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However, within the entire Shenmu Sect, the only one who possessed the Longevity Tree Sap was Zhou Wangshen.

 

Chen Mobai only wanted six drops, but recklessly asking for it would likely be an exercise in futility.

 

After all, when cultivating the Longevity Dao Body, the more Longevity Tree Sap one had, the better, and Zhou Wangshen himself found it insufficient for his own use.

 

Moreover, Chen Mobai wasn't well-acquainted with Zhou Wangshen. If he truly wished to purchase Longevity Tree Sap, he would probably need a mediator with significant influence.

 

After some thought, the only familiar figure was E-Yun.

 

Both were head disciples, at least having more face than himself.

 

But upon further contemplation, Chen Mobai decided against it.

 

The two were clearly vying for the position of sect leader. If E-Yun owed Zhou Wangshen a favor for this matter, it would only complicate future repayments.

 

Plus, if E-Yun was unwilling, the decent relationship Chen Mobai had with him might sour from then on.

 

Chen Mobai would push himself, but he wouldn't force others for his own sake.

 

If he discounted the Longevity Tree Sap in Zhou Wangshen's possession, there was only one other method left.

 

***

 

The Divine Tree Secret Realm.

 

Chen Mobai looked at the treasure tree before him, took out his phone, and downloaded a water-attribute Qi Refining technique called Shuiyue Jin from the Immortal Gate National Library.

 

After three days of diligent practice, he advanced Shuiyue Jin to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

 

He then channeled the newly cultivated water-attribute spiritual power into the treasure tree.

 

With a flash of silver light, he vanished.

 

A quarter of an hour later, he reappeared before the treasure tree, holding a black fruit.

 

Opening the fruit, a drop of crystal-clear, milky-white Longevity Tree Sap appeared in his palm.

 

Indeed, this method was feasible.

 

Seeing this, Chen Mobai clenched his fist in delight.

 

After cultivating the Heishui Gong last time, he had obtained a drop of Longevity Tree Sap from the treasure tree. Repeating the old trick with a different Qi Refining technique yielded the same result.

 

Although there were many fruits on the treasure tree, Chen Mobai surmised that for weak spiritual power like that of the third or fourth level of Qi Refining, the tree would only grant the most basic fruit.

 

Clearly, the value of Longevity Tree Sap in the treasure tree, while comparable to rare treasures like Bimu Lingxin, Qingyang Fire, and tree fruits, required a gourd's worth to be significant.

 

When encountering a low-level Qi Refining disciple like Chen Mobai, the tree formulaically offered the least valuable item in its treasury.

 

That was a drop of Longevity Tree Sap.

 

It was a pity to waste three days, as the spiritual power he cultivated overnight with Heishui Gong also yielded a drop.

 

However, having figured out this basic pattern, Chen Mobai didn't dwell on it.

 

He took out his phone again, this time not bothering to download from the National Library using points, as the downloads there were complete Qi Refining techniques from levels one to nine, which was more than he needed.

 

He went straight to the Immortal Gate network and found a shop specializing in wholesale water-attribute techniques, spending 50 Good Deeds to buy a hundred books with only the first three levels.

 

***

 

One month later.

 

Chen Mobai looked at the full glass bottle of Longevity Tree Sap and left the Divine Tree Secret Realm satisfied.

 

Having found the method, it was naturally beneficial to have more.

 

He directly prepared thirty drops of Longevity Tree Sap, planning to refine all 23 bones in his head, and prepared some extra in case of any mishaps.

 

Time passed the fastest during cultivation.

 

***

 

In the blink of an eye, another half year passed.

 

The annual grand competition of the Shenmu Sect began as usual.

 

After reaching Foundation Establishment, Chen Mobai had little interest in the battles between Qi Refiners.

 

However, this year his disciple might become a true successor, and having not met with friends like Qi Rui and Xi Jinghuo for a long time, he also came to Shenmu City to have a look.

 

"Look, Senior Brother is up."

 

Still in the same tavern, Chen Mobai sat by the window, accompanied by Qi Rui and other friends, with Zhuo Ming at the side.

 

Since Zhuo Ming was eliminated in the first round every year, she didn't sign up this year.

 

Chen Mobai let it be. With Liu Wenbo there to hold the fort, it was fine for his little disciple to just farm and brew wine.

 

Already at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and with a full set of magical instruments, Liu Wenbo lived up to expectations and defeated his opponent, advancing to the round before true succession.

 

"Greetings, Uncle-Master."

 

Just as Chen Mobai was about to leave with his two disciples, he encountered two acquaintances at the stairway.

 

It was Luo Yixiu and Luo Yixuan, who had joined Shenmu Sect with him from Nanxi Fang City.

 

After leaving the New Sprout Hall, the siblings became disciples of a Foundation Establishment elder in Shenmu Sect's main family.

 

That elder was the guardian of Leiguo, so they had also left Jumu Ridge and had been cultivating in Leiguo.

 

Chen Mobai had almost forgotten about them and didn't expect to meet them here today. "It's truly rare for old friends to meet in these times, that we are all still alive is quite remarkable."

 

Among the disciples who joined Shenmu Sect back then, besides his two disciples, Chen Mobai only remembered the Luo siblings and Yu Lian.

 

"Who dares to claim to be Uncle-Master's friend." Luo Yixuan, who had grown into a beautiful and elegant figure in her palace dress, was still as pleasant and modest in her interactions.

 

On the other hand, Luo Yixiu, upon seeing Chen Mobai, wore a look of disbelief and even some resentment.

 

Luo Yixiu always believed that among the group back then, if he hadn't followed his family's uncle to Leiguo, he would have become a true successor two years earlier.

 

Yet, to his surprise, in just five years, the once-insignificant non-factional cultivator had already succeeded in Foundation Establishment.

 

The strict hierarchy of the Tianhe Realm clashed with Luo Yixiu's pride. Under Chen Mobai's seemingly amused gaze and his sister's continuous hints, Luo Yixiu eventually had to bow his head and call Chen Mobai "Uncle-Master."

 

"Are you participating in this year's grand competition?" Chen Mobai asked. He only paid attention to his disciples' and friends' matches, spending most of his time refining Longevity Tree Sap and cultivating the Hollow Spirit Eyes.

 

"We are. Luckily, we haven't been eliminated yet." Luo Yixuan replied, and Chen Mobai nodded, thinking it was time for his cultivation session and didn't linger to reminisce.

 

"You're welcome to visit Xiao Nanshan sometime. Wenbo and Zhuo Ming know you too." After saying this, Chen Mobai asked his two disciples to stay and chat with the siblings, while he left straight away.

 

Luo Yixiu watched Chen Mobai's departing figure with a look of discontent.

 

In contrast, Luo Yixuan spoke gently with Liu Wenbo and Zhuo Ming about the past.

 

Chen Mobai did come to watch the entire round concerning true succession.

 

Unfortunately, Liu Wenbo ultimately fell short against a strong opponent and was defeated.

 

Chen Mobai had been prepared for this and consoled his eldest disciple before turning his attention to Qi Rui and the others' performances.

 

This friend, who had failed several times to achieve true succession, finally had a stroke of luck this year and didn't encounter any tough opponents, securing a spot among the twenty-four true successors.

 

On the other hand, Qi Hou and Xi Jinghuo, the two brothers, faced unfortunate defeats against Mu Yuan and the Puppet Department's Li Yixian, respectively.

 

The Luo siblings, whom Chen Mobai had his eye on, were also seen losing one after another.

 

He watched Luo Yixuan descend from the arena, deep in thought.

 

She might be worth investing in.

 

***

 

Inside the Wanbao Grotto, Chen Mobai opened his eyes to reveal a clear luster, exceptionally striking in the pitch-black environment.

 

Looking up, he could see the Yunqi Sphere buried in the overhead Chitie Mine as if it were transparent, completely visible to him.

 

The broken flying sword inside, its patterns, and the notches on the blade were all vividly revealed in his vision.

 

Chen Mobai also noticed two small characters inscribed on the hilt.

 

Chitong!

 

This must be the name of the flying sword.

 

A search on the campus network confirmed that a genius of the Sword Control Department had a flying sword with this name over two hundred years ago.

 

Before this genius passed away, he had cultivated to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Unfortunately, his lifespan was short, and in a bid for a last chance at life, he participated in a pioneering war.

 

Regrettably, the only thing returned to the Immortal Gate was this broken flying sword.

 

If intact, it would have been a second-order superior flying sword, even more powerful than the Flying Sparrow Hairpin.

 

Chen Mobai thought this, feeling regretful.

 

He withdrew his Hollow Spirit Eyes, which, according to the technique's description, should be at the intermediate stage.

 

Even more powerful than Shi Qujin, who had cultivated it for a lifetime.

 

Through this, Chen Mobai became clearer and more profound about the advantages he possessed.

 

He had only spent half a year, relying on Longevity Tree Sap, to elevate his Hollow Spirit Eyes to a level surpassing Shi Qujin's decades of hard work.

 

What he relied on was not talent, insight, or diligence and effort.

 

It was resources!

 

He must continue to maintain this advantage, ensuring that he could always stay ahead in the Immortal Gate by leveraging the resources of the Tianhe Realm and Shenmu Realm.

 

With his resolve strengthened, Chen Mobai checked the eight Yunqi Spheres that Mi Yu Dao had found.

 

With the intermediate Hollow Spirit Eyes, he could see the active-sealed Yunqi Spheres as clearly as if looking at the lines on his palm.

 

Comparing with the vast information in the Wanbao Chart, he recognized the bell-shaped magical instrument called Soul Capture, a second-order medium-grade instrument designed for attacking the mind and spirit.

 

The most valuable was naturally the pagoda, which turned out to be a second-order superior defensive instrument. If he couldn't find a third-order instrument, Chen Mobai felt he could use an instrument fragment to open it.

 

The jade tablet and book were not detailed in the Wanbao Chart, but according to the Student Union's estimates, it should be a rare formation instrument.

 

It was just unknown which formation was sealed inside, so its grade and value couldn't be determined.

 

Even Hollow Spirit Eyes were powerless here; only by cutting it open could it be confirmed.

 

The water-dividing fork was indeed a second-order superior instrument, but such an instrument required long-term training to use, which Chen Mobai naturally wasn't interested in.

 

After examining the four active-sealed Yunqi Spheres, Chen Mobai looked at the four dead-sealed ones.

 

The one in the underground current now had a clear outline, resembling a box. He tried to look deeper with Hollow Spirit Eyes but found it was still a blur.

 

Indeed, to completely see through a dead seal was still a bit of a stretch.

 

Chen Mobai wasn't disheartened, after all, the efficacy of the Longevity Tree Sap infused into his skull had completely merged with the bone marrow but had not yet fully released to permeate his entire spirit eyes. After some time, his Hollow Spirit Eyes could reach a higher level.

 

He then looked at the other three.

 

The spherical instrument seemed to be a ball, and searching the Wanbao Chart revealed six similar instruments, none of which were third-order, so Chen Mobai didn't waste his spiritual sense and energy.

 

The other two were a pot and a flute.

 

Chen Mobai found that among the third-order instruments, one was in the shape of a pot, called the "Sarira Pot," which had absorbed the fiery energy deep within the Wanbao Grotto. When released, it could transform into a hundred-zhang fire glow, powerful enough to melt gold and boil stone.

 

There were also two third-order instruments in the shape of flutes, but Chen Mobai wasn't interested in the Sound Path, so he didn't compare them with the information in the Wanbao Chart.

 

As for the pot, he would take another look when his Hollow Spirit Eyes reached a higher level.

 

If he could confirm it was the third-order Sarira Pot, he would definitely choose it.

 

After examining the eight Yunqi Spheres, Chen Mobai felt a fresh sense of curiosity and wanted to take another look at the dead-sealed sphere hanging at the Student Union's location. But just as the thought arose, he felt a heaviness in his head.

 

After the advancement of Hollow Spirit Eyes, each activation required more spiritual sense and energy. He had been observing the Yunqi Spheres intensely, and without realizing it, his spiritual sense was nearly depleted.

 

He set up a formation on the spot and meditated to recover. Just as Chen Mobai was about to head to the Wanbao Grotto Student Union location, a message suddenly came through on his phone.

 

It was from Che Yucheng.

 

He said that the arrangements for the exchange meeting of the Chicheng Cave Heaven University Alliance were complete and asked him to come over to handle some procedures.

 

He had almost forgotten about this matter.

 

***

 

Chen Mobai arrived at Building One.

 

In Che Yucheng's office, besides him, there was a familiar face to Chen Mobai.

 

"Bian Teacher, long time no see."

 

Bian Yiqing also smiled and nodded in greeting.

 

He was a teacher in the Music Department. Chen Mobai hadn't enrolled in any elective courses in this area, so this was their first meeting in five years since they parted in Danxia City.

 

"The upcoming six-thousand-year celebration of Chicheng Cave Heaven will be attended by a big shot from the Xianwu Hall. To prepare for the reception, Chicheng Cave Master invited Bian Teacher to arrange the program. Conveniently, he's also in charge of leading our school's team to the millennium celebration."

 

Che Yucheng briefly explained, and Chen Mobai's name was naturally included in the list of participants from the Dance Weapon Dao Academy.

 

"Teacher has taken great pains." After saying this, Chen Mobai stood still.

 

He had suggested participating himself, and now he could only brace himself to join in the excitement.

 

"Although I'm nominally leading the team, the actual management of you students will be handled by the Student Union. They might contact you later."

 

Bian Yiqing mentioned, and Chen Mobai nodded.

 

"Alright, you can go now."

 

Che Yucheng seemed to have other matters to discuss with Bian Yiqing and waved his hand to indicate that Chen Mobai could go about his business.