Chapter 477: Preaching

This tea tree was once a source of great hope for Chen Mobai. He not only used his connections to acquire branches of the Bai family's third-tier Snow Needle Immortal Sprout, but he also personally planted them in the Great Dao Tree, hoping to use the immense vitality of this Tree of Life to change the tea tree's nature, enabling it to survive in Giant Wood Ridge.

Unfortunately, although the grafting was successful, the tea tree only reached the first tier.

A first-tier tea tree, even for his three disciples, was not of much use.

However, since he had personally grafted and planted the tea tree, Chen Mobai would still check on it from time to time, even hoping to cultivate and upgrade it in the future if the opportunity arose.

Now, with Zhuo Ming's Myriad Things Empathy divine ability, Chen Mobai felt this extravagant hope might just come true.

"These tea trees won't do. It's already difficult enough for them to survive here."

There was a small tea garden on the mountainside of Mount Xiaonan, where not only Chen Mobai's grafted tea tree was planted, but also twenty tea trees that Bai Dingxian had given him.

However, these tea trees were still more suited for colder,阴寒 (yin-cold) climates. After touching a few, Zhuo Ming regretfully shook her head.

"I remember there are many wild tea trees in Giant Wood Ridge. The Spiritual Plant Department should have records. Later, I'll go talk to Shi Fengping and see if we can transplant some of these wild tea trees here. Then, you'll have to work hard to see if there are any tea species suitable for grafting and upgrading."

Chen Mobai's love for farming was ingrained in his bones. Moreover, long-term tea consumption could enhance comprehension and thinking abilities. Unfortunately, the Bai family's Snow Needle Immortal Sprout had low yields, so he had always been thinking about whether he could cultivate a unique third-tier tea species suitable for this climate.

With Zhuo Ming's talent, she could easily become a top-tier Spiritual Planter.

However, knowledge about tea trees was scarce in the Divine Wood Sect. He would first need to systematically study at the Immortal Sect before returning to impart it to her.

"Yes, Master."

Zhuo Ming had been farming for years. While she might be somewhat naive and slow in other aspects, she was very acutely aware of the power of her Myriad Things Empathy divine ability.

With this, she could quickly master the sect's spiritual plant heritage and become a third-tier Spiritual Planter in the shortest possible time.

She could even use it to cultivate third-tier spiritual rice or tea species.

Thinking of this, she was very excited.

The master and disciples had another dinner that night. Zhuo Ming's cooking had a different flavor, having inherited Chen Mobai's true culinary art, and perhaps even surpassing it.

Chen Mobai ate to his heart's content and stayed on Mount Xiaonan for a while longer.

It wasn't for the food, but because Zhuo Ming had just completed her Foundation Establishment and had many questions about her subsequent cultivation that required guidance from him as her teacher.

On the first day, Zhuo Ming studied the complete Earth Mother Art and the Spiritual Planter heritage on her own.

On the second day, she brought her questions and notes to Mount Xiaonan.

The knowledge required after Foundation Establishment was much more profound and abstruse than during Qi Condensation. If Chen Mobai hadn't had the Immortal Sect's knowledge system as his backing, he wouldn't have dared to act as a teacher.

Fortunately, while Zhuo Ming's comprehension was average, it perfectly aligned with the Earth Mother Art she cultivated. Furthermore, her Enlightenment Foundation Establishment had granted her the Myriad Things Empathy divine ability, paving her own grand path to cultivation.

Chen Mobai spent three days guiding her through a thorough contemplation of the entire Earth Mother Art.

Some parts Zhuo Ming still didn't understand, but it didn't matter; in the future, through farming, the earth would slowly reveal the answers to her.

After discussing the content of Foundation Establishment cultivation, Chen Mobai also took her to the Spiritual Plant Department.

Ever since Fu Zongjue instructed Shi Fengping to start planting Azure Jade Spiritual Rice, the head of the Spiritual Plant Department wisely understood that unless Chen Mobai repeatedly failed to form his core, his standing in the eyes of the two patriarchs would surely far exceed his own.

So, when Chen Mobai came calling, Shi Fengping personally helped him consult all the records related to spiritual tea trees in Giant Wood Ridge.

"Junior Brother Chen, these are all the spiritual tea trees recorded by the Spiritual Plant Department. Some of the more precious ones have disciples guarding them, but most are just periodically inspected by Spiritual Plant Department disciples to ensure the trees are still there."

Shi Fengping spoke gently, holding the tea tree distribution map and introducing each one to Chen Mobai and his disciple. He also took the opportunity to ask some questions about planting Azure Jade Spiritual Rice, which he had been too embarrassed to ask Chen Mobai before.

Chen Mobai was not one to reject a smiling face and answered each question.

"Ming'er has received my true teachings. In the future, if you have any questions about spiritual rice, Senior Brother Shi, you can certainly ask her."

Before leaving, Chen Mobai introduced Zhuo Ming to Shi Fengping, as his disciple was sure to become the Divine Wood Sect's top Spiritual Planter in the future and would need to interact frequently with the Spiritual Plant Department after her Foundation Establishment.

"Junior Sister Zhuo underwent Enlightenment Foundation Establishment; her future achievements are limitless. I've long wanted to meet her."

After setting aside his airs, Shi Fengping's words were as pleasant as a spring breeze.

Chen Mobai laughed heartily and then took Zhuo Ming to meet old friends like Sun Gaochang. Everyone praised his second disciple, who had unexpectedly risen to prominence.

Two of his three disciples had successfully completed Foundation Establishment on their first attempt, and Yu Lianmu and Li Yixian were also able to achieve Foundation Establishment due to his guidance. These accomplishments earned Chen Mobai the esteemed title of "Great Virtuous Teacher" within the sect.

Now, many true disciples who had not yet taken their Foundation Establishment Pills sought connections, hoping to receive guidance from Chen Mobai.

Regarding this, Lu Yi even personally called Chen Mobai, asking if he had time to teach and impart cultivation methods to the sect's true disciples.

The Divine Wood Sect's Transmission Department, besides preserving the sect's cultivation methods and legacies, had its primary task of lecturing to the sect's disciples.

In the largest central square of Divine Wood City, a different Qi Condensation Completion realm cultivator lectured daily.

These were former true disciples of the Divine Wood Sect who, after failing Foundation Establishment and growing older, would contribute their remaining energy by teaching and clarifying doubts for the sect's lower-tier Qi Condensation disciples.

Although these cultivators were only at the Qi Condensation stage, and many were specialized, only teaching what they excelled at, their numbers were significant. The Transmission Department assembled a team from the three halls and twelve departments, ensuring that knowledge from all aspects could be taught.

And the Divine Wood Sect's Qi Condensation disciples could choose to attend lectures on topics that interested them.

When Zhuo Ming had not yet joined Chen Mobai's tutelage, she would attend lectures daily in Divine Wood City Plaza, hoping to learn some real skills.

Unfortunately, while these individuals would explain specific matters like spell cultivation, they were vague about practical skills that could earn spirit stones, such as talisman crafting, pill refining, and artifact forging.

At most, they would teach basic principles or grand theories, never revealing their years of accumulated experience and tricks.

Besides being the prevailing custom, this was also due to interference from other departments. After all, crafting a talisman or refining a pill formula was the foundation of the Talisman Crafting Department and the Pill Refining Department, and these were monopolized by them.

To learn, one had to apply to join the relevant department. This way, even if there were hidden talents among the inner disciples, the three halls and twelve departments could ensure they were recruited through this system.

So, after listening for a year, Zhuo Ming wanted to further her studies in the Talisman Crafting Department but was rejected.

In addition to former true disciples, Foundation Establishment elders from the sect would also come to lecture in the Transmission Department.

However, since Foundation Establishment cultivators had their own busy affairs, their lecture times were not fixed, but the Transmission Department generally ensured at least one Foundation Establishment lecture per month.

These also came with sect contribution rewards.

This time, the demand was exceptionally high because all true disciples wanted Chen Mobai's guidance, so their respective masters approached Chu Zuoshu and Lu Yi.

Chen Mobai naturally had to give face to these two, as they had helped him a lot, and reciprocity was a matter of human kindness. Moreover, he also wanted to seize this opportunity to promote some good practices from the Immortal Sect.

The day of his lecture quickly arrived.

Even before dawn, Divine Wood City Plaza was already densely packed with Qi Condensation disciples.

Many had come the night before to claim a spot. If it weren't for the Transmission Department maintaining order, the scramble for positions alone would have caused several conflicts.

Essentially all Qi Condensation disciples in the sect who heard the news came, and even some Foundation Establishment elders found private rooms in restaurants on the edge of the plaza, wanting to listen in.

As the first ray of sunlight appeared on the horizon, a slender figure, riding on a cloud of misty glow, stepped through the light and slowly descended onto the high platform in the center of the plaza.

After Chen Mobai took his seat, he glanced at the expectant crowd below. In the very front, he spotted many familiar faces, including friends like Qi Rui, Qi Hou, and Xi Jinghuo, all true disciples of the Divine Wood Sect from this generation.

Among them, he also saw Ding Ying.

However, under Ouyun's intervention in the past, they had already reconciled. Moreover, now the two were worlds apart; in Chen Mobai's eyes, Ding Ying was just an ordinary true disciple.

After observing the situation below the stage, Chen Mobai looked around and sensed the auras of many familiar Foundation Establishment fellow disciples, but he merely smiled faintly, pretending not to notice.

Ding Ying saw Chen Mobai's gaze merely sweep over her without lingering, and a sigh of relief finally escaped her.

For Foundation Establishment, she was willing to humble herself.

When she came, she had even mentally prepared herself to be turned away, but this Senior Uncle Chen was indeed as the rumors described: a man of his word and broad-minded.

"Time is limited. Today, I will not talk about general cultivation. I will focus only on how to improve the success rate of Foundation Establishment."

As the sundial reached that moment, Chen Mobai went straight to the point, launching into the day's topic.

At his words, the already eager disciples all perked up, wanting to engrave every word and sentence he was about to say into their minds.

"Foundation Establishment has a total of three stages. In summary, it's the transformation of essence, qi, and spirit. If one stage does not reach the standard of qualitative change, Foundation Establishment will not succeed."

"And many true disciples, when they take the pill to initiate the Foundation Establishment process, are actually only meeting the spiritual energy standard. The efficacy of the Foundation Establishment Pill can act on all three stages of essence, qi, and spirit. However, many people, due to insufficient physical vitality or accumulation of many pill toxins from consuming pills to boost cultivation, will consume most or even all of the Foundation Establishment Pill's medicinal power during the first stage of physical transformation."

"Thus, in the second stage, when qi condenses into liquid, even if your spiritual energy meets the standard, because the Foundation Establishment Pill's medicinal power was exhausted in the previous stage, it will lead to Foundation Establishment failure. I dare say more than half of the sect's true disciples are stopped by this."

"Cultivators who have perfected all three stages of essence, qi, and spirit—for example, my disciple Zhuo Ming—actually don't need a Foundation Establishment Pill and can still easily complete Foundation Establishment."

"So, if you want to succeed in Foundation Establishment, in addition to perfected spiritual energy, your physical body also needs to be perfectly flawless. Those with conditions can cultivate a simple body-tempering method according to their spiritual root attributes. It doesn't need to be one with powerful combat ability; just one for strengthening the body will suffice."

"Those without conditions can consume spiritual rice and purified water, along with some of their preferred spiritual beast meat and vegetables. If sustained for five or six years, their bodies can also be well-conditioned. However, attempting Foundation Establishment this way will still consume a portion of the Foundation Establishment Pill's medicinal power during the transformation."

Chen Mobai began to promote the consumption of spiritual rice as the simplest way to enhance one's physique.

The Qi Condensation disciples below listened with shining eyes. Even some disciples with limited funds decided that from now on, they would at least eat one meal of spiritual rice a day.

"Cultivating a body-tempering technique to success will ensure that no medicinal power from the Foundation Establishment Pill is consumed during the transformation, safeguarding you through the latter two stages. When my second disciple first joined me, she was a frail girl. Through years of consuming spiritual rice to strengthen her vitality, she finally cultivated the Nine-Edge Law Body..."

At this point, Chen Mobai again used Zhuo Ming as an example. He then advised against frequently taking pills to boost cultivation.

While rapid improvement for a time might feel good, the lingering effects of pill toxins would take a very long time to eliminate.

"I suggest using pills or other spiritual items to assist during critical breakthroughs, but for daily cultivation, it's best to meditate and absorb spiritual energy."

This touched upon the issue of spiritual energy purity, and Chen Mobai began to elaborate, discussing the harm of excessive pill toxins on breakthroughs.

On this day, Chen Mobai lectured from sunrise to sunset.

He finally provided a comprehensive overview of Foundation Establishment. Of course, he did not elaborate on secret techniques such as the critical method of the spiritual energy vortex.

After all, there were certainly spies from other sects within the Divine Wood Sect.

And the content he lectured on was actually known to the upper echelons of other major sects in the Eastern Wastelands, just not organized into a complete and harmonious system like in the Immortal Sect.

With Chen Mobai's lecture, setting aside the lower-tier Qi Condensation disciples, the true disciples gained a comprehensive and entirely new understanding of the Foundation Establishment process. A complete blueprint for their own Foundation Establishment had already formed in their minds.

Many who were preparing to take Foundation Establishment Pills decided to pause.

These individuals had generally used pills to boost their cultivation. When they asked medical experts to examine their bodies and spiritual energy, they indeed found traces of many lingering pill toxins.

Moreover, many had insufficient physical vitality and depleted essence, so if they took Foundation Establishment Pills, they likely wouldn't even pass the first stage.

As a result, spiritual rice, which was originally just an ordinary commodity, saw its price instantly skyrocket tenfold after Chen Mobai's lecture, and it was quickly bought out by the sect's Qi Condensation disciples.

Among them, Chen Mobai's Mount Xiaonan Shop was naturally the most frequented.

All the Azure Jade Spiritual Rice in the warehouse was sold out, and Liu Wenbo began to transport batches of spiritual rice from the warehouse at the foot of Mount Xiaonan to the Mount Xiaonan Shop in Divine Wood City.

But no matter how much was brought, it would be sold out the next day.

This was because Chen Mobai did not let Liu Wenbo raise prices, insisting on selling his spiritual rice at the normal market rate.

Having decided on the general policy of selling at fair prices, Chen Mobai firmly took the first step in ensuring that everyone in the Divine Wood Sect could afford spiritual rice.

Under these circumstances, Liu Wenbo suddenly rushed to the Tree of Life Dao Field.

Chen Mobai thought it was about the spiritual rice, but it turned out to be about his youngest disciple.

"Master, this is a letter from Junior Sister."

Before Liu Wenbo established his foundation, he had opened branches of the Mount Xiaonan Shop all over the Eastern Wastelands. After Luo Yixuan took over, she would often send letters through the shops.

Chen Mobai thought it was just a usual greeting, but to his surprise, upon opening it, it was the cultivation method for the third layer of the Return to Origin Secret Art.

Although he had finally obtained what he had been longing for, Chen Mobai felt a hint of unease.

Because besides the cultivation method, Luo Yixuan hadn't written a single other word.

This didn't fit her style of always adding a couple of lines, even when there was nothing specific to say!

Moreover, he had told her that once she obtained the Return to Origin Secret Art, her task would be complete. With her homesick nature, it was impossible for her to send the cultivation method back while remaining outside the sect herself.

She should have returned proudly via the teleportation array, then presented the secret art to him with a look eager for praise.

"Wenbo, go to Ming Kingdom and bring Xuan'er back. Go quietly."

After long deliberation, Chen Mobai decided to send his eldest disciple to investigate, fearing that something might have happened to his youngest disciple.

And since she had no major enemies outside the sect, it was highly possible that someone was trying to use her to target him.

Considering this possibility, Chen Mobai felt it would be best for him not to leave the sect easily.

However, at this moment, he also began to feel a sense of urgency regarding his own Core Formation.