Chapter 891: Phoenix Forms a Core, Ultimate Dao Formation

Danxia Mountain, the place where True Monarch Pure Yang achieved Nascent Soul, has become a sacred site in the hearts of all the people of Danxia City. Consequently, the two academies situated on Danxia Mountain's spiritual vein have seen their enrollment rates skyrocket in recent years, both rising from mid-tier rankings to the top ten.

Today, however, students practicing at the foot of the mountain suddenly felt an unusual fluctuation in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Soon after, mist and haze appeared on the mountaintop due to the convergence of spiritual energy. A clear pipa melody began to play, and countless fragments of spiritual energy continuously ascended under the influence of the music, gathering into a brilliant light. As time passed, spiritual energy from Danxia Mountain's peak continuously flowed towards the light, being absorbed and refined, making it increasingly dazzling.

Most teachers and students, however, were accustomed to such a sight. "This must be Teacher Meng from the Arts Department forming her Golden Core," one teacher commented to new students, observing the constantly appearing Core Formation phenomenon in the sky. "It looks quite spectacular, but it pales in comparison to True Monarch Pure Yang's Nascent Soul formation back then."

He suddenly gained a strange perspective, as if he had become an observer of time. He saw the mountain beneath him evolve from a flat plain, through volcanic eruptions and continuous compression from crustal collisions, enduring countless ages of transformation, finally becoming its present form. Celestial melodies emerged, like nature's own song, graceful and pleasing to the ear, yet imbued with a profound, clear, and enduring chill.

Limited by her cultivation, Meng Huang'er could only perceive a very shallow portion of the Grand Dao's profound sounds during her Core Formation. At this moment, he felt as gentle as a flowing stream, and as light as a feather drifting in the air. With him supporting her, Meng Huang'er finally took the Core Formation spirit pills. Her essence, vital energy, and spirit had long been refined to the peak of Foundation Establishment, and with the aid of the Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill and Water Element Golden Core Pill, she successfully completed the three stages of breakthrough with great ease.

It was as if an unparalleled musician was playing by his ear, the music graceful and lingering, like a fine drizzle, fresh and elegant, transforming into notes that drifted into his heart, making him feel as if bathed in a spring breeze. Immersed in this poetic and picturesque immortal music, his spiritual consciousness began to grow at an astonishing rate. While the teachers and students of the two academies merely found the music pleasant, Chen Mobai truly experienced the Grand Dao's profound sounds triggered by a major realm breakthrough of a Profound Music cultivator.

Furthermore, during the complete formation of the mountain range, the sight of a spiritual plant purifying underground fire toxins, transforming them into fire veins that benefited all beings, deeply moved him. However, Chen Mobai, being a Nascent Soul cultivator, could perceive things far beyond Meng Huang'er's grasp, by more than tenfold. It was during this process that the vast spiritual energy of heaven and earth transformed into seven-colored rainbow light, rapidly converging towards him. It seemed as if the entire Danxia Mountain spiritual vein was empowering his cultivation. Standing atop the peak, he felt the flow of the wind, the pulse of the earth, and the operation of the entire spiritual vein.

After Meng Huang'er successfully formed her Golden Core, Chen Mobai, fearing she might become overly emotional and regress in her cultivation, guided her with his 'Valley Echoes' all throughout the process. At this moment, the light in the sky seemed to have reached its peak intensity, beginning to condense and emit a sparkling radiance. Chen Mobai instinctively refined it with the Pure Yang Scroll, his mind merging with this piece of heaven and earth under the influence of the Grand Dao's profound sounds, becoming a part of it.

In this instant, Chen Mobai felt the flow of spiritual energy throughout the entire Danxia Mountain Range. Whether it was the morning sun or the night sky, all resonated in his mind through clear and beautiful musical notes. Gradually, Chen Mobai felt his consciousness break free from the shackles of his body, merging with the entire world. At this moment, Chen Mobai felt the power he wielded reach an unprecedented level of strength. Chen Mobai found it impossible to describe these beautiful notes with words; he was completely immersed in their enjoyment. The phantom phoenix within his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness also let out a clear cry, as if responding to the celestial melodies of the Grand Dao.

Unexpectedly, he gained an unforeseen benefit during this process. So, sometimes, all that's lacking is the courage to take that final step. Just then, the morning bell rang, awakening him from the Grand Dao's profound sounds. Chen Mobai immediately realized that both the Pure Yang Scroll and the Danfeng Facing the Sun Diagram, which he cultivated, had broken through simultaneously. The Pure Yang Scroll reached the second level of Nascent Soul, while the Danfeng Facing the Sun Diagram broke through to the crucial "Corresponding to Earth's Spirits" realm. This was his current limit; further indulgence in the Grand Dao's profound sounds would be counterproductive, not only preventing further advancement but potentially causing him to regress from his current breakthrough.

Chen Mobai sat upright beneath the verdant jade phoenix tree, beginning to consolidate his realm with the Lamp Lighting Art. To be honest, this unexpected gain was quite surprising. His original intention was merely to help Meng Huang'er overcome her mental block and take the step towards Core Formation. One could only say that good deeds are rewarded. Without this baptism of the Grand Dao's profound sounds, he would have needed at least five or six more years to break through to the second level of Nascent Soul. However, compared to this, the breakthrough of the Danfeng Facing the Sun Diagram made Chen Mobai marvel even more at the power of Profound Music cultivation. Although he had accelerated the cultivation of this spiritual consciousness technique with the Spirit Devouring Art, an ordinary cultivator of the Danfeng Facing the Sun Diagram would typically need decades, or even a century, to potentially break through to the Corresponding to Earth's Spirits realm.

If the Grand Dao's profound sounds triggered by Core Formation were already so formidable, what about Nascent Soul formation? No wonder Profound Music cultivators can play the 'Stunning Spirit Melody' to assist in Spirit Transformation. At this moment, Chen Mobai wondered if he should pay more attention to Meng Huang'er. What if she forms her Nascent Soul? Thinking this, he looked up at Meng Huang'er nearby, who was meditating with her eyes closed, her beautiful jade-like face. It was evident she was very happy; even while consolidating her realm, she couldn't help but smile, though anyone who successfully forms a Golden Core would feel the same. Chen Mobai had been even more exaggerated back then.

After waiting several more days, Chen Mobai confirmed that Meng Huang'er would not regress, he sent her a spiritual message: "Consolidate your realm well. Call me when you emerge from seclusion." Meng Huang'er's fair, smooth, jade-like ear twitched slightly, and then, with her eyes still closed, she quickly nodded, indicating she had heard. After Chen Mobai replaced the top-grade spirit stone in his Faceless Puppet, he used the Great Void Displacement technique and departed.

After the Danfeng Facing the Sun Diagram broke through to the Corresponding to Earth's Spirits realm, Chen Mobai naturally wouldn't let this opportunity go to waste. He began to study array formation knowledge at the Immortal Sect. In the field of array formations, all four major Daoist Academies of the Immortal Sect were highly proficient; mastering any one of their inheritances could lead directly to Fifth-Tier arrays. Even among the ten great Palaces, there were many inheritances containing Fifth-Tier array formation knowledge. Integrating all the Immortal Sect's Fifth-Tier array formation knowledge was the foundation for the Sixth-Tier Heavenly Net and Earth Web Grand Array. It could be said that the Heavenly Net and Earth Web represented the pinnacle of array formations in the Immortal Sect.

Naturally, Chen Mobai began his study of array formation knowledge starting with his own Instrument Refinement Daoist Academy. With the Great Void Displacement, he could visit Mount Chicheng at any time for guidance. Both Venerable Chengxuan and the three Golden Core True Persons of the Array Formation Department were very willing to teach him. Leveraging his "Connecting to Heaven's Blessings and Corresponding to Earth's Spirits" realm, Chen Mobai mastered all the First to Fifth-Tier array formation knowledge inherited by the Instrument Refinement Daoist Academy within just half a year. Now, even by Immortal Sect standards, passing the Fourth-Tier Array Master examination would be more than enough for him. To pass the Fifth-Tier examination, he would still need to learn all the Fifth-Tier knowledge from the other Daoist Academies and Palaces. However, for Chen Mobai, this was merely a matter of time. This was the first time he felt that knowledge was such a simple thing.

His progress in learning array formations also astonished Venerable Chengxuan and others at the Instrument Refinement Daoist Academy. However, Chen Mobai did not conceal that this was due to the Danfeng Facing the Sun Diagram. After all, while very few people cultivated this technique, descriptions of its various realms were still recorded in the ancient texts of the Instrument Refinement Daoist Academy. Learning all the essence of array formations from the Instrument Refinement lineage in just half a year could no longer be explained by comprehension or talent; it was akin to using a cheat. Venerable Chengxuan, however, was even more shocked by this. After all, in the thousands of years of the Immortal Sect's history, no one had ever cultivated the Danfeng Facing the Sun Diagram to such a realm. The few cultivators from the Instrument Refinement Daoist Academy who had achieved the highest accomplishments in this technique were all stuck in the Connecting to Heaven's Blessings realm.

"According to the notes left by these predecessors, they speculated that the Immortal Sect's Heavenly Core had been assimilated by the Daoist Scripture of Heavenly Rules, preventing them from sensing the purest changes in the Heavenly Core, and thus perpetually hindering the completion of the Connecting to Heaven's Blessings realm. I never imagined you would cross this chasm; truly, your talent surpasses those Nascent Soul predecessors!"

Chen Mobai genuinely hadn't known this. Upon hearing Venerable Chengxuan's praise, a slight sweat broke out on his back. His Connecting to Heaven's Blessings realm was achieved in the Heavenly River Realm. The Heavenly Core there was indeed exceptionally pure and natural, especially with the blessing of the Crown of Heaven and Earth's Beings; the Heavenly Core of the Eastern Barrens was essentially defenceless to him, allowing him free access. He had also tried to use "Connecting to Heaven's Blessings" to sense the Heavenly Core here in the Immortal Sect, and indeed, it felt different from the Eastern Barrens—less natural, more regulated. Chen Mobai had never imagined that the Daoist Scripture of Heavenly Rules could actually alter the Heavenly Core. However, this very point gave him an idea for an explanation.

"Perhaps it's because of my accomplishments in comprehending the Daoist Scripture of Heavenly Rules," he mused. "Being able to peel back the veil of regulations and directly perceive the fundamental essence of the Grand Dao's laws and the Heavenly Core's changes is why I could perfect 'Connecting to Heaven's Blessings' and naturally advance to the 'Corresponding to Earth's Spirits' realm."

Chen Mobai's words made Venerable Chengxuan nod repeatedly. In his view, only the profound mysteries recorded in the Heavenly Scripture could unravel the enigma of the Heavenly Core, which was enveloped in regulations. Venerable Chengxuan said, "Then you must not waste this talent of yours. You must diligently study the Dao of Array Formations. Perhaps in the future, you could achieve the ultimate Dao Array, the Heaven-Earth Unity, like the Immortal Sect Master!"

Chen Mobai asked, "What is this ultimate Dao Array?" Chen Mobai suddenly realized that although he was already a Nascent Soul cultivator of the Immortal Sect, there were many things he had never heard of.

Venerable Chengxuan explained, "The Heavenly Net and Earth Web are both Sixth-Tier grand arrays. Their combination represents the ultimate evolution of the Immortal Sect's array formation Dao, known as the Ultimate Dao Array. The Heavenly Net is the pinnacle of heaven arrays, the Earth Web is the pinnacle of earth arrays, and the Dao Array is human-centric, refining the Heavenly Net and Earth Web into one's body." Venerable Chengxuan continued, "In ancient times, the Immortal Sect Master used the Dao Array to activate the World Gate, carrying the patriarchs of our four major Daoist Academies across the cosmic rivers and the boundless void, arriving on this Mortal Star to establish the foundation of the Immortal Sect." Venerable Chengxuan added, "Unfortunately, the Mortal Star has limited heaven and earth, so the Heavenly Net and Earth Web that could be manifested here were only barely Sixth-Tier. Thus, in his later years, the Immortal Sect Master attempted to condense the Dao Array based on this foundation to achieve Void Refinement, but he failed."

Upon hearing all this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but feel a deep sense of reverence. As one of the very few cultivators in the Immortal Sect's history who attempted Void Refinement, Immortal Sect Master Zhang Daosun was widely recognized as the highest in cultivation. It was regrettable that traversing the cosmos had consumed too much of his power. After arriving on the Mortal Star, he reportedly encountered a formidable enemy whom he suppressed and slew, but this also caused him to lose a vast amount of his essence. Nevertheless, Zhang Daosun still spread the methods of immortal cultivation and bestowed the arts of longevity upon the Mortal Star. Under his guidance, the patriarchs of the four major Daoist Academies, such as Old Ancestor Yun Ya, established their own Dao lineages on various spiritual veins across the Mortal Star, continuing their inheritances. Subsequently, after centuries of evolution, the Immortal Sect began to take shape with the establishment of the Three Great Halls. In a sense, the ability for everyone in the Immortal Sect to cultivate immortals originated from this Immortal Sect Master, Zhang Daosun. Though his own Dao was diminished, he did not forget to benefit all sentient beings!

As a child, influenced by his grandfather, Chen Mobai, who had wished to become an official, had Zhang Daosun as his first idol. However, after Zhang Daosun's passing, the Immortal Sect's Three Great Halls were primarily managed by people from the four major Daoist Academies, so there weren't many records concerning him. Only Venerable Chengxuan, as the head of the Instrument Refinement Daoist Academy, knew these secrets.

"I hope that one day, I can make the Immortal Sect's Dao Array reappear on the Mortal Star," Chen Mobai said from the bottom of his heart.

"With your 'Connecting to Heaven's Blessings and Corresponding to Earth's Spirits' realm, learning all of the Immortal Sect's First to Fifth-Tier array formation knowledge is as easy as turning your hand," Venerable Chengxuan advised. "However, the Heavenly Net and Earth Web are the essence of all Immortal Sect arrays, and only the two Old Ancestors possess them. When you have free time, you can go to Five Peaks Immortal Mountain, play some games with Old Ancestor Qianxing, and seek his guidance." Venerable Chengxuan began to offer Chen Mobai advice. Although Nascent Soul cultivators of the Immortal Sect could generally download most of its knowledge, the Heavenly Net and Earth Web were the ultimate safeguard concerning the Immortal Sect's safety, and even the entire Mortal Star's, so no information about them was available online. While the Immortal Sect's Dual Sages safeguarded the array formation content of the Heavenly Net and Earth Web, Old Ancestor Baiguang of their Instrument Refinement lineage only knew how to fight and kill, completely ignorant of array formations. Therefore, if he wanted to learn, he could only seek out Old Ancestor Qianxing.