I Have A Cultivation World Chapter 2480 - 1106: Reunion with Meng Huang
Previously on I Have A Cultivation World...
Chen Mobai lingered at the Five Peaks Immortal Mountains for some time. Once he verified that the Patching Heaven Immortal Skill brought no adverse effects, he departed feeling utterly reassured.
The follow-up studies were passed on to the Three Extremes and Yuan Xu, who stood as leading authorities in that field.
By now, the Three Extremes had discovered details about the Primordial Bead, leaving them utterly stunned in disbelief.
Back at the Dance Tool Dao Academy, Chen Mobai got word of some unfortunate developments.
Hong Mengkui's life was drawing to its close.
As the instructor who first guided Chen Mobai into the art of artifact refining, he felt compelled both by sentiment and duty to pay a visit.
Cheng Xuan hurried to join him upon hearing the news, and together they headed to the hospital for the visit.
"In my lifetime, seeing the academy produce two God-Transcending cultivators, I can die content."
Hong Mengkui, reclining on the hospital bed, gazed at Chen Mobai and Cheng Xuan with a smile before drawing his final breath.
"Teacher!!"
Bian Jingchun, positioned on the opposite side of the bed, witnessed this and broke down in sobs.
Chen Mobai let out a deep sigh.
In the journey of cultivation, progress must never halt. If it does, even a lifespan that appears endless will gradually wear away and vanish amid the relentless flow of time.
Though he had now ascended to God-Transcending status, and refining the Big Tree Immortal Fruit promised over two thousand years of life, the day would still arrive when age claimed him.
True immortality and eternal youth demand reaching Harmonization, linking one's lifespan to that of Heaven and Earth.
Yet even Heaven and Earth face eventual decay and ruin; when a True Immortal of Unity's cosmos succumbs to its ultimate calamity, all returns to void.
Therefore, transcendence to the far shore is essential to attain everlasting proof.
In that instant, Chen Mobai grasped the inner turmoil of the first-row senior brothers and sisters in the Purple Cloud Palace.
At their level of cultivation, immortality was already theirs, but unease lingered, fueling their pursuit of higher transcendence.
With no spouse to manage his estate, Hong Mengkui's disciple Bian Jingchun took charge of the arrangements. Noticing her deep emotional turmoil, Chen Mobai requested Zhuang Jialan to remain and lend support.
Per Hong Mengkui’s final desires, his lifespan-bound magic artifact, the Cloud Thunder Bow, got sealed within the Device Nurturing Sphere and stored in the Treasure Trove.
Cheng Xuan oversaw this process personally.
When Hong Mengkui first joined the Daoist Academy, Cheng Xuan had freshly formed his Nascent Soul and stepped into the principal's role, so he observed the man's journey from Core Formation's prime vitality to his later years marked by silver hair and frailty.
Hong Mengkui poured his whole existence into serving the Red City Cave Heaven and the Dance Tool Dao Academy, leading to a grand memorial ceremony after his burial that honored his lifelong contributions to the region and the realm of artifact refining.
In addition to Chen Mobai and Cheng Xuan's presence, the event drew teachers from the Dance Tool Dao Academy, officials from the Artifact Refiner Association, and numerous alumni who arrived after learning of the occasion.
Chen Mobai came across a surprising figure.
Meng Huanger.
She donned a sleek black gown of refined simplicity, a white flower adorning her chest, the hem sweeping the floor, topped with a dark hat, her face etched in grave composure.
As Chen Mobai glanced her way, their gazes locked; he gave a quick nod before turning to Zhuang Jialan at his side with an inquiry.
In this solemn atmosphere, direct exchange between them would be improper, and a voice transmission risked stirring Cheng Xuan's interest.
Zhuang Jialan, who managed much of the memorial proceedings, certainly understood Meng Huanger's reason for attending; she and Bian Jingchun had coordinated the invitations under the Dance Tool Dao Academy's banner.
Meng Huanger now led the Arts Department at Red City Cave Heaven and ranked among the academy's triumphant graduates, so updates on Dance Tool Dao Academy happenings always reached her.
Learning this eased Chen Mobai's mind a touch.
Following his transcendence, he had intended to seek solace with Yan Bingxuan first, then carve out moments to connect with Meng Huanger. Yet pressing duties had delayed him until this point.
But Meng Huanger's finest trait shone in her lack of grievances.
Visits from Chen Mobai brought her immense joy. In his absence, a hint of letdown might surface, but she never imposed on him.
This meeting at Hong Mengkui’s memorial arose not from Meng Huanger's intent to cross paths with Chen Mobai, but pure chance.
Aware of that, a subtle guilt stirred within Chen Mobai.
He resolved to seek a chance for a private encounter once his immediate tasks wrapped up, allowing her to share tales of longing and the paths she had walked in recent years.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Meng Huanger ascended the platform with elegant poise, directing the day's performers to fill the air with sorrowful melodies.
This improvisation came from Meng Huanger herself; for current gatherings at Red City Cave Heaven and the Dance Tool Dao Academy, invitations frequently called on her to oversee music and dance preparations.
Ever since emerging from the Death God’s Tribulation isolation, Meng Huanger, mindful of her advancing years, stepped away from the entertainment world and now stood celebrated as an artist of profound integrity and skill within the Immortal Gate.
After delivering his address from the stage, Chen Mobai approached Bian Jingchun, the kin's spokesperson, whose eyes remained reddened with profound sorrow, prompting him to offer solace: "Teacher Hong’s deepest aspiration was to form his Nascent Soul. As his disciple, you hold the power to realize it in his stead."
Bian Jingchun's grief-stricken gaze flickered with a spark of hope at Chen Mobai’s encouragement.
"Thank you, True Monarch, for your comfort."
Noting Bian Jingchun's renewed resolve, Chen Mobai gave an approving nod.
He left Zhuang Jialan to oversee the ongoing memorial, shared a meaningful glance with Meng Huanger, and then departed alongside Cheng Xuan.
As Divine Transformation True Monarchs, their composed demeanor belied an aura of immense power, leaving the assembly reluctant to raise voices above a whisper.
Evening fell.
Chen Mobai reached the mountaintop villa by the Daoist Academy, Meng Huanger's residence—their shared sanctuary from academy days.
After a brief wait, Meng Huanger glided in through the second-floor balcony.
Given her intimate tie to Chen Mobai, she seldom visited unless he signaled, to evade unwanted attention.
"I usually live in the apartment assigned by the public in the Red City Cave Heaven..."
Meng Huanger entered via flight, spotted Chen Mobai on the sofa, and settled naturally at his side, beginning to recount her life's turns over the years.
As a Golden Core Cultivator from the Dance Tool Dao Academy, bolstered by Hua Zijing’s aid, her move from Wangwu Cave Heaven proceeded without hitches.
She started as the Arts Department head in neighboring Mingyi City to Red City Cave Heaven. A few years on, when the local department leader stepped down, her shift over happened effortlessly.
"I’ve been busy with cultivation these years and have somewhat neglected you..."
Chen Mobai clasped the hand Meng Huanger offered, voicing his regret, but words halted as her passionate kiss claimed his lips.
In a blur, she nestled firmly in his arms.
The night deepened into shadow, winds howling beyond the panes. Still, Chen Mobai sensed the mountains pulsing with renewed vigor, heralding life's resurgence as clouds and rain nourished the soil.
"I’ve yet to congratulate you in person for your ascension to the Way of God Transformation!"
Post-storm serenity arrived, with Meng Huanger nestling her warmed face against Chen Mobai, delivering her belated well-wishes.
"I owe part of my success to you. The Shocking God Sonata you played at the Five Peaks Immortal Mountains helped mend my final flaw."
Chen Mobai expressed genuine gratitude to Meng Huanger.
Of his four companions, Meng Huanger possessed the modest talent and cultivation base, yet her contributions proved invaluable.
Her Original Yin proved vital during his Core Formation.
Her Heartstring Mystical Sound further aided in grasping the Law of the Five Tones, born from their profound spiritual bond amid the Shocking God Sonata. Chen Mobai pondered that without their repeated unions, where he drew in the Great Tao’s profound tones via their synced spirits, attaining the Law of the Five Tones might have faltered.
Having unlocked the Saintly Virtue Great Dao, Chen Mobai uncovered fresh understandings of destiny, fate, and kindred concepts.
He sensed Meng Huanger might be fated to aid in completing the Vermilion Phoenix Facing the Sun diagram.
"With your high talents, you would achieve God Transformation even without me eventually."
Meng Huanger denied it with a shake of her head, fully cognizant of her innate limits, recognizing her present achievements stemmed from Chen Mobai’s tutelage and an abundance of resources.
"No, you’re the one I’ve chosen!"
Chen Mobai affirmed firmly.
Meng Huanger's flushed features lit with rare tenderness.
She had dreaded Chen Mobai might cast her aside upon reaching God Transformation.
After all, God Transformation marked the Immortal Gate's zenith.
At that stature, claiming any partner required merely a gesture.
Thankfully, Chen Mobai stayed true to his core, unswayed by his risen standing to abandon her.
Come morning, Meng Huanger bid farewell with lingering reluctance.
A meeting awaited her that day.
Yet the Arts Department held few pressing duties, granting her ample leisure, once devoted to honing the Technique of Turning into Gold, and lately often passed in the mountaintop villa.
Chen Mobai prepared a set of one hundred Short Teleportation Talismans for her, linked to her workplace, residence, the villa, his principal’s quarters, and beyond, sufficient for years of travel.
Blissful moments flee all too quickly.
On that day, while Chen Mobai worked on crafting a Rank-5 Fairy Garment from the Golden Flame Manticore’s pelt and Immortal Gate refining schematics, Yuan Xu's call came through.
Studies on the Qingping Patching Heaven Immortal Technique had concluded, with all insights from him and the Three Extremes compiled and forwarded to Chen Mobai’s email.
Upon review, Chen Mobai marveled at their expertise, spotting numerous insights that could have spared his Second Primeval Spirit considerable Essence during the technique's application.
Still, the paramount revelation for him lay in the Immortal Technique's lack of complications.
Armed with this certainty, he felt ready to wield it upon himself.
Eager to grasp the Tao upon securing the Five Elements Immortal Spirit Root, Chen Mobai notified Qi Yuheng and the rest of his cultivation epiphany, announcing a period of secluded retreat.
He had predetermined the Tianhe Realm as the site for this breakthrough.
After briefing the Immortal Gate's leadership, Chen Mobai made sure to inform the closely bonded Meng Huanger as well.
Though their time together brimmed with delight, the demands of cultivation required temporary precedence.