Chapter 554: Mixed Yuan Stone

Pure Nine Lotus Lanterns: ,,,,,,,,,

After forming his Golden Core, Chen Mobai, wielding the Purple Lightning Sword, truly had no one to fear in the Eastern Desolate region.

However, his easy victory over Kong Lingling still surprised him a little.

Kong Lingling was an experienced Golden Core cultivator, an elder who had survived when Patriarch Hunyuan dominated the Eastern Desolate. He had initially expected a difficult fight, possibly requiring the use of his Purple Lightning Sword.

But to his surprise, the Blazing Sun Slash, perfected after mastering the Crimson Flame Sword Art, proved to be far more powerful than he had imagined.

Especially against Kong Lingling's ice-elemental spiritual power, it unleashed its full might. Coupled with the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror neutralizing the Twin Cold Moon Hooks, he easily secured victory in a direct confrontation.

Kong Lingling remarked, "Sect Master Chen is indeed worthy of being the foremost sword cultivator in the Eastern Desolate; I am no match for you."

After her defeat, Kong Lingling's tone softened. From within Blowing Snow Palace's spiritual veins, another wave of icy-blue mist emerged, coalescing into the slender, graceful figure of a beautiful woman. She bowed gently to Chen Mobai.

"Oh?"

Hearing Kong Lingling's words, Chen Mobai was surprised. But upon closer thought, he vaguely understood why Kong Lingling had suddenly attacked him as he was leaving, and why she seemed to calmly accept her defeat.

"Since True Monarch Kong is at a critical juncture in your cultivation, it would be best not to overexert yourself. I will be leaving the Snow Country with my disciples immediately."

"Sect Master Chen, why such haste? Please stay for two more days. Has my sect been inhospitable?"

Kong Lingling had employed a method akin to a Dao Soldier, using her natal magic artifact and the spiritual veins of Blowing Snow Palace's grand formation to engage Chen Mobai. Even while carefully avoiding damage to the spiritual veins' core, she could exert eighty percent of her strength. Yet, despite this, she was easily defeated by the Blazing Sun Slash.

Aware of this, Kong Lingling grew increasingly wary of Chen Mobai.

Although she had long heard of him as the Eastern Desolate's foremost sword cultivator, possessing the strongest sword dao talent in a thousand years, she had always been somewhat skeptical without having personally fought him.

But through this trial, she clearly understood that unless she was willing to risk her life, she would likely not be a match for Sect Master Chen of the Divine Wood Sect.

It was precisely for this reason that Kong Lingling's attitude changed drastically.

"Not at all, Sect Master Zhu has been very hospitable. It's just that I still need to visit Golden Radiance Cliff in the Wind Country, and I wouldn't dare keep Senior Brother Mo waiting."

Chen Mobai said in a relaxed tone. His current expedition, leading the disciples of the Divine Wood Sect, was along a predetermined route circling the borders of the Eastern Desolate, aiming to deter hostile forces outside the Divine Wood Sect along the way.

Between Blowing Snow Palace and Reversal Heaven Valley lay the Wind Country of Golden Radiance Cliff.

Since he was passing by, Chen Mobai naturally intended to visit Mo Douguang. He had also asked Yue Zutao to notify him in advance, and Mo Douguang had even specially exited his seclusion upon hearing of his impending arrival.

Upon hearing Mo Douguang's name, Kong Lingling felt even more bitter.

The two most formidable cultivators in the entire Eastern Desolate were now right next to Blowing Snow Palace. She feared that one day, while she was in seclusion, these two swords would suddenly intrude.

Against Mo Douguang, she had absolutely no chance of victory.

And facing this excessively young Sect Master Chen, her tentative probing today revealed that she might not be his match, which deepened her dejection.

Nevertheless, she maintained a smiling facade as she saw them off.

"Since that is the case, I shall take my leave. Jin'yu, please send someone to escort Sect Master Chen and his party safely to the border."

"True Monarch Kong is too kind."

After exchanging a few polite words, Kong Lingling took her leave first.

"Junior Sister Xueting, I'll have to trouble you a bit more."

After Kong Lingling transformed into mist and vanished, Zhu Jin'yu spoke to Xueting, who stood beside her. Xueting nodded expressionlessly.

"Senior Sect Master Sister, I'd like to see off Sect Master Chen as well."

At this moment, Bai Si, who had been keeping her head down, suddenly spoke. Zhu Jin'yu showed a conflicted expression but, after some thought, nodded in agreement.

Using Blowing Snow Palace's teleportation array, Chen Mobai and his party arrived at the border between the Snow Country and the Wind Country.

However, there were still three hundred kilometers to travel further.

Chen Mobai controlled the Crimson Cloud Smoke Net, carrying everyone as they flew through the air towards the Wind Country.

The border between the Snow Country and the Wind Country was a mountainous, barren, and desolate land, with only a few faint first-tier spiritual veins. Thus, Blowing Snow Palace had not expended much effort here.

"Sect Master Chen, look over there."

Above the smoke clouds, Xueting stood beside Chen Mobai, pointing towards a fiery-red spiritual field nestled in the valley below.

"This was the experimental field for cultivating fire spirit rice when I first returned from Mount Xiaonan..."

As Xueting spoke, she pointed to various oddly shaped spiritual fields dotting the mountain terrain below, some of which were terraced fields, clearly inspired by Mount Xiaonan's techniques.

"Excellent, excellent. In the art of cultivation, you have truly inherited my methods, second only to Ming'er."

Chen Mobai and Xueting walked to the edge of the misty clouds, observing carefully in the direction of her pointed finger. With his Empyrean Spirit Eyes activated, even from mid-air, he could discern the stalks in the spiritual fields, each laden with rice ears, though the grains were not particularly plump.

"When I first established these spiritual fields for cultivation, I encountered many difficulties. I resolved them all by writing to Senior Sister Zhuo for advice. However, the fire spirit rice grown here is of ordinary quality and cannot compare to that from Mount Xiaonan."

Xueting was overjoyed to hear Chen Mobai's words. It was the first time she had received praise since embarking on her path of cultivation. Yet, she maintained a humble attitude, acknowledging her shortcomings.

"The soil's fertility is insufficient, coupled with the sparse spiritual qi from the spiritual veins; this is no fault of yours. Your cultivation techniques for fire spirit rice are already proficient enough to be considered a master, even among my own disciples."

According to the standards of the Heavenly River Realm, Chen Mobai was considered a third-tier spiritual plant master. A single glance at the rice ears in the spiritual fields below revealed the reason for their undeveloped grains.

"It's only because our sect has widely promoted fire spirit rice cultivation that I have accumulated extensive experience from years of guiding junior disciples and cultivation families in their farming efforts."

Xueting's advanced proficiency in fire spirit rice cultivation was indeed developed through extensive practical field cultivation, and she was simply stating the truth.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai's impression of her improved even further.

He had originally just casually assigned her to Zhuo Ming for training, never expecting her to be such a diligent and aspiring individual. What was even rarer was her continued respect for him, always addressing him with the proper courtesy due to a teacher whenever she visited.

If he had known earlier, he would have spoken to Lan Lingping back then to transfer her under his tutelage as another disciple. That way, he could entrust the farming duties to Xueting and free up Zhuo Ming to focus on nurturing those precious spiritual plants.

Although Chen Mobai had encountered many excellent spiritual plant cultivators during his years in the Heavenly River Realm, none of the farming-focused spiritual plant cultivators had truly caught his eye.

Perhaps it was due to his perspective being shaped by the Immortal Sect's standards; aside from Zhuo Ming, a genius beyond compare, Xueting was now the only other one who measured up.

Although she specialized in spiritual plant techniques, her ability to cultivate fire spirit rice so well, coupled with her resilient character, meant that with a little guidance, she would become a capable assistant.

However, Chen Mobai reconsidered. The relationship between Blowing Snow Palace and the Divine Wood Sect was merely ordinary. Kong Lingling would probably rather see her disciples die accidentally than allow one to defect.

Furthermore, Xueting had already established her Foundation, making her a cultivator who had mastered Blowing Snow Palace's core cultivation methods, making such a transfer even more impossible.

Only the Divine Wood Sect would, if they encountered talent suitable for sword arts within their territory, send them to Golden Radiance Cliff.

Conversely, Golden Radiance Cliff would do the same, sending disciples who didn't practice sword arts to the Divine Wood Sect.

"Sect Master Chen..."

Seeing that they were about to fly out of the Snow Country's border, Chen Mobai and Xueting were still pointing at the spiritual fields below, one teaching and one listening intently with no sign of stopping. Bai Si finally couldn't resist approaching to bow.

"Oh, Junior Niece Bai, is something the matter?"

Chen Mobai had just been explaining to Xueting that the spiritual fields below were most suitable for cultivating Green Ridge Spirit Rice, along with its characteristics and habits. Hearing Bai Si interrupt, he felt a slight displeasure and spoke stiffly.

"N-no... nothing... I merely came to remind you that we're about to enter the Wind Country's territory."

Upon hearing Chen Mobai's tone, Bai Si's heart skipped a beat. She no longer dared to ask the questions she had prepared. After stammering for a long while, she finally offered her careful reminder.

"Are we already there?"

Chen Mobai looked somewhat regretful upon hearing this. He had just experienced the long-missed feeling of being a mentor through Xueting.

After all, Zhuo Ming's spiritual plant techniques now surpassed his own, and sometimes he was the one seeking her advice. Liu Wenbai, on the other hand, was entirely focused on business. Although he diligently farmed on Mount Xiaonan, he clearly had no intention of dedicating his full efforts to this path.

Since Luo Yixuan's disappearance, for about ten years, he hadn't experienced this satisfaction of teaching farming.

"Junior Niece Xueting, when you have time, do visit Giant Wood Ridge more often. Ming'er has always missed you quite a bit."

After crossing the border, Chen Mobai turned to Xueting, who had stopped within the Snow Country's territory, and spoke kindly.

"Yes."

"Junior Niece Bai... you've also had a tiring journey."

As Chen Mobai was about to leave, he saw Bai Si standing beside Xueting and, out of politeness, offered a word. Upon hearing this, Bai Si's taut expression seemed to waver slightly, and she immediately nodded in response.

Bai Si: "It's what I should do."

Just then, two streaks of sword light flew in from a distance. Two Foundation Establishment cultivators from Golden Radiance Cliff had already landed ahead, bowing to Chen Mobai.

"Senior Uncle Chen, Ancestor Mo sent us to pick you up."

One of them was Ning Leshan, whom Chen Mobai knew well. The other had a square face, large ears, a flushed complexion, and his cultivation was nearly at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

After introductions, it was revealed that he was one of Golden Radiance Cliff's Twelve Sword Bearers, Jia Songyang!

During Chu Zuoshu's tenure as leader, he had the most interactions with the Divine Wood Sect.

This was because Golden Radiance Cliff did not have a Sect Master position; instead, the Twelve Sword Bearers each presided over the practice of one of the twelve sword arts, and disciples within the sect were divided into factions according to the sword art they cultivated.

Jia Songyang cultivated the Crimson Flame Sword Art, which was why his relationship with the Divine Wood Sect was the best.

"Junior Nephew Jia, your cultivation is impressive. It seems you have already condensed sword qi."

With a single glance, Chen Mobai saw through Jia Songyang's cultivation level. He was half a step higher than Xie Yuntian, having refined three strands of Azure Flame Sword Qi.

"I still have many confusions regarding my cultivation, and I hope to seek guidance from Senior Uncle Chen."

Jia Songyang spoke with the courtesy of a disciple. After all, Chen Mobai, who specialized in the Crimson Flame Sword Art, was the benchmark on his cultivation path.

"Hahaha, let's go. We shouldn't keep Senior Brother Mo waiting."

Chen Mobai nodded with a laugh, asking Ning Leshan and Jia Songyang to lead the way. Then, controlling the Crimson Cloud Smoke Net, he followed them towards the nearest teleportation array.

Watching their party disappear, Bai Si slowly regained her composure. Her gaze, slightly sharp, turned to Xueting beside her.

"Junior Sister, your relationship with Sect Master Chen seems quite good?"

"In the past, I was Senior Sister Lan's disciple. She sent me to Mount Xiaonan to study the method of cultivating fire spirit rice under Sect Master Chen. Although I don't have the formal title of a disciple, I essentially served as one."

Xueting said with a calm expression. Bai Si truly hadn't known about this.

After all, she was typically an ascetic cultivator, always unconcerned with the sect's operations and other matters.

Kong Lingling also held great hopes for her, wishing she could break through soon and become the sect's second Golden Core cultivator.

"If the Divine Wood Sect were to invade our sect, Junior Sister, you wouldn't forget that you are a cultivator of Blowing Snow Palace, would you?!"

Bai Si pressed on. Xueting's calm face turned, and she glanced at her.

"Naturally, I will always protect the Snow Country and the Frost Country."

"That's good."

Upon hearing this, Bai Si's fluctuating state of mind finally stabilized. She didn't know why, but seeing Chen Mobai treat the outwardly unremarkable Xueting with special regard while showing indifference towards her had caused her usually proud Ice Snow Dao Heart to become somewhat imbalanced.

"I'm returning to the sect now. Junior Sister, I will truthfully report to Master that you excellently completed the task of ensuring Sect Master Chen departed the Snow Country in good spirits."

After saying this, Bai Si turned and flew on her sword towards Blowing Snow Palace.

Xueting watched her disappearing back, then turned her head towards the Wind Country, the direction Chen Mobai had vanished. She silently savored the unprecedented joy she had felt throughout their journey.

Was this what it felt like to be praised, to be acknowledged?

Was that feeling of elation, filling her entire body, indeed contentment?

If only she could truly become Sect Master Chen's disciple!

Chen Mobai naturally had no idea that his casual praise had filled Xueting, a disciple of Blowing Snow Palace, with such immense joy.

Led by Jia Songyang and Ning Leshan, he quickly arrived at Golden Radiance Cliff via the Wind Country's teleportation array.

A familiar person was already waiting before the teleportation array.

"Senior Brother Mo, I apologize for keeping you waiting."

Chen Mobai truly hadn't expected Mo Douguang to greet him here. Logically, it should have been he, the junior brother, ascending the mountain to pay respects.

"She Peihua, please receive the others. Junior Brother Chen, come with me."

Mo Douguang said to a graceful middle-aged man beside him. This man was also one of the Twelve Sword Bearers and Mo Douguang's direct eldest disciple.

Chen Mobai understood Mo Douguang's nature and, after giving a few instructions to his companions, he and Mo Douguang transformed into streaks of light and vanished from the spot.

"Junior Brother Chen, this is the 'Primal Chaos Stone'."