Chapter 493: Spiritual Consciousness Breakthrough

"Congratulations, you've reached Foundation Establishment Layer Nine."

Meng Huang'er's breakthrough naturally occurred beside Chen Mobai. Besides his guidance, she also took a minor barrier-breaking pill.

"Thank you," Meng Huang'er said. "Now I finally feel I'm of some use to you."

Meng Huang'er opened her eyes, feeling the nearly overflowing liquid spiritual power in her Dantian and Qi Sea. A radiant smile appeared on her face as she gazed intently at Chen Mobai beside her.

"If I can form a Core, you'll certainly have contributed immensely."

Chen Mobai nodded at the "superstar" in front of him, acknowledging her hard work.

Originally, he estimated that it would take Meng Huang'er about twenty years to reach Foundation Establishment Layer Nine, but now she had achieved it five years ahead of schedule.

Apart from Chen Mobai's guidance, the main reason for this was Meng Huang'er's own diligent efforts.

In the Immortal Sect, due to the comfortable environment and the sixty years of cultivation experience required to form a Core, many cultivators would not rapidly advance their cultivation realms like this.

After all, even if one reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, they would still have to wait when it was time.

Why be so rushed? Wouldn't it be better to cultivate at ease and let breakthroughs happen naturally?

Therefore, Chen Mobai felt great affection for Meng Huang'er. Over the past decade or so of close interaction, their relationship gradually transformed from a mere transaction into one of sincere friendship.

"I'll consolidate my realm. If you need me to, I can initiate Core Formation in two months."

"There's no need to rush. Your Profound Sound Marvelous Body has just been refined. Here are some spiritual liquids for you. I'll also prepare some pills to ensure that a failed Core Formation won't harm your body."

Chen Mobai was still a very gentle person. He knew that Meng Huang'er initiated Core Formation simply to allow him to listen to the Heavenly Music of the Great Dao and then use her Yin essence to help his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness break through to the Core Formation level.

Having just reached Foundation Establishment Layer Nine, and without spiritual medicines like the Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill, it was virtually impossible for Meng Huang'er to successfully form a Core.

Chen Mobai had considered this issue before dual cultivating with her.

Therefore, he prepared some miraculous elixirs in advance to prevent any damage to her foundation and future achievements should her Core Formation fail.

Even the chances of his own breakthrough were not high.

"Understood, I'll listen to you."

Having just broken through, Meng Huang'er was exhausted. With a languid tone, she reached out and took a small bottle of Longevity Tree sap that Chen Mobai handed to her.

"This is a spiritual tree liquid refined by a friend from my Jumang Daoist Academy," Chen Mobai explained. "It's absorbed into the bones using a special method, significantly enhancing physical strength and vital energy."

After Chen Mobai perfected his Longevity Dao Body, he still had 14 drops of Longevity Tree sap left. As it was far from enough for him to cultivate the second layer of the Dao Body, he had kept it.

Meng Huang'er's Profound Sound Marvelous Body, achieved at Foundation Establishment Layer Nine, was also a form of body refinement, though its main purpose was to harmonize her tendons and bones to resonate in unison, aligning with the trajectory of the Dao and producing heavenly music.

Absorbing the Longevity Tree sap into her body would definitely be beneficial.

"This spiritual liquid must be very precious, right? Is it made from the sap of the Great Toon Tree, an advanced form of the Jade Marrow Pill?"

Meng Huang'er had previously taken Jade Marrow Pills refined from Great Toon Tree sap, so after hearing Chen Mobai's description of the Longevity Tree sap, she immediately made the connection.

"Something like that. I'll teach you the refining method."

Chen Mobai's idea was to refine these drops of Longevity Tree sap into the bones around Meng Huang'er's primal Yin. She found this very reasonable and began to listen carefully to the refining method.

As Meng Huang'er had just broken through, she waited three days before, under Chen Mobai's guidance, she began to refine the first drop of Longevity Tree sap.

Although she hadn't cultivated the Longevity Scripture, with Chen Mobai's personal assistance using the Lantern Lighting Technique, Meng Huang'er refined one drop in about ten days.

Nearly half a year later, Meng Huang'er had completely consolidated her Foundation Establishment Layer Nine realm and refined all the Longevity Tree sap, forming the first layer of protection in the critical areas of her Profound Sound Marvelous Body.

At the same time, Chen Mobai received a box of pills sent by Wenren Xuewei.

"This is the Five-Ginseng Hundred-Flower Paste, which is blended from five types of century-old Ganoderma lucidum and a hundred different spiritual flower essences. It is a third-tier, mid-grade elixir that has an immediate restorative effect on any injuries to one's essence, qi, or spirit."

Meng Huang'er took the box of pills. As she listened to Chen Mobai's explanation, her beautiful eyes sparkled with emotion.

In the Immortal Sect, this was considered the best pill for recovery after a failed Core Formation.

Only the Jumang Daoist Academy and the Taiyi Medical Palace could refine it, and a single pill was worth twenty million merit points.

If Chen Mobai didn't have Wenren Xuewei's connection, he wouldn't be able to buy it even with money.

"Thank you," Meng Huang'er said.

Meng Huang'er managed to suppress her emotions and spoke. Chen Mobai, however, smiled and took out another third-tier pill he had prepared for her.

"This is the 'Heavenly Fragrance Eight Treasures Pill'," he explained. "I exchanged for it with the help of this year's Daoist Academy Student Council President. It's a spiritual pill specifically for injuries to the divine sense. If your breakthrough fails, your Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness won't suffer any damage after taking it."

Chen Mobai had learned about both of these pills when he was cultivating the Spirit Control Art.

Conveniently, there were still three Heavenly Fragrance Eight Treasures Pills in the Treasure Vault of the Wuqi Daoist Academy, with one pill costing 120 academic credits.

Although he had already graduated, he still held deep prestige within the academy. After helping to appraise Artifact-Containing Orbs for two years, the student council's account had accumulated enough academic credits to exchange for the Heavenly Fragrance Eight Treasures Pills.

He exchanged for two pills.

And he prepared one for himself.

Although dual cultivation with Meng Huang'er could theoretically open his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness to the Core Formation level, the actual success rate was similar to Core Formation itself. While Chen Mobai held hope, he was also prepared for failure.

"If you keep doing this, I'm really going to fall in love with you..."

Meng Huang'er, seeing the Heavenly Fragrance Eight Treasures Pill, finally couldn't suppress her inner emotions and uttered something she would never normally say.

"I'm just doing what I should be doing," Chen Mobai replied with a slight smile, not directly responding to her words.

In his view, Meng Huang'er was diligently cultivating for him, even going so far as to initiate a Core Formation attempt that was destined to fail. If he didn't prepare pills to ensure she suffered no after-effects, he would feel extremely guilty.

Since he happened to have connections and could obtain these pills from the Jumang Daoist Academy and Wuqi Daoist Academy, why wouldn't he?

"I want to dual cultivate with you right now..."

Meng Huang'er's pretty face flushed, and her eyes welled up. She unfastened the sash around her slender waist, and her dress slowly slid from her fair, rounded shoulders...

Fortunately, Chen Mobai maintained his rationality.

He didn't rashly take Meng Huang'er's primal Yin just then. After a passionate moment, they chose an auspicious day.

It was set for early next year.

That is, in one month.

And good news arrived one after another.

Towards the end of the year, True Person Shaoyang, Qin Beichen, finally emerged from seclusion.

Upon receiving the news, Chen Mobai immediately went to Che Yucheng's office.

"I hope you won't give up halfway like I did," Qin Beichen said, sighing, as he sat on the sofa in Che Yucheng's office, looking at Chen Mobai standing before him.

"I will certainly carry the banner of the Pure Yang lineage in the academy and won't disappoint you, Teacher Qin."

Chen Mobai could guarantee this. With the Tianhe Realm as his backing, perfecting the Pure Yang Dharma Body was only a matter of time. He would certainly not fade away like Qin Beichen did over the long years.

"This is the key to the immortal's cave. It's located deep within the Ten Thousand Treasures Cave. Since you've mastered a domain, you can directly activate the void beacon within the key to instantly teleport into the cave."

After hearing Qin Beichen's instructions, Chen Mobai immediately experimented. He gripped the key in his right hand, and a silver light expanded, enveloping the entire office.

A similar silver light flickered around Che Yucheng, resisting it from entering his body.

Qin Beichen, however, allowed the key's silver light to envelop him. Immediately, both he and Chen Mobai vanished from the spot.

When Chen Mobai opened his eyes, he found himself deep within the Ten Thousand Treasures Cave, on a black iron island above surging magma. The extremely dense fire spiritual energy made his body feel hot and dry.

Qin Beichen's voice rang in Chen Mobai's ears, explaining, "Those with a domain can use their void power to resist a beacon's teleportation." Since Chen Mobai hadn't resisted, he had been directly teleported. "Let me first introduce you to this cave dwelling..."

The island was not large; they walked its entire perimeter in five minutes.

In the middle of the island stood a fire spirit tree, beside which was a black iron house. Inside, there were only some shelves and a futon, making it very rudimentary.

After Qin Beichen formed his Core, he stayed here for a century.

He diligently cultivated the Pure Yang Dharma Body, but seeing no end to this path, he finally switched to cultivating the Heaven-Burning Art in the second year after Chen Mobai graduated.

After they finished touring the island, Qin Beichen led Chen Mobai to its edge. Looking at the churning, fiery magma outside, he spoke words that made Chen Mobai repeatedly shake his head. "Your decision to form a Core without relying on pills is something I greatly admire," Qin Beichen said. "If you succeed, reaching the Nascent Soul stage will certainly be no problem."

"Not at all, not at all," Chen Mobai replied. "Core Formation can still rely on talent, but Nascent Soul requires resources. Based on seniority, it might take me two or three hundred years to even get a turn."

Even extraordinary figures like Nangong Xuanyu couldn't obtain the Immortal Sect's Nascent Soul spiritual medicines. Even if Chen Mobai passed the public service examination after forming his Core, he would still have to wait until after the three Vice-Palace Masters of the Immortal Sect, like Gongye Zhixu, before he could hope to acquire the Three Nascent Soul Spirit Pills.

For thousands of years in the Immortal Sect, only those who had perfected the Evergreen Art were able to pass this hurdle without consuming Nascent Soul spiritual medicines.

"If you can achieve Core Formation through enlightenment, then as long as you wish, our Wuqi Daoist Academy will certainly go all out to support you in acquiring the Immortal Sect's Nascent Soul spiritual medicines," Qin Beichen said. "I also heard you studied at the Sky-Mending Daoist Academy for five years. With the support of our two major academies, it's not impossible for you to become the Immortal Sect Master."

Qin Beichen's words made Chen Mobai's heart pound.

Unconsciously, he had already become one of the most well-connected cultivators in the Immortal Sect.

Second only to the descendants of Soul Transformation cultivators.

This was the change in status brought by talent!

But he quickly calmed down.

The prerequisite for all of this was his successful Core Formation.

He absolutely had to form a Core.

Just as his resolve became even firmer, Qin Beichen suddenly produced a thumb-sized, sealed glass tube.

The glass was transparent, so Chen Mobai could see a deep purple stream of qi sealed inside.

"This is..."

Although he had already guessed what it was, Chen Mobai was still somewhat incredulous.

"This is a wisp of Pure Yang Purple Qi that I condensed," Qin Beichen explained. "While its efficiency for breaking through realms will only be half if you use it, it's the only way I can help you."

After saying this, Qin Beichen handed the glass tube to Chen Mobai.

"This... this is too precious."

Chen Mobai knew best how precious Pure Yang Purple Qi was. After all, he himself had previously condensed it in the Tianhe Realm using the Anamorphous Puppet, but later estimated that it would take over three million spirit stones to condense a complete wisp, so he had given up.

Even with Qin Beichen's cultivation level, it would take thirty to forty years to condense a single wisp.

Although Chen Mobai greatly desired it, he found himself unable to reach out.

"After I switch to cultivating the Heaven-Burning Art, I can certainly reach Golden Core Layer Nine, but my chances of forming a Nascent Soul in the future are likely slim," Qin Beichen continued. "If you can form a Nascent Soul, or even reach Soul Transformation, you might have the hope of guiding me. Consider this my early investment in you."

After Qin Beichen finished speaking, Chen Mobai was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected that he, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, would have a Golden Core True Person willing to invest in him.

And with such precious Pure Yang Purple Qi, no less.

"If you don't want it, I won't force you to take it," Qin Beichen said.

Seeing Chen Mobai still standing stunned, Qin Beichen, holding the glass tube, was about to take it back. The latter immediately reached out and took the wisp of Pure Yang Purple Qi.

"Teacher Qin's kindness, I will always remember it," Chen Mobai said solemnly, holding the Pure Yang Purple Qi.

After returning to Che Yucheng's office, Qin Beichen said a few words and then directly took his leave.

"Did he give you the item?" Che Yucheng asked Chen Mobai.

"Teacher, how did you know?" Chen Mobai asked, very curious.

"Nonsense," Che Yucheng scoffed. "I reminded him. Otherwise, do you think that blockhead, who only knows cultivation, would have thought of giving you Pure Yang Purple Qi?"

"Thank you, Teacher," Chen Mobai said, shaking the glass bottle.

"Although this item isn't as good as a Core Formation spiritual medicine, in its absence, it can barely serve as a substitute," Che Yucheng said. "I hope you, young man, can successfully form your Core this time..."

As Che Yucheng spoke, he waved his hand, signaling Chen Mobai to go into seclusion in the immortal's cave for Core Formation and not waste time outside.

"Teacher, I definitely won't disappoint you! The glory of the academy will reach new heights because of me!" Chen Mobai declared with a resolute tone as he left the office.

***

"It's so hot here!"

Meng Huang'er, brought by Chen Mobai to this immortal's cave with a fourth-tier superior spiritual vein, immediately felt the scorching air around them. Beads of fragrant sweat seeped from her fair skin, and she uncomfortably took off her jacket.

It was winter outside, and she was dressed somewhat warmly.

"Are you ready?"

Chen Mobai came up behind her, gently extended his arm to embrace her slender waist, and asked.

"Yes, I've been waiting a long time for this day."

Meng Huang'er leaned back into him. Chen Mobai felt the undulating curves of her back and hips, and helped her slip off the slightly transparent clothes that were damp with sweat.

Accompanied by a muffled groan, the Heavenly Music of the Great Dao began to resonate above the black island floating on the magma.

A verdant jade parasol tree slowly materialized in the void, and faintly, a five-colored phoenix illusion could be seen circling the tree.

Amidst the clear and melodious phoenix cries, a teal-colored flower bloomed. The pure and majestic spiritual energy around it transformed into droplets of fiery red spiritual liquid, irrigating the flower, and gradually, a rudimentary green and red fruit began to condense.

The spiritual liquid continuously fell, the phoenix cries grew increasingly high-pitched, and the fruit began to take shape.

However, the illusion of this fruit seemed to lack a crucial power, preventing it from solidifying from its ethereal form.

As time passed, the spiritual liquid stopped falling, and the five-colored phoenix became increasingly dim and listless, appearing too tired to fly, only able to land on a branch of the jade parasol tree to rest and pant.

Just as the fruit, along with the jade parasol tree and phoenix illusion, seemed on the verge of dissipating into a blurry phantom, a wisp of deep purple flowing light illuminated from the center of the black island.

Like a purple beam of light carrying endless radiance and heat, it plunged into the jade-green fruit.

At that moment, the five-colored phoenix also used its last ounce of strength, letting out its final, high-pitched cry, like shattering jade.

As Kunshan jade shatters, the phoenix cries; lotuses weep dew, fragrant orchids smile.

The bottleneck hindering the fruit's formation shattered in an instant. Qing Tong saplings bloomed in the void, and in a flash, they transformed into a verdant forest, their lush canopy obscuring the sky, with dense foliage and flourishing branches.