Chapter 908: Fangcun Book · Printing

Main Volume

After bidding farewell to Patriarch Qianxing, Chen Mobai and his party returned to the Wangwu Grotto-Heaven.

According to the decision made long ago, all departments of the Immortal Gate's Three Great Halls began to operate, serving the purpose of opening the Boundary Gate.

At this moment, all the other Nascent Soul cultivators who were not in the Wangwu Grotto-Heaven also arrived.

Inside the Kaiyuan Hall, the sixteen Nascent Soul Venerables of the Immortal Gate were rarely gathered together.

As a small meeting among Nascent Soul cultivators, everyone sat together according to their respective factions.

They were mainly divided into three groups.

On the Butian (Mending Heaven) side, since Nangong Xuanyu had led a team to another world, only five people remained, led by Ying Guanghua.

On the Kunpeng side, there were Qi Yuheng, Shuixian, Beiming, Yunhai, and Ye Yun'e, also five people.

Finally, there were Wuqi (Dancing Weapons) and Jumang (God of Plants). Chen Mobai sat in the middle, with Chengxuan and Yuxiao on his left, and Sanjue and Taohua on his right, also making a total of five people.

Venerable Yu Yi, who had no background in the four major lineages, sat in a corner, frowning and listening to the entire meeting.

The three major figures—Ying Guanghua, Qi Yuheng, and Chen Mobai—mainly exchanged opinions.

Qi Yuheng first stated his thoughts: "I believe the strategic reserve resources can now be activated."

For years, the Immortal Gate has been frugal, saving an unknown amount of spirit stones, resources, and high-grade spiritual items. Normally, even Nascent Soul cultivators found it difficult to get permission to use Tier 4 spiritual materials.

He hoped to seize this opportunity to lift the restrictions.

Chen Mobai naturally agreed to this, as the opening of resources at the Immortal Gate also made it easier for him to legitimize the resources from the Tianhe (Heavenly River) Realm.

Seeing that the two of them agreed, Ying Guanghua did not directly object. Instead, he brought up something more specific: "Do we need to open up exchange qualifications for cultivators from the Three Great Halls for places like the Myriad Treasure Cave of the Wuqi Daoist Academy, the Heavenly Treasure Hall of the Lingbao Academy, the Sword Tower of the Shanhai Academy, the Myriad Talisman Pavilion of the Tianshu Academy, the Divine Thunder Vault of the Wulei Academy, the sea areas of the Kunpeng Daoist Academy, the Spirit-Controlling Institute of the Zhenling Academy, and the Six Great Medicinal Realms?"

These are basically the most essential wealth accumulated by the Immortal Gate over thousands of years.

If all of them were opened, the overall strength of the Immortal Gate could at least double in a short period.

After all, too many cultivators were stuck at the Consummation stage; if there were enough spiritual medicines, even the number of Nascent Soul cultivators might surge.

"Let's be cautious about this," Venerable Chengxuan said. "After all, the spiritual veins of the Immortal Gate are not enough to sustain so many." After reaching Half-Deity Transformation, he had apparently also heard Patriarch Qianxing mention the quota of cultivators that Địa Nguyên (Earth Origin) Star could currently support.

"Indeed," Venerable Yunhai added, mediating, "although we need to prepare for a possible pioneering war due to the fusion of the two realms, it is not yet a matter of life and death, so there's no need to activate all of the Immortal Gate's foundations."

"Then let's discuss how much of the foundation we should activate..." Qi Yuheng spoke again. As a member of the hawkish faction, he most desired to obtain resources sufficient for him to achieve Deity Transformation through the pioneering war. Although his main goal and hope were in the other world, it would be even better for him if he could also gain some from the Immortal Gate's side.

Chen Mobai was also very clear about his intentions. To legitimize resources, and also as the Deputy Hall Master of the Zhengfa (Righteous Law) Hall, he had to disguise himself as a member of the hawkish faction.

Since the Xianwu (Immortal Affairs) Hall oversees the entire land, this matter required Ying Guanghua's agreement.

As the saying goes, "one doesn't know the cost of firewood and rice until one manages the household." With just a few words, Qi Yuheng and Chen Mobai wanted to use the Immortal Gate's millennia-old savings as military expenses, which Ying Guanghua naturally did not want to agree to.

Besides the fact that the Immortal Gate truly couldn't sustain it, it was also because both Qi Yuheng and Chen Mobai had the potential to achieve Deity Transformation.

If it truly was a world-pioneering level war, Qi Yuheng would very likely break through, and Chen Mobai could also shorten his cultivation time. Neither outcome was good for Ying Guanghua.

But Patriarch Qianxing's earlier words were still echoing in his ears, so Ying Guanghua did not directly and openly object. Instead, he directly played the "demolishing the house" trick.

If you suggest opening a window, someone might object, but if you suggest tearing off the roof for light, those who objected will agree to you opening a skylight.

Sure enough, as soon as Ying Guanghua suggested activating all of the Immortal Gate's foundations, older generation Nascent Soul cultivators like Chengxuan and Yunhai began to propose compromises and mediate.

Qi Yuheng and Chen Mobai exchanged glances, did not insist, and nodded in agreement.

Everyone considered the bigger picture.

It was indeed not yet that time.

After everyone reached a general consensus on the scope of foundation activation, Chen Mobai finally added, "I believe the Tier 5 magic artifacts nurtured within the various Daoist Academies and Schools can also begin to be awakened, ready for activation at any time."

As soon as he said this, some agreed, while others objected.

However, after the final vote, it was still passed.

Finally, a compromise was reached, and some Tier 5 magic artifacts that might be useful for the pioneering war were selected for activation and awakening.

Because of Patriarch Qianxing's previous words, the overall atmosphere remained relatively friendly.

Every Nascent Soul cultivator chose a Tier 5 magic artifact for themselves. Ying Guanghua even very courteously called over Wenren Xuewei, a quasi-Nascent Soul cultivator, and let her choose one as well.

Of course, it was merely a selection. If it was later decided to activate them, the artifacts would be self-funded. Only when it was truly during a pioneering war would the Xianwu Hall provide spirit stone subsidies.

Regarding this, some Nascent Soul cultivators were satisfied, while others had little interest.

For example, the headmasters of the four major Daoist Academies—Chengxuan, Beiming, Taohua, and Yuanxu—were certainly not lacking Tier 5 magic artifacts. The Wuqi Daoist Academy even had the Nine Dragon Cauldron. Were they lacking magic artifacts? They were just lacking spirit stones!

However, the other Nascent Soul cultivators from the Academies who didn't have Tier 5 magic artifacts were enthusiastically choosing Tier 5 magic artifacts suitable for their attributes.

Chen Mobai had no other requests; he just wanted the Yuanyang (Primal Yang) Sword.

Unfortunately, this Tier 5 flying sword was used as the core of the Little Scarlet Heaven, so it would absolutely not be taken out and given to him unless it was the very last moment.

However, considering Chen Mobai's unparalleled sword dao talent, and to avoid delaying him, Ying Guanghua agreed to activate another Tier 5 high-grade flying sword of the Immortal Gate.

The Dinghai (Sea-Stabilizing) Sword, nurtured in the Shanhai (Mountains and Seas) Academy!

The Immortal Gate had a total of seven Tier 5 flying swords, among which only three were top-tier Tier 5 high-grade.

They were: Yuanyang, Dinghai, and Zhixuan (Profound Guidance)!

Among these, the Zhixuan Sword had already been refined by Patriarch Baiguang.

The Yuanyang Sword was sent into the Little Scarlet Heaven, leaving only the Dinghai Sword.

However, Ying Guanghua also said that if Chen Mobai did not want the Dinghai Sword, any other Tier 5 flying sword he fancied could be discussed.

After all, the attributes of the Dinghai Sword indeed did not quite match Chen Mobai's Pure Yang Scroll.

But Chen Mobai's Violet Lightning Sword was already Tier 5 low-grade; for him, other Tier 5 flying swords would certainly not be as convenient as his Violet Lightning Sword, which he had used for many years.

So after some thought, he still chose this top-tier Dinghai Sword of the Immortal Gate.

He was confident that even if his attributes did not match the Dinghai Sword, he could still achieve perfect resonance with this top-tier flying sword.

There was another reason: the attributes of the Dinghai Sword were very suitable for Qing Nu.

His Grand Abyss Blue Pearl had not yet been refined into a magic artifact, and up to now, Qing Nu only had a few tattered cloth flags, which he found somewhat unacceptable.

It made no sense that he was almost fully equipped with divine gear, while Qing Nu, as his dao companion, was still so shabby.

Moreover, in the Tianhe Realm, Qing Nu's Golden Core cultivation was still a bit low. If she had the Dinghai Sword for protection, even if she encountered a Nascent Soul cultivator, she would at least have the power to retaliate.

After the sixteen Nascent Soul cultivators, plus Wenren Xuewei, the quasi-Nascent Soul cultivator, each selected their desired Tier 5 magic artifact, this small meeting ended in a friendly atmosphere.

After the meeting, everyone dispersed one by one.

Chen Mobai invited Chengxuan and others, who rarely visited, to his home for a meal. However, Chengxuan, who had been chatting and laughing with him, immediately stated that he had just chosen the Nine Dragon Cauldron and wanted to go back to properly connect and communicate with this greatest treasure of the Daoist Academy, to see if he could achieve communion with it.

Chen Mobai expressed his admiration for Venerable Chengxuan's ambition at such an old age.

Venerable Yuxiao, however, directly refused. She said she wanted to return to the Wuqi Daoist Academy with Venerable Chengxuan, as he had chosen a Tier 5 Mingxiao (Sounding Flute) Sword from the Myriad Treasure Cave, and she also wanted to go back to see if she could awaken and communicate with it.

Chen Mobai could only regrettably see the two off. Venerable Chengxuan directly used Void Teleportation to return, while Venerable Yuxiao walked through the void to the airport.

Chen Mobai turned around to invite Venerable Sanjue and Venerable Taohua, but both refused with the same excuse, saying they would eat at Chen Mobai's home next time they were free.

However, Wenren Xuewei was not in a hurry to leave. After all, she also knew Void Teleportation. After Chen Mobai saw off Sanjue and Taohua, he saw her in the corner, chatting happily with Venerable Yu Yi.

And now, only the three of them remained in the conference room.

"Venerable, I hope you can help with this matter..." Wenren Xuewei spoke earnestly, while Venerable Yu Yi pondered, seemingly considering whether to agree.

The matter they were discussing was the Tier 5 Water Spirit Talisman.

Over the years, Chen Mobai had understood one thing.

Many things, if one doesn't have the talent, no matter how much effort one puts in, it's a waste of time.

In the past three years, he had already mastered Tier 4 Water Spirit Talismans proficiently, but he just couldn't cross that threshold to draw Tier 5 Water Spirit Talismans.

He had tried with Tier 5 talisman paper made from the leaves of the Sun God Tree. When only the last three sheets remained, Chen Mobai confirmed that he was not cut out for this.

Although the learning ability of his Inch-Square Book gave him confidence that he could probably learn it after failing twenty or thirty more times.

But since there were professionals in the Immortal Gate, why not seek help from them? Some things couldn't be forced.

Coincidentally, Patriarch Qianxing was currently guarding the Boundary Gate outside Địa Nguyên Star, and Patriarch Baiguang was in seclusion. Within the Immortal Gate, he, Chen Mobai, was one of the top three giants, so he could completely handle the matter of a mere Tier 5 Water Spirit Talisman.

So he agreed to Wenren Xuewei's previously mentioned plan, for her to come forward on behalf of the Jumang Daoist Academy and request Venerable Yu Yi's help in drawing the Tier 5 Water Spirit Talisman.

However, drawing a Tier