Chapter 441: Falling Treasure Golden Light

After slaying the two from Xuanxiao Dao Palace, Chen Mobai returned to the skies above the Divine Wood Sect's encampment.

At this moment, Zhou Wangshen, who had just experienced a roller coaster of emotions, also returned. Standing beside Xie Yuntian, he stared blankly at the delicate young man flying towards them, bathed in the sunlight.

"Hello, Senior Brothers," Chen Mobai greeted them with a smile upon seeing the two. Xie Yuntian and Zhou Wangshen immediately waved their hands, indicating there was no need for such formality.

It showed they still had some self-respect; any other Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Divine Wood Sect would probably have immediately called themselves "junior brother."

"Junior Brother Chen, your display of power this time was truly extraordinary. You are indeed the strongest fighter in our sect, second only to our two Grand Ancestors. You turned the tide, saved our sect from collapse, and performed an immense service."

Zhou Wangshen was originally a proud man, but after being humbled by Chen Mobai at Yin Qingmei's banquet, he had come to terms with himself. Upon seeing Chen Mobai approach, he immediately offered his sincere thanks.

To be honest, just minutes ago, he was frantically leading the Divine Wood Sect disciples, fleeing like a stray dog. At that moment, Zhou Wangshen believed his life was over. The catastrophic defeat on the battlefield, and the immense losses it brought to the sect, could have made him a historical villain. Even with his connection to Grand Ancestor Zhou, he would likely at best escape the death penalty, only to be stripped of all his cultivation resources, imprisoned, and forever lose the chance to advance further. Even more extreme, some elders of his clan might have made him sacrifice himself for the sect's honor, dying in this Thunder Nation, to avoid tarnishing Grand Ancestor Zhou's reputation.

Therefore, Chen Mobai's timely arrival, his slaying of Xuan Qiao and Xuan Jinzhi, and his repelling of Mount Shanshan's offensive, were a life-altering act of kindness for Zhou Wangshen.

"No words can express my gratitude for such a great kindness. If you ever need my help in the future, Junior Brother, just say the word," Zhou Wangshen declared, thumping his chest. Xie Yuntian, listening nearby, also nodded.

"There's no way to repay a life-saving debt. Once we return to the sect, I will give you all the Azure Wood Demonic Energy. Only in your hands can it achieve its greatest potential."

Xie Yuntian had also earned merit in the previous great battle against Mount Shanshan, and the sect had given him the remaining sixteen strands of Azure Wood Demonic Energy. However, Xie Yuntian didn't have Chen Mobai's advantageous circumstances; after a hundred years of arduous cultivation, he had only managed to form one and a half strands of Azure Flame Sword Qi. To prevent the Azure Wood Demonic Energy from gradually losing its spiritual efficacy after being extracted, the remaining fourteen strands were still nurtured within the sect's Demonic Earth Caverns. This was also why Chu Zuoshu was able to arrange for three strands of Azure Wood Demonic Energy to be put up for sale in the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion for Chen Mobai. However, before doing so, Xie Yuntian's consent was still sought, as technically, they already belonged to him.

Now, having witnessed Chen Mobai's unfathomable Azure Flame Sword Qi on the battlefield, Xie Yuntian was thoroughly convinced, believing that these precious sect resources would be wasted on himself and would be better utilized by Chen Mobai, a peerless sword cultivation genius. After his brush with death, Xie Yuntian's somewhat narrow mindset had opened up considerably. After all, only with a powerful Divine Wood Sect could its disciples more easily acquire cultivation resources. If Chen Mobai had successfully formed his Gold Core today, Mount Shanshan would surely not dare to fight. They would probably have packed up and fled upon hearing the news of the Divine Wood Sect's deployment.

"In that case, thank you, Senior Brother." Chen Mobai was very pleased by this and sincerely thanked Xie Yuntian, but the latter stepped aside, unwilling to accept his bow.

"As for how we proceed with the battle, I ask Junior Brother to take charge of the overall situation," Zhou Wangshen said perceptively, then directly relinquished command of his forces, indicating he would follow Chen Mobai's lead.

"I've noticed quite a few Qi Condensation cultivators from outside the sect have scattered. I'll trouble Senior Brother Zhou to gather them back."

Chen Mobai was not modest either; he believed that becoming the chief commander and directing all cultivators in battle was the fastest way for the Divine Wood Sect to win this war.

"Yes, I'll go!" Just as Zhou Wangshen was about to leave, Chen Mobai stopped him and handed him a mobile phone.

At this point, the Foundation Establishment elders of the Divine Wood Sect who had previously fled also flew over at Chen Mobai's summons.

"Greetings, Junior Brother Chen!" Upon arrival, all the Foundation Establishment elders first greeted Chen Mobai and thanked him.

"We truly owe you a great deal this time!" "Without you, the Thunder Nation would probably have fallen by now, and we would be isolated, awaiting rescue."

Among them, Yue Zutao and Yuan Chiye, being Chen Mobai's friends, spoke with a bit more sincerity, expressing their gratitude again amidst their reflections.

"This battle is not yet over, Senior Brothers, you must not lower your guard. This is a mobile phone..." After offering a few words of encouragement, Chen Mobai raised the phone in his hand. After he explained its functions, everyone's eyes lit up. Having been on the battlefield for two months, they understood the significance of this artifact even more.

"Junior Brother, with this item, conquering Mount Shanshan is just around the corner," Yue Zutao exclaimed excitedly. After trying it out and confirming the communication function worked, he seemed to envision a bright future.

"Everyone take one. Once we reassemble the scattered cultivators, let each sect disciple serve as a core leader, guiding some rogue cultivators and aristocratic family disciples..."

Chen Mobai reiterated his training plan. Although the fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators, led by Zhou Wangshen and Xie Yuntian, didn't quite grasp it, just like Chen Zhenwu, they decisively chose to obey after witnessing Chen Mobai's astonishing sword cultivation.

Zhou Wangshen first led ten Foundation Establishment elders to recall the fleeing rogue cultivators and aristocratic family disciples, while Xie Yuntian remained to reorganize the somewhat disoriented Divine Wood Sect disciples who had returned after their retreat.

"Senior Brother Xie, your arm injury isn't serious, is it?" Chen Mobai asked with concern, seeing Xie Yuntian's right hand reattached with a Regeneration Talisman.

"Thanks to Junior Brother, your sword qi removed the golden threads from my wound. Otherwise, I might have had to wait for our two Grand Ancestors to act, or for a long period of attrition, before my severed arm could be reattached. By then, it might have been useless even if reattached."

Xie Yuntian raised his still-inflexible right hand and thanked Chen Mobai again. The latter used his Void-piercing Spiritual Eye to examine it, confirmed that the meridians were properly connected, and that only the rejoining of bone and flesh remained, then he confidently walked into the central tent.

The Divine Wood Sect's encampment naturally consisted of wooden huts. Chen Mobai felt they were more aesthetic and sturdier than those he created with a 'Wooden House Talisman,' and they also seemed to have special formation restrictions.

Yue Zutao accompanied Xie Yuntian to reorganize the Divine Wood Sect disciples, leaving only Yuan Chiye by Chen Mobai's side. The two hadn't seen each other in a long time. After a brief chat, Yuan Chiye, being perceptive, excused himself.

"You all go and help Senior Brother Xie. Xuan'er and her team of cultivators can stay with me."

The Foundation Establishment elders who had accompanied Chen Mobai nodded upon hearing his words. After directing their hundreds of subordinates off the airship, they flew to assist Xie Yuntian. A few others followed Zhou Wangshen's direction, collecting and apprehending the rogue cultivators who had previously fled in disarray.

Finally, only Chen Mobai and his disciple remained in the wooden hut. The former waved his hand, and the latter obediently retreated, standing at the entrance and helping to close the door. Around this camp's wooden hut, Luo Yixuan's hundred-person team formed a 'Jiamu Dao Soldier Battle Formation' to guard the area. In truth, given Chen Mobai's cultivation level, all these people combined were no match for him alone, but as a chief commander, such a display was necessary.

Inside the hut, Chen Mobai took out Xuan Jinzhi's storage bag. Since Xuan Jinzhi was a cultivator at the perfected Foundation Establishment stage, her spiritual sense was slightly stronger than his, so he needed to draw a 'Blank Talisman' to break the restriction.

Chen Mobai first examined the golden token. Although his appraisal skills were average, he had learned the basics at the Dao Academy and quickly identified it as a top-grade Tier 2 defensive artifact, suitable for cultivators with a Metal spiritual root. When infused with spiritual power, it would manifest a golden light shield for protection and could also enable a cultivator to fly and teleport, making it very practical.

It was comparable to Chen Mobai's Scarlet Cloud Mist Robe. However, although the Scarlet Cloud Mist Robe was not as high-grade as this golden token, if Chen Mobai had to choose, he would certainly pick the former. After all, this item was the symbol of the Instrument Dance Dao Academy, and its future potential was immense; with sufficient resources, it could be upgraded to a Grand Unity Five Mist Robe. This golden token was not only crafted using common techniques, but its attributes also didn't align with Chen Mobai's spiritual root, preventing him from utilizing its full power. It was a pity that none of his three disciples possessed an outstanding Metal spiritual root. Chen Mobai considered all his relatives and friends, and only his younger sister Wang Xinying was suitable. But even if he were to give it to her, he would have to wait until she reached Foundation Establishment, and it would be best to find a way to re-refine it to avoid any potential hidden dangers of exposure.

After a rough appraisal of the token, Chen Mobai placed it on the table, then took out a Tier 2 jade talisman paper and a complete set of talisman brushes, and began drawing the Blank Talisman. With his current level, almost that of a Tier 3 Talisman Master, it was naturally effortless, a success on the first try.

After opening Xuan Jinzhi's storage bag, Chen Mobai simply emptied its contents. A moment later, he somewhat awkwardly picked out spiritual stones, cultivation methods, and materials—items of interest to him—from a large pile of women's clothing. To his surprise, Xuan Jinzhi, truly a descendant of a major Eastern Yi sect, actually had two high-grade spiritual stones in her storage bag. That covered two years of salary for the Violet Lightning Sword.

Thinking this, Chen Mobai put the spiritual stones into his own storage bag. Then he picked up several refined dark-gold minerals and carefully examined them. He had also taken 'Mineral Identification' as an elective course for several years at the Dao Academy. Soon, he recognized them as 'Gold Crystals,' refined to Tier 2 spiritual materials, each gram costing tens of thousands of merit points in the Immortal Gate. If these three pieces were sold in the Immortal Gate, they would be worth at least thirty million merit points. These items were traded unofficially in the Immortal Gate, but typically in quantities of no more than 10 or 20 grams, as that amount was sufficient to maintain and re-sharpen artifacts. Unfortunately, Chen Mobai didn't dare to sell them. As long as he continued to conduct his business steadily, his assets would surely grow, and there was no need to take such a risky action for a mere ten million merit points.

Besides the three Gold Crystals, Chen Mobai also found many medicinal pills, all carefully labeled. By cross-referencing the names, he could roughly guess their uses. But for Chen Mobai, these too were destined to be sold.

Finally, his gaze fell upon a book. The title on its cover read 'Falling Treasure Golden Light'—it was a spell. Chen Mobai recalled Xie Yuntian mentioning that Xuan Jinzhi possessed a secret art to suppress artifacts; his Blazing Flame Flying Sword had been suppressed, and at that time, he almost thought he had permanently lost this top-tier flying sword. However, after Chen Mobai had slain Xuan Jinzhi, Xie Yuntian regained control of the flying sword he had refined, leaving him wondering about the mystery behind it.

After reading through this 'Falling Treasure Golden Light' spell, Chen Mobai realized that it was because Xuan Jinzhi had not yet fully mastered it. This secret art was used to seize an opponent's artifact, and it comprised four levels: Suppress Treasure, Seal Treasure, Fall Treasure, and Refine Treasure. Among them, 'Suppress Treasure' could suppress an artifact, but this only controlled its physical form. If the opponent's cultivation surpassed one's own, they could still forcefully break through the suppression by activating their spiritual sense. The second level, 'Seal Treasure,' was more profound; it could even seal the spiritual sense that a cultivator had refined into their artifact, making them unable to sense its presence. Xuan Jinzhi had cultivated to this level. Xie Yuntian's flying sword had been sealed by her in this manner, making him believe that his refined spiritual sense within it had been erased.

In reality, only upon reaching the third level, 'Fall Treasure,' could one quickly destroy the spiritual sense a cultivator had placed in an artifact and forcibly seize control of it. However, 'Fall Treasure' also had limitations: it couldn't seize an opponent's innate artifact or artifacts from cultivators whose cultivation greatly exceeded one's own. Yet, once mastered, the feeling of directly snatching an artifact from a cultivator's grasp in front of them was exhilarating just to imagine. The final level, 'Refine Treasure,' was the highest realm of this secret art. It allowed one to instantly refine and gain mastery over all the methods of refining and controlling the artifact. This was equivalent to a Tier 4 Artifact Appraiser in the Immortal Gate.

After reading it, Chen Mobai felt an irresistible urge to cultivate it. In the Immortal Gate, due to an emphasis on human rights, property rights, usage rights, ownership rights, and so on, spells like 'Falling Treasure Golden Light' were not only non-existent, but if they were, they would likely be labeled as forbidden techniques and prohibited from cultivation. However, this spell was incredibly useful to Chen Mobai. At worst, he could just use it only in the Tianhe Realm once he mastered it.

The main requirement for cultivating this 'Falling Treasure Golden Light,' apart from spiritual stones, was 'Gold Crystals.' Cultivators would absorb the pure metallic qi contained within them, mix their spiritual sense and personal spiritual power in a special ratio, and after nine meltings, obtain a wisp of Falling Treasure Golden Light. Once a complete wisp was formed, it would reach the 'Suppress Treasure' level. The three pieces in Xuan Jinzhi's storage bag were likely for her own cultivation. Chen Mobai estimated that they should be enough for him to cultivate one complete strand of Falling Treasure Golden Light.