Originally, Pei Qingshuang intended to invite Chen Mobai to a meal today to express her gratitude. She also wished to see the Azure Frost Sword, wondering if it was time for him to return it, now that he had reached the Nascent Soul stage.
However, before she could even speak, she was stunned by Chen Mobai’s opening display of Doushuai Fire.
What followed was a series of actions by Chen Mobai that left her feeling as though she had received immense benefits, filling her with guilt.
She felt this was not right.
So, as they parted ways, Pei Qingshuang revealed another top-secret piece of information.
“Venerable Sir, if my mother achieves the God Transformation stage, she will be able to condense a small Peachtress Fruit.”
Chen Mobai, who had just been about to use Void Walk to leave, was confused by her words. What did this small Peachtress Fruit have to do with him? What were its effects when consumed? How did it compare to the Great Toon Fruit?
However, asking directly would make him seem too utilitarian. So, Chen Mobai simply looked puzzled, indicated he didn't understand Pei Qingshuang's meaning, and prompted her to continue.
“After consumption, the small Peachtress Fruit can keep a cultivator’s body healthy, free from illness, and, like a Face-Stabilizing Pearl, grant eternal youth. But I’m sure these effects aren’t important to a venerable sir like yourself.”
Pei Qingshuang, as expected, understood his expression and immediately began to explain.
“What else?”
Chen Mobai knew that if the small Peachtress Fruit only had those effects, Pei Qingshuang wouldn't have brought it up specifically.
“If a Nascent Soul cultivator consumes it, it can increase their cultivation by 150 years and extend their lifespan by 150 years.”
As Pei Qingshuang finished, Chen Mobai’s eyes immediately lit up. A 150-year lifespan extension wasn’t important to him. After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, his lifespan had already exceeded a thousand years, and he was only 90 years old. He felt that the rate at which his lifespan was diminishing couldn't outpace his cultivation breakthroughs.
But the 150 years of cultivation were different. Chen Mobai had estimated his progress in cultivating the Nascent Soul chapter of the Pure Yang Scroll through self-reflection. With the supply of a fifth-tier low-grade spiritual vein, it would take him 342 years to reach the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. An additional 150 years of cultivation would allow him to shorten that time by nearly half.
“It seems the small Peachtress Fruit is even more potent than the Great Toon Fruit,” Chen Mobai couldn't help but exclaim. The Great Toon Fruit only increased lifespan, which wasn't very cost-effective for him.
“The fruit condensed by the Divine Toon Tree is only fifth-tier. To condense a sixth-tier fruit, it would likely require draining half of the spiritual veins of the Địa Nguyên Star, which the Immortal Sect would certainly not allow.” At this point, however, Pei Qingshuang revealed the hidden secret.
“So that’s how it is?” Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai suddenly realized. He had been wondering why the lifespan-extending effect of a fruit condensed by a sixth-tier Great Toon was similar to that of the fifth-tier Longevity Eyebrow of the Daode Sect in the Heavenly River Realm. It turned out it was only a fifth-tier fruit. This also highlighted the scarcity of resources in the Immortal Sect. A majestic sixth-tier spiritual plant couldn't even condense a single fruit and had to suppress itself to produce a fifth-tier one.
“If it were a sixth-tier Great Toon Fruit, how much lifespan would it extend?” Driven by curiosity, Chen Mobai couldn't help but ask.
“Eight thousand years!” Pei Qingshuang hesitated for a moment before revealing a number that made Chen Mobai gasp.
“Why so much?”
“A sixth-tier Great Toon Fruit is used by cultivators of the Evergreen Art for the Void Refinement stage. If it didn't have such an effect, why would Patriarch Evergreen have spent so much effort cultivating it where the Embryo Transformation Furnace is located?” Pei Qingshuang had, today, completely revealed the secrets of the Ju Mang Daoist Academy to Chen Mobai, even mentioning the Embryo Transformation Furnace. It was after learning this that Yan Xinjie had set his sights on the Embryo Transformation Essence. Chen Mobai thought for a moment and, out of caution, decided not to ask Pei Qingshuang about the Embryo Transformation Essence.
“What is Venerable Taohua’s current cultivation realm? When will she be able to achieve God Transformation?” Chen Mobai was a complete cultivation purist. After learning about the small Peachtress Fruit, he felt it was perfectly suited for him. If he could obtain it, he could attempt to break through to the God Transformation stage in the shortest possible time. In that case, if during the War of Expansion they encountered a world similar to Pluto, he could join the Immortal Sect's Two Sages in turning the tide.
“My mother reached the peak of Nascent Qi a long time ago, but she expended some vital essence to give birth to me. However, whether she can break through isn’t entirely up to her…” Pei Qingshuang didn't speak too explicitly, but Chen Mobai already understood her meaning. If Venerable Taohua wanted to attempt a breakthrough, she would inevitably require vast amounts of spiritual energy. The Immortal Sect's spiritual energy supply could only sustain a limited number of God Transformation cultivators in the world. Furthermore, Venerable Taohua originated from a Peachtress Immortal, a longevity immortal. Once she successfully ascended, her lifespan would far exceed that of human God Transformation cultivators, virtually monopolizing the spiritual energy required by one God Transformation cultivator indefinitely.
If Chen Mobai were one of the Immortal Sect's Two Sages, even if he wouldn't openly oppose it, he certainly wouldn't support it. In Chen Mobai's view, for Venerable Taohua to ascend, it would likely require a major crisis for the Immortal Sect, or for the War of Expansion to resolve the resource issue. Only then would it be possible. If he could help, then at that time, who else would be more deserving of the small Peachtress Fruit condensed by Venerable Taohua?
However, it would be best to discuss this matter directly with Venerable Taohua. After all, it was a significant matter, and he couldn't afford to waste his efforts.
“Next time I meet with Patriarch Baiguang and Patriarch Qianxing, I will try to bring this up,” Chen Mobai said to Pei Qingshuang, who looked very grateful.
After the meeting concluded, Chen Mobai used Void Walk to return to his courtyard. Unexpectedly, Shi Wanyu was still awake, waiting in the living room. Upon asking, he learned that their daughter hadn't returned yet, and Shi Wanyu was a bit worried. Chen Mobai immediately called Zhuang Jialan, who said she had just picked up Chen Xiaohei, who had finished her departmental dinner, and they were on their way back. He made the call without avoiding Shi Wanyu, and she felt relieved after hearing the news.
“Our daughter has grown up; we should worry less now,” Chen Mobai said to Shi Wanyu. Then, he walked with her towards the bedroom, and they went to rest without waiting for their daughter.
The next evening, the family of three was having dinner. Chen Mobai mentioned that when he was at Wangxian Peak, Yu Huiping had said she missed Chen Xiaohei very much. Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaohei immediately felt guilty, thinking she was too unfilial for not yet visiting her grandmother, even though she had been back in Wangwu Cave Heaven for several days.
“Yu Zhenren has always been cleaning your residence. Once your work settles down, you should go up and see her. After all, Yu Zhenren has been alone on Wangxian Peak for a long time; she must be very lonely,” Chen Mobai lectured Chen Xiaohei earnestly. The latter nodded repeatedly, saying she would pack her bags this weekend and stay at Five Peaks Immortal Mountain for a while.
“Yes, I’m glad you have such filial piety. Remember to bring some fruits or other things when you go up the mountain,” Chen Mobai reminded her. Shi Wanyu, standing by, was worried that their carefree daughter might not understand proper etiquette and asked if she could accompany her.
“That works. Coincidentally, I’ll be busy with my promotion during this period and might be working overtime at the Hall of Rectification for an extended time,” Chen Mobai immediately agreed, taking advantage of the situation.
“Oh, by the way, Dad, I received a package today. It’s from the Artifact Forging Department of the Daoist Academy,” Chen Xiaohei said happily after dinner, bringing out a flat, rectangular jade zhang, shaped like a slanted blade. The jade zhang’s surface was smooth, but faint cloud patterns flickered within it. Upon closer inspection, these patterns constantly shifted, as if a fiery cloud was contained inside.
Chen Mobai took it and, using the Can Tong Qi, couldn't help but marvel. “Excellent craftsmanship! To forge this fourth-tier artifact using just a piece of ten-thousand-year warm jade, the Daoist Academy's Artifact Forging Department truly deserves its reputation as the best in the Immortal Sect!”
Originally, Chen Mobai knew Chen Xiaohei carried the fifth-tier Spirit Cloud Jade Pendant from the Taiyuan Academy, which would eventually need to be returned. He was worried that without it, his daughter's Nine Yin Meridian-Severing Constitution, which had only recently healed, would be affected. So, he gave her the ten-thousand-year warm jade. Thanks to his and Yu Huiping’s influence, the Artifact Forging Department of the Wuqi Daoist Academy had focused their research on this very project for years. Their goal was to refine this ten-thousand-year warm jade into an artifact suitable for Chen Xiaohei. Ultimately, considering she already had the Taiyi Five Mist Veil, a defensive artifact, they forged this jade zhang for her.
The jade zhang was a mid-tier fourth-grade artifact, and after its creation, it already showed signs of spiritual essence cohesion. This demonstrated the level of artifact forging at the Wuqi Daoist Academy. If the same material were given to Sheng Zhaoxi in the Heavenly River Realm, who was renowned as the foremost artifact forger of the Eastern Wilderness, he would likely at most craft a third-tier artifact, and even then, he would probably be quite smug, thinking himself extraordinary.
“Cherish it well, and don't let the Daoist Academy’s hard work be in vain.” After admiring the jade zhang, Chen Mobai handed it back to Chen Xiaohei. Then he recalled that she seemed to have too many artifacts on her. For someone at her mere Foundation Establishment stage, they were quite a burden. “You have the Spirit Cloud Jade Pendant for defense and the jade zhang for offense. The Taiyi Five Mist Veil, in contrast, is more of a burden for you. Why don't you let me hold onto it for safekeeping for now?” Chen Mobai, realizing he was somewhat unaccustomed to not having the Taiyi Five Mist Veil for travel, asked his daughter to borrow the artifact.
“Ah, but the Spirit Cloud Jade Pendant ignores me?” Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaohei was a bit reluctant. She had been using the Taiyi Five Mist Veil since her time at the Daoist Academy, and ever since Chen Mobai had blessed it, she had found it extremely easy to use, making it her most favored and skilled artifact.
“That’s simple. Give me the jade pendant; I’ll help you communicate with it.” Chen Mobai confidently extended his hand to Chen Xiaohei. In the Immortal Sect, every single artifact respected him. This was true for the Purple Lightning and Azure Frost, for the Taiyi Five Mist Veil, and he believed it would also be true for the Spirit Cloud Jade Pendant, even though it was a fifth-tier artifact.
“Dad, here!” Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaohei seemed to have been waiting for this very sentence. She immediately pulled the jade pendant from around her snow-white neck, clutching a red string, and handed it to Chen Mobai with an expectant look.
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