Chapter 543: The Secret of Huakai Courtyard

"It won't be easy if you want to save his life." As Immortal Suxian spoke, she also brought out Gongsun Jielu, who had been sealed away in the Northern Abyss Realm by the Flower Courtyard Master.

"Immortal Yu has shown me kindness, and he is, after all, a teacher officially employed by our Wǔqì Dao Academy. I must do my best." Anyone else, upon confirming Yu Tianguang was a host for the Divine Chariot Master's Divine Seed, would immediately distance themselves to prove their innocence. However, Chen Mobai had no such apprehension, for he had personally slain the Flower Courtyard Master. This act alone was sufficient proof of his loyalty to the Immortal Sect. It was precisely for this reason that he spoke with a clear conscience.

"What an honorable and compassionate young man. In that case, I'll lend you a hand." The more Immortal Suxian looked at Chen Mobai, the more pleased she became. She felt that this junior's core values perfectly aligned with hers, and his cultivation was impressive, making it highly probable he would reach her rank in the future. Recalling her own plans, she couldn't resist doing Chen Mobai another favor. She took out her phone and dialed a number. Once the call connected, Immortal Suxian put it on speakerphone, allowing Chen Mobai to hear a familiar voice. It was their Wǔqì Dao Academy's Headmaster, Immortal Chengxuan.

Immortal Suxian: "Things are settled here. Shi Qing was slain by that young man from your academy, but Yu Tianguang is also a host for the Divine Chariot Master. For your sake, I've kept him alive."

Immortal Chengxuan was silent for a moment, seemingly contemplating whether it was better for Yu Tianguang to be dead or alive. After a while, he spoke two words: "Thank you."

Immortal Suxian: "Gongsun was ensnared by the Flower Courtyard Master. To avoid future troubles, I plan to take her to San Jue. Should I also bring Yu Tianguang? His vital essence has been drained by the Divine Chariot Master; if he's not treated soon, he won't live more than half a year."

Immortal Chengxuan: "Then I'll trouble you. I will also notify San Jue about this beforehand."

After a few more exchanges, the matter was settled. Immortal Chengxuan's intervention effectively took Chen Mobai out of the loop regarding Yu Tianguang's rescue.

Chen Mobai was very pleased with this outcome. After all, if he were to run for one of the Three Grand Hall Master positions in the future, the matter of Yu Tianguang could potentially become a liability. "Thank you, Immortal." Chen Mobai bowed respectfully to Immortal Suxian. "I'll leave things here to you. I'm taking my leave now." After placing a final seal on the Azure Jade Parasol Tree, Immortal Suxian departed, taking with her the sealed Gongsun Jielu and Yu Tianguang.

Although Chen Mobai was a council member of the Kaiyuan Hall, he was nominally only authorized to oversee the Immortal Sect's system in Yumucheng. Furthermore, he had no experience with the aftermath of such incidents within the Immortal Sect and completely lacked understanding. Therefore, it was ultimately Lan Haitan who tirelessly handled the clean-up. Given that Shi Qing was a member of the Ascension Cult and Yu Tianguang was a host, personnel within Danxia City's Immortal Sect system were no longer trusted. After receiving authorization from Immortal Suxian, Lan Haitan directly mobilized enforcement officers from Wangwu Grotto-heaven.

Two Golden Cores were stationed at Danxia City's two major academies. The number of Immortal Sect cultivators who had graduated under their tutelage was countless, spreading throughout nearly every department in Danxia City, with many even extending to neighboring blessed lands and even major Grotto-heavens. For instance, Wu Shangru, the former legal representative of the Soaring Talisman Factory, had completed his Foundation Establishment and graduated from Danzhu Academy. Later, through hard work and effort, he even managed to relocate his household registration to Huayang Grotto-heaven. However, after Shi Qing and Yu Tianguang were exposed, Wu Shangru immediately received a notice from the Immortal Sect, ordering him to cooperate with an investigation at the local enforcement department in Huayang Grotto-heaven. Aside from him, every student who had graduated during that period was added to the Immortal Sect's review list. This group of people would be observed and scrutinized by various Immortal Sect departments for a period of time. All these troublesome matters were personally handled by Lan Haitan. Meanwhile, Chen Mobai was instructed to remain in the Danxia Mountain Range during this time, guarding the Azure Jade Parasol Tree.

This spiritual plant had been sealed by Immortal Suxian, allowing it to temporarily only absorb basic spiritual energy to survive, preventing it from going rampant due to the Flower Courtyard Master's death. However, this seal could not last indefinitely. After all, the Azure Jade Parasol Tree was a peak Rank Four spiritual plant, its inherent spiritual energy surpassing even that of a Narcissus. Furthermore, it was closely linked to Danxia City's fire leyline. To permanently seal it, the Immortal Sect's Forestry Bureau would need to lead a special project involving departments such as land, formations, and celestial phenomena. Moreover, it would require at least one Nascent Soul Immortal, proficient in both formations and spiritual plants, to oversee the operation. However, the few Nascent Soul Immortals who met the requirements seemed disinclined to get involved in such a messy situation. Thus, the high-ranking officials of the Immortal Sect's Three Grand Halls were still in meetings, and Lan Haitan asked Chen Mobai to guard it for now, awaiting a decision.

Naturally, given Chen Mobai's cautious nature, he was not particularly keen on this task. But he was already involved, and if Lan Haitan were to request a Golden Core Immortal from the Immortal Sect's higher echelons to guard the Azure Jade Parasol Tree, the Kaiyuan Hall Committee would likely directly order him, being the closest, to undertake the task. After this battle, Chen Mobai and Lan Haitan had forged a bond of camaraderie, almost like comrades in arms. Lan Haitan even revealed that if Chen Mobai was unwilling, he could refuse on the grounds of injuries sustained from his fight with the Flower Courtyard Master. However, Danxia City was, after all, Chen Mobai's hometown. At such a turbulent time, he felt it was his responsibility to step forward. Therefore, after giving instructions to Yumucheng, Chen Mobai bravely and resolutely took up residence on the highest peak of the Danxia Mountain Range.

During this period, Qin Baipeng, the Lord of Danxia City, visited several times, hoping Chen Mobai could intercede. Lan Haitan had already taken control of all Immortal Sect institutions in Danxia City, initiating a top-to-bottom cleansing and screening. Key personnel from several departments had been taken away by the enforcement department for investigation. Like pulling up a radish and bringing out the mud, Qin Baipeng was soon also requested to cooperate with an investigation. Chen Mobai could only assure Qin Baipeng that as long as he was not involved with the Ascension Cult, he would ensure his safety.

After Qin Baipeng, representatives from Chixia Academy and Danzhu Academy also sought him out. "Councilman Chen, many teachers have been taken away for investigation, and many classes have been suspended. The students are in a state of panic..." "The teachers can all swear Dao-heart oaths, confirming they have no connection to the Ascension Cult. Councilman Chen, could you please speak with the enforcement department on our behalf?" "At least ensure the students' normal classes can resume..." After hearing the requests from both academies, Chen Mobai stepped in and communicated with Lan Haitan, who was quite accommodating. Except for a few key individuals, all other teachers were sent back.

The person in charge of this matter was Lin Yin, who had another task when she arrived. "What are you doing?" Chen Mobai watched curiously as Lin Yin moved in and out of the wooden hut where Shi Qing had long been in seclusion, beneath the Azure Jade Parasol Tree, holding transparent glass tubes. "These are Spirit Sealing Tubes. They can extract residual spiritual energy and other energy traces from the air, which helps determine who had more contact with Shi Qing," Qing Nü replied, explaining that this was a device developed by their Heaven Mending Group Two. Lin Yin demonstrated it in front of Chen Mobai. Soon, a stream of green light materialized from thin air and flowed into the glass tube in her hand. Chen Mobai: "Is it really that amazing?" Qing Nü: "It can only extract traces from the past year. Anything older would have long dissipated. It's just a routine procedure; I don't think Group Leader Lin expects to find any crucial clues with it." During this time, Qing Nü had been accompanying him. While Chen Mobai guarded the mountaintop, she stayed in a wooden hut on the mountainside. Even though Lan Haitan was short-staffed, it seemed he had forgotten about Qing Nü in the Heaven Mending Group.

Soon, Lin Yin completed her work. All four glass tubes in her hand contained the same green energy. "This is Shi Qing's spiritual energy; there are no other findings," Lin Yin said, shaking her head regretfully, though this was expected. As she spoke, she took out a talisman and affixed it to the glass tube. "What's that?" Chen Mobai asked, pointing at the talisman. "It's a Spirit Solidification Talisman. When used with a Spirit Sealing Tube, it can solidify the extracted spiritual energy, preventing it from dissipating. Although the Flower Courtyard Master is dead, her spiritual energy has high research value. Immortal Yuanxu specifically called us to collect and send it to him." Lin Yin held nothing back when speaking to Chen Mobai. After his excellent performance in this incident, Chen Mobai's trustworthiness among the Immortal Sect's upper echelons was now on par with Lan Haitan's, and he was now privy to many more matters.

"Oh, isn't there a corpse? Wouldn't it be more convenient and quicker to extract it directly from the body?" Chen Mobai asked, a little puzzled. Although a cultivator's spiritual energy slowly dissipates after death, with the Immortal Sect's technology, they should surely be able to extract enough. "Immortal Suxian took the Flower Courtyard Master's corpse to Immortal San Jue. Immortal Yuanxu primarily wants to study this Azure Jade Parasol Tree," Lin Yin replied. She dared not elaborate further, only subtly hinting at Lan Haitan's intention. "I see. Are four tubes enough? Should we collect more?" Chen Mobai, unaware of the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower, missed the hint and instead focused on Immortal Yuanxu's request. "That's enough. The document only requested three tubes, and I've already extracted an extra one. Later, we'll also need a branch from the Azure Jade Parasol Tree, and we'll need your help for that, Councilman Chen." Upon hearing Lin Yin's words, Chen Mobai nodded. Then, he performed the sealing art that Immortal Suxian had taught him, subduing the Azure Jade Parasol Tree, and personally used his Violet Lightning Sword to cut off a section of its branch.

After seeing Lin Yin off, Chen Mobai suddenly thought of something. He turned to look at the Azure Jade Parasol Tree standing on the mountaintop, deep in thought. "What's wrong?" Qing Nü, who was nearby, asked curiously, noticing his expression. "How long can the Spirit Sealing Tube and Spirit Solidification Talisman keep the spiritual energy solidified?" During his studies at the Heaven Mending Dao Academy, Chen Mobai had accompanied Yan Bingxuan to over a dozen Qi-element classes and was very familiar with the theoretical foundations of Immortal Yuanxu's system. He suddenly had an idea to significantly boost his combat power in a short period.

"If you're willing to continuously use Spirit Solidification Talismans, theoretically, it can be indefinite. Patriarch Yuanyang's Pure Yang Qi was preserved this way," Qing Nü explained. Although she was from Heaven Mending Group Four, she was very knowledgeable about Spirit Sealing Tubes and Spirit Solidification Talismans, as their group often dealt with extracting residual spiritual energy from corpses. Chen Mobai: "Can Spirit Sealing Tubes store spiritual energy of any quality?" Qing Nü: "Not exactly. It depends on the quality of the energy you need to store. For explosive lightning or sharp sword qi, you would need specially customized Spirit Sealing Tubes." Chen Mobai: "What about flames? For example, our Pure Yang Scripture cultivators' 'Great Sun Pure Yang Fire'?" Qing Nü: "For that, you'd need ceramic tubes fired from spiritual earth. They have good heat retention and insulation properties and won't crack from the high temperatures of true flames." Chen Mobai asked several more detailed questions, and Qing Nü answered them all without hesitation.

Soon, dusk fell, and the two reluctantly parted ways. After Qing Nü left the mountaintop, Chen Mobai had just sat down when he looked up at the sky with a hint of surprise. Lan Haitan's figure flew in from a distance and slowly descended. "Brother Chen, you've worked hard during this time." "Not at all. I've merely been staying here. It's you who truly worked hard handling the aftermath and clean-up." Chen Mobai felt that Lan Haitan had deliberately waited for Qing Nü to leave before coming over. He invited him to sit down, boiled water, and prepared tea.

"The latest notice from the higher-ups states that Immortal Taohua will soon arrive with personnel from Jumang Dao Academy and the Immortal Affairs Hall to deal with this Azure Jade Parasol Tree." Chen Mobai had anticipated this news from Lan Haitan. Among the Immortal Sect, Immortal Taohua was unrivaled in dealing with spiritual plants, given her unique background and innate advantages. "Then I suppose I'm finally relieved of this duty," Chen Mobai said with a smile. Although sitting here every day, with access to Rank Four spiritual leyline energy for cultivation, was considered top-tier treatment within the Immortal Sect, the spiritual energy here was still inferior compared to Giantwood Ridge. Moreover, being confined here made many other tasks difficult to carry out.

"The Gate Realm Management Bureau opened the Flower Courtyard Master's realm and discovered various items she had prepared there for casting a forbidden spell." Lan Haitan suddenly brought up another matter. Chen Mobai picked up his teacup, poured him a cup, and listened intently. "What this forbidden spell truly is remains unknown for now, but it is certainly related to this Azure Jade Parasol Tree and very likely involves the core inheritance of the Flower Courtyard, a primordial evil orthodoxy." The Flower Courtyard Master from two thousand years ago was the leader of a primordial evil orthodoxy, with a cultivation status similar to today's Ascension Cult Master. Although records of this lineage within the Immortal Sect were vague, Lan Haitan knew that this individual had also reached the Deification stage. The reason he was able to achieve Deification was by using the Immortal Sect's pioneering war to infiltrate another world. Although during the Flower Courtyard Master's Deification, his aura leaked, leading to him being discovered and besieged by the native inhabitants of the other world, he narrowly escaped only to be pursued by the Immortal Sect's Deification stage cultivators, ultimately meeting his demise. However, the secret of his Deification had always been sought after by the Immortal Sect's upper echelons. As Lan Haitan spoke, Chen Mobai understood his meaning.