Chapter 770: The Completion of the Can Tong Qi Practice

For any woman, the words "eternal youth" seemed to possess a magical allure, capable of making them lose all reason.

Yan Bingxuan had always been meticulous about her appearance and demeanor in front of Chen Mobai, but upon hearing about the Youth-Retaining Bead, she lost her composure.

"Is this for me?"

After a long moment, she somewhat shyly put down the Youth-Retaining Bead in her hand.

"If not for you, who else would I give it to?" Chen Mobai asked with a smile.

Hearing this, Yan Bingxuan's lips curled into a gentle smile, and her eyes softened. She immediately condensed water into a rope, strung the Youth-Retaining Bead onto it, and hung it around her snowy white neck.

Chen Mobai watched as the azure blue Youth-Retaining Bead slid down her fair skin and disappeared into Yan Bingxuan's collar. His gaze lingered on her partially concealed curves, and he couldn't help but feel a slight regret.

Yan Bingxuan had developed an undesirable habit: whenever she went out, she would use a spell to conceal her impressive bosom.

This left Chen Mobai, who had once seen her astonishing curves firsthand, with a persistent sense of regret.

However, he found it difficult to say anything about it.

"The best way to use this bead is to refine it into your body," Chen Mobai explained. "That way, it can continuously nourish your skin and body, keeping you young. Just remember to replenish it with water spiritual energy periodically."

Chen Mobai then proceeded to instruct Yan Bingxuan on the secret to refining it. With his Treasure-Refining Golden Light, he could discern the most suitable refining method for each Youth-Retaining Bead.

When he had previously given one to Shi Wanyu, she was a Qi Refining cultivator, making the refining process difficult, so he had to teach her hand-in-hand.

While demonstrating to Shi Wanyu, Chen Mobai also refined a Youth-Retaining Bead into his own body.

Although he didn't have the same obsession with eternal youth as women did, he had plenty of these beads anyway.

This way, he would remain forever young!

Yan Bingxuan's spiritual root attribute was a good match for the Youth-Retaining Bead, and since she was already a ninth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator, she refined it very quickly after Chen Mobai's guidance.

Soon, Chen Mobai saw a round, deep blue spiritual light glow within her soft, delicate white sweater. Like pure flowing water, it slowly seeped into the skin of her chest until it disappeared from sight.

Yan Bingxuan opened her eyes, their bright gaze revealing a faint joy.

Seeing that she had completed the refining, Chen Mobai instructed the waiter to prepare their dishes.

Soon after, all the dishes were served. Chen Mobai also opened a bottle of new wine brewed by Zhuo Ming. It had a light, sweet taste with a mild aftereffect. Based on her own tasting experience, she found that frequent consumption could make female cultivators' complexions more radiant.

Yan Bingxuan took a small sip and her eyes lit up. She couldn't stop praising the new wine.

"Thank you for the gift, I really like it!"

After dinner, the two walked along a small street and, unknowingly, arrived at the intersection where they would part ways. Yan Bingxuan turned her head and thanked Chen Mobai.

Her long hair cascaded over her rounded shoulders, smooth and lustrous. Her simple white sweater added a touch of gentleness and freshness to her appearance.

Her usually cool demeanor, whenever she was with Chen Mobai, always softened into an unprecedented tenderness and warmth.

Chen Mobai met her gaze, and the watery tenderness in her eyes almost made him want to break his appointment with Meng Huang'er.

"I'm glad you like it. I'll head back now; I have to work overtime tonight!" Chen Mobai said, suppressing the strong emotions surging within him and bidding her farewell in a gentle tone.

"Okay then, goodbye!"

Yan Bingxuan whispered her farewell, then turned and walked towards her apartment.

Watching her graceful figure fade into the distance, Chen Mobai suddenly realized he seemed to have forgotten something important.

His original main purpose for today was to discuss with her how to acquire core-forming spiritual items.

"Never mind," he thought, "her resources are already prepared anyway."

Thinking of the Ice Marrow Clear Jade and Water Mist Ice Crystal in his storage bag, Chen Mobai decided to have Hua Zijing go to the Inter-realm Gate Management Bureau tomorrow to buy him a Void Blind Box.

Since the Water Element Core-Forming Pill would have the same effect on Yan Bingxuan as the Golden Liquid Jade Reversion Pill, it would be easier to arrange for her within the Immortal Sect. Moreover, Yan Qiongzhi would certainly assist.

If all else failed, he would have Qing Nü refine a Water Element Core-Forming Pill for her once she had finished improving the Five Elements Core-Forming Pill formula.

Early the next morning.

Chen Mobai took his jacket from Meng Huang'er's hand and put it on.

"I'm going to work now," he said. "Don't worry about the core-forming spiritual medicine. Once you've accumulated enough work experience, I'll use the influence of the Weapon-Dancing lineage to help you. If worse comes to worst, I'll use a guaranteed slot to secure a pill for you."

Chen Mobai hadn't forgotten the important matter last night because after they were done, Meng Huang'er had gently reminded him while lying on his chest.

Because she couldn't compete with Jiang Yuyuan, the Golden Liquid Jade Reversion Pill due in ten years had already been promised to Jiang Yuyuan within the Art Troupe.

What saddened her even more was that she and Jiang Yuyuan were from the same Weapon-Dancing lineage. If Jiang Yuyuan received the pill, due to the rotation among the four great Daoist academies, she would have to wait at least another cycle.

If she wanted to exchange for a pill as soon as her sixty years of work experience accumulated, she would only be eligible for the next-tier Five Elements Core-Forming Pill.

Chen Mobai knew Meng Huang'er's aptitude; without sufficient resources, forming a Golden Core would be practically impossible for her.

He was exceptionally good to the people around him!

So, upon learning of this, he made a promise to Meng Huang'er.

He would definitely help her obtain the core-forming spiritual medicine as quickly as possible, ensuring she would have a second chance even if she failed the first time.

"So, will you be coming again tonight?" Meng Huang'er asked, nodding with a tender look in her eyes.

"It depends," Chen Mobai replied. "We'll see tonight!"

Chen Mobai couldn't make a definite promise, as he currently held many positions and might have unexpected duties.

"Okay, I'm free for the next few days. I just have to go on tour with the Art Troupe in half a month."

Meng Huang'er, casually clad in a thin nightgown, lovingly saw Chen Mobai out of the bedroom.

"Alright, make sure to rest and don't overwork yourself."

Chen Mobai gently extricated his right hand, which had been nestled between her soft breasts, and after bidding farewell, he activated the Underworld Great Array and vanished directly from the living room.

Back in the Heaven-Mending Group's office, Chen Mobai sipped the clear tea Zhuang Jialan had just brewed and brought in, still relishing the memories of last night.

The tender Yan Bingxuan and the understanding Meng Huang'er had left him feeling incredibly comfortable and relaxed, both mentally and physically.

However, Chen Mobai only savored this enjoyment for a brief moment.

After finishing his cup of tea, he recalled the Contemplation of Unity method he had memorized.

He had read and memorized this Great Method of Spirit Transformation when he was at the Weapon-Dancing Daoist Academy's library. After all, it was free for students there, but outside, it would cost hundreds of millions of points to download through official channels.

During his Foundation Establishment stage, when he tried to comprehend this Contemplation of Unity, he couldn't even grasp its basic principles!

Now that he had formed his Golden Core, he could finally understand a little of it.

But to truly comprehend it and begin cultivating it on his own would likely take him fifteen to twenty years.

Chen Mobai was not one to waste time.

He immediately switched the "Inner Observation of Self" feature, which had been linked to his Longevity Sword Intent, to the Contemplation of Unity.

Then he took out the remaining Enlightenment Tea and brewed a small cup.

Besides his personal efforts in these two areas, Chen Mobai also didn't forget to consult Hong Mengkui.

Asking questions when unsure was an excellent quality.

The Contemplation of Unity was a method for artifact cultivators. As long as one chose the right companion artifact, it was the fastest cultivation method for breaking through realms within the Immortal Sect.

Precisely because of this, the achievement of this Great Method of Spirit Transformation depended on the "artifact." This artifact could be a specific magical item, a spiritual root of heaven and earth, a spiritual land, or even a planet—it all depended on one's fortuitous encounters.

However, in the Weapon-Dancing Daoist Academy's legacy, ninety-nine percent of the cultivation experience for the Contemplation of Unity involved magical artifacts!

This was because a magical artifact could also be considered a miniature Dao Fruit of cultivation. If it was a cultivator's life-bound artifact and happened to align with their own cultivation method, then it would be perfectly suited as a companion.

When a magical artifact and a cultivator perfectly harmonized, breaking through cultivation realms would naturally be as easy as splitting bamboo.

For example, Revered Master Cheng Xuan, while studying at the Daoist Academy, discovered the Fourth-Tier Red Heart Treasure Mirror in the Myriad Treasures Cave. It almost perfectly matched his spiritual root attribute, allowing him to cultivate smoothly with the Contemplation of Unity all the way to the Nascent Soul realm without any setbacks.

However, it was precisely because of this that his cultivation became constrained by the Red Heart Treasure Mirror.

After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, his cultivation speed significantly slowed down.

Even though the Contemplation of Unity allowed for changing companion artifacts, during the long period of cultivation with the Red Heart Treasure Mirror, all aspects of Revered Master Cheng Xuan—his essence, energy, and spirit—had already been assimilated by the artifact, almost turning him into another artifact spirit.

Therefore, if Revered Master Cheng Xuan wished to break through to the Spirit Transformation realm, besides finding his own path, he also needed to upgrade the Red Heart Treasure Mirror to the Fifth Tier.

If he didn't want to carry this burden, he would have to discard his previous cultivation foundation.

However, within the Immortal Sect, reaching the Nascent Soul realm was already incredibly difficult. If he were to disperse and re-cultivate, Revered Master Cheng Xuan himself wasn't confident he could succeed.

Nevertheless, if he could overcome this hurdle, then after both the companion artifact and the cultivator achieved breakthroughs, the abilities of a Contemplation of Unity cultivator would be among the top tier of their respective ranks.

After understanding the Contemplation of Unity, Chen Mobai's first thought was of his Turtle Treasure!

This mysterious treasure could transport him between two realms and even had a profound connection with the origin of the void. It had even once reminded him that it could absorb and refine inter-realm gates, indicating its undoubtedly high-tier level.

At the very least, it wouldn't be lower than an inter-realm gate!

In that case, could he make the Turtle Treasure his companion artifact?

The thought filled Chen Mobai with excitement!

That day, Meng Huang'er departed with the Art Troupe for a performance tour outside the Wangwu Grotto-heaven, and he also received the answers he sought regarding his questions about the Contemplation of Unity from Hong Mengkui.

He then instructed Hua Zijing and the other women to look after the Heaven-Mending Group while he entered the cultivation room with the highest spiritual energy concentration in the Heaven-Mending Group to begin secluded cultivation.

With a gentle wave of his hand in front of his chest, the Turtle Treasure's true form, a turtle shell, floated down and rested in his right palm.

The Treasure-Refining Golden Light shone upon it, but only revealed information consistent with an ordinary turtle shell.

From this, Chen Mobai knew that the Turtle Treasure's tier was definitely extremely high.

At the very least, it was Sixth-Tier, possibly even higher...

He took a deep breath, silently recited the incantation of the Contemplation of Unity that he had just mastered, then let his divine sense emerge. Following the method of companionship, it spread over the turtle shell like a silent, nourishing drizzle.

His divine sense, like strands of rain, connected to every part of the Turtle Treasure, almost as if threads of silvery-white light extended from Chen Mobai's glabella, quickly encasing the Turtle Treasure in a silvery-white cocoon. Then, with a thought, he intended to pull the Turtle Treasure into his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness.

He had initially expected it to be difficult, but with a "whoosh"!

The Turtle Treasure truly behaved like an ordinary turtle shell, offering no resistance. Chen Mobai successfully made it his companion, absorbing it into his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness through his glabella!

"Huh!"

The smooth process left Chen Mobai somewhat surprised and doubtful.

He once again activated the mental incantation of the Contemplation of Unity. The Turtle Treasure then vanished from his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness and reappeared in his palm out of thin air.

This indicated that the companionship had indeed succeeded!

This should have been a very happy outcome, but...

Why was there no reaction from the Turtle Treasure at all?

Chen Mobai performed various mental incantations of the Contemplation of Unity, such as absorbing the essence of the companion to replenish himself, but there was no response!

He then activated the Companion Empathy Technique, which allowed a cultivator to see various information and experiences of their companion artifact. If the artifact and cultivator had a high degree of compatibility, it might even lead directly to the source, revealing scenes from its birth.

However, Chen Mobai only saw the turtle shell in his hand.

He then performed the Feedback Technique, which allowed a cultivator to expend their own vital energy to enhance the companion artifact. This process usually involved significant consumption, but as the aura and power of both parties grew closer, the loss could approach zero.

Unfortunately, whatever Chen Mobai put in, the Turtle Treasure expelled it, as if it disdained his essence, energy, and spirit.

Even after performing various techniques from the Contemplation of Unity, the Turtle Treasure remained unchanged!

Chen Mobai looked at the unresponsive turtle shell in his hand, feeling somewhat exasperated!

What exactly had he made his companion?

Having no other choice, he could only sever the companionship with the turtle shell.

Fortunately, the Contemplation of Unity was unlike the Spiritual Artifact Shared Cultivation Technique; one could change companion artifacts anytime if unsatisfied.

However, the longer the companionship and the more one invested, the greater the loss to one's foundation when trying to switch.

Chen Mobai's companionship with the turtle shell lasted no more than half a day, and he felt no ill effects after switching.

He then reconsidered the magical artifacts he possessed!

Besides the turtle shell, his most powerful artifacts were naturally the Purple Green Twin Swords. Both were peak Fourth-Tier, just a trigger away from fully developing their spiritual sentience and upgrading to Fifth-Tier!

In fact, if Chen Mobai wished, these two swords would probably be more than willing to become his companions!

But Chen Mobai would definitely not do that!

After all, the Azure Frost Sword was borrowed and would have to be returned later!

Furthermore, his fundamental path was the Pure Yang Scroll; he couldn't possibly switch to the Purple Splendor Azure Sky Sword Canons!

Besides the Purple Green Twin Swords, Chen Mobai also considered the Five Elements Sect's assets in the Eastern Barrens!

Potential candidates included the Great Dao Tree in the Divine Tree Secret Realm and the Five Elements Spirit Tree in the One Origin Secret Realm!

The Great Dao Tree was connected to the mysterious Heavenly Venerate, and it might have once been Fifth-Tier!

The Five Elements Spirit Tree, on the other hand, was confirmed to have fallen from the Fifth-Tier. If he took it as his companion, his Primordial Dao Fruit would surely reach great completion in the future!

However, these two spiritual plants were not easy to approach!

The Five Elements Spirit Tree was in Primordial Immortal City, and he certainly couldn't go there in person to meet Zhou Ye, who was like a ticking time bomb!

And if the Great Dao Tree was indeed related to the Heavenly Venerate, making it his companion would be like walking into a tiger's den!

Besides these two spiritual plants, there were also the Talent Tree and the Magic Treasure Tree!

These were also confirmed peak Fourth-Tier Longevity Woods, but both had been modified by the Longevity Sect, so it was unclear if they harbored any hidden dangers!

He couldn't possibly choose the Longevity Wood at his own Daoist abode in Giant Tree Ridge as his companion, could he?

At this thought, Chen Mobai immediately shook his head!

He wasn't cultivating the Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture!

Having rejected that idea, Chen Mobai had only one option left!

He took out the Haotian Mirror, which had just been upgraded to Fourth-Tier!

A Fourth-Tier artifact was equivalent to a Nascent Soul; if he made it his companion, he could absorb its Pure Yang True Intent. This would subtly make him more suitable for cultivating the Pure Yang Scroll, and in the later stages, it might even increase the cultivation speed of his Pure Yang Dharma Body!

At this point, Chen Mobai recalled what Hong Mengkui had said.

If only he had the Primordial Yang Sword!

That Fifth-Tier flying sword was the most suitable companion for him.

Unfortunately, his cultivation level was still too low. If he were a Nascent Soul cultivator, he could compete for the position of Head of the Immortal Affairs Hall and then gain control of the Lesser Crimson Heaven.

Besides the Primordial Yang Sword, the Pure Yang Set left by Primordial Yang Patriarch was also very suitable.

However, that was nominally in the Pure Yang Academy's possession. He knew full well that Nangong Xuanyu would never agree to give it to him, the head of the Weapon-Dancing Daoist Academy!

Left with no other choice, Chen Mobai could only provisionally make the Haotian Mirror his companion!

This was originally his life-bound artifact, and the companionship process was as smooth as with the Turtle Treasure, offering no resistance.

However, when he performed various techniques from the Contemplation of Unity on the Haotian Mirror, the experience was entirely different from that with the Turtle Treasure!

As he absorbed the essence of the companion, Chen Mobai felt waves of blazing hot energy surging from his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness, permeating his entire body and integrating into his essence, energy, and spirit.

During this process, Chen Mobai felt his Fire Spirit Physique seemed to be activated to its peak, evolving towards a Post-natal Pure Yang Body while absorbing the Pure Yang True Intent.

However, during this process, Chen Mobai also began to notice that his physique was slowly changing.

This was one of the drawbacks of companionship.

From now on, Chen Mobai would have no choice but to firmly adhere to the Pure Yang Scroll and advance along this path. If he later found this Grand Dao impassable and wished to change, he would have to discard his foundation, or even disperse and re-cultivate!

Yet, regarding this, Chen Mobai showed no hesitation whatsoever!

He had already committed to the Pure Yang Scroll after graduating from high school!

Only this Great Method of Spirit Transformation, which relied on resources, could enable him to reach the pinnacle of the Immortal Sect.

If the Pure Yang Scroll couldn't enable him to achieve Spirit Transformation, then other Great Methods of Spirit Transformation would be even less likely to succeed!

Chen Mobai had never doubted this belief and perspective of his.

After this companionship process, Chen Mobai also began to perform the Empathy Technique. It was then that he finally understood what Zhuo Ming felt when she used the Empathy with All Things to communicate with spiritual plants.

He saw all the scenes and experiences of the Haotian Mirror when it was in Yin Qingmei's hands, and this was just the beginning; there was an even longer temporal scroll of this artifact's history!

Chen Mobai immediately entered the Inch Book state, clearing his mind of all distracting thoughts, and then began to absorb and analyze all the information he saw through the Companion Empathy Technique.

From its ascension during a heavenly tribulation, to Chen Mobai's intervention in transforming the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror into the Haotian Mirror, he continued to flow upstream through time, entering a vast expanse of dark images!

This was the period when the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror was sealed within the Artifact-Nourishing Orb!

With a thought, Chen Mobai understood.

He then fast-forwarded through this segment of the scroll, eventually seeing an ancient Golden Core Perfected Being, clad in a Weapon-Dancing red-and-black robe, sighing as he brought the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror into the Myriad Treasures Cave for sealing!

This must have been the previous owner of the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror.

Before his lifespan was nearing its end and he was about to pass away, he personally returned this life-bound artifact to the Daoist Academy, hoping it would find a better master.

He succeeded!

Because Chen Mobai obtained it!

The final part of the scroll unfolded, and Chen Mobai continued to trace back with the Empathy Technique, witnessing the former owner of the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror diligently collecting various precious Third-Tier materials within the Immortal Sect, then preparing the plan, the refining process, and the final formation of the artifact.

After viewing all of this, the effect of the Empathy Technique slowly began to fade!

This was the complete history of the Haotian Mirror!

After exiting the Inch Book state, Chen Mobai's emotions fluctuated intensely. It took him most of the day to completely calm down.

Afterward, he once again performed the Ascension Technique recorded in the Contemplation of Unity!

This technique was also what Chen Mobai considered the most powerful in the Contemplation of Unity!

After activating it, the conditions required for the Haotian Mirror to continue upgrading clearly appeared in his mind!

Due to the limitations of the mirror's original materials, further enhancement would be incredibly difficult, almost impossible.

After all, when the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror was forged, the best materials used were Third-Tier, with even a small amount of Second-Tier materials mixed in.

If not for Chen Mobai using a Fourth-Tier Longevity Wood frame, coupled with Yin Qingmei's persistent nurturing that gave birth to its spiritual sentience, the Haotian Mirror would likely have shattered when facing the heavenly tribulation!

An artifact spirit could absorb energy suitable for itself, improving its material composition and thus elevating its tier.

For example, the Purple Lightning Sword needed spirit stones because it desired to upgrade its materials to Fifth-Tier.

The spiritual energy within spirit stones was unaligned, capable of being refined by any artifact spirit.

That's why the Immortal Sect used sealed spirit stones to nourish Fourth and Fifth-Tier artifacts!

If Chen Mobai wanted to wait for the Haotian Mirror's artifact spirit to absorb energy and complete its upgrade and leap, it might take over a hundred years.

By that time, he estimated he could probably have formed his Nascent Soul!

Chen Mobai continued to use the Ascension Technique, and soon, a step-by-step process for replacing the lower-tier materials in the Haotian Mirror appeared in his mind.

This was akin to performing surgery on the artifact, gradually replacing all the Second and Third-Tier materials with higher-tier ones, unknowingly giving the Haotian Mirror a more powerful body!

In Chen Mobai's opinion, all replacements would certainly need to be Fourth-Tier materials!

The Immortal Sect definitely had no way, and it might be hard to find in the Eastern Barrens, but the entire Eastern Continent certainly would!

Conveniently, the Five Elements Chamber of Commerce, led by Yue Zutao, had already gone to the Eastern Lands. Chen Mobai planned to write a letter to Yue Zutao after his seclusion, asking him to keep an eye out for the Fourth-Tier materials needed for the Haotian Mirror's ascension.

Whether they could acquire them or not didn't matter for now; he just needed to gather information.

As Chen Mobai thought this, he felt a wave of weakness emanate from the Haotian Mirror and immediately stopped the Contemplation of Unity.

After all, it had just reached Fourth-Tier and couldn't withstand him continuously absorbing its essence to refine himself for such a long time!

Afterward, out of curiosity, Chen Mobai performed the Feedback Technique, and then deeply regretted it!

As soon as he activated it, the Haotian Mirror eagerly began to absorb his Pure Yang spiritual power. Within a few breaths, his Dantian Qi Sea was half empty.

Chen Mobai immediately stopped and opened his Lesser Void to replenish himself, thus avoiding damage to his foundation!

Indeed, Third-Tier spiritual power used to replenish a Fourth-Tier artifact resulted in significant loss!

Chen Mobai felt that perhaps only half of the Pure Yang spiritual power absorbed by the Haotian Mirror had been effectively utilized.

After concluding the practice of various techniques from the Contemplation of Unity, Chen Mobai took out a Return to Truth Pill and consumed it.

However, because he was in the Heaven-Mending Group's cultivation room, he didn't dare to fully unleash his spiritual energy absorption. After all, the Return to Truth Pill's effect enabled him to absorb spiritual energy dozens of times more efficiently than usual.

Chen Mobai flicked his finger, activating the ten high-grade spirit stones he had already arranged around him!

These spirit stones formed a Spirit Gathering Array!

He even took out the Red Cloud Mist Silk to conceal any disturbances!

Even so, he still absorbed most of the Fourth-Tier spiritual energy provided by the cultivation room, causing the astonished leader of the Fifth Group, who managed the area, to marvel.

The group leader thought, "Our chief director can absorb and refine so much spiritual energy just by casually cultivating. He truly has the potential for Spirit Transformation!"

After an unknown period, Chen Mobai slowly opened his eyes!

He linked the "Inner Observation of Self" feature of the Crown of Heaven and Earth to the Pure Yang Scroll!

Soon, the progress of his Golden Core cultivation appeared in his mind: Eighth Layer, 9%.

A single Return to Truth Pill could now only provide 9% progress, a significant decrease in efficiency compared to when he first started taking it.

Although he had anticipated this, he still couldn't help but sigh upon seeing it.

It seemed after refining the third batch of Return to Truth Pills, there was no need for him to consume them anymore. He could directly put them up for sale in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion or have the Five Elements Chamber of Commerce introduce them as goods into the Eastern Lands.

However, Chen Mobai wasn't discouraged. After all, the Immortal Sect had more than just the Return to Truth Pill for increasing spiritual power in the late Golden Core stage.

Since Qing Nü was already in the Eastern Barrens, he would have her work hard to improve a new pill formula that suited his Pure Yang Scroll cultivation, allowing him to reach Golden Core Perfection as quickly as possible.

With the Five Elements Sect now unifying the Eastern Barrens, collecting Third-Tier alchemical ingredients posed virtually no problem. Even if a rare main ingredient wasn't available there, they could find ways to purchase or exchange for it in neighboring territories.

Realizing this, Chen Mobai decided not to continue his secluded cultivation with the Return to Truth Pills. He checked the time, put away the empty high-grade spirit stone shells and the Red Cloud Mist Silk around him, ensuring no traces were left behind, then activated the door and walked out!

"Chief Director, you've emerged from seclusion!"

Outside the door, the leader of the Fifth Group respectfully greeted him.