Chapter 461: Truth

"Why are you here?" Chen Mobai frowned slightly upon seeing Chen Chun. At that moment, he recalled their first encounter with the Divine Machine Palace successor, realizing that perhaps their meeting had already sealed the fate of this day.

"Would you like a divination? We are fated to meet today." Chen Chun didn't directly answer Chen Mobai's question, instead posing her own.

"What about Shi Wanyu? Since you're here, she must be involved with you." Chen Mobai had calmed down by this point. After all, as a man, he hadn't really lost anything from the incident. Still, he felt a sting of anger. He, who had such a formidable reputation dominating the Eastern Wilderness, had never imagined he would be tripped up in such a mundane place today.

"I wasn't waiting for you in that alley back then." Chen Chun stated calmly, her words bringing a sudden realization to Chen Mobai's face.

"You were waiting for her?" He hadn't realized he had merely piggybacked on Shi Wanyu's fortune. This thought brought a sense of balance to Chen Mobai, making him feel less exploited.

"It wasn't necessarily just her; it could have been both of you." Chen Chun's sudden addition left Chen Mobai looking utterly bewildered.

"My lineage's cultivation involves guiding those with destiny. She wished for a child of yours, and perhaps your simultaneous arrival before me was destined for that child's birth." Chen Chun began to subtly mislead Chen Mobai, diverting his thoughts from Shi Wanyu's involvement.

"A child? Ha, so this was all your doing. I suppose you also provided the drug Shi Wanyu gave me, didn't you? But I cultivate a secret art that locks my primal yang. Even after what happened, I couldn't possibly have any offspring." Chen Mobai sneered in response, though he himself was surprised that the Jade Lock Golden Gate technique had proven so incredibly useful on multiple occasions.

"A Yang-Locking Secret Art!" For the first time, a look of surprise crossed Chen Chun's otherwise impassive face. She pulled a card from her pocket and examined it closely, her brows knitting together. It was true. Yet, as she continued her divine calculations, she perceived a thread of life amidst the stillness, an entirely new divination symbol appearing in her mind, perplexing her. However, this outcome seemed to be even more beneficial for her. If Shi Wanyu couldn't conceive, she would likely turn her efforts toward Foundation Establishment—a golden opportunity she couldn't afford to miss.

"If that's the case, our destiny together ends here today. Farewell." Chen Chun slipped the card back into her pocket and turned to leave, but a flash of light instantly appeared before her. Chen Mobai, his expression cold and stern, blocked her path.

"Though your Divine Machine Palace holds a transcendent position, if I were to report today's events, given the influence of our Dancing Weapon Dao Academy, I doubt you'd escape accountability." Chen Chun's face showed an amused expression upon hearing this. Since her debut, this was the first time anyone had dared to threaten her.

"You won't be able to stop me." As Chen Chun spoke, her figure slowly receded, and a vast pool of shadow poured out from beneath the table, transforming into a pitch-black shroud that seemed poised to envelop and carry her away.

A dull yet resounding sword hum vibrated through the air. A sliver of purple light flared from Chen Mobai's right sleeve, unleashing an unseen yet terrifyingly sharp sword qi that instantly sealed off the flow of Yin-Yang and Five Elements vital energy within the private room.

Half of Chen Chun's disappearing form suddenly froze within the pitch-black shadow. Her exposed right eye, dark and profound, fixed an inexplicable, eerie gaze on the purple light emanating from his sleeve. A fourth-tier, high-grade Purple Lightning Sword!

"Even the Three Great Hall Masters of the Immortal Gate wouldn't dare to condemn our Divine Machine Palace." After a moment of silence, Chen Chun spoke, her dark pupils holding a composure and indifference that made Chen Mobai frown.

"If the Three Great Hall Masters can't convict you, then perhaps the two grand ancestors can intervene. Our Dancing Weapon Dao Academy is, after all, under the White Light Ancestor." Chen Mobai refused to believe that the Divine Machine Palace, an ancient lineage, could truly defy the Dual Sages of the Immortal Gate.

Chen Chun's expression indeed shifted upon hearing his words. Yet, her eyes held another strange, surprising glint, as if she'd heard something truly unhinging. "What do you propose?" In the end, Chen Chun, her delicate brows furrowed, was the first to yield, the mention of the White Light Ancestor seemingly having genuinely intimidated her.

"Where is Shi Wanyu?" Chen Mobai had already tried calling her earlier, but his call was rejected. He had initially considered seeking assistance from the Immortal Gate's official channels, but with Chen Chun, who clearly understood the situation, a more direct approach seemed possible.

"I can tell you, but how do you intend to deal with her?" Chen Chun countered, her question leaving Chen Mobai utterly stunned. Indeed, what would he do even if he found Shi Wanyu? After what had transpired, could he, as a man, truly hold her accountable? Chen Mobai still possessed a degree of chivalry, and the mere thought of confronting Shi Wanyu suddenly gave him a headache. They had merely been casual acquaintances, exchanging pleasantries on holidays. This abrupt development left Chen Mobai completely at a loss.

"Well... I at least have to ask, don't I?" Chen Mobai felt a surge of annoyance. He had been manipulated and had lost something valuable; to ignore it completely would make him seem utterly careless.

"Release the restriction of the Purple Lightning Sword, and I will take you to her." Chen Chun spoke again, but this time, it was Chen Mobai who found himself at a loss. After a long moment, he sighed, retracted the Purple Lightning Sword, and sat back in his chair. "Never mind. Let's just treat it as an unpleasant memory. There was never any possibility between us anyway." Ultimately, Chen Mobai accepted the situation, concluding that pretending ignorance was the best outcome for both of them. From now on, they would simply be friends who had lost contact.

Chen Chun felt the sword qi that had restrained her escape technique dissipate, and her eyes regained their initial composure. Yet, as she prepared to leave, she hesitated. "Since we met, it is a matter of destiny. I shall divine the continuation of your previous divination for you. It appears that a significant portion of your three tribulations for Core Formation have already vanished. There is now more than a thirty to forty percent chance you can succeed in forming your core on the first attempt."

Chen Mobai snapped back to attention at this. Compared to Shi Wanyu, this was by far the most crucial matter for him. If he could successfully form his core, coupled with the blessings of the Scripture of Immortality, he would gain 600 years of lifespan. With such an extended existence, and drawing upon resources from both realms, he could even dare to aspire to form a Nascent Soul, or even ascend further to the Soul Transformation stage. The dazzling and captivating Shi Wanyu, while having left an indelible mark on his life, was merely a fleeting, albeit special, landscape along the path of his immensely long lifespan. With the Turtle Treasure in his possession, he was determined to witness the pinnacle of cultivation. And the absolute prerequisite for all of this was his successful Core Formation.

"I feel as though I've nearly resolved the three tribulations of Core Formation. I'm unsure where any remaining deficiencies lie. Could you please offer further guidance?" After retracting the Purple Lightning Sword, Chen Mobai picked up the pot of black tea Shi Wanyu had left unfinished on the table and poured a cup for Chen Chun, but she waved it away, declining.

"Your spiritual power has not yet reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, which is one area of deficiency. However, your pure Yang spiritual energy is quite refined, so once your Six Yang Body cultivation is complete, it likely won't be a major issue. While you've mitigated the lifespan tribulation, the external vitality you've supplemented into your vessel hasn't perfectly integrated with your intrinsic life essence. Although this won't significantly hinder your Core Formation, it's advisable to address it as soon as possible. The higher your cultivation, the more pronounced this flaw will become."

Chen Mobai was startled by this revelation, immediately rising to ask for further guidance on how to remedy it.

"Simply strengthening your body will suffice. It's best to cultivate a body-tempering technique; the process purifies the impurities within one's life force. Once you reach the third tier, this issue will essentially be resolved." Chen Chun's words caused Chen Mobai to nod repeatedly. He had already set his sights on the Divine Wood Sect's Longevity Dao Body. This body-tempering art wasn't particularly potent in combat, primarily serving to strengthen the physique and increase vital energy. Crucially, it didn't demand extraordinary talent or comprehension; it only required a sufficient amount of Longevity Tree sap to reach completion. It was perfectly suited for someone with ordinary aptitude like Chen Mobai.

"The most vulnerable point remains the spiritual sense tribulation. Last time, there seemed to be no hope at all, but now there's a glimmer of light. Do you possess a magical artifact that can suppress spiritual sense?" Chen Chun's cultivation wasn't profound enough to directly perceive Chen Mobai's Sea of Consciousness, so she had to rely on her own intuition and divination to deduce the information.

"Master is indeed a master. My graduation project was selected by the principal as the best of this year, and he even helped me forge the embryo of a vital artifact. Its primary function is to enhance spiritual sense and suppress the Purple Mansion." Chen Mobai didn't elaborate on the specific details of the Morning Bell, but acknowledging that he was seeking advice, he confirmed he possessed such an artifact. He also conveniently mentioned Reverend Chengxuan, subtly highlighting his position as the top disciple of the Dancing Weapon Dao Academy and the high regard in which Reverend Chengxuan held him.

"Focus more on enhancing your spiritual sense. Compared to the stable foundation of your pure Yang spiritual energy, this area is significantly weaker. If your Core Formation attempt fails, it will undoubtedly be due to this specific tribulation." After imparting this advice, Chen Chun's figure gradually faded into the shadows. Chen Mobai called out twice, wanting to ask for more specific guidance on how to enhance his spiritual sense, but received no further response.

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door again. Chen Mobai activated the protective array and knew it was the maid-uniformed attendant. It was deep into the night, well past his scheduled time. However, the establishment also offered overnight packages, so Chen Mobai extended his stay through the door. He still had a few matters he wanted to investigate. Naturally, he didn't forget to send a message to Bian Jingchun and the others, explaining that he had met a friend and wouldn't be joining them that night.

After settling these matters, Chen Mobai approached the coffee cup he had drunk from. He had never imagined he would fall prey to such a trick again. Last time, it was Kong Feichen who had similarly schemed against him, and now he had been drugged by Shi Wanyu. For someone who had always navigated the harsh environment of the Eastern Wilderness with ease, this was an absolute humiliation.

Though he had finished the coffee, some residual dried grey stains still clung to the inside of the cup. Chen Mobai inspected it, but having no knowledge of pharmacology, he ultimately decided he had no choice but to take the cup with him.

Then, his spiritual sense surged forth. Employing the Heaven-Searching and Earth-Scanning technique obtained from his Talent Tree, he meticulously swept through every corner of the private room. Under the scrutiny of his spiritual sense, every minute detail became perfectly clear in his mind. He observed damp, not-yet-dried marks on the sofa cushions, several long, dark strands of hair nestled in the sofa's crevices, and even discovered torn white stocking fibers beneath the sofa... Finally, Chen Mobai sighed and meticulously cleaned everything, even packing the contents of the waste bin into his storage pouch.

As he exited the private room, Chen Mobai silently vowed to himself that he would only suffer such a setback once. He would absolutely never repeat the same mistake again.

He was the final customer, and the maid cafe closed shortly after his departure. Chen Mobai waited for a while, and once certain he was alone, he re-entered the establishment and reviewed the cafe's surveillance footage by himself.

However, he found no footage showing when Shi Wanyu tampered with the coffee. Instead, at the very end, he saw her hurrying away, head bowed, her beautiful legs—now even fairer and more slender after shedding her stockings—exposed. Chen Mobai also noticed dampness on the hair at her temples, and as she walked, her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, suggesting a degree of discomfort.

Since the matter was highly sensitive, Chen Mobai didn't dare send the coffee cup to a formal institution for testing. He feared it might reveal a secret medicine from an ancient lineage, potentially implicating Shi Wanyu.

After much thought, he concluded that among his circle of acquaintances, only Qing Nu was truly trustworthy. Yet, Chen Mobai retained enough sense to know he couldn't possibly let her in on this matter.

He considered calling Wang Xingyu, but Wang, though skilled in alchemy, would still require the Dao Academy's equipment to analyze the type of spiritual water elixir and its precise ingredients.

Chen Mobai didn't dare let him conduct the test. He pondered it repeatedly and finally thought of a perfect candidate.

When Kong Feichen had gifted him the Sky-Swallowing Snake, he had also provided a forum URL, suggesting Chen Mobai could leave a message there if he needed anything. Even at the Qi Refining stage, Kong Feichen had been able to concoct a potion capable of ambushing Chen Mobai, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He was undoubtedly a genius in this field, much like Qing Nu was in alchemy.

Using Turtle Treasure as a proxy, Chen Mobai switched to his alternate account, "Azure Emperor," logged into the forum, and posted a message: "I'm looking for Feibird."

There seemed to be someone specifically managing the forum, as a private message soon arrived, providing him with a link. Chen Mobai clicked it, discovering it was a chat interface.

About half an hour later, a user with a bird avatar appeared.Kong Feichen: Who is this?

(End of Chapter)