Chapter 783: Grass Hall

Pure Nine Lotus Lanterns.

According to custom in the Tianhe Realm, if a cultivator fails to form a nascent soul after their core shatters and the soul attempts to emerge, it almost always leads to certain death.

Could it be that Yan Shaoyin obtained a bottle of Three Luminaries Divine Water?

Chen Mobai considered this possibility.

“Do you know this person?” Chen Mobai asked He Sui, who was beside him, pointing to Yan Shaoyin, who was conversing with a vendor in front of a stall.

“This person is named Yan Shaoyin. He was recruited as an honored guest by our sect’s merchant guild because he can refine some fourth-tier pill recipes,” He Sui replied. “A few years ago, he rented a fourth-tier cave abode in Zixingfang to attempt nascent soul formation. He even triggered heavenly signs, but unfortunately, his foundation was shallow, and he collapsed midway through. However, he is said to be a Grand Elder of a small sect outside Dongyue. He has some wealth and exchanged for a bottle of pseudo-Three Luminaries Divine Water before his nascent soul attempt. So, even though his breakthrough failed, he managed to save his life.”

He Sui looked at Yan Shaoyin and, indeed, recognized him, providing a detailed introduction.

“What is pseudo-Three Luminaries Divine Water?” Chen Mobai asked again, hearing a term he hadn’t encountered before.

“It’s a defective product of the true Three Luminaries Divine Water. The pill toxin content far exceeds the limit. Although cultivators can save their lives after taking it, their spiritual power cultivation will be dissipated, and their vitality will be greatly diminished.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai’s eyes lit up.

Excessive pill toxins!

Pill toxins were what he feared the least.

However, if there were side effects of dissipating spiritual power and vitality, even with the Phoenix Facing the Sun Diagram, he wouldn't dare to take it. But Chen Mobai had already made a mental note of this pseudo-Three Luminaries Divine Water.

At this moment, he also understood why Yan Shaoyin looked gaunt with dark circles under his eyes, his aura dim, appearing as if he didn't have long to live.

But for some reason, seeing Yan Shaoyin like this, Chen Mobai felt a subtle sense of pride. This was an overt plot he had orchestrated. After years of patient planning, everything was progressing according to his intentions. Although Yan Shaoyin hadn't died, making the outcome less than perfect, Chen Mobai reconsidered and thought that Yan Shaoyin's current state might actually be more beneficial for the Five Elements Sect's unification of the Eastern Barrens.

Chen Mobai then asked He Sui about the background of the cultivator running the stall. He learned it was a Core Formation cultivator from the Stellar Dao Sect, named Shen Changlong, who specialized in body tempering. Shen Changlong's body tempering cultivation had long ago reached the peak of the third-tier using precious resources like Coiling Dragon Spiritual Rice, but his spiritual power refinement was slow, still far from the perfected Core Formation stage.

At this moment, Yan Shaoyin was standing in front of Shen Changlong’s stall, examining a light blue herb with bright silver veins.

“This is a fourth-tier Sky-Blue Silverglow Grass. You’ve looked at it nearly three times already. If you want to trade, trade. If not, hurry up and leave; don’t hinder my business,” Shen Changlong, a cultivator with a fleshy, stern face, spoke to Yan Shaoyin impatiently.

“What a pity. If it were the old me, I would definitely have traded with you. But now, it's of no use to me,” Yan Shaoyin said, shaking his head regretfully, and put down the Sky-Blue Silverglow Grass he was holding.

“Boss, excuse me, what do you need in exchange for this herb?”

A gentle, familiar voice sounded in his ear, making Yan Shaoyin shiver. He then turned to look at the newcomer. The black-haired, clear-eyed, and well-proportioned young man was also looking at him. The moment their eyes met, the young man offered a gentle smile and nodded slightly.

“Master Yan, long time no see.”

Upon hearing Chen Mobai's words, Yan Shaoyin's lips moved for a long time before he finally replied, “Sect Master Chen... what a coincidence...”

After listening, Chen Mobai took out a Reversion Pill and handed it to Shen Changlong.

“I haven’t heard of this kind of pill. I need to find a fellow Daoist from the Morality Sect to appraise it,” Shen Changlong said. He had set up his stall here during the Big Dipper Assembly to exchange pills that could enhance spiritual power for cultivators in the late Core Formation stage with top righteous cultivators from across Eastern Continent. However, the Reversion Pill Chen Mobai offered for exchange was not among the well-known pills here.

“Fellow Daoist Shen, this pill is called Reversion. I myself consumed four of them to reach perfected Core Formation back then,” Yan Shaoyin suddenly interjected.

Shen Changlong knew of Yan Shaoyin’s accomplishments in alchemy, but cultivators in the Tianhe Realm were very cautious. Even so, he still insisted on going to the Morality Sect’s shop for an appraisal.

“Sect Master Chen, if the pill is authentic, I will cover the appraisal fee,” Shen Changlong said. Chen Mobai nodded, knowing that he had nothing to hide.

However, when Chen Mobai and Shen Changlong left together, Yan Shaoyin remained standing where he was, not following them. Chen Mobai glanced at him but said nothing more. After all, this was the Stellar Dao Sect. Even Nascent Soul cultivators had to obey the rules and could not engage in combat or kill here.

Allowing Yan Shaoyin to disappear from his sight, Chen Mobai had already followed Shen Changlong to the end of the street. It turned out to be a thatched hut, inside which several cultivators in Taoist robes were attending to the Core Formation cultivators coming and going. Chen Mobai even saw a Nascent Soul Venerable inside, wearing a purple-gold crown and with a face as refined as jade.

Before coming, Chen Mobai had already inquired about this place with He Sui. He learned that this was the Morality Sect’s Caotang, a one-stop shop in the Eastern Lands’ Sacred Ground for selling, refining, and appraising pills. Even across the five continents and four seas of the entire Tianhe Realm, the reputation of Caotang was universally revered. After all, the Morality Sect’s Soul Transformation True Monarch was one of the few sixth-tier alchemists, even subtly holding the title of the Tianhe Realm’s foremost alchemist. And in the Eastern Continent, Caotang was the undisputed authority on pills.

“Gentlemen, please come this way,” a young Taoist acolyte, after hearing their request, immediately led them to a side compartment. Inside, a female Taoist priestess, dressed in a moon-white robe, was seated. Her appearance was plain, and her demeanor simple. She was the Morality Sect cultivator responsible for appraising pills within Caotang.

Chen Mobai dared not probe a Sacred Ground disciple, but a rough estimation revealed her cultivation was no less than his own, seemingly a perfected Core Formation cultivator. It could only be said that it was indeed the Morality Sect; even ordinary resident alchemists possessed such cultivation.

As he was thinking this, the priestess had already taken the Reversion Pill. Her plain, white hands held the pill in her palm, and strands of shimmering white light interwoven like silk threads formed a cocoon, encasing the Reversion Pill. After half an incense stick’s time, the shimmering white light dissipated.

“The pill is fine; it can indeed be used to enhance the spiritual power of late Core Formation cultivators.”

Hearing this, Shen Changlong’s face showed a mix of surprise and joy, but there was still one crucial aspect that needed appraisal. “May I ask, fellow Daoist, what is the quality of this pill?”

In the Tianhe Realm, while the measurement of pill toxins was not as precise as in the Immortal Sects, which could go to several decimal places, there were still general quality assessments. For example, pseudo-Three Luminaries Divine Water contained too many pill toxins during its refinement. According to the Morality Sect’s standards, pill quality was categorized into High, Medium, and Low. High quality was the standard for pills sold by Caotang, Low quality was the minimum acceptable for cultivators to consume, and Medium quality was in between. Shen Changlong had already decided that as long as it met the Medium quality standard, he would make the trade.

“The pill’s quality is… peerless.” However, at this moment, the priestess spoke with some hesitation.

“Ah? What is 'peerless'?” Shen Changlong suspected he had misheard. In his life, he had never heard of a ‘peerless’ pill.

“This Reversion Pill is entirely free of pill toxins. According to our Morality Sect’s standards, it can be classified as peerless.”

Hearing the priestess’s words, Shen Changlong gasped. Not only him, but even the accompanying Taoist acolyte and He Sui widened their eyes in disbelief. Especially the former. As a disciple of the Morality Sect, he was even more aware of the true value of the word 'peerless.' While it might be acceptable for ordinary low-tier pills, for a third-tier top-grade pill to be free of toxins, even the grandmaster alchemists within the Morality Sect would depend on their state. It generally required extremely good luck, deep familiarity with the pill recipe, and numerous prior refinements to even have a chance of producing such a pill.

“May I ask which master refined this pill?” the Morality Sect priestess asked curiously as she returned the Reversion Pill. Shen Changlong immediately looked at Chen Mobai, who smiled slightly and casually offered an excuse. “This pill was something I found in my sect’s treasure vault. It’s likely the work of a senior predecessor.” Before the Five Elements Sect had sufficient strength, it was best to keep Qingnu’s existence hidden. After all, people here were unpredictable. The priestess’s gaze flickered slightly upon hearing Chen Mobai’s words, but she said nothing more, merely nodding.

Shen Changlong then very happily handed the Sky-Blue Silverglow Grass to Chen Mobai. However, Chen Mobai took it and immediately gave it to the priestess in front of him, asking her to help appraise it as well. Seeing this scene, Shen Changlong’s face cycled between green and white, but this was a common occurrence in the Tianhe Realm, so he couldn’t say much.

“This Sky-Blue Silverglow Grass is only a fourth-tier low-grade. Compared to this peerless Reversion Pill, you might need to make up the difference in value.” The result of the priestess’s appraisal made Shen Changlong’s eyebrows twitch even more, but in this place, he dared not act presumptuously.

“Sect Master Chen, I wonder how many Reversion Pills you have on you? I am willing to exchange another pill with you using this, considering it as compensation for the difference.” Finally, he gritted his teeth and took out a bottle of something. “This is our Stellar Dao Sect’s Starlight Spirit Liquid. It’s a body-tempering liquid compatible with any cultivator, and it’s also one of the three ingredients for Three Luminaries Divine Water.”

Seeing him produce this, He Sui, who was nearby, looked utterly shocked. However, Chen Mobai didn’t know the origin of the Starlight Spirit Liquid, so he still handed it to the priestess opposite him for appraisal.

“A fourth-tier spirit liquid, of medium-low quality. It can be used to repair any physical damage. If the physical body is perfect, it can be used to enhance body-tempering techniques.”

After hearing the priestess’s appraisal, Chen Mobai thought about how his Immortal Dao Body had been at the peak of the third-tier for quite some time. He wondered if this Starlight Spirit Liquid could help him break through this bottleneck.

“Brother Shen, please!” Chen Mobai took out a second Reversion Pill and exchanged it with Shen Changlong with a smile. But Shen Changlong also followed suit, handing it to the priestess for another appraisal.

“Quality—peerless.”

Hearing the same appraisal again, Shen Changlong’s earlier hesitation about giving away the Starlight Spirit Liquid vanished. Meanwhile, the Morality Sect personnel confirmed that someone had indeed refined a batch of third-tier pills, all of which were of peerless quality. It wasn’t just good luck producing a single one by chance.

Both Chen Mobai and Shen Changlong wore smiles as they left Caotang.

After the two parted ways, Chen Mobai re-entered Caotang. He encountered the guiding Taoist acolyte and asked if there were any high-tier medicinal herbs for sale.

“Fellow Daoist, our Morality Sect only accepts high-tier medicinal herbs,” the acolyte replied with an air of considerable pride.

Besides appraising pills, Caotang also undertook pill refinement for others and sold pills refined by their disciples for practice. Since most Morality Sect disciples were alchemists, their annual consumption of medicinal herbs was immense. This meant that even with the largest medicinal fields in the Eastern Lands, the Morality Sect’s demand for various herbs remained exceptionally high. High-tier herbs, in particular, were extremely scarce; if their own cultivated stock ran out, they would have to wait for hundreds or thousands of years. Therefore, Caotang only accepted herbs; they never sold them.

Chen Mobai felt quite regretful upon hearing this. Next, he inquired about their pill refinement services.

“Fellow Daoist, our Caotang has a list of pills we undertake to refine. Those not on the list cannot be refined,” the acolyte said, taking out a jade slip and handing it to Chen Mobai, which contained the list. Chen Mobai took it and, after a glance, found that the highest-tier pills listed were only third-tier. This left him somewhat disappointed. He had originally hoped to gather the materials for a Nascent Soul Condensing Pill and ask the Morality Sect for help in refining it.

After leaving Caotang, He Sui, who was beside him, lightly coughed and spoke, “Senior, have you decided on a place to stay?”

Chen Mobai shook his head, and He Sui immediately began introducing the spirit vein cave abodes in Stone City. Among them, the highest-tier cave abodes available for rent to outsiders were those with fourth-tier spirit veins. However, the price was extremely high: one high-grade spirit stone per day. For a third-tier cave abode, one high-grade spirit stone allowed for two months of residence, which was roughly the duration of the Big Dipper Assembly. Cultivators who were a bit less affluent usually chose third-tier cave abodes. Chen Mobai considered this. If he were to choose a fourth-tier cave abode, he would almost have to spend half a year’s profits from his Xiaonanshan Shop during the Big Dipper Assembly. That was a bit expensive...

“Senior, if you wish to stay in a fourth-tier cave abode, my elder brother’s master happens to have a vacant one, which can be rented for a bit cheaper,” He Sui spoke again, seemingly setting the stage for this offer.

“I’ll consider it. Can you help me find my friend from earlier?” Chen Mobai did not immediately agree to these offers, instead asking about the vanished Yan Shaoyin.

He Sui nodded upon hearing this. “Senior, please wait a moment. I’ll go ask the senior disciple in charge here.”

About half an hour later, He Sui returned and informed Chen Mobai, “This Honored Guest Yan previously resided in a fourth-tier cave abode. However, after his nascent soul formation failed, he retreated to a second-tier cave abode and rented it for sixty years straight, likely intending to await his death there.”

From fourth-tier to second-tier? That drop in status was too significant. Chen Mobai felt that if he were in Yan Shaoyin’s position, he would definitely not be able to accept it.

Led by He Sui, he soon arrived at what was almost the very edge of Stone City. The spirit vein cave abodes of the Stellar Dao Sect were graded such that the closer to the center, the stronger the spiritual energy. The seven cave abodes where Nascent Soul cultivators resided had fifth-tier spiritual energy, while the central area of Stone City surrounding them consisted of fourth-tier cave abodes. Further out, in a large outer circle, were the third-tier ones. Transitioning all the way to the outermost periphery, one would find low-grade second-tier spiritual energy. Even Qi Condensation disciples of the Stellar Dao Sect enjoyed second-tier spiritual energy from the start. This kind of treatment made Chen Mobai lament that it was indeed worthy of being a super force in the Tianhe Realm.

At Yan Shaoyin’s doorstep, He Sui knocked. Soon after, the door opened. Seeing the two at his door, Yan Shaoyin’s face showed an expression of 'just as expected.'

“Sect Master Chen, are you here today to finish me off?” As Yan Shaoyin spoke, his tone was mournful, filled with despair, yet also a strange sense of liberation.

“Ah, Senior, you cannot act within Stone City! Even if there are grievances, please wait for me to find a way to get him outside the city…” He Sui, hearing Yan Shaoyin’s words, genuinely thought Chen Mobai was about to make a move here. He was greatly alarmed and, while trying to stop him, also suggested a compromise to appease Chen Mobai.

“Master Yan, what do you mean by that? Although we are not friends, we are old acquaintances who have cooperated for a long time. Seeing you here today fills me with the joy of meeting an old friend in a foreign land. That’s why I specifically sought you out, hoping to reminisce. Why would you suddenly accuse me of trying to kill you?” With that, Chen Mobai showed displeasure, turned, and left. He Sui was also confused by this but immediately followed his patron.

Seeing this scene, Yan Shaoyin frowned even deeper. But seeing Chen Mobai’s back about to disappear around the corner, he immediately called out to him, “Sect Master Chen, please forgive me. I measured a gentleman’s heart with my own petty mind. Please come in and have a chat.”

Chen Mobai stopped upon hearing this. “You can go back for now. I’ll catch up with Master Yan. You can find me here tomorrow.” He Sui did not hesitate upon hearing Chen Mobai’s words; he simply nodded and left. After all, Chen Mobai was a Core Formation cultivator. If he truly intended to do something, He Sui wouldn’t be able to stop him at all.

A moment later, Chen Mobai had already followed Yan Shaoyin into this secluded second-tier stone courtyard.

“Master Yan, why haven’t you returned to the Eastern Barrens? Without you as its pillar, the Huotian Valley seems to be showing signs of fragmentation,” Chen Mobai asked, feigning ignorance.

“Sect Master Chen, there’s no need for us to beat around the bush. You must already know about my situation,” Yan Shaoyin said with a miserable expression. Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai poured himself a cup of tea.

“How effective is the pseudo-Three Luminaries Divine Water?”

“My cultivation is essentially crippled. Any spiritual power I recover still contains irreducible pill toxins. But if I don’t cultivate, my essence, qi, and spirit will continue to decline, leading to a faster death.” Yan Shaoyin revealed his situation without concealment. The pseudo-Three Luminaries Divine Water allowed him to survive his failed nascent soul formation, but the cost was dire. He could only wait for death. He was now living day by day, surviving as long as he could.

“Master Yan truly understands human nature. As long as you don’t show up in the Eastern Barrens, our Five Elements Sect will continue to be wary of you,” Chen Mobai smiled faintly upon hearing this.

“Not at all. With Sect Master Chen’s grand vision and talent, unifying the Eastern Barrens is only a matter of time. My presence or absence makes no difference whatsoever.” After his failed nascent soul formation, Yan Shaoyin also had time to review past events. He quickly realized that Chen Mobai providing pill recipes and cooperating with him on alchemy was highly suspicious. He also roughly guessed Chen Mobai’s intentions behind doing so. But even if he had figured it out at the time, he probably would have still followed the path Chen Mobai laid out.

“Was the Infant Nurturing Pill effective?” Chen Mobai asked another question. This nascent soul-forming spiritual medicine had allowed Nangong Xuanyu and two others from the Immortal Sect to successfully form nascent souls, proving its efficacy. However, he didn't know if the version Yan Shaoyin refined after improving it had any issues.

“It can help nurture the emergence of a nascent soul Dao seed. It was precisely with the help of this pill that I was able to trigger the heavenly signs for nascent soul formation. Unfortunately, my foundation was shallow, so I couldn’t nurture it to maturity, guide the heavenly spiritual energy into my body, shatter my core, and form the nascent soul.”

Yan Shaoyin’s words greatly pleased Chen Mobai. In that case, the Infant Nurturing Pill Yan Shaoyin had left behind was clearly useful to him as well.

“Master Yan, I wonder if you are willing to return to the Eastern Barrens?” Chen Mobai continued to ask. At this moment, he was thinking of sweeping clean the last vestiges of resistance in the Eastern Barrens. As long as Huotian Valley was also brought under the control of the Five Elements Sect, then the Eastern Barrens would be truly unified.

“To return to my roots is naturally my wish. Moreover, in my current state, I cannot make any demands. Sect Master Chen, please command as you wish,” Yan Shaoyin nodded with a bitter smile, effectively surrendering completely.

“As long as you lead Huotian Valley to merge into the Five Elements Sect, I am willing to place the Alchemy Department under your charge. After your eventual demise, your memorial tablet can be placed in the Five Elements Sect’s Ancestral Hall.” This would make Yan Shaoyin a historical sinner to Huotian Valley, but doing so would provide a path to survival for all its disciples, and even allow their legacy to continue within the Five Elements Sect. Moreover, if the disciples were properly educated in the future, it might even be possible for the Huotian lineage to revive itself within the Five Elements Sect, gaining power under a new guise.

“Sect Master Chen, do you think I am such a great person?” But Yan Shaoyin shook his head and said this. Asking him to sacrifice everything to help the Five Elements Sect absorb all the legacy of the Huotian Valley lineage was not in line with the character of cultivators in the Tianhe Realm. Since he was going to die anyway, he might as well leave behind a good reputation in the Eastern Barrens.

“If you do this, the pill toxins from the pseudo-Three Luminaries Divine Water in your body might not be without a solution,” Chen Mobai spoke words that made Yan Shaoyin’s pupils widen.

“Truly...?” Yan Shaoyin, hands trembling, put down his teacup and asked in disbelief.

“Long ago, in the Desolate Ruins, I encountered a senior eccentric...” Chen Mobai began to repeat the excuse he had given Zhou Shengqing and others, then took out a peerless Reversion Pill and handed it to Yan Shaoyin.

“Definitely an alchemist of the fourth-tier or higher...” As the foremost alchemist in the Eastern Barrens, Yan Shaoyin was highly confident in his alchemy skills, especially since even the Stellar Dao Sect was willing to accept him as an honored guest. And as an alchemist who had personally refined the Reversion Pill, he was most aware of the difficulties of this pill recipe. At least in his eyes, even if he refined dozens of batches, he wouldn’t necessarily be able to produce such a peerless, toxin-free pill. Only a fifth-tier alchemist could achieve this. Or even higher than the fifth-tier.

Just then, Chen Mobai again took out the Longevity Pill Scripture, which Qingnu had modified. Yan Shaoyin, who had already seen the table of contents, immediately took it and began to read after being prompted. He only looked at the pill recipes he already possessed, and his hands couldn't help but tremble, sensing the pinnacle of alchemy within them.

“Sect Master Chen, are you saying that this senior predecessor has a way to remove the pill toxins from my body?” Yan Shaoyin asked, full of hope, after putting down the Longevity Pill Scripture.

“I can’t guarantee it, but if anyone in the Tianhe Realm can solve your problem, then besides the Soul Transformation True Monarch of the Morality Sect, it would likely be this senior eccentric.” Chen Mobai continued to mislead. Yan Shaoyin, who had no other path, did not hesitate for a moment upon seeing a glimmer of hope.

“From now on, whatever Sect Master needs me to do, just command me.”