Chapter 563: Ming Dynasty's Guiyuan Mountain

Pure Nine-Lotus Treasure Lamp

According to the strategy set by Chen Mobai, unifying the Eastern Desolation is only a matter of time. However, to completely monopolize the resources of the Eastern Desolation, it is imperative to deal with the Xuanxiao Dao Palace and the Xingtian Dao Sect. Among these, the Xingtian Dao Sect is too formidable to confront directly.

As for the remaining Xuanxiao Dao Palace, when the Five Elements Sect split, they began manipulating Shaking Mountain Peak as a pawn, intending to interfere in the Eastern Desolation and turn this region into a retreat for their own sect. Compared to the Xingtian Dao Sect, which only seeks to conduct business, the Xuanxiao Dao Palace is Chen Mobai's biggest obstacle to unifying the Eastern Desolation.

Fortunately, the Nascent Soul cultivator, Patriarch Jinfeng, on that side, is already in his twilight years and cannot act with full power. Presumably, unless it's the very last moment of his life, Patriarch Jinfeng will not risk everything to step into the Eastern Desolation. However, there's no such thing as being on guard against a thief for a thousand days. If possible, Chen Mobai still wants to uproot the Nanxuan Sect in the Eastern Desolation. Then, centered around Beiyuan City in the northern part of the Eastern Desolation, he plans to fully deploy the Sumeru Nine Palaces Array, turning it into a super formation that covers Xiaoguo, Yanguo, and Hongguo. This way, even if Patriarch Jinfeng comes from Dongyi, the battlefield can be contained outside the Eastern Desolation.

As Chen Mobai calculated the potential difficulties and solutions for unifying the Eastern Desolation in his mind, he and his group from the Divine Wood Sect had already crossed the territories of Haoguo and Jiguo, and were about to enter Mingguo.

In Yanguo, at Huozhen Hall, a slightly plump female cultivator with a dignified face looked very surprised after reading the letter. "This Junior Brother Chen is quite interesting!"

The female cultivator was Sheng Zhaoxi, a Core Formation cultivator from the Fire Vein of the Five Elements Sect. After she spoke, her disciple Tan Rong, who was below the dais, looked up and reported that Ding Ying, the envoy from the Divine Wood Sect, was still waiting outside.

Tan Rong asked, "Should we meet her?"

Sheng Zhaoxi replied, "No. Since Junior Brother Chen is so considerate of me, I will stay out of this as he wishes. Just tell them I am in seclusion and cannot receive guests for now."

Now, on the land of the Eastern Desolation, the Divine Wood Sect has surpassed the Five Elements Sect, becoming the largest power. Although Sheng Zhaoxi was a Core Formation cultivator of the Five Elements Sect, she would not risk her life to support Zhou Ye. At the very least, she wanted to see how Zhou Ye would react after Chen Mobai took control of the Divine Wood Sect. If Chen Mobai had indeed come directly to visit her first, Sheng Zhaoxi would have been in a difficult position. This way, it was perfect!

Upon hearing this, Tan Rong rose to leave Huozhen Hall but was called back by Sheng Zhaoxi.

"You are to escort the Divine Wood Sect's group to Mingguo. Do not allow anything to happen to them on my territory." Better safe than sorry. Although Sheng Zhaoxi had a fiery temper, reaching her cultivation level meant she was also a very meticulous person.

"Yes, Master!"

Tan Rong was a beautiful female cultivator with a fiery disposition, and one of the most renowned Foundation Establishment cultivators among the younger generation of the Five Elements Sect. She was considered the most promising genius of the Fire Vein to achieve Core Formation. She also cultivated the Crimson Flame Sword Art and possessed some characteristics of a fire spirit body. She had been convinced that her comprehension of this cultivation method was among the best in the Eastern Desolation—until Chen Mobai suddenly emerged!

She was somewhat unconvinced by the title "Foremost Sword Cultivator of the Eastern Desolation," believing that if she were to achieve Core Formation, she would be no less inferior to Chen Mobai. Then, a few days ago, news arrived that Chen Mobai had mastered the Golden Flame, overpowered Kong Lingling, and slain the Mother of Locusts. Tan Rong realized that compared to Sect Master Chen, there was a world of difference between them.

Only cultivators who also practiced the Crimson Flame Sword Art truly understood what it meant to master the Golden Flame. "Junior Sister Ding, what kind of person is your sect's Master Chen?"

Ding Ying, hearing Tan Rong's question beside her, paused slightly, then smiled sweetly and spoke frankly. "Our Sect Master is the most outstanding cultivator in this Eastern Desolation!"

"Oh..."

Upon hearing that, Tan Rong grew increasingly curious about Chen Mobai. She did not refute Ding Ying's assessment, because in the Eastern Desolation, there truly was no cultivator more outstanding than Chen Mobai. Precisely because of this, Tan Rong's feelings towards Chen Mobai were very complex. On one hand, there was admiration for the Eastern Desolation's most gifted sword cultivator in a millennium, and on the other, as a cultivator of the Five Elements Sect, there was a natural animosity towards the Divine Wood Sect.

"If only they hadn't split!" Tan Rong sighed softly. If they hadn't split, the Five Elements Sect would now have seven Core Formation cultivators. Even without the Nascent Soul cultivator, Patriarch Hunyuan, they would still be powerful enough to turn the Eastern Desolation into a domain ruled by a single sect, just like the Xingtian Dao Sect, which dominates the Dongyue region.

After Chen Mobai entered the territory of Mingguo, he met the Five Elements Sect cultivator who had come to greet him: Kong Shanxu, who had attended his Core Formation ceremony.

"Sect Master Chen, my Master is already waiting for you.""Lead the way."

This was the last stop of his visit to the Eastern Desolation, and Chen Mobai's true objective. If external factors were disregarded, the only force capable of challenging the Divine Wood Sect in unifying the Eastern Desolation was the Five Elements Sect. To avoid any mishaps, Chen Mobai only brought Gu Yan and Mu Yuan. After all, once inside the immortal city, if Zhou Ye decided to make a move, Chen Mobai would likely find it difficult to retaliate. Furthermore, Chen Mobai was not in his true body; he was an Unchanging Humanoid Puppet.

After passing through three teleportation arrays, they arrived outside Hunyuan Immortal City. Inside the immortal city, there was a medium-sized teleportation array, but it was only activated during special occasions. And since Chen Mobai and his group were now considered adversaries, they would not be directly teleported into the city. However, this was better, as it allowed them a full view of Hunyuan Immortal City.

Their teleportation array was on a tall mountain, while the immortal city lay at its foot, nestled by mountains and rivers. Two wide rivers converged in the city's center, nurturing this largest cultivator city in the Eastern Desolation. However, several key areas of the immortal city were obscured by colorful auspicious clouds, preventing Chen Mobai and his group from seeing through them, even from their high vantage point.

Soon, Kong Shanxu led Chen Mobai and his group to the main gate of the immortal city. Large walls were built with bluestones refined by spiritual energy. Powerful runes appeared on the city walls, combining with the grand formation covering the entire immortal city to form an invisible barrier, separating the inside from the outside.

The city wall had three gates: one large and two small. The large one was the main gate; the small ones were the left and right side gates. The main gate and the left side gate were closed; only the right side gate was open, guarded by cultivators of the Five Elements Sect. Cultivators wishing to enter or exit the city had to pass through it.

"Sect Master Chen, please use the left side gate!"

Kong Shanxu waved his hand at the Five Elements Sect cultivators on the city wall. The formerly closed left side gate slowly opened, and then two rows of Five Elements Sect cultivators emerged, forming two lines like ceremonial guards.

Chen Mobai stopped at the entrance of Hunyuan Immortal City and asked, "Who is allowed to enter through the main gate?"

Kong Shanxu immediately explained that it was not aimed at Chen Mobai, but rather the established rule of Hunyuan Immortal City. Only Nascent Soul cultivators were permitted to enter through the main gate. Because every immortal city had anti-flight restrictions, the gate one was permitted to use upon entering on foot indicated one's status.

Although Chen Mobai was the Sect Master of the Divine Wood Sect, his status had not yet reached the level of a Nascent Soul cultivator. "I hope next time I come, I can enter through the main gate," Chen Mobai said with a smile.

Kong Shanxu pretended not to understand, and led him towards the left side gate. Inside the city, immortal carriages and similar conveyances were already waiting. Chen Mobai, adapting to local customs, boarded one. He had originally wanted to observe Hunyuan Immortal City carefully, but unfortunately, the Five Elements Sect seemed to have cleared the area beforehand. Aside from their own cultivators, no other rogue cultivators or residents could be seen on the streets. It seemed he would only be able to witness the true local customs and life of the immortal city after conquering it in the future. Thinking this, Chen Mobai stopped observing.

After an unknown period, he finally arrived at Hunyuan Hall, the very center of the immortal city. This was where Patriarch Hunyuan had once cultivated in seclusion, and now it was naturally occupied by Zhou Ye. "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhou!"

After dismounting, Chen Mobai saw Zhou Ye waiting at the hall's entrance. He smiled faintly at him and performed the junior brother's salute.

"Though we share a common origin, we have, after all, split. Sect Master Chen, it's best not to call me Senior Brother," Zhou Ye said calmly, giving Chen Mobai no face at all.

"Since True Monarch Zhou says so, then I am relieved.""Oh, what do you mean by that?""In that case, when I breach this immortal city in the future, I won't have to consider the Patriarch's prestige and will show no mercy to True Monarch Zhou."

Kong Shanxu and the others nearby broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing the exchange between the two. It felt as if these two were about to fight immediately! If they truly came to blows, the situation in the Eastern Desolation would instantly become unbalanced! It would be bad news for both the Five Elements Sect and the Divine Wood Sect; instead, it would cause forces like the Blowing Snow Palace, Returning Heaven Valley, and Nanxuan Sect to applaud in delight.

Zhou Ye evidently hadn't expected Chen Mobai to be so direct. Hadn't it been said that while Sect Master Chen was a sword cultivator, he was quite tactful?

"It seems Sect Master Chen is not here for a friendly visit."

However, with the conversation having reached this point, and under the gaze of so many Five Elements Sect cultivators, Zhou Ye naturally could not back down. He could only respond with a cold tone. In Chen Mobai's mind, if he were to unify the Eastern Desolation, it would be better if Zhou Ye, the inheritor of Patriarch Hunyuan's mantle, were dead. Only then would he have sufficient justification to reclaim the Five Elements Sect. However, before that, he still needed to obtain the cultivation method for the Hunyuan Dao Fruit from Zhou Ye.

"Traveling all the way south has been tiring; I'm feeling a bit weary. Why don't I rest for a few days, and then come back for a friendly visit?"

Chen Mobai's demeanor caused Zhou Ye to frown slightly. After a cold snort, he turned and walked directly back into Hunyuan Hall.

"Since Sect Master Chen is tired, I will first take you to the Azure Wood Hall to rest."

Kong Shanxu immediately came over and led Chen Mobai towards the Azure Wood Hall in the eastern part of Hunyuan Immortal City. This was the hall where Zhou Shengqing had once resided, making it perfectly suitable for Chen Mobai's accommodation.

"The spiritual energy is a bit low," Chen Mobai remarked upon entering the Azure Wood Hall, speaking to Kong Shanxu. Kong Shanxu immediately replied that he would inform the Immortal City's Formation Department, explaining that since Zhou Shengqing's departure, Azure Wood Hall had been without a master for nearly a century, and its spiritual energy had been drawn by the Profound Mechanism Five Elements Array and directed to Hunyuan Hall.

***

In Mingguo, at Guiyuan Mountain, under Liu Wenbai's guidance, Chen Mobai arrived at Guiyuan Mountain, the last place Luo Yixuan was seen before her disappearance.

"Master, this Guiyuan Sect has one Foundation Establishment cultivator, whom everyone calls Granny Ming due to her advanced age. Apart from her, the others are not worth worrying about."

Over the years, Liu Wenbai had been developing Xiaonanshan Shop within the territory of the Five Elements Sect, and by leveraging his identity as Chen Mobai's eldest disciple, he was almost treated as an honored guest by all powers and merchant guilds. He had long since discreetly ascertained the strength of the Guiyuan Sect. If Chen Mobai hadn't instructed him to investigate in person, he would have been tempted to act on his own.

Chen Mobai's Penetrating Void Spirit Eye scanned Guiyuan Mountain. It was a common third-grade mid-tier spiritual vein area, and indeed, a faint, senescent spiritual energy lay dormant within it. That must be Granny Ming. "Let's go!"

After achieving Core Formation, Chen Mobai had no one to fear in the Eastern Desolation. So, he directly led Liu Wenbai towards the most vibrant spiritual vein on Guiyuan Mountain.

"Which fellow Daoist..."

At the very peak of Guiyuan Mountain, an ancient-faced old woman sensed Liu Wenbai's aura. With a hint of displeasure, she leaned on a wooden staff and walked out of her wooden hut. But after she emerged and saw there were actually two people, her expression instantly changed. Because Chen Mobai was standing there, yet she couldn't perceive any spiritual energy from him. There were only two possibilities for this: one was that he had cultivated their sect's secret Guiyuan technique to its peak; the other was that his cultivation realm was far superior to hers.

"How should I address you, fellow Daoist?"

Granny Ming, with a solemn expression, planted her wooden staff on the mountaintop. The mountain-suppressing grand formation, centered on Guiyuan Mountain, silently activated.

"You should have noticed, I've cultivated your Guiyuan Secret Art." Chen Mobai smiled faintly, then dispelled the secret art. Powerful Core Formation level spiritual energy surged forth, and a bronze mirror flew from his sleeve. The Guiyuan Sect's grand formation, before it could even fully operate, was forcibly cut off and suppressed by him.

Granny Ming felt the grand formation, which she had previously controlled with ease, suddenly become sluggish in its operation. Even her perception of the spiritual vein began to weaken, causing her expression to change dramatically.

"So it's Sect Master Chen of the Divine Wood Sect!" Core Formation cultivators in the entire Eastern Desolation were few and far between, and Chen Mobai's Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror had become well-known after several battles, so he was recognized immediately upon making his move.

"This Guiyuan Secret Art was obtained from your Guiyuan Sect by my junior disciple and offered to me, but she disappeared on your Guiyuan Mountain. I believe you can explain this matter to me." As Chen Mobai spoke, he took a step forward. Golden flames surged in his eyes, and the powerful, terrifying might of the Golden Flame caused Granny Ming's gray hair to begin burning and melting.

Some people are dead, but not completely dead...

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