Chapter 467: Million Spirit Stones

Chen Mobai slowly opened his eyes, a satisfied smile gracing his face as he felt the nearly overflowing liquid spiritual energy in his dantian and qi sea. With the aid of the immortal sect's qi-replenishing spiritual water and the abundant spiritual energy at Xiaonanshan, he had already cultivated the Pure Yang Scripture to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment half a year ago. The reason he hadn't emerged from seclusion since then was to cultivate the key to forming a Core from the Pure Yang Scripture: the Pure Yang Dharma Body!

Through the continuous supply of mid-grade spirit stones over the past four years, his Pure Yang Dharma Body had finally reached the level of the Six Yang Body. The moment the Six Yang Body was perfected, the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror, already his innate magical artifact, emitted an unprecedentedly brilliant divine light. From then on, even though Chen Mobai hadn't yet formed his Core, he could unleash the full power of this third-tier magical artifact.

However, since the quality of his spiritual energy was still inferior to that of Core Formation cultivators, he could not sustain the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror at full power for long. Even so, Chen Mobai was still extremely excited.

After demonstrating the artifact's power, he took out a spirit-testing device from his storage bag, injected a stream of his own spiritual energy into it, and looked at the numbers displayed on the screen.

Spirit Root: Metal 23, Wood 46, Water 17, Fire 81, Earth 14.

When he saw the value of his fire spirit root, an indescribable feeling surged from deep within him. He recalled that before obtaining the turtle treasure, even with diligent cultivation every day after school, he still couldn't compare to the lazy, gifted students with two spirit roots in his class. Of the spiritual energy he absorbed with great effort, only one or two tenths would be converted into his Five Elements spiritual energy; the rest would dissipate from his body.

But now, it was completely different. With every breath, over eighty percent of the spiritual energy would be refined into Pure Yang spiritual energy by him. This was the speed of a Heavenly Spirit Root!

After his fire spirit root exceeded 80 points, Chen Mobai could finally legitimately call himself a genius. Even among the Four Great Dao Academies, his current spirit root attributes were among the absolute top tier.

To achieve such accomplishments, Chen Mobai knew very well what the key was. He glanced at the ground around his meditation cushion within the wooden hut, which was covered with dried-up mid-grade spirit stones. A rough count revealed about three or four hundred pieces.

But even with the aid of these spirit stones, Chen Mobai still felt that his cultivation speed for the Pure Yang Dharma Body was a bit slow. According to his estimation, the Six Yang Body should have been perfected around the same time as the Pure Yang Scripture reached the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. The actual progress was half a year later than he had imagined. However, if other cultivators of the Pure Yang Scripture knew about the rapid progress of his Pure Yang Dharma Body, their mental states would probably be unbalanced.

After his spirit roots changed, Chen Mobai instinctively wanted to go to the Divine Tree Secret Realm. But when his divine sense had previously exited his body, he had seen Zhuo Ming at the foot of the mountain, so he temporarily called up his second disciple.

"Greetings, Master."

Zhuo Ming, seeing Chen Mobai, also had a look of joy and bowed to him.

"How is Xuan'er's seclusion going?" Chen Mobai stacked up the communication talismans from outside the Cloud Mist Grand Array, reading them one by one, while simultaneously asking Zhuo Ming about his youngest disciple's situation.

"Little Junior Sister has been in the cultivation room in Shenmu City since she obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill; there's no news yet."

Although Chen Mobai had used the Faceless Puppet to deduce that Luo Yixuan's chances of Foundation Establishment exceeded fifty percent, it still concerned whether she could ascend to the heavens in one step. Luo Yixuan, who was always confident in herself, also felt a bit anxious about gains and losses, and after two years, there was still no news. It's unknown if she has taken the Foundation Establishment Pill, or if she failed Foundation Establishment and doesn't have the face to return.

"Never mind, let her be." Chen Mobai had already meticulously imparted his Foundation Establishment insights and tricks like the spiritual energy vortex to his three disciples. The subsequent process of transformation after taking the Foundation Establishment Pill could only be achieved by themselves; he could do nothing more to help.

"Master, the fifty mu of Azure Jade Spirit Rice we planted earlier have all matured, but since they are second-tier spirit rice, the harvesting puppets seem to have trouble cutting them."

Zhuo Ming immediately spoke of her troubles. Chen Mobai, having perfected his Pure Yang Scripture and Six Yang Body, was in a good mood, so he went down the mountain for a trip.

The stalks of the Azure Jade Spirit Rice were thick and tough. The agricultural puppets that harvested Fire Spirit Rice would have their blades chipped after cutting just a few batches, and even if Zhuo Ming replaced them with new ones, they wouldn't last long.

"It seems we'll need to make some improvements in the future." As Chen Mobai spoke, he reached for the yellow gourd at his waist and pulled open its lid. Then, an orange-red streak of light, like a red thread, swept from left to right across the spirit fields before them. As if an invisible blade had passed through, all the Azure Jade Spirit Rice stalks were neatly cut and fell to the ground. Only dense rice roots remained, forming large, square plots of spirit fields.

Zhuo Ming, seeing Chen Mobai's almost miraculous sword qi, couldn't help but show a look of shock. This was a realm of swordsmanship she could never hope to achieve.

"First, collect this Azure Jade Spirit Rice. Then, put a portion of it on sale in the shop. You should also take some for yourselves to eat. This stuff is very beneficial for cultivating your Nine-Ren Dharma Body." As Chen Mobai spoke, he took a handful of rice stalks himself, then waved his hand to thresh the husks and filled a large bag.

As Zhuo Ming began to summon the mortals within Xiaonanshan to sort the Azure Jade Spirit Rice, Chen Mobai also took the newly cultivated second-tier spirit rice to find Meng Hong. Without the support of this former sect master, his Azure Jade Spirit Rice would not have been so easy to cultivate successfully. Now that there were results, he naturally wanted to make him happy.

"Excellent, excellent! I certainly didn't misjudge you." Meng Hong, who was originally fishing, immediately put down his fishing rod after learning about this matter and personally fetched mountain spring water to start cooking the rice.

The texture of Azure Jade Spirit Rice was actually ordinary, a bit coarse and dry, but the spiritual energy it contained had truly reached the second-tier level. As Meng Hong ate, his eyes reddened with excitement. He knew best what role second-tier spirit rice could play for a sect.

One must know that even at the peak of the Five Elements Sect, most of the second-tier spirit rice consumed by Foundation Establishment cultivators came from large merchant associations outside the Eastern Wilderness. It was precisely because they hadn't mastered the core technology of spirit rice cultivation that the high-grade spirit stones extracted by the Divine Wood Sect, and even the entire Eastern Wilderness, were basically plundered by those large merchant associations outside the Eastern Wilderness using this very method.

With this Azure Jade Spirit Rice, Meng Hong already envisioned that future Foundation Establishment cultivators of the sect, and even Qi Refining true disciples, would more easily strengthen their vital essence and break through their realms than their predecessors.

A large pot of ordinary-tasting Azure Jade Spirit Rice was eaten clean by Meng Hong alone. After finishing, he pulled Chen Mobai to the Longevity Wood to pay respects to Old Ancestor Fu.

"Excellent, excellent! This can be called a heavenly achievement for the sect!" Fu Zongjue was able to see even further implications from the Azure Jade Spirit Rice. He believed this was the Eternal Life Sect's spiritual plant cultivation method that Chen Mobai had obtained from the Divine Tree Secret Realm, and was even already yearning for higher-grade spirit rice. Only sects capable of cultivating third and fourth-tier spirit rice could produce Nascent Soul cultivators generation after generation.

"Go summon Chu Zuoshu." Fu Zongjue, envisioning a future where Giant Wood Ridge was filled with high-grade spirit rice, flushed slightly and became excited despite his Core Formation cultivation. He immediately intended to gather the Three Halls and Twelve Departments to begin promoting the cultivation of Azure Jade Spirit Rice throughout the sect.

"Yes." After hearing this, Meng Hong immediately went to the Divine Wood Hall to convey Fu Zongjue's decree.

"Is there anything you want? This complete method for cultivating second-tier spirit rice... Even if I give you a million sect contribution points, I still feel it cannot express your immense contribution to the sect." Fu Zongjue, holding a handful of Azure Jade Spirit Rice, looked at Chen Mobai with increasing satisfaction. He felt as if Old Ancestor Hunyuan's grave was smoking with good fortune, for their lineage to have received such an outstanding disciple.

"Then a million spirit stones," Chen Mobai replied. "It would be best if they were all converted into high-grade spirit stones. That way, there would be fewer pieces, and it would be easier for this disciple to carry them." Chen Mobai immediately seized the opportunity and readily agreed, following Fu Zongjue's words. He had originally intended for this Azure Jade Spirit Rice to improve the overall quality of the Divine Wood Sect's disciples. After all, once he formed his Core, this would be his sect. The stronger his disciples were, the more convenient it would be to collect medicinal herbs, ores, and so on in the future. Moreover, things like contribution points were not as tangible as spirit stones. If he had another hundred high-grade spirit stones, he would have all the resources needed to cultivate his Pure Yang Dharma Body to the Eight Yang Realm. Furthermore, Chen Mobai had heard from Zhou Shengqing that the sect still owed this Old Ancestor several million contribution points.

"You fellow, you're not polite at all." After hearing this, Fu Zongjue couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. But since he had already spoken the words, he could only, with a pained heart, pour out a hundred crystal-clear high-grade spirit stones from his storage bag.

"Many thanks for Old Ancestor's generous gift. This disciple will work even harder in the future to strive to cross-breed and cultivate third-tier spirit rice."

"Oh, you developed this second-tier spirit rice yourself? It's not from the Eternal Life Sect?" After hearing Chen Mobai's words, Fu Zongjue looked utterly astonished.

"That's right. From breeding and selecting to cross-breeding, my disciples and I completed it all by hand. This Azure Jade Spirit Rice can be said to be the culmination of ten years of effort from our Xiaonanshan lineage." Chen Mobai spoke honestly. Unknowingly, Zhuo Ming had also been his disciple for ten years. The little cultivator who knew nothing back then had now become the pillar of spiritual plant cultivation for the Xiaonanshan lineage.

"You young man..." Fu Zongjue was utterly shocked after hearing this. He had thought Chen Mobai had simply taken the Eternal Life Sect's spiritual plant cultivation method, never expecting that he had cultivated it from scratch himself. This fact left him, a Core Formation cultivator, deeply shaken. The Eastern Wilderness had never seen such an innovative spiritual plant cultivator! No wonder this young man was chosen by the Eternal Life Sect and allowed to enter and exit the Divine Tree Secret Realm. Only someone of such extraordinary talent could pass the Eternal Life Trial and become the Saint Son of this ancient grand sect.

"Although cultivating high-grade spirit rice is also very important, your primary task moving forward is to perfect your Foundation Establishment and prepare for Core Formation." After his shock, Fu Zongjue also regained his composure and admonished Chen Mobai with a more solemn tone. If such a genius were not from his own sect, he would spare no effort, even risking his life and mobilizing the entire sect's power, to eliminate him.

"Reporting to Old Ancestor, I have already perfected my Foundation Establishment!" Chen Mobai, however, smiled slightly and then used the Pure Yang Scripture to simulate the spiritual energy fluctuations of the Scarlet Flame Sword Art at perfected Foundation Establishment. This scene caused Fu Zongjue's mouth to gape open, unable to close for a long time.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're only thirty-three this year, right!" Fu Zongjue began to recall what realm he was in when he was thirty-three. It seemed he was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, diligently vying for the position of a true disciple within the Five Elements Sect.

"The sect's support is the reason for my rapid progress." Chen Mobai said something pleasant. With a sigh, Fu Zongjue also returned from his distant memories and revealed some bad news.

"The refining method for the Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill is a bit different from those in the Eastern Wilderness. Probably due to the ancient formula, Yan Shaoyin's first attempt at refining failed. He is currently gathering materials for a second batch. You might have to wait a few years."

Chen Mobai had come today mainly to ask about this matter. After all, both his Wood and Fire cultivation methods had reached the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Furthermore, his divine sense had also risen to the ninth level with the help of Meng Huanger's Heart Resonance Profound Sound when she broke through from the third to the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. After the Six Yang Body was perfected, all the conditions for Core Formation were met. Only the crucial Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill was missing.

"Then I can only wait." Chen Mobai sighed. However, he had already anticipated this. Even the most skilled alchemist rarely succeeded on the first attempt when refining a pill from an unfamiliar system. It was fortunate that they were in the Tianhe Realm. With Return to Heaven Valley and the Divine Wood Sect as major powers in the Eastern Wilderness, possessing the first and second largest medicinal fields, and several merchant associations outside the Eastern Wilderness serving as channels, otherwise, relying solely on Chen Mobai, even with an additional twenty years, he probably wouldn't be able to gather the ingredients for a single batch of Golden Liquid Jade Return Pills.

The two then discussed some matters concerning the Azure Jade Spirit Rice.

"How long is the maturation period for this spirit rice?"

"This batch, being the first successful cultivation of second-tier rice seeds, required meticulous and careful fertilization to ensure maturation, which resulted in the seeds taking four and a half years. But according to my observations, in subsequent plantings, as long as the earth's energy, water vapor, and spiritual energy can keep up, the maturation time can be compressed to around three and a half years. After all, this Azure Jade Spirit Rice is only a low-grade second-tier product."

Chen Mobai provided detailed answers to all of Fu Zongjue's questions. While the Azure Jade Spirit Rice could reach mid-grade second-tier if meticulously cared for, he felt there was no need. The most important thing was to plant it in large quantities first, ensuring that Foundation Establishment cultivators and true Qi Refining disciples of the sect could consume it. If high-end spirit rice was desired, there was also the Phoenix Tear Bamboo Spirit Rice, which matured in six years and could ensure the production of mid-grade second-tier spirit rice. And the Jade Bamboo Spirit Rice, which matured in ten years, was still high-grade second-tier. Thus, Chen Mobai had single-handedly filled the Divine Wood Sect's vacant spot for second-tier spirit rice cultivation methods.

Fu Zongjue was very satisfied, feeling that the million spirit stones he had given were well worth it.

At this moment, Chu Zuoshu and Meng Hong flew over. Soon after, the heads of the Three Halls and Twelve Departments all arrived in Shenmu City. Xie Yuntian and the others originally wore relaxed expressions, but upon entering and seeing Fu Zongjue seated at the head, they all jolted, began to tidy their attire, and respectfully came forward to greet him.

"This is the cultivation method for second-tier Azure Jade Spirit Rice. From now on, all vacant second-tier spirit fields within the sect shall be used to cultivate this spirit rice. The Spiritual Plant Department will take the lead on this matter, with other departments cooperating to complete it."

Shi Fengping, the head of the Spiritual Plant Department, was overjoyed upon hearing this. He hadn't expected such a tremendous opportunity to fall into his lap. With Fu Zongjue's words, his Spiritual Plant Department could now oversee other departments and even had a legitimate reason to direct and utilize the resources of various departments.

"This disciple will certainly not betray Old Ancestor's trust!" Shi Fengping cheerfully stepped forward and said. However, Jin Shanping, the deputy head of the Spiritual Plant Department beside him, seemed to recall something and also saw Chen Mobai beside Fu Zongjue. His expression couldn't help but change.

"Oh, by the way, this cultivation method for Azure Jade Spirit Rice was completed by Junior Nephew Chen. Before your Spiritual Plant Department begins planting, consult him more often." After Fu Zongjue finished speaking, he felt that those below might outwardly comply but inwardly defy, so he emphasized one more sentence. "What he says is my will!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Fengping's face fell as if he had lost a parent.