Chapter 249: Farewell

"Thank you both for your hard work." In Wu Wan's studio in Danxia City, Chen Mobai set down his Tier 2 talismanship brush and expressed his gratitude to Luan Jingsheng and Wu Wan.

"Not at all, not at all. It's truly our pleasure to be of assistance." Wu Wan smiled as he began tidying up the discarded paper scraps in his studio.

Meanwhile, Luan Jingsheng, appearing to have had a breakthrough, closed his eyes while remaining seated.

"This Five Transformations Umbrella might even become a Tier 2 magic artifact someday," Chen Mobai remarked, picking up the wooden umbrella that the three of them had collaboratively completed. He was filled with emotion.

He was a nostalgic person. The Five Transformations Umbrella had accompanied him through numerous battles, particularly during the demon beast attack on Qingguang Island. Both its surface and the talismans drawn upon it had sustained significant damage.

Most other Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Tianhe Realm would simply discard it and acquire a superior defensive artifact in such a situation. However, Chen Mobai's thoughts turned to whether it could be repaired.

While he now possessed a Tier 2 Azure Scale Armguard, this mid-tier Tier 1 defensive talisman artifact held little practical value for him. However, he knew it would make an excellent gift for his disciples.

Liu Wenbai had the backing of his family, and Chen Mobai knew he possessed two Tier 1 magic artifacts—one for offense and one for defense. Zhuo Ming, however, came from a background of rogue cultivation; she had spent her life accumulating spirit stones yet couldn't afford even a storage bag, let alone a magic artifact.

Conveniently, he had several magic artifacts that he would soon no longer need. He could sort them out and present them to his two disciples, ensuring fairness between them.

The Needle Box and the Five Transformations Umbrella would be for Zhuo Ming, while the Azure Scarf and the Sword-Forging Ring would be for Liu Wenbai. This arrangement meant each disciple would receive two artifacts: one mid-tier Tier 1 and one high-tier Tier 1.

The Five Transformations Umbrella had previously been a damaged, mid-tier Tier 1 artifact, but this challenge did not deter Chen Mobai.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a registered Tier 1 Talisman Master of the Immortal Sect, he was more than capable of redrawing the Five Transformations Umbrella's defensive talismans.

Nevertheless, upgrading a talisman artifact requires meticulous preliminary design and calculations, not just casual re-drawing.

To repair and upgrade the Five Transformations Umbrella to a high-tier Tier 1 artifact, Chen Mobai specifically invited its original creator, Luan Jingsheng.

Wu Wan, an appraiser, was also invited by Chen Mobai to lend his assistance.

The adage "many hands make light work" proved true; using Luan Jingsheng's original design blueprints as a foundation, they quickly finalized the upgrade plan for the Five Transformations Umbrella after refining six consecutive versions.

Since Wu Wan happened to have his own artifact refining and appraisal studio, Chen Mobai brought the newly acquired talisman paper and ink, and they officially commenced their work.

However, what is learned on paper often proves shallow in practice. During the actual implementation, they encountered several issues that hadn't been apparent in the blueprints.

Nevertheless, Chen Mobai was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a student of the Wuqi Dao Academy. He sought advice from his talismanship teacher, Xu Xiu, and consulted with Ming Yihua, a gifted artifact refiner. Leveraging his exceptional foundation in talismans, he ultimately overcame all challenges, spending seven days to complete the Five Transformations Umbrella's upgrade.

Throughout this process, Luan Jingsheng, who had been observing and assisting, gained profound insights and now appeared to be in a state of enlightenment.

Chen Mobai and Wu Wan did not disturb him, choosing instead to wait for his awakening in the tea room outside.

When Luan Jingsheng finally emerged, he naturally offered his profound thanks to Chen Mobai.

"You taught me the foundations of talismanship; there's no need for such formality," Chen Mobai replied. Hearing this, Luan Jingsheng was also filled with emotion.

He recalled the student from Chixia Academy who had needed him to deliver even the three basic talismanship textbooks, now having successfully achieved Foundation Establishment.

Still, recalling that Chen Mobai was a student of the Wuqi Dao Academy, Luan Jingsheng understood. After all, he was a genius.

That evening, the three shared another meal. Although Chen Mobai had initially offered to pay, Luan Jingsheng ultimately insisted on covering the bill.

He had gained significant insights from assisting Chen Mobai this time and felt confident he could pass the Tier 1 Talisman Master examination the following year.

Afterward, Chen Mobai met up with Chan Si and Shen Juanxiu.

Shen Juanxiu did not look well; she had attempted Foundation Establishment again this year but had failed once more. This time, she had pushed herself too hard, resulting in a regression of her cultivation realm and a weakening of her vital energy. It might be ten years before she could attempt Foundation Establishment for a third time.

"Perhaps I truly lack the talent for cultivation," Shen Juanxiu mused, taking a bitter sip of wine while gazing at Chen Mobai, whose skin glowed from his successful Foundation Establishment.

"Teacher Chan's aura is perfectly harmonious; you must be preparing for Foundation Establishment soon, right?" After comforting Shen Juanxiu, Chen Mobai chatted with Chan Si, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. Chan Si nodded gently.

She, too, had prepared a complete set of the "Three Treasures for Foundation Establishment," but Shen Juanxiu's recent failure had cast a shadow over her, making her hesitant to take that crucial step.

"There's a cultivation method called the 'Liminal Method' in the National Library; you might want to look into it," Chen Mobai advised them. As he described its remarkable effects on increasing the success rate of Foundation Establishment, both women's eyes sparkled with astonishment.

"Such a method exists within the Immortal Sect? How is it that we've never heard of it?"

"The Liminal Method is a severe test of a cultivator's talent. Roughly 70 to 80 percent of students in the Four Great Dao Academies can master it, but among the Ten Great Academies, only the top practitioners succeed."

Chen Mobai did not disclose the success rate for students from the 120 Prefectures practicing the Liminal Method, as the sample size was too small to be statistically significant.

It was only because Chan Si had already reached the peak of the Qi Condensation realm, and Shen Juanxiu had exhausted other options and had time to delve into the Liminal Method, that Chen Mobai offered them this piece of advice.

He didn't just advise them; Chen Mobai also gave hints to all his old classmates who had reached the ninth level of Qi Condensation.

Song Zheng, Shi Jingjing, Cao Yaling, and others had actually encountered the Liminal Method within their own academies, yet unfortunately, they remained unable to make progress with it.

Indeed, the Liminal Method is exceptionally difficult to master!

They sought Chen Mobai's guidance on its secrets, but he merely shook his head and sighed, explaining that comprehension could only come through personal insight.

They could only lament their own insufficient talent.

During the final days of his holiday, Chen Mobai returned to Qingshan Village with his parents to visit his grandparents.

He found a suitable spot, prepared the area, and released the Azure Blood Carp.

Initially, he had only planned to invite Yan Bingxuan for a visit. However, considering that this might affect Ms. Yan's reputation, he decided to invite all his old classmates as well.

It felt like a farewell to his youth.

"The scenery here is truly beautiful," Shi Jingjing exclaimed, gazing at the lush, vibrant landscape with its shimmering waters. She immediately pulled Cao Yaling along to pick wildflowers.

In the distance, Song Zheng sat by the water with a fishing rod. Mo Simin and Yan Bingxuan were preparing a fire for roasted fish, while Lu Hongsheng diligently tried to impress Pu Jiangxue and Yu Shu...

"Why haven't I seen your female friend?" Mo Simin asked, carefully enunciating her words. She had expected Qing Nü to be there as well.

"Something came up at Jumang Dao Academy, so she went back early," Chen Mobai replied, his expression unchanged.

The day after Kong Feichen departed, Qing Nü called to say she wanted to dedicate herself to self-improvement and had decided to return to Jumang Dao Academy.

Chen Mobai saw her off at the train station. Though a bit weary, Qing Nü's expression was otherwise normal. She was going to consult her mentor to find a way to rescue her younger siblings from the Ascension Cult.

"If you need my help with anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask."

After thanking him, Qing Nü turned and entered the station.

Chen Mobai watched her silhouette vanish from his sight and couldn't help but sigh.

"You seem to have something on your mind?" Yan Bingxuan's voice reached his ear. Chen Mobai met her clear gaze, hesitated, then gave a slight nod.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Yan Bingxuan asked, tilting her head, in her usual comforting manner.

"It's nothing major. I just feel I'm not strong enough. How wonderful it would be if I had already formed my Golden Core."

Hearing Chen Mobai's words, Mo Simin's expression became rigid. She had never realized he could be so boastful.

"Cultivators are never satisfied; they are always striving for higher realms—that's what my aunt says." Yan Bingxuan nodded, her face reflecting empathy. Mo Simin's mouth fell open, and she uttered, "Huh?"

"Indeed," Chen Mobai said, shaking his head with a smile. "During Qi Condensation, one yearns for Foundation Establishment. Now that I've achieved Foundation Establishment, I'm looking forward to forming a Golden Core. And if I actually become a Golden Core cultivator someday, I'll likely start worrying about forming a Nascent Soul..." He felt a bit like a snake trying to swallow an elephant, indicating insatiable greed.

This feeling stemmed from his direct experience with the power of a Golden Core cultivator; compared to them, he was indeed far too weak. He resolved to take it one step at a time, focusing on smaller goals first.

"As for you," Yan Bingxuan suddenly stated, "I believe you can achieve it." Chen Mobai was slightly surprised.

"What did you say?"

"Forming a Golden Core, forming a Nascent Soul—I believe you can reach both of those realms."

"You have that much faith in me?"

"The book says that agreeing like this fosters good feelings in friends."

Yan Bingxuan's frankness made both Chen Mobai and Mo Simin burst into laughter.

"You don't need to agree with others; just act and speak as you truly feel. That's when you're most beautiful and most attractive to us," Mo Simin said, embracing her good friend Yan Bingxuan.

"Really?" Yan Bingxuan asked Chen Mobai, her brow slightly furrowed with a touch of surprise.

"Yes!"

Receiving an affirmative answer, she nodded and then displayed a very beautiful smile.

"Even though what I said earlier was just to be agreeable, my intuition tells me you genuinely can ascend to those two realms."

"What about Spirit Transformation then?" Chen Mobai inquired.

"That, I'm afraid, isn't possible." Yan Bingxuan shook her head decisively. Hearing her, a competitive spirit stirred within Chen Mobai.

"What if I succeed?"

"Then I'll apologize to you."

"That's not very sincere."

"Hmm..." Mo Simin, noting that their conversation had taken another peculiar turn, promptly pulled Yan Bingxuan away to resume roasting fish.

Chen Mobai watched their graceful figures walk away and suddenly felt his mood significantly lighten. The fear he held for Golden Core cultivators began to dissipate, and his expression brightened once more.

It seemed that releasing the five Azure Blood Carp had been well worth it.

With these thoughts, Chen Mobai walked to the water's edge, sat beside Song Zheng, and helped him reel in fish, one after another.

Afterward, he opened two jars of Qingshan wine, a treasured collection of his grandfather's. With roasted fish and wine, everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly before heading home.

"Are you coming back this year?" Chen Mobai read Lu Hongsheng's question in the class chat group while on the train back to Wuqi Dao Academy. He shook his head slightly and replied.

"I'll be entering the Ten Thousand Treasures Cave this year, a rare opportunity. I'll likely spend a lot of time cultivating in the back mountains, so I won't be returning."

After sending that message, he sighed in his solitary train compartment.

Not only this year, but perhaps for many years to come, he wouldn't return to Danxia City.

Upon returning to the academy, Chen Mobai first paid a visit to Che Yucheng.

Che Yucheng informed him that contact had been made with True Person Shaoyang, and entry to the Ten Thousand Treasures Cave was confirmed. However, the official procedures could only commence once the relevant teacher, who handles such matters, returned after the new semester began, meaning Chen Mobai would need to wait a little longer.

Having already waited half a year, Chen Mobai wasn't bothered by this slight delay.

After thanking Che Yucheng, he had expected the teacher to inquire about the Ascension Cult in Danxia City. However, Che Yucheng merely waved him off, indicating he was free to leave.

It appeared that Golden Core cultivators truly could not be moved easily. Even with the alleged collusion with the Ascension Cult, the Immortal Sect had not taken any decisive action.

Or perhaps, the Heaven Patching Team hadn't reported it?

Filled with curiosity, Chen Mobai enrolled in numerous courses for the new academic year. Now that he had achieved Foundation Establishment, the academy permitted students to forego regular classes and only required them to pass the year-end examinations.

Chen Mobai assessed his energy and available time, then selected three major courses: Talismanship, Puppetry, and Sword Manipulation.

Talismanship and Puppetry were standard choices, while enrolling in Sword Manipulation was intended to bolster his foundational knowledge of the sword path.

It was somewhat embarrassing to admit that despite having mastered the Sword Rainbow Splitting Light, he was actually quite rudimentary and completely ignorant of the first three realms of sword cultivation.

In the realm of sword cultivation, his current understanding was purely theoretical and lacked practical depth.

Hence, enrolling in the Sword Manipulation department was still a necessary step.

Beyond the three major courses, he also enrolled in six electives: Agronomy, Herb Identification, Appraisal, Mineral Identification, Talisman Ink and Pigment Extraction, and Calligraphy.

Among these, Agronomy was his top priority for the future; his potential for wealth in the Tianhe Realm depended on his mastery of this subject.

"Herb Identification" and "Mineral Identification" were chosen in preparation for the future Golden Liquid Jade Rejuvenation Pill.

After all, the Giant Wood Ridge was renowned in the Eastern Wilderness for its medicinal fields. If he intended to gather resources from the Tianhe Realm to refine elixirs, he couldn't constantly rely on his disciples to search for spirit herbs based solely on illustrations.

He still needed to personally recognize the various spirit herbs of the Immortal Sect and then find a way to translate their names into the Tianhe Realm's terminology. This would eliminate the risk of exposure when assigning collection tasks to his disciples.

"Appraisal" was chosen in light of the flourishing market for magic artifacts in the Tianhe Realm. He couldn't always rely on Wu Wan and Ming Yihua to appraise every new artifact he acquired.

Furthermore, Wu Wan was only a Tier 1 appraiser and could no longer provide much assistance.

While Ming Yihua was exceptionally loyal, Chen Mobai felt it was improper to continually rely on his help. He decided to dabble in appraisal knowledge himself whenever he had spare time.

Furthermore, having cultivated the Spirit Eye of the Void, he would achieve results with half the effort in this field.

As for "Talisman Ink and Pigment Extraction" and "Calligraphy," he chose them simply because they were easy for him. He knew he could earn credits in the final exams even with minimal study throughout the year.

With three major courses and six electives, passing them all by year-end would earn Chen Mobai 21 credits.

His only goal was to exchange them for a Vermillion Fruit.

With these thoughts, Chen Mobai once again applied a drop of Clear Eye Bamboo Spiritual Dew to himself, feeling the icy coolness surge into his sea of consciousness. The two young Azure Phoenix Trees within his Purple Mansion began to sway, seemingly with delight.

However, Chen Mobai did not immediately allow his divine sense to absorb the effects of the Clear Eye Bamboo Spiritual Dew. Instead, he first ensured his Spirit Eye of the Void was sufficiently nourished before releasing his divine sense to allow the visualized Azure Phoenix Trees to absorb it.

After cultivating the Spirit Eye of the Void, Chen Mobai held a mid-grade spirit stone to further enhance his Pure Yang Dharma Body. While doing so, he multi-tasked by reading the Foundation Establishment sections of the *Pure Yang Scroll*.