Chapter 472: Zhuo Ming Gains Fame

Fu Zongjue attempted to enter the vicinity of the Grand Dao Tree with his puppet body. He discovered that the Longevity Trial still existed. After only a few steps, the Green Sun puppet began to stiffen, and cracks even appeared on its outer shell. Outside, Chen Mobai immediately pulled him out with a pre-prepared hemp rope.

"From now on, disciples of our sect should be forbidden from coming near the Grand Dao Tree," Fu Zongjue said. "After all these years, only you and Honghe have benefited from it." After his attempt, Fu Zongjue felt that the Grand Dao Tree posed more danger than opportunity for the Divine Wood Sect disciples, so he straightforwardly suggested abandoning it. Chen Mobai nodded in agreement. Although he had gained two major sword cultivation realms and the perfected third-tier Divine Wood Lightning within the Grand Dao Tree, establishing his reputation as unrivaled among peers, he still agreed with Fu Zongjue's idea when considering the potential dangers. For the many disciples of the Divine Wood Sect, it was already very fortunate to gain opportunities from the Artifact Tree and the Talent Tree. The Longevity Trial, where the Grand Dao Tree was located, was truly just a trial for them.

After the discussion, Fu Zongjue brought in another one of his third-tier puppet bodies from outside, along with a set of formation flags. Without needing Chen Mobai's help, Fu Zongjue pointed a finger, and under the "All Plants into Soldiers" technique, Red Sun spirit trees transformed into treants, beginning to set up the formation flags and arrays according to his will. Once the formation was activated, it would ensure that Divine Wood Sect disciples would not accidentally wander in due to curiosity.

After half a day of work, the two left the Divine Tree Secret Realm. Lu Yi, who was waiting outside, reopened the secret realm portal at the signal of Grand Ancestor Fu's true body beside him. Opening it repeatedly in such a short time truly drained him, almost costing him half his life, and it was only with Meng Hong's help that he finally recovered.

"Senior Brother Lu," Chen Mobai said to Lu Yi with a smile after Fu Zongjue had left, "after the Sect Grand Competition, my disciples will need to enter the secret realm. I'll have to trouble you again then." Lu Yi, pale-faced, repeatedly waved his hand, stating that he was old and would need to rest for a year or two to fully recover his energy before he could open it again. "Senior Brother Lu has also toiled for the sect. Take these twenty catties of second-tier spirit rice to replenish your energy." Since everyone present was familiar, Chen Mobai didn't stand on ceremony and handed him the twenty catties of Jade Green Spirit Rice he had prepared. Lu Yi's eyes immediately lit up, and after a glance at Meng Hong, he cheerfully accepted it. "You're a young lad, but your ways are just like us old folks. Consider this matter handled by me. Just call me directly after the Sect Grand Competition."

With the Divine Tree Secret Realm matter resolved, Chen Mobai felt a burden lifted from his mind. Upon his return to Divine Wood City, he happened to witness a magnificent display of power by Zhuo Ming on a martial arts stage. She and Tan Qianshi, the true disciple from the Body Forging Department, faced each other without dodging. After twelve consecutive punches, Tan Qianshi could no longer withstand the force of mountains, rivers, and earth veins contained within Zhuo Ming's fists. He vomited blood, his proud Earth Spirit Body was broken, his ribcage fractured, and he was sent flying off the stage. If not for the Foundation Establishment elder presiding over the sect competition catching him, his injuries would likely have been even more severe upon landing.

"Winner, Zhuo Ming!" Elder Chi Tong, the Foundation Establishment elder, frowned at Tan Qianshi's miserable state but still announced the result. He knew Zhuo Ming's background; currently, within the entire Divine Wood Sect, apart from the two Grand Ancestors, the Little Southern Mountain lineage held significant standing. Chi Tong first stabilized Tan Qianshi's injuries before releasing him. After all, he wasn't his own disciple, so the subsequent recovery would be up to Tan Qianshi himself.

However, this match was the most crucial battle among the true disciples. After her victory, Zhuo Ming replaced Tan Qianshi, becoming one of the Divine Wood Sect's twenty-four true disciples. Tan Qianshi stood up with a pale face, looking at the girl in the earthy-yellow long gown on the stage whom he had completely disregarded, still utterly disbelieving. "Nine-Ren Dharma Body, you've actually mastered the Nine-Ren Dharma Body!" As a disciple of the Body Forging Department, Tan Qianshi naturally knew about this top-tier Earth-attribute body-forging technique from the Eastern Barrens. The threshold for this cultivation method was extremely high; even within Quaking Mountain Peak, only a handful of people had mastered it. Ji Daoyuan, the last one to master it, was known as one of the Five-Color Immortal Seeds, and he dominated the Eastern Barrens with it. Among Qi Condensation cultivators of the same level, even the true disciples of Golden Light Cliff were helpless against him. And after Ji Daoyuan was slain by Chen Mobai, this very cultivation method was surprisingly mastered by Chen Mobai's disciple.

Before stepping onto the stage, Tan Qianshi didn't even know who Zhuo Ming was. Although he had heard his junior brothers mention his opponent's background, among the Little Southern Mountain lineage, besides the Divine Wood Sect's top sword cultivator, only Luo Yixuan was someone he truly feared. As for the remaining Liu Wenbai, although he had been among the true disciples for years, Tan Qianshi believed that he could easily defeat Liu Wenbai if he fought seriously. Luo Yixuan, on the other hand, had steadily held a top-three position among the true disciples in recent years, not just relying on her outstanding beauty but on genuine ability. After the battle that annihilated Quaking Mountain Peak, the honor of "disciple follows master" had subtly made her the face of the Divine Wood Sect's current generation of true disciples. Her fame was so widespread that it had spread across half of the Eastern Barrens. Both true disciples of major sects and rogue cultivators knew that the Divine Wood Sect had a "Southern Mountain Immortal," a cultivator of exceptional beauty and cultivation.

Who was Zhuo Ming? Was there even such a person in the Little Southern Mountain lineage? It turned out she relied on the second-tier Divine Wood Shield to get this far. When Tan Qianshi saw Zhuo Ming nervously take out the Divine Wood Shield, he calmly produced a second-tier spirit talisman, briefly sealing his opponent's artifact. Then, with a confident expression, he swung his fist, striking Zhuo Ming heavily on the shoulder. A dull thud echoed, as if striking stone. She was also a body-forging cultivator... Tan Qianshi, delighted by the discovery, began exchanging blows with Zhuo Ming, only to have the bones in half of his body nearly shattered by Zhuo Ming's fists. After his devastating defeat, Tan Qianshi had recognized Zhuo Ming's body-forging cultivation method, and his face was filled with shock.

As soon as he spoke, the Divine Wood Sect disciples watching, especially those at Qi Condensation ninth-tier who had advanced to the final true disciple rounds, all wore grave expressions. Once the Nine-Ren Dharma Body reached its first stage, they would only be able to break its defense by using second-tier artifacts or spells, but Zhuo Ming also possessed the Divine Wood Shield. Even if Li Yixian, the former top true disciple with a second-tier puppet, were to make a move, he would likely suffer immense headaches, unsure of how to proceed.

"You need to rest properly, otherwise, if your muscles and bones don't recover well, it could significantly affect your future cultivation path." At that moment, Zhuo Ming stepped down. She had also realized that her punches seemed a bit heavy, mainly because all her previous opponents had turned pale and forfeited upon seeing her take out the second-tier Divine Wood Shield. Tan Qianshi was the first to face her head-on. Seeing her opponent's severe injuries, Zhuo Ming took out a Regeneration Talisman from her storage bag and applied it to him. She had been well-protected by Chen Mobai over the years, spending her days cultivating fields, and thus possessed a somewhat kindly and benevolent heart.

"Thank you... Senior Sister Zhuo!" Tan Qianshi felt he could move with some effort and took a bottle of healing elixir. Before leaving, he thanked Zhuo Ming with a slightly embarrassed expression. "I joined the sect later than you, so you can just call me Junior Sister." Zhuo Ming called out to Tan Qianshi's retreating back, but he walked away without looking back.

"You're stronger than him, so him calling you Senior Sister is correct." Xi Jinghuo walked over at some point. As the chief disciple of the Sword Cultivation Department, he had also defeated his opponent and become a true disciple. Since he frequently visited Little Southern Mountain, he had a good relationship with Zhuo Ming. "No, that won't do," Zhuo Ming shook her head, indicating that Xi Jinghuo was mistaken. "Master said that among Little Southern Mountain disciples, seniority is not determined by cultivation level."

"I originally thought that after Luo Yixuan and Li Yixian reached Foundation Establishment, the top true disciple position was a sure thing. I never expected there to be a dormant tiger like you." Xi Jinghuo clicked his tongue. As a second-generation immortal from the Divine Wood Sect, he had abundant resources and personal guidance from Xi Yisheng, the Deputy Head of the Sword Cultivation Department. He had also frequently traveled to Golden Light Cliff for exchanges and study, already reaching the peak of sword qi cultivation. Last year, even Li Yixian's Green Sun puppet almost couldn't suppress his flying sword. This year, with those two gone, Xi Jinghuo, whose sword qi was even more refined and mature, originally felt quite lonely. However, upon witnessing Zhuo Ming and Tan Qianshi exchange twelve consecutive punches, utterly crushing the Body Forging Department true disciple's most prized physique, his sword heart began to boil with long-lost excitement.

"I probably won't be your match. Just getting a true disciple position alongside Senior Brother Liu will be enough." Although Zhuo Ming felt she might be somewhat formidable, she didn't believe she could contend for the top true disciple position. She thought she might not even be able to defeat Liu Wenbai, let alone Xi Jinghuo, a genius sword cultivator.

"In this generation, no one but you can withstand my flying sword!" Xi Jinghuo left this statement and departed the stage. After learning that Zhuo Ming had mastered the Nine-Ren Dharma Body, everyone else also acknowledged Xi Jinghuo's judgment. Suddenly, Zhuo Ming became the most talked-about name among the Divine Wood Sect's Qi Condensation disciples. The Second Senior Sister of Little Southern Mountain, deeply immersed in cultivating spiritual plants and not adept at combat, yet her talent was extraordinary, no less than Ji Daoyuan of Quaking Mountain Peak. If Luo Yixuan hadn't successfully reached Foundation Establishment, and Little Southern Mountain needed another Qi Condensation disciple to represent it, coupled with the imminent completion of the Foundation Establishment Pill, Zhuo Ming might not have been willing to show her prowess. Truly a disciple of Chen Mobai, her personality was a direct inheritance of his. She could have become famous through her cultivation, but she preferred farming.

"Master, am I really that powerful?" Zhuo Ming, having heard the discussions and admiration from everyone along the way, still found it somewhat unbelievable after returning. She murmured to Chen Mobai. "In the entire Eastern Barrens, at the same cultivation level, you need not fear anyone but me." Chen Mobai knew Zhuo Ming lacked confidence. In reality, aside from himself, who could activate sword-rainbow through his 'cheat', no one at the Qi Condensation realm could kill her.

"So, that means I won't bring shame to you, Master!" After understanding, a look of relief spread across Zhuo Ming's round face, and this was her first reaction. "Not only will you not bring shame, Junior Sister, but you've also brought immense glory to Master." Liu Wenbai, standing nearby, was filled with envy. Seeing Luo Yixuan, who had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, standing beside Chen Mobai, he, as the senior disciple, felt a pang of shame. With two junior sisters so formidable, the pressure on him as the senior brother was immense.

"Next, you don't need to hold back. Go and win another top true disciple position for Little Southern Mountain." After vaguely understanding her strength and hearing Chen Mobai's words, Zhuo Ming felt a surge of immense motivation. She clenched her fists and nodded heavily. "Master, I won't disappoint you!"

"Master, I will also work hard," Liu Wenbai said, puffing out his chest, feeling that he couldn't let his junior sisters hog all the glory. In the round of twenty-four to twelve, he encountered Niu Longyuan, a true disciple from the Spirit Beast Department, who had borrowed a second-tier old yellow ox. Under his beast-controlling technique, Niu Longyuan's strength was no less than Li Yixian's, who possessed a second-tier puppet. Their battle was truly spectacular, with both fighting until their last breath. Ultimately, Liu Wenbai relied on the defense of his Green Scale Vambraces to drag the fight until his opponent's spiritual energy was depleted, then pulled out his Golden Jade Axe for a decisive strike, severing one of the old yellow ox's horns. However, after making it into the top twelve, Liu Wenbai felt he had reached his limit. As expected, in the next round, he met Guan Xiaolong from the Formation Department, who overcame him with softness, denying him any chance to use his Golden Jade Axe and sending him off the stage with an illusion array. Although stopping at the top twelve was regrettable, it at least guaranteed him a Foundation Establishment Pill. After being dejected for half a day, Liu Wenbai quickly adjusted his mindset and began to cheer for Zhuo Ming.

Having mastered the Nine-Ren Dharma Body and equipped with the Divine Wood Shield, Zhuo Ming adhered to a defensive strategy throughout. She allowed her opponents to attack freely; as long as they couldn't breach her defense, victory was hers once their spiritual energy was exhausted. Of course, some opponents tried to drag out the fight, but Zhuo Ming also possessed the Purple Flame Sword Talisman gifted by Chen Mobai. If she actively used this talisman, any true disciple would suffer a crushing defeat unless they possessed defense comparable to hers and a second-tier artifact. Zhuo Ming advanced through the rounds, defeating Jiang Zongheng from the Transmission Department in the top twelve, and in the top six, she avenged Liu Wenbai by using the Purple Flame Sword Talisman to break Guan Xiaolong's formation.

In the battle for the top three, she faced an acquaintance of Chen Mobai, Ding Ying, a true disciple from the Talisman Forging Department. After a failed attempt at Foundation Establishment, Ding Ying had recovered in recent years, becoming even stronger. Beautiful and confident, she had once been an aspiring role model for Zhuo Ming. When she first emerged from the New Sprout Hall, Zhuo Ming's only dream was to join the Talisman Forging Department, learn one or two methods of talisman crafting, and live a stable life within the Divine Wood Sect. Unfortunately, her several applications had gone unanswered. Later, with no other options, she wanted to participate in the Sect Grand Competition to showcase herself, but unexpectedly, she met Chen Mobai, leading to a surrender that changed her destiny.

"Senior Sister Ding, please guide me!" Zhuo Ming saw Ding Ying, who, facing her, had a solemn expression and had already unleashed her Heavenly Wood Talisman, expanding her domain. Suddenly, Zhuo Ming smiled brightly and pulled out a colorful umbrella from her storage bag. She opened the umbrella but did not activate its defensive power. Instead, she allowed Ding Ying to wave her hand, unleashing a shower of flying leaves and petals that struck various parts of her body. Amidst crisp clanging sounds, Zhuo Ming arrived before Ding Ying, who was under the Tree Seed, and raised her fist. Thump! Thump! Thump! ... After thirteen consecutive punches, Ding Ying vomited blood and was knocked off the stage, her face pale.

Ten years ago, she lost to Chen Mobai. Ten years later, she lost to Chen Mobai's disciple! At this moment, Ding Ying looked at Zhuo Ming, who stood confidently and proudly on the stage, holding her floral umbrella, and an overwhelming sense of shame welled up within her.