Chapter 515: Guidance

"Stretch out your hands and each transfer a bit of spiritual energy to me." Before teaching, Chen Mobai naturally needed to understand his students' foundations. Although puzzled, Chu Zuosu and the other two readily complied.

The spirit-testing instrument Chen Mobai had bought from Qing Nu earlier was truly worth every penny.Chu Zuosu: Metal 8, Wood 39, Water 13, Fire 17, Earth 23.Seeing the five-element spirit root values displayed on the screen, Chen Mobai nodded slightly. This was a normal dual-attribute true spirit root, considered excellent aptitude whether in the Tianhe Realm or the Immortal Sect.

Unfortunately, Chu Zuosu had not cultivated the Dual-Phase Technique. Like Meng Hong, he specialized in the Immortality Scripture, and to quickly advance his cultivation, he had consumed numerous pills, leading to an unstable foundation. Even with the Golden Elixir and Jade Reversion Pill, his chances of forming a core were not high. Nevertheless, Chen Mobai outwardly nodded in approval at Chu Zuosu.

Hong He: Metal 12, Wood 19, Water 53, Fire 14, Earth 12.The second to have his spirit root measured was Hong He. As expected, he truly lived up to his reputation as the chief true disciple among the three thousand Qi Cultivators of the Divine Wood Sect whom Chen Mobai had suppressed previously. His talent in water spirit roots was remarkably high, truly that of a genius.

It was a pity his metal spirit root was mediocre, and he hadn't cultivated the Dual-Phase Technique. Furthermore, he had been affected by the polluted environment, accumulating pill toxins in his body. However, compared to Chu Zuosu, Hong He's situation was much better. Firstly, his talent was superior, and secondly, he was still young, giving him ample time to regulate the pill toxins and purify his spiritual energy.

"Hmm, not bad either," Chen Mobai commented. Always advocating encouragement in education, he smiled and nodded after assessing Hong He's foundation, then turned to the last person.

Yin Qingmei's delicately made-up, oval face held a hint of trepidation. She didn't realize Chen Mobai was measuring spirit roots; she thought he was examining their cultivation by drawing spiritual energy. Among the three present, her cultivation was the lowest. She had only just broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage in the past two years. For a Heavenly Spirit Root, this speed was considered rather slow.

Despite her unease, facing the Ancestor's gaze, Yin Qingmei obediently extended her fair, jade-like right hand and transferred a stream of Immortality spiritual energy.Yin Qingmei: Metal 2, Wood 83, Water 6, Fire 4, Earth 5.With such values, forming a core would be virtually guaranteed with just a little guidance. Chen Mobai couldn't help but nod in satisfaction at the numbers on the spirit-testing instrument in his palm.

At this moment, Zhuo Ming, who had seen Gu Yan off, returned. Chen Mobai pointed to a cushion beside him, signaling for his second disciple to sit. Explaining to one more person made no difference, and given Zhuo Ming's foundation from achieving Foundation Establishment through enlightenment, she also had prospects of forming a core in the future, so listening now would be beneficial.

He began by explaining the core-forming insights inherited by the Divine Wood Sect, using his own understanding and words. Then, he shared his personal experiences and even used water manipulation to create a small human model, giving them a clear visual understanding of the core-forming process. After finishing his discourse on core formation, he started providing individualized guidance.

"Junior Nephew Chu, your age is already at the tail end of your peak, so you no longer have time to slowly purify your spiritual energy. It would be better to choose a suitable body-tempering cultivation method, consume spirit rice, and strengthen your physique."Chen Mobai didn't have many good solutions for Chu Zuosu. After all, for over a hundred years of cultivation, from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Establishment, Chu Zuosu had relied on pills to break through stages. Pill toxins had long since integrated with his Immortality spiritual energy. If he were to eliminate the pill toxins, he would lose most of his life's cultivation, which was simply not worth it. It was better for him to firmly believe and directly attempt core formation. After all, there were two successful examples in Zhou Shengqing and Fu Zongjue, and Chu Zuosu also had the Golden Elixir and Jade Reversion Pill, which could help him overcome this hurdle with the aid of the pills. However, the transformation of his physical body and divine sense would then be something he had to achieve on his own. Chen Mobai was not particularly skilled in the aspect of divine sense, having relied entirely on Meng Huang'er's assistance and the power of pills to force his way through. Only in terms of physical body cultivation did he have rich experience, having personally gone through it, expending significant resources and time.

"Reporting to Ancestor Chen," Chu Zuosu began, "After hearing your explanation about the three Foundation Establishment hurdles in Divine Wood City, I understood the importance of a strong physical body for core formation. So, I started cultivating the 'Wood Spirit Body' that suited me. Over the years, I've spent a lot of resources and barely managed to cultivate this body-tempering method to the Foundation Establishment level. I'm not sure how much help it will be for core formation."Chu Zuosu was being honest. The Divine Wood Sect had many body-tempering cultivation methods, but lacking the essence of the Immortality Tree, he couldn't cultivate the top-tier Wood-attributed Immortality Dao Body. He could only settle for the widely popular "Wood Spirit Body." This Wood Spirit Body was the most common and widespread body-tempering cultivation method in the Eastern Wastelands; even rogue cultivators could obtain the Qi Cultivation chapters. However, parts above Foundation Establishment were only available among the major sects of the Eastern Wastelands. Chu Zuosu chose this because the Wood Spirit Body could be cultivated up to the third rank. Conveniently, the Divine Wood Sect possessed the cultivation method for the third-rank Wood Spirit Body, as it matched their attribute. Zhou Shengqing had even spent a good amount of spirit stones to buy it at an auction in Dongyi back then. Chu Zuosu had intended to cultivate the Wood Spirit Body to the peak of the second rank before forming his core. Unfortunately, time was too short. Even with consuming spirit rice five times a day and having the Alchemy Department prepare some auxiliary body-tempering decoctions, he had only reached the second rank.

"The Wood Spirit Body, you say? Coincidentally, I've just experimented with Junior Nephew Gu Yan's extraction technique and refined two drops of Immortality Tree essence. Take these to refine first. After the Core Formation Grand Ceremony, I'll help you extract more. I hope you can raise your body-tempering technique to the peak of the second rank before forming your core."The Immortality Tree essence was the best spiritual material for wood-attributed body-tempering cultivation methods. As Chen Mobai spoke, he took out a green-skinned gourd from his storage pouch."Many thanks, Ancestor Chen!"Amidst the envious gazes of the other three in the room, Chu Zuosu's face lit up with surprise as he bowed deeply, then immediately rose to receive the Immortality Tree essence.

"I will also impart to you a secret technique for rapidly refining the Immortality Tree essence: the Treasure Fire Body Tempering Art. This secret art requires a thoroughly refined and perfectly controlled Azure Yang Flame. Do you possess one?""This disciple happens to have one, but my control over it is not very proficient."

"Then you will have to overcome that hurdle yourself."For someone with a Fire Spirit Body like Chen Mobai, using the Treasure Fire Body Tempering Art allowed him to temper with maximum efficiency, as the flames would cause him no harm. It was precisely for this reason that he could easily cultivate the Sword Fiend. As for Chu Zuosu, he would have to endure the pain of spiritual fire body tempering on his own. The longer he endured, the faster he would refine the Immortality Tree essence; if he couldn't bear it, he would have to stop.

After thanking him again, Chu Zuosu, clutching the green gourd with adoration, moved to the side, yielding his position to Hong He."Ancestor Chen, I wonder what deficiencies I still have for forming a core."

Chen Mobai used the Lantern Illumination Art to examine Hong He's spiritual energy and physical body. Then, looking at his spirit root values, he suddenly noticed something amiss. The sum of Hong He's five-element spirit root values was surprisingly 110. Had he consumed any heavenly materials or earthly treasures that enhance spirit roots? At this moment, Chen Mobai also noticed that Hong He's physical body was vibrant and brimming with vitality, seemingly having cultivated a body-tempering method to a profound degree. Although his spiritual energy was vast, it was extremely complex. This wasn't a sign of excessive pill consumption; rather, it was as if his spiritual energy was a mix cultivated from several different water-attributed cultivation methods.

"Junior Nephew Hong, your physical body is strong, and your spiritual energy is vast, but it seems a portion of your spiritual energy is not yet under your control. Why is that?"At Chen Mobai's question, Hong He's expression subtly changed. He hesitated for a moment before explaining some reasons.

"Reporting to Ancestor Chen, in addition to the Jade Wave Technique, this disciple also cultivates the Water Elemental Body and the Clear Spirit Art. It is precisely because of this that I am unmatched among those of the same rank. Perhaps it is due to cultivating three different methods simultaneously that my spiritual energy is somewhat fluctuating."The "Water Elemental Body" was a water-attributed body-tempering method, similar to the Wood Spirit Body. The "Clear Spirit Art," on the other hand, was a Divine Sense cultivation method of the Divine Wood Sect, comparable to the Mind-Nourishing God-Forging Art Chen Mobai had once cultivated, though slightly more advanced, capable of cultivation to the second rank. For Hong He to maintain rapid progress in cultivation while simultaneously cultivating three different methods, his talent could no longer be described merely as genius; it was almost comparable to Chen Mobai's.

"Your Water Elemental Body is already at the mid-second rank, and you are still young. With the sect's resources, reaching the peak of the second rank before forming your core should be no problem. If you have the chance to advance to the third rank, your core formation success rate could increase by another ten percent.""As for your Violet Palace Sea of Consciousness, I did not examine it due to privacy concerns. However, your divine sense is even stronger than your spiritual energy, which is likely due to extraordinary innate talent. Continue to maintain clarity of mind as you cultivate.""The key issue is the complexity of your spiritual energy. I have not encountered this situation before, so I need to carefully consider a solution. What pills do you usually consume during your cultivation?"Facing Chen Mobai's inquiry, Hong He answered truthfully. He had taken pills suitable for increasing and enhancing water-attributed spiritual energy, but in recent years, he had mostly stopped. Only when breaking through bottlenecks, to ensure success, had he used a pill that aided in overcoming obstacles.

"Hmm, from now on, don't focus on increasing your spiritual energy. Instead, refine it thoroughly. After all, core formation is about condensing spiritual energy into a core; both the physical body and divine sense are merely aids in the spiritual energy's transformation."After instructing Hong He on prioritizing essence, qi, and spirit, Chen Mobai looked at the last person.

Yin Qingmei!The Divine Wood Sect's prized treasure had blossomed into a stunning beauty. Her blue and white palace dress could not conceal her luminous, snow-white skin, her slender, graceful figure, her smoothly curved oval face, and her picturesque eyes. She was like a peach blossom blooming in spring—both charming and vibrant.

"Please guide me, Ancestor."As she spoke, Yin Qingmei rose from her cushion at the back, her knees gently moving across the floor until she reached the spot in front of Chen Mobai, which Hong He had just vacated.

"Hmm, Junior Nephew Yin is a Heavenly Spirit Root. As long as you cultivate steadily step by step, forming a core will be no problem."Facing her, Chen Mobai was not as attentive as he had been with Chu Zuosu and Hong He. He didn't even use the Lantern Illumination Art to check her pulse or examine her body.

"Ancestor, I..."Yin Qingmei felt a little unwilling. She had waited so long, only to receive just that one sentence. She recalled the Supreme Secret Art of the Immortality Sect that Fu Zongjue had once revealed to her, which was said to lead directly to Soul Transformation. However, Fu Zongjue implied that this cultivation method was brought to the sect by Chen Mobai, and if she wished to cultivate it, he had to personally approve. It was precisely for this reason that Yin Qingmei had been so excited when summoned by Chen Mobai. She had thought Ancestor Chen was going to impart the Great Soul Transformation Art.

"Oh, Junior Nephew Yin, is there anything else?" Chen Mobai asked, a little surprised. He had heard from Fu Zongjue about this Heavenly Spirit Root, who also achieved Foundation Establishment through enlightenment. However, the sect had deliberately kept her existence low-key and not publicized it. A true innate Heavenly Spirit Root, coupled with the full support of the Divine Wood Sect—as long as Yin Qingmei didn't foolishly consume pills to boost her cultivation—the core formation stage would not hinder her at all. Chen Mobai had even considered whether to impart the "Azure Emperor's Immortality Scripture" to her. However, this cultivation method dated back to ancient times, and he wasn't sure if it was suitable for the current environment. Furthermore, Chen Mobai worried that the Great Soul Transformation Art might hide a contingency plan from the so-called Celestial Venerable of the Immortality Sect. Until he could ensure it was completely safe, he felt it was better to be cautious. After all, Yin Qingmei was a Heavenly Spirit Root; by cultivating the Immortality Scripture, she was guaranteed to reach the perfected Core Formation stage at minimum. There was no need to gamble the sect's future for a small increase in probability.

"No, thank you for your guidance, Ancestor."Facing the Core Formation Ancestor's gaze, Yin Qingmei's reverence welled up. In the end, she dared not open her mouth to request the Azure Emperor's Immortality Scripture. She immediately lowered her head and bowed in obeisance.

"Hmm, if you have any confusion or questions regarding core formation in the future, you can come to me. However, I might enter seclusion and seal off this cultivation ground. You can convey your matters to Ming'er, and once I emerge from seclusion, I will summon her immediately.""It seems we'll be troubling Junior Sister Zhuo from now on," Chu Zuosu was the first to politely say to Zhuo Ming after hearing Chen Mobai's words. Hong He and Yin Qingmei also came over to greet her. Zhuo Ming was visibly surprised, but having established her foundation, she was already capable of handling matters independently. Moreover, with Chen Mobai, her Core Formation master, by her side, she composedly rose to respond.

Soon, Chu Zuosu and the others, understanding the hint, took their leave.With the guidance provided to the three, Chen Mobai felt a weight lifted off his mind. Moving forward, if the Nascent Soul Grand Elder from Xuanyao Dao Palace didn't come to eliminate them, the Divine Wood Sect's goal would be to support their core formation, striving to produce a fourth, fifth, or even sixth Core Formation cultivator.

"Master, Junior Sister Xueting has also prepared some gifts on behalf of the Blowing Snow Palace. Would you like to meet her as well?"After Zhuo Ming returned from seeing the three off, she spoke to Chen Mobai. Since Chen Mobai had formed his core, most people who wished to see him would approach through his two disciples."Then let's meet her," Chen Mobai replied. He had always valued Zhuo Ming, his second disciple. Since she had brought it up and he had nothing else to do, he nodded in agreement.