Chapter 330: Long-Life Tree Fruit in Hand

When Chen Mobai found Muyuan, the latter was standing before a massive tree that would take four or five people to embrace. This tree seemed to have endured for a long time; its bluish-brown bark had already turned slightly yellow, and its branches were like coiling dragons, vigorous and strong. But strangely, it had no leaves.

To avoid detection, Chen Mobai stood two kilometers away and then activated his Spirit Gaze. Upon seeing this, he noticed something unusual. It turned out to be a Cyan Sun Spirit Tree undergoing transformation. He wondered how Muyuan had discovered it, as Chen Mobai himself had only seen one Red Sun Spirit Tree after another in the Divine Tree Secret Realm for so many years, never a second-tier Cyan Sun Spirit Tree. However, it was also possible that he hadn't specifically looked for one.

The tree before him was, according to legend, a Cyan Sun Spirit Tree undergoing a progression where the earth, wood, and fire spiritual energies became imbalanced, leading to the emergence of Cyan Sun Fire to refine its own body. Muyuan, somehow, found this place and couldn't help but stop and watch this extremely rare sight. Chen Mobai's Spirit Gaze showed him that the Cyan Sun Spirit Tree seemed to be halfway through its transformation. All around on the ground were withered and fallen leaves, scorched by Cyan Sun Fire, and at the delicate tips of the powerful, dragon-like branches, crimson flames had begun to ignite.

Like a chain reaction, the crimson flames slowly grew hotter, fueled by the body of the Cyan Sun Spirit Tree. Once all the branches had been consumed, the crimson flames turned pale purple. The pale purple flames then began to scorch the main trunk of the Cyan Sun Spirit Tree, a process that started slowly and then accelerated. By the time the flames turned deep purple, only a waist-high stump of the Cyan Sun Spirit Tree remained.

All the flames converged on the stump, starting to coalesce, but they seemed to lack a crucial power and couldn't form a fire seed. "It's still too difficult for plants to achieve sentience after all," Muyuan sighed, injecting his pure Lifespan Spiritual Energy into the deep purple flames. The purple flames then consumed the remaining stump and even followed the root system, burning away all traces of the Cyan Sun Spirit Tree, forming a deep pit filled with ash and withered leaves.

Even so, the Cyan Sun Fire Seed was still just short of forming. Chen Mobai then saw Muyuan take out a spirit stone, absorb it, and continuously inject Lifespan Spiritual Energy into the deep purple flames burning fiercely in the pit. *Creak! Crack!* Accompanied by the sound of breaking wood, Chen Mobai watched Muyuan chop down nearly a thousand Red Sun Spirit Trees within a half-kilometer radius, then, like tossing firewood into a blaze, he threw these trees one by one into the pit. The deep purple flames, which had been losing momentum, finally coalesced into a palm-sized "fire seed" after an hour, fueled by Muyuan's spiritual energy and a continuous supply of Red Sun Spirit Trees. This was the origin of the Cyan Sun Fire Seed.

After witnessing this scene, Chen Mobai's face showed understanding. In Giant Wood Ridge, Yue Zutao must have used a similar method to cultivate a fire seed after a Cyan Sun Spirit Tree's transformation failed. Muyuan was indeed fortunate to encounter a Cyan Sun Spirit Tree undergoing transformation in the Divine Tree Secret Realm. "It would have been great if it had successfully advanced," Chen Mobai sighed inwardly. After all, the Divine Tree Secret Realm was now essentially his, and if this spirit tree had advanced to a third-tier Golden Sun Spirit Tree, it would have been a valuable asset for him, whether he chose to nurture it or harvest it in the future. However, failure was the norm, and success was merely an exception. For him, it served as a reminder that he could try to search the Divine Tree Secret Realm in the future for other Cyan Sun Spirit Trees, or even Golden Sun Spirit Trees. Thinking of this, Chen Mobai looked at the three heaven-piercing divine trees at the core of the secret realm. He wondered if these three divine trees could form tree seeds.

At this moment, Muyuan had already placed the newly born, still weak Cyan Sun Fire Seed into a ceramic pot. Chen Mobai watched him take out two spirit stones and meditate to recover the spiritual energy he had just expended, feeling a slight sense of relief. "Next, you should definitely head to the Artifact Tree." Since Muyuan had been found here, the Formless Puppet guarding the Talent Tree no longer needed to stay there. Chen Mobai activated his divine sense, directing the puppet to accompany Yu Lian, who had apparently gained some cultivation technique, to the Grand Dao Tree. He wanted to see how many steps Yu Lian could take.

A day later, Muyuan, having recovered his spiritual energy, flew towards the Artifact Tree as Chen Mobai expected. He was also a man of his word; after activating a wood spirit talisman, he entered the canopy and likewise retrieved a yellow fruit. Afterward, Muyuan went to the Talent Tree. With his wood spirit root, he naturally obtained a secret technique that seemed very useful to him, causing even the usually aloof Muyuan to show a hint of joy. Finally, he arrived before the Grand Dao Tree.

Yu Lian took seven steps, which was already an excellent result. It should be noted that E Yun had also only managed seven steps. Previously, Chen Mobai, without using the Formless Puppet and relying solely on his own strength, had also stopped at seven steps. However, for the trial set by the Longevity Sect, seven steps were far from enough; the Grand Dao Tree wouldn't even acknowledge it. He wondered what Hong He, who had taken nine steps back then, had obtained here.

As Chen Mobai's thoughts wandered, Muyuan was already standing before the Grand Dao Tree, taking a deep breath. Before entering, Meng Hong had specifically told him that taking ten steps would grant an astonishing opportunity. Senior Brother Chen, whom Muyuan respected but outwardly challenged, had taken ten steps before the Grand Dao Tree. If Muyuan wanted to catch up in the future, this was the best chance to measure the gap between them. After confirming that his spirit, qi, and essence were at their peak, Muyuan took his first step… Upon reaching the seventh step, Muyuan felt his divine consciousness grow chaotic, as if a hammer had been thrust into his mind, shattering his soul and slowly pulling him into an eternal abyss. Despite this, Muyuan still forced himself to take the eighth step. However, before his foot even landed, he lost consciousness and was then teleported away from the place.

After observing the performances of Yu Lian and Muyuan, Chen Mobai felt a bit restless. He wanted to know how many steps he himself could take before the Grand Dao Tree now. However, the Lifespan Tree fruits were the most important thing to him. Chen Mobai glanced at the Grand Dao Tree, took out his phone, and returned to Giant Wood Ridge.

Three days later. Chen Mobai looked at the two yellow fruits in his hand, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. After Yu Lian and Muyuan woke up, they successively delivered the fruits, both unopened, proving their trustworthiness. Upon opening both yellow fruits, they indeed contained the Lifespan Tree fruits he needed. He then took out the smaller fruit he had obtained from Yan Jinye. The smaller fruit's grayish-brown surface had a single white mark. However, these two newly opened fruits had three white marks, parallel and uncrossed, covering their entire outer shell. These were the large fruits, undoubtedly. Chen Mobai excitedly picked up a large fruit, feeling the immense energy contained within it, wishing he could immediately return to the Immortal Sect. However, his growth model for the fruit was not yet complete. After all, he was learning this knowledge from scratch and not as proficient as Qing Nyu. If the Lifespan Tree fruits weren't so important, Chen Mobai would have directly sought out Qing Nyu to help him with the large fruit degradation.

But then he thought, since he had managed these past few years and now had all three fruits, a little more time wouldn't hurt. So, while learning how to use the artifact for determining fruit maturity, Chen Mobai also returned to the Immortal Sect to purchase longevity pills in batches from Yu Rulin. Chu Zuoshu finally agreed to postpone the refining of Foundation Establishment Pills by three years, as it was important not to discourage the true disciples who had fought for the sect. However, for fairness, the *next-next* batch of Foundation Establishment Pills would not be similarly delayed. This meant that the harvest time for the Jade Marrow Golden Ganoderma would be postponed to six years later, but the batch *after that* would be seventeen years later, ensuring completion before each new disciple intake every ten years.

"This actually gives Ming'er an opportunity," Chen Mobai said with a smile to his two disciples beside him in Xiaonan Mountain, after reading the sect's decree. Zhuo Ming had only just broken through to the seventh level of Qi Condensation last year. At her current rate of progress, she definitely wouldn't be able to reach perfection in Qi Condensation in three years. However, with the three-year postponement, Chen Mobai was certain she could become a true disciple. "My combat skills are just average. I'm afraid that even if my cultivation reaches the required level, I still won't be able to defeat those well-known true disciples in the arena," Zhuo Ming said, her small round face filled with worry, showing a lack of confidence in herself.

"Senior Sister, you're being too modest. Combat primarily relies on practical experience. Just participate in the sect's grand competition every year from now on, and by six years from now, you'll definitely be no worse than any true disciple." Luo Yixuan began to comfort Zhuo Ming. Luo Yixuan had always hidden her strength in previous sect competitions, but she had consistently managed to reach the round before the true disciple selection, accumulating rich combat experience. Furthermore, having participated in the war between the two sects with Liu Wenbai this time, she had seen her share of blood and was confident that with normal performance, she could enter the true disciple ranks.

"Ming'er, you still have six years. Practice more spells," Chen Mobai said. "By the way, the Nine-Ridged Dharmic Body cultivation technique I gave you is quite good. Its practice requires continuous daily consumption of spirit rice, which we have in abundance here at Xiaonan Mountain. There are also some documented auxiliary spirit herbs that you can brew into medicinal wine and consume whenever you have time. If you can cultivate the first layer within six years, you will possess a physical strength equivalent to a top-tier first-grade magical artifact. At that time, I will give you one or two second-grade magical artifacts, ensuring you establish a firm footing among the true disciples."

Among his three disciples, Chen Mobai currently leaned slightly more towards Zhuo Ming. This was mainly because the operations at Xiaonan Mountain had expanded, and he was busy cultivating. The nearly hundred *mu* of spirit fields under his command were entirely managed by his second disciple. If Zhuo Ming could achieve Foundation Establishment, Chen Mobai felt that she could entirely inherit his true mantle in farming in the future. Even now, Zhuo Ming could generate thousands of spirit stones in income for Chen Mobai annually. This second disciple, whom he had accepted rather casually, was practically a treasure trove. Furthermore, in the foreseeable future, once a mature second-tier spirit rice seed was developed, what would be harvested would not be mere crops of spirit rice, but rather individual spirit stones.

"Those spirit rice and spirit wine are all Master's property," Zhuo Ming quietly said. According to the rules of the Heavenly River Realm, disciples worked for their masters without compensation; masters would teach cultivation techniques or give some spirit stones if they were pleased. Although Chen Mobai was different from others, Zhuo Ming had grown up in the Eastern Barrens and believed that being able to join Xiaonan Mountain was her greatest fortune. Thus, she had always been diligent and adhered strictly to the rules. Normally, even without Chen Mobai saying anything, she would store the harvested spirit rice in the warehouse and bury the spirit wine in the cellar, managing them faithfully like a diligent landlady, never privately appropriating anything.

"I command you to cultivate the Nine-Ridged Dharmic Body. You may use any resources available at Xiaonan Mountain and any spirit stones in the shop's account. If it's not enough, tell me." After years of interaction, Chen Mobai had come to understand Zhuo Ming's personality. If he spoke too softly, Zhuo Ming wouldn't dare. It was only with a direct, commanding tone that she would obey and carry it out. "Thank you, Master." As expected, after hearing the command, Zhuo Ming's pretty face flushed slightly, and she nodded happily.

"Master, can I cultivate it too?" Luo Yixuan, standing nearby, also spoke with a hint of envy, but Chen Mobai shook his head. "The Black Water Art you cultivate is incompatible with the path of the Nine-Ridged Dharmic Body. If you truly wish to temper your body, you can search for other techniques in the scripture repository. Our Xiaonan Mountain lineage mainly has an abundance of spirit rice; you, including Wenbai, can take as much as you need." Chen Mobai, on the surface, naturally treated everyone equally. As he spoke of the Nine-Ridged Dharmic Body, he recalled another matter.

"Oh right, how are you coming along with the Geoscancer Inheritance book I gave you last time?" "To report, Master, it's a bit difficult," Luo Yixuan said with a slight embarrassment. She and Zhuo Ming had been studying the Geoscancer Inheritance together, but this branch of cultivation arts was difficult to master, and they hadn't found their footing yet. "Focus primarily on your own cultivation and practice more spells suitable for combat. You can study the Geoscancer Inheritance book in your free time," Chen Mobai instructed, telling them not to lose sight of the bigger picture. After all, becoming a true disciple and obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill was paramount. He was a proponent of the "realm-first" faction in the Immortal Sect, believing in raising one's cultivation realm first, with skills coming later.

After his two disciples withdrew, Chen Mobai suddenly remembered another cultivation technique he possessed. *The Myriad Dharmas Body*. Yu Lian had given it to him, claiming it was the technique that allowed the Old Ancestor of the Myriad Ancient Sect to dominate the Eastern Barrens. The Old Ancestor of the Myriad Ancient Sect was also a venerated Soul Nascent cultivator, the overlord of the Eastern Barrens before Old Ancestor Hunyuan. He was known as "Myriad Dharmas do not touch the body, qi merges with the vast heavens." When his Soul Nascent Dharmic Form appeared, its head touched the azure sky, and its feet trod the Yellow Springs, signifying a being who had integrated and cultivated both body tempering and spell arts to their peak. Previously, Chen Mobai hadn't had time to look at it. Now that he had the fruits and was deducing their growth model, he could perfectly multitask and pass the time. With this in mind, Chen Mobai opened *The Myriad Dharmas Body* and began to read.