I Have A Cultivation World Chapter 2491 - 1113: No Way Back to the Past (Part 2)

Previously, Chen Mobai considered it rather pleasant that Zhongli Tianyu viewed him as an aspiration. In the end, he believed the utmost he could accomplish was attaining Divinity Transformation via the Tianhe Realm's resources; Cultivating Void lingered as a mere notion, one he doubted he could ever realize.

Yet, upon stepping into the Purple Cloud Palace and accepting a master, Chen Mobai's viewpoint and insights underwent a profound elevation.

His mentor, the Purple Sky Daoist Venerable, stands as an entity who has transcended to the far shore, embodying the timeless Dao.

His fellow disciples, both senior and junior, rank among the supreme powers across the Great Thousand Universe.

The peers surrounding him possess at least Cultivating Void cultivation, while exceptional figures like Forget-Machine, seated right before him, have even reached the True Immortal of Unity stage.

Chen Mobai now sensed he could at minimum secure his path to Cultivating Void and aim ambitiously for Harmonization.

Should Zhongli Tianyu persist in regarding Chen Mobai as his benchmark, his painstakingly built Dao Heart might fracture increasingly with the passage of time.

For as cultivation advances deeper, the disparities widen dramatically; even a single minor realm can form an impassable gulf.

Zhongli Tianyu: "I have something to do, I’ll hang up first!"

Chen Mobai had barely concluded his words when the line went dead with a tone.

This youngster had surprisingly cut the call on him, utterly impudent.

Chen Mobai grew furious; he had offered sincere guidance, yet Zhongli Tianyu's pride proved so delicate that he couldn't bear the honest words.

Evidently, after condensing his Nascent Soul, the boy felt invincible once more.

Just as Chen Mobai prepared to teleport there and deliver a personal reprimand, a sudden realization hit him—he was now bound as another’s disciple—and he slumped back in his seat, disheartened.

Shortly thereafter, Deng Daoyun triumphantly forged his Nascent Soul. Though the phenomenon paled against Chen Mobai's Divinity Transformation breakthrough, it remained a magnificent display.

Learning of this, Cheng Xuan rushed to the scene without delay.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent—Little Deng's Nascent Soul Formation eases my worries!"

Cheng Xuan beamed with satisfaction. As head of the Refining Implement Department, Deng Daoyun had received near-personal instruction from him, practicing "The Union of Differences," thus establishing him as a bona fide direct heir of the Dance Tool Dao Academy.

Deng Daoyun's success in Nascent Soul Formation signified that their branch now boasted a proper heir.

"Once Teacher Deng refines his abilities over a few years, I might finally step back."

Chen Mobai shared Cheng Xuan's sentiments exactly. His earlier choice to lead the Dance Tool Dao Academy stemmed largely from a shortage of suitable leaders.

The Immortal Gate's lineages on his side, along with those in the Three Great Halls, had long been discontinued. Once the Daoist Academy's lines followed suit, only his own would endure, bolstering his pursuit of Cultivating Void immensely.

"What are your plans post-retirement, Junior Brother? Will you retreat to Wangxian Peak or depart from the Earth Element Star?"

Cheng Xuan inquired with interest. Chen Mobai's realm already topped the Immortal Gate's ranks. Yet, beyond cultivation, his daily habits showed no apparent pastimes.

"I haven't pondered it deeply; perhaps I'll venture away. Still, my focus right now lies entirely on the upcoming war campaign—only after its conclusion can I consider other matters."

As his cultivation soared, the Immortal Gate held little to captivate Chen Mobai anymore.

He intended to devote greater attention to the Tianhe Realm moving forward.

When the Purple Cloud Palace finally arrives, he would slowly withdraw from the Immortal Gate's affairs. Departure remained a possibility, or like Bai Guang, he might enter a profound, isolated retreat for centuries, shunning all contact.

"True, the Immortal Gate still faces a massive calamity ahead."

Hearing this, Cheng Xuan nodded solemnly in accord.

Not much later, Deng Daoyun concluded his seclusion. Normally, every fresh Nascent Soul in the Immortal Gate must honor the Divinity Transformation elders, and with Chen Mobai and Cheng Xuan already present in the office, it proved perfectly timely for him.

Next followed the festivities.

Deng Daoyun viewed his Nascent Soul Formation as a modest milestone, but to Chen Mobai and Cheng Xuan, it warranted joy across the entire Weapon Dancing Sect.

Before long, the key leaders of the Dance Tool Dao Academy within the Immortal Gate gathered at Crimson Mountain.

"How enviable!"

Watching Deng Daoyun bask in such acclaim, Ming Yuhua vowed inwardly that he too would one day conquer Nascent Soul Formation.

"Rest assured, we'll prioritize advancing you and Senior Sister Bian in our lineage next."

Seated at their table were former Metaphysical Class members, seated by Zhuang Jialan's arrangement on Chen Mobai's behalf. He occupied the main position, flanked by Ming Yuhua and Yunyang Bing. His close friend's assurance sparked a grin of commitment.

"Old Chen, I must've earned merits from eight lifetimes to claim a brother like you."

Ming Yuhua's heart soared at those words. Though his Military Department posting hinted at their intent to nurture him, hearing it straight from Chen Mobai, the Divinity Transformation expert, sealed it as certainty.

The exchange between the pair stirred envy among Wang Xingyu and the others at the table. Still, Ming Yuhua's Eighth Layer Golden Core truly ranked second only to Chen Mobai, trailed by Yunyang Bing's Sixth Layer Golden Core.

Folks speculated that Chen Mobai had lavished extra cultivation aids on these two comrades, though they kept such notions private.

Gong Ranran nudged her husband Wang Xingyu beneath the table, her gaze flicking toward his wine cup.

During academy days, they shared strong ties with Chen Mobai, but post-graduation and family life, coupled with Wang Xingyu's reserved demeanor and infrequent outreach, their bond had dimmed over time.

Recently, their senior Wang Xin Fu's failed Nascent Soul attempt had shrouded their household in gloom. This rare moment to engage Chen Mobai shouldn't be squandered, Gong Ranran believed.

"True Monarch, I've yet to offer congratulations on your Divinity Transformation..."

Grasping his wife's cue, Wang Xingyu promptly lifted his glass, rose, and proposed a toast to Chen Mobai.

"Oh, with our history, True Monarch feels too formal!"

Chen Mobai promptly interjected upon hearing it. Hosting this gathering today aimed to recapture the innocent, joyful school days when all were united.

In Ming Yuhua, he glimpsed that warmth, but Wang Xingyu's address yanked him back to the stark, unyielding present.

He was no longer just a regular student at the Dance Tool Dao Academy; he had become the Immortal Gate's foremost Divinity Transformation True Monarch.

"Sorry, Old Chen... I'll down mine first!"

Wang Xingyu fumbled the familiar address, then emptied his cup swiftly.

"My husband's never been eloquent; you know that well."

Gong Ranran rose hastily to ease the moment, lifting her glass too.

"Everyone, let's toast together—it's been ages since we gathered, and I truly miss those times."

Chen Mobai met the deferential looks aimed his way and realized return was impossible. With a quiet inner sigh, he stood to join the toast with all.

"Old Chen, I sensed your exceptional nature from the beginning, with deification potential, so I dubbed our group the Metaphysical Class."

Securing Chen Mobai's pledge, Ming Yuhua didn't hesitate to offer another toast. His remark drew nods from the table, with some even lauding his keen insight.

"Really?"

Chen Mobai felt somewhat hazy on the details, recalling only that after departing Che Yucheng, drawn by their shared Pure Yang Scroll practice, he joined Ming Yuhua and Yunyang Bing for drinks and got roped in amid the haze.

"Absolutely, just check with them if you doubt it."

The others affirmed with nods at Ming Yuhua's prompt.

"Looking back, our Daoist Academy days were the freest and happiest—simply focusing on studies and cultivation, free from burdens, with Seniors Qian Xing and Bai Guang managing all threats. But these days, it's all on me alone..."

Chen Mobai's musing silenced the group, none willing to chime in.

Most hovered at Core Formation peaks, others mired at Foundation Establishment.

"Old Chen, greater power brings heavier duties; you're now the beacon for three hundred million souls in the Immortal Gate. If burdens weigh on you, share them with us anytime."

Yunyang Bing interjected. Among the present Metaphysical Class mates, he connected most with Chen Mobai. As deputy director of the Sky Curtain Ground Network Management Bureau, he somewhat grasped Chen Mobai's inner world.

"Haha, just idle talk—come on, let's keep the drinks flowing..."

As Chen Mobai smiled and lifted his glass, he understood deep down that the bygone era lay forever lost.