Three Years

After entering the Sky Mending Dao Academy, Yan Bingxuan chose the most famous Vital Energy Department cultivation method.

The so-called Vital Energy Department is used to study the various combinations and arrangements of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, so as to artificially synthesize various kinds of evil energy, spiritual power, divine light, true energy, etc.

The origin is the artificial synthesis of Earthly Fiend Qi created by Venerable Yuanxu. Later, many geniuses of the Sky Mending Dao Academy carried on this tradition and derived artificial high-level spiritual energy based on the essence of the Five Elements Essence and through different conditions and reactions.

Because the origin of this discipline is Venerable Yuanxu, it is named "Vital Energy Studies".

For example, Chen Mobai's Pure Yang Spiritual Power Vital Energy Department be artificially synthesized using Fire Attribute spiritual energy without the need for a cultivator.

Yan Bingxuan chose this option not only because the department lacked researchers, but also because she wanted to use her research on Yuan Qi to upgrade her Mystic Ice Spiritual Power into "Ice Soul Divine Light".

As long as she can master the Ice Soul Divine Light, she can use the Freezing Art taught by Yan Qiongzhi, which will be of great help in Open Up Golden Core Domain in the future.

Chen Mobai naturally gave his full support to her choice.

After all, he now has a great chance of Core Formation, and he also hopes that his friends can continue to improve and accompany him on his journey.

When Chen Mobai had free time, he would accompany her to class, mainly because he was also very curious about the Vital Energy Studies and wanted to understand the principles behind it.

However, he focused his main energy on cultivating the Square Inch Book, as well as taking courses on governance and military affairs, to enrich his knowledge in preparation for ruling the entire Eastern Wasteland in the future.

The practice of this Square Inch Book has progressed very slowly.

But Chen Mobai had a very calm mindset; as long as he could Core Formation, there would be plenty of time in the future.

With Yan Bingxuan by his side, the originally tedious reading and studying had an indescribable wonderful flavor.

Not long after the start of the semester, Meng Huang'er secretly came over once, and with Chen Mobai's help, she successfully broke through to the third level of Foundation Establishment.

In this peaceful and contented state of mind, Chen Mobai's cultivation also steadily improved. With the help of Meng Huang'er's breakthrough and the Spiritual Sense he gained from hearing the Heart's Sound Profound Melody sense, under the daily vibrations of the Morning Bell, was like iron ore being forged, gradually turning into refined iron.

Needless to say, Pure Yang Scroll's cultivation level was exceptional. During the first year of her postgraduate entrance Graduate Exam at the Yan Bingxuan Sky Mending Dao Academy, Yan Bingxuan naturally broke through to the Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer.

At this rate, he will be able to meet the minimum requirements for Core Formation by the time he finishes the Graduate Exam.

However, not everything went as planned. Even after Chen Xinglan took the Foundation Establishment that Chen Mobai had disguised, he still failed to break through.

As it turned out, his father was indeed a very ordinary monk.

Even though Chen Mobai used the Formless Puppet to deduce the problem several times, he still couldn't cross that threshold.

After this, Chen Xinglan completely let go. After Foundation Establishment Failure, he lay on his hospital bed, holding Chen Mobai's hand and said, "I have succeeded in my two attempts to Foundation Establishment. You don't need to worry about my Foundation Establishment anymore. I will spend the rest of my life with your mother. If you can successfully Core Formation, just offer incense at our graves every ten years."

For ordinary cultivators who have passed the Sixty-Year Limit, Foundation Establishment Failure will result in the loss of even more lifespan. Although Chen Mobai purchased longevity pills through Yu Rulin, Chen Xinglan still looked much older after being discharged from the hospital.

Chen Mobai felt that he might die before his mother Tang Pancui.

As for her mother, Tang Pancui, she had not been able to cultivate her Spiritual Sense for many years. Even if Chen Mobai helped her and used the Formless Puppet to deduce based on her personal data, even with the Foundation Establishment, the chances were slim.

Moreover, Tang Pancui herself hadn't thought about Foundation Establishment. Chen Mobai mentioned it to her, but she directly shook her head and refused.

Chen Xinglan's two Foundation Establishment Failure Foundation Establishment left her with a phobia of it, especially since she lacks both aptitude and perseverance. Now, she only wants to spend the rest of her life peacefully with her family and doesn't want to suffer the pain of failing to transform.

Chen Mobai could only nod helplessly at this.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are things that no one can avoid. Even Spirit Transmutation Ancestor, after his lifespan ends, can only sit quietly and pass away, his primordial spirit extinguished!

Even if Chen Mobai possessed the Turtle Treasure, he could only dream of living to a thousand years old.

However, his father's Foundation Establishment Failure still made him depressed for a few days.

Life Ruyi, but fortunately, Yan Bingxuan is there to accompany him in Vermilion Cloud City, and he can share his feelings with her.

After he finished speaking, he recovered.

After returning to the Sky Mending Dao Academy with Yan Bingxuan for the new semester, Chen Mobai left a Formless Puppet in the Dao Academy to study, while his real body went to Little South Mountain to cultivate using the abundant spiritual energy there.

Time flies by in the midst of our busy lives, and more than half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, Chen Mobai came out of seclusion and checked the Message Talisman outside the Cloud Mist Formation.

But I received bad news.

That is, Zeng Woyou refined two batches of Foundation Establishment, but both failed, causing the True Disciple who were waiting for the Foundation Establishment to be extremely disappointed, including his little apprentice Luo Yixuan.

Some extreme individuals have even started cursing in private, saying that Zeng Woyou, the Minister of the Alchemy Department, is overestimating himself. He clearly doesn't have the ability to refine Foundation Establishment, yet he insists on occupying the sect's precious Jade Marrow Golden Ganoderma, Bailang the opportunities of many people to Foundation Establishment.

After all, if the ingredients for these two batches of Foundation Establishment Pills were given to Returning Heaven Valley to refine, there would be at least seven or eight pills available.

Under these circumstances, when Zeng Woyou was preparing to refine the third batch of Foundation Establishment, pressure, both overt and covert, began to surge forth.

Four of the Twelve Departments departments jointly petitioned Chu Zuoshu to rescind his order and stop Zeng Woyou from continuing to harm the sect with the precious Jade Marrow Golden Ganoderma.

Chu Zuoshu was also very hesitant about this.

He and Zeng Woyou were not on good terms to begin with, and it was only after Chen Mobai persuaded him that he agreed to Zeng Woyou refine the Foundation Establishment.

Now that Zeng Woyou has failed to refine twice, he can easily stop it.

But Zeng Woyou has already practiced with two batches of these herbs. If he gives up now, wouldn't all the precious herbs from the previous two batches be wasted? Although there is no professional term like "sunk cost" in the Eastern Wasteland, Chu Zuoshu undoubtedly has this mentality.

Moreover, it wasn't just him; there were also many people within the Divine Wood Sect who supported Zeng Woyou for this reason.

"Junior Brother Chen, you've come at the perfect time."

When Chen Mobai came to visit Chu Zuoshu, the latter was troubled by this matter.

"Sect Leader, as you know, Minister Zeng has helped me a lot. If you ask me, I would definitely support him."

After listening, Chen Mobai immediately made his stance clear.

Within the Divine Wood Sect, he and Zeng Woyou were considered to be from the same faction.

"In that case, let's give him one last chance. One or two is fine, but not a third. Go to the Alchemy Department and tell him that if this batch fails again, he can step down as the Minister of the Alchemy Department."

Chu Zuoshu still harbored some resentment towards Zeng Woyou for disrespecting him back then, so he took this opportunity to settle the score.

Chen Mobai and Zeng Woyou had a good relationship, and to avoid the latter being held accountable, he could only run errands once.

"Junior Brother Chen, don't worry. Actually, I had already succeeded in refining it on the second batch. It's just that I didn't handle the final step of condensing and tempering the pills well, and all three Foundation Establishment I made turned out to be useless. If I have another chance, I can definitely refine normal Foundation Establishment."

After hearing Chen Mobai's words, Zeng Woyou didn't care at all about the possibility of being removed from his position as Minister of the Alchemy Department. After all, he was the number one Alchemy of the Divine Wood Sect, and even without a position, the sect still relied on him for the task of refining high-level pills.

"Oh, may I take a look at this useless pill?"

As soon as Chen Mobai finished speaking, Yan Jinye immediately handed over a Jade Box.

As Zeng Woyou's disciple, she helped out when refining the Foundation Establishment, and she was involved in both of the failed attempts.

"Although it is a waste pill, its medicinal properties are still fine. It's just that the Pill Toxin exceeds 20% to 30%. Even if you successfully Foundation Establishment after taking it, it will probably take more than ten years to expel the poison."

"Even if it's a useless pill, there will be Rogue Cultivator willing to pay thousands of Spirit Stone to buy it in the market outside."

"Even within our sect, recently quite a few elderly former disciples have come through connections, wanting to exchange these useless pills."

Zeng Woyou watched as Chen Mobai took out a Foundation Establishment Pill with gray marks for appraisal. He then spoke up to defend himself, saying that his Alchemy skills were already perfect, and he was only missing the final detail of refining the pill's Pill Toxin.

"I see. If it's just a problem with Pill Toxin, I have a good solution."

Chen Mobai hesitated for a moment, thinking that if he Core Formation, the Divine Wood Sect would also be considered his sect. Moreover, the sect had spent a huge amount of Golden Liquid Jade Return Pill Rejuvenation Pill for him, so he decided to tell them about the Spirit Essence to increase the strength of the Divine Wood Sect.

Another consideration was that he wanted to train Zeng Woyou.

After all, the highest grade of Qi Replenishing Spirit Water in the Immortal Sect is only Second Grade high-grade. After Core Formation, one can no longer use it to quickly increase spiritual power and break through realms. If he wants to maintain rapid progress in cultivation, he will definitely have to start taking pills from the Eastern Wasteland.

Although he possessed the Lamp Burning Technique, which allowed him to refine Pill Toxin, the amount he could refine was limited. He informed Zeng Woyou of the Spirit Essence Method in advance, also for his own sake.

"This matter is only for the two of you to know; you must not pass it on to a third party."

Chen Mobai had exchanged a pill formula for Yan Jinye's Longevity Tree Fruit, and felt indebted to her, so he allowed her, who originally wanted to leave to avoid suspicion, to stay as well.

"There's actually such a trick... This must be one of the secrets behind the Ancient Longevity Sect's dominance in the Sky River Realm... Junior Brother Chen, rest assured, I will Dao Heart Oath..."

Upon hearing this, Zeng Woyou became excited. He was a pill-obsessed person, and with no hope of Core Formation, he only wanted to break through to the Fourth Tier Alchemist.

With this Spirit Essence Method, he felt that his previously uncertain path forward had been illuminated by a ray of light.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Chen. Great Virtuous One deeply grateful and can hardly repay your kindness. If you need anything in the future, just let me know."

Yan Jinye, standing to the side, also blushed slightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. After making her Dao Heart Oath, she was eager to try out the Spirit Essence Method.

"Junior Brother Chen, as long as I am still the Minister the Alchemy Department, I will agree to all your proposals at the sect meetings. Also, if you want to refine any kind of pills in the future, just tell me. Whenever I have time, I will put your needs first."

Upon hearing Zeng Woyou's words, Chen Mobai nodded in satisfaction and was about to have a couple more drinks with him when the former couldn't contain himself and rushed towards the Alchemy room.

"Senior Brother Chen, we still need to try this Spirit Essence Method with other pills first. I'll go help Master. Please sit down..."

Not only Zeng Woyou, but Yan Jinye did the same. After saying those words, she ran out following her master's back.

Looking at the now empty hall, Chen Mobai couldn't help but chuckle. He raised his hand, finished the tea in his cup, and then leisurely got up and returned to Little South Mountain.

Time flies.

After obtaining the Spirit Essence Method, Zeng Woyou finally began refining the third batch of Foundation Establishment after several attempts.

Because the standards in the Eastern Wasteland are different from those of the Immortal Sect, as long as the Pill Toxin is less than half, it is considered a successful Alchemy.

After mastering the Spirit Essence Method, Zeng Woyou finally succeeded in practicing it.

Four pills were produced in one batch, two of which were of excellent quality, while the other two had slight flaws, with more than half of them Pill Toxin.

But for the Eastern Wasteland, this is already a good result.

After all, this was Zeng Woyou's first time successfully refining it. You should know that when those four Third Grade Alchemy from Returning Heaven Valley first tried to refine it, even with Yan Shaoyin's guidance, they only managed to refine two or three pills.

After Zeng Woyou technique, Zeng immediately felt triumphant. During a sect meeting, he slammed four Foundation Establishment Pills onto the table, glaring at the heads of the four Minister — Spiritual Plant Department, Spirit Beast Department, Body Refining Department, and Talisman Department —who had previously petitioned to stop him from Alchemy pills.

"Senior Brother Alchemy's alchemy skills have reached a high level, which is truly a blessing for our sect."

Shi Fengping, the Minister the Spiritual Plant Department, was very flexible and immediately began to flatter Zeng Woyou with a smile, which only earned him a cold snort from the latter.

"From now on, you will not be able to buy a single pill from me."

Upon hearing Zeng Woyou's clearly pointed remark, Shi Fengping and the others looked embarrassed. In the end, Chu Zuoshu coughed and smoothed things over.

"Now that the Foundation Establishment has been successfully refined, we will have to rely on Junior Zeng to use the sect's Jade Marrow Golden Ganoderma from now on."

Upon hearing Chu Zuoshu's words, Zeng Woyou was overjoyed. If he wanted to break through to the Fourth Tier Alchemist, he would first need to refine a large number of Third Grade pills.

The Foundation Establishment is the most frequently refined Third Grade pill among the major sects of the Eastern Wasteland. With the Spirit Essence Method, as long as he persists in refining it, he might actually be able to try refining a Fourth Grade pill in his lifetime.

"Then, let's distribute these two high-quality Foundation Establishment to the sect's true disciples first. The two flawed ones, explain their condition, and auction them off to the Cultivating Family who accompanied our Divine Wood Sect on this expedition to the Mountain Shaking Peak."

As the Chu Zuoshu Sect Leader, Chu Zuoshu also determined the distribution of this batch of Foundation Establishment at the sect meeting.

Everything was done according to the rules, so it naturally passed unanimously.

The top two disciples of this generation in the sect are Li Yixian and Luo Yixuan.

Luo Yixuan, who was accompanying Zhuo Ming to bring rain to the Spirit Field in Little South Mountain, was so excited when she received the message from Divine Wood City that she trembled all over. She even made a mistake in the spell hand seals, causing several acres of Spirit Field to be flooded.

"I'm sorry, senior sister!"

Luo Yixuan immediately withdrew her spiritual power and stopped the Rain Technique, then repeatedly apologized to Zhuo Ming beside her.

"It's alright, I'll go down and sort things out. You go and tell Master about this good news."

Although Zhuo Ming was envious of Luo Yixuan obtaining the Foundation Establishment, she remained calm. After all, this junior sister's Spiritual Root talent was the most outstanding among the three of them, and she had been firmly among the top three disciples over the years. Obtaining the Foundation Establishment was already within her expectations.

"Thank you for your hard work, Senior Sister. I'll go and tell Master right away."

At this moment, Luo Yixuan abandoned her usual pretense of reserve and elegance. Her face lit up, and she excitedly headed towards the top of Little South Mountain.

Chen Mobai's true form had been absorbing the rich spiritual energy and Spirit Stone here to cultivate. Just as he finished a round of cultivation, he heard the commotion outside and activated the Cloud Mist Formation.

"Excellent, I am very pleased."

Luo Yixuan was overjoyed to hear Chen Mobai's words, feeling that her efforts over the years had been recognized and that she had not disgraced her master.

"Are the Sect Contribution enough?"

"I have saved more than three thousand points over the years, but I am still short."

Chen Mobai asked the crucial question, and Luo Yixuan lowered her head somewhat embarrassed.

"I'll transfer 10,000 contribution points to you. Use them to exchange for Foundation Establishment. Then use your own contribution points to exchange for some Array Formation talismans and other items that will help with Foundation Establishment at the Spirit Treasure Spirit Treasure Pavilion."

"Thank you, Master. This is too much. I only need to borrow seven thousand contribution points. I have already collected most of the other materials that can help with Foundation Establishment over the years."

Luo Yixuan accompanied Chen Mobai in his battle at the Mountain Shaking Peak, and they also obtained a lot of spoils of war. After exchanging them for Spirit Stone, they used them to buy spiritual items to prepare for Foundation Establishment.

"No need to refuse. I have already prepared the contribution points for the Foundation Establishment for the three of you. If you successfully Foundation Establishment, you can return them to me. If Foundation Establishment Failure, consider them a gift from your master."

Chen Mobai smiled slightly, then took out his sect token and sent a message to the other two disciples.

A short while later, Liu Wenbai and Zhuo Ming also arrived.

When Chen Mobai recounted this matter, both disciples were visibly excited and bowed deeply to him.

"No need for formalities. I hope that when I emerge from seclusion next time, all three of you will have successfully Foundation Establishment."

After saying this, Chen Mobai waved his hand and flew towards Divine Wood City with his three disciples.

Over the years, he sold Fire Spirit Rice to the Blowing Snow Palace, and the contribution in his account did not increase much, but it was still more than 50,000.

After giving each of his apprentices 10,000, Chen Mobai was finally relieved of a worry that had been weighing on his mind.

He returned to Little South Mountain and continued to consume Qi Replenishing Spirit Water, practicing in seclusion.

Time flies, and two years have passed in no time.

That day, Zhuo Ming, who was frowning and looking at the ripe Green Jade Spirit Rice at the foot of the mountain, suddenly felt the ground beneath her feet begin to tremble with fear.

She immediately turned to look at the mountaintop where her master was in seclusion.

A bright mirror had appeared in the sky at some unknown time, reflecting the brilliance of the sun, like a blazing sun, radiating a powerful spiritual energy that made the earth veins of Little South Mountain tremble with fear.

Zhuo Ming faced the blazing sun reflected in the mirror, feeling an intense heat she hadn't experienced since she began cultivating immortality. Sweat beaded on her slightly yellow skin, soaking her clothes.

"Has Master mastered the ultimate skill?"