I Have A Cultivation World Chapter 2514 - 1128_2
Previously on I Have A Cultivation World...
Chen Mobai addressed Zhuo Ming, the refiner of two Fifth Rank Artifacts, causing the latter to nod vigorously before rising to offer solemn thanks to Chen Mobai yet again.
In the presence of his disciple, Chen Mobai received the gratitude effortlessly.
Once this matter concluded, Chen Mobai lingered a bit longer within Huozhen Immortal City.
Drawing from the 347th revised version of the Immortal Gate’s guidelines and standards for artifacts, he blended in Tianhe Realm’s local artifact materials to start formulating regional norms and benchmarks.
In truth, he had long ago set sect-specific standards, though back then the variety of artifacts wielded by Five Elements Sect disciples remained limited, making the effort straightforward.
Yet now, expansion across the whole East Continent demanded inclusion of all manner of oddly shaped artifacts into the records.
Such specialized variants proved particularly challenging.
Luckily, his recent forging of a Fifth Rank Artifact had drawn nearly every elite Artifact Refiner from the East Continent to the scene, ensuring that in Huozhen Immortal City today, some Cultivator had crafted even the most peculiar artifact imaginable.
Leveraging the authority of a Divinity Transformation cultivator, Chen Mobai openly called for experts and insights, declaring his aim to define artifact standards for the East Continent, which swiftly pulled in the vast majority of Artifact Refiners.
Still, given the insular nature of local inheritances, Chen Mobai doubted many would share their secrets freely.
At first, that assumption proved correct; numerous Artifact Refiners felt the pull but hesitated warily, holding back from contributing.
Just a handful of veterans, or devoted souls like the dedicated Master Jingchi who yearned to advance in Artifact Refining, stepped forward to join the cause.
Chen Mobai met personally with this initial group of Artifact Refiners, even lowering himself to resolve their queries on Artifact Refining techniques.
The strategy of investing heavily to draw in talent soon yielded results.
The early responders, enriched by their interactions with Chen Mobai, spread tales of the gains, quickly drawing a surge of Artifact Refiners to Huozhen Immortal City eager to trade knowledge for his expert advice on Artifact Refining.
But as crowds swelled, the submissions grew varied in quality.
Chen Mobai enlisted the capable Chen Lingming and Yan Huo to first screen the documents, reserving his judgment for the final selections.
As Yi Yuan Dao Palace’s Palace Master, Xiao Yuli needed to head back to the East Land to oversee broader affairs.
Xiao Yuli felt deep regret over this departure.
For as she departed, Chen Mobai tasked her with summoning the other Fourth Rank Artifact Refiners from Yi Yuan Dao Palace to aid in collecting data and establishing the East Continent’s standards.
Given Yi Yuan Dao Palace’s prominence in Artifact Refining, every Nascent Soul Cultivator there surpassed Sheng Zhaoxi in expertise.
Though they couldn’t join the full Fifth Rank Artifact refining like Yan Huo, Lian Shui and the rest hurried over promptly at Chen Mobai’s command.
Thanks to the collective efforts, Chen Mobai swiftly elevated the prior 'sect standards' into comprehensive 'continental standards.'
During this endeavor, he naturally called upon Ye Qing to pen sections on sword-shaped artifacts’ principles, and once the continental standards finalized, Chen Mobai dispatched them without delay to the other Three Great Sacred Lands.
These Three Great Sacred Lands boasted skilled experts who spotted flaws in spots and proposed minor tweaks.
As a virtuous Saint, Chen Mobai welcomed every suggestion offered.
Following multiple revisions, the inaugural 'East Continent Artifact Norms and Standards' emerged in print. He relocated an antique press from the Immortal Gate’s printing facility and churned out ample copies in record time.
To swiftly roll out the standards across the East Continent, Chen Mobai freely supplied copies to all powers there.
After all, once distributed, any sect’s Cultivator ignoring these standards later would appear to slight the Five Elements Sect or the Four Great Holy Lands of the East Continent.
They couldn’t claim ignorance either, since Five Elements Sect disciples hand-delivered the volumes right to their thresholds. Ignoring them would equate to scorning the Eastern Wilderness Qing Emperor.
And with the East Continent’s major powers and Cultivator Families embracing the continental standards, Loose Cultivators would inevitably conform as well.
Still, to hasten adoption, Chen Mobai also prepared a group of Five Elements Sect Artifact Refiners fluent in the continental standards, dispatching them to remote regions and Loose Cultivator hotspots like Fang Markets to spread the norms and benchmarks.
East Barbarians.
Old Bai Wu, having thoroughly examined the 'East Continent Artifact Norms and Standards' delivered by his disciple, couldn’t suppress a heavy sigh.
'From now on, the artifact trade will bow to the Five Elements Sect!'
Hearing Old Bai Wu’s words, Liu Nan Sheng nodded in fervent agreement.
The Sun Bathing Sea, heir to the Fen Tianjing Di’s legacy, boasted exceptional Artifact Refining methods; at minimum, Old Bai Wu himself had crafted a Fourth Rank Artifact solo.
Thus, beyond taxes and Sun God Tree yields, Artifact Refining ranked as the Sun Bathing Sea’s third vital revenue stream.
If future artifact grading had to adhere to Five Elements Sect publications, past schemes to inflate rankings would crumble.
Undoubtedly, this shift would dent Sun Bathing Sea’s earnings, yet Old Bai Wu refrained from uttering dissent.
Though Chen Mobai had spared the Sun Bathing Sea over these years, Old Bai Wu dwelled in perpetual dread, fearing a dawn where meditation ended to discover this Divinity Transformation foe besieging the city.
What irked Old Bai Wu deepest was spotting Master Jingchi’s name among the norms and standards contributors.
We stood as allies once—how did you switch to the Five Elements Sect?
Fury boiled in Old Bai Wu, but he dared not confront Master Jingchi. After all, with ties to the Eastern Wilderness Qing Emperor now, he understood infighting cut deepest.
'Do you believe the Sun Bathing Sea’s legacy might crumble in my grasp one day?'
Liu Nan Sheng trembled at Old Bai Wu’s abrupt query, hastily denying it while insisting his master remained vigorous, the Sun Bathing Sea flourished under him, and downfall was unthinkable.
'Hmph, you only spout flattery that rings hollow—get out.'
Old Bai Wu recognized his disciple’s insincere words and dismissed him with a scornful wave, ushering Liu Nan Sheng away.
Alone in the vast hall, Old Bai Wu pondered long, then executed a covert art and stealthily exited Golden Crow Immortal City, reaching a seaside reef.
Old Bai Wu ignited a dark Talisman, dispatching it beneath the waves.
After some wait, a black-robed Cultivator materialized on the reef, exuding profound presence with sunken eyes—Old Bai Wu hadn’t glimpsed his arrival.
This figure was the Submerged Abyss Island Cultivator who had once spirited away Ku Zhu.
'Fellow Daoist, does your prior offer still stand?'
Old Bai Wu greeted him courteously before posing the question.
'Of course, it endures.'
The Submerged Abyss Island Cultivator inclined his head, face serene.
'Very well, I accept your terms, but I require those items upfront.'
Contemplating a future dimmed by Chen Mobai’s dominance, Old Bai Wu clenched his jaw, embracing a choice once unthinkable.
'I carry only this portion; the remainder demands the Mysterious Flood Dragon King’s Court witness your commitment before release.'
With that, the Submerged Abyss Island Cultivator produced a Storage Bag and passed it over.
Old Bai Wu took it, probing with Divine Sense to reveal longed-for Elixirs and resources, drawing a deep exhale from him.
This move exiled him nearly from the East Continent and risked plunging the Burning Heaven Meridians into doom.
Yet he pushed such concerns aside.
From his entry into the Immortal Cultivation World, Old Bai Wu grasped that survival hinged on self-preservation above all.
'Await my signal!'
Securing the goods, Old Bai Wu wheeled silently back to Golden Crow Immortal City, speaking no more.
Gazing at his vanishing form, the Submerged Abyss Island Cultivator faded wordlessly from the reef.
