Chapter 516: Golden Wind Ancestor

“Greetings, Old Ancestor Chen.”

After Xue Ting entered the wooden house, she bowed deeply to Chen Mobai.

“There’s no need for such formality, Fairy Maiden Xue. Many years have passed since we last met, and I am truly delighted to see you successfully establish your foundation.” Chen Mobai’s impression of Xue Ting was merely that of a disciple from the Snow-Blowing Palace. However, he was always gentle in his interactions. He extended his hand, and an invisible, gentle spiritual energy flowed out, lifting her up from a distance.

“Reporting to Old Ancestor Chen, ever since I left Little Nanshan eighteen years ago, I have constantly missed the times we shared then.” After Xue Ting stood up, she spoke with a touch of emotion, a remark that surprised Chen Mobai slightly.

Had it really been eighteen years? He hadn’t even remembered when this Snow-Blowing Palace disciple had arrived or departed. Yet, she remembered it so clearly.

“If you have time in the future, you are welcome to visit Little Nanshan more often. Ming’er will always be here,” Chen Mobai said with a smile, intending to keep Zhuo Ming, his precious treasure, protected forever within the Giant Wood Ridge. Even Yin Qingmei, with her Heavenly Spiritual Root, was far less valuable in his eyes than Zhuo Ming.

However, this might make Zhuo Ming somewhat lonely. It would be beneficial for her if a friend from outside the Divine Wood Sect could frequently visit and interact with her.

“Thank you, Old Ancestor Chen. This is a congratulatory gift from True Monarch Kong, sent on behalf of my sect to celebrate your successful Core Formation.” Although Xue Ting harbored thoughts of pledging allegiance, she knew this matter required an opportune moment to be brought up, as trust between the major sects of the Eastern Barrens was not particularly high. Thus, she first presented the gift in her official capacity.

Chen Mobai nodded, and Zhuo Ming immediately took the box. It was an exquisitely carved box made of ice, slightly transparent, with dazzling red and blue halos emanating from within.

Chen Mobai opened it with some curiosity, and upon seeing the contents, his eyes widened slightly. After all, Xue Ting was representing the Snow-Blowing Palace to congratulate Chen Mobai on his Core Formation Grand Ceremony, so Kong Lingling had indeed presented some valuable items befitting the occasion.

At the bottom of the box lay two mid-grade spirit stones, and atop them rested a pair of crystal jades. One crystal was deep blue, radiating bone-chilling cold; the other was a vermillion jade, exuding a warm and gentle aura.

Chen Mobai had completed his mineral identification courses at the Dao Academy, and he happened to know the names of these two items in the Sky River Realm.

“Ice Condensation Crystal, Millennium Warm Jade!” Moreover, this Ice Condensation Crystal was even colder than the one used to assist Yan Bingxuan in her Foundation Establishment; its blue was deeper, clearly indicating a third-tier level. The Millennium Warm Jade, needless to say, was also third-tier.

The Ice Condensation Crystal could be used to upgrade the Red Cloud Smog Silk, a defensive artifact for travel. After his Core Formation, its second-tier grade was somewhat insufficient, making it suitable for an upgrade.

As for the Millennium Warm Jade, its properties aligned with Chen Mobai's. Having achieved Core Formation by consuming the Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill refined by Yan Shaoyin, he still had some pill toxins within his body that needed to be purified through the Lamp-Igniting Art. The warm jade could assist him in clarifying these toxins more quickly.

“True Monarch Kong is very thoughtful. Please convey my thanks to her when you return.” Chen Mobai said sincerely, inwardly marveling at the abundance of resources in the Sky River Realm. These two items were unobtainable in the Immortal Sect, even with good deeds.

Next, Chen Mobai conversed with Xue Ting for a while longer. As dusk began to fall, Zhuo Ming spoke up from beside him.

“Master, Fairy Sister Xue also specially brought some Five Grains rice seeds from the Snow-Blowing Palace, as her personal congratulatory gift for your Core Formation.” As expected, Chen Mobai's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing the word "seeds."

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, farming was his true passion. At Little Nanshan, under Zhuo Ming's Universal Spiritual Sense ability, three new types of second-tier spiritual rice had been hybridized, but none had yet reached the third-tier. Chen Mobai knew this was due to an insufficient variety of experimental samples. With the Five Grains rice seeds from within the Snow Kingdom, hundreds more hybridization attempts could be made, possibly yielding third-tier spiritual rice.

“Oh, is that so?” Chen Mobai took the large box of neatly compartmentalized rice seeds from Xue Ting with surprise. He carefully picked up individual grains, holding them in his palm and using his spiritual sense to perceive the dormant vitality hidden within.

They were all carefully selected, plump seeds.

“Fairy Maiden Xue, you are truly thoughtful.” Chen Mobai gratefully accepted the box of seeds, nodding and praising Xue Ting repeatedly.

“It makes Xue Ting happy to know that Old Ancestor Chen likes them.”

“Hahahaha, let's go, let's go to Little Nanshan!” After receiving the new seeds, Chen Mobai completely forgot about the Ice Condensation Crystal and Millennium Warm Jade. He eagerly led Zhuo Ming and Xue Ting towards Little Nanshan.

By the time the three arrived, dusk had already fallen. However, Zhuo Ming quickly tidied up two acres of spiritual fields and sowed the seeds Chen Mobai handed her, each in the most suitable manner. Xue Ting, standing nearby, deftly rolled up the long sleeves of her palace gown and took out tools like hoes from her storage pouch to help.

Chen Mobai, naturally, stood to the side, giving instructions. Although he had formed his core, his level of spiritual plant cultivation had been entirely surpassed by Zhuo Ming.

Zhuo Ming's Universal Spiritual Sense ability had allowed her to thoroughly master all the spiritual plant cultivation techniques of the Divine Wood Sect over the years, making her a grandmaster third-tier spiritual plant cultivator.

In recent years, any difficult cases of valuable medicinal herbs withering or perishing in the Spiritual Plant Department were all resolved by Zhuo Ming.

After Chen Mobai completed his ten-year garrison duty for the nation's founding, Chu Zuoshu even suggested that Zhuo Ming take over his mantle and gain some experience.

However, Zhuo Ming was still too young and her cultivation level was not high enough, so the proposal was rejected during the meeting of the Three Halls and Twelve Departments.

Now, those who had previously rejected the proposal were all trying to find connections to explain themselves to Zhuo Ming after news of Chen Mobai's Core Formation spread.

Soon after, Liu Wenbo, having heard the news, also rushed over, practically carrying a hoe with him.

He knew that under Chen Mobai, one might not excel at other things, but farming was a must.

There's strength in numbers, especially when all three were Foundation Establishment cultivators. Soon, the entire large box of seeds had been sown.

By this time, the sky had completely darkened. The group naturally made use of local resources: Liu Wenbo caught two rice-field fish, Zhuo Ming went to another hill to catch spiritual chickens, and Xue Ting skillfully collected mountain spring water to cook spiritual rice.

Chen Mobai, of course, lay on a large rock, directing them in their work. Over the years, his disciples' cooking skills had long since matured. It was time for him to simply enjoy himself.

“Indeed, only here can I feel completely at ease, carefree, and unrestrained. For eighteen years since leaving Little Nanshan, I've constantly yearned for this place.” Xue Ting, eating a segment of jade bamboo spiritual rice, suddenly spoke with a touch of emotion.

“I miss it too! It feels like ages since we last ate spiritual rice and farmed together.” Zhuo Ming, upon hearing this, also spoke with her characteristic simplicity.

Ever since Luo Yixuan left the Divine Wood Sect, Chen Mobai had focused on Core Formation, and their shared farming activities had naturally decreased.

Liu Wenbo hesitated, wanting to speak, but ultimately lowered his head and silently ate the grilled fish in his hand.

“Xuan'er's soul lamp is still lit; I will certainly bring her back,” Chen Mobai said calmly. Now, he possessed enough confidence to roam freely across the Eastern Barrens.

His primary goal in the Sky River Realm would now be to find his missing young disciple.

After they finished eating, Chen Mobai instructed Zhuo Ming to see to Xue Ting and then returned to the Evergreen Wood Dao Field on his own.

***

Mount Mingjing in the Eastern Yi, the stronghold of the Xuanxiao Dao Palace.

Zhao Xuankang had been kneeling on the cliff at the summit for an entire month.

His face was ashen, and his body was devoid of spiritual energy. Like a mortal, he endured the biting cold winds sweeping across the mountaintop, a torment akin to being cut into a thousand pieces, subjecting him to dual agony of body and mind.

Yet, he dared not utter a single cry of pain, as if fearing to disturb something. He gritted his teeth and endured.

This was because Old Ancestor Jinfeng, the Nascent Soul cultivator of the Xuanxiao Dao Palace, was in seclusion in the void beyond the cliff. It was a stone hut suspended in mid-air, tethered by a dark iron chain extending from a stone pillar on the cliff edge.

The dense spiritual energy of the entire Mount Mingjing continuously undulated in the void beyond the cliff, solidifying like flowing water. The stone hut swayed with the pulling of the chain, and upon contact with the spiritual energy, the void seemed to ripple like water, waves continuously spreading towards the cliff where Zhao Xuankang knelt.

Each time the spiritual energy surged, it was like a howling cold wind, scraping against Zhao Xuankang's body like knives, causing him to involuntarily groan. His golden robe was already largely stained with blood, yet he still dared not argue or cry out, only gritting his teeth and enduring.

It was unclear how much time had passed, but just as Zhao Xuankang's consciousness was beginning to blur, a giant figure glowing with golden light, seemingly composed of pure radiance, emerged from the stone hut and materialized in the void beyond the cliff.

“Greetings, Old Ancestor!” Zhao Xuankang instantly sobered up and repeatedly kowtowed to the giant golden figure.

“Speak. Why did the mission in the Eastern Barrens fail?” Old Ancestor Jinfeng's calm voice resounded, and Zhao Xuankang immediately recounted, in full detail, his and Nan Xuanjing's experiences after arriving in the Eastern Barrens.

“Divine Wood Sect, Chen Guixian!” After listening to Zhao Xuankang's description, Old Ancestor Jinfeng remembered that name.

A peerless sword dao genius who could still form his core even under the negative effects of the Nightmare Curse. Having just formed his core, he could already slay Nan Xuanjing? Was he another Ku Zhu?

“Old Ancestor, my junior brother Nan Xuanjing's death in the Eastern Barrens is entirely my responsibility. However, I implore you to spare my useful life so I may avenge him.” Zhao Xuankang did not try to defend himself; he knew the Old Ancestor detested such behavior. Nevertheless, he subtly pleaded for his own clemency.

“You? You couldn't even handle a newly formed Core cultivator, and Zhou Shengqing is about to form his Nascent Soul. How then would you avenge Junior Nephew Nan? Do you expect me to act?!” Old Ancestor Jinfeng spoke coldly.

“Old Ancestor, Junior Brother Nan's death must be avenged, otherwise all sects in the Eastern Yi will think our Xuanxiao Dao Palace is easy to bully. I can spread rumors that the Divine Wood Sect possesses a Nascent Soul spiritual item left by Old Ancestor Hunyuan, inciting demonic cultivators and rogue cultivators to seize it. I can even visit the Yellow Springs Path and ally with the ghost cultivators to destroy the Divine Wood Sect!”

Zhao Xuankang briefly outlined his strategy. After forming his core, he had been specifically responsible for the darker affairs of the Xuanxiao Dao Palace, maintaining connections with various unsavory evil forces.

However, he had previously needed to consider the reputation of his prestigious sect, so he hadn't gone to extremes. He had merely secretly sought out demonic cultivators to cast a curse, undermining Chen Mobai's cultivation. Then, after tracing his departure from the Eastern Barrens, he had led the Tai Sui creature to devour him in the Barren Ruins, believing it to be foolproof.

To his surprise, Chen Mobai's talent and fortune far exceeded his imagination; he had actually managed to form his core and return successfully under those circumstances. Furthermore, he had somehow acquired a formidable fourth-tier sword artifact. Paired with his peerless sword dao talent, it was like adding wings to a tiger, allowing him to achieve the state of sword-human fusion and even slay Nan Xuanjing, who was skilled in combat arts.

“That's not enough. If Zhou Shengqing forms his Nascent Soul, how will you contend with him?” Old Ancestor Jinfeng continued in an icy tone.

“If Zhou Shengqing forms his Nascent Soul, I implore Old Ancestor to immediately expel me from the Dao Palace. Say that what this disciple has done has no relation to you or the sect, that it was purely out of personal grievance that I incited the Xuanxiao Dao Palace against the Divine Wood Sect, a heinous crime.”

Upon hearing Zhao Xuankang's words, Old Ancestor Jinfeng snorted coldly, but the relentless cold wind from the cliff ceased.

A golden light surged from the stone hut and entered Zhao Xuankang's dantian and sea of qi. Instantly, his sealed spiritual energy began to flow, and his Golden Core, which he had previously been unable to sense, was once again under his divine sense's control.

“I do not wish to waste my precious lifespan in that Eastern Barrens place. I will give you one last chance. I will send Xuan Shu to the Eastern Barrens as well. You two will work overtly and covertly. If you can conquer the Eastern Barrens, I will grant Xuan Shu an opportunity to form his Nascent Soul.” Upon hearing Old Ancestor Jinfeng's words, Zhao Xuankang's expression subtly changed to one of surprise.

Xuan Shu, he was the former Saint Son of the Xuanxiao Dao Palace, a Wind Spiritual Root cultivator who had already formed his Core a century ago. After forming his Core, he had been personally guided by Old Ancestor Jinfeng here and only descended the mountain ten years ago.

Although Zhao Xuankang didn't know Xuan Shu's exact cultivation level, he couldn't see through him, which meant Xuan Shu could only be stronger than him. And Zhao Xuankang was at the mid-stage of Core Formation!

Hearing Old Ancestor Jinfeng mention granting Xuan Shu a chance to form his Nascent Soul, it became clear that this most outstanding Saint Son of the Xuanxiao Dao Palace from a century ago — who had suppressed the three major sects of the Eastern Yi during his Foundation Establishment and even held considerable renown in the Eastern Lands — had very likely reached the late-stage of Core Formation.

*Is Old Ancestor hinting that I should assist Xuan Shu in forming his Nascent Soul?* As Zhao Xuankang departed, he suddenly understood.

Initially, he had not intended to use Mount Shaking Peak's Ji Zhenshi's debts to lead the Xuanxiao Dao Palace into the Eastern Barrens to establish a retreat. It was Nan Xuanjing who had approached him after receiving a hint from the Old Ancestor, as Zhao Xuankang was most familiar with the Eastern Barrens.

He naturally had to obey the Old Ancestor's command. Although Zhao Xuankang hadn't understood why they needed to open up the Eastern Barrens at the time, he had believed it would be an easy task, never imagining he would suffer such a significant setback at the hands of the Divine Wood Sect.

“Senior Brother Zhao!” As he descended the mountain, a golden-robed youth with an ordinary face but sharp eyes stood waiting at the crossroads and saluted him.

“Junior Brother Xuan Shu!” Zhao Xuankang, seeing the youth, returned the salute with unprecedented reverence.