Chapter 497: Dance Instrument Daoist Academy's Nascent Soul Path

When he was in the Qi Refining stage, his greatest dream in this life was to achieve Foundation Establishment. After reaching Foundation Establishment, he thought how great it would be if he could form a Core. Now that he had formed a Core, Chen Mobai began to yearn for the Nascent Soul stage.

However, compared to the Core Formation stage, forming a Nascent Soul was much more mysterious and difficult. Although resources were scarce in the Immortal Sect, at least hundreds of Core Formation cultivators were present in each generation. With such a large sample size, the Core Formation stage had been thoroughly researched, and according to the Immortal Sect's theory, virtually everyone had the potential to form a Core if they had enough resources. But the Nascent Soul stage was different. Even within the Immortal Sect, those who reached it were few and far between.

Chen Mobai could use resources from both worlds to achieve Core Formation, but he was unsure if he could reach the Nascent Soul stage. Nevertheless, compared to the Tianhe Realm, the Immortal Sect possessed at least a dozen complete theoretical frameworks for Nascent Soul formation, along with relevant elixirs and spiritual treasures.

Among these, the Nascent Soul formation methods of the Four Great Dao Academies were naturally the most superior. The Weapon Dao Academy had an unbroken lineage of Nascent Soul cultivators across generations, precisely because of its fifth-tier Vermilion Fruit Tree. If he could obtain a fifth-tier Vermilion Fruit and refine it using the academy's secret methods, Chen Mobai could at least increase his chances of forming a Nascent Soul.

However, three hundred years of "prison food"... After careful consideration, Chen Mobai still felt it wasn't worth it. In that time, he might be able to find resources of similar quality in the Tianhe Realm.

But just after he shook his head in refusal, Duanmu Longrong mentioned another benefit. "Staying here for three hundred years, besides a fifth-tier Vermilion Fruit, you can also obtain one Infant Nurturing Pill." This statement made Chen Mobai's pupils widen. He hadn't expected there to be an Infant Nurturing Pill in addition to the Vermilion Fruit.

These were the Immortal Sect's three spiritual medicines for Nascent Soul formation: Infant Nurturing, Infant Cultivating, and Infant Transforming. If taken in order, they could increase the chance of forming a Nascent Soul by ten percent, comparable to the three Foundation Establishment treasures for the Nascent Soul stage. However, unlike the three Foundation Establishment treasures, each of these three Nascent Soul spiritual medicines was extremely precious. Even Gongye Zhixu, the Deputy Hall Master of the Immortal Affairs Hall, only exchanged a single Infant Nurturing Pill for his two cycles (120 years) of service to the people.

"Why is there an Infant Nurturing Pill? Does the academy refine it themselves?" Chen Mobai asked, puzzled. He knew that the three Nascent Soul spiritual medicines were even higher grade than the Golden Liquid Jade Restoration Pill, all being top-tier fourth-grade elixirs. They required thousands of ingredients to refine, a capability that only the Immortal Sect should possess for complete collection.

Duanmu Longrong explained, "The fifth-tier Vermilion Fruit is one of the twelve main ingredients for refining the Infant Nurturing Pill. This Vermilion Fruit Tree ripens ten fruits every three hundred years. The academy keeps one for the guardian, and the remaining nine are taken by the Immortal Sect to refine into nine Infant Nurturing Pills. One of these will then be returned to the academy."

Chen Mobai asked, "Is this one also for the guardian here?" Duanmu Longrong replied, "It's an academy benefit. Teachers with over 120 years of teaching experience can exchange it for academic credits. When I entered the Myriad Treasure Cave three hundred years ago, the exchange slot for this Infant Nurturing Pill was already assigned to me."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai finally understood why Duanmu Longrong had guarded this desolate place for three hundred years. Within the Immortal Sect, this was arguably the most promising path for the Weapon Dao Academy to produce a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Chen Mobai inquired, "Teacher Duanmu, by saying this, does it mean the Vermilion Fruit is about to ripen?" Duanmu Longrong confirmed, "If there are no unforeseen circumstances, the first fruit can be harvested in twelve years. Afterward, one fruit can be picked each year. Once all ten Vermilion Fruits have been harvested, it will be time for the academy to select the next guardian."

"The guardian position requires selection?" Chen Mobai asked. Duanmu Longrong replied, "Three hundred years ago, your teacher Che Yucheng, Hong Mengkui, and I competed for this guardian position, and I narrowly won."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. Three hundred years of "prison food" were being fought over. However, considering the rarity of Nascent Soul spiritual items in the Immortal Sect, he realized that indeed, it was something worth fighting for.

This was the Weapon Dao Academy's best path to Nascent Soul, occurring once every three hundred years, which was sufficient to ensure an unbroken lineage of Nascent Soul cultivators. With good fortune, it might even allow for two or three Nascent Soul cultivators in the same generation. For example, the Heaven-Mending Dao Academy, besides Headmaster Yuanxu Zhenren, also had Qingping Zhenren.

Judging from the fact that the Weapon Dao Academy had only had Chengxuan Zhenren as a Nascent Soul cultivator for the past few centuries, it seemed the previous Core Formation cultivator who took the Vermilion Fruit and Infant Nurturing Pill had failed to form a Nascent Soul. He wondered if Duanmu Longrong would succeed this time.

"I'll think about it," Chen Mobai didn't directly refuse. After all, there were still twenty-one years. If he couldn't find Nascent Soul resources in the Tianhe Realm, then as a legitimate successor of the Weapon Dao Academy, he felt it was both necessary and his duty to inherit the mantle of Patriarch Baiguang Chengxuan Zhenren, become the next Headmaster of the Weapon Dao Academy, and restore its glory.

"With your talent, if you are willing to guard this place, even if other Core Formation cultivators in the academy have objections, we and the Headmaster will help you smooth things over." Duanmu Longrong's words made her meaning very clear.

After forming his Core, Chen Mobai was already the face of the Weapon Dao Academy lineage, second only to Chengxuan Zhenren. As long as he was willing, the academy was prepared to fully support him in forming a Nascent Soul.

"Thank you for your generosity, Teacher Duanmu." After expressing his sincere gratitude, Chen Mobai chatted with her a bit more about the Vermilion Fruit and Nascent Soul formation before taking his leave.

After flying out of the Myriad Treasure Cave, his first thought was naturally to find Che Yucheng. Such joyful news as successfully forming a Core was definitely something he wanted to share with his teacher.

Entering Building One, Chen Mobai encountered a familiar face: Luo Hezheng, who managed the academy's treasure vault.

"Hello, Teacher Luo." While at the academy, Chen Mobai had exchanged many valuable resources through him, and they had cooperated pleasantly during the Jumang Dao Academy's offline exchange meeting.

"You actually... succeeded!" Luo Hezheng, who had just stepped out of his office, was clearly taken aback when he saw Chen Mobai, then spoke with stunned eyes.

"Just by chance," Chen Mobai replied modestly in front of his elder.

"Director Che has truly taken in a good disciple!" Luo Hezheng exclaimed, then looked Chen Mobai up and down with satisfaction. As a teacher at the Weapon Dao Academy, he was proud to have such a talented student in the academy.

He recalled that when he first heard Chen Mobai was attempting Core Formation without elixirs, he had been quite pessimistic, believing the success rate was less than ten percent. Now, the facts proved that he had underestimated the potential for Soul Transformation. Chen Mobai was indeed the most outstanding student the academy had seen since Patriarch Baiguang.

After watching Chen Mobai go upstairs to find Che Yucheng, Luo Hezheng couldn't contain his joy and immediately posted the news in the teachers' group, spreading it widely. "I just ran into Chen Mobai! He successfully formed his Core!"

As soon as this message appeared, the previously quiet chat group instantly exploded. "Really?" "Is it true?" "He actually succeeded?" "No wonder the Red City Mountain spiritual vein has been quiet for the past half-month." "It had to be him! I said he'd definitely form a Core. There's nothing in this world he can't do."

Before long, the group chat was filled with boasts about Chen Mobai's various achievements in the academy, with many claiming they had high hopes for him even when he was still a student. Meanwhile, Chen Mobai himself had already knocked on Che Yucheng's office door.

"Come in!" a familiar, aged voice called out. Chen Mobai gently pushed open the door and entered.

"Teacher, I've formed my Core!" Facing the silver-haired elder who sat by the window, drinking tea and reading, Chen Mobai softly uttered words that made the old man tremble.

Che Yucheng put down his teacup and met Chen Mobai's gaze. In his weathered eyes, an unprecedented sense of gratification shone through. "Good!" he said with emphasis, rising from the window and walking step by step towards Chen Mobai. He extended his slender right hand, placing it on his disciple's shoulder, giving the highest praise a teacher could offer. "Truly worthy of being my disciple! You have graduated!"

"No matter what, I will always be your student." Chen Mobai respectfully bowed to Che Yucheng. At least a third of his current achievements were due to this teacher.

"I hope that in a thousand years, I will be remembered by the Immortal Sect for having been your teacher." Che Yucheng had never been so happy. He clapped Chen Mobai's shoulder, laughing heartily and sighing with emotion.

"Teacher, you are already a part of the academy. As long as the academy exists, you will always be remembered." Master and disciple sat by the window, Chen Mobai still pouring tea for Che Yucheng as his student.

"Oh, right, we need to issue an announcement about your Core Formation." Che Yucheng suddenly remembered this, returned to his desk, opened his computer, and began drafting an announcement under the name of the Weapon Dao Academy.

Immortal Sect Live Stream Network. As the leading website in the short video sector, countless cultivators had accounts and broadcasted live there. Out of the Immortal Sect's three hundred million cultivators, nearly half would watch short videos or even live streams in their free time.

Nie Wenzhan had his own account. He was formerly a well-known host in the Immortal Sect, and although he had been blacklisted by the entertainment industry for inciting public opposition, he could still broadcast online. After being blacklisted, he completely dropped his pretense. He openly declared himself Chen Mobai's number one hater, criticizing the Weapon Dao Academy for monopolizing power within the Immortal Sect and suppressing artists like him, who were supposedly both virtuous and artistic. This had left him to only host funerals in eighteenth-tier small cities to support his family.

Today, he had just seen an old cultivator off to the crematorium. While waiting for the cremation, he found a spot and started a live stream on his phone. As soon as he went live, he saw a comment about Chen Mobai and immediately launched into his characteristic hateful tirade.

"What? You're saying he's attempting Core Formation without elixirs on Red City Mountain?" "Impossible! I'm telling you right now, if he succeeds in Core Formation this time, I'll live stream myself going into the crematorium." "I'm not just a mindless hater; with his talent, Core Formation, or even Nascent Soul formation, is possible. But it's absolutely impossible for him to form a Core through enlightenment, like the Immortal Affairs Hall Master; he doesn't have that talent." "I'm telling you, all that talk about his potential for Soul Transformation is baseless."

"Throughout history, there have been so many geniuses in the Immortal Sect, some even direct descendants of Soul Transformation cultivators, protected by living Soul Transformation masters, who formed their Cores in their thirties or forties. Did any of them successfully achieve Soul Transformation? Not a single one!" "Even if he can form a Core, it will only be after a grueling sixty years of service, with the aid of elixirs." "Clearly, he's burdened by his own reputation, trying to pull off something big to solidify his image as someone with Soul Transformation potential. But as an elder, I must advise him: don't be so fixated on appearances. Wouldn't it be better to just wait sixty years, use the Weapon Dao Academy's privileges to get Core Formation spiritual medicines, and then break through?"

"Just watch, if he fails Core Formation this time, he'll start to decline. With a weaker mindset, he might even be completely ruined. And do you know what the most tragic thing is?" "It's that after his Core Formation failure, the people who will hate him the most online will be those 'talent fans' who previously praised him to the heavens." "As someone with experience, I've seen this kind of thing many times..."

As Nie Wenzhan was vehemently criticizing Chen Mobai, he suddenly saw a comment pop up. "Chen Mobai successfully formed his Core!"

"Successfully formed his Core? What nonsense are you spouting? Spreading false information. Moderator, please ban this person..." After banning that user, Nie Wenzhan felt a wave of satisfaction. He cleared his throat, ready to continue his attack on Chen Mobai, when suddenly two more comments with similar meanings appeared. "He really formed his Core!" "The Weapon Dao Academy even issued an an announcement!" "I remember the streamer just swore that if Chen Mobai formed his Core, he'd live stream himself going into the crematorium!"

Nie Wenzhan, after personally banning over a dozen users, suddenly felt something was amiss. He immediately switched to the live stream platform's homepage, where the top trending item was clearly the official account of the Weapon Dao Academy. The title read: "Warmly congratulating Chen Mobai, Class of 5012 graduate of our academy, on his successful Core Formation!"

"This is impossible!" Nie Wenzhan's hands trembled as he clicked into the live stream, finding an exquisite-looking female student and a handsome male student giving away lottery prizes. "Everyone's in luck today! We're live streaming to review Senior Chen's twenty-two years of invincible Foundation Establishment! Every half hour, we'll draw to give away first-tier Qi Replenishing Spiritual Water. Don't miss out..."

Nie Wenzhan wasn't interested in Qi Replenishing Spiritual Water. With wide eyes, he clicked into the Weapon Dao Academy's official account page and immediately saw the pinned announcement. The content was the same as the title, but the bottom right corner of the announcement bore the official seal of the Weapon Dao Academy!

Upon seeing the official seal, Nie Wenzhan could no longer deceive himself. He switched back to his own live stream, feeling as if he had turned to stone, moving like a zombie.

"I heard the streamer is going to send himself to the crematorium; I specifically came to witness it." "When are you going? Hurry up and stream! You've certainly latched onto this trending topic!" "We don't need to say what happens to people who don't keep their word, do we?" "I advise you to go quickly; maybe you can still make it to the crematorium with that old cultivator you just saw off..."

The comments in Nie Wenzhan's live stream suddenly exploded. Someone screenshotted and spread his exact words, and instantly, he occupied the second spot in trending topics, second only to Chen Mobai's Core Formation! But just as hundreds of thousands, even millions, of cultivators flooded into his live stream, they suddenly found a black screen.

"The streamer has disconnected. Please come back next time to watch the live stream!" Seeing the "stream ended" notification on the black screen, many people started cursing. Regardless of where, people who broke their promises were always despised.

However, some more rational people, like his fans, suggested giving Nie Wenzhan some time to prepare, as live streaming his own funeral was indeed quite challenging. Perhaps he would think it through by tomorrow or the day after and go live to send himself off!

Many impatient individuals clicked into Nie Wenzhan's account page, ready to leave furious comments, only to discover they couldn't post anything. "What's going on?" "Has this guy's account been banned?"

As they wondered, Nie Wenzhan's username had already changed to: "This user has self-canceled their account!" "This bastard not only broke his word but is also a coward!" At this, even some of Nie Wenzhan's fans, who had been rationally defending him, couldn't hold back their anger. They turned against him, leading the charge with a flurry of indignant remarks.