Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

Danxia City's train station.

 

A woman wearing sunglasses, accompanied by two young men, walked out.

 

"Is this the little place?"

 

One of the bald youths glanced around with a slight disdain in his tone.

 

"Let's go. The deputy leader of our sect has not descended from beyond the heavens for a long time. Since he has asked us to pick someone up, we must handle this task flawlessly."

 

The other youth with a square face carried two large suitcases and led the way out of the station.

 

"Keep a low profile, there are law enforcement cultivators patrolling at the entrance."

 

The woman with sunglasses used a secret sound transmission technique to inform her two companions of her observations.

 

The two previously nonchalant youths immediately became solemn, pretending to be law-abiding citizens, carrying their luggage and checking out through the gate.

 

"Why didn't we take a plane?"

 

After leaving the train station, the bald youth was a bit puzzled. Although the treatment for a Foundation Establishment cultivator on the train was not bad, it seemed like a waste of time.

 

"Every plane is equipped with third-order prohibitions. Once we reveal our identities, there's no escape. Trains are different, covered only by second-order formations. If the three of us work together, we can still blast a hole and escape."

 

The woman with sunglasses explained. Although all three of them were Foundation Establishment cultivators, they also practiced secret techniques from ancient lineages.

 

They could conceal their auras without a trace, but as the saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry. The number of those exposed after practicing forbidden techniques each year was not small.

 

Facing the relentless pursuit of the Immortal Gate's "Mending the Sky Division," their first consideration before any action was always an escape route.

 

"It's quite extravagant for this small city to have two Golden Elixir Taoist masters stationed here."

 

The square-faced youth checked the information about the upper echelons of Danxia City on his phone and was amazed to see the Red Robe Taoist Master and Taoist Master Shi Qing.

 

It was known that among the seventy-two blessed lands of the Immortal Gate, some places didn't even have a single Golden Elixir figure.

 

"It is a bit luxurious, but the Lord of Divine Palace has said that we don't need to worry about these two Golden Elixir Taoist masters. We just need to take the target person away."

 

The woman with sunglasses finished buffering the target's photo on her phone, showed it to her two companions, and then immediately deleted it.

 

"Got it memorized? Let's split up. I'll go connect with the city's underground network to find the target's location."

 

After listening, the bald youth nodded and then made a call to a supplier they had arranged to meet, confirming that everything he needed was ready.

 

"Alright, I'll go receive the weapons."

 

The square-faced youth was left alone, seemingly searching for something on his phone, and finally found a tourist attraction he wanted to visit.

 

"There's a zoo outside the city. I'll go there to kill some time. Call me when you're done."

 

The woman with sunglasses frowned upon hearing this but, considering his lineage, she could only nod.

 

"Be discreet and avoid drawing attention. This mission is mainly to train you."

 

The square-faced youth, named Tuoba Wanyi, was already at the third layer of Foundation Establishment at a young age and was a key figure being cultivated by a lineage within the Ascension Sect.

 

"Don't worry, without any late-stage Foundation Establishment figures in Danxia City, and if the two Golden Elixir Taoist masters don't make a move, I am invincible."

 

Although only at the third layer of Foundation Establishment, Tuoba Wanyi was very confident in his strength.

 

He had once fought head-on with a deputy leader of the Mending the Sky Division and survived, despite the fact that the opponent was a sixth-layer Foundation Establishment powerhouse, three realms stronger than him.

 

"Ascension must not be seen!"

 

After saying this, the three of them turned and went their separate ways.

 

***

 

Chen Mobai withdrew his finger from Yang Jing's forehead.

 

Golden light blossomed in strands, eventually forming an equilateral diamond-shaped seal, which was imprinted in her sea of consciousness.

 

"It's done. This seal will ensure she returns to normal until her spiritual consciousness surpasses mine."

 

Three days flew by, and with Chen Mobai's dedicated effort, he easily mastered the "Taos" technique, fulfilling the promise he made to Qing Nv.

 

"Thank you."

 

Kong Feichen, who was watching the scene, also sincerely expressed his gratitude.

 

"But I feel like I can achieve Foundation Establishment next year. Because I practice the Dual Divinity Art, every time I advance in realm, my spiritual consciousness is boosted twice as much."

 

At this moment, Yang Jing, who was sitting on the sofa, raised her hand and posed a question.

 

"Eh, you're so sure you can achieve Foundation Establishment next year?"

 

Chen Mobai was curious. He knew that he had worked hard for over three years at the Divine Wood Sect for Foundation Establishment, and with the addition of the Immortal Gate's techniques and resources, he was able to achieve it at such a young age.

 

Even Qing Nv, with her heavenly spiritual root, didn't dare to claim she could achieve Foundation Establishment next year.

 

"Actually, I could have achieved Foundation Establishment this year, but I interrupted the process of hearing and comprehending the Dao myself."

 

Yang Jing said something that left Chen Mobai speechless.

 

Are you even human?

 

"Suppress it a bit longer. If you really can't hold back, I'll concoct a pill for you that can reduce your realm."

 

"Anyway, there's ten years of university ahead. Wait until one of us advances to the second layer of Foundation Establishment, then you can proceed."

 

"We must always ensure that one of us has a higher realm than you, so we can suppress your second personality."

 

Big sister Qing Nv made a decision, and Yang Jing obediently nodded.

 

Kong Feichen opened his mouth, wanting to say that this might be a bit too much.

 

But thinking about how he and Yang Jing both had peculiar spiritual roots, and she had already heard the Dao, while he had consumed so many Foundation Establishment spiritual items and still failed, he felt disheartened and couldn't speak anymore.

 

"Your spiritual consciousness being boosted twice, does it help my Divine Control Art?"

 

Chen Mobai, however, noticed another point and couldn't help but ask.

 

"It's useful. Both 'Divine Control Art' and 'Dual Divinity Art' are modified versions of 'Devouring Divinity Art.'"

 

"It's just that the 'Dual Divinity Art' was modified in the wrong direction and was classified as a forbidden technique."

 

"Whereas 'Divine Control Art' is a successful modification. As long as it doesn't exceed the limit of one's Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness, it can double the strength of spiritual consciousness with each breakthrough in realm."

 

Yang Jing nodded and answered Chen Mobai's question. His eyes lit up, and he immediately sat down to listen in detail.

 

After listening, however, he looked a bit conflicted.

 

The Immortal Gate divides Foundation Establishment into nine layers, meaning there are eight breakthroughs from the first to the ninth layer, potentially increasing spiritual consciousness by sixteen times.

 

But the problem was that Chen Mobai had achieved Foundation Establishment through the Longevity Scripture.

 

This Heavenly River Realm technique was only divided into early, middle, and late stages, amounting to at most two breakthroughs.

 

Although Foundation Establishment Completion was considered a realm, it was actually just the peak of the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

 

The Longevity Scripture's section on Foundation Establishment Completion was more about how to form the Golden Elixir.

 

It seemed he could only find a solution in the Binary Technique and the Critical Method.

 

After all, asking Chen Mobai to create a complete set of techniques for Foundation Establishment from the first to the ninth layer from scratch was too much to ask.

 

The Formless Puppet, although capable of deducing techniques, could only evolve them to best suit one's spiritual root constitution and could not create new techniques.

 

At least a higher realm of Golden Elixir was needed to achieve that.

 

Fortunately, he still had the Pure Yang Scroll as a backup.

 

This was a supreme technique revised by the ancestors of the Immortal Gate, with nine layers each for Foundation Establishment, Golden Elixir, and Elemental Infant.

 

If he advanced step by step, his spiritual consciousness might increase to an unprecedentedly powerful realm.

 

"Remember, your spiritual consciousness cannot exceed the limit that your Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness can contain, or else your head will explode and you'll die."

 

Seeing his strange expression, Yang Jing emphasized again to prevent him from going astray.

 

"Don't worry, my Purple Mansion is quite spacious."

 

Qing Nv hadn't told her siblings about the Azure Wood Spirit Heart, so hearing Chen Mobai's words, both Kong Feichen and Yang Jing looked a bit strange.

 

"The Spirit Water Dew is almost ready to be mixed. I still need some Spirit Essence."

 

Qing Nv changed the subject, and Chen Mobai immediately understood, indicating he would go home to get it.

 

After instructing Kong Feichen to take good care of Yang Jing, the two left for the alchemy room of the Treasure Vase Medicine Shop.

 

"Thank you for your hard work."

 

"Not at all, I should be thanking you. Without your help, Yang Jing would definitely have suffered a lot more."

 

Qing Nv shook her head, skillfully grinding the dried spirit stones into powder, measured the required amount, and poured it into the medicine pool.

 

"By the way, have you heard of the Mending the Sky Division?"

 

Chen Mobai suddenly asked a question, and Qing Nv nodded with a furrowed brow.

 

"It's a special authority under the Hall of Orthodox Law. They come to recruit from the four great Daoist academies every year. I was also invited by four divisions last year because of my alchemy skills, but my mentor helped me refuse. Why, did you also receive an invitation?"

 

Chen Mobai nodded. Three days ago, Lan Haitian invited him to join the sixth division of the Mending the Sky Division.

 

He described the benefits: a year's work was equivalent to ten years for an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, plus a full set of second-order magical instruments, the right to command the law enforcement departments of blessed lands in special circumstances, and even the promise of spirit stones distributed by the Immortal Gate each year.

 

Chen Mobai scoffed at the idea of spirit stones.

 

But Lan Haitian also said that the Mending the Sky Division could allocate all the resources of the Immortal Gate, such as the Golden Elixir of Jade Return, a sacred medicine that aids in forming the Golden Elixir.

 

Just work for sixty years in the Mending the Sky Division, and you could get one directly.

 

This point greatly tempted Chen Mobai. Even the Weapon Dancing Daoist Academy couldn't gather the 666 types of spiritual herbs needed to concoct a batch of Golden Elixir of Jade Return, only the Immortal Gate had this capability.

 

Lan Haitian said he was in the Mending the Sky Division for a Golden Elixir of Jade Return.

 

He was about to complete sixty years and was looking for a successor. He felt Chen Mobai was very suitable. Four years ago, during the entrance exam in Danxia City, the talent for spell combat he revealed made him stand out.

 

Over the years, as a representative of the Kunpeng Daoist Academy, Lan Haitian had seen three more entrance exams and watched some outstanding spell combat videos online, but everyone seemed immature compared to Chen Mobai.

 

Not as good as Chen Mobai!

 

With the salary and benefits, plus the promise of a future successor position and the sacred Golden Elixir medicine, Chen Mobai was almost ready to agree on the spot.

 

Fortunately, he asked a couple more questions.

 

"What does the Mending the Sky Division do?"

 

"Nothing much, you've seen the Jinyiwei, Six Doors Office, and Dongchang on TV, right? It's pretty much that kind of function."

 

When Chen Mobai heard this, he immediately sobered up.

 

"Is there fighting?"

 

"Occasionally. The public order in the Immortal Gate has been very good for the past twenty years. The last time I took action was two years ago in Huayang Blessed Land."

 

"Then forget it. I'm not good at fighting, let alone facing cultists."

 

"Suppressing cults is our unshirkable duty. Even if not for ourselves, we must protect the beings of the Immortal Gate."

 

As soon as Chen Mobai heard about fighting, he immediately shook his head and refused.

 

He owned the Heavenly River Realm and now had the Divine Wood Realm as well. Resources were not lacking, and there was no need to risk fighting cultists.

 

Although he coveted the Golden Elixir of Jade Return, Chen Mobai had just achieved Foundation Establishment, and it would be at least decades before he could form the Golden Elixir. He could think about it later.

 

What if his business in the Heavenly River Realm grew strong?

 

Maybe he could collect the spiritual herbs for a batch of Golden Elixir of Jade Return.

 

【Qing Nv, you must learn alchemy well.】

 

If he really managed to collect them, then he could only let Qing Nv concoct it. Watching her busy figure by the medicine pool, he couldn't help but feel emotional.

 

"Why are you looking at me? You haven't answered my question yet. Which division of the Mending the Sky Division invited you?"

 

"Sixth division."

 

"Ah, it's that ruthless sixth division that fights in the most dangerous places."

 

Seeing Qing Nv's shocked face covering her mouth, Chen Mobai felt Lan Haitian was really not a good person. That guy hadn't mentioned how bad the reputation of the sixth division was.

 

【Indeed, not joining was the right decision. Stay away from danger and grow quietly.】

 

Chen Mobai thought to himself as Qing Nv had already completed the extraction of the first bottle of Spirit Water Dew.

 

Inside two plastic bottles the size of two fingers, transparent Spirit Water was filled, with the bottle mouth shaped like a pen tip, with a round opening. Just by unscrewing the cap and aiming at the eyes, drops of Spirit Water Dew would fall.

 

He tried it on the spot.Chen Mobai felt the cool liquid drip into his eyes, which had become slightly sore from staring at the flames for too long. Instantly, it was as if parched land had been blessed with timely rain, bringing a refreshing and cool pleasure.

 

Soon after, he even felt a rain cloud appear out of nowhere within his Purple Mansion's Sea of Consciousness, transforming into a drizzle that fell upon the spiritual form of the young green paulownia sapling.

 

The small green paulownia sapling instantly sprouted another green bud, and the larger one, from which the topmost flower and fruit had been plucked, seemed to show signs of growing back.

 

Indeed, this was the effect of second-tier Spirit Water; it was truly different.

 

Chen Mobai once again circulated the "Hollow Spirit Eyes" technique he had exchanged from the Immortal Gate's spell library.

 

The remaining potency of the "Clear Vision Bamboo Spirit Dew" was completely absorbed by his eyes, which even sent out a signal of thirst.

 

Only after dripping six drops did he feel his eyes reach a sense of saturation and he stopped.

 

"How does it feel?"

 

Qing Nv asked. Chen Mobai lowered his head, which he had been holding up, to look at her, and then, feeling somewhat embarrassed, quickly turned his head away.

 

"Eh…"

 

Qing Nv was initially a bit slow to react, but upon seeing the extra layer of spiritual light in his eyes and recalling Chen Mobai mentioning the cultivation of a type of spiritual vision, she immediately thought of something.

 

She spat out in annoyance and immediately cast a concealment spell.

 

"That, I just practiced it and haven't got the control right yet, it won't happen next time."

 

Chen Mobai swore that he turned his head immediately upon realizing something was amiss, he truly saw nothing.

 

He was an upright gentleman.

 

"There should be about twenty more bottles that can be refined from the medicinal pool. If you don't use them to enhance your spiritual consciousness and only for cultivating your spirit eyes, it should be enough for a year."

 

Qing Nv's cheeks were slightly flushed, but she took the initiative to change the subject.

 

Chen Mobai stole a glance at her shoulder, making sure he couldn't see through her concealment spell without focusing, before turning back with relief.

 

"I still can't control it at will, but it will be fine in a couple of days."

 

Pointing at his eyes, which were still emitting spiritual light, Chen Mobai nodded in thanks.

 

Drip, drip, drip.

 

At this moment, Kong Feichen sent a message.

 

He and Yang Jing had finished cooking and invited them to come over for a meal.

 

"Let's go, let's eat."

 

To reward Chen Mobai for his hard work in sealing, they had promised to cook a meal themselves, and Chen Mobai was looking forward to it.

 

"Let's buy a pair of glasses on the way back."

 

Qing Nv pointed at Chen Mobai's eyes, still shining with spiritual light, and suggested.

 

"I remember there's an eyeglass store around here."

 

Chen Mobai followed behind Qing Nv without straying his gaze. Since his eyes could now see a bit too much, he dared not look directly at others.

 

"Found it."

 

Qing Nv's voice came through, and Chen Mobai breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to follow her in, a bald-headed youth with a backpack squeezed between them.

 

The bald youth didn't pay them any mind, as there was a distance of three or four paces between Chen Mobai and Qing Nv.

 

He was in a hurry to cross the street and went straight through between them.

 

However, it was because of this that Chen Mobai saw inside the backpack of the youth, there were firearms and magical weapons forbidden by the Immortal Gate.

 

Keeping his composure, he followed Qing Nv into the eyeglass store. While the girl enthusiastically helped him choose glasses, Chen Mobai picked up his phone and sent a message to Lan Haitian.

 

Such dangerous matters were best left to the professionals.