Chapter 528: The Order of Cultivation

In his own way, he began subtly transforming the prevailing atmosphere of the Divine Wood Sect.

After receiving positive responses from the sect's high-ranking members, the Qi Refinement disciples, who had previously felt some resentment and unease within the Divine Wood Sect, finally set their minds at ease.

Disciples now had the option to either go out on missions or remain within the sect.

However, since the spiritual energy calming formation and designated area would still take some time to complete, most disciples opted to take on the numerous missions posted at the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion.

“Thank you, Master!”

At Xiaonan Mountain, Zhuo Ming was overjoyed as she received a complete set of talisman brushes from Chen Mobai.

Besides the two main brushes, the "Heavenly Book Talisman Brush Set" he had purchased years ago in the Immortal Sect was also included. Given Chen Mobai's current wealth, the merit points required to buy a new set would be a mere drop in the ocean for him.

Even before she reached the Foundation Establishment stage, Zhuo Ming often attended Chen Mobai, grinding ink, preparing paper, and observing him draw talismans. She had long admired and coveted this comprehensive set of talisman brushes.

She had often dreamed of her Master eventually passing this set of brushes down to her.

After all, she was the only talisman master within the Xiaonan Mountain lineage.

Now that they were truly in her hands, Zhuo Ming still felt a surreal sense of happiness, as if a beautiful dream had finally come true.

In that moment, she felt as though she had truly inherited Chen Mobai's mantle, taking on his two most exceptional skills.

Truly, I am most like Master.

As Zhuo Ming thought this, her lips curled into a slight smile, her joy immeasurable.

Just then, a refreshing aroma wafted up from the mountainside, so invigorating that even Chen Mobai, a Core Formation cultivator, felt clear-headed, relaxed, and his senses sharpened.

“Master, the Enlightenment White Tea has reached the second tier! It seems it knew you were coming today and chose this very day for its successful transformation.”

Standing on the ground, Zhuo Ming immediately understood the reason with a thought. She subtly glanced at him and offered a pleasing remark.

“Hahaha, that's quite a coincidence. Let’s go take a look.”

Chen Mobai had placed significant hope in this Enlightenment White Tea. After all, Wen Ren Xuewei had spent decades cultivating this tea strain, aiming to reproduce the effects of "Enlightenment Tea."

According to her, once this tea strain reaches the third tier, it will possess one-tenth the potency of true Enlightenment Tea.

Crucially, once matured, this tea strain can be harvested annually. For Chen Mobai, whose comprehension was only average, this could be key to his future progress.

The master and disciple arrived at the Enlightenment White Tea tree. Zhuo Ming immediately plucked a handful of tender shoots, which Chen Mobai personally stir-fried using his Pure Yang Fire.

When not used against demonic entities, Pure Yang Fire is the most balanced and gentle of true fires, making it ideal for stir-frying tea leaves. Each leaf became flat and glossy, resembling green jade, and perfectly retained its aroma and flavor.

After boiling a kettle of mountain spring water, he steeped the tea leaves. The pale green tea liquor glided down, refreshing his spirit, and the lingering worries and distractions in his mind were completely washed away by that single cup.

Chen Mobai closed his eyes in contemplation. After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he opened his clear, bright eyes, a smile gracing his lips.

These second-tier tea leaves possessed roughly one percent of the true Enlightenment Tea's efficacy.

Under the effects of that single cup of tea, he managed to grasp a particularly challenging aspect of a third-tier talisman.

Seeing its remarkable utility, Chen Mobai naturally wasted no time, harvesting all the tea leaves from the Enlightenment White Tea plant that had just completed its tier ascension.

Unfortunately, even this full harvest would only last him about ten days.

“Ming’er, your talent in spiritual plants is truly exceptional. Focus wholeheartedly on this path, and your future achievements will be immeasurable. As for the path of talismans, you can simply dabble in it during your spare time, but remember not to let it distract you too much.”

Zhuo Ming, however, misunderstood, believing Chen Mobai was concerned about her talent in talismans. She instinctively clutched the set of brushes tightly, declaring with a determined expression:

“Master, please rest assured. I will certainly inherit your entire legacy. No matter how difficult or exhausting it becomes, I will advance both spiritual plant cultivation and talismanship simultaneously, and I will not disappoint you.”

“Very well then. You carry on.”

Chen Mobai’s lips twitched slightly, and finding nothing more to say, he left the remaining half-pot of tea for Zhuo Ming and returned to his Longevity Wood cultivation grounds.

Yue Zutao was a very capable person.

During the decades his cultivation was suppressed, he delved into astronomy, geography, spiritual plants, alchemy, artifact refining, and more, becoming almost a polymath. Furthermore, during the three major conflicts with the Nanyuan Sect of Hanshan Peak, he demonstrated his exceptional abilities in military command, market management, and even national leadership.

With his devoted assistance, Chen Mobai, as the Sect Master, only needed to make crucial decisions, as Yue Zutao handled all other miscellaneous affairs.

Despite this, Chen Mobai still felt his time was insufficient.

After forming his Core, in addition to meditating and cultivating spiritual energy, he needed time for various other pursuits: cultivating the Pure Yang Dharma Body, the Falling Treasure Golden Light, the Longevity Dao Body, even the Scarlet Flame Sword Art, and mastering various third-tier talismans, among others.

Fortunately, he still had over five hundred years of lifespan. Otherwise, with so many demands on his time, he truly doubted he could cultivate everything to perfection.

To avoid hindering his cultivation progress, Chen Mobai still prioritized these tasks.

The Pure Yang Scroll naturally held the top priority!

This was his foundational cultivation method, the very basis for whether he could advance to the Nascent Soul or even Spirit Transformation stage!

Thus, the Pure Yang Dharma Body was equally crucial. Ever since he began cultivating this technique, Chen Mobai had not wasted a single day refining spirit stones for enhancement.

The Seven Yang Body required the refinement of nine high-grade spirit stones. To date, he had already refined two.

He estimated that in about another year and a half, he could refine the third, further enhancing his fire spiritual root.

Apart from the Pure Yang Scroll and the Pure Yang Dharma Body, Chen Mobai’s second priority had initially been the Scarlet Flame Sword Art.

After all, he still needed it to conceal his true origins in the Eastern Wasteland, and the sword art itself seemed incredibly well-suited for him.

Upon reaching the Core Formation stage, Chen Mobai’s Fire Spirit Physique advanced further, and his Heavenly Fire Spiritual Root was also activated.

His current aptitude was such that if the ancient sect of 'Burning Heaven Purifying Earth' were to see it, they would forcibly claim him as their Dao Son.

When it came to fire-attributed cultivation methods, a talent superior to his simply couldn't be found.

Consequently, after reading through the Scarlet Flame Sword Art several times, Chen Mobai effortlessly grasped all its profound essences.

Whether it was the Blazing Sun Slash or the Extreme Sun Slash, the most optimal methods for their control and execution had already surfaced in his mind.

However, because he had not yet sublimated his Azure Flame Sword Qi into 'Golden Flame,' his cultivation was still insufficient to fully unleash them.

Yet, the refinement and sublimation into Golden Flame demanded a long and arduous effort.

According to the Scarlet Flame Sword Art, even those with extraordinary talent, using their internal alchemical fire and spiritual energy for refinement, would take ten years to produce a single Golden Flame.

Chen Mobai considered this an excessive waste of time.

He would much rather spend that time cultivating the Longevity Dao Body or the Falling Treasure Golden Light.

After all, Golden Flame offered minimal personal enhancement, serving primarily for combat, an area already covered by his Purple Lightning Sword.

Even if mastered, its power would likely fall short of the Purple Lightning Sword's!

Fortunately, having recently assumed the position of Sect Master, he hadn't yet wasted time on the Scarlet Flame Sword Art. Now, after opening Nan Xuanjing's storage bag and acquiring a substantial amount of golden crystals, he could redirect that time towards cultivating the Falling Treasure Golden Light.

He estimated that once he perfected the Seven Yang Body, he should be able to cultivate this secret art to its third layer.

What remained was the Longevity Dao Body.

To continue cultivating this body-tempering technique, he would require 'Longevity Dew,' formulated and refined from Longevity Tree sap.

This was the elixir recipe Luo Yixuan had obtained from the Talent Tree.

Chen Mobai had already given the formula to Zeng Woyou to study, instructing him to also gather the other auxiliary ingredients to begin refining.

Fortunately, Gu Yan had presented the secret technique for extracting Longevity Tree sap; otherwise, Chen Mobai might have already abandoned the Longevity Dao Body.

As he considered this, a message suddenly arrived on his Tongtian Instrument.

It was Chu Zuoshu.

He subtly indicated that he had finished refining the Longevity Tree sap granted by Old Ancestor Chen.

Upon reading it, Chen Mobai could only set to work once more, spending a day extracting ten drops of Longevity Tree sap and sealing them within a white jade bottle.

The next day, Chu Zuoshu came in person.

After stepping down as Sect Master, his complexion had significantly improved, and since refining the Longevity Tree sap, his skin had begun to whiten, making him appear several years younger.

Upon receiving the white jade bottle, Chu Zuoshu expressed his profound gratitude.

Uncertain of the extent to which Chu Zuoshu could cultivate his Wood Spirit Body before reaching Core Formation, Chen Mobai instructed him to report whenever he finished his supply of Longevity Tree sap, ensuring he could always provide sufficient resources.

After all, with Chen Mobai's Core Formation cultivation, the ten drops he extracted daily were enough for Chu Zuoshu to refine for more than half a year.

However, if Chen Mobai were to cultivate the Longevity Dao Body himself in the future, and Zeng Woyou needed to continuously refine Longevity Dew, even an abundance of Longevity Tree sap would prove insufficient.

The thought of needing to extract Longevity Tree sap day after day, year after year, made Chen Mobai, a Core Formation Old Ancestor and the Sect Master of Divine Wood, feel rather overburdened.

“No, this won't do. I must leverage my position and find someone to handle this task.”

With a single thought, Chen Mobai pinpointed a suitable person.

He immediately used his Tongtian Instrument to notify Zhuo Ming, and before long, she arrived with one of her close friends.

“Greetings, Sect Master Old Ancestor!”

The graceful Gu Yan entered and, feeling a little apprehensive, bowed respectfully to Chen Mobai.

“Junior Niece Gu, there's something I need your assistance with. Consider it a personal task I'm assigning you…”

With a gentle and pleasant demeanor, Chen Mobai explained his plan to Gu Yan, asking for her help in extracting Longevity Tree sap.

She had obtained this secret technique from the Talent Tree, and moreover, she cultivated a water-attribute method. Even if her efficiency couldn't match his as a Core Formation cultivator, she was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate among all the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Divine Wood Sect.

“I am honored by the Sect Master Old Ancestor’s generosity, and this disciple is most willing.”

Gu Yan nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

For her, this was an immense stroke of luck; not everyone in the sect had the opportunity to be so close to a Core Formation Old Ancestor.

Furthermore, after obtaining this secret technique, she had been like a clever cook without rice, as the Divine Wood Sect possessed only three Longevity Trees.

Gu Yan had already resolved to perform exceptionally well, hoping that Old Ancestor Chen might take notice of her in the future, admitting her into the Xiaonan Mountain lineage, and making her a prestigious direct disciple of an Old Ancestor.

With this determination, Gu Yan came to Chen Mobai's Longevity Wood cultivation grounds whenever she had free time.

However, her cultivation was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, so her extraction efficiency was not high.

Even with Chen Mobai's guidance on certain tricks, she could extract a maximum of only one drop per day.

But with her assistance, Chen Mobai could set this task aside, freeing up more time to cultivate and comprehend other matters.

Half a year passed imperceptibly.

Zeng Woyou attempted to refine Longevity Dew once, but unfortunately, the ancient formula differed somewhat from current alchemy practices, leading to his failure.

While Chen Mobai was disappointed, he had been mentally prepared for this outcome. He instructed Gu Yan to continue extracting Longevity Tree sap to assist Zeng Woyou in refining a second batch of Longevity Dew.

One day, he took Yue Zutao to inspect the three tranquil spiritual energy cultivation sites that the Formation Department and Spiritual Vein Department had established in Giant Wood Ridge.

Originally, there was only one such area. Chen Mobai had planned it based on the cultivation chambers of the Immortal Sect, allowing every Qi Refinement disciple to cultivate there for one hour daily, free of charge.

However, as more disciples returned from completing missions, one area proved insufficient.

Currently, in addition to these three, a fourth cultivation area, providing second-tier spiritual energy, was under construction. These would eventually be reserved for late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.

Each area was divided into one hundred cultivation rooms, which would eventually ensure that every disciple received a turn daily.

“Sect Master, could we also designate areas with third-tier or even fourth-tier spiritual energy?”

Witnessing such excellent benefits for Qi Refinement disciples, some Foundation Establishment cultivators grew restless and voiced their suggestions during a sect meeting.

Chen Mobai stated that it was part of their long-term plan. The spiritual veins and energy in Giant Wood Ridge were currently too dispersed. He intended to re-integrate them after Zhou Shengqing completed her Nascent Soul formation.

Ideally, similar to the Immortal Sect, all spiritual energy distribution would be controlled by the sect. Cultivators would receive spiritual energy appropriate for their cultivation stage, and higher grades would require exchange through sect contributions or spirit stones.

However, these changes would undoubtedly take time, and Chen Mobai was not in a rush.

After the meeting, he went to meet Fu Zongjue and Mo Douguang. Zhou Shengqing was absorbing an increasing amount of spiritual energy, indicating that her Nascent Soul formation was likely to occur within the next two or three months.

At such a critical juncture, vigilance could not be relaxed.

Chen Mobai immediately issued orders to the Formation Department to ensure the Myriad Wood Grand Formation was in a state of heightened alert. He then instructed the guardians stationed in each country to closely monitor the major sect forces in their respective vicinities.

This included Xuan Shu of the Nanyuan Sect, Yan Shaoyin of Huitian Valley, and Kong Lingling of Chuisue Palace.

He even had Honghe specifically keep an eye on the Five Elements Sect.

On this day, above Giant Wood Ridge!

Droplets of crystal-clear spiritual dew shimmered with light, pattering softly onto the tallest Longevity Tree, as an unprecedentedly vast and powerful aura began to rise...