Lan Haitian was the most renowned Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Kunpeng Refining Department, his strength was also acknowledged by the Immortal Gate as the foremost in this realm.
Chen Mobai did his duty as a host to the fullest.
"Is the avatar projected into the Minor Red Heaven endowed with infinite spiritual energy?"
During the meal, Lan Haitian didn't forget to discuss the main issue with Chen Mobai. Although confident in his own strength, he always made thorough preparations before taking action, which was his principle.
"When the spell battle begins, it will assume that the avatar you've projected has the same attributes as your real self, and using spells will consume spiritual energy. Once your spiritual energy is depleted, the Minor Red Heaven will deem it an automatic concession.
However, after each match, whether you win or lose, if you match again, your spiritual energy will be restored to its peak state. As long as your spirit can endure, theoretically, you can continuously find opponents within the Minor Red Heaven."
After listening to Chen Mobai's explanation, Lan Haitian nodded slightly, indicating he understood.
Projecting into the Minor Red Heaven doesn't deplete spiritual energy, but it does consume the mind and spirit.
That's why many people only match up to ten times a day.
Chen Mobai, facing opponents too weak to pose a threat, would defeat them with a single sword strike, so twenty matches a day were a breeze for him.
"Before I came here, Director Nan said that after I secure the first place, I should pay a visit to your academy's Director Che."
As they parted ways, Lan Haitian suddenly mentioned this, and Chen Mobai pretended to be unaware.
"Oh, is there something important?"
Lan Haitian just smiled at Chen Mobai.
"There's a good show to watch."
Chen Mobai had fought side by side with Lan Haitian and knew well that his reputation was well-deserved.
However, Xiahou Weihuan of the Pure Yang Academy was also a ninth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator of the same realm, and he was the perfect match for the Pure Yang Scripture and Yuan Yang Sword Scripture. Although his strength was reduced by twenty percent in the Minor Red Heaven due to the inability to bring his life-bound flying sword, Chen Mobai felt that a fierce battle with Lan Haitian was inevitable.
Chen Mobai immediately reported this matter to Che Yucheng.
The latter was stunned after hearing this, seemingly not expecting the Kunpeng Refining Department to send out Lan Haitian.
"It seems that Taishi Shu's defeat has really angered that guy Nan Dou."
The academic director of the Kunpeng Refining Department was named Nan Dou, who had the most renowned reputation among the four great academies over the past hundred years. Although he was only at the Golden Elixir stage, he possessed a fourth-tier companion beast, which was why Nan Dou was treated like an Elemental Infant master within the Immortal Gate.
"What about the Mending the Sky Academy? Why is there no movement?" Chen Mobai asked again. The defeats of Ling Daoshi and Taishi Shu were broadcasted throughout the Immortal Gate, and these two academies had lost face.
The Pure Yang Academy had stepped over these two, and with Xiahou Weihuan declaring "The orthodox lineage of Red City lies in Pure Yang," many forums had already begun to discuss whether the Refining Department, which had always been at the bottom of the four great academies, could move up a spot.
"Wait and see. Oh, by the way, I asked Sister Duanmu, and she agreed to let you open a third-tier Qi-Containing Orb. Are you free now? I'll take you down."
Hearing another piece of good news, Chen Mobai nodded excitedly.
"Teacher, I lent my artifact fragment to Ming Yihua."
But immediately, Chen Mobai remembered this issue and looked troubled.
"No worries, call him over. It's a good opportunity to take him to meet Sister Duanmu as well."
Returning to the depths of Wanbao Cave, Chen Mobai still felt somewhat hot along the way.
***
In front of the stone house, Ming Yihua received the artifact fragment from Duanmu Longrong and immediately handed it to Chen Mobai.
"Are these two the new Pure Yang Dao seeds?"
Duanmu Longrong suddenly asked, surprising both Chen Mobai and Ming Yihua.
"That's right, Sister."
Che Yucheng nodded lightly.
"A bit weak."
Duanmu Longrong glanced at the two and shook her head expressionlessly.
"They can still grow. Maybe in a hundred years, they'll be the ones to take over for Sister."
Che Yucheng said with a smile, and Duanmu Longrong glared at him irritably. Che Yucheng said no more and immediately took Ming Yihua upstairs.
When only Chen Mobai was left, he nervously looked at the Foundation Establishment Taoist master before him, who didn't make things difficult for him just because he was Che Yucheng's disciple.
"Wait here, don't wander off."
As she spoke, Duanmu Longrong pointed to the huge Zhu fruit tree beside her and then entered the stone house behind her.
Chen Mobai sneaked a peek and saw that inside were cabinets, some empty, some with seemingly ordinary white jade orbs.
Are these all third-tier Qi-Containing Orbs?
Chen Mobai wanted to count them but found that Duanmu Longrong had already closed the door.
He could only wait under the Zhu fruit tree.
"Among these four, I can confirm they contain fire attribute artifacts. What you can open depends on your own fortune."
When Duanmu Longrong came out, with a wave of her red and black sleeves, four Qi-Containing Orbs appeared before Chen Mobai.
He immediately activated his Bright Mirror Law Eyes, and a clear luster emerged in his pupils, quickly penetrating the surface and glimpsing the rough outlines inside.
They were a circle, a lake, a bell shape, and a long strip.
The Qi-Containing Orbs of the third tier sealed more potent spiritual liquids, and even his Bright Mirror Law Eyes couldn't see through them all.
But even so, Duanmu Longrong was surprised when she saw the light in his eyes.
"Your technique of the spiritual eyes is well cultivated."
"Thank you for the compliment, Sister Duanmu. These are the shapes I saw. Could Sister Duanmu give me some guidance on which third-tier artifacts they might be?"
Chen Mobai felt that Duanmu Longrong and Che Yucheng had a good relationship, so he started to ingratiate himself and described the shapes he saw in the four Qi-Containing Orbs with his Bright Mirror Law Eyes.
"The circle should be the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror; the lake is probably a third-tier Crimson Dawn Cloud Mist made by someone, though it's not ruled out that it could be a higher-level artifact that you can't see clearly; the bell shape should be the Li Fire Bell; and the long strip could be a flying sword, a ruler, or even flying needles."
Duanmu Longrong didn't make things difficult for Chen Mobai and shared what she knew.
Among them, the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror and the Li Fire Bell were third-tier artifacts recorded in the Wanbao Chart, and Chen Mobai could easily obtain the incantations for refining them.
The third-tier Crimson Dawn Cloud Mist was also tempting to Chen Mobai; after all, at its highest realm, it could carry a cultivator through the cosmic seas.
However, considering he already had a second-tier one given by Taoist Master Shaoyang, he temporarily excluded this option.
As for the higher-level artifact mentioned by Duanmu Longrong, Chen Mobai didn't even consider it.
He always prioritized stability in his actions. Both the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror and the Li Fire Bell were very suitable for him, with the former even being used to cultivate the "Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique." There was no need to take a risk for a minuscule possibility.
As for the last long strip-shaped artifact, even Duanmu Longrong wasn't sure, so Chen Mobai was even less likely to choose it.
"I'll take the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror."
After much thought, Chen Mobai chose the first Qi-Containing Orb.
The previous owner of this artifact was also a cultivator of the Pure Yang Scripture, who, unfortunately, due to the limitations of the Pure Yang body, only reached the sixth layer of the Golden Elixir stage.
However, he was also an outstanding Refining Master. According to the Wanbao Chart, this mirror's highest grade was a mid-tier third-tier artifact. After the Pure Yang Scripture cultivator passed away, he had likely infused all his life essence into the artifact, so choosing this one was definitely suitable for Chen Mobai.
Seeing him make a choice, Duanmu Longrong didn't persuade him otherwise and immediately collected the other three Qi-Containing Orbs.
Chen Mobai activated the artifact fragment in his hand, and the red fire attribute divine light surged from the boundless magma outside the island, like a flame dragon summoned forth.
"So the source of the fire attribute divine light is here."
Chen Mobai watched the red divine light break through the magma and seemed to enter a dark artifact. He could only guess at its shape and grade.
He was very tactful not to look further and focused on the Qi-Containing Orb in his hand. After the shell and spiritual liquid turned to ash and dissipated, a bronze mirror was revealed.
The mirror was as smooth as new, resembling calm water, reflecting Chen Mobai's figure.
Strangely, it not only showed the surface but also the bones and meridians inside his body, and even the faintly glowing skull infused with the longevity tree sap was reflected.
"This mirror was refined in imitation of the Red Heart Treasure Mirror and probably possesses about one percent of its power."
Duanmu Longrong's words made Chen Mobai's heart stir.
The Red Heart Treasure Mirror was a fourth-tier artifact and also the co-cultivation object of the head of the Refining Department, Master Chengxuan. He was able to cultivate the Union of Man and Heaven and even form his Elemental Infant with its help.
Although it was a simplified version, Chen Mobai was already very satisfied.
He was now the president of the Student Council and could freely use the Wanbao Chart, so he immediately looked up the incantation for refining the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror and, in front of Duanmu Longrong, integrated the third-tier artifact into his dantian.
Artifacts above the third tier could be used as life-bound spiritual weapons.
However, many cultivators wouldn't settle on a life-bound artifact right away because the spiritual energy in the Immortal Gate was limited. If they didn't have enough for their own cultivation, how could they spare any to refine and enhance the power of an artifact?
The Refining Department's Union of Man and Heaven was the opposite approach.
Using artifacts to surpass the cultivator's grade, driving the cultivator to improve, comprehending the true meaning within the artifact, continuously breaking through, and creating one's own destiny.
The department had a technique evolved from the Union of Man and Heaven called the "Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique."
It was an unparalleled method for elevating a cultivator's realm.
For example, if Chen Mobai refined a third-tier artifact as his life-bound spiritual weapon, then during cultivation, he would draw upon the artifact's power to enhance himself until his realm equaled that of the artifact, at which point the "Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique" would be considered greatly successful.
After that, if the cultivator wanted to advance, they must elevate both themselves and their artifact together to break through.
Moreover, when practicing the Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique, one could only choose an artifact one grade higher than their own realm. Choosing any higher would result in instant death upon the artifact entering the body, with no exceptions.
Many Foundation Establishment cultivators, upon estimating that they couldn't reach the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment in their remaining lifespan, would take a risk and practice the "Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique" using the power of a high-grade artifact to forcibly advance and attempt to form their Golden Elixir.
In contrast, the Union of Man and Heaven was different.
It not only had all the advantages of the Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique but could also refine fourth-tier or even fifth-tier artifacts across realms and could sever the co-cultivation connection at any time.
For example, if one day Zhong Li Tianyu felt that his ancestral Eight Trigrams Mirror didn't suit him, he could discard the mirror and choose a new co-cultivation object.
To put it simply, those who cultivate the Union of Man and Heaven are like playboys, while those who practice the Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique are devoted and faithful.
Chen Mobai felt that he was very suitable for the "Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique."
When he first started school, Ming Yihua had mentioned this, and after looking it up, Chen Mobai had always kept it in mind.
However, due to the lack of a suitable third-tier artifact, it had always been put on hold.
Because the conditions for the Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique were too restrictive, and once the life-bound artifact was chosen, it couldn't be changed, being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, many people were extremely cautious.
There were even some Foundation Establishment cultivators who thought about relying on their talent to form their Golden Elixir and then find a fourth-tier artifact to practice the "Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique" to reach the threshold of forming their Elemental Infant.
Chen Mobai wasn't one of those overly ambitious people; he saw himself clearly.
Just one step ahead, and he could obtain more resources in the Tianhe Realm.
After all, in that world, strength was revered.
If he could form his Golden Elixir, perhaps he could implement new policies within the Shenmu Sect, allowing all Foundation Establishment cultivators to seek opportunities in the secret realm of the divine tree. The resources and secret techniques obtained would be enough to take the Shenmu Sect to the next level.
Unfortunately, he was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
***
After leaving Wanbao Cave, Chen Mobai went to Building One to thank Che Yucheng. Without him, the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror, so suitable for his Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique, would still be out of reach.
"In the next few days, you can watch the turmoil in the Minor Red Heaven. When the opportunity is right, go and break the winning streak of the Yuan Yang ancestor."
Che Yucheng approved of Chen Mobai's choice.
This way, at least he could try to reach the Foundation Establishment stage of the Pure Yang Scripture using the Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique.
After leaving Building One, Chen Mobai went to Building Nine and opened a cultivation room.
He had been stuck on the Pure Yang Scripture for over a year. If it weren't for the desire to reach Foundation Establishment through enlightenment, he would have already taken the Foundation Establishment Three Treasures to break through.
He hoped that the true meaning of Pure Yang within the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror could help him reach that legendary realm under the Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique.
Within the Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness, a branch of the Biyu Wutong tree transformed into a streak of light and entered the ancient bronze mirror in the sea of qi within the dantian.
In an instant, Chen Mobai felt as if he had entered a world of flames.
Six kinds of true fire, each containing different Dao rhymes, approached his consciousness like six serpents, causing intense pain in his spirit as if he were being burned to ashes.
Is this the sensation felt by those I've slain with a single sword strike?
At this moment, Chen Mobai was pondering this question.
After all, his consciousness was strong. Although the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror was a third-tier artifact and uncontrolled, after enduring the initial onslaught, he began to refine it.
At the same time, Chen Mobai channeled his ninth-layer Pure Yang spiritual energy from Qi Refining into it.
But in an instant, it was devoured by the Six Yang Divine Fire.
Logically, a Qi Refining cultivator of the Pure Yang Scripture should not be able to refine a third-tier artifact for the Spiritual Weapon Co-cultivation Technique.
But he was different.
Proofreader & Editor:Peter Pan