Chapter 871: Giving the Stage to the Young People

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"I was able to achieve the Nascent Soul stage largely thanks to Fellow Daoist Qing Nu's master. I still feel these betrothal gifts aren't grand enough."

Zhou Shengqing still thought the gifts were insufficient. It was a life-saving grace, and arguably crucial to the rise of the Five Elements Sect.

So he added the Tier 5 Yellow Dragon Grotto.

In his view, once Mo Douguang achieved Nascent Soul, the Five Elements Sect would possess enough strength to suppress and slay the Poison Dragon, thereby claiming that Tier 5 spiritual land.

Coincidentally, Qing Nu possesses a Heavenly Water Spirit Root, making the Yellow Dragon Grotto perfectly suitable for her.

"Then let's follow Senior Brother's wishes."

Chen Mobai found it reasonable after hearing it.

He had long considered the Yellow Dragon Grotto as property of the Five Elements Sect.

The spiritual vein level at Tianpeng Mountain was still a bit low, and it wasn't ideal for Qing Nu to reside there permanently. In the future, once they became Dao Companions, the task of overseeing the Five-Horned Ancient Maple would be handed over to Han Zhiling, a third-generation disciple.

"Junior Brother, you should give Fellow Daoist Qing Nu a heads-up about the Yellow Dragon Grotto in advance. The Five Elements Sect will eventually take control of that place."

Zhou Shengqing felt a bit awkward about including something in the betrothal gifts that couldn't yet be realized, so he could only have Chen Mobai explain.

"Senior Brother, you exaggerate. Qing Nu won't mind. Besides, ten thousand acres of medicinal fields are already incredibly valuable!"

Chen Mobai nodded with a smile. Although these ten thousand acres of medicinal fields were from his Five Elements Sect's assets, what belonged to Qing Nu also belonged to him. Moreover, these resources would be most effectively utilized in her hands as an alchemist.

"I originally wanted to include the entire Yunmeng Marsh as well, but half of it belongs to Eastern Wu, and the Sun family might easily misunderstand if they found out..."

Zhou Shengqing's words left Chen Mobai speechless.

The vastness of Yunmeng Marsh was equivalent to the combined area of the Eastern Wastes and Eastern Wu regions. If this were also granted to Qing Nu, she would truly be an undisputed grand landlady.

"That's too much, the Yellow Dragon Grotto is enough."

Chen Mobai repeatedly insisted that Yunmeng Marsh, besides separating Eastern Wu and the Eastern Wastes, was also a treasure trove where cultivators from both regions dreamed of changing their fate. If it were truly allocated to Qing Nu, it would at least have to wait until she achieved Nascent Soul.

Next, Zhou Shengqing discussed the situation in Eastern Yi over the past few years.

The Xuanxiao Dao Palace had completely disintegrated. The surviving disciples didn't even require intervention from the Five Elements Sect; local cultivation families and minor sects were more ruthless in eliminating them.

This was not only a way to pledge allegiance to the Five Elements Sect but also to seize the possessions of the Xuanxiao Dao Palace disciples.

Zhou Shengqing was pleased with this outcome.

"Over the past four years, our sect's rule here has largely stabilized. I now plan to send Junior Brother Mo back to prepare for his Nascent Soul breakthrough. While Mingjing Mountain would be quite suitable for him, he feels more familiar with Jinguang Cliff. With top-grade spirit stones, a Tier 4 spiritual vein will also suffice."

Chen Mobai nodded in agreement.

Mo Douguang's success in achieving Nascent Soul was crucial for the Five Elements Sect's further advancement, so returning for secluded cultivation was a good idea.

After learning about Chen Mobai's connection with the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect, Ancestor Bai Wu would remain quiet for at least the next few years.

The two Nascent Soul cultivators from Kongsang Valley hadn't returned, making the Five Elements Sect the sole dominant power in Eastern Yi. There was no longer a need to keep so many high-level cultivators there.

Chen Mobai said, "With the Sun Sacred Fruit, preparations for refining the Infant Nurturing Elixir can begin."

Although Mo Douguang had received the Three Lights Divine Water, it was for self-preservation. To increase the success rate of achieving Nascent Soul, elixirs were still needed.

"Most of the medicinal ingredients are available in the 30,000 acres of medicinal fields here in Eastern Yi. Only a few main ingredients need to be collected."

Zhou Shengqing had previously looked into this, but since the Sun Sacred Fruit was unobtainable, he hadn't given it much thought. Now that the most difficult main ingredient was secured, he smiled as he consulted the list.

Chen Mobai added, "Yan Shaoyin previously collected ingredients for one batch. I'll ask him when I return."

Within the Five Elements Sect, besides Mo Douguang, Zhou Ye was also close to achieving Nascent Soul, only needing to condense his true qi.

Therefore, refining a batch of Infant Nurturing Elixirs would be highly beneficial.

After they finished discussing these matters, Zhuo Ming, who was the first to be notified by Chen Mobai, arrived at Mingjing Mountain.

"Master!"

Chen Mobai was very happy to see her and invited her over to talk.

Subsequently, all other Core Formation cultivators of the Five Elements Sect remaining in Eastern Yi arrived one by one.

These included Mo Douguang, Zhou Ye, Fu Zongjue, as well as Zhou Wangshen and E Yun, who had escorted Zhuo Ming.

The Five Elements Sect now had two Nascent Soul cultivators and thirteen Core Formation cultivators, meaning roughly half of their strength was in Eastern Yi.

However, with the situation now stable, there was no need for so many people in Eastern Yi.

Zhuo Ming had completed the exploration of the Duojiu Mountain spirit stone mine and drawn detailed maps. Now, the geomancers of the Five Elements Sect could simply follow the maps to extract all the raw ore from this spirit stone mine. The remaining fragmented spirit stone residue was not worth the Five Elements Sect's extensive effort.

Therefore, Chen Mobai planned to take Zhuo Ming back, as the large-scale agricultural reform of a billion acres of fertile land in the Eastern Wastes awaited her management.

Zhuo Ming always followed her master's arrangements and obediently nodded upon hearing this.

Zhou Shengqing, however, was a bit reluctant. He had originally planned for Zhuo Ming to survey the dozens of other mineral veins belonging to the Xuanxiao Dao Palace after completing the spirit stone mine.

But these mineral veins were uncontested and could be fully exploited in due time, so Zhou Shengqing said nothing further.

Besides Zhuo Ming, Chen Mobai also planned to take E Yun back.

After Chen Mobai achieved Nascent Soul, he intended to completely delegate sectarian affairs, letting E Yun substantially take over all duties of the Five Elements Sect's sect master.

In the future, Chen Mobai would only personally preside over major events, such as battles against the Xuanxiao Dao Palace or the establishment of the Yellow Dragon Grotto, in his capacity as sect master.

After Zhuo Ming and E Yun, Mo Douguang also took the opportunity to express his desire to return to Jinguang Cliff. Chen Mobai, having already been informed by Zhou Shengqing, naturally nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ye hesitated, clearly wanting to return as well, but because Chen Mobai had spoken with him earlier, he ultimately remained silent.

"Then I'll go back too. I'm still more used to Ju Mu Ridge."

Fu Zongjue spoke up, seeing the many junior disciples in the sect now. With the current power of the Five Elements Sect, he saw the possibility of also achieving Nascent Soul, so he planned to return and cultivate diligently to reach Peak Core Formation as soon as possible.

With two Core Formation cultivators leaving, someone would certainly need to take over.

Zhou Shengqing decided to have Zhou Wangshen stay. As a member of his own family, he planned to mentor him carefully for a period.

"After the grand ceremony, I will have my two junior nephews, Ning and Luo, come to Eastern Yi."

Everyone already knew about Ning Leshan's Core Formation. They only learned of Luo Xue'er's successful Core Formation from Chen Mobai, and upon hearing it, they all looked happy.

This was a symbol of the Five Elements Sect's growing strength.

After arranging all the personnel matters in Eastern Yi, Chen Mobai did not linger. The next day, he led everyone back.

Besides Mo Douguang and other Core Formation disciples, a group of Five Elements Sect disciples who longed for the Eastern Wastes were also escorted back by Chen Mobai on a flying boat.

On the flying boat, Chen Mobai told E Yun something that brought a look of surprise and delight to his face: "After we return, you will act as the interim sect master. Reassign a group of people from the sect to Eastern Yi, prioritizing geomancers and spiritual plant cultivators. In the future, rotate a batch every few years, making it a regular practice."

He had never imagined that what he had longed for most of his life would come to pass like this.

It's worth noting that as Chen Mobai's cultivation grew higher, he and Zhou Wangshen had even resigned themselves to simply assisting the sect master for the rest of their lives.

Zhou Wangshen, upon learning that Zhou Shengqing was also a Nascent Soul cultivator, had decisively adjusted his goal towards achieving Nascent Soul, which is why he unhesitatingly chose to stay by Zhou Shengqing's side to receive guidance.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

As E Yun spoke, a smile played uncontrollably at the corners of his mouth.

The group quickly returned to the Eastern Wastes.

Mo Douguang was the first to take his leave. Ning Leshan, upon hearing this in Beiyuan City, also returned to Jinguang Cliff with him.

"Senior Brother Mo, do not be hasty in achieving Nascent Soul. First, nourish your true qi..."

Chen Mobai told Mo Douguang about the Infant Nurturing Elixir, and the latter's eyes flickered slightly as he solemnly thanked him.

After seeing them off, Chen Mobai issued an order to the Five Elements' Five Veins in Beiyuan City, announcing that E Yun would act as interim sect master from then on.

The Five Elements' Five Veins had long anticipated this, as Nascent Soul cultivators in the Tianhe Realm generally dislike managing affairs.

With E Yun as interim sect master, Chen Mobai felt much more at ease.

He plans to formally step down in a few years, once E Yun has adapted, to hand over the stage to the younger generation and pursue his own interests.

That day, Chen Mobai finished modifying the Earth Mother Stone using the Divine Sense Light Blade Instrument, then took Zhuo Ming and Luo Yixuan to Liujia Mountain.

When Taishui saw Chen Mobai, it subtly showed a fearful emotion.

Its spiritual intelligence was similar to that of the Purple Lightning Sword, but having grown up in the Desolate Ruins, it was highly sensitive to dangerous auras. Even with Chen Mobai restraining his power, it still felt like it was facing a high-temperature energy mass that could turn it to ashes at any moment.

"You have gained considerable merit by assisting Ming'er in sand control all these years. In the future, you might even have a chance to upgrade to Tier 5."

Chen Mobai stroked the trembling Taishui in his hand. After listening with an ethereal voice, he performed a very precise operation, embedding the Earth Mother Stone into its core.

Taishui didn't even feel the entire process.

After the operation, Chen Mobai waved to Zhuo Ming. She immediately came over and communicated with Taishui using the Myriad Spirit Affinity, instructing it on how to use the Earth Mother Stone to absorb and refine Earth Qi to enhance itself.

Upon hearing this, Taishui immediately showed great joy.

It then immediately began its first absorption of Earth Qi, and naturally, it over-absorbed.

Given Taishui's level of sentience, teaching it cultivation was like teaching an ignorant child. Chen Mobai naturally didn't have the time for this, so he entrusted the matter to Zhuo Ming.

"Ming'er, you will take it with you from now on. If it upgrades to Tier 4, it will be able to withstand an attack or two even from a Nascent Soul cultivator. It can also serve as your protective spiritual artifact."