Chapter 213: Training Sword Department

However, by the time Chen Mobai and the others ascended to the second floor, Yuan Chizhi had already departed. It seemed he didn't use the main entrance, but flew away directly from a second-floor window. Really, for the leader of a faction, he's surprisingly thin-skinned.

As Chen Mobai shook his head, he noticed that Liu Wenbai hadn't left.

“Senior Brother Chen, Senior Brother Yuan said that after the sect competition, Senior Uncle E wants to meet you.”

E Yun! Was he here just now?

Chen Mobai nodded gently. Both out of respect and gratitude, he felt it was appropriate to thank E Yun in person.

“Senior Brother Chen, congratulations on becoming a True Disciple.”

After conveying Yuan Chizhi’s message, Liu Wenbai respectfully bowed to Chen Mobai once more.

“No need to be so formal, please sit down.” Chen Mobai immediately asked him to rise, then gestured for all four of them to sit.

“You’ve already reserved one Foundation Establishment Pill from the next batch, but I wonder if I’ll still have a chance.” Qi Rui sighed. He had initially been quite confident in himself, but his consecutive losses in the sect competition over the past two years had truly dampened his spirits.

Chen Mobai could only offer words of comfort. To be honest, all the True Disciples of the Divine Wood Sect were formidable. If he hadn’t solely relied on suppressing them with his cultivation realm, and also had the Divine Wood Sword, which could unleash its full power, he wouldn’t have been able to defeat Ding Ying with a single strike.

Qi Rui had sufficient cultivation and ample combat experience, but he lacked a powerful killing move. For example, Ding Ying possessed three ultimate techniques: Two-Phase Rotation, Heavenly Wood Talisman, and even the Flying Flower Talisman Armor. Most True Disciples only had one or two, making her strength among the top tier of all True Disciples. However, she unfortunately encountered Chen Mobai, who overwhelmed others purely with his cultivation realm. Facing Foundation Establishment-level power, all three of her ultimate techniques were broken, leading to a complete defeat.

“Since Senior Brother Chen defeated Ding Ying this year, the Talisman Production Department will likely go with the flow next year and no longer lend her the Flying Flower Talisman Armor. You are also from the Talisman Production Department, so you might be able to find a way to make some arrangements.” Xi Jinghuo offered a suggestion. Upon hearing it, Qi Rui’s eyes lit up, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized it made sense.

After Ding Ying’s defeat, although there were still eight or nine other Ninth-level Qi Condensation cultivators like Qi Rui waiting in line in the Talisman Production Department, there was at least now a possibility of applying for a second-tier talisman array. Unlike before, when everyone could only stare blankly as long as Ding Ying didn't withdraw.

“Junior Brother Xi, what you said makes sense. I wonder if you could help me make some arrangements. I’ve been in the sect for twenty-three years and have accumulated some spirit stones and contributions.” Although Xi Jinghuo’s cultivation was ordinary, he had a Foundation Establishment grandfather and decent spiritual root talent, making him a 'second-generation immortal' within the Divine Wood Sect.

“I only have some influence within the Sword Cultivation Department. Your Talisman Production Department is quite complex, and I don't know anyone there.”

“Then how about I transfer to your Sword Cultivation Department?”

“Transferring is easy, but within our Sword Cultivation Department, the annual True Disciple positions are determined by internal sword duels first. Even my Senior Brother Qi Hou, despite being my grandfather’s disciple, couldn't obtain a second-tier flying sword because he couldn't defeat Senior Brother Feng.” Xi Jinghuo’s words made Qi Rui sigh again, and Chen Mobai also found himself unable to help.

Ultimately, the position of a True Disciple primarily relied on strength.

“However, next year, our Sword Cultivation Department will organize a group to go to Golden Light Cliff for exchange and study. I’ll be among them. If you’re willing to pay a sum of spirit stones, we can go together.”

“I’ve been there once, but my Blazing Flame Sword Art leans more towards talismans and doesn’t quite match the pure sword cultivation style of Golden Light Cliff.”

“Or, perhaps you could try practicing the Two-Phase Art?” Finally, Xi Jinghuo offered another suggestion.

Generally, the difference in strength between Ninth-level Qi Condensation cultivators isn’t significant. With a second-tier talisman or magic artifact, the outcome of a fight can usually be determined. However, without considering external factors, purely in terms of spiritual power realm, someone who has cultivated the Two-Phase Art would undoubtedly surpass someone who specializes in a single discipline.

However, the Two-Phase Art has very obvious advantages and disadvantages. Only with both ample spirit stone resources and spiritual root talent can one cultivate both methods to the peak of Qi Condensation. Qi Rui’s spiritual root was decent, and he had accumulated some spirit stones over the years. If he were to cultivate the Two-Phase Art, he would have to invest all of them, and even the contributions he had saved for a Foundation Establishment Pill would need to be used to exchange for cultivation resources.

Furthermore, the resources required for the Two-Phase Art during Qi Condensation were barely acceptable, but after reaching Foundation Establishment, without the support of a sect or influential family, it would be impossible for a cultivator to persist until Core Formation.

It’s worth noting that E Yun, a True Disciple of the previous generation, also did not cultivate the Two-Phase Art for this reason, choosing instead to specialize in the Longevity Scripture. He has now successfully established his foundation and is reputed to show signs of reaching Core Formation. Because he wasn't burdened by the Two-Phase Art, and with the sixty years of increased lifespan from the Longevity Scripture, as long as he didn’t die prematurely, he could steadily cultivate to the peak of Foundation Establishment. As for whether he could achieve Core Formation, that would depend on fate.

“Thank you for your guidance, Junior Brother Xi. I will consider it carefully.” Xi Jinghuo’s words struck a chord with Qi Rui. Mid-drink, he decided to return and clear his head.

“Senior Brother Xi, are there any restrictions on the Sword Cultivation Department’s slots to Golden Light Cliff?” Liu Wenbai asked this question. Chen Mobai knew he cultivated the Two-Phase Art, likely the Longevity Scripture and the Blazing Flame Sword Art, following the path of a sword cultivator.

“It’s limited to one hundred people, with cultivation at the late-stage Qi Condensation. Our Sword Cultivation Department has priority, and if there are any vacancies, they will be opened to other departments.”

“If you wish to go, you can first go to Senior Brother Wen of our Sword Cultivation Department and pay one hundred spirit stones to reserve a spot.” “If you don't get a spot later, the one hundred spirit stones will be refunded to you.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Wenbai stood up and thanked Xi Jinghuo.

“Senior Brother Chen, are you interested? I see you also seem to practice sword arts, and your mastery appears to be quite high.” Xi Jinghuo’s words carried a hidden meaning. Although outsiders attributed Ding Ying’s defeat to the power of the second-tier magic artifact, the Divine Wood Sword, he, as a disciple of the Sword Cultivation Department, knew that without a certain foundation in swordsmanship, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn’t unleash such a terrifying sword strike.

“We’ll see. If the opportunity arises, I would still like to experience Golden Light Cliff.” After all, it was the top sword sect in the Eastern Desolation and the Divine Wood Sect’s best ally, with disciples from both sects addressing each other as brothers. As for Chen Mobai’s swordsmanship foundation, it was entirely enhanced by the Sword Forging Ring. It was rather hollow.

The group of five continued drinking until the conclusion of this round of True Disciple battles. The last one to enter the arena was Yuan Chizhi, who easily secured victory.

However, after watching, Chen Mobai realized that he could easily sweep through the rest of this sect competition. No one was a match for him in a single move!

In the seventh round, his opponent was another True Disciple from the previous year. However, the body-tempering secret art, which was boasted to be unbreakable by Qi Condensation cultivators, left him bleeding from all seven orifices and unconscious on the ground after seven consecutive Divine Wood Sword Qi strikes from Chen Mobai.

In the eighth round, a highly anticipated battle to narrow twelve participants down to six, Chen Mobai faced last year’s seventh-ranked True Disciple from the Artifact Refining Department. Besides the second-tier magic artifact borrowed from his department, he surprisingly possessed a second-tier defensive magic artifact of his own. This battle was the most challenging Chen Mobai had fought since the competition began. His regular methods simply couldn’t break through his opponent’s defensive magic artifact. He had no choice but to once again use his liquid spiritual power, unleashing the Divine Wood Sword’s maximum power to forcefully blast his opponent, along with the defensive magic artifact, out of the arena with Foundation Establishment-level strength.

He advanced to the ninth round.