Chapter 475: Zhuo Ming Lays the Foundation

Chen Mobai was initially puzzled, but then a sudden realization brought a surge of pleasant surprise. Fearing his aura might disturb the integrated earth vein spiritual energy below, he carefully halted, observing the core of the anomaly from a distance in the sky with his Void-Piercing Spiritual Eye.

The anomaly was located at the edge of Xiaonanshan’s two acres of third-grade spiritual fields. Chen Mobai had previously acquired five Life-Generating Stones from the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion and one more from a sect disciple, burying all six in the high-grade second-grade spiritual fields with the goal of upgrading them to third-grade. Only Zhuo Ming cared for these spiritual fields, as she alone understood their intricate workings.

Through his Void-Piercing Spiritual Eye, Chen Mobai witnessed the earth energy, centered around Xiaonanshan’s third-grade spiritual vein, as if awakening from a deep slumber. Wisps of incredibly pure primal life energy surged from the thousand-acre expanse, flowing from all directions towards the ground beneath Zhuo Ming, who sat beside the third-grade spiritual fields. These energies then emerged from the ground, transforming into streams of earthy yellow light that formed a maternal cocoon, enveloping Zhuo Ming within. This cocoon resembled an embryo nurtured by the earth, trapping all the primal life energy within. It continuously drew spiritual energy from the thousand acres of spiritual fields surrounding Xiaonanshan, steadily channeling it into Zhuo Ming’s body.

Was this the process of Foundation Establishment using the Earth Mother Skill? Chen Mobai was utterly mesmerized by the sight through his Void-Piercing Spiritual Eye, but then it struck him: Zhuo Ming hadn’t acquired her Foundation Establishment Pill yet! This meant she was achieving Foundation Establishment through spontaneous enlightenment!

Only through such a state could such a magnificent Foundation Establishment phenomenon occur. Other true disciples of the Divine Wood Sect who practiced the Earth Mother Skill, even if they successfully used a Foundation Establishment Pill, would at most draw only a few strands of earth mother-qi. Unlike Zhuo Ming, for whom the entire spiritual field within Xiaonanshan’s domain eagerly offered its core vitality to aid her in achieving the Dao.

Chen Mobai observed a small blade of grass emerging from the soil at Zhuo Ming’s feet, sprouting and growing. He also saw vibrant, multicolored flowers blooming profusely and even a few stalks of azure jade spiritual rice and fire spiritual rice. As time progressed, a veritable sea of flowers and greenery rapidly appeared at the foot of Xiaonanshan. This phenomenon indicated that Zhuo Ming’s body was completely saturated with primal life energy, unable to absorb any more. Consequently, all the excess energy flowed into the spiritual fields beneath her, invigorating the dormant seeds of flowers, grasses, and spiritual rice. These seeds, sensing the influx, mistakenly believed it was their growing season and burst forth in their most beautiful forms.

Chen Mobai noticed his eldest disciple, Liu Wenbai, rushing towards Xiaonanshan with a look of astonishment. To prevent any disturbance to Zhuo Ming, he drew Liu Wenbai to his side.

"Greetings, Master. What is this...?"

Liu Wenbai had been cultivating on his Winged Mountain, but during his meditation that day, he sensed an unusual fluctuation in the earth vein spiritual energy. Believing something was amiss, his sense of responsibility prompted him to immediately cease his cultivation and rush towards Xiaonanshan.

"Ming’er is undergoing Foundation Establishment. The earth veins near Xiaonanshan are assisting her in condensing the 'Mother Qi of All Things'."

Chen Mobai briefly explained. Liu Wenbai’s expression initially showed only surprise and happiness for Zhuo Ming, but he quickly grasped the full implication, and a look of profound shock spread across his face.

"Junior Sister... she's achieved Foundation Establishment through spontaneous enlightenment!"

"Indeed. While I knew Ming’er possessed the deepest foundation among the three of you and had the highest chance of achieving Foundation Establishment, I never imagined she would accomplish something of this magnitude." Chen Mobai’s face showed a mix of emotion.

It was worth noting that even he, after his initial Foundation Establishment with the Longevity Scripture, had relied on the Spiritual Artifact Dual Cultivation Art and the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror to achieve spontaneous Foundation Establishment, a process he felt was somewhat contrived. Compared to his second disciple, whose achievement was so naturally formed with mountains and earth veins aiding her path to the Dao, Chen Mobai suddenly felt a twinge of shame.

"Junior Sister Zhuo is truly astounding..."

At that moment, Liu Wenbai found himself at a loss for words of praise. Though he had mentally prepared himself to be the weakest among Xiaonanshan’s disciples after his own Foundation Establishment failure, Zhuo Ming’s spontaneous enlightenment to achieve Foundation Establishment still deeply profoundly shocked him. In the Eastern Barren, such an accomplishment was usually reserved for those with Heavenly Spiritual Roots or exiled immortals like his Master. As a disciple who had joined Chen Mobai’s lineage alongside Zhuo Ming, Liu Wenbai suddenly felt as if he were merely an accidental addition.

"There's no need to be disheartened. Just focus on your own path." Chen Mobai knew his eldest disciple’s emotional state had been turbulent since his Foundation Establishment failure. Seeing Liu Wenbai’s crestfallen expression, he couldn’t help but offer words of comfort.

Just then, the earth cocoon encasing Zhuo Ming began to crack open. With a resounding crack, an incredibly rich vital spiritual energy dispersed into the air. This accumulated energy, after Zhuo Ming’s breakthrough, slowly returned to the embrace of heaven and earth.

A pair of hands, like yellow jade, emerged from the cocoon, parting it left and right. The two-meter-tall maternal cocoon was torn open, revealing a woman in a plain yellow gown, her expression one of dazed wonder. Zhuo Ming’s appearance was merely passable, but after this transformation through spontaneous Foundation Establishment, her entire being exuded a pure, nascent charm, like a bud about to bloom. Her sweet, round face held both delight and apprehension, and her eyes shone with an unadorned, natural freshness. She now resembled a peony blooming in early spring—exquisitely delicate and boundless in beauty.

"Hahahaha, indeed, among my disciples, Ming’er, you are most like me." Chen Mobai laughed heartily as he led Liu Wenbai descending from the sky. Zhuo Ming, still absorbed in the physical transformation brought by Foundation Establishment, immediately bowed to him.

"Master, I achieved Foundation Establishment without taking a Foundation Establishment Pill. Will this have any adverse effects on my future cultivation progress?"

Zhuo Ming, a former rogue cultivator, had spent over a decade at Xiaonanshan, engrossed in farming and talisman drawing. She was genuinely unaware of such a phenomenon as spontaneous Foundation Establishment. Her successful Foundation Establishment this time had been a somewhat bewildering and hazy experience. While tending to the six acres of spiritual fields containing the buried Life-Generating Stones, she also incidentally absorbed the Life-Generating Stone Chen Mobai had given her. That day, she happened to completely refine all the earth vein spiritual energy within it. Then, the Earth Mother Skill spiritual power within her Dantian and Qi Sea inexplicably began to operate on its own, prompting her to draw in the earth’s vitality from beneath her feet. During this process, Zhuo Ming’s mind once again merged with the earth’s spiritual essence, entering a state of spontaneous enlightenment. She felt the pulse of the thousand acres of spiritual fields centered around Xiaonanshan and the respiration of all things rooted in the earth.

She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but Zhuo Ming simply woke up as if from a deep, natural sleep. She perceived herself inside a spherical earthy enclosure and instinctively reached out to break free. To her surprise, her cultivation had already broken through, and she tore the shell open with ease. Though still bewildered, Zhuo Ming was immensely delighted that her Earth Mother Skill had broken through to the tenth level, reaching the Foundation Establishment realm. However, following her initial elation, she felt a slight apprehension regarding her inexplicable Foundation Establishment process, deeply concerned that she might have inadvertently strayed onto an unorthodox path.

Upon seeing Chen Mobai, she greeted him, then couldn't help but voice her concerns.

"This is the most superior method of Foundation Establishment. In the past, I, your master, also comprehended the opportunity for Foundation Establishment while journeying through mountains and rivers..." Chen Mobai laughed heartily as he explained spontaneous Foundation Establishment to Zhuo Ming, not forgetting to subtly embellish his own achievements in front of his disciple, given his well-established persona as an unparalleled genius.

"I see, Master. In that case, I won't need my Foundation Establishment Pill. Senior Brother Liu can have it." After hearing this, Zhuo Ming uttered words that brought tears of profound excitement to Liu Wenbai’s eyes.

"Junior Sister Zhuo, this is—" Liu Wenbai’s eyes were moist, and his voice faltered. He then looked expectantly at Chen Mobai, knowing that even with Zhuo Ming's willingness, her master's approval was still necessary.

"That Foundation Establishment Pill belongs to Ming’er. Since she is willing to give it to you, her senior brother, it demonstrates her respect and affection for you. Go ahead and accept it." Chen Mobai had originally planned to let Liu Wenbai undergo a few more years of tempering before giving him the Foundation Establishment Pill he possessed. However, with Zhuo Ming having achieved spontaneous Foundation Establishment and having already offered the pill, he, as their master, would naturally not disrupt the harmonious and affectionate atmosphere among his disciples.

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Junior Sister Zhuo!" Liu Wenbai felt as if he had seen a beacon of light in the darkness. He had initially believed that after his first Foundation Establishment failure, he would be marginalized. He never expected that not only would Chen Mobai console him, but Zhuo Ming would actually offer him her Foundation Establishment Pill. Such a bond between master and disciples and among fellow sect members was practically unheard of in the Eastern Barren.

"If I hadn't followed you, Senior Brother, to become a disciple back then, I wouldn't be who I am today. Perhaps the events of that day were the cause for today's outcome." After Zhuo Ming achieved Foundation Establishment, her entire awareness and demeanor were transformed, and she uttered words that even surprised Chen Mobai.

"Wenbai, go to the wine cellar and fetch two jars of wine. Ming’er, afterward, you and I will go to visit the Sect Master, and also acquire the cultivation method for the Earth Mother Skill after Foundation Establishment." As soon as Chen Mobai finished speaking, Liu Wenbai briskly headed to the nearby wine cellar.

Seizing the opportunity, Chen Mobai asked Zhuo Ming to transfer a stream of spiritual energy to him.

Metal 3, Wood 20, Water 21, Fire 9, Earth 50.

Chen Mobai nodded slightly as he observed Zhuo Ming’s spiritual root values displayed on the spirit-testing device in his palm. Compared to before refining the Life-Generating Stone, Zhuo Ming’s Earth spiritual root had increased by 3 points, from 47 to 50. This indicated that Life-Generating Stone, a precious ore, was indeed a treasure capable of enhancing spiritual roots. What remained unknown was whether a single stone could only ever increase Earth spiritual roots by 3 points, or if the stone Zhuo Ming had absorbed had already been partially utilized by a Divine Wood Sect Qi Cultivation disciple, thus reducing its full effect.

The answer was simple to verify. Coincidentally, Chen Mobai had acquired another Life-Generating Stone through the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion in the past two years. He retrieved it from his storage bag and offered it to Zhuo Ming.

"Since you achieved Foundation Establishment using this, it indicates your deep affinity with Life-Generating Stones. Absorb another one, and then transfer a stream of spiritual energy to me." Although Zhuo Ming didn't understand the reason for the request, she never refused Chen Mobai’s instructions. She took the Life-Generating Stone and nodded vigorously.

At that moment, Liu Wenbai returned with two jars of azure jade spiritual wine. Chen Mobai instructed him to remain and manage the affairs following Zhuo Ming's Foundation Establishment, while he took Zhuo Ming to Divine Wood City.

They first visited Sect Master Chu Zuoshu, who, upon learning that Zhuo Ming had achieved Foundation Establishment through spontaneous enlightenment, couldn't help but marvel, carefully scrutinizing this niece-disciple he had previously paid no attention to.

"Junior Brother, your cultivation talent is exceptional, and your ability to teach disciples is equally superb. If I had been born a century later, I would certainly have sought to become your disciple." Chen Mobai simply smiled at Chu Zuoshu’s remark.

After guiding Zhuo Ming through the process of changing her sect token, she was officially recognized as a Foundation Establishment Elder of the Divine Wood Sect. With her identity change complete, Chen Mobai took her to various departments to claim her courtyard, shop, and spiritual vein cave dwelling. He had previously facilitated Luo Yixuan's acquisition, ensuring she received the best available location.

Zhuo Ming, however, did not choose any of the vacant third-grade spiritual vein cave dwellings. Instead, she selected a second-grade spiritual vein cave dwelling near Xiaonanshan, named Jushan. She was accustomed to using a courtyard mountain as her dwelling. Moreover, since Chen Mobai had established the Longevity Wood Daoist Temple, Xiaonanshan’s third-grade spiritual vein also became hers, ensuring an ample supply of spiritual energy for her Foundation Establishment cultivation. Although Jushan possessed only a second-grade spiritual vein, its slopes were covered with a type of spiritual orange tree. While the oranges themselves were quite bitter, their dried peel was a valuable spiritual medicine, constantly sought after by the Alchemy Department and disciples from various other departments. Zhuo Ming chose Jushan because she wished to incorporate its accompanying hundred acres of barren land into the Xiaonanshan system, further expanding the scope of her farming endeavors. Having achieved spontaneous Foundation Establishment in her Earth Mother Skill through years of persistent farming, she believed that continued progress would require her to stick to her original occupation.

Chen Mobai respected her choice, but still assisted her in selecting a Spirit Gathering Array from the Array Department. This way, she could at least enjoy low-grade third-tier spiritual energy even on her own courtyard mountain.

By the time Chen Mobai left Divine Wood City with Zhuo Ming to meet Meng Hong for a drink, nearly half of the Divine Wood Sect was already aware of his second disciple’s achievement of spontaneous Foundation Establishment.

"Are you saying that Zhuo Ming, who applied to join my Talisman Crafting Department, was actually rejected?" Cao Lian, the head of the Talisman Crafting Department, heard Inspector Wang Zhang’s words, and her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.

"Why would I lie to you? Junior Brother Chen and I are both inspectors of the Hall of Rewards. This matter came up when we were traveling with the Sect Master to Lei Country to engage in battle at Shakeshan Peak. Knowing I was an inspector for the Talisman Crafting Department, he simply mentioned it in passing."

After Wang Zhang finished speaking, Cao Lian immediately summoned Ding Ying and asked her to retrieve the departmental application forms of the new disciples from Yun Country who had joined the sect over a decade ago. Ding Ying didn’t understand why, but her status as a true disciple of the Talisman Crafting Department stemmed not only from her cultivation but also from her exceptional professional capabilities. Despite the age of the records, she located them in the sect’s library within half an hour. Cao Lian quickly scanned the documents and, sure enough, found Zhuo Ming's application, which had ultimately been rejected by Ding Ying, then a true disciple. Such minor matters were typically beneath the notice of those at the Foundation Establishment stage, so they were delegated to capable disciples within the department.

"When Zhuo Ming applied to join the department, why did you reject her?" Hearing Cao Lian’s expressionless question, Ding Ying’s heart sank. She had been concerned about this exact issue ever since Zhuo Ming achieved the rank of top true disciple. However, at the time, her actions weren’t considered irregular. Zhuo Ming, fresh from the New Bud Hall, had displayed low talisman crafting skills and ordinary talent. She simply couldn’t compete with the other disciples applying for the department in that same batch, which led to her rejection.

"Do you realize she has successfully achieved Foundation Establishment?!" After hearing this, Cao Lian’s finger paused on the comment “ordinary talent” written on the form, and she stated coldly.

"That's impossible. Her Foundation Establishment Pill was reallocated to Liu Wenbai. She would have had to wait for the next batch." Ding Ying couldn't believe it. Zeng Woyou's refinement of Foundation Establishment Pills was a matter of intense scrutiny for the entire Divine Wood Sect. Could Chen Mobai have acquired one from an external source?

"She achieved Foundation Establishment through spontaneous enlightenment!" Upon hearing Cao Lian’s declaration, Ding Ying froze instantly.