Chapter 292: Divine Wood Sect Changes

After hosting O Yun and others, Chen Mobai invited more friends from the sect the next day, including Qi Rui, Xi Jinghuo, and Qi Hou. He offered each of them a glass of his second-tier Jade Bamboo Spiritual Wine, and they all praised it highly. Later, before they left, Chen Mobai had Zhuo Ming give each of them a jar of the first-tier wine.

On the third day, Chen Mobai carried the wine to visit the three Foundation Establishment leaders of the Spiritual Plant Department. He gave two jars to his old superior, Inspector Sun Gaochang. Although he wasn't well acquainted with the other Minister and Deputy Minister, he personally presented each of them with a jar as well, all of which were second-tier Jade Bamboo Spiritual Wine.

"Do you have any more of this wine? I'll buy it all," Sun Gaochang exclaimed.

Sun Gaochang was a heavy drinker. After one sip, he couldn't stop and soon finished a whole jar with Chen Mobai. Though he still yearned for more, he managed to retain his composure, setting aside the remaining jar without opening it.

"There's still some left, but I haven't given any to the Sect Leader yet. I also have a favor to ask of Minister Zeng from the Alchemy Department, so I need to give him two jars," Chen Mobai replied. He answered honestly, explaining that the second-tier spiritual wine was currently only for internal sampling. Mass production and sales would only be possible after the first crop of planted Jade Bamboo spiritual rice matured.

"What a shame," Sun Gaochang sighed. Upon hearing that there was plenty of first-tier Jade Bamboo Spiritual Wine, he immediately paid a deposit of one thousand spirit stones and reserved a large vat. Chen Mobai didn't stand on ceremony, stating that he would have his disciple deliver it later.

As Chen Mobai was about to leave after delivering the gifts, Sun Gaochang unexpectedly called out to him, uttering a rather abrupt remark. "Junior Martial Brother Chen, speaking of which, you're still officially part of our Spiritual Plant Department, aren't you?"

"Indeed, if it weren't for you, Inspector Sun, bestowing the Divine Wood Sword upon me, I wouldn't have won the sect competition so easily. Without that victory, I naturally wouldn't have obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill, and perhaps I'd still be stuck at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, patiently waiting for the next batch of Jade Marrow Golden Lingzhi to mature," Chen Mobai replied. He didn't quite grasp the underlying meaning of Sun Gaochang's words. However, having spent time at his maternal grandfather's house every year during his childhood, he was well-versed in polite pleasantries. He immediately expressed his profound gratitude to the Spiritual Plant Department for their formative influence on him.

"It's like this, Junior Martial Brother Chen. As you know, each of the twelve departments in the sect is only allocated three Foundation Establishment cultivators. As long as the three of us remain, you'll only receive the benefits of an ordinary Foundation Establishment elder. Do you have any plans to advance further?" Sun Gaochang explained. Having recognized Chen Mobai's potential and shown him kindness, he also understood his character, so he spoke frankly.

"Does Inspector mean for me to leave the Spiritual Plant Department?"

"Ah, no, that's not quite right. It's an opportunity for a promotion. Hall Master Chu of the Hall of Awards is quite impressed with you. There will be some changes at the top of the sect in about two years, and many positions will open up. You can go to the Hall of Awards in advance to serve as an Inspector, gain some experience, and then when a supervisor position in one of the twelve departments becomes available, you can be promoted again."

Sun Gaochang's words were intriguing. Changes at the sect's upper echelons? Chen Mobai met his gaze, knowing that the other man wouldn't elaborate further. Although on the surface Chen Mobai was promoted by Sun Gaochang, in reality, their relationship was a polite and detached acquaintance. Unlike O Yun and Yuan Chiye, who were close friends from humble beginnings, Sun Gaochang had his own circle and was sixty years older than Chen Mobai. Unless Chen Mobai fully committed to being his subordinate, they could never be truly open with each other. Sun Gaochang's sudden remark certainly didn't come from his own initiative. It likely stemmed from impending changes within the upper echelons of the Divine Wood Sect, where someone wanted to win over Chen Mobai's combat strength in advance.

Sun Gaochang had mentioned the person: Hall Master Chu Zuoshu of the Hall of Awards. The Divine Wood Sect comprised three halls and twelve departments, with the Spiritual Plant Department falling directly under the Hall of Awards. While Chu Zuoshu's transfer of Chen Mobai would be within the rules, having Sun Gaochang inform him beforehand was a considerate move, ensuring Chen Mobai wouldn't object.

"Thank you for the kind intentions, Inspector Sun and Hall Master Chu. I will consider it carefully when I return." Chen Mobai was usually engrossed in cultivation, spending most of his time at Lesser Southern Mountain within the Divine Wood Sect. Therefore, he was completely unaware of the political situation at the higher levels and dared not agree rashly.

"Alright, alright, Junior Martial Brother Chen, don't forget about that vat of wine for me!" Sun Gaochang personally escorted Chen Mobai out the door, his chubby face beaming with a smile. To outsiders, at least, they appeared to be close friends.

"Of course."

After greeting the other acquaintances in the Spiritual Plant Department, Chen Mobai arrived at the Divine Wood Hall. Because O Yun had informed him in advance, Meng Hong didn't go fishing today, waiting for Chen Mobai to visit.

"Hmm, this wine is good. Don't you still have a whole vat, young man? Why did you only bring me two jars?" Meng Hong asked, not holding back. He unceremoniously took a jar and opened it. After a sip, his face turned rosy, and he appeared invigorated, as if he had grown two years younger.

"If Sect Leader needs it, I'll dig out that vat and bring it to you later," Chen Mobai offered. He held great respect for Meng Hong. After all, when he first reached Foundation Establishment, Meng Hong had given him the Flying Sparrow Hairpin, the Divine Wood Sword, and ten thousand spirit stones—a kindness he always remembered.

"Never mind, I was just saying. Just send five more jars," Meng Hong replied. He shook his head and then gestured for Chen Mobai to withdraw, indicating he was going fishing.

"Sect Leader, it's like this..." Chen Mobai dared not waste Meng Hong's time. He recounted what Sun Gaochang had told him, knowing that this man, the Sect Leader and core of the Divine Wood Sect's upper echelons, would certainly understand the implications. Chen Mobai was also O Yun's subordinate, so asking Meng Hong was the right move.

"That Chu Zuoshu, I've kept him suppressed his whole life. As soon as he hears I'm stepping down, he can't wait, can he?" Meng Hong chuckled, amused. Hearing this, Meng Hong let out a silent laugh.

"Oh, Sect Leader is abdicating?!" Chen Mobai exclaimed, startled. Although he had heard whispers of this matter before, he was still surprised that it would happen so soon. O Yun, Zhou Wangshen, and others had only been in Foundation Establishment for a few years. If Meng Hong were to abdicate now, they might not have sufficient cultivation to succeed him as Sect Leader.

"I'm about to turn 180. If I don't form my Golden Core now, I probably won't have another chance in this lifetime," Meng Hong explained, sighing with emotion, revealing the reason. Anyone observant enough to calculate his age would know this. The optimal age for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to form their Golden Core is naturally before half their lifespan, which is around 120 years old. However, Meng Hong had cultivated the Everlasting Life Scripture, which extended his lifespan by sixty years, allowing him to reach 180. For this very reason, many had anticipated this twenty years ago when he reached the perfected Foundation Establishment stage. After all, compared to forming a Golden Core, the position of Divine Wood Sect Leader seemed rather insignificant. The other six major sects in the Eastern Barrens were, in fact, all paying close attention to this matter. They had originally assumed that Meng Hong would relinquish his position immediately after reaching perfected Foundation Establishment to prepare for Golden Core formation, but to their surprise, he had held the position for another two decades.

"This matter has already been reported to the two Old Ancestors. I will officially abdicate in two years," Meng Hong stated. "Unless there are unforeseen circumstances, Chu Zuoshu should take over. However, he is also at perfected Foundation Establishment and will only serve as Sect Leader to obtain the spiritual medicines for Golden Core formation. Once your generation matures, he will also step down to prepare for his own Golden Core breakthrough. But his desire for power is greater than mine. Among the next generation, Hong He and Yin Qingmei are disciples of Old Ancestor Fu, and Zhou Wangshen and O Yun are my disciples. His personal disciple, Yue Zutao, was crippled after consuming a Long Life Tree fruit. So, he probably intends to cultivate you as the representative of his lineage."

Chen Mobai was slightly surprised to hear this. He hadn't realized that Yue Zutao was actually Chu Zuoshu's disciple. After Meng Hong confirmed his decision to retire and form his Golden Core, he completely relaxed and spoke to Chen Mobai about some of the personnel relationships within the three halls and twelve departments.

"It would be good for you to go to the Hall of Awards. It would help balance the power of the three halls, preventing the Hall of Awards from falling into decline after Chu Zuoshu steps down."

With Meng Hong's words, Chen Mobai felt reassured.

After leaving the Divine Wood Hall, he went to the Alchemy Department. Through Yan Jinye, he had already arranged an appointment with Zeng Woyou, who had even prepared dinner in advance. Chen Mobai presented two jars of Jade Bamboo Spiritual Wine. Although Zeng Woyou didn't drink, he still highly praised the second-tier spiritual wine improved by his disciple. However, the common practice in the Sky River Realm was to secure valuable items for oneself first, so Zeng Woyou didn't mention the medicinal wine's pill recipe.

"Minister Zeng, it's like this: I'm cultivating a soul-sense technique that requires bamboo fruits as the main ingredient for a certain pill. The three bamboo fruits from last time were exceptionally effective. I was wondering if you could arrange a few more for me." After the meal, Chen Mobai put forth his request. The two portions of Eye-Cleansing Bamboo Spirit Dew refined by Wang Xingyu at the end of last year had already run out this year. While he could exchange academic credits for vermilion fruits, bamboo fruits were extremely rare in the immortal sect, and purchasing them would require at least a million merit points. Chen Mobai currently had an abundance of spirit stones but few merit points, so he decided to try his luck in the Sky River Realm. The last time Zeng Woyou had asked him to save Yan Jinye, he had immediately offered three bamboo fruits. Chen Mobai, with an experimental mindset, had visited with two jars of wine.

"How many do you need?"

"Three per year." As his cultivation progressed, especially with the advancement of his Spirit Control Art, Chen Mobai's demand for Eye-Cleansing Bamboo Spirit Dew grew. However, three bamboo fruits would be sufficient for him.

"Only spiritual bamboo aged sixty years or more can be ripened to produce bamboo fruits. There are forty-six such plants in Azure Bamboo Mountain. I can get you a maximum of six more bamboo fruits. Any more than that, and even I, as the Minister of the Alchemy Department, wouldn't be able to handle it," Zeng Woyou explained. He was being honest. While he could claim the bamboo was needed for alchemy and accelerate its growth to produce fruits, his allocation was limited. After all, he wasn't one of the two Old Ancestors who could practically do anything they wished within the sect.

"Thank you so much, Senior Martial Brother Zeng." Chen Mobai was very satisfied with this, as it would at least ensure he wouldn't lack Eye-Cleansing Bamboo Spirit Dew for the next two years. In two years, when the Sect Leader's position changed, he would reassess the situation. In any case, he had already set his sights on the forty second-tier spiritual bamboo plants still remaining on Azure Bamboo Mountain.

The next day, Yan Jinye personally came to his door, delivering a jade box. Inside were three freshly ripened bamboo fruits. Spiritual medicines were most potent when freshly harvested, so Chen Mobai hadn't asked for all six at once. He handed Yan Jinye the one thousand spirit stones he received from Sun Gaochang for the wine, considering it payment for the bamboo fruits.

After Yan Jinye had sat for a while, O Yun and Yuan Chiye also arrived. "Then I shall take my leave now," Yan Jinye said. Although Yan Jinye had a close relationship with Chen Mobai, he didn't want to be labeled as part of O Yun's faction.

Chen Mobai had already informed them of the matter via a communication talisman, and he had called them over specifically to discuss it. "Junior Martial Brother Chen, do you wish to go to the Hall of Awards?" Yuan Chiye asked once only the three of them remained.

"The Sect Leader thinks it would be good for me to go," Chen Mobai replied, his words clearly indicating his willingness.

"Excellent. If Junior Martial Brother Chen can take charge of the Hall of Awards in the future, I will have more confidence when speaking in the Divine Wood Hall," O Yun said, nodding gently, without objection, having understood Chen Mobai's hint.

"It's also good that Chu Zuoshu is taking over as Sect Leader. Zhou Wangshen has obtained enough Long Life Tree sap, and it's estimated that his first stage of the Longevity Dao Body will be perfected after he comes out of seclusion. At that point, probably only late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators will be able to contend with him," Yuan Chiye remarked. As Yuan Chiye finished speaking, O Yun shot him a displeased look. It was Yuan Chiye who had provided the Long Life Tree sap that allowed Zhou Wangshen to perfect his Dao Body.

"Don't blame me; he offered too much. Besides, the Sect Leader also hinted that it would be best to give the Long Life Tree sap to Zhou Wangshen, to concentrate efforts on forging one perfected Longevity Dao Body rather than having two half-baked ones," Yuan Chiye defended himself, speaking nothing but the truth. The Divine Wood Sect, at least, still possessed some cohesion. Zhou Wangshen had personally obtained a gourd of Long Life Tree sap from the Divine Tree Secret Realm, and combined with Yuan Chiye's gourd, it was just barely enough for one person to cultivate the Longevity Dao Body. As Sect Leader, Meng Hong, considering the sect's overall situation, would naturally favor his disciple, Zhou Wangshen. Yuan Chiye also happened to be in need of spirit stones, so he went along with it. O Yun couldn't fault him either. Deep down, he still agreed with Meng Hong's perspective; although he had a rivalry with Zhou Wangshen, he wouldn't let the competition escalate into internal strife.

"What did the Sect Leader call you out of seclusion for this time?" After the three discussed Chen Mobai's potential move to the Hall of Awards as an Inspector, the conversation shifted back to Yuan Chiye. He had originally felt guilty towards O Yun and, after selling the Long Life Tree sap, had planned to stay in seclusion for ten or eight years. To his surprise, he had been called out by the Sect Leader after only a little over a year.

"There's been a problem with the spirit stone mine in Lei Kingdom; it has a deficit of eight thousand spirit stones, and I need to go investigate it."

"Eight thousand spirit stones? I recall that mine only yields about twenty thousand spirit stones annually. Such a large deficit—could the local immortal cultivation families be colluding to deceive our Divine Wood Sect?" O Yun asked, immediately sensing an issue.

"That's why I need to go and investigate. Senior Martial Brother Luo's report was also vague, so we need to consider the possibility that he might have been bribed. Therefore, I need to act covertly this time."

Hearing Yuan Chiye's words, Chen Mobai remembered something else. He wondered if Luo Yixuan, whom he had taken note of last year, would be able to become a true disciple in this year's sect competition. Although she had consistently hidden her brilliance, allowing Luo Yixiu to take the limelight, Chen Mobai had immediately seen that her talent and cultivation realm surpassed Luo Yixiu's. Among those who had joined the Divine Wood Sect in the same batch, Luo Yixuan was probably second only to himself, no worse than Yu Lian.