hall, Zheng Deming noticed that besides the Sect Master's eldest disciple, there was also a slightly plump Qi Condensation cultivator. Although he didn't recognize him, given his presence here, he must also be an important figure. After greeting Liu Wenbai, he nodded slightly to the other person.

"This is my disciple, Song Huangda. He has some confusion in his cultivation, so I asked him to come and seek guidance from Master."

Liu Wenbai introduced him. Hearing he was a third-generation disciple of Xiaonanshan, Zheng Deming showed a look of realization. After bowing to Zheng Deming, Song Huangda, holding the communication talisman he had just finished writing and folded, entered the Divine Wood Hall.

"Senior Brother Zheng, please follow me. The traitor is an elder from the Merit Impartation Department. Today, he received a mission to procure a batch of fine jade for making jade slips outside the sect and has already arrived at Yuhu Market by teleportation array."

Liu Wenbai enthusiastically greeted Zheng Deming, who nodded, thinking that this was a great opportunity to align himself with the Sect Master's lineage, and he must carry out this task flawlessly.

Du Feng frowned slightly. The Yuhu Market, known for its fine jade, surprisingly could not procure the jade that met the sect's requirements. This made him, who had originally expected to complete the mission on the same day, somewhat displeased. However, this Yuhu Market was managed by Ancestor Fu's family, so even if he had a temper, he dared not show it.

"Elder Du, the latest batch of fine jade ore unearthed is still at the mine and hasn't been transported yet. Why don't you wait a few more days? I'll immediately send people to dispatch spirit beasts to carry them back." The shopkeeper of the Fu family said apologetically to Du Feng. There was no teleportation array at the mine, so jade ore could only be transported by spirit beasts.

"No need. I'll go myself." A Foundation Establishment cultivator's storage bag had sufficient capacity. If Du Feng was willing to fly there, he might even be able to return before dark.

"Elder Du, thank you for your trouble. This is the contract; just show it to the person in charge at the mine, and he'll give you the goods." The Fu family shopkeeper immediately respectfully handed a spirit-sealed paper to Du Feng with both hands. The latter casually took it, placed it in his sleeve, and then left the shop.

After leaving the market with an unperturbed expression, Du Feng cast an escape light and flew into the air.

An hour later, he landed on a desolate mountain halfway, where there was no spiritual energy. On the mountaintop stood a tall scholar tree, its trunk dotted with holes of varying sizes. Legend had it that these were the abodes of lonely ghosts, which was why the scholar tree was also known as the Ghost Tree.

On one of its branches stood a crow-shaped puppet. Du Feng removed the depleted spirit stone from the puppet and replaced it with a new one. He kept this puppet here for only one purpose: to activate the communication talisman when Song Huangda sent a message. Similar arrangements were in six locations near Jumuling; among these, four were puppets, and two were cultivators from the Restoration Society.

Du Feng took out a yellow paper from one of the holes in the scholar tree. On it was the message Song Huangda had transmitted using the communication talisman, which contained information Du Feng considered very important: Zheng Deming had achieved Foundation Establishment perfection by consuming a Third-Tier Immortal Peach Fruit, and the Sect Master had summoned him back to impart Core Formation insights.

After reading it, Du Feng's expression subtly changed. The Divine Wood Sect had gained another potential Core Formation seed, which made him, as an undercover agent, very uncomfortable. This matter also needed to be immediately reported to the Restoration Society to see if there was an opportunity to eliminate Zheng Deming in Yunmengze.

Just as Du Feng was about to leave using his escape light, an earth-yellow flying sword shot across the sky, forcing him to stop.

"Who dares to attack me, an elder of the Divine Wood Sect!" Du Feng took out a Black Tortoise Shield from his storage bag, blocked the flying sword, and angrily shouted at the two streaks of escape light flying towards him from the horizon.

But when the escape lights reached him, Du Feng's face instantly turned ashen.

"Senior Brother Du, by Master's command, I am here to take your life!" Liu Wenbai calmly spoke to Du Feng, while Zheng Deming said nothing, activating his flying sword again, unleashing a weighty sword light even more terrifying than before.

"Has this day finally arrived...?" When Du Feng saw Liu Wenbai, the Sect Master's eldest disciple, he knew that any explanation would be useless. He had anticipated this day long ago, but he had always held onto a sliver of hope, which was why he hadn't left even after the fall of Liujia Mountain.

His survival instinct made Du Feng pull out all his trump cards from his storage bag, clumsily parrying Zheng Deming's flying sword. Soon after, he was knocked out of mid-air and fell onto the mountaintop. Du Feng struggled to get up and saw the crow puppet on the tree branch. He suddenly thought of Song Huangda, who had risked his life to send him a message, and felt that even if he died, he should leave a spark for the anti-Divine Wood Sect Restoration Society.

Du Feng took out a Third-Tier spirit talisman, his last resort, and activated it towards Zheng Deming and Liu Wenbai in mid-air. Then, as the two dodged, he used the crow puppet to activate the communication talisman, sending Song Huangda a final message: "I've been exposed; be careful!"

After sending this message, Du Feng shattered the puppet with a palm strike, then kicked the scholar tree, breaking it. He then wielded his flying sword and shield, cast a blood escape technique, and fled in a random direction. Unfortunately, his strength was too far below Zheng Deming's. After fleeing for ten li, he was caught. The flying sword swept across, and Du Feng, whose vital energy was exhausted, could no longer resist; his head was separated from his body.

At the same time, two Qi Condensation cultivators from the Restoration Society hidden near Jumuling were also killed by Yue Zutao and his team.

"Sect Master, I have not failed your trust!" In the Divine Wood Hall, Zheng Deming, holding Du Feng's head and storage bag, spoke to Chen Mobai.

"You've worked hard. This mission is worth three thousand contribution points. I'll have Yue Zutao add them to your record." After Chen Mobai finished speaking, he pointed a finger, took Du Feng's storage bag, easily erased the spiritual imprint within, and handed it to Song Huangda, who was by his side. "You've contributed significantly to this matter. I grant this to you; its contents will be useful to you."

Song Huangda immediately took it with both hands and thanked him. Then, he hesitated for a moment before handing the communication talisman message he had just received to Chen Mobai. After reading it, Chen Mobai couldn't help but smile faintly. "This is also good. At least you haven't been exposed. Perhaps you can still make use of this identity in the future."

On the other side, Chen Mobai's true body and Zhou Shengqing had already arrived at Yanguo via a teleportation array. The one currently staying at the Divine Wood Sect to oversee matters was Chen Mobai's Faceless Puppet.

It was still the same desolate Changzhuan Mountain Market. Not long after the two stepped out of the teleportation array, they found two Core Formation cultivators in golden robes already waiting. The one on the left was Xuan Shu, whom Chen Mobai was very familiar with.

"Eh, why are there only two of you? Where's Fang Xuanyang?" Chen Mobai saw that the person next to Xuan Shu was an old man and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Oh, so you know we're here to kill you?" Seeing his composed demeanor, Xuan Shu looked at Zhou Shengqing, who was walking out with Chen Mobai and wearing a wooden mask, with some surprise. "Is he your reliance? He must be Mo Douguang!"

Xuan Shu spoke calmly. He had already reached Core Formation perfection and was invincible below the Nascent Soul stage, confident that even if Mo Douguang and Chen Mobai teamed up, they would not be his match.

"You still haven't answered my question." Chen Mobai wanted to test the power of his newly mastered Extreme Yang Slash, so he didn't let Zhou Shengqing act directly. However, the absence of Fang Xuanyang, the Profound Heaven Dao Palace's Core Formation cultivator who had operated in the Eastern Barren for over a decade, surprised him.

"Junior Brother Xuanyang is kind-hearted and doesn't wish for Sect Master Chen to be alone on the Yellow Springs Road, so he specifically went to kill Sect Master Chen's beloved disciple, to send her on her way first."