Chapter 694: Mystic Heavy Water, Entering the Immortal City for Negotiation

In fact, Chen Mobai named it "Blackwater" because he recalled a phrase he once saw in the Immortal Sect: "Blackwater surges, [phrase missing]!" He felt it was very imposing and hoped that this Blackwater River in Hong Country would one day sweep away the boundless sand sea.

Luo Yixuan was currently still cultivating the Blackwater Art because, upon reaching the Core Formation stage with this cultivation method, one could choose to condense all spiritual power into Profound Heavy Water. A single drop of this Profound Heavy Water weighed a thousand Jun. One Jun is thirty catties, meaning a thousand Jun is thirty thousand catties, or 15 tons by the Immortal Sect's measure. Ordinary magic artifacts encountering Profound Heavy Water were typically shattered. Talismans, defensive spells, and the like were even less effective, crumbling instantly upon contact with someone of the same cultivation level. It was precisely because of her aspiration for Profound Heavy Water that Luo Yixuan chose this water-element cultivation method as a child. Therefore, even after Chen Mobai imparted to her the Ocean Control Profound Art, which he obtained from Xuan Shu, she still intended to first master the Profound Heavy Water technique of the Blackwater Art before transitioning to a different cultivation method.

This was primarily due to her strong foundation. Although Luo Yixuan's Core Formation realm was achieved through an unconventional path, unlike Meng Hong and Luo Xue'er, she was considered to have truly formed a core. She possessed a lifespan of eight Jiazi cycles (480 years), an external incarnation with Core Formation strength, and a Fourth-Tier magic artifact, so she wasn't as urgent about advancing her cultivation level.

"Master, ever since I completed the excavation of the White River, I've had a faint feeling that I'm about to break through to the fourteenth layer of the Blackwater Art. I have some questions I'd like to ask..."

Chen Mobai was slightly surprised upon hearing this. The fourteenth layer of the Blackwater Art signified Foundation Establishment perfection. While Luo Yixuan's Core Formation realm allowed for more efficient downward compatibility, her speed was already exceeding his expectations. After all, only nineteen years had passed since she condensed her Ghost Core. At that time, she had just overcome the problems with Underworld spiritual energy, and her Blackwater Art was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage. According to Chen Mobai's estimation, while Luo Yixuan had no bottlenecks in raising her spiritual power, her spiritual sense could only be improved through diligent cultivation on her part. At this point, she should have only just broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage.

"Have you noticed anything unusual in your recent cultivation?"

Chen Mobai's heart stirred; he likely understood the reason, which was also why he had instructed Luo Yixuan to begin excavating the Blackwater River.

In response to her Master's concerned inquiry, Luo Yixuan thought carefully but couldn't pinpoint anything unusual, so she shook her head. Chen Mobai immediately told her to release Granny Ming, as there might be things Luo Yixuan, with her lower cultivation, couldn't perceive, but Granny Ming might have noticed.

"Reporting, Holy Son, ever since Miss Luo arrived on this Eastern Desolate Plateau, her cultivation speed has increased day by day."

Granny Ming, residing within Luo Yixuan's shadow, had no freedom normally, only observing Luo Yixuan's cultivation and the people and events around her. Thus, she had indeed noticed something. It was indeed due to the excavation of the White River! Chen Mobai nodded slightly after hearing this, confirming his suspicion.

While the merit gained from excavating the great rivers on the Eastern Desolate Plateau was certainly not as immense as that from sand control, it was still significant merit. As the chief engineer for these two great rivers, he held half the credit, and Luo Yixuan, being the cultivator who contributed the most to the actual execution, was second only to him. This subtle influence gradually led to a rapid increase in Luo Yixuan's cultivation speed. However, because too many cultivators contributed, the shared merit was not enough to directly enlighten any single cultivator. Furthermore, besides excavating the two great rivers, there were also associated humanitarian projects like reclaiming spiritual fields, which further diluted the merit. Nevertheless, the bulk of the merit still undoubtedly went to him and his disciples.

"Once you complete the excavation of the Blackwater River, you should be ready for true Core Formation!" Chen Mobai spoke to her with confidence after answering the questions Luo Yixuan encountered during her cultivation of the Blackwater Art.

"Yes, Master, your disciple will certainly not disappoint you!" Hearing Chen Mobai's words, Luo Yixuan felt praised, and her face and eyes brimmed with joy.

After she led the Divine Wood Sect army to annihilate the Southern Profound Sect, Luo Sancai, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Luo family, traveled thousands of miles personally to forge connections with her. Despite being several generations her senior, he addressed her as "Ancestor" and wished for her to visit the Luo family more often when she had time. Accompanying Luo Sancai was her elder brother, Luo Yixiu. However, the former prodigy, once cherished by the Luo family, was now completely aged. After two failed attempts at Foundation Establishment, he had been relegated to the role of a steward within the Divine Wood Sect, helping the Luo family's junior talents manage their sect relationships. If not for his own Ninth-Layer Qi Condensation cultivation, he would likely have been sent back to have children long ago. Luo Sancai had assumed that since Luo Yixiu and Luo Yixuan entered the sect at the same time and were siblings, their relationship would be very good, so he specifically brought Luo Yixiu along to try and curry favor.

Luo Yixuan saw Luo Yixiu, cautious and afraid to utter a wrong word in front of her, and recalled how she herself had been similarly timid before her brother before becoming her Master's disciple. With their roles reversed, Luo Yixuan initially felt a wave of exhilarating satisfaction. But as the feeling lingered, she saw the family's Foundation Establishment cultivators, whom she had worshipped as gods in her childhood, now behaving nervously in her presence, and suddenly felt a sense of dullness and disinterest. When she stood at the pinnacle of the Eastern Desolate region, she realized that the various grievances deeply ingrained in her childhood memories were, in fact, insignificant. At that moment, Luo Yixuan's state of mind had sublimated! Subsequently, the Luo family, which had once occupied a corner of her heart, began to fade, and Little South Mountain gradually consumed her entire being. Luo Yixuan's mother had passed away the year before last. Since then, only Little South Mountain remained in her heart. That was why a single word of praise from Chen Mobai made her so happy, because that was all she cared about now.

Chen Mobai, realizing he had nothing pressing to do, decided to take Luo Yixuan and tour the planned route of the Blackwater River. In Hong Country, yellow sand filled the sky! However, thousands of years ago, this place was lush with green mountains and clear waters. For sand control, the Blackwater River would need to flow through most of Hong Country's territory, and its routes would need to be integrated with the local spirit veins. Because the land here was flat and received ample sunlight, if developed into spiritual fields, it would form vast expanses. During planting, tending, and harvesting, large puppets could be used, allowing a single cultivator to oversee hundreds or even thousands of mu. According to Chen Mobai's estimation, if sand control were completed and the entire Hong Country developed, the area of spiritual fields alone would be equivalent to the combined thirty million mu of Xiao Country and Yan Country.

However, Chen Mobai intended to make this area the granary of the entire Eastern Desolate, allowing for greater cultivation unrestricted by spirit veins. He planned to first plant ordinary rice containing only trace amounts of spiritual energy, providing it to the mortals of the entire Eastern Desolate through the unified Zhao Dynasty. Over ten, twenty, thirty years... after generations of bodies were improved by abundant spirit rice, more and more children born with spiritual roots would appear, gradually approaching the small immortal sect Chen Mobai envisioned.

Chen Mobai toured over half of Hong Country with Luo Yixuan. Along the border, thanks to the efforts of Yan Yuanhao, Zhuo Ming, and others, a complete sand control forest belt had already been established. The boundless sand sea, which had continuously encroached day and night, was now held back beyond Hong Country's borders. With no external threats remaining, the next task was to improve Hong Country's internal desertified environment, which had been eroding for thousands of years. To achieve this, water was indispensable. It was precisely for this reason that the Blackwater River was crucial. If Luo Yixuan could complete the excavation of this Blackwater River, her future merit, even if not surpassing Zhuo Ming's, would not be far behind.

While the master and disciple were touring Hong Country, Jiang Zongheng also returned to Ming Country with the Formless Puppet. Zhou Ye soon received Chen Mobai's handwritten reply. Three days later, Chen Mobai easily entered the Primal Chaos Immortal City through the teleportation array that Feng Zicheng had betrayed to Jiang Zongheng. As he stepped out of the teleportation array, a middle-aged man with a square face and serious eyes was waiting. This man was none other than Chunyu Su, the sect master of the Five Elements Sect. His stratagems, cultivation, and mental fortitude were all superior, and before Chen Mobai, he was regarded as the most likely cultivator in the Eastern Desolate to achieve Core Formation.

"Sect Master Chen, this way please!"

Upon seeing Chen Mobai, Chunyu Su's expression was complex, and his brows were tightly furrowed, but he ultimately led the latter to Zhou Ye. In the same courtyard built around a lake, the elegant and handsome Zhou Ye sat in a pavilion, accompanied by his beautiful maid, Luzhu. As Chen Mobai entered, a hint of surprise flashed in both their eyes. After all, Zhou Ye had refined the Primal Chaos Five Elements Annihilation Divine Thunder, and for Chen Mobai to dare come meant entrusting his life to him. But soon, Zhou Ye realized something. He then used his Primal Chaos Dao Fruit to investigate and indeed found that Chen Mobai was merely a puppet. Zhou Ye raised his hand, signaling Chunyu Su to leave. Chunyu Su opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately bowed his head and withdrew.

"Sect Master Chen, meeting with a puppet lacks sincerity."

Hearing Zhou Ye's words, Chen Mobai smiled faintly, seated himself opposite him without ceremony, and retorted: "If True Man Zhou were in my position, would you be willing to come in person to negotiate?"

"Certainly not!"

Upon this remark, the two exchanged glances and burst into laughter, while Luzhu, on the side, was somewhat bewildered. Shouldn't they be mortal enemies, locked in a tense standoff? Even if they didn't fight, they should at least engage in a war of words, hurling insults at each other. How did it feel as though two old friends were catching up?

"Luzhu, a guest has arrived. Why haven't you served tea yet?" Zhou Ye spoke, but Chen Mobai shook his head, indicating that as a puppet, he could not partake.

"Let's get straight to the point. After taking your Five Elements Sect, I still need to send Zongheng to attack the mortal nations of Returning Heaven Valley and Blowing Snow Palace to unify the Eastern Desolate." Chen Mobai's words startled Zhou Ye. Although he had been pondering the Divine Wood Sect's movements and had suspected this, he was still greatly surprised to have it confirmed.

"Why did someone of your caliber fall into my Second Senior Brother's Wood Meridian? How incredibly favored is my Second Senior Brother by Heaven!" Zhou Ye's remark made Chen Mobai feel somewhat smug, as it was praise from an enemy.

"Let me state my demands first. The Primal Chaos Dao Fruit is the bottom line." Since Zhou Ye showed no inclination to speak first, Chen Mobai, holding a significant advantage, no longer held back. After all, his army halted in Ming Country meant an extra day's consumption for each day they stayed. The "Primal Chaos Dao Fruit" was crucial for his Nascent Soul formation, and he had to obtain it no matter what! As long as Zhou Ye was willing to hand it over, Chen Mobai believed everything else could be negotiated.

"Very well. All five meridians of the Five Elements are direct legacies of our Master. If I transmit the Primal Chaos Dao Fruit to you, it would not violate the Dao Heart Vow I made then."

Zhou Ye's words made Chen Mobai frown. So agreeable?! "What are True Man Zhou's conditions?"

Zhou Ye smiled faintly and said something that almost made Chen Mobai leap up: "Help me destroy the Sun family of Eastern Wu. Not only will I give you the Primal Chaos Dao Fruit, but I will also leave Primal Chaos Immortal City and swear never to set foot here again in this life."

"I'm afraid I cannot comply!" Chen Mobai refused quite decisively. Although the Primal Chaos Dao Fruit was important, he would not initiate a cross-domain war for this matter. Furthermore, the Sun family of Eastern Wu guarded half the territory of Cloud Dream Lake. Before Chen Mobai had absolute certainty he could slay that venomous dragon, he would certainly not engage in infighting with his allies.

"Apart from that, I have no other demands." Zhou Ye's smile faded upon hearing Chen Mobai's refusal, and his tone became calm. Seeing that Zhou Ye made no gesture to dismiss him, Chen Mobai knew he was probing his bottom line. So, he spoke again: "Vengeance tastes best when exacted personally. True Man Zhou, why don't you form your Nascent Soul first, and then go destroy the Sun family of Eastern Wu?"

Zhou Ye: "What do you mean by that?"

Chen Mobai: "True Man Zhou, do you believe this Primal Chaos Immortal City can stop my sect's army?"

Zhou Ye: "No, but to breach this immortal city, my Second Senior Brother will surely come. Are you perhaps trying to make me drag him down with me, so you can solely dominate the Wood Meridian?"

Chen Mobai: "True Man Zhou, you're judging a gentleman by a villain's standards. I merely want to ask, if this Primal Chaos Immortal City were still left for your cultivation, and you remained the Grand Elder of the Five Elements' Earth Meridian, would you be willing?"

Zhou Ye: "What do you mean?"

Chen Mobai: "Aren't Senior Brother Nujiang and Senior Sister Sheng Zhaoxi examples? As long as True Man Zhou is willing to surrender to my Wood Meridian and acknowledge that our Wood Meridian is the legitimate lineage, not only can we avert war, but you can also keep everything. From now on, our five meridians of the Five Elements will still be like brothers, sharing the same origin. This Primal Chaos Immortal City and its Fourth-Tier high-grade spirit vein will still belong to you for cultivation. You can even utilize the resources of our five meridians to cultivate the Primal Chaos Dao Fruit, and perhaps even form a Nascent Soul in the future."

Hearing this, Zhou Ye's heart stirred: "Do I only need to give up the Primal Chaos Dao Fruit?"

Chen Mobai: "True Man Zhou, as the master of the Five Elements' Earth Meridian, if you surrender to my sect, your reputation might suffer somewhat."

"Mere empty fame, I don't care about it." Zhou Ye began to state his own conditions: "Will the Core Formation cultivators from the other four meridians sacrifice spiritual power to help me cultivate the Primal Chaos Dao Fruit?"

Chen Mobai immediately shook his head: "I will not force them to help you. After all, cultivation primarily relies on oneself."

Zhou Ye: "If that's the case, I don't feel Sect Master Chen's sincerity."

Chen Mobai: "I am offering you a dignified path to survival right now; I am not begging you."

This single sentence completely silenced Zhou Ye.