Chapter 775: Tianzhao

After Elder Sanjue arrived, Chen Mobai went to pay him a visit.

"Here, this is my research on the Nine Heavens Pure Spirit Purple Essence Qi."

Inside the Welcoming Immortal Hotel, Elder Sanjue handed a document to Chen Mobai. Upon receiving it and taking a look, Chen Mobai was slightly surprised. Besides detailing the essence of the Nine Heavens Pure Spirit Purple Essence Qi as Yin-Yang Qi, the document also outlined three potential methods for using Immortal Sect techniques to help synthesize it.

"Since I cannot perceive or absorb the Yin-Yang Qi, you will need to test these three methods yourself to see if they work."

Although Elder Sanjue was a Nascent Soul cultivator, he had no means of dealing with the Nine Heavens Pure Spirit Purple Essence Qi. Even the two Nascent Soul Elders, Qingjing and Qingshi, would need to rely on the Twin Purple-Green Swords to condense it. However, after Chen Mobai mastered the "Drinking from the Vessel" technique, he could achieve this without the Twin Purple-Green Swords. After all, by performing the Grand Art "Echo of the Empty Valley," he could perceive and listen to the Yin-Yang Qi from the Nine Heavens. The "Drinking from the Vessel" realm allowed him to merely absorb it.

However, the essence of Yin-Yang Qi was extremely potent. Given Chen Mobai's current mere Core Formation realm, without the Twin Purple-Green Swords to filter and merge it, his Dao body would likely be burned or frozen and cracked the moment he tried to absorb it due to the unbearable power.

"Thank you, Elder."

After carefully reading through the document, Chen Mobai felt his horizons greatly expanded. The three methods were talismans, pills, and magic artifacts! He planned to try the talisman method first if he had time, and then ask Qing Nü to assess the feasibility of refining Yin-Yang Qi into Pure Spirit Purple Essence Pills.

"Tomorrow, besides Senior Sister Pei, two of my friends should also successfully open their Golden Core realms. You might need to prepare beforehand, Elder." Chen Mobai recalled how Elder Qingping was almost drained by the realm gate when he and Wenren Xuewei opened their realms, and kindly offered a reminder.

"Young man, in the future, you should refrain from using the Phoenix Facing the Sun Diagram to help others with such matters..." Elder Sanjue admonished him earnestly. Chen Mobai was somewhat puzzled.

"Within the Immortal Sect, the current system and resource allocation are designed to both advance society as a whole and offer hope to everyone, while also identifying talented individuals," Elder Sanjue explained. "This system was calculated by Ancestor Qianxing using the Inch-Square Book. It represents a perfect state for the Immortal Sect's personnel renewal and metabolism. Under these circumstances, if a genius like you, who transcends the norm, occasionally appears, the Immortal Sect's resources and system can automatically adjust, leaning slightly in your favor to accommodate and integrate you. However, if too many geniuses like you appear, the Immortal Sect's resources and high-level positions would become insufficient. In that case, they would have no choice but to suppress them. Over time, if these suppressed geniuses see no chance for advancement before they die, they might, out of desperation, abandon the rules and morals that have bound them their entire lives and commit rebellious acts. Lin Daoming and you are examples of two extremes: he left the Immortal Sect, while you transcended its conventional limits. Nevertheless, our Immortal Sect's foundation is quite robust, capable of withstanding both his defection and your emergence. But if such geniuses appear in clusters, the Immortal Sect would certainly be unable to bear it."

Elder Sanjue, likely seeing Chen Mobai as one of his own, uncharacteristically shared some thought-provoking words. His meaning was simple: Chen Mobai using the Phoenix Facing the Sun Diagram to help Xiaohei and Yan Bingxuan open their Golden Core realms was something the Immortal Sect's foundation could tolerate. But if he helped one or two people in every generation, over the long term, the Immortal Sect's system in this regard would become unsustainable, possibly even collapsing. In that scenario, the Immortal Sect might stop opening the realm gates for Foundation Establishment cultivators, making this benefit exclusive to Golden Core cultivators.

Elder Sanjue's words were not just about the realm gates but encompassed all aspects of the Immortal Sect. Helping one or two people close to you was only natural. But if too many were helped, and the Immortal Sect's resource expenditure couldn't match the output, the rules would inevitably need to be restructured to restore balance. The current rules of the Immortal Sect were established by Ancestor Qianxing; breaking them would be equivalent to shaming the Ancestor.

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder!" Chen Mobai, upon hearing this, looked enlightened. He had vaguely understood these concepts after reaching a high position, but had never fully connected them. Only after Elder Sanjue's guidance today did he truly grasp the full picture.

"Most older folks know these things. But if I had known you arranged for two such individuals, I wouldn't have come to suffer this for Peach Blossom." Hearing this, Chen Mobai could only take out a box of tea from his realm as an apology.

The next day. Chen Mobai specifically took leave to visit his good friend, Zhongli Tianyu, at Five Peaks Immortal Mountain.

"You only visit when you need something. Speak up, what brings you here?" Zhongli Tianyu put down the book he was reading, looking surprised as Chen Mobai walked in.

"Isn't the realm gate opening again soon? I have two friends and a junior I favor who are participating this time, and I want to know immediately if they succeed." Chen Mobai smiled and spoke frankly. Zhongli Tianyu nodded, then gestured to the tea set on the table for Chen Mobai to help himself, while he resumed reading his comic book.

After graduation, he was assigned to the military by the Zhongli family. After twenty years of training, he officially retired and, under the military's re-employment policy, was assigned to Five Peaks Immortal Mountain as a security guard. As the Immortal Sect's only Tier 6 spiritual land, Five Peaks Immortal Mountain's property management was also a public service entity. Furthermore, the security guard positions were entirely controlled by the military's elite. After all, those to be protected here were either families of Spirit Transformation cultivators or actual Spirit Transformation cultivators; ordinary people couldn't handle such a job.

When it was time for dinner, Zhongli Yue, having learned of Chen Mobai's arrival, personally cooked a meal.

"Tianyu, it's rare for Commissioner Chen to visit. Don't just stay cooped up at home all day; go out for a walk with him." After dinner, Zhongli Yue saw Zhongli Tianyu lying on the sofa again with his comic book and couldn't help but frown, telling him to go out and get some sun.

Chen Mobai saw this scene and was reminded of his younger self. Zhongli Tianyu reluctantly put on a jacket and went out with Chen Mobai.

"Where to?"

"Let's go to Yuanyang Temple." Chen Mobai pointed to the Pure Yang Bell on the mountaintop, explaining that the view from there was best for seeing all the cultivators gathering below to open their Golden Core realms.

The two familiar figures arrived at Yuanyang Temple. Chen Mobai was surprised to find the main gate tightly shut even during the day.

"Nangong Xuanyu came here to go into seclusion after obtaining the Infant Nurturing Pill." Only after asking Zhongli Tianyu did Chen Mobai learn the reason. Could the Immortal Sect's top Core Formation cultivator successfully form a Nascent Soul? According to online comments, Nangong Xuanyu had the highest chance among those who received this batch of Infant Nurturing Pills. But Chen Mobai certainly hoped he would not succeed.

Chen Mobai gazed deeply at the tightly shut Yuanyang Temple, then subtly peered with his Void-Piercing Spiritual Eye and listened with the Echo of the Empty Valley. As expected, he found that the pure spiritual energy from the entire mountaintop was continuously converging there. Moreover, this vast and mighty spiritual energy seemed to be swallowed by a bottomless black hole, entering but never leaving.

"What are you looking at? Let's go!" Zhongli Tianyu, who was already nearing the mountaintop, called out to Chen Mobai standing at the entrance of Yuanyang Temple. Chen Mobai immediately dispersed his spiritual eye and Echo of the Empty Valley, following him up to the summit.

The brass-colored Pure Yang Bell looked exactly the same as when he had visited with Yan Bingxuan. Zhongli Tianyu, as usual, lifted the suspended thick wooden mallet and struck it heavily. With a deep "dong," he sat cross-legged in the pavilion, feeling his spiritual consciousness become clear.

Zhongli Tianyu's essence, qi, and spirit had long been refined to the extreme of the Foundation Establishment realm. Chen Mobai even felt that he could successfully form a Golden Core without consuming a Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill. However, it was clear that the Zhongli family did not want to take that risk. After all, their hopes for Zhongli Tianyu were not merely to reach the Golden Core realm, but the higher Nascent Soul, or even the peak Spirit Transformation realm of the Immortal Sect! Therefore, before ascending to the peak, Zhongli Tianyu could not afford to make a single misstep in his cultivation.

Meanwhile, Chen Mobai was already standing on the mountaintop, gazing at the void power that rippled and undulated throughout the Five Peaks Immortal Mountain due to the opening of the realm gate, so dense it was almost palpable. Suppressing the impulse to draw in this pure and vast void power, and ignoring Guibao's stirring, Chen Mobai calmly looked at the beautiful and magnificent scene before him. On the summit of Immortal Gathering Peak, where the realm gate was located, the colossal stone gate burst forth with streaks of silver-white flowing light, like meteor showers streaking across the night sky. Guided with precision, they descended towards the cultivators seated in the wooden huts below. Activating his Void-Piercing Spiritual Eye, Chen Mobai clearly saw that the most void power was being drawn towards the skies above three wooden huts. He nodded slightly. Seeing this, he knew that the three girls were certainly stable. His hard work coaching them during this period had not been in vain.

"Do you want to strike it?" At this moment, Zhongli Tianyu stretched, stood up from beneath the Pure Yang Bell, and asked Chen Mobai.

"I'll pass." Chen Mobai gently shook his head, mainly because he was afraid that if he entered meditation due to the bell's sound, Yan Bingxuan and his daughter, who were opening their Golden Core realms below, might encounter unexpected situations. Moreover, the Pure Yang Bell in its dormant state truly wasn't of much use to him. After all, he could always receive the tempering of his own destiny artifact, the Morning Bell, whenever he had free time. He had become somewhat immune to this level of bell sound.

"If you can truly become the Master of the Immortal Sect in the future," Zhongli Tianyu said, suddenly bringing up a new topic, seeing Chen Mobai constantly observing below, "you might consider using the method of 'Can Tong Qi' to integrate and evolve your destiny artifact with this Pure Yang Bell."

"Can 'Can Tong Qi' be used that way?" Chen Mobai genuinely didn't know this and turned his head, asking with some surprise.

"Otherwise, how do you think my mirror was re-integrated from its shattered state? This method was conceived by our ancestor after he comprehended the 'Can Tong Qi'..." Ancestor Zhongli, even in the history of the Immortal Sect, was a person of great wisdom. Not only did he forge a new path by using the Dragon Turtle Nascent Soul to control all six departments, mastering the "Six Control Scripture," but he also assimilated other Spirit Transformation grand arts of the Immortal Sect, glimpsing realms beyond Spirit Transformation. Among these, he had also cultivated the "Can Tong Qi."

The Eight Trigrams Mirror, a Tier 5 magic artifact, shattered when Ancestor Zhongli attempted to cultivate the Void Realm. After his breakthrough failed, the remainder of his lifespan, besides arranging his affairs, was dedicated to creating the method of artifact fusion using "Can Tong Qi." He originally created this method to allow future generations to re-fuse the Eight Trigrams Mirror, restoring it to its peak, or even elevating it further. This method also brought the additive property of "Can Tong Qi" to its extreme. For example, Chen Mobai's Morning Bell and Ancestor Yuanyang's Pure Yang Bell, being of the same lineage, were both artifacts of the Pure Yang set. So, if Chen Mobai's Morning Bell also ascends to the peak of Tier 4 in the future, then fusing it with this Pure Yang Bell might give it a chance to become a Tier 5 artifact!

After hearing Zhongli Tianyu's words, Chen Mobai couldn't help but exclaim in wonder! "Your ancestor was truly a genius!"

"Perhaps slightly less talented than you in cultivation," Zhongli Tianyu said proudly, "but in terms of wisdom and enlightenment, my ancestor could contend for the top spot in the Immortal Sect!"

"Not at all," Chen Mobai humbly replied, "his cultivation talent was definitely superior to mine." Chen Mobai knew his own situation; his current achievements were entirely due to resource investment, and he dared not admit to being more outstanding than Ancestor Zhongli. This was a preeminent sage among all Spirit Transformation cultivators in the Immortal Sect's history.

"Let's discuss something," Zhongli Tianyu finally revealed his true intention, "If you gain power in the future, could you give me the Pure Yang Mirror from Yuanyang Temple?"

Chen Mobai paused slightly upon hearing this, then understood his meaning. "You want to use the Pure Yang Mirror to repair the Eight Trigrams Mirror?"

"Indeed, nothing escapes you. In the Immortal Sect, while there are many mirror-type artifacts, those reaching Tier 4 are few, and among those, the Pure Yang Mirror is the only one at the peak of Tier 4. If the Eight Trigrams Mirror is to return to Tier 5 in the future, it might be necessary to fuse it with the Pure Yang Mirror." Zhongli Tianyu spoke shamelessly. Chen Mobai now understood why he had suddenly brought up the topic; he had been waiting for this moment.

"The Pure Yang Mirror officially belongs to the Pure Yang Academy," Chen Mobai said. "Even if I become the Master of the Immortal Sect, I can't give it to you if Nangong Xuanyu disagrees. Moreover, as one of Ancestor Yuanyang's destiny artifacts, it's considered an antique. According to Immortal Sect rules, it cannot be destroyed."

As Chen Mobai finished speaking, Zhongli Tianyu had already come up with an excuse for him. "How can fusing the Pure Yang Mirror with the Eight Trigrams Mirror be called destruction? I would be helping the Pure Yang Mirror complete an ascension that has been stalled for a thousand years, evolving together through mutual assistance." Zhongli Tianyu spoke with righteous indignation. Chen Mobai had never before realized that this seemingly honest young man could utter such brazen words.

"Let's talk about it when that time comes." Chen Mobai shook his head, not daring to agree to this matter. After all, this was written into the rules. He probably wouldn't have the authority to proceed with it until he became a Spirit Transformation Ancestor.

"In the future, you'll be one of the three Hall Masters of the Immortal Sect and a Pure Yang Scroll cultivator," Zhongli Tianyu once again tried to tempt Chen Mobai. "You can apply to study Ancestor Yuanyang's Pure Yang set. At that time, just say you suddenly grasped an opportunity to upgrade the Pure Yang Bell, and then fuse your destiny artifact with it. If it succeeds, publicly state that Ancestor Yuanyang's Pure Yang Bell underwent its final transformation under the nourishing influence of your Pure Yang True Qi. They won't know that your Morning Bell is the actual foundation of that bell anyway. I don't need to elaborate on the uses of a Tier 5 artifact, do I? If you have this, combined with 'Can Tong Qi,' your cultivation will advance even faster." Chen Mobai was greatly moved upon hearing it.

"I've noted that, but if I use this excuse, what about you?" Chen Mobai asked. "You can't exactly claim that the Pure Yang Mirror reached Tier 5 under your nourishment, can you? At that point, you'd be essentially sacrificing your family's ancestral Eight Trigrams Mirror. Is your family willing to accept the loss of that prestigious name?"

Chen Mobai's words caused a flicker of hesitation on Zhongli Tianyu's face, then he revealed his true thoughts. "To be honest, I'm a pragmatist. I don't care about names or titles. As long as my destiny artifact can advance to Tier 5 in the future, I don't mind if it's called the Pure Yang Mirror instead of the Eight Trigrams Mirror. However, our family's patriarchs probably wouldn't accept that. But isn't it still early for this? Once I outlive them all, I'll be in charge, and my word will be law in the Zhongli family!"

After hearing these words, Chen Mobai immediately gave Zhongli Tianyu a thumbs-up. He hadn't expected this guy's worldview to align so perfectly with his own! He truly was his good friend!

However, this matter was currently just talk between them. If they were ever to actually implement it, they would at least need to wait until both of them reached Nascent Soul, or even one of them reached Spirit Transformation! After all, even the three Hall Masters in the Immortal Sect faced considerable constraints.

Next, Chen Mobai took out a tea set, and the two began drinking tea on the mountaintop.

That day, Chen Mobai gently set down his teacup, looking down the mountain, and let out a sigh of relief. Yan Bingxuan and Chen Xiaohei had both succeeded.

Before long, Elder Sanjue's figure appeared below. After a few words, he led the three women up Immortal Gathering Peak. Chen Mobai had already explained all the details of opening a Golden Core realm to them. At this point, the matter was settled. After all, the size of the realm they could open was determined by how much void power they absorbed and refined.

Chen Mobai nodded, put away his tea set, woke Zhongli Tianyu who was meditating under the Pure Yang Bell, and the two walked down the mountain together. Soon, the two arrived in front of Yuanyang Temple's main gate! After taking another look, Chen Mobai followed Zhongli Tianyu back to his home.

Zhongli Yue had already prepared a sumptuous lunch. Chen Mobai couldn't refuse and planned to leave after eating.

"The taste of this mandarin fish..." Halfway through the meal, Chen Mobai was about to praise how delicious the food was. Suddenly, the entire Immortal Gathering Peak began to tremble slightly. Chen Mobai and Zhongli Tianyu both put down their chopsticks and bowls, exchanging bewildered glances. Then they both looked at Zhongli Yue.

Zhongli Yue, worthy of being an elder Golden Core Master, first paused slightly, then recalled her extensive experiences, quickly finding similar scenarios. Combining this with her knowledge, she took a deep breath. "Nangong Xuanyu is forming his Nascent Soul! He's beginning to draw in the spiritual energy of the entire Immortal Gathering Peak, which is causing this tremor!"

Hearing this, Chen Mobai's mind was shaken! To be able to reach this stage! Truly worthy of being the Immortal Sect's top Core Formation cultivator!

At this point, there was no longer any appetite for eating. All three went outside and looked towards Yuanyang Temple. Streaks of crimson light, like morning glow, surged from all directions, condensing on the mountaintop into continuous long rainbows of spiritual energy, resembling evening clouds or fiery clouds.

"Our property management will provide Tier 5 spiritual energy to Councilor Nangong as per our previous agreement. To prevent any unforeseen incidents, we kindly request all residents to refrain from cultivating or absorbing Immortal Gathering Peak's spiritual energy during this period, to avoid Qi deviation caused by energy seizure!" At this moment, Zhongli Yue received a call, and she put it on speaker, allowing Chen Mobai and Zhongli Tianyu to quickly hear the message. Although the words were polite, it was clear they hoped all cultivators on Immortal Gathering Peak would suspend their cultivation during Nangong Xuanyu's Nascent Soul formation.

"Let's temporarily leave Immortal Gathering Peak." After a moment of hesitation, Zhongli Yue said this to Chen Mobai and Zhongli Tianyu.

"Of course, that's what we should do!" Chen Mobai also nodded upon hearing this. During a major breakthrough, being disturbed was the greatest taboo. Although Chen Mobai held an antagonistic stance towards Nangong Xuanyu due to their positions, he would not resort to petty tactics on such significant matters. If Nangong Xuanyu could truly succeed in forming his Nascent Soul, it would mean that the Immortal Sect's Infant Nurturing Pills indeed possessed miraculous powers of creation. It would also be a huge boost of confidence for him! If he failed, then by leaving Immortal Gathering Peak, they would have shown their stance, ensuring Nangong Xuanyu couldn't attribute his failure to them.

The three arrived at the foot of Immortal Gathering Peak. Besides them, there were also some members of Spirit Transformation families, with whom Zhongli Yue exchanged familiar greetings. In addition, cultivators arrived in small groups from other immortal mountains, gathering in their respective circles, pointing at the Nascent Soul formation omen on the mountaintop and discussing animatedly. Many people showed expressions of envy.

"He should be able to succeed!" One bearded cultivator, surrounded by the crowd, seemed skilled in aura reading. Looking at the pure spiritual energy in the sky, densely formed like fiery clouds, resembling a sea of fire pouring down from the heavens, he spoke. Chen Mobai's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. Zhongli Tianyu, however, looked envious!

"Hey, where are you going?" After watching for a moment, Chen Mobai suddenly turned and left. Zhongli Tianyu couldn't help but ask.

"My friends and juniors are still on Immortal Gathering Peak. I'm worried whether Councilor Nangong's Nascent Soul omen will affect their Golden Core realm opening, so I'm going to check on them." As he spoke, Chen Mobai headed towards Immortal Gathering Peak.

"That's Ancestor Qianxing's cultivation ground; you can't go up there," Zhongli Tianyu reminded him.

"I'll call Master Yu. She's also very concerned about that junior of mine. Let's see if she can take me up." At Chen Mobai's suggestion, Zhongli Tianyu nodded, and the two parted ways there.

"I've already spoken with Steward Chen Chun on Immortal Gathering Peak; she'll come down to meet us." By the time Chen Mobai arrived at the foot of Immortal Gathering Peak, Yu Huiping was already waiting. She uttered words that made Chen Mobai's expression solemn. Chen Chun! It had been a long time since they last met!

About a quarter of an hour later, Chen Chun's figure appeared in their sight. "Follow my steps closely. The path up here has been arranged by my master like a game level. One wrong step and you'll return to the foot of the mountain, having to start over." Chen Chun spoke calmly, then turned and walked towards the summit of Immortal Gathering Peak. Yu Huiping followed her up the mountain first. Seeing this, Chen Mobai also quickly followed. To avoid making a mistake, Chen Mobai directly entered the Inch-Square Book state.

About an hour later, they reached the summit. The tall, ancient stone gate still stood on the summit of Immortal Gathering Peak. Its vast and profound aura, which seemed to suppress mountains and rivers, made Chen Mobai's mind begin to tremble again.

"Oh, why are you two here?" Before the steps of the realm gate, Elder Sanjue, looking slightly pale, was drinking a spiritual water to replenish his true qi. Seeing Chen Mobai and Yu Huiping, he looked surprised.

"It's like this..." Chen Mobai voiced his concerns, then pointed in the direction of Immortal Gathering Peak, only to suddenly realize that at the summit of Immortal Gathering Peak, it was completely calm, without any trace of the Nascent Soul formation omen!

"This entire Immortal Gathering Peak is enveloped by Ancestor Qianxing's realm," Elder Sanjue explained. "If it weren't for Ancestor Baiguang's realm next door, he could even directly encompass the entire Five Peaks Immortal Mountain!" He added that although the Nascent Soul formation omen appeared incredibly tumultuous and vast from outside the Immortal Sect, within the domain of a Spirit Transformation cultivator, not a single trace of it could penetrate.

"I see. Then I was overly worried." Chen Mobai couldn't help but chuckle wryly upon hearing this, then apologized to Yu Huiping, who had come up with him.

"I was also quite worried about Xiaohei, so coming up to see is good too!" However, Yu Huiping shook her head, said this, and then respectfully greeted Elder Sanjue. "Xiaohei's survival back then was largely thanks to your assistance, Elder!"

Elder Sanjue shook his head upon hearing this. By now, his true qi seemed to have recovered by more than half. He put the remaining half-bottle of spiritual water back into his realm and revealed something Chen Mobai did not know! "If you hadn't borrowed that Ten-Thousand-Year Warm Jade from True Monarch Taiyuan back then, even with my profound abilities, I couldn't have saved the Nine Yin Absolute Meridian!"