Chapter 208: Surging

There were still four sheets of gold-edged bamboo leaves left, which were equivalent to second-tier talisman paper.

Chen Mobai planned to use them to draw the 'Azure Wood Divine Thunder Talisman,' a second-tier talisman he had painstakingly studied for the past two years. This was also the talisman he had mastered most thoroughly. Besides having used it before, it was a perfect match for him because his 'Everlasting Life Scripture' cultivation method was also wood-attributed.

Although he hadn't returned to Danxia City for a long time, he still had a deep impression of the talismans sold at the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop. After all, the talismans from this shop had played a crucial role in his ability to stand out in the Tianhe Realm from the beginning, even during the entrance examination duels.

After Chen Mobai became a first-tier talisman craftsman, his chosen specialization was wood-elemental talismans. At Wuqi Dao Academy, learning these talismans came naturally to him, but this second-tier 'Azure Wood Divine Thunder Talisman' had stumped him for two full months. It wasn't until Chen Xinglan's Foundation Establishment that Chen Mobai took leave to return to Danxia City. He made time to visit the proprietor of the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop, and with the latter's careful guidance, he finally overcame the hurdles of this talisman.

Now, the 'Azure Wood Divine Thunder Talisman' was the second-tier talisman among the three he knew that had the highest success rate and was the one he was most confident in.

Crafting talismans consumed a significant amount of mental energy and spiritual power. After resting for a night, Chen Mobai resumed crafting the 'Azure Wood Divine Thunder Talisman'. His condition was excellent, and he successfully created three talismans from the four gold-edged bamboo leaves.

However, as he finished, Chen Mobai noticed a barely perceptible hairline crack on the shaft of his green bamboo brush. After all, it was only a top-grade first-tier talisman brush. Continuous use over the past few days, especially for crafting second-tier talismans, had truly taken its toll. It seemed he needed to find a way to acquire a better talisman brush.

As for how to get one, Chen Mobai had an idea. Buying one outright was certainly out of the question. Finished second-tier magical artifacts from the Immortal Sect usually cost around a million contribution points. However, talisman brushes, due to their single function, were a bit cheaper. A normal second-tier talisman brush only cost five to six hundred thousand, but even that price was a bit much for Chen Mobai. On the other hand, at the Divine Wood Sect, a second-tier talisman brush cost around one to two hundred spirit stones. Chen Mobai also felt it was too expensive and not worth it.

So, his plan was to buy the raw materials for making the brush here in the Tianhe Realm, and then ask someone in the Immortal Sect to help craft it. Coincidentally, among Chen Mobai's acquaintances, there was a top artifact refining genius from his graduating class.

“Brother, I want to commission a second-tier talisman brush. Do you know any artifact refiners who specialize in making brushes?”

“Making brushes? That's a bit niche. I'll have to ask around.”

The artifact refining department that Ming Yihua belonged to primarily focused on combat and defensive artifacts. Auxiliary artifacts like talisman brushes weren't really an area anyone had specialized in.

“Thanks for your trouble, brother. Please ask for me. I'll treat you to a meal another day.”

“Alright, but don't get your hopes up too high. I doubt many people in our academy specialize in that.”

After hanging up, Chen Mobai rested well for two more days. Once his mental energy and spiritual power, depleted by talisman crafting, were fully restored, he returned to Giant Wood Ridge. The Sect Grand Competition was about to begin.

In Divine Wood City, Chen Mobai, Qi Rui, and Xi Jinghuo sat by a window in a restaurant, watching the preliminary matches begin on the ten massive arenas in the city center below. Normally, the Sect Grand Competition only required 1,536 Qi Refinement disciples to participate, ensuring that after six rounds of duels, the remaining twenty-four would be the true inheritors. However, due to the Divine Wood Sect recruiting a slightly larger number of disciples in recent years, the number of Qi Refinement disciples participating in the competition exceeded the usual, but not by enough to warrant an additional round. Therefore, to maintain the structure of twenty-four true inheritors after six rounds, the Divine Wood Sect would hold preliminary matches to eliminate some Qi Refinement disciples.

Naturally, Chen Mobai and other late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators did not need to participate in the preliminary rounds. Xi Jinghuo had also advanced to the seventh level of Qi Refinement this year, so he could relax a bit. Watching the duels among the third and fourth-level Qi Refinement disciples below, none of the three found it very engaging.

“Senior Brother Chen, you're going to shine brightly this year,” Xi Jinghuo suddenly said, puzzling Chen Mobai.

“Oh, Junior Brother Xi, why do you say that?”

“The Spiritual Plant Department applied for a second-tier Divine Wood Sword for you. That news has already spread far and wide.”

Chen Mobai couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this. “Senior Brother Li Li must have spread that, right?”

“The reason the Twelve Departments can guarantee true inheritor positions every year is because the sect tacitly allows them to lend second-tier magical artifacts to promising disciples, which also helps maintain the departments' prestige. This is common knowledge, so every year during the Sect Grand Competition, those with connections go to check what artifacts have been lent out.”

Xi Jinghuo, naturally, belonged to the group with connections. Qi Rui, who hadn't known, suddenly understood after hearing this and looked chagrined.

“Are the benefits in your Spiritual Plant Department really that good? You can lend out two second-tier flying swords, while in our Talisman Crafting Department, only Senior Sister Ding Ying has a set of second-tier talisman armor.”

Chen Mobai could only smile without speaking, though his eyes subtly changed when Qi Rui mentioned Ding Ying. As a true inheritor from the previous competition, she hadn't taken a Foundation Establishment Pill, just like Yuan Chiye, because she cultivated the Two-Phase Art. Last year, she ranked sixth among the true inheritors and was considered a genius with the potential to successfully establish her foundation.

“The power struggle among the three Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Spiritual Plant Department has become somewhat overt because of your appearance. If you fail to become a true inheritor this time, you might fade into obscurity for a long time, probably not getting another chance to borrow a second-tier magical artifact for the next ten years.”

Xi Jinghuo's words were quite startling. Chen Mobai hadn't noticed this before, but upon hearing the hint, a look of realization dawned on his face. It was indeed true. Within the Spiritual Plant Department, the original true inheritor, Liu Guiling, had failed his Foundation Establishment, and his position was taken by Li Li last year. This year, Liu Guiling's injuries had healed, and if he had another second-tier magical artifact, he would very likely reclaim his true inheritor position. However, it was clear Li Li wouldn't concede. Behind both of them stood the head and deputy head of the Spiritual Plant Department, two Foundation Establishment elders. A pretext was needed to break the deadlock.

Whether Chen Mobai proactively sought it out, or was fortuitously chosen by Sun Gaochang as a pawn, under the tacit understanding of the three Foundation Establishment elders of the Spiritual Plant Department, he received a second-tier flying sword. If he couldn't become a true inheritor this year, then the pattern of the Spiritual Plant Department lending out two flying swords would be set for next year, with the other one certainly going to Liu Guiling. Therefore, many people might be paying close attention to Chen Mobai's performance in this Sect Grand Competition.

“Thank you for the insight, Junior Brother Xi.” After understanding the hidden reasons behind being able to borrow the second-tier Divine Wood Sword, Chen Mobai sincerely raised a toast to Xi Jinghuo.

“This wine isn't as good as yours,” Xi Jinghuo said, shaking his head and commenting on the spirit wine from the restaurant.

“The wine I brewed last year was finished long ago, but I've brewed a hundred jars this year. When they're ready to be opened, you can drink to your heart's content.”

Qi Rui's face lit up with joy upon hearing this.

Time passed quickly. The preliminary matches concluded, and soon it was time for the main event of the Sect Grand Competition. Chen Mobai met his first-round opponent, who turned out to be an acquaintance.