Chapter 382: Immortal Peaches, Spiritual Tea

On Black Cloud Mountain, Yuan Hongyuan, who was meditating beneath the Immortal Peach Tree, opened his eyes. A communication talisman descended, which he reached out and caught. After reading the message on it, a hesitant expression appeared on his face, but he ultimately made up his mind.

"Has it finally come to this?" Yuan Hongyuan murmured to himself, standing up. Ever since he obtained the Yellow Spring Sacred Fruit, he had been waiting for the organization's order to ambush Immortal Chen Gui. This wait had lasted half a year.

"Ancestor, the core disciples with spiritual roots in our clan have all been arranged in batches to the territories of the other six major sects," Yuan Shaoyuan, the patriarch of the Yuan clan, reported immediately upon receiving the order, rushing to the summit of Black Cloud Mountain.

"Very good. Moving everyone out will certainly attract the attention of the Divine Wood Sect and the other cultivation families. You and Xiao Si will take a group of people to White Moon Market City in advance to meet with the organization's members and set up the ambush plan and formation." With a major battle imminent, Yuan Hongyuan's mind was calmer than ever before. He informed Yuan Shaoyuan of the ambush location, then turned to look at the Tier 3 Immortal Peach Spiritual Tree behind him. With a wave of his hand, he plucked all more than ten fruits ripening on it. "Take these. Say that I've recently achieved a breakthrough and wish to exchange them for the Bai family's Snow Needle Immortal Sprouts to enhance my spiritual consciousness."

"Yes, Ancestor." Yuan Shaoyuan accepted the three immortal peaches Yuan Hongyuan handed him, his hands trembling slightly. These could be said to be the most precious items of the Yuan clan since Yuan Hongyuan established his Foundation Establishment a century ago.

A century ago, the Yuan clan seized this spiritual vein location from the declining Liu clan. However, to ensure the Immortal Peach Spiritual Tree wasn't broken by the Liu clan, Yuan Hongyuan not only let the Liu descendants go but even allowed them to take all the mature spiritual herbs from the mountain's medicinal fields. The Immortal Peach Spiritual Tree was indeed too precious. If it were broken, firstly, the Tier 3 spiritual vein of Black Cloud Mountain would decline. Secondly, the Tier 3 immortal peaches produced by this spiritual tree were also famous spiritual fruits in the Eastern Desolate. If a Foundation Establishment cultivator consumed them, it could directly increase their liquid spiritual energy by 20 drops, saving years of arduous meditation and cultivation. These Tier 3 immortal peaches were essentially regarded as Tier 3 elixirs, and being natural with no pill toxins, each was worth thousands of spirit stones.

However, while the peaches were good, they only offered their full spiritual efficacy when the first one was consumed. The effect would be halved when the second one was consumed, and the third one would only have half the effect of the second. After five peaches, these Tier 3 immortal peaches became useless to cultivators. Further consumption would only satisfy one's appetite. Yuan Hongyuan himself had already consumed five, and there was no second Foundation Establishment cultivator among the Yuan clan's descendants. Thus, this immortal peach tree had been laden with fruit for a century, but none had been picked. Of course, if other cultivators offered valuable items in exchange, the Yuan clan would be happy to oblige.

Among the Seven Great Cultivation Families of Jianguo, the ancestor of the Snow Peak Bai clan had once exchanged their precious spiritual tea for three immortal peaches. A few years ago, another member of the Bai clan successfully established their foundation, and the Bai ancestor wanted to exchange for three more to boost their descendant's cultivation. However, Yuan Hongyuan had been preoccupied with his own cultivation breakthrough and had always ignored these requests. Now, it was just right; he could use this as an excuse to go to White Moon Market City. Yuan Hongyuan knew that Foundation Establishment cultivators from these families were actually within the Divine Wood Sect's observation range. Someone like him, who habitually cultivated in seclusion, would easily attract attention once he left Black Cloud Mountain. However, after this ambush, the Yuan clan was destined not to remain in Jianguo. Therefore, Yuan Hongyuan directly picked all the fruits on the Immortal Peach Spiritual Tree, regardless of whether they were ripe or not. But ultimately, he couldn't bring himself to completely cut down the spiritual tree. After all, if the Divine Wood Sect were to be destroyed in the future, the Yuan clan might still have a chance to return here.

After Chen Mobai emerged from seclusion, he had his three disciples lead the mortals farming at the foot of Little South Mountain to help package talismans, while he himself piloted the Scarlet Cloud Smoke Luo towards the sky. A sliver of his divine consciousness entered the Formless Puppet. He first glanced at the spirit energy bar in the upper right corner, which showed only 39 remaining. If it were any other cultivator from the Immortal Sect, they would surely be heartbroken and wouldn't even dare to proceed with further experiments. But Chen Mobai was completely unconcerned. After traveling between two realms for so many years, he had successfully altered his perception of the preciousness of spirit stones.

As the spirit energy bar directly decreased by 3, the numbers on the Formless Puppet's eye wheels simultaneously jumped to "Nine" in an instant. Subsequently, a hundred-fold condensed Core Formation aura erupted from the puppet's forehead. However, under Chen Mobai's control, this aura condensed and shot straight into the sky. Since the sun in the Celestial River Realm was different from that of Earth, Chen Mobai needed to re-explore the frequency for attracting and absorbing solar essence.

Two days later, when the Formless Puppet's spirit energy bar was about to drop below 30, a wisp of solar essence was finally drawn down. After being softened by the Celestial River Realm's Earth Membrane, it transformed into Grand Sun Purple Qi. Chen Mobai couldn't help but show joy upon seeing this wisp of purple qi before him. However, this was only the first step; whether he could successfully refine Pure Yang Purple Qi depended on the Formless Puppet's performance. Driven by his divine consciousness, this pinnacle of Immortal Sect puppetry began to slowly circulate the simulated spiritual power from its dantian and sea of qi out of its body. Although scaled down a hundredfold, it was genuine Core Formation-level Pure Yang spiritual power, more than sufficient for refining Pure Yang Purple Qi. Chen Mobai gradually integrated the Pure Yang spiritual power with the Grand Sun Purple Qi. After nearly an hour of effort, the harmonization was finally complete. Looking at the trace of purple radiance shimmering in his palm, a smile appeared on his slightly weary face. Although this Pure Yang Purple Qi still needed continuous refinement with the Lamp Lighting Art to adapt to his physical body, he had at least saved time in advance. If the Immortal Sect truly required sixty years of "work experience," then this time could be perfectly utilized for him to refine a complete wisp of Pure Yang Purple Qi using the Formless Puppet. Although Pure Yang Purple Qi only contributed ten percent to a major realm breakthrough, it was at least equivalent to a Five Elements Core Formation Pill.

In high spirits, Chen Mobai searched his storage bag for the jade box he had used to store Tier 3 medicinal herbs. He placed this wisp of Pure Yang Purple Qi inside and was about to seal the lid when... *Crack!* The jade box split open from the middle outwards, eventually shattering into scattered jade pieces. Chen Mobai gazed at the Pure Yang Purple Qi that had broken free from the jade box's confines, falling into contemplation. After all, the prototype of this item was the most explosive solar essence from beyond the heavens. Although it had been softened by the Earth Membrane upon entering the Celestial River Realm, its essence remained extremely yang and rigid energy. Jade is inherently cool. While it's very effective for storing medicinal herbs, it had an adverse effect on Pure Yang Purple Qi.

After realizing this, Chen Mobai searched his storage bag again but found nothing suitable. He hesitated, then took out the yellow gourd from his waist. Inside was a wisp of Yuan Yang Sword Fiend that he had re-refined. Since he possessed a Fire Spirit Body, he could actually absorb the Yuan Yang Sword Fiend into his body. However, because he already had the Azure Flame Sword Fiend in his dantian's sea of qi, he was afraid the two sword fiends would clash. Moreover, whether the yellow gourd could withstand Pure Yang Purple Qi was still a question. As Chen Mobai was about to carry the wisp of Pure Yang Purple Qi and fly down, he suddenly remembered he had something even better on him, something that could definitely withstand Pure Yang Purple Qi. He opened his mouth and spat, and the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror appeared. When the Pure Yang Purple Qi landed on the mirror surface, it diffused a faint purple glow, but as expected, it was fully contained by this Tier 3 magical artifact, without the repulsion seen with the jade box. Chen Mobai, with a satisfied expression, flew down to the summit of Little South Mountain.

His three disciples had gone down the mountain with twelve thousand talismans, leaving him alone here. He left the Formless Puppet here, implanting a wisp of his divine consciousness into it, preparing to control it to refine Pure Yang Purple Qi daily during the coming period. However, this made him realize another problem: wouldn't he have to leave the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror here too? This magical artifact was currently one of his trump cards. In a dangerous place like the Eastern Desolate, it was better to carry it even when patrolling within the sect's territory. Chen Mobai thought for a moment, then took the wisp of Pure Yang Purple Qi out of the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror. He then opened the lid of the yellow gourd, and the Yuan Yang Sword Fiend floated out completely. With his divine consciousness, he guided the Pure Yang Purple Qi into the empty yellow gourd. To his slightly nervous relief, the yellow gourd indeed withstood it, showing no fluctuations. "This thing is at least a Tier 2 spiritual item; no wonder it was used to store Tier 2 fiendish qi." Chen Mobai looked at the yellow gourd he had obtained as a windfall from a rogue cultivator on Rolling Thunder Mountain, marveling at it. He remembered that Yue Zutao seemed to have one too and wondered if he could buy it. Yue Zutao probably wouldn't have much use for it. Thinking this, Chen Mobai looked at the Yuan Yang Sword Fiend floating in mid-air and cautiously absorbed it into his dantian's sea of qi, then used the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror to isolate it from the Azure Flame Sword Fiend. However, having an extra item inside him felt a bit strange. Furthermore, because he hadn't cultivated the Yuan Yang Sword Art, this power was slightly incompatible with his physical body.

However, Chen Mobai soon received good news from Luo Yixuan. It turned out that Yue Zutao had returned to the sect. "At the beginning of the year, Martial Uncle Zhou Wangshen cultivated the Longevity Dao Body and broke through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. He emerged from seclusion full of vigor." "Martial Uncle Zhou was originally the guardian of the Thunder Nation, but due to Ancestor Zhou's influence, he had been in seclusion and didn't even participate in the battle against Shakesun Peak. Many in the sect had complaints about him." "So after emerging from seclusion, he didn't even celebrate but immediately rushed to the Thunder Nation to fulfill his duty as guardian." Yue Zutao had been serving as a temporary guardian, so naturally, he was relieved of his duties once Zhou Wangshen arrived. Although the war between the two sects had ended, enmity with Shakesun Peak had been forged. In the past year, many cultivators had died or been injured on the Thunder Nation border, and several Divine Wood Sect disciples had mysteriously disappeared. There was no need to think much to know that their fates were grim. It was also difficult to fully attribute these incidents to Shakesun Peak. Besides the lack of direct evidence, many desperate rogue cultivators took advantage of the rift between the two sects, lurking in the border regions to hunt down disciples from both sides and frame the opposing sect. Although Yue Zutao had also taken action and killed a good number of them, the Eastern Desolate was never short of rogue cultivators who engaged in plunder. How else would rogue cultivators obtain resources if they didn't plunder other cultivators? After all, many rogue cultivators had no inheritance of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation and could only rely on plunder. Zhou Wangshen's attitude of facing difficulties head-on after emerging from seclusion helped to salvage some of his reputation within the sect.

"Junior Brother Chen, when I returned, I heard you were in seclusion, so I didn't disturb you." In Divine Wood City, in Yue Zutao's courtyard, Chen Mobai sat with him, drinking tea.

"Taste this, it's something my master rewarded me with." Chen Mobai had naturally brought two jars of good wine, but Yue Zutao had already brewed a pot of tea, so he didn't switch to wine. The tea soup was apricot-yellow, and the green buds in the cup were silvery-white, standing like slender needles in the tea. The buds were covered in fine white hairs, and with a gentle swirl, silver light shimmered, while a clear, crisp aroma wafted into his nostrils, making his mind clear and dispelling all worldly thoughts. Taking another sip, a fragrance lingered on his lips and teeth. As it entered his stomach, it felt as if all vexation in his heart had been swept away, leaving only clarity and purity.

"What good tea!" After drinking, Chen Mobai opened his eyes, feeling a slight improvement in his spiritual consciousness. One must know that his spiritual consciousness realm was already at the peak of Foundation Establishment Level Six. He had been working hard for the past six months but had consistently been unable to break through this bottleneck, perhaps due to insufficient accumulation or because the opportunity for breakthrough had not yet arrived. However, today, drinking this tea, he felt his spiritual consciousness, which hadn't improved for a long time, begin to fluctuate, causing him a slight surprise. Perhaps he could use this spiritual tea to achieve a breakthrough?

"What is the origin of this tea? Is it grown within the sect?" Yue Zutao shook his head, indicating that the tea was not from the Divine Wood Sect. "It's the 'Snow Needle Immortal Sprouts' spiritual tea from the Snow Peak Bai clan. Their family has three tea trees over a thousand years old. Drinking this spiritual tea can enhance one's spiritual consciousness and even temporarily boost one's comprehension." "Each year, half of the Snow Needle Immortal Sprouts harvested from their three thousand-year-old tea trees are sent as tribute to our Divine Wood Sect for our two ancestors. This year, because my master just took over as sect master, they also sent two taels of tea." "I also contributed while guarding the Thunder Nation this time, so my master gave me half a tael to try." Chen Mobai had arrived just in time; this pot of tea was Yue Zutao's last stock of Snow Needle Immortal Sprouts, and once it was gone, there would be no more.

"Since this tea tree is so miraculous, why doesn't the sect collect its seeds and cultivate it in Giant Wood Ridge as well?" "We've tried, but these tea seeds are not adapted to the spiritual veins of our sect's territory. The head of the Spiritual Plant Department personally tended to them for a year, but they still couldn't survive," Yue Zutao said regretfully. Although his cultivation was sealed by the Longevity Tree Fruit, his spiritual consciousness and related Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness could still normally improve and break through. Therefore, he paid special attention to spiritual elixirs related to spiritual consciousness. He had tasted the Snow Needle Immortal Sprouts several times in earlier years, and had even purchased tea seeds from the Snow Peak Bai clan himself to cultivate, but the results were the same as when the Spiritual Plant Department attempted to transplant them.

"I've applied to the sect to inspect the five major market cities in Jianguo. I'm also quite interested in these Snow Needle Immortal Sprouts. When I go, I'll buy a tea seed and try to see if it can grow on Little South Mountain." Chen Mobai thought of the Great Toon Flower root he hadn't yet used. This item could be perfectly used for grafting tea seeds.