Chapter 479: Five-Peak Immortal Mountain

The wait is over!

Chen Mobai, who had just returned from the Tianhe Realm, felt a surge of joy upon seeing the message from the Gate Management Bureau. This department is dedicated to maintaining and observing the precious Gate within the Immortal Sect. They are responsible for issuing notifications whenever the Gate shows unusual activity or is about to open.

After reaching the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, Chen Mobai had already applied to open a Core Formation realm. He had initially expected a long wait, as cultivators who had perfected Foundation Establishment in the Immortal Sect often had ample time before achieving Core Formation. To his surprise, the Gate opened after just four years. What's more, the one opening it was his idol, Venerable Qingping, which was truly a double blessing for Chen Mobai.

Without delay, he immediately booked a flight to Wangwu Grotto-Heaven, the capital.

Before leaving, of course, he had to make an appearance. He didn't forget to have a meal with his parents and relatives and, while he was at it, inquired about the current funds in his company's account.

The results were pleasing. Although he had kept a low profile and not managed much over the years, even signing a long-term procurement agreement with a large forestry company in Yumucheng for regularization, the continuous sale of talismans from the puppet factory had accumulated over 50 million merit points, even after deducting these costs. Indeed, business proved to be the most profitable, and all the merit points were legitimate and could withstand scrutiny.

However, what surprised him most was that the Flying Talisman Factory finally turned a profit last year. After many years of training, the workshop workers were now capable of producing high-quality second-tier jade talismans. In response, after rewarding each worker with a large red envelope, Chen Mobai issued a new ten-year plan for them to research third-tier talismans and ink for the Heavenly Heart Sword Talisman.

Everything was unfolding just as he had initially planned. Of his two factories, the puppet factory focused on output, while the Flying Talisman Factory emphasized quality. Previously, even the flawed jade talismans from the Flying Talisman Factory would sell out immediately upon being stocked at the Xiaonanshan shop in the Eastern Wilderness, let alone these high-quality ones. However, researching and refining third-tier talismans and ink was quite advanced for the Flying Talisman Factory's workers, who were only at the Qi Cultivation stage. Ideally, a Foundation Establishment stage talisman maker should oversee the entire process. But Danxia City was simply too small; Foundation Establishment cultivators hoping to advance further would seek opportunities in larger grotto-heaven cities. Chen Mobai could only split his consciousness and control the Formless Puppet to oversee the Flying Talisman Factory, gradually guiding the workers in attempting to refine third-tier talismans and ink. Meanwhile, his true self had already boarded the plane.

As a member of the Immortal Sect, Chen Mobai had never before visited Wangwu Grotto-Heaven, the capital. Before departing, he specifically went to his puppet factory to pick the ripe first-tier vermillion fruits from the vermillion fruit tree. After giving most of them to his parents and relatives, he preserved the three best-looking ones using ice magic. Besides the vermillion fruits, Chen Mobai also returned to Xiaonanshan and retrieved two jars of second-tier Jade Bamboo Spirit Wine. This was the finest wine Zhuo Ming had ever brewed. The ten mu of Jade Bamboo Spirit Rice that he and his disciple had planted had finally matured this year, yielding eight hundred catties per mu. Zhuo Ming had used the less perfect grains to brew a large jar, which she treasured immensely. When Chen Mobai scooped two small jars, she was quite reluctant to part with them. Ten years of diligent tending had finally led to the maturity of the Jade Bamboo Spirit Rice; it was much like raising one's own child.

After collecting the Jade Bamboo Spirit Wine, Chen Mobai went to the peach trees on Xiaonanshan's mountainside and picked a basket of peaches. Although these peaches were only first-tier, under Zhuo Ming's Universal Spirituality, they had been cultivated to have a crisp taste and abundant juice, making their flavor almost as good as third-tier immortal peaches. Chen Mobai intended these fruits and spirit wine as a gift for Venerable Qingping, should he get to meet him. Though a meeting wasn't guaranteed, he felt it was better to be prepared.

Upon exiting the airport, Chen Mobai spotted his greeters: Sun Daoji and Chi Shicheng. These two had previously been ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Wuqi Daoist Academy, accompanying Chen Mobai to an offline exchange event at the Jumang Daoist Academy. However, because Chen Mobai alone had suppressed all the perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators from the other academies, they had merely been onlookers.

“Hello, seniors,” Chen Mobai greeted them with a smile.

This opening of the Gate had implications for the entire Immortal Sect, as the last time it opened was seventeen years ago. In those seventeen years, a significant number of ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators had emerged in the Immortal Sect. Of these, their Wuqi Daoist Academy alone had seven. Besides the familiar Bian Jingchun, Zhongli Tianyu, and Zuo Qiushi, there were two who had been in seclusion in the Myriad Treasures Cave, and others who, like Sun Daoji and Chi Shicheng, held positions in the Immortal Sect. Although the Immortal Sect emphasized equality, there were still factions. For this Gate opening, those from the Wuqi Daoist Academy naturally gathered together. In Wangwu Grotto-Heaven, Sun Daoji and Chi Shicheng were the organizers. Sun Daoji, in particular, had been actively contacting graduates of the Wuqi Daoist Academy.

“You're the last one; everyone else arrived much earlier,” Sun Daoji laughed heartily at Chen Mobai. He held this youngest junior in very high regard. After all, he possessed the potential for Spirit Transformation.

“Zhongli Tianyu is here too?” Chen Mobai asked, somewhat surprised. Given Zhongli Tianyu's personality, it seemed unlikely he would rush like this.

“He just happened to be at Huixian Peak these past few years. It was Venerable Zhongli’s cultivation ground after he reached Spirit Transformation. Apparently, there’s a fragment of a Bagua Mirror here, so it was a fortunate coincidence.” Sun Daoji shook his head, a hint of envy in his voice. The cultivation grounds of the Immortal Sect's Spirit Transformation grand ancestors were the only sixth-tier spiritual veins, known as the 'Five Peaks Immortal Mountains.' This was where the Five Patriarchs of the Immortal Sect first propagated their teachings when they arrived on the Terrestrial Star. Each of them occupied a peak, teaching without discrimination and spreading the art of cultivation, forming the nascent Immortal Sect. Subsequently, every Spirit Transformation cultivator in the Immortal Sect would come here after achieving enlightenment to occupy one of the peaks, signifying their ascent to the pinnacle of the Immortal Sect and matching the achievements of the patriarchs. The current Twin Sages of the Immortal Sect occupy two of these five peaks. For resource conservation, except for the two peaks where the grand ancestors resided, which were sixth-tier spiritual veins, the spiritual energy at the summits of the other three peaks had been ninety percent sealed, reducing them to only a fourth-tier level. Nevertheless, Zhongli Tianyu's ability to freely enter and exit one of the Five Peaks Immortal Mountains and enjoy the benefits of fourth-tier spiritual energy already made all Foundation Establishment cultivators extremely envious. It was well known that even some Core Formation True Persons in the Immortal Sect couldn't enjoy fourth-tier spiritual energy.

Along the way, Chen Mobai also inquired about the reason for this Gate opening. “Wenren Xuewei successfully formed her Core. She applied to open a Core Formation realm, and with Venerable Taohua's influence, the Immortal Sect promptly made arrangements.” Sun Daoji, being an Immortal Sect official, was very sensitive to such information.

“I see. If it's her, then it makes sense.” There were only three reasons for the Gate to open: a Spirit Transformation grand ancestor wished to use it, to initiate a war, or to assist an Immortal Sect cultivator in opening a Core Formation realm. For the past thousand years, the Immortal Sect had only opened the Gate for the latter reason. However, it was possible that in the next hundred years, it might involve initiating a war. Chen Mobai had been wondering who had successfully formed their Core, but upon hearing Sun Daoji, he immediately understood. Still, Wenren Xuewei was quite something; she didn't even tell him she had successfully formed her Core. After all, they had been colleagues, working together on the Formless Puppet.

“Why is Venerable Qingping acting as the host this time?” Chen Mobai then asked about what concerned him most. Opening the Gate required at least a Nascent Soul stage cultivator to act. Even when new Core Formation cultivators appeared, the Immortal Sect would check the availability of Nascent Soul Venerables. After all, Core Formation cultivators had to accommodate the schedules of Nascent Soul Venerables; it was inconceivable for Nascent Soul Venerables to interrupt their cultivation or research specifically for Core Formation matters. Since Wenren Xuewei had successfully formed her Core, shouldn't Venerable Taohua or Venerable Sanjue from the Jumang Daoist Academy be the ones to act? After all, if the cultivator wasn't a descendant of their own faction, these Nascent Soul Venerables were often disinclined to act. When Chen Mobai applied to complete his research at the Butian Daoist Academy, Venerable Yuanxu had even intended to use it as a favor to make him stay for a few more years. It was for this reason that when Chen Mobai received the notification from the Gate Management Bureau stating that Venerable Qingping would preside, he hadn't thought of Wenren Xuewei. He had assumed it was Tao Mingqing from the Taiyuan Academy, or some other hidden, low-profile genius.

“Venerable Qingping has cultivated to the third level of Nascent Soul and wishes to utilize the spiritual veins of the Five Peaks Immortal Mountains to break through to the fourth level. He applied to the Immortal Sect for this, and so, this matter naturally fell to him.” Sun Daoji quietly shared what he had learned. He was considered one of the Wuqi Daoist Academy's Foundation Establishment representatives in the capital, allowing him access to many higher-ups and this kind of information.

“As expected of Venerable Qingping!” Chen Mobai’s face lit up with joy upon hearing this. As a leading figure of the Realm Faction, Venerable Qingping had not disappointed him. Although Venerable Qingping had previously been forced to a draw in a duel by Nangong Xuanyu of the Chunyang Academy, drawing considerable ridicule, he now declared through his breakthrough in cultivation that 'practice beats fighting ability.' After forming his Nascent Soul, Venerable Qingping continued to advance diligently, while Nangong Xuanyu, despite holding the title of the top Core Formation cultivator for decades, never dared to take another step in his cultivation. Perhaps in two or three hundred years, Venerable Qingping would still be vibrant and continuously breaking through, while Nangong Xuanyu would be trapped before the Nascent Soul threshold, fading away in desolation.

“Senior Sun, would I be able to pay Venerable Qingping a visit?” Chen Mobai voiced his thoughts to Sun Daoji, who, however, looked troubled and regretfully shook his head, indicating he couldn't arrange it. “Venerable Qingping is staying at the Yingxian Hotel, and without an invitation, it's difficult for us to enter.”

“Yingxian Hotel?” Chen Mobai didn't know where that was and immediately asked.

“It’s a very ordinary-looking hotel, but it's situated at the tail end of a sixth-tier spiritual vein,” Chi Shicheng, who had been silent, answered the question. It turned out to be in a valley where the two grand ancestors of the Five Peaks Immortal Mountains were in seclusion. The hotel could provide fifth-tier spiritual energy to Nascent Soul Venerables. Only the Immortal Sect's top echelon were arranged to stay here when they visited Wangwu Grotto-Heaven. Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai could only shake his head regretfully.

At this point, they arrived at a courtyard house in a small alley in the center of Wangwu Grotto-Heaven. Chen Mobai noticed the sign that read 'Wuqi Daoist Academy Office' at the entrance and couldn't help but smile faintly. “Junior brothers and sisters who graduate from the academy usually report here first. Even Zuo Qiushi stayed here for two days to finalize his induction into the Enforcement Department before happily leaving.” Every Immortal Sect official required an interview here in Wangwu Grotto-Heaven, but with the influence of the Wuqi Daoist Academy, it was mostly a formality. Being called for an interview meant that a position had already been arranged. Someone like Daoist Master Ling could even be reassigned back to Xixuan Grotto-Heaven after his interview, demonstrating the immense influence of the Butian Daoist Academy.

“You're late!” Entering the courtyard, Chen Mobai heard a familiar impatient voice he hadn't heard in a long time. A bowl cut, short stature, youthful face – it was Zhongli Tianyu!

“Hahaha, long time no see.” Zhongli Tianyu looked on in a daze as Chen Mobai walked over, laughing, and ruffled his bowl cut, momentarily forgetting to resist.

“Junior Brother Chen, we were just waiting for you to start lunch.” The graceful and charming Bian Jingchun, leaning against a red pillar, spoke with a smile. Beside her were the familiar Zuo Qiushi and three other men and women Chen Mobai didn't quite recognize. These were the ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Wuqi Daoist Academy for this Gate opening. Including Chen Mobai, there were exactly seven of them. Together with Sun Daoji and Chi Shicheng, the nine of them set up a round table in the courtyard. The meal was specially prepared by a hired chef, and Chen Mobai ate with relish.

“By the way, aren't you staying near the Five Peaks Immortal Mountains? Can you bring people in?” As he spoke, Chen Mobai remembered what Sun Daoji had said and couldn't help but ask Zhongli Tianyu, who was sitting next to him. Having not seen him since graduation seven years ago, Chen Mobai felt a strong sense of familiarity upon seeing Zhongli Tianyu.

“Yes, I can. I just need to apply to the Five Peaks Immortal Mountains' management beforehand. But I need to specify how long you'll be staying, and if it's an overnight stay, how many days...” Zhongli Tianyu genuinely disliked such troublesome matters, but since it was Chen Mobai asking, he reluctantly agreed to help.

“I'll go with you tonight!” Chen Mobai was thinking that since the Yingxian Hotel was within the Five Peaks Immortal Mountains, going with Zhongli Tianyu might give him a chance to meet Venerable Qingping.

After finishing the lavish lunch hosted by Sun Daoji and Chi Shicheng, while Bian Jingchun, Zuo Qiushi, and the others were still chatting, Chen Mobai had already pulled Zhongli Tianyu away with an apologetic look, making an early exit.

“Those two really have a good relationship, truly the twin stars of their batch,” Zuo Qiushi couldn't help but remark, watching Chen Mobai and Zhongli Tianyu, who couldn't wait another moment to leave.

“They have a good relationship?” Bian Jingchun, who knew the inside story, rolled her eyes upon hearing this.

Unaware of their conversation behind his back, Chen Mobai had naturally already followed Zhongli Tianyu to the Five Peaks Immortal Mountains. Like a giant stretching its five fingers from the earth, five majestic mountain peaks rose from the ground.