Chapter 412: Turn Around

**Chapter 412: Turn Around**

After leaving the hospital, Chen Mobai returned to the Dao Academy.

Zhong Li Tianyu had matured a lot. Last year, he stayed in the student union instead of going home and had ably handled many matters on Chen Mobai's behalf. He was a true genius; if he wanted to do something, he could do it well.

After visiting the student union, Chen Mobai naturally went to greet Che Yucheng. Besides showing respect for his teacher, his main purpose was to inquire about the progress of the Purple Lightning Sword situation.

"The Shanhai Academy also has capable people. They actually made the Purple Lightning Sword a condition for recruiting new students, publicizing that this year's incoming students all have a chance to obtain this Tier 4 sword artifact." When speaking of this, Che Yucheng also looked impressed.

Since the Purple Lightning Sword was going to be given away anyway, Shanhai Academy utilized this artifact to its fullest. This year, Shanhai Academy's fresh enrollment resources ranked first among the ten great academies, even far surpassing others. Most of the geniuses who failed to get into the Four Great Dao Academies filled Shanhai Academy as their first choice.

"Cultivators in the Qi Refining stage probably won't be favored by the Purple Lightning Sword, right?" After hearing this, Chen Mobai said so, but deep down, he was still a little nervous, afraid that some peerless sword dao genius might suddenly emerge.

"Not necessarily. However, the headmaster and several other Venerables had a verbal agreement back then that even if the Purple Lightning Sword chose a sword master in advance, they would still let you few people have a final attempt." This meant that Chen Mobai and the other Core Formation cultivators involved in the Purple Lightning Sword's ownership were guaranteed a spot in the final round. If the Purple Lightning Sword still chose an outsider after comparison, then things would proceed according to the Immortal Sect's rules, and no one could say anything.

Hearing this, Chen Mobai relaxed a little. After all, his spirit root talent had improved over the years and was now at a genius level; his Fire Spirit Root value was only a single digit away from a Heavenly Spirit Root. Moreover, he possessed the Tier 3 perfected Yi Wood Divine Lightning, which was indeed quite compatible with the Purple Lightning Sword's two main attributes.

After leaving Che Yucheng, Chen Mobai returned to his wooden house. He used the Turtle Treasure to teleport to Little South Mountain and returned the upgraded Five Transformations Umbrella and leather armor to his two disciples.

"Thank you, Master." Zhuo Ming and Luo Yixuan both looked delighted as they felt the powerful changes in their magical artifacts.

"Has anything major happened in the sect recently?"

"Over in Thunder Country, there have been occasional skirmishes with cultivators from Trembling Mountain Peak. The Sect Master has sent many Foundation Establishment elders to aid Martial Uncle Zhou, which might trigger another war between the two sects." Luo Yixuan mentioned a recently much-discussed matter. Last year, Meng Hong's failure to form a Core was partly due to Ji Zhenshi's appearance and deterrence. This debt was certainly held in the hearts of the two Old Ancestors. Given the prevailing atmosphere in the Eastern Wilderness, it was likely another conflict would erupt.

However, the last time was a surprise attack, catching Ji Zhenshi off guard. This time, if they were to face each other squarely, it might not be so easy. The Divine Wood Sect had enemies everywhere in the Eastern Wilderness, with only Golden Light Cliff as a staunch ally. If they truly went to war with Trembling Mountain Peak again, besides Ji Zhenshi and Nan Shidao, they would also have to consider the Five Elements Sect and the ghost cultivators of Yellow Springs Road lurking in the shadows. Even the normally neutral Return to Heaven Valley and Blowing Snow Palace, if they discovered any signs of the Divine Wood Sect's collapse, would likely join in to strike them when they were down.

If they really had to fight, Chen Mobai felt it would have to be a swift engagement. However, the sect's strategy was primarily based on the will of the two Old Ancestors, so Chen Mobai could only prepare for another expedition. As the now recognized foremost sword cultivator of the Divine Wood Sect, second only to the two Old Ancestors in combat power, and with this fact widely known in the Eastern Wilderness, he certainly couldn't remain guarding the sect. Once war broke out, with Sect Master Chu Zuoshu unable to act, he would certainly have to shoulder the main responsibility. It was even possible he might directly command the entire front line. After all, in the Eastern Wilderness, seniority was disregarded in favor of strength.

Thinking of this, Chen Mobai instructed Luo Yixuan to be constantly ready for an expedition. Among his three disciples, she was the most agile and the one he trusted most. If she could be tempered on the battlefield between the two sects, it would be greatly beneficial for the final step of Foundation Establishment, the Spirit Sense Egress. Moreover, with him watching over her, her safety would also be guaranteed.

"Master, there's one more thing: there are signs of another beast tide in Cloud Dream Marsh. Old Ancestor Fu has led many Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Hall of Punishment to suppress it." Chen Mobai listened and couldn't help but recall his own experiences in Cloud Dream Marsh back then. If it weren't for the Turtle Treasure's return-to-city function, he would probably have died on Green Light Island long ago. As the foremost spiritual land in the Eastern Wilderness, Cloud Dream Marsh was both a holy land in the hearts of countless cultivators and a burial ground for many rogue cultivators.

"A mysterious ruin has appeared within Snow Country; there seem to be demonic cultivators in Mist Country, with many rogue cultivators found dead, their vital essence drained, in extremely tragic states; also, Return to Heaven Valley needs to refine a Tier 4 elixir but lacks three millennium-old medicinal ingredients, and is currently collecting them from across the Eastern Wilderness..." Luo Yixuan recounted all the major events that had occurred throughout the Eastern Wilderness recently. Chen Mobai greatly praised her meticulousness. However, for the Divine Wood Sect, the most pressing concern was likely the war with Trembling Mountain Peak.

Chen Mobai stayed on Little South Mountain for two days. During this time, he also took Luo Yixuan to Divine Wood City to pay respects to Sect Master Chu Zuoshu and a series of other sect Foundation Establishment cultivators, presenting some newly opened jars of spiritual wine. While drinking, Chu Zuoshu indeed hinted that he should prepare himself. If war broke out with Trembling Mountain Peak, Old Ancestor Fu favored Chen Mobai as the sect's main commander. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators also came to visit Chen Mobai. For example, Yue Zutao, Yuan Chizhi, Yan Jinye, Mu Yuan. After deepening their acquaintance, Chen Mobai returned to Little South Mountain with Luo Yixuan.

Time quickly arrived at the day he had his online consultation with Tian Wenguang. Since many patients had private concerns, the platform allowed anonymity. Chen Mobai thought for a moment and chose to be anonymous to avoid potential embarrassment if he were refused.

Tian Wenguang: Hello, I am Dr. Tian from Baozhu Hospital.

On the consultation chat platform, after Tian Wenguang came online, he first introduced himself. His avatar was of himself, tall and thin, wearing a white doctor's coat.

Chen Mobai: Hello, Dr. Tian, I'd like to consult you about some issues concerning pure yang.

Research on pure yang was indeed classified under "male health" in the Immortal Sect, so Chen Mobai's approach was perfectly fine.

Tian Wenguang: Please tell me.

Chen Mobai: It's like this, when I practiced the Critical Law, I comprehended the ancient technique "Jade Lock Golden Gate Art." I accidentally mastered it, but now I have a girlfriend, and recently she's been hinting that we can go further. However, my pure yang is locked. Does this mean I won't be able to enjoy that pleasure?

Tian Wenguang: Sir, you might not understand pure yang deeply enough. Pure yang is a primordial qi, hidden deep within your body. Normally, if you relieve yourself through self-pleasure, it won't consume pure yang. Only during intercourse, if the position and posture are correct, will this pure yang be stimulated by primordial yin and released. But if you've mastered the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art, even if you engage in normal intercourse and climax, this pure yang won't be drawn out. You can just enjoy it normally. To give a simple example, think of it as having undergone a vasectomy. You can enjoy yourself and enter a state of post-coital clarity. However, there is one drawback: you won't have offspring.

Chen Mobai: Oh, is that really true? But my parents are pressing me hard; they've mentioned wanting grandchildren several times. What should I do about that?

Tian Wenguang: If you truly desire offspring, then unless you break your cultivation or advance the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art to a higher level where you can freely control its opening and closing.

Chen Mobai: Dr. Tian, it's like this: I cultivate the Pure Yang Scroll, and maintaining pure yang is more beneficial for my cultivation. So, is it possible to have offspring without releasing pure yang?

Tian Wenguang: Sir, it seems I need to give you a basic lesson on the birth of life. Everyone, when in the womb, is full of primordial qi, but after coming into the mortal world, only primordial pure yang and primordial yin remain. These two primordial qi are also crucial for conceiving life. Isolated yin cannot give birth, and solitary yang cannot grow. Therefore, pure yang and primordial yin will only be stimulated and merge when they encounter each other, finally nurturing new life within the womb. So, if you want offspring, you must release pure yang.

After listening to Tian Wenguang's explanation, Chen Mobai had a sudden realization: normally, self-pleasure would not consume pure yang. Only when released during intercourse would pure yang and primordial yin attract each other and conceive life. But he certainly wouldn't sacrifice his pure yang for Meng Huang'er, and he also needed Meng Huang'er's primordial yin when she reached Foundation Establishment perfection to help his spirit sense break through to the Core Formation stage.

So, after some thought, Chen Mobai came up with another line of questioning.

Chen Mobai: Dr. Tian, although my parents want grandchildren, my girlfriend and I feel that we are still young and want to prioritize our cultivation. I have already succeeded in Foundation Establishment and have mastered the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art, allowing me to lock my pure yang during intercourse. However, my girlfriend is only a Qi Refining cultivator. I'm afraid that during intercourse, her primordial yin might be drawn out prematurely. If that happens, when we want children ten years or so from now, will we be unable to conceive due to this issue?

Chen Mobai began to guide the conversation progressively. Tian Wenguang, as expected of a professional male health doctor, gave a clear answer based on his specialized field.

Tian Wenguang: I can only say it's possible. Generally speaking, after a female cultivator's primordial yin is drawn out, if it cannot merge with pure yang, it will retreat back into the womb. However, during this repeated process, primordial yin will also be slowly consumed. So, if you plan to have children, you should definitely consider this point.

In the ancient orthodox era, many evil cultivators used this principle to extract yin to nourish yang, or vice versa.

Chen Mobai: Dr. Tian, there's one more embarrassing thing. My method of practicing the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art is quite peculiar. I suddenly comprehended the principle of locking while self-pleasuring. I'm wondering if my girlfriend can also use this method to comprehend it. That way, both of us can lock, and we can enjoy that activity without worrying about the aforementioned problems.

Tian Wenguang: ...

Tian Wenguang seemed to lose his composure a bit when he saw Chen Mobai's message, directly sending a string of ellipses, indicating speechlessness.

Tian Wenguang: Sir, I consider myself knowledgeable about the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art, and I believed no one in the Immortal Sect could comprehend this technique deeper than me. But after meeting you, I realize there's always someone better.

Chen Mobai: Dr. Tian, do you think my idea can work?

Tian Wenguang: Theoretically, it's feasible, but since the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art is more focused on male cultivation, even with your method, it probably won't be easy. I suggest that practical experience is more likely to lead to true understanding.

Chen Mobai: Dr. Tian, didn't you just say that with practical experience, even if I can lock my pure yang, my girlfriend's primordial yin might be consumed over many long sessions? Wouldn't that be a net loss?

Tian Wenguang: Sir, I can see you're quite virtuous. Since you registered for my consultation, it seems we have a connection. Let me give you a hint. The mutual stimulation and fusion of pure yang and primordial yin require a correct position...

After the consultation ended, Chen Mobai greatly admired Tian Wenguang. Indeed, specialization leads to expertise. With his guidance, Chen Mobai finally had a complete idea of how Meng Huang'er could cultivate the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art. However, he felt a bit awkward bringing it up.

As Chen Mobai was thinking this, Meng Huang'er sent a message. She was discharged today and had returned to the villa on the mountaintop. To show her gratitude to Chen Mobai, she wanted to invite him over for dinner. After some thought, Chen Mobai decided to tell Meng Huang'er everything, and whether she chose to use this method to cultivate the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art would be up to her.

He took a jar of spiritual wine, newly brewed by Zhuo Ming, and elegantly flew up the mountain. He still flew in through the balcony. Meng Huang'er seemed to be preparing in the kitchen; hearing the movement, she walked out wearing a blue and white apron. Since she was at home, she wore flip-flops, revealing her fair, smooth, and plump toes. She smiled sweetly at Chen Mobai and placed the exquisite small dishes she was holding onto the dining table in the living room.

"You're here."

"Yes, this is spiritual wine from my hometown, to celebrate your discharge from the hospital." Meng Huang'er bent her slender waist, nodded her thanks to Chen Mobai, took the spiritual wine, and placed it on the glass table on the balcony.

"My cooking is just so-so. I hope you don't mind."

Soon after, the two sat down. Meng Huang'er had prepared four dishes and one soup. After tasting them, Chen Mobai felt they were no worse than those made by professional chefs.

"It's very delicious, thank you for the hospitality."

After eating, Chen Mobai put down his chopsticks. Meng Huang'er nodded shyly, then cast a cleaning spell to clear the table. They went to sit on the balcony. Meng Huang'er proactively brought out two glass wine glasses, opened the small jar of spiritual wine Chen Mobai had brought. The wine was clear with a slight greenish tint. This was brewed by Zhuo Ming using discarded Green Jade Spirit Rice. Although not Tier 2, it could be considered top-tier Tier 1. Because it was produced in the Eastern Wilderness, it was rich in spiritual energy and had a rich flavor, though it was slightly strong. Meng Huang'er took a sip, and two blushes appeared on her pale cheeks. Her eyes began to glaze over slightly, filled with a captivating, alluring sparkle.

"Good wine." Although Meng Huang'er didn't understand wine, she could taste the spiritual energy contained within it. For a Qi Refining cultivator like her, this was the best wine.

"Regarding the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art, I consulted that friend from the Grand Medical Academy." Chen Mobai also took a sip, feeling that the current atmosphere was very suitable for discussing this matter. After carefully choosing his words, and under Meng Huang'er's expectant gaze, he recounted his conversation with Tian Wenguang to her.

"This..." Meng Huang'er was still a pure maiden, and halfway through, her cheeks flushed scarlet, and her eyes were filled with shyness. But she still looked at Chen Mobai, afraid of missing a single word.

"Practice leads to true understanding. Try to forcefully hold back when your body is most stimulated. Through this process, you will personally experience the sensation of locking. If one day you can freely control it, then the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art will be almost mastered." After Chen Mobai finished speaking, Meng Huang'er's face was already red and hot. Even though she had already signed a contract to dedicate herself to him after reaching Foundation Establishment perfection, when actually discussing such matters, she still felt incredibly embarrassed.

"How can I possibly hold back?!" She couldn't help but say, lowering her head. Heaven knows, although she had occasionally seen some related content, she was essentially still a diligent and studious girl. If it really came to that, she felt she would certainly be a complete mess.

"It's fine. No one can hold back the first few times. But I can lock my pure yang, and as long as you don't release your primordial yin, then for both of us, the process will just be normal enjoyment." Chen Mobai earnestly relayed the knowledge he had just learned from Tian Wenguang.

"Then how can I avoid releasing my primordial yin during that process?" Meng Huang'er lowered her head, not daring to meet Chen Mobai's gaze, and asked softly.

"The mutual stimulation of primordial yin and pure yang will definitely occur in the womb area. As long as you avoid that area during intercourse, even if you can't hold back immediately, you won't release primordial yin." Chen Mobai spoke gravely, revealing Tian Wenguang's final guidance. Meng Huang'er raised her head, a little confused by what she heard. Her fair skin contrasted with her flushed cheeks, and having drunk some wine, she exuded a captivating allure.

"What do you mean?" Meng Huang'er didn't quite understand Chen Mobai's last sentence. He lightly coughed, then glanced at her, as she was lying diagonally on the sofa, at her round and perky backside. She was confused at first, but after a while, she suddenly understood, and her entire face instantly turned crimson.

When Chen Mobai said goodbye, the blush on Meng Huang'er's cheeks had not yet faded. Due to the shocking nature of this method, she found it difficult to accept for a while and needed more time to consider. Chen Mobai expressed his understanding. So, he gentlemanly took his leave, allowing Meng Huang'er to calmly think it over herself.

However, Chen Mobai quickly put the matter out of his mind. Because his cultivation was about to break through.

Early last year, Yuan Hongyuan and others ambushed Chen Mobai, which allowed him to obtain many Immortal Peach Fruits. After consuming them, he immediately broke through to Foundation Establishment Layer 5. Since Chen Mobai's Dantian Qi Sea had been expanded to the Foundation Establishment perfection level by the Longevity Tree Fruit, there were no bottlenecks before Core Formation. Last year, he also diligently cultivated by consuming Qi-replenishing spiritual water, and this year he finally accumulated enough liquid pure yang spiritual energy, reaching the brink of another breakthrough.

Chen Mobai rented a room in Building Nine, used Yun Yangbing's Spirit Gathering Array, and with the help of ample spirit stones, easily entered the realm of Pure Yang Scroll Foundation Establishment Layer 6 after three days and three nights of meditation. Originally, according to his estimation, at one layer per year, he might not be able to break through to Foundation Establishment Layer 7 by graduation. This was because the liquid spiritual energy required to go from Foundation Establishment Layer 6 to Layer 7 increased by one and a half times. Even with ample Qi-replenishing spiritual water, it would take a year and a half. But now, due to the Immortal Peach Fruits, it was certainly achievable. Graduating at Foundation Establishment Layer 7 would somewhat live up to his reputation as the Chief of the Martial Arts Dao Academy and the top student of this era in the Immortal Sect.

Thinking this, Chen Mobai also wondered how long it would take Meng Huang'er to reach Foundation Establishment perfection if she were to establish her foundation. If she were to use the Core Formation spiritual items from the Immortal Sect side, then he would have to wait at least sixty more years. With such a long time, Meng Huang'er would certainly be able to achieve Foundation Establishment perfection. But Chen Mobai felt that given the situation in the Eastern Wilderness, they probably couldn't wait that long. With ample Qi-replenishing spiritual water and his help, Meng Huang'er should reach Foundation Establishment perfection in about twenty to thirty years. However, considering she was potentially the Xuan Yin Dao Seed who could play the Shocking Divine Melody, once she succeeded in Foundation Establishment, the Immortal Sect would also support her. Even after graduation, she would likely have channels to exchange for things like breakthrough pills, so she should be able to reach Foundation Establishment perfection within twenty years. If all else failed, he could try to acquire another set of Longevity Tree Fruits, though he wasn't sure if the Profound Sound Wonderful Method was compatible with such spiritual items.

Chen Mobai was actually planning to get another set because he considered that his first Core Formation attempt might fail, requiring a second one. But during Core Formation, the pure yang spiritual energy would completely devour the longevity spiritual energy. So, if he were to form a Core again, he would need to re-cultivate the Two Forms Art and the Longevity Imperishable Scripture. There was a simpler method: taking another set of Longevity Tree Fruits would allow him to cultivate back the longevity spiritual energy to the Foundation Establishment perfection level. In that case, he would need to consider the Core Formation spiritual items in advance. He couldn't expose himself in the Immortal Sect, so he would have to collect medicinal ingredients in the Eastern Wilderness and then find someone to refine them. But whom should he ask? The Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill was a Tier 4 elixir, requiring at least a Core Formation cultivator to refine.

While contemplating, Chen Mobai put away the dried-up spirit stones around him and Yun Yangbing's Spirit Gathering Array. After coming out of seclusion, he habitually gathered with the Deity Transformation Class members in the Dao Academy. However, fewer and fewer people showed up. Ming Yihua had been taken away again by the head of the Artifact Refinement Department, reportedly to repair a large-scale magical artifact for the Immortal Sect's military. Wang Xingyu and Gong Ranran, the couple, hadn't returned either, saying they were meeting each other's parents. Both sets of elders were very satisfied and were already discussing getting married after graduation and becoming Dao Companions.

Chen Mobai found this a bit hard to understand. How could one settle down before achieving the Great Dao? He would at least wait until after Core Formation, or when his cultivation could no longer advance, before considering marriage. But on second thought, they were all in ninth grade this year. After graduation, they would have to endure sixty or even a hundred years of arduous waiting for Core Formation spiritual items. In such a long period, being alone might indeed be somewhat lonely and desolate. Finding a companion seemed like a very good idea.

Most of the Deity Transformation Class members had already succeeded in Foundation Establishment, with Jiang Zhenliang, Lu Jiaxin, Leng Weiyin, and Yan Taiwu remaining. But they had all comprehended the Critical Law and were certain to succeed in Foundation Establishment before graduation. Even so, the four who hadn't yet established their foundation felt a significant sense of urgency. During this gathering, they declared their intention to diligently cultivate in seclusion and not emerge until they had achieved Foundation Establishment.

After finishing all the spiritual wine Chen Mobai had brought, people started leaving in twos and threes.

"Look!" With Ming Yihua absent, Chen Mobai could only continue with Yun Yangbing. The latter's usually indifferent face seemed somewhat happy today as he showed Chen Mobai his right ring finger, whose fingernail had turned pale green.

"You've integrated an array into your body again?" Chen Mobai knew his friend Yun Yangbing well and understood what this meant.

"Indeed, I refined a rapid movement array. This way, when I'm surveying spirit veins, my movements will be much faster." The rapid movement array was an Immortal Sect array that reduced one's weight and increased one's neural reaction speed. However, because it was extremely difficult to control, few people cultivated it. The fact that Yun Yangbing could integrate the array into his body showed that he had mastered it to perfection.

"Congratulations, congratulations." Chen Mobai was naturally happy when his friend made progress. The two drank all night, returning home only when dawn broke.

In the ancient orthodox era, there was a lineage called the Shadowless Valley. The inheritors of this lineage would cultivate their own shadows into external incarnations, becoming kings hidden in the darkness. However, after the Immortal Sect established its rule, the Shadowless Valley dared not defy the overwhelming trend and retreated into the mortal world. This lineage, relying on the mystical nature of their shadows, often spied on private matters and established detective agencies, specializing in handling cases where couples investigated infidelity.

There happened to be a detective agency opened by a Shadowless Valley inheritor in the Scarlet City Grotto-Heaven. The director, Lai Songqiang, was a graduate of the Flowing Light Academy and also a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Last year, he received a commission from Li Yuejiao of the Green Feather Cliff, asking him to investigate who the celebrity Meng Huang'er had been in contact with most frequently during a certain period. Lai Songqiang was initially reluctant to provoke anyone from the Martial Arts Dao Academy, but Li Yuejiao offered a very generous sum. As he hesitated, he saw news in the newspaper about Meng Huang'er's failure to establish her Foundation. As a top celebrity in the Immortal Sect, this news spread quickly.

Celebrities, while attracting a large number of fans, naturally also have a considerable number of anti-fans. After Meng Huang'er's Foundation Establishment failure, these anti-fans emerged from the woodwork, mocking her online, with some even being students of the Martial Arts Dao Academy. They had always held prejudice against people like Meng Huang'er, who got in through backdoors. When Chen Mobai first enrolled, he was mocked by Ma Xiaoming at the train station because of this, which was precisely how he met Meng Huang'er and how subsequent events unfolded. During that time, the hospitalized Meng Huang'er was under immense pressure.

Chen Mobai was naturally unaware of this; he had gone back to Danxia City to handle business. It was precisely because of this that Lai Songqiang felt that investigating a popular celebrity who was now falling and unlikely to ever establish her foundation would be no problem. After a full month of investigation, he finally found the key person through his own channels and prolonged stakeouts at the hospital.

"Are you sure it's him?" Through a video call, Li Yuejiao saw the photo in Lai Songqiang's hand: it was Chen Mobai visiting Meng Huang'er in the hospital.

"No mistake. Among those who frequently visited the celebrity, only when facing him did her expression show a hint of deference."

"Moreover, their residences are close. My shadow in the mountains saw him fly up and enter the balcony."

"You must be looking for the person the celebrity used the Heaven-Binding Art on. Only this Chief of the Martial Arts Dao Academy fits the target best." As fellow ancient orthodox lineages, they were well aware of each other's tricks. Lai Songqiang saw Li Yuejiao's commission and knew what she wanted to investigate. After a brief analysis, putting himself in Meng Huang'er's shoes, he identified Chen Mobai. After all, throughout the entire Martial Arts Dao Academy, and even across all Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Immortal Sect, this person was clearly a great chosen one. If the Heaven-Binding Art could be linked to Chen Mobai, the chances of successful Foundation Establishment would certainly greatly increase.

"If it really was him, then why did Meng Huang'er fail to establish her Foundation?" Li Yuejiao asked the most crucial question. Lai Songqiang shrugged, indicating he couldn't explain.

"Our lineage doesn't deal with fate or luck; why ask me?" This rhetorical question choked Li Yuejiao. Indeed, even among the ancient orthodox lineages, most did not believe in destiny.

"Actually, when I first chose Meng Huang'er, I was already consciously guiding her towards Chen Mobai, this person of great destiny. But according to the feedback from the Heaven-Binding Art, Meng Huang'er bonded with a Foundation Establishment cultivator of ordinary destiny. What went wrong in this process?" Li Yuejiao muttered to herself. The code feedback from the Heaven-Binding Art talisman couldn't be wrong, and Chen Mobai was definitely a person of great destiny. There must be something she didn't understand in between. For example, Meng Huang'er didn't choose Chen Mobai. To confirm this, Li Yuejiao specifically asked Lai Songqiang to investigate, but his results were exactly the same as her previously designed plan. The more prosperous the destiny of the bound target for the Heaven-Binding Art, the better the effect. If Meng Huang'er wanted to achieve the best Foundation Establishment probability, she would definitely go all out to find Chen Mobai. And given her conditions, to impress this Chief of the Martial Arts Dao Academy, she would certainly need to offer her most precious possessions.

Li Yuejiao didn't care about Meng Huang'er's life or death, nor was her success or failure important to her. But this *did* relate to her scheme against Chen Mobai. If Meng Huang'er succeeded in Foundation Establishment, the temptation of intercourse with her to break through to Core Formation level spirit sense would certainly lure Chen Mobai into the trap. And a cultivator of the Pure Yang Scroll, once devoid of pure yang, would certainly never reach the terrifying realm of Old Ancestor Pure Yang. Li Yuejiao was immensely pleased with herself for having so easily used Meng Huang'er, this small pawn, to break the pure yang of Chen Mobai, the Immortal Sect's top Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, this perfect plan encountered various unexpected twists during its execution. First, Meng Huang'er failed to establish her Foundation, and her failure was because she had bonded with a cultivator of very ordinary destiny. But Lai Songqiang's investigation showed that the target of Meng Huang'er's Heaven-Binding Art was Chen Mobai. This left Li Yuejiao bewildered.

"This is your payment. Remember to keep this matter confidential." Unable to figure it out, she stopped thinking about it. After all, Li Yuejiao had done her best, at least connecting Meng Huang'er and Chen Mobai. If the two genuinely sparked something later and managed to destroy the pure yang of this top Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Immortal Sect, she assumed she could claim credit from the Ascension Cult and obtain many resources.

"Thank you for your patronage. Next time you need anything, come find me again." Lai Songqiang's face lit up with joy as he saw the large sum of merit points deposited into his account. He stood up and bowed deeply to Li Yuejiao.

"If you have time, keep an eye on these two. I'll pay new compensation if..." Before ending the video call, Li Yuejiao wanted to reveal her entire plan, but after thinking it over, it was a major scheme involving the Chief of one of the Immortal Sect's Four Great Dao Academies, so it was safer to keep it to herself. Thus, she didn't finish the latter part of her sentence.

"What exactly is this woman plotting?" After the connection disconnected, Lai Songqiang frowned as he looked at Chen Mobai's photo on the table. If he had known this matter might involve the Chief of the Martial Arts Dao Academy, he would never have taken the investigation. But by the time he photographed Chen Mobai, he had already put in a lot of effort, and it was too late to back out. Fortunately, no accidents occurred, and he still earned this generous reward. However, Lai Songqiang definitely wouldn't follow Li Yuejiao's instruction to continue monitoring Meng Huang'er and Chen Mobai. For inheritors of ancient orthodox lineages, one key to making a living in the Immortal Sect was not to provoke powerful figures. Chen Mobai was rumored to have the potential for Integration Stage. Although he was currently just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would at least become a Core Formation cultivator in the future, which certainly qualified him as a powerful figure in Lai Songqiang's eyes. Therefore, he had no intention of earning that next payment.

Chen Mobai was completely unaware of these machinations by the ancient orthodox lineages. At this moment, he was registering for the Tier 3 Talisman Master exam.

A few days prior, he had formally submitted an application to the Dao Academy's academic affairs office, stating that he wanted to focus on graduation and cultivation and truly had no spare energy to manage student union affairs. To prevent issues with the Dao Academy's teaching order, he requested to step down while recommending Zhong Li Tianyu to take over his Chief position. The head of the academic affairs office was Che Yucheng. Upon receiving this application, he issued his approval and reply. He stated that Zhong Li Tianyu had only joined the student union for a year and lacked experience, so he could temporarily act as the student union president this year, but Chen Mobai would still be the Martial Arts Dao Academy's publicly declared Chief, with the Chief position officially transferred to Zhong Li Tianyu next year.

Generally speaking, the student union president of a Dao Academy was also the Chief, but Che Yucheng subtly separated the two this time. Although Chen Mobai didn't understand why, he knew his teacher must have done it for his benefit, so he didn't appeal further. After all, "Chief" was just an empty title, while the student union president bore various arduous responsibilities.

After Zhong Li Tianyu took over, Chen Mobai immediately felt much more relaxed. All day, besides cultivating, he would go to Little South Mountain to check on the spiritual rice newly planted at the beginning of the year, even becoming somewhat idle. Chen Mobai felt this leisurely life didn't suit him, so he decided to find something to do. Thus, he chose to apply for the Tier 3 Talisman Master exam.

When he passed the Tier 2 Talisman Master exam, he had already joined the Talisman Master Association under the recommendation of Zeng Xingfu and the other two proctors. This association possessed the Immortal Sect's largest collection of talisman data, and its president was Venerable Yu Yi, a Tier 5 Talisman Master. All the essence of talisman dao in the Immortal Sect was concentrated here. To put some pressure on himself, after applying for the exam, Chen Mobai took the ten Tier 3 talisman exam questions and buried himself in the Talisman Master Association's website forum. While studying diligently, he promptly sought guidance from the Dao Academy's teachers when he encountered something he didn't understand. After all, the Talisman Department was also one of the major departments of the Martial Arts Dao Academy, and as its top-ranked Chief in talismans, he received some preferential treatment compared to ordinary students.

"Excellent, excellent! If you had this drive for learning from the beginning, you might have already passed the Tier 3 Talisman Master assessment by now." After explaining to Chen Mobai, Xu Xiu looked very pleased. It was he who had failed Chen Mobai in the past. Although Xu Xiu was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator himself, he had long passed the Tier 3 Talisman Master assessment and was the teacher in the Dao Academy who placed the most importance on foundational talisman education. When he saw Chen Mobai suddenly begin to diligently study talisman arts in his ninth year, he inexplicably felt a sense of great satisfaction.

"Study well, and if you don't understand anything, you can always come ask me. If I can't answer it, I'll take you to Director Linghu. He's quite concerned about you, this genius." The head of the Talisman Department was Linghu Yanhui, a Core Formation cultivator, Tier 4 Talisman Master, and one of the vice presidents of the Talisman Master Association. Chen Mobai had no idea that this person had paid attention to him. But even if he knew, he certainly wouldn't flaunt himself in front of this person. After all, his actual talisman crafting skill was just average. Facing such a true master of the Talisman Dao, a few questions and answers would likely expose his true capabilities and the fact that he wasn't a genius.

After leaving Xu Xiu's office, Chen Mobai was about to go visit Che Yucheng. He suddenly received a call from Meng Huang'er.

"Are you free tonight?" Hearing this, Chen Mobai murmured inwardly. After telling Meng Huang'er about the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art last time, although they often exchanged messages, they tacitly avoided the topic. Was she calling suddenly because she had made up her mind, or was it just for casual conversation?

"I can be." After some thought, Chen Mobai gave an ambiguous answer.

"Then come up tonight. Just come straight in when you arrive. I'll be waiting for you in the bedroom." When Meng Huang'er said this, Chen Mobai could even hear her hurried breathing between sentences, and a faint pant, as if saying those words took all her strength.

"I'll be waiting." Hearing this, Chen Mobai already understood. But for some reason, his heart was calm, without the expected excitement or eagerness. It felt like things were simply falling into place naturally. It seemed from the very beginning, after saying those words to Meng Huang'er, he had already anticipated this day.

Seeing that it was still early, Chen Mobai still went to Che Yucheng's office for a cup of tea.

Evening. Upon returning to his small wooden house, Chen Mobai suddenly felt a surge of interest. He washed up and flew to the mountaintop. Landing on the balcony, he found the living room and bedroom pitch black, as if Meng Huang'er was expressing her shyness this way.

Chen Mobai slowly stepped into the living room, then walked towards the closed bedroom door. The door was naturally unlocked; he gently twisted the knob and opened it. Entering the boudoir, it was still pitch black, but under his Void Sight, the graceful, alluring curves of her body hidden beneath the pink quilt were easily discerned.

Chen Mobai walked to the bed. Meng Huang'er held the quilt with both hands, covering her entire body. He instinctively took hold of her pale white hand, and amidst her nervous trembling, slowly pulled back the quilt, revealing Meng Huang'er's flushed, pretty face. Their eyes met. She looked shy, her gaze as soft as water.

"You... be gentle..." In the end, she could only stammer out this sentence.

Chen Mobai finally felt the emotions within him at this moment – the curiosity for something he had never experienced before. He pulled back the entire quilt, his gaze traveling from top to bottom, finally resting on her rounded, long, pale white legs. Then his eyes slightly reddened, and he gently patted a key area, saying,

"Turn around."