Chapter 893: Meeting Yan Bingxuan

Upon his return to Wangwu Dongtian, Chen Mobai briefed Zhuang Jialan on Meng Huan'er's situation. After successfully forming her Golden Core, Meng Huan'er was to enter Kaiyuan Hall and become a new council member. Although, given the current state of Wuqi Dao Academy, she was unlikely to face difficulties, Chen Mobai still instructed Zhuang Jialan to guide her through the process when the time came.

"Understood, Venerable Sir. There's another matter: the Water Essence Golden Core furnace has completed its refinement. The list of recipients might need to be finalized by the end of the year." After noting down Meng Huan'er's matter, Zhuang Jialan brought up something Chen Mobai had asked her to keep an eye on earlier.

"I see. First, have Zijing internally select a list. Then I'll discuss it with Ying Guanghua and the others," Chen Mobai said. He added that for this batch of Water Essence Golden Cores, his main goal was to secure one for Yan Bingxuan. With this in mind, he called Venerable Yunhai again.

Of course, he couldn't directly state it was for Yan Bingxuan; Venerable Yunhai would surely suspect their relationship. Chen Mobai began by asking Venerable Yunhai for guidance on Fifth-Grade formation knowledge. Venerable Yunhai was the only Nascent Soul stage Fifth-Grade formation master in the Immortal Sect and the current president of the Formation Masters Association.

"I lost a few points on that major question back then," Venerable Yunhai began, "because although the newly created Fifth-Grade formation was theoretically perfect, there were no conditions to deploy it in the Immortal Sect, so it couldn't be verified." Chen Mobai's achievements in 'Connecting to Heaven's Blessing' and 'Responding to Earth's Spirit' had long reached Venerable Yunhai, who had been waiting for Chen Mobai to seek his guidance.

"The assessments for Fifth-Grade professions are all personally set by Patriarch Qianxing..."

"You want to test for Fifth-Grade formation master? Come to Natural Academy, and I'll explain the assessment process in detail."

Chen Mobai was conflicted. He feared encountering Yan Bingxuan at Natural Academy would be awkward. He couldn't very well say he was too busy with official duties. If this were before, Chen Mobai could have used the excuse that the journey was too far, but now the entire Immortal Sect knew he had mastered Void Teleportation. His 'Connecting to Heaven's Blessing' and 'Responding to Earth's Spirit' abilities were no help in this regard. It wasn't enough to just learn all Fifth-Grade knowledge; one also had to integrate it thoroughly and innovate.

However, Venerable Yunhai, upon hearing Chen Mobai's intention, enthusiastically invited him over as a guest. Chen Mobai thought about it: since Venerable Yunhai was so enthusiastic, and he also needed to discuss the Water Essence Golden Core with Yan Bingxuan, he decided to go. Just learning all Fifth-Grade knowledge in the Immortal Sect was enough to meet the standard for a Fifth-Grade formation master. Was the Fifth-Grade in the Immortal Sect really that difficult?

However, Venerable Yunhai then said something that made Chen Mobai breathe a sigh of relief: "But the scope of the questions will definitely be within the Immortal Sect's Fifth-Grade formation knowledge framework. At most, there might be a slight variation, requiring you to use the Immortal Sect's knowledge system to create a new Fifth-Grade formation. Although that last major question carried a lot of points, it wasn't critical. As long as you answered all the preceding questions correctly, you'd pass."

"After I became a Fifth-Grade formation master, Patriarch Qianxing taught me the Sky Curtain and Earth Net Grand Formation. Unfortunately, after all these years, I've only grasped a third of the essence of the Earth Net." Next, Venerable Yunhai shared his insights on the Dao of formations with Chen Mobai. "If you can pass the Fifth-Grade formation master assessment, I'll have a peer to discuss with. Perhaps through that, I can truly comprehend the Sky Curtain and Earth Net. In the Immortal Sect, while knowledge is abundant, there's a lack of peers for discussion, especially for those of us at the peak. The only one we can truly discuss with is Patriarch Qianxing, but you know his temperament; given the time, he'd rather play a few more rounds of games."

After listening to Venerable Yunhai, Chen Mobai suddenly felt a chill down his spine. After imparting his Fifth-Grade formation insights, Venerable Yunhai also spoke candidly, expressing a strong hope for Chen Mobai to grow quickly.

"Thank you for your guidance, Venerable Sir. I'll do my best," Chen Mobai replied. He couldn't make any guarantees, as the Sky Curtain and Earth Net represented the pinnacle of Immortal Sect formations, and he wasn't sure if the 'Connecting to Heaven's Blessing' and 'Responding to Earth's Spirit' realms from the 'Phoenix Facing the Sun Diagram' could help him comprehend them.

"Will you go back tonight, or stay here for a while? I can arrange accommodation for you," Venerable Yunhai asked, sounding pleased. The Dao of formations was vast and profound, easy to learn but difficult to master, especially Fifth-Grade knowledge, which essentially required a thorough understanding of all fundamentals before one could truly integrate it. Even if he personally taught, it would take a year or a year and a half to cover everything. Therefore, for Chen Mobai to advance his understanding of formations, he would need to continuously communicate and study with Venerable Yunhai at Natural Academy. Knowing Chen Mobai possessed Void Teleportation, Venerable Yunhai had asked this question.

"Please arrange any dormitory room, Venerable Sir. I'll see how things go; if official duties at Wangwu Dongtian aren't too pressing, I should be able to stay here," Chen Mobai decided after some thought. After all, performing Void Teleportation consumed a significant amount of true qi and spiritual sense.

"I've asked Qiongzhi to arrange it. You're familiar with her, so if you encounter anything at Natural Academy in the future, you can find her," Venerable Yunhai said to Chen Mobai after finishing his call with Yan Qiongzhi.

"Then I'll take my leave. Coincidentally, I have a long-unseen friend here at Natural Academy. Since I'm here, I should definitely visit her," Chen Mobai said, subtly reminding Venerable Yunhai not to forget to submit Yan Bingxuan's name.

"You mean Teacher Yan, right? Oh, speaking of which, when will the Immortal Sect's batch of Water Essence Golden Cores be ready? I'd like to prepare and inform Kunpeng Dao Academy." As expected, the moment Chen Mobai mentioned it, Venerable Yunhai understood his meaning and immediately recalled his promise. Natural Academy was a subordinate institution of Kunpeng Dao Academy, so submitting Yan Bingxuan's name required going through them.

"It's already been refined. The list should be finalized internally before the Kaiyuan Hall assembly at the end of the year," Chen Mobai promptly replied, following up on Venerable Yunhai's words. Venerable Yunhai nodded upon hearing this and indicated he would arrange the matter.

Just then, Yan Qiongzhi arrived. She had overheard the latter half of the conversation and looked at Chen Mobai with a peculiar gaze. "Thank you for your trouble regarding Xuan'er, Venerable Chunyang," Yan Qiongzhi said, bowing her head to Chen Mobai after they left the headmaster's office.

"It's nothing. Between her and me, there's no need for thanks," Chen Mobai replied with polite words, unsure if Yan Qiongzhi knew about his relationship with Yan Bingxuan.

"Can I stay in the place where Venerable Qingshi and Qinjing once resided?" Chen Mobai suddenly asked while arrangements were being made for his accommodation. He remembered his first visit to Natural Academy, where he had obtained the 'Purple-Green Devil Refining Heavenly Scroll'. Back then, he could only admire the sword marks left by the two venerables. Chen Mobai felt that with his current cultivation, he should at least be able to comprehend them now, so he wished to go there and resolve a long-held curiosity.

"For Venerable Chunyang, of course, there's no problem," Yan Qiongzhi replied with a slight nod. That spot was one of Natural Academy's famous historical sites. For many years, only Chen Mobai had ever stayed there. Others, even genius students practicing the venerables' sword techniques, were only permitted to visit and meditate for half a day at most after obtaining approval.

"Does Bingxuan have classes today?" Chen Mobai asked about Yan Bingxuan on the way to the Bright Mirror House on Huagai Mountain.

"No classes tonight. Should I inform her?" Yan Qiongzhi asked after answering.

"I'll tell her myself," Chen Mobai said, shaking his head. It would be quite heartless if Yan Bingxuan learned of his arrival from someone else. Yan Qiongzhi, thinking Chen Mobai wanted to surprise Yan Bingxuan, nodded. After retrieving the key, she led Chen Mobai to the foot of Huagai Mountain and then took her leave. "Venerable Sir, feel free to find me if you need anything."

After Yan Qiongzhi left, Chen Mobai walked to the mountaintop, pacing with a conflicted expression. His finger hovered over Yan Bingxuan's number several times before, under a clear, frost-like sword intent, he finally made up his mind. He knew he had to face her eventually. He had originally intended to go to Yan Bingxuan himself, but he was too famous and feared being recognized, so he could only ask Yan Bingxuan to come to him.

Less than fifteen minutes after his call, the cool-tempered, beautiful Yan Bingxuan arrived at Huagai Mountain. "Why are you here?" Yan Bingxuan asked, a joyful surprise spreading across her face as she saw Chen Mobai waiting for her on the stone path of Huagai Mountain.

"The Immortal Sect's batch of Water Essence Golden Cores has been refined..." Chen Mobai had just begun to state his prepared reason when Yan Bingxuan's soft body rushed into his embrace. He couldn't utter the rest of his sentence, as his lips were already covered by hers. Once ice flowers bloom, they are more direct and beautiful than any other flower. Chen Mobai's carefully prepared words were now unspeakable. Considering she was about to form her Golden Core, and if this matter were to distress her, a heart demon might emerge during her breakthrough, leading to failure in forming the core. *Forget it,* he thought, *I'll tell her after she forms her Golden Core.* With that thought flashing through his mind, Chen Mobai felt the surprising elasticity pressing against his chest and no longer resisted his own desires, raising his hands... Unbeknownst to them, the sky had become filled with stars.

Chen Mobai held Yan Bingxuan, her cheeks flushed, all her restraints discarded. They lay inside the newly drawn wooden house talismans, listening to her pour out her longing from over the years. The more she spoke, the more difficult it became for Chen Mobai to voice the words in his heart.

"I thought you'd come to see me immediately after mastering Void Teleportation," Yan Bingxuan finally said, a hint of resentment in her voice.

"Each time Void Teleportation is performed, it requires a location application to the Sky Curtain and Earth Net Administration. You know I walk on thin ice representing the Wuqi lineage in the Three Great Halls, with many political enemies watching my every move. If they knew I came to see you, I feared it would harm you and disrupt your peaceful life."