Chapter 166: On the Road

It was almost noon, and Yuan Chizhi was growing impatient, when Zhuo Ming and the other six finally, and reluctantly, made their selections and descended from the bookshelves.

They could only browse the books; Senior Brother Hu was needed to retrieve them.

"Oh, you want Two Phases Art as well?"

Among them, Liu Wenbai's choice was surprisingly the same as Chen Mobai's, which greatly surprised Senior Brother Hu.

"Oh, I didn't expect Senior Brother Chen's choice to be the same as mine."

As someone from a cultivation family, Liu Wenbai's decision to choose the Two Phases Art must have been a well-considered one made with his family's guidance.

"Please fill this out first."

Senior Brother Hu dutifully urged him again, and Liu Wenbai hesitated for a moment.

However, after learning that Chen Mobai had already made his choice, it seemed to solidify his own resolve. He grit his teeth, wrote the voluntary declaration, and took a copy of the Two Phases Art.

"Senior Brother Chen, what exactly is the Two Phases Art?"

On the way back, Zhuo Ming, who had chosen the complete Qi Cultivation chapter of the Everlasting Scripture, asked curiously. Although she was well-informed with gossip, ordinary rogue cultivators simply couldn't get information about things like the Two Phases Art.

Chen Mobai did not hide anything, since they were all now members of the Divine Wood Sect.

"To think there's such a miraculous cultivation method! Haven't I lost out big time?"

After hearing this, Zhuo Ming's cherry lips parted, and her face was filled with regret.

"How do you know it's not a blessing in disguise?"

Liu Wenbai, who was on the other side, leaned over and said this.

When Zhuo Ming looked puzzled, he explained the difficulties of cultivating the Two Phases Art. Upon hearing this, Zhuo Ming immediately felt relieved.

For a rogue cultivator like her, before becoming a true disciple, there was definitely no need to worry about the Two Phases Art anymore.

"By the way, Junior Sister Zhuo, are you switching to cultivate the Everlasting Scripture?"

Chen Mobai pointed to the book Zhuo Ming was holding in her arms. The Two Phases Art requires cultivating two cultivation methods that mutually generate each other within the Five Elements.

Within the Divine Wood Sect, there are generally two paths: Water-Wood or Wood-Fire!

Among these, Yuan Chizhi chose the path of Water generating Wood. If he were to form a core in the end, the spiritual energy of the Everlasting Scripture would absorb all the essence of that Water-element cultivation method.

The other path is Wood generating Fire.

This was the path Chen Mobai chose.

His Fire-element method was certainly the Pure Yang Scroll. As for the Wood-element method, to remain discreet within the Divine Wood Sect, he could only choose the Everlasting Scripture.

In the Divine Wood Sect, for those cultivating the Two Phases Art, regardless of the path, the Wood-element cultivation method is generally the Everlasting Scripture.

Besides this cultivation method being standard for the Divine Wood Sect, it's also because its life-extending properties are needed to give cultivators more time to reach the threshold of Core Formation.

After Chen Mobai acquired the Two Phases Art, he naturally had to find a way to obtain the Everlasting Scripture.

He had previously asked Senior Brother Hu from the Scripture Pavilion. Since it was the most common Qi Cultivation method in the Divine Wood Sect, every disciple could exchange for it.

The price wasn't too expensive for Chen Mobai, at 50 spirit stones.

If it weren't for his financial constraints, with only 30 spirit stones left after completing the One Yang Body cultivation, Chen Mobai would have truly wanted to buy a copy.

"Senior Brother Chen, this was a free benefit given by the sect to new disciples," Zhuo Ming explained. "When I received it, I took a Dao heart oath, so I can't resell it."

After Zhuo Ming understood Chen Mobai's meaning, she shook her head like a rattle-drum.

Although she was just a rogue cultivator, she knew the importance of a Dao heart oath; breaking it would sow the seeds of inner demons.

"That's a real shame."

Chen Mobai had merely asked, but then he remembered something and turned to look at Liu Wenbai.

Liu Wenbai also looked a bit puzzled, wondering why Chen Mobai was looking at him.

"Junior Brother Liu," Chen Mobai began, "since you've chosen the Two Phases Art, have your family already prepared the two complementary Qi Cultivation methods for you?"

"Yes, Senior Brother Chen, are you suggesting..."

They were all clever, so there was no need for more words; Liu Wenbai already understood Chen Mobai's meaning.

Regardless of which path his Two Phases Art followed, the Everlasting Scripture was essential.

As for Liu Wenbai's Everlasting Scripture, since it was prepared by his family, it naturally wouldn't have the restrictions of a Dao heart oath.

"If Senior Brother Chen needs it," Liu Wenbai offered, "I'll transcribe a copy for you when I get back."

Liu Wenbai was shrewd and adaptable in his dealings. For him, a mere Qi Cultivation method was a good opportunity to befriend Chen Mobai, a future true disciple.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony," Chen Mobai replied. "Junior Brother Liu, if you ever need anything in the future, just say the word."

Chen Mobai had originally planned to get the Qi Cultivation chapter of the Everlasting Scripture on credit, but he hadn't expected Liu Wenbai to be so generous.

For a moment, he felt a little ashamed of his suspicions towards cultivators in the Heaven River Realm. Perhaps only some rogue cultivators were malevolent, and most, like those from immortal sects, were good people.

After returning to New Sprout Hall, Chen Mobai and the other six immediately applied to Yuan Chizhi for secluded cultivation.

Yuan Chizhi did not refuse, only telling them that the monthly quota of firewood could not be neglected. Apart from that, he would not restrict their cultivation, and it didn't matter if they came to listen to him explain sect rules or not.

The most common tree in Giant Wood Ridge was called Crimson Sunwood. The firewood from this tree produced a gentle and controllable flame, making it a highly popular material for first-tier alchemists and artificers.

However, the sect contribution points for chopping wood were too low, so Divine Wood Sect disciples rarely took on this task. Thus, it fell upon the newly inducted disciples.

Each person had to chop one hundred standard rectangular logs to earn just 1 sect contribution point.

New disciples were required to chop three hundred logs daily.

Chen Mobai, who was in the late stage of Qi Cultivation, worked tirelessly with the iron axe provided by the sect. From dawn till dusk, without slacking, he could chop about five hundred logs.

Those in the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation had to exert all their effort just to barely complete the task.

Fortunately, most of this group were rogue cultivators by origin, and the few others came from minor family sects, with the lowest cultivation level being Qi Cultivation Layer Four.

The firewood chopping task could generally be completed in full.

Chen Mobai was confident he could make up for any missed Crimson Sunwood later, but Zhuo Ming and the others couldn't afford that. After a single day of secluded cultivation, they had to pick up their axes and go out to chop wood.

"This boy," Yuan Chizhi muttered, "isn't he afraid of not completing the task by month's end and being punished by me?"

Yuan Chizhi looked at Chen Mobai's seven-day secluded cultivation slip and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

However, he didn't know that...

The wooden house was already empty.

Chen Mobai had already packed his luggage, and holding the Everlasting Scripture, was sitting by the window of a train, heading towards Scarlet City Grotto-Heaven.

"Hello, this is my seat."

Just as Chen Mobai was engrossed in his book, a pleasant voice sounded beside him.

He turned his head and saw a beautiful young maiden with a graceful figure.

She wore light makeup, her eyebrows like crescent moons, and her face fair and clear. She appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, with a faint smile playing on her lips. Her cherry-like mouth was gently pursed, seemingly coated with lipstick, shimmering with an alluring color, lusciously inviting.

"Oh, my apologies."

Chen Mobai had placed his backpack beside him, inadvertently taking up half of her seat. Upon realizing this, he immediately apologized and moved it to the floor at his feet.

"It's fine."

The young maiden smiled faintly and walked in.

She wore a simple pure white short-sleeved shirt on top, which accentuated her full, delicate curves and slender waist. On the bottom, she wore a black pleated skirt. Her long, slender legs were encased in white over-the-knee stockings, complemented by a pair of black round-toed leather shoes, creating a look that was both pure and alluring.

She carried a hip-high pink suitcase and tucked it under the seat. After sitting down next to Chen Mobai, she took off her large backpack and placed it on the bare, beautiful skin between her skirt and stockings.