Chapter 297: Again Taking a Disciple

"This item is certainly valuable, but it was originally meant for the sect, wasn't it?" Chen Mobai said, picking up the Tier 3 spiritual herb and examining it to verify the knowledge he had gained about identifying medicinal ingredients over the past two years.

"Senior Uncle Chen has a keen eye. Our Luo family's Spiritual Camel Mountain is very suitable for this type of spiritual herb, so we specifically established a medicinal garden to cultivate it. Our family has been cultivating it for over three hundred years, and it has reached a significant scale. Every ten years, we provide one Camel Puff to the sect." Luo Yixuan did not conceal anything; she answered honestly as soon as Chen Mobai asked.

"Since it's for the sect, wouldn't giving it to me delay the sect's important task of refining Foundation Establishment Pills?" Chen Mobai asked again. Luo Yixuan simply smiled and said something that brought him to a sudden realization.

"Actually, several Camel Puffs mature in our family's medicinal garden every ten years. Besides supplying the sect, our Luo family is also willing to sell them to other major sects in the Eastern Wilderness if they have a need."

In the Heavenly River Realm, while immortal cultivation families are generally affiliated with major sects, each possesses its own unique foundation. For instance, in Nanxi Market, where Chen Mobai began, there's the Liu Wenbai family's fish farming techniques and the Luo family's spiritual camel cultivation. However, regardless of the family, if they acquire a spiritual land where they can establish themselves, they typically set up a medicinal garden to cultivate spiritual herbs. After all, every cultivator in the Heavenly River Realm knows that the best way to advance their cultivation is by consuming pills. Furthermore, once cultivation reaches a high level, spirit stones no longer attract high-tier cultivators; at that point, century-old medicinal ingredients and millennium-old spiritual herbs become the hard currency for transactions. The Seven Great Sects of the Eastern Wilderness also encourage this. After all, everyone knows that to harvest a full net of fish and shrimp, you must first fatten them up.

The Seven Great Sects of the Eastern Wilderness understand the principle of sustainable development. As long as the immortal cultivation families remain law-abiding, the sects will acquire their high-grade medicinal ingredients at market value. After all, to refine Tier 3 or higher pills, at least a hundred main and auxiliary ingredients are required. Spiritual herbs are highly dependent on the spiritual soil and climate. While Giant Wood Ridge boasts a thousand acres of medicinal fields, some herbs simply cannot be cultivated or sustained there. Although the sect has established many branch estates for cultivation and breeding across the four nations, a shortage of manpower means that entrusting many tasks to the lower-tier immortal cultivation families often yields better results. The Luo family's "Camel Puff" is one such example. Every time the Divine Wood Sect needs to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, they purchase a Tier 3 Camel Puff from the Luo family.

"So, this particular one is meant to be sold to the sect?" Chen Mobai asked. Luo Yixuan nodded.

"Last night, my brother already reported the current situation within the sect to the patriarch using a telepathic talisman. The patriarch will arrange for the family to urgently send another Camel Puff for the sect's pill refining. This one will serve as a thank-you gift to Senior Uncle Chen for his righteous words." Refining Foundation Establishment Pills is a moderately important matter for the Divine Wood Sect. Even though most of the main and auxiliary ingredients can be harvested from Giant Wood Ridge, some still need to be purchased from external cultivation families and merchant guilds, so a two-day delay for the Luo family's Camel Puff is not a significant issue.

Although Luo Yixuan explained this, Chen Mobai, after listening, still placed the valuable Tier 3 spiritual herb back into its jade box and closed it.

"I appreciate the Luo family's gratitude, but this Camel Puff should still go to the sect first." As Chen Mobai spoke, he motioned for Luo Yixuan to come forward and take the item back. She was slightly surprised upon hearing this and hesitated, not daring to step forward.

"Although, as you said, it would only delay things by two days, the sect's affairs are certainly more important than my personal gain. Therefore, this spiritual herb must be given to the sect first." Zhuo Ming, standing by, was bewildered by these words, but Luo Yixuan understood perfectly. Her expression shifted from astonishment to sudden comprehension, and finally to one of being enlightened. She then respectfully stepped forward and retrieved the jade box.

"Senior Uncle Chen's attitude of prioritizing the sect is truly worthy of my study as a junior." After saying this, Luo Yixuan picked up the jade box from beside Chen Mobai and then stood gracefully by his side.

"There's something I'd like to ask you. If it's inconvenient to say, you don't have to answer." Seeing the beautiful woman in palace attire so close, Chen Mobai remembered the sect's Grand Competition and asked. She nodded, indicating that he could ask anything.

"Why did you hide your cultivation level? Are you afraid of outshining your brother?" Hearing this, a flicker of panic crossed Luo Yixuan's eyes, but she immediately shook her head with a bitter smile.

"As expected, my Reversion Secret Art still can't fool a Foundation Establishment cultivator." "No, you've practiced well enough. Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators you've encountered, I'm probably the only one who could see through you."

Luo Yixuan stood still, silent for a long time. Just as Chen Mobai thought she was unwilling to speak, she sighed and began to talk.

"In my family, women are always married off. If one performs too outstandingly, and their reputation spreads, other immortal cultivation families will send people to marry you, treating you as a tool for procreation. Or, you might be targeted by high-level cultivators from major sects as a 'cauldron' for their cultivation. Although my brother and I share the same father, we do not share the same mother."

"My mother was a female cultivator from a small family in Yun Nation. Because she was beautiful and had decent spiritual root talent, at eighteen, my father took her as his sixth Dao companion, offering a hundred spirit stones and two Tier 1 magic artifacts."

"My father practices the True Yang technique and has contributed significantly to expanding the family's lineage. He has twenty-seven children in total, but only five possess spiritual roots. Among them, my two elder sisters have already been married off to two other immortal cultivation families as tools for strategic alliances."

"I was originally supposed to be the third to be married off, but because my spiritual root is suitable for cultivating the Longevity Scripture, and I usually flattered and befriended my brother, he was a bit unhappy about going to the Divine Wood Sect alone, so he asked me to accompany him."

"I knew this was my only chance to change my fate, so I cultivated desperately. But I also knew that if I surpassed my brother, I might be seen as an uncontrollable factor by the family, and they might even cut off my spirit stone resources, potentially leading to the same fate as my mother."

"So I very carefully maintained my cultivation progress, ensuring I remained slightly behind my brother, but also guaranteeing that I would become a true disciple during the sect's Grand Competition four years from now."

After Luo Yixuan finished speaking, Zhuo Ming, who was beside them, widened her eyes, utterly unable to believe that this seemingly beautiful young lady from an esteemed family had been burdened with such heavy psychological pressure since childhood.

"It seems your father-daughter relationship is rather strained." After listening, Chen Mobai was somewhat surprised by the customs of immortal cultivation families in the Heavenly River Realm. Even with cultivation, their thinking remained remarkably feudal and traditional.

"If I become a true disciple and obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, my father will surely make me give my pill to my brother." Luo Yixuan said with a sad, emotionless, and chilling tone.

"Would you give it to him then?" "No. This is my only chance to change my fate. Even if it means death, I will consume it." As she spoke, Luo Yixuan's gaze was resolute. In her beautiful, clear, dark eyes, there was a stubborn defiance and determination to never surrender to fate.

"Very good. With that spirit, you have a thirty to forty percent chance of achieving Foundation Establishment." Chen Mobai nodded in satisfaction. He truly had not misjudged; both Yu Lian and this Luo Yixuan were talents second only to himself. In comparison, Zhuo Ming's spiritual root was not bad, but her temperament was not as ruthless as theirs. Perhaps because, despite her impoverished childhood, she never experienced blood feuds or a constantly suppressed and anxious environment, she had a relatively normal childhood.

"Senior Uncle Chen, if my family knew what I said today, my life would be over." At this moment, Luo Yixuan suddenly seemed on the verge of tears, her eyes glistening. She lowered her head slightly with a pained expression, as if her defenses had broken, ensuring Chen Mobai could clearly see her sorrow.

"You can rest assured about that. I guarantee I won't tell anyone. As for Zhuo Ming, you can also be at ease; she's not a blabbermouth." Chen Mobai immediately gave his assurance, though it was merely a verbal one. He certainly wouldn't make himself or his disciple take a Dao Heart Vow over this matter.

"Senior Uncle Chen, what do you think of me?" At this moment, Luo Yixuan said something highly misleading. Zhuo Ming's eyes immediately widened, and she looked at Luo Yixuan with an expression reserved for a seductress, rolling up her sleeves as if to drive her away.

"What do you mean?" Chen Mobai frowned. He was a righteous man and could certainly withstand such temptations. If it weren't for his consideration for the girl's reputation and his pity for her unfortunate childhood, he would likely have shown his displeasure on the spot.

"Senior Uncle Chen, I also possess a three-attribute True Spiritual Root. I wonder if someone of my aptitude could become your disciple?" Luo Yixuan suddenly knelt before Chen Mobai. Her action and words, surprisingly, brought a sigh of relief to both master and disciple. So that's what she meant.

"Senior Uncle Chen, although my brother and I have been cultivating under our grand-uncle for the past few years, we have never formally taken a master. Given that our grand-uncle might be involved in a matter of betraying the sect, if I could become your disciple, the family would certainly be pleased, and I could gain my freedom early. Moreover, if I join your tutelage, I will be utterly devoted and loyal to you, as my family has only ever evoked negative emotions in my heart since childhood." As Luo Yixuan spoke, she began performing the three kowtows and nine prostrations to Chen Mobai. The latter immediately waved his sleeve, and a gentle, abundant stream of Longevity spiritual power surged forth, forming an invisible cushion that supported her, preventing her from completing the bows.

"Senior Uncle Chen, are you unwilling to take me as a disciple?" Seeing this, tears finally fell from the corners of Luo Yixuan's eyes, tracing down her smooth, fair cheeks and dripping onto the ground. Her pitiful appearance even made Zhuo Ming feel a pang of sympathy.

"It's not that, it's just... never mind. First, transfer a stream of spiritual power to me." Chen Mobai was at a loss for words. He had never seen such a display in his life. Initially, he naturally thought of refusing, but then he reconsidered: he had already taken Liu Wenbai and Zhuo Ming as disciples, so one more wouldn't hurt. Moreover, having a master-disciple relationship would make things easier to manage in the Divine Tree Secret Realm in the future. Most importantly, if this disciple performed well, she could also enter the top ten true disciples, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, she had a high chance of achieving Foundation Establishment, which would bring him great honor.

Although Luo Yixuan didn't fully understand, she obediently held the jade box with one hand, extended her fair, slender right hand, and transferred a stream of her cultivated spiritual power to Chen Mobai.Metal 21, Wood 22, Water 37, Fire 10, Earth 10.Her spiritual roots were indeed excellent, especially her water spiritual root; such a value could be considered above average.

"Then, for now, you can be a registered disciple." Chen Mobai thought for a moment, then, seeing the two wet tear tracks still on Luo Yixuan's fair cheeks, he nodded and relented.

"Disciple greets Master." Luo Yixuan immediately performed the grand bow, and Chen Mobai did not stop her this time.

"Good. After you return, tell your Luo family patriarch about this. From now on, you don't need to flatter your brother anymore. Move to Xiaonan Mountain and live with Zhuo Ming." "Yes, Master." Two voices responded. Luo Yixuan's tone was filled with unprecedented joy, while Zhuo Ming suddenly realized something. From now on, she wouldn't be the youngest disciple anymore. An inexplicable sense of loss washed over her. People always said that adults paid the most attention to the youngest, and she wondered if her master would no longer prioritize her cultivation progress. Zhuo Ming thought this to herself, but in the Heavenly River Realm, teachers were held in the highest regard, and with her kind nature, she could only smile and welcome Luo Yixuan, her new junior sister, into the Xiaonan Mountain lineage.

"Since these spirit stones are your private savings, take them back. Your master is not lacking in this regard." Chen Mobai pointed to the storage bag Luo Yixuan had initially offered, which contained six hundred spirit stones. She hesitated, but seeing Chen Mobai's serious expression, she took them back. However, she then put the jade box she had been holding against her chest back down.

"Master, now that I am your disciple, please accept this spiritual herb. Two days later, I will give the one sent by the family elders to the sect; no one will know." Luo Yixuan's intentions were good, but Chen Mobai still shook his head and pushed the jade box back.

"You won't say anything, I won't say anything, and Zhuo Ming won't either. But your family members know about this. While the Luo family wouldn't dare publicize this as long as I am in the sect, it is still a potential risk. If someone with ill intentions found out, they might report it to the Sect Master."

"In the future, if this were to be exposed while I am competing for a crucial position in the sect's Three Halls and Twelve Divisions, it could be twisted into a grave accusation of disregarding the sect and valuing myself more than the sect—wouldn't that be a huge hidden danger?"

"Actually, I don't care what your Luo family sends. The fact that you came today, and brought a gift that is precious enough, is sufficient." Chen Mobai had heard these principles from his maternal grandfather when he was young. During the New Year, his grandfather, the village chief, would always bring unique fruits, vegetables, spiritual rice, and spiritual wine from Qing Shan Village to the leaders in town as holiday gifts. The items weren't expensive, and many wouldn't accept them, but Tang Lu still gave them every year. There was one saying of his that Chen Mobai remembered vividly to this day: "Leaders can choose not to accept, but you cannot choose not to give."

After escorting a thoroughly enlightened Luo Yixuan out the door, Zhuo Ming slapped her forehead in exasperation. If she had known she'd get a new junior sister, she wouldn't have opened the door today!