I Have A Cultivation World Chapter 2503 - 1121: Purple Cloud Heavenly Palace (Part 2)

Yet, he was well aware that the Five Elements Sect and the Burning Heaven Meridians stood as bitter rivals at their core.

In particular, over the recent years, he had forged increasingly tight bonds with the Sun Bathing Sea and Fire Cloud Palace.

Still, the prospect that could propel him to Fifth Rank Artifact Refiner status dangled tantalizingly close, forcing Perfected Jingchi to weigh whether this might be his sole shot at it in a lifetime.

Following three days of deliberation, Perfected Jingchi clenched his jaw and sought out Yan Huo from the Yi Yuan Dao Palace.

Both stood as Fourth Rank Peak Artifact Refiners, having swapped insights regularly across the last century, each driven to shatter the barrier to Fifth Rank, marking them as acquaintances in a sense.

But during his visit, Yan Huo dodged the issue outright, insisting nothing of the sort existed, until Perfected Jingchi flashed proof, prompting Yan Huo to concede with a grudging nod.

"Indeed, it's real, though this perk comes from the Sect Master exclusively for our branch sect members; as a Nascent Soul Cultivator tied to the Burning Heaven Meridians, you can forget about it."

Noting Yan Huo's chance at progress yet his reluctance to include him, Perfected Jingchi silently branded him ungrateful inside, while maintaining a courteous plea outwardly.

"I've heard your sect's Sect Master Chen seeks certain advanced artifact refining resources, and the Chi Yan Sect holds a Fifth Rank Peak Nine Yang True Fire Stone, retrieved from the stores by my grandmaster amid the family division..."

At the mention from Perfected Jingchi, Yan Huo's gaze sparked with interest. Should this deal close, he believed he'd lock in the Fire Burning Boy spot without fail this round.

"Ah, given our long friendship, I'll head to the Eastern Wilderness and discuss it with the Sect Master."

With those words from Yan Huo, Perfected Jingchi let out a relieved exhale.

"Incidentally, I must check the item first. If I approach the Sect Master and you fail to deliver, I'll lose face with him forever after."

Yan Huo always handled matters with precision. Even toward an old ally like Perfected Jingchi, he voiced the tough conditions upfront.

"Fine, though just the pair of us and your Sect Master Chen can know of this."

Having arrived prepared today, Perfected Jingchi was resolute; upon learning Yan Huo sought inspection, he agreed without pause and led him straight back to the Chi Yan Sect's treasury.

...

"Go along with his request, inquire about any further demands he might have, and I'll do my utmost to fulfill them."

Chen Mobai responded without delay to Yan Huo's report.

"Sect Master, letting him handle the flames and watch the Fifth Rank Artifact Refining procedure should suffice amply."

Yan Huo thought Chen Mobai overly generous. True, the Fifth Rank Peak Nine Yang True Fire Stone held value, but it hardly merited such deference from a Deity Transformation True Monarch.

"Your branch sect suffers from woefully inadequate service awareness, explaining the steady decline in your standing across generations..."

Witnessing Yan Huo's puzzled look, Chen Mobai shook his head slightly and proceeded to advise.

Simply put, in the Tianhe Realm, those skilled in the Hundred Arts of Cultivation Immortal enjoyed excessively comfortable existences.

Over in the Immortal Gate, regardless of prestige, poor service meant shuttering within a year.

Though a Deity Transformation True Monarch himself, having accepted Perfected Jingchi's offering, he owed a friendly swap of artifact refining wisdom despite their Burning Heaven Meridians rivalry, and he'd gladly offer guidance on queries.

The Five Elements Sect's stellar fame across the Eastern Continent, outshining all rivals, stemmed directly from Chen Mobai's impeccable behavior through the ages.

"Understood, Sect Master; your guidance rings true!"

Yan Huo lowered his head in deference post-scolding, though doubt lingered in his heart.

Evidently, Perfected Jingchi required their aid, and by regional norms, one would extract maximum gain and impose steep costs in such cases.

Yet with Chen Mobai now leading as Sect Master, Yan Huo had no choice but to adhere to his directives.

Hearing the relayed message, Perfected Jingchi grew uneasy: "I merely seek to witness the refining procedure; while I yearn to catch a hint of Sect Master Chen's deep artifact refining methods, I won't overreach in the least."

The Immortal Gate's service mindset unsettled the locals deeply, leaving Perfected Jingchi wary that this Deity Transformation True Monarch might soon cross from the Eastern Wilderness to seize his Nine Yang True Fire Stone outright.

"Ponder it over; the official refining starts in a month, awaiting arrivals from Central State. The Sect Master invites you to the Eastern Wilderness ahead of time, with arrangements for your welcome."

Yan Huo passed on Chen Mobai's message, then started gathering his things in Yi Yuan Immortal City, eager to depart for the Eastern Wilderness at once.

Thanks to Perfected Jingchi's affair, Yan Huo earned merit, with Chen Mobai granting him a Fire Burning Boy position directly, fueling his haste.

Perfected Jingchi, catching this, wasted no time and trailed him to the Eastern Wilderness.

Reaching Northern Abyss City, both were struck by wonder at this rising hub, so unlike the Immortal Cities scattered across the Eastern Continent.

"Here's the Heaven Heart Sword Talisman crafted by the Sect Master, acting as the entry pass for those joining this artifact refining..."

Su Ziluo greeted them, providing two such talismans—exclusive to Chen Mobai's forging—before detailing the site for the refining.

Chen Mobai selected Huozhen Immortal City.

Through the years, his direction had spurred the Eastern Wilderness's Immortal Cities toward specialized growth; take Wanhua Immortal City, which drew in medicinal trade groups from the Eastern Continent Frontier's Three Regions—superior goods guaranteed purchase by Danxia Pavilion.

Major trade outfits from East Land have even established outposts in Wanhua Immortal City for dealings with Danxia Pavilion.

Today, Wanhua Immortal City ranks as the Eastern Continent's second-biggest elixir hub, trailing only Dao Morale Sect's Wuwei Immortal City, sustaining countless cultivators across the elixir sector's chains.

By contrast, progress in the Eastern Wilderness's other Immortal Cities has lagged somewhat.

Chen Mobai aims to intervene once more.

Seizing the Fifth Rank Artifact refining occasion, he seeks to elevate Huozhen Immortal City to the Eastern Continent's premier artifact refining center.

With Yi Yuan Immortal City's fall from grace, other Holy Lands prize artifact refining yet hesitate on major funding.

On this note, Yan Huo and company offered little comment, given the Eastern Wilderness's linked teleportation arrays allowing swift travel between Northern Abyss City and Huozhen Immortal City.

That said, their craving for Fifth Rank refining outweighed all; aware Chen Mobai had preceded them to Huozhen Immortal City, they tarried not and promptly trailed Su Ziluo's assigned disciples to the teleportation array.

Soon after, the once tranquil Huozhen Immortal City erupted in buzz across the whole Eastern Continent.

Reputable Artifact Refiners caught wind of Chen Mobai's intent to forge a Fifth Rank Magic Artifact, prompting a surge toward the Eastern Wilderness and straight to Huozhen Immortal City.

Most such refiners boast substantial wealth, thus opting for Huozhen Immortal City's top cave abodes on rent.

Chen Mobai had long since engaged the Sky Curtain Ground Network Formation, boosting the local Spirit Veins to Fifth Rank potency.

Viewed as backwater in the Eastern Wilderness, Huozhen Immortal City's property costs stayed modest, leading affluent Artifact Refiners to snap up residences outright.

They recognized this Immortal City's impending fame across the Eastern Continent from the event, ensuring future price hikes.

This drew even speculators like Shen Shanqing from Northern Abyss City, spiking Huozhen Immortal City's real estate values rapidly to almost one-fifth of Northern Abyss City's norm.

On that day, a Message Talisman from Zhang Pankong reached Chen Mobai, noting Yuwen Baozhi—the Purple Cloud Heavenly Palace Taoist Child—had entered the Eastern Continent through the Taixu MiaoMiao Palace's Super Teleportation Array.

With him came the child's mother, Ao Yuxia, Deity Transformation True Monarch of Purple Cloud Heavenly Palace.

So, the offspring of a Deity Transformation True Monarch; small wonder Azure Fall's Palace Master stepped in personally.

Grasping this, Chen Mobai's face lit with realization.

Next, he reflected on the dossier for Purple Cloud Heavenly Palace, Central State's ancient sacred land as Ye Qing once described. Its reigning Great Elder, Purple Qi True Monarch Yuwen Yin, counted among the Four True Ones.

Hmm, Yuwen Yin and Yuwen Baozhi!

Might these two share a father-son bond?