Chapter 232: Recruiting Disciples

Spiritual Energy Value: 581

Chen Mobai stood atop a cloud-shrouded peak, nodding slightly as he looked at the spiritual leyline level displayed on his phone screen.

Although Little Nanshan was considered to be on the verge of dropping from a mid-grade third-tier spiritual mountain, it still had plenty of reserves. Besides the main peak he was on, there were also five slightly lower peaks nearby.

Standing on the mountaintop, he looked down.

He saw a winding path extending from the foot of the mountain all the way up to his location. It seemed no one had maintained it for a long time, as the mountain was covered with irregular, slightly rounded rocks eroded by rainwater.

Vibrant Scarlet Sun Trees grew among the piles of rocks, and occasionally, he could spot some weeds sprouting from the cracks. Chen Mobai also noticed two bright red flowers.

Upon closer inspection, he realized they were a spiritual herb called Golden Lantern Flowers. Ingesting them could replenish vital energy and treat snake and insect venom wounds.

"Martial Uncle Chen."

At that moment, two people walked up the path from the base of the mountain.

A man and a woman—Liu Wenbai and Zhuo Ming—the very pair who had joined the Divine Wood Sect with Chen Mobai from Nanxi Market in Yun Country.

"Yes, you've worked hard."

Liu Wenbai hadn't come alone; he had brought several mortals—the workforce Chen Mobai had hired to re-cultivate the sixty acres of spiritual fields near Little Nanshan.

"Martial Uncle Chen," Zhuo Ming said, her face also lit with excitement as she gazed at Little Nanshan. "The Jade Bud Spirit Rice on Xiaoyang Ridge still needs more time before it can be harvested. I've already instructed Junior Brothers Wang and Feng to constantly monitor the rainfall and pest control, and I'll also go over to check on it occasionally."

Although the mountain wasn't tall, the dense spiritual energy was palpable. She felt increasingly certain that siding with Chen Mobai was the best decision she had ever made.

If only she had known, she would have immediately pledged allegiance back at Nanxi Market. Perhaps she would be a direct disciple by now.

"Martial Uncle Chen, you've just established your foundation, and Little Nanshan is vast and sparsely populated. You'll need a disciple to handle miscellaneous affairs. I wonder if I might be fortunate enough to become your disciple?"

Zhuo Ming, being thin-skinned, was still figuring out how to broach the subject, but Liu Wenbai, seasoned by experience, brazenly asked to be accepted as a disciple.

"Well..."

Chen Mobai, encountering such a situation for the first time, was caught a little off guard.

He was still a student himself, not yet graduated. Taking on a disciple felt like a responsibility he wasn't quite ready for.

However, he then remembered that the traditions in Heavenly River Realm differed from those in Immortal Sects. Here, the master-disciple relationship was less about mere inheritance and more about a traditional bond of reliance.

Furthermore, Liu Wenbai had a point; managing the cultivation of those sixty acres of spiritual fields alone would indeed be difficult. He truly needed to cultivate some reliable disciples.

Yet, compared to Liu Wenbai, he felt Zhuo Ming was more suitable.

After all, she had followed him to Xiaoyang Ridge after the last sect competition, and Chen Mobai had already thoroughly trained her in professional knowledge. Through six months of practical experience, she had basically mastered the cultivation process for Jade Bud Spirit Rice.

However, since Zhuo Ming didn't proactively speak up, Chen Mobai felt awkward about taking her as a disciple.

"You are currently working under Senior Brother E Yun, after all. If I were to take you as my disciple, I would need to inform him first."

"Actually, this is also Martial Uncle E Yun's intention," Liu Wenbai quickly responded. "He said that a genius like you, Master, should focus on cultivation, and the remaining miscellaneous tasks can be handled by disciples."

Hearing this, Liu Wenbai knew Chen Mobai had agreed. His face lit up with joy, and he immediately bowed in respect.

"Martial Uncle Chen, why don't you take me in too?"

Zhuo Ming's pretty face flushed crimson at the sight. If she had known it would be so easy, she would have directly sought discipleship right after the sect competition six months ago.

"Very well, taking one is taking one, and taking two is also taking two," Chen Mobai conceded, going with the flow. "For now, consider yourselves registered disciples. When I emerge from the Divine Tree Secret Realm, the Jade Bud Spirit Wine brewed last year will also be ready. At that time, I'll invite Senior Brother Qi and other friends to come over, and you can formally become my disciples."

"Greetings, Master!"

Liu Wenbai and Zhuo Ming immediately bowed in unison, formally establishing the master-disciple relationship between the three of them.

"These two Scarlet Flame Sword Talismans will be your welcoming gifts."

Chen Mobai took out two talismans he had drawn, and his two disciples happily accepted them without demur.

In their hearts, they were already wondering what kind of apprenticeship gifts they should prepare for the formal ceremony.

"Now, tell me about any confusions you have in your cultivation," Chen Mobai said. "Although I haven't cultivated for as long as you have, I've taken a step ahead and have some unique insights into the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture'."

This was a humble statement.

Among all in the Divine Wood Sect at the same cultivation stage, he was the one with the deepest understanding of the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture'.

After all, thanks to the puppet's deductions and the effects of the Spirit Enlightenment Dao Pill, his understanding of this cultivation method at the Qi Condensation stage was almost comparable to the ancient sages who created it.

"Yes, Master."

Liu Wenbai and Zhuo Ming spoke simultaneously, then exchanged glances, realizing they hadn't yet determined who was the elder and who was the younger.

"Wenbai, you go first. From now on, you'll be the Eldest Senior Brother."

Zhuo Ming's face immediately showed annoyance. The chance to be the Eldest Senior Sister had been missed just like that.

"Master," Liu Wenbai began, "I'm cultivating both the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture' and the 'Scarlet Flame Sword Art' simultaneously. The former reached the eighth layer of Qi Condensation long ago, but the latter is stuck at the sixth layer. Because of this, I haven't been able to master the 'Two-Phase Reversal' technique."

The ultimate technique of the Two-Phase Art requires both cultivation methods to reach the seventh layer of Qi Condensation before it can be used.

If both the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture' and the 'Scarlet Flame Sword Art' were at the eighth layer of Qi Condensation, executing the 'Two-Phase Reversal' would grant the power of a ninth-layer Qi Condensation cultivator for a short period.

Of course, this only allows for a small realm boost; the bottleneck between Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cannot be broken through with this technique.

"Inject a stream of your spiritual energy into me."

Although Liu Wenbai didn't understand why, he obediently complied.

Chen Mobai lifted the spirit-testing device concealed in his palm and examined his disciple's spiritual roots.

Liu Wenbai: Metal, Fire

"How old are you this year?"

"I'll be exactly thirty by the end of the year."

Liu Wenbai answered truthfully. Reaching the eighth layer of Qi Condensation in the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture' at his age, especially while also cultivating the Two-Phase Art, was already quite impressive.

"It's still not too late to switch," Chen Mobai said. "You're not suited for cultivating the 'Scarlet Flame Sword Art'. You could use the Two-Phase Art to cultivate both water and wood Qi Condensation methods. However, this concerns your entire life, so you need to make the decision yourself."

After saying this, Chen Mobai asked Liu Wenbai about some of the confusions he had encountered while cultivating the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture'.

He found that although Liu Wenbai had reached the eighth layer of Qi Condensation in this method, he had mostly advanced through the sheer force of spirit stones and elixirs. His understanding of the cultivation method's essence was limited to the few spells suitable for combat.

He then had Liu Wenbai circulate his spiritual energy once more. Although Chen Mobai didn't use the Formless Puppet for deductions, based on his own experience and insight, he still pointed out over a dozen areas where Liu Wenbai could improve his circulation.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Liu Wenbai circulated his Evergreen spiritual energy again according to the tips Chen Mobai provided. He discovered that the speed and efficiency of refining spiritual energy had increased by half. His face showed profound shock, and he sincerely performed a grand bow to his new master.

In the Heavenly River Realm, the transmission of knowledge and experience was highly valued. Only direct inheritors or blood relatives would receive such unreserved instruction.

Chen Mobai's actions made his two disciples feel that he truly regarded them as successors, not just as mere laborers.

"Good," Chen Mobai said. "You can temporarily stop cultivating the 'Scarlet Flame Sword Art' and focus on advancing the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture' to the ninth layer of Qi Condensation. This way, you can try to contend for a position as a true disciple."

As for Liu Wenbai, E Yun and Yuan Chiye had previously intended to cultivate him as a successor to their faction's true disciple position. After all, Chen Mobai, who was originally designated as their standard-bearer, had only been the chief true disciple for half a year before successfully establishing his foundation—it was simply too fast.

If Yuan Chiye also successfully established his foundation next, then their faction would only have one other true disciple from the Spirit Beast Department, which would make their numbers a bit low.

"Master, what about me?" Zhuo Ming asked. "My aptitude is ordinary, and I haven't considered cultivating the Two-Phase Art. I only hope to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill in my lifetime."

After Zhuo Ming transferred her spiritual energy, she saw Chen Mobai gazing at his palm with a solemn expression. She thought her cultivated spiritual energy was too subpar, causing her master great dissatisfaction.

"When you had your spiritual roots tested at the market back then, you were also a triple spiritual root, weren't you?" Chen Mobai suddenly asked.

"Yes, I remember it clearly. It was blue, black, and yellow."

Zhuo Ming would never forget the scene of her spiritual roots being tested at Nanxi Market.

Although it wasn't the top-tier aptitude of nearly dual spiritual roots like her master's, an ordinary triple spiritual root was already very satisfying for a rogue cultivator like her.

After listening, Chen Mobai looked again at the results displayed on the spiritual testing device in his palm, his expression odd.

Zhuo Ming: Metal, Fire 9, Earth 47

The Earth spiritual root's attribute points occupied nearly half of the screen.

To rule out a measurement error, he had Zhuo Ming transfer another stream of spiritual energy.

However, the result was identical. It seemed her emotions might have fluctuated slightly, as the Metal attribute was a bit lower and the Fire attribute a bit higher.

But the Earth attribute, 47, remained unchanged.

This child was born to cultivate fields!

"Have you ever considered switching to an Earth-attribute cultivation method?"

"Huh?"

From a young age, Zhuo Ming had cultivated the "Hundred Herbs Scripture" passed down by her father. After entering the sect, she had also switched to the "Evergreen Immortal Scripture," which shared the same attribute. She had always believed she was suited for Wood-attribute cultivation methods.

Yet now, Chen Mobai was telling her she was suited for Earth-attribute methods.

This made it difficult for her to accept at once.

"A triple spiritual root aptitude is already above average," Chen Mobai stated frankly. "However, you've been stuck at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation for four years. I believe your physique isn't suited for the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture'."

Chen Mobai was just being honest. As for whether Zhuo Ming would be willing to abandon the Wood-attribute cultivation method she had practiced for nearly twenty years, that was a decision she had to make herself.

Just like with Liu Wenbai, he also gave Zhuo Ming some pointers on the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture'. He found that although her cultivation stage was lower, her foundation was extremely solid.

After she completed a full circulation, Chen Mobai could only find five or six issues. Even so, this made Zhuo Ming's Evergreen spiritual energy flow much smoother, and even the sixth-layer Qi Condensation bottleneck that had previously prevented her breakthrough showed signs of loosening.

However, this only made Zhuo Ming even more conflicted.

After Chen Mobai's guidance, she felt that she could break through to the seventh layer of Qi Condensation with just another year or so of cultivation.

If she were to switch to an Earth-attribute cultivation method, given that it wasn't the same attribute spiritual energy, she didn't know how many years it might set her back.

"Master, I..."

"I'm only offering a suggestion. Just like with Wenbai, this concerns your entire life, so you need to make the decision yourself."

After guiding his two disciples, Chen Mobai noticed that the sun, which had initially been rising, was now directly overhead—it was midday.

He also planned to cultivate the Foundation Establishment chapters of the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture' and the 'Scarlet Flame Sword Art' himself, so he waved his hand, signaling his two thoughtful disciples to leave.

"Disciples take our leave."

The two immediately turned to depart.

"Wait."

At that moment, Chen Mobai suddenly remembered something and called out to his two disciples.

"Master, what are your instructions?"

"I need to wait within the sect for the Divine Tree Secret Realm to open. I have two matters at hand; please help me take care of them."

"Yes."

Liu Wenbai and Zhuo Ming exchanged glances and nodded in unison, seemingly even a little pleased.

Disciples are always ready to serve their master.

In the Heavenly River Realm, being asked by one's master to perform tasks was a privilege reserved for the closest disciples.

"Before I joined the sect, I had a water mansion in Yun Country where some spiritual plants are now ripe for harvest. Please go and collect them for me."

Chen Mobai took out a piece of white paper and drew a simple map.

Anyway, the most valuable high-grade spirit stones in the water mansion had already been taken by him, and the young Azure Parasol tree was also being nurtured by him on Mount Chicheng.

The remaining Jade Bamboo was originally intended for sustainable harvesting, but now that Chen Mobai's cultivation stage was higher, he felt it wasn't worth his constant attention, so he might as well just harvest it directly.

"Wenbai, I recall you're from the Spirit Beast Department, right? Your master needs some second-tier Profound Spirit Rabbit fur for talisman brushes. Go inquire about it—find out how many spirit stones are needed or which elder you need to approach. Let me know once you have information."

After giving these two instructions, Chen Mobai finally had some peace and quiet.

On the summit of Little Nanshan, he activated a wooden cabin talisman, entered it, and sat on a meditation cushion, beginning to read the subsequent chapters of the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture' he had just obtained from the Scripture Pavilion.

There were four layers in total, from the eleventh layer to the fourteenth.

These respectively represented the early, middle, late, and complete stages of Foundation Establishment.

The final fourteenth layer, in addition to covering the complete stage of Foundation Establishment, also contained the mental cultivation methods for progressing from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation. In theory, the copy of the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture' Chen Mobai possessed was sufficient for him to form a Core using the Two-Phase Art.

According to E Yun, this cultivation method comprised twenty layers in total and could be cultivated up to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul.

However, Old Ancestor Zhou, the Divine Wood Sect's highest-cultivated individual, had only cultivated to the seventeenth layer.

After reconciling with the Five Elements Sect, this Old Ancestor had been in seclusion, attempting to break through to the eighteenth layer, which represented the complete stage of Golden Core, and then try to form a Nascent Soul.

As he was now a Foundation Establishment elder, the 'Evergreen Immortal Scripture' in Chen Mobai's possession also included complementary cultivation spells.

Naturally, what interested him most was the "Heavenly Wood Divine Light Array," which was said to expand into a domain.

However, cultivating this array required a "tree seed."

This tree seed was refined from spiritual trees. The Divine Wood Sect's most complete system involved first-tier Scarlet Sun Spiritual Trees, second-tier Azure Sun Spiritual Trees, and third-tier Golden Sun Spiritual Trees.

As for fourth-tier spiritual trees, throughout the entire Giant Wood Ridge, only the three Divine Trees existed, and even two Golden Core Old Ancestors couldn't refine them.