Chapter 831: Zhou Ye's Ambition

Chen Mobai handed Luo Xue'er a list, which she immediately took. Seeing that it was filled with names of medicinal ingredients, a look of confusion appeared on her face.

"Qing Nü is about to refine the Water Elemental Core Formation Elixir, but she's missing these ingredients," Chen Mobai explained. "Follow this list, gather them all, and then send them to Tianpeng Mountain in the Eastern Barrens." He then elaborated on the purpose of the Water Elemental Core Formation Elixir. Upon hearing it, Luo Xue'er's face lit up with surprise. She had never imagined that the Sect Master had already arranged a Core Formation spiritual medicine for her.

"Thank you, Sect Master, I'll go find these ingredients right away," Luo Xue'er said. After thanking him, she was eager to inspect the twelve thousand acres of medicinal fields around Bright Mirror Mountain.

"Also, please take this Azure Ridge Ginseng with you for me," Chen Mobai called out, holding her back. He then took out a top-grade Tier 4 spiritual herb he had obtained from Ancestor Jinfeng's storage bag. Luo Xue'er immediately accepted it with both hands respectfully.

Chen Mobai believed that this Azure Ridge Ginseng could serve as the primary ingredient for a Wood Elemental Core Formation Elixir, but whether it was truly suitable would require the professional judgment of Qing Nü. With this in mind, Chen Mobai asked Luo Xue'er to collect two sets of the ingredients on the list. For versatility, the auxiliary ingredients for the Five Elemental Core Formation Elixirs in the Immortal Sect were mostly the same, with only a few variations that could also be found in the Eastern Barrens.

Luo Xue'er departed, filled with anticipation. Driven by strong motivation, she managed to collect all the ingredients in just seven days, after which she returned to bid farewell to Chen Mobai.

Although the journey from Dongyi back to the Eastern Barrens was considered the safest part of the desolate ruins, Chen Mobai personally drew a Tier 4 "Grand Yang Sword Talisman" as a precaution. His Crimson Flame Sword Art had long since reached the perfect mastery stage, and the talisman paper and ink required for this talisman had also been refined by him years ago. After entering the state of the "Cunfu Book," he completed it in one go, even pre-reserving a trace of his own spiritual power, so Luo Xue'er only needed to activate it with her spiritual sense.

After Luo Xue'er left, Chen Mobai, having no one else to assist him, called Luo Yixuan back.

A month later, Zhou Shengqing returned. "Junior Brother, it's a good thing I arrived in time. Those shameless bastards from the Bathing Sun Sea are utterly disgraceful; Core Formation cultivators were personally mining in the core area…" Zhou Shengqing recounted his experiences at Duoqiu Mountain. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, no one dared to obstruct him upon his arrival there. However, once he entered, he discovered that the core spiritual vein had been crudely excavated by the Bathing Sun Sea. After questioning the remaining people, he learned that Core Formation cultivator Xu Yingsheng had personally led hundreds of earthmasters in the operation. This was equivalent to extracting several years' worth of raw spiritual stones. Previously, with other sects supervising, the Bathing Sun Sea wouldn't have dared to do this. Now, with Empty Mulberry Valley too afraid to venture out and the Xuanxiao Dao Palace's personnel at Duoqiu Mountain killed by the Bathing Sun Sea, Xu Yingsheng could excavate as much as he pleased. And after Zhou Shengqing led the Five Elements Sect army there, Xu Yingsheng, taking the excavated raw spiritual stones with him, directly used a teleportation array to return to Golden Crow Immortal City. Zhou Shengqing was furious but didn't dare to use the teleportation array to pursue him to the Bathing Sun Sea's main base. He could only first send people to occupy the Duoqiu Mountain spiritual stone mine.

"In that case, let's send our sect's earthmasters there too." There's no concept of sustainable development for spiritual veins; once mining begins, they will eventually be depleted. If the Bathing Sun Sea can do it, then their Five Elements Sect can do it too.

"Junior Brother, you wouldn't believe it, that large spiritual stone mine has been almost completely excavated after so many years," Zhou Shengqing explained. "Those grandsons from the Bathing Sun Sea dug out all the easy-to-access ore in the core area. Even if we dig more, there probably won't be much left." Hearing Zhou Shengqing's words, Chen Mobai then asked how much more could approximately be excavated. "About a hundred million spiritual stones." "That's 'not much'?" Chen Mobai was somewhat speechless after hearing that. One could only say that after conquering Bright Mirror Mountain, Zhou Shengqing's perception of resources had become somewhat inflated; he considered a hundred million spiritual stones to be "not much." "Let's start digging first. The Bathing Sun Sea will likely dispute this spiritual stone mine with us for a while," Chen Mobai said. Upon hearing this, Zhou Shengqing immediately nodded, then left to gather disciples with earthmaster skills from the current contingent, and once again led a team towards Duoqiu Mountain.

Another two months passed, and Zhou Ye also returned. His journey had been very smooth. All sixteen Core Formation factions in Dongyi greatly respected their Five Elements Sect and were willing to continue establishing friendly and stable relations with them, following the previous cooperative model with Xuanxiao Dao Palace. Furthermore, five bordering factions even entrusted Zhou Ye to deliver significant gifts to Chen Mobai and Zhou Shengqing, expressing that they had previously been oppressed by Xuanxiao Dao Palace, living precariously, and had long awaited the arrival of the Five Elements Sect's grand army. Chen Mobai took a look; they were all Tier 4 spiritual items, including medicinal ingredients, minerals, and so on. There was even a Cloud Rain Sect that presented a pair of beautiful twin female cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage. It was said that they were personal disciples of the Cloud Rain Sect's ancestor, possessing special constitutions, and that cultivators who engaged in dual cultivation with them would experience great pleasure and comfort for both mind and body. When Zhou Ye brought the twin female cultivators in, he suddenly noticed Luo Yixuan, who was beside the Sect Master's junior brother, her gaze becoming incredibly sharp, piercing towards them like a knife. "I appreciate the kind thought. We'll accept the gifts, but please send the people back," Chen Mobai said. He was not that kind of person. After hearing the background of the twin female cultivators, he mentally noted the Cloud Rain Sect's name but waved his hand, instructing Zhou Ye to send them back. "Yes, Sect Master!" Zhou Ye naturally accepted the order. At this moment, he noticed Luo Yixuan's sharp gaze softening slightly, and he likely understood the situation.

"Sect Master, these several factions have all sent representatives," Zhou Ye said after handing over the gifts he had brought. The representatives were mostly at the sect master or chief elder level, but, of course, no Core Formation cultivators. People in the Sky River Realm are quite cautious about their lives. Under uncertain circumstances, the top-tier Core Formation ancestors would certainly not risk coming. After all, the Five Elements Sect's current impression in Dongyi was solely that of "power." Chen Mobai expressed his understanding of this. He believed that with time, his reputation as a sincere and upright gentleman would also be recognized by the local people of Dongyi.

He personally met with the representatives from the seven factions who had sent people, all of whom were Foundation Establishment cultivators. Surprisingly, the Cloud Rain Sect's representatives were the twin female cultivators. Chen Mobai explained some of the Five Elements Sect's rules to them, as well as matters requiring attention during future collaborations. These were basically fundamental business ethics from the Immortal Sect, but to the cultivators here, they perceived the Five Elements Sect as very sincere. They all felt that the Five Elements Sect genuinely intended to establish itself in Dongyi, which was why it offered such favorable terms. All seven factions nodded in agreement and signed the contracts.

Chen Mobai entrusted the matter of signing contracts to Zhou Ye. In the future, if Zhou Ye could form his Nascent Soul, Chen Mobai planned to assign him to guard Bright Mirror Mountain. After all, Zhou Shengqing possessed a Dharma Body Nascent Soul, and if he were to face Ancestor Baiwu, his true nature might be easily discerned. However, if Zhou Ye formed his Nascent Soul, with the profound mysteries of his Primordial Qi, he would be capable of putting up a fight even if they turned hostile with the Bathing Sun Sea. Zhou Ye probably guessed this much. He was somewhat reluctant internally, but for the sake of insights into forming a Nascent Soul, he still followed Chen Mobai's instructions and did his best.

"Sect Master, my family was annihilated by the Sun family of Eastern Wu," Zhou Ye said one day after reporting on his work. "If I achieve cultivation success in the future, could I resolve this deep-seated hatred?"

"How would you resolve it?" Chen Mobai asked.

"I would conceal my identity, go to Eastern Wu, and kill all the Sun family's Core Formation cultivators, absolutely without exposing the Five Elements Sect's identity." After Zhou Ye finished speaking, Chen Mobai couldn't help but fall into thought. After a long while, he shook his head. "Eastern Wu has no grievances with our Five Elements Sect, and they have long resisted the demonic beasts of Cloud Dream Marsh, sharing the burden and thus contributing to our Eastern Barrens coast. I will not allow anyone from the sect to do this. If you wish to seek revenge, then leave the Five Elements Sect and never return." Chen Mobai was a man of principles. Although he truly wanted to completely win over Zhou Ye, he couldn't use the Sun family of Eastern Wu, whom he had never met, as a bargaining chip. Moreover, when he refined the Nascent Nurturing Elixir in exchange for Qing Nü's Outer Path Golden Core, the Sun family of Eastern Wu had given him face, and he still remembered these favors.

"Yes, Sect Master!" Zhou Ye departed, somewhat disappointed after hearing that. Although Chen Mobai's words were not explicit, the meaning was very clear: if he wanted to stay in the Five Elements Sect and gain insights into forming a Nascent Soul, then he could not seek revenge on the Sun family. If he wanted revenge, then Zhou Ye would have to rely on himself to form his Nascent Soul. After weighing his options, he quickly made a decision. He would definitely choose the insights into forming a Nascent Soul! Although hatred was important, forming his own Nascent Soul was even more crucial. Furthermore, if he formed his Nascent Soul, even if he couldn't personally act, he would have more ways in the future to pressure the Sun family without Chen Mobai's knowledge. After all, Zhou Ye knew that the various cultivation families in Eastern Wu harbored very deep grudges against the Sun family, needing only a leader to rise up. After forming his Nascent Soul, his lifespan would greatly increase, and he could fully cultivate those families hostile to the Sun family, waiting for the day the Sun family completely collapsed and was annihilated.

After Zhou Ye thought it through, the next day he told Chen Mobai that his feelings for the Five Elements Sect were even deeper, and he did not wish to leave the sect. Since he had said so, Chen Mobai naturally had to show his appreciation. He handed him a jade slip that he had prepared long ago, which contained insights from breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage using the Primordial Qi Elixir. Zhou Ye took it and read it with his spiritual sense, immediately moved by Chen Mobai's clear, logical, and meticulous words. At that moment, he finally understood why this Sect Master Junior Brother before him held the title of "Great Benevolent Teacher" in the Eastern Barrens.