Chapter 759: Rescuing the Pentagonal Ancient Maple

Pure Nine-Lanterns:

After a joint inquiry by the Three Halls and Three Departments, Chen Mobai was cleared of all suspicion. The Immortal Sect deeply respects personal privacy, so after confirming his irreconcilable enmity with the Ascension Sect, they ceased their questioning. This was primarily because of his unique status and powerful connections.

Once it concluded, Ye Yune departed first, accompanied by Shi Miao. Narcissus spoke briefly with Chen Mobai, instructing him to resume his duties on time and continue leading the Heaven Mending Group, before departing with Gongsun Jielü and Wen Lianshan. In the end, only Lan Haitain remained, sharing lunch with Chen Mobai. The two had previously fought alongside each other, and following their last conversation, they now regarded each other as allies.

"Lin Daoming has been identified as a traitor," Lan Haitian began, "but the higher authorities prefer to keep it quiet. All his records are to be sealed, and any content related to him online will be deleted..." During their meal, Lan Haitian informed him of the Immortal Sect's decision regarding Lin Daoming.

Chen Mobai found this somewhat surprising. "He's a traitor! How could such a significant matter simply be suppressed?"

Lan Haitian shook his head in response, then gestured towards the ceiling, and Chen Mobai largely understood. What made him hesitant to speak surely concerned Qianxing, the Incarnation Patriarch of the Heaven Mending lineage. If Qianxing were to intercede, Lin Daoming's situation could indeed be suppressed. Nevertheless, at least the Immortal Sect's high-level officials had labeled Lin Daoming as a defector. In the future, should Chen Mobai encounter him and possess the necessary strength, he would be justified in directly seeking revenge.

For Chen Mobai, however, a low-key resolution was preferable. After all, if the matter were thoroughly investigated and it was revealed that Qing Nü possessed fetal qi, it would likely not have been handled so leniently today; he might have faced a much more rigorous interrogation. It could even, as with the Abbot of Huakaiyuan, have drawn Patriarch Qianxing to intervene personally. In such a scenario, the consequences would have been severe.

Under the highest authority's directive, the events in Nantian City were officially labeled a terrorist attack by the Ascension Sect. Lin Daoming's name did not appear in the Enforcement Department's records for this incident. As it was connected to the Ascension Sect, the investigation ultimately fell to the Heaven Mending Group.

After Chen Mobai added a few notes to the dossier, he dispatched Group Three, responsible for intelligence, and Group Six, responsible for combat, to Nantian City, tasking them with investigating any remaining Ascension Sect remnants within the city. Before Group Three leader Mo Huaixian departed, Chen Mobai informed him about the shop where he had encountered Yan Xinjie's jade puppet, instructing him to pursue that lead.

Having issued these instructions, Chen Mobai remained quietly in Wangwu Dongtian for three months. During this time, Meng Huanger invited him on numerous occasions, but he consistently used his busy schedule as an excuse. His daily routine consisted of two points: work, or returning home to accompany Qing Nü in the Sacred Tree Secret Realm.

Qing Nü's talent was exceptional; although the Black Emperor Abyssal Underworld Scripture was an Incarnation cultivation method, she quickly grasped its fundamentals. However, the transformation of spiritual power required time. According to Qing Nü's own estimation, it might take approximately three years, followed by another three years of refinement, meaning she could attempt to form her Golden Core in about six years. Chen Mobai was delighted by this prospect. With this knowledge, he also needed to start preparing resources for Qing Nü's Golden Core formation.

That day, Chen Mobai once again arrived at Giant Wood Ridge. Upon receiving the news, Gu Yan immediately came to pay her respects.

"Has there been a reply from Yan Shaoyin?"

As Chen Mobai finished speaking, Gu Yan promptly handed him a letter. After reading it, Chen Mobai couldn't help but smile faintly. Since the Five Elements Sect had supplied half the materials for the Infant Nurturing Pill, Yan Shaoyin was required to hand over half of the finished pills to him once refined. Yan Shaoyin's luck was exceptionally good this time; he succeeded in refining it on the first attempt. However, in his reply, Yan Shaoyin also disclosed the true situation. This batch of pills yielded only two elixirs: one with minor imperfections, and the other with significant flaws. These imperfections were, of course, due to residual pill toxins. Yan Shaoyin's reply indicated that he intended to keep the Infant Nurturing Pill with minor imperfections, while the other, with severely excessive pill toxins, was for Chen Mobai. In his reply, he expressed profound apologies for this and offered compensation in the form of spirit stones or spirit rice.

Chen Mobai had no interest in such compensation; he merely wanted Yan Shaoyin to consume the Infant Nurturing Pill immediately. Furthermore, after his Phoenix Facing the Sun Diagram reached its second layer, pill toxins no longer affected him. To him, that significantly flawed Infant Nurturing Pill was essentially the Immortal Sect's version of a non-toxic Spirit Infant Formation elixir. However, its potency would certainly differ, as numerous primary and auxiliary ingredients had been substituted. Chen Mobai still admired Yan Shaoyin for successfully refining the Infant Nurturing Pill despite these conditions.

"Let's go. I will personally visit Huitian Valley to discuss this transaction with Master Yan!"

After finishing Yan Shaoyin's reply, Chen Mobai immediately took Gu Yan and set off for Xia County. However, he had underestimated Yan Shaoyin's resolve and caution.

"Sect Master Chen," began the disciple, "my master departed a few days ago to visit a friend." Chen Mobai was received by He Jintong, the acting sect master of Huitian Valley, who, looking embarrassed, produced a jade bottle. "This is a pill my master left before his departure, instructing me to personally deliver it to the Five Elements Sect. I never anticipated Sect Master Chen would come in person..."

Chen Mobai frowned as he took the bottle and examined its contents. Inside was a vermilion pill, but its surface was marred by a ring of black patterns, indicating unpurified pill toxins. He poured it out for a closer inspection, feeling the potent vitality and primal energy contained within the elixir, confirming it was indeed the Infant Nurturing Pill.

"Master Yan is being quite brazen this time!" Chen Mobai did not mince words, delivering the sarcastic remark directly in front of all the Huitian Valley disciples.

"Sect Master Chen, please pardon me," He Jintong began cautiously. "My master stated he is willing to compensate your esteemed sect with five hundred high-grade spirit stones and one thousand catties of Panlong spirit rice..." He Jintong, facing Chen Mobai, the foremost sect master of the Eastern Barrens, dared not show any displeasure and spoke cautiously.

"Do you truly believe I am in need of such things?" Chen Mobai's frigid words made He Jintong wipe the sweat from his brow, leaving him no option but to apologize profusely.

After Yan Shaoyin's batch of Infant Nurturing Pills had finished maturing, he speculated, based on his own disposition, that Chen Mobai would certainly be unwilling to accept a pill with excessive toxins. However, as this matter concerned his vital Infant Formation, he gritted his teeth, took the pills, and directly fled to Dongyue via the Starry Sky Grand Chamber of Commerce's routes. He decided to rent a fourth-tier grotto-heaven from the Starry Sky Dao Sect to prepare for Infant Formation, embracing a "succeed or die trying" mentality. Had he not sworn a Dao Heart oath during the initial refining process, Yan Shaoyin would have even attempted to take both Infant Nurturing Pills with him. In essence, he was staking everything on the success of his current Infant Formation attempt.

Fortunately, Yan Shaoyin still harbored some affection for Huitian Valley, so before his departure, he entrusted these matters to his direct disciple He Jintong, with a clear directive: stall. Stall until the outcome of his Infant Formation was known. If he succeeded, he would then seek full restitution from the Five Elements Sect for all the grievances suffered over the years. If he failed, He Jintong was instructed to either directly surrender to the Five Elements Sect or seek refuge with the Starry Sky Dao Sect. Given their lineage's alchemy techniques, it was presumed that both sects would certainly be willing to accept them.

"Your Huitian Valley will first mortgage one thousand acres of your medicinal fields in Xia Country to our Five Elements Sect, and I will grudgingly overlook this offense." Chen Mobai proposed a solution, causing He Jintong's expression to waver. Medicinal fields were the very foundation of Huitian Valley; even during Patriarch Hunyuan's time, there had never been any talk of ceding or mortgaging them. However, their power was clearly inferior. The precedent of the Blowing Snow Palace was still fresh in mind; resisting now would only provide the Five Elements Sect with a legitimate reason to launch an invasion.

"Sect Master Chen," He Jintong pleaded, "this matter is of grave importance. Might we defer discussion until my master returns?" He Jintong, unwilling to become an eternal sinner of his sect, mustered his courage to speak thus to Chen Mobai, the sect master of the Eastern Barrens' preeminent great sect.

"Hmph," Chen Mobai scoffed, "will Yan Shaoyin even be able to return?" Chen Mobai's sarcastic remark caused He Jintong's face to flush crimson, but he ultimately restrained himself and apologized to him once more.

"Very well, I'll offer you another choice. You should have the formula for the Return to Truth Pill that Yan Shaoyin refined previously, correct? Have your Huitian Valley gather three batches of materials for this formula as compensation for me, and this matter will be considered settled." Upon hearing this, He Jintong's eyelids twitched, and he spoke with a bitter smile, "Sect Master Chen, when my master refined the Return to Truth Pill previously, he essentially depleted our sect's entire stock of materials. Even mobilizing all our connections now, we could at most gather enough for one batch. Three batches are simply beyond our capability!"

The Return to Truth Pill is an elixir that enhances the spiritual power of late-stage Golden Core cultivators. Yan Shaoyin had originally selected this formula from Chen Mobai's catalog and, after two failed attempts, finally succeeded in producing four pills from the third batch. Subsequently, Yan Shaoyin, aided by the Return to Truth Pill and the Nirvana Pill, advanced to the perfected Golden Core realm, reaching the stage where he could attempt Nascent Soul formation. With Chen Mobai currently at the seventh layer of the Golden Core realm, this Return to Truth Pill was perfectly suited for him. Moreover, this Return to Truth Pill was of top-grade third-tier quality, falling perfectly within Qing Nü's capabilities.

"If that's not feasible, then offer one thousand acres of medicinal fields as compensation." Chen Mobai's casual remark instantly made He Jintong change his mind.

"Sect Master Chen," He Jintong quickly revised, "I will inquire with our sect's collaborating herb merchants. We should be able to collect three batches, though it might require transferring goods from other territories through the Starry Sky Grand Chamber of Commerce, which would naturally slow down the process."

He Jintong's intention was clearly to stall for as long as possible, but Chen Mobai saw through his thoughts instantly. His primary purpose for this visit was to exert pressure, thereby further accelerating and strengthening Yan Shaoyin's determination to form his Nascent Soul as soon as possible. Therefore, he could not allow Huitian Valley such leisure.

"The first batch of materials must be delivered to the Five Elements Sect before the end of this year, with the remaining two batches due next year. If all the medicinal ingredients are not delivered by the beginning of the year after next, then Yan Shaoyin must personally come and explain to me. Otherwise, you will either compensate me with materials for another half batch of Infant Nurturing Pills, or mortgage Huitian Valley's medicinal fields across the nineteen counties of the Eastern Barrens to me."

Chen Mobai delivered his ultimatum. Although his tone remained calm, when coupled with his reputation for annihilating various major sects in the Eastern Barrens since his rise, all the Foundation Establishment cultivators of Huitian Valley felt a shiver of dread. He Jintong eventually sighed, nodding in dejected agreement.

Even so, Chen Mobai appeared quite "unhappy" upon his departure, feeling as though he had been mocked by Yan Shaoyin.

"Sect Master, you appear to be in excellent spirits!" On the way back, Gu Yan noticed Chen Mobai's beaming smile and felt somewhat puzzled.

"The last Golden Core cultivator in the Eastern Barrens who is not part of the Five Elements Sect is about to become a footnote in history. What do you think, am I happy?"

Chen Mobai's words left Gu Yan in a state of partial understanding. She had mistakenly assumed that Chen Mobai had arranged for rogue cultivators to ambush and assassinate Yan Shaoyin outside the Eastern Barrens. Chen Mobai offered no further explanation. He simply led Gu Yan to the Feilong Pond Villa, located near the border.

A third-tier Green Cicada Spirit Tree had been transplanted here. As it was Chen Mobai's asset, Han Zhiling, who was stationed as the guardian of Xia Country, would come annually to collect fresh tea leaves from both this location and Longjiao Gully. Last year, however, Chen Mobai had specifically assigned this area to Zhou Wangshen, who was currently leading the former true disciples of the Five Elements' Five Branches in condensing Five Elements essence here.

Upon emerging from his recent seclusion, he discovered a message from Zhou Wangshen, stating that twenty portions of Five Elements essence had been successfully condensed and inquiring if they should be delivered. Returning from Huitian Valley, Chen Mobai made a detour to visit this location. Feilong Pond, a third-tier spiritual vein, naturally provided more than enough spiritual energy for these Qi Refining disciples to cultivate. Furthermore, lured by the promise of the Foundation Establishment Pill, these former true disciples, who had once considered their cultivation paths severed, diligently condensed Five Elements essence atop such a potent spiritual vein. Everyone was eager to seize this glimmer of hope and attempt Foundation Establishment once more.

"Greetings, Sect Master!" Zhou Wangshen was greatly surprised to see Chen Mobai arrive in person and respectfully approached to bow.

"You've worked hard." As Chen Mobai spoke, he retrieved a jade bottle from his storage pouch, containing the Longevity Dew he had commissioned Zeng Woyou to refine. Zhou Wangshen accepted it with an excited expression, then handed over the Five Elements essence he had condensed over the past year or so to Chen Mobai. Chen Mobai inspected the essence, noting that its quality was rather average. However, given that they had only just begun condensing it, this was to be expected.

"From now on, I will send Gu Yan to collect the Five Elements essence. If you require any pills, spirit rice, or other resources, you may also convey your needs to her." As Chen Mobai finished speaking, Zhou Wangshen politely cupped his fist towards the graceful Gu Yan standing behind him, and she responded with a slight bow.

After the two exchanged communication talismans, Chen Mobai returned to Giant Wood Ridge with Gu Yan. However, en route, he deliberately made a detour to visit the Tianpeng Mountain Villa. He instructed Gu Yan to coordinate with the Five Elements Sect disciples there, while he himself ascended directly to the mountaintop. Chen Mobai wanted to see if he could revive the Five-Horned Ancient Maple.

Amidst a flash of silver light, he instantly teleported before the Five-Horned Ancient Maple, a tree tens of feet tall with a charred trunk and devoid of branches or leaves. He listened intently with his Empty Valley Sound technique and soon detected the nearly extinguished remnant spirit, causing him to shake his head. This Five-Horned Ancient Maple could not be revived using standard spiritual plant methods. He wondered if the Longevity Sect's grand art, "Withered Wood Blooms Anew," would be effective on it.

Before employing the grand art, Chen Mobai took out a tube of Myriad Transformation Thunderwater, dripped a single drop, then diluted it a hundredfold using the method taught by Wenren Xuewei, and poured a ladle of the mixture onto the roots of the spiritual plant.

(End of Chapter)

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