Chapter 739: Gold Core Seventh Layer

Pure Nine-Lotus Treasure Lamp

Fifth-tier magic treasures, having already developed their spiritual essence, can only be refined using unique artifact-refining incantations, unless they choose their own master.

Revered Master Bingyun had no idea she would encounter this supreme treasure on her trip. Therefore, she needed to return to the Ice Palace to check the ancient texts inherited by her sect from the Holy Land era, to see if they contained the refining incantations for the Azure Glacial Heart Rope. If not, she would need to search the other two branches. Furthermore, she would need to find an excuse, because if the other two branches became aware, the Azure Glacial Heart Rope might not end up in her possession.

Even sending a direct disciple to retrieve a fifth-tier magic treasure would not put Revered Master Bingyun at ease. In the Celestial River Realm, instances of disciples absconding with their master's magic treasures, elixirs, and cultivation techniques are countless. Thus, she definitely could not agree if Yuan Zhen asked her to never return to the Eastern Wilderness. But refusing would surely imply that she indeed harbored vengeful intentions.

"Saintess," Revered Master Bingyun began, "the Eastern Wilderness is, after all, the border of our human territory. If the Holy Land issues an edict in the future, instructing our Ice Palace to send cultivators for pioneering efforts, I cannot simply refuse to come." Revered Master Bingyun recalled something she had heard previously and used it as a reason for her refusal.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhen's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she gave Revered Master Bingyun a deep look. This was because the three great Holy Lands had indeed recently discussed reorganizing the pioneering cultivator army. Some Nascent Soul factions with close ties to the Holy Lands had also been implicitly informed. It was unexpected that even the humble, declining Ice Palace had received this information. She had somewhat underestimated them.

"Then let's set a limit of 120 years," Yuan Zhen proposed. She remembered the news from the Yuan family: in 120 years, the three great Holy Lands would reorganize their pioneering army to conquer a fifth-tier Golden Flame Suan-Ni beast, which possessed a true spirit bloodline, deep within the Desolate Ruins. The timing was primarily set for the benefit of their generation of Dao Children and Saintesses. The Daoist Sect's Spirit-Enlightening True Spirit Pill required true spirit blood for its refinement. After 120 years, most of the Dao Children and Saintesses, except for Yuan Zhen, would likely have cultivated to the peak Nascent Soul realm. At that point, they could take the elixir and attempt to break through to the Soul Transformation realm.

"Isn't 120 years a bit too long?" Revered Master Bingyun asked, "Our sect might need to come earlier to prepare." Revered Master Bingyun, wishing the time limit was only two years, subtly refused the offer.

"Then sixty years it is," Yuan Zhen conceded. After hearing Revered Master Bingyun, Yuan Zhen considered that the Golden Flame Suan-Ni beast's Innate Fiery Sun True Flame might indeed require the auxiliary suppression of the three icy factions. Therefore, giving her some face, she allowed time for the three icy factions to arrive and make preparations in advance.

"Alright!" Although Revered Master Bingyun was unwilling, she could only reluctantly nod in agreement, facing Yuan Zhen, the Saintess of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect.

Hearing this, Chen Mobai thanked Yuan Zhen. Revered Master Bingyun made the promise in front of them, which counted as a minor Dao Heart Oath. However, the penalty for violating it was merely twenty years of stagnation in cultivation. Due to the gravity of Dao Heart Oaths, they only involved life and death in exceptionally crucial circumstances. Since Chen Mobai began cultivating, none of the Dao Heart Oaths he had made had ever involved matters of life and death. Even when downloading the Primordial Yang Sword Art from the Immortal Gate National Library, he had only agreed to a ten-year cultivation stagnation if he were to privately transmit it.

With sixty years, Chen Mobai felt confident he could reach the Nascent Soul realm, and by then, he wouldn't need to fear Revered Master Bingyun.

"True Person Yuan," Chen Mobai asked, "how should we deal with this Demonic Saint Embryo?"

"I'll take it," Yuan Zhen replied. "If it possesses a true spirit bloodline, it might be suppressed within the Heaven-Reaching Dao-Refining Pagoda." As Yuan Zhen spoke, she took out a Cyan Mirage Bottle, opened its mouth towards the Demonic Saint Embryo, and the latter was sucked in without any resistance.

Seeing that all matters were resolved, Chen Mobai very happily invited Yuan Zhen and her companions back to North Abyss City.

"True Person Yuan," Revered Master Bingyun said, "I will return to the Eastern Land first and await the Holy Land's judgment." Revered Master Bingyun, however, shook her head. After exchanging greetings with Yuan Zhen, she transformed into a streak of white escape light and vanished from the spot. Kong Lingling was, after all, a Core Formation cultivator nominally affiliated with the Ice Palace. With clear evidence of her demonic acts this time, after Yuan Zhen returned and reported it, she would at least be penalized by the Holy Land with seclusion for fifteen to twenty years and forbidden from recruiting disciples from the mortal realm. Yuan Zhen believed Revered Master Bingyun was eager to return so she could lobby within the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect to minimize the duration of the mountain-sealing and seclusion. So she didn't pay it much mind.

"Sect Master Zhu," Chen Mobai addressed Zhu Jinyu before they left, "with Kong Lingling's descent into demonic cultivation, your Blowing Snow Palace bears undeniable responsibility. As the Lord of the Eastern Wilderness, I fine you with sixty years of mountain-sealing and seclusion. Do you have any objections?" The latter nodded sadly, indicating her acceptance of any judgment he made. This was already the best possible outcome. In Zhu Jinyu's view, this lenient outcome was solely due to the presence of Yuan Zhen, the Holy Land's 'World-Walker.' Otherwise, given the prevailing customs in the Celestial River Realm, the Five Elements Sect would have directly annihilated the Blowing Snow Palace after Kong Lingling's descent into demonic cultivation, and everyone would have merely applauded.

"From now on," Chen Mobai added, "if your Blowing Snow Palace needs any essential supplies, you can send Xueting to North Abyss City to procure them. I will authorize her passage." Chen Mobai saw Xueting standing among the cultivators of the Blowing Snow Palace and immediately granted her the exclusive right to travel during their period of mountain-sealing and seclusion. Naturally, Zhu Jinyu expressed her profound gratitude for this. Although the Blowing Snow Palace possessed a fourth-tier water vein, their cultivation level was insufficient to sustain themselves solely on natural essence; they still required spirit rice or Spirit-Suppressing Pills. If Chen Mobai had been more ruthless, sealing the mountain for sixty years without providing supplies, he might have been able to starve all the Qi Refining cultivators to death.

Yuan Zhen was also somewhat surprised by this display of leniency. In all her years of traveling the Celestial River Realm, she had rarely encountered cultivators as benevolent as Chen Mobai. Even Zhu Jun, who had been quietly observing, turned her head in surprise to glance at Chen Mobai.

"Thank you, Sect Master Chen!" The faint fear on Xueting's face, after being singled out by Chen Mobai, dissipated, and she bowed deeply to him.

"Hmm," Chen Mobai nodded, "when you come to North Abyss City, you can find E Yun. I will give