Chapter 562: East Wilderness Situation

Pure Nine-Lotus Treasure Lantern

After Qu Xiuxian left Flower Nation for Dongyi, Chen Mobai stayed for two more days. He, along with Yu Shuji and Yan Shaoyin, completely cleared all the locusts from the underground fissures. After completing this task, he bid them farewell and departed.

"Sect Master Chen, I truly apologize," Yan Shaoyin, as the host, said to Chen Mobai with an apologetic look. "The locust plague kept us occupied, preventing me from showing you around Flower Nation and Xia Nation properly." He then offered to personally escort the Divine Wood Sect party.

"Master Yan, please don't be so formal. This is far enough," Chen Mobai replied. Carrying everyone with the Red Cloud Mist Gauze, he quickly flew to the border between Flower Nation and the two nations of Chun and Qing. Beyond that lay the territory of the Five Elements Sect's Fire Vein.

Yan Shaoyin's escort was naturally not just a gesture of politeness. He pulled Chen Mobai into the sky and uttered words that surprised the latter. "Sect Master Chen, actually, our Revival Valley also possesses a legacy of that unorthodox Golden Core art."

"Master Yan, do you mean you're also interested in that inner core?" Chen Mobai asked.

"To be frank, my disciple He Jintong failed to form his Golden Core in Dongyue after consuming the Golden Fluid Jade Reversion Pill. The Earth Core True Fire Art he cultivates coincidentally has both fire and earth attributes."

Yan Shaoyin's words made Chen Mobai shake his head involuntarily. Since he had already promised Yu Shuji, he certainly couldn't go back on his word. Furthermore, Revival Valley was an obstacle to his unification of the Eastern Barrens; he couldn't allow them to gain another Golden Core-level combatant.

"I am a man of my word, always true to my promises. I have already given my word to Master Yu, so let's not discuss this matter further." Coming from the Immortal Sect, Chen Mobai understood the importance of integrity above all else.

"Here's the thing, Sect Master Chen," Yan Shaoyin continued with a smile, "since a third-tier Mother Locust was found in Flower Nation, it's not impossible that a second one might be discovered in the future. With Revival Valley's strength, we might not be able to defeat it alone, but if Sect Master Chen is willing to help, then I wouldn't need to call upon Yu Shuji."

Yan Shaoyin said this with a smile, causing Chen Mobai to fall silent. After a moment of contemplation, he did not give a concrete answer. "We'll discuss it when one is found." This answer naturally did not satisfy Yan Shaoyin, but he understood that it was their first interaction, and a necessary foundation of trust was still lacking between them.

"True Monarch Zhou and I have been close friends for many years, and our cooperation was very pleasant when refining the Golden Fluid Jade Reversion Pill. Our two sects are both in the Eastern Barrens; we should naturally trust each other more..." Yan Shaoyin spoke very subtly. Chen Mobai, realizing that Yan Shaoyin had deliberately avoided Yu Shuji to say these things, probably understood his meaning. He nodded gently and bid farewell.

"Sect Master Chen, take care," Yan Shaoyin offered this final reminder as he departed. "True Monarch Sheng of the Fire Vein has quite a fiery temper; you should be careful."

When Chen Mobai had arrived, Zhou Shengqing had already informed him about the personalities and cultivation levels of the Five Elements Sect's three Golden Core cultivators. Ancestor Hunyuan had six direct disciples. His first disciple was the daughter of an old acquaintance, whom he took in when he was a rogue cultivator. Her talent was ordinary, and though he did his best to support her, she stopped at the Foundation Establishment realm. Zhou Shengqing was the second disciple, and Sheng Zhaoxi was the fourth, a female like the Eldest Senior Sister. She was originally the Eldest Senior Sister of a second-rate sect in the Eastern Barrens and was the sect's hope before Ancestor Hunyuan took her as a disciple. She and Nu Jiang were taken in almost at the same time. Naturally, they were initially a bit anxious, uneasy, and somewhat resentful. However, in the Eastern Barrens, being accepted as a disciple by a Nascent Soul cultivator was an unprecedented great opportunity. So, after two months of adjustment, both of them became disciples and changed their ways. As a female, Sheng Zhaoxi naturally had a better relationship with the Eldest Senior Sister. Zhou Shengqing, as the Second Senior Brother, was as close as brothers with Nu Jiang and Mo Douguang, who was taken in later. However, their relationship with Zhou Ye, who joined last, was very ordinary.

Before Chen Mobai left the sect, Zhou Shengqing had written three separate letters to the Five Elements Sect's three Golden Core cultivators, instructing Chen Mobai to use them as appropriate. If he were to visit Sheng Zhaoxi with Zhou Shengqing's personal letter, he would likely be warmly received, given their past connection. However, after careful consideration, Chen Mobai decided to go directly to Hunyuan Immortal City, where the Five Elements Sect's Earth Vein was located. After all, outwardly, Zhou Ye was the leader of the Five Elements Sect and the successor to Ancestor Hunyuan's legacy. Not visiting Sheng Zhaoxi also prevented awkwardness for her. As she was still a Golden Core cultivator of the Five Elements Sect, visiting her before Zhou Ye would make both parties lose face. Considering all these factors, after entering the territory of the Five Elements Sect, Chen Mobai flew directly towards Ming Nation, where Hunyuan Immortal City was located.

As for the Fire Vein, although he wouldn't go there in person, he still needed to send greetings. Since Sheng Zhaoxi was a female cultivator, it would be best to send a female cultivator. Chen Mobai looked at the team he brought. Yin Qingmei, with her Heavenly Spiritual Root, definitely needed to stay by his side for protection. That left Ding Ying and Gu Yan. In terms of capability for handling affairs, Ding Ying was naturally the most suitable candidate. After receiving the task personally assigned by Chen Mobai, Ding Ying was somewhat excited. Holding the letter, she guaranteed mission completion, then took some female true disciples from the Three Halls and Twelve Divisions, separated from the main group, and headed towards the Fire Vein headquarters in Yan Nation. Chen Mobai, meanwhile, led the remaining people towards Ming Nation.

The Five Elements Sect, as the largest sect in the Eastern Barrens, controlled more than half of the Eastern Barrens' territory before its split. Its thirteen subordinate nations encompassed most of the valuable resources and spiritual ore veins. After the split, Golden Radiance Cliff took Feng Nation. The Divine Wood Sect took Jian Nation, Yun Nation, Yu Nation, Lei Nation, and Xiao Nation. Even so, the Five Elements Sect still retained seven nations in the Eastern Barrens. Among these, the Fire Vein occupied Yan Nation, Chun Nation, and Qing Nation. The Earth Vein possessed Ming Nation, Hao Nation, and Ji Nation. The remaining Water Vein held Wu Nation, which bordered Yu Nation. Both were important ports connecting the Eastern Barrens to the Cloud Dream Lake. The Water Vein's headquarters, Wind-Rain Dock, was located in the center of Cloud Dream Lake. While occupying this prime treasure land of the Eastern Barrens, it also suppressed the demonic beasts within.

A powerful fourth-tier demonic beast was sealed in the center of Cloud Dream Lake by Ancestor Hunyuan and his old friend Sun Huangwu, along with Ancestor Baiwu, who together set up a powerful sealing array. As Ancestor Hunyuan and Sun Huangwu passed away, the power of this seal progressively weakened. If Ancestor Baiwu were to stand by idly, one day this fourth-tier demonic beast would break free and turn the Eastern Barrens, as well as Dongwu across Cloud Dream Lake, into a haven for demonic beasts. It was precisely for this reason that when the Five Elements Sect split, jointly protecting the Cloud Dream Lake seal was one of the terms of the armistice agreement. To this day, the Divine Wood Sect still issues annual sect missions to assist Wind-Rain Dock in clearing demonic beasts, and a permanent team of Foundation Establishment cultivators is stationed in Cloud Dream Lake. Of course, the Divine Wood Sect does this not merely understanding the principle of "when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold," but also because Cloud Dream Lake, as the foremost treasure land of the Eastern Barrens, contains resources so abundant they are almost equivalent to the entire Eastern Barrens. Not only the Divine Wood Sect, but almost all of the seven major sects of the Eastern Barrens had previously established markets on various spiritual islands within Cloud Dream Lake to profit from its resources. In the past, Chen Mobai's initial spirit stones came from Qingguang Island in Cloud Dream Lake.

When Ancestor Hunyuan was still alive, Cloud Dream Lake, as the foremost treasure land of the Eastern Barrens, was naturally owned by the Five Elements Sect. However, since half of its ports and shores were in Dongwu, the two Nascent Soul ancestors had agreed to govern it east and west, with the sealing array as the boundary. On the Eastern Barrens side, the land nations bordering Cloud Dream Lake were Wu Nation, Yu Nation, Yun Nation, Lei Nation, and Xiao Nation. All five of these nations were previously territory of the Five Elements Sect.

However, when the Five Elements Sect split, lacking the absolute deterrent power to suppress the Eastern Barrens, Shaking Mountain Peak, instigated by Zhao Xuankang of Xuanxiao Dao Palace, allied with Six Jia Mountain and communicated with Revival Valley and Blowing Snow Palace, forcibly seized the territory of Xiao Nation. Although both factions of the Five Elements Sect were dissatisfied with this, they were engaged in fierce conflict at the time and simply could not afford to be distracted or divide their forces to deal with the allied forces of Shaking Mountain Peak and Six Jia Mountain. They could only swallow their resentment and tacitly allow Shaking Mountain Peak to occupy Xiao Nation. After the split was complete, neither side had the power to dominate Cloud Dream Lake alone, so they simply opened this treasure land to the other major sects of the Eastern Barrens. Shaking Mountain Peak, Six Jia Mountain, Revival Valley, and Blowing Snow Palace — these four sects — could all enter Cloud Dream Lake through Xiao Nation to develop this foremost treasure land of the Eastern Barrens. Naturally, there were many conflicts among these seven major sects, but after several decades, a tacit understanding gradually formed. They each divided some of the spiritual islands in Cloud Dream Lake, and while occupying them, they also fought against the demonic beasts within their respective territories, thus essentially replacing the Five Elements Sect in its prime, fulfilling the task of suppressing demonic beasts.

But that was before; now, the situation has changed somewhat, because Shaking Mountain Peak, which nominally occupied Xiao Nation, was destroyed by the Divine Wood Sect. And although Six Jia Mountain was not destroyed, the death of its Golden Core Ancestor signaled their departure from the ranks of the major sects of the Eastern Barrens, and most of the Cloud Dream Lake spiritual islands they originally occupied had to be relinquished. Zhou Wangshen chose to become the Guardian of Xiao Nation precisely to seize the numerous spiritual islands in Cloud Dream Lake previously occupied by Shaking Mountain Peak and Six Jia Mountain. If he could achieve this, even without sect support, he would likely be able to gather enough resources to form a Golden Core. Chen Mobai was well aware of this. Although he wanted to support E Yun's ascension, he also hoped to have a competitor within the sect who would make E Yun go all out. Therefore, he not only agreed but also provided great convenience, allowing Zhou Wangshen to freely establish a 'Little Divine Wood Sect' system in Xiao Nation and seize the numerous spiritual islands left vacant by Shaking Mountain Peak and Six Jia Mountain.

After the Divine Wood Sect occupied Xiao Nation, Blowing Snow Palace and Revival Valley lost their land access to Cloud Dream Lake. The two sects had coordinated and communicated with the Divine Wood Sect. Chen Mobai, thinking that it was not the best time to act against these two sects and not wanting to completely push them towards the Southern Profound Sect, charged them an annual toll of one million spirit stones, allowing them to reconnect their access to Cloud Dream Lake. Although Blowing Snow Palace and Revival Valley were extremely reluctant, when they considered the Divine Wood Sect's feat of destroying Shaking Mountain Peak and forcing Six Jia Mountain to seal its gates, and then thought about the annual gains their sects could obtain from Cloud Dream Lake, they could only grit their teeth and pay the toll.

However, there was still a hidden danger amidst all this. That was the Southern Profound Sect. After reopening their sect in Yan Nation, they were also exerting pressure in Xiao Nation, attempting to seize this passage from the Divine Wood Sect. In response, considerable friction had arisen between the two sides. One of Fu Zongjue's puppet bodies had long been stationed there. In recent years, the Southern Profound Sect had become a thorn in the side of the Divine Wood Sect's northern spiritual territories, yet they dared not attack, as no one knew whether it would provoke a full counterattack from the opponent.

Someday, Xuanxiao Dao Palace must be destroyed.

Some are dead, but not entirely dead...