Chapter 691: Military Elephant Classic, Water Veins and Fire Veins Submit

"Grandmaster," Han Zhiling said, thinking for a moment as she faced Chen Mobai's question, "I want to join the Alchemy Department."

"To inherit your father's legacy? Excellent. The Xiaonanshan lineage happens to be lacking an outstanding alchemist," Chen Mobai replied, his face filled with approval.

The Divine Wood Sect's only current weakness was the lack of a Tier 4 alchemist.

Zeng Woyou had reached his full potential and would not advance further in this life. Yan Jinye had also been trained for a long time, but Chen Mobai's observation suggested she would likely stop at the Foundation Establishment stage. Now that the Divine Wood Sect had obtained the Xuanqi Elixir Scripture, possessing the inheritance of Tier 4 alchemy, it was time to focus on nurturing a new talent.

Han Zhiling, with her excellent fire spirit root, was also his grand-disciple. If she could be trained, there would be no need to rely on outsiders to refine elixirs like the Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill in the future.

Soon, Zeng Woyou, having received Gu Yan's summons, arrived at Xiaonanshan.

Over the years, Yan Jinye had successfully refined orthodox Foundation Establishment Pills multiple times. As Zeng Woyou grew older, the head of the Alchemy Department decided to entrust his disciple with overseeing the refinement of the Foundation Establishment Pills needed for the upcoming sect competition.

Zeng Woyou intended to strive in cultivation during the last years of his life, hoping to experience the scenery of Core Formation.

He had expressed this intention to Manager Yue Zutao multiple times and had thought Chen Mobai summoned him for this reason.

When he learned that Han Zhiling wanted to join the Alchemy Department and that he, as its head, was to guide her, Zeng Woyou naturally nodded immediately: "Sect Master, having obtained the Longevity Sect's Elixir Scripture, your alchemy skills are the best in the sect. It is truly gratifying that Junior Sister Han will inherit your legacy."

Although Chen Mobai had never personally demonstrated his alchemy level within the sect, Zeng Woyou knew that even ten of himself combined could not compare to Chen Mobai in alchemy. Therefore, his words came from the bottom of his heart.

After settling Han Zhiling's arrangements, Chen Mobai dealt with the accumulated miscellaneous affairs within the sect, then departed for Beiyuan City to oversee the overall situation.

Jiang Zongheng happened to be in Yanguo as well. Upon hearing of Chen Mobai's arrival, he immediately reported on the progress of the mundane unification effort he was responsible for.

After the death of King Han, the First Prince and Second Prince vied for the throne. The previously recovered territories of Yunguo, Yuguo, and Leiguo also erupted in rebellions, and the vast Jianguo fragmented in an instant.

King Zhao of Yanguo, having escaped the disaster of national destruction, immediately displayed the demeanor of a true leader!

He took advantage of the Second Prince's retreat with King Han's body to reclaim his nation's occupied territories.

Afterward, King Zhao initially planned to retake Xiaoguo and Hongguo, but Duan Shuyu advised him to concentrate forces on seizing Leiguo.

This was because Leiguo controlled the pass between the plateau and the plains. It was due to this strategic advantage that Duan Shuyu had been able to defend impregnably against an army several times his own. If not for his base being infiltrated later, the Jianguo army might still be blocked outside Leiguo's city walls.

As long as Leiguo was captured and the pass secured, they could then slowly recover their strength and observe Jianguo's internal strife.

The territories of Xiaoguo and Hongguo would eventually fall into Yanguo's hands.

King Zhao accepted the advice and appointed Duan Shuyu as the Grand General.

During the time Chen Mobai was in seclusion refining the Tier 4 Immortal Peach Fruit, Yanguo had already taken control of the entire Eastern Barren Plateau, recuperated its strength, and was preparing its troops for the war of unification. "The mark of a true ruler!" Chen Mobai commented after listening, and then inquired about Duan Shuyu.

"Master, I was just about to tell you this. Not long ago, King Zhao sent someone to invite me out of seclusion, and the leader of that group was none other than Duan Shuyu. I discovered he possesses an Innate Spirit Body."

Upon hearing Jiang Zongheng's words, Chen Mobai immediately grew interested.

He had been in the Eastern Barrens for nearly fifty years and had never encountered anyone with an Innate Spirit Body.

"What attribute has been confirmed?" "Metal!"

The Longevity Academy was located just outside Beiyuan City, fully equipped with spiritual artifacts for testing various spiritual roots and bodies. Upon noticing Duan Shuyu's radiant spiritual light and fierce aura, Jiang Zongheng immediately took him to verify his suspicion.

As expected, it was discovered that Duan Shuyu possessed an Innate Metal Spirit Body.

"Zongheng, what do you think of this person?"

Chen Mobai asked. Knowing his master's character, Jiang Zongheng didn't hesitate and spoke his mind directly.

"This disciple wishes to take him as a student."

Given the current human trends, it was foreseeable that the young and vigorous King Zhao would become a human ruler.

Although Jiang Zongheng was highly learned, his main energy in the future would certainly be focused on the war of cultivators. The mortal army still needed a trustworthy confidant.

Duan Shuyu was the undisputed foremost general who had emerged from the great wars of recent years in the Eastern Barrens.

Although he was not young, due to his Innate Spirit Body, as long as he survived this mortal tribulation of slaughter, he should have no problem reaching Foundation Establishment with the support of the Xiaonanshan lineage. Furthermore, if Duan Shuyu was cultivated, the Divine Wood Sect would not have to worry about leadership issues when confronting other major sects in the future.

"You can take him as a registered disciple first, just like Wenbai."

"This is the Qi Cultivation chapter of the White Emperor's Military Strategy Scripture. Take it and teach it to Duan Shuyu."

"If he can master it and reach Foundation Establishment, then in the future, within the Xiaonanshan lineage, he might be the one in charge of offense and slaughter."

Chen Mobai's appreciation for talent was well-known. During these years of mortal unification, the name he heard most frequently was Duan Shuyu's, leaving a deeper impression than even those kings who displayed the makings of a true ruler.

Now, hearing that he possessed an Innate Metal Spirit Body, Chen Mobai immediately recalled the Metal Element Immortal Scripture of the Longevity Sect, which had been at the bottom of his storage bag.

Originally, before the Heavenly Venerate achieved enlightenment, he was merely a spiritual plant.

What left the deepest impression, and also what he feared most, was autumn every year.

Autumn, the season of executioners, represents yin; it is also the symbol of military might, corresponding to the metal element, embodying the righteous Qi of heaven and earth, always with a heart for sternness and severity.

This White Emperor's Military Strategy Scripture was created by the Heavenly Venerate to overcome his weaknesses, condensing an aura of stern destruction from heaven and earth to temper himself.

It is said that the Heavenly Venerate was able to detach from his spiritual plant body and manifest an avatar to travel because he used the perfected aura of stern destruction of heaven and earth to sever a branch from his own body.

Jiang Zongheng respectfully accepted the White Emperor's Military Strategy Scripture and departed.

With Chen Mobai's approval, another disciple was added to the third generation of the Xiaonanshan lineage.

Year 6527 of the Yuan Era!

The civil unrest in Jianguo ended. The Second Prince's coup led his forces into the royal capital, where he killed the First Prince.

Just as the Second Prince was preparing for his enthronement, Yanguo's recuperated army marched out of Leiguo. Under Duan Shuyu's command, they captured twenty-seven cities in just three months, advancing directly into Jianguo's territory.

Facing both internal and external threats, the courageous Second Prince had no choice but to initiate a purge, killing all those who defied him and forcibly suppressing all dissenting voices within. He then led Jianguo's remaining army to a decisive final battle against Duan Shuyu in the wilderness.

With a single battle, the fate of the realm was sealed; Jianguo suffered a crushing defeat.

The Second Prince was forcibly taken back to the royal capital by his subordinates, but that very night, in front of King Han's still unburied coffin, he drew his sword and committed suicide.

Seven days later, Jianguo opened its gates and surrendered!

Year 6528 of the Yuan Era!

King Zhao dispatched Duan Shuyu to suppress the rebels in Yunguo and Yuguo. After half a year, these two countries' territories were officially incorporated into Yanguo's dominion.

Thus, the seven nations under the Divine Wood Sect were unified!

Afterward, King Zhao personally came outside Beiyuan Immortal City, respectfully inviting the immortal master to descend from the mountain!

One month later, Jiang Zongheng assumed the position of Grand Tutor.

During his tenure, the Grand Tutor prioritized agriculture and sericulture, rewarded military merits, standardized weights and measures, established a county system, and governed the nation by law. Soon, he enabled Yanguo to solidify its rule and establish a vast empire unprecedented in the Eastern Barrens.

Year 6530 of the Yuan Era!

After a period of recuperation, Yanguo sent troops to Wuguo and the Yan Kingdom.

This was because, during the initial period of war and chaos, the rulers of these two nations seized the opportunity to invade and occupy a considerable amount of Yuguo's fertile land. Despite repeated urgings from Yanguo, they had failed to return it.

Duan Shuyu, acting on the Grand Tutor's orders, led his army on an expedition. Within a month, he defeated the combined forces of the two nations and even advanced into the territories of Wuguo and the Yan Kingdom.

In this critical moment, the rulers of the two nations could only seek aid from the Five Elements Sect.

What followed was a planned war between cultivators.

First, the Qi Cultivation disciples of the Water and Fire Veins were defeated by cultivators from Yuguo, invited by Grand Tutor Jiang. Then, Foundation Establishment cultivators were dispatched, which ultimately drew out the two most powerful figures:

Nu Jiang and Sheng Zhaoxi.

Facing Core Formation cultivators, the orthodox cultivators on Yanguo's side suffered repeated defeats.

Grand Tutor Jiang had no choice but to go to the Divine Wood Immortal Sect and request his master, Immortal Venerable Chen, the leader of the orthodox path in the Eastern Barrens, to intervene!

At this time, Chen Mobai had just finished refining the remaining four immortal peaches, and his cultivation was nearing the complete stage of Golden Core Sixth Level.

It's worth noting that Nu Jiang and Sheng Zhaoxi had only reached this level after two hundred years of arduous cultivation.

Notably, these four Tier 4 immortal peaches increased Chen Mobai's Wood, Water, and Earth spirit roots by 8 points each, exactly double the increase from the Tier 3 immortal peaches.

He didn't pay much attention to the Wood and Water spirit roots, but his Earth spirit root was thereby boosted to 60 points.

Of course, he also remembered to visit the Divine Tree Secret Realm to obtain four new grand techniques.

Historical records state that to spare the common people and avert the calamities of war, Immortal Venerable Chen, accompanied by the three Core Formation cultivators Luo, Meng, and Luo, left the immortal city and descended to the plateau!

He also invited True Monarch Mo, the Sword Dao Master of Golden Light Cliff, to assist. The five great Core Formation cultivators combined forces to break the Water-Fire Grand Formation.

True Monarchs Nu and Sheng were defeated and captured while covering their disciples' retreat, but they remained unyielding.

Immortal Venerable Chen ordered their release and challenged them to a duel above the Cloud Dream Marsh. Wielding his sword alone, he defeated both of them once more.

Ultimately, the two Core Formation cultivators of the Five Elements Sect's Water and Fire Veins were convinced. They changed allegiance, recognizing the Wood Vein as the main lineage of the Five Elements.

Without the support of the Five Elements Sect, the six nations—Wu, Yan, Ji, Hao, Chun, and Qing—though they organized a joint army to resist, crumbled at the first touch against Duan Shuyu's forces. Six nations fell in a single battle.

By then, of the original nineteen nations in the Eastern Barrens, the Divine Wood Sect now controlled the territories of thirteen.

Upon hearing the news of the Five Elements Sect's great defeat, the cultivators of Huitian Valley and Blowing Snow Palace all felt their own positions precarious.

They deeply feared that the Divine Wood Sect's next target would be their own sects.

"That Zhou Ye is truly useless. The Primal Chaos Grand Ancestor left behind such a rich legacy, yet he squandered it all, leaving only Mingguo."

In Huitian Valley, Yan Shaoyin sighed with worry, lamenting that the Primal Chaos Grand Ancestor, with his lifetime of esteemed reputation, had such poor judgment in choosing a successor.

"Master," He Jintong reported, his news making Yan Shaoyin frown, "after Duan Shuyu conquered the six nations, besides besieging Mingguo with his main forces, he also dispatched an army to train across the border from our sect's Huaguo." However, he didn't believe the Divine Wood Sect would dare to attack Huaguo.

Because although this place nominally belonged to their Huitian Valley, it was actually used by the Stargaze Dao Sect to cultivate coiled dragon spiritual rice.

Even when the Primal Chaos Grand Ancestor was alive, he had to show Huitian Valley respect because of this.

"Inform the people of the Stargaze Grand Chamber of Commerce about this, and have them question the Divine Wood Sect."

He Jintong immediately obeyed and left.

When left alone, Yan Shaoyin sighed, looking as if he had aged considerably.

After Nu Jiang and Sheng Zhaoxi surrendered, the number of Core Formation cultivators in the Divine Wood Sect even surpassed that of the Five Elements Sect at its peak.

However, in their Huitian Valley, despite being supported by him, an alchemy grandmaster, there was still no sign of a second Core Formation cultivator emerging to this day.

"If I wish to preserve Huitian Valley's legacy, it seems I must be the one to take that step!"

At this thought, Yan Shaoyin's expression became resolute.

This was the only solution he could conceive to break the stalemate. Furthermore, if successful, he could even swallow the Divine Wood Sect in turn, creating a superpower that surpassed the three major sects of Dongyi.

He was not the only one with such thoughts.

In the underground forbidden zone, Kong Lingling endured the agonizing pain of her ruptured abdomen, her eyes burning as she watched the monster crawling out from the wound beneath her ribs.

The infant was sickly yellowish-green all over, with transparent wings on its back, eyes protruding like crimson beads, and teeth growing horizontally, extending beyond its lips.

Neither human nor ghost!

Kong Lingling felt a surge of revulsion upon seeing the monster's appearance.

But upon sensing the powerful Earth and Fire spiritual Qi contained within its body, she immediately suppressed her aversion and gently called out.

"Child, come here. I am your mother..."

The monster looked up at Kong Lingling and instinctively crawled towards her, guided by the connection of their bloodline.

Beiyuan City!

Chen Mobai was currently meeting with representatives from the Stargaze Grand Chamber of Commerce.

"Sect Master Chen," Lou Xuelong began, "our sect spent thousands of years of painstaking effort and hard work to cultivate ten thousand mu of coiled dragon spiritual rice in Huaguo. Several Grand Elders frequently inquire about its progress..."

Lou Xuelong was not particularly interested in the Five Elements Sect's internal conflict.

He also didn't believe the Divine Wood Sect would dare to invade Huaguo. However, since Huitian Valley had come to complain, and as the current person in charge of the Eastern Barrens, he seized the opportunity while bringing people to inspect the burgeoning Sun-Drenched Purple Rice in Hongguo, to also emphasize the Stargaze Dao Sect's importance of the coiled dragon spiritual rice.

"This is a misunderstanding. Apart from reclaiming the Five Elements Sect, our sect will absolutely not actively attack other fellow cultivators in the Eastern Barrens," Chen Mobai stated, naturally denying any confrontation with the Stargaze Dao Sect. At the very least, he would wait until after he had formed his Nascent Soul.

Currently, his main goal was to create some momentum, pressure Yan Shaoyin, and accelerate things further.

"That's good. Both the Divine Wood Sect and Huitian Valley are excellent partners of our chamber of commerce, and I certainly don't wish to see conflict erupt between you."

After receiving the assurance, Lou Xuelong dropped the matter.

After they had tea for a while, Zhuo Ming arrived via a teleportation array.

Chen Mobai said, "Ming'er, True Monarch Lou has specifically come to check on the Sun-Drenched Purple Rice's heading. I have other important matters to attend to, so please take him to Hongguo to see it."

"Yes, Master!" Zhuo Ming replied.

Lou Xuelong had not come alone this time; he had brought a team of Stargaze Dao Sect spiritual plant cultivators. They would comprehensively evaluate the cultivation status of the Sun-Drenched Purple Rice.

After this group departed, Jiang Zongheng, who had been waiting for some time, entered.