Chapter 854: Chengxuan Emerges from Seclusion

“Senior, what insights did you gain from it?” Zuo Gong asked with some curiosity when Chen Mobai returned Venerable Baiguang’s sword-mark calligraphy to him.

As the director of the Sword Control Department, Zuo Gong’s greatest benefit was the ability to comprehend this calligraphy. However, his cultivation level was still insufficient; he only managed to validate his own Sword Fiend Compendium from it and found the key elements to complete his theories.

“Venerable Baiguang’s swordsmanship realm is unfathomably deep. I used it as a reference to solidify my own swordsmanship foundation. I didn’t gain many other insights.”

Given Chen Mobai’s character, he would have certainly boasted about it. But recalling that in the Eastern Wilderness, Mo Dougong had already comprehended Sword Fiend Thunder Sound at the Core Formation stage, it made him feel somewhat uninspired.

“Foundation is the most important,” Zuo Gong said. “If the foundation isn’t solid, everything built upon it is a castle in the air. Senior, you must have used this to lay an unparalleled foundation for your swordsmanship. Perhaps in the future, you will be the second Spirit Transformation expert of the Sword Dao!”

After hearing this, Zuo Gong immediately began to think of higher possibilities. Even if Chen Mobai continued to say that he merely solidified his foundation, he merely assumed Venerable Chunyang was being modest. After all, who in the entire Immortal Sect didn’t know that Venerable Chunyang was a peerless sword dao genius, just like Venerable Baiguang? If not for being distracted by miscellaneous matters, his future achievements in the sword dao might even surpass Venerable Baiguang’s.

Chen Mobai offered a couple of explanations, but seeing Zuo Gong had already confidently formed his own conclusions, he said nothing further. Anyway, with so many accolades in the Immortal Sect, he wouldn't miss this one.

“How are things at the Ten Thousand Treasures Cavern?” Chen Mobai asked Zhuang Jialan, who had just entered. It was she who had notified him today that there were abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations deep within the Ten Thousand Treasures Cavern, which was why he stopped his cultivation and hastily returned to Chicheng Mountain with the sword-mark calligraphy.

“The spiritual energy fluctuations there have already reached the fifth-tier,” Zhuang Jialan reported. “Venerable Yuxiao sent a message saying that the Yu Ping Minor Realm was also trembling…”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai knew that Venerable Chengxuan’s Spirit Transformation must have taken that crucial step.

“You all stay here and be ready to activate the grand formation for lockdown at any time. I’ll go down and check.” Chen Mobai said this to Zhuang Jialan and the Martial Arts Daoist Academy teachers. Then he performed Void Walk and stepped directly into the deepest part of the Ten Thousand Treasures Cavern.

“You’re here!” Venerable Yuxiao nodded at Chen Mobai, her expression slightly grim.

“Has the Headmaster begun Spirit Transformation?” Chen Mobai asked. Then he also activated his Empty Valley Sound, listening to the spiritual energy fluctuations around them.

“The spiritual energy fluctuations here have already reached the fifth-tier, not to mention inside. He must have taken that step.”

As Venerable Yuxiao spoke, Chen Mobai had already heard the Vermillion Fruit Tree’s strained groans from being overfed. As a continuous stream of fire spiritual energy surged into the Yu Ping Minor Realm, a considerable amount was intercepted by it. However, having been hungry for a long time, it hadn’t expected to be able to feed for so long this time. Especially today, the sudden surge in the speed of spiritual energy influx caused it, which had been continuously absorbing with its branches and leaves, to become completely satiated, almost choked.

Upon realizing this, Chen Mobai immediately went to the Vermillion Fruit Tree and channeled his Pure Yang True Qi into it, performing the Lamp Lighting Art to help it digest.

“Thank you, Senior!” Soon after, the recovering Vermillion Fruit Tree conveyed a thought of gratitude to Chen Mobai.

“Do you know what’s happening inside?” Chen Mobai also conveyed a thought-message, asking.

However, the Vermillion Fruit Tree indicated it didn’t know, as it merely guarded the entrance to the Minor Realm and couldn’t see inside. But it could roughly sense that a fourth-tier power was transforming towards the fifth-tier.

“That means he has taken the step towards Spirit Transformation!”

Hearing this, Chen Mobai nodded gently and then relayed the news to Venerable Yuxiao. The latter’s expression, after hearing it, turned to one of worry.

“Attempting Spirit Transformation here would be too strenuous,” Venerable Yuxiao said. “He should at least go to the Five Peaks Immortal Mountain and utilize its sixth-tier spiritual vein.”

Listening to Venerable Yuxiao’s words, Chen Mobai also nodded in empathy. Whenever he broke through a realm, he always ensured all external conditions were optimally prepared. While Chicheng Mountain’s fifth-tier spiritual vein was barely sufficient for Spirit Transformation, if a sixth-tier spiritual vein had been available, he wouldn’t have needed to close the Minor Scarlet Heaven to provide the Headmaster with even a marginal increase in the success rate. If he were to undergo Spirit Transformation himself in the future and there was no sixth-tier spiritual vein available, he would at least need to prepare thousands of top-grade spirit stones.

As Chen Mobai was thinking this, the spiritual energy concentration around them suddenly increased by another level! Even the essence of fire within the magma was drawn out, transforming into streaks of crimson torrents, surging towards the sky above the Vermillion Fruit Tree. It was as if an invisible black hole existed there; no matter how much spiritual energy surged in, it was all devoured completely.

Soon, Venerable Yuxiao found the intense heat unbearable. With a flick of her delicate hand, she enveloped her entire body in a stream of jade-white light. Chen Mobai’s expression, however, remained unchanged. In fact, in this environment, he felt his Pure Yang True Qi become even more active.

As time passed, the fire spiritual energy deep within the Ten Thousand Treasures Cavern grew even denser. Bian Jingchun, who was in the Chicheng Grotto-Heaven, also called him, informing him that the spiritual energy volume of the entire Grotto-Heaven had suddenly dropped by a level. This was caused by the spiritual energy of Chicheng Mountain’s vast spiritual vein being absorbed by the Yu Ping Minor Realm. However, this news actually made Chen Mobai breathe a sigh of relief. The ability to achieve this clearly indicated that Venerable Chengxuan had made a critical breakthrough. Next, it would depend on whether he could succeed.

At this point, Chen Mobai no longer left. He and Venerable Yuxiao guarded the entrance of the Yu Ping Minor Realm together, awaiting the outcome.

In the blink of an eye, a year passed. The spiritual energy level deep within the Ten Thousand Treasures Cavern, after reaching the fifth-tier half a year ago, seemed to have reached its peak and had not risen further. However, Chen Mobai learned through the Sky Curtain and Earth Net Bureau that within the core minor realm of Chicheng Mountain’s spiritual vein, after the Minor Scarlet Heaven was closed, it had reached the mid-fifth tier. Whether this was sufficient for the Spirit Transformation process, Chen Mobai didn’t know, but it was already the most the Immortal Sect could provide.

Another year passed, and then another. Chen Mobai had already been guarding the Martial Arts Daoist Academy for over two years. The Spirit Transformation process was longer than he had anticipated. Fortunately, he had anticipated this and had already visited the Eastern Wilderness to inform Qing Nü about the situation. Otherwise, if he didn't return for such a long time, she would certainly worry.

“Hmm, the spiritual energy fluctuations have begun to weaken recently. The results should be nearing.” Venerable Qianxing was also very concerned about Venerable Chengxuan’s Spirit Transformation and called Chen Mobai again, who reported the situation truthfully.

“Then there are twenty-six days left.” After hearing this, Venerable Qianxing performed some calculations and provided a specific time.

When the call ended, Chen Mobai was somewhat skeptical. Venerable Qianxing hadn't even arrived in person; could he really calculate to such an extent based solely on a few words?

Twenty-six days later, when the void portal of the Yu Ping Minor Realm opened above the Vermillion Fruit Tree, Chen Mobai knew he had been shallow-minded. He had underestimated this Spirit Transformation expert of the Immortal Sect! Was this the “Infinite Realm” of the Boundless Scroll?! Had he been a bit hasty in refusing Venerable Qianxing’s offer to perform a divination for him?

As Chen Mobai was thinking this, two figures stepped out from the Yu Ping Minor Realm.

“Oh, Little Chen, you’ve actually formed a Nascent Soul!” One of them, an old man with fiery red beard and hair, saw Chen Mobai and was greatly surprised.

“Greetings, Headmaster!” Chen Mobai immediately flew up, bowed to Venerable Chengxuan, and then couldn't help but scrutinize him, wanting to know if he had successfully undergone Spirit Transformation.

“We haven’t been in seclusion for 120 years, have we!?” Venerable Yu Yi, with her elegant demeanor, discovered that Chen Mobai was indeed at the Nascent Soul realm, frowning slightly with her delicate brows, her eyes and expression filled with astonishment. Theoretically, for Chen Mobai to obtain a Nascent Soul Elixir, even with the Martial Arts Daoist Academy’s support, it would take at least 120 years.

“Greetings, Venerable Yu Yi. You and the Headmaster have been in seclusion for a total of thirty-two years and three months. As for how I managed to form a Nascent Soul in such a short time, it’s simply because I didn’t wait for the Nascent Soul Elixirs from the Immortal Sect’s Three Great Halls.”

Chen Mobai answered Venerable Yu Yi’s question very courteously. After hearing his explanation, both she and Venerable Chengxuan were wide-eyed with astonishment. Succeeding without consuming a Nascent Soul Elixir—the impact of this news was even greater than Chen Mobai having formed a Nascent Soul. After all, both knew of Chen Mobai’s Spirit Transformation potential and believed that as long as he had a Nascent Soul Elixir, this junior would certainly succeed in forming a Nascent Soul. But now they were told that Chen Mobai’s talent was so heaven-defying that he didn’t even need external aids to form a Nascent Soul. This was an unprecedented event in the Immortal Sect’s millennia of history, leaving both seasoned Nascent Soul cultivators utterly shocked.

“If I had known you had successfully formed your Nascent Soul earlier, I would have taken that step!” Venerable Chengxuan said with a sigh.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai knew that he had certainly not succeeded in Spirit Transformation, and felt a slight regret in his heart.

“May I ask, Headmaster, can ‘Instant Bloom’ truly allow Nascent Soul cultivators to comprehend the Spirit Transformation realm?” Chen Mobai couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

“Yes,” Venerable Chengxuan replied. “After I refined the immortal flower bloomed by the Fire Spirit Tree, my realm quickly reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. But after taking half a step, a formula clearly appeared in my mind. It was the ‘Infinite Realm’ of the Boundless Scroll that Venerable Qianxing had prepared for me; it calculates my breakthrough probability based on my current realm.”

“If I were to take that step, there was only an 8.6% chance of successfully undergoing Spirit Transformation!”

“This success rate is simply too low. Moreover, considering the Martial Arts Daoist Academy’s lack of new talent, and that it still needed my old bones to support it, I decided to give up after careful consideration.”

Hearing this, Chen Mobai finally understood why Venerable Chengxuan had sighed with such emotion upon seeing his Nascent Soul formation. An 8.6% chance—less than one-tenth! That was indeed too risky! Chen Mobai deeply understood Venerable Chengxuan’s choice, because he himself was also such a cautious person.