Chapter 807: Returning to the Eastern Wilderness

After cremating and burying Wang Jianyuan and Chen Yulan, Shi Wanyu and her daughter comforted the grieving Wang Xinying at the graveside.

Meanwhile, after offering incense, Chen Mobai and his uncle Chen Baolan stood together, conversing.

"Uncle, what are your plans for the future?"

Considering his lifespan, Chen Baolan had at most ten years left. However, being unattached, he had always lived a free and unburdened life, dedicating all his energy to his passion for archaeology.

"I want to return to the Extreme North Grotto-Heaven. For the last period of my life, I still wish to do things I enjoy."

Chen Baolan expressed his thoughts, and Chen Mobai nodded in support after listening.

"Then, Uncle, come back with me to Wangwu Grotto-Heaven. I'll arrange for someone to escort you."

After these words, the uncle and nephew fell silent.

Neither of them were particularly talkative people to begin with.

Once Wang Xinying's sobbing subsided, the two went to bid farewell at the row of interconnected graves.

Chen Mobai lit one last stick of incense for his parents.

For the next period, feeling that Wang Xinying's emotions had not yet stabilized, Chen Mobai stayed a while longer in Danxia City.

He had Shi Wanyu and her daughter continue to comfort Wang Xinying, while he himself returned to the Tianhe Realm.

Sky Roc Mountain.

The moment Chen Mobai appeared, dark clouds began to continuously gather in the sky. With a roar, a vast and terrifying heavenly tribulation was clearly on the verge of forming.

Chen Mobai immediately employed the "Obscuring Leaf" technique to conceal his aura.

The rumbling sound had just begun, and lightning was about to strike, but then it faded as if unable to find its target, eventually dissipating.

At the same time, streaks of spiritual light flew from the foot of the mountain towards the summit.

The figure leading them was graceful and incomparably beautiful; it was Qing Nü.

Following her were naturally the Five Elements Sect alchemists who were undergoing advanced training here.

Upon flying over, Qing Nü immediately saw Chen Mobai standing in mid-air, and a look of joy instantly appeared on her face.

"I've just completed a thunder-based divine ability in cultivation and came out of seclusion. I was just demonstrating its power. Everyone, you may withdraw."

Chen Mobai smiled as he approached Qing Nü, then spoke to Zeng Woyou and the others who had followed behind.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Within the Five Elements Sect, Chen Mobai's word was absolute. Soon, everyone returned down the mountain the way they came.

"Did you... form your Nascent Soul?"

With only the two of them left, Qing Nü looked at Chen Mobai with great anticipation and asked.

She came from the Immortal Sect and had not cultivated spells to probe others' cultivation levels.

Moreover, Chen Mobai had employed the Tier 4 Obscuring Leaf, making it difficult even for Nascent Soul cultivators of the same rank to discern, let alone her.

"I've never failed."

Before Qing Nü, Chen Mobai saw no need for modesty, fully displaying his joy and pride.

As he spoke, he subtly released a trace of his aura.

In an instant, dark clouds in the sky showed a tendency to gather once more.

Qing Nü felt a terrifying pressure wash over her. Fortunately, it vanished as quickly as it came; otherwise, she felt she would have instinctively recoiled.

"That's wonderful..."

After Chen Mobai reined in his aura, a genuine smile of happiness appeared on Qing Nü's face, and she threw herself directly into his embrace. Although she had great confidence in Chen Mobai, hearing about his successful Nascent Soul formation still filled her with immense joy.

On the mountaintop, there were only the two of them.

After a moment of intimacy, Chen Mobai began to recount the various sensations he had caused within the Immortal Sect after forming his Nascent Soul.

"Over at the Three Great Halls, I led the Dancing Weapons and Jumang lineages to surpass the Heaven Mending lineage, though Ancestor Qianxing was still reasonable..."

In his arms, Qing Nü listened with great interest.

Although she could not return to the Immortal Sect now, it was, after all, where she had grown up, and she was very interested in all the things Chen Mobai had experienced there.

"The only regret is not being able to meet Ancestor Baiguang. Otherwise, she would surely have been happy for me, a genius of the Dancing Weapons lineage, for forming my Nascent Soul, and might have bestowed some powerful magic artifact or sword cultivation insights upon me."

This was Chen Mobai's only regret. Although he had met Ancestor Qianxing, she was not from his own lineage, so there was an inherent distance.

"Ancestor Baiguang is said to be the Immortal Sect's greatest sword cultivation genius of all time. Your talent in the Way of the Sword is also exceptional. If you received her guidance, your sword cultivation realm would surely advance further."

Qing Nü thought the same, but Chen Mobai chuckled awkwardly upon hearing her words, then immediately changed the subject.

"Don't rush to spread the news of my Nascent Soul formation. I want to see if I can use this opportunity to remove a thorn in my side."

Chen Mobai's words indeed captured Qing Nü's attention, and she immediately pressed him about what it was.

"The Profound Sky Dao Palace in Dongyi has a deep-seated enmity with my Five Elements Sect. Previously, because I hadn't formed my Nascent Soul, I could only endure it. Now, it's time for revenge."

The Five Elements Sect and the Profound Sky Dao Palace had long since fallen out.

In the Eastern Barrens, the Profound Sky Dao Palace had successively lost five Core Formation cultivators. Among them, Xuan Shu, the Dao Son, who was the only potential successor to Ancestor Jinfeng capable of forming a Nascent Soul, was also slain by Chen Mobai's sword.

If it weren't for the sudden return of Ancestor Kuzhu of Kongsang Valley, who had formed his Nascent Soul and was eager to seek revenge on Ancestor Jinfeng, Ancestor Jinfeng would probably have led the Profound Sky Dao Palace army to the Eastern Barrens long ago.

"Are you going to ally with Kongsang Valley?"

Qing Nü had learned about the situation in Dongyi over the years. She knew that the Profound Sky Dao Palace and Bathing Sun Sea were allied in attacking Kongsang Valley, and that Bathing Sun Sea had also played a role in the Five Elements Sect's earlier division. Therefore, she thought that after Chen Mobai formed his Nascent Soul, he would lead Zhou Shengqing and the Five Elements Sect army to settle both scores.

"Indeed. Ancestor Muqin of Kongsang Valley is nearing the end of her lifespan and no longer has the strength to act, so they can only rely on Ancestor Kuzhu to painstakingly hold on. If I am willing to intervene, they would certainly be overjoyed."

"However, although our Five Elements Sect now has two Nascent Soul cultivators, myself and Senior Brother Zhou, facing both Ancestor Jinfeng and Ancestor Baiwu simultaneously would still be somewhat beyond our capabilities. Therefore, I need Kongsang Valley to act and create an opportunity for the Five Elements Sect to annihilate the Profound Sky Dao Palace."

"But it would be best if I don't initiate this. It would be even better if Kongsang Valley could request my assistance, so I need to plan and arrange this carefully."

Chen Mobai stated his intentions, and Qing Nü nodded repeatedly as she listened.

Having been in the Tianhe Realm for so many years, she had grown accustomed to the constant strife and infighting here.

Especially in recent years, alchemists from the Five Elements' five lineages, along with those from Reversal Heaven Valley led by Yan Shaoyin, had been trained by her on Sky Roc Mountain. Meeting more people had given her a deeper understanding of this world.

Here, the word "struggle" permeates a cultivator's entire life!

In any case, Qing Nü herself couldn't imagine how she, if suddenly transported to this world, could, like Chen Mobai, single-handedly build up such a vast foundation for the Five Elements Sect in the Eastern Barrens.

The more she understood the Tianhe Realm, the more Qing Nü felt Chen Mobai's power.

And it was an all-encompassing, no-blind-spots kind of power.

Cultivation, comprehension, interpersonal skills, managing forces, developing the economy, unifying various states and sects to focus on infrastructure, and so on. Qing Nü felt she could only manage the first two, but Chen Mobai had excelled in all six aspects.

Her man was so perfect.

Qing Nü felt increasingly fortunate to have come to this strange, alien world with him, becoming his sole confidante and Dao companion for life.

"Is there anything you need my help with?"

Hearing Qing Nü's words, Chen Mobai smiled and shook his head.

"The killing, I'll handle. You stay here in the Eastern Barrens and watch over things."

Hearing his words, Qing Nü's heart felt even sweeter.

After spending a wonderful night on Sky Roc Mountain, Chen Mobai returned to Giant Wood Ridge the next day.

"Junior Brother! You've formed your Nascent Soul?"

Zhou Shengqing and Fu Zongjue received the message and immediately rushed over from their Eternal Wood Daoist temple. Seeing the elegant young man standing tall, merged with the vast spiritual ley lines yet seeming transcendent to the void, they were both surprised and delighted.

"It was a fortunate accomplishment..."

Facing Chen Mobai's humble admission, Zhou Shengqing and Fu Zongjue both became visibly excited.

"Excellent, excellent! This way, even if I go down to the Nine Springs to meet Master, I can hold my head high."

Zhou Shengqing said with a loud laugh.

He had actually always taken to heart the matter of dividing the Five Elements Sect in the past. Although it had now been reunified, he still felt somewhat unfilial towards his master, Ancestor Hunyuan.

Now that Chen Mobai had successfully formed his Nascent Soul, when Zhou Shengqing eventually went to the netherworld and met Ancestor Hunyuan, he could righteously say: "Master, you were mistaken back then; my choice allowed the Five Elements Sect to become even greater!"

Chen Mobai waved his large sleeve, and beneath the Eternal Wood, a tea table, stools, and other items appeared. He invited the two to sit down, then began to discuss his plans.

"Good. When the sect was divided, Zhao Xuankang of the Profound Sky Dao Palace was the most jubilant. Although he died by my hand, Ancestor Jinfeng, the instigator, is still alive. Only by killing him and destroying the Profound Sky Dao Palace will this grudge truly be settled."

Zhou Shengqing agreed wholeheartedly after listening.

According to local thinking, once one gained strength, the first thing to do was always to seek revenge and eradicate enemies.

"With our Five Elements Sect's current strength, we far surpass the declining Profound Sky Dao Palace. This expedition to Dongyi, as long as we can slay Ancestor Jinfeng, the Profound Sky Dao Palace can be erased."

Fu Zongjue also looked excited. After all, back when they were still the Divine Wood Sect, their most difficult period was the war with the Southern Profound Sect. If Chen Mobai hadn't returned after forming his Core, perhaps the entire Eastern Barrens would now be the Profound Sky Dao Palace's backyard.

"My intention is that it would be best to cooperate with Kongsang Valley. If we can get Ancestor Jinfeng to personally lead the Profound Sky Dao Palace's cultivator army to fight in the Eastern Barrens, it would be virtually foolproof."

Chen Mobai explained his thoughts.

Currently, the Profound Sky Dao Palace and Bathing Sun Sea were jointly besieging Kongsang Valley. If Chen Mobai were to act, he would have to face two Nascent Soul cultivators, Ancestor Jinfeng and Ancestor Baiwu. He also wouldn't dare to bet that Ancestor Kuzhu would abandon the Tier 4 grand formation protecting his sect to come help in such a situation.

Therefore, the best scenario would be for Kongsang Valley to show weakness, perhaps Ancestor Kuzhu making a Dao Heart oath to seal the mountain for a hundred years or something similar, thereby causing the already somewhat weary Profound Sky Dao Palace and Bathing Sun Sea to withdraw their forces.

After the threat from Ancestor Kuzhu was resolved, Ancestor Jinfeng would definitely arrange the sect's affairs before his lifespan ran out.

According to Ancestor Jinfeng's previous plan, if there were no Nascent Soul successors in his own sect, he would abandon Dongyi and retreat to the Eastern Barrens to preserve their heritage.

This idea likely hadn't changed.

After all, in the Eastern Barrens, there was still a deep-seated, life-and-death feud with the Five Elements Sect.

Based on Chen Mobai's understanding of the locals, Ancestor Jinfeng would certainly lead the Profound Sky Dao Palace's cultivators to come out in full force to the Eastern Barrens to establish a retreat path and simultaneously exact revenge.

In that case, he and Zhou Shengqing would only need to lead the Five Elements Sect army in an ambush within the desolate ruins, the essential route for entering the Eastern Barrens.

Given the current strength comparison between the two sects, in a direct confrontation, Chen Mobai did not believe that he and Zhou Shengqing, combined with the Five Elements Dao Soldiers, couldn't kill Ancestor Jinfeng.

Once Ancestor Jinfeng died, the Profound Sky Dao Palace's cultivator army would be lambs to the slaughter.

This century-old hatred, stemming from the Five Elements Sect's division and continuing to this day, could then be completely severed.

Some of the threads on Chen Mobai's Crown of All Living Beings could also be removed.

After forming his Nascent Soul, he intended to sever the threads on his body one by one.

In the Eastern Barrens, mostly only minor figures remained. Outside the Eastern Barrens, most of the threads were connected to the Profound Sky Dao Palace.

Next were those connected to Bathing Sun Sea.

But he still had to kill them one by one.

The primary target was definitely Ancestor Jinfeng.

"Then I'll go discuss it with Ancestor Muqin?"

After hearing Chen Mobai's plan, Zhou Shengqing was also excited, wishing he could slay Ancestor Jinfeng immediately, and eagerly offered to engage in diplomatic maneuvering.

"It's better if I go. After all, Senior Brother, you are a Dharma Body Nascent Soul. If she were to realize it, it might arouse covetousness for the Soul Nurturing Wood."

Tier 5 Soul Nurturing Wood was an extremely rare treasure in the Eastern Land.

After all, it could allow a cultivator to transform into a Dharma Body Nascent Soul after a failed Nascent Soul formation, making its value even higher than that of the Three Light Divine Water.

The seven great Immortal Cities of the Eastern Land constantly acquired Tier 5 Soul Nurturing Wood, with prices set by the cultivators themselves.

Moreover, besides the righteous path of the Eastern Land, among the eighteen Demonic Sects, the three major sects—Tongyou, Qushen, and Shehun—also possessed secret Ghost Dao arts to transform themselves into great ghost spirits using Soul Nurturing Wood.

Therefore, on the Eastern Continent, once high-grade Soul Nurturing Wood appeared, both the righteous and demonic paths would immediately take action.

If a force was smaller, it simply couldn't protect such a treasure against this kind of pressure.

Now that Chen Mobai had formed his Nascent Soul, and being the local power in the Eastern Barrens with a large following, the Five Elements Sect was barely qualified to possess it.

But even so, it was better for people not to know if possible.

"Alright, then I'll go notify Junior Brother Mo and the other two, so they can also be happy."

Zhou Shengqing nodded in agreement after hearing Chen Mobai's words, a smile on his face, and stood up, preparing to head towards Golden Light Cliff.

"Oh, Senior Brother, here are some Three Light Divine Water and my Nascent Soul formation insights. Please take them to Senior Brother Mo as well."

Chen Mobai immediately called out to him and brought out the items he had already prepared.

"Junior Brother, you didn't absorb this Three Light Divine Water?"

Zhou Shengqing and Fu Zongjue were both greatly surprised to see this. The Nascent Soul formation insights were understandable; after all, the four of them had been sworn brothers since the Divine Wood Sect era.

But Three Light Divine Water—even between master and disciple or father and son—it was rare for a cultivator to not absorb it after forming their Nascent Soul, forcing it out for someone else.

Although Chen Mobai and Mo Douguang were also fellow disciples, Chen Mobai had joined later, and their bond wasn't as deep as that with Zhou Shengqing, who had grown up cultivating with them since childhood.

So, the fact that Chen Mobai had actually kept the Three Light Divine Water for Mo Douguang left both Zhou Shengqing and his fellow disciple, who knew Chen Mobai's sincerity, utterly shocked and disbelieving!

"My strength alone can only bring temporary prosperity to the Five Elements Sect. If Senior Brother Mo can also form his Nascent Soul, then with three Nascent Soul cultivators in our sect, we would be a major Nascent Soul sect capable of holding our own even in the Eastern Land."

"Not only Senior Brother Mo, but if Zhou Ye has the talent, I'm willing to set aside past grievances and share my Nascent Soul formation insights with him."

"Among the younger generation, I've also been focusing on cultivating Junior Nephew Yin, who has the potential to form a Nascent Soul. I hope that one day, the number of Nascent Soul cultivators in our Five Elements Sect can spread across all nineteen counties of the Eastern Barrens, with a Nascent Soul guarding every single county!"

Chen Mobai spoke of a very simple ideal, and both Zhou Shengqing and Fu Zongjue sighed with admiration upon hearing it.

Junior Brother's vision is immense!

At the very least, if the two of them had successfully formed their Nascent Souls, they would definitely have absorbed and refined the Three Light Divine Water.

"To have a junior brother like you is our honor!"

Zhou Shengqing spoke these words from the bottom of his heart.

He felt increasingly fortunate that he had handed over the sect's authority to Chen Mobai so early. If he had remained at the helm, he estimated that the Five Elements would still not be unified, and the Eastern Barrens would still be embroiled in chaos.

"Also, tell Senior Brother Mo not to rush his Nascent Soul formation. After we destroy the Profound Sky Dao Palace and gather their medicinal fields, I'll see if Qing Nü can help refine a batch of Nirvana Pills and Truth Condensing Pills!"

Chen Mobai was deeply afraid that Mo Douguang, with his sword cultivator's temperament, would be greatly encouraged by the news of Chen Mobai's successful Nascent Soul formation, and with the Three Light Divine Water as a guarantee, he might directly attempt to break through in one go.

And Mo Douguang and other Core Formation cultivators of the Five Elements Sect had mostly advanced their cultivation through consuming pills, accumulating a fair amount of pill toxins in their bodies. Now that they had Qing Nü, an excellent alchemist, Chen Mobai certainly wanted to provide him with the best possible external conditions.

The Truth Condensing Pill was a medicinal pill from the Immortal Sect used to assist in condensing true qi. However, it was a low-grade Tier 4 pill, requiring more medicinal resources than even the Return-to-Truth Pill or Spirit Essence Pill.

Currently, the Eastern Barrens did not have all the necessary ingredients.

Therefore, they could only wait and see if they could gather enough medicinal materials from the Profound Sky Dao Palace's medicinal fields, which was reputed to be Dongyi's foremost alchemy sect.

"Rest assured, Junior Brother, I will inform him."

Zhou Shengqing nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, then solemnly accepted the Three Light Divine Water and Chen Mobai's summarized Nascent Soul formation insights, thanking him on behalf of Mo Douguang.

After seeing Zhou Shengqing off, Chen Mobai chatted briefly with Fu Zongjue to learn about the sect's affairs during his Nascent Soul formation.

However, everything had been calm and peaceful.

The beast tide in Yunmeng Marsh had also been quelled by the Five Elements Sect. The Five Elements Trading Company had established trade routes connecting the Eastern Barrens, Dongyi, and the Eastern Land. Yue Zutao had begun opening markets in the Eastern Land's countryside, dumping talismans and ink produced by the puppet factory into small families and minor sects.

Facts proved that in any world, a low-price policy was always the most popular.

The talismans produced by the puppet factory were cheap, yet of excellent quality, with stable conductivity for spiritual talisman ink, showing almost no fluctuations.

These small families, minor sects, and even rogue talisman masters quickly and soberly chose the Five Elements Trading Company after comparing quality and spirit stones.

Although currently only in the sinking market, Yue Zutao was continuing to cultivate deeply along Chen Mobai's guidelines, first occupying the Eastern Land's countryside with affordable and good quality products.

Developing this way, it wouldn't be long before the Five Elements Trading Company would flourish with an unstoppable momentum.

However, Yue Zutao's mind remained very clear. In a recently returned letter, he indicated the need for the sect to dispatch stronger cultivators to oversee operations, otherwise, major forces in the Eastern Land, unable to blockade them commercially, might resort to direct military action against the Five Elements Trading Company.

Although Chen Mobai knew that locals were generally like this, he previously had a somewhat idealized view of the Eastern Land, the center of the Eastern Continent. After all, Ye Qing and Yuan Zhen, whom he had met, and even Chef Shen from the Heavenly Eatery, were quite good people.

But Yue Zutao's letter made Chen Mobai realize that crows are black everywhere (i.e., people are the same everywhere, implying malice).

"Tell Junior Nephew Yue to contact the Nine Heavens Demon Extermination Sect first. Once we've destroyed the Profound Sky Dao Palace, I'll see who in the sect is most suitable."

If it had been before, Chen Mobai would have very much wanted to go to the Eastern Land himself. After all, having formed his Nascent Soul, he felt he could knock on the door of the One Yuan Dao Palace.

But after the Big Dipper Assembly, the death of the Sand-Controlling Envoy of the Flying Sand Sect made him feel it was better to keep a low profile.

It would be better to develop further in the Eastern Barrens for a while, and then go to the One Yuan Dao Palace when he reached the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul realm, legitimately taking on the identity of the One Yuan Dao Son, to see if that holy land had any secret methods or pills to aid in Spirit Transformation.

Thinking this, Chen Mobai wasted no more time.

After bidding farewell to Fu Zongjue, he directly took a medium-sized teleportation array to Beiyuan City.

He did not linger in Beiyuan City. After greeting Yuan Chiye, he directly concealed his figure and headed towards Kongsang Valley's detached courtyard in the Desolate Ruins.

Having visited once before during the Big Dipper Assembly, Chen Mobai was very familiar with the route.

This time, wielding the Grand Unity Five-Smoke Gauze, he was even faster.

But upon arriving, he discovered that Ancestor Muqin's aura was not present.

Dead?

Or had she gone out?

Chen Mobai stood in mid-air, listening to the spiritual energy fluctuations of the cultivators below using the "Echoes from an Empty Valley" technique.

Although there was obstruction from the Tier 4 grand formation, with his current Nascent Soul realm strength, he could activate this profound technique of the Longevity Sect to hear the fluctuations of Foundation Establishment cultivators and above, even through the formation.

Soon, he locked onto the only Core Formation fluctuation here.

Not only was Ancestor Muqin absent, but True Monarch Mingwen was also gone.

Only Yi Chenghan remained.

With the help of the Spiritual Energy Rice Cooker and Purple Jade Porridge, Yi Chenghan had already broken through to the late Core Formation stage. He seemed to be rapidly advancing his cultivation, diligently taking pills and refining spiritual energy, apparently also wanting to attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul realm.

Since there was no Nascent Soul cultivator presiding, Chen Mobai was no longer afraid of the Tier 4 grand formation. He directly entered using "Void Walk" and appeared before Yi Chenghan.

"Who's there!"

Kongsang Valley truly lived up to its reputation as Dongyi's major formation sect; it clearly possessed functions to detect void-based spells. The moment Chen Mobai entered, Yi Chenghan was startled awake. He immediately stood up, pulled out a formation plate, and then, wielding the power of the grand formation, mobilized the spiritual ley lines to unhesitatingly press down upon the mysterious figure shrouded in five-colored clouds before him.

In an instant, thousands of bamboo shadows emerged, carrying whistling green light, like ten thousand swords traversing the sky, shooting towards Chen Mobai from all directions.

But Chen Mobai merely moved his spiritual consciousness, and the five-colored smoke and mist before him, like ever-flowing morning and evening clouds, endlessly circulated, blocking all the green light.

No matter how many bamboo shadows and green lights Yi Chenghan conjured, they could only penetrate the clouds of the Grand Unity Five-Smoke Gauze in front of Chen Mobai, unable to advance even an inch further.

Soon, a huge sphere of bamboo shadows and green light appeared before Yi Chenghan, but the radiant five-colored clouds at its very center grew even denser and brighter under the pressure of the formation's power.

At this moment, Yi Chenghan's heart turned completely cold!

Because he now knew that the person before him was a Nascent Soul cultivator!

And the magic artifact in their hand was definitely a top-grade defensive artifact among Tier 4 items.

Only such a combination could so effortlessly withstand the Tier 4 formation he had activated, not even moving an inch.

"Where is Ancestor Muqin?"

Chen Mobai's deliberately muffled voice sounded from the center of the bamboo shadow and green light sphere. Since he had perfected the Grand Unity Five-Smoke Gauze, he hadn't yet fully unleashed the power of this artifact.

Firstly, his cultivation was insufficient before, and secondly, he hadn't encountered an opponent against whom he could fully utilize it.

Now was the perfect time.

A Tier 4 formation was equivalent to the power of a Nascent Soul.

Unfortunately, Yi Chenghan's cultivation was still a bit too weak, and Chen Mobai didn't feel any pressure.

As he spoke, he injected his immensely powerful Pure Yang True Qi into the Grand Unity Five-Smoke Gauze before him, followed by a crackling sound.

The vast sphere of bamboo shadows and green light enveloping him immediately shattered.