Chapter 379: Transplanting the Vermilion Fruit Tree

### Chapter 379: Transplanting the Vermillion Fruit Tree

Three days after the New Year, Chai Lun returned. Having graduated only a few years prior, Chai Lun, at his age, was entirely focused on developing his career and advancing his cultivation. Although the puppet factory yielded modest profits due to personal connections, it offered a rare and invaluable opportunity for him to apply the principles of puppet-making in a practical setting.

During his time resting at home these past few days, Chai Lun had some new inspirations.

"You could commission some specialized transport vehicles. These could either be puppet-driven, or you could directly integrate the master control chip with the vehicle to create transport-type puppets. This would save on personnel for loading and unloading goods in the future."

While the puppet factory could operate according to established procedures, raw materials for talisman paper and ink still needed to be brought in from external sources. Chai Lun's suggestion was to automate this transportation process using puppets as well.

Chen Mobai considered this and found it reasonable. He then contacted a company within the Immortal Sect specializing in transport vehicles, ordering two large and two small transport trucks. Naturally, to ensure compatibility with the puppets, Chen Mobai made the trip himself, as only he and Chai Lun understood the relevant technical standards. Since Chai Lun was also responsible for fabricating the puppets, Chen Mobai, as the client, had to handle this task.

These custom-ordered transport vehicles cost Chen Mobai an additional 2.3 million merit points. However, Chen Mobai was more than willing to spend these merit points, as transport tools would become indispensable once his factory's production volume increased. Previously, the Flying Talisman Factory, with its limited output, outsourced bulk cargo transportation to logistics companies.

Regarding transportation, in addition to the one-time investment in the vehicles, the cost of drivers was also significant. However, with puppets taking over, Chen Mobai could save this expense. For puppets to operate on roads, they would first need to undergo a special approval process from the Immortal Sect and would be restricted to specific routes.

After finalizing the transport vehicle order, Chen Mobai immediately enlisted Qin Baipeng's help. He first established a puppet transport route between Danxia City and the neighboring Yumu City, which would ensure a continuous and legitimate supply of Red Sun Spirit Wood to his factory.

Amidst this busy period, time quickly passed, and soon it was the first day of the new semester. Chen Mobai had no choice but to temporarily set aside the puppet factory affairs and return to Chicheng Grotto-Heaven. Aside from enrolling in his eighth-year courses, his most pressing matter was the impending Grade 2 Talisman Master assessment. Moreover, with the new semester, the student council needed to coordinate course schedules between teachers and students. Since Hua Zijing had graduated, many responsibilities now fell squarely on his shoulders. Fortunately, thanks to the effects of the Enlightenment Tea, he felt completely confident about the professional examination.

"Congratulations, you are now a Grade 2 Talisman Master."

In the specialized talisman drawing assessment classroom within Chicheng Grotto-Heaven, Chen Mobai, under continuous video surveillance and in the presence of three examiners, took out his complete array of talisman brushes. He then flawlessly drew ten Grade 2 talismans, achieving a perfect success rate on the first attempt for all of them.

"Thank you."

After shaking hands with each of the three examiners, Chen Mobai completed his registration on the spot and received his professional seal, signifying his status as a Grade 2 Talisman Master.

"Judging by your success rate and stability in drawing, you must have reached the level of a Grade 2 Talisman Master long ago," said one of the examiners. "I heard that when you first enrolled, you were known as the top talisman artist of your cohort. Why did it take you until now to come for your Grade 2 assessment?"

One of the three examiners, Zeng Xingfu, was also a graduate of the Wuqi Dao Academy. He had remained silent before the exam, but once Chen Mobai passed the assessment, Zeng Xingfu, no longer needing to avoid any appearance of bias, came over with a smile to greet him.

"I've had quite a few distractions, which has meant less time dedicated to the path of talisman making," Chen Mobai replied. "It's only this year that I felt confident enough to come for the exam, knowing I would pass."

Chen Mobai was speaking truthfully, but Zeng Xingfu interpreted his words as modesty. The three examiners had witnessed Chen Mobai's entire process of drawing the ten talismans. His skill far exceeded the average Grade 2 level; indeed, in some of his strokes and brushwork, they could even discern the hallmarks of a Grade 3 Talisman Master.

"Among the younger generation, few are as talented yet humble as Chen," exclaimed another examiner. "He truly lives up to being the most outstanding chief disciple of your Wuqi Dao Academy in a century." The other two examiners also approached, offering high praise for the young, accomplished, yet unassuming Chen Mobai.

Zeng Xingfu's face lit up upon hearing this, and he patted Chen Mobai's shoulder with a sense of profound sentiment. "I hope that before I die, I can witness the Dao Academy produce another Golden Core True Man."

Examiners for the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation are typically civil servants from the Immortal Sect who, having surpassed the legal retirement age, are rehired experts looking for something to do. For instance, Zeng Xingfu was over 180 years old. Though his face was well-preserved, his hair had already turned gray. Ten years ago, he used his lifelong accumulated work experience and merit points to acquire a Golden Liquid Jade Returning Pill. Unfortunately, his attempt to form a Golden Core failed, resulting in a severe depletion of his essence, vitality, and blood energy. Although Zeng Xingfu had taken longevity pills to replenish the lifespan lost due to his severe injuries, according to the Immortal Sect's regulations, the earliest Chen Mobai could acquire a spiritual item for Golden Core formation would be in sixty years. Therefore, it was highly probable that Zeng Xingfu would not live to see that day.

"Senior student Chi Shicheng can acquire a Golden Liquid Jade Returning Pill if he cultivates for another thirty years," Chen Mobai offered. "Perhaps Teacher Zeng will live to see the day he forms his Golden Core."

"I hope as you say," Zeng Xingfu replied, laughing heartily at Chen Mobai's words. Nearly half of the cultivators who achieved Foundation Establishment Completion in the Immortal Sect originated from the Four Great Dao Academies. Chi Shicheng was indeed the most promising candidate among Wuqi Dao Academy graduates in the last sixty years to form a Golden Core.

"Little Chen, I notice you haven't joined the Talisman Master Association yet. Are you interested?" One of the examiners, a middle-aged woman named Yan Wanqing, kindly extended the invitation. "The association possesses numerous authentic talisman texts. Aside from a few ancient talismans preserved in the Immortal Sect Museum, our collection of talisman inheritances is arguably the most extensive and complete in the entire Immortal Sect. Moreover, our president is Elder Yu Yi of the Heavenly Scroll Academy, one of only two Grade 5 Talisman Masters in the Immortal Sect."

Each of the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation within the Immortal Sect has its own association. For others to join, they must have at least passed the Grade 2 Talisman Master assessment. Moreover, beyond possessing a Grade 2 professional seal, one must also pass a specialized internal examination conducted by the Talisman Master Association. However, if three official members of the association give their assent, a new Grade 2 Talisman Master can be admitted without an examination. For a talisman genius like Chen Mobai, who was also the chief disciple of the Wuqi Dao Academy, all three present would gladly serve as his introducers, should he be willing.

"Well," Chen Mobai began, "for the next few years, my primary focus will be on the Dao Academy and the path of puppet-making. Therefore, I truly might not have much spare time to dedicate to the path of talismans before graduation."

Chen Mobai was speaking truthfully. With the Pure Yang Scroll and his Divine Sense Foundation Establishment perfected, combined with the puppet factory just getting underway, and future trade activities between the two realms, talisman making would be a lower priority for him for at least the next decade.

"That's perfectly fine," Zeng Xingfu assured him. "Our Talisman Master Association is actually a loose organization, merely providing a platform for mutual exchange and learning. Most Grade 3 and above Talisman Masters in the Immortal Sect are members. Once you join, an annual fee of 100 merit points grants you unrestricted access to browse and download Grade 1 to 4 talisman inheritances within the association. Furthermore, any talisman-making tasks issued by the association are purely voluntary, so you needn't worry about being constrained."

Zeng Xingfu also offered a rare word of persuasion, and upon hearing this, Chen Mobai no longer declined the examiners' kind offer. After filling out an application for the Talisman Master Association, Zeng Xingfu and the other two each signed and affixed their professional seals, thus completing the procedure. Chen Mobai was slightly surprised to see that Zeng Xingfu's seal indicated he was a Grade 3 Talisman Master. However, upon considering his age, he understood. After achieving Foundation Establishment Completion in the Immortal Sect, especially for civil servants, there was considerable free time while awaiting spiritual items for Golden Core formation. Since Zeng Xingfu was a graduate of the Wuqi Dao Academy, he was naturally a genius, and it was only natural for him to become a Grade 3 Talisman Master after nearly a century of diligent study.

As Chen Mobai was still preoccupied with various new semester matters at the Dao Academy, he only had lunch with Zeng Xingfu and the other two. After exchanging contact information, he returned directly to Chicheng Mountain.

"President, how did the exam go?" Zhuang Jialan, seeing Chen Mobai return inside the student council's small Western-style building, couldn't help but ask with concern.

"With guidance from a little teacher like you, I certainly passed," Chen Mobai said, taking out his Grade 2 professional seal and speaking with a teasing smile.

"The President is a genius; even without my guidance, he would have easily passed," Zhuang Jialan replied, breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing the seal. In truth, she had harbored a slight worry. After all, when Chen Mobai first sought her guidance last year, he had been somewhat unfamiliar with the process. However, he had subsequently learned at an increasingly rapid pace, and even before consuming the Enlightenment Tea, his success rate for a single practice session was generally around seventy to eighty percent.

"Are there any conflicts with the new semester's courses?" Chen Mobai inquired about the student council's responsibilities. Zhuang Jialan immediately presented a document, explaining that three courses had been canceled by the academic affairs office due to insufficient enrollment. These students would need to re-select a course to avoid impacting their year-end credit count. Such matters necessitated the student council's intervention for communication. However, some of the courses re-selected by students might also be rejected by the instructors if enrollment became too high. This was the case this year.

"I understand," Chen Mobai said. "Notify Zhongli Tianyu; the three of us will handle this matter."

Since the puppet factory had begun operations, Chen Mobai had already decided to resign as student council president by the end of the year. Although Zhongli Tianyu had an unconventional way of thinking, his high cultivation level made him the most formidable fighter after their generation of chief disciples. With him taking over, it would at least ensure that the Wuqi Dao Academy remained number one among all Immortal Sect academies for the next three years. In any case, Chen Mobai would certainly not attend any future offline sparring sessions. He had already cleared all levels; it was no fun anymore! Furthermore, it's likely that other Dao Academies and scholarly institutions won't send graduates to bolster their ranks as they did last year, as that would stifle opportunities for younger talents to emerge. Last year's situation was unique: Chen Mobai's dominant performance in the Small Scarlet Heaven had left many from the Dao Academies and scholarly institutions feeling unconvinced, which led to that unusual event. Now that Chen Mobai had decisively conquered all challenges, both online and offline, no one would seek to humiliate themselves further.

Chen Mobai remained at the Dao Academy for another month. After managing the busiest period of the semester's commencement, he requested leave from Che Yucheng, stating his desire to integrate knowledge and action by applying the puppet-making principles he had learned from textbooks. Che Yucheng certainly approved.

"I've also heard about your puppet factory from Zhou Tiangong," Che Yucheng said, asking with concern after approving Chen Mobai's internship application to leave the Dao Academy for the year. "I understand the factory site is located in an area with fire poison. Do you require assistance from someone in the Dao Academy's Earth Master Department to address it?"

Even if Che Yucheng hadn't brought it up, Chen Mobai had been planning to mention it. As the timing was perfect, he immediately elaborated on the topic. "Yun Yangbing has already inspected it; he also passed his Grade 2 Earth Master assessment. He said there was no major issue and that planting more trees would suffice. Since you mentioned it, Teacher, could you help me apply to exchange for a Grade 2 Vermillion Fruit Tree and some Fire Spirit Tree saplings? These would be very suitable for managing the fire poison in my land."

"For the Fire Spirit Trees, simply speak with Director Jin of the Spiritual Plant Department," Che Yucheng replied. "Although the exchange period has passed, it can be processed as a special case. The Vermillion Fruit Tree, however, is a bit more complicated..."

The Fire Spirit Tree is one of the tree species developed by the Wuqi Dao Academy. It is a spiritual wood specifically cultivated to thrive on fire veins. Due to its tenacious vitality, its seeds are abundant, and most first-year students in the Spiritual Plant Department use it for their research. Within the Dao Academy, one academic credit allows for the exchange of ten Grade 1 Fire Spirit Tree saplings. Soon after Che Yucheng made the call, several first-year students from the Spiritual Plant Department delivered 100 saplings.

"The Vermillion Fruit Tree, by rights, is not on the student credit exchange list. Furthermore, Grade 2 spiritual trees are already mature, making their transplantation quite troublesome." After speaking, Che Yucheng made a few more calls. Finally, his expression softened slightly, as if he had found a solution.

"Senior teachers at the Dao Academy, at the director level, are permitted to exchange for Vermillion Fruit Trees," Che Yucheng explained. "I've exchanged for a Grade 2 one on your behalf, under my own name."

"Thank you, Teacher. How many academic credits did it cost? I'll transfer them to you," Chen Mobai said.

Chen Mobai was visibly touched upon hearing this. "Never mind. Consider it a graduation gift from your teacher, given in advance," Che Yucheng said casually. Che Yucheng's casual remark moved Chen Mobai even more. A Grade 2 Vermillion Fruit Tree must have been quite valuable, considering that exchanging for just one Grade 2 Vermillion Fruit required twenty academic credits. Later, when Chen Mobai accompanied the Spiritual Plant Department students tending to the Vermillion Fruit Trees for transplantation, he discovered that a single Grade 2 Vermillion Fruit Tree required 300 academic credits for exchange, which was equivalent to three artifact fragments.

He could only engrave this kindness in his heart, vowing never to betray Che Yucheng's teaching and to certainly carry forward and glorify his path of puppet-making.

(End of this chapter)