Chapter 502: Return to Tianhe Realm

Normally, Chen Mobai would have brought some fruit to visit Yu Tianguang. However, since Lan Haitian had revealed that Yu Tianguang might be a member of the Ascension Sect, the usually cautious Chen Mobai, even with the Violet Lightning Sword, did not want to risk meeting him.

Moreover, in the Immortal Sect's eyes, Yu Tianguang was one of the suspects, and meeting him personally would have a negative impact.

So, he simply used his upcoming appointment in Yumucheng as an excuse, expressing regret that he couldn't visit Danzhu Academy.

Yu Tianguang seemed displeased by this and hung up the phone directly.

Chen Mobai didn't concern himself with whether this would alert Yu Tianguang, as it was the Bu Tian Group's affair. However, since he had stated it on the phone, he couldn't stay in Danxia City any longer.

He said goodbye to his family that evening and departed early the next morning.

Yumucheng. As one of the seventy-two blessed lands bordering Danxia City, this city was most famous for its vast forestry resources. The spirit wood for Chen Mobai's Talisman Factory was all purchased from here.

Almost every household in Yumucheng understood spiritual plants, and each courtyard would cultivate a unique spiritual tree. This tradition originated from the city's most famous lord, Yu Zi.

Yu Zi was also the only Golden Core True Person in Yumucheng's history, a fourth-tier spirit planter.

He led the city's transformation from traditional handicraft production to its current status as a major forestry city and established the Immortal Sect's greening regulations.

The Bodhi Elm he personally planted, nurtured by countless spirit planters over three thousand years, became Yumucheng's only fourth-tier spirit wood.

Upon his arrival, Chen Mobai first came here for a visit.

"Councillor Chen, this is the Geda Courtyard. There's a fourth-tier low-grade spiritual vein, specially funded by the Immortal Sect, that directly runs here to nourish this fourth-tier elm."

Wen Ping, Yumucheng's city lord, led Chen Mobai to an antique courtyard. In the center of the entrance courtyard stood a tall spiritual tree with emerald green leaves and spreading branches.

This was also considered a famous historical site. Chen Mobai had heard his maternal grandfather speak of it with great impression when he was a child in Qingshan Village, so upon his arrival, he expressed a desire to pay his respects at the ancestral site.

Naturally, Yumucheng immediately arranged this small request.

Wen Ping was a gentle-faced, slender elderly man. He was a third-tier spirit planter and a native of Yumucheng, having grown up there since childhood. He studied at Qingsang Academy, passed the civil service exam to join the Forestry Bureau after establishing his foundation, and then rose through the ranks step by step.

"I'll have someone tidy it up later, and Councillor Chen can move in directly this evening."

As someone capable of governing a city, Wen Ping naturally understood unspoken cues. He thought Chen Mobai wanted to occupy the Geda Courtyard, after all, it had a fourth-tier spiritual vein.

"I'm just here to visit and experience the spirit of the predecessors; there's no need to move in."

Chen Mobai immediately shook his head. He had just used his Insightful Spiritual Eyes to observe that the spiritual energy of the Geda Courtyard's vein was just enough to sustain the fourth-tier spirit wood. If he were to move in and cultivate there, it would affect the growth of the spirit wood.

Although no one in Yumucheng would criticize him even if he did so, it would reflect poorly on him if word got out.

After all, the internet was so developed now, and he was currently the most popular figure, with many people eager to capitalize on his fame.

His maternal grandfather, Tang Lu, once said that officials could choose not to act, but they must not make mistakes.

And the best way to avoid making mistakes was to do nothing at all.

Chen Mobai had just arrived in Yumucheng and was not yet familiar with the group led by Wen Ping. It was better to remain passive initially.

After visiting the Geda Courtyard, Chen Mobai gained a brief understanding of the heads of various departments in Yumucheng. He then politely declined various hints and invitations, leaving with Song Mutu, the former principal of Qingsang Academy, who had been waiting for him.

Song Mutu was a teacher on the staff of Jumang Daoist Academy and also a third-tier spirit planter. He was only one year younger than Wenren Xuewei.

"Senior Sister Wenren's talent is astonishing. I thought there would be no one more gifted than her in the Immortal Sect until your appearance, Principal Chen."

Song Mutu had an ordinary appearance but was very humorous, and he quickly used their mutual acquaintance, Wenren Xuewei, to bridge the distance between them.

"Haha, you flatter me. Compared to Senior Sister Wenren, who has mastered the Longevity Art, my talent is still slightly inferior."

Chen Mobai didn't admire many people in the Immortal Sect, but Wenren Xuewei was one of them. He had struggled immensely, using the resources of the Tianhe Realm, to raise his fire spiritual root value to over 80.

Wenren Xuewei, however, achieved a three-element Heavenly Spiritual Root for cultivating the Longevity Art in a resource-scarce place like the Immortal Sect. In terms of talent, she was undoubtedly the Immortal Sect's top genius.

Most importantly, she was destined for Nascent Soul, and would certainly take over Jumang Daoist Academy in the future, becoming one of the Immortal Sect's peak figures.

"Principal Chen, let me first introduce you to the basic situation of Qingsang Academy..."

After exchanging pleasantries, they arrived at the school. Unlike the two major academies in Danxia City which were built on mountains, this one was on a plain. Different types of spiritual trees were cultivated in designated areas according to a plan, with some young students forming teams to observe and care for them.

Qingsang Academy was initially co-founded by the Wuqi Daoist Academy and Jumang Daoist Academy to breed spiritual silkworms and obtain silk for weaving Wuqi red-and-black robes and Jumang immortal green shirts.

Previously, Wuqi Daoist Academy had bred some fire silkworms here, but as the scale grew, mulberry tree resources became insufficient, so they brought in Jumang Daoist Academy, experts in this field, for assistance.

Qingsang Academy had been established for over five hundred years and was now ranked first in silkworm breeding and mulberry tree cultivation among all Immortal Sect institutions.

Besides these, its textile department was also renowned, and the cultivation of various spiritual woods, apart from mulberries, was also included in the academy's curriculum.

"Teacher Song, your contributions are immense."

After listening, Chen Mobai was very satisfied with Qingsang Academy. Most of the 120 academies in the Immortal Sect specialized in certain fields, such as the Longevity Academy in Chicheng Grotto-heaven, which focused solely on lifespan research.

For Qingsang Academy to have two top-ranked specialties showed the dedicated efforts of successive principals.

"Not at all, I merely did my duty. With Principal Chen's arrival, our academy will surely achieve several more top-ranked specialties in the future."

Song Mutu spoke modestly. At that moment, a group of students approached.

The leading teacher was a dignified young man. He naturally recognized Song Mutu and immediately came over to greet him. Then he saw Chen Mobai and his expression subtly changed.

"Greetings, Principal Chen... and Vice Principal Song."

Chen Mobai had been widely discussed in the Immortal Sect recently. Although his decision to become principal of Qingsang Academy hadn't spread externally, the academy had already received notification from the Ministry of Education. Therefore, upon seeing him, the young teacher hesitated but still addressed him directly as "Principal."

"Hello, Teacher Gu, please continue with your class."

Song Mutu nodded and said to the young teacher.

"Have we met before?"

Just as the young teacher was about to leave, Chen Mobai suddenly spoke.

"Principal, perhaps esteemed individuals tend to forget. In my youth, I had the fortune of sharing a train ride with you. My name is Gu Mingxuan."

As he spoke, Chen Mobai looked at his face and indeed found that scene in his memory.

So it was him.

Back then, the young and impetuous Chen Mobai had quite a show when he met him, Shi Wanyu, Wen Xiong, and others on the train.

In the blink of an eye, over twenty years had passed.

"Teacher Gu, if you have time in the future, you're welcome to visit my office."

After hearing this, Gu Mingxuan seemed about to speak but then lowered his head and turned to leave.

"I didn't expect Principal Chen to know Teacher Gu. He passed the second-tier spirit planter assessment in the military and is also a new teacher whom our Qingsang Academy is focusing on cultivating."

After Gu Mingxuan left, Song Mutu began to explain his background and the reason for his employment.

In the Immortal Sect, those who could establish their foundation were, after all, a minority.

Except for the Daoist Academies and Imperial Colleges which ensured all teachers were Foundation Establishment or above, only the principals and key head teachers in the 120 academies possessed such cultivation.

Other teaching staff were generally at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, but they were required to possess a second-tier professional certification from the Immortal Sect.

Gu Mingxuan was one of them.

After listening, Chen Mobai nodded, not giving it much thought; he was merely a little surprised to encounter an acquaintance.

The two continued their tour, visiting Qingsang Academy's mulberry garden, silkworm rearing facility, and more.

"Teacher Gu, is that our new principal?"

"He's so young, he looks about our age."

"After all, he's the youngest Golden Core cultivator among all current Golden Core True Persons in the Immortal Sect."

After Chen Mobai left, the students in Gu Mingxuan's class began discussing excitedly.

Some had even taken out their phones to record videos, and by now, they were almost finished editing and uploading them.

After all, simply including Chen Mobai's name in a title now caused traffic to surge.

"Alright class, let's go observe the agarwood today."

Gu Mingxuan immediately interrupted their excitement, pulling them back to the reality of class. However, as he led the students away, he couldn't help but glance at Chen Mobai's retreating figure, a trace of melancholy flashing through his heart.

Back then on the train, although there was a world of difference between them, he at least still harbored a sense of comparison.

Now, they were completely on different planes.

Thinking of what he knew, a flicker of struggle crossed Gu Mingxuan's eyes, but he ultimately sighed.

Chen Mobai was already a Golden Core True Person!

He was also the supreme ruler of all Yumucheng.

As a small cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, he should probably just stay out of it.

***

After familiarizing himself with Qingsang Academy alongside Song Mutu, Chen Mobai adopted a hands-off approach, allowing the academy to maintain its previous operational status.

After all, his main reason for coming here to be principal was for peace and quiet.

If he were to interfere with the academy's operations, setting aside whether it would improve, his energy would at least be partly diverted. He felt it was better to use that time to manage the Tianhe Realm.

After spending seven days at Qingsang Academy, Chen Mobai chose an independent courtyard not far from the campus as his home here. Given his current status, he naturally purchased it directly.

Next, he applied to the Immortal Sect for a third-tier high-grade spiritual vein, a free benefit for members of the Kaiyuan Hall.

The pipelines for spiritual veins of the third tier and above required modification. Fortunately, the source of this third-tier spiritual vein was right at Qingsang Academy, and it concerned him, a Golden Core True Person. So, under Wen Ping's personal supervision, it only took three days for the spiritual energy to be delivered to Chen Mobai's new home in Yumucheng.

Two months passed quickly, and Chen Mobai grew accustomed to everything there. Both Yumucheng and Qingsang Academy, under his deliberate efforts to downplay his presence and remain uninvolved, transitioned from initial turbulence to a state of calm.

Wen Ping and Song Mutu praised Chen Mobai profusely. When chatting with their colleagues and alumni, they would say that Councillor (Principal) Chen was skilled at identifying and utilizing talent, and was reasonable. After his arrival, the atmosphere in both the city and the academy became clear and upright, and even the trees grew better.

Under these circumstances, Chen Mobai left behind an Anamorphic Puppet and returned to the Tianhe Realm.

A rumbling sound!

Walking out of a cave dwelling on a desolate mountain, Chen Mobai looked at the ominous clouds suddenly appearing in the sky, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converging frantically, and the flickering lightning, and couldn't help but smile faintly.

Just as he had anticipated, upon returning to the Tianhe Realm after forming his Golden Core, he would have to face a heavenly tribulation.

Although he was seventy to eighty percent confident he could pass it easily, to ensure absolute certainty, he decided to return to the Divine Wood Sect and use the sect's grand formation to undergo the tribulation.

As the perfected Reversion Art was deployed, the pure Yang spiritual energy in his Dantian Qi Sea began to conceal itself within his Myriad Law Body. As his cultivation continuously decreased, the tribulation lightning in the sky, which had initially flashed violently, gradually became hesitant and uncertain, eventually fading away slowly as it found no target.

Watching the ominous clouds dissipate in the sky, Chen Mobai nodded.

The Reversion Art was indeed extraordinary. It was just a pity that for this secret art, his most obedient junior disciple had gone missing.

The thought of Luo Yixuan made Chen Mobai sigh again.

However, now that he had formed his Golden Core, he could at least cope calmly in this Eastern Wilderness. He hoped his junior disciple hadn't encountered any mishaps during the years he spent cultivating his Golden Core.

Chen Mobai identified the direction and, controlling the Red Cloud Smog Silk, prepared to fly towards the Eastern Wilderness.

This area, nestled between Dongyi and the Eastern Wilderness, was a continuous expanse of mountains and dense forests, harboring indescribable anomalies and demonic beasts. Without a cultivator familiar with the paths leading the way, one could easily get lost and turn into bones.

When Chen Mobai left the Divine Wood Sect, he ostensibly went to the Golden Crow Immortal City by the Sunbath Sea to form his Golden Core. However, in reality, after leaving the Eastern Wilderness, he returned directly to the Immortal Sect.

Nevertheless, to divert attention, he sent one of his Anamorphic Puppets to Dongyi.

Now that he had successfully formed his Golden Core, he could retrieve his puppet.

Chen Mobai closed his eyes and activated his divine sense, only to find that his Anamorphic Puppet seemed trapped and unable to move in a certain location. He let out a surprised "Oh?"

In his perception, that location was not far from him.