Chapter 501: Return to Hometown

Having his name registered in the Kaiyuan Hall signified Chen Mobai's official entry into the Immortal Sect's upper echelon. Because he was appointed as the principal of Qingsang Academy in Yumu City, this city, one of the Immortal Sect's seventy-two blessed lands, was now under his jurisdiction.

Soon after Chen Mobai received the five-pointed star emblem from Wang Shuye, which signified his status as a Kaiyuan Hall councilor, Wen Ping, the City Lord of Yumu City, called him. She inquired when he would arrive and if he had any specific requirements for his office and living quarters.

Chen Mobai didn't know Wen Ping well, so he merely exchanged a few polite words. He told her that everything could wait until his arrival and that things should remain as they were for now.

"Director Che said you were mature beyond your years. I didn't quite believe it at first, thinking a young genius like you would be arrogant, unbridled, and extravagant. But it turns out to be true."

It was Wang Shuye who spoke. He was a middle-aged man with a heroic appearance and dignified bearing, currently the highest-ranking representative of the Martial Arts Academy within the Immortal Sect.

He was also at the ninth level of Golden Core. He had essentially reserved one of the Infant-Nourishing Pills, which are refined from mature fifth-tier Vermillion Fruits.

He was considered the leader of the official faction within the Martial Arts Academy, and along with Duanmu Longrong from the hermit faction, they were the "Nascent Soul seeds" the academy intended to support next.

"To become a Kaiyuan Hall councilor so smoothly this time, I must thank Senior Wang for intervening and mediating," Chen Mobai said courteously. He had advanced rapidly; a Kaiyuan Hall councilor was the pinnacle of an Immortal Sect civil servant. Yet, in front of Wang Shuye, he still addressed him as a junior from the Martial Arts Academy.

"Haha, with your reputation, Ye Yun'e wouldn't dare to obstruct you for too long. Even without my intervention, you would have passed after two or three attempts."

Wang Shuye did not explain why Ye Yun'e might have obstructed Chen Mobai, and the latter, understanding the situation, wisely didn't ask. After all, Ye Yun'e was among the highest echelons of the Immortal Sect. Besides the Nascent Soul cultivators, they held the most power.

With Nascent Soul cultivators generally not involving themselves in day-to-day affairs, Gongye Zhixu, Ye Yun'e, Wang Shuye, and others were effectively the true administrators of the Immortal Sect's system. Ye Yun'e obstructing him certainly wasn't without reason. Chen Mobai made a mental note of it first. If he ever attained Nascent Soul, he would bring this matter up again. Chen Mobai was not one to easily forget. But if he didn't reach Nascent Soul, or if Ye Yun'e achieved Nascent Soul first, then he would act as if the matter never happened. Before that, he would continue to cultivate discreetly.

That evening, Chen Mobai had dinner with Wang Shuye. Wang Shuye mentioned some individuals to pay attention to in the three main halls of the Immortal Sect. All of them were influential figures whose status was no lower than his own. Chen Mobai listened while offering toasts.

Later, Wang Shuye also described some benefits for Kaiyuan Hall councilors. For example, they could apply for free high-grade Tier 3 spiritual energy from the Immortal Sect, and they gained access to the Heavenly Curtain.

"What is the Heavenly Curtain?" Chen Mobai always asked when he didn't understand something.

"It's the Heavenly Gang Clear Qi and Earth Placenta that cover the entire Earth Realm Star," Wang Shuye explained. "When the five ancestors of the Immortal Sect arrived, these had already been damaged by a previous civilization, so they used their immense power to merge and refine them into the 'Heavenly Curtain.' When fully activated, it functions as a Tier 6 grand array."

"However, normally only its basic functions are active," he continued. "It is primarily used to absorb the essence of the sun, moon, and stars, as well as the primordial cosmic energy, to supplement the Tier 6 spiritual veins of the Five Peak Immortal Mountains, providing for the cultivation of the two ancestors."

"You are a Pure Yang Scroll cultivator, capable of refining the essence of the great sun into Pure Yang Violet Qi. But if you don't have this access, the hard-earned great sun essence you gather will be intercepted by the Heavenly Curtain, because all spiritual energy entering the domain of the Earth Realm Star is considered its own energy by the Heavenly Curtain."

After hearing Wang Shuye's explanation, Chen Mobai finally understood why the Pure Yang Violet Qi he had condensed using his Formless Puppet had suddenly disappeared when it entered the skies above the Earth Realm Star. It turned out he had been working for the Heavenly Curtain. After he finished listening to the introduction of the Heavenly Curtain, fearing there might be other similar things within the Immortal Sect that he didn't know about, he immediately continued to ask questions. Wang Shuye patiently explained each one.

As they concluded, Chen Mobai hesitated for a moment. He wondered whether he should ask Wang Shuye about what Lan Haitian had told him. But then he considered how deep the matter was and that Wang Shuye might not want to get involved, so it was better not to drag him into it. Anyway, he had already reported it to the academy. For any major issues, Senior Chen Xuan would handle it. If Senior Chen Xuan couldn't handle it, there was still Ancestor Baiguang above him. Their Martial Arts Academy had deep roots. As long as Chen Mobai didn't commit any illegal acts in the Immortal Sect, even if Qingnu's identity mystery involved Ancestor Qianxing, he would be protected. Thinking this way, Chen Mobai felt as if his worries of many days had suddenly cleared, and he was no longer troubled.

Before leaving, he naturally had to say goodbye to Qingnu.

That day, a light drizzle suddenly began. Chen Mobai transformed his Red Glow Cloud Gauze into a colorful cloud umbrella, holding it over their heads. They walked shoulder to shoulder on a commercial street, looking from afar like a sweet young couple.

"I'm leaving."

"Mmm."

"Call me if anything happens. With my current status, I can at least guarantee your safety."

"I'm in Group Four, mainly responsible for medical research and experiments. I won't have those kinds of dangerous missions." Qingnu misunderstood. She thought Chen Mobai was worried she might be assigned to combat or assassination missions in the Heaven-Mending Group.

"That's good." Chen Mobai nodded gently. He suddenly stopped. He looked at Qingnu with tender eyes. She also turned her head, puzzled. The moment their eyes met, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she involuntarily lowered her head.

Qingnu: "What's wrong?"

Chen Mobai didn't answer. He extended his right index finger and lightly touched his temple. Then, a wisp of divine consciousness, imbued with his mental will, was drawn from his Sea of Consciousness in the Purple Mansion. After that, he reached out and took Qingnu's fair, delicate left hand. She gave a slight, symbolic struggle, then allowed him to hold it.

Qingnu's heart pounded. She thought that "it" was finally about to happen. As she pondered whether to agree immediately or wait a moment before doing so, Chen Mobai's wisp of divine consciousness was already gently tapping at her mind. Within the Immortal Sect, only those with the most intimate relationships would communicate in this manner, opening their minds frankly to each other. Qingnu hesitated for a moment, but she quickly lowered her mental defenses, allowing Chen Mobai's wisp of divine consciousness to enter her Sea of Consciousness in the Purple Mansion.

"Call me if anything happens." After their mental exchange, Chen Mobai repeated the sentence in a calm tone. But by this time, Qingnu understood the profound weight of those words. This meant that Chen Mobai might very well confront other Golden Core cultivators because of her, or even directly face the dark forces hidden within the highest echelons of the Immortal Sect.

Just as Chen Mobai released Qingnu's hand and turned to leave, she suddenly rushed forward and hugged him from behind, saying something with a slight tremor in her voice.

"Promise me you won't investigate this matter because of me, okay?"

Feeling the gentle, jade-like embrace from behind, Chen Mobai felt a surge of confusion. When had he said he would investigate this matter for Qingnu? He had only told her what Lan Haitian had said, warning her to be careful in the Heaven-Mending Group, not to be used by others as an excuse to target the two Golden Core cultivators of Danxia City. Could it be that these words made Qingnu misunderstand?

Chen Mobai: "Don't worry, have you forgotten that I'm a graduate of the Martial Arts Academy? Besides Principal Chen Xuan, our academy also has Ancestor Baiguang above us..."

Qingnu: "You don't need to give up your bright future for me and choose to go to Yumu City."

Chen Mobai was halfway through his sentence when Qingnu suddenly began to sob softly, interrupting him in an emotional outburst. Chen Mobai: "I'm going to Yumu City mainly because it's close to home; it's not as complicated as you imagine..."

Qingnu: "I know, you're saying that to put my mind at ease. I truly don't deserve such devotion from you, boo-hoo-hoo..."

"You've really misunderstood." Before Chen Mobai could finish this sentence, Qingnu had already escalated from soft sobbing to full-blown crying. Clear teardrops streamed down her fair cheeks, soaking the back of Chen Mobai's clothes. At this point, Chen Mobai felt that whatever he said, she wouldn't listen. Although it was raining, they were all cultivators, so there were quite a few people around the commercial street. They all stopped when they saw this scene, and some even took out their phones to record.

Oh no! Only then did Chen Mobai remember that he was somewhat famous. He immediately used his Red Glow Cloud Gauze to envelop himself and the crying Qingnu, then departed.

Seeing Qingnu, who was emotionally unstable, Chen Mobai could only cancel his departure ticket for that day. He rebooked the hotel for another day. That day, Qingnu cried in his arms for a long time, as if she was crying out all the suppression and emotions that had accumulated in her heart for over twenty years since Kong Feichen and Yang Jing left.

Chen Mobai put himself in her shoes and considered her situation: her two closest people were taken away by a cult organization, and while she was in the Immortal Sect, she was never fully trusted. After graduating from the academy, her body and mind had been trapped in the Heaven-Mending Group, constantly under surveillance. Chen Mobai felt he could endure such a life for at most a few years; he would definitely run off to the Celestial River Realm. But Qingnu had strongly persevered until now, simply because the Heaven-Mending Group possessed the most comprehensive intelligence on the Ascension Cult, allowing her to get immediate news of her younger siblings.

It was late at night. At some unknown point, Qingnu, exhausted from crying, had fallen asleep in Chen Mobai's arms. He didn't dare to move. Looking at her delicate face, still tear-streaked like a pear blossom after rain, he reached out to brush away a few strands of black hair that had fallen to the corner of her mouth. His fingertips touched her fair, delicate cheek, and he couldn't help but gently caress it. This movement seemed to rouse Qingnu. She rubbed her eyes and looked up to see Chen Mobai's gentle gaze. She relaxed, shifted positions, and fell asleep again.

Within the Immortal Sect, Chen Mobai came from the Martial Arts Academy. He had a complete family with parents, and friends all over the world; everyone wanted to be his friend. But Qingnu, a Heavenly Spirit Root from the Jumang Academy, only had Chen Mobai as a friend with whom she could be completely open. Only when she was with Chen Mobai did she fully drop her guard.

Qingnu slept for a long time. She only woke up in the late afternoon of the next day. "I'm sorry, it's been a long time since I've slept so relaxedly." Hearing her words, Chen Mobai felt a slight pang in his heart. Qingnu had told him that when resting in the Heaven-Mending Group, she only dared to close one eye; her mind had always been highly tense.

"How about I talk to Lan Haitian and you withdraw from the Heaven-Mending Group and come with me to Yumu City?" Chen Mobai, on impulse, said this. Qingnu's eyes lit up when she heard it, appearing very touched. But then she shook her head, lowering it apologetically.

"I'm sorry, I still can't give up on Xiao Chen and Xiao Jing."

Chen Mobai, hearing her disagreement, felt a sense of relief instead. If he brought Qingnu back to Yumu City with him, even if he didn't want to investigate the matter, the mastermind behind it would certainly assume he was, and it might alert the enemy.

"You don't need to apologize. I respect all your decisions." Chen Mobai's words touched Qingnu even more deeply. As she softly sobbed, her eyes welled up with moist tears again.

By the time they parted, it was already the morning of the second day. Qingnu saw Chen Mobai off to the airport entrance. Only after his figure disappeared did she reluctantly take a few steps, looking back repeatedly, before heading towards the Heaven-Mending Group.

"A warm welcome to True Person Chen Mobai, returning home in glory!"

As soon as he stepped out of the airport, Chen Mobai saw giant banners everywhere. Qin Baipeng, the City Lord of Danxia City, was personally waiting for him with leaders from various departments. Beside Qin Baipeng were naturally Chen Xinglan and Tang Pancui.

"Why all this fanfare?" Chen Mobai said, shaking his head, as he pointed to the crowded onlookers, the exaggerated banners, and the support boards with his full-body image — treatment grander than that of a superstar. "I'm just returning home for a visit. I'll be taking up my post in Yumu City soon."

His words prompted Qin Baipeng to quickly explain, stating that the citizens had come to welcome him spontaneously, representing their pride in True Person Chen Mobai, and that it was not officially organized by them. Chen Mobai decided to take it as spontaneous. He didn't intend to pursue a populist approach. After waving to the crowded onlookers, he left the airport with Qin Baipeng and the others.

He still couldn't refuse Tang Pancui regarding the matter of hosting an endless banquet. Coupled with Qin Baipeng and others fanning the flames, Chen Mobai's return home after forming his Golden Core dominated the headlines in Danxia City and never left the top spot, with a massive lead in popularity.

After hosting banquets for classmates who came upon hearing the news, Foundation Establishment cultivators from Danxia City, staff from various Immortal Sect departments, and his own relatives and friends, Chen Mobai finally found some free time. His maternal grandfather, Tang Lu, also brought half the village to Danxia City, as they were all related to them. This was Tang Pancui's moment to shine. She was arguably the most excited person since Chen Mobai's return. She personally entertained every guest; even Chen Mobai's classmates had to come and be introduced to her. Even after the endless banquet ended, her excitement hadn't faded. She started going to the plaza where she usually danced. Since Chen Mobai was headline news, people would bring him up every time she went. She would casually walk over and say, "You know my son formed his Golden Core too!"

Chen Mobai stayed in Danxia City for a while, with visitors coming in an endless stream every day. Overwhelmed by the constant annoyance, he was just about to head to Yumu City first when he suddenly received a call from an unexpected person.

"You kid, your wings have gotten stiff! You formed your Golden Core and returned home, but you didn't even come to pay respects to a local bigwig like me."