Chapter 559: Immortal Tea

Pure Nine Lotus Lantern:

Yan Shaoyin paused upon hearing Yu Shuji, then finally understood the true meaning of Chen Mobai’s earlier words.

The Fiery Blade Art perfected! Eighty-one strands of Qingmu Evil Qi!

Didn't that mean he had mastered the Blazing Sun Slash, was preparing to gather enough Golden Flames, and intended to cultivate the Extreme Yang Slash?

"This..." Yan Shaoyin was unwilling to accept the idea. Back then, Grand Ancestor Hunyuan had swept across the Eastern Barrens with the Extreme Yang Slash, and their Return to Heaven Valley’s grand formation had trembled under that very move. If not for the intervention of the Star Heaven Dao Sect, he might have already been incinerated by the Golden Flames.

He was so young, and he had already mastered the Golden Flames?

But what you fear most often comes true.

Chen Mobai smiled faintly, extending his right hand from behind his back, palm open and fingers splayed upwards.

Two golden spheres of flame flew out, swirling continuously in his palm like a Taiji diagram.

Yan Shaoyin, witnessing this, widened his eyes in disbelief!

Even Yu Shuji of the Star Heaven Dao Sect showed a look of shock, raising his estimation of Chen Mobai once more.

This person’s talent was at the level of a Dao Child, even within their Star Heaven Dao Sect.

What a pity they hadn't discovered this uncut jade in the Eastern Barrens earlier.

Yu Shuji felt a pang of regret. While the Core Formation stage could still be forcibly overcome with the resources and talent available in the Eastern Barrens, reaching the Nascent Soul stage without the secret insights of a major sect like theirs, even with abundant resources and supreme talent, was almost certainly a life-or-death gamble!

At the Nascent Soul stage, a single mistake means death and the end of one's cultivation path.

Relying solely on the Divine Wood Sect's two sets of Nascent Soul cultivation insights would never fully explain this stage; it's not something talent alone can achieve. It requires profound heritage and accumulation.

In their Star Heaven Dao Sect, those who cultivated to the peak of Core Formation were all Dao Children, exceptional individuals. Yet, even with divine items like the Three Light Divine Water, the success rate for forming a Nascent Soul was still less than thirty percent.

What a shame for such a genius with supreme talent in both sword arts and spiritual plant cultivation!

Although Yu Shuji thought this, he also intended to foster better relations with the Divine Wood Sect in the future, and hold more of their sales events in the Jian Kingdom.

After all, Chen Mobai had just formed his core. With the talent and combat prowess he had displayed, the Divine Wood Sect would truly be the foremost sect in the Eastern Barrens for the next few centuries.

The Star Heaven Grand Merchant Guild, operating throughout the Eastern Continent, had always excelled at maintaining good relations with local powers.

"There's a good amount of Qingmu Evil Qi in Kongsang Valley. My relationship with them is quite good. If Sect Master Chen desires it, I'm willing to mediate on your behalf."

While Yan Shaoyin was still silent after Chen Mobai displayed his Golden Flames, Yu Shuji was already smiling and offering to help him resolve his difficulties.

"If this succeeds, I'll owe Master Yu a favor."

Chen Mobai was also greatly pleased upon hearing this.

Although the Divine Wood Sect's influence now extended across most of the Eastern Barrens, the limited availability of Qingmu Evil Qi made it impossible to collect the required amount for the Extreme Yang Slash in a short period.

The Star Heaven Grand Merchant Guild operated throughout all six domains of the Eastern Continent, possessing extensive connections and knowing exactly where to find various resources. If Yu Shuji was willing to help, it would at least save Chen Mobai more than half his time and effort.

"No problem at all. I recall the Guild has a few strands of Qingmu Evil Qi in stock. Later, I'll have Xiuxian take my personal letter to the Eastern Yi warehouse to retrieve them. Then we'll go to Kongsang Valley to purchase on behalf of Sect Master Chen. I imagine acquiring thirty strands won't be an issue. Afterwards, I'll also instruct the Guild's subordinates to do their best to acquire Qingmu Evil Qi for Sect Master Chen whenever they encounter it."

Chen Mobai thanked Yu Shuji again after hearing his words.

He actually only needed fifty-seven strands of Qingmu Evil Qi.

With the thirty strands provided by the Star Heaven Grand Merchant Guild, he could then try to gather the rest in the Eastern Barrens or wait for his own sect's production. He estimated he should be able to master the Extreme Yang Slash before reaching the mid-Core Formation stage.

"This... actually, I haven't been planning to refine high-grade pills recently, so keeping this Qingmu Evil Qi to nurture in the Earth Fiend Yin Cavern would be a waste. If Sect Master Chen needs it, you can take ten strands."

At this moment, Yan Shaoyin, who was beside them, suddenly spoke. In his mind, he had initially wanted to find a way to delay Chen Mobai's mastery of the Extreme Yang Slash.

However, Yu Shuji's actions made him realize that whether he offered his ten strands or not, it no longer mattered.

Furthermore, upon closer thought, with Chen Mobai's level of sword mastery and his fourth-tier sword artifact, he probably wouldn't even need the Extreme Yang Slash to deal with him.

Although Yan Shaoyin was also in the late Core Formation stage, he was very clear about his own combat abilities. Most of his energy was spent on improving his alchemy, and the rest was focused entirely on defensive and escape techniques.

If he were to truly face Chen Mobai, a peerless sword genius capable of slicing down Nan Xuanjing and forcing Xuan Shu to retreat, the odds would definitely be stacked against him.

Since that was the case, he needed to make up for his earlier words and hoped to build goodwill, just in case he needed something from the Divine Wood Sect in the future.

"Thank you, Master Yan."

Chen Mobai naturally wouldn't refuse. After he displayed his Golden Flames, the atmosphere among the three had become even more harmonious than before; they were even chatting and laughing.

Yan Shaoyin brought out a treasured third-tier spirit tea he possessed, renowned in the Eastern Barrens alongside the Snow Peak Bai Clan's Snow Needle Immortal Buds. Named Green Cicada, drinking it left one feeling clear-minded and revitalized through their meridians.

"This tea was discovered by my grandmaster in Xiaoye Mountain, at the tail end of the Dragon Vein in the Flower Kingdom. It has absorbed the Dragon Vein's energy and grown naturally for millions of years. Daily consumption can regulate qi and blood. More importantly, it can neutralize pill poison. Long-term use can virtually eliminate the side effects of most pill poisons."

Cultivators from major sects in the Heavenly River Realm generally knew that excessive consumption of pills would lead to the accumulation of pill poison in the body and spiritual energy, which would become a major hidden danger when attempting breakthroughs.

As a major alchemy sect, Return to Heaven Valley refined and consumed the most pills, so it naturally conducted the most research in this area.

This Green Cicada spirit tea was Return to Heaven Valley's method for resolving pill poison.

The problem was that this tea tree could only survive and grow in the presence of Dragon Vein energy. Most of the Dragon Vein locations in the Flower Kingdom had been converted into third-tier spirit fields for cultivating Coiling Dragon Spirit Rice.

Therefore, for thousands of years, Return to Heaven Valley, using the Green Cicada mother tree as its source, had only cultivated a few dozen saplings. The spirit tea produced could barely meet the needs of its own disciples.

"The Green Cicada spirit tea, I've heard of it before. It truly lives up to its reputation."

After drinking it, Chen Mobai first tasted a slight bitterness, but then a wave of sweetness rose in his mouth after swallowing, invigorating his entire body, prompting him to praise it.

"Oh, no, my spirit tea is nothing special. The White Dew Sparrow's Tongue from the Sun Bathing Sea is truly a top-grade item. I drank it once, and it's unforgettable; my entire body felt cleansed, and all the gloom in my heart vanished. My breakthrough to the late Core Formation stage was also thanks to it."

Yan Shaoyin spoke of the best spirit tea he had ever tasted. The White Dew Sparrow's Tongue was known as the number one spirit tea in Eastern Yi, its mother tree a fourth-tier spirit plant, and a treasured artifact of the Sun Bathing Sea sect.

"If I have the chance, I'd definitely like to try a cup."

Chen Mobai was also very tempted upon hearing this. He was currently cultivating the Pure Yang Scripture, so spiritual energy growth was no longer an issue, but he feared being stuck at bottlenecks.

If the White Dew Sparrow's Tongue was truly helpful for breaking through cultivation stages, it would be a perfect match for him.

"Master Yu must have tasted it too, but your sect's Heavenly Star Silver Shuttle is also a fourth-tier spirit tea, and it's even superior to the White Dew Sparrow's Tongue. You probably don't have the same feelings about it as I do."

Yan Shaoyin turned the topic to Yu Shuji, who smiled reservedly after hearing him.

The Star Heaven Dao Sect's Heavenly Star Silver Shuttle was a supreme-grade spirit tea that was in short supply even in the Eastern Continent. Consuming it could clear one's divine sense, making them feel as if they were in a galaxy, subtly and harmlessly expanding their Sea of Consciousness within their Purple Mansion.

"The Eastern Barrens is still too small. Although Green Cicada and Snow Needle Immortal Buds seem like top-grade items to us, in the Eastern Continent, any random Core Formation cultivator probably drinks tea of this caliber daily."

As he spoke, Yan Shaoyin began to sigh. When he had just formed his core, he had once followed members of the Star Heaven Grand Merchant Guild to the Eastern Continent, and it had been a true eye-opener.

Majestic immortal cities, sacred mountains towering over the firmament, and various inconceivable artifacts, pills, and talismans—it was as if the celestial realm had descended to the mortal world, grand and unattainable.

"Brother Yan, don't be too modest. This Green Cicada is a good spirit tea even in the Eastern Continent. Its ability to neutralize pill poison alone would make people clamor for it."

Yu Shuji spoke up. The Star Heaven Dao Sect, as the hegemon of the Eastern Peak Domain, was second only to the most supreme sacred lands and major sects in the Eastern Continent.

In his youth, he had also traveled with the Star Heaven Grand Merchant Guild and spent several decades training in the Eastern Continent. After gaining a deep understanding, he didn't hold the same sense of awe towards the Eastern Continent as Yan Shaoyin, who had only visited once.

"White Dew Sparrow's Tongue is good, and Heavenly Star Silver Shuttle is also exceptional, but the most supreme spirit tea I've ever drunk in my life is a tea called 'Longevity Eyebrow'."

Upon hearing Yu Shuji's words, both Chen Mobai and Yan Shaoyin were extremely curious, eagerly asking about the mysteries of this Longevity Eyebrow tea.

"This tea is planted at the entrance of the Daoist Virtue Sect!"

Yu Shuji's single sentence made both Chen Mobai and Yan Shaoyin widen their eyes, their faces showing realization.

The Daoist Virtue Sect, one of the Sacred Lands of the Eastern Continent!

True Monarch Yiyuan, a previously ascended cultivator, came from this sect. It had cultivators who achieved Soul Transformation in every generation, making it the Sacred Land with the deepest heritage in the Eastern Continent.

For this Longevity Eyebrow to be planted at the entrance of the Daoist Virtue Sect, it must be extraordinary.

"Could it be a fifth-tier immortal tea!"

Fifth-tier and above items could be bestowed with the title "immortal," meaning they were immortal-grade items fit for tribute to immortals in the Upper Realm.

"Precisely. This Longevity Eyebrow is indeed a fifth-tier immortal tea. Each cup consumed can extend one's lifespan by a year. True Monarch Wuwei used this immortal tea to have enough lifespan to await the opportunity for ascension."

"Is there a limit to the lifespan extension provided by this Longevity Eyebrow?"

After hearing Yu Shuji's words, Chen Mobai couldn't help but press for more details. Lifespan was a matter of innate destiny. The highest-grade Immortal Fruit of the Immortal Ailanthus Tree in the Immortal Sect could extend lifespan by 480 years.

"The best way to consume Longevity Eyebrow is to drink it continuously for a year. This will extend one's lifespan by 360 years, after which it will no longer have an effect. However, it is precisely because of this limit that I had the chance to drink a cup."

Yu Shuji explained. The Longevity Eyebrow Immortal Tea was extremely famous in the Eastern Continent; every year, countless Nascent Soul cultivators nearing the end of their lifespan would seek it out.

Once, a precious spirit plant of the Daoist Virtue Sect had its roots and stems eaten by pests, nearly dying. Yu Shuji, as a fourth-tier spirit plant master from the Star Heaven Grand Merchant Guild, was also invited to help.

Finally, with the combined efforts of over a dozen top spirit plant masters from across the six Eastern Continent domains, the precious spirit plant was revived. Yu Shuji, who assisted, received not only spirit stones and other rewards but also a cup of Longevity Eyebrow tea to quench his thirst.

Yu Shuji had already forgotten the taste of the tea, as its flavor was quite ordinary, even a bit bitter, but it was a fifth-tier immortal tea.

So he remembered it to this day, and boasted about it whenever he had the chance.

As expected, Yan Shaoyin listened with a face full of envy and longing.

Both the Daoist Virtue Sect and the Longevity Eyebrow Immortal Tea were beyond his reach in this lifetime.

Yu Shuji felt quite pleased seeing his expression.

But when his gaze fell upon Chen Mobai, he was slightly taken aback.

Because Chen Mobai's face was calm, as if he had merely heard a story, with no change in his emotions.

This Sect Master Chen, his composure is truly extraordinary!

Yu Shuji's evaluation of Chen Mobai rose again. One should know that even the Nascent Soul Grand Ancestors of the three major sects in Eastern Yi would show faces full of longing after hearing about the Longevity Eyebrow Immortal Tea, wishing they could immediately set off for the Eastern Continent to seek it from the Daoist Virtue Sect.

As a sword cultivator who theoretically had a shorter lifespan, Chen Mobai's tranquility regarding Longevity Eyebrow was a cultivation of character that greatly impressed and surprised Yu Shuji.

No wonder he could achieve such mastery in spiritual plant cultivation.

But how could Yu Shuji know that Chen Mobai, being still young, had no sense of urgency regarding his lifespan?

After forming his core, he had 560 years of lifespan, and he was only forty-five years old. This long period was more than enough for him to cultivate to the peak of Core Formation.

If he could form a Nascent Soul, his lifespan would increase further. Moreover, after forming a Nascent Soul, his Longevity Dao Body would surely reach great accomplishment, after which he could attempt to cultivate the Longevity Art.

If he could master this grand art of the Longevity Sect, he would be able to increase his inherent stage lifespan by one-third.

At that time, if he fared well in the Immortal Sect, he might even have a chance to obtain the Grand Ailanthus Immortal Fruit.

For Chen Mobai, he might worry about slow growth in divine sense, stagnation in his sword cultivation realm, or inability to break through cultivation bottlenecks, but the one thing he didn't worry about was his lifespan.

He even somewhat hoped that time would pass faster, ideally a century in the blink of an eye, saving him the effort of arduous meditation and cultivation, allowing him to directly reach the peak of Core Formation.

While Longevity Eyebrow was indeed good, Chen Mobai would certainly not wander to the Eastern Continent just for it.

It was better to develop steadily here in the Eastern Barrens, building it into his base for achieving the Dao, and striving to form a Nascent Soul with the help of the Immortal Sect and local resources.

In this process, he would gradually erode the Blowing Snow Palace, suppress the Return to Heaven Valley, prepare to reclaim the Five Elements Sect, and finally unify the Eastern Barrens, slowly accumulating power. He would observe the surrounding situation, and as soon as Grand Ancestor Jinfeng showed signs of passing away, he would immediately lead a large army to Eastern Yi and directly destroy the Profound Roar Dao Palace.

Rumble!

Just as the three Core Formation cultivators were drinking tea and chatting, a sudden violent tremor came from the ground, and a dense, surging, powerful demonic qi erupted from underground not far away.