Chapter 923: Sword Embryo

“Greetings, Master!”

As soon as Chen Mobai landed, Liu Wenbo and Luo Yixuan immediately bowed to him.

“Master, I am deeply ashamed that the Azure Scale Bracer you bestowed upon me was destroyed during my tribulation,” Liu Wenbo said with an apologetic expression, reaching out to gather the scattered scale fragments from the ground.

“The Azure Scale Bracer was only Tier 2; it's fine that it broke during the tribulation. I have some Tier 5 scales from the venomous dragon I slew earlier, and I will refine and forge a new one for you.” Chen Mobai, however, was not concerned at all. Although all four of his disciples had their natal artifact embryos prepared in advance and possessed at least one Tier 3 artifact after forming their Golden Cores, as disciples of a Grandmaster Artificer and in the dangerous world of Skyriver Realm, they needed to carry two or three artifacts to feel secure. Coincidentally, with his advanced artifact forging skills and a good supply of valuable materials, he planned to upgrade the artifacts of all his disciples.

“This disciple thanks Master for your benevolence!” Liu Wenbo was greatly surprised and delighted to hear this. An artifact forged from Tier 5 materials? Even facing a Nascent Soul expert, it would likely provide a good defense.

“Greetings, Sect Master!” At this moment, E Yun and Song Huangda also arrived. After bowing, they reported on Xiao Yuli’s situation.

Hearing this, Chen Mobai looked over and saw a beautiful female cultivator standing not far away, with crescent-like brows and delicate features. “Please, invite her in quickly,” Chen Mobai immediately spoke. Regardless, their Five Elements Sect’s Primal Chaos Ancestor originated from the One Yuan Dao Palace, so proper respect should be shown. Moreover, this was also a good opportunity to clarify his own identity.

“Xiao Yuli of One Yuan Dao Palace greets Senior Chen.” After Xiao Yuli came over with E Yun, she was very polite.

“Please, Fellow Daoist, have a seat.” In Chen Mobai’s small courtyard on the mountaintop, there was a tea table with several wooden stools, situated beneath a Longevity Tree. On normal days, if Zhou Shengqing and others were present, they would often gather there to drink tea and chat.

After the two sat down, Liu Wenbo returned to his cave abode to consolidate his realm, while E Yun and Song Huangda bid farewell and departed. Only Luo Yixuan remained, feigning to help with tea preparation, and Chen Mobai indulged her.

Xiao Yuli said, “Senior, my main purpose for coming this time is to inquire about something.”

Chen Mobai replied, “Please speak.”

Xiao Yuli continued, “My Senior Brother Chen Lingming separated from me two years ago, saying he was coming to the Eastern Barrens to meet and converse with you, Senior. I wonder if you have seen him?”

“I have not!” Chen Mobai was very certain about this. After returning from the Eastern Lands, he spent a year in Myriad Transformations Immortal City refining the Pure Yang Coagulating Truth Pill with Qing Nü. Then he returned to the Immortal Sect for another year to cultivate and elevate his cultivation with pills. Following that, he spent more than half a year studying artifact forging and crafting three artifacts for Qing Nü. During these nearly three years, at least in the Eastern Barrens, he had not met any outsiders.

“In that case, it seems something might have happened to my Senior Brother,” Xiao Yuli sighed after hearing Chen Mobai’s reply.

“Oh, how so?” Chen Mobai looked puzzled. How could something have happened to him just because he hadn't seen him?

Xiao Yuli explained, “It’s like this: more than two years ago, he and I descended the mountain together, splitting into two paths. I went to the Star Heaven Dao Sect to exchange for the Three Lights Divine Water on behalf of the Dao Palace, while he came to the Eastern Barrens to discuss the Reclamation Order with you, Senior. The Star Heaven Dao Sect said they had no stock of Three Lights Divine Water and needed to recollect materials to refine it. So, I’ve been traveling through various immortal cities in the Eastern Lands, broadening my horizons. Half a year ago, the Star Heaven Dao Sect sent word that the Three Lights Divine Water had been refined and they proactively helped deliver it to Five Emperors Mountain. After I received the news and rushed back, I learned that my Senior Brother still hadn’t returned. However, his soul lamp was still lit, so the elders of the Dao Palace sent me here to the Eastern Barrens to inquire with you, Senior.”

After listening, Chen Mobai nodded slightly, thinking of something else. “The Star Heaven Dao Sect had previously mistaken me for the Dao Child of One Yuan Dao Palace. Since Fellow Daoist went there this time, I presume this matter has been clarified?” The Star Heaven Dao Sect, for the sake of the Sage-Penetrating True Spirit Pill, had always sought contact with One Yuan Dao Palace. Since Xiao Yuli presented herself proactively this time, there was no reason not to discuss it. However, Chen Mobai did not wish to interfere in this matter, so he didn't ask, primarily wanting to clarify his own identity.

“To report, Senior, because previous Dao Children and Holy Maidens of the Dao Palace had incidents, neither Chen Lingming nor I revealed our identities to outsiders when we descended the mountain this time. Although the Star Heaven Dao Sect did inquire, I only stated that I was acting on orders from my sect elders to exchange for the Three Lights Divine Water. Later, when Venerable Star Extremity delivered the Three Lights Divine Water to Five Emperors Mountain, I heard he had discussions with several Mountain Lords, but I was outside at the time and do not know the specifics of what was discussed.”

After hearing Xiao Yuli’s words, Chen Mobai nodded slightly. By this time, Luo Yixuan had already brewed the Green Cicada Spirit Tea and offered a cup to each of them.

“I will inform my subordinates. If Fellow Daoist Chen Lingming of your esteemed sect is found in the Eastern Barrens, Fellow Daoist will be notified immediately.” Chen Mobai had a need for the ascension secrets and other treasures stored in the One Yuan Dao Palace, so he extended goodwill.

“Thank you, Senior. Actually, I have one more matter for my visit.” Xiao Yuli’s words caused Chen Mobai to pause his tea-drinking. This must be the real purpose!

“Approximately ninety years from now, the Dao De Sect will issue a Reclamation Order, requiring all four great sacred lands of the Eastern Lands to send participants. However, because my One Yuan Dao Palace suffered significant vitality loss resisting the Revered Ming, we are still in seclusion and may not be able to dispatch enough personnel. Since the Eastern Barrens is close to the reclamation front, I wonder if Senior would be willing to lead the Five Elements Sect to undertake this Reclamation Order on behalf of my One Yuan Dao Palace?”

After listening, Chen Mobai put down his teacup and immediately refused: “My Five Elements Sect has limited strength and cannot undertake such a great responsibility. This matter will likely require your esteemed sect to handle it yourselves.” He had trodden on thin ice in the Eastern Barrens for his entire life. If not for refining the Pure Yang Coagulating Truth Pill, he wouldn't even have gone to the Eastern Lands. How could he possibly undertake such a risky endeavor as reclamation? With the resources from the Eastern Barrens, incorporating the three border regions of Eastern Continent, and the knowledge from the Immortal Sect, Chen Mobai felt he wouldn't encounter any bottlenecks before reaching the Spirit Transformation stage. Thus, he had long decided not to venture out unless absolutely necessary.

“Senior, please don’t be so quick to refuse. Several Mountain Lords of the Dao Palace have said that if Senior is willing to undertake this responsibility and the reclamation is successfully completed, they are willing to allow your Five Elements Sect to return to the main lineage of Five Emperors Mountain, and even the ascension secrets left by the Ancestor would not be impossible to impart.” Xiao Yuli stated the One Yuan Dao Palace’s conditions. If it were anyone else, hearing the words ‘ascension secrets’ would likely have moved them deeply.

But Chen Mobai remained very calm. The threshold for cultivating and comprehending the ascension secrets was at least the Spirit Transformation realm. He was still a long way from Spirit Transformation, so there was no need to rush. Furthermore, although there were no successful examples of Void Refinement in the Immortal Sect, several major Spirit Transformation cultivation methods, along with the Seven Great Heavenly Books, all indicated paths to Void Refinement. Even if the ascension secrets left by True Monarch One Yuan had definitively led to success, he didn't need to worry about them now.

“I appreciate the kind offer, but my Five Elements Sect is a small-time sect and truly cannot involve itself in such a major undertaking as reclamation.” Chen Mobai still refused. He had struggled and cultivated forces in the Eastern Barrens for nearly a century to amass his current personnel, not to become a vanguard for a sacred land.

“Senior, won’t you reconsider? If you agree, several Mountain Lords are willing to welcome you into the sect and recognize you as their junior brother, making you a legitimate Dao Child of our One Yuan Dao Palace. If you achieve great merit during the reclamation and secure a Sage-Penetrating True Spirit Pill for the Dao Palace, the position of Palace Lord and the ascension secrets will all be yours.” Seeing that Chen Mobai was unyielding, Xiao Yuli directly stated the bottom line given by the Dao Palace’s Mountain Lords.

“This tea is good, Fellow Daoist. You might like another cup or two.” Chen Mobai, however, smiled and raised the teacup that Luo Yixuan had refilled. Xiao Yuli, seeing his unyielding stance, knew it was impossible.

“In that case, Senior, please keep this matter confidential.”

“Today, Fellow Daoist merely came to have tea with me.” After Chen Mobai finished speaking, Xiao Yuli did not linger. After finishing her tea, she bid farewell.

“Since Fellow Daoist has come, why not stay a couple more days in Beiyuan City? Although the things here may not compare to those in the immortal cities of the Eastern Lands, it has its own unique charm.” Chen Mobai politely urged her to stay, not expecting Xiao Yuli to hesitate and then agree.

“Xuan’er is quite familiar with this place. If Fellow Daoist needs anything, you can find her.” Chen Mobai certainly wouldn’t tour with her himself, so he assigned her to his disciple. Luo Yixuan nodded immediately upon hearing this, then led Xiao Yuli out.

Watching the two women depart, Chen Mobai put down his teacup and carefully considered the conditions offered by One Yuan Dao Palace. It appeared the impact of Revered Ming’s attack on the mountain was more severe than people imagined. A dignified sacred land still dared not open its gates. Perhaps in addition to lacking a Spirit Transformation-level foundation, the entire One Yuan Dao Palace also suffered significant losses in its high-level cultivator strength.

However, the Dao Palace high-level officials guarding the mountain were somewhat complacent in their positions. They wanted the Five Elements Sect to sacrifice themselves in their stead but offered no real benefits, and they were still haggling over seniority. Clearly, the easy life during their seclusion had caused them to fall behind the times. If they had directly given Chen Mobai the ascension secrets, acknowledged his seniority as True Monarch One Yuan’s grand-disciple, or even allocated the Sage-Penetrating True Spirit Pill quota to the Five Elements Sect, he might have considered it. Now they were just trying to draw a big picture, and no one would fall for that. That the descendants of an ascended cultivator’s lineage had fallen so low made Chen Mobai very disheartened.

He had always had a good impression of the One Yuan Dao Palace, even considering worshipping Li Zhongji’s spirit tablet at Five Emperors Mountain to acknowledge their lineage, if the time was right. Now, it seemed he would have to wait until he reached Spirit Transformation before he could formally present it.

As Chen Mobai was assessing the current strength of One Yuan Dao Palace, Luo Yixuan flew back. “Master, I briefly explained the rules of the Eastern Barrens to her, and then she said she wanted to explore on her own, so I came back.”

Chen Mobai nodded upon hearing her words. As long as he was in Beiyuan City, a mere Perfected Golden Core cultivator couldn't possibly cause any major trouble.

“Call E Yun up. Since we agreed to her request, we should at least search for the person, just in case he really is in our Eastern Barrens.” After Chen Mobai finished speaking, Luo Yixuan immediately took out her Skyscope and called E Yun.

Soon after, E Yun and Song Huangda arrived in the courtyard. After discussing Chen Lingming’s matter, both of them immediately nodded. With the completion of the Minor Sky-Screen Big Dipper Array and the diligent efforts of the Five Elements Sect disciples, the communication signal now covers the entire Eastern Barrens, parts of Cloud Dream Lake and the Desolate Ruins, and the Mirror Mountain area. Song Huangda was the primary person in charge, and E Yun was his superior. For any significant intelligence, E Yun would directly inform Chen Mobai.

Next, E Yun reported on the Five Elements Sect’s situation over the past few years. After Chen Mobai slew the Venomous Dragon Patriarch, the Five Elements Sect had no more enemies and entered a period of rapid development. Major immortal cities, six great academies, the Earth Network Array, Tier 5 spirit veins, filling Cloud Dream Lake, agricultural reform, Five Elements Coins...

Among these, the issuance of Five Elements Coins achieved tremendous success. It completely revitalized the previously stagnant lower-tier market. Before, the Five Elements Sect vigorously developed infrastructure, which, due to its scale, primarily benefited the cultivation families and sect forces, while rogue cultivators at most earned a bit of spiritual stones through manual labor. Furthermore, because Chen Mobai developed real estate in the Eastern Barrens, the spiritual stones earned by these rogue cultivators were, in turn, absorbed back by the Five Elements Sect. While the upper-tier economy prospered, the lower-tier economy saw limited improvement. Now, the emergence of Five Elements Coins directly resolved the biggest currency problem in lower-tier economic transactions. Economic growth also created more job opportunities, especially in various shops that required more service personnel. And the economic prosperity raised consumption levels, making the daily necessities and luxuries previously enjoyed only by high-level cultivators accessible to more cultivators.

“There’s one issue, though: because hiring a cultivator is expensive, many shops are now starting to train mortals themselves…” E Yun spoke of this recent development. Since the Five Elements Sect’s major immortal cities do not prohibit entry or exit for local Eastern Barrens residents, many mortals without spiritual roots, carrying dreams, sought a livelihood within them. Some were worldly princes and nobles, others were martial arts masters among mortals, and some were even descendants of cultivators. Although these people lacked spiritual roots, they had no problem performing simple jobs like service personnel. This led to lower-tier cultivators, who had just enjoyed a few years of prosperity, once again facing the predicament of involution with mortals. This was mainly because Zhuo Ming, at Chen Mobai’s request, completed a major agricultural reform in the Eastern Barrens, ensuring that all mortals who were willing to work could now eat their fill. After eating their fill, people would start to think more. The desire to seek immortality and the Dao, wanting eternal life, would surface in their minds.

E Yun stated his thoughts, favoring the protection of cultivators and wanting to set a threshold for entry into immortal cities, at least to reserve the newly created jobs for cultivators. After all, the Five Elements Sect’s major infrastructure projects involved heavy labor and technical positions, which only cultivators could undertake. Therefore, in his view, cultivating cultivators would be more beneficial to the sect.

“Currently, in the Eastern Barrens, because the number of cultivators is not large, the major immortal cities need to be filled by these mortal elites. There's no need to set a threshold; the social structure will naturally eliminate those who are unqualified. Let cultivators and mortals compete a bit; it will also cultivate their sense of crisis,” Chen Mobai explained. “If cultivators can’t out-compete mortals, then our Five Elements Sect’s infrastructure projects can provide them with a safety net, which would be even more beneficial for us in recruiting personnel. Afterward, in the major immortal cities, establish a library to popularize basic cultivator knowledge. Among the descendants of mortals living in these immortal cities, the probability of spiritual root birth will be higher. If they, as parents, have this knowledge, it will save our Five Elements Sect time and effort in future cultivation. These libraries should not be open for free. Set a charge of ten Five Elements Coins per hour. This will also motivate these mortals to work and earn money in the immortal cities. They need to know that even if they themselves have no hope, their efforts can create a better starting point for the next generation.”

After Chen Mobai finished speaking, E Yun was utterly impressed. He had originally thought that his decade-plus of refinement was more than enough to become Sect Master, but today, E Yun felt he still had much to learn; his vision, insight, and overall perspective were far too limited.

Next, he spoke of the Five Elements Sect’s future infrastructure projects. Among these, in Cloud Dream Lake, thanks to Zhou Ye’s diligent efforts, artificial islands large enough to build the Wind-Rain Immortal City were already filled last year. Zhou Ye continues to be in charge, and it is estimated that this immortal city, connecting the Eastern Barrens and Eastern Wu, will be completed in just a few years. Even now, Zhou Ye has already opened up a street specifically for trade between the two regions. The Five Elements Sect, and even many family and sect forces in the Eastern Barrens, have established shops there, making substantial profits. Naturally, Eastern Wu also used the vast market of the Eastern Barrens to exchange their accumulated years of demonic beast materials for various resources they needed. Moreover, because Sun Huanglong began to live in seclusion, and the other families in Eastern Wu believed they had connected with the Five Elements Sect and thus feared no annihilation, one of them, the Lu family, even brought out a cherished Heretic Golden Core for sale, causing great envy among all major forces in the Eastern Barrens, excluding the Five Elements Sect.

“Who obtained it?” Chen Mobai asked with some curiosity. After refining a Heretic Golden Core, besides gaining Golden Core level combat power, it was also the most successful method of Golden Core formation in the Skyriver Realm, so it should have been fiercely contested.

“It’s still being bid on. Because the Heretic Golden Core is precious and requires purchasing the corresponding refining method, the family and sect forces in the Eastern Barrens are jointly purchasing it by county, and several closely related families have come to inquire with me…” The appearance of a Golden Core realm combatant within the Five Elements Sect’s territory would certainly require them to be greeted first, to prevent them from spending their entire fortunes only to be suppressed by the Five Elements Sect in turn. However, E Yun adhered to Chen Mobai’s philosophy in this regard: all new Golden Core forces appearing within the Eastern Barrens were welcomed.

“In terms of commerce, we only need to collect taxes and interfere as little as possible. However, if anyone dares to evade taxes, do not be polite. No matter who it is, even if it’s my disciple’s family, deal with them severely.” Chen Mobai’s words caused E Yun’s expression to turn serious. Song Huangda, behind him, secretly glanced at Luo Yixuan, who was standing beside Chen Mobai, serving tea. Among the four disciples of Little Nanshan, only Liu Wenbo and Luo Yixuan came from cultivator families. However, Luo Yixuan had little affection for her own family. After her mother died, she never returned even once. A few years ago, when the Luo family ancestor passed away, they wanted to use Luo Yixuan to help their family descendants purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill, but they couldn't even get past the gate of Hanying Lake. In the end, the Luo family invested heavily to buy several properties in Beiyuan City. Fortunately, they won a lottery for a set of the Foundation Establishment Three Treasures from Danxia Pavilion, allowing them to continue having Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After discussing these matters, Chen Mobai then inquired about the Earth Network Array and the Tier 5 spirit veins. E Yun was not very clear on this, so Song Huangda immediately stepped forward to report.

Regarding the two cores of the Earth Network Array, the Profound Mechanism Five Elements and the Inverse Nine Palaces, the current focus is on the Profound Mechanism Five Elements Array in the Eastern Barrens plains. Yi Shaoqing, leading the elites of the Five Elements, Five Veins Formation Department, along with sixth-year interns drawn from various academies, has already completed the Earth and Wood formations. Because Yi Shaoqing was proficient in Wood element, and Chunyu Su of the Earth Vein was proficient in Earth element, these two were completed relatively quickly. However, the remaining three—Metal, Water, and Fire—were progressing slowly. Nevertheless, with the combined efforts of so many people from the Five Elements, Five Veins, it could be completed within ten years at most. However, the activation of the Tier 5 grand array would still require Chen Mobai, the Grandmaster of Formations, especially for the Tier 5 spirit veins.

“Mm, notify me when the time comes.” Chen Mobai nodded after hearing this. He thought to himself that the progress was indeed a bit slow. Zhuo Ming seemed to have nothing much to do, so it was time to train her to become an excellent formation master. After these main matters, the rest were minor details.

For instance, on the Eastern Barrens Plateau, the spiritual rice yield per mu in various spirit fields reached new highs. The sect’s granaries everywhere were full, and the price of spiritual rice had plummeted to an unprecedented low. Even the lowest-tier rogue cultivators in the Eastern Barrens could afford to eat spiritual rice daily. The Eastern Barrens itself had been unable to consume so much in earlier years, so the Five Elements Sect turned its attention to external regions. Previously, sales were primarily directed to Eastern Wu. They were constantly at war with demonic beasts in Cloud Dream Lake, and spiritual rice and similar goods were primarily purchased from external merchant associations; even the Sun family did so. However, major merchant associations like Star Heaven only sold Tier 3 spiritual rice and above, so the market for lower-tier spiritual rice had always been a blank. When the spiritual rice from the Eastern Barrens was sent there, it was essentially accepted wholesale because it was simply too cheap.

Besides Eastern Wu, sales to Eastern Yi began even earlier. After the Five Elements Sect annihilated the Profound Roar Dao Palace, they legitimately obtained the Tier 3 Golden Haze Rice. After Zhuo Ming’s improvements, it could ripen every three years, and its yield increased by more than two-fold. Chen Mobai sold this Golden Haze Rice to the various Golden Core forces in Eastern Yi at 70% of its original price, with the only condition being bundled sales of their own lower-tier spiritual rice, which was essentially given away for free. Initially, the Sunbathing Sea region thought Chen Mobai was crazy, wondering who would do business at such a loss. But after more than a decade, the Five Elements Sect has now captured ninety percent of the low-tier spiritual rice market in Eastern Yi. Even the market for Tier 3 spiritual rice was affected, making Sunbathing Sea’s Fire Crystal Rice unable to compete. Currently, in Eastern Yi, besides Sunbathing Sea’s own territory, all other Golden Core forces, and even Empty Mulberry Valley, are purchasing Golden Haze Rice. Because for the same price, besides Tier 3 spiritual rice, they could also obtain more lower-tier spiritual rice. In recent years, even among the subordinate forces of Sunbathing Sea, they have begun secretly coming to the Five Elements Sect to purchase. Spiritual stones are hard to earn, so every bit saved counts. Thanks to the consumption of these two markets, Eastern Wu and Eastern Yi, the Five Elements Sect’s spiritual rice did not go to waste.

The Five Elements Sect earns over twenty million spiritual stones annually from spiritual rice alone. This is also because most of the high-tier spiritual rice, such as Purple Jade Spiritual Rice and Pure Bamboo Spiritual Rice, are consumed internally as benefits for Five Elements Sect cultivators and are not sold externally. Besides spiritual rice, there are also farmed spirit oxen, spirit sheep, various medicinal herbs, pills, artifacts, formations, and the most crucial pillars: real estate and various taxes.

After Chen Mobai formed his Nascent Soul, the wealth of the Hall of Rewards increased daily. After deducting disciples’ stipends and operating costs, they could settle over fifty million spiritual stones annually. Previously, Zhou Shengqing, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, personally led the Five Elements Sect’s Golden Core cultivators to mine at Duojiu Mountain simply because he was stimulated by the amount of one hundred million spiritual stones; he had never seen so many spiritual stones in his life. Now, the Five Elements Sect can earn one hundred million spiritual stones in two years.

“Spiritual stones only have value when spent. Starting next year, build seven new immortal cities in these locations and establish more schools. The same applies to the mortal world: at a minimum, everyone should learn