I Have A Cultivation World Chapter 2557 - 1156: Taixu Mountain Range (Part 2)
Previously on I Have A Cultivation World...
To prevent the repercussions of the Purple Cloud Palace's descent from harming the Immortal Gate citizenry, he harnessed his Law Realm powers to briefly sequester every living creature within a thousand-mile radius.
These individuals were promptly teleported to Red Sandstone City, where he left local Immortal Gate authorities to oversee their welfare.
Nonetheless, a degree of disorder remained. Before Chen Mobai could issue a command, Lan Haitian took the initiative to descend into Red Sandstone City, volunteering to organize the chaotic crowds.
Witnessing this, Chen Mobai offered a nod of quiet approval.
Surrounding Nascent Soul cultivators, observing the unfolding events, realized that Lan Haitian had successfully placed himself in the spotlight.
It was, after all, a singular opportunity to curry favor with the Pure Yang True Monarch.
Rumblings!
At this moment, the Purple Cloud Palace completed its descent, settling firmly upon the peaks of the Taixu Mountain Range. As the structure made contact, the entire mountain mass vibrated violently.
The Sky Curtain Ground Network Formation had fallen under the absolute dominion of the Purple Cloud Palace. To both Chen Mobai and Yunhai, it felt as though a brand-new Master Spiritual Pivot had materialized from thin air.
In that instant, Chen Mobai even perceived the consciousness of the Great Chun Divine Tree.
Given that the Purple Cloud Palace had supplanted her, assuming the central role of the Sky Curtain Ground Network, Chen Mobai could have facilitated her transcendence had he opted to intervene then.
[Please, Senior, hold for a moment...]
Chen Mobai could not permit the Great Chun Divine Tree to depart now; the presence of the Purple Cloud Palace was transient, and it would soon vanish.
Heeding his telepathic message, the Spirit of Great Chun exhibited visible frustration, yet she remained silent.
"The altar and the staircase are manifesting."
Qi Yuheng observed this while gesturing toward the gates of the Purple Cloud Palace, where the immense Spiritual Energy of the Earth Element Star coalesced into verdant and alabaster steps that stretched out into the distance.
Two thousand nine hundred and fifty-one white and green steps reached from the summit down to the mountain's base, interspersed with forty-nine grey-green platforms designed for the weary climber to pause.
In total, the steps reached a count of exactly three thousand.
Watching this, Chen Mobai pondered whether this symbolized the Three Thousand Great Dao?
Perhaps those platforms represented the Innate Great Dao, while the remaining steps embodied the Acquired Great Dao.
"According to the scrolls of the sages, you may now commence the ascent."
Qi Yuheng pointed toward the altar and stairs descending from the palace gates, casting a glance filled with anticipation at Chen Mobai.
"There might be lingering remnants of the Ascension Sect watching; you all proceed while I maintain a perimeter check..."
In contrast, Chen Mobai took a leisurely stance, choosing to hang back of his own volition.
"Then, we shall dispense with formalities."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yuheng descended from the heights into the Taixu Mountain Range, planting his feet firmly on the first step.
Ranked immediately behind Chen Mobai among the Divinity Transformation cultivators of the Immortal Gate, these initial steps presented him no challenge; yet, he climbed with measured deliberation.
After all, this was the supreme opportunity within the Earth Element Star, recurring only once every twelve hundred years.
Quite soon, Qi Yuheng halted on the first landing, closing his eyes in deep meditation, only to open them with a sigh of regret before pressing upward once more.
At the one hundred and thirty-seventh step, Qi Yuheng’s demeanor shifted to one of profound excitement; clearly enlightened, he sat upon the step to circulate his internal power.
Seeing this, other Divinity Transformation cultivators of the Immortal Gate could no longer restrain themselves, and after brief acknowledgments to Chen Mobai, they descended one by one to begin their trek.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Beyond the Divinity Transformation cultivators of the Immortal Gate, Nascent Soul practitioners from the Three Great Halls and Four Great Daoist Sects began ascending the stairs to the Purple Cloud Palace in successive waves.
With Chen Mobai holding watch outside, they were spared any anxiety regarding instability in the Immortal Gate.
On that day, having concluded the integration of affairs at Red Sandstone City, Lan Haitian made his arrival, marking him as the final Nascent Soul cultivator to approach the Purple Cloud Palace.
"I offer my respects to the Pure Yang True Monarch!"
Upon arrival, Lan Haitian did not immediately join the climb, choosing instead to approach Chen Mobai to show his deference.
"Your efforts are appreciated."
Chen Mobai responded with courtesy, while the subordinate shook his head, insisting it was merely his responsibility.
"While traveling here, I encountered several clandestine observers. Upon investigation, I discovered they were merely commoners of the Immortal Gate drawn by ancient legends of the Purple Cloud Palace."
Lan Haitian mentioned this to Chen Mobai, who had initially suspected members of the Ascension Sect, but upon realizing it was just curious wanderers, he relegated the matter to insignificance.
"The military has already cordoned off the entire Taixu Mountain Range, and these individuals will be relocated shortly..."
Before the ascent, Zhongli Tianyu—following Chen Mobai’s directives—had deployed twelve Starry Sky Battleships to completely isolate the region, bolstered by Chen Mobai’s pervasive Divine Consciousness to ensure total security.
Lan Haitian felt a sense of relief upon receiving this confirmation.
"Do you not intend to make the journey?"
Seeing him remain at his post instead of joining the climbers, Chen Mobai asked in mild surprise.
"Tradition dictates the Purple Cloud Palace persists for forty-nine days, and our Nascent Soul cultivators rarely endure for more than twelve, so I have ample time. Furthermore, if you are left alone, I remain here to handle any minor disturbances that might trouble you."
Lan Haitian’s thoughtful words brought a sense of satisfaction to Chen Mobai.
It was clear why Ying Guanghua had held him in such high regard, even facilitating his transfer from the Kunpeng Daoist Institute; such an astute and capable subordinate was a rarity within the Weapon Dancing Sect.
"This is Lin Daoming’s Void Blind Box. Are you aware of its contents?"
Chen Mobai produced a silver orb of light, posing the question to Lan Haitian. Given his mastery over the path of the Void, unraveling Lin Daoming without compromising the Domain had been a trivial affair.
Time had been fleeting back then, and following the victory over Lin Daoming, the threat of the King of the Underworld remained, leaving Chen Mobai only this window of opportunity to investigate.
"I have no knowledge, True Monarch."
Lan Haitian shook his head, perplexed by the inquiry.
"I sense an aura that feels familiar."
So saying, Chen Mobai skillfully breached the Void Blind Box left behind by Lin Daoming.
Moments later, he pulled forth a lump of earthen-yellow stone.
Etched upon the stone was a countenance Lan Haitian knew intimately.
The face seemed animated, fixing the pair with a glance of palpable intensity.
"Hall Master Ying!"
Chen Mobai was visibly stunned, quickly employing Echoes in the Void to discover that Ying Guanghua’s Nascent Soul had been bound to the stone by a sinister Secret Technique, trapping him in a state of eternal waiting as his soul slowly eroded toward eventual extinction.
"I beseech the True Monarch to deliver Hall Master Ying from this fate!"
Witnessing this, Lan Haitian pleaded urgently. His current influence within the Three Great Halls stemmed from the legacy inherited from Ying Guanghua, whom he regarded as his ultimate mentor.
"This is an archaic and unfamiliar Secret Technique. I shall examine it..."
As Chen Mobai cross-referenced this with the mental archives left by the Ascension Sect Hierarch, he found no matches.
It appeared to be a technique Lin Daoming had devised only after his own cultivation breakthrough.
Nonetheless, this posed no barrier to Chen Mobai; the Law of the Five Tones soon unmasked its reality.
It was constructed upon Earth True Power and reinforced with Formless Heavenly Demon Qi.
Prioritizing the life of Ying Guanghua, Chen Mobai proceeded with great caution, ensuring his method was flawless before initiating the rescue.
Initially, he shielded Ying Guanghua with his Azure Bird Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspect, then neutralized the Earth True Power with his own Primordial True Qi, and finally purged the lingering Demonic Qi using the Flame Lighting Technique.
Upon the sound of a sharp fracture, the yellow stone crumbled away.
"I dared not believe I would ever behold the light of day once more!"
With his liberation, the remnants of Ying Guanghua’s Nascent Soul were overcome with tearful gratitude.