Chapter 900: Century-long Infrastructure

"Thank you for your guidance, Sect Master!" Tan Rong said respectfully, bowing before she left Beiyuan Mountain with the Wood Element Core-Forming Pill. She intended to return to Huozhen Hall to form her core. Knowing that this opportunity was entirely due to Chen Mobai's word, she had specifically come to express her gratitude. Chen Mobai, in turn, readily shared some of his insights and techniques for core formation.

News quickly spread that all six Wood Element Core-Forming Pills available in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion had been exchanged. Within the Five Elements Sect, nearly all qualified individuals began to seclude themselves for intensive cultivation. They knew that the Sect Master's wife's alchemy skills were unparalleled, typically yielding ten pills per furnace, so more opportunities would arise.

One day, Luo Yixuan unexpectedly arrived in Beiyuan City. It had been over a decade since she formed her core, and her cultivation progress was no longer as rapid as it once was. After encountering a bottleneck, she remembered the origins of the Imperial Sea Profound Art and decided to visit Mount Panghuang in Dongyi, where the remnants of the Sea Overturning Gate were said to be.

"Remember, safety first. If you encounter danger, don't be reckless; retreat promptly." Chen Mobai had no reason to object. After all, disciples could never truly grow under his perpetual protection. Moreover, Dongyi was now largely within the Five Elements Sect's sphere of influence. The Mount Panghuang ruins lay precisely at the border between their territory and the Bathing Sun Sea's domain. As long as Patriarch White Crow didn't intervene, Luo Yixuan and Granny Ming's combined strength would ensure their relative safety.

"Take this token; it should be related to the Sea Overturning Gate ruins. Also, once you're in Dongyi, remember to report to Senior Brother Zhou." Chen Mobai produced the azure token he had acquired after slaying Xuan Shu.

"Thank you, Master!" Luo Yixuan respectfully received it with both hands, then began to ask for guidance on the cultivation problems she had encountered in recent years.

With abundant resources from the sect, access to a fourth-tier water spiritual vein, and Granny Ming's constant guidance, Luo Yixuan's cultivation speed after forming her core had been quite impressive. At least in Donghuang, she was considered a genuine talent. However, comparison often highlights disparities. Ever since Chen Mobai and Qing Nü became Dao Companions, Luo Yixuan frequently interacted with Yin Qingmei. Their respective cultivation sites, Hanying Lake and Liujia Mountain, were both located in Hong County, making communication very convenient. While exchanging cultivation insights, Luo Yixuan noticed that her cultivation speed was considerably slower than Yin Qingmei's.

The spiritual energy Yin Qingmei gained from two days of meditation required three days for Luo Yixuan. While this single day's difference might seem insignificant in the short term, extended over centuries, it would lead to a vast disparity. Many cultivators, separated by such time gaps, never reached the threshold of breakthrough and eventually passed away in quiet despondency. This illustrates the difference in innate talent, especially in cultivation; the further one progresses, the more apparent the gap created by talent becomes.

However, Luo Yixuan believed it wasn't solely due to talent but also possibly because her cultivation technique was inferior to Yin Qingmei's. After all, the Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture was an immortal scripture for the Divine Transformation stage, and with her natal spiritual plant assisting in regulating the world's spiritual energy, her progress was even more efficient. Therefore, sensing her cultivation speed gradually slowing, Luo Yixuan decided to travel to Dongyi and explore the Sea Overturning Gate ruins. She hoped that if she found an opportunity there, it might bridge the gap in their talents. She did not conceal this plan from Chen Mobai, explaining it to him truthfully.

"Qingmei's cultivation is actually considered slow," Chen Mobai explained. "Because the Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture is an ancient method, its cultivation speed is far inferior to the Longevity Immortal Scripture. Although her natal spiritual plant can help her regulate spiritual energy and refine essences, she also needs to expend mental energy to help her natal spiritual plant grow, so these two aspects effectively balance each other out. With her Heavenly Spiritual Root talent, if she were cultivating the Longevity Immortal Scripture, she would likely be in the Mid Core Formation stage by now."

Chen Mobai shook his head after speaking, revealing an even more disheartening truth to Luo Yixuan: this was the disparity of talent, entirely unrelated to the cultivation technique.

"Xuan'er, you don't need to worry," Chen Mobai comforted her. "You cultivate a water-attribute technique. As long as your spiritual energy grows sufficiently, I will have Qing Nü refine some pills for you to sustain your cultivation until you reach the Nascent Soul threshold. That will certainly not be a problem." He explained that most of the Jellyfish Palace pill recipes obtained from Xuanxiao Dao Palace were specifically for cultivators of water-attribute techniques. As long as Qing Nü refined them, Chen Mobai could easily ensure Luo Yixuan received one or two.

"Thank you, Master. Then I will go to Dongyi first and explore; perhaps I can find another complete legacy to bring back for the sect." Hearing Chen Mobai's words only strengthened Luo Yixuan's resolve to visit the Sea Overturning Gate ruins in Dongyi.

"Again, safety first," Chen Mobai reiterated, then waved towards Granny Ming, who was hidden in Luo Yixuan's shadow. "And Xuan'er, please trouble Fellow Daoist to look after her." Granny Ming immediately materialized, returning his bow respectfully.

"Rest assured, Saint Son, I will be by her side."

After Luo Yixuan departed, Qing Nü took Yan Jinye, who had just assumed the position of Head of the Alchemy Department, to Wanhua Immortal City. Qing Nü was now seriously focusing on Danxia Pavilion, planning to develop it into the largest chain pharmacy across the entire Eastern Continent.

However, following Chen Mobai's instructions, she refrained from immediately introducing all the transcendent immortal sect pill recipes. Instead, she used immortal sect knowledge to improve the Five Elements Sect's collected recipes over the years, basing them on local culture to ensure easy acceptance by the native population.

In the Celestial River Realm, the acceptance of unfamiliar elixirs remained low. While the Five Elements Sect could forcefully promote them using its reputation, this approach was effective only within Donghuang. For Danxia Pavilion to become the leading chain pharmacy in the Eastern Continent, and even the entire Celestial River Realm, it needed to expand its reach. Therefore, localizing the pill recipes to make them familiar to native cultivators became crucial.

The Five Elements Sect's own collections over the years, combined with those acquired from annexing major sects—especially after merging with Huitian Valley and Xuanxiao Dao Palace, two prominent alchemy factions—resulted in a sudden influx of resources, completely enriching their store of pill recipes.

Currently, the Beiyuan City Library housed a total of 136 different pill recipes. Although Chen Mobai wished all disciples could access them, he imposed restrictions, fearing that, given local customs, some daring disciples might recklessly concoct and consume pills from any recipe they acquired. It was stipulated that only disciples of the Five Elements Sect's Alchemy Department could exchange sect contributions for pill recipes corresponding to their alchemy skill grades.

However, considering that many of these recipes originated from Huitian Valley, Chen Mobai later introduced a supplementary regulation: alchemists affiliated with the Five Elements Sect could also exchange for pill recipes, provided the Head of the Alchemy Department or a Core Formation cultivator from one of the three great halls was willing to endorse them. This made Yan Shaoyin immensely grateful.

Qing Nü was currently both improving these local pill recipes and leading the Five Elements Sect's alchemists in practical trials at Wanhua Immortal City. Throughout this process, she was also doing her best to guide and instruct these disciples in alchemy techniques. Now, the entire Five Elements Sect, and even major powers across Donghuang, knew that Sect Master Chen's Dao Companion was an alchemy master so skilled that even Yan Shaoyin would humbly seek her advice. The title of "Donghuang's Foremost Alchemist" had thus been bestowed upon Qing Nü.

Qing Nü, for her part, paid little mind to the title, but her days noticeably grew more fulfilling. With Qing Nü engrossed in her work, Chen Mobai also stayed busy. He once again journeyed alone across the entire Donghuang Plateau.

Previously, upon entering the Tongtianzhi realm, he had used his Heavenly Heart to perceive hidden spiritual veins and lands throughout the plateau, similar to Loquat Valley. Due to being occupied with various matters, he had not explored them until now. Having now achieved the Yingdiling realm, he could travel anywhere. These ownerless, undiscovered spiritual vein lands were undoubtedly assets of the Five Elements Sect. Upon entering each, Chen Mobai's first action was to establish Five Elements Sect markings.

During this process, he was also verifying his Fifth-Tier Formation Master realm. Donghuang primarily featured two types of terrain: plains and plateaus. For the plains, he had already planned a Fifth-Tier Profound Mechanism Five Elements Array. Once the five great immortal cities and major spiritual veins were fully integrated, Gigantic Wood Ridge would achieve the status of a Fifth-Tier spiritual vein.

Beiyuan City, envisioned by Chen Mobai as the core of Donghuang and a future nexus for governing the three frontier regions of the Eastern Continent, including undeveloped treasure lands like Yunmeng Marsh and the Desolate Ruins, was also ideally to be upgraded to a Fifth-Tier spiritual vein. The method, naturally, would be similar. Conveniently, within the Immortal Sect, the Earth Vein Network incorporated a Fifth-Tier Nine Palaces Array, both positive and negative. Chen Mobai thus planned to integrate the spiritual veins of the Donghuang Plateau using the Nine Palaces Array, setting aside Beiyuan City's spiritual vein for a future Fifth-Tier upgrade.

The Nine Palaces Array required nine spiritual vein hubs; Beiyuan City and Wanhua Immortal City were already established as two of them. Consequently, seven more immortal cities needed to be built. Chen Mobai was currently surveying the geographical locations for these remaining seven cities.

This undertaking proved more challenging than Chen Mobai had anticipated, as it involved knowledge of the Immortal Sect's Array Sky Curtain and Earth Vein Network, extending beyond the typical scope of a Fifth-Tier Formation Master. Furthermore, when establishing this Nine Palaces Array, which would encompass the entire Donghuang Plateau, Chen Mobai also had to plan for its integration with the Profound Mechanism Five Elements Array on the plains. Beyond that, he needed to consider the three great rivers the Five Elements Sect had excavated on the plateau, the various waterways spanning the Donghuang plains, and even the major mountain ranges, the adjacent Yunmeng Great Marsh, the Boundless Sand Sea, and the Desolate Ruins. All these elements had to be factored in to ensure complete future integration and the generation of the "Earth Vein Network."

While ideals were always grand, reality was often harsh. Particularly within the Five Elements Sect, there was a severe shortage of talented formation masters. Relying solely on him, even if he completed the planning of the Donghuang Earth Vein Grand Array, it would be like trying to cook without rice – impossible to execute without the necessary personnel. However, this was clearly a century-long project, so there was no need for immediate haste.

If absolutely necessary, he could assign Zhuo Ming to lead the project after she completed her grand plan for agricultural land reform in Donghuang, given that her talent in earth arrays was currently no less than his own. However, relying solely on his beloved disciple would be too taxing; he still needed to provide her with more personnel.

After completing his journey across the Donghuang Plateau and returning to Beiyuan City, Chen Mobai first finalized the blueprint for upgrading the Fifth-Tier spiritual vein using the Nine Palaces Array. Next, he summoned the heads of the various academies and Song Huangda, who was overseeing the renovation of Beiyuan City's grand array.

Yi Shaoqing, who was responsible for the five great immortal cities on the Donghuang plains and the Profound Mechanism Five Elements Array, had applied for seclusion after receiving his Wood Element Core-Forming Pill, so he was not summoned this time. Chen Mobai first inquired about the academies' experiences with the new teaching materials. Afterward, he issued his latest instructions, directing each academy to foster student interest in array formations.

"The sect's future century-long infrastructure development will require a large number of formation masters, so I plan to introduce some supportive policies..." As Chen Mobai's words concluded, Lian Maozhi and the others immediately nodded respectfully. As Tan Rong of Huozhen Academy was in seclusion for core formation, its vice-principal was present, but everyone meticulously recorded Chen Mobai's instructions, treating them as guiding principles.

Chen Mobai instructed each academy to hold an annual array formation competition, from which winning individuals would be selected to form a team. These teams would then proceed to Longevity Academy in Beiyuan City for a grand final competition. The team of formation masters that emerged victorious, outperforming the six academies, would be rewarded by the Five Elements Sect with treasures such as spirit stones, magic artifacts, cultivation techniques, and pills.

However, recognizing the strong individualism prevalent in Donghuang and aiming to identify true geniuses, Chen Mobai added an individual competition in addition to the team event. Students who could outperform all formation masters from the six academies and win the individual competition would be allowed to choose one of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures. If a truly exceptional formation master won the individual competition for three consecutive years, they could collect a complete set of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures.

Once news of this Formation Master Competition spread, it was likely to ignite intense internal competition within the academies. However, this might also strain the existing teaching staff, potentially making them insufficient.

Aside from Longevity Academy, which, being backed by Beiyuan City, had all its instructors upgraded to Foundation Establishment cultivators, the other five academies only had Foundation Establishment cultivators in key roles such as principals and vice-principals. Most instructors were merely peak Qi Condensation true disciples or former true disciples working part-time.

In response, Chen Mobai could only offer lucrative sect contribution tasks to the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Formation Department, motivating them to serve as lecturers in the various academies. However, this was merely a temporary solution, as lecturing also required talent. Many highly cultivated individuals, despite possessing vast knowledge, struggled to effectively impart it to others.

Especially in Donghuang, there had never been a tradition of lecturing; knowledge was consistently hoarded. Skills and awareness in this area were severely lacking.

"From now on, you should also frequently visit the various academies to lecture on array formations, focusing on basic concepts that can hopefully pique students' interest..." Fortunately, Song Huangda, being from the Xiaonanshan lineage and having been influenced by Chen Mobai for several years, possessed good lecturing abilities. Chen Mobai first asked him to lead the Formation Department personnel to cover this immediate need.

Song Huangda nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. Over the years, following Chen Mobai's requirements, he had diligently cultivated the way of array formations, successfully setting up a Third-Tier array in the county he once governed. By local standards, he was considered a Third-Tier Formation Master. Within the entire Five Elements Sect's Formation Department, he also ranked among the top five in terms of skill. With such a level, teaching those Qi Condensation students would certainly be more than sufficient.

However, this arrangement would mean significantly more work for Song Huangda, yet he felt honored, as not everyone had the privilege of being tasked directly by the Sect Master and Patriarch.

After providing their feedback on the new teaching materials, the heads of the various academies hastily returned via teleportation arrays to disseminate the news of the Formation Master Competition to their teachers as quickly as possible. If their respective academies could bravely secure victory, the title of "Donghuang's Foremost Academy" would undoubtedly be theirs.

This was also the best way to demonstrate their capabilities before Chen Mobai. For this inaugural competition among the academies, they were all putting forth their utmost effort, eager to prove themselves.

It wasn't just them; all cultivators of the Five Elements Sect throughout Donghuang were now filled with hope for the future. They saw paths forward that had never existed before. Prior to Chen Mobai taking charge, if one wished to purchase a pill to increase cultivation, for conventional ones, they could pre-order at Huitian Valley or the sect's pharmacy, then wait until enough orders accumulated to warrant a furnace being opened for refining.

For unconventional pills, however, if you possessed a recipe, you not only had to present it for someone to refine but also had to gather all the necessary medicinal ingredients yourself. If the refining failed, you would still have to courteously secure the alchemist's slot for their next batch. If successful, the alchemist would also take a commission. A more conscientious alchemist might take twenty to thirty percent, while a harsher one would take half, following the rules of the Daoist Sect.

Now, conventional pills were generally available for exchange in the Five Elements Sect's Spirit Treasure Pavilion. For unconventional ones, as long as you provided sufficient spirit stones or equivalent medicinal resources, Danxia Pavilion would handle the process for you. If you offered a pill recipe and it was verified as authentic, you could even exchange it for other Five Elements Sect pill recipes of the desired tier, or directly for spirit stone resources.

As a First-Tier Alchemist in the Five Elements Sect's Alchemy Department, Han Ronglu received a task today: to appraise a pill recipe within the mortal Great Zhao Dynasty.

While a clear distinction existed between immortals and mortals, since Jiang Zongheng had assisted King Zhao in ushering in an era of peace and prosperity, most high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital's main city were well aware of the Five Elements Immortal Sect. Many even maintained contact with the cultivators who had originally descended to assist.

After all, valuable items, such as century-old spiritual herbs or precious minerals, could occasionally be discovered among the mortals of Donghuang. Especially for cultivators with limited backing, if they sought to acquire items from the mortal world while acting alone, they would often solicit help from these mortal officials.

Han Ronglu was not without backing; his elder sister, Han Zhiling, was the Third-Generation Senior Disciple of the Five Elements Sect's Xiaonanshan lineage, a background with immense influence. However, he was a proud man who wished to keep his relationship with Han Zhiling private. Thus, he joined the Five Elements Sect through Longevity Academy, utilizing the Myriad Transformations Immortal City cave dwelling left by his late father, Han Tingfeng. He then diligently cultivated and inherited his family's alchemical knowledge, achieving a respectable level of success.

Han Ronglu was currently a member of the Alchemy Department, having just reached the peak of Qi Condensation. Furthermore, due to his proficiency in alchemy, he had once been selected by Yan Jinye to attend Qing Nü's lectures at Tianpeng Mountain.

Han Ronglu had originally been selected to participate in the large-scale pill refining at Wanhua Immortal City. However, he declined the opportunity as he had just broken through to the peak Qi Condensation realm, prioritizing his Foundation Establishment.

When Han Ronglu first joined, Han Zhiling had introduced him to various departments, so most of the upper-level personnel were aware of his identity. Yet, each time, Han Ronglu noticed a look of puzzlement in their eyes.

This was because, compared to Han Zhiling, the Third-Generation Senior Disciple of Xiaonanshan, Han Ronglu's cultivation talent was indeed rather ordinary. After the news of him being Han Zhiling's younger brother spread, some even mocked him behind his back, speculating that they might share a father but have different mothers.

Han Ronglu had always kept this in mind, and it was precisely for this reason that he began to resent his identity as Han Zhiling's younger brother.

As Han Ronglu had gained admission through a Third-Tier cave dwelling quota, he was entitled to receive a free Foundation Establishment Pill upon reaching peak Qi Condensation.

However, because Yan Jinye was recently preoccupied in Wanhua Immortal City, adjusting various medicinal pools alongside Qing Nü, the administrative processes were somewhat delayed. While waiting, Han Ronglu received this minor task.

The task involved a prince in the Great Zhao Dynasty who had reportedly obtained an ancient pill recipe and wished to present it to the Immortal Sect. This task had been passed down through various hands before finally reaching Han Ronglu.

In truth, Han Ronglu already possessed a Foundation Establishment Pill, a gift from Han Zhiling. He had been reluctant to accept it but ultimately couldn't bring himself to refuse. After all, it was a Foundation Establishment Pill; there was no reason to act against his own benefit.

As an alchemist, Han Ronglu knew that the effects of the same type of pill could be compounded, though the second pill's efficacy would be only half that of the first. If he used two Foundation Establishment Pills, his success in Foundation Establishment would be virtually guaranteed. Thus, even having reached peak Qi Condensation and possessing a Foundation Establishment Pill from Han Zhiling, Han Ronglu still awaited the one he was entitled to.

Upon arriving at the main city, he wasted no time and immediately landed at the prince's residence.

"Greetings, Immortal! This is something my soldiers discovered in a mountain cave while training in a remote deep mountain..." The prince speaking was Zhao Gui, the third son of King Zhao. He had a handsome face, gentle eyes, and wore a luxurious black robe. In his hands, he held a jade slip that appeared very ancient, bearing marks of age, seemingly scratched by the sharp claws of a beast.

Upon seeing this, Han Ronglu's initially casual expression immediately grew serious. During his time at Longevity Academy, he learned that the widespread promotion of jade slips in Donghuang had only begun after Sect Master Chen took charge. Before him, cultivators in Donghuang primarily used paper or wooden slips to transmit knowledge, which were easily damaged over time due to poor preservation. Therefore, anything recorded on a jade slip from that era must have been considered extremely precious by the cultivator who left it.

With a solemn expression, Han Ronglu extended both hands and took the jade slip, first examining its exterior. After inspecting it thoroughly, he took a deep breath, extended his divine sense, and began to scrutinize the tiny, needle-sized characters etched onto the jade slip.

A quick glance brought a touch of surprise to his face. This was, astonishingly, a pill recipe that utilized the Qi of Dragon Veins for refining. It was fortunate that during his time at Longevity Academy, somewhat burdened by the reputation of being Han Zhiling's younger brother, he had studied diligently and had heard his teacher discuss this Dragon Vein Qi during a geomancy class.

But this substance—he had never heard of it being used in alchemy! Han Ronglu felt it must be due to his limited knowledge. After finishing his examination, he bowed to Zhao Gui, who immediately returned a deep bow, indicating he dared not accept such reverence.

"The pill recipe recorded on this jade slip is indeed left by a cultivator, but I need to return to the sect and have my elders authenticate it to determine its veracity. Where is that mountain cave?" Han Ronglu surmised that if this jade slip had been discovered, it couldn't possibly be the only item of interest.

"Of course, I remember," Zhao Gui replied. "My soldiers have already sealed off that mountain. If you wish to go, Immortal, I will take you there now." Han Ronglu nodded slightly upon hearing this, finding Zhao Gui's conduct quite commendable.

However, when he followed Zhao Gui out of the main city and arrived at the cave's location, they found it had already been occupied by others. All of Zhao Gui's men had been driven out.

"Immortal, I am truly sorry, those are my father's Black Dragon Guards!" Zhao Gui's expression subtly changed upon seeing the individuals blocking the mountain. He said this to Han Ronglu with a wry smile. The latter, however, snorted coldly in response and walked directly towards the hundreds of soldiers clad in black armor, mounted on black horses.

"Immortal, Immortal..." Zhao Gui watched the scene, breaking into a cold sweat. He desperately tried to pull Han Ronglu back, but the moment he touched him, he felt as if struck by lightning and collapsed to the ground.

"I am Han Ronglu of the Five Elements Sect. The items here are related to cultivators, and you mortals cannot handle them. I will count to three; you must all retreat immediately, or whatever consequences follow, do not blame me!" Han Ronglu sneered, raising a flying sword and clutching a defensive talisman in his hand, continuing to walk towards them without pause as he spoke.

The leader of the Black Dragon Guards opposite clearly hesitated. After a moment, seeing Han Ronglu drawing ever closer, he raised his spear and signaled to the soldiers beside him. Then, with the soft shuffles of horses, hundreds of men neatly parted to create a path for Han Ronglu.

This scene immediately relieved Zhao Gui, and Han Ronglu nodded with satisfaction. Indeed, in Donghuang, their Five Elements Sect reigned supreme!

However, just as he stepped into the mountain range, a brilliant golden light suddenly flared, and a powerful, terrifying force instantly filled Han Ronglu with fear. In that instant, he sensed spiritual energy as potent as his elder sister Han Zhiling's. This was a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

"Senior, spare me, I am from the Five Elements Sect..." Before Han Ronglu could finish his plea, the golden light had already landed before him, manifesting as an old, white-haired cultivator.

"You're Senior Sister Han's younger brother, aren't you?" the white-haired old man asked upon seeing him. Han Ronglu immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle Duan." He recognized the newcomer as none other than Duan Shuyu, one of the Third-Generation disciples of Xiaonanshan.

"Come with me; my Master is also inside!"