Proofreader & Editor:Peter Pan
After bidding farewell to Yuan Chiyi, Chen Mobai made his way to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.
As an elder of Foundation Establishment, he was naturally different from those Qi Refining disciples who had to accept missions in the hall and verify their cultivation realms.
"The task regarding Sister Yan from the Alchemy Department? That's quite unfortunate; it was just accepted by an uncle-master."
The Qi Refining disciple in charge of receiving Chen Mobai checked the request and, after looking it up, revealed a surprising result.
There actually was such a task, and others were paying attention to it?
"Oh, which brother was it?"
"I'm afraid I can't disclose that. If uncle-master really wants to know, you might inquire with the Pavilion Master."
The Qi Refining disciple before him was full of apologies. Due to numerous instances of fellow disciples scheming against each other, the Spirit Treasure Pavilion was quite strict with information control.
If Chen Mobai wanted to know, he could explain the situation to the person in charge of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion and then wait for approval from above.
Chen Mobai naturally wouldn't bother with such troublesome matters.
After leaving the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, he returned to his courtyard in Shenmu City.
Originally, Liu Wenbo was supposed to come with him, but considering he had just broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining and needed to consolidate his realm, Chen Mobai brought Zhuo Ming instead.
This little disciple hadn't rested yet and was drawing talismans under the moonlight.
After giving her a few pointers, Chen Mobai told her about Yan Jinye's situation and assured her that he would find a way.
If it had been before, he wouldn't have cared about Yan Jinye's safety, but after learning from Yuan Chiyi that she possessed a Longevity Tree Fruit, Chen Mobai felt he should try to save her.
Although the task had been accepted, the person who posted it was confirmed to be the head of the Alchemy Department.
Chen Mobai had once met Zeng Woyou, who was deeply impressed by him, a peerless swordsmanship genius.
***
The next day, he sent a visiting card.
Chen Mobai easily met with the number one alchemy master of Shenmu Sect.
"If you're talking about little Yan, she's safe for now because she left a life token with me. However, I am indeed worried since she hasn't returned for so long, so I issued a task."
Zeng Woyou trusted Chen Mobai, as he was the first in Shenmu Sect's history to take ten steps in front of the Great Dao Tree, and he believed this junior brother had the potential to form his Golden Core.
Although he was a third-order alchemy master and a top figure in Shenmu Sect, he was very courteous to Chen Mobai, who had just established his Foundation.
"Alas, I regret missing Sister Yan's invitation due to my swordsmanship retreat. Thinking back, I could have added strength to her mission, and perhaps this wouldn't have happened."
Chen Mobai's words were filled with regret.
Hearing this, Zeng Woyou was full of doubts. Did his disciple have such a good relationship with this junior?
"Junior brothers Bi Yiyuan and Dan Hongyi have taken up the task issued by the Alchemy Department. If you, Brother Chen, also wish to help, I won't refuse."
Zeng Woyou revealed the names of those who had accepted the task—two people, not just one.
Chen Mobai didn't know Bi Yiyuan, but he had met Dan Hongyi before when he took his airship from Yun Country's Nanxi Market to Jumu Ridge.
"How are these two brothers' cultivation levels?"
Chen Mobai directly asked the most crucial question.
"Junior brother Bi Yiyuan is at the peak of early Foundation Establishment, but as a body-refining cultivator, his strength is enough to contend with those in the mid-stage. He's not to be underestimated. Junior brother Dan Hongyi is a genuine mid-stage Foundation Establishment. He wouldn't have left his home if not for wanting to request a batch of pills from me."
In other words, it was equivalent to having two mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators for the rescue.
It must be said that Zeng Woyou, the number one alchemy master of Shenmu Sect, had great influence.
"Although your cultivation, Brother Chen, is not as high as theirs, your combat power as a fourth-realm sword cultivator is above them. If you're willing to take action, I'm prepared to offer a Sword Grass that has been cultivated in my medicinal field for a hundred years as a reward."
Sword Grass? What was that?
Chen Mobai hesitated, thinking it might be beneficial for sword cultivators, but he wasn't too interested.
After all, he had no doubts about his sword cultivation realm; he was just waiting for his Qingyang Fire Seed to mature before condensing the "Qingyan Sword Sha."
If he didn't want the Sword Grass, could he choose another spiritual medicine or herb as a reward?
Chen Mobai had a particular spiritual fruit in mind that he needed.
"Bamboo fruit?"
Zeng Woyou was slightly surprised upon hearing Chen Mobai's request.
It was a medicinal herb rarely used in alchemy, generally the main ingredient for detoxification pills or consumed directly to enhance spiritual consciousness.
However, there were better alternatives for detoxification and enhancing spiritual consciousness.
Moreover, few would cultivate jade bamboo for nearly a hundred years just to bloom a bamboo fruit flower.
"I haven't cultivated this in my medicinal field, but there are plenty of sufficiently aged jade bamboos on Qingzhu Mountain. With special secret methods to induce ripening, they can bear bamboo fruits."
As an alchemy master, Zeng Woyou knew exactly which medicinal fields in Jumu Ridge cultivated which spiritual herbs.
He was also an expert in spiritual plants and knew how to induce the growth of bamboo fruits.
"May I?"
Chen Mobai asked upon hearing this.
Half a year had passed, and due to his diligent cultivation of the Hollow Spirit Eyes, he was left with only half a bottle of Qingmu Bamboo Spirit Dew, which was about to run out.
This spiritual liquid could also be used to enhance spiritual consciousness. During this period, another two green sprouts had emerged from the Qingtong sapling in his sea of consciousness, progressing rapidly.
For Chen Mobai, Qingmu Bamboo Spirit Dew was the most suitable spiritual medicine at this stage.
Thus, he hoped to continue using it.
Unfortunately, his request to purchase bamboo fruits at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion had been hanging for half a year with no inquiries.
Today, he mentioned it casually, not expecting to actually find what he needed.
"No problem, I'll arrange for Qingzhu Mountain. The price of a bamboo fruit is usually 350 spirit stones. I paid about 1000 spirit stones in total as a reward for the other two junior brothers. For you, let's say three bamboo fruits, how about that?"
As Zeng Woyou spoke, Chen Mobai nodded.
The matter was settled.
***
Gu Hun Ridge!
It was a very ordinary mountain peak on the eastern side of the Rain Country.
If it weren't confirmed that Yan Jinye's life token pointed here, Chen Mobai and the others wouldn't believe that a Foundation Establishment cultivator's cave dwelling was hidden here.
"Master, the spirit compass is starting to spin wildly."
Above Gu Hun Ridge, on an airship, a black-clothed youth held a brass disc in one hand. A brass spoon on it began to spin crazily, as if the target was moving rapidly in all directions.
"Hmm, it seems that there is a natural terrain pattern here, combined with man-made formation arrays, that has sealed off all the spiritual energy of the earth veins, turning this place into a terrible forbidden zone."
The middle-aged man with a beard and mustache speaking was Dan Hongyi, whom Chen Mobai had met before.
The black-clothed youth beside him was Yu Lian, who had joined Shenmu Sect with Chen Mobai. It was said that after leaving the Sprout Hall, he devoted himself to cultivation under Dan Hongyi. He hadn't appeared in the sect's grand competitions in the past few years.
Seeing him today, he had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, and it seemed he wasn't a recent breakthrough. Perhaps in a year or two, he could reach the peak of Qi Refining.
"Should we just go in?"
The one who spoke was another Foundation Establishment cultivator, Bi Yiyuan. His rough appearance and bald, eyebrowless face made him seem like a source of heat, full of vigor.
"Sister Yan left with Sister Mei from the Spirit Vein Department. If this Foundation Establishment cave dwelling can trap them both, we should be a bit more cautious."
As Dan Hongyi spoke, he took out a talisman, infused it with spiritual power, and shot it towards Gu Hun Ridge below.
Chen Mobai saw that it was a messaging talisman.
After a moment of thought, he couldn't help but admire Dan Hongyi's seasoned experience.
This messaging talisman could track the nameplate of Shenmu Sect disciples within a certain range.
If Yan Jinye was indeed trapped below in Gu Hun Ridge, this was the most convenient and fastest way to contact her.
Sure enough, the messaging talisman was unaffected by the surrounding spiritual energy of the earth veins and formations. It flew straight towards Yan Jinye's Shenmu Sect nameplate and entered a hidden cave on the southern side of Gu Hun Ridge.
"What do we do next? Just barge in?"
Bi Yiyuan asked, his words somewhat reckless.
However, Chen Mobai felt that someone capable of cultivating to such a level definitely wouldn't be so impulsive; it might just be a facade.
"Brother Chen, what do you think?"
Bi Yiyuan suddenly turned to ask Chen Mobai.
The three had met through Zeng Woyou's introduction and introduced themselves to each other.
After boarding the airship, Chen Mobai kept silent, indicating he would follow the two senior brothers' lead.
"Brother Dan can decide."
Chen Mobai knew well that although he might be strong in combat, his lack of experience in the perilous Tianhe Realm meant it was better to follow the lead of seasoned cultivators like Dan Hongyi.
"Let's wait for Sister Yan's reply."
After both men spoke, Dan Hongyi finally opened his mouth.
The messaging talisman could reply once. If it could indeed reach Yan Jinye, they would definitely need to know her situation in the cave dwelling.
"Alright."
The three reached a consensus.
"Yu Lian, go ask around nearby and see if there are any legends or strange stories about Gu Hun Ridge."
Dan Hongyi instructed his disciple to gather information, and Yu Lian immediately nodded in agreement.
"I'll go with him; it'll be faster."
Chen Mobai suddenly spoke up, causing everyone present to be slightly taken aback.
However, considering Yu Lian hadn't established his Foundation and couldn't fly, it would indeed be more convenient with Chen Mobai.
"Then I'll trouble Brother Chen."
"It's only right."
Chen Mobai smiled and activated his Red Mist Cloud Luo, a pale red mist appearing in mid-air. He stepped onto it first.
Yu Lian hesitated for a moment but still followed cautiously onto the cloud.
"This artifact of yours is quite novel."
Dan Hongyi and Bi Yiyuan had never seen the Red Mist Cloud Luo, a cloud artifact that could gather and disperse at will, and couldn't help but praise it.
Chen Mobai just smiled and didn't say much.
He carried Yu Lian towards a nearby area with spiritual energy.
"Chen… Uncle-Master… Do you have something to tell me?"
Standing on the misty cloud, Yu Lian looked at Chen Mobai with some hesitation.
"After all, we come from the same place and share a hometown bond. Besides, I don't have much in common with the two senior brothers on the airship, so it's better to come out with you."
"Brother Chen, you suppressed three thousand Qi Refining disciples with a single sword and succeeded in Foundation Establishment in just four years. You're like the sun and moon in the sky. I didn't expect you to still remember me, a mere fellow townsman."
Yu Lian's words seemed to express his surprise and honor, but his expressionless face and calm tone left Chen Mobai unsure how to continue.
"Back then, our group was assigned to Brother E Yun, but after I left the Sprout Hall, I hid and farmed. You becoming a disciple of Brother Dan is very good. The Luo siblings have their family's Foundation Establishment within the sect."
Yu Lian frowned upon hearing this, unclear about Chen Mobai's intentions.
"If I hadn't established my Foundation and left first, even if I were farming, I would probably have to go to Dream Swamp to fight to the death for the sect. You're now at the ninth level of Qi Refining; why didn't you participate in the sect's grand competition?"
"To make a stunning debut."
Yu Lian's words surprised Chen Mobai, who then smiled.
"You might be able to do it."
"I could have, but with you there, no matter how stunning my debut is, I can't reach your level."
Yu Lian sighed.
Chen Mobai was momentarily speechless.
Indeed, he had set a benchmark in Shenmu Sect's true inheritance that was basically unattainable, even unreachable.
"There's a cultivator over there."
Yu Lian's brass disc suddenly pointed in a direction, and Chen Mobai immediately flew there with him.
"If you can enter the Divine Tree Secret Realm in the future and obtain something good that you don't need, you can sell it to me."
After asking a few cultivators nearby about Gu Hun Ridge and on their way back, Chen Mobai subtly mentioned something.
Yu Lian looked surprised.
"Do you think I can succeed in Foundation Establishment on my first try?"
"Among those of us who joined Shenmu Sect, your talent is recognized as the most outstanding. If I can do it, you definitely can too."
Chen Mobai's words moved Yu Lian.
"Sister Yan's reply, Brother Chen, take a look."
After the two returned to the airship, Dan Hongyi handed a piece of paper to Chen Mobai.
"The master of the cave dwelling has turned himself into a Silver Armored Corpse. Sister Mei and I can't leave for a moment to suppress it. Please prepare some extremely yang and rigid artifacts or talismans before coming in."