《Seizing Destiny From Heavens Hands》
Chapter 01: Transmigration
Qingxuan Sect.
The sound of the bells tolled continuously, resembling the rumbling of thunder.
This noise abruptly awakened Shen Mo.
He found himself in a spartan room.
A sharp pain pierced his chest.
Wiping the corner of his mouth, he found dried blood.
"Where am I..."
Before Shen Mo could ponder further, a flood of unfamiliar memories surged into his mind.
After a brief headache, he quickly realized, "I''ve actually transmigrated into another world."
This body also bore the name Shen Mo, hailing from Qingshan City, and at the age of twelve, he was initiated into the Qingxuan Sect.
Originally, his predecessor was a youth with exceptional talent, reaching the peak of the Body Tempering Realm by the age of sixteen, and stepping into the Qi Condensation Realm just a yearter!
His predecessor''s status in the Qingxuan Sect had risen to be the top outer disciple, highly praised and the center of attention.
ording to the sect''s rules, the top three outer disciples who stepped into the Qi Condensation Realm could challenge inner disciples. Winning the challenge would grant them the status of inner disciples.
However, three days before his predecessor was to challenge the inner disciples, his cultivation inexplicably regressed, deteriorating back to the beginner level of the Body Tempering Realm over the span of three days.
This event even rmed an elder, who personally examined him and concluded that Shen Mo was afflicted with "Blood Scatter Poison," rendering his four years of Body Tempering and one year of Qi Condensation useless.
The Blood Scatter Poison also irreversibly damaged his spiritual roots; without an exceptionally powerful elixir, he could only hope to return to the peak of the Body Tempering Realm at most, never again reaching the Qi Condensation Realm.
The elder ordered a thorough investigation, but no culprit was found.
A year passed, and the matter was shelved.
No one would waste time on someone deemed useless.
The stark contrast in circumstances left his predecessor increasingly despondent, never recovering from the setback.
What''s worse, the outer disciples faced ast-ce elimination system.
The Body Tempering Realm was divided into entry-level, minor achievement, major achievement, perfect, and peak.
An outer disciple at the entry level of the Body Tempering Realm who couldn''t advance to the minor achievement level within a year was deemed tock cultivation aptitude, would be stripped of their disciple status, and sent down the mountain.
His predecessor had been deeply worried about this.
Just yesterday, he died suddenly from a surge of blood to the heart.
It was at this moment that Shen Mo''s soul transmigrated into this body.
"This is just too tragic..."
Shen Mo couldn''t help but smile wryly, "Now, with only two months left until the annual outer disciple assessment, it''s difficult for me to advance to the minor achievement of the Body Tempering Realm."
"In the end, I will still be expelled from the mountain."
"Where is that golden finger when you need it? Old grandpa, help out here, will you?"
He called out in his mind but received no response from the old grandpa.
Instead, he saw a panel.
[Name: Shen Mo.]
[Realm: Entry Level of Body Tempering Realm.]
[Fate: Son of a Pharmacist, Innate Wisdom, Sword Dao Enthusiast, Ordinary Luck.]
[Destiny: Two months from now, failing the outer disciple assessment, expelled from the mountain. On his way home, pursued by a rogue cultivator, falls off a cliff and dies with no remains.]
[Recent Opportunity: None.]
Shen Mo sighed as he read through it.
This fate is really too harsh!
He took a closer look at the panel.
[Son of a Pharmacist: White Fate. Born into a family of pharmacists in Qingshan City, going back three generations, all dedicated to healing others, you''ve inherited a nature of helping others and enduring hardship.]
[Innate Wisdom: Blue Fate. You have goodprehension, which elerates your understanding of cultivation techniques and martial arts, often gaining new insights into various matters.]
[Sword Dao Enthusiast: Blue Fate. You have a passion for swords, exhibiting better talent and ease in forging powerful swords.]
[Ordinary Luck: White Fate. Your luck is very ordinary, the kind of luck involved in finding money while walking down the street is almost nonexistent for you.]
Shen Mo contemted.
It seems that fate is something intrinsic to a person, influencing their destiny.
Fates are categorized from low to high as white, green, blue, purple, orange, red, and gold.
"It seems this is my golden finger, being able to see my own fate, destiny, and opportunities."
"Wait, can I see others''?"
Just as this thought entered Shen Mo''s mind, he heard several footsteps approaching.
Bang!
A fierce young man with a brutish face kicked
open the door and entered the room.
Four skinny, fearful young men followed him.
The fierce young man saw Shen Mo sitting up on the bed and sneered coldly, "Awake? Good timing! I have a task for you!"
Memories rted to this man surfaced in Shen Mo''s mind.
This person was named Lei Yong, also an outer disciple.
He, like his predecessor, came from Qingshan City and joined the Qingxuan Sect at the same time.
Previously, when his predecessor was the top outer disciple, Lei Yong was earnest and seemed like his most loyal subordinate.
But as soon as his predecessor fell from his position and it was clear no one would stand up for him, Lei Yong immediately revealed his true nature.
The spirit stones umted by his predecessor were secretly stolen by Lei Yong and his men over several instances.
Relying on his cousin being an inner disciple, Lei Yong also began to steal the Hundred Grass Elixir distributed monthly to the outer disciples for cultivation; each person received two bottles.
Lei Yong was clever, only targeting weaker outer disciples, and even actively offering the elixir to those who were strong or had potential.
Additionally, Lei Yong had rallied several outer disciples to strengthen his own influence.
Combining multiple factors, Lei Yong had be the dominant force among the outer disciples, and no one dared to provoke him.
Shen Mo''s predecessor was once the top outer disciple, but now with his strength severely diminished, bullying such a fallen genius only added to Lei Yong''s pleasure.
Seeing that Shen Mo had not yet responded, Lei Yong intensified his tone, his eyes shing fiercely, "Can''t you hear me speaking?"
Shen Mo took a deep breath and immediately replied, "I heard you."
Satisfied with Shen Mo''s prompt submission, Lei Yong nodded, "Listen carefully!"
Then, turning to the young men behind him, he continued, "You all listen too! Today, each of you must chop four spirit woods, and if anyone cuts less than half, I''ll make sure you can''t leave your bed for half a year!"
"Yes!" The group managed to squeeze out a response from their throats.
Shen Mo frowned deeply.
Lei Yong often engaged in such activities, epting the more challenging tasks from the mission hall and forcing weaker outer disciples to do them for him.
He would hand off the hardbor to others while monopolizing all the rewards for himself.
Shen Mo wanted to refuse.
But daring to speak such words would result in Lei Yong beating him severely on the spot.
Reluctantly, Shen Mo had no choice but to stand and follow the team.
However, he kept his eyes on Lei Yong''s back, pondering a solution.
It was then that he suddenly noticed Lei Yong''s information panel.
[Name: Lei Yong.]
[Realm: Major Achievement of Body Tempering Realm.]
[Fate: Family Scion, Master of Weapons, Somewhat Lucky.]
[Destiny: Will ultimately reach the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, serve as a deacon of the Qingxuan Sect, and die ten yearster in a factional conflict within the sect.]
[Recent Opportunity: epted the task of chopping spirit wood, and during a casual stroll, identally discovered a small cloth bag in a tree hollow containing a Marrow Cleansing Pill.]
Shen Mo carefully reviewed the details of the three new fates that emerged.
[Family Scion: Green Fate. Born into the Lei family of Qingshan City, you were immersed in medicinal baths from a young age, never having to lift a finger for anything, nevercking in wealth.]
[Master of Weapons: Green Fate. You have always been fond of weapons, showing a greater talent in swordsmanship and spearmanship.]
[Somewhat Lucky: Blue Fate. Your luck is better than average; you often find money on the road and sometimes avoid disasters.]
Shen Mo was astonished.
Such a malevolent person as Lei Yong had such good fortune.
Treasures in the world are categorized into Yellow, Profound, Earth, and Heavenly grades, each divided further into lower, middle, upper, and supreme levels.
The Marrow Cleansing Pill is a supreme-grade Profound elixir.
Consuming one pill could cleanse and reshape the marrow and roots.
It was the perfect choice to repair his foundation!
The Qingxuan Sect did not sell such miraculous medicines as the Marrow Cleansing Pill, and it was a mystery why the pill was in the tree hollow.
But Shen Mo knew that if he could obtain this Marrow Cleansing Pill, he could restart his cultivation, and perhaps even leverage the pill''s power to directly advance to the minor achievement of the Body Tempering Realm.
That way, he could at least pass the outer disciple assessment in two months.
Before long, everyone arrived at the forest behind the Qingxuan Sect.
Many robust trees grew here.@@novelbin@@
These trees were spirit wood cultivated by the Qingxuan Sect, excellent choices whether for construction materials or for refining into elixirs.
However, spirit wood was much harder than ordinary wood, making chopping extremelyborious.
For a disciple like Shen Mo, at the entry level of the Body Tempering Realm, swinging an axe all day would leave his arms sore, yet he could only manage to chop down three or four logs.
It was hardly worth the effort.
Thus, the task of chopping spirit wood was generally chosen by disciples at the minor and major achievements of the Body Tempering Realm.
Because they were much stronger, their chopping efficiency was also higher.
"Get to work quickly, don''t let me catch you cking off!" Lei Yong took five axes and threw them on the ground, grunting coldly.
Including Shen Mo, the five outer disciples each picked up an axe and began chopping trees.
As Shen Mo chopped, his gaze moved around the forest, searching for that tree hollow.
He soon spotted a hidden tree hollow, likely made by humans.
However, Shen Mo did not immediately reach in to grab it.
Lei Yong was still watching them fiercely.
Taking it now would easily be seen by Lei Yong.
He needed to wait for the right moment.
Chopping spirit wood was a tedious task.
Soon, it was midday.
Shen Mo and the others were drenched in sweat.
Lei Yong grunted coldly, "I''m giving you half an hour to eat and drink, make good use of it."
This was not out of kindness.
After working all morning, if they didn''t rest a bit, they would surely pass out.
That would mean the task he took on would be iplete.
Therefore, he gave Shen Mo and the others half an hour to rest.
The five hurriedly took out their dry food and, using their water skins, ate quickly before closing their eyes to rest.
This brief time was precious, and they treasured every second.
Lei Yong, toozy to watch any longer, found a clean patch of grass to lie down on, taking out the food he had prepared earlier and began to eat heartily.
Seizing this opportunity, Shen Mo, under the pretext of needing to relieve himself, quickly moved away from them and approached the
tree hollow.
He cautiously used a small stick to probe inside, confirming there were no poisonous snakes, then quickly reached in and pulled out a small cloth bag.
Opening it, he found a white precious box inside.
Within the box was a thumb-sized emerald pill, indeed the Marrow Cleansing Pill!
Shen Mo immediately tucked it into his chest, then found a spot to eat and drink, closed his eyes to rest, pretending as if nothing had happened.
Soon, the half-hour had passed.
Lei Yong barked sharply, kicking a man who still wanted to sleep, "Get back to work!"
The man, too angry to speak, could only drag his tired body and continue swinging the axe.
Time continued to pass.
To avoid a beating, Shen Mo also had to chop trees diligently.
During this time, he noticed Lei Yong casually strolling over to the tree hollow.
Just then, a squirrel burrowed into the hollow, which Lei Yong noticed.
He reached in, pulled out the unfortunate squirrel, and then, in front of everyone, cruelly crushed it to death.
"Hmph, I thought there was something good in this tree hollow, but it turned out to be just a squirrel," Lei Yong grunted coldly, hands behind his back, continuing to supervise.
As dusk fell.
Shen Mo and the other four hadpleted their task, each having chopped down four spirit wood logs.
"Alright, get out of here," Lei Yong nodded in satisfaction.
As for the spirit wood, someone from the mission hall woulde to inspect themter.
The people hurried away as if fleeing from the gue.
Shen Mo also quickly returned to the outer disciples'' quarters, back to his own dwelling.
Chapter 2: Small Achievement Stage of the Body Refining Realm, Lei Yong’s New Fortune
Shen Mo, upon waking up, immediately felt a surge of energy and rity he hadn''t experienced in a long time. Opening the wooden box, the Marrow Cleansing Pill inside exuded a refreshing herbal scent, bringing a tired smile to his face.
Without hesitation, he swallowed the pill. Once ingested, the Marrow Cleansing Pill quickly dissolved, unleashing a powerful medicinal force that spread through his limbs, flesh, and bones. Shen Mo''s skin turned red and warm, and steam seemed to rise from his head. Deep within his bones, there was an itching sensation as if ants were crawling inside, signaling rapid growth and healing, as though broken parts were fusing back together wlessly.
Then, intense pain struck. Shen Mo found it increasingly difficult to bear, struggling to maintain consciousness before eventually passing out from the overwhelming difort.
An hourter, he slowly awoke, feeling refreshed and invigorated as if reborn. To his surprise, all the aches and fatigue had vanished under the potent effects of the Marrow Cleansing Pill. The strength coursing through his arms and legs had significantly increased, a clear indicator of his enhanced condition.
"The Marrow Cleansing Pill not only repaired my foundations but also boosted me into the minor achievement stage of the Body Tempering Realm!" Shen Mo was ted. This meant he no longer had to worry about the uing outer disciple assessment in three months.
He quickly introspected and noticed changes in his panel:
[Name: Shen Mo.]
[Realm: Minor Achievement of Body Tempering Realm.]
[Fate: Son of a Pharmacist, Innate Wisdom, Sword Dao Enthusiast.]
[Destiny: Poisoned the day before the outer disciple assessment two monthster, foundations destroyed, failed the assessment, expelled from the mountain. Chased by rogue cultivators on the way home, too weak to defend, dies from excessive blood loss.]
[Recent Opportunity: (Obtained) Found a small cloth bag containing a Marrow Cleansing Pill while chopping spirit wood.]
Shen Mo, frustrated, muttered, "Damn it, why am I still getting poisoned, and why are these rogues after me?"
He quickly surmised that his sudden recovery might have alerted whoever was behind the original poisoning, prompting them to act against him again. "I''m still not strong enough; I need to break through to the Qi Condensation Realm as soon as possible."
The cultivation realms included the Body Tempering Realm, Qi Condensation Realm, Foundation Building Realm, Core Formation Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, and the Divine Transformation Realm. Each realm was subdivided into five stages: entry, minor achievement, major achievement, perfect, and peak.
Most outer disciples were in the Body Tempering Realm, while inner disciples were almost all at the Qi Condensation Realm, with a few elites reaching the Foundation Building Realm.
The Qi Condensation Realm was sufficient to hold the position of a deacon in the Qingxuan Sect, while the Foundation Building Realm allowed one to be an outer sect elder.
The Core Formation Realm was the level of the sect leader, deputy sect leader, and inner sect elders of the Qingxuan Sect. The stages beyond, the Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation Realms, were seen only in more powerful sects.
If Shen Mo could quickly return to the Qi Condensation Realm, he would certainly be able to protect himself.
...@@novelbin@@
The next day.
As soon as Shen Mo woke up, he heard crying outside. Opening his door, he saw Lei Yong and his twockeys ganging up on another outer disciple, beating him while hurling insults.
"Last month you borrowed twenty low-grade spirit stones from me, and with the agreed interest, you owe me thirty this month!"
Hisckeys, taking advantage of their position, chimed in, "Right, right, Brother Lei is only asking for twenty-five this time, he''s already being more than fair!"
The beleaguered disciple pleaded, "That''s what I saved to buy Body Tempering Pills. Without them, I can''t pass the end-of-year assessment. Brother Lei, please give them back, I''m begging you."
The other outer disciples watching the scene showed two starkly different attitudes. Those who were stronger, either close to or above Lei Yong''s level, watched with arms crossed, indifferent and uninterested in intervening.
The weaker ones were filled with fear, terrified that they might be the next targets, and likewise, they dared not step forward to help.
In the end, they could only watch helplessly as the outer disciple was beaten bloody.
Lei Yong stood on the disciple''s chest and sneered coldly, "Remember, you still owe me five low-grade spirit stones!"
His twockeys chuckled, "Let''s go, Brother Lei. Let''s head to the Dining Hall for a meal."
Lei Yong grunted, "Yeah, after eating, we''ll go to the Scripture Pavilion. I need to pick a badass martial technique."
With that, the three of them swaggered off.
Shen Mo watched from his room; his current strength was not sufficient to intervene.
Moreover, he recognized the beaten outer disciple.
When his predecessor was still the top outer disciple, he was generous and often helped the weaker disciples.
This beaten disciple was one of them.
However, after his predecessor''s fall back to the entry level of the Body Tempering Realm, none of those he had helped returned the favor.
This disciple was no exception.
"Nevertheless, Lei Yong seems to have found another opportunity," Shen Mo thought reflectively.
He had clearly seen Lei Yong''s panel information:
[Name: Lei Yong.]
[Realm: Major Achievement of Body Tempering Realm.]
[Fate: Family Scion, Skilled with des and Spears, Somewhat Lucky.]
[Destiny: Ultimately stops at the Great Achievement of the Qi Condensation Realm, serves as a deacon of the Qingxuan Sect, and is killed by a passing demonic cultivator while on a mission seven yearster.]
[Recent Opportunity: Feeling his defensive techniques werecking, he went to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a martial technique and identally found a Profound-grade martial technique in the cover of ''Tiger''s Roar Fist''.]
Shen Mo noticed two things.
First, Lei Yong''s destiny had undergone significant changes.
Previously, he was destined to stop at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, but now he was downgraded to Great Achievement.
This indicated that the Marrow Cleansing Pill had indeed greatly enhanced Lei Yong.
After all, it could cleanse the marrow and eliminate bodily impurities, effectively elerating his future cultivation.
Secondly, Lei Yong''s recent opportunity.
"Going to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a martial technique and identally finding a Profound-grade martial technique... that''s something straight out of a novel''s protagonist''s luck," Shen Mo mused.
Cultivation techniques and martial skills, like treasures, are categorized into four tiers: Heavenly, Earthly, Profound, and Yellow, each with four grades: low, middle, upper, and supreme.
Outer disciples can select a Yellow-grade cultivation technique or martial skill for free from the Scripture Pavilion every time they break through a minor realm.
Other times, they must pay with spirit stones.
A Profound-grade martial skill, however, is avable for free only to inner disciples, or else it costs at least three hundred low-grade spirit stones.
When his body''s former owner was the top outer disciple, he had also wanted to save up for a Profound-grade martial skill.
Buting from a poor background, he could only rely on himself.
Spirit stones also needed to be spent on Body Tempering Pills.
Thus, he could never save enough spirit stones.
If he could acquire this Profound-grade martial skill, his strength would surely soar!
"Taking advantage of him going to the Dining Hall for breakfast, I''ll head to the Scripture Pavilion first and take that Profound-grade martial skill before he does!"
Thinking this, Shen Mo immediately set off for the Scripture Pavilion.
The Qingxuan Sect was established within the Qingcang Mountain Range.
The tallest andrgest of these, Qingcang Mountain, towered above all.
Menial and outer disciples lived at the foot of the mountain.
Buildings like the Scripture Pavilion, Treasure Pavilion, and the inner disciples'' quarters were located on the mountainside.
Further up were the residences of the elders, deputy sect leader, and sect leader.
As Shen Mo climbed the steps, the peak in front of him emanated a formidable spiritual energy.
A great white waterfall, like a flowing ribbon, cascaded from the summit into a deep pool below, its thunderous roar echoing like a herd of charging horses.
Mighty trees with branches twisted like dragons lined the staircase, with many pavilions and halls hidden among them.
This was Shen Mo''s first time witnessing such a celestial scene, stirring his spirit profoundly.
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Chapter 3: Seizing the Profound-Grade Martial Skill: Thunder Shadow Sword Technique!
A momentter, Shen Mo walked into a pavilion.
This was a grand and magnificent pavilion, constructed from centuries-old spiritual wood, ensuring it would not be susceptible to insect damage or rot.
At the entrance of the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion stood a middle-aged man with a sinister face.
This man was the deacon responsible for guarding the Scripture Pavilion.
Of course, he was not some highly esteemed elder or unparalleled expert.
He was merely an ordinary deacon at the Qi Condensation stage.
In front of Shen Mo, there were two other disciples waiting in line to enter.
Both were outer sect disciples, one burly and the other emaciated.
The burly disciple had a broad back and a robust build, with a powerful aura of vitality.
With a nce, Shen Mo could tell he had at least reached the peak of the Body Tempering Realm.
As for the emaciated disciple, his face was sallow, and he was only at the entry level of the Body Tempering Realm.
Such outer sect disciples were always the targets of Lei Yong''s extortion.
When the deacon of the Scripture Pavilion saw the burly disciple, he enthusiastically stood up, "Pleasee in,e in. If you need anything, just let me know."
But when the emaciated disciple tried to enter, the deacon''s demeanor changed. He rudely extended his hand, "One lower-grade spirit stone."
Spirit stones are the hard currency among cultivators.
Spirit stones are ssified by purity into supreme-grade, high-grade, mid-grade, and lower-grade.
The exchange ratio is roughly one to one hundred.
One mid-grade spirit stone can be exchanged for one hundred lower-grade spirit stones.
However, one hundred lower-grade spirit stones might not necessarily be exchanged for one mid-grade spirit stone; the price often intes to about one hundred and six or one hundred and ten.
The emaciated disciple was stunned upon hearing this, gritting his teeth, "Why doesn''t that senior brother have to pay to enter, but I do?"
The deacon of the Scripture Pavilion sneered disdainfully, "How can someone at the entry level of the Body Tempering Realmpare to someone at the peak? Pay up! Otherwise, you won''t be entering today!"
In the end, the emaciated disciple couldn''t stand the confrontation and had to leave in frustration.
One lower-grade spirit stone was already a third of his entire wealth; he couldn''t give it up so easily.
After the emaciated disciple left, it was Shen Mo''s turn.
The deacon nced at Shen Mo, "Name?"
Shen Mo reported his name.
The deacon looked up at him and sneered, "So you''re the former number one outer sect disciple. Your foundation is ruined, yet you still want to choose martial skills?"
Shen Mo frowned, "Every disciple of the Qingxuan Sect can choose martial skills. Why can''t I?"
The deacon let out a strangeugh, "Of course you can. Hand over one lower-grade spirit stone, and I''ll let you in."
Shen Mo was speechless.
ording to sect rules, disciples could enter and exit the Scripture Pavilion for free, only needing to pay after selecting a technique or martial skill.
But where there are rules, there are ways around them.
The deacon had limited power, but he could still exploit the weak and collect extra fees.
He cleverly avoided targeting the strong, so no one could do anything about him.
Not wanting to waste time, Shen Mo took out a lower-grade spirit stone and handed it over.
The deacon grinned, "That''s the spirit. I like people who know their ce. Go on in."
He waved his hand, not bothering to argue further with Shen Mo.
Shen Mo couldn''t help but shake his head.
The lower levels had be like this, and the upper levels of the Qingxuan Sect didn''t intervene?
Or was the entire Qingxuan Sect rotten to the core?
Shen Mo nced at his life panel.
The deacon''s potential had reached its end; it would take him three years to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and he would only achieve minor sess in that lifetime.
However, the deacon had a good opportunitying up.
[Uing Opportunity: In three days, during a trip to Qingshan City to seek pleasure, he will encounter a Treasure Seeking Rat but fail to catch it, only picking up three lower-grade spirit stones.]
"A Treasure Seeking Rat is a spirit beast particrly fond of shiny treasures, especially spirit stones. Its attack power is weak, but it''s incredibly fast. Without special bait, even a peak Qi Condensation stage cultivator can''t catch it."
Shen Mo noted this opportunity.
The bait wasn''t hard to make, but it needed to be prepared in advance.
In three days, if he brought the bait to that location, he would surely catch the Treasure Seeking Rat and obtain all the spirit stones it carried.
He walked briskly, moving among the many bookshelves.
The first floor of the Scripture Pavilion housed Yellow-grade techniques and martial skills.
On the second floor, there were Profound-grade techniques and martial skills, but only inner sect disciples could go upstairs.
Theyout was such because Profound-grade techniques and martial skills were rare and precious.
The Qingxuan Sect was thergest force within a hundred miles, but it only had three Profound-grade techniques and eight Profound-grade martial skills.
Such high-grade texts were naturally reserved for the top-tier genius disciples.
Outer sect disciples naturally couldn''t ess these.
Shen Mo slowly advanced, his gaze quickly moving among the various techniques and martial skills, examining each one carefully without missing any.
After a moment, he found his target.
"Yellow-grade low-tier martial skill, Tiger Roar Fist!"
He picked up this seemingly ordinary fist technique and examined it closely.
He noticed that the cover of this book was slightly thicker than usual.
If he hadn''t picked it up and looked carefully, no one would have noticed this detail.
Shen Mo pressed firmly and indeed found something unusual beneath the heavy cover.
He pulled out two yellowed pages from the inside of the cover.
The pages were densely packed with small characters.
At the top, there were four prominent characters: "Thunder Shadow Sword Modification."
Shen Mo was slightly surprised.
He had heard of the Thunder Shadow Sword technique.
It was one of the eight Profound-grade martial skills kept in the Qingxuan Sect''s vault, known for its great power and extreme speed, ssified as a mid-tier Profound-grade technique.
However, it was very difficult to cultivate, so even among the inner sect disciples, few practiced it.
"This seems to be a new sword technique created by some expert after innovating the Thunder Shadow Sword."
Shen Mo was excited and immediately tucked it into his chest.
Regardless, this was a Profound-grade martial skill.
Even a slight achievement with it would greatly enhance his strength!
Shen Mo ced the Tiger Roar Fist back in its original position and turned to leave the Scripture Pavilion.
Just as he stepped out, he ran into Lei Yong, who was justing in.
Lei Yong frowned slightly when he saw him, "What are you doing here?"
Shen Mo hadn''t expected to run into him right aftering out.
However, he didn''t show any panic and responded calmly, "Many of my martial skills have been neglected, so I came to the Scripture Pavilion to review them. Is there a problem with that?"
Lei Yong let out a strangeugh, "Of course not."
If they were at the foot of the mountain, and Shen Mo dared to speak to him like this, he would have punched him on the spot.
But here, on the mountainside, people wereing and going, including both inner and outer sect disciples.
If he directly attacked Shen Mo, it would not look good.
Shen Mo continued forward.
"Wait." Lei Yong nced over and suddenly noticed Shen Mo''s slightly bulging chest.
"Your chest looks a bit puffed up. Are you hiding something?" Lei Yong smirked, grabbing Shen Mo''s clothes.
His eyes seemed to say, "If you don''t show me, I''ll check myself."
"I need to take on tasks to earn spirit stones. I''ll get hungry while working, so I brought a few buns with me. What''s the problem?" Shen Mo pulled open his front, took out a bun, and waved it in front of Lei Yong.
Lei Yong gave a forced smile, "Fine, of course, it''s fine."
He withdrew his hand without saying more, "Don''t forget the rules. For any task you take on, I get a tenth of the reward."
Shen Mo said nothing, cold-faced, and quickly walked away.
Lei Yong snorted and stepped into the Scripture Pavilion.
The deacon at the entrance recognized Lei Yong and immediately greeted him warmly.
Though he was a Qi Condensation stage cultivator, he was already in his forties, with his potential exhausted.
But Lei Yong was only eighteen or neen years old. As long as he grew normally, his future achievements would certainly surpass his.
Moreover, Lei Yong was from a family, with a cousin who was an inner sect disciple.
Naturally, he treated Lei Yong with utmost enthusiasm.
Lei Yong nodded at him and walked among the bookshelves.
His gaze roved over the various techniques and martial skills.
But he couldn''t find a martial skill that suited him.
At some point, he suddenly stopped.
His eyes rested on a martial skill called "Tiger Roar Fist."
"Eh, there''s something odd about this book''s cover."
Lei Yong picked up the Tiger Roar Fist and immediately felt there might be something hidden inside the cover.
But after pressing it, he found it was empty.
"Tch, just my imagination."
Lei Yong put the Tiger Roar Fist back, not wasting any more time.
However, for some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of loss.
It was as if something he was supposed to obtain had inexplicably slipped away.
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Chapter 5: Killing Lei Yong and Obtaining the Blood LIngzhi
Lei Yong was taken aback and looked towards the source of the voice.
He saw a familiar figure.
Shen Mo, the one who had fallen hard from the top position of the outer sect.
Lei Yong sneered, "Shen Mo, you''re just in time! I was just thinking..."
Shen Mo quickly said, "I discovered a dying second-rank demon beast! We can split the spoils from killing it, ny-ten, you get ny, how about it?"
Lei Yong was stunned.
Demon beasts were simply categorized into ranks, such as first-rank, second-rank, third-rank, and so on.
A first-rank demon beast was equivalent to a Body Tempering Realm cultivator.
A second-rank demon beast was equivalent to a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator.
And so it continued in this manner.
Demon beasts were treasures all over.
Their fur could be made into clothing, their flesh could be eaten, their bones could be crafted into weapons.
Importantly, a second-rank demon beast might have a demon crystal in its body.
Qi Condensation Realm cultivators could absorb demon crystals to quickly enhance their cultivation.
A thumb-sized demon crystal could sell for at least fifty lower-grade spirit stones!
Lei Yong immediately set aside his anger.
What was a womanpared to a demon crystal?
He quickly asked, "Where is the dying demon beast? Take me there!"
Shen Mo nodded, "Follow me."
He walked ahead, leading Lei Yong to a nearby grove.
Lei Yong watched his back with a sinister look in his eyes.@@novelbin@@
A second-rank demon beast, even without a demon crystal, would still be worth fifty lower-grade spirit stones if soldpletely.
Shen Mo had proposed a ny-ten split.
But even with a ny-ten split, Lei Yong felt he was losing out.
He wanted it all.
And here, far from the Qingxuan Sect''s mountain gate, even if he did something against the sect rules, no one would know.
If Shen Mo, who had no background, disappeared, no one would notice.
As for whether he could kill Shen Mo.
That wasn''t even a question.
He was at the major achievement of the Body Tempering Realm, with enhanced skin, muscles, and bones.
But Shen Mo was just at the entry level of the Body Tempering Realm.
Even if he stood still and let Shen Mo attack, Shen Mo wouldn''t break his defense.
But one punch from him would gravely injure Shen Mo!
His overwhelming superiority in cultivation gave him confidence!
At this moment, Shen Mo pointed to the front where a dying demon beasty, "Look, it''s right there."
"You deal with it head-on, and I''ll support from the side."
Saying this, he drew his sword from his waist.
Lei Yong was overjoyed and immediately walked over.
His entire focus was on the demon beast.
Unaware, behind him, Shen Mo''s gaze was fixed on his back.
Now, Shen Mo and Lei Yong were only half a meter apart.
Lei Yong''s back waspletely turned to him.
Shen Mo had deliberately set up this situation to expose Lei Yong''s vital pointspletely!
Thunder Shadow Sword Technique!
Shen Mo''s sword suddenly thrust forward.
Like a gust of wind and thunder.
Like a striking serpent.
Without any warning, it precisely pierced Lei Yong''s back!
Pfft!
Blood sttered.
The intense pain made Lei Yong suddenly realize that Shen Mo had attacked him!
But by the time he realized it, it was toote.
Strength seemed to flow out of his body like water.
He barely turned around, only to see Shen Mo coldly looking down at him.
Lei Yong, terrified, said, "You''re not at the entry level of the Body Tempering Realm!"
The entry level of the Body Tempering Realm could never break through his defense.
The only answer was that Shen Mo, like him, was also at the major achievement of the Body Tempering Realm.
But wasn''t this person supposed to have his foundation destroyed?
How could he still cultivate?
Shen Mo looked down at him, "You must really want to know the answer."
Lei Yong nodded weakly, "Considering I''m... dying, tell... me."
Shen Mo withdrew his sword and directly pierced his throat, sneering, "Why should I let you die in peace?"
Lei Yong''s eyes bulged like a goldfish.
To his death, he could not understand how Shen Mo could repair his foundation and reach the major achievement of the Body Tempering Realm in such a short time.
Shen Mo''s expression remained indifferent.
Fighting Lei Yong head-on, he had a seventy to eighty percent chance of killing him.
But there was still a ten to twenty percent chance that he might escape.
So, to ensure a hundred percent kill, he set up this trap.
The so-called dying second-rank demon beast was just arge first-rank demon beast he found along the way, severely injured, and ced here as bait.
Shen Mo bent down and searched Lei Yong''s corpse.
He only found more than twenty lower-grade spirit stones.
But that was normal.
Who goes out for a tryst carrying all their wealth?
Afterward, Shen Mo went to the giant tree.
The tree looked normal, but when he pierced it with his sword, he found it hollow inside.
After digging out arge hole, Shen Mo saw a blood-colored lingzhi inside.
"Indeed, it''s Blood Lingzhi."
Shen Mo carefully took it out, wrapped it in a clean cloth, and put it in his chest.
As for Lei Yong''s body, he shed it a dozen times with his sword, deliberately letting the blood flow out and intensifying the smell of blood in the air.
There were many demon beasts in this area.
Smelling the blood, they would naturallye over.
Demon beasts were the best way to dispose of a body.
Killing Lei Yong, Shen Mo felt no difort.
Such viins deserved to die.
Soon, Shen Mo returned to the outer sect disciples'' courtyard at the foot of the Qingxuan Sect mountain, went back to his residence, tightly closed the door, and bolted it.
Only then did he take out the Blood Lingzhi.
He carefully examined the palm-sized, blood-colored lingzhi.
With a light sniff, he smelled its refreshing fragrance, making him salivate.
With a gentle poke, the Blood Lingzhi trembled like a woman''s smooth skin.
Shen Mo first cut off a small piece of the Blood Lingzhi and put it in his mouth.
The Blood Lingzhi melted in his mouth, quickly turning into a surging warmth that flowed into his organs, limbs, and bones.
Just this thumb-sized piece made him feel warm all over, incrediblyfortable.
Shen Mo hurriedly cut the rest of the Blood Lingzhi into small pieces and ate them all.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
He felt a hot little snake seemingly slithering through his body.
Sometimes it appeared in his organs, sometimes it traveled through his blood vessels, sometimes it roamed his muscles and bones, and sometimes it wandered through his limbs.
Each time the hot little snake moved, it made the areas it passed through stronger and tougher.
A sensation of soreness and pain also came, gnawing at Shen Mo''s nerves.
He gritted his teeth and endured, not fainting.
After an hour, the warmth in his body gradually subsided.
Shen Mo clenched his fist, feeling as if his body had be heavier.
His heartbeat grew stronger, like a high-powered pump.
Each beat pushed the viscous yet vibrant blood throughout his body, nourishing his muscles and bones.
If someone could see inside his bones, they would see that his bone marrow was as pure as jade, wless and free of impurities.
The blood produced seemed to carry a hint of jade glow.
Blood like mercury, marrow like frost!
This was the hallmark of the peak of the Body Tempering Realm!
His previous self had reached this realm, so upon noticing the changes in his body, Shen Mo immediately knew he had returned to the peak of the Body Tempering Realm!
"No wonder it''s a mid-tier Profound-grade treasure. Just one Blood Lingzhi directly pushed me from the major achievement to the peak of the Body Tempering Realm!"
Shen Mo clenched his fist, his expression full of joy.
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Chapter 6: Peak of the Body Tempering Realm, Lei Xiaojun’s Plot
After a brief moment of joy, Shen Mo opened his panel again.
[Name: Shen Mo.]
[Realm: Peak of the Body Tempering Realm.]
[Fate: Pharmacist''s Son, Innate Wisdom, Sword Path Enthusiast, Mediocre Luck.]
[Destiny: Two monthster, while on a mission, ambushed and captured by Lei Xiaojun and several rogue cultivators. Taken back to Qingshan City to force Shen Jiuding to hand over a mysterious elixir. Shen Jiuding, to save his son, reluctantly hands over the elixir. Both father and son are then killed by Lei Xiaojun.]
[Recent Opportunity 1: (Obtained) Discovered a hollow inside a giant tree while killing Lei Yong and found a Blood Lingzhi, consuming it to reach the peak of the Body Tempering Realm.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: Passes the outer sect disciple assessment in one and a half months, reiming the top position among outer sect disciples.]
Shen Mo was slightly surprised.
The "Mediocre Luck" fate, which previously belonged to Lei Yong, had now transferred to him.
This meant he would asionally encounter opportunities simr to those Lei Yong had.
He continued reading, and his eyes shed coldly as he saw his destiny and recent opportunities.
His destiny had significantly changed since his realm advanced to the peak of the Body Tempering Realm.
He also got a name.
Lei Xiaojun.
Shen Mo was very familiar with this person.
Lei Xiaojun was Lei Yong''s cousin and the most outstanding young man of the Lei family in Qingshan City.
In the inner sect, Lei Xiaojun had a great reputation, always portraying himself as a gentleman.
He knew about Lei Yong''s frequent bullying of weaker outer sect disciples and often scolded Lei Yong publicly, repeatedly warning him not to bully fellow disciples.
However, Lei Yong always pretended toply on the surface while secretly defying him.
Many outer and inner sect disciples had heard of this.
Many inner sect disciples believed Lei Xiaojun had the potential to be a true disciple!
True disciples were the elite among the inner sect disciples.
Each true disciple had the potential to reach the Core Formation Realm in the future.
The Qingxuan Sect allocated many resources to the true disciples.
Despite controlling three cities, over a dozen viges, and hundreds of hamlets, with the entire Qingcang Mountain Range under its domain, the Qingxuan Sect could only support five true disciples.
Shen Jiuding was Shen Mo''s father, a renowned pharmacist in Qingshan City.
He spent his life doing good, treating and saving many people.
"A mysterious elixir?"
"I remember now. My former self''s father once mentioned that he saved a dying cultivator who gave him several precious elixirs, saying these pills could enhance wisdom and help his descendants tread the path of immortality..."
Shen Mo pondered.
Such an elixir must be very valuable, possibly a supreme-grade Profound-tier elixir.
His former self gained the "Innate Wisdom" fate and extraordinaryprehension after consuming the elixir.
The Lei family must have learned about this and decided to seize the elixir.
However, due to Shen Jiuding''s high reputation, the Lei family couldn''t rob him outright, so they kidnapped Shen Mo to force Shen Jiuding to hand over the elixir.
"Everything makes sense now."
"Shen Jiuding sent me to the Qingxuan Sect to cultivate, hoping to remove me from danger. If I progressed normally and entered the inner sect, my status would increase, and the Lei family''s covert threats would be less concerning."
"The Lei family couldn''t allow this, so they secretly poisoned me, causing my cultivation to plummet, leading to my expulsion from the Qingxuan Sect."
"The person who orchestrated my poisoning must have been Lei Xiaojun, with Lei Yong carrying out the act."
Shen Mo quickly pieced everything together.
After all, one only lets their guard down around those close to them, making it possible for a close person to poison their food and drink.
During that time, Lei Yong had pretended to be his most loyal subordinate.
Shen Mo quickly sorted his thoughts.
"The panel shows I''ll be captured by Lei Xiaojun then, and there''s nothing I can do about it. The difference in strength between the peak of the Body Tempering Realm and the Qi Condensation Realm is too great."
"In that case, I must advance to the Qi Condensation Realm and be an inner sect disciple."
"Once I reach the Qi Condensation Realm, with the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, Lei Xiaojun won''t be my match."
"Bing an inner sect disciple will grant me the sect''s protection, unlike the precarious status of an outer sect disciple."
If an outer sect disciple died, the Qingxuan Sect wouldn''t be affected.
But if an inner sect disciple died, the Qingxuan Sect would thoroughly investigate.@@novelbin@@
Every inner sect disciple was a valuable asset to the sect.
As long as they grew normally, they could at least serve as deacons.
If they had great potential, they could even be outer or inner sect elders.
It was even possible for them to be the next sect master!
If inner sect disciples could die casually without any investigation, the sect would surely fall into chaos.
Shen Mo''s gaze deepened, his goal became firm.
Body Tempering Realm cultivators could passively absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Once spiritual energy was nurtured into a cyclone within the dantian, it signified entry into the Qi Condensation Realm.
From then on, they could use spiritual energy in battles.
Compared to the Body Tempering Realm, which relied solely on physical strength, the Qi Condensation Realm''s power was at least three times greater!
"But with my current aptitude, naturally entering the Qi Condensation Realm might take a year or two. I need to find an opportunity to breakthrough as soon as possible."
At dawn the next day, Shen Mo pushed open the door and stepped out.
He needed to find a significant opportunity.
Outer sect disciples bustled to and fro, and their life panels appeared before Shen Mo one by one.
However, they either had no opportunities or had minor ones, such as finding a few lower-grade spirit stones.
Some were even doomed to fatal misfortunes, like being identally struck on the head during a meal and dying instantly.
Shen Mo was speechless at these unfortunate panels.
Just then, he heard a group of outer sect disciples shouting.
"Did you hear? Lei Yong was found dead at Bull Dragon Mountain! His body was discovered by a passing disciple, and I heard that even his body was eaten clean by demon beasts! It''s a tragedy! If not for his outer sect disciple token, no one would have known it was Lei Yong."
"Really? That''s great news! That bully got what he deserved! But how did he die? Was he attacked by demon beasts?"
"Who knows, but it must have been demon beasts. It''s not umon; there are plenty of demon beasts around the Qingcang Mountain Range."
"Now that Lei Yong is dead, his twockeys have no backing. Let''s go teach them a lesson!"
"Yeah, let''s go! Damn, they stole my spirit stones. This time, I''m stripping them bare!"
The news spread quickly.
Soon, the entire outer sect disciples'' courtyard knew of Lei Yong''s death.
Momentster, the sounds of fighting and looting could be heard from a distance.
Lei Yong''s twockeys were beaten until they were barely breathing and wouldn''t recover for three to five months.
They would likely be expelled from the mountain in the future.
Shen Mo felt no sympathy for such people.
They deserved their fate.
Just as he was about to head to the mountainside to see if any disciples there had significant opportunities, he overheard a conversation nearby.
"Let''s go to the mountainside and watch the show. Xiao Fan has broken through to the Qi Condensation Realm and is challenging Lei Xiaojun! Lei Xiaojun just found out about his cousin Lei Yong''s death, and he''s in a foul mood. This will be interesting!"
Shen Mo''s lips curled into a cold smile.
Interesting indeed.
He was familiar with both individuals.
Lei Xiaojun was, of course, Lei Yong''s cousin and an inner sect disciple.
As for Xiao Fan, Shen Mo remembered that when he was still the top outer sect disciple, Xiao Fan had just joined the sect.
Lei Yong frequently targeted new disciples like Xiao Fan.
As a result, Xiao Fan had often been beaten up.
Shen Mo had helped him once, even giving him some spirit stones to buy healing pills.
Xiao Fan had been grateful, vowing to repay Shen Mo''s kindness.
However, when Shen Mo fell from grace, Xiao Fan had disappeared faster than anyone, never mentioning Shen Mo again, treating him like a stranger.
"But for Xiao Fan to break through to the Qi Condensation Realm in just over a year since joining the sect, his fortune must be strong. Perhaps I can find an opportunity through him to reach the Qi Condensation Realm."
Shen Mo hurried to the mountainside.
...
Mountainside, Martial Arena.
When Shen Mo arrived, over a hundred outer sect disciples had already gathered around the arena, discussing fervently.
Their discussions revolved around the famed techniques and the strengthparison of the twobatants.
On the arena stood two figures.
One wore a deep blue outfit, with a sword at his waist.
The other was dressed in ck, unarmed.
They were Lei Xiaojun and Xiao Fan.
The two stood motionless, yet their powerful auras radiated, indicating their entry into the Qi Condensation Realm.
Their intense auras heightened the spectators'' anticipation, eager to see who would emerge victorious.
Shen Mo first nced at Lei Xiaojun''s life panel.
Chapter 7: Xiao Fan, First Child of Fortune
[Name: Lei Xiaojun.]
[Realm: Minor achievement of the Qi Condensation Realm.]
[Fate: Family Scion, Thunder Spirit Body, Remarkable Luck.]
[Destiny: Ultimately stops at the major achievement of the Core Formation Realm, bes an inner sect elder of Qingxuan Sect, and dies twenty-six yearster during an external campaign.]
[Recent Opportunity 1: Wins the battle against Xiao Fan, leaves the sect to investigate the cause of his cousin Lei Yong''s death, and identally discovers a Dragon Root in Green Vine Valley, increasing his cultivation after consuming it.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: Two monthster, instructs disciples to post a task to lure Shen Mo into epting it. Once Shen Mo leaves the sect, Lei Xiaojunmands rogue cultivators to ambush and capture him. They take him back to Qingshan City to force Shen Jiuding to hand over the mysterious elixir. After obtaining the elixir, Lei Xiaojun kills both father and son and consumes the elixir, greatly enhancing hisprehension.]
[Family Scion: Green fate. You are from the Lei family of Qingshan City, raised with medicinal baths from a young age to build a solid foundation, nevercking in wealth.]
[Thunder Spirit Body: Purple fate. You have a natural affinity for lightning and can cultivate thunder attribute techniques and martial skills faster than others.]
[Remarkable Luck: Purple fate. You have extraordinarily good luck, often astonishing others with your fortune.]
Seeing this, Shen Mo''s eyes shed with coldness.
His life panel and Lei Xiaojun''s had verified each other.
This person indeed nned to kidnap him to force Shen Jiuding to hand over the elixir.
However, now that Shen Mo was aware of Lei Xiaojun''s intentions, he only needed to increase his strength to escape this predicament.
He then turned his gaze to Xiao Fan.
[Name: Xiao Fan.]
[Realm: Entry level of the Qi Condensation Realm.]
[Fate: Child of Fortune, Immortal Grace, Reincarnation of a Great One, Surviving in Desperation, Scorching Sun me Body (unawakened).]
[Destiny: Stops at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm, bes the Hall Master of the Burning Heaven Hall, honored as True Immortal Chifeng. To sever mortal ties, he seeks enlightenment through ughter, massacring ten cities, leaving corpses piled high and rivers of blood, ultimately losing himself in the carnage and dying from a spiritual energy bacsh.]
A series of radiant red fates almost made Shen Mo unable to keep his eyes open!
Looking closer, he was even more astounded.
[Child of Fortune: Red fate. You are blessed with incredible luck, often receiving peerless treasures just by walking around and finding top-tier techniques on your way home.]
[Immortal Grace: Red fate. You are exceptionally handsome, with every move charming people of all ages and genders. This makes it easy for you to receive help from others.]
[Reincarnation of a Great One: Red fate. You are the reincarnation of a Divine Transformation stage cultivator who used a secret technique to be reborn.]
[Surviving in Desperation: Red fate. You can always turn danger into safety, and while others face certain death, you will survive.]
[Scorching Sun me Body (unawakened): Red fate. A heavenly constitution with a remarkable fire spiritual root. Cultivating fire attribute techniques and martial skills yields twice the results with half the effort.]
Shen Mo marveled at this.
With so many powerful fates, it was no wonder Xiao Fan had advanced from an ordinary person to the peak of the Body Tempering Realm in just over a year.
However, his ultimate end was quite horrifying.
"Seeking enlightenment through ughter, massacring ten cities, leaving corpses piled high and rivers of blood..."
Just imagining the scene made Shen Mo feel nauseous.
He continued to look at Xiao Fan''s opportunities and was stunned.
[Recent Opportunity 1: Loses the battle against Lei Xiaojun but gains the favor of the Deputy Sect Leader''s daughter, Liu Fei, who provides a Rejuvenation Pill to help him recover.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: Ten dayster, while on a mission, he encounters a demon beast attack, falls into a cave in Twin Dragon Mountain while fleeing, and obtains Earth Mother''s Spiritual Liquid, advancing to the minor achievement of the Qi Condensation Realm after consuming it.]
[Recent Opportunity 3: One monthter, receives three Qi Condensation Pills from Liu Fei, advances to the major achievement of the Qi Condensation Realm, and challenges an inner sect disciple, sessfully advancing to be an inner sect disciple.]
[Recent Opportunity 4: One and a half monthster, soaks in Qingxuan Sect''s No. 3 medicinal pool, where he discovers the hidden zing Sun Fire Essence, awakening his Scorching Sun me Body.]
[Recent Opportunity 5: Two monthster, discovers a hidden cave in the deep pool of Qingxuan Sect, finding the heavenly technique "Hell me Destruction Manual" left by True Immortal Hell me.]
[Recent Opportunity 6:...]
Shen Mo was amazed at the sheer number of opportunities Xiao Fan had.
Xiao Fan''s most important uing opportunities were the Scorching Sun me Body and the Hell me Destruction Manual.
The Scorching Sun me Body was a heavenly constitution.
Heavenly constitutions were extremely rare and precious.
In the 600-year history of Qingxuan Sect, only one heavenly constitution genius had ever appeared.
However, that genius had an unfortunate fate and poor luck, being assassinated by a rival sect after reaching the entry level of the Core Formation Realm.
Even earth-level constitutions, one tier below heavenly constitutions, had only appeared a dozen times in Qingxuan Sect''s history.
The rarity of powerful constitutions was evident.
Most geniuses only had profound-level constitutions.
Lei Xiaojun''s Thunder Spirit Body was a profound-level constitution.
The lowest yellow-level constitutions didn''t need to be awakened.
Anyone who reached the Qi Condensation Realm had a yellow-level constitution.
The Hell me Destruction Manual was even more astounding.
True Immortal Hell me was a Divine Transformation stage cultivator who had dominated the region years ago.
His strength was formidable, and his personality entric, often ying jokes on others.
Before his death, he had imed to have left his legacy, the "Hell me Destruction Manual," in a cave.
Many had searched for the cave but to no avail.
The Qingxuan Sect eventually established its sect in this area, and the rumor was forgotten, dismissed as True Immortal Hell me''s final joke.
Shen Mo''s eyes lit up with joy.
Now, he knew the exact location of the Hell me Destruction Manual!
"However, that deep pool is a busy area. If I suddenly jump in, it will attract attention..."
"I''ll wait until I be an inner sect disciple. Then I can use the excuse of tempering my body with the waterfall''s water to enter the deep pool without raising suspicion."
After all, it was a heavenly technique.
Even the sect leader of Qingxuan Sect might shamelessly try to seize it!
Shen Mo quickly left the Martial Arena, ready to act, "Why choose between opportunities when I can have them all?"
He left the sect and headed straight for Green Vine Valley in the Qingcang Mountain Range.
This valley was filled with various types of vines, including carnivorous ones.
Carnivorous vines were highly aggressive but offered little reward upon defeat, so disciples rarely ventured into Green Vine Valley.
Shen Mo guessed that this was likely why the Dragon Root had not been picked by any disciple, allowing Lei Xiaojun to benefit from it instead.
Soon, Shen Mo discovered a peculiar orange-yellow nt in a hidden corner.
Its leaves resembled fish tails, and its stem was covered with small, scale-like protrusions.
Shen Mo carefully uprooted it.
Its roots looked like a dragon''s head.
Hence, it was named Dragon Root.
"It''s truly a supreme yellow-tier treasure."
Shen Mo took a deep breath, inhaling the rich medicinal fragrance, feeling slightly emotional.
He immediately shook off the dirt, wrapped it in a clean cloth, and ced it in his chest.
Then, he quickly left Green Vine Valley and headed toward Twin Dragon Mountain.
Twin Dragon Mountain was also within the Qingcang Mountain Range.
The distance between the two locations was not far.
Before long, he found a hidden cave at the base of Twin Dragon Mountain.
Its entrance was concealed by wild grass and low bushes.
The ground nearby was already starting to loosen.
A heavy step would cause one to fall directly into it.
Shen Mo descended and reached the deepest part of the cave.
Here, he found a stctite hanging upside down.
Below the stctite was a stone pit, filled with a small pool of milky white liquid.
This was Earth Mother''s Spiritual Liquid, a mid-tier profound-grade treasure!
"I might as well break through here."
"With the Dragon Root and Earth Mother''s Spiritual Liquid, I should be able to condense a spiritual energy cyclone."
These two treasures could be used by both Qi Condensation Realm cultivators and peak Body Tempering Realm cultivators.
Qi Condensation Realm cultivators could consume them to advance their realm.
Peak Body Tempering Realm cultivators could use them to condense a spiritual energy cyclone.
Shen Mo sat cross-legged, took out the Dragon Root, peeled off its tough outer skin, and took a bite.
The juice burst in his mouth.
The medicinal power surged, rushing towards his abdomen.
This was where the dantian was located.
Inside Shen Mo''s body, the spiritual energy absorbed unconsciously during the Body Tempering Realm began to gather in the dantian under the influence of the medicinal power.
A small point was forming.
But it was still far fromplete.
Shen Mo immediately took out a water pouch, filled it with Earth Mother''s Spiritual Liquid, and gulped it down.
Glug glug glug!
The spiritual energy contained in the liquid was even more abundant than in the Dragon Root.
As the liquid entered his stomach, it felt like a small bomb exploding in his belly.
The surging spiritual energy made Shen Mo feel as if every inch of his body was rapidly expanding!
With such abundant spiritual energy pouring in, the unformed cyclone in his dantian began to spin faster.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
One turn, two turns, three turns...
Whenever the spiritual energy depleted, Shen Mo drank more of the Earth Mother''s Spiritual Liquid.
Time passed slowly.
The cyclone spun faster and faster.
At a certain moment.
Even without external spiritual energy, the cyclone continued to spin on its own, seemingly never stopping.
Streams of heaven and earth spiritual energy were absorbed and refined by the cyclone, eventually transforming into pure spiritual power!
Spiritual power was the fundamental strength that made Qi Condensation Realm cultivators far superior to Body Tempering Realm cultivators!
Shen Mo suddenly opened his eyes andughed heartily.
"Qi Condensation Realm!"
He stood up, drew his sword, and used the Thunder Shadow Sword technique on the cave wall.
Spiritual power surged, the sword shadow shed, intertwined with lightning.
Crack.
The cave wall shattered!
Shen Mo''s face lit up with joy.@@novelbin@@
The cave walls were very hard, and previously, even when he was at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm, he could at most leave a shallow mark on them with all his strength.
But now, he could easily shatter them with the use of spiritual power.
This was the strength of the Qi Condensation Realm!
Chapter 8: Dangerous Probing
"My destiny, how is it now?"
Shen Mo once again opened his panel.
Name: Shen Mo.
Realm: early stage Qi Condensation.
Fates: Pharmacist''s Son, Innate Wisdom, Sword Dao Enthusiast, Minor Luck.
Destiny: Ultimately cultivated to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage, served as an Outer Elder of the Qingxuan Sect, lived a peaceful life, and died of natural causes.
Uing Opportunity 1: (Acquired) Went to Lu Teng Valley, discovered a Dragon Root, and after consuming it, elerated the condensation of the spiritual qi vortex.
Uing Opportunity 2: (Acquired) Went to Twin Dragon Mountain, found an underground cave, obtained Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, and after consuming it, sessfully condensed the spiritual qi vortex, entering the Qi Condensation Stage.
Shen Mo let out a long,fortable breath.
Finally, he was no longer doomed to a violent death.
He nced at the pool.
There was still some Earth Mother Spirit Liquid left.
"Even after entering the Qi Condensation Stage, this substance is still effective. It shouldn''t be wasted. I''ll take it all."
Shen Mo picked up a water bag and took everyst drop of the remaining Earth Mother Spirit Liquid.
Then, he returned to the Qingxuan Sect''s mountain gate.
Just as he arrived, he saw a deep blue figure rushing out of the gate.
It was Lei Xiaojun.@@novelbin@@
He was moving so fast that several disciples couldn''t dodge in time and were directly knocked flying.
Shen Mo was among them.
He instinctively wanted to resist but suppressed his body''s reflexes and allowed himself to be knocked away.
If he had resisted, Lei Xiaojun would have noticed his realm.
Just as Shen Mo thought Lei Xiaojun would rush out of the gate, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and helped those he had knocked down.
"Are you injured? Is it serious?"
"I have some healing pills here. Take them, I apologize."
"I just received news of my cousin Lei Yong''s death. I was in a hurry to investigate and lost myposure..."
Lei Xiaojun''s eyes were red, tears welling up.
The disciples quickly waved their hands, saying they were fine, and thanked Lei Xiaojun for the healing pills.
Then, Lei Xiaojun came to Shen Mo and naturally grasped his hands.
"You are Shen Mo, right? I know you. My cousin often bullied you. I warned him many times not to bully fellow disciples, but he wouldn''t listen..."
As he spoke, Lei Xiaojun not only gave him a bottle of healing pills but also a bottle of body refining pills.
"Junior Brother Shen, this bottle of body refining pills is for you. In a few days, I''ll have someone send you more body refining pills. With these pills, you should be able to pass the outer disciple assessment."
"Consider itpensation on behalf of Lei Yong. Ah, you junior brothers have had it tough..."
As he said this, he stared intently into Shen Mo''s eyes.
Shen Mo first pretended to be stunned, then his eyes lit up, and he spoke sincerely, "Thank you, Senior Brother Lei, you are truly a good person!"
He quickly grasped the body refining pills in his hand.
It was as if he was holding the most precious treasure.
Or like he was gripping a lifeline.
Lei Xiaojun didn''t notice anything unusual and patted Shen Mo''s shoulder, then looked at the other disciples he had knocked down, "Once again, I apologize to everyone."
The disciples all cupped their fists, expressing their understanding.
Only then did Lei Xiaojun nod and hurry out of the gate.
After he left, the disciples began to talk in low voices.
"Senior Brother Lei is really a gentleman. If it were me, I couldn''t have calmed down to apologize."
"Yes, and you don''t know, Lei Xiaojun has always admired Liu Fei. But after he defeated Xiao Fan, Liu Fei went to care for Xiao Fan''s injuries. That must have been a huge blow."
"The news of his cousin''s death, and the woman he admired turned to another man. Tsk tsk... If it were me, I would have been consumed by rage."
"Senior Brother Lei evenpensated Shen Mo on behalf of Lei Yong. He is truly a kind person."
The disciples all felt sympathy for Lei Xiaojun.
At the same time, they greatly admired Lei Xiaojun''s ability to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor under such circumstances.
Shen Mo stood there, but his heart was alert.
He had long known that Lei Xiaojun was not as simple as he appeared.
In that brief interaction, they had already had a short confrontation.
Lei Xiaojun deliberately took out a bottle of body refining pills and used the promise of more pills as bait to test him!
Shen Mo thought, "Body refining pills are only useful to Body Refinement cultivators. If my realm were still at the entry level of the Body Refinement Stage, I would be very eager to obtain them when Lei Xiaojun offered them."
"If I didn''t show such a reaction, it would likely mean my realm had changed."
He looked in the direction Lei Xiaojun had left, "This person is truly the most promising disciple of the Lei family. He is indeed extraordinary."
Shen Mo quickly left the area and returned to his room.
He needed to improve his strength as quickly as possible.
Only by bing stronger could he feel at ease and not have to continue pretending with someone as ruthless as Lei Xiaojun.
The next day.
Shen Mo got up early.
As soon as he got up, he noticed the porcin bottle on the table.
It contained the five body refining pills Lei Xiaojun had given him.
"A Body Refinement entry-level cultivator would eagerly consume these body refining pills."
Shen Mo immediately got up, dug a hole under his bed, and buried two of the pills.
Then he covered the loose soil, disguising it seamlessly, and nodded slightly.
He was now in the Qi Condensation Stage, and taking Body Refining Pills would not only be useless but also cause pill poisoning.
Therefore, he had to handle it this way.
"I should go to the dining hall for breakfast first, then see if there are any opportunities suitable for me."
Shen Mo was about to push the door open and leave.
Then he heard a knock on the door outside.
When he opened the door, he saw Lei Xiaojun, who wore a gentle smile and looked like a refined gentleman.
Lei Xiaojun was holding a lunch box.
Lei Xiaojun smiled, "It seems I came at the right time."
Shen Mo was taken aback, "Senior Brother Lei, what brings you here?"
Lei Xiaojun smiled, "I am investigating the cause of my cousin''s death and came to ask you about it."
"May Ie in?"
Shen Mo nodded, "Of course."
He opened the door wide, and both of them sat down.
From this angle, the disciples outside could clearly see what was happening inside the room.
"You haven''t had breakfast yet, have you? I brought breakfast from the dining hall." Lei Xiaojun took out five or six dishes from the lunch box.
Shen Mo hadn''t eaten yet, so he picked up the chopsticks and started eating with great relish.
Shen Mo knew that Lei Xiaojun was demonstrating that the food was not poisoned.
He began to eat as well.
After taking a few bites, Lei Xiaojun picked up the small porcin bottle on the table and asked casually, "Junior Brother Shen, did you take the Body Refining Pills I gave you yesterday? How effective were they?"
Shen Mo happily replied, "I took two pills. They were very effective. I feel like my foundation has been somewhat repaired. If I work hard today, I might even reach the Minor Achievement of the Body Refinement Stage."
Lei Xiaojun nodded slightly and opened the bottle.
Indeed, there were three pills left, indicating two had been used.
Lei Xiaojun took out another bottle of Body Refining Pills, "I keep my word. Here is another bottle of Body Refining Pills aspensation for my cousin''s actions."
Shen Mo said excitedly, "Thank you, Senior Brother Lei!"
Lei Xiaojun nced around Shen Mo''s simple room and noticed the iron sword in the corner.
He remarked casually, "I remember you used to practice fist and palm techniques. Why are you using a sword now?"
Shen Mo shook his head, "You may not know, Senior Brother Lei, but I also studied sword techniques before. I learned the Yellow Rank Mid-Grade ''Instant Light Sword Technique,'' but I didn''t think it suited me, so I rarely showed it in front of others."
Lei Xiaojun nodded, "Sorry, I''m being overly sensitive. I found sword wounds on my cousin''s body during my investigation yesterday, so I''m more sensitive to those who use swords."
Shen Mo replied, "I understand."
Lei Xiaojun sighed, "Actually, I knew Lei Yong wasn''t a good person. I warned him privately many times, even threatened to expel him from the family, but he just wouldn''t listen."
"I want to catch the murderer just to hand them over to the sect for punishment ording to the rules. I suspect the killer is someone Lei Yong bullied. ording to the sect rules, they won''t face severe punishment, probably just expulsion from the sect."
Shen Mo nodded, "I think so too."
Lei Xiaojun sighed deeply, "Alright, Junior Brother Shen, I won''t stay long. I still have to investigate a few more people."
Shen Mo stood up, "Take care, Senior Brother Lei, and thank you for the Body Refining Pills!"
Lei Xiaojun nodded and turned to leave.
Only then did Shen Mo slowly sit down and continue eating the hearty breakfast on the table.
His heart was in turmoil.
Just now, Lei Xiaojun tested him several times.
He even said that the murderer would only be handed over to the sect for punishment, not execution.
It was all bait.
If it were an ordinary person, they might have revealed everything after a few words.
Fortunately, Shen Mo had long seen through the true nature of the Lei family and Lei Xiaojun through his life panel.
As he was about to get up and pack his things, he noticed Lei Xiaojun still watching him from outside.
Shen Mo''s heart tightened, and he quickly asked, "Senior Brother Lei, haven''t you left yet?"
Lei Xiaojun waved his hand, "No worries, I just felt I owed you too much. I was thinking about whether I should give you some more spirit stones."
Hearing this, the outer sect disciples all looked at Shen Mo with envy.
Shen Mo gratefully said, "Then I will ept them. To be honest, I really need spirit stones."
Lei Xiaojun smiled, "I''ll have someone send the spirit stones overter."
"Junior Brother Shen, see youter."
After saying that, he finally left.
Only then did Shen Mo''s heart return to its normal state.
What a guy, pulling a sudden check like that.
Luckily, he didn''t have a habit of talking to himself, or Lei Xiaojun might have heard something.
"This person is not simple, too dangerous."
"I must quickly gain the strength to surpass him, defeat him, and kill him!"
Shen Mo''s determination grew stronger.
Just now, Lei Xiaojun had two opportunities on him.
[Uing Opportunity 1: While investigating Lei Yong''s death, he found a disciple who stammered under questioning. The disciple admitted to selling Qingxuan Sect information to other forces. Lei Xiaojun reported this to the sect and received three hundred low-grade spirit stones and a reward of choosing a martial technique for free.]
[Uing Opportunity 2: While investigating Lei Yong''s death outside, he stumbled upon a Tier 2 demonic beast''s nest. The demonic beast returned from hunting, and after a battle, Lei Xiaojun killed the beast and found three Tier 2 demonic crystals in the nest.]
"The first opportunity is hard to seize; I can''t reveal my identity right now."
"The second opportunity is suitable for me. Three Tier 2 demonic crystals are enough for me to cultivate to the Minor Achievement of the Qi Condensation Stage! I can go there when the beast leaves its nest to hunt and easily get the three demonic crystals."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Chapter 12: Plucking My Wool, Huh? Lei Xiaojun Fled
The deacon lightly coughed, "Elder Wu, I brought a new inner sect disciple for registration."
"Hmph!"
Wu Huairen snorted from his nose, clearly displeased at being interrupted during his moment of pleasure.
Wu Huairen got up from the bamboo chair and nced at the two, noticing Shen Mo.
Shen Mo casually nced at his life panel.
[Name: Wu Huairen.]
[Realm: Peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage.]
[Fate: Wealthy Merchant''s Son, Earth Spirit Body, Business Acumen, Average Luck.]
[Destiny: Three yearster, dies of exhaustion during a field battle.]
[Recent Opportunity: Ten dayster, while gathering aphrodisiac herbs, stumbles upon a demonic beast graveyard in Mountain, obtaining twenty-one second-tier demon crystals and three third-tier demon crystals.]
"You... why do you look familiar to me?" Wu Huairen asked with a slight frown.
The deacon quickly responded, "This is Shen Mo from the outer sect, once the top disciple there. He mysteriously fell victim to a blood-dispersing poison, which destroyed his foundation. However, he has recently resumed his cultivation."
"Just now, he defeated inner sect disciple Lei Xiaojun and has thereby be an inner sect disciple himself."
Wu Huairen''s eyes flickered, "Oh? A foundation ruined by blood-dispersing poison, yet still recoverable? Boy, how did you manage that?"
Shen Mo directly answered, "Elder, I was fortunate enough to find a Marrow Cleansing Pill, which allowed me to rebuild my foundation."
Wu Huairen eximed in surprise, "A Marrow Cleansing Pill? You found such a profound-grade pill? Where did you find it?"
Shen Mo casually made up a story.
Wu Huairen smirked, "Your luck is indeed good! However, even if you rebuild your foundation, your future achievements will still be limited."
"Wait here, I''ll get the inner sect disciple rewards for you."
He walked towards the backyard storeroom.@@novelbin@@
After a while, he returned with some items.
Wu Huairen handed over a dark green disciple robe, "This is the inner sect disciple robe, made from silkworm silk. It''s warm in winter and cool in summer, and it also repels insects. The first set is free, but if it gets damaged, you''ll need thirty-five low-grade spirit stones to buy a new one from me."
Then, he handed over a brand-new token, "This is the inner sect disciple token, symbolizing your status."
Finally, he gave a cloth bag to Shen Mo, "Inside the bag are eighty low-grade spirit stones."
After speaking, Wu Huairen waved his hand dismissively, "Alright, you have all the items. Now leave, I''m very busy."
Shen Mo frowned, "Eighty low-grade spirit stones? Isn''t it supposed to be one hundred?"
Wu Huairen said indifferently, "The number of spirit stones is variable."
"Exceptional talents can receive up to one hundred fifty stones."
"If you''re merely mediocre, you get fifty."
"After all, cultivation resources are limited. Instead of wasting spirit stones on mediocrities, it''s better to concentrate them on geniuses."
"Shen Mo, as a member of Qingxuan Sect, you should always consider the sect''s best interests, right?"
Shen Mo''s frown deepened.
Nonsense.
His words sounded noble, but it was clear he had pocketed the stones.
The deacon quickly tugged on Shen Mo''s sleeve and hastily interjected, "Thank you, Elder Wu. I''ll take Shen Mo to choose his quarters now."
"Yes, go quickly." Wu Huaireny back down on the bamboo chair, continuing to grope the two female disciples.
The deacon pulled Shen Mo away in a hurry.
Wu Huairen watched them leave and snorted.
He believed he could see through Shen Mo''s future.
A damaged foundation, even if repaired, couldn''t change the fact that it had been damaged.
In the future, even if he exhausted his potential, the best he could achieve was the peak of the Qi Condensation Stage.
Giving spirit stones to such a person was a waste.
Those twenty spirit stones were better kept in Wu Huairen''s hands.
Only then could they be put to good use!
After leaving the pavilion, the deacon quickly lowered his voice, "Junior Brother Shen, don''t get angry. We can''t afford to provoke Wu Huairen."
Shen Mo exhaled a breath of turbid air, "I just didn''t expect him to dare to skimp on the rewards for inner sect disciples. This will surely dishearten many who have just be inner sect disciples."
The deacon sighed helplessly, "He''s very shrewd. If it were Senior Brother Xiao Faning to receive the inner sect disciple rewards, he might even give Xiao Fan some extra treasures for free. He treats people differently based on their status."
"These matters are beyond our control as small figures."
"Come on, I''ll take you to choose your residence."
"Many inner sect disciples, after exhausting their potential, choose to be deacons and have gone to Qingshan City, Xishan City, and Gufeng City for their duties. Their residences are now vacant."
Shen Mo nodded.
Those three cities were under Qingxuan Sect''s control.
Many disciples who went there as deacons were also helping the sect expand its influence.
Before long, Shen Mo picked a residence.
It had a small pool and a cedar tree inside.
"This will do," Shen Mo said with satisfaction.
The deacon added, "Do you have any valuable items in your outer sect residence? I can have someone move them here for you. Now that you are an inner sect disciple, just a wave of your hand will make many outer sect disciples eager to help."
Shen Mo shook his head, "No, there''s nothing important there. Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother."
The deacon waved it off, "No need to be polite. In the future, if you achieve sess, I''ll rely on you to look after me."
Shen Mo cupped his hands in thanks, and the two bid farewell.
So far, Shen Mo hadn''t encountered many decent people in Qingxuan Sect.
This deacon senior brother was barely considered one.
After the deacon left, Shen Mo closed the door and smiled.
"Bing an inner sect disciple really doese with many benefits."
"Tomorrow, I''ll head to Yinfen Mountain to find that demonic beast graveyard and take all the demon crystals."
"Daring to fleece me, I''ll take all your wool!" Shen Mo thought coldly of Wu Huairen''s methods of skimming rewards from inner sect disciples.
"But tonight, I have another important task."
Shen Mo began to prepare.
...
As night deepened.
Lei Xiaojun, Liu Yuefeng, and Gao Peng quietly left Qingxuan Sect, using a small path under the cover of darkness.
After walking briskly for more than ten miles, far from Qingxuan Sect, Lei Xiaojun finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Liu Yuefeng, seeing his demeanor,ughed, "Xiaojun, don''t worry so much. With the two of us protecting you, you''ll be safe."
Gao Peng also nodded repeatedly, "There''s no way Shen Mo could know you left the sect tonight. Rest assured."
Lei Xiaojun looked at his two friends and nodded bitterly, "I hope so... but I still feel uneasy. It''s a feeling I''ve never had before."
"By the way, Xiaojun, when will you give us what you promised?" Liu Yuefeng couldn''t hold back and asked in a low voice.
Lei Xiaojun looked deeply at them, remained silent for a moment, then said, "I keep my word. As long as you escort me to Qingshan City, I will definitely give you the Thunder Spirit Pill and the Earth Spirit Pill."
The Thunder Spirit Pill and Earth Spirit Pill were top-grade yellow level pills that could slightly enhance thunder and earth spirit roots.
This would speed up the cultivation of thunder and earth attribute techniques and martial skills.
Increasing spirit roots a little was equivalent to saving a few days of cultivation.
Every cultivator strives to improve their spirit roots.
Therefore, the Thunder Spirit Pill and Earth Spirit Pill were very expensive.
Each pill cost at least five hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Though Liu Yuefeng and Gao Peng were family scions, their families didn''t only have the two of them. Many resources had to be earned by themselves.
Lei Xiaojun''s offer of the Thunder Spirit Pill and Earth Spirit Pill was the reason they were willing to escort him to Qingshan City.
Otherwise, they would have only escorted him out of Qingxuan Sect, considering it their utmost effort.
After all, Lei Xiaojun''s dantian was destroyed. Without a miraculous pill to repair his dantian, it was nearly impossible for him to recover to the Qi Condensation Stage.
Such a "friend" no longer held much value.
Liu Yuefeng chuckled dryly, "Xiaojun, don''t worry. We''re still friends! But you know, even brothers have to settle ounts clearly."
Gao Peng quickly agreed, "Exactly, exactly."
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Chapter 14: Top-Grade Profound Rank Thunder Strike Sword and Soaking in the Medicinal Pool
Shen Mo nced at Xiao Fan and immediately saw his life panel.
Hmm, no changes in his fate.
Clearly, the opportunities Shen Mo intercepted had not caused anysting impact on Xiao Fan.
"After all, he is a child of fortune, with opportunities as numerous as hair on your head."
Shen Mo continued reading and saw Xiao Fan''s recent opportunities.
[Recent Opportunity 1: Today, at the Treasure Pavilion, he will obtain the top-grade yellow weapon, Thunder Sword. It contains a faint spirituality and will be a top-grade profound weapon after a blood sacrifice.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: Three dayster, he will soak in Qingxuan Sect''s medicinal pool No. 3, which hides a long-concealed Fiery Sun me Essence at the bottom. Absorbing it will awaken the heaven-grade physique, Scorching Sun me Body.]
[Recent Opportunity 3: Ten dayster, he will discover a cave dwelling in the deep pool of Qingxuan Sect, obtaining the heaven-grade technique, Hell me Destruction Technique, left by the True Immortal Hell me.]
[Recent Opportunity 4: ...]
Shen Mo''s eyes lit up.
His guess was correct.
Xiao Fan had brought him new opportunities again.
Shen Mo couldn''t help but give him a mental thumbs-up.
"Senior Brother Shen..."
At this moment, Xiao Fan and Liu Fei clearly noticed Shen Mo.
Xiao Fan recalled the shocking scene from the martial arts tform yesterday.
His tone became unnatural, but he still awkwardly greeted, "Senior Brother."
Shen Mo responded with a faint "Mm" and walked towards the second floor.
The Treasure Pavilion was simr to the Scripture Pavilion.
The first floor housed yellow-grade treasures, while the second floor had profound-grade treasures.
Shen Mo arrived on the second floor and saw the weapons on the racks were shrouded in light spheres, except for the yellow-grade weapons.
The light spheres were restrictions set by Qingxuan Sect elders.
If a disciple could resonate with a weapon within the light sphere, they could take it.
This was done because profound-grade weapons, like profound-grade techniques, were very rare.
Moreover, weapons were uniquepared to techniques.@@novelbin@@
Techniques could be copied for disciples to take and cultivate.
But weapons were singr. Once taken, they were gone. Hence, the restrictions were put in ce.
Shen Mo ignored the profound-grade weapons shrouded in light spheres and looked among the yellow-grade weapons.
Soon, he found the Thunder Sword.
At first nce, it appeared ordinary, with no noticeable luster.
It even had some dust and rust spots.
It couldn''t be described as a divine weapon; it looked more like scrap metal.
Xiao Fan, who had also reached the second floor, saw the sword Shen Mo chose.
He was puzzled. Why did Shen Mo choose a yellow-grade weapon? Why not try resonating with the profound-grade weapons?
Xiao Fan froze for a moment, then suddenly realized.
''I understand now. Shen Mo knows his potential is limited and can''t resonate with profound-grade weapons, so he opted for a yellow-grade weapon.''
This person is quite self-aware.
Shen Mo, satisfied with his choice, took the Thunder Sword and left.
Before leaving, he nced at Xiao Fan again.
His opportunities had already changed slightly.
[Recent Opportunity 1: Today, at the Treasure Pavilion, he will resonate with a profound-grade weapon and obtain the mid-grade profound weapon, Gale Sword.]
Shen Mo walked while pondering. He seemed to understand the power of the "child of fortune" fate.
Even if Shen Mo intercepted Xiao Fan''s opportunities, the "child of fortune" fate would provide new ones.
Equivalent topensation. However, thesepensated opportunities would be inferior to the original ones.
Shen Mo spected that if he now took the Gale Sword, Xiao Fan would soon get another profound-grade weapon, likely of lower quality, a low-grade profound weapon.
"Time to go. I still need to get Wu Huairen''s opportunity. Can''t waste it."
Shen Mo quickly left the Treasure Pavilion and returned to his courtyard.
The first thing he did upon returning was to perform a blood sacrifice on the Thunder Sword.
A drop of crimson blood fell on the de.
The dust-covered, rusty sword seemed toe alive!
ng!
A clear, resonant sound rang from the sword. The rust and dust on the de were instantly swept away!
A sharp, lightning-shing long sword appeared before Shen Mo.
The hilt bore one ancient inscription that shone brightly.
"Thunder!"
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "From now on, you will be my weapon!"
He flicked the sword lightly.
ng!
A joyous, clear sound rang out from the sword, as if a joyful spirit resided within it.
...
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
That morning, Shen Mo got up, washed, and prepared to go to the dining hall for breakfast as usual.
Knock, knock, knock.
Respectful knocking sounded outside the courtyard.
When he opened the door, he saw an unfamiliar outer sect disciple.
The disciple hurriedly said, "Senior Brother Shen, Brother Zhang asked me to inform you that your medicinal pool is ready, and you can soak in it today."
Shen Mo nodded slightly, "Lead the way."
The outer sect disciple bowed respectfully, "Yes."
Brother Zhang, the deacon responsible for the outer sect disciples'' assessments, was named Zhang Weihu.
On the day Shen Mo defeated Lei Xiaojun and became an inner sect disciple, Zhang Weihu had already applied for the qualification for Shen Mo to soak in the medicinal pool.
Every new inner sect disciple received this benefit.
If one had great potential, they might awaken a powerful physique.
However, the medicinal pool required many medicinal materials and was difficult to prepare.
Therefore, at least five new inner sect disciples were needed to prepare it.
Previously, there had already been four new inner sect disciples.
Three days ago, Shen Mo joined the inner sect, making it five.
"Today is also Xiao Fan''s time to soak in the medicinal pool. I must get the Scorching Sun me Body!"
Shen Mo was filled with anticipation.
"This is a heaven-grade physique! If I obtain it, the sect will surely favor me with resources."
"From now on, even if the Lei family wants to harm me, they will hesitate."
Shen Mo smiled.
As far as he knew, Qingxuan Sect had only ever produced one disciple with a heaven-grade physique in its history.
However, that person had fallen before they could grow.
It had always been a regret for Qingxuan Sect.
If he could be the second disciple with a heaven-grade physique, the sect would surely nurture him vigorously!
"Any major events in the sect recently?" Shen Mo asked casually as they walked.
The outer sect disciple thought for a moment, "Nothing much... but I heard that Lei Xiaojun, whom you challenged, has gone missing. Some people specte that he went back to his family home in Qingshan City, knowing he couldn''t cultivate anymore."
Shen Mo nodded and said no more. Soon, led by the outer sect disciple, he arrived at a valley.
Upon entering, Shen Mo was greeted by a refreshing medicinal fragrance.
Inhaling deeply, he felt invigorated and light.
He looked towards the center of the valley, where five pools had been carved out.
The pools were already filled with green medicinal liquid.
Ten outer sect disciples, divided into five groups, were pouring medicinal liquid into the pools under Zhang Weihu''s direction.
From a distance, Zhang Weihu spotted Shen Mo and waved with a smile.
Shen Mo nodded in return.
He nced around and saw four people in dark green disciple robes nearby, one of whom was Xiao Fan.
The other three must be the new inner sect disciples here to soak in the medicinal pool.
They were engaged in a lively conversation but stopped and looked over when Shen Mo appeared.
Apart from Xiao Fan, the three new inner sect disciples cupped their hands and smiled warmly at Shen Mo.
Their eyes held a touch of reverence.
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Chapter 17: Qingxuan Sect Master Murong Yue, Shen Mo Benefiting from a Strong Backer
Very soon, only a few people were left here, including Zhang Weihut and Zhao Rou.
Zhao Rou and the others looked at Zhang Weihut eagerly, "Senior Brother Deacon, what about our portion?"
Zhang Weihut couldn''t help butugh, "Next time... This is an uncontroble factor. I will ask the Elder to refine more portions for you."
At this moment, Shen Mo''s consciousness gradually became clear, and he slowlynded.
Zhao Rou''s cheeks were flushed as she hurriedly brought over her disciple robe for Shen Mo to cover himself.
Shen Mo scratched his head, "Thanks... What just happened?"
Zhao Rou quickly recounted everything that had happened.
Even retelling it, she felt her heart racing.
Even the sect master, who had been in seclusion for years, was rmed by Shen Mo.
Shen Mo''s future was boundless.
''I must cling tightly to this thick and sturdy support!''
Shen Mo hadn''t expected that awakening his constitution would trigger such a shocking phenomenon.
"The Scorching Sun me Body, it really is a heaven-grade constitution, and it''s top grade at that!"
He sighed inwardly.
With this, he could be a disciple of the sect master.
No matter what ns the Lei family had, they wouldn''t dare to make a move against him.
Offending him was equivalent to offending the Qingxuan Sect Master.
How could a small Lei family dare to provoke such a figure? They would be utterly annihted!
Zhang Weihut approached Shen Mo enthusiastically, "Junior Brother Shen,e,e, let''s go to the Dining Hall for a big feast, my treat!"
Shen Mo smiled slightly, "Alright, I''ll ept your kind offer."
That day.
An astonishing piece of news swept through Qingxuan Sect like a hurricane.
A disciple had awakened a heaven-grade constitution!
However, no one knew who that disciple was.
For Zhang Weihu, Zhao Rou, and the others, this feeling of knowing the answer but being unable to say it was extremely frustrating.
Night fell, Shen Mo was sitting cross-legged on his bed, adapting to his awakened constitution.
"My life panel has changed."
Shen Mo looked at his life panel, lost in thought.
[Name: Shen Mo.]
[Realm: Major achievement stage Qi Condensation Realm]
[Fate: Son of Pharmacist, Innate Wisdom, Sword Dao Enthusiast, Slightly Fortunate.]
[Destiny: Ultimately cultivates to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Dies in five years during the Divine Sword Sect''s attack on Qingxuan Sect.]
[Recent Opportunity: Today, formally bes a disciple of the Qingxuan Sect Master.]
"Divine Sword Sect... I''ve never heard of it. It seems I need to brush up on the major forces around here."
"I was supposed to die peacefully before, but now I will die in the sect''s conflict..."
"I get it, it''s rted to my status."
"Before, I was just an ordinary disciple of Qingxuan Sect. Even if Divine Sword Sect won, Qingxuan Sect disciples would just be Divine Sword Sect disciples."
"But now it''s different. I''ve awakened a heaven-grade constitution and been epted as the sect master''s disciple."
"If the sect master fights to the death against Divine Sword Sect, as the sect master''s disciple, I''ve already been branded with Qingxuan Sect''s mark. Divine Sword Sect definitely won''t let me go."
"Even if I''m willing to surrender to Divine Sword Sect, their disciples wouldn''t want to see me join and take away resources meant for them. They''d secretly eliminate me on the battlefield!"
Shen Mo pondered for a moment and figured out the whole situation.
"I didn''t expect that bing stronger would drag me into even bigger conflicts." He smiled wryly, then quickly firmed his resolve, "However, I can intercept opportunities, which is the biggest variable."
"This predetermined fate will definitely be broken by me!"
Knock, knock, knock!
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
He opened it to find Zhao Rou, whom he had seen during the day.
Zhao Rou smiled sweetly, "Senior Brother Shen, the sect master has summoned you."
"Where to?"
"The mountain top."
"Also, Senior Brother Shen, I''ve picked up a new inner disciple robe for you from Elder Wu." Zhao Rou handed over a brand new inner disciple robe.
Shen Mo was surprised. His disciple robe had been burned when he awakened the Scorching Sun me Body.
He had nned to get a new one tomorrow. Unexpectedly, Zhao Rou had brought one for him.
Shen Mo asked in confusion, "You know my size?"
Zhao Rou blushed, "I could tell."
Shen Mo nodded, "How many spirit stones? I''ll pay you back."
Zhao Rou blinked, "Consider it a small gift from me to Senior Brother Shen. If you feel like it, you can give me a small gift in return next time."
Shen Mo nodded, "Alright, I''m pretty good at cooking. I''ll make you some noodles sometime."
After parting with Zhao Rou, he headed to the mountain top.
At the top of the mountain was a in courtyard.
It was very different from the luxurious halls hidden among the green trees on the mountainside.
Shen Mo lightly knocked on the courtyard door, "Sect Master, disciple Shen Mo requests an audience."
A clear and bright female voice came from inside, like a stream passing through a stone forest, "Come in."
Shen Mo opened the courtyard door and saw an ordinary little courtyard.
There were a jujube tree on each side, each with a pond, with goldfish swimming in them.
A beautiful woman in a sea-blue pce dress stood with her back to him, trimming the dead branches of the jujube trees.
When the sect master appeared earlier, Shen Mo was awakening his constitution and waspletely unaware of what was happening outside.@@novelbin@@
So, this was his first time seeing the Qingxuan Sect Master.
Shen Mo gazed at the back of the beautiful woman, feeling a sense of awe.
This sect master, with her captivating figure and voluptuous beauty, exuded a charm that seemed to stir others'' nerves with every move.
But when the beautiful woman turned around, her stunning face and cold expression made Shen Mo''s heart skip a beat.
Passionate like fire, cold as icetwopletely different temperaments coexisted in one person without seeming out of ce.
It was quite strange.
Shen Mo instinctively looked at her life panel.
[Name: Murong Yue.]
[Realm: Peak of the Core Formation Stage.]
[Fate: Blessed Star, Peerless Beauty, Fortunate Aura, Untimely Death, me and Frost Dual Body.]
[Destiny: Stagnates at the peak of the Core Formation Stage. Five yearster, perishes in the Divine Sword Sect''s campaign to unify all sects in Xuanjiang Prefecture, fighting to the death alongside Qingxuan Sect, and dies on the highest peak of the Qingcang Mountains]
Shen Mo raised his eyebrows and examined the fate details.
[Blessed Star: Orange Fate. You always encounter good fortune, such as having a powerful mentor and an immensely talented disciple.]
[Peerless Beauty: Orange Fate. Your appearance is stunningly beautiful, always attracting the attention of the opposite sex.]
[Fortunate Aura: Orange Fate. Luck surrounds you, and those closely rted to you also experience better fortune.]
[Untimely Death: White Fate. Due to treachery around you, you will die early in your prime.]
[me and Frost Dual Body: Purple Fate. Your fire and ice spiritual roots are exceptionally advanced, making cultivation in these attributes doubly effective.]
The opportunities required the strength of a Core Formation Stage cultivator to obtain, so Shen Mo did not look further.
"Murong Yue perishes alongside Qingxuan Sect, and I also die in this conflict. It seems the fate of Qingxuan Sect is quite grim," Shen Mo thought deeply.
Through the life panel, he had gleaned much useful information.
"Shen Mo, from now on, you are my disciple. I have never taken a disciple before; you are the first and will be thest," the beautiful woman said indifferently.
Shen Mo was stunned and quickly nodded, "Thank you, Sect Master!"
"You probably don''t know my name. I am called Murong Yue. From now on, address me as Master," the beautiful woman waved her hand.
"Yes, thank you, Master!"
Murong Yue gazed at him, "You possess a heaven-grade constitution, which is both a blessing and a curse. Do you understand?"
Shen Mo nodded, "I understand."
Having a heaven-grade constitution meant cultivation would be as easy as eating and drinking. As long as no major mishaps urred, he could potentially reach the Nascent Soul Stage in the future.
Such a world-changing genius would undoubtedly arouse the jealousy of surrounding sects.
Especially those with enmity towards Qingxuan Sect, who wouldn''t sit idly by.
"I have ordered everyone to keep silent, but secrets always find a way out. This could take a short or long time."
"In at most three years, your heaven-grade constitution will be known throughout Xuanjiang Prefecture."
"I hope you can grow as quickly as possible within these three years."
"I don''t expect you to reach Core Formation in three years, but you must at least cultivate to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage."
"The fall of that heaven-grade genius back then will not be repeated under my watch!"
Murong Yue finished speaking and handed over an ancient ring and a jade pendant.
"This low-grade storage ring contains three hundred mid-grade spirit stones, thirty bottles of Qi Condensation Pills, fifty bottles of Healing Pills, fifty bottles of Qi Recovery Pills, fifty bottles of Detoxification Pills, and a copy of the zing Sun technique, including my insights while cultivating it. All these are yours."
"Additionally, there is a book inside detailing the friendly and hostile forces of Qingxuan Sect. Make sure to study it."
"This pendant contains the power of three full-strength attacks from me. It can save your life."
"Thank you, Master." Shen Mo epted the jade pendant and storage ring, feeling quite pleased.
Having a powerful mentor felt great.
Spirit stones and pills were sent his way without hesitation.
A storage ring was a valuable item.
It contained a small independent space.
As long as it wasn''t a living thing, anything could be stored inside.
A low-grade storage ring was worth a thousand low-grade spirit stones, equivalent to ten mid-grade spirit stones, making it quite expensive.
Ordinary people couldn''t afford it.
Yet, Murong Yue had directly given him a low-grade storage ring.
As for the jade pendant, its value was even more immeasurable.
Outer and inner elders would likely scramble to buy it.
After all, it contained the full-strength attacks of a Core Formation expert like Murong Yue!
"The situation in Xuanjiang Prefecture is also recorded in that book. Read it thoroughly and remember it," Murong Yue said casually.
"Yes."
Shen Mo nodded.
The country he was in was called Great Jing.
Great Jing consisted of nine provinces.
This ce was Xuanjiang Prefecture.
It was named after the Xuanjiang River that flowed through it.
Howrge Xuanjiang Prefecture was, how many cities, how many sects, the exact status of Qingxuan Sect, and the strength of the Divine Sword Sect were all unknown to him.
After all, his former self had grown up in Qingshan City and came to Qingxuan Sect when he was a bit older, never having been anywhere else.
"Alright, continue your cultivation. I don''t like teaching disciples and won''t impose on you," Murong Yue waved her hand.
Shen Mo was even happier.
Not being overly supervised was even better!
"Yes, I''ll take my leave now." Shen Mo bowed and left.
Murong Yue continued trimming the jujube tree.
After a long time, she sighed softly.
"After being in seclusion for so long, the sect has be so corrupt... Even my attempt to appoint a fifth true disciple was jointly rejected by the elders."
"The sect is full of factions and entangled interests. Any rash move could provoke a strong bacsh. If I insist, I might be forced into opposition..."
"But if I do nothing, the sect will continue to decay..."
"What should I do?"
"Master was right; my indecisive nature makes me unsuitable to be the sect master..."
Chapter 18: Xuanjiang Prefecture, The Five Great Sects, and the Underwater Cave
The Next Day.
Shen Mo turned over and got out of bed.
Images of the book he had read overnight floated in his mind.
The book''s script was both elegant and bold, likely written by Murong Yue herself.
"The situation in Xuanjiang Prefecture is indeedplicated."
"In a radius of a thousand miles, there are eighty-six cities, with more than ten sects of the same scale as the Qingxuan Sect. Each sect controls three to five cities."
"And the most prosperous cities in Xuanjiang Prefecture are controlled by the Five Sects of Xuanjiang, namely, the Divine Sword Sect, the Rising Sun Sect, the Thunderfire Sect, the Verdant Vine Sect, and the Heavenly Water Sect."
"The strength of these sects depends solely on the number of Core Formation stage cultivators."
"Each of the Five Sects of Xuanjiang has more than thirty Core Formation stage cultivators, with the Divine Sword Sect having more than thirty-five Core Formation stage cultivators on record."
"The Qingxuan Sect used to be one of these five sects, but thirty years ago, a conflict erupted, and twelve Core Formation stage cultivators, including the Qingxuan Sect''s leader, died in battle."
"The death of the twelve Core Formation stage cultivators was a massive blow, causing the Qingxuan Sect''s strength to plummet. Its position was overtaken by the rising Heavenly Water Sect, forcing it to retreat to the southernmost part of Xuanjiang Prefecture, upying an area centered around Qingshan City, Xishan City, and Gufeng City."
"This area was also where the Qingxuan Sect initially rose to prominence and has been rtively well-maintained."
"Fortunately, even a lean camel is bigger than a horse. The surrounding forces do not dare to provoke the Qingxuan Sect, which is good news."
Shen Mo frowned in thought.
His predecessor believed the Qingxuan Sect was the greatest hegemon.
Little did he know, there are always higher mountains and greater skies!
Above the Qingxuan Sect, there are the Five Sects of Xuanjiang.
They are the true dominant forces of Xuanjiang Prefecture!
After breakfast, Shen Mo headed straight to the deep pool.
Murong Yue had gifted him a copy of the Xuan Grade technique "zing Sun Technique" and had thoughtfully shared her own insights with him.
She was indeed very considerate.
But he had a better option.
That was the Heaven Grade technique!
There was the "Hell me Destruction Manual" under the deep pool, something Shen Mo had long anticipated.
He hadn''te before because it would have been too conspicuous.
After all, the area around the deep pool was bustling with people. If he suddenly dove into the pool, others would surely be suspicious.
But now, his identity was different.
Aside from his Heaven Grade physique and being a disciple of the sect leader, he had also defeated Lei Xiaojun head-on.
Such strength made him a top-tier disciple within the inner sect.
Even if he entered the pool, few would dare to question him.
As he walked, Shen Mo remembered something.
After awakening his physique yesterday, both Zhang Weihu and Zhao Rou mentioned that Murong Yue had called a meeting with all the elders to discuss making him the fifth true disciple.
But today, Murong Yue hadn''t mentioned it.
"Most likely, the elders rejected it."
Shen Mo''s eyes were deep.
It seemed that although Murong Yue was the sect leader, her control over the Qingxuan Sect wasn''t strong.
Only her current strength was the greatest, allowing her to suppress everyone, including Liu Yuanfeng.
"The Qingxuan Sect''s higher-ups are not united. Besides Murong Yue, who sincerely helps me, I need to be wary of everyone else." Shen Mo nodded.
As for the identity of a true disciple, he didn''t mind.
While bing a true disciple would be good, not having this status for now wasn''t a big deal.
After all, he couldn''t rely on the limited resources of a true disciple to grow quickly; he had to seize opportunities on his own.
Thinking as he walked, Shen Mo soon arrived at the deep pool.
There, several muscr disciples were sitting under the waterfall, having stripped off their clothes.
This method of body tempering through water pressure was not umon; many people did it.
However, the waterfall''s water pressure from the mountaintop was immense.
Most people gave up after a short time.
Shen Mo''s arrival immediately caught the disciples'' attention.
"Senior Brother."
"Greetings, Senior Brother Shen!"
Both outer and inner sect disciples looked at him with respect.
"Senior Brother Shen, are you here to temper your body as well?" Zhao Rou was also there.
Seeing Shen Mo, she immediately beamed with joy.
Compared to these ignorant disciples, she truly knew Shen Mo''s identity!
Shen Mo nodded. "I''ll give it a try."
He took off his disciple robe, preparing to throw it on the ground.
Zhao Rou, with a smile on her face, caught it. "I''ll hold it for you; don''t dirty it by throwing it on the ground."
Shen Mo smiled and nodded. "Alright." He handed the disciple robe to Zhao Rou.
The disciples saw Zhao Rou being so enthusiastic toward Shen Mo and felt a wave of envy.
Usually indifferent to many male disciples'' advances, Zhao Rou now seemed like a different person.
With a leap, Shen Mo jumped into the deep pool.
The white, silk-like hundred-foot waterfall suddenly crashed down.
Shen Mo clenched his teeth, his entire body enduring the incredible water pressure.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths...
Until the eleventh breath!
Only then did Shen Mo feel he couldn''t hold on any longer, so he didn''t continue.
"Eleven breaths! He''s already surpassed Liu Yunxuan, who held the longest time among Qi Condensation Realm disciples!"
"That''s right, back then Liu Yunxuan, Senior Brother Liu, challenged this when he was at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, and he onlysted nine breaths."
"Not many Qi Condensation Realm disciples canst more than five breaths; Senior Brother Shen is amazing!"
"Senior Brother Shen''s physical body is so strong! He must have tempered it in the Body Tempering realm for a long time."
"Shh, don''t you know? Senior Brother Shen''s foundation was once damaged, but heter rebuilt it, reaching his current level. He has endured more hardships in the Body Tempering realm than anyone else."
The disciples discussed fervently.
Some even talked about Shen Mo''s past experiences, which were bothmentable and admirable.
"Who is Liu Yunxuan?" Shen Mo leaned against the poolside and casually asked.
Zhao Rou giggled, her eyes flowing with affection like water. "Senior Brother Shen, you don''t even know him? Liu Yunxuan is the son of Vice Sect Leader Liu and one of our Qingxuan Sect''s four true disciples. He is now a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator."
"Many inner sect elders see him as a strong candidate for the next sect leader."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Then, with a dive, he swam towards the depths.
Soon, he took out a blue pill and popped it into his mouth.
This was a Breath-Holding Pill, a low-grade Huang Tier pill, the most basic kind.
Its only function was to allow underwater breathing for a period.
Shen Mo had long been prepared for the Hell me Destruction Manual under the deep pool.
His vision scanned the dark waters.
Soon, he felt a faint sense of foreboding.
His gaze turned to a recessed crack.
"I understand now, it''s my Scorching Sun me Body resonating with the inheritance site."
"No wonder no one had ever discovered the inheritance site before it was found by Xiao Fan. It was because of the Scorching Sun me Body."
"Surely, the Immortal Hell me had prepared this, only allowing those with Heaven Grade fire attribute physiques to discover the inheritance site."
Shen Mo felt a surge of joy and immediately swam toward the crack.
The crack was initially narrow, barely allowing a person to pass, but after swimming ten more feet, it suddenly opened up.@@novelbin@@
However, it still seemed like just a rock wall.
Shen Mo examined it closely and suddenly felt inspired, pressing his palm against the rock wall.
Buzzing.
An unusual power emanated from the rock wall, quickly spreading throughout Shen Mo''s body through his palm.
It felt as if it were examining his physique.
A few breathster, the rock wall slowly disappeared, revealing a cave behind it.
Shen Mo passed through the rock wall, immediately feeling like he had gone through a water-repelling barrier, with the water instantly being repelled.
He removed the Breath-Holding Pill and took a deep breath.
The cave was very simple, not like the so-called inheritance sites.
Inside, there was only a table and a chair.
However, the fire spiritual energy here was astonishing, several times denser than on the surface.
On the table, a ball of light floated quietly.
Inside it, golden Inscriptions flickered.
They seemed to have life, swimming back and forth in the light like little golden snakes.
Chapter 20: Encounter with Liu Yunxuan
Nearby, three inner sect disciples expressed their admiration.
"I heard that the me Hell Immortal''s cave mansion is somewhere in the Qingcang Mountains. If I could find it and obtain the me Hell Destruction Manual, I would be set for life!"
"Give it a rest. Many experts have searched for hundreds of years without finding it. You, a mere Qi Condensation minor achievement cultivator, think you can?"
"Yeah, I heard it''s a heaven-grade technique. The sect master, the vice sect master, and many elders must have secretly searched for it too. Since there''s been no news, it means they haven''t found it either."
"I wonder who will eventually get lucky and find it."
The three inner sect disciples took their tasks and walked away, still dreaming about finding the cave mansion.
Shen Mo touched his nose.@@novelbin@@
In truth, he wanted to say, "You guys are wasting your time looking for it."
The me Hell Destruction Manual was already in his hands, so no matter how hard others searched, they would never find it.
Unfortunately, he couldn''t say that.
If he did, even his current master, Murong Yue, would force him to hand over the me Hell Destruction Manual.
Shen Mo continued looking at the stone tablet.
Soon, he found his target.
"Four-star task: Kill the Green Forest Python. Reward: thirty low-grade spirit stones."
"Three-star task: Clear out the ck Wind Bandits harassing Ironwood Town. Reward: twenty low-grade spirit stones."
Both tasks were posted by the sect.
The star rating corresponded to the difficulty of the task.
Tasks that Body Refining Realm disciples could handle were only one or two stars.
Tasks that Qi Condensation cultivators could handle were three or four stars.
Beyond that, tasks were suited for Foundation Establishment or Core Formation cultivators.
"Ironwood Town... I''ve never been there."
Shen Mo approached the mission steward on the second floor.
The steward, a round-faced woman at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, was dozing off with her chin in her hand.
Shen Mo lightly tapped the table. "Senior Sister Steward, I need a map of the sect''s surroundings."
The round-faced woman red at him, then pulled a map from the drawer. "Three low-grade spirit stones."
Shen Mo nodded and handed over the spirit stones.
The price was clearly marked, and it was indeed three low-grade spirit stones. She wasn''t overcharging him.
"The Green Forest Python is in this valley, and the ck Wind Bandits are near Ironwood Town. Perfect, I''ll deal with the Green Forest Python first, then handle the ck Wind Bandits on my way back."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
"But before that, I need to enhance my strength."
Since obtaining the me Hell Destruction Manual, he hadn''t practiced it yet.
He believed that the first time he cultivated it, he would be pleasantly surprised!
Shen Mo returned to his inner sect disciple residence, closed and locked the door, then sat cross-legged on his bed and began to cultivate ording to the me Hell Destruction Manual.
A cultivation technique, in essence, is a breathing method.
Its purpose is to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, convert it through the spiritual power vortex, and turn it into one''s own spiritual power.
The higher the grade of the cultivation technique, the faster the conversion rate.
Shen Mo took out two bottles of Qi Condensation Pills from his storage ring and poured them into his mouth after pulling out the cork.
Ten Qi Condensation Pills were ingested.
Combined with the cultivation of the me Hell Destruction Manual.
The spiritual power within him was rising at an astonishing speed.
After two hours, he naturally reached the perfect stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.
He could even feel his spiritual power swelling within him.
It seemed he wasn''t far from the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm either!
Shen Mo suddenly opened his eyes, feeling the surging spiritual power within him, revealing a look of surprise.
"As expected of a heaven-grade technique!"
"I reached the perfect stage of the Qi Condensation Realm so quickly."
The me Hell Destruction Manual is divided into six levels.
Comprehending the first level would allow one to enter the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Comprehending the second level would lead to the Peak stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Comprehending the third level would lead to the Core Formation Realm.
Comprehending the fourth level would lead to the peak stage of the Core Formation Realm.
Comprehending the fifth level would lead to the Nascent Soul Realm.
Comprehending the sixth level would lead directly to the peak stage of the Nascent Soul Realm!
Shen Mo eagerly anticipated the day he wouldprehend the first level and enter the Foundation Establishment Realm!
He stood up and wielded his Thunder Sword, performing a set of Thunder Shadow Sword Techniques.
Swish, swish, swish.
In the small courtyard, sword shadows crisscrossed, and the sound of the sword slicing through the air suddenly arose.
Fiery spiritual power surged, and a scorching aura clung to the de.
Each strike was decisive and lethal.
Even a Qi Condensation cultivator of the same level would not be able to withstand three of Shen Mo''s strikes in a direct confrontation!
"After reaching the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, I can unleash up to four strikes at full strength."
Shen Mo nodded with satisfaction.
"Now, it''s time to set off!"
...
Shen Mo, dressed in the dark green inner sect disciple robe of the Qingxuan Sect, carrying the Thunder Sword on his back, left the mountain gate alone, heading towards the nameless valley where the Green Forest Python resided.
The further he advanced in that direction, the fewer disciples he encountered.
The Qingcang Mountains were vast and majestic, nominally under the control of the Qingxuan Sect, but many high mountains and deep valleys were beyond the sect''s reach.
Shen Mo walked through the lush, dense forest, feeling a sense of joy and rxation as he took in the verdant scenery.
Suddenly, he smelled blood in the air.
Ahead, he also heard the feeble cries of a beast.
Shen Mo paused, then quickly headed towards the source of the blood scent.
Before long, he discovered a dying, critically wounded beast.
This beast was over three meters long, with a massive, snow-white body.
In his previous life, it would have beenparable to a small car.
Its body was covered in knife wounds and burn marks.
Clearly, it had been injured by a cultivator skilled with des and possessing a fire spiritual root.
As he approached, Shen Mo felt a faint pressure.
It was the suppression of a higher realm over a lower realm!
"This size and this pressure, it''s a third-rank beast!"
Shen Mo was overjoyed.
A third-rank beast was equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Killing it would definitely yield a third-rank monster core.
Such a core would certainly fetch a high price.
Could it be that his "somewhat lucky" fate led him to encounter a dying beast by chance?
He instinctively checked his life panel.
"No... I don''t have such an opportunity recorded."
Shen Mo was puzzled.
After pondering for a while without understanding, he decided to take out a small knife to gut the third-rank beast and retrieve the monster core.
If he refused a free gift, he''d be a fool.
Shen Mo made a precise cut, ending the beast''s life.
Sure enough, he found arge, pristine monster core.
This third-rank monster core was as big as a fist, crystal clear and bright.
The spiritual power contained within was evidently immense.
However, the spiritual power in a third-rank monster core was too powerful for a Qi Condensation cultivator to absorb.
Forcing absorption could cause the body to explode.
Shen Mo only intended to take it back to the sect for trade, to exchange for items he needed.
At that moment, a cold voice came from behind him.
"Hand over the monster core."
Shen Mo''s heart sank as he quickly turned around, seeing a tall, handsome young man with an air of elegance.
With sharp brows and bright eyes, the young man had an imposing presence and extraordinary aura.
He clearly held a high position.
Moreover, the aura emanating from this person was terrifying, clearly surpassing Shen Mo by a significant margin!
"Didn''t you hear me? Hand over the monster core." The young man frowned and scolded when Shen Mo didn''t respond.
Shen Mo also frowned. "Who are you?"
The young man frowned deeper. "You''re a Qingxuan Sect disciple and don''t recognize me? I am Liu Yunxuan!"
Shen Mo was slightly surprised.
So this guy was Liu Yunxuan.
No wonder he was one of the four true disciples, truly impressive.
"Senior Brother Liu, I found this dying beast and the monster core is mine." Shen Mo cupped his hands in respect.
The other party was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and their strengths were not on the same level.
Therefore, Shen Mo hoped to reason with him.
Chapter 21: Liu Yunxuan’s Opportunity
Liu Yunxuan sneered, "Nonsense! I''ve been chasing this beast through the forest for a long time. It forced me back when it was on the verge of death, which is why it escaped."
"All these injuries on it were caused by me. Do you think you can just take it with a few words?"
Shen Mo nced at the sword at Liu Yunxuan''s waist, sensed the icy spiritual power flowing within him, and then looked at the knife wounds and fire burns on the beast. He fell silent.
Ah, right, you''ve been chasing this beast for a long time.
"I made a mistake. This indeed belongs to Senior Brother Liu." He smiled and tossed the monster core over.
Liu Yunxuan caught the fist-sized third-rank monster core, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "You''re a smart person."
With that, he quickly walked away.
Shen Mo nced at his life panel from a distance.
[Name: Liu Yunxuan]
[Realm: Foundation Establishment Great Aplishment]
[Fate: Lucky Star, Handsome and Graceful, Turning Misfortune into Fortune, Smooth Sailing, Lesser Yin Profound Ice Body]
[Destiny: Stopped at the peak of Core Formation Realm, serving as the deputy sect master of the Divine Sword Sect. Died fifty-nine yearster during the Divine Sword Sect''s external campaigns.]
[Recent Opportunity 1: Today, while heading to Xishan City to meet the granddaughter of the Grand Elder of the Divine Sword Sect, he discovered Shen Mo encountering a dying beast and forced Shen Mo to hand over the third-rank monster core.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: Five dayster, while passing by the Sword Cliff of Qingxuan Sect, he will experience a sudden downpour, and the movement of bamboo leaves will lead to an epiphany,prehending the first level of the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique.]
[Recent Opportunity 3: Ten dayster, while executing a task from Liu Yuanfeng to kill the Striped Tiger, he will discover a naturally formed underground iceke, containing a supreme-grade profound treasure, the Profound Yin Ice Essence. After refining it, his physique will be enhanced, and he will reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[Lucky Star: Orange Fate. Your luck is always excellent. Encountering dying beasts or randomly obtaining earth-grade cultivation techniques and martial skills is justmonce for you.]
[Handsome and Graceful: Orange Fate. You are very handsome and always attract the attention of the opposite sex. Visiting the brothel, you not only get things for free but can also make money.]
[Turning Misfortune into Fortune: Orange Fate. Every time you encounter danger, you can turn it into an opportunity.]
[Smooth Sailing: Orange Fate. Your life is extremely smooth, rarely encountering setbacks, and you always end up on the winning side.]
[Lesser Yin Profound Ice Body: Orange Fate. Middle-grade earth physique. Your ice spiritual root talent is exceptional, and you cultivate ice attribute techniques and martial skills faster than others.]
After reading, Shen Mo rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"No wonder I didn''t have an opportunity here. This opportunity was his, and I was just a background character in it..."
"This guy''s fate is quite different from Xiao Fan''s. Xiao Fan''s fates are all red, while his are all one level lower, all orange."
"But what''s going on with him meeting the granddaughter of the Grand Elder of the Divine Sword Sect and eventually bing an inner sect elder of the Divine Sword Sect?"
Shen Mo thought about it and quickly figured it out.
Either the Qingxuan Sect was destroyed, and Liu Yunxuan joined the Divine Sword Sect, or Liu Yunxuan betrayed the Qingxuan Sect and joined the Divine Sword Sect!
"He looks like a gentleman, but he''s actually a traitor."
Thinking about his third-rank monster core being taken, Shen Mo added, "A greedy traitor!"
This small episode didn''t anger him much.
Although the third-rank monster core was precious, it was nothingpared to the Profound Yin Ice Essence.
"Since you took my third-rank monster core, I''ll reluctantly take your Profound Yin Ice Essence."
Shen Mo snorted and continued towards the nameless valley.
The process of killing the Green Forest Python was not full of twists and turns; in fact, it was rather uneventful.
The Green Forest Python was only a second-rank great aplishment beast, equivalent to a Qi Condensation Great Aplishment cultivator.
Shen Mo, however, was at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm.
Realm suppression, strength suppression.
With just three strikes, he killed the Green Forest Python.
Then, Shen Mo took out a small knife and cut open the python''s belly, finding a section of blood-red tree heart.
This was the supreme-grade profound treasure, the Dragon Blood Tree Heart!
It contained immense and pure wood spiritual energy.
Shen Mo took a water bag from his storage ring, washed off the mucus from the tree heart, and then held it contentedly.
"This can serve as one of the foundations for my Dao foundation."
Shen Mo nodded with satisfaction.
Body Refining and Qi Condensation realms were not very different as long as one had the right pills and practiced diligently.
The only differencey in the levels of techniques and martial skills, which determined the strength disparity.
However, for a Qi Condensation peak cultivator to enter the Foundation Establishment Realm, they needed to condense a Dao foundation within their spiritual power vortex.
The quality of the Dao foundation marked the first significant divide among cultivators.
"Dao foundations are ssified into ordinary, traceless, and perfect."
"By refining and absorbing five lower or middle-grade profound treasures corresponding to the five elements, one can establish an ordinary Dao foundation."
"By refining five upper-grade profound treasures of the corresponding five elements, one can establish a traceless Dao foundation."
"If one refines five supreme-grade profound treasures of the corresponding five elements, one can establish the most powerful perfect Dao foundation!"
"This step is where many Qi Condensation cultivators get stuck."
Shen Mo sighed.
Ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators couldn''t intercept opportunities everywhere like him.
Their only option was to save up spirit stones desperately to buy profound treasures to build their Dao foundations.
But the price difference between lower-grade and supreme-grade profound treasures was enormous.
A lower-grade profound treasure usually required only three hundred low-grade spirit stones.
But a supreme-grade profound treasure required three thousand low-grade spirit stones!
This disparity caused many to get stuck at this stage, not because of theirck of talent, but because of financial constraints.
By the time they saved enough for the required materials, their prime years for cultivation would have quietly slipped away.
"Dao tform, also known as Dao foundation, is the root of the Great Dao."
"Since I have such a golden finger, I must pursue the perfect Dao tform!"
Shen Mo set a small goal.
Before bing a Divine Transformation Realm powerhouse, he aimed to first forge a perfect Dao tform!@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo ced the dragon blood tree heart into his storage ring and then headed towards Ironwood Town.
The bandits harassing Ironwood Town were rtively weak.
Most of them were only at the minor or major aplishment stage of the Body Tempering Realm.
Even the leader of the ck Wind Bandits was only at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm.
With such strength, Qingxuan Sect could sweep them away with just one or two disciples at the major aplishment stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.
The reason why no one had taken action yet was simply due to theck of money and too many affairs.
One or two Body Tempering Realm disciples couldn''t handle the ck Wind Bandits.
If more Body Tempering Realm disciples were sent, there wouldn''t be enough reward to go around.
As for the Qi Condensation Realm disciples, they had enough strength but didn''t care for the meager reward of clearing out the ck Wind Bandits.
Therefore, the ck Wind Bandits could rampage for a long time, making the surrounding ordinary people suffer greatly.
Shen Mo quickly ughtered everyone in the ck Wind Bandits.
Then, he went straight to the treasure vault of the ck Wind Bandits to search.
Before long, he found his target.
Half of a calligraphy scroll.
The scroll was rolled up.
Shen Mo carefully opened it.
There was only one word on it: "Forest."
It was written very carelessly, like wild grass swaying in the wind.
"Is this an earth-grade spiritual weapon? It doesn''t seem very impressive."
Shen Mo tried to refine it with a drop of blood, but there was no response.
Then, he injected spiritual power into the scroll.
The scroll started to vibrate.
Shen Mo suddenly felt a pang of fear and quickly turned his head aside.
Whoosh!
A sharp sword aura suddenly shot out from the scroll, slicing the hard rock wall behind Shen Mo into two!
The cut surface was incredibly smooth.
As if cutting through snow.
Shen Mo''s eyes widened.
If he hadn''t turned his head just now, his head might have been split in two!
"This strike definitely has the power of the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
Shen Mo was overjoyed and immediately put it away.
Now he understood why this item was called the "Forest Sword Art."
Chapter 23: The Angry Song Junjie and the Elder’s Reprimand
"No need." Shen Mo waved his hand, uninterested in entangling with them, and was about to leave.
The faces of the two female disciples grew even stiffer.
The girl on the left was particrly annoyed, pointing at Shen Mo''s nose and scolding him.
"Shen Mo, don''t be ungrateful. We are only inviting you because of your strength to join Senior Brother Song''s faction."
"Being invited by us is an honor for you, don''t fail to appreciate it."
Shen Mo sneered.
He detested people like this the most.
Arrogant and self-important.
However, he couldn''t be bothered to argue with such people.
So, without saying more, he chose to leave. At this moment, a loudugh slowly echoed.
"Junior Brother Shen? I''ve heard your name, defeating Lei Xiaojun head-on. You have some strength. Why not join my faction?"
Shen Mo turned around and saw a tall, upright young man.
This person, like Liu Yunxuan, put on the airs of a refined gentleman.@@novelbin@@
However, his appearance was noticeably inferior to Liu Yunxuan''s.
His actions and tone seemed to be deliberately imitating Liu Yunxuan, rather clumsily.
Shen Mo knew the names of the four true disciples of Qingxuan Sect.
This person''s surname was Song, so he was naturally Song Junjie, ranked second among the four true disciples.
Shen Mo was about to speak when another dull voice rang out nearby.
"Are you Shen Mo? My sister often mentions you."
"Why not join my faction under Zhao Ting? Joining Song Junjie''s weak faction will only dull your skills and ambitions."
Shen Mo looked towards the voice and saw a tall, muscr young man with bulging muscles.
His loose dark green disciple robe was worn like tight-fitting clothing.
Zhao Ting, a member of the Zhao family from Gufeng City.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
So, this person was Zhao Rou''s brother. Zhao Rou was standing beside Zhao Ting at that moment.
Upon hearing Zhao Ting''s words, her pretty face turned red, and she pinched her brother''s waist hard.
Song Junjie raised an eyebrow, "Zhao Ting, speak properly. Don''t resort to verbal attacks, or you''ll face the consequences. I''m not someone to be trifled with!"
Zhao Ting sneered, "Say that again when you can beat me."
The simultaneousments from Song Junjie and Zhao Ting immediately drew the attention of many inner disciples.
These inner disciples looked at Shen Mo, recalling the remarkable achievements of this fierce new inner disciple from not long ago.
Liu Yunxuan, along with another true disciple, Luo Shengnan, also looked over.
Liu Yunxuan recognized Shen Mo, frowning slightly.
Three days ago, when he went to Xishan City, he had inadvertently encountered an inner disciple who had obtained a demon crystal.
He had ordered the disciple to hand over the demon crystal.
Unexpectedly, that person turned out to be Shen Mo.
His father, Liu Yuanfeng, had mentioned this name to him in secret.
"The person Father mentioned is actually him..." Jealousy flickered in his eyes.
Even though Murong Yue ordered silence on the matter, Liu Yuanfeng still told him about Shen Mo awakening a heaven-grade physique.
Therefore, Liu Yunxuan was genuinely envious.
He had only awakened a low-grade earth physique.
This person, however, had an upper-grade heaven physique.
Barring any idents, Shen Mo''s future achievements would far surpass his own.
Luo Shengnan, meanwhile, looked Shen Mo up and down, then dismissed him with a curl of her lip. "This guy is so effeminate; he''s useless. I don''t want someone like him."
She licked her lips, eyeing Zhao Ting''s back. "It''s a pity Zhao Ting is a true disciple; otherwise, I''d pick him first!"
She sighed and continued to pick other inner disciples for her faction.
Luo Shengnan was a woman, but her bulging muscles and broad frame made her more manly than many men.
Thus, the inner disciples she recruited were all brawny types.
Shen Mo, with his handsome appearance and well-proportioned build, was not in her selection criteria.
However, despite this, the suddenpetition between two true disciples for one inner disciple attracted the attention of most people in the martial arts field.
Everyone wanted to see how this situation would unfold.
After all, joining Song Junjie''s faction would offend Zhao Ting.
Joining Zhao Ting''s faction would offend Song Junjie.
It was a dilemma.
Xiao Fan and Liu Fei were also in the crowd. Seeing this scene, Xiao Fan couldn''t help but sneer.
He knew Shen Mo was already a disciple of the Sect Master, so he definitely wouldn''t join any faction.
This matter had blown up and would not end well.
Shen Mo rubbed his temples. What did I do to deserve this?
"I''m just passing by!"
"I don''t want to join anyone''s faction right now," Shen Mo said in a deep voice. "Goodbye!"
With that, he turned and walked away.
As a disciple of the Sect Master, my beautiful master naturally provides me with all sorts of resources.
Additionally, I can go out and seize even better opportunities on my own.
There''s no need to join any true disciple''s faction and be treated like ackey.
After Shen Mo said this, the reactions of the disciples varied.
Some shook their heads, some clicked their tongues and gave thumbs up, while others crossed their arms and sneered.
Most of them had a look of watching a show.
Choosing one side would offend the other.
If you tried to stay neutral, you would end up offending both sides.
Zhao Ting snorted, "You... ow..."
Before he could finish, Zhao Rou pinched the soft flesh at his waist.
Song Junjie''s eyebrows raised, "Refusing to give me face?"
In this public setting, rejecting me outright, isn''t that a p to my face?
Shen Mo met his gaze without fear.
Even though Song Junjie was a whole realm above him, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Shen Mo was not afraid.
I am the Sect Master''s disciple, and this is the sect''s grounds. What can you do to me?
Song Junjie''s gaze turned colder, "Stop!"
Shen Mo ignored him and continued walking out.
"I told you to stop!" Song Junjie shouted, stomping the ground andunching himself like an arrow.
His fist aimed directly at Shen Mo''s back!
"Qingxuan Sect rules, no fighting within the sect grounds, vitors will be punished!"
An old voice sounded.
The spiritual energy in the air fluctuated for a moment.
Then, Song Junjie''s charging figure stiffened.
It was as if he was bound by an irresistible force.
Veins bulged on his forehead, his face turned red, and he barely managed to squeeze out a few words, "Elder Li..."
The disciples instinctively looked up, towards the elderly woman in the green and white robe, feeling a sense of awe.
She was an inner sect elder, a Core Formation stage powerhouse.
Elder Li didn''t even need to move; a mere flick of her finger could manipte the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to restrain lower-level cultivators.
"Song Junjie, considering you are a true disciple, you are exempt from punishment. Go to the Sword Cliff and reflect on your actions," the elderly woman said indifferently.
Song Junjie clenched his fists tightly.
But in the end, he could only lower his head, "Yes..."
Even as a true disciple, he couldn''t go against an inner sect elder.
If he did, the punishment would be even more severe.
If his father''s enemies got wind of this, the most severe consequence could even be losing his true disciple status!
Step by step, Song Junjie left the martial arts field with a face full of humiliation.
The disciples looked on in astonishment. Why would Elder Li side with Shen Mo?
Even if a true disciple attacked someone, most inner sect elders would turn a blind eye.
Moreover, Song Junjie''s father was Grand Elder Song Chaofeng.
Shen Mo was also surprised, and he couldn''t help but nce at the elderly woman.
Elder Li looked at him and nodded slightly. Shen Mo immediately understood.
This Elder Li was on Murong Yue''s side!
His heart warmed instantly. Having a powerful backer is great!
He bowed from a distance, "Thank you, Elder Li, for upholding justice. Qingxuan Sect should indeed be fair and just!"
Elder Li nodded and said nothing more. Shen Mo also left the martial arts field without lingering.
He had many things to do. There was no need to waste time here.
After Shen Mo left, the martial arts field gradually became lively again.
However, the disciples were all discussing what had just happened.
Was Elder Li Shen Mo''s backer?
Would Elder Li really risk offending Grand Elder Song Chaofeng for Shen Mo?
Such gossip was the most tantalizing.
Liu Yunxuan, being in the know, naturally understood why Elder Li would help Shen Mo.
He snorted coldly.
If Song Junjie''s punch hadnded, Shen Mo would have been severely injured.
If Song Junjie were even more ruthless, he might have severely damaged Shen Mo''s foundation, possibly even destroying his heavenly-grade physique!
What a pity!
Chapter 24: Profound-Grade Top-Tier Tiger Gold, Fierce Tiger Forest
Shen Mo left the martial arts arena, his mind filled with the life panel he had just seen.
[Name: Song Junjie]
[Realm: Entry-level Foundation Establishment]
[Fate: Astonishing luck, handsome appearance, dual sword and de mastery, Wind and Thunder Sword and de Body]
[Destiny: Stops at the Great Achievement in the Core Formation Realm, serves as an inner elder at the Divine Sword Sect. Fifty-six yearster, while seeking breakthroughs, he dies from an ambush by an elder from a rival sect.]
[Recent Opportunity 1: Attempted to recruit Shen Mo to his faction at the martial arts arena today but was rejected, leading to anger and an impulsive attack. Eventually stopped by an inner elder, he was punished to meditate on Sword Cliff, where he unexpectedly gained insights and advanced to the third level of the Gale Sword Technique.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: Three days after punishment, left the sect to vent his anger in the Qingcang Mountains. identally discovered a corpse in the Tiger King''s cave in the Fierce Tiger Forest. The corpse had a low-grade storage ring containing a superior-grade Profound-grade treasure, Tiger Gold, which can be used as the metal element in foundation.]@@novelbin@@
"Tiger Gold, a superior-grade Profound-grade treasure, clearly a precious metal attribute item."
Shen Mo smiled.
If he hadn''t shed with Song Junjie today, he would have missed this opportunity.
This item was perfect for crafting his ideal Dao Foundation with a metal element.
"However, judging by his destiny, he is also quite the traitor." Shen Mo sneered.
"I should first head to the Underground Ice Lake, then to the Fierce Tiger Forest, conveniently in a straight line."
"I truly am a genius at nning my time."
Shen Mo quickly left the sect, heading straight for the Underground Ice Lake.
The Underground Ice Lake was extremely secretive.
If it weren''t for Liu Yuanfeng identally discovering it, no one would have found it.
When Shen Mo arrived, no one had been there yet.
The cold here repelled many beasts.
However, Shen Mo was well-prepared.
He had purchased some Warming Pills from the Treasure Pavilion of the Qingxuan Sect.
Warming Pills, like Breath-Holding Pills, were low-grade Yellow-level pills and easy to obtain.
Their effect was simple: just holding them under the tongue continuously provided warmth.
This way, he wouldn''t be frozen by the cold of the Ice Lake.
Thus, he easily obtained the Profound Yin Ice Marrow at the bottom of theke.
After cing the Profound Yin Ice Marrow into his storage ring, Shen Mo hurried towards the Fierce Tiger Forest.
The Fierce Tiger Forest was also located within the Qingcang Mountains, but this forest was not exclusively for Qingxuan Sect disciples; many itinerant cultivators were present as well.
This was understandable.
Although the Qingxuan Sect was nominally the master of the Qingcang Mountains, the range was too vast to bepletely controlled by the sect.
There were always corners that the Qingxuan Sect could not reach.
These ces became havens for itinerant cultivators.
Some Qingxuan Sect disciples were even robbed and killed by these cultivators.
Hence, the previous sect leader stepped forward.
He knew well that the Qingxuan Sect could not fully control the Qingcang Mountains nor expel all the itinerant cultivators.
So, he decided to open certain areas to them.
This maintained stability in the Qingcang Mountains.
Since then, the Qingxuan Sect has opened parts of the Qingcang Mountains to itinerant cultivators.
The condition was that they could not attack Qingxuan Sect disciples.
Thus, the cultivators had a way to make a living and wouldn''t risk attacking the sect''s disciples.
The Fierce Tiger Forest was one of these open areas.
This forest covered arge area, filled with fierce tigers, hence the name.
Tigers were valuable.
Tiger skin, bones, meat, blood, and even genitals could fetch a good price.
So, many itinerant cultivators came to the Fierce Tiger Forest to hunt tigers.
Additionally, the forest produced several precious herbs.
The Qingxuan Sect purchased these herbs at high prices.
These herbs were treasures sought after by itinerant cultivators.
When Shen Mo arrived at the entrance of the Fierce Tiger Forest, it was bustling, forming a small market.
It was filled with cultivatorsing and going.
There were even outer and inner disciples of the Qingxuan Sect among them.
The market was noisy with shouts and sales pitches.
However, most of the goods were fake, meant to swindle money.
Shen Mo walked through the crowd with great interest, looking around.
To his left, a stall owner shouted, "Fellow Daoists, pay attention! Three Golden Python eggs! They will at least grow to the third rank! Don''t miss this chance! Only one hundred medium-grade spirit stones for all three!"
On the ground in front of him were threerge, yellowish eggs that looked quite impressive.
A cultivator passed by and asked, "Can you lower the price?"
"Of course."
"Hmm... One hundred low-grade spirit stones."
"Deal! Pay up quickly!"
The cultivator immediately showed a look of regret. "Seems like I still lost out."
Laughter erupted around them.
Shen Mo walked briskly through the small market and arrived at the entrance of the Fierce Tiger Forest.
This was the gathering spot for forming teams.
Some cultivators, feeling their strength was insufficient, would form teams.
Some would team up with acquaintances.
Some, being alone, would have to temporarily team up with strangers.
This was very risky.
If there were no gains, it would be fine.
But if the gains were significant, well, it might even include oneself as part of someone else''s gains.
As soon as Shen Mo arrived, a beautiful woman''s eyes lit up. She swayed her hips like a snake as she quickly walked towards him.
"Little brother, I am She Yan. Would you like to team up and do a task together?"
She then whispered softly in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I know a secret location with Tiger Gold. We can split the loot fifty-fifty!"
She deliberately moved very close, even pressing her soft chest against Shen Mo''s arm.
Shen Mo frowned slightly. The pair of ''cushions'' in front of her were indeedrge.
But anyone who came on so strong definitely had bad intentions.
He instinctively nced at her life panel.
[Name: Wu Lan]
[Realm: Perfection in Qi Condensation Realm]
[Fate: Astonishing luck, venomous woman, loves poison, naturally toxic body]
[Destiny: Stops at the Perfection in Foundation Establishment Realm. Sixteen yearster, uses her old tricks to harm a disciple of the Thunderfire Sect, angering the Grand Elder. Several Core Formation Realm elders chase and finally kill her mercilessly.]
[Recent Opportunity 1: Today, deceives an ignorant cultivator into teaming up to explore the Fierce Tiger Forest, takes advantage of a moment of inattention tounch a sneak attack, kills him, and gains three medium-grade spirit stones and two high-grade Yellow-level weapons.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: One monthter, tries to deceive Qingxuan Sect''s true disciple Zhao Ting, gets chased by Zhao Ting, falls into an underground cave but luckily finds a superior-grade Profound-grade treasure, Earth Vein Marrow, and refines it to reach the peak of Qi Condensation Realm.]
Shen Mo''s eyes flickered.
What a cunning woman.
She called herself She Yan, but her real name was Wu Lan.
Her usual work seemed to involve deceiving ignorant cultivators into teaming up and then killing them.
Her end was tragic though, angering the Thunderfire Sect and dying miserably.
However, the Earth Vein Marrow was a valuable item.
It would be perfect for his earth foundation.
"No team-ups."
Shen Mo tly refused and walked past her straight into the Fierce Tiger Forest.
Wu Lan pouted. He seemed smart and not easily swayed by lust.
Smart men were hard to deceive, and those not easily swayed by lust were also hard to deceive.
She couldn''t be bothered to waste any more time and turned to look for those easily controlled by their lower halves.
Soon, she found her target.
A young man who looked na?ve and inexperienced, followed by three mature-looking middle-aged warriors.
One nce was enough to see that he was the type of family disciple nurtured from a young age and just recently started traveling.
"Young master, you look like a family disciple. I am Song Li. How may I address you, and what brings you to the Fierce Tiger Forest?" Wu Lan swayed her hips as she approached the young man.
The young man, never having seen such enthusiasm, was immediately captivated and confessed, "I am Luo Fei... from the Luo family of Ancient Wind City. I am here to hunt the Tiger King! These three are the warriors I hired!"
Wu Lan discreetly sized up the three men and chuckled, "The Tiger King? I know about it. Why don''t we team up?"
"Great! Thank you so much!" Luo Fei responded with a joyful smile.
Chapter 29: Eternal Flame in Qingxuan Cave
Elder Li excitedly extended his hand, "Let me feel it, is it really a perfect Dao foundation?"
The elder next to him was also overjoyed, "Let me feel it too!"
Shen Mo had been smiling happily, but he immediately froze upon hearing this.
It was one thing for Murong Yue to touch, but you guys too?!
At this moment, Liu Yuanfeng suddenly said, "I do not doubt the Sect Master''s discernment, but I am concerned that in her excitement, she may have made an error in judgment. Therefore, I would like to verify it personally."
Song Chaofeng nodded, "I feel the same way."
Both men stood up and approached Shen Mo. Shen Mo immediately became alert.
These two might not really want to feel the foundation; they could have some ulterior motives.
''Master, help!''
A fragrant breeze swept by. Murong Yue''s graceful figure stood in front of him.
"My disciple is very important to me. I am worried that during your examination, you might inadvertently cause harm. Please sit down."
Murong Yue''s beautiful eyes were fixed intently on them.
Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng remained silent for a moment before smiling amiably.
"The Sect Master overthinks. Everything I do is for the benefit of the sect. How could I harm your disciple?" Liu Yuanfeng waved his hand.
Song Chaofeng added, "I always prioritize the sect''s interests. I am delighted that the Qingxuan Sect has such a talented disciple and would never harm him. Sect Master, your concern saddens me."
After speaking, both sat back down.
Murong Yue then coldly snorted and sat back down, pulling Shen Mo close to her, almost protectively.
Shen Mo felt a warmth in his heart. ''My master is so good!''
"Did the Sect Master convene us just to discuss this? It seems a bit of a waste of our valuable time," an elder suddenly spoke up.
Murong Yue nced at him. This elder was a staunch supporter of Liu Yuanfeng, clearly speaking on his behalf.
"Not only that."
Murong Yue looked around and said deliberately, "Qingxuan Cave has opened. ording to the ancestral rules, only disciples who have reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and possess exceptional talent may enter."
"Today, my disciple Shen Mo has also reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, so he should enter Qingxuan Cave!"
Her voice echoed through the grand hall, ringing in every elder''s ears.
The elders'' expressions changed subtly, exchanging nces with each other.
Shen Mo also smiled inwardly. My beautiful master has some strategy.
There were twelve Core Formation Realm cultivators present, including Murong Yue and Liu Yuanfeng, which left ten elders.
Among these ten elders, some were staunch supporters of Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng, some were firm supporters of Murong Yue, and some were fence-sitters, undecided.
Murong Yue''s announcement about Shen Mo''s perfect Dao foundation and entry into the Foundation Establishment Realm was a move to win over these undecided elders.
She was sending a message: the Sect Master''s disciple is the legitimate sessor!
Moreover, her disciple possessed a Heavenly Physique, a perfect Dao foundation, and had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm at seventeen!
His talent and potential were undoubtedly the best among all Qingxuan Sect disciples!
Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng''s expressions grew increasingly grim. It was clear that Murong Yue''s sudden second meeting was all about Qingxuan Cave.
However, with Shen Mo suddenly reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, they couldn''t think of a reasonable way to obstruct him.
If given more time, they could have forced him, like they did with Zhao Ting and Luo Shengnan, to choose between his future and his family, forcing him to leave Qingxuan Sect at this critical moment.
But now, there was no room for maneuver. The only option left was to call for a vote.
After all, they had more elders on their side. They could offer more benefits to the two undecided elders.
Liu Yuanfeng gave Song Chaofeng a look.
Song Chaofeng cleared his throat, ready to speak.
Murong Yue spoke loudly and clearly, "I did not convene this meeting to discuss with the elders."
"This is an announcement."
"My disciple deserves such a privilege!"
"Tomorrow, Shen Mo, Liu Yunxuan, and Song Junjie will be the selected disciples to enter Qingxuan Cave."
"Meeting adjourned!"
With that, she waved her wide sleeves and left with Shen Mo.
This left Song Chaofeng and Liu Yuanfeng, who had been about to speak, looking at each other in frustration.
The elderly Elder Li chuckled, "Vice Sect Master, Grand Elder, this meeting wasn''t to decide Shen Mo as the fifth true disciple, so there was no need for a vote."
"The selection for Qingxuan Cave only needs to meet the conditions. The Sect Master''s word is enough to decide! Don''t forget who the Sect Master of Qingxuan Sect is!"
She let out a coldugh and turned to leave.
The other elders who firmly supported Murong Yue also left with him.
Soon, only Liu Yuanfeng, Song Chaofeng, and their staunch supporters remained in the grand hall.
"Elder Song, the treasure in Qingxuan Cave must not fall into Shen Mo''s hands," Liu Yuanfeng said calmly.
Song Chaofeng snorted, "I know, you don''t need to remind me. Junjie has always been lucky; that treasure will naturally be his!"
Liu Yuanfeng stood up slowly and said, "What I mean is that, if necessary, we can use some less honorable methods."
Song Chaofeng''s eyes sharpened as he grasped his meaning.
...
Mountaintop Courtyard. Murong Yue and Shen Monded gently.
The voluptuous beauty seemed a bit tired and went straight to her desk to sit down, resting her heavy chest on the table.
"No need to be formal, have a seat." Murong Yue waved her hand.
Shen Mo nodded and found a chair to sit in.
Murong Yue tapped the table lightly for a while before speaking in a serious tone, "After you enter Qingxuan Cave tomorrow, the cave will be sealed for three Months. We will have no knowledge of what happens inside, so be cautious."
Shen Mo nodded slightly. He wasn''t too worried about Song Junjie.@@novelbin@@
Both being at the entry level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, he had the advantage of cultivating a heavenly-level technique, possessing a heavenly physique, and having forged a perfect Dao foundation, which meant his strength would surpass Song Junjie''s.
However, Liu Yunxuan was at the major aplishment stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
The difference was significant.
In a head-to-head fight, Shen Mo believed he could ensure his survival but couldn''t defeat Liu Yunxuan.
Murong Yue saw his concern and smiled faintly, "Don''t worry. With the Communication Stone I gave you, he can''t kill you."
"Moreover, Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng are so anxious, even using underhanded methods to force Zhao Ting and Luo Shengnan to return home. It must be because something significant has emerged in the deepest part of Qingxuan Cave."
"If you obtain that item, Liu Yunxuan won''t be your match."
Shen Mo''s curiosity was piqued. What could possibly give him the ability to counter someone two minor realms above him?
Murong Yue''s eyes gleamed with longing, "An Eternal me!"
"In the deepest part of Qingxuan Cave, there''s a Red Lotus me that has been absorbing underground fire energy for many years!"
She continued, "The power of an Eternal me is incredibly strong. Once it attaches to an attack, it can multiply its power several times over!"
"You possess the supreme heavenly physique, the Scorching Sun me Body. This fire attribute physique is the most suitable for taming the Red Lotus me."
"While taming it, you will also absorb the rich spiritual energy of Qingxuan Cave. With your talent, reaching the small achievement stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm in a short time is entirely possible."
"By then, with the Red Lotus me, how could Liu Yunxuan possibly be your opponent?"
Chapter 30: Qingxuan Cave Officially Opens, Liu Yunxuan’s Opportunity
After Murong Yue finished speaking, Shen Mo''s interest was piqued.
"Master, could you exin more about the Eternal me? I have never heard of it before," he asked eagerly.
Murong Yue smiled, "Eternal mes are mes naturally born from heaven and earth."
"The attributes of Eternal mes vary. Some can control minds, some are wildly explosive and can burn everything, some possess strange devouring abilities, some can turn water into ice, and some feed on lightning."
"There are a total of forty-nine types of Eternal mes in the world. However, only those with great fortune can obtain them."
"Eternal mes don''t have ranks but are listed on the Eternal me Rankings. Generally, those ranked higher are more powerful."
"But this is not absolute. Even if the world''s number one Eternal me has just been born, it naturally cannotpare to an Eternal me that has been growing for many years."
Shen Mo nodded repeatedly after hearing this.
It seemed that Eternal mes were indeed the most formidable things in the world.
Murong Yue smiled, "I believe in you. With your Scorching Sun me Body, you are destined for the Red Lotus me. You will surely tame that Eternal me!"
"I will not disappoint Master!" Shen Mo cupped his hands in respect.
He was equally excited.
If he could tame the Red Lotus me, hisbat power would undoubtedly skyrocket!
...
The next day.
All the disciples gathered at the deep pool of Qingxuan Sect.
The entrance to Qingxuan Cave was behind the waterfall. This was something many disciples had not expected.
The entrance to Qingxuan Cave was currently shrouded in azure mes. These mes were extremely explosive and terrifying.
Even Core Formation Realm cultivators dared not approach.
Murong Yue, Liu Yuanfeng, and Song Chaofeng channeled their spiritual energy, attacking the mes at the entrance.
Their forces shed.The power of the azure mes visibly weakened.
Behind them stood Shen Mo, Liu Yunxuan, and Song Junjie.
These three were the chosen disciples to enter Qingxuan Cave this time.
Xiao Fan and Liu Fei stood among the crowd below. Xiao Fan made no effort to hide his envy and jealousy.
"I should be one of those standing there!" A fierce beast seemed to roar within his heart.
Liu Fei noticed his mood and quicklyforted him, "Brother Xiao Fan, you are always the best in my heart."
"Missing Qingxuan Cave is nothing. My father can provide you with many other cultivation resources."
Xiao Fan forced a smile.
He felt that he should be there, that he should be one of those entering Qingxuan Cave to cultivate.
Yet, somehow, he had be just a spectator. It felt as if his ce had been taken by someone else.
"Perhaps, luck truly isn''t on my side," Xiao Fan thought, his eyes dimming. "Am I really a genius? Am I truly favored by fortune?"
Shen Mo nced at the despondent Xiao Fan in the crowd, his expression calm.
The first time he had seen Xiao Fan, Xiao Fan''s life panel indeed showed that he would enter Qingxuan Cave in the future.
And it was Xiao Fan who was supposed to tame the Red Lotus me.
However, Xiao Fan''s heaven-grade technique and heavenly physique were intercepted by Shen Mo.
As a result, Xiao Fan''s cultivation had slowed significantly.
He hadn''t reached the Foundation Establishment Realm before Qingxuan Cave opened and was still only at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm.
Therefore, he wasn''t chosen to enter Qingxuan Cave.
Fate was easily altered. A slight nudge could lead to apletely different life path.
Shen Mo no longer paid attention to Xiao Fan and instead checked his life panel.
[Name: Shen Mo]
[Realm: Entry-level Foundation Establishment]
[Fate: Son of a Apothecary, Innate Wisdom, Sword Dao Enthusiast, Slightly Lucky, Scorching Sun Fiery Body]
[Destiny: Ultimately cultivates to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Five yearster, dies during the Divine Sword Sect''s attack on Qingxuan Sect.]
[Recent Opportunity: Today, enters Qingxuan Cave for cultivation.]
[Recent Turn 1: A monthter, while cultivating in Qingxuan Cave, gets severely injured by Liu Yunxuan, who has tamed the Red Lotus me. No progress in realm.]
[Recent Turn 2: A month and a halfter, upon leaving Qingxuan Cave, gets framed by Liu Yunxuan, who ims that Shen Mo caused Song Junjie''s death.]
This morning, Shen Mo woke up and saw these two pieces of information, feeling quite helpless.
It seemed that his luck was stillcking a bit. The Red Lotus me would definitely be found by Liu Yunxuan first.
He wondered what method Liu Yunxuan used to tame that violent Eternal me. Shen Mo quickly nced at Liu Yunxuan.
[Name: Liu Yunxuan]
[Realm: Major Achievement Stage of Foundation Establishment Realm]
[Fate: Great Fortune, Handsome and Graceful, Avoids Danger, Smooth Sailing, Lesser Yin Profound Ice Body]
[Destiny: Reaches the peak of the Core Formation Realm and bes an inner elder of the Divine Sword Sect. Forty yearster, while attempting to seize a supreme earth-level treasure, he is besieged by three Core Formation Realm cultivators. Hidden injuries and external wounds re up, and he is killed by the three.]
[Recent Opportunity 1: Today, gains entry to Qingxuan Cave for cultivation.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: One monthter, with the help of the Eternal me Crystal provided by his father Liu Yuanfeng, he finds the Red Lotus me in the fourth deep cave of Qingxuan Cave and barely tames it, greatly increasing his strength but leaving him with hidden internal injuries.]
"Eternal me Crystal? I''ve never heard of it, but it sounds simr to the Dark me Crystal."
"It must be something very important for taming an Eternal me. That''s why he could find and tame it so quickly."
"My guess was right; he could only barely tame it. After all, his physique is ice-attribute, more suitable for taming ice-attribute Eternal mes, while the Red Lotus me is a pure fire-attribute Eternal me."
Shen Mo pondered and then looked at the unlucky Song Junjie.
[Name: Song Junjie]
[Realm: Entry-level Foundation Establishment]
[Fate: Incredible Luck, Handsome Appearance, Master of Swords and des, Wind and Thunder Sword Body]
[Destiny: One monthter, finds the Red Lotus me with the help of the Eternal me Crystal but discovers Liu Yunxuan has beaten him to it. In an attempt to seize Liu Yunxuan''s Eternal me, he is killed by Liu Yunxuan.]
[Recent Opportunity: Today, gains entry to Qingxuan Cave for cultivation.]
Shen Mo shook his head. What an unlucky fellow.
Lacking strength and average luck, yet still wanting to seize the Eternal me.
You''d be lucky if he didn''t crush your skull. At this moment, Murong Yue suddenly raised her eyebrows.
Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng also noticed the azure mes beginning to weaken. All three of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Using spiritual power directly to counter the azure mes and open the entrance was extremely exhausting.
Even though all three were Core Formation Realm cultivators, they couldn''t sustain it for long.
Murong Yue immediately said, "The mes at the entrance of Qingxuan Cave are about to disappear. You only have thirty breaths."
"Two monthster, I, the Vice Sect Master, and the Grand Elder will reopen the entrance together. Remember the time."
"If you miss the opportunity toe out, you will have to wait fifty years to get out!"
Shen Mo and the other two replied solemnly, "Understood!"
A few breathster, the azure mespletely disappeared.
The three of them lightly touched the ground and, like a gust of wind, rushed into Qingxuan Cave.@@novelbin@@
After they entered, Murong Yue and the other two stopped channeling their spiritual energy. The azure mes reappeared, sealing the entrance once again.
Liu Yuanfeng suddenly chuckled, "Sect Master, aren''t you leaving?"
Murong Yue directly sat cross-legged on the spot and said calmly, "I will wait here for two months."
Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng exchanged a nce and sneered inwardly before quickly leaving. Only Murong Yue remained, quietly waiting.
Chapter 31: Entering Qingxuan Cave, Shen Mo Finds the Red Lotus Flame
Crossing through the azure mes, Shen Mo found himself in an unfamiliar environment.
All around were greenish-blue rock walls. Crystals embedded in the walls emitted a faint glow.
Despite theck of sunlight, visibility was not hindered. Shen Mo realized that they were at the highest point of Qingxuan Cave.
Looking down, he saw a maze of interconnected tunnels. It was dizzying.
"What a hot ce," Song Junjie muttered.
Shen Mo nced at him, also feeling the intense heat in the air. The temperature inside Qingxuan Cave was at least double that of the outside.
Fortunately, as Foundation Establishment cultivators, their bodies were more adaptable to extreme temperatures than those in the Qi Condensation Realm.
"The spiritual energy here is indeed abundant," Liu Yunxuan said, taking a deep breath in amazement.
Shen Mo also took a deep breath, feeling the scorching spiritual energy rush into the Dao foundation in his dantian.
The tform transformed it into pure and refined spiritual energy.
The spiritual energy vortex had long been suppressed and disappeared due to the Dao foundation tform.
Liu Yunxuan and Song Junjie adjusted to the environment of Qingxuan Cave.
Song Junjie then turned to Shen Mo and sneered, "I heard you forged a perfect Dao foundation?"
Shen Mo didn''t bother to reply and chose a path to walk down.
This kind of indifference felt like hitting cotton, making Song Junjie quite annoyed. "So what if you have a heavenly physique and a perfect Dao foundation? Without growing, it''s all for nothing!"
Shen Mo stopped and smirked, "How do you know I have a heavenly physique?"
Song Junjie was startled and then realized he had slipped up.
"Master ordered that no one should reveal my heavenly physique. So, where did you get your information, Senior Brother Song?"
Shen Moughed mockingly, "Oh, your father is the Grand Elder. It seems the Grand Elder leaked the information."
"Tsk tsk, what''s the Grand Elder''s intent? Ignoring the Sect Master''s orders? Does he have other intentions?"
In a few words, Song Junjie turned red with anger, "You speak nonsense! My father has always been loyal to Qingxuan Sect! I... I got the information from..."
He struggled to find an excuse.
"I will report this to Master after leaving Qingxuan Cave!" Shen Mo said calmly.
Song Junjie, furious, instinctively lunged at Shen Mo.
Liu Yunxuan quickly held him back, "Junjie, don''t be impulsive."
Then he whispered, "Have you forgotten our true purpose for entering Qingxuan Cave? Now is not the time to sh with him."
"Wait until we get that treasure, then we can deal with him."
Song Junjie calmed down, "Yes! I almost let him provoke me."
He took a few deep breaths topose himself, "Thank you, Brother Yunxuan, for reminding me."
Liu Yunxuan chuckled, "No need to thank me. We''re like brothers, closer than family. I''ll always be on your side."
"If I can''t get the treasure, I''ll let you have it. It must not fall into Shen Mo''s hands."
"Great! Brother Yunxuan is indeed worth befriending!" Song Junjie felt warm inside.
Shen Mo overheard their low conversation and couldn''t help but chuckle.
Poor Song Junjie, being used and still helping the user count money. Liu Yunxuan was already digging a pit for him, earning his trust.
No wonder they both had Eternal me Crystals, but the Red Lotus me ultimately went to Liu Yunxuan, not Song Junjie.
This kid''s intelligence was indeed worrisome.
Soon, the three parted ways. Shen Mo headed straight for the deepest part.
He had already obtained crucial information from Liu Yunxuan''s life panel.
Cave number Four!
This meant that the deepest part of Qingxuan Cave had multiple deep caves.
As for the numbering, it was likely done by predecessors who had been here before.
He needed to find the Red Lotus me before Liu Yunxuan used the Eternal me Crystal to locate and tame it! Shen Mo moved downward without any pause.
Even when he encountered ces with extremely dense spiritual energy, thirty times that of the outside world, he didn''t stop.
Having a clear goal from the start had its advantages.
Everything else was secondary. A few dayster, Shen Mo arrived at a fork in the cave.
The temperature here had risen to an ufortable level.
However, Shen Mo''s heavenly fire attribute physique made him much more tolerant of high temperatures than the average person.
At this depth, it felt like soaking in a hot spring. There was no burning sensation yet.
"There are indeed several deep caves here."
Before Shen Mo were six deep tunnels, each leading further down. Someone had carved numbers beside each tunnel with a weapon.
They werebeled one to six. Without hesitation, Shen Mo chose tunnel number four and continued downward.
Along the way, due to the intense heat, he had to stop several times to drink fresh water from his storage ring.
Ten more days passed. The surrounding temperature suddenly began to soar wildly.
The brightness in the cave also started to climb. Shen Mo was delighted rather than rmed.
This temperature, this brightness. It had to be the Red Lotus me.
He was getting close to its location! "Lovely treasure, I''ming for you!"@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo''s face lit up with joy as he continued forward. Rounding a corner, a verdantke appeared before his eyes.
Upon closer inspection, Shen Mo realized that theke wasn''t water but fire.
This wasn''t ake; it was a sea of mes!
In the midst of this green sea of fire was liquid fire spiritual energy, also known as fire spirit liquid!
And at the center of this red-orange sea of fire, a lotus-like me was burning quietly.
The me had nine petals, with each petal forming a lotus flower around the center.
It was the Red Lotus me!
Sensing the approach of a stranger, the Red Lotus me stirred, instinctively preparing to re up and attack.
Shen Mo''s eyes shed, and he quickly took off his disciple robe.
He then activated the Hell me Destruction Manual, revealing his Scorching Sun Fiery Body.
His chest began to glow, bing scorching hot. Nine lines extended from his heart towards his head, hands, and feet.
The Red Lotus me, about to attack, suddenly paused. Then, it approached Shen Mo at a much faster speed than before.
Shen Mo took a deep breath, standing still. The Red Lotus me soon reached his side.
The mes swept over his feet, instantly burning his boots to ash. As the mes coiled around his legs, his pants disintegrated.
In an instant, Shen Mo stoodpletely naked, revealing his strong, muscr body.
Wherever the Red Lotus me touched, a strong burning sensation followed.
Shen Mo gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and didn''t move.
He was afraid that any slight movement might scare off the Eternal me.
The Red Lotus me circled him once, as if examining him. Finally, it seemed to express a feeling of satisfaction.
The next moment, it lunged directly at Shen Mo''s abdomen!
"Hiss...!"
Shen Mo clenched his teeth.
Good heavens. A bit lower, and I''d be a eunuch!
"Little me, don''t be so rough. Let me guide you. Come here."
Shen Mo endured the pain and guided the Red Lotus me towards his mouth. Seeing an opening, the Red Lotus me happily darted inside.
Chapter 34: Do I Need a Reason to Leave Qingxuan Cave
The two of them immediately looked in the direction of the sound.
They were stunned to see a familiar figure. Their expressions froze.
How did he get to the entrance of Qingxuan Cave? Liu Yunxuan immediately red at Song Junjie.
''Didn''t you say your trap was foolproof?''
''Didn''t you say that the protective spiritual power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator could be easily shattered?''
Song Junjie was equally dumbfounded. What the hell is going on?!
Shen Mo looked at their bewildered faces and smiled, "What''s the matter, gentlemen? Aren''t you happy to see me?"
Without waiting for a response, he continued, "Actually, I understand. Seeing me must indeed be disappointing for you."
"You..." Song Junjie hesitated.
Setting traps wasn''t exactly a noble act, and he was too embarrassed to speak directly.
Shen Mo smiled, "Want to know how I avoided your trap?"
Song Junjie instinctively nodded.
Shen Mo chuckled, "Your trap was so easy to spot that anyone could avoid it."
Song Junjie was flustered. ''Am I really that bad?''
Can''t even set up a proper trap?
Seeing Song Junjie''s reflexive acknowledgment, Liu Yunxuan shook his head in frustration.
This idiot. He just sold himself out with one sentence.
Shen Mo''s voice grew colder, "Song Junjie, setting traps to harm a sect master''s disciplewhat do you think your punishment should be?"
Song Junjie''s heart trembled. He knew he was in the wrong.
Moreover, Shen Mo''s strength far surpassed his.
With Liu Yunxuan already having suffered a defeat, he dared not confront Shen Mo either.
Faced with Shen Mo''s questioning, he stood there, frozen, unable to utter a word.
Shen Mo sneered. This person had clearly lost all will to fight.
"Don''t get too cocky. Don''t think that just because you''re the sect master''s disciple, no one will dare touch you," Liu Yunxuan said ominously.
Shen Mo walked up to him and, without waiting for him to spew more threats, pped him hard.
Smack!
Liu Yunxuan''s handsome left cheek instantly swelled up, a bright red handprint appearing.
Liu Yunxuan was shocked. The burning sensation on his cheek told him he had indeed been pped.
"You...!" He was instantly furious. Even his father had never hit him like this!
Shen Mo smiled and pped him again on the right cheek.
Smack! Another crisp sound echoed.
Another bright red handprint appeared. Liu Yunxuan was furious, trying to stand up and fight back.
Shen Mo lifted his leg and kicked him over, then stomped hard on his chest, right on his previous wound.
Liu Yunxuan screamed in pain. The wound from the Red Lotus me had yet to heal.
Now, Shen Mo''s stomp made it tear open even more.
"How dare you do this to me? My father won''t..." Liu Yunxuan roared.
Smack!
Another p.
"My father..."
Smack!
This time on the right cheek.
"I..."
Smack!
This time he pped both cheeks.
Liu Yunxuan, filled with anger but not daring to speak, covered his right cheek, ring at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo smiled and pped him again.
Liu Yunxuan was enraged, "I didn''t even say anything...!"
"Do I need a reason to p you?" Shen Mo''s smile grew brighter.
But to Liu Yunxuan, this smile was sinister and terrifying, like that of a demon.
He looked to Song Junjie behind Shen Mo for help.
But saw that Song Junjie had shrunk into a corner like a frightened chick, not daring to look at them.
As if everything had nothing to do with him. As if the crisp sounds of ps were just background music.
Liu Yunxuan was in despair. This idiot was not only stupid but also cowardly.
At that moment, the blue mes at the entrance of the Qingxuan Cave began to quiver.
The temperature of the mes gradually decreased, and the color began to fade.
Liu Yunxuan and Song Junjie became excited. They could finally leave!
I don''t want to stay in the Qingxuan Cave any longer.
"Let me out now!"
On the other side, just outside the cave entrance.
Murong Yue, Liu Yuanfeng, and Song Chaofeng stood there, channeling their spiritual power into the me barrier of the Qingxuan Cave.
Further outside, there were nine inner sect elders, dozens of outer sect elders, many stewards, and both inner and outer sect disciples.
Zhao Ting and Luo Shengnan, two direct disciples, had hurried back to the mountain gate after dealing with their family affairs.
They regretted missing the opening of the Qingxuan Cave.
Now, with the cave about to reopen, they naturally came to see what changes had urred in those three.
Luo Shengnan eyed Zhao Ting, who wore her loose disciple robe like a tight outfit, and licked her lips, "Zhao Ting, I heard that the Qingxuan Cave opened early this time because a great treasure might have appeared."
"Who do you think is most likely to obtain the treasure, Shen Mo, Liu Yunxuan, or Song Junjie?"
Zhao Ting''s gaze was calm, "First of all, Song Junjie is out of the question. He''s just an arrogant idiot relying on his father, the Grand Elder."
"Although Shen Mo has great potential, his strength is slightly inferior to Liu Yunxuan''s."
"If Shen Mo gets the treasure first, it might be taken by Liu Yunxuan."
"If Liu Yunxuan gets the treasure, Shen Mo won''t be able to take it from him."
"So, I still favor Liu Yunxuan."
Luo Shengnan chuckled, "I don''t think so. I find Shen Mo quite interesting. Who knows, maybe he''ll surprise us."@@novelbin@@
Then she looked at Zhao Ting''s younger sister, Zhao Rou, "What do you think, little sister?"
Zhao Rou said firmly, "I believe in Shen Mo!"
Among the inner sect disciples, another pair attracted attention.
The man was handsome, the woman beautiful.
They were Xiao Fan and Liu Fei.
Liu Fei clung to Xiao Fan''s arm, her head resting on his shoulder, whispering, "Brother Xiao Fan, my father said that the eternal me will definitely be obtained by my brother, and Shen Mo will most likely be left in the Qingxuan Cave."
Xiao Fan sneered, "He deserves it."
"He''spletely blind to the current situation in the Qingxuan Sect."
"Murong Yue is not a reliable backer; the Vice Sect Master and the Grand Elder are."
"He dared to offend both the Vice Sect Master and the Grand Elder. It''s a miracle he hasn''t been secretly killed."
Liu Fei caressed his chest intimately, "Brother Xiao Fan will be much happier without him around."
Xiao Fan smiled, "Of course, my mood is already great!"
He grabbed Liu Fei''s fair wrist, whispering in her ear, "How about we go to the back mountain pond tonight and try some water y?"
Liu Fei blushed, whispering like a mosquito, "Okay."
At that moment, the blue mes at the entrance of the Qingxuan Cave rapidly dimmed.
Everyone perked up, looking towards the entrance.
Murong Yue nced at Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng, seeing their confident expressions, she couldn''t help but feel anxious.
However, after being the sect leader for decades, she had grown a lot and was no longer the young girl in her forties.
No matter how anxious she felt, she wouldn''t show it.
"Shen Mo... please be safe," Murong Yue prayed in her heart.
Then, footsteps were heard from the entrance.
Song Junjie rushed out as if escaping.
Seeing his father standing there, he ran straight to his side, as if a terrifying beast were chasing him.
Song Chaofeng was initially pleased, but seeing his son''s expression, he frowned.
However, this was a public setting, so he didn''t ask much, merely holding Song Junjie''s hand to reassure him.
More footsteps followed.
This time it was Liu Yunxuan.
Liu Yunxuan''s handsome face was severely swollen, looking like dough.
He was wrapped in bandages, which were dripping blood onto the ground.
Seeing Liu Yunxuan in such a miserable state, everyone present was shocked.
What exactly happened in the Qingxuan Cave?
Chapter 35: Murong Yue’s Fury
At that moment, a third figure emerged from the cave. Shen Mo strode out of the Qingxuan Cave withrge steps.
He took a few deep breaths of the fresh, cool air outside, feeling extremely refreshed.
Upon seeing Shen Mo, Song Junjie became even more terrified and shrank further behind Song Chaofeng.
His appearance caused Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng''s hearts to sink. In the crowd, Xiao Fan and Liu Fei''s expressions also changed drastically.
Shen Mo wasn''t supposed to leave the Qingxuan Cave. How was he able toe out alive?
Moreover, Liu Yunxuan was severely injured, and Song Junjie looked as if he had seen a ghost, while Shen Mo was perfectly fine and seemed to have even advanced in his cultivation.
What on earth had happened? Xiao Fan felt like his brain had turned to mush.
He believed Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng were equally puzzled.
With a sullen face, Song Chaofeng immediately berated, "Shen Mo, what did you do to my son?!"@@novelbin@@
The invisible pressure of a Core Formation stage cultivator pressed down on Shen Mo, intending to instill fear.
Murong Yue snorted coldly, stepped forward, and stood in front of Shen Mo, shielding him from Song Chaofeng''s pressure.
"Grand Elder, what kind of tone is that? Are you interrogating my disciple as if he were a criminal?" The beautiful sect leader''s voice turned icy cold.
''No matter what, my disciple is definitely not at fault. Even if he is, he''s still right! How dare you speak to my disciple so harshly? I''ll retort without hesitation.''
Shen Mo is the sect leader''s disciple? Since when?
What kind of extraordinary potential does Shen Mo have to make the sect leader, who has never epted a disciple, take him in personally?
Shen Mo suddenly smiled, "Grand Elder, I can exin, but are you sure you want me to do so in front of everyone?"
"Speak! Why wouldn''t I dare to hear it? What''s there that can''t be said?" Song Chaofeng shouted angrily, "You must give an exnation for scaring my son like this!"
Murong Yue turned to look at Shen Mo, her beautiful eyes shing with a questioning look.
Shen Mo nced at her and gave a barely noticeable nod. Seeing this, Murong Yue felt reassured.
Shen Mo then smiled faintly, "Alright, since the Grand Elder insists, I''ll speak loudly."
"A few days ago, when I finished my cultivation and was preparing to return to the entrance of Qingxuan Cave, I encountered a trap halfway."
"Grand Elder, can you guess what kind of trap it was? It was crossbows and special arrows designed to pierce spiritual power."
Upon hearing this, Song Chaofeng''s expression changed drastically.
Murong Yue also seemed to have thought of something, her eyebrows furrowing.
Liu Yuanfeng''s eyes flickered, pondering something.
Shen Mo reached into his storage ring and pulled out two crossbows and several arrows, throwing them on the ground.
"I don''t know who set up such a trap on my way back to the cave entrance. I''m guessing it wasn''t Brother Liu or Brother Song, right? It must have been some senior disciple who entered the cave fifty years ago."
Shen Mo shed a brilliant smile, looking at Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng.Murong Yue gestured, and the crossbows and arrows floated in front of her.
Her eyes flickered with recognition. As the sect leader, she was well aware of the trademarks of the Five Sects of Xuanjing prefecture.
Verdant Vine Sect was known for its poisons and the special venom of the Spirit-Breaking Flower.
These crossbows were also produced by Verdant Vine Sect.
However, the mark of Verdant Vine Sect on the crossbow handles had been erased.
Murong Yue''s icy gaze swept over Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng, "You two, you need to give me an exnation."
It turned out that the beautiful sect leader, who rarely got angry, was extremely terrifying when enraged.
Even though she was holding back her anger, the fire in her eyes made Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng tremble with fear.
"I know nothing of this," Liu Yuanfeng immediately shook his head. Song Chaofeng also gritted his teeth, "I don''t know either."
"Summon all the elders for a meeting!" Murong Yuemanded sharply.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunderous bell tolls echoed throughout the Qingxuan Sect. Shen Mo and the others did not participate in the meeting. There was no need for them to.
As soon as he took out the crossbows and arrows, the evidence was enough for Murong Yue to seize the opportunity and pressure Song Chaofeng intopromising and yielding significant benefits.
Unless Song Chaofeng intended to rebel against the sect, he would have to give in. Shen Mo deliberately produced these items in front of everyone to maximize the impact.
"That old guy still has some brains, but unfortunately, his son is an idiot."
Shen Mo sneered.
If he had indeed been left in the Qingxuan Cave, no one would have known about the crossbows and arrows from Verdant Vine Sect.
Fifty yearster, even if someone discovered these items, the poison would have long dried up and been impossible to identify.
The poison on them would have long dried and be unrecognizable. Unfortunately, they miscalcted.
Through his life panel, Shen Mo had seen everything clearly.
When Shen Mo, Liu Yunxuan, and Song Junjie walked down from the cave entrance, all the disciples'' eyes were on Shen Mo.
Liu Yunxuan and Song Junjie, these two direct disciples, had be insignificant.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, Zhang Weihu, and other acquaintances quickly approached Shen Mo.
Luo Shengnan greeted him with a punch to the chest.
"You, you''re quite something!"
Shen Moughed heartily. Luo Shengnan was surprised.
Her strength was significant, enough to make even a disciple at the major achievement stage of Foundation Establishment Realm wince.
Yet, Shen Mo didn''t even blink.
Zhao Ting whispered, "Did you get the treasure?"
Shen Mo smiled, "What if I say no?"
"Don''t joke around. Look at Song Junjie; he doesn''t look like a victor. As for the heavily injured Liu Yunxuan, he couldn''t have gotten the treasure either," Zhao Ting said, his eyes deep with thought. "The final winner must be you."
Shen Mo smiled. He hadn''t expected Zhao Ting, who appeared rough and burly, to analyze so meticulously.
"Well, it''s a sect secret, hard to say, hard to say. Let''s just say Song Junjie got the treasure; he deserves it!" Shen Moughed heartily.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou all rolled their eyes.
The distant Song Junjie, who was leaving alone, heard the mockingughter behind him and felt even more deste. He quickened his pace, looking like a defeated dog.
Liu Yunxuan left with the help of Xiao Fan and Liu Fei. Before leaving, he gave Shen Mo a deep, lingering look.
...
As night deepened, the heated discussions in the main hall continued. Disciples passing by the hall could see various lights shooting into the sky.
This was the power inadvertently released by the emotional Core Formation stage cultivators.
Throughout the day, the disciples chattered endlessly about the incident. Wu Huairen walked nervously on the path to the inner sect disciples'' courtyard.
The inner sect disciples he encountered greeted him respectfully on the surface, but mocked him behind his back after he passed.
The extent of this outer sect elder''s despicable behavior was well known.
Any inner sect disciple who wasn''t particrly talented would find their rewards secretly deducted by him.
If he could even deduct rewards for newly promoted inner sect disciples, there was nothing he wouldn''t do.
Wu Huairen couldn''t bother with the inner sect disciples'' mocking behind his back.
He was almost walking on instinct. Before long, he arrived at an unremarkable small courtyard.
To his surprise, there was someone at the gate.
Judging by the attire, it was a steward from the Library Pavilion.
"Elder Wu... you''re here too?" The Scripture Pavilion steward said in surprise.
Wu Huairen muttered, "Yes... I have some business with Shen Mo..."
"Me too. Why don''t you go first..." The steward said awkwardly.
"No, you go first. My business isn''t urgent," Wu Huairen showed a rare disy of grace.
"No, no, Elder Wu, you should go first. You are, after all, an elder, and respect should be given to seniors."
"No, no, you go first. I never take advantage of my age..."
At that moment, the courtyard door opened.
Shen Mo frowned, staring at the two of them, "What are you doing? Disturbing my cultivation?"
Both of them were instantly embarrassed.
Chapter 36: Wu Huairen Apologizes and Offers Compensation, Shen Mo Promoted to True Disciple
Shen Mo nced at Wu Huairen, "I recognize you."
Wu Huairen''s expression was awkward.
He had to bow and say, "I behaved improperly before and embezzled the rewards that should have gone to you, Shen Mo. I havee today to return them."
With that, he respectfully presented ten mid-grade spirit stones.
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
Previously, when he was promoted to an inner disciple, he had, under the guidance of Zhang Weihu, received the inner disciple''s reward from Wu Huairen.
ording to the rules, he should have received one hundred low-grade spirit stones.
However, Wu Huairen withheld twenty, handing over only eighty.
As time passed, Shen Mo had pushed this matter to the back of his mind.
Now, Wu Huairen hade to him proactively, not only returning the withheld amount but offering several times more.
This surprised Shen Mo a bit.
"And you?" Shen Mo nced at the deacon of the Scripture Pavilion beside him.
The deacon immediately knelt down, "Senior Brother Shen Mo, I was wrong! I was terribly wrong!"
"At that time, I shouldn''t have let greed take over. You were just entering the Scripture Pavilion normally, and I had the audacity to take a spirit stone from you."@@novelbin@@
"Since then, I''ve often felt guilty. Today, I havee to my senses and realized I shoulde and apologize!"
With that, he also presented a mid-grade spirit stone aspensation.
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
Feeling guilty? Coming to his senses?
Nonsense!
It was quite simple why these two hade to apologize.
The news that Shen Mo had be the sect master''s disciple had spread throughout Qingxuan Sect!
Moreover, there was a rumor that a rare treasure, suspected to be an Eternal me, had been obtained by Shen Mo in Qingxuan Cave. This news had spread among the disciples like wildfire.
Although Shen Mo hadn''t admitted it himself, many believed it to be true. That he had obtained the Eternal me.
This news had reached the ears of Wu Huairen and the deacon of the Scripture Pavilion. Naturally, they were terrified.
They never expected that the disciple they had once exploited and extorted had be such a formidable figure!
Shen Mo casually epted the spirit stone from the Scripture Pavilion deacon.
"Get lost. If I find out you''re exploiting ordinary disciples again, don''t expect to stay in Qingxuan Sect." Shen Mo said indifferently.
"Yes, yes, thank you, Brother Shen Mo." The deacon expressed his gratitude tearfully.
Wu Huairen was stunned for a moment, "What about me..."
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "Elder Wu has extorted quite a few disciples over the years. How could you have only ten mid-grade spirit stones in your pocket?"
"Look at this deacon of the Scripture Pavilion; he offered a mid-grade spirit stone aspensation."
"With Elder Wu''s ability to umte wealth, you shouldn''t be outdone by a deacon."
Wu Huairen, upon hearing this, became even more embarrassed.
He had no choice but to rummage through his storage ring and produced twenty more mid-grade spirit stones.
"Is this enough?" Wu Huairen asked hopefully.
Shen Mo remained silent.
Wu Huairen, looking pained, took out a mid-grade inner armor made of forest python skin, "This inner armor is made of forest python skin. It''s durable, resistant to ordinary weapons, and can withstand fire."
Only then did Shen Mo nod slightly.
Thirty mid-grade spirit stones and a mid-grade inner armor, barely eptable.
"Elder Wu, you should discipline yourself well in the future and never repeat your mistakes." Shen Mo admonished with a faint smile.
"Yes, yes, I won''t dare again." Wu Huairen felt as if he had been granted amnesty.
...
As night deepened, Shen Mo sat cross-legged on his bed, practicing the breathing technique of the me Hell Destruction Manual.
He had a feeling that he would soon master the second level of the me Hell Destruction Manual.
With this opportunity, he could reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
At this moment, a fragrant breeze suddenly wafted in.
Before Shen Mo could react, a curvaceous and beautiful figure appeared in front of his bed.
It was his beautiful master, Murong Yue. Shen Mo immediately got up and saluted as a disciple.
Murong Yue, still beautiful as ever, had a deeper look of sorrow between her brows.
She waved her hand and casually sat down on a wooden chair in the bedroom.
"Master must havee because the matter has been resolved." Shen Mo asked.
Murong Yue nodded, "Song Chaofeng imed that Song Junjie only intended to use the crossbows and bolts of the Verdant Vine Sect as a trump card against enemies. Those crossbows and bolts were purchased by Song Junjie through the ck market and not directly traded with the Green Vine Sect."
"He attacked you in a fit of rage."
Shen Mo scoffed. This was clearly just an excuse.
With Murong Yue''s experience and wisdom, she certainly wouldn''t believe it.
"Song Chaofeng, feeling that he had failed in teaching his son, has resigned from the position of Great Elder and will spend four years in seclusion on Sword Cliff, reflecting on his actions."
"Song Junjie, for purchasing the Verdant Vine Sect''s crossbows to harm fellow disciples, is expelled from Qingxuan Sect effective immediately and will never be allowed back."
"As for the vacant position of True disciple left by Song Junjie, it will be given to you."
Murong Yue finished speaking and looked at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo cupped his hands, "Thank you, Master."
All of this was within his expectations.
ording to the normal trajectory of his life panel, the Sword Sect''s campaign against the various sects of Xuanjiang Prefecture was still more than four years away.
Song Chaofeng didn''t fall out with Murong Yue; instead, hepromised and retreated. Clearly, he believed that the time was not yet ripe, and his strength was not fully developed.
"Disciple, my master often said that great trends are irreversible; one can only sail with the wind and never against the current," Murong Yue suddenly said.
"But sometimes, I wonder, is it truly irreversible? Wouldn''t everything be solved by just pping Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng to death?"
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
It seemed that Murong Yue had also noticed the changing trends in Xuanjing prefecture.
However, the idea of pping Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng to death was dangerous.
Liu Yuanfeng was colluding with the Divine Sword Sect. Song Chaofeng had close ties with the Verdant Vine Sect.
If these two died, the Divine Sword Sect and the Verdant Vine Sect would definitely seek revenge.
This could even lead to the premature destruction of Qingxuan Sect.
Shen Mo said solemnly, "Master, your disciple has a thought."
Murong Yue nodded her fair chin.
Shen Mo carefully chose his words, "For most people, the great trends are indeed irreversible. But if one''s strength is sufficient, then the great trends will only bow at your feet."
A strange light shed in Murong Yue''s eyes.
"Good disciple!"
She was silent for a long time, then suddenly eximed with joy.
Murong Yue''s aura suddenly became uncontroble. It fluctuated, bing strong and weak alternately.
Shen Mo was slightly surprised, "Master, what''s happening..."
Murong Yue smiled, "I have had an epiphany. This might be an opportunity for me to reach the peak of the Core Formation stage."
Shen Mo cupped his hands, "Congrattions, Master!"
Before he had enough strength, he naturally hoped Murong Yue would be stronger.
Moreover, he knew that everything this beautiful master did was for his own good.
He wished Murong Yue would be the number one expert in the world.
Murong Yue, in high spirits, rxed her furrowed brows, "You''ve tamed the Red Lotus me, haven''t you? Let me have a look; I''ve never seen an Eternal me in my life."
Shen Mo nodded.
With a thought, a me in the shape of a red lotus appeared in his palm.
It burned quietly, without any violent or fierce tendencies.
Murong Yue reached out to touch it. The Red Lotus me instinctively attacked.
Murong Yue instinctively cried out and quickly withdrew her fingers.
Shen Mo also immediately retracted the Red Lotus me, scratching his head, "Sorry, Master, it''s still wild and untamed. Sometimes it attacks without mymand."
Murong Yue, however,ughed even more happily, "No problem, the stronger it is, the happier I am!"
"I will be in seclusion for a while. If you need anything, feel free to find Elder Li. Also, these are for you."
She said this and disappeared in an instant. Shen Mo looked closely and saw a brand-new storage ring on the table.
Opening it, he was greeted by a mountain of elixirs and treasures. Shen Mo was overjoyed.
This kind of support was truly delightful!
Chapter 37: Another Encounter with Xiao Fan and Xiao Fan’s New Opportunity
As time passed, the turmoil surrounding Qingxuan Cave gradually subsided.@@novelbin@@
Great Elder Song Chaofeng was in seclusion on Sword Cliff, and his son Song Junjie had been stripped of his disciple status. Meanwhile, the news that Shen Mo had be the fourth true disciple had spread throughout Qingxuan Sect.
Even if some didn''t know who the sect master was or who the vice sect master was, everyone certainly knew about Shen Mo, the rising dark horse.
Half a monthter, Shen Mo stopped cultivating and got up from his bed.
He frowned slightly.
Since leaving Qingxuan Cave, he had been taking Foundation Stabilizing Pills and practicing the me Hell Destruction Manual to reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
However, even though the spiritual power in his dantian was fully umted, and his Dao foundation was stable, he just couldn''t break through that barrier. It always felt like something was missing.
"It seems that cultivation can''t be achieved by shutting myself away; I need to go out and see more of this beautiful world."
Shen Mo nodded slightly. In in terms, he needed to seek opportunities.
"Just in time for a meal, I''ll go to the Dining Hall for some food."
Shen Mo got up and headed straight for the Dining Hall.
He pushed open the door and walked briskly.
His robes had changed from the previous dark green inner disciple robes to the deep green robes with gold trim of a true disciple, indicating his elevated status.
As he walked, all the inner disciples, no matter what they were doing, stopped to respectfully salute him.
Their gazes were full of admiration and reverence.
Shen Mo nodded slightly. He felt a bit emotional.
A few months ago, he was a humble outer disciple, always at risk of being expelled from Qingxuan Sect.
Now, he had be one of the four true disciples of Qingxuan Sect, enjoying the sect''s resources.
Even the inner elders would not easily provoke a true disciple. Because true disciples were highly likely to reach the Core Formation stage in the future.
Offending a true disciple was essentially offending a future Core Formation cultivator.
As he passed a deep pool, Shen Mo suddenly saw Xiao Fan and Liu Fei.
Many disciples were gathered around them. These disciples surrounded Xiao Fan, their tones full of admiration.
"Brother Xiao Fan, you really forged a perfect Dao foundation? That''s incredible."
"Yes, indeed. In our Qingxuan Sect, there are probably fewer than five people who have forged a perfect Dao foundation."
Faced with this ttery and praise, Xiao Fan''s face was full of confidence.
Someone else said, "As far as I know, only two people in our sect have forged perfect Dao foundations: our sect master, Murong, and Brother Shen Mo."
"So, Brother Xiao is the third after the sect master and Brother Shen Mo!"
"To stand shoulder to shoulder with Brother Shen Mo, Brother Xiao is truly extraordinary!"
Hearing this, the self-satisfaction on Xiao Fan''s face suddenly stiffened.
It was reced by anger.
''Comparing me to Shen Mo, what do you mean by that? Am I inferior to Shen Mo?''
At this moment, another disciple eximed, "Everyone, look! Brother Shen Mo is over there!"
"Oh my gosh, it''s really Brother Shen Mo! I''m a fan of his!"
"Brother Shen Mo, I''ve always admired you. Can we be Dao partners?"
"Get lost, do you think you''re worthy of being Brother Shen Mo''s Dao partner? Move aside, it''s my turn!"
The disciples quickly left Xiao Fan''s side and flocked to Shen Mo.
In an instant, only a few people remained around Xiao Fan, while more gathered around Shen Mo.
Xiao Fan''s expression turned from stiff to cold.
He had just forged a perfect Dao foundation and entered the Foundation Establishment stage, just started enjoying the attention and adoration of others. Yet, in the blink of an eye, it was taken away.
This feeling was too stifling! At this moment, several beautiful female disciples surrounded Shen Mo.
They were of various types, all stunningly beautiful. Some bold female disciples even began to touch Shen Mo''s body.
Shen Mo smiled helplessly and had to activate his protective spiritual power to fend off their restless hands.
Xiao Fan, furious, waved his hand and left with Liu Fei. Shen Mo watched his departing figure, lost in thought.
"He truly deserves to be a reincarnation of a great one and a child of destiny. Even though I''ve intercepted many of his opportunities, he still managed to forge a perfect Dao foundation. In the future, he will surely receive the sect''s preferential resources."
"However, he still has many great opportunities on him, and I can''t miss them."
Shen Mo smiled faintly. He had just seen that Xiao Fan''s life panel revealed new opportunities.
[Name: Xiao Fan.]
[Realm: Entry Level Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[Fate: Child of Destiny, Graceful Immortal, Reincarnation of a Great Power, Surviving Against the Odds, Fiery Battle Body.]
[Destiny: Will stop at the Major Aplishment of the Nascent Soul Stage, be the Hall Master of the Scorching Heaven Pce, and be honored as the Immortal Chi Feng. He will bid for a valuable treasure at an auction, but his identity will be exposed, leading to a chase by old enemies, and he will ultimately die in battle.]
[Recent Opportunity 1: Today, he will ept a mission to hunt the Amethyst Lion and go to Lion Roar Valley in the Qingcang Mountains. During his escape from the Lion King and rogue cultivators, he will identally discover a rudimentary cave left by a Nascent Soul stage cultivator in the southeast corner of Lion Roar Valley. In the cave''s alchemy furnace, he will find three Pure Essence Foundation Pills. After consuming them, he will continuously advance and reach the Major Aplishment of the Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: Three dayster, after reaching the Major Aplishment of the Foundation Establishment Realm, he will leave the cave and immediately counterattack the Lion King and the rogue cultivators, obtaining the Lion King''s demon crystal and the treasures from the rogue cultivators.]
[Recent Opportunity 3: Ten dayster, following Liu Yuanfeng''s orders, he will go to Qingshan City to secretly meet Ouyang Qian, the daughter of the deputy sect master of the Divine Sword Sect. The two will fall in love at first sight. Ouyang Qian will give him five bottles of Grand Foundation Pills, and after consuming them, he will reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[Recent Opportunity 4: One monthter, he will again go to Qingshan City to secretly meet Ouyang Qian, and on the way, he will be intercepted by rogue cultivators. After killing them, he will find another part of the Forest Sword Art in their storage ring.]
[Recent Opportunity 5: Two monthster, he will go to Qingshan City intending to consummate his rtionship with Ouyang Qian, but will be ambushed by the Hng Fngzhng. After chasing it to its nest, he will find a storage ring containing three Earth-grade Evesting Body Protection Pills.]
Shen Mo pondered.
He had heard of the Pure Essence Foundation Pills, which were said to be refined using secret methods to create Foundation Pills of the highest grade in the Profound Rank.
One Pure Essence Foundation Pill was equivalent in potency to thirty ordinary Foundation Pills.
However, the method of refining Pure Essence Foundation Pills had long been lost.
As for the Grand Foundation Pills, they were simrly refined using secret methods and were a unique form of the Divine Sword Sect.
One Grand Foundation Pill was equivalent in potency to ten ordinary Foundation Pills.
"Those Grand Foundation Pills are gifts from the deputy sect master''s daughter to Xiao Fan, so I won''t be able to obtain them."
"But I definitely can''t miss out on the Pure Essence Foundation Pills."
"After consuming them, I have a high chance of directly reaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage."
"Additionally, I must obtain the other part of the Forest Sword Art."
The Forest Sword Art was one of Shen Mo''s trump cards. Although iplete, it was still an Earth-grade spiritual weapon.
If it wereplete, even Core Formation cultivators would covet it.
"Moreover, the Evesting Body Protection Pills are excellent items. When I cultivate the me Hell Destruction Manual to break through to the Core Formation Stage, I will need to condense and destroy the me Hell Golden Core nine times."
"Shattering the core will severely injure the body, and the me Hell Destruction Manual mentions that it requires treasures containing immense life energy to heal. The Evesting Body Protection Pills are one such treasure!"
Shen Mo was pleased.
Since that was the case, he decided not to go to the Fire Hall but headed straight to the Mission Pavilion instead.
The disciples in the Mission Pavilion saw him and immediately saluted, their expressions extremely respectful.
Although Shen Mo had just be a true disciple, many had clearly seen that Liu Yunxuan was covered in injuries when he left Qingxuan Cave!
Therefore, many disciples believed that Shen Mo''s strength had already surpassed Liu Yunxuan''s, making him the strongest among the four true disciples!
It was only right to show respect to such a person!
Chapter 38: Doing a Mission Together and the Zhao Family’s Past Turmoil
Shen Mo arrived on the second floor of the Mission Pavilion.
Before he could look at the stone tablet to find the task, the Mission Pavilion steward hurriedly approached him, "Is that you, Junior Brother Shen? What task would you like to take on? I''ll help you find it!"
Shen Mo looked at her. It was the same round-faced woman who was always dozing off before.
But now, she was full of energy. Shen Mo smiled.
The status of a true disciple really had its perks.
Thest time he came to the Mission Pavilion, this steward had been quite indifferent towards him.
"Hunting the Amethyst Lion," Shen Mo nodded.
The round-faced woman quickly found the task.
"A five-star task, hunting the Amethyst Lion, with a reward of sixty low-grade spirit stones and a bottle of Foundation Pills."
After saying this, she immediately praised, "With Junior Brother Shen''s strength,pleting this task will surely be easy."
Five-star and six-star tasks were meant for Foundation Establishment realm disciples and stewards.
The difficulty of a five-star task was roughly suited for entry-level to great aplishment Foundation Establishment realm.
Shen Mo smiled and nodded. This task seemed simple, only five stars.
In reality, it would provoke the Lion King and attract rogue cultivators'' attacks.
The actual difficulty was definitely six stars. However, he wouldn''t reveal this to anyone. After all, he saw it on Xiao Fan''s life panel.
"Eh? Senior Brother Shen, you''re here too?"
A familiar female voice sounded behind him. Shen Mo turned to see a slender and agile woman. It was Zhao Rou.
Zhao Rou said with surprise, "Senior Brother Shen, are you here for a task too? How about we do it together?"
Shen Mo was about to refuse but subconsciously nced at her life panel.
[Name: Zhao Rou.]
[Realm: Peak Qi Refining Realm]
[Fate: Family Disciple, Surprisingly Lucky, Short-Lived, Skilled in Spears and Staffs, Pure Water Condensation Body.]
[Destiny: Today, she will take on a task to steal an Amethyst Lion cub, but will be caught by the Lion King provoked by Xiao Fan. While escaping, she will be attacked by Xiao Fan and used to stall the Lion King. Despite her desperate attempts to flee, she will be unable to escape and will ultimately be devoured by the Lion King.]
[Recent Opportunity 1: Today, she will find a mutated Amethyst Lion cub in the Lion''s den.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: Today, while escaping, she will identally find a top-grade Profound rank treasure, the Evesting Vine, by a small pool in Lion Roar Valley but will be unable to take it.]
Shen Mo felt a twinge of pity after reading this. Zhao Rou was a decent person. She was attractive, with a slender waist like a water snake.
Moreover, when he was soaking in the medicinal pool, she had always sided with him, believing he was a strong ally.
"Originally, she would have obtained the mutated Amethyst Lion cub and, if she didn''t die this time, her strength would greatly improve. What a pity."
Shen Mo also noticed the Evesting Vine.
The Evesting Vine contained a vast amount of life energy and was one of the treasures mentioned in the me Hell Destruction Manual.
If refined into a pill, it would be even more effective. This item was rare and had to be secured.
"Since I''m taking her opportunity, I''ll save her life as well. It''s only fair."
With this thought, Shen Mo nodded slightly, "Alright, let''s do the task together."
Zhao Rou beamed with a bright smile, "Thank you, Senior Brother Shen!"
The two then left the Mission Pavilion, heading straight for the area in the Qingcang Mountains where the Amethyst Lion resided.
Many disciples in the Mission Pavilion saw them so close and looked on with envy.
Zhao Rou was one of the top beauties among the inner disciples. But usually, she was indifferent to everyone.
Even the handsome Liu Yunxuan, Song Junjie, and the charming Xiao Fan had not stirred her heart.
Many male disciples thought she preferred women. Unexpectedly, she admired Shen Mo.
More than an hour after the two left the Mission Pavilion, Xiao Fan also arrived.
He nned to take on a high-difficulty task to test his strength.
After all, having just entered the Foundation Establishment realm, he was itching for action.
The round-faced woman saw the handsome Xiao Fan and immediately beamed with joy.
"Junior Brother Xiao, what task would you like to take on? I''ll help you find it."
Xiao Fan discreetly nced at her ample chest, then smiled gracefully, "Thank you, Senior Sister Steward. I just entered the Foundation Establishment realm and would like to take on a five-star task to test my skills."
"A five-star task..." The round-faced woman checked her records, "Unfortunately, the most suitable task for you, hunting the Amethyst Lion, has already been taken by Junior Brother Shen Mo and Junior Sister Zhao Rou."
A flicker passed through Xiao Fan''s eyes. Shen Mo again! Why is this person always ahead of him?
Moreover, Shen Mo was doing a task with Zhao Rou. That slender-waisted girl had long been the object of his desires. Yet, Zhao Rou never gave him a chance.
Now, she had easily been taken by Shen Mo.
"Well, there''s this task of stealing an Amethyst Lion cub. It has a good reward, and Junior Brother Xiao might find some lone Amethyst Lions to practice on." The round-faced woman smiled.
"Alright, I''ll take this one." Xiao Fan nodded, took the task, and left the sect, heading towards the Qingcang Mountains.
...
On the other side.
Shen Mo and Zhao Rou were advancing through the dense forest.
Foundation Establishment cultivators could fly on swords, though the term "sword" could refer to any type of spiritual weapon.
However, sword flight was more stylish, so it wasmonly referred to as such.
The two were not flying on swords because it consumed spiritual power too quickly and was unnecessary.
At the Core Formation stage, cultivators could truly fly using their spiritual energy, which consumed mostly the ambient spiritual energy, with only a small portioning from their own reserves.
That was the best way for cultivators to travel.
As they walked, they chatted.
"...By the way, what happened recently that forced you and your brother to rush back to Gufeng City?" Shen Mo suddenly asked, recalling something.
Zhao Rou sighed, "There have been rogue cultivators forming a bandit camp around Gufeng City, frequently attacking the city''s merchant caravans, severely harming the business interests of the Gufeng City Chamber of Commerce."
"Three years ago, our Zhao family led several small families and hired experts at great expense to tten the bandit camp. Almost all the bandits were killed, except for their leader."
"Recently, somehow, that bandit leader reached the Foundation Establishment realm and obtained a Profound-grade spiritual weapon. He gathered a group of Qi Refining rogue cultivators and attacked our Zhao family''s assets."@@novelbin@@
"My second uncle was killed, my third uncle was severely injured, and my father lost a hand."
"The situation was dire, so the family had no choice but to send letters asking us to hurry home and help."
Zhao Rou shook her head, "Who knew that as soon as we got home, there were signs that Qingxuan Cave was about to open here in the sect."
Shen Mo pondered. These events seemed too coincidental.
Considering Liu Yuanfeng''s dealings with the Divine Sword Sect and Song Chaofeng''s connections with the Green Vine Sect, it became clear.
He could guess that one of them had secretly instigated these events.
Given their abilities, it wasn''t difficult for them to help a rogue cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining reach the Foundation Establishment realm and arm him with some Profound-grade spiritual weapons.
"You must have guessed something, right? My brother did too, but he didn''t want to tell me. He said it would be worse for me to know." Zhao Rou sighed.
Shen Mo nodded slightly, "It''s better not to know for now. The mastermind behind this will reveal themselves eventually. Just wait."
"Alright, I trust Senior Brother Shen." Zhao Rou nodded repeatedly, having great confidence in Shen Mo.
Chapter 39: The Three-Step Plan to Obtain the Pure Essence Foundation Pills
The two continued to walk along the mountain path.
Shen Mo pointed to the valley ahead, "We''ve arrived. This Lion Roar Valley is the core area where the Amethyst Lions reside, and the surrounding areas are their hunting grounds."
"I''ve heard there are eleven Amethyst Lions in this group, including one Amethyst Lion King that has reached the peak of the third stage. What''s your n, Senior Brother Shen?" Zhao Rou asked eagerly.
Shen Mo smiled, "My n is in three steps: enter, kill them all, and clean up the battlefield."
Zhao Rou was stunned.
Then, she saw Shen Mo''s robes fluttering as he walked into Lion Roar Valley alone.
This was originally Xiao Fan''s opportunity.
Xiao Fan,cking strength, could only run when faced with eleven third-stage demonic beasts, including a peak third-stage Amethyst Lion King.
But Shen Mo was now at the major aplishment stage of the Foundation Establishment realm.
Moreover, his cultivation technique was of the top Heaven grade, his martial skills were of the middle Profound grade, and he had the assistance of the Eternal me.
With such strength, if the Amethyst Lion King exposed its vital points, he could kill it in one move!
As for the ordinary Amethyst Lions, Shen Mo could easily dispatch them with a single strike.
Roar!
A thunderous roar of the Amethyst Lion echoed through the valley.
Before Zhao Rou could react, she heard the dying wails of the lions.
Zhao Rou quickly grabbed her spear and rushed into the valley.
However, Shen Mo''s speed in killing the Amethyst Lions far exceeded her expectations.
In less than a quarter of an hour, all eleven Amethyst Lionsy dead on the ground.
The once majestic peak third-stage Amethyst Lion King, which had killed many Qingxuan Sect disciples and rogue cultivators attempting to steal its cubs, nowy in a pool of blood, its once-bright eyes lifeless.
Shen Mo stood there, his gold-trimmed disciple robes spotless and untainted by blood.
Killing this group of Amethyst Lions seemed effortless for him. Zhao Rou gazed at Shen Mo''s figure with admiration.
Since childhood, the person she admired most had been her elder brother, Zhao Ting.
But now, this young man had stormed into her heart with an unmatched aura. Compared to him, her elder brother seemed to pale inparison.
"Perhaps, I truly like him..." Zhao Rou felt her heart flutter.
"You take care of the beasts. There seems to be something over there. I''ll go check it out," Shen Mo said casually.
"Alright." Zhao Rou nodded sweetly.
Shen Mo walked straight toward the southeast corner of Lion Roar Valley.
There, the rock wall indeed had a barely noticeable crack.
With a little force, the crack began to loosen. With a strong push, the crack suddenly opened wide.
Shen Mo, already prepared, lightly stepped onto the ground and did not fall.
The noise startled Zhao Rou, who rushed over only to see a deep cave, its depth unclear.
She called out anxiously, "Senior Brother Shen, what''s wrong?"
Shen Mo''s voice echoed from below, "Don''t worry, just checking. There might be some unexpected treasures."
Zhao Rou quickly replied, "Senior Brother Shen, I''ll go with you!"
Shen Mo continued, "No need. You guard the Amethyst Lions'' bodies and the cubs in their den. They are very valuable; don''t let any rogue cultivators get to them."
Zhao Rou immediately understood, "Alright, I''ll follow your orders, Senior Brother Shen."
In the dark cave, Shen Mo lit a torch. After searching for a while, he found a simple cave dwelling.
There was only a stone bed and an alchemy furnace. A skeleton sat cross-legged on the stone bed, long dead.
Judging by its appearance, the person had died of natural causes.
Shen Mo bowed respectfully to the skeleton before approaching the alchemy furnace and opening it.
The furnace had been sealed for many years. However, the interior was still slightly warm.
As soon as Shen Mo opened it, he smelled a refreshing fragrance. Looking inside, he found three marble-sized pills.
The pills were entirely multicolored and had intricate patterns.
"These are the Pure Essence Foundation Pills."
Shen Mo''s face lit up with joy as he ced them in a small jade bottle and stored them in his bag.
"This alchemy furnace seems valuable too. I''ll take it as well."
Before leaving, Shen Mo bowed slightly to the skeleton once more. Taking someone''s relics, it was only proper to show respect.
Shen Mo continued searching the cave and soon found an exit leading back to the surface.
However, when he returned to the surface, he saw four rogue cultivators attacking Zhao Rou.
Lion Roar Valley, long dominated by the Amethyst Lions, was quite dangerous and rarely visited by rogue cultivators.
These Qi Refining realm rogue cultivators were not there to hunt Amethyst Lions but to search for herbs near the valley.
Not hearing any lion roars for a long time, they grew suspicious and came to investigate.
Seeing all eleven Amethyst Lions dead and only a lone Qingxuan Sect female disciple present, they became greedy.
They coveted not only the Amethyst Lions'' bodies but also Zhao Rou herself.
Zhao Rou was a woman of exceptional beauty, with a slender and agile figure, the kind many rogue cultivators could only dream of having.
At present, Zhao Rou was only at the peak of the Qi Refining realm.
She could handle one or two Qi Refining cultivators, but facing four at once, she quickly found herself at a disadvantage.
"I warn you, there is a Senior Brother of mine in the Foundation Establishment realm here in Lion Roar Valley. If he shows up, you will all be dead!" Zhao Rou shouted angrily.
The leader of the four rogue cultivatorsughed heartily, "Littledy, you''ve been trying to scare us with that, but where is he? Making up stories isn''t right."@@novelbin@@
Another rogue cultivator sneered, "Heh heh, let''s move quickly and knock her out. Even if she has a Senior Brother in the Foundation Establishment realm, he won''t be able to do anything to us!"
At that moment, Shen Mo strode forward, "I heard someone was looking for me?"
This sudden voice startled the four rogue cultivators. The leader stared at Shen Mo, feeling his aura, and immediately panicked.
Zhao Rou''s face lit up with joy. Shen Mo had indeed returned!
She knew he woulde! At this moment, her heart felt sweeter than honey.
"Foundation... he really is in the Foundation Establishment realm..." the leader swallowed nervously.
A rogue cultivator beside him growled, "Boss, don''t be afraid! There are four of us! Can''t we take on one Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
Smack!
The leader pped him hard, scolding, "You''re courting death! Do you have any idea how powerful a Foundation Establishment cultivator is?"
He immediately knelt before Shen Mo, "Big brother! No, my lord! We were blind and offended your Dao partner. Please, be magnanimous and spare us!"
Hearing "Dao partner," Zhao Rou blushed.
She and Shen Mo weren''t Dao partners; it was a misunderstanding by the rogue cultivator.
Seeing Shen Mo remain silent, the leader hurriedly added, "My lord, we are actually on the same side as Qingxuan Sect. We are allies!"
Shen Mo''s smile was faint, "Oh? How so?"
The rogue cultivator quickly exined, "Our leader works for Deputy Sect Master Liu! He assigned us to find an alchemist''s cave in the Qingcang Mountains. We''ve been searching for three or four years."
"Deputy Sect Master Liu praised our leader, saying he does excellent work."
"So, you see, we really are on the same side!"
Shen Mo''s eyes narrowed.
An alchemist''s cave? Was it the one he just found?
No, it couldn''t be. The cave Liu Yuanfeng was looking for would be far more valuable than the simple cave he discovered.
"Hmm, it seems we are indeed allies." Shen Mo smiled.
The four rogue cultivators breathed a sigh of relief.
"However, I am not on the same side as Liu Yuanfeng." Shen Mo''s eyes suddenly turned sharp.
In the next instant, he drew his sword.
Lightning-fast sword strikes!
Blood sttered!
Before the four rogue cultivators could react, they clutched their throats and copsed, quickly losing their lives.
Zhao Rou witnessed this and felt even more sweetness in her heart.
To her, this was Shen Mo''s way of protecting her.
"Still just standing there watching? As a fellow disciple, don''t you have any intention to help?" Shen Mo patted her shoulder and then called out loudly to the side.
Zhao Rou was startled. There were more people?
From Shen Mo''s tone, it seemed they were Qingxuan Sect disciples?
Chapter 40: Returning to Qingshan City and Elder Li’s Life-Saving Jade Pendant
From behind the rock wall came an awkwardugh.
"Senior Brother Shen, with you here, I didn''t see the need to show myself." Xiao Fan emerged, smiling awkwardly.
He had thought he was well-hidden, but Shen Mo had still discovered him.
Zhao Rou was initially stunned, but her gaze soon turned sharp.
"Junior Brother Xiao, what do you mean by this? You could have stepped in to save me just now, so why didn''t you?" she demanded, staring directly into Xiao Fan''s eyes.
Xiao Fan''s expression grew even more awkward. He had nned to jump in at thest moment to help.
That way, Zhao Rou would be on the brink of being vited and psychologically broken.
He could then y the hero, rescuing her and easily breaking through her psychological defenses.
But when he heard Zhao Rou mention that Shen Mo was also in Lion Roar Valley, he abandoned the idea.
Xiao Fan knew well that he was no match for Shen Mo.
"Seeing a fellow disciple in trouble and having the ability to help but choosing not to is something I will report to the elders when we return to the sect," Shen Mo said coolly.
Hearing this, Xiao Fan''s eyes turned cold, and he snorted, "Then go ahead and report it, Senior Brother Shen."
With that, he turned and left. Shen Mo narrowed his eyes.
He had the power to kill Xiao Fan.
But he worried that Xiao Fan''s fate, "Surviving Against the Odds," woulde into y, allowing him to escape.
Moreover, he still needed to rely on Xiao Fan for more opportunities.
If he killed the sheep now, there would be no more wool to gather.
"There''s no other way. He has too many opportunities to take advantage of!"
Shen Mo sighed inwardly, watching Xiao Fan leave.
Zhao Rou, on the other hand, was furious, "He looks like a gentleman but is actually disgusting."
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "He once did the same to me."
He then recounted how he had once helped Xiao Fan, only to be abandoned by him after he was poisoned and his strength plummeted.
Hearing this, Zhao Rou''s anger grew, her chest heaving with emotion.
"That scumbag! The deputy sect master''s daughter must be blind to have taken a liking to him," she cursed, "I bet he''ll eventually abandon Liu Fei and find a new lover!"
Shen Mo thought to himself, you guessed right.
In a while, this guy will fall for the deputy sect master''s daughter from the Divine Sword Sect.
"Forget about him. How was the harvest this time?" Shen Mo asked casually.
Zhao Rou happily took out a piece of sparkling purple crystal, "In the Lion King''s head, there was a palm-sized demon crystal, very pure. We''ve hit the jackpot!"
"And there were three cubs in the den. I feel that one of them is quite extraordinary, maybe a mutation in its bloodline."
She brought out three cubs and pointed to one of them excitedly. Shen Mo looked at the little creature and nodded slightly.
This cub wasrger than its siblings, with fur not only purple but also streaked with gold.
"Keep this Amethyst Lion cub and raise it. In the future, it might reach the fourth stage," Shen Mo smiled.
A fourth-stage demonic beast would be equivalent to a Core Formation cultivator!
No matter where you went, you would be respected. In Qingxuan Sect, your status would rise significantly.
"Is this a gift from Senior Brother Shen?" Zhao Rou blushed.
Shen Mo smiled, "If you don''t want it, then I won''t give it to you."
He reached out to take the cub. Zhao Rou quickly held the cub close.
The little cub burrowed into her chest, making her blush even more.
They gathered all the loot into their storage rings.
Besides the Amethyst Lion cub, Zhao Rou refused to take any other items.
As they left Lion Roar Valley, Shen Mo guided them, and sure enough, Zhao Rou found an Evesting Vine along the way.
Shen Mo proposed exchanging some materials from the Amethyst Lion for the Evesting Vine.
Zhao Rou readily agreed. Then, they returned to Qingxuan Sect.
...
The next day. Shen Mo woke up early.
After dressing and washing up, he heard a knock on the door.
Opening it, he saw a familiar face.
It was Deacon Zhang Weihu.
"Senior Brother Zhang, what''s the matter?" Shen Mo asked with a smile.
Zhang Weihu scratched his head, "Elder Li sent me. She said that Xiao Fan was spared by Deputy Sect Master Liu, and his punishment is only a three-month suspension of inner disciple resources."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Yesterday, after he and Zhao Rou returned to the sect, he informed Elder Li about Zhao Rou being attacked by rogue cultivators and Xiao Fan standing by idly.
Elder Li, knowing that Xiao Fan was under Liu Yuanfeng''s protection, naturally took advantage of the situation.
However, she could only impose a minor punishment on Xiao Fan, such as suspending his resources for three months.
"Message delivered. I''ll head back now," Zhang Weihu said, nodding.
Shen Mo suddenly spoke, "Senior Brother Zhang, could you pass another message to Elder Li for me?"
Zhang Weihu eagerly nodded, "I''d be happy to. What do you need to say, Junior Brother Shen?"
Now, as one of the four true disciples of Qingxuan Sect, Shen Mo held a high status.
Many were willing to assist Shen Mo. Now that Shen Mo asked for his help, Zhang Weihu was more than willing.
"It''s nothing much, just let Elder Li know that I n to visit Qingshan City. I haven''t been home to see my father since I joined the sect at twelve. It''s been over six years now," Shen Mo said with a smile.
He had joined Qingxuan Sect at twelve, spent four years tempering his body, reached the Qi Refining realm a yearter, and then had his foundation ruined by the Blood Scattering Poison, taking another year to recover.
He was now eighteen.
Zhang Weihu nodded repeatedly, "Alright, I''ll make sure to deliver the message. Don''t worry, Junior Brother Shen."@@novelbin@@
He quickly left.
Shen Mo then sorted through the items in his storage ring.
He was heading to Qingshan City to intercept the opportunities involving the other part of the Forest Sword Art and the Evesting Body Protection Pills.
He also wanted to see his father, Shen Jiuding, and resolve some doubts in his mind.
Soon, a powerful aura appeared.
"Shen Mo, you''re going back to Qingshan City?" came the voice of an elderly woman.
Shen Mo turned around and saw a white-haired old woman leaning on a cane.
He was quite surprised that Elder Li hade in person.
He nodded, "Disciple misses his family and wants to check on his father''s health."
Elder Li nodded, "It''s understandable to miss your family after being away for so long."
She thought for a moment and then took out a jade pendant, tossing it over.
The jade pendant stopped right in front of Shen Mo.
"Right now, the Sect Master, Liu Yuanfeng, and Song Chaofeng haven''tpletely fallen out, but I can''t say they won''t target you when you leave the sect alone."
"Take this jade pendant. It contains three protective spiritual powers from me, which can protect you for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Although it''s not as good as the Qingshan Pendant the Sect Master gave you, it''s still a life-saving card."
"If you activate this pendant, I will arrive to save you within the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Don''t doubt it; a Core Formation cultivator does indeed have that speed."
Elder Li gave a kind smile.
"Thank you, Elder Li!" Shen Mo bowed respectfully.
Elder Li nodded slightly, tapped her cane on the ground, and disappeared.
"With this, along with the Qingshan Pendant, this trip will be even more secure."
Having made all the necessary preparations, Shen Mo immediately set off.
Chapter 41: The Alchemist King’s Cave and Returning to Qingshan City
Shen Mo had just left Qingxuan Sect when a disciple quickly reported the news to Liu Yuanfeng.
Liu Yuanfeng was resting with his eyes closed. Upon hearing the news, he slowly opened his eyes, a strange glint flickering in them.
"Leave," he waved his hand. The disciple respectfully left.
Not far away, Liu Yunxuan hurried over, "Father, this is a great opportunity."
"Shen Mo''s cultivation speed is too fast. His strength is already above mine. If we don''t take this chance to eliminate him while he''s alone, when will we?"
Liu Yunxuan''s expression was somewhat anxious.
Ever since his chest injury had healed, he harbored a deep hatred for Shen Mo, always thinking about destroying him.
However, even when Shen Mo left the sect, he never went too far. Such a distance was still within the range for the Core Formation realm elders like Murong Yue to arrive in just a few breaths.
It was not an ideal ce to make a move. Now, he finally saw an opportunity.
Liu Yuanfeng smiled faintly, "Yunxuan, you''re still too impatient. Here''s what you should do: tell this news to Song Chaofeng and see what he does."
Liu Yunxuan was stunned but still nodded patiently, "Alright." He quickly left Cloud Mist Peak and headed to Sword Cliff.
Sword Cliff was a smooth rock wall, towering a hundred feet high. It was said that it was cleaved by the founder of Qingxuan Sect with a single sword strike.
Disciples often came here to gain insights and improve their swordsmanship.
After the Qingxuan Cave incident, Song Chaofeng had voluntarily stepped down from his position as Great Elder and had been reflecting on his actions here.
When Liu Yunxuan arrived, he saw Song Chaofeng sitting at a low table, eating meat and drinking wine, not looking at all like he was reflecting.
"Hmm?" Song Chaofeng raised an eyebrow, "What did your father send you here for?"
Liu Yunxuan told him about Shen Mo leaving the sect.
Song Chaofeng immediately understood, "I see."
"Boy, you''re indeed impatient."
Liu Yunxuan was puzzled, "Elder Song, we are steadfast allies in wanting to kill Shen Mo. Have you forgotten how much he made Junjie suffer?"
Song Chaofeng replied indifferently, "Of course I remember."
"Then why..." Liu Yunxuan was even more puzzled.
Song Chaofeng continued, "Do you know that Elder Li personally went to see Shen Mo when he was leaving the sect?"
Liu Yunxuan was taken aback.
Song Chaofeng added, "As Murong Yue''s disciple, do you think she wouldn''t give him life-saving items?"
Liu Yunxuan fell silent.
Song Chaofeng pressed on, "With so many life-saving cards on him, ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators are no match for him. Who do you suggest we send? A Core Formation realm elder?"
Liu Yunxuan had nothing to say.
Song Chaofeng snorted, "Think things through more carefully."
"Shen Mo must die, but not now."
"Acting against him now would be time-consuming andborious, and we would also have to face Murong Yue''s wrath."
"We aren''t ready, and neither are they." Song Chaofeng pointed upward.
Liu Yunxuan nodded, understanding that he was referring to the Divine Sword Sect and the Verdant Vine Sect.
"Go back. The time isn''t ripe yet."
"When the timees, Shen Mo will die faster than anyone else." Song Chaofeng waved his hand dismissively.
Liu Yunxuan nodded respectfully, "I understand, Elder Song."@@novelbin@@
He quickly returned to Cloud Mist Peak to meet Liu Yuanfeng again.
Liu Yuanfeng smiled faintly, "It seems you understand now."
"Yes, I was indeed too impatient," Liu Yunxuan sighed.
Liu Yuanfeng pondered for a moment, "Start working on the Alchemist King''s cave. The exact location is almost found; we only need the key, which is the pills he personally refined."
"As far as I know, the Alchemist King gave his pills to three people."
"One is Shen Jiuding, Shen Mo''s father, but with Murong Yue''s people watching, we can''t make a move there."
"The second is the head of the Zhao family in Gufeng City, but the Zhao family has allied with the Luo family, making it difficult to infiltrate."
"Thest one is a woman from Qingyi Pavilion in Xishan City. Years ago, the Alchemist King, Gu Sanqiu, spent days and nights with her and left her a Youth Retaining Pill."
"My men have already tracked her down. You must go retrieve the pill yourself; I don''t trust anyone else with this task."
Liu Yunxuan was thrilled, "Yes! I''ll handle it right away!"
He couldn''t help but ask, "Father, is it true that the Alchemist King''s cave is filled with mountains of pills?"
Liu Yuanfeng nodded slightly, "It''s true."
"If we can open it, I will certainly reach the peak of the Core Formation realm and surpass Murong Yue."
"Then, Song Chaofeng will be wary of me, and all actions will be led by me. The wavering Core Formation realm elders will know who to side with."
"Good! I look forward to that day!" Liu Yunxuan said excitedly and quickly left.
...
Qingshan City. Returning to this old city full of memories, Shen Mo felt a wave of nostalgia.
Although he had never actually lived here,ing back touched on those distant memories, making him feel a sense of connection.
Shen Mo, wearing the gold-trimmed true disciple robes of Qingxuan Sect, immediately attracted the attention of passersby.
It didn''t take long for soldiers to bring an elderly man and a middle-aged man to him.
The elderly man bowed to Shen Mo, "Greetings, Senior Shen. I am Gao Yuan, the city lord of Qingshan City."
The middle-aged man also bowed, "Greetings, Senior Shen. I am Song You, the chief deacon stationed in Qingshan City by the sect."
There were only four true disciples in Qingxuan Sect. With a little inquiry, they easily identified Shen Mo''s identity.
Shen Mo nodded slightly and returned their bows.
As a true disciple of Qingxuan Sect, he automatically received the position of Senior when traveling.
Given his special status, even the chief deacon of a city had to treat him with utmost respect.
The city lord, being a manager elected by a few families in the city, held a position lower than the chief deacon but higher than an ordinary deacon.
"Senior Shen, have youe to conduct an inspection on behalf of the sect?" Song You asked nervously, moving closer.
Shen Mo smiled and shook his head, "No need to worry, Senior Brother Song. I''m just here to visit my family. The sect''s inspection is someone else''s task."
Song You sighed in relief.
Qingxuan Sect sent special deacons annually to inspect the three cities. Deacons who failed to properly manage city trade and recruit disciples would be reprimanded. Those who were corrupt orzy would receive severe penalties.
After several reprimands, a deacon could lose their position. Therefore, the deacons of the three cities were most concerned about inspections.
Gao Yuan quickly added, "Senior Shen, your father is at the clinic now. Shall I take you there?"
"Thank you, City Lord," Shen Mo smiled.
"Pharmacist Shen is a miraculous doctor in Qingshan City. I''ll join you in visiting him," Song You added eagerly.
Thus, apanied by the chief deacon of Qingshan City, the city lord, and a group of soldiers, Shen Mo was escorted to the clinic in the center of a crowd, like a star surrounded by admirers.
Along the way, the townspeople discussed excitedly.
"What''s going on? The chief deacon and the city lord are escorting a young man?"
"That young man is Shen Mo, Pharmacist Shen''s son!"
"But why are the chief deacon and city lord escorting him?"
"Didn''t you see his robe with gold trim? That''s the robe of a true disciple of Qingxuan Sect!"
"What? A true disciple? My goodness, I remember he joined Qingxuan Sect just a few years ago. How did he achieve this so quickly?"
Amidst the enthusiastic discussions, Shen Mo arrived at the Shen Clinic and met his father, Shen Jiuding, whom he hadn''t seen in many years.
Chapter 42: Foundation Establishment Realm Perfection
Shen Jiuding was tall and had a fair, beardless face with graying temples. [Shen Jiuding = Divine Nine Cauldrons. try guessing his identity in the plot]
Although wrinkles had formed at the corners of his eyes, it was evident that he must have been quite handsome in his youth.
He wore a in white doctor''s robe, which had been washed so many times that several parts had turned pale, yet he had not reced it with a new one.@@novelbin@@
Since his transmigration, Shen Mo had only seen this father in the memories of his predecessor.
Now, meeting in person, he suddenly felt a strange mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity.
He felt quite uneasy.
"Father..."
Shen Mo quickly walked over and called out softly, just as he remembered.
At that moment, Shen Jiuding was writing a prescription for a patient. Hearing this voice, he was momentarily stunned.
He abruptly looked up and immediately saw his son. His son, who made him immensely proud and gratified.
"Mo''er, you''re back?!" Shen Jiuding eximed with joy.
Gao Yuan and Song You also entered, cupping their hands in congrattion, "Pharmacist Shen, it''s an honor to meet you."
Shen Jiuding was taken aback when he saw the city lord and chief steward and hurriedly tried to salute them.
Gao Yuan quickly helped him up.
"What is the meaning of this...?" Shen Jiuding looked bewildered.
These two were highly esteemed figures in Qingshan City, rarely seen in public.
Why were they now standing behind Shen Mo?
Gao Yuanughed heartily, "Mr. Shen, you have a fine son. Shen Mo is now a true disciple of Qingxuan Sect!"
Song You also nodded slightly, "A true disciple must be greeted with proper etiquette. If we did not apany him, it would be a breach of decorum."
Shen Jiuding was even more shocked, "Am I... am I dreaming?"
My son, who was still an outer disciple six years ago. How has he suddenly be a true disciple?
Seeing his father''s astonished expression, Shen Mo''s lips curved into a smile.
It was understandable that Shen Jiuding did not know. After all, the news of his promotion to true disciple and being epted as a disciple by the sect master had only spread within the Qingxuan Sect.
Beyond the sect, few people knew.
In Qingshan City''s three towns, ordinary people rarely interacted with Qingxuan Sect disciples, so it was even less likely for them to know.
It was no wonder Shen Jiuding was unaware of this news.
"Father, the gold trim signifies the robe of a true disciple of Qingxuan Sect," Shen Mo exined with a smile, "I am indeed a true disciple now, you are not dreaming."
Overjoyed, Shen Jiuding burst into tears and embraced his son tightly. Gao Yuan and Song You waved their hands, signaling the others to leave.
The patients, who admired Shen Jiuding, also left as long as their ailments were not too serious.
After all, it had been over six years since the father and son had seen each other, and they indeed needed some time to talk.
Shen Mo observed this man with graying temples, and his impression gradually aligned with his memory.
Shen Jiuding gave him a feeling very simr to his father before his transmigration. Silent by nature, yet all his emotions were conveyed without words.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Mo brought up the purpose of his visit.
"Father, you mentioned that many years ago you saved a severely injured cultivator who gave you some pills as a token of gratitude, right?"
Shen Jiuding nodded, "Yes, at that time you were just one or two years old, too young to remember."
Shen Mo asked again, "Did that cultivator leave a name?"
Shen Jiuding shook his head, "No, he only gave me two pills, saying they could enhance wisdom roots, but a person could only take one and had to consume it before the age of ten. I''ve kept the other one."
Shen Mo nodded slightly and then told him about the Lei family''s desire to seize the pill.
He also recounted how he had been poisoned, his foundation destroyed, and how he identally found a cleansing pill to rebuild his foundation.
"What?!" Shen Jiuding was furious upon hearing this, "The Lei family did such a thing?"
"Did they harm you againter?"
Shen Mo shook his head, "No, they didn''t. After I became the sect master''s disciple, there were sect members in Qingshan City, so the Lei family didn''t dare to act rashly or take the pill directly from you."
Shen Jiuding was stunned, his eyes suddenly glistening with something. He quickly turned away, wiped his eyes, and then turned back.
He patted Shen Mo''s shoulder, looking relieved, "I never thought one day I would be protected by you."
Shen Mo smiled, "Father, my cultivation level has long surpassed yours. From now on, I will protect you."
Shen Jiuding was even more gratified, "Good."
Shen Mo had only this one father; as for his mother, she had passed away from illness when he was three or four years old.
Because of this, Shen Jiuding vowed to cure all illnesses and save people throughout his life.
"Father, give me that pill. It will be safer with me," Shen Mo suggested after some thought.
"Yes, it should be given to you," Shen Jiuding nodded.
He returned to his room, retrieved the pill from a hiddenpartment, and handed it to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo opened it and saw it was indeed a wisdom-enhancing pill. The pill had intricate and obscure patterns on its surface.
It didn''t look like something consumable, but rather like a piece of art.
Night fell.
City Lord Gao Yuan specially invited the best chefs in Qingshan City to prepare a grand feast for Shen Mo and his father.
After the father and son had eaten their fill, they returned to their respective rooms. Shen Mo reached out and took out the three Pure Essence Stabilising Pills.
He picked up one and swallowed it.
Buzz!
The pure medicinal power erupted, surging towards his dantian.
This medicinal power was dozens of times stronger than that of ordinary Solidifying Pills.
Its purpose was to solidify his Dao Foundation.
However, before the medicinal power could merge with his Dao tform, the Red Lotus me atop the tform absorbed most of it.
The remaining medicinal power was equivalent to about five or six ordinary Stabilising Pills.
Shen Mo couldn''t help but smile wryly.
This was why he had been unable to achieve perfection in the Foundation Establishment Realm during this time.
The Red Lotus me had a voracious appetite. Even in standby mode, it consumed a tenth of his spiritual power.
Whenever Shen Mo took pills, it absorbed about fifty percent of the medicinal power.
"Wait I feel something!"
Suddenly, Shen Mo sensed a subtle change in his Dao tform.
He was overjoyed and quickly operated the me Hell Destruction Manual, adjusting his breathing rhythm.
Two hourster, the me Hell Destruction Manual advanced to the second level, and his realm naturally progressed to the perfection stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm!
Feeling the more vigorous spiritual power surging within him, Shen Mo smiled with delight.
"Foundation Establishment Realm perfection,bined with my cultivation technique, martial skills, and Eternal me, I can remain undefeated even against peak Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"As for cultivators of the same realm, I can easily secure victory!"
...
Shen Mo stayed in Qingshan City for three days. The father and son enjoyed harmonious interactions.
Thanks to Shen Mo''s status, both Gao Yuan and Song You promised to strongly support the Shen Family Clinic''s endeavors.
Shen Jiuding was so happy he couldn''t stop smiling. Three dayster, Shen Mo bid farewell to his father and returned to the Qingxuan Sect.
On his way back to the Qingxuan Sect, guided by his life panel, he swept through a bandit hideout upied by rogue cultivators.
These rogue cultivators were engaged in robbery and often attacked the caravans of Qingshan City.
Their deaths were well-deserved.
After killing all the rogue cultivators in the hideout, Shen Mo quickly found the other part of the Forest Sword Technique.
He then found the nest of the Scarlet Wind Kite in the nearby dense forest. After killing two mature third-level Scarlet Wind Kites, he discovered a skeleton in the nest.
On the skeleton, he found a low-grade storage ring, which contained three Evesting Protective Pills.
"It worked!"
Shen Mo nodded slightly and swiftly returned to the Qingxuan Sect.
Chapter 44: Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, Second Level
The Next Day, At the early hour.
The bronze bell in front of the main hall of Qingxuan Sect suddenly started to vibrate.
The sound of the bell echoed through the mountain gate. The voice of Murong Yue resounded throughout the entire sect.
"Two months from now, our sect will send ten disciples to participate in the Hundred Gates Ceremony hosted by the top five sects of Xuanjiang."
"Therefore, one month from now, the sect will conduct a disciple selection."
"Any disciple who can pass the selection and be one of the ten will receive a Profound-Grade spiritual weapon, ten bottles of Foundation Stabilizing Pill, and one hundred mid-grade spirit stones!"
As soon as the news spread, the disciples went wild.
"Wow! I''ve been an inner disciple for six or seven years, and I''ve only saved up eighteen mid-grade spirit stones!"
"They''re giving out such rewards just for passing the selection?!"
"Starting today, I''ll only sleep three hours a day and spend the rest of the time cultivating!"
"Hmph, I''ll only sleep one hour a day!"
"I...I won''t sleep at all!"
"Stoppeting on who sleeps less and take a closer look. It seems like there are ten slots, but in reality, there are only six."
"Right, the four true disciples are the strongest, no one canpete with them, the top four will definitely be among them."
The disciples were abuzz with discussions, their hearts filled with excitement.
However, many believed that at least a Foundation Establishment stage level was necessary to win the selection.
Otherwise, with just a Qi Condensation Realm, it would be too difficult to pass the selection.
Even at the peak of Qi Condensation, facing an entry-level Foundation Establishment stage opponent, one would certainly lose within two moves.
The gap between the two stages was just too great. Amidst thismotion, Shen Mo didn''t pay much attention.
He didn''t even care about the rewards of the selection. Those items, while plentiful to others, were not significant to him.
In his storage ring, just the spirit stones given by Murong Yue amounted to five hundred mid-grade ones.
In addition, he had dozens of bottles of Foundation Stabilizing Pill.
As for the Poround-grade spiritual weapons, they were somewhat useful, but Shen Mo didn''tck them.
After all, for dailybat, he had the Thunder Sword; for daily defense, he had the Forest Python Skin Inner Armor; and as a trump card, he had the Grass Character Sword Book.
Shen Mo spent his days in his courtyard, cultivating martial skills.
He had been busy snatching opportunities everywhere recently, and had not settled down to hone his martial skills.
His Thunder Shadow Sword Technique was still at the first level.
"I possess the innate talent of a Sword Dao Enthusiast and a Innate wisdom far superior to others."
"Even without snatching opportunities, through my own efforts, I canprehend the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique to the second level."
Shen Mo nodded slightly. Half a monthter, he indeed saw changes on his life panel.
[Recent Opportunity: Today, while practicing the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, it suddenly started thundering and raining, leading to an epiphany. The Thunder Shadow Sword Technique wasprehended to the second level.]
Shen Mo smiled, indeed!
He practiced his sword as usual. Before long, the sunny weather suddenly changed.
Dark clouds pressed down, thunder roared. In no time, torrential rain poured down.
Shen Mo stood motionless in the rain, entering a state of enlightenment.
A dozen breathster, the thunder boomed, and lightning tore through the dark sky like a sharp sword.
At that moment, the lightning seemed like a ray of wisdom, piercing through his chaotic mind.
Shen Mo suddenly felt his thoughts be clear. He immediately picked up the Thunder Sword and resumed practicing. Sure enough, the power greatly increased!
"The Thunder Shadow Sword Technique has reached the second level!"
Shen Mo was pleasantly surprised.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed. As usual, Shen Mo headed to the fire stove hall for a meal.
On the way, he noticed a group of disciples surrounding Liu Yunxuan, who seemed to be engaged in a lively discussion.
From a distance, he saw Liu Yunxuan wearing a proud expression.
Shen Mo couldn''t be bothered with his trivial matters and nned to head straight to the fire dining hall.
However, Liu Yunxuan spotted him from afar.
A thought shed through Liu Yunxuan''s mind, and he suddenly shouted, "Shen Mo! Long time no see!"
As his voice fell, the surrounding disciples all turned their attention. The disciples were well aware of the conflict between Shen Mo and Liu Yunxuan.
Some of the more perceptive disciples even realized that the conflict between Shen Mo and Liu Yunxuan was actually a reflection of the tension between Sect Master Murong Yue and Vice Sect Master Liu Yuanfeng.
As soon as Liu Yunxuan spoke, all the disciples realized that a good show was about to unfold.
Shen Mo frowned, "What is it?"
Liu Yunxuan smiled slightly, "The selection for the Hundred Sects Ceremony is about to start. Shen Mo, do you dare topete with me? Let''s see who can take first ce!"
Shen Mo was puzzled. Where did this guy get the confidence to challenge him?
Instinctively, he nced at Liu Yunxuan''s life panel.
[name: Liu Yunxuan.]
[stage: Peak Foundation Establishment.]
[fate: Fortunate Encounter, Graceful Appearance, Turning Danger into Safety, Smooth Sailing, Lesser Yin Mysterious Ice Body.]
[destiny: Stops at major achievement of the Core Formation realm, serves as an inner elder of the Divine Sword Sect. Dies forty-one yearster during an external campaign of the Divine Sword Sect.]
[Recent opportunity: Three dayster, participates in the Qingxuan Sect''s Hundred Sects Ceremony selection battle, uses Ice Crystal me, secretly consumes Eternal me to try to defeat Shen Mo and take first ce, but is sternly reprimanded by Murong Yue. After leaving Qingxuan Sect overnight, meets secretly with the granddaughter of the Divine Sword Sect''s Great Elder, receives two Dark Fire Crystals from her, greatly enhancing the Ice Crystal me.]
Shen Mo''s mouth twitched.
Ice Crystal me...
This type of me is not a eternal fire but a beast fire born within an Ice me Wolf.
However, Ice Crystal me is quite rare.@@novelbin@@
It can only be found in an elder Ice me Wolf that has reached the fourth tier.
Presumably, this me was obtained for Liu Yunxuan by Liu Yuanfeng.
It is indeed very suitable for Liu Yunxuan''s Lesser Yin Profound Ice Body.
But to use it topete with the Red Lotus me, while not exactlyparable, it is at least worlds apart.
Moreover, Liu Yunxuan''s life panel also showed that he failed.
He only obtained a new opportunity after failing.
Seeing this, Shen Mo waved his hand, "Not interested."
First ce would only mean more mid-grade spirit stones, what other rewards could there be?
He had plenty of treasures, he didn''t need this so-called first ce.
Liu Yunxuan wanted to continue provoking him, but saw that Shen Mo was already walking away.
He was somewhat annoyed. It felt like he had punched a piece of cotton.
"With my Ice Crystal me and my peak Foundation Establishment stage, who''s stronger or weaker is still uncertain!" Liu Yunxuan snorted coldly in his heart.
...
Three dayster.
It was time for Qingxuan Sect to select its disciples.
Shen Mo got up early, washed up, and headed to the martial arts field.
Along the way, every disciple he encountered would unconsciously stop and salute him respectfully.
They would also address him as "Senior Brother Shen."
The sect master had even gotten angry at Vice Sect Master Liu Yuanfeng and Great Elder Song Chaofeng for his sake.
One could see Shen Mo''s standing in the sect master''s heart.
When Shen Mo arrived at the martial arts field, the disciples naturally parted to make way for him.
Up ahead, Luo Shengnanughed heartily, "Shen Mo,e over here, this spot has a good view of the whole martial arts stage."
Zhao Ting, sitting opposite Luo Shengnan, also waved at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
It made sense, given his high status, he shouldn''t stand among the crowd.
Soon, in the pavilion beside the martial arts field, Shen Mo, Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou sat opposite each other.
This table was by the window, allowing them to clearly see the battles on the martial arts stage.
"As true disciples, we don''t need to fight right now."
Luo Shengnan waved his hand boldly, "We''ll only step in after they have determined the top six."
Chapter 45: The Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang
Shen Mo nced at Zhao Rou and noticed a change in her aura. He raised an eyebrow, "Zhao Rou, did you reach the Foundation Establishment stage?"
Zhao Rou smiled sweetly, "Yes, but unlike Senior Brother Shen, it''s not a Perfect Dao Foundation, just a wless Dao Foundation."
Shen Mo nodded, "A wless Dao Foundation is still impressive, better than most."
Zhao Ting and Luo Shengnan looked thoughtful. "Butpared to a Perfect Dao Foundation, it''s quite a gap," they said.
The Dao Foundation is the basis of the Dao.
They had only established wless Dao Foundations, so their future achievements would certainly be lower than those of Shen Mo, who had established a Perfect Dao Foundation.
The four of them then started chatting idly.
During this time, Zhao Rou went to the martial arts stage. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she easily entered the top six.
Luo Shengnan, noticing Shen Mo''s aura was as unfathomable as a mountain, couldn''t help but ask, "Shen Mo, what is your current stage?"
Shen Mo replied, "Peak Foundation Establishment."
There was no need for him to hide his stage, as it would be revealed in battle anyway.
"So soon?!" Zhao Ting, who was sipping tea, was shocked.
Luo Shengnan scratched her head, "I just broke through to the Major Achievement of the Foundation Establishment stage a few days ago. I didn''t expect you to advance even faster."
Zhao Rou''s eyes sparkled with admiration. No wonder he has a Heaven-Grade Physique.
His cultivation speed is far beyond ordinary people!
"Shen Mo''s cultivation speed, not just in Qingxuan Sect, but in the entire Xuanjiang Prefecture, is among the top," Zhao Ting remarked. "Shen Mo, have you heard of the Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang?"
Shen Mo was puzzled, "No, I haven''t."
Luo Shengnan scoffed, "Called young supremes, but who knows if they''re secretly doing despicable things."
Zhao Ting cleared his throat, "Divine Sword Sect''s Sword Supreme Zhou Qingcang, Rising Sun Sect''s Fiery Supreme Hong Chilong, Thunder Fire Sect''s Thunder Supreme Wan Renjie, Green Vine Sect''s Demonic Supreme Mo Yuheng, and Heavenly Water Sect''s Dark Supreme Yin Xuege."
Shen Mo pondered for a moment. He quickly understood.
These five must be the top talents of the five major sects of Xuanjiang. They might even possess Heaven-Grade Physiques.
"All five of them are at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage."
"The reason they haven''t formed their cores yet is that they''re gathering materials for a Perfect Core."
Zhao Ting sighed, "They are exceptional talents, so they naturally aim for a Perfect Core."
Luo Shengnan was also moved, "If I ever reach the Core Formation stage, I''ll be content with a wless Core."
Shen Mo shook his head, "Aim high to achieve the middle, aim for the middle to achieve the low. If you set a low goal from the start, your achievements will be even lower."
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou were all taken aback.
Luo Shengnan paused, thenughed heartily, "No wonder the sect master favors you; it''s no wonder you''re ahead of us!"
Zhao Ting nodded, "I''ve learned something today. I must also aim for a Perfect Core!"
Just then, amotion arose from below. The four of them looked towards the martial arts stage.
On the stage, Xiao Fan had defeated his opponent with a thunderous force.
His opponent was also a Foundation Establishment disciple and had a good chance of passing the selection.
But now he was stopped by Xiao Fan. Clearly, the opponent''s luck was not good.
Shen Mo shook his head. How can ordinary peoplepare to someone with great fortune?
"Xiao Fan''s stage... seems to have reached the Minor Achievement of the Foundation Establishment stage. This guy is strong too," Luo Shengnan scratched her head.
Zhao Rou''s expression turned cold, "A hypocrite and a true scoundrel. He has an Earth-Grade Physique, what a waste."
Xiao Fan''s Earthly Physique was not kept secret like Shen Mo''s Heavenly Physique by Murong Yue''s order.
Many people knew about it. Luo Shengnan was puzzled, "What''s the story behind this?"
Zhao Rou then recounted how she was almost harassed by rogue cultivators one day and how Xiao Fan, hiding in the shadows, did nothing to help.
Zhao Ting already knew this and had no reaction. But it was Luo Shengnan''s first time hearing it, and she was instantly furious.
"Clearly having the ability to save someone but choosing not to, it''s truly disgusting!"
"Originally, I thought he had decent strength and was considering befriending him."
Luo Shengnan looked as if she had just found a fly in her food.
"Ignore him, he''s with the Vice Sect Master, not on the same path as us," Zhao Ting waved his hand dismissively.
At this moment, the elder responsible for arbitration on the martial arts stage nodded slightly, infused his voice with spiritual power, and announced loudly, "The six disciples have been selected. Now, the four true disciples, please enter the arena!"
His voice echoed like a bell, resounding throughout the sect.
"Look, Liu Yunxuan is here too," Luo Shengnan suddenly pointed in a direction.@@novelbin@@
The four of them looked over and saw Liu Yunxuan striding confidently towards the martial arts stage.
The disciples along the way instinctively made way for him, filled with awe.
"Finally, it''s our turn," Luo Shengnan rubbed her wrists. "When we draw lots, I hope I draw Xiao Fan. Sister Rou, watch me beat him up for you!"
Zhao Rou covered her mouth and giggled, "Alright!"
Shen Mo, Zhao Ting, and Luo Shengnan, the three true disciples, walked down from the pavilion.
They stood across from Liu Yunxuan at a distance.
On the martial arts stage, alongside Xiao Fan and Zhao Rou, stood the six disciples who had passed the selection.
There were a total of ten people. The watching disciples were all excited. Now, all ten people on the stage were at the Foundation Establishment stage!
After waiting so long, they were finally about to witness a fierce battle! At this moment, several streaks of light shed across the sky.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Several figures appeared in the sky.
Leading them was a person dressed in a crimson pce robe, the Sect Master of Qingxuan Sect, Shen Mo''s master, Murong Yue.
Beside her were several Core Formation elders, including Vice Sect Master Liu Yuanfeng.
Their arrival signaled the beginning of the final battle.
Qingxuan Sect''s ten strongest disciples were about topete!
Liu Yuanfeng suddenly spoke loudly, "Although this selection is to choose elite disciples for the Hundred Sects Ceremony, it wouldn''t be right without a reward."
"As the Vice Sect Master, I should set an example."
With that, he casually tossed a book into the air, where it floated, tightly wrapped in a sphere of spiritual light.
"This is a top-grade Profound-Grade martial technique, ''Eight Directions Thunderous Movement.'' It will be the reward for the first ce."
Upon seeing this, the disciples gasped.
And it''s not from the sect''s library; it must be Liu Yuanfeng''s personal collection!
He actually took out a top-grade Profound-Grade martial technique!
Murong Yue frowned, not understanding why Liu Yuanfeng would offer something so valuable as a reward.
Even Core Formation experts like them rarely had Earth-Grade techniques.
So, many of the techniques used by Murong Yue, Liu Yuanfeng, and others were top-grade Poround-Grade
Liu Yuanfeng said calmly, "Sect Master, what about your reward? As the Sect Master, shouldn''t you also set an example?"
Murong Yue pondered for a moment, then threw out a jade branch and a drop of crimson blood.
"A top-level Profound-Grade treasure, Crystal Branch, which can serve as a wood foundation for establishing a Dao Foundation or condensing a Golden Core."
"A top-grade Profound-Grade treasure, Lesser Dragon Blood, which can stabilize the body and increase the sess rate of forming a Golden Core by thirty percent."
When these two items were presented, the disciples gasped again. Each of these items was worth more than a thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
Many inner disciples, even if they worked hard their entire lives, might not be able to save up even a fraction of their value.
Following Murong Yue, the other elders also presented their rewards. The least valuable were mid-grade Profound-Grade treasures.
The seven or eight treasures floating in the air all shone with a captivating light, attracting everyone''s attention.
Chapter 46: Crushing Liu Yunxuan in Battle
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and the others all looked eager and ready to fight.
Even Shen Mo could use these items. He nced at Liu Yunxuan.
He saw that Liu Yunxuan was brimming with confidence. Shen Mo scanned his life panel, remaining calm.
Liu Yunxuan''s fortune had changed slightly; he had obtained the Dark Fire Crystals earlier, enhancing his Ice Crystal me.
But even with the greatly enhanced Ice Crystal me, it still couldn''tpete with his Red Lotus me.
Liu Yunxuan''s life panel still showed him failing. Shen Mo wasn''t surprised.
His opponents were no longer just the true disciples of Qingxuan Sect.
They were the five mentioned by Zhao Ting earlier. The Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang!
An elder with a kind face waved his hand, and a bamboo tube appeared before everyone. "Everyone,e draw lots."
"There are ten bamboo sticks in the tube, each marked with a number from one to ten."
"Those who draw numbers one and two will go up first."
"Then those who draw three and four, and so on. Do you understand?"
Shen Mo and the others nodded in unison.
Shen Mo drew a stick marked "two," meaning his opponent would be number one.
At that moment, a familiar voice came from nearby, "Who drew number two?"
Shen Mo looked up and saw Liu Yunxuan.
Their eyes met. Both instantly realized the other was their opponent.
"Will the disciples who drew numbers one and two pleasee up," the elder announced.
With a leap, Liu Yunxuan jumped onto the stage. Shen Mo strode up steadily, like a mountain.
The other eight disciples stepped down from the stage.
Seeing this, the disciples below were surprised. Including Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Xiao Fan.
"Who would''ve thought the first match would be between Senior Brother Shen and Senior Brother Liu!"
"These two are definitely the strongest among the disciples. Some outer elders might not even be their match."
"Hehe, this will be good! I think whoever wins between them will probably be the first and second ce."@@novelbin@@
The disciples were buzzing with excitement. High above, Murong Yue, Liu Yuanfeng, and the others remained calm.
"Sect Master, who would''ve thought our disciples would meet so soon," Liu Yuanfeng said casually.
Murong Yue was expressionless, "I hope your son doesn''t lose too badly."
Liu Yuanfeng, "..."
On the martial arts stage.
Liu Yunxuan waved his bamboo stick and smiled, "See this? Even the heavens are telling me I''ll be first, and you''ll be second."
Shen Mo casually tossed his bamboo stick aside, "You think this is fate? Then I''ll shatter fate itself."
Liu Yunxuan sneered, thinking Shen Mo was just being stubborn.
"Begin!" the elder shouted. Liu Yunxuan suddenly drew his sword, a sh of cold light aimed directly at Shen Mo''s throat.
The speed of his sword light was astonishing. However, to Shen Mo, it seemed incredibly slow.
Compared to his Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, it was like heaven and earth.
"Let me show you what true speed is."
Shen Mo drew his sword, and the Thunder Sword shed out of its sheath. In an instant, the air was filled with sword light and thunder shadows.
This strike, though initiatedter, arrived first. Their sword tips collided in mid-air.
Boom!
A fierce explosion sounded.
Blinding lightning and cold light intertwined and extinguished. Both of them retreated simultaneously.
Shen Mo only took three steps back. Liu Yunxuan stumbled back seven or eight steps!
Their exchange seemed slow, but it actually happened in a sh. The disciples below only then realized they had already shed.
Moreover, Liu Yunxuan was at a disadvantage! Liu Yunxuan''s face turned grim.
"It seems I must use my trump card!"
He suddenly mobilized his spiritual power and drew out something from his dantian.
With a swipe of his hand, ayer of icy mes ignited on his sword!
As soon as the mes appeared, the temperature on the stage dropped significantly.
Some disciples close to the stage even felt a bit chilly.
Murong Yue frowned slightly, "Ice Crystal me? But it''s different from the usual Ice Crystal me."
Liu Yuanfeng smiled proudly, "My son was fortunate enough to tame the Ice Crystal me and identally acquired several Dark Fire Crystals, greatly enhancing it."
"It''s almostparable to an Eternal me!"
He had a basis for his im.
The might of a fully formed eternal me far surpasses that of beast fire. However, an eternal me requires a continuous supply of spiritual power and more time to grow. Beast fire, on the other hand, grows quickly and shows results fast.
With several top-level Profound Grade Dark Fire Crystals, the power of beast fire can rival or even surpass that of an eternal me. This is entirely usible.
The Red Lotus me that Shen Mo tamed hadn''t grown for thousands of years; it hadn''t even been around for a hundred years. It had only grown for fifty years before it identally came into being.
If it had to be described, it was like a fully armed infant.Liu Yunxuan''s Ice Crystal me, though unarmed, was like a strong adult!
Even if the strong adult had no equipment or weapons, he could easily overpower a fully armed infant!
"Go ahead, strike him down in front of everyone!" Liu Yuanfeng was in high spirits, as if he already envisioned Shen Mo being sent flying, with Murong Yue heartbroken, rushing to rescue him.
The disciples below were also shocked.
"What kind of me is that? Is it the legendary eternal me?"
"It looks incredibly powerful!"
"It seems to be Ice Crystal me, the beast fire born within the Ice me Wolf."
"Yes, but even though it''s beast fire, taming it is no simple task."
The disciples buzzed with discussion, full of envy.Finding Ice Crystal me was already difficult, let alone taming it.
Liu Yunxuan truly deserved to be one of the four true disciples.
"Take this!"
Liu Yunxuan shouted, his sword carrying a tremendous chill, as if intending to freeze Shen Mopletely.
Shen Mo remained calm. He could already feel the Red Lotus me in his dantian eager to be released.
"I''ll let you out now." Shen Mo murmured.
As he spoke, an astonishing red me appeared out of nowhere, quickly spreading along his arm and onto the Thunder Sword.
ng!
The Thunder Sword let out a loud sword cry.
The faint spirituality within it seemed to sense itself being enhanced tenfold, a hundredfold, filling it with joy.
"Thunder Shadow Sword Technique!"
Shen Mo thrust his sword. A torrential me surged forward.
Inparison, Liu Yunxuan''s Ice Crystal me seemed pitifully weak.
As they closed in on each other, the Ice Crystal me was increasingly suppressed.
Liu Yunxuan''s pupils contracted sharply.
He eximed, "How can your Red Lotus me be so powerful!"
Shen Mo remained silent.
Boom!
Their swords shed once more. A loud sword cry echoed across the sky.
Following that was the sound of a sword shattering.
Crack!
Liu Yunxuan''s Profound Grade weapon became fragile under the impact of extreme heat and cold, shattering into pieces on the spot.
The Red Lotus me did not lose momentum and struck Liu Yunxuan''s chest.
His body flew out like a rag doll, sent dozens of meters away!
If not for Liu Yuanfeng''s quick reflexes in catching him, Liu Yunxuan would have flown straight into a nearby deep pool!
On the martial arts stage, only Shen Mo stood proudly.
Holding the Thunder Sword, wreathed in red mes, he looked majestic and imposing!
The entire audience was stunned!
Chapter 48: Earth-Grade Elixir
Shen Mo asked a few more questions rted to the Hundred Sects Ceremony.
After getting his answers, he left the mountaintop courtyard.
Returning to his residence, he thought, "Eight Directions Thunderous Movement is a top-level Profound Grade martial skill. I should start learning it."
Shen Mo took out the reward he had won today.
It was a thin book with the four characters "Eight Directions Thunderous Movement" written boldly on the cover.
Shen Mo carefully read through it. Upon finishing, he immediately realized that it was a movement technique.
Cultivation methods are used to increase one''s stage, whereas martial skills are used forbat.
Therefore, martial skills are ssified into various categories, far more than cultivation methods.
Martial skills can be at least divided into offensive skills, defensive skills, and movement skills.
Additionally, there are special skills that cannot be used directly forbat but can provide other significant benefits.
"Although Thunder Shadow Sword Technique is a mid-grade Xuan-level skill, its power is strong enough to rival top-grade Xuan-level skills."
"I already have an offensive skill, but I''mcking in defensive and movement skills."
"This Eight Directions Thunderous Movement can be my movement skill."
Shen Mo immediately began to diligentlyprehend and practice it.
Eight Directions Thunderous Movement had eight levels.
Each level could enhance speed.
Shen Mo nned to master the second level before heading to Cold Water Ravine near Qingshan City to find the Alchemy King''s Inheritance Site.
This would ensure greater safety.
Half a monthter, in Shen Mo''s courtyard.
A figure moved like a swift gust of wind. The wind howled within the courtyard.
Leaves were caught in it and instantly shredded into countless pieces.
"Hoo..."
The figure suddenly disappeared. Shen Mo stopped and took a deep breath.
Although he was covered in sweat, his face was full of joy.
The speed of Eight Directions Thunderous Movement was faster than he had imagined.
Having just mastered the second level, his speed already far exceeded typical Profound Grade movement skills.
Among the eight Profound Grade martial skills of Qingxuan Sect, four were offensive, two were defensive, and two were movement skills.
The two movement skills were mid-grade and top-grade Xuan-level, called Spirit Snake Steps and Ripple Shadow.
Zhao Rou practiced Spirit Snake Steps, and Zhao Ting practiced Ripple Shadow.
Shen Mo had seen them perform these movement skills, but their speed was nowhere near Eight Directions Thunderous Movement.
"Good, it''s time to head to the Alchemy King''s Inheritance Site."
Shen Mo prepared himself thoroughly. Before leaving, he nced at his life panel.
[Recent Opportunity: Today, you will go to Cold Water Ravine near Qingshan City, discover the Alchemy King''s Inheritance Site, and use the Insight Elixir in your possession as a key to open the door, gaining entry and iming all the treasures inside.]
Shen Mo was delighted.
The life panel''s indication meant that even if there were any formations or traps within the Alchemy King''s Inheritance Site, he would be able to ovee them with his current strength.
"The Alchemy King''s Inheritance Site is mine!"
"I hope to find enough top-level Profound Grade treasures to aid my Core Formation. I would be satisfied with just over twenty."
Shen Mo smiled.
He didn''t leave through the main gate but quietly exited Qingxuan Sect without anyone noticing.
Then, he headed directly to Cold Water Ravine outside Qingshan City without stopping.
The ravine was an ordinary mountain stream. However, its water was exceptionally cold and clear.
It seemed normal, but ordinary people would experience severe stomach pains after drinking it.
Shen Mo observed that the water contained a high concentration of ice spiritual energy.
Ordinary people couldn''t absorb such an amount of ice spiritual energy, naturally leading to unbearable abdominal pain.
At least a cultivator in the Qi Condensation Realm was needed to drink this water.
Without hesitation, Shen Mo popped a Breath Holding Pill into his mouth and jumped into the ravine.
He swam straight towards the depths of Cold Water Ravine. The depth exceeded his expectations.
However, he had prepared dozens of Breath Holding Pills.
As long as the ravine wasn''t over a thousand meters deep, he was confident he could reach the bottom.@@novelbin@@
After descending about three hundred meters, Shen Mo finally touched the bottom.
He took out a fist-sized pearl from his storage ring. The pearl emitted a bright light in the water, allowing him to see clearly.
This item was called a Water Bright Pearl, which only glowed when it encountered water.
It wasn''t valuable, merely a yellow-grade treasure that could be bought for a few dozen low-grade spirit stones.
Shen Mo meticulously explored the rock walls, and after about half an hour, he found a peculiar spot.
The rock wall here was extremely smooth.
However, in the center of the smooth rock wall, there was a circr indentation.
Shen Mo''s heart stirred, and he took out the Insight Elixir, cing it into the indentation.
Creak, creak.
A subtle sound came from within the rock wall. Then, a powerful suction suddenly appeared.
Shen Mo couldn''t control his body, and everything spun around him.
He felt as if he were being sucked into somewhere. His head felt dizzy, and darkness surrounded him.
When light gradually returned to his vision, he found himself in a stone chamber.
There was no water, and it was quite dry.
Shen Mo looked at himself and found no traces of water on his body.
It seemed that upon entering, the moisture on his body had been repelled.
"As expected of the Alchemy King, what a skillful method."
Shen Mo looked around, carefully examining his surroundings.
The stone chamber was exquisitely carved, with no signs of roughness.
Inside the chamber were a stone table, stone chairs, and a stone bed, indicating that someone had lived here.
Shen Mo approached the stone table and found a jade slip and a storage ring.
He picked them up instinctively. As the jade slip touched his fingers, a voice entered his mind.
"There are no killing formations or poisons in this inheritance site; you can rest assured."
Shen Mo''s heart stirred. This must be a message left by the Alchemy King.
"What kind of storage ring is this?"
Shen Mo cautiously touched it and sent his consciousness inside. He was surprised by what he found.
Inside the storage ring were two bottles of elixirs,beled as Pure Essence Stabilizing Pills!
But that wasn''t the most surprising thing.
The most surprising thing was that the storage ring''s capacity was muchrger than he had imagined!
It measured ten feet in length, width, and height!
"This is a top-grade storage ring! Its capacity is a thousand times that of a low-grade storage ring!"
Shen Mo was thrilled.
The storage ring he had from Murong Yue was a low-grade one, with dimensions of just one cubic meter.
A mid-grade storage ring had dimensions of three feet and was usually owned by Core Formation experts like Murong Yue and Liu Yuanfeng.
As for a top-grade storage ring, Shen Mo hadn''t seen anyone in Qingxuan Sect possess one.
"Receiving such a grand gift right away, with this top-grade storage ring, my trip is already worthwhile."
Shen Mo was satisfied. He approached the stone door and gently pushed it.
The door opened with ease.
In the next moment, a radiant treasure light filled his vision, and a rich spiritual energy filled his nostrils.
Three light clusters floated on three basalt stone tforms. They looked like ownerless treasures awaiting a new master.
Each light cluster contained an item. On the left was a dark purple elixir.
In the middle was a crimson demon soul. On the right was another elixir, but this one was emerald green.
Shen Mo reached out, and the three treasures obediently fell into his palm.
Each of the three stone tforms had inscriptions. Shen Mo examined them one by one.
The dark purple elixir was named the Taiyi Soul Nourishing Pill, a low-grade Earth-level elixir, used to enhance one''s physique.
The crimson demon soul belonged to a peak fourth-tier demonic beast, the Scarlet me Python, and could be used as a spirit for a spiritual weapon.
The emerald green elixir was named the Great Insight Elixir, also a low-grade Earth-level elixir, which provided even greater insight.
"These are Earth-level elixirs!"
"As expected of the Alchemy King! These must be his masterpieces."
Shen Mo was full of admiration.
Earth-level elixirs were extremely difficult to refine, requiring numerous Earth-level medicinal materials, and had a very low sess rate.
Just gathering the materials could take decades.
The Alchemy King not only seeded but also managed to produce more than one.
This alone was worthy of great respect from future generations.
Chapter 50: Encounter with the Heavenly Water Sect
Shen Mo lifted his head and gazed at the magnificent city.
The city walls of Divine Sword City stood ten feet high, built entirely from basalt, imposing and grand.
The gate tower pierced the sky like a sharp sword, resembling a towering giant guarding the city and intimidating all who approached.
Additionally, Divine Sword City had a moat filled with many demonic beasts meticulously bred by the Divine Sword Sect.
If the city were ever attacked, closing the drawbridge would prevent any intruders from breaking through this mighty fortress.
Beside Divine Sword City flowed the Xuanjing River, which traversed the entire Xuanjiang Prefecture, with merchant ships and cargo vessels frequently stopping here for transshipment.
Ordinarily, Divine Sword City was the most bustling city in Xuanjiang Prefecture.
Its prosperity even surpassed the prefecture capital, Great River City.
Now, with the Hundred Sects Ceremony approaching, everyone in Xuanjiang Prefecture knew about the event, and people flocked to Divine Sword City.
Leaders from various sects convened for discussions, and elite disciplespeted.
Ordinary people seized the opportunity to make money. As a result, merchants gathered here inrge numbers.
With all these factorsbined, Divine Sword City was more than five times busier than usual!
Looking at the grand city, Zhao Ting, Liu Yunxuan, and the others felt a surge of ambition.
Everyone wanted to be stronger. They also wanted topete against the best and prove themselves.
This was the perfect stage for them to shine!
Xiao Fan, standing beside Shen Mo, was filled with admiration. "No wonder they call it the number one city in Xuanjiang Prefecture!"
Luo Shengnan snorted, "What do you mean by that? Are you belittling our sect while praising others?"
"Our Qingxuan Sect was once one of the top five sects of Xuanjiang, on par with the Divine Sword Sect!"
Xiao Fan smiled awkwardly and withdrew hisments.
Liu Yuanfeng spoke calmly, "You can''t just focus on the past glories of Qingxuan Sect and ignore the current strength of others."
Luo Shengnan couldn''t find a retort and turned away, not bothering to engage with Liu Yuanfeng since she wasn''t part of his faction.
"Let''s go! Follow me into the city," Murong Yue said calmly.
Everyone followed. The city gates were open.
A squad of silver-armored soldiers stood guard on either side of the gate.
The appearance of the Azure Feather Eagle had already caught their attention.
As the Qingxuan Sect members approached, the leading silver-armored general bowed respectfully, "May I ask which sect you are from?"
Murong Yue replied, "Qingxuan Sect. I am the Sect Master, Murong Yue."
The silver-armored general''s respect deepened. He signaled a nearby soldier to record the name and handed over a token.
"Sect Master Murong, this is the token for your lodging."
He then called over another soldier, "You, guide the Qingxuan Sect members to their quarters."
"Yes!" The soldier nodded and took the lead.
Along the way, passersby curiously nced at Shen Mo and his group.
Especially Murong Yue at the front. Her stunning beauty drew many eyes.
However, they only dared to look and not entertain any thoughts. Recently, many sects had arrived from across Xuanjiang Prefecture.
The leaders of these sects were invariably Core Formation cultivators.
The cold and beautiful woman leading this group was evidently a Sect Master, likely a Core Formation cultivator as well.
Disrespecting a Core Formation cultivator would undoubtedly lead to severe consequences.
Before long, they arrived at arge residence.
Above the entrance hung a que with three elegant characters: "Hidden Dragon Pavilion."
Two silver-armored soldiers stood guard at the entrance of Hidden Dragon Pavilion.
After Murong Yue showed the token, they allowed entry.
The guide then returned to the city gate. The group entered Hidden Dragon Pavilion.
The residence was spacious, divided into various sections.
It had serene woods, clearkes,rge rock formations, winding paths, and elegant pavilions. There were even severalrge martial arts arenas where cultivators could practice their skills.
Murong Yue led the group around for a while.
Zhao Rou asked in confusion, "Sect Master, it seems like we''ve been here before."
Murong Yue paused, "Ah... have we?"
Shen Mo smacked his lips. If nothing else, it seemed like something unexpected had happenedthey were lost.
He hadn''t expected his master to have a poor sense of direction despite her beauty.
He nced at Murong Yue and noticed a blush on her fair cheeks.
Evidently, she had realized she had led them the wrong way. At that moment, figures appeared before them.
A group of people dressed in blue robes with mountain and water motifs embroidered on their chests came into view.
Shen Mo''s eyes narrowed.
BLUErobes with mountain and water embroideryit was the Heavenly Water Sect!
In the past, the Qingxuan Sect was one of the top five sects of Xuanjiang.
But an ident caused them to lose more than half of their Core Formation cultivators, drastically weakening their overall strength.
The Heavenly Water Sect took advantage of the situation and defeated the Qingxuan Sect.
Ultimately, they gained recognition from the other four sects and joined the ranks of the top five sects in Xuanjiang.
Since then, the Qingxuan Sect had declined to a second-rate sect, retreating to its former stronghold, only controlling three cities.
As a result, there was old animosity between the Qingxuan Sect and the Heavenly Water Sect.
Now, meeting face to face, their hostility was evident.
Leading the Heavenly Water Sect was a tall, beautiful woman, much like Murong Yue.
However, while Murong Yue was cold and aloof, this woman was sinister and cold, with thin lips indicating a harsh personality.
"Well, well, isn''t this Sect Master Murong? I didn''t expect our two sects to be staying together," the Heavenly Water Sect Master said with a mocking smile.
Murong Yue''s expression remained calm, "Let''s go."
But the Heavenly Water Sect Master blocked her way, "I heard your Qingxuan Sect has a disciple with a Heaven-grade physique. Who is it? Let us from the Heavenly Water Sect have a look."
The disciples of the Heavenly Water Sect all cast their eyes towards the Qingxuan Sect disciples.
They had heard this rumor too.
It was said that not long ago, there was a pir of me reaching the sky from the Qingxuan Sect.
The phenomenon was extremely grand, surely caused by the awakening of a Heaven-grade physique.
However, the Qingxuan Sect had not confirmed this news.@@novelbin@@
Murong Yue said coldly, "Whether we have a Heaven-grade physique or not is none of your concern."
The Heavenly Water Sect Master smiled, "What about an Earth-grade physique? I heard your Qingxuan Sect also has a mid-grade Earth physique, the Fiery Battle Body, right? Is it Xiao Fan?"
"Which one of you is Xiao Fan?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Fan straightened his back and puffed out his chest with a proud look on his face.
He hadn''t expected the Heavenly Water Sect Master to know his name! He must be feeling extremely excited inside.
The Heavenly Water Sect Master saw his expression and couldn''t help butugh, "You must be Xiao Fan? Not bad, not bad. If the Qingxuan Sect doesn''t work out for you, you''re wee to join our Heavenly Water Sect."
"I''ll personally make sure our doors are open for you!"
Xiao Fan didn''t dare say much, he could only bow respectfully.
Murong Yue frowned, "Poaching my disciples right in front of me, Shui Qingyan, as a sect master, you really have no shame."
The Heavenly Water Sect Masterughed heartily and walked past Shen Mo and the others with her disciples.
As she left, Shui Qingyan sneered, "Murong Yue, I remember thest Hundred Sects Ceremony, your Qingxuan Sect ranked twenty-sixth. How low will you fall this time? Thirty? Forty?"
"Hahahahaha!"
Murong Yue remained silent. The term "Hundred Sects Ceremony" was figurative.
Just as numbers like three, six, and nine often had figurative meanings in ancient texts.
Although called the Hundred Sects Ceremony, in reality, at most fifty sects qualified to participate.
After all, such sects needed at least one Core Formation cultivator to oversee them.
Most Core Formation cultivators preferred to be elders in powerful sects rather than struggling to manage a sect on their own, having to acquire all resources themselves.
"This time, the Qingxuan Sect will not repeat the same mistakes," Murong Yue dered loudly.
Shui Qingyan snorted coldly and said no more.
Chapter 51: The Beast Supreme Mo Yuheng
After a while, the members of Qingxuan Sect finally found the right path and arrived at their pre-arranged amodation.
It was a standalone courtyard located in the southeast corner of Qianlong Pavilion.
There were numerous rockeries andkes, the air was fresh, making it a very suitable ce to live.
"Each of you can pick a room for yourself," Murong Yue waved her hand, "I''ll go out for a stroll."
"Choose freely?"
Shen Mo immediately nced at the fortunes of Xiao Fan and Liu Yunxuan. Sure enough!
A new opportunity appeared on Xiao Fan''s life panel.
[Recent Opportunity: Today, after entering the southeast area of Dragon Pavilion, choosing Room No. 4, Xiao Fan unintentionally activated the Sun Marrow Flower seeds underground while practicing at night. The Sun Marrow Flower bloomed overnight, and consuming its dew enhanced his physique.]
Shen Mo''s heart stirred. He had heard of the Sun Marrow Flower.
It was a low-grade earth-level treasure. Its effect was to enhance one''s physique.
If it was a profound-level physique, there was a high chance it could directly upgrade to earth-level.
An earth-level physique, if lucky, could also be raised by a small realm.
"I don''t know if it works on heaven-level physiques, but no matter what, it will definitely be beneficial after consumption."
"umting enough earth-level treasures should also enhance a heaven-level physique."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Then, without waiting for the others to choose a room, he walked straight towards Room No. 4.
Xiao Fan frowned.
He had wanted to pick that room. But Shen Mo walked ahead of him. There wasn''t much he could say about it.
After all, all the rooms were the same.
Moreover, these rooms were specifically for them, the outsiders, to live in. It was unlikely that there would be any treasures hidden inside.
Xiao Fan had to give up and chose Room No. 6. Shen Mo walked into Room No. 4 and carefully examined it.
All the rooms were the same, decorated with low-key luxury. Each room had an independent soundproof array.
This alone was enough to show the wealth of the Divine Sword Sect. A soundproof array, after all, was a top-grade yellow-level item.
Each soundproof array required a set of array gs and consumed three low-grade spirit stones daily.
In this courtyard, there were over a hundred identical rooms. Cumtively, this amounted to a vast number!
"As the head of the five major sects of Xuanjiang, they are indeed wealthy. This alone leaves Qingxuan Sect far behind." Shen Mo marveled in his heart.
He didn''t feel like going out, so he simply closed the door and started cultivating.
Night soon fell.
Three servants brought meals, delivering them to each person''s room. Before long, night deepened.
Shen Mo immediately began serious cultivation.
Following the breathing technique of the me hell destruction manual, he rhythmically breathed in shallow and deep cycles.
Divine Sword City was a treasurend, said to have a massive spirit-gathering array beneath it, absorbing all the surrounding spiritual energy.
The spiritual energy here was dense and vibrant, at least two or three times richer than that of Qingxuan Sect.
Cultivating here, Shen Mo achieved twice the result with half the effort and quickly entered a state of cultivation.
Meanwhile, a stone b on the ground began to loosen. It seemed as if something was trying to emerge from beneath the stone b.
Before long, the stone b made a slight sound, silently cracking into dozens of pieces.
A golden nt slowly grew, stretching its stems and leaves.
Its appearance was very mystical, with a straight stem and two leaves resembling small suns.
In an instant, Shen Mo''s room was filled with light.
However, since other rooms were also lit, this anomaly did not attract attention. Noticing the change, Shen Mo opened his eyes and nced at the ground.
At the top of this golden nt, a small flower bud was forming.
Inside the bud was the Sun Marrow Flower Dew. That was the true earth-level treasure. It was not yet time for the flower to bloom.
At this moment, Shen Mo felt a stirring in his heart and suddenly looked towards the window.
There was a small snake there.
The snake was entirely snow-white, wless, and pure as if carved from white jade.
Only its eyes were blood-red, resembling small rubies.
The little snake was staring intently at Shen Mo, its scarlet tongue flicking in and out, seemingly very interested in him.
"Hmm? A spiritual beast? This wasn''t mentioned in the opportunity."
Shen Mo could sense its intelligence and extraordinary nature.
"Little one,e here." He beckoned.
The little snake tilted its small head, curiously observing Shen Mo.
It was very perceptive but cautiously did not approach directly.
It first moved from the windowsill to the floor, nced at the Sun Marrow Flower, and ignored it, then circled around Shen Mo''s bed a few times before finallying to his side.
The snake gently nudged his hand, as if urging him for something.
Shen Mo was puzzled, "Want to eat something?"
He took out a few pills and some spirit stones from his storage ring.
But the snake only sniffed at them and showed no interest.
It suddenly opened its mouth and sprayed a high-temperature fire element spiritual energy.
Shen Mo realized.
He possessed a top-grade heaven physique, the Fiery Sun Scorching Body, which naturally attracted a lot of fire element spiritual energy.
Moreover, he was currently cultivating the heaven-level technique, me Hell Destruction Manual, which attracted even more and purer fire element spiritual energy.
This little creature was attracted by the fire element spiritual energy.
"Alright, I''ll give it to you."
Shen Mo immediately began cultivating the me Hell Destruction Manual.
Strands of fire element spiritual energy began to flow in from all directions.
The little snakefortably nestled in Shen Mo''s arms.
Its entire body seemed to rx as its scales glimmered in contentment.
About thirty percent of the surrounding fire element spiritual energy was absorbed by the little snake.
Shen Mo just smiled and didn''t drive it away.
The little creature was quite cute, and Shen Mo couldn''t bear to chase it off.
However, given its intelligence, it was certainly raised by someone.
Who raised it? A disciple of some sect? Or an elder or the head of some sect?
Since the little snake was well-behaved and did not disturb his cultivation, Shen Mo continued his practice peacefully.
However, it wasn''t long before footsteps could be heard approaching.
Shen Mo looked up towards the window. He saw a young woman with a graceful and exquisite figure.
Her long, jet-ck hair was casually draped over her shoulders. Her smooth, fair skin was like white jade.
She wore very thin clothing, exposing her fair arms and t abdomen.
Her full bosom was barely covered by a piece of ck gauze, drawing all attention.
Her features were enchanting and seductive.
Anyone who saw such a sight outside the window would find it hard to stay calm.
Moreover, Shen Mo was only eighteen years old.
But Shen Mo sensed danger from her. A very real and palpable danger.
If Murong Yue was an ice-cold beauty, this person was a snake-like beauty.
Anyone ensnared by her beauty would pay with their life.
Shen Mo''s heart tightened, and he immediately checked her life panel.
[Name: Mo Yuheng.]
[Realm: Peak Foundation Establishment.]
[Fate: Sect Disciple, Fortunate Timing, Master of Medicine and Poison, Inheritor of Strange Arts, Myriad Beast Spirit Body.]
[Destiny: Will cultivate to the early Nascent Soul stage. Sixty-one yearster, while seeking a breakthrough, will encounter a beast tide and perish under the attack of tens of thousands of frenzied beasts.]
[Recent Opportunities: None.]
Shen Mo looked again.
[Sect Disciple: Blue Fate. You are a disciple of Qingteng Sect, one of the five major sects of Xuanjiang, and have been taught by the sect master since childhood, making your cultivation speed superior to others.]
[Master of Medicine and Poison: Red Fate. You cultivate medical and poison arts faster than ordinary people.]
[Inheritor of Strange Arts: Blue Fate. You excel in using unconventional weapons such as whips and darts.]
[Myriad Beast Spirit Body: Orange Fate. A lower heaven-grade physique, you canmunicate with beasts without barriers and are more likely to gain their favor.]
Shen Mo pondered.
Mo Yuheng was the one Zhao Ting had mentioned, one of the Supremes of Xuanjiang, known as the Beastly Supreme?
Shen Mo had assumed Mo Yuheng was a man.
He had not expected her to be such a stunning yet dangerous young woman.@@novelbin@@
Chapter 53: The Hundred Sects Ceremony Officially Begins
Shen Mo frowned, "Joining under their banner, does that mean... merging?"
"It''s not merging, it''s assimtion," Murong Yue sighed. "Merging implies equality, while assimtion means inequality."
"If our Qingxuan Sect is assimted into the Divine Sword Sect, you would only be ordinary disciples of the Divine Sword Sect and wouldn''t receive the same treatment as true Divine Sword Sect disciples."
"Furthermore, as outsiders, we would surely be resented by the elders and disciples of the Divine Sword Sect."
Shen Mo pondered over this.
Murong Yue continued, "Out of the forty-four sect masters apart from the Five Top Sects of Xuanjing, twenty were against this."
"The meeting ended on a sour note."
Shen Mo nodded.
He understood.
Murong Yue, including his own life panel, showed that their ultimate fate hadn''t changed.
The Qingxuan Sect would be leveled by the Divine Sword Sect.
Many elders and disciples would die.
Murong Yue would fall in the Qingcang Mountains.
Shen Mo would be no exception.
Murong Yue sighed, "I shouldn''t have told you this. It might disrupt your emotions and affect your performance in the Hundred Sects Ceremony."
"I shouldn''t have said it. It was my mistake."
Shen Mo shook his head.
Disrupting his emotions wasn''t really possible.
After all, he had long seen their ultimate fate through his life panel.
"Master, you don''t need to me yourself. I share both honor and disgrace with the Qingxuan Sect. It''s better to know sooner," Shen Moforted her.
He realized that his beautiful master, who appeared to be as unyielding as an iceberg, was actually as fragile as an ordinary girl inside.
"Good," Murong Yue looked at him deeply, feeling very gratified.
"Go back to your cultivation. The disciples'' martialpetition in the Hundred Sects Ceremony will be in two days. The Five Top Sects of Xuanjing will present many rewards, which will benefit you and our sect."
"Understood, Master." Shen Mo cupped his hands and left.
Murong Yue watched his departing figure, her previous unhappinesspletely dissipated.
She had indeed epted a good disciple.
...
Two dayster.
The Hundred Sects Ceremony was held as scheduled.
The location was the central martial arena of Divine Sword City.
This arena was muchrger than that of the Qingxuan Sect, about four times the size.
Around the arena, four grandstands were built.
The grandstands rose from low to high, amodating up to forty thousand spectators!
Dong, dong, dong!
The sound of bells rang out as the forty-nine sects entered the arena.
Each sect brought ten elite disciples.
Those sects that couldn''t gather ten elite disciples didn''t even qualify to participate.
The grandstands were bustling with excitement.
"Look, that tall and handsome guy in the gold-trimmed robe from the Qingxuan Sect is Shen Mo!"
"He does look very dashing, and his demeanor is indeed extraordinary."
"Zhou Qingcang, look! He''s the top disciple of the Divine Sword Sect!"
"Look over there at the Verdant Vine Sect, Mo Yuheng is here too. Look at that figure, that grace! I''d give twenty years of my life to have her as my wife!"
"Hey, does anyone know the rules of thepetition?" A young nobleman anxiously asked, "Will I get to see the goddess Mopete?"
"Don''t you know? Let me exin!" A young man holding a folding fan smiled smugly.
"Master Liu, please tell us," the surrounding young nobles and nobledies urged him.
They were just there for entertainment and didn''t know the detailed rules.
Master Liu smiled confidently and waved his fan, "The Hundred Sects Ceremony consists of three rounds."
"The first round is a grand melee involving all four hundred ny participants from forty-nine sects. They all fight until only one hundred remain!"
The surrounding crowd immediately erupted in chatter. "Damn! The first round will eliminate nearly four-fifths of the participants!"
"Of course, the winners of the Hundred Sects Ceremony must be the elite of the elite!"
Master Liu, annoyed, interjected, "Are you listening or not? Don''t interrupt!"
"Sorry, please continue, Master Liu," the interrupters said with embarrassed smiles.
Master Liu cleared his throat and continued, "The second round, which will be tomorrow, involves one hundred participants fighting in pairs to determine the top fifty. These fifty will then fight in pairs again to decide the top twenty-five."
"Thenes the third round, starting the day after tomorrow. These twenty-five will continue to fight in pairs, but there will be byes."
"Only when the top ten have been decided will the Hundred Sects Ceremony be consideredplete, and the prizes will be awarded to the top ten and their respective sects."
The surrounding people suddenly understood.
"The Hundred Sects Ceremony happens every ten years, and those whoe here are all geniuses. They each have unique insights and skills in martial arts."
"Watch closely and learn well. It will greatly benefit us!" Master Liu said with an air of authority.
The atmosphere in the stands was incredibly lively.
People couldn''t wait, their gazes frequently darting to the disciples of the various sects, wondering when the event would start.
In the resting area for the sect disciples, the atmosphere was also heating up.@@novelbin@@
They looked at each other with high fighting spirits and sharp gazes, silently evaluating whether they could defeat their opponents.
In the Qingxuan Sect group, Liu Yunxuan spoke gravely, "This year, the teams from the various sects are very strong. Be prepared and don''t hold back."
Luo Shengnan nced at him and said, "That''s not for you to say. If anyone should be giving orders, it should be our strongest, Shen Mo."
Liu Yunxuan''s face darkened with anger.
He had forgotten.
He was no longer the strongest among the four true disciples.
Shen Mo was.
When he spoke just now, he had unintentionally ced himself in the position of the strongest.
Shen Mo nodded slightly. "The first round''s grand melee is unpredictable. Liu Yunxuan is right; we must stay united and give it our all."
"Especially be wary of the Heavenly Water Sect joining forces with other sects to target us."
Zhao Ting nodded slightly and pointed to a few sects. "Those sects have close ties with the Heavenly Water Sect and could be considered their affiliates. We need to be cautious."
Shen Mo''s gaze swept over the various sects.
Suddenly, a stunning figure caught his eye.
With a fiery figure, beautiful face, fair skin, and a revealing outfit, she was extremely eye-catching.
More than half of the crowd''s attention was focused on her.
However, they seemed somewhat wary and didn''t dare stare for too long, only ncing asionally.
It was the Enchantress Mo Yuheng!
She was ying with a white jade snake in her arms.
Sensing Shen Mo''s gaze, Mo Yuheng looked in his direction.
Her purple eyes were enchanting and seductive, as if gazing into them for too long would lead toplete infatuation.
The disciples of the Verdant Vine Sect followed her gaze to look at Shen Mo.
Liu Yuanfeng noticed this and immediately frowned, whispering, "Don''t stare! Provoking the Verdant Vine Sect now will give us another enemy in the melee."
Liu Yunxuan also chimed in, "Shen Mo, look away!"
Shen Mo withdrew his gaze. "Is she the Enchantress Mo Yuheng?"
Zhao Ting nodded. "Yes, she''s also the daughter of the Verdant Vine Sect''s leader and is skilled in using poisons."
"She reportedly has a Heaven-grade physique, allowing her tomunicate freely with beasts."
Shen Mo nodded and continued to observe the other sects.
Although he stopped looking, Mo Yuheng continued to watch him from afar.
As a result, the disciples of the Verdant Vine Sect also kept their eyes on him, expressionless and cold.
Their sudden attention drew the eyes of other sects and even the spectators in the stands towards the Qingxuan Sect.
What''s going on?
Did the Qingxuan Sect provoke the Verdant Vine Sect?
=============================================================
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Chapter 55: I Spoke Cautiously—Three Moves to Take You Down
The battle erupted instantly.
Although Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Liu Yunxuan, and the others were top talents in Qingxuan Sect with strong abilities, they were still somewhat inferior when facing the disciples of Heavenly Water Sect.
In terms of cultivation, weapons, techniques, and martial skills, they were slightlycking in all aspects.
Adding up all these gaps made a significant difference.
So, right from the start, they were at a disadvantage.
Shen Mo''s opponent was Yin Xuege.
As soon as they met, Yin Xuege extended a hand, "Five moves, and I''ll have you down."
Shen Mo sneered, "If I don''t fight you, how are you going to take me down in five moves? Your boasting isn''t very convincing."
Yin Xuege''s face stiffened.
Shen Mo had a pointif he refused to fight, how could Yin Xuege show off?
"What I say is more reliable. I''ll take you down in three moves," Shen Mo smiled.
In the next moment, he decisively drew his sword.
The Thunder Sword was unsheathed.
He executed the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique.
Thunder Shadow Sword light interwove in the air.
Fast and fierce, it aimed directly at Yin Xuege''s throat.
Yin Xuege did not expect such a fierce move from Shen Mo right at the start.
Even before the sword struck, he felt goosebumps on his throat.
His heart skipped a beat.
He had underestimated Shen Mo!
"You use a sword, I use a sword too. You''re no match for me!"
Yin Xuege took a deep breath and swiftly drew his sword.
His sword was peculiar.
It had two colors: blue like water on the left and red like blood on the right.
Twopletely different forces flowed through it.
Shen Mo showed no fear, moving even closer to Yin Xuege.
ng!
Their sword tips collided suddenly.
A piercing metallic sound echoed.
ng, ng, ng!
Shen Mo took two steps back.
Yin Xuege retreated five steps.
His face darkened immediately.
He felt a numbing sensation in his hand.
He could barely hold his weapon.
Shen Mo''s strength was far beyond his expectations.
In their first sh, he was slightly at a disadvantage.
This angered Yin Xuege.
With his strength, he should have suppressed Shen Mo with ease!
He was one of the Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang!
"Come again!"
Yin Xuege shouted angrily, swinging his sword once more.
Shen Mo smiled. From the previous strike, he had gauged his opponent''s strength.@@novelbin@@
Weak.
And significantly weaker.
Physique and techniques were the biggest factors in the gap.
As for martial skills, they were just ways to disy power.
With a strong enough physique and powerful techniques, one could easily overpower many others.
"I miscalcted earlier. I won''t need three moves; two will be enough to take you down."
Shen Mo stomped the ground, executing the Eight Directions Thunder Movement.
His speed soared to the extreme.
In an instant, he seemed like a shadow of thunder, disappearing from Yin Xuege''s sight.
Yin Xuege lost his target, his expression froze.
But he instinctively swung his sword behind him.
"It''s good you have this instinct, but you''re still too slow."
Shen Mo''s calm voice came from behind him.
The next moment, the Thunder Sword pierced directly into his back.
Even though he instinctively blocked, deflecting the attack, part of the force still surged into his body.
The violent power exploded.
Yin Xuege''s body flew seven or eight meters away, crashing into several disciples from other sects.
He tried to get up, but found blood flowing beneath him.
His strength quickly drained away.
Humiliated and furious, his rage surged, causing him to spit out more blood.
"Damn, impressive! Shen Mo, your strength has really skyrocketed!" Luo Shengnan eximed in surprise.
Bai Ziyue was shocked by the sight and quickly shouted, "Protect him!"
Yin Xuege, as one of the Five Young Supremes and the strongest of the new generation in Heavenly Water Sect, was their symbol of pride.
If Yin Xuege were to be eliminated in the first round of the melee, what face would Heavenly Water Sect have left?
Therefore, while others might be expendable, Yin Xuege absolutely could not be harmed!
In an instant, the tide of battle shifted.
Zhao Rou, who had been struggling under pressure, suddenly found her opponent withdrawing to protect Yin Xuege.
Zhao Ting immediately shielded his sister.
"Chase them! Now''s our chance to counterattack!" Shen Mo shouted.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou echoed loudly, "Yes!"
Bai Ziyue and the others gritted their teeth, "Retreat! Preserve our strength!"
They fought while retreating, trying to escape Qingxuan Sect''s attack range.
Yin Xuege had been severely injured by Shen Mo in just two moves and couldn''t recover hisbat strength quickly.
Seeing Shen Mo still in peak condition, they realized they were no match for him.
Their only option now was to retreat.
Shen Mo sneered, "Retreat? To where?"
"Chase them! Knock every single Heavenly Water Sect disciple out of the arena!"
He was the first to charge forward, his Thunder Sword aimed straight at Bai Ziyue''s chest.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou''s eyes lit up, and they immediately followed.
Xiao Fan frowned, ncing at Liu Yunxuan.
Liu Yunxuan sighed, "Let''s follow them."
Under Shen Mo''s leadership, the Qingxuan Sect team moved like a deadly de, relentlessly pursuing Heavenly Water Sect.
Disciples from other sects stepped aside to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
This scene, witnessed by the audience in the stands, left them in shock.
"Wow! Qingxuan Sect is actually chasing down Heavenly Water Sect!"
"Who is that leader from Qingxuan Sect? He''s amazing! He took down Yin Xuege in two moves!"
"I didn''t expect Qingxuan Sect to be the dark horse of the Hundred Sect Ceremony!"
Heavenly Water Sect''s Sect Master, Zhang Mo, frowned deeply.
"What kind of strength does that boy have to severely injure Xuege in just two moves?" The vice sect master next to him was equally astonished.
"He''s probably the heaven-grade physique that Qingxuan Sect has been hiding for a long time," Zhang Mo said in a serious tone.
The vice sect master was shocked, "What? No wonder!"
"Let''s watch closely. The situation is very unfavorable for us. I hope Ziyue can hold on. Anyone can be eliminated, but not Xuege!" Zhang Mo took a few deep breaths, feeling a bit anxious.
If Yin Xuege were eliminated in the first round, she would be too embarrassed to remain seated here.
In contrast to Heavenly Water Sect''s gloom, Murong Yue was overjoyed.
She realized she had underestimated her precious disciple''s strength.
"Well done! Excellent!" Murong Yue couldn''t help but exim.
Beside her, Liu Yuanfeng frowned deeply.
Shen Mo''s growth rate was terrifying.
To have reached such strength already?
He truly deserved his heaven-grade superior physique.
The sect masters and vice sect masters of Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, Thunderfire Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect watched the scene from a distance, their faces showing various expressions.
Some were amused, some were amazed, and some were admiring.
On the martial arena, the teams from Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, Thunderfire Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect stood with folded arms, watching the spectacle.
Because of their overwhelming strength, no other sect teams dared to provoke them.
The Hundred Sect Ceremony was always like this.
The top five sects of Xuanjiang could simply watch during the first-round melee and easily make it to the second round.
Only this year, Heavenly Water Sect encountered a little setback.
Within the Rising Sun Sect team.
"It''s been a while, but Yin Xuege''s strength has weakened," Hong Chilong said, wiping his huge sword without even looking up.
"That kid only knows some underhanded tricks. When ites to real strength, he''s not even worthy to carry our senior brother''s shoes," a Rising Sun Sect disciple next to him boasted with a proud smile.
Chapter 56: The Shining Dark Horse
"What do you all think of that Shen Mo?" Hong Chilong asked again.
"Just average. Not to mentionparing him to our senior brother, he''s still far behind our second brother," the disciples replied, even more boastful.
"Wrong," Hong Chilong said tly.
The disciples of the Rising Sun Sect were stunned.
How could they be wrong?
Hong Chilong said calmly, "When he fought Yin Xuege just now, he wasn''t even using his full strength."
"You still think he''s not strong? Foolish!"
The disciples'' faces turned red with embarrassment, but they dared not refute and could only nod in agreement.
"Senior Brother, should I go test his strength?" a disciple stood up.
He was also at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, second only to Hong Chilong among the young disciples of the Rising Sun Sect.
"No rush, let''s wait a bit," Hong Chilong smiled, "I want to see him wipe out Heavenly Water Sect first."
"Really... But Senior Brother, look, some sects are already gathering over there. They are all allies of Heavenly Water Sect," the disciple pointed at the crowd.
Hong Chilong chuckled, "A bunch of rabble."
Simr conversations were happening within Divine Sword Sect and Thunderfire Sect as well.
Qingxuan Sect chasing Heavenly Water Sect was entertainment to them.
If Yin Xuege was in good condition, he would definitelye looking for trouble with the other four major sects.
He might even knock one or two of their disciples out of the arena.
Now, with Heavenly Water Sect being overwhelmed, the other sects could preserve their strength in this melee.
All four sects, a total of forty disciples, might easily pass the first round.
In the Verdant Vine Sect team.
"Senior Sister, aren''t we going to intervene? Didn''t you dislike that guy?" a disciple asked.
Mo Yuheng rolled her eyes, "I don''t dislike him; I''m just curious about him."
"Besides, my little snake is still with him."
The disciples of Verdant Vine Sect scratched their heads, "So, we''re just going to watch?"
"Yes, just watch. Don''t interfere," Mo Yuheng waved her hand.
Her beautiful eyes looked distantly at Shen Mo, who was pursuing Heavenly Water Sect.
She thought to herself, "He can attract my little snake and make it disobey me. What kind of physique does he have?"
"Could it be even superior to mine?"
On the other side.
Shen Mo led Qingxuan Sect in a fierce pursuit of Heavenly Water Sect.
Three Heavenly Water Sect disciples had already been hit in the back by Shen Mo and knocked out of the arena.
Bai Ziyue was carrying Yin Xuege, running ahead, ncing back from time to time with a cold gleam in his eyes.
At this moment, Zhao Ting shouted, "A sect is approaching from the left! It''s the Baihe Sect!"
Luo Shengnan called out, "The Xuehe Sect ising from the right!"
Liu Yunxuan and Xiao Fan scanned the rear, "Lingxi Sect ising up from behind."
The Heavenly Water Sect team also stopped.
Bai Ziyue sneered, "Chase us, why don''t you? Now you''re surrounded by four teams, and Qingxuan Sect will be buried here!"
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "A bunch of nobodies, and you call this a siege?"
During the pursuit, Shen Mo had been alert to his surroundings.
He had already assessed the teams from Baihe Sect, Xuehe Sect, and Lingxi Sect.
The strongest among them was only at the perfect Foundation Establishment stage.
The rest were at varying levels within the Foundation Establishment stage.
As long as he took out the leading disciples of these three sects, the others could be handled by Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and the rest.
"Arrogant, what can you do..." Bai Ziyue sneered.@@novelbin@@
The next moment, his vision blurred as Shen Mo charged like a storm.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The perfect Foundation Establishment disciple of Baihe Sect hadn''t even reacted when his chest was hit with immense force.
In the next instant, he flew out like a kite with a broken string, spewing blood mid-air, andnded in a heap.
Nearby disciples from other sects, already deep in the melee, rushed in and beat him further.
The disciples of Baihe Sect widened their eyes and quickly rushed to rescue him.
Though they were subordinate to Heavenly Water Sect, they couldn''t bear the consequences if their strongest disciple got seriously injured.
So, it was imperative to rescue their own immediately.
After defeating one person, Shen Mo charged towards the leading disciple of Xuehe Sect.
That disciple was still in shock from seeing the Baihe Sect disciple being sent flying.
By the time he reacted, Shen Mo''s fist was less than half a foot away from him.
In a rush, he could only cross his arms to block.
Bang!
The reality proved that in the face of overwhelming strength, no amount of blocking would work.
He too was sent flying far away, just like the previous person.
Shen Mo deliberately aimed him towards the densest part of the crowd.
If the disciples of Xuehe Sect didn''t rescue him, he would definitely be severely injured, possibly even at risk of losing his life.
After sending these two flying, Shen Mo moved on to the third person.
Describing the process takes time, but in reality, Shen Mo used his supreme-level martial skill, Eight Directions Thunder Movement, at an extremely fast speed.
Each strike was quick and powerful enough to end the fight instantly.
By the time he reached the leading disciple of Lingxi Sect, that person had just realized what was happening.
However, with Heavenly Water Sect''s order, he couldn''t dodge or flee.
After much consideration, he made a decision.
Stand firm!
Lingxi Sect was known for its defensive martial skills, and it wasn''t difficult for a perfect Foundation Establishment stage disciple to withstand the attacks of a peak Foundation Establishment stage opponent.
He roared, and a giant rhino phantom appeared around him.
His body was as solid as a rock, as resilient as a mountain enduring the elements.
The next moment, Shen Mo''s fist struck down.
Bang!
The disciple''s defense shattered in less than three breaths.
He followed the same fate as the previous two, flying far away.
Lingxi Sect''s defensive martial skill did help; he only flew four or five zhang away.
"Go save him, why are you standing there?" Shen Mo said calmly.
The disciples of Lingxi Sect gritted their teeth but could only rush to rescue theirrade.
With these three swift punches, Shen Mo had quickly broken the encirclement of Qingxuan Sect.
Now, their opponents were only the Heavenly Water Sect''s team.
Bai Ziyue''s expression shifted from a sneer to shock, and finally to extreme difort.
"Retreat!"
Bai Ziyue shouted angrily.
"Retreat? Stop trying to make it sound noble!"
Shen Mo smiled faintly, stomped the ground, and pursued them.
Yin Xuege, who had just regained consciousness, heard this and was so enraged that he spat out blood and fainted again.
This scene, witnessed by the spectators, left countless people in awe.
"Wow! That''s incredibledefeating three perfect Foundation Establishment stage disciples with three punches!"
"From being surrounded to turning the tide, that''s amazing!"
"Only such a significant gap in strength can break through like this. Any other sect would have already been defeated in such a situation."
"Amazing! Qingxuan Sect is truly the darkest of dark horses this time! They''re shining!"
Bang!
Zhang Mo pped the table, her face dark with anger, almost dripping with malice.
The surrounding audience fell silent, fearing to anger the Heavenly Water Sect''s leader.
In contrast to Zhang Mo''s dark mood, Murong Yue was smiling brightly, her joy sweeter than honey, drawing many admiring nces.
"I knew I didn''t misjudge him!" she thought with immense satisfaction.
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Chapter 58: Zhang Mo’s Fury
Xiao Fan''s face turned bright red.
Liu Yunxuan''s expression, on the other hand, remained unchanged.
Shen Mo said calmly, "Address me as Senior Brother."
Xiao Fan was taken aback.
Shen Mo turned to him with a cold gaze, "Xiao Fan, don''t you understand respect and hierarchy?"
Xiao Fan lowered his head, gritting his teeth, "Yes, Senior Brother Shen."
Shen Mo continued, "Do you think that letting Yin Xuege go now will make Heavenly Water Sect spare us in the second or third round?"
"Absolutely not!"
"You all saw clearly what kind of person the Heavenly Water Sect leader is when you met her for the first time!"
Shen Mo looked directly into Liu Yunxuan''s eyes, "As for showing Heavenly Water Sect some respect, thinking we might need them in the future, that''s absolute nonsense."
"Back when Qingxuan Sect was pushed out of the top five by Heavenly Water Sect, did they show us any respect? Did they not seize the opportunity to crush us further?"
"Why didn''t they consider that they might need Qingxuan Sect in the future?"
Liu Yunxuan''sposure finally broke.
He knew Shen Mo was absolutely right, and there was no way to argue against it.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, and the other disciples of Qingxuan Sect cheered for Shen Mo from the bottom of their hearts.
His reasoning was meticulous and foresighted.
One couldn''t help but admire him!
After saying this, Shen Mo turned his gaze towards Yin Xuege.
Hearing Shen Mo''s words, Yin Xuege''s expression turned panicked.
He realized that the disciples of Qingxuan Sect were not intimidated by his threats.
Instead, Shen Mo''s words had unified them even more against theirmon enemy.
"You, you need to think carefully."
"You''re too selfish. How can you not consider the other disciples of Qingxuan Sect?"
Yin Xuege instinctively stepped back, spitting out a few weak threats.
Shen Mo''s face remained as calm as ever.
"The other four Young Supremes seem quite formidable, so why are you socking?"
Shen Mo shook his head and suddenly struck out with his palm.
Bang!
Yin Xuege was instantly sent flying.
He wasunched out of the martial arena.
Uponnding, he was so enraged that he spat out blood and fainted on the spot.
The moment Yin Xuege was sent flying, a collective gasp arose from the stands.
When Yin Xuege had been surrounded by the Qingxuan Sect team, he had already captured the attention of nearly ny percent of the audience.
Everyone wanted to know whether the disciples of Qingxuan Sect dared to knock Yin Xuege out of the arena.
After all, he was one of the Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang and the face of the younger generation of Heavenly Water Sect.
In past first rounds, there had been conflicts among the Five Young Supremes, but they had always tacitly avoided eliminating each other.
Would the Qingxuan Sect disciples break this unspoken rule?
Or would they be so intimidated by Yin Xuege that they would let him leave, even in his severely injured state?
Now they knew.
Shen Mo dared!
He truly dared!
"Good! Good! Good!"
Heavenly Water Sect leader Zhang Mo stood up abruptly, her face extremely calm as she uttered three consecutive "goods," her voice echoing throughout the martial arena.
She then turned and left with a flick of her sleeve.@@novelbin@@
Her demeanor and tone clearly indicated that her inner fury had reached its peak!
"Haha, this Shen Mo is truly an interesting person," Mo Yuheng covered her mouth,ughing softly, her smile growing even brighter.
"Damn it! In the second round, if we encounter Qingxuan Sect disciples, show no mercy. Use your full strength, understood?" Wan Renjie growled.
"Yes!" the disciples of Thunderfire Sect responded in low voices.
In the Rising Sun Sect team, Hong Chilongughed heartily, "Well done! Yin Xuege, that guy, doesn''t deserve to be one of the Five Young Supremes!"
Within the Divine Sword Sect team, Zhou Qingcang, who had been silently polishing his long sword, finally stood up and cast his gaze toward Shen Mo.
"Senior Brother, what do you think of him?" a Divine Sword Sect disciple asked.
Zhou Qingcang pondered for a moment, "Very strong, very smart."
The Divine Sword Sect disciples were astonished. Zhou Qingcang had never given anyone such high praise before, not even to Hong Chilong, Mo Yuheng, or Wan Renjie.
Yin Xuege''s elimination marked the moment when the number of participants in the martial arena reached one hundred.
Divine Sword Sect leader Luo Chaotian, who had been keeping an eye on the count, infused his voice with spiritual energy and announced, "Cease fighting!"
These two words seemed to have a magical effect.
As soon as they were spoken, all the disciples simultaneously stopped their battles.
"Congrattions to the one hundred disciples who have passed the first round."
"The second round will begin tomorrow at the hour of the rabbit."
"Rest well. Tomorrow, we will announce the rewards for the top ten of the Hundred Sect Ceremony."
All the disciples responded in unison, "Yes!"
As soon as the first round ended, Murong Yue and Liu Yuanfeng quickly approached the Qingxuan Sect disciples.
Murong Yue''s usually cold and elegant face was now beaming with a bright smile.
"Shen Mo, well done! That''s how it should be!"
Shen Mo bowed, "Your disciple has not disgraced the mission."
Liu Yuanfeng said coolly, "Leader, you should think more about how to handle Zhang Mo''s impending wrath in the second and third rounds."
Murong Yue, still in high spirits, was suddenly doused with cold water by Liu Yuanfeng''s words and snorted coldly, "I am well aware of that, no need for Deputy Leader Liu to remind me!"
At this moment, the Verdant Vine Sect team approached.
Their arrival made Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and the others put away their smiles and turn to face the neers.
Zhao Rou gazed nkly at the beautiful woman.
How could someone have such stunning looks and an alluring figure?
Compared to Mo Yuheng, she felt inferior in every aspect.
Not big enough where it should be, not long enough where it should be, not curvy enough where it should be.
Luo Shengnan, on the other hand, eyed Mo Yuheng warily, wondering what this enchantress wanted.
Mo Yuheng chuckled lightly, "Can I have my little snake back now?"
Shen Mo shrugged and took out the white snake from his arms, handing it over. "It came over on its own."
The white snake opened its mouth, making soft noises, and before leaving, it gently bit Shen Mo''s finger.
It didn''t draw blood or break the skin; it was more like a pet''s yful nip to its owner.
Mo Yuheng smiled as she took the white snake, tapping its head with her slender finger, "Who is your master?"
The white snake turned its head away, seemingly annoyed.
After a moment of contemtion, it dove into the light gauze at Mo Yuheng''s chest, causing her body to shiver slightly.
"Goodbye, I hope you can make it through the second round." Mo Yuheng waved, throwing a kiss to Shen Mo as she left.
That fleeting gesture captivated many men, making them stop and stare.
Shen Mo''s heart raced, and it took a while for it to return to its normal pace.
Murong Yue frowned slightly and stepped in front of Shen Mo.
I can''t let my excellent disciple be easily seduced by women.
"Leader Mo, please keep your daughter in check," she said, looking at the bearded man in green behind Mo Yuheng.
The bearded man coughed lightly, "My daughter has grown up and is hard to discipline now, ahem."
He then reminded, "Leader Murong, be careful. Leader Zhang may not react well to this."
Murong Yue nodded and watched as the Verdant Vine Sect team departed.
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Chapter 59: Supreme Earth-Grade Demon Armor Fragment
The first round of the Hundred Sect Ceremony came to an end.
All the sects returned to their temporary quarters.
The spectators in the stands also began to leave.
However, even as they left, many people continued to excitedly discuss the chase between the Qingxuan Sect team and the Heavenly Water Sect team.
It had been so exciting and eye-catching.
Even those who didn''t want to talk about it couldn''t help but do so, as everyone else was discussing it.
Particrly memorable was the moment when Yin Xuege loudly threatened Shen Mo, who then decisively knocked him out of the arena. That scene was etched into the minds of countless people.
Shen Mo.
This name began to spread through Divine Sword City just like the names of the Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang.
Moreover, because he was a dark horse that shone brightly, his name spread faster and wider than those of the Five Young Supremes!
Bang!
"Useless trash!"
Zhang Mo suddenly crushed her teacup.
Scalding tea sshed over her hand and the ground, but she didn''t seem to notice in her rage.
Bai Ziyue quickly brewed a new cup of tea and respectfully brought it to her side, "Sect Master, please calm down."
Zhang Mo suppressed her anger, "How is Xuege''s injury?"
Bai Ziyue responded immediately, "Senior Brother''s injuries are not severe, mostly internal due to emotional distress."
Zhang Mo got up and strode towards Yin Xuege''s room.
Inside the room, Yin Xuege stared nkly at the ceiling.
He no longer had the spirited look of one of the Five Young Supremes.
He looked more like a defeated dog on the run.
Zhang Mo sat beside him, holding his hand, and spoke softly, "Xuege, don''t dwell on it too much. This is a learning experience for you."
"You''ve always been proud, and I''ve worried about your mindset. This setback might be a good thing."
Yin Xuege remained dazed, as if he had lost all his vitality.
Zhang Mo suddenly stood up and pped him hard across the face.
Yin Xuege''s cheek immediately swelled up with a bright red handprint.
The sudden p made Bai Ziyue shudder.
It seemed to wake Yin Xuege up, restoring the light to his eyes.
Zhang Mo coldly said, "If you fall into despair over this failure, I will immediately strip you of your status as a true disciple."
"Go back to your family and never return to Heavenly Water Sect. Consider it my mistake for epting you as a disciple in the first ce!"
Yin Xuege turned to Zhang Mo, his lips moving slightly, "Master."
"I just didn''t expect to lose so miserably."
"He''s just a disciple from a second-rate sect."
Zhang Mo replied calmly, "Shen Mo possesses a superior heaven-grade physique. Losing to him is nothing to be ashamed of."
Yin Xuege was stunned.
Bai Ziyue''s eyes widened.
Heaven-grade, superior?
Among the Five Young Supremes, the strongest physique belonged to Hong Chilong, but it was only a mid-grade heaven physique.
Shen Mo had a superior heaven-grade physique?
"Master, where did you get this information?" Yin Xuege asked, his eyes sparkling.
"From Qingxuan Sect''s Deputy Leader Liu Yuanfeng," Zhang Mo sneered.
Bai Ziyue was utterly shocked, "This"
Yin Xuege quickly grasped the situation, "Qingxuan Sect is so divided?"
"A superior heaven-grade physique, and instead of protecting him, they expose him to outsiders?"
Zhang Mo scoffed, "Qingxuan Sect is like a sieve now. Deputy Leader Liu Yuanfeng is closely tied with Divine Sword Sect, and former Elder Song Chaofeng has connections with Verdant Vine Sect."
"Even if Shen Mo has a superior heaven-grade physique, he won''t get the resources he needs."
"As long as you regain your confidence and train hard, you won''t lose to him."
"Besides" Zhang Mo''s gaze deepened.
"Divine Sword Sect will eventually conquer Xuanjiang Prefecture, and we at Heavenly Water Sect will follow closely behind. Qingxuan Sect is unlikely to submit. When the timees, you will personally wipe away this shame."
"You will take his life!"
Zhang Mo grasped Yin Xuege''s shoulder firmly, staring into his eyes.
"Yes!" Yin Xuege responded with renewed determination.
...
Divine Sword City, East Market.
Shen Mo, Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou were wandering around the market.
Invited by Zhao Ting and the others, and because Shen Mo had his own reasons for visiting, the four of them decided toe here.
Divine Sword City was enormous, housing four markets, each located in a different district.
The East Market was the smallest of the four but was closest to Hidden Dragon Pavilion, where the Qingxuan Sect disciples were staying.
Shen Mo had a specific reason for visiting. During the melee, he had glimpsed Yin Xuege''s life panel and noted a significant opportunity meant for Yin Xuege.
Shen Mo recalled the details from Yin Xuege''s life panel.
[Name: Yin Xuege.
Cultivation Level: Peak of Foundation Establishment.
Fate: Scion of a prominent family, Lucky Star, Born Sword Embryo, Nine Yin Body.
Destiny: To stop at the peak of the Golden Core stage and be an inner elder of the Divine Sword Sect. Sixty-two yearster, he will be killed in an internal factional conflict within the Divine Sword Sect.
Recent Opportunities 1: Today, inspired by the encouragement of Heavenly Water Sect leader Zhang Mo, he will regain his spirit. In the afternoon, he will wander the East Market and discover a supreme earth-grade treasure, a fragment of a Demon Armor, at the stall of a bald old man.
Recent Opportunities 2: Tomorrow, while practicing swordsmanship in the southeast area of Hidden Dragon Pavilion, he will discover a nearly mature True Intent Grass under a fake mountain and acquire this supreme-grade treasure.]
"A supreme-grade treasure, True Intent Grass, can serve as the wood root for my formation of a Golden Core."
"What is a supreme earth-grade Demon Armor fragment? It sounds powerful."
Shen Mo mused to himself.
Since it''s a supreme earth-grade treasure, it must be valuable and not some worthless item.
No matter what it is, it''s worth taking.
At this time, many cultivators were setting up stalls in the East Market.
The cultivators'' levels varied greatly.
The lowest were at the Qi Condensation stage.
The highest reached the Golden Core stage.
The items they sold were also diverse and strange.
There were fragments of so-called heaven-grade spirit artifacts.
There were fossilized beast eggs that had been petrified for a thousand years.
There were also ancient elixirs encased in amber.
Of course, most of these items were fake.
Shen Mo couldn''t help but sigh.
Unfortunately, there was no anti-fraud system in this world.
Otherwise, he could make a fortune busting scams here.
As they wandered through the market, Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou bought a lot of items.
With their discerning eyes, they could avoid most of the fakes, sifting through to find genuinely valuable things.
For instance, Zhao Rou was lucky enough to buy a bottle of Yuan Spirit Blood.
This item was a high-grade treasure.
It wasn''t actual blood but a product of alchemy.
It wasn''t meant for humans to drink but for beasts.
After consumption, it could enhance their bloodlines and physical bodies.
Previously, Zhao Rou had acquired a mutant amethyst lion cub, which she always kept with her in a beast-controlling bag.
The Yuan Spirit Blood was prepared for it.
"Shen Mo, why aren''t you buying anything? Did the leader not give you money?" Luo Shengnan asked boldly, wrapping her arm around Shen Mo''s shoulder.
Shen Moughed helplessly.
At that moment, his gaze suddenly focused on a bald old man ahead to the left.@@novelbin@@
The old man was picking at his foot, showing apleteck of the demeanor of a cultivator.
The items on his stall were equally unimpressive.
They were mostly covered in dust and dirt.
Even when the four of them stood before his stall, the old man continued picking at his foot withplete focus.
It was as if nothing else existed in the world but his foot.
Shen Mo''s eyes, however, lit up as he spotted a fragment of purple-ck metal among the items.
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Chapter 61: The Rewards of the Hundred Sect Ceremony – Taiyi Soul Nourishing Pill
The leader of Divine Sword Sect, Luo Chaotian, looked at the other four sect leaders and announced in a loud voice, "Everyone, today we will reveal the rewards for the top ten of the Hundred Sect Ceremony."
The leader of Heavenly Water Sect, Zhang Mo, was the first to stand up. "I will set an example and offer ten pieces of Cold Marrow Stone."
With a casual flick, ten orbs of light flew into the air.
The crowd gasped in amazement.
Cold Marrow Stone, a supreme-grade treasure of the Profound grade, was an excellent choice for both forging Dao Foundations and condensing Golden Cores.
Heavenly Water Sect had a Cold Marrow Stone mine, which allowed them to generously offer such a treasure.
Each piece of Cold Marrow Stone would cost at least three thousand low-grade spirit stones.
The leader of Rising Sun Sect then tossed out five orbs of light. "I am not as wealthy as Leader Zhang, but I will offer five Dark Fire Crystals as prizes."
The crowd was again taken aback.
Dark Fire Crystals, also supreme-grade treasures of the Profound grade, were equally useful for forging Dao Foundations and condensing Golden Cores.
Shen Mo felt a stir in his heart.
When he had prepared to condense a perfect Dao Foundation, Murong Yue had given him a Dark Fire Crystal.
Rising Sun Sect could casually offer five of these crystals.
Indeed, there was a significant gap between Qingxuan Sect and the top five sects of Xuanjiang.
After the Rising Sun Sect leader sat down, the leader of Verdant Vine Sect spoke loudly, "Our Verdant Vine Sect is willing to provide three Green Vine Pearls for the top three disciples of the Hundred Sect Ceremony!"
With that, he sent three green orbs of light into the air, merging with the other light clusters.
"Green Vine Pearls?!" The crowd''s eyes widened.@@novelbin@@
These were supreme-grade treasures of the Profound grade, even more valuable than Cold Marrow Stone and Dark Fire Crystals.
Green Vine Pearls were incredibly rare treasures that could enhance the physical body.
After refining one, the speed of wound healing could be significantly elerated.
A person could only refine one Green Vine Pearl in their lifetime.
Taking more would greatly diminish the effect, almost to the point of being ineffective.
Each Green Vine Pearl would cost at least four thousand low-grade spirit stones!
Moreover, because Verdant Vine Sect had to mine these pearls from deep underground, their yield was very low and often unavable in the market.
Unexpectedly, three of them appeared all at once!
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
Green Vine Pearls were valuable, and he needed them.
At this point, the leader of Thunderfire Sect swung his sleeve, sending three objects into the air.
"These are deeds to three Thunder Crystal Mines. The top three disciples'' sects will each receive one Thunder Crystal Mine," he said calmly.
"Hiss!"
The crowd collectively sucked in their breath.
Wow, that was a grand gesture!
Mines were the foundation of any sect and were always guarded by Golden Core stage cultivators.
The Thunder Crystals produced by these mines were not only beneficial to cultivators with thunder attributes but also elerated the training of thunder attribute techniques and martial skills, making them highly sought after.
Every sect desired such resources.
The audience now turned their gaze to Luo Chaotian, the leader of Divine Sword Sect.
The previous four leaders had offered increasingly valuable prizes.
As the head of the top sect, Luo Chaotian''s contribution had to be equally impressive.
Sure enough, Luo Chaotian flicked his finger, sending an object emitting golden light into the cluster of light orbs.
"Earth-grade pill, Taiyi Soul Nourishing Pill, which can enhance physique!"
"This pill was obtained from the Alchemy King''s abode. There were originally two pills; one was consumed by our disciple Zhou Qingcang, elevating his physique from supreme earth-grade to heaven-grade. This is the remaining pill."
Luo Chaotian spoke indifferently, his voice echoing throughout the arena.
As his words fell, the entire arena erupted in excitement.
A pill that could enhance one''s physique!
Extremely rare and precious!
Many people might never have the chance to improve their physique in their lifetime.
A Profound-grade physique would remain Profound-grade.
An Earth-grade physique would remain Earth-grade.
But now, an opportunity to enhance one''s physique was right in front of them!
Countless eyes turned towards the hundred disciples in the arena.
Their gazes were filled with envy and jealousy.
On the field, the hundred disciples were even more eager to obtain these treasures.
Each one yearned to be the first!
Shen Mo, however, pondered more deeply.
What was Divine Sword Sect nning?
Offering even a Taiyi Soul Nourishing Pill as a reward.
"Are they not afraid of outsiders getting it?"
But then, Shen Mo quickly understood.
Actually, Divine Sword Sect wasn''t afraid at all.
Zhou Qingcang was undisputedly the strongest among the Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang.
In Divine Sword Sect''s view, there was at least a 70% chance that Zhou Qingcang would take first ce in this Hundred Sect Ceremony.
Even if Zhou Qingcang didn''t win, the Taiyi Soul Nourishing Pill was likely to end up in the hands of a disciple from one of the Five Great Sects.
In any case, Divine Sword Sect would stille out ahead.
This move not only showcased Divine Sword Sect''s generosity and wealth, attracting the attention of elders and disciples from other sects, but also ensured that the pill didn''t fall into the hands of outsiders.
A win-win situation, both in terms of reputation and substance.
At the highest point of the stands, Luo Chaotian looked around, satisfied with the atmosphere.
With a wave of his hand, a hundred marble ques floated into the air.
He announced in a resonant voice, "These one hundred marble ques are numbered from one to one hundred."
"Reach out to the ques, and you will randomly receive one."
"Number one will fight number two, number three will fight number four, and so on."
"Begin!"
With that, he returned to his seat.
The disciples, including Shen Mo, reached out to the floating marble ques.
The ques seemed like little spirits, flying towards the disciples.
Shen Mo received a que.
Looking closely, he saw the number eleven.
"My opponent is number twelve," he nodded slightly.
An elder from Divine Sword Sect stepped forward and announced loudly, "The arena has been divided into ten areas, with ten pairs of disciples fighting at a time."
"Will the disciples with numbers one and two, three and four, ... neen and twenty, please take the stage!"
Shen Mo stepped onto one of the fighting tforms.
His opponent was a disciple from Lingxi Sect.
Many spectators focused on Shen Mo''s fight.
"Shen Mo''s opponent is only at the major aplishment stage of the Foundation Establishment realm,pletely not his match."
"I think, with Shen Mo''s strength, this person won''t even have a chance to hurt him."
"Heh, I agree. After all, he''s the one who seriously injured Yin Xuege with just two punches!"
Almost everyone had strong confidence in Shen Mo.
The scene of Shen Mo chasing and defeating the Heavenly Water Sect team yesterday had left a deep impression on them.
On the tform.
Each arena had an elder from Divine Sword Sect acting as the judge.
This elder looked at the two of them and asked, "Are you ready?"
"Ready," they answered in unison.
"Begin," the elder nodded slightly.
In the next moment, the Lingxi Sect disciple roared, his whole body bursting with energy and blood, exuding a fierce aura like a beast.
Shen Mo frowned.
He recognized this move, it was Lingxi Sect''s secret technique called Lingxi Transformation.
After using it, one could gain immense physical strength and defense.
But this Lingxi Transformation caused irreversible damage to the body.
It was usually only used by Lingxi Sect disciples in life-or-death battles outside.
There was no need to use such a self-destructive technique in apetition.
The Divine Sword Sect elder acting as judge was also taken aback.
He clearly hadn''t expected the Lingxi Sect disciple to be so ruthless.
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Chapter 62: Battle Against Thunder Supreme Wan Renjie
The spectators in the stands were even more astonished.
"What''s going on? Why use the Lingxi Transformation? Although it greatly enhances strength in a short time, it requires at least half a year of bed rest to recover."
"Could it be that the Lingxi Sect and Qingxuan Sect are mortal enemies?"
"Impossible. I remember there is almost no connection between the two sects."
"Wait a minute, the Lingxi Sect has always revered the Heavenly Water Sect. Do you think this could be an order from the leader of Heavenly Water Sect..."
"Hiss... That''s very likely!"
On the tform.
The Lingxi Sect disciple roared and charged at Shen Mo, like a mad rhinoceros.
His speed was fast, and his strength was tremendous.
Even though he was only at the major aplishment stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, with the boost from Lingxi Transformation, he was as powerful as someone at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
If this blownded, Shen Mo would be slightly injured.
Shen Mo frowned and quickly used the Eight Directions Thunder Move.
His speed was astonishing.
Just before the Lingxi Sect disciple could hit him, Shen Mo narrowly dodged.
However, this extreme evasion cost Shen Mo some spiritual energy and stamina.
He panted a few times.
Yet the Lingxi Sect disciple ignored this and charged again like a crazed bull!
Shen Mo had to keep dodging swiftly.
With the Lingxi Transformation, his opponent''s defense was too high.
If Shen Mo couldn''tnd a critical hit, he wouldn''t inflict any significant damage and might even make his opponent more frenzied.
On the contrary, he could end up injured himself.
Getting injured at this point would be serious.
It could affect his subsequent battles.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Lingxi Sect disciple kept charging relentlessly.
Shen Mo continued using the Eight Directions Thunder Move to dodge.
His extreme maneuvers made the spectators hold their breath in suspense.
After half an incense stick''s time, the Lingxi Sect disciple''s momentum began to wane.
Clearly, the duration of the Lingxi Transformation had reached its limit.
Shen Mo seized the opportunity to punch his opponent in the face.
At that moment, the Lingxi Sect disciple shouted decisively, "I concede!"
Shen Mo had to stop his punch just before itnded on his opponent''s face.
The Divine Sword Sect elder nodded slightly. "This match goes to Shen Mo of Qingxuan Sect!"
Shen Mo cupped his hands in salute to the elder. He then looked thoughtfully at another tform.
On the adjacent tform, Zhao Rou was fighting a disciple from Baihe Sect.
As expected, the Baihe Sect disciple aggressively used a self-damaging secret technique right from the start.
Facing the savage, beast-like attack, Zhao Rou was unable to defend.
After more than ten rounds, she was knocked off the tform.
Shen Mo frowned slightly.
He wasn''t a fool.
He quickly realized the connection behind these actions.
"It seems Zhang Mo has done a lot to target Qingxuan Sect."
Shen Mo returned to the Qingxuan Sect team and shared his suspicions with the others.
Zhao Ting snorted coldly. "We guessed it. That person is too vindictive."
Luo Shengnan cracked her knuckles. "Who cares! Whoeveres up, I''ll smash them!"
"Don''t be upset, Zhao Rou. Given your strength, making it to the second round is already impressive," Luo Shengnanforted Zhao Rou, seeing her red eyes.
Zhao Ting rolled his eyes. "Is that how youfort someone?"
Shen Mo also couldn''t help butugh.
Even Zhao Rou was amused by their banter.@@novelbin@@
"I know. I just didn''t expect my opponent to fight so desperately..." Zhao Rou sighed.
At this moment, Murong Yue also spoke solemnly, "Be cautious. There will definitely be more opponents like this in the uing battles."
"Especially beware of sects closely rted to the Heavenly Water Sect!"
"Yes!" the Qingxuan Sect disciples responded in unison.
Soon, all the Qingxuan Sect disciples had taken their turns on the tform.
Zhao Ting lost, Luo Shengnan won, Liu Yunxuan won, and Xiao Fan lost.
Out of the ten-member team, only Shen Mo, Luo Shengnan, and Liu Yunxuan advanced.
The other seven all lost to opponents who used self-damaging tactics.
"Next, it''s the battle for the top twenty-five," Shen Mo announced.
The leader of Divine Sword Sect, Luo Chaotian, spoke loudly, reaching out his hand to retrieve all the marble ques from the disciples. They flew back into his hand.
He removed the ques numbered fifty and above, leaving only the top fifty.
"As before, reach out and call for the ques," Luo Chaotian said calmly.
Shen Mo reached out to the floating ques.
A new quended in his hand.
"Nine, which means my opponent is ten."
Shen Mo ascended the fighting tform.
His opponent appeared almost simultaneously.
Shen Mo saw his opponent and frowned slightly.
The other man hesitated for a moment, then revealed a cold smile.
"Shen Mo, I didn''t expect us to meet so early."
"It looks like you have no chance of making it to tomorrow''s third round."
His voice was icy.
This person was Wan Renjie, a disciple of Thunderfire Sect, known as the Young Supreme of Thunder!
Seeing Shen Mo and Wan Renjie standing on the same tform, countless spectators were excited.
Now, there was a good show to watch!
Aside from Shen Mo and Wan Renjie''s battle, the other three Young Supremes had rtively ordinary opponents.
As a result, nearly half of the audience focused their attention on this fight.
Yin Xuege''s eyes lit up. "He''s bound to lose! Renjie is my friend, he''ll avenge me!"
Zhang Mo nodded slightly. "Shen Mo''s luck is bad, running into Wan Renjie. It seems my subsequent arrangements are unnecessary."
Bai Ziyue was delighted. "He''ll be stopped here!"
In the Qingxuan Sect team.
Murong Yue frowned.
Zhao Rou eximed, "How can he fight one of the Five Young Supremes in the second round?"
"Exactly, even if Shen Mo defeats Wan Renjie, it will cause trouble. Thunderfire Sect is also one of the Five Great Sects..." Zhao Ting frowned deeply, seeing the deeper implications.
Xiao Fan also saw this and smirked coldly.
"Serves him right! He recklessly knocked Yin Xuege out, provoking Heavenly Water Sect''s wrath, causing me to be eliminated early. This is his retribution!" Xiao Fan cursed under his breath.
In the Verdant Vine Sect team.
The enchantress Mo Yuheng had not yet entered the ring. Seeing this scene, her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Father, do you think someone manipted the match between Shen Mo and Wan Renjie?" she asked quietly.
The leader of Verdant Vine Sect red at her. "Don''t speak nonsense. Only Luo Chaotian would know about such things."
He nced meaningfully at the calm Luo Chaotian. "However... fifty years ago, when Qingxuan Sect was still one of the Five Great Sects, Divine Sword Sect did often kick them while they were down. Zhang Mo could easily have persuaded him."
"What? Are you interested in this boy?"
"He is quite impressive, strong, and handsome, reminds me a bit of myself in my youth," the leader of Verdant Vine Sect chuckled.
Mo Yuheng rolled her eyes. "I''m just curious about him. It''s far from being ''interested''."
"Pity, the boy will be stopped here," the Verdant Vine Sect leader smiled.
"Not necessarily, his physique seems unusual..." Mo Yuheng recalled something. "Father, didn''t you say there was an anomaly in Qingxuan Sect recently, suggesting the emergence of a heaven-grade physique?"
"Yes, do you think it''s him?"
Mo Yuheng nodded slightly.
The leader of Verdant Vine Sect looked deeply at the stage. "Then I must watch his performance closely."
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Chapter 65: Where’s My Wine? Bring It to Me Now
In an instant, the entrance of the Sleeping Phoenix Pavilion became chaotic.
People rushed to catch a glimpse of the dark horse who had consecutively defeated the Young Supreme of Shadows and the Young Supreme of Thunder, curious about this remarkable figure.
The manager of the Sleeping Phoenix Pavilion even personally came to greet them.
Apanied by dozens of attendants, the Qingxuan Sect''s team ascended directly to the top floor, finally escaping the bustling crowd.
The top floor of the Sleeping Phoenix Pavilion offered a broad view, overlooking arge surrounding area.
It gave one the feeling of standing proudly above the clouds, looking down on the world.
Naturally, the pricing here was the highest.
A minimum expenditure of ten thousand low-grade spirit stones was required to enter.
Of course, with Murong Yue''s status, such rules did not apply. She could enter directly.
After all, no one would offend a Core Formation realm cultivator without reason.
Once Shen Mo and the others reached the top floor, the manager promptly arranged for exquisite dishes and fine wine.
In no time, steaming hot dishes filled the round table, their aroma alone making one''s mouth water.
Luo Shengnan wanted to eat but was red at by Zhao Ting, "The master hasn''t spoken yet, and you want to eat?"
Luo Shengnan had to look at Murong Yue with a pitiful expression.
Murong Yue smiled gently, "Go ahead and eat. Today is a celebration, so enjoy yourselves."
After the meal and wine, everyone began to chat merrily.
Luo Shengnanughed, "Do you all know what the most amazing thing in Sleeping Phoenix Pavilion is?"
"What is it?" Zhao Rou blinked her eyes.
"The Phoenix Rebirth painting! It''s on the wall of the top floor; we saw it when we came in." Luo Shengnan said excitedly.
"It''s just a mural; what''s so amazing about it?" Liu Yunxuan said casually.
Luo Shengnan snorted, "You have no idea."
Liu Yunxuan, "..."
"That mural is the true work of a Divine Transformation stage cultivator!" Luo Shengnan said with admiration, "It''s said that the mural contains the true meaning of that cultivator''s understanding."
"If you canprehend it, you can obtain extremely powerful cultivation techniques."
"Unfortunately, no one has managed toprehend it over the years."
Murong Yue nodded with a smile, "Shengnan is right. I once tried toprehend the powerful technique from it when I was young but failed."
Liu Yunxuan became interested, "I''ll go take a look."
Zhao Ting and Zhao Rou also got curious, "Let''s go and see."
"Let''s go, disciple. Maybe you are the destined one." Murong Yue smiled.
Shen Mo got up and followed.
Although Xiao Fan was the original destined one, now that Shen Mo had intercepted the opportunity, he might be the new destined one in another sense.
The group arrived in front of the mural.
The mural was enormous, about three meters high and one meter wide.
Converting to earthly measurements, it was roughly ten meters long and three meters wide.
No ordinary home could fit such a thing.
At the center of the mural was a me, within which a phoenix was reborn in the fire, undergoing its nirvana.
Surrounding the mural were numerous beasts, ferocious creatures, ghosts, and vengeful spirits.
The theme of the mural was evident.
The phoenix died under the attack of these demonic creatures but was reborn in the fire.
The moment the phoenixpleted its nirvana was when these demonic creatures met their doom.
Shen Mo examined it closely, noticing that each feather of the phoenix was depicted perfectly, lifelike.
It seemed as if touching it lightly would allow one to feel the texture of the feathers.
Of course, touching was not allowed.
The mural was protected by a transparent cover to prevent any damage from people touching it out of curiosity.
Liu Yunxuan stared at the mural for a long time, trying to discern something.
But apart from his eyes getting bloodshot, he saw nothing.
Next, Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, and other Qingxuan Sect disciples also tried, but none of them had any insights.
At this moment, a softugh was heard.
"Little girl, this Phoenix Rebirth painting isn''t something you canprehend so easily."
Shortly after, the breathtakingly beautiful Mo Yuheng gracefully stepped out from another private room.
The Verdant Vine Sect leader, along with several of their disciples, followed behind.
Murong Yue nodded at the Verdant Vine Sect leader as a form of greeting.
"We meet again," Mo Yuheng waved at Shen Mo, casting him a flirtatious nce.
Shen Mo smiled and nodded in return.
Murong Yue huffed and stepped in front of Shen Mo, blocking Mo Yuheng''s view.
At this moment, a booming voice echoed from the stairs.
"Make way, today I''m getting drunk! Hmm... you''re all here too?"
The Rising Sun Sect disciple, Hong Chilong, the Young Supreme of Fire, strode onto the top floor.
He was surprised to see Shen Mo, Mo Yuheng, and the others.
Mo Yuheng nced behind him, "Is Zhou Qingcang here too?"
Hong Chilong nodded, "Yeah, I dragged him along. That guy just trains all day; he needs to rx."
With that, he gave a mighty pull, and Zhou Qingcang, the Young Sword Supreme, appeared.
Now, with the Young Sword Supreme, Young Supreme of Fire, and Young Supreme of Charms all present, along with Shen Mo, who had just defeated the Young Supreme of Shadows and the Young Supreme of Thunder, it was a gathering of the new generation''s elite of the Xuanjiang Prefecture.
"Shen Mo? A pleasure to meet you," Zhou Qingcang nodded at Shen Mo from a distance.
Shen Mo was surprised.
He had always thought Zhou Qingcang, being the top among the Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang and highly favored by the Divine Sword Sect''s leader, would be arrogant and overbearing. However, today''s encounter revealed Zhou Qingcang to be quite amicable.
But upon reflection, Shen Mo understood.
To Zhou Qingcang, only the strong mattered.
Shen Mo, having consecutively defeated Yin Xuege and Wan Renjie, was no less formidable than the Five Young Supremes, earning Zhou Qingcang''s respect.
Hong Chilongughed heartily, "Shen Mo! I''m so d you knocked that coward Yin Xuege down. He doesn''t deserve to be called the Young Supreme of Shadows. I think the Five Young Supremes should include you!"
Saying this, he walked over and familiarly threw an arm around Shen Mo''s shoulders.
"Come on, let''s drink!"
Shen Mo chuckled.@@novelbin@@
This guy seemed like a character.
He looked to Murong Yue, seeking her approval.
Murong Yue nodded, "Go ahead."
"Yes," Shen Mo bowed slightly.
As Zhou Qingcang passed Liu Yunxuan, thetter hastily said, "Senior Brother Zhou, I''ve admired you for a long time. I''m Liu Yunxuan and have some connections with your sect."
Zhou Qingcang paused, "Oh... Liu... Hmm, sorry, I haven''t heard of you."
With that, he followed Hong Chilong to join the drinking.
Liu Yunxuan stood there, biting his lip in jealousy.
Zhou Qingcang, Hong Chilong, and Mo Yuheng''s treatment of Shen Mo showed they considered him an equal.
And Mo Yuheng, such a stunning woman, also treated Shen Mo differently.
Why?
Was Liu Yunxuan so inferior that he couldn''t even get their attention for a moment?
Even though his father, Liu Yuanfeng, had long been closely connected with the Divine Sword Sect!
Murong Yue saw this out of the corner of her eye and internally scoffed at Liu Yunxuan''s reaction.
Zhou Qingcang, Hong Chilong, and Shen Mo drank heartily, enjoying their food.
Hong Chilong frequently burst into heartyughter, keeping the atmosphere lively.
At one point, apparently dissatisfied with the current drinks, Hong Chilong roared, "Waiter, where''s the waiter?"
A young attendant quickly ran over, "Master Hong, what do you need?"
Hong Chilongughed, "I remember your Sleeping Phoenix Pavilion''s finest wine is called Divine Phoenix Brew. Bring it over!"
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Chapter 66: Falling into Enlightenment
The young servant scratched his head. "Master Hong, that wine is very expensive. A jar costs a thousand mid-grade spirit stones. Do you have enough money with you today?"
Hong Chilong''sughter suddenly froze.
A thousand mid-grade spirit stones were indeed a bit pricey.
Zhou Qingcang thought for a moment and tossed over a translucent spirit stone. "Is this enough?"
The servant nced at it and widened his eyes. "This, this is a high-grade spirit stone?!"
"Master Zhou, this is very precious, but it''s still not enough. One high-grade spirit stone can only be exchanged for a hundred mid-grade spirit stones."
"Oh." Zhou Qingcang nodded and then tossed over nine more high-grade spirit stones. "Is this enough now?"
"More than enough! I''ll fetch the Divine Phoenix Brew for the three of you right away!" The servant''s eyes gleamed with excitement.
Hong Chilong grumbled, "You''re this wealthy?"
Zhou Qingcang shook his head. "I wouldn''t have known if the servant hadn''t mentioned it. These were all given to me by my master, and I still have over a hundred more on me."
Hong Chilong and Shen Mo were speechless.
As expected of the top sect of the Xuanjiang Five Sects, the Divine Sword Sect!
Extravagant beyond measure!
Shen Mo coughed lightly. "This wine is too expensive. I think I''ll pass."
Hong Chilong grabbed him. "No way! If the three of us drink together today, we''re friends. Consider this drink on us!"
Zhou Qingcang didn''t speak but nodded in agreement.
"Alright, then I''ll drink," Shen Mo smiled.
Such a practiced act of ying hard to get!
Before long, the servant solemnly brought a jar of wine to the three of them.
Shen Mo nced at it; the jar was very small, barely over a foot high.
The servant wiped off the seal on the jar''s mouth and used a bamboodle to fill three wine cups, handing them to the three men.
Hong Chilongined, "What''s this? Such a small cup, so dainty. Who can drink to their heart''s content with this?"
The servant hurriedly smiled and exined, "Master Hong, you may not know, but the Divine Phoenix Brew is extremely potent. Ordinary people get drunk after just half a cup. You three have to participate in the hundred sect ceremony tomorrow, so you really shouldn''t drink too much."
Hong Chilong wanted to say more.
Zhou Qingcang nodded. "He''s right. One cup is enough."
"Alright, but leave the jar. My brother bought this!"
"Of course, of course." The servant covered the jar and set the Divine Phoenix Brew aside.
Hong Chilong was the first to raise his cup. "Come, let''s toast!"
Shen Mo and Zhou Qingcang also raised their cups.
Clink.
The three of them clinked their cups and drank in one go!
As soon as the Divine Phoenix Brew entered his mouth, Shen Mo felt as if he had swallowed a mouthful ofva.
Scorching hot, it seemed to burn through his esophagus and stomach entirely.
But this sensation quickly vanished, reced by a gentle warmth.
A warm and soothing force spread from his stomach to his entire body.
His vision began to blur and turn hazy.
When Shen Mo looked at the Phoenix Nirvana painting again, he suddenly felt as if he saw a vivid and lifelike phoenix.
Its cry pierced the heavens.
Its fire scorched the ins.
Reborn from the mes.
Phoenix Nirvana!
Shen Mo couldn''t help but mimic the phoenix in the mural, starting to wave his arms.
A peculiar aura suddenly surged around him as he moved his fists.
It felt as though he was a phoenix reborn from the fire!
This scene immediately caught everyone''s attention.
Murong Yue was first startled, then showed a look of surprise.
Shen Mo was having an epiphany!
Hong Chilong and Zhou Qingcang were taken aback, instinctively looking at the Phoenix Nirvana painting.
Zhou Qingcang still felt nothing.
Hong Chilong, however, felt the same as Shen Mo.
Before long, he too began to imitate the phoenix, embarking on a path of rebirth through fire!
Zhou Qingcang, slightly tipsy, showed a hint of surprise and admiration on his face.
He was smart and quickly understood why.
He had an ice attribute sword body, while Shen Mo and Hong Chilong had fire attribute physiques.
They had a higher affinity with the Phoenix Nirvana painting, making it difficult for him toprehend it.
"This ce holds no opportunity for me, but other opportunities wille in the future."
Zhou Qingcang felt no jealousy, instead stepping back to avoid disturbing Shen Mo and Hong Chilong''s enlightenment.
Murong Yue quickly moved to their side.
The master of the Verdant Vine Sect also appeared beside them.
Murong Yue looked at the Verdant Vine Sect master. "Master Mo, these two disciples have entered enlightenment. Although Hong Chilong is not from our sects, he should be protected from external disturbances."
The Verdant Vine Sect master, Mo Hanshan, nodded. "Naturally, I''m not a petty person."
"Good!" Murong Yue nodded appreciatively and then sternly ordered, "Everyone, stay back!"
The two masters formed a powerful aura, protecting Shen Mo and Hong Chilong and immediately pushing back the surrounding crowd.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, and others looked on with envy at Shen Mo and Hong Chilong, who were being protected by the two Nascent Soul stage masters.
Not far away, Zhou Qingcang and Mo Yuheng were also observing the changes in the two.
They didn''t feel envy or jealousy, only a bit of curiosity.
The other disciples each had their own thoughts.
Liu Yunxuan, watching from a distance, was nearly bursting with anger.
The Phoenix Nirvana painting had gone uprehended for over a hundred years.
How did Shen Mo achieve enlightenment today?
Why couldn''t it be me?
His heart was nearly consumed by jealousy.
He could already foresee that once Shen Mo seeded in his enlightenment, he would be weed by everyone present.
Zhou Qingcang and Hong Chilong would treat him as an equal genius.
Mo Yuheng would greatly admire him.
Shen Mo''sbat power would soar.
But he, Liu Yunxuan, would remain the same, stuck in ce!
The more Liu Yunxuan thought about it, the angrier he became, and he simply turned and left.
At this moment, Shen Mo and Hong Chilong were both immersed in their spiritual realms.
Everything in the outside world seemed to disappear.
News of someone achieving enlightenment from the Phoenix Nirvana painting on the top floor quickly spread.
Many people wanted toe to the top floor to see for themselves.
But Fengqi Tower immediately dispatched many enforcers to guard the entrance to the top floor, keeping the curious onlookers out to prevent them from disturbing Shen Mo and Hong Chilong''s enlightenment.@@novelbin@@
Time passed by second by second.
The aura around Hong Chilong gradually rose.
It was as if a phoenix was reborn in mes within him.
The next moment, he suddenly opened his eyes.
He even spewed actual mes from his mouth.
Hong Chilong was overjoyed and wanted to shout out his excitement.
But the auras of Murong Yue and Mo Hanshan quickly pressed down on him.
Hong Chilong immediately shrank back.
Seeing that Shen Mo was still deep in enlightenment, he nodded repeatedly, indicating he understood, and made no sound.
After stepping out of the aura''s range, Hong Chilong let out a sigh of relief.
Mo Hanshan asked softly, "What did youprehend?"
Everyone else cast curious nces.
The Phoenix Nirvana painting had been here for over a hundred years. People only knew it was an authentic piece left by a deity-transformation stage cultivator.
But no one knew what insights it could provide.
Hong Chilong said proudly, "The Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique. I''veprehended the first form."
Murong Yue''s eyes narrowed. "Only the first form? What grade is it?"
Hong Chilong scratched his head. "I don''t know, but it feels very strong."
Mo Hanshan nodded. "Once Shen Mo finishes his enlightenment, you two can find a ce to practice it."
"Alright!" Hong Chilong said excitedly.
He vaguely felt that this first form of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique was likely stronger than the earth-level martial arts of the Shaoyang Sect.
Another two hours passed.
The aura around Shen Mo also began to rise rapidly.
Along with it came an astonishing increase in temperature!
Everyone became alert.
Shen Mo was about to awaken!
Chapter 67: Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique
Boom!
Red mes suddenly ignited, burning Shen Mo''s robes clean off, revealing his strong, muscr physique.
This scene made disciples like Zhao Rou exim in shock.
Murong Yue almost rushed over.
However, when she saw Shen Mo unharmed amidst the mes, she understood.
These mes were the Red Lotus me that Shen Mo had tamed earlier.
Now, it had appeared on its own to protect its master.
Mo Hanshan, seeing these red mes, raised an eyebrow and looked at Murong Yue.
His gaze had a questioning look.
With his experience, he naturally recognized this as a strange fire, the Red Lotus me!@@novelbin@@
Murong Yue nodded in confirmation.
Mo Hanshan, receiving this confirmation, was even more astonished and became more interested in Shen Mo.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Red Lotus me burned more fiercely.
The mes gradually took the shape of a phoenix.
At the moment when the phoenix formed, Shen Mo felt a sudden insight and opened his eyes!
High-temperature heat waves swept in all directions.
Murong Yue and Mo Hanshan immediately acted, using their Golden Core stage spiritual power to suppress the heat waves.
This prevented the disciples around them from being harmed.
Shen Mo''s eyes gradually cleared.
He looked overjoyed.
"Master!"
He bowed to Murong Yue, his eyes full of joy.
Murong Yue blushed slightly. "You should have spare robes, right? Quickly change into a set."
Zhao Rou and the other female disciples quickly covered their eyes.
On the other hand, Mo Yuheng giggled and stared intently at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo looked down and found himselfpletely naked!
The critical parts were stubbornly protected by the Red Lotus me.
However, it still vaguely revealed some details.
He smiled awkwardly, quickly realizing that the Red Lotus me must have ignited during his enlightenment, burning his robes.
He hurriedly took out a new set of robes from his storage ring and put them on.
He thought to himself that he needed to find clothes that wouldn''t burn so easily in the future.
Otherwise, being exposed in front of others like this would be uneptable.
"What did youprehend?" Murong Yue asked.
"The Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, the first and second moves," Shen Mo nodded.
Before anyone else could express their surprise, Hong Chilong was the first to react in shock.
"What the heck? I could onlyprehend one move. How did youprehend two?!" He was stunned. "Could it be your physique..."
He didn''t finish his sentence, but everyone understood.
Shen Mo alsoughed.
He had been puzzled at first.
After all, he saw on Xiao Fan''s life panel that Xiao Fan had onlyprehended the first move of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique.
Yet, he hadprehended two moves.
After a brief thought, he understood.
Xiao Fan''s physique was the Earth-grade Fiery Battle Body.
His own, however, was the Heaven-grade Scorching Sun me Physique.
Naturally, he couldprehend more.
The Phoenix Nirvana Diagram only contained these two moves.
"Let''s go outside the city to an open area and test the power of these moves!" Murong Yue suggested excitedly.
"Alright!" Shen Mo nodded.
Hong Chilong was excited. "I''ming too!"
"Let''s go, Old Zhou, you shoulde and take a look too."
Zhou Qingcang nodded, "I was thinking the same."
Whoosh.
In an instant, everyone left the Sleeping Phoenix Tower and headed outside the city.
Many curious onlookers eagerly asked who hadprehended the Phoenix Nirvana Diagram.
But no one answered.
Some people wanted to follow them out of the city.
However, Murong Yue and Mo Hanshan released their auras.
Terrified, these people didn''t dare to follow.
## Chapter 67: Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique
Outside the city.
The group found a secluded mountain valley.
Hong Chilong chuckled, "I''ll go first!"
"The first move of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique is a fist technique."
He took a deep breath, and suddenly spiritual energy surged as he punched the rock in front of him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The wild mes roared, and immense force erupted.
In an instant, the hard rock was shattered into countless fragments under the fierce mes!
The disciples from Qingxuan Sect and Verdant Vine Sect were all shocked.
Too powerful!
This was definitely not a Profound-grade martial skill; it was at least an Earth-grade skill.
Murong Yue and Mo Hanshan, experienced and knowledgeable, exchanged nces and nodded slightly.
"The power is at least Earth-grade superior grade."
"It is very likely to be an Earth-grade top grade."
"But we can only make a guess."
Hong Chilong chuckled, "Anyway, it''s at least Earth-grade, stronger than the martial skills of our Rising Sun Sect!"
"Shen Mo, you give it a try," Murong Yue said.
Shen Mo nodded, "I won''t demonstrate the first move. The second move is a palm de."
He gathered spiritual energy into his palm.
In an instant, substantial me spiritual energy gathered on his palm.
It formed a real palm de.
It was about three feet long.
Extremely sharp, with scorching heat.
He suddenly shed at the rock in front of him.
Crack!
The rock was instantly shattered into countless fragments.
Compared to Hong Chilong''s punch that smashed it into pieces.
It was evidently stronger.
Hong Chilong pped his thigh, "Impressive! This move is stronger than mine!"
Murong Yue and Mo Hanshan nodded repeatedly.
Murong Yue said, "The power of this move is at least Earth-grade top grade!"
Mo Hanshan sighed, "It''s a pity it''s just a fragment. If it were theplete Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, it might be a Heaven-grade martial skill!"
Heaven-grade!
These two words were like a giant hammer hitting everyone''s hearts.
Everyone couldn''t help but feel a surge of longing.
Even Murong Yue and Mo Hanshan, Golden Core stage sect masters, couldn''t help but yearn for it.
Heaven-grade techniques and martial skills were extremely rare in the entire Xuanjing Prefecture.
One had to go to Yuzhou, arger stage, to find them.
Of course, some might have the luck to obtain Heaven-grade techniques and martial skills, but that was an exception.
At least, the Five Sects of Xuanjing did not have any Heaven-grade techniques or martial skills.
Hong Chilong looked at Shen Mo with increasing appreciation, "Shen Mo! You''re a worthy opponent! I hope we can have a good fight tomorrow!"
Shen Mo smiled, "You might not be able to defeat me."
Hong Chilongughed heartily, "I''m not like Yin Xuege or Wan Renjie. Regardless of winning or losing, as long as it''s fair, I''ll ept it willingly!"
At this moment, Zhou Qingcang also looked at Shen Mo and spoke, "Tomorrow, I''ll be waiting for you in the final battle."
This statement echoed in everyone''s hearts.
The disciples were all taken aback.
Zhou Qingcang''s meaning was clear.
He believed that Shen Mo was the one who would meet him in the final battle.
Neither Hong Chilong nor Mo Yuheng was worthy.
"Alright." Shen Mo smiled lightly.
Zhou Qingcang nodded, "Sect Master, I am going back to cultivate."
After bowing and bidding farewell, he walked alone towards Divine Sword City.
"If only Shen Mo and Zhou Qingcang were my sons," Mo Hanshan sighed as he watched them.
Mo Yuheng giggled, "Father, what do you mean?"
Mo Hanshan took a deep breath, "Nothing! Don''t pinch me!"
"Let''s go back," Murong Yue waved.
"Sect Master Murong, I have something to discuss with you," Mo Hanshan suddenly said.
Murong Yue stopped, "Please speak, Sect Master Mo."
Mo Hanshan smiled, "Just as Qingxuan Sect is not monolithic, neither is Verdant Vine Sect. Factions within the sect are inevitable."
"Don''t let the dealings of some people in our sect affect the rtionship between our two sects."
Murong Yue was moved, "Since you say so, Sect Master Mo, let''s wait and see."
Shen Mo was also thoughtful.
Mo Hanshan must have been referring to the dealings between Song Chaofeng and some people in Verdant Vine Sect.
It seemed that this was not Mo Hanshan''s intention.
Rather, some people in Verdant Vine Sect were acting without his knowledge.
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Chapter 69: Invincible Against Six
The three attackers, with one leading at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, though not quite at the level of the Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang, were not far off.
The other two were at the Great Perfection stage of the Foundation Establishment.
All three were top elites of their respective sects.
Now, surrounding one person simultaneously, they forced him to defend, preventing him from obtaining more marble tokens.
The longer he was upied, the lower his final ranking would be.
Shen Mo nced at them and smiled faintly, "Those others are your allies too, right? Bring them on."
He had noticed early on that ever since the third round began, some people''s gazes had been fixed on him.
No matter where he was in the arena, these people would quietly move closer.
At any given moment, there were always at least three people surrounding him.
The longer he was trapped, the more people would join the encirclement.
"You didn''t give the Heavenly Water Sect any face in the first round, defeating Yin Xuege. You should have expected this day toe," the peak Foundation Establishment stage disciple sneered.
Swish, swish, swish.
Three figures attacked simultaneously.
It had to be said that these three were indeed elites of their respective sects.
Their attacks left Shen Mo no room to dodge.
No matter how he used his Eight-Direction Thunder Move, he couldn''t break through.
If he tried to force his way out, he would crash into one of them.
The only option was to confront them head-on.
Further away, several other disciples were also hurrying over.
If Shen Mo couldn''t break free in five or six breaths, more would join the encirclement.
The audience noticed this as well.
"Wow, the third round just started, and there are still many tokens out there. How did it get so intense already?"
"Yeah, those guys don''t even care about the tokens; they''re focused on surrounding Shen Mo."
"The Heavenly Water Sect must have a lot of influence. They probably convinced these sects to join forces against Shen Mo."
"Sigh, it''s tough for smaller sects. Shen Mo probably won''t make it to the top ten. Such a shame, I thought he could at least make it to the top five!"
In the Qingxuan Sect''s group, Murong Yue nced at Zhang Mo in the Heavenly Water Sect''s group.
The two beautiful women''s gazes met, and it seemed like sparks flew in the air.
Murong Yue saw a cold, triumphant smile on Zhang Mo''s harsh lips.
She remained calm, turning her attention back to the arena.
Zhang Mo, however, raised an eyebrow.
"Murong Yue is usually bad at hiding her emotions. I thought she would be shocked, but she seems unaffected."
"Could it be that she gave Shen Mo some sort of trump card?"
"But what kind of trump card could the Qingxuan Sect have?"
In the arena, facing the three-pronged attack, Shen Mo showed no fear. He suddenly mobilized his spiritual power.
mes roared to life.@@novelbin@@
In an instant, they gathered on his fist, forming the shape of a phoenix.
The Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, first form!
Shen Mo suddenly punched out!
Boom!
The fierce mes swept forward.
All three attacks were obliterated by this strike.
The phoenix-shaped mes continued unabated, crashing directly into the peak Foundation Establishment stage disciple.
Bang!
He was instantly engulfed by the mes.
His body was sent flying, his robes burning to ashes mid-air.
Uponnding, he spat blood, which quickly evaporated in the heat.
It was clear he was severely injured and unable to fight.
"Elder, I... I concede!" he shouted in terror.
The arbitrating elder waved a hand, immediately removing him from the arena.
He was the first to be eliminated in the third round of the Hundred Sects Ceremony.
The ferocious mes Shen Mo had just disyed drew the attention of many.
Though both were using martial techniques, Shen Mo''s easily overpowered his opponent''s.
This indicated that Shen Mo''s technique was far superior in grade.
Coupled with the phoenix-shaped mes, many widened their eyes in realization.
The Thunder Fire Sect master stood up abruptly, gritting his teeth, "The one whoprehended the Phoenix Nirvana painting is him?!"
"Damn! The martial technique from the Phoenix Nirvana painting was left by a Divine Transformation stage cultivator. For hundreds of years, no one hasprehended it, and now it turns out it was Shen Mo who did!"
"I remember now, I was at the Sleeping Phoenix Pavilionst night and did see Shen Mo there. I thought it was Zhou Qingcang or Hong Chilong who hadprehended it."
"Amazing, Shen Mo truly lives up to defeating Yin Xuege and Wan Renjie!"
"Look! Hong Chilong is also using that punch!"
The crowd looked towards the martial arena.
Sure enough, they saw Hong Chilong also using the same punch while grabbing tokens.
The cry of the phoenix, the mes of the phoenix.
It was indeed the martial technique from the Phoenix Nirvana painting!
"Now it''s clear, the ones whoprehended the Phoenix Nirvana paintingst night were Shen Mo and Hong Chilong!"
"Both of them seem to have fire attribute physiques, which is why they couldprehend the Phoenix Nirvana painting."
The spectators were filled with admiration.
Why didn''t such an opportunitye to them?
Hong Chilong pouted, "Damn it, Shen Mo stole the spotlight first."
Zhou Qingcang lightly tapped the ground, grabbing a high-speed token with ease, and said calmly, "Don''t worry, he''s going to draw even more attention soon. Look, more people are surrounding him already."
Hong Chilong chuckled, "No matter how many surround him, it''s useless. The power of his palm de is something ordinary people can''t withstand!"
Swish, swish, swish!
Shen Mo looked around.
There were already six people around him.
Shen Mo figured he could handle five opponents at once.
But now there were six. He wasn''t intimidated.
"You knocked my brother out of thepetition. Today, I will avenge him!" The leader, a burly and fierce man, growled.
"I''ve knocked out many people. Who''s your brother?" Shen Mo asked, puzzled.
The man gritted his teeth. "Wan Renjie! I''m his brother, Wan Renxuan!"
"Alright,e at me then," Shen Mo smiled faintly.
"You''re too arrogant!" Wan Renxuan sneered, then shouted, "Attack!"
Led by Wan Renxuan, the groupunched their attacks simultaneously.
Sword shadows, de lights, spear tips, raging mes, mysterious ice...
All kinds of attacks converged on Shen Mo, seemingly to erase him entirely.
Shen Mo took a deep breath and slowly extended his right hand.
That hand stretched out straight.
Wan Renxuan nced at it. It was clearly a hand, but in his eyes, it transformed into a de capable of cutting through gold and jade!
"Cheap trick!" Wan Renxuan sneered.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
mes gathered in Shen Mo''s hand once again.
In an instant, they formed the shape of a palm de.
But that wasn''t enough.
Shen Mo flicked his hand, and the strange azure me settled on it, dyeing itpletely blue.
With a single sh, it seemed to repel all evil and impurities.
Invincible!
The second form of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, fused with the Green Lotus Heartfire, sh!
The fierce, domineering mes surged forward, colliding with the attacks of the six opponents.
Boom, boom, boom!
A series of explosive sounds echoed.
The six attacks were instantly obliterated.
The azure ming palm de continued its momentum, crashing into the six opponents.
Bang!
The six were sent flying, spurting blood mid-air.
Three were thrown dozens of zhang away, knocked out of the arena.
The remaining three were still in the arena but had fainted, unable to fight any longer.
Their tokens were seized by Shen Mo in one swift grab, all floating around him.
In an instant, Shen Mo had thirty tokens, far surpassing everyone else in the arena!
At that moment, the entire arena fell silent!
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Chapter 70: The Final Battle of the Hundred Sects Ceremony
After a brief silence, the stands erupted in enthusiastic apuse.
"Damn! What was that move? It''s insanely powerful!"
"Mom, why are we kneeling to watch the match? Oh my God."
"Wait, could that move be something heprehended from the Phoenix Nirvana painting?"
Zhang Mo''s face, which had previously held a cold smile, turned an even darker shade than liver-colored.
She now understood.
Why Murong Yue''s expression remained unchanged when Shen Mo was surrounded by so many people.
Murong Yue had known all along!
Shen Mo must haveprehended a powerful martial technique from the Phoenix Nirvana painting! At least Earth grade!
Zhang Mo gritted her teeth.
These people were the ones the Heavenly Water Sect had spent heavily to recruit.
Now that they were defeated, no one else would surround Shen Mo.
Her n had failed!
Zhou Qingcang, Hong Chilong, and Mo Yuheng also reacted to this scene.
Hong Chilong''s eyes widened in amazement. "See? I told you that move is absurdly strong!"@@novelbin@@
Zhou Qingcang murmured, "That azure me seems like an Eternal me..."
Hong Chilong''s heart trembled. "An Eternal me? Are you sure?"
Zhou Qingcang shook his head. "I haven''t seen it before, but I''ve read about it."
Hong Chilong smiled bitterly. "It looks like I definitely can''t beat Shen Mo. Zhou, it''s up to you!"
"Why exclude me? Do you think I can''t beat Shen Mo?" Mo Yuhengughed softly.
Hong Chilong rolled his eyes. "You''re not much stronger than me, and a lot of your strengthes from your tamed beasts."
Mo Yuheng chuckled but said nothing.
This was true.
She possessed the Myriad Beasts Communion Physique, which meant her strengthy in taming powerful beasts.
Her individualbat ability was not particrly strong.
Moreover, her tamed beasts were too powerful to participate in the ceremony. Otherwise, she would undoubtedly take first ce.
Members of other sects and groups also had intriguing expressions.
As for those who had traveled from all over the Xuanjiang Prefecture to watch the ceremony, they were overjoyed.
Just witnessing Shen Mo defeating six opponents was worth the ticket price!
"Phew..."
Shen Mo exhaled deeply.
The Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique was a Heaven grade martial art. Despite being iplete, it consumed a tremendous amount of spiritual power.
The Red Lotus me was even more demanding, constantly depleting his energy.
If Shen Mo hadn''t also cultivated the Inferno Hell Annihtion Technique, another Heaven grade technique, which gave him over ten times the spiritual power capacity of others at his level, he would have run out of energy long ago.
"Anyone else want to try? Come at me together." Shen Mo scanned the area.
He could feel several gazes still watching him.
But his disy of defeating six people simultaneously was too shocking.
Those hidden figures didn''t dare to reveal themselves.
"Then I won''t y with you anymore!" Shen Mo said calmly and continued to grab tokens.
Time ticked by.
The number of tokens floating around Shen Mo reached thirty-five.
This number practically guaranteed first ce.
As the time neared its end, it was clear that Zhou Qingcang, Hong Chilong, and Mo Yuheng had far fewer tokens than Shen Mo.
Shen Mo was evidently in first ce.
However, in the arena, the disciples of the Divine Sword Sect gathered around Zhou Qingcang, handing their tokens directly to him.
Zhou Qingcang frowned. "What is this?"
The disciples whispered, "Senior Brother, you must be first."
Zhou Qingcang looked over at the Divine Sword Sect''s master, Luo Chaotian.
Their eyes met.
Luo Chaotian''s gaze brooked no argument.
Zhou Qingcang gritted his teeth.
This strange scene with the Divine Sword Sect''s disciples didn''t go unnoticed by the audience.
"What''s going on? Isn''t this cheating?"
"Shh, the Divine Sword Sect is the strongest sect. They have the power to do what they want. What can you do about it?"
"If they did this halfway through the third round, Shen Mo would still have a chance to grab more tokens. But now, with the round almost over..."
Shen Mo also noticed and frowned slightly.
Doing this at thest minute was purely infuriating.
Zhou Qingcang took several deep breaths and asked Shen Mo, "Brother Shen, how many tokens do you have?"
"Thirty-five," Shen Mo replied.
"Master''s orders cannot be defied, but I also do not wish to go against my own principles. I currently have thirty tokens. I''ll take five to reach thirty-five, and then we''llpete."
He refused the additional dozen or so tokens from the Divine Sword Sect disciples and only took five.
Thus, both he and Shen Mo ended up with thirty-five tokens each.
ording to the rules, they needed to battle to determine the first and second ce winners.
Shen Mo looked deeply at Zhou Qingcang.
This Sword Supreme had far more martial virtue than he had imagined.
"Time''s up, it''s over!" The elder in charge of arbitration shouted. "Count the tokens!"
A momentter, the results for third to tenth ce were clear.
Third ce went to Mo Yuheng, with ten tokens.
Fourth ce went to Hong Chilong, with eight tokens.
Those ranked lower had even fewer, with only three to five tokens each.
Most of the tokens were concentrated with Shen Mo and Zhou Qingcang.
"Non-participants, leave the arena. Zhou Qingcang of the Divine Sword Sect and Shen Mo of the Qingxuan Sect will now battle to determine the first and second ce." The elder shouted again.
The crowd left the arena, leaving only Shen Mo and Zhou Qingcang.
"Your fight has no time limit, unless one of you concedes." The elder said solemnly.
Shen Mo and Zhou Qingcang cupped their hands to each other, indicating their understanding.
"Begin!" The eldermanded.
Like tigers descending the mountain or dragons emerging from the sea, the two shed suddenly.
Fists and palms met with dull thuds, exchanging dozens of strikes in an instant.
"Zhou Qingcang, you are most skilled with the sword, why don''t you use it against me?" Shen Mo asked.
Zhou Qingcangughed heartily. "Alright, then I''ll use the sword!"
The two separated with a simultaneous palm strike, then drew their swords.
ng, ng, ng!
Lightning, sword shadows, and frost interwove in midair.
They exchanged dozens of rounds, each sensing the other''s astonishing strength.
Their abilities were evidently well-matched.
To Shen Mo, Zhou Qingcang was the strongest cultivator of the same level he had ever encountered, seemingly on the verge ofprehending sword intent.
Sword intent was a concept realized after reaching a certain level in swordsmanship.
With sword intent, one could cut through the heavens, earth, sun, moon, and stars with a mere de of grass, even without a sword.
Zhou Qingcang felt the same.
Shen Mo''s strength had long surpassed that of his peers.
Both were the strongest of their generation.
The spectators watched, their blood boiling.
This was truly a battle of kings!
"I don''t like wasting time. Since our strengths are evenly matched, let''s use our strongest techniques." Shen Mo dered.
"Agreed. I was thinking the same," Zhou Qingcang nodded slightly. "However, do you have a life-saving card? I cannot guarantee the power of my strike."
Shen Mo smiled. "Don''t worry, I have one."
"Good," Zhou Qingcang nodded.
Heroes respected heroes.
An opponent like Shen Mo was rare.
With no deep-seated hatred between them, Zhou Qingcang did not wish to seriously injure or kill Shen Mo.
Shen Mo felt the same.
"Frost Soul Severing Sword!"
Zhou Qingcang shouted, his long sword coated in frost, seemingly capable of freezing the soul.
Endless icy spiritual energy gathered from all directions, forming a tangible whirlwind.
Zhou Qingcang stood at its center.
"Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, Second Form!"
Shen Mo abandoned his sword and formed a palm de, azure mes erupting.
Fire spiritual energy surged from all directions, merging into his body and transforming into a torrent of fiery power.
Moreover, the spiritual energy he attracted was even greater than Zhou Qingcang''s.
The resulting me whirlwind was alsorger.
The audience gasped in amazement.
"Zhou Qingcang''s whirlwind has a diameter of over ten meter! Shen Mo''s whirlwind is even more terrifying, over fifteen meter!"
"I heard only those with Heaven-grade physiques can attract such a massive whirlwind!"
"Everyone knows Zhou Qingcang has a Heaven-grade physique. Could Shen Mo also have one?"
"Yes! If he didn''t have a Heaven-grade physique, how could he defeat Yin Xuege and Wan Renjie? If he didn''t have a Heaven-grade physique, how could he face Zhou Qingcang in this final battle?"
"My God, even a second-tier sect like the Qingxuan Sect has produced someone with a Heaven-grade physique!"
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Chapter 72: The Terrifying Open Conspiracy
The entire venue fell silent.
The sect leaders were deep in thought, and the disciples dared not speak.
Luo Chaotian spoke loudly, "Lord Ji has asked you a question. You should respond."
Suddenly, one sect leader shouted, "Thank you, Lord Ji! We will do our best to elevate our sect''s level!"
As soon as he spoke, it was like a signal.
"Yes, yes, with such generous rewards, we will certainly strive for them!"
"Thank you, Lord Ji, thank you, government!"
More and more sect leaders began to speak passionately.
In the Qingxuan Sect''s group, Xiao Fan eximed in surprise, "Is the government really so generous? They''re giving us such big gifts?"
"It does sound quite good," Luo Shengnan nodded in rare agreement.
Shen Mo, however, felt a chill in his heart.
Gifts? Rewards? Big gifts?
No, this was a terrifying open conspiracy!
Aside from the Five Top Sects of Xuanjing, the standards for first-tier and second-tier sects were just a bit higher than the current epted standards.
The required number of Core Formation stage cultivators increased, the number of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators increased, and the total number of disciples increased as well.
Increasing the number of disciples was rtively easy.
The number of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators could be increased even if it meant some forced growth.
But the number of Core Formation stage cultivators was extremely difficult to increase.
Gaining even one more was very challenging.
For example, the Qingxuan Sect currently had twelve Core Formation stage cultivators. How could they easily increase that to fifteen?
Their Foundation Establishment stage disciples couldn''t break through to Core Formation stage that quickly.
The only way was to recruit Core Formation stage cultivators from elsewhere.
But there weren''t many roaming Core Formation stage cultivators.
Once these independent cultivators were recruited by various sects, the sects would naturally turn their attention to weaker sects.
Second-tier sects would target weaker sects, either swallowing them whole, forcing mergers, or coercing them to join.
This would be the only way to increase the number of Core Formation stage cultivators in a sect.
First-tier sects would attack second-tier sects and weaker first-tier sects.
Once this cycle began, it would never stop!
Even if some sects wanted to remain neutral and give up on the government''s rewards, other sects would covet those rewards and attack them.
That was why Shen Mo immediately saw through this as a forthright yet incredibly terrifying open conspiracy.
This Ji Shilong was not only an excellent militarymander but also deeply understood human nature and how to exploit its weaknesses!
"I know you may not trust me, thinking I won''t distribute the rewards."
"So, I came to this Hundred Sects Ceremony with everything you want."
"This time, I will distribute the rewards based on the current epted levels of each sect."
Ji Shilongughed loudly, "First, the rewards for the second-tier sects."
He made a gesture, and over thirty storage rings flew out from his sleeve, floating in mid-air.
"These storage rings each contain ten thousand low-grade spirit stones and one thousand yellow-grade pills."@@novelbin@@
"Simply reach out, and they will be yours."
The sect leaders looked at each other, bewildered.
The leader of the Lingxi Sect suddenly said, "Thank you, Lord Ji!"
He reached out and took a storage ring.
With someone taking the lead, others quickly followed.
In the blink of an eye, all the storage rings were taken.
Murong Yue also took one.
This was the time to ept benefits. There was no hidden danger yet, so they might as well take the offered rewards.
Ji Shilongughed heartily and then threw a dozen more storage rings into the air, "These are the rewards for the first-tier sects."
He then threw out five particrly eye-catching storage rings, "These are the rewards for the Five Top Sects of Xuanjing."
Soon, these storage rings were also taken by the sect leaders.
When they opened the storage rings, they indeed found the promised rewards, no more, no less.
For a moment, many were overjoyed.
It was real?
Not empty promises?
Ji Shilong smiled, "The next evaluation will be in six months. All sect leaders, remember the time!"
"I have other matters to attend to, so I will not stay here any longer."
"Everyone, farewell!"
He stomped the ground, and in a sh of golden light, disappeared into the horizon.
"The Hundred Sects Ceremony is officially over. You may all leave," Luo Chaotian said with a faint smile.
His expression revealed no emotions.
...
The residence of the Qingxuan Sect, Hidden Dragon Pavillion
"Sect Leader, this is great news! We can''t miss such an opportunity!" Xiao Fan eximed with joy.
Shen Mo shook his head, "Haven''t you realized it yet?"
Xiao Fan was puzzled, "Realized what?"
Shen Mo sighed, "This is Ji Shilong''s open conspiracy. If you''re not sharp enough, you''ll easily fall into his trap."
He then casually exined his analysis.
After he finished, everyone was shocked.
Zhao Ting and others had sensed something was off but couldn''t pinpoint it.
After hearing Shen Mo, they immediately understood.
It was indeed a sinister and ruthless trap, yet one that was impossible to refuse.
Luo Shengnan scratched her head, "So... should we y it safe and not attack other sects, and advise them to maintain the status quo?"
Zhao Ting shook his head, "With such huge benefits in front of them, some sects will definitely be greedy, especially since they''ve already had a taste of the rewards."
Shen Mo nodded.
Yes, the temptation was simply too great!
Shen Mo said gravely, "Moreover, I bet that initially, everyone will be more restrained. But some sects will make the first move, likely already bought by Ji Shilong."
"There are always those willing to be the government''spdogs."
After he spoke, everyone nodded in agreement.
Murong Yue looked at him with a pleased expression.
Shen Mo''s insights were even beyond what she had considered.
Her disciple not only had extraordinary talent but also a meticulous mind!
Murong Yue lightly tapped the table, "Let''s not dwell on this now. We''ll discuss it in detail once we return to the sect."
"Today is a day of celebration. I have decided to hold a banquet for Shen Mo tonight at the Sleeping Phoenix Pavilion!"
Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, and others cheered excitedly.
In stark contrast to their joy were Liu Yunxuan and Xiao Fan.
Although Liu Yunxuan made it to the second round, he faced a formidable opponent and didn''t advance to the third round.
Xiao Fan fared even worse, not even making it past the first round.
Now, they could only watch as Shen Mo was celebrated like a star.
"Senior Brother, should we go to the banquet?" Xiao Fan sighed, his expressionplicated.
Unbeknownst to him, Shen Mo had surpassed him by such arge margin.
"Yes, we should go and enjoy ourselves. Don''t give anyone a reason to criticize us," Liu Yunxuan said with a faint smile.
"Understood," Xiao Fan nodded.
That night, the Qingxuan Sect held a celebration banquet at the Sleeping Phoenix Pavilion.
News of Shen Mo''s victory over Zhou Qingcang and his first-ce finish in the Hundred Sects Ceremony had spread throughout the entire Divine Sword City.
Everywhere in the city, people were fervently discussing his name.
The title "me Supreme" also began to spread.
The name me Supreme Shen Mo was now mentioned alongside Sword Supreme Zhou Qingcang, Enchantress Mo Yuheng, and zing Supreme Hong Chilong.
In contrast, Yin Supreme Yin Xuege and Thunder Supreme Wan Renjie were rarely mentioned anymore.
The Five Supremes of Xuanjiang seemed to be gradually turning into the Four Supremes of Xuanjiang.
After a night of celebration, everyone, led by Murong Yue, boarded the Qingyu Sculptures and headed back to the Qingxuan Sect.
"Qingxuan Sect, we are home!" Shen Mo smiled as he looked southward.
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Chapter 73: Shen Mo Returns
Qingxuan Sect.
Steward Zhang Weihu was busy directing outer sect disciples to move spiritual wood to repair the buildings that had either decayed or been infested with insects.
These buildings were almost two hundred years old.
After such a long time, decay and infestation were inevitable.
However, the insects that infested spiritual wood were no ordinary pests.
Zhang Weihu also had to direct the disciples to catch these insects.
These plump, white insects were considered a delicacy.
The disciples called them "white wood meat."
They only needed to be cleaned and fried in oil without any seasoning.
Their meat was sweet and aromatic, with a hint of milk vor, filling one''s mouth with a rich, pleasant taste.
Some disciples, who initially imed they would rather starve or jump off a mountain than eat white wood meat, ended up finding it so delicious that they searched for the insects every day.
"Good, send all of these to Elder Li," Zhang Weihu breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes," the outer sect disciples nodded and prepared to leave.
Just then, someone suddenly pointed to the sky and shouted in surprise.
"Look! There''s a dark shadow in the sky!"
"It''s getting bigger. Could it be a fourth-rank beast attacking the sect?"
"Hurry, find the elders! Quick, quick!"
"Wait, it doesn''t look like that I see it clearly now. It''s the Green-scaled Eagle, our sect master''s mount. They''re back!"
The disciples were overjoyed and all looked up at the sky.
Zhang Weihu, full of excitement, shouted, "Clear the training ground! Make space!"
"You few, help disperse the other disciples!"
"Yes!"
The disciples called out loudly, and soon the training ground was cleared.
The Green-scaled Eagle slowly descended.
A strong wind blew, causing the disciples to stumble and even making it hard to keep their eyes open.
They had to retreat repeatedly.
Finally, the Green-scaled Eaglendedpletely and stopped pping its wings, and the wind subsided.
On the back of the Green-scaled Eagle, Murong Yue, Shen Mo, and the other ten disciples gracefullynded.
Murong Yue patted the Green-scaled Eagle''s head.
Therge eagle let out a long cry, pped its wings, and quickly disappeared into the clouds, evidently going to hunt in the Qingcang Mountains.
"Wee back, Sect Master! Wee back, Deputy Sect Master!"
The disciples cupped their hands in salute.
Several streaks of light appeared from various parts of the mountain gate and quickly arrived at the training ground.
These were the inner sect elders.
Leading them was an old woman, Elder Li, a staunch supporter of Murong Yue.
She couldn''t wait to ask, "Sect Master, how did it go? Did we make it to the second round in the Hundred Sects Ceremony this time?"
The other elders also looked eagerly.
Even those who supported Liu Yuanfeng rather than Murong Yue were keen to see the sect prosper and gain fame in Xuanjiang Prefecture.
If the disciples performed well in the Hundred Sects Ceremony, it would naturally bring glory to the sect.
However, since the Qingxuan Sect was squeezed out of the Five Top Sects of Xuanjing by the Heavenly Water Sect and became a second-tier sect, its performance in the Hundred Sects Ceremony had been getting worse each time.
They hadn''t made it past the first round for several consecutive years.
Elder Li''s expectations weren''t high.
Just making it to the second round would be considered progress.
Murong Yue heard Elder Li''s question and, for once, her beautiful face showed a rare, peculiar smile.
Not only her, but Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, and others also had strange expressions.
Seeing their expressions, Elder Li assumed the results were disappointing.
She quicklyforted, "It''s okay, winning and losing aremon. Even if we didn''t make it to the second round, it''s not a big deal."
"After all, it''s just the Hundred Sects Ceremony. It doesn''t prove anything."
Despite her words, her face showed signs of sorrow.
The Qingxuan Sect she loved had fallen so far...
The other elders exchanged looks, each with their own thoughts.
Even the more distant disciples caught wind of the conversation.
If the sect performed well, they felt proud.
If the sect failed to achieve results in the Hundred Sects Ceremony, they also felt embarrassed.
Murong Yue finally couldn''t hold back and burst intoughter, her smile bright and joyful.
"Elder Li, you guessed wrong!"
"This time, we not only made it to the second round but also advanced to the third round!"
Elder Li was stunned, "Really? The third round means the finals! Even if we rankedst, we''d still be in the top twenty-five! Who was it? Shen Mo or Liu Yunxuan?"
She quickly looked at the two in the group.
Liu Yunxuan avoided her gaze.
Murong Yue shook her head, "It''s not Shen Mo, nor is it Liu Yunxuan."
"What?" Elder Li was confused.
Murong Yue smiled, "Shen Mo, he took first ce!"
Elder Li instinctively began to console, "First ce, it''s okay, first ce isn''t... wait, did you say first ce?!"
Murong Yue smiled, "That''s right, Shen Mo took first ce."
This time, she infused her voice with spiritual energy.
Her voice, like a great bell, echoed throughout the entire Qingxuan Sect.
The elders were in disbelief.
The disciples'' eyes widened.
Elder Li was overwhelmed with excitement, "Tell me in detail, what exactly happened?"
Murong Yue''s smile grew even brighter, and her voice even more resonant, "In the first round, the grand melee, Shen Mo led our Qingxuan Sect team to defeat the Heavenly Water Sect, knocking out all ten of their members, including Yin Xuege!"
"In the second round, Shen Mo encountered Wan Renjie of the Thunder Fire Sect early on, but despite Wan Renjie''s mid-battle breakthrough, Shen Mo defeated him and knocked him out of the arena!"
"In the third round, Shen Mo was surrounded, yet he fought six opponents at once and defeated them all. He finally faced Zhou Qingcang of the Divine Sword Sect in the final match and secured first ce!"
"Elder Li, did I make myself clear?"
With each statement, the disciples were shaken.
By the time she finished herst sentence, the disciples were in utter awe, looking at Shen Mo with eyes full of admiration!
Elder Li was teary-eyed, "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"
She now looked at Shen Mo as if he were her own grandson.@@novelbin@@
"Not only Shen Mo, but the other disciples also performed well and made it to the second round."
"This is the best performance our Qingxuan Sect has had in nearly fifty years!"
Murong Yue couldn''t help but feel proud of her disciple.
"Great! Great!"
"Brother Shen is amazing!"
"The Qingxuan Sect is amazing!"
A disciple couldn''t hold back and suddenly shouted.
His voice was like a signal.
All the disciples began to shout and cheer excitedly.
It felt as if they were the ones who had won first ce in the Hundred Sects Ceremony.
Shen Mo watched the bustling sect, a smile spreading across his face.
"Today, I will host a celebration banquet in the training ground, and every disciple is invited to attend!" Murong Yue announced loudly.
"In addition, each outer sect disciple will receive ten low-grade spirit stones, and each inner sect disciple will receive fifty low-grade spirit stones!"
Upon hearing this, the disciples were ecstatic.
Shen Mo winning first ce in the Hundred Sects Ceremony brought immense honor to the Qingxuan Sect.
As disciples of the Qingxuan Sect, they now had a prestigious reputation.
But this was only a spiritual reward.
Murong Yue''s announcement of spirit stone rewards was a tangible, material benefit.
Because of this, more people would admire Shen Mo.
If it weren''t for him, they wouldn''t have the chance to receive so many spirit stones for free.
Hearing Murong Yue''s words, Shen Mo felt a warmth in his heart.
He knew that Murong Yue was nning for the future, building loyalty towards him in advance.
Murong Yue clearly saw him as the next sect leader.
As long as he reached the Core Formation stage, the position of the next sect leader of the Qingxuan Sect would undoubtedly be his.
"Elders, pleasee to the main hall. There are important matters to discuss."
"Shen Mo, you handle the celebration banquet arrangements," Murong Yue said with a smile.
"Yes," Shen Mo cupped his hands.
He knew that Murong Yue was going to discuss Ji Shilong''s situation with the elders.
This was the matter that would determine the future structure of the entire Xuanjiang Prefecture and the fate of the Qingxuan Sect.
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Chapter 74: Song Chaofeng Admits Guilt and Heads to the Mines Alone
Qingxuan Sect, Sword Cliff
In the secluded Sword Cliff, the former grand elder Song Chaofeng remained in solitude, reflecting on his past actions. His son, Song Junjie, frequently brought meals to his father. Despite his period of reflection, Song Chaofeng''s cultivation had not waned; in fact, he had be even more refined and vigorous, a stark contrast to his former self.
Song Junjie had just set out a meal for Song Chaofeng when his father suddenly remarked, "The Azure Scale Eagle has returned."
Song Junjie was taken aback. "Father, did you sense it?"
With a self-satisfied smile, Song Chaofeng picked up his chopsticks and popped a fried peanut into his mouth. "The Azure Scale Eagle is a fourth-level beast. It naturally stirs the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth more easily than human cultivators. Sensing it is not unusual."
"Father, they must have suffered a crushing defeat, just likest time. They probably didn''t even make it to the second round," Song Junjie sneered.
Song Chaofeng responded indifferently, "Naturally. Qingxuan Sect is just a second-rate sect. The randomness of the first-round melee often leads to them being targeted by first-rate sects and getting eliminated early."
At that moment, they heard the voice of Murong Yue infused with spiritual power.
"Shen Mo has taken first ce!"
The father and son froze in shock.
"Father, did I hear that wrong...?" Song Junjie asked, bewildered.
Song Chaofeng furrowed his brow deeply. "Impossible. How could Shen Mo defeat Zhou Qincang and the others? Go to the martial arena and find out the real results of the Hundred Sect Ceremony."
"Yes, Father."
Song Junjie hurried out and soon returned, looking grim.
"Father... Murong Yue was telling the truth. The disciples in the martial arena are ecstatic. Shen Mo really did win first ce in the Hundred Sect Ceremony!" Song Junjie knelt, his tone filled with disbelief and intense jealousy.
Defeating the Five Top Sects of Xuanjiang and winning the first ce in the Hundred Sect Ceremony was something he couldn''t even dream of. Shen Mo, an outer disciple who had risen through the ranks, had actually achieved it. It was simply unbelievable and deeply envy-inducing.
Song Chaofeng felt unsteady on his feet. The dishes he usually enjoyed lost their vor. He suddenly seemed to have aged several decades.
"I... I need to contact the Verdant Vine Sect immediately..." Song Chaofeng hastily pulled out amunication tablet.
The tablet, known as the Parent-Child Communication Tablet, consisted of a parent tablet and a child tablet. It utilized a mystical property of a treasure called "Parent-Child Tablet" tomunicate over vast distances. A message spoken into the parent tablet could be heard through the child tablet, and vice versa. However, the parent tablet could control and shatter the child tablet, but not the other way around.
Song Chaofeng infused his spiritual power into the tablet, carefully inquiring about the true results of the Hundred Sect Ceremony. Soon, a voice returned, colder and more distant than before.
"Shen Mo won first ce. Murong Yue has no reason to lie."
Before they could fully process their shock, the voice continued.
"Additionally, the sect leader has strictly forbidden any further contact with Qingxuan Sect. From now on, we have no ties."
Father and son were stunned.
"What? Father, did we hear that right?" Song Junjie asked, wide-eyed.
Song Chaofeng tried to send another message, but suddenly, he heard a crisp cracking sound from the tablet.
Snap!
The child tablet shattered.
Along with it, his ambitions shattered.
Song Chaofeng copsed to the ground, his eyes vacant.
"Father! Father!" Song Junjie cried out in despair.
"Junjie, I... I never made amends. I must go and apologize to the sect leader now. Maybe, just maybe, there''s still a chance for survival," Song Chaofeng said, his face filled with a grim mix of despair and hope.
Murong Yue detailed the events of the Hundred Sect Ceremony to the gathered elders, concluding with the shocking news of the new Xuanjiang Prefecture Governor, Ji Shilong.
The expressions of the elders were tense. Each advancement in cultivation not only enhancesbat abilities but also sharpens the mind. A Core Formation stage cultivator can think and analyze far better than those in the Foundation Establishment stage.
Shortly after Murong Yue finished speaking, the elders quickly grasped the deviousness of Ji Shilong''s new ranking system.
As Shen Mo had pointed out, it was a tant but sophisticated strategy. Its brilliancey in the fact that even though everyone could see Ji Shilong''s intentions, they couldn''t avoid the trap.
The choices were stark: either protect themselves and risk being swept up in future conflicts among the sects, or join the sect battles now. Regardless, sect warfare seemed inevitable.
After fifty years of peace, Xuanjiang Prefecture was on the brink of turmoil again.
Elder Li suddenly spoke up, "Sect Master, I believe our first priority should be to secure the Thunder Crystal Mine."
"I''ve reviewed the deed you received, and that mine isn''t far from our sect, just on the other side of the Qingcang Mountains."
"If we can acquire the mine, it will greatly benefit our weapon crafting and disciples'' cultivation."
Murong Yue nodded slightly, sharing the same thought.
"However, I doubt the Thunderfire Sect will hand over the mine so easily. Having the deed is one thing, but whether they will honor it is another," another elder added.
Murong Yue turned to Liu Yuanfeng, "Vice Sect Master Liu, among the elders here, you are the highest in cultivation and the strongest in power besides myself. Could you take on this task?"
Throughout the meeting, Liu Yuanfeng had remained silent, almost as if he were an outsider. Now, Murong Yue handed him the difficult task.
Liu Yuanfeng smiled without responding directly, "Sect Master, are you truly asking me to take over the Thunder Crystal Mine alone, or are you pushing me into a trap?"
No one knew what awaited them at the mine. Would the Thunderfire Sect honor their word and hand it over? Or was it a trap?
The start of sect warfare needed only a spark. Perhaps the Thunderfire Sect was waiting for them to make the first move.
"I will go!"
A voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the hall.
Everyone turned to see Song Chaofeng, the former grand elder who had been in seclusion at Sword Cliff.
At this moment, Song Chaofeng knelt on one knee, bowing to Murong Yue, "Song Chaofeng apologizes to the Sect Master and her disciple. I volunteer to go to the Thunder Crystal Mine, to atone for my sins and prove my loyalty!"@@novelbin@@
Behind him, Song Junjie was fully prostrated, kowtowing to everyone present, "Sinner Song Junjie greets the Sect Master, Vice Sect Master, and elders."
Murong Yue''s expression remained unchanged, but the elders who supported Song Chaofeng looked visibly distressed.
Was Song Chaofeng surrendering to Murong Yue? What about his support from the Verdant Vine Sect''s grand elder?
Liu Yuanfeng narrowed his eyes, his expression fluctuating.
Murong Yue spoke calmly, "Elder Song, I appreciate your willingness."
"Do you n to go alone, or will you take a few others with you?"
Song Chaofeng stood up, his face resolute, "I will go alone. If anything happens to me at the mine, I entrust my son, Song Junjie, to the care of the Sect Master."
Everyone was taken aback by his words.
He was essentially arranging hisst wishes and handing his son over as a hostage to Murong Yue.
The message was clear: he wasmitted to investigating the mine.
Murong Yue finally smiled, "Very well, we bid you farewell, Elder Song."
The elders followed suit, "Farewell, Elder Song!"
Song Chaofeng bowed to everyone, then transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the horizon.
Song Junjie remained kneeling on the ground, weeping uncontrobly.
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Chapter 76: Supreme Heavenly Physique
Chapter 76: Supreme Heavenly Physique
Dong! Dong! Dong!
A series of bell chimes echoed through the skies.
The bronze bell in front of the grand council hall tolled once more.
All the disciples were on edge.
They looked towards the majestic and solemn hall.
Since the sect master emerged from seclusion, the bell had been ringing more frequently.
Before long, several streaks of light appeared from various directions, swiftly arriving at the hall entrance.
The elders entered the hall one by one.
Murong Yue personally inquired about Song Chaofeng''s situation.
After taking some healing pills, Song Chaofeng had slightly recovered and immediately began to speak.
"Reporting to the sect master, I did encounter people from the Thunderfire Sect at the Thunder Crystal Mine, but it was only an outer sect elder."
"The other party acknowledged thend deed and agreed that the Thunder Crystal Mine should indeed be handed over to our Qingxuan Sect."
"However, while the mine previously belonged to the Thunderfire Sect, its actual usage rights had been given to the Heavy Weapon Sect."
"The outer sect elder then took me to find the person in charge of the mine from the Heavy Weapon Sect."
"However, the inner sect elder from the Heavy Weapon Sect was unreasonable and refused to acknowledge thend deed. When I argued my case, that elder called for more elders from his sect to attack me together."
"If it weren''t for them not wanting to cause fatalities orpletely sever ties, and the outer sect elder from the Thunderfire Sect intervening, I might not have made it back today."
Elder Li mmed the table, seething with anger, "Outrageous! That Thunder Crystal Mine is ours, even the Thunderfire Sect acknowledges it. How dare the Heavy Weapon Sect upy it!"
The other elders were equally indignant.
The Thunder Crystal Mine was of immense value.
It not only involved the Qingxuan Sect but also directly affected the personal interests of each elder.
Naturally, they were furious.
An elder with white hair and beard sternly dered, "Let''s fight them and take back the Thunder Crystal Mine!"
A vigorous elder gravely spoke, "I believe that since the Thunderfire Sect is one of the Five Sects of Xuanyang River, they are fair and reasonable, but the Heavy Weapon Sect behaves despicably!"
A middle-aged elder with a plump figure shook his head, "We can''t. The Heavy Weapon Sect has more cultivators in the Core Formation stage than we do. If we fight, we might be at a disadvantage!"
Murong Yue frowned deeply, about to speak.
At that moment, a pir of me suddenly shot up from within the Qingcang Mountains!
In an instant, it illuminated the nearly darkened sky as if it were daylight.
Momentster, the pir of me gradually condensed into a slowly rising great sun!
Its brightness far surpassed the setting sun.
This scene immediately caught everyone''s attention.
The disciples outside the hall stared in shock, their mouths agape.
"What happened? A natural phenomenon? A treasure being born?"
"No, it looks more like a phenomenon from cultivation."
"Could it be some powerful figure breaking through a realm?"
"Gasp... Could it affect our sect?"
The disciples gasped in shock.
What caused such an astonishing phenomenon?
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The elders also sensed something and rushed out of the council hall.
They looked up in astonishment at the great sun in the sky.
Murong Yue whispered, "Let''s go, quickly check it out."
"Elder Song, you stay here and rest."
"Yes!"
The elders transformed into streaks of light, swiftly heading towards the source of the great sun.
The sects near the Qingcang Mountains were not limited to the Qingxuan Sect alone.
To the west was the Lingxi Sect.
To the east was the Heavy Weapon Sect.
To the north was the prestigious Feishuang Sect.
All these sects noticed the astonishing phenomenon and dozens of streaks of light rushed over at great speed.
Meanwhile.
Shen Mo swiftly ran through the forest.
He calmly put on a robe.
The robe he had worn earlier had beenpletely burned away during his physique''s advancement.
Shen Mo nced back and saw that the great sun still hovered in the sky, showing no signs of dissipating.
He couldn''t help but smile wryly.
The Supreme Heavenly Physique has been upgraded to the Ultimate Supreme Heavenly Physique. The phenomenon is even more astonishing than before, and its impact has be greater.
Fortunately, after taking the Taiyi Soul Nourishing Pill, I sensed something was off and chose not to upgrade my physique within the sect. Instead, I quickly left the sect and entered the Qingcang Mountains.
Otherwise, the news of my upgrade to the Ultimate Supreme Heavenly Physique would have spread far and wide!
"Heavenly Physiques are indeed numerous in Xuanyang Prefecture, but Ultimate Supreme Heavenly Physiques are extremely rare. This must not be casually disclosed."
Shen Mo deeply understood the terrifying nature of jealousy.
Moreover, the great sect conflict was about tomence.
If the news of his upgrade to the Ultimate Supreme Heavenly Physique leaked, it would make him and the Qingxuan Sect the target of all.
"I need to return to the sect and pretend I know nothing."
Shen Mo ran all the way and, as he approached the sect entrance, immediately put on a frightened expression.
Many disciples noticed him and saw his expression.
Among them was Zhao Rou.
Zhao Rou pointed to the sky, "Senior Brother Shen, you just returned from the Qingcang Mountains? Did you see that great sun too? Do you know what happened there?"
Shen Mo shook his head, "I was chasing a demonic beast when this great sun appeared out of nowhere, and the temperature suddenly became extremely high. If I hadn''t run fast enough, I would have been roasted alive."
He showed the sleeves and back of his robe, "Look, they''re all scorched."
This was deliberately burned with the Azure Lotus Earth Core me.
Even his skin was slightly burned.
Acting requires fullmitment.
Zhao Rou looked distressed, "Senior Brother Shen, you should go rest."
Shen Mo nodded and immediately returned to his Zao Tree Court.@@novelbin@@
...
Above the Qingcang Mountains.
Dozens of Core Formation cultivators gazed thoughtfully at the gradually dimming great sun.
The cultivators were distinctly divided into four factions.
They were from the Qingxuan Sect, Feishuang Sect, Lingxi Sect, and Heavy Weapon Sect.
Among them, the Qingxuan Sect, Lingxi Sect, and Heavy Weapon Sect were second-tier sects.
The Feishuang Sect was a first-tier sect.
The sect master of the Heavy Weapon Sect raised an eyebrow, "Such dense fire spirit energy. It might be a cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage practicing here, causing a breakthrough in their technique and triggering this phenomenon."
The sect master of the Lingxi Sect nodded, "That makes sense. Only a Nascent Soul cultivator could trigger such an astonishing and lingering phenomenon."
Then, he changed his tone, "However, it could also be a cultivator with a Heavenly Fire Physique. In that case, a Core Formation cultivator could trigger such a phenomenon."
The sect master of the Feishuang Sect nodded slightly, "That''s reasonable, but you two have overlooked another possibility."
He then suddenly looked at Murong Yue, with a half-smile, "Sect Master Murong, I heard that your sect has a disciple with a Heavenly Physique, that Shen Mo."
"Could it be that his physique has achieved a breakthrough to a higher grade?"
At this question, the elders of the Heavy Weapon Sect and the Lingxi Sect also looked at Murong Yue, thoughtful.
Murong Yue was filled with doubt but showed no trace of it on her face, remaining calm, "I do not know. Besides, how my Qingxuan Sect disciples progress is of no concern to your Feishuang Sect."
The sect master of the Feishuang Sectughed heartily, "Of course not, I was just asking."
"Let''s go, I need to get back to my cultivation."
The sect masters of the Heavy Weapon Sect and the Lingxi Sect also prepared to leave.
Murong Yue coldly said, "Wait, Sect Master Wu, your Heavy Weapon Sect elder severely injured our Elder Song. What is the meaning of this?"
The sect master of the Heavy Weapon Sect, Wu Gangfei, smiled faintly, "That Thunder Crystal Mine belongs to our Heavy Weapon Sect. What''s wrong with beating up Song Chaofeng when he came to our territory?"
Murong Yue, "That mine has already been handed over to the Qingxuan Sect by the Thunderfire Sect. You are upying the mine!"
Wu Gangfeiughed arrogantly, "I only know that meat at my mouth will never be let go!"
He then flicked his sleeve and led the elders of the Heavy Weapon Sect away.
The sect masters of the Lingxi Sect and Feishuang Sect also smiled faintly and led their people away.
Murong Yue snorted coldly and also left with the elders of the Qingxuan Sect.
Upon returning to the sect, Murong Yue immediately went to the Zao Tree Court.
She saw Shen Mo practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard, with lightning-like sword light apanying him.
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Chapter 77: Establishing Shen Mo as the Young Sect Master
Chapter 77: Establishing Shen Mo as the Young Sect Master
"Mo''er, where were you just now?" Murong Yue asked with a smile.
Shen Mo sheathed his sword. "Master, I went to the Qingcang Mountains to seek out some powerful demonic beasts to fight and hone my Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, hoping to quicklyprehend the third level."
Then, he showed a fearful expression. "Unfortunately, I didn''t achieve much and was nearly injured by that suddenly appearing great sun."
"Thankfully, my agility is good, and I managed to escape quickly."
Murong Yue''s heart tightened, and she asked with concern, "Where are you hurt?"
Shen Mo revealed his injuries.
Murong Yue looked pained. "Alright, rest well."
Shen Mo nodded, then noticed his beautiful master still frowning. He asked, "Master, do you have something on your mind?"
Murong Yue gave a helpless smile. "You noticed."@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo smiled. "Master, why not tell me?"
Murong Yue nodded. "It''s about the Thunder Crystal Mine."
Murong Yue then recounted Song Chaofeng''s experience at the Thunder Crystal Mine.
After finishing, she sighed lightly, clearly troubled.
Shen Mo pondered for a moment.
Murong Yue smiled. "Mo''er, what are your thoughts? Feel free to speak."
Shen Mo nodded.
"I believe this is just a y staged by the Thunderfire Sect and the Heavy Weapon Sect."
"The Thunderfire Sect''s outer elder acknowledged thend deed and agreed to hand over the Thunder Crystal Mine to our Qingxuan Sect, while the Heavy Weapon Sect is aligned with the Thunderfire Sect and always follows their lead."
"If the Thunderfire Sect gives an order, the Heavy Weapon Sect will certainlyply."
"But now, not only does the Heavy Weapon Sect notply, they attacked Elder Song. The intention behind this is obvious."
Shen Mo concluded, "The Thunderfire Sect has no intention of handing over the Thunder Crystal Mine!"
Murong Yue nodded repeatedly.
She had thought of this too.
But Shen Mo''s quick and clear analysis surprised her a bit.
"So, what do you suggest?" Murong Yue asked with a smile.
Shen Mo smiled, knowing his beautiful master was testing him.
He asked, "Master, between our Qingxuan Sect and the Heavy Weapon Sect, who is stronger?"
Murong Yue pondered for a moment. "The Heavy Weapon Sect''s techniques and martial skills are not geared towardsbat, but they have mastered the technology of creating holes and iys for spiritual weapons, attracting many rogue Core Formation cultivators."
"But these rogue Core Formation cultivators have no loyalty. If things go bad, they will flee faster than anyone."
"In terms of the number of Core Formation cultivators, the Heavy Weapon Sect is stronger. But in terms of the strength of these Core Formation cultivators, our Qingxuan Sect is superior."
Shen Mo nodded. "So, we are roughly equal, neither side having a clear advantage."
"What worries you, Master, are two things: firstly, whether other nearby sects will interfere."
"Secondly, whether the Thunderfire Sect will intervene personally."
Murong Yue''s eyes brightened. "Go on!"
Her concerns were easily guessed by Shen Mo.
Shen Mo continued, "I can tell you, Master, no sect will openly intervene in this matter."
"This Thunder Crystal Mine is a reward for the top three in the Hundred Sect Competition, witnessed by countless people and all sects in Xuanjing Prefecture. For the sake of their reputation, the Thunderfire Sect will not openly interfere."
"As for the nearby Lingxi Sect and Feishuang Sect, both are aligned with the Heavenly Water Sect. They would love to see us and the Heavy Weapon Sect fight, hoping we exhaust ourselves."
"The longer the fight, the more manpower and resources we waste, and the happier they will be."
He finished with a smile. "Master, how did I do?"
Murong Yue''s frownpletely disappeared. "Good! Very well said!"
"Come, join me at the elders'' council meeting!"
Shen Mo smiled lightly. "Master, ording to the sect rules, even true disciples can only apany the meeting, not listen in on everything. Once the matter is discussed, we have to leave the council hall."
Murong Yue''s eyes were filled with gratification. "You will no longer be just a true disciple. This time, I will establish you as the Young Sect Master!"
"When the timees, repeat what you just said, along with your achievements in the Hundred Sect Competition, and Elder Liu Yuanfeng and the others won''t be able to say a word against it!"
Shen Mo''s heart stirred slightly.
Young Sect Master.
This was an extremely prestigious position within the sect.
Barring any idents, it was a guaranteed step to bing the Sect Master.
Even if the sect faced life-and-death crises, everyone must protect the Young Sect Master.
Even if everyone else died, the Young Sect Master could not.
Otherwise, it would be against the sect rules!
Shen Mo knew he would be established as the Young Sect Master eventually.
He just didn''t expect it to happen so soon.
"Yes, Master, I obey!" Shen Mo nodded.
Murong Yue''s expression was filled with satisfaction as she extended her jade hand to take Shen Mo''s.
The two quickly flew out of the Zao Tree Court and arrived at the entrance of the council hall.
Many elders were already waiting there.
As Murong Yue and Shen Mo entered the hall and took their seats, the heavy doors slowly closed.
Bang!
The muffled sound awakened the disciples outside as if from a dream.
"Senior Brother Shen... actually entered the council hall. Did you see that? He even took a seat! Isn''t it said that only elders can enter for discussions?"
"Isn''t it obvious? What is Senior Brother Shen''s status? He is the Sect Master''s disciple! The me Prince! The first ce in the Hundred Sect Competition! What''s wrong with him participating in the council discussions?"
"Indeed, with Senior Brother Shen''s potential, strength, and the Sect Master''s favor, I believe he is definitely the next Sect Master. The Sect Master allowing him to participate in the discussions clearly indicates she is grooming him as the Young Sect Master!"
"No matter what, this is the first time in our Qingxuan Sect''s history that a disciple has participated in the elders'' council."
"Hehe, it''s also the first time our Qingxuan Sect''s disciple won first ce in the Hundred Sect Competition! Even when we were part of the Xuanjing Five Sects, we never achieved such a feat!"
The disciples chattered away, their words full of admiration and respect for Shen Mo.
In their eyes, Shen Mo was no longer just a true disciple.
He was the Young Sect Master!
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou were also in the crowd.
Zhao Ting sighed for a long time, then whispered, "Xiaorou, we must remember to be respectful when interacting with Senior Brother Shen in the future."
"Luo Shengnan, you too."
Luo Shengnan scratched her head, "I think Shen Mo is pretty easygoing. Is it really necessary?"
Zhao Rou also nodded.
Zhao Ting shook his head, "Some disciples are right. Shen Mo is already being groomed by the Sect Master as her sessor."
"We can be casual with him in private, but in public, we must respect him and never undermine his authority. Otherwise, it would be damaging the prestige of the Young Sect Master."
Zhao Rou''s eyes wereplicated. "Big Brother, I understand."
Inside the council hall.
Shen Mo''s seat was arranged right next to Murong Yue.
It should be noted that the seats next to the Sect Master were reserved only for the Deputy Sect Master, the Great Elder, and the Young Sect Master.
Since Song Chaofeng was ordered to reflect on his mistakes, the position of the Great Elder in Qingxuan Sect had been vacant.
As for the Young Sect Master, none had been officially appointed yet.
In this context, Shen Mo being given such a seat made Murong Yue''s intentions clear.
"Sect Master, Shen Mo is just a true disciple. Even if he is your disciple, he shouldn''t participate in the elders'' council," Liu Yuanfeng suddenly said.
Murong Yue calmly replied, "This is precisely what I want to address."
"Shen Mo, at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, recently won first ce in the Hundred Sect Competition, bringing glory to our Qingxuan Sect."
"I propose to establish him as the Young Sect Master today!"
She looked around the hall. "Elders, who agrees and who opposes?"
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Chapter 78: A Method to Reclaim the Thunder Crystal Mine
Chapter 78: A Method to Reim the Thunder Crystal Mine@@novelbin@@
The elders looked at each other, each with their own thoughts.
Elder Li was the first to speak, "I agree! Shen Mo should have been established as the Young Sect Master long ago!"
Several other elders who firmly supported Murong Yue also immediately voiced their agreement, "We agree as well!"
Liu Yuanfeng wanted to speak, but Murong Yue interrupted him with a serene smile, "Vice Sect Master Liu, there''s no need to oppose just yet. Regarding the matter of the Thunder Crystal Mine, I believe everyone is still without a clear direction."
"Mo''er, share your analysis."
Liu Yuanfeng snorted coldly.
Shen Mo nodded, slightly bowing to the elders before repeating the points he had discussed in the Bamboo Tree Court.
He focused on analyzing the interests of each party and exined why the other sects would not interfere.
After hearing him, the elders were silent for a long time.
They were all Core Formation stage cultivators, while Shen Mo was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Their thinking and wisdom should theoretically surpass that of someone at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Even if Shen Mo had learned this from Murong Yue beforehand, it should have taken him a long time toe up with such an analysis.
They didn''t expect Shen Mo to provide such a thorough analysis in such a short time.
Elder Li praised, "Just for Shen Mo''s meticulous analysis and wise mind, I have no objections to him bing the Young Sect Master!"
Other elders nodded in agreement, "Indeed, for Shen Mo to have such insight at the Foundation Establishment stage, his thinking ability will surely surpass ours once he reaches the Core Formation stage. I also support establishing him as the Young Sect Master!"
Murong Yue smiled faintly and looked at Liu Yuanfeng, "Vice Sect Master Liu?"
Liu Yuanfeng coldly replied, "He has only provided analysis without proposing a feasible solution. I still disagree."
Shen Mo nced at him, "Then does Vice Sect Master Liu have a feasible solution? Please share it with us."
Liu Yuanfeng snorted, "I naturally have a solution!"
He said loudly, "We must avoid conflict! We cannot sh with the Heavy Weapon Sect!"
"The Heavy Weapon Sect is stronger than us. If we sh, we will surely be at a disadvantage, creating a vicious cycle. When the sect war begins, we will be an easy target for other sects."
"Our only option is to escte the matter to the Xuanjing Five Sects, especially the Divine Sword Sect!"
"The Divine Sword Sect, being the head of the Xuanjing Five Sects, will surely uphold justice for our Qingxuan Sect. The Heavy Weapon Sect will then have to relinquish the mine."
After he finished, several elders nodded slightly, agreeing with this approach.
Fighting involved great risk. It would be better to reason things out.
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "Vice Sect Master Liu''s solution seems useful, but in reality, it is not."
Liu Yuanfeng''s face darkened, "What did you say?"
Shen Mo refuted on the spot, "I have two rebuttals!"
"First, who says the Divine Sword Sect will uphold justice just because they are the head of the Xuanjing Five Sects?"
"Didn''t you see the third round of the Hundred Sect Competition? The Divine Sword Sect''s disciple directly handed the jade token to Zhou Qingcang! To do such a thing in full view, can you say it wasn''t authorized by the high-ranking members of the Divine Sword Sect?"
"Second, the Heavy Weapon Sect is aligned with the Thunderfire Sect and always follows their orders. Do you think the Divine Sword Sect''s orders will work? What if the Thunderfire Sect doesn''tply and tacitly allows the Heavy Weapon Sect to upy the mine? Will we just wait for them topletely deplete the Thunder Crystal Mine and leave us with an empty one?"
Shen Mo mercilessly criticized, "Vice Sect Master Liu''s method seems useful but is actually very harmful to our sect!"
Liu Yuanfeng''s eyes widened with anger, "You...!"
The other elders, after listening, also fell into contemtion.
Elder Li and others nodded repeatedly, their gazes toward Shen Mo bing more approving.
Liu Yuanfeng, extremely furious,ughed coldly, "Fine! Since you refuted me, then present an effective method!"
Shen Mo smiled calmly, "My suggestion is to quickly gather our forces and, while the Heavy Weapon Sect is not yet firmly established, strike swiftly and decisively, driving them out of the Thunder Crystal Mine. Except for the outer sect elder from the Thunderfire Sect, kill everyone else."
"Publicly, we will im that the Heavy Weapon Sect upied the Thunder Crystal Mine and held the outer sect elder of the Thunderfire Sect as a hostage. We, the Qingxuan Sect, argued our case and drove out the Heavy Weapon Sect, rescuing the outer sect elder."
"In this way, the Thunderfire Sect will have no choice but to swallow their anger and will have no grounds to express it openly."
Murong Yue''s eyes lit up, "Excellent! Well said!"
The other elders couldn''t help but apud.
In this way, even if the Thunderfire Sect felt aggrieved, they would have no grounds to express it openly.
As Shen Mo said, they would indeed have to swallow their pride!
"Vice Sect Master Liu, Shen Mo has already provided an effective suggestion. Do you still oppose it?" Murong Yue coldly asked.
Liu Yuanfeng gritted his teeth, "Yes, I still oppose it. Although there is no explicit rule, traditionally, the Young Sect Master in our Qingxuan Sect has always been at least at the Core Formation stage. Without the Core Formation stage, they cannotmand respect."
"This has be an unwritten rule!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall turned cold.
The elders who supported Liu Yuanfeng immediately knew what to say.
"Vice Sect Master Liu is right. Let''s wait until Shen Mo condenses his golden core to discuss this matter."
"Shen Mo''s talent is indeed extraordinary, but I believe we should wait until he reaches the Core Formation stage before discussing this further."
"I second that."
In the blink of an eye, the supporters and opponents of Shen Mo''s appointment were clearly divided.
Including Murong Yue and Liu Yuanfeng, each side had exactly five votes.
Two votes remained, those of Song Chaofeng and an elder who had always supported him.
Even though Song Chaofeng had resigned from his position as the Great Elder to reflect on his mistakes, this elder continued to firmly support him.
It could be said that their votes would ultimately decide whether Shen Mo could be established as the Young Sect Master.
Compared to the tense atmosphere between them, Shen Mo''s mood was more indifferent.
The position of Young Sect Master was indeed important.
It offered ess to numerous cultivation resources and elevated one''s status.
But if Liu Yuanfeng obstructed and Song Chaofeng also disagreed, preventing Murong Yue from appointing him, Shen Mo wouldn''t be too disappointed.
Cultivation resources? He could always exploit resources from Xiao Fan, Liu Yunxuan, and others.
At least for now, Xiao Fan still had plenty to exploit.
No need to worry about exhausting those resources.
Status and elevation? That was even less important.
As long as he became powerful enough, he would naturally earn everyone''s respect.
Before being epted as Murong Yue''s disciple, Shen Mo had always relied on himself, not on any particr status or position.
Murong Yue turned to Song Chaofeng, "Elder Song, what do you think?"
Not only she, but all the elders in the hall turned their gaze to Song Chaofeng.
It was now five votes to five.
The opinions of Song Chaofeng and the elder supporting him would decide whether Shen Mo would be established as the Young Sect Master.
Under everyone''s gaze, Song Chaofeng suddenly bowed to Murong Yue, "I believe Shen Mo should be established as the Young Sect Master."
The elder beside him immediately said, "I agree as well!"
Liu Yuanfeng''s eyes narrowed, and he snorted coldly.
Murong Yue nodded in satisfaction, "Good, then with a vote of seven to five, the proposal is passed."
"After this meeting, I will inform the entire sect that Shen Mo is now the Young Sect Master."
Murong Yue said loudly, "As the Young Sect Master suggested, we will devise a n today to reim the Thunder Crystal Mine as soon as possible!"
"Yes!"
"Mo''er, go back and continue your cultivation. Leave this matter to us," Murong Yue said with a smile.
"Yes, Master. I will take my leave now," Shen Mo replied, bowing before leaving.
The grand hall doors opened slightly, and Shen Mo walked out briskly.
The disciples gathered outside made way for him.
Their gazes were filled with even more admiration and reverence.
Before long, a n to reim the Thunder Crystal Mine was finalized inside the hall.
The doors burst open.
Murong Yue and the others hovered in mid-air.
Murong Yue infused her voice with spiritual energy and announced loudly, "Today, I have an important announcement."
"Disciple Shen Mo, with extraordinary talent and remarkable strength, has recently won first ce in the Hundred Sect Competition, bringing great honor to our Qingxuan Sect with outstanding achievements!"
"After deliberation with the elders, we have decided to establish Shen Mo as the Young Sect Master!"
"From today onward, all disciples, deacons, and elders must address Shen Mo as the Young Sect Master!"
The disciples widened their eyes in shock.
Some had spected that after Shen Mo advanced to the Core Formation stage, he would certainly be appointed as the Young Sect Master.
But most had not expected that Shen Mo would be elevated to this high position so quickly!
Zhao Ting and others collected themselves and immediately shouted, "Yes!"
His voice was a signal.
Subsequently, all the disciples present responded in unison.
No one objected to Shen Mo bing the Young Sect Master!
Zhao Rou''s eyes sparkled with admiration, "Senior Brother Shen rose from being an outer sect disciple, step by step bing an inner sect disciple, a true disciple, and now directly the Young Sect Master. How long has it been?"
Zhao Ting sighed emotionally, "Just under six months."
Luo Shengnan scratched her head, "Many people say Shen Mo has a Heavenly Physique. I think so too. If not, how could he cultivate so quickly and fiercely!"
"Just keep that in mind. Don''t speak it out loud. As long as the Sect Master hasn''t officially stated it, we shouldn''t say it either," Zhao Ting said in a low voice.
"I understand," Luo Shengnan nodded.
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Chapter 79: The Heavy Weapon Sect’s Atrocities
Chapter 79: The Heavy Weapon Sect''s Atrocities
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
Shen Mo took stock of the treasures in his storage ring and nodded with satisfaction.
He had collected many more treasures, leaving only half to reach his goal of forty-five items.
As for the treasures needed to repair his body, he was still searching.
Some of these treasures were found through his own opportunities, while others were taken by intercepting the opportunities of Xiao Fan and Liu Yunxuan.
He nced at his own status panel.
[Recent Opportunity: Three dayster, while out treasure hunting, feeling thirsty, you rest by Baishui Spring in the Qingcang Mountains. A bird-like demonic beast suddenly dies above you and falls in front of you. Upon dissecting its corpse, you find a piece of Wood Essence in its belly.]
Shen Mo felt a burst of joy.
Wood Essence was a top-grade Xuan-level treasure, a heartwood that could only be condensed in spirit trees over five hundred years old.
It could serve as the wood foundation for condensing his golden core.
"Time to go out and continue treasure hunting. I need to condense this me Prison Golden Core as soon as possible."
Shen Mo stretchedzily and pushed the door open.
He walked down the mountain path.
Along the way, regardless of what the disciples or deacons were doing, or their cultivation level, they would immediately stop, salute him, and address him as the Young Sect Master.
He also encountered a few outer and inner elders who didn''t put on any airs, respectfully addressing him as the Young Sect Master.
Shen Mo nodded slightly to each of them in return.
"Hmm, why is Elder Li in such a hurry?" Shen Mo noticed some familiar figures.
Elder Li, seeing Shen Mo, smiled broadly, "Young Sect Master, it''s good news! We took back the Thunder Crystal Mine five days ago! I''m just about to lead some people over to guard it!"
Behind her were three Core Formation stage inner elders and several powerful disciples.
Leading the group were Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Xiao Fan.
The disciples following them were at least at the Foundation Establishment stage.
These disciples also saluted Shen Mo, not daring to show any disrespect.
Shen Mo''s gaze swept over Xiao Fan.
[Name: Xiao Fan.]
[Cultivation Level: Major Aplishment Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[Fate: Child of Luck, Graceful Immortal Appearance, Reincarnation of a Great Power, Narrow Escape, Fiery Battle Physique.]
[Destiny: He will stop at Nascent Soul Minor Achievement and be the Hall Master of the Burning Heaven Hall, titled Immortal Chi Feng. While searching for herbs, he will inadvertently stumble into a natural maze, get trapped for thirty years, and die from exhaustion.]
[Recent Opportunity 1: Today, while apanying the team to guard the Thunder Crystal Mine, he will chase a demonic beast into the third tunnel at night. At the deepest part, he will find two Thunder Essences and a low-grade Earth-level defensive martial skill, "Four-Directional Profound Gate."]
[Recent Opportunity 2: Five dayster, while cultivating at the Thunder Crystal Mine, he will go out to enjoy the moonlight and inadvertently discover an inner elder of the Heavy Weapon Sect sneaking into the mine. Following him, he will find the elder opening a hidden tunnel in the deepest part of the sixth tunnel to excavate buried treasures but will get heavily injured by the formation and flee in panic. He will enter the hidden tunnel and obtain a fifth-level Thunder Toad Demon Crystal and the "Heavy Weapon Crystal Refining Technique."]
[Recent Opportunity 3: Ten dayster, while clearing demonic beasts near the Thunder Crystal Mine, he will encounter an inner elder of the Heavy Weapon Sect leading disciples to attack a mining team from Qingshan City. He will have to flee immediately and, during the escape, will encounter a wolf pack led by a Wolf King. The two sides will fight, allowing him to escape. After escaping, he will find a piece of Red Blood Copper and six third-level demon crystals in the wolf pack''s nest.]
[Recent Opportunity 4: A monthter, on Liu Yuanfeng''s orders, he will go to Qingshan City to secretly meet Ouyang Qian, the daughter of the Deputy Sect Master of the Divine Sword Sect. She will give him six bottles of Great Stabilizing Pills, which will help him reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.]
He nodded with satisfaction, looking at Xiao Fan with appreciation.
The "weed" was still thriving as always.
Time to harvest it again!
Xiao Fan felt a chill from Shen Mo''s gaze but could only smile and bow, addressing him as the Young Sect Master.
Shen Mo didn''t continue to stare at Xiao Fan; he didn''t want to scare his "weed."
He turned to Elder Li and smiled, "The speed at which we reimed the Thunder Crystal Mine was faster than I expected. The Thunderfire Sect had no reaction?"
He thought Murong Yue would gather more strength and prepare thoroughly before making a sudden move.
Elder Liughed heartily, "Your analysis was spot on. After we sent the Thunderfire Sect''s outer elder back, the Thunderfire Sect could only swallow their pride."
"They even praised us for driving away the domineering Heavy Weapon Sect."
Shen Mo alsoughed.
Zhao Ting and the others were quite surprised.
It seemed Shen Mo had a part in nning the remation of the Thunder Crystal Mine?
"Elder Li, I''m interested in Thunder Crystals and would like to go to the mine to guard it. Is that possible?" Shen Mo asked with a smile.
"Of course. The Sect Master and the others have already set up protective formations at the mine, so it''s very safe." Elder Li nodded with a smile.
Shen Mo joined the group.
At first, Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou were somewhat worried, fearing that Shen Mo''s elevated status would make him distant from them.
However, Shen Mo''s demeanor and behavior remained as usual, not showing any signs of being high and mighty.
This reassured the three of them.
Withughter and conversation, the group set off towards the Thunder Crystal Mine.
Qingxuan Sect''s mountain gate was located on the southern slope of the Qingcang Mountains.
The Thunder Crystal Mine, however, was situated on the eastern slope of the Qingcang Mountains.
Further easty the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Because the Thunder Crystal Mine was far from Qingxuan Sect but close to the Heavy Weapon Sect, it was necessary to station four inner elders and a group of disciples to guard it.
Otherwise, the Heavy Weapon Sect would take back the mine the day after it was captured.
Elder Li led Shen Mo and the others along the southern mountain path of the Qingcang Mountains.
Qingxuan Sect had a significant influence in the vicinity of the Qingcang Mountains.
After all, when Qingxuan Sect was at its peak, it had epassed the entire Qingcang Mountains within its territory.
Inparison, the influence of Feishuang Sect, Heavy Weapon Sect, and Lingxi Sect was much smaller.
Along the way, they encountered many rogue cultivators, but upon seeing that they were from Qingxuan Sect, these cultivators immediately showed respect, not daring to be disrespectful.
After traveling for over an hour, the group arrived at the Thunder Crystal Mine without any surprises.
The mine was located at the foot of the mountain.
At the entrance, a wall over 20 feet high, made from the surrounding mountain rocks, enclosed arge area outside the cave.
Within this area, many stone houses and watchtowers had been constructed.
Disciples constantly observed the surroundings from the watchtower tops.
Elder Li stood at the gate and shouted, "I''m here, and the Young Sect Master is here too. Time to switch shifts!"
The gate quickly opened.
Two elders came out to greet them.
Shen Mo noticed the obvious fatigue on their faces.@@novelbin@@
Clearly, they had been guarding the mine day and night for several days, resulting in extreme exhaustion.
"Finally... Young Sect Master," the lead elder, with dark circles under his eyes, weakly saluted Shen Mo.
The Young Sect Master held a position second only to the Sect Master.
Even though Shen Mo''s cultivation level was not yet on par with theirs, the hierarchy must be respected.
The address was not to be taken lightly.
Shen Mo nodded, "We''re here to switch shifts. You can rest and return to the mountain gate."
"Alright," the two elders sighed in relief.
Elder Li and the elders and disciples she brought quickly took over the work in the mine.
"What? Not enough miners?" Shen Mo was about to tour the mine when he heard Elder Li''s astonished voice nearby.
The elder with dark circles sighed repeatedly, "Yes, the sixty or so miners brought by the deacon from Gufeng City were attacked by the Heavy Weapon Sect on the way. Many were killed, and some scattered. Only twelve made it to the mine."
His voice was filled with resentment as he spoke, clearly furious at the Heavy Weapon Sect''s atrocious actions.
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Chapter 81: Thunder Sword Ascends to Top-Tier Profound Rank
Chapter 81: Thunder Sword Ascends to Top-Tier Profound Rank
Shen Mo left the third tunnel and headed straight to the deepest part of the sixth tunnel.
He surveyed the area, using his spiritual energy to search, and quickly found the location of two buried items.
These two items were hidden quite deeply and showed no recent signs of excavation.
If Shen Mo hadn''t been able to see the life panel, he certainly wouldn''t have found them through a meticulous search.
At the bottom of the pit, the two itemsy quietly.
One was a palm-sized demon crystal, radiating with brilliant thunderlight.
The other item was a book made of metal!
No wonder it hadn''t decayed after so many years.@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo hade prepared.
He put on gloves and effortlessly took the Thunder Toad demon crystal.
This demon crystal, left behind by a fifth-rank demon beast after its death, contained extremely powerful thunder-attribute energy.
ording to Xiao Fan''s life panel, an elder of the Heavy Weapon Sect in the Foundation Establishment stage was gravely injured because he directly touched the crystal without caution.
This caused a massive thunder outbreak, triggering the array''s agitation, worsening his injuries.
In the end, he barely escaped by exploiting a w in the array.
After securing the Thunder Toad crystal, Shen Mo picked up the heavy metal book.
Wiping off the dirt on the surface, the cover revealed the inscription "Crystal Refining Technique."
"With this, I can create sockets in spirit tools and embed demon crystals myself."
"This is the core skill of the Heavy Weapon Sect, and now I''ve obtained it so easily."
Shen Mo smiled, took the items, and left to return.
Back in his room, he immediately began reading the Crystal Refining Technique.
About an hourter, he lifted his head from the book.
"So that''s it. The technique for creating sockets is very ingenious, requiring special materials to forge the hammer and chisel."
"These tools must be stable enough to create sockets without damaging the spirit tools."
"Hence, making the hammer and chisel requires various materials, including thunder crystals, which exins why the Heavy Weapon Sect monopolized the thunder crystal mine."
"As for embedding, it needs a special embedding liquid. When injected into the socket, it allows the demon crystal to integrate seamlessly with the spirit tool."
"The hammer, chisel, and embedding liquid are the essence of the Crystal Refining Technique!"
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Prepared and ready, he began the process!
The thunder crystal mine not only had thunder crystals but also some associated minerals that Shen Mo needed.
Two dayster, he acquired a set of hammer and chisel, along with a jar of embedding liquid.
Shen Mo took out some Yellow-rank spirit tools and some second-rank demon crystals.
Following the Crystal Refining Technique, he used the hammer and chisel to create sockets.
Then he applied the embedding liquid and embedded the crystals.
This process required full concentration, as any mistake would result in failure.
Shen Mo initially failed repeatedly.
But having taken theprehension pills, his understanding far surpassed ordinary people.
After a few failures, he quickly identified his mistakes.
Each attempt was better than thest.
Feeling confident, Shen Mo took out the Thunder Sword and repeated the process.
Finally, he donned gloves and embedded a third-rank demon crystal into the sword.
This demon crystal came from a third-rank demon beast, the Fire Spitting Ape, capable of breathing fire.
The Thunder Sword was a Profound-rank spirit tool and couldn''t handle a crystal too powerful.
A third-rank demon crystal was its limit.
As for the fifth-rank Thunder Toad crystal, Shen Mo nned to socket and embed it into a stronger spirit toolter.
Momentster, the Thunder Sword radiated a strange brilliance.
Shen Mo gripped the hilt tightly.
Immediately, he felt a sense of joy emanating from within the sword.
Evidently, the sword''s faint spirit also sensed that it was bing stronger.
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
After embedding the Fire Spitting Ape demon crystal, the Thunder Sword had now ascended to the top-tier of the Profound rank.
"The Crystal Refining Technique contains forms for four types of hammers and chisels, and four types of embedding liquids. This is the most important part."
"I''ve memorized this technique, so there''s no need to keep the book. I can give it to Murong Yue."
Of course, Shen Mo did not intend to hand over the entire Crystal Refining Technique.
In this world, only oneself can be truly trusted.
Therefore, the best things, such as the forms for top-tier hammers and chisels and top-tier embedding liquid, must be kept in his own hands.
As for the rest, they can be handed over without reservation.
Shen Mo lightly knocked on the door.
Since he was the Young Sect Master, there were always two strong inner disciples guarding outside his room.
Many peoplepeted for this duty.
The two disciples immediately responded upon hearing the sound, "Young Sect Master, what are your orders?"
Shen Mo said, "Please summon Elder Li here. Tell her I have something important to discuss with her."
The two disciples nodded repeatedly, "Yes!"
Momentster, a somewhat weary-looking Elder Li arrived at Shen Mo''s room.
"Young Sect Master, what is it you need?" Elder Li asked, puzzled.
Shen Mo usually didn''t trouble them, so this sudden request surprised her.
Shen Mo smiled, "A few days ago, I chased a demon beast into the depths of the mine and inadvertently discovered this."
"Elder Li, I think you''ll be very interested."
He presented the metal book to Elder Li.
At first, Elder Li was indifferent, but upon seeing the cover, her eyes widened with astonishment.
"This... Crystal Refining Technique? This is the secret technique that the Heavy Weapon Sect had stolen by a traitor long ago!"
Shen Mo nodded with a smile, "Yes, but unfortunately it is iplete, with a few pages missing."
To prevent anyone from suspecting that he had torn out the pages, he had taken not only the best forms but also some pages detailing the socketing techniques.
These were the most refined parts.
But even without these parts, it was still possible to create sockets and embed crystals into spirit tools.
Moreover, it was still far superior to the Heavy Weapon Sect''s current techniques!
After all, the Heavy Weapon Sect had lost the entire Crystal Refining Technique.
Even ifter generations tried to rewrite it from memory, it couldn''tpare to thepleteness of this inherited technique.
With this level of Crystal Refining Technique, Qingxuan Sect could mass-produce refined spirit tools and sell them, effectively surpassing the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Refined spirit tools, different from ordinary spirit tools, had sockets for embedding demon crystals, making them more powerful and favored by cultivators.
Elder Li quickly flipped through the book.
The more she read, the more delighted she became.
All her fatigue from the past few days vanished!
"It really is the Crystal Refining Technique! I can''t believe it was buried deep in the thunder crystal mine!"
"Young Sect Master, this thing is priceless! Are you... willing to give it to the sect?" She looked at Shen Mo excitedly.
Shen Mo nodded with a smile, "Elder Li, if I didn''t intend to hand it over, I wouldn''t have called you here."
"Good! Good! Qingxuan Sect is truly fortunate to have you!" Elder Li''s eyes reddened with emotion.
In her heart, Shen Mo''s status rose immeasurably.
This young man, with his immense potential, formidable strength, great wisdom, and now this noble quality of dedication to the sect, was truly a treasure bestowed upon Qingxuan Sect by the heavens!
Shen Mo smiled, "Please, Elder Li, summon another inner elder. The two of you should return to the sect and deliver this book to the sect leader. Handle it with utmost care."
"Of course! With this book, our Qingxuan Sect can refine crystals just like the Heavy Weapon Sect. This item can almost determine the fate of our sect!" Elder Li said joyfully, "Our Qingxuan Sect is about to rise!"
Elder Li ced the book in her storage ring and hurriedly left.
In less than ten breaths, two elders turned into a streak of light and shot out of the mine.
Their speed was astonishing!
Shen Mo watched their departing figures with a knowing smile.
Keeping the Crystal Refining Technique to himself was meaningless.
It needed to be mass-produced to create immense value.
Only then could Qingxuan Sect be strong.
With a strong Qingxuan Sect, he, the Young Sect Master, could naturally livefortably.
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Chapter 83: Pretend to Redeem
Chapter 83: Pretend to Redeem
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Five Core Formation cultivators immediately engaged in battle.
Obviously, Shi Fei didn''t have the ability to take on four opponents at once.
Within five moves, he was captured by Elder Li and the other three.
Shen Mo had already left the room as soon as the fight began.
After all, it was a battle among Core Formation cultivators. Even if Elder Li intended to protect him, if Shi Fei decided to fight to the death, Shen Mo might still get hurt.
Therefore, there was no need to give the enemy a chance for mutual destruction.
Themotion from the fight immediately lit up the entire mining site.
Stewards, disciples, and miners all rushed out from their resting ces, looking suspiciously towards Shen Mo''s room.
Outside the mining site.
Wu Leng heard Shi Fei''s desperate scream and was suddenly startled.
When the fierce sounds of fighting began, Wu Leng finally realized.
It was indeed a trap!
"Damn it... Could the information Liu Yuanfeng sold me be fake? Is he actually loyal to Qingxuan Sect?"
Wu Leng''s face turned extremely ugly.
But at this point, he couldn''t stay any longer. He had to leave immediately to inform his father, Wu Gangfei.
"Young Sect Master, we''ve captured him!" Elder Li said loudly, his face beaming with joy.@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo nodded slightly and re-entered the room.
Sure enough, Shi Fei was covered in wounds and had long since lost his ability to fight, lying there at their mercy.
The four inner elders of Qingxuan Sect had been ruthless.
Shi Fei could hardly even lift his head.
"Young Sect Master, how should we deal with him?" one elder asked.
"Deal with him? Just chop him up! My nephew died at his hands!" another elder said angrily.
"Yeah, this guy Shi Fei has killed many of our disciples!" another elder shouted angrily.
Shen Mo waved his hand.
These elders had too strong a desire to kill.
Always resorting to violence wouldn''t do.
Naturally, one should extract maximum value before... killing.
"Bind him up and send him to the mountain gate overnight. Also, send a message to the Heavy Weapon Sect, asking them to pay for his ransom," Shen Mo said calmly.
"Yes!" Elder Li nodded.
After all, he was a Core Formation cultivator.
Surrendering was out of the question.
It depended on whether the Heavy Weapon Sect was willing to pay the ransom.
If they were, they''d demand a hefty sum.
If they weren''t, it wouldn''t be toote to kill him then.
The other three elders immediately understood Shen Mo''s n and nodded repeatedly.
They had been somewhat blinded by hatred.
Shen Mo''s n was indeed the best choice.
Shen Mo then addressed the crowd, "The Core Formation elder from the Heavy Weapon Sect who infiltrated the mining site has been captured alive. Everyone can go back to sleep."
The miners whispered in astonishment.
In their eyes, Core Formation cultivators were akin to immortals.
They always came and went as they pleased.
But today, one had been captured alive!
As for the stewards and disciples of Qingxuan Sect, they were even more thrilled.
Our Qingxuan Sect is truly formidable!
Elder Li, his face full of joy, said, "Young Sect Master, you are truly wise. You anticipated their dishonorable sneak attack!"
Two days ago, Shen Mo had suddenly proposed that the elders ambush near his room at night, waiting for the attackers.
Elder Li and the others were puzzled but curbed their curiosity and waited patiently.
Unexpectedly, they did catch an unlucky fellow.
And not just anyone.
A Core Formation elder of the Heavy Weapon Sect!
Shen Mo smiled slightly.
It wasn''t really his foresight.
But he couldn''t say that he saw it on his life panel.
Since Elder Li didn''t ask, that was just as well. It saved him from making up an excuse.
"Focus on your cultivation, Young Sect Master. I will handle this matter," Elder Li nodded respectfully and turned to leave.
...
At the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Wu Leng rushed back to the sect and immediately found his father, Wu Gangfei, to inform him of the situation.
Wu Gangfei was furious after hearing the news.
Shi Fei was not just any Core Formation wandering cultivator he had recruited; he was a long-standing inner elder with a good rtionship with Wu Gangfei.
He had to be rescued.
Wu Gangfei''s rage was uncontroble. "Those bastards! Send the order to gather our forces and attack the Thunder Crystal Mining Site immediately!"
Wu Leng hurriedly stopped him and sternly said, "Father! Did you forget what I told you?"
Wu Gangfei paused, instinctively responding, "I haven''t forgotten."
"Then tell me, what did I tell you!" Wu Leng demanded seriously.
Wu Gangfei scratched his head, "You said that now is not the time for an all-out war."
"Father, you really need to work on controlling your temper," Wu Leng urged patiently. "I''ve told you many times, if we go to war with Qingxuan Sect, the surrounding sects will only be happy and won''t help us."
"When we both end up severely weakened, they''ll be the first to tear our Heavy Weapon Sect apart and steal our Crystal Refining technique!"
Hearing this, Wu Gangfei''s anger subsided considerably.
Wu Leng had analyzed this before, and Wu Gangfei had always agreed with his son''s insights.
"So, what should we do?" Wu Gangfei sat down on a stone bench, anxiously running his hands through his hair.
He had always preferred using his fists over his brain.
Ever since his son showed exceptional wisdom at a young age, Wu Gangfei had entrusted all decisions to Wu Leng.
Wu Leng was about to speak when a voice came from outside the courtyard.
"Sect Master! A wandering cultivator hase with a letter from Qingxuan Sect!"
Wu Gangfei nodded, "Let him in."
The wandering cultivator entered, handed the letter to Wu Gangfei, and quickly left.
Wu Leng took the envelope and opened it.
"What does it say? Are they asking for money?" Wu Gangfei gritted his teeth.
Wu Leng nodded, "Qingxuan Sect says that if we want to ransom Elder Shi, we need to prepare at least a thousand top-grade spirit stones and hand over the western White Iron Mine."
Wu Gangfei instantly erupted in rage, "Damn extortionists! I''ll march to Qingxuan Sect right now!"
Wu Leng quickly patted his father''s back, "Calm down, Father. Impulse is the devil..."
"Just tell me your n. If this goes on, I''ll definitely storm into Qingxuan Sect in a fit of rage." Wu Gangfei''s face was flushed with anger, clearly on the verge of losing control.
"We''ll pretend to ransom Elder Shi, but our real goal is to capture Shen Mo!" Wu Leng''s eyes gleamed with a cold light.
"How will we capture him? That kid is now the Young Sect Master of Qingxuan Sect, surely equipped with life-saving treasures and well-protected!" Wu Gangfei shook his head.
Wu Leng whispered, "Here''s the n: we''ll do this, then this, and finally this... What do you think, Father?"
But he knew it was a pointless question.
Before he even finished speaking, Wu Gangfei was already nodding vigorously.
"Father trusts you. Let''s do it your way!" Wu Gangfei said with a decisive wave of his hand.
Wu Leng nodded, "Understood. I''ll have someone deliver a message to Qingxuan Sect, pretending to negotiate the ransom back and forth to lower their guard."
Two dayster.
After several rounds of correspondence, both sides reached an agreement.
Heavy Weapon Sect would pay one thousand five hundred top-grade spirit stones and three thousand pounds of white iron ore.
The ransom exchange was set to take ce on a hilltop near the Thunder Crystal Mining Site.
Elder Li happily handed the letter to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo, however, frowned slightly.
Despite the back-and-forth negotiations, the other party agreed too readily.
Instinctively, he nced at his life panel.
Seeing the words "Uing Turning Point," his expression turned cold.
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Chapter 84: The Naive Gluttonous Great Rock Python
Chapter 84: The Naive Gluttonous Great Rock Python
[Recent Turn of Events]:Three dayster, at the hilltop near the Thunder Crystal Mine, a transaction of money and people is nned between the Heavy Weapon Sect''s Wu Leng and others. However, Wu Leng has prepared a beast-attracting powder to lure the dormant Great Rock Python beneath the hill to attack the Qingxuan Sect''s team. In the end, Elder Li and others die in battle, while Shen Mo is captured by the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Shen Mo looked at Elder Li and the others.
Sure enough, their recent turn of events was simr. They all died fighting to protect themselves.
Shen Mo''s gaze gradually turned cold. He had guessed correctly.
The other party never intended to properly ransom the captives.
"Wu Leng I have an impression of him; he''s the son of Wu Gangfei, the head of the Heavy Weapon Sect."
"Wu Gangfei is known for his violent temper, but his son Wu Leng is reputed for his wisdom. It seems this n was also his doing."
Seeing that Shen Mo had no reaction, Elder Li asked, "Young Sect Master, are you worried about the Heavy Weapon Sect setting an ambush? Don''t worry, the area around that hill is empty, with hardly any trees. They have no opportunity to set an ambush."
Shen Mo thought to himself, indeed, they didn''t set an ambush; they lured the giant python from underground.
"Elder Li, are there any fourth-tier beasts around?" he asked.
Elder Li paused, looking at the elder with dark circles.
The dark-circled elder shook his head, "No, the area near the Thunder Crystal Mine has been cleared of especially powerful and clustered beasts."
"The remaining ones are solitary or in pairs without groups."
He suddenly remembered something, "Oh, right, half a year ago, there was a giant python near the Thunder Crystal Mine. It reached the fourth tier of great sess, ate quite a few thunder crystals, but was severely injured by the elders of the Heavy Weapon Sect and escaped."
"Is the Young Sect Master worried they might lure this python to attack us?"
He waved his hand, "The Young Sect Master need not worry. Although the python is fourth-tier, it was seriously injured. Unlike human cultivators, beasts don''t have elixirs to heal. In six months, it''s unlikely to have fully recovered."
"It might have even be prey to other beasts."
"Even if it''s still nearby, it wouldn''t dare to attack human cultivators."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
It seems this python survived, not only survived but became stronger.
The Heavy Weapon Sect probably didn''t kill it but found a way to control it for their use.
The Great Rock Python likes to eat thunder crystals, and the Heavy Weapon Sect controls the Thunder Crystal Mine.
They likely used the thunder crystals to temporarily control the python.
This method of using beasts to attack human cultivators is too vicious.
But now that he knew what wasing, Shen Mo could prepare.
Just thunder crystals? I have plenty!
Feed this python until it''s full beforehand, and it won''t listen to you anymore.
"Alright, you all can go back and wait for the exchange in three days." Shen Mo nodded, dismissing the others.
...
Night fell upon thend.
Shen Mo used the Eight Directions Thunder Movement, silently leaving the Thunder Crystal Mine, arriving near the hill.
He scouted around, finding a concealed entrance.
The entrance was covered with vines, hard to detect by ordinary people.
"This should be where the Great Rock Python sleeps."
Shen Mo immediately delved in. Soon, he found a huge, dark space deep underground.
A massive creaturey coiled, asleep. Even just a glimpse of the gigantic python head was utterly awe-inspiring.
"Oh, this guy has a panel too."
Shen Mo focused, looking at the creature''s life panel.
[Name: Ao Huang''s Fifth Incarnation.]
[Realm: Fourth Tier, Perfected.]
{Note: Equivalent to peak core formation realm in terms of human cultivation}
[Life Attributes: Oviparous Beast, Prone to Mutations, Immensely Powerful, Great Beast Incarnation, Golden Python Bloodline.]
[Destiny: Ultimately stops at the sixth tier, great sess, devoured by the third incarnation.]
[Recent Fortunes: Three dayster, awakened by beast-attracting powder, attacks the Qingxuan Sect''s team, then receives a top-grade profound stone from Wu Leng and falls back into slumber.]
Shen Mo''s heart stirred as he carefully examined its attributes.
[Oviparous Beast: White attribute. You are not viviparous but oviparous, not different from most oviparous beasts.]
[Prone to Mutations: Blue attribute. After consuming minerals, you are prone to mutations, but the direction of mutations is uncontroble, possibly beneficial, but more likely harmful.]
[Immensely Powerful: Blue attribute. Your strength is boundless; any attempt to wrestle with you is a death wish.]
[Great Beast Incarnation: Orange attribute. You are the reincarnation of a peak sixth-tier great beast, containing a wisp of great beast soul. Unfortunately, the great beast has ten incarnations that will inevitablypete for dominance.]
[Golden Python Bloodline: Purple attribute. Through multiple mutations, you possess the Golden Python bloodline, with a metal spiritual root far surpassing ordinary beasts, absorbing metal spiritual energy at a faster rate.]
Shen Mo pondered.
A great beast incarnation?
Interesting.
Shen Mo knew about the fate attribute "Reincarnation of a Great Being." Xiao Fan, for instance, was the reincarnation of a deity-level cultivator.
It seemed that the great beast was also a reincarnation.
However, the reincarnation method for beasts and human cultivators was quite different.
Condensing ten incarnations, making them grow, fight, and eventually determining the strongest one was clearly more brutal, but the strongest one produced this way would be much more powerful.
"This creature might be useful to me in the future."
With this thought, Shen Mo took out numerous thunder crystals from his storage ring.
These thunder crystals were mined from the Thunder Crystal Mine, and there were plenty.
As the Young Sect Master, taking away dozens of pounds casually wouldn''t attract anyints.
Now, taking out some to lure this naive giant python wouldn''t be a problem.
Sure enough, the Great Rock Python, which was sleeping, seemed to smell the scent and gradually woke up.
The next moment, its massive vertical pupils suddenly opened, reflecting Shen Mo''s figure with a fierce look.
However, upon seeing therge pile of thunder crystals beside Shen Mo, its gaze instantly softened.
With a gulp, it devoured all the thunder crystals in one bite.
Itpletely ignored Shen Mo, the living human.
After swallowing the dozen or so pieces of minerals, it closed its eyes contentedly, seemingly enjoying itself.
Shen Mo reached out his hand and gently patted its head. The python quivered slightly but did not reject him.
Shen Mo chuckled. This creature was indeed a naive glutton.
As long as there was food, it could be petted at will!
"Want more thunder crystals? I have more here," Shen Mo said with a smile.
The Great Rock Python opened its eyes and nodded.
Shen Mo threw a few more thunder crystals over.
After eating them, the python showed a look of yearning.
Shen Mo became even more generous, taking out more today than Wu Leng would in a month.@@novelbin@@
Naturally, it was willing to listen to Shen Mo.
"Want more? I''ll go find some for you and bring them in a few days," Shen Mo smiled.
The python nodded humanely.
Then, its head drooped down, and it fell asleep again.
Shen Mo pped his hands and walked out of the cave withrge strides.
There were still quite a few thunder crystals in his storage ring.
But he didn''t n to take them out now.
Taming a beast couldn''t be too generous or too stingy.
Especially when taming a beast that was one major realm stronger than oneself.
It had to understand the difference between a full meal and regr meals.
"I''ve already gained quite a bit of favor. Wu Leng can never use it against me now," Shen Mo thought confidently.
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Chapter 86: Winning Over the Smaller Sects
Chapter 86: Winning Over the Smaller Sects
Wu Leng tried to capture Shen Mo and hispanions during the ransom exchange, but ended up being captured by Shen Mo instead. This news quickly spread to both Qingxuan Sect and Heavy Weapon Sect.
The atmosphere at Heavy Weapon Sect was gloomy.
Wu Gangfei was almost furious enough to initiate an all-out war.
Fortunately, he still had some sense left in his mind and remembered his son''s words: never start a full-scale war.
On the other hand, the Qingxuan Sect was in a celebratory mood.
After the news spread, the disciples were all discussing the event.
"Have you heard? The Young Sect Master caused a hugemotion at the Thunder Crystal Mine! First, he captured an inner elder from the Heavy Weapon Sect, then he captured the sect master''s son and another inner elder!"@@novelbin@@
"Yeah, I heard. Especially during the ransom exchange, it was amazing! Wu Leng tried to use the underground giant serpent against the Young Sect Master and his group. But when the serpent appeared, it actually showed more affection toward the Young Sect Master. Wu Leng and his people were dumbfounded on the spot!"
"Hrious! Their proud trump card turned out to be our hidden ace from the start."
In the council hall.
Murong Yue gathered the elders to discuss this matter, and the hall was bustling with activity.
Capturing an inner elder previously wasn''t considered a big deal.
But this time, Wu Leng, who is akin to the brain of the Heavy Weapon Sect, was captured.
Capturing him was like blinding and deafening the Heavy Weapon Sect, causing them to bepletely disoriented!
"Mo''er sent a message, asking us to discuss this matter," Murong Yue announced loudly.
"He has a suggestion: no matter what we decide, we must not go to war with the Heavy Weapon Sect until Qingxuan Sect is fully grown and surpasses them."
"Moreover, we can release the other two inner elders, but Wu Leng should be kept as long as possible. The longer we hold him, the more disorganized the Heavy Weapon Sect will be."
"Understood!"
...
Shen Mo did not personally involve himself in the ransom negotiations for Wu Leng and the others.
These matters did not require his direct involvement.
As long as the principles of not starting a full-scale war and dying as much as possible were followed, the rest could be discussed as desired.
He was only interested in the opportunities associated with Wu Leng.
Every day, he would visit the hidden prison at the mine with a smile on his face to check on Wu Leng.
He had already harvested Wu Leng''s opportunities several times.
Additionally, he frequently extracted opportunities from Xiao Fan.
Shen Mo was living quitefortably.
Wu Leng and Xiao Fan were both future prominent figuresone a future master craftsman and the other a future Nascent Soul cultivator.
With these two future big shots serving him, he was having a splendid time.
Murong Yue also wisely executed the suggestions he provided.
No war, dy as much as possible.
Half a month after Wu Leng''s capture, Shen Mo visited again.
"Ah? A new opportunity."
[Recent Opportunity: In one month, Wu Gangfei will purchase information on Wu Leng''s whereabouts from Liu Yuanfeng and force the surrounding small sects to attack the Thunder Crystal Mine. Wu Gangfei will also send an inner elder from the Heavy Weapon Sect to break the mine''s formation using a Golden Lotus Seed, and Wu Leng will be rescued during the chaos.]
Shen Mo''s heart stirred.
The Heavy Weapon Sect was indeed making moves.
He had anticipated that with Wu Leng captured, the Heavy Weapon Sect would sooner orter realize his importance and would definitely send someone to rescue him.
However, he didn''t expect it to be in this manner.
The Heavy Weapon Sect''s leader, Wu Gangfei, obviously remembered his son''s warning: if they couldn''tpletely suppress their opponents, they should never start a war with a sect.
As for the Golden Lotus Seed, it was a seed of the Five-Colored Lotus.
The Wooden Lotus Seed had healing abilities.
The Golden Lotus Seed was incredibly hard and was suitable for forcefully breaking formations.
This item was a top-grade treasure at the profound level, suitable as the foundation for forming a Golden Core.
"Young Sect Master! Elder Li is here." A voice rang out, pulling Shen Mo from his thoughts.
Deacon Zhang Weihu called out loudly.
His injuries had mostly healed, but his missing arm could not regrow, so he could only perform some supervisory tasks now.
Shen Mo nodded and looked toward the entrance of the mine.
Sure enough, it was Elder Li, looking elderly but still energetic.
Before Shen Mo could speak, Elder Li approached quickly with a happy expression, "Young Sect Master! Great news! Our refined crystal spirit artifacts are very popr! Many small sects, after witnessing their power, have decided to abandon the Heavy Weapon Sect and purchase from us instead!"
"Just yesterday alone, five small sects ced orders with us, totaling five hundred yellow-grade refined crystal spirit artifacts!"
Shen Mo nodded with a smile, "Five hundred? I''m afraid we won''t be able toplete them within a month."
Although refined crystal spirit artifacts only involved drilling holes and iying crystals into ordinary spirit artifacts, it was still verybor-intensive.
Making just one or two was already exhausting.
Moreover, even with Shen Mo''s astoundingprehension, he often failed when he first started making refined crystal spirit artifacts.
For ordinary disciples and elders, the sess rate of making refined crystal spirit artifacts was even lower.
Failures weremonce.
Producing five hundred in a month was an almost impossible task.
Elder Liughed heartily, "Yes, yes, the two elders in charge of making the refined crystal spirit artifacts in our sect areining all the time."
"The Sect Master discussed it with us and decided to temporarily ept only three orders. Once we have more elders and disciples proficient in refining crystals, we can take on more orders."
Shen Mo''s interest was piqued, "What are the names of those five small sects?"
Elder Li immediately handed over a note detailing the five small sects.
"Has the Sect Master decided which three small sects to ept orders from?" Shen Mo asked.
Elder Li nodded, "No, the Sect Master is still pondering over it. These five small sects are rtivelyrge, each having five or six Core Formation cultivators."
Shen Mo circled three sects, "These three."
Elder Li was surprised, "Does the Young Sect Master have any particr reason?"
Shen Mo whispered, "These three small sects have a poor rtionship with the Heavy Weapon Sect. They tried to buy refined crystal spirit artifacts from the Heavy Weapon Sect but were overcharged, forcing them to buy at higher prices."
"If we sell our refined crystal spirit artifacts to them, they will be immensely grateful. In the future, if Qingxuan Sect and the Heavy Weapon Sect go to full-scale war, we can ensure they don''t side with the Heavy Weapon Sect."
Elder Li nodded in agreement, "Good! I will report this to the Sect Master immediately."
Shen Mo also nodded slightly.
He circled these three sects because they were among those Wu Gangfei was nning to bribe to attack the Thunder Crystal Mine, as revealed on Wu Leng''s life panel.
These were the strongest three, with the most Core Formation cultivators.
They had a poor rtionship with the Heavy Weapon Sect but needed their refined crystal spirit artifacts. Faced with Wu Gangfei''s coercion, they had no choice but to agree.
But now things were different.
Qingxuan Sect could provide better refined crystal spirit artifacts, which would greatly enhance their sects in the long term.
Qingxuan Sect''s strength was also growing day by day, no longer weaker than the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Given this, why should they fawn over the Heavy Weapon Sect anymore?
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
The two inner elders captured with Shi Fei had already been ransomed back by the Heavy Weapon Sect at a great cost.
For this, the Heavy Weapon Sect paid two thousand top-grade spirit stones and ten thousand pounds of white iron ore.
White iron ore was mainly used to make mining picks.
Thunder crystals were extremely hard, and mining picks were almost consumables, breaking down every ten days to half a month, requiring arge amount of white iron to forge new ones.
Additionally, white iron was one of the materials for iy fluid.
Thus, Qingxuan Sect needed arge quantity of white iron ore.
Of course, although Shi Fei and the other two were ransomed back, Wu Leng remained detained at the Thunder Crystal Mine.
No matter what ransom the Heavy Weapon Sect offered, Qingxuan Sect simply dyed.
After a month, even if the Core Formation cultivators of the Heavy Weapon Sect were ipetent, they should have realized that Qingxuan Sect had no intention of releasing Wu Leng.
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Chapter 88: The Final Move – Calling for External Aid
Chapter 88: The Final Move - Calling for External Aid
Swish, swish, swish!
Several beams of light shot out from the mine.
It was Elder Li and other inner sect elders of Qingxuan Sect.
"Shi Fei, it''s only been a month, and you''vee knocking again?" Elder Li sneered.
Upon seeing Elder Li, Shi Fei gritted his teeth.
He still remembered the shame of being ambushed when he infiltrated the Thunder Crystal Mine to steal the Crystal Refining Technique.
"You had this nned all along?!"
Shi Fei struck away the Iron Fist Sect Master''s punch and pointed angrily at the surrounding Core Formation stage cultivators, who were in chaos.
Elder Liughed without answering, instead waving his hand, "Seize Shi Fei!"
Shi Fei was enraged.
But he wasn''t foolish enough to fight so many Core Formation stage cultivators head-on.
He immediately prepared to flee.
However, although the three surrounding him were slightly weaker, they were still Core Formation stage cultivators.
Even a brief obstruction slowed him down significantly.
And that brief moment was enough for Elder Li and the others to catch up.
In no time, Shi Fei was surrounded by six Core Formation stage cultivators.
After a brief struggle, Shi Fei was captured again, his face full of despair.
His only hope now was that the small sects supporting the Heavy Weapon Sect would break through and rescue him.
"Save me! I promise, from now on, the price of Crystal Refining Artifacts for you will be reduced by twenty percent!" he shouted.
Hearing this, some people were momentarily swayed.@@novelbin@@
At this moment, Shen Mo''s voice rang out slowly.
"As far as I know, the Heavy Weapon Sect doesn''t have uniform pricing for Crystal Refining Artifacts. The prices for small sects are thirty percent higher than those for Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect!"
"Even with a twenty percent discount, it''s still much higher than the prices Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect get."
"Elder Shi, why do you think the small sects would risk their lives for such a malicious deal?"
Shen Mo walked out from the mine, standing at the entrance, looking at the captured Shi Fei from a distance.
Seeing this, the Iron Fist Sect Master immediately shouted, "Young Sect Master Shen is right. I just asked Shi Fei if our effort this time could lower the prices, and he brushed me off, not taking us seriously at all!"
"Now that Qingxuan Sect can also produce Crystal Refining Artifacts, which are not only more powerful than those of the Heavy Weapon Sect but also cheaper!"
"If we small sects must follow a major sect, why not follow Qingxuan Sect?"
Shen Mo''s words and the Iron Fist Sect Master''s shout made the battling Core Formation stage cultivators pause and stop fighting.
"I agree! I''ve disliked the Heavy Weapon Sect for a long time!"
"Damn it, they made us work so hard without paying us a cent, and we still have to look at Shi Fei''s face. It''s disgusting!"
"I agree too. From today, my sect will follow Qingxuan Sect!"
A stone stirred up a thousand waves.
The grudges umted from the Heavy Weapon Sect''s past misdeeds erupted at this moment.
The Core Formation stage cultivators who still stubbornly supported the Heavy Weapon Sect were immediately captured.
Hearing these voices, Shi Fei felt utterly hopeless.
Shen Mo nced appreciatively at the Iron Fist Sect Master.
This person was smart and knew how to seize the moment.
Soon, the area was cleared.
Shi Fei, who had been captured again, was locked up in the mine''s prison.
"You can all go back now. I keep my word; those two stubborn small sects that supported the Heavy Weapon Sect are yours to deal with," Shen Mo said calmly.
"Thank you, Young Sect Master Shen!" The Core Formation stage cultivators expressed their gratitude and left one after another.
At this time, Elder Li approached, "Young Sect Master, we found this on Shi Fei."
Shen Mo looked down to see a lotus seed emitting a faint golden glow.
This was the Golden Lotus Seed that Shi Fei intended to use to break the formation.
It was also one of the seeds from the Five-Color Lotus, which could serve as a golden foundation for his Core Formation.
"Good, I need this," he said with a slight smile, taking it.
As the Young Sect Master and future leader of Qingxuan Sect, taking the spoils from Shi Fei was expected.
No one dared to say a word.
Shen Mo casually asked, "After this, are there any small sects still following the Heavy Weapon Sect?"
Elder Li respectfully replied, "None. Not a single one."
### Chapter 88: The Final Move - Calling for External Aid
"Those two stubborn small sects that supported the Heavy Weapon Sect will likely be swallowed up by other small sects tonight."
"And those small sects have now switched their support to our Qingxuan Sect."
She finished excitedly, "Our strength now clearly surpasses that of the Heavy Weapon Sect!"
"We can attack their mountain gate anytime!"
Shen Mo waved his hand, "Elder Li, it''s not the right time yet."
"Although our strength surpasses the Heavy Weapon Sect, it''s not by much."
"If we force an attack, even if we win, it will be a pyrrhic victory. At that point, do you think Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect will stay quiet?"
"They are both part of the Heavenly Water Sect faction and have had their eyes on us for a long time."
Elder Li shivered, then sighed slightly, "The Young Sect Master is right. I was solely focused on avenging the fallen stewards and disciples and didn''t think it through."
Shen Mo smiled, "We''ve already taken over most of the Heavy Weapon Sect''s business, and their supporting small sects havepletely vanished."
"If we keep dying, the Heavy Weapon Sect will only grow weaker day by day."
"I predict the Heavy Weapon Sect will make a move within a month or two. We can then respond ordingly."
"Rest assured, Elder Li, the Heavy Weapon Sect will be more anxious than us."
Elder Li nodded repeatedly, "Understood."
Shen Mo pondered for a moment, then went to see Wu Leng in the prison.
Wu Leng''s face was pale, his eyes dull.
Clearly, being imprisoned for too long had left him numb.
Shen Mo carefully checked, but there were no new opportunities on Wu Leng''s life panel.
"It seems we need to wait a bit longer. Wu Gangfei probably hasn''t figured out a solution yet."
"When theye up with something, Wu Leng''s life panel will surely show changes."
Shen Mo smiled and left quickly, turning to practice his martial skills.
He wasn''t in a hurry.
The ones in a hurry were the Heavy Weapon Sect.
"Soon, I''ll obtain the Five-Color Lotus."
The thought of forming an Inferno Golden Core and advancing to the Core Formation stage filled Shen Mo with anticipation.
...
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Wu Gangfei smashed all the vases, tables, and calligraphy in the room.
His hair and beard were disheveled, his anger reaching a boiling point.
In the courtyard, ten inner sect elders, all elderly, stood silently with their heads bowed.
Outside the courtyard, the disciples heard the Sect Master''s roars and looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Tell me how we can turn the tide!" Wu Gangfei punched the door, breaking it, and roared.
The elders shrank their necks.
After a few moments, a white-haired elder spoke softly, "We have Crystal Refining Artifacts. We surely have the upper hand. There''s no need for the Sect Master to be so impatient."
Wu Gangfei roared in fury, "Open your old eyes and look! Qingxuan Sect is stealing all our business! How can you say we have the upper hand?"
The elder''s face turned awkward. He had been spending his days in pleasure houses and was indeed unaware of the recent events in the sect.
"I have a n. We can unite the small sects to attack Qingxuan Sect, so we don''t have to get involved directly and can keep Qingxuan Sect busy!" Another elder confidently suggested.
Several other elders nodded, praising the n.
Wu Gangfei, furious, pointed at him, "Do you know that all the small sects that followed us have fled? The only two that supported us have been swallowed up!"
The elder was stunned, "Ah?"
Wu Gangfeiughed in rage, "I''ve realized that without my son, you inner sect elders have all lost your minds. You''re all useless!"
The elders dared not speak. Wu Gangfei wasn''t wrong.
When Wu Leng was around, most sect affairs were handled by him.
The elders only needed to enjoy life and collect money.
"Now it seems there''s only one way left." A middle-aged elder spoke softly.
"Speak quickly!" Wu Gangfei roared.
"Call for external aid! Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect will surely help us." The elder whispered.
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Chapter 89: Powerful Ally – Top-Tier Sect Stormy Rain Sect
Chapter 89: Powerful Ally - Top-Tier Sect Stormy Rain Sect
Upon hearing this, Wu Gangfei clung to it like a lifeline.
Right!
Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect would definitely not stand by and do nothing.
They are backed by the Heavenly Water Sect, and the Heavenly Water Sect does not have a good rtionship with Qingxuan Sect.
For any reason, they would not side with Qingxuan Sect.
In fact, they are more likely to help the Heavy Weapon Sect.
However, I reckon they wont help easily. Its likely well have to pay a hefty price, the middle-aged elder said in a deep voice.
The surrounding elders waved their hands dismissively, Our Heavy Weapon Sect has money. If ites to it, well just send them money. As long as the price is high enough, why wouldnt they help?
Wu Gangfei cursed, Do you know how many spirit stones are left in the sects treasury?! Our business has been taken by Qingxuan Sect. Where do we have money?!
The elders were extremely embarrassed.
They hadnt realized even the spirit stones were depleted.
Each of you takes a share of the sects profits every month and has amassed wealth. Now its time for you to contribute to the sect!
Wu Gangfei said coldly, Each of you must hand over a supreme-grade profound treasure!
If you cant produce one, go find one! Im giving you one month. Each of you must bring at least one supreme-grade profound treasure!
The eldersmented.
Some lowered their eyes, harboring different thoughts.
Yes, we will withdraw now. The elders left, each with their own ns.
...
Thunder Crystal Mine.
Another new day.
Shen Mo stretched and routinely came to check Wu Lengs life panel.
Hmm? It has indeed changed.
Name: Wu Leng
Cultivation Level: Entry-Level Core Formation Stage
Fates: Sect Disciple, Lucky Star, Brilliant Mind, Heir to Artifact Path, Green Wood Blood Body
Destiny: Stopped at Minor Aplishment in Core Formation Stage. Due to his sect, the Heavy Weapon Sect, being annexed by Feishuang Sect, and his father being killed by Feishuang Sect, he vows revenge. However, his plot is exposed, and he dies two yearster in an ambush by Feishuang Sect cultivators.
Recent Opportunity: One monthter, the Heavy Weapon Sect sends elders to Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect with many treasures. The two sects help the Heavy Weapon Sect pressure Qingxuan Sect, resulting in Wu Lengs release.
Shen Mo shook his head.
It seems the Heavy Weapon Sect cannot escape being annexed, regardless of the oue.
The difference lies in who annexes them.
Even if Qingxuan Sect doesnt act, the nearby top-tier sect Feishuang Sect will.
At this moment, Wu Leng suddenly spoke, Shen Mo, Qingxuan Sect is about to face great cmity, and you dont even know it?
If you are willing to send me back to the Heavy Weapon Sect, I can point you to a way out.
Shen Mo chuckled.
You want to say that the Heavy Weapon Sect has already sought external aid, and our Qingxuan Sect cannot resist?
Wu Leng raised his eyebrows.
He didnt expect Shen Mo to figure it out so quickly.
Wu Leng said coldly, Indeed. Feishuang Sect will not sit by and watch the Heavy Weapon Sect weaken. Even if the elders of the Heavy Weapon Sect are useless, they will certainly think of seeking external aid.
How can a mere second-tier sect like Qingxuan Sect resist a top-tier sect like Feishuang Sect?
Shen Mos expression remained calm, If it were just Qingxuan Sect, we certainly couldnt resist.
But the Qingxuan Sect of today is not what it used to be.
He smiled faintly and turned to leave.
Leaving Wu Leng full of confusion.
Since being captured, Wu Leng had been imprisoned in the mines jail.
He had no idea that Qingxuan Sect had acquired the Crystal Refining Technique and had taken over much of the Heavy Weapon Sects business.
To him, Qingxuan Sect was still just an ordinary second-tier sect.
At best, it had some remnants of its former glory from the Five Gates of Xujiang.
But now, Qingxuan Sect was entirely different.
It had money and people!
Shen Mo returned to his room and casually ordered a steward, Go fetch Elder Li.
Yes, sir!
Momentster, Shen Mo met with Elder Li in his room.
### Chapter 89: Powerful Ally - Top-Tier Sect Stormy Rain Sect
Upon hearing this, Wu Gangfei clung to it like a lifeline.
Right!
Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect would definitely not stand by and do nothing.
They are backed by the Heavenly Water Sect, and the Heavenly Water Sect does not have a good rtionship with Qingxuan Sect.
For any reason, they would not side with Qingxuan Sect.
In fact, they are more likely to help the Heavy Weapon Sect.
However, I reckon they wont help easily. Its likely well have to pay a hefty price, the middle-aged elder said in a deep voice.
The surrounding elders waved their hands dismissively, Our Heavy Weapon Sect has money. If ites to it, well just send them money. As long as the price is high enough, why wouldnt they help?
Wu Gangfei cursed, Do you know how many spirit stones are left in the sects treasury?! Our business has been taken by Qingxuan Sect. Where do we have money?!
The elders were extremely embarrassed.
They hadnt realized even the spirit stones were depleted.
Each of you takes a share of the sects profits every month and has amassed wealth. Now its time for you to contribute to the sect!
Wu Gangfei said coldly, Each of you must hand over a supreme-grade profound treasure!
If you cant produce one, go find one! Im giving you one month. Each of you must bring at least one supreme-grade profound treasure!
The eldersmented.
Some lowered their eyes, harboring different thoughts.
Yes, we will withdraw now. The elders left, each with their own ns.
...
Thunder Crystal Mine.
Another new day.
Shen Mo stretched and routinely came to check Wu Lengs life panel.
Hmm? It has indeed changed.
Name: Wu Leng
Cultivation Level: Entry-Level Core Formation Stage
Fates: Sect Disciple, Lucky Star, Brilliant Mind, Heir to Artifact Path, Green Wood Blood Body
Destiny: Stopped at Small Sess in Core Formation Stage. Due to his sect, the Heavy Weapon Sect, being annexed by Feishuang Sect, and his father being killed by Feishuang Sect, he vows revenge. However, his plot is exposed, and he dies two yearster in an ambush by Feishuang Sect cultivators.
Recent Opportunity: One monthter, the Heavy Weapon Sect sends elders to Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect with many treasures. The two sects help the Heavy Weapon Sect pressure Qingxuan Sect, resulting in Wu Lengs release.
Shen Mo shook his head.
It seems the Heavy Weapon Sect cannot escape being annexed, regardless of the oue.
The difference lies in who annexes them.
Even if Qingxuan Sect doesnt act, the nearby top-tier sect Feishuang Sect will.
At this moment, Wu Leng suddenly spoke, Shen Mo, Qingxuan Sect is about to face great cmity, and you dont even know it?
If you are willing to send me back to the Heavy Weapon Sect, I can point you to a way out.
Shen Mo chuckled.
You want to say that the Heavy Weapon Sect has already sought external aid, and our Qingxuan Sect cannot resist?
Wu Leng raised his eyebrows.
He didnt expect Shen Mo to figure it out so quickly.
Wu Leng said coldly, Indeed. Feishuang Sect will not sit by and watch the Heavy Weapon Sect weaken. Even if the elders of the Heavy Weapon Sect are useless, they will certainly think of seeking external aid.
How can a mere second-tier sect like Qingxuan Sect resist a top-tier sect like Feishuang Sect?
Shen Mos expression remained calm, If it were just Qingxuan Sect, we certainly couldnt resist.
But the Qingxuan Sect of today is not what it used to be.
He smiled faintly and turned to leave.
Leaving Wu Leng full of confusion.
Since being captured, Wu Leng had been imprisoned in the mines jail.
He had no idea that Qingxuan Sect had acquired the Crystal Refining Technique and had taken over much of the Heavy Weapon Sects business.
To him, Qingxuan Sect was still just an ordinary second-tier sect.
At best, it had some remnants of its former glory from the Five Gates of Xujiang.
But now, Qingxuan Sect was entirely different.
It had money and people!
Shen Mo returned to his room and casually ordered a steward, Go fetch Elder Li.
Yes, sir!
Momentster, Shen Mo met with Elder Li in his room.
Young Sect Master, why did you call for me? Elder Li asked promptly.
With Shen Mo repeatedly outmaneuvering the Heavy Weapon Sect, his standing in her eyes had risen significantly.
So when Shen Mo summoned her this time, she came without hesitation or questions.
Shen Mo asked, Besides selling our Crystal Refining Artifacts to small sects like the Iron Fist Sect, we should have sold them to more distant ces as well, right?
Elder Li nodded, Yes, I was just about to tell you. Weve already made contact with Stormy Rain Sect!
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
He was well aware of the situation in Xujiang Prefecture.
Naturally, he knew about Stormy Rain Sect.
Stormy Rain Sect is a top-tier sect located to the north of Feishuang Sect, about three hundred miles from Qingxuan Sect.
On the border between Stormy Rain Sect and Feishuang Sect lies a resource-rich forest.
Therefore, these two sects have always been in constant friction and conflict.
This highlights the importance of Crystal Refining Artifacts.
However, the only nearby producer of Crystal Refining Artifacts was the Heavy Weapon Sect.
But since the Heavy Weapon Sect was closer to Feishuang Sect, it was reluctant to sell Crystal Refining Artifacts to Stormy Rain Sect due to Feishuang Sects influence.
Stormy Rain Sectcked a steady supply of Crystal Refining Artifacts.
But Feishuang Sect had one.
As a result, Stormy Rain Sect had been suppressed by Feishuang Sect in recent years.
Now, with a new source of Crystal Refining Artifacts, Stormy Rain Sect was naturally eager.
Is the trading process sufficiently secret? Shen Mo asked.
Elder Li nodded repeatedly, Rest assured, we took a detour and didnt enter Feishuang Sects territory. We chose an abandoned bandit stronghold as the trading location. The entire process was concealed, and no one knows our Crystal Refining Artifacts were sold to Stormy Rain Sect.
Shen Mo nodded in satisfaction.
He knew that for Qingxuan Sects business to grow strong, it needed powerful allies.
Stormy Rain Sect, having a grudge against Feishuang Sect andcking Crystal Refining Artifacts, was the perfect ally.
Shen Mo tapped the table lightly, I see. The Heavy Weapon Sect is at itsst gasp. They will likely offer many treasures to seek aid from Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect.
Lingxi Sect is not a concern, but Feishuang Sect is a top-tier sect. We cannot withstand them.@@novelbin@@
Elder Li, inform Stormy Rain Sect that when the timees, we hope they can cause some trouble to distract Feishuang Sect, preventing them from aiding the Heavy Weapon Sect. That would be enough.
Elder Li nodded, During ourst trade with Stormy Rain Sect, they gave us a Twin Communication Crystal. I canmunicate with them right now.
Good, do it now, Shen Mo nodded.
The Twin Communication Crystal is simr to the Parent-Child Communication Crystal.
The difference is that the Parent-Child Communication Crystal has a clear hierarchy, with the parent crystal able to remotely shatter the child crystal.
But with the Twin Communication Crystal, holders of the crystals are equal.
Stormy Rain Sect gifting a Twin Communication Crystal clearly showed their sincerity.
After a briefmunication, Elder Li said in surprise, Young Sect Master, Stormy Rain Sect agreed, but they have one request They want to meet you.
Shen Mo was taken aback, Meet me?
Yes Elder Lis expression was peculiar, They said it was a request from the Demoness.
Immediately, Shen Mo envisioned the enchanting beauty whose every move could make ones heart race.
He chuckled, Alright, let them report the time and ce. If they want to meet, then Ill meet them.
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Chapter 90: The Alchemy King’s Third Abode
Chapter 90: The Alchemy King''s Third Abode
In an unremarkable valley in the Qingcang Mountains, Shen Mo stood alone, eyes closed, quietly waiting for his counterpart to arrive.
Of course, he appeared to be alone, but in reality, there was a concealed cave not far away.
A giant rock python often used that cave to enter the Qingcang Mountains, searching for other minerals to grind its teeth.
With a single signal from Shen Mo, the rock python would rush out of the cave to ensure his safety.
Even though the demoness Mo Yuheng had never shown any malice towards him, Shen Mo could never fully trust her.
One must always keep a backup n.
Before long, he caught a whiff of a fragrant breeze.
A seductive figure then approached, winding around him like a water snake.
Silver bell-likeughter followed.
You really trust me,ing here all by yourself, Mo Yuheng chuckled, covering her mouth.
Shen Mo then opened his eyes and looked at her.
Mo Yuheng deliberately stayed very close to him.
Her soft, delicate hand rested unsteadily on his shoulder, quickly exploring.
Her luscious, vibrant red lips were within kissing distance.
It seemed like if he wanted to, he could kiss her right away.
But Shen Mo knew very well that if he tried, she would immediately pull away, denying him the chance.
Shen Mo frowned, If you want to talk, just talk. No need to get handsy.
Mo Yuheng withdrew her hand and stepped back.
She pouted, looking aggrieved, So heartless.
Shen Mo remained unmoved.
Hmph, women!
They arent even one-tenth as gentle, kind, and understanding as my master!
Seeing that Shen Mo was still unresponsive, Mo Yuheng snorted coquettishly, Fine, fine, Ill tell you!
You want Stormy Rain Sect to help restrain Feishuang Sect, right? Thats easy. With one order from me, Stormy Rain Sect will fully mobilize.
Shen Mo asked calmly, And the price?
Mo Yuheng smiled slightly but didnt answer directly. Instead, she said, ording to my informant from Verdant Vine Sect, Feishuang Sect discovered an abode a month ago in Thorn Forest.
They killed all the informed rogue cultivators and ordered their elders to keep silent.
We suspect that Feishuang Sect might have found the third Alchemy Kings abode.
Shen Mos heart stirred.
There were three Alchemy Kings abodes in total.
One was found by the Divine Sword Sect.
Shen Mo himself had acquired one.
Indeed, the whereabouts of the third Alchemy Kings abode were still unknown.
Feishuang Sects ruthless killing of all the informed rogue cultivators could very well be because this abode was extremely valuable.
So much so that even the slightest information leak could bring about a major crisis.
Shen Mo frowned, You want me to help you get that Alchemy Kings abode? Why not ask Stormy Rain Sect?
Besides, its been a month. The treasures in the Alchemy Kings abode have probably been taken by Feishuang Sect already, havent they?
Thorn Foresty between Feishuang Sect and Stormy Rain Sect, a resource-rich forest.
Qingxuan Sect was quite far from Thorn Forest, and the area in between was all Feishuang Sects territory.
Mo Yuheng smiled and shook her head, That Alchemy Kings abode is the most treasureden and dangerous. Feishuang Sect is certainly still trying to break the formations and has not yet entered the abode.
As for why we chose Qingxuan Sect, its because Qingxuan Sect now possesses the Crystal Refining Technique, and the Crystal Refining Artifacts you produce surpass those of the Heavy Weapon Sect. You already have the foundation to be a top-tier sect.
Your alliance with Stormy Rain Sect will make it easier to defeat Feishuang Sect and obtain that Alchemy Kings abode.
Im here today to outline the terms.
Stormy Rain Sect will help you restrain Feishuang Sect and ensure that Qingxuan Sect can smoothly annex the Heavy Weapon Sect without any interference from other sects.
In return, once Qingxuan Sect bes a top-tier sect, you will help us deal with Feishuang Sect. As for the treasures in the Alchemy Kings abode, they will go to whoever can im them. Whoever gets them keeps them.
Mo Yuheng smiled slyly, like a fox.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
The offer was generous and hard to refuse.
Moreover, Mo Yuheng cleverly stated that the treasures in the Alchemy Kings abode would go to whoever could im them.
But so-called fate still ultimately depended on ones own strength.
If you werent strong enough, no amount of fate would help.
However, by then, Shen Mo would have obtained the Five-Color Lotus and would have entered the ranks of Core Formation stage cultivators.
Whoever gets the treasures keeps them?
Its not certain who will end up with them.
Shen Mo smiled slightly and nodded, Alright, I agree.
Mo Yuheng was a bit surprised at his straightforward agreement, What about your master? Dont you need to tell her?
Shen Mo shook his head, My master always follows my lead.
Very well, you can coordinate directly with Stormy Rain Sect. My Verdant Vine Sect will not be involved in this matter, Mo Yuheng said with a smile before turning to leave.
Shen Mo chuckled softly.
The top five sects of Xuanjing Prefecture still preferred to stay out of direct conflict.
Once Mo Yuheng departed, Shen Mo quickly left as well.
...
Time flew by.
A monthter, two elderly Core Formation stage cultivators knelt before Shen Mo, their expressions full of anxiety.
They were inner sect elders of the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Specifically, they had been sent by the Heavy Weapon Sect to seek aid from Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect.
However, Shen Mo had already learned of this n from Wu Lengs life panel.
Thus, he had arranged for ambushes along their route, capturing them easily.
It was almostughable.
Despite their Major Aplishment Core Formation Realm, these two hadnt even put up a symbolic resistance when faced with Qingxuan Sects ambushers. Instead, they surrendered immediately, raising their hands in the air.
Hand over your belongings, Elder Limanded sternly.
The two elders, trembling, hurriedly offered their storage rings with both hands.
Yes, yes, its all here. Wu Gangfei forced us toe up with supreme-grade treasures, but those are rare and hard to find, so we each contributed five hundred top-grade spirit stones instead.
Wu Gangfei himself also provided two treasures, which are included here.
Elder Li respectfully handed the rings to Shen Mo.
Upon inspection, Shen Mo was delighted.
The two storage rings contained over two thousand top-grade spirit stones!
Additionally, there were two crucial items.
The first was a palm-sized five-colored lotus flower with five lotus seeds.
It was precisely the Five-Color Lotus that Shen Mo had been seeking.
The second item surprised him even moreit was a piece of ck armor!
It was clearly made from the same material as the demon armor fragment he had obtained earlier!
This Five-Color Lotus has only five lotus seeds and looks untouched. It hasnt been used, Shen Mo mused.
He quickly deduced that the Heavy Weapon Sect likely had two Five-Color Lotuses!
The one they handed over had fewer seeds.
The one they kept must have more seeds!
Nevertheless, this benefited Shen Mo.
Wu Gangfei has indeed sacrificed much, but now its all mine, Shen Mo smiled.
With these items, he was now only ten supreme-grade treasures away from achieving his goal of forming the Inferno Golden Core.
At the same time, he marveled at the depth of the Heavy Weapon Sects resources.
They could easily produce such valuable treasures.
Capturing their mountain gate would surely yield even greater rewards!
What do you n to do with us, Young Sect Master? the elder on the left asked humbly.
Shen Mo smirked.
He wasnt the Young Sect Master of the Heavy Weapon Sect, yet they addressed him as such.
Seeing that Shen Mo remained silent, the two elders became even more anxious.
In truth, we dont like Wu Gangfei. Hes the one who nned the attacks on the Thunder Crystal Mine, killing miners and ambushing Qingxuan Sect disciples. We had nothing to do with it!
As long as the Young Sect Master agrees, we can stay by Wu Gangfeis side and report back to you anytime!
They spoke hurriedly.
Standing behind Shen Mo, Elder Li looked on with disdain.
The Heavy Weapon Sect might have weakened significantly, but it wasntpletely defeated.
These inner sect elders, upon being captured, hadnt even been tortured yet and had already defected.
Truly despicable.
These were inner sect elders.
The outer sect elders, stewards, and disciples beneath them must have even more wavering loyalty.
Clearly, the Heavy Weapon Sect was already in disarray, with everyone looking for a way out.
Shen Mo smiled faintly, How can I trust you?
The two elders exchanged a look and gritted their teeth, Were willing to secretly send our grandsons to you. You can investigatewe each have only one grandson.@@novelbin@@
This way, you can be assured, Young Sect Master.
Shen Mo smiled and nodded, Very well, excellent.
Offering their grandsons as hostages to ensure trust was indeed a good move.
Though one could only wonder how the grandsons would react.
What a disy of ultimate family bond.
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Chapter 91: The Heavy Weapon Sect Can Last More Than Two Months, Right?
Chapter 91: The Heavy Weapon Sect Can Last More Than Two Months, Right?
Feishuang Sect, Sect Master''s Courtyard.
A burly middle-aged man was pacing back and forth with a frown.
A young woman, on the other hand, was sitting leisurely on a stone bench.
Her features were delicate, and her skin was glowing white.
The man was Pang Longxiang, the Sect Master of Feishuang Sect.
The young woman was Pang Longxiang''s only daughter, Pang Ziyu, who was also the young Sect Master of Feishuang Sect.
Pang Longxiang paced for a long time before speaking slowly, "Yu''er, after much thought, I still believe that we should focus our efforts on the Alchemy Kings Cave."
Pang Ziyu shook her head solemnly, "Father, the Alchemy Kings Cave is indeed important, but with our capabilities, its too difficult to open it."
"I estimate that it would take at least half a year."
"But the Heavy Weapon Sect cannot wait for half a year. Currently, Qingxuan Sect''s strength has already surpassed that of the Heavy Weapon Sect. In less than three to four months, the Heavy Weapon Sect will be annexed."
"Once the Heavy Weapon Sect is annexed, it will significantly impact the surrounding situation."
Pang Longxiang frowned deeply.
Pang Ziyu continued, "Also, dont forget about Shen Mo."
"ording to Liu Yuanfeng, it was Shen Mo who obtained the Heavy Weapon Sects lost ''Heavy Weapon Crystal Refining Technique,'' which allowed Qingxuan Sect to start producing refined crystal spiritual weapons and rise rapidly."
"Additionally, although Qingxuan Sect hasn''t admitted it, various signs indicate that Shen Mo must possess a Heaven-grade physique."
"Once Qingxuan Sect annexes the Heavy Weapon Sect, it will undoubtedly be promoted to a first-rate sect and will acquire the treasures that the Heavy Weapon Sect has umted over the years."
"And as the young Sect Master of Qingxuan Sect, Shen Mo will naturally receive the most resources."
"Do you know what happens when a genius with a Heaven-grade physique isbined with abundant resources?"
"A monster, a monster even more terrifying than Zhou Qingcang!"
"If he advances to the Core Formation Realm, no other Core Formation Realm cultivator would be his match!"
Pang Ziyu looked at Pang Longxiang seriously, "Father, listen to me. The Alchemy Kings Cave can wait, but we must first help the Heavy Weapon Sect suppress Qingxuan Sect!"
Pang Longxiang rubbed his temples.
It was a difficult decision.@@novelbin@@
On one hand, there was the Alchemy Kings Cave.
On the other hand, there was the Heavy Weapon Sect.
For the Alchemy Kings Cave, people needed to be stationed there to guard against Storm Rain Sect taking advantage of any gaps.
For the Heavy Weapon Sect, people were also needed to prevent Qingxuan Sect from annexing it.
Pang Longxiang couldn''t help but curse, "Useless! If the Heavy Weapon Sect had any use, we wouldnt be in this situation!"
After much consideration, he said, "Alright, Ill listen to you."
"But we can''t help the Heavy Weapon Sect for free. They must at least present us with treasures ande begging for help."
"Logically, Wu Gangfei should have already sent someone over"
Pang Ziyu waved her hand, "Maybe its taking them some time to prepare the treasures. They wille eventually."
Pang Longxiang felt slightly relieved.
At this moment, there was a hurried knock on the courtyard door.
"Sect Master! Young Sect Master! Important information! Storm Rain Sect has dispatched more than ten Core Formation Realm cultivators and suddenly stationed them at the edge of Thorny Forest!"
Pang Longxiang and Pang Ziyu were both startled and immediately stood up.
An elder hurriedly rushed in and detailed Storm Rain Sects movements.
Thorny Forest was a vast forest split in the middle by a river.
Feishuang Sect and Storm Rain Sect used this river as the boundary, controlling the southern and northern parts of the Thorny Forest, respectively.
Both sides had moved mortals there, establishing towns in the southern and northern parts of the Thorny Forest.
Usually, those towns served as ces for rogue cultivators to gather and trade.
But whenever there were movements, these towns would be the front lines of war!
Why would Storm Rain Sect suddenly make a move now?
Did they learn about the Alchemy Kings Cave?
Pang Longxiang frowned deeply, "Yu''er, it seems we cannot help the Heavy Weapon Sect for now."
Pang Ziyu pondered for a moment, "Father, how about this? Let me take three inner elders to support the Heavy Weapon Sect. At the very least, we can use the name of Feishuang Sect to suppress Qingxuan Sect."
Pang Longxiang shook his head, "No, I cannot put you in danger."
Pang Ziyu sighed.
"Dont worry. No matter how ipetent the Heavy Weapon Sect is, they can still hold out for two months," Pang Longxiang said solemnly. "We will now send people to station in Thorny Forest. We need to send more people than Storm Rain Sect."
"We must overwhelm them with our presence to ensure the safe unraveling of the Alchemy Kings Cave formations."
Pang Ziyu reluctantly nodded, "Thats true. The Heavy Weapon Sect canst more than two months, after all."
...
Heavy Weapon Sect
Wu Gangfei removed his clothes and jumped into the pool.
Only then could his anxious mood be somewhat calmed.
"Sect Master, the two elders have returned!" a disciple outside called out loudly.
"Hurry, let them in!" Wu Gangfei said with delight.
Momentster, the two elders arrived at the edge of the pool.
Not long ago, they had secretly sent their grandsons to Qingxuan Sect as hostages.
"How is it? Did you deliver the items?" Wu Gangfei asked eagerly.
The two elders exchanged a nce, and the elder on the left immediately recited the prepared exnation.
"They were delivered, but Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect did not clearly say whether they would help."
The elder on the right quickly added, "However, they epted the items. I think they wouldn''t take the items and then refuse to help, right?"
Wu Gangfei nodded.
Indeed.
Between sects, reputation is paramount.
epting items without fulfilling promises was something that Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect had never done.
"Good. With their promises, we can be at ease."
Wu Gangfei let out a long breath, feeling much calmer.
After speaking, his expression suddenly turned fierce.
"By the way, I discovered that recently some disciples and deacons have been colluding with Qingxuan Sect, selling information about our Heavy Weapon Sect."
"I have already ordered those people to be publicly executed."
"You two have always been loyal to our Heavy Weapon Sect. I need you to keep an eye out for more traitors!"
"If you find any, immediately expose them and execute without mercy!"
The two elders shivered but quickly nodded, "Understood!"
As they walked out of the Sect Master''s courtyard, their determination to betray the Heavy Weapon Sect only grew stronger.
"It seems many disciples and deacons already have thoughts of betrayal. This sinking ship of the Heavy Weapon Sect can''t hold us anymore," the elder on the left whispered.
"Betrayal? It''s called switching to the winning side!" the elder on the right hissed.
"Yes, yes, switching to the winning side," the elder on the left nodded.
"We must inform our confidants immediately. If anyone has thoughts of switching sides, bring them in," the elder on the right lowered his voice further. "This way, we will have more influence in Qingxuan Sect in the future."
"I understand. I''ll go secretlymunicate with those people now," the elder on the left agreed.
...
Day by day, time passed.
In a month, Qingxuan Sect had already taken over ny percent of Heavy Weapon Sects business.
Almost all the elders, deacons, and disciples of the Heavy Weapon Sect had found new allegiances.
Qingxuan Sect, Lingxi Sect, Feishuang Sectall were good choices.
The Heavy Weapon Sect had be a house full of holes.
One push would bring it crashing down.
At this moment, Shen Mo was calmly drinking tea.
Elder Li, full of excitement, hurried over and handed him a stack of papers. "Young Sect Master, here is thetest information."
Shen Mo quickly flipped through them.
The number of Core Formation Realm cultivators in Qingxuan Sect had surged to twenty.
As for the Heavy Weapon Sect, its Core Formation Realm cultivators had dwindled to nine.
Among these nine, two had already openly pledged allegiance to Qingxuan Sect, even sending their grandsons as hostages.
As for the others, nearly all harbored traitorous intentions.
Those truly loyal to the Heavy Weapon Sect were few and far between.
"Inform my master, the time hase," Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Such a vast difference in strength.
It was enough to ensure a bloodless annexation of the Heavy Weapon Sect.
If not now, when?
Elder Lis old face was filled with excitement, "Yes! I''ll go immediately!"
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Chapter 93: Wu Gangfei’s Easy Demise
Chapter 93: Wu Gangfei''s Easy Demise
Murong Yue nced at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Murong Yue cleared her throat, infused her voice with spiritual power, and loudly dered, "The Heavy Weapon Sect has injured our Qingxuan Sect elders, killed our disciples, and upied our mines. Their evil deeds are numerous, and their crimes are evident to all!"
"Today, we, the Qingxuan Sect, havee to demand an exnation from Wu Gangfei, the master of the Heavy Weapon Sect!"
"We are here only for Wu Gangfei!"
"Those unrted, leave immediately!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the disciples of the Qingxuan Sect shouted in unison.
"Those unrted, leave immediately!"
"Those unrted, leave immediately!"
Their voices, forming an unstoppable momentum, surged towards the gates of the Heavy Weapon Sect, echoing in the sky.
The two disciples guarding the gate, feeling as if granted amnesty, abandoned their weapons and fled in panic.
During their escape, they even tore off their Heavy Weapon Sect robes.
With these two leading the way, more disciples immediately followed suit and ran.
The Heavy Weapon Sect''s entrance fell into utter chaos.
"Stay where you are! Do not panic!"
From within the sect leader''s courtyard, Wu Gangfei''s thunderous roar erupted.
The next moment, he emerged, wielding a heavy machete like a giant ape, smashing through the wall.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his hair stood on end. He looked less like the leader of a second-rate sect and more like a crazed beast.
"Reinforcements from the Feishuang Sect and the Lingxi Sect will arrive soon!"
"Once they get here, the Qingxuan Sect will be crushed like y chickens and pottery dogs!"
"Anyone who dares to betray the sect now will be killed by me on the spot!"
Wu Gangfei red around with bloodshot eyes.
Those he looked at trembled and lowered their heads.
Wu Gangfei was right; reinforcements from the Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect were supposed to arrive.
But where were they?
The Qingxuan Sect had already surrounded the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Why hadn''t their reinforcements arrived?
As time ticked by, the anticipated help still did not appear.
The disciples of the Heavy Weapon Sect, including their leader Wu Gangfei, grew increasingly doubtful.
On Shen Mo''s orders, Elder Li shouted towards the Heavy Weapon Sect.
"People of the Heavy Weapon Sect, don''t wait for the reinforcements from Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect. They are noting!"
"We repeat, we are here only for Wu Gangfei. Those unrted, leave immediately!"
These words, infused with spiritual power, quickly reached the ears of everyone in the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Everyone began to doubt and feel uncertain.
Several elders of the Heavy Weapon Sect exchanged nces and subtly moved closer to Wu Gangfei.
Wu Gangfei suddenly roared, "How can they note? Did you... did you not deliver the goods? Did you swallow them yourselves?"
He raised his heavy machete and pointed it at the surrounding elders. "You... did you steal the treasures? If not, the reinforcements from Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect would have already arrived!"
A dangerous glint shed in his eyes.
It seemed he could strike with his machete at any moment.
The elders were startled and couldn''t say anything coherent for a while.
Wu Gangfei began tough hysterically.
"The thing I regret most in my life is not making my son the junior sect leader. You useless elders, you all deserve to die!"
He swung his heavy machete, aiming at the nearest elder!
Boom!
The elder couldn''t react in time.
He instinctively raised his arms to block.
With a crack, blood sttered.
The elder''s arms were severed at the root, and his chest was split open!
A Core Formation stage elder instantly became a corpse on the ground!
"Die! All of you die! I''ll kill you traitorous dogs!"
Wu Gangfei roared madly, swinging his machete, killing anyone he saw.
Disciples below the Core Formation stage were wounded or killed upon contact.
"The sect leader has gone mad! Run! Run!"
"Oh my god, the sect leader is crazy! Destroy the sect''s barrier, let the Qingxuan Sect people in! Only they can save us now!"
The disciples fled, running towards the mountain.
Although the elders were Core Formation stage cultivators, after years of pampered living, the sight of blood finally rekindled their old bravery.
"Everyone, let''s join forces to kill this beast! We can''t let him drag the Heavy Weapon Sect into the fire pit!"@@novelbin@@
"Agreed!"
The elders immediately united and attacked Wu Gangfei together!
Screams, roars, and wails filled the air...
Various sounds echoed within the Heavy Weapon Sect''s mountain gate.
Even from the base of the mountain, Shen Mo and the others could hear themotion.
At this moment, the faint glow that had been enveloping the Heavy Weapon Sect''s mountain gate rapidly dimmed and thenpletely vanished.
This was the sect''s heavily invested lower-grade earth formation, reputed to be extremely sturdy. It was said that even thirty Core Formation stage cultivators attacking simultaneously wouldn''t damage it. Yet now, it had been sabotaged from within.
Elder Li sneered, "Looks like we don''t need to do anything ourselves."
"Master, it''s time to go up the mountain," Shen Mo smiled.
Murong Yue nodded in agreement, "Everyone, follow me!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Over twenty streaks of light instantly charged towards the Heavy Weapon Sect''s mountain gate.
Shen Mo and the others followed at a leisurely pace.
The downfall of the Heavy Weapon Sect was inevitable.
There was no need to rush.
Meanwhile, the scattered cultivators who had been nning to take advantage of the situation were left bewildered.
What was going on?
The reinforcements from the Feishuang Sect and the Lingxi Sect didn''t show up?
The Heavy Weapon Sect''s great formation was broken so easily?
Wu Lan''s face turned extremely grim, "Let''s go, we can''t stay here."
"Yes," the rogue cultivators behind her, equally terrified, started to flee.
Other rogue cultivators, watching them run in panic, began to think deeply.
Some of them, with a glint in their eyes, decided to follow at a distance.
...
At the Heavy Weapon Sect''s martial arts arena.
Not long after, Shen Mo saw the heavily injured Wu Gangfei lying in a pool of blood.
Beside himy several elders of the Heavy Weapon Sect, some dead and some barely clinging to life.
Only two of them had lost their arms but managed to survive.
Clearly, the crazed Wu Gangfei had fought against many and even managed to kill quite a few Core Formation stage cultivators.
This scene made Shen Mo shake his head repeatedly.
These elders of the Heavy Weapon Sect were truly ustomed to a pampered life. Though they had reached the early and mid-Core Formation stages, their actualbat ability was likely no match even for a novice at the Core Formation stage.
Murong Yue looked at Wu Gangfei and sighed, "His meridians arepletely shattered. He''s still alive, but not for long."
Shen Mo carefully examined Wu Gangfei''s life panel.
Seeing that his fate was indeed to end today, he nodded.
"Deputy Sect Master Liu, Elder Song, you stay here. The rest of you elders, follow me to the Heavy Weapon Sect''s treasure vault!" Murong Yuemanded loudly.
"Yes!"
Elder Li and the others were overjoyed.
Finally, the moment hade!
They had long heard that the Heavy Weapon Sect was incredibly wealthy.
What treasuresy within their sect''s vault?
Liu Yuanfeng snorted at this arrangement.
Murong Yue was obviously excluding him on purpose.
"Liu... Liu... false information..."
The dying Wu Gangfei spotted Liu Yuanfeng and suddenly looked as if he had seen a mortal enemy.
He extended his finger, ring at Liu Yuanfeng.
Liu Yuanfeng flicked his finger, sending a burst of spiritual power that pierced Wu Gangfei''s throat.
"The dead should take their grievances to the underworld," he said coldly.
Song Chaofeng, standing nearby, watched with a faint smile.
Meanwhile, Shen Mo had also entered the sect''s treasure vault.
The treasures there were indeed abundant and dazzling.
They clearly showcased the heritage of a second-rate sect.
But... where was the Five-Colored Lotus?
The Five-Colored Lotus I want!
Shen Mo frowned and then noticed Xiao Fan, who had entered the vault with the group.
He nced at Xiao Fan''s life panel.
Recent Opportunity: Today, while entering the Heavy Weapon Sect''s treasure vault, he will identally discover a hidden mechanism. Intending to keep it for himself, he will avoid opening it immediately due to the presence of many people. Tonight, after the vault has been cleared out, he will return, open the mechanism, enter the cave beneath the vault, and obtain twelve lotus seeds from the Five-Colored Lotus.
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Chapter 94: Snatching the Opportunity to Get the Five-Colored Lotus
Chapter 94: Snatching the Opportunity to Get the Five-Colored Lotus
Shen Mo clicked his tongue.
Well, well.
The treasure I had my eye on from the beginning.
In the end, it ended up in your hands!
Truly worthy of being a Child of Luck.
Shen Mo continued to advance through the treasure vault, but his gaze remained fixed on Xiao Fan.
Before long, he noticed Xiao Fan lingering in a certain spot.
A look of shock shed across Xiao Fan''s face, but he quickly concealed it and left as if nothing had happened.
Shen Mo memorized that spot.
It seemed the hidden mechanism was there.
Murong Yue spoke loudly, "Everyone remember, no one is to hoard any items from the Heavy Weapon Sect''s treasure vault. Once we bring everything back to the Qingxuan Sect''s treasury, we will distribute the rewards based on merit."
"Understood."
Everyone nodded repeatedly.
They all understood the rules.
If anyone hoarded items, they would lose all their credibility.
Shen Mo merely marveled at the abundance of treasures here, ying with them casually, but he did not hoard anything.
After all, he was the Young Sect Master.
In the end, the majority of the rewards would naturally favor him.
Soon, the treasures in the Heavy Weapon Sect''s vault were emptied.
Cleaned out as if a swarm of locusts had passed through.
"Elder Li, you will take these storage rings back and ce them in the sect''s treasury," Murong Yue said solemnly.
"Understood, I will make sure they are safely stored," Elder Li nodded seriously.
This was the umtion of the Heavy Weapon Sect over decades.
It was also the foundation for the Qingxuan Sect''s future rise.
There could be no mishaps.
"Everyone, let''s discuss how we will take over the Heavy Weapon Sect''s assets," Murong Yue sighed with relief.
After fighting the Heavy Weapon Sect for so long, it was finally over.
The elders of the Qingxuan Sect all showed delighted expressions, eagerly presenting their ideas.
Shen Mo did not waste time on these discussions.
These elders naturally knew how to handle it.
He strode out of the sect''s treasury and headed to the martial arts arena.
At that moment, Zhang Weihu saw Shen Mo and excitedly walked over quickly.
"Young Sect Master, some rogue cultivators wish to see you!"
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "Have they captured those who harassed the Thunder Crystal Mine?"
Zhang Weihu was surprised, "How did you know?"
Shen Mo smiled, "Rogue cultivators are the most adept at assessing the situation. When the reinforcements from Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect didn''t arrive, they knew what to do."
"Bring them over."
Zhang Weihu nodded heavily, "Yes!"
Momentster, more than twenty rogue cultivators were escorted to the martial arts arena.
The leader was tied up with her delicate figure outlined by the ropes; it was Wu Lan.
"I remember you," Shen Mo nced at the woman with the snake-like waist and spoke faintly.
He had previously encountered Wu Lan in the Fierce Tiger Forest.
Wu Lan''s hair was disheveled, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Yet, this appearance only made her look more pitiable.
Many male cultivators present felt a surge of desire.
"Young Sect Master, I was forced by the Heavy Weapon Sect to attack the Thunder Crystal Mine."
"Please spare my life, I''ll do anything you ask."
As she spoke, she deliberately licked the blood from her lips and swayed her hips.
The rogue cultivators who had captured Wu Lan felt a chill in their hearts.
Shen Mo appeared young and vigorous, and they feared he would sumb to her temptation.
If Shen Mo spared her, Wu Lan would surelye after themter!
Shen Mo''s expression remained indifferent. He waved his hand, "Take her away and imprison her. Once we fully control the Heavy Weapon Sect, execute her publicly in the martial arts arena."
"Every one of these people owes a blood debt that must be repaid!"
The disciples of the Qingxuan Sect who had lost family or friends in the Thunder Crystal Mine were deeply moved, their eyes reddening.
Zhang Weihu, who stood beside Shen Mo, touched his empty sleeve and shouted, "Thank you, Young Sect Master!"
A chorus of voices followed.
The stewards and disciples of the Qingxuan Sect knelt on one knee, crying out in gratitude, "Thank you, Young Sect Master!"
"You bastard, Shen Mo..." Wu Lan''s face twisted with rage, cursing venomously.
But before she could continue, several rogue cultivators gagged her with cloth and dragged her away to the prison.
Shen Mo had already skimmed through the life panels of these people, including Wu Lan. They were all destined to meet their end, with no chance of escaping alive.
Theres no chance of breaking out of prison in the middle of the night, cultivating for years, anding back for revenge.
"Don''t just stand there. Go and take over the Heavy Weapon Sect''s assets. They control four cities with numerous inns, taverns, and many other properties."
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
The main stronghold of the Heavy Weapon Sect had been broken, and the sect leader was dead, but their influence remained.
The stewards and disciples of the Heavy Weapon Sect still stayed in those four cities.
They all needed to be cleared out one by one.
Until the Qingxuan Sect hadplete control over them.
"Yes!" Zhang Weihu wiped his tears and immediately stood up.
Nightfall.
A grand open-air celebration banquet was held in the martial arts arena of the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Elders, stewards, and disciples ate and drank heartily, shedding their usual hierarchies.
Between bites and sips, they would break into song, expressing their joy.
Shen Mo did not abstain from the camaraderie and also joined the celebration banquet.
However, his drinking capacity was so impressive that he left arge group of people passed out.
Shrugging, Shen Mo walked straight to the now empty sect treasury.
With all the treasures gone, there was no one guarding it.
Shen Mo reached the spot he had noted during the day and activated the mechanism. The wall before him slowly moved aside.
A deep, downward-sloping passage was revealed.
Once he entered, the wall closed seamlessly behind him, leaving no trace.
Shen Mo descended the steps.
About a hundred meters down, the passage opened up into arge underground cave.
The cave was empty except for a pool at its center.
Suspended above the water was a five-colored lotus.
Five distinct colors represented the five elements in perfect harmony.
Its lotus seeds were all of the highest quality.
Shen Mo examined it closely.@@novelbin@@
There were fifteen slots in the five-colored lotus, three of which were empty.
Thus, twelve lotus seeds remained.
"Looks like Wu Gangfei used three of the seeds."
"But that''s fine. I only need ten high-grade treasures, and these twelve seeds are more than enough."
Shen Mo took all the lotus seeds.
In an instant, the five-colored lotus withered.
He then quickly returned to the surface.
As soon as the wall opened, he saw Xiao Fan sneaking into the treasury under the cover of darkness.
Xiao Fan was stunned to see Shen Mo emerge from behind the wall.
Wasn''t that the hidden mechanism I discovered earlier?
How did Shen Mo find it too?
Shen Mo smiled slightly, "Xiao Fan, what are you doing here?"
Xiao Fan''s face turned awkward, "Young Sect Master, I... I was just looking around."
Shen Mo nodded, "Alright, you continue then."
With that, he leisurely walked away.
Xiao Fan clenched his fists, watching Shen Mo''s retreating figure.
The treasure hidden behind the mechanism was undoubtedly already taken by Shen Mo.
Once again, he was toote!
"Why did I find the hidden mechanism, only to have him get there before me!"
"Damn you, heavens!"
He inwardly cursed the heavens for their unfairness.
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Chapter 96: This Phenomenon Couldn’t Be Caused by Shen Mo
Chapter 96: This Phenomenon Couldnt Be Caused by Shen Mo
Shen Mo excitedly flew in the air for a while before slowly descending.
His face still couldnt hide his joy.
"A cultivator in the Core Formation Realm has a lifespan of five hundred years, far stronger than the two hundred years of a Foundation Establishment cultivator."
"From now on, Ill be a significant figure in Xuanjiang Prefecture."
Shen Mo was very clear.
Although he was just at the entry-level of the Core Formation Realm, if he used all his trump cards, he could easily crush a cultivator at the middle level of the Core Formation Realm.
Even when facing a cultivator at the major aplishment level of the Core Formation Realm, he would at least have a chance to escape.
"However, themotion caused by my breakthrough was too great. Im guessing someone is already on their way here. I need to leave quickly."
Shen Mo threw a few thunder crystals to the Great Rock Python before turning into a stream of light and quickly leaving.
His guess was correct.@@novelbin@@
Such a hugemotion in the Qingcang Mountains immediately attracted the attention of nearby cultivators.
As soon as he left, several figures arrived from all directions.
Without exception, they were all cultivators in the Core Formation Realm.
The first to arrive were naturally the cultivators from Qingxuan Sect.
Leading them was none other than Murong Yue.
This beautiful woman in a light purple pce dress frowned as she surveyed the surroundings.
Song Chaofeng followed behind her. Seeing the strange situation, he was also greatly astonished.
The area still had residual pure Five Elements spiritual energy.
Interacting and counteracting, intertwined without end.
The dense Wood spiritual energy in the Qingcang Mountains was thus affected, bing very chaotic.
Those with Wood spiritual roots would feel very ufortable in this environment.
Moreover, judging by the concentration of these residual Five Elements spiritual energies, it would probably take at least three to five days to dissipate.
"Master, it looks like someone broke through to the Core Formation Realm and triggered the Five Elements phenomenon, but the range is just too vast." Song Chaofeng whispered.
Murong Yue nodded slightly.
She thought so too.
A typical Core Formation cultivator, condensing an ordinary Golden Core, would also trigger such a Five Elements phenomenon.
But the affected range would be no more than ten zhang (approx. 33 feet).
Even with a wless Golden Core, the affected range would be around 50 feet.
When Murong Yue condensed her Perfect Golden Core, the phenomenon affected a range of 100 feet.
On that day, Core Formation cultivators near the Qingcang Mountains rushed over from all directions to witness it.
But now, the phenomenon here had a range of over 330 feet!
And this was the phenomenon as it was dissipating.
It was hard to imagine just how vast the range was at the moment the unknown cultivator broke through to the Core Formation Realm!
This was too astonishing!
Swish, swish, swish.
Several more figures arrived.
They were elders from Feishuang Sect and Lingxi Sect.
They looked at Murong Yue deeply and cupped their hands in greeting.
Even though it had only been a day since Qingxuan Sect conquered Heavy Weapon Sect.
This news had already spread like a hurricane.
The sects around the Qingcang Mountains naturally knew it first.
Among the Core Formation cultivators of Feishuang Sect was a woman with delicate features and fair skin.
She was none other than Pang Ziyu, the daughter of Pang Longxiang, the sect leader of Feishuang Sect.
Pang Ziyu looked around carefully and said in a deep voice, "It should be an unknown Core Formation cultivator who broke through here, but themotion is just too big."
"A person like this shouldnt be a nobody; they should be someone notable."
The elder of Feishuang Sect beside her said in a low voice, "It might be one of the Six Supremes of Xuanjiang, choosing to break through here instead of in the sect."
Pang Ziyu said calmly, "Its six supremes now. I always remind you, dont forget Shen Mo."
"Yes, yes, yes, I was careless." The elder, even though his cultivation was higher than Pang Ziyus, nodded repeatedly as if he had been severely reprimanded.
"Then do you think it could be Shen Mo?" the elder asked.
Pang Ziyu shook her head firmly, "It couldnt be him. Even if Shen Mo condensed a Perfect Golden Core, he couldnt possibly trigger such a phenomenon."
"This kind of phenomenon must be caused by someone with a Heaven-grade constitution, cultivating Heaven-grade techniques, and condensing a Perfect Golden Core."
"Such a Golden Core is even above the Perfect Golden Core."
The elder nodded repeatedly, agreeing with her view.
Pang Ziyu suddenly looked at Murong Yue, "Sect Master Murong, what do you think?"
Murong Yue nced at her and said calmly, "I think the same."
Pang Ziyu continued, "Sect Master Murong, Qingxuan Sect annexed Heavy Weapon Sect without any consideration. This might provoke Thunder Fire Sect. If they find out, they will likely be furious."
"You don''t need to worry about that," Murong Yue said, not wanting to continue the conversation. She turned and left.
Pang Ziyu''s expression didnt change.
After Murong Yue and her people left, her face turned cold.
"I didnt expect that both my father and I overestimated Heavy Weapon Sect. They turned out to be so ipetent, losing everything in just a month."
"Find out what happened in Heavy Weapon Sect. Who was stirring things up from the inside!"
"Understood."
...
The annexation of Heavy Weapon Sect by Qingxuan Sect not only reached the ears of Lingxi Sect, Feishuang Sect, and Storm Rain Sect nearby.
It also spread rapidly through word of mouth, bing widely known throughout Xuanjiang Prefecture within just ten days.
Since the end of the Hundred Sects Grand Ceremony, after the prefecture lord announced the sect ranking system, there had been an undercurrent in Xuanjiang Prefecture.
There were asional frictions between the various sects.
But it hadnt yet escted to open conflicts andrge-scale annexations.
The annexation of Heavy Weapon Sect by Qingxuan Sect seemed to ignite a long-brewing powder keg.
Sects with old grudges immediately dered war.
Even those who preferred to remain neutral started targeting smaller sects.
Big fish ate small fish, and small fish ate shrimp.
Once the lid of Pandora''s box was opened, it would never close again.
...
Giant River City.
This city was the prefectural capital of Xuanjiang Prefecture and the strongest seat of government power.
However, its prosperity was no match for Divine Sword City, cing it second.
The center of Giant River City was the prefectural government office.
The government office wasnt as grand as people might imagine; it was rather shabby.
In some ces, the redcquer had dried up and peeled off, but there were no repairs.
Whenmoners passed by the government office, they would mutter, discussing the strange new prefecture lord.
"Do you know why the government office looks so poor?"
"I heard that the spirit stones allocated from Yuzhou were all spent by the new prefecture lord on the barracks, not a single one left."
"Heh, this new prefecture lord is something else. Since taking office, he hasnt taken money for himself or repaired the government office, only focused on the barracks, like a general."
"You dont know? Beforeing to Xuanjiang Prefecture, he worked in Lingyun Prefecture. He was a general and even led troops to tten Jinyang Sect and other sects!"
At this moment, the sound of horse hooves suddenly rang out.
A rider, like a sh of lightning, crossed the street and arrived at the government office gate.
"Urgent report! Urgent report! Two second-rate sects in the southern part of Xuanjiang Prefecture have gone to war, and Qingxuan Sect has annexed Heavy Weapon Sect! Let me in quickly!"
The soldier on horseback shouted loudly.
The two soldiers standing guard at the government office gate were shocked and hurriedly helped the rider inside.
Upon entering the government office, the first thing they saw was the main hall.
But the main hall was only used for major ceremonies.
The prefecture lord usually worked in the second hall behind the main hall.
At this moment, the prefecture lord was handling documents sent from various parts of Xuanjiang Prefecture.
Beside him was a young man with a jade-like face and a sinister expression, assisting in processing various documents.
Suddenly, the urgent report sounded from outside.
"Lord Prefecture, a sect war has broken out. In one day, Qingxuan Sect annexed Heavy Weapon Sect!"
The soldier knelt on one knee, presenting the fire-sealed letter.
The prefecture lord stood up abruptly, took the letter, but didnt open it immediately.
"Qingxuan Sect..."
"I seem to have some impression."
"Isnt that the sect where Shen Mo, the first ce winner of the Hundred Sects Grand Ceremony, belongs?"
The three soldiers below immediately replied, "Reporting to the lord, it is indeed!"
A strange light shed in the prefecture lords eyes as he quickly opened the letter to examine it carefully.
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Chapter 97: I Smell Opportunity
Chapter 97: I Smell Opportunity
The second hall was unusually quiet.
The soldiers dared not make a sound.
The only noise was the rapid flipping of letters by Ji Shilong.
After a long while, the burly prefect finally set down the letters, his face showing surprise.
The stern man beside him inquired, "My lord? What''s the situation?"
Ji Shilong waved his hand, signaling the three soldiers to leave.
He then handed the letter to the man and slowly spoke, "This Shen Mo is not only exceptionally talented but also possesses extraordinary wisdom."
"He was involved in the entire process of annexing the Heavy Weapon Sect."
"First, he obtained the crystal refining technique and gradually took over the Heavy Weapon Sect''s business. This is the first step."@@novelbin@@
"Second, he imprisoned Wu Leng, crippling the Heavy Weapon Sect''s most intelligent mind."
"Third, he allied with small sects, cutting off the Heavy Weapon Sect''s wings."
"Fourth, he drew the Violent Rain Sect to his side, making them restrain the Feishuang Sect and the Lingxi Sect, preventing them from offering help."
Ji Shilong sighed softly, "Why does someone like him serve a sect and not my court? I truly wish to recruit him under mymand."
The stern man frowned, "My lord, recruiting this person is not feasible."
"To my knowledge, he is deeply favored by the Qingxuan Sect''s master and is highly likely to be the next master of the Qingxuan Sect."
"Moreover, judging from his behavior and conduct, he is not someone who would subjugate himself to others."
After speaking, he added, "Besides, in my view, this person does not possess great wisdom, only a knack for leveraging situations and thinking several steps ahead of his opponents."
"Most people can only see what''s right in front of them, not beyond one step. If one can foresee three steps ahead, they have already surpassed the vast majority."
Ji Shilongughed heartily, "What about me then?"
The stern man smiled, "My lord can see five steps ahead."
Ji Shilong still wore a smile, "Oh? And how many steps can you see?"
The stern man proudly replied, "I dare say I can see eight steps ahead!"
Ji Shilong''s smile grew even brighter, "Then why am I the one in charge of you?"
The stern man was stunned for a moment and quickly said, "I misspoke, my lord. The five steps you see arerge strides, while the steps I see are small ones! That''s why you are in charge of me!"
As he said this, cold sweat suddenly appeared on his forehead.
He realized it now.
Despite his exceptional talent and usual arrogance, the man before him was not one to hesitate in killing.
In front of Ji Shilong, even a dragon had to coil and a tiger had to crouch.
"I think Shen Mo is quite remarkable. Luo Shuanghan, select some treasures from the warehouse and visit the Qingxuan Sect. See if he is willing to forsake the darkness for the light and join the court."
"If he is unwilling, then go to the Heavenly Water Sect and ensure this letter reaches Sect Master Zhang."
Ji Shilong pulled a letter from the bottom of a thick stack of dossiers.
The seal was already stamped with firecquer.
It also bore Ji Shilong''s official prefect seal.
The stern man nodded, cupped his hands, and took his leave.
Ji Shilong watched his departing figure, a faint smile on his face.
...
Thunder Crystal Mine.
Shen Mo did not reveal that he had already stepped into the Core Formation stage.
Instead, hended early outside the forest and walked into the mine withrge strides.
Bing a Core Formation cultivator was indeed worth celebrating.
But the Qingxuan Sect was not a monolith.
There were now many new inner sect elders with varied factions.
If anyone other than himself knew, Liu Yuanfeng might also find out.
Liu Yuanfeng was not a good person.
The Qingxuan Sect''s intelligence had been sold by him countless times.
When the timees, his own danger would increase further.
For now, it''s better to maintain the current disguise.
Or perhaps, after reaching small orrge aplishment in the Core Formation stage, he could then reveal his status for greater safety.
As for Liu Yuanfeng, Shen Mo did not see him as a threat.
Maintaining the status quo was enough.
He might even use Liu Yuanfeng to spread some false information.
Shen Mo walked into the mine.
Immediately, he saw many disciples.
There were also several Foundation Establishment cultivators hurrying in from outside.
They were not wearing the robes of Qingxuan Sect elders.
Instead, they wore the attire of several nearby small sects.
Seeing Shen Mo, they immediately felt a deep respect and halted, bowing respectfully.
Even Core Formation cultivators dared not show the slightest disrespect.
Now, the cultivators near the Qingcang Mountains already knew that the Heavy Weapon Sect had been annexed by the Qingxuan Sect.
They also knew that it was all orchestrated by Shen Mo behind the scenes.
Without Shen Mo, even if the Qingxuan Sect could annex the Heavy Weapon Sect, it would have resulted in heavy casualties.
"Who are you all?" Shen Mo asked casually.
The Core Formation cultivators replied happily, "Young Sect Master, we are elders from nearby small sects, ordered by our sect master toe and join the Qingxuan Sect."
"Our sect master is also on the way and will arrive soon."
Shen Mo smiled and nodded, "Good, you may proceed."
"Yes."
Shen Mo took a few more steps and suddenly saw Elder Li looking for someone.
"Young Sect Master, I have news for you," Elder Li said seriously.
"Speak."
"Wu Leng is dead, hemitted suicide," Elder Li sighed.
Shen Mo asked, "What happened?"
Elder Li exined, "The news of our Qingxuan Sect annexing the Heavy Weapon Sect has spread, and many people in the mine are talking about it."
"Wu Leng also heard and couldn''t ept the truth. He shattered his own Golden Core andmitted suicide."
"Many people witnessed the scene."
Shen Mo''s expression didn''t change.
Given Wu Leng''s obsessive nature, it was understandable for him to react this way upon hearing the news.
"Wu Gangfei hasn''t been buried yet. Bury the father and son together."
"Yes."
Shen Mo sighed softly.
Wu Leng should have been a renowned weapon refiner in Xuanjiang Prefecture.
Even if the court had ttened Xuanjiang Prefecture, a weapon refiner like him would not have been affected and would have been honored instead.
But because of Shen Mo''s existence, Wu Leng''s fate had changed repeatedly.
Now, it waspletely severed.
Shen Mo didn''t feel much pity for him.
If Wu Leng hadn''t schemed against him and even harbored murderous intent, Shen Mo wouldn''t have kept him imprisoned here.
His death was merely the result of his own actions.
"Time to cultivate. Reaching small aplishment in the Core Formation stage as soon as possible is the proper business."
Shen Mo returned to his room.
To quickly advance in the Core Formation stage, one could also take corresponding pills like in the Body Tempering, Qi Condensation, and Foundation Establishment stages.
The pill needed by Core Formation cultivators is called the "Essence Boosting Pill."
Its effect is to elerate the growth of the Golden Core.
A Core Formation entry-stage Golden Core is at least five times smaller than that of a Core Formation peak cultivator.
This is for an ordinary Golden Core.
For a wless Golden Core or a perfect Golden Core, the difference is even greater.
Sevenfold, tenfold, it varies from person to person.
Each growth of the Golden Core represents an improvement in one''s cultivation level.
However, the Essence Boosting Pill is already a top-tier profound grade pill, which the Qingxuan Sect naturally doesn''t have.
The Qingxuan Sect has only two alchemy elders, and the strongest pills they can make are only lower-tier profound grade.
Without a master to teach them, they are entirely self-taught and figured it out on their own.
Therefore, higher-level pills have a very low sess rate in refining and are not worth the effort.
Of course, this is not unique to the Qingxuan Sect.
It''s the same for others.
The Essence Boosting Pill must be purchased from the Five Sects of Xuanjiang.
But the Five Sects of Xuanjiang strictly control the quantity.
The number of Essence Boosting Pills sold each month is very limited.
Currently, Shen Mo could only rely on his own power to cultivate.
A few dayster, Elder Li''s voice suddenly came from outside.
"Young Sect Master, there is a Core Formation cultivator outside the mine, iming to be from the prefectural city and under Ji Shilong''smand, wanting to see you."
Shen Mo slowly opened his eyes.
A sh of brilliance appeared in his eyes.
Hmm... I smell opportunity!
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Chapter 98: Pay Attention to This Man Named Luo Shuanghan Who Likes Handling Other People’s Swords
Chapter 98: Pay Attention to This Man Named Luo Shuanghan Who Likes Handling Other People''s Swords
At the entrance of the Thunder Crystal Mine.
Luo Shuanghan stood proudly, dressed in white, hands behind his back.
The powerful aura of the Core Formation Realm naturally radiated from him,pelling those around him to feel an urge to worship.
Disciples nearby watched him from a distance, instinctively feeling a sense of awe.
They had seen Core Formation Realm cultivators before.
But this handsome man gave them a sense of oppression far beyond that of ordinary Core Formation Realm cultivators.
Clearly, he was not ofmon status.
Luo Shuanghan closed his eyes and meditated, not caring about the gazes from these people.
After a while, he heard a voice from ahead.
"I am Shen Mo, are you looking for me?"
Luo Shuanghan opened his eyes and saw a tall, slender young man with chiseled features walking towards him.
A strange look shed in Luo Shuanghan''s eyes.
Some people, with just one nce, can make others feel that they are extraordinary.
The young man before him was such a person.
"Luo Shuanghan, by order of the Prefect, I invite the Young Master of Qingxuan Sect to join the court."
"Here is a gift from the Prefect."
After speaking, Luo Shuanghan threw over a storage ring.
Elder Li, with a vignt expression, stood in front of Shen Mo and caught the storage ring for him.
However, the force on the storage ring was immense.
Elder Li stumbled back more than ten steps beforeing to a stop.
Her face was extremely unpleasant, and her right hand gradually turned red.
Shen Mo took the storage ring and said coldly, "Is this also the Prefect''s intention?"
Luo Shuanghan smiled faintly, "I didn''t expect that there could be such a weak Core Formation Realm cultivator."
Elder Li''s face turned icy, "This is the first time I''ve seen someone inviting others to join the court with such a tone."
Shen Mo opened the storage ring and frowned immediately.
Inside were only three bottles of Great Stabilizing Pills and five hundred high-grade spirit stones.
Anyone who didn''t know better would think they were dealing with beggars.
"Fine, I''ve seen the Prefect''s sincerity."
Shen Mo casually tossed the storage ring back.
But Luo Shuanghan didn''t catch it; he turned and left.
"It doesn''t matter if you don''t want it. I''ve conveyed the Prefect''s message. I''m heading to Heavenly Water Sect now."
After speaking, he turned into a stream of light and quickly disappeared.
The items in the storage ring were also beneath his notice.
Elder Li''s face darkened, "Ji Shilong sent him here to disgust us on purpose!"
Shen Mo''s expression remained unchanged.
He didn''t understand Ji Shilong''s thoughts.
But this Luo Shuanghan was clearly such an arrogant person.
Someone like him was not suitable for inviting talents.
"Ignore him, Elder Li. Take the items from the storage ring to the sect''s treasury. I don''t need them," Shen Mo waved his hand.
"Understood."
Shen Mo''s mind conjured up Luo Shuanghan''s life profile.
[Name: Luo Shuanghan]
[Realm: Peak of Core Formation Realm]
[Fate: Illegitimate Child, Fortunate Star, Escaped Death, Sword Dao Heir, Fondness for Boys, Extreme Yin Physique]
[Destiny: Stopping at the peak of Core Formation Realm. Whilepeting with Xiao Fan for the position of Young Master of the Divine Sword Sect, he was tricked by Xiao Fan, expelled from the sect, and died in an ambush, filled with hatred.]
[Recent Opportunity: Today, after leaving the Thunder Crystal Mine, he will go to Flying Fish City to practice swordsmanship. At night, while crossing the Qingcang Mountains to Heavenly Water Sect, he will sense something unusual,nd by a stream, and find a sword pill at the bottom of the stream, which will increase his realm and significantly enhance his understanding of the Sword Dao.]
Shen Mo carefully examined this person''s fate.
[Illegitimate Child: Blue Fate. You are the illegitimate child of a prominent figure. Though you don''t have a nominal father, you have lived infort since childhood. One day, you willpete for the position of Young Master of the Divine Sword Sect.]
[Fortunate Star: Orange Fate. You have been blessed since childhood, such as having a father who has never appeared but always provides abundant resources for your cultivation. You can easily ovee obstacles in your path.]
[Escaped Death: Purple Fate. You will encounter numerous dangers in your life but almost always escape alive until you meet an enemy with better fortune than you.]
[Sword Dao Heir: Purple Fate. You chose a sword during your infancy, have slept with a sword since childhood, and have extraordinary talent in the Sword Dao, often having unique insights while practicing swordsmanship.]
[Fondness for Boys: White Fate. Your preferences are quite unique and not conventional. You prefer practicing swordsmanship with your fellow cultivators and every time...]
[Extreme Yin Physique: Purple Fate. Your ice spirit root talent is exceptional, making your cultivation of ice attribute techniques and martial arts highly efficient.]
Shen Mo smacked his lips.
If he guessed correctly, this guy should be the illegitimate son of Luo Chaotian, the master of the Divine Sword Sect.
No wonder this person, who was clearly not a disciple of the Divine Sword Sect, got involved in thepetition for the position of Young Master of the Divine Sword Sect.
However, it was clear that this person''s fate was not as strong as Xiao Fan''s.
In the end, he still lost and died.
"This person must have been sent to Ji Shilong by Luo Chaotian. The Divine Sword Sect''s attitude towards the government is quite ambiguous."
Shen Mo pondered.
From these clues, he could infer a lot of information.
By carefully analyzing, he could extract useful things for himself.
"Luo Shuanghan will stay overnight in Flying Fish City. Perfect, I''ll go ahead and intercept his opportunity."
Shen Mo immediately left the Thunder Crystal Mine and entered the Qingcang Mountains.
Before long, he found the seemingly unremarkable stream based on the information from the life panel.
Calling it a stream was a bit generous.
It was so small that an ordinary person could easily jump over it.
It was hard to imagine that a sword pill would be buried here.
Shen Mo stretched out his hand, immersing it in the stream.
A trace of spiritual power surged out, connecting with the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth, carefully probing the mud and sand at the bottom of the stream.
Momentster, Shen Mo''s expression shifted.
He made a gesture with his hand.
Downstream, about twenty feet away, the mud and sand suddenly broke open, and a small sword with a metallic sheen emerged and flew into Shen Mo''s hand.
Shen Mo examined it carefully.
At first nce, this item looked like it was forged from metal.
But in reality, it was neither metal nor wood.
To be precise, a sword pill should be called a sword core, condensed by those cultivators who pursued unconventional paths.
These cultivators were usually rogue cultivators.
They knew their own talents were average, so when forming their core, they chose unconventional methods, condensing weapon-shaped golden cores.
There were sword cores, de cores, axe cores, and so on.
After condensing such a golden core, one could only specialize in that type of martial art.
That is, condensing a sword core meant one must practice swordsmanship.@@novelbin@@
Condensing a de core meant one must practice dework, and so on.
If not, it would go against their true nature.
Over time, the golden core would crack on its own, causing great harm.
Of course, there were benefits to condensing such a golden core.
Upon entering the Core Formation Realm, theirbat power far surpassed those who condensed Five Elements golden cores.
Because these weapon golden cores were vastly different from the orthodox Five Elements golden cores.
Therefore, many cultivators did not call it a "core" but rather disparagingly referred to it as a "pill."
Thus, sword pills, de pills, spear pills, and so on.
However, preserving a sword pill was also very difficult.
The cultivator had to die, but the dantian had to remain intact, and it also had to undergo the tempering of extremely high-temperature mes for it to appear.
Otherwise, most of the time, these weapon golden cores would shatter upon the cultivator''s death.
The sword pill Shen Mo obtained was clearly very rare.
"I need to find a ce nearby and start refining it immediately."
Shen Mo nodded with satisfaction.
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Chapter 100: I Am the One Who Will Take Your Filthy Life
Chapter 100: I Am the One Who Will Take Your Filthy Life
Shen Mo had already thoroughly examined the life panels of the three men he conversed with earlier.
Song Chaofeng had not gained any recent opportunities from betraying the Qingxuan Sect.
He could be temporarily ced on the trust list.
As for Liu Yuanfeng...
His earlier words were entirely deceitful.
While he imed to act in the Qingxuan Sect''s best interest, his true intention was to obtain theplete crystal refining technique.
[Recent Opportunity: One monthter, he will sell the forms for two types of hammers and embedding liquid to the Flying Frost Sect, earning one thousand high-grade spirit stones. On his way back to the Heavy Weapon Hall, he will pass through the Thorn Forest and be surrounded by a group of rogue cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, who call themselves the Poison Dragon Group. After killing the rogue cultivators, he will obtain three yellow-grade treasures, Dragon White Whiskers, among the spoils.]
"Dragon White Whiskers..."
Shen Mo shook his head.
He didn''t know much about yellow-grade treasures.
It seemed like it was time to read more books and learn about these treasures.
However, since it was a yellow-grade treasure, it must be very valuable.
He couldnt let Liu Yuanfeng get it cheaply.
"The important treasures from the sects treasury in the Heavy Weapon Hall have been moved to the Qingxuan Sects mountain gate, and the martial techniques in the Sutra Pavilion have been taken, but many historical books and geographical records are still well-preserved. I should go and have a look."
After pondering for a moment, Shen Mo pushed the door open and headed straight for the Sutra Pavilion.
For the next five days, he immersed himself in the Sutra Pavilion, reading books without rest or sleep.
The stewards and disciples of the Heavy Weapon Hall were quite surprised.
Since bing the vice hall master of the Heavy Weapon Hall, this young sect leader had acted strangely.
Instead of cultivating or overseeing the production of crystal spiritual artifacts, he spent all his time reading in the Sutra Pavilion?
Elder Li was also puzzled, but she loyally performed her duty, guarding the first floor of the Sutra Pavilion every day.
Song Chaofeng was equally diligent, supervising the production of crystal spiritual artifacts daily and keeping a close eye on Liu Yuanfeng, making thetter very ufortable.
After five days, Shen Mo closed thest book and let out a long breath.
Despite not sleeping, eating, or drinking for five days, he was not exhausted but instead looked more vibrant.
This was the benefit of being a Core Formation stage cultivator.
Foundation Establishment stage cultivators had not yetpletely avoided the need for food and asionally needed to consume mortal food.
But Core Formation stage cultivators couldpletely avoid eating.
Of course, it didnt mean they couldnt enjoy delicious food.
Eating was a major pleasure of life. One could choose not to eat, but if one wanted to, they could still enjoy it.
"Dragon White Whiskers, a yellow-grade treasure, mild and bnced in medicinal properties, almost non-toxic, is one of the best secret treasures for enhancing the Golden Core."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
This item was perfect for him!
He immediately left the Sutra Pavilion, and on his way out, he greeted Elder Li on the first floor, saying he was going to the Thorn Forest to seek opportunities for breaking through to the Core Formation stage, which might take a few days.
Elder Li initially wanted to follow but was refused by Shen Mo, leaving her no choice but to relent.
However, she knew that Shen Mo had life-saving tricks up his sleeve. Unless he encountered a peak Core Formation stage cultivator, he could at least escape.@@novelbin@@
...
After leaving the Heavy Weapon Hall, Shen Mo confirmed that no one was following him and then flew swiftly towards the Thorn Forest.
The Heavy Weapon Hall was located on the eastern side of the Qingcang Mountain Range.
Heading north, one would reach the territory of the Flying Frost Sect.
However, the route did not pass through the Flying Frost Sect''s mountain gate but rather through a city under its control.
At most, there were only some Foundation Establishment stage stewards there.
Shen Mo did not detour and flew directly over.
Before long, a vast forest appeared in front of him.
The forest looked lush and refreshing.
But from within came the asional roars of tigers and apes, clearly indicating the presence of fierce beasts.
Shen Monded early and strode towards a small town outside the Thorn Forest.
As he walked, he put on a mask with a blue face and fangs, covering his face.
After all, this was a town under the control of the Flying Frost Sect.
If someone recognized him, it might cause unnecessary trouble.
After putting on the mask, Shen Mo cautiously nced at his life panel to ensure there would be no unexpected events on this trip, only then did he rx.
He surveyed the area and found that it was no different from the small market outside the Fierce Tiger Forest.
People were loudly peddling their wares, chatting away, and groups were gathering to form teams to enter the Thorn Forest to hunt monsters.
However, the market outside the Fierce Tiger Forest was very small, with only street vendors and no buildings.
In contrast, this town was full of buildings.
Despite its small size, it had everything: taverns, tea houses, restaurants, inns, and even the Qingyi House.
Rogue cultivators had their own stalls rather than street vendors.
Additionally, disciples of the Flying Frost Sect patrolled the streets in teams, maintaining order.
After walking a few steps into the crowded area, Shen Mo suddenly heard two cultivators nearby discussing enthusiastically.
"...Did you taste that girl yesterday? She was amazing! Her skin was so smooth and tender, and she screamed so loudly!"
"Hehehe, of course I did. It was exhrating!"
"Let''s hunt some more high-quality ones today and invite Boss Poison Dragon along!"
Shen Mo frowned slightly.
Poison Dragon?
He must be the leader of the Poison Dragon Group.
He immediately looked at the life panels of the two men.
After reading them, his frown deepened.
From their conversation, he initially thought they had visited the Qingyi House.
But the life panels revealed that the "tasting" of "smooth and tender skin" was not metaphorical but literal.
They had eaten those ordinary mortals who couldnt resist cultivators.
Shen Mo showed a look of disgust and strode over, "Where is Poison Dragon?"
The two men were stunned and looked him up and down, "Who are you? What do you want with the boss?"
"To take his filthy life," Shen Mo said coldly.
The two men exchanged a nce and burst intoughter, ready to mock him.
Shen Mo pped one of them.
p!
One mans head suddenly spun 360 degrees.
His neck twisted into a braid.
The other man''sughter stopped abruptly.
"Take me to Poison Dragon," Shen Mo said coldly.
"Y-yes, sir, please follow me," the man carefully lowered his head, nodding and bowing as he led the way.
Before long, Shen Mo found Poison Dragon in a residence.
No one was around, indicating this was their of the Poison Dragon Group.
Even the disciples of the Flying Frost Sect wouldnte here to patrol without a reason.
At this moment, Poison Dragon had two scantily d women in his arms, both with tear stains on their faces.
They had no trace of spiritual power, clearly ordinary mortals.
Beside Poison Dragon were six Foundation Establishment cultivators, all with fierce expressions.
"B-boss, this lord has s-something to discuss with you," the rogue cultivator who led Shen Mo stammered before running off.
Shen Mo flicked his finger, and a strand of spiritual power pierced the man''s heart instantly.
Poison Dragon stopped his movements on the two mortal women.
He frowned, "Who dares to kill on my turf?"
Shen Mo, having read the life panels of Poison Dragon and every cultivator present, calmly spoke, "I am here to take your filthy life."
Poison Dragon''s eyes sharpened, "Get him, kill him!"
He had not survived in the Thorn Forest for so long by luck.
He had a keen sense of danger.
His intuition told him that this masked man was terrifying and at least as powerful as him, a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator.
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Chapter 102: The Ruthless Woman, Pang Ziyu
Chapter 102: The Ruthless Woman, Pang Ziyu
Heavy Weapon Hall.
When Shen Mo returned, the disciples greeted him with bows. However, he noticed worry and panic on everyone''s faces.
At this moment, he saw Luo Shengnan and inquired about the situation.
Seeing him, Luo Shengnan eximed joyfully, "Shen... oh no, Young Sect Master! You''re finally back!"
"We''ve been looking for you everywhere!"
Shen Mo was puzzled.
With Liu Yuanfeng, Song Chaofeng, and Elder Li around, any major or minor issue should be manageable. Among the surrounding sects, Spirit Beast Sect''s visible Foundation Establishment cultivators were fewer than Qingxuan Sect''s, so it was unlikely they''d suddenly attack like madmen. As for Flying Frost Sect, most of their Foundation Establishment cultivators were still being held up by Stormy Rain Sect in Thorn Forest. They wouldn''t have the manpower to deal with Qingxuan Sect.
What could require his personal attention?
Luo Shengnan lowered her voice and said, "It''s Flying Fish City. Flying Frost Sect suddenly attacked, seized Flying Fish City, and captured our deacons and disciples. This news came from a passing merchant caravan."
Shen Mo frowned slightly.
Flying Fish City was one of the four cities previously controlled by Heavy Weapon Sect. After Qingxuan Sect annexed Heavy Weapon Sect, they naturally sent Qingxuan Sect''s deacons and disciples to take over these four cities. The remnants of Heavy Weapon Sect either surrendered or fled. The takeover went smoothly.
Unexpectedly, within just over half a month of stability, Flying Frost Sect initiated conflict.
Shen Mo suddenly recalled a few days ago when Luo Shuanghan, sent by Ji Shilong, came to recruit him. Luo Shuanghan had mentioned that he was heading to Heavenly Water Sect next.
"Ji Shilong knows I won''t be recruited, so Luo Shuanghan must go to Heavenly Water Sect."
"He must be following Ji Shilong''s orders."
"Flying Frost Sect is aligned with Heavenly Water Sect..."
"Thinking this way, it''s possible Heavenly Water Sect gave either a hint or an explicit order, prompting Flying Frost Sect to act despite most of their Foundation Establishment cultivators being held up by Stormy Rain Sect."
Shen Mo asked, "Where are Elder Song and Elder Li?"
Luo Shengnan pointed to the main hall, "They''re all waiting for you in the council hall."
Shen Mo nodded and was about to head to the council hall. At this moment, a sudden exmation came from the entrance of Heavy Weapon Hall.
"Deacon Zhang! Deacon Zhang, who was sent to take over Flying Fish City, has returned!"
Shen Mo turned and looked towards the entrance. He saw a middle-aged deacon covered in bloodZhang Weihu.
Zhang Weihu also saw Shen Mo from afar. Struggling, he took out a letter from his chest and said weakly, "Y-Young Sect Master... important... letter..."
Shen Mo quickly approached, his gaze unintentionally scanning Zhang Weihu''s life panel.
[Destiny: Stuck at the peak of Qi Condensation. Poisoned with explosive blood poison by Flying Frost Sect''s Young Sect Master, Pang Ziyu, and sent back to Qingxuan Sect to personally deliver an important letter to Shen Mo. The moment the letter is handed over, a toxic explosion urs internally, causing immediate death.]
Shen Mo''s eyebrows shot up, and he immediately surveyed the surrounding disciples and himself.
Sure enough, after Zhang Weihu appeared, the life panels of those near him changed. Some with lower cultivation levels and closer proximity died instantly from the toxic explosion. Those with higher cultivation levels were seriously injured. Even Shen Mo, despite being at Foundation Establishment, was caught off guard and poisoned.
His recent turn of events was clearly written: the poison seeped into his bones, destroying his physique. Murong Yue gave up her cultivation to heal him continuously for two years, eventually purging all the poison.
Shen Mo suddenly shouted, "All disciples, stay away from Zhang Weihu!"
His shout made the disciples who were about to help Zhang Weihu freeze.
The disciples were confused. Zhang Weihu was in such a state, and they shouldn''t help?
But Shen Mo''s high prestige and authority within Qingxuan Sect meant no one dared disobey.
At this time, Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng, along with other Foundation Establishment cultivators, also came out from the council hall.
Liu Yuanfeng frowned at the scene and said sternly, "Young Sect Master, what are you waiting for? Treating the wounded is urgent! This deacon surely knows what happened in Flying Fish City!"
Shen Mo nced at him coldly.
"Elder Song, Elder Li, please immediately prepare Red Fire Root, White Crane Branch, and ck Frost Flower, 10 grams of each."
Song Chaofeng hesitated for a moment, but Elder Li, having great faith in Shen Mo, went to prepare the items immediately.
Heavy Weapon Hall wasn''t known for its medical skills but did have a warehouse of medicinal materials. These weremon yellow and mysterious grade herbs, not hard to find.
After a brief hesitation, Song Chaofeng followed suit.
Shen Mo''s achievements were evident to all.
Both elders believed his actions were never without purpose.
The disciples were also puzzled.
Why did Shen Mo specifically need these three herbs?
Shen Mo said in a deep voice, "Stay 30 meters away from Zhang Weihu. He has been poisoned by the Flying Frost Sect, and if he can''t hold on, he will explode."
"Zhang Weihu, bite down and don''t faint. I will save you immediately."
As soon as he said this, the disciples turned pale and quickly moved away.
Zhang Weihu was also shocked but trusted Shen Mo deeply. He nodded repeatedly and said through clenched teeth, "Yes, I... obey!"@@novelbin@@
Liu Yuanfeng watched Shen Mo''s back, his eyes flickering.
Why was Shen Mo so calm andposed, and how did he immediately know that Zhang Weihu was poisoned?
This was too strange.
Could it be that Shen Mo had profound knowledge of medicinal properties, so much so that he could tell at a nce if someone was poisoned?
Gifted, wise, calm, and now with deep medicinal knowledge... This person is too monstrous, too terrifying...
Opposing him from the start was probably a mistake.
Liu Yuanfeng sighed inwardly, but he knew there was no turning back for him now; he could only continue down this dark path!
Shen Mo strode over to Zhang Weihu.
After deciding to save Zhang Weihu, his "recent turn of events" changed ording to his will.
The new turn of events showed that he didn''t need any protection; he just needed to administer the herbs in the correct sequence to cure Zhang Weihu of the explosive blood poison.
Everything was still in time.
No one would be harmed.
During this process, his fate attributes "Small Fortune" and "Blessed with Luck" should havee into y.
Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Shen Mo methodically processed the three herbs.
He ground, dried, and tore them.
Finally, he brewed a pot of medicinal soup and poured it into Zhang Weihu''s mouth.
Zhang Weihu''s face changed color several times.
A momentter, he spat out arge mouthful of ck water.
The ck water hit the ground with a faint explosive sound, quickly shattering the granite tiles.
However, the power of the explosive blood poison had been greatly reduced by the medicinal soup.
Otherwise, even this simple vomiting would have affected the surroundings within 15 or 18 meters, causing many casualties.
Shen Mo also breathed a sigh of relief.
Explosive blood poison was a sinister poison controlled by the Flying Frost Sect, often used against sympathetic opponents.
Insidious and treacherous.
People couldn''t detoxify it because they didn''t know what poison it was or the medicinal properties of many herbs.
But Shen Mo could learn from the life panel that it was explosive blood poison and could administer the right antidote.
Moreover, he had read extensively, including many books on herbs.
Thus, he could find the herbs to counteract the explosive blood poison.
The result proved his method was correct.
Zhang Weihu, now weak and exhausted, said, "Thank you... Young Sect Master, for saving me. This is... a letter from Pang Ziyu for you."
Shen Mo took the letter and opened it immediately.
"The Flying Frost Sect''s formation master, who we invited to repair our sect''s grand formation, was attacked while passing through Flying Fish City. Hence, we detained your sect''s deacons and disciples."
"Our sect has no intention of starting a war. If your sect is willing, you can send someone to negotiate, hand over the culprits who attacked the formation master, and resolve the conflict between our sects."
"Respectfully, Pang Ziyu, Young Sect Master of the Flying Frost Sect."
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Chapter 103: Pang Ziyu’s Unruly Attack
Chapter 103: Pang Ziyu''s Unruly Attack
Shen Mo''s expression remained unchanged as he quietly pondered.@@novelbin@@
"Take Zhang Weihu to rest," he casually ordered, handing the letter to Song Chaofeng and Elder Li, among others. "Everyone, take a look."
The Core Formation stage cultivators, led by Song Chaofeng, passed the letter around, their brows furrowing deeply after reading it.
Elder Li, known for her fiery temper, immediately eximed, "Nonsense! This is just their excuse!"
Song Chaofeng also spoke gravely, "Elder Li is right. This is nothing but nonsense from Flying Frost Sect. If we send people to negotiate, they might also be detained."
Elder Li, visibly angered, retorted, "But many stewards and disciples involved in taking over Flying Fish City have been captured. We can''t just abandon them..."
Song Chaofeng sighed deeply, "This Pang Ziyu... she released Zhang Weihu, explicitly instructing him to deliver the letter personally to the young sect master. If the young sect master hadn''t detected the poison in his body, he might have been seriously injured by now."
"Now, with our stewards and disciples held captive, our Qingxuan Sect is in a dire situation..."
"If we don''t rescue them, Flying Frost Sect will surely make this public, damaging our reputation. At that point, no cultivators will join us."
"If we send someone to negotiate, we''d need at least one Core Formation stage cultivator, but they might detain them too, which would be a significant loss of our fighting strength."
"How vicious!"
Elder Li said seriously, "Neither of these options is eptable. I think we should gather all our Core Formation stage cultivators and attack Flying Fish City!"
Liu Yuanfeng shook his head, "Elder Li, that''s problematic. How can we gather all our Core Formation stage cultivators? Who would guard Qingxuan Sect''s main gates, the Thunder Crystal Mine, and the Heavy Weapon Hall?"
Elder Li snorted but couldn''t argue further.
The sect had grown toorge, requiring defenses in multiple areas, making it impossible to mobilize all top-tierbatants.
Shen Mo''s gaze turned cold.
Song Chaofeng''s analysis was urate.
However, they were only seeing the present situation.
Shen Mo had already glimpsed his fate and recent turning points through his life panel.
This Pang Ziyu was determined to deal with him.
[Fate: Eventually cultivates to the peak of the Core Formation stage. Five yearster, dies at the hands of Luo Chaotian, the leader of Divine Sword Sect, during an attack on Qingxuan Sect.]
[Recent Turn: Five dayster at night, Pang Ziyu leads three Core Formation stage cultivators in a surprise attack on the Heavy Weapon Hall. Shen Mo fights them alone and defeats them. Failing to capture him, Pang Ziyu orders Li Tie to activate the Blood Vine Array to trap Shen Mo, and another Core Formation stage cultivator sacrifices themselves in a self-destruction attempt, severely injuring Shen Mo, leaving him bedridden for over a year, unable to cultivate.]
It seemed Pang Ziyu nned the attack, seeing the Heavy Weapon Hall''s defenses as vulnerable.
Shen Mo felt a strange sense of relief.
His strength was indeed formidable.
Otherwise, the life panel wouldn''t have shown him defeating three Core Formation stage cultivators alone.
Moreover, he survived a Core Formation cultivator''s self-destruction, albeit severely injured.
"As long as I avoid the Blood Vine Array, I can dodge the self-destructing cultivator, and I''ll be nearly unscathed."
"Besides, I might even capture Pang Ziyu."
"But who is Li Tie? Not an elder, so he must be a steward or disciple?"
Shen Mo''s gaze scanned the crowd, soon spotting a Foundation Establishment stage disciple named Li Tie.
This person was originally a disciple of the Iron Fist Sect. After the Iron Fist Sect merged into Qingxuan Sect, Li Tie was assigned to the Heavy Weapon Hall.
Shen Mo quickly examined this person''s life panel.
His fate and future were unremarkable.
Just a minor character.
He was destined to condense an ordinary Core Formation and, not long after bing a Core Formation stage cultivator, died seeking treasure in dangerous territory due to his greed.
Shen Mo was only concerned with this person''s recent opportunities.
[Recent Opportunity: Two dayster, in a grove near the Heavy Weapon Hall, receives the Blood Vine Array g from Flying Frost Sect. Over the next few days, he secretly sets it up around the training ground, burying the gs, unnoticed by anyone. Five dayster, at Pang Ziyu''smand, he activates the Blood Vine Array, greatly slowing Shen Mo and causing his severe injury from the self-destruction attempt. Subsequently, he receives three bottles of Stabilizing Pill from Flying Frost Sect.]
"I see... This person was a mole nted by Pang Ziyu from the beginning. He doesn''t serve Iron Fist Sect or Flying Frost Sect, only Pang Ziyu."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Knowing the future and the traitors made things easier.
He was somewhat surprised.
He initially thought Liu Yuanfeng might be colluding with Flying Frost Sect, coordinating an inside-outside attack.
But Liu Yuanfeng only sold information about Qingxuan Sect and didn''t act directly.
"Young Sect Master, we all agree that this matter should be reported to the Sect Master and decided by the Elder Council. What do you think?" Elder Li asked.
Shen Mo nodded, "Report to Master immediately."
"Yes."
That night, Shen Mo and other core members returned to the Qingxuan Sect''s council hall to participate in a meeting.
Not many elders were present, as some had to stay behind to guard key locations like the mines.
Shen Mo did not speak much during the meeting.
The oue was quite clear.
Murong Yue was not foolish; she knew what needed to be done without any reminder.
Rescuing the captives was essential.
But they couldn''t follow the enemy''s ns blindly.
Otherwise, it would be like the tale of the gourd children rescuing their grandfather, where each one gets captured in turn.
The decision made by the Qingxuan Sect was tounch a surprise attack on ckstone City, controlled by the Flying Frost Sect.
As long as they could swiftly capture ckstone City and control the elders, stewards, and disciples of the Flying Frost Sect, they could catch the sect off guard.
By holding such leverage, they could negotiate with the Flying Frost Sect on equal terms.
ckstone City was the southernmost city under the control of the Flying Frost Sect, located close to the Qingcang Mountain Range.
However, the city''s walls were thick, the moat deep, and it was guarded by three Core Formation stage cultivators and twenty Foundation Establishment stage stewards.
It wouldn''t be easy to take down.
The Qingxuan Sect also needed to deploy Core Formation stage cultivators.
After a brief discussion, Murong Yue made the final decision, "Alright, we''ll set it for five days from now. Elder Song Chaofeng will lead four inner sect elders in a nighttime assault on ckstone City. This battle must be won quickly and without error!"
"Understood!" Song Chaofeng and the others nodded seriously.
Shen Mo nced at the life panels of the five elders.
Yes, the attack on ckstone City would be a great sess.
The only regret was... they wouldn''t capture a single person from the Flying Frost Sect.
"It seems Pang Ziyu has anticipated this."
"ckstone City is the closest city under the Flying Frost Sect''s control to the Qingcang Mountain Range and Qingxuan Sect, making it the most likely target."
"She likely withdrew the personnel from ckstone City in advance, leaving Song Chaofeng and the others with an undefended city."
"Even if it''s temporarily upied, the Flying Frost Sect could eventually regroup and retake ckstone City."
"But she could take advantage of the weakened defenses at the Heavy Weapon Hall to send three Core Formation stage cultivators for a surprise attack, aiming to capture me."
Shen Mo felt a sense of admiration.
This woman was truly formidable.
Without the life panel, who could outmaneuver her?
However, even knowing the future, Shen Mo did not n to reveal it.
The future is not set in stone.
If he stopped the five elders from going to ckstone City, then the Heavy Weapon Hall wouldn''t be left defenseless.
Pang Ziyu would likely reconsider her n tounch a nighttime attack on the Heavy Weapon Hall.
Thus, Shen Mo would lose the opportunity to capture Pang Ziyu.
Everything was interconnected.
Soon, it was five dayster.
Under the cover of night, Song Chaofeng, Liu Yuanfeng, and others left the Heavy Weapon Hall, crossing the Qingcang Mountain Range to attack ckstone City.
This left only Elder Li to guard the Heavy Weapon Hall.
As for Shen Mo, he hadn''t revealed his true cultivation level, so he was still publicly considered at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.
At this moment, it was nearly midnight.
A team was approaching the Heavy Weapon Hall!
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Chapter 105: Who Allowed You to Self-Destruct Your Core?
Chapter 105: Who Allowed You to Self-Destruct Your Core?
The white-robed and ck-robed cultivators'' eyes widened in shock. "What?!"
Even Elder Li was stunned.
"You say our Young Sect Master is in the Core Formation stage? How is it that I don''t know about this?"
Shen Mo called out, "Elder Li, I''ll assist you."
Elder Li quickly responded, "Young Sect Master, I''m not sure about your current condition, but if you''ve just stepped into the Core Formation stage, you won''t be able to contend with cultivators who have been in the stage for years."
"While I can still hold them off for a while, you must run as far as you can!"
She was speaking based onmon sense.
The white-robed and ck-robed cultivators attacking her were both at the majorpletion stage of Core Formation.
Even if Shen Mo had formed a perfect golden core, a newly advanced Core Formation cultivator couldn''t possiblypete with two majorpletion Core Formation cultivators.
Shen Mo shook his head. "Elder Li, if I leave you behind, you''re certain to die."
"I, Shen Mo, am not such a person."
With that, the Thunder Sword was unsheathed in a sh.
Shen Mo thrust his sword towards Pang Ziyu from a distance.
Before the sword evennded, the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged toward him.
Lightning crackled, and the sword''s shadow flickered, enveloping Pang Ziyu.
The ck-robed cultivator stepped in front of Pang Ziyu, wielding a pair ofrge sabers, and suddenly shed down.
As the saber light cleaved through the air, the gathered spiritual energy coalesced into a fiery de several meters long.
The lightning sword shadow and the fiery de collided in midair.
Boom!
The different elemental energies intertwined, entangled, and annihted each other.
The ck-robed cultivator was shocked and angered to find his attack instantly suppressed.
How could a majorpletion Core Formation cultivator like him be suppressed by a newly advanced Core Formation cultivator?
Impossible!
"Damn it, another sh!"
The ck-robed cultivator roared, unleashing another saber strike.
The new fiery debined with the previous one, intensifying the mes.
The violent fire energy began to overpower the lightning sword shadow.
Shen Mo smiled faintly and unleashed another sword strike.
This sword, however, was entirely different from the previous one.
It moved incredibly slowly, like a tortoise crawling.
But just when the ck-robed cultivator thought the sword light hadn''tnded yet, its speed suddenly elerated to the extreme.
It was like lightning!
In the blink of an eye, it merged with the previous lightning sword shadow.
In an instant, the lightning sword shadow overwhelmed the fiery de, annihting it entirely.
The lightning sword shadow, after shattering the fiery de, continued unabated and struck the ck-robed cultivator''s chest.
Boom!
The ck-robed cultivator was sent flying like a rag doll, smashing through a stone house and getting buried in the debris.
Even as he struggled to climb out, he coughed up blood repeatedly, hisplexion ashen.
Clearly, he had been seriously injured by Shen Mo''s strike!
Pang Ziyu''s eyes widened in disbelief. "You... what kind of monster are you?!"
The white-robed cultivator quickly stepped in front of her, his voice deep. "Young Sect Master, this person is very unusual. He might have taken some rare elixir to temporarily boost his cultivation."
"We can''t match him, nor can we afford to waste time. I suggest we retreat immediately."
Pang Ziyu, however, took a deep breath. "I have another move."
"Li Tie, activate the Bloodvine Array!" she shouted.
Li Tie, who had been guarding the entrance, immediately channeled his spiritual energy into a jade tablet he had been holding.
This jade tablet controlled the eight array gs of the Bloodvine Array.
As soon as he infused it with spiritual energy, the array activated.
Sure enough, the ground began to surge, and red vines formed from wood spiritual energy suddenly appeared.
These vines instantly started wrapping around the four people within the array.
Within five breaths, Shen Mo and Elder Li''s feet were bound, immobilizing them.
"This is... a mid-level Profound-grade Blood Vine Array. When was it set up here?!" Elder Li eximed, her eyes wide with shock.
Profound-grade formations are extremely expensive and cannot be crafted by anyone in Xuanjiang Prefecture; they must be purchased at great expense from the state city.
This Blood Vine Array was set up very well and had evidently been in ce for some time.
At this moment, the feet of Pang Ziyu and the white-d cultivator were also bound by numerous blood vines.
But they immediately took out two fist-sized, fragrant grass balls.
One of these was thrown to the white-d cultivator.
These grass balls were not treasures but were made from the dung of a demonic beast called the Feeding Vine Bull.
Blood vines are quite fearsome, numerous, and have thorns that can drain blood.
However, their thorns cannot prate the thick hide of the Feeding Vine Bull.
The Feeding Vine Bull is very strong and can easily tear apart blood vines with a little struggle.
Therefore, blood vines are extremely afraid of the Feeding Vine Bull.
Even though the blood vines in the array are condensed from wood spiritual energy, they still fear the Feeding Vine Bull.
The dried dung of the Feeding Vine Bull, made into these grass balls, also has a restraining effect on blood vines.
Sure enough, when Pang Ziyu and the white-d cultivator held the grass balls, the blood vines binding them seemed to encounter something terrifying and immediately dispersed.
They then turned to bind Shen Mo and Elder Li.
The white-d cultivator sighed in relief and said with admiration, "Young Sect Master, you truly have thought of everything."
"With this array, theirbat power will be greatly diminished."
Pang Ziyu forced a bitter smile, "Better safe than sorry. I never expected we''d actually need to use the Blood Vine Array."
Compared to them, Elder Li''s expression was much angrier.
"Young Sect Master... you should leave now. There''s really no way out at this point." She gritted her teeth.
Even if Shen Mo were strong, once trapped by the Blood Vine Array, he would be a live target, waiting to be ughtered.
What more could be done?
While the dung of the Feeding Vine Bull can indeed restrain the blood vines, they had no way of knowing there would be a Blood Vine Array here and thus had not prepared such items in advance.
Shen Mo, however,ughed silently, "Elder Li, did you forget I have something on me?"
Elder Li was momentarily taken aback, not immediately understanding.
Meanwhile, Pang Ziyu and the white-d cultivator quickly advanced.
Unlike the inept viins who stand around wasting time with useless talk, they had to seize the opportunity while Shen Mo was bound by the blood vines and act quickly to neutralize hisbat power!
Pang Ziyu''s whip suddenlyshed out.
The white-d cultivator, wielding a spear, aimed directly at Shen Mo''s heart.
Facing the two fierce attacks, Shen Mo took a deep breath.
Then...
He activated the Red Lotus me!
Boom!
The violent red me appeared as if out of nowhere, instantly burning away the blood vines that had wrapped around Shen Mo''s feet.
"Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Art, Second Form!"
Shen Mo extended his right hand, and the red me wildly gathered.
The surrounding fire spiritual energy also surged, boosting its power.@@novelbin@@
After a few breaths, a 10 feet long red me palm de condensed in Shen Mo''s right hand.
The intense heat that seemed to burn everything to ashes made Pang Ziyu and the white-d cultivator feel immense danger!
"sh!"
The red me palm de came down abruptly.
It shed with Pang Ziyu''s and the white-d cultivator''s attacks.
Boom!
An explosion erupted suddenly.
The four figures were thrown back in two different directions.
Pang Ziyu was protected by the white-d cultivator and was not seriously injured.
However, the white-d cultivator was almost entirely burned, with not a single patch of intact skin visible.
Elder Li, having retreated in time, was only affected by the residual mes.
Shen Mo himself was not harmed by the Red Lotus me.
He was forced back by Pang Ziyu''s and the white-d cultivator''s attacks.
"Young Sect Master... this person is too strong. I''ll self-destruct my Golden Core and perish together with him. You should flee!"
The white-d cultivator roared and suddenly turned to grab Shen Mo, intending to die with him.
"Who allowed you to self-destruct your Golden Core?"
Shen Mo had long anticipated how the plot would unfold.
He immediately used Eight Directions Thunder Movement, shing behind the white-d cultivator.
The Thunder Sword suddenly pierced into the white-d cultivator''s dantian.
It promptly extracted a golden core that was spinning rapidly!
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Chapter 107: Important Intelligence on Pang Ziyu’s Life Panel
Chapter 107: Important Intelligence on Pang Ziyu''s Life Panel
Shen Mo scratched his head but still extended his arm to insert it into the armguard.
Buzz!
The demonic armor''s armguard, seemingly unsuitable for a human arm, unexpectedly shrank.
In the end, it fit Shen Mo''s arm perfectly!
Shen Mo immediately felt an overwhelming surge of power.
The strength in his right arm alone was probably greater than his entire body''s strength!
He took a deep breath and mmed it into the ground.
Crack!
In an instant, the solid granite floor cracked open.
The fissure spread far away.
The next moment, a ten-foot-tall small stone mountain ahead split down the middle, leaving a huge crack.
It waspletely split in two!
Shen Mo''s eyes widened in utter delight.
"Excellent! This demonic armor''s right arm is too powerful! It can serve as my trump card!"
Filled with joy, Shen Mo willed the demonic arm to disappear, and it instantly vanished, reappearing in his dantian.
It hovered quietly above the Dao foundation, beside his golden core.
With just a thought from Shen Mo, it could reappear to aid its master in battle, ying all enemies.
...
Before long, Shen Mo returned to the Heavy Weapon Hall and arrived at the prison.
The prison was built in a natural underground cave.
It was even colder and damper here.
The prisoners were constantly tormented by the freezing cold air.
Because of this, the guards had to wear thick robes.
When Shen Mo arrived, the guards were two disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Shen Mo recognized them; they were old disciples of the Qingxuan Sect, not recent joiners.
He nced at their life panels and found nothing amiss, which also proved their loyalty to the Qingxuan Sect.
"Greetings, young sect master!" The two greeted Shen Mo respectfully, their faces showing undisguised admiration.
Shen Mo nodded slightly. "Take me to Pang Ziyu''s cell."
"Yes."
Along the way, they passed many cells, holding only two types of people: traitors and rogue cultivators whomitted crimes.
After interrogation, these people faced only two oues.
Either their dantian was crippled and they were released, or they were publicly executed.
Soon, Shen Mo saw Pang Ziyu.
Her cell was at the deepest part of the underground prison.
It was even more cold and damp.
"By the way, young sect master, these were found on Pang Ziyu. Elder Li instructed us to hand them over to you personally." The disciple on the left handed over several items.
There was a storage ring, a whip, and a ne.
Shen Mo examined them one by one.
The storage ring contained over a hundred high-grade spirit stones and some spiritual artifacts.
He didn''t pay much attention to these.
Finally, he found a bottle of Essence Replenishing Pills in a corner of the storage ring.@@novelbin@@
He nodded in satisfaction.
As for the whip and ne, they were lower-grade spiritual artifacts.
Shen Mo took the items from the storage ring and had the other disciple take the rest to the sect''s treasury.
At this moment, Pang Ziyu also saw him.
She was still bound tightly, her mouth gagged, unable to speak.
She could only re at Shen Mo with hatred.
If looks could kill, Shen Mo would be riddled with holes by now.
Shen Mo smiled silently and carefully examined Pang Ziyu''s life panel.
[Name: Pang Ziyu.]
[Cultivation Level: Entry Stage of the Core Formation Realm.]
[Fate: Sect Disciple, Slight Fortune, Beauty of Fish and Geese, Exceptional Intelligence, Purple Thunder Body.]
[Destiny: Will ultimately stop at the pinnacle of the Core Formation Realm. Life will be full of ups and downs but will end peacefully.]
[Uing Opportunity: In two months, the Alchemy King''s Cave will open. Pang Ziyu will be taken back to the Feishuang Sect by her father, Pang Longxiang, in exchange for a formation-breaking jade token.]
[Uing Turn: Two and a half monthster, during her exploration of the Alchemy King''s Cave, Pang Ziyu will suffer a severe injury from a formation and be on the brink of death, but she will be saved by the sect master of the Spirit Beast Sect.]
Shen Mo frowned slightly.
"The Alchemy King''s Cave is about to open? A formation-breaking jade token? This is crucial information!"
"Flying Frost Sect discovered the third Alchemy King''s Cave long ago and has been trying to break its formation. They even invited a formation master from another prefecture, iming it was to repair their mountain-protecting formation."
"But the exact location of the Alchemy King''s Cave was never revealed; the only known detail is that it''s within the Thorn Forest."
"So, in two months, Flying Frost Sect will use the formation-breaking jade token to open the Alchemy King''s Cave?"
"It seems the formation-breaking jade token is the only thing valuable enough to exchange for Pang Ziyu."
Shen Mo pondered this. In his mind, letting Pang Ziyu go was not an option; she had to die after he extracted all useful information from her.
However, with the formation-breaking jade token in y, releasing her might be worthwhile.
"Moreover, if Pang Ziyu enters the Alchemy King''s Cave and is severely injured by the formation, it''s an oue that could easily be altered. With a little intervention, instead of being injured, she could be killed outright."
Satisfied with this thought, Shen Mo ignored Pang Ziyu''s hateful re and left without a word.
Pang Ziyu''s expression shifted from hatred to confusion.
He came all this way just to look at me without saying anything? What is he nning?
...
Leaving the underground prison, Shen Mo returned to his courtyard, took out the Wood Cistanche he had obtained earlier, and began cultivating.
After a short while, a pleasant fragrance filled the air, followed by Murong Yue''s surprised voice.
"Shen''er, you''ve condensed your golden core?"
Shen Mo looked up to see Murong Yue, dressed in a loose, light-colored long dress, entering his view. Unlike her usual pce attire, she was wearing something more rxed, likely for resting.
Shen Mo smiled wryly. "Elder Li must have told you?"
Murong Yue covered her mouth,ughing softly. "Of course. Such great news, Elder Li told me right away."
"Quick, tell me, what kind of core did you condense? Is it a perfect golden core?"
Her expression was eager, and instead of her usual self-referential term "your master," she used "I" with Shen Mo.
Shen Mo nodded. Although he had condensed an Infernal Golden Core, which was an extraordinary trump card, he chose to say it was a perfect golden core.
"Good, good, good!" Murong Yue''s face lit up with joy, repeating the word "good" several times.
Then she asked, "Elder Li mentioned that Pang Ziyu and others attacked the Heavy Weapon Hallst night. Shen''er, you must have just broken through to the Core Formation Realm. How did you manage..."
Shen Mo had already prepared an excuse. "Master, I was prepared for their arrival. With preparation, I naturally wouldn''t be caught off guard like others."
"Besides, Master, did you forget? I''ve tamed the Red Lotus me, which greatly enhances mybat power beyond that of typical Core Formation cultivators."
Murong Yue nodded slightly. "That makes sense. With such a trump card, Shen''er, dealing with ordinary Core Formation cultivators shouldn''t be difficult."
"However, Shen''er, news of your breakthrough will spread quickly. Be prepared."
"Such a young and promising Core Formation cultivator will definitely cause a stir."
Shen Mo nodded slightly. Having revealed his strength, he was already prepared for the envious and malicious gazes that might follow.
"Good, since you are so confident, I am reassured," Murong Yue said with satisfaction.
After exchanging a few more words, she left.
Shen Mo felt a warmth in his heart. Murong Yue''s every word conveyed deep concern for him, showing that this beautiful master truly treated him as family.
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Chapter 108: Luring Shen Mo to the Alchemy King’s Cave to Kill Him
Chapter 108: Luring Shen Mo to the Alchemy King''s Cave to Kill Him
Flying Frost Sect, Council Hall.
Pang Longxiang sat at the head seat, his face ashen.
On either side of him were the ten strongest Core Formation cultivators of the Flying Frost Sect.
Apart from them, another person was seated next to Pang Longxiang.
This person had white hair and a white beard, but his expression waszy,pletely opposite to the serious demeanor of the others.
"Why is no one speaking? Have you all be mute?" Pang Longxiang barked.
The elders coughed lightly.
The deputy sect master, seated first on the left, spoke in a low voice, "The young sect master acted on her own and fell into Qingxuan Sect''s ambush. This is something none of us wanted to see."
The great elder nodded, "But please, sect master, restrain yourself. We cannot afford to sh with Qingxuan Sect right now."
The second elder added, "People from the Stormy Rain Sect are still in the Thorn Forest. It''s hard to know their true intentions, and it''s unclear if they know about the Alchemy King''s Cave or not."
The deputy sect master continued, "If we dere war on Qingxuan Sect at this time, and Stormy Rain Sect also makes a move from the north, we''ll be caught in a two-front battle, which is highly disadvantageous."
Suppressing his anger, Pang Longxiang demanded, "Then what do you suggest we do?"
The deputy sect master responded in a serious tone, "The young sect master previously attacked Flying Fish City under the pretense that Master Xu was attacked there, which indeedplicates matters."
"I suggest we temporarily release some of the detained people to show our goodwill. Then, we negotiate with Qingxuan Sect on how to ransom back the young sect master."
"After all, we are not in the right in this matter."
The great elder quickly advised, "Sect master, in fact, the negotiations don''t necessarily have to yield a result. We just need to buy time."
He nced at the white-haired elder, "As long as you invite Master Xu to break the formation of the Alchemy King''s Cave, we will obtain all the treasures inside, significantly boosting our sect''s strength."
"At that point, we might even be able to enlist the help of Heavenly Water Sect."
"Then, even if we face both Stormy Rain Sect and Qingxuan Sect simultaneously, we will still have the upper hand!"
The other elders also voiced their opinions.
None supported going to war with Qingxuan Sect now; they all preferred dying until the Alchemy King''s Cave opened.
Pang Longxiang took several deep breaths.
After all, Pang Ziyu was his daughter. His earlier anger was from a father''s perspective.
But when he considered it from the perspective of the sect master of Flying Frost Sect, dying until the Alchemy King''s Cave opened was indeed the best solution.
"Alright, we''ll dy... but we must ensure Ziyu''s safety," Pang Longxiang said gravely.
"Understood. I will personally handle the negotiations!" The great elder epted the task.
Pang Longxiang looked around, "There''s another matter. We have some people nted in Heavy Weapon Hall, and they reported backst night''s events."
Hearing this, everyone perked up.
They were also eager to know why Pang Ziyu, leading three Core Formation cultivators in an assault on Heavy Weapon Hall, ended up losing three and having one captured alive.
Pang Longxiang said in a deep voice, "Ziyu''s analysis was correct. Heavy Weapon Hall only had one Core Formation cultivator."
"But we overlooked another person, Shen Mo."
The deputy sect master was stunned, then reacted, "Sect master, do you mean that this person has reached Core Formation?"
The great elder, second elder, and others immediately refuted, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"He only reached the peak of Foundation Establishment recently. Even if he is the young sect master of Qingxuan Sect, he shouldn''t have gathered all the treasures needed for a perfect Golden Core yet!"
Pang Longxiang sighed, "Stop saying it''s impossible. Anything is possible."
"The three cultivators Ziyu brought were all killed by Shen Mo. Ziyu even had the Blood Vine Array set up in advance as a precaution, but it couldn''t trap Shen Mo. Instead, it was burned by the Eternal me controlled by Shen Mo."
"One cultivator tried to self-destruct his core to block Shen Mo, buying time for Ziyu to escape, but Shen Mo used superior movement techniques to get behind him and directly extracted his Golden Core, interrupting the self-destruction."
"Ziyu was also captured by Shen Mo personally."
"In other words, their assaultst night was entirely thwarted by Shen Mo alone."
When Pang Longxiang finished speaking, the hall was so silent that a pin drop could be heard.
Every face was filled with shock and astonishment.
Shen Mo, at the Core Formation stage?
With suchbat power, it must be a perfect Golden Core!
A person like this has even tamed an Eternal me...
Terrifying.
For him, Xuanjing Prefecture is probably just a small pond.
In the future, Shen Mo will undoubtedly be a dominant figure throughout Yuzhou.
But the more formidable he is, the more restless they be in opposing Qingxuan Sect and Shen Mo.
"I have already informed Heavenly Water Sect about this news, and Sect Master Zhang personally spoke to me," Pang Longxiang said seriously.
In the hall, everyone''s expressions became serious, all eyes turning to Pang Longxiang.
Flying Frost Sect has always followed Heavenly Water Sect''s lead.
Whatever Zhang Mo says, they must listen to and treat as an order.
Pang Longxiang said in a grave tone, "Sect Master Zhang explicitly stated, kill him! If there''s a chance, we must kill him!"
The elders'' hearts tightened.
Even through Pang Longxiang''s retelling, they could feel Zhang Mo''s undisguised killing intent.
After all, during the Hundred Sects Grand Ceremony, Shen Mo had thoroughly embarrassed Heavenly Water Sect.
Zhang Mo had long wanted to kill him.
It''s just that Heavenly Water Sect is too far from Qingxuan Sect and couldn''t find a suitable excuse to act.
The deputy sect master said, "Shen Mo, with such talent and strength, indeed needs to be killed, but... I believe Murong Yue will definitely strengthen his protection."
The great elder nodded, "Yes, it''s not just a matter of wanting to kill him."
At this moment, the white-haired elder, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, "Want to kill him? Simple, lure him into the Alchemy King''s third cave."@@novelbin@@
Pang Longxiang was stunned and quickly asked, "Master Xu, what do you mean?"
Master Xu said calmly, "This Alchemy King''s third cave not only has protective formations outside to prevent outsiders from entering but also hasyers of killing arrays inside."
"Once I break the cave''s formation, I can make a talisman for each of you that can protect you from most of the formations inside the cave."
"But if others enter without this talisman, it will be extremely difficult for them, and they could easily die without a burial ce."
Pang Longxiang''s eyes lit up.
The other elders also seemed to have thought of something.
The deputy sect master immediately said, "Master Xu is right! We can take full advantage of this! Let''s lure Stormy Rain Sect in as well!"
The great elder nodded, "But we must put on a good show, make it seem like we have no choice but topromise and let them enter the Alchemy King''s Cave with us, otherwise they will surely be suspicious."
"Exactly!" The other elders nodded repeatedly.
Pang Longxiang, looking grateful, immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Master Xu, "Thank you, Master Xu. I am deeply grateful! Inviting you here is the wisest decision I''ve ever made!"
Master Xu quickly helped him up, smiling, "When I was traveling in Jiande Prefecture years ago, you saved my life. This is just repaying that debt, no need for gratitude."
"Moreover, I am passionate about breaking all kinds of formations, which also helps improve my own formation skills."
The great elder, the second elder, and others all praised and ttered the white-haired elder''s wisdom.
"The entire sect will fully support Master Xu. Whatever Master Xu needs, we will provide immediately, without any dy!" Pang Longxiang said forcefully.
"Yes!" Everyone nodded.
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Chapter 110: Want to Take Back Pang Ziyu, Bring Treasure to Exchange
Chapter 110: Want to Take Back Pang Ziyu, Bring Treasure to Exchange
Thorn Forest.
Once filled with the roars of tigers and the cries of apes, today it was as quiet as a chicken.
After all, there were never usually so many Core Formation stage cultivators around Thorn Forest.
Usually, the beasts would roar a few times to show their ferocity.
But if they dared to roar now with so many Core Formation stage cultivators present, it wouldn''t be showing ferocity; it would be pure suicide.
At this moment, dozens of Core Formation stage cultivators had already arrived.
The Qingxuan Sect and the Spirit Beast Sect had already arrived but were blocked outside Thorn Forest by the Flying Frost Sect.
As for the Stormy Rain Sect, they had already gathered a group of Core Formation stage cultivators on the other side of the river, ready to act.
Such a hugemotion, if unnoticed, would indeed be a sign of deafness and blindness.
Shen Mo, along with other Core Formation stage cultivators like Murong Yue, was also standing outside Thorn Forest.
"Sect Master Pang, what''s the situation inside Thorn Forest? Is there a significant treasure emerging?" Murong Yue smiled.
Pang Longxiang''s face was gloomy, and he said nothing.
The Spirit Beast Sect''s sect master also smiled and said, "Sect Master Pang, our Spirit Beast Sect and the Flying Frost Sect have always been brother sects, right? Could you share some information with us?"
Not far away, another loud voice rang out.
"Pang Longxiang! Don''t think your sect alone can hold off the three sects and all these rogue cultivators!"
Shen Mo looked over and saw it was the sect master of the Stormy Rain Sect standing across the river.
Upon hearing this, the rogue cultivators blocked outside Thorn Forest also became restless.
Such a shockingmotion must mean the emergence of a significant treasure.
Even if they couldn''t get the ultimate treasure, they could at least get a share of the spoils, right?
Pang Longxiang''s face showed a struggle, his expression changing unpredictably.
After a long time, he had no choice but to say, "Alright, I''ll tell you. Themotion just now was the opening of the Alchemy King''s Cave."
As soon as he said this, all the cultivators present gasped.
Then, they all showed expressions of excitement.
Everyone present had heard of the preciousness of the Alchemy King''s Cave.
The Divine Sword Sect once obtained one, which contained countless treasures.
There was even an earth-grade pill that enhanced physique, the Taiyi Nourishing Soul Pill!
No one didn''t want to obtain such a treasure!
Not long ago, the second Alchemy King''s Cave appeared near Cold Water Stream in Qingshan City, but unfortunately, many people went there only to find it empty.
They thought the third Alchemy King''s Cave would appear seven or eight yearster.
Unexpectedly, it appeared today!
"Well, no wonder you didn''t let us pass. You knew the location of the Alchemy King''s Cave long ago and were guarding against us!" the Stormy Rain Sect master cursed.
"Brother Pang, eating alone is not good. How about we explore the Alchemy King''s Cave together?" the Spirit Beast Sect master smiled.
Murong Yue also smiled slightly, "Sect Master Pang, even if the Flying Frost Sect wants to monopolize the Alchemy King''s Cave, it can''t do so now. How about the four sects explore it together?"
Pang Longxiang roared angrily, "I invited a formation master to break the protective formation of the Alchemy King''s Cave for several months, and now you want to take advantage? Dream on!"
The Stormy Rain Sect master sneered, "Don''t want to hand it over? Then fight! The Qingxuan Sect and the Spirit Beast Sect won''t side with you!"
The Spirit Beast Sect master smiled without saying anything.
Even among the Heavenly Water Sect lineage, there waspetition for benefits.
The Flying Frost Sect clearly intended to monopolize the Alchemy King''s Cave when they discovered it and didn''t inform the Spirit Beast Sect.
Given this, the Spirit Beast Sect had no reservations.
Pang Longxiang and the elders of the Flying Frost Sect suddenly felt tremendous pressure.
Facing three sects, the Flying Frost Sect wouldn''t have the advantage.
"I have one condition," Pang Longxiang took several deep breaths, his face gloomy.
"Speak," Murong Yue said calmly.
"Return my daughter, and the Flying Frost Sect will explore the Alchemy King''s Cave with you. Otherwise, no deal!" Pang Longxiang gritted his teeth, his eyes shing with anger.
The Stormy Rain Sect and Spirit Beast Sect both looked at the Qingxuan Sect.
Everyone knew what had happened that night.
Pang Ziyu had been imprisoned in the Qingxuan Sect for two months.
During this time, the Flying Frost Sect had tried many times to negotiate but to no avail.
Now, Pang Longxiang wanted to take this opportunity to rescue his daughter, which was understandable.
This put pressure on the Qingxuan Sect.
Murong Yue thought for a moment and was about to speak.
Shen Mo suddenly spoke, "Sect Master Pang, Pang Ziyu''s attack on the Heavy Weapon Hall was a serious offensemitted by your Flying Frost Sect. Unless you provide something sufficiently valuable, Pang Ziyu will not be released!"
His tone was exceptionally firm.
Pang Longxiang''s eyes were bloodshot. "Murong Yue, I want to hear it from you!"
Murong Yue smiled, "What Shen Mo means is exactly what I mean."
"Good! Very good!" Pang Longxiangughed in anger.
The Spirit Beast Sect''s sect master frowned, "Sect Master Murong, our sects meet often; keeping Sect Master Pang''s daughter imprisoned isn''t a good look."
The Stormy Rain Sect''s sect master coughed lightly, "I agree... Pang Longxiang giving up on monopolizing the Alchemy King''s Cave and sharing it shows his sincerity."
Shen Mo nced around, smiling faintly.
Everyone was pursuing their own interests.
For the Stormy Rain Sect and the Spirit Beast Sect, entering the Alchemy King''s Cave was the top priority, and nothing else mattered.
Even though the Stormy Rain Sect and the Qingxuan Sect were secretly allied, they wouldn''t speak up for the Qingxuan Sect now.
Shen Mo said calmly, "Sect Master Pang, I still insist that you must provide something sufficiently valuable in exchange; otherwise, there will be no deal."
Pang Longxiang stared at Shen Mo for a long time.
Finally, in a hoarse voice, he said, "Alright! I am willing to exchange a Formation Breaking Jade te for Ziyu!"
As he spoke, he took out a peculiar golden jade te.
The deputy sect master and the grand elder beside Pang Longxiang were shocked and quickly tried to dissuade him.
"Sect Master, you mustn''t do this!"
"The Formation Breaking Jade te was painstakingly crafted by Master Xu. We only have four of them; we cannot give one away!"
"We can use other items to ransom the young sect master. We must not use the Formation Breaking Jade te!"
These words immediately piqued the curiosity of all the cultivators present.
What exactly was the Formation Breaking Jade te?
Pang Longxiang took a deep breath and said seriously, "This Alchemy King''s Cave is filled with formations and dangers."
"I invited a master who specializes in formations from Lingyun Prefecture. After months of painstaking effort, he broke the outer formation and then created four Formation Breaking Jade tes, which can break some of the formations and avoid dangers."@@novelbin@@
"With this item, exploring the Alchemy King''s Cave will be much safer."
"This item is sufficiently valuable, right?"
At the end, Pang Longxiang gritted his teeth, and each word seemed toe out through clenched teeth.
His tone and expression underscored the preciousness of the Formation Breaking Jade te.
Originally, the Flying Frost Sect could enjoy having four of them.
Now they had to give one away.
How could it not be painful?
"I see. Since Sect Master Pang is so sincere, I reluctantly agree," Shen Mo smiled slightly. "Elder Li, please bring Pang Ziyu here."
"Yes."
Only then did Pang Longxiang let out a long sigh of relief.
But the deputy sect master, grand elder, and others beside him were beating their chests in frustration, their faces showing a hint of resentment toward Pang Longxiang.
It was as if they med him for wasting such an important resource of the sect to save his daughter.
The surroundings quieted down.
Before long, Elder Li brought Pang Ziyu over and handed her to Pang Longxiang.
The father and daughter finally reunited, shedding tears of joy.
Pang Longxiang took a deep breath and looked around, "The Alchemy King''s Cave hasn''t fully opened yet. ording to Master Xu, it will take at least half a month."
"I need to take my daughter back for recuperation. If you all are worried, you can station people here!"
With that, he waved his hand, and he and Pang Ziyu turned into a stream of light and quickly left.
Each faction, half-believing, also stationed their personnel to guard Thorn Forest.
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Chapter 111: The Unexpected Victor of the Alchemist King’s Cave – Xiao Fan
Chapter 111: The Unexpected Victor of the Alchemist King''s Cave - Xiao Fan
Flying Frost Sect, Sect Master''s Courtyard.
Pang Longxiang and Pang Ziyu embraced each other, weeping bitterly.
"Ziyu, you''re finally back. They didn''t torture you, did they? Where are you hurt?" Pang Longxiang asked with concern.
Pang Ziyu shook her head. "No, they didn''t torture me, nor did they interrogate me. They just threw me into a prison cell."
Pang Longxiang breathed a sigh of relief. "That''s good, that''s good."
"Father, I also want to enter the Alchemist King''s Cave," Pang Ziyu''s eyes sparkled. "I know you must have already made a n!"
Pang Longxiang looked at his daughter and smiled with satisfaction. "You guessed right. Father indeed has a wless n."
"Not only Shen Mo, but I''ll also bury the Qingxuan Sect and the Stormy Rain Sect in there as well!"
"Once we emerge from the Alchemist King''s Cave, the entire southern region of Xuanjiang Prefecture will belong solely to our Flying Frost Sect!"
Pang Ziyu''s eyes lit up with surprise, a trace of hatred shing within them. "Father! You must promise me that I''ll personally kill Shen Mo!"
"The three cultivators I took with me all died at Shen Mo''s hands. I I can''t ept it."
Pang Longxiang nodded. "Rest assured, I''ll break Shen Mo''s limbs and throw him in front of you. You can torture him however you wish."
Only then did Pang Ziyu nod. "Good! I''ll wait for that day!"
...
Heavy Weapon Hall.
Song Chaofeng and his men stationed themselves in the Thorn Forest, while Shen Mo and the others returned to Heavy Weapon Hall.@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo sat down in his courtyard, his gaze deep and contemtive.
After the Qingxuan Sect obtained the opportunity to explore the Alchemist King''s Cave, the life paths of everyone involved in this matter had undergone significant changes!
Including Shen Mo himself.
[Destiny: Stopped at the early stage of Core Formation. Drained of all vital energy by Gu Sanqiu and died.]
[Recent Opportunity: In half a month, open the sixth stone chamber in the human section of the Alchemist King''s Cave and obtain two bottles of Yuan-Boosting Pills.]
[Recent Turning Point: Due to tampering with the jade token used to break formations, pursued by Pang Longxiang, overpowered, right leg severed and captured.]
As for Murong Yue, Song Chaofeng, Elder Li, and others, their destinies were no exceptionthey all perished at the hands of Gu Sanqiu.
However, the manner of death varied greatly.
[...Poisoned to death by Gu Sanqiu.]
[...Vital energy drained by Gu Sanqiu, reduced to a dried corpse.]
[...Trapped in a killing formation by Gu Sanqiu, died of exhaustion.]
"I originally thought that entering the Alchemist King''s Cave, the greatest danger would be the Flying Frost Sect, but I didn''t expect it to be a cultivator who was supposedly already dead."
Shen Mo sat on a stone bench, deep in thought.
Gu Sanqiu, a peak Core Formation cultivator, was widely known as the "Alchemist King."
He had once refined the Taiyi Soul-Nourishing Pill, a rare elixir that could enhance one''s constitution.
Now, it seems, he hadn''t died after all.
The first two Alchemist King''s Caves that appeared were likely just decoys.
They were merely lures to attract more people to explore the third Alchemist King''s Cave.
Now, the truth is revealed.
Gu Sanqiu gathered so many Core Formation cultivators to absorb their vital energy and resurrect himself?
Or perhaps he never died and only needed the vital energy of Core Formation cultivators to further his cultivation?
Regardless of the possibility, Gu Sanqiu is undoubtedly a formidable enemy.
"I need to learn more about Gu Sanqiu."
Shen Mo immediately stood up, intending to find Murong Yue to gather some information.
But just as he stepped out of the courtyard, he saw Xiao Fan.
"Xiao Fan, hmm hmm?"
Shen Mo casually nced at Xiao Fan''s life path panel and suddenly widened his eyes.
[Recent Opportunity 1: In half a month, stationed near the Alchemist King''s Cave, unexpectedly discovering a hidden entrance to the Cave.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: After entering the Alchemist King''s Cave, immediately falls into the Golden Sword Formation, but the formation''s gs are damaged and fail to activate. Xiao Fan passes through the Golden Sword Formation and enters the third stone chamber in the heaven section, obtaining two sticks of Soul-Calming Incense and a fragment of the Grass-Character Sword Manual.]
[Recent Opportunity 3: Leaves the third stone chamber in the heaven section to continue exploring, encountering numerous dangers but emerging unscathed, eventually reaching the fourth stone chamber in the heaven section, and obtaining a damaged formation g of the Five Ghosts Lifestealing Formation.]
[Recent Opportunity 4:...]
[...]
[Recent Opportunity 7: identally discovers Gu Sanqiu''s existence, preemptively sets up the Five Ghosts Lifestealing Formation nearby. Later, using Shen Mo''s peril as an excuse, deceives Murong Yue into Gu Sanqiu''s ambush. While the two fight, he ignites the Soul-Calming Incense, causing them to fall into a drowsy state, and finally activates the Five Ghosts Lifestealing Formation to kill Gu Sanqiu, obtaining his storage ring.]
Shen Mo smacked his lips.
What a surprise.
So many Core Formation cultivators perished in the Alchemist King''s Cave.
None of them obtained the final great opportunity.
Even Gu Sanqiu, the mastermind behind it all, failed toplete his n.
And yet, Xiao Fan ended up reaping the rewards.
However, this is also a good thing. I can obtain crucial information from Xiao Fan.
"Soul-Calming Incense and the Five Ghosts Lifestealing Formationthese two items are the key to dealing with Gu Sanqiu."
"When I enter the Alchemist King''s Cave, I must secure them as soon as possible."
"Moreover, Xiao Fan''s opportunities are also valuable. I''ll take advantage of them all!"
Shen Mo nodded in satisfaction, casting an approving nce at Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan was just about to go grab something to eat when he felt the sudden, inexplicable approval in Shen Mo''s gaze. Instinctively, he shivered. But not daring to show any dissatisfaction, he quickly bowed to Shen Mo.
"Master Shen, is there something you need me to do?" Xiao Fan asked cautiously.
He had always worried that Shen Mo might seek revenge for past events. Although Shen Mo had never acted against him, the longer he didn''t, the more Xiao Fan suspected he was plotting something bigger.
Shen Mo waved his hand with a smile. "Nothing in particr. I just think you''re quite capable."
Xiao Fan was even more confused by this. But he didn''t dare to ask further, so he awkwardly nodded. "Thank you thank you, Master Shen, for thepliment."
Then, he quickly took a few hurried steps and disappeared from sight. He feared that Shen Mo might cast another strange look his way.
Shen Mo''s expression grew even more satisfied.
Soon, half a month had passed.
Just as Pang Longxiang had said, the beam of light from the Alchemist King''s Cave gradually dimmed over the past two weeks. It revealed a dark entrance.
Inside was a massive, over three-meter-tall stone gate. Its surface was engraved with intricate patterns.
The Alchemist King''s Cave had truly opened.
During this time, news of the third Alchemist King''s Cave spread. This drew many rogue cultivators to the Thorn Forest.
However, most of the top-tier sects in the northern region were too far from the forest. If they didn''t send enough Core Formation cultivators, they wouldn''t be able to secure a share of the spoils.
But if they sent too many, they risked leaving their own territories vulnerable to enemies. After weighing their options, the northern sects chose to forgo the opportunity.
As for the five sects of Xuanjiang, they remained inactive. They likely shared simr concernsfearful that any movement on their part would leave them open to attack.
At the Thorn Forest, outside the Alchemist King''s Cave, groups from all sides once again gathered.
A n for exploring the cave had already been agreed upon. Given the dangers within, only Core Formation cultivators were permitted to enter. Each of the four sects could send up to ten people.
The rest would guard the cave''s entrance, ostensibly to fend off demonic beasts. But everyone knew they were more likely guarding against rogue cultivators.
The rogue cultivators grumbled, though they had expected this. Beingpletely excluded by the four sects still left them frustrated, though they dared not show it openly.
No one cared what these rogue cultivators thought.
At this point, Shen Mo and the others were fully prepared. The other cultivators who nned to enter were also eager and ready.
"Mo''er, take this jade token to break formations and protect yourself well," Murong Yue whispered.
Shen Mo nodded, epting the token. Initially, when he told Murong Yue of his desire to explore the Alchemist King''s Cave, she refused.
But after much persuasion, she eventually agreed, on the condition that he carried the jade token.
"Although this token has been tampered with and can allow the Flying Frost Sect to track me, it''s still useful at the beginning. I''ll keep it for now," Shen Mo thought, nodding slightly.
He had made thorough preparations.
"Everyone, our Flying Frost Sect will go in first," Pang Longxiang announced loudly. With that, he was the first to enter the cave, followed closely by nine other members of the sect, including Pang Ziyu.
Next, the Qingxuan Sect, Stormy Rain Sect, and Spirit Beast Sect swiftly followed.
The exploration of the Alchemist King''s Cave had begun!
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Chapter 112: I Struck Back, Just a Bit Harder
Chapter 112: I Struck Back, Just a Bit Harder@@novelbin@@
Boom.
The heavy stone door behind them mmed shut. The group had fully entered the Alchemist King''s Cave.
In front of them was a deep, sloping stairway. The walls on either side were engraved with intricate, mysterious patterns. Staring at them too long made one feel dizzy. Looking down, the end was nowhere in sight, as if it led into the stomach of some unknown giant beast.
Shen Mo tried jumping, only to find that his leap was no higher than that of an ordinary person. Clearly, the cave contained a formation that suppressed spiritual power. The others also noticed this and frowned.
"We''ll go ahead," Pang Longxiang said, ncing at the cultivators from the other three sects. He then led the Flying Frost Sect members down the stairs. Their figures gradually disappeared into the darkness.
Shen Mo''s eyes shed as hemitted the life panels of the ten Flying Frost Sect members to memory. Pang Longxiang had opportunities ahead, but the others had few. Some were destined to fall into poison formations and die shortly after. This served as a reminder for Shen Mo, helping him mentally map the locations of those poison formations.
The Qingxuan Sect and the other two sects followed shortly after. However, after walking for a while, something felt off.
"Where are the footprints? This staircase was covered in dust, and we saw the Flying Frost Sect''s footprints earlier. How have they disappeared?" Murong Yue whispered.
At that moment, Song Chaofeng''s shocked voice came from beside her. "Sect Master, the people from the Spirit Beast Sect and the Stormy Rain Sect have also vanished."
Shen Mo looked around. Aside from the deep, oppressive darkness, there was nothing. The members of the other three sects had indeed disappeared.
After a moment of thought, Shen Mo pulled out the jade token used to break formations and injected spiritual power into it. A golden light spread out, covering a three-meter radius around them. The light quickly turned red, causing everyone''s hearts to jump.
Over the past two weeks, they had tested the jade token. If there were no formations within three meters, the light would remain golden. If there was a formation that the token could break, the light would turn white, indicating they could break it by channeling more spiritual power. But if the formation was unbreakable, the light would turn red.
Shen Mo frowned slightly and walked a few steps closer to the wall. The light remained red.
"Let''s move forward a bit and try again."
The ten members of the Qingxuan Sect advanced about ten more meters. Shen Mo used the jade token again, and the light was still red.
"What does this mean?" Song Chaofeng asked, confused.
"It means this entire passage is filled with formations," Shen Mo said, his voice heavy.
The others were stunned.
"This passage is likely lined with countless illusion formations. What seems like a single path downward actually hides many other paths. The other three sects must have taken one of those paths, which is why they disappeared," Shen Mo exined.
Song Chaofeng frowned deeply. "What should we do?"
Before Shen Mo could answer, the seemingly solid ground beneath them began to shake.
Before anyone could react, the ground suddenly dropped!
Boom! Crash! Thud!
It was a long while before Shen Mo opened his eyes again. Everything was still dark. He couldn''t hear the sound of anyone breathing nearby.
Shen Mo didn''t get up immediately. Instead, he held his breath, continuing to adjust to the darkness. Simultaneously, he checked his life panel.
[Recent Opportunity: The ground shakes and falls. The other Qingxuan Sect members are lost in the formations and disappear one after another. You fall into the sixteenth stone chamber in the human section, where you find a bottle of Great Foundation Pill and a bottle of Yuan-Boosting Pill.]
[Recent Turning Point: After leaving the sixteenth stone chamber, you encounter two Spirit Beast Sect cultivators. They attack you, and though you escape, you are shed across the chest.]
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. It seemed his luck wasn''t great this time.
Slowly, he got up and surveyed his surroundings in the dim light. He found himself in a spacious stone chamber. As expected, there were some jade bottles scattered in the corners. Most were empty, and some contained pills that had lost their potency, crumbling into dust at a touch.
Finally, just as his life panel described, Shen Mo found a bottle of Great Foundation Pill and a bottle of Yuan-Boosting Pill.
After securing these items, Shen Mo didn''t immediately leave the stone chamber. Instead, he hid in a corner, quietly listening for any sounds outside.
As expected, within just a few breaths, footsteps echoed from outside, apanied by the voices of two men in conversation.
"Damn it, how did we end up just the two of us?"
"Yeah, this Alchemist King''s Cave is really eerie! I heard the first two caves weren''t like this at all."
"Should we start looking for treasures first, or what?"
"Let''s search for treasures first, and while we''re at it, let''s look for that Shen Mo from the Qingxuan Sect. If we can capture him alive, the bounty from the Hevanly Water Sect is huge, hehe!"
The footsteps grew louder, then gradually faded away until they disappearedpletely.
Only then did Shen Mo step out of the stone chamber.
Outside was another deep, dark passage, with a spacious stone chamber every few meters. The chambers were interconnected, forming aplex maze.
Using the information from the life panel, Shen Mo navigated cautiously, avoiding numerous deadly formations and enemies. However, aside from the two bottles of pills he found initially, he hadn''te across any other treasures.
Before long, he stood before a sloping staircase leading downward. He had encountered simr staircases three times already.
"This should lead to a deeper level."
"The level I''m on isbeled as the ''Human Layer.'' The next one should be the ''Earth Layer,'' right?"
After confirming there was no danger, Shen Mo descended the staircase to a deeper level.
As expected, he soon discovered a stone chamber with an inscription above it: *Earth Layer, Room Seven*.
At that moment, the sound of a formation activating echoed from not far away, followed by the sharp whistling of sword light.
Shen Mo frowned and was about to move away when he suddenly heard a woman''s muffled groan.
He smirked and immediately headed in that direction.
Sure enough, he soon found a graceful figure struggling within a sword formation. The sword light roared as the woman dodged left and right. But her movements had slowed, and each time she moved, another wound appeared on her body. The blood on the ground was pooling quickly.
Shen Mo recognized her instantlyPang Ziyu!
This was exactly the situation Shen Mo had already seen on Pang Ziyu''s life panel. Not long after entering the Alchemist King''s Cave, she became trapped in a formation and was severely injured.
She was supposed to be rescued by the passing Spirit Beast Sect leader. But right now, the leader hadn''t arrived yet. Shen Mo was the only one nearby.
Without hesitation, Shen Mo drew out the *Forest Sword Art*. A streak of ink-like sword light appeared, a single stroke of calligraphy. It danced with the fierce energy of a dragon or snake, far sharper than the sword light within the formation.
In the next instant, the ink sword light pierced Pang Ziyu''s back.
With a stter, Pang Ziyu had no idea someone would attack her so shamelessly. She was cut in half by the Forest Sword Art in an instant!
Her body, split in two, copsed in the sword formation. The relentless sword light continued to slice through her, gradually reducing the corpse to an unrecognizable state.
Shen Mo''s expression remained calm as he turned and walked away.
This woman had always seen him as a mortal enemy of the Flying Frost Sect, plotting relentlessly to kill him. Now, he had struck back. It was just that the force of his retaliation was a bit stronger.
Eliminating Pang Ziyu, Shen Mo felt a surge of satisfaction. He immediately began searching this level for treasures.
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Chapter 113: No Need to Chase, They’re Already Dead
Chapter 113: No Need to Chase, They''re Already Dead
In the seventeenth stone chamber of the Earth section.
Song Chaofeng was dodging left and right under the attacks of two Flying Frost Sect cultivators, but his body was still umting more and more wounds.
Behind himy a Qingxuan Sect elder, lifeless, his body covered in scarslong dead.
A white-robed cultivator sneered, "Song Chaofeng, hand over the secret manual. We don''t want to kill you, but precious spiritual energy shouldn''t be wasted here."
Another cultivator in a red robe suddenlyughed, "I''ll give you another option. You don''t have to hand over the manual."
Song Chaofeng took a deep breath, "Speak."
"Tell us where Shen Mo is. After you were separated, where did he go?" the man demanded in a low voice.
Song Chaofeng spat, "We lost each other during the fall. Even if I knew where Shen Mo went, I wouldn''t tell you!"
The twoughed louder, "Don''t be ridiculous, Song Chaofeng. Who doesn''t know about your past dealings? You used to be in cahoots with a certain elder from the Verdant Vine Sect."
"And now, with no one from Qingxuan Sect around, who are you being loyal to? The air?"
Song Chaofeng remained silent, "I indeed made mistakes before."
"But I''ve resolved to be loyal to the Qingxuan Sect and to Murong Yue. I will never betray again."
"I, Song Chaofeng, am not someone who is two-faced and treacherous."
Theughter of the two Flying Frost Sect cultivators gradually died down, reced by cold indifference.
"You refuse the path to life and choose death instead. Fine, we''ll send you to see the King of Hell!" The two exchanged nces and sneered, then attacked Song Chaofeng simultaneously.
Song Chaofeng gritted his teeth, mustering thest trace of spiritual energy from his dantian to defend himself with all his might.
At that moment, an incredibly fierce me suddenly burst out from behind the two Flying Frost Sect cultivators.
Their hearts pounded, feeling a great threat.
They immediately stopped and forcibly turned to defend against the attack from behind.
Boom!
The red mes engulfed the two.@@novelbin@@
They screamed in agony as their robes burned to ashes, leavingrge patches of charred flesh.
They barely managed to escape from the mes, using their movement techniques, but their bodies were now covered in wounds.
"You... you''re Shen Mo!"
It was only then that they finally saw the young face of the person before them, shocked beyond measure.
"Why were you looking for me? To seek death?" Shen Mo chuckled.
These two Flying Frost Sect cultivators were both at the peak of the Core Formation.
Although Shen Mo was only at the initial stage of the Core Formation, he could naturally suppress them with his me hell destruction manual, Red lotus me, and Infernal Golden Core.
Moreover, the two had their backs to him earlier, exposing their undefended positions.
This allowed him to severely injure them with just one move.
"Damn it! Split up and run! We''re no match for him now!"
The white-robed Flying Frost Sect cultivator roared in anger.
However, when he looked at hispanion, he found that the other had already bolted away.
"Damn you"
The white-robed cultivator cursed and hurriedly used his movement technique to flee as well.
Shen Mo remained standing, unmoving.
Song Chaofeng struggled to stand up, asking in confusion, "Aren''t you going to chase them?"
Shen Mo shook his head, "They''re already dead."
The next moment, a scream came from the direction the red-robed cultivator had fled.
Song Chaofeng looked over and saw that after running a few dozen zhang, the man had fallen into a killing formation.
Both his legs were suddenly severed by a giant axe that appeared, blood gushing uncontrobly.
Less than ten breathster, another scream echoed from the direction of the white-robed cultivator.
Song Chaofeng looked again.
The man, in his panic, had stumbled into a poison formation, his skin rotting inrge patches, with yellow-green pus oozing from his eyes, nose, and mouth.
In the blink of an eye, he copsed to the ground, barely clinging to life.
Song Chaofeng widened his eyes, staring at Shen Mo in disbelief.
How... how did Shen Mo seem to know this would happen?
Oh right, Shen Mo had the Formation-Breaking Jade Token. He must have known about the dangerous formations on both sides because of it.
"Thank you, Young Sect Master, for saving my life." Song Chaofeng looked at the young man with aplicated expression.
There was a time when he saw Shen Mo as a thorn in his side. But now, his life had been saved by this very person.
Shen Mo smiled slightly, "Since Elder Song is genuinely working for the Qingxuan Sect, it''s only natural that I would save you."
In truth, when Shen Mo entered the sloping passage, he had already reviewed the life panels of everyone in the Qingxuan Sect.
Song Chaofeng was destined to die in this seventeenth stone chamber.
However, Shen Mo knew that this man hadpletely reformed and was now fully loyal to the Qingxuan Sect, which is why he decided to intervene.
He also wanted to retrieve a treasure from this seventeenth stone chamber.
Ah, no, the main reason he came here was to save people, not for any treasure!
Seeing Shen Mo enter and carefully search the stone chamber, Song Chaofeng quickly said, "Young Sect Master, I''ve already searched this ce. I only found a high-grade Profound-tier martial technique."
But Shen Mo seemed to ignore his words and continued searching.
It didn''t take long before he touched an unremarkable stone brick.
With a light press, a hiddenpartment popped open.
Song Chaofeng''s eyes widened.
Damn, there was something hidden here after all?
Shen Mo retrieved the treasure from the hiddenpartment and nodded in satisfaction.
This item was called the Soul-Stabilizing Bell, a low-grade Earth-tier spiritual artifact.
However, it had been used several times, and its surface was covered in cracks. It could probably only be used once more.
It would do as a consumable.
This item was one of the fortuitous opportunities Shen Mo had seen on Xiao Fan''s life panel.
"Still need to find the Soul-Calming Incense and the Five Ghosts Life-Snatching Formation. I must hurry," Shen Mo thought to himself.
He then nced at the corpse on the ground.
Song Chaofeng sighed, "After the ground copsed, I got separated from the others in the sect. But there were too many killing formations, poison formations, and maze formations here, and the stone chambers were interconnected with many hidden doors and secret passages. It was tooplex. It took me a while to find this elder."
"Then we arrived at this stone chamber and discovered the secret manual. Just as we were about to leave, those two Flying Frost Sect cultivators ambushed us. The elder was fatally struck and unfortunately perished."
Shen Mo also sighed, "Let''s leave his body here for now. When we''re ready to leave, we''ll take it out and give him a proper burial."
Song Chaofeng nodded.
"Do you have any healing pills?" Shen Mo asked.
Song Chaofeng shook his head.
Shen Mo tossed him two bottles of healing pills, "I still have plenty that my master gave me. Use these first."
His storage ring contained dozens of bottles of healing pills, most of which had barely been used.
"Thank you, Young Sect Master!" Song Chaofeng''s eyes reddened slightly.
"Recover your strength first. Once you''ve recovered a bit, we''ll move on. This Alchemist King''s cave is no simple ce. I have a feeling there''s some sort of plot at work here," Shen Mo said in a low voice.
He deliberately said this to rationalize the information he had seen on the life panels.
Song Chaofeng nodded repeatedly, "I''ve noticed too This ce isn''t some treasure trove; it feels like someone is watching us from the shadows."
After taking the healing pills, Song Chaofeng''s wounds quickly began to heal.
The two immediately pressed forward, first taking the storage rings from the dead Flying Frost Sect cultivators, then heading straight for the deeper levels.
The third level was naturally the Heaven level.
The treasures stored there were the most valuable.
Of course, it was also the most dangerous.
Gu Sanqiu was likely hiding in a dark chamber within the Heaven level, watching everything.
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Chapter 114: Trust Whatever the Young Sect Master Says
Chapter 114: Trust Whatever the Young Sect Master Says
In a dark passage within the Heaven level.
A figure copsed weakly to the ground.
His entire body was shriveled and dehydrated, his facial features twisted in agony, and his eyes reflected terror.
He resembled a dried corpse.
The robe he wore revealed his identity.
A Flying Frost Sect elder.@@novelbin@@
Beside this corpse stood a shriveled, hunched figure.
After a moment, this figure let out a long, contented sigh.
"Ah, that feels so good. The blood essence of a Core Formation stage cultivator is so rich."
"I''ve already absorbed the blood essence of four Core Formation stage cultivators, just five more to go."
"Hm... It seems a peak Core Formation stage cultivator has also entered the cave. If I can absorb her blood essence, it would be equivalent to two Core Formation cultivators."
With a flick of his finger, spiritual energy surged, illuminating a nearbymp.
The light revealed his horrifying body.
Half of his body was so emaciated that it was just skin and bones, with almost no flesh.
He looked like a skeleton wrapped in ayer of shriveled skin.
However, the right side of his bodyhis right arm, leg, and facewas as strong and full as that of an adult man.
You could even see the bulging muscles and protruding veins.
Such a body left no doubt that he could kill a bull with a single punch.
The bizarrebination of shriveled and robust features on a single body would strike fear into anyone who saw it.
Yet he squeezed his body, nodding in satisfaction.
"The Blood-Devouring Creation Technique is truly ferocious!"
"Once I devour the blood essence of nine Core Formation cultivators, I''ll be able to nurture a Blood-Devouring Nascent Soul!"
"With this Nascent Soul, I''ll be invincible!"
"Even at the initial stage of the Nascent Soul realm, I''ll be able to contend with mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators."
"By then, the world will be mine to roam freely!"
Heughed heartily, his mood ted.
At that moment, he seemed to sense something and chuckled wickedly, "More people have entered the Heaven level, and there are quite a few of them. I''ll weaken them with formations first before taking action."
"Each and every one of you will obediently be food for me, Gu Sanqiu!"
In the dark passage.
Song Chaofeng followed behind Shen Mo, looking at the young man''s back with an inexplicable sense of admiration welling up inside him.
Along the way, they had encountered many enemies.
Yet, almost every time, they didn''t even need to lift a finger. Those enemies were either severely injured or killed.
Without exception, they all fell into killing formations or poison formations.
What amazed Song Chaofeng even more was that under Shen Mo''s guidance, the two of them had never once encountered a killing formation.
It was as if Shen Mo had a precise map in his mind.
Every step he took perfectly avoided the deadly formations.
Moreover, during their journey from the Earth level to the Heaven level, Shen Mo had even managed to save two people along the way.
Both were elders of the Qingxuan Sect.
One of them was Elder Li.
They were in situations simr to Song Chaofeng''sseemingly doomed to die.
Shen Mo''s arrival had given them a chance to live!
ng! ng!
At that moment, the sound of metal shing echoed from up ahead.
Faintly, they could also hear a man cursing.
The four of them rounded a corner and immediately saw a man trapped in a Quagmire Formation and a Frenzied de Formation.
The Quagmire Formation restricted his movements, preventing him from escaping the formation''s range.
The Frenzied de Formation conjured countless giant des that relentlessly attacked the man.
Unless the energy of the two formations was exhausted, this man was doomed.
Shen Mo''s group of four didn''t reveal themselves immediately.
Song Chaofeng whispered, "Young Sect Master, that man is Qin Feng, the Vice Sect Master of the Stormy Rain Sect. He''s worth saving."
Shen Mo nced at the scene and nodded.
The Stormy Rain Sect was affiliated with the Verdant Vine Sect.
Mo Yuheng had already informed him to ally the Qingxuan Sect with the Stormy Rain Sect to deal with the Flying Frost Sect.
So, this man could be considered an ally.
He was indeed worth saving.
Before long, with thebined efforts of Shen Mo''s group, they found the formation gs hidden around the Quagmire Formation.
After destroying them, Qin Feng finally managed to escape.
"Thank you, thank you so much."
He copsed onto the ground, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
Then, he hurriedly took some healing pills.
His robe had been shredded by the Frenzied de Formation, leaving his body covered in blood.
If it hadn''t been for Shen Mo and the others, he would have undoubtedly died within the formation.
"Let''s keep moving; we can''t afford to waste time," Shen Mo said, pointing forward.
Aheady the third and fourth stone chambers of the Heaven level.
These chambers contained the Soul-Calming Incense and the Five Ghosts Life-Snatching Formation, both crucial for dealing with Gu Sanqiu.
Qin Feng hesitated for a moment, then shook his head repeatedly. "That way is very dangerous. I saw with my own eyes how an elder of the Spirit Beast Sect rushed in, only to have his entire right arm sliced off."
"It seems to be an invisible killing formation."
Shen Mo shook his head, "It''s broken now. The spirit stone energy has been exhausted."
Qin Feng was taken aback. "No way, how can you just say it''s broken and it''s broken? Look, that right arm is still lying there."
He pointed to the ground not far away, where a human right army.
The surrounding dried bloodstains indicated the danger that had been there.
Song Chaofeng frowned, "Why don''t we throw something to test it?"
Qin Feng shook his head, "That won''t work. The formation is very peculiar; it only reacts to living beings. Inanimate objects like stones or weapons won''t trigger it."
"But its power is formidable. Ordinary Core Formation cultivators can''t withstand it. Forcing through would at least cost you a high-grade Profound-tier spiritual artifact, which isn''t worth it."
"My suggestion is to take a detour. We mustn''t go down this path."
As he spoke, he pointed to another passageway. It was wider and had no bloodstains.
There were even twomps on the walls, making it seem quite safe.
"That way is much better. We can even check if there are any treasures in the stone chambers along the way."
Qin Feng smiled, "You saved my life, so you can take any treasure you find first. I, Qin Feng, always repay my debts."
Shen Mo nced in that direction and immediately noticed the words engraved on the stone chamber.
Heaven Character Fifth.
"This passage is where the Spirit Beast Sect Master met his end," Shen Mo recalled from the information that shed through his mind.
He had reviewed the life panels of all forty people who entered the Alchemist King''s cave.
The passage outside the fifth stone chamber of the Heaven level would flip over.
The Spirit Beast Sect Master was too greedy and tried to obtain the treasures within the chamber, only to be flipped down and have all his blood essence drained by Gu Sanqiu, turning into a dried corpse.
However, this event hadn''t happened yet.
Shen Mo shook his head, "We can''t go there. It looks safe, but it''s actually very dangerous."
Qin Feng frowned and looked at the others, "Shen Mo thinks it''s not safe. What do the rest of you think?"
Song Chaofeng, Elder Li, and the other two immediately said, "Whatever the Young Sect Master decides is what we''ll do."
Qin Feng was stunned.
What''s going on?
Is Shen Mo''s reputation in the Qingxuan Sect really this high?
Aren''t Song Chaofeng and the others at a higher cultivation level than Shen Mo?
Why do they follow his every word?
Just then, there was a sudden thud from the sixth stone chamber of the Heaven level.
A momentter, two figures strode out of the chamber.
They were none other than the Spirit Beast Sect Master and the Second Elder.
As soon as they saw Shen Mo, their faces lit up, immediately recalling the bounty the Tianshui Sect had ced on Shen Mo.
But seeing how many people were with Shen Mo, their hearts skipped a beat.
"Run, quickly!" the Spirit Beast Sect Master whispered urgently. The two of them swiftly left the chamber, running down the wide passageway, trying to put as much distance as possible between themselves and Shen Mo''s group.
However, the next moment, the ground beneath them suddenly flipped.
They had no time to react.
Moreover, the cave''s suppression of spiritual energy prevented them from leaping out immediately.
In the blink of an eye, the two were flipped down beneath the ground.
To the deeper levels below the Heaven level.
This sudden turn of events left Qin Feng, the Vice Sect Master of the Stormy Rain Sect, utterly dumbfounded.
"See? That''s why the Young Sect Master said that direction was dangerous," Song Chaofeng remarked, his face full of pity.
"Let''s go. Whatever the Young Sect Master says, just trust it," Elder Li said nonchntly.
Qin Feng stammered, "I... I understand now."
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Chapter 115: Xiao Fan, How Did You Get In Here?
Chapter 115: Xiao Fan, How Did You Get In Here?
Led by Shen Mo, the group moved in a different direction.
This passage was narrow and dark, with not a single trace of light.
Qin Feng had previously mentioned that there was an invisible killing array here.
However, just as Shen Mo had said, the killing array here was already broken, having exhausted its energy.
This was originally meant to be Murong Yue''s opportunity.
When Murong Yue passed through here, it just so happened that the killing array had run out of energy.
As a result, Shen Mo knew this ce was safe.
Shen Mo walked at the front, striding through confidently.
Following closely behind, Song Chaofeng, Elder Li, and the others had no doubts and immediately kept up.
It wasn''t until they had passed through safely that Qin Feng truly rxed.
The way he looked at Shen Mo also changed.
No matter how you looked at it, Shen Mo was younger than them.
Being younger meant less experience and knowledge.
Even if Shen Mo had extraordinary potential.
Even the Verdant Vine Sect had hinted that the Bao Yu Sect should cooperate with the Qing Xuan Sect.
But Qin Feng had always somewhat underestimated Shen Mo.
Now, he suppressed these thoughts.
He believed that Shen Mo must also have considerable expertise in formations.
Following Shen Mo couldn''t be wrong.
After passing through the passage, Shen Mo arrived in front of the third stone chamber of the Heavenly Order.
He tossed a stone far ahead.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Dozens of golden sword des suddenly appeared, instantly slicing the stone into countless pieces.
Song Chaofeng and the others all gasped.
The power of this formation was terrifying.
Moreover, it showed no signs of weakening.
It was clear that the spirit stones powering it were still very abundant.
To deal with such a formation, there was only one waycharge through it head-on!
Song Chaofeng, Qin Feng, and the others all looked at Shen Mo.
But Shen Mo made no move; instead, he closed his eyes and waited quietly.
Seeing this, Song Chaofeng and Elder Li did not raise any objections and also waited quietly.
Qin Feng, on the other hand, was puzzled, his eyes darting around, unable to understand what Shen Mo was thinking.
Before long, the sound of something falling suddenly came from above.
This sound immediately drew everyone''s attention.
Shen Mo thought to himself, "Finally, it''s here."
Then, a figure fell to the ground with a thud.
Everyone except Shen Mo was startled.
When they saw who it was, they were momentarily stunned.
"Xiao Fan, how did you get in here?" Song Chaofeng asked in confusion.
Xiao Fan was equally baffled.
Why are there so many Core Formation cultivators waiting for me here?
He had no choice but to exin in detail how he had identally discovered another entrance.
The group listened in astonishment.
Xiao Fan had unintentionally found another entrance and had directly arrived at the upper level, where the most valuable treasures were located.
This guy''s luck was incredible.
Shen Mo said calmly, "The Alchemy King''s Cave Mansion is too dangerous. Stay close to us."
Xiao Fan cursed inwardly, knowing that with so many Core Formation cultivators around, he wouldn''t end up with any treasures.
But he didn''t dare voice this thought and could only say, "Yes, thank you, Young Sect Master."
Just then, a crisp cracking sound suddenly came from the front.
It was as if something had shattered all of a sudden.
Song Chaofeng and the others were instantly stunned.
This sound was like the sound of a spirit stone suddenly breaking.
Shen Mo pondered for a moment and then casually tossed another stone forward.
This time, only one golden sword de appeared.
Moreover, its appearance was sluggish, and its surface was dull, like an elderly person nearing the end of life.
Compared to the dozens of gleaming sword des from earlier, the difference was enormous.
The reason for this sudden change was quite simplethe energy from the spirit stones was almost depleted.
Song Chaofeng, Qin Feng, and Elder Li all widened their eyes in disbelief.
Qin Feng muttered, "Damn, is that even possible?"
"This level of formation can already be dealt with," Shen Mo replied casually.
He strode confidently into the third stone chamber of the Heavenly Order.
The golden sword des reappeared, swiftly shing toward Shen Mo.
With a wave of his hand, arge bronze door, condensed from spiritual energy, materialized beside him.
ng!
The golden sword des struck the door but were immediately deflected.
This was none other than the low-tier Earth-rank defensive martial skill, the Four Profound Doors, which Shen Mo had obtained earlier.
If he had gathered four bronze doors to block attacks from one direction, it might have even withstood the onught of those dozen golden sword des.
However, Shen Mo didn''t want to take any risks, so he waited for Xiao Fan to appear and for the golden sword formation to malfunction before taking action.
After Shen Mo entered the third stone chamber, the others followed suit.
The chamber was quite spacious, with a length, width, and height exceeding six zhang, and it was filled with many stone shelves.
Various medicinal pills were ced on the stone shelves.
There were Body Refining Pills, Qi Condensing Pills, and Foundation Stabilizing Pills.
Additionally, there were even stronger pills like the Great Foundation Stabilizing Pills and Pure Essence Foundation Stabilizing Pills.
However, there were only three pitiful bottles of Essence Boosting Pills, suitable for Core Formation cultivators.
"Deputy Sect Master Qin, how about we temporarily store these treasures with me and distribute them once we leave?" Shen Mo asked.
Qin Feng didn''t dare to refuse. Among the cultivators present, only he was from the Storm Rain Sect, while the rest were all from the Qing Xuan Sect.
He quickly nodded. "I have no objections."
Shen Mo nodded in satisfaction.
Dealing with smart people is always simple.
Shen Mo swiftly swept all the medicinal pills into his storage ring.
He had two storage rings: one was a low-grade ring given to him by Murong Yue, and the other was a high-grade ring he obtained from the Alchemy King''s Cave Mansion in Coldwater Ravine.
So, his storage space was vast and had never been filled.
Storing these medicinal pills was more than easy.
Afterward, Shen Mo discovered a hiddenpartment behind one of the stone shelves. Inside were two thick, purple-ck incense sticks, each as thick as a baby''s arm.
Although they were not lit, they still emitted a faint, calming fragrance.
A slight sniff brought peace to the mind, with no trace of aggression or bloodlust.
Shen Mo quickly put them away.
These were none other than Soul-Calming Incense sticks.
Shen Mo said nonchntly, "Let''s go to the next stone chamber."
The entrance to the fourth stone chamber of the Heavenly Order was not guarded by any formation.
Inside, the treasures stored were not medicinal pills but spiritual weapons.
There were a total of twenty-five spiritual weapons in the chamber, half of which were Profound-rank.
Shen Mo nced around and shook his head slightly.
He had plenty of spiritual weapons, all of which, except for the Thunderp Sword, were Earth-rank.
These spiritual weapons couldn''t evenpare to the Thunderp Sword, so naturally, he wasn''t interested.@@novelbin@@
However, not being interested didn''t mean he would leave them behind.
Shen Mo still swept them all into his storage ring.
Even if you don''t need them, it''s better to have them!
Afterward, he discovered another hiddenpartment containing a set of tattered formation gs.
This hiddenpartment was deeply concealed; without some effort, it would have been impossible to find.
Inside was none other than the Earth-rank formation, the Five Ghosts Seize Life Formation!
Shen Mo''s consecutive discoveries of hiddenpartments left Song Chaofeng and the others in awe.
"Young Sect Master has a keen eye; we would have missed these treasures without him," Song Chaofeng marveled.
Elder Li nodded repeatedly, "Indeed, if not for the Young Sect Master, we would have overlooked two valuable items."
Xiao Fan felt displeased.
He thought to himself, I actually noticed them too, but I just didn''t mention it.
"Let''s move on and check out the other stone chambers," Shen Mo said, waving his hand.
The group left the fourth stone chamber of the Heavenly Order and continued down the dim passageway.
After walking for a while, they suddenly encountered a withered corpse in the passage ahead.
All its blood and vitality had been drained.
Everyone was struck with horror.
Such a death was too terrifying!
At that moment, Shen Mo noticed that Xiao Fan had paused and was looking to the right, as if he had sensed something.
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Chapter 118: We Shall Protect Sect Master Pang After Such Severe Injuries
Chapter 118: We Shall Protect Sect Master Pang After Such Severe Injuries
At that moment, Gu Sanqiu noticed Shen Mo suddenly raising his hand and making a gesture.
In the next instant, dozens of crimson fragments of the shattered core hovered in the air, converging towards the ck golden core like a meteor shower.
In the blink of an eye, the ck golden core was surrounded by the dozens of crimson fragments.
A surge of intense heat radiated outward.
At the same time, Gu Sanqiu seemed to be burning, and he immediately let out a crazed scream!
"Damn it, damn it, damn it! What the hell is that?! Why is the golden core, clearly shattered, still obeying yourmand?!"
Gu Sanqiu''s voice was filled with both rage and shock.
There was also fear of the unexpected turn of events.
Shen Mo did not respond.
The Inferno Prison Golden Core was inherently a unique and special core.
It transcended all other golden cores.
Gu Sanqiu had never seen it before, so naturally, he couldn''tprehend it.
And Shen Mo had no intention of revealing his trump card.
"It''s time for you to go."
Shen Mo''s expression remained calm as he reached out his right hand and clenched it forcefully.
Boom!
The forty-five fragments of the shattered core suddenly tightened.
A golden core is intimately connected with the cultivator.
At this moment, Gu Sanqiu spewed blood wildly.
His eyes bulged out like those of a goldfish.
And at this very moment, the five malicious spirits continued to attack him madly.
Shen Mo''s action was the final straw that broke the camel''s back.
Gu Sanqiu stared at the pitch-ck dome above, using thest bit of his strength to let out a tragic wail, "Why... why, after ten years of meticulous nning, did I fail at thest step?!"
Splurt!
Blood spurted out wildly, gradually covering the ground.
Crack!
The ck golden core, surrounded and crushed by the forty-five crimson fragments, shattered like ss at that very moment.
All the ghost-faced infants let out miserable cries.
Their bodies gradually dimmed until theypletely dissipated.
The five gs of the Five Ghosts Life-Stealing Formation soon lost their energy and shattered.
The five malicious spirits, which were housed within the formation gs, were also obliterated as the gs broke.
Shen Mo made a gesture, and the forty-five fragments of the shattered core reformed, merging into the Inferno Prison Golden Core, which then returned to his dantian.
At this moment, Murong Yue, Pang Longxiang, Song Chaofeng, and the others gradually awakened from their dazed and rigid state of mind.
"What just happened?"
"Gu Sanqiu is dead?"
"I think I smelled a strange fragrance, and then everything became hazy; I don''t remember what happened next."@@novelbin@@
Everyone looked at Shen Mo with puzzled expressions.
Although they didn''t know what had happened, they all saw that Shen Mo seemed to have used something to deal with Gu Sanqiu.
Shen Mo then recounted the events in detail.
However, he concealed his final trump card, the Inferno Prison Golden Core.
He only mentioned that the Five Ghosts Life-Stealing Formation yed the most significant role.
"So that''s it. Gu Sanqiu actually hid such a sinister formation, likely intending to use it himself after nurturing a Nascent Soul," Murong Yue eximed in surprise.
"Young Sect Master, I didn''t expect you to see through Gu Sanqiu''s weakness so quickly. His golden core was unstable and was easily affected by treasures like the Soul-Calming Bell and Soul-Pacifying Incense," Song Chaofeng said with admiration.
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "I was just taking a wild guess, but it worked."
"Talk all you want, but don''t block my way," Pang Longxiang said warily, eyeing the group.
During their conversation, Murong Yue and the others had discreetly shifted their positions, surrounding Pang Longxiang from all sides.
It was clear they didn''t intend to let Pang Longxiang leave.
However, Pang Longxiang had sustained severe injuries during the fight against Gu Sanqiu, leaving him battered and bruised.
Even if he wanted to run, he wouldn''t get far.
Murong Yue smiled faintly, "Gu Sanqiu is dead, but the Alchemy King''s Cave is still full of dangers. Sect Master Pang has suffered such severe injuries; it would be best if we protect him for the time being."
Without waiting for Pang Longxiang to protest, she continued, "Elder Song, Elder Li, you two will personally protect Sect Master Pang!"
"Understood!"
Immediately, two figures appeared on either side of Pang Longxiang, providing him with meticulous protection.
Pang Longxiang, enraged, burst intoughter, "Good! Very good!"
"Murong Yue, don''t forget who I answer to above. If you dare toy a hand on me, you know the consequences!"
After saying this, he fell silent.
Themotion here also attracted other cultivators.
Soon, disciples from the Stormy Rain Sect, Spirit Beast Sect, Flying Frost Sect, and some lost disciples from the Qingxuan Sect arrived.
Seeing this shocking scene, they were all deeply shaken.
A cultivator from the Flying Frost Sect shouted sternly, "Murong Yue, what are you doing? Release Sect Master Pang immediately!"
Murong Yue''s expression remained unchanged, "Sect Master Liu, it''s time to fulfill our agreement."
The Stormy Rain Sect''s Sect Master, Liu Menghu,ughed heartily, "Naturally."
With a booming voice, he ordered, "Attack!"
The disciples of the Stormy Rain Sect immediatelyunched a surprise attack on the cultivators from the Flying Frost Sect and Spirit Beast Sect from behind.
The Qingxuan Sect''s cultivators attacked from the front.
In an instant, the Qingxuan Sect and Stormy Rain Sect formed a pincer movement.
The battle broke out immediately.
The cultivators of the Flying Frost Sect and Spirit Beast Sect were both shocked and furious, resisting with all their might.
However, they were outnumbered, weaker in strength, andcked a strong leader, so they quickly began to lose ground.
Some, recognizing the situation, surrendered on the spot.
Soon, the cultivators of these two sects were all crouching on the ground, their limbs bound by special ropes.
These ropes, called Spirit-Binding Cords, were merely yellow-grade treasures, not difficult to craft.
Every sect could make them.
Their purpose was simple: to restrain spiritual power.
But the Spirit-Binding Cords were not particrly durable and could easily be damaged in battle, so they were mostly used to bind defeated cultivators, preventing them from using their spiritual power.
With the battle over, the cultivators from the Qingxuan Sect and Stormy Rain Sect finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sect Master Liu," Murong Yue cupped her hands towards Liu Menghu, Sect Master of the Stormy Rain Sect.
He returned the gesture and then hurriedly asked, "What exactly happened here?"
His mind was full of questions, eager for answers.
Murong Yue looked towards Shen Mo, who nodded slightly before she began to speak.
After listening, the cultivators remained silent for a long time, unable to calm down.
They hadn''t expected that the third Alchemy King''s Cave would be a trap.
The Alchemy King Gu Sanqiu, who was rumored to have died ten years ago, was actually still alive.
Moreover, he had practiced demonic arts, attempting to nurture a Nascent Soul by absorbing the blood and energy of Core Formation cultivators, in hopes of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.
"I heard that Gu Sanqiu was once a kind and helpful person. I never thought he would fall so far after practicing demonic arts," Liu Menghu sighed softly.
Murong Yue nodded slightly, "Demonic arts are called demonic arts precisely because they gradually erode one''s sanity, turning a person into something less than human."
"Everyone, clean up the battlefield. As per our previous agreement, the treasures belong to whoever finds them first," Murong Yue said casually, "As for these people, Elders Song and Li will guard them."
Sect Master Liu of the Stormy Rain Sect also nodded.
The group dispersed, each searching for their own opportunities.
Shen Mo blinked and then headed in a particr direction.
During his intense battle with Gu Sanqiu, he had noticed an opportunity on Gu Sanqiu''s body.
[Uing Opportunity: After defeating all the Core Formation cultivators, enter the deepest part of the Alchemy King''s Cave, take the Thousand-Handed Lotus, an extremely rare earth-grade treasure that has been nurtured for years, and retrieve three Taiyi Soul-Nourishing Pills, one Great Enlightenment Pill, before leaving the Alchemy King''s Cave.]
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Chapter 119: Time to Divide the Spoils
Chapter 119: Time to Divide the Spoils
The Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill is a rare medicinal elixir that enhances one''s physical constitution.
It''s so precious that even the entire Xuanjiang Prefecture has only a few of them, and finding someone capable of refining this pill is even harder.
However, Shen Mo''s physical constitution has already reached the pinnacle of the Heaven rank. A Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill, being only an Earth rank elixir, might no longer be effective in further enhancing his physique.
Shen Mo estimated that at least a supreme Earth rank elixir would be necessary to have any noticeable effect.
Of course, this didn''t mean he would give up on this opportunity. Even if he couldn''t use it himself, it could be valuable for others.
For instance, Murong Yue. If she took it, her constitution would definitely be strengthened.
As Murong Yue grew stronger, Shen Mo''s life would naturally be more stable.
Moreover, the Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill was so valuable that it could be auctioned off at a high price. There would certainly be many willing to pay a premium for it.
As for the Thousand-Handed Lotus, it was even more important.
Shen Mo quickly headed towards the ninth stone chamber in the Heaven section, recalling information about the Thousand-Handed Lotus in his mind.
The Thousand-Handed Lotus is a supreme Earth rank treasure, one of the essential items recorded in the me Hell Destruction Manualfor nurturing a Nascent Soul!
Thinking of this, Shen Mo felt a surge of excitement.
Although he was currently only at the early stage of the Core Formation realm, he knew that one day he would have to nurture a Nascent Soul.
Thus, he was already aware of many things rted to the Nascent Soul.
The Nascent Soul is nurtured within the Golden Core and eventually ascends to sit solemnly on the Dao tform.
Like the Golden Core and Dao tform, the Nascent Soul is also divided into different grades.
Depending on the foundation of its cultivation, the Nascent Soul will develop different lotus tforms beneath it.
The minimum is one lotus tform, while the maximum is nine.
A Nascent Soul with one lotus tform is called a One-Lotus Nascent Soul.
A Nascent Soul with two lotus tforms is called a Two-Lotus Nascent Soul, and so on.
If one can grow nine lotus tforms, it is called a Nine-Lotus Nascent Soul.
The strength of the Nascent Soul is rted not only to the Golden Core but also to the number of lotus tforms.
A Nine-Lotus Nascent Soul is universally recognized as the strongest.
However, the methods to nurture a Nine-Lotus Nascent Soul are very few, and even some Heaven-rank cultivation techniques may not be able to achieve it.
Shen Mo''s me Hell Destruction Manualis a technique capable of nurturing a Nine-Lotus Nascent Soul!
And the Thousand-Handed Lotus is precisely one of the treasures recorded in this technique!
Shen Mo quickly arrived at the ninth stone chamber in the Heaven section.
A person stood at the entrance of the stone chamberit was an elder from the Stormy Rain Sect.
He had also intended to enter, but upon seeing Shen Mo, he immediately smiled.
With a smile, he said, "I''ll leave this ce to you; I''ll go to another stone chamber."
The elder was quite young and had boundless potential, with rumors suggesting that the demon lord Zi Moye held him in high regard.
Naturally, it was wise to build a good rtionship.
Shen Mo smiled and cupped his hands in thanks, "Much appreciated."
The elder''s tactfulness saved Shen Mo the trouble of arguing.
Shen Mo entered the ninth stone chamber and quickly searched around, finding two bottles of Essence Restoration Pills.
Following the guidance of his life panel, he noticed a decorative vase in the corner.
There were many vases, all of them spotless.
It wasn''t like in the dramas, where one vase is covered in dust while another is shiny from frequent use.
Shen Mo manipted each vase in turn, and when he twisted the fourth one, a passageway appeared beneath it, just as he had expected.
He entered the passage and reached the deepest level beneath the Heavenly tier.
The lighting here was even dimmer, shrouding everything in darkness.
Shen Mo listened carefully and could hear the faint dripping of water.
In such an environment, the sound of dripping water seemed especially eerie.
But Shen Mo wasn''t concerned.
He knew there was no danger here.
He strode forward confidently.
Soon, he found a small pool of water.
In the pool, a pure and sacred lotus was growing.
But the petals of the lotus were not like ordinary petals; they resembled human hands, flesh-colored and human-like.
Countless human hands formed this Thousand-Handed Lotus.
Anyone who saw this scene would instinctively be horrified.
"No wonder it''s called the Thousand-Handed Lotus. It really lives up to its name," Shen Mo marveled.
Upon closer inspection, the petals were still just petals, merely shaped very much like hands.
"Gu Sanqiu must have obtained this Thousand-Handed Lotus long ago and carefully nurtured it here, intending to use it when he eventually forms his Nascent Soul."
"Now, it''s my turn to benefit from this," Shen Mo said with a slight smile.
He nced around.
Behind him was a stone table, on which sat two jade bottles.
The bottle on the left contained three Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pills.
The bottle on the right contained a single Great Enlightenment Pill.
"Now that I''ve got what I need, it''s time to leave."
Before long, the exploration of the Alchemy King''s cave waspletely finished.
Everyone returned to the ce where they had previously confronted Gu Sanqiu and regrouped.
Liu Menghu frowned and said, "We didn''t find a single Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill... How about you?"
Murong Yue also shook her head. "We found plenty of other pills, but no Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pills."
"What about the elders?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Everyone present knew that it was the Verdant Vine Sect pulling the strings between Qingxuan Sect and the Stormy Rain Sect. The spoils from the Alchemy King''s cave naturally had to be partially offered to Verdant Vine Sect. And it had to be the most valuable portion.
The most valuable treasure in the Alchemy King''s cave was undoubtedly the Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill. But now, without a single Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill found, it would be difficult to exin this.
Shen Mo chuckled, "I''m sure Mo Yuheng has already mentioned it to Sect Master Liu: the treasures belong to those who are fated to obtain them."
Liu Menghu nodded, "Of course, I agree with that. You can rest assured."
"Our Stormy Rain Sect is allied with your Qingxuan Sect now, so no matter what treasure it is, whoever gets it, it''s theirs."
Shen Mo smiled, "The Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill is with me."
As he spoke, he took out a jade bottle and gave it a little shake.
It was exactly the same as the one the Divine Sword Sect had awarded as the top prize in the Hundred Schools Grand Tournamentthe Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill.
Liu Menghu was overjoyed, "Good, good, good!"
He understood Shen Mo''s intention and nodded slightly, "Our Stormy Rain Sect is willing to buy this pill! Name your price!"
Murong Yue frowned, "Wait, Shen''er also needs this Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill; we''re not selling it."
Shen Mo was momentarily stunned, caught betweenughter and tears.@@novelbin@@
Murong Yue was overly considerate of him.
But in fact, he had obtained three Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pills, so selling one didn''t matter.
Moreover, since Verdant Vine Sect was one of the Five Sects of Xuanjiang and an important ally for Qingxuan Sect, it made sense both emotionally and logically to offer one to them.
Not to mention, it wasn''t being given away for freeLiu Menghu was savvy enough to want to purchase it.
Murong Yue looked at Shen Mo, as if she wanted to say something more.
But Shen Mo looked at her and shook his head.
Murong Yue blinked, seemingly understanding something.
With a sigh of resignation, she said, "Alright, Sect Master Liu has toplete his task from above, so I agree."
Liu Menghu grinned, "Good, good, as long as Sect Master Murong agrees."
Shen Mo thought for a moment, "I''ve heard that the Flying Frost Sect has a ce called the Profound Frost Grotto, right?"
As a first-ss sect, Flying Frost Sect controlled numerous mines, medicinal fields, and treasure sites.
Profound Frost Grotto was one of them.
The Profound Frost Grotto produced a treasure called "Profound Frost Amber," which contained a drop of ice-elemental blood.
This item could be used to temper the physical body.
For Shen Mo, not only could this item be used to strengthen his body, but it could also serve as a consumable to activate his Demon Armor.
After all, using the Demon Armor always required the consumption of blood.
Shen Mo didn''t want to feel drained and weak after every use of the Demon Armor, as if he had been stripped of his vitality.
So, he had long set his sights on Profound Frost Amber.
Unfortunately, it was tightly controlled by Flying Frost Sect.
Now, with the core members of Flying Frost Sect under control, their assets would soon be divided between Qingxuan Sect and Stormy Rain Sect.
Shen Mo finally had a chance to obtain Profound Frost Amber, and he wasn''t about to let it slip through his fingers.
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Chapter 121: The Secret Beneath the Profound Frost Cave – An Ice Flood Dragon
Chapter 121: The Secret Beneath the Profound Frost Cave - An Ice Flood Dragon
Three dayster.
At Sacred Water Peak.
This ce, blessed with abundant spiritual energy, is where the essence of nature converges.
It is the tallest and most majestic peak of Heavenly Water Sect.
It is also where the Sect Master resides.
At this moment, dark clouds were surging above Sacred Water Peak, as if the clouds were brewing a storm of thunder and lightning.
It seemed as though a torrential downpour could start at any moment.
Perhaps due to this strange weather, the atmosphere within Heavenly Water Sect had be tense and agitated.
"Outrageous!"
An angry shout echoed through the skies above Sacred Water Peak.
Startled, the passing disciples hunched their shoulders in fear.
Inside the Sect Master''s courtyard.
Zhang Mo took a deep breath, trying her best to suppress the rage within.
She stared directly at the elder in front of her. "Speak, continue!"
The elder wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said helplessly, "Furthermore... the Profound Frost CaveQingxuan Sect offered five fertile medicinal fields, and in the end, Storm Rain Sect agreed to hand over the Profound Frost Cave to them."
"That means, as of today, all the assets of Flying Frost Sect and Spirit Beast Sect have beenpletely divided between Qingxuan Sect and Storm Rain Sect."
Zhang Mo turned around, her eyes seemingly zing with fire.
"I understand," she said coldly. "You are to immediately summon all the elders, except those stationed outside. They must return at once; I need to hold a council!"
"Yes, I will go at once!" The elder nodded repeatedly, like pounding garlic.
"And call for Xuege toe see me," Zhang Mo added.
"Understood."
A momentter, there was a knock at the door.
A pale young man slightly bowed to Zhang Mo. "Master, you called for me?"
He was Zhang Mo''s disciple, known as the "Yin Supreme," Yin Xuege.
Since the Grand Sect Tournament, the title of "me Supreme" Ling Xuan had be well-known.
However, the "Yin Supreme" Yin Xuege was not mentioned as much anymore.
Zhang Mo sighed deeply. "Come in. I have many worries and no one to confide in. I have no family, so I can only talk to you."
Yin Xuege nodded and closed the door, then sat beside Zhang Mo. "Please speak, Master. I am here to listen."
Zhang Mo tapped the table for a long time before finally revealing the situation regarding the Alchemy King''s Cave.
After hearing everything, Yin Xuege''s eyes widened, and his heart couldn''t calm down for a long time.
"No wonder you didn''t let me go to the Alchemy King''s Cave... You knew all along that Gu Sanqiu was still alive, didn''t you?" he couldn''t help but ask.
Zhang Mo nodded. "Not only did I know, but the sect masters of the five sects along the Profound River were all informed by Gu Sanqiu ten years ago when he went into seclusion."
"The Alchemy King''s Cave of Divine Sword Sect was a gift from Gu Sanqiu to them."
"The Alchemy King''s Cave was just bait. Gu Sanqiu needed to nurture his nascent soul, so we did him a favor in return and had him help us eliminate the sects surrounding the Profound Frost Cave."
Yin Xuege nodded heavily.
He wasn''t foolish and quickly understood Zhang Mo''s intentions.
Only by clearing out the sects around the Profound Frost Cave could Heavenly Water Sect justifiably take over.
After all, Flying Frost Sect and Spirit Beast Sect were both affiliated with Heavenly Water Sect.
If something happened to them, Heavenly Water Sect could naturally expand its influence.
But now, things hadn''t gone ording to the n.
Gu Sanqiu was dead.
The sect master of Spirit Beast Sect was dead.
Pang Longxiang had been captured alive.
The remaining cultivators of Flying Frost Sect and Spirit Beast Sect were scattered, with many either dead, escaped, or surrendered within three days.
Their assets had all been divided between Qingxuan Sect and Storm Rain Sect.
Yin Xuege couldn''t help but ask, "Is the Profound Frost Cave really that important? I remember the best treasure produced there was called Profound Frost Amber, which only contains a single drop of ice-element blood."
"Moreover, Flying Frost Sect would offer Profound Frost Amber to us every six months. I still have over a dozen pieces with me."
He spoke as he took out a piece of Profound Frost Amber, emitting a chilling aura.
Zhang Mo epted the Profound Frost Amber and flicked her finger lightly. With the spiritual power of a Core Formation cultivator, she easily shattered the outeryer of amber.
The drop of ice-blue blood then floated in mid-air.
"Since it''s blood, it must have a source. Do you know where ites from?" she asked.
Yin Xuege frowned. "I recall you mentioning that beneath the Profound Frost Cave lies the corpse of a fifth-rank demonic beast, equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator. Its entire body is encased in amber, and these Profound Frost Ambers are derived from it."
"But the corpse of that demonic beast is nearly depleted. Flying Frost Sect has also mentioned that the production of Profound Frost Amber has been rapidly decreasing in recent years. It''s estimated that in another three to five years, the Profound Frost Cave will bepletely worthless."
Zhang Mo shook her head. "There''s something else beneath the Profound Frost Cave that Flying Frost Sect never discovered, and we were unaware of it either. This was something Gu Sanqiu told me personally."
Yin Xuege''s heart tightened. "What is it?"
Zhang Mo took out a palm-sized ice-blue scale.
The drop of blood seemed to be drawn to it and spontaneouslynded on the scale.
The blood appeared toe to life, condensing into a peculiar form, silently roaring towards the sky with great joy.
Yin Xuege''s pupils suddenly contracted.
It was clearly... a dragon''s shape!
"An Ice Flood Dragon."
Zhang Mo also gazed at the tiny ice-blue dragon shape, revealing a look of longing. "A dead Ice Flood Dragon!"
"The fifth-rank demonic beast corpse discovered at the bottom of the Profound Frost Cave by Flying Frost Sect was merely a remnant, altered gradually by the deathly aura of the Ice Flood Dragon."
"The Ice Flood Dragon is the true treasure hidden in the deepest part of the Profound Frost Cave!"
Yin Xuege''s eyes widened in disbelief.
The drop of blood within the Profound Frost Amber already had significant effects.
It could temper the body and assist in cultivating ice-element techniques and martial skills.
Yet, Zhang Mo now imed that it was merely contaminated by the aura of the Ice Flood Dragon!
It was unimaginable how powerful the effects of genuine Ice Flood Dragon blood would be!
Zhang Mo calmly said, "The five sects of Xuanjing Prefecture have a special status. They usually uphold fairness and justice within the prefecture, so they cannot easily take action, much less seize the treasures of their own allies."
"ording to the original n, after Gu Sanqiu killed those people, we would take over the territories of Flying Frost Sect and Spirit Beast Sect, thereby justifiably iming the Profound Frost Cave."
"If you were to consume the Ice Flood Dragon''s blood, your physique would be enhanced to at least a mid-tier Heaven level!"
"Moreover, the Ice Flood Dragon''s blood could also grant Heaven-level physiques to at least five other disciples."
"In addition, its demon crystal must still exist! With that demon crystal, I could forge the strongest Earth-grade refining crystal artifact, greatly boosting my power and securing more influence within the Divine Sword Sect, without having to defer to them."@@novelbin@@
"All of these are enormous benefits!"
"But now, it''s no longer possible."
Zhang Mo looked towards the south, her eyes as cold as ice.
The n had been ruined.
Ruinedpletely.
Yin Xuege frowned. "In that case, we should dere war on Qingxuan Sect!"
Zhang Mo took a deep breath. "War is inevitable, but Heavenly Water Sect cannot enter the fray lightly."
"Moreover, Storm Rain Sect has Verdant Vine Sect behind it. I suspect Verdant Vine Sect is also involved in this matter."
"The five sects of Xuanjing Prefecture have a special status. Once we take action, there''s no turning back. We must be cautious before making our move."
Yin Xuege nodded in shame. "I was too simplistic in my thinking."
"So, Master, what do you n to do?"
Zhang Mo said in a deep voice, "First, let Blood River Sect and White River Sect probe the situation and find out Verdant Vine Sect''s stance."
"We will make our movest, under the pretext of mediating, and then infiltrate Qingxuan Sect."
At this moment, the bell rang from below.
"The elder council meeting has begun. Xuege, you will apany me," Zhang Mo said as she abruptly stood up.
Yin Xuege was taken aback. "Me? But, Master, I''m not yet the junior sect master. I''m not allowed to attend the elder council meetings."
Zhang Mo coldly replied, "If I say you can, then you can. If any elder dares to object, I''ll have them expelled from Heavenly Water Sect!"
Yin Xuege''s heart warmed. "Yes! I will follow your orders!"
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Chapter 122: Peaks Gather Like Waves, Rage Like Angry Tides
Chapter 122: Peaks Gather Like Waves, Rage Like Angry Tides
Qingxuan Sect Mountain Gate.
Bamboo Tree Courtyard.
Shen Mo stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the courtyard gate.
His eyes were unfocused, as if he wereprehending something.
At a certain moment, he instinctively activated a martial technique.
A wisp of spiritual energy burst forth, connecting with the metal-element spiritual energy in the heavens and earth.
In an instant, tworge bronze doors materialized beside him.
The patterns on the surface of the doors were intricately detailed.
They seemed so real that one could almost touch them.
After forming the two bronze doors, Shen Mo didn''t stop. He continued to observe the courtyard gate.
Suddenly, more metal-element spiritual energy was drawn to him, gathering and constantly reshaping itself.
This mass of spiritual energy swirled and expanded, gradually increasing in size.
About the time it takes to burn a stick of incenseter, the energy mass abruptly unfurled, taking the shape of arge door.
However, the patterns on this door were not as refined as those on the previous two bronze doors.
But they weren''t much worse, either.
It was only then that Shen Mo seemed to emerge from his state of enlightenment. Seeing the three bronze doors floating beside him, he smiled with satisfaction.
With a thought, the three bronze doors shifted freely.
At times, they appeared in three different directions.
At other times, they appeared together in one direction.
They were incredibly agile.
Shen Mo nodded in satisfaction.
The Earth-grade defensive martial technique, Fourfold Mystic Door, had now been cultivated to the third level.
He was close to reaching the fourth level.
When that time came, he would be able to simultaneously summon four bronze doors.
Even if one door was destroyed, he could quickly reform it.
Combined with the demonic armor bracers he wore, his defense would be nearly invincible!
Shen Mo then looked inward at his dantian.
There were now some subtle changes within.
The ocean of spiritual energy had expanded once more, and he was just a step away from reaching the peak of the Core Formation stage.
Above the ocean of spiritual energy was a smooth and wless Perfect Dao tform.
Atop the Perfect Dao tform was a crimson-gold Core, covered in cracks.
But now, between the Dao tform and the Core, a lotus seat had appeared.
This lotus seat wasyered and radiant, captivating in its beauty.
At first nce, the petals seemed to resemble countless human hands.
Upon closer inspection, they were indeed ordinary petals.
This was the first lotus seat formed after Shen Mo refined the Thousand-Handed Lotus.
Once all nine lotus seats were gathered, it would be time for him to nurture his Nascent Soul.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Shen''er, may Ie in?" came the voice of Murong Yue from outside.
Shen Mo quickly walked over and opened the courtyard gate.
Standing before him was his graceful master, Murong Yue.
"Master, what brings you here so suddenly?" Shen Mo asked as he sat down.
Murong Yue casually sat on a stone stool beside him and chuckled at his words. "What''s this? Can''t I visit you without a reason?"
Shen Mo also smiled. "Master, I didn''t say that. Those were your words."
They exchanged a smile.
Murong Yue only let down her serious and cold demeanor in front of Shen Mo, showing a more rxed and casual side.
After sharing a briefugh, Murong Yue chuckled lightly. "Alright, to be honest, there isn''t much. Sect Master Liu from Storm Rain Sect sent me a bottle of Great Essence-Replenishing Pills."
"I''m already at the peak of Core Formation, so taking these pills won''t have much effect on me anymore. I thought I''d bring them to you."
With a wave of her hand, Murong Yue produced a jade bottle and ced it on the stone table.
Shen Mo was slightly surprised.
A bottle of Great Essence-Replenishing Pills was worth five bottles of Essence-Replenishing Pills.
They were typically circted only among the five sects of Xuanjing Prefecture.
At most, they were used as rewards.
Liu Menghu giving a bottle to Murong Yue was likely to maintain the alliance between their two sects.
And Murong Yue giving them to him warmed his heart.
His master was truly kind to him.
"Master, I have something for you as well," Shen Mo said with a smile.
Murong Yue covered her mouth andughed. "What could you possibly have for me?"
Shen Mo waved his hand, and two pills appeared in his palm.
Murong Yue was initially startled, then showed a look of astonishment. "Taiyi Soul-Nourishing Pills? And you have two of them?"
"But I recall you already gave one to Liu Menghu."
Shen Mo then recounted how he had discovered three Taiyi Soul-Nourishing Pills in the Alchemy King''s Cave.
Murong Yue''s eyes widened in disbelief.
"This such a grand stroke of luck exists in the world!"
Shen Mo smiled. "Master, I''ve already taken a Taiyi Soul-Nourishing Pill. Even if I take another, it wouldn''t be much more effective."
"I remember your physique is top-tier Earth level?"
"After taking this Taiyi Soul-Nourishing Pill, you might very well break through to Heaven level!"
Murong Yue murmured, "Heaven level"
These two words immediately set her heart racing.
A Heaven-level physique is something every cultivator dreams of obtaining.
But such a physique is one in a million, far from something easily acquired.
Now, such an opportunity was right before her!
"No... no, this is your fortune. You have a brighter future ahead than I do. I can''t take away your chance," Murong Yue instinctively wanted to nod but then firmly shook her head.
However, her eyes still revealed a deep longing.
This contradictory expression made Shen Mo chuckle.
"Master, you say you don''t want it, but your body is being quite honest," he teased.
For once, a blush appeared on Murong Yue''s face.
To say she didn''t want such a precious treasure would be a lie.
When she said those words earlier, she was fighting hard against her inner desires.
Shen Mo patiently persuaded her, "Master, you''re currently the strongestbatant in Qingxuan Sect. If you acquire a Heaven-level physique, you''ll only grow stronger, and even facing the sect masters of the five sects in Xuanjing Prefecture, you''d be their equal."
"When that timees, as the junior sect master of Qingxuan Sect, I''d naturally live a more secure life. Don''t you think that''s a reasonable n?"
Murong Yue hesitated for a moment. "You''re right."
"Then take it!"
Shen Mo stepped closer to Murong Yue and brought the Taiyi Soul-Nourishing Pill to her lips, his tone deliberately a bit forceful.
Murong Yue''s heart warmed, and her eyes became slightly misty.
She took a deep breath. "Alright, I''ll take it!"
Shen Mo smiled. "Then take it here, and I''ll guard you while you cultivate."
"Alright!" Murong Yue smiled through her tears. "I never thought there''d be a day when my disciple would be the one guarding me."
She immediately swallowed the Taiyi Soul-Nourishing Pill.
The surging medicinal power spread throughout her, prating deep into her bones and soul, subtly enhancing her physique.
The sensation was almost otherworldly.
Murong Yue couldn''t help but let out a soft, contented moan.
Momentster, the spiritual energy surrounding Qingxuan Sect began to converge on Bamboo Tree Courtyard.
In an instant, two massive vortices formed around Murong Yue.
On the left was scorching hot fire-element spiritual energy.
On the right was chillingly cold ice-element spiritual energy!
This was Murong Yue''s physique, the zing Fire Profound Ice Body.
It possessed both fire and ice spiritual roots.
Such a spectacr phenomenon immediately attracted attention from the outside.
Elders, deacons, and disciples all cast their gazes towards Bamboo Tree Courtyard, both astonished and delighted.
"This incredible aurawhose physique is evolving?"
"Isn''t that Bamboo Tree Courtyard? It''s the junior sect master''s residence!"
"That can''t be right. Many people say the junior sect master already has a Heaven-level physique. How could it evolve further?"
"Wait, I just saw the sect master enter Bamboo Tree Courtyard. Could it be the sect master?"
"Hiss... maybe we should keep our opinions to ourselves and just watch."
At this moment, within Bamboo Tree Courtyard.@@novelbin@@
Twopletely opposite forces surged wildly.
This caused the courtyard to disy contrasting scenes.
The two poor bamboo trees suffered; one turned into an ice sculpture, while the other was scorched bare.
Murong Yue herself was simrly affected.
The left half of her pce robe was burned to ashes.
It exposed her smooth, fair, and captivating body.
However, this view didn''tst long.
Murong Yue quickly realized the situation.
She let out a startled cry, her face turning crimson, and hastily covered herself. "Turn around, turn around!"
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Chapter 124: Entering the Profound Frost Cave
Chapter 124: Entering the Profound Frost Cave
A surprised voice rang out.
Shen Mo turned his head to see a slender yet strong female disciple. It was none other than Zhao Rou.
"You''ve been assigned here too?" Shen Mo smiled.
Zhao Rou nodded, "When I heard that Big Brother wasing, I requested toe along with the elders'' approval."
Shen Mo nodded slightly, "I didn''t expect the Stormy Rain Sect to hand over the Profound Frost Cave so readily."
Zhao Rou chuckled, "Yes, I heard that at first, the elders of the Stormy Rain Sect were unwilling, demanding that we at least give up twenty fertile medicinal fields before they would consider relinquishing the Profound Frost Cave to us."
"But then, for some unknown reason, they suddenly changed their minds and agreed without hesitation. In the end, we only had to pay the price of five fertile medicinal fields to take control of the Profound Frost Cave."
Shen Mo nodded.
The Profound Frost Cave yielded many treasures; acquiring it for just five fertile medicinal fields was a huge profit.
Zhao Rou whispered, "Sister Shengnan said it might be because of orders from the Verdant Vine Sect, which made the Stormy Rain Sect so agreeable."
She pursed her lips and added, "Sister Shengnan also suggested that it might be because Mo Yuheng, that vixen, has taken a liking to you, which is why this happened"
As she said this, her tone carried a hint of jealousy.
Shen Mo couldn''t help butugh.
He had barely interacted with Mo Yuheng a few times.
Moreover, he possessed no extraordinary fate or charm like "immortal grace" or "elegant demeanor."
How could someone suddenly fall for him like a character in a clich harem novel?
To him, this was merely a diplomatic move by the Verdant Vine Sect.
"Oh, right! Senior Brother, since you''re here, you''ve saved me the trip back to the sect."
As if suddenly remembering something, Zhao Rou solemnly took out a storage ring and handed it to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo took it and looked inside, only to find thirty pieces of ice-blue amber.
Among them was a droplet of blood, even more brilliantly blue.
This was the special product of the Profound Frost Cave, the Profound Frost Amber.
"So much has been mined in just a few days?" Shen Mo was surprised.
Zhao Rou smiled brightly, "No, after Elder Song and Hall Master Wei led us to take over this ce, the elder from the Flying Frost Sect who had been stationed here surrendered."
"All these Profound Frost Ambers were found in his storage ring."
"That guy was pocketing the wealth. Every month, he reported to the Flying Frost Sect that only thirty pieces were mined, but in reality, a third went into his own pocket, which he sold at a high price under another identity."
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
Embezzling public resources.
People like that could be found everywhere.
Zhao Rou continued, "My brother, Sister Shengnan, and Liu Yunxuan each got three pieces, while Elder Song and Hall Master Wei took five pieces each."
"After some discussion, Elder Song and Hall Master Wei decided to send the remaining thirty pieces to you."
"As for the share for the other elders, it will be decidedter."
Her tone was full of envy.
If he were just an ordinary young sect master, his treatment might only be slightly better than that of a true disciple, but not by such a wide margin.
But Shen Mo was different.
He had already reached the Core Formation stage, while Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Liu Yunxuan were still at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.
Additionally, Shen Mo had made significant contributions recently.
No matter who saw him, they would respectfully call him "Young Sect Master."
Such a massive allocation of resources was only natural.
Hearing this, Shen Mo couldn''t help butugh.
These two sure knew how to conduct themselves.
"Young Sect Master, why did youe here so suddenly? You didn''t even inform us."
"Hahaha, yes, it''s been a while since I''ve seen the Young Sect Master. I''ve missed you."
At this moment, two heartyughs rang out from a distance.
Song Chaofeng and Wei Xiongtie strode over, greeting Shen Mo with cupped hands from afar.
Even though Shen Mo was younger and of a lower cultivation level than them, they showed no hint of disrespect.
Shen Mo nodded with a smile, "I''m just interested in the Profound Frost Cave and wanted to take a look. You don''t need to worry; I''m not here to supervise your work."
Song Chaofeng and Wei Xiongtie both nodded.
"Young Sect Master, since you''re here, we ought to apany you. However, the formations in the Profound Frost Cave haven''t been set up yet, so we need to hurry," Song Chaofeng said hurriedly.
"Formations are of utmost importance," Shen Mo nodded in agreement.
The Profound Frost Cave lies further north of the Profound Frost City, one of the four cities controlled by the Flying Frost Sect. Of course, now it has be a city under the Qingxuan Sect.
Further north of the Profound Frost City is the territory of the Blood River Sect.
Because of this, the Profound Frost Cave holds a strategically important position, and coupled with the treasure of Profound Frost Amber found here, it bes even more crucial to strengthen the formations to prevent a sudden attack by the Blood River Sect.
Song Chaofeng and Wei Xiongtie had already considered this.
However...
Shen Mo nced at the life panels of the two men.
Wei Xiongtie would die surrounded and killed by three elders of the Blood River Sect.
Song Chaofeng would be severely wounded by the sect master of the Blood River Sect, refusing to surrender even in the face of death, and he too would be killed.
More than half of the stewards and disciples within the Profound Frost Cave would die, with less than thirty percent managing to escape.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou, refusing to submit to the Blood River Sect, would also be in.
In short, if events unfolded ording to their predetermined fate, a bloodbath would ur here in two days.
Since he had the ability to change it, Shen Mo naturally would intervene.
He didn''t want to see these familiar people die in vain.@@novelbin@@
"Zhao Rou, why don''t you apany the Young Sect Master and show him around?" Wei Xiongtie suggested.
"Yes," Zhao Rou nodded.
"Senior Brother, where would you like to go? I can take you there," Zhao Rou asked with a sweet smile.
Shen Mo smiled lightly, "Take me into the Profound Frost Cave."
"Sure! But the Profound Frost Cave is like a maze inside, so you better stick close to me!"
"Haha, don''t worry, even if you get lost, I won''t."
With that, the two of them entered the Profound Frost Cave.
Inside the cave, the constant sound of mining echoedding, ding, dingthe noise of pickaxes at work.
However, the cave was so cold that ordinary people couldn''t enter. Thus, those mining amber here were no ordinary people; they were at least Outer Sect disciples who had reached the Great Completion of the Body Tempering stage.
Of course, the rewards for mining amber here were abundant.
As a result, the disciples eagerly vied for the chance toe here.
Shen Mo surveyed the area and saw at least a hundred Outer Sect disciples.
Each of them was energetic and excited, eager to dig from morning until night.
Before long, someone excitedly shouted that they had found Profound Frost Amber.
The surrounding disciples looked on in surprise and envy, their eyes lighting up.
This was followed by the usual talk of treating everyone to a meal and not forgetting one''s brothers after getting rich.
At that moment, hurried footsteps suddenly approached from below.
An Outer Sect disciple suddenly appeared, clutching his chest, his body covered in wounds.
Upon spotting Zhao Rou from a distance, he called out anxiously as if seeing a savior, "Senior Sister Zhao Rou! A demon beast has suddenly appeared on the second level. We can''t handle it; several senior brothers in the Qi Condensation stage have already been injured!"
Zhao Rou frowned, "Wait here, I''ll be there right away!"
Shen Mo asked, puzzled, "Are there many demon beasts?"
Zhao Rou shook her head, "Recently, a lot of demon beasts have appeared in the Profound Frost Cave, and their numbers and strength have increased."
"However, they''re usually found on the third level or lower. Why have they now appeared on the second level?"
Shen Mo nodded, "You go help them."
Only then did Zhao Rou hurry toward the area.
As Shen Mo watched her departing figure, he fell into deep thought.
The strange activity of the demon beasts in the Profound Frost Cave was likely rted to the Ice Dragon.
After all, it was the corpse of a sixth-tier demon beast, and any kind of mutation could ur around it.
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Chapter 126: Liu Yunxuan’s Opportunity – The Taiyin Profound Frost Array
Chapter 126: Liu Yunxuan''s Opportunity - The Taiyin Profound Frost Array
At this moment, the bit of Ice Dragon blood had been entirely consumed.
The demon armor''s arm guard immediately reverted to its original state, turning back to its purple-ck color.
Shen Mo nodded slightly, "The bit of Ice Dragon blood just now wasn''t even a full drop, at most only a third of a drop."
"It activated the armor for roughly ten breaths of time."
"If I were to use the demon armor tounch an attack, it would likely elerate the blood consumption."
"By this calction, a full drop of Ice Dragon blood could sustain the demon armor for over thirty breaths."
"If I were to unleash a powerful attack, it should stillst for at least fifteen breaths."
"That''s sufficient; this amount of time is enough to determine the oue of a battle."
Shen Mo immediately crouched down, carefully collecting the Ice Dragon blood.
Before long, he had gathered all the Ice Dragon blood from the smallke on the ground.
He filled arge jar with it.
As for the blood within the Ice Dragon''s body, Shen Mo had attempted to extract it.
However, his attacks couldn''t even prate the Ice Dragon''s defensive corpse.
So, he had to give up.
After all, the opponent was a sixth-tier demon beast, equivalent to a cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage.
Two major realms higher than himself.
Failing to break through its armor was only natural.
"It''s time to head back."
Shen Mo retraced his steps.
The ice pir here had already been sealed up again.
He had to cut through the ice once more to open a passage.
As soon as he emerged, several demon beasts with hostile gazes surrounded him.
Their eyes were filled with greed and desire.
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "You smelled the Ice Dragon blood? I won''t be handing it over to you."
Roar!
These demon beasts seemed to understand Shen Mo''s words, and they immediately charged at him in a fury.
Shen Mo remained calm, directly activating the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique.
Boom, boom, boom.
What followed were the wails of the demon beasts.
Shen Mo pped his hands, using the Eight Directions Thunder Movement technique to ascendyer byyer back to the surface.
As soon as he returned to the firstyer, he overheard disciples anxiously discussing the small earthquake that had just urred.
"I was scared to death just now; I almost thought we were going to be buried in the passage."
"My goodness, you didn''t see it, but that ice shard was only a tenth of an inch away from my brother!"
"I don''t know what happened. First, the demon beasts were agitated, and now there''s an earthquake. I can''t help but feel a bit worried."
"Worried about what? If the sky falls, the two elders will hold it up. Besides, the Profound Frost Cave has a protective array, and the Young Sect Master is here too. We''re perfectly safe!"
Shen Mo touched his nose.
Who caused that small earthquake?
What ack of consideration!
"Senior Brother Shen!" Zhao Rou saw him and quickly ran over with concern, "Are you okay? There was suddenly an earthquake, and I couldn''t find you anywhere. I was so worried!"
Shen Mo waved his hand, "I''m fine."
"By the way, take some warm jade to protect your body, and go"
Zhao Rou''s eyes widened, "All dead?! Even those on the fifthyer...?"
Shen Mo nodded, "There weren''t any strong ones; I killed them all with a single strike."
"The meat of those demon beasts is quite good. Eating it can enhance your resistance to cold. Remember to eat more."
Zhao Rou responded happily, "Yes!"
Then, she excitedly called out, "You, you, and you,e with me. The Young Sect Master has already"
The disciples were shocked, casting admiring nces at Shen Mo.
Those fierce demon beasts were all wiped out by Shen Mo in one go.
His strength was truly terrifying.
Shen Mo strode out of the Profound Frost Cave, frowning in thought.
He had already obtained a jar of Ice Dragon blood, which wouldst him for a while.
His strength had greatly increased as a result.
He could simply inform Nangong Yun, and they could all withdraw from the Profound Frost Cave.
That would avoid any tragic deaths among these people.
But the Ice Dragon could still produce more blood continuously.
Moreover, the Ice Dragon''s bones, scales, and other parts were top-notch treasures.
Abandoning it like this and letting it fall into the hands of the Blood River Sect would be a great pity.
Furthermore, behind the Blood River Sect was the Heavenly Water Sect.
The treasures obtained from the Ice Dragon''s corpse would ultimately benefit the Heavenly Water Sect.
This wouldn''t do.
The stronger the Heavenly Water Sect bes, the more dangerous it would be for the Qingxuan Sect.
"I need toe up with a n, ideally one that can wipe out the Nascent Soul stage cultivators from the Blood River Sect who areing tounch a surprise attack in two days."
"However, the cultivation techniques and martial skills of the Blood River Sect cultivators are very formidable. If we only set up an ambush, we would need at least ten cultivators to deal with them."
"Such arge-scale operation would definitely alert the enemy."
"What should I do?"
Shen Mo sped his hands behind his back, pacing slowly as he pondered the situation.
The cultivation methods and martial techniques of the Blood River Sect emphasized rapid advancement and immense power.
In the same realm, it wasmon for a Blood River Sect cultivator to defeat two ordinary cultivators.
The downside, however, was that it shortened their lifespan.
A typical Nascent Soul stage cultivator could live up to five hundred years.
But a Nascent Soul stage cultivator from the Blood River Sect would be fortunate to live beyond three hundred years.
"Greetings... Young Sect Master."
Soon, a familiar voice rang out in front of him.
The tone was reluctant and unwilling.
This voice pulled Shen Mo back from his thoughts.
He steadied himself and looked at the person in front of him.@@novelbin@@
With a face like jade, an elegant demeanor, and a tall statureit was none other than Liu Yunxuan.
"You''re here guarding as well?" Shen Mo smiled.
Liu Yunxuan nodded reluctantly, "My father, under the Sect Master''s orders, will be arriving tomorrow to assist Elder Song and Hall Master Wei in guarding the Profound Frost Cave. He asked me toe ahead."
Shen Mo pondered this.
He looked at Liu Yunxuan''s life panel.
[Name: Liu Yunxuan]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Stage (Peak)]
[Fate: Overflowing Luck, Jade-like Handsomeness, Danger into Safety, Smooth Sailing, Lesser Yin Profound Ice Body]
[Destiny: Stops at Minor Sess in the Nascent Soul Stage,ter bes an Inner Sect Elder of the Divine Sword Sect. Thirty yearster, overestimates himself and challenges a fourth-tier peak demon beast, only to be devoured by it.]
[Recent Opportunity 1: Tonight, while searching for Profound Frost Amber in the Profound Frost Cave, gets lost and enters a crack formed by a minor earthquake on the thirdyer, where he finds a top-grade Earth-tier arraythe Taiyin Profound Frost Array.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: Two dayster, during the Blood River Sect''s surprise attack on the Profound Frost Cave, he bes fearful and flees the battle, hiding in a basement. Ultimately, he is intentionally let go by the Blood River Sect Master.]
Shen Mo frowned slightly.
There was a lot of information to process.
He noticed that Liu Yunxuan''s fate had changed.
"Peak Fortune" had dropped a level, bing "Overflowing Luck."
It was likely due to several opportunities being intercepted by Shen Mo, leading to this oue.
Next was the Taiyin Profound Frost Array.
This array was clearly a killing array.
Moreover, the Profound Frost Cave was already a ce rich in ice spiritual energy.
The Taiyin Profound Frost Array could further enhance its power here, increasing its effectiveness by at least fifty percent.
With this array, dealing with the Blood River Sect members would no longer be a problem.
Finally, there was the matter of Liu Yunxuan being intentionally spared by the Blood River Sect Master.
Many elders, deacons, and disciples within the Profound Frost Cave had been killed.
Why would Liu Yunxuan be deliberately spared?
The answer was obvious.
Liu Yuanfeng had dealings with the Blood River Sect.
That''s why the Blood River Sect Master would spare Liu Yunxuan.
This way, Liu Yunxuan would be a hero who survived the bloody battle in the Profound Frost Cave.
"Liu Yuanfeng has certainly thought this through, even risking his son by sending him to the Profound Frost Cave, and he''sing here himself as well."
Shen Mo chuckled softly.
He immediately turned around and re-entered the Profound Frost Cave.
This action left Liu Yunxuan utterly baffled.
Why did he leave without saying a word?
Could it be that he has some issue with me?
Liu Yunxuan was full of questions but didn''t dare to ask or say anything, so he could only let it go.
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Chapter 128: Such a Powerful Martial Skill, There’s No Way Shen Mo Can Use It a Second Time
Chapter 128: Such a Powerful Martial Skill, There''s No Way Shen Mo Can Use It a Second Time
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A chilling coldness, like a dragon or a serpent, surged from all directions, encircling the people of Blood River Sect.
In just a few breaths, the temperature dropped to the point where even exhaled air turned to frost.
Everyone, including Feng Lieshan, immediately felt goosebumps rise all over their bodies.
That bone-chilling cold pierced deep into their bones, desperately trying to invade their bodies.
The members of Blood River Sect had no choice but to circte their spiritual power to resist the cold.
Spiritual power was being consumed rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, each person had already lost at least twenty percent of their spiritual power.
If this continued...
Forget about killing the people of Qingxuan Sect; the real question was whether they could even survive in this formation.
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
The power of a formation lies in this.
As long as it''s set up properly and the timing is urate, defeating many with few or oveing the strong with the weak is entirely possible.
These people, once their spiritual power was depleted, were no different frommbs waiting for ughter in Shen Mo''s eyes.
"What... what kind of formation is this?! Why is there such a formation?!" Feng Lieshan was both shocked and furious.
The Profound Frost Cave should only have one defensive formation.
Why had another one appeared now?
Could it be that Liu Yuanfeng had deceived him?
Was Liu Yuanfeng actually loyal to Qingxuan Sect and deliberately fed him false information?
Feng Lieshan red angrily at Liu Yuanfeng, who was within the Profound Frost Cave.
"Liu Yuanfeng, you lied to me! You gave me false intelligence!" he roared in rage.
At this moment, the members of Qingxuan Sect were wide-eyed in shock.
Song Chaofeng and Wei Xiongtie were on the verge of bowing down to Shen Mo in admiration.
They never imagined Shen Mo had such a trump card.
Judging by the power of this formation, it was at least a mid-level Earth-tier formation.
They couldn''t even fathom where Shen Mo had obtained it.
After Feng Lieshan''s roar, everyone turned to Liu Yuanfeng.
Liu Yuanfeng took a deep breath and retorted without hesitation.
"I, Liu Yuanfeng, have always been loyal to Qingxuan Sect, never with a divided heart. What intelligence do you think I gave you?"
"Greedy Blood River Sect! How dare you invade the property of Qingxuan Sect? You will all perish here today!"
He stood with his hands on his hips, pointing at Feng Lieshan in the sky, his voice filled with righteous indignation, spittle flying as he spoke.
He looked like a wise strategist who had nned everything for the sake of his sect!
Song Chaofeng and Wei Xiongtie nced at Liu Yuanfeng, half-believing, half-doubting.
However, many disciples of Qingxuan Sect began to view Liu Yuanfeng differently.
In the past, Liu Yuanfeng had often been at odds with Murong Yue. There were also rumors about how he had once teamed up with Liu Yunxuan and Song Junjie to go against Shen Mo during the Qingxuan Cave incident.
Many had spected whether Liu Yuanfeng had other intentions.
But now, it seemed Liu Yuanfeng not only had no ulterior motives, but he was also deeply loyal to Qingxuan Sect!
Hearing Liu Yuanfeng''s words, Feng Lieshan was so furious that he almost passed out.
"Fine! Fine! Fine!"
He spat out the word "fine" three times, his eyes filled with hatred.
"Do you really think this formation can kill us?"
"The greatest strength of Blood River Sect is our power!"
"As long as we kill you before our spiritual power ispletely exhausted, it will be enough!"
With a furious shout, Feng Lieshan immediately struck out with his palm, sending a blood-colored hand hurtling towards Shen Mo!
The blood-colored hand reappeared.
This time, it was a little lessposed but filled with even more violent killing intent.
Song Chaofeng and Wei Xiongtie''s pupils shrank, and they shouted instinctively, "Young Master!"
Shen Mo stomped the ground fiercely, stabilizing his stance.
Spiritual power surged within him, instantly connecting with the metal spiritual energy between heaven and earth.
In the next moment, threerge bronze gates suddenly materialized in front of him.
The three giant gates stood firmly in front of him.
The next moment.
The blood-colored hand collided with the three giant gates.@@novelbin@@
A piercing boom echoed.
The shockwave shattered the frost on the surrounding walls.
The nearest houses couldn''t withstand the impact and were instantly blown apart, shattering into a storm of icy fragments.
The ice and dust mixed together, obscuring everyone''s vision.
The members of Qingxuan Sect hiding within the Profound Frost Cave couldn''t see clearly.
They didn''t know if Shen Mo had managed to block the strike.
"Young Master" Wei Xiongtie gritted his teeth. "Feng Lieshan is at the peak of the Core Formation stage. Can he hold it off?"
Song Chaofeng''s expression darkened.
He knew that not much time had passed since Shen Mo had reached the Core Formation stage.
No matter how fast Shen Mo had cultivated, at best, he could only be in the early stage of Core Formation.
To face someone at the peak of Core Formation while only at the early stage...
It would already be impressive if Shen Mo wasn''t severely injured by a single strike.
Zhao Ting, Zhao Rou, Luo Shengnan, and others tightened their focus, staring intently at the icy fragments.
Boom!
A red phoenix of fire suddenly burst out, instantly evaporating the icy shards into steam.
The fiery red phoenix did not lose its momentum, charging straight towards Feng Lieshan in mid-air.
This was the second move of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix technique!
Feng Lieshan''s pupils dted in shock.
He had thought his palm strike would severely wound Shen Mo.
But to his surprise, not only was Shen Mo unharmed, but he had alsounched such a fierce counterattack!
Feng Lieshan immediately activated a defensive martial skill.
A blood-colored mirror quickly condensed and appeared before him.
Boom!
The fiery phoenix shattered the blood-colored mirror on impact and struck Feng Lieshan directly.
His body was thrown several meters back, crashing into a house and being buried beneath the rubble.
The members of Blood River Sect were stunned and hurriedly rushed to help him.
The members of Qingxuan Sect, on the other hand, widened their eyes, staring at Shen Mo.
They saw Shen Mo still standing calmly in ce.
Threerge bronze gates encircled him.
Solid as a fortress! Like a guardian deity!
"What kind of defensive martial skill is that? How could it be so sturdy, blocking Feng Lieshan''s full-force strike?" Wei Xiongtie asked in surprise.
Song Chaofeng sighed. "I don''t know, but it''s definitely not from Qingxuan Sect. It must be something Young Master obtained through his own fortune."
"I think it''s definitely an Earth-tier martial skill; otherwise, it couldn''t produce such power."
The surrounding disciples of Qingxuan Sect all nodded in agreement.
Earth-tier martial skills were the dream of any Core Formation cultivator.
If it truly was an Earth-tier martial skill, then it made sense that Shen Mo could use it to fend off an attack from someone at the peak of Core Formation while only being in the early stage.
By this time, Feng Lieshan had already been pulled out from the rubble by his subordinates.
His chest was still dotted with persistent red mes.
Feng Lieshan had no choice but to use his remaining spiritual power to fend off these stubborn mes.
"An eternal me, truly remarkable."
He red at Shen Mo in the distance, gritting his teeth.
"Attack him together! I refuse to believe he can keep using this kind of technique!" Feng Lieshan roared.
"Yes, sir!"
The six elders of Blood River Sect charged forward in unison.
Scarlet spear lights.
ck de auras.
Palm imprints entwined with lightning.
All of these attacks targeted Shen Mo simultaneously!
"We should help, to share the burden of the attacks for Young Master," Song Chaofeng took a deep breath and said seriously.
Wei Xiongtie nodded.
The two were just about to rush forward.
Shen Mo, however, smiled slightly. "Wait. You should focus on recovering from your injuries. When the formation''s energy runs outter, I''ll need you to capture them. I can''t do it all on my own."
"But that''s an attack from six people! Three of them are at the mid-Core Formation stage, and the other three are at the early stage," Song Chaofeng said anxiously.
"They think I can''t use that technique repeatedly. What a pity Not only can I use it, but I can use it endlessly."
Shen Mo looked at the six approaching enemies and smiled.
His right hand formed a de, and the red mes gathered once again.
The sound of a phoenix''s cry echoed around him once more!
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Chapter 130: Ice Dragon Blood Demon Armor – One Punch Kill
Chapter 130: Ice Dragon Blood Demon Armor C One Punch Kill
Upon hearing those words, Feng Lieshan acted as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
He took a few steps forward,ughing heartily.
Heughed so hard that he bent over, gasping for breath.
Tears were almost streaming from his eyes.
"I have never seen someone so overconfident... in my life!"
As thest word fell, Feng Lieshan stomped the ground and charged forward violently.
During his earlierughter, he had secretly consumed an Explosive Qi Pill.
For a full hundred breaths, his spiritual power would be nearly limitless.
That loudugh was merely to disguise his true intentions.
As a cultivator at the peak of the Core Formation stage, he wasn''t foolish enough to think that Shen Mo had no hidden cards.
This kid was incredibly extraordinary.
Even Zhang Mo, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Water Sect, had personally ordered his death.
How could someone like him be so reckless, charging in without a backup n?
Shen Mo must have something powerful hidden.
Feng Lieshan was still severely injured. If Shen Mo truly unleashed a trump card, there was a chance Feng Lieshan could fall here.
Thus, he had to seize the initiative.
Now was the perfect moment to kill Shen Mo in one strike!
"Blood Beast Transformation Technique, Tiger Form!"
Feng Lieshan roared, and a torrent of blood-red energy erupted from his hands.
In an instant, it condensed into a massive, ferocious tiger''s head.
Savage and evil, full of overpowering dominance.
The ck "King" character on its forehead further emphasized its ferocity as the king of beasts.
The blood-colored tiger head opened its gaping maw wide, lunging straight at Shen Mo!
The Blood Beast Transformation Technique was an Earth-grade low-level martial art and the most powerful technique of the Blood River Sect.
It was divided into five forms, corresponding to the wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and bear.
Only the sect master, the young master, and core disciples were qualified to learn it.
Its power was immense, but it consumed an enormous amount of spiritual energy.
Therefore, it was rarely used in ordinarybat.
Only after consuming an Explosive Qi Pill would one dare to employ the Blood Beast Transformation Technique.
"Die!"
A triumphant smile appeared on Feng Lieshan''s face.
At such a short distance, and in such a short time, Shen Mo had no chance to react.
He was sure of it: Shen Mo was doomed!
Then, he saw Shen Mo calmly and leisurely raise his right hand.
A purple-ck armor materialized out of nowhere, instantly covering Shen Mo''s entire right hand.
It fit perfectly, without any gaps.
It looked as though the entire arm had been forged from the purple-ck armor.
Feng Lieshan''s pupils contracted.
For some reason, he felt a terrifying aura emanating from that purple-ck arm armor.
Even though it hadn''t moved yet.
Its evil and murderous intent alone was enough to shake one''s spirit.
But it wasn''t over yet.
He watched as Shen Mo took out a drop of ice-blue blood and pped it onto the armor''s surface.
Sizzle!
The purple-ck arm armor suddenly underwent a violent transformation.
Sharp ice spikes sprouted all over.
Scales appeared, dense and tight.
A chilling cold spread through the air, making Shen Mo look like the ruler of ice.
What is this thing?
The thought popped into Feng Lieshan''s mind.
But he no longer had time to investigate or hesitate.
This was now a life-or-death confrontation.
No matter what kind of strange thing it was, he had to kill Shen Mo here and escape!
"Kill!"
Shen Mo felt the surging power in his right arm, and without warning, threw a seemingly ordinary straight punch.
The ice-blue demon armor shed fiercely with the blood-red tiger head!
Boom!
A terrifying explosion centered on the two men, radiating outward in all directions.
The nearest trees shattered into pieces, turning into countless high-speed wood splinters that shot into the distance.
If anyone had been nearby, even a Core Formation cultivator would have been injured by the splinters.
Anyone with a lower cultivation level would have been riddled with bloody holes in an instant.
Boom, boom, boom!
The sounds of the collision echoed far and wide.
Even Song Chaofeng and the other two, who were chasing down the three remaining elders of the Blood River Sect, heard it clearly.
"What was that? Is it the young master fighting Feng Lieshan?" Wei Xiongtie and Song Chaofeng were both filled with uncertainty.
"It must be! Let''s finish off these elders quickly and go help the young master!" Liu Yuanfeng suggested, his eyes shing as he shouted loudly.
At this moment, the battle between Shen Mo and Feng Lieshan had reached its conclusion.
The massive, ferocious blood-red tiger head slowly dissipated like smoke.
As the dust cleared, Shen Mo still maintained his posture, right fist extended.
However, his right arm had already pierced through Feng Lieshan''s chest.
Feng Lieshan''s heart had beenpletely shattered, reduced to countless tiny shards of ice.
"You..."
Feng Lieshan struggled to lift his head with all his remaining strength.
Blood trickled from his mouth.
His life force was quickly fading.
He couldn''tprehend it.
Even after consuming the Explosive Qi Pill and using the Blood Beast Transformation Technique, Tiger Form, he had still been defeated by Shen Mo.
What exactly was this armor that possessed such overwhelming strength?
Unfortunately, he no longer had time to find out.
His consciousness rapidly plunged into darkness.
Feng Lieshan, a cultivator at the peak of Core Formation, had been killed on the spot by Shen Mo!
After obliterating Feng Lieshan, Shen Mo casually flicked his arm, sending the corpse flying.
With a simple thought, the demonic armor on his arm retracted and vanished back into his body.
At that moment, the sound of something breaking through the air came from a distance.
Swish, swish, swish!
Three figures appeared beside him.
"Young Master, we''vee to help..." Song Chaofeng shouted loudly.
However, upon seeing the scene before them, the rest of his words died in his throat.
Help?
Help with what?
The fight was already over.
Wei Xiongtie swallowed nervously.
Feng Lieshan was a peak Core Formation cultivator.
Even though he had been injured by the Cold Qi Killing Formation and was low on spiritual energy, he still had the Explosive Qi Pill as his trump card.
And yet, he had been killed by Shen Mo, who was only at the early Core Formation stage?
Could it be... Feng Lieshan didn''t even get a chance to use the Explosive Qi Pill before dying?
The two exchanged nces, scratching their heads, speechless.
Compared to them, Liu Yuanfeng''s emotions were not just shock but also a growing sense of fear.@@novelbin@@
He knew Feng Lieshan''s strength all too well.
And yet, Feng Lieshan had still fallen at Shen Mo''s hands.
Shen Mo must have some terrifying trump card, strong enough to cross two small realms and defeat his opponents.
Liu Yuanfeng suddenly felt his mouth go dry.
Even if Luo Chaotian wasn''t happy about it, maybe it was time for him to leave the Qingxuan Sect.
If this continued, even if Shen Mo didn''t kill him, he might die of fright.
"Have you dealt with the three Blood River Sect elders?" Shen Mo casually took Feng Lieshan''s storage ring and asked indifferently.
"Y-yes, two of them are dead, and one has surrendered," Song Chaofeng quickly replied.
"Good. Let''s head back. There are still many Blood River Sect disciples; they all need to be captured," Shen Mo nodded.
"Bring this body back too. It will greatly demoralize their forces."
"Yes!" Wei Xiongtie hurried forward, storing Feng Lieshan''s body in a storage ring.
Their actions were so diligent, as if Shen Mo wasn''t an early Core Formation cultivator, but someone far more powerfulperhaps a peak or even pinnacle Core Formation cultivator.
Soon, all the Blood River Sect members who had ambushed the Xuanshuang Cave were dealt with.
Most of them were dead.
About a dozen Blood River Sect disciples in the Foundation Establishment stage had no choice but to surrender.
As for those who tried to escape, none survived.
This battle was aplete victory!
"As for the details of this battle, Deputy Sect Master Liu, please report it to the Sect Master in person. I''m counting on you for this task," Shen Mo said with a faint smile.
Liu Yuanfeng didn''t dare refuse and quickly nodded.
"Rest assured, Young Master. I''ll ry every detail of the battle to Sect Master Nangong without missing a word!"
Only then did Shen Mo turn to face the rest of the Qingxuan Sect disciples.
He looked at Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, and many other familiar faces.
A smile spread across his face, "We won!"
The disciples were silent for a moment before they erupted into wild cheers.
"We won!"
"Qingxuan Sect is invincible!"
"Young Master is invincible!"
The Blood River Sect hade with overwhelming force. At first, everyone thought they would be buried here today.
But to their shock, the tide had turned so dramatically!
The greatest credit, of course, belonged to Shen Mo!
If it hadn''t been for him, not a single person here could have escaped certain death!
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Chapter 132: Eliminating Shen Mo? No, I’m Giving Him a Grand Gift
Chapter 132: Eliminating Shen Mo? No, I''m Giving Him a Grand Gift
Xuanjing Prefecture, Giant River City, Government Office.
Ji Shilong, for once, wasn''t handling official documents. Instead, he stood quietly under the towering tree in the back courtyard of the office, watching the scene in front of him.
Behind him stood Luo Shuanghan.
"How long has it been since the Hundred Sects Ceremony?" Ji Shilong suddenly asked.
Luo Shuanghan replied in a low voice, "Governor, it''s been four months."
Ji Shilong nodded slightly. "It''s nearly been half a year. Over this period, things have gone smoothly. Many small and second-tier sects have already disappeared."
Luo Shuanghan, now more cautious, immediately added, "All thanks to your brilliant strategy, Governor."
Ji Shilong smiled faintly.
At that moment, a soldier outside suddenly shouted, "Urgent message! Blood River Sect''s leader, Feng Lieshan, has been killed by Qingxuan Sect''s young master, Shen Mo! Blood River Sect''s territory has already been divided by nearby sects!"
Ji Shilong raised an eyebrow. "Enter."@@novelbin@@
Upon hearing the name "Shen Mo," Luo Shuanghan couldn''t help but frown deeply.
Wasn''t that the person the governor had asked him to recruit some time ago?
The soldier quickly stepped forward and handed a scroll of official documents to Ji Shilong.
Ji Shilong opened it, quickly scanning through it, a hint of surprise shing in his eyes.
"Take a look," he said, handing the document to Luo Shuanghan after finishing.
Luo Shuanghan nodded and read it carefully, his heart unable to calm down for a long time.
Ji Shilong smiled. "Some time ago, Flying Frost Sect and Spirit Beast Sect were destroyed in the Alchemy King''s cave. Rumor has it that Shen Mo yed the key role in it."
"And now, Feng Lieshan, leading six Core Formation cultivators and dozens of Foundation Establishment disciples, ambushed Profound Frost Cave, only to be killed by Shen Mo."
"Tsk, tsk. It seems the events in the Alchemy King''s cave can now be confirmed."
"Shen Mo was hiding much of his strength."
Luo Shuanghan couldn''t help but nod. "Governor, this man is indeed a genius."
"To think he could kill a Core Formation perfection cultivator with just mid-stage Core Formation strength."
"What are your ns? Should we eliminate him?"
Ji Shilong nced at him, smiling faintly. "Eliminate him? Why?"
"Luo Shuanghan, you have potential, but there''s still much for you to learn."
Luo Shuanghan was momentarily stunned, still not understanding the meaning behind Ji Shilong''s words.
"Luo Shuanghan, receive your orders!" Ji Shilong''s voice boomed.
Luo Shuanghan immediately dropped to one knee. "Yes."
"I order you to take 3,000 top-grade spirit stones, two supreme-grade Profound-level spiritual weapons, and 20 bottles of Profound-level pills. Head to Qingxuan Sect at once and deliver these gifts to Shen Mo."
"I want you to recruit him once again. Do not fail this time."
"And make sure the asion is grand. Everyone must know that I, the Governor, am presenting Shen Mo with a great gift."
Luo Shuanghan hesitated for a moment.
He faintly understood Ji Shilong''s intentions.
"One more thing" Ji Shilong''s face turned expressionless. "What gifts did you bringst time? And what attitude did you disy toward Shen Mo?"
"Was that how you treat a genius? Is that how you recruit talent?"
"If it happens again, you won''t have a ce in this office any longer."
Luo Shuanghan felt a deep sense of dread.
How did Ji Shilong know everything he had done so clearly?
He nodded repeatedly. "I understand, I''ll leave immediately!"
He didn''t dare ask any further questions and rushed to the office warehouse.
Ji Shilong, with his hands behind his back, continued gazing at the towering tree, his eyes distant, as if the extravagant gifts he had just sent were of little significance.
...
Ten dayster, Profound Frost Cave.
Under Shen Mo''s orders, the disciples stationed here had cleared an area to create a martial arts training ground.
Of course, though it was called a training ground, it was really just a leveled area with walls built around it.
It wasn''t veryrge.
Only the young master, elders, and core disciples had the privilege toe here.
The rest of the disciples weren''t allowed.
At this moment, Shen Mo was sparring with Wei Xiongtie, honing hisbat skills.
Not far away, Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and others watched intently, not daring to be distracted in the slightest.
"Young master, here Ie!"
Wei Xiongtie roared, his fist forming a lightning-wrapped spearhead, striking directly at Shen Mo''s chest.
"Well done."
Shen Mo smiled, and in less than a breath, three bronze gates appeared simultaneously.
ng! ng! ng!
The lightning spearhead violently crashed against the gates.
Yet, the bronze gates didn''t budge.
Wei Xiongtie poured more spiritual energy into his attack.
However, he only managed to break through one of the bronze gates.
After shattering the first gate, the lightning spearhead lost all its energy, like an arrow at the end of its flight.
Wei Xiongtie had no choice but to retract his move. "My Thunder Spear is my strongest technique, but I couldn''t even break through one-third of the young master''s defense."
Shen Mo was about to speak when he caught sight of some disciples outside the training ground, moving an enormous gate sculpted entirely out of ice.
His expression froze for a moment, as if he had fallen into a state of sudden enlightenment.
Wei Xiongtie was taken aback, and quickly and cautiously retreated, not daring to make a sound.
It wasn''t until he was more than ten zhang away from Shen Mo that he finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Give the order, no one is to approach the training ground," Wei Xiongtie instructed in a low voice.
"Understood, I''ll handle it," Zhao Ting and Luo Shengnan both nodded.
Their expressions were filled with envy.
Shen Mo had clearly seen the ice gate and immediately entered a state of enlightenment. They had long heard of the young master''s extraordinaryprehension ability, but they hadn''t expected that even in such a moment, he could achieve this level of insight.
Time passed, bit by bit.
Soon, the morning turned into afternoon.
In the training ground, only Shen Mo stood alone.
The three bronze gates quietly floated around him.
Beside him, a sphere of spiritual energy surged and transformed constantly.
At first, it was just golden spiritual energy.
Later, ice spiritual energy flowed in.
Eventually, even faint traces of fire, lightning, and other spiritual energies appeared.
At one point, the spiritual energy sphere suddenly shifted rapidly.
It elongated and widened.
The fourth bronze gate suddenly emerged!
What was even more astonishing was that after the fourth bronze gate appeared, it began to transform.
The golden spiritual energy dispersed.
Ice spiritual energy surged.
In an instant, the bronze gate turned into an ice gate!
In just a few breaths, the ice energy dissipated, and faint fire energy gathered from all directions.
The ice gate transformed into a zing me gate!
Then came a giant wooden gate, wrapped in vines and formed from nts.
Next, a shimmering, highly flexible water gate made of dense water appeared.
Gold, wood, water, fire, earththese were the mostmon forms of the five-element spiritual energy.
Wind, lightning, and ice were rarer, more powerful mutated spiritual energies.
A total of eight types of spiritual energy appeared in session, each presenting a different form of the gates!
Buzz!
At that moment, Shen Mo suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a look of delight.
The four Profound Gates had now reached the fourth stage!
The fourth gate could transform into various forms depending on the connection to different elements of spiritual energy.
When the ice gate was formed, it could more effectively resist ice-type martial techniques.
Simrly, when the me gate was formed, it could better withstand fire-based martial techniques.
With this, no matter what martial technique the opponent used, Shen Mo would have a countermeasure.
His defensive capabilities had thus greatly improved!
Shen Mo''s expression showed satisfaction.
He had sensed this opportunity earlier in the morning.
And now, just as described in his life panel, it hade to fruition!
Outside the training ground, voices of congrattions could be heard.
"Congrattions, young master, on another breakthrough in your martial arts!"
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Chapter 134: The Fragrance of White Rock City
Chapter 134: The Fragrance of White Rock City
"The master drives away wild dogs with a stick. When one day the wild dog bes a domesticated pet, the stick that once drove it away will inevitably be broken out of resentment."
Ji Shilong gazed southward, muttering these words to himself.
Standing quietly beside him was Luo Shuanghan.
Luo Shuanghan had rushed back from Qingxuan Sect at top speed and ryed every word Shen Mo had spoken, without missing a single detail, to Ji Shilong.
"What do you think he means by this?" Ji Shilong suddenly asked.
Luo Shuanghan shook his head, "I do not know."
Ji Shilong sneered, "It''s not that you don''t know; you just don''t dare say it."
Luo Shuanghan remained silent.
How could he dare say anything?
Ji Shilong spoke calmly, "He believes I''m the cudgel of Yuzhou Prefect or perhaps even the cudgel in the hand of Emperor Jing."
"This kid is quite interesting. While Xuanjiang Sect is on the brink of destruction, he has already seen my future."
Luo Shuanghan still kept his silence.
"What''s the movement from the Five Sects of Xuanjiang?" Ji Shilong asked, regaining hisposure.
Only then did Luo Shuanghan speak, "Divine Sword Sect, Sword Sovereign Zhou Qingcang has sessfully condensed a Seven Kill Golden Core and entered the Core Formation stage."
"Verdant Vine Sect, Demon Sovereign Mo Yuheng has sessfully condensed a Ten Thousand Demons Golden Core and entered the Core Formation stage."
"Rising Sun Sect, Fiery Sovereign Hong Chiyu has sessfully condensed a Red Sun Golden Core and entered the Core Formation stage."
"Thunderfire Sect, Wanjin failed to condense his Golden Core and is gravely injured, bedridden for at least three months."
"Heavenly Water Sect, upon hearing the news of Feng Lianshan being killed by Shen Mo, Yin Xuege fainted on the spot. It is said that Sect Master Zhang Mo is already grooming Bai Ziyue as a sessor."
Ji Shilong''s face remained unchanged, "For five sovereigns of Xuanjiang, the gap seems a little too wide."
"And what about Heavenly Water Sect? There should be some movements, right?"
Luo Shuanghan nodded, "Sect Master Zhang personally met with Lu Xinyue, the sect master of White River Sect, but no one knows what they discussed."
Ji Shilong nodded, "Nothing else from Verdant Vine Sect other than Mo Yuheng''s Core Formation?"
Luo Shuanghan shook his head, "No, Verdant Vine Sect has been very quiet recently, mostly researching poisons and taming demon beasts."
Ji Shilong waved his hand, "You may leave."
"Yes."
Once again, Ji Shilong was left alone in the courtyard.
He furrowed his brows slightly, "No action from Verdant Vine Sect? No, they must have done something, but it slipped past my eyes and ears."
"Verdant Vine Sect and Heavenly Water Sect must be nning a chess game through Qingxuan Sect."
...
Deep within Profound Frost Cave.
Shen Mo crouched next to the ice dragon''s remains.
In his right palm, the Red Lotus me zed, slowly melting the ice dragon''s body.
The Red Lotus me could gradually melt the remains of the ice dragon.
This was a trick he had only discovered in the past few days.
Though the process was slow, in a whole day he had only managed to melt the dragon''s tail.
But he had obtained a few drops of ice dragon blood.
At least, with persistence, he would eventually melt the entire ice dragon.
Its bones, tendons, and bloodall could be taken at once.
Once the ice dragon''s body was fully melted, the temperature of Profound Frost Cave would gradually rise, and the ce would lose all its value.
Whether he sold it to other sects or abandoned it didn''t matter.
Moreover, after several consecutive days of melting, Shen Mo also realized that his rapport with the Red Lotus me was improving.
Even though the me had been subdued by him, it didn''t necessarily obey all hismands.
Now, through repeated use, their synergy was growing stronger.
"Has there been any recent activity from Heavenly Water Sect?" Shen Mo casually sat on the ground, melting the dragon''s corpse while observing his life panel.
[Destiny: You will stop at thete stage of the Core Formation. Three months from now, Qingxuan Sect will be attacked, and you will die under the sword of Zhang Mo, the sect master of Heavenly Water Sect.]
[Opportunity 1: Today, the progress of melting the ice dragon''s body will elerate significantly, melting half the corpse. You will obtain one ice dragon bone and one ice dragon tendon.]
[Opportunity 2: In more than half a month, you willpletely melt the ice dragon''s body and store all its treasures in your storage ring.]
[Opportunity 3: A month from now, you will consume thest Great Replenishing Pill and sessfully reach thete stage of Core Formation.]
[Uing Turn 1: After entering thete stage of Core Formation, you will hear about a strange fragrance near White Rock City, suggesting a great treasure has appeared. On your way to investigate, you will pass by White Rock City and fall into a trap set by White River Sect. You will discover the trap ahead of time, but White River Sect will send a Core Formation elder and three Core Formation elders to hunt you down. Ultimately, you will fall into White River Sect''s hands and be used in exchange for Profound Frost Cave.]
[Uing Turn 2: After being captured by White River Sect, you will be tortured, and your dantian will be crippled. When Qingxuan Sect trades you back, you will be a useless person.]
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow slightly.
It seemed that the act of killing Feng Lianshan, the Sect Master of Blood River Sect, had already caused a shift in his predetermined fate.
Zhang Mo was clearly losing patience.
"The key is that I fell into White River Sect''s trap, and after being captured, my dantian was crippled."
"Murong Yue will surely be enraged by this and attack White River Sect, even though her strength is weaker than theirs."
Shen Mo was deep in thought.
With the destruction of Flying Frost Sect and Blood River Sect, White River Sect had be the only first-rate sect under Heavenly Water Sect''smand.
Moreover, after taking over part of Blood River Sect''s industries and personnel, White River Sect''s power had undoubtedly grown significantly.
Shen Mo had long known that White River Sect would make a move.
He just hadn''t expected that they woulde for him directly.
"There''s a strange fragrance in White Rock City, detectable from dozens of miles away It''s likely Thousand-Mile Fragrance, which, like the Thousand-Handed Lotus, is a rare treasure used to cultivate the Nine-Lotus Nascent Soul. I must obtain it."
"White Rock Citywhy not go?"
"The only thing to be cautious about is that Core Formation elder."
Shen Mo pondered.
Elders were typically Core Formation cultivators over four hundred years old.
Due to their seniority and age, they were referred to as "elders."
These individuals usually went into deep seclusion, only appearing when their sect was on the brink of destruction.
Elders were few in number.
While the Five Sects of Xuanjiang certainly had elders, the exact number was never publicly disclosed.@@novelbin@@
Some powerful, long-established first-rate sects also had elders.
White River Sect was one such sect.
As for Qingxuan Sect, some of their elders had perished in the battle against Heavenly Water Sect long ago, and the rest had all passed away over the past fifty years.
Thus, Qingxuan Sect no longer had any elders.
"Elders are typically at the peak of the Core Formation stage. Due to their deep experience and extensive knowledge, their strength surpasses that of younger Core Formation peak cultivators by several degrees."
"However, each battle they fight elerates their aging, effectively burning their life force. That''s why they are reluctant to fight unless absolutely necessary."
"For White River Sect to deploy an elder against me, they are clearly determined to capture me."
"Dealing with such people is not impossible."
Shen Mo understood the strengths and weaknesses of elders well.
They were powerful and had richbat experience.
But their greatest weakness was their inability to sustain long-term battles.
As long as he avoided direct confrontation and used tactics to wear them down, he might be able to defeat one.
If this elder were to fall, it would surely deal a devastating blow to White River Sect.
At that point, Qingxuan Sect could seize the opportunity and attack White River Sect in one swift move!
In this way, Flying Frost Sect, Blood River Sect, and White River Sectthese three arms would be severed.
No matter how much Heavenly Water Sect resisted, they would have no choice but to intervene personally!
"The n is set. Now, I just have to wait for that day toe."
Shen Mo''s expression remained calm.
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Chapter 135: So It Was Him
Chapter 135: So It Was Him
In the deepest part of Profound Frost Cave, all was silent.
Time passed slowly, bit by bit.
The Red Lotus me zed fiercely.
At a certain moment, arge portion of frost suddenly melted.
Shen Mo''s expression brightened slightly, and he quickly inspected the situation.
"So, the ice dragon''s body is already hollow. No wonder it melted so quickly."
Shen Mo shook his head slightly.
Looking inside through the hollow, he saw that most of the ice dragon''s body had already been emptied.
Only a few bones remained.
The tendons were almost gone as well.
All that was left were a few pockets of frozen ice dragon blood still clinging tightly to the inside of the body.
He roughly estimated that there was just enough blood to fill two more vats.
"Not sure if that will be enough for what I need."
Shen Mo sighed lightly.
He had thought it would be a great source of blood.
The upkeep for his demon armor required a constant supply of blood, and even this might not be enough to satisfy the insatiable beast.
...
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
Shen Mo sat quietly in his room, refining the medicinal power of the Great Replenishing Pill.
This particr bottle of Great Replenishing Pills was not the one Murong Yue had given him.
Instead, it was something he had taken from Feng Lianshan''s storage ring after killing him.
Feng Lianshan hadn''t used them all, leaving two pills behind, which now benefited Shen Mo.
Just as his life panel had predicted, after swallowing the Great Replenishing Pill, Shen Mo immediately felt the bottleneck that had trapped him for so long begin to loosen.
At a certain moment, the bottleneck broke open.
His internal energy surged.@@novelbin@@
The Infernal Gold Core within him expanded significantly.
Heavy, brilliant, mes rising, smoke swirling.
It was far more powerful than the average cultivator''s Gold Core.
"Core Formation stage, fully achieved!"
Shen Mo felt a rush of excitement and immediately got up, heading outside.
Breathing in the fresh air, he smiled.
Shen Mo quickly walked out of his residence.
After only a few steps, he overheard two stewards nearby discussing something.
"I heard that recently there''s been a strange fragrance filling the air near White Rock City, but no one knows what''s going on."
"Many people say it''s the birth of a great treasure, and some even specte it could be Thousand-Mile Fragrance, a rare treasure perfect for nurturing Nascent Souls! Quite a few Core Formation cultivators have already headed there."
"What a shame. If only we were at the Core Formation stage, we''d go try our luck too. Who knows, that kind of fortune might fall right into our hands!"
"Any elders from our sect going?"
"No way. Think about how fast our sect has expanded recently. With so many industries and cities to protect, there''s no elder with free time. Naturally, they won''t get involved."
"That''s true What a pity. That must be an incredible treasure."
Shen Mo''s interest was piqued.
He approached them casually and asked, "What''s the situation in White Rock City right now?"
The two stewards were startled, but upon seeing that it was Shen Mo, they quickly bowed respectfully.
Then, they ryed everything they knew in detail.
"Young Sect Master, are you nning to take a look?" one of them asked.
Shen Mo nodded slightly. "It does seem interesting. Go inform Elder Song and Hall Master Wei that I''m heading to White Rock City, and they don''t need to worry about my safety."
"Yes, I''ll go right away."
Shen Mo took to the air, heading north toward White Rock City.
As the Young Sect Master, his identity and status were too important for him to simply disappear without notice.
By informing Song Chaofeng and Wei Xiongtie, if they wanted to look for himter, they would at least know where to start.
...
White Rock City.
This city was located to the north of Profound Frost City, roughly in the central region of Xuanjiang Prefecture, rather than the southern region where Qingxuan Sect was based.
White Rock City had once been under the control of Blood River Sect.
But after Blood River Sect was destroyed, the city became the center of a power struggle among Qingxuan Sect, White River Sect, Storm Rain Sect, and Purple Star Sect.
The four sides had been in a deadlock for a long time, and none had been able to fully im the city.
Considering that such a stalemate would consume a huge amount of manpower and resources, and with Qingxuan Sect expanding rapidly and having many industries to defend, Murong Yue had convened a meeting of the elders and decided to temporarily withdraw from White Rock City, pulling out the two stationed elders.
As a result, White Rock City had be divided among three factions.
However, despite this division, arge portion of the city remained unimed.
These unimed territories had be the yground of rogue cultivators.
Powerful Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators formed various gangs, recruiting others and carving out their own territories in White Rock City.
Today, the city was in utter chaos.
Murder and robbery in broad daylight had bemonce.
At this moment, a young figure arrived at the entrance of White Rock City.
He wore a half-mask with fire patterns, covering his eyes and nose, leaving only his mouth exposed.
There were many people wearing masks like him.
He didn''t stand out.
This young man was Shen Mo.
Even before approaching White Rock City, he had already donned the mask.
In this way, he concealed his face, avoiding unnecessary trouble.
"Indeed, such a fragrant aroma!"
As soon as Shen Mo arrived at White Rock City, he immediately caught the rich fragrance in the air.
Just a light sniff filled him with a sense of rxation and delight.
Even the rotation speed of his Infernal Gold Core had elerated.
"The scent of Thousand-Mile Fragrance."
Shen Mo''s spirits lifted.
"But how should I find it? This treasure is definitely underground, and without any clues, it''s going to be difficult to locate."
He took a few casual steps and noticed several corpses lying on the roadside.
Not far away, the sounds of shing weapons and fighting rang out.
Clearly, two groups of rival cultivators had started a battle.
Some rogue cultivators cast their eyes on Shen Mo, showing fierce intent.
However, after Shen Mo swiftly killed a few of them, the rest of the rogues immediately transformed from hungry wolves into obedient sheep, bowing in submission.
He continued walking for a while until he suddenly sensed someone following him.
Shen Mo smirked, then abruptly moved at high speed, circling around several times.
In no time, he had shaken off his pursuers.
After a few more turns, he casually walked into a teahouse.
"Shopkeeper, a bowl of cold tea."
Shen Mo sat down and spoke calmly.
"Coming right up, Daoist! Please wait a moment!"
The shopkeeper wasn''t a powerful cultivator, just at the Body Refining stage.
His cultivation level was quite low, barely at the mid-stage of Body Refining, not much stronger than an ordinary strong mortal.
Soon, a bowl of cold tea was brought to him.
Shen Mo''s mask only covered the upper half of his face, allowing him to drink freely.
While sipping his tea, he also listened to the conversations of the cultivators in the teahouse.
"Look at that girl, she''s a real beauty. How about we"
"Shh, didn''t you see the person next to her? He''s a disciple of Qingxuan Sect. That sect''s riding high right now, we better not provoke them."
"Qingxuan Sect are they really that powerful? I don''t remember hearing much about them."
"Are you kidding me? You don''t know Qingxuan Sect? Are you even from Xuanjiang Prefecture?"
"No I''m from the neighboring Jiande Prefecture. My sect was wiped out"
"Uh, brother, that''s rough."
"Come on, tell me, what''s Qingxuan Sect? I only know about the Five Sects of Xuanjiang."
"Heh, if you''re talking about Qingxuan Sect, you have to mention one person: their Young Sect Master, Shen Mo! This guy once dominated the Hundred Sects Grand Tournament, defeating countless geniuses to take first ce! Let me tell you another thing: he''s only at the early Core Formation stage but managed to kill a peak Core Formation cultivator. Now, tell me if that''s impressive or not!"
"Wow, that''s incredible!"
"..."
Shen Mo couldn''t help but chuckle.
He hadn''t expected that even here in White Rock City, deep in the central region of Xuanjiang Prefecture, people were talking about his deeds.
But a Qingxuan Sect disciple?
From the corner of his eye, Shen Mo nced toward a pair of young men and women sitting in a corner of the teahouse with their backs to him.
The man was tall and dashing, while the woman was petite and delicate.
Out of curiosity, Shen Mo subconsciously checked their life panels.
"So, it''s him?"
Heughed quietly to himself.
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Chapter 138: The Thousand Mile Fragrance Blooms, Treasures Revealed
Chapter 138: The Thousand Mile Fragrance Blooms, Treasures Revealed
Shen Mo gently plucked the petals of the Red Sun Lotus.
Like munching on potato chips, he tossed them into his mouth.
Instantly, waves of medicinal energy surged through his body.
The feeling waspletely different from when he refined the Thousand-Hand Lotus in the past.
If that experience had been a gentle stream, this was like a rushing mountain flood.
The Red Sun Lotus was one of the sixty-some Earth-rank treasures recorded in the me Hell Destruction Manual, and it was the most suitable for nurturing a nineyered lotus tform.
Why was it the most suitable?
It was precisely because of the vast amounts of fiery spiritual energy contained within it.
By dawn, Shen Mo had fully refined the Red Sun Lotus.
Not a trace of its spiritual energy was wasted.
When he observed his dantian internally, he immediately saw that below his golden core, a second lotus tform had already formed atop his dao altar.
This new lotus tform was a fiery red, radiating intense heat.
At first nce, it seemed as though mes were dancing, but in truth, it was crimson petals spinning continuously.
Shen Mo sensed his body had grown significantly stronger, and the flow of blood in his veins had sped up.
This meant that if he were injured, his body would now heal far faster than before.
The effects of this single Red Sun Lotus were equivalent to five Green Jade Beads!
"It''s time to leave."
"In two days, the Thousand Mile Fragrance will bloom. I need to rest and prepare for that moment."
With a single leap, Shen Mo stood up and left.
As he strolled out of the residential area, a young couple holding hands walked past him.
This familiar paira handsome man and a beautiful womanwas none other than Xiao Fan and Ouyang Qian.
It was obvious they had followed the scent of the flowers to this ce.
Had Shen Mo not intercepted the opportunity, the Red Sun Lotus would have certainly ended up in Xiao Fan''s hands.
Shen Mo smiled faintly as he brushed past them.
Xiao Fan gave the man wearing a me-patterned mask a puzzled look.
"Brother Xiao Fan, what''s wrong? What are you looking at?" Ouyang Qian asked with a lightugh.
Xiao Fan shook his head. "Nothing, I just felt like I saw someone familiar."
"Someone familiar?" Ouyang Qian tilted her head.
"Someone I both hate and fear," Xiao Fan said, his expressionplicated.
Ouyang Qian clenched her fists yfully. "Who is it? I''ll ask my father to kill him for you!"
Xiao Fan chuckled, "No need. With my potential, in no more than five years, I''ll surpass him."
"The humiliation I''ve suffered, I will wash away with my own hands!"
Ouyang Qian''s eyes sparkled. "Brother Xiao Fan, what I admire most about you is your indomitable spirit and your upright character!"
Xiao Fan smiled humbly. "Sister Qian, you think too highly of me."
Ouyang Qian giggled as she looked ahead at an unremarkable residence. "It seems that intense floral scent ising from over there, Brother Xiao Fan. Let''s take a look."
The two entered the house.
Immediately, they sensed something was off.
The ground inside was already shattered.
Xiao Fan''s instincts told him something bad had happened.
He quickly jumped into the cer.
It was empty.
The once strong floral fragrance was rapidly fading.
Ouyang Qian tilted her head. "Looks like we''vee to the wrong ce. There''s nothing here."
"Brother Xiao Fan, let''s check the next house."
Xiao Fan scratched his head. "Yeah, seems like we''ve got the wrong ce."
...
"The City Lord''s mansion..."
"This inn looks good."
Shen Mo walked into an inn called "Yui" and rented a room on the third floor.
Opening the window, he had a clear view of the City Lord''s mansion.
"It seems the City Lord of White Stone City is affiliated with the Purple Star Sect."
Shen Mo gazed at the magnificent City Lord''s mansion, lost in thought.
He had done his homework in advance.
While he didn''t know the intricacies of the three factions in White Stone City, he was at least familiar with the basics.
The White River Sect and Stormy Rain Sect needed little exnation.
The White River Sect, under the Heavenly Water Sect, was a sworn enemy of the Qingxuan Sect.
The Stormy Rain Sect was under the Verdant Vine Sect, and they were allied with the Qingxuan Sect.
The Purple Star Sect was rtively unfamiliar.
This sect belonged to the Thunderfire Sect, a prestigious and long-standing sect with a deep foundation and many powerful members.@@novelbin@@
As the three factions vied for control over White Stone City, the Purple Star Sect, being the closest, had taken the initiative and assassinated the old City Lord, installing one of their own in his ce.
Additionally, the Purple Star Sect had taken control of the northern part of the city, along with many viges and towns to the north of White Stone City.
This region was rich, with two mines and more than ten medicinal fields, producing abundant resources.
The White River Sect was the second to arrive, seizing the prosperous western part of the city.
Many restaurants, inns, teahouses, and brothels now fell under the control of the White River Sect.
The Stormy Rain Sect and the Qingxuan Sect were thest to arrive, only managing to secure the southern region.
After the Qingxuan Sect decided to withdraw, they transferred control of their territory to the Stormy Rain Sect through a deal.
As for the eastern part of the city, none of the three major factions had touched it.
It remained entirely under the control of rogue cultivators.
Additionally, in the corners untouched by the three major factions, rogue cultivators continued to operate.
Shen Mo spected that many of these so-called rogue cultivators were actually backed by the three factions.
On the surface, they appeared to be independent groups, but in reality, they acted as pawns or "white gloves" for the three sects.
These "white gloves" were useful, able to do the dirty work and, if necessary, could be discarded without hesitation.
"In truth, for the five great sects of Xuanjiang, the first-rate and second-rate sects that serve them are nothing more than disposable ''white gloves'' as well," Shen Mo mused with a faint smile before dismissing the thought.
He then sat cross-legged on his bed, swallowed a Great Replenishment Pill, and began cultivating.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Over those days, the fragrance permeating the entire city grew more intense.
From Core Formation cultivators tomon mortals, everyone had a growing sense of anticipation.
The treasure was about to appear!
As the fragrance thickened, the frequency and intensity of secret skirmishes in the city also increased.
Shen Mo had even witnessed severalte-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators die right below his window.
That night.
Suddenly, colorful lights burst into the sky above the City Lord''s mansion.
The night wind carried the strange fragrance throughout the city.
Swish, swish, swish.
One after another, figures instinctively rushed out from their ces of rest.
Greedy eyes fixated on the City Lord''s mansion.
"The City Lord''s mansion!"
Someone shouted, and immediately, countless figures surged toward the mansion.
Boom!
mes erupted into the sky.
In just moments, the City Lord''s mansion, a ce that had always been peaceful and protected from rogue cultivators, was engulfed in a raging fire!
Shen Mo did not immediately join the fray.
Instead, he stood on the rooftop of the Yui Inn, watching the City Lord''s mansion from afar, shaking his head slightly.
On the rooftops around him, numerous other cultivators were also standing.
All of them were at least at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Quite a few were even at the Core Formation stage.
They were far moreposed.
Unlike the overly greedy cultivators who rushed headlong toward the City Lord''s mansion, these seasoned individuals remained patient.
Shen Mo couldn''t help but feel some sympathy for those dark figures charging toward the mansion.
The first wave of intruders was clearly foolish.
The City Lord''s mansion, the headquarters of the Purple Star Sect, wouldn''t be without defenses.
Even if they were momentarily caught off guard and the fire caused some confusion, there was no way the rogue cultivators would be able to breach it.
As expected, soon the night wind carried the sounds of screams and the stench of blood.
At the same time, a cold voice echoed across the skies of White Stone City.
"Yang Tianxing is here. Anyone who dares to trespass into the City Lord''s mansion will be killed without mercy!"
Upon hearing this, many cultivators trembled, their eyes filled with disbelief.
The Sect Master of the Purple Star Sect, Yang Tianxing, had personally arrived?
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Chapter 139: Senior, Please Take Me Somewhere Else
Chapter 139: Senior, Please Take Me Somewhere Else
Everyone''s hearts were filled with hesitation.
The Sect Master of the Purple Star Sect himself had arrived. It seemed there was no longer a chance for anyone to fish in troubled waters.
At that moment, another powerful aura surged beneath the night sky, rising higher and higher inyers.
"Hahaha, Sect Master Yang, you''re quite something! White Stone City isn''t the territory of your Purple Star Sect. If you cane, why can''t I, Liu Menghu?"
Liu Menghu!
The cultivators'' expressions froze once again.
The Sect Master of the Storm Rain Sect, Liu Menghu!
Another cultivator at the peak of the Core Formation stage.
Just as Liu Menghu finished speaking, another strong presence suddenly appeared from not far away.
It was as if the cool moonlight illuminated the world.
"There''s no need for such hostility, you two. Let''s not damage the harmony."
"Sect Master Yang, we''re only interested in taking a look at the City Lord''s mansion. We don''t have any other intentions."
Under the moonlight, the cultivators saw a graceful woman floating in mid-air.
She was dressed in a in white robe, her aura serene and otherworldly.
With the arrival of Yang Tianxing and Liu Menghu, it wasn''t difficult to guess the identity of this woman.
She was none other than L Xinyue, the Sect Master of the White River Sect!
Now, the leaders of the three major forces in White Stone City had all revealed themselves!
Some of the spectators among the cultivators were thrilled.
Normally, they would never get the chance to see figures of this level.
After all, the three were the leaders of prestigious sects, possessing immense power and high status.
It seemed a fierce battle was about to break out!
Unlike the astonished cultivators, Shen Mo remained unphased.
He had long known that these three forces would vie for control over the Thousand-Mile Fragrance.
He also knew that none of them would ultimately seed in iming it.
In the end, Xiao Fan would take advantage of the chaos and secretly steal it away.
If these three Sect Masters knew their fate was already sealed, what would their reactions be?
"Sect Master L, your words are misguided. The City Lord''s mansion is the territory of my Purple Star Sect. No matter what''s inside, it''s not for the White River Sect or Storm Rain Sect to see!"
Yang Tianxing nced at L Xinyue from a distance, sneering coldly.
L Xinyue smiled slightly, "Who said the City Lord''s mansion is your territory?"
As her words fell, a violent explosion suddenly erupted from within the mansion!
Yang Tianxing''s pupils contracted as he looked toward the source.
The explosion came from the City Lord''s bedchamber!
Momentster, a group of cultivators rushed out from the City Lord''s mansion, surrounding the City Lord''s son.
"Sect Master L, the old City Lord, who went against the will of the people, has been executed. We wish to establish his son as the new City Lord. Please protect us, Sect Master L!"
The leading rogue cultivator shouted loudly toward L Xinyue.
Yang Tianxing''s face turned grim with anger.
The White River Sect had already nted its agents within the City Lord''s mansion!
"Our White River Sect has always stood for fairness and justice. Since you seek our aid, how could I refuse?"
L Xinyue spoke in a clear voice.
With that, she led her Core Formation cultivators to the scene without dy.
Yang Tianxing roared furiously, "A son killing his father is the greatest form of unfilial conduct! He deserves death!"
He channeled his spiritual power and unleashed a massive hand of starlight toward the gate of the City Lord''s mansion, enveloping the group of cultivators and the City Lord''s son within it.
Boom!@@novelbin@@
A streak of moonlight, spanning dozens of meters, suddenly shot forth and collided with the starlight hand.
Bang!
The moonlight and starlight intertwined and annihted each other, the impact shattering the surrounding buildings into rubble.
Dust filled the air.
In an instant, L Xinyue and her people had arrived, shielding the City Lord''s son and his group.
"Sect Master Yang, the City Lord you appointed was tyrannical and violent. His son acted with righteousness by putting an end to him, and should be rewarded, not punished."
L Xinyue frowned deeply, "It seems the Purple Star Sect no longer has a ce in White Stone City."
"For the stability of White Stone City, my White River Sect is willing to take action and drive the Purple Star Sect out!"
From afar, Liu Menghuughed heartily, "Sister L is absolutely right! I, Liu Menghu, fully support her!"
The rogue cultivators, seeing this, also began shouting loudly.
"We support it too!"
"The Purple Star Sect has acted unjustly; it''s only right we join forces to oppose them!"
"Charge! Storm the City Lord''s mansion and seize the treasures! Oops, I mean, restore order to the city!"
"...Don''t say your real intentions out loud, it''s about stabilizing White Stone City!"
"Ah, yes, yes, it''s for White Stone City''s stability, not for any treasures!"
L Xinyue was the first to make her move.
With that, the situation escted rapidly.
Under the dark night sky, the battle instantly reached a fever pitch.
The White River Sect, Purple Star Sect, and Storm Rain Sect were locked in a chaotic struggle.
The rogue cultivator gang they secretly manipted seized the opportunity to enter the City Lord''s mansion, searching for the treasure emitting the floral fragrance.
Shen Mo watched the scene unfold with a half-smile.
These people sure make thingsplicated when fighting.
Clearly, they were all here for the Thousand-Mile Fragrance.
Yet, they had to im it was for fairness and justice, or the stability of White Stone City.
But the White River Sect was truly capable.
They managed to manipte the City Lord''s son into killing his father.
With this, they instantly took the moral high ground.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Silhouettes darted through the night, racing toward the City Lord''s mansion.
Shen Mo''s gaze swept across the streets and alleys.
He quickly found his target.
Xiao Fan and Ouyang Qian!
The two had also seized the opportunity, rushing into the City Lord''s mansion at top speed.
Shen Mo chuckled lightly and followed them immediately.
Finding the Thousand-Mile Fragrance on his own would be too troublesome.
By simply following these two, he''d naturally discover the final target.
With a few swift movements, Shen Mo easily slipped into the City Lord''s mansion.
At that moment, the mansion echoed with the sounds of battle, and mes rose high into the sky.
Corpses littered the ground.
There were not only the bodies of ordinary people but also those of high-level cultivators, who, in the eyes of mortals, were once unreachable figures. Now, theyy on the ground like dead pigs.
People die for wealth, just as birds die for food.
Mortals are like this.
So are cultivators.
Many cultivators, driven mad by the killing, were attacking anyone they saw.
Shen Mo, using his Eightfold Thunder Technique, easily weaved through the crowd.
Only when there was no way to avoid an attack would he flick his fingers, sending a thread of spiritual energy that instantly struck vital points, killing his enemies in seconds.
Most of the rogue cultivators here were at the Foundation Establishment stage.
For a Core Formation cultivator like Shen Mo, it was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep.
Pure carnage!
"The floral scent is bing harder to track"
Shen Mo took a moment to sniff the air.
However, the smell of blood, sweat, and burningpletely overwhelmed the floral scent.
Even if he brought in a demon hound trained to the fourth rank, it would still be as lost as a headless fly.
"This luck"
Shen Mo trailed Xiao Fan the whole time.
It amused him to no end.
The rogue cultivators practically acted as if he didn''t exist.
Throughout the chase, Shen Mo observed that only four people had attacked Xiao Fan.
Of them, three mysteriously died before they could even strikestabbed in the back, hit by stray arrows, or crushed by a burning beam.
The fourth one, well, he was an overconfident Foundation Establishment novice who got killed by Xiao Fan with a single sword strike.
"Is he heading for the rock garden?"
Shen Mo noticed Xiao Fan''s movements and quickened his pace, catching up.
Indeed, the floral scent here was much stronger.
With a few leaps, Shen Mo reached the rock garden ahead of Xiao Fan, mming his palm down on the path before him.
Boom!
The cobblestone path instantly caved in, leaving arge crater.
Xiao Fan instinctively stopped and swallowed hard.
Such power... it must be a Core Formation cultivator!
"Senior, please, I''ll head somewhere else!"
Xiao Fan, knowing his ce, cupped his hands toward Shen Mo, then quickly turned and ran in a different direction.
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Chapter 140: The Treasure Will Surely End Up in Lü Xinyue’s Hands
Chapter 140: The Treasure Will Surely End Up in L Xinyue''s Hands
Shen Mo chuckled lightly as he looked at the rock garden.
He swiftly struck with his palm.
Boom!
The rock garden instantly shattered into countless fragments, shooting in all directions.
Beneath it, a pit was revealed.
A rich floral fragrance immediately wafted out, spreading around the area.
Shen Mo quickly used his Eightfold Thunder Technique and dashed into the pit at top speed.
It turned out that there was a hidden underground tunnel here.
He surmised that it was probably constructed by the previous City Lord as an escape route.
With the old City Lord dead, the tunnel had naturally fallen into obscurity.
Shen Mo advanced rapidly through the tunnel.
There was no longer any trace of the blood, sweat, or burning smells from the outside world, so he followed the floral scent all the way forward.
He soon arrived at the spot where the fragrance was the most intense.
There was a small pool of water here.
Drip, drip.
Water droplets slowly fell from above.
Suspended in the pool was a lotus flower about the size of a palm.
It was the Thousand-Mile Fragrance!
At this moment, the flower had fully bloomed.
At its center was a single, crystal-clear droplet of dew.
This was the Thousand-Mile Fragrance Dew.
It was a drop of dew formed only when the Thousand-Mile Fragrance was in full bloom and undisturbed by external forces!
Shen Mo had already prepared a jade bottle and swiftly collected the Thousand-Mile Fragrance Dew.
Then, he took out a pair of small scissors made from jade and carefully cut the Thousand-Mile Fragrance.
If plucked by hand, much of its medicinal power would be lost.
Only by using jade scissors could the maximum potency be preserved.
After the fall of the Feishuang Sect and Blood River Sect, their records had been sent to the Qingxuan Sect.
During his downtime from cultivation, Shen Mo had read these books and was well aware of the Thousand-Mile Fragrance''s properties.
By now, the strong floral scent had spread far and wide.
More and more people were beginning to notice this ce.
Including L Xinyue, Liu Menghu, and Yang Tianxing, who were fighting in mid-air.
Had someone already obtained the Thousand-Mile Fragrance?
Whose hands was it in?
The same thought arose in all three of their minds.
They simultaneously stopped their battle and looked toward the gathering crowd.
They saw arge number of cultivators rushing toward the City Lord''s mansion''s rear garden.
Boom!
A loud explosion rang out.@@novelbin@@
A figure burst out from underground, moving at incredible speed.
Before the surrounding cultivators could even react, the figure had already widened the distance between them by several dozen meters.
"That''s him!" one of the cultivators shouted, pointing at the figure in mid-air.
"Chase, chase, chase! The treasure is mine!"
"Hey, brat, stop running! Hand over the treasure!"
The cultivators were immediately thrown into a frenzy, madly pursuing the figure.
Xiao Fan, hearing themotion, also returned to the vicinity of the rock garden. Through the hole in the ground, he saw the now-empty pool.
He quickly realized that the Thousand-Mile Fragrance had just been here, in this pool.
But now, it was gone.
The problem was, he had already felt that something was off with the rock garden earlier.
The treasure must have been beneath it.
Unfortunately, that Core Formation cultivator got involved, and he had to step aside.
As it turned out, his hunch had been right.
But now, the treasure had slipped away from him.
"Ah such a frustrating feeling."
Xiao Fan was quite upset.
That Core Formation cultivator was clearly a stranger.
So why did it feel as if he was facing Shen Mo all over again?
"Brother Xiao Fan? Are you alright?" Ouyang Qian''s concerned voice came from not far away.
"I''m fine it''s just that we''re no longer in a position topete for that treasure."
"From here on, only Core Formation cultivators will have any say in who gets it."
Xiao Fan sighed.
Ouyang Qian giggled, "It''s alright, it''s alright. If Brother Xiao Fan wants something, just let me know. I''ve got it."
"I remember you''re still short two top-tier Profound-level treasures to form a perfect golden core, right?"
"I''ve got them for you."
As she spoke, she forcefully handed over two treasures to Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan was shocked and quickly epted them. "Alright! Sister Qian, your love for me is truly real!"
Ouyang Qian blushed furiously. "Brother Xiao Fan, you''re being too blunt"
"I need to find a quiet ce to form my golden core, let''s go."
"Mm, I''ll guard you while you do it."
The two of them quickly left.
...
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
Shen Mo used his *Eight Directional Thunder Movement*, swiftly moving through the City Lord''s mansion.
His goal was simple: to shake off the pursuers and leave White Stone City.
It was easy enough to shake off the rogue cultivators, as most were merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, and he could kill them with a flick of his fingers.
However, the members of the three major sects wouldn''t let him leave so easily.
Of course, since Shen Mo had decided to seize the Thousand-Mile Fragrance, he had also prepared to face these people.
After stepping into the *Great Aplishment Core Formation* stage, he could kill any cultivator of the same level in seconds.
Against a peak Core Formation cultivator, he could still crush them.
Even when faced with a top-level Core Formation cultivator, though he might not be able to win, he could at least escape unscathed.
It could be said that of all the cultivators in the city, the only one Shen Mo needed to be cautious of was the elder from the White River Sect who had reached the peak of the Core Formation stage.
At that moment, a streak of moonlight suddenly spanned dozens of meters, crashing toward him.
Shen Mo instinctively dodged, easily avoiding the strike.
The moonlight smashed into one of the pavilions in the City Lord''s mansion, reducing it to rubble.
Fragments of stone grazed Shen Mo''s right leg, leaving a small cut.
However, such a wound was nothing in the face of his body''s powerful regenerative abilities.
Within just a few breaths, the wound had already healed.
L Xinyue, watching this from a distance, raised an eyebrow slightly. She could tell at a nce that her opponent was also a Core Formation cultivator.
"Fellow cultivator, this item belongs to White Stone City. As an outsider, you shouldn''t take it away," L Xinyue said calmly.
Shen Mo deliberately made his voice hoarse andughed, "Priceless treasures belong to those with destiny."
"You, L Xinyue, just happened to be born in White Stone City, and you think you have the right to im it?"
L Xinyue wasn''t angered but continued, "Fellow cultivator, you''re also at the Core Formation stage. I''m not one to make enemies lightly. Name your price. As long as it''s reasonable, I''m willing to buy it."
Shen Mo sneered, "Heh heh, the Thousand-Mile Fragrance is one of the treasures that nurtures a lotus throne. It''s worth half the life of a Nascent Soul cultivator. You want it? Bring me 10,000 top-grade spirit stones in exchange!"
L Xinyue frowned.
It was clear that this person had no intention of handing over the Thousand-Mile Fragrance.
"Then you can die," L Xinyue said coldly, her voice chilling as she waved her hand. In an instant, six streaks of moonlight shot out, enveloping Shen Mo from all directions.
Yang Tianxing and Liu Menghu, who were rushing over, both frowned when they saw this.
This move was L Xinyue''s signature technique.
It was a move called "Sixfold Cold Moon," onlyprehensible by those who had cultivated the White River Sect''s Earth-rank martial art, Moon Path to Heaven, to the eighth level.
When unleashed, the six streaks of moonlight sealed off the opponent from every angle.
The moonlight was cold and yin in nature.
Attempting to break through it with brute force would only cause the moonlight to bind tighter.
Of course, with overwhelming brute strength, it was possible to shatter the moonlight.
But among cultivators of the same realm, no one had ever aplished such a feat.
Both Liu Menghu and Yang Tianxing had fought against L Xinyue before.
The only way they knew to counter this move was to avoid it altogether.
"It seems that treasure will belong to L Xinyue," Yang Tianxing muttered with a frown.
Liu Menghu scratched his head.
He had a feeling that the rogue cultivator with the fire-patterned mask seemed unusually confident.
Even when wrapped in the moonlight, he showed no signs of panic.
Was it ignorance, or genuine confidence?
It wasn''t just themmany of the cultivators rushing to the scene witnessed this moment.
The rogue cultivator who had seized the treasure and fled was now trapped in the six streaks of moonlight.
The onlookers sighed in unison.
There was no way that rogue cultivator could withstand that attack.
The treasure was surely going to fall into L Xinyue''s hands.
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Chapter 141: Ice Dragon Blood Demon Armor—Smashing Six Moons’ Rays with One Punch
Chapter 141: Ice Dragon Blood Demon ArmorSmashing Six Moons'' Rays with One Punch
In midair.
Facing the six chilling beams of moonlight, Shen Mo''s expression remained particrly calm.
Is this move supposed to be strong?
With a slight activation of his power, a dark purple demonic armor instantly appeared on his right arm.
In a moment, his entire right arm was tightly covered, without a gap.
He clenched his fist sharply, and the blood pouch in his palm burst open.
Ice Dragon Blood immediately seeped out and was absorbed by the armor.
During his previous fight with Feng Lieshan, Shen Mo had realized that retrieving the Ice Dragon Blood from his storage ring and feeding it to the armor was too slow.
So, he made a small improvement.
It was simple, reallyhe crafted small blood pouches and attached them to his sleeve.
Each pouch contained two to three drops of Ice Dragon Blood.
These pouches didn''t interfere with his movements and wouldn''t burst open on their own.
But when he clenched his fist hard, the blood pouch would burst.
The blood would immediately seep out, allowing the armor to absorb it at the first moment.
This greatly shortened the time.
When experts fight, it''s those fleeting moments that decide the oue!
Boom!
In the blink of an eye, the dark purple demonic armor on his right arm underwent a massive transformation.
Suddenly, it exuded a bone-chilling aura, covered in sharp ice spikes.
The surface was now d in tightly interlocked scales.
Compared to its earlier appearance of dark purple metal, the armor now looked entirely different.
This scene was witnessed by Lu Xinyue, Liu Menghu, Yang Tianxing, and the other cultivators.
For some reason, they all felt a faint sense of threat emanating from that strange arm guard.
Yet, they couldn''t pinpoint why.
It was merely an instinctual feeling of danger.
"What is that thing? Some kind of spiritual weapon?" Liu Menghu scratched his head. "But why does it only cover the right arm and not the whole body?"
Yang Tianxing frowned. "Maybe it''s a gauntlet-type spiritual weapon."
In the next moment, Shen Mo stepped back half a step, his right fist brimming with power.
An unstoppable, surging force pulsed within his right arm.
Just as the six beams of moonlight enveloped him, Shen Mo suddenly threw a punch.
Boom!
In midair, light exploded, and chaotic currents shot out.
A violent shockwave rippled in all directions.
Nearby buildings copsed with a thunderous crash.
The once-grand City Lord''s Mansion now stood as nothing but a pile of rubble.
Everyone looked back into the sky.
The six beams of moonlight had shattered like ss.
In an instant, they turned into countless particles of light and disappeared.
Yet the rogue cultivator, wearing a half-face mask with me patterns, stood unscathed!
Everyone''s eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before them.
For Liu Menghu and Yang Tianxing, both cultivators at the Core Formation stage, the shock was even greater.
Unlike ordinary cultivators, they had experienced Lu Xinyue''s move firsthand and knew its terrifying power.
Which made it even more rming.
The fact that this masked rogue cultivator had shattered the "Six Layers of Cold Moon" with a single punch was enough to make their hearts race.
Did this mean that they, too, were no match for him?
Lu Xinyue''s expression at this moment was like she''d seen a ghost.
Her strongest technique waspletely useless against him?
Her gaze suddenly shifted to the man''s right arm.
That strange arm guard it seemed to be more valuable than her own cherished treasure.
"Master Lu, still nning to keep me here?" Shen Mo rasped, his voice cold.
Lu Xinyue gritted her silver teeth and suddenly shouted to those behind her, "Surround him! That arm guard is the real treasure!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Several figures suddenly appeared, encircling Shen Mo from all directions.
They were the elders of the White River Sect.
One of them, cloaked entirely in ck, had their face and bodypletely concealed.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
He smiled faintly.
As expected, the leader of a sect wasn''t so easily scared off.
His gaze casually swept over the elder in the ck robe.
Everyone else had shown their faces, but this person, not only hid their face, but had their entire body wrapped up.
He had long sensed that the other party''s identity was extraordinary.
After a quick nce at the life panel, Shen Mo immediately understood.
The person before him was none other than the ancestor of the White River Sect.
The only ancestor!
"Our White River Sect lost a significant treasure many years ago, an arm guard just like that. I suspect you were involved in the theft back then."
Lu Xinyue''s gaze grew sharper as she spoke, "I request that you hand over the arm guard ande with us back to the White River Sect to await judgment!"
At these words, Shen Mo''s expression turned yful.
As expected of a sect leader.
Even when trying to steal something, they had to pin a crime on you first.
Liu Menghu and Yang Tianxing exchanged knowing nces, their expressions tinged with amusement.
If you''re going to rob someone, just do itno need for such a grand pretext.@@novelbin@@
Among the observing rogue cultivators, a few sharp-witted individuals immediately saw through Lu Xinyue''s ploy and sneered.
However, many others believed her words.
After all, the White River Sect had indeed lost a significant treasure in the past, though it was a full suit of armor, not just an arm guard.
"Stealing is stealing. There''s no need to frame me for it."
Shen Mo chuckled lightly. "But does Master Lu really think these people alone can trap me?"
Lu Xinyue sneered coldly. "You are indeed strong, only slightly weaker than me. But do you think I came here today to seize the Thousand Mile Fragrance without a backup n?"
"Everyone, attack!"
As her voice fell, Lu Xinyue and three other Core Formation stage cultivators lunged at Shen Mo.
At that moment, the ck-robed figure suddenly threw off his cloak, revealing his true identity.
The moment he revealed himself, Liu Menghu and Yang Tianxing were visibly shaken.
"Ancestor! It''s the ancestor of the White River Sect who had been in closed-door seclusion!"
"Why is he here? They said he hadn''t left... I see now, it was a ploy by the White River Sect to deceive everyone."
The two of them looked grim.
They had been yed by Lu Xinyue!
Even without this rogue cultivator with the me-patterned mask, the Thousand Mile Fragrance would inevitably have fallen into Lu Xinyue''s hands.
After all, the ancestor''sbat strength was terrifying!
Among the gathered rogue cultivators, some also recognized the ancestor and began to exim in shock.
"Who would have thought the White River Sect would bring out their ancestor for the Thousand Mile Fragrance? That me-masked man is finished."
"He''s strong, yes, being able to shatter the Six Moons'' Rays with a single punch, but he''s nowhere near strong enough to face the ancestor."
"It''s a pity about that strange demon armor. Looks like it''s going to end up in the hands of the White River Sect."
As the White River Sect''s assault closed in from all sides, Shen Mo smiled faintly. Before their attacks couldnd, he immediately activated his Eight Directions Thunder Movement technique.
There was no need for him to sh head-on with the ancestor of the White River Sect.
Swish!
In the blink of an eye, Shen Mo dashed out of the range of their attacks,nding among the houses outside the City Lord''s Mansion.
"His reflexes are so fast, as if he had known all along that the White River Sect would bring out their ancestor" Yang Tianxing muttered in confusion. "Could he have sensed the threat?"
"His movement technique is also top-tier, at least a supreme-level Profound-grade technique," Liu Menghu remarked, surprised.
Rogue cultivators have limited resources and finances.
They typically focus on cultivating their core techniques to elevate their realm.
Next, they usually prioritize offensive martial arts.
Core techniques and offensive martial arts are often the highest-grade skills rogue cultivators possess.
Movement techniquese next, followed by defensive skills.
After all, in a world where killing for treasure ismon, survival depends more on the strength of your offense, not how fast you can move or how well you can defend.
For a rogue cultivator to possess a supreme-level Profound-grade movement technique was indeed surprising.
"Chase him! We''ll restrict his movements, and the ancestor will handle the kill," Lu Xinyuemanded sharply.
"Yes!"
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Chapter 142: He Cannot Use the Demon Armor Again So Soon
Chapter 142: He Cannot Use the Demon Armor Again So Soon
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shen Mo moved nimbly across the rooftops of the residences in White Stone City, weaving through them with ease.
Each time hended, he would only stay for five breaths before the spot he had just touched was obliterated by Lu Xinyue and her pursuers.
Lu Xinyue and her group showed no regard for the city''s residents, leaving a trail of devastation and corpses in their wake.
Many rogue cultivators watching from afar felt ufortable at the sight.
"Is this what the White River Sect, which ims to uphold justice and fairness, really stands for?"
Shen Mo maintained a constant distance from the White River Sect members, asionally ncing back to mock them.
Lu Xinyue''s chest heaved with fury, reflecting her inner rage.
They had been chasing this guy for a full incense stick of time.
Yet, all they had managed to do was follow behind, achieving nothing.
They hadn''t even gotten close enough to touch a hair on his head.
The ancestor hade close to catching him a few times.
But each time, Shen Mo would swiftly use his movement technique to widen the gap.
Lu Xinyue''s sharp intuition detected a potential weakness and she growled, "After he used that move, the arm guard returned to its dark purple color, which means he can''t use it again in such a short time!"
"Take the Explosive Qi Pill! We need to limit his speed!"
"We can''t let him escape!" Lu Xinyue gritted her silver teeth. "Use the Blood River Sect''s Explosive Qi Pill!"
"Understood!"
The elders around her hesitated for a moment but quicklyplied, swallowing the Explosive Qi Pills.
Although the Blood River Sect had been destroyed, many of their Explosive Qi Pills had made their way into the market, both openly and secretly.
The White River Sect had, of course, obtained arge supply of them.@@novelbin@@
After consuming the pills, the two elders suddenly became more energized, as if they had been injected with adrenaline.
With a single leap, they stomped through a residence, their speed increasing dramatically.
Meanwhile, the me-masked man, Shen Mo, showed signs of injury in both legs, his speed gradually declining.
With the speed gap closing, in the blink of an eye, the two elders were less than ten meters behind Shen Mo.
At this distance, they were ready to strike!
"Attack! Don''t let him get away!"
The two elders exchanged a nce and shouted simultaneously.
The elder on the left conjured a frigid spear and hurled it toward Shen Mo.
The elder on the right extended his hands, from which countless vines sprouted, aiming to entangle Shen Mo''s legs.
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
He had deliberately slowed down just for this moment.
"Taking an Explosive Qi Pill, giving you limitless energy, makes you strong?"
"Not necessarily."
With a clench of his fist, Shen Mo crushed a second blood pouch.
Once again, the demonic armor transformed into the Ice Dragon Blood Demon Armor.
Seeing this, Lu Xinyue''s heart sank.
She had miscalcted.
The devastating blow that had shattered her "Six Layers of Moonlight" was not his ultimate trump card, nor was it a move he could only use once.
At least for now, he could use it again!
Nearby, Liu Menghu and Yang Tianxing, who had been observing the battle, were also stunned.
He can still use it?
Does that technique not consume anything?
It doesn''t seem like it, though...
Without hesitation, Shen Mo immediately used the Eight Directions Thunder Movement technique, turning swiftly.
In an instant, he appeared right in front of the two elders, intercepting their attack before it could even beunched.
The distance between Shen Mo''s fist and the two elders was a mere three feet!
Their pupils contracted sharply.
Even if they were fools, they had now realized
Shen Mo had been feigning injury and slowing down on purpose!
"Block it"
The two roared in unison.
But before they could finish saying the word "block," the Ice Dragon Blood Demon Armor struck.
Boom!
One punch.
With just one punch, both of their bodies were blown apart in midair.
Their remains scattered through the sky like shattered debris.
In a single strike, Shen Mo had obliterated two Core Formation stage cultivators in their peak!
Liu Menghu gasped in shock. "To blow apart two Core Formation cultivators like that... how strong is his power?"
Yang Tianxing instinctively felt an overwhelming sense of danger.
This rogue cultivator was anything but ordinary!
"Master Lu, are you still nning to pursue me?"
Shen Mo hovered in midair, coldly staring at Lu Xinyue and the White River Sect''s ancestor.
His icy gaze sent a chill down Lu Xinyue''s spine.
She couldn''t understand why someone with no prior enmity toward the White River Sect would harbor such deep hatred.
Unbeknownst to her, in the original trajectory of fate, the White River Sect had captured Shen Mo and subjected him to inhumane torture.
Even though the Qingxuan Sect eventually exchanged him back, the White River Sect had crippled his dantian, turning him into a ruined man.
Shen Mo, already aware of this predetermined fate, naturally held deep hostility toward the White River Sect and Lu Xinyue.
"This man has killed two of our White River Sect elders on the spot; we cannot let him go unpunished."
"If we don''t kill him today, our sect''s reputation will be in ruins!"
The elder approached Lu Xinyue, speaking in a deep voice, "I will chase him and limit his movements. You finish him off."
Lu Xinyue took a deep breath. "No, I still have one final move. Even if he can use that strange demon armor again, he won''t be able to block this."
The elder hesitated. "No, if you use that technique, it will damage your constitution and greatly reduce your chances of forming a Nascent Soul."
Lu Xinyue''s determination was unwavering. "As long as we remain loyal to the Tianshui Sect, the White River Sect can rise again at any time."
"I must obtain the Thousand Mile Fragrance, and more importantly, that strange arm guard of his."
The elder sighed. "Very well, you are the sect master, so I will follow your lead."
Their conversation was unheard by anyone else.
Liu Menghu and Yang Tianxing were specting that Lu Xinyue might try to save face by saying something diplomatic, perhaps letting the rogue cultivator leave.
But instead of speaking, Lu Xinyue lightly tapped a rooftop and, like a bolt of lightning, elerated rapidly toward Shen Mo.
Midway through, she began silently chanting something, and her pale face lost all traces of color.
At this moment, the crescent moon hung high in the sky.
As her chanting continued, her entire body seemed to be enveloped in ayer of shimmering moonlight.
In that instant, her aura skyrocketed!
Liu Menghu and Yang Tianxing''s eyes widened in disbelief.
"That technique she dares to use it?" Liu Menghu gasped.
Yang Tianxing frowned deeply. "Once she uses that technique, her foundation will be damaged, and her chances of forming a Nascent Soul will be greatly diminished. Lu Xinyue is truly sacrificing her future to capture that rogue cultivator."
On the ground and rooftops, the rogue cultivators began whispering among themselves.
Many of them had never seen this technique before.
But a few seasoned elders immediately recognized it.
One elder smirked proudly. "You don''t know this move? It''s the ''Moon Body Transformation''!"
"Old brother, quickly tell us, what exactly is this technique?"
The surrounding cultivators were eager to know, as if they were more anxious than at the moment of consummating a wedding.
The elder chuckled. "You know the Moon Path Through the Skytechnique, right? It''s the most profound martial art of the White River Sect."
"This Moon Body Transformation is the ultimate move, achievable only when one has mastered the ninthyer of the Moon Path Through the Sky. It''s so powerful that it''s rarely used unless in life-and-death situations."
"Why is it so rare? Does it damage the body, shorten lifespan?"
The elderughed. "Naturally. But this move doesn''t cost lifespan; it consumes one''s foundation!"
"Using it once reduces the chances of forming a Nascent Soul by thirty percent."
"Using it twice means you can forget about ever reaching the Nascent Soul stage in this lifetime!"
After hearing this, the surrounding cultivators gasped in shock.
No wonder Lu Xinyue hadn''t used this technique earlier.
Now that two White River Sect elders had died, she had no choice but to use it.
"How powerful is the Moon Body Transformation?" someone couldn''t help but ask.
"You''ll see very soon," the elder replied, gazing up at the sky.
There, the shimmering moonlight surrounding Lu Xinyue had swelled to a terrifying level in just a few breaths.
She now resembled a small moon!
"Prepare to die!"
From within the blinding light, Lu Xinyue''s icy voice echoed.
Boom!
Lu Xinyue shot directly toward Shen Mo like a meteor.
For a moment, it seemed as if a miniature moon was crashing down on the rogue cultivator.
A moon! Majestic, unstoppable, and invincible!
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Chapter 143: It’s That Armguard That’s So Powerful—In the End, It’s Just Borrowing External Power
Chapter 143: It''s That Armguard That''s So PowerfulIn the End, It''s Just Borrowing External Power
The pitch-ck night sky was weighed down by dark clouds,pletely covering the original moon.
But now, a new moon had appearedL Xinyue. This "new moon" briefly reced the original one, casting its light across the vast Baishi City, illuminating it as if it were broad daylight!
The cultivators were all stunned, staring at the moon in awe.
Ordinary people, on the other hand, knelt down in reverence, bowing in worship.
To them, wasn''t this a divine act?
"One drop of Ice Dragon blood isn''t enough? Then two. Two isn''t enough? Then three."
Shen Mo''s gaze remained calm.
"Transform yourself into the moon? Let me shatter your moon!"
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
He clenched his hand fiercely, and the blood sacs once again burst.
This time, three blood sacs burst in session.
Nine full drops of Ice Dragon blood merged into the demon armor.
Sizzle!
The demon armor swiftly transformed, once again changing from its purple-ck form into an icy, spiked shape.
Then, Shen Mo slowly gathered his strength.
As L Xinyue''s attack was about to descend, he struck out with a powerful punch!
Boom!
The explosion roared across the sky.
Blinding light shot out.
The curious mortals, who had dared to look up at the sky to witness the battle between the two Core Formation stage cultivators, were instantly caught in the aftermath of the attack.
The piercing light nearly blinded them.
Blood streamed from their eyes!
The lower-level cultivators fared slightly better, only suffering from temporary blindness.
But the intense pain in their eyes still caused them to writhe on the ground in agony.
Liu Menghu and Yang Tianxing also squinted, not daring to look directly at the blinding light.
The lightsted for a while before gradually dimming.
The ancestors of White River Sect hurriedly looked toward the battlefield.
Then, their expressions froze.
Not just them, but everyone else tooeyes wide in disbelief at what they were witnessing.
In midair, the fist of the masked man with fire patterns had pierced through L Xinyue''s towering chest.
This was no optical illusion.
There was only one exnation.
The masked man''s punch had pierced L Xinyue''s body!
"The White River Sect needs a new sect master."
Shen Mo nced around, only to be met with looks of utter shock.
Casually, he reached out and grabbed L Xinyue''s storage ring.
After saying this, he activated the Eight Directions Thunder Movement technique, stepping on L Xinyue''s corpse as he sped off into the distance.
In the blink of an eye, he was dozens of meters away.
The ancestor of White River Sect was furious but couldn''t let L Xinyue''s corpse fall to the ground and shatter into pieces.
He had no choice but to abandon the chase, rushing over to catch L Xinyue''s body.
"No matter who you are, I will kill you! I swear, I''ll kill you!"
Cradling the lifeless sect master of White River Sect, the ancestor roared into the sky, like an old lion unleashing a furious roar.
Yang Tianxing and Liu Menghu watched the fire-patterned masked man disappear into the distance, then looked at L Xinyue''s rapidly cooling corpse.
They exchanged nces, both seeing the terror in each other''s eyes.
If that man could kill L Xinyue, he could kill them just as easily.
Fortunately, they hadn''t rushed in like L Xinyue, trying to stop him.
Otherwise, they would have been the ones lying on the ground right now!
On the ground and rooftops, the rogue cultivators were wide-eyed.
L Xinyue, a cultivator at the peak of the Core Formation stage and the sect master of a prestigious sect, nowy lifeless on the ground like a dead dog.
This scene deeply shocked all the cultivators present.
"That fire-patterned masked man is just a rogue cultivator, yet he can take on sect cultivators head-on, killing two Great Aplishment Core Formation cultivators with one punch, and now he''s killed L Xinyue too!"
"Can rogue cultivators be this powerful? My god!"
"He''s too strong. I wish I could be his disciple!"
One of the cultivators suddenly sneered, "Hmph, I think it''s just that strange armguard of his. In the end, isn''t he just relying on external objects?"
The surrounding cultivators immediately burst into mockingughter. "Oh, you think you''re so pure and righteous, huh? Next time, don''t use pills, don''t use spiritual weapons, and definitely don''t use any formations. Actually, why don''t you stop absorbing spiritual energy too? That''s external power as well."
The cultivator''s face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead, as he argued, "How can absorbing spiritual energy be considered using external objects?"
What followed was a heated debate about whether "cultivators should live in poverty" and whether "wealth,panions, methods, andnd" counted as external aids, which drewughter from those nearby.
Of course, while most of the cultivators were still engrossed in this spectacle, a few sharp-minded individuals had quietly slipped away, heading toward White River Sect''s properties in Baishi City.
Now that L Xinyue was dead, White River Sect was without a leader, and it would likely take at least a month or two for a new sect master to be appointed amidst the inevitable internal struggles.
During this time, White River Sect''s properties would inevitably be left vulnerable.
It was the perfect opportunity for rogue cultivators to take advantage of the chaos.
The news of the fire-patterned masked man, the demon-armored gauntlet, and L Xinyue''s death quickly spread from Baishi City.
...
Meanwhile.
Shen Mo relentlessly used his Eight Directions Thunder Movement technique, advancing at high speed, easily leaving behind the cultivators who had their own schemes.
After confirming that no one was following him, he casually found a cave between the mountains.
After driving out the cave''s original owner, a ck bear, and using a gust of wind to sweep away the foul stench, he finally sat down cross-legged.
"The sect master of a prestigious sect, a cultivator at the peak of Core Formation, was indeed no ordinary foe."
"It took nine drops of Ice Dragon blood to utterly crush him."
"If I had been more greedy and only used two blood sacs, consuming six drops of Ice Dragon blood, I would have barely managed a draw."
"In that case, the attack from the ancestor of White River Sect would have immediately followed, and I would have been trapped in their encirclement."
Shen Mo exhaled deeply.
When it was time to be ruthless, one had to be ruthless enough.
The Ice Dragon blood, as a consumable, had to be used when necessary. There was no point in being stingy.
"This time, I used up over ten drops of Ice Dragon blood, but the rewards were well worth it."
"First, I obtained the Thousand Miles Fragrance and its essence."
"Second, I killed L Xinyue, the sect master of White River Sect, eliminating thest pir of Heavenly Water Sect."
"Third, I obtained L Xinyue''s storage ring."
Shen Mo waved his hand, and L Xinyue''s storage ring appeared in his palm.
"I hope the storage ring of a sect master will give me some pleasant surprises."
He peeked inside and instantly widened his eyes.
The storage ring contained a massive quantity of spirit stones.
There were spirit stones of all grades, from low-grade to high-grade.
There were no less than three thousand high-grade spirit stones.
These were clearly L Xinyue''s personal stash for his own use, not the full wealth of White River Sect.
Aside from the spirit stones, there were also several profound-grade spiritual weapons.
These spiritual weapons were mediocre; any other cultivator would be overjoyed to obtain them, but to Shen Mo, they were just average.
However, two treasures preserved in jade boxes caught his interest.
Through the transparent jade boxes, Shen Mo could clearly see the appearance of the two treasures.
One was a nt resembling a deer antler.
The other was a w that looked like a tiger''s, with a drop of golden-yellow beast blood oozing from beside it.
"Deer Antler Root? This is also one of the treasures used to nurture the Nineyered Lotus Throne. Perfect, I''ll take it."
"As for this beast w..."
Even though he hadn''t opened the jade box, he could feel the subtle yet powerful threat emanating from the w.@@novelbin@@
He tried opening the jade box.
As soon as he cracked it open, a ferocious roar echoed out.
The cave where Shen Mo sat seemed to tremble.
He quickly closed the jade box, a wide grin spreading across his face.
He was certain that this w must havee from a sixth-tier demon beast.
Perhaps because it was more recent, the life force left in the blood was still strong.
Its suppressive power was far fiercer than the Ice Dragon blood.
This also meant that if he fed it to his demon armor, the resulting power would far surpass that of the Ice Dragon blood!
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Chapter 146: The Fame of the Demon Armor Spreads – Find Him
Chapter 146: The Fame of the Demon Armor Spreads C Find Him
Upon hearing the ancestor''s report, Zhang Mo was visibly shaken.
She knew full well what kind of strength L Xinyue possessed.
Spreading the rumor of the Thousand Mile Fragrance and deliberately luring Shen Mo to White Stone City was a n she had devised in coboration with L Xinyue.
If Shen Mo hadn''t fallen for the bait, they had other ns ready.
But... not only did Shen Mo not show up, L Xinyue was instead killed by some random wandering cultivator?
With L Xinyue dead, the situation had beplicated.
"What about the ancestor from the White River Sect? He didn''t intervene?" Zhang Mo rasped.
The ancestor responded in a low voice, "He did. The man with the fire-patterned mask killed L Xinyue right in front of him."
"The ancestor was half a step too slow to catch him."
Zhang Mo couldn''t contain her inner turmoil.
Under the Heavenly Water Sect''smand, three first-rate sects had been destroyed: Flying Frost Sect was wiped out by Qingxuan Sect, and the master of the Blood River Sect was killed by Shen Mo from Qingxuan Sect.
And now, thest first-rate sect, White River Sect, had its master killed by an unknown rogue cultivator.
Ridiculous.
Utterly ridiculous!
"What does this rogue cultivator look like?" Zhang Mo took a deep breath to calm herself.
The ancestor thought for a moment, "He''s tall and well-built, wearing a half-face mask with fire patterns."
"His voice is raspy, though that could be a deliberate disguise."
"But the most striking feature is his right arm. He wears a purple-ck demonic armor armguard that can transform into ice spikes, greatly amplifying its power."
Zhang Mo paced back and forth, her expression gradually bing calm, revealing neither joy nor sorrow.
"Spread my orders, find this person throughout the entire Xuanjing Prefecture!"
The ancestor nodded solemnly, "Yes, we will find him and kill him on the spot!"
Zhang Mo frowned. "Who said anything about killing him?"
The ancestor froze.
Zhang Mo calmly exined, "If he could kill L Xinyue and escape from the ancestor''s grasp, his strength must be exceptional. It would be best if we could use him for our own purposes. If not, then we can consider killing him."
The ancestor''s eyes lit up.
As expected of a sect leader.
Her vision was far beyond his own.
"Understood!" The ancestor nodded respectfully.
"Remember, negotiate first, actter," Zhang Mo added.
"Understood."
After a moment of contemtion, Zhang Mo continued, "I remember the vice sect leader, the first elder, and the second elder of White River Sect are all equally powerful."
"In the past, L Xinyue kept them in check, so they could barely maintain peace. Now that L Xinyue is dead, they will undoubtedly fight fiercely for the position of sect master."
"Keep an eye on them. Whoever shows the most loyalty to our Heavenly Water Sect, push them into power. Ensure that White River Sect is stabilized within a month. There can be no more disturbances."
The ancestor nodded repeatedly. "Understood, I''ll handle it immediately."
After the ancestor left, Zhang Mo softly called out, "Ziyue,e here."
Bai Ziyue sheathed his sword and obediently came to her side, standing respectfully. "Sect Master, do you have any instructions?"
Zhang Mo smiled, "From now on, you don''t need to call me Sect Master. Call me Master."
Bai Ziyue was stunned, then his face lit up with joy.
He immediately knelt down on both knees and bowed deeply. "Yes, disciple greets Master!"
Zhang Mo asked, "What do you think of Qingxuan Sect''s unstoppable rise?"
Bai Ziyue cautiously nced at his stern and sharp master, quickly noticing the dangerous glint in her eyes.
He immediately understood Zhang Mo''s intentions.
"Master, I have some thoughts, but I''m not sure if I should say them."@@novelbin@@
"Speak, don''t hold back."
Bai Ziyue nodded, "I believe that our Heavenly Water Sect must take action personally."
"With Flying Frost Sect and Blood River Sect both destroyed, and now the master of White River Sect dead, the sect is in chaos, and its strength will significantly decline in the short term."
"We''ve lost our strongest allies and must act immediately to hinder Qingxuan Sect''s rise."
"Otherwise, in two or three years, when Qingxuan Sect absorbs Flying Frost Sect, Blood River Sect, and part of White River Sect''s assets and people, they will undoubtedly be the strongest sect under the Five Sects of Xuanjing."
"By then, confronting them would cost us dearly."
After speaking, he quickly lowered his head, awaiting Zhang Mo''s reaction.
His words, frankly speaking, were bold and presumptuous.
The Five Sects of Xuanjing had always prided themselves on being the righteous guardians of the Xuanjing Prefecture.
No matter what they did behind the scenes, they always maintained a spotless public image, never leaving any leverage for their enemies.
For the Heavenly Water Sect, as one of the Five Sects, to personally go after a first-rate sect would break precedent.
From now on, the other four sects could also take action personally against first-rate sects.
This would undoubtedly cause panic among many first-rate sects, who would bear a grudge against the Heavenly Water Sect.
After all, it was the Heavenly Water Sect that started this.
Bai Ziyue felt uneasy.
However, Zhang Mo merely patted his head gently.
"You''re not wrong."
"What you said is very true."
"However, we stillck a direct excuse."
"Whether it was the destruction of the Flying Frost Sect or the death of Feng Lieshan of the Blood River Sect, in the end, they were only subordinate sects to our Heavenly Water Sect and had no direct connection to us."
"Even if we intervene personally, we must have a justified reason."
Zhang Mo spoke calmly.
Bai Ziyue''s eyes darted around, "If the Qingxuan Sect killed someone important to us, or even if one of our people simply went missing on Qingxuan Sect''s territory..."
Zhang Mo looked at him, half-smiling. "Do you have someone in mind?"
Bai Ziyue froze.
A name immediately shed in his mind.
"Disciple doesn''t know." He quickly shook his head.
He knew who should be chosen, but he couldn''t say it.
"You truly are smarter and more ruthless than Yin Xuege." Zhang Mo smiled.
Bai Ziyue remained silent.
Zhang Mo waved her hand, "Go and rest. Once you''ve mastered the ninth level of the Nine Serpent Sword Art, I will teach you the Heavenly River Heavy Water Scroll."
Bai Ziyue was overjoyed.
The Heavenly River Heavy Water Scrollwas a closely guarded secret of the Heavenly Water Sect.
It was an Earth-tier technique, and upon mastering each level, one would gain an offensive or defensive martial skill.
This technique was highly profound, and only the sect leader and the future sect leader could practice it.
The implication of Zhang Mo''s words was clear she had acknowledged his position.
Given time, he would undoubtedly be the next sect leader of the Heavenly Water Sect!
Second only to one, above thousands!
"Yes! Your disciple will train diligently and live up to your expectations, Master!" Bai Ziyue bowed deeply and left respectfully.
...
In Giant River City, at the Xuanjing Prefecture office.
Ji Shilong listened quietly.
"His main ability seems to be that demonic armor with ice spikes. Let''s just call him ''Demon Armor.''"
"Send out my orders. When the envoys visit the various sects to distribute rewards, they must investigate discreetly and find any trace of this Demon Armor."
"It would be a waste if such talent couldn''t be used by the imperial court."
Before him, several officials knelt in half-bows.
Upon hearing his orders, they responded in unison, "Understood!"
...
Simr conversations were taking ce in the Divine Sword Sect, Shaoyang Sect, Green Vine Sect, and Thunderfire Sect.
Some referred to him as the "Fire-Patterned Masked Man," while others simply called him "Fire-Pattern," and still others named him "Demon Armor."
Regardless, all sides recognized the strength of this rogue cultivator and wanted to recruit him under their banners.
The death of L Xinyue, the White River Sect master, had unexpectedly given this rogue cultivator a fearsome reputation!
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Chapter 147: Xiao Fan is About to Awaken His Past Life Memories
Chapter 147: Xiao Fan is About to Awaken His Past Life Memories
In the Jujube Courtyard.
Shen Mo stretchedzily and strode out of his bedroom.
From this vantage point, he could gaze upon the vast Qingcang Mountain Range, seeing the lush mountains and rivers beneath the expansive sky.
Shen Mo nodded slightly to himself.
"I remember that Xiao Fan is supposed to have a swordsmanship enlightenment opportunity today, right?"
Enlightenment in such a situation only required the rightbination of time, ce, and people, which made it a potential opportunity that could be intercepted.
"Time" referred to natural phenomena, such as thunderstorms, or clear skies.
"ce" referred to locations of natural beauty and energymajestic mountains, great rivers, a bamboo forest, or even a pond or jagged rock.
As for "people," that naturally referred to one''s own perception and understanding.
In terms of perception, Shen Mo possessed three fate-defining attributes: "Scorching Sun me Body," "Exceptional Perception," and "Sword Dao Prodigy," making hisprehension superior to Xiao Fan''s.
If Xiao Fan could reach enlightenment, then surely Shen Mo could as well under the same conditions.
With these thoughts in mind, Shen Mo left the Jujube Courtyard and headed straight for the bamboo forest near the entrance of the Qingxuan Sect.
Along the way, elders, stewards, and disciples all greeted him with respect.
The bamboo growing in this forest was a special breed, carefully cultivated by the Qingxuan Sect, known as *Emerald Bamboo*.
Emerald Bamboo had many drawbacksslow growth, brittle texture, and an insatiable appetite for spiritual energy.
But it had one redeeming quality: its shoots contained abundant spiritual energy and were incredibly delicious.
Even when eaten raw, the taste was refreshing and fragrant.
At this moment, several outer sect disciples were busy harvesting bamboo shoots, carrying baskets on their backs.
A one-armed steward was overseeing their work.
When the steward saw Shen Mo approaching, he greeted him with delight, "Young Sect Master, what brings you here?"
This man was Zhang Weihu.
Previously, he had lost an arm during an attack by a Heavy Weapon Sect elder.
Since then, he had spent most of his time within the Qingxuan Sect, no longer going to other properties as a reward for his loyalty.
This was how the Qingxuan Sect honored those who had made sacrifices for them.
If those who risked their lives for the sect received poor treatment, morale would falter, and no one would be willing to serve the sect anymore.
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Ever since Murong Yue''s return, the overall environment of the Qingxuan Sect had been improving.
The arrogance and bullying of people like Lei Yong had gradually disappeared.
Even figures like Wu Huairen, who would shamelessly withhold rewards meant for outer disciples being promoted to inner disciples, were bing scarce.
Shen Mo smiled at Zhang Weihu and said, "Yes, I''m just taking a walk today. Who knows, I might even find some fortuitous opportunity."
Zhang Weihu chuckled heartily, "Young Sect Master, you must be joking. This Emerald Bamboo Forest sees plenty of people passing through every day. If there were any opportunities, they''d have been snatched up long ago! How could they wait for you?"
Realizing that his words might be disrespectful, Zhang Weihu quickly coughed and corrected himself, "No, no, that''s not right! The heavens favor you, Young Sect Master, surely there''s an opportunity here just waiting for you!"
Shen Mo couldn''t help butugh.
He knew Zhang Weihu was straightforward by nature and didn''t take offense.
Shen Mo smiled, "No worries. But I suggest you have the outer sect disciples pack up and head back to the sect soon. A heavy storm is about to hitviolent winds, thunder, and lightning."
Zhang Weihu looked up at the scorching sun and the clear, cloudless sky.
A storm?
There wasn''t the slightest hint of rain.
Just as he was about to speak, the sky darkened at an astonishing speed.
In an instant, ominous clouds gathered, weighing heavily upon the sky.
It was as though someone had spilled a bottle of ink across the heavens.
The outer sect disciples, who had been digging for bamboo shoots, looked up in shock.
The weather had changed as quickly as a snap of the fingers.
Zhang Weihu was astonished, "Young Sect Master, you truly live up to your title! You predicted this perfectly."
He quickly shouted to the disciples, "Pack it up! Let''s get back to the sect!"
"Yes, sir!"
Zhang Weihu then asked, "Young Sect Master, aren''t youing with us?"
Shen Mo pointed deeper into the bamboo forest and smiled, "I''m going to practice my swordsmanship."
Suppressing his curiosity, Zhang Weihu nodded, "Alright, I''ll be off then."
Emerald Bamboo under a hundred years old was quite fragile; even a disciple in the Body Tempering stage could snap it easily.
But once the bamboo was over a hundred years old, it became harder than jade.
The deeper parts of the bamboo forest were filled with century-old bamboo.
Some disciples would indeed use these bamboo stalks to practice martial techniques.
Shen Mo watched as Zhang Weihu and the others left, then made his way straight into the heart of the bamboo forest.
Martial techniques, while easy to grasp at the entry level, became increasingly difficult to master as one progressed, especially when aiming for the highest realm.
The only martial technique Shen Mo had fully cultivated to the highest level was the Four-Sided Mysterious Gate.
As for the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, it was not something he had painstakingly cultivated from scratch. Instead, he had gained insight into the first two forms during his time at the Phoenix Nest Pavilion.
His subsequent practice was merely to increase his proficiency, making the technique more fluid and responsive when activated.
As for his other techniques...
The Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, which had evolved after absorbing the sword pellet, consisted of threeyers. Shen Mo had only reached the secondyer.
Eight Directions Thunderstorm, an eightyer technique, had seen him progress only to the fifth.
"The Thunder Shadow Sword Technique is a mid-tier Profound Tiermartial technique. If I can cultivate it to the thirdyer, I''ll gain ess to an additional sword move."
Shen Mo briskly walked deeper into the bamboo forest.
Before long, he arrived at the center of a clearing.
And there, a figure was already present.
The sound of footsteps from behind caught the person''s attention, and they turned to meet Shen Mo''s gaze.
Their eyes locked.
Shen Mo remained expressionless.
The figure standing before him was none other than Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan''s expression, however, was far moreplicated.
Why is he here again?
"Greetings, Young Sect Master," Xiao Fan cupped his fists respectfully.
Shen Mo remained calm, "I hear that Junior Brother Xiao has sessfully condensed a perfect golden core and has been appointed as an inner sect elder?"
Xiao Fan nodded, "Yes, that''s correct."
"Very impressive. I hope Junior Brother continues to strive forward," Shen Mo said with a smile.
"Thank you," Xiao Fan hesitated before asking, "May I ask what brings the Young Sect Master here?"
Shen Mo smiled, "I''ve encountered a bottleneck in my Thunder Shadow Sword Technique. I thought I mighte to this Emerald Bamboo Forest to see if I could find an opportunity to break through."
"I see. In that case, I''ll give this ce to you, Young Sect Master. I''ll find another spot," Xiao Fan said, cupping his fists again before quickly departing.
Shen Mo watched as Xiao Fan swiftly transformed into a streak of light, fleeing the Emerald Bamboo Forest and disappearing into the Qingcang Mountains, as if afraid to stay a moment longer.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
When he nced at Xiao Fan''s life panel earlier, he had noticed something quite intriguing.
[Recent Fortune: Upon waking this morning, Xiao Fan will discover new and unfamiliar memories in his mind, slowly realizing that he is a reincarnated soul.]
"It seems Xiao Fan is on the verge of awakening memories from his past life."@@novelbin@@
"A former Divine Transformationrealm cultivator... When his memories from both lives merge, his personality is bound to undergo a drastic change."
Shen Mo pondered this for a moment but didn''t dwell on it further.
Instead, he unsheathed his Thunder Swordand gazed up at the darkened sky.
By now, thunder had begun to rumble within the thick clouds overhead.
asional shes of lightning pierced through the dense cloud cover, illuminating the heavens with brief bursts of light.
Shen Mo gripped his Thunder Sword tightly, instinctively activating the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique.
Whoosh!
The sword light burst forth like a shadow of lightning!
ng!
Not far away, the surface of a century-old Emerald Bamboo showed a visible sword mark.
Since he had not used any spiritual power, the strike did not sever the bamboopletely.
At the same moment, from the sky above, a thick bolt of lightning tore through the clouds like a sword, splitting the darkness.
The brilliance of the lightning illuminated the world below, and with it, a torrential downpour followed, crashing to the earth!
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Chapter 149: The Strange Water Amber at Flying Fish City’s Grand Auction House
Chapter 149: The Strange Water Amber at Flying Fish City''s Grand Auction House
The cultivators showed remarkable discipline, with no pushing or shouting. Instead, they patiently queued up, taking turns one by one.
Naturally, they didn''t dare cause any trouble.
After all, Flying Fish City had a Qingxuan Sect elder stationed here.
Those without tickets could still gain entry by showing enough spirit stones.
Shen Mo definitely had a hundred high-grade spirit stones.
However, he knew that Luo Shuanghan hadn''t entered the advanced auction hall but had instead participated in the final "Amber Gamble" event at the intermediate auction hall.
So, he only took out a hundred mid-grade spirit stones and entered the intermediate auction hall.
Upon entering the auction house, two disciples were already waiting.
"Those attending the advanced auction, please follow me," the disciple on the left called out loudly.
"Those attending the intermediate auction, please follow me," the disciple on the right also announced loudly.
Everything was orderly, with no sign of chaos.
Shen Mo was quite impressed.
It seemed that the elder stationed at Flying Fish City had some real skill.
Soon, Shen Mo was seated in the intermediate auction hall.
The seats were made of goose down, soft andfortable.
As soon as Shen Mo sat down, someone immediately brought tea, offering excellent service with no faults to find.
"Luo Shuanghan found you!"
Shen Mo scanned the crowd and quickly spotted his target, smiling faintly.
Luo Shuanghan had made no attempt to hide his face and was sitting boldly in the front row.
He must have paid a considerable amount of spirit stones to get a front-row seat.
Shen Mo, on the other hand, had only paid a hundred mid-grade spirit stones, so his seat was farther back.
Those who spend the money get the better seatsthere''s nothing toin about.
As Shen Mo sat down, low voices of conversation surrounded him.
From this, he overheard many interesting bits of information.
For instance, many cultivators didn''t enter the intermediate auction hall for the auction itself but for the final "Amber Gamble" event.
The so-called Amber Gamble referred to gambling on water amber.
Water amber was a strange item found in many cities along the Xuanjiang River.
Since the Golden River was a tributary of Xuanjiang, it also contained such items.
In the Xuanjiang River lived a demon beast known as the "Amber Fish," which had a particr fondness for shiny objects.
Whenever these fish found such objects, they would secrete mucus to cover them.
Over time, after being washed by mud and sand, these objects would eventually be irregrly shaped water amber.
Because they had been buried for so long, the surface of the water amber had turned pitch ck, making it impossible to see what was inside.
Thus, this gambling method had emerged, simr to opening mystery boxes.
Cultivators could purchase a piece of water amber for the price of one mid-grade spirit stone.
If they opened it and found something valuable, they could make much more than just one mid-grade spirit stonesometimes, they could even earn a high-grade spirit stone.
Of course, if they didn''t find anything good, they''d simply lose the mid-grade spirit stone.
This game of gambling on luck had been popr since its inception.
Countless cultivators flocked to Flying Fish City from the surrounding areas daily, just for the chance to y.
For example, many cultivators had a copy of The Guide to Selecting Water Amber.
It was a book co-authored by several enthusiasts.
Rumor had it that these authors had a sess rate of over 60% in choosing valuable water amber.
The book recorded many techniques for selecting water amber and had be a must-buy for many cultivators in Flying Fish City.
Shen Mo bought a copy from a nearby cultivator and flipped through it.
After reading for a while, he shook his head.
The so-called techniques were really just the results of umted experience.
However the authors didn''t have a very high sess rate themselves.
It wasn''t something that could be relied on for solid advice.
Shen Mo read a few pages before setting it aside.
Listening to the surrounding conversations, he also learned that there was a rogue cultivator in the nearby area known as "Water Tiger." He was in the Foundation Establishment stage and had a number of rogue cultivators in the Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment stages working under him.
They were notorious formitting all sorts of crimes, from robbery to murder, causing fear and reducing the flow of people near Flying Fish City.
The Qingxuan Sect elder stationed in Flying Fish City wanted to eliminate Water Tiger, but unfortunately, Water Tiger and his followers were extremely elusive, skilled in movement techniques, and could easily escape by taking advantage of the Golden River.
Thus, they still hadn''t been able to punish him.
"With such strength, it''s unlikely he''s just a simple rogue cultivator," Shen Mo mused.
After a brief moment ofmotion, all attention turned to the stage.
A stunning woman in a red dress, with a striking figure, gracefully stepped onto the tform.
Next to her was a cab being pushed by two slender young women.
The cab was covered in a red cloth, concealing whatever was inside.
After saying a few polite words to stir up the crowd''s excitement, the woman in red quickly lifted the red cloth.
Revealed beneath it was a fish tank.
Inside the tank swam a small, palm-sized fish that was blood-red from head to tail.
What was remarkable was that it had two exceptionallyrge fins growing on its back.
Sensing the gaze of the many cultivators, the blood-red fish suddenly mmed itself into the tank, producing a loud thud.
It opened its mouth, revealing rows of densely packed sharp teeth, which were quite unsettling.
"Is that a Blood Essence Flying Fish?"
"I''ve heard that a lucky fisherman caught a Blood Essence Flying Fish yesterday, and now seeing it today, it truly lives up to the rumors!"
"Tsk tsk, this Blood Essence Flying Fish is no small thing. If you keep it at home and draw its blood regrly for consumption, it can gradually strengthen the body. If cooked, it can elerate a child''s intellectual development."
The cultivators were astonished, and the atmosphere grew even more intense.
The woman in red smiled and said, "Everyone, this is the first auction item of the day, the Blood Essence Flying Fish!"
"The starting price is thirty mid-grade spirit stones, with each bid increasing by no less than one mid-grade spirit stone. Let''s begin!"
As soon as she finished speaking, bids came in instantly.
Within ten breaths, the price had soared to sixty mid-grade spirit stones, doubling in a sh.@@novelbin@@
Hearing that this beast''s blood could be consumed, Shen Mo gave it a closer look.
However, he soon lost interest when he realized it was only a third-tier demon beast.
He had long tested that the only blood capable of catching his "Demon Armor''s" attention was either his own or that of at least a sixth-tier demon beast.
Ordinary blood wouldn''t even be absorbed by the armor; sometimes, the blood would even be repelled.
It was as if the armor was saying, "You''re trying to feed me this trash? Get lost."
Before long, the Blood Essence Flying Fish was sold to a rotund man for seventy-one mid-grade spirit stones.
"Next, we have the second auction item."
With a gesture from the woman in red, another cab was brought up, simrly covered in a red cloth.
She swiftly removed the cloth, revealing whaty underneath.
It was a massive de over ten feet in length.
The back of the de was thick, and its handle was long and narrow.
From the tip of the de to the handle, it was marked with countless signs of battle.
In some areas, there were even cracks.
Yet, instead of diminishing its appearance, these battle scars only added to the de''s fierce and imposing aura, casting a cold, murderous gleam.
As soon as the de was revealed, it immediately caught the eyes of many ruthless cultivators.
True warriors knew that raw power was the path to victory.
A weapon like this was the perfect fit for their personalities.
"This de is called ''Bear Mountain Cleaver,'' a mid-grade Profound Tier spirit weapon. However, the seller is not asking for spirit stones; they require Profound Tier medicinal herbs in exchange."
The woman in red then listed the names of several herbs.
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Chapter 150: “Daoist, Don’t Choose Paired Water Amber—They Never Contain Anything Good”
Chapter 150: "Daoist, Don''t Choose Paired Water AmberThey Never Contain Anything Good"
Shen Mo felt a slight stir in his heart.
Just by listening, he could tell that the medicinal herbs mentioned were all used for treating internal injuries.
Clearly, the seller was auctioning this de to save a life, perhaps his own, or someone else''s.
"This de is obviously his prized spiritual weapon, but he''s forced to sell it due to urgent need for herbs. What a pity."
Shen Mo shook his head slightly.
For low-level cultivators, their ability to withstand risks was too fragile.
One serious injury could cost them everything.
Those with some foundation could auction spiritual weapons or techniques to earn spirit stones.
Those without such resources could only resort to desperate measures like robbery and killing.
Thus, they fall into this vicious cycle.
The massive de was quite popr, and soon, a sturdy cultivator exchanged three pieces of Profound Tier medicinal herbs for it.
The seller stood up and cupped his hands in gratitude.
One auction item after another followed in session.
Most of the time, Shen Mo merely observed.
During the auction, he only purchased a single sword pill.
Previously, he had obtained a sword pill that, after refining, had greatly enhanced his realm and provided insights from its former owner.
By integrating the essence of fast and slow swordy into his Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, its power had increased significantly.
This new sword pill was likely to have a simr effect.
Shen Mo looked forward to it.@@novelbin@@
"And finally, we have the special Water Amber gambling session, exclusive to the intermediate auction. The advanced auction doesn''t offer this," said the red-dressed woman, who was visibly tired after hosting the auction but still managed to smile.
The cultivators became even more excited.
Most of them had attended the intermediate auction solely for this final Water Amber gambling event.
With a wave of her hand, the red-dressed woman signaled four sturdy men to carry up fourrge chests.
When the chests were opened, they revealed palm-sized objects with pitch-ck surfaces.
They looked like crystals, but in fact, they were not.
"Water Amber, it''s finally here!"
"Haha, I''ve saved up more than ten mid-grade spirit stones just for today to gamble to my heart''s content!"
"Be careful you don''t lose everything!"
"No way, I''m definitely going to make a huge profit today and reach the pinnacle of my life!"
The excitement in the air intensified as the cultivators eagerly fixed their gazes on the items inside the fourrge chests.
The woman in red smiled and said, "Although many of you Daoists here are regrs, there are probably quite a few neers as well."
"So, allow me to exin the origins of Water Amber and introduce how the gamble works for those new Daoists."
She then calmly exined the rules of Water Amber gambling.
Shen Mo scanned the room and shook his head.
None of the cultivators present, himself included, had much luck with Water Amber gambling.
The best case was Luo Shuanghan, who had previously uncovered two pieces of Thunder Essencetwo Profound Tier supreme treasures.
Most others ended up with broken formation gs, shattered spiritual tools, or useless pills.
Shen Mo wasn''t in a rush and instead waited for Luo Shuanghan to make his selection.
Meanwhile, the other cultivators had already begun choosing their Water Amber and handed them to the specialists on the tform to be cut open.
Disappointed sighs echoed throughout the hall.
asionally, there was a joyful shout.
Some were incredibly unlucky, opening several Water Amber in a row with nothing inside and losing all they had.
Some of them, driven to desperation, borrowed money and continued to gamble.
After a while, Luo Shuanghan stepped up onto the tform, walking among the Water Amber, carefully selecting the piece that caught his eye.
Shen Mo, too, strode up to the tform.
While he appeared to be choosing Water Amber, his gaze was fixed on Luo Shuanghan.
Before long, Luo Shuanghan stopped in front of two paired Water Amber, seemingly intrigued.
As he extended his hand to pick them up, a hand from the side reached out and grabbed them first.
Luo Shuanghan, visibly displeased, turned to face the intruder.
Their eyes met.
Luo Shuanghan instinctively took a step back.
Those eyes gleamed with a soul-piercing power, making him feel a natural sense of dread.
It was a gaze he had seen before.
Back when Shen Mo had killed Feng Lieshan, Luo Shuanghan had been sent by Ji Shilong to recruit him at Qingxuan Sect and had felt the same oppressive gaze.
Although Luo Shuanghan was quite jealous of Ji Shilong''s regard for Shen Mo, he had to admit it.
He definitely wasn''t a match for Shen Mo.
"Maybe I was mistaken"
Luo Shuanghan averted his gaze and stopped making eye contact with the other party.
"You want these?" Shen Mo asked in a hoarse voice.
Luo Shuanghan shook his head. "Paired Water Amber rarely contain any treasures. Since you want them, they''re yours."
With that, he resumed selecting other Water Amber.
Shen Mo picked up the paired Water Amber and walked to the woman in red. "I''ll take these two."
He tossed over two mid-grade spirit stones as he spoke.
The woman in red looked slightly surprised. "The chance of getting something from paired Water Amber is very low. Are you sure you want them, Daoist?"
The elderly man who cut the Water Amber scratched his head. "Yeah, I''ve been cutting Water Amber here in Flying Fish City for over ten years, and I''ve cut through at least a few thousand."
"Paired Water Amber almost never contain anything valuable."
"Daoist, have you read The Guide to Selecting Water Amber? The authors specifically warn against choosing paired Water Amber."
Shen Mo chuckled.
He had indeed read The Guide to Selecting Water Amberand knew exactly what it said.
But he had seen these paired Water Amber on the life panel, essentially glimpsing the future.
No matter how useful the techniques were, they couldn''tpare to directly seeing the future.
Still, these two people had good intentions, trying to dissuade him.
"No need, I''ll choose these," Shen Mo nodded slightly.
The woman in red sighed softly. "Master, go ahead and cut."
The elderly man shrugged his shoulders. "Ignore the advice of the old and suffer"
He didn''t even finish the phrase when his first cut released an astonishing burst of lightning.
The sudden sh of light immediately caught the attention of all the cultivators in the hall.
"Someone hit the jackpot! Judging by that light, it''s at least Profound Tier!"
"Incredible! This might be the best treasure found in thest two months."
"And it came from paired Water Amber didn''t they say paired Water Amber almost never contain anything good?"
"Could it be that The Guide to Selecting Water Amberis wrong?"
Luo Shuanghan, who had been picking other Water Amber, froze in ce.
He had almost chosen that paired Water Amber earlier but decided against it after recalling how everyone said they rarely yielded anything.
Who could''ve known that person would end up with such a find?
The elderly man eximed, "Daoist, you''ve got a good eye! Inside is a piece of Thunder Essence, a supreme Profound Tier treasure!"
His voice of amazement spread through the hall, eliciting waves of envy from the surrounding cultivators.
A supreme Profound Tier treasure!
Such an item was priceless, with no market for it.
What''s more, this was an extraordinary treasure for condensing a lightning attribute golden core.
If Shen Mo announced its avability, many would be willing to pay a high price to acquire it.
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "Go ahead and open the other one. There might be another treasure."
The elderly man, half doubting, made another cut.
Crash!
Another surge of dazzling lightning appeared.
"Another piece of Thunder Essence!"
The elderly man shouted in disbelief.
In all his years of cutting Water Amber, he had never seen paired Water Amber both yield treasures.
This was unheard of, something he had never seen before!
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Chapter 152: It Seems Our Qingxuan Sect Has Gained a Powerful New Enemy
Chapter 152: It Seems Our Qingxuan Sect Has Gained a Powerful New Enemy
Just as Luo Shuanghan finished speaking, a cultivator shouted loudly.
"Government office? Hmph! How could Daoist me Mask possibly be apdog of the court?"
"Daoist, I am a steward of the Stormy Rain Sect. Under the orders of my sect master, I have been searching for you for days. Now that we''ve finally met, I hope you can do us the honor of returning to the Stormy Rain Sect with me."
This person was dressed in the robe of a Stormy Rain Sect steward and was clearly trying to recruit the "me Mask."
No sooner had he finished speaking than another person loudly dered.
"The Stormy Rain Sect isn''t bad, but it can''tpare to our Purple Star Sect!"
"Our Purple Star Sect has the backing of the Thunderfire Sect and also possesses refined crystal spirit artifacts. If Daoist me Mask is willing to return to the Purple Star Sect with me, I''ll offer you a profound-grade refined crystal spirit artifact on behalf of our sect master!"
"If you''re willing to join our Purple Star Sect, there will be even greater rewards!"
A steward of the Purple Star Sect stepped forward, cupping his hands repeatedly toward Shen Mo.
Before his words had faded, another steward, d in a deep blue robe, emerged and spoke loudly.
"Daoist me Mask, I am a steward of the Liejiang Sect. My sect master has a grudge against L Xinyue. You killed L Xinyue, so my sect master has long wanted to meet you and has sent me to present a gift to you."
With that, he held up a storage ring in both hands.
Inside, it was evident that there was a gift from the sect master of the Liejiang Sect.
Shen Mo was momentarily speechless withughter.
Each one of them sure knew how to recruit people.
The Liejiang Sect was even straightforward enough to send a gift directly.
At this moment, a sudden burst of a Core Formation cultivator''s aura swept through the area.
The Qingxuan Sect elder stationed in Feiyu City instantly appeared before Shen Mo, letting out a cold snort, "Hmph, what do you mean by this? Feiyu City is the territory of our Qingxuan Sect!"
"Besides, Daoist me Mask just killed Shui Zhonghu. Our Qingxuan Sect should be the one to properly thank Daoist."
With that, he cupped his hands toward Shen Mo, a smile spreading across his face.
"Please, Daoist, follow me back to our Qingxuan Sect. Sect Master Murong has admired you for a long time."
In a short span of time, the court, Stormy Rain Sect, Purple Star Sect, Liejiang Sect, and Qingxuan Sect had all extended olive branches to this me Mask.
The surrounding cultivators watched in astonishment.
They knew that after me Mask killed L Xinyue, he had already made a name for himself. However, they hadn''t expected that so many factions would want to recruit him.
me Mask had practically be a prized possession in the eyes of all the sects!
This level of treatment was something wandering cultivators could only dream of.
Shen Mo nced around. When he heard that even the Qingxuan Sect elder wanted to recruit him, he found it both amusing and exasperating.
He was about to find an excuse to brush them off.
At that moment, another voice rang out.
"Daoist me Mask, I am a steward of the Heavenly Water Sect. Our Sect Master Zhang greatly admires your strength and wishes to invite you to be an inner sect elder of the Heavenly Water Sect."
"Would you be willing?"
This voice wasn''t loud; in fact, it seemed rather ordinary.
However, once it rang out, everyone fell silent.
The Heavenly Water Sect.
One of the Five Sects of Xuanjiang!
Even though many acknowledged that Heavenly Water Sect ranked fifth among the Five Sects of Xuanjiang,
And even though Heavenly Water Sect''s three subordinatesthe Flying Frost Sect, Blood River Sect, and White River Secthad already been destroyed,
Despite that, the Heavenly Water Sect still had a heritage that a first-rate sect could not match.
Now, Heavenly Water Sect had extended an olive branch to me Mask.
The other sects naturally had no ce to speak.
Everyone turned to look at me Mask.
Would he ept Heavenly Water Sect''s invitation?
Shen Mo was about to refuse.
However, he hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking, "I''ve never liked being restrained. The inner sect elder position doesn''t appeal to me."
The stewards of the Purple Star Sect and Stormy Rain Sect both breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed me Mask had no intention of joining the Heavenly Water Sect.
But Luo Shuanghan and the other sharp-witted individuals caught the underlying meaning.
me Mask seemed to dislike only the "inner sect elder" position.
So, what if they offered a different position?
The Heavenly Water Sect steward quickly realized this, hastily responding, "Then, would you be willing to serve as our Heavenly Water Sect''s guest elder?"
Guest Elder!
Every sect had this position.
Only Core Formation cultivators were qualified to hold it.
However, there was a significant difference between a guest elder and an inner sect elder.
An inner sect elder shared the sect''s honor and disgrace, its rise and fall.
They received a generous monthly stipend, could participate in sect affairs, and had to obey the sect master''s orders.
But a guest elder was more independent and couldn''t partake in sect affairs.
They only received a modest monthly stipend and held a nominal position within the sect.
Yet, when the sect encountered major events, it could spend a hefty sum to enlist the help of a guest elder.
To put it inly, it''s equivalent to a mercenary on the sect''s payroll.
They''ll only act if paid.
Upon hearing the Heavenly Water Sect steward''s words, Shen Mo reluctantly nodded, "I can ept the position of guest elder."
"But..."
Sensing Shen Mo''s hesitant tone, the steward quickly responded, "I have the authority to present you with a bottle of Great Replenishment Pills as a gift."
Only then did Shen Mo nod in satisfaction. "Alright."
The Heavenly Water Sect steward''s face lit up with joy. "Then, would you be willing to apany me to the Heavenly Water Sect to discuss the details with Sect Master Zhang?"
Shen Mo shook his head. "Since I''ve already agreed to be the guest elder of Heavenly Water Sect, why do I need to meet with her? It''s unnecessary."
"If Sect Master Zhang has any tasks for me, as long as the reward is sufficient, everything can be discussed."
With that, he turned and prepared to leave.
"Daoist, how should I contact you?" the steward called out.
Shen Mo casually tossed over a jade piece.
"Keep thismunication jade with you. If there''s anything, use it to reach me."
He had in quite a few cultivators, and most sect cultivators of some status carried a set ofmunication jades.
"Alright, alright, safe travels, Daoist," the Heavenly Water Sect steward responded, taking the jade with a face full of delight.
The crowd ahead of Shen Mo quickly parted, clearing a path for him to leave grandly.
The Qingxuan Sect elder frowned deeply.
"me Mask has actually been recruited by the Heavenly Water Sect... Though it''s just as a guest elder, it still means he''s aligned with them."
"It seems our Qingxuan Sect has gained a powerful new enemy."
"This matter must be reported to the sect master immediately. Our Qingxuan Sect must be on guard against this individual at all times!"
The other sects, such as the Stormy Rain Sect, Purple Star Sect, and Liejiang Sect, each had varied reactions.
Only the Heavenly Water Sect steward was brimming with joy.
He had aplished his task and would surely be rewarded upon his return.
...
After leaving Flying Fish City, Shen Mo increased his pace.
He soared through the skies, dived underground, and darted through forests, eventually shaking off those with ill intentions tracking him.
His temporary eptance of Heavenly Water Sect''s offer was merely a casual move on his part.
Zhang Mo wouldn''t trust him so easily.@@novelbin@@
Nor would she assign him important responsibilities anytime soon.
However, even so, Shen Mo could still receive the monthly stipend of a guest elder, reaping benefits from Heavenly Water Sect without much cost. Why not take advantage?
"News of this should spread and cause quite a stir, don''t you think?"
A faint smile appeared on Shen Mo''s lips as he quickened his pace toward Qingxuan Sect.
...
As expected.
News that me Mask had epted the Heavenly Water Sect''s offer to be a guest elder quickly caused an uproar.
Many had never anticipated that a figure like me Mask would join the Heavenly Water Sect.
Even Ji Shilong, the Prefect of Xuanjiang Prefecture, furrowed his brow and pondered for a long time, unable to make sense of it.
He couldn''t understand whether it was because the court''s offer was too low or if me Mask naturally harbored resentment toward the court.
After all, whatever the Heavenly Water Sect could provide, the court could undoubtedly offer more.
"I can''t figure it out... Nevertheless, with me Mask on their side, the Heavenly Water Sect will surely gain a significant boost."
"Currently, the Five Sects of Xuanjiang have yet to directly intervene. If they don''t, this sect rivalry won''t reach its peak."
"It''s time to fan the mes."
Ji Shilong gazed southward, his expression calm and unwavering.
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Chapter 153: Eight Direction Thunder Movement’s Highest Level – Blink Thunder Escape
Chapter 153: Eight Direction Thunder Movement''s Highest Level - Blink Thunder Escape
A few dayster, at the Qingxuan Sect''s mountain gate, in the Jujube Tree Courtyard.
The courtyard was empty, with only a figure sweeping past like a violent gust of wind.
He appeared on the roof one moment, beside the pond the next, and then on the treetop.
His speed was astonishing, almost leaving afterimages in his wake.
"I''m feeling it! Once more!"
Shen Mo was overjoyed. He immediately sat down cross-legged and refined another piece of thunder essence.
At the same time, he continued to peruse the Eight Direction Thunder Movementmanual.
With the help of the thunder essence''s abundant thunder spirit energy, his understanding of this movement technique further deepened.
He seemed to have pierced through a certainyer of obscurity.
At a certain moment, Shen Mo suddenly stood up.
Spiritual power surged within his body, connecting with the thunder spirit energy of heaven and earth.
In an instant, wind surged under his feet, and thunder roared beside his legs.
With a whoosh, his figure shot forward several dozen feet.
He had unexpectedly crossed through the courtyard wall of the Jujube Tree Courtyard without warning, appearing outside.
The disciple guarding the gate was stunned. "Y-Young Sect Master, what are you..."
Shen Mo, overjoyed, waved his hand. "It''s nothing, just training."@@novelbin@@
Having said this, he returned to the courtyard.
Clearly, he had cultivated the Eight Direction Thunder Movementto the eighth level.
Simultaneously, he grasped a new move.
"Blink Thunder Escape!"
As he spoke, Shen Mo executed the technique again.
Whoosh.
His figure vanished abruptly from where he stood.
When he reappeared, he was already standing on the rooftop.
"This move is executed without any warning and can pass through objects. If the opponent is unaware of my method, they will certainly be caught off guard, giving me the advantage in battle."
"The only w is that it consumes a lot of spiritual power."
Shen Mo chuckled wryly.
Each time he used the "Blink Thunder Escape," it consumed 20% of his spiritual power.
In other words, he could theoretically use it a maximum of five times in quick session.
However, this was just the theoretical limit.
In reality, his spiritual power constantly needed to support the Green Lotus Earth Core me, so the amount of power he could freely use wasn''t much.
Moreover, he needed to reserve some spiritual power to use offensive and defensive techniques.
Considering various factors, he estimated that using the Blink Thunder Escapethree times consecutively would be his limit.
If his spiritual power were truly exhausted, that would not be a pleasant experience.
"Anyway, having mastered this movement technique to its highest level and grasped a new move is quite an aplishment."
Shen Mo nodded in satisfaction.
With this, all his martial arts had reached their highest level.
The only thing left to improve was his cultivation realm.
He pushed open the courtyard gate, intending to take a walk.
After a few steps, he noticed several familiar figures.
They were Song Chaofeng, Wei Xiongtie, Elder Li, and others.
Although he hadn''t gotten close, Shen Mo had already heard what they were discussing.
Song Chaofeng said, "...What should we do? The Demon Armor has been recruited by the Heavenly Water Sect!"
Elder Li replied, "He''s just a guest elder, probably only affiliated with the Heavenly Water Sect. Elder Song, you don''t need to worry too much."
Song Chaofeng argued, "That''s not necessarily true. As long as enough benefits are offered, a guest elder could serve the Heavenly Water Sect. Besides, the Demon Armor is just a rogue cultivator driven by profit."
Wei Xiongtie added, "Exactly. It''s hard to guarantee that he won''t act against our Qingxuan Sect. A few days ago, several of our deacons near the Thorny Forest went missing. I suspect it was the Demon Armor, secretly eliminating our people on the orders of the Heavenly Water Sect!"
Shen Mo found this amusing.
You all are overthinking it.
Why would I harm the people of the Qingxuan Sect?
"Young Sect Master!"
"Greetings, Young Sect Master!"
At this moment, the three of them noticed Shen Mo and quickly bowed in respect.
Shen Mo nodded, "You''re talking about the Demon Armor? He joined the Heavenly Water Sect?"
"What do you think, Young Sect Master?" Song Chaofeng sighed.
Shen Mo nodded slightly. "This Demon Armor is driven solely by profit, and his stance is unclear."
"It''s best if we don''t provoke him first."
"But if he dares to trouble our Qingxuan Sect, we must show him that we are not to be trifled with!"
The three men quickly nodded, "The Young Sect Master is right."
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
What he said was all nonsense, but as long as his stance was made clear, it was enough.
He wanted to say a few more words topletely dissociate Demon Armor from the Qingxuan Sect.
However, the mother jade in his storage ring suddenly vibrated.
A slight change in Shen Mo''s expression, "Something just came up. I need to go into seclusion for a while. No one is allowed to enter the Jujube Tree Courtyard during this time."
"Understood." The three nodded.
Shen Mo quickly returned to the courtyard, took out the mother jade, and injected his spiritual power into it.
Immediately, a voice came from within.
"Elder Demon Armor, I am Elder Long Tao of the Heavenly Water Sect. I will be the elder you will be liaising with from now on."
"Currently, my Heavenly Water Sect has three tasks for you to choose from."
"First, infiltrate the Profound Frost Cave, destroy its formation, and kill the Qingxuan Sect elder guarding the cave. We will provide you with the necessary intelligence. The reward is a bottle of Great Essence Replenishing Pills and a low-grade Profound Rank martial technique, Sky-Breaking Dragon Fist."
"Second, go to the Thorny Forest and assassinate the second elder of the Thunderfire Sect, Lu Ren, who is hiding there. The reward is the mid-grade Profound Rank spiritual artifact, Green Lotus Robe."
"Third, go to ck Jade Mountain and find traces of the Great Rock Python. The reward is a fourth-rank demon crystal and the low-grade Profound Rank spiritual artifact, Mountain-Splitting Saber."
Shen Mo listened, his expression half-smiling.
The other party had proposed three tasks.
The tasks were very specific, clearly meant to test him.
"I''m more interested in the Green Lotus Robe. I''ve heard it''s something your Heavenly Water Sect purchased from a major sect in Yuzhou?" Shen Mo inquired.
Long Tao replied, "Indeed, the Green Lotus Robeis sewn from century-old green lotus leaves. It''s extremely tough and can elerate blood cirction."
"Moreover, the Green Lotus Robewe acquired has been refined with a third-rank wood-attribute demon crystal, further enhancing its defensive capabilities and boosting the blood cirction effect."
Shen Mo nodded slightly. "Then I''ll take this task."
"Alright, now here is the intelligence on Elder Lu Ren of the Thunderfire Sect. Listen carefully, Elder Demon Armor." Long Tao continued.
Momentster, the two stopped theirmunication.
Shen Mo put the mother jade back into his storage ring, pondering.
He knew very well that these tasks were deliberately arranged by Zhuang Mochou.
The three tasks had different objectives and targets.
The purpose was simply to test his stance.
To see if he was truly trustworthy.
Most importantly, they needed to ensure that "Demon Armor" wouldn''t side with their enemies.
Whether "Demon Armor" was a rogue cultivator or a sect disciple didn''t matter.
As long as he could be used by the Heavenly Water Sect and not by the Qingxuan Sect, that was enough.
Of course, to Shen Mo, Zhuang Mochou''s response was irrelevant.
He was currently "Demon Armor." Since there was an opportunity to fleece the Heavenly Water Sect, he would naturally take full advantage of it.
Not profiting would be a loss!
"In the Thorny Forest, there''s also a fragment of the Forest Sword Art."
"While I''m there, I''ll take it as well."
"By the way, what kind of conflict has broken out between the Heavenly Water Sect and the Thunderfire Sect for things to escte this far?"
Without further intelligence, Shen Mo couldn''t think of an answer and was toozy to dwell on it.
Knowing where to go, who to kill, and what the reward was would suffice.
He soon left the Qingxuan Sect''s mountain gate quietly, heading straight for the Thorny Forest.
After cultivating the Eight Direction Thunder Movementto its highest level, his speed was astonishing.
So much so that no one noticed his departure.
All they felt was a gust of wind passing by.
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Chapter 154: Ensure Demon Armor Benefits and Never Displease Him
Chapter 154: Ensure Demon Armor Benefits and Never Displease Him
Thorny Forest.
Inside a hidden cave.
A middle-aged man sat cross-legged on a stone bed.
Scattered around him were several shriveled corpses.
These bodies had all been cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, and one of them was even at the Core Formation stage.
Judging from their attire, they came from various sects, including the Heavenly Water Sect, Qingxuan Sect, and Storm Rain Sect.
At this moment, threads of blood energy were leaking from all the corpses, flowing into the middle-aged man''s nostrils, further boosting his cultivation.
"Good... good, I''ve grown stronger again."
"I''m just one step away from reaching the peak of the Core Formation stage!"@@novelbin@@
"This technique is indeed formidable! If I had obtained it earlier, I would have already broken through to the Core Formation peak!"
He couldn''t help butugh out loud.
Hisughter was filled with exhration.
"I need more..."
"It''s time to kill again. As long as I kill one more Core Formation stage cultivator and absorb his blood energy, I should be able to reach the Core Formation peak!"
He slowly stood up, pondering who his next target should be.
At this moment, a sudden sense of danger surged in his heart.
The middle-aged man instinctively activated his defensive martial technique, summoning a blood-red shield in front of him.
The next instant, a violent explosion echoed.
The formation at the cave entrance was sted apart.
The cave shook violently, cracks spreading in all directions.
In the blink of an eye, sunlight poured in from the outside, casting onto the man''s face.
His pupils contracted instinctively.
Then, a fist wrapped in icy cold energy smashed against his blood shield.
This fist seemed to be made of millennium-old ice.
It sought to freeze everything into shards of ice!
Crack!
The blood shield couldn''t withstand the power of the ice fist and shattered on the spot.
The fist didn''t lose momentum, smashing straight into the middle-aged man''s chest.
The man''s eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
"I... who are you..."
He looked at the figure before him, muttering a few words.
Standing under the sunlight, the masked cultivator wearing a fiery-patterned mask remained expressionless. "Second Elder of the Thunderfire Sect, Lu Ren, you''re the one I''m here to kill."
Sizzle!
Frost quickly covered Lu Ren''s entire body.
Shen Mo stirred his spiritual power once more.
A cracking sound followed.
Lu Ren exploded into countless ice shards.
"Though it was partly due to the element of surprise, he was still a cultivator with one foot in the peak of the Core Formation stage. I didn''t expect him to be so easy to kill."
With a casual wave, Shen Mo retrieved Lu Ren''s storage ring into his palm, shaking his head.
Clearly, it wasn''t that Lu Ren was weak.
After all, there was a Core Formation stage cultivator from the Heavenly Water Sect in this cave who had died at Lu Ren''s hands.
The elders of the top five sects of Xuanjing Prefecture were generally stronger than those of other sects due to their superior cultivation techniques, martial skills, and spiritual artifacts.
Despite this, the unfortunate Heavenly Water Sect elder still fell to Lu Ren, proving that Lu Ren''s demonic technique was indeed powerful.
"Hmm, not bad. No wonder I couldn''t find the fragment of the Forest Sword Art. It turns out it was in this guy''s possession."
After carefully searching, Shen Mo found an unexpected item in Lu Ren''s storage ring.
It wasn''t hard to understand.
Originally, Luo Shuanghan was still searching for traces of "Demon Armor." Half a monthter, when passing through the Thorny Forest, he identally discovered sword energy soaring into the sky and came here to search for treasure.
In the end, he had a dispute with Xiao Fan, was schemed against, and ultimately missed the fragment of the Forest Sword Art.
However, now that Shen Mo had taken the initiative to appear in Flying Fish City as Demon Armor and had epted the Heavenly Water Sect''s invitation, Luo Shuanghan no longer needed to continue searching for Demon Armor. Instead, he immediately returned to report to the Giant River City Prefecture Yamen.
As a result, this opportunity no longer belonged to Luo Shuanghan.
Fate, once set, had been disrupted by Shen Mo.
This chance finally fell into the hands of the Thunderfire Sect''s Second Elder, Lu Ren.
In the future, this person would likely have been killed by Xiao Fan.
"So, this is that demonic technique? Absorbing blood energy from corpses, even shortening one''s lifespan. Its power is weak and can''t evenpare to the me Hell Destruction Manual."
Shen Mo shook his head.
Based on the information provided by Long Tao, the elder of the Heavenly Water Sect:
The Thunderfire Sect''s Second Elder, Lu Ren, had stumbled upon this demonic technique by chance and had been unable to stop himself afterward.
A month ago, he killed a fellow elder and fled the Thunderfire Sect to the Thorny Forest, where he then killed the Heavenly Water Sect elder and numerous innocent cultivators.
"It seems like someone is watching me. It should be Long Tao," Shen Mo thought with a half-smile.
With a single punch, he had killed Lu Ren.
The observer immediately retracted his gaze, clearly out of fear.
"Time to collect my reward."
Without lingering, Shen Mo swiftly left.
...
"What? You said he killed Lu Ren with a single punch?"
Zhuang Mochou leaped to her feet in shock when she heard the news from Long Tao.
Beside her, Bai Ziyue''s eyes also widened.
He had heard a bit about the strength of the Thunderfire Sect''s Second Elder, Lu Ren.
After cultivating the demonic technique, his power had surged even further.
For someone of that level to be killed with just one punch by Demon Armor?
It seemed that Demon Armor''s strength had once again improved after killing L Xinyue.
Such a cultivation speed was terrifying.
Could this person possibly possess a Heaven-grade constitution?
Zhuang Mochou''s eyes glinted with excitement, a joyful expression on her face.
"It seems that Demon Armor''s strength is truly remarkable, only half a step weaker than me at most."
"Recruiting him as a guest elder was indeed a wise decision!"
"From now on, Demon Armor will be the sharpest de in my Heavenly Water Sect''s hand!"
Long Tao quickly added a ttery, "The Sect Master is truly wise!"
"Continue assigning him tasks to test his character and stance, but don''t force him too much."
"Make sure to offer him enough benefits! We absolutely cannot let him be dissatisfied!" Zhuang Mochou ordered.
"Understood!"
...
In the following months, while Shen Mo appeared to be in seclusion within the Qingxuan Sect, he secretly operated as Demon Armor,pleting various tasks for the Heavenly Water Sect.
After a few missions, Shen Mo had fully exhibited Demon Armor''s greedy and unprincipled nature, while also reaping many rewards.
The Green Lotus Robe, Green Lotus Crown, and Green Lotus Bootsaplete set of spiritual artifactshad all fallen into his hands.
This set of spiritual artifacts was invaluable; no one in Xuanjing Prefecture could craft them.
Additionally, while carrying out tasks for the Heavenly Water Sect, he obtained the second and third chapters of the long-lost Green Vine Eight Treasures Manualof the Verdant Vine Sect!
The Verdant Vine Sect''s cultivation techniques and martial arts all originated from the Green Vine Eight Treasures Manual. However, 150 years ago, after a young sect master took over, he was manipted by the Thunderfire Sect and stole the manual.
In the end, the Verdant Vine Sect only managed to recover the first chapter.
As for the second and third chapters, they vanished without a trace.
This loss greatly damaged the Verdant Vine Sect''s heritage.
They had to rely on the oral teachings of the older generation of cultivators.
When those old cultivators eventually passed away, the rted techniques and martial arts naturally became lost.
With the guidance of his life panel, Shen Mo quickly found the second chapter in a bandit hideout.
Later, following the life panel''s hints, he found the Great Rock Python near ck Jade Mountain and discovered the third chapter on its back.
He kept both chapters to himself, not handing them over to the Heavenly Water Sect.
These chapters were obviously crucial bargaining chips.
At critical moments, they would undoubtedly prove useful.
Initially, Shen Mo had thought ofprehending the Green Vine Eight Treasures Manual, but the text in the manual was all jumbled.
Without a special reading method, it was impossible to decipher it.
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Chapter 155: Heavenly Water Sect Finally Strikes, Conquers Profound Frost City
Chapter 155: Heavenly Water Sect Finally Strikes, Conquers Profound Frost City
At this moment, Shen Mo was cultivating in the Jujube Courtyard.
Beside himy three empty jade bottles.
All the Great Nourishing Pills within them had been consumed.
Shen Mo kept his eyes shut, spiritual energy surged around his body, and the surrounding aura fluctuated wildly.
He was on the brink of a breakthrough.
It could happen at any moment.
Suddenly, he was struck by a sh of inspiration.
The bottleneck that had troubled him for so long was shattered in an instant.
Boom!
The Inferno Gold Core within him suddenly expanded!
Spiritual power surged out like a fountain.
Within a fifty-zhang radius around Shen Mo, dust was swept away, leaving not a speck behind.
All the insects'' chirping and birds'' singing ceased immediately, as if they had sensed a terrifying presence.
The two Qi Condensation disciples guarding the entrance to the Jujube Courtyard also felt a tightening in their hearts, as though a massive boulder had suddenly pressed against their chests.
It left them gasping for breath!
Shen Mo abruptly opened his eyes, exhaling a mouthful of turbid air, his expression filled with joy.
"Core Formation Realm, perfected!"
"Three bottles of Great Nourishing Pills consumed, and finally, I''ve reached this realm!"
He slowly stood up and began practicing various martial techniques.
Swift Thunder Shadow Sword Art, Eight Direction Thunder Movement, Four-Sided Profound Gate, Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique.
After performing all his martial techniques, he immediately sensed his newfound strength.
"My current power is probably unmatched in the Qingxuan Sect."
"Even though Murong Yue is at the peak of the Core Formation Realm, she is no longer my opponent."
"Across the entire Xuanjing Prefecture, perhaps only the masters of the five major sects can match me."
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
However, he didn''t grow arrogant because of this.
It wasn''t something worth making a fuss about.
This was merely a natural progression.
"If I calcte correctly, it''s been a whole year since the Hundred Sect Ceremony."
"Below the five major sects of Xuanjing, many smaller sects have already been fighting fiercely."
"A year ago, there were still twelve first-ss sects. Now, only seven remain."
"As for the second-ss sects, their numbers have dwindled even more."
"However, the five major sects of Xuanjing have yet to intervene, which is probably not what Ji Shilong wishes to see."
Shen Mo pondered carefully.
"Qingxuan Sect''s current momentum is unstoppable. It has already be the strongest sect below the five major sects of Xuanjing."
"Ji Shilong hopes to expand the situation, wishing for the five major sects to get involved. Zhang Mo won''t allow the Qingxuan Sect to continue growing either."
"It seems that a great battle is approaching."
"Zhang Mo might also be preparing to give the Demon Armor Sect some work, right?"
Shen Mo smiled slightly.
...
Half a monthter.
The chimes within the Qingxuan Sect rang urgently.
Shen Mo was in the middle of consuming a pill to aid his cultivation when the sound awakened him.
"A council of elders?"
Shen Mo quickly got up and hurried toward the council hall.
If he remembered correctly, the Qingxuan Sect hadn''t held a council of elders for over six months.
Months ago, the master of the White River Sect, L Xinyue, perished, and the White River Sect had yet to appoint a new master.
Much of its assets were seized by the surrounding sects.
Naturally, the Qingxuan Sect imed its share as well.
Ever since the Blood River Sect was annihted, the Qingxuan Sect had been consolidating the assets of the Feishuang Sect, Blood River Sect, and White River Sect, halting its external expansion.
Thus, there was no need for council meetings.
What happened today?
Shen Mo quickly arrived at the council hall and took a seat beside Murong Yue.
Soon, all the elders who coulde gathered immediately.
"Those who cannot arrive will be left out. Let''s begin the meeting at once."
Murong Yue''s expression was stern. With a wave of her hand, a gust of wind swept through, closing the hall doors.
The elders were bewildered.
Wei Xiongtie asked, "Sect Master, what on earth has happened?"
Murong Yue frowned deeply. "Profound Frost City has fallen. The elders stationed there have been captured by the Heavenly Water Sect, and countless disciples and deacons have been killed or injured."
"What?!"
The elders were shocked and angered.
Shockedthat the Heavenly Water Sect, one of the five major sects of Xuanjing, had actually intervened in person.
Angeredthat the Heavenly Water Sect acted so recklessly, killing many of the Qingxuan Sect''s deacons and disciples!
"They didn''t find any excuse, and just directly attacked Profound Frost City?" Shen Mo asked.
Murong Yue sighed, "They im that the Heavenly Water Sect''s young master, Yin Xuege, came to Profound Frost City to trade treasures with a friend and then went missing."
"Since then, he''s been untraceable."
"The Heavenly Water Sect believes that we kidnapped or even killed Yin Xuege."
Hearing this, the elders in the hall were furious.
Wei Xiongtie cursed, "That''s a load of crap! Yin Xuege? I''ve never even heard of him!"
"The same old trick. Flying Frost Sect used it back then too," Song Chaofeng said grimly. "At that time, they made the excuse that the formation master they invited to repair their mountain gate''s grand formation went missing in our territory! Without a word, they attacked Flying Fish City!"
The elders chimed in, all filled with righteous indignation.
Such disgusting tacticsusing them once was already enough.
But using them twice?
It was truly twice as sickening.
Murong Yue dered loudly, "Our Qingxuan Sect''s recent rise is unstoppable. The Heavenly Water Sect clearly feels threatened, and now they couldn''t wait any longer to intervene personally."
"I ask that all elders face the Heavenly Water Sect with the utmost caution!"
The elders responded in unison, "Understood!"
"Ry my order immediately: dispatch people from ckstone City and Flying Fish City to guard against the Heavenly Water Sect advancing south from Profound Frost City," Murong Yue looked toward Liu Yuanfeng, "Deputy Master Liu, Elder Song, you two will lead the team!"
Song Chaofeng responded without hesitation, "Yes!"
Liu Yuanfeng raised an eyebrow, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded, a beat slower than the others.
"From today on, the Qingxuan Sect is in a state of war preparedness."
"Everything must make way for the resistance against the Heavenly Water Sect."
Murong Yue looked around the hall.
"We understand!" The elders replied in unison.
After the meeting ended, the elders left one by one.
Each wore a different expression.
Some looked determined.
Some appeared gloomy.
Some had their eyes darting around.
After everyone had left, Murong Yue sat down and rubbed her temples.
Despite her stunning beauty, the fatigue between her brows was hard to conceal.
"Master, is the situation very bad?" Shen Mo asked.
Murong Yue smiled helplessly, "The battle situation I just mentioned happened a day ago."
Shen Mo frowned, "What about today?"
"The White River Sect has already chosen a new master, and they are deploying troops in the northwest."
"Although the Purple Star Sect hasn''t made any moves, they''ve been stationing personnel along our border, acting frequently. No one knows what they intend to do."
After recounting this series of events, Murong Yue looked at Shen Mo, "Zhang Mo has publicly imed that the Heavenly Water Sect is attacking our Qingxuan Sect just to find Yin Xuege."
"If they can''t find him, then you, the young master of the Qingxuan Sect, must pay with your life."
"They said that as long as we hand you over, the Heavenly Water Sect will withdraw immediately."
Shen Mo''s expression remained unchanged.
Murong Yue grasped his hand, her beautiful eyes fixed on his, "Mo''er, don''t worry. Even if the sect is destroyed, even if I die, I will never hand you over."
"If the sky falls, I, Murong Yue, will bear it. You don''t need to worry too much," she said with a smile.
Shen Mo felt a warmth in his heart.
She was trying to shoulder everything herself.
"Go back and rest. Your cultivation level is still shallow, and your strength is not enough. The Qingxuan Sect is mine to carry!" Murong Yue said solemnly.
"Yes."
Shen Mo cupped his hands, turned around, and left.
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Chapter 156: Mo Hanshan Wants to Meet You; When Are You Available?
Chapter 156: Mo Hanshan Wants to Meet You; When Are You Avable?
While leaving, Shen Mo''s mind raced continuously.
Breaking this situation wasn''t difficult.
The only one who could do it was none other than himself.
Shen Mo returned to the Bamboo Tree Courtyard and took out a sound-transmitting jade that he hadn''t used for a long time.
"Master Liu, I have something important to discuss."
Before he could say more, Liu Menghu''s voice came from the other side of the jade, sounding conflicted and evasive.
"Shen Mo, it''s not that I don''t want to help, but my hands are tied."
"You know that the Storm Rain Sect isn''t run by me alone. Although I wish to help, the other elders disagree."
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
He had already expected that the Storm Rain Sect wouldn''t want to get involved in this mess.
Whether Liu Menghu was telling the truth or not, it was irrelevant.
Shen Mo continued, "No, I''m not asking the Storm Rain Sect to assist the Qingxuan Sect."
"I wanted to tell you that I''ve found the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Book."
"I''m sure Master Mo Hanshan of the Verdant Vine Sect would be very interested in having a chat with me."
Liu Menghu''s hastily concocted excuse got stuck in his throat.
"Wha...what?!" He widened his eyes in shock.
"Do I need to repeat myself?" Shen Mo asked again.
Liu Menghu murmured, "Shen Mo...you can''t just say things like that carelessly. Have you really found the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Book?!"
"I''ll recite a few lines for you; you can repeat them to Mo Hanshan."
As he spoke, Shen Mo immediately recited part of the text from the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Book. Although he didn''t understand it, he could read it out loud.
Liu Menghu grew anxious. "Wait! Don''t hang up the sound-transmitting jade! I''m going to find Master Mo right now!"
Afterward, hurried footsteps echoed from the other side.
Shen Mo smiled slightly, awaiting the good news.
Before long, the sound-transmitting jade resonated again.
Liu Menghu''s serious voice came through.
"Young Master Shen, Master Mo wants to meet with you. When will you be avable?"
Shen Moughed.
How quickly Liu Menghu''s attitude had changed.
However, he didn''t me Liu Menghu for this.
After all, Liu Menghu was the master of the Storm Rain Sect; his priority was his own interests, not helping others.
"Tomorrow night, at ck Jade Mountain," Shen Mo replied casually.
"Alright, I''ll inform Master Mo right away!"
The next night, at ck Jade Mountain.
Shen Mo arrived early.
Dozens of meters below his feet, the Giant Rock Pythony dormant underground.
With just a signal from him, the python would spring out immediately.
Choosing this location was naturally for his own safety.
After all, the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Bookwas far too valuable to the Verdant Vine Sect.
He couldn''t predict what Mo Hanshan might do.
Cooperate, or seize it by forceit all depended on a single thought.
After waiting for a moment, two figures approached together.
One was tall and imposingit was Mo Hanshan.
The other was charming and gracefulMo Hanshan''s daughter, Mo Yuheng.
"Both of you came?" Shen Mo smiled.
Mo Hanshan immediately unleashed his peak Golden Core stage aura without holding back, his face gloomy.
"Shen Mo, do you really have the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Book?" he asked sternly.
Facing Mo Hanshan''s intimidation, Shen Mo remained unperturbed. "Master Mo, this isn''t how you treat an ally."
Mo Hanshan was puzzled.
Why wasn''t this young man afraid, even in front of a peak Golden Core cultivator?
"Father, forget it. Don''t try that intimidation tactic; Shen Mo won''t fall for it," Mo Yuheng covered her mouth andughed.
Mo Hanshan scratched his head and quickly withdrew his aura.
Shen Mo understood that Mo Hanshan had acted this way to seize the initiative in the negotiation.
Now, it was clear that even a peak Golden Core cultivator couldn''t scare him.
"I still don''t believe that you have the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Book."
"If we''re going to cooperate, at least let me verify its authenticity."
Mo Hanshan said in a deep voice.
Shen Mo nodded. "Of course."
With a casual wave, he tossed over three pages of the book.
Mo Hanshan hurriedly caught them, his expression pained. "Did you tear three pages out?"
Shen Mo shrugged. "It was like this when I found it."
Mo Hanshan carefully examined the pages.
Mo Yuheng asked, "Father, is it true?"
Mo Hanshan remained silent for a long while before he spoke in a low voice, "I used the secret technique to read it. It''s indeed true. This kind of reversed sentence structure can only be done by our Verdant Vine Sect''s ancestor."
After their quiet exchange, the father and daughter turned to look at Shen Mo.
Mo Hanshan said in a deep voice, "I understand the difficulties the Qingxuan Sect is facing, and I also know what you want."
"However, this is a significant matter. If it''s just these mere three pages, our Verdant Vine Sect won''t risk falling out with the Heavenly Water Sect"
Shen Mo raised a finger, "The second chapter of the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Bookhas a total of thirty-eight pages. I can give you ten pages right now."
"As for the remaining part, I''ll hand it over once everything is settled."
He had no intention of giving away the third chapter of the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Book.
Firstly, if the Verdant Vine Sect fully restored the book, their foundation would grow exponentially.
For now, they were allies, and it was beneficial for the Verdant Vine Sect to be stronger.
But if they became enemies in the future, they would be tough to deal with.
Secondly, Shen Mo had some ns. If he couldter obtain the Verdant Vine Sect''s secret reading technique, he couldprehend the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Bookon his own.
By then, the book would be for his use, increasing his strength!
From these two points alone, it was clear that he couldn''t hand over theplete Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Book.
Mo Hanshan''s eyes widened, "You actually obtained the entire second chapter?!"
Shen Mo nodded, "That''s right."
"Master Mo, you don''t want the Verdant Vine Sect''s legacy to break, do you?"
"And if you obtain the second chapter, you will almost restore the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Book, and your name will be forever etched in the history of the Verdant Vine Sect."
Mo Hanshan''s heart was stirred.
To be renowned!
To be admired by thousands!
Even after his death, the future generations of the Verdant Vine Sect would continue to sing his praises.
All because he had recovered the second chapter of the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Bookandpleted the Verdant Vine Sect''s inheritance!
Whether cultivator ormoner, who could resist such temptation?
"Fine! How do you want my Verdant Vine Sect to assist you?" Mo Hanshan nodded heavily.
Shen Mo smiled, "For now, I only need you to station your troops at the border."
"As long as the Verdant Vine Sect shows a stance of involvement, everything will be unpredictable."
"The Heavenly Water Sect will be forced to tread cautiously."
Mo Hanshan pondered briefly and then nodded, "It''s a deal. I will give the order as soon as I return to the sect."
Shen Mo nodded and turned to leave.@@novelbin@@
"Yuheng, we could have made a move and subdued him right now. Why didn''t you let me do it?" Mo Hanshan couldn''t help but ask.
Mo Yuheng shook her head, "I don''t know either; it''s just a gut feeling."
"If Shen Mo dared toe here alone, he must have something to rely on."
"Maybe he has a hidden trump card on this ck Jade Mountain."
"Besides, the Heavenly Water Sect wanting to destroy the Qingxuan Sect is not something that can be done easily. We can take this chance to weaken the Heavenly Water Sect''s strength."
"Once the Heavenly Water Sect steps in directly, many sects have already been itching to make a move. If we also take action, I reckon that the Divine Sword Sect, Shaoyang Sect, and Thunderfire Sect will all join in."
Mo Yuheng''s eyes sparkled with an unusual gleam, as if she could see the grand situation in Xuanjiang Prefecture.
"The five sects of Xuanjiang will use the Qingxuan Sect as a pawn, starting a secretpetition and rivalry."
"Whoever falls first in this struggle will have their corpse devoured by the other four sects."
"This is not only what the five sects of Xuanjiang desire, but it''s also what Ji Shilong wants to see. The final situation will inevitably shift rapidly in that direction."
"Lastly"
Mo Yuheng smiled softly, "I believe Shen Mo has a promising future. Befriending him will be beneficial for us."
Mo Hanshan scratched his head, "Fine, when ites to using brains, mine can''tpare to yours."
"Let''s go, let''s return to the sect and set things in motion immediately."
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Chapter 157: Where Is the Ice Dragon? Such a Massive Ice Dragon!
Chapter 157: Where Is the Ice Dragon? Such a Massive Ice Dragon!
Profound Frost City, City Lord''s Mansion.
Zhang Mo sat cross-legged, deep in cultivation.
Bai Ziyue stood by his side.
Suddenly, a stream of light appeared from the sky, rapidly descending beside Zhang Mo.
It was none other than Long Tao, who had been responsible formunicating with the Demon Armor faction.
"Reporting to the sect master, something major has happened!" Long Tao said urgently.
Zhang Mo frowned. "Why the panic? No matter how big the matter is, there''s no need to lose yourposure!"
Long Tao quickly replied, "A group of twenty cultivators at the Core Formation stage suddenly appeared at the northwest border of our Heavenly Water Sect. They are all dressed in the robes of the Storm Rain Sect''s elders!"
"What?"
Zhang Mo stood up abruptly, his brows furrowing deeply.
She was well aware of the surrounding sects and their situations.
The Storm Rain Sect, though a top-tier sect, was rtively weak.
Even with all their Core Formation stage cultivatorsbined, they only had twenty-five.
How could they suddenly dispatch twenty Core Formation stage elders to pressure the border?
Though those individuals were wearing the Storm Rain Sect''s elder robes, they were most likely not from the Storm Rain Sect.
"This must be the work of the Verdant Vine Sect."
"But why would the Verdant Vine Sect assist the Qingxuan Sect?"
Zhang Mo frowned in thought.
She had already investigated; there was no alliance between the Verdant Vine Sect and the Qingxuan Sect.
At most, the Storm Rain Sect and the Qingxuan Sect had some ties.
But that was only because they had once teamed up against the Flying Frost Sect.
"The Verdant Vine Sect has always been cautious. Why suddenly get involved now?"
Zhang Mo paced back and forth, unable to figure it out.
There was clearly no vested interest, yet they had jumped in to help the Qingxuan Sect.
Why?
The foundation of the Five Sects of Xuanjing River was well known. Logically, no treasure from the Qingxuan Sect would be enough to tempt Mo Hanshan.
"We can''t afford to be careless with this..."
"Ry mymand: immediately deploy twenty Core Formation stage elders to guard the nearby cities and be on alert for the Storm Rain Sect."
"If we don''t have enough people, pull reinforcements from the White River Sect!"
Zhang Mo ordered solemnly.
"Understood!" Long Tao epted the order and left.
"Master, doesn''t this mean we will have fewer people to deal with the Qingxuan Sect?" Bai Ziyue couldn''t help but ask.
"Also, I heard that Murong Yue is already at the peak of the Core Formation stage. If you were to fight her, wouldn''t it be a close match?"
Zhang Mo remained confident. "Ziyue, do you know why I chose to attack Profound Frost City first?"
Bai Ziyue pondered deeply before replying, "The only thing I can think of is the Xuan Frost Cave nearby."
"It produces Xuan Frost Amber, which is valuable, but it doesn''t seem particrly important."
Zhang Mo smiled slightly. "No, it is important, extremely important!"
"Today, we will seize Xuan Frost Cave."
"By then, what does it matter if Murong Yue is at the peak of the Core Formation stage? She will still be no match for me."
...
That night, just as Zhang Mo had expected, the Qingxuan Sect decided to retreat from Xuan Frost Cave.
The Heavenly Water Sect took control of the cave without a fight.
Zhang Mo ordered Long Tao and the elders to guard the entrance, while she and Bai Ziyue ventured deep inside, reaching the cave''s innermostyer.
This was the fifthyer, the deepest part of the Xuan Frost Cave.
With Zhang Mo''s protection, Bai Ziyue didn''t feel too cold and curiously observed his surroundings.
He asked, puzzled, "Master, is there something here?"
Zhang Mo frowned slightly. "Something''s wrong... The cold energy here isn''t strong enough."
She didn''t answer Bai Ziyue''s question but instead hurried toward the center of the fifthyer.@@novelbin@@
There, a massive, deep hole was revealed!
Due to the intense cold of the fifthyer, only Core Formation cultivators could explore it.
As a result, thisrge hole had remained undiscovered by the Qingxuan Sect cultivators.
"Such a big hole?"
Bai Ziyue froze for a moment and looked down.
It was empty, with nothing in sight.
Zhang Mo leaped into the hole with him, and they soon reached the bottom.
"Where''s the Ice Dragon?"
"Such a massive Ice Dragonwhere is it?"
Zhang Mo widened her eyes, scanning the surroundings.
There was no Ice Dragon here.
However, there was a faint mark on the ground, vaguely outlining the shape of the Ice Dragon.
On the ground, a palm-sized scale remained.
The surrounding frost even showed signs of melting.
"The Ice Dragon? A sixth-rank demon beast?" Bai Ziyue''s eyes widened.
He quickly realized what was going on.
No wonder Zhang Mo had been so confident.
A sixth-rank demon beast, from its blood and fur to its scales, bones, and demon core, was a treasure trove!
But now
He could tell from Zhang Mo''s reaction that something had gone wrong.
"Master" he cautiously asked.
Zhang Mo took a deep breath, suddenly feeling a bit unsteady on her feet.
Bai Ziyue quickly stepped forward to support her.
"There should have been an Ice Dragon''s corpse here, but now it''s gone," Zhang Mo pointed to the trace on the ground.
Her usually sharp, confident gaze had now turned to one of confusion.
"Could the Qingxuan Sect have taken it?" Bai Ziyue asked.
Zhang Mo shook her head. "Impossible... The Ice Dragon''s hiding ce was extremely well concealed. It couldn''t have been found so easily."
"Moreover, that was a sixth-rank demon beast, equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator. Even in death, its body wouldn''t melt away so easily."
"Even if the Qingxuan Sect had discovered the Ice Dragon''s corpse, it would take them decades to melt it down and take it away."
Bai Ziyue frowned.
"At least there''s still one Ice Dragon scale left, and I have another one in my possession," Zhang Mo muttered.
"Ice Dragon scales are indestructible. Even with a simple modification, incorporating them into the Green Lotus Armor will significantly boost its defensive capabilities."
Staring at the remaining scale, Zhang Mo''s mood soured.
There should have been aplete Ice Dragon''s corpse.
Now, things had changed.
All that was left was a single scale.
It was a wonder she hadn''t spat blood from sheer anger.
"Master, what should we do next?" Bai Ziyue cautiously asked.
Zhang Mo took several deep breaths. "What about Yin Xuege''s body?"
"It''s still preserved, undiscovered by anyone," Bai Ziyue replied respectfully.
"You know what martial technique Shen Mo uses, right?"
"I do."
Zhang Mo spoke calmly, "Mark up the body and make sure others find it. Then, insist it was Shen Mo''s doing."
"I''ll go invite the Thunderfire Sect."
"After all, I helped them get rid of that traitor Lu Ren. They owe me a favor."
"Understood, Master!" Bai Ziyue acknowledged.
...
The next day.
A rogue cultivator suddenly discovered Yin Xuege''s corpse in a cave near Profound Frost City and reported it to the Heavenly Water Sect.
The corpse bore charred marks from fierce mes scorching its surface.
The surrounding vegetation and rocks had been nearly melted by the heat.
Additionally, the body showed sword wounds with traces of faint lightning energy within.
The nature of the wounds immediately brought to mind Shen Mo''s tamed Heavenly me of Creation.
The Heavenly Water Sect adamantly imed that Yin Xuege had died at Shen Mo''s hands.
Once this news broke, it sent shockwaves through the southern region of Xuanjing Prefecture.
Although Yin Xuege had be the weakest of the Six Supremes of Xuanjing, having yet to condense his Core Formation, he was still the young master of the Heavenly Water Sect.
For the prestigious young master to die on the Qingxuan Sect''s territory, Qingxuan would have to provide an exnation to the Heavenly Water Sect, regardless of whether Shen Mo was the killer or not.
After all, it was impossible that Yin Xuege had been killed by the Heavenly Water Sect itself.
After all, many elders, stewards, and disciples of the Heavenly Water Sect believed that the bond between Zhang Mo and Yin Xuege was quite profound.
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Chapter 158: Following the Ancient Tradition of a Life-and-Death Duel
Chapter 158: Following the Ancient Tradition of a Life-and-Death Duel
"I killed Yin Xuege?"
Upon hearing the news, Shen Mo couldn''t help butugh.
For the past few days, he had been preupied with his cultivation and exploiting the Heavenly Water Sect''s resources.
Why would he randomly go out and kill such a minor character?
The excuse the Heavenly Water Sect hade up with waspletely unreasonable.
Shen Mo didn''t pay much attention to it and continued his cultivation, focusing on elevating his realm as much as possible.
The initial losses suffered by the Qingxuan Sect were only due to being caught off guard.
In reality, the gap between the Qingxuan Sect and the Heavenly Water Sect wasn''t thatrge.
Moreover, the Verdant Vine Sect was pressuring the Heavenly Water Sect, making them hesitant to act recklessly.
Even with reinforcements from the Thunderfire Sect, the Heavenly Water Sect only held a slight advantage.
This stalemate was highly unfavorable for the Heavenly Water Sect.
If the battle dragged on, even a victory would be a pyrrhic one.
The overall strength of the Heavenly Water Sect would not improve; instead, it would decline, making it the weakest among the Five Sects of Xuanjing River.
And when that happened, the oue was obvious.
The Heavenly Water Sect would be the nourishment for the other four sects, especially the Divine Sword Sect, which was most likely to devour it first.
That was certainly not what Zhang Mo wanted.
Thus, if the Heavenly Water Sect couldn''t secure a swift victory, they were already on the brink of failure.
Shen Mo was still waiting.
Zhang Mo would inevitably seek the help of the "Demon Armor."
He was waiting for that day.
...
Three dayster, ckrock City fell to the Heavenly Water Sect.
On the fourth day, the Qingxuan Sect recaptured ckrock City.
On the sixth day, Flying Fish City was ambushed by the Thunderfire Sect.
On the eighth day, the Qingxuan Sect, together with the Storm Rain Sect, counterattacked and retook Flying Fish City.
On the tenth day...
The battles went back and forth.
The situation remained at a stalemate.
From south to north, from east to west, Xuanjing Prefecture was focused on this conflict.
This was a battle between one of the Five Sects of Xuanjing River and a top-tier sect.
But after nearly half a month, there was still no decisive oue.
The Heavenly Water Sect had only a slight upper hand, failing to make any significant breakthroughs.
This left everyone watching with great interest.
The Five Sects of Xuanjing Riverwas this all they had?
In contrast, the Qingxuan Sect''s formidable resilience and determined resistance made various sects view it with newfound respect.
Once upon a time, the Qingxuan Sect was just a second-rate sect.
Now, it was actually standing against one of the Five Sects of Xuanjing River!
...
In the Grand River City, at the government office.
Ji Shilong stood with his hands behind his back, gazing southward.
Luo Shuanghan stood respectfully beside him, recounting the details of the battles between the Heavenly Water Sect and the Qingxuan Sect.
After listening, Ji Shilong burst intoughter.
"Heavenly Water Sect, oh, Heavenly Water Sect. With this performance, you still harbor ambitions to break free from the Divine Sword Sect''s control and be the leader of the Five Sects of Xuanjing River?"
"The gap between you and the other four sects is a bit too wide."
Luo Shuanghan replied in a low voice, "After all, two of the three first-tier sects under the Heavenly Water Sect have already been destroyed. The disparity is understandable."
Ji Shilong nodded slightly.
Normally, first-tier sects acted as the Heavenly Water Sect''s enforcers and puppets.
During battles, they served as the Heavenly Water Sect''s cannon fodder.
But now, two of the three "cannon fodders" had been seized by the enemy, while the remaining one was in a state of decline.
It was no wonder the Heavenly Water Sect''s strength had significantly diminished.
"Zhang Mo must be quite worried now. With no swift victory, the Heavenly Water Sect is already being roasted over the fire."
"On the surface, the Verdant Vine Sect and the Thunderfire Sect are aiding both sides, but in reality, they are waiting for the Heavenly Water Sect and the Qingxuan Sect to weaken each other so they can divide the spoils."
"As for the Divine Sword Sect and the Rising Sun Sect, they likely have the same idea."
"Now is the right time for us to intervene."
Ji Shilong smiled faintly.
Luo Shuanghan bowed respectfully, "Please give your instructions, Lord Governor."
Ji Shilong replied calmly, "Send Zhang Mo a gift. She will certainly appreciate it."
"In return, I need a promise from her."
"After annexing the Qingxuan Sect, she must secretly submit to the imperial court and suppress any ambitions from then on."
Luo Shuanghan nodded. "What shall I send her, Lord Governor?"
Ji Shilong replied tly, "Send an Ice Infant Lotus."
Luo Shuanghan shuddered. "That was left for you by the State Governor to nurture your Nascent Soul!"
Ji Shilong chuckled softly, "If I can pacify the sect turmoil in Xuanjing Prefecture, what can''t I obtain in the future? Why worry about a single Ice Infant Lotus?"
Luo Shuanghan''s respect for Ji Shilong deepened.
This man truly had immense ambition.
A top-tier Earth-grade Ice Infant Lotus, and he dismissed it as if it were nothing, gifting it away just like that.
If it were him, he would have refined it the moment he got his hands on it, never waiting until now.
Ji Shilong continued, "Also, pass along a message for me."
"The imperial court does not wish to see Xuanjing Prefecture reduced to ruins and destion."
"If the sects are at an impasse, why not settle this in a different mannerusing the ancient tradition of a life-and-death duel to determine the victor?"
"This way, further casualties among cultivators can be avoided, which benefits both sides."
Luo Shuanghan''s eyes lit up. "Understood, I will go at once!"
...
In Profound Frost City.
Luo Shuanghan stood before Zhang Mo, his demeanor neither arrogant nor servile. "...That is the message from Lord Governor. Has Sect Master Zhang heard it in full?"
Zhang Mo frowned. "What did Governor Ji send you with? What is it, and where is it?"
Luo Shuanghan retrieved a square jade box from his storage ring.
It was as long as an arm, and faint water sounds could be heard from within.
Zhang Mo opened it and immediately widened her eyes. "The Ice Infant Lotus?!"
Luo Shuanghan nodded. "Precisely. This item was left to the Lord Governor by the Prefect of Yu Province, and now the Lord Governor is gifting it to you, Sect Master Zhang."
Zhang Mo''s eyes shone with excitement. "Very well. Convey my thanks to Governor Ji. I have taken all his words to heart."
Luo Shuanghan cupped his hands and left.
Only then did Bai Ziyue approach Zhang Mo.
"Master, what is the Ice Infant Lotus? Is it important?" he asked in confusion.
Zhang Mo''s expression was full of joy. "This is one of the essential treasures for cultivating a Lotus Seat! It''s an Earth-grade treasure!"
"Moreover, the Ice Infant Lotus has an ice attribute, which perfectly matches my constitution."
"Once I refine this Ice Infant Lotus, my strength will significantly improve."
"By then, even if Murong Yue possesses a lower Heaven-grade constitution, she will no longer be my match!"
Bai Ziyue was utterly shocked.
It was such an invaluable treasure!
"Congrattions, Master! The day of conquering the Qingxuan Sect is just around the corner!"
Zhang Mo nodded confidently. "Currently, the Qingxuan Sect is still at a disadvantage and can''t shake off the suspicion of having caused Yin Xuege''s death."
"We''ll first demand that they hand over Shen Mo. Murong Yue will surely refuse. Then we will take a step back and propose a life-and-death duel."
"Best two out of threethis will determine the victor."
"In this way, the Qingxuan Sect will have no choice but to ept."
Bai Ziyue nodded repeatedly. "This method can also avoid unnecessary conflict and minimize casualties. It is indeed a good strategy."
"I will now go into seclusion to refine the lotus. You stand guard outside," Zhang Mo ordered promptly.
"Yes, Master."
...
The next day.@@novelbin@@
The Heavenly Water Sect took the initiative, demanding that the Qingxuan Sect hand over Shen Mo, the murderer, to atone for Yin Xuege''s death.
Naturally, Murong Yue sternly refused.
Subsequently, the Heavenly Water Sect proposed resolving the conflict between the two sects through a life-and-death duel.
The loser would be absorbed into the winner''s faction.
The Qingxuan Sect, also unwilling to see more of its cultivators die, readily agreed.
The location of the life-and-death duel was set at Tiger Head Mountain in Thornwood Forest.
The date was set for five dayster.
For the time being, both the Heavenly Water Sect and the Qingxuan Sect ceased hostilities.
The southern region of Xuanjing Prefecture immediately plunged into an eerie silence.
The news that the Heavenly Water Sect and the Qingxuan Sect were about to follow ancient sect traditions and engage in a life-and-death duel spread like wildfire, quickly sweeping across the entire Xuanjing Prefecture!
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Chapter 159: The Life-and-Death Duel Begins
Chapter 159: The Life-and-Death Duel Begins
Buzz.
Shen Mo was in the jujube tree courtyard, urging the White me of Creation while practicing the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique.
Suddenly, the mother jade inside his storage ring began to vibrate.
Shen Mo''s heart stirred, and he immediately took it out.
Injecting spiritual power into it, an unfamiliar voice emerged.
"Daoist Demon Armor, this is Zhang Mo, the Sect Master of Heavenly Water Sect."
Shen Mo chuckled.
You''ve finally lost your patience after waiting for so long?
"Sect Master Zhang, what can I do for you?" Shen Mo replied.
"My Heavenly Water Sect has a conflict with the Qingxuan Sect. You must have heard about it, right?"
"I have."
"Very well. There will be a life-and-death dueling up, which will decide the victor between our sects. I hope you, Daoist Demon Armor, can participate in this duel," Zhang Mo continued.
"With your strength, no one in Qingxuan Sect should be your match, except maybe Murong Yue."
Shen Mo smiled, "A life-and-death duel? Sounds dangerous."
"Sect Master Zhang, I''ve never been one to do things where the risks outweigh the rewards."
Zhang Mo''s voice came through, "What do you want?"
Shen Moughed, "I want a treasure that can nurture the Nascent Soul."
Zhang Mo fell silent.
After a long pause, he spoke, "There are many treasures that can nurture the Nascent Soul. Which one do you want?"
Shen Mo then selected a few from the treasures recorded in the "Infernal Extinction Manual" and reported them to Zhang Mo, "The Longevity Flower, the Fiery Cherry Lotus, the Dark Frost Chrysanthemum"
"These treasures are extremely rare, even for my Heavenly Water Sect," Zhang Mo replied. "However, I do know the whereabouts of a Fiery Cherry Lotus."
"There is a small volcano within the Thunder Fire Sect''s territory that contains the Fiery Cherry Lotus."
"I have a good rtionship with the Sect Master of Thunder Fire Sect. They should have such a fire-attribute treasure."
"Very well. Show me the treasure, and I will participate in the duel," Shen Mo replied with a chuckle.
Zhang Mo frowned, "How can I be sure that you will join the duel and not just run off with the treasure?"
Shen Mo sneered, "Sect Master Zhang, the initiative is in my hands."
"Besides, you made a mistake earlier. No one in Qingxuan Sect, including Murong Yue, can match me."
"If you can''t provide what I need, I could just go to Qingxuan Sect. I''m sure Murong Yue would love to see that."
Zhang Mo was silent again.
The sound of teeth grinding could faintly be heard.
After a long while, Zhang Mo spoke once more, "Fine. I agree. I will deliver the treasure to you within two days at most."
"Good. I look forward to your good news, Sect Master Zhang," Shen Moughed sinisterly.
After disconnecting from the transmission jade, Shen Mo smacked his lips.
Getting a treasure without lifting a finger felt almost too pleasant.
...
Two dayster.
Shen Mo indeed received the treasure sent by the Heavenly Water Sect.
It was a Fiery Cherry Lotus.
A treasure that could only be born in the high-temperature, high-pressure depths of the earth.
The Thunder Fire Sect happened to control a small volcano, which allowed them to harvest the Fiery Cherry Lotus continuously.
However, as an Earth-grade treasure, the Fiery Cherry Lotus took a long time to mature. Typically, one would take a hundred years to be born and another hundred years to fully grow.
The Thunder Fire Sect usually wouldn''t trade the Fiery Cherry Lotus easily.
For Zhang Mo to obtain this Fiery Cherry Lotus, he must have paid a heavy price, far beyond mere favors.
Of course, whatever the price, Shen Mo had no interest in knowing.
After all, it wasn''t his price to payit was the Heavenly Water Sect''s.
After acquiring the Fiery Cherry Lotus, Shen Mo quickly returned to the Qingxuan Sect''s mountain gate and began refining it.
Three days passed in the process.
...
Thorny Forest, Tiger Head Mountain.
At this moment, the surroundings of the mountain were packed with people.
Some stood on tree branches, others at the mountain''s peak, while some floated amidst the clouds.
These people hade not just from the southern part of Xuanjing Prefecture but also from the northern sects!
Among them were representatives from the Divine Sword Sect, the Shaoyang Sect, and the other five major sects of Xuanjing!
Geniuses such as Zhou Qingcang, Hong Chilong, and Wan Renjie had all arrived one after another.
Today, we gather here to witness this once-in-a-century life-and-death duel between sects!
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, and Xiao Fan were also among the crowd.
Zhao Rou pointed in a certain direction, "Look over there. The cultivators in blue and red robes should be from the Thunder Fire Sect, right?"
"They really are from the Thunder Fire Sect," Zhao Ting nodded.
Luo Shengnan spoke up as well, "Look over there! People from the Rising Sun Sect and the Divine Sword Sect are here too. That man is Ouyang Cang, the Vice Sect Master of the Divine Sword Sect. I can''t believe he came in person!"
"All five sects of Xuanjing Prefecture are here," Zhao Ting sighed.
"Big Brother, does a life-and-death duel mean that one side must die for it to end? I''m worried..." Zhao Rou said, her concern evident.
Zhao Ting shook his head, "Not necessarily. One can admit defeat to end the duel, but to do so under the watchful eyes of so many... their mental state would be damaged. Even if they survive, their cultivation might never progress further."
Zhao Rou nodded, understanding now.
"Big Brother, do you know who will participate in the duel?" she asked again.
Zhao Ting seemed like he was about to say something but ended up shaking his head.
"There''s no need to know the list. Just think a little, and you can guess," Xiao Fan, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke.@@novelbin@@
Luo Shengnan, Zhao Ting, and Zhao Rou all had a slight change in their expressions and cupped their hands towards him, "Elder Xiao."
Xiao Fan smiled faintly, "The three people our Qingxuan Sect will send to the duel are surely the strongest within the sect. So, it''s easy to guess the lineup."
"The three are Sect Master Murong, Young Master Shen, and Elder Song Chaofeng."
Luo Shengnan and the others exchanged looks.
Murong Yue and Song Chaofeng were both known for their strength.
But Shen Mo... he was so young. Could he really handle it?
Xiao Fan continued, "As for the three participants from the Heavenly Water Sect, it is unclear for now. However, Sect Master Zhang Mo and Grand Elder Long Tao are surely two of them."
"The third person will likely be one of their second or third elders, as their strengths are simr."
Zhao Rou blinked, still worried, "I''ve heard that Demon Armor has be a guest elder of the Heavenly Water Sect. He is quite powerful. Wouldn''t Zhang Mo invite him?"
Xiao Fan shook his head, "Demon Armor is a self-serving rogue cultivator. He would avoid getting involved in conflicts between the two major sects at all costs."
"Moreover, I doubt Zhang Mo could offer enough to persuade Demon Armor."
Zhao Ting and Luo Shengnan both nodded.
Although they disliked Xiao Fan, his analysis was undeniably urate.
Suddenly, Xiao Fan''s eyes shed as he looked toward the northern sky, "The people from Heavenly Water Sect have arrived."
In mid-air.
Zhang Mo descended like a streak of light,nding steadily at the peak of Tiger Head Mountain.
Standing before her was none other than Murong Yue.
"Sect Master Murong, long time no see. You''ve be even more beautiful," Zhang Mo said with a smile that didn''t reach her eyes.
Murong Yue nced at her briefly, suddenly feeling a chill, "Sect Master Zhang, your strength has improved again."
Zhang Moughed heartily, "You have a good eye."
Murong Yue, unwilling to waste words on this, asked, "Sect Master Zhang, who are the participants from your Heavenly Water Sect?"
As soon as she spoke, everyone''s eyes turned towards them.
Everyone was eager to know which three people the Heavenly Water Sect had chosen.
Zhang Mo smiled, "The participants are ready. You two,e on up!"
As soon as she finished speaking, two streaks of light quickly appeared beside Zhang Mo.
The one on the left was Long Tao, an inner elder of the Heavenly Water Sect and a cultivator at the peak of the Core Formation stage.
The other wore a half-face mask with a me pattern. It was none other than the renowned rogue cultivator of Xuanjing PrefectureDemon Armor!
Zhang Mo smiled slightly, "The three participants from our Heavenly Water Sect are myself, Long Tao, and Demon Armor."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience erupted in an uproar!
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Chapter 160: Has Shen Mo Fled the Battle?
Chapter 160: Has Shen Mo Fled the Battle?
As soon as the cultivators saw Demon Armor''s appearance, the crowd erupted in discussion.
"Demon Armor is only a guest elder of the Heavenly Water Sect, right? For Zhang Mo to get him involved, what kind of precious treasure did she offer?"
"Demon Armor is incredibly powerful and doesn''t take a clear stance. Normally, he wouldn''t participate in such life-and-death battles. I can''t believe... sigh, in the end, he''s driven by profit."
"Demon Armor is too strong. As long as he doesn''t face Murong Yue, neither Shen Mo nor Song Chaofeng stands a chance against him."
"Heh, your information is outdated. Do you know about Lu Ren, the second elder of Thunder Fire Sect? A few months ago, he stole demonic arts and killed fellow elders before escaping. He waster killed by Demon Armor with a single punch!"
"What?! I heard that Lu Ren had already set one foot into the peak of the Core Formation stage. For Demon Armor to kill him with just one punch? That''s outrageous!"
"Judging from this, Demon Armor''s cultivation level is at least at the peak of the Core Formation stage, or possibly even beyond. Otherwise, he couldn''t have taken out Lu Ren so effortlessly."
The cultivators were not only shocked by Demon Armor''s appearance but also by his impressive feats.
Some cultivators who hade from the northern part of Xuanjing Prefecture had only heard of Demon Armor in passing and were unaware of his formidable reputation. Hearing the discussions around them, they, too, were astonished.
With a figure like this participating in the life-and-death duel, what chance does Qingxuan Sect have?
Zhang Mo noticed the displeased look on Murong Yue''s face and immediately gave a smug smile.
"Where are the Qingxuan Sect participants? Not all here yet? Could it be they fled at thest moment?" She nced behind Murong Yue, seeing only Song Chaofeng but not Shen Mo.
Logically, Shen Mo''s strength was at least second within Qingxuan Sect, so he would surely be part of the life-and-death duel.
Murong Yue took a deep breath, "Shen''er will be here soon. There''s no rush."
At that moment, a figure rushed to her sideit was Elder Li.
Elder Li wore a troubled expression as she whispered, "The young master is missing. I''ve searched the entire jujube courtyard and scoured the mountain, but I couldn''t find him."
Murong Yue''s heart trembled, "What?"
She pulled Elder Li aside in haste.
Zhang Mo watched this scene with a yful glint in her eyes.
"What''s going on? Where is Shen''er?" Murong Yue asked again.
Elder Li shook her head helplessly, "He disappeared... or maybe..."
She didn''t dare finish the sentence.
Murong Yue muttered to herself, "He left..."
Elder Li quickly added, "No, the young master isn''t like that. I think he may have encountered some unexpected situation. Maybe he''s cultivating somewhere, unaware of the passage of time."
Murong Yue took several deep breaths, "You''re right."
"We cultivators are often so focused on our path that we forget about time. It''s not his fault."
Elder Li sighed softly before asking, "Who will rece the young master?"
Murong Yue thought for a moment, "Let''s wait. If Shen''er hasn''t arrived by the time it''s his turn to fight, let Wei Xiongtie go up. He has shown his willingness to fight for the sect and even approached me before, asking to rece Shen''er''s spot. I refused him then."
"Understood."
After speaking, she chuckled, "Actually, I feel a bit relieved."
Elder Li was puzzled, "Why relieved?"
Murong Yue sighed in resignation, "If Shen''er can''t participate in this life-and-death duel, at least he will stay alive."
"As his master, how can I stand by and watch him die here?"
"What master can bear the pain of seeing their disciple die before their eyes?"
Elder Li''s expression darkened, "Indeed..."
Momentster, both the Heavenly Water Sect and Qingxuan Sect''s three participants hovered in mid-air above Tiger Head Mountain.
When the cultivators saw the lineup of Qingxuan Sect, they were taken aback.
"What''s going on? Where is Qingxuan Sect''s young master, Shen Mo?"
"I remember Shen Mo is quite strong! He once killed the Blood River Sect''s leader, Feng Lieshan. He should at least be stronger than Wei Xiongtie, right?"
"I don''t get it. Qingxuan Sect''s decision drastically reduces their chances of victory."
The cultivators started debating, unable to understand Qingxuan Sect''s arrangements.
Meanwhile, the elders of Qingxuan Sect also frowned.
Xiao Fan let out a surprised sound, "Where is Shen Mo? Logically, he should be the one fighting."
Zhao Ting, Zhao Rou, and Luo Shengnan exchanged uncertain nces.
"Could he have run away? Did you see Elder Li earlier? She rushed to the sect master and whispered something only they could hear."
A voice suddenly came from the side.
The disciples of Qingxuan Sect looked over and saw that it was Liu Yunxuan.
Luo Shengnan heard his words and immediately red at him coldly. "What are you saying? You are not allowed to insult Shen Mo''s reputation!"@@novelbin@@
Zhao Rou also widened her eyes. "Who gave you the right to speak such baseless nonsense?"
Liu Yunxuan sneered and fell silent, but his words had already had an effect.
Many of the elders and disciples of Qingxuan Sect began to harbor simr doubts in their hearts.
Elder Li''s anxious arrival just now had been witnessed by many.
After her conversation with Sect Master Murong Yue, the participant changed from Shen Mo to Wei Xiongtie.
In terms of strength, Shen Mo was undoubtedly superior to Wei Xiongtie. This fact was not only acknowledged within Qingxuan Sect but also by many other sects.
If there was nothing wrong here, it would indeed be strange.
Why would they change the participant at thest minute if there was no problem?
This matter concerned the fate of Qingxuan Sect and all its cultivators. At such a critical moment, even the slightest suspicion could quickly amplify, eventually leading to overwhelming anxiety.
The discussions among Qingxuan Sect did not go unnoticed by members of other sects around them.
Some keen observers, noting the expressions of Murong Yue, Elder Li, and Wei Xiongtie, began to piece together what might have happened.
For a while, rumors of Shen Mo fleeing before the battle spread like wildfire.
Even Zhang Mo and Long Tao, hovering in midair, overheard thesements.
Zhang Mo sneered, "Murong Yue, it seems your disciple is not that remarkable."
"In a moment of crisis, he abandoned his sect and fled on his own!"
Long Taoughed heartily, adding, "A sect divided and disheartened, with even its young master running awaydoes such a sect still deserve to exist?"
"Why don''t you, Sect Master Murong, dere right here that the entire Qingxuan Sect will merge into our Heavenly Water Sect?"
Murong Yue''s expression remained calm. "Shen''er did not flee. He is not that kind of person."
"Why he hasn''t appeared, I do not know, nor do I wish to know."
"As his master, I would rather not see him die right in front of me than have him participate in a life-and-death duel."
Zhang Mo''s heart stirred, and she suddenly thought of her deceased disciple, Yin Xuege.
Weren''t she and Yin Xuege also master and disciple?
Her face immediately darkened, and she snorted, "I can''t be bothered with any more nonsense. Let''s draw lots!"
As she spoke, she tossed a bamboo tube into the air. After a brief shake, a bamboo stick fell out.
With a casual wave, Zhang Mo caught it and saw the words "Long Tao" engraved on it.
"The first match of the life-and-death duel: Long Tao from Heavenly Water Sect," she announced calmly.
Murong Yue also threw a bamboo tube into the air, which contained three bamboo sticks as well.
After several shakes, one stick emerged.
The name inscribed on it was Song Chaofeng.
This was part of an ancient agreement for life-and-death duels between sects in Xuanjing Prefecture.
It was designed to prevent situations where a lower-rankedbatant would be swapped out for a stronger one.
By using a draw to decide who would participate, everything was left to the hands of fate.
Swoosh, swoosh.
Everyone else left, leaving the vast peak of Tiger Head Mountain to Song Chaofeng and Long Tao.
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Chapter 162: The Demon Armor is Shen Mo, and Shen Mo is the Demon Armor
Chapter 162: The Demon Armor is Shen Mo, and Shen Mo is the Demon Armor
Zhang Mo waved her hand, and a bamboo stick flew out of the bamboo tube.
She reached out and grabbed it. Engraved on it were three characters:
Zhang Mo.
She smiled confidently, "For the second match of my Heavenly Water Sect, I will fight myself!"
The cultivators were shocked and began whispering amongst themselves.
When discussing the strongest person in Xuanjing Prefecture, it''s difficult to determine a clear ranking.
However, the five sect masters of the five great sects in Xuanjing Prefecture were undoubtedly the five most powerful individuals.
Although Murong Yue was also at the peak of the Core Formation Realm, battles between those of the same level depended on factors like physical strength, martial techniques, cultivation methods, and spiritual weapons.
Murong Yue had the advantage in terms of physical constitution. It was rumored that she had recently consumed some rare heavenly treasures and inadvertently advanced to a lower-grade heavenly physique.
However, in every other aspect, she was inferior to Zhang Mo.
"No matter who Qingxuan Sect sends out, they will not be a match for Zhang Mo."
"In the first life-and-death duel, Heavenly Water Sect lost, and Zhang Mo is already burning with rage. I suspect this second match will lead to someone''s death."
"Let''s wait and see who will be drawn from the Qingxuan Sect''s bamboo tube."
All the cultivators eagerly turned their gaze to Murong Yue.
Murong Yue''s expression was grim as she took several deep breaths and began to shake the bamboo tube.
There were only two bamboo sticks inside the tube.
One bore her name, and the other was Shen Mo.
"Let me go; don''t send Shen''er," she silently prayed, tossing the bamboo tube.
A bamboo stick flew out.
On it were two characters: Shen Mo.
"Hahaha! Shen Mo! I''ve been waiting for this! Bring Shen Mo up!" Zhang Moughed heartily upon seeing the name on the stick.
Shen Mo was no match for her.
She was about to publicly crush this peerless genius!
The thought of having the opportunity to end such an extraordinary talent made Zhang Mo''s blood boil with a sense of indescribable joy.
"Shen''er isn''t here yet"
Murong Yue scanned the area, still not seeing that familiar tall figure.
Wei Xiongtie strode up beside her, his expression resolute. "Sect Master, I am willing to take the Young Master''s ce in this battle."
Murong Yue nodded, "Elder Wei, thank you."
Wei Xiongtie cupped his hands and was about to step onto the peak of Tiger Head Mountain.
Then, unexpectedly, the Demon Armor, who had remained motionless until now, leaped forward,nding on the mountaintop and standing before Zhang Mo.
Everyone was stunned by this turn of events.
"Demon Armor, what are you doing? It''s not your turn yet," Zhang Mo frowned.
"Demon Armor,e down. The third match is yours, and your opponent is Murong Yue," shouted a cultivator from below.
"ording to the rules of a life-and-death duel, only the one drawn can enter. If they are not present, then a substitute may take their ce," Mo Hanshan, the Sect Master of the Verdant Vine Sect, cleared his throat and dered loudly.
The Demon Armor stared at Zhang Mo, and a raspy voice came from under the mask, "Sect Master Zhang, I am not fighting for Heavenly Water Sect."
He paused for a moment, then suddenly changed his tone, "I am fighting for Qingxuan Sect."
With that, he removed the fiery-patterned half-face mask, revealing his true face.
It was... the Young Master of Qingxuan Sect, Shen Mo!
The entire audience erupted in chaos!
"Sh*t!" The cultivators of Heavenly Water Sect cursed in unison.
Luo Shengnan''s eyes widened, "The Demon Armor is actually Shen Mo?!"
Zhao Ting and Zhao Rou held their breath, "Oh my God"
From a distance, Luo Shuanghan, who had been secretly observing the battle on orders from Ji Shilong, also widened his eyes in shock.
"The Demon Armor is Shen Mo?" he gritted his teeth.
Liu Yunxuan, Liu Yuanfeng, and the others couldn''t conceal their astonishment.
Xiao Fan, who had previously maintained a confident demeanor as if he were above it all, now turned pale.
Demon Armor and Shen Moboth were top-tier experts in their own right.
But now, they were revealed to be one and the same.
Thebined achievements of these two figures...
It was terrifying!
He had thought that with his perfect golden core, he could at least catch up to Shen Mo.
He never expected the gap between them to grow even wider.
It was beyond the point of trying to match him; now, he couldn''t even catch a glimpse of his heels!
"Unbelievable, simply unbelievable," Zhou Qingcang muttered to himself, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
He had long heard of the Demon Armor''s illustrious battle record and had wanted to spar with him for a while, but the man was elusive, impossible to find even if one tried.
Now, everything was clear.
The Demon Armor was actually Shen Mo!
What a surprise!
From now on, they could spar with Shen Mo anytime!
Hong Chilong burst intoughter, "Haha! I had my suspicions before, thinking maybe the Demon Armor was Shen Mo, but that idea seemed too absurd, so I didn''t dare believe it."
"Who would have thought it turned out to be true!"
Wan Ranjie gritted his teeth, "How is this possible? How?!"@@novelbin@@
Fear crept into his eyes.
He had heard of how powerful the Demon Armor was. Now that he knew the Demon Armor was Shen Mo, his heart, like that of Yin Xuege, was shadowed by dread.
Such a person was the true genius.
Compared to him, he wasn''t even worthy of carrying his shoes.
Mo Yuheng''s eyes gleamed with a strange light. "Father, didn''t I tell you before? This person is no ordinary talent. Our decision was the right one."
Mo Hanshan nodded repeatedly, his smile stretching ear to ear.
But after a fewughs, he couldn''t help but ponder, "However, is he really a match for Zhang Mo?"
"Judging by his expression, he seems very confident."
Mo Yuheng kept her gaze fixed on the mountaintop, her eyes full of determination. "I believe in him!"
At the peak of Tiger Head Mountain, Murong Yue''s eyes reddened as tears welled up uncontrobly.
She shouted loudly, "Shen''er, I knew it! I knew you wouldn''t run away at thest moment!"
Tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls.
Shen Mo turned to look at her, revealing a sincere smile.
"If I ran, wouldn''t I be failing my master?"
"I''m not that kind of ungrateful disciple."
Murong Yue immediately broke into a smile through her tears.
Suddenly, a cold voice came from ahead of Shen Mo.
"Save those words for when you manage to walk out of here alive," Zhang Mo sneered.
"Shen Mo, I never thought you''d use the identity of the Demon Armor to deceive me for so long and even take so many valuable spiritual artifacts from my Heavenly Water Sect!"
Zhang Mo gritted her teeth, each word squeezed out from between her teeth.
The Azure Lotus Crown, the Azure Lotus Robe, the Azure Lotus Bootseach of these spiritual artifacts was worth a fortune.
There were only threeplete sets in the entire Heavenly Water Sect.
The remaining pieces were given out individually, requiring elders to establish significant achievements before they could be exchanged.
Back then, Long Tao had vehemently opposed handing these spiritual artifacts over to the Demon Armor as payment.
She wanted to win over the Demon Armor to use for her own purposes, so she refused his advice.
Now, looking back, she wished she could return to the past and p herself hard.
Zhang Mo, how could you be so na?ve, trusting a cultivator hiding behind a mask?!
"Sect Master Zhang, you''re being too serious. I was acting without much thought back then. I never expected you to trust me so much that you''d give me the Azure Lotus Crown, the Azure Lotus Robe, and the Azure Lotus Boots," Shen Mo said with a faint smile.
Hearing his words, Zhang Mo''s face burned with shame.
Shen Mo''s statement was like rubbing salt into her wound.
What made it worse was that he said it in front of so many onlookers.
Everyone heard it!
"Are you kidding me? The Azure Lotus spiritual artifacts? Aren''t those the ones Heavenly Water Sect bought at a great cost from the major sect in Yuzhou? And Zhang Mo actually gave them to Shen Mo?"
"Yeah, I heard that those three spiritual artifacts have incredible defensive power and can significantly speed up healing. Many have offered a fortune to buy them but were refused!"
"I heard that even the elders of Heavenly Water Sect rarely possess them. Tsk tsk... Zhang Mo must be regretting it now."
"Who would have thought even the leader of one of the Five Sects of Xuanjing would make such a mistake? Hrious."
"Stopughing. Shen Mo has provoked Zhang Mo so much. I fear his ending will be quite miserable."
"True. I feel like Shen Mo is just showing off with words. Even if he possesses that strange Demon Armor gauntlet, he can''t possibly surpass Zhang Mo."
"His most remarkable feat was defeating Lu Ren, the second elder of Thunderfire Sect, but Zhang Mo is a genuine peak Core Formation cultivator! What difference would having aplete set of Azure Lotus spiritual artifacts make?"
The cultivators around chattered loudly, the atmosphere lively and heated.
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Chapter 163: Who Is Master Zhang Searching For?
Chapter 163: Who Is Master Zhang Searching For?
The cultivators'' discussions reached the ears of both Shen Mo and Zhang Mo.
Zhang Mo sneered, "Did you hear that? At least eighty percent of those present believe you will undoubtedly lose."
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "Does Master Zhang think so as well?"
"I don''t think so; I believe you are certain to die!" Zhang Mo said, emphasizing each word.
As thest word fell, Zhang Mo stomped on the ground, making it seem like he was stepping on water.
Instantly, water spiritual energy from all directions surged in.
In a sh, the entire mountaintop of Tiger Head Mountain became exceedingly damp.
The cultivators then looked towards Zhang Mo''s feet.
It had turned into a vastke!
Ripples spreadyer uponyer.
The water surface even reflected the blue sky.
No matter which angle one viewed it from, it was unmistakably water!
Mo Hanshan eximed in surprise, "This is the illusoryke that one can create only by cultivating the Heavenly River Heavy Water Scroll to its highest level."
"As long as one is within theke''s range, Zhang Mo''s spiritual energy recovery speed will triple!"
"I never thought his technique had reached this level; no wonder he''s so confident."
Mo Yuheng''s delicate face changed slightly, and she focused her attention even more on the mountaintop.
Zhang Mo raised a single finger.
"One move."
"With just one move, I can kill you!"
"Only a swift and absolute victory can wash away the humiliation suffered by my Heavenly Water Sect!"
As soon as his words fell, Zhang Mo flipped his palm, and an ice-blue long sword appeared in his hand.
The sword seemed almost alive, its cold light constantly flickering.
In the surrounding environment, dense with water spiritual energy, the sword''s surface instantly condensed with ayer of frost, its width and length expanding dramatically.
Hong Chilong raised an eyebrow, "Old Zhou, what is that sword?"
Zhou Qingcang''s eyes gleamed, "That is the treasured sword of the Heavenly Water Sect, named ''Ice River''! A high-grade spiritual weapon of the Earth rank!"
"This sword has always been kept in the sect''s treasury and is rarely shown to others."
"I never expected Zhang Mo to bring it out here!"
Hong Chilong clicked his tongue in amazement, "An Earth-rank high-grade spiritual weapon? Damn, I don''t think even my master has something this powerful."
"Heavenly River Heavy Water Scroll, Heavenly River Waterfall!"
Zhang Mo shouted sharply, thrusting the Ice River Sword straight forward.
Endless coldness surged from all directions.
In an instant, a long, icy river formed.@@novelbin@@
The river seemed to flow from the distant sky, like a cier in motion.
It was iparably vast and towering.
It shot straight toward Shen Mo!
To Shen Mo, he suddenly seemed like an ordinary, insignificant person.
Yet what he faced was a sky-covering, earth-shattering icy river!
Facing such a natural disaster with mortal strength!
No matter who it was, seeing such a scene would inevitably feel despair and fear, along with a flood of negative emotions.
Shen Mo gave a slight shake and immediately discarded the faint negative feelings that arose from within.
He extended his hand.
Three bronze doors suddenly appeared in front of him.
A fourth door followed suit.
It exuded a chilling aura, as if made of dark ice.
The four doors lined up in front of him.
Each door was four zhang (approximately 13.3 meters) tall and two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) wide.
They gave off a strong sense of security.
This was Shen Mo''s defensive martial skill, the Four Mystical Gates.
When cultivated to the fourth level, which was the highest, the fourth gate could be condensed.
The fourth gate could change its attribute at will.
At this moment, Shen Mo formed an ice-attribute gate to block Zhang Mo''s Ice River.
"How naive, trying to block it head-on?"
Seeing this, Zhang Mo sneered, "Very well, I''ll grant you your wish and crush you!"
In the next moment.
The vast icy river crashed onto Shen Mo.
Boom!
Ice fragments scattered in all directions, enveloping the surroundings and obscuring the view.
Under the dazzling sunlight, the ice fragments refracted brilliant rays, making it even harder to see clearly.
Did he block it?
Or did he not?
This question surfaced in everyone''s mind.
Murong Yue was extremely nervous.
She almost didn''t dare to look.
She feared that the next moment she would see Shen Mo turned into an ice sculpture.
Boom.
Thest wave of icepletely fell.
The boundless icy river struck Shen Mo entirely.
Zhang Mo let out a long breath and gazed towards the target of his attack.
There, a giant ice block had formed.
Shen Mo was right there among it all.
Zhang Mo smiled faintly.
She felt reassured.
Under such an attack, no one could survive.
In the next moment.
An immensely fierce heat surged from within the ice.
The pristine white ice turned crimson at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Cracks suddenly appeared.
Then, like a spider web, they spread rapidly.
Boom!
The ice suddenly shattered.
Countless chunks of ice flew out in all directions at high speed.
Some pieces melted into water mid-air.
While some exceptionallyrge blocks couldn''t melt in time.
They fell into the crowd, instantly causing screams of panic.
The major sects reacted quickly, with their Core Formation cultivators immediately using defensive martial skills to block the iing ice chunks.
The cultivators were terrified.
The ice shards shot out with such shocking destructive power.
It was hard to imagine how powerful the attack Shen Mo had just withstood was.
A hissing sound.
Steam rose and swirled upward.
Yet no figure emerged from within.
Zhang Mo stared ahead, uncertain and uneasy.
In the next instant, she caught a flicker of lightning in the corner of her eye.
Behind her, Shen Mo''s calm voice sounded.
"Master Zhang, who are you looking for?"
Zhang Mo''s pupils suddenly shrank.
She instinctively tried to distance herself from Shen Mo while immediately casting a defensive martial skill.
Three mirrors of cold ice appeared behind her at the fastest speed possible.
But she was still a step too slow.
A scorching red me had already risen behind her.
The Red Lotus me!
The second form of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique!
The red me in the shape of a palm instantly surged.
In a single breath, it expanded to a height of twelve zhang (approximately 40 meters).
The surging heatwave radiated outward, causing difort among the surrounding cultivators.
In their perception, this fierce eternal me seemed capable of burning a hole in the sky itself!
"Is this an eternal me?"
"The Red Lotus me! Number forty-one on the Eternal me Ranking!"
"Such terrifying heat; if itnded on me, I would surely be burned to ashes!"
"It seemed Shen Mo used a movement martial skill just now and suddenly appeared behind Zhang Mo!"
"This strike will undoubtedly gravely injure Zhang Mo!"
The cultivators widened their eyes.
Their pupils reflected the fierce battle atop Tiger Head Mountain.
The me palm struck down.
Boom!
The red me instantly engulfed Zhang Mo.
The three ice mirrors couldn''t hold for even ten breaths before shattering.
The me continued its momentum, mming directly into Zhang Mo''s chest.
Zhang Mo''s pupils contracted sharply.
She was sent flying backward on the spot.
The Red Lotus robe on her body immediately emittedyers of emerald light, struggling to resist the burning of the Red Lotus me.
Zhang Mo could feel her internal organs already damaged.
She instinctively wanted to spit out blood, but she forcefully suppressed it.
Because her battle instincts told her that Shen Mo''s second wave of attack wasing!
Sure enough, before she even hit the ground, she sensed a deadly threat approaching.
A bone-chilling cold swept over her madly, like an ice dragon suddenly appearing atop Tiger Head Mountain!
This feeling... it was familiar.
Zhang Mo was first stunned, then finally couldn''t hold back and spat out blood.
She understood.
The ice dragon... the ice dragon corpse at the bottom of the Profound Frost Cave...
It had been taken by Shen Mo!
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Chapter 164: The Last Strike of the Burning Lotus Core
Chapter 164: The Last Strike of the Burning Lotus Core
On Shen Mo''s right arm, a purple-ck demonic armor appeared.
He suddenly crushed five blood packs.
Fifteen drops of ice dragon blood were swiftly absorbed by the demonic armor.
The armor instantly transformed into an ice-spike form.
A fierce dragon''s head, enormous scales, and protruding ice spikes.
All of these disyed a menacing and powerful presence.
Many cultivators who hade to witness the event widened their eyes at this strange arm armor.
"He''s making a move! That''s the demonic armor!"
"Can you feel it? After using the demonic armor, Shen Mo''s aura has surged. In my perception, he''s almost on par with a peak Core Formation cultivator!"
Boom!
In the next instant, the fierce fist struck straight at Zhang Mo.
Although Zhang Mo relied on herbat instincts to forcefully use a movement martial skill, attempting to dodge the blow.
Shen Mo was faster.
Even though she desperately tried to evade and avoid a critical hit, her right shoulder was still struck hard.
The Green Lotus Robe on her right shoulder failed to withstand the blow and shattered on the spot.
With a crack, the sound of bones breaking came from within.
Zhang Mo groaned, falling toward the ground.
She attempted to use a movement martial skill again to put some distance between them.
However, Shen Mo transformed into a stream of light and disappeared instantly.
When he reappeared, he was less than one zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) away from Zhang Mo!
It was the pinnacle move of the Eight Direction Thunder Movement: Blink Thunder Escape!
Shen Mo could use it four to five times consecutively without exhausting his spiritual power!
Facing Zhang Mo, whose pupils had suddenly contracted, Shen Mo revealed a faint smile. The purple-ck demonic armor on his right arm vanished, revealing its original appearance.
Suddenly, the Red Lotus me burst forth from both his hands.
Then, he struck down fiercely.
The first form of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
His fists fell like raindrops,unching a ferocious barrage.
The Red Lotus me ceaselessly inflicted damage on Zhang Mo''s body.
It burned the Green Lotus Robe and seared her skin.
Shen Mo''s attack speed was incredibly fast.
In just ten breaths, he hadnded over a hundred punches.
The Green Lotus Robe on Zhang Mo''s body had already been mostly incinerated.
No matter how resilient the defensive spiritual artifact was, in the face of the unreasonable power of the Red Lotus me, it would be burned to ashes!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
At this moment, Zhang Mo''s body resembled a ragdoll.
Unable to counterattack, unable to dodge.
She could only passively endure Shen Mo''s onught.
If it weren''t for the Green Lotus Crown, the Green Lotus Robe, and the Green Lotus Sash elerating her wound recovery and dissipating the damage.
Zhang Mo would have died after enduring those hundred punches!
The numerous cultivators were left stunned, staring in shock at the scene before them.
The battle had changed too swiftly.
It was as if, just a moment ago, Shen Mo was passively enduring Zhang Mo''s attacks, frozen within that massive block of ice.
But in the blink of an eye.
Zhang Mo was now pinned beneath Shen Mo, receiving a relentless beating.
The master of the Heavenly Water Sect could no longer even make a sound.
Clearly, she had suffered severe injuries.
The elders of the Heavenly Water Sect wanted to rush forward.
However, Murong Yue shouted sharply, "Does the Heavenly Water Sect intend to defy the ancient rules of life-and-death duels in Xuanjiang Prefecture? Do you wish to be scorned by all the sects of Xuanjiang Prefecture?"
Life-and-death duels were an ancient rule.
Few sects would invoke it.
But once invoked, no one was allowed to interfere.
Either one side dies, or one side admits defeat.
Otherwise, it would continue until its conclusion.
If the members of the Heavenly Water Sect tried to interfere and rescue Zhang Mo, they would be breaking the rules.
They would inevitably be despised by all the cultivators in Xuanjiang Prefecture.
"Get out of my way!"
At this moment, Zhang Mo suddenly roared in fury.
A blue-golden core shot out from her mouth.
An icy lotus flower appeared beneath her out of nowhere.
The lotus flower burned fiercely.
Its power surged, rapidly enhancing the core''s strength and speed, hurling it straight at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow and immediately used a movement skill to create distance.
"This is..." He was slightly surprised.
"Burning Lotus Seat?" Mo Hanshan gasped in shock.
"Father, what is that?" Mo Yuheng frowned, not understanding what it was.
Mo Hanshan murmured, "It''s the final resort."
"Nurturing the Nascent Soul, the lotus seat itself has varying degrees of quality," Mo Hanshan exined.
"The lotus seat can be sacrificed in critical moments, burning it to temporarily enhance the power of the Golden Core."
"Burning ayer of the lotus seat doubles the power and speed of the Golden Core."
"But the cost is permanent damage to one''s foundation, something that cannot be repaired even with better treasures or a more potent lotus seat."
"Only a special pill might be able to mend it slightly."
Mo Yuheng was slightly surprised. "I see."
Some of the cultivators present were knowledgeable and began exining the process of burning the lotus seat to enhance the Golden Core''s power to others.
Everyone was astonished.
Shen Mo had actually forced Zhang Mo to this point.
How rare a lotus seat was!
How much fortune did it take to grow even oneyer?
And now, it was burned away just like that.
Clearly, Zhang Mo had already given up on her future, all to take Shen Mo down with her!
Luo Shuanghan, watching from a distance, trembled in both mind and body.
That lotus seat had only grown after refining the Ice Infant Lotus.
This was obviously Zhang Mo''s final attack.
"Ji Shilong wanted to see the Heavenly Water Sect defeat the Qingxuan Sect in this life-and-death duel, with Murong Yue and the others dead, and the Qingxuan Sect swallowed up by the Heavenly Water Sect."
"But if Zhang Mo dies..."
He dared not think further.
He was terrified that the oue would move toward the direction Ji Shilong dreaded.
"Burning the lotus seat for a Golden Core attack?"
Shen Mo chuckled.
A Golden Core attack, huh?
Well, I have one too!
"Die!" Zhang Mo roared toward the sky, burning the lotus seat with all her might to empower the Golden Core.
The speed of the Golden Core surged to its peak at that moment.
She had exhausted her spiritual power and was covered in wounds; this was her final strike, spitting out the Golden Core.
If this attack couldn''t kill Shen Mo.
Then it would be her who would die!
Shen Mo swiftly extended his right arm.
The purple-ck demonic armor condensed again.
This time, he crushed not the ice dragon blood but the golden-yellow blood from the beast''s w.
Shen Mo had tested it before; its power was far superior to the ice dragon blood.
One drop of golden-yellow blood was equivalent to about five drops of ice dragon blood.
As the demonic armor absorbed the golden-yellow blood...
In an instant, fierce mes ignited.
Within the mes, the demonic armor reshaped itself.
A ferocious tiger''s head suddenly appeared on the shoulder.
Golden-yellow arm armor extended downward from its mouth.
The armor was made of golden fur and ck metal.
It exuded the domineering aura of the king of beasts.
After it fully formed, Shen Mo threw a punch.
A torrent of fire surged out, instantly engulfing the two of thempletely.
He knew very well that this punch was no match for Zhang Mo''s Golden Core attack after burning the lotus seat.
He didn''t throw the punch to resist but to obscure the truth.
These raging mes served as the perfect disguise.
"Inferno Gold Core!"
Shen Mo spat out a massive crimson Golden Core.
Cracks covered its surface.
This peculiar Golden Core caused Zhang Mo''s eyes to widen.
How could a Golden Core be cracked?
"You''re using a Golden Core attack too? You''re courting death!" Zhang Mo sneered.
In the next instant, their Golden Cores collided!
Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted.
Shen Mo''s Golden Core shattered instantly.
Zhang Mo''s mouth twisted into a wide grin.
Shen Mo''s Golden Core seemed massive, but it turned out to be just for show.
It crumbled at the slightest touch!
But Shen Mo simply chuckled.
"Master Zhang, you''re celebrating too early."
Zhang Mo was stunned.
Then, she saw that the shattered core, broken into forty-five pieces, suddenly flew up and converged from all directions.
In an instant, it wrapped her Golden Core tightly at the center!@@novelbin@@
And fiercelypressed inward!
Intense pain struck immediately!
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Chapter 165: Sect Master Zhang Should Be on Her Way
Chapter 165: Sect Master Zhang Should Be on Her Way
The sensation of Zhang Mo''s golden core being attacked and crushed was like being pressed under a millstone, grinding her down.
Zhang Mo let out a miserable scream.
The sound pierced through the sky full of mes, reaching the ears of the surrounding cultivators.
"That scream doesn''t sound like a man''s voice. Could it be that Zhang Mo has been severely injured?"
"It doesn''t seem possible. Zhang Mo burned her lotus tform to enhance the power of her golden core. How could she fail?"
"This is strange. Let''s keep watching..."
The cultivators exchanged puzzled nces.
Zhang Mo had burned her lotus tform and severed her own foundation in a desperate fight. There was no way she could still lose.
At least in this attack, Zhang Mo should have the upper hand.
"Ah!"
Another scream echoed.
The cultivators felt their ears tremble. The scream was agonizing, as if someone had been thrown into a millstone.
Within the mes.
Zhang Mo spat out blood repeatedly.
She couldn''t believe that even after burning her lotus tform, doubling the power of her golden core, she was still utterly suppressed by Shen Mo!
"Sect Master Zhang, it''s time for you to depart," Shen Mo said calmly as he gazed at her.
He extended his hand and then clenched it forcefully!
The forty-five pieces of the shattered core gathered their strength andpressed.
With a cracking sound.
Zhang Mo''s golden core shattered like an eggshell!
"Ugh!"
Blood spurted out of Zhang Mo''s mouth. Her essence, energy, and spirit seemed to drain away in an instant.
The golden core and a cultivator are intimately connected. The moment the core shatters, the cultivator''s life burns out like an extinguishedmp.
Boom!
The mes in the sky retracted.
Zhang Mo''s body plummeted from mid-air like a ragdoll.
She hit the ground with a heavy thud.
Next to her, fragments of the golden core fell like hailstones, embedding themselves into the earth.
Shen Mo descended slowly, his expression indifferent.
The entire scene was dead silent.
Momentster, an eruption of shouting filled the air.
"Zhang Mo lost?"
"Her golden core shattered?"
"Shen Mo is unharmed and won?!"
"Zhang Mo is one of the five sect masters of Xuanyang River! A peak Golden Core cultivator! How could she lose to a junior like Shen Mo?!"
"No way, am I seeing things? Is this a dream? Pinch me!"
"Why pinch me? Pinch yourself!"
The voices of the cultivators around Tiger Head Mountain rumbled like thunder.
Nangong Yun widened her beautiful eyes, staring at the scene, her expression overwhelmed.
Since birth, she had never witnessed such a heart-stirring event. Even on the day she took over as the Verdant Vine Sect Master, she hadn''t felt this excited.
"Master, did you see that? I have a good disciple, and you have an excellent grand-disciple!"
She looked up at the sky, weeping with joy.
Behind her, the Verdant Vine Sect cultivators cheered in unison.
Zhao Ting, Zhao Rou, Luo Shengnan, and others wished they could leap into the air.
Liu Yuanfeng and Liu Yunxuan''s faces, however, were ashen.
Xiao Fan''s expression was nowplicated and unreadable.
In the past, he hated Shen Mo, envied Shen Mo, and was jealous of him.
But now, aside from those feelings, there was only fear.
Intense fear!
With Shen Mo''s current power, if he wished to kill him, he would surely die!
"I must... I must join the Divine Sword Sect as soon as possible. I can no longer stay in the Verdant Vine Sect."
"Shen Mo... he''s terrifying..."
Unlike the jubnt Verdant Vine Sect, the cultivators of Heavenly Water Sect cried out in sorrow.
Bai Ziyue was seething with hatred, wishing he could rush forward and kill Shen Mo.
"Zhang Mo is not dead. Neither Heavenly Water Sect nor Verdant Vine Sect shall interfere in the battle," dered the Verdant Vine Sect Master Mo Hanshan in a loud voice.
"Master Mo is right!"
"We agree!"
*Liu Menghu and the other sect masters suddenly spoke up in agreement.*
Bai Ziyue''s heart was filled with immense anger and fear.
But he could only stand in ce, not daring to step forward.
Shen Mo walked leisurely, almost casually, to Zhang Mo''s side.
By this time, Zhang Mo was already on herst breath.
With her golden core shattered, her essence, energy, and spirit had long been drained.
Now, Zhang Mo had, at most, the cultivation level of the Qi Condensation stage.
Any slightly stronger Qi Condensation cultivator could easily kill her.
But even so, Zhang Mo''s eyes were still filled with hatred.
Her gaze, as venomous as a viper''s, was fixed on Shen Mo.
If looks could kill, she would have murdered Shen Mo ten thousand times over.
Shen Mo flicked his fingers, releasing a strand of spiritual power.
Pfft.
The spiritual power pierced through her body, directly prating Zhang Mo''s forehead.
Zhang Mo finally fell backward.
Blood trickled from the back of her head, gradually staining the earth beneath her.
"Zhang Mo is dead!"
"In the life-and-death duel, Qingxuan Sect has won two rounds!"
"ording to the customary ancientws of Xuanjing Prefecture, Heavenly Water Sect should merge into Qingxuan Sect!"
Shen Mo nced around the crowd, his spiritual power resonating as he spoke loudly.
Murong Yue took a deep breath and followed up with a shout, "Qingxuan Sect, we''ve won!"
"Victory! Victory!"
The cultivators of Qingxuan Sect shouted loudly, ecstatic beyond words.
Many other cultivators also cheered for the Qingxuan Sect.
They had witnessed the underdog triumphing over the strong, an unexpected drama, and naturally, they supported the Qingxuan Sect.
The cheers and apuse erupted like rolling thunder, echoing unceasingly.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several figures swiftly descended on the mountaintop.
Mo Hanshan beamed with a smile, "Young Master Shen''s strength is astounding; he is truly a model for the younger generation. I admire you greatly!"
"Sect Master Murong, to have taught such a disciple, you truly are my role model!"
Murong Yue grinned from ear to ear, "Master Mo, you tter me."
"Zhang Mo has fallen, and Heavenly Water Sect has been defeated by Qingxuan Sect. In fact, they have lost their ce among the Five Sects of Xuanjing River. I believe that Qingxuan Sect should rejoin the Five Sects. What do you all think?"
Another deep voice rang out as a burly man with a tiger-like build walked over,ughing heartily.
Murong Yue smiled and cupped her hands toward him, "I didn''t expect Sect Master Wang toe as well. It has been a long time."
The manughed heartily, "I should be the one saying that! Sect Master Murong, it has been a long time. You are as radiant as ever!"
This man was Wang Tianzhan, the Sect Master of Rising Sun Sect. He had not appeared earlier and had likely been watching from afar.
Now that the battle had concluded, he immediately showed himself.
"Young Master Shen, your strength is unparalleled," Wang Tianzhan said as he walked over, dragging along Hong Chilong. "Chilong, you must learn from Shen Mo in the future!"
Hong Chilong chuckled, "Don''t worry, Master. Shen Mo and I have long been friends."
Shen Mo also smiled, "Long time no see."
"Indeed, Qingxuan Sect has defeated Heavenly Water Sect. By the rules, they should reim their ce among the Five Sects of Xuanjing River. However, the matter of Heavenly Water Sect merging into Qingxuan Sect must be carefully discussed."
"After all, many cultivators from Heavenly Water Sect probably harbor resentment toward Qingxuan Sect. If Sect Master Murong doesn''t handle this properly, it might lead to chaos, which is not what we hope for. Nor, I believe, is it something Sect Master Murong wishes to see."
Another voice spoke.
A tall, thin figure approached swiftly, bowing from a distance toward Murong Yue.
Shen Mo nced at the man. The person beside him was Wan Renjie, which made his identity obviousZhao Liepeng, the Sect Master of Thunderfire Sect.@@novelbin@@
Zhao Liepeng''s words were subtle. On the surface, he spoke of the difficulties Qingxuan Sect would face in absorbing Heavenly Water Sect.
In reality, he was implying that Qingxuan Sect couldn''t devour the entire Heavenly Water Sect.
Moreover, if Qingxuan Sect insisted on monopolizing, it would certainly provoke the dissatisfaction of other sects.
Blending into the dust, sharing the cakethat was the best way.
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "Sect Master Zhao is correct. Heavenly Water Sect''s properties are too vast for my Qingxuan Sect to absorb entirely. How to proceed should be decided upon by the Five Sects of Xuanjing River."
Upon hearing this, Mo Hanshan, Wang Tianzhan, and Zhao Liepeng all revealed satisfied smiles.
Shen Mo remained expressionless.
He knew that Qingxuan Sect alone could not swallow up all of Heavenly Water Sect''s territory.
His temporary concession was merely to throw a piece of meat out for them to fight over, consuming their strength.
Who the territory temporarily belonged to did not matter.
Shen Mo believed he would have thestugh.
"For Qingxuan Sect to be part of the Five Sects of Xuanjing River, thorough assessment is required. In the meantime, I suggest reducing the Five Sects to Four for now."
"Moreover, our Divine Sword Sect has always had close ties with Heavenly Water Sect, so we should offer them some protection. Therefore, the territories of Heavenly Water City, Tang''an City, and Huangyu City, along with the surrounding regions, should be handed over to us for safeguarding."
At this moment, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.
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Chapter 166: Master Seems Like a Sulking Neighbor Sister
Chapter 166: Master Seems Like a Sulking Neighbor Sister
Everyone looked up and saw an elderly man with white hair slowly walking forward.
Shen Mo nced at his information panel.
"So, he is Ouyang Qian''s grandfather, the deputy master of the Divine Sword Sect, Ouyang Cang."
"Deputy Master Ouyang, what do you want to say?" Although Murong Yue still had a smile on her face, it was not as bright as before.
"Don''t understand? The Heavenly Water Sect has always had a good rtionship with our Divine Sword Sect. Now that Master Zhang has passed away, our Divine Sword Sect should take responsibility and maintain the Heavenly Water Sect," Ouyang Cang said indifferently.
Wang Tianzhan, Mo Hanshan, and Zhao Liepeng all narrowed their eyes.
Are they trying to snatch a piece of the pie?
The industries surrounding Heavenly Water City, Tang''an City, and Huangyu City are the best assets of the Heavenly Water Sect.
Especially Heavenly Water City, which has a boomingmerce and rich surrounding resources.
Which sect wouldn''t want to seize it?@@novelbin@@
If the Divine Sword Sect could just take it away with a few words, it would be as if they were disregarding the others entirely.
"I don''t agree," Mo Hanshan said inly. "The Qingxuan Sect now has the strengthparable to the Heavenly Water Sect and should naturally return to the ranks of the Five Great Sects of Xujiang."
"I agree," Wang Tianzhan smiled slightly.
Zhao Liepeng smiled but remained silent.
Seeing that these three people did not give him face, Ouyang Cang snorted coldly, "The industries of the Heavenly Water Sect belong to the capable!"
After speaking, he turned into a stream of light and flew away.
The cultivators of the Divine Sword Sect immediately followed suit.
Zhou Qingcang had intended to approach Shen Mo for a chat but frowned upon hearing this. He could only shout from afar.
"Shen Mo! Let''spete again next time! I have already formed the Seven Kills Golden Core, and my cultivation has reached the pinnacle of the Core Formation Stage. Although I might be weaker than you, it''s not by much!"
Shen Mo chuckled softly and cupped his hands toward the sky. "Alright, next time for sure."
Ouyang Cang, noticing Zhou Qingcang''s smile, frowned but said nothing, quickly leaving the scene.
Wang Tianzhan and Zhao Liepeng exchanged nces and cupped their hands toward Murong Yue. "We shall take our leave as well."
After saying that, they hurriedly left with their respective cultivators.
Mo Hanshan whispered, "The Divine Sword Sect wants to seize the Heavenly Water Sect''s territory first. Master Murong, remember to act quickly."
Murong Yue nodded.
She naturally saw through what everyone was thinking.
Especially Ouyang Cang. He spoke of having a deep rtionship with the Heavenly Water Sect and of protecting it, but in reality, he was eyeing its assets.
"By the way, your Shen Mo doesn''t have a partner yet, right? How about my daughter?" Mo Hanshan suddenly chuckled.
Mo Yuheng, who stood nearby, instantly had a cold expression upon hearing her father''s words.
"What are you saying?!"
She reached out and fiercely twisted the flesh on Mo Hanshan''s waist.
Mo Hanshan immediately cried out in pain.
Mo Yuheng said in a low voice, "Master Murong, we''ll meet again next time!"
Then, she turned into a stream of light and left.
"Hey, hey, Yuheng, wait for me! Your father is still behind!"
Mo Hanshan smiled helplessly. "Apologies, Master Murong, for the scene."
Murong Yue covered her mouth andughed softly. "It''s nothing. It''s normal for a girl to have her own personality, especially since she''s still young."
Mo Hanshan scratched his head.
Compared to Murong Yue, Mo Yuheng was indeed still a young girl.
After Mo Hanshan and the others left, Liu Menghu, the master of the Stormy Rain Sect, Yang Tianxing, the master of the Purple Star Sect, and others came over to offer their congrattions.
Compared to Mo Hanshan, Wang Tianzhan, and others, their attitude was much more respectful.
Although the Divine Sword Sect did not want to acknowledge it, in their hearts, Qingxuan Sect had enough strength, territory, and reputation to be one of the Five Great Sects of Xujiang.
After Liu Menghu and the others left, the crowd of cultivators who hade to watch themotion gradually dispersed.
Not long ago, the bustling Tiger Head Mountain suddenly became deserted.
The cultivators of the Heavenly Water Sect had already slipped away quietly while they could.
Wei Xiongtie, Zhao Ting, Zhao Rou, Luo Shengnan, and others swarmed toward Shen Mo and Murong Yue, surrounding them in the center.
"Young Master, you''re amazing! I, Luo Shengnan, never expected the life-and-death duel to end like this!"
"Indeed, if it weren''t for the Young Master, the ones who would have be homeless today would have been us from the Qingxuan Sect."
All the cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect looked at Shen Mo, from elders to disciples, with both reverence and admiration.
Murong Yue, seeing these expressions, felt even happier than if she had eaten honey.
Shen Mo is my disciple!
Shen Mo nced around. "Everyone, Zhang Mo is dead, and the Heavenly Water Sect is now in disarray."
"However, the Heavenly Water Sect''s territory is vast, and we can''t take it all in one bite. The other sects are all itching to move."
"Now is not the time for celebration. We should swiftly attack the Heavenly Water Sect''s territory and seize those crucial assets."
"Well said!" Wei Xiongtie immediately responded.
"Yes, we can''t afford to ck off. We must quickly take those wealthy cities and important industries!" Elder Li promptly agreed.
Murong Yue nodded repeatedly. "Then let''s take action immediately!"
Shen Mo quickly approached Song Chaofeng.
Song Chaofeng was now on the verge of death, yet his face was full of smiles.
"Elder Song." Shen Mo infused spiritual power, checking his condition.
Song Chaofeng was not at risk of dying, but his vitality had been greatly depleted. He would, at most, live to be a hundred years old.
For a cultivator in the Core Formation Stage, that was an extremely short lifespan.
"Young Master, I fear I can no longer serve the sect from now on," Song Chaofeng coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood.
Shen Mo patted his shoulder.
When Song Chaofeng had initially abandoned the Verdant Vine Sect to follow Murong Yue, he might have had some reservations.
But now, Shen Mo could fully trust that he had given everything for the Qingxuan Sect.
Shen Mo said softly, "I can assure you that from now on, Elder Song will continue to enjoy the treatment of an elder."
"Your son, Song Junjie, will also be pardoned and allowed to return to the sect to cultivate."
Only then did a look of joy appear on Song Chaofeng''s face. "Thank you... thank you, Young Master!"
"Quickly, take Elder Song back to the sect for proper treatment," Murong Yue ordered.
"Yes."
The cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect quickly departed as well.
Now, on Tiger Head Mountain, only Shen Mo and Murong Yue remained.
"Mo''er..."
Murong Yue looked at her tall and upright disciple before her and suddenly reached out to touch his cheek.
Murong Yue''s eyes reddened once more.
"When you didn''t show up at the beginning, I was really relieved. If you hadn''te, you could have lived on peacefully, and I wouldn''t have had to watch my disciple die in front of me."
"Do you know how happy I was when you revealed your identity in front of everyone and took off the Fire Mark Mask? The Demon Armor, the Demon Armor that became famous in Xuanjing Prefecture, turned out to be my disciple Shen Mo."
"When you fought Zhang Mo, when you were frozen, when Zhang Mo burned the lotus seat to unleash a golden core strike, my heart almost jumped out of my chest."
"Mo''er, I never expected you to grow so fast. I am truly happy and relieved."
By this point, tears were already streaming down Murong Yue''s face.
However, they were not tears of sorrow but rather tears of excitement.
Murong Yue''s cold hand lightly touched Shen Mo''s cheek.
Shen Mo''s body trembled but did not stop her, allowing her to gently caress his face.
"I... I shouldn''t be doing this."
Murong Yue suddenly froze, realizing that, as a master, she shouldn''t behave so intimately with her disciple.
She instantly recoiled her jade hand as if electrocuted.
Then, she turned her back without hesitation.
"I didn''t say anything just now! I didn''t do anything! Shen Mo, don''t go back and spread nonsense to ruin my reputation!"
"If you... if you talk nonsense, I''ll sew your mouth shut, cut out your tongue, and make sure you can never speak again!"
Shen Mo chuckled. "Master, you seem like a sulking neighbor sister right now."
"What are you talking about! I''m your master; I''m very serious!" Murong Yue tried her best to put on a stern expression.
However, her eyes were still red, which made her appear more endearing than imposing.
"If a stern master wants to stay here alone, then the disciple will head back to the sect," Shen Moughed lightly, used his movement technique, and was about to leave.
"Hey, Mo''er, wait for me..."
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Chapter 167: Is It Really Appropriate for the Young Master to Go With Me?
Chapter 167: Is It Really Appropriate for the Young Master to Go With Me?
Giant River City, Government Office.
Ji Shilong listened to Luo Shuanghan''s report, his expression turning rather strange.
With his hands behind his back, he paced slowly in the courtyard, his footsteps bing increasingly urgent.
Luo Shuanghan felt as though those footsteps were echoing in his heart, making him even more uneasy.
"Unexpected... truly unexpected..."
"The Demon Armor is Shen Mo, and Shen Mo is the Demon Armor."
"Not only that, but Shen Mo also defeated Zhang Mo openly in front of everyone."
"This is simply unbelievable."
A sharp glint shed in Ji Shilong''s eyes.
He suddenly realized that the chess piece known as Shen Mo had exceeded his expectations.
"What a surprise, what a delightful surprise."
Ji Shilong thought for a moment, "However, it doesn''t really matter if the Qingxuan Sect takes the ce of the Heavenly Water Sect."
"The Heavenly Water Sect is a tempting cake; every sect wants a piece of it."
"There will always be those who grow greedy, those who eye the pot while eating from their bowl, and those whose desires are never satisfied."
"But this is still too slow, and the intensity won''t increase quickly enough."@@novelbin@@
Luo Shuanghan respectfully asked, "My lord, what would you like me to do?"
Ji Shilong smiled faintly. "There are two pieces of information that you can leak."
"First, the mountain array of the Zhongding Sect from back then has appeared near Rising Sun Mountain, with records from the Zhongding Sect as evidence."
"Second, the exact location of the third Earth Fire Furnace of the Zhongding Sect is most likely near Heavenly Water City, Huangyu City, or Tang''an City."
"Once these two pieces of information are spread, the Five Sects of Xuanjiang will inevitably sh."
Luo Shuanghan was slightly shocked. "The Zhongding Sect... is that the same Zhongding Sect that ruled Xuanjiang Prefecture a thousand years ago?"
Ji Shilong nodded. "Precisely."
"The mountain array of the Zhongding Sect mysteriously disappeared, and the third Earth Fire Furnace has never been found."
"These two items are peerless treasures. Once the information is out, cultivators will flock to investigate, and even the Five Sects of Xuanjiang won''t be able to stay uninvolved."
Luo Shuanghan looked at Ji Shilong with reverence. "Lord Governor, this move is truly ruthless."
"With such benefits in front of them, they won''t be able to stay on the sidelines or strengthen themselves secretly."
"They will have to use every ounce of their strength to fight until they''ve exhausted everyst drop of blood."
"We can then recruit and rope in more people, further expanding the power of the government office."
Ji Shilong smiled faintly.
This was precisely the oue he desired.
The strength of the Five Sects of Xuanjiang was on par with each other. They would fight to the death.
Ideally, they would tear each other apart.
This way, he could use their conflict to his advantage, sowing discord and gradually wearing down all the sects.
Eventually, the imperial court would be able to take control of Xuanjiang Prefecture effortlessly and without resistance.
Previously, he had intervened in the conflict between the Qingxuan Sect and the Heavenly Water Sect, changing their brutal battle into a life-and-death duel, hoping to recruit the Heavenly Water Sect for his own use.
He just hadn''t expected Zhang Mo to be so ipetent, losing his life to Shen Mo.
...
Divine Sword City.
Sect Master''s Courtyard.
"...Master, that''s how it was."
"You weren''t there to see it, but the duel between Shen Mo and Zhang Mo was spectacr. It got my blood boiling, and I wished I could have joined in!"
Zhou Qingcang''s face was full of excitement.
Luo Chaotian''s eyes shed with a hint of strangeness.
However, he concealed it well, and Zhou Qingcang didn''t notice.
"Not bad. Your friend lives up to his name; he''s truly a genius."
"Moreover, having in Zhang Mo, he now possesses the qualifications to challenge the other four sect masters."
"This man is truly extraordinary."
Luo Chaotian smiled.
Zhou Qingcang was even happier upon hearing this.
"Then, I will continue my training!" He bowed deeply to Luo Chaotian and quickly left.
Luo Chaotian''s eyes turned cold.
"Interesting. I didn''t expect such a variable to appear."
"This Shen Mo has boundless potential and cannot be underestimated."
"It seems the pace of unifying Xuanjiang Prefecture must be elerated. I must strengthen the Divine Sword Sect as soon as possible."
He frowned in deep thought, his mind racing with countless ideas.
*...*
Zhang Mo is dead!
The Heavenly Water Sect is now leaderless!
The Qingxuan Sect is highly likely to reim its position among the Five Sects of Xuanjiang!
The Demon Armor is Shen Mo, and Shen Mo is the Demon Armor!
These pieces of news swept across Xuanjiang Prefecture like a storm.
Cultivators in the neighboring Jiande and Jinshan Prefectures also heard about it.
In just a few days, the name Shen Mo had spread throughout Xuanjiang, north to south.
People chatted eagerly about the life-and-death duel on Tiger Head Mountain over tea and meals.
*...*
Qingxuan Sect, Bamboo Tree Courtyard.
Shen Mo looked inward at his status panel and noticed some small changes.
"The Divine Sword Sect''s unification of Xuanjiang Prefecture has been elerated."
"Clearly, my actions have influenced the predetermined fate, causing Luo Chaotian to feel threatened and pick up the pace."
Shen Mo pondered.
This was expected.
If Luo Chaotian had no reaction at all, then the Divine Sword Sect''s master would not be living up to his reputation.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Shen Mo asked casually.
"Young Master, it''s me, Xiao Fan."
"Oh? Come in." Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
The courtyard gate opened, and Xiao Fan walked in respectfully, showing no arrogance.
"Elder Xiao, what brings you here?" Shen Mo smiled while discreetly assessing Xiao Fan''s status panel.
Xiao Fan cupped his hands. "The Heavenly Water Sect is now scattered, and various sects are pouncing on its territories like starving tigers."
"The wealthiest area of the Heavenly Water Sect is the triangr region formed by Heavenly Water City, Tang''an City, and Huangyu City, known for its abundant resources."
"ording to reports, the Divine Sword Sect has already taken Huangyu City, while the Thunderfire Sect has captured Tang''an City. As for Heavenly Water City, it''s currently divided among various forces and in utter chaos."
"Additionally, the temperature around Heavenly Water City has recently soared, with rumors suggesting that the Zhongding Sect''s third Earth Fire Furnace is located in that region."
"I wish to serve the sect and obtain this treasure for its benefit."
"I was about to volunteer to the Sect Master and request a transfer to Heavenly Water City, but the Sect Master is currently practicing martial arts. I didn''t want to disturb him, so I came to you, Young Master."
Xiao Fan bowed respectfully to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo smiled. "Where did you get this information?"
Xiao Fan did not dare to hide it. "To be honest, Young Master, I recruited some rogue cultivators, and the information came from them."
He quickly added, "Of course, they do not serve me but the sect."
Shen Mo chuckled. "Since you have such a desire to serve the sect, how could I refuse?"
"How about this? I will go with you."
"Let the entire Xuanjiang Prefecture witness the resolve of the Qingxuan Sect!"
Xiao Fan was startled and quickly protested, "Young Master wants to go with me? Isn''t that inappropriate?"
"You are currently in the spotlight and could easily attract envy. If news of your presence near Heavenly Water City leaks, many mighte after you!"
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "As long as you don''t say anything and I don''t say anything, who would leak this news? Isn''t that right, Elder Xiao?"
"Y-Yes, indeed," Xiao Fan forced augh.
"Go prepare, Elder Xiao. We''ll set out tomorrow," Shen Mo said with a smile.
"Understood." Xiao Fan bowed and left.
After leaving the Bamboo Tree Courtyard, his face immediately turned cold, his handsome features now icy.
Shen Mo watched him leave with a faint smile.
He had noticed earlier that a new opportunity was stirring around Xiao Fan.
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Chapter 168: Zhongding Sect’s Geofurnace and the Demon Armor Chestplate
[Recent Opportunity One]:
It was heard that beneath Thousand Bamboo Lake near Heavenly Water City, there were rumors of a geofurnace from the Zhongding Sect. He intended to locate its precise position and present it to Luo Chaotian. Thus, the next day, he headed to Heavenly Water City.
After searching for several days, he discovered a hidden tunnel in a cave on the southern side of Thousand Bamboo Lake, which led into the natural geofurnace. There, he also obtained a me Prison Token.
[Recent Opportunity Two]:
Two monthster, guided by the me Prison Token, after multiple searches, he finally located the cave dwelling of the me Hell Immortal within the belly of a deste mountain outside Tang''an City. He acquired the Demon Armor Chestte there.
Shen Mo''s face lit up with joy.
The Zhongding Sect''s geofurnace!
He hadn''t expected to encounter such an opportunity!
The Zhongding Sect, a sect that dominated Xuanjiang Prefecture a thousand years ago, was renowned for its Zhongding crystal refining technique.
However, because of its overwhelming power and aggressive nature, it was jointly destroyed by sects like the Divine Sword Sect that roseter.
The so-called geofurnace was not an actual furnace but a natural furnace built upon geothermal fire.
These furnaces were enormous, with extremely high temperatures. They could refine the crystals of dozens of spiritual tools at once.
Even if the failure rate was high, the efficiency made up for it.
This is how the Zhongding Sect ruled over Xuanjiang Prefecture.
The Zhongding Sect had three geofurnaces in total. After the sect was destroyed, one furnace fell into the hands of the Divine Sword Sect, and another came under the control of the Thunderfire Sect, where they also produced Fiery Lotuses.
The location of the third geofurnace, however, remained extremely well-hidden. All rted records were burned by the Zhongding Sect.
The geothermal fire there also seemed to have died down.
Various sects searched for many years but failed to find it.
A thousand years passed, and this matter was gradually forgotten.
Many people even believed that the geothermal fire hadpletely extinguished, making the geofurnace worthless.
The Heavy Weapon Sect was founded using part of the Zhongding Sect''s legacy.
Shen Mo had also learned about the Zhongding Sect through reading the books of the Heavy Weapon Sect.
"The temperature of the geofurnace is extremely high. If I can upy it, I could refine higher-grade demon crystals into spiritual tools!"
Shen Mo''s heart stirred.
For top-tier profound-grade spiritual tools, the Heavy Weapon Sect''s refining technique could only fuse third-grade demon crystals at most.
However, if within the geofurnace, he could take advantage of the extreme heat and refine fourth-grade demon crystals!
This would be a massive breakthrough.
If all of the Qingxuan Sect''s cultivators were equipped with spiritual tools infused with fourth-grade demon crystals, their overall strength would soar dramatically!
While it might not surpass, it would swiftly close the gap with the Divine Sword Sect!
As for the Thunderfire Sect, Verdant Vine Sect, and Rising Sun Sect, they would undoubtedly be left in the dust by the Qingxuan Sect!
As for the me Hell Immortal''s cave dwelling and the Demon Armor Chestte within, they made him even more ecstatic.
The power boost from the Demon Armor was immense, beyond words.
But for now, he only had the right arm armor!
If he could obtain the chestte, his power would be greatly enhanced!
"However, just this right arm armor alone consumes a drop of Ice Dragon''s blood every day."
"If I get the chestte too, wouldn''t that be..."
Shen Mo chuckled to himself.
He had originally thought that three jars of Ice Dragon''s blood would be enough. But now, it seemed like it was far from sufficient!
Shen Mo nodded slightly.@@novelbin@@
At the same time, he nced at Xiao Fan, intentionally or unintentionally.
He noticed that Xiao Fan''s temperament and way of thinking had changed significantly.
In the past, when Xiao Fan interacted with him, there was always a hint of reverence, and he didn''t dare to speak freely.
But now, Xiao Fan''s tone carried an indescribable depth.
It was as though he was both lofty and unreachable, yet at the same time approachable, right by his side.
"This must be the result of theplete fusion of the memories of the Nascent Soul stage cultivator and his own memories."
"So, who is Xiao Fan now? Is he still Xiao Fan, or the resurrected Nascent Soul stage cultivator? Or perhaps, neither of them?"
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
Before long, the two of them arrived above Heavenly Water City.
Soon, they reached the Qingxuan Sect''s base in the city.
It was located in an inn called Clear Breeze Inn.
The inn, along with arge number of surrounding residential areas and a market, was now within the Qingxuan Sect''s territory.
As Shen Mo arrived, disciples immediately came out to greet him with utmost respect.
"Young Master!" A familiar voice rang out as someone strode toward them.
Shen Mo smiled, "So, Elder Wei is in charge here."
The person was none other than Wei Xiongtie.
Wei Xiongtie smiled wryly, "Indeed, this ce is fraught with danger. The other elders are somewhatcking in strength, so I took the initiative to volunteer for this task."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Wei Xiongtie''s loyalty to Qingxuan Sect was unquestionable.
"Young Master, Elder Xiao, pleasee in. Let''s sit down and talk," Wei Xiongtie said as he led the way.
Momentster, the three of them sat in a private room on the top floor of the Clear Breeze Inn.
The room was elegantly styled, exuding a ssic charm, clearly not the kind of ce an ordinary person could afford.
From the window, one could look out and view the surrounding area.
Not long after they sat down, Shen Mo noticed a brawl erupting on the street below.
After the shing of swords, a few bodies were left behind as both sides departed with hatred still lingering in the air.
Wei Xiongtie smiled wryly, "Did you see that? Heavenly Water City has be incredibly chaotictely."
"I don''t know who spread the rumor, but there''s talk that within the triangr area of Heavenly Water City, Tang''an City, and Huangyu City, the temperature has been rising abnormally. It''s said that it might be due to the third geofurnace of the Zhongding Sect reigniting."
"With this news, cultivators from all over have been flocking here. The Thunderfire Sect has been searching the area tirelessly, and the Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect are also not far behind."
Shen Mo chuckled, "What does Elder Wei think?"
Wei Xiongtie shook his head repeatedly, "I''m skeptical. The Zhongding Sect has been gone for a thousand years, and that third geofurnace has been dormant for just as long. No matter how durable the geothermal fire was, it couldn''t have stayed dormant for a thousand years, only to reignite now."
Shen Mo smiled and nodded.
In fact, the truth was quite the opposite of what Wei Xiongtie had said.
The geothermal fire had indeed reignited at this very time, defying all logic.
However, since Shen Mo had learned of this through his life panel, he couldn''t very well reveal that there really was a geofurnace here.
"Wait... Could it be that the Young Master hase here for the geofurnace?" Wei Xiongtie suddenly realized.
Shen Mo chuckled, "Elder Wei guessed correctly. That''s exactly why I''m here."
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{The first arc in the stort has ended. The mc has left the novice vige (xuanjing prefectre and will leave towards wider world. Join patreon to read ahead and experience his journey.)}
Chapter 171: What Does Sacrificing a Few Children for the Future of the Thunderfire Sect Mean?
Chapter 171: What Does Sacrificing a Few Children for the Future of the Thunderfire Sect Mean?
Shen Mo quickly demonstrated to the crowd.
With ease, he sessfully refined a spiritual weapon of the Profound Grade.
Seeing this, the others immediately came forward to try as well.
However, the vast majority ended in failure.
The only one who seeded was Zhao Rou.
Shen Mo was slightly surprised.
It seemed Zhao Rou had a natural talent for crystal refinement techniques.
"Do not fear failure. When I first started refining crystals, I often failed too."
"Every three days, I will bring you new materials."
"As for resting, there''s a ce south of the Earth Fire Furnace. There are two stone chambers, and I''ve set up an ice-attribute formation there to lower the temperature inside."
"Everyone, see you in three days."
Shen Mo then took out a storage ring and handed it to Wei Xiongtie, which contained the spiritual weapons and demon crystals from the sect''s treasury.
After that, he sped his hands toward the group in farewell.
"Yes!" everyone responded.
...
A monthter, at Thunderfire Sect.
Zhao Liepeng walked back and forth with his hands behind his back, frowning deeply.
In front of him, three elders at the Core Formation stage knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.
The courtyard was eerily silent.
"You want to tell me that after sending out hundreds of disciples and arge number of rogue cultivators, searching the area around Heavenly Water City for over a month, you couldn''t even find a trace of the Earth Fire Furnace?" Zhao Liepeng said coldly.
Sweat poured down from the three elders.
"In that case, there''s no need for you to continue serving as inner sect elders!" Zhao Liepeng looked down at them, his tone filled with malice.
Suddenly, one of them called out, "Sect Master! I just remembered something! Recently, the crystal refinement weapon output of Qingxuan Sect has significantly increased!"
Upon hearing this, the other two elders immediately reacted.
"Yes, yes! This is another matter we needed to report to you. Under normal circumstances, Qingxuan Sect''s crystal refinement output is very low."
"But now, their production is almost catching up with ours!"
"We suspect that they have found the third Earth Fire Furnace! However, they are very cunning and have hidden the exact location well, with no leaks whatsoever."
Hearing this, Zhao Liepeng''s expression shifted slightly as he muttered, "Qingxuan Sect"
His gaze suddenly turned icy, "The rise of Qingxuan Sect has been far too rapid. I''ve long had ns to deal with them."
"I still remember that incident at the Thunder Crystal Mine vividly!"
"And they even dared to kill the Sect Master''s brother-inw!"
"This is a humiliation we''ve never forgotten!" Zhao Liepeng paced back and forth, coldly saying, "Surveince, kidnapping, assassination, we must extract the precise location of the Earth Fire Furnace from the mouths of Qingxuan Sect''s cultivators!"
"Yes!"
The three elders immediately stood up.
Zhao Liepeng added, "Zhao Wu, stay behind."
A middle-aged elder, who bore some resemnce to him, nodded and did not leave with the other two.
Zhao Liepeng said indifferently, "Qingxuan Sect is very crafty. I suspect that aside from their core members, no one knows the location of the Earth Fire Furnace."
"Their efforts may not yield results."@@novelbin@@
Zhao Wu was taken aback, "Then why are you still"
Zhao Liepeng smiled faintly, "It''s just a show for Qingxuan Sect, to lull them into a false sense of security."
Zhao Wu''s expression turned to admiration, "Truly worthy of being the Sect Master."
"Sect Master, you must have something important for me to handle, right?"
Zhao Liepeng nodded, "You''re my cousin, and I trust you the most with this task."
"You should be familiar with the Blood Infant Guidance technique, right?"
Zhao Wu was stunned, a look of shock appearing in his eyes, "Are you referring to the forbidden technique of the Blood River Sect?"
"I heard even within the Blood River Sect, this technique was considered too sinister and was sealed away, never used."
"After the fall of the Blood River Sect, the technique was lost as well."
Zhao Liepeng casually waved his hand, and a thin booklet appeared in his palm.
He tossed it over.
Zhao Wu caught it and saw the coverboldly written with the four characters: Blood Infant Guidance.
"This isn''t a martial technique orbat skill, just a special forbidden method."
"The effect is simple: it allows you to find one thing based on another."
"Once you''ve cultivated the Blood Infant, if you give it a piece of clothing, it can find the owner."
"And if you give it a crystal-refined weapon made by the Earth Fire Furnace, it will lead you to the furnace itself."
Zhao Liepeng spoke indifferently.
Zhao Wu''s eyes widened, "I understand now!"
"But this method is extremely vicious and ruthless. Cultivating the Blood Infant requires the heart''s blood of twenty pairs of twin infants with cultivation potential..."
Zhao Liepeng sneered, "Which is more important, the Earth Fire Furnace or those infants?"
"Our Earth Fire Furnace has significantly weakenedpared to a thousand years ago. The efficiency of refining crystal weapons has dropped considerably, and it will bepletely extinguished in at most a hundred years."
"If we can obtain this new Earth Fire Furnace, do you not understand what that means for Thunderfire Sect?"
He spoke with fervor, "Once we acquire this Earth Fire Furnace, every elder in Thunderfire Sect will be equipped with aplete set of crystal weapons, and each weapon will be refined with Tier 4 demon crystals!"
"Each of them will be able to fight against enemies of a higher realm. Do you not understand the significance of that?!"
Zhao Wu swallowed hard, as though envisioning the incredible scene himself.
"I understand! Sect Master, rest assured, I will definitely find that third Earth Fire Furnace!"
Zhao Liepeng finally nodded slightly, "Go ahead. Everything must be for the grand future of Thunderfire Sect. What are twenty pairs of twin infants inparison? They are nothing but mere mortals."
"When Thunderfire Sect unifies the Xuanjing Prefecture, we will naturally bring blessings to many more mortals."
"Yes!"
At Qingxuan Sect, in the Sect Master''s courtyard.
Murong Yue was admiring the brand-new sword at her side, her heart filled with joy.
"Master, this sword is a top-grade Profound level weapon. I refined it using the demon crystal of a Tier 4 Scarlet me Ice Python."
"This demon crystal perfectlyplements your Fiery Ice Physique."
Shen Mo smiled.
Murong Yue beamed with happiness, "Wonderful! I love it so much!"
Shen Mo then brought out a set of soft armor, arm guards, and boots.
"These are your personal spiritual weapons, and each has been refined with a Tier 4 demon crystal as well."
Murong Yue''s eyes widened, "None of them failed?"
Shen Mo chuckled, "I crafted them myself. How could they fail?"
Murong Yue could hardly contain her joy, "Fantastic!"
"How are we doing with demon crystals? Do we have enough? Yesterday, wepleted arge transaction with Storm Rain Sect and Purple Star Sect, adding over thirty Tier 4 demon crystals and more than a hundred Tier 3 demon crystals to the sect''s treasury."
Shen Mo nodded, "That should be sufficient."
Wei Xiongtie, Zhao Rou, and others had greatly improved their sess rates.
Especially Zhao Rou, whose sess rate had reached eighty percent.
If not for her lower cultivation level, Shen Mo would have already put her in charge of all matters rted to crystal weapon refinement.
"By the way, have you heard? Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect have started fighting," Murong Yue suddenly said.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow, "Started fighting? Over what?"
Murong Yue spoke in a serious tone, "Rumor has it that the Mountain Gate Formation of Zhongding Sect might be located near Rising Sun Mountain, and there are ancient records to prove it."
"Zhongding Sect''s Mountain Gate Formation is a top-grade Earth level killing array. If someone acquires it, it will undoubtedly boost their sect''s strength considerably."
"That''s why Divine Sword Sect and the others are forced to fight for itit''s a major battle."
"If any of them obtain the Mountain Gate Formation, their strength will surge, breaking the current bnce of power."
Shen Mo pondered for a moment.
No wonder the people from Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect hadn''t been seen near Heavenly Water City recently.
Turns out, they were fighting for something else entirely.
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Chapter 172: The Most Unforgivable Sin is to Take a Child from Its Mother’s Arms
Chapter 172: The Most Unforgivable Sin is to Take a Child from Its Mother''s Arms
After leaving the Sect Master''s courtyard, Shen Mo habitually checked his life panel.
[Recent Event: In three days, as usual, you will go to the Earth Fire Furnace to deliver materials, only to find that everyone has been killed by the Thunderfire Sect. Your mental state will be affected, and your cultivation level will stagnate for a long time.]
Shen Mo paused, frowning slightly.
Thunderfire Sect discovered them this quickly?
Something wasn''t right.
He was certain that Wei Xiongtie, Zhao Rou, and the others werepletely loyal to Qingxuan Sect. They would never defy orders or leak information.
He also knew that no one else in Qingxuan Sect was aware of this matter.
As for Murong Yue, the Sect Master, she would never disclose such critical information.
So, how did the location of the Earth Fire Furnace get revealed?
Shen Mo pondered quietly while walking casually within the sect grounds.
"Greetings, Young Master."
"Greetings, Young Master."
Everyone who saw him stopped to greet him with respect.
Shen Mo nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
His gaze suddenly swept over someone in the distance.
[Uing Opportunity: This afternoon, while carrying out a sect mission, you will identally discover Thunderfire Sect cultivators in a small vige trying to abduct infants to create Blood Infants. You will be filled with righteous fury and attempt to intervene, but you will be killed by the Thunderfire Sect cultivators.]
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
Thunderfire Sect? Stealing infants?
He looked toward the man in questionZhang Weihu, a one-armed enforcer.
It seemed that Zhang Weihu couldn''t stand such injustice and stepped in to help, but due to hisck of strength, he ended up being killed.
"Blood Infants?"
"I recall something about that."@@novelbin@@
"Blood River Sect had a forbidden technique called Blood Infant Guidance."
"It was a taboo method, considered so vile that even the Blood River Sect''s own cultivators rarely used it."
Shen Mo thought for a moment and quickly made his way over to Zhang Weihu.
"Young Master?"
Zhang Weihu was startled for a moment, his expression turning excited.
Shen Mo''s current status far exceeded his own.
In many people''s eyes, Shen Mo''s position might even surpass that of the Sect Master, Murong Yue.
Although Zhang Weihu had once been close to Shen Mo, he now hesitated to approach or converse with him, fearing overstepping his bounds.
Seeing Shen Mo approach him now, Zhang Weihu could hardly contain his excitement.
Shen Mo smiled, "Zhang Enforcer, you lost your arm in service to the sect. How are you being treated now? The sect hasn''t neglected you, I hope?"
Zhang Weihu shook his head repeatedly, "Young Master, not at all! Since losing my arm, the sect hasn''t treated me like a cripple. In fact, they''ve given me even better treatment."
He hesitated for a moment before adding, "I only hold the position of amon enforcer, yet the sect has provided me with the benefits of a senior external enforcer. I feel undeserving."
Shen Mo waved his hand, "You deserve it."
"If a sect abandons its meritorious members, it will soon fall apart, and its demise will follow shortly after."
Zhang Weihu nodded in deep agreement, "Young Master is absolutely right."
"I see you''re in a hurry to leave. Are you on a mission?" Shen Mo asked with a smile.
Zhang Weihu nodded, "Yes, there have been attacks by Tier 2 demon beasts near a small vige close to Qingshan City. I was born in that vige, so I can''t just stand by and do nothing."
Shen Mo nodded, "I happen to be free, so I''ll go with you."
Zhang Weihu was startled, "Young Master, with your status, how could you trouble yourself with such a matter?"
Shen Mo couldn''t help but smile. After some back-and-forth, Zhang Weihu reluctantly agreed.
In the afternoon, the two of them left the sect and headed straight for the small vige outside Qingshan City.
Shen Mo used his qi to move swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived outside the small vige.
Just as they approached, Zhang Weihu smiled broadly, preparing to enter the vige, but Shen Mo grabbed his arm and pointed upward.
Zhang Weihu looked up and saw a streak of light descending,nding just outside the vige.
"A Core Formation cultivator?!"
Zhang Weihu was shocked.
"What would a Core Formation cultivator be doing in such a small vige? It''s strange."
Shen Mo pulled out two masks, handing one to Zhang Weihu.
"Put it on. Let''s go take a look."
"Yes."
As the two approached the vige, they were immediately met with the sound of wailing and crying.
"Two mere infants making a contribution to our Thunderfire Sect should make you rejoice!"
"Mortals should know their ce. Now get lost!"
"Daoist, Daoist, please return my daughters to me. They are only two years old, still nursing... I have this lower-grade spirit stone. It is my family''s entire savings. Please, take it and return them to me... please..."
Shen Mo and Zhang Weihu looked ahead and saw a small clearing surrounded by dozens of vigers.
In the center of the clearing stood three cultivators. The leader was clearly at the Core Formation stage.
Behind him were two other cultivators, one tall and the other short and stout. Each held an infant in their arms.
Before them, a woman dressed in simple clothes clung to the tall cultivator''s leg, crying out in anguish.
The two infants, still too young to understand anything, looked around with innocent, clear eyes, unaware of why their mother was crying or what fate awaited them.
"Get lost! I despise mortals the most, mere ants with a lifespan of only a few decades!" The tall cultivator''s eyes filled with contempt as he kicked the woman away.
The force of a Foundation Establishment cultivator''s kick was not something a mortal could withstand.
With that single kick, the woman''s abdomen was pierced through on the spot, her internal organs and intestines spilling out.
The lower-grade spirit stone in her hand also fell, rolling away across the ground.
"Daoist... Daoist... give them... give them back to me..."
The woman hadn''t yet died.
Her motherly instinct drove her to struggle back onto her feet, her eyes fixed on her children in the distance.
Even though her vision was blurring, she dragged her broken body forward, inch by inch.
The surrounding vigers were frozen in fear, not daring to utter a word.
The Core Formation cultivator frowned, "If you''re going to kill someone, do it cleanly. Look at the mess you''ve madehow unsightly."
The tall cultivator''s expression turned fearful as he quickly bowed, "Elder, this disciple was wrong."
"Let''s go. The cultivation of the Blood Infant is more important. These twins are the final ingredients." The Core Formation cultivator waved his hand impatiently, motioning for them to follow.
However, as they turned, they saw two masked cultivators standing at the vige''s edge.
One was a middle-aged man, barely able to conceal the fury within him, looking as though he would tear them apart on the spot.
The other was a young man, expression unreadable, but there was a terrifying calmness in his demeanorlike the deep, cold depths of the ocean.
The lower-grade spirit stone continued to roll and came to a stop at the young man''s feet.
He nced down.
The stone was stained with blood.
The young man bent down and picked it up.
The Core Formation cultivator frowned.
Instinctively, he sensed that this young cultivator was no ordinary personhe was at the Core Formation stage, just like himself.
"Daoist friend, I am Zhao Wu, an elder of the Thunderfire Sect, carrying out my duties. I advise you not to interfere," Zhao Wu said arrogantly, cupping his hands from a distance.
The two disciples behind him gripped the hilts of their swords cautiously.
The young cultivator looked toward the woman lying in a pool of blood.
Her injuries were beyond saving.
A mortal could not survive in such a condition for long.
"Do you know that taking a child from their mother''s arms is the most unforgivable sin in this world?"
Zhao Wu''s frown deepened, "You should think carefully. The Thunderfire Sect is not someone you want to provoke!"
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Chapter 173: Zhao Liepeng Unworthy of Being Thunderfire Sect Master
Chapter 173: Zhao Liepeng Unworthy of Being Thunderfire Sect Master
Shen Mo lifted his gaze, but he wasn''t looking at Zhao Wu. Instead, his eyes fell on the woman lying in a pool of blood.
He raised a low-grade spiritual stone in his hand.
"I''ll ept thismission."
A look of relief and gratitude appeared in the woman''s eyes.
She struggled to open her mouth, wanting to say something.
But she had lost too much blood and no longer had the strength to speak.
Her lips moved slightly, mouthing a silent "thank you."
Momentster, life quickly drained from her body.
The maternal warmth in her gaze gradually faded into emptiness.
The young cultivator shifted his focus, now looking at Zhao Wu and the other two men before him.
"Elder?" the short, stout cultivator muttered in a low voice.
Zhao Wu replied coldly, "He''s just a mere Core Formation cultivator. If he insists on meddling in this, I don''t mind getting my hands a bit bloodier."
As soon as he finished speaking, a choking sound echoed beside him.
Zhao Wu froze for a moment and looked to his side.
The tall Thunderfire Sect disciple beside him stared in disbelief.
The masked young cultivator had somehow appeared in front of him in the blink of an eye.
Drawing the long de from the disciple''s waist, Shen Mo stabbed it repeatedly into his abdomen.
He shattered the dantian!
He destroyed the foundation tform!
He pierced the internal organs!
Squelch, squelch.
Scarlet blood sprayed everywhere.
Despite being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, known for their strong vitality, blood quickly stained the ground, pooling into arge puddle.
"E-Elder, save me" The tall disciple looked at Zhao Wu in pain and despair.
Zhao Wu roared in fury, "Let him go!"
As he spoke, he suddenly sent a palm strike.
In an instant, spiritual energy surged and connected with the surrounding energy, forming a massive hand.
However, just as he was about to strike down, his vision blurred.
Shen Mo''s figure had disappeared again.
Anger and shock filled Zhao Wu''s mind as he heard a scream behind him.
He whipped around.
There, he saw the short, stout disciple''s sword had been taken.
Squelch, squelch!
Once again, the long de plunged deeply into the disciple''s abdomen.
Blood gushed out.
The stout disciple''s face twisted with extreme terror, but as the fear reached its peak, it morphed into fury.
In a desperate attempt, he grabbed Shen Mo''s arm tightly.
Then, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Elder... I''ve got him! Hurry... make your move!"
Zhao Wu roared in anger, mming the massive palm down with all his might!
Boom!
The ground shook violently.
Dirt and stone fragments flew into the air, shrouding the surroundings in dust.
With a casual wave of his hand, Zhao Wu summoned a gust of wind, blowing the dust away.
On the ground, a massive palm imprint was revealed.
At the bottom of the imprint was a heap of indistinguishable flesh and blood.
Zhao Wu froze for a second.
He could tellit wasn''t two people in that heap, only one.
"Zhao Wu, it''s your turn."
A chilling voice came from behind, making Zhao Wu''s scalp tingle.
Without hesitation, Zhao Wu immediately activated a defensive martial technique.
A shield of condensed wind formed behind him.
However, once again, he was wrong.
The opponent''s attack didn''te from behind but from the front.
Shen Mo casually thrust his de, precisely stabbing Zhao Wu''s dantian.
It was as if a dam had broken.
Spiritual energy began leaking out from the breach uncontrobly.
Zhao Wu''s pupils shrank instantly.
The tall disciple nearby let out a furious roar, using everyst bit of his strength to throw himself at Shen Mo, grabbing hold of him.
"Elder, run! I''ll... hold him back, buy you some time!"
Blood spewed from the disciple''s mouth, but he tightened his grip, trying to restrain Shen Mo.
Even if only for a single breath.
Zhao Wu felt a surge of emotion. He immediately gathered what little spiritual energy he had left, intending to use a movement technique to flee.
He had realized nowthis man was someone he couldn''t possibly fight against.
He had to escape!
The farther, the better!
But he was wrong again.
That disciple couldn''t even hold Shen Mo back for a single breath.
Shen Mo strode forward without hesitation, his body vibrating slightly.
The tall disciple''s limbs exploded into a mist of blood.
In an instant, he copsed to the ground, reduced to a limbless stump of a person.
Zhao Wu was just about to use his movement technique when Shen Mo flicked his fingers lightly. A streak of spiritual energy shot out, shattering Zhao Wu''s kneecap.
Thud.
Zhao Wu dropped to one knee on the spot, terror filling his eyes.
Without hesitation, he dropped to both knees and kowtowed heavily to Shen Mo.
Thud, thud, thud.
His forehead quickly became a bloody mess.
"I was blind and didn''t recognize a towering figure like you! Please, spare my life!"
"I am an elder of the Thunderfire Sect! As long as you let me live, I can offer you anything you want!"
"I beg you to treat me like a fart and let me go!"
"I''ve repented! I''ve realized my mistake! I shouldn''t have followed Zhao Liepeng''s orders, using those children to cultivate Blood Infants!"
"From now on, I swear to do good and be a better person!"
After finishing his pleas, Zhao Wu kowtowed again and again, pounding the ground so hard that it left a deep imprint.
The vigers, witnessing this scene, were wide-eyed with shock.
A once-high-and-mighty Taoist elder of the Thunderfire Sect was now groveling on his knees like amoner, begging for mercy?
"How could someone like you ever change? You won''t change. Death is your only oue."
Shen Mo looked down at him coldly.
He lifted his foot and stomped down viciously.
St.
Zhao Wu''s head burst like a watermelon.
Red and white matter sttered everywhere.
Shen Mo turned around and asked, "How are the two children?"
Before making his move, Shen Mo had already passed the twin children into Zhang Weihu''s care.
With his speed, it had been an easy task.
"Their eyes were shielded by my spiritual energy. They didn''t see a thing," Zhang Weihu said with a deep breath, nodding in affirmation.
"Good. Let''s enter the vige."
Shen Mo walked briskly toward the vige.
The vigers immediately dropped to their knees.
"Benefactor! Great benefactor!"
"Taoist master, thank you so much!"
Shen Mo''s expression remained unchanged. "Give that woman a proper burial."
"These two children have spiritual roots. I will take them to the Qingxuan Sect. From now on, they are Qingxuan Sect disciples."
The vigers'' eyes widened with joy and disbelief.
"Y-yes! Thank you, Taoist master from Qingxuan Sect!"
Shen Mo continued, "After the battle just now, all the second-rank demon beasts around the vige have fled. You can live in peace from now on."
The sh between Shen Mo and Zhao Wu had been equivalent to a fight between two fourth-rank beasts.
Sensing such powerful auras, the nearby second-rank demon beasts had fled in terror.
With those words, Shen Mo turned and left with Zhang Weihu.
"Thank you, young sect master. If I hade here alone today, I wouldn''t have been able to aplish anything," Zhang Weihu said gratefully.
Shen Mo waved his hand. "It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I just wanted to get out and take a walk."
"As for the two children, you will be responsible for them. Their constitutions are quite good; they have great potential."
Shen Mo had already assessed them with his life panel.
The twin girls had yin-aligned physiques, which was why Zhao Wu had targeted them as nourishment for his Blood Infant ritual.@@novelbin@@
Now that they had survived such a catastrophe, their future cultivation path would likely be smooth.
"Yes! I will not let the young sect master down!" Zhang Weihu replied with a firm nod.
Shen Mo returned to the Bamboo Tree Courtyard.
He pulled out Zhao Wu''s storage ring.
As he looked inside, his expression turned icy.
Inside the ring was arge vat.
The vat was filled with crimson blood.
Shen Mo didn''t need to guesshe knew the blood belonged to the innocent children who had been killed.
Just as Zhao Wu had mentioned, they were at the final stage of the Blood Infant ritual.
If they had taken the twin girls, within three days, the Blood Infant would have been fully formed.
At that point, the Qingxuan Sect cultivators in the Earth Fire Furnace would have lost their lives.
"You all could have be cultivators, stepping onto the path of immortality."
"Zhao Liepeng"
Shen Mo''s eyes gleamed coldly.
That man was truly unworthy of being the sect master!
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Chapter 174: The Thing Inside is My Answer
Chapter 174: The Thing Inside is My Answer
Bang!
Zhao Liepeng mmed his palm down, shattering the stone table in the courtyard.
His gaze was icy cold.
"Where is Zhao Wu? He''s disappeared?"
Two elders kneeling before him broke into a cold sweat.
One of them spoke softly, "Master, we truly don''t know... Ever since Zhao Wu went out on your orders, he hasn''t returned."
The other elder seemed to recall something. "Right, yesterday, Elder Zhao mentioned going to the Qingshan City area. He said there was something there he needed."
"And then he never came back."
Zhao Liepeng''s eyes flickered. "Qingshan City... isn''t that near the core of Qingxuan Sect''s territory?"
At that moment, the courtyard door was knocked on urgently.
"Master! I have an urgent report!"
Zhao Liepeng frowned. "Enter."
A young disciple burst init was Wan Renjie.
He was once one of the Six Gentlemen of Xuanjiang.
But now, with Shen Mo, Zhou Qingcang, and Mo Yuheng having all sessfully formed their golden cores, Wan Renjie had yet to reach that stage.
His title of "Thunder Gentleman" no longer matched his status, and few still addressed him that way.
"Renjie, what''s the matter?" Zhao Liepeng casually beckoned, and a teacup flew into his palm.
Wan Renjie anxiously reported, "Master, there are rumors outside that our Thunderfire Sect used a forbidden secret technique, the ''Blood Infant Technique,'' in our search for the third Earth Fire Furnace!"
"And there''s supposed evidencesomeone found a giant vat in Elder Zhao Wu''s storage ring, inside of which a Blood Infant is already taking form!"
"Qingxuan Sect has also sent word. They im they will not tolerate such a heinous act by the Thunderfire Sect."
"Our sect''s reputation has plummeted. Several small sects that were considering joining us have backed away in fear and instead turned to Qingxuan Sect."
"Even some loose cultivator groups... have cut ties with us and shifted their allegiance to Qingxuan Sect."
Zhao Liepeng''s tea-drinking halted abruptly.
Zhao Wu was dead.
And the fact that Zhao Wu had been secretly ordered to cultivate a Blood Infant had been exposed!
Who did this?
With a crack, Zhao Liepeng crushed the teacup in his hand, his face darkening.
After Wan Renjie finished speaking, the two kneeling elders exchanged shocked and confused nces, not daring to meet Zhao Liepeng''s eyes.
From what they knew of Zhao Liepeng, it was entirely possible that he had indeed ordered Zhao Wu to do such a thing.
"Master... is this true?" Wan Renjie pressed, his gaze filled with disbelief, unwilling to ept it.
Zhao Liepeng snorted coldly, "What if it is? What if it isn''t? This is nothing but Qingxuan Sect ndering us."
"Zhao Wu merely fell into a trap set by Qingxuan Sect."
"I believe that Blood Infant was actually cultivated by Qingxuan Sect. Now that they''re about to be exposed, they''ve shifted the me onto us!"
"We cannot let this slide!"@@novelbin@@
"Does the Thunderfire Sect look like a sect that can be casually ndered?"
Zhao Liepeng stood up abruptly. "Pass my order! Gather all the elders andunch an attack on Heavenly Water City. Within three days, I want Heavenly Water City under our control!"
"Once we drive Qingxuan Sect away from the area, we''ll find the third Earth Fire Furnace sooner orter!"
"Yes!" The three of them nodded in agreement.
Wan Renjie''s eyes dimmed.
He had followed Zhao Liepeng for many years, spending day and night together.
He knew that when Zhao Liepeng lied, his voice would unconsciously rise.
Just now, Zhao Liepeng''s tone and mannerisms were exactly the same as when he lied.
Suddenly, Wan Renjie felt that he didn''t know his master as well as he thought.
"A cultivator, with great strength and long life, should protect themon people. Isn''t that what Master once taught me?"
Wan Renjie dragged his heavy steps as he slowly walked away.
...
"As expected, Zhao Liepeng, enraged by the exposure of this matter, has decided to act aggressively," Shen Mo nodded slightly after hearing the elder''s report.
Zhao Liepeng''s reaction was within his expectations.
However, Zhao Liepeng still believed that the Thunderfire Sect''s strength surpassed Qingxuan Sect''s.
Little did he know that Qingxuan Sect had already acquired the Earth Fire Furnace and had been manufacturing refining crystal spiritual artifacts for a month!
In his storage ring, Shen Mo had stockpiled hundreds of Profound-grade refining crystal spiritual artifacts!
Of these, over a hundred contained third-grade demon crystals.
And more than thirty contained fourth-grade demon crystals!
Once these refining crystal spiritual artifacts were distributed to the Golden Core elders, their power would soar to a whole new level.
The strength of the Golden Core elders rising signifies an enhancement of the sect''s top-levelbat power.
At this moment, Qingxuan Sect''s power has already surpassed Thunderfire Sect!
Dong dong dong!
The sound of the bell resonated.
Another meeting of the elders was called.
Shen Mo walked towards the assembly hall in no hurry, while the expressions of the other elders wereplicated.
Some were worried, some were anxious, some were pleased, and others were sorrowful.
After defeating Heavenly Water Sect, Qingxuan Sect had only managed to take over part of their territory, and even Heavenly Water City hadn''t been fully conquered.
As of now, these territories hadn''t been fully absorbed.
Treasures had yet to be converted into strength.
And now, they had to prepare for war against Thunderfire Sect once again.
No one felt truly confident about this.
Dong.
The grand hall doors closed.
Murong Yue nced around. "Everyone, Thunderfire Sect has suddenly deployed thirty Golden Core stage cultivators to invade Heavenly Water City."
"The elders from Divine Sword Sect, Shaoyang Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect, who were stationed there, have already retreated."
"Elder Wei and Elder Xiao of our Qingxuan Sect are still holding on at the Qingfeng Pavilion in Heavenly Water City, barely managing with the help of the formation there."
"Let''s hear everyone''s thoughts. What do you all think?"
Liu Yuanfeng was the first to speak. "Sect Master, I believe our top priority should be to fully absorb the territory of Heavenly Water Sect and avoid direct confrontation with Thunderfire Sect."
"Once we''ve strengthened ourselves, it won''t be toote to act."
Elder Li immediately countered, "Vice Sect Master Liu, I disagree. It''s been rumored that the third Earth Fire Furnace of Zhongding Sect is located near Heavenly Water City."
"If we let Thunderfire Sect take over Heavenly Water City, they''ll inevitably find the third Earth Fire Furnace sooner orter."
"The importance of the Earth Fire Furnace needs no exnation. Once Thunderfire Sect gets their hands on it, they''ll ramp up production of refining crystal spiritual artifacts."
"The gap in strength between us and Thunderfire Sect will widen even further!"
"Time is not on our side!"
After they finished, the other elders began chiming in.
There were ten elders in the hall, and soon they were divided into two factions: those advocating for direct confrontation and those suggesting avoiding battle for now.
Both sides were evenly matched, leading to a deadlock.
Liu Yuanfeng smiled slightly. "Sect Master, it''s time for you to make the decision."
However, Murong Yue only gave a faint smile. "I won''t make the decision. Shen Mo, you make the call."
With that, she sat down, leaving the entire elder discussion to Shen Mo.
The elders were stunned and all turned their gaze to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo surveyed the room. "I support Elder Li. We should confront them head-on."
Liu Yuanfeng frowned. "Young Sect Master, I respect your strength and your contributions, but right now our power is far inferior to Thunderfire Sect. How do you propose we face them directly?"
"I request that you exin your reasoning."
"Otherwise, I, Liu Yuanfeng, will not obey! I receive Qingxuan Sect''s monthly sry, and in everything, I must prioritize the sect''s well-being. We cannot act rashly!"
He spoke righteously, as if his loyalty and dedication to Qingxuan Sect were beyond reproach.
Shen Mo took out a storage ring and smiled slightly. "The contents of this ring are my answer."
With that, he shook the storage ring.
tter.
In an instant, treasures spilled out, radiating brilliant light!
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Chapter 175: Qingxuan Sect is Attacking? Then Let’s Capture Them All Here!
Chapter 175: Qingxuan Sect is Attacking? Then Let''s Capture Them All Here!
Arge pile of spiritual artifactsnded on the table.
Swords, spears, halberds, axes, and hooks.
Crowns, armor, and boots.
Everything one could imagine!
"Spiritual artifacts? They''re just Profound-grade artifacts. Without being Earth-grade, how can they possibly close the gap with Thunderfire Sect so quickly?"
Liu Yuanfeng sneered.
Elder Li, upon seeing the small mountain of Profound-grade artifacts, was stunned at first, then overjoyed.
"Refining crystal spiritual artifacts!"
"And many of them are refined with fourth-grade demon crystals!"
Liu Yuanfeng stood there, dumbfounded, his smile frozen on his face.
The other elders widened their eyes in astonishment as well.
Immediately, they rushed forward to examine the artifacts closely.
"Holy! They really are fourth-grade demon crystals!"@@novelbin@@
"Our Qingxuan Sect''s refining techniques can only refine up to third-grade demon crystals. How did thesee about?"
"Did the Young Sect Master rob Thunderfire Sect''s treasure vault?"
"That''s unlikely. I think the Young Sect Master probably spent a fortune buying them from the neighboring prefecture."
Shen Mo chuckled when he heard their spections.
None of them had guessed correctly.
But he wasn''t about to reveal the truth.
"Elder Li!" Shen Mo suddenly called out loudly.
"Present!"
"You are well aware of the contributions of the elders within the sect. I''ll leave the distribution of these refining crystal spiritual artifacts to you," Shen Mo said with a smile.
Elder Li, visibly excited, responded, "Understood!"
Shen Mo addressed everyone in a clear voice, "Those elders who have shown unwavering loyalty and performed meritorious service should be prioritized. Qingxuan Sect will never neglect anyone who has contributed to our sess!"
The elders, equally thrilled, replied, "Yes! Thank you, Young Sect Master!"
Liu Yuanfeng''s expression, however, turned sour.
He had never expected Shen Mo to produce refining crystal spiritual artifacts imbued with fourth-grade demon crystals!
The power of such artifacts was indeed immense.
And they could indeed rapidly close the gap in strength between them and Thunderfire Sect.
"Vice Sect Master Liu, why the long face? Shouldn''t you be pleased?" Shen Mo teased with a smile.
Liu Yuanfeng forced a smile. "Yes, yes, of course. I was just thinking about the uing battle with Thunderfire Sect. There may be casualties, and that''s what weighed on my mind."
Shen Mo patted him on the shoulder. "Don''t worry, Vice Sect Master Liu. With your strength, you certainly won''t die."
Liu Yuanfeng''s smile grew even more awkward.
What kind of reassurance was that?
Soon, the refining crystal spiritual artifacts were distributed.
The elders who were loyal to Qingxuan Sect and had made significant contributions each received a set of refining crystal spiritual artifacts, all embedded with fourth-grade demon crystals.
With such powerful artifacts in their hands, every elder was overjoyed, beaming with excitement.
Shen Mo pointed to three elders. "You three will stay and guard the sect gates with the Sect Master. The rest of you will follow me immediately to Heavenly Water City!"
"Yes!"
"Master, I''m off," Shen Mo cupped his hands.
"Good! I await news of your victory, Shen''er!" Murong Yue nodded firmly.
...
Heavenly Water City, Qingfeng Pavilion.
Zhao Liepeng and his group of Core Formation stage cultivators had already surrounded the ce tightly.
Thunderfire Sect disciples upied the entirety of Heavenly Water City.
At this point, Qingfeng Pavilion was the only ce in the vast city still outside Thunderfire Sect''s control.
The rest of the city had fallen under Thunderfire Sect''s dominion.
Divine Sword Sect, Shaoyang Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect were all caught up in their own battles and couldn''t afford to fight on two fronts or involve themselves in other matters.
In fact, they had retreated without even shing with Thunderfire Sect.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of attacks mmed into Qingfeng Pavilion.
A faint light shield appeared around the pavilion, fending off the attacks.
However, as time passed, the light from the shield gradually dimmed.
In no more than one hour, the formation would surely break.
The Qingxuan Sect cultivators holed up inside Qingfeng Pavilion, fighting desperately, wouldn''t survive once the formation fell.
Wei Xiongtie frowned deeply, pacing back and forth.
Meanwhile, Xiao Fan''s eyes shifted as he watched Wei Xiongtie''s back.
"Elder Xiao, do you have any good strategies?" Wei Xiongtie suddenly turned around and asked.
Xiao Fan naturally averted his gaze and shook his head. "No, I don''t."
Wei Xiongtie sighed heavily and continued pacing, his brows furrowed in thought.
In secret, Xiao Fan activated his Ziwei Futiangongtechnique, steadily increasing his strength.
He certainly had a way to escape.
However, this method required him to act decisively, capturing Wei Xiongtie on the spot and offering him to Zhao Liepeng.
Only then would he have a chance to survive.
But using this move would ruin his reputation.
Unless he left Xuanjiang Prefecture, he would be foreverbeled a traitor who betrayed his sect and harmed hisrades.
Outside Qingfeng Pavilion.
Zhao Liepeng hovered in midair, his hands sped behind his back, exuding an air of confidence.
To him, the fall of Qingfeng Pavilion was inevitable, and the entire Heavenly Water City would soon be his.
His mind had already wandered to a more distant ce.
He was thinking about the hidden third Earth Fire Furnace buried underground.
He was imagining the grand scene when Thunderfire Sect would dominate Xuanjiang Prefecture.
"Master, if we act like this, won''t Qingxuan Sect retaliate?" Wan Renjie asked worriedly.
Zhao Liepeng waved dismissively. "Don''t think that just because Qingxuan Sect defeated Heavenly Water Sect, they are a match for our Thunderfire Sect."
"Don''t forget, Heavenly Water Sect only crumbled because two of its three elite sects were wiped out, and even their sect leader, Zhuang Mo, died in a life-or-death battle. That''s why they were easy prey."
"But Thunderfire Sect is at the peak of its power!"
"We have three elite sects under us, led by Purple Star Sect, all ready for battle at any moment."
"Every elder in our sect is equipped with aplete set of refining crystal spiritual artifacts, each embedded with a third-grade demon crystal."
Zhao Liepeng smiled confidently. "So, tell me, what can Qingxuan Sect use to fight against us?"
"I''m certain Murong Yue will abandon Xiao Fan and Wei Xiongtie inside Qingfeng Pavilion and retreat to strengthen her forces in secret."
"But such a move will be useless."
"As long as we find the third Earth Fire Furnace and ramp up production of refining crystal spiritual artifacts, within a month, Thunderfire Sect''s strength will grow exponentially!"
"At that time, even Divine Sword Sect won''t be our match, let alone Qingxuan Sect, which isn''t even one of the Five Great Sects of Xuanjiang Prefecture in name or in power."
Seeing his master''s confidence, Wan Renjie calmed down.
Just then, there was a slightmotion outside.
Soon, a voice called out.
"Sect Master! Qingxuan Sect is attacking! A full twenty-three Core Formation stage cultivators!"
Zhao Liepeng was momentarily stunned, then burst intoughter.
"They''re overestimating themselves."
"They don''t have enough strength yet insist on attacking. The result will be nothing but their own destruction!"
"They''vee at the right time. Since they''re here, we''ll wipe out Qingxuan Sect''s high-levelbat power here in Heavenly Water City!"
"Tomorrow, we can begin taking over Qingxuan Sect''s territory!"
After Zhao Liepeng finished speaking, the elders of Thunderfire Sect cheered excitedly.
They couldn''t wait to rush forward and ughter Qingxuan Sect''s elders as easily as cutting vegetables!
Soon, dozens of figures appeared at the edge of Heavenly Water City.
All were dressed in the dark green elder robes of Qingxuan Sect.
Wan Renjie immediately spotted the young man leading them.
Gritting his teeth, he said, "Master, it''s Shen Mo! He''s leading the team himself!"
Zhao Liepengughed even harder. "Good, good, good! He''se just in time. I was worried that Shen Mo was growing too quickly and wanted to kill him early."
"Now we''ll capture them all right here!"
"Wan Renjie, didn''t you always hold a grudge against Shen Mo for defeating both you and Yin Xuege?"
"Once I personally capture him and cripple his dantian, I''ll hand him over to you!"
Wan Renjie''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Thank you, Master!"
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Chapter 177: The Fall of Thunderfire Sect and Rising Sun Sect
Chapter 177: The Fall of Thunderfire Sect and Rising Sun Sect
With the death of Zhao Liepeng, the downfall of Thunderfire Sect began immediately.
The disciples of Thunderfire Sect were thrown into chaos.
Coupled with the weakness of their spiritual artifacts, they quickly found themselves at a disadvantage.
The once-proud elders of the Core Formation stage were now like birds shot down from the sky, crashing to the ground.
They fell into cold, filthy water, indistinguishable from dying stray dogs.
The battle between Qingxuan Sect and Thunderfire Sect had long since drawn the attention of many rogue cultivators in Heavenly Water City.
As soon as these Thunderfire Sect elders fell, the rogue cultivators swarmed them.
Even if the elders were still clinging to life when they hit the ground, they soon breathed theirst under the fiercepetition among the rogues.
Within a hundred breaths of Zhao Liepeng''s death, the thirty Core Formation elders he brought were either dead or had surrendered.
A few continued to resist stubbornly, but their fate was sealed, and death was not far off.
This scene was a shocking one for all the cultivators watching.
Who would have thought that Qingxuan Sect had grown so strong?
Could they even defeat Thunderfire Sect in directbat?
"It seems joining Qingxuan Sect is the right path!"
"Did you notice? Qingxuan Sect''s spiritual artifacts seem unusually powerful, far superior to those of Thunderfire Sect!"
"Impossible! Thunderfire Sect has an earthfire furnace. Although many believe the mes within are dying out, they''ve still relied on it to forge powerful artifacts that have long dominated Xuanjiang Prefecture!"
"Exactly, even Divine Sword Sect has an earthfire furnace, yet their efforts to forge spirit artifacts still fall short of Thunderfire Sect."
"Do you think it''s possible that Qingxuan Sect somehow got hold of a third earthfire furnace?"
"Hiss"
"Wow! Now that you mention it, it actually seems possible! Otherwise, how could Qingxuan Sect''s elders possess such powerful spiritual artifacts?"
"Haha, while others hesitate, those of us with foresight have already pledged loyalty to Qingxuan Sect! Young Master Shen, I am willing to serve Qingxuan Sect with my life!"
The rogue cultivators'' voices rose and fell.
Some even began to shout towards Shen Mo, half-kneeling on the ground, hoping to join Qingxuan Sect.
Upon seeing this, Shen Mo smiled faintly.
"Zhao Liepeng of Thunderfire Sect is dead, but Heavenly Water City has not yetpletely fallen into the hands of Qingxuan Sect."
"If any of you wish to pledge allegiance to Qingxuan Sect, you''ll need to provide a token of your loyalty."
"The greater your contribution, the more likely you are to be epted into Qingxuan Sect."
Upon hearing this, the rogue cultivators quickly caught on, their eyes gleaming dangerously.
Thunderfire Sect had supported many rogue cultivators in Heavenly Water City and established several small factions.
Though Zhao Liepeng was dead, Thunderfire Sect had only temporarily lost its leader and had not yet copsed.
They would surely rely on these rogue factions to counter Qingxuan Sect.
Shen Mo''s meaning was clear.
Eliminate these Thunderfire Sect loyalists, and that would be your token of loyalty!
In an instant, the undercurrents of Heavenly Water City surged with murderous intent.
Wei Xiongtie couldn''t help but sigh.
"As expected of the Young Master, with just a few words, he''s managed to have these rogues handle our hidden threats for Qingxuan Sect."
Xiao Fan snorted internally. He had employed simr tactics countless times in the past; what was so special about this?
However, outwardly, he maintained a neutral expression, showing no reaction.
By this time, the elders of Qingxuan Sect had already finished cleaning up the battlefield.
Particrly Zhao Liepeng''s storage ring, which Elder Li respectfully handed over to Shen Mo, untouched by anyone.
Shen Mo epted it and headed straight for the Qingfeng Tower.
Wei Xiongtie and Xiao Fan immediately bowed.
Wei Xiongtie''s eyes reddened with emotion, "Young Master! I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime!"
Shen Mo stepped forward and helped him up. "Every elder is vital. Qingxuan Sect would never abandon you."
Wei Xiongtie nodded heavily.
When he had been alone and cut off, he had indeed feared that Qingxuan Sect might discard him.
But Shen Mo had led the group ande for him nheless.
This immense kindness and loyalty made Wei Xiongtie even more devoted to Qingxuan Sect and Shen Mo.
"Xiao Fan, you are also safe and sound, wonderful." Shen Mo''s gaze swept over Xiao Fan, his mood noticeably uplifted.
Xiao Fan carried great fortune. Even if Qingfeng Tower had been breached and Wei Xiongtie had perished, Xiao Fan would not have died.
Shen Mo was fully aware of this.@@novelbin@@
His excitement came from the fact that Xiao Fan had once again stumbled upon a new opportunity.
And it just so happened to be something Shen Mo needed.
[Recent Opportunity: Six dayster, participate in the Qingxuan Sect''s siege of Thunderfire Sect, breach the Earthfire City, and identally discover a mid-grade Earth-level treasure, the Heavy Iron Flower, within the extinguished earthfire furnace.]
The Heavy Iron Flower, as recorded in the Inferno Extinction Sutra, is one of the treasures required to nurture the Nine Lotus Nascent Soul.
This flower only grows in environments of extreme heat and high concentrations of metal.
Clearly, the conditions inside the earthfire furnacemet both these criteria.
"Both of you will continue overseeing Heavenly Water Cityand await further orders," Shen Momanded.
"Understood," Wei Xiongtie and Xiao Fan nodded in agreement.
...
The news of Thunderfire Sect''ssect master Zhao Liepeng''s death spread quickly through the mouths of rogue cultivators.
Within a day, the news had swept across the north and south of Xuanjiang, shocking countless people.
Everyone knew that Qingxuan Sectwas powerful, widely considered the foremost first-rate sect.
Previously, Qingxuan Sect''s victory over Heavenly Water Sectwas attributed to the death of Zhuang Mochou during a life-or-death battle, which left Heavenly Water Sectleaderless and scattered.
However, many still believed that Qingxuan Sect was not on par with the likes of Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, Verdant Vine Sect, and Thunderfire Sect.
This news made many cultivators realize that Qingxuan Sect''s foundations had grown exceptionally formidable.
They had be strong enough to contend with the five great sects of Xuanjiang!
Moreover, among the rogue cultivators, there were sharp minds.
It didn''t take long for them to deduce that Qingxuan Secthad most likely discovered the third earthfire furnace, which exined how they had rapidly closed the gap with Thunderfire Sect.
They must have found it long ago.
Qingxuan Sect had used this discovery to mass-produce refined crystal spiritual artifacts, arming their Core Formation elders.
This was how they were able to annihte thirty elders of Thunderfire Sect and kill Zhao Liepeng in the battle at Heavenly Water City!
In the days that followed, Qingxuan Sect advanced with unstoppable momentum, continuously seizing Thunderfire Sect''s territory.
The high-levelbat power between the two sides became increasingly skewed.
Qingxuan Sectnow had thirty-seven Core Formation elders.
Thunderfire Sect, on the other hand, had only two senior elders left, along with five remaining elders, who were barely holding on and had withdrawn to their mountain stronghold.
A month after Zhao Liepeng''s death, Murong Yueand Shen Moled all the elders of Qingxuan Sectin an all-out assault on Thunderfire Sect''smountain gate.
Within two days, the sect''s protective formation was shattered. Though the two senior elders of Thunderfire Sectwere formidable and resisted fiercely for a long time, no amount of strength could stand against such overwhelming numbers.
Moreover, Murong Yuehad reached the peak of the Core Formation stage.
As for Shen Mo, though only at the perfected Core Formation stage, dealing with a peak-stage opponent was no trouble for him.
Every elder of Qingxuan Sectwas equipped with a set of refined crystal spiritual artifacts, each embedded with a Tier 4 demon crystal, further narrowing the power gap.
After two hours of resistance, the two senior elders of Thunderfire Sectfell, bitterly regretting their defeat.
Thunderfire Sectwaspletely destroyed.
The remaining stewards and disciples surrendered without a fight.
Qingxuan Sect''spower swelled to unprecedented levels!
This news spread like wildfire.
However, not long after the fall of Thunderfire Sect, another shocking event, like a p of thunder, suddenly emerged.
Divine Sword Sect, which had been simultaneously fighting both Rising Sun Sectand Verdant Vine Sect, had been at a disadvantage.
Butst night, they feigned an attack on Verdant Vine Sect, secretly redeploying all their elders to the vicinity of Rising Sun Sect.
With the help of an inside agent, they attacked from both within and without, breaking through Rising Sun Sect''sprotective formation and severely crippling the sect in one swift blow!
Rising Sun Sect''ssect master, Wang Tianzhan, was killed in battle!
Three of Rising Sun Sect''speak Core Formation eldersalso perished!
Rising Sun Sect''syoung master, Hong Chilong, barely escaped with the protection of three elders, fleeing to Verdant Vine Sect.
These two pieces of news, arriving simultaneously, shook the cultivators of Xuanjiang Prefecture to their core.
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Chapter 178: Peak Core Formation, Seven-Lotus Pedestal, Giant Jiang City’s Prefecture Office
Chapter 178: Peak Core Formation, Seven-Lotus Pedestal, Giant Jiang City''s Prefecture Office
Ji Shilong listened to Luo Shuanghan''s report on the battle, his face brimming with joy.
He was more delighted and excited than ever before.
"Good! Very good!"
"Qingxuan Sect has truly exceeded my expectations. Not only did they find the third earthfire furnace, but they also used the refined crystal spiritual artifacts produced from it to counterattack Thunderfire Sect,pletely annexing them!"
"As for Divine Sword Sect, their actions were predictable. Rising Sun Sect was never as strong as Divine Sword Sect, but that feint tactic they pulled off was well-executed. It must have been Luo Chaotian''s n."
Ji Shilong smiled faintly, casually analyzing the events.
Luo Shuanghan respectfully handed over a storage ring. "By the way, the sect master of Liejiang Sect has already surrendered to us. This is what he offered."
"It contains intelligence about Divine Sword Sect and Qingxuan Sect."
"There''s also a list of the people he managed to turn against their factions."
Ji Shilong epted the ring, nodding slightly. "Not bad."
His gaze shifted to Luo Shuanghan. "There''s something I need to tell you."
Luo Shuanghan was startled. "What is it, my lord?"
"Your father sent you something," Ji Shilong said, his hands behind his back.
Luo Shuanghan froze, his body trembling slightly.
He knew he had a father, and he knew that this father, who had never appeared in his life, was extraordinarily powerful.
Powerful enough to ce him directly in Ji Shilong''s service.
But he had never known who his true father was.
"My lord, could you tell me who my father is?" Luo Shuanghan took a deep breath and asked.
Ji Shilong smiled. "You''ve already guessed, haven''t you? You just don''t dare to believe it."
"Your father is none other than Luo Chaotian, the sect master of Divine Sword Sect."
"He sent you to me, hoping you would gain experience under my guidance. I''m happy to oblige him."
"Luo Chaotian is a clever man. Sending you here is nothing more than hedging his bets."
Luo Shuanghan was stunned and instinctively responded, "He wants topete with you for the credit of uniting Xuanjiang Prefecture."@@novelbin@@
Ji Shilong nodded approvingly. "Exactly. If, through my strategy of dividing and inciting the sects, all the factions in Xuanjiang Prefecture tear each other apart, leaving them no choice but to submit to the imperial court"
"Then the credit will be all mine, allowing me to rise in rank and fame, entering the imperial court."
"If Luo Chaotian manages to unify Xuanjiang Prefecture and hand over control to the court, the greatest credit will fall to him."
"And I, having offended too many sects, would likely be sacrificed to appease their anger."
"Both oues have their advantages and drawbacks."
"Luo Chaotian sent you here hoping that if I seed, I''ll spare his life."
Luo Shuanghan remained silent.
Noticing his reaction, Ji Shilong casually handed him a box.
"Here, your father sent you something inside."
Luo Shuanghan remained speechless, hesitating to open it.
Ji Shilong chuckled. "Aren''t you curious to see what''s inside? It''s quite a valuable itemsomething many people spend a lifetime trying to acquire. Your father gave it to you so easily."
"To be honest, even I''m tempted to kill you and take it for myself."
Luo Shuanghan shuddered.
Ji Shilongughed heartily. "What are you afraid of? I''m just joking. Do you really think I, Ji Shilong, am the kind of man with no bottom line?"
Taking a deep breath, Luo Shuanghan slowly opened the jade box.
Inside, lying quietly, was a golden core and a pill.
The golden core had a metallic, blood-streaked hue, exuding a domineering and lethal aura.
"This is" Luo Shuanghan was astonished.
Ji Shilong smiled. "This is the Seven-ughter Golden Core, condensed by Zhou Qingcang. Your father extracted it from Zhou Qingcang''s dantian and gifted it to you."
"With the apanying pill, you have a sixty percent chance of transforming your own golden core into a Seven-ughter Golden Core."
"Though it''s only a sixty percent chance, it''s still something most cultivators seek their entire lives."
"After all, the Seven-ughter Golden Coreis the most formidable in terms of offensive power among all golden cores."
Luo Shuanghan''s hands trembled uncontrobly.
He carefully put away the jade box, then suddenly knelt, facing west, and kowtowed deeply.
In that directiony the Divine Sword Sect''s mountain gate.
Luo Shuanghan kowtowed nine times before standing up again.
"My lord, what do you think will be of Xuanjiang Prefecture?" he asked.
Ji Shilong''s gaze grew profound, as though he could see into the future.
"Rising Sun Sect and Thunderfire Sect have already been destroyed. Xuanjiang Prefecture is now in a three-way stalemate between Divine Sword Sect, Qingxuan Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect. The remaining factions no longer pose any threat."
"At most, only Liejiang Sect has the strength to fight, but only because of the support from my army."
"However, Verdant Vine Secthas been heavily infiltrated by Divine Sword Sect. The next to fall will be Verdant Vine Sect."
"To survive, Verdant Vine Sect will have no choice but to ally with Qingxuan Sect."
"At first, they may gain some advantage and put pressure on Divine Sword Sect."
"But in the end, they won''t be able to defeat Divine Sword Sect."
Luo Shuanghan frowned in confusion. "Why?"
He couldn''t understand why Ji Shilong was so certain that Divine Sword Sectwould emerge victorious.
Ji Shilong shook his head. "You''ll see soon enough."
...Three monthster, in the Qingcang Mountains.
Shen Mo sat cross-legged on a small rocky peak.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged from all directions, flowing into his dantian and gradually transforming into pure spiritual power, strengthening the sea within his dantian.
The Inferno Golden Core inside him spun rapidly, and as more spiritual energy fused with it, the core continued to expand.
Shen Mo''s aura gradually intensified.
Above the Qingcang Mountains, dark clouds had gathered.
Yet Shen Mo''s aura, sharp like a sword, pierced straight through the clouds!
At a certain moment, his aura reached its peak.
But it was not yet the limit.
An invisible and solid barrier blocked his path, preventing his aura from rising further.
Without hesitation, Shen Mo took out a bottle of Great Vitality Elixir and gulped it down.
This was one of the spoils collected after the destruction of Thunderfire Sect.
He had ten bottles in total.
During this period of cultivation, he had already consumed nine of them.
Unexpectedly, he had still not managed to break through to the pinnacle of the Core Formation stage.
"Break through!"
Shen Mo growled softly. The spiritual power within the sea of his dantian surged upward, swirling around the Inferno Golden Core.
At that moment, the rotation of the Inferno Golden Core reached its maximum speed!
Droplets of liquid spiritual energy gathered toward the core.
One drop, two drops, three drops
Buzz!
Suddenly, the Inferno Golden Core produced a tremendous gravitational pull, absorbing all the surrounding spiritual energy droplets.
In an instant, the Inferno Golden Core swelled to its maximum size!
This was the pinnacle of the Core Formation stage!
Shen Mo abruptly opened his eyes.
His gaze gleamed with an overwhelming intensity!
The surrounding temperature soared, bing scorching hot.
Even the rocky mountain beneath him could no longer withstand the heat, cracking and splintering apart with loud pops.
Shen Mo looked up toward the sky.
The dark clouds, which had just been gathering strength, scattered as if encountering a natural enemy.
In the blink of an eye, the sky cleared, and the dark clouds vanished without a trace.
Shen Mo''s expression brightened.
The pinnacle of the Core Formation stage!
He took several deep breaths, then directed his consciousness inward to inspect his dantian.
On the Dao tform, beneath the golden core, severalyers of lotus pedestals slowly rotated.
The firstyer, Thousand-Hand Lotus.
The secondyer, Crimson Sun Lotus.
The thirdyer, Antler Orchid.
The fourthyer, zing Cherry Lotus.
The fifthyer, Heavy Iron Flower.
The sixthyer, Blood-Drinking Nightshade.
The seventhyer, Dark Frost Chrysanthemum.
Shen Mo smiled with satisfaction.
The Blood-Drinking Nightshadewas found in the Thunderfire Sect''s treasure vault after the sect was annihted.
The Dark Frost Chrysanthemumwas a gift from Yang Tianxing, sect master of Purple Star Sect, after Thunderfire Sect''s fall. He had offered it in exchange for the peaceful merger of Purple Star Sect into Qingxuan Sect.
"I''m only twoyers away from reaching the Nine-Lotus Pedestalgoal."
"That day is not far away!"
Shen Mo exhaled deeply, then swiftly activated his movement technique, disappearing before nearby cultivators could detect the strange phenomena in the area.
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Chapter 182: The Battle Begins, Shaking the North and South of Xuanjing
Chapter 182: The Battle Begins, Shaking the North and South of Xuanjing
Ouyang Cang and the others were overjoyed, sping their fists and bowing. "Congrattions, Sect Master! Congrattions, former Sect Master!"
"If we obtain the Longevity Flower, our Divine Sword Sect will undoubtedly surpass the Xuanjing Prefecture!"
The smile on Luo Chaotian''s face grew even brighter.
The power of a Nascent Soul cultivator is all-epassing.
If the Divine Sword Sect could produce a Nascent Soul cultivator, how could thebined forces of the Verdant Vine Sect and Qingxuan Sect even be a match for them?
"If the former Sect Master can step into the Nascent Soul stage, won''t he be summoned by the Shangqing Sect to be one of their elders?" Ouyang Cang said with envy.
Luo Chaotian smiled slightly. "Indeed. It''s been a long time since our Divine Sword Sect has contributed a Nascent Soul cultivator to the Shangqing Sect."
"If we can contribute one this time, it will surely make the Shangqing Sect pay more attention to our Divine Sword Sect!"
The other elders were visibly moved upon hearing this.
The Shangqing Sect, being the top sect in Yuzhou, held immense power, and its depths were unfathomable.
The Divine Sword Sect was merely one of the ten powerful sects under the Shangqing Sect''s banner.
Even a fraction of the treasures that slipped through the fingers of the Shangqing Sect would be enough to elevate the Divine Sword Sect to new heights!
"Of course, everything depends on whether we can take Spirit Beast Mountain first," Luo Chaotian pointed forward.
Ouyang Cang and the othersughed heartily. "As long as our insider Elder Wang makes a small move, capturing Spirit Beast Mountain will only take a moment!"
Luo Chaotian smiled faintly and took out his transmission jade to send a message to Elder Wang.
"Elder Wang, begin sabotaging the mountain''s protective formation immediately."
However, even after a long wait, there was no response.
Luo Chaotian''s expression remained unchanged as he sent another transmission.
But once again, his message disappeared into the void.
Ouyang Cang and the others were puzzled, unsure of what was happening.
Finally, Luo Chaotian frowned, sensing something was wrong.
"Elder Wang, answer me!"
At that moment, a voice finally came from the other side of the transmission jade.
But it wasn''t the familiar voice of Elder Wang. Instead, it was the crisp voice of a young woman.
"Sect Master Luo, are you looking for Elder Wang? He''s currently enjoying tea in the underground prison of Spirit Beast Mountain."
Crack!
Luo Chaotian crushed the transmission jade in his hand, his face dark with anger.
He recognized that voice.@@novelbin@@
It was Mo Yuheng, the young sect master of the Verdant Vine Sect!
Hearing her voice meant there was no need to ask about Elder Wang''s fate.
"Have we been discovered?" Ouyang Cang and the others were stunned.
"What''s going on?"
"Didn''t Elder Wang say he never passed any information to our Divine Sword Sect?"
"Yeah, I heard Elder Wang and Mo Hanshan were warrades. There''s no reason for Mo Hanshan to suspect him."
The elders of the Divine Sword Sect looked at each other in confusion.
Luo Chaotian took a deep breath. "Send the order. Attack Spirit Beast Mountain with full force!"
Ouyang Cang hesitated for a moment. "Sect Master, at our current pace, it will take at least two days to break through the formation."
"We don''t have that kind of time."
"The longer this drags on, the more dangerous the situation bes. We have no idea what the Qingxuan Sect''s true objective is."
Luo Chaotian responded without hesitation, "Call the elders stationed at the borders! We must take Spirit Beast Mountain today!"
"If the Qingxuan Sect doesn''te, so be it. If they dare show up, I''ll annihte them right here!"
As he spoke, his eyes gleamed with a chilling light.
Ouyang Cang, still uneasy, said, "Sect Master, while I agree that Murong Yue wouldn''t be your match, that Shen Mo... His current strength is likely unfathomable."
"Zhuang Mochou and Zhao Liepeng both died by his hand."
Luo Chaotian snorted coldly, spiritual energy surging, causing his robes to billow outward.
"Vice Sect Master Ouyang, are you suggesting that I''m not Shen Mo''s match?"
"Or... are you afraid of dying?"
Ouyang Cang hurriedly shook his head. "I mean no such thing. I''m only concerned that such a rushed attack may lead to significant losses for our Divine Sword Sect."
Luo Chaotian replied indifferently, "Let hime!"
"I know exactly what Shen Mo''s trump cards are!"
"That strange demonic armored gauntlet of hisevery time he uses it, ites at a cost. At most, he can activate it once or twice in a short period."
"Thebination of the Red Lotus me and the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique might be a deadly move for others, but for me, I can block it with a wave of my hand!"
"As for his Water Ink Sword Qi and Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, they''reughable at best. Using sword techniques in front of our Divine Sword Sect is like showing off in front of masters!"
"So, tell me, what does he have to fight me with?"
The surrounding elders of the Divine Sword Sect all nodded in agreement.
Seeing that Luo Chaotian was well-prepared, Ouyang Cang finally felt at ease.
"Very well, I''ll send a message to the elders stationed at the borders, instructing them to head over immediately!"
...
At the Jujube Courtyard.
Shen Mo was still calmly cultivating.
At this moment, two towering evergreen trees had formed around him.
Majestic, verdant, and lifelike!
From a distance, one could easily mistake these trees for the jujube trees in the courtyard having grown to such a height.
Knock, knock, knock!
Urgent knocking echoed through the door.
"What is it?" Shen Mo asked casually.
Wei Xiongtie''s voice rang out from outside, "Reporting to the Young Sect Master, all Divine Sword Sect cultivators stationed at the borders have been withdrawn. Based on their movements, it seems they''ve been redeployed to besiege Spirit Beast Mountain!"
Shen Mo''s eyes suddenly opened. "Give the order. We march immediately, straight to Spirit Beast Mountain!"
"Yes, sir!" Wei Xiongtie responded, filled with excitement.
Shen Mo''s orders now even carried more weight than Murong Yue''s.
At hismand, the entire Qingxuan Sect responded instantly.
In just a matter of moments, a hundred-strong force had been assembled.
Shen Mo, Wei Xiongtie, Elder Li, and others led the team.
There were thirty Core Formation stage cultivators.
Seventy Foundation Establishment stage deacons made up the rest.
Murong Yue, Liu Yuanfeng, and others remained behind to guard the mountain gate, while some elders were stationed to protect various sect assets.
Aside from the elders who couldn''t be mobilized, the rest hade out in full force!
News of the Divine Sword Sect''s assault on Spirit Beast Mountain and the Qingxuan Sect''s full mobilization quickly spread throughout the area.
Scattered cultivators watched the streaks of light dart across the sky, their eyes shing with greed as they followed from afar.
Whenever the major sects went to war, it was the scattered cultivators'' chance to profit!
Thus, even though this battle involved the Divine Sword Sect, Qingxuan Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect, the number of cultivators gathering near Spirit Beast Mountain was as numerous as a sea of cattle!
...
At Spirit Beast Mountain.
Mo Yuheng swiftly formed arge, dark green seal with her delicate hands, sending a Divine Sword Sect disciple flying far away.
By her side, a small jade-white snake and a massive bear fought fiercely.
In the distance, the elders, deacons, and disciples of the Verdant Vine Sect continued their relentless assault.
As soon as one group exhausted their spiritual energy, they withdrew to make way for fresh forces.
However, despite their best efforts, the Verdant Vine Sect''s cultivators were growing exhausted, their spiritual energy nearly depleted.
After all, not everyone possessed a vast reservoir of spiritual energy like Shen Mo, whose spiritual energy was as endless as the sea.
"Where is the Qingxuan Sect? Are they still not here?" Mo Yuheng gritted her teeth.
Liu Menghu wiped the sweat from his brow and rushed over, ted. "Young Sect Master, look behind the Divine Sword Sect! There''s movement! The Qingxuan Sect must have arrived!"
Mo Yuheng looked into the distance and indeed saw small ck dots appearing in the sky.
Her face lit up with joy, and she shouted loudly, "The Qingxuan Sect''s reinforcements have arrived! Hold on, everyone!"
Luo Chaotian''s expression remained cold as he gazed several hundred feet away at Shen Mo.
"The Qingxuan Sect is bold, I''ll give them that. It''s truly surprising."
Shen Mo chuckled, "It seems you''ll have many more surprises in store, Sect Master Luo."
"Attack!"
Someone shouted themand.
In an instant, the cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect and Divine Sword Sect collided.
The sounds of battle erupted all at once!
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Chapter 183: Two Evergreen Trees for Body Protection
Chapter 183: Two Evergreen Trees for Body Protection
The other Core Formation stage cultivators had found their respective opponents and were locked in battle.
Various types of spiritual weapons and techniques were being unleashed.
Spiritual energy surged wildly around Spirit Beast Mountain.
The battle involving dozens of Core Formation stage cultivators caused the surrounding spiritual energy to be chaotic.
If Foundation Establishment stage cultivators got too close, they would feel dizzy and unable to use their spiritual energy.
Shen Mo''s opponent was obviousit was naturally Luo Chaotian.
Both of them drew their long swords.
ng, ng, ng.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of strikes were exchanged.
Sparks flew, dazzling and intense.
"Thunder Shadow Sword Technique? It seems somewhat different from the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique of the Qingxuan Sect," Luo Chaotian quickly noticed the peculiarity of Shen Mo''s swordy.
It was sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes still, sometimes in motion.@@novelbin@@
It was unpredictable, hard to defend against.
However, Luo Chaotian was the sect master of the Divine Sword Sect.
And since the Divine Sword Sect was named for the sword, they naturally had unique insights into various sword techniques.
Shen Mo''s swordsmanship could suppress other cultivators but not Luo Chaotian.
Shen Mo chuckled, "Sect Master Luo''s swordsmanship is quite average. Is this the level of the top sect among the Five Great Sects of Xuanjing River?"
Luo Chaotian snorted coldly, and his technique abruptly changed.
Suddenly, it became like a mighty river, rushing down with unstoppable force.
In the next instant, it shifted, bing like the Nine Springs of the Underworldsoft, lingering, delicate yet ruthless.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
Indeed, Luo Chaotian lived up to his reputation as the master of the Divine Sword Sect. His mastery of sword techniques had reached an exceptional level.
However, Shen Mo''s methods weren''t limited to just swordsmanship, nor was he focused solely on it.
Without hesitation, he abandoned his sword, and a purple-ck demonic armored gauntlet appeared on his right arm.
St!
He suddenly crushed three blood pouches hidden in his sleeve.
Nine drops of Ice Jiao blood immediately fused into the demonic armor.
In an instant, the armor transformed into an ice spike form.
Then, with a sudden motion, he unleashed a devastating punch!
Endless icy spiritual energy surged from all directions in the blink of an eye.
A massive ice spiral formed.
Its force was so overwhelming that it seemed as though it could freeze even the soul.
Facing such an awe-inspiring attack, Luo Chaotian''s expression changed slightly.
He had previously heard about the terrifying power of the demonic armor from others'' descriptions.
But now, facing it directly, even his heart raced with fear.
He felt an astonishing threat.
His intuition told him that if he couldn''t block this strike, he would be severely injured!
Luo Chaotian quickly reversed his grip on his sword and, in a sh, stabbed seven times in rapid session.
The seven sword beams didn''t dissipate but instead merged into the form of a giant sword in front of him.
This was the Divine Sword Sect''s secret technique, a high-grade Earth-ss defensive skill, onlyprehensible after reaching the sixth level of the "Flying Sword Longevity Scripture."
It was called the "Seven Stars Divine Sword."
Though named after a sword, it was one of the most formidable defensive techniques.
The surrounding elders of the Divine Sword Sect, seeing this move, were taken aback.
It had been a long time since they had seen Luo Chaotian use this technique inbat.
It seemed that Shen Mo, who had shaken both the northern and southern parts of the Xuanjing River, was indeed formidable.
He had forced Luo Chaotian to take this battle seriously!
Boom!
In the next moment, the icy spiral shed with the Seven Stars Divine Sword.
Blinding light shot out in all directions.
Ice shards flew, and sword energy scattered.
The shockwaves from the attack struck the ground, sting rocks into the air and destroying massive trees.
Several Core Formation cultivators who couldn''t evade in time groaned, coughing up blood.
As for the Foundation Establishment stage and lower cultivators, those unlucky enough to encounter the shockwaves would be injured if they were grazed and killed if directly struck.
It was truly a case of immortals battling while mortals suffered.
To Core Formation stage cultivators, those below themFoundation Establishment and Qi Condensation stage cultivatorswere no different from ordinary mortals.
In midair, the ice particles scattered, and the light dimmed.
Two figures were sent flying at the same time.
Shen Mo was thrown back more than ten meters.
Meanwhile, Luo Chaotian flew back over thirty meters before he managed to stabilize himself.
Both of them had sustained injuries.
Shen Mo had sword wounds on his chest and left arm.
Even though his Green Lotus Robe was incredibly durable, it had been shed open.
However, before much blood could flow, the wounds began to heal rapidly.
In contrast, Luo Chaotian had small holes all over his body, each filled with tiny ice shards.
The ice shards emitted a bone-chilling cold, affecting the surrounding flesh and blood.
Even with Luo Chaotian channeling his spiritual energy to shake them off, it wasn''t easy to expel them from his body.
With just one strike, the difference in strength between the two was clear!
Luo Chaotian shouted in a low voice, "You''re not at the peak of the Core Formation stage; you''ve already reached the pinnacle!"
This scene, witnessed by the cultivators from the three factions, stirred up a massive storm in their hearts.
To them, no matter how much Shen Mo''s reputation spread across Xuanjing, no matter how talented and aplished he was as a young prodigy, he shouldn''t have been a match for Luo Chaotian.
After all, Luo Chaotian had long been famous, the strongest among the five sect masters of Xuanjing River.
Wang Tianzhan, Mo Hanshan, Zhao Liepeng, and Zhuang Mochou had all fought against him, and none had ever defeated him.
But now, this moment shocked them to the core.
Luo Chaotian''s low growl wasn''t heard by many, but those nearby who caught his words were even more shaken.
This young man... had reached the pinnacle of the Core Formation stage?! He was only in his twenties, yet he stood at the very top of Xuanjing''s cultivators?!
"Sect Master Luo has sharp eyes to see through this," Shen Mo said with a faint smile.
"Your demonic armor is already ineffective, and your Water Ink Sword Qi can''t harm me."
"Next, you''re going to use the Red Lotus me and the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique."
Luo Chaotian stared coldly at the young man before him.
Shen Mo pped his hands. "Sect Master Luo knows me well, but unfortunately, you didn''t guess my next move."
In the next instant, Luo Chaotian''s figure vanished from where he stood.
When he reappeared, he was already thrusting his sword forward.
A fierce and biting sword energy erupted from the tip of his de.
In an instant, the sword energy expanded to a size of over ten meters.
The distance between them shrank rapidly to just twenty meters, thanks to the movement technique Luo Chaotian had used.
From a distance, the scattered cultivators, some standing on treetops, others on mountaintops, were stunned by what they saw.
"What kind of move is that? Luo Chaotian just disappeared from his spot!"
"It must be the Divine Sword Sect''s Earth-ss movement technique, the ''Instant Shadow Sword.'' However, the version I know doesn''t seem this powerful."
An elderly cultivator chuckled, "You youngsters stillck experience. This move is a perfected form of the Instant Shadow Sword, known as ''Instant Shadow sh.''"
"As far as I know, only two people in the entire Divine Sword Sect have mastered Instant Shadow sh. One is Zhou Qingcang, and the other is Luo Chaotian."
"Tsk, tsk, no wonder it''s so formidable!"
"It looks like Shen Mo might be in trouble. Look at his expressionhe doesn''t seem to have reacted at all."
"Divine Sword Sect cultivators excel in close-quartersbat. I wonder if Shen Mo can block this strike..."
Many cultivators focused their gazes on Shen Mo.
This included those within Spirit Beast Mountain, such as Mo Yuheng and Liu Menghu.
"Young Sect Master, can he block it?" Liu Menghu wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked.
Mo Yuheng shook his head. "It''s difficult. From what I know, he needs time to gather the four great gates to perform his defensive technique."
"Luo Chaotian isn''t giving him much time right now."
In midair.
The fierce sword energy grew closer and closer to Shen Mo''s chest.
Luo Chaotian''s gaze was icy, unwavering.
At that moment, Shen Mo didn''t even need to channel his spiritual energy. Suddenly, a massive amount of wood-based spiritual energy converged around him.
In the next instant, two towering, verdant evergreen trees suddenly appeared!
Mo Yuheng eximed in shock, "Evergreen Trees for Body Protection?! And there are two of them!"
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Chapter 184: Quickly Cover the Sect Master’s Retreat
Chapter 184: Quickly Cover the Sect Master''s Retreat
The cultivators of the Verdant Vine Sect were all wide-eyed with astonishment.
They were, of course, familiar with the Body Protection Evergreen Tree technique.
Not only the Verdant Vine Sect cultivators, but many other cultivators also sought to obtain this defensive martial skill.
This technique didn''t require any active activation. It would simply remain dormant in the body once condensed, and when under attack, it would automatically trigger.
Based on this automatic activation alone, the Body Protection Evergreen Tree was ranked among the top three defensive martial skills in Xuanjing Prefecture.
One must understand that in most battles between cultivators, life and death could be determined in an instant.
The fact that this defensive technique activated on its own without needing to be summoned was incredibly valuable!
Just a brief moment gained could allow a cultivator to activate other defensive techniques or spiritual artifacts to fend off an enemy''s strike.
This slight dy could very well determine the oue of a battle, or even life and death!
Liu Menghu eximed in shock, "Young Sect Master, I heard that theter parts of our Verdant Vine Sect''s Body Protection Evergreen Tree technique were lost, and we can only condense one tree. How is Shen Mo able to condense two?"
Mo Yuheng murmured, "I don''t know either... Could it be that he managed toprehend the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Manual in just a few days, mastered the Body Protection Evergreen Tree technique, and even cultivated it to the second level?"
"Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible..."
Although she verbally denied it, deep down she had already epted this possibility.
After all, what other exnation could there be?
"Two Body Protection Evergreen Trees?!"
Luo Chaotian''s expression was filled with shock.
He had never expected Shen Mo to possess such a powerful defensive martial skill.
"Even two Body Protection Evergreen Trees can''t stop this strike of mine!"
Luo Chaotian let out a low roar and spat out a mouthful of essence blood, which merged with his sword energy.
In an instant, the sword energy turned blood-red, bing even more vicious and terrifying.
It seemed as though it would annihte all life in its path!
"This technique is called the Blood Sword."
"Each strike costs three years of lifespan."
Liu Menghu muttered.
It wasn''t just him; even the onlooking rogue cultivators recognized this sword strike.
They were all filled with horror.
Especially the elders of the Divine Sword Sect, who knew that Luo Chaotian had never used this move in battle before.
Luo Chaotian highly valued his lifespan!
In the next moment, the blood-colored sword energy shed at the surface of the Evergreen Tree.
The first Evergreen Tree began to shake violently, leaves falling and branches breaking.
Even the trunk started to crack.
Within just ten breaths, the first Evergreen Tree couldn''t withstand the power and exploded into pieces.
Immediately after, the second Evergreen Tree faced the blood-colored sword energy.
Shen Mo''s expression remained calm as he continued to concentrate on forming the Four Directional Profound Gates.
Thanks to the time bought by the Body Protection Evergreen Trees, arge amount of golden spiritual energy had already gathered from all directions.
Within ten breaths, fourrge bronze gates had formed.
One Evergreen Tree and four bronze gates now protected Shen Mo wlessly.
Boom, boom, boom!
The blood-colored sword energy erupted again, shattering another Evergreen Tree.
However, after breaking through two Evergreen Trees, the power of the blood-colored sword energy had diminished by more than sixty percent.
Its color, speed, and strength had all significantly weakened.
When it struck the Four Directional Profound Gates, it couldn''t even break through the first gate.
"sh again!"
"sh! sh! sh!"
Luo Chaotian spat out another mouthful of essence blood.
In an instant, he shed four more times!@@novelbin@@
Four streams of blood-colored sword energy followed one after another, aiming directly at the Four Directional Profound Gates!
Boom, boom, boom!
Golden light burst out, and blood sprayed in all directions.
The crowd could only hear the continuous sound of explosions.
Shen Mo seemed to bepletely engulfed in the golden light and the blood-colored energy, his figure obscured.
How was he?
Could he withstand it?
The cultivators all stared at the sky where Shen Mo was, the same question filling their minds.
"Whew..."
Luo Chaotian let out a breath of relief, though his body remained tense.
However, the exhaustion on his face was undeniable.
The five consecutive shes had cost him fifteen years of lifespan.
"Under such power, he surely can''t hold out," Luo Chaotian thought to himself. "If I kill Shen Mo here, I can finally rest easy."
Yet, in the next moment, an overwhelming sense of danger surged through him.
It was the premonition of death!
It felt as though a demonic hand from the depths of hell had seized his heart!
Without a second thought, Luo Chaotian gritted his teeth, burning his lotus seat and spitting out his Golden Core.
The threat of death forced him to use his final trump card.
For a Core Formation cultivator, burning the lotus seat andunching a Golden Core strike was the ultimatest resort!
Boom!
The next moment, a pir of fierce mes erupted from where Shen Mo stood.
The zing column of fire almost stretched across the entire sky, momentarily outshining the sun itself.
In the eyes of all the cultivators, there was only the blinding fire.
And all they felt was the searing heat!
Boom!
The pir of mes collided with the Golden Core.
"Ah!"
Luo Chaotian let out a pained scream.
He could clearly feel that even after burning his lotus seat to strengthen his Golden Core, it couldn''t withstand the terrifying mes.
In just five breaths, the surface of the Golden Core was scorched and peeled away!
Luo Chaotian''s cultivation level also plummeted rapidly.
In the span of a few breaths, he fell from the peak of the Core Formation stage to the Core Formation great aplishment stage!
Whoosh!
A fierce wind blew away the golden light and blood-red mist that had shrouded Shen Mo.
Only then did everyone see the shocking scene.
Shen Mo''s body was now covered in a zing chest armor!
This armor exuded an ancient, savage aura, as if it came from a distant primordial era.
At the center of the chest piece, there was a ferocious tiger''s head, roaring at the stars!
The pir of mes had been continuously spewing from the tiger''s mouth!
The mes persisted for a full ten breaths before they finally began to weaken and fade, eventually vanishing altogether.
The chest armor also gradually withdrew, transforming into a dark purple-ck demonic armor.
"Demonic armor?! Since when did Shen Mo acquire that chest armor?!"
The cultivators finally realized what had happened.
That purple-ck metallic chest armor was clearly part of a set with the arm armor on Shen Mo''s right hand.
The demonic arm armor was already formidable.
But the chest armor was even more terrifying!
No wonder Shen Mo had shown no fear in facing Luo Chaotian.
Who would have thought he had such a trump card up his sleeve?
Shen Mo remained floating in midair.
He had long discovered another cave mansion belonging to the Immortal Hell me using the me Prison Token, where he found this chest armor.
The power of this chest armor was centered around unleashing energy pirs from the chest.
If he used Ice Dragon blood, it would spew ice pirs.
If he used the golden blood in the beast w, it would release a pir of mes.
At this moment, Luo Chaotian''s body was plummeting from the sky toward the ground.
Ouyang Cang quickly rushed over and caught him, preventing him from crashing into the earth.
Luo Chaotian was now barely alive.
Most of his robes had been burned away, and at least seventy percent of his skin was charred ck.
In his right hand, he weakly clutched his Golden Core, which had shrunk by an entire circle.
The entire assembly of cultivators was in utter shock.
They couldn''t believe their eyes.
Luo Chaotian!
The leader of the Five Great Sect Masters of Xuanjing Prefecture, with over a century of rich battle experience!
Had actually been defeated by a rising star!
Defeated by a young man barely in his twenties!
Luo Chaotian looked at Ouyang Cang, barely managing to speak, squeezing out a few words, "Quick... retreat..."
Ouyang Cang wasted no time and immediately shouted, "Divine Sword Sect, hear me! Cover the Sect Master''s retreat!"
The Divine Sword Sect, worthy of being the foremost sect in Xuanjing Prefecture, did not descend into chaos despite the severe injury to Luo Chaotian.
Instead, they followed Ouyang Cang''s orders without hesitation and quickly gathered around Luo Chaotian.
In an instant, they formed a defensive formation.
Shen Mo drew his long sword and pointed it directly at the Divine Sword Sect''s formation.
"Kill!"
Thismand immediately sounded the horn for a counterattack.
The cultivators of the Azure Profound Sect and Verdant Vine Sect let out long howls toward the sky, their voices filled with unspeakable joy and excitement!
It was as if they had been invigorated with boundless energy, charging into battle with renewed ferocity!
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Chapter 185: Am I Really Less Important Than the Eternal Life Flower to Him?
Chapter 185: Am I Really Less Important Than the Eternal Life Flower to Him?
After the great battle, the area beneath Spirit Beast Mountain was a mess.
Corpses littered the ground.
Most of them were cultivators from the Divine Sword Sect.
Inparison, the casualties from Azure Profound Sect and Verdant Vine Sect were minimal.
This, however, was to be expected.
After all, Luo Chaotian had been severely wounded by Shen Mo, and this was witnessed by all the cultivators present.
The morale of both sides naturally shifted.
Even in such circumstances, the fact that the Divine Sword Sect still managed to leave behind a group of death warriors to cover the retreat of Luo Chaotian, Ouyang Cang, and other core members demonstrated the depth of their standing as the number one sect in Xuanjing Prefecture.
Shen Mo gazed into the distance.
The cultivators of the Divine Sword Sect had already vanished beyond the horizon.
He didn''t continue the pursuit.
After all, his spiritual power was not infinite, and his fight with Luo Chaotian had drained quite a bit of it.
Additionally, both his demonic arm armor and chest armor had consumed three blood packs.
To use them again, he would need to refill the blood packs.
It was rather troublesome.
There was also the issue of the Divine Sword Sect''s backup n.
Through Luo Chaotian''s life panel, Shen Mo saw that the moment Luo Chaotian was seriously injured, Ouyang Cang had immediately used a sound transmission jade to contact the sect, requesting that the retired sect master of the Divine Sword Secte out of seclusion.
If Shen Mo had recklessly pursued them, he would have certainly fallen into their trap.
With these factorsbined, Shen Mo decided not to chase after them, allowing Luo Chaotian and the others to flee.
"We won! We won!"
Liu Menghu suddenly shouted.
His entire body seemed to be straining, as if he wanted to release all the frustration of the past three months in one go.
"We won! The Divine Sword Sect was defeated!"
The cultivators of the Verdant Vine Sect were ecstatic.
They hugged each other, tears of joy streaming down their faces.
Rejoicing in their narrow escape from death.
Shen Mo waved his hand, and Wei Xiongtie and the others immediately began clearing the battlefield.
The rogue cultivators were very tactful, not daring to touch the corpses of Core Formation stage cultivators, nor the bodies of those from Azure Profound Sect or Verdant Vine Sect.
Their survival instinct told them not to offend any sect, especially one that had emerged from a battle unscathed.
Mo Yuheng wiped away her tears and quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply to Shen Mo.
"Young Sect Master Shen, thank you. If not for you, we"
Shen Mo smiled slightly, "If you''re thanking me, you need to show it."
The words of gratitude Mo Yuheng had prepared got stuck in her throat, and she couldn''t say another word.
Couldn''t he at least wait for her to finish thanking him?!
"What do you want?" Mo Yuheng took a deep breath and asked.
Shen Mo looked her up and down.
His gaze made Mo Yuheng feel uneasy.
She bit her alluring red lips. "If you want me, it''s not entirely impossible"
"I want the White Serpent Flower, Wine God Peony, Eternal Life Flower, Sacred Sun Stamen any of these."
Shen Mo cut her off, listing several rare treasures as if he were ordering from a menu.
Among them, aside from the Eternal Life Flower and Sacred Sun Stamen, the others were highly sought-after treasures by Core Formation stage cultivators to enhance their Golden Cores, and they were extremely rare.
The Sacred Sun Stamen, however, was one of the treasures recorded in the Hell me Destruction Scripture, used to grow a nine-tier lotus seat.
Shen Mo knew Mo Yuheng didn''t have it, and mentioning it was merely a ruse to hide his true intentions.
Mo Yuheng''s body trembled, her expression a mix of embarrassment and anger.
After a long moment, she muttered quietly, "I''ve never heard of most of those, but I do have an Eternal Life Flower, which I found just a few days ago."
"I was nning to give it to my father"
Shen Mo waved his hand, "I know, the Verdant Vine Sect''s cultivation method requires at least four rare treasures to nurture a Nascent Soul."
"Judging by your expression, it''s obvious you''re missing enough treasures."
If the Eternal Life Flower happened to be the fourth treasure, then Mo Yuheng would certainly be unwilling to give it up. She would rush to deliver it to Mo Hanshan to help him nurture a Nascent Soul.
Even though the sess rate wouldn''t be high, they would still try.
After all, bing a Nascent Soul stage cultivator would immediately change the fate of the struggling Verdant Vine Sect and even alter the bnce of power in Xuanjing Prefecture.
"I''ll take you there."
Mo Yuheng motioned for Shen Mo to follow.
Shen Mo nodded.
The two entered Spirit Beast Mountain, passing through a cave that led into a dark and damp underground passage.
Before long, Mo Yuheng guided Shen Mo to a concealed cave.
In the cave was a small puddle.
Inside the puddley a skeleton, stark white in color.
From the skull of the skeleton, a pure white, holy flower had grown.
This was the Eternal Life Flower.
It only grew from the remains of Nascent Soul stage cultivators.
"Excellent!"
Shen Mo''s expression brightened, and he bowed deeply to the unknown Nascent Soul stage senior before stepping forward.
Shen Mo carefully took the Eternal Life Flower, along with the skull it had grown from.
The Eternal Life Flower would wither within ten breaths if removed from the bones.
Shen Mo, having thoroughly studied various sect records and being knowledgeable about treasures below heavenly grade, naturally would not make such a basic mistake.
Just as Shen Mo was about to leave, Mo Yuheng quickly spoke up.
"Luo Chaotian is seriously injured, and the Divine Sword Sect has lost more than ten Core Formation stage elders. Their morale is severely damaged."
"Now is the perfect time to counterattack!"
"When will Qingxuan Sect make its move?"
Shen Mo shook his head. "Have you forgotten about the Divine Sword Sect''s ancestors?"
"From what I know, the Divine Sword Sect has at least four ancestors, one of whom is Luo Chaotian''s master, the former sect master of the Divine Sword Sect."
"The moment that persones out of seclusion, they''ll immediately stabilize the Divine Sword Sect."
Mo Yuheng fell silent. "You''re right."
Shen Mo waved his hand. "When the time for the counterattackes, I''ll let you know."
"Fine, I''ll be waiting for that day!" Mo Yuheng replied.
She then watched as Shen Mo left.
"This guy ever since heid eyes on the Eternal Life Flower, he hasn''t looked at me again."
"Am I really less important to him than an Eternal Life Flower?" Mo Yuheng muttered bitterly.
...
The Divine Sword Sect hadunched a surprise attack on Spirit Beast Mountain, followed closely by the Qingxuan Sect.
In the battle between Shen Mo and Luo Chaotian, Shen Mo emerged unscathed, while Luo Chaotian was gravely injured.
This news spread quickly through the mouths of rogue cultivators.
It spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of Xuanjing Prefecture, and even the neighboring Jiande and Jinshan Prefectures.
In the government office of Giant River City.
After hearing Luo Shuanghan''s report on the battle, a rare expression of surprise appeared on Ji Shilong''s face.
Astonishment.
He was genuinely astonished.
He hadn''t expected that Shen Mo, whom he regarded as nothing more than a pawn, had grown so powerful.
This pawn was now showing signs of bing a yer in his own right.
"Are you worried about Luo Chaotian? Or the Divine Sword Sect?" Ji Shilong nced at Luo Shuanghan, noticing the concern on his face.
Luo Shuanghan smiled helplessly. "Ever since I confirmed that he''s my father, I can''t help but feel this way"
Ji Shilong waved his hand dismissively. "There''s no need to worry. The advantage still lies with the Divine Sword Sect."
Luo Shuanghan was stunned. "What do you mean by that, Lord Ji?"
Ji Shilong sat down and took arge gulp of cold tea. "Just wait. Within a month, we''ll be attending a celebration at the Divine Sword Sect."
Luo Shuanghan was puzzled. "A celebration? What kind of celebration?"
Ji Shilong smiled mysteriously. "You''ll find out when the timees."
...
Back at the Qingxuan Sect.@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo didn''t immediately refine the Eternal Life Flower. Instead, he checked his life panel.
ording to destiny, this Eternal Life Flower was meant to be obtained by Luo Chaotian, who would then offer it to the former sect master of the Divine Sword Sect to help him cultivate a Seven-Lotus Nascent Soul.
But now that the Eternal Life Flower was gone, how would fate unfold?
[Recent Development: In one month, you will be forced to attend the Divine Sword Sect''s Six-Lotus Nascent Soul celebration. At the celebration, there will be Nascent Soul stage ancestors from the Shangqing Sect and the Yuding Sect.
After the celebration, unable to resist the pressure from the Shangqing Sect''s Nascent Soul ancestors, you will be captured alive by the Divine Sword Sect. Later, you will be saved by Ji Shilong, who will subdue your spirit and take you in as a death warrior under hismand.]
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
So that''s how it is.
Without the Eternal Life Flower, they could only form a Six-Lotus Nascent Soul instead of Seven.
Though it was just a difference of one lotus, the reduction in power was significant.
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Chapter 186: The Three Sects of Yuzhou – Supreme Purity Sect, Jade Cauldron Sect, and Dan River Sect
Chapter 186: The Three Sects of Yuzhou C Supreme Purity Sect, Jade Cauldron Sect, and Dan River Sect
Many Nascent Soul cultivators have found it convenient to differentiate their power levels by ssifying them from one to nine lotus stages.
One to three lotus stages are considered lower-grade Nascent Soul.
Four to six lotus stages are considered middle-grade Nascent Soul.
Seven and eight lotus stages are considered upper-grade Nascent Soul.
The nine-lotus Nascent Soul, however, is regarded as a unique and superior entity, known as the supreme-grade Nascent Soul.
The technique of the Divine Sword Sect, known as the Longevity Sword Technique, requires at least a fiveyer lotus base to begin nurturing a Nascent Soul, with sevenyers being the maximum.
Now that the Flower of Longevityis lost, the old sect master of the Divine Sword Sect has no choice but to settle for nurturing a six-lotus Nascent Soul.
A difference of just one lotus can downgrade the Nascent Soul from upper-grade to middle-grade.
Naturally, the difference is enormous.
The old sect master had been in seclusion for a long time, likely waiting to nurture a seven-lotus Nascent Soul.
However, what exactly are the Supreme Purity Sect and Jade Cauldron Sect?
Are they the major sects of Yuzhou?
I really don''t know.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow and immediately went to the sect master''s courtyard.
At that moment, Murong Yue was happily humming a tune while feeding the fish in the pond.
Hearing Shen Mo''s question, she was somewhat surprised.
"Huh? Why are you suddenly asking about the Supreme Purity and Jade Cauldron Sects?"
Shen Mo smiled, "I just heard about them, so I thought I''d ask."
Murong Yue nodded. "It''s not really a secret."
"The three major sects of Yuzhou are the Supreme Purity Sect, the Jade Cauldron Sect, and the Dan River Sect."
"All three major sects control numerous smaller sects."
"When one of their subordinate sects produces a Nascent Soul cultivator, the three sects will immediately send elders to recruit these cultivators into their ranks."
Shen Mo was shocked, "Why?"
Murong Yue counted on her fingers, "First, if a Nascent Soul cultivator wants to advance, they must either consume medicinal pills and rare treasures or rely on the slow absorption of the world''s spiritual energy."
"But Xuanjing Prefecture isn''t exactly a ce rich in spiritual energy. Those ces with abundant spiritual energy are all controlled by the three major sects."
"Additionally, even if you want to obtain pills and treasures, you''d have to go to ces with more spiritual energy."
"Second, of course, it''s in the interest of the three major sects to strengthen their power."
After hearing this, Shen Mo nodded.
That makes sense.
Nascent Soul cultivators want to be stronger, and the three major sects want to increase their strength.
It''s a mutually beneficial arrangement.
No wonder there aren''t any Nascent Soul cultivators in Xuanjing Prefecture.
They''ve all gone elsewhere.
"Which sect did our Qingxuan Sect belong to before?" Shen Mo asked again.
Murong Yue nodded, "The Dan River Sect."
"But when our Qingxuan Sect fell out of the top five sects of Xuanjing Prefecture, the Dan River Sect abandoned us."
"Now, we don''t have any sect above us."
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow, "Qingxuan Sect must have had Nascent Soul cultivators in the Dan River Sect at that time, right? Didn''t they return to help?"
Murong Yue smiled bitterly, "Of course, we did."
"But the three major sects never interfere."
"Moreover, a Nascent Soul cultivator can directly be an elder of the three major sects, but once they be an elder, they must swear allegiance to the sect, not to their former sect."
Shen Mo nodded in agreement.
That''s true.
If someone became an elder in one of the three major sects but still had lingering loyalty to their previous sect, it could lead to corruption and the improper transfer of benefits.
Murong Yue smiled with relief, "Mo''er, it''s good that you know all this now. I estimate it''ll take you no more than twenty years to gather the treasures you need to nurture a Nascent Soul. By then, you''ll be able to join one of the three major sects."
"There, you''ll find a much broader world!"
Shen Mo couldn''t help but chuckle.
Twenty years?
"How is Master''s lotus base growing?" he asked.
Murong Yue gave a helpless smile, "I''ve only managed to grow threeyers. Suitable treasures are too rare and difficult to find."
Shen Mo nodded.
"By the way, Wei Xiongtie and the others found something while clearing the battlefield, in a storage ring belonging to a deceased elder of the Divine Sword Sect."
As she spoke, Murong Yue brought out a jade box.
Inside was a flower entwined with mes.
As soon as it was brought out, the surrounding air noticeably heated up.
"Elder Wei gave it to me, but since all the treasures I''ve refined before are fire-attributed, I now need an ice-attributed treasure. This one isn''t suitable for me."
"But isn''t your constitution the Scorching Sun Incineration Body? This treasure should suit you perfectly, right?" {Can anyone remind me of the name of his physique. i am just missing middldle word.}
Murong Yue smiled.
Shen Mo nced at the flower inside the box, and his expression shifted slightly with surprise.
The Sacred Sun Core!
He hadn''t expected it to appear before him in such a manner.
It seemed he didn''t even need to go through the trouble of searching for it.
"It truly suits me. Thank you, Master!" Shen Mo epted the jade box, speaking earnestly.
Murong Yue''s smile deepened, "No need for thanks. Qingxuan Sect is yours now. Passing this on to you is only right."
Warmth spread through Shen Mo''s heart.
After exchanging a few more words with Murong Yue, Shen Mo finally turned and left.
...@@novelbin@@
In the Cangqing Mountains, within a secluded valley.
Shen Mo flew directly to this location.
Instead of immediately sitting down to refine the Flower of Longevity and the Sacred Sun Core, he stopped in front of a cave and shouted.
"Awoo! Awoo! I brought food for you!"
After a long pause, a pair of enormous vertical pupils suddenly appeared within the cave.
It was the massive rock python from earlier.
As for the name "Awoo," Shen Mo hade up with it himself.
This creature''s life chart revealed that it was the "Fifth Incarnation of Ao Huang."
Shen Mo casually called it "Ao Wu."
And over time, it became "Awoo."
It was just a name, after all.
Shen Mo found it easy to say, and the python seemed to like it as well.
Whether it was fond of the name or just the food, that remained uncertain.
When Awoo saw that it was Shen Mo, its enormous eyes filled with joy.
Its scarlet tongue flickered out, gently brushing against Shen Mo''s palm.
Shen Mo pulled out severalrge baskets of thunder crystals from his storage ring.
These were resources from a thunder crystal mine.
As the young sect master, taking a few baskets was of no consequence.
Seeing this, Awoo immediately became excited.
It grabbed a basket and began devouring it eagerly.
It swallowed both the thunder crystals and the bamboo baskets whole.
After devouring fiverge baskets, Awoo finally appeared somewhat satisfied.
Shen Mo chuckled and took out another item, waving it in front of the python.
"Look at this, what is it?"
Awoo''s eyes widened instantly.
It was the essence of thunder!
Shen Mo dangled the thunder essence in front of it for a while before finally tossing it into its mouth.
Awoo was nowpletely content.
This thunder essence had also been mined from the thunder crystal field.
Shen Mo had taken a piece without anyone daring to question him.
"Awoo, I''ll be cultivating here for a while, and there might be quite amotion. I need you to stand guard for me."
Shen Mo patted its mouth and smiled.
Awoo nodded up and down, indicating it understood.
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
Typically, when cultivators want to tame a demon beast, they must establish a blood contract.
This was the method used by the cultivators of Verdant Vine Sect.
However, Shen Mo had not signed any blood contract with Awoo.
Considering how entangled Awoo''s future was with various things, Shen Mo didn''t want to get involved just yet.
Nheless, ever since Shen Mo had mastered the first level of the Beast Control Technique,munication between him and Awoo had be much smoother.
This was why he could now entrust Awoo with guarding him.
With his guardian snake in ce, Shen Mo settled himself in the center of the valley and sat down cross-legged.
With a simple motion, the Flower of Longevity, still attached to a skull, appeared in his palm.
Shen Mo channeled his spiritual energy and gave a low shout, "Begin refining!"
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Chapter 187: To Defeat the Nascent Soul Realm, Another Nascent Soul Must Arise
Chapter 187: To Defeat the Nascent Soul Realm, Another Nascent Soul Must Arise
In the valley, the grass and trees were lush, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the sounds of birds.
A massive rock python was resting in a cave, keeping a wary eye on its surroundings.
At the center of the valley, a young man was channeling his spiritual energy, refining a small, pure white flower growing atop a skull.
The medicinal power of the Longevity Flower surged and pulsated, fusing with the young man''s body and sinking into his dantian.
On the Dao tform, an eighth lotus pedestal was gradually growing.
It was iparably holy, yet at the same time, filled with a strange, eerie aura.
It was like a sacred flower that had bloomed amidst a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
...
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
In Divine Sword City.
Elders, deacons, and disciplesall of the cultivators of the Divine Sword Sect went about their usual tasks as they always did.
However, an air of anxiety had spread throughout the sect.
This atmosphere of unease had begun the moment their sect master, Luo Chaotian, was severely injured by Shen Mo. Since then, it had only grown worse, fermenting into something uncontroble.
In the past, every cultivator had been proud to be a part of the Divine Sword Sect.
But now, doubt had crept in.
Could the Divine Sword Sect truly stand against the Qingxuan Sect?
Even Luo Chaotian and Ouyang Cang were waiting for that moment.
But until that moment arrived, they could not reveal anything.
At this very moment, in the courtyard of the sect master.
Luo Chaotian, Ouyang Cang, and other core members of the Divine Sword Sect sat quietly in meditation, facing the tallest pavilion in Divine Sword Citythe Divine Sword Pavilionwaiting for something.
Luo Chaotian''s face was still pale; the injuries he had sustained from Shen Mo''s attack half a month ago had not fully healed.
Moreover, he had burned one of his lotus pedestals in the process, which was the most critical wound.
It had damaged his foundation.
However, at this moment, Luo Chaotian did not wallow in self-pity or despair. Like everyone else, he was waiting.
At a certain moment, it was as if a ck hole had appeared within the Divine Sword Pavilion, devouring all the surrounding spiritual energy.
Suddenly, the spiritual energy in the heavens and earth waspletely drained.
Luo Chaotian was the first to open his eyes, followed by Ouyang Cang and the other elders.
Their gazes met, and a sh of joy flickered in their eyes.
If one were to look down from above at this moment, they would see that all the spiritual energy within hundreds of miles around the Divine Sword Pavilion had beenpletely consumed.
It was as though an invisible, ravenous beast had devoured everyst bit of it.
The cultivators of the Divine Sword Sect instinctively showed expressions of shock.
When cultivators are in a ce with thin spiritual energy, they feel difort.
If they find themselves in a ce devoid of spiritual energy, they experience extreme unease, and their spiritual energy begins to drain from their bodies, eventually leaving them no different from mortals.
It''s like a fish being removed from water.
In an instant, the entire Divine Sword Sect was thrown into a panic.
They didn''t understand what was happening.
The next moment, countless sharp sword auras shot out from the Divine Sword Pavilion, piercing straight into the clouds!
The sight of endless streams of sword aura pointing toward the sky sent shockwaves through everyone watching.
Ordinary citizens in Divine Sword City knelt down in reverence, bowing toward the sword auras in worship.
To them, it was nothing short of a divine miracle, a manifestation of heavenly power!
The terrifying aura spread in all directions.
Even the cultivators in Jiande Prefecture and Jinshan Prefecture, a thousand miles away, felt the overwhelming pressure.
Every cultivator unconsciously paused what they were doing and turned their gaze toward the Divine Sword Pavilion.
"Nascent Soul Realm... It must be the Nascent Soul Realm!"
Countless cultivators murmured to themselves.
Only when one sessfully formed a Nascent Soul could their aura spread so far!
In Divine Sword City, countless cultivators and mortals alike could not help but look toward the highest building.
They saw a figure.
That figure hovered in midair, perfectly blocking out the sun, making it impossible to see their face.
Like a god or a saint, they resembled a celestial being descended from the heavens.
Luo Chaotian, Ouyang Cang, and the others suddenly rose to their feet and shouted in unison, "We humbly wee the Ancestor!"
This voice became a signal.
Every cultivator of the Divine Sword Sect echoed from the depths of their hearts, "We humbly wee the Ancestor!"
Nascent Soul Realm cultivators in this prefecture are revered as Ancestors!
The figure slowly descended, calmly standing atop the Divine Sword Pavilion, which had long lost its roof and was now merely a tform.
He appeared as a middle-aged man, even younger than Luo Chaotian.
However, before stepping into the Nascent Soul Realm, he had been nothing like this.
He had been frail, with a head full of silver hair, his body thin and withered, his skin dry and shriveled, as though a strong wind could blow him apart.
But upon entering the Nascent Soul Realm, his lifespan had suddenly increased by a thousand years!
Naturally, his appearance had reverted to that of a middle-aged man, restored to his peak physical condition.
"Disciple,e up here."
He beckoned with his hand, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze yet as powerful as thunder in a clear sky.
Warm, yetmanding.
Luo Chaotian immediately flew up to the Divine Sword Pavilion, kneeling beside him with great respect.
"Master, you''ve finally" Luo Chaotian''s eyes were red, brimming with joy.
The old sect master beamed with a smile, "I, Yao Yunluo, have finally waited for this day."
Tears filled Luo Chaotian''s eyes. "Master, I regret not being able to procure the Longevity Flower for you. I could only allow you to nurture a six-petal Nascent Soul."
Yao Yunluo smiled gently, "It was fate and not your fault."
"Spread the word, in half a month, I will hold a Nascent Soul Ceremony, and the heads of every sect in Xuanjiang Prefecture are to be invited."@@novelbin@@
"Anyone who refuses to attend will be disrespecting me, Yao Yunluo, and the Shangqing Sect!"
Wiping his tears, Luo Chaotian responded with a powerful voice, "Yes!"
At Qingxuan Sect.
In the council hall.
Murong Yue and several elders gathered, every face etched with distress.
Yao Yunluo''s invitations had been sent throughout the north and south of Xuanjiang, and they had received theirs as well.
They were also aware that Yao Yunluo had entered the Nascent Soul Realm.
Everyone knew that no matter how many Golden Core cultivators one had, they would still be no match for a Nascent Soul.
Even though Yao Yunluo, having stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm, was required to respond to the Shangqing Sect''s summons within half a month to serve as an elder, half a month was more than enough time for him to do many things.
Such as... annihte the Qingxuan Sect and the Verdant Vine Sect.
For a Nascent Soul cultivator, this would be a mere flick of the fingers.
"Where is the young sect master? Why has he disappeared at such a critical moment?" Liu Yuanfeng noted that Shen Mo was absent.
Murong Yue''s face was haggard. "The young sect master is in seclusion, cultivating."
"Let''s discuss a n among ourselves. How should we respond?"
Wei Xiongtie muttered, "I believe the Nascent Soul Ceremony at the Divine Sword Sect is nothing more than a trap."
"Their goal is to wipe us out in one fell swoop."
Liu Yuanfeng feigned a sigh. "It is indeed a trap, but going doesn''t necessarily mean death. Not going, however, surely does. How should we choose?"
The elders remained silent, the hall filled with an air of hopelessness.
Murong Yue''s expression was one of sorrow. "We''ll discuss it another day another day"
She could never have imagined that the Divine Sword Sect would produce a Nascent Soul cultivator.
No matter how hard Qingxuan Sect tried now, it would be impossible to defeat them.
Unless... another Nascent Soul appeared.
But the highest-ranking cultivator in Qingxuan Sect was herself.
She was still quite some distance away from the Nascent Soul Realm.
Even if she miraculously stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm, she wouldn''t be a match for the battle-hardened Yao Yunluo.
After all, Yao Yunluo was over five hundred years old, while she hadn''t even reached a hundred.
Theirbat experience was simply worlds apart.
It seemed... the oue had already been decided...
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Chapter 190: Shen’er, Leave—Go as Far as You Can from Xuanjiang Prefecture
Chapter 190: Shen''er, LeaveGo as Far as You Can from Xuanjiang Prefecture
In the dead of night, the Qingxuan Sect was eerily silent.
An air of anxiety seemed to permeate every corner.
When disciples of the Qingxuan Sect crossed paths, they exchanged nces without speaking, unsure of what to say.
It was as if a massive sword hung above each of their heads, sinking lower with every passing moment.
The pressure was enough to drive even the most resolute cultivators to madness.
At this moment, in the Sect Master''s courtyard.
Shen Mo sat across from Murong Yue.
Murong Yue''s beautiful eyes were fixed on Shen Mo, as though she was trying to etch his face into her memory.
Shen Mo asked casually, "How are thingstely?"
Murong Yue spoke softly, "Several of the secondary and primary sects that relied on us have dered independence and turned to the Divine Sword Sect."
"Yang Tianxing, the Sect Master of Purple Star Sect, who had once submitted to us, has been causing trouble since the news spread of Yao Yunluo''s advancement to the Nascent Soul stage. His disciples have seized several of our assets."
"Even rogue cultivators are taking advantage, asionally ambushing our properties, stealing our spirit stones and treasures."
"Wei Xiongtie and Elder Li have been severely injured. Elder Li even lost an arm and is recuperating."
"As for the deacons and disciples, many more have been injured or even killed."
"Anyone traveling under the Qingxuan Sect name is likely to fall victim to a hidden strike."
"These people don''t dare confront us openly, but they know how to hit when we''re downand they hit hard."
"They all believe that Qingxuan Sect is doomed and that Divine Sword Sect will be the ultimate victor."
Shen Mo nodded and asked, "Still no trace of that rogue Nascent Soul cultivator?"
Murong Yue gave a bitter smile. "None."
"It''s as though he vanished, refusing all invitations."
"Not only ourseven Divine Sword Sect''s invitation was declined, and that was a ticket into the Supreme Purity Sect..."
"We can''t rely on that rogue cultivator any longer."
Shen Mo looked puzzled. "Does Master have another n?"
Murong Yue''s voice was solemn. "Yes, of course."
"Shen''er, don''t attend the Nascent Soul celebration tomorrow."
"These are the most valuable treasures from the sect''s vault. Take them and leave Xuanjiang Prefecture tonight."
Murong Yue took a deep breath and handed him her storage ring.
Shen Mo epted it.
It still held her warmth and carried her fragrance.
"This"
Shen Mo was taken aback.
Murong Yue continued, "Head toward Jinshan Prefecture. There are only a few struggling sects along the way; no one will be able to stop you."
"Do not travel by flight energy; it will make you easy to detect. Many eyes are on us"
"Since Yao Yunluo advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, countless people have turned their backs. Purple Star Sect, Liejiang Sectthey''d dly work as Yao Yunluo''sckeys, storming into Qingxuan Sect to capture the two of us alive."
Murong Yue reached out, her hand trembling as she caressed Shen Mo''s cheek.
Shen Mo felt it.
Her hand was ice-cold.
Murong Yue continued, "All I want is for you to live well. Even if you seek revenge, there''s no need to rush."
"You have the talent and the time. One day, you''ll reach the Nascent Soul stage, and one day, you''ll be able to kill Yao Yunluo."
"Don''t gamble your life on a moment of impulse."@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo couldn''t help but smile bitterly.
He hadn''t expected Murong Yue to n out his escape.
Even entrusting him with the entire Qingxuan Sect''s legacy.
It was clear that in Murong Yue''s heart, he was the rightful next master of Qingxuan Sect.
"I''ve even found a disciple among our ranks who resembles you in build and appearance. He''s agreed to disguise himself as you at the celebration, willing to sacrifice himself for the sect."
"Don''t worry about me. My life is insignificant, but you are Qingxuan Sect''s hope for revival."
Murong Yue offered a gentle smile.
She looked like a worried, chattering mother.
Shen Mo wanted to speak, but Murong Yue raised a delicate finger to silence him.
"Don''t say a word, and don''t refuse."
"I don''t want to see you die in front of me."
Murong Yue took a deep breath, as if to banish all the sorrow from her mind.
Shen Mo shook his head resolutely. "Master, how could I abandon the sect?"
"To me, the Qingxuan Sect is important, but you''re even more important."
"I can''t do this."
He took Murong Yue''s fair hand and slid the storage ring back onto her ring finger.
Murong Yue gazed at him, stunned.
In an instant, hot tears fell from her reddened eyes like pearls.
Murong Yue instinctively tightened her grip on Shen Mo''s hand.
Her knuckles turned white, and her nails dug into her palms.
She trembled, her voice choked with sobs. "You you really"
Shen Mo gently wiped away her tears. "Who can say for sure that tomorrow''s Nascent Soul celebration won''t bring a twist?"
"That rogue cultivator, choosing to break through in the Qingcang Mountains, may have done so because of a favor from our Qingxuan Sect. He might have chosen that ce intentionally."
"Perhaps he''ll appear tomorrow to turn the tide."
"And even if he doesn''t, to die alongside my master would be a life well spent."
A trace of shyness flickered in Murong Yue''s eyes.
Her cheeks flushed as though she''d had too much to drink.
"Shen''er"
For reasons she couldn''t exin, Murong Yue suddenly felt weak and fell into Shen Mo''s embrace.
In that instant, Shen Mo felt the warmth and softness in his arms.
There was no denying it.
She was indeed well-endowed.
Murong Yue immediately shrieked as if startled, quickly retreating and floating midair.
"I I''m feeling a bit warm. I''m going outside for some fresh air. You you don''t need to follow!"
Without another word, she flew off in haste, heading toward the Qingcang Mountains.
Shen Mo smiled knowingly.
It was rare to see Murong Yue reveal such a shy, girlish side.
After his beautiful master left, Shen Mo''s gaze turned sharp.
"Nascent Soul celebration?"
"Tomorrow will mark the grand funeral of Divine Sword Sect!"
Divine Sword City.
The Nascent Soul celebrationmenced as scheduled.
The city''s central martial arena was cleared out, transformed into a grand gathering space.
Decorations hung everywhere, and the air was filled with music and dancing.
Everyone wore bright smiles.
It felt like a festival.
And indeed, it was.
To celebrate Yao Yunluo''s advancement to the Nascent Soul stage, Divine Sword Sect opened its grain stores, hosting a grand banquet across Divine Sword City.
The feast extended from the southern to the northern gates and from east to west.
Themon folk of Divine Sword City feasted happily, expressing their gratitude toward Divine Sword Sect.
Unbeknownst to them, a significant portion of this food had been harvested through their ownbor, handed over to Divine Sword Sect as tribute.
Now Divine Sword Sect was simply returning what was theirs, yet they earned the people''s praise for it.
At this moment, Yao Yunluo, Luo Chaotian, and others stood on a high tform, beaming with pride.
Arge number of cultivators from the Core Formation stage had gathered from all over, standing respectfully and smiling as they lined up.
"Purple Star Sect! Sect Master Yang Tianxing presents a pair of Purple Jade Bowls!"
"Liejiang Sect! Sect Master Jiang Chen presents a pair of Thunder Essences!"
"Great Rock Sect! Sect Master Shi Yan presents three Earth Essences!"
"Flying Sands Sect! Sect Master Sha Ziqiang presents five ounces of Golden Sand!"
A string of names and gifts rolled off Ouyang Cang''s tongue.
Each one made Yao Yunluo and Luo Chaotian grin wider.
"Prefect of Giant River City, Ji Shilong, has arrived! He presents a Wine God Peony!"
Ouyang Cang eximed in surprise.
Yao Yunluo raised his brows in mild astonishment and cupped his hands toward the imposing man. "Prefect Ji, an honor, truly an honor."
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Chapter 192: Today, I Will Turn This Celebration Into Your Funeral
Chapter 192: Today, I Will Turn This Celebration Into Your Funeral
Shen Mo nced with interest at the rugged man standing before him.
This man dared to speak so brazenly to a Nascent Soul cultivator, and while Yao Yunluo could only show a look of anger without making a move, it was enough to indicate that this person was special.
Either his status was exceptional, or his strength was overwhelming.
Shen Mo was thoughtful.
For such a person to appear at a Nascent Soul celebration... could he be from one of the three major sects in Yuzhou?
Sensing Shen Mo''s gaze, Lu Dongxuan also looked his way.
After a brief nce, Lu Dongxuan let out a surprised hum.
He could feel a faint sense of threat emanating from Shen Mo.
Could it be that his instincts had judged Shen Mo to possess such power?
Lu Dongxuan was bing increasingly intrigued.
It seemed that attending this Nascent Soul celebration had been the right choice!
"Heh heh, this should be interesting."
Lu Dongxuan picked up a jug of good wine and began guzzling it.
Yao Yunluo took a deep breath and looked at Shen Mo. "Brat, do you even know who stands before you?"
Shen Mo chuckled. "I know exactly what you want me to say."
"But let me tell you thisyou haven''t arrived at the Shangqing Sect yet; you''re not yet a Nascent Soul elder of Shangqing Sect."
"As of now, you''re still just the old sect master of the Divine Sword Sect."
"Don''t think too highly of yourself!"
The entire venue fell silent after those words.
A Golden Core cultivator daring to speak to a Nascent Soul cultivator like this...
Usually, that meant they didn''t n on living much longer.
Yao Yunluo was so enraged heughed. "Well, well, well! I''ve been in seclusion for nearly a century, and yet, here I am encountering such an arrogant junior."
"No respect for your elders! No regard for your predecessors!"
"Chaotian, if someone like this were a disciple of the Divine Sword Sect, how would he be dealt with?"
Luo Chaotian stood immediately. "Public execution!"
With those words, the celebration''s atmosphere dropped to a freezing point.
Mo Hanshan, Liu Menghu, and others wore expressions of sorrow.
Mo Yuheng could barely bring herself to look at Shen Mo.
The next moment, Yao Yunluo flicked his finger, sending out a fierce thread of spiritual energy.
After releasing this strand of energy, he turned his back, hands behind him, not bothering to watch further.
The thread of spiritual energy swiftly coalesced into a flying sword mid-air, aimed directly at Shen Mo''s neck!
Its speed was so swift that no Golden Core cultivator could react.
Even those at the peak of the Golden Core stage would be helpless.
Against such an attack, any cultivator below the Nascent Soul stage was as slow as a tortoise.
It was expected that only Su Changqing and Lu Dongxuan could intercept this strike.
However, seated above, Su Changqing remained motionless, indifferent towards someone on the brink of death.
Since Shen Mo had crossed Yao Yunluo, he deserved to diethere was nothing more to say.
Lu Dongxuan also refrained from intervening, watching Shen Mo intently with his bowl of wine.
Only when the lethal flying sword was about to strike did Murong Yue barely react.
Her pupils shrank as she instinctively tried to pull Shen Mo behind her.
Yet, she found that Shen Mo''s body was as immovable as a mountain, too heavy for her to budge.
"Shen..."
Murong Yue''s beautiful eyes widened as she managed to utter one word.
The next instant, the sword-shaped spiritual energy struck Shen Mo''s neck.
ng!
A metallic ng echoed out.
Two lush, towering evergreen trees stood tall.
They effortlessly blocked the attack.
After all, this was merely a casual flick of spiritual energy from Yao Yunluo, at most only a tenth of his full power.
After the strike, the massive trees remained towering and undisturbed, with Shen Mo unharmed.
A smile tugged at his lips, his expression mocking.
Luo Chaotian, Ouyang Cang, Yang Tianxing, and others, seeing this scene, first looked utterly stunned, followed by a deep-seated fear that rose from within.
They weren''t fools.
They naturally understood what had just happened.
A Golden Core cultivatoreven one at the peakcould never have withstood that blow.
Yet Shen Mo could withstand it.
That left only one possible answer.@@novelbin@@
He, too, was at the Nascent Soul stage!
A spark of astonishment ignited in Lu Dongxuan''s eyes, his grin stretching nearly to his ears.
Just as he''d guessed!
Su Changqing sensed the change in the atmosphere, looking over with a frown, his expression subtly shifting.
Mo Hanshan, Mo Yuheng, Liu Menghu, and others felt as if they had countless words to express, yet something seemed to lodge in their throats.
In the end, they could only produce strained, meaningless gasps.
Everyone who had witnessed this scene was left speechless, stunned to the core.
Yao Yunluo, with his hands still behind him, stood with his back to the crowd.
The metallic ng echoed, and his expression immediately changed as he turned around.
There, he saw Shen Mo unscathed, with two towering, lush evergreen trees standing firmly behind him!
"You''re a Nascent Soul cultivator!"
Yao Yunluo''s eyes widened in disbelief.
His words struck the crowd like a boulder thrown into ake, causing waves of shock to ripple through the hall.
"Shen Mo is actually at the Nascent Soul stage?"
"The recent phenomenon in the Qingcang Mountains could he be the reclusive senior that Divine Sword Sect and Qingxuan Sect invited?!"
"Heavens, he''s so young and already in the Nascent Soul stage?"
The cultivators were unable to hide their shock, and the hall erupted in astonished murmurs.
This grand celebration had suddenly be chaotic with noise.
"Shen"
Murong Yue sped Shen Mo''s hand tightly, unable to believe her eyes or ears.
She needed to hear it from Shen Mo himself.
"Master, I am indeed the reclusive senior that all the cultivators of Xuanjiang Prefecture were searching for. I am a Nascent Soul cultivator!"
Shen Mo met her gaze and replied with a gentle smile.
Tears welled up in Murong Yue''s eyes.
"Yao Yunluo, today, I will turn this celebration into your funeral!"
With resolute strides, Shen Mo approached the main seat, his voice steady, each wordced with intensity as his expression transformed from warmth to sharpness.
Murong Yue, Wei Xiongtie, Mo Hanshan, Mo Yuheng, Yang Tianxing countless others had his figure etched deeply in their minds at that moment.
This young, towering figure was forever imprinted in their memories.
Yao Yunluo took a deep breath, then burst intoughter. "Good! Good! Good!"
With each "good," his tone grew heavier, and his fury intensified.
"A mere brat dared to deceive me, forcing my Divine Sword Sect to search in vain for days!"
"You think that just because you''ve entered the Nascent Soul stage, you can stand against me?"
"Delusional!"
"You said you''d turn this celebration into my funeral?"
"No, it''s your funeral!"
"You arrogant, impulsive youth, you have no future. You''ve only just entered the Nascent Soul stage and already face imminent death!"
"I will grind your bones to dust and extinguish your nascent soul right here!"
Yao Yunluo''s powerful voice reverberated throughout Divine Sword City.
In an instant.
Dark clouds gathered, the sun vanished, fierce winds howled, and the foreboding signs of a thunderstorm appeared!
The wrath of a Nascent Soul cultivator was enough to summon storm clouds and shake the heavens!
"Golden Light Flying Sword!"
Yao Yunluo raised his hand, forming it into a sword, and unleashed a powerful strike.
With this sword, he channeled the golden spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
In a mere few breaths, it condensed into a massive flying sword, fifty feet long.
It far exceeded the limits of any Golden Core cultivator''s power.
The sword pressed down from above, seeming as if it would slice through both heaven and earth.
All the cultivators present were gripped by terror, feeling as if each one of them was the sword''s target.
"Strike!"
Yao Yunluo''s gaze was as cold as ice as he brought the sword down.
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Chapter 194: Surrender, and You Shall Live; Resist, and Death Awaits
Chapter 194: Surrender, and You Shall Live; Resist, and Death Awaits
The whole crowd was shocked.
Each person felt the undisguised killing intent emanating from Shen Mo.
They also sensed his unwavering resolve.
More critically, Shen Mo was right.
Before Yao Yunluo officially arrived at the Shangqing Sect, he was not formally recognized as a Shangqing Sect Nascent Soul Elder.@@novelbin@@
The battleand life-or-death strugglebetween Shen Mo and Yao Yunluo was merely a factional conflict within the Xuanjing Prefecture.
Su Changqing suddenly stood up.
The energy of a Nascent Soul cultivator burst forth.
His voice was cold andmanding, "Shen Mo, take your foot off!"
"Yao Yunluo is an elder of my Shangqing Sect; I say he is, so he is!"
"Your victory is clear, but if you intend to kill him, I, Su Changqing, will not permit it, nor will the Shangqing Sect!"
The surrounding cultivators'' hearts subtly shifted.
Particrly those from the Qingxuan and Verdant Vine Sects.
They understood deeply that the Shangqing Sect must not be dragged into this.
Otherwise, it would lead to endless trouble in the future.
A cold glint surfaced in Shen Mo''s eyes.
He hade this far and had no intention of leaving a threat alive.
If he let Yao Yunluo go, and the man became a Shangqing Sect elder, he might not be able to target Shen Mo directly, but he would surely bring his wrath upon the Qingxuan Sect.
Shen Mo looked at Su Changqing, assessing the gap in their strengths.
He had already used his Nascent Soul technique.
Su Changqing, meanwhile, was at his peak.
And clearly, Su Changqing''s cultivation level was above his own.
But if a confrontation was unavoidable, Shen Mo would not retreat.
At worst, he would burn his lifespan to use his Nascent Soul technique once more!
With the power of the zing Sun Origin, victory and defeat were far from certain!
Shen Mo''s face was calm and unreadable.
He stated tly, "The one I intend to kill, no one can save. That''s my word."
Suddenly, he lifted his foot and stomped down hard as Yao Yunluo looked on in terror.
A wet squelch.
Yao Yunluo''s head burst open like a melon.
Blood and brain matter sttered everywhere!
Then, a small, palm-sized white figure flew out, desperately trying to flee.
Shen Mo seized it and crushed it to dust on the spot.
The newly formed Nascent Soul was exceptionally fragile once separated from its host body, unable to defend itself at all.
Such a sightNascent Soul cultivators were figures who could shake the foundations of a prefecture, yet this one was squashed like a mere insectleft the entire gathering in dumbstruck silence.
Furious, Su Changqing''s voice roared out, "You dare kill a Shangqing Sect elder? You''re courting death!"
He gathered his spirit power, ready to strike at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo remained unfazed, his left hand bracing, building power.
A voice, mocking and yful, cut in.
"Hey, Su Changqing, I don''t exactly agree with you."
Everyone turned to look.
It was the man who had been drinking fine wine earlier.
Su Changqing seethed with irritation.
Yes, L Dongxuan, you had defeated several Nascent Soul elders before you came here. Of course, Yao Yunluo wouldn''t have been among them.
That was obvious.
"L Dongxuan, must you interfere?" Su Changqing growled, his voice frosty.
L Dongxuan shook his head. "I only have something to say."
He cleared his throat and spoke loudly, "Frankly, I''m very dissatisfied with this Nascent Soul celebration today."
"Sure, the drinks flowed freely, all top-notch. The appetizers were good too, but the atmosphere wascking. There''s no singing or dancing!"
"I, L Dongxuan, an elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect, attend your celebration, and you didn''t even arrange a performance?"
"Are you looking down on me or the Jade Cauldron Sect?"
"I''m a reasonable person; I''ll teach those who disrespect me some reason!"
As he said this, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his fists.
Ready to talk sense, his way.
Su Changqing''s heart skipped a beat as he instinctively took half a step back.
Realizing his own reaction, he was filled with both anger and embarrassment.
He hadn''t expected to instinctively fear L Dongxuan so much.
The man''s reputation truly preceded him!
"Elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect?"
"One of the three great sects of Yuzhouthe Jade Cauldron Sect! I didn''t expect they''d send someone here."
"Did you all notice? Elder Su of the Shangqing Sect actually took half a step back instinctively. Just what kind of person is this L Dongxuan, to make even him feel fear?"
"I don''t know about anything else, but from L Dongxuan''s words, there''s one clear message."
"What message?"
"He''s here to cause trouble!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Mo also cast a nce toward L Dongxuan, finding himself taking a liking to the man.
Noticing Shen Mo''s gaze, L Dongxuan gave a chuckle, acknowledging him with a casual nod.
Su Changqing''s face darkened. "L Dongxuan, are you really going to help him?"
"Don''t forget, Qingxuan Sect once aligned with the Danhe Sect, not your Jade Cauldron Sect!"
"You want to recruit him, but aren''t you worried the Danhe Sect will turn on you?"
L Dongxuan let out a strangeugh. "Whether or not we recruit him is none of your concern."
"Anyway, I know two things: first, Yao Yunluo still isn''t a Shangqing Sect Nascent Soul Elder, and second, this Nascent Soul celebration without any music and dancing has really put me in a foul mood. I''m here to stir things up!"
With that, he kicked back in his seat, crossing his legs with a rxed air that made it clear he''d said his piece and would leave the rest to them.
The cultivators around looked on, stunned.
"Elder Su Elder Su please save us"
Luo Chaotian and the other Shenjian Sect cultivators turned pleadingly to Su Changqing.
There was still a glimmer of hope in their eyes.
Now that Yao Yunluo was dead, they, as members of the Shenjian Sect, would also surely face death before long.
Su Changqing was the only one left who might save them!
Not only Luo Chaotian''s group, but also defectors like Yang Tianxing cast anxious nces at Su Changqing.
When word had spread of Yao Yunluo''s advance to the Nascent Soul stage, they had defected to the Shenjian Sect, effectively bing traitors.
If Qingxuan Sect won, then they too would certainly face cleansing.
And their deaths would likely be even more brutal and swift than that of Luo Chaotian and hispanions!
Taking a deep breath, Su Changqing''s face became as cold as ice.
Just when everyone thought he was about to strike, he spoke slowly.
"Shen Mo, I''ll remember your name."
"If you ever appear in Tianshan Prefecture, I''ll see to it you die by my sword!"
Tianshan Prefecture was the Shangqing Sect''s ancestral domain, which it had governed for over three thousand years.
The entire regionevery city and vigewas under Shangqing Sect control.
It was imprable, like a nation within a nation.
With that, Su Changqing didn''t spare another nce at Yao Yunluo''s corpse and promptly rose into the air, disappearing into the horizon.
Any hope in Luo Chaotian''s eyes vanished entirely.
In its ce, there was only despair.
Yang Tianxing and others slumped to the ground, terror filling their eyes.
"Today''s events were far beyond my expectations."
"Congrattions, it seems that Xuanjing Prefecture is destined to unify under Qingxuan Sect."
A voice suddenly echoed.
It was Ji Shilong, who had remained silent for some time.
He cupped his hands toward Shen Mo, his expression showing no angeronly a hint of resignation and eptance.
Shen Mo nced at his life panel but said nothing in response, merely returning a polite bow.
Ji Shilong waved a hand. "Shuanghan, let''s go. It''s time to return to the prefectural office."
"Understood." Luo Shuanghan hesitated briefly before nodding in reply.
As Ji Shilong prepared to leave, no one tried to stop him.
He represented the imperial court, appointed by Emperor Jing as the magistrate of Yuzhou Prefecture, and not even Shen Mo would openly offend the court.
Shen Mo nodded toward L Dongxuan in acknowledgment, and L Dongxuan returned the gesture with a smile.
Then, Shen Mo turned to face the remaining cultivators.
His voice rang out, cold and resolute.
"Surrender, and you shall live!"
"Resist, and you shall die!"
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Chapter 200: This Is No Enemy, It’s Clearly a Long-Term Meal Ticket
Chapter 200: This Is No Enemy, It''s Clearly a Long-Term Meal Ticket
Mei Haihe blinked, gradually understanding the situation.
No wonder he had always felt that this person was unusual.
Whether in conversation or demeanor, he did not resemble an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator at all.
So, this young man had been concealing his true power!
This person''s cultivation was definitely above his own, at least at the peak of the Core Formation stage!
Roar! Roar! Roar!
The Yin Corpse roared furiously.
It, too, had not expected such a powerful cultivator to be on board.
"Why are you yelling? Don''t you know your breath stinks?"
Shen Mo shook his head.
Who knew how many people and sea creatures this Yin Corpse had consumed?
The stench from its mouth could probably suffocate ordinary people.
The Yin Corpse stomped on the deck and spat out an icy, foul-smelling blood arrow.
It was clearly trying to repeat its previous sessful move against Shen Mo.
With a calm expression, Shen Mo waved his hand, sending out a fire de.
The de effortlessly shattered the icy blood arrow into countless shards.
The fire de, undeterred, struck the Yin Corpse''s chest directly.
In an instant, much of the Yin Corpse''s thick ck fur was burned away.
The Yin Corpse howled in pain.
Its body was scorched, emitting thick, foul-smelling smoke.
It was clearly gravely wounded.
Mei Haihe''s eyes widened at the sight.
That icy blood arrow was vicious and fast; he hadn''t even had time to react when it hit him.
Yet Shen Mo had shattered it with ease?
And not only that, he had even managed to injure the Yin Corpse with a single strike.
What level of cultivation did this young man have?
Could it be... Nascent Soul stage?!
Hiss... A Nascent Soul cultivator at such a young age? Impossible!@@novelbin@@
Wait, some old monsters at the Nascent Soul stage liked to maintain a youthful appearance.
This person was likely doing just that!
Even after all his travels, Mei Haihe had been deceived.
Guo Long and Guo Yi were even more shocked.
He was unbelievably powerful.
Shen Mo was clearly stronger than Mei Haihe!
Amidst their astonishment, Guo Long felt especially grateful.
Having Shen Mo on his ship was a stroke of fortune from eight generations of good deeds!
Otherwise, he would have long perished.
Roar!
The Yin Corpse let out a vengeful roar, red at Shen Mo, and suddenly retreated, clearly intending to jump into the river and escape.
"It seems it''s quite intelligent. That makes letting it go even more impossible."
Shen Mo flipped his palm, and the Thunder Sword unsheathed in an instant.
A bolt of lightning shed in the air.
The Yin Corpse, just as it was about to dive into the river, froze as if some mysterious force had immobilized it.
Momentster, a line of blood appeared at the top of its head, running all the way down to its groin.
Blood seeped out along the line.
The next moment, the Yin Corpse split into two halves!
Shen Mo''s strike had cleaved it in two!
Shen Mo''s eyes gleamed as he saw something glowing within the Yin Corpse''s body.
Mei Haihe was taken aback.
With his vast experience, he recognized it at once: a Yin Sha Pearl!
"Not even one in a hundred Yin Corpses contains such a pearl. Who would have thought I''d encounter one today?" he thought, astonished.
Shen Mo also recognized the Yin Sha Pearl, but he did not reach out to take it. Instead, he stood back and spoke coolly.
"You''ve been watching for quite a while now. What is your purpose?"
Guo Long and Guo Yi were stunned, while Mei Haihe immediately became alert.
Shen Mo''s words... did it mean there was someone else around?!
"Interesting. I can''t believe you saw through my concealment."
A cold voice suddenly came from the distant darkness.
Momentster, a crimson figure appeared on the river''s surface, facing Shen Mo from afar.
The man wore a crimson robe with a jade belt around his waist.
On his face, he wore a red demonic mask.
Even so, his sharp features were still visible.
Especially those eyes, unusually cold, as if indifferent to everything in the world.
Shen Mo nced over.
The man''s life panel immediately unfolded before him.
Name: Ye Yan.
Cultivation Level: Nascent Soul Stage, Initial Sess.
Life Fate: Family Scion, Heir of the me Emperor, Favored by Fortune, Leader''s Aura, Blessed by Fate, Sunfire Body.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow and began examining Ye Yan''s life fate in detail.
Family Scion: Green Fate. You were born into the Ye family of Yuhai City, raised with medicinal baths to build a strong foundation, and nevercked wealth. You experienced the brutal struggles of your family, which made you exceptionally cold-hearted.
Heir of the me Emperor: Red Fate. As a child, you were pushed off a cliff by your cousin. However, a broken tree branch saved you, leading you to a cave beneath the cliff where you discovered the Heaven-tier cultivation manual Emperor''s me Melting Scroll, left behind by the me Emperor.
Favored by Fortune: Red Fate. Blessed by extraordinary luck, you often find divine weapons on your path and stumble upon powerful techniques during your travels.
Leader''s Aura: Orange Fate. Your experience in brutal family struggles has forged a cold, domineering, and ruthless character, earning the admiration of those with malicious intent. Even viins need a savior of their own kind.
Blessed by Fate: Red Fate. Those blessed by fate can find hope in hopeless situations, achieve breakthroughs during battles, and make miraculousebacks as amon urrence.
Sunfire Body: Red Fate. A top-tier constitution. You possess unparalleled fire affinity, making your cultivation of fire-based techniques and martial arts exceptionally efficient. Your constitution is highly attractive to certain exotic mes.
Shen Mo clicked his tongue in amazement and continued reading.
Uing Opportunity 1: Pretend to issue amission for shipowner Guo Long to transport Yin Crystals, but actually use it as bait to draw out the Yin Corpse at ck Sand Reef. After the Yin Corpse appears, y it to im the Yin Sha Pearl and destroy Guo Long''s cargo ship to ensure no witnesses remain.
Uing Opportunity 2: In ten days, return to Yuhai City to retrieve ten Azure Threads from Longshe Mountain. Notice something unusual and discover a bottle of Great Nascent Transformation Pills inside a fish''s stomach.
Uing Opportunity 3: In a month, take on amission at the Jade Cauldron Sect to clear out the water python wreaking havoc on the Cang River. Discover a deep underwater cave at Yanzi Cliff containing twenty dormant Yin Corpses. y them and obtain two Yin Sha Pearls.
Uing Opportunity 4: In three months, go to Shangqing Sect to purchase a spiritual artifact. While passing through Pingcheng, sense an unusual concentration of Yin energy. After investigating, find the corpse cultivator Daoist Shi, whom the Jade Cauldron Sect has been hunting. Daoist Shi is so intimidated by your domineering presence that he surrenders and offers three Yin Sha Pearls he''s umted over the years.
Uing Opportunity 5: Refine the Yin Sha Pearls in Pingcheng to sessfully create a Golden Core Crown.
Uing Opportunity 6: In a year, search for a rare bloodline beast in the Qi Yun Mountains as ordered. Overhear several rogue cultivators from minor sects discussing a lost mansion ording to a map. Kill them and use the map to find the mansion, where you encounter Xiao Fan. After a fierce battle, you obtain the Divine Thunder Demon Subjugation Manual, while Xiao Fan secures the Demon Armor Helmet.
After reading this string of opportunities, Shen Mo''s gaze toward Ye Yan shifted.
What was once slightly hostile now became warm and satisfied.
This was no mere enemy.
This was clearly a long-term meal ticket!
Ye Yan, noticing Shen Mo''s sudden change in expression, was caught off guard.
What was this?
Why was he suddenly looking at me so warmly?
Ye Yan said coldly, "That Yin Corpse was already wounded by me; you merely finished it off."
"I''m giving you one chancehand over the Yin Sha Pearl, or face your demise."
Shen Mo immediatelyughed.
Once something was in his grasp, there was no reason to let it go.
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Chapter 201: This Ye Yan is Far More Powerful Than Xiao Fan
Chapter 201: This Ye Yan is Far More Powerful Than Xiao Fan
Shen Mo said calmly, "The Corpse Shade ispletely unharmed, yet you falsely im to have injured it. Have you no shame?"
Ye Yan''s expression remained unchanged, making it seem as though he was about to speak.
Yet, in the next instant, he attacked without warning.
A heavy halberd appeared out of nowhere, zing with fierce mes.
In an instant, a dragon of fiery mes formed in midair, its jaws wide open, lunging toward Shen Mo with intent to consume him whole!
This strike was meant not only to kill Shen Mo but to utterly destroy the entire cargo ship, erasing any evidence.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
True to his ruthless and domineering nature.
No words, just immediate action, leaving no time for his opponent to react.
Had Shen Mo been an ordinary cultivator, he wouldn''t have had time to respond before Ye Yan''s attack reached him.
In that case, he would have immediately fallen into a disadvantage, forced into a retreat.
However, Ye Yan had clearly underestimated Shen Mo.
Whoosh!
As the fiery halberd approached, two towering evergreen trees manifested in front of Shen Mo.
Their branches were lush, their trunks a vibrant green.
The two trees stood firm, blocking the fiery halberd''s light.
The leaves quickly turned to ash under the mes, but the trunks remained standing, unyielding.
The trees had given Shen Mo enough time.@@novelbin@@
He quickly summoned four mystical gates.
Threerge bronze gates and one gate of me materialized before him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
By now, the two evergreen trees had been reduced to charred remains, crumbling to ash.
The fiery halberd light finally struck, crashing into the mystical gates and forcing Shen Mo to take only a few steps back.
In an instant, the mes dispersed.
Shen Mo remainedpletely unharmed.
Ye Yan''s expression shifted slightly as he hovered in midair.
He looked at Shen Mo intently for a few moments before retreating, using his martial arts to vanish into the dark night.
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
In their brief exchange, each had gauged the other''s strength.
Ye Yan realized he couldn''t guarantee Shen Mo''s death.
Shen Mo also understood that Ye Yan''s fate was strong; he wouldn''t die so easily.
Ye Yan had made a quick decision based on the situation.
He abandoned the Yin Sha Pearl without hesitation.
After all, there were countless opportunities in this world.
There was no need to risk everything for a single Yin Sha Pearl.
"Act when you should, retreat when necessary."
"This Ye Yan is far more formidable than Xiao Fan used to be."
"Hmm but Xiao Fan has now fully integrated his past life''s memories. His personality should have changed quite a bit too."
"I hope next time we meet, Xiao Fan will bring me a few surprises."
Shen Mo smiled slightly and turned his gaze away.
Mei Haihe, who had been crying with gratitude, said, "Thank you, senior, for saving my life!"
Guo Long and Guo Yi also knelt, expressing their thanks, "Thank you, senior!"
Shen Mo waved dismissively. "It was nothing; after all, I''m also on this ship."
He looked at Mei Haihe and casually ced his palm on his chest, releasing a wisp of fire energy.
Mei Haihe spat out a mouthful of ck blood with a gasp.
The pallor on his face faded considerably.
Delighted, Mei Haihe eximed, "Thank you, senior, for detoxifying me!"
The poison from the Corpse Shade''s icy arrows was extremely toxic.
Only pure fire energy could force it out.
Even if Mei Haihe had made it to Jade Sea City while injured, the poison would have seeped into his organs, requiring nine or ten years to recover if he survived.
Without treatment, he might even lose years off his lifespan.
Shen Mo''s assistance had saved his life once more.
"Guo Long, Guo Yi, after delivering the cargo to Jade Sea City, immediately go into hiding."
Shen Mo advised casually.
Guo Long was puzzled. "Why?"
Shen Mo pointed to the ship''s hold. "Do you know what you''re transporting?"
"It''s dried ck Frost Flowers," Guo Long replied.
"ck Frost Flowers have a cold nature, something evil spirits are particrly drawn to," Shen Mo exined. "Even dried, their scent can attract malicious beings."
Guo Long gasped.
He and his son were quick thinkers.
They immediately realized the situation.
They had likely been used as bait to lure the Corpse Shade!
"Your kindness will not be forgotten, master!" Guo Long and Guo Yi kowtowed to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo waved them off. "Keep the ship moving. We can''t afford any dys."
"Yes, sir!"
Three dayster.
A battered cargo ship appeared at the port of Jade Sea City, drawing the attention of many onlookers.
Its mast was broken, and the deck was shattered
The fact that it could still make it safely to port despite such severe damage was truly a testament to the resilience of this ship.
Shen Mo stepped onto the deck and gazed at the bustling port, nodding slightly.
As expected of one of thergest cities in Yuzhou Province.
It was far more prosperous and lively than Divine Sword City or Great River City in Xuanjiang Prefecture.
On the river, numerous other ships were arriving, and the air was filled with the shouts of sailors and fishermen.
After bidding farewell to Shen Mo, Guo Long and his son Guo Yi quietly slipped away, not even daring to collect their wages.
"Why are you still following me?" Shen Mo nced at Mei Haihe, who was lingering behind him.
Mei Haihe blinked and grinned, "Guo Long and his son might be hunted down, and I could be too."
"I think it''s safer to stick with you, senior."
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
Although this man wasn''t particrly powerful, he had a wealth of knowledge and connections.
Moreover, he was genuinely decent.
During the attack by the Corpse Shade, he hadn''t abandoned Guo Long and his son; instead, he had given them his spiritual artifact for protection.
"You''ve lived over three hundred years. Don''t you have any techniques for disguise or concealing your aura?" Shen Mo asked lightly.
Mei Haihe shook his head repeatedly, "I do, but mainly I''d rather follow you and find a way to make a living."
Shen Mo chuckled, "I''m new here and unfamiliar with Jade Sea City. You can be my guide."
Mei Haihe nodded eagerly, "Of course, of course."
"Where would you like to go, senior?"
"Jade Cauldron Sect."
Mei Haihe immediately responded, "The Jade Cauldron Sect has a branch here in Jade Sea City called Jade Sea Hall. I know that ce well. I''ll lead the way!"
"Good."
As they walked, Shen Mo asked casually, "By the way, the spiritual artifact you gave to Guo Long and his sondid you craft it yourself?"
Mei Haihe chuckled, "To be honest, back in my younger days, I traveled widely and came across a master of artifact crafting who took me under his wing."
"That master saw some talent in me and gave me a scroll to study closely."
"That artifact, called the Water Bubble, was something I learned from that scroll."
Mei Haihe reached into his storage ring and took out a booklet. "If you''re interested, I can hand it over to you."
Shen Mo smiled lightly, "Let me have a look."
He took the booklet and, as they walked, skimmed through its contents.
The ideas recorded within were rather fanciful, not exactly standard artifact crafting techniques.
However, there were a few concepts that might prove useful.
For example, the Water Bubble itself might be of little use to a Nascent Soul cultivator.
But if one were in the depths of an extremely deep waterway, a ce even Nascent Soul cultivators would struggle with, the Water Bubble could y a crucial role.
Shen Mo recalled that Ye Yan had a fortuitous encounter that required him to venture deep underwater.
"Senior, we''ve arrived. Ahead is Jade Sea Hall," Mei Haihe said respectfully, pointing to a tall building nestled among shady trees.
Shen Mo nodded, "Let''s go."
Mei Haihe hesitated, "You intend to go inside? That''s not allowed. The hall master of Jade Sea Hall has a rule: only disciples of the three major sects can enter. Smaller sect disciples or rogue cultivators must wait outside."
"If you go in uninvited, their cultivators will treat you with hostility!"
Shen Mo chuckled, "Oh? Such a rule exists? Don''t worry. Just follow me."
With that, he strode confidently toward the entrance.
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Chapter 204: My Senior Sister is Actually a Little Girl
Chapter 204: My Senior Sister is Actually a Little Girl
Shen Mo strode forward and saw a figure by a stone table.
This person appeared to be middle-aged, dressed in the robes of a first-tier elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
"Huh? Weren''t there two voices talking just now? Why is it only him?"
Shen Mo was puzzled and approached the table.
The elder wore a sorrowful expression. "Can you let me borrow a bottle of Infant Transformation Pill?"
A voice, old and grumpy, came from under the table. "Get lost! You''ve lost all your spirit stones, pills, and contributions. I''m not wasting my time gambling with you."
"When you''ve earned enough contributions, go to the Treasure Pavilion and exchange for an Infant Transformation Pill, thene back to gamble."
The elder sighed deeply and turned to leave.
He nced at Shen Mo, likely assuming he was there to gamble as well, and gave him a sympathetic look.
"Fellow Daoist, be careful with that oneshe''s too strong"
With that, he covered his face and left, unable to hold back his tears.
Shen Mo''s mouth twitched.
"Hey? You here to gamble with me, too?"
The voice sounded again.
Shen Mo looked down under the table and finally saw a petite figure.
This girl if she weren''t so short, she might actually be quite tall.
No wonder he hadn''t seen anyone there earlier.
She wasn''t even as tall as the stone table!
Shen Mo carefully observed the girl.
She was dressed in a bright green outfit, revealing her fair arms and legs, with jade bangles and silver bells on her wrists and ankles.
Her steps were light and jingled as she moved.
If she didn''t speak, anyone would think she was an eight- or nine-year-old girl.
But the moment she opened her mouth, that illusion shattered.
"Hey, hey, hey! Did you hear me? Are you going to gamble or not?"
"I''m a busy woman; I don''t have time to waste on you!"
The little girl crossed her arms, looking impatient.
Shen Mo cupped his hands politely. "I''m not here to gamble."
"Then scram!" The girl returned to the stone table, plopping herself on top, focused on arranging her three dice.
Shen Mo smiled. "I''m Shen Mo. I was recruited by L Dongxuan and have joined the Jade Cauldron Sect as part of the Tenth Peak."
"L cough, cough!"
The girl nearly choked on her own breath.
She shot forward, now standing directly in front of Shen Mo.
Her big, bright eyes examined him from head to toe.
"So, you''re the talent that Little Donkey recruited. He mentioned it to me through a sound-transmission jade."
"Little Donkeyuh, I mean, Little L!"
"Cough, cough I''m your Senior Sister, Zhao Yaolu! I''m also the highest-ranking member of the Tenth Peak!"
The girl put her hands on her hips, assuming the demeanor of a senior.
Shen Mo blinked. "Isn''t the highest-ranking member supposed to be the Tenth Elder?"
Each of the ten peaks was headed by an elder, from the First Elder down to the Tenth Elder.
All ten elders were cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage, deeply respectedeven the sect master had to heed their influence.
"Hah! That old man is nothing. He spends all his time hanging out in red-light districts. I''m the one earning all the resources for the Tenth Peak!"
The little girl was visibly upset.
Shen Mo nced at the three dice.
"That''s right, it''s all earned with these!" Zhao Yaolu said proudly.
Shen Mo coughed. What was there to be proud of?
"Senior Sister, perhaps you could give me an introduction to the Tenth Peak?"
Zhao Yaolu looked puzzled. "What''s there to introduce? It''s a barren mountain, with six small huts, one Tenth Elder, and two Nascent Soul elders. Oh, and now with you, we have three Nascent Soul elders."
"As for disciples, there aren''t any."
Shen Mo: ""
It really was a case of "the few, the proud."
"What kind of business will you be managing?" Zhao Yaolu asked casually.
"Beast control, in the Dragon Serpent Mountains."
Zhao Yaolu immediately frowned. "What? Who''d assign you to that ce?"
"Who was in charge of Elder''s Court today?"
Shen Mo replied, "The Second Elder."
Zhao Yaolu''s brows shot up. "Damn that old miser, deliberately giving our Tenth Peak trouble!"
"Is the Dragon Serpent Mountains that bad?" Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
Zhao Yaolu clicked her tongue. "The Dragon Serpent Mountains is a disaster. The spirit beast bloodlines there are too diluted."
"If you go there, you won''t just struggle to earn contributions; you might even end up losing a ton."
"At this rate, you''ll never advance in elder ranks without a good thirty years of effort. You won''t even gain ess to the better forbidden areas where contributions are actually worth earning."
"Ugh, the more I think about it, the angrier I get!"
"When I reach the Nascent Soul stage, I''ll storm the Second Peak and twist his head off!"
Zhao Yaolu put her hands on her hips, her face full of anger.
Shen Mo felt a bit warmed by her words.
It seemed the Tenth Peak was fiercely protective of its own.
"Honestly, if you remain a first-tier elder, your yearly sry will be pathetically low. How am I supposed to gamble with you and take your spirit stones and pills"
Zhao Yaolu muttered.
Shen Mo: ""
"Anyway, where''s your Jade Cauldron Pearl?" Zhao Yaolu asked.
Shen Mo took out a Jade Cauldron Pearl.
This was the identification token that could only be obtained after officially bing an elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
On the back of the pearl was a "ten," and the front was carved with a small cauldron, indicating Shen Mo''s status as a first-tier elder.
"You''ve just be a first-tier elder and have no contributions yet, so I''ve transferred two ding-level contributions to you."
"Go to the Treasure Pavilion first and exchange for some items needed for beast control before heading to the Dragon Serpent Mountains. Otherwise, you''ll be at aplete loss when you get there."
Zhao Yaolu tapped her own Jade Cauldron Pearl against Shen Mo''s to transfer the contributions, then patted him on the shoulder earnestly.
"Junior Brother, if you can''t make it work in the Dragon Serpent Mountains,e find me. After all, that ce isn''t exactly fit for anyone to survive."
Shen Mo nodded. "Thank you, Senior Sister!"
With that, he prepared to take off toward the Treasure Pavilion.
Suddenly, a tremendous dragon''s roar echoed from afar.
However, this roar carried an intense sense of agitation.
If one listened closely, there was also a faint trace of sorrow within it.
Shen Mo was slightly surprised. "Senior Sister, what''s that sound?"
Zhao Yaolu replied casually, "That''s the Jade Cauldron Sect''s guardian spirit beast, the me Dragon. It can already speak in humannguage. Since the passing of the sect''s founding ancestor, the me Dragon has been guarding the sect."
Shen Mo looked puzzled. "Then why does it sound so agitated and sorrowful?"
Zhao Yaolu shrugged. "It can''t find a mate to take care of certain needs, so it''s agitated."
Shen Mo: ""
"As for the sorrow" Zhao Yaolu lowered her voice. "The sect previously tried pairing it withrge pythons, but those pythons couldn''t handle the old dragon''s strength due to their low level"
"It''s sorrowful because it can''t reproduce."
Shen Mo nodded in understanding.
The more powerful a species, the harder it was for them to reproduce.
Reproduction is a creature''s basic instinct. Now, this old dragon, with no mate and no offspring, was restless and sorrowfulunderstandable.
Zhao Yaolu seemed to remember something and added, "It''s said that back in the day, when the founding ancestor was around, the old dragon actually had a mate. That female python evenid an egg, but during a fierce battle, the female python was killed, and the egg floated down the Cangjiang River."
"Since then, the egg has never been found."
"Oh, by the way, Little Donkey is out searching for a dragon egg under the sect master''s orders."
Shen Mo nodded, finally understanding the situation.
The agitated and sorrowful dragon roar continued for a while before quieting down.
The disciples of the Jade Cauldron Sect seemed ustomed to it and paid it no mind.
"Senior Sister, I''ll take my leave then." Shen Mo cupped his hands and flew off toward the Treasure Pavilion.
Zhao Yaolu watched his departing figure, blinking.
"This guy''s bone age is only twenty-two, even younger than Ye Yan, who reached the Nascent Soul stage at twenty-nine."
"That Little Donkey actually managed to recruit such a talent. Heh, heh, heh, now I have another person to win spirit stones and pills from!"
Meanwhile
Shen Mo flew toward the Treasure Pavilion.
As he flew, Zhao Yaolu''s life panel appeared in his mind.
He realized that this Senior Sister was quite extraordinary.
[Name: Zhao Yaolu]
[Realm: Fifth Tier Perfected]
[Life Fate: Daughter of the Ghost King, Afflicted with Bad Luck, Surviving Death, Innate Vein Blockage, Five Ghost Soul Devouring Body]
Shen Mo immediately examined these life fates in detail.
[Daughter of the Ghost King: Orange Fate. You are the offspring of a sixth-tier Heavenly Ghost King. After the Ghost n was exterminated by the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, you escaped to the borders of Jing Country and were adopted by the Tenth Elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect.]
[Afflicted with Bad Luck: White Fate. As a member of the Ghost n, you are born with bad luck. Getting hit on the head by a flowerpot, encountering a downpour just as you step out, finding half a worm in an applethese are daily urrences for you.]
[Surviving Death: Purple Fate. You are destined to have three life-saving opportunities. After these three, you will inevitably meet your end.]
[Innate Vein Blockage: White Fate. You are unable to cultivate the Ghost n''s bloodline arts and can only take an alternative path, cultivating human techniques.]
[Five Ghost Soul Devouring Body: Red Fate. The souls of your five younger brothers reside within you. They are both your powerful allies and the reason you cannot sleep, constantly haunted by the past. Cultivating Yin-based techniques will double your efficiency.]
Due to her "Afflicted with Bad Luck" fate, Zhao Yaolu had no uing fortunes, only numerous unlucky incidents.
Shen Mo exhaled softly.
Daughter of the Ghost King? Raised by humans?@@novelbin@@
The Ghost n? The Ten Thousand Demon Nation?
Shen Mo hadn''t expected Zhao Yaolu to have such a backstory.
As for the Ghost n, Shen Mo had seen brief mentions of them while skimming ancient texts at the Divine Sword Sect after he defeated Yao Yunluo and took over Divine Sword City.
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Chapter 205: Heading to the Dragon Serpent Mountains
Chapter 205: Heading to the Dragon Serpent Mountains
Some beasts are born with intelligence, known as the Demon n, distinguishing them from ordinary beasts.
The Ten Thousand Demon Nation contains many such Demon n members.
The Heavenly Ghost n is considered a branch of the Demon n.
They are uniqueneither entirely beast nor ghost.
In appearance, they look human, but in battle, they reveal their ghostly form.
In many ways, they resemble the human race more than the Demon n.
Every member of the Heavenly Ghost n is born with formidablebat strength, but they are gued by poor fortune and endless bad luck.
Rumors within the Demon n suggest that the Heavenly Ghost n brings misfortune to the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, eventually leading to its downfall.
These rumors spread for thousands of years.
In the end, the Demon Emperor exterminated the Heavenly Ghost n.
They were nearly wiped out from top to bottom.
Shen Mo never expected to encounter a member of the Heavenly Ghost n within the Jade Cauldron Sect, one of the three major sects of Yuzhou.
And she was a descendant of the legendary Ghost King.
"Interesting. Coming to Yuzhou was the right choice."
"This world is truly fascinating."
Shen Mo smiled slightly as hended in front of the Treasure Pavilion.
The Treasure Pavilion was grand and luxurious.
Disciples and stewards came and went at the entrance.
Shen Mo, dressed in the robes of a first-tier elder, drew respectful nods from most disciples around him.
Yet, some seemed unfazed.
After all, there were at least thirty first-tier elders in the Jade Cauldron Sect.
They had be amon sight.
Shen Mo walked straight into the Treasure Pavilion.
The Treasure Pavilion had nine floors.
The first, second, and third floors corresponded to outer disciples, inner disciples, and core disciples.
The fourth through ninth floors were designated for elders, from first-tier to sixth-tier elders.
Each floor required the corresponding rank for entry.
No one could bypass these restrictions.
After presenting his Jade Cauldron Pearl, Shen Mo was granted ess to the fourth floor.
The number of people on the lower three floors was significant.
However, upon reaching the fourth floor, the number of people dwindled considerably.
Almost everyone here was at the Nascent Soul stage.
Shen Mo scanned the area, noting that most of the treasures were mid, high, or top-grade in the Profound Rank.
There was only one item of Earth Rank qualitythe low-grade Infant Transformation Pill.
It was essential for Nascent Soul cultivators to advance in their realm.
Shen Mo nced at it. A bottle contained five pills and required two ding-level contributions to exchange.
For the superior Grand Infant Transformation Pill, Shen Mo estimated that it would likely require a higher-level bing-level contribution.
"Pfft, that''s pricey."
Shen Mo shrugged and ignored the Infant Transformation Pill, instead focusing on items needed for beast control.@@novelbin@@
"Celestial Essence Grass and White-Shell Fruit, both of which are ideal heavenly materials for feeding Demon beasts. Their medicinal properties are mild and suitable for all types of Demon beasts."
"I''ll exchange for these two first."
"I cane back for more as needed."
These two items were top-grade in the Yellow Rank.
They were effective yet inexpensive.
Excellent value for the price.
Shen Mo used his two ding-level contributions, exchanging them for 1,000 pounds of Celestial Essence Grass and 2,000 pounds of White-Shell Fruit.
After storing these items in his storage ring, Shen Mo left the Jade Cauldron Sect''s gates and set off directly for the Dragon Serpent Mountains.
...
On the Third Peak.
He Tianchou was humbly massaging an elder''s shoulders and legs.
"Master, how should I deal with this Shen Mo?"
"I really don''t want to get involved with them."
The elder smiled faintly. "It''s toote; you''re already involved."
He Tianchou was taken aback. "Why do you say that, Master?"
The elder replied calmly, "I just received word that Yang Qiye has assigned Shen Mo to the Dragon Serpent Mountains."
He Tianchou''s face froze.
Yang Qiye was the Second Elder.
The Dragon Serpent Mountains were very close to Yuhai City.
Now, no matter how much he wished to keep his distance from Shen Mo, it wouldn''t be possible.
It was inevitable that they would interact frequently in the future.
"This is likely Yang Qiye testing our stance. After all, we of the Third Peak have always maintained neutrality," the elder smiled faintly.
He Tianchou frowned, "So?"
"Don''t get too close, but don''t distance yourself either. Handle everything officially, just as before. If there are any changes, I''ll notify you immediately," the elder replied calmly.
"Yes, yes, that''s good," He Tianchou nodded repeatedly.
"Return now. Shen Mo will be managing the Dragon Serpent Mountains, so you''ll inevitably need to stay in contact with him." The elder waved his hand.
"Understood, Master. Take care," He Tianchou responded before quickly departing.
After he left, the elder slowly opened his eyes and sighed softly.
"Two young geniuses appearing in the same sect I just hope their personalities arepatible. If they sh, it won''t be a good thing..."
...
One hundred miles outside Yuhai City, at the Dragon Serpent Mountains.
This mountain range stretched for dozens of miles, resembling a coiled serpent in slumber.
From south to north, it was lush and verdant, evoking a sense of tranquility and awe at first nce.
Shen Mo circled the Dragon Serpent Mountains, finally spotting a courtyard situated halfway up the mountain, andnded there.
He knocked on the gate, "Elder Shen Mo, here to take over the management of Dragon Serpent Mountain''s resources..."
Before he could finish, the courtyard door was abruptly flung open.
A middle-aged man with sunken eyes and a gaunt figure rushed out.
He stared intensely at Shen Mo, his eyes gleaming.
"Finally finally, a neer."
"Do you know how long I''ve waited for this day?"
He stretched out both hands.
"Ten years, a full ten years!"
"I''ve been stuck here at the Dragon Serpent Mountains for ten years! I''ve lost at least a B-rank contribution in total!"
"Now, atst, someone hase to take over my duties!"
The manughed heartily, his dejected aura vanishing in an instant.
"Shen Mo, Elder Shen, right? I''ll leave this ce to you; I, Qian Fangyong, am out of here!"
He immediately took flight, disappearing into the horizon in an instant.
Shen Mo smacked his lips.
This
He left so quickly, without even a proper handover.
Is Dragon Serpent Mountain really that dreadful?
"Ahem I didn''t expect such a young, uh, unfortunate soulI mean, elderthis time," a raspy voice came from the courtyard.
Soon, a hunched figure, leaning on a cane, slowly emerged.
Shen Mo looked over.
The elder seemed as frail as a flickering candle.
It was as though a strong wind could blow him apart.
Moreover, his aura wasn''t at the Nascent Soul level; he was only at the entry stage of the Core Formation realm.
The elder approached Shen Mo and appeared to want to kneel partially.
Shen Mo quickly supported him. "No need for that. Please speak while standing."
The elder nodded and then spoke. "My name is Huang Bayi, the steward of Dragon Serpent Mountain. I am four hundred and ny-two years old and have seen off seven elders."
Shen Mo chuckled. "Why is Dragon Serpent Mountain like this?"
The elder sighed deeply. "I don''t know either, but previous elders imed the feng shui here is poor. The bloodline of the demon beasts cannot be purified and instead bes increasingly diluted."
"Elder Shen, you''re so youngwhy would youe to the Dragon Serpent Mountains? You should know this ce has a notorious reputation Previous elders were all pressured here due to conflict."
Shen Mo smiled. "Well, since I''m here, I might as well take a look."
Huang Bayi nodded. "Very well. I''m too old and frail to move around, so I''ll have my granddaughter show you around the Dragon Serpent Mountains."
He called out, and a young girl, about ten years old, shyly stepped forward.
Huang Bayi whispered, "Her name is Huang Caiying, ten years old, an outer disciple of the Jade Cauldron Sect, and the only disciple willing to help manage the Dragon Serpent Mountains."
Shen Mo was torn betweenughter and exasperation.
It seemed even disciples avoided this ce.
Despite his amusement, he felt a growing curiosity.
What secrets could the Dragon Serpent Mountains hold that prevent the demon beasts'' bloodlines from purifying, causing them to be increasingly diluted?
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Chapter 207: Shen Mo Has Some Distance Left Before He Can Be My Rival
Chapter 207: Shen Mo Has Some Distance Left Before He Can Be My Rival
Jade CauldronSect, Elders'' Pavilion
At this moment, there were three people on the second floor of the Elders'' Pavilion.
The Second Elder, Yang Qiye, sat at his desk, handling documents sent from various ces.
Behind him stood a young man, wearing a crimson robe, with a cold expression.
On the carpet in front of themy Xu Ziqiang, copsed on the floor.
"Second Elder, you must seek justice for me!"
"That audacious Shen Mo dared to cut off my legs!"
"This wasn''t just an attack on me; it was clearly a p in your face!"
Xu Ziqiang wept bitterly, his tears and snot streaming onto the carpet, leaving a shiny, damp stain.
Yang Qiye''s expression was ice-cold. "That damn Shen Mo truly infuriating. Does he really think he can act with impunity just because he''s be an Elder of the Tenth Peak?"
Then his expression softened as he smiled gently. "Ziqiang, go back and rest well. Once your legs heal, I''ll still need you to serve me."
Hearing this, Xu Ziqiang was overwhelmed with gratitude.
The Second Elder hasn''t given up on me!
"Yes! I swear, I''ll serve the Second Elder with my life!"
Two disciples entered, one on each side, and helped Xu Ziqiang out.
Once they were gone, Yang Qiye''s face immediately returned to its usual dignified expression.
"Yan''er, what do you think?" he asked coolly.@@novelbin@@
The young man standing next to Yang Qiye was none other than Ye Yan.
With a cold gaze, he replied, "If he stands in our way, then he should be eliminated."
Yang Qiyeughed heartily, "You''re still the same, always resorting to killing."
"Remember, sometimes, attacking the heart can be more effective than taking a life."
"Besides, this Shen Mo is a young prodigy like you. We can''t just act against him."
Ye Yan''s eyes glinted, "A young prodigy?"
Hearing this term piqued his interest.
Yang Qiye nodded, "Intelligence from Xuanjiang Prefecture has arrived. The most powerful sect there was once the Divine Sword Sect, a branch of the Shangqing Sect."
"Recently, the old master of the Divine Sword Sect, Yao Yunluo, entered the Nascent Soul stage and held a Nascent Soul celebration, inviting all the sects in Xuanjiang to attend, intending to unify the prefecture during the event."
"Then Shen Mo appeared. He, too, is in the Nascent Soul stage."
"Both are neers to the Nascent Soul stage, with Yao Yunluo having entered slightly earlier."
"Yet Yao Yunluo was effortlessly suppressed by Shen Mo."
Ye Yan said calmly, "He''s just a Nascent Soul cultivator from a small ce,cking a solid foundation. Even among neers, there''s still a significant gap."
Yang Qiye nodded slightly, "You''re right about that."
"However, ording to intelligence from Xuanjiang, each time Shen Mo has advanced to a new major realm, it has been a wless advancement."
"As for the grade of his Nascent Soul, no one knows yet, but many specte it''s at least a seven-lotus soul."
Ye Yan''s gaze intensified.
"So, are you tempted to test your skills against him?" Yang Qiye smiled faintly.
Ye Yan nodded, then shook his head. "He''s someone worth noting, but he''s still some distance from being my rival."
"Byparison, a young man in ck whom I encountered near Cangjiang the other day is even more worthy of being a rival."
Yang Qiye raised an eyebrow, intrigued, "Oh? Who is this person, to earn such high regard from you?"
Ye Yan said nothing more.
Yang Qiye chuckled and didn''t press further.
After a pause, he added, "By the way, there are ten blue serpent herbs over in Dragon Snake Mountain. Don''t leave them there. In a few days, bring them back, and give three to your senior brothers; the rest are yours."
"Thank you, Master," Ye Yan nodded.
Dragon Snake Mountain
In a small cottage.
Though Huang Caiying was young, she was diligent.
Soon, she had tidied up the cottage until it was spotless.
From now on, this would be Shen Mo''s new residence.
While the cottage was drafty in winter and leaked in summer, making it ufortable year-round, Shen Mo didn''t mind.
If he became preupied with improving his residence''s condition instead of focusing on his cultivation and beast mastery, it would only distract from his true purpose.
"Honorable Elder, I''ll go prepare some food," Caiying said before leaving.
Huang Caiying bowed to Shen Mo before leaving.
Once she was gone, Shen Mo took out several sets of array gs from his storage ring.
Among them were formations for concealing presence, alerting intrusions, emitting poisonous smoke, and soundproofing.
These had been obtained after he killed L Xinyue, the master of the White Harmony Sect, some time ago.
Shen Mo carefully ced the array gs in concealed spots around the cottage.
Only then did he feel it was truly secure.
From his understanding of life''s uncertainties, Huang Bayi didn''t have much lifespan left, and Huang Caiying was merely an innocent child.
Yet Shen Mo still instinctively set up these arrays.
It wasn''t to guard against them but rather to defend against any potential threats from the Yuding Sect.
"Finally settled. Now I can refine the Dan Crown."
Seated cross-legged on the bed, Shen Mo took out the Yin Evil Pearl extracted from a Yin corpse.
Several days had passed since then.
However, the surface of the Yin Evil Pearl still exuded ominous energy and a chilling coldness.
As soon as he brought it out, the air temperature dropped considerably, and even his breath condensed into frost.
Shen Mo remained unfazed, holding it in his palm and channeling spiritual energy.
Within less than a quarter of an hour, he hadpletely melted it, turning it into a dark, fog-like substance.
He wrapped the fog in his spiritual energy and guided it down into his dantian.
Next, he used his spiritual energy to retrieve fragments of his golden core, whichy submerged in the ocean of spiritual power.
He tossed these fragments into the Yin Evil energy.
From here, there was no need for further control; the golden core fragments began to transform on their own.
Gradually, they formed a crown-like shape.
The color shifted from the red of the golden core fragments to a white Dan Crown, and an hourter, it turned green.
Seeing the changing color of the Dan Crown, Shen Mo pondered.
"Dan Crown quality is categorized by color, with five grades: white, green, blue, purple, and gold."
"White is the lowest, and gold is the highest."
"The Yin Evil Pearl is indeed an ideal choice for refining the Dan Crown. A single fourth-tier Yin Evil Pearl can elevate the Dan Crown to green quality."
"However, even more Yin Evil Pearls will be required from this point onward."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
With a thought, the green Dan Crown floated above his Nascent Soul.
He immediately sensed a subtle change in his Nascent Soul''s mystical abilities.
Previously, he could only use it once every three days; now, it could be activated approximately every two and a half days.
"Good. Next, I''ll im the opportunity to transform my Nascent Soul into a Grand Core."
Shen Mo left the cottage, flying through the air, and soon arrived at ake on Dragon Snake Mountain.
Thiske, too, was divided into various sections by fencing.
The most numerous inhabitants were green-eyed pythons.
There were also various demonic beasts, including frogs, turtles, and fish.
Shen Mo strolled around and soon found the smallest fenced area.
Inside were tenrge, entirely green fish swimming around.
They were the yixianqing, long since tamed by the Yuding Sect and ssified as spirit beasts.
These ten yixianqingwere of mediocre quality, which was why they were kept here on Dragon Snake Mountain.
The better-quality ones resided in theke of the Heng Tai Mountain Range, tended by designated caretakers.
To put it bluntly, their treatment was better than that of the outer sect disciples.
Shen Mo nced at them. These ten yixianqingwere practically identical, and no one would notice anything amiss about them at a nce.
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Chapter 208: Fire Dragon Egg Beneath Dragon Snake Mountain
Chapter 208: Fire Dragon Egg Beneath Dragon Snake Mountain
"Indeed, if it''s not meant for me, I wouldn''t be able to see it with the naked eye."
Shen Mo shook his head and took out a handful of bait from his storage ring, throwing it into the water.
He was well-versed in the habits of demonic beasts, including the yixianqing.
The bait he tossed had twoyers: the outeryer was something the yixianqingloved to eat, while the inneryer was something they found repulsive.
This way, without having to dissect them, he could induce them to regurgitate anything in their stomachs.
Momentster, the yixianqingbegan to vomit, and a palm-sized jade bottle emerged from the mouth of one of them.
Shen Mo''s eyes lit up with delight as he stepped forward to retrieve it.
The jade material of the bottle was high quality, so it hadn''t been corroded by the stomach acid even after being inside the yixianqing.
With a gentle wipe, it shone as if new.
Shen Mo opened the bottle, and a rich fragrance of medicinal pills filled the air.
He felt a slight strengthening of his Nascent Soul within his dantian as well.
His spirits lifted immediately.
He swiftly stored the bottle of Grand Infant Transformation Pills.
"This bottle contains five Grand Infant Transformation Pills, enough to help me reach the intermediate Nascent Soul stage."
"By calction, it''s worth at least two Grade C contributions."
Shen Mo sighed slightly.
He had long since learned that contributions in the Yuding Sect were graded from A to D, with A being the highest and D the lowest.
Ten Grade D contributions could be exchanged for one Grade C contribution.
The system continued in this way, with exchanges typically going upwards rather than downwards, simr to the use of spiritual stones.
For most of the Yuding Sect''s properties, if they met the standard for annual requirements, they earned only two Grade D contributions. More significant properties might yield more, but no more than four contributions.
Two Grade D contributions could only be exchanged for a single Infant Transformation Pill.
Exceeding the sect''s requirements would yield multiple contributions as a reward, depending on the situation.
The bottle of Grand Infant Transformation Pills Shen Mo obtained saved him a significant amount of contribution points.
He nodded slightly, intending to leave.
Suddenly, he saw a streak of light in the sky, and within an instant, it appeared a hundred meters before him.
The figure in the streak of light took shapea pale-faced cultivator in a crimson robe, with three small cauldrons embroidered on his chest, signifying his rank as a three-cauldron elder.
His cold expression seemed to deter anyone from approaching.
It was Ye Yan, whom Shen Mo had previously encountered in a skirmish above Cangjiang.
Ye Yan, recognizing Shen Mo''s one-cauldron elder robe, hesitated for a moment but quickly masked his reaction with his usual cold demeanor.
Shen Mo feigned confusion. "Who are you? Why did you react that way? Could it be that you know me?"
On that day above Cangjiang, Ye Yan had worn a demon mask and hadn''t been in his Yuding Sect elder robe.
Thus, he hadn''t revealed his identity.
Shen Mo had no intention of exposing him either, so he acted as though he was unaware.
Ye Yan didn''t answer and instead asked coldly, "Are you the guarding elder of Dragon Snake Mountain, Shen Mo?"
"Yes, that''s me. May I ask who you are?"
Ye Yan responded, "I am Ye Yan, here on orders from the Second Elder to retrieve the ten yixianqingin this area."
Shen Mo nodded, "Since it''s the Second Elder''s order, I willply. Please, go ahead."
The two exchanged no further words.
Ye Yan took the ten yixianqingand departed quickly.
Shen Mo watched him leave, his expression unchanged.
Only after putting several hundred miles between himself and Dragon Snake Mountain did Ye Yan''s expression shift, a look of suspicion and realization emerging.
"So, the one who took the Yin Evil Pearl was himthe tenth peak''s Shen Mo."
"Yang Qiye was right; this person is indeed a young prodigy, a true rival of mine."
"There are two ways to deal with such a person: either cut him down or make him serve as a loyal dog."
Ye Yan raised his eyebrows as a n formed in his mind.
Meanwhile, Shen Mo quickly made his way to a cave.
"It''s time to begin cultivating demonic beasts."
After feeding them heavenly essence grass and blue-blood mulberry leaves, the restless flying cloud mothers here had finally calmed down.
Having practiced the True Beast Mastery, Shen Mo now had an intimate understanding of various demonic beast habits.
Cultivating them was well within his capability.
"The flying cloud mothers carry traces of the ancient bloodline of the Golden Silkworm. To purify their bloodline, I''ll need to provide certain heavenly materials and earthly treasures."
"The necessary items include"
A flood of medicinal herbs shed through Shen Mo''s mind.
Some of these herbs could be found on Dragon Snake Mountain, while others could be purchased from the Jade Sea Hall in Jade Sea City.
Since Jade Sea Hall wasn''t the Jade Sea Sect''s Treasure Pavilion, they epted spirit stones for purchases.
Soon, Shen Mo gathered all the herbs he needed and brewed a medicinal solution.
He selected a few particrly robust flying cloud mothers and soaked them in the solution.
After a day, these flying cloud mothers had noticeably grown stronger.
However, when Shen Mo checked on them the following day, they had mysteriously returned to their original state!
"Strange why is this happening?"
Shen Mo immediately checked his personal life panel.
[Recent Turn 1: Today, the flying cloud mothers that were soaked in medicinal solution reverted to their original state. No solution has been found.]
[Recent Turn 2: One monthter, two especially strong long-maned oxen are selected to drink the medicinal solution, quickly bing stronger. A few dayster, they return to their original state. No solution has been found.]
[Recent Turn 3: Three monthster, a green-eyed python is soaked in medicinal solution to enhance its bloodline, but after a few days, it reverts back. No result.]
[]
[Recent Turn 10: Ten yearster, Ye Yan arrives at Dragon Snake Mountain and, while pursuing a rare demonic beast, discovers a fire dragon egg beneath the mountain that is in the process of hatching. The young dragon recognizes Ye Yan as its master.
This event causes the Jade Sea Sect''s guardian spirit beast, the fire dragon, to fly over from the Heng Tai Mountain Range, leading to the destruction of Dragon Snake Mountain. Shen Mo is affected by the disaster and takes five years to recover.]
Shen Mo''s eyes widened.
So that''s the reason!
No wonder the bloodlines of those demonic beasts would strengthen briefly, only to be immediately drained.
It was all because the fire dragon egg had been secretly absorbing them!
"Who would have thought that the fire dragon egg from years ago drifted down the Cangjiang River and ended up beneath Dragon Snake Mountain?"
"It must have entered the underground river."
"This opportunity eventually fell to Ye Yan, and I was caught in the aftermath, severely injured."@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo marveled at the revtion.
He couldn''t help but feel sympathy for the elders who had managed Dragon Snake Mountain in the past.
No wonder the Dragon Snake Mountain industry could never prosper. Who could have guessed that the only fire dragon egg was hidden here?
"Now that I know the cause, this will be easy to handle."
"I''ll find the fire dragon egg and hatch it early, making it recognize me as its master!"
Shen Mo acted decisively.
He ventured deep into the dark cave to begin his search.
After half a month of exploring, he finally located his target about a thousand feet underground.
It was an undergroundke.
Cold, biting water flowed through theke.
At the bottom of thekey the fire dragon egg, nearly as tall as a person!
It radiated heat, making the once frigidke water pleasantly warm.
Perhaps sensing the powerful life force of the beast within, a few demonic beasts lingered nearby, though none dared approach.
This ce had clearly be a forbidden zone.
Shen Mo muttered to himself, "The fire dragon egg must have been absorbing the world''s essence for centuries and is only now showing signs of hatching."
"Now, let''s take you away!"
Shen Mo took the fire dragon egg and, at a depth of about three hundred feet, found a hidden cave. He then prepared a bath of medicinal solution brewed from heavenly essence grass and white-shell fruit for the egg.
The fire dragon egg sensed the nutrient-rich solution and immediately began absorbing it.
Shen Mo arranged various formations around the area and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The reason the fire dragon egg had been absorbing the blood energy of the demonic beasts on Dragon Snake Mountain was simply due to ack of nutrients.
With sufficient nourishment, the previous issue would naturally stop.
"However at this rate, the heavenly essence grass and white-shell fruit I exchanged for two Grade D contributions may not be enough."
Shen Mo''s eyes widened as he saw therge barrel of solution quickly depleting.
"Right, that corpse cultivator must be valuable, right?" He recalled Ye Yan''s previous opportunity, and a glint of excitement shed in his eyes.
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Chapter 209: Tell Me Where You’re Cultivating the Remaining Yin Corpses
Chapter 209: Tell Me Where You''re Cultivating the Remaining Yin Corpses
Pingcheng.
This was a rather ordinary city within the jurisdiction of the Taishan Prefecture.
Nearby, there was a rocky hill and a smallke.
The city''s residents followed the rhythm of sunrise and sunset, working by day and resting by night.
There were no elders stationed here, only a few Foundation Establishment-level deacons from the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Since Pingchengcked any significant cultivation resources, even these deacons spent their days idling away.
However, in recent months, Pingcheng had been far from peaceful.
Cases of live people disappearing had been frequently reported.
Farmers who left the city early in the morning to work in the fields outside would vanish by evening.
Young people who went out in groups to enjoy the countryside would also fail to return by nightfall.
In just half a year, over a hundred people had disappeared.
At the same time, nearby cities around Pingcheng had also experienced disturbances caused by yin corpses.
Such malevolent creatures immediately drew the attention of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
As a result, they dispatched over twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators to search through these cities.
However, the one controlling the yin corpses was exceptionally cunning, evading capture each time.
In the end, the Jade Cauldron Sect could only ce a bounty on this so-called "Corpse Taoist."
But despite the bounty hanging in the air for half a year and several increases in the reward, no one had managed to capture him.
It was now nearly dusk.
Outside Pingcheng, beneath a tree.
A young man in simple clothing, carrying a bundle on his back, was waiting anxiously.
He looked up at the darkening sky, feeling both nervous and scared.
At the same time, terrifying rumors surfaced unbidden in his mind.
If one lingered outside after nightfall, they could encounter something dreadful.
And disappear forever.
Yet he couldn''t leave this ce.
Because he couldn''t abandon that person.
Not long after, a familiar figure, also dressed in coarse cloth, came running toward him.
Like him, she also carried a bundle.
The two saw each other and smiled with joy.
In the next moment, they embraced tightly.
The young man inhaled the fragrance of her hair.
The young woman, in turn, reveled in his strong, masculine presence.
Entwined in each other''s arms, they had no wish to separate.
"I never imagined you''d abandon your life of luxury and elope with me."
The man was overwhelmed with emotion.
The woman covered her mouth with a smile, "You''re my everything. Without you, what''s the point of enjoying a life of wealth and status?"
They held hands.
"I''ve already thought it over. We''ll go to Jade Sea City."
"It''s the most prosperous ce in the Taishan Prefecture. When we get there, we''ll open a bun shop. You''ll knead the dough, and I''ll make the buns!"
Imagining a future filled with boundless happiness, the young man''s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Yes, as long as we''re together, I don''t care what we do."
The young woman looked at him, her eyes full of joy.
"Since you''re willing to do anything, thene to me. Let''s be a pair of doomed lovers!"
A raspy, sinisterugh suddenly sounded behind them.
Startled, the two spun around.
There stood a hunched, eerie-looking figure.
Beside the strange man was a figure wrapped in a ck robe, broad and muscr, with a straw hat on his head.
The ck-robed figure exuded a menacing aura, clearly no ordinary person.
"You... you" The young man was so frightened he couldn''t speak.
"You''re the Corpse Taoist?!" The young woman steadied herself, speaking in a tone filled with both terror and shock.
"Hahaha, not bad. You, a mere mortal woman, guessed who I am in an instant. How clever."
"Let''s see if your body can withstand the wash of the Yin Fiend''s energy."
The eerie manughed chillingly.
With a pointed finger, the ck-robed figure pounced like a savage beast!
In that instant, his straw hat flew off, exposing his hideous face.
Rotting skin, reeking of decay, blood-red eyes, yellowed teeth.
It was a yin corpse!
The young woman was petrified with fear, unable to move.
The young man clenched his teeth, charging forward to shield her from the yin corpse, "Run! I''ll buy us some time!"
However, he had overestimated the gap between himself and the yin corpse.
In an instant, the corpse tore both his arms off, causing him to faint from the pain.
The corpse then threw the severed arms, hitting the fleeing woman, making her cough up blood before she, too, lost consciousness.
"Tsk, how many times have I told youdon''t damage the bodies," the Corpse Taoist frowned.
"Hurry up and take them away."
The yin corpse stiffly nodded, hoisting both of them onto its shoulders.
Just then, the Corpse Taoist turned around and saw a young man dressed in ck standing twenty paces behind, staring intently at him.
The man''s gaze didn''t look at him like he was a person, but rather as if he were a treasure.
The Corpse Taoist''s body stiffened immediately.
It was usually he who looked at others this way; never had he imagined someone would look at him like that.
"Who are you? Don''t get in my way," he said in a low voice.
"I''m not someone you can take from!"
Though he didn''t know the young man''s identity or power, the fact that he had managed to approach him so silently suggested considerable strength, likely equal to his own, around thete stage of Core Formation.
A life-or-death fight with someone like this would not be worthwhile.
The Corpse Taoist had survived over three hundred years and had encountered such situations many times. No one knew better than he how to adapt on the fly.
The man in ck let out a sinister chuckle. "I''m not here to take your belongingsI want you."
The Corpse Taoist was taken aback, his expression darkening. "We''re both in the same business. Can''t we work something out?"
He took a few steps forward, spreading his hands with a sincere expression as though to offer peace.
However, just as he finished speaking, two clouds of dark green powder shot out from his sleeves, surrounding the man in ck!
The Corpse Taoist summoned a skull-shaped spirit tool into his palm, channeling his spiritual energy and mming it.
A cloud of dark green poisonous mist appeared, surging toward the man in ck.
Meanwhile, the yin corpse carrying the couple gently set them down and charged straight at the man in ck!
In an instant, threeyers of attacks surrounded the man in ck, leaving him no room to escape.
The Corpse Taoist gave a slight smile.
That dark green powder was crafted from the remnants of his yin corpse refinement,ced with corpse poison. Once it infiltrated the body, it would cloud the mind and harm internal organs.
The skull spirit tool was even deadlier, forged from the skulls of forty-nine Core Formation cultivators, and infused with corpse, miasma, and yin poisons. The green poisonous mist was a mix of several lethal toxins.
As for the full-force attack of this fourth-grade yin corpse, it was terrifyingly powerful.
Caught off guard, his opponent would surely be severely injured by this onught.
"Dare to go against me, will you? I''ll turn you into a yin corpse myself!" the Corpse Taoist sneered.
But in the next instant, the yin corpse was sliced cleanly in half by a single sword strike.
The de''s lightning-infused shadow cut through the powder and poisonous mist, headed directly for him!
The Corpse Taoist''s pupils shrank in terror.
Panicking, he tried to summon his defensive techniques.
But his speed was nothingpared to the swift-and-slow rhythm of the Lightning Shadow Sword Technique.
In the blink of an eye, his right arm was sliced off!
"Ah!" the Corpse Taoist screamed in agony.
His opponent continued with three more swift strikes.
Within moments, both his legs and his remaining arm were severed.
In the blink of an eye, he was reduced to a helpless torso.@@novelbin@@
The Corpse Taoist''s face filled with terror.
He understood nowhe had encountered a true powerhouse!
The young man approached him slowly, revealing a face that looked almost unnaturally youthful.
The man grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.
"Tell me, where are the rest of your yin corpses being cultivated?"
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Chapter 210: Killing the Corpse Taoist and Returning to the Mission Hall
Chapter 210: Killing the Corpse Taoist and Returning to the Mission Hall
The Corpse Taoist''s mouth hung open, his face filled with shock.
In all his years, it was the first time he had encountered such a brutal takeover.
This person actually wanted his yin corpses!
"SeSenior, if you had told me sooner, I would have handed over the yin corpses without a word," he forced a smile, suppressing his pain.
Shen Mo responded indifferently, "Lead the way."
The Corpse Taoist pointed toward the riverbank, "Head a hundred and fifty li south of Pingcheng. There''s a protruding rock called Swallow Cliff."
Shen Mo nodded slightly, "Have that yin corpse take those two mortals back to the city gate. Do it quickly."
"Yes, yes," the Corpse Taoist replied.
He had no choice but tomand the yin corpse to carry the young man and woman away.
Momentster, the yin corpse returned to the Corpse Taoist''s side.
"Let''s go to Swallow Cliff," Shen Mo said calmly.
"Please follow me, Senior." The Corpse Taoist had the yin corpse lift him up.
He wanted to escape, but the young cultivator behind him possessed unfathomable strength, far beyond what he could withstand.
For now, he could only take things one step at a time.
Perhaps leading him to the yin corpse cultivation site could offer some chance to escape using the terrain''s advantages.
Shen Mo nced at his life panel and smiled.
Elsewhere, the young man and woman regained consciousness, still shaken by fear.
"The Corpse Taoist! He''s the one abducting people!"
"I''ll carry you to the medical hall to reattach your arms, and then I''ll report this to the City Lord so he can capture that Corpse Taoist!" the woman said urgently.
"Alright, I''ll follow your lead." The young man, though bleeding heavily from his arms, nodded firmly.
...
Beneath Swallow Cliff.
The Corpse Taoist looked at the dark river, handing Shen Mo a dark pill.
"Senior, this is my special Breath Sealing Pillsuperior to ordinary ones."
Shen Mo chuckled faintly, declining the dubious pill and instead producing a Water Bubble.
In an instant, he submerged into the river, protected by the Water Bubble, allowing him to breathe and move freely without concern for the pressure at the riverbed.
The Corpse Taoist observed the strange spiritual tool with suspicion.
He dared not say anything and led the way ahead.
Soon, they reached a concealed underwater entrance.
After the yin corpse removed a boulder blocking the cave''s mouth, they entered in session.
They swam through a sloping passageway, emerging into a space beyond a magical barrier that kept the water out.
Beyond the water curtainy a dry cavern.
Upon entering, Shen Mo immediately sensed a dense presence of yin energy.
The air was thick with a foul, decaying stench.
Shen Mo scanned the area.
It couldn''t be called luxurious; in fact, it was downright shabby.
The cavern walls were lined with numerous alcoves about ten feet high.
Each alcove held a yin corpse with closed eyes.
At the center of the cavern stood arge vat of dark green liquid.
The ground was littered with trash and debris.
To put it bluntly, even a dog wouldn''t want to live here.
"Please take a seat, Senior. I''ll retrieve the bell used to control the yin corpses for you," the Corpse Taoist said, forcing a smile as he backed away slowly.
Shen Mo smirked, "Backing away? Preparing to release poison fog, perhaps?"
The Corpse Taoist''s eyes widened in shock and anger.
What was going on?
His every thought was being seen through as clearly as if the man could predict the future!
"Die!" he snarled, gritting his teeth and deciding to go all out.
He had long since set up a poison fog array within the cavern.
The array was far more potent than any spirit tool or poison he possessed.
Once activated, even if his opponent survived, he would be in terrible condition!
But he had overestimated himself once again.
Before he could activate the array, a sh of lightning-infused sword light appeared in an instant.
The Corpse Taoist''s expression froze.
The next moment, a line of blood appeared across his neck.
In an instant, his head flew, and his headless body copsed backward.
Shen Mo casually wrapped the severed head and stored it in his storage ring.
Then, as if splitting melons, Shen Mo proceeded to slice open each of the yin corpses.
There were twenty yin corpses in total within the cavern.
After dismantling them, Shen Mo indeed found two Yin Fiend Beads.
"Not bad, these two Yin Fiend Beads should be enough to upgrade my Dan Crown to blue."
He searched the cavern further.
Finding nothing else of value, he decided to leave immediately.
However, just as he emerged from the river, he noticed arge crowd gathered on the riverbank.
These people held torches, peering intently into the water.
Leading them was a figure with Core Formation cultivation.
It seemed this was the chief deacon sent by the Jade Cauldron Sect to guard Pingcheng.
"Who goes there?!"
The Core Formation deacon noticed Shen Mo and shouted in shock and anger.
Shen Mo tossed over the Jade Cauldron Token. "I am an elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect. The Corpse Taoist and his yin corpses have been eradicated. There is an underwater cave below containing all of the Corpse Taoist''s refined yin corpses. Take your men down to retrieve the bodies."
The deacon recognized the Jade Cauldron Token, his heart trembling, and he immediately bowed respectfully. "Yes, thank you, Elder, for ridding us of the Corpse Taoist menace!"
Shen Mo nodded slightly, then ascended into the air and quickly disappeared into the horizon.
When the news spread, the citizens and soldiers of Pingcheng rejoiced.
The Corpse Taoist was dead, and the shadow that loomed over the surrounding cities had finally lifted.
Of course, this was of little importance to Shen Mo.
It was merely a means to earn contributions.
...
At the Jade Cauldron Sect''s Mission Hall.
Although this hall wasn''t as critical as the Treasure Pavilion or the Scripture Pavilion, nor as grand, it was bustling with people from morning till night without rest.
Shen Monded at the entrance of the Mission Hall.
He went straight up to the third floor.
Compared to the first and second floors, the third floor was much quieter.
There were significantly fewer people here.
Like the halls on the lower floors, arge stone tablet disyed various missions.
However, the mission tablet on the third floor was essible only to elders.
Shen Mo looked at the top row of the tablet.
"Nine-Star Mission: Assist the Guardian in mating. Reward: One A-rank contribution and a Dragon Favor from the Guardian."
The Guardian, of course, was the honorific used within the Jade Cauldron Sect for the Li Fire Flood Dragon.
After all, it had once fought alongside the sect''s founding ancestor.
Shen Mo continued scanning the tablet.
There were several other nine-star missions.
Nine-Star Mission:Restore an Ancient Pill Recipe.
Reward:Dependent on the level of the restored recipe, ranging from one C-rank to one A-rank contribution. Additionally, a fifty percent discount on pill exchanges from the Treasure Pavilion.
Nine-Star Mission:Refine crystals for the Heavenly Treasure Nine Dragon Cauldron.
Reward:One A-rank contribution and ess to use the Heavenly Treasure Nine Dragon Cauldron once per month.
Nine-Star Mission:Find a Li Fire Flood Dragon Egg.@@novelbin@@
Reward:One A-rank contribution and a Dragon Favor from the Guardian.
Shen Mo pondered.
He had heard of the ancient pill recipes.
Long ago, a powerful sect named the Nine Transformations Pill Dao Sect existed on thend of Yuzhou.
Even the Emperor Jing had to purchase pills from the Nine Transformations Pill Dao Sect back then.
Later, the Nine Transformations Pill Dao Sect attempted to overthrow the imperial power, leading Emperor Jing to join forces with Yuzhou''s major sects to destroy them.
Dan River Sect inherited part of the Nine Transformations Pill Dao Sect''s alchemy techniques, making it now the sect most skilled in alchemy among the three sects of Yuzhou.
The Jade Cauldron Sect, on the other hand, had managed to seize several fragmented pill recipes and the Heavenly Treasure Nine Dragon Cauldron, a powerful celestial-grade spiritual artifact.
However, fully restoring those fragmented pill recipes was an enormous and arduous task.
This mission had always been left untouched, as no one was willing to undertake it.
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Chapter 211: Mei Haihe’s Unwavering Loyalty to Shen Mo
Chapter 211: Mei Haihe''s Unwavering Loyalty to Shen Mo
As for the second nine-star mission, refining crystals for the Heaven''s Treasure Nine Dragons Cauldron requires no further exnation.
The Heaven''s Treasure Nine Dragons Cauldron is a heaven-grade spiritual weapon, with each of its legs able to be infused with a demon crystal.
Even the slightest error could damage the cauldron and cause the demon crystal to shatter.
For a weapon of this caliber, only a sixth-rank demon crystal would suffice.
Sixth-rank demon crystals are obtained only from sixth-rank demon beasts, whose power rivals cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage!
Even a sect as formidable as the Jade Cauldron Sect could not afford to squander sixth-rank demon crystals so freely.
The third nine-star mission, however, was to retrieve a zing Fire Dragon Egg, which was now in Shen Mo''s possession.
Yet, the offered reward was so minimal that Shen Mo was reluctant to hand over the egg.
If he were to hatch it himself, the young dragon would surely recognize him as its master.
That would be far more valuable than a single A-rank contribution or the "dragon kinship" of a zing Fire Dragon.
Shen Mo continued reading the list.
He soon found his target among the four-star missions.
Four-Star Mission: Eliminate the Corpse Taoist guing the Ping City area.
Reward: Two C-rank contributions and two Yin Sha Pearls.
Shen Mo was pleased.
Just as he expected.
Two C-rank contributions could be exchanged for twenty D-rank contributions, enough for his needs in theing period.
His investment in Dragon Serpent Mountain would yield him more contributions in the future.
Shen Mo took out his Jade Cauldron Pearl, lightly touched it to the stone tablet, and epted the mission.
He then approached the counter.
Behind the counter stood a round-faced girl who respectfully greeted him, "Elder, how may I assist you?"
Shen Mo produced the Corpse Taoist''s head, along with some fragments of corpse puppets, and handed them over.
"I have eliminated the Corpse Taoist."
The girl''s eyes widened in surprise.
The Corpse Taoist mission initially began as a two-star task, but over the past six months, its difficulty had risen to four stars.
The reward had multiplied ordingly.
Several elders of the first and second ranks had attempted to locate the Corpse Taoist.
Yet all had ultimately wasted days in vain and forfeited some contributions due to their failure toplete the mission.
Unexpectedly, this daunting mission was aplished by this incredibly young elder!
"Please wait a moment; I will immediately summon the Sixth Elder overseeing the Mission Pavilion to verify this. It won''t take long." The girl became even more respectful.
Shen Mo nodded.
About a hundred breathster, the round-faced girl returned, her face filled with reverence. "The Sixth Elder has confirmed that this is indeed the Corpse Taoist''s head. Congrattions onpleting the mission."
"This storage ring contains your reward: two Yin Sha Pearls."
"Please present your Jade Cauldron Pearl."
Shen Mo handed over his Jade Cauldron Pearl.
The girl took it, touched it to therge Jade Cauldron Pearl on the counter, and returned it to him.
"The two C-rank contributions have also been credited to your ount."
Shen Mo nodded slightly, then departed, heading straight to the Treasure Pavilion.
Shortly after Shen Mo left the Mission Pavilion, a figure d in a crimson robe entered.
The round-faced girl''s eyes lit up, fixed on the young man with admiration.
This was none other than Ye Yan.
Ye Yan''s gaze scanned the stone tablet.
Yet, after looking up and down, he didn''t find the mission he sought.
He frowned. "Where''s the mission to eliminate the Corpse Taoist? Even if someone else has taken it, I should still be able to ept it."
The girl quickly replied, "Elder Ye, just a moment ago, another elderpleted that mission."
"The reward of two C-rank contributions and two Yin Sha Pearls has already been issued to him."
Ye Yan frowned deeply.
The mission had remained upleted for half a year.
He had gathered some leads on the Corpse Taoist through his subordinates and hade to ept the task.
But it seemed someone had beaten him to it just moments earlier.
Without those two Yin Sha Pearls, he would have to dy his ns to craft high-quality Dan Crowns.
Ye Yan said coldly, "Who was that elder? Tell me his name."
"I want to find him and buy those two Yin Sha Pearls."
The girl, slightly intimidated by his gaze, checked the records and quickly replied, "Reporting to Elder Ye, that elder''s name is Shen Mo."
Ye Yan''s expression froze.
Without waiting for the girl to say anything further, he strode out of the Mission Pavilion.
"My power is equal to Shen Mo''s; those two Yin Sha Pearls won''t be attainable"
He snorted coldly and returned to the Second Peak to continue his cultivation.
Dragon Serpent Mountain.
Shen Mo arrived in the skies above Dragon Serpent Mountain, a faint smile ying on his lips.
After earning two C-rank contributions for ying the Corpse Taoist, he had gone on a shopping spree in the Treasure Pavilion.
In one go, he took away 5,000 pounds of Heavenly Essence Grass and 8,000 pounds of White Shell Fruit.
Additionally, he exchanged for arge amount of rare resources that could optimize the bloodlines of demon beasts like the Flying Cloud Crane, the Long-maned Ox, and the Green-eyed Python.
Several low-grade storage rings were packed to the brim.
The steward of the Treasure Pavilion could only watch with wide eyes, unsure what this young elder was nning.
"Hm? Someone''s here?"
Shen Mo nced toward the small dwelling on Dragon Serpent Mountain and sensed a third presence there besides Huang Bayi and Huang Caiying.
He gracefully descended.
There, he saw an old man with an ethereal, sage-like appearance, sitting around a campfire with Huang Bayi and Huang Caiying, sharing a roast pig.
The three of them had grease smeared all over their faces.
"It''s you?" Shen Mo chuckled in surprise.
The old man was none other than Mei Haihe.
The elderly man stood up and, without warning, burst into tears, his ethereal demeanor vanishing instantly. "Elder Shen! I''ve missed you terribly!"
Shen Mo suddenly recalled that he had left Mei Haihe at Jade Sea Hall andpletely forgotten about him.
"I spoke with Hall Master He at Jade Sea Hall and learned you were overseeing Dragon Serpent Mountain, so I thought I''de find you!"
"Dragon Serpent Mountain needs people, doesn''t it? I, this humble old man, am willing to serve Elder Shen with all my might!"
Mei Haihe bowed deeply to Shen Mo, his tone utterly sincere.
Huang Caiying, gripping a pig leg with her tiny hands, quickly said, "Elder, Grandpa Mei is a good person! He caught this wild pig, and it''s really delicious."
"Please take him in," she pleaded.
Huang Bayi nodded in agreement.
Shen Mo''s expression remained calm. "Mei Haihe, I can''t offer you an official position right now. You won''t receive a monthly stipend or any benefits. Until the end of this year, you''ll remain an external worker at Dragon Serpent Mountain. Do you understand?"
Mei Haihe''s face lit up with excitement, catching the implication in Shen Mo''s words.
Not this year, but perhaps next yearthere was hope!
"Yes, yes! I understandpletely!" he said, barely containing his excitement.
If it weren''t for the situation, he would have dly knelt down in gratitude.
As a rogue cultivator in the Core Formation stage, he had no chance of bing a steward in the Jade Cauldron Sect. Yet Shen Mo had effectively granted him a temporary position.
Naturally, Mei Haihe was profoundly grateful.
"From now on, you''ll handle all the misceneous tasks on Dragon Serpent Mountain," Shen Mo said calmly. "You''ll also handle errands for Jade Sea Hall. Huang Bayi is getting old, and Huang Caiying is still too young, so this will be your responsibility."
There were quite a few herbs Shen Mo needed from Jade Sea Hall, saving him the trouble of traveling to the Jade Cauldron Sect''s Treasure Pavilion.
Now, Mei Haihe could take on these tasks, freeing up Shen Mo from making the long trip.
Mei Haihe nodded fervently, "Yes, yes! I''m willing to work like a horse or hound for Elder Shen!"
"Take this list and head to Jade Sea Hall immediately. Buy every herb listed here."
"You''ll need to cover the cost yourself for now, but I''ll reimburse you when you return."
Shen Mo quickly jotted down a list and handed it to him.
"Yes, sir!" Mei Haihe replied solemnly.
This was the very first task his new master had given him.
He was determined to execute it wlessly!
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Chapter 213: The Remains of Immortal Hell Flame
Chapter 213: The Remains of Immortal Hell me
Shen Mo''s heart stirred. "Elder, do you know why the demon beasts are so agitated?"
The old man spoke in a low voice, "Master, I''ve heard a rumor, but I don''t know if it''s true."
"Please, go on."
The old man nodded. "Back in my great-grandfather''s time, he was a Qi Condensation cultivator and once witnessed a powerful figure entering and leaving the northern slopes of the Qi Yun Mountain Range multiple times."
"My great-grandfather suspected that this powerful figure might have had a hidden cave dwelling on the northern slopes."
"Many vigers in ourmunity believe the same."
"However, though we often climbed the mountains to gather herbs, we never found any cave dwelling, and over time, this tale faded from memory."
"Still, quite a few cultivators search for the cave with so-called maps."
Shen Mo''s eyes brightened upon hearing this.
Excellent, the opportunity has practically fallen into his hands!
"Elder, where do you n to relocate?" he asked.
"Back to you, Master, we''re heading to that town on the southern slopes near the Jade Cauldron Sect, where a good-hearted master offers protection."
"Very well, I''ll take you there."
Shen Mo took hold of the old man and the young boy, flying with ease, and soon delivered them to their destination.
The old man was overwhelmed with gratitude, almost kneeling before Shen Mo.
After all, if they had walked on foot, it would have taken them over ten days, facing many perils along the way.
Demon beasts and rogue cultivators alike posed constant threats.
This act of kindness had indeed saved them from immense danger.
"No need to thank me; just live well."
Shen Mo smiled, patting the old man before flying off toward the northern slopes of the Qi Yun Mountain Range.
Circling the northern slopes, he soon spotted an abandoned vige.
There wasn''t a single inhabitant left.
However, several demon beasts roamed within the vige.
These beasts were abnormally restless, frequently roaring and howling as if in a frenzy.
Contemting the scene, Shen Mo immediately approached.
After capturing a few of the beasts for examination, he discovered something startling.
The brains of these demon beasts had undergone an irreversible transformation.
Of course, a demon beast''s brain is usually norger than a walnut.
Now, their brains had shrunk to nearly the size of a sesame seed.
"No wonder they''re so mindless; they''ve even lost the basic instincts for survival."
Shen Mo felt a surge of excitement.
It was bing increasingly clear that a hidden cave dwelling must be nearby!
The influence of this dwelling had caused the changes in the demon beasts.
He began tracking the crazed demon beasts, eventually tracing them to the source.
It was an unassuming spring!
These demon beasts had been drinking from the spring, which had caused their brains to gradually shrink.
"This spring appears shallow, but perhaps it''s an illusion."
Shen Mo''s mind raced, and he flicked his finger, sending a strand of spiritual energy toward the spring.
To his delight, the spiritual energy pierced through the spring''s bottom!
"Just as I thought!"@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo immediately took out a water-breathing charm and dove into the spring.
He easily passed through the bottom of the spring, moving deeper down.
Beneath the spring, it was pitch-ck, cold, and mysterious.
Shen Mo felt as though something in the darkness was watching him.
He activated a protective barrier around himself and continued to descend.
Strangely, he faced no attacks or obstructions as he sank to the bottom.
There, embedded in the rock wall, stood a massive, imposing gate.
Seeing the style of carvings on the gate, Shen Mo was lost in thought.
He felt as though he had seen this style somewhere before.
As he pondered, the gate sensed something and opened on its own before he could even touch it!
Slightly surprised, he entered.
Boom.
The giant gate closed behind him with a thunderous sound.
Before Shen Moy a vast, ancient cave dwelling.
Against the wall sat a skeletal figure.
Floating in midair within the cave were two clusters of light.
One was a book.
The other was a helmet, purple-ck in color.
With a simple gesture, Shen Mo easily retrieved the book.
The cover bore fiverge characters.
Divine Thunder Suppression Scripture!
As Shen Mo opened the book, he found a few lines written on the first page.
"I, who go by the Daoist title ''Hell me,'' was gravely wounded by a great demon at the Sea of Demon Suppression. Though I narrowly escaped and returned to Jing Nation, I am now near death.
At the end of my life, I poured my thoughts into creating the Divine Thunder Suppression Scripture.
May future cultivators carry it forward and rid the world of demons on my behalf.
The demon''s name is ''Anchen.''"
Shen Mo was mildly surprised.
No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity when he discovered this cave.
Unexpectedly, it was a cave dwelling left behind by True Master Hell me!
"It''s unfortunate that True Master Hell me has passed away."
"But what exactly is the Sea of Demon Suppression? I have no knowledge of such a ce."
Shen Mo pondered.
This world was farrger than he had imagined.
Just within Jing Nation, there were nine provinces.
To the south of Jing Nationy the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons, and to the east was known as the East Sea.
The Sea of Demon Suppression must lie beyond the East Sea.
Standing before the remains of True Master Hell me, Shen Mo bowed deeply.
He had previously obtained the Scripture of Hell me''s Destruction.
It was thanks to this scripture that he had been able to progress so swiftly.
Now, he had acquired the Divine Thunder Suppression Scripture.
In a way, though True Master Hell me had never appeared before him or spoken a word, he had yed an essential role in Shen Mo''s growth.
Performing this solemn gesture of respect felt fitting.
"The great demon must be incredibly powerful. I cannot avenge you now, but someday I will go to the Sea of Demon Suppression and y the demon Anchen!"
Shen Mo spoke solemnly, bowed once more, and then took his leave.
Six days after Shen Mo left the Qi Yun Mountain Range, two figures approached from the south and north, almost arriving simultaneously.
They were Ye Yan and Xiao Fan.
Ye Yan hade to seek a rare demon beast to breed with his old dragon.
Meanwhile, Xiao Fan searched the northern slopes, asionally muttering, "Old Dan, are you sure this is the ce?"
An ancient voice echoed in his mind.
"Yes, this is undoubtedly the location."
"After being wounded by a great demon in the Sea of Demon Suppression, True Master Hell me fled here. I saw it with my own eyes."
"Unfortunately, despite my years of searching, I was never able to find the cave."
"But you are different; you are the Child of Fortune, born with immense luck."
"You are sure to find the cave dwelling!"
Xiao Fan''s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Great!"
After learning of Shen Mo''s defeat of Yao Yunluo, he had immediately fled with Ouyang Qian.
By chance, he discovered an ancient ring in a mass grave along the way.
Within the ring resided the spirit of Old Dan.
Old Dan imed to be the Grand Elder of the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect from five thousand years ago, searching for a sessor to rebuild the sect.
Now, he had chosen Xiao Fan.
With Old Dan''s help, Xiao Fan had nurtured the Seven-Lotus Nascent Soul and reached the Nascent Soul stage.
Overjoyed, Xiao Fan''s expression darkened as he remembered something.
"Am I truly the Child of Fortune? Yet back in Xuanjiang Prefecture, I was always suppressed by others."
"Every opportunity was always seized by him before I could reach it."
"Sometimes, I even think he is the bane of my destiny."
Old Dan frowned. "How could that be? I calcted that you are a reincarnated powerhouse destined for smooth sailing, without any hindrance."
"You are a true dragon among men, with only one rival in this life. And that person isn''t even in Xuanjiang Prefecture."
"It''s highly likely that you''ll encounter this rival during your quest for the cave."
Xiao Fan frowned deeply. "Could it be that I''ll meet Shen Mo here again? He''ll likely reach the treasure before I do!"
Old Dan shook his head. "No, no, no. You two will have a fierce contest, each obtaining something. This is what I have foreseen."
Only then did Xiao Fan nod, his mind somewhat at ease.
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Chapter 214: Ye Yan and Xiao Fan’s Fierce Duel – Unleashing Trump Cards
Chapter 214: Ye Yan and Xiao Fan''s Fierce Duel C Unleashing Trump Cards
On the other side:
Ye Yan stood amidst a pool of blood, holding a tattered map, deep in thought.
He had passed by the area and overheard some wandering cultivators discussing this matter.
Such an opportunity was not something he would let slip.
With a casual strike, he slew the group and seized the map.
"To think that such a chaotic ce would hide a cavernous estate?"
Ye Yan''s sharp gaze flickered as he quickly made his way to the northern slopes of the Qiyun Mountain Range.
The two men began their search separately, one heading north and the other south.
Three dayster, with Old Dan''s assistance, Xiao Fan was the first to locate an inconspicuous spring.
Without hesitation, he dove underwater and swam toward the cavern.
Shortly after Xiao Fan entered the depths, Ye Yan arrived, guided by the map, and likewise plunged into the waters.
One after the other, the two immediately became aware of each other''s presence.
Ye Yan wasted no time and attacked without warning.
In his eyes, anyone vying for the cavern with him deserved to die.
He condensed mes into a massive de and swung it fiercely.
Even within the deep pool, where the fiery aura was suppressed by the water''s spiritual energy, the mes'' power was immense.
Before the de evennded, Xiao Fan felt a burning sensation on his back, as though fire was scorching him. The pain was excruciating.
"A formidable enemy!"
"This must be the individual I predicteda rival for you."
Old Dan''s voice echoed in Xiao Fan''s mind.
"Even with memories of your past life, you''re no match for him. Allow me to block this strike. You must focus on entering the cavern and securing your destiny!"
"Understood!" Xiao Fan nodded gravely, his expression resolute.
A burst of light erupted behind Xiao Fan as a phantom of an elderly figure materialized.
With a sudden motion, the phantom delivered a powerful palm strike.
The fiery de shed with the phantom''s attack, sending shockwaves rippling through the water.
The turbulent waves slowed Ye Yan''s movements significantly.
Meanwhile, Xiao Fan''s speed surged as he darted toward a stone gate.
Ye Yan''s eyes turned icy.
"So, a powerful soul resides within him. A primordial soul? Only Nascent Soul-stage practitioners can cultivate such a thing!"
"Interesting. Talented individuals seem to be everywhere these days."
"First Shen Mo, now this Xiao Fan."
Ye Yan smirked coldly, employing a movement technique to elerate toward the gate.
"I''ll open it!" Old Dan bellowed, mming his palm against the stone gate with immense force.
The gate shuddered, and a crack appeared.
Overjoyed, Xiao Fan prepared to slip through the gap.
"The treasures in this cavern are mine. You won''t take them!"
Ye Yan''s cold voice echoed ominously.
"Nascent Soul Art: me Manifestation!"
In the next moment, an overwhelming surge of mes erupted, colliding with the gap in the stone gate.
The mes didn''t dissipate immediately; instead, they spread across the gate''s surface, forming a zing.
The surrounding water boiled violently, creating countless bubbles.
Xiao Fan was forced to retreat.
"The power of a Nascent Soul Art?!" Xiao Fan eximed in shock and fury.
This man was so desperate for the treasure that he resorted to his trump card, a Nascent Soul Artsomething typically reserved for life-and-death situations.
Once used, it couldn''t be activated again for several days. If Ye Yan faced a life-threatening crisis in the interim, he''d have no choice but to sacrifice his lifespan to deploy it.
"You must use your own Nascent Soul Art! This is not the time to hold back!" Old Dan urged.
"Behind that stone gate lies the treasures left by the Immortal Hell meperhaps a Heaven-tier martial technique, a Heaven-tier spiritual weapon, or even a demonic armor. Anything is possible!"
Old Dan''s tone was firm.
"Your Nascent Soul Art is no weaker than his. If one strike isn''t enough, use two. Don''t hesitate to spend some of your lifespan!"
"Once you grow stronger, there will be countless heavenly treasures and elixirs to replenish it!"
"Alright! I''ll follow your guidance!" Xiao Fan responded solemnly.
He understood that now was the moment to gamble everything.
Whoever was stronger would im the cavern and its treasures.
Thus, despite having never met before, the two were destined to fight to the death.
"Nascent Soul Art: Undying Battle Physique!"
With a roar, Xiao Fan unleashed a torrent of spiritual energy, channeling it into every inch of his bones, muscles, and skin.
His stature instantly surged upward, growing significantly taller.
His body also swelled noticeably, resembling a small giant.
The aura he emitted was overwhelmingly terrifying, utterly unlike that of an entry-level Nascent Soul-stage practitioner.
Ye Yan''s heart skipped a beat.
The opponent''s Nascent Soul Art was formidable, clearly a technique that greatly enhanced physical strength across the board for a short period.
In directbat, the opponent''s Nascent Soul Art was undoubtedly superior.@@novelbin@@
However, Ye Yan''s Nascent Soul Art, while less suited for head-onbat, excelled in endurance and flexibility.
Determining a clear winner between them wouldn''t be easy!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The two exchanged ferocious blows, each attack more intense than thest.
Xiao Fan, like a towering giant, delivered bone-crushing punches, each onending with devastating force.
Ye Yan, on the other hand, demonstrated incredible agility, deftly evading Xiao Fan''s strikes and asionally shing with a sudden, precise de.
Their fight grew more heated with each sh.
Eventually, both resorted to using their Nascent Soul Arts two, even three times, burning through decades of their lifespans in the process.
The intense battle left them both exhausted, their trump cards nearly depleted, yet the stalemate persisted.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Fan growled, "If we keep fighting like this, we''ll both end up severely injured, and neither of us will get the treasures in the cavern."
"Why don''t we call a temporary truce and enter the cavern first?"
Ye Yan''s eyes remained icy as he replied, "Fine. A temporary truce."
Both men stopped their attacks simultaneously.
Yet, their hands, hidden within their sleeves, were subtly poised, spiritual energy faintly surging.
It was clear they were prepared to counterattack at any moment.
"Old Dan," Xiao Fan murmured.
Old Dan nodded and materialized once more, channeling immense force into the stone gate.
With a loud rumble, the gate slowly creaked open, revealing a crack.
Ye Yan immediately darted into the cavern.
Xiao Fan followed closely behind.
Inside, the cavern was remarkably dry, devoid of any moisture.
Both men finally exhaled in relief.
The immense water pressure at such depths had forced them to continuously expend spiritual energy just to endure, and now they finally had a moment to recover.
"This ce ispletely empty?" Xiao Fan eximed as he surveyed the surroundings.
Ye Yan''s attention was immediately drawn to a skeleton lying in the center of the cavern, his expression darkening.
"A skeleton That''s all this cavern holds?!"
Old Dan emerged from Xiao Fan''s body, staring intently at the skeleton. "Six fingers on the left hand, a missing pinky on the right. No doubt, this is the Immortal Hell me."
"But why is there nothing else here?"
The three split up to search the cavern.
They overturned stone tables, stone beds, and stone chairs, leaving no corner unchecked.
Yet, there were no Heaven-tier techniques, no Heaven-tier artifactsnothing but a cloud of dust.
The grim realization dawned on them both.
After such an intense fight, and having sacrificed so much of their lifespans, they had gained absolutely nothing.
Both men''s faces twisted with fury.
They had fought tooth and nail, burned through their trump cards, and spent decades of their livesall for nothing.
Such a cruel oue would drive anyone to madness.
"Did you know this ce was empty all along? Were you just wasting my time?!" Ye Yan snapped, his icy demeanor giving way to anger.
Xiao Fan gritted his teeth. "I was about to ask you the same! I burned through thirty years of my lifespan for this! For what?!"
Both men were consumed with rage, now viewing each other as bitter enemies.
Yet, they were also painfully aware that they had exhausted their resources. Even if they wanted to fight again, they no longer had the strength.
In the end, Xiao Fan turned and left, his face ashen.
Ye Yan hesitated for a moment, then approached the skeleton of the Immortal Hell me. He broke it apart piece by piece, examining each bone meticulously.
But even within the remains, he found nothing hidden.
"I, Ye Yan, have suffered a humiliating defeat here!"
"One day, I will kill that man!"
His eyes gleamed with a bone-chilling coldness.
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Chapter 215: Mutual Exploitation and Shared Goals
Chapter 215: Mutual Exploitation and Shared Goals
Jade Cauldron Sect, Elders'' Pavilion.
A year had passed, and this month it was the Second Elder, Yang Qiye''s, turn to preside over the Elders'' Pavilion.
Kneeling halfway before him was Xu Ziqiang. Thanks to the elixirs provided by Yang Qiye, his legs had fully recovered.
"Second Elder!"
Xu Ziqiang dered resolutely, "The year-end evaluations of various industries have arrived. Please grant me permission to visit Dragon Snake Mountain!"
"Shen Mo must have utterly failed to meet even the most basic standards of assessment."
"I want to witness his utter embarrassment, unable to even speak in his defense!"
Hatred shed in his eyes as he spoke.
The memory of having his legs severed was still seared into his mind, and he would never forget the pain.
Yang Qiye considered this briefly. "You can go, but not alone."
"After all, you''re only at the Core Formation stage, and he''s a Nascent Soul cultivator."
"With just the slightest excuse, he could put you in your ce again."
Xu Ziqiang shuddered.
That was true.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed.
Dressed in a crimson robe, Ye Yan entered, his expression dark and brooding.
Yang Qiye raised an eyebrow. "Yan''er, apany Xu Ziqiang to Dragon Snake Mountain to collect its output."
Ye Yan took a deep breath. "Understood."
Yang Qiye asked, "What''s wrong? You don''t seem yourself. I''ve never seen you in such a mood before."
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Ye Yan''s temples, noticing strands of white hair.
It was clearly the aftereffect of forcibly using a Nascent Soul Art during a life-threatening confrontation.
Xu Ziqiang also nced at Ye Yan, surprised.
Ye Yan, known for his cold and domineering demeanor, now appeared as if he had suffered some major setback.@@novelbin@@
Ye Yan''s face gradually turned expressionless.
The events at the Qiyun Mountain Range were, of course, impossible to disclose.
To have fought desperately against someone, sacrificed decades of his lifespan, and ultimately gained nothingit was utterly humiliating!
If word got out, his dignity would be in tatters.
"It''s nothing, Master. I''ll handle my own matters," Ye Yan replied calmly.
Yang Qiye nodded approvingly. "Good. That''s the trait I admire most in you."
"Don''t fear failure. A person who sails through life too smoothly will only growcent. Consider this a valuable lesson."
"Now, head to Dragon Snake Mountain. No matter how talented Shen Mo is, no matter how gifted hisprehension, he cannot possibly meet the sect''s requirements."
"Furthermore, Shen Mo is the eighth elder stationed there, and in the past 300 years, not a single year has passed without Dragon Snake Mountain incurring losses. This alone proves that the mountain, like the Jade Cauldron Sect''s beast-taming industry, is utterly defunct."
"With these results in hand, I can bring the matter up in the Elders'' Assembly. This will give me enough leverage to force the Sect Master and Great Elder to abandon the beast-taming industry altogether."
Ye Yan nodded. "Understood."
He quickly left.
Not long after Ye Yan''s departure, amunication jade within Yang Qiye''s storage ring began to tremble.
His expression shifted slightly, and he immediately left the confines of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
After disguising himself, he arrived at a small nearby town and entered an inn.
At a window-side table, an unassuming middle-aged man was waiting.
Yang Qiye sat across from him, and both raised their teacups simultaneously to take a sip.
In a low voice, Yang Qiye asked, "General Wu, why have you sought me out?"
The middle-aged man smiled. "The governor has instructed me to deliver something to Elder Yang."
As he spoke, he turned his palm over and presented a jade box.
Yang Qiye opened it, and his aged eyes widened in shock.
"Theplete crafting methods for the Green Lotus Set?"
The "Green Lotus" referred to the Green Lotus Crown, Green Lotus Robe, and Green Lotus Bootsa set of spiritual artifacts that was the pride of the Supreme Purity Sect.
Its defensive capabilities were unparalleled, and it even elerated wound healing.
Many cultivators eagerly sought it out, saving up spirit stones for over a decade just to purchase a single piece.
Although the Jade Cauldron Sect had produced numerous spiritual artifacts modeled after the Green Lotus Set, neither their performance nor their pricing couldpete with the genuine Green Lotus.
And now, the crafting methods for the Green Lotus had fallen into his hands so easily.
Yang Qiye felt as though he were dreaming.
"This item," the middle-aged man said, "was obtained by the governor of Yu Prefecture after pulling every string he had and offering considerable concessions to the Sect of Supreme Purity."
"But don''t get too excited, Elder Yang. This is an outdated crafting method. The Sect of Supreme Purity already has superior techniques."
"The governor hopes that the Jade Cauldron Sect can use this method to produce spiritual artifacts that can rival the Sect of Supreme Purity''s offerings."
The middle-aged man smiled faintly.
Yang Qiye nodded deeply.
He was no fool and understood the governor''s intent.
To the governor of Yu Prefecture, it was ideal for the three sects of the prefecture to maintain bnced power, preventing any one sect from bing dominant.
This move was clearly meant to bolster the Jade Cauldron Sect to counterbnce the Sect of Supreme Purity.
In a serious tone, Yang Qiye said, "General Wu, please convey my gratitude to the governor. Although I must tread carefully due to theplex rtions between sects and the imperial court, I, Yang Qiye, am truly thankful to him."
The middle-aged man waved his hand. "There''s no need for that, Elder Yang. Though there are tensions between the court and the sects, I respect those like you who dedicate themselves entirely to the sect''s welfare."
"However, the governor isn''t giving this away for free."
Yang Qiye pondered for a moment. "The governor wants the beast-taming industry?"
The middle-aged man smiled. "Precisely. Your sect''s beast-taming industry ought to be abandoned."
"As you know, after the troubles at Dragon Snake Mountain, the Jade Cauldron Sect''s beast-taming industry has been in sharp decline. The cost of nurturing spirit beasts is too high, and over the past 300 years, 80% of the spirit beasts have been purchased from the governor''s estate."
"If that''s the case, why not abandon the industry altogether and rely on the governor''s estate for your spirit beast needs?"
"The governor has also promised that, out of respect for Elder Yang, he''ll offer certain discounts."
Hearing this, a glint shed in Yang Qiye''s eyes, though his expression remained calm. "This decision doesn''t require the governor''s persuasionI''ve already been nning it."
"For our sect, the beast-taming industry has long been a burden. It hasn''t been profitable and incurs losses year after year."
"To be honest, the Jade Cauldron Sect''s routine elders'' meeting ising up soon. I''ll be raising this matter with the Sect Master during the discussions."
"With the governor''s gift of the Green Lotus crafting methods, my position in the matter has gained even more leverage!"
The middle-aged man chuckled lightly. "I''ve heard you''ve sent a neer from the Tenth Peak to Dragon Snake Mountain?"
Yang Qiye smirked. "Indeed. The Tenth Elder is stubbornly resistant to abandoning any industry, so I sent one of his disciples to Dragon Snake Mountain."
"That young man may be a prodigy, but even so, it''s impossible for him to salvage Dragon Snake Mountain or revive the failing beast-taming industry."
"Now that it''s the year-end evaluation, this marks 300 consecutive years of losses. Once the report reaches the sect, neither the elders nor the Sect Master will have any objections."
The middle-aged man sped his hands with a smile. "Then I wish Elder Yang great sess."
Yang Qiye returned the gesture with a slight smile. "General Wu, let us part ways. You and I never met."
"Of course. I was merely here to enjoy tea by myself." The middle-aged man smiled.
Yang Qiye swiftly departed.
The middle-aged man watched his retreating figure, his expression inscrutable.
The governor''s estate was using Yang Qiye.
Yang Qiye, of course, knew this.
But wasn''t Yang Qiye also using the governor''s estate to advance his own agenda?
Both sides were shrewd, each exploiting the other for their own benefit.
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Chapter 217: Elder Shen, Did You Add an Extra Zero to That Number?
Chapter 217: Elder Shen, Did You Add an Extra Zero to That Number?
At this moment, in the open space at the center of the residence:
Mei Haihe, Huang Bayi, and Huang Caiying sat facing each other, their faces filled with joy and excitement.
Hearing approaching footsteps, the three of them immediately stood up.
But it wasn''t just Shen Mo they saw; behind him were several others.
Especially the cold and detached face of Ye Yan, which scared Huang Caiying so much that she immediately hid behind Shen Mo.
"Elder who who are they?" Huang Caiying asked timidly.
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "They''re representatives from the sect here to collect this year''s output."
Mei Haihe and Huang Bayi exchanged nces, their hearts uneasy.
Usually, those tasked with collecting the annual output were cultivators at the Core Formation stage.
Why, then, were there two elders at the Nascent Soul stage here today?
Moreover, from the small cauldron emblem on their chests, their ranks were quite high!
Before Shen Mo could speak, Ye Yan coldly interjected, "Bring out this year''s output from Dragon Snake Mountain immediately."
"ording to sect rules, failure to meet the minimum requirements results in forfeiture of next year''s stipend and a deduction of double the contribution points."
"Furthermore, the sect has strict rules against buying materials from outside to pad the numbers! Vitors will see elders demoted, and all affiliated stewards and disciples forfeiting one year''s stipend!"
Each sentence from Ye Yan carried an icy menace.
Mei Haihe and Huang Bayi trembled involuntarily, as if a ravenous beast had locked its gaze on them.
Whoosh.
At that moment, another streak of light arrived.
It was none other than He Tianchou, the Hall Master of Jade Sea Hall.
Seeing the chilling atmosphere, he merely stood outside, not daring to reim his Jade Cauldron Pearl.
After all, L Dongxuan and Ye Yan were people he couldn''t afford to offend.
Shen Mo spoke calmly, "Mei Haihe, Huang Bayi, where is this year''s output?"
Mei Haihe respectfully handed over three low-grade storage rings.
Then, standing tall under everyone''s scrutiny, he spoke loudly and clearly:
"Reporting to the elders, these three low-grade storage rings contain the outputs from the caves, grasnds, andkes."
"Included are 1,500 pounds of Flying Cloud Silkworm Silk, 800 pounds of Long-maned Ox bezoar, and 1,100 pounds of Green-eyed Python molts"
He went on for nearly a dozen breaths, detailing all of Dragon Snake Mountain''s outputs.
By the end of his speech, everyone except Shen Mo, Huang Bayi, and Huang Caiying was utterly stunned.
Xu Ziqiang blurted out, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"Dragon Snake Mountain has always been a ce of loss, loss, and more loss!"
"It can''t even meet the bare minimum requirementshow could it produce such massive quantities this year?!"
Pointing a finger at Shen Mo, Xu Ziqiang shouted angrily, "Elder Shen, do you know the consequences of falsifying output numbers?!"
"Fabrication is one thing, but you even instructed your subordinates to report such outrageous figures. Do you take us all for brainless fools?!"
From the side, He Tianchou coughed awkwardly. "Elder Shen, these numbers could there be a mistake? Did you identally add an extra zero?"
L Dongxuan couldn''t help but interject, "Junior Brother this I"
He was at a loss, torn betweenughing and crying.
Even if you''re going to falsify numbers, you could''ve made them more believable.
Report something smaller, and worst-case scenario, we could ask the sect master to smooth things over.
Now, with such exaggerated numbers, you''re bound to rm the entire Jade Cauldron Sect!
Every elder, steward, and disciple wille to watch the spectacle!
Ye Yan, sensing an opportunity, sneered coldly, "Shen Mo, I will report this matter truthfully to the Second Elder."
"The Hall of Discipline will certainly investigate!"
The mention of the Hall of Discipline sent a chill through everyone present.
The Hall of Discipline was personally overseen by the Grand Elder.
It managed all internal judgments and punishments within the Jade Cauldron Sect.
When facing a member of the Hall of Discipline, one''s rank was effectively lowered by a full level.
Disciples from the Hall of Discipline held authority over regr stewards.
Disciplinary stewards held authority over regr elders.
This was standard practice.
Once targeted by a disciplinary steward, it meant a severe infraction had beenmitted.
For minor issues, the Hall of Discipline usually sent its disciples to handle the matter.
Faced with everyone''s words, Shen Mo merely smiled slightly. "Oh? Do you all think it''s fake?"
Ye Yan snorted coldly. "Whether it''s true or not will be revealed shortly."
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "Perfect timingthere are three Nascent Soul cultivators here, and I have three storage rings with me."@@novelbin@@
"Then, the three storage rings will be handed over to Senior Brother L, Hall Master He, and you, Ye Yan," Shen Mo said casually.
With a flick of his hand, the storage ringsnded in front of the three.
This effectively eliminated any possibility of Ye Yan tampering with the evidence.
As He Tianchou inspected the storage ring, he sighed, "Elder Shen, falsifying numbers really isn''t a good"
Before he could finish his sentence, his eyes widened in shock, and the rest of his words caught in his throat.
Seeing He Tianchou''s expression, L Dongxuan froze for a moment and began his own inspection.
Momentster, his eyes bulged as well, and he blurted out, "Holy crap!"
Ye Yan, noticing their reactions, felt an unsettling sense of unease and quickly checked the contents of the storage ring.
What he saw left even his cold, stoic face filled with astonishment.
The storage ring was brimming with various materials from magical beasts:
Silk, bat wings, spider fangs, snake eyes
It was densely packed, an overwhelming sight!
More importantly, the quantities matched exactly with the numbers Mei Haihe had reported earlier!
Even more astonishing, upon careful examination, Ye Yan confirmed that the spiritual energy imbued in these beast materials was identical to the spiritual energy of Dragon Snake Mountain.
This proved that these materials were indeed from the beasts of Dragon Snake Mountain and not something Shen Mo had purchased from elsewhere.
For a moment, the three were left in a stunned daze.
Behind them, Xu Ziqiang assumed they were shocked by the emptiness of the storage rings and burst outughing.
"Ye Elder, are the storage rings empty?"
"I told you, didn''t I? In the past, Dragon Snake Mountain''s output couldn''t even fill a single storage ring. And now they''re iming to need three? It''s absurd!"
"Elder Ye, let''s return to the Hall of Discipline immediately and ensure Shen Mo is punished for"
p!
Before Xu Ziqiang could finish, Ye Yan delivered a fierce p to his face, sending him flying several meters away.
"Shut up!" Ye Yan roared, his face alternating between pale and flushed with fury.
L Dongxuan''s expression, meanwhile, was a mix of incredulity and excitement.
"Junior Brother, you you actually managed to ovee the harsh environment of that wretched ce and purify the bloodlines of the magical beasts?!"
"You''re a damn genius!"
In his excitement, L Dongxuan pulled Shen Mo into a bear hug, lifting him off the ground and shouting in amazement.
Shen Mo chuckled helplessly.
He Tianchou, on the other hand, gazed at Shen Mo with aplicated expression.
His master, the Third Elder, had specifically warned him to remain neutral and handle all matters involving Shen Mo impartially.
But after a year of interaction, He Tianchou hade to see Shen Mo as a friend worth cultivating.
Moreover, Shen Mo''s expertise in the field of beast taming was extraordinarily profound.
Far surpassing the vast majority of elders in the sect!
"I must report today''s events to my master immediately. This will likely have significant implications for the sect''s ns for decades toe," He Tianchou mused, deep in thought.
"Ye Yan, ording to sect rules, what reward should be granted for exceeding the mission requirements?" Shen Mo asked calmly, his tone light.
Ye Yan took a deep breath, his voice cold and sharp. "For exceeding the mission requirements, the rewards are distributed based on the degree of surplus."
"If the output exceeds the requirement by double, the contributor receives double contribution points."
"If it''s triple, they receive triple contribution points."
"If it''s"
Ye Yan faltered.
This was because very few people ever managed to exceed the requirements by threefold or more.
Yet Dragon Snake Mountain had produced such an unprecedented bounty of beast materials that it not only exceeded expectations but broke the sect''s reward system entirely.
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Chapter 218: The Sole Agenda—Deciding Among the Three Major Industries
Chapter 218: The Sole AgendaDeciding Among the Three Major Industries
Shen Mo said calmly, "The contents of these three storage rings exceed the sect''s requirements by at least tenfold."
Ye Yan suddenly interjected, "This is a serious matter. We do not have the authority to grant such rewards. It should be left to the Elders'' Council for judgment."
With that, he turned, carrying the storage rings, and prepared to leave.
He Tianchou spoke up abruptly, "Dragon Snake Mountain was once a ce of great potential, but for seven consecutive generations, the stationed elders failed to purify the magical beasts'' bloodlines, resulting in years of losses."
"Now, Elder Shen has turned those losses into profits, far exceeding the sect''s basic requirements. I believe this matter should not be handed over to the Elders'' Council but should instead be brought before the Grand Assembly Hall."
"After all, this is a significant event that could influence the future strategies of our Jade Cauldron Sect."
L Dongxuanughed heartily, "Well said, Hall Master He, well said! I also agree it should go to the Grand Assembly Hall."
The Grand Assembly Hall is of a higher rank than the Elders'' Council and is reserved for handling the sect''s most critical and urgent matters.
Furthermore, the Grand Assembly Hall requires the Sect Master and ten elders to convene, whereas the Elders'' Council only requires a presiding elder to make decisions.
He Tianchou''s suggestion made his intentions abundantly clear.
"Fine here, take back the storage rings. I''ll head back first." Ye Yan''s gaze was icy as he quickly departed, eager to return to the sect and report this to Yang Qiye.
Shen Mo turned to Mei Haihe and the others. "Stay in Dragon Snake Mountain, guard the property well, and don''t let any troublemakers sneak in and cause damage."
His words carried a subtle warning.
Mei Haihe straightened his posture and responded firmly, "Rest assured, Elder Shen! Your subordinate understands!"
Shen Mo, L Dongxuan, and He Tianchou transformed into streaks of light and vanished into the horizon.
Xu Ziqiang stared at the sky, his face filled with despair.
"Why are they leaving so quickly? Take me with you"
Although he could fly using spiritual energy, a Core Formation cultivator''s speed was no match for that of Nascent Soul elders.
He could only trail behind, eating dust.
Jade Cauldron Sect, Main Peak.
Halfway up the mountain stood a magnificent hall, elegant yet luxurious.
This was the Jade Cauldron Sect''s Grand Assembly Hall.
At the hall''s entrance stood a massive bronze bell.
At this moment, the Second Elder, Yang Qiye, struck the bell.
Its deep toll reverberated like thunder across the entire Heng Tai mountain range.
"A Grand Assembly is about to convene. This must be the sect''s routine five-year assembly, right?"
"Who''s presiding over the discussion this time?"
"It''s usually the elder on duty from the Elders'' Council. This time it must be the Second Elder."
"Tsk, the Second Elder has been advocating for abandoning alchemy and beast taming to focus entirely on artifact crafting topete with the Shangqing Sect. This assembly will probably be full of heated debates again."
"Well, that''s beyond us toment on. Let''s just listen."
Stewards and disciples buzzed with discussions as elders began arriving from all over.
However, only the Sect Master and the ten primary elders were allowed inside.
Other Nascent Soul elders were not permitted entry.
At the hall''s entrance, Yang Qiye stood calmly, scanning the arrivals.
The first to arrive was a middle-aged man in a purple robe, refined in appearance, with a lean figure.
Yang Qiye bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Sect Master."
Sect Master Li Zhendao smiled faintly. "Second Elder, what''s the agenda this time?"
Yang Qiye chuckled, "Once everyone has arrived, the Sect Master will naturally know."
Li Zhendao merely smiled lightly and strode into the hall, taking the central seat.
His expression betrayed no hint of anger or displeasure.
Following him, the First Elder, Third Elder, and others arrived one after another.
Finally, an unkempt, scruffy old man stumbled down from the sky, nearly falling onto Yang Qiye.
Yang Qiye''s eyes flickered as he quickly helped him up with augh, "Elder Wan, what happened to you? Oh my, you''re reeking of makeup powder!"
The Tenth Elder, Wan Mushun, chuckled, his cheeks slightly flushed. "I was still surrounded by youngdies when I heard the Second Elder ring the bell. I rushed back immediately."
Yang Qiyeughed heartily. "You''re thest one. Come, let me help you inside."
The two entered the hall, and the grand doors mmed shut.
A dozen breathster, a figure descended from the sky.
It was Ye Yan.
He stared at the closed doors, his expression dark.
"I''m still a step toote. The elder assembly has already begun"
"Yang Qiye''s n to use Dragon Snake Mountain''s poor performance to push the Sect Master and the First Elder to abandon the beast-taming industry entirely is probably doomed."
The Jade Cauldron Sect dabbled in many industries: alchemy, artifact crafting, and beast taming.
However, it couldn''t rival the Upper rity Sect in artifact crafting, nor the Pill River Sect in alchemy, nor the Zhoumu Pce in beast taming.
The sectckedpetitiveness.
Beast taming, in particr, had only three suitable locations: Dragon Snake Mountain, Evergreen Mountain, and White Cloud Mountain. These industries had been consistently unprofitable for years.
Evergreen Mountain and White Cloud Mountain fared slightly better, meeting the sect''s requirements in some years.
As for Dragon Snake Mountain, it hadn''t met its annual target for 299 consecutive years.
It was inevitable that one of these three industries would be abandoned.
But deciding which one to give up had remained unresolved.
If news of Shen Mo''s unprecedented sess at Dragon Snake Mountain this year were to spread, not only would beast taming avoid being abandoned, but it might even gain the sect''s renewed focus.
Yang Qiye''s ns would copse entirely.
Shen Mo and the others soon arrived as well.
Seeing the closed doors, L Dongxuan frowned. "I''ll send a message to the old man right now."
Shen Mo shook his head and stopped him with a smile. "The Tenth Elder already knows."
L Dongxuan was stunned. "Knows? That old man''s always spending his days in the red-light district. What could he possibly know?"
Shen Mo said nothing, his smile cryptic.
He had already discerned, from the first day he arrived at Dragon Snake Mountain and inspected Huang Bayi''s life panel, that Huang Bayi was a pawn ced there by the Tenth Elder.
Huang Bayi regrly reported Dragon Snake Mountain''s status to the Tenth Elder.
Though the Tenth Elder spent much of his time in the brothels, he was well-informed about the sect''s internal affairs, including the state of Dragon Snake Mountain.
Shen Mo had known all along but chose not to reveal it.
"We just wait. Soon, we''ll be invited inside," Shen Mo said with a calm smile.
L Dongxuan looked doubtful but didn''t press further.
Inside the Grand Assembly Hall:
Yang Qiye dered in a steady voice, "Sect Master, fellow elders, today''s sole agenda is to determine how to handle the three major industries."
"In my view, artifact crafting is the sect''s strength, while alchemy and beast taming are our weaknesses. I propose that we abandon alchemy and beast taming entirely, keeping only the production of essential pills."
"All resources should be focused on developing the artifact crafting industry topete with the Upper rity Sect!"
The hall fell silent for a moment after his words.
The Fifth Elder quickly spoke up, "May I ask the Second Elder, if our sect requiresrge quantities of pills and spiritual beasts, where do we acquire them?"
Yang Qiye replied calmly, "We can purchase pills from the Pill River Sect. As for spiritual beasts and beast materials, we buy them from the Zhoumu Pce."
"I have already negotiated a contract with the Pill River Sect. For the next twenty years, they will supply us annually with 500 bottles of Infant Transformation Pills, 50 bottles of Greater Infant Transformation Pills, and 10 bottles of Spirit Refinement Pills."
"They guarantee no price changes for twenty years. Otherwise, they willpensate us at double the cost."
Spirit Refinement Pills are necessary for Nascent Soul cultivatorsattempting to ascend to the Divine Transformation stage.
Due to the rarity of the required ingredients and the low sess rate in crafting these pills, their production is extremely limited.
While all three sects possess the recipe for Spirit Refinement Pills, only the Pill River Sect has the capacity to not only supply itself but also produce surplus pills for external trade to obtain needed resources.
The Eighth Elder frowned. "How can you be so certain that Zhoumu Pce will provide us with spiritual beasts and beast materials? Have you forgotten the imperial court''s stance toward Yu Province?"
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Chapter 219: Who Told You Dragon Snake Mountain Was at a Loss This Year?
Chapter 219: Who Told You Dragon Snake Mountain Was at a Loss This Year?
As soon as the Eighth Elder spoke, the grand hall quieted slightly.
Each person''s mind involuntarily turned to the politicalndscape of recent years.
Since the new Jing Emperor ascended the throne, the imperial court had abandoned its previous conciliatory approach to the Nine Provinces sects, adopting a hardline stance instead.
Suppression, recruitment, bribery, and annihtionevery method was employed against the sects.
The new Jing Emperor had already brought seven of the Nine Provinces under control, leaving only Yu Province and Wu Province.
It was clear that he sought to bring Yu Province fully under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Governor''s Office and into submission to the imperial court.
If he could consolidate Yu and Wu Provinces, he would unite the strength of all Nine Provinces, achieving what dozens of Jing Emperors before him had failed to aplisha monumental feat.
For the Jade Cauldron Sect, peaceful coexistence with the imperial court was utterly impossible.
So how could one speak of stable, long-term trade of spirit beasts and demon beast materials with the Provincial Governor''s Office?
Yang Qiye smiled faintly, producing a stack of yellowed papers.
"Do you know what these are?"
"Don''t y games," Elder Wu and Elder Qi frowned in unison.
"This is theplete blueprint for crafting the Green Lotus artifact!" Yang Qiye dered loudly.
"What!?"
All the elders were astonished.
Even Sect Master Li Zhendao''s eyes burned with intensity as he immediately asked, "Elder Yang, where did thise from?"
Yang Qiye smiled. "It was entrusted to me by the Governor of Yu Province. However, only half is herethe other half will only be exchanged if wee to an agreement."
The elders immediately fell into deep thought.
Fifth Elder growled, "Yang Qiye, you''ve been secretly dealing with the Provincial Governor''s Office? What are you hiding?"
Fourth Elder immediately reprimanded him, "Stop making baseless usations! Didn''t you hear what Elder Yang said? It was the Governor of Yu Province who went to great lengths to reach out to him!"
Li Zhendao pressed both hands downward. "Everyone, I trust Elder Yang''s loyalty to the sect. Let''s first allow him to finish speaking."
He turned to Yang Qiye. "Please, Elder Yang, share what agreement the Governor seeks with the Jade Cauldron Sect."
Yang Qiye smiled faintly. "The Provincial Governor''s Office proposes to supply the Jade Cauldron Sect with spirit beast and demon beast materials in exchange for spirit stones and spirit artifacts from us."
The Eighth Elder frowned. "Why would the Governor''s Officeck spirit stones and spirit artifacts? Yang Qiye, have you been deceived?"
Yang Qiye shook his head. "There''s something you may not know. Half a month ago, the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdomunched a major invasion of Wu Province, capturing nine cities within five days."
The elders were immediately stunned.
They were aware of the antagonistic rtionship between the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom and the Jing Kingdom, but this firsthand news of the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom gaining the upper hand was something they hadn''t known.
"The Jing Emperor was furious and ordered Yu Province to send reinforcements to Wu Province. This pressure naturally fell on the Governor of Yu Province."
"He now needs to provide logistical support to Wu Province''s Provincial Governor''s Office, which naturally leaves him short on spirit stones and spirit artifacts."
"For this reason, he seeks to ease tensions with the Jade Cauldron Sect to counterbnce the Supreme rity Sect and the Pill River Sect."
"I''m fully aware that the Governor of Yu Province is using us. But can we not also use him?"
"Everyone, this is a rare opportunity!"
Yang Qiye spoke solemnly. "While the Governor is overwhelmed by the war in Wu Province, we should immediately abandon the perpetually unprofitable beast-rearing industry and focus on artifact forging."
"By the time the war in Wu Province ends and the Governor''s attention returns, our Jade Cauldron Sect will have already grown immeasurably stronger!"
After these words, the Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth Elders voiced their agreement, praising the idea repeatedly.
Even the Third and Sixth Elders, known for being indecisive, nodded slightly.
The Fifth and Eighth Elders found no fault in the proposal either.
Yang Qiye''s argument indeed prioritized the sect''s interests above all.
All eyes turned to Tenth Elder Wan Muchun, including those of Sect Master Li Zhendao and the Grand Elder.
Wan Muchun coughed lightly and stood up.
However, everyone''s gaze grew strange, fixed on his neck.
Li Zhendao''s lips twitched. "Elder Wan, there''s a lip print on your neck."
Wan Muchun nonchntly wiped it off before speaking. "I believe Elder Yang''s proposal is excellentvery well thought out."
"This is clearly a tactic by the Governor of Yu Province to counterbnce the three major sects of Yu Province. The bait is not poisonous; we can certainly take it."
"However, there''s no need topletely abandon the beast-rearing industry."@@novelbin@@
"After all, if we abandon it now, while the war in Wu Province might pose no issues for the next ten years, what happens afterward?"
"When the Governor shifts his focus and severs ties with us, what then?"
"Our disciples who practice beast-rearing techniques willck spirit beasts, and our elders who specialize in alchemy will run out of materials."
Yang Qiye replied calmly, "But all three of our beast-rearing enterprises have been losing money for years. This year, Dragon Snake Mountain has been in the red for 300 consecutive years."
"After I took charge of the sect''s logistics and internal affairs, I understood this matter better than anyone else. There were times I even had to use my own funds to cover the losses!"
"Elder Wan, may I ask, if the beast-rearing industry continues to incur losses year after year, will you personally cover those losses?"
"And if we keep losing money for another ten years or so, how do you propose we develop the artifact forging industry? How will wepete with the other two sects?"
Wan Muchun chuckled, a sly smile spreading across his face.
"Who told you Dragon Snake Mountain suffered a loss this year?"
His words shocked the other elders.
Dragon Snake Mountainthat troublesome ceeven they were familiar with it.
The more demonic beasts interbred, the thinner their bloodlines became.
Even tamed spirit beasts would sometimes revert to their wild nature.
It was an odd phenomenon.
Throughout history, none of the seven elders stationed there had been able to reverse the losses.
Could Wan Muchun''s words mean that Dragon Snake Mountain turned a profit this year?
That would be good news, of coursebut what of it? A single year of profit isn''t enough; it needs to happen consistently.
Yang Qiye''s eyes shed, but he quickly came to a conclusion.
At most, Wan Muchun must have employed some temporary measures to barely meet the sect''s requirements through Shen Mo''s efforts.
No matter what, it wasn''t a serious issue.
The beast-rearing industry was already in steep decline.
This overall trend was irreversible.
As someone overseeing the situation, Yang Qiye naturally knew how to take advantage of it.
Remaining confident, he said, "Oh? Then please, Elder Wan, enlighten us. Just how much did Dragon Snake Mountain produce this year?"
All eyes turned to Wan Muchun.
Wan Muchun spread out his hands, fingers syed wide.
"This year, Dragon Snake Mountain''s output was more than ten times the sect''s requirement!"
"Oh, ten times, huh Wait, what did you say? Ten times?!" Yang Qiye froze for a moment before his eyes widened in shock.
Several elders stood up abruptly.
Fourth Elder barked, "Wan Muchun! To protect your beast-rearing industry, you dare falsify numbers? Grand Elder, I say we throw this old fool into your disciplinary hall for a thorough interrogation and punishment!"
The Grand Elder, silent until now, finally moved his lips. "The disciplinary hall isn''t mineit belongs to the Jade Cauldron Sect."
Seventh and Ninth Elders chimed in together, "Wan Muchun, stop spouting nonsense. Who here doesn''t know the situation at Dragon Snake Mountain?"
The Grand Elder then asked, "Who is the stationed elder at Dragon Snake Mountain? Qian Fangyong?"
"No, it''s a new elder from the Tenth Peak, named Shen Mo," Fourth Elder said with a peculiar grin.
The other elders now looked at Wan Muchun with strange expressions.
Ah, so it''s someone from your Tenth Peak.
Sect Master Li Zhendao also frowned slightly and cleared his throat. "Elder Wan, you should be more careful with your words."
Wan Muchun burst outughing. "They''re already outside. Why not invite them in so we can see for ourselves?"
"Fine, let them in," Li Zhendao nodded.
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Chapter 220: Elder Shen Should Be Established as a Model for the Entire Sect
Chapter 220: Elder Shen Should Be Established as a Model for the Entire Sect
Creak.
The grand hall doors slowly opened.
Shen Mo, L Dongxuan, Ye Yan, He Tianchou, and others appeared before the elders.
"Please,e in," Li Zhendao said with a smile.
L Dongxuan looked utterly astonished.
It actually went exactly as Shen Mo had predictedthey were being invited in!
"Let''s go."
Shen Mo strode confidently into the hall.
L Dongxuan and the others immediately followed.
The grand hall doors closed behind them.
"Master" Ye Yan began, eager to speak and warn Yang Qiye.
But Yang Qiye raised a hand, signaling him to stop. He turned to Shen Mo, speaking coolly, "Shen Mo, Elder Wan ims that Dragon Snake Mountain''s output this year exceeded the sect''s requirements by more than tenfold."
"Let''s see the proof now."
"We eleven will verify it on the spot!"
Ye Yan felt a sinking feeling but reluctantly stepped back.
Don''t me me for not warning youI really wanted to, but you didn''t give me the chance!
Shen Mo produced three storage rings and handed them directly to the middle-aged man seated at the head of the hall.
Without needing an introduction, Shen Mo already knew who he was.
Li Zhendao epted the storage rings and nced at Shen Mo with a hint of surprise. "When did our Jade Cauldron Sect gain such a young Nascent Soul elder?"
Shen Mo smiled. "I joined the Jade Cauldron Sect a year ago."
Li Zhendao nodded repeatedly. "You don''t appear to be thirty yet, am I correct?"
Shen Mo nodded.
Li Zhendao''s expression turned joyful. "Good, very good! I never expected the new elder of the Tenth Peak to be such a young genius. With this, our Jade Cauldron Sect now boasts two young prodigies!"
"This is news even I, as the sect master, was unaware of. Hahaha!"
As he said this, his gaze shifted subtly toward Yang Qiye, clearly questioning why Yang Qiye hadn''t informed him about such an exceptional talent like Shen Mo.
Yang Qiye remained expressionless, pretending not to notice.
"These three storage rings contain Dragon Snake Mountain''s output for the year," Shen Mo said with a calm smile.
Li Zhendao nodded and reached out with his spiritual sense to inspect them.
What he saw left him utterly stunned.
Theposure and poise of a Soul Formation cultivator vanished in an instant.
The Grand Elder, seated beside him, noticed the change and was visibly curious.
Li Zhendao was known for his stoicism, rarely showing emotion.
Yet here he was, dumbfounded by Dragon Snake Mountain''s output.
"Sect Master?" the Grand Elder prompted.
Li Zhendao took a few deep breaths, his gaze toward Shen Mo changing dramatically.
"Take a look," he said, handing the storage rings to the Grand Elder.
The Grand Elder nodded and inspected the contents with his spiritual sense.
He, too, disyed the same reactionutter shock!
Yang Qiye finally realized something was amiss.
Why would the Sect Master and the Grand Elder, both Soul Formation cultivators, be so visibly affected by this?
He nced at Ye Yan.
Ye Yan shook his head ever so slightly.
Yang Qiye felt his heart sink, an ominous premonition taking hold.
"Everyone, take a look for yourselves."
"Elder Wan was right. Dragon Snake Mountain''s output this year has indeed exceeded the sect''s requirements by more than tenfold."
Li Zhendao scanned the room, then burst into heartyughter, his face radiating joy.
He had never expected Dragon Snake Mountain, after 300 years of decline, to not only recover but deliver such a massive surprise!
The other elders, both shocked and skeptical, took turns inspecting the storage rings.
Their reactions were all the same: stunned, speechless, and wide-eyed!
Finally, the storage rings reached Yang Qiye.
His mood had already plummeted to the lowest depths.
Even though he had braced himself after witnessing the other elders'' expressions, he was still unprepared for what he saw inside the rings.
A mountain of resourcesmore than he could have imagined.
So much.
Far too much.
An unimaginable amount!
It was equivalent to the total output of Dragon Snake Mountain for the past fifty yearsbined!
Chapter 220: Elder Shen Should Be Established as a Model for the Entire Sect
What was even more rming was that Yang Qiye could easily discern the spiritual energy emanating from the materialsthey were all remarkably simr.
Clearly, these resources had originated from the same region, rather than being haphazardly procured from various locations to fool the elders.@@novelbin@@
Yang Qiye''s body wavered, and he almost stumbled.
"How how did you manage this?" He fixed Shen Mo with a piercing re.
Shen Mo merely smiled, saying nothing.
Wan Muchun chuckled slyly. "Yang Qiye, you''ve studied beast-rearing yourself. Would you share your unique techniques with the public?"
Yang Qiye was rendered speechless.
Wan Muchun was right.
His earlier question had indeed overstepped boundaries.
The Grand Elder''s voice trembled. "Elder Shen, can Dragon Snake Mountain produce such results every year from now on?"
"Yes!"
Shen Mo nodded firmly, his voice resolute.
"Excellent!" The Grand Elder was the first to respond.
Li Zhendao nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. With such output, our Jade Cauldron Sect''s beast-rearing industry will undoubtedly flourish!"
The Fifth Elder, overjoyed, eximed, "In that case, the beast-rearing industry will no longer be a burden but will be a pir of our Jade Cauldron Sect!"
The Eighth Elder sneered. "Elder Yang, do you still insist on abandoning the beast-rearing industry?"
"Have you forgotten that our sect''s founding patriarch was once a shepherd boy? He rose to prominence precisely by taming demonic beasts!"
Yang Qiye took a deep breath, regaining hisposure.
"I am well aware of the founding patriarch''s deeds, but times have changed. It is not always necessary to adhere rigidly to the ways of our ancestors."
"What must be discarded should be discardedthere''s no need to debate this."
"Dragon Snake Mountain''s output this year is substantial, and I am d for it. If, as Elder Shen ims, future years will be the same, then so much the better."
"But the operations at Evergreen Mountain and White Cloud Mountain must bepletely shut downthat is my bottom line!"
Yang Qiye''s voice was resolute, leaving no room forpromise.
Li Zhendao pondered for a moment. "We will discuss this matterter. For now, we have a new topic to address. Elder Shen has achieved such remarkable results within just a year of joining ushe deserves a reward and should be established as a model for the entire sect."
"However,pleting ten times the sect''s requirements is unprecedented in the history of the Jade Cauldron Sect."
"Furthermore, Elder Shen has reversed Dragon Snake Mountain''s 300-year streak of losses, and this deserves a significant reward."
"Let''s hear your thoughtswhat should be done?"
The elders began discussing at once.
Some proposed granting Shen Mo a top-tier contribution rank immediately.
Others argued that while his achievements were impressive, a top-tier contribution was too much and suggested a second-tier contribution instead.
Yet others felt a second-tier contribution was insufficient, proposing instead that Shen Mo be promoted to the rank of Three-Cauldrons Elder, awarded three second-tier contributions, and given at least twenty bottles of Nascent Soul Pills.
The debate grew increasingly heated.
He Tianchou listened with envy, thinking to himself, When will I ever receive such treatment?
Meanwhile, Ye Yan''s mood was utterly dismal.
I''ve spent decades fighting life-and-death battles in the Qiyun Mountain Range, shaving years off my lifespan, and I didn''t even get a shred of recognition.
Now that I''ve returned to the Jade Cauldron Sect, I have to witness this scene?
The thought of all those contributions, pills, and treasures beingpletely out of his reach made his mood plummet even further.
Eventually, he couldn''t bear it any longer and left the hall with a flick of his sleeves.
L Dongxuan, on the other hand, was entirely overjoyed.
He had once made a great contribution to the Jade Cauldron Sect during the Blood Vine Valley incident, and he remembered how the elders had also fiercely debated his reward back then.
Thus, he felt no jealousy toward Shen Mo.
Instead, he was genuinely happy for him and secretly pleased with his own judgment.
Who says I, L Dongxuan, am just a brute who knows only how to fight?
Didn''t I just demonstrate excellent foresight?
I''ve brought a young and talented master into the Jade Cauldron Sect, someone who will undoubtedly bolster its strength!
Wan Muchun coughed lightly. "Everyone, let''s not forgetShen Mo was recruited by L Dongxuan. With Shen Mo achieving such remarkable results within just a year, shouldn''t L Dongxuan also receive some form of reward?"
The Grand Elder nodded. "That''s a fair point."
"Ahem, ahem Shen Mo is an elder of my Tenth Peak. As the Tenth Elder and the head of the Tenth Peak, shouldn''t I also"
"Oh, spare us. You''ve spent the whole year in brothels and tavernsdon''t think I''m unaware," the Grand Elder sneered.
Wan Muchun chuckled awkwardly and fell silent.
Shen Mo and L Dongxuan, meanwhile, could only exchange wry smiles.
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Chapter 221: Decided to Snatch a Jar of Su Beifeng’s Wine Every Day Starting Today
Chapter 221: Decided to Snatch a Jar of Su Beifeng''s Wine Every Day Starting Today
Before long, the sect finalized its reward for Shen Mo.
One B-rank Contribution Point!
Promotion to Second Cauldron Elder!
Two Bottles of Great Infant Transformation Pills!
Ten Jin of Vermillion Blood Spirit Grain!
Three Yin Fiend Pearls!
Such rewards were enough to drive any Nascent Soul Elder wild with envy.
After all, He Tianchou, who had been stationed at the Jade Sea Hall as its head for ten years, had only umted ten C-rank Contribution Points.
While a single B-rank Contribution Point was nominally equivalent to ten C-rank Points, in practice, very few people would make such an exchange.
At the very least, one would need twelve C-rank Points to trade for a single B-rank Point.
Not to mention, this reward included much more than just contribution points.
For instance, the promotion from First Cauldron Elder to Second Cauldron Elder alone required one C-rank Point.
Additionally, two bottles of Great Infant Transformation Pills would cost two C-rank Points.
Ten jin of Vermillion Blood Spirit Grain? That would be worth ten C-rank Points.
As for the Yin Fiend Pearls, their value varied depending on the purity of the Yin Fiend energy inside them. Still, three such pearls were worth at least one C-rank Point.
Adding all of this together, the reward easily totaled fourteen C-rank Points.
He Tianchou did the math and felt like crying.
It would take him at least twenty years of diligent work at the Jade Sea Hall to earn such rewards.
Yet Shen Mo had achieved this in just one year.
So enviable!
So maddening!
When this news spread, who knew how many stewards and disciples would admire Shen Mo from the depths of their hearts?
And how many Nascent Soul Elders would burn with jealousy?
"You all may leave for now. We need to discuss important matters," Sect Master Li Zhen said with a smile toward Shen Mo. "Elder Shen, your rewards will be personally delivered to you shortly."
"Thank you, Sect Master," Shen Mo replied with a respectful bow before taking his leave.
Wan Muchun chuckled and said, "Shen Mo, let''s have a good chat after the elders'' meeting."
"Of course. I''ll prepare a banquet at Dragon Snake Mountain," Shen Mo replied with a smile.
Shen Mo, L Dongxuan, and He Tianchou left the Grand Hall, and the doors closed behind them once again.
The area around the hall immediately became charged with spiritual energy, and the winds and clouds shifted dramatically.
Clearly, the eleven Soul Transformation cultivators inside were embroiled in an intense debate.
For Soul Transformation cultivators, even the slightest action could influence the heavens and earth. This was them carefully restraining their auras.
"Let''s go, let''s go! To the Tenth Peak! Haha, I must let Senior Sister see that our Tenth Peak has produced a super-genius!" L Dongxuan''s face glowed with pride, as if he had been the one to receive the reward instead of Shen Mo.
Shen Mo chuckled and said, "Alright, let''s head back."
As soon as they returned to the Tenth Peak, they were greeted by a loud, impatient voice.
"You''ve already lost your robe to me, and you still want to gamble? Get lost! I''m not gambling with a broke loser like you!"
"Waaah, Auntie, just let me bet one more time! Just once! I''ll even prepay my sry for next year, okay?"
"No way! Who knows if you''ll even have a sry next year? Scram! If you don''t leave, I''ll kick you off the Tenth Peak myself!"
"Waaah"
"Next! Same rules as alwaysone B-rank Contribution Point as the bet! I, Zhao Yaolu, always keep my word!"
Shen Mo and L Dongxuan arrived just in time to see a group gathered at the peak''s summit.
A petite girl stood atop a stone table, vigorously shaking a bamboo cylinder.
Shen Mo twitched at the corner of his mouth.
It had been a year, and Senior Sister Zhao''s fierce nature hadn''t diminished one bit.
"Senior Sister, we''re back," L Dongxuan said, bowing like a subservient servant, his head low as he approached.
"Oh, it''s you, Little Donkey. Why are you sote?"
"Stand aside. Let me finish cleaning out these guys before I talk to you," Zhao Yaolu replied without even ncing at him, fully absorbed in shaking the bamboo cylinder containing two dice.
L Dongxuan obediently stood to the side without the slightestint.
Before long, the unfortunate Nascent Soul Elders had all lost everything to Zhao Yaolu and were unceremoniously chased down the Tenth Peak.
Only then did Zhao Yaolu, with a triumphant look on her face, turn to Shen Mo and L Dongxuan.
"Eh? Junior Brother, you''re back? Senior Sister really missed you!" Zhao Yaolu burst into heartyughter.
She energetically jumped up, seemingly trying to pat Shen Mo on the shoulder, but ultimately could only reach his waist.
"Not bad, Junior Brother. A year away, and you''ve be even more handsome. Not bad at all. How''s your cultivation? How''s your strength? That old miser Yang Qiye hasn''t been causing you trouble again, has he?"
Zhao Yaolu scrutinized Shen Mo up and down, her enthusiasm unmistakable.
L Dongxuan muttered resentfully, "What about me, Senior Sister? Aren''t you going to ask about me?"
Zhao Yaolu snorted. "I don''t talk to ugly people."
L Dongxuan: ""
Shen Mo chuckled in amusement.
In truth, L Dongxuan wasn''t ugly. He was a boisterous and carefree man with a robust build, the type that some women particrly liked.
"So, what''s the matter? Why have you suddenlye looking for me?" Zhao Yaolu asked nonchntly. Then, as if something had just urred to her, she immediately grabbed the jade cauldron bead at her waist with a wary expression. "You''re not here to borrow contribution points again, are you?"
L Dongxuan shook his head emphatically. "How could that be? Am I that kind of person?"
"This time, it''s about Junior Brother Shen doing something remarkable at Dragon Snake Mountain. We came specifically to tell you about it."
"You wouldn''t believe itten elders and the sect master were all rmed during the council meeting!"
L Dongxuan spoke with gusto, his words flowing like a torrent, his saliva almost flying.
Zhao Yaolu listened, her face full of astonishment.
She had already mentally prepared to clean up after her junior brother or lend him contribution points. Who would have thought that Shen Mo had actually caused such a stir?
He had truly brought glory to the Tenth Peak!
"Good, good, good! From now on, Junior Brother Shen is qualified to gamble with me!" Zhao Yaolu said with a satisfied look.
Shen Mo could onlyugh bitterly.
So, in the end, he was just another gambling target in Zhao Yaolu''s eyes.
"Ahem To be honest, Senior Sister, I don''t have many contribution points left and was wondering if I could borrow a little. Not much, just two C-rank points"
L Dongxuan coughed awkwardly and stammered out his request.
Before he could even finish, Zhao Yaolu shot out of the area like an arrow.
"I just remembered, someone still hasn''t repaid their gambling debt. I have to go collect it! Junior Brother Shen, see you next time!"
L Dongxuan clicked his tongue and turned to Shen Mo, his eyes full of expectation.
Shen Mo thought for a moment, then suddenly pointed behind him. "Yang Qiye! What are you doing here?"
L Dongxuan spun around angrily. "What?! Yang Qiye dares toe to our Tenth Peak?"
But when he turned, there was no sign of Yang Qiye.
When he turned back again, Shen Mo had already transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the sky.
"Senior Brother, we''ll catch up next timejust as long as it''s not about contribution points, we''re good brothers!"
L Dongxuan opened his mouth but couldn''t find the words to reply.
His expression was filled with mncholy.
"No contribution points left to buy wine"
"Looks like I''ll have to take matters into my own hands."
"It''s decided. Starting today, I''ll go to the Shangqing Sect every day and snatch a jar of Su Beifeng''s wine!"
His face was etched with unwavering determination.
That very day, two shocking pieces of news spread across the Jade Cauldron Sect''s mountain gates.
The first was that Dragon Snake Mountain, which had been losing money for nearly 300 years, not only broke even this year but achieved ten times the output required by the sect!
The stationed elder, Shen Mo, was highlymended during the elders'' council meeting.@@novelbin@@
The second was that the Jade Cauldron Sect hadpletely abandoned the beast-rearing industries at Changqing Mountain and Baiyun Mountain, retaining only Dragon Snake Mountain.
All surplus resources were redirected to developing the artifact refinement industry topete with the Shangqing Sect.
These two announcements sent shockwaves through the entire Jade Cauldron Sect!
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Chapter 223: One Year Until the Opening of Bloodvine Valley
Chapter 223: One Year Until the Opening of Bloodvine Valley
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
For others, the task might seem extremely difficult.
But for him, it was a simple matter.
With just a nce at the old flood dragon''s "Life Panel," he could naturally pinpoint the issue.
"Very well, I''ll go when I have the time," Shen Mo agreed with a nod.
Wan Muchun was overjoyed. "Excellent, excellent! Here is the token. Only three exist within the sect."
"Holding this token is the only way to ess the Guardian''s residence."
Shen Mo was intrigued. "Who holds the other two tokens?"
Wan Muchun chuckled. "The Sect Master and Ye Yan."
Shen Mo was surprised. "Ye Yan?"
Wan Muchun nodded. "That young man has a cold and domineering personality, and his methods are ruthless. Yet, for some reason, the Guardian of the Sect seems particrly fond of him. The Guardian personally requested that Ye Yan be given one of the tokens."
Shen Mo nodded again.
This type of inexplicable favoritism was usually the result of destiny and fate.
There was no point in overthinking it.
He asked no further questions.
After a bit of casual conversation, Wan Muchun hurriedly left Dragon Snake Mountain.
Judging by the direction he took, he wasn''t returning to the Jade Cauldron Sect''s mountain gate but heading toward a nearby city, likely to indulge in wine and merriment.
Watching Wan Muchun''s retreating figure, Shen Mo couldn''t help butugh.
However, behind theughter, his mind turned to Wan Muchun''s fate and life story.
"Quite extraordinary."@@novelbin@@
"The three figures of the Tenth Peak: Wan Muchun is a remnant of the imperial court, Zhao Yao L is the daughter of a Ghost King, and L Dongxuan is the reincarnation of a spear spirit."
Shen Mo couldn''t help but sigh in admiration.
He had already seen L Dongxuan''s life panel, discovering he was the reincarnation of a spear spirit. As for what kind of spear, the life panel didn''t specify.
However, for it to have developed sentience, it was no ordinary weapon.
It might even surpass Heaven-tier artifacts.
Shen Mo dismissed the thought and returned to his residence.
He retrieved the various rewards stored in his storage ring.
Two bottles of Great Infant Transformation Pills!
Ten pounds of Vermilion Blood Spirit Grain!
Three Yin Fiend Pearls!
These three items could be rapidly converted intobat power in the short term.
"Mei Haihe!"
Shen Mo called out.
Mei Haihe immediately arrived, kneeling on one knee. "Elder Shen, what are your orders?"
Shen Mo smiled and tossed a steward''s token to him. "From now on, you are a Core Formation realm steward of the Jade Cauldron Sect. Treasure it well."
Mei Haihe caught the token with both hands, first in astonishment, then with overwhelming excitement.
"Yes! I will be loyal to the Jade Cauldron Sect and to Elder Shen!"
Shen Mo nodded in satisfaction.
Thetter half of Mei Haihe''s statement was particrly pleasing. The old man certainly knew how to act appropriately.
"Take this two-pound sack of Vermilion Blood Spirit Grain and cook it. No stealing." Shen Mo casually tossed a heavy bag over.
The air was instantly filled with a sweet and tangy aroma.
"Rest assured, Elder, I, Mei Haihe, would never stoop to such petty theft," Mei Haihe promised with conviction.
"Go ahead." Shen Mo waved him off.
Once Mei Haihe left, Shen Mo took out the three Yin Fiend Pearlsand began refining them.
It wasn''t until a dayter that he sessfully refined all three pearls.
The color of his Dan Crownhad gradually transformed from green to blue.
"To further enhance the Dan Crown, I''ll likely need four Yin Fiend Pearls next."
Shen Mo clicked his tongue lightly and chuckled.
As he carefully examined the changes, he confirmed that the cooldown period for using his Nascent Soul-level techniques had been reduced again.
Now, he could use them once every two days.
Exhaling deeply, Shen Mo strode out of his residence.
A mouthwatering aroma lingered in the air around the area.
Looking over, he saw arge pot set up in the open.
Huang Caiying was crouched nearby, drooling as she reached toward the pot with her small hand.
Mei Haihe, however, was diligently swatting her hand away.
Huang Bayi stood to the side, lecturing Huang Caiying on the importance of respecting others'' property.
Shen Mo cleared his throat.
Mei Haihe immediately stood at attention. "Elder, the Vermilion Blood Spirit Grain is ready. When would you like to dine?"
"Right now. I''ve never tasted Vermilion Blood Spirit Grain before."
Shen Mo nodded.
Mei Haihe promptly fetched a bowl and chopsticks, serving Shen Mo arge portion of Vermilion Blood Spirit Grain.
To apany it, he had also prepared several side dishes crafted from the beast materials of Dragon Snake Mountain.
The dishes were vibrant, fragrant, and delicious, leaving Shen Mo thoroughly satisfied.
Shen Mo initially kept Mei Haihe at Dragon Snake Mountain simply because no one else was around to handle affairs.
In hindsight, it had proven to be a very wise decision.
All these trivial matters could now be delegated to Mei Haihe, freeing Shen Mo from the burden of managing them himself.
Shen Mo turned his attention to the bowl before him.
Inside, each grain of rice was plump, entirely crimson, and farrger than ordinary rice grains he had seen.
Just the aroma was invigorating, making him feel rejuvenated, as though he had regained a few years of youth.
Taking a bite, lightly chewing, and swallowing, the vor lingered in his mouth, leaving a delightful aftertaste.
Huang Caiying, enticed by the fragrance, began drooling uncontrobly, her saliva dripping in streams.
Too embarrassed to voice her desire, she hesitated but clearly wanted to try some.
Shen Mo pinched her small nose yfully. "Serve her a small bowl. Her cultivation level is too low; she shouldn''t eat too much."
Huang Bayi quickly protested, "Elder, how could this be appropriate? Vermilion Blood Spirit Grain is so precioushow could we let Caiying eat it?"
Shen Mo smiled. "It''s fine. How much could a palm-sized portion of rice really cost? Each of you may have a little as recognition for your contributions over the past year."
"Thank you, Elder!" Mei Haihe was overjoyed.
Mei Haihe and Huang Bayi each received a small bowl of rice the size of a palm.
Huang Caiying''s portion was even smaller, only about the size of a baby''s palm.
After finishing their portions, Mei Haihe and Huang Bayi both felt refreshed and invigorated.
The gray hair at their temples even seemed to diminish significantly.
Huang Caiying, shortly after eating, felt her entire body grow warm and fell into a drowsy state.
Shen Mo waved his hand with augh. "Take her to rest. By the time she wakes up, she''ll likely have reached the peak of Core Formation."
Huang Bayi was thrilled. "Yes!"
Mei Haihe suddenly spoke up. "Elder, I''ve heard that Bloodvine Valley is expected to open soon."
"If you wish to obtain more Vermilion Blood Spirit Grain, you''ll have to make a trip to Bloodvine Valley."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Two days ago, in the discussion hall, he had glimpsed Ye Yan''s uing fortuitous opportunity, which was also in Bloodvine Valley.
This time, it seemed necessary to make the trip.
With such a rich opportunity ahead, how could he not take advantage of it?
"Have you learned the specific opening time?" Shen Mo asked casually.
Mei Haihe nodded repeatedly. "Bloodvine Valley opens once every five years and remains open for six months each time."
"Currently, there is still one year until the next opening."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
One year was more than enough time.
He already had a considerable number of Great Infant Transformation Pills, enough to reach the minor sess stage of the Nascent Soul realm within the year.
With the strength of Nascent Soul minor sess, he would feel much more confident entering Bloodvine Valley.
Meanwhile, in Yuzhou''s Provincial Governor''s Residence:
At the entrance stood two stone lions, each ten feet tall, exuding an aura of majesty and deterring petty intruders.
Past the gates stood a shadow wall, bearing fourrge characters: Protect the Nation, Protect the Family.
Beyond the wall and further inside, numerous officials bustled about, working tirelessly.
Past the main hall, there was a quiet courtyard.
The courtyard featured a few peach and apricot trees, stone tables and stools, and a pool in the southeast corner where fish swam leisurely.
A tall, elderly man dressed in in robes sat there, calmly tossing food to the fish.
Before long, a middle-aged general entered and reported in a deep voice, "Provincial Governor, Wu Renyin has returned."
The elder in in robes did not turn. "Well, has the Jade Cauldron Sectpletely abandoned their beast-taming operations?"
Wu Renyin shook his head. "Evergreen Mountain and White Cloud Mountain have been entirely abandoned, but Dragon Snake Mountain... not only was it not abandoned, it has be a model of sess."
The elder suddenly froze mid-action. "What happened?"
Wu Renyin lowered his voice. "It''s a long story, but ultimately, it alles down to one person."
"Who?"
"Shen Mo."
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Chapter 225: Nine-Petal Moon Orchid and the Bloodroot Dragon King
Chapter 225: Nine-Petal Moon Orchid and the Bloodroot Dragon King
Shen Mo looked up to see He Tianchou and smiled. "Why is Hall Master He also participating in the Bloodvine Valley event?"
He Tianchouughed heartily, though somewhat embarrassed. "Ashamed, truly ashamed. Although I''ve been assigned as the Hall Master of Jade Sea Hall, my elder ranking is still only at the second rank."
"This time, I''m not just here to gather some Vermilion Blood Spirit Grain for myself but also n to submit the extra to the sect in exchange for contribution points."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Indeed, elders could keep seventy percent of the Vermilion Blood Spirit Grain they obtained in the Bloodvine Valley, but thirty percent had to be submitted to the sect.
However, if one was willing to surrender part of their personal share to the sect, they could earn additional contribution points.
He Tianchou had been saving up contribution points for a while and clearly aimed to umte enough to exchange for a valuable item with a second-tier contribution ranking.
"Elder Shen, there are rumors that the Bloodvine Valley will be particrly restless this year, with the bloodvines exhibiting far more aggression than in previous years. We''ll need to be extra careful."
"If we encounter trouble inside, I''ll help you, and you must promise to help me as well!"
He Tianchou chuckled nervously.
Shen Mo smiled. "I''ve always been sincere in my dealings. Naturally, I''ll lend a hand to those I have good rtions with."
He Tianchou felt slightly reassured.
He considered his rtionship with Shen Mo decent. With those words, Shen Mo might actuallye to his aid if danger arose.
He Tianchou suddenly said, "By the way, no one outside knows what might happen inside Bloodvine Valley. Elder Shen, you''d best be wary of certain individuals."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
This was something he was already aware of.
The factions among the elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect wereplex and numerous.
Not to mention, Yang Qiye undoubtedly bore a grudge against him.
If not for Shen Mo''s actions at Dragon Snake Mountain, Yang Qiye would have seeded in selling off the sect''s beast-taming industry entirely, securing arger kickback from Yuzhou Governor.
Shen Mo had already discerned these schemes when he first encountered Yang Qiye by examining the life panel.
"Ye Yan is here," He Tianchou said in a low voice, pointing in a direction.
Shen Mo followed his gaze.
Ye Yan retained his cold, indifferent demeanor.
Dressed in a crimson robe with a long de at his waist, he exuded a chilling aura.
His presence had an almost maic pull on those with ill intentions.
Wherever Ye Yan appeared, such individuals would feel an inexplicable urge to bow and submit to him.
Shen Mo nced at Ye Yan''s fortune and felt a tinge of delight.
He suddenly noticed significant changes in Ye Yan''s recent fortunespared to a year agothere were more opportunities now!
Shen Mo''s mood was akin to watching a seedling he had carefully nurtured grow strong.
The gaze he cast at Ye Yan seemed filled with satisfaction, causing Ye Yan to feel an inexplicable chill.
What the heck
What kind of look was that?
In my entire life, I, Ye Yan, have never been looked at like this before!
Annoyed, Ye Yan resolved that if Shen Mo continued staring, he would return the gaze just as fiercely.
However, Shen Mo only nced briefly before withdrawing his gaze, silently processing the vast information he had gleaned.
[Recent Opportunities]
[Upon entering Bloodvine Valley, Ye Yan will prepare to cultivate a ck seed from Plot Three. By imbuing it with spiritual energy, he will cultivate it into a Nine-Petal Moon Orchid.]
[Once inside Bloodvine Valley, the Nine-Petal Moon Orchid will prevent bloodvines from attacking him, allowing him to be the first to reach the inner valley and secure arge quantity of Vermilion Blood Spirit Grain.]
[In the inner valley, Ye Yan will encounter Bloodroot Dragons. After ying several, he will obtain nine Yin Sha Pearls and six clusters of refined Bloodroot essence.]
[Following the trail of the Bloodroot Dragons to their undergroundir, Ye Yan will inadvertently disturb the Bloodroot Dragon King, leading to a deadly chase.
Numerous elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect will perish in the chaos.
During his escape, Ye Yan will encounter Shen Mo and Xiao Fan. The three will join forces to confront the Bloodroot Dragon King and ultimately y it.]
[After ying the Bloodroot Dragon King, Ye Yan and Xiao Fan will turn against Shen Mo, severely injuring him.
Ye Yan will seize six Yin Sha Pearls and the Sky-Touching Tendril Remains.
Xiao Fan will acquire the "Forest Sword" and eight clusters of refined Bloodroot essence.]
Shen Mo mused over the information.
The Moon Orchid grew only at the entrance of Bloodvine Valley. It was a peculiar flower of low grade that rarely produced seeds.
Each Moon Orchid would yield just one seed.
Its petals were tiny, and it emitted almost no fragrance.
The bloodvines within Bloodvine Valley seemed able to detect the faint scent of the Moon Orchid, and they were deeply fearful of it. This was precisely why they were trapped within the valley, unable to leave.
The more petals a Moon Orchid had, the stronger its fragrance, and the less likely it was to attract attacks from the bloodvines.
Before entering Bloodvine Valley, elders would often collect seeds at the entrance and cultivate a Moon Orchid. Doing so significantly increased their safety.
"This Nine-Petal Moon Orchid is a treasure. If I can obtain it, I''ll be able to pass through the outer valley safely and quickly, entering the inner valley directly."
Bloodvine Valley was shaped like a gourd, divided into an outer valley and an inner valley.
The inner valley had denser spiritual energy and housed more rare treasures, but it was also home to much stronger bloodvines.
Shen Mo shifted his focus to other opportunities.
He noticed that some unexpected phenomena had emerged in Bloodvine Valley.
Bloodvines, the most abundant beasts in the valley, were well-known to all.
Bloodroot Dragons, however, were a different matter. These dragon-shaped beasts were formed from the roots of the vines, which absorbed Yin Sha energy over time.
Their aggressive nature was unparalleled.
They not only attacked human cultivators but also bloodvinesand even each other.
This eventually led to the emergence of an immensely powerful Bloodroot Dragon King.
The Bloodroot Dragon King was incredibly strong, far beyond the capabilities of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.
Years ago, the Jade Cauldron Sect had lost eleven Nascent Soul cultivators to a single Bloodroot Dragon King.
Yet, Bloodroot Dragons had supposedly been eradicated long ago when the Jade Cauldron Sect first took control of Bloodvine Valley.
Why, then, were they reappearing now?
"As for that Forest Sword it should be part of the Heaven-ying Sword Scripture."
"The formation surrounding Bloodvine Valley is designed to prevent outsiders from entering. How did Xiao Fan manage to get in? Could he have found a w in the formation? Truly, the fortunes of a protagonist."
Shen Mo clicked his tongue in amazement.
It was clear that after this opening of Bloodvine Valley, another fierce struggle was inevitable.
Someone as peace-loving as himself had no interest in such chaos.
He''d take what he needed in advance and let them fight their battles.
After all, neither of those two was any good.
ording to fate, he would team up with them to y the Bloodroot Dragon King, only for them to immediately turn on him once the dragon was dead.
A shred of conscience would have gone a long way, yet they seemed utterly devoid of it.
At this moment, a streak of light appeared on the horizon.
A towering elder with a broad frame and an imposing aura arrived.
Though he said nothing, his presence was enough to make others lower their heads instinctively.
He was none other than the Grand Elder in charge of the Discipline Hall.
"Everyone, the opening of Bloodvine Valley is imminent. Follow me," the Grand Elder announced in amanding voice.@@novelbin@@
With that, he ascended into the air and flew northward.
Shen Mo and the others immediately followed.
In an instant, dozens of streaks of light sped northward, heading straight for Bloodvine Valley.
Bloodvine Valley was located within the Hengtai Mountain Range, not far from the Jade Cauldron Sect''s main gate.
This areay at the core of the Jade Cauldron Sect''s territory, and no one dared to trespass.
Before long, a red speck appeared in the distance.
As they descended, the valley came into view. It was shaped like a gourd, wide at the outer edge and narrow at the inner core, and bathed in a crimson hue.
This was Bloodvine Valley.
A faint glow surrounded the valleythe defensive formation protecting it from outsiders.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of figuresnded in unison at the entrance of Bloodvine Valley.
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Chapter 226: No Rush, I Still Have a Flower Seed
Chapter 226: No Rush, I Still Have a Flower Seed
Shen Mo surveyed the valley.
At the valley''s entrance, a few cottages stood quietly, surrounded by white, delicate flowers.
The soft breeze caused the flowers to sway, as if they were little dancing spirits. However, their fragrance was faint, almost imperceptible.
"These must be the Moon Orchid Flowers," Shen Mo remarked.
"Unfortunately, most of these flowers only have one or two petals. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have to waste time cultivating them from seeds."
His gaze shifted to a clearing nearby. There, five flowerbeds were lined up, each containing several seeds.
The seeds were unusuallyrge, about the size of a thumb.
A senior from one of the cottages quickly approached, bowing respectfully to the Grand Elder. Behind him followed three Core Formation stage stewards.
Clearly, these four were the stationed guardians of Bloodvine Valley.
The leading elder greeted with a steady voice, "Greetings, Grand Elder."
The Grand Elder nodded slightly. "Zhang Feng, have you noticed anything unusual while guarding this area?"
Zhang Feng chuckled lightly. "Grand Elder, you must be joking. Bloodvine Valley isn''t one of those other two forbidden zones. Ever since our Jade Cauldron Sect took full control of this ce, it has been extraordinarily calm. There''s never been any anomaly."
"The bloodvines in the valley are behaving as usual."
"No Bloodroot Dragons have been born."
"And I inspect the valley''s surrounding formations every three days to ensure everything is in order."
The Grand Elder finally nodded in approval. "Well done."
Shen Mo, however, couldn''t help but wear an odd expression.
If not for his ability to see personal panels, he might have believed Zhang Feng''s words.
"Interesting," Shen Mo thought. "Zhang Feng is a spy?"
"And he''s not working for the Supreme Purity Sect, the Danhe Sect, or even the Prefecture Lord of Yu Province. Instead, he''s loyal to the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom?"
Outwardly, Shen Mo betrayed nothing, but inwardly, he was surprised. He made a mental note of Zhang Feng''s life panel.
The Grand Elder turned to the gathered elders. "You may each select your seeds. After a day of cultivation, you may enter Bloodvine Valley."
"I must return to handle matters in the Discipline Hall, so I won''t stay here any longer."
He cupped his hands to the elders in farewell, his stern demeanor unchanged.
"Safe travels, Grand Elder," the elders responded, bowing in return.
Shen Mo strode purposefully to the flowerbeds, his gaze appearing to flit casually between them, as if undecided. In truth, his focus was on the third flowerbed, searching for the darkest seed.
"Got it!"
Shen Mo grabbed three seeds from the third bed, including the darkest one.
ording to the rules, each person could select up to three seeds.
Seeing Shen Mo''s choice, He Tianchou chuckled, "Elder Shen, I''d advise you to pick one seed from each bed."
"Why not take all three from one?" Shen Mo asked with a curious smile.
He Tianchou grinned confidently. "While the stationed elder wouldn''t intentionally neglect any flowerbed, minor variations in nutrition are inevitable."
"By spreading your choices across different beds, you minimize risks."
"If you take three from one bed, you might get either the best or the worst oues."
"By diversifying, it''s like not putting all your eggs in one basket. At least the results will be stable."
Shen Mo nodded in understanding. "Hall Master He, your expertise is evident."
He Tianchou puffed his chest proudly. "Of course. I''ve been into Bloodvine Valley nine times already."
Shen Mo nodded again. "Still, I can''t be bothered with splitting hairs. I''ll take these three. If they''re all poor quality, I''ll just chalk it up to bad luck."
He Tianchouughed. "Alright, if my Moon Orchid Flowers turn out well, I''ll gift you one."
Shen Mo cupped his hands in thanks, then moved aside and began channeling spiritual energy into his three seeds.
The other elders soon finished selecting their seeds, leaving behind the smaller, misshapen ones in the flowerbeds.@@novelbin@@
These leftover seeds would only yield one- or two-petal Moon Orchid Flowers at best. Their sole purpose was to be nted at the entrance of Bloodvine Valley, using quantity to generate a qualitative deterrent against the valley''s bloodvines.
Shen Mo did not immediately inject spiritual energy into the dark seed. Instead, he began with the other two seeds.
Before long, the first seed sprouted, breaking through its shell.
With the nourishment of spiritual energy, it quickly grew, producing petals in no time.
Only two petals.
Around him, other elders were expressing various emotionsdelight, frustration, or disappointment.
He Tianchou eximed excitedly, "Haha! A six-petal Moon Orchid! I do have some skill after all!"
The surrounding elders cast envious nces his way.
A six-petal Moon Orchid was a rare find.
With it in hand, He Tianchou would likely be safe from attacks by most of the bloodvines in Bloodvine Valley. Only the extraordinarily powerful bloodvines would dare challenge the flower''s fragrance and attack him.
Nearby, Ye Yan also activated his first seed.
His luck was averagehe obtained a three-petal Moon Orchid.
Dissatisfied, Ye Yan immediately turned to his second seed.
Meanwhile, Shen Mo began activating his second seed as well.
The result was worse than the first: only a single petal.
On He Tianchou''s side, another burst ofughter erupted.
"The second seed is a four-petal Moon Orchid!"
"The third seed is a five-petal Moon Orchid!"
"Everyone, if you didn''t get a good Moon Orchid, feel free toe to me and buy one! Hahaha!"
He Tianchou was beside himself with joy.
The other elders looked on with envy.
Some couldn''t help but regret not following He Tianchou''s method of choosing seeds from three different flowerbeds.
Suddenly, a startled cry broke the chatter. "A seven-petal Moon Orchid! No, it''s eight petals! My heavens!"
The elders immediately turned their gazes.
In Ye Yan''s palm was a tiny eight-petal flower.
A faint smile yed on Ye Yan''s lips.
As expected, his luck wasn''t bad.
While it wasn''t the ultimate nine-petal Moon Orchid, an eight-petal one was already remarkable. It would be enough to let him enter Bloodvine Valley ahead of the others!
He Tianchou and the others looked on with admiration.
It had been nearly fifty years since a Moon Orchid with more than seven petals had appeared.
Yet here was Ye Yan, summoning an eight-petal flower today!
He Tianchou cast a few envious nces but soon turned his attention elsewhere.
Looking around, he noticed Shen Mo''s poor results and strode over withrge steps.
He felt a twinge of sympathy.
Shen Mo was a young prodigy, with extraordinary expertise in the art of taming beasts.
Still, it seemed he had some shoringslike selecting seeds, where he clearly fell shortpared to himself.
Of course, He Tianchou had the advantage of experience, having entered Bloodvine Valley nine times. That experience allowed him to cultivate three fairly excellent Moon Orchids today.
He Tianchou chuckled. "Elder Shen, I''ll have to keep the six-petal flower, but I can give you this five-petal one. How about it?"
The surrounding elders were visibly surprised.
He Tianchou was known to be a rather stingy person.
Yet today, he was offering a five-petal Moon Orchid to Shen Mo for free?
However, the group quickly understood.
Shen Mo, a young prodigy with a bright future, was clearly worth befriending.
He Tianchou''s gesture made perfect sense.
The elders couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy.
If only they had Shen Mo''s talent, they too might have others offering them Moon Orchids.
Shen Mo simply smiled. "No rush. I still have one more seed."
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Chapter 228: Shen Mo Can’t Possibly Harvest All the Scarlet Blood Spirit Valleys, Can He?
Chapter 228: Shen Mo Can''t Possibly Harvest All the Scarlet Blood Spirit Valleys, Can He?
At that moment, a fierce howling came from ahead.
A particrly thick bloodvine lunged forward like a serpent, aiming directly to entangle Ye Yan.
Ye Yan frowned slightly and suddenly drew his de.
With a sh of the de, the bloodvine was severed in two.
However, his pace slowed slightly as a result.
Meanwhile, Shen Mo remained unimpeded, untouched by any bloodvine attack.
The distance between them widened further.
Soon, the bloodvines ahead grew even thicker.
Each vine was as wide as an adult''s waist.
They looked less like vines and more like serpents disguised as vegetation.
The difference between eight petals and nine petals was stark.
Most of the bloodvines targeted Ye Yan.
In contrast, only a handful dared to attack Shen Mo.
Shen Mo employed his Eight Directions Thunder Movementtechnique, charging forward without pause.
Ye Yan gradually fell behind.
Before long, the surrounding noise faded entirely.
Shen Mo was now the only one racing ahead in the dense, almost suffocating sea of vines.
The bloodvines could sense Shen Mo''s presence, but they were too intimidated by the nine-petaled Moon Orchid tounch an attack.
For ten straight days, Shen Mo advanced at an astonishing pace.
Finally, he spotted a narrow passageway ahead.
His heart leaped with joy.
"The inner valley!"
This was the gourd-shaped entrance, marking the boundary between the outer valley and the inner valley of Bloodvine Valley!
Shen Mo elerated again, surging through the passage in one burst.
A strange world unfolded before his eyes.
Red!
Red, red, red!
The trees were red, the grass was red.
Even the soil was red.
The entirendscape was a scarlet world.
If not for the sky still being blue, Shen Mo might have thought he had stumbled into another dimension.
However, the bloodvines here seemed oddly lifeless.
Even though they were thicker than the ones outside, theyy sprawled on the ground, sluggish and motionless.
Even when Shen Mo identally stepped on one, it didn''t react much.
They resembled beaten dogs, lying defeated on the ground.
Shen Mo inhaled deeply, catching the familiar scent in the air.
Soon, he found his target.
A lush patch of Scarlet Blood Spirit Valleys!
Each nt was bursting with plump grains, as if they might split open their husks at any moment, exposing themselves to Shen Mo.
Delight filled Shen Mo''s face.
The inner valley was indeed far superior to the outer valley.
Judging by the sheer number of Scarlet Blood Spirit Valleys, there were at least five times as many here as in the outer valley!
Still, Shen Mo didn''t rush forward recklessly. Instead, his gaze shifted to the blood-red roots near the Spirit Valleys.
Upon closer inspection, the roots were subtly undtingnot dead, but alive!
"Could those be Bloodroot Dragons?" Shen Mo mused.
He didn''t sense any threat from them.
It was clear they were no match for him.
Shen Mo quietly channeled his spiritual energy.
mes flickered silently in his palm.
When his spiritual energy reached its peak, Shen Mo stomped the ground and leapt forward.
With a forceful strike, his palm mmed down onto the surface of the roots.
Boom!
The mes ignited like oil-soaked firewood.
Instantly, they roared to life.
The seemingly inert blood-red roots convulsed violently, transforming into a monstrous dragon about ten zhang long. It howled and roared in fury.
Shen Mo sneered. "Hiding next to the Spirit Valley, waiting to ambush me, and now you''re throwing a tantrum because I caught you? What nerve."
Without hesitation, he struck again, mming his palm down.
Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique!
The Bloodroot Dragon couldn''t withstand Shen Mo''s second strike.@@novelbin@@
Within mere moments, its entire body was reduced to a pile of ck ash.
"It seems that fire-attribute spiritual energy is a natural counter to them."
"This suggests that exotic mes are likely even more effective against Bloodroot Dragons."
Shen Mo mused thoughtfully.
With a casual wave of his hand, he harvested all the Scarlet Blood Spirit Valleys in the area and stored them in his spatial ring.
As he was about to leave, he noticed two faintly glowing objects amidst the ashes.
Another wave of his hand brought the items to his palm, drawn by his spiritual energy.
The first was a pale gray bead, and if one listened closely, faint wails and howls could be heard emanating from it.
The second was an irregr crimson crystal, neither metallic nor wooden, with a unique and mysterious appearance.
These items were none other than the Yin Fiend Bead and the Vital Bloodroot.
The Yin Fiend Bead needed no introductionit was one of the finest treasures for enhancing one''s core formation techniques.
The Vital Bloodroot, on the other hand, wasn''t for enhancing spiritual power but rather for strengthening the physical body.
"I''ve heard of the Vital Bloodroot''s mystical properties before, but it''s said to only appear in powerful Bloodroot Dragons. Ordinary cultivators rarely have the chance to obtain it. Yet today, I''ve found one."
Shen Mo''s thoughts stirred.
He recalled the information he had gathered about Bloodvine Valley.
The Vital Bloodroot, once refined, could significantly strengthen the physical body.
It improved strength, speed, and wound recovery, offering an all-around enhancement.
However, it could only be refined up to five times in one''s lifetime.
Beyond that, its effects would diminish greatly, almost to the point of being negligible.
Since the Danhe Sect had taken control of Bloodvine Valley, no Bloodroot Dragons had been allowed to exist due to their instability, and the Vital Bloodroot had long vanished from the sect.
For years, younger cultivators who sought Vital Bloodroot had searched in vain.
"Vital Bloodroot will undoubtedly be highly sought after. I only need to keep enough for my own use; the rest can be traded for items I need."
A smile spread across Shen Mo''s face.
He knew that at the center of the inner valley, there was a cluster of houses that served as a rest stop.
These houses had been established by the Danhe Sect and were protected by formations.
Eventually, all the other elders would arrive there.
He could use the opportunity to trade with them, exchanging resources as needed.
With that, Shen Mo continued to follow the fragrance of Scarlet Blood Spirit Valleys, heading to the next location.
Since Bloodvine Valley had been closed for five years, the inner valley was now brimming with spiritual energy. Even after traveling a short distance, Shen Mo encountered scattered Scarlet Blood Spirit Valleys.
As the first person to enter the inner valley, Shen Mo could hardly leave empty-handed. Instead, he was making a grand harvest.
Meanwhile, Ye Yan was deeply troubled.
Extremely troubled.
Although he had also entered the inner valley, he hadn''t found many Scarlet Blood Spirit Valleys. Instead, he had been ambushed by several Bloodroot Dragons.
"It must be Shen Mo"
"With his nine-petaled Moon Orchid, he''s far ahead of me."
"Following in his footsteps, I''ve gained nothing!"
Ye Yan gritted his teeth.
He had never felt such hatred for anyone before.
Huff
Taking several deep breaths, Ye Yan forced himself to calm down and began analyzing the situation.
"Why are Bloodroot Dragons appearing? Weren''t they supposed to have been eradicated long ago?"
"For years, the stationed elders have meticulously inspected Bloodvine Valley to ensure that Bloodroot Dragons never reappear."
Ye Yan frowned deeply.
The appearance of Bloodroot Dragons was far from good news.
Moreover, he had no idea how long they had been present.
If they had been around for as long as five years, it was highly likely that a Bloodroot Dragon King had already been born.
Ye Yan knew full well that in a one-on-one fight, he wouldn''t stand a chance against a Bloodroot Dragon King.
"The terrain of Bloodvine Valley is peculiar, and its chaotic spiritual energy disruptsmunication. I can''t use my transmission jade to inform the Danhe Sect of the situation."
"Nor can I escape the valley in a short time. For now, I''ll just have to take it one step at a time."
Ye Yan''s gaze turned cold as he continued deeper into the valley.
Coming to Bloodvine Valley only to leave empty-handedor worse, injuredwould be utterly humiliating.
"Even if Shen Mo is far ahead of me, he can''t possibly harvest every single Scarlet Blood Spirit Valley he sees. There must be some left behind"
Ye Yan muttered to himself as he pressed onward.
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Chapter 230: Twenty Pounds of Crimson Blood Spirit Valley Herbs for One Essence Blood Root
Chapter 230: Twenty Pounds of Crimson Blood Spirit Valley Herbs for One Essence Blood Root
The other three elders, their interest piqued, quickly joined in, their eyes full of anticipation as they looked at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo smiled.
This was precisely what he wanted.
Over the past month, he had hunted Bloodroot Dragons all across the valley and already acquired the five essence blood roots he needed, which he had long since refined.
The surplus, of course, would be used for trade.
But there was a crucial difference: offering a trade versus others asking for one.
In the former case, the initiative rested with the other party, as though he were the one seeking their favor.
In thetter, the power was firmly in his handsit was they who sought him out.
"We are all elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect, so naturally, I can help," Shen Mo said, his voice warm.
"Each of you should have some Crimson Blood Spirit Valley herbs, correct?"
"Twenty pounds of Crimson Blood Spirit Valley herbs for one essence blood root."
He smiled pleasantly as he made the offer.
Nascent Soul cultivators were bound to carry numerous treasures, and Shen Mo had every intention of squeezing as much value as he could out of them.
"Twenty pounds that''s steep," He Tianchou said with an awkward smile.
After scouring the outer valley for a long time, he had managed to collect only thirteen pounds of Crimson Blood Spirit Valley herbs.
The three elders beside him looked even more embarrassed.
While He Tianchou had gathered thirteen pounds, none of them had even ten pounds to their name.
He Tianchou hesitated before speaking. "Elder Shen, can''t you lower the price just a bit?"
Shen Mo maintained his gentle smile. "The sect currently doesn''t even have a single essence blood root avable. If I were to bring this back, the price would skyrocketyou all know that as well as I do."
The four elders exchanged resigned smiles.
He was right.
Except for those who had previously refined essence blood roots, nearly every cultivator in the sect would be eager to get their hands on such a treasure.
Shen Mo added, "If your Crimson Blood Spirit Valley herbs fall short, you can use contributions, Yin Sha Pearls, or other rare treasures to make up the difference."
After a moment of thought, He Tianchou took out ten pounds of Crimson Blood Spirit Valley herbs and a single Yin Sha Pearl to trade for the essence blood root in Shen Mo''s possession.
Both parties were satisfied, each receiving what they needed.
While He Tianchou and the other elders were thrilled with their gains, their expressions quickly turned grim again.
The situation with the Bloodroot Dragons needed to be reported as soon as possible.
But theirmunication talismans were useless here.
Having ventured deep into the inner valley, escaping to the outside world would be nearly impossible.
Moreover, while the protective formation could hold for now, it wouldn''tst forever.
Themotion here had already attracted more Bloodroot Dragons to their location.
Even if they used all their spiritual stones to replenish the formation, it was only a matter of time before it failed.
The worst part was that they had no idea how many Bloodroot Dragons were in the valley.
Even worse, they couldn''t be certain whether the legendary Bloodroot Dragon Kingmentioned in the Jade Cauldron Sect''s ancient textshad been born.
If the Bloodroot Dragon King truly existed, no amount of resistance would save them from an untimely death.
"Elder Shen, you are the strongest among us. Why don''t we escort you out to ry the message to the sect?" one of the elders suggested earnestly.
"Indeed. At this rate, every elder who entered the Blood Vine Valley might perish. That would be a devastating loss for the sect," another elder sighed deeply.
Shen Mo''s expression remained unchanged.
He already knew there were people lying in wait at the valley''s exit, ready to ambush anyone who tried to leave.
Not that Shen Mo feared those individuals.
But he had his sights set on the most valuable treasures in the Blood Vine Valley.
The Root Sword Manual! The remains of the Hanging Sky Vine!
Leaving without securing these would mean letting them fall into the hands of Ye Yan and Xiao Fan. That would render his entire journey pointless.
"I suspect foul y is involved," Shen Mo said solemnly.
He Tianchou and the others were taken aback. "What do you mean by that?"
Shen Mo exined, "When we entered the Blood Vine Valley, the Great Elder asked the stationed elder Zhang Feng about the situation here. You all remember his answer, don''t you?"
The four elders shuddered, immediately recalling Zhang Feng''s words.
He had reported no anomalies in the valley.
Not a single Bloodroot Dragon.
Shen Mo nced at the four elders, his expression serious.
"I entered the inner valley earlier than all of you. I''ve already encountered at least twenty Bloodroot Dragons," he said calmly. "And in the deeper regions, there are likely many more, fighting amongst themselves."
"Such numbers could never have appeared within mere days or months. This must have been building up over many years."
His gaze swept across the four elders. "Given the situation, do you still think we can leave this ce alive?"
The expressions of He Tianchou and the others turned grim.
They weren''t fools. Shen Mo''s analysis revealed the unsettling truth: something about this whole ordeal was deeply suspicious.
"But Zhang Feng has been stationed here for decades, always loyal to the sect. How could he" He Tianchou frowned deeply.
He had entered the Blood Vine Valley nine times over the past forty-five years, and Zhang Feng had always been the one stationed here. For decades, Zhang Feng had been diligent and reliable. Why would this time be different?
Shen Mo waved his hand dismissively. "Rest for now. We can discuss this after your injuries have healed."
With that, he strode into one of the nearby shelters.
As usual, he secured the area with various defensive formations before taking out the items from his storage ring.
"I''ve already gathered four Yin Sha Pearls. Perfect for upgrading my Dan Crown to purple."
Without hesitation, he began refining the Yin Sha Pearls, wasting no time.
Elsewhere, Ye Yan''s cold expression remained unchanged as he walked briskly into one of the shelters.
He still looked the same as ever: dressed in a crimson robe, a long de strapped to his waist, his icy demeanor creating a sense of distance that seemed to push others away.
Behind him followed Wang Wu, a fellow elder from the Second Peak, whose fawning smile contrasted starkly with Ye Yan''s coldness.
Wang Wu chuckled obsequiously. "Elder Ye, there''s no need to worry. Plenty of people would dly trade their Crimson Blood Spirit Valley herbs for one of your essence blood roots."
At this, Ye Yan''s expression softened slightly.
He had spent half a month searching the inner valley, yet his haul of Crimson Blood Spirit Valley herbs was pitifulonly twenty pounds.
Yesterday, he had discovered a patch ofnd teeming with the herbs. However, just as he approached, he was ambushed by a particrly massive Bloodroot Dragon.
Its body exceeded forty zhang in length.
After a brief skirmish, Ye Yan realized he was no match for the creature and had no choice but to retreat, gritting his teeth in frustration.
Before entering the Blood Vine Valley, Ye Yan had made a bold pledge to Yang Qiye, swearing he would return with one hundred pounds of Crimson Blood Spirit Valley herbs.
If he seeded, his haul would break all records in the valley''s history.
Such an aplishment would earn him a significant amount of contribution pointsenough to elevate his elder status to the third cauldron rank.
With that rank, he would gain ess to another restricted area within the sect, a ce teeming with far greater opportunities than the Blood Vine Valley.
Ye Yan and Wang Wu pressed on, soon arriving at a cluster of shelters where over twenty other elders had gathered in recent days.
Some were trading, others were chatting with furrowed brows, and still others were sharing their experiences and observations from the past few days.
Ye Yan''s arrival immediately drew the attention of the gathered cultivators.
Many turned to nce at him, their gazes subtly scrutinizing. Ye Yan was a well-known figure in the Jade Cauldron Sect, and his reputation was formidable.
Seeing him now only confirmed his renown.
Most of the other elders bore varying degrees of injuries, but Ye Yan appeared unscathed, with only his robe slightly damaged.
"I heard Elder Ye encountered that forty-zhang-long Bloodroot Dragon yesterday and survived. Not only that, he escapedpletely unscathed," one elder whispered.
"Incredible. No wonder the Sect Master praises him as a prodigy."
"That forty-zhang Bloodroot Dragon has already killed several Nascent Soul elders. I barely escaped with my life after using a powerful Nascent Soul technique. That monster is terrifyingI think it''s on the verge of evolving into a Bloodroot Dragon King."
"It can''t be If that happens, we''re all doomed!"
The elders exchanged low murmurs, their tones tinged with despair.
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Chapter 232: Who Killed These Two Bloodroot Dragons?
Chapter 232: Who Killed These Two Bloodroot Dragons?
Shen Mo had anticipated the various reactions of the massive Bloodroot Dragon.
Its current responsefuriously charging at himwas actually the easiest scenario for him to exploit and kill it.
"Perfect. After refining the Demon Armor Helmet, I haven''t had the chance to use it. Today, I''ll test its power on you," Shen Mo thought.
With a mere thought, the purple-ck helmet appeared, fully enclosing his head, leaving only his icy cold eyes visible.
The purple-ck chest te and right arm guard soon followed, covering his torso and right arm.
It was as though he had been born with this set of purple-ck Demon Armor.
Back in the me Prison Realman''s cave, after obtaining the Divine Thunder Demon Suppression Scripture and the Demon Armor Helmet, Shen Mo had refined the helmet long ago.
However, he hadn''t had the opportunity to use it while he was in the Dragon Snake Mountains.
The Demon Armor was aplete set of heaven-tier spiritual equipment.@@novelbin@@
Each additional piece significantly increased its power.
Now, with the helmet, chest te, and right arm guard, its power had multiplied several times over!
With a flick of his wrist, Shen Mo crushed three blood pouches hidden in his sleeve.
Nine drops of Ice Flood Dragon Blood burst forth, fusing into the Demon Armor.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
The Demon Armor underwent a dramatic transformation.
One moment, it exuded a sinister demonic aura.
The next, it radiated a bone-chilling coldness.
It seemed as though the armor had been forged entirely from millennia-old profound ice.
"Kill!"
Frigid energy gathered in his chest te.
Endless ice energy surged from all directions.
As the massive Bloodroot Dragon roared and lunged forward, its maw wide open to devour Shen Mo, an icy pir erupted from the chest te.
From head to tail, the pir pierced straight through the Bloodroot Dragon!
Boom!
The colossal body of the Bloodroot Dragon crashed heavily to the ground.
Its crimson tendrils dimmed, losing all vitality.
They now looked like dried blood scabs left to wither for days.
The Bloodroot Dragon was utterly lifeless.
It hadpletely lost its chance to be the Bloodroot Dragon King.
Shen Mo exhaled slowly and withdrew the Demon Armor back into his body.
Striding quickly toward the massive corpse, he carefully examined the behemoth.
As expected, in the dragon''s chest cavity, he discovered a green vine about the length of an adult''s arm. Though it was withered and soft, it emitted a faint green light that nourished everything around it.
Even holding it briefly, Shen Mo noticed a subtle transformation in the ground.
Looking down, he saw that the vines and nts, submerged in the muddy, blood-soaked battlefield from the two Bloodroot Dragons'' battle, were beginning to regenerate at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Moreover, they were rapidly climbing toward Shen Mo''s palm.
Clearly, they craved this vine intensely.
Without hesitation, Shen Mo stored the remains of the Celestial Vine in his spatial ring.
This green vine, so out of ce in Bloodvine Valley yet possessing such miraculous effects, was clearly not a product of the valley.
"Without a doubt, this must be the remains of the Celestial Vine," Shen Mo affirmed to himself, nodding slightly as he confirmed his discovery.
Searching further within the massive Bloodroot Dragon, he found three Yin Fiend Orbs and five portions of essence bloodroot.
"And the Forest Sword Art?" Shen Mo wondered.
After a moment''s thought, his attention turned to the smaller Bloodroot Dragon''s corpse nearby.
Its body was already beginning to sprout tender red shoots.
Shen Mo''s gaze sharpened, and he immediately moved closer.
After a thorough search, he found a simple, ancient page within the smaller Bloodroot Dragon''s body.
On the page, a single character was written in bold, flowing calligraphy.
"Root!"
The strokes were bold and powerful, yet sharp and prating.
Each stroke seemed to carry an indomitable sword aura.
Continuing his search of the smaller Bloodroot Dragon''s body, Shen Mo also retrieved three more Yin Fiend Orbs and three portions of essence bloodroot.
"Excellent! The Forest Sword Art is now in my hands!" Shen Mo said, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
The most coveted treasures of Bloodvine Valley were now in Shen Mo''s possession.
With that, this journey had been more than worthwhile!
"Themotion here must have reached the ears of other cultivators. It''s time to leave," Shen Mo thought as he quickly acted.
Using sword techniques, he unleashed a flurry of chaotic shes, carefully erasing any traces of the fiery burn marks from his earlier attack.
Only then did he activate his movement technique, transforming into a gust of wind and vanishing from the battlefield.
Not long after he left, several figures arrived hurriedly.
At the forefront was Ye Yan, apanied by Wang Wu, He Tianchou, and others.
Wang Wu gawked at the blood-soaked, muddy ground and the two mountainous Bloodroot Dragon corpses. His jaw dropped, and he was left speechless for a long time.
He Tianchou''s eyes widened. "It''s those two exceptionally powerful Bloodroot Dragons! Yes, it''s themboth over forty zhang in length!"
"But how could they have died here?!"
Ye Yan''s sharp gaze scanned the scene, immediately noticing the sword marks on the corpses and the residual icy aura lingering in the air.
"It was someone skilled in swordsmanship who cultivates ice-element techniques," he said calmly.
He Tianchou froze for a moment.
Whoever could kill these two Bloodroot Dragons was no ordinary person. They had to be a powerhouse on par with Ye Yan.
But among the elders who had entered Bloodvine Valley this time, no one seemed to match those criteria.
Wang Wu whispered, "It''s also possible that someone deliberately left these traces to mislead others."
Ye Yan nodded slightly.
"What a pity. Those dragons must have contained Yin Fiend Orbs and essence bloodroot, but it''s all been taken by that person," Wang Wu said, regret written all over his face.
More and more elders arrived, one after another.
Seeing the two massive Bloodroot Dragon corpses, their reactions mirrored those of He Tianchou and Wang Wuutter shock and disbelief.
For a long time, no one could find their voice.
Suddenly, He Tianchou''s expression brightened with excitement. "Everyone, these two Bloodroot Dragons were the most likely candidates to be the Bloodroot Dragon King."
"Now that they''re dead, the crisis is over!"
The elders behind him also had a gleam in their eyes, their excitement palpable.
Indeed!
Over the past few days, they had joined forces to y several other Bloodroot Dragons.
Now, with these two strongest dragons also gone, it was unlikely for another Bloodroot Dragon King to emerge within Bloodvine Valley.
Without the threat of a Bloodroot Dragon King, they could band together and escape!
A burly elder sighed. "Whoever killed these two Bloodroot Dragons has essentially saved our lives!"
A stunningly beautiful female elder swayed her alluring figure and spoke with a teasing tone. "If I find out who it is, I''ll have to thank him properly. I''ll make sure he won''t be able to get out of bed for three days!"
Her words immediately elicited a chorus of shouts.
"It''s me! I did it!"
"Ah, I didn''t want to brag, but fine, I''ll admit it was me!"
The beautiful elder sneered. "Keep pretending. You silver-ted spearheads couldn''t even dream of killing these two Bloodroot Dragons."
Several eldersughed awkwardly, their bravado fading under her sharp words.
He Tianchou chuckled, shaking his head. "Let''s go. We should continue hunting Bloodroot Dragons. When the timees, we''ll leave Bloodvine Valley together." He waved his hand, signaling the elders to follow.
Ye Yan had no interest in lingering either.
The corpses had already been stripped clean of valuables. Staying here was pointless. It was far more practical to hunt another Bloodroot Dragon or gather more Scarlet Blood Spirit Valley.
The elders who had gathered soon dispersed in all directions.
The area returned to an eerie calm.
Not long after, a handsome figure cautiously approached.
It was Xiao Fan.
Seeing the two enormous corpses, even Xiao Fan couldn''t hide his astonishment.
Just ten days ago, one of these Bloodroot Dragons had been chasing him relentlessly, pushing him to the brink of despair.
If not for his use of a Yuan Infant Divine Art and the assistance of Yao Lao, he might not have survived.
And now, both of these Bloodroot Dragonsy dead before him!
"Who could have done this? Someone with such overwhelming power..." Xiao Fan frowned deeply.
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Chapter 233: You Must Be Surprised We Are Still Alive
Chapter 233: You Must Be Surprised We Are Still Alive
Xiao Fan''s mind echoed with Danhe''s uncertain and astonished voice.
"The one who slew them has incredible power!"
"Look, the smaller Bloodroot Dragon wasn''t killed by that personit was in by therger Bloodroot Dragon."
"And as for therger one, although its body is covered in sword wounds, very few are fatal."
"But its mouth was shattered, and the force sted straight through to its tail."
"I can confirm that the person who killed it must have used an extremely powerful move, piercing it from head to tail in a single strike!"
Having said this, Danhe finally revealed a tone of admiration.
"Xiao Fan, if you were to face this personeven if you sacrificed your lifespan to use the Core Formation Art, and even if I exhausted my soul to assist youyou would only stand a 30% chance at best."
Xiao Fan frowned. "Thirty percent to win?"
Danhe sighed. "Thirty percent for us to lose."
Hearing this, Xiao Fan''s frown deepened.
Danhe was a prudent and knowledgeable elder. If even he said so, it meant Xiao Fan was undoubtedly no match for that individual.
"Usually, those entering the Bloodvine Valley are the First or Second Elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect," Xiao Fan said in a low voice. "I''ve heard that only two of those elders are exceptionally strongYe Yan and Shen Mo."
"I haven''t seen Shen Mo and can''t say for sure," Danhe replied. "But I''ve encountered Ye Yan before. That person''s status is extraordinary, his destiny is entwined with great fortune, and he possesses a special constitution that attracts the favor of otherworldly mes. It must be him!"
Xiao Fan sighed softly. "In that case, my Root Character Sword Art must have fallen into his hands as well."
Danhe said in a low voice, "Don''t worry. From what I know, the two strongest pages of the Heaven-ying Sword Art are the Burning Heaven Sword Art and the Scorching Earth Sword Art."
"As long as you can retrieve those two pages, it doesn''t matter if the first four pages are missing. Don''t get hung up on every little gain or loss."
Xiao Fan nodded, calming his thoughts. "Danhe is rightI''m getting too attached."
"No matter how strong he is, I can surpass him eventually!" Xiao Fan dered. "As for Shen Mo, after escaping his pursuit, I''ve made rapid progress. I''ll settle that old score with him sooner orter!"
Danhe nodded in approval. "Well said!"
"Besides, this trip wasn''t for nothing. The Yin Fiend Pearl and the essence of the Bloodroot Dragon are rare treasures."
"I also know of a Nascent Soul-stage cultivator''s cave. That person was an evil practitioner who killed more than a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators and used their core crowns to refine a batch of Yin Fiend Pearls with dark arts."
"He intended to leave them for his descendants, but while traveling, he was hunted down and killed by righteous cultivators on an unnamed ind in the Eastern Sea."
"That cave has remained undiscovered ever since."
Xiao Fan was overjoyed. "You know where it is?"
Danhe smiled proudly. "Of course I do. I''ll take you there."
"With the Yin Fiend Pearls from that cebined with the ones you obtained from ying the Bloodroot Dragon, you''ll definitely have enough to refine a golden core crown!"
Xiao Fan''s face lit up. "Excellent! No time to waste. Let''s set off now!"
...
Time passed day by day.
In the blink of an eye, six months had gone by.
There was now only one day left before Bloodvine Valley would close.
At this moment, outside Bloodvine Valley, Zhang Feng stood quietly with three Nascent Soul-stage cultivators.
They had already killed four people who attempted to escape from Bloodvine Valley to report its situation to the elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
"By my calctions, today is thest day."
"No doubt by now, the valley is filled with corpses."
"That Bloodroot Dragon King must have already wiped out all the Jade Cauldron Sect elders."
Zhang Fengughed confidently, his tone full of certainty.
The three cultivators beside him quickly cupped their hands in respect. "We owe this to Brother Zhang''s foresight. To think you started nning this decades ago!"
Zhang Feng smiled faintly. "You tter me. I merely ced a small bet."
"Come, let''s enter Bloodvine Valley together and im the remains of the Hanging Sky Vine."
The three nodded enthusiastically and followed closely behind.
The Jade Cauldron Sect elders were no match for the Bloodroot Dragon King.
However, they themselves had no fear of the creature.
Before their journey, the Demon Emperor had bestowed upon them a treasurea scale from the Demon Emperor himself.
As the sovereign of the Ten Thousand Demons Nation and the ruler of the demon race, the Demon Emperor''s scale held tremendous suppressive power over demonic beasts like the Bloodroot Dragon King.
Once the scale was revealed, the Bloodroot Dragon King would be overwhelmed with fear, its strength significantly diminished, and it would stand no chance against them.
Carrying a five-petaled Moon Orchid each, the four of them prepared to enter the flower field and step into Bloodvine Valley.
But before they could take a step, the valley echoed with the sounds of a fierce battle.
"Kill!"@@novelbin@@
"Break through!"
"Don''t mind the surrounding bloodvinesjust charge forward!"
The group was followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Zhang Feng and the others froze.
Before they could react, arge group of Nascent Soul cultivators, led by Shen Mo, Ye Yan, and others, broke through the bloodvines and charged out of the valley!
The bloodvines, resembling serpents, slithered closely behind them.
However, the valley entrance was surrounded by clusters of Moon Orchids. While each flower had few petals, their sheer number created a powerful barrier, forcing the bloodvines to retreat in fear.
Defeated, the bloodvines reluctantly withdrew back into the valley.
Zhang Feng and his threepanions stared at the dozens of elders in utter disbelief.
Shen Mo nced at Zhang Feng''s group and smiled faintly. "Zhang Feng, you must be wondering why we''re not dead."
Zhang Feng was too stunned to speak.
Ye Yan''s voice was icy as he ordered, "Arrest them!"
The elders surged forward as one.
Before Zhang Feng and hispanions could react, they were captured on the spot.
What followed was a thorough searchinside and out. Their entire bodies, from their tongues to the gaps between their teeth, were inspected meticulously. To ensure they couldn''tmit suicide, rags were stuffed into their mouths.
"Send them to the Hall of Justice immediately. I will personally escort them," Ye Yanmanded coldly, his tone as chilling as ancient ice.
Shen Mo smiled lightly. "Hall Master He, shall we head back? We came out a day early, and no one is here to wee us."
He Tianchou chuckled. "Indeed. Let''s return to the sect and report the events of Bloodvine Valley to the Council Hall."
The elders transformed into streaks of light, flying back toward the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Six months ago, over seventy cultivators had entered Bloodvine Valley.
Now, only about fifty remained.
During those six months, twenty-one Nascent Soul cultivators perished in the valleya significant loss for the Jade Cauldron Sect.
When this news spread, it would undoubtedly stir reactions from the Shangqing Sect, Danhe Sect, and the Prefectural Administration.
But these matters were beyond their concern.
Those worries were for the Sect Master and the ten great elders to handle.
...
At the Jade Cauldron Sect''s mountain gate, bells tolled solemnly.
Any elders near the sect immediately returned.
Shen Mo, Ye Yan, and He Tianchou entered the Council Hall together.
He Tianchou nced at Shen Mo and Ye Yan, who remained silent.
Sighing, he reluctantly began to report the events in Bloodvine Valley in detail.
Elder Li Zhendao frowned deeply. "A Bloodroot Dragon appeared in Bloodvine Valley? Who was in charge of inspections there? Were they just idling away?"
The First Elder stood abruptly. "Where is Zhang Feng? He imed to inspect the valley annually for the past five years. How did he fail to detect the Bloodroot Dragon?"
Shen Mo responded calmly, "Zhang Feng has already been captured, along with three aplices."
"Those three aplices practice techniques from the Ten Thousand Demons Nation and speak with a distinct Wu Prefecture ent. It''s highly likely they are spies sent by the Ten Thousand Demons Nation."
The First Elder''s eyes widened in disbelief.
The other elders eximed in shock.
"What?! Spies from the Ten Thousand Demons Nation?"
"They infiltrated Yuzhou, reached Bloodvine Valley, and hid in the heart of our territory!"
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Chapter 235: Tenth Peak Elder Shen Mo Promoted to Third-Cauldron Elder
Chapter 235: Tenth Peak Elder Shen Mo Promoted to Third-Cauldron Elder
Li Zhendao, as the Sect Master, generally only disyed sincerity and equality when dealing with the ten elders.
But using such a tone with a young Second-Cauldron elder? That was unprecedented.
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
This oue was something he had anticipated.
However, Li Zhendao was even more enthusiastic than Shen Mo had expected.
"Sect Master, of course, this can be discussed. I certainly can''t consume so much Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain on my own," Shen Mo said with a polite bow.
Li Zhendao beamed with delight. "Good, good! The Jade Cauldron Sect is truly blessed to have you!"
"Elder Ye, Hall Master He, please step outside for now. I need to discuss the pricing of the Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain with Elder Shen."
Ye Yan left the discussion hall with a grim expression.
He Tianchou, indifferent as always, also departed.
Though he had long known that Shen Mo possessed a significant amount of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain, he had never imagined it would be as much as 1,000 jin.
Outside the Hall
Wang Wu approached Ye Yan as soon as he stepped out. "Elder Ye, how did it go?"
Ye Yan, in a foul mood, ignored him entirely and flew off from the main peak.
He Tianchou chuckled. "Wang Wu, you''re still as tactless as ever. Couldn''t you see how upset Ye Yan looked?"
With that, he also flew off, heading to the Third Peak.
Wang Wu scratched his head.
"Upset? Doesn''t Ye Yan always have that cold and unpleasant expression?"
Not long after, a powerful voice echoed from the discussion hall, spreading across the entire mountain range.
It was the voice of Sect Master Li Zhendao.
"This time, during the opening of Bloodvine Valley, Tenth Peak Elder Shen Mo voluntarily submitted 300 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain to the secta remarkable contribution!"
"After deliberation in the discussion hall, it has been decided that Tenth Peak Elder Shen Mo will be promoted to Third-Cauldron Elder effective immediately!"
The Soul Formation cultivator''s voice resonated for miles.
From the main peak to the Tenth Peak and across the entire Hengtai Mountain Range, everyone heard it clearly.
Elders, stewards, disciplesregardless of rankwere all shaken upon hearing the announcement.
Three hundred jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain?
What kind of concept was that?
It was equivalent to the total amount submitted by over thirty eldersbined.
How did Shen Mo manage to harvest so much Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain?
Even many Third- and Fourth-Cauldron elders began investigating what had happened in Bloodvine Valley and who Shen Mo truly was.
Their inquiries left them even more astounded.
Shen Mo had only joined the Jade Cauldron Sect a few years ago.
In such a short time, he had risen from a First-Cauldron Elder to a Third-Cauldron Elder.
For context, Ye Yan''s rise was already considered astonishingly fast.
Yet, even Ye Yan had taken three full years to move from First-Cauldron to Second-Cauldron and had yet to advance to Third-Cauldron.
Shen Mo''s rapid ascension far surpassed Ye Yan''s.
On the Tenth Peak
Shen Mo sat on a stone bench.
Wan Muchun, Zhao Yaolv, and Lu Dongxuan stared at him with burning curiosity.
Their stares made Shen Mo feel slightly awkward.
"Why are you three looking at me like that?" Shen Mo asked with a helpless smile.
Lu Dongxuan said excitedly, "Our Tenth Peak has really earned some glory this time!"
Zhao Yaolv rubbed her hands with glee. "I heard you still have some Essence Bloodroots?"
Wan Muchun''s gaze was sharp. "Did you kill those two massive Bloodroot Dragons?"
Shen Mo coughed lightly. "I do have some Essence Bloodroots left. I was nning to trade them for things I need."
"As for those two massive Bloodroot Dragons, I have no idea how they died."
Wan Muchun snorted. "Don''t y coy. I know you have an Eternal meI''ve known for a while."
"Bloodroot Dragons are severely restrained by Eternal mes."
"Of all the cultivators who entered Bloodvine Valley, only you and Ye Yan could have killed the Bloodroot Dragons. But Ye Yan doesn''t possess an Eternal me."
"So, the answer was obvious from the start."
Shen Mo chuckled. "Since you''ve already figured it out, why bother asking?"
Wan Muchunughed heartily. "I just wanted to satisfy this old man''s curiosity."
"Junior Brother! Come,e,elet''s y a game of dice!" Zhao Yaolv tugged at Shen Mo''s arm, her face filled with excitement.
Shen Mo couldn''t help butugh.
"Alright, my wager is one Essence Bloodroot. What''s your wager, Senior Sister?"
Without hesitation, Zhao Yaolv produced three bottles of Great Infant Transformation Pills. "Here, these!"
Shen Mo finally nodded.
ying dice wasn''t out of the question, but the stakes had to be fair.
The two itemsEssence Bloodroot and Great Infant Transformation Pillswere indeed ofparable value.
Shen Mo nced at Zhao Yaolu, and a thought suddenly struck him.
Zhao Yaolu, being the daughter of the Ghost King, was born under a cursed fate, gued by misfortune.
Logically, ying dice games like this should make her lose nine times out of ten.@@novelbin@@
Why, then, did she always seem to win?
There had to be something unusual about it.
Shen Mo scanned Zhao Yaolu''s life profile and couldn''t help but smile.
So that''s it.
"What are you smiling at? You look like a viin," Zhao Yaolu asked, puzzled.
Shen Mo smiled lightly. "Nothing. Go ahead, Senior Sister, roll the dice."
Lu Dongxuan quickly grabbed Shen Mo''s arm and whispered, "Don''t do it! Senior Sister is incredibly skilled at this. You''ll regret it!"
"I speak from experience. Five years ago, I ended up losing even my undergarments to her. Since then, I''ve sworn never to gamble with her again."
Shen Mo chuckled, about to reply, when Zhao Yaolu jumped up, grabbed Lu Dongxuan''s ear, and twisted it viciously.
"Shut up! Don''t ruin my bonding time with Junior Brother!" she snapped.
Lu Dongxuan, face full of grievance, retreated obediently to the side.
Zhao Yaolu pulled out a bamboo container, trapping three dice inside. She shook it energetically, the dice rattling against one another.
After a while, she mmed the container onto the stone table.
"Big or small?" Zhao Yaolu grinned mischievously.
Shen Mo didn''t answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "What do you think it is, Senior Sister?"
Without hesitation, Zhao Yaolu said, "I think it''s small."
Shen Mo nodded. "Alright, I''ll bet on big."
Zhao Yaolu froze.
She turned to Wan Muchun, her face filled with anger. "Old man, did you tell him?"
Wan Muchun looked bewildered. "Tell him what?"
Zhao Yaolu gritted her teeth. "My secret to always winning at dice!"
Wan Muchun nced at Shen Mo, who winked.
Wan Muchunughed helplessly. "I can assure you, I didn''t tell Shen Mo anything."
Lu Dongxuan, confused, asked, "What secret to always winning?"
Zhao Yaolu''s frustration turned into a mix of shame and defeat. She tossed the three bottles of Great Infant Transformation Pills to Shen Mo. "Fine, I give up. I''m not ying with you anymore. I''ll find some other suckers to y with."
With that, she stormed off, not even bothering to open the bamboo container.
Lu Dongxuan scratched his head and opened the bamboo container.
The result was six, four, and sixbig.
"What the" Lu Dongxuan muttered, utterly baffled.
It felt like he was on the verge of understanding something, yet it slipped through his grasp.
Wan Muchun coughed lightly. "Shen Mo, I didn''t expect you to be this clever. You figured it out so quickly."
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "It was just a guess."
Zhao Yaolu was born under a cursed fate of constant misfortune.
Since Zhao Yaolu instinctively thought it was small, Shen Mo bet on big. Guaranteed win.
Her usual sess came from the same trick: she''d instinctively decide whether it was big or small and then bet the opposite.
Shen Mo had seen all of this clearly from Zhao Yaolu''s life profile.
Wan Muchun patted Shen Mo''s shoulder. "Alright, I''m off. This morning, I''ve got a date with twodies for drinks, a stroll with another in the afternoon, and a song to enjoy tonight. Busy day, can''t dy."
With that, he shot into the sky like an arrow and disappeared.
Lu Dongxuan stood there, more confused than ever. "What knowing? What guessing? What''s going on?"
Shen Mo patted Lu Dongxuan on the shoulder, speaking earnestly. "Senior Brother Lu, don''t ask questions you shouldn''t. I''m heading back to Dragon Snake Mountain. Let''s catch up sometime."
With those words, he flew off, disappearing in an instant.
Lu Dongxuan stood there with his mouth agape, a metaphorical ck question mark rising above his head.
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Chapter 236: It’s Him Again, Shen Mo
Chapter 236: It''s Him Again, Shen Mo
News of the Bloodvine Valley incident quickly reached the ears of the three major powers in Yuzhou.
Supreme Purity Sect
Sect Master Mo Lingxiao sat with a calm expression as a kneeling steward reported the details. After hearing the news, Mo Lingxiao turned to the gaunt middle-aged man beside him, a faint smile spreading across his face.
"Beifeng, did you hear that? The Jade Cauldron Sect grows weaker by the day. To think a mere Bloodvine Valley cost them 21 Nascent Soul elders."
"If that valley had been under the Supreme Purity Sect''s control, and it was our elders entering it, even with spies from the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom scheming against us, such heavy losses would never have urred."
Su Beifeng nodded with a knowing smile. "Exactly. The Jade Cauldron Sect has no industries capable ofpeting with the other powers, and their overall strength is declining year after year."
"At this rate, they''re clearly at the bottom of the three sects in Yuzhou."
Mo Lingxiao chuckled. "And now, having lost so many Nascent Soul elders, I doubt they''ve brought out much Scarlet Blood Spirit Valley harvest either. It''s the perfect opportunity to press them and cut off their resources."
The steward, still kneeling, hesitated before speaking. "Sect Master, the Scarlet Blood Spirit Valley harvest doesn''t seem to differ much from previous years."@@novelbin@@
Mo Lingxiao frowned. "Didn''t you just report that 21 elders were killed?"
The steward hurriedly exined, "That''s true, but there was one elder, a young man named Shen Mo, who alone submitted 700 pounds of Scarlet Blood Spirit Valley harvest."
"Moreover, Sect Master Li Zhendao of the Jade Cauldron Sect promoted him to a Third Rank Elder on the spot."
"My investigations show this Shen Mo is a native of Xuanjiang Prefecture, only in his twenties, and he''s been in the Jade Cauldron Sect for less than three years."
Mo Lingxiao''s frown deepened. "What? The Jade Cauldron Sect has such a young genius, and I''ve never heard of him?"
Hearing the name, Su Beifeng''s expression shifted as if recalling something. "Sect Master, I just remembered something."
"Do you recall the Divine Sword Sect of Xuanjiang Prefecture?"
Mo Lingxiao thought for a moment before nodding. "I do. They had an old Sect Master who reached the Nascent Soul stage. You reported this a few years ago. What about them?"
Su Beifeng gestured for the steward to leave, then knelt respectfully and continued, "Sect Master, the Divine Sword Sect''s old master is named Yao Yunluo. My nephew, Su Changqing, was tasked with recruiting him into the Supreme Purity Sect."
"Yao Yunluo held a Nascent Soul celebration and set up an borate banquet to assert dominance and unite the forces of Xuanjiang Prefecture under his rule."
"But he didn''t expect Shen Mo to also be a Nascent Soul cultivator. At that very celebration, Shen Mo killed him."
"Furthermore, Elder L Dongxuan of the Jade Cauldron Sect was also present at the event. Because of his presence, my nephew dared not act rashly and had no choice but to withdraw in frustration."
"Since Yao Yunluo wasn''t officially part of the Supreme Purity Sect, I didn''t think it necessary to report the matter to you at the time."
After finishing, Su Beifeng lowered his head, uneasy. "Sect Master, if this matter spreads, it will surely disgrace the Supreme Purity Sect. I took the liberty of suppressing it and await your punishment."
Mo Lingxiao waved a hand dismissively. "It was just an entry-level Nascent Soul cultivator. If he''s dead, so be it."
"You are the Tenth Elder, the face of the Supreme Purity Sect. Why would I punish you?"
"But this Shen Mo How dare he kill someone connected to our sect?"
"Hm If I''m not mistaken, he was recruited by L Dongxuan and serves as an elder of the Tenth Peak of the Jade Cauldron Sect?"
Su Beifeng nodded solemnly. "Precisely."
Mo Lingxiao''s face remained impassive. "Keep a close eye on his every move."
"This Shen Mo is likely a young genius on par with Ye Yan. First, see if he can be recruited. If not, find an opportunity to eliminate him. We can''t leave potential threats unchecked."
Su Beifeng bowed deeply. "Understood."
Pill River Sect
In a luxurious hot spring, Hai Qiankun, the rotund Sect Master of the Pill River Sect, soaked contentedly. Around him, several lightly robed women tended to his every need.
A steward outside the room loudly reported thetest news about the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Hai Qiankunzily opened his mouth. A woman to his left understood immediately and fed him a plump, juicy grape.
Chewing slowly, Hai Qiankun finally spoke, his tone indifferent. "Twenty-one Nascent Soul elders dead?"
"I can''t imagine what gives the Jade Cauldron Sect the nerve to keep resisting the Imperial Court. Do they still think they''re the strongest sect in Yuzhou, like when they were first established?"
"Go on. Don''t bother me with such trivial matters."
"Yes, Sect Master," the steward responded obediently before retreating.
...
Prefecture Lord''s Manor
A tall, silver-haired elder sat casually at the edge of a pond, fishing with his eyes closed.
Strangely, his fishing rod had no bait, no hookjust a in string dangling in the water.
Behind him, the sound of footsteps approached. It was Wu Renyin, a trusted general under the Prefecture Lord of Yuzhou.
"Reporting to the Prefecture Lord," Wu Renyin said with a respectful bow. "There is news from Bloodvine Valley."
The Prefecture Lord didn''t open his eyes and replied indifferently, "No need for details. Just tell mehow many died?"
Wu Renyin nodded. "Twenty-one Nascent Soul elders."
The Prefecture Lord suddenly opened his eyes, frowning. "Only twenty-one? I was expecting at least fifty casualties."
"What exactly happened? Exin it thoroughly."
Wu Renyin nodded. "ording to our sources, the two most powerful Bloodroot Dragons in the valley were in by an unknown party, and no Bloodroot Dragon King was ever born."
The Prefecture Lord furrowed his brow. "That exins it."
"I had thought the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom, after all their nning, would surely produce a Bloodroot Dragon King."
"It seems I overestimated them."
Shaking his head, he continued, "Still, the loss of 21 elders is a severe blow to the Jade Cauldron Sect."
"Also, they must not have harvested much Scarlet Blood Spirit Valley, correct?"
"This would be the perfect opportunity to reduce the supply of spiritual and demonic beast materials to their sect."
Wu Renyin gave a sheepish smile. "Prefecture Lord, as far as I know, the Jade Cauldron Sect''s harvest of Scarlet Blood Spirit Valley is nearly identical to previous years."
The Prefecture Lord was taken aback. "What?"
Wu Renyin spoke in a lower voice. "There is a young elder named Shen Mo who submitted 700 pounds of Scarlet Blood Spirit Valley in one go."
"Li Zhendao was overjoyed and made this widely known, dering Shen Mo as a role model for the entire sect."
The Prefecture Lord murmured the name thoughtfully. "Shen Mo again. This young man is quite intriguing."
"Keep a close watch on him. Report every word he says and every action he takes, down to the smallest detail."
Wu Renyin bowed deeply. "Understood."
The Prefecture Lord pondered for a moment before speaking again. "There are still a few human traitors from the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom, correct?"
Wu Renyin nodded. "Yes, there are several. They did not participate in the Bloodvine Valley operation and are currently working on turning the Fire Jiao Dragon against us."
The Prefecture Lord nodded slightly. "Good. I hear the bloodline of the Demon Emperor is an irresistible temptation for many beasts."
"If they can get close enough to the Fire Jiao Dragon, they should be able to sway it. If they fail even at that, they''re beyond worthless."
"You''ve done well. Take some rest."
Wu Renyin nodded. "Yes, Prefecture Lord. I shall take my leave."
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Chapter 238: Refining the Golden Crown Nascent Soul, Tremendous Power Boost
Chapter 238: Refining the Golden Crown Nascent Soul, Tremendous Power Boost
Late at night, silence enveloped the surroundings.
Mei Haihe and Huang Bayi sat on small stools under the moonlight, drinking wine and snacking on peanuts.
They couldn''t help but nce at thergest house, which belonged to Shen Mo.
Mei Haihe took a sip of his wine and eximed, "Old Huang, I still can''t wrap my head around it. Elder Shen, so young, yet he managed to aplish such a monumental feat. He''s incredible!"
Huang Bayi nodded, deeply moved. "You''re right. At dinner, I overheard news from the sect that Elder Shen personally contributed 700 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain. Even the Sect Master treated him with great respect. I was stunned!"
"It''s something I never would''ve dared to imagine in my lifetime!"
Mei Haihe chuckled. "I have a feeling this kind of thing will happen more often in the future. Don''t get too surprised over something this small!"
Huang Bayiughed as well. "True. Elder Shen isn''t just anyone. Many people say he and Ye Yan are the two prodigies of the Jade Cauldron Sect. Their future is at least at the Transformation Stage level!"
Mei Haihe sighed deeply. "Honestly, I feel so fortunate for my decision back then. Thankfully, I clung to Elder Shen''s ''big golden thigh.'' That''s the only reason I could be a steward of the Jade Cauldron Sect, no longer living like a rogue cultivator with my life hanging by a thread."
"Do you know? The old friends I''ve known for hundreds of years are all goneeither devoured by demonic beasts or killed by theirpanions."
"Compared to them, I''m livingfortably. Drinking wine, eating snacks, and enjoying life without a care."
Huang Bayi burst outughing. "Sometimes, I admire your luck. Who would''ve thought that an unassuming young man we met on the ship would turn out to be such a big deal?"
The two old men drank three rounds of wine, their faces flushed red, and soon fell fast asleep.
From the shadows, Huang Caiying emerged, carrying two nkets to drape over them.
Inside the house, Shen Mo was sorting through his spoils.
He had harvested 1,000 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain from Bloodvine Valley, kept 300 jin for himself, and contributed the remaining 700 jin to the sect.
Li Zhendao had given him exceptional rewards.
While others needed five jin for one C-level contribution, Shen Mo only needed four jin, earning him 175 C-level contributions.
In addition, he set records, captured spies, and aplished a great feat, earning him one B-level contribution.
Altogether, Shen Mo''s Jade Cauldron Orb now held two B-level contributions and 186 C-level contributionsan amount exceeding most Four-Cauldron Elders!
Armed with these contributions, Shen Mo immediately headed to the Scripture Pavilion and Treasure Pavilion to make a spree of redemptions.
He thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of shopping.
His extravagance left the stewards of the Scripture and Treasure Pavilions dumbfounded.
They''d seen people with high contributions before, but never in such massive quantities!
"Twelve Yin Sha Pearls, costing four C-level contributions."
"One Earth-grade high-quality spiritual weapon, the ''Scorchde Sword,'' costing thirty C-level contributions."
"Ten bottles of Great Infant Transformation Pills, costing ten C-level contributions."
"Earth-grade top-tier defensive technique, Immovable Dragon King Cauldron,costing fifty C-level contributions."
"Additionally, over a hundred ancient books and historical records about Jing Country, Ten Thousand Demon Nation, and the Three Sects of Yuzhou, costing ten C-level contributions in total."
Shen Mo chuckled at the tally.
In total, he had spent 104 C-level contributions.
His Jade Cauldron Orb now held two B-level contributions and 82 C-level contributions.
"Contributionse quickly but are spent even faster."
"Still, I earn contributions at a good pace. No need to worry."
Smiling faintly, Shen Mo sat down and began refining the Yin Sha Pearls.
The transition from a purple-crowned Nascent Soul to a golden-crowned one required far more Yin Sha Pearls than he had anticipated.
Initially, he thought eight pearls would be sufficient.
Yet even after refining all the pearls obtained from the two massive Bloodroot Dragons, the Nascent Soul''s crown showed no signs of transformation.
Thus, Shen Mo had redeemed additional Yin Sha Pearls from the sect.
Time passed day by day.
Gradually, the Nascent Soul''s crown began to change.
After three days, it underwent a dramatic transformation.
The purple hue faded, reced by a dazzling golden brilliance.
On the third night, thest trace of purple disappeared entirely.
At a certain moment.
The brilliant goldpletely overshadowed the purple.
The entire Nascent Soul''s crown became iparably noble at this instant, resembling the crown of celestial deities!
With a single thought, Shen Mo guided the golden crown to rest perfectly atop the Nascent Soul''s head.
Instantly, a tingling sensation spread throughout his body.
As expected, the recovery speed of his Nascent Soul''s energy had improved significantly!
Without hesitation, Shen Mo left his residence and Dragon Snake Mountain, seeking a towering barren peak.
Channeling his spiritual energy, he connected with the fire elemental energy in the heavens and earth.
In an instant, a fiery de thirty meters long appeared abruptly in the sky.
As the de descended, Shen Mo decisively activated the power of Sunlight Source Glow.
The de''s potency surged dramatically.
Boom!
With one strike, the mountain peak vanished without a trace.
Countless stones, trees, and grass were vaporized instantly under the intense heat!
Where a towering peak once stood, only a t expanse remained.
Shen Mo marveled at the results.
"It seems the golden crown not only reduced the activation time for Sunlight Source Glowbut also greatly enhanced its power!"
He gauged his current state roughly.
Now, he could activate Sunlight Source Glowonce a day.
Previously, this technique could double the power of any skill, with an additional doubling for fire-based techniques.
But now, it had undergone a significant transformation.
Even ordinary techniques could have their power amplified by twofold.
Fire-based techniques, however, received a staggering threefold boost!
"No fancy techniques canpare to the simple and effective boost in multipliers," Shen Mo mused, clicking his tongue in admiration.@@novelbin@@
Satisfied, he left the area.
Not long after Shen Mo departed, a figure descended from the Jade Cauldron Sect''s southern gate, passing by the area.
Soon after, the figure paused and returned.
The cold moonlight illuminated the handsome yet indifferent face of Ye Yan, who was on his way to a tributary of the Cangjiang River to find the heavy-water python.
Looking at the scorched ground, Ye Yan muttered curiously, "I remember there was a mountain peak here, at least three hundred meters tall. How did it vanish without a sound?"
"Could a powerful cultivator have casually destroyed it?"
He sniffed deeply, his expression turning serious.
"There''s an incredibly strong fire elemental energy lingering in the air."
"At the very least, it must be a Nascent Soul-stage peak cultivator adept in fire-based techniques."
"Possibly someone with control over a unique me."
"A cultivator of such caliber would be at least a Four-Cauldron Elder in the Jade Cauldron Sect."
"But I''ve never seen such an elder in the sect."
"Could it be a powerful rogue cultivator?"
Ye Yan''s wariness grew.
The world truly had no shortage of powerful individuals.
He realized he stillcked the strength to dominate the world and needed to remain cautious.
"I must find that heavy-water python quickly and gain the trust of the fire dragon. Only then will I truly establish myself within the Jade Cauldron Sect."
Ye Yan did not linger. He swiftly elerated southward.
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Chapter 241: Today, the Old Flood Dragon Will Rise Again
Chapter 241: Today, the Old Flood Dragon Will Rise Again
The old flood dragon gave him a serious once-over and sneered, "Come on now. Even cultivators in the Nascent Soul realm have searched high and low for it. You''re just a small-time cultivator in the Core Formation stagewhat makes you think you can find that egg?"
Shen Mo smiled without saying a word.
The old flood dragon scrutinized him again and couldn''t help but add, "Of course, if you domanage to find my offspring, I''ll fetch you whatever you desire!"
Shen Mo chuckled softly, "Give me a year, and I''ll bring back your offspring."
"Fine! But if you fail, I''ll eat Forget it. Scaring you won''t work. If you can''t bring it back, so be it."
"Whenever you bring it is fine. I''ve waited for hundreds of years; a little longer won''t matter."
"You''re an interesting kidnot afraid of me. Remember toe chat with me often in the future."
The old flood dragon smacked its lips.
"Sure, next time I''ll bring you some food," Shen Mo said with a smile as he got up.
When Shen Mo walked out of the valley, the two stewards guarding the entrance looked at him with admiration.
They had seen Li Zhendao and Ye Yan''s reactions when facing the old flood dragon.
Both had shown some degree of fear.
No matter what they said or did, there was always a trace of tension.
After all, they were facing a peak sixth-rank demonic beast.
Li Zhendao fared betterhe wouldn''t be killed with one p.
But Ye Yan? He''d definitely be ttened like a pancake.
This made Shen Mo''sposure all the more impressive.
Even when those massive vertical pupils locked onto him, even when the old flood dragon''s anger red and its ws seemed ready to strike, Shen Mo showed no trace of fear.
It was as if he knew the old flood dragon wouldn''ty a finger on him and that he wouldn''te to any harm.
"Take good care of the Guardian Elder. Whatever he wants to eat, get it immediately without dy," Shen Mo instructed casually.
"Yes, we''ll make sure of it!" The two stewards nodded quickly.
Shen Mo nodded slightly before turning to leave.
After chatting with the old flood dragon today, thetter''s mood had improved considerably.
Because of this, those two unlucky gatekeepers wouldn''t lose their lives.
"Now, time to focus on steady cultivation and wait for the next six months."
"Six months from now, when those spies from the Ten Thousand Beasts Nation try to use the Demon Emperor''s blood to manipte the old flood dragon, it will also be an opportunity for me!"
Shen Mo thought as he rose into the air and returned to Dragon Snake Mountain.
Half a monthter.
Ye Yan descended at the entrance of the valley, his expression calm.
Although his face remained an icy mask, his brows and eyes betrayed a trace of barely concealed delight.
The two stewards still stood guard at the valley''s entrance.
The moment they saw Ye Yan from afar, they bowed deeply. "Greetings, Elder Ye!"
Ye Yan gave a slight nod. "How has the Guardian Elder beentely?"
The two stewards exchanged a nce.
The one on the left quickly replied, "Reporting to Elder Ye, the Guardian Elder has been in a good moodtely. An elder oftenes to chat with him and even brings plenty of food."
Ye Yan frowned. "Who?"
The steward on the right responded awkwardly, "We''re just ordinary stewards. How could we dare to ask that elder''s name?"
Ye Yan: "Describe him, then."
The steward on the left recalled for a moment. "He has three small cauldrons on his chest. He''s a Three-Cauldron Elder."
The steward on the right added, "Oh, and he''s very handsome, much younger than Elder Ye."
Ye Yan''s gaze turned sharp.
Younger than him, yet already a Three-Cauldron Elder.
There was only one person in the Jade Cauldron Sect who fit that description.
Shen Mo!
"How does he have a token to approach the old flood dragon? Why is he here, too?"
"Could it be he knows something and is trying to make his move before megaining the old flood dragon''s trust and leaping ahead in status?"
Ye Yan sneered.
"Does he think chatting with the Guardian Elder and bringing him snacks will win over a peak sixth-rank great demon? Laughable."
Ye Yan didn''t linger. He strode into the valley.
The two stewards exchanged a nce, puzzled.
They weren''t fools.
After hearing Ye Yan''s words, they immediately realized there was likely some enmity between these two.
The two stewards lowered their gazes, staring at their noses and focusing inwardly, not daring to say another word.
The enmity between these two genius elders was not something they dared meddle with.
Before long, Ye Yan reached the center of the valley.
The old flood dragon''s upper body was sprawled outside a massive cave.
Its left forepaw restedzily on the ground, while its right forepaw gripped a roasted wholemb dusted generously with cumin, tossing it into its mouth.
Beside it was an oversized tter piled high with roastedmbs and cattle.
However, what were originally roasted animals the size of a person looked norger than drumsticks in the old flood dragon''s maw.
At this moment, the old flood dragon was thoroughly enjoying itself, its vertical pupils nearly closing in contentment.
"Guardian Elder, I''ve brought you something," Ye Yan said respectfully, cupping his hands.
The old flood dragon stirred, lifting its eyelids slightly. With a nce, it said, "Oh, it''s you, Ye Yan. Long time no see. Where have you beentely?"
Ye Yan replied solemnly, "I went on a trip outside. Can you guess what I found?"
The old flood dragonughed heartily. "Surely not my egg?"@@novelbin@@
Ye Yan smiled awkwardly. "I didn''t find the flood dragon egg, but I did find a Heavy Water Sky Python for you."
The old flood dragon froze, its eyes widening in surprise. "Really?"
Ye Yan nodded and retrieved his beast-taming pouch.
The beast-taming pouch was a spiritual tool with a self-contained space, simr to a storage ring.
The difference was that storage rings could only store inanimate objects, while beast-taming pouches could house living demonic beasts.
Beast-taming pouches, like storage rings, were ssified into low, medium, high, and top grades.
Low-grade poucheswere only about ten cubic meters in size. Beasts stored inside could only sleep and couldn''t absorb spiritual energy, requiring asional release for fresh air.
Medium-grade poucheshad capacities ranging from twenty to fifty cubic meters. Beasts inside could also only sleep but could absorb external spiritual energy.
High-grade pouchesheld at least a hundred cubic meters. Beasts could move freely and absorb spiritual energy inside.
Top-grade poucheswere almost like miniature worlds, capable of growing nts and allowing beasts to roam and y freely.
However, top-grade pouches were extremely rare, with only the Jing Kingdom''s royal family possessing one.
The Jade Cauldron Sect, home to many disciples practicing beast-taming techniques, naturally had numerous beast-taming pouch owners.
Still, the value of these pouches was far higher than storage rings, meaning most cultivators only possessed low-grade ones.
Only elders could exchange for medium-grade pouches.
As a young cultivator personally praised by the Jade Cauldron Sect''s leader, Ye Yan naturally owned a medium-grade pouch.
It was sufficient to safely transport the Heavy Water Sky Python without harm.
Ye Yan opened the mouth of his beast-taming pouch. "Guardian Elder, please take a look."
In the next moment, a beam of light shot out from the pouch,nding on the ground with a thud.
The figure that appeared stretched over thirty meters long, its body gleaming azure with scales shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.
The Heavy Water Sky Python scanned its surroundings, then raised its head.
The next thing it saw was a pair of massive, oppressive vertical pupils staring down at it.
"It really is a Heavy Water Sky Python!"
The old flood dragon was overjoyed.
In a sh, memories from years past surfacedthe founder of the Jade Cauldron Sect had once gifted him a Heavy Water Sky Python, enabling him to pass on his bloodline.
For centuries, the Jade Cauldron Sect had searched for rare snake and python-type beasts for him, yet none had been a Heavy Water Sky Python.
This one might be like the one from back then, capable of helping him regain his vigor and continue his lineage.
The thought ignited an intense excitement in the old flood dragon''s heart.
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Chapter 242: Where’s My Weapon?
Chapter 242: Where''s My Weapon?
The Heavywater Python trembled uncontrobly as it gazed at the enormous creature before it. In its entire life, it had never encountered such a powerful fellow serpent. Its quaking appearance only made the old flood dragon''s heart itch with anticipation.
Seeing this scene, Ye Yan''s heart brimmed with satisfaction. It seemed that his n was about to seed.
Unable to contain his excitement, the old flood dragon raised his head and let out a triumphant roar. The exhrating sound reverberated through the gates of the Jade Cauldron Sect, leaving the disciples in utter confusion.
Usually, the guardian dragon''s roars were tinged with anxiety and mncholy. But today, it sounded as if it had been injected with adrenaline, ready to soar into the heavens at any moment.@@novelbin@@
Then, just as the old flood dragon prepared to engage, he suddenly felt something was amiss beneath him. Curious, he lowered his head.
"Damn it. Where''s my weapon? My great weapon, where is it?!"
In an instant, his earlier excitement turned into dejection.
"Forget it, forget it," the old flood dragon muttered to himself, his spirits plummeting. "Looks like I''ll never pass on my bloodline in this lifetime."
At that moment, the Heavywater Python had copsed weakly in the old flood dragon''s embrace, its serpentine form lying limp like a delicate blue flower, seemingly offering itself up. Yet, it was a case of unrequited affectionthe flood dragon had no interest.
The more the old flood dragon thought about it, the angrier he became. "You bring a python here, knowing full well I can''t reproduce? Are you mocking me?!"
He waved his w, sending a gust of wind that blew the Heavywater Python away. Ye Yan, caught in the crossfire, was also expelled from the valley.
"Scram! All of you, get the hell out of here!" The old flood dragon''s irritated roar echoed through the valley, followed by another earth-shaking dragon roar that startled the entire Jade Cauldron Sect.
The Heavywater Python was dumbfounded. "I was all set up, and now you''re telling me to leave?"
Ye Yan was equally stupefied. "I went through so much trouble to bring you this Heavywater Python, only for you to change your mind at thest moment and kick me out. What the hell is this supposed to mean?!"
Even a y figure has its limits. Ye Yan was no y figurehe was a peerless genius. How could he tolerate such humiliation?
Taking a deep breath, Ye Yan collected the confused Heavywater Python into his beast pouch and left immediately.
The two stewards guarding the valley entrance were also bewildered. They had no idea what had transpired.
"Why did Elder Ye leave in such a rage aftering here so happily?" they muttered to each other.
On the Second Peak
A streak of lightnded at the summit. It was Ye Yan, his face as cold as ice.
Not far away, Second Elder Yang Qiye was casually chatting with the Fourth Elder.
The Fourth Elder remarked, "...Yang Elder, I heard that the Pill River Sect recently pieced together two ancient alchemy recipes. They''ve already started producing Pure Nascent Transformation Pills. If they seed, our Jade Cauldron Sect''s alchemy market will be entirely overtaken."
Yang Qiye sighed. "Indeed, Pure Nascent Transformation Pills are only known to the Nine-Turn Pill Sect. None of the four major factions have mastered them yet. If the Pill River Sect seeds"
The Fourth Elder shook his head. "If this continues, alchemy will follow in the footsteps of beast taming, declining year after year. What should we do?"
Yang Qiye''s expression turned grave. "Hesitation leads to ruin. We should have abandoned both the alchemy and beast-taming industries long ago, focusing all our resources on the forging industry."
"Unfortunately, someone like Shen Mo appeared out of nowhere, hindering my ns. And the Sect Master, tooso softhearted, still dreaming of restoring the glory of our beast-taming industry."
At this point, Yang Qiye snorted in frustration.
"Hmm? Isn''t that your disciple, Ye Yan?" the Fourth Elder pointed out as he noticed Ye Yan approaching with his usual icy demeanor.
The Fourth Elder chuckled, "I guess he''s back to share the good news about delivering the Heavywater Python to the old flood dragon."
However, given Ye Yan''s perpetually frosty expression, those unfamiliar with him found it hard to distinguish whether he was in a good or bad mood.
Yang Qiye Felt Something Was Off
Ye Yan''s expression did not resemble joy.
However, Yang Qiye couldn''t imagine what might have gone wrong. Even if the Heavywater Python couldn''t help the old flood dragon pass on its bloodline, at the very least, it should have improved the old flood dragon''s impression of Ye Yan. No matter how one looked at it, this was supposed to be a sure-win situation.
The Fourth Elder greeted Ye Yan with a smile. "Ye Yan, congrattions! Gaining the guardian''s trust today marks the beginning of a boundless future for you. Who knows, in the future, when the next Sect Master is chosen, the guardian might rmend you for the position!"
Yang Qiye felt deeplyforted by these words. If his disciple became the future Sect Master, wouldn''t that make him the Sect Master''s mentor? Perhaps even the de facto emperor of the Jade Cauldron Sect!
But Ye Yan stopped in his tracks upon hearing these words. His icy expression became even more grim. Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the urge to act out.
Ye Yan said in a cold tone, "Fourth Elder, enough."
The Fourth Elder was taken aback, not understanding what had happened.
Yang Qiye instinctively furrowed his brow, faintly sensing that something was amiss.
"You go on ahead," he said, signaling the Fourth Elder. "I need to discuss the old flood dragon''s situation with Ye Yan."
"Alright." Though confused, the Fourth Elder nodded and left.
Once they were alone, Yang Qiye asked in a low voice, "Ye Yan, what happened?"
Ye Yan took a deep breath and looked directly into Yang Qiye''s eyes. "Master, the old flood dragon insulted me."
"I brought him the Heavywater Python, and not only did he fail to show any gratitude, but he also inexplicably kicked me out, speaking with extreme aggression. Such an unbearable humiliationhow could I possibly ept it?!"
By the end of his ount, Ye Yan''s tone was brimming with fury.
Throughout his life, anyone who dared treat him in such a way had long since be nothing but bones in their grave.
Yang Qiye frowned deeply. "How could this be?"
He knew the old flood dragon''s temperament well. Although foul-mouthed and fond of scaring people, it was ultimately a creature that repaid kindness. What could have caused such behavior today?
"Could someone have spoken ill of you?" Yang Qiye spected in a low voice.
Ye Yan''s eyes flickered as a thought crossed his mind. "As far as I know, Shen Mo also has a token granting him ess to that valley. Moreover, he has been frequenting it often recently. The old flood dragon seems to have a good rtionship with him."
Yang Qiye''s eyes turned sharp. "What?!"
"No wonder the old flood dragon treated you so harshlyit must have been influenced by Shen Mo''s provocations! He''s clearly trying to gain the old flood dragon''s trust before you."
"That boy Shen Mo is far more cunning than he appears!"
Yang Qiye abruptly stood, pacing back and forth in frustration.
Ye Yan''s expression was equally grim. If Shen Mo managed to win the old flood dragon''s trust, his standing in the Jade Cauldron Sect would rise significantly, far surpassing Ye Yan''s own.
There was something else weighing heavily on Ye Yan''s mind, something he had never shared with anyone. It was their first encounter on the Suspended River.
Back then, Ye Yan had deliberately issued amission, using Guo Long and others as bait to lure out the Yin Specter in hopes of obtaining the Yin Fiend Pearl. It was not an honorable act.
His original n had been to kill all witnesses, ensuring that no one would ever know.
But unexpectedly, Shen Mo had been on that boat. Not only did Ye Yan fail to obtain the Yin Fiend Pearl, but Shen Mo and the others had also escaped. Although Ye Yan had masked his face, he hadn''t concealed his aura. With Shen Mo''s abilities, it was likely he had already identified Ye Yan.
The persona Ye Yan presented to the world was one of cold authority and ruthless power, not one of someone willing to use any means to achieve his ends. Even if this was his true nature, it was something he could never allow to surface.
He knew Sect Master Li Zhendao well. Li Zhendao would never entrust the Jade Cauldron Sect to someone who used underhanded means without principles.
If Shen Mo revealed that incident to Li Zhendao, the consequences would be disastrous.
Ye Yan exhaled deeply. "Master, what should I do?" His expression was grave.
Yang Qiye stopped pacing and shook his head. "There''s no need to worry. No matter how hard Shen Mo works to curry favor with the old flood dragon, at most, the old flood dragon will only remember him.
"Unless he can bring back a flood dragon egg, there''s no way the old flood dragon will truly trust him."
"If you couldn''t win the old flood dragon''s trust and support, Shen Mo has no chance of doing so either!"
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Chapter 243: The Pill Formula for Pure Nascent Transformation Pills in the Flame Pill Palace
Chapter 243: The Pill Form for Pure Nascent Transformation Pills in the me Pill Pce
After hearing Yang Qiye''s words, Ye Yan''s emotions finally calmed down.
Yang Qiye was right.
If even he, Ye Yan, couldn''t gain the old flood dragon''s trust, and if none of the numerous Soul Transformation cultivators in the Jade Cauldron Sect could manage it, how could Shen Mo, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, possibly seed?
If Ye Yan couldn''t obtain the old flood dragon''s support, it was better that no one else could either.
"Ye Yan, don''t concern yourself with Shen Mo. He''s like the light of a firefly, while you are the radiant sun and moon."
"Even if he suppresses you temporarily, so what? In the end, you will be the one who has thestugh."
"You possess the Sr Molten Fire Physique, a top-tier heavenly constitution. Your future is limitless!"
Seeing Ye Yan''s expression finally ease, Yang Qiye continued tofort him.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master," Ye Yan replied calmly, cupping his hands.
Yang Qiye nodded in satisfaction. "Focus on cultivating for now. Break through to the peak of the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible. I''ll arrange a fewmissions for you. With them, you should be able to ascend to the position of Three-Cauldrons Elder within two years."
"By then, you''ll have the qualifications to visit the me Pill Pce."
Ye Yan nodded solemnly, feeling a surge of anticipation.
The me Pill Pce was one of the three restricted areas controlled by the Jade Cauldron Sect.
In the past, it had been a sacred site for alchemy under the Nine-Turn Pill Sect. The area was rich in geothermal fire and extremely high in temperature.
At its peak, eighteen geothermal furnaces operated there simultaneously, producing countless extraordinary pills.
And the Nine-Turn Pill Sect hadn''t stopped with just this one locationthey had possessed five such sacred sites.
But during the coalition war led by the Supreme Purity Sect, the Jade Cauldron Sect, and the Pill River Sect to destroy the Nine-Turn Pill Sect, decades of conflict had reduced three of these sites to ruins.
Of the two remaining, one fell to the Pill River Sect, and the otherthe me Pill Pcecame under the Jade Cauldron Sect''s control.
Scattered throughout the me Pill Pce were numerous ancient pill forms, some intact, others fragmented.
In certain hidden areas, millennia-old earth-grade pills were still believed to be stored.
All of it depended on one''s luck and effort to uncover.
Even a fragment of a pill form, once submitted to the sect, could earn enormous contributions.
Yang Qiye sighed. "It''s said that the me Pill Pce contains the form for the Pure Nascent Transformation Pill. Unfortunately, since our sect took over the pce, we''ve searched everywhere without sess."
"The pce opens once every ten years, and this time, it''s the turn of the Third and Seventh Elders to enter for alchemy purposes."
"The Seventh Elder is my man. When the timees, he''ll lend you a helping hand."
"Ye Yan, your destiny is extraordinary. Perhaps you''ll be the one to discover the Pure Nascent Transformation Pill''s form!"
Ye Yan nodded deeply.
A single Pure Nascent Transformation Pill had the potency of ten Great Nascent Transformation Pills or a hundred ordinary Nascent Transformation Pills.
If he could obtain the form, it would be a monumental contribution to the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Such an achievement might elevate him directly to the rank of Four-Cauldrons Elder!
"Master, I also heard a rumor," Ye Yan suddenly said. "They say there''s a Taiyi Sacred Essence Pill hidden in the me Pill Pce."
Yang Qiye scoffed. "A single Taiyi Sacred Essence Pill can elevate a heavenly-grade constitution to the higher saint-grade. Its value is unimaginable."
"Even during the Nine-Turn Pill Sect''s prime, it was a top-secret treasure of the sect. Why would it be stored in the me Pill Pce?"
"That''s just a false rumor spread by the remnants of the Nine-Turn Pill Sect to provoke the Supreme Purity Sect, the Pill River Sect, and the State Governor''s Mansion into targeting us."
"Don''t let such nonsense distract you. Finding the Pure Nascent Transformation Pill''s form alone would etch your name into the history of the Jade Cauldron Sect."
"From that day forward, every disciple of the Jade Cauldron Sect would sing your praises!"
A vivid image formed in Ye Yan''s mind: himself standing above the clouds, with countless Jade Cauldron Sect disciples kneeling below, their voices echoing in reverence.
That pinnacle of glory was enough to intoxicate anyone.
Yang Qiye smiled and added, "As for the rumor about a Taiyi Sacred Essence Pill in the me Pill Pce, treat it as nothing more than idle chatter."
"Thest known Taiyi Sacred Essence Pill was taken by the royal family of Jing Kingdom when the Nine-Turn Pill Sect was destroyed."
Ye Yan cupped his hands in acknowledgment. "You''re right, Master. I shouldn''t let my thoughts run wild."@@novelbin@@
Yang Qiye chuckled. "Good. By the way, I have something to give you."
As He Spoke, Yang Qiye Retrieved Ten Gray Beads
Yang Qiye took out ten gray beads from his storage ring. They were Yin Fiend Pearls.
The Yin Fiend energy within them was exceptionally pure and dense, clearly not of ordinary quality but the finest grade of Yin Fiend Pearls.
Ye Yan was slightly startled. "These are"
Yang Qiye smiled. "If I''m not mistaken, you''ve reached the level of a purple pill crown. You''re only one step away from achieving a golden pill crown."
"These Yin Fiend Pearls were exchanged with the Seventh Elder for a bottle of Spirit Refinement Pills."
"As your master, it is my duty to pay attention to your cultivation."
"These are for you."
Ye Yan nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Master. I will begin my training immediately and will not let you down!"
"Go ahead, go ahead," Yang Qiye replied with a smile.
One Month Later, Dragon Snake Mountain
In the expansive wilderness of Dragon Snake Mountain, the terrain was barren. Not a single de of grass grew nearby, and even intact rocks were few and far between.
At the center of this deste expanse stood two figures.
One was a young man d in green robes, his appearance youthful and calm. The other was a rugged middle-aged man wearing a loose elder''s robe, giving him the air of a rustic farmer.
The two were engaged in an intense sparring session, one attacking and the other defending, honing their martial skills.
For miles around, no vegetation grew. Upon closer inspection, it wasn''t because thend was unsuitable for nts but because no living thing could withstand the destructive energy radiating from the duo''s battle. Growing there would be tantamount to courting death.
ng! ng! ng!
A massive spear wreathed in violet lightning descended from the sky, directly engulfing the young figure in a storm of dust and debris.
The ground shook, and smoke billowed into the air.
Yet in the next moment, a fierce wind arose.
A majestic and imposing giant cauldron appeared out of nowhere, materializing to block the carefully prepared attack.
The young figure staggered back more than ten steps before finally stabilizing himself.
"Well done, Junior Brother! Most people wouldn''t have been able to withstand that move. I''m impressed you managed to block it," the rugged middle-aged man said,ughing heartily.
The young man smiled but said nothing.
These two were Shen Moand Lu Dongxuan.
Recently, Lu Dongxuan had been frequenting Dragon Snake Mountain, and every time he came, the two would engage in fierce battles.
Although Shen Mo''s cultivation level was slightly lower than Lu Dongxuan''s, in actualbat, he was no weaker. On multiple asions, his performance had left Lu Dongxuan astounded.
Especially this timeShen Mo had previously been unable to block such an attack. However, after advancing his mastery of the Immovable Dragon King Cauldronto the third level, he now managed to block it with ease.
"Tsk tsk, this martial technique was well worth the 50 C-level contributions I spent to exchange for it. A top-tier earth-grade technique indeed!" Lu Dongxuan said with a thumbs-up, clearly delighted.
Shen Mo nodded with a smile. "Indeed. The Immovable Dragon King Cauldron surpasses all the defensive techniques I''ve used so far."
As his cultivation progressed and his strength grew, his lower-tier earth-grade defensive technique, Four-Sided Mysterious Gate, was gradually bing less effective in battles.
The higher-tier earth-grade defensive technique, Evergreen Body Shield, was still usable but starting to show its limits.
Now, with the Immovable Dragon King Cauldron, his defensive capabilities had taken a massive leap forward.
"It''s time, Junior Brother! I''m off to drink!" Lu Dongxuan said suddenly, snapping his fingers as if remembering something. Without further dy, he rose into the air and flew westward with haste.
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Chapter 245: The Emperor Will Personally Annihilate Five Cities as Punishment
Chapter 245: The Emperor Will Personally Annihte Five Cities as Punishment
Shen Mo stood calmly, unmoved, in his ce.
The old flood dragon scratched his head helplessly. "Shen Mo''s a good guy. I don''t want to kill him."
The tall man''s expression stiffened.
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "Are you finished? If so, it''s my turn to speak."
"This drop of the Demon Emperor''s blood is indeed precious, but it harbors malicious intent. Guardian, take a closer look."
The old flood dragon hesitated, then released his peak sixth-rank aura, enveloping the drop of bloodpletely.
Momentster, his expression darkened.
His enormous vertical pupils locked onto the two men with a fierce re.
"There''s a soul contract hidden in the Demon Emperor''s blood?! The Demon Emperor wants to make me his ve?!"
A terrifying aura erupted from the flood dragon like a roaring tidal wave.
In an instant, it suppressed the two men entirely.
With a thud, both fell to their knees, their legs snapping audibly as bloody fragments of bone pierced through their knees.
Their agonized screams filled the air.
The old flood dragon''s gaze was icy cold.
An invisible force gathered from all directions, as if a colossal hand had seized the two men.
Their faces turned crimson, veins bulging as they struggled. Finally, like balloons pushed to their limits, they burst apart, scattering blood and flesh in all directions.
Shen Mo, his hands sped behind his back, released a burst of spiritual energy, creating a barrier. Not a speck of blood touched him.
The old flood dragon growled irritably, "Damn it, that Demon Emperor is truly despicable! Deceiving me like this and even trying to enve me!"
He paused, a trace of lingering fear shing in his eyes. "Good thing you were here. Otherwise, I might have fallen for their scheme!"
Shen Mo smiled. "I happened to arrive in time. When I overheard their words, I sensed something was off."
"When the Jade Cauldron Sect was first founded, you fought alongside the sect''s patriarch, ying numerous demons, including some from the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom''s current royal families."
"There''s no way the Demon Emperor would genuinely let bygones be bygones and regard you as a trusted ally."
The old flood dragon grumbled, "You''re absolutely right."
"But this drop of essence blood..."
He couldn''t help but look down at the drop of blood in his w.
The essence blood still radiated an almost irresistible allure, especially to demon beasts, akin to an aphrodisiac.
However, refining it would inevitably bind him as a ve to the far-off Demon Emperor in the southernnds, leaving both his body and mind no longer his own.
Still, abandoning it outright felt like an incredible waste.
Shen Mo smiled. "I have a solution."
The old flood dragon raised a brow. "This is a soul contractid by the Demon Emperor. What can a mere Core Formation cultivator like you possibly do?"
Shen Mo chuckled. "If you trust me, leave the Demon Emperor''s blood with me. Once I''ve handled it, we can refine it together. How does that sound?"
The old flood dragon was surprised by Shen Mo''s bold proposition but soonughed at his audacity.
After a moment of consideration, he nodded slightly.
The essence blood contained a soul contract. If Shen Mo tried to take it for himself, he would also be the Demon Emperor''s ve.
Moreover, during their time together, the old flood dragon hade to see Shen Mo as trustworthy. He didn''t seem like someone who would try to hoard the blood.
Besides, Shen Mo was only a Core Formation cultivator. Even if they refined the blood together, Shen Mo''s speed would palepared to his. Ultimately, the dragon would im the majority of the benefits.
With that thought, the old flood dragon nodded and handed the Demon Emperor''s blood to Shen Mo.
"Alright. I''ll return in a few days," Shen Mo said, sping his hands in farewell before leaving.
The old flood dragon waved his w, summoning a gust of wind to blow away the blood and remains scattered across the ground.
There was no need to publicize the incident with these Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom spies. It was better to act as if they had never appeared.
After all, he had nearly been swayed by their scheme, driven by greed to the brink of bing the Demon Emperor''s ve.
If such a story spread, he''d lose all face. Better to bury it altogether.
Dragon Snake Mountain.
Shen Mo returned to his residence without dy.
He immediately summoned Mei Haihe and Huang Bayi to gather the materials he needed.
Once everything was ready, Shen Mo began working to unravel the soul contract within the essence blood.
His confidence stemmed from his mastery of the True Beast Taming Art.
The True Beast Taming Artincluded a method for breaking soul contracts.
For a soul contract that had not yet been activated, the process was significantly simpler.
However, since the caster of the contract was the Demon Emperorat least at the peak of the Nascent Soul stageit still posed a considerable challenge.
"Mother Elixir of Soul Fracture, Soul-Concentrating Water, Shadow Flower"
"It''s done."
Shen Mo carefully ced the drop of the Demon Emperor''s blood into a concoction he had prepared using more than a dozen rare herbs.
At first, the blood remained unresponsive, simply floating atop the liquid.
Shen Mo waited patiently.
One day passed, then two, then three.
On the fourth day, thin strands of ck mist began to emerge around the blood.
The mist rose upward, eventually forming a towering ck shadow over ten feet tall.
The shadow resembled a humanoid figure, but upon closer inspection, its every feature appeared distinctly inhuman.
Its entire form radiated an aura of absurdity and sinister malevolence.
Suspended mid-air with its hands behind its back, the shadow exuded a palpable authority. Its hollow eye sockets betrayed an air of cold indifference, ruthless decisiveness, and absolute dominance.
This was unmistakably a fragment of the Demon Emperor''s will embedded within the blood.
Had Shen Mo not arrived and warned the old flood dragon, refining the blood would have enved the dragon through the soul contract attached to this fragment of will.
The entirety of Dragon Snake Mountain fell eerily silent.
No demon beast dared to make a sound.
Even Mei Haihe, Huang Bayi, and the other stewards found themselves paralyzed, as though a boulder were pressing down on their chests.
The hollow eye sockets of the shadow suddenly turned toward Shen Mo.
In that instant, Shen Mo felt as if a primordial beast had locked its gaze on him, ready to strike and tear him apart.
The oppressive sensation faded as quickly as it hade, leaving Shen Mo frowning as he studied the shadow.
"Interesting. My soul contract has been broken," the shadow remarked, its tone calm yet filled with an underlying menace.
"Ignorant mortal, you have sealed your own fate."
"Though I cannot kill you from ten thousand miles away, in due time, I will personally annihte five cities as a warning."
With a casual wave of its hand, the ck mist dissipated, and the shadow vanished entirely.
The drop of Demon Emperor''s blood became clearer and purer, free from any malicious presence.
The oppressive, mountain-like pressure finally began to lift.
Shen Mo''s expression darkened slightly.
If you can''t kill me, you''ll ughter five cities instead? Such an indiscriminately ruthless Demon Emperor.
"Regardless, the soul contract within this essence blood has been removed."
"Time to visit the old flood dragon."
Without wasting time, Shen Mo headed toward the flood dragon''s valley.
The Demon Emperor''s essence blood contained immense energy.
As the Demon Emperor was still alive and reigning in the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom, the drop of blood was exceptionally fresh and potent.
Its energy far surpassed that of the ice dragon blood Shen Mo had acquired before.
It was impossible for Shen Mo alone to fully absorb and refine it.
If he recklessly attempted to do so, his body could rupture, leaving him severely injured and in need of lengthy recovery.@@novelbin@@
Such risks made hoarding the blood counterproductive.
At the valley, the old flood dragon sensed Shen Mo''s approach and let out a heartyugh. "Back so soon? Couldn''t figure out how to break the soul contract, huh?"
Shen Mo smiled faintly and revealed the purified drop of Demon Emperor''s essence blood.
The old flood dragon immediately sensed that the soul contract waspletely gone, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
"What thehow did you do that?!" he eximed.
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Chapter 247: Nascent Soul Stage Perfection, A Predetermined Fate
Chapter 247: Nascent Soul Stage Perfection, A Predetermined Fate@@novelbin@@
In the valley, the old flood dragony resting, its eyes half-closed in feigned slumber.
A cultivator d in green robes sat cross-legged on the ground, his robes rippling as his aura surged steadily upward.
Time flowed like water.
A day passed, then two. A month, then two months
Until one day, six monthster.
In a fleeting moment, the green-robed cultivator''s aura seemed to pierce through an unseen barrier, shattering the fragile veil that held him back.
Instantly, his energy surged to the level of Nascent Soul Stage Perfection.
In that moment, the heavens opened wide, and the seas stretched endlessly, as though granting him unlimited freedom.
Shen Mo abruptly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. In the depths of his gaze, a faint light flickered, sharp and clear.
The old flood dragon smacked its lipszily. "You''re finally awake. I was getting bored of waiting."
Shen Mo stood up and smiled. "Thank you, Lord Protector, for watching over me."
The flood dragon waved its w dismissively with a hint of pride. "You''ve got a bright future ahead of you, kid. Watching over you wasn''t much trouble. Don''t make a big deal out of it."
Shen Mo chuckled lightly. "How long have I been cultivating?"
The flood dragon scratched its w thoughtfully. "Time? I don''t really keep track of that. But I''d say about six months.
During that time, Li Zhendao came by once. He wanted to see me, but when he noticed you breaking through, he kept his distance and left after saying a few things.
Oh, and that old fellow from the Tenth Peak came looking for you too."
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. "Elder Wan Muchun from the Tenth Peak? What could he want with me?"
The flood dragon scratched its head. "Something about alchemy, I think? I wasn''t really paying attention."
Shen Mo nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. I''ll head to the Tenth Peak, then."
"Go on, but don''t forget what you promised mehelp me find that dragon egg," the flood dragon said nonchntly.
"Don''t worry," Shen Mo replied with a nod.
The Tenth Peak
In a blink, Shen Monded atop the Tenth Peak.
As expected, there were quite a few people gathered around a stone table at the peak, all engrossed in a game of high-stakes gambling.
Zhao Yaolu, as usual, was dominating the game. She was winning every single round.
No elder attempting to win the Grade-B contribution token from her seeded. Without exception, they all lost.
If anyone, driven by frustration, tried to gamble even more, they only lost even greater amounts.
Zhao Yaolu was grinning from ear to ear, unable to contain her delight.
Noticing Shen Mo, she waved at him and said, "Oh, it''s Junior Brother! Wait over there for a bit. Let me finish dealing with these guys first."
Shen Mo nodded and sat down nearby.
Not long after, the elders left one by one, dejected and downcast. They had all lost a considerable amount of pills, artifacts, and contribution points to Zhao Yaolu.
Zhao Yaolu gleefully sorted her spoils,ughing to herself the entire time.
Shen Mo coughed lightly a few times.
Only then did Zhao Yaolu realize someone was still there. She quickly stashed her winnings into her storage ring and forced a sheepish smile.
"Junior Brother, what brings you here?"
Shen Mo ryed what the old flood dragon had told him and asked, "The elder came looking for me earlierwhat was it about?"
Zhao Yaolu scratched her head. "I don''t really know."
"But I do know where the old man is. Come on, I''ll take you!"
Without waiting for a response, Zhao Yaolu grabbed Shen Mo by the sleeve and soared into the air, flying straight toward the northern foothills of the Hengtai Mountains.
The entire Tai Mountain Prefecture was under the jurisdiction of the Jade Cauldron Sect, and even the local magistrate was backed by the sect.
The Hengtai Mountains were the core territory of the Jade Cauldron Sect, and the dozens of cities surrounding it were bustling hubs of activity.
As they flew, Shen Mo gazed down at the cities below, feeling the vibrant pulse of mortal life.
A sense of nostalgia washed over him.
He had spent so much time cultivating that he had unknowingly grown distant from the warmth of the human world.
"See those four cities over there? Their red-light districts are the best. The old man loves visiting them."
"We''ll split up and search. If you find him, just send me a message through the transmission jade," Zhao Yaolu said, pointing to several cities below.
With that, she darted toward one of the cities without waiting for a reply.
Shen Mo nodded and descended into one of the cities.
He concealed his identity as a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, changing into the in robes of a rogue cultivator.
Shen Mo deliberately suppressed his aura, presenting himself as merely at the Core Formation Stage.
This level wouldn''t draw too much attention or invite trouble, making it the most appropriate disguise.
After entering the city, Shen Mo wandered casually through its streets.
After only a short walk, he overheard a group of Qi Condensation cultivators at a roadside stall whispering among themselves.
"Things are terrible in Mist Province. Five cities were wiped out in a single day, not a soul left alive. They say it was the Demon Emperor of the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom who personally acted!"
"Seriously? Mist Province''s forces can''t handle the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom? How could they let the Demon Emperor destroy five cities in a day?"
"It''s not that they can''t handle themthey''re simply no match. How could one provincepete with such power? I heard half of Mist Province has already fallen. It''s tragic."
"Do you think the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom will eventually invade Yu Province?"
"Hard to say We should probably start preparing, just in case."
Shen Mo''s gaze grew colder.
That day, he had forced the lingering will of the Demon Emperor out of his blood essence.
Before leaving, the Demon Emperor had sworn to ughter five cities as revenge.
Shen Mo had anticipated this possibility but hadn''t expected the Demon Emperor to annihte five cities so effortlessly.
It seemed Mist Province''s strength was even weaker than he had imagined.
At this rate, the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom would inevitably set its sights on Yu Province.
Subconsciously, Shen Mo nced at his destiny panel.
[Destiny: Fifteen years from now, the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdomunches a full-scale invasion of Yu Province. The four major forces of Yu Province mount a desperate defense but are sessively destroyed. Thanks to the protection of Li Zhendao, Wan Muchun, and the old flood dragon, Shen Mo narrowly escapes with his life and flees Yu Province. However, the Demon Emperor''s overwhelming power leaves a profound shadow on Shen Mo''s heart, halting his progress at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage and preventing him from advancing to the Divine Transformation Stage. He lives a lonely life and dies peacefully.]
"So it''s true" Shen Mo sighed softly.
Although he would survive, his destiny indicated that he would remain trapped at the Nascent Soul Stage, unable to reach greater heights.
The lingering shadow left by the Demon Emperor would haunt him forever.
In essence, it was no different from death.
After a brief moment of reflection, Shen Mo quickly steadied his mind.
Back in Xuanjiang Prefecture, he had faced an even bleaker fate, where a single misstep would have led to his death.
Yet back then, he had managed to defy his destiny and break free from his chains.
This time, his life wasn''t even at stake. Thanks to Li Zhendao and the others, he would escape alive.
If he had defied fate before, he could do so again.
Fifteen years. That was all the time he had.
Shen Mo quickened his pace, following the flow of people until he arrived at a vibrant red-light district.
The heavy scent of cosmetics and perfume hung thick in the air, detectable even from ten miles away.
Standing outside a grand building, Shen Mo extended his senses and quickly pinpointed an elegant room on the second floor.
Inside, the old elder Wan Muchun was with two poorly dressed young girls, passionately discussing the art of flower arrangement.
They were debating which flowers were best for drying, how to choose the right vase, when to arrange the flowers, and when to add water.
The discussion seemed to be going on for far too long.
Helpless, Shen Mo lightly cleared his throat, channeling a trace of spiritual energy into the sound.
Ordinary people wouldn''t hear it, but cultivators at his level or higher would immediately sense it.
Sure enough, the window of the second-floor room soon opened.
A head of white hair popped out, and Wan Muchun''s voice called down cheerfully: "Oh, Shen Mo, what brings you here?"
"Apologies, I''m in the middle of discussing the art of flower arrangement with these two youngdies. Wait there, I''lle right down."
Wan Muchunughed awkwardly.
Momentster, Wan Muchun descended the stairs, trying his best to appear dignified.
However, the lipstick marks on his neck and cor betrayed him, as did the strong scent of perfume clinging to his clothes.
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Chapter 248: Entering the Fire Pill Palace to Contribute to the Sect, Nothing Else
Chapter 248: Entering the Fire Pill Pce to Contribute to the Sect, Nothing Else
"Cough, cough, this is quite a nice ce. You shoulde by when you have time," Wan Muchun said, smacking his lips as if savoring the lingering experience.
Shen Mo couldn''t help but chuckle. "Elder Wan, you came to the Flood Dragon Valley a while back to find me. Was there something urgent?"
Wan Muchun froze for a moment before pping his forehead. "Ah, right! I nearly forgotthere is something important!"
"Come, let''s find a teahouse to talk."
Momentster, the two of them were seated on the top floor of a teahouse, near a window.
The air inside was filled with the delicate fragrance of tea.
The servers, all young and beautiful maidens, flitted gracefully between the tables, a sight pleasing to the eye.
This time, however, Wan Muchun ignored them and turned serious. "Recently, a few major events have urred."
Shen Mo nodded. "Please, Elder Wan, go on."
Wan Muchun sighed softly. "First, there''s the situation in the south, in Mist Province. I''m sure you''ve already heard. For some unknown reason, the Demon Emperor personally acted, wiping out five cities in a single day. Over a million humans perished as a result.@@novelbin@@
What''s shocking is that the governor''s mansion and the sects in Mist Province had no idea the Demon Emperor had infiltrated their territory alone.
Many believe that the Demon Emperor''s power is unmatched. As a peak Divine Transformation Stage demon, he could likely y a peak Divine Transformation Stage human cultivator with ease."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Even from the drop of blood essence left by the Demon Emperor, Shen Mo had sensed the being''s terrifying strength.
It was no wonder so many humans willingly betrayed their kind to serve the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom.
They genuinely believed that the Demon Emperor would unify the world and that the demon race was superior and more perfect than humans.
"The second issue concerns Yu Province," Wan Muchun continued.
"The Pill River Sect has managed to reverse-engineer parts of the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill''s recipe using two ancient alchemical forms. While the sess rate is abysmally low, at only around 20%, it''s still a significant breakthrough.
If the Pill River Sect begins mass-producing Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pills, their Nascent Soul cultivators'' realms will skyrocket.
Any force that allies with the Pill River Sect will also be able to rapidly enhance their own Nascent Soul cultivators'' realms.
From what I''ve heard, the Shangqing Sect and the governor''s mansion are already in talks with the Pill River Sect to purchase these pills.
If they buy them, we''ll have no choice but to follow suit. This will turn our Jade Cauldron Sect''s alchemy industry into another chicken rib, just like our previous beast-taming ventures."
Shen Mo was mildly surprised.
The Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill was incredibly potent.
Even a Nascent Soul cultivator of mediocre talent could, by thoroughly refining a single bottle of these pills, directly advance to the Nascent Soul Stage Perfection.
With such pills, one couldpensate for their weaknesses in other areas with sheer cultivation level.
The Pill River Sect''s move was indeed stirring up the waters of Yu Province.
"So whye to me, Elder Wan?" Shen Mo asked suddenly.
He had little expertise in alchemy and no knowledge of alchemical techniques.
Even if he wanted to help, there was little he could do.
Wan Muchun''s expression grew solemn. "You''re aware of the Fire Pill Pce, correct? It''s one of the Jade Cauldron Sect''s restricted areas."
Shen Mo nodded slightly. He did know of it.
The Fire Pill Pce had once been the legendary alchemical grounds of the Nine-Turn Alchemy Sect.
When the Nine-Turn Alchemy Sect was destroyed, many of its cultivators, unable to flee in time, hid valuable pill recipes and elixirs in secret corners of the Fire Pill Pce.
Even now, lucky individuals asionally stumbled upon a Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill or two within the pce.
The pce''s abundant underground fire energy wasn''t infinite, however, and thus it was only opened once every ten years.
Each time, arge number of elders would venture inside to seek their fortunes.
Even finding a discarded pill or a damaged recipe could earn significant sect contributions.
Shen Mo seemed to understand. "You want me to enter the Fire Pill Pce?"
Wan Muchun nodded emphatically. "That''s also the wish of the sect leader and the grand elder.
The Fire Pill Pce is fraught with danger, but your unique physique and possession of Heavenly me will allow you to navigate it like a fish in water.
Moreover, there is aplete recipe for the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill hidden within the Fire Pill Pce.
We hope you can find it!"
Shen Mo was somewhat surprised. "I heard that was just a rumor, spread by the remnants of the Nine-Turn Alchemy Sect to sow discord among the three sects of Yu Province. Wasn''t it deliberate misinformation?"
Wan Muchun shook his head. "It''s real.
When the Nine-Turn Alchemy Sect was destroyed, its young sect master fled under the protection of several elders. His final destination was the Fire Pill Pce.
He carried the Nine-Turn Alchemy Codex, which contains some of the most precious pill recipes, alchemy techniques, and even a Heaven-rank cultivation technique of the Nine-Turn Alchemy Sect. Among those recipes is the form for the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill.
However, when we sealed off the Fire Pill Pce and searched for over a month, leaving no stone unturned, we couldn''t find any trace of him.
There''s also no evidence that he ever escaped the Fire Pill Pce.
The young sect master simply disappeared, neither alive nor dead."
Shen Mo frowned slightly as he listened.
It did sound usible.
If it was true, then with the aid of his destiny panel, he would have no trouble finding the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill''s recipe.
Wan Muchun continued, "The Fire Pill Pce is set to open in one year.
To enter, one must meet two requirements: being at least a Three Cauldron Elder and having reached the Nascent Soul Stage Perfection.
While you already qualify as an elder, your current cultivation is still at the Nascent Soul Stage Initial Sess, which falls short of the requirement."
"The sect leader has agreed to make an exception this time. If you''re willing to enter the Fire Pill Pce, the cultivation requirement will be waived for you."
Shen Mo smiled but said nothing.
No one knew that he had already advanced to Nascent Soul Stage Perfection, except for the old flood dragon.
Wan Muchuncked the ability to discern someone''s cultivation level and, even sitting face-to-face with Shen Mo, assumed he was still at Nascent Soul Stage Initial Sess.
Fearing Shen Mo might refuse, Wan Muchun added, "Furthermore, if you agree to enter the Fire Pill Pce, the sect will allow you to choose any top-tier Earth-rank martial technique from the library."
After delivering his pitch, Wan Muchun downed several sips of tea, his throat dry from talking.
Shen Mo immediately grinned. "I agree.
I mainly want to contribute to the sectit has nothing to do with the Earth-rank martial technique."
A top-tier Earth-rank martial technique typically required fifty Grade-C contributions to obtain. Rejecting such a free treasure would make him a fool.
Wan Muchun nearly choked on his tea but quickly broke intoughter. "Good, good! It''s settled then. With your agreement, the sect leader, grand elder, and I can rest assured."
"Oh, one more thingDongxuan will be entering with you this time. You two can support each other inside.
Additionally, Ye Yan, who possesses a fire attribute physique, has also been invited by the sect leader. Be cautious around him."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
This was all within his expectations.
Ye Yan''s physique, the Sr me Body, made him just as much at home in the Fire Pill Pce as Shen Mo himself.
"Alright, I''ll leave you to prepare. As for me, I''m going back to exchange ideas about flower arranging with those youngdies. Ah, these youngstersso eager to learn. It''s almost troubling," Wan Muchun said as he shot to his feet and vanished in a sh.
Shen Mo couldn''t help butugh.
After a moment of thought, he mused to himself, "I happen tock a reliable martial technique for regr use. I should head to the Scripture Pavilion now."
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Chapter 249: Yin-Yang Dual Energy Sword Art and the Two Forms Spirit Sword
Chapter 249: Yin-Yang Dual Energy Sword Art and the Two Forms Spirit Sword
The Jade Cauldron Sect''s Scripture Pavilion exuded a faint schrly fragrance that seemed to intoxicate the soul.
Of course, it wasn''t the scent of books that captivated people but rather the profound meanings these texts represented.
Each of these martial and cultivation manualsranging from Profound-rank to Heaven-rankstored here carried unparalleled value. Anyone would be tempted to peruse them.
This ability to record, study, and pass on knowledge was innate to the human race after stepping onto the immortal path.
It was also what fundamentally set humans apart from demons.
The Scripture Pavilion was divided into five floors.
The first floor was essible to both outer and inner disciples.
The second floor was reserved for core disciples, One-Cauldron Elders, and Two-Cauldron Elders.
The third floor was exclusive to Three-Cauldron and Four-Cauldron Elders.
The fourth floor was for Five-Cauldron and Six-Cauldron Elders.
As for the fifth floor, only the sect master could enter.
After arriving at the Scripture Pavilion, Shen Mo headed directly to the third floor.
There weren''t many people on this level.
Scanning the room, Shen Mo counted only five individuals present.
Most of them appeared middle-aged, while two were elderly, clearly approaching the end of their lifespans.
Seeing Shen Mo''s youthful face, the five individuals looked slightly surprised.
Some offered him kind gazes, while others nodded faintly in greeting.
Such a young Three-Cauldron Elder had boundless potential. Even if they couldn''t form a rtionship with him, they knew better than to offend him.
As elders who had lived for hundreds of years, they were well-versed in these unspoken social nuances.
Shen Mo returned their smiles politely and began his search.
"I might as well pick a sword art to use as a standard method for dealing with enemies," Shen Mo thought.
He already possessed a top-grade Earth-rank spiritual weapon, the Scorching Sword.
However, his current Quick Thunder Shadow Sword Artwas bing outdated.
This was the perfect opportunity to find a more powerful Earth-rank sword art.
Shen Mo''s eyes scanned the rows of bookshelves.
"Dragon Riding Sword Art"
"Heaven and Earth Reversal Sword Art"
"Nine Instant Kill Swords"
"..."
One title after another passed before his eyes.
From the titles alone, Shen Mo could generally discern the nature of each sword art.
Some focused on grand, sweeping strikes; others were sinister and cunning.
Some emphasized power, channeling one''s spiritual energy into a single overwhelming blow.
Others relied on speed, bombarding opponents with a relentless rain of sword strikes.
However, after browsing through the collection, Shen Mo still couldn''t find a technique that suited him.
He felt as though something was missing.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the entrance of the third floor.
Shen Mo turned to look and couldn''t help but smile.
It was none other than Ye Yan.
Ye Yan''s gaze immediately fell on Shen Mo, and his expression turned icy.
It was as if he had just encountered a fated nemesis.
"Shen Mo, so you''re here too," Ye Yan said coldly.
Shen Mo smiled lightly. "If you''re allowed toe, why wouldn''t I be?"
The elders on the third floor paused, briefly startled by the interaction.
Ye Yan was widely recognized within the sect, having been personally trained by the Second Elder, Yang Qiye, from his time as a core disciple. His reputation was already well-established.
In contrast, Shen Mo''s youthful and unfamiliar face wasn''t known to many.
However, his name had been making waves recently, shining as brightly as the midday sun.
"So that''s Shen Mo."
"He looks even younger than Ye Yan."
"Interesting. These two don''t seem to get along."
"Tsk tsk, it looks like there''s bound to be a showdown between these two in the future."
The elders exchanged whispers, clearly enjoying the drama.
In their eyes, both Shen Mo and Ye Yan were exceptional young prodigies.
They had no intention of intervening in the tension between the two.
To do so would risk offending one side, and there would be no good oue for themselves.
"You caused me to be cast out by the old flood dragon. I''ve never forgotten that grudge," Ye Yan said coldly.
Shen Mo paused, then chuckled lightly.
So it was about that.
This was understandable.
It was because Shen Mo had pointed out to the old flood dragon that it was naturally infertile and would only ever have a single offspring.
This revtion not only struck a sore spot in the old flood dragon''s heart but also made Ye Yan''s attempt to present the Heavy Water Sky Python as a gift a painful reminder.
That Ye Yan was cold-shouldered afterward was hardly surprising.
Meeting Ye Yan''s icy gaze, Shen Mo merely smiled and said, "You''ll have more grudges to remember in the future. Enjoy holding onto them."
With that, he turned and walked toward a nearby bookshelf, picking up a thin manual and examining it carefully.
Ye Yan, unwilling to look at Shen Mo any longer, moved to another part of the room with a cold expression.
"This feels like the missing piece I''ve been searching for It was fate," Shen Mo murmured, satisfied as he studied the manual in his hands.
The manual was for the Yin-Yang Dual Energy Sword Art, a top-grade Earth-rank martial technique.
This sword art had only threeyers:
Mastering the firstyer allowed one to wield Yang Sword Qi.
The secondyer granted mastery of Yin Sword Qi.
The third and most difficultyer fused Yin and Yang Sword Qi into the powerful Dual Energy Sword Qi.
The sword art was notoriously difficult to cultivate, and while many prodigious cultivators had attempted it, few ever reached the thirdyer.
However, Shen Mo wasn''t drawn to the technique itself. What interested him was a hidden forging method embedded in the texta method to create the spiritual sword known as Two Forms.
When paired with the Yin-Yang Dual Energy Sword Art, this sword could amplify the technique''s power twofold.
This hidden treasure was the true value of the sword art.
Had it not been for his destiny panel revealing the intricacies of Ye Yan''s life, Shen Mo would never have discovered that the manual contained this concealed forging method.
"This is the one!" Shen Mo eximed inwardly as he took the Yin-Yang Dual Energy Sword Art and left decisively.
"What did he take?"
"Let me see Oh, impressive! He chose the Yin-Yang Dual Energy Sword Art!"
"Tch, young people are bold. That''s one of the most difficult martial techniques in the Scripture Pavilion, and he dares to cultivate it."
"Ha, remember when we were young and thought we were geniuses too? We tried everything, hit roadblocks everywhere, and onlyter realized that there are levels to genius. We''re ordinary geniuses. Someone like Shen Mo might just be extraordinary."
"So what kind of genius do you think Shen Mo is?"
"He might not be unparalleled, but he''s at least one in ten thousand. My guess? He''ll return that manual in a month, defeated."
The elders whispered among themselves, their tonesced with curiosity and amusement.
Ye Yan overheard their remarks and sneered as he watched Shen Mo''s retreating figure.
"Of all the choices, you pick the hardest one. If anyone''s bound to fail, it''s you."
Dragon Snake Mountain@@novelbin@@
Upon returning to Dragon Snake Mountain, Shen Mo headed straight for the barren in where he often trained.
The vegetation surrounding the area seemed to have learned its lesson.
Nothing dared to grow there anymore, as if aware that doing so would invite certain death.
"Time to begin," Shen Mo said to himself, unfurling the Yin-Yang Dual Energy Sword Art manual.
With his exceptionalprehension and unparalleled swordsmanship, Shen Mo quickly immersed himself in the world of sword qi.
In less than two hours, he had fully studied the manual. His mind seemed to enter a realm where sword qi crisscrossed endlessly.
Instinctively, he drew his Scorching Swordand began practicing the Yang Sword Qi technique described in the manual.
At first, the strikescked power, and no visible sword qi appeared on the de.
But as time passed, Shen Mo became increasingly proficient.
After two days and nights of relentless practice, a sudden breakthrough urred.
A zing, yang-infused sword qi erupted from the de, extending a full three meters.
With just a light sh, the ground split into a deep, jagged fissure.
Shen Mo snapped out of his trance, staring at the mark on the ground with surprise and delight.
"I can''t believe I mastered Yang Sword Qi in just two days!"
"Now for the next stepcultivating Yin Sword Qi!"
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Chapter 250: Enduring for the Jade Cauldron Sect, I’ll Bear the Infamy
Chapter 250: Enduring for the Jade Cauldron Sect, I''ll Bear the Infamy
In the Governor''s Mansion of Yu Province, an imposing elder sat at a heavy wooden desk, his broad frame exuding authority.
Before himy a war report from Mist Province, its contents eliciting a rare solemnity on his weathered face.
Since bing the governor of Yu Province, it had been a long time since he had shown such an expression.
Standing silently to the side was his trusted general, Wu Renyin, who said nothing, his posture unwavering amidst the cold and oppressive atmosphere that hung in the room.
"The Demon Emperor personally acted, infiltrating the heart of Mist Province and annihting five of its most prosperous cities," the governor said grimly.
"From the highest humans to livestock such as cattle, pigs, and dogs, nothing was spared."
"The governor of Mist Province and its two main sects didn''t even realize the Demon Emperor had entered their territory."
The elder pushed the war report aside, rubbing his temples in frustration.
Wu Renyin picked up the report and carefully reviewed it.
"What are your thoughts?" the governor asked.
Wu Renyin spoke in a steady tone. "My lord, I believe Mist Province cannot withstand the advance of the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom.
If we do not intervene, Mist Province will fall under the demon''s iron hooves in as little as three years, or as much as ten."
The governor sighed. "You see more clearly than most.
The capital remains mired in luxury and celebration, convinced that the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom is no match for Jing Country."
"They underestimate the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom and, more importantly, the ambition and strength of this Demon Emperor."
Wu Renyin nodded slightly. "The Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom hasin dormant for 500 years, quietly amassing power. Now the time hase for them to strike.
Those in the capital, ustomed to theirfortable lives, have no understanding of this."
The governor shook his head. "If only Yu Province were entirely under my control. I would issue an immediate order for all cultivators to march to Mist Province''s borders and hold off the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom."
Wu Renyin said in a deep voice, "It is not toote. The Jade Cauldron Sect is already weakening as per your ns.
With one year remaining before the Fire Pill Pce opens, if we activate another hidden piece, the Jade Cauldron Sect will weaken further.
When the timees, it will be easy for you to take control of the sect.
Once they''re under yourmand, you can throw them into Mist Province as cannon fodder. This will preserve the court''s forces while diminishing the sect''s strength."
The governor shook his head and pushed a document toward Wu Renyin. "The Jade Cauldron Sect hasn''t weakened significantly. Look at this document."
Wu Renyin took it and read. It was a record of trade between the governor''s mansion and the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Previously, the Jade Cauldron Sect had purchasedrge quantities of spiritual beast and demon beast materials from the governor''s mansion.
However, in the past two years, the roles had reversed, with the governor''s mansion buying such materials from the Jade Cauldron Sect instead.
At the end of the document was a note: both the Shangqing Sect and Pill River Sect had also begun purchasing materials from the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Wu Renyin''s expression darkened. "Is this because of Dragon Snake Mountain?"
The governor nodded. "Exactly. The Jade Cauldron Sect''s beast-taming industry has suddenly flourished.
Since the year they turned their losses into profits, their cost-effectiveness has far surpassed ours.
To the extent that, as the governor of Yu Province, it is now cheaper for me to purchase beast materials directly from them than to produce them myself."
Wu Renyin remained silent.
The sudden strength of the Jade Cauldron Sect''s beast-taming industry was unexpected, even for him.
The governor massaged his temples, reflecting.
Blood Vine Valley had cost the sect 21 Nascent Soul elders, yet their revitalized beast-taming industry had replenished much of their losses.
Overall, the Jade Cauldron Sect had not weakened much at all.
Suddenly, the governor asked, "What about the human coborators sent by the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom? Has the old flood dragon been swayed yet?"
Wu Renyin''s expression turned awkward. "No, there''s been no movement at all."
The governor frowned deeply. "What happened? Report everything to me in detail, immediately."
Wu Renyin lowered his voice. "ording to our informants in the Jade Cauldron Sect, the stewards assigned to guard the valley of the old flood dragon were indeed reced by those two coborators.
However, after they entered the valley, they never came out again.
Our informants also reported that Shen Mo entered the valley that day."
The governor''s frown deepened.
He was already aware of Shen Mo''s interactions with the old flood dragon.
He could roughly guess Shen Mo''s intentions: to curry favor with the old flood dragon and secure its backing as a powerful ally.
Chapter 250: Enduring for the Jade Cauldron Sect, I''ll Bear the Infamy
The old flood dragon, having lived for countless years, was far from a foolish creature.
Gaining its trust and support was a nearly impossible task.
The only way was to find its missing flood dragon egg.
But something that countless cultivators of the Jade Cauldron Sect had failed to aplish over millenniahow could someone like Shen Mo seed?
Because of this, the governor of Yu Province hadn''t taken the matter to heart.
Now, it seemed he had been wrong.
The rtionship between Shen Mo and the old flood dragon had likely deepened to an extraordinary level.
The governor''s expression turned cold. "It must have been Shen Mo who interfered, causing this operation to fail."
Wu Renyin nodded. "That is my assumption as well."
The governor slowly rose and began pacing the room.
After a moment, he asked, "How are the arrangements for the Fire Pill Pceing along?"
Wu Renyin responded respectfully, "Everything is in ce. After 30 years of preparation, the underground fire in the Fire Pill Pce is now immensely strong and on the brink of eruption.
All it needs is the right trigger, and it will explode with a deafening roar, destroying the entire Fire Pill Pce and everyone inside.
This will send shockwaves through the Jade Cauldron Sect. Once they investigate, their findings will lead to a Four-Cauldron Elder, who is actually an undercover agent from the Pill River Sect.
At that point, the Jade Cauldron Sect and the Pill River Sect will inevitablye to blows, creating the perfect opportunity for us to intervene."
The governor nodded slightly. "This time, everything must be done perfectly. No one can know that we were behind it.
Otherwise, it will only cause the Jade Cauldron Sect to direct their hatred toward us."
Wu Renyin nodded emphatically. "Rest assured, my lord. I have meticulously prepared for this. No matter how thoroughly the Jade Cauldron Sect investigates, they will never trace it back to the governor''s mansion."
The governor nodded. "Good. Get to it. This matter cannot be dyed."
"As youmand." Wu Renyin bowed and left.
The governor gazed southward, his expression deep and contemtive.
Unifying Yu Province was already a monumental task.
Now, with the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdomunching a massive invasion of Mist Province, Yu Province was burdened with the additional responsibility of providing support to the neighboring province.
It was an uphill battle.
Initially, he had nned to unify the three sects of Yu Province through gradual and peaceful means.
But now, that was no longer an option.
In extraordinary times, one must take extraordinary actions.
Even if this matter were to be exposed in the future, causing an uproar in Yu Province and throughout the imperial court, he would still have no choice but to act.
"At this point, the Jade Cauldron Sect must suffer. I will bear the infamy," the governor sighed softly.
One Year Later, Dragon Snake Mountain
On a barren in, a figure d in green practiced sword techniques.
Sword qi swirled through the air, sharp enough to seemingly tear through space itself.
What was truly remarkable, however, was the intery of opposing energies.
Fiery, yang-infused sword qi intertwined seamlessly with cold, yin-infused sword qi.
There wasn''t the slightest hint of conflict between them.
Shen Mo slowly sheathed his sword, exhaling a breath of turbid air, his expression brimming with joy.
"Whew The Two Forms Sword has indeed greatly enhanced the power of the Yin-Yang Dual Energy Sword Art."
"More importantly, with the Two Forms Sword, even without mastering the thirdyer of the sword art, the Yang Sword Qi and Yin Sword Qi won''t conflict in the slightest."
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Chapter 251: The Gap Between People Is Just This Big
Chapter 251: The Gap Between People Is Just This Big
Shen Mo held the Two-Yi Sword, which disyed ck and white colors, in both hands and felt a slight sense of joy.
This Two-Yi Sword was forged by him using the remains of the Burning Sword and Thunder Sword as the core, along with arge amount of Yin-attributed heavenly materials and earth treasures.
Since he had mastered the method to forge the Two-Yi Sword and given his exceptionalprehension, it was not difficult for him to craft it.
He only failed once beforepletely mastering the technique.
Unlike most cultivators, who often fail ten or more times before they can even begin refining artifacts.
"It''s a pity, if I had a bit more time, perhaps I could have cultivated the Yin-Yang Qi Sword Technique to the third level," Shen Mo said, shaking his head.
Time waits for no one.
A year had passed, and now the day of the Fire Pill Pce''s opening was fast approaching.
As usual, Shen Mo left the affairs of Dragon Snake Mountain in the hands of Mei Haihe and Huang Bayi, before heading directly to the Jade Cauldron Sect''s mountain gate.
After a year''s absence, the Jade Cauldron Sect looked much the same, with little change.
Shen Mo did not head straight to the training grounds but instead made a trip to the Fire Dragon Valley to see the old Fire Dragon.
Before he could even enter the valley, the old Fire Dragon had already smelled his scent.
"Hahaha, Shen Mo, you''ve finallye! It''s been so boring here without you to talk to me! I''ve been alone as a dragon this whole time!" the old Fire Dragonughed loudly, clearly delighted.
Shen Mo chuckled along with him, then took out a variety of delicious foods from his storage ring.
These were all the old Fire Dragon''s favorites.
The old Fire Dragon''s eyes lit up, and he eagerly grabbed a roasted wholemb and a roasted whole cow, throwing them into his mouth, thoroughly enjoying himself.
"By the way, you mentioned helping me find a Fire Dragon egg within the year, but don''t worry about it," the old Fire Dragon casually said between bites.
"I didn''t have much hope for it myself, so don''t keep worrying about it. Don''t let it dy your cultivation."
Shen Mo immediatelyughed. "Alright."
"If I remember correctly, the Fire Pill Pce is about to open, right? Every time the Fire Pill Pce opens, Li Zhendao always brings me a lot of pills, all the kinds I love," the old Fire Dragon chuckled.
It seemed to remind him of the time when they followed the founding ancestor of the Jade Cauldron Sect into the Fire Pill Pce, eating pills like they were beans.
"How much do you know about the Fire Pill Pce, Protector?" Shen Mo asked thoughtfully.
The old Fire Dragon scratched his head. "It''s been too long; I can''t remember clearly."
"However, I do remember that the fire beasts in the Fire Pill Pce are quite strong. They''re almost immune to fire attribute attacks, so you should be careful."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
He already knew this.
The two main dangers in the Fire Pill Pce were the fire beasts and the killing formations.
The fire spiritual energy in the Fire Pill Pce was incredibly dense, and over time, it gave rise to beasts almost entirelyposed of spiritual energy, known as fire beasts.
This time, with the Fire Pill Pce opening after ten years, there would certainly be many more fire beasts.
If he found himself surrounded by arge number of them, it would indeed be troublesome.
"Go ahead, juste by to talk when you have time," the old Fire Dragon waved his paw.
Shen Mo nodded and, using his Qi, left the valley.
Not long after, hended steadily at the training grounds.
Along the way, he passed by his attendants and disciples, all of whom bowed respectfully, showing no hint of carelessness.
During this time, Shen Mo''s name had already spread far and wide.
Many people called him the youngest elder of the Three-Ding elders.
To many, Shen Mo had clearly be a rising starsomeone they would want to align with.
At that moment, many elders had already gathered at the training grounds.
Shen Mo''s arrival immediately drew their attention.
He Tianchou spotted him from a distance, his face filled with joy. He quickly walked over with a few other elders, saying, "Elder Shen, I knew you woulde. I was just talking about you with these elders!"
He was apanied by several elders, two of whom stood out the most.
One was tall and muscr, while the other was stunningly beautiful and enchanting.
Upon seeing Shen Mo, they all greeted him enthusiastically with a cupped fist gesture.
Shen Mo responded in kind, recognizing some of them.
They were the ones he had casually saved in the Blood Vine Valley some time ago.
The others were likely friends of He Tianchou.
He Tianchou looked at the young man with emotion in his heart.
Thest time they entered the Blood Vine Valley, he had greeted Shen Mo with a smile.
However, after the events in the Blood Vine Valley, his admiration for Shen Mo had deepened.
The smile on his face was now even more sincere.
Shen Mo saw He Tianchou and smiled, "Is Master Heing again to earn some contributions?"
He Tianchouughed heartily, "Yes, not everyone can be like you, having so many contributions they can''t spend them all."
He then winked mischievously, "You spent over a hundred B-level contributions in the Scripture Pavilion''s Treasure Hall a while ago. That''s already be the talk of the sect."
"Many elders are calling you the rich man in private!"
Shen Mo chuckled quietly.
But when he thought about it, it was indeed true.
He Tianchou had saved up for ten years and only managed to umte ten B-level contributions.
Meanwhile, Shen Mo had earned 175 B-level contributions just from one trip to the Blood Vine Valley.
Anyone would envy that.
"By the way, Elder Shen, let me introduce these two to you."
He Tianchou snapped his fingers and introduced, "This elder here, tall and strong, is named Ouyang Wei. He''s an elder from the Fifth Peak."
"And this beautiful and enchanting female elder is named Liu Ruyun. She''s an elder from the Eighth Peak."
"Elder Shen, we''ve all decided. After we enter the Fire Pill Pce, I''ll stick with you," a nearby elder said quickly.
The others all chimed in with agreement.
They had personally witnessed Shen Mo''s strength in the Blood Vine Valley.
They knew how important it was to align with someone powerful.
Shen Mo chuckled in response.
Sticking together?
It would certainly be safer for them.
But for him, it wasn''t necessarily a good thing.
He Tianchou saw through Shen Mo''s thoughts and cleared his throat, quickly adding, "Everyone, there are pros and cons to acting together. Moreover, the situation in the Fire Pill Pce is unpredictable. Who knows if we''ll even be able to stay together?"
The elders nodded in agreement, "That''s true."
Shen Mo smiled.
He Tianchou certainly knew how to handle situations well. A single sentence from him eased the potential awkwardness.
Liu Ruyun blinked and suggested, "I propose that after we enter the Fire Pill Pce, we help each other, watch each other''s backs. If we acquire any useful information, we can exchange it at the first opportunity."
As she spoke, she took out a set ofmunication jade talismans and distributed them among the group.
"This is a set ofmunication jade talismans I forged. They won''t be affected by the intense fire spiritual energy in the Fire Pill Pce."
"As long as we are within a thousand-mile radius, we canmunicate freely."
The elder beside her nodded immediately, "Good, I agree!"
"That''s right, helping each other will allow us to obtain more treasures."
He Tianchou widened his eyes in surprise, "I''ve heard that Elder Liu is skilled in forging spiritual tools, but I didn''t expect her to create such amunication jade talisman. Truly impressive!"
Ouyang Wei teased, "Elder Liu just mentioned how expensive thesemunication jade talismans are and how she was unwilling to give them out."
"But now that Elder Shen has arrived, she''s handing them out. The difference between people is just this big?"
Liu Ruyun didn''t respond to the teasing but instead fluttered her eyes and looked at Shen Mo, "Elder Shen, what do you think?"
Shen Mo smiled slightly, took amunication jade talisman, and said, "Helping each other, sharing informationthis sounds good. I agree."
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Chapter 253: If You Find Good Wine, Save Some for Me
Chapter 253: If You Find Good Wine, Save Some for Me
Whoosh!
Three streaks of light descended from the sky,nding in the center of the martial arena.
The arrivals were the Grand Elder in charge of the Disciplinary Hall, the Third Elder overseeing alchemy, and the Seventh Elder, who also specialized in alchemy.
The Grand Elder nced around and spoke solemnly. "Everyone, the Fire Pill Pce is brimming with fire spirit energy, showing signs of an early activation."
"Any elders who have yet to arrive will forfeit their qualifications to enter the Fire Pill Pce."
"Follow me immediately."
With that, he rose into the air and flew northward.
The crowd quickly followed suit.
...
The Fire Pill Pce wasn''t located in Taishan Prefecture but in the neighboring Mianshan Prefecture to the north.
Even at full speed, it still took three days for the Nascent Soul cultivators to arrive under the Grand Elder''s lead.
For lower-level Core Formation cultivators, the journey would have taken at least half a month.
Before long, the group descended in front of a massive crimson pce.
Centered around the pce, the surrounding hundred-mile radius was scorched and barren, with only charred earth and few signs of life.
Only a handful of heat-resistant demonic beasts and nts managed to survive in such a harsh environment.
As the groupnded, three figures emerged from the pce to greet them respectfully.
The Grand Elder asked in a stern voice, "Liu Qiang, as the resident elder of the Fire Pill Pce, have there been any abnormalities in thest ten years?"
After the betrayal of Assistant Elder Zhang Feng at Bloodvine Valley, the Grand Elder had grown more vignt.
Elder Liu Qiang had already undergone multiple secret investigations by the Disciplinary Hall, confirming his loyalty to the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Liu Qiang respectfully replied, "Reporting to the Grand Elder, starting thirty years ago, the fire spirit energy in the Fire Pill Pce began to recover at a rapid pace."
"I believe it''s likely due to signs of an active volcano beneath the pce beginning to awaken."
"As a result, the number and strength of fire beasts within the pce have significantly increased."
"However, unless external factors intervene, the volcano is unlikely to erupt for at least five more years. You can rest assured, Grand Elder."
The Grand Elder nodded slightly. "Take out all the tokens you''ve prepared over the years."
"Understood." Liu Qiang waved his hand, and numerous tokens flew out from his storage ring,nding in front of Shen Mo and the others.
Shen Mo examined the tokens. The front bore the characters "Nine Turns," while the back read "Inner Sect Disciple."
These were tokens from the Nine-Turn Alchemy Sect, signifying the status of inner sect disciples.
Looking around, Shen Mo noticed that everyone else had simr tokens.
The Third and Seventh Elders, at the forefront, each received tokens marked for true disciples of the Nine-Turn Alchemy Sect.
Because the Fire Pill Pce contained numerous formations, including deadly ones, carrying a token from the Nine-Turn Alchemy Sect was essential for safety.
Without at least an inner sect disciple token, entry to the Fire Pill Pce was impossible.
The higher the rank of the token, the more areas one could ess within the pce.
Additionally, tokens from the Fire Pill Pce were scattered inside. Finding an elder-level token allowed almost unrestricted movement within the pce.
Shen Mo recalled that in Ye Yan''s predetermined fate, he had found an elder token shortly after entering the pce.
This token enabled Ye Yan to freely explore the pce and search for treasures without being attacked by formations.
The Grand Elder scanned the group and said in a deep voice, "The Fire Pill Pce will remain open for one year. After that, I will be here to receive you all."
"Understood," everyone responded.
The Grand Elder nodded before departing.
"Everyone, please enter," Liu Qiang, the resident elder, said with a smile.
Shen Mo and the others filed in, descending a nted staircase into the underground Fire Pill Pce.
As they descended deeper, the temperature steadily rose.
Many elders began to feel ufortable, resorting to expending spiritual energy to resist the heat.
However, Shen Mo, with his fire attribute constitution, found the temperature no more troublesome than warm water.
The group continued downward.
After descending roughly two hundred zhang, they reached the end of the staircase.
Whaty before them was a scene of decay and ruin.
Above them stretched a towering dome, ck smoke swirling like a dark night sky.
The air, distorted by the intense heat, created an almost surreal atmosphere.
The ground was littered with broken walls and crumbling ruins.
Everywhere one looked, there were remnants of a past grandeur, now reduced to rubble.
The barren ground had no trace of vegetation, only coarse gravel.
In the distance, waves of zing fire erupted into the air from time to time.
Roars of tigers and howls of wolves mingled with the chaotic cries of various demonic beasts, creating a cacophony of sound.
This was the Fire Pill Pcean underground wastnd dominated by red, heat, and disorder.
Many couldn''t help but blink a few times.
The predominant red hue of this deste ce was overwhelming, straining the eyes after prolonged exposure.
The Third and Seventh Elders split off, heading toward separate earth furnaces.
Their purpose in entering the Fire Pill Pce was to refine pillsa rare opportunity that came only once every ten years and was not to be wasted.@@novelbin@@
Unless they seeded in their pill refining andpleted their tasks, they wouldn''t leave the furnaces for a moment.
"Gathering together will slow us down. Let''s split up. Take care, junior brother."
L Dongxuan patted Shen Mo on the shoulder before dashing into the ruins.
However, he hadn''t gone far before he suddenly sprinted back even faster, leaving He Tianchou, Ouyang Wei, Liu Ruyun, and the others utterly confused.
L Dongxuan chuckled. "Oh, right. I remembered something! The Nine-Turn Alchemy Sect had a wine called zing Fire Brew. Drinking it feels like swallowing mes, and it was made right here in the Fire Pill Pce."
"Junior brother, and you allif you happen to find some, save it for me. We can negotiate the price!"
Shen Mo smiled faintly, already guessing what L Dongxuan was going to say.
He nodded. "Don''t worry, senior brother. I''ll make sure to save some for you."
He Tianchou and the others, both amused and exasperated, also nodded in agreement.
Satisfied with their response, L Dongxuan finally dashed back into the ruins.
Ye Yan followed shortly after, speeding off in a different direction.
The other elders quickly dispersed as well.
Those confident in their abilities ventured alone, while the less confident formed groups of two or three to explore together.
Shen Mo, naturally, chose not to team up with anyone.
After orienting himself, he headed straight for Furnace No. 4.
The Fire Pill Pce originally had fifteen earth furnaces, named numerically from No. 1 to No. 15.
However, the protracted war that raged here in the past had caused twelve of the furnaces to copse.
Only three furnaces remained usable.
Furnace No. 4, on the other hand, was one of the copsed furnaces.
The journey to Furnace No. 4 was far from smooth.
The Fire Pill Pce was expansive, and the presence of numerous formations greatly reduced the flying speed of Nascent Soul cultivators.
Along the way, Shen Mo faced repeated attacks from fire beasts.
As a result, it took him a full two days to reach Furnace No. 4.
"There it is!"
Shen Mo''s spirits lifted as he looked ahead.
A massive stone furnace, fifty zhang tall, was half-buried in gravel.
The furnace was riddled with cracks and damage.
Over thousands of years, the gravel and remnants of herbs had fused together, bing indistinguishable from one another.
At the base of the furnacey a pitch-ck pit.
This was the earthfire vent.
From the vent, mes asionally surged, alternating between weak flickers and powerful bursts, resembling the vigor of a lively child.
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Chapter 255: I Feel Relieved Knowing Others Didn’t Gain Much Either
Chapter 255: I Feel Relieved Knowing Others Didn''t Gain Much Either
Seven dayster, near Furnace No. 5.
Howl
A dying wail echoed through the air, followed by the dull thud of a heavy body copsing to the ground.
Amid the carnage of fire wolf corpses stood a figure d in green, wielding a ck-and-white sword. Shen Mo''s expression remained calm and indifferent.
ughtering these fire wolves had not cost Shen Mo much effort.
There had been a total of 21 fire wolves in the area. Even the wolf king, a fifth-tier peak beastparable to a Nascent Soul-stage peak cultivator, was no match for Shen Mo.
After a few exchanges, the wolf king was in.
As for the remaining fire wolves, they were dispatched even faster, unable to withstand a single strike from him.
Shen Mo systematically cut open the bodies of the fire wolves. He only managed to extract a single fire beast monster core, the size of a thumb, from the wolf king''s abdomen.
The other wolves'' bodies contained nothingnot even fragments of a core.
With that task done, Shen Mo entered the wolves'' den.
The den was littered with scattered remainssome from other fire beasts, and others clearly human bones.
These must have belonged to elders who had entered the Fire Pill Pce in the past, only to fall victim to the wolves'' ambush and meet their end here.
After a thorough search, Shen Mo found a storage ring in a corner.
Inside the ring were a fifth-tier fire beast monster core and six fourth-tier fire beast monster cores.
"Oh? There''s stardust sand here?"
In the den''s corner, Shen Mo noticed an inconspicuous pile of sand.
Stardust sand is a rare mineral that forms over long periods by absorbing starlight.
It is rarely found elsewhere, but the depths of the Fire Pill Pce contain a fair amount of it.
The reason is straightforward.
At the height of its power, the Nine-Turn Alchemy Sect not only used the Fire Pill Pce for alchemy but also for crafting weapons.
Much of the stardust sand mined or purchased by the sect was stored here.
During the great war that led to the sect''s downfall, the sand was scattered and mixed with the Fire Pill Pce''s debris.
Every time the pce reopens, any elder willing to spend time searching can usually gather a few taels of stardust sand.
That Shen Mo found it here, far from the pce''s interior where temperatures are higher, was a pleasant surprise.
"This opportunity must be uniquely minesomething even Ye Yan hasn''t discovered."
Satisfied, Shen Mo carefully stored the stardust sand.
Stardust sand is an excellent material for crafting spiritual weapons.
Its bnced and neutral properties make itpatible with any elemental attribute.
Although Shen Mo had received some as part of his elder stipend over the years, he had never used it and kept it stored in his ring.
"The three treasures of the Fire Pill Pce: fire beast crystals, stardust sand, and crimson scale flowers."
"Now, the crimson scale flower is the only one I haven''t found yet."
Shen Mo reflected.
Of the three treasures, stardust sand was the least immediately useful. It required proper crafting to convert it intobat power.
Fire beast crystals, while directly absorbable, benefited fire-attribute physiques the most and were less effective for others.
For maximum value, fire beast crystals were best exchanged for contribution points.
The crimson scale flower, however, was different.
This peculiar flower, once refined, could expand the dantian.
Cultivators of all levels desired arger dantian.
With a more expansive dantian, they could store more spiritual energy.
Sometimes, having just a bit more spiritual energy could determine life or death in a critical moment.
Because of this, crimson scale flowers were highly sought after.
Not only were they prized in the Jade Cauldron Sect, but also in the Upper rity Sect, Pill River Sect, and even the State Governor''s Office, where theymanded steep prices.
In the Jade Cauldron Sect, a single crimson scale flower cost ten Ding-grade contribution points.
If sold outside, one flower could fetch five top-grade spirit stones.
"Next, I''ll head to Furnace No. 8. An elder buried a storage ring there fifty years ago, likely knowing he was near death and hoping his descendants might retrieve it."
"Still, fifty years have passed, and the storage ring remains undiscovered. It''s likely his descendants have met a grim fate as well."
"That ring contains fifty-two fourth-tier fire beast monster coresI can''t afford to miss it."
Shen Mo quickened his pace, advancing deeper into the Fire Pill Pce.
Just like in the Blood Vine Valley, the boundary between the outer and inner regions of the Fire Pill Pce had a safehouse constructedter by the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Each time the Fire Pill Pce opened, this safehouse became a hub for the sect''s cultivators to rest, trade, and strategize.
Whenever venturing out to seek treasures, cultivators would use the safehouse as a central point to explore outward.
The deeper regions were far more perilous, with stronger fire beasts and deadlier formations. Those unsure of their strength rarely dared to venture there.
Two Months Later, Safehouse
Ye Yan wearily stepped into the safehouse.
It had been eight days since hisst expedition for treasures.
During that time, he had managed to find only two fourth-tier fire beast monster cores, a small measure of stardust sand, and a single crimson scale flower.
On several asions, he had narrowly avoided being swept into hordes of roaming fire beasts, some numbering over a hundred.
He hade perilously close to death more than once.
Such terrible luck left Ye Yan questioning whether he was still the fortunate man he''d always believed himself to be.
Had all the good fortune he enjoyed since childhood abandoned him in the Fire Pill Pce?
Moreover, he frequently noticed traces of someone else having been in the ces he explored.
Sometimes it was a field of fire beast corpses.
Other times, the disturbed dirt and gravel hinted at recent activity.
It was as if someone had passed through ahead of him, taking the treasures that should have been his.
Ye Yan rubbed his temples, shaking off these thoughts.
That''s impossible.
How could someone else take opportunities meant for him? He didn''t even know what those opportunities were himself.
Clearing his mind, Ye Yan stepped further into the safehouse.
The sounds of haggling and chatter filled his ears.
"Trade! A crimson scale flower for three fourth-tier fire beast monster corese quick!"
"Info! I know the location of a zing wild boar nest. Five Ding-grade contributions for the intel!"
"News! The geothermal vent at Furnace No. 6 is eruptingstay away!"
The cacophony made Ye Yan feel even more irritated.
In two months of exploring the Fire Pill Pce, he hadn''t traded with anyone.
He barely had enough for himself, let alone anything worth trading.
Scanning the room, Ye Yan noticed several elders in a corner engaged in hushed conversation.
Though they weren''t speaking loudly, anyone paying attention could overhear them.
"How many fire beast monster cores did you find this time?"
"Don''t even ask. The three of us searched for six days. We encountered plenty of fire beasts, but they were either incredibly strong individually or moved inrge packs. Six days, and we only got one fourth-tier fire beast monster core."
"Same here! It feels like all the fire beasts are stronger this year."
"Didn''t the stationed elder mention that the geothermal activity has been unstable over thest decade? That''s probably why the fire beasts have grown stronger."
"What about you? How did it go?"
"Not great. I haven''t umted many fire beast crystals in these two months either. It''s been frustrating."
"I''ve been feeling uneasy the past few days. Let''s hope nothing goes wrong."
Ye Yan listened thoughtfully.
"So that''s it. I thought it was just me encountering unusually strong fire beasts. Turns out they''ve all gotten stronger and more numerous overall."@@novelbin@@
With that realization, Ye Yan felt some relief.
It seemed everyone was facing the same challenges.
No one was exempt.
The thought that others were having just as little sess as he was put Ye Yan''s mind at ease.
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Chapter 257: Ye Yan, You’re Truly Shameless
Chapter 257: Ye Yan, You''re Truly Shameless
One monthter.
"This is the recipe for the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill?"
"It practically fell into my hands without effort."
In the dark cavern beneath the No. 9 Earthfire Furnace, Shen Mo held a yellowed sheet of parchment with a delighted expression. The parchment contained the detailed recipe for the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill. Every aspect, from ingredients to fire control and minute details, was meticulously recorded.
With just a brief nce, Shen Mo already felt inspired, eager to start refining the pill. Of course, for those with averageprehension, this recipe would likely remain iprehensible no matter how much effort they put in, leaving them staring nkly at the page.
"There are two ways to refine the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill," Shen Mo mused. "The first method is straightforward, requiring twelve types of herbs, but I don''t have all those ingredients. The second is a shortcut. Since the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill shares simr ingredients with the Greater Nascent Soul Transformation Pill, I can use eight of thetter pills along with a Tier 5 Fire Beast Core to refine it."
Shen Mo''s thoughts raced. Fortunately, his storage ring contained plenty of Greater Nascent Soul Transformation Pills, and he also had a Tier 5 Fire Beast Core. This would be enough to refine one Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill.
"I even have a pill furnace, the one I obtained from Lion Roar Valley in the Azure Mountains. It''s never been used before."
Shen Mo rummaged through his high-grade storage ring and retrieved a dust-covered pill furnace. The furnace was about the size of a human head, adorned with intricate carvings of nts and trees, exuding an ancient, mysterious aura.
"However, this is just a top-tier Mystic-grade pill furnace. Refining the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill might be too much for it. It could even explode halfway through the process."
"That would be aplete disaster."
After some thought, Shen Mo put the furnace back into his storage ring. A Mystic-grade furnace wouldn''t suffice. At the very least, he needed a low-grade Earth-grade furnace.
"There might be an Earth-grade furnace hidden somewhere in the Fire Pill Pce. I''ll need to keep an eye out for this opportunity."
Shen Mo stood up, ready to leave the underground cavern.
Just then, the sound-transmitting jade on him suddenly vibrated. Shen Mo''s heart stirred.
The jade was the one Liu Ruyun had distributed to them. Anyone holding it couldmunicate within a range of 100 miles, unaffected by the dense fire energy in the Fire Pill Pce.
Shen Mo infused his spiritual energy into the jade. A panicked voice immediately echoed out.
"This is He Tianchou! Ye Yan and I are near the Earthfire Eye of the No. 9 Furnace! Two Tier 5 Fire Flood Dragons are chasing us! Is anyone nearby? Please help!"
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. Fire Flood Dragons?
Such fire beasts were rare, and their bodies likely contained Fire Beast Cores. Moreover, He Tianchou was a decent person. Since Shen Mo had the ability to help, there was no need to turn a blind eye.
As for Ye Yan, even if Shen Mo didn''t intervene, Ye Yan wouldn''t die. But Ye Yan was like a prime sheep ready for ughter. Shen Mo had already stripped him of his recent opportunities, but fate likely favored Ye Yan, granting him new ones. With opportunities so close, how could he let them slip away?
Shen Mo immediately dashed out of the cavern, heading straight for the Earthfire Eye beneath the No. 9 Furnace.
Sure enough, after sprinting for a hundred breaths, he spotted two figures desperately running for their lives, pursued by two massive Fire Flood Dragons.
One dragon was sixty zhang long, the other slightly smaller but still fifty zhang in length.
He Tianchou was covered in injuries, his body charred ck from burns. His defensive spiritual artifact had long since been reduced to ashes.
Ye Yan''s condition was slightly better, though his robes were in tatters, entirely stripped of his usual cold, domineering aura.
Even if the two of them worked together, they might be able to deal with the smaller fifty-zhang Fire Flood Dragon but would be severely injured in the process. However, with two dragons chasing them, they had no chance.
He Tianchou gritted his teeth, forcing out thest remnants of his spiritual energy as he ran with all his might. Without help, he was certain to die. The thought filled him with despair.
This year''s Fire Pill Pce exploration was far more dangerous than ever before. Fire Flood Dragons, such fearsome beasts, had never appeared in the past!
Ye Yan, in slightly better shape, asionally nced at He Tianchou, a dangerous glint shing in his eyes.
When being chased by a magical beast, you don''t necessarily have to outrun the beast. Sometimes, you only need to be faster than yourpanion. And if that''s not possible, you can always slow yourpanion down.
Ye Yan''s palm suddenly twisted backward, unleashing a ming de that struck directly in front of He Tianchou.
He Tianchou''s heart raced as he instinctively dodged. His speed dropped immediately in that crucial moment, putting him squarely in the attack range of the two Fire Flood Dragons.
Roar!
The two Fire Flood Dragons simultaneously opened their mouths, unleashing fireballs that struck He Tianchou''s back with pinpoint uracy.
With barely any spiritual energy left in his body, He Tianchou could only muster a feeble defense. His body was sted into the air, and a massive charred wound appeared on his back. He couldn''t suppress a pained scream, gritting his teeth as he gasped for breath.
Meanwhile, Ye Yan used the opportunity to widen the gap between himself and the Fire Flood Dragons.
Ovee with rage, He Tianchou roared, "Ye Yan! You''re truly shameless!"
He and Ye Yan had no personal grievances, yet Ye Yan had turned him into a human shield to cover his retreat. How could he not be furious?
Roar!
The deep growls grew louder. Trembling, He Tianchou raised his head, his scalp tingling with fear.
The two Fire Flood Dragons were already towering over him.
The smaller dragon, thirty zhang long, opened its jaws wide, ready to devour him.
But therger dragon, sixty zhang long, snorted, sending a st of hot air from its nostrils.
The smaller dragon froze mid-action, reluctantly closing its mouth with a hint of frustration.
Therger dragon then opened its mouth, its fangs descending toward He Tianchou, radiating searing heat that enveloped him, ready to consume him entirely.
Despair filled He Tianchou''s eyes. At a moment like this, who could possibly save me?
ng!
A sharp and piercing streak of sword energy shot through the air, striking the head of therger Fire Flood Dragon.
The dragon''s head tilted to the side, missing He Tianchou entirely, and instead biting into a mouthful of dirt.
Furious, therger Fire Flood Dragon let out a deafening roar, ring toward its attacker.
The smaller dragon also raised its head, its eyes scanning for the audacious intruder daring to intervene.@@novelbin@@
"Move!"
A familiar voice rang out.
Startled, He Tianchou instinctively rolled to the side, tumbling several zhang away.
He looked toward the sky and saw a figure in green battling fiercely against the two massive Fire Flood Dragons.
Tears welled up in He Tianchou''s eyes. Shen Mo. It''s Shen Mo!
He hadn''t been wrong to trust this friend.
However, as He Tianchou assessed the situation, worry clouded his thoughts. Therger Fire Flood Dragon was a peak Tier 5 fire beast, and even the smaller one was at mid-Tier 5. Shen Mo''s cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul mid-stage. Could he really handle fighting both of them?
He Tianchou watched the battle anxiously.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Therger Fire Flood Dragon, enraged by Shen Mo''s interference, let out an earth-shaking bellow, unleashing a barrage of fireballs from its mouth.
The fiery projectiles rained down like a meteor shower, threatening to engulf Shen Mo.
With a single hand, Shen Mo tightly gripped his spiritual sword, Two Instruments, as spiritual energy surged within him. Streaks of yin sword energy shot out continuously.
Each strike shattered a fireball mid-air, creating bursts of fireworks in the sky.
He Tianchou watched in astonishment, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Isn''t that the Yin-Yang Dual Energy Sword Technique? When did he learn that?"
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Chapter 259: The Location of the Supreme Earth-Tier Cauldron
Chapter 259: The Location of the Supreme Earth-Tier Cauldron
Ye Yan''s body instinctively warned him:
Never look back.
He knew he was no match for Shen Mo.
As he fled at full speed, a bitter feeling welled up in Ye Yan''s heart.
Just a few years ago, he had already reached the Nascent Soul stage (minorpletion), while Shen Mo had barely stepped into the Nascent Soul stage.
Yet now, Shen Mo''s strength had surpassed his.
Facing Shen Mo, Ye Yan felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness and fear.
This feeling was terrifying.
From Shen Mo''s perspective, Ye Yan''s figure gradually disappeared beyond the horizon.
He didn''t give chase.
The distance was already considerable, and catching up to Ye Yan would take time.
Moreover, someone like Ye Yan, a "child of destiny," would be difficult to kill without an overwhelming disparity in strength.
Since that was the case, pursuing him was unnecessary.
He Tianchou, in tears, knelt and eximed, "Elder Shen, thank you! Thank you so much!"
He even wanted to kneel and hug Shen Mo''s legs.
If not for Shen Mo''s intervention, his life would have surely ended here.
"No need to be so emotional, Hall Master He," Shen Mo said with a wave of his hand, helping him stand up. "I have the strength to assist, so I naturally will."
He Tianchou took a few deep breaths to calm his emotions.
Looking in the direction Ye Yan had fled, his eyes burned with hatred. "I, He Tianchou, will never share the same sky with Ye Yan!"
Shen Mo patted his shoulder. "Focus on healing for now. Once we return to the sect, Ye Yan''s reputation will be in shambles."
The Fire Pill Pce had always been a ce with few rules.
Murdering for treasure was not umon; many had done it in secret.
But the prerequisite was leaving no witnesses.
For someone like Ye Yan to use He Tianchou to fend off a Fire Flood Dragon while escaping unscathedsimr things had been done before.
If He Tianchou had died, no one would have known what Ye Yan had done.
But now that He Tianchou had survived, Ye Yan was in deep trouble.
"Alright," He Tianchou replied, sitting cross-legged and pulling out several healing pills to begin his recovery.
Meanwhile, Shen Mo strode over to the two Fire Flood Dragons.
With a small knife, he skillfully cut open their abdomens.
Momentster, two thumb-sized Fire Beast Demon Crystals rested in his palm.
"As expected, powerful Fire Beasts like these are likely to have demon crystals inside."
"And these are two fifth-tier Fire Beast Demon Crystals!"
A smile spread across Shen Mo''s face.
This trip had been well worth it.
By now, He Tianchou had recovered significantly.
When he saw the two fifth-tier Fire Beast Demon Crystals in Shen Mo''s hand, he couldn''t hide his envy.
"Elder Shen, you truly are blessed with great fortune. If someone else had encountered these Fire Flood Dragons, they''d only have fled in panic. How could they y them and obtain their demon crystals like you?"
His words were filled with admiration.
He had realized how vast the gap between himself and Shen Mo was.
Naturally, he wouldn''t harbor any covetous thoughts about the demon crystals.
He even felt that Shen Mo''s strength was nowparable to that of L Dongxuan.
It was clear that choosing to ally with Shen Mo had been a brilliant decision.
"By the way, I have something for you as a token of my gratitude for saving my life."
He Tianchou solemnly retrieved a tattered pill recipe and handed it to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo epted it and nced over the recipe.
The front of the recipe was heavily weathered, with much of the text obscured.
Even with his extensive knowledge of rare materials, Shen Mo could only identify five or six ingredients at first nce.
What use is this?
"The key lies on the back," He Tianchou said with a smile.
Shen Mo flipped the recipe over.
On the back, a string of clear and distinct words caught his eye.
"I am Elder He Chun of the Four Cauldrons. I have discovered a supreme Earth-tier cauldron, but I am gravely injured. I can only hide the cauldron in a secure location, hoping that future generations of the He family will retrieve it."
"I hope my descendants will diligently practice and not squander the sect''s cultivation."
Beneath these words was a roughly sketched map, seemingly marking the location of a hidden treasure.
Shen Mo was astonished.
It was the location of a supreme Earth-tier cauldron!
And he indeed needed such a cauldron to refine pills at the moment.
He Tianchou sighed. "He Chun was my grandfather. He perished in the Fire Pill Pce over 200 years ago."
"I''ve entered the Fire Pill Pce multiple times under the guise of earning contributions, but my true intent was to locate my grandfather''s legacy."
"This was something I found near Furnace No. 9. Ye Yan didn''t notice the writing on the back and discarded it like trash."
At this, He Tianchou sneered, seemingly mocking Ye Yan''s inability to recognize its value.
"Now I''m giving it to you. This opportunity should belong to someone stronger." He looked into Shen Mo''s eyes with sincerity.
Shen Mo thought for a moment before nodding solemnly. "If that''s the case, I''ll dly ept it. Thank you."
"Hall Master He, you are gravely injured. I''ll escort you back to the safehouse before searching for the cauldron myself."
"I also have a bottle of healing pills here for you."
The value of a supreme Earth-tier cauldron was immense. He Tianchou''s deliberate act of offering such a significant gift clearly carried an ulterior motivehe wanted Shen Mo to protect him on his way back to the safehouse.
Moreover, if He Tianchou returned alone, there was a chance Ye Yan might ambush him en route.
With Shen Mo escorting him, Ye Yan wouldn''t have the opportunity.
This way, once He Tianchou reached the safehouse, he could also publicly reveal Ye Yan''s despicable actions.
Even if this didn''tpletely ruin Ye Yan''s reputation or iste him, it would at least make others wary of him.
People like Yang Wenyuan and others might not voice it outright, but they would likely grow cautious of Ye Yan.
As a result, Ye Yan would often have to act alone, reducing his chances of acquiring treasures.
He Tianchou epted the pills, his heart settling.
He knew he had made the right gamble.
Shen Mo was not like Ye Yan.
If it had been Ye Yan, he might have killed He Tianchou on the spot, taken the map, and sought the treasure himself.
With that, Shen Mo and He Tianchou set out for the safehouse, Shen Mo leading the way.
A Day Later
The two passed by Furnace No. 8.@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo noticed a broken stele with many inscriptions carved into its surface.
As the pair stopped to rest for a moment, Shen Mo examined the writing and chuckled. "The words on this stele are full of insults against the Jade Cauldron Sect."
He Tianchou burst intoughter. "That''s normal. When the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect was annihted, many of their cultivators, knowing their deaths were imminent, carved these stones to hurl insults at the three sects of Yu Province. They used them of betrayal, biting the hand that fed them, and other such nonsense."
"Further into the depths of the Fire Pill Pce, beyond Furnace No. 12, there are even more of these steles."
"Honestly, it''s all because the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect brought it upon themselves. If they had acted with decency, the three sects wouldn''t have banded together to destroy them."
Shen Mo was intrigued.
The Jade Cauldron Sect''s library contained numerous texts on such topics.
However, most of the books he had exchanged were about the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, leaving him with little knowledge about the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect.
"Hall Master He, tell mewhat exactly did the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect do to bring about their downfall?" Shen Mo asked with a smile.
He Tianchou grinned. "This is something my grandfather told mehe participated in that great battle back then. At the time, the Jade Cauldron Sect, the Supreme Purity Sect, and the Danhe Sect were all subordinate branches of the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect."
"If life had been tolerable under their rule, no one would have risen in rebellion."
"Let me give you a few examples, Elder Shen, and you''ll understand."
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Chapter 260: Elder Shen, We’ve Been Tricked by Ye Yan—This is a Killing Formation
Chapter 260: Elder Shen, We''ve Been Tricked by Ye YanThis is a Killing Formation
"First, the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect exploited the three sects of Yu Province. Whenever a talented disciple in any of the three sects awakened an Earth-tier or higher constitution, they would be immediately taken by the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect."
"Second, their stinginess. The Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect was miserly to the extreme, unwilling to share even the tiniest scrap."
"Third, and most damning, the final sect master of the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect was rumored to be connected to the Demon n."
"There were ims he cultivated demonic techniques, and some said he was possessed by a Demon n member. Various rumors spread."
"This became the justification for the three sects of Yu Province to unite against the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect."
The Demon n?
Hearing this, Shen Mo''s eyes lit up.
Could this be the Demon n of the Suppressing Demon Sea?
"Elder Shen, are you interested in the Demon n?" He Tianchouughed.
Shen Mo neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he smiled and said, "I''vee across brief mentions of them in the Jade Cauldron Sect''s library but have no idea where the Demon n originated."
"Now that you mention the final sect master of the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect had connections to the Demon n, it reminded me of the records I''ve read."
He Tianchou chuckled. "I don''t know much either."
"All I know is that the Demon n was vast in number, and their individualbat strength was exceptionally high."
"However, they''ve vanished without a trace and have almost never appeared in Jing Country."
"Still, some demonic techniques are secretly circting."
"Most of these techniques are adaptations of the Demon n''s methods, and the major sects strictly prohibit their practice."
Shen Mo fell into thought.@@novelbin@@
So, those techniques with extremely severe side effects fell into the category of demonic techniques.
No wonder the final sect master of the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect was connected to the Demon n.
Demonic techniques were indeed powerful despite their drawbacks, far surpassing ordinary techniques.
Every cultivator instinctively pursued greater power.
It was an undeniable truth.
The real question was whether one could remain true to oneself.
He Tianchou didn''t borate further on the Demon n, as his knowledge was limited to what histe grandfather had shared.
The two conversed happily.
He Tianchou was pleased to use these anecdotes to grow closer to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo, on the other hand, was d to learn more about ancient secrets, which might prove useful in the future.
Not far away, a figure hid among the ruins, watching the two with cold eyes.
It was none other than Ye Yan.
He had changed into a fresh set of robes, tidied his hair, and restored his usual aloof, icy demeanor.
But upon seeing Shen Mo and He Tianchou chatting together, he clenched his teeth involuntarily.
"Damn it!"
"Shen Mo is actually escorting He Tianchou all the way back."
"I''m confident I can ambush and kill He Tianchou, but I''m no match for Shen Mo."
"What should I do? If they make it back to the safehouse, He Tianchou will definitely expose what I''ve done!"
A cold light shed in Ye Yan''s eyes.
He was ruthless and domineering but cared deeply about preserving his reputation.
If He Tianchou revealed his actions, others would inevitably be wary of him.
Even someone like Yang Wenyuan, son of Yang Qiye, would secretly guard against him when cooperating.
That would be disastrous.
"The only solution is to act preemptively and beat them to the safehouse!"
"There''s a killing formation ahead. If I can lure them into it, it might not kill them, but it will at least slow them down."
Ye Yan hatched a n and immediately moved closer to the pair. From a distance, he unleashed a fiery palm strike!
Shen Mo and He Tianchou were engrossed in their conversation but hadn''t let their guard down.
They remained vignt of their surroundings.
Ye Yan''s fiery palm strike immediately caught their attention.
Shen Mo swiftly unsheathed his sword, unleashing a burst of radiant sword energy.
Boom!
The fiery palm and sword energy collided midair, intertwining before dissipating into nothingness.
"It''s Ye Yan. After him!"
Shen Mo leapt to his feet, lightly tapping the ground with his toes to elerate his pursuit.
He Tianchou, his injuries mostly recovered, managed to follow behind with some difficulty.
The two gave chase, rapidly closing the distance.
As Ye Yan sensed them drawing nearer, his heart sank.
How is Shen Mo faster than me?
At this rate, he wouldn''t even make it to the killing formation before Shen Mo caught up!
"Damn it You''ve forced me to use my trump card."
Gritting his teeth, Ye Yan activated his Nascent Soul''s secret art.
Golden Nascent Soul energy surged outward, instantly manifesting into a pack of ferocious wolves that charged at Shen Mo and He Tianchou to block their path.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
The technique was powerful and operated independently of the surrounding spiritual energy.
It was clearly Ye Yan''s Nascent Soul secret art.
"His technique seems capable of mimicking various forms, making it versatile and flexible. But its power is nowhere near my own Nascent Soul secret art."
Calmly assessing the situation, Shen Mo flicked his wrist, unleashing dual-colored ck and white sword energy in rapid session.
Each sh of sword energy bisected one of the giant wolves, shattering them instantly.
He Tianchou fought valiantly at Shen Mo''s side.
However, it took three or four of his attacksbined to bring down a single wolf, and after a period of intensebat, he was forced to slow down to recover his spiritual energy.
Looking over at Shen Mo, He Tianchou was stunned to see that Shen Mo''s pace of unleashing sword energy hadn''t slowed at all.
His spiritual energy seemed inexhaustible.
He Tianchou couldn''t help but marvel.
He knew well the strengths and weaknesses of the Yin-Yang Dual Qi Sword Art.
Its strengthy in its unparalleled power, far surpassing even supreme Earth-tier techniques.
Its weakness, however, was its immense difficulty to master and its overwhelming spiritual energy consumption.
For most cultivators, sustaining such energy expenditure was impossible.
But Shen Mo''s dantian seemed farrger than that of an average cultivator.
Not only could he sustain the technique, but he did so with ease!
Still, even with Shen Mo''s unstoppable momentum, the wolf pack managed to slow them down.
Taking advantage of this, Ye Yan widened the gap between them and quickly disappeared from sight.
Shen Mo and He Tianchou pursued him into a ruined area.
Just as Shen Mo prepared to elerate, He Tianchou''s expression darkened, and he grabbed Shen Mo by the arm.
"Elder Shen, we''ve been tricked by Ye Yan. This is a killing formation!"
He Tianchou scanned their surroundings, his face grim.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow and examined the area.
Sure enough, fire elemental energy was converging on this spot.
In an instant, a massive me tornado erupted, centered around them.
The crumbling ruins around them ignited, forming zing barriers that trapped them within.
"This is a supreme Earth-tier formationthe Fiery me Tornado Formation," He Tianchou said, his tone heavy.
"One of the deadliest formations in the Fire Pill Pce. Without a Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect elder''s token, it''s impossible to break."
"Our options are either to endure it until the formation''s spiritual energy depletes or tounch a direct attack and forcefully break through."
"But this formation is intricately designed. We can''t even locate the formation gs, let alone destroy them."
He Tianchou''s face grew even darker. "I noticed this killing formation on my way here and deliberately avoided it."
"To think we still ended up trapped in it while chasing Ye Yan!"
Frustrated, he punched a nearby rock wall, only to recoil in pain as the scorching surface burned his hand.
At this moment, the temperature in the formation was rapidly rising.
While Shen Mo appeared rtively unaffected, He Tianchou''s face was already flushed red, his breathingbored and strained.
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Chapter 262: A Great Opportunity—Solar Essence Flame
Chapter 262: A Great OpportunitySr Essence me
After speaking, Shen Mo turned and left the safe house.
At this point, no matter what, he had to deny everything.
As long as he refused to admit it, all usations were baseless.
Once he confessed, he would be forever marked with shame.
Elder Token!
Hearing these words, the elders in the safe house reacted visibly, their expressions shifting.
Some even looked greedily at Shen Mo and He Tianchou, unable to hide their desire.
Yang Wenyuan was among them.
The Elder Tokenwas a treasure!
With it, entering the Fire Pill Pce would never be a problem again.
It granted unrestricted passage through the killing formations, as though walking on t ground!
Shen Mo swept his gaze across the room, his faint smile radiating confidence.
"Do you believe everything Shen Mo says?"
"Moreover, even if I have it, who dares to take it?"
His gaze exuded unshakable confidence.
The elders, having heard of Shen Mo''s reputation, lowered their heads wherever his eyesnded.
Whether out of fear or due to scheming their own ns, none dared meet his eyes.
Shen Mo paid them no further attention and instead watched Shen Mo''s departing figure thoughtfully.
He noticed that Shen Mo had instead stumbled upon an opportunity because of this.
And not just any opportunitya monumentalone!
[Recent Opportunity: med by the elders and forced to leave the safe house. Overwhelmed with anger, Shen Mo coughed blood uncontrobly. That night, guided by a dream, he went straight to Furnace 11 in the Groundfire Zone. Half a monthter, he discovered a budding Sr Essence me and sessfully subdued it with his Sr Melting Fire Constitution.]
Shen Mo took a deep breath, calming his excitement.
It''s here, it''s here!
Sr Essence me!
Just hearing the name, he knew it was on par with the Azure Lotus Heart me!
He couldn''t let someone like Shen Mo, a scheming and unprincipled person, obtain it.
Not because he wanted it for himself.
Definitely not!
"Furnace 11... If I remember correctly, it''s one of the operable furnaces."
"Elder Three and Elder Seven might be using it for alchemy."
Shen Mo thought deeply and turned to He Tianchou to inquire further.
He Tianchou smiled after hearing Shen Mo''s question. "That''s right. My master, Elder Three, will be using Furnace 12 for alchemy this time, while Elder Seven will be using Furnace 11."@@novelbin@@
"But before entering the Fire Pill Pce, my master already mentioned that while Furnace 12 is usable, controlling the fire is notoriously difficult."
"That''s why he and Elder Seven agreed to work together at Furnace 11."
Shen Mo nodded. "Good. Thank you."
He Tianchou was surprised. "You''re nning to go there? It''s dangerous! That''s already considered the depths of the Fire Pill Pce."
Shen Mo smiled. "Opportunity and crisis are two sides of the same coin. Perhaps there are greater treasures theremaybe even the pill form for a Pure Nascent Infant Transformation Pill."
He Tianchou burst intoughter, joined by Ouyang Wei and Liu Ruyun nearby.
"Alright, you go ahead. I''ll rest here for a while, and then I''ll form a team with Ouyang Wei and the others to explore the deeper zones as well."
"If you run into trouble, who knows? Maybe I''ll get the chance to help you out," He Tianchou said sincerely.
Shen Mo nodded and bid farewell to He Tianchou and the others.
After pondering for a moment, Yang Wenyuan exchanged a nce with his followers, and a few of them immediately followed Shen Mo, leaving the safe house as well.
Furnace 11 was located deep within the Fire Pill Pce.
The temperature there was higher, the fire beasts stronger, and the killing formations more potent.
Few dared to venture there without a perfected Nascent Infant Stage cultivation.
From the safe house, even with the Inner Sect disciple tokens of the Nine Cycles Pill Dao Sect, it would take at least half a month to reach Furnace 11.
With the Elder Token of the Nine Cycles Pill Dao Sect in his possession, Shen Mo''s speed would be significantly elerated.
If he set out now, he would undoubtedly reach Furnace 11 in the Groundfire Zone ahead of Shen Mo.
"Perfect, that top-tier Earth-grade pill furnace is also near Furnace 11. I can take both in one trip."
"Once I have these two treasures, I''ll be ready to refine the Crimson Scaled Pill and the Pure Nascent Infant Transformation Pill."
"With a slight enhancement in my cultivation, I''ll be ready to im the most important treasure."
As Shen Mo traveled toward Furnace 11, he quickly formted his n.
Seven dayster, Shen Mo arrived beneath Furnace 11, just as he had predicted.
The journey had been smooth, with no significant obstacles. Along the way, he had even in a few fire beasts, acquiring two fire beast spirit crystalsan unexpected boon.
As for the greedy eyes following him, they had vanishedpletely after he passed through several powerful killing formations. Clearly, they couldn''t keep up with his pace.
Now, Shen Mo stood beneath Furnace 11, gazing up at the towering structure, which rose fifty zhang into the air.
Furnace 11 was one of the few remaining operational furnaces within the Fire Pill Pce, used for alchemy.
The furnace radiated intense heat, fueled by the raging groundfire beneath it.
At this moment, two figures hovered above the furnace, engrossed in their alchemical work.
One was an elderly man with white hair and a thin frame.
The other was a middle-aged man with a hooked nose and deep-set eyes.
They were none other than Elder Three and Elder Seven.
Shen Mo observed them thoughtfully.
This time, Elder Three and Elder Seven had entered the Fire Pill Pce together to refine pills for the sect.
Elder Three was known for his neutralitysome might even call him a fence-sitter. He always supported the winning side.
In contrast, Elder Seven was closely allied with Elder Yang Qiye, the Second Elder, their rtionship unbreakable.
If only Elder Seven were present, Shen Mo might have faced some danger.
However, with both Elder Three and Elder Seven present, Shen Mo felt assured of his safety.
Shen Mo''s arrival didn''t go unnoticed.
As Nascent Soul stage cultivators, the two elders sensed his presence from afar.
"Hmm? Isn''t that the young disciple from the Tenth Peak?" Elder Seven raised an eyebrow as he nced at Shen Mo.
Elder Three also looked at Shen Mo, then turned to Elder Seven with a faint smile. "I suppose he''s here treasure hunting."
"How amusing, to be searching for treasures here of all ces," Elder Seven sneered. "Doesn''t he know I''m refining pills here?
If he disturbs my work and valuable ingredients are lost, who will take responsibility?"
Elder Three chuckled withoutmenting further.
"Greetings to Elder Three and Elder Seven," Shen Mo called out, cupping his hands respectfully. "I am here to seek treasures and have no intention of disturbing your alchemical work."
Elder Three smiled warmly and replied, "No harm done. I am not the one refining pillsI am merely assisting Elder Seven."
"I will be here for a few more days, so feel free to search for treasures at ease."
Hearing this, Elder Seven frowned slightly.
Shen Mo felt reassured.
Elder Three''s words carried two meanings:
First, it was Elder Seven, not Elder Three, who was refining pills.
Second, Elder Three''s presence for the next few days would maintain bnce, ensuring Shen Mo''s safety.
It was clear that Elder Three was hedging his bets, unwilling to offend either side.
Shen Mo cupped his hands again. "I understand, Elder Three."
Without further ado, Shen Mo began carefully examining the surrounding area, searching for a path to the underground chamber of Furnace 11.
Watching Shen Mo''s actions, Elder Seven sneered coldly. "I''ve already searched this area thoroughly. There are no treasures here."
"He''s wasting his time searching for something that doesn''t exist."
Elder Threeughed heartily. "Don''t mind him, focus on your pill refinement.
Our task is simply to refine pills. Elder Seven, don''t get distracted and risk failure in your work."
"That''s a responsibility I cannot bear."
Elder Seven snorted. "I know what I''m doing. I don''t need you to lecture me."
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Chapter 263: Another Spirit Energy Devourer
Chapter 263: Another Spirit Energy Devourer
Nightfall arrived quickly, though in the Fire Pill Pce, the difference between night and day was minimal.
The only noticeable changes were a slight drop in temperature and brightness.
Ordinary mortals might not detect such changes, but for cultivators at the Nascent Infant stage or higher, such subtleties were easy to perceive.
Shen Mo finally found what he was looking fora ruin 300 zhang south of Furnace 11.
The area was protected by a powerful defensive formation, barring any outsider from entering.
"Impressive, he actually found that defensive formation," Third Elder noted with a faint smile.
Seventh Elder snorted coldly. "So what if he found it? Without a Four-Ding Elder Token or higher from the Nine Cycles Pill Dao Sect, he can''t get in."
"I discovered that formation twenty years ago during one of my visits here for alchemy," he continued.
"And what came of it? You and I only have Three-Ding Elder Tokens from the Nine Cycles Pill Dao Sect. Neither of us could bypass that formation."
Third Elder nodded in agreement.
Such formations were scattered throughout the Fire Pill Pce, each requiring a corresponding token for ess.
Unfortunately, when the Nine Cycles Pill Dao Sect fell, many elders chose to destroy their tokens, resulting in an extreme scarcity of these items.
Even among the ten current elders, none possessed a Five-Ding Elder Token or higher.
The next moment, however, both elders watched in shock as Shen Mo strolled effortlessly through the defensive formation and descended into the underground chamber.
Seventh Elder''s expression froze.
Third Elder''s face lit up with a mixture of astonishment and amusement before he burst into heartyughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Seventh Elder, we''ve underestimated Shen Mo."
"He actually has a Four-Ding or higher Elder Token!"
Seventh Elder scowled deeply. "What ridiculous luck! How did he stumble upon such a treasure?"
"When hees out, I''ll personally ''borrow'' that token from him."
"A token of that caliber should naturally be in the hands of someone like us to maximize its value. Don''t you agree, Third Elder?"
Third Elder neither agreed nor disagreed, maintaining his neutral demeanor as if he hadn''t heard the suggestion.
Seventh Elder cursed him inwardly for being such a sly old fox.
Meanwhile, Shen Mo descended into the underground chamber.
The sloping staircase stretched endlessly downward, each step leading him deeper into the earth.
From the direction it led, Shen Mo deduced that it was taking him toward the groundfire source beneath Furnace 11.
As he descended, the temperature steadily increased.
Eventually, even Shen Mo began to feel the intense heat scorching his skin.
He had to channel his spiritual energy to protect himself.
Finally, a vast moltenke came into view.
Waves of immense heat radiated outward, and a blinding light filled his vision.
For a Core Formation stage cultivator, just three breaths in this environment would result in temporary blindness.
Ten breaths would cause permanent blindness, with their eyeballs effectively being cooked.
Shen Mo''s gaze moved toward the center of the moltenke.
There, directly beneath Furnace 11, the groundfire source was exposed.
Every time pills were refined in Furnace 11, the groundfire was drawn from this very source.
At the heart of theke, a small cluster of light burned quietly.
It stood out starkly from the surrounding chaos.
It resembled an infant swaddled in a cradle, peaceful and distinct.
Its glow and heat were unlike the frenzied, destructive energy of the groundfire.
Instead, it was akin to the gentle warmth of a rising suncalm and soothing, yet imbued with a grandeur that could pierce through the darkest night.
The moment Shen Moid eyes on it, he knew what it was.
It was the Sr Essence me!
"Sr Essence me, born from a strand of sr essence descending to the earth and merging with groundfire," Shen Mo murmured to himself.
"This Sr Essence me is clearly still in its infant stateignorant and without consciousness," Shen Mo thought.
"As long as it encounters apatible constitution, it will instinctively draw close."
Shen Mo sighed softly.
Ling Yan was truly lucky.
With his Sr Melting Fire Constitution, the Sr Essence me would naturally be drawn to him.
He could subdue it effortlessly, without enduring the searing pain that Shen Mo had suffered when taming the Azure Lotus Heart me.
Shen Mo took a deep breath, and blue mes surged around his feet.
With steady steps, he walked directly onto the surface of the moltenke.
The Azure Lotus Heart me supported his every step, allowing him to stride across theke of fire.
At this moment, Shen Mo seemed like a wanderer of mes, untouched by the raging inferno around him.
After about ten breaths, he arrived at the center of the moltenke.
The small, quietly burning Sr Essence me, norger than a palm, seemed to sense his presence.
It instinctively floated closer to him.
Within Shen Mo''s body, the Azure Lotus Heart me stirred.
In an instant, it expanded into a massive lotus of blue fire, spanning thirty zhang and burning fiercely.
The surrounding groundfire waspletely consumed by the Azure Lotus Heart me, leaving a vacuum of fire.
Even the groundfire being drawn into the furnace above vanished without a trace.
Inparison, the tiny, palm-sized Sr Essence me seemed almost insignificant, the contrast both striking and amusing.
Shen Mo attempted to withdraw the Azure Lotus Heart me, but it resisted hismand.
"It seems that this reaction is inevitable when two different Heavenly mes meet," Shen Mo mused.
"After all, they are divine creations of heaven and earth, exceedingly rare across the ages."
After a moment of contemtion, Shen Mo decided to let them interact without interference.
To his surprise, the small Sr Essence me showed no fear of the mighty Azure Lotus Heart me.
Instead, it boldly approached and gently made contact.
It was like arge, confident boy meeting a curious infant for the first time.@@novelbin@@
The moment they touched, Shen Mo, through the Azure Lotus Heart me, felt a faint, fragile consciousnessinnocent and untainted, like a nk sheet of paper.
"So, this is the Sr Essence me," Shen Mo murmured.
"In terms of consciousness, it surpasses the Azure Lotus Heart me."
"When I tamed the Azure Lotus Heart me, it acted purely on instinct, without any awareness."
"But despite being so small, the Sr Essence me already has self-awareness.
If it continues to grow, it might even develop intelligence akin to that of a human."
Deep in thought, Shen Mo extended his hand toward the Sr Essence me.
The little me hesitated for a moment before gently making contact.
In an instant, Shen Mo felt a connection form between him and the young, naive consciousness.
The Sr Essence me seemed to sense that it had found apatible host.
It joyfully flickered, then leapt into Shen Mo''s mouth, traveling downward until it reached his dantian.
To his surprise, Shen Mo felt no pain.
Curious, he immediately examined his dantian with his spiritual senses.
Inside his dantian, at the bottom, stretched an endless sea of spiritual energy, vast and boundless.
Above this sea rested a solid Dao tform.
Atop the Dao tform, the Azure Lotus Heart me burned fiercely, and now, beside it, the Sr Essence me glowed softly.
Shen Mo noticed the Azure Lotus Heart me grudgingly shift to make room for the neer, clearly reluctant butpliant.
Above the two mes, a small figure sat cross-legged, wearing a golden pill crown and with its eyes tightly shutthe Nascent Soul.
Nearby were a ck helmet, chest armor, and right arm piecethe Demonic Armor. Beside the armory the Grass Sword Manual and the Root Sword Manual.
The spiritual energy from the sea constantly rose to nourish the Demonic Armor and the sword manuals.
However, a significant portion was also being consumed by the Azure Lotus Heart me and the Sr Essence me.
In just a brief moment, Shen Mo felt that the Sr Essence me had absorbed nearly ten percent of his spiritual energy.
"The Sr Essence me is clearly still in its developmental stage, yet its appetite for spiritual energy rivals that of the fully matured Azure Lotus Heart me," Shen Mo thought with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
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Chapter 264: The Seventh Elder’s Furnace of Elixir Liquid Goes to Waste—What a Pity
Chapter 264: The Seventh Elder''s Furnace of Elixir Liquid Goes to WasteWhat a Pity
At this moment, he suddenly felt an itch all over his body.
It seemed as if every inch of his skin, flesh, and meridians was being nourished by a strange power, subtly yet steadily growing stronger.
Shen Mo gently pressed his skin and noticed that its toughness had increased slightly.
He was rather surprised.
"Such a short amount of time, yet the improvement is this significant."
"No wonder they call it an Eternal me!"
Shen Mo was ecstatic.
When he had tamed the Red Lotus me, his physical body experienced a tremendous enhancement.
Subsequently, although the Red Lotus me would draw on his spiritual energy, it also constantly nourished his body in return.
Now, he had added the Sr Essence me.
Clearly, the Sr Essence me''s ability to nourish the body was even greater than the Red Lotus me.
Even without actively practicing, merely sitting here in meditation would grant him a cultivation speed far beyond that of others in the same realm.
If he actively cultivated with his techniques, his speed would be even more astonishing!
"I look forward to the day it fully matures."
"It will surely unleash even greater power."
Shen Mo felt a tinge of excitement in his heart.
The Red Lotus me was already so formidable.
The Sr Essence me was evidently even stronger!
Meanwhile.
Above the Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace.
The Seventh Elder sensed a change in the me''s intensity, and his expression suddenly turned grim.
"What''s going on?"
"The earth fire has suddenly weakened, and it''s getting weaker!"
He growled.
The Third Elder paused, examined it carefully, and his face changed slightly as well.
It was true.
The once fiercely burning earth fire had now withered like a limp cucumber.
The fire source was dark and deep.
"What exactly is happening?" The Seventh Elder''s expression was furious. "If this continues, this batch of pills will be ruined!"
The Third Elder coughed lightly and said, "Don''t panic. I know you''re anxious, but panicking won''t solve anything."
"We chose the Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace for its stable me, but now that something''s gone wrong, no one could have foreseen this."
"I think we should just wait here. It will recover eventually."
The Seventh Elder rolled his eyes.
What nonsense.
"No, I need to go down and check. This batch of Spirit Refining Pills has reached the most critical stage. If the earth fire doesn''t recover within thirty breaths, this entire furnace will be wasted."
"When I return, I won''t be able to exin myself!"
The Seventh Elder gritted his teeth, activated a defensive martial skill, and leaped toward the dark earth fire source.
The distance from the surface to the deepest part of the magmake was considerable.
Before the Seventh Elder could even reach halfway, the earth fire suddenly surged violently and erupted.
His eyes widened in shock, and he quickly retreated.
At the same time, he reinforced his defensive martial skill.
He exerted all his strength to withstand the explosion of the earth fire.
Boom!
A column of mes erupted skyward from the fire source.
It was like a massive firecracker had exploded.
The Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace was instantly pierced by the raging earth fire.
With a thunderous roar, the Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace copsed.
The elixir liquid inside the furnace naturally spilled into the high-temperature mes.
In the blink of an eye, it evaporated into steam, disappearing into the sky.
Thud.
The charred Seventh Elder was spat out by the fire source.
He rolled a few times on the ground beforeing to a stop.
The Third Elder was dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long moment.
Finally, the Third Elder rushed to the Seventh Elder''s side and helped him up.
The Seventh Elder''s robes were almost entirely burned away.
Large patches of his skin were scorched ck.
As for his hair and beard, they had beenpletely incinerated.
"Hey, hey, hey, are you alright?" The Third Elder swallowed hard.
He hadn''t expected the earth fire''s power to be so great that even a cultivator in the Divine Transformation Realm would suffer such injuries.
The Seventh Elder spat out a mouthful of ck blood.
As soon as the blood hit the ground, it evaporated instantly due to the intense heat.
He rolled his eyes, which were now the only white part of his entire body.
"Do I look like I''m fine to you?" the Seventh Elder forced out through gritted teeth.
The Third Elder coughed a few times. "You''re not dead, so that''s good enough. Hurry up and take some healing pills."
He pulled out a handful of healing pills and shoved them into the Seventh Elder''s mouth.
After swallowing the pills, the Seventh Elder let out a sigh of relief.
But his face quickly twisted into fury. "That damned Earth Fire Source how could it suddenly erupt like that and even injure a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator!"
"Third Elder, go take a look. I suspect there''s something wrong in there."
The Third Elder nced at the zing Earth Fire Source and shook his head so vigorously it resembled a rattling drum.
Are you kidding me?
You went in and came out looking like this.
If I go in, won''t I end up the same?
"My elixir liquid!"
The Seventh Elder''s gaze darted past the Third Elder andnded on the copsed Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace. His eyes bulged, and he let out a high-pitched scream.
He looked as though he had just lost a loved one.
If this batch of Spirit Refining Pills had been sessfully refined, it could have produced at least a hundred pills.
Enough to sustain the cultivation of five Divine Transformation Realm cultivators for five years.
Of course, considering the challenges of pill refinement, the two elders had each taken enough materials from the sect''s warehouse to attempt refining five batches of Spirit Refining Pills.
However, the Seventh Elder had already failed four times.
This was his final attempt.
And now, not only was the elixir liquid gone, but even the Earth Fire Furnace was destroyed!
How was he supposed to face the other Divine Transformation Realm elders when he returned?
What could he possibly say?
Tell them two pieces of "good news"?
First, his pill refinement sess rate was zero, and all five batches of materials had failed.
Second, future refinements would require using the even more dangerous Twelfth Earth Fire Furnace.
Wouldn''t the other Divine Transformation Realm elders chew him out when they heard this?
The Third Elder, on the other hand, appeared unfazed.
The Seventh Elder had used up all five of his material batches.
But the Third Elder still had two batches remaining.
Moreover, he was only assisting the Seventh Elder in refining this time.
The failure of the refinement and the copse of the Earth Fire Furnace were primarily the Seventh Elder''s responsibility, not his.
"Third Elder, could you spare me a batch of materials?" The Seventh Elder had no choice but to turn to him.
The Third Elder smiled faintly, resembling a cunning old fox. "Seventh Elder, I heard you own a high-grade spirit weapon at the earth rank, refined with a fifth-tier demon crystal?"
The Seventh Elder cursed inwardly at the outrageous demand.
But he dared not show any displeasure on his face.
He could only nod reluctantly.
It felt as if he could hear his own heart bleeding.
That spirit weapon was incredibly valuable, the kind of treasure many would pay a fortune to acquire.
But now, he had no choice but to agree to the Third Elder''s terms.
The Third Elder''s face lit up with glee.@@novelbin@@
Elsewhere.
Shen Mo had already retraced his steps and exited the defensive formation.
Instinctively, he nced toward the Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace.
What he saw was a furnace reduced to rubble.
mes still flowed across the ground.
The massive stone furnace was shattered, scattered in pieces.
The fate of the elixir liquid was easy to imagine.
Shen Mo blinked a few times.
He seemed to understand what had happened.
"The Fire Pill Pce opens every so often, and the elders always choose the Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace for pill refinement."
"This practice hassted for at least five hundred years."
"The Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace couldn''t withstand such prolonged use. It''s old and worn out, and now it''s finally copsed."
"What a tragedy."
"The Seventh Elder wasted a whole batch of elixir liquid. I really feel sorry for him."
Shen Mo spoke these words devoid of any emotion, then turned and left without hesitation.
He was heading toward the location He Tianchou had pointed out to him, to search for a top-tier earth-rank pill furnace.
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Chapter 265: This Is My Opportunity—No One Can Take It Away
Chapter 265: This Is My OpportunityNo One Can Take It Away
Several dayster.
Ye Yan arrived at the Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace with joy written across his face.
After leaving the safehouse, he had an inexplicable dream.
The dream was strange.
Yet it seemed to guide him toward the Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace.
With a mindset of "there''s no harm in checking it out," Ye Yan began his journey.
Along the way, he was incredibly fortunate to stumble upon a Four-Cauldron Elder''s Token from the Nine-Turn Pill Sect.
This token allowed him to pass through certain lethal formations without being attacked by them.
With this Elder''s Token, Ye Yan could now ess many ces he previously couldn''t.
Now, he had arrived at the base of the Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace.
However, the scene before him was nothing but a heap of shattered rubble.@@novelbin@@
"Wasn''t the Seventh Elder supposed to be refining pills at the Eleventh Earth Fire Furnace? Why has it copsed?"
Ye Yan widened his eyes, unable toprehend what he was seeing.
He had no clues to work with, so he stopped pondering the reasons behind it.
"Something here seems to be calling out to me."
Ye Yan surveyed the area, instinctively searching.
Before long, he found a section of the rubble and discovered a defensive formation there.
Ye Yan''s expression lit up.
Such defensive formations typically concealed valuable treasures.
But if it had been the previous him, without the Four-Cauldron Elder''s Token, he wouldn''t have been able to pass through it.
Now, however, fate had smiled on him. Leaving the safehouse had been a blessing in disguise, leading him to obtain the Elder''s Token.
Breaking through this formation would be a simple matter!
Ye Yan took a few deep breaths to steady his excitement and pulled out the Elder''s Token.
As expected, the defensive formation did not stop his advance.
Beyond the formationy a staircase nting downward.
With excitement bubbling in his heart, Ye Yan charged ahead.
What finally greeted his eyes was a brightly lit, scorchingvake.
"So that''s how it works. The Earth Fire Furnace draws fire from thevake for refining pills and forging artifacts."
"But other than theva, there doesn''t seem to be anything else here."
"Is there some great treasure hidden?"
Ye Yan''s initial excitement began to fade.
Eventually, he sighed in disappointment, only to suddenly have an epiphany. "I get it now. The dream guided me here to focus on cultivating in this ce."
"Perhaps the environment here can help me gain insights into my techniques and martial skills."
His spirits lifted slightly, and he quickly sat down to meditate.
Maybe it was the Elder''s Token he had obtained, or perhaps it was his own optimistic imagination.
Either way, his mind calmed quickly.
He entered a meditative state almost instantly.
At some point, he instinctively stood up.
Though his eyes remained tightly shut, his hands began to move on their own.
Dense fire elemental energy gathered from all directions.
Before long, it coalesced into the shape of a massive de.
Compared to his previous me palm des, this one radiated an aura of ancient and boundless power.
Even the intricate patterns on the surface of the giant de were vividly detailed.
It was as though a massive de forged from metal truly rested in his hands.
"sh!"
Ye Yan suddenly whispered the word.
His hands merged and struck downward with great force.
Boom!
The zing giant de shed forth.
The mes roared like a waterfall of sunlight, surging and raging!
In the next moment, thevake, under the might of this strike, parted on its own, revealing its dark, mysterious depths.
Ye Yan''s eyes snapped open.
Witnessing the power of his sh, he was both astonished and ted.
"The third technique of the Burning Heart de StyleI''ve mastered it!"
The Burning Heart de Stylewas a top-tier earth-rank martial skill from the Jade Cauldron Sect.
It had been personally taught to him by his master, Yang Qiye.
Because it was passed down directly between master and disciple, it didn''t require contributions to the sect, only a partial contribution to his master.
Several dayster.
The Burning Heart de Styleconsisted of three techniques: me de, Scorching Devastation, and Sr Cascade.
With his fire-attribute heaven-rank physique, Ye Yan had easily mastered the first two techniques.
However, the third technique, Sr Cascade, had eluded him for three grueling years of effort.
Now, within thevake, observing the relentless surging of molten magma, he finally had an epiphany.
He had mastered the third technique!
"As expected, this is my opportunity."
"My opportunityno one can take it away!"
Ye Yanughed heartily, his face brimming with satisfaction.
Unbeknownst to him, his greatest opportunity had already been snatched by a certain low-key elder surnamed Shen.
A lone withered tree stood stubbornly on the barrennd.
Perched on its branches were several fire crows, each radiating a faint heat.
In the distance, more fire crows returned, filling the skies in a chaotic dance that resembled a swarm of demons.
Their incessant cries echoed across the destendscape, creating a scene that would keep any onlooker at a respectful distance.
Yet, no one would suspect that beneath this withered treey a hidden cavern.
Shen Mo was inside, preparing for alchemy.
This was one of the secret hideouts he had prepared for himself.
The area was the nesting ground of fire crows.
Any cultivator who saw the intimidating fire crows would instinctively avoid the area, unwilling to venture closer.
But Shen Mo, defyingmon sense, had entered through a concealed passage and set up severalyers of formation gs beneath the withered tree, turning it into his safe zone.
At this moment, Shen Mo was sitting cross-legged in the cavern.
In front of him stood an ancient-looking pill furnace.
This pill furnace was known as the "Myriad Beasts Furnace."
It was a treasure he had obtained by following the map he had discovered.
Its surface was intricately carved with depictions of rare and exotic beasts.
If fire beast demon crystals were used as fuel, it could slightly enhance the potency of the pills being refined.
During the era of the Nine-Turn Pill Sect, this furnace was considered a first-ss treasure.
Without 60 points of C-rank contribution, no one could dream of acquiring it.
"Let''s start with refining Crimson Scales Pills. I have three fifth-tier fire beast demon crystals on hand, enough to refine three pills."
"After that, I''ll move on to refining Pure Nascent Transformation Pills."
Shen Mo readied himself, focusing entirely on the process of alchemy, ignoring everything happening outside.
He wasn''t worried about Ye Yan or Xiao Fan obtaining the Nine-Turn Pill Canonor the Taiyi Saint Origin Pill.
The Fire Pill Pce was vast, and just traveling to the vicinity of the Thirteenth Earth Fire Furnace would take significant time.
Moreover, ording to the predetermined timeline, Ye Yan and Xiao Fan wouldn''t find the undergroundvake until the tenth month of their journey in the Fire Pill Pce.
Shortly thereafter, the traitor would trigger a massive earth fire eruption, leading to catastrophic casualties among the elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Even if destiny had shifted slightly, it was impossible for the duo to find the treasures ahead of schedule.
A dayter, the first batch of Crimson Scales Pills waspleted!
Shen Mo peered into the Myriad Beasts Furnace and saw three gleaming pills.
"Not bad. A sessful refinement on the first try, and all three pills were perfectly formed."
He nodded in satisfaction.
Storing away the three pills, he began working on the second and third batches.
Two dayster, both batches were also sessfully refined.
In total, he had refined 11 Crimson Scales Pills.
The first batch produced three pills, while thetter two yielded four each.
Shen Mo wasted no time, immediately swallowing one Crimson Scales Pill.
While refining the pill''s effects, he simultaneously began the process of crafting Pure Nascent Transformation Pills.
After all, the Crimson Scales Pill''s effect was simply to expand the dantian, requiring no meticulous focus to refine.
This allowed him to multitask and aplish more.
Five dayster, Shen Mo opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and radiant.
Inspecting his dantian inwardly, he noted its significant expansion after consuming all 11 Crimson Scales Pills.
Next, he consumed two Pure Nascent Transformation Pills.
Though their full effects hadn''t yet been absorbed, his sea of spiritual energy had surged dramatically.
Not only was his dantian replenished, but there was also surplus energy to sustain the ever-demanding Red Lotus me and Sr Essence me.
Moreover, Shen Mo sensed that he was now just a step away from reaching the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul Realm.
With three or four more Pure Nascent Transformation Pills, he would likely break through to the next major realm.
"It''s time to seek out the most important treasures!"
Shen Mo dashed out of his hideout, heading straight for the Thirteenth Earth Fire Furnace.
That was where the Nine-Turn Pill Canonand Taiyi Saint Origin Pillwere located!
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Chapter 266: The Clash of Two Fated Prodigies
Chapter 266: The sh of Two Fated Prodigies
One monthter, at the 13th Earthfire Furnace.
To avoid the 12th Earthfire Furnace, Shen Mo deliberately took a long detour, ensuring he would not attract the attention of the Third and Seventh Elders.
Otherwise, they would certainly question why he had ventured deep into the Fire Pill Pce.
"Found it!"
Shen Mo quickly located the ruins near the Earthfire Furnace.
A defensive formation still protected the area.
As before, Shen Mo presented the Four Cauldron Elder Token and descended underground.
Eventually, he arrived at thevake directly beneath the Earthfire Furnace.
Thisvake was far brighter than the one beneath the 11th Earthfire Furnace.
The earthfire here was also far more violent and aggressive, like ferocious beasts eager to devour.
As soon as Shen Mo approached, the earthfire surged toward him, attempting to engulf him.
Shen Mo remained calm, raising his hand to summon the Green Lotus Core me.
The raging earthfire recoiled instantly, like street thugs cowering before a powerful overlord.
Shen Mo strolled effortlessly atop thevake, reaching its center.
There, a desated corpsey clutching two items.
One was a thick tome crafted from metal pages.
The other was a violet crystal jade box containing a swirling pill.
Shen Mo''s heart surged with joy.
He bowed slightly to the deceased young sect master of the Nine Revolutions Alchemy Sect and then retrieved the items.
The tome was none other than the Nine Revolutions Alchemy Codex.
The sect''s cultivation techniques, martial arts, and pill forms were all derived from this codex by the sect founder and other powerful cultivators.
However, the content was profoundly esoteric.
Even the sect founder, with his extraordinary talent, failed to fullyprehend it.
Compared to techniques and martial arts, this codex was the true treasure.
Flipping through a few pages, Shen Mo felt a headache and a foggy mind.
Clearly, the codex required quiet concentration to study thoroughly.
Shen Mo turned to the pill nearby. "This must be the Taiyi Sacred Origin Pill."
"I''m already of top-tier heavenly physique. Refining this pill would elevate me to a saint-tier physique."
"However, when I advanced from high-grade heavenly physique to top-tier, the phenomenon caused was already immense."
"If I refine the Taiyi Sacred Origin Pill here in the Fire Pill Pce and ascend to a saint-tier physique, the resulting phenomenon will undoubtedly be even more terrifying, attracting widespread attention."
"With so few people in the Fire Pill Pce, they would quickly trace it back to me."
"Exposing my greatest trump card like this would be a loss rather than a gain."
Shen Mo pondered briefly and realized this was not the best time to ascend to a saint-tier physique.
Suppressing his desire for immediate breakthrough, he carefully stored the Taiyi Sacred Origin Pill deep within his spatial ring.
Once he left the Fire Pill Pce, he could find a secluded ce to refine it.
Then, even if a rare and spectacr phenomenon urred, he could swiftly leave without exposing his identity and secrets.
"Now to find a spot to study the Nine Revolutions Alchemy Codex. Perhaps I can gain insights into techniques or martial arts suitable for me."
Shen Mo wasted no time and quickly departed.
Not straying too far, he found a safe cave nearby, set up various formations, and began his meticulous study.
Another month passed.
A figure appeared near the 13th Earthfire Furnace.
It was Xiao Fan.
"Danhe, we''ve finally arrived," Xiao Fan said, wiping sweat from his brow with a wry smile.
A raspy voice echoed in his mind. "Something feels off about the Fire Pill Pce. The fire beasts have grown significantly stronger."
"Otherwise, we would have arrived much sooner," Xiao Fan agreed, nodding.
"I encountered danger multiple times on the way. If not for your intervention, I''d probably be dead by now."
Danhe reassured him, "You''re not yet at the level to handle everything alone. Moreover, you''re my chosen heir. Even if I perish, I can''t let you die."
Xiao Fan pointed toward a ruined area. "It should be over there, right?"
Danhe confirmed, "The young sect master told me before his death that if he couldn''t escape, he would hide beneath thevake of the 13th Earthfire Furnace.
His treasures would be left there for future generations."
Xiao Fan''s expression lit with excitement.
He had endured a grueling journey through the Fire Pill Pce, facing fire beasts and deadly formations.
He had even gone to great lengths to avoid the watchful eyes of the elders from the Jade Cauldron Sect.
After countless hardships, he had finally arrived.
Now it was time to im his reward.
"Let''s go!"
Xiao Fan dashed forward, producing his Nine Revolutions Alchemy Sect Elder Token. He easily passed through the defensive formation and descended into the undergroundvake.
Looking at the zing, unusually brightvake, he sighed softly.
"The Nine Revolutions Alchemy Sect in its prime must have been magnificent."
Danhe responded with a hint of pride, "Indeed. There are fifteen suchvakes in the Fire Pill Pce alone."
"And treasures like the Fire Pill Pce? The Nine Revolutions Alchemy Sect had five of them!"
"But all that glory has faded with time.
Shangqing Sect, Jade Cauldron Sect, Danhe Sectthose three sects repaid kindness with betrayal, joining forces to attack the Nine Revolutions Alchemy Sect. Truly shameless."
"When we obtain the Nine Revolutions Alchemy Codexand leave this ce, we''ll begin gathering the sect''s remnants. Sooner orter, they''ll pay for their blood debts!"
Danhe''s voice was filled with deep hatred, his tone sharp and vengeful.
Xiao Fan pointed toward the center of thevake. "That must be the young sect master, right?"
Danhe''s tone turned mncholic. "Yes, there''s no miracle here. The young sect master has long been reduced to a desated corpse in this extreme heat."
"Let''s go. I''ll protect you across."
With Danhe''s protection, Xiao Fan reached the center of thevake.
However, all that remained was a shriveled corpse.
There was nothing on the body.
Not even the slightest trace of the Nine Revolutions Alchemy Codex.
There wasn''t even a storage ring on the fingers.
Xiao Fan''s expression was one of shock. "Where are the items?"
Danhe fell silent. "I''d like to know as well"
At that moment, Xiao Fan suddenly heard footstepsing from the entrance.
He quickly turned around and saw a figure in redbat attire.
This man''s face was cold and expressionless, clearly not someone easy to deal with.@@novelbin@@
What was more important, Xiao Fan recognized this face.
Not only recognized ithe was intimately familiar with it!
It was none other than the person he had shed with in the Qiyun Mountain Range!
As Xiao Fan spotted Ye Yan, Ye Yan also saw Xiao Fan.
Both were initially stunned, but their expressions quickly turned to anger.
"It''s you!"
They shouted in unison.
Ye Yan''s fury erupted instantly.
He was someone who held grudges deeply.
During their encounter in the Qiyun Mountain Range, he had wasted decades of his lifespan because of this man.
That hatred had been festering ever since, waiting for the day he could settle the score.
And now, of all ces, he encountered Xiao Fan again in the Fire Pill Pce!
"You''re not an elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect, yet you''ve entered the Fire Pill Pce. That''s crime one."
"You opposed me in the Qiyun Mountain Range. That''s crime two."
"You deserve to die!"
Ye Yan''s voice was icy, devoid of emotion.
Suddenly, he raised both hands, bringing them together sharply. Fire-attribute energy surged violently, coalescing with great intensity.
In the blink of an eye, it condensed into the shape of a massive de.
The zing great de resembled a waterfall of sunlight.
The intense heat seemed as if it could evaporate everything in existence.
Its blinding radiance was nearly enough to sear eyes shut!
This was the third form of the Burning Heart de Technique: Sunfall!
Ye Yan held nothing back, unleashing his strongest attack from the start.
Xiao Fan, both startled and enraged, shouted, "If you''re so eager to die, then I''ll grant your wish!"
In the next instant, the two fated prodigies collided in a fierce and explosive battle!
Meanwhile, Shen Mo, who had inadvertently set the stage for this "friendly exchange," was quietly engrossed in studying the Nine Revolutions Alchemy Codex.
Every so often, he nodded in agreement, asionally gaining new insights and understandings.
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Chapter 268: You Have No Manners—What Did Your Father Teach You?
Chapter 268: You Have No MannersWhat Did Your Father Teach You?
"In due time, Liu Ruyun willmand an overwhelming army of fire beasts to besiege the safehouse."
"To hole up is to die. To strike back is also to die."
"If it were anyone else, they''d probably be out of options and waiting for death."
Shen Mo chuckled lightly.
The form for Fire Beast Powder had indeed been lost.
However, it was still recorded in the Nine Turns Alchemy Canon!
Moreover, the ingredients needed to craft Fire Beast Powder could be found right here in the Fire Pill Pce.
With a bit of time, Shen Mo could produce Fire Beast Powder himself.
"Time is running out. Let''s begin immediately."
Shen Mo started searching for the corresponding ingredients without dy.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Across the Fire Pill Pce, underground mes erupted in varying degrees of intensity.
The closer to the safehouse, the more powerful the eruptions became.
Several elders, who had been treasure-hunting near the underground furnaces, were killed instantly when the mes exploded.
They didn''t even have the chance to leave a dying word.
The remaining elders, both furious and terrified, abandoned whatever they were doingeven if precious treasures like Red Phosphorus Flowers or Star Sandy just ahead. They rushed back toward the safehouse without hesitation.
"I heard that Furnace No. 4 and Furnace No. 6 both erupted. A friend of mine died at Furnace No. 6."
"It''s not just thoseFurnaces No. 7, No. 8, and No. 10 have also erupted. The mes are advancing toward the safehouse."
"What''s going on? How could the underground mes be so violent?"
"Exactly. The stationed elders said it was impossible for this to happen within three to five years."
"Could the stationed elders of the Fire Pill Pce be traitors, just like that Bloodvine Valley elder fromst time?"
"Do you think one of the elders who entered the Fire Pill Pce is a traitor? If external forces are involved, it''s possible to trigger these eruptions."
"That''s highly likely! But who would do such a thing?"
The elders exchanged whispers, their faces filled with worry.
It hadn''t even been a year since they entered the Fire Pill Pce, and they couldn''t leave.
The dense fire spiritual energy interfered withmunication jades, making it impossible to contact the outside world.
If this continued, even the safehouse might be consumed by the mes.
At that moment, He Tianchou and Ouyang Wei were also speaking in hushed tones.
"Shen Mo and Liu Ruyun haven''t returned yet. Could something have happened to them?" He Tianchou asked, his face clouded with worry.
Ouyang Wei furrowed his brow. "Elder Shen is incredibly strong. Even in the event of an eruption, he should be fine. But Liu Ruyun that''s another matter."
"Let''s hope they''re safe," He Tianchou sighed.
Bang.
Yang Wenyuan strode into the safehouse with several men following close behind.
His gaze was ice-cold as it locked onto He Tianchou and Ouyang Wei.
"Arrest them!" Yang Wenyuan barked.
Several elders surged forward, surrounding He Tianchou and Ouyang Wei from all sides to prevent their escape.
He Tianchou froze in shock. "Yang Wenyuan, what is the meaning of this?"
Yang Wenyuan gritted his teeth. "One of my men saw Liu Ruyun throw something into Furnace No. 10, which immediately triggered its eruption!"
"Furthermore, someone witnessed hermanding four Fire Flood Dragons, driving them toward other furnaces!"
"You two, along with Shen Mo, were part of Liu Ruyun''s small group before entering the Fire Pill Pce."
"She is clearly a traitor, and the suspicion on you cannot be cleared!"
"What?!"
He Tianchou and Ouyang Wei were stunned and enraged.
Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that Liu Ruyun was behind this disaster.
Moreover, she had somehow managed to control Fire Flood Dragons. The thought was simply inconceivable.
"Shen Mo hasn''t returned either. He might also be out there inciting the eruptions," one elder growled.
"Earlier, Shen Mo and He Tianchou used Ye Yan of harming fellow elders, iming he wanted to use He Tianchou as a human shield against the Fire Flood Dragons. Now, it seems their usations were just maniptive lies to force Ye Yan out of the safehouse."
Another elder, as though struck by inspiration, added his voice to the growing uproar.
Voices erupted from all directions, condemning He Tianchou and Ouyang Wei.
Even Shen Mo, who wasn''t present, became a focal point of their usations,beled a "traitor."
Of course, not everyone believed that He Tianchou and Ouyang Wei were traitors. Some elders stepped forward to defend them.
The standoff persisted.
"Who said my junior brother is a traitor?"
A loud, brash voice echoed through the room, followed by a long, resonant burp.
Yang Wenyuan turned his head to see L Dongxuan striding in confidently, holding a wine jar in one hand.
The strong aroma of liquor wafted from the jar, making everyone''s mouth water with just a single sniff.
The moment L Dongxuan appeared, the elders fell silent.
Aside from Yang Wenyuan, none of them were L Dongxuan''s match, and they dared not confront him directly.@@novelbin@@
Yang Wenyuan snorted coldly. "Don''t think you can shield him forever."
"Moreover, if he truly is a traitor, not only you, L Dongxuan, but even the entire Tenth Peak won''t escape me!"
Hic!
L Dongxuan let out another loud burp, spraying spittle onto Yang Wenyuan''s face.
"With no evidence, you keep using people of being traitors. You really have no manners. What did your father teach you?" L Dongxuan sneered.
Yang Wenyuan''s face flushed red with anger, his fury barely contained.
"L Elder, can you contact the Third Elder or the Seventh Elder? If they act, perhaps they can calm the underground mes," one of the elders asked anxiously.
L Dongxuan waved his hand. "No, I can''t. The mes are even more intense where they are."
"Besides, as far as I know, they''re busy refining pills and probably have no idea what''s happening elsewhere."
"If Liu Ruyun has any sense, she won''t trigger the mes there."
Hearing this, the elders'' hearts sank into despair.
L Dongxuan was right.
It was highly unlikely that the Third Elder and the Seventh Elder could help.
They would have to save themselves.
"I propose forming teams led by the strongest elders to head toward the remaining untriggered me nodes," He Tianchou suggested seriously.
"Currently, only two nodes remain unaffected: Nodes No. 5 and No. 9."
"Liu Ruyun is very likely heading to one of those two locations."
"We must capture her alive before she triggers all the nodes."
"Otherwise, the entire Fire Pill Pce may be consumed by the violent underground mes, and none of us will survive."
L Dongxuan nodded approvingly. "Well said, Old Brother He. You truly are my lifelong confidant and brother!"
He Tianchou felt a little embarrassed at L Dongxuan''s praise.
He knew L Dongxuan had deliberately said that to vouch for him with his own reputation.
"Let''s go and search for her."
Yang Wenyuan snorted and led his men out of the safehouse.
L Dongxuan scratched his head, turned to the other elders, and adopted a serious expression.
The elders thought he was about to say something crucial and all straightened up, ready to listen.
Instead, L Dongxuan burped again and said, "On your way, if you find some Fiery Nectar, bring it back for me. We can negotiate whatever you want in return."
"I only found a small jar of Fiery Nectar this time, and it''s nowhere near enough."
The elders: "..."
Seriously? At a time like this, you''re still thinking about your Fiery Nectar?
"Let''s go. We''ll search for Liu Ruyun and also look for my junior brother," L Dongxuan called, motioning for He Tianchou, Ouyang Wei, and the others to follow.
"Alright!" He Tianchou and Ouyang Wei, grateful for his support, quickly followed him.
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Chapter 271: This Life of Yours Has No Meaning to Keep
Chapter 271: This Life of Yours Has No Meaning to Keep
In the next moment, the fire beasts surged forward like flowingva, charging straight toward the safe house!
The momentum was overwhelming.
It seemed as if they would tten the safe house in an instant.
The defensive array of the safe house was already on the verge of copse.
Now, it couldn''t withstand the simultaneous assault of hundreds of fire beasts.
In less than a hundred breaths, it shattered into countless specks of light.
Thest barrier had fallen.
At this moment, the safe house was as vulnerable as a defenseless maiden about to face the onught of hundreds of fire beasts.
However, an unusual fragrance drifted in with the wind.
The fire beasts suddenly stopped in their tracks.
They began to sniff furiously, as if they had caught a whiff of something terrifying.
In that instant, it awakened a deeply buried, ancient memory within their very bloodline.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
The fire beasts immediately ceased their advance, letting out anxious growls.
But their growls carried hints of fear and trepidation.
It was as if they had smelled the scent of a natural predator.
This scene struck everyone like a tidal wave of shock.
"What''s going on? Why aren''t the fire beasts moving?" He Tianchou and Ouyang Wei exchanged astonished and puzzled nces.
"It feels like they''ve sensed the presence of a natural enemy," L Dongxuan eximed in surprise.
Yang Wenyuan frowned slightly, "Could it be that a stronger fire beast has appeared, one that has reced Liu Ruyun as their leader?"
Ye Yan furrowed his brow tightly, equally unsure of what was happening.
The other elders each had their own interpretations.
Regardless, the sudden halt of the fire beast horde was like a glimmer of hope piercing through the despair of the night.
Compared to the varied reactions of the group, Liu Ruyun''s expression was deeply troubled.
She could clearly feel the fire beasts beginning to slip out of her control.
"What''s happening?"
"Is the imitation Fire Beast Incense no longer working?"
Liu Ruyun pulled out a sachet and infused it with spiritual energy.
Fine powders dispersed into the air and entered the nostrils of the surrounding fire beasts.
However, the fire beasts still refused to heed hermands.
They remained in ce, restless and agitated.
"An imitation is, after all, just an imitation."
"The Prefectural Governor''s Officecks the skill."
Shen Mo''s voice floated in with the wind.
Liu Ruyun turned to the figure in green robes.
To her shock, she noticed that Shen Mo was also holding a sachet.
The faint aroma in the air was emanating from his sachet!
"That''s Fire Beast Incense? Impossible!"
"The Prefectural Governor''s Office verified that when the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect was annihted, all Fire Beast Incense was burned."
"Even the form for Fire Beast Incense was destroyed long ago!"
Liu Ruyun''s eyes widened in disbelief, a mix of shock and fury spreading across her face.
She had beenpletely confident that the imitation Fire Beast Incense would perfectly control these beasts.
The idea that the real Fire Beast Incense could resurface and ruin her ns had never crossed her mind.
Upon hearing Liu Ruyun''s words, the other cultivators froze.
"Fire Beast Incense?"
"What''s that?" Ouyang Wei scratched his head.
He Tianchou frowned, "My grandfather mentioned it once. It''s something the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect used to control fire beasts."
"With Fire Beast Incense, even a Body Refining Realm cultivator could easily ughter a fifth-tier fire beast."
Yang Wenyuan''s frown deepened. "But Fire Beast Incense has long been lost to history. No one can make it anymore."
"Could it be that some remnants of Fire Beast Incense were left in the Fire Pill Pce? That seems unlikely"
L Dongxuan''s eyes lit up with excitement. "What else could it be? Little Junior Brother must have found some remnants of Fire Beast Incense!"
"Amazing, Little Junior Brother!"
After L Dongxuan''s exmation, the other cultivators'' eyes sparkled with realization.
Of course!
It was improbable that the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect hadpletely eradicated every trace of Fire Beast Incense.
There was a chance that some remnants remained.
Just because they couldn''t find it didn''t mean no one could.
Clearly, Shen Mo was such a person of extraordinary fortunehe had found it!
Ye Yan''s gaze was locked on Shen Mo''s figure.
His fists clenched tightly.
His knuckles turned pale and stood out sharply.
Even he hadn''t been able to find the Fire Beast Incense.
Shen Mo could find it.
But why?
Under the gaze of all present, Shen Mo casually tossed the sachet high into the air.
Then, with a flick of his finger, a strand of spiritual energy struck the sachet, shattering it.
In an instant, a vast amount of fine powder rained down from above.
The fire beasts instinctively inhaled the powder.
They confirmed it.
This was Fire Beast Incense!
"Roar!"
The fire dragon at the front, measuring forty-nine zhang in length, immediately prostrated itself.
Its submission triggered a wave of obedience.
Fire tigers, fire wolves, and fire leopards all lowered their front legs and knelt.
Fire crows, fire falcons, and other avian beasts descended to the ground, not daring to take flight.
Crash!
In an instant, all 362 fire beasts became docile, silent, and subservient, like cattle awaiting ughter.
This was precisely the method the Nine-Turn Pill Dao Sect had used to harvest fire beast demon crystals in the past!
"My heavens"
He Tianchou and Ouyang Wei were stunned, their mouths agape.
"Incredible, Junior Brother!"
L Dongxuan was so exhrated he clenched his fists and guzzled from a wine jar.
Yang Wenyuan''s expression wasplex, and he said nothing.
Meanwhile, Ye Yan''s eyes burned with undisguised hatred.
Shen Mo had just be his savior.
Did this mean he would now have to lower himself before Shen Mo?
Unforgivable.
Absolutely unforgivable!@@novelbin@@
Tap, tap.
Shen Mo strolled leisurely through the fire beast horde.
He stopped before Liu Ruyun.
At this moment, Liu Ruyun''s once-radiant face had turned ashen, pale as paper.
"You this is impossible impossible"
Liu Ruyun''s eyes lost focus, and she muttered "impossible" repeatedly.
She had infiltrated the Jade Cauldron Sect for so long, pouring her heart and soul intopleting this mission.
She had reached the final step.
As long as the fire beast horde charged forward and massacred the elders, her task would beplete.
Yet now, at the final moment, everything had been undone so effortlessly by one man, in a way she could never have foreseen.
Real Fire Beast Incense!
How could such a thing exist?
Thud.
Liu Ruyun couldn''t ept it.
She fell to her knees.
Her heart sank into despair.
Her mission had failed.
Her identity was exposed.
What awaited her now was the endless interrogation and coercion of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
"You won''t drag me back to the Jade Cauldron Sect for questioning."
"The Prefectural Governor''s Office won''t admit I''m their spy within the sect."
"In the end, you''ll gain nothing."
Liu Ruyun suddenly raised her head andughed hysterically.
Shen Mo spoke indifferently, "Take you back? There''s no need for that."
"Your mission has failed, your identity ispromised, and the Prefectural Governor''s Office will deny your existence. They''ll wipe out your family to silence any leaks."
"I anticipated all of this."
"So, keeping you alive serves no purpose."
"Off you go."
Shen Mo extended a finger, pointing at Liu Ruyun. His lips moved slightly as he uttered three words, "Eat her alive."
Liu Ruyun''s eyes widened in horror, darting toward the surrounding fire beasts.
She saw them, the creatures that had once regarded her as their master, now staring at her with savage, predatory eyes.
"No, the Prefectural Governor wouldn''t treat my family like that"
"No stay back! Stay away!"
Herst scream was quickly drowned out as the ravenous jaws of the fire beasts closed in, tearing her apart.
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Chapter 272: Senior Brother, Do You Have a Problem?
Chapter 272: Senior Brother, Do You Have a Problem?
Before long, the fire beasts retreated.
All that remained was a pool of blood and some tattered cloth.
As for the alluring woman from before, she had long since vanished.
Yang Wenyuan and Ye Yan both raised their heads to look at Shen Mo.
For some reason, they instinctively felt a chill rising from within.
Was it fear?
Was it admiration?
It seemed to be neither.
And yet, perhaps it was both.
Lu Dongxuan suddenly dashed forward and gave Shen Mo a bear hug.
"Little junior brother! You''re incredible!"
"You saved my life, damn it!"
"Whatever you want, I''ll give it to you!"
"Tell you what, I owe you a jar of zing Fire Brew. How about I repay you with that?"
Shen Mo: "?"
"Senior Brother, do you have a problem?"
"Hahaha!" Lu Dongxuan held Shen Mo tightly,ughing so hard he wiped away tears.
"Damn it, I really thought I was going to die just now. Just thinking about all the fine wine in this world I haven''t tasted yet terrified me."
"Thank goodness for you!"
He Tianchou, Ouyang Wei, and several others stepped forward with expressions of deep respect. "Elder Shen, thank you!"
With that, they bowed deeply to Shen Mo.
Soon, even more Three-Cauldron and Four-Cauldron elders came forward, bowing deeply to him as well.
Even though their elder ranks were higher than Shen Mo''s.
Even though their ages far exceeded his, to the point where they could be his ancestors.
Yet they still made this gesture.
This was gratitude.
A natural response to a lifesaver.
As more and more people bowed to Shen Mo, Yang Wenyuan and Ye Yan''s expressions grew increasingly grim.
This was not good news.
It meant that the reputation of the Tenth Peak would soar to unprecedented heights in theing days!
Shen Mo''s achievement in saving so many elders would make his name unparalleled for some time.
"Elders, you are all my seniors. Such formalities are unnecessary," Shen Mo said, cupping his hands.
His face showed no trace of arrogance or pride.
It was as though he had done something utterly trivial.
The elders were astonished but deeply gratified.
This young man was truly a rare talent.
Byparison, certain individuals'' brilliance seemed to pale.
Several elders couldn''t help but nce at Ye Yan, who was standing inside the safe house.
They also recalled the stain on his reputation.
Every elder here had heard Liu Ruyun''s earlier words loud and clear.
She had said that Shen Mo single-handedly slew two Fire Dragons and saved He Tianchou.
This was entirely contrary to Ye Yan''s ims.
Moments ago, Liu Ruyun had an overwhelming advantage. She could have ordered the ughter of all the elders with a singlemand.
Naturally, she had no need to deceive them.
So, who was lying? The answer was obvious.
"Why are you all standing around? With so many fire beasts lying obediently on the ground, shouldn''t we get to work?" Lu Dongxuanughed heartily.
The elders snapped out of their daze.
That''s right!
Fire beast monster cores were valuable treasures.
Normally, encountering either a massive horde of fire beasts or an extraordinarily powerful one would force them to retreat.
But now, with so many fire beasts lying there submissively, ready to be harvested, this was the perfect opportunity to collect fire beast cores!
The elders grew enthusiastic and began ughtering the fire beasts, harvesting their cores.
However, they all carefully avoided the Fire Dragons.
It was as if they couldn''t even see them.
Shen Mo observed this and understood instantly.
"Truly, these people are all old foxes who''ve lived for hundreds of years," he thought to himself.
"They certainly know how to behave."
The Fire Dragons were highly likely to contain fire beast monster cores.
If those greedy individuals were here, they would have rushed toward the Fire Dragons without hesitation.
Instead, the others deliberately left them alone.
It was clear they were reserved for Shen Mo.
After all, it was Shen Mo''s use of the Fire Beast Powder that intimidated the fire beasts, allowing everyone else to safely harvest their spoils.
Fire Dragons, which almost always contained fire beast cores, were naturally left for Shen Mo to im.@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo nced at the safe house.
Inside were Yang Wenyuan, Ye Yan, and three othersstaunch supporters of the Second Peak.
While everyone else was outside harvesting fire beast cores, they refused to leave.
Perhaps it was out of pride.
Perhaps it was due to their allegiance.
Or maybe they were simply too afraid.
Shen Mo noticed one of them had greed written all over his face, clearly yearning to join in.
However, under Yang Wenyuan and Ye Yan''s watchful eyes, the man dared not move a single step.
His expression was filled with regret and reluctance.
Shen Mo smiled faintly, then walked over to the Fire Dragons. With a swift motion of his sword, he began to harvest.
Before long, all the fire beasts had been in.
The elders were in high spirits, grouping together to excitedly discuss how many fire beast cores they had collected.
Shen Mo himself had obtained five fifth-grade fire beast coresenough for him to refine a significant amount of Scarlet me Pills.
At that moment, two figures appeared on the distant horizon, rushing toward them.
Everyone looked closely and recognized them as the Third Elder and the Seventh Elder.
The two of them looked disheveled.
Their once-luxurious robes were now tattered, scorched, and ckened in several ces.
However, when they saw the numerous fire beast corpses around the safe house, they froze in shock, then quickened their pace even further.
The Third Elder eximed, "You actually held off the fire beasts?!"
The Seventh Elder immediately asked, "What about Ye Yan and Yang Wenyuan? Are they safe?"
Yang Wenyuan and Ye Yan stepped out, their expressions gloomy, and gave a slight nod.
Only then did the Seventh Elder breathe a sigh of relief.
Before entering the Fire Pill Pce, Yang Qiye had specifically instructed him to take care of Yang Wenyuan and Ye Yan.
If anything had happened to them, he would have faced Yang Qiye''s wrath.
The Seventh Elder quickly asked, "What exactly happened here? Exin everything in detail!"
Yang Wenyuan''s eyes flickered, and he remained silent.
The Seventh Elder frowned.
The Third Elder, looking puzzled, turned to Lu Dongxuan. "You exin."
Lu Dongxuan grinned mischievously and exaggeratedly recounted the events.
When the Third and Seventh Elders heard about Liu Ruyun leading over 300 fire beasts to surround the safe house, their hearts nearly stopped.
There were over twenty Nascent Soul elders here.
If they had all perished, the Jade Cauldron Sect''s overall strength would have taken a significant hit.
The sect''s various cities and industries would havecked elder overseers.
And that was just the immediate problem.
In decades or centuries, when the older Divine Transformation elders reached the end of their lifespan and the new generation of Divine Transformation elders had not yet matured, the consequences would be catastrophic.
"What exactly happened? Where is that traitor Liu Ruyun, and how did all the fire beasts die?" the Third Elder pressed.
Lu Dongxuanughed and draped his arm over Shen Mo''s shoulder. "All thanks to my junior brother here!"
"He found some Fire Beast Powder and used it to intimidate the fire beasts."
"As for that traitor Liu Ruyun, she was devouredpletely by the fire beasts in their bacsh."
The Third Elder''s eyes widened. "Fire Beast Powder?! You found Fire Beast Powder, which was supposed to have beenpletely destroyed?!"
He was utterly stunned.
Who would have thought there was still some residual Fire Beast Powder in the Fire Pill Pce?
Shen Mo nodded. "I was lucky to find some, but it''s all used up now."
Given the immense value of possessing the form for Fire Beast Powder, Shen Mo decided it was best to keep this secret to himself until he had enough strength to protect it.
Hearing that it had been used up, the Third Elder sighed regretfully. "What a pity I was hoping to replicate something simr."
At that moment, the Seventh Elder''s sharp voice cut through from the side.
"Why did you kill Liu Ruyun?!"
"Leaving her alive was far more important!"
"She could have been a bargaining chip in our negotiations with the State Governor''s Office!"
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Chapter 273: No Gesture of Respect Is Too Much for Him
Chapter 273: No Gesture of Respect Is Too Much for Him
Shen Mo looked at the Seventh Elder.
The Seventh Elder was pointing at him, ring with anger.
The Third Elder frowned and stepped between Shen Mo and the Seventh Elder.
In a deep voice, he said, "Seventh Elder, Shen Mo saved all the elders present. He is a great benefactor of the Jade Cauldron Sect. You shouldn''t speak this way."
The Seventh Elder replied coldly, "I don''t care about the others. I just want to know why you ordered the fire beasts to devour Liu Ruyun."
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "It seems the Seventh Elder is getting old; your thinking isn''t as sharp as it used to be."
The Seventh Elder''s face twisted in anger. "What did you say, boy?!"
Shen Mo replied calmly, "Even if we had captured Liu Ruyun alive, the State Governor''s Office would never admit any connection to her."
"Her family would be massacred immediately to sever any ties."
"What''s the point of keeping someone like that alive? To waste rice?"
The Seventh Elder''s eyes widened in fury. He pointed at Shen Mo''s nose and roared, "You!"
The Third Elder sighed and grabbed the Seventh Elder''s arm, forcibly pulling it down.
"That''s enough, enough. Shen Mo is right. That Governor Yu is a cunning old fox. Unless there''s irrefutable evidence, there''s no way you''ll make him acknowledge anything."
"This matter is settled."
"In any case, Shen Mo saved all the elders here and performed an extraordinary service."
"Neither you, I, nor anyone else has the right to criticize Shen Mo."
The Seventh Elder snorted coldly and turned his head away.
The Third Elder patted Shen Mo''s shoulder, his expression filled with gratitude. "Goodd, it''s a blessing to have you here."
"We were dyed by arge group of fire beasts. Even though we rushed here as fast as we could, we were prepared for the worst."
"But I never imaginednever imaginedthat you would give us such a pleasant surprise, Shen Mo."
Shen Mo cupped his hands. "It was my duty."
"Good, good! I like your attitude, hahaha!" The Third Elderughed heartily, his face beaming with delight.
After a brief pause, he added, "The Fire Pill Pce will reopen in four days. I suggest we don''t wander around anymore and head straight to the entrance."
The other elders nodded in agreement.@@novelbin@@
This experience had left them with a psychological shadow.
Even if the Third Elder hadn''t suggested it, none of them would have wanted to linger any longer.
All they wanted now was to leave the Fire Pill Pce and rx their weary minds and bodies.
Four Days Later
At the entrance of the Fire Pill Pce.
The Great Elder and the stationed pce guardian elder, Liu Qiang, had been waiting there for some time.
Boom!
The heavy gates of the Fire Pill Pce rumbled open.
One by one, tired and battered figures emerged.
When the Great Elder saw that nearly everyone was injured, exhausted, and their numbers had significantly dwindled, his heart sank.
He rushed forward to inquire.
The Third Elder and the Seventh Elder exchanged a nce.
The Seventh Elder remained silent.
The Third Elder recounted everything that had happened in the Fire Pill Pce, sparing no detail.
He concluded with high praise for Shen Mo.
The Great Elder''s eyes shed with palpable fury.
"The State Governor''s Office!"
He took several deep breaths to calm himself, then quickly walked over to Shen Mo, scrutinizing the young man intently.
The incident in Bloodvine Valley had already made him take note of Shen Mo.
But this time, Shen Mo had once again yed a pivotal role.
"Elder Shen, well done!"
"On behalf of the sect, I thank you!"
He then bowed deeply to Shen Mo.
The gesture shocked all the elders present.
The dignified Great Elder, master of the Discipline Hall, was bowing to a young elder who wasn''t even thirty years old.
It was utterly unexpected.
"Great Elder, there''s no need for this," the Seventh Elder said, frowning.
But the Great Elder shook his head. "Shen Mo saved so many elders here. He didn''t just save lives; he saved the future of the sect."
"No Gesture of Respect Is Too Much for Him."
The Seventh Elder fell silent immediately.
"Let''s go, Elder Shen. You are the great hero of our sect!"
The Great Elder beamed as he pulled Shen Mo by the arm and walked at the front.
The Third and Seventh Elders followed closely behind, with Lu Dongxuan, Ye Yan, Yang Wenyuan, and the others trailing after them.
Together, they returned to the Jade Cauldron Sect''s main gate.
Jade Cauldron Sect''s Council Hall
After listening to the Great Elder''s report, Sect Master Li Zhendao and the gathered elders'' expressions shifted several times.
Li Zhendao quickly approached Shen Mo, bowing deeply with sincerity.
Shen Mo hurriedly stepped forward to support him.
Li Zhendao said solemnly, "Elder Shen, your contributions to the sect this time are immense. It is only fitting that I bow to you."
Shen Mo''s actions had saved over twenty Nascent Soul elders.
These were no ordinary elders.
Each was of the Three-Cauldron or Four-Cauldron rank, the backbone of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
If these individuals had all perished, the sect would have been left without capable personnel.
Worse yet, it would have led to a devastating generational gap in the near future, leaving the Jade Cauldron Sect vulnerable for years toe.
Shen Mo''s efforts were tantamount to saving the sect''s future.
Elder Wan Mushun chuckled. "Sect Master, shouldn''t Elder Shen be promoted and rewarded with something nice?"
Li Zhendao nodded repeatedly. "That''s only proper. Our sect has never been stingy in rewarding merit."
After a brief moment of thought, he dered, "I propose that Elder Shen be directly promoted to the rank of Four-Cauldron Elder for his extraordinary service!"
"In addition, he will be awarded 15 ss-B contributions."
"What Elder Shen wishes to exchange for using these contributions is entirely up to him."
Li Zhendao smiled warmly. "Elder Shen, what do you think of this arrangement?"
Shen Mo''s heart stirred slightly.
Fifteen ss-B contributionsLi Zhendao was indeed generous.
Most Four-Cauldron elders probably hadn''t umted 15 ss-B contributions in their lifetimes.
To put it into perspective, 15 ss-B contributions were roughly equivalent to 200 ss-C contributions.
After all, exchanging lower-grade contributions for higher-grade ones typically required a premium.
With these contributions, Shen Mo could purchase treasures unavable within the Jade Cauldron Sect, such as spiritual artifacts from the Shangqing Sect, elixirs from the Danhe Sect, or spirit beasts from the State Governor''s Office.
These were their respective specialties, and such items could only be purchased with ss-B contributions.
Even with an abundance of ss-C contributions, they would still be inessible.
However, before Shen Mo could speak, Yang Qiye stood up.
"Sect Master, I object."
"Shen Mo has indeed made great contributions, but promoting him from a Three-Cauldron Elder to a Four-Cauldron Elder is already a significant reward."
"To further grant him 15 ss-B contributions is excessive."
"Bear in mind, many Four-Cauldron Elders haven''t umted 15 ss-B contributions in their lifetimes."
"Your actions, Sect Master, risk creating discord among the elders."
Wan Mushun smiled faintly. "Oh? Then what do you suggest, Elder Yang?"
Yang Qiye raised three fingers. "Three ss-B contributions. No more."
The Fifth Elder and Eighth Elder stood up in immediate opposition.
"That''s far too little!"
"Shen Mo''s contributions are monumental. Awarding only three ss-B contributions would be disheartening. If word of this spreads, what will the Shangqing Sect and Danhe Sect think of us?"
"Furthermore" The Fifth Elder sneered. "Second Elder, it was you who advocated for abandoning our beast-taming industry and purchasing all spirit beast and monster materials from the State Governor''s Office."
"And now look what''s happened. The State Governor''s Office had already nted a spy in our ranks, aiming to kill all the elders who entered the Fire Pill Pce this time."
"Now, you want to reduce Shen Mo''s reward? Elder Yang, what exactly are you trying to aplish?"
"Are you the Jade Cauldron Sect''s Second Elder, or are you working for the State Governor''s Office?"
The entire council hall fell silent, the atmosphere turning icy.
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Chapter 274: Today’s Incident Must Not Be Leaked, or It Will Be Considered Betrayal of the Sect
Chapter 274: Today''s Incident Must Not Be Leaked, or It Will Be Considered Betrayal of the Sect
Positions and allegiances have always been of utmost importance.
When someone changes their stance, they can easily transform from a friend into an enemy.
Hearing this, Yang Qiye became furious. "Nonsense! Watch your tone when you speak to me."
"I, Yang Qiye, have always been loyal to the Jade Cauldron Sect. I have never done anything to betray the sect."
"Everything I do is done with a clear conscience!"
"As for whether Liu Ruyun is truly someone from the State Governor''s Office, it remains to be determined! It''s possible she was a spy nted by the Upper rity Sect or the Danhe Sect. Before her death, she could have deliberately imed to be from the State Governor''s Office to damage our rtionship with them!"
After Yang Qiye spoke, some elders began to ponder.
His words made some sense.
"Eighth Elder, Liu Ruyun was a member of your Eighth Peak. You are responsible for investigating her identity," the Grand Elder said, turning to the Eighth Elder.
"Yes," the Eighth Elder replied reluctantly, nodding with a troubled expression.
Suddenly, Yang Qiye raised his voice. "More important thanmending Shen Mo is another issue."
"That is the pill form for transforming pure Nascent Soul!"
"If we fail to secure the pill form for transforming pure Nascent Soul this time, we will be forced to purchase such pills from the Danhe Sect in the future."
"We''ll be entirely at their mercy."
"Yan''er, what''s the status?" He turned to Ye Yan, his gaze full of expectation.
Ye Yan remained silent for a moment before speaking hesitantly. "Master, there were too many dangers in the Fire Pill Pce this time. I didn''t have much time to search for the form."
Yang Qiye''s expression stiffened.
Li Zhendao sighed lightly. "That''s understandable. With eruptions of underground fire and agitated fire beasts, the elders had little time to look for the form."
"Besides, it''s not an easy thing to find. It''s normal to return empty-handed in such circumstances."
"Let''s disperse. You''ve all worked hard for so long; it''s time to rest."
"Elder Shen, we will reevaluate yourmendation and ensure it meets your expectations."
Li Zhendao forced a smile at Shen Mo as he raised his head.
Shen Mo smiled faintly and spoke. "I found the form."
To be precise, he now possessed two versions of the form.
The first was the sheet of paper he had obtained.
The second was a method recorded in the Nine Transformation Alchemy Canon.
In truth, the method for refining the pure Nascent Soul transformation pill found in the Nine Transformation Alchemy Canonwas the most exquisite.
It required the fewest medicinal ingredients, produced the least pill toxicity, and had the strongest efficacy.
As for the form of the Danhe Sect, it was something their founder had derived by studying the Nine Transformation Alchemy Canon.
To put it inly, it was an inferior version of the original.
Its effectiveness was roughly 70% of the perfected version.
Still, even at 70%, it far surpassed the pills of the Danhe Sect.
The inferior version of the form was of no use to Shen Mo.
Instead of keeping it, it was better to trade it for treasures he needed.
"What?"
When Shen Mo finished speaking, every gaze in the discussion hall turned toward him.
Everyone wore an expression of shock.
Li Zhendao stepped forward quickly, his face solemn. "Elder Shen, cultivators do not speak frivolously. Do not make jokes about such matters."
The Grand Elder stood abruptly as well. "Elder Shen, I know your dedication to the sect, but please don''t jest about this."
Wan Muchun hurriedly asked, his voice trembling, "Shen Mo, did you really obtain it...?"
Ye Yan looked at Shen Mo, clenching his fists tightly.
A voice roared within his heart.
Impossible!
Impossible!@@novelbin@@
There''s no way he could have obtained the form for the pure Nascent Soul transformation pill!
The next moment, everyone saw Shen Mo take out a yellowed sheet of paper from his storage ring.
"This is the form for the pure Nascent Soul transformation pill. I''ve already tested it by refining one batch."
Shen Mo nced around, smiling lightly.
Li Zhendao widened his eyes and immediately took the sheet.
After quickly scanning it, his face lit up with joy.
"It''s real! This records two methods: one for independent refinement and one for refinement using advanced Nascent Soul transformation pills."
The others were stunned. "What?!"
The Grand Elder, Wan Muchun, and the Third Elder all stood up and quickly gathered around Li Zhendao.
The council hall suddenly became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
After a brief silence, an uproar exploded like a thunderp.
"It''s really the form!"
"My heavens, Shen Mo, you actually found it!"
"Elder Shen, do you realize the magnitude of the contribution you''ve made to the sect? This is a once-in-a-lifetime aplishment!"
The Grand Elder, Wan Muchun, and the others all turned sharply toward Shen Mo.
Their previously grim expressions were now brimming with joy, their faces glowing with excitement.
For a moment, Yang Qiye''s expression darkened, but he quickly reced it with a mask of delight.
As for what he was truly thinking, no one could tell.
Li Zhendao immediately made a decision. "Elder Shen''s achievement this time fully warrants an A-level contribution!"
The Grand Elder beamed. "Not enoughadd ten B-level contributions as well!"
Wan Muchun chuckled. "Elder Shen is from my Tenth Peak. Shouldn''t the sect also allocate some additional resources to the Tenth Peak?"
"Absolutely, absolutely!" Li Zhendaoughed heartily, unable to contain his joy.
With a talent like Shen Mo, how could the sect not flourish?
Lu Dongxuan, He Tianchou, and Ouyang Wei excitedly gathered around.
After carefully examining the form, their faces filled with astonishment.
For a moment, even they thought Shen Mo had been joking.
But it turned out to be real!
Drip.
Fingernails dug deeply into a palm.
Blood dripped onto the ground.
In the lively and celebratory atmosphere, no one noticed the blood dripping from Ye Yan''s palm.
Overwhelming anger and jealousy had dulled his sense of pain entirely.
His eyes were fixed only on the figure in green at the center of attention, surrounded by admiration like the moon among stars.
"Damn it damn it all"
Without turning back, Ye Yan stormed out of the council hall.
Li Zhendao noticed his departing figure and sighed softly.
The rivalry between two unparalleled talents had not been overtly disyed.
But it was clear that Ye Yan had already fallen behind by more than a step.
Hopefully, he woulde to terms with this and behave more modestly in the future.
After this brief moment of regret, Li Zhendao''s gaze toward Shen Mo became even more appreciative.
This young man had boundless potential and was still so young.
Perhaps he might even be a suitable candidate for the position of Young Sect Master.
However, Yang Qiye would surely rally the Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth Elders to oppose the idea.
Pushing Shen Mo into the position of Young Sect Master would not be an easy task.
"If only the Sect Guardian supported him. If he gave his approval, even Yang Qiye wouldn''t have a say. Unfortunately, the Sect Guardian has made it clear he won''t meddle in sect affairs."
Li Zhendao sighed inwardly.
"Well, let''s not crowd together anymore. We should discuss how to properly reward Elder Shen," he said with a heartyugh.
The Third Elder nodded. "Yes, yes, the Sect Master is right!"
The Eighth Elder added, "We must not shortchange those who contribute to the sect!"
Wan Muchun spoke solemnly. "However, the matter of the pure Nascent Soul transformation pill form must not be disclosed immediately. At the very least, we should wait until we''ve sessfully refined the first batch of pills before making it public."
The Grand Elder surveyed the room, his tone chilling. "Agreed. The events of today must not be leaked. Anyone who does so will be considered a traitor to the sect!"
The elders all felt a chill in their hearts and nodded repeatedly. "Understood!"
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Chapter 275: Two Letters from the Governor of Yu Province
Chapter 275: Two Letters from the Governor of Yu Province
A dayter, a shocking piece of news spread rapidly from the Jade Cauldron Sect, shaking the region.
The Fire Pill Pce, which opens once every ten years, was supposed to be an excellent opportunity for the sect''s elders to search for treasures.
However, among the elders, a traitor named Liu Ruyun was discovered.
This individual threw treasures into the Earthfire Core to amplify the mes, causing consecutive eruptions of underground fire.
She also possessed counterfeit Fire Beast Powder, which allowed her to control the fire beasts.
The Jade Cauldron Sect''s cultivators inside the Fire Pill Pce were pushed to the brink of death.
Then, a young elder stepped forward with genuine Fire Beast Powder, instantly subduing all the fire beasts.
The traitor ultimately met her end, devoured by the fire beasts.
The Nascent Soul-stage elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect narrowly escaped with their lives.
The name of that young elder was Shen Mo!
Additionally, the Jade Cauldron Sect publicly imed that the traitor was affiliated with the Governor''s Office of Yu Province.
The counterfeit Fire Beast Powder she possessed was said to have originated from the Governor''s Office as well.
This sparked a storm of excitement across the Yu Province.
Both sect cultivators and wandering practitioners eagerly watched to see how the Governor''s Office would respond.
After all, not long ago, the Governor''s Office and the Jade Cauldron Sect had signed a major trade agreement.
The Governor''s Office supplied spirit beast and demon beast materials, while the Jade Cauldron Sect provided treasures such as Scarlet Blood Spirit Grains and Star Sand.
To many, the two powers appeared to have a rtively amicable rtionship.
Another day passed.
The General of the Governor''s Office, Wu Renyin, issued a promation to all of Yu Province, dering that Liu Ruyun had no connection to the Governor''s Office and that the Jade Cauldron Sect''s usations were fabricated.
Beyond this, there was no further response.
While neither side took any direct action, it was clear their rtionship had plummeted to an icy low.
In the Governor''s Office Rear Garden
This time, the Governor of Yu Province was not fishing. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back, gazing silently at the distant mountains.
Behind him, Wu Renyin knelt on one knee, saying nothing.
"Has everything been handled cleanly?" the governor asked indifferently.
"It has. All thirty-six members of the family, without exception. No one will trace Liu Ruyun back to the Governor''s Office," Wu Renyin replied gravely.
The governor sighed lightly. "I still can''t understand why Liu Ruyun failed at thest moment."
Wu Renyin forced a bitter smile. "It''s not just you, my lord. I can''t figure it out either."
"Wasn''t it said that all Fire Beast Powder had been destroyed long ago? How did Shen Mo find some in the Fire Pill Pce?"
"If it weren''t for Shen Mo, our n would have seeded without a doubt!"
The governor rarely frowned, but at this, his brows furrowed deeply.
Shen Mo.
This young man had disrupted his ns multiple times now.
Once could be chalked up to chance.
Twice, three timeshe had be an obstacle.
And obstacles were meant to be crushed.
Wu Renyin suddenly spoke. "There''s another piece of news. Yang Qiye sent word that Shen Mo obtained something from the Fire Pill Pce."
"What is it?" the governor asked casually.
"The pill form for the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill!"
The governor''s frown deepened, and he began pacing back and forth.
Shen Mo had brought immeasurable benefits to the Jade Cauldron Sect.
After a moment, he asked, "What''s the situation in Mist Province?"
Wu Renyin responded solemnly, "Today, the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons imed yet another city. A golden-ranked general under the Mist Province Governor''smand fell in battle."
The governor shook his head. "What about the capital? Are the Seven Great Sects still unwilling to send aid?"
Wu Renyin replied in a low voice, "You should know, my lord, that His Majesty wishes to demonstrate his strength to the Seven Great Sects. He will not lower himself to request their help."
"Furthermore, His Majesty''s personally trained army must allocate a significant portion of its forces to guard against these sects, leaving manpower severely stretched."
The governor sighed deeply and fell silent.
The Kingdom of Jing consisted of nine provinces.
Aside from Long Province, where the capital was located, and Yu Province, where sects were numerous, each of the other seven provinces was dominated by a powerful sect.
Although the seven great sects ostensibly submit to the Jing Emperor, behind the scenes, they often engage in covert disobedience.
The Jing Emperor must demonstrate his power to earn their full respect.
The war in Mist Province against the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons is a perfect opportunity to showcase such strength.
If victorious, the seven great sects will acknowledge his authority with genuine admiration.
If defeated, the sects might outwardly remain neutral but would covertly return to treating their territories as private kingdomspaying no taxes and ignoring imperialmands.
"In the end, we can only rely on ourselves."
"And now, I have only one move left."
"The Jade Cauldron Sect, so defiant against the court, must be utterly destroyed as an example."
"The first step to their annihtion is forcing them to hand over Shen Mo."
The Governor of Yu Province''s eyes gleamed coldly.
"Dictate as I speak," he ordered calmly.
Wu Renyin quickly rose, moved to the writing desk, and picked up a brush.
The governor began, his tone steady. "The first letter, addressed to Mo Lingxiao, Sect Master of the Supreme rity Sect."
"''Sect Master Mo, it has been three decades since west met. I trust you remain well and still remember me, your former teacher.''"
"''Your sect has long expressed interest in acquiring Irond Cloudships. If you ally with me, I will gift you five Irond Cloudships without charge.''"
"''Moreover, once the Jade Cauldron Sect is destroyed, all their treasures will be yours. My Governor''s Office will not take a single item.''"
Wu Renyin''s heart trembled as he wrote.
Irond Cloudships were aerial warships crafted by the skilled artisans under the Governor''smand.
Each was engraved with numerous offensive and defensive arrays.
Their destructive power was unparalleled, and their defenses were imprableso long as they were supplied with top-grade spirit stones.
One Irond Cloudship could rival an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator inbat power.
And ten Irond Cloudships firing together could obliterate ten early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators without leaving them any chance to fight back.
The Supreme rity Sect, founded on the art of crafting magical tools, had long coveted the Irond Cloudships and made repeated requests to purchase them.
The Governor had always refused.
But now, he was offering them freely.
After a brief pause, the governor continued, "The second letter, addressed to Hai Qiankun, Sect Master of the Danhe Sect."
"''Sect Master Hai, I have heard that your sect has recently developed the form for the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill. Allow me to extend my congrattions.''"
"''I have also heard that the Qingxuan Sect in Xuanjing Prefecture was once a subsidiary of your Danhe Sect. Shen Mo hails from the Qingxuan Sect, but instead of joining the Danhe Sect, he was intercepted by the Jade Cauldron Sect.''"
"''Now that Shen Mo has proven himself a peerless genius, this must be a significant loss to your sect. Should word of this spread, it could greatly damage the reputation of the Danhe Sect.''"
"''Furthermore, rumors have reached me that Shen Mo recently obtained the form for the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill in the Fire Pill Pce. This is certainly not good news for your sect.''"
"''I sincerely invite Sect Master Hai to sever ties with the Jade Cauldron Sect.''"
"''Once the Jade Cauldron Sect is destroyed, their treasures will all belong to the Danhe Sect. My Governor''s Office will not take a single item.''"
"''Even if Sect Master Hai is unwilling to agree to this, the Danhe Sect and the Governor''s Office can still coborate.''"
Wu Renyinpleted the two letters in one breath, his mood heavy.
The Governor noticed his somber expression and smiled faintly. "You can''t catch wolves without sacrificing sheep."
"Certain costs are inevitable."
"I want you to personally deliver these two letters to Mo Lingxiao and Hai Qiankun."
"Oh, and take an Irond Cloudship for faster travel."
Wu Renyin nodded solemnly. "Understood!"
As Wu Renyin''s figure disappeared into the distance, the Governor exhaled deeply.
The situation had deteriorated to such an extent that he had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure.
By allying with the Supreme rity Sect and the Danhe Sect to bring down the Jade Cauldron Sect, he aimed to im a share of the spoils.
That share might just resolve his immediate crisis.
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Chapter 276: The Radiance of Ascending to the Saint Body Spreads Three Thousand Miles
Chapter 276: The Radiance of Ascending to the Saint Body Spreads Three Thousand Miles
Supreme Purity Sect.
In a secluded garden, Wu Renyin met Mo Lingxiao.
This tall middle-aged man possessed a naturallymanding aura, his stern features instilling reverence at just a nce, making people instinctively lower their gaze, unable to look directly at him.
However, Mo Lingxiao did not look at Wu Renyin. Instead, he unfolded a letter and read it carefully.
When his eyesnded on the words "Irond Cloud Ship," a trace of delight shed across his face, though he quickly concealed it, maintaining a calm demeanor.
After a moment, he folded the letter and sighed softly, "This Shen Mo is truly a rare genius. What a pity he''s in the Jade Cauldron Sect."
"I recall that the Jade Cauldron Sect has another genius named Ye Yan, doesn''t it? There was a time when he outshone even my disciple."
"What virtue or capability does the Jade Cauldron Sect possess to be blessed with two unparalleled talents?"
Wu Renyin replied in a low voice, "Sect Master Mo, you are absolutely right."
Mo Lingxiao smiled faintly. "Go back and tell Governor Yu that I can agree to his terms, but the number of Irond Cloud Ships is too few."
Saying this, he spread his hands and raised ten fingers. "At least ten ships."
Wu Renyin froze, seemingly about to speak.
But Mo Lingxiao raised a single finger to his lips, silencing him. "Shh. I''m not negotiating with you. You''re not qualified. Don''t argue."
"Just deliver my message to your master."
With that, he waved dismissively, clearly unwilling to exchange another unnecessary word.
Wu Renyin took a deep breath. "Understood."
A few dayster, Pill River Sect.
After leaving the Supreme Purity Sect, Wu Renyin rushed non-stop aboard an Irond Cloud Ship to the Pill River Sect.
The Irond Cloud Ship''s speed far surpassed that of most Core Formation cultivators, allowing him to travel from the Supreme Purity Sect to the Pill River Sect within a few short days.
In a pavilion, Wu Renyin met the portly sect master of the Pill River Sect, Hai Qiankun.
At that moment, Hai Qiankun was being attended to by two young women in gauzy attire. They asionally fed him fresh, tender red grapes, which he savored slowly.
Nearby, another beautiful woman was ying a guqin, the melodious notes rippling like water, arousing a sense of longing.
As for the letter Wu Renyin presented, Hai Qiankun didn''t read it himself but had one of his attendants read it aloud.
Initially, Hai Qiankun sat with his eyes closed, immersed in his leisure. However, when the attendant read the words "Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill form," his eyes suddenly snapped open.
"Shen Mo discovered the form for the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill?"
"Interesting."
"Where did Governor Yu get this information?"
Hai Qiankun''s small eyes darted toward Wu Renyin.
Wu Renyin replied solemnly, "Apologies, but this is a secret of the Governor''s Office and cannot be disclosed."@@novelbin@@
Hai Qiankun chuckled lightly. "I was just asking casually. No need to be so tense."
Wu Renyin said seriously, "What is Sect Master Hai''s stance? I need to report back to the governor."
Hai Qiankun smiled faintly. "The interests of the Pill River Sect must not be infringed upon by anyone."
Wu Renyin understood and nodded. "I see. I will take my leave now."
As Hai Qiankun watched him depart, he suddenly spoke.
"Spread the word: immediately gather all information rted to Shen Mo. I want it on my desk this afternoon."
The guqin-ying attendant nodded firmly. "Understood. I''ll handle it right away."
Hai Qiankun fell into deep thought.
He realized he had underestimated Shen Mo.
That young man was far from ordinary. He couldn''t be dismissed as just another unpredictable factor.
"The Jade Cauldron Sect is unbelievably lucky. How did they end up with three talents like Shen Mo, Ye Yan, and L Dongxuan?"
Hai Qiankun scratched his head in frustration.
The Pill River Sect was immensely wealthy but had never been known for producing exceptional talents. It had always relied on its vast resources to recruit powerful rogue cultivators.
"If only Shen Mo were a genius of the Pill River Sect. What a pity, truly a pity. But soon, the Jade Cauldron Sect will be buried alongside him."
Hai Qiankun sighed deeply, casting the matter aside to continue enjoying his pleasant surroundings.
A Month Later, a Deste Mountain in Mian Mountain Prefecture
Shen Mo casually selected a cave on the deste mountain, driving away a den of ck bears inside.
With a gust of fierce wind, he swept out the foul odor, skeletal remains, and filth, cleansing the cave. Only then did he sit down cross-legged.
Li Zhendao and the others had been deliberating over hismendation for an entire month, yet no conclusion had been reached.
Tired of waiting, Shen Mo epted a task from the mission hall located in Mian Mountain Prefecture, arriving here to refine the Taiyi Saint Origin Pill.
He solemnly retrieved a jade box from his storage ring. Upon opening it, the box revealed a pill the size of a baby''s fist, glowing with a verdant green hue.
The pill''s surface bore intricate dark green patterns, seemingly random at first nce.
However, upon closer inspection, these patterns resonated with the profoundws of heaven and earth, exuding an enigmatic aura. Gazing at it too long caused dizziness and sparkling lights before one''s eyes.
Shen Mo took a deep breath and circted his spiritual energy to envelop the Taiyi Saint Origin Pill.
The refinement process began.
A pill of this size could not be consumed directlyit wouldn''t even fit into one''s mouth. Thus, it had to be refined externally before absorption.
Soon, strands of emerald-green medicinal energy, as fine as threads, began to seep into Shen Mo''s body through his nose and mouth under the guidance of his spiritual energy.
The energy slowly and steadily nourished his physical body.
By the end of the day, the Taiyi Saint Origin Pill had only shrunk by a singleyera shockingly slow process.
Shen Mo, however, remained patient, continuing to expend his spiritual energy to refine the pill. A vast amount of energy was drawn from his spiritual sea.
The spiritual energy flowed like snow, while the Taiyi Saint Origin Pill resembled a zing sun.
Even with torrents of spiritual energy pouring over it, the pill''s brilliance only dimmed slightly.
For an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, a day of such refinement would likely drain their energy reserves entirely, forcing them to stop and recover before resuming.
But for Shen Mo, after an entire day of constant refining, less than one-fifth of his spiritual energy had been consumed.
He even had surplus energy to sustain his Sr Essence me and Green Lotus Earth Core me, ensuring they didn''t turn against him due to ack of sustenance.
Day after day passed.
Finally, on the seventh day, the Taiyi Saint Origin Pill had diminished to the size of a sesame seed.
Nearly every trace of its medicinal power had been absorbed into Shen Mo''s body.
At a certain moment, a remarkable transformation took ce in his physique.
At first nce, his muscles, bones, and flesh seemed unchanged.
Yet on closer inspection, his entire demeanor had undergone a metamorphosisethereal, transcendent, like an immortal descending to the mortal realm.
Boom!
A pir of light shot skyward at that moment, piercing through the clouds.
The radiance spread across three thousand miles, lingering without fading.
Within a thousand miles, flower petals rained from the heavens, and a sweet fragrance filled the air.
Within a hundred miles, all beasts prostrated in submission, and vegetation flourished vibrantly.
In the sky above, clouds shimmered, and the sun and moon seemed to hang side by side.
A series of extraordinary phenomena unfolded, as if heralding the emergence of a supreme treasure.
Cultivators and mortals alike in the area surrounding the deste mountain were rmed.
Unbidden, their gazes turned toward the source.
Mortals knelt down devoutly, chanting praises of an immortal.
Lower-realm cultivators swallowed nervously, sensing the immense pressure radiating from the skyward pir of light.
Only Nascent Soul cultivators dared withstand the overwhelming force as they made their way toward the deste mountain.
None of them knew whether the phenomenon was caused by the birth of a priceless treasure or the breakthrough of a powerful cultivator.
Either way, it was worth investigatingperhaps they might stumble upon a fortune.
At this moment, Shen Mo abruptly opened his eyes.
A sharp gleam shed within them, shooting out and piercing the rocky wall in front of him.
He exhaled a murky breath, his gaze flickering with excitement and wonder.
"After ascending to the Saint Body, I''ve gained such remarkable abilities."
"I need to find a ce to test them properly."
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Chapter 279: Is There Still a Place for Me, Ye Yan, in the Jade Cauldron Sect?
Chapter 279: Is There Still a ce for Me, Ye Yan, in the Jade Cauldron Sect?
Shen Mo''s closed-door cultivationsted an entire six months.
During this period, he never stepped out of his residence.
It was a relentless cycle of alchemy and practice, practice and alchemy.
The six months passed in the blink of an eye.
Yet, Shen Mo''s surroundings remained spotless, and his appearance was exactly the same as it had been half a year ago, without the slightest change.
Suddenly, his aura began to surge at a visible speed.
In an instant, it soared to an astonishing level.
Gale winds swirled around him.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth grew chaotic.
On Dragon Snake Mountain, the spirit beasts stopped whatever they were doing and instinctively turned toward Shen Mo''s residence with expressions of fear.
Mei Haihe and the other stewards were also startled, followed by a wave of joy.
Mei Haihe eximed excitedly, "It must be Elder Shen''s cultivation breakthrough! His strength has advanced yet again!"
Boom!
An overwhelming aura swept outward.
Shen Mo''s cultivation naturally advanced to the Nascent Soul stage''s peak.
He opened his eyes abruptly, exhaling a cloud of turbid air.
A trace of joy flickered across his face.
The Nascent Soul stage''s peak.
Although he hadn''t reached the absolute peak of the Nascent Soul stage, his strength was now so immense that he could disregard any cultivator below the Divine Transformation stage.
He could truly imbelow Divine Transformation, I am invincible.
Shen Mo turned his spiritual sense inward to examine his dantian.
The Red Lotus me hadpletely refined five centennial Earthfire Essences, growing even more powerful.
The Sr me had absorbed the millennial Earthfire Essence, undergoing a dramatic transformation.
Previously just a tiny spark the size of a fingertip, it had now grown to the size of a fist.
Even the Red Lotus me had to yield more space to it.
"Not bad," Shen Mo muttered with a satisfied smile, striding out of his residence.
The moment he stepped outside, he was greeted by Mei Haihe leading a group of stewards, all kneeling on one knee before him.
"Congrattions, Elder Shen, on reaching a higher realm!" Mei Haihe said excitedly.
Though he couldn''t discern Shen Mo''s exact cultivation level, he could sense the tremendous leap in Shen Mo''s aurapared to six months ago.
Shen Mo nodded with a faint smile. "Stand up. It''s just a small advancement, not worth celebrating."
He nced around and asked, "Why don''t I see Huang Bayi?"
Mei Haihe''s expression dimmed slightly. "Elder Huang reached the end of his lifespan. He passed away two months ago."
Shen Mo sighed softly.
When he had first arrived at Dragon Snake Mountain, he''d already noticed that Huang Bayi had only a few years left.
Moreover, Huang Bayi''s potential had been fully exhausted, making it impossible for him to break through and extend his life.
Now, it was simply dust returning to dust, earth to earth.
"Where was he buried?" Shen Mo asked.
Mei Haihe replied quietly, "Elder Shen, please follow me."
He gestured to the other stewards to disperse and return to their duties before leading Shen Mo to a mountaintop.
There stood a small stone tablet engraved with two lines of text:
"Grave of Huang Bayi, Steward of Dragon Snake Mountain, Jade Cauldron Sect."
"Erected by Huang Caiying."
Before the tablet stood a petite figure, Huang Caiying, silently gazing at the grave.@@novelbin@@
She seemed to sense someone behind her and turned to see Shen Mo.
Tears immediately welled up in her eyes as she ran toward him without hesitation, throwing her arms around his waist.
"Elder, my grandfather he''s gone he left me behind all alone"
Shen Mo patted her gently on the head. "All living beings face death someday. Your grandfather raised and taught you well; he left with no regrets. He was happy and at peace when he departed."
"You must also live happily and steadily, so your grandfather can rest in peace in the afterlife. Do you understand?"
Huang Caiying wiped her tears and nodded firmly. "Yes, Elder. I will listen to you."
Shen Mo thought for a moment before casually saying, "Mei, take Caiying to the sect''s Scripture Pavilion. Help her select some cultivation techniques and martial arts suitable for her. Whatever contribution points are required, report them to me for reimbursement."
Huang Bayi had dedicated his life to serving Shen Mo, so it was only fitting for Shen Mo to spend some contribution points on his granddaughter.
Mei Haihe was moved. "Understood, Elder Shen. I will carry out your orders!"
At the Scripture Pavilion
Mei Haihe brought Huang Caiying to the pavilion.
Both of them were visiting for the first time, feeling somewhat uneasy amidst the bustling crowd.
At that moment, in the first-floor hall of the pavilion, Ye Yan stood before a Scripture Pavilion steward, his expression cold as he asked, "Where are the books on the Ten Thousand Demon Nation I requested? Why are they gone?"
The steward could only offer an apologetic smile. "Elder Ye, my sincerest apologies. Those books were exchanged by Elder Shen."
"Elder Shen? Shen Mo?" Ye Yan''s face instantly turned icy.
The steward smiled wryly. "Exactly. Orders from above state that Elder Shen''s requests are given priority Please don''t me me."
Ye Yan took a deep breath, his heart heavy with dejection.
He was a genius, too.
Why did the treatment he received differ so drastically from Shen Mo''s?
At that moment, a timid voice spoke behind him.
"Excuse me, Steward, how should I go about selecting cultivation techniques and martial arts?"
Ye Yan turned around to see a frail, petite girl apanied by an elderly man with a dignified, celestial air.
Something about them felt familiar, but he couldn''t immediately ce them.
The steward frowned. "Use your eyes to look and your hands to choose. Do you need me to teach you that?"
Mei Haihe quickly interjected, "I''m sorry. We''ve been stationed at Dragon Snake Mountain all this time and have never visited the Scripture Pavilion. We don''t know the rules. My apologies."
"Hmph, then step aside and don''t block others. Wait Did you say you''ve been at Dragon Snake Mountain?"
The steward suddenly gasped, as if recalling something.
Mei Haihe paused, puzzled. "Yes, I''m the chief steward of Dragon Snake Mountain. This girl is a disciple of Dragon Snake Mountain."
The steward''s eyes lit up. "Ah, so you''re one of Elder Shen''s trusted aides! Why didn''t you say so earlier?"
"Come,e! Is this youngdy here to select cultivation techniques and martial arts? I''m free right now. I''ll help her!"
"Follow me. The best techniques and martial arts for Core Formation cultivators are here. Judging by her agility, she''s best suited for subtle and precise martial arts"
The surrounding cultivators overheard terms like "Dragon Snake Mountain," "Elder Shen," and "chief steward," and their eyes gleamed with interest.
Over the years, Shen Mo''s reputation had soared, and his achievements were well-known among the disciples.
Dragon Snake Mountain, being Shen Mo''s base of operations, had drawn considerable attention.
Many people had dreamed of joining Dragon Snake Mountain and bing one of Shen Mo''s subordinates.
However, Mei Haihe strictly enforced Shen Mo''s orders, rigorously vetting applicants and barring anyone of unclear background from entering Dragon Snake Mountain.
Thus, despite their desires, most people couldn''t get in.
Now, seeing the chief steward in person, many disciples eagerly crowded around Mei Haihe and Huang Caiying, their enthusiasm unmistakable.
To an outsider, it might even seem like the two were Nascent Soul elders themselves.
Meanwhile, Ye Yan''s side became eerily quiet.
His face darkened to an extreme.
It was one thing to be overshadowed by Shen Mo.
But now even Shen Mo''s stewards and disciples were stealing his thunder!
Damn it.
Absolutely damn it!
Was there still a ce for me, Ye Yan, in this Jade Cauldron Sect?
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Chapter 280: If They Don’t Fear Me, It’s My Own Incompetence
Chapter 280: If They Don''t Fear Me, It''s My Own Ipetence
A few dayster, Mei Haihe returned to Dragon Snake Mountain with Huang Caiying.
At this time, Shen Mo was practicing his techniques on a vast in.
He was focused on the Grand Wild me Maniption Technique.
This technique was no lessplex than the Hellfire Destruction Method.
The first level involved controlling a single exotic me, transforming it into various forms.
This stage was rtively simple.
The second level required controlling and merging two exotic mes, then transforming the merged me into various forms.
The difficulty increased drastically.
This stage demanded precise control of the proportions of each me to achieve a dynamic bnce.
Each exotic me had unique properties and power levels.
Furthermore, mes could be ssified into different stages: spark (juvenile), ze (mature), and ember (declining).@@novelbin@@
As a result, merging two exotic mes required extraordinarily stringent conditions.
If the dynamic bnce between the mes was not achieved, there was only one possible oue
Boom!
Explosion.
The area around Shen Mo was littered with scorched earth.
His robes had been blown apart dozens of times.
Eventually, he stopped wearing robes altogether, covering only his essentials, using his body to withstand the explosions of the exotic mes.
At first, the disciples and stewards of Dragon Snake Mountain were startled by the explosions, thinking it was a riot caused by spirit beasts.
But after discovering that themotion was caused by Shen Mo''s training, they gradually grew ustomed to it.
When Mei Haihe and Huang Caiying asked for Shen Mo''s location, they were directed to the in.
From a distance, Huang Caiying saw Shen Mo, who wasn''t wearing much clothing, and her face immediately turned crimson.
Mei Haihe chuckled and patted her head.
"Elder Shen, Caiying and I have returned," he called out.
Shen Mo, hearing the voice, immediately retracted the Sr me and Red Lotus me, donned a robe, and approached with quick steps.
"Oh? What techniques and martial arts did you select for Caiying?" Shen Mo asked with a smile.
Despite enduring numerous explosions from the exotic mes, Shen Mo''s body was strong enough to withstand them without any harm.
He remained as energetic as ever while speaking with Mei Haihe.
Mei Haihe responded respectfully, "The cultivation technique we chose is the Earth-grade low-tier Azure Water Golden Whale Technique.
As for martial arts, we selected three top-tier Profound-grade techniques: Azure Wave Whip Technique,Golden Shield of Azure Water,and Rippled Steps."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
Huang Caiying had an Earth-grade water-attribute physique, and Mei Haihe, with his extensive knowledge, had made excellent choices.
Mei Haihe added, "The total cost was 13 Grade-C contributions.
However, we encountered the Third Elder at the Scripture Pavilion, and upon hearing about this, he used his Jade Cauldron Pearl to settle the bill for us."
Shen Mo chuckled. "The Third Elder?"
The Third Elder would not normally pay attention to Core Formation cultivators like Mei Haihe or Huang Caiying.
It was evident he had done this deliberately to build a favorable rtionship with Shen Mo.
"Not badit saved us some contributions," Shen Mo said with a smile.
"Caiying, you can head back for now. I need to discuss something with Elder Shen," Mei Haihe said, patting her on the head.
"Alright," Huang Caiying replied and left.
Once she was gone, Mei Haihe lowered his voice. "Elder Shen, while at the Scripture Pavilion, I overheard a conversation suggesting that some people might be plotting against you."
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Let''s hear it."
Mei Haihe exined in a hushed tone, "Recently, the Danhe Sect has suspended its pill trade with our Jade Cauldron Sect.
The Supreme Purity Sect has also refused to fulfillst year''s artifact orders.
And the State Governor''s Office? They''ve not only cut off the trade of spirit beast and demon beast materials but have also withheld our spirit stones.
Furthermore, there''s news that the State Governor''s Office has gifted six Irond Cloudships to the Supreme Purity Sect."
Shen Mo pondered this.
Irond Cloudships?
Those were treasures of immense value.
One Irond Cloudship was equivalent in power to an early-stage Divine Transformation cultivator.
But six Irond Cloudships, deployed in a coordinated assault, could easily surpass the strength of six early-stage Divine Transformation cultivators!
The State Governor himself didn''t have many Irond Cloudships, yet he sent six directly to the Supreme Purity Sect.
As for the Pill River Sect, cutting off the pill trade was a severe blow.
The Jade Cauldron Sect could refine its own pills, but the cost-effectiveness couldn''tpare to that of the Pill River Sect.
So much so that it was cheaper to buy from the Pill River Sect than to produce them in-house.
Mei Haihe continued, "There''s word from the Pill River Sect that the Qingxuan Sect in Xuanjiang Prefecture, where you used to belong, has always been a subordinate sect of the Pill River Sect.
They im that the Jade Cauldron Sect poaching you vites the rules set by the three major sects of Yuzhou.
The Pill River Sect is demanding that the Jade Cauldron Sect hand you over and have you leave the Jade Cauldron Sect to join them."
"There''s also word from the Supreme Purity Sect. They''re using you of having killed one of their Nascent Soul elders and are demanding that the Jade Cauldron Sect hand you over for their punishment."
"I also heard that the Second Elder and Fourth Elder are already convening a meeting, and the main topic is you."
After finishing, Mei Haihe cautiously nced at Shen Mo, worried that these developments would shake his resolve.
In a short period, the Supreme Purity Sect, Pill River Sect, and the State Governor''s Office had all openly shown hostility toward the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Moreover, they all demanded that the sect hand over Shen Mo.
No matter how strong Shen Mo was, he couldn''t contend with an entire sect alone.
If the deliberations in the council hall concluded with a decision to hand him over, what could Shen Mo do?
And as Shen Mo''s steward, what would Mei Haihe''s fate be?
However, Mei Haihe didn''t see a trace of fear or hesitation on Shen Mo''s face.
His expression remained as calm as still water, as if he didn''t care about the news at all.
"Is that all? Anything else?" Shen Mo asked nonchntly.
Mei Haihe nodded. "That''s all I heard. They stopped talking when they noticed me approaching, knowing I''m your steward from Dragon Snake Mountain."
Shen Mo chuckled lightly. "That''s normal."
"If I hadn''t provoked their fear, it would mean I''m ipetent."
Mei Haihe couldn''t help but smile wryly.
Oh, Elder Shen.
Even now, you''re cracking jokes.
At that moment, the ground suddenly trembled slightly, as if some enormous creature had shifted underground.
All the spirit beasts on Dragon Snake Mountain fell silent, as though sensing the presence of a top predator in the food chain.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow, a thought shing through his mind.
"Mei Haihe, I''ll leave Dragon Snake Mountain in your care for now. I need to visit the sect," Shen Mo said, patting Mei Haihe on the shoulder.
"Yes, I will manage Dragon Snake Mountain and await your good news," Mei Haihe replied with a resolute nod.
Shen Mo smiled, then vanished from sight.
When he reappeared, he was deep beneath Dragon Snake Mountain, near the hatching site of the Fire Dragon Egg.
"As expected! You''re about to hatch!"
Shen Mo looked at the gradually cracking eggshell with joy.
The earlier tremor had been caused by the Fire Dragon Egg.
"For now, you''ll need to endure a bit of confinement in the beast pouch."
Shen Mo retrieved his mid-grade beast pouch, cing the Fire Dragon Egg and its vat-like container inside.
Then, without dy, he flew straight toward Dragon Snake Mountain.
However, before he reached Dragon Snake Mountain, he encountered three people.
Zhao Yaolu, L Dongxue, and He Tianchou.
The three appeared anxious, rushing toward Dragon Snake Mountain.
Upon spotting Shen Mo, they quickened their pace to meet him.
Before Shen Mo could speak, Zhao Yaolu''s expression turned serious as she eximed, "Junior Brother! I''ve already arranged a way out for you. Follow me to Jade Sea City immediately. From there, we''ll head straight to the East Sea.
I know of a nameless ind where we can hide until this blows over!"
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Chapter 281: I Have Indeed Brought a Great Treasure
Chapter 281: I Have Indeed Brought a Great Treasure
Lu Dongxuan spoke seriously, "Junior Brother, don''t worry. The old man is already buying us time, so you''re temporarily safe.
"Use this time wiselyhurry to the East Sea while you still can!"
He Tianchou took out a storage ring and solemnly handed it to Shen Mo.
"Elder Shen, this contains tokens of appreciation from me, Ouyang Wei, and many elders whom you''ve saved in the past.
"It''s enough to sustain your cultivation for a long time.
"Go to the East Sea and focus on cultivating. We believe you will achieve the Divine Transformation Realm.
"When you reach that level, it won''t be toote to return to the sect!"
With that, he forcibly ced the storage ring in Shen Mo''s hand.
Shen Mo, still confused, asked, "What''s going on?"
Zhao Yaolu''s face turned serious. "The Supreme Purity Sect and the Provincial Governor''s Office haveunched a joint attack. They''ve deployed armored cloud ships, capturing two cities within a day. They''re also coborating with internal traitors, coordinating attacks to surround four of our key industries.
"Fortunately, we had agents inside the Supreme Purity Sect who warned us in advance, allowing us to evacuate personnel and resources from one of the industries in time.
"But the remaining three industries, including the vital Golden Iron Valley, have been surrounded."
Shen Mo''s expression turned contemtive.
He knew the Golden Iron Valley was the most crucial artifact-forging industry of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
The forging techniques used to create the Azure Lotus Robes, Crowns, and Boots that Yang Qiye obtained had all originated from the Golden Iron Valley. Over twenty sets had already been crafted.
Now, the valley was surrounded by the Supreme Purity Sect and the Provincial Governor''s Office.
Although they hadn''t attacked yet, the Golden Iron Valley was clearly at their mercy. It was only a matter of time before they decided to strike.
For the Jade Cauldron Sect, this was a devastating loss.
Lu Dongxuan gritted his teeth. "They haven''tunched an attack yet but have the valleypletely surrounded.
"They''ve made it clearif we hand you over, they''ll withdraw immediately."
"Yang Qiye has already allied with the Fourth Elder and others, demanding that you, as an elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect, sacrifice yourself for the greater good of the sect."
Lu Dongxuan continued, "Yang Qiye has joined forces with the Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth Elders.
"However, the Grand Elder, Fifth Elder, and Eighth Elder stand with me against them.
"The Third and Sixth Elders remain undecided, unwilling to take a firm stance.
"As for the Sect Master, he hasn''t expressed an opinion. After all, Yang Qiye and his faction are his senior elders, making his position delicate.
"To break the deadlock, the Sect Master proposed another topic: the long-vacant position of the Young Sect Master.
"He suggested appointing you as the Young Sect Master. ording to the sect''s founding rules, once someone assumes this position, the sect must do everything to protect them.
"However, Yang Qiye and his faction are obstructing this proposal, leaving the situation at an impasse."
"The current stalemate won''tst long. Every second those industries remain surrounded plunges the sect deeper into torment.
"If the losses be too great, affecting every elder, steward, and disciple, more people will eventually demand you be handed over."
He Tianchou sighed. "Yes, after all, they don''t care about you, Shen Mo. They see it as your death in exchange for their safety. Why would they care?"
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "I don''t think it''s worth worrying about.
"Bing the Young Sect Master isn''t all that difficult."
Zhao Yaolu scratched her head. "Junior Brother, with your talent, temperament, and contributions, it''s true that if the ten elders united, you''d be the Young Sect Master with ease.
"But right now, the elders are split into two factions of equal strength.
"Your chances of bing the Young Sect Master are slim unless..."
She seemed to think of something but stopped short of saying it.
Lu Dongxuan pondered aloud, "Unless the Guardian of the Sect explicitly supports you, breaking his own rules to intervene in sect affairs."
He Tianchou sighed again, unable to find words.@@novelbin@@
The Sect Guardian was the Jade Cauldron Sect''s ultimate safeguard, ast resort.
Since the departure of the sect''s founder, the Guardian had refrained from intervening in sect matters, avoiding internal disputes.
For him to break his own rules for a young junior like Shen Mo would be unthinkable.
Lu Dongxuan added, "I know you have a good rtionship with the Guardian, and he even granted you a token for ess to the valley.
"But that''s not enough. Unless the Guardian openly supports you as the Young Sect Master, it''s all meaningless."
He Tianchou nodded. "Elder Shen, please listen to us. Take this time to flee to the East Sea."
Shen Mo chuckled but felt a warmth in his heart.
He hadn''t expected his senior sister and brothers toe to him immediately and even arrange an escape n.
He Tianchou, Ouyang Wei, and others had also shown their goodwill.
Looking at the three of them, Shen Mo shook his head firmly.
"No, I don''t need to run.
"The Guardian will support me as the Young Sect Master."
As Shen Mo brushed past the trio, he headed straight for the Hengtai Mountain Range.
Zhao Yaolu, Lu Dongxuan, and He Tianchou froze, baffled by Shen Mo''s actions.
"Isn''t that the direction of the valley where the Guardian resides?" A glint of realization flickered in Lu Dongxuan''s eyes.
"Could it be that Junior Brother has some ace up his sleeve to force the old dragon to support him?" Zhao Yaolu said with a hint of surprise.
He Tianchou was even more astonished by her words.
What could possibly make the Guardian willingly break his own rules to intervene in sect affairs?
No one could think of an answer.
"Let''s follow him and see," Zhao Yaolu said, her curiosity tinged with uncertainty.
Lu Dongxuan and He Tianchou nodded and quickly followed.
Dragon Valley
The old dragon lounged idly on the ground, holding a sharpened tree trunk in its w and using it as a toothpick.
Its demeanor was utterly rxed, showing no concern for the current chaos in the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Grumbling to itself, the dragon muttered:
"Why hasn''t Shen Moe to chat with me?"
"Could it be that he''s died in the Fire Pill Pce?"
"Hmph, if Li Zhendao let Shen Mo die there, I''ll have to give him a good thrashing."
At that moment, a streak of light descended at the valley''s entrance.
The disciples guarding the valley recognized the familiar figure and immediately allowed him passage with respectful bows.
However, their gazes toward Shen Mo were a mix of emotions: admiration, fear, pity, and helplessness.
Shen Mo smiled and nodded at them before striding confidently into the valley.
"Guardian, I''vee to see you."
The old dragon''s eyes lit up with joy. "You''re here? I''ve missed you so much!"
"This whole time, Li Zhendao hasn''t visited, Ye Yan hasn''te, and you''ve been absent too. You have no idea how bored I''ve beenI''m practically growing mushrooms out here!"
"So, how was your time at the Fire Pill Pce? Did you gain anything?
"Do you have any treasures for me?"
"Things have been a bit chaotic in the secttely, but don''t worry. As long as you stay here, no one will darey a finger on you."
The old dragon chuckled, exuding an air of unshakable confidence.
Shen Mo felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
The old dragon clearly understood the situation outside, and these words were meant to reassure him.
"I did bring a treasurean extraordinary one at that," Shen Mo said with a smile.
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Chapter 282: Shen Mo, You’re Truly a Good Man
Chapter 282: Shen Mo, You''re Truly a Good Man@@novelbin@@
The old dragon looked astonished.
"My standards are exceptionally high," it said.
"If what you''ve brought me isn''t a real treasure, I''ll be very upset!" The old dragon pretended to be angry.
Shen Mo smiled slightly and took out a beast-taming pouch.
From within, he retrieved arge barrel.
Inside the barrel was a massive egg, rapidly cracking apart!
The old dragon froze for a moment, then its face lit up with uncontroble joy.
"This aura feels so familiar..."
"This is... my child?!"
The old dragon shot out of itsir like a bolt of lightning, carefully approaching the barrel, its gaze fixed nervously on the massive egg.
Shen Mo smiled warmly. "Yes, this is your child."
"I promised I''d help you find it, and now I''ve fulfilled my promise."
The old dragon took a deep breath, releasing visible white mist from its nostrils.
It looked at Shen Mo with solemn gratitude, its massive eyes filling with tears before the dragon even spoke.
Tears, like pearls, began to fall.
"I... I never imagined that just when I was about to give up hope, you''d bring my child back to me."
"I''m so moved."
"You, Shen Mo, you''re truly a good man!"
The old dragon wept tears of joy.
Its massive w instinctively reached out, as if to embrace Shen Mo.
Fortunately, Shen Mo reacted quickly and dodged to the side.
Otherwise, he would have ended up crushednot by his enemies but by the old dragon''s overly enthusiastic hug. That would''ve been a ridiculous way to die.
Realizing its excitement had gone too far, the old dragon awkwardly rubbed its ws together. "Sorry, sorry, I forgot you''re still in the Nascent Soul Realm.
"That hug could''ve nearly broken your bones."
Shen Mo waved it off, about to speak, when he noticed the egg cracking even faster.
From the bottom of the shell, a hind w stretched out.
The old dragon was ecstatic. "Good, good, good! It''s about to hatch!"
"Shen Mo, the medicinal liquid you prepared is excellent. It seems to have sped up the hatching process."
Shen Mo chuckled. "I''m an expert in this area."
The old dragon crouched down to watch the hatching process closely, lying t beside Shen Mo with the intense focus of a child in a school lesson.
Outside Dragon Valley
Zhao Yaolu and the others finally arrived.
Without entry tokens, they couldn''t enter the valley and could only peer in from a distance.
"What''s going on inside?" Lu Dongxuan said, fidgeting as if ants were crawling all over him.
"I can''t see anything; the old dragon''s body is blocking the view," Zhao Yaolu said, scratching her head.
He Tianchou sighed. "If we could enter, I''d really love to see what trump card Elder Shen has up his sleeve."
"Let''s wait," Zhao Yaolu said with a sigh. "But I can''t shake the feeling that everything is moving toward a worse oue."
Lu Dongxuan blinked. "Senior Sister, have you forgotten your luck?
"If your premonition says things are getting worse, it might actually mean they''re getting better!
"Keep thinking pessimisticallythe worse it feels, the better it might be!"
Zhao Yaolu wrinkled her nose. "You must have a screw loose!"
Meanwhile
Several figures streaked across the sky toward Dragon Valley like a gale.
Leading them was Yang Wenyuan.
Behind him were Ye Yan, Wang Wu, and other cultivators aligned with Yang Qiye''s faction.
"Did you confirm it? Shen Mo went straight to Dragon Valley?" Yang Wenyuan asked.
"Indeed. I figure he''s relying on his rtionship with the Guardian to beg for his life," Wang Wu sneered.
The othersughed mockingly, their tones full of disdain.
At the brink of death, running to beg the old dragon for help?
Everyone knew the Guardian had sworn not to meddle in sect affairs unless the sect faced an existential crisis.
In the end, Shen Mo was simply wasting precious time.
Instead of escaping, he was running to plead with the old dragon? Truly, his brain must''ve been kicked by a donkey!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Yang Wenyuan and his groupnded at the entrance of Dragon Valley, immediately spotting Zhao Yaolu, Lu Dongxuan, and He Tianchou.
"Oh? So, you''re here too," Yang Wenyuan sneered, his gaze settling particrly on Lu Dongxuan.
"What are you doing here?" Zhao Yaolu''s face turned grim.
Ye Yan produced a token and dered, "We''re here to enter the valley and capture Shen Mo!"
"No one''s entering today!" Lu Dongxuan flipped his hand, and a long spear appeared in his palm.
His murderous aura surged, giving off the impression that he alone could hold off an army of thousands.
He Tianchou also unsheathed his weapon, standing ready for battle.
After all, Shen Mo had saved his lifenot once but several times. Blocking Ye Yan and the others was the least he could do to repay that debt.
Zhao Yaolu didn''t seem to react outwardly, but her fair palm began to shimmer with dark scales.
It was as if something ancient and long-sealed within her bloodline was awakening.
Ye Yan''s expression grew tense.
He suddenly felt immense pressure.
Both Zhao Yaolu and Lu Dongxuan, elders of the Tenth Peak, were far stronger than he had anticipated.
Yang Wenyuan stepped forward, cing himself before Ye Yan.
His eyes were cold. "What now? Are you nning to defy the sect''s orders?"
Lu Dongxuan sneered. "What a joke! The proposals in the council chamber haven''t been resolved yet. Where are these so-called sect ordersing from?"
Yang Wenyuan nced back at his group.
Including himself, there were eight people on his side,pared to only three on the other.
If it came to a fight, the three of them wouldn''t stand a chance.
Making a quick decision, Yang Wenyuan waved his hand. "Attack! Break into the valley and capture Shen Mo alive!"
He charged forward, leading the group, with Ye Yan, Wang Wu, and the others following closely behind.
The battle was about to erupt when suddenly, a new and vigorous energy surged forth.
It felt like the birth of a young sunsmall yet radiating intense, scorching heat.
The energy emanated from within the valley.
In that instant, everyoneYe Yan, Zhao Yaolu, Lu Dongxuan, and the otherspaused and turned their attention toward the valley.
Momentster, a resounding dragon''s roar erupted from within.
The sound reverberated for three thousand miles, shaking the heavens.
Countless demonic and spiritual beasts fell to the ground, trembling in submission, not daring to make a single sound.
This dragon''s roar was unlike any before.
It was filled with joy, excitement, and pure happinessthe kind that hadn''t been felt for over a thousand years.
Inside the Council Chamber
The elders, who had been in a heated debate, froze at the sound of the dragon''s roar.
"What''s happening to the Guardian?"
"How could there be such a dragon''s roar? What''s going on?"
"Could it be... the Guardian has found a way to reproduce?"
The elders exchanged bewildered looks before rushing out of the council chamber.
Ao Yan, the Guardian of the Jade Cauldron Sect, was the sect''s ultimate pir of strength.
The sudden dragon''s roar from Ao Yan demanded their immediate attention.
The two unresolved issueswhether to hand Shen Mo over or appoint him as the Young Sect Masterwere temporarily set aside.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Led by Sect Master Li Zhendao, all eleven council members left the chamber and headed straight for Dragon Valley.
Throughout the Jade Cauldron Sect, every elder, steward, and disciple heard the earth-shattering dragon''s roar.
The entire sect erupted in discussion, specting on what might have happened to their Guardian.
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Chapter 283: Shen Mo, the Young Sect Master of the Jade Cauldron Sect
Chapter 283: Shen Mo, the Young Sect Master of the Jade Cauldron Sect
Outside Dragon Valley
Li Zhendao and the eleven elders arrived swiftly at the scene.
Ye Yan, Lu Dongxuan, and the others immediately saluted.
Li Zhendao frowned. "Why are so many people gathered here?"
Ye Yan replied coldly, "Shen Mo is inside Dragon Valley. We must capture him now to prevent his escape!"
The Fifth Elder furrowed his brows. "The council has yet to decide on the matter. Who authorized you to make an arrest, Ye Yan? Who gave you that authority?"
Ye Yan answered calmly, "I am an elder of the Second Peak and a member of the Disciplinary Hall, appointed by the Grand Elder.
"Regardless of the council''s decisionwhether Shen Mo is to be handed over or nothe must be detained temporarily to await judgment.
"If he learns of the situation and escapes, the responsibility will fall on the Disciplinary Hall. On me."
The Fifth Elder hesitated, his brows knit in disapproval.
Li Zhendao sighed. "Let''s set that aside for now. First, we need to find out what''s happening with the Guardian."
Taking a single step forward, he prepared to enter the valley.
But in the next instant, an iparably powerful and majestic aura descended upon them.
Everyone present felt as though they were being stared down by a predator at the very top of the food chain, as if their next moment might end in the jaws of a terrifying beast.
Even Li Zhendao and the other Divine Transformation cultivators froze in their tracks.
All eyes instinctively turned toward the sky.
A colossal ck silhouette blotted out the sun, descending like a mountain about to crush them.
It was the Fire Dragonthe Guardian of the Jade Cauldron Sect!
"Who gave you the nerve to cause such amotion outside my valley?"
The old dragon''s icy gaze swept across Yang Wenyuan''s group and Lu Dongxuan''s party.
When his eyesnded on Zhao Yaolu, a hint of apprehension flickered in his expression, lingering on her for a moment longer.
Li Zhendao cupped his hands respectfully. "Guardian, we heard your dragon roar and came to check on you. What happened?"
The old dragon chuckled lightly. "Oh, nothing major. My child was just born."
"Your... child?"
Li Zhendao froze, his face quickly giving way to utter astonishment.
He wasn''t alone; everyone present was stunned.
The Guardian''s... child?
Born?
Where did this childe from?
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed as Shen Mo strode out of the valley, followed closely by a small dragon no more than three feet long.
The dragon was entirely crimson, its scales not yet fully formed, giving it a soft and youthful appearance.
It seemed timid, hiding behind Shen Mo''s legs and peeking cautiously at the gathered crowd.
Shen Mo cupped his hands. "Greetings, Sect Master."
Li Zhendao stared in disbelief.
Even a fool could see the small dragon''s closeness to Shen Mo, making the situation abundantly clear.
Li Zhendao''s voice trembled. "Elder Shen, you found the Fire Dragon''s egg and helped it hatch?"
The old dragon snorted. "Who else? Do you think I would hatch the egg myself?"
Gasp!
The sound of people inhaling sharply echoed through the air.
Shen Mo had found the Fire Dragon''s egg and even assisted in its hatching!
This was nothing short of resolving a lifelong regret for the Guardian.
What was this?
An earth-shattering contribution!
Since the departure of the founding patriarch, the Jade Cauldron Sect hadn''t seen such a monumental achievement.
"Shen Mo, you" Li Zhendao was so overwhelmed that he struggled to find the right words.
Elders like Wan Mushun, the Third Elder, and the Fifth Elder were visibly moved, their eyes glistening with emotion.
In stark contrast, Yang Qiye''s face turned incredibly sour.
Even a fool could guess what was about to happen next.
Ye Yan''s expression darkened to the point that it seemed water might drip from it.
He couldn''t believe that Shen Mo had aplished something so significant.
Shen Mo spoke calmly, his voice steady and resolute.
"I am fully aware of the challenges facing the sect.
"However, sacrificing our own Young Sect Master to appease our enemies is, in my opinion, a grave mistake."
The Fire Dragon''s gaze swept across Yang Qiye and his followers. "What do you think?"
At that moment, Yang Qiye, a Divine Transformation cultivator, felt as though he was being stared down by a primordial beast that could crush him at any moment.
Even though he was a powerful Divine Transformation cultivator, the Fire Dragon''s overwhelming presence made it clear that their power was not on the same level. The gap between Divine Transformation cultivators was vast, and the Fire Dragon was at the pinnacle of its tier.
"I agree," Yang Qiye said with immense difficulty, his voice strained under the oppressive aura.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt as if a mountain had been lifted from his shoulders and let out a deep sigh of relief.
The Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth Elders quickly followed suit, bowing their heads in agreement.
Li Zhendao, Wan Mushun, and the other elders exhaled deeply, relieved.
The Fire Dragon''s words carried two unmistakable messages:
First, it fully supported Shen Mo bing the Young Sect Master of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Second, it strongly disapproved of the n to use Shen Mo as a bargaining chip for temporary peace with their enemies.
Zhao Yaolu, Lu Dongxuan, and He Tianchou finally rxed, their previously tense expressions easing.
All three looked at Shen Mo with newfound admiration and respect.
Shen Mo responded with a faint smile.
"I never imagined Junior Brother had such a powerful trump card," Lu Dongxuan muttered, clicking his tongue in amazement.
"Hmph, I saw iting," Zhao Yaolu said smugly, her small face full of pride.
Lu Dongxuan chuckled. "Saw iting? Your premonitions were all doom and gloom earlier. You didn''t see anything."
Zhao Yaolu red at him. "Let''s spar in the training grounds, and I''ll show you!"
Lu Dongxuan''s face turned pale. "No way, over my dead body!"
The Fire Dragon snorted. "Stop dawdling. Get back to your duties.
"Your enemies are at your doorstep. What are you waiting for?
"And as for the formal ceremony to appoint the Young Sect Master, pick a time for it soon.
"Don''t bother me with these trivial matters. I never interfere in sect affairs or break the rules."
The Fire Dragon crouched down, carefully cradled the small dragon, and retreated into Dragon Valley.@@novelbin@@
Before leaving, it nced back. "Shen Mo, visit often. This little one seems to like you a lot."
"I will, for sure," Shen Mo replied with a smile.
Li Zhendao and the others bowed respectfully as the Fire Dragon departed.
Inwardly, they couldn''t help but think: You im not to interfere in sect affairs or break rules, yet what were you just doing?
Of course, none of them dared voice such thoughts, choosing instead to act as if nothing had happened.
Li Zhendaoughed heartily. "Young Sect Master, let''s go. It''s time for the formal ceremony."
Shen Mo cupped his hands. "Very well."
Surrounded by the elders, Shen Mo was escorted toward the council hall, leaving behind Ye Yan, Yang Wenyuan, and Wang Wu.
Their faces were dark, their expressions filled with frustration and resentment.
"Tsk, shing with the future Sect Master isn''t a wise move. I hope you''re prepared for what''sing," Zhao Yaolu said smugly as she passed them.
"Some people are about to have a very bad time," Lu Dongxuan added with a sly grin.
He Tianchou said nothing, but the amused chuckle that escaped his lips stung Ye Yan and the others even more.
"Damn it"
Ye Yan clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms.
The bones of his knuckles bulged, and blood dripped onto the ground.
But he seemedpletely oblivious to the pain.
Yang Wenyuan nced at Ye Yan''s back before turning to the others. "Let''s leave him to cool off. We should head back."
The group departed, leaving only the two dutiful disciples guarding the valley entrance and Ye Yan standing there alone.
As the sun set and the moon rose, shrouding thend in darkness, Ye Yan finally seemed toe to a decision. Without hesitation, he turned and left.
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Chapter 285: Earth-Rank Low-Grade Treasure – Phoenix Perch Parasol Tree
Chapter 285: Earth-Rank Low-Grade Treasure C Phoenix Perch Parasol Tree
Ye Yan traveled south without pause.
His speed was swift, and he didn''t stop for even a moment.
As he approached the border of Taishan Prefecture, he finally came to a halt.
Ahead of him was a dormant volcano, once a treasured site for alchemy within the Nine Cycles Alchemy Sect.
However, the volcano had fallen dormant after being affected by the devastating war of years past.
Why did Ye Yan stop here? Even he wasn''t entirely sure.
Perhaps it was the fleeting shadow of a demonic beast in the forest.
Perhaps it was the sight of smoke curling from chimneys in the nearby vige.
Or perhaps it was a subtle pull of fate, guiding him to stop unconsciously.
Many actions humans take are not the result of deliberate thought.
This sudden halt was no exception for Ye Yan.
However, as soon as he stopped, he noticed a familiar figure by the volcanic crater, which had long since transformed into ake.
Dressed in flowing green robes, the figure was none other than Shen Mo, the current Young Sect Master of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Ye Yan''s pupils contracted sharply.
But he quickly realized that the murder of Wang Wu had likely not yet been discovered.
Shen Mo wouldn''t be here to pursue him.
"Young Sect Master Shen, what brings you here?" Ye Yan asked cautiously.
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "I epted a mission and came here toplete it."
"What about you, Elder Ye?"
Ye Yan presented a pre-prepared excuse. "I''ve taken on a mission in the south. I''m heading to Longjiang Prefecture to eliminate invading demons."
Longjiang Prefecture, located south of Taishan Prefecture and bordering Mist Province, shared a simr culture and was gued by frequent demon and beast activity.
It wasmon for elders to go there on missions.
Shen Mo nodded with a slight smile. "I see. Elder Ye, don''t mind me. Carry on with your task."
With that, he turned back toward theke in the volcanic crater, standing quietly.
Ye Yan frowned slightly.
He had no idea what Shen Mo was doing here.
But since Shen Mo showed no hostility, Ye Yan decided it was best to avoid confrontation.
Carefully, Ye Yan circled far around Shen Mo, keeping a distance of at least 100 meters, ensuring he never turned his back on the Young Sect Master.
Only when they were over a kilometer apart did Ye Yan gradually pick up his pace and resume heading south.
Shen Mo watched Ye Yan''s departing figure with a faint smile.
He already knew what Ye Yan''s fate would be.
This man had witnessed the overwhelming strength of the Ten Thousand Demons Nation and the invincible power of the Demon Emperor. Coupled with the exclusion he faced within the Jade Cauldron Sect, Ye Yan would inevitably betray the sect and join the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.
Later, Ye Yan would rise to be one of the Demon Emperor''s most trusted lieutenants.
Thus, it was inevitable that Ye Yan would leave the Jade Cauldron Sect one day.
Back at Fire Dragon Valley, Shen Mo had glimpsed Ye Yan''s life trajectory through his unique insight.
As expected, he discovered that Ye Yan was destined to leave the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Of course, Shen Mo had no intention of stopping him or bidding him farewell.
However, Shen Mo had also noticed that on Ye Yan''s journey southward, he would pause at this dormant volcano and, by sheer chance, uncover a great opportunity in theke at its crater.
As a righteous and upright cultivator, Shen Mo could not allow such a treasure to fall into the hands of someone destined to join the enemy.
Wouldn''t that be aiding the enemy?
Thus, Shen Mo arrived at this location in advance.
Knowing Ye Yan would deem himself weaker and avoid confrontation, Shen Mo was confident the man would leave swiftly.
This ensured that the opportunity would fall into Shen Mo''s hands instead.
Not long after Ye Yan left, the tranquilke suddenly began to boil as if it had been set ame.
Crabs and shrimp floated to the surface one after another.
Without wings, they couldn''t escape and soon turned bright red, their lives snuffed out in the process.
Deep within theke, a faint glimmer of light began to shine.
"Atst," Shen Mo muttered, his eyes lighting up as he leapt into theke.
Momentster, he burst from the water, holding tightly to a piece of fiery red wood, about the length of a forearm.
"An Earth-Rank Low-Grade TreasurePhoenix Perch Parasol Tree!"
Shen Mo''s eyes gleamed with joy as he smiled.
The parasol tree was ordinarily just amon species of tree.
Only those over 500 years old could even be considered spiritual wood, let alone used in constructing sect buildings or crafting treasures.
But the phoenix has a special affinity for the parasol tree.
It often perches atop its branches, grooming its feathers.
An ordinary parasol tree, touched by the phoenix, undergoes a fiery rebirth.
Its leaves are consumed by mes.
The bark chars to ck.
The core of the tree is tempered and refined in the intense fire.
Ultimately, the tree is reduced to a bare trunk, perpetually surrounded by mes.
This is the Phoenix Perch Parasol Tree.
"This treasure contains the lingering essence of a phoenix. It can help elerate my mastery of the third and fourth forms of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique," Shen Mo thought, his eyes gleaming.
"Perhaps I could evenprehend the fifth form on my own with its aid!"
Shen Mo smiled.
Even with his extraordinary life fate of "Understanding Thousands at a nce," his progress in mastering the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique had been slow.
In the current climate, with the Ten Thousand Demons Nation poised for invasion and storms brewing on the horizon, slow cultivation was a deadly liability.
Thus, Shen Mo was determined to use every possible means to elerate his progress and increase his strength.
This piece of the Phoenix Perch Parasol Tree was an opportunity he could not afford to miss.
"Now that I have it, it''s time to head back."
"By now, the Supreme rity Sect, the Pill River Sect, and the Governor''s Office should have arrived at the Jade Cauldron Sect for the four-party talks."
Shen Mo quickened his pace, returning to the sect.
Jade Cauldron Sect C Martial Arena
Sect Master Li Zhentao, Shen Mo, and several elders stood silently, waiting.
Disciples and stewards gathered outside the arena, curiously peering in.
"I heard the Supreme rity Sect, the Pill River Sect, and the Governor''s Office are sending people to our sect today."
"What? Why? Aren''t they our mortal enemies?"
"No matter how deep the enmity, we must unite against the demons."
"That''s true though I wonder if the sect master and the others can hold theirposure. If it were me, I wouldn''t give the Governor''s Office any courtesy."
"Look, they''re here!"
A wave of excitement rippled through the disciples as they looked toward the sky.
A massive flying vessel sped through the air, soon appearing above.
The ship was over a hundred meters long and more than thirty meters wide.
Encased in iron armor, it hovered mid-air, surrounded by faint glimmers of lightevidence of the powerful formations engraved upon it.
This was the Irond Cloudship, a masterpiece of human formation engineering.
"So that''s the Irond Cloudship? I''ve heard of how impressive it is, but today I finally get to see it."
"They say the Pill River Sect has a simr vessel. It''s a pity we Jade Cauldron Sect don''t have one."
"We''ll definitely get one in the future!"
The disciples murmured among themselves, barely hiding their envy.
Shen Mo and Li Zhentao remained expressionless, while the Great Elder and others snorted coldly.
The Supreme rity Sect''s unting was obvious.
Their intention was clear: to assert their influence and gain a stronger voice during the talks.
Even as the Ten Thousand Demons Nation threatened the human world, they still yed such petty gamesutterly contemptible.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!@@novelbin@@
Several streaks of light descended from the Irond Cloudship.
A loud, heartyugh rang out.
"Hahaha! Sect Master Li, it''s been over three hundred years since west met, hasn''t it? A pleasure, a pleasure!"
"When we metst, you were just a junior by the old sect master''s side. Now, you''ve be a sect master yourself."
The leader of the Supreme rity Sect, Mo Lingxiao, strode forward with confident, long strides.
With thick eyebrows, fierce tiger-like eyes, and amanding presence, he exuded natural authority without needing to speak a word.
It was clear this was a man who had earned his reputation as the sect master of the Supreme rity Sect.
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Chapter 287: The Mist State Expeditionary Army Merges with Eternal Flames
Chapter 287: The Mist State Expeditionary Army Merges with Eternal mes
Five dayster.
The list of cultivators for the expedition to Mist State was finally finalized.
The three sects and one king, representing four major powers, contributed a total of eight Divine Transformation cultivators, seventy Nascent Soul cultivators, and three hundred Core Formation cultivators.
Lower-realm cultivators were deemed unnecessary for the journey to Mist State.
After all, those with lower cultivation levels would have no opportunity to showcase their strength in Mist State.
Moreover, the number of armored cloudships was limited, and so was the capacity they could carry.
Naturally, priority was given to cultivators capable of fighting. Core Formation was set as the absolute minimum threshold.
The Supreme Purity Sect, known for its superior individualbat strength and expertise in artifact crafting, sent more people and sold spiritual artifacts at a discount to those going to Mist State.
The Pill River Sect, whose cultivators were slightly weaker inbat but skilled in alchemy, sent fewer people but provided arge number of pills as gifts to those participating in the expedition.
The Jade Cauldron Sect, being more bnced but excelling in no particr area, contributed both cultivators and resources in substantial amounts.
As for King Jing, he demonstrated his sincerity by providing four armored cloudships.
Thus, a grand expeditionary force was assembled.
As the Young Sect Master, Shen Mo naturally could not participate in this expedition.
However, people Shen Mo was acquainted withsuch as Zhao Yaolu, L Dongxuan, and Ouyang Weijoined the expedition.
Zhao Yaolu and L Dongxuan didn''t have to go; they volunteered.
Shen Mo had already reviewed their life panels in advance. Although fraught with danger, they showed no signs of mortal peril, which reassured him.
"I hope they all stay safe and return alive," Shen Mo murmured.
Li Zhendao stood at the mountain gate, watching the Jade Cauldron Sect cultivators board the armored cloudships in an orderly manner, and sighed.
Beside him, Wan Muchun also sighed deeply.
No one knew what fate awaited them in Mist State.
Within the Jade Cauldron Sect, only Elder Eight had volunteered to go.
As for the second candidate, after much deliberation, Elder Seven was selected.
After all, Elder Seven''s repeated failures in crafting Spirit Refining Pills in the Fire Pill Pce had drawn dissatisfaction from other elders, causing his reputation to plummet.
"How could you let Zhao Yaolu and L Dongxuan go to Mist State as well?" Li Zhendao asked.
Wan Muchun replied gravely, "Yaolu''s family resides in the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom. She wants revenge, and I couldn''t stop her."
"I just hope she doesn''t expose her identity as a Heaven Ghost n member too early."
"As for Dongxuan the moment he heard there''d be battles, he got so excited that no amount of persuasion could hold him back."
He chuckled wryly, his tone filled with helplessness.
Li Zhendao furrowed his brows. "I have a bad feeling about this expedition. It''s likely to end in defeat."
"Elder Wan, how are the spirit beasts progressing?"
Wan Muchun chuckled. "Thanks to Shen Mo, the spirit beasts of Dragon Snake Mountain require very little effort to cultivate and already provide formidablebat strength."
"Additionally, I''ve selected a group of disciples with beast-taming talents, training them to abandon other techniques in favor of beast-taming skills."
"Within five years, we''ll have a powerful beast-basedbat force."
Li Zhendao nodded repeatedly. "Excellent!"
After a moment of contemtion, he sighed. "I hope Shen Mo makes progress during this time. If he can reach the Divine Transformation stage within twenty years, it would be fantastic news for the Jade Cauldron Sect!"
Wan Muchunughed heartily. "Twenty years? Sect Master, you''re underestimating Shen Mo."
"I predict he''ll be ready to break through within fifteen years!"
Li Zhendao smiled and nodded. "Good, good! You''ve spent more time with him and know him better than I do."
"I look forward to that day!"
"By the way, I recall Shen Mo is from the Qingxuan Sect in Xuanjing Prefecture? That''s dangerously close to Mist State. If the demon ns invade, Xuanjing Prefecture will bear the brunt."
"If that happens, Shen Mo won''t be able to focus on cultivating."
"Send some trusted people to Qingxuan Sect to maintain a presence there."
Wan Muchun agreed. "I''ll send Ouyang Wei with a few Core Formation deacons. His strength should be sufficient to protect Qingxuan Sect."
"Very well," Li Zhendao affirmed.
...
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, three years passed.
On the Dragon Snake Mountain wilderness, a bare-chested figure was controlling two eternal mes, conducting his ninth fusion attempt of the day.
The surrounding ground, scarred by countless explosions and scorched by the mes, had be a barren wastnd.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but charred earth, devoid of any vegetation.
It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say that even insect eggs and grass seeds buried deep within the soil hadpletely lost their vitality.
Eternal mestruly domineering!
Not far away, a small crimson flood dragon, about ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) in length, flitted about freely in the air, twisting and turning with unrestrained joy.
asionally, it would nce toward the bare-chested figure in the distance, its eyes brimming with both affection and reverence.
This was the young flood dragon.
Due to its mischievous nature, constantly attempting to sneak away, the old flood dragonbeing a doting father in his twilight yearsfound it hard to discipline him with harsh scoldings or punishments.
In the end, the old flood dragon decided to let him stay by Shen Mo''s side.
Since following Shen Mo, the young flood dragon had be far more obedient.
Of course, this change wasn''t because the young flood dragon had turned over a new leaf.
It was primarily out of fear of the eternal mes.
The essence of eternal mes was too noble and overwhelmingly powerful, far beyond what a crimson fire flood dragon could contend with.
Seeing Shen Mo, a mere human,mand such mes inspired a deep sense of awe in the young flood dragon.
Naturally, during his time with Shen Mo, he hadn''t missed the opportunity to absorb traces of eternal me energy that asionally drifted away.
As a result, his growth had be astonishingly rapid.
Now, his cultivation had reached the fourth rank at its entry levelequivalent to a Core Formation cultivator among humans.
This rate of growth was so astonishing that even the old flood dragon, who asionally visited, was left speechless.
On multiple asions, the old flood dragon openly admitted, "He''s growing just a smidge faster than I did back in my day."
However, every time Shen Mo heard the old flood dragon say "just a smidge," he couldn''t shake the feeling that the elder was being a bit modest.
At this moment, Shen Mo was seated cross-legged in the wilderness.
In his palms, two eternal mesthe golden Sr Essence me and the crimson Red Lotus mewere slowly merging and intertwining.
For the first time in a long while, Shen Mo''s usually calm face showed a trace of delight.
"It''s almost done!"
Before him, a two-colored me orb was gradually taking shape.
Time passed quietly, second by second.
What initially appeared as two distinct entities began to meldpletely into one.
Eventually, the two colors fused seamlessly.
The Sr Essence me''s inherently superior nature overwhelmed the Red Lotus me, and the resulting orb turned a radiant gold.
But this was not enough.
Shen Mo surged his spiritual energy, manipting the golden me orb like kneading dough, stretching it forcefully in opposite directions.
Simultaneously, he activated the Great Wilderness me Art.
Buzz!
A domineering and unparalleled giant spear began to take form.
Shen Mo''s hands passed over the spear''s tip and shaft.
ng!
The resonating sound of metal rang out, and an explosive shockwave radiated in all directions.
In an instant, dust and smoke billowed into the air, and scorching heatwaves rolled outward.
The young flood dragon, who had been yfully sparring with a few hapless demonic beasts, suddenly felt an intense sense of foreboding.
Without hesitation, it darted behind arge boulder for cover.
As for the unfortunate fourth-rank demonic beasts, they were instantly sted away by the searing wave of heat, left gasping for breath as they teetered on the edge of death.
Peeking cautiously from behind the boulder, the young flood dragon gazed toward the center of the wilderness.
The bare-chested youth stood there, gripping a golden me spear more than ten zhang long with one hand.
His entire right arm was wreathed in mes, his eyes shone like brilliant stars, and his presence was awe-inspiring.
At that moment, he resembled a deity of fire descending upon the mortal world, radiating majesty and vigor, his aura soaring to the heavens!
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Chapter 289: One of the Three Treasures for Unlocking a Heavenly-Grade Soul, the Soul Abyss Spike
Chapter 289: One of the Three Treasures for Unlocking a Heavenly-Grade Soul, the Soul Abyss Spike
Yang Qiye was both shocked and furious as he looked at the neer.
This voice was one he was all too familiar withit was Shen Mo.
"Shen... Young Sect Master, I respect you as the Young Sect Master, but I am the Second Elder. You should speak with more respect!"
"My disciple, Ye Yan, how could he possibly be someone who betrayed the sect?!"
He locked eyes with Shen Mo, clearly demanding an exnation.
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "Ye Yan imed he was going to Longjiang Prefecture on a mission?"
"I investigated. The mission he took was to eliminate a group of rampaging demon generals in Longjiang Prefecture."
"The mission wasn''t particrly difficult, nor were the rewards significant. With Ye Yan''s vision, there''s no way he''d have chosen such a task."
"Yet, he did. He went to the southern Longjiang Prefecture."
Yang Qiye frowned. "So what? He had a sudden whim to take that missionis that not allowed?"
Shen Mo didn''t answer directly but continued, "From the sect to the mission location in Longjiang Prefecture, with Ye Yan''s cultivation level, it would take at most ten days."
"Even ounting for the time to hunt the demon n and the round trip, it wouldn''t exceed a month."
"But now, it''s been three years since he left the sect. Do you think he''s stilling back?"
Yang Qiye''s expression froze.
Shen Mo continued, "Moreover, a few days ago, Elder Wang Wu from the Second Peak sent someone to collect a debt from Ye Yan. No matter what they did, they couldn''t break through the formation protecting his residence."
"Later, with the Grand Elder''s permission, the Disciplinary Hall sent people to crack the formation. What they discovered was that Wang Wu had long disappeared, leaving behind an empty residence."
Yang Qiye frowned deeply. "What does that have to do with Yan''er?"
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "Have you forgotten? Wang Wu used to be Ye Yan''s staunch supporter. However, ever since the Protector endorsed me as the Young Sect Master, Wang Wu hastily severed ties with Ye Yan and even went out of his way to avoid him."
"With Ye Yan''s temperament, how do you think he would have handled Wang Wu?"
As soon as Shen Mo finished speaking, the surrounding Jade Cauldron Sect disciples began to murmur among themselves, their discussions growing louder.
"No way! Could Ye Yan have left the sect? And before he left, killed Wang Wu?"
"If he killed someone, why is there no corpse or signs of a struggle?"
"Idiot. Both Ye Yan and Wang Wu are Nascent Soul cultivators, but Ye Yan is far stronger. If he caught Wang Wu off guard, killing him instantly wouldn''t be difficult."
"Exactly. That way, there wouldn''t be any traces of a fight. He could have even stashed the corpse in a storage ring and taken it with him."
"Tsk, tsk. Who would''ve thought Ye Yan would turn out to be such a person?"
The cultivators shook their heads in amazement, clearly surprised that Ye Yan might one day betray the sect and flee.@@novelbin@@
Listening to their discussions, Yang Qiye felt his head spinning.
It''s true.
Over the past three years, he had considered the possibility.
But he never dared to believe it.
The disciple he had painstakingly nurtured, his most beloved student, could one day abandon him!
Could it be that, in Ye Yan''s heart, he, as a master, held no weight at all?
For the first time, Yang Qiye felt as though his body might copse.
His reputation in the Jade Cauldron Sect had already plummeted.
Out of fear of the Old Flood Dragon''s power, the Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth Elders had distanced themselves from him, maintaining only superficial ties.
And now, even his beloved disciple had forsaken him.
Who could he trust from now on?
"Second Elder, continue to fulfill your duties. You are still the Second Elder."
Shen Mo met Yang Qiye''s gaze and spoke calmly.
At first, Yang Qiye could hold his ground, but Shen Mo''s eyes remained as calm as still water, radiating an undeniable authority.
Eventually, Yang Qiye had no choice but to look away.
Even as a Soul Transformation cultivator, he dared not meet Shen Mo''s gaze any longer.
Drip, drip.
Yang Qiye turned around and walked out of the Treasure Pavilion.
The crowd instinctively parted, making way for him.
Shen Mo watched his retreating figure, which seemed deste and lonely.
The Second Elder had clearly recognized his predicament.
If this person were not a Divine Transformation cultivator but a Nascent Soul cultivator, there would be no need for Li Zhendao, the Sect Master, to speak up. With just one order from Shen Mo, they could be thrown into prison and subjected to a thorough interrogation.
However, Yang Qiye was a Divine Transformation cultivator.
Every Divine Transformation cultivator possesses immense power.
Moreover, the sect''s highestbat strength also lies with its Divine Transformation cultivators. Losing even one of them would be a significant loss.
Therefore, even if they could not be befriended, at the very least, they should not be made into enemies.
Since Yang Qiye had not overtly betrayed the sect, things would remain as they were.
He would still be the Second Elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
"Where is the Soul Abyss Spike?"
Shen Mo approached the Treasure Pavilion steward.
The steward respectfully handed over a jade box to Shen Mo. "Young Sect Master, this item was specifically reserved for you by Elder Zhao and Elder L. You do not need to contribute any points."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
This item was incredibly valuable.
He estimated it would take at least four Grade-A contributions to exchange for it.
Fortunately, no contribution points were required this time.
It was a win for everyone.
The surrounding cultivators watched Shen Mo leave with expressions full of envy.
"I heard that the Void Spring and the Soul Abyss Spike are two of the most extraordinary treasures for breaking through the Nascent Soul stage. Obtaining even one can potentially open up an Earth-Grade Soul. The Young Sect Master is truly blessed by fortune, acquiring a Soul Abyss Spike without any effort."
"Exactly. If only I had luck like the Young Sect Master''s."
"Now that Ye Yan has betrayed the sect, the Young Sect Master is the sole unparalleled genius of the Jade Cauldron Sect. That''s not necessarily a bad thing."
"True. It eliminates internal strife. Besides, someone as domineering and cold as Ye Yan could neverpare to the Young Sect Master."
Meanwhile, Shen Mo returned to Dragon Snake Mountain.
There, he began to closely examine the small ck spike, about the length of a forearm, in his hand.
It seemed to be made from some sort of bone, yet it was surprisingly heavy and had a metallic texture.
What made it even more remarkable was that staring at the Soul Abyss Spike for an extended period made one feel as if countless long needles were piercing into their mind.
The pain was so excruciating that one would feel like rolling on the ground in agony.
However, the moment the gaze shifted away, the strange pain wouldpletely vanish.
As if it had never existed.
Shen Mo clicked his tongue in amazement.
The mysterious properties of this item were evident after just a few nces.
"Out of the three items required to unlock a Heavenly-Grade Soul, I have already obtained two: the remnants of the Sky-Hanging Whisker and the Soul Abyss Spike."
"The only thing left is the Divine Lightning of the Suppressing Demon Sea."
"But the Suppressing Demon Sea is far beyond the Eastern Sea, and I don''t even know how to get there. How am I supposed to obtain the Divine Lightning?"
Shen Mo pondered deeply.
Suddenly, an idea shed in his mind.
"Perhaps I don''t need the actual Divine Lightning. Just the lingering aura of the Divine Lightning might be enough!"
"I must keep an eye out for any news rted to this in the future."
"The demon ns might have something rted to it"
Shen Mo seemed to be lost in thought.
Of course, he was not yet in the Divine Transformation stage, so there was no need to take unnecessary risks.
Instead of venturing into Mist State to sh with the demon ns, it was better to stay safe and grow steadily within the Jade Cauldron Sect.
After all, as the Young Sect Master, the contribution points he received every month rivaled those of the Six Cauldron Elders.
Moreover, his status was even higher than theirs.
As long as he had enough contribution points, anything in the Treasure Pavilion or Scripture Pavilion was within his reach.
And the people in the sect were polite, talented, and eloquent. He genuinely liked it here.
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Chapter 290: Not Out of Desire, But to Prevent Treasure from Gathering Dust
Chapter 290: Not Out of Desire, But to Prevent Treasure from Gathering Dust
Shen Mo gazed eastward, deep in thought. "If I remember correctly, Ye Yan left behind several fortuitous opportunities in Yu Prefecture."
Originally, before Ye Yan could reach the Divine Transformation stage, he would remain in the Jade Cauldron Sect,peting with Xiao Fan for the position of Young Sect Master.
After his defeat, realizing the immense power of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, he betrayed the Jade Cauldron Sect and joined their ranks.
During that time, Ye Yan stayed in Yu Prefecture, reaping various opportunities.
Now, however, his predetermined fate had been altered by Shen Mo.
Xiao Fan had not be a disciple of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Ye Yan had also betrayed the Jade Cauldron Sect and headed south to the Ten Thousand Demon Nation before reaching the Divine Transformation stage.
As a result, those opportunities were now unimed.
As Ye Yan''s "close friend," Shen Mo certainly wouldn''t let those treasures go to waste.
Yes, it was mainly to prevent them from gathering dust.
Absolutely not because he wanted them for himself.
"However, these opportunities will only appear at specific times. I''ll have to wait a bit."
Shen Moposed himself and returned to his residence, beginning a secluded session to refine the Pure Nascent Soul Transformation Pill.
A Year Later
Shen Mo left the Jade Cauldron Sect and traveled to Chiron Prefecture, east of Taishan Prefecture.
Chiron Prefecture was home to a picturesqueke called Chiron Lake.
Just days before Shen Mo''s arrival, a brilliant light emanated from theke''s depths, its shimmering waves attracting many cultivators in search of treasure.
Among them were disciples from the Three Sects and One King.
Shen Mo, donning a mask to conceal his identity, blended into the crowd.
Using his life panel, he managed to enter the ruins beneath Chiron Lake ahead of everyone else.
Deep in the ruins, he found a Pure Yang Fruit that had just ripened.
Although it was a fruit, its temperature was so extreme that even Divine Transformation cultivators found it difficult to consume.
Shen Mo didn''t intend to use the Pure Yang Fruit for himself.
Instead, it was meant to aid in refining the Sr Essence Fire.
Recently, the Sr Essence Fire had already refined the Thousand-Year Core of Earthfire and the Sr Essence Stone.
Its size and intensity had grown significantly, but it was still just a "me" and far from the "zing fire" of something like the Green Lotus Core me.
Without refining rare treasures, transitioning the me from a spark to a ze would take at least a hundred years.
And that was while it resided within Shen Mo''s dantian.
In the natural environment, the process would take several dozen times longer.
The Pure Yang Fruit, however, was one of the few treasures capable of elerating this process.
Although it would only provide a small boost, Shen Mo didn''t mind.
Every small step adds up.
With enough opportunities like the Pure Yang Fruit, the Sr Essence Fire would soonplete its transformation.
A day after Shen Mo discreetly left Chiron Lake, someone stumbled into the ruins beneath theke.
However, the Pure Yang Fruit was long gone, taken by Shen Mo.
The cultivators, finding nothing, could only leave disappointed.
Another Year Later
Shen Mo traveled to Flying Cloud Prefecture, north of Taishan Prefecture.
This area was resource-poor and overrun by demonic beasts, awlessnd ignored by the Jade Cauldron Sect, the Supreme Purity Sect, and the Pill River Sect.
Over time, it had be a gathering ce for rogue cultivators.
In the past year, a powerful wolf king had appeared in Flying Cloud Prefecture.
Leading its pack, it roamed like the wind, wreaking havoc and ughtering everything in its path.
Even the most powerful sect in Flying Cloud Prefecture was defeated by the wolf king and its pack.
In desperation, the local cultivators pooled their resources to hire the Three Sects and One King for assistance.
Elders from the Supreme Purity Sect and the Pill River Sect attempted to intervene.
However, the wolf king''s instincts were incredibly sharp.
The lucky ones managed to return alive, but the unfortunate ones perished under its ws.
Since then, few sect disciples dared to ept themission.
After all, the rewards didn''t justify the risks. Who would risk their lives for such a task?
Once again, Shen Mo donned his mask. Guided by his life panel, he quickly located the wolf king and itsir.
The wolf king was indeed powerful, but its strengthy primarily in its unmatched speed and mobility.
Once Shen Mo located the wolf king''sir, the creature was as good as trapped.
In a single night, Shen Mo annihted the wolf king and its pack.
He extracted a fifth-tier demon crystal from the wolf king''s body.
Additionally, in the depths of their, he discovered a sixth-tier demon crystal and several storage rings.
The storage rings had belonged to unlucky rogue cultivators who had fallen prey to the wolf pack.
Though the items within the rings were plentiful, their quality was mediocre.
Still, since he was already there, Shen Mo decided not to leave empty-handed.
He swept all the contents into his own storage ring.
The sixth-tier demon crystal, however, was the most valuable treasure.
This crystal was the spoils of the wolf king''s rampage through Flying Cloud Prefecture, including its conquest of the region''s strongest sect, Flying Cloud Sect.
The wolf king hadn''t yet had the chance to refine it.
Now, it belonged to Shen Mo.
Previously, Shen Mo had obtained the Nine Revolutions Pill Dao Codexin the Fire Pill Pce. The codex contained not only alchemy techniques but also artifact refinement techniques, including the art of crystal refinement.
The sixth-tier demon crystal was a perfect material to integrate into his Two Yi Sword.
Enhancing the Two Yi Sword with this crystal would be akin to adding an entirely new sword to its arsenal.
Oncepleted, Shen Mo''s usage of Yang Sword Qi, Yin Sword Qi, or Two Yi Sword Qi would gain a significant power boost.@@novelbin@@
A few days after Shen Mo left their, some fortunate rogue cultivators stumbled upon it.
However, by the time they arrived, the corpses of the wolf king and its pack had been reduced to skeletal remains, long devoured by other beasts.
Finding no treasure, the cultivators left disappointed.
Dragon Snake Mountain.
Shen Mo sat cross-legged in his residence, observing his dantian internally.
As expected, after fully refining the Pure Yang Fruit, the Sr Essence Fire had grown significantly, taking up more space.
The Green Lotus Core me''s attitude toward this small me had shifted dramatically, from condescension to equal respect, and even a touch of deference.
After all, the inherent nature of the Sr Essence Fire was far superior.
The Green Lotus Core me simply could notpete.
Shen Mo felt a genuine sense of joy.
However, it was a bittersweet happiness.
With the Sr Essence Fire''s growth, maintaining the dynamic bnce between the two mes when using the Great Destion Starfalltechnique would once again require careful adjustments.
Fortunately, thanks to previous experience, he could now recalibrate the bnce much faster.
Three Days Later.
Shen Mo exhaled deeply as he examined the Two Yi Sword before him.
The crystal refinement process was a sess.
Using the techniques from the Nine Revolutions Pill Dao Codex, he had seamlessly integrated the sixth-tier demon crystal into the Two Yi Sword without any issues.
He scrutinized the sword, which appeared nearly identical to its previous form, except for a crystal embedded in the hilt.
But when he infused it with spiritual energy, the sword revealed its true transformation.
A shadowy image of a sword appeared both above and below the Two Yi Swordone ck and one whiteperfectly aligned with the sword''s dual nature.
Shen Mo tested the Yang Sword Qi and Yin Sword Qi.
Immediately, he noticed a dramatic increase in power.
The ck and white sword shadows doubled the sword''s effectiveness, effectively tripling the power of each technique.
Every sword strike now carried the force of three.
Shen Mo''s delight was uncontainable.
The progress he had made over the past two years far exceeded his expectations.
He was now just one step away from reaching the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.
His spiritual tools, techniques, andbat skills were nearing perfection.
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Chapter 292: This Time, the Jade Cauldron Sect’s Young Master Ling Xuan Will Be Captured Alive
Chapter 292: This Time, the Jade Cauldron Sect''s Young Master Ling Xuan Will Be Captured Alive
The Demon Emperor smirked faintly. "Continue."
Ye Yan spoke earnestly, "Don''t be fooled by the apparent unity of the Three Sects and One King. Their bond might seem close-knit now, but their enmity runs deeper than the hatred between the humans and the demon ns."
"After all, for centuries, the three sects of Yu Prefecture have never gone a single day without conflict. Simrly, the Governor''s Mansion has never ceased its ambition to unify Yu Prefecture."
"Suspicion and mistrust have always been rife among the Three Sects and One King.
It''s only the strength of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation that has forced them to join hands against the demon race."
"If Your Majesty advances too quickly, it will rm the Jing Emperor, forcing him to abandon his suppression of the major sects within his borders and turn his focus to you. At that point, the Ten Thousand Demon Nation will face a devastating defeat."
The Demon Emperor nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad. You''re indeed more intelligent than most demons."
"However, your strategy is now useless."
Ye Yan froze. "Useless?"
He had intended to gain the Demon Emperor''s trust quickly by presenting this strategy.
The Demon Emperor said calmly, "Five days ago, I already issued orders to halt the advance and focus on local recovery and resource consolidation."
"Without my explicitmand, no one is to step a foot beyond the Yu Mist border."
Ye Yan was stunned.
He hadn''t expected the Demon Emperor to possess such foresight.
Of course.
The rumors were truethe Demon Emperor was not born into noble blood but had wed his way to power as an ordinary wolf demon of lowly lineage.
To achieve his current position, the Demon Emperor relied not only on the opportunities he encountered along the way but also on his intelligence and wisdom.
Ye Yan couldn''t help but feel admiration.
"Even though I have already issued this decree, the fact that you offered this n still pleases me," said the Demon Emperor.
He continued, "I promised you a reward, and I shall grant it now."
The Demon Emperor removed his gauntlet, revealing a hand resembling a human''s but with longer fingers and more pronounced joints.
With a slight motion of his mind, a single drop of golden blood welled up from his fingertip.
Ye Yan''s eyes widened as he quickly produced a jade vial and carefully collected the drop.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for this generous reward!" he eximed, bowing deeply.
The Demon Emperor smiled. "Go now and refine this blood carefully. I look forward to witnessing your transformation."
"Do not forget my words: when I reign over all under heaven, you shall be the King of Men!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Yan replied with utmost reverence.
North of the Demon Emperor''s encampment, awork of fortresses sprawled across thend.
1,200 miles to the north stood a small fortress. Despite its size, its air of brutality and savagery rivaled that of the Demon Emperor''s main stronghold.
At the highest point of the fortress sat a towering figure covered in golden fur, lounging restlessly on a throne.
In his hand, he held a crude yet massive goblet filled with crimson liquid.
In front of him knelt a woman, her face streaked with tears as she yed the zither.
The oppressive aura radiating from the golden-furred figure was so overwhelming that, despite her efforts to suppress her fear, her trembling hands kept striking the wrong notes.
The once elegant and melodious music had devolved into a series of discordant, jarring sounds.
"What trash are you ying?" the golden-furred figure roared.
"Take her away and cook her!"
The moment he finished speaking, two lion demons rushed forward, one grabbing each of the woman''s arms. They dragged her roughly toward a cauldron of boiling oil not far away.
The woman screamed in terror, but as a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, she was no match for the two Core Formation-level lion demons. No matter how she struggled, escape was impossible.
Momentster, the screams abruptly ceased.
The oil cauldron, however, continued to bubble furiously.
"Your Highness, shall we bring another human woman to y the zither?" the lion demon on the left asked in a gruff voice.
The Ninth Prince waved his hand irritably. "No, I don''t want to listen anymore. I just want to kill!"
The lion demon on the right pped his hands. "That''s simple. I''ll release the human prisoners from the cages. You can kill to your heart''s content!"
The Ninth Prince red at him. "Fool! I want to kill on the battlefield!"
Both lion demons shrank back, their heads lowered. "But His Majesty has decreed that no one is to cross the Yu Mist border without his explicitmand."
"Even the other princes have halted their movements, remaining within their strongholds," added the one on the left.
The Ninth Prince''s expression grew dark with frustration. "What is Father thinking? Why are we not pressing our advantage?"
"These humans are no match for us!"
The lion demon on the right rolled his eyes and leaned closer. "Your Highness, I have an idea that might let you kill on the battlefield."
"Speak!"
Grinning slyly, the lion demon whispered, "We can stage a riot by releasing some human prisoners and letting them flee. You can then personally lead the pursuit."
"During the chase, no one will know where you''ve gone.
You could cross into Yu Prefecture and enjoy a real battle!"
"With your strength, Your Highness, unless you encounter a Divine Transformation cultivator, no one will be able to stop you!"
"And even if His Majesty learns of itter, you can present the achievements of your raid. With such merits, His Majesty is unlikely to punish youhe might evenmend you."
"After all, you are the most talented of His Majesty''s over thirty princes! I''ve heard even the First Prince is envious of you."
The Ninth Prince mmed his armrest with excitement and stood.
"Well said! Let''s do it!"
"Bring me the map of Yu Prefecture!"
The two lion demons unrolled a massive beast-hide map, which detailed the northern part of the Mist Province and the entirety of Yu Prefecture.
Such detailed maps were rare in the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, with only a handful in existence.
This particr map had been a reward from the Demon Emperor to the Ninth Princea privilege shared only by the First, Fourth, and Ninth Princes.
This demonstrated the Demon Emperor''s special favor toward the Ninth Prince.
The Ninth Prince studied the map intently. "Yu Prefecture and Mist Province share borders in three regions: White Crane Prefecture, Jiande Prefecture, and Xuanjing Prefecture."
"Xuanjing Prefecture"
He muttered the name, his expression sharpening.
"I remember nowthe Jade Cauldron Sect''s Young Master, that prodigious genius Shen Mo, hails from the Azure Profound Gate in Xuanjing Prefecture."
"If I were to raid the Azure Profound Gate, Shen Mo would surely rush to its defense in desperation. That would be my chance to capture him alive!"
"Even if Father learns of it, he wouldn''t punish me. On the contrary, he would heap praise upon me!"
A sinister grin spread across the Ninth Prince''s face as if he could already see the Demon Emperor''s approval.
"I have thirty thousand demon troops under mymandjust perfect!"
"In five days, Shi Meng, you will lead ten demon generals and ten thousand troops tounch a swift assault on White Crane Prefecture. Continue harassing it with rotating attacks."
"In ten days, Shi Qiang, you will do the same with Jiande Prefecture. Harass them endlessly as well."
"This will draw the attention of the Three Sects and One King. Their forces will be redirected to defend these regions, and our informants within their ranks will provide updates. At that point, you can retreat."
"Meanwhile, I will personally lead the remaining demon generals and soldiers tounch a surprise attack on Xuanjing Prefecture!"
"This time, I will definitely capture Shen Mo, the Young Master of the Jade Cauldron Sect, alive!"
The two lion demons roared excitedly in unison.
"Yes, Your Highness! We obey yourmand!"
Dragon Snake Mountain Wastnd
Shen Mo, as always, was honing his martial skills.
ck and white sword energy surged around him, turning the entire area into a monochromatic void devoid of other colors.
A small flood dragon lurked nearby, sneaking around him and asionally snatching bits of residual energy from the extraordinary mes Shen Mo emitted. Its tail wagged joyfully with each bite.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the distance.
"Young Master! Something major has happened!"
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Chapter 293: He Appears to Be a Genius With an Extraordinary Fate
Chapter 293: He Appears to Be a Genius With an Extraordinary Fate
Shen Mo sheathed his Dual Prity Sword and looked toward the approaching figure.
It was Mei Haihe.
"Old Mei, what''s the matter?" Shen Mo channeled his spiritual energy, instantly evaporating the sweat on his body, and asked casually.
Mei Haihe spoke in a low voice, "Hall Master He was defeated and captured some time ago butter escaped death by a stroke of luck.
He sent back an important message via a transmission jade, and now the entire sect knows about it."
"Ye Yan has betrayed the sect and joined the Ten Thousand Demon Nation!"
Shen Mo''s expression remained calm. "Oh, is that all? I already suspected as much."
"With his personality, once he recognized the strength of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, this was an inevitable choice."
Mei Haihe was astonished.
He hadn''t expected Shen Mo to bepletely unsurprised, as if he had foreseen this oue long ago.
His respect for Shen Mo deepened.
The Young Master''s insight was truly sharphe had seen through Ye Yan''s nature with just one look.
Mei Haihe hesitated for a moment before continuing, "There''s something else. Recently, the demons, who had been lying low, suddenly sent over ten thousand lion demons to attack White Crane Prefecture."
"They say those lion demons are all at least at the Demon General level, equivalent to Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"Many of them are led by Demon Commanders, and at the forefront is a powerful Lion Demon King."
"The sects in White Crane Prefecture werepletely unable to resist. The casualties were severe, with corpses strewn across thendan utterly tragic sight."
"Jiande Prefecture has also suffered repeated attacks from lion demons."
"However, not only have we dispatched reinforcements, but so have the Shangqing Sect, the Danhe Sect, and the Governor''s Mansion."
"I believe we''ll soon drive those marauding lion demons out."
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
White Crane Prefecture@@novelbin@@
He recalled that the border between Yu Prefecture and Mist Province consisted of three prefectures: White Crane Prefecture, Jiande Prefecture, and Xuanjing Prefecture.
If White Crane and Jiande Prefectures were under attack, did that mean Xuanjing Prefecture might also be in danger?
Mei Haihe seemed to guess his thoughts and quickly added, "Young Master, there hasn''t been any news of an attack in Xuanjing Prefecture yet. It should be safe for now.
Besides, I''ve heard the sect has stationed Elder Ouyang Wei and several other elders at the Azure Profound Gate to protect your old friends there."
He knew Shen Mo hailed from the Azure Profound Gate in Xuanjing Prefecture and likely still harbored strong feelings for it.
Shen Mo shook his head. "''Should be safe'' doesn''t mean it is safe. This is not a risk I''m willing to take."
"You''ll take care of matters at Dragon Snake Mountain for now. I''ll head to Xuanjing Prefecture."
Mei Haihe nodded. "Understood."
Shen Mo seemed deep in thought as he instinctively nced at his Destiny Panel.
Whenever he made a significant decision, the panel would reveal the corresponding trajectory of his fate.
[Recent Turn of Events]:
[Today, sensing a potential crisis in Xuanjing Prefecture, you decide to head there immediately.
Upon arriving at Xuanjing Prefecture, you fall into a trap set by the Ninth Prince of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, facing an ambush by four Lion Demon Kings.
Murong Yueand Ouyang Wei sacrifice their Nascent souls to protect you, allowing you to escape with severe injuries.
However, this ordeal leaves a scar on your state of mind, preventing you from entering an epiphany state for a long time. Your cultivation speed significantly decreases.]
Shen Mo''s eyebrows rose.
The Ninth Prince of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation?
He had some impression of him.
Thanks to the intelligence-sharing among the Three Sects and One King, Shen Mo had ess to a wealth of information from the Shangqing Sect, Danhe Sect, and the Governor''s Mansion.
The Demon Emperor had many sons.
Anyone who received his blood essence could im the title of prince.
Among them, three were especially renowned:
The First Prince, an elephant demon known for his immense strength and outstanding military achievements. Despite his rough appearance, he was cunning and deeply trusted by the Demon Emperor.
The Fourth Prince, an ape demon with exceptional intelligence, who often devised strategies for the Demon Emperor.
The Ninth Prince, a lion demon with remarkable talent, who had been praised by the Demon Emperor on numerous asions but was known for his impatience and eagerness for quick results.
The one attacking Xuanjing Prefecture must be the Ninth Prince.
"I see. The assaults on White Crane Prefecture and Jiande Prefecture were mere feints to draw the cultivators of Yu Prefecture into a trap and scatter their forces," Shen Mo muttered.
"The Ninth Prince''s real target is Xuanjing Prefecture, the Qingxuan Sect and me!"
"He''s certain that as soon as news reaches the Jade Cauldron Sect, I''ll rush back to help without hesitation."
Shen Mo chuckled softly.
Interesting.
Without the Destiny Panel, he might have indeed fallen into the trap set by the Ninth Prince of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation.
But now that he was aware of the n, the situation was much easier to handle.
"Still, I didn''t expect Murong Yue to have reached the Nascent Soul stage as well."
"She must have only recently advanced and hasn''t had the chance to inform the Jade Cauldron Sect yet."
Shen Mo smiled in relief.
It had been a long time since hest saw Murong Yue. He wondered what she looked like now.
It was time to return and see for himself.
That Ninth Prince seemed to be a prodigy with extraordinary talent and a strong fate.
Perhaps he could even reap some benefits from this encounter.
"Ah, it''s a pity Ye Yan ran off. Losing such a fat sheep all of a sudden it''s hard to get used to," Shen Mo muttered as he smacked his lips, then set off for Xuanjing Prefecture.
Xuanjing Prefecture, Qingxuan Sect
The sect was bustling with activity.
The martial arena was filled with long tables,den with a variety of delicacies and fine wines.
Numerous cultivators gathered around, enjoying the rare feast.
Above them stood a beautiful woman dressed in a long purple gown that reached the floor.
She was Murong Yue.
Just two days ago, she had sessfully formed her Nascent Soul, stepping into a higher realm.
"Congrattions, Sect Master Murong," a hearty voice called out as a burly figure approached, holding two wine cups with a broad smile.
Murong Yue returned the smile and nodded. "Thank you."
"Sect Master Murong, once you leave for the Jade Cauldron Sect, the grand Qingxuan Sect will be entrusted to me," said Mo Hanshan, patting his chest confidently.
"Don''t worry. I''ll take good care of it."
"Perhaps one day, I''ll also step into the Nascent Soul stage, and we can meet again at the Jade Cauldron Sect."
Murong Yue chuckled. "Good. I''ll be waiting for you at the Jade Cauldron Sect."
"And me, Sect Master Murong?" Wei Xiongtie, holding a wine cup, joined in with a heartyugh.
"Don''t forget about me when you''re at the Jade Cauldron Sect," added Elder Li, a kindly old woman.
Murong Yue felt a warmth in her heart. "Don''t worry, everyone. I won''t forget you."
At that moment, another tall figure approached, also holding a wine cup.
The crowd immediately fell silent and respectfully greeted him, "Greetings, Elder Ouyang."
It was Ouyang Wei, who had been stationed here by Li Zhendao''s orders.
Ouyang Weiughed heartily. "We''ve spent quite some time together now. No need to stand on ceremony."
The crowd rxed slightly at his words.
After all, Ouyang Wei was a legitimate elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
His cultivation and status far surpassed theirs, naturallymanding a sense of awe and reverence.
As the feast progressed, the conversation became more rxed and lively.
Wei Xiongtie downed an entire jar of wine in one gulp, smacking his lips. "I wonder how Shen Mo is doing at the Jade Cauldron Sect. Who would''ve thought he''d be their Young Master!"
"Exactly! It''s unbelievable!" Elder Li and Mo Hanshan echoed, sighing with emotion.
Ouyang Weiughed. "If you didn''t expect it, neither did I."
"When he first joined the Jade Cauldron Sect, it was only a few years ago. He rapidly climbed the ranks, and before we knew it, he became the Young Master."
Murong Yue sighed softly. "I really want to know how Shen Mo is doing now."
Wei Xiongtie and the others couldn''t help but share the sentiment. "Who doesn''t? We all want to know."
"Especially the day he was officially named Young Master. Ah, what a pity we couldn''t witness such a grand asion with our own eyes!"
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Chapter 294: Unexpected Genius in an Unexpected Place
Chapter 294: Unexpected Genius in an Unexpected ce
Elder Li sighed softly. "It''s a pity that getting news from the Jade Cauldron Sect is so difficult, while our reports can easily reach them."
Murong Yue nodded. "Indeed, that''s because we have a subordinate-superior rtionship."
Wei Xiongtie added, "By the way, the neighboring Baihe Prefecture and Jiande Prefecture were both attacked by the demon ns recently. I have a strong feeling that our Xuanjiang Prefecture will be attacked sooner orter."
"Yes, Sect Master, when you go to the Jade Cauldron Sect, you must raise this concern. The tragedies in Baihe Prefecture and Jiande Prefecture should serve as a warning for us here in Xuanjiang Prefecture," Elder Li said with a heavy sigh, worry evident in his tone.
"Rest assured, I will make sure the Jade Cauldron Sect is informed of this matter," Murong Yue said resolutely.
Ouyang Wei smiled. "Everyone can rest easy. While Murong Yue goes to the Jade Cauldron Sect, I will remain stationed at the Qingxuan Sect.
As long as we don''t face a particrly powerful demon king, there shouldn''t be any major issues."
Wei Xiongtie and the others finally rxed. "That''s reassuring."
They had immense trust in Ouyang Wei''s strength.
Just then, a bloodied figure stumbled onto the training field.
Weakly, he uttered a warning.
"Lion demons lion demons are attacking"
With that, he breathed hisst.
The disciples widened their eyes in shock and rushed forward.
Murong Yue, Ouyang Wei, and the others were also startled, immediately moving to investigate.
"It''s Elder Sun, who was guarding the E''Shan medicinal fields!" Wei Xiongtie eximed, his heart trembling with shock.
"What''s going on? Are the demon ns attacking?" Mo Hanshan''s expression turned grim.
"Look to the sky! Quickly!"
Ouyang Wei, sensing danger, instinctively looked upward.
A multitude of ck shadows appeared, almost blocking out the sunlight.
It was an army of lion demons!
At the forefront was a massive lion demon with golden fur that flowed like a banner, exuding an unparalleled aura of dominance.
The presence emanating from his body was terrifying.
His blood energy surged like mes into the sky.
He was clearly a powerful lion demon king.
Even more rming, four other lion demons beside him radiated simrly overwhelming blood energy and mes.
Ouyang Wei''s expression darkened slightly.
A demon king of this caliber was someone he could at best fight to a standstill, but saving the others would be nearly impossible.
"So, this is the Qingxuan Sect?"
"How unimpressive."
"To think a ce like this could produce a peerless genius like Shen Mo."
The Ninth Prince surveyed the Qingxuan Sect with a mocking smile.
"He he knows Shen Mo?" Wei Xiongtie froze in surprise.
Ouyang Wei spoke in a grave tone. "The Young Sect Master has gained great fame through his battle achievements. If the Myriad Demon Nation ns to conquer Yuzhou, they would certainly have detailed intelligence on the experts and geniuses of the Three Sects and One King factions."
"I see what they''re doing. They n to capture the Qingxuan Sect and use us as hostages to lure the Young Sect Master here."
"With Baihe Prefecture and Jiande Prefecture already ravaged by the demon ns, most nearby cultivators have been drawn to those regions."
"There''s no one nearby who can aid us. We must wait for reinforcements from the Jade Cauldron Sect."
Murong Yue''s face turned cold.
To think such a ruthless n was aimed at Shen Mo.
"I enjoy killing, but if you surrender obediently, I might spare your lives for a little while longer."
The Ninth Prince scanned the crowd with a twisted smile, as though he already held their lives in his hands.
"Never! I would rather die with dignity than live in disgrace!"
Murong Yue stepped forward, her gaze icy as she stared directly at the Ninth Prince in mid-air.
"A Nascent Soul cultivator? You must be the sect master of this Qingxuan Sect."
"How stubborn. Don''t you know how many human cultivators are begging to be ves of the Demon Emperor?"
The Ninth Prince sneered disdainfully.
Murong Yue took a deep breath and shouted, "All Qingxuan Sect cultivators, retreat immediately! Wei Xiongtie, Mo Hanshan, protect the disciples! Elder Li, activate the mountain protection array!"
"Yes!"
Wei Xiongtie and Mo Hanshan responded with utmost seriousness, guiding the disciples to safety.
Elder Li retrieved a jade token and poured 90% of his spiritual energy into it without hesitation.
Buzz!
A massive protective barrier, glowing faintly, suddenly rose around the mountain.
The entire Qingxuan Sect''s mountain gate was enveloped by the protective barrier.
This provided a fleeting sense of security.
The Ninth Prince sneered disdainfully, "You humans always rely on these shy yet useless arrays tofort yourselves.
Little do you know, they arepletely ineffective!"
With a sudden swipe of his w, hemanded, "Destroy it!"
The four lion demon kings behind him instantly charged forward.
Blood energy surged from their bodies, apanied by a burst of spiritual power as they struck with full force.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ripples immediately formed across the surface of the barrier, violently shaking for a long time without stabilizing.
The light of the protective barrier began to dim at an rming speedfar faster than Murong Yue had anticipated.
"This array is surprisingly resilient," the Ninth Prince remarked with a slight smile. Then, he ordered, "Use the Blood Energy Spear!"@@novelbin@@
"Yes!"
The ten thousand lion demon soldiers behind him roared in unison.
Led by fifty lion demon captains, the army surged with blood energy, their roars like furious lions echoing in the heavens.
Massive amounts of blood energy coiled and rose into the air.
In an instant, it condensed into a colossal Blood Energy Spear, dozens of meters in length.
"Kill!"
The roar of over ten thousand lion demons thundered as the Blood Energy Spear shot forth.
The four lion demon kings immediately retreated to make way.
The next moment, the Blood Energy Spear pierced through the protective barrier.
Its momentum remained unchecked as it plunged into the training grounds below.
Those disciples who failed to evade were instantly killed by the terrifying power, without even having the chance to scream.
The once-solid blue stone of the training grounds shattered into fragments, scattering like a storm of debris.
Murong Yue, Wei Xiongtie, and the others stared in wide-eyed shock.
None of them had expected their enemies'' attack to be so overwhelmingly powerful!
They didn''t even have time to rely on the array for a counterattack or to wait for reinforcements.
Ouyang Wei muttered in disbelief, "Such a powerful blood energybat technique they must be royal guards!"
"Royal guards? Are you saying that the leading lion demon is a prince of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation?!" Murong Yue gritted her teeth.
Ouyang Wei nodded grimly.
"Whenrge numbers of demons who practice the same cultivation method gather, they can unleash a blood energybat technique.
But the average demon''s blood energy technique would never have such destructive power."
"That these lion demons can condense a Blood Energy Spear powerful enough to shatter a mid-tier earth-grade array proves they are elite royal guards, carefully cultivated!"
"I can''t believe that demon is actually a prince of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation"
The Ninth Prince overheard their conversation and burst intoughter.
"You humans aren''t entirely stupid. You''ve guessed my identity correctly!"
"Now, capture them all alive!" he ordered.
"Yes!" The four lion demon kings responded in unison and shot forward like lightning.
Murong Yue and Ouyang Wei hastily engaged them.
However, the difference in strength was insurmountable.
In just three exchanges, both Ouyang Wei and Murong Yue were heavily struck down, their bodies covered in injuries.
Ouyang Wei, being slightly stronger, endured even greater damage.
His abdomen was torn open, and his intestines spilled out.
"Lock them all up," the Ninth Princemanded coldly.
"And get me amunication jade. Immediately send a message to the Jade Cauldron Sect."
The Ninth Prince let out a sinisterugh.
"Tell them that the Qingxuan Sect is under attack by demons and is holding out using the mountain gate array. Urge them to send reinforcements at once."
"And once we capture Shen Mo, take these people back to Mist Province. This prince would like to cultivate a few human ves for my amusement."
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Chapter 295: Capturing Shen Mo Will Be a Sure Victory
Chapter 295: Capturing Shen Mo Will Be a Sure Victory
In Mist Province, within the Demon Emperor''s stronghold, the Demon Emperor sat cross-legged on a massive stone bed, calmly cultivating.
His entire body exuded a volcanic surge of blood energy, roaring and churning endlessly.
Not far away, Ye Yan endured the relentless waves of blood energy, standing firm without retreating.
His body now bore evident traits of the demon ngolden fur, hardened scales, sharp ws, and mesmerizing vertical pupils.
"Not bad. It seems you''ve fully refined that drop of essence blood," the Demon Emperor said with a faint smile, looking at Ye Yan with approval.
Ye Yan nodded respectfully.
His cultivation had now soared to the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.
Even without using spiritual energy, the sheer strength of his blood energy alone was enough to overwhelm an entry-level Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Humans primarily cultivate spiritual energy, while we demons cultivate blood energy," the Demon Emperor said.
"For centuries, there have been attempts to cultivate both spiritual energy and blood energy simultaneously, but I am the first demon in history to master both."
"Perhaps you will be the first human to do the same."
The Demon Emperor smiled.
Ye Yan was overwhelmed with excitement and bowed even more reverently. "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."
He now understood why the Demon Emperor was so powerful, able to crush human cultivators of the same rank with ease.
At that moment, a Dragonblood Guard entered, kneeling on one knee, about to report.
However, upon seeing Ye Yan present, he hesitated.
The Demon Emperor chuckled. "Ye Yan is now my prince; there is no need to avoid him."
The Dragonblood Guard rxed and reported, "Your Majesty, the items from the Eastern Sea have arrived."
The Demon Emperor nodded. "Let them in."
Ye Yan was slightly startled.
The Eastern Sea?
Had the Ten Thousand Demon Nation''s influence already extended to the Eastern Sea?
Wasn''t that the territory of the Flood Dragon Pce?
Suppressing his curiosity, he refrained from asking questions.
Momentster, heavy footsteps echoed as a tall figure entered the hall.
The neer had a dragon''s head and a human body, exuding amanding presence.
His vertical pupils gleamed with cold arrogance, as though he belonged to the noblest race in the world.
Ye Yan was shocked.
This figure resembled the legendary flood dragon humanoids.
"Ao Heichao greets His Majesty the Demon Emperor," the tall flood dragon humanoid said calmly, cing one hand on his chest in a gesture of respect.
Unlike the other demons outside, he did not disy fanatical reverence toward the Demon Emperor.@@novelbin@@
The Demon Emperor, unfazed by his tone and demeanor, casually asked, "How much did you bring this time?"
"Fresh flood dragon blood, thirty thousand catties.
Aged flood dragon blood, one hundred thousand catties.
Coral gold, one thousand catties."
Ao Heichao handed over three storage rings.
A nearby Dragonblood Guard quickly took them and presented them to the Demon Emperor.
The Demon Emperor didn''t bother inspecting the contents and simply waved his hand. "Convey my regards to the Flood Dragon Emperor."
"Yes." Ao Heichao ced a hand on his chest again and left under the escort of a wolf demon general.
After a brief silence, the Demon Emperor spoke calmly, "Ye Yan, if you have questions, ask freely."
Ye Yan shook his head. "There''s no need.
I now understand how the Ten Thousand Demon Nation has grown so powerful in just five hundred years."
"It turns out that even the Flood Dragon Pce, which has always maintained neutrality between humans and demons, has leaned toward the Ten Thousand Demon Nation."
The Demon Emperor smiled faintly. "Not entirely.
But it''s only a matter of time."
"Once I''ve gathered enough strength and conquered Yuzhou with a thunderous strike, the dissenting voices within the Flood Dragon Pce will gradually fade."
Ye Yan''s expression became even more respectful.
Onnd, the north was upied by the human kingdom of Jing, while the south was the domain of the demon n''s Ten Thousand Demon Nation, with frequent conflicts between the two.
However, the seas on all sides were ruled by aquatic demons.
As the royal family among aquatic demons, the flood dragon n held the highest status.
The Flood Dragon Pce, the capital of the flood dragon n, was located in the Eastern Sea.
Both humans and demons treated the Flood Dragon Pce with great respect.
The pce had always upheld its neutrality, refusing to involve itself in conflicts between the two sides.
To think that even the Flood Dragon Pce, which had always maintained neutrality, is now secretly getting involved.
Ye Yan felt fortunatehe had made the right choice.
The Ten Thousand Demon Nation would inevitably swallow Jing Nation, and the Demon Emperor would surely reign supreme.
By then, even the Flood Dragon Pce would likely bow beneath the Demon Emperor.
At that moment, the Dragonblood Guard from earlier hurried in and reported, "Your Majesty, news from the frontlinesShi Meng and Shi Qiang, subordinates of the Ninth Prince, recently disobeyed orders and attacked White Crane Prefecture and Jiande Prefecture in Yuzhou, killing countless enemies and capturing many."
"The Ninth Prince himself led his forces days ago tounch an assault on Xuanjiang Prefecture in Yuzhou."
"After this news spread, even the previously inactive Crown Prince and Fourth Prince have begun to show signs of mobilization."
The Demon Emperor remained silent.
Ye Yan raised an eyebrow.
It seemed the princes were eager to gain merit.
From beneath the Demon Emperor''s heavy armor came an icy voice.
"That Ninth Prince dared to disobey my orders and personally attack Yuzhou!
When he returns, he must be severely punished!"
The Dragonblood Guard quickly added, "Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince is young and impulsive, so his actions are understandable.
Moreover, his subordinates, Shi Meng and Shi Qiang, have repeatedly achieved victory, killing countless enemies. This shows that Yuzhou''s Three Sects and One King are nothing but paper tigers."
"ording to my knowledge, the Ninth Prince targeted Xuanjiang Prefecture and the Qingxuan Sect to use them as bait to lure out Shen Mo, the Young Sect Master of the Jade Cauldron Sect."
"If this seeds, we will capture Shen Mo, that so-called genius, alive!"
The Demon Emperor frowned.
Hearing this, he recalled Shen Mo.
Indeed, Shen Mo was from the Qingxuan Sect in Xuanjiang Prefecture.
Moreover, Shen Mo was known to be a man of loyalty and righteousness.
If the Qingxuan Sect faced a life-and-death crisis, Shen Mo would undoubtedly rush to its aid.
This would make it easy for him to fall into the Ninth Prince''s trap.
"Shen Mo is a peerless talent with extraordinary potential and a remarkable will. The Ninth Prince cannot capture him so easily," the Demon Emperor said coldly.
"However, since he''s already gone, it''s toote for me to call him back."
"Take a team to Yuzhou immediately. Regardless of whether the Ninth Prince captures Shen Mo or achieves any great victory, bring him back to me."
"I will ensure he is properly disciplined!"
The Demon Emperor''s eighty-one Dragonblood Guards, each equivalent to a Nascent Soul-level cultivator, were far more powerful than their human counterparts, having undergone Flood Dragon blood refinement.
Any one of them could lead a team, march into Yuzhou, and retrieve the Ninth Prince and his forces.
The Dragonblood Guard bowed and departed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The Demon Emperor sighed. "The Ninth Prince''s rash actions may backfire, forcing the Three Sects and One King to unite further."
Ye Yan respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I''ve met Shen Mo before. He is indeed a peerless genius, capable of dominating an entire generation."
"If he is allowed to advance smoothly into the Divine Transformation stage, he will be a great threat to the Ten Thousand Demon Nation."
"If the Ninth Prince can capture him alive, it would be a great sess, eliminating a major threat in advance."
"Moreover, with the Ninth Prince''s strength, bolstered by Your Majesty''s bloodline, and his strategic ambush, capturing Shen Mo should be an easy task."
The Demon Emperor nodded slightly.
He didn''t believe Shen Mo would escape the Ninth Prince either.
However, he was deeply displeased with the Ninth Prince''s disobedience.
If it were any ordinary demon, he would have ordered them executed on the spot.
But this was his most cherished son, the Ninth Prince.
For now, he could only give him a stern reprimand.
Still, if the Ninth Prince seeded in capturing Shen Mo, it would be a great achievement.
In that case, he would ensure the Ninth Prince received proper rewards.
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Chapter 297: Capture Him Alive
Chapter 297: Capture Him Alive
At the Qingxuan Sect training grounds, a massive cauldron of boiling oil was set up.
mes roared, and the oil bubbled violently.
Circles of lion demons gathered around, drooling at the sight.
One of the lionmanders respectfully said, "Your Highness, the brothers are getting impatient from all the waiting. Shall we grab some humans to fry up?"
The term "humans" was used with disdainby the demon race, humans were no better than livestock.
In their eyes, humans were beings to be reared, cooked, and tamed.
The Ninth Prince nodded slightly. "Just grab a few from the Body Refining Realm and toss them in.
"Body Refining Realm humans are weaklings and unworthy of being tamed by this prince."
"Great! Excellent idea!"
The lion demons roared with excitement, their eyes gleaming as they turned toward the bound Qingxuan Sect disciples.
For the disciples, the words of the demons were like a knife twisting into their hearts, leaving them trembling with fear.
Bound and helpless, they were likembs awaiting ughter or fish on a chopping block.
At any moment, they could meet their end.
And such an end would be utterly humiliating.
The lionmander''s gaze swept over the group, finally settling on a weeping female disciple with a tear-streaked face.
"You''ll do! Women have tender flesh; they taste better fried!"
The lionmander reached out and grabbed the disciple, preparing to toss her into the boiling oil.
The girl screamed, tears and snot streaming down her face in terror.
The other cultivators clenched their fists in frustration, wanting nothing more than to break free and fight the lion demons to the death.
But they couldn''t.
Each of them was tightly bound, their movements restricted.
The strongest among them, Ouyang Wei and Murong Yue, were heavily injured and guarded by two lion demon kings, making any attempt to fight back futile.
There was no hope unless a miracle happenedunless reinforcements arrived.
Yet even if Qingxuan Sect''s cry for help had reached the Jade Cauldron Sect, reinforcements would take ten days to arrive.
Which meant tragedies like this would y out repeatedly.
Hell.
This was nothing short of a living hell.
"Did you ask me before harming my Qingxuan disciples?"
A cold voice suddenly echoed from the sky.
The sound was like a resounding bell, reverberating across the battlefield and reaching everyone''s ears.
The lionmander, about to throw the disciple into the cauldron, froze and instinctively looked toward the sky.
Not just himthe Ninth Prince, the lion demon kings,manders, and even the Qingxuan Sect disciples all turned their eyes upward.
When they saw the figure descending from the heavens, the Qingxuan disciples felt a lump in their throats, their eyes reddening as tears flowed uncontrobly.
"It''s the young sect master! No, it''s the young lord!"
"It''s Shen Mo! Shen Mo is here!"
"Thank the heavens! The young lord hase to save us!"
Cries of relief and excitement broke out among the disciples.
Murong Yue, gazing at the figure in azure robes, felt a sense offort in her heart.
After years of separation, the growth of this young man far exceeded her expectations.
From him, she could feel a powerful aura that made it difficult to breathea clear sign of the vast disparity in their strength.
But after the brief moment of relief, worry clouded her eyes.
No matter how strong Shen Mo had be, he couldn''t possibly be a match for the Ninth Prince and the four lion demon kings.
If he hade here, it would only mean throwing his life away.
Ouyang Wei couldn''t hold back his tears. "Young lord, you you shouldn''t havee"
The Ninth Prince and the lion demons burst intoughter.
"Good! Excellent!"
"Shen Mo, I thought I''d have to wait another ten days, but you came much earlier than expected!"
"Good, this has been worth my nning!"
The Ninth Prince''s massive lion eyes gleamed with a brutal light.
Shen Mo''s expression remained unchanged.
But inwardly, he was carefully analyzing the opponent''s life panel.
[Name: Shi An]@@novelbin@@
[Realm: Golden Peak Demon King]
[Fate Attributes: Royal Lion n, Innate Strength, Fortunate Destiny, Demon Emperor Bloodline, Howling Moon Lion Bloodline]
[Destiny: Fifteen years from now, leads troops to battle in Longzhou of Jing Kingdom, betrayed by a demon king under the First Prince, trapped by human armies, and ultimately dies a miserable death.]
[Recent Opportunity: After capturing Shen Mo alive and returning to the camp, discovers a Golden Devourer Mouse near Feiyan Bluff in Xuanjiang Prefecture. Tracks it to itsir and finds the first three iplete pages of Titan''s Imprisoning Force.]
Shen Mo scrutinized each of Shi An''s fate attributes.
[Royal Lion n: Orange Attribute. The lion demons are among the most powerful demon ns, and you are blessed with an even greater advantage as a royal member.]
[Innate Strength: Orange Attribute. From the day you were born, you possessed immense strength that grows even more formidable with age.]
[Fortunate Destiny: Purple Attribute. Fortune has always favored you, and good things consistently fall into yourp.]
[Demon Emperor Bloodline: Purple Attribute. You refined a drop of the Demon Emperor''s blood, significantly enhancing your bloodline''s strength.]
[Howling Moon Lion Bloodline: Orange Attribute. Deep within your heart lies a trace of Howling Moon Lion blood. When the time is right, you can achieve reversion and be a true Howling Moon Lion.]
After reviewing Shi An''s fate attributes, Shen Mo nodded slightly.
There were no signs of protagonist-level attributes like "Narrow Escape," "Nine Lives," "Turn Crisis Into Opportunity," or "Survive Against All Odds."
This lion wasn''t the demon race''s protagonist.
He''d be easy to kill.
However, upon seeing the "Recent Opportunity," Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
Titan''s Imprisoning Force?
It rang a bell.
This technique was a long-lost blood energy cultivation method of the demon race.
The current Demon Emperor had risen from a lowly wolf demon to his powerful status today thanks to fragments of Titan''s Imprisoning Force.
Shen Mo had long known that this world had two distinct cultivation systems.
The first was the spiritual energy system practiced by humans.
The second was the blood energy system practiced by demons.
Humans attempting to practice blood energy techniques faced immense difficulties.
Theycked the natural blood energy of demons and couldn''t endure the physical strain and torment of such methods.
Simrly, demons practicing spiritual energy techniques were met with challenges.
Their intelligence andprehension were generally lower, and they struggled to sense and connect with the world''s spiritual energy.
There had been attempts by powerful figures from both races to merge these systems, creating a method to cultivate both spiritual and blood energy.
But without exception, all had failed.
Titan''s Imprisoning Force appears unique, Shen Mo thought. It treats the body as a collection of 840 million particles, identical in number for both humans and demons.
If I could obtain Titan''s Imprisoning Force, I might be able to practice this blood energy technique too.
A flicker of excitement crossed Shen Mo''s mind.
Bing stronger was always the goal, and practicing Titan''s Imprisoning Force might be worthwhile.
What''s more, with his myriad opportunities and his own pill-refining abilities, he had the resources to offset the physical strain of practicing this technique.
"Go! Capture him alive!"
The Ninth Prince''s cruelughter echoed as he pointed a vicious finger at Shen Mo.
Behind him, the four lion demon kings roared and moved as if golden lightning, shooting toward Shen Mo.
Their strikes targeted his vital points from all directions, their overwhelming blood energy already causing the ground to tremble and leaving nearby onlookers unsteady on their feet.
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Chapter 299: How Could the Demon Clan Have a Coward Like You?
Chapter 299: How Could the Demon n Have a Coward Like You?
Shen Mo nced at the Ninth Prince and said tly, "Come down and meet your death."
The Ninth Prince''s fury erupted instantly, his golden mane standing on end like steel needles.
He hadn''t expected that despite bringing along four Lion Demon Kings, he would have to step in personally. It was utterly humiliating!
Suppressing his anger, the Ninth Prince said coldly, "Indeed, you live up to the reputation of being a peerless genius, praised even by my royal father. You do have some skill."
"You should feel honored that I, the prince, am lowering myself to fight you personally."
Shen Mo''s expression remained indifferent. "To be personally killed by me, you should feel honored."
The Ninth Prince''s gaze turned savage.
He had always held himself in high esteem.
Aside from the First and Fourth Princes, none of the other princes or demon kings even registered in his eyes. Shen Mo''s words had thoroughly infuriated him!
The two locked eyes.
The next moment, the Ninth Prince shot forward like a golden bolt of lightning.
Blood energy surged violently, condensing suddenly into nine blood-red spears.
Each spear was over twenty zhang (approximately 66 meters) in length, surrounded by faint, wailing souls.
The eerie cries caused a sharp pain in one''s head, making it hard to focus mentally.
"The Soul-Destroying Blood Spears! That''s the Ninth Prince''s signature technique!"
"His Highness is sure to severely wound Shen Mo in one strike and avenge the four Lion Demon Kings!"
"Your Highness, kill him! Kill him now!"
The gathered Lion Demon captains and generals roared in excitement.
They hadn''t expected to witness the Ninth Prince use this legendary move firsthand.
"Weak."
Shen Mo spoke calmly as he slowly raised his hand.
Boom!
Red mes roared to life, instantly forming a ming de over twenty zhang long.
As the nine blood spears approached, Shen Mo''s red ming de shed downward.
It was the second form of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique!
Boom!
Blood energy and mes collided in mid-air, intertwining, shing, and obliterating each other.
The blood spears shattered one after another, disintegrating into blood energy that dissipated in the air.
The Ninth Prince''s pupils contracted sharply when he realized his blood spears had been destroyed so effortlessly.
"Damn it... this Shen Mo truly has some ability."
He gritted his teeth and, without hesitation, gathered even more blood energy.
Before the remaining fragments of the blood spears could fully disperse, he condensed a single,rger spear.
This spear exceeded forty zhang in length, with a girth requiring ten men to encircle.
The surface of the blood spear was intricately detailed, as if it contained countless innocent souls who had perished.
Around it echoed ghastly wails, like a demonic melody piercing into the mind and threatening to tear one''s spirit apart.
"Such a massive and lifelike Soul-Destroying Blood Spear!"
"It seems His Highness has mastered this technique to an extraordinary level. Truly the most gifted among the royal princes!"
"I''ve heard that the Soul-Destroying Blood Spear grows stronger with more kills, umting vengeful souls. His Highness has in countless enemies, so this spear must be terrifyingly powerful. Look at Shen Mo; he''s already standing still, clearly paralyzed by the vengeful souls!"
"With this move, Shen Mo won''t be able to block it. He''s surely doomed!"
The Lion Demon crowd erupted in excited discussion, as if Shen Mo''s death was already certain.
The Ninth Prince let out a sinisterugh. "Do you feel it? The terror of both your body and soul being under attack?"
The next moment, his expression twisted into a savage snarl. "I take back my earlier words. You killed four of my Lion Demon Kings. I will tear you to pieces!"
Shen Mo''s expression remained calm.@@novelbin@@
In such a situation, using the Great Destion Starfall, which required lengthy preparation, was clearly unsuitable.
The best choice was still the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique.
"I haven''t mastered the third form of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique for long, but it''s enough to kill you."
Shen Mo suddenly unleashed his spiritual energy.
The Red Lotus me surged out from his shoulder des, forming a pair of immense ming wings.
The wings spanned twenty zhang each.
As they unfolded, theypletely obscured the sky.
Only fire wings are seen, but no sun is in sight!
"My heavens... what kind of martial technique is that?"
"What immense power! This must be a Heaven-tier martial art!"
"It looks somewhat like the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, but it''s unlike any move the Young Sect Master has ever used before!"
Wei Xiongtie, Mo Hanshan, and others couldn''t help but discuss among themselves, their eyes filled with astonishment.
"Fire Feathers, go!"
Shen Mo raised his finger, looking at the Ninth Prince.
Behind him, the pair of twenty-zhang-long ming wings instantly expanded.
Countless fiery feathers shot toward the Ninth Prince like a storm.
They looked like countless palm-sized firebirds darting through the sky.
This was the third form of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix TechniqueFire Feathers!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Explosions echoed continuously in mid-air.
The fire feathers moved with incredible speed.
One moment they were behind Shen Mo.
The next, they were already in front of the Ninth Prince, descending in waves.
The Ninth Prince''s pupils shrank. He had already sensed the terrifying power of this move.
But now, there was no retreat.
His only option was to face it head-on, using his Soul-Destroying Blood Spear to pierce through the fiery feathers filling the sky!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The endless stream of fire feathers collided fiercely with the surface of the Soul-Destroying Blood Spear.
The spear''s forward momentum slowed immediately.
The deafening explosions continued without pause.
The sky seemed to be engulfed by mes!
At first, the Soul-Destroying Blood Spear still advanced.
But soon, its speed decreased rapidly.
Finally, it was as if the spear had been frozen in mid-air, unable to move.
The blood energy surrounding the spear dissipated rapidly.
Each fire feather striking the spear drained a portion of its blood energy.
As countless fire feathers descended, the spear''s size shrank at an rming rate.
In just a dozen breaths, the spear had been reduced from over forty zhang to merely twenty zhang.
And it didn''t stop there.
The excess fire feathers rained down toward the ground, targeting the ten thousand Lion Demons below.
Cries of agony erupted as the Lion Demons scattered like frightened animals.
Every fire feather thatnded imed the lives of numerous Lion Demons.
Even the Lion Demon captains couldn''t withstand a single strike.
This scene struck terror into the Ninth Prince''s heart.
This was his trump card, his most powerful technique.
And yet, he had still lost to Shen Mo.
"My blood energy..."
Sensing the meager amount of blood energy left in his body, the Ninth Prince gritted his teeth in frustration.
Continuing the fight was no longer an option.
His blood energy was insufficient to sustain further battle.
There was only one path left.
Escape!
"Shen Mo, I''ll take you down with me!"
The Ninth Prince roared, pretending to channel his remaining blood energy for a desperate attack.
Shen Mo''s expression remained unchanged.
He had already predicted the Ninth Prince''s next move.
Sure enough.
The very next moment, the Ninth Prince suddenly turned and bolted at full speed!
He didn''t spare a single nce for the surviving Lion Demons on the ground.
"Your Highness, Ninth Prince!"
"Don''t abandon us!"
"Ninth Prince! Ninth Prince! How could the demon n produce a coward like you?"
The Lion Demons cried out in despair.
They could never have imagined that the Ninth Prince, whom they had once revered and worshipped, would abandon them and flee to save himself!
This scene left Nangong Yun, Ouyang Wei, and the others utterly stunned.
The Ninth Prince had fled!
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Chapter 300: This Time Is Enough to Obliterate Them
Chapter 300: This Time Is Enough to Obliterate Them
Shen Mo flicked his fingers lightly.
Two streams of spiritual energy shot out, unbinding the ropes tied around Nangong Yun and Ouyang Wei.
These ropes were crafted with special threads unique to the demon n.
When enough of them entangled a human, they could greatly suppress the spiritual energy within their body.
For this reason, Nangong Yun and Ouyang Wei had been unable to break free all along.
"Master, Elder Ouyang, take care of those Lion Demons. I''m going after that coward."
Shen Mo left those words behind and increased his pace, pursuing the fleeing Ninth Prince.
"Understood!"
Nangong Yun and Ouyang Wei looked overjoyed and immediately began untying the other cultivators.
Wei Xiongtie, Mo Hanshan, Elder Li, and disciples like Luo Shengnan, Zhao Ting, and Zhao Rou quickly freed themselves from their restraints.
Although the Lion Demons were individually powerful, their morale was now shattered. After being decimated by the fiery feathers, they had be a disorganized mob.
Dealing with them was no longer a challenge.
"The Young Sect Master wants to kill the Ninth Prince, but it might not be easy. Once we finish here, we''ll hurry to support him," Ouyang Wei said gravely.
"Of course, I understand," Nangong Yun nodded repeatedly, sharing the same thought.
Two figures, the Ninth Prince and Shen Mo, darted swiftly through the dense forest.
Shen Mo''s palm continuously unleashed ming de strikes.
Each strike burned swathes of trees to ash.
The Ninth Prince narrowly avoided the strikes multiple times.
One de even skimmed over the top of his head.
Although it didn''t harm him, it left him bald, his golden manepletely gone.
"Damn it! His spiritual energy seems endless. He''s been using martial techniques without stoppingwhy doesn''t he run out?"
The Ninth Prince gritted his teeth as he looked at the figure closing in behind him.
He had used the Soul-Destroying Blood Spear twice, and his blood energy was nearly depleted, leaving just enough for his escape.
Yet since encountering Shen Mo, the damned human had used martial techniques at least four timeseach one consuming a vast amount of spiritual energy.
Why was this guy still brimming with energy as if nothing had happened?
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
"Is there no oneing to help me?"
"If this keeps up, he''s going to catch me!"
The Ninth Prince was seething.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined such a humiliating scenario.
Not only had he failed to capture anyone, but his four Lion Demon Kings, dozens of captains, and over ten thousand soldiers had all perished!
Now, even his own life was in danger!
What a wretched fate!
Shen Mo frowned slightly.
Though the distance between him and the Ninth Prince was shrinking, this prolonged chase made it difficult tond a decisive blow.
Just then, a surge of blood energy and eerie ghostly qi erupted ahead.
The Ninth Prince''s face lit up with joy.
Blood energy!
It was reinforcements!
And judging by the strength of the blood energy, it had to be the Dragonblood Guard!
Shen Mo also sensed the ghostly qi and froze momentarily.
That aura felt oddly familiar.
Could it be... Zhao Yaolu?!
"My reinforcements are here!"
"It''s the Dragonblood Guard, sent by my royal father!"
"Shen Mo, if you dare pursue me further, you''ll die a miserable death!"
The Ninth Prince burst into delightedughter, even adding a note of threat to his tone.
Shen Mo remained silent and sped up instead.
Realizing something was amiss, the Ninth Prince didn''t dare dy and sprinted toward the source of the battle ahead.
In the clearing ahead, treesy toppled, rocks shattered, and dirt was churned up.
Two figuresone tall and one short, one d in red and the other in ckshed like bolts of lightning.
They collided, separated, and collided again.
There were no fancy techniques.
Only pure, overwhelming physical power.
After another fierce impact, the two separated and simultaneously looked toward the northern forest.
They had sensed the approach of the Ninth Prince and Shen Mo.
"Ghost n member, get out of my way. Don''t interfere with my mission," the Dragonblood Guard said coldly, ring at the short figure before him.
Standing opposite him was a diminutive, pitch-ck figure, no more than four feet tall.
Her skin waspletely ck.
A pair of ghostly white pupils made her appearance even more unnerving.
Atop her head was a small, sharp horn, seemingly containing all her power.
"The Demon Emperor wiped out my entire n, so it''s only right for me to obstruct you."
"Not only will I obstruct you, but I''ll also kill you!"@@novelbin@@
Zhao Yaolu bared her sharp fangs in a menacing grin.
"Dragonblood Guard! Save me! Quickly, save me!"
A desperate scream echoed through the forest.
The Ninth Prince stumbled out of the woods, disheveled and frantic.
Upon seeing the Dragonblood Guard, his face lit up with relief as though he''d seen his father. Tears of joy streamed down his face.
The Dragonblood Guard didn''t hesitate for a moment. He abandoned his attack on Zhao Yaolu and rushed toward the Ninth Prince.
The Demon Emperor''s order was to ensure the Ninth Prince returned safely.
And the Demon Emperor''smand was the ultimate principle of his existence.
"Senior Sister, hold them for ten breaths!"
Shen Mo''s voice came from above.
Zhao Yaolu raised an eyebrow and muttered, "Damn brat, you knew it was me all along."
"I can buy you ten breaths, but can you kill them?"
Shen Mo replied resolutely, "I can!"
Zhao Yaolu took several deep breaths, her small face turning serious. "Alright, Dragonblood Guard, huh? You think you''re strong?"
"The true power of the Ghost n doesn''t lie in physical strength but in curses!"
In the next moment, her hands moved rapidly, forming intricate seals.
ck sigils materialized in an instant, shooting toward the Dragonblood Guard and the Ninth Prince.
Before the two demons could react, the sigils had already appeared on their foreheads.
Zhao Yaolu clenched her fist and smashed it against her own forehead with force.
Bang!
She staggered backward, her head spinning, and her vision filled with stars.
At the same time, the Dragonblood Guard and the Ninth Prince clutched their heads as though struck by a massive force, flying backward.
They couldn''t rise for a long time.
Their focus shattered, they could only watch helplessly.
Shen Mo was momentarily stunned.
He knew that each demon n member, when their bloodline was fully awakened, couldprehend unique bloodline techniques hidden deep within.
These techniques were akin to the Nascent Soul techniques cultivated by human cultivators but varied in form and timing.
Some demonsprehended them at birth.
Others never did, even in death.
But he hadn''t expected the Ghost n''s bloodline technique to be so peculiarhurting oneself to hurt the enemy!
"This much time is enough!"
Shen Mo exhaled deeply.
Two mes abruptly ignited in his palms.
In his left hand, a golden sr me burned brightly.
In his right hand, the red lotus me shimmered intensely.
At this moment, Shen Mo seemed almost divine.
He mmed the two mes together with a decisive motion.
Instead of shing, the mes fused harmoniously, forming a single golden fireball.
Shen Mo pulled his hands apart forcefully.
ng!
A massive ming spear shot toward the heavens, forming in an instant!
The spear exceeded fifty zhang in length, with a girth requiring ten men to encircle.
Next to the spear, Shen Mo''s figure seemed insignificant.
Yet, this small frame wielded the power to unleash such a colossal martial technique.
"Great Destion Starfall, go!"
Shen Mo pointed at the Ninth Prince and the Dragonblood Guard, mimicking a throwing motion.
The next moment, the ming spear shot forth like the wrath of the heavens.
Its movement was slow but unyielding, obliterating and melting everything in its path!
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Chapter 301: You Call Me Master, I Call You Senior Brother—We Each Stick to Our Titles
Chapter 301: You Call Me Master, I Call You Senior BrotherWe Each Stick to Our Titles
The sudden appearance of the zing giant spear instantly sent shockwaves through the hearts of the Ninth Prince and the Dragonblood Guard.
They could feel the terrifying power contained within the spear, as if it sought to incinerate and melt everything in its path.
Even Zhao Yaolu felt a surge of astonishment.
From the ming spear, she sensed the presence of two entirely distinct types of strange mes.
When did Shen Mo manage to tame a second type of strange me?
What was even more shocking was the sheer improbability of the feat. Strange mes were innately proud and incredibly difficult to tame. Even subduing one was an arduous task. Housing two within the same body? That was almost unimaginable.
How did Shen Mo manage to reconcile the conflict between the two mes?
"Protect me! Quickly, protect me!"
The Ninth Prince was utterly terrified.
He could feel it with certaintyhe would not survive this attack. Death was inevitable.
For humans who had reached the Nascent Soul stage, even if their bodies were destroyed, their Nascent Souls could escape and, given the chance, rebuild their bodies.
But for the demon race, the death of their physical body meant true death.
The Dragonblood Guard gritted his teeth.
He knew what he had to do.
"Stay behind me."
"I will risk my life to buy you a sliver of survival."
Taking a deep breath, the Dragonblood Guard''s blood surged madly.
Not just from his mouth and noseblood began pouring out of every pore on his body.
The entire demon looked utterly horrifying, like a ghastly specter that had wed its way out of the underworld.
The Ninth Prince shrank his body as much as possible behind the Dragonblood Guard.
At this moment, he deeply resented hisrge frame.
Why couldn''t I have been smaller?
"Hellblood Shield!"
The Dragonblood Guard roared.
The surging blood instantly coalesced into a massive shield, enveloping both him and the Ninth Prince.
The once-powerful and muscr figure of the Dragonblood Guard withered in an instant, leaving him gaunt and shriveled, like a dried-out cucumber that had been without water for weeks.
Zhao Yaolu shook her head slightly.
Her recent battles in Wu Province against the demon race had given her plenty of experience.
During a surprise assault on the Fourth Prince''s stronghold, she had nearly in the fourth prince of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation.
Unfortunately, a Dragonblood Guard had appeared at thest moment.
Sacrificing his life to protect his charge, he had used this very same technique.
The Hellblood Shield stood like an unyielding mountain, impossible to ovee.
In the end, she could only watch helplessly as a group of demon kings rescued the Fourth Prince.
Of course, this technique came with a heavy price.
It drained not only the blood coursing through the body but also the reserves buried deep within the bones and organs, squeezing out everyst ounce of potential.
Even if the user survived, their strength would plummet to irrecoverable depths, rendering them no different from a corpse.
This was precisely why the Demon Emperor trained Dragonblood Guardsto use them as disposable pawns for such scenarios.
"If I can''t kill the Ninth Prince, killing a Dragonblood Guard is still a win."
Zhao Yaolu nodded slightly.
This oue was eptable.
Dragonblood Guards weren''t easy to cultivate. Losing one carelessly like this was sure to trouble the Demon Emperor for a while.
"Want to survive?"
"Did you ask for my permission?"
Shen Mo watched the scene unfold and smiled faintly.
In his dantian, a golden-crowned Nascent Soul that had been meditating with closed eyes suddenly opened them.
Threads of golden Nascent Soul energy began to surge.
Shen Mo pointed abruptly at the zing giant spear.
The Nascent Soul energy shot into the spear from a distance.
In the next moment, the ming spear swelled as if being inted!
Within mere breaths, it expanded to a massive sixty feet in length!
It was farrger than before.
The mes burning upon it grew even more ferocious and intense, radiating scorching heat that made the very air shimmer.
Though the spear had yet to strike, the searing heat waves were enough to make onlookers dizzy and lightheaded.
The Dragonblood Guard''s face turned ashen.
He could feel the overwhelming threat looming before him.
For the first time, he was unsure.
Can the Hellblood Shield withstand this ming spear?
In the next moment, the spear collided with the shield.
In an instant, the point of impact erupted with dazzling light.
The blinding light from the collision spread across hundreds of miles, visible even to those thousands of miles away.
The ferocious shockwaves radiated outward from the point of impact, ttening countless towering trees.
Dust filled the air, rocks shattered, and mes licked everything in sight.
It was a scene straight out of an apocalypse.
At the center of the destruction, a deep crater had formed.
At the bottom of the pit were two charred and mangled corpses, barely recognizable.
Yet, one could discern they were the Dragonblood Guard and the Ninth Prince.
Zhao Yaolu''s eyes widened in shock.
This single strike had actually killed both the Dragonblood Guard and the Ninth Prince!
The so-called Hellblood Shield had crumbled upon contact!
How has Shen Mo grown so strong in just a few years?@@novelbin@@
Shen Mo exhaled a deep breath and slowly descended from the sky.
He smiled and said, "Senior Sister, long time no see."
Zhao Yaolu snorted coldly, and the ck aura surrounding her began to recede.
It condensed into the single ck horn on her forehead, which then vanished entirely.
She transformed back into a petite, adorable girl, though her appearance had matured slightly.
Instead of looking eight or nine years old, she now appeared around ten.
"So, you''ve known I''m from the Heavenly Ghost n all along, haven''t you?" Zhao Yaolu''s gaze was sharp.
Shen Mo simply smiled without answering.
Zhao Yaolu bared her teeth but eventually rxed. "Fine, you''re my junior brother. If you know, you know."
The two exchanged a few words, catching up on the past few years.
Shen Mo casually waved his hand, summoning the storage artifacts from the two corpses at the bottom of the pit.
"Do you want these?"
Zhao Yaolu''s eyes flickered with interest, but she quickly adopted the demeanor of a senior.
"These two demons were killed by you. The spoils rightfully belong to you. How could I take them?"
"Besides, I''m your senior sister. I should let you have them."
She patted her t chest with an air of authority, as though making a grand gesture.
Shen Mo chuckled and nodded.
At that moment, the sound of someone flying using spiritual energy approached from a distance.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Two figuresnded not far away.
"Shen''er"
Murong Yue''s face lit up with joy upon seeing Shen Mo safe and sound.
Zhao Yaolu raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting between Murong Yue and Shen Mo with a peculiar expression.
A woman''s intuition told her that something was amiss.
Shen Mo walked over to Murong Yue and gently brushed her slightly disheveled hair aside, smiling. "Master, I''m fine. The Dragonblood Guard and the Ninth Prince are both dead."
"You can rest easy now."
Murong Yue and Ouyang Wei both looked shocked.
"They''re dead?"
Ouyang Wei rushed to the edge of the crater and stared at the corpses, his eyes widening even further.
The Ninth Prince and the Dragonblood Guard, both beings capable of crushing even peak Nascent Soul cultivators, had died so miserably.
Their bodies were barely intactworse than stray dogs.
"You two catch up. I''m heading back to the base," Zhao Yaolu said, waving her hand. "Oh, and tell that old man to cut back on his drinking. Now that I''m gone, no one''s going to cover his bills anymore."
Shen Moughed. "Got it. I''ll tell him."
With a few nimble leaps, Zhao Yaolu disappeared into the dense forest.
"Who was that?" Murong Yue asked, blinking in surprise.
Ouyang Wei respectfully replied, "She is the young lord''s senior sister, Zhao Yaolu."
Murong Yue nodded in astonishment. "So, she''s a senior"
Shen Mo chuckled and teased, "More importantly, Master, if you join the Jade Cauldron Sect in the future, won''t that make you my junior sister? Shouldn''t you call me Senior Brother then?"
"How are we supposed to address each other?"
Murong Yue''s fair cheeks turned bright red in an instant.
"You call me Master, and I''ll call you Senior Brother," she stammered.
"We''ll stick to our own titles!"
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Chapter 302: Addressing the Status of the Young Sect Master
Chapter 302: Addressing the Status of the Young Sect Master
Shen Mo chuckled softly at thement.
Before long, he embraced Murong Yue tightly, despite her initial startled gasp.
At first, Murong Yue struggled, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she tried to free herself.
But Shen Mo''s arms felt as unyielding as steel, making it impossible for her to escape.
In the end, she had no choice but to resign herself to his embrace, leaning against his chest.
"Ahem"
Ouyang Wei, standing nearby, coughed awkwardly.
He couldn''t help but feel out of ce witnessing this intimate moment.
"There are others here, you know!" Murong Yue whispered, her voice barely audible.
Shen Mo finally loosened his hold and turned to the others.
"Master, Elder Ouyang, you should return to Qingxuan Sect to clean up the battlefield.
I have some matters to attend to in Green Mountain City."
Murong Yue nodded in understanding.
Shen Mo watched as they left, then headed straight for Green Mountain City.
The Ninth Prince''s recent opportunity was rumored to be located at Flying Swallow Bluff, just over two hundred miles south of Green Mountain City.
Besides, Shen Mo also had a personal matter to address therebringing his father, Shen Jiuding, back with him.
Traveling by controlling his energy, Shen Mo streaked across the sky like a bolt of lightning.
Before long, he arrived at a massive, peculiar rock formation that jutted out dramatically, resembling a swallow in flight.
This was Flying Swallow Bluff, named after its distinct shape.
Shen Mo scouted the area carefully and soon discovered their of the Gold-Eating Mice.@@novelbin@@
Inside, he found several pink, chubby baby mice huddled together, their eyes not yet open.
Sensing Shen Mo''s presence, the baby mice let out terrified squeals, scattering in confusion.
Shen Mo chuckled but didn''t disturb them. Instead, he carefully searched their.
After a while, he uncovered something hidden beneath the soft strawa set of iplete pages from the first three levels of the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique!
"Got it!"
Shen Mo nodded with satisfaction and quickly left, heading toward Green Mountain City.
Green Mountain City''s remote location had spared it from the demon n''s attacks.
Still, the residents were living in fear, dreading the possibility of the demons arriving to devour them.
Some townsfolk had already packed their belongings, preparing to flee the city with their families.
Shen Mo''s arrival drew immediate attention.
"That man he looks like a Daoist!"
"And so young!"
"Wait a momentdoesn''t he look just like Doctor Shen? Could he be Doctor Shen''s son, Shen Mo?"
When the townsfolk got a good look at his handsome face, they were visibly stunned.
Shen Mo smiled warmly.
"Yes, I am Shen Mo. Could you tell me where my father is?"
The townsfolk, filled with awe and respect, quickly pointed him in the right direction.
Shen Mo sped his hands in thanks and vanished from sight in an instant.
"He''s so fast What level of cultivation is he at now? And what''s his position in Qingxuan Sect?"
"I heard he left Qingxuan Sect long ago to join the more powerful Jade Cauldron Sect."
"What? Really? That''s amazing!"
The townsfolk chattered excitedly, though much of their information was outdated.
Many still believed Shen Mo was only a core disciple of Qingxuan Sect.
At Shen Medical Hall, Shen Mo found a slender, middle-aged man bustling about, attending to a seemingly endless stream of patients.
The hall was just as crowded as ever.
"Father, I''vee to see you," Shen Mo called out, his deep breath steady as he strode in with purpose.
The middle-aged man froze and turned to the source of the voice.
Shen Mo looked just as youthful as he had in his memories, but the man himself now bore streaks of white in his hair.
"Mo''er is it really you?"
Shen Jiuding''s expression lit up with surprise and joy.
He had never expected Shen Mo to return at such a time.
"Father, I''m here to take you to Jade Cauldron Sect. I''ve now established myself there and gained a certain standing," Shen Mo said with a smile.
Shen Jiuding hurriedly wiped his hands on his faded robe. "This this won''t do. If I go to Jade Cauldron Sect, won''t I just disrupt your cultivation?"
Shen Mo shook his head firmly. "Father, if you fall into danger, that would truly disrupt my cultivation. Trust me,e with me. Even Master has moved to Jade Cauldron Sect. She''ll be there to look after you as well."
Shen Jiuding hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright, I''ll go with you. But first, I need to prepare medicine for all the patients here. A healer must never disregard human life."
Shen Mo nodded. "I''ll wait for you."
Two hourster, Shen Jiuding hadpleted prescriptions for all his patients. He packed a few essential items, tidied up the medical hall, and closed its doors.
As he gazed at the wooden que above the entrance, a wave of emotion washed over him. "Mo''er, you''ve grown up now, and perhaps you''ve forgotten. From the day you were born until you left to study at Qingxuan Sect, you spent your first decade in this very hall. Now, leaving it behind feels a bit hard."
Shen Mo smiled. "You must look to the future, Father. When you''re at Jade Cauldron Sect, you can open another medical hall. The world is vasteverywhere can be home."
Shen Jiudingughed heartily, his sadness dissolving. "You''re right. I''m almost fifty years old, and yet I''m more sentimental than you."
"Let''s go! Hold on tight, Father!"
With Shen Jiuding securely in tow, Shen Mo flew them to Qingxuan Sect. After a brief conversation with his old acquaintances there, Shen Mo picked up Murong Yue, and the three began their journey northward toward Jade Cauldron Sect.
At Jade Cauldron Sect''s Elder Pavilion, the trio descended. Shen Jiuding nced around at the bustling scene, a hint of nervousness in his expression.
"We''ll go to the Elder Pavilion first to help you settle in," Shen Mo said with a smile.
Murong Yue nodded gently. Before they could enter, the steward at the entrance spotted them, his eyes lighting up in recognition. "Young Sect Master, you''ve returned so quickly! Is Qingxuan Sect alright? Did you encounter Hall Master He on your way?"
Shen Mo smiled and nodded. "Everything is fine. As for Hall Master He, I must have missed him on the way." He chuckled softly.
The steward quickly responded, "There''s no need for you to handle these matters personally, Young Sect Master. Leave it to me! And this gentleman is?" He looked toward Shen Jiuding.
"This is my father," Shen Mo replied. "I''d like to arrange amodations for him."
The steward was taken aback, his attitude bing even more respectful. "So, this is the Young Sect Master''s father! Rest assured, I''ll take care of everything."
"Thank you," Shen Mo said with a nod.
Shen Jiuding, astonished, turned to his son. "Mo''er, you said you had somestatus in Jade Cauldron Sect. This is what you call some? You''re the Young Sect Master!"
Shen Moughed lightly. "Father, just rx and enjoy yourself."
Shen Jiuding, overwhelmed with emotion, eximed, "Wonderful, wonderful! How did I, Shen Jiuding, deserve the blessing of a son like you?"
The diligent steward led Murong Yue and Shen Jiuding into the Elder Pavilion. Shen Mo didn''t linger; instead, he made his way directly to Dragon Snake Mountain.
He could hardly wait to begin practicing the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique. It was the pinnacle of demon n techniques!
With just a few fragments of this technique, the Demon Emperor had risen from a lowly wolf demon to the invincible ruler he was today. If such power could be achieved from scraps, what heights could Shen Mo reach by mastering it himself?
Seated cross-legged in the wilderness of Dragon Snake Mountain, Shen Mo carefully studied the first level of the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique. After a long while, he eximed in awe, "So, this is how it works!"
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Chapter 303: Do You Know Shen Mo?
Shen Mo read through the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique carefully. It described the body asposed of 840 million particles, each capable of awakening the power of a giant elephant.
The method of cultivation involved awakening this power in every particle. Once all particles had awakened the giant elephant''s strength, the process would begin again, advancing to the dragon elephant particles, followed by the primal elephant particles, and ultimately the divine elephant particles.
At the pinnacle of mastery, one could roar down stars, pluck the moon from the sky, and achieve the impossible with a single thought.
The iplete manual Shen Mo had obtained contained the first three levels of the technique and three corresponding moves.
The first level, awakening the strength of ten giant elephants, allowed one to learn the "Soul-Piercing Blood Spear," a devastating offensive technique.
The second level, awakening the strength of a hundred giant elephants, granted the "Unshakable Saint King''s Body," a powerful defensive technique.
The third level, awakening the strength of a thousand giant elephants, unlocked the "Heaven and Earth Great Furnace," a technique to refine spiritual energy, life essence, and even celestial and ster energy into blood vitality to nourish the body.
At that stage, one''s blood would be as dense as mercury, and their bone marrow as pure as frost. A single drop of blood would weigh thousands of kilograms.
Shen Mo''s heart surged with anticipation. This was the pinnacle of a pure, powerful physique!
"However, cultivating the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique requires an enormous daily supply of life essence."
"It seems I''ll need to treat spiritual herbs and elixirs like ordinary beans."
"I earned a substantial contribution reward from killing the Ninth Prince. If my stock of elixirs runs out, I''ll head to the treasure hall and exchange for more. With a sect as my backing, I don''t need to worry about resources."
Shen Mo chuckled wryly at the thought. The technique had its dangers. If insufficient life essence was avable, forcing cultivation could lead to a terrifying bacsh, leaving the body emaciated and eventually turning it into a dried corpse.
"Let''s get started!" Shen Mo calmed his mind and began consuming various blood-replenishing and healing elixirs like snacks while practicing the technique, determined to master the first level as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, in the Demon Emperor''s fortress, the atmosphere was tense.
The First and Fourth Princes, apanied by a group of Dragonblood Guards, knelt uneasily on the ground.
Ye Yan stood silently to the side, saying nothing.
The Demon Emperor paced back and forth, his expression dark and brooding, as though a violent storm was brewing.
"He''s dead?"
"You''re telling me he''s dead?"
The Demon Emperor''s voice was hoarse as he spoke slowly.
The First Prince bowed respectfully. "Father, ording to our informants, Shen Mo epted a mission at the Jade Cauldron Sect''s treasure hall to kill the Ninth Prince. He then produced the Ninth Prince''s severed hand as proof.
"After verification, Shen Mo was awarded an A-rank contribution."
"It''s certainthe Ninth Prince is dead, and Shen Mo is the one who killed him."
The Demon Emperor suddenlyshed out, shattering the throne beside him with a single kick.
Splinters flew through the air like projectiles, grazing the demons present.
Small wounds appeared on every demon, causing blood to drip and pain to spread.
None of them dared to utter a word, let alone stand up.
The Demon Emperor''s fury was palpable, and no one wanted to provoke it further.
"Investigate."
"Find out exactly how the Ninth Prince died!"
"Keep close tabs on Shen Mo''s movements."
"Send more human spies into Yu Province for me."
"I want him dead!"
His eyes were as cold as ice.
"Understood!" The First and Fourth Princes, along with the other demons, bowed deeply and left.
Ye Yan watched their retreating figures with a heavy heart.
He had been wrong.
Shen Mo was neither dead nor captured and delivered to the Demon Emperor.
Instead, the Ninth Prince was dead.
"There''s only one exnation Shen Mo''s strength has grown again during this time."
"That man is terrifying. Even after refining the Demon Emperor''s blood, I still can''t catch up to him."
"Will I ever be able to match him in the future?"
At that thought, Ye Yan shuddered.
An uncontroble fear surged within Ye Yan.
However, his resilience eventually prevailed. After taking several deep breaths, he regained hisposure.
"He''s strong, but I, Ye Yan, am no weakling either."
"His greatest mistake is standing in the way of history''s march forward."
"Once the Ten Thousand Demons Nation gathers its strength for a few more years, and once the Three Sects and One King fall into chaos, the Demon Emperor will sweep across Yu Province and the entire Jing Nation like a thunderstorm."
"No matter how talented Shen Mo is, he cannot withstand the might of the Demon Emperor''s forces."
"Dead is still dead."
"As for me, Ye Yan, by siding with the victors, I will survive."
A faint smile appeared on Ye Yan''s face.
What use is genius if it cannot oust its enemies?
If I can endure longer than Shen Mo, then the title of genius will fall to me.
At the Pill River Sect''s mountain gate, the air was thick with the rich fragrance of medicinal herbs.
For mortals, taking a deep breath of this scent could instantly cure minor ailments.
Living long-term in such an environment could even extend one''s lifespan, and in some cases, grant spiritual roots to their descendants, paving the way to cultivation.
On the martial practice grounds, two elders strolled side by side, speaking in hushed tones.
"Did you hear? Yesterday, a newly arrived elder crossed the Myriad Elixir River alone and startled the Sect Master!"
"I heard about it. That elder is remarkably young, supposedly not even thirty years old!"
"Tsk tsk, truly a genius. I wonder how hepares to Shen Mo of the Jade Cauldron Sect or Chu Tiankuo of the Supreme Purity Sect."
Their conversation echoed the discussions of others on the practice grounds.
The Myriad Elixir River was one of Pill River Sect''s forbidden grounds.
It was an underground river, but instead of water, it flowed with medicinal liquid.
The river didn''t contain ordinary fish or shrimp but instead, elixirs.
Over time, the elixirs soaking in the river had developed a semnce of spirituality, attacking any living being that entered the river.
The only way to pass was to walk its entire length.
Unlike the Jade Cauldron Sect''s Blood Vine Valley or Fire Elixir Pce, the Myriad Elixir River was more of a trial ground than a dangerous forbidden area.
Every elder at the Nascent Soul stage was permitted to challenge the Myriad Elixir River.
Sessfullypleting the challenge would result in an immediate promotion from a one-cauldron elder to a four-cauldron elder.
However, since the founding of Pill River Sect, no one had ever fully traversed the Myriad Elixir River.
Not even the most gifted talents had seeded.
That''s why the newly arrived young elder''s effortless and unscathedpletion of the trial had caused such an uproar, sparking endless conversations among the sect''s disciples and elders.
Atop the highest peak of Pill River Sect stood a grand pavilion.
Lavishly adorned and radiating opulence, it was the residence of the Sect Master, Hai Qiankun.
Today, however, Hai Qiankun was not alone. Standing beside him was a young man.
"Young friend Xiao, you and my Pill River Sect seem fated to meet," Hai Qiankun said with a tone of admiration. "If you''re willing to join our sect, I can immediately elevate your elder status to four-cauldron rank!"
Hai Qiankun''s eyes gleamed with approval as he looked at the young man before him.
Xiao Fan bowed respectfully. "Xiao Fan is willing to join Pill River Sect, serve the sect, and contribute to humanity."
Overjoyed, Hai Qiankun stepped forward to lift Xiao Fan to his feet. "Excellent, excellent! Our Pill River Sect is in dire need of talents like you!"
"The fact that you traversed the Myriad Elixir River unscathed proves your extraordinary talent, one that rivals even Shen Mo of the Jade Cauldron Sect."
"Our Pill River Sect is truly blessed!" Hai Qiankunughed heartily.
At the mention of Shen Mo''s name, Xiao Fan''s expression became slightly unnatural.
Hai Qiankun noticed immediately. "What''s wrong? Do you know Shen Mo?" he asked curiously
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Chapter 304: Why Isn’t Such a Genius Part of Pill River Sect
Chapter 304: Why Isnt Such a Genius Part of Pill River Sect
Xiao Fan knew that once he became an elder of Pill River Sect, his background would inevitably be uncovered.
So he didnt conceal it and directly revealed his identity.
Hai Qian Kun was quite surprised, I see, you and Shen Mo both hail from the Qingxuan Sect of Xuanjiang Prefecture.
I didnt expect such a small Qingxuan Sect to produce two geniuses of your caliber.
He sighed lightly, Back then, it was short-sighted of those elders to abandon Qingxuan Sect after their decision.
After saying that, he added, It seems you have some conflict with Shen Mo?
Xiao Fan nodded, Not enemies, but worse than enemies.
He subconsciously looked eastward.
That was where the Taishan Prefecture and Jade Cauldron Sect''s mountain gates were located.
He is my inner demon.
As long as he lives, my inner demon remains.
Hai Qian Kun nodded, Dont worry, your talent is not inferior to his. With the resources of Pill River Sect tilted in your favor, your growth rate will surpass his!
As for what realm Shen Mo is currently in, I dont know.
But I estimate he is probably only at the Great Aplishment of the Nascent Soul realm and hasnt reached its perfection.
You and he are in the same realm, so theres no need to worry.
One day, you will easily surpass him.
At that time, Shen Mo will be like a bug that you can easily crush.
Xiao Fan nodded heavily, Yes!
In his mind, the voice of Elder Dan resounded.
The best sect for you is Pill River Sect, after all, they have inherited most of the Nine Revolutions Pill Dao Sects teachings.
Once you gradually gain power, you can take control.
Pill River Sect owes a blood debt, no less than the Supreme Purity Sect or the Jade Cauldron Sect!
Xiao Fan thought to himself, I understand. I am the only hope for the revival of the Nine Revolutions Pill Dao Sect.
Good, I believe in you too, Elder Dan said with relief.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door, followed by a respectful voice.
Sect Leader! News just in! The Ninth Prince of the Demon Nation has been killed!
Hai Qian Kun was stunned, Who killed him? Was it an elder from our Pill River Sect?
Was it the Fifth Elder or the Ninth Elder?
Or was it an elder from the Supreme Purity Sect or the Jade Cauldron Sect?
Despite his seemingly naive appearance, he was well aware of the situation in the Demon Nation.
The First Prince, Fourth Prince, and Ninth Prince of the Demon Nation were most favored by the Demon Emperor.
Each of these princes was guarded by at least one Dragon Blood Guard, making them extremely difficult to kill.
The cultivators who ventured to Wu Province had tried and failed to kill them, losing many of their own in the process.
In his view, the only way to kill these three princes was if they stumbled into the hands of a Divine Transformation realm cultivator by ident.
For a Divine Transformation realm cultivator, killing a prince and their Dragon Blood Guard would be effortless.
Report immediately, who did it? Hai Qian Kun asked urgently.
Xiao Fan also looked curious.
Who could kill the Demon Nations Ninth Prince?
The steward entered, looking embarrassed, Sect Leader, it wasnt any of them.
It was Shen Mo, the young lord of Jade Cauldron Sect.
He not only killed the Ninth Prince but also the Dragon Blood Guard and four Lion Demon Kings who came to rescue the prince. By the way, those Lion Demon Kings were reportedly Silver Crown Demon Kings.
Hai Qian Kun was stunned.
Xiao Fans body couldnt help but tremble slightly.
Get out, get out! Hai Qian Kun said angrily.
The steward quickly withdrew.
Hai Qian Kun tightly gripped the armrest of the nearby table.
He murmured, Shen Mo it was Shen Mo
Not only did he kill the Ninth Prince, but he also killed the Dragon Blood Guard and four Silver Crown Demon Kings?
Why isnt such a genius part of our Pill River Sect?
Why did we abandon Qingxuan Sect back then!
Hai Qian Kun gritted his teeth in hatred.
He couldn''t help but nce back at Xiao Fan.
Inparison, Xiao Fan''s aura dimmed.
Completing the entire Pill River indeed showed considerable potential.
Butpared to Shen Mos astonishingbat power, it paled inparison.
Xiao Fan also looked silent at this moment.
He didn''t expect that even aftering to Pill River Sect, he would still live under Shen Mo''s shadow.
Why is Shen Mo everywhere!
Sect Leader, Im a bit tired after walking the whole Pill River. Ill take my leave first. Xiao Fan forced a smile.
Alright, go ahead. Hai Qian Kun nodded.
He also saw the destion in Xiao Fan''s heart.
...
Not long after, the news of Shen Mo killing the Ninth Prince, a Dragon Blood Guard, and four Silver Crown Demon Kings spread throughout Yuzhou.
Supreme Purity Sect, Pill River Sect, and the Governor''s Mansion were all shocked.
For a Nascent Soul realm cultivator to achieve this, it was terrifying.
Although many cultivators did not show it, they were already vaguely considering Shen Mo as the number one under the Divine Transformation realm!
Their hearts were filled with awe for Shen Mo.
Some even had a fervent admiration for Shen Mo.@@novelbin@@
They believed he was the only human genius who could rival the Demon Emperor.
As long as Shen Mo grew, he could curb the northward advance of the Demon Nation!
The discussions from the outside world were overwhelming.
Even the neighboring prefectures praised Shen Mo.
They praised him for removing a great scourge of the demon n for the human race.
However, these voices did not reach Shen Mos ears.
At this moment, he was still meticulously tempering his body in the Dragon Snake Mountain wilderness.
At this moment, Shen Mos upper body was bare, revealing firm and raised muscles.
If someone got close, they would notice that Shen Mos entire body exuded an ancient and wild aura.
It was as if nine majestic elephants were residing in his body.
The elephants trunks swirled, causing the gxy to lose its color.
The elephants iron hooves stomped, making the earth quake.
In the blink of an eye, the peculiar vision disappeared without a trace.
Not far from Shen Mo, the small flood dragon looked at him with both fear and affection.
It wanted to approach but didnt dare because of the elephant aura emanating from Shen Mo.
Even the me Flood Dragon feared the giant elephant. Its bloodline must be incredibly powerful and noble!
Almost! Almost! Just a little more!
Shen Mo could feel the awakening of the tenth particle.
It was as if a giant elephant was about to break out of its shell.
Shen Mo grabbed a handful of Blood and Flesh Bone Pills and stuffed them into his mouth.
This type of pill was recorded in the Nine Revolutions Pill Dao Canon and was very suitable for cultivating blood qi techniques.
The various herbs for the Blood and Flesh Bone Pill could be exchanged in the treasure pavilion of Jade Cauldron Sect.
Besides, even if Shen Mo didnt need them, people often brought all sorts of natural treasures to him.
Just to strengthen their rtionship with him.
Thus, there was never a shortage of materials for refining Blood and Flesh Bone Pills.
The speed of awakening the giant elephants power was maintained at such a rapid pace.
Rip!
In an instant, it was as if an eggshell was broken.
It felt like a giant elephant from ancient times was breaking through the void.
Trampling on the heavens and earth, overlooking all beings.
The tenth giant elephant particle awakened!
At the moment when the giant elephant particle awakened, the entire Dragon Snake Mountain fell silent.
Countless spirit beasts and demon beasts prostrated.
It was as if they witnessed the birth of a king.
They knew it was an apex existence on the food chain, a primordial beast far beyond their understanding!
The only thing they could do was submit!
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Chapter 305: The Soul-Destroying Blood Spear with the Power of Ten Giant Elephant
Shen Mo slowly opened his eyes.
He could feel the power of ten giant elephants surging tirelessly through his veins.
Every time it passed a certain point, it would strengthen and nourish the surrounding flesh and bones!
As a result, his body became incredibly tough, and his blood qi grew extremely rich!
If judged by the standards of the demon n, my blood qi is nowparable to that of a Golden-Crowned Demon King.@@novelbin@@
Coupled with my spiritual power realm, even if ten, no, even if nine Golden-Crowned Demon Kings came, they wouldn''t be my match!
Shen Mo nodded in satisfaction.
He was very confident in his current strength.
Now I should be able to use the Soul-Destroying Blood Spear. Let''s see how it performs.
Shen Mo took a deep breath, and scarlet blood qi spurted out from every pore of his body.
It was like countless bees swarming together, buzzing furiously.
He crossed his hands abruptly.
The blood qi suddenly gathered intensely in the palms of his hands.
It did not dissipate but seemed to solidify.
Finally, quantity led to quality change, and it highly condensed, forming a solid mass like steel.
The next moment, a primitive, ancient red war spear appeared in Shen Mo''s palm.
It was about a zhang long.
It emitted a terrifying aura like that of a hellish abyss.
The intense and oppressive atmosphere was overwhelming.
The sharp spear tip constantly dripped blood.
Before the blood hit the ground, it evaporated into blood qi and returned to the spear.
Just looking at it, one would feel as if they were falling into endless hell.
Holding this spear, Shen Mo seemed like the lord of hell.
Life and death rested on the tip of the Soul-Destroying Blood Spear!
Pierce!
Shen Mo roared.
In his body, the immense power of the giant elephants surged wildly.
The blood qi burst forth like a mountain flood, filling his right arm.
In the next moment, the Soul-Destroying Blood Spear shot out from his hand.
It instantly cut through the sky, flying dozens of zhang and plunging into a nearby mountain.
The hard mountain seemed like tofu, unable to stop the piercing of the Soul-Destroying Blood Spear.
Whoosh!
With a wave of Shen Mo''s hand, the Soul-Destroying Blood Spear flew back andnded in his palm.
From a distance, he saw a dark hole had appeared in the center of the mountain, with the rocks evaporated.
Looking through the hole, one could see the scenery on the other side.
Clearly, this strike had pierced through the mountain!
What a domineering power!
The strength and speed of my spear are already enough to pierce through the Ninth Prince and the Dragon Blood Guard, killing them instantly on the spot!
Shen Mo deeply understood the power of the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength.
Moreover, this was just the power of ten giant elephants, the firstyer of the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength!
It''s unimaginable what terrifying power he would gain if he cultivated to a higher level in the future!
I haven''t checked the storage artifacts of the Ninth Prince and the Dragon Blood Guard yet; there might be something good inside.
Feeling happy, Shen Mo sat down and began to examine his previous gains.
The day he killed the Ninth Prince and the Dragon Blood Guard, he took their storage artifacts. After returning to the Jade Cauldron Sect, he had been focusing on cultivating the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength and hadn''t had time to pay attention to other things.
Now, it was indeed time to see what he had gained.
Interesting, the demon n''s storage artifacts are actually shells.
Shen Mo examined the two small shells in his hand, deep in thought.
Using seashells as storage artifacts was a technique of the Flood Dragon Pce.
Could this mean that the Demon Nation and the Flood Dragon Pce had some unspeakable dealings?
This wasn''t good news.
It''s known that the first Human Emperor of Jing Country waged war against the demon ns when founding Jing Country, and the Flood Dragon Pce had already existed back then.
At that time, the Flood Dragon Pce even supported the Human Emperor.
This showed how deep the foundation of the Flood Dragon Pce was.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow, stopped thinking about it, and opened the shell.
There wasn''t much in the Dragon Blood Guard''s storage shell, only some earth-tier treasures suitable for body tempering and some inferior earth-tier martial skills.
Shen Mo, already possessing the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength, had no interest in these martial skills.
But when he opened the Ninth Prince''s storage shell, he was indeed amazed.
Inside were various natural treasures, as numerous as a small mountain.
There were four earth-tier blood qi techniques alone.
There were also twelve earth-tier blood qi martial skills.
These were probably used by the Ninth Prince to train his demon n subordinates and win their loyalty.
This charred piece of wood
Shen Mo suddenly noticed something in a transparent water bottle in the corner of the storage shell.
That charred piece of wood constantly emitted golden thunder.
The thunder was majestic and awe-inspiring, like heavenly punishment, annihting all demonic and evil presences.
A few more looks at the tiny thunderbolts, and all dark thoughts in the mind would vanish.
They would be reced by an increasingly vast and majestic golden thunder that almost seemed to take over the entire world.
At first nce, Shen Mo knew what it was.
Divine Thunder!
It is indeed the Divine Thunder that suppresses the demon n! Absolutely no mistake!
At that moment, Shen Mo''s breathing quickened for a moment.
He had searched for so long.
He never thought that this item would one day appear in the Ninth Prince of the Demon n''s storage shell!
I just don''t know if the remaining Divine Thunder on this charred tree trunk is enough to link the physical body and the nascent soul.
Shen Mo pondered.
Why not, let''s give it a try first.
After a moment of contemtion, Shen Mo decided to try it on his own body first.
He prepared various healing pills and activated various defensive martial skills.
Then, he solemnly extended his hand into the transparent water bottle.
The next moment, golden thunder suddenly burst forth, wrapping around Shen Mo''s arm like a mad serpent.
Sizzle!
Shen Mo''s entire right arm felt as if it had been struck by heavenly thunder.
His skin split open and his flesh tore apart!
It was charred ck!
The intense pain struck madly!
This pain not only affected his right arm but also acted on his nerves and deep within his soul!
Shen Mo let out a low roar and quickly retracted his right arm.
He looked down and saw that his entire right arm had turned ck, showing the patterns left by the thunder strike.
He looked again at the transparent water bottle.
The golden thunder inside hadn''t diminished at all.
Instead, because of his touch, more Divine Thunder surged out from the charred tree trunk.
Despite the intense pain, Shen Mo''s face showed great joy.
It was enough!
This Divine Thunder was definitely enough.
This charred tree trunk looked pitifully small.
In reality, it stored a vast amount of Divine Thunder.
It was enough to sessfully link his physical body and nascent soul!
To break through the Nascent Soul, the Soul-Ming Awl.
To nourish the nascent soul, the Sky-Bending Whisker remains.
To link the physical body and nascent soul, the Sea-Suppressing Divine Thunder!
The three treasures are allplete, now all that''s left is my realm!
Shen Mo took a deep breath, showing a look of relief.
He didn''t hesitate for a moment, taking healing pills, then starting to consumerge amounts of Pure Nascent Transformation Pills.
All to push through to the peak of the Nascent Soul realm!
Although he was just a step away.
That final one percent might be more challenging than the previous ny-nine percentbined.
Shen Mo had encountered such situations more than once before.
His response was to consume Pure Nascent Transformation Pills like eating beans.
Moreover, the pills he refined had minimal toxicity.
He didn''t need to worry about the umtion of pill toxins at all.
After reaching the Divine Transformation realm, he could expel the pill toxins all at once.
Peak of the Nascent Soul realm, here Ie!
Shen Mo''s eyes shone brightly.
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Chapter 308: Divine Soul Domain Amplifies Power Fivefold
Chapter 308: Divine Soul Domain Amplifies Power Fivefold
Mianshan Prefecture, Deep Valley.
Shen Mo exhaled a deep breath of turbid air, but this time, he didnt open his eyes.
Instead, he kept them closed, focusing on sensing everything around him.
He could hear the breeze brushing past the treetops. He could hear an army of ants surrounding and attacking arge ck-furred rat. He could hear earthworms wriggling through the soil.
All these faint, rustling sounds now felt as though they were happening right next to his ears, each one crystal clear.
This was the ability of a Divine Transformation cultivator the Divine Soul Domain.
Within a radius of several hundred miles, any sound, any movement, would instantly be perceived by them.
Unless another cultivator of the same level appeared within this range, the Divine Transformation cultivator was the omniscient and sovereign presence within it.
Every Divine Transformation cultivators Divine Soul Domain is entirely unique.
What is the special trait of mine?
Shen Mo delved deep into his perceptions.
After a brief moment, it seemed as though he had grasped something.
He suddenly raised a finger and flicked it lightly.
A wisp of spiritual energy emerged from his fingertip.
Shen Mos gaze locked onto the wisp, burning with intensity.
In the next instant, the wisp of energy expanded rapidly, visibly swelling as though being inted.
By the time it traveled a hundred feet away from Shen Mo, the once hair-thin wisp had grown into a massive spiritual energy sphere over thirty feet in diameter!
Boom!
The giant sphere smashed into the distant dense forest.
In an instant, the entire forest was ttened.
Trees were uprooted, the earth cracked open, and soil and rocks flew in all directions.
Countless demonic beasts that didnt manage to flee were instantly obliterated into fragments.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
The power of this single strike was equivalent to a full-force attack from a peak Nascent Soul cultivator!
And yet, this was merely a casual flick of spiritual energy.
So this is it. The effect of my Divine Soul Domain is to amplify the power of all techniques that leave the domain.
Shen Mo reflected thoughtfully.
From the moment he released that wisp of energy to the point it left his domain, it had traveled merely a hundred feet.
Yet within that short distance, the wisp had swelled to such a terrifying size!
It was easy to imagine how much stronger his techniques would be if he used more powerfulbat skills.
Roughly estimated, my techniques can be amplified by at least fivefold. And this applies to every technique, regardless of its attribute.
Shen Mo showed a satisfied expression.
After shedding his Nascent Soul exterior, the Nascent Soul techniques he relied on had vanishedpletely.
Initially, he had worried that the Divine Soul Domain wouldnt be as dominant as Nascent Soul techniques, which might lead to a decline in his overall strength.
Now, it was clear that not only had his strength not decreased, it had grown significantly stronger!
At that moment, Shen Mo suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.
He instinctively retracted his Divine Soul Domain.
The faint feeling of vertigo finally began to subside.
So this is it. Activating the Divine Soul Domain consumes a staggering amount of soul power.
I only activated it for about ten breaths, and I already felt lightheaded.
Shen Mo pondered deeply.
No wonder it was said that at the Divine Transformation stage, one must do everything possible to enhance their Divine Soul.
The Divine Soul was the manifestation of the soul itself.
In essence, they were one and the same.
A stronger Divine Soul meant more abundant soul power.
With a more robust soul, the Divine Soul Domain could be maintained for longer durations.
If I could keep my Divine Soul Domain active indefinitely... hmm.
Shen Mos satisfaction deepened.
After waiting and umting for so long, he had finally stepped into the Divine Transformation stage.
Although Ive just entered the Divine Transformation stage, whenbined with my blood energy cultivation, I can crush ordinary mid-stage Divine Transformation cultivators.
And with the added boost of my Divine Soul Domain, even facingte-stage Divine Transformation cultivators, I might be able to kill them!
Its time to return to the sect. The anomalies here were too intense, and they will surely attract many cultivators soon.
Shen Mo meticulously erased all traces of his presence.
He didnt return in a straight line.
Instead, he took a long detour before finally arriving back at the Jade Cauldron Sect.
This habit of caution had long since been ingrained in his daily life.
Thus, carrying it out was second nature to him.
At the Jade Cauldron Sect.
The sect was bustling with activity, with cultivatorsing and going in a hurry.
As Shen Mo returned, a disciple spotted him, bowed respectfully, and shouted, Young Sect Master!
In the martial arts arena, He Tianchou was exining the application ofbat techniques to a disciple. His tone was stern, filled with frustration, as if the disciple before him was the most disappointing he had ever taught.
Hearing the voice, He Tianchous previously severe expression instantly transformed into one of delight.
He immediately dismissed the disciple before him, telling him to leave, and hurried toward Shen Mo.
My Young Sect Master, youve finally returned after all this time training outside! He Tianchou eximed joyfully.
Shen Mo nodded with a smile.
The excuse he had used to leave the Jade Cauldron Sect was that he had encountered a bottleneck and needed to hunt demonic beasts and refine his techniques in search of a breakthrough opportunity.
When he left, many meaningful gazes followed him as he departed.
However, Shen Mo was no ordinary person.
Unless a Divine Transformation cultivator personally pursued him, no one could evene close to catching him.
With just a few bursts of speed and a bit of trickery, he had easily evaded all prying eyes.
How was the harvest, Young Sect Master? Have you made progress? He Tianchou asked eagerly.
Shen Mo nodded slightly. Indeed, Ive reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.
He Tianchous eyes widened. The peak already? So quickly!
Shen Mo simply smiled without responding.
Realizing his slip, He Tianchou quickly covered his mouth. Apologies, apologies, that was inappropriate of me. I promise I wont reveal a word about your breakthrough.
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
In truth, his current cultivation was at the entry level of the Divine Transformation stage.
If news of his Nascent Soul peak cultivation were to leak, it wouldnt be a bad thing.
In fact, it might even cause his enemies to underestimate him.
By the way, where are my master and father? Shen Mo asked.
Elder Murong? Shes been stationed at Dragon Snake Mountain, He Tianchou replied with a grin. Your father is there as well, serving as a steward.
Got it. Shen Mo nodded and quickly headed toward Dragon Snake Mountain.
The Third Elders arrangements were thoughtful and well-nned.
At Dragon Snake Mountain.
The area stretched for miles with verdant greenery, lush mountains, and clear waters.
It was just as Shen Mo remembered it when he left.
From a distance, he immediately spotted the residence halfway up the mountain andnded lightly.
Elder!
A delighted voice called out.
A petite figure dashed toward him and threw herself into his arms.
Shen Mo chuckled softly.
He looked at Huang Caiying, taking a moment to examine her.
The once-young girl had grown into a graceful and beautiful young woman.
He patted her head and smiled. Caiying, its been a few years, and youve grown into a fine youngdy.
Huang Caiying blushed and smiled shyly.
Moer, youre back.@@novelbin@@
Not far away, a gentle, soothing voice like flowing water rang out.
Shen Mo looked up and saw Murong Yue, dressed in a flowing pce gown.
Today, Murong Yue wore a loose blue robe.
Yet, despite its looseness, her movements still entuated her curves, adding an air of elegance and allure.
Master, Im back, Shen Mo said, his smile warm.
The two embraced tightly.
Ahem, shouldnt you greet your father first when youe back? Shen Jiuding stood with Mei Haihe, coughing pointedly.
Shen Mo chuckled. All right, all right, Im here now, arent I?
Shen Jiuding finally broke into a smile, his face full of pride and satisfaction.
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Chapter 309: Life Fate “Ancient Sacred Soul” – The Rising Tensions Among Three Sects and One King
Chapter 309: Life Fate "Ancient Sacred Soul" - The Rising Tensions Among Three Sects and One King
"Honored Elder, Caiying has recently learned many new recipes. Today, let me show you Caiying''s cooking skills!" Huang Caiying said proudly, holding her little head high.
"Alright, then tonight''s banquet will be prepared by you. I look forward to enjoying your cooking," Shen Mo said, patting her head.
"Got it!" she replied cheerfully.
Mei Haihe muttered quietly, "Caiying, how many times have I told you to address him as Young Sect Master?"
Huang Caiying snorted. "Everyone else can call him Young Sect Master, but only Caiying calls him Honored Elder! That''s what I want to call him!"
Shen Mo couldnt help butugh. "Alright, alright, you can call me that. Its just a title, not a big deal."
Mei Haihe sighed helplessly.
Since the passing of Huang Bayi, he had practically be Huang Caiying''s adoptive grandfather. Some things he couldnt avoid overseeing.
Still, seeing Shen Mo, despite his esteemed status, remain so approachable, Mei Haihe felt deeply moved.
Even though he had long realized that aligning with Shen Mo was the right decision, every time he thought about it, he couldn''t help but marvel at his own foresight.
As the sun dipped below the western hills and dusk began to settle, arge table was set up in the open space at the center of the residence.
A full thirty dishes filled the table, all made from ingredients sourced from the Dragon Snake Mountainspiritual beasts, demon beasts, and spiritual nts. Even when prepared casually, each bite was bursting with vor.@@novelbin@@
Moreover, Huang Caiying''s culinary skills had indeed improved significantly.
After just a few bites, Shen Mo found it difficult to stop, thoroughly indulging his appetite.
Around therge table, only a handful of individuals were seated. As for the stewards and disciples, they werent qualified to sit at the table and could only watch enviously from a distance.
They too wished to gain the Young Sect Masters favor and earn a ce at the table.
After the feast, Shen Mo instinctively nced at the life panels of those around him.
When he saw Murong Yue''s life panel, his eyebrows raised slightly.
He noticed something unusual.
[Name: Murong Yue.]
[Cultivation Level: Nascent Soul Stage, Initial Entry.]
[Life Fates: Lucky Star Ascendant, Peerless Beauty, Blessed by Fortune, Ancient Sacred Soul, Fiery Ice Constitution.]
"Ancient Sacred Soul?"
"That life fate didnt seem to exist before."
Shen Mo continued reading.
[Ancient Sacred Soul: Red-tier Life Fate. An ancient sacred soul resides within your body, which only manifests upon reaching the Nascent Soul Stage.
You defied destiny and overcame an early death, which led to the activation of this life fate.
Though the ancient sacred soul has yet to fully awaken, it has already provided significant benefits. Once fully awakened, it will reveal even greater secrets.]
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
Interesting.
So, this was a hidden life fate.
Had it not been for Shen Mos influence inadvertently altering Murong Yues destiny, this new life fate would have never been awakened.
"Sacred Soul?"
"To bear the title of sacred, the essence of this soul likely far surpasses that of ordinary cultivators."
"Could it even be beyond the Divine Pce Stage?"
Shen Mo shook his head.
With so little information, overthinking was pointless. He chose to set the matter aside for now and continued reading.
[Destiny: Limited to Nascent Soul Stage (Advanced). Five years from now, the tensions among the Three Sects and One King will eruptpletely, and Murong Yue will be assigned to defend Jade Sea City.
The Fourth Prince of the Demon Race and the Second Prince of the Flood Dragon Pce will lead a massive demon force tounch a surprise attack on Jade Sea City.
Outnumbered and outmatched, Murong Yue and the cultivators of the Jade Cauldron Sect will ultimately perish in battle.]
Shen Mo frowned deeply.
A surprise attack?
No wonder.
With such arge demon force, unless a cultivator at the Divine Transformation Stage was stationed at Jade Sea City, it would be easily overrun.
Murong Yues death in this battle was entirely predictable.
Clearly, the demon race exploited a temporal or strategic advantage, possibly employing diversionary tactics or a ploy to lure away reinforcements.
Shen Mo immediately checked his own life panel.
"So thats how it is. Just as I expected."
"For the Demon Emperor to rise to his current status step by step, its no surprise that he possesses such extraordinary cunning."
Shen Mo withdrew his gaze, deep in thought.
"What are you thinking about?" Murong Yue noticed his expression and asked with concern.
Shen Mo shook his head. "Master, after stepping into the Nascent Soul Stage, did you feel something new appear in your mind?"
Murong Yue was startled. "You noticed?"
Shen Mo nodded.
Murong Yue sighed softly. "You and I are master and disciple; I wont hide this from you."
"Ever since I stepped into the Nascent Soul Stage, Ive felt a voice in my mind."
"The voice is strangeI cant tell if its male or female."
"It passed on a very domineering cultivation technique to me, saying that once I reach the Divine Transformation Stage, it will teach me the subsequent parts."
"Then it went silent and hasnt appeared again since."
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. "What cultivation technique?"
Murong Yue didnt hesitate to reply. "The True Codex of the Resonant Heavenly Phoenix. I cant tell its grade, but I estimate its at least of the Heaven Rank."
She extended her slender finger and touched Shen Mos forehead.
Golden strands of scripture flowed into his mind.
Shen Mo carefully examined it and quickly understood.
This was indeed an incredibly powerful technique.
It also contained a method to develop a Heaven-grade primordial soul.
Unlike the Divine Thunder Subjugation Canon, which was still in the realm of conjecture, this codex offered a concrete path.
However, the method to develop a Heaven-grade primordial soul was exceedingly demanding.
It required extremely rare heavenly materials and treasures, some of which Shen Mo hadnt even heard of.
Moreover, the technique had specific requirements for ones constitution.
Only women with the Fiery Ice Constitution could cultivate it.
"This technique suits you well."
"The voice in your mind is likely a remnant soul of a senior cultivator."
"Since this senior passed the technique to you, they probably mean no harm for the time being."
"You can continue cultivating it for now," Shen Mo said with a smile.
Murong Yue felt reassured upon hearing this.
She didnt trust anyone elses judgment as much as Shen Mos.
Previously, she had hesitated to share this with him, fearing it would worry him. But now, with her doubts dispelled, she felt a sense of relief and rity.
"During my time training outside, the tensions among the Three Sects and One King seem to have intensified," Shen Mo remarked casually.
Murong Yue nodded. "Yes, Ive often traveled between the Treasury Pavilion and Dragon Snake Mountain, so Ive heard quite a bit."
"The demon race has made its stance clearthey intend to consolidate their control over Mist Province and fully integrate it into the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom."
"Some demons who charged into Yu Province to kill and pige wereter executed publicly by the Demon Emperor upon their return to the demon strongholds."
"Since then, few demons dare enter Yu Province anymore."
"Under such circumstances, the conflict among the Three Sects and One King was bound to escte. Its unavoidable."
Shen Mo nodded, signaling her to continue.
"In the past two years, the Three Sects and One King have beenpeting for industries near the Yu Province and Mist Province border."
"Many of those industries originally belonged to our Jade Cauldron Sect."
"They were taken over by the demon race back then, and now they should be reimed."
"But the Supreme Purity Sect and the Provincial Governor''s Office acted first, driving out the demons in those areas and upying the industries without any intention of returning them."
"We didnt back down and seized several industries belonging to the Supreme Purity Sect."
"However,pared to our losses, its still not enough."
"Just a few days ago, even the Sixth Elders son was identally killed in a skirmish with Supreme Purity Sect cultivators."
"The tensions have escted further."
"If not for the Sixth Elder restraining himself for the sake of the greater good, the Divine Transformation Stage cultivators from both sides might already be fighting."
Murong Yue sighed deeply.
She could already see the immense danger brewing in this conflict
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Chapter 311: Sword Sovereign Ji Ping of Jing Kingdom – East Sea Palace and the Flood Dragon King
Chapter 311: Sword Sovereign Ji Ping of Jing Kingdom C East Sea Pce and the Flood Dragon King
The East Sea.
Waves stretched endlessly, blending sea and sky into a seamless expanse.
Fishing boats dotted the seas surface, manned by fishermen from Jade Sea City and nearby viges, who relied on the bounty of the sea to make a living. Their sun-weathered faces were filled with the joy of an abundant harvest.
In recent years, the East Seas fisheries had be exceptionally rich. While no one knew why, the fishermen were ecstatic, frequently visiting the Dragon King Temple in Jade Sea City to offer their gratitude for the benevolence of the Flood Dragon King.
Yet beneath the calm surface of the sea, in the deep and shadowy waters, a different scene unfolded.
Rows of aquatic demons stood at attention on tforms forged from deep-sea metals. Known as Wave-Cleaving tforms, these constructions, created by the Dragon Pce, boasted remarkable speed and allowed the aquatic demons to easily engage inbat outside of water.
Every one of these aquatic demons was armed to the teeth, exuding an intense bloodlust. It was clear that they were elite warriors.
At the forefront stood two figures.
One was a white flood dragon wearing a small crown atop its head. The other was a white-furred ape.
The white ape remarked with admiration, "Second Prince, your talent is extraordinary. To have reached the Flood Dragon Emperor realm while training such a formidable force of aquatic demons is truly impressive. I, Yuan Kong, cant help but admire you."
The white flood dragonughed heartily. "Do you think I havent seen the army of demons youve hidden on that remote East Sea ind? Your training surpasses mine! Complimenting me is the same as praising yourself."
Yuan Kong chuckled lightly.
The white flood dragon continued, "Yuan Kong, were friends. No need for formalities. Just call me Ao Sheng."
"If you insist on addressing me as Second Prince, Ill have to call you Fourth Prince in return."
"Besides, didnt you step into the Ape Demon Emperor realm a year ago? Were equals now. Theres no need for hierarchy between us."
The two demons exchanged knowing smiles.
They were none other than Ao Sheng, the Second Prince of the Dragon Pce, and Yuan Kong, the Fourth Prince of the Myriad Demons Kingdom.
Yuan Kong remarked, "If you gain control of all the aquatic demons in the East Sea, it wont take ten years before the East Sea surpasses the South Sea and bes the strongest among the Four Seas!"
Ao Shengughed loudly. "That day wille!"
"My father has already given his tacit approval. If I achieve merits in this battle, half of the East Seas aquatic demons will be under mymand!"
Yuan Kong sped his hands in respect, his admiration evident. "It seems Ill witness that day very soon."
Ao Shengughed even more heartily. "Yuan Kong, why are you sping your hands like humans? Youre even acting politely."
Yuan Kong smiled faintly. "Humans may be inferior, but they do have qualities worth learning from. As the saying goes, Take the essence and discard the dross."
Ao Sheng nodded, half-understanding.
At that moment, a figure in white suddenly appeared on the seas surface. In the blink of an eye, the figure arrived at the entrance to the Dragon Pce of the East Sea.
Both Yuan Kong and Ao Sheng immediately noticed the neer, their expressions turning to shock.
"Who are you?" Ao Sheng warily sized up the elderly man dressed in white.@@novelbin@@
Yuan Kong scrutinized him closely.
The man was tall and well-built, his hair and beard entirely white. His appearance was unremarkable, and his clothing wasnt actually white but faded from repeated washing. At first nce, Yuan Kong couldnt discern the mans cultivation level, which made him inwardly rmed. He quickly averted his gaze.
The elder nced at them briefly, pausing a moment longer on Yuan Kong before shifting his attention to the Dragon Pce.
"East Sea King, why dont you show yourself?" the elder said indifferently.
The moment his voice fell, waves roared as if thunder had erupted.
Yuan Kong and Ao Sheng struggled to remain standing, while the aquatic demons wavered like drunken men, copsing into a disorganized mess.
In an instant, their once-disciplined formation became utterly chaotic.
Ao Sheng gritted his teeth in fury. "Damn old man!"
The elder didnt look back, but a terrifying surge of water burst forth from his body. It coalesced into a massive sword, which shot toward Ao Sheng.
Wherever the water sword passed, the sea froze into ice, and countless ice spikes spread in all directions.
Ao Shengs dragon eyes narrowed sharply. From the sword, he felt an overwhelming killing intent and a premonition of death.
"Father, save me!"
Without thinking, Ao Sheng let out a desperate cry.
A deep voice resonated, filled with an ancient and majestic tone. "Ji Ping, its been a long time. Have youe to the East Sea just to kill my offspring?"
A cold voice echoed from within the East Sea Dragon Pce.
In the next instant, the massive sword heading toward Ao Sheng abruptly halted. Then, inch by inch, it dissolved and vanished into nothingness.
Yuan Kong, witnessing this, narrowed his pupils slightly.
Such immense power!
The elder in white frowned. East Sea King, are you truly nning to wage war against Yuzhou?
From within the Dragon Pce, that indifferent voice replied again, Thats merely a game for the younger generation. I have no interest in intervening.
The elder in white nodded faintly. Very well.
He took a deep look at the magnificent Dragon Pce but did not linger. In a sh, his figure vanished.
The exchange between the elder and the Flood Dragon King was exceptionally brief, concise, and direct.
Yuan Kong appeared thoughtful after hearing it, while Ao Sheng quickly prostrated himself toward the Dragon Pce.
Thank you, Father, for saving my life! If not for your intervention, I would have perished at the hands of that old man!
The East Sea King responded calmly, He wouldnt have dared to kill you.
Ao Sheng couldnt help but ask, Father, who is that old man?
The East Sea King replied evenly, Sword Sovereign Ji Ping of Jing Kingdom.
Hearing this, Yuan Kongs expression finally shifted.
So, the elder in white was none other than the strongest figure in Jing Kingdom, the one who silently safeguarded its royal familya peak Divine Transformation cultivator and Sword Sovereign, Ji Ping!
Ji Pings visit to the East Sea had an obvious purpose: to ensure the East Sea King would not personally intervene.
This way, the intensity of theing war would be contained within certain bounds, preventing an all-out conflict between the Myriad Demons Kingdom, Jing Kingdom, and the Dragon Pce.
Yuan Kong, Ao Sheng, handle your tasks well. Do not disappoint me, the East Sea King instructed before falling silent once more.
Yes! Yuan Kong and Ao Sheng both bowed respectfully.
A peerless Ape Emperor, a Flood Dragon Emperor, and an aquatic demon army meticulously trained for five yearsthis was the Eastern Army of the demon race.
Above the sea, Ji Ping flew past Jade Sea City, gazing down at its still-thriving streets, where music and festivities carried on uninterrupted. He couldnt help but let out a soft sigh.
The city thrived today, but by tomorrow, it might be ravaged, reduced to a hellish wastnd.
He had done all he could. The rest was up to the cultivators of Yuzhou.
Hmm, that young man
Ji Pings gaze suddenly fell on a figure in green standing atop the citys eastern wall.
The youth stood there against the sea breeze, his robes billowing as he gazed out at the vast ocean, showing not the slightest hint of fear.
What exceptional talent and remarkable resolve.
He must be Shen Mo, the young sect master of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Such a pity. Hes only at the peak of the Divine Transformation stage and cannot change the oue of this war.
Ji Ping sighed again.
Such an extraordinary figure, yet not part of the royal family. He couldnt serve the imperial courtwhat a shame, what a shame!
Without pausing further, Ji Ping continued flying westward.
After Ji Ping left, Shen Mo finally turned and looked toward the sky where Ji Ping had lingered.
What formidable strength. That must be the one secretly protecting the Jing Kingdoms royal family.
Judging by his return from the sea, he must have negotiated with the East Sea King.
A negotiation to control the intensity of the war?
It seems even the Jing Kingdoms royal family has foreseen this conflict. Yet, the Jing Emperor still has no intention of sending reinforcements to Yuzhou and might even coordinate with the Demon Emperor from afar.
Its evident that, in the Jing Emperors eyes, a ravaged Yuzhoua Yuzhou without its sectsis easier to assimte.
Shen Mos expression remained calm.
Though he had never met the Jing Emperor, he could already guess his thoughts.
The Jing Emperor was no longer concerned with the fate of a single province or region.
He was focused on the grand scheme of the world.
To achieve his ultimate goal, what did the suffering of countless lives or the fall of two regions matter?
In the end, the Jing Emperor would simply take them back.
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Chapter 312: The Shen Mo You Resented Turned to Dust Five Years Ago
Chapter 312: The Shen Mo You Resented Turned to Dust Five Years Ago
In the heart of the Ten Thousand Demons Nation, a vast expanse of deste desert stretched endlessly.
Amidst the barren wastnd stood a colossal blood-red tower, resembling the skeletal remains of a fallen behemoth.
Massive and indestructible, lifeless yet enduring.
At the towers entrance was an immense gate, thirty zhang tall and imposing.
Two figures stood silently before the gate.
One was d in heavy golden armor, revealing only a pair of crimson eyes, while the other wore a scarlet robe, his expression cold and handsome.
They were none other than the Demon Emperor Gu Ming and Ye Yan.
The Demon Emperor spoke calmly. Ye Yan, do you know why I brought only you here and not the others?
Ye Yan shook his head.
The Demon Emperors tone remained indifferent. The Crown Prince is leading the elephant and tiger ns, along with other powerful demon tribes, in an assault on the Supreme Purity Sect and the Pill River Sect.
The Fourth Prince ismanding the ape and bird ns, allied with the water demons of the Eastern Sea, advancing through the waterways to attack Jade Sea City and threaten the core of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
They have their own responsibilities.
Ye Yans eyes widened slightly.
For the past five years, he had been focused solely on his cultivation and was unaware of the events unfolding in the outside world.
Had the Demon Emperor not awakened him and brought him to the Blood Gods Treasury, personally exining these matters, Ye Yan wouldnt have known such monumental events were taking ce.
Ye Yan wanted to speak but restrained himself.
Gu Ming chuckled lightly. I know what you want to ask.
Why didnt I let you lead a demon army to invade Yuzhou?
Ye Yan nodded.
Gu Ming replied calmly. Your strength is stillcking.
The Crown Prince and Fourth Prince have both reached the Demon Emperor Realm in terms of blood energy. Only then did I entrust them with leading their respective forces into Yuzhou.
While your spiritual energy and blood energy are progressing well, you are still behind them.
But thats not the primary reason.
Even if your strength is inferior to theirs, you could still lead a force as a subordinatemander.
The reason I brought you here lies in the Blood Gods Treasury.
Gu Ming reached out, his armored hand brushing against the towering gate, producing a harsh scraping sound.
The Blood Gods Treasury has stood here for thousands of years, and you will be the first human to set foot inside.
You might acquire treasures of unimaginable power.
Gu Ming smiled faintly.
Hearing this, Ye Yans heart surged with excitement.
Could the Blood Gods Treasury be such a legendary treasure trove?
Your Majesty, why have you not participated in this war? Ye Yan suddenly asked.
Gu Mings expression remained calm. After the lesson in Wuzhou, Jing Nation wont allow me to personally join this battle.
A few days ago, their Sword Sovereign personally visited.
Most likely, he will head to the Eastern Sea King next.
Ye Yan was stunned.
The Sword Sovereign of Jing Nation!
No wonder the Demon Emperor didnt personally intervene.
Besides, even without my involvement, the oue of this war is already decided.
Though the three sects boast many Divine Transformation cultivators, they are not unitedthey are a loose coalition. With the slightest provocation, theyll turn on each other and self-destruct.
Moreover, each Demon Emperor of our demon race can easily take on two Divine Transformation cultivators at once.
The destruction of the three sects is only a matter of time.
Whether I participate or not makes no difference.
Byparison, the Blood Gods Treasury, which opens only once every century, is far more critical.
Gu Ming smiled faintly, his toneposed.
Ye Yan nodded repeatedly.
At that moment, another thought urred to him, and he asked, But the Jade Cauldron Sect has an old flood dragon at the peak of the sixth rank.
If the Jade Cauldron Sect faces annihtion, that flood dragon will surely intervene.
Can the Fourth Prince handle it?
Gu Ming chuckled softly. All the key pieces on the board are within my calctions.
Four years ago, the Jade Cauldron Sect killed a Tiger King and obtained a piece of 500-year-old Coral Gold, the perfect treasure for the flood dragon to ascend.
The old flood dragon was overjoyed and immediately began refining it, entering a deep slumber to attempt a breakthrough to the seventh rank.
I specifically instructed the Fourth Prince to avoid disturbing the dragons valley.
That piece of Coral Gold alone isnt enough for it to truly advance to the seventh rank. By the time it wakes, the Jade Cauldron Sect will already be destroyed, and it will have no choice but to join the demon race.
Ye Yan froze in surprise.
Coral Gold
Wasnt that the treasure exchanged between the Flood Dragon Pce and the Ten Thousand Demons Nation?
It was said to be a specialty of the Flood Dragon Pceextremely rare and irresistible to any flood dragon.
The 500-year Coral Gold was even more precious.
Even within the Flood Dragon Pce, it was only rewarded to dragon offspring who had achieved significant merit.
Gu Ming, however, had ingeniously orchestrated a way for it to fall into the hands of the Jade Cauldron Sect, causing the Lihuo Flood Dragon to enter a prolonged slumber.
Ye Yan drew a sharp breath.
No wonder Gu Ming was so confident.
It turned out he had calcted every factor in advance.
Ye Yan couldnt help but feel both admiration and fear for Gu Ming.
A loud rumble echoed.
From within the massive door came a deafening noise.
A narrow gap gradually appeared, revealing the dark void beyond.
Gu Ming spoke calmly. Lets go. The Blood Gods Treasury remains open for five years.
By the time we emerge, Yuzhou will already be under the control of the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.
The Shen Mo you resent will long have turned to dust and bones by then.
Conquering Yuzhou is merely a trivial step in this emperors n. Overthrowing Jing Nation, unifying the Four Seas, and ruling the world is the ultimate goal.
Dont concern yourself too much with those disorganized rabble from Yuzhou.
Ye Yan bowed respectfully. Yes.
...
Yuzhou, Ironstone Valley.
The battle had reached an intense crescendo.
At first, only two Divine Transformation elders, one from the Supreme Purity Sect and the other from the Jade Cauldron Sect, were engaged inbat here.
However, as time passed, more cultivators from both sects gathered.
From Divine Transformation cultivators to those at the Core Formation stage, all red at one another with seething hatred, ready to tear their opponents apart.
For the Jade Cauldron Sect disciples, in particr, many had lost friends and family to the Supreme Purity Sect, and their rage was uncontainable.
Now, as the duel between the two Divine Transformation elders escted, the fury of the sects reached its peak.
Kill! Kill these bastards!@@novelbin@@
No one knew who shouted first, but the disciples from both sects immediately charged at each other.
The massacre began, and soon the valley echoed with cries of rage and the sh of weapons.
The battle turned so chaotic that even allies started attacking one another in the frenzy.
Spiritual power and martial techniques shed wildly.
Severed limbs and shattered bodies flew everywhere.
From the blood-soaked ground, faint red mist began to rise, seeping into the noses and mouths of every cultivator.
Even the Divine Transformation cultivators were not spared.
While most of the fighters descended into madness, some cultivators disyed unusual calmness.
They circted special techniques to hold their breath as they moved through the chaos, eventually slipping away to hide in concealed locations around the valley.
Without speaking, they exchanged knowing nces and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
The hatred between the Supreme Purity Sect and the Jade Cauldron Sect runs too deep. Stirring them up into a fight was far too easy.
Now, five of the eight Divine Transformation cultivators from the Supreme Purity Sect are here, and the same goes for the Jade Cauldron Sect.
The Ninth Elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect smiled faintly.
His Majesty the Demon Emperor truly leaves nothing to chance. He had us set up the Blood Fiend Chaos Formation in Ironstone Valley long ago.
The Seventh Elder of the Supreme Purity Sectughed along with him.
All thats left now is to wait for the Crown Princes army to arrive!
The Ninth Elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect spoke in a low voice. Make sure no one escapes the valley, especially no Divine Transformation cultivator. Dont let anyone else enter, either.
Understood! The surrounding cultivators nodded and began closely guarding every exit of the valley.
Inside the valley, the ughter continued unabated. Blood flowed like rivers, cries of despair pierced the skies, yet it was all in vaina futile bloodbath.
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Chapter 313: The Demon Race Army Strikes
Chapter 313: The Demon Race Army Strikes
The western border between Yuzhou and Wuzhou.
Here stood a forward outpost established by the Supreme Purity Sect.
Its purpose was to monitor the movements of the demon race.
However, in the past five years, the demon race had been retreating southward.
As a result, this outpost had gradually fallen into disuse.
Most of those assigned here were cultivators of poor aptitude or those marginalized within the Supreme Purity Sect.
Naturally, no one expected them to be particrly diligent in their duties.
At this moment, only three Foundation Establishment cultivatorsy sprawled on the city wall of the outpost, in various states of drunken stupor.
Each held a wine gourd in hand, still pouring fragrant liquor down their throats.
Not far away, inside the outpost, arge table had been set up.
Several Nascent Soul and Core Formation cultivators from the Supreme Purity Sect were gathered, drinking and feasting, indulging in their revelry.
None of them had the slightest awareness of the impending danger.
In the distant Wuzhou Gobi Desert, dust suddenly surged into the sky, filling the air with sand and stone.
The howling wind carried the chilling roars of tigers and wolves.
It was as if a vast army was charging toward the outpost.
On the city wall, a tall and thin cultivator heard the noise and muttered, "Hey hic did you guys hear that? Sounds like roaring could it be a demon race attack?"
The two cultivators beside him, their faces flushed with drunkenness, burst intoughter upon hearing his words.
"What roaring? I dont hear anything."
"Stop joking. The demon race has retreated fifty thousand miles south how could they suddenly appear here overnight?"
"Hic what fifty thousand miles? Its clearly five thousand five thousand miles!"
Despite his intoxication, the tall and thin cultivator felt that something was off. Unable to shake the unease, he staggered to his feet and peered over the city wall.
And then, he saw the most horrifying sight of his life.
Amidst the swirling dust, an endless tide of demon beasts was surging toward the outpost.
Mighty tiger demons
Colossal elephant demons
Waves upon waves of wolf demons
A boundless horde of demon creatures rode the winds and sand.
Their murderous aura soared skyward, filling the air with demonic energy.
Even without actively unleashing their power, the sheer pressure of their bloodthirst radiated uncontrobly from their mouths and noses.
It churned wildly!
Threatening to blot out the sky!
At the forefront of the horde stood several towering demon figures, their bodies massive and imposing.
Their crimson eyes reflected mountains of corpses and seas of blood, steeped in an endless tide of ughter!
Thud!
The tall and thin cultivator copsed onto the ground in terror.
His drunkenness dissipated in an instant.
"Hahaha! What did you see to make you so scared?" The two cultivators beside him mocked.
The tall and thin cultivator screamed at the top of his lungs, using every ounce of his strength:
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! The demon race is here!"
"What?!"
"A demon race invasion? Impossible!"
"Shit, wheres my spiritual weapon?!"
"Fuck! Why are you wearing my robe? Take it off now!"
"How many of them? Speak!"
"Hurry! Send a message to the sect! We cant dy!"
The tall and thin cultivator attempted to climb back up the city wall to get a clearer look at the demon armys numbers.
Just then, a blood-red arrow, as thick as an infants arm, shot through the air.
It pierced straight through his body.
The blood arrow did not lose momentum, embedding itself deep into the city wall before finally stopping.
Whoosh!
A towering figure leaped onto the city wall.
The sunlight filtering through the dust illuminated his form.
It cast the shadow of an unrivaled ferocious beast.
His four hooves were as solid as pirs.
With a sweep of his long trunk, he sent a torrent of sand billowing forth.
This was none other than the Crown Prince of the Ten Thousand Demons NationXiang Jue.
"ughter everyst one of them. Leave no survivors."
Behind Xiang Jue, the demon horde surged forward, their eyes reflecting the stunned faces of the cultivators.
Screams of agony rang out in session.
Within less than ten breaths, the outpost was razed to the ground.
Not even a single distress signal managed to reach the Supreme Purity Sect.@@novelbin@@
"Continue northward. The Supreme Purity Sects mountain gate is our target!"
Xiang Jue''s eyes gleamed with ruthless bloodlust as he let out a chillingugh.
"Yes!"
The demon horde roared in unison, their bloodlust surging with excitement.
The same scene yed out along the border of the two provinces.
Countless mortals perished in despair, their cries of terror echoing in the air.
Even cultivators could not escape the overwhelming power and numbers of the demon army.
Those who struggle will surely die.
Those who surrender wisely may yet be sparedperhaps even chosen by the powerful demon race to be human ves.
In just one day, the southern region of Yuzhou was reduced to and of ruin, filled with wails of despair.
Jade Sea City.
The sea remained calm as ever.
Fishermen set out to sea as usual, casting theirs in hopes of a bountiful catch.
However, todays harvest was abnormally poor.
Even after casting theirs over a dozen times, they caught nothing but small fish and shrimp.
The fishermen gathered, exchanging puzzled looks, unsure of what was happening.
"Look! Over there, on the horizon!"
One sharp-eyed fisherman suddenly pointed at the distant sea, shouting in rm.
All heads turned.
On the horizon, thin blue lines had suddenly appeared.
The lines grew thicker and thicker.
Until finally, they revealed themselves in full view.
They were massive battle tforms, rising from the depths of the sea, constructed entirely of coral.
These countless battle tforms were densely packed with all manner of shrimp and crab warriors.
Each of their eyes gleamed with a ruthless, bloodthirsty light.
But the sea creatures were not alone.
Among them, some tforms carriednd-based demonsmonstrous ape demons, packs of wolf demons, and more.
"The sky!"
Instinctively, the fishermen looked up.
There, vast numbers of eagle and falcon demons circled above.
"Gods! The demon race! There are so many of them!"
"Run! Hurry!"
Realizing the impending catastrophe, the fishermen frantically rowed toward shore.
But how could their boats possibly outrun the wave-slicing war tforms of the Flood Dragon Pce?
In mere moments, the war tforms caught up.
Before their immense size and speed, the tiny fishing boats were as fragile as eggs smashing against stone.
In an instant, the boats were shattered.
The fishermen perished at the hands of the water demons.
Bright red blood quickly spread across the surface of the sea.
Jade Sea City''s eastern wall.
From the city walls, the cultivators of Jade Sea Hall, tasked with defending the region, witnessed the horrifying scene in the distance.
Their eyes widened in shock, and without hesitation, they blew the war horn.
Wooowooowooo!
The eerie, mournful sound of the horn echoed through the entire city.
The demon race was attacking!
No matter what they were doing at the time, all cultivators grabbed their weapons and rushed toward the walls.
The mortals, gripped by fear, hurriedly locked themselves inside their homes.
Inside a secluded chamber, Shen Mo had been meditating in silent cultivation.
At the sound of the war horn, he immediately rose and headed for the city wall.
At the same time, Murong Yue, He Tianchou, Mei Haihe, and others also rushed to the scene.
By the time they arrived, the eastern wall was already lined with a massive number of cultivators.
Some of the stronger ones even had spirit beasts standing beside them.
These were the beast-taming cultivators trained under Mei Haihe, following Shen Mo''s orders.
"The demon race theyve reallye"
"The water demons, who have always kept to themselves, have actually allied with the Ten Thousand Demons Nation"
Mei Haihes eyes widened in horror as he looked at the sea.
There, over a thousand wave-slicing war tforms loomed on the water.
A deep fear crept into his heart.
If not for Shen Mo''s foresight in predicting this very event
Jade Sea City would have been overrun in an instant.
"Activate the formation."
Shen Mos voice was calm, yet it carried throughout the entire city.
"Yes!"
Cultivators stationed across the city responded in unison.
Buzz.
Brilliant blue light surged from all directions.
Like an overturned bowl, a massive protective barrier swiftly enveloped the entire city.
For a brief moment, a sense of security washed over the people.
But that moment was fleeting.
Because when they saw the two figures standing atop thergest wave-slicing war tform
That sense of security vanished without a trace.
The sheer, overwhelming bloodthirsty aura they exuded seemed to blot out the sky.
They were two demon emperors!
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Chapter 314: Hand Over Shen Mo of Jade Cauldron Sect, and the Humans of Jade Sea City Will Live
Chapter 314: Hand Over Shen Mo of Jade Cauldron Sect, and the Humans of Jade Sea City Will Live
A Demon Emperor could only be countered by a Divine Transformation cultivator.
Without a Divine Transformation cultivator, no number of Nascent Soul cultivators would make a differencethey would simply be throwing their lives away.
As for this Earth-tier formation, it was even moreughable before a Demon Emperor.
Panic spread throughout Jade Sea City.
Fear gripped the people, and some were so overwhelmed by the oppressive, blood-drenched aura that they copsed to the ground, their legs giving out.
A few even lost control of their dders in terror.
Beside Shen Mo, Murong Yue and Deacon He sensed the overwhelming bloodlust and their faces paled.
"A Demon Emperor" Murong Yues delicate face turned white.
"Ive seen their portraits before. The one on the left is Yuan Kong, the fourth prince of the Ten Thousand Demons Nation. The one on the right is Ao Sheng, the second prince of the Flood Dragon Pce Why is the Flood Dragon Pce involved?" Deacon He clenched his teeth.
Shen Mo remained calm.
"There is no whyjust profit."
Deacon He immediately responded, "With just us, we are no match for these two Demon Emperors."
"Young Sect Master, we must escort you out immediately."
"Your identity is too importantyou must retreat to the sect."
Murong Yue bit her lip, her expression firm as she stared at Shen Mo.
It was clear that she intended to stay behind and cover his escape.
Shen Mo shook his head.
"Since I foresaw this battle today, I naturally have a n."
"Deacon He, Master, you need not worry."
Both Deacon He and Murong Yue were stunned.
A n?
But the gap between Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation was like heaven and earth.
No n could possibly bridge such an impossible divide.
Deacon He wanted to protest, but Murong Yue spoke first, her voice steady.
"I trust you."
"Ever since Qingxuan Sect, I have trusted you."
"If you are so confident, you must have something prepared."
Deacon He felt exasperated.
This so-called trust was nothing but sentimentality!
What was needed now was absolute rationality!
Shen Mo sped Murong Yues hand.
"Master, just have faith."
"Deacon He, you neednt worry either."
Deacon He gritted his teeth.
"Fine, fine. But Ill say it againtheres still time to retreat!"
"In a little while, the sect master will likely send someone to retrieve you. Id like to see how you exin yourself then!"
His frustration was evident.
He even stopped addressing Shen Mo as Young Sect Master and simply used you instead.
Shen Mo merely smiled.
He didnt me Deacon He.
After all, who would have thought he had already stepped into the Divine Transformation stage?
Throughout Yuzhou and the entire Jing Kingdom, Divine Transformation cultivators this young were practically unheard of.
Above the ocean.
Yuan Kong and Ao Sheng stood atop the tallest wave-splitting battle tform, gazing toward Jade Sea City.
Noting the azure glow of the protective formation, Yuan Kong raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting. So Jade Sea City was somewhat prepared."
Ao Shengughed heartily.
"And so what if they were? The dead will still die.
Do they think a mere formation can stop us?"
Yuan Kong chuckled.
"Of course not."
"As long as there are no Divine Transformation cultivators, this city is already ours."
"The Divine Transformation cultivators of the Jade Cauldron Sect are mostly caught up in their battle with the Supreme Purity Sect in Ironstone Valley. Theyre too busy struggling against the Blood Fiend Chaos Array to worry about anything else."
"As for the few remaining Divine Transformation cultivators, theyre surely cowering within their mountain stronghold."
"The defenses of Jade Sea City arent worth mentioning.
This is just the beginning of our conquest."
Yuan Kong smiled faintly.
He did not take the cultivators of Jade Sea City seriously.
Ao Sheng nodded in agreement.
Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly burst intoughter.
"By the way, you should know that the Flood Dragon n manages our trade with the human race, right?"
Yuan Kong nodded.
"Of course. I also know that the Flood Dragons not only handle trade but also gather intelligence on humans."
Ao Shengughed heartily.
"Nothing escapes you, does it?"
"Recently, I obtained an interesting piece of news."
Yuan Kong chuckled.
"Lets hear it."
Ao Sheng pointed toward Jade Sea City, his smile deep and knowing.
"Shen Mo is right there, inside Jade Sea City!"@@novelbin@@
Yuan Kongs expression shifted in surprise.
He had never met Shen Mo before, but after learning about the death of the Ninth Prince and the Dragon Blood Guards, he had realized how terrifyingly talented this person was.
He had even suggested to Gu Ming multiple times that they should focus their efforts on assassinating Shen Mo.
Unfortunately, Shen Mo rarely showed himself.
Even finding an opportunity to assassinate him was nearly impossible.
However, after reaching the realm of the Ape Demon Emperor, his jealousy and admiration for Shen Mo hadpletely vanished.
A so-called heaven-sent genius would still end up beneath him in the end.
Five years had passed in a blink, and now, the great war was about to begin.
By all logic, someone of Shen Mos status should have been well-protected within the Jade Cauldron Sects mountain stronghold.
Yet, surprisingly, he was here in Jade Sea City.
"Shen Mo is indeed a rare talent. I thought he would remain hidden in the Jade Cauldron Sects mountain.
Who would have guessed that our first battle would bring us face-to-face with him?"
Yuan Kongs smile remained calm.
Compared to before, now that he had stepped into the realm of the Ape Demon Emperor, he exuded an even greater sense of ease andposure.
A genius was still just a genius.
He had not yet be a true powerhouse.
Ao Sheng sneered.
"King of the South Sea has praised Shen Mo many times, calling him an unparalleled genius. He even wanted to arrange sparring matches between the Flood Dragons and Shen Mo to foster rtions.
How ridiculous."
"Now, he will be buried in Jade Sea City!"
"When I bring Shen Mos severed head to visit the King of the South Sea, Id like to see if he can still say those same words!"
Yuan Kong chuckled in amusement.
"You really hold grudges, dont you, Brother Sheng?"
Ao Sheng pointed at the city walls.
"Look, we havent even made a move, and the humans are already trembling in fear."
"I bet, before we even act, many of them will surrender on their own."
A sinister glint shed in his eyes, and he suddenly let out a chillingugh.
"Hehehe What do you think?
If I tell them that handing over Shen Mo will spare their lives, will theyply?"
Yuan Kong smirked.
"Humans have an innate wthey are quick to sacrifice others for their own survival."
"In desperate times, they are capable of anything.
Let alone betraying someone who has nothing to do with them."
"But werent you just saying earlier that after taking Jade Sea City, youd ughter all the humans here?"
Ao Sheng grinned wickedly.
"Im no humanI dont y by their foolish, sentimental rules."
"Once they hand Shen Mo over with hope in their eyes, I will personally give the order to massacre the city."
"I want to see their hope turn to utter despair."
"I also want Shen Mo to witness what kind of people humans really are."
Yuan Kong nodded repeatedly.
"In terms of ruthlessness, I cannotpare to the Second Prince."
Ao Shengughed loudly, his excitement growing.
Blood surged within him as he soared into the sky.
His body swelled.
From a mere ten feet, he expanded to a towering six hundred feet.
He loomed over the entire sky.
From his high vantage point, he gazed down at Jade Sea City.
The people of Jade Sea City looked up at the massive Flood Dragon in the sky, and fear crept into their hearts.
Their legs trembled, their hands shook.
This was a Flood Dragon!
Jade Sea City thrived by the sea, and temples dedicated to the Dragon Kings were scattered throughout the city, venerating the Flood Dragons.
Seeing a Flood Dragon before them, the people instinctively felt reverence, unable to summon the courage to resist.
Ao Sheng spoke, his voice calm yet thunderous, carrying the weight of divine might.
"People of Jade Sea City, listen well.
I am Ao Sheng, the Second Prince of the Flood Dragon Pce."
"I bestow upon you a mercyhand over Shen Mo, the Young Sect Master of the Jade Cauldron Sect, and all of you shall live!"
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Chapter 315: A Mere Nascent Soul Cultivator Wants to Kill Me? Ridiculous!
Chapter 315: A Mere Nascent Soul Cultivator Wants to Kill Me? Ridiculous!
As soon as those words were spoken, the entire city fell silent.
But in an instant, countless gazes turned toward Shen Mo.
The expressions in those eyes wereplicated.
Some desperately hoped that Shen Mo would step forward willingly to exchange his life for peace in Jade Sea City.
Some hesitated, torn between reason and fear.
They suspected this might be a trick to sow discord, yet they couldnt stop their thoughts from wandering.
If Shen Mo were handed over, would they have a chance to survive?
Murong Yue, Deacon He, and others close to Shen Mo instantly turned pale.
Damn that Ao Sheng.
Not only did he want to kill, but he also wanted to break their spirits!
Using such a sinister tactic, he aimed to shatter the unity of Jade Sea City.
And it was working.
Under such immense pressure, no one was immune.
Their minds couldn''t help but wander in that direction.
Shen Mo calmly ascended into the sky, his figure suspended in midair.
"Shen Mo, you finally show yourself! I thought you were going to hide in Jade Sea City for the rest of your life!"
Ao Sheng burst intoughter upon seeing him.
"Ao Sheng, if I were to kill you here, what do you think the Eastern Sea King would do?"
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
Ao Sheng reacted as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.
He flipped through the air,ughing wildly.
"A mere Nascent Soul cultivator wants to kill me? Ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous!"
"Do you even realize who stands before you? A Flood Dragon Emperor!"
"And yet, you think you can y me?"
"Shen Mo, if I hadnt heard of your reputation as a genius, I wouldve thought you were just an arrogant fool."
Shen Mos expression remained unchanged.
Ao Shengughed for a while before his tone turned icy.
"You cannot kill me. Stop your delusions."
"I will say it againif you surrender yourself, I will spare the lives of everyone in Jade Sea City."
"But if you resist, then you will die.
And the entire city will die with you!"
As he finished speaking, a surge of blood energy erupted from his body, condensing into a towering Blood Fiend Flood Dragon.
The sky churned, clouds roiled, and winds howled!
His words sent another wave of fear through Jade Sea City.
"Young Sect Master, I have heard that you are kind andpassionate.
For the sake of the entire city''s people, please surrender yourself!"
A rotund merchant trembled as he fell to his knees.
Behind him, a dozen cultivators and over a hundredmoners followed suit, dropping to their knees with bowed heads.
They were begging Shen Mo to surrender.
The sight filled the surrounding crowd with rage.
"Wang Dafu! I never thought youd be such a traitor!
Just to save your own skin, youd have the Young Sect Master surrender? Dream on!"
"Selfish! Heartless!
The Young Sect Master could reach Divine Transformation one day and bring us vengeance, and yet you want him to give up?"
"Shen Mo revitalized Dragon Snake Mountain, uplifting the surrounding viges and towns.
Jade Sea City thrives because of him!
Even you, Wang Dafu, have profited handsomely from ityet you dare to say such shameless words!"
Whether cultivators ormoners, the surrounding crowd pointed at Wang Dafu in fury, their eyes burning with rage.
Even Wang Dafu looked uneasy.
He hadnt expected Shen Mo to have such overwhelming support.
Both cultivators andmoners genuinely appreciated his contributions.
People who thought like Wang Dafu were in the minority.
Murong Yue, Deacon He, and Mei Haihe felt deeply moved as they watched.
Not long ago, Dragon Snake Mountain had been thriving.
Back then, Jade Sea City had only been a small fishing vige, relying on the seas bounty for survival.
It was only because of Dragon Snake Mountain that it had prospered.
But after the mountain fell into decline, Jade Sea City had be entirely dependent on fishing.
For the past ten years, Shen Mo had revived Dragon Snake Mountain.
Even the resources that trickled down were enough to bring prosperity to countless cultivators andmoners.
People are emotional beingsnaturally, they would be grateful to Shen Mo.
Ao Sheng, hearing the voices from within the city, let out a cold snort.
"Jade Sea City prospers because of the Eastern Sea, yet instead of revering the Flood Dragon Pce, you worship Shen Mo?"
"As I thought, everyone in this city deserves to die!"
As Ao Sheng spoke, his dragon whiskers red outward, a clear sign of his inner fury.
The once-clear sky darkened, thick clouds rolling in as thunder rumbled ominously.@@novelbin@@
It was as if the heavens themselves were enraged, preparing to unleash divine wrath upon Jade Sea City.
Out on the sea, Yuan Kong, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
"Since the people of Jade Sea City are so stubborn, refusing even the mercy granted by the Flood Dragon Pce, then Brother Sheng, please give the order."
Ao Sheng nodded, his blood energy surging.
His powerful, resonant voice spread across the vast ocean.
"All aquatic demons, attack!"
"Yes!"
The Shrimp King, Turtle King, and Crab King responded in unison.
Hundreds of wave-splitting battle tforms surged forward toward Jade Sea City.
Like an unstoppable tidal wave, they crashed toward the city''s defenses.
On the city walls, the cultivators swallowed nervously.
Never before had they witnessed such a sight.
No matter howposed they tried to be, no matter how strong their beliefs, they could not stop the panic rising in their hearts.
Even their hands trembled, barely able to hold their weapons.
"Can we really hold out with just this formation and our meager numbers?"
"The Young Sect Master is herewhat are you afraid of?"
"But the Young Sect Master has yet to reach Divine Transformation"
"Thats right. Without a Divine Transformation cultivator, its useless. I dont want to throw my life away!"
"The Young Sect Master shows no fearhe must have something prepared! Hold steady, do not panic!"
The cultivators couldn''t help but murmur among themselves, their gazes drifting toward Shen Mo, who stood unwavering.
Some looked at him with fear.
Some with uncertainty.
But others gazed with hope, with determination, with trust!
"You shouldn''t havee."
"But since you''re here, I dont mind using you as an offering for war."
"The first battle of Yuzhous counteroffensive against the Ten Thousand Demons Nation begins today!"
As Shen Mo''s calm voice fell, the air within a hundred feet of him suddenly distorted.
It was as if an invisible force shielded everything within that space.
He gazed at the vast sea, where hundreds of thousands of demons charged toward the city.
Slowly, he unsheathed his sword.
The Yin-Yang Swordradiated twin streams of ck and white sword energy.
Above and below the de, two sword shadows flickered, exhaling and inhaling ethereal power.
In an instant, a terrifying gray sword auraemerged, embodying the power to erase all things.
It extended over thirty feet.
Two more streaks of gray sword aura, each spanning over twenty feet, followed alongside it.
In the next moment, Shen Mo swung his sword!
Three streaks of gray sword energy shot forward, shing toward the army of demons on the sea.
The shrimp and crab soldiers, seeing these sword energies, burst into mockingughter.
The Shrimp King, Crab King, and Turtle Kingughed even harder.
"This is the so-called supreme genius of the human race? Such tiny sword energywho could it possibly kill?"
"No need for the Second Prince to actI alone can block these three sword shes!"
"What a joke. Spouting such bold words, I expected much more from him!"
Ao Sheng maintained his cold smirk.
But Yuan Kongs expression shifted slightly.
He seemed to have sensed something.
The next instant, all the demons watched in horror as the three sword auras began to expand at an unimaginable speed.
Forty feet Fifty feet Sixty feet
Until
One hundred feet!
Three colossal sword shes, each a hundred feet long, loomed over the battlefield, almost blotting out the sky itself.
They carried the terrifying might of splitting the heavens and parting the seas, poised to annihte all demonic forces in their path!
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Chapter 321: The Joke You Traveled Thousands of Miles to Tell Is Indeed Hilarious
Chapter 321: The Joke You Traveled Thousands of Miles to Tell Is Indeed Hrious
Xiao Fan was shocked. "The people of Jade Cauldron Sect have gone mad?"
"They are already struggling to fend for themselves, yet they still want toe and help Pill River Sect?"
Although he had yet to see who those figures were, he could already sense that they all exuded the aura of Divine Transformation cultivators.
They had clearlye to save someone.
Old Dan frowned deeply and suddenly said, "The one in frontdoesn''t he look a bit familiar?"
Xiao Fan was taken aback. He infused spiritual power into his eyes and looked carefully.
The three figures were moving at an astonishing speed and had already closed in on Pill River Sects mountain gate.
Only now could Xiao Fan clearly see their faces.
The two nking figures were elderly men, whom Xiao Fan did not recognize.
However, it wasnt difficult to guess.
They were likely elders of Jade Cauldron Sect at the Divine Transformation stage.
But the man in the middlehis face was incredibly familiar.
So familiar that it had be a psychological shadow, one that he could never forget for the rest of his life.
It was Shen Mo!
"How could it be him?"
"Why is he being escorted by two Divine Transformation elders, and why do they even seem to be deferring to him?"
Xiao Fan instinctively stepped back.
The psychological pressure Shen Mo brought him was overwhelming.
Back at Qingxuan Sect, he had been utterly suppressed, barely able to breathe.
He had thought thating to Yuzhou, with its vast stage, would allow him to break free from that shadow. Yet, time and time again, Shen Mo still loomed over him unexpectedly.
Old Dan spoke in a low voice. "He''s strongmuch stronger than before. Even the aura he unconsciously emits makes me feel a great sense of danger."
Xiao Fan''s expression darkened. "Old Dan, could he have stepped into the Divine Transformation realm?"
Old Dan instinctively shook his head. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible."
"How old is he? How could he possibly advance to the Divine Transformation stage?"
"The young sect master of my Nine Revolutions Pill Dao Sect, blessed with unparalleled talent and great fortune, only managed to break through at forty."
"What qualifications does Shen Mo have? Compared to you, his fortune is far inferior."
Xiao Fan let out augh.
But hisughter was more miserable than crying.
"Old Dan, you always say his fortune is weaker than mine, yet he keeps encountering miraculous opportunities, his fate overflowing with fortune"@@novelbin@@
"Now, I can even feel the threat of death from him"
Old Dan sighed. "Let''s leave. We must not linger here. No matter what realm Shen Mo has reached or what his purpose is, this is no longer something we can interfere with."
Xiao Fan hesitated for a moment, then suddenly shook his head firmly. "No, I want to see this through."
Old Dan sighed again. "Alright then. I will stay and watch with you. With me protecting you, at the very least, you wont die."
Xiao Fan nodded.
Up in the sky, Shen Mo''s gaze casually swept over the dense forest and caught sight of a young figure.
Though the face was unfamiliar, his life panel instantly revealed the person''s true identity.
It was Xiao Fan.
"Interesting. It seems he sensed the danger and disguised himself early, fleeing the sects mountain gate in advance."
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
As expected of the Child of Fortune.
He always managed to escape peril before it fully descended.
"Now that Ive reached the Divine Transformation realm, my personalbat power surpasses the majority of those below the Divine Transformation peak."
"Is there a chance to eliminate Xiao Fan and Ye Yanthese so-called Children of Fortune?"
Shen Mo pondered.
Back when he slew the Ninth Prince of the Myriad Demon Nation, he had seized his fortune.
His fate had already risen significantly.
If he could now eliminate Xiao Fan and Ye Yan, his own fortune might ascend to the level of a Child of Fortune.
"Its worth a try."
Shen Mo smiled calmly and continued flying toward Pill River Sects mountain gate.
Yang Qiye gazed ahead, his face involuntarily revealing fear.
Especially at the sight of the colossal elephant demon. Though it hovered several thousand meters away, it felt as if it loomed directly over his head, looking down upon him.
The oppressive aura alone was suffocating, enough to make someone feel as if they were being crushed to death.
Wan Muchen, meanwhile, stared in shock at the shattered grand formation protecting Pill River Sects mountain gate.
He had long heard that Pill River Sect had spent an astronomical sum to purchase a Heaven-tier formation from Dragon State.
Many cultivators believed that the sects protective formation was imprable, impossible to break by human means.
Unexpectedly, it had already been broken today.
However, since it was shattered by the demon race, it technically still hadnt been broken by human hands
At this moment, Xiang Jue also sensed an unfamiliar presence and immediately turned around.
His massive eyes locked onto Shen Mo and his twopanions.
His gaze only lingered on Yang Qiye and Wan Muchen for a few breaths before shifting to Shen Mo.
As a peerless genius, Shen Mos portrait had long been spread throughout the demon race under the advice of the Fourth Prince, Yuan Kong.
Even the lowliest demon civilians had seen his likeness.
Let alone Xiang Juethe First Prince of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation.
"Shen Mo, so you actually fled to Pill River Sect?"
"Interesting. Are you here to seek their aid?"
"If so, youre going to be disappointed. Not only will you find no reinforcements here, but youll also lose your life."
Xiang Jues voice boomed like a great bell, its deep resonance echoing across the heavens and earth.
At his words, the cultivators within Pill River Sect froze in shock.
What?
Shen Mo?
Isnt that the young sect master of Jade Cauldron Sect?
Why is he here?
Hai Qiankun''s expression was filled with astonishment. He immediately ascended into the sky, gazing upward.
"It really is Shen Mo and beside him are Yang Qiye and Wan Muchen."
"Didnt many of the Divine Transformation cultivators from Jade Cauldron Sect and Supreme Purity Sect get trapped in Ironstone Valley?"
"Jade Cauldron Sect should have been attacked by the demon army as well. How is hepletely unharmed?"
"Could it be that he came to Pill River Sect to request reinforcements?"
The more Hai Qiankun thought about it, the more baffled he became.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldnt figure out how Shen Mo had escaped the encirclement of the demon race.
Hearing this, Shen Mo let out an amusedugh.
Seek aid from Pill River Sect?
What a ridiculous notion.
Shen Mo smiled. "Xiang Jue, it seems you have no idea what happened to the Ten Thousand Demon Nations Eastern Army."
The demon race did have their own methods of long-distancemunication, simr to transmission jade slips.
They called them Blood Jade Transmitters, which had to be activated using blood energy.
However, Blood Jade Transmitters were far more difficult to use and even harder to create.
Only demon royalty were qualified to possess them.
Back at the Eastern Sea, Shen Mo had in Yuan Kong and Ao Sheng in a single strike, annihting hundreds of thousands of demon troops. It was likely that neither of them had even gotten the chance to send out a message.
Otherwise, there was no way Xiang Jue wouldnt know what had happened to the Eastern Army.
Sure enough, at Shen Mos words, Xiang Jue frowned.
His pitch-ck eyes showed a hint of doubt.
"Could it be that the old flood dragon awakened and killed Yuan Kong and Ao Sheng?"
"No, impossible. He absolutely could not have awakened."
Xiang Jue shook his head.
He could think of no other possibility.
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "Then allow me to satisfy your curiosity."
Infusing spiritual energy into his voice, he dered loudly, "The Fourth Prince of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, Yuan Kong, the Second Prince of the Flood Dragon Pce, and the Eastern Army of the Ten Thousand Demon Nationhundreds of thousands of demon troopshave been annihted by my Jade Cauldron Sect!"
As soon as these words fell, the entire battlefield fell into a deathly silence.
Even the demon army ceased their assault.
For a long moment, the silence stretched.
Then, suddenly, Xiang Jue burst into wildughter.
The two aged demon royals beside him also cackled in eerie amusement.
The hundreds of thousands of demon troops on the ground clutched their stomachs,ughing uproariously.
Theirughter boomed like thunder, shaking the very heavens.
Ridiculous.
Utterly ridiculous.
Xiang Jueughed heartily. "Shen Mo, I must admit, the joke you traveled thousands of miles to tell is truly hrious."
"I respect your talent, so Ill give you a chanceif you agree to be my personal ve, I will spare your life. What do you say?"
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Chapter 322: You Guessed Wrong, The One Thing I Don’t Lack Is Trump Cards
Chapter 322: You Guessed Wrong, The One Thing I Don''t Lack Is Trump Cards
Before Shen Mo could speak, Xiang Jue continued, "You''re different from other humans. My father himself praised you as a genius beyondpare."
"The King of the South Sea also spoke highly of you, hoping the dragons of the South Sea would interact and spar with you."
"I, the prince, can grant you the privilege of bing my ve."
Xiang Jue''s tone was full of arrogance, dominance, and refusal was not an option.
The demon ns on the ground jeered along.
"A human genius is only fit to be the prince''s ve!"
"Even a peerless genius is only fit to be a dog."
"Not just any human can be the prince''s ve. Just now, a cultivator in the Divine Transformation stage was rejected by the prince."
Shen Mo listened to these voices, his expression calm.
He didn''t care in the slightest.
Xiang Jue stared at Shen Mo for a while, "Interesting, shouldn''t such words be extremely humiliating to your kind?"
"You don''t seem angry at all."
"Indeed, you are truly a peerless genius. Even I, the prince, can''t provoke you."
Shen Mo calmly said, "I never get angry with dead people."
Xiang Jue was taken aback, then burst intoughter, his long trunk curling, resembling a giant python dancing wildly in the sky.
Heughed a few times, then abruptly stopped.
Instead, his eyes turned extremely fierce.
"It seems you''ve decided to reject my kind offer."
Shen Mo''s expression remained indifferent, "It should have ended long ago."
Two demon n emperors beside Xiang Jue sneered, "Prince, there''s no need for you to act. We will capture Shen Mo alive for you right now!"
With that, they suddenly rushed forward.
These two demon n emperors were elephant demon emperors, the same race as the prince.
However, their blood energy was somewhat depleted, indicating their lifespans were nearing an end.
"If the three of you attacked together, you might have a slim chance. Now you''re just courting death."
Shen Mo shook his head.
Within his dantian, his primordial spirit trembled slightly, his soul power rippling out, forming an invisible field a hundred feet in size around him.
In the next moment, the Redlotus me erupted from his scap.
In an instant, it condensed into magnificent me wings fifty feet in length.
The third move of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, Fire Feather!
Shen Mo pointed at the two elephant demon emperors.
Endless fire feathers shot out, streaking across a hundred feet, rushing madly.
The two elephant demon emperors didn''t feel much power and immediately sneered coldly.
"What peerless genius? That''s all."
"I really don''t understand why he came all this way to die."
However, in the next moment, their pupils suddenly shrank.
Because they suddenly saw the endless fire feathers start to expand wildly!
Initially, they were only the size of a palm.
Then, in just a few breaths, they expanded to a foot in length!
A foot-long azure fire feather!
Covering the entire sky!
Almost blotting out the sun!
The two elephant demon emperors were shocked.
Hundreds of thousands of demon ns on the ground were shocked.
The surviving cultivators of the Dan River Sect were even more dazed.
My god.
What kind of realm could unleash such a terrifying martial technique?
"It seems there''s an invisible force around Shen Mo... I understand, he''s at the Divine Transformation stage!" Hai Qiankun''s eyes widened.
Those fire feathers couldn''t have expanded without external force.
The only possibility was that Shen Mo had an invisible field around him, enhancing the fire feathers.
That perfectly matched the Divine Transformation stage''s primordial spirit field!
He understood.
The person who developed the Heaven-grade primordial spirit recently must be Shen Mo!
"My god..." Hai Qiankun murmured to himself.
Regretting even more why he gave up on Qing Xuan Sect, ultimately letting Jade Cauldron Sect reap the benefits.
Boom, boom, boom!
The endless fire feathers collided violently with the two elephant demon emperors.
The two elephant demon emperors had to burst forth their blood energy, using all their strength to resist.
However, their blood energy couldn''t withstand such massive and numerous fire feathers.
They could only endure nine fire feathers before their blood energy immediately dried up.
They had to force out the blood energy hidden in their flesh and bones, fighting desperately.
This blood energy soaked in their flesh and bones was the most important power of the demon ns.
It was not easily used.
Once used, the physical body would weaken.
Without decades of hard cultivation, it was hard to replenish it.
More fire feathers bypassed the two elephant demon emperors, plummeting straight to the ground.
Boom, boom, boom!
It was like meteors falling.
Or like heavenly fire destroying the world.
Every fire feather that fell wouldpletely annihte the surrounding demon ns within a radius of several feet.
Hundreds of fire feathers fell, and in just a brief ten seconds, the number of demon ns was reduced from hundreds of thousands to a mere hundred thousand!
And this number continued to decrease.
Everywhere, there were the wails of demon ns.
Everywhere, there were charred corpses of demon ns.
"Die."
Shen Mo pointed at the two elephant demon emperors.
More fire feathers converged towards them.
"No!"
"Prince, save me!"
The two elephant demon emperors were terrified.
They instinctively called out to the prince for help.
But the prince remained motionless, as if he hadn''t heard anything.
Boom!
Thest fire feather fell.
The two elephant demon emperors were directly sted into the ground.
Their charred bodies rolled a few times on the ground, thenpletely lost their breath.
Dignified demon n emperors, in death, were no different from dead dogs.
"Dead? Two demon n emperors, just like that?"
"Just like crushing tofu, too easy."
"What kind of power does Shen Mo have now... Why do I feel he''s stronger than the sect master?"
The cultivators of the Dan River Sect looked at the sky, dumbfounded.@@novelbin@@
Behind Shen Mo, Yang Qiye and Wan Muchun were equally shocked.
Although they knew Shen Mo had killed Yuan Kong, Ao Sheng, and hundreds of thousands of demon ns on the coast of the East Sea.
They had never seen Shen Mo fight.
Seeing it with their own eyes now, they finally understood how powerful Shen Mo had be.
Yang Qiye now felt only fear.
How did Shen Mo surpass me so much in just a few years of reflection?
From Shen Mo''s move just now, he realized that now, Shen Mo could kill him as easily as crushing an ant.
He immediately restrained any thoughts, not daring to act rashly.
The princeughed, "Not bad, this is your strongest move, isn''t it?"
"It seems the fourth brother has already died by your hand. Good, you have removed a major threat for me."
Shen Mo smiled, "You do have some brains."
"No wonder you didn''t help those two fools, you wanted to use them to wear me down."
The princeughed again, his two dark eyes emitting an increasingly violent gleam.
"You guessed right."
"When you used that fire feather, I realized this move is indeed strong, it must be the third move of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique."
"Instead of helping them, I''d rather let them exhaust your move."
"Now, what other trump cards do you have?"
The prince sneered, his whole body exuding blood energy, seemingly ready to strike a killing blow.
Shen Moughed.
Laughed happily.
"You guessed wrong, the one thing I don''tck is trump cards."
The prince''s pupils contracted, "Impossible, what other trump cards do you have?"
"I know, you just used the third move of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique from the Jade Cauldron Sect''s library, and you also have the fourth move! But your strange fire is not enough to perform the fourth move!"
"I also guessed that you have a top-tier heavenly constitution!"
"I also know what cultivation methods and martial techniques you practice."
"I know everything about you!"
"You can''t possibly have any other trump cards!"
Shen Mo smiled, "Who said I only have one strange fire?"
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Chapter 323: Junior Brother Xiao, Long Time No See
Chapter 323: Junior Brother Xiao, Long Time No See
As soon as these words were spoken.
Not only Xiang Jue, but even Yang Qiye, Wan Muchun, Hai Qiankun, and others showed expressions of shock.
What?
Could it be that Shen Mo had a second eternal me?
Impossible!
Eternal mes are divine objects of heaven and earth, extremely proud.
Eternal mes are almost ipatible with each other.
Even a peerless genius can only tame one eternal me.
If someone tries to forcibly tame two eternal mes, their body will be the battlefield of the two eternal mes.
The final oue would be self-immtion!
Xiang Jue stared intently at Shen Mo.
Trying to see something in his eyes.
Unfortunately, Shen Mo''s eyes were calm as water, unfathomable.
He couldn''t see anything.
"I, the prince, am here, waiting for you to show a second eternal me!"
Xiang Jue gnashed his teeth, roaring.
"I, the prince, don''t believe anyone can tame two eternal mes!"
"You should know, even my father only tamed one eternal me!"
Shen Mo smiled, "Thank you for telling me."
"In our human n, we value reciprocation, so as a thank you, I will send you on your way."
Shen Mo extended his right hand.
A golden me rose in his palm.
Although it was smaller than the Red Lotus me.
Its essence was nobler and more powerful than the Red Lotus me.
Anyone who saw it would bepelled to worship it.
Because it was like the sun on earth!
During this period, Shen Mo provided the Sr Essence me with treasures such as Sr Essence Stone and Earthfire Millennium Marrow.
The Sr Essence me gradually transformed from a me to a zing fire.
Now, it was infinitely close to a zing fire.
The power it could unleash already surpassed the Red Lotus me!
When he used the third move of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique earlier, Shen Mo had exhausted the Red Lotus me''s power.
The Red Lotus me had fallen into slumber.
It would take two or three days to recover.
So, Shen Mo needed to use the Sr Essence me to perform the fourth move of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique.
Shen Mo''s spiritual power surged.
His robes fluttered.
Within a thousand feet radius around him, wild winds danced, and the temperature suddenly rose.
The sky changed color immediately.
The scorching sunlight madly illuminated the earth.
As if it wanted to burn all living things to ashes.
At this moment, a huge ball of light suddenly appeared in the sky.
People couldn''t help but look up.
Their pupils were almostpletely upied by the huge fireball.
It was a meteor falling from the sky!
Huge!
Iparably huge!
The Sr Essence me in Shen Mo''s hand flew towards the sky and merged with the meteor.
In an instant, the meteor became evenrger.
As if the angry heavens had sent down punishment!
"The fourth move of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, Fire Meteor!"
Shen Mo''s eyes were cold as he pointed at Xiang Jue.
Xiang Jue''s eyes widened.
He immediately used his bloodline technique.
A giant elephant of blood energy, roaring at the sky, immediately appeared.
It was a hundred feet tall, towering and roaring at the stars.
But it wasn''t enough, Xiang Jue immediately burst forth his blood energy, not sparing even the blood energy in his flesh and bones.
This blood energy quickly condensed into the shape of an ancient underworld.
The shadow of the ancient underworld stood with its hands behind its back, coldly looking at the sky.
"Damn...damn..."
Xiang Jue panted heavily.
His skin was somewhat wrinkled and dry.
This was a sign of overusing blood energy.
"I must block it! I must escape back to the Ten Thousand Demon Nation and tell my father that Shen Mo tamed a second eternal me!"
Xiang Jue gnashed his teeth.
In the next moment, the enormous fire meteor fell from the sky, passed through Shen Mo''s primordial spirit field, and struck the giant elephant of blood energy.
Boom!
The giant elephant of blood energy that was roaring at the stars suddenly let out a wail.
In an instant, it shattered into pieces, disintegrating into countless blood energies scattered between heaven and earth.
The shadow of the ancient underworld resisted the fire meteor for five seconds, but then it too shattered and dissipated without a trace.
Leaving only a short sigh.
With these obstacles gone, the fire meteor continued its slow and steady trajectory towards Xiang Jue.
Xiang Jue was dumbfounded.
He couldn''t believe that his bloodline technique and strongest martial skill couldn''t withstand Shen Mo''s attack!
He, the dignified crown prince, wasn''t a match for Shen Mo, a newly ascended Divine Transformation stage cultivator!
Boom!
Xiang Jue''s body was mmed hard into the ground.
Dust flew, and sparks burst.
A huge pit appeared on the ground.
At the bottom of the pit was the dying, charred body of Xiang Jue.
The body of a demon emperor was incredibly resilient.
Even with such terrifying damage, he didn''t die instantly, but was barely breathing.
Shen Mo shed, using the Sky Step technique, and appeared in front of Xiang Jue in an instant.
Xiang Jue''s pupils contracted further, "You... you dare to kill me... my father won''t spare you..."
Shen Mo smiled calmly, "If I don''t kill you, your father won''t spare me either."
"Xiang Jue, your brain is nowhere near Gu Ming''s."
"That''s why you are always just the crown prince, while Gu Ming rose from a lowly bloodline wolf demon to the emperor of emperors."
Shen Mo pointed casually.
The Yin Yang Sword shot out.
Gray sword energy burst forth, directly piercing Xiang Jue''s heart.
Enveloped in spiritual energy, the heart was instantly extracted without a drop of blood being lost.
Shen Mo had long known that Xiang Jue possessed the bloodline of the ancient giant elephant.
The Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique he cultivated required awakening the power of the giant elephant from each particle.
If he could refine the giant elephant bloodline within Xiang Jue, he might elerate his progress and awaken the power of a hundred giant elephants.
Shen Mo casually collected the bodies of Xiang Jue and the two elephant demon emperors into his storage ring.
The bodies of demon emperors were valuable and shouldn''t be wasted.
After finishing, Shen Mo flew into the air.
He looked around, seeing expressions of shock and awe.
"Hai Sect Master, do you expect me to personally kill the remaining demon ns?"
Shen Mo smiled slightly.
Hai Qiankun suddenly woke up from his daze, "Yes, yes, Pill River Sect disciples, follow me! Kill all the demon ns and avenge our friends and family!"
The disciples of Pill River Sect were greatly motivated.
"Avenge! Wash away the shame!"
"Kill all the demon ns!"
"March to the Ten Thousand Demon Nation and seize the demon emperor''s throne!"
"Uh... too much. With our current strength, we can barely make it to the Ten Thousand Demon Nation..."
In the depths of the dense forest.
Xiao Fan witnessed the entire scene, utterly shocked.
He couldn''t believe Shen Mo had tamed a second eternal me.
And from its essence, that eternal me was clearly more powerful than the Red Lotus me.
Even more terrifying, Shen Mo instantly killed the crown prince Xiang Jue, who had used all his trump cards!@@novelbin@@
What kind of strength was this?
Absolutely beyond his capability to resist.
"He just entered the Divine Transformation stage and already has such power. If he advances further, even peak Divine Transformation stage cultivators won''t be his match?"
Xiao Fan''s heart was filled with boundless fear.
The shadow named "Shen Mo" almost entirely upied his mind.
Elder Dan eximed in shock, "He''s flying towards us. Run quickly!"
Xiao Fan was startled, almost copsing.
Without hesitation, he started to run.
Elder Dan didn''t hesitate to consume his soul power to elerate Xiao Fan''s speed.
However, they were still too slow.
Even with Elder Dan''s assistance, their speed couldn''tpare to the Sky Step technique, a top-tier movement skill.
By the time Xiao Fan realized, a figure in green stood a hundred feet ahead, back facing them, quietly standing.
"Junior Brother Xiao, long time no see." Shen Mo turned around and smiled slightly.
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Chapter 324: Xiao Fan, This is My Last Soul Power. Take It.
Chapter 324: Xiao Fan, This is My Last Soul Power. Take It.
Xiao Fan couldn''t stop trembling all over.
Even though he had merged with the memories of a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator from back then.
Even though he recalled his days as the hall master of the Burning Heaven Hall,manding wind and rain.
But when he encountered Shen Mo again.
When he met this lifelong enemy again, he instinctively felt fear.
He even felt that Shen Mo was like a parasitic maggot clinging to him.
No matter where he went, Shen Mo would appear there.
And achieve higher aplishments than him.
Now, they met again.
And this time, Shen Mo possessed an incredibly terrifying power.
The gap between his strength and Shen Mo''s had reached an unimaginable extent.
Even with Elder Dan''s help, he was afraid that he couldn''t survive this time.
Xiao Fan had to force a smile and said, "Shen... Senior Brother Shen, long time no see."
Shen Mo smiled, "Where did you go after I killed the old master of the Divine Sword Sect?"
"At that time, only those who abandoned the Qing Xuan Sect chose to flee. Why did you leave?"
Xiao Fan reluctantly said, "Senior Brother Shen, I just went out on a mission but was chased by powerful monsters and had to run for my life."
"You should understand, right?"
Shen Mo chuckled, "Understand, understand. So, what are you doing now?"
"I heard that Sect Master Hai even promised his daughter to you as a Dao Companion, and you might be a couple in the future."
"Why did you leave the sect when the demon army attacked the Pill River Sect?"@@novelbin@@
At this moment, Xiao Fan''s smile was more difficult than crying.
He had already used that excuse once, so he definitely couldn''t use it again.
But he couldn''t think of a good excuse in a short time.
He was silent.
Whoosh, whoosh.
A few figures flew to Shen Mo''s side.
They were Hai Qiankun, Wan Muchun, and Yang Qiye.
Hai Qiankun was overjoyed and quickly cupped his hands to Shen Mo, "Daoist friend Shen, many thanks! If you hadn''t arrived in time and killed that Xiang Jue, our Pill River Sect might have been ttened."
"On behalf of all the cultivators of the Pill River Sect, I thank you!"
After he finished speaking, he directly knelt on both knees and prostrated himself before Shen Mo.
Both his actions and tone were filled with respect.
It was evident that his gratitude towards Shen Mo came from the bottom of his heart.
Shen Mo did not expect Hai Qiankun to perform such a great courtesy. He was a bit surprised and quickly helped him up.
"Sect Master Hai, there is no need for such formalities."
Hai Qiankun gratefully stood up.
Young people are generally more spirited.
Now, Shen Mo''s strength had surpassed that of the sect masters of the three sects and most of the Divine Transformation Realm elders.
Shen Mo being somewhat overbearing was expected.
He did not expect Shen Mo to still be the same as before.
For a moment, he felt even more emotional.
"Sect Master Hai, here is one of your Pill River Sect''s cultivators," Shen Mo said casually.
It was only then that Hai Qiankun noticed Xiao Fan beside him.
With his Divine Transformation Realm cultivation, he naturally saw through Xiao Fan''s disguise at a nce.
"Xiao Fan!"
"I promised my daughter to you as a Dao Companion, and when the sect needed you, you were nowhere to be found!"
Hai Qiankun was furious.
He pointed at Xiao Fan''s nose and scolded him.
Spit was almost flying onto Xiao Fan''s face.
Xiao Fan remained silent.
He couldn''t say a word.
His actions could be seen as selfishness in the small sense and betrayal of the sect in therger sense.
In any of the three sects in Yuzhou, such behavior was punishable by only one penalty.
Death!
Xiao Fan gritted his teeth and looked around at the few people.
These were all Divine Transformation Realm cultivators.
Shen Mo had arrived with the momentum of killing the Grand Prince of the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom, two elephant demon emperors, and hundreds of thousands of demon tribes.
Even without speaking, it made him tremble.
In this situation, can he still survive?
"Elder Dan..." Xiao Fan whispered.
Elder Dan sighed softly, "I still have onest card to y."
"Using all my divine soul power to perform the Nine Reincarnation Technique, preserving a thread of your soul and aiding your rebirth."
"The Nine Reincarnation Technique is something Iprehended on my own, aligning with heavenly secrets, but it''s not yet perfected."
"Where you will ultimately be reborn, and as what, is unknown."
Hope suddenly rose within Xiao Fan, "You can save me?"
Elder Dan sighed lightly, "After using this technique, my divine soul will bepletely shattered. The burden of revitalizing the Nine Reincarnation Dan Dao Sect will rest solely on you."
"I hope that what I am doing today won''t be in vain."
Xiao Fan solemnly said, "Rest assured, I, Xiao Fan, am a person of deep emotions and righteousness. I will never forget my promise to you today! I will definitely revive the Nine Reincarnation Dan Dao Sect!"
"Good." Elder Dan nodded.
At this moment, Wan Muchun casually said, "Since he''s a traitor of the Pill River Sect, let''s leave him to Sect Master Hai for disposal. We are outsiders and it''s not convenient for us to interfere."
Hai Qiankun nodded sternly, reaching out to grab Xiao Fan.
Shen Mo pondered, actually intending to kill Xiao Fan himself and seize Xiao Fan''s fortune.
At this moment, he looked at Xiao Fan''s life panel.
[Recent Opportunity: Today, trapped by Shen Mo and others, Xiao Fan is about to be captured by Hai Qiankun and judged as a sect traitor.
Elder Dan uses all his divine soul power to perform the Nine Reincarnation Technique, preserving a thread of Xiao Fan''s soul for reincarnation.
A yearter, Xiao Fan is reborn in the Demon Suppression Sea, starting a new life as a demon.]
Shen Mo pondered.
The Nine Reincarnation Technique seems to be rted to the Nine Reincarnation Dan Dao Canon.
But Shen Mo had thoroughly read the Nine Reincarnation Dan Dao Canon and had never seen this special technique.
It must have been created by that old man inside Xiao Fan''s body.
"Rebirth... as a demon in the Demon Suppression Sea..."
"I wonder if I can intercept this thread of soul. If not, perhaps I can only let Xiao Fan leave."
"But if he escapes, it''s fine. Before leaving, he left me several opportunities, which isn''t bad."
Shen Mo smiled slightly.
There were still several opportunities on Xiao Fan. If he hadn''t been trapped by them today, he would most likely go to seek those opportunities.
Now that Xiao Fan is about to be reborn, those opportunities naturally be ownerless.
Shen Mo couldn''t stand to see good fortune wasted, so he reluctantly decided to take them.
"Xiao Fan, by the name of sect traitor, I will capture you. Come with me."
Hai Qiankun''s eyes were icy, reaching out to grab Xiao Fan''s arm.
However, at this moment, Xiao Fan was as heavy as a small mountain and could not be moved no matter what.
Momentster, an astounding amount of divine soul power burst from around him.
Hai Qiankun''s eyes widened, "Divine Transformation Realm?!"
Wan Muchun frowned, "No, it''s not Xiao Fan''s aura. There''s a divine soul hidden within his body!"
Buzz!
A blue phantom suddenly appeared behind Xiao Fan.
It was an old face, full of anger and resentment.
"You...you are..." Hai Qiankun was stunned, looking at this face and recalling something.
"I am the Great Elder of the Nine Reincarnation Dan Dao Sect! Xiao Fan is my chosen sessor, you cannot kill him!"
"I will use my peak Divine Transformation Realm soul to help him escape."
"Wait and see, he will definitely revive the Nine Reincarnation Dan Dao Sect andpletely annihte the three sects of Yuzhou!"
Elder Dan roared, exploding all his divine soul power to perform the Nine Reincarnation Technique.
A divine light shot from Xiao Fan''s forehead, and before anyone could react, it streaked out like lightning.
It sped towards the East Sea.
In an instant, it was gone.
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Chapter 325: Hope Your Wool is Plentiful Enough When We Meet Again
Chapter 325: Hope Your Wool is Plentiful Enough When We Meet Again
Hai Qiankun eximed, "What kind of secret technique is that? I didn''t even have time to react before that divine light disappeared without a trace."
Yang Qiye waved his hand, "Escaped, then escaped. Even if he reincarnates, he won''t amount to anything."
Wan Muchun shook his head, "I didn''t expect the remnants of the Nine Reincarnation Dan Dao Sect to still think about reviving their sect. It''s trulyughable."
Hai Qiankun med himself, "I didn''t expect someone like this to have infiltrated the Pill River Sect."
Shen Mo looked thoughtfully in the direction the divine light had fled.
A demon of the Demon Suppression Sea.
It clearly didn''t sound human anymore.
In the future, he would probably also go to the Demon Suppression Sea.
Maybe he would meet Xiao Fan again.
"The child of destiny, if not suppressed by me, would grow very quickly."
"When we meet again, I hope your wool is plentiful enough."
Shen Mo smiled and silently mouthed towards the east.
"Sect Master Hai, it''s time to discuss serious matters." Shen Mo said with a smile.
Hai Qiankun sighed lightly.
Even if Shen Mo hadn''t mentioned it, he had guessed it.
The Pill River Sect suffered heavy losses, with more than half of the Divine Transformation Realm elders fleeing.
The Nascent Soul Realm elders, deacons, and disciples below them suffered countless casualties.
Describing it as severely wounded would be an understatement.
Now, the Jade Cauldron Sect had Shen Mo, a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator with powerfulbat abilities.
And the slumbering Li Fire Flood Dragon.
Without thinking, he knew what would happen next.
"I am willing to merge the Pill River Sect into the Jade Cauldron Sect, but I still need to discuss it with a few Divine Transformation Realm elders." Hai Qiankun gritted his teeth.
Shen Mo chuckled, "Those Divine Transformation Realm elders? What are they? Do they even deserve to be part of this discussion?"
"As long as Sect Master Hai is willing to merge, that''s enough."
"Elder Wan, please stay here to discuss the subsequent matters."
"And by the way, inform Sect Master Li of the situation here, and let him arrange it."
Wan Muchun nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I''ll handle it right away."
"Elder Yang, let''s go to the Supreme rity Sect''s mountain gate." Shen Mo said calmly.
"Yes." Yang Qiye dared not have any disobedience, nodding repeatedly like pounding garlic.
Hai Qiankun watched the two fly away, with boundless emotion rising in his eyes.
He couldn''t help but say, "Elder Wan, how is your Jade Cauldron Sect so lucky to have a cultivator like Shen Mo?"
Wan Muchun couldn''t help but smile, but he didn''t answer directly. Instead, he casually said, "Stop sighing, hurry up and clean the battlefield, and heal the disciples."
Hai Qiankun sighed, "Alright, alright."
Six dayster, at the Supreme rity Sect''s mountain gate.
The ground was filled with dense formations of demon ns.
Several irond cloud boatsy powerless on the ground, dim and lifeless.
Those were the irond cloud boats that had been sted down by the demon army''s gathered blood energy.
During this time, the demon army and the Supreme rity Sect cultivators had been locked in a long tug-of-war.
However, the demon ns were numerous and high-spirited, always having the upper hand, gradually eroding the territory of the Supreme rity Sect.
After half a month of continuous attacks, they had now broken through two of the Supreme rity Sect''s outer defensive formations.
Only thest defensive formation remained unbroken.
The bright sky was now almost covered by the blood energy reaching the heavens.
In such a scene, the morale of the human cultivators could be imagined.
In the distant sky, three demon emperors floated calmly.
Each demon emperor was immensely huge, over fifty zhang (approximately 165 feet) tall.
They exuded an overpowering and savage aura.
Just meeting their gaze would instill immense fear.
They only needed to float in mid-air to give the Supreme rity Sect cultivators immense psychological pressure.
"Hold on, hold on, King Jing is almost here!"@@novelbin@@
Mo Lingxiao roared, his voice echoing throughout the sect.
As if fate had not abandoned them.
In the distant sky, ten massive cloud boats suddenly appeared.
The leading cloud boat was luxurious and resplendent, golden all over.
It was the Golden Dragon Cloud Boat, a reward from Emperor Jing to King Jing!
"King Jing has arrived!"
A voice as loud as a great bell resounded in the sky.
It immediately greatly boosted morale.
Suddenly, the Golden Dragon Cloud Boat began to gather immense energy.
The next moment, a dazzling white beam of light shot out, sting towards the demon n formations.
Boom!
A huge mushroom cloud rose.
Many demons were killed in this strike.
After the Golden Dragon Cloud Boat''s attack, the nine irond cloud boats behind it also began to gather energy, continuouslyunching attacks.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The beam of light continued to strike the ground.
Immediately, it tore huge gaps in the dense demon n formations.
The Supreme rity Sect cultivators were instantly invigorated.
Mo Lingxiao also showed joy.
The cloud boats were indeed powerful!
Unfortunately, the irond cloud boats of the Supreme rity Sect had been severely depleted in the previous ten days of attacks.
Some were heavily damaged.
Some had exhausted their energy.
They were already unable to fight.
If the Supreme rity Sect had cultivators skilled in repairing irond cloud boats, they might have been able to hold out for another ten days to half a month.
It wouldn''t have ended so miserably, with casualties everywhere.
"Thank you, King Jing!" Mo Lingxiao cupped his hands towards the sky from afar.
However, King Jing only nced at him from a distance and did not respond.
Mo Lingxiao''s expression changed several times, and he could only grit his teeth and endure it.
He knew that the Supreme rity Sect had suffered great losses this time, and their overall strength was at most only thirty percent of their peak.
But thebat power of the State Overseer''s Mansion was intact.
As long as the demon army was repelled, it was almost certain that the Supreme rity Sect would be incorporated into the State Overseer''s Mansion.
King Jing naturally wouldn''t give him a good face, nor did he need to show him much respect.
The three demon emperors looked at the Golden Dragon Cloud Boat and the three irond cloud boats and smiled indifferently.
"We''ve been waiting for you, finally you''vee."
"Now we can catch you all in one andplete the task given by His Majesty the Demon Emperor, bringing a Golden Dragon Cloud Boat back for research."
The leading Lion Demon Emperor sneered.
The other two demon emperors also sneered.
The next moment, an astonishing amount of blood energy spurted from the noses and mouths of the three demon emperors.
The Lion Demon Emperor suddenly threw out a withered fruit from his bosom.
The fruit looked in and ordinary, withered andcking water, no different from a green apple.
But when it came into contact with the blood energy, it began to swell at an incredible speed.
One foot, five feet, one zhang, ten zhang... up to a hundred zhang!
The fruit soon became lush green and full of water.
It seemed like biting into it would cause it to burst with juice.
King Jing, Mo Lingxiao, and the others frowned as they looked at the fruit.
They didn''t know what it was.
But judging from the fanatical expressions of the three demon emperors, this seemed to be the demon n''s trump card.
"Activate the defensive formations immediately." King Jing ordered.
Buzz!
A blue light shield suddenly appeared, protecting the Golden Dragon Cloud Boat.
The nine irond cloud boats behind it followed the samemand.
Everyone cautiously watched the strange green fruit.
Beside King Jing, Wu Renyin frowned deeply.
He seemed to have seen a description of this green fruit in a historical record of the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom.
But at this critical moment, he couldn''t remember it.
The next moment, crunching sounds came from inside the fruit.
It was as if something was constantly devouring the flesh inside.
The fruit soon became transparent.
Inside, it revealed a long, wriggling figure.
After devouring the flesh, it seemed to smell the abundant human blood outside, eager to break free from its confines.
Crunch.
The fruit skin was suddenly bitten open.
A huge and hideous meat worm, two hundred zhang in length, burst out of the fruit and shot straight towards the Supreme rity Sect''s mountain gate!
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{please check this chapter and tell me if there are wrong character names, technique names or anything simr. i will edit it asap. }
Chapter 326: Block it with all your might! Even if you die, you must block it for me!
Chapter 326: Block it with all your might! Even if you die, you must block it for me!
Mo Lingxiao''s pupils contracted, and he shouted sharply, "Quick, get out of the way!"
The higher-level cultivators reacted, instinctively dodging.
But the lower-level cultivators didn''t react at all.
They could only watch helplessly as the huge insect crashed down with a bang!
Boom!
In an instant, soil and wood sttered, and rocks crumbled.@@novelbin@@
Countless broken limbs and bodies flew in all directions.
It was incredibly terrifying.
What''s worse, the third defensive formation, which the Shangqing Sect prided itself on, couldn''t withstand the insect''s attack.
The top-tier Earth-grade defensive formation shattered into fragments of light!
Mo Lingxiao''s eyes widened.
What kind of insect is this?
Its physical body is that terrifying?
The next moment, the giant insect twisted like a dragon.
Its huge mouth opened.
Inside were rows upon rows of sharp teeth.
With a great inhale, a massive gravitational force suddenly emerged.
Countless objects flew towards the huge mouth.
The terrified screams of the cultivators followed.
"Damn insect!"
An elder in the Divine Transformation stage roared and suddenlyunched a giant ice spike into the insect''s mouth.
However, the ice spike disappeared without a trace, like a mud ox into the sea.
The insect growled lowly in annoyance, and its sturdy skin suddenly opened.
Many flying insects immediately flew out.
These flying insects looked simr to it but had a pair of thin wings.
They flew nimbly in theplex environment.
In the next moment, they gathered around the Divine Transformation stage elder.
They opened their mouths, emittingyers of suction.
The Divine Transformation stage elder immediately found in horror that his blood and energy were being siphoned away!
He had no means of countering it.
Even though he killed some of the flying insects, more woulde out, sucking his blood and energy!
In the blink of an eye, a dignified Divine Transformation stage cultivator turned into a dry corpse and fell powerlessly.
This scene caused an uproar among the Shangqing Sect cultivators and the State Governor''s Office cultivators.
What kind of terrifying demon beast is this?
Even the King of Jing''s expression changed slightly, "Since when did the Ten Thousand Demon Nation have such demon beasts?"
At this moment, information shed through Wu Renyin''s mind like lightning.
He eximed, "It''s the Heavenly Silkworm Mother! The legendary terrifying demon beast!"
The King of Jing was slightly surprised, "You know this creature?"
Wu Renyin nodded, "The State Governor no, Lord Ji Quan collected a lot of information about the Ten Thousand Demon Nation."
"The fruit is the result of the first demon emperor of the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, the Qingteng Emperor."
"The Heavenly Silkworm Mother is parasitic inside the fruit."
"After the Qingteng Emperor''s death, only three fruits remained, each with a sleeping Heavenly Silkworm Mother inside."
"Once the Heavenly Silkworm Mother awakens, it will devour everything around it, regardless of whether they are humans or demons. Therefore, during his lifetime, the Qingteng Emperor dehydrated the fruits to make them fall into dormancy."
"In the past, during the founding of our Jing Kingdom, the first emperor swept across the demon tribes, driving them to the southern part of the continent. During the resistance, the demon tribes used two of the fruits, awakening two Heavenly Silkworm Mothers."
"Each time, they caused great damage to our Jing Kingdom''s cultivators."
"I thought the demon emperor Gu Ming would keep the third fruit as a trump card, but I didn''t expect him to use it so decisively here."
Wu Renyin''s face was pale.
After listening to his description, the King of Jing also turned pale.
His attempt to win hearts might have been a mistake.
He might even lose his life here.
"Damn it!"
Mo Lingxiao watched as the cultivators around him were devoured by the Heavenly Silkworm Mother, and their blood and energy were siphoned by the flying silkworms, turning them into dry corpses. He was furious.
He roared, "King of Jing, attack quickly!"
"I''ll give you whatever you want!"
The King of Jing steadied his mind, "Order the ten cloud ships to operate at full power and attack the Heavenly Silkworm Mother!"
"I don''t believe it can withstand the full power of ten cloud ships!"
"Yes!" The cultivators from the State Governor''s Office immediately responded.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The formation arrays of the ten cloud ships operated at full speed, channeling energy to their tips.
The tips instantly gathered dazzling energy.
They shone like ten small suns.
The energy condensed by the Golden Dragon Cloud Ship was even more brilliant.
It was like the sun in the human world!
The Heavenly Silkworm Mother sensed something unusual and couldn''t help but raise its head.
It stopped devouring.
It seemed to be brewing something in its mouth.
The next moment, a terrifying dark green liquid surged in the Heavenly Silkworm Mother''s mouth.
The three demon kings'' expressions changed slightly, and they growled, "All demons, activate your blood energy shields immediately!"
The demon kings andmanders reacted quickly, instantly activating their blood energy to protect themselves.
As for the lower-level demon soldiers, they had no idea what was happening and stared dumbfoundedly at the giant insect.
They had long been intimidated by the Heavenly Silkworm Mother''s immense pressure and dared not move.
At this moment, the dark green liquid in the Heavenly Silkworm Mother''s mouth umted to a point and suddenly spewed out!
Ssh!
The dark green liquid poured down like a torrential storm.
It covered hundreds of miles around the Supreme Purity Sect''s mountain gate!
Wherever the green rain passed, whether it was rocky buildings or towering trees, sizzling sounds of burning immediately emerged.
Then they were corroded at a terrifying speed!
As for the human cultivators who were stained by the green rain, there was no need to borate.
They screamed in agony.
They wished they could chop off the parts that were stained directly.
In just ten breaths'' time, many Supreme Purity Sect cultivators died as a result.
They fell to the ground, turning into scattered limbs and bodies.
Their remaining blood energy was sucked dry by the flying silkworms.
The Supreme Purity Sect cultivators suffered heavy casualties.
The demon army didn''t fare any better.
Lower-level demon soldiers almost instantly died.
As for the demonmanders, even with blood energy shields, they screamed in pain, and the stained parts were corroded madly.
Only the demon kings couldpletely resist this corrosion.
As for most of the dark green liquid, it pressed down on the ten cloud ships.
Even before it fell, the King of Jing and other cultivators could smell the foul stench it emitted!
The King of Jing''s expression changed dramatically.
Too fast!
The cloud ships'' strongest attacks hadn''t even finished gathering.
The Heavenly Silkworm Mother''s attack had already arrived.
"Block it, block it with all your might, even if you die, you must block it for me!"
The King of Jing roared, but his body instinctively retreated.
Bang, bang, bang!
Huge dark green liquid blobs hit the cloud ships'' surfaces and were immediately blocked by the formation shields.
But the formation shields dimmed instantly and shook violently after just withstanding the first wave of attacks.
The top-grade spirit stones within the formations quickly turned pale and even shattered.
Before the cultivators could rece the spirit stones.
The second wave of attacks had already arrived.
Boom, boom, boom!
The formation shields couldn''t withstand it.
They disintegrated into fragments of light.
The State Governor''s Office''s cultivators were exposed to the dark green liquid.
"Ah!"
Screams echoed continuously.
The lower-level cultivators, even if touched by just a drop or two, writhed in pain until death.
The irond cloud ships, the culmination of formation techniques, couldn''t resist such fierce attacks.
The decks were constantly corroded, and the formations were continuously destroyed.
Boom.
The first irond cloud ship could no longer bear the burden and plummeted straight to the ground.
Then the second, the third, the fourth
In the end, only the rusted, battered Golden Dragon Cloud Ship barely floated in the sky.
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Chapter 327: A Single Step into the Divine Transformation Realm, the World Shaken in an Instant
Chapter 327: A Single Step into the Divine Transformation Realm, the World Shaken in an Instant
King Jing''s expression changed drastically.
He deeply regretted his decision.
He wished he could immediately steer the Golden Dragon Cloud Vessel and flee to the ends of the earth.
As a noble prince, how could he possibly fall into the hands of the demon race?
"What should I do... Is there any way out of this?"
"Wu Renyin, you recognized this creature as the Devourer Silkworm Mother. Do you know how to deal with it?"
King Jing''s face was filled with anxiety.
He had lived a life of luxury,cking experience and tempering.
Handling ordinary matters was one thing, but when faced with a situation that directly threatened his life, he found himself utterly flustered.
Wu Renyin shook his head. "There is no way."
"Once the Devourer Silkworm Mother is awakened, it will go on a rampage, devouring everything around it until it dies from overconsumption."
"As far as I know, even the demon race has no means to control it."
"But judging by the expressions of those three demon sovereigns, they dont seem the least bit worried that the Devourer Silkworm Mother will eventually turn on them"
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"
King Jing gritted his teeth in fury.
On the ground, Mo Lingxiao was equally desperate.
He had never imagined that the Golden Dragon Cloud Vessel and the Irond Cloud Vessel would be so effortlessly destroyed by the Devourer Silkworm Mother.
That so-called culmination of array formations had crumbled like tofu, utterly defenseless.
Was the Irond Cloud Vessel simply too weak, or was the Devourer Silkworm Mother just too powerful?
Mo Lingxiao had no answer.
He knew his death was imminent.
"If my Supreme Purity Sect has suffered such a devastating assault, then the Pill River Sect and the Jade Cauldron Sect must have fared even worse."
"The three great sects of Yuzhou, locked in endless disputes, now stand on the brink of annihtion How ironic, trulyughable"
Mo Lingxiao looked up to the sky and wept.
He hated!
He hated his own shortsightedness, for failing to see through Gu Mings insidious plot.
He hated himself for focusing only on immediate gains, allowing resentment to fester between his sect and the Jade Cauldron Sect.
He hated himself for overestimating King Jings abilities and underestimating Emperor Jings cold-hearted indifference.
If he were given another chance, he would abandon all past grudges, unite the three sects, and fight the demon race together!
At that moment, two streaks of light suddenly appeared on the distant horizon, racing toward the Supreme Purity Sects gates.
A mighty Divine Transformation aura swept out in all directions without pause.
The ongoing battle came to a sudden halt as all three warring factions took notice.
The three demon sovereigns, Mo Lingxiao, King Jing, and the others instinctively turned their gaze to the sky.
There, they saw a young figure.
d in azure robes, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, his expression was resolute and unwavering.
Amidst the blood-soaked sky, he stood without fear.
It was none other than the Jade Cauldron Sects young sect masterShen Mo!
"Him? Why is he at the Supreme Purity Sect?" Mo Lingxiao was dumbfounded.
He never expected Shen Mo to still be alive.
His first thought was that Shen Mo hade to seek aid.
After all, what other reason could there be?
King Jing and Wu Renyin were also stunned. They, too, recognized Shen Mo but could not fathom his presence here.
Even sensing the Divine Transformation aura radiating from him, their immediate reaction remained the samewas he not simply rushing to his death?
The three demon sovereigns also froze at the sight of Shen Mo.
"Shen Mo? The young sect master of the Jade Cauldron Sect? Shouldnt he be holding off the eastern army led by the Fourth Prince?"
"Did he break through the encirclement and flee to the Supreme Purity Sect for reinforcements?"
"Thats absolutely ridiculous. Hes not here for aidhes here to die!"
The three demon sovereigns burst intoughter.
If they could capture Shen Mo alive and present him to Gu Ming, that would be a grand achievement!
After all, Shen Mo was someone Gu Ming himself had repeatedly praised as a supreme human genius!
Even the Devourer Silkworm Mother, which had been greedily feasting, suddenly halted and turned its gaze toward Shen Mo.
As if sensing an even more delectable feast.
Yang Qiye stared at the Devourer Silkworm Mother in horror. "What what kind of monster is that?"
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. "The Devourer Silkworm Mother. This should be thest one."
"I never expected Gu Ming to be so determined to ensure the sess of his three-pronged assault. He even unleashed something like this."
He sighed inwardly.
Gu Ming had truly nned everything meticulously.
His invasion of the Jade Cauldron Sect, the Supreme Purity Sect, and the Pill River Secteach of the three demon armies had been guaranteed absolute sess.
However, Gu Ming could never have expected that Shen Mo would be the greatest variable of all.
A single step into the Divine Transformation Realm
In an instant, the world was shaken!
"Young Sect Master, that thing looks terrifying Can you handle it?" Yang Qiye asked cautiously.
Shen Mo did not answer. Instead, he advanced calmly.
Not even the terrifying appearance and massive body of the Devourer Silkworm Mother could instill fear in him.
Before the three demon sovereigns could speak, the Devourer Silkworm Mother suddenly abandoned its feast and lunged straight at Shen Mo!
But in doing so, the demon army suffered a catastrophic fate.
The demon soldiers on the ground had no time to react before the colossal, two-hundred-zhang-long body of the Devourer Silkworm Mother barreled forward.
Except for the demon kings and a handful of the strongest demonmanders, any demon who stood in its path was instantly crushed into pulp.
The demon army had already lost half its forces under the bombardment of ten cloud ships.
Now, even more were ughtered.
Only around twenty to thirty thousand demons remained.
All of them were stricken with terror, unwilling to fight any longer.
One by one, they fled toward the forests nking the battlefield.@@novelbin@@
They were willing to die inbat. They were willing to fight for the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.
But they were not willing to die so meaninglessly.
Even the three demon sovereigns struggled to control their panicked troops, helpless as they scattered in fear.
"Good timing."
Shen Mo''s expression remained as calm as still water.
His Primordial Spirit Domain expanded in an instant.
However
Before he could even unleash his techniques, the Devourer Silkworm Mothers speed suddenly elerated to its peak.
With its massive jaws wide open, it lunged
And in one gulp, swallowed Shen Mo whole!
Its razor-sharp teeth nearly grazed Yang Qiyes nose as it passed.
The overwhelming presence of the monstrous beast left Yang Qiyes legs weak with fear.
"Shen Mo Shen Mo is dead?" he gasped in disbelief.
The three demon sovereigns froze for a momentthen burst into wildughter.
"Hah! And here I thought this so-called peerless genius would at least put up some resistance, but he was swallowed in a single bite by the Devourer Silkworm Mother!"
"Absolutely ridiculous! Hrious!"
King Jing and Mo Lingxiao had still been holding onto a shred of hope, expecting some kind of miracle.
But seeing this, their hearts sank into despair.
However
After swallowing Shen Mo, the Devourer Silkworm Mother suddenly showed signs of agony.
It was as if something inside was tearing through its flesh.
Even through its thick, chitinous hide, faint bursts of light could be seen surging within!
A few momentster
A scorching pir of fire erupted from the Devourer Silkworm Mothers back, sting straight through its body!
Dark green insect fluids sttered in all directions.
Massive chunks of flesh rained down from the sky, crushing and poisoning many of the remaining demon soldiers below.
And amidst the carnage, a strange figure emerged before the stunned crowd.
It was still Shen Mo.
However, he was now d in a half-body suit of crimson armor.
His head, chest, and right arm were encased in a seamlessyer of fiery-red ting.
The rest of his body, though not covered in armor, was surrounded by a zing red glow
A barrier that had shielded him from the corrosive stomach acids of the Devourer Silkworm Mother.
"If I had attacked from the outside, it might have taken some effort."
"But you swallowing me
That was your biggest mistake."
Shen Mos gaze remained calm as he looked at the Devourer Silkworm Mother, whose tiny eyes now reflected pure terror.
Without hesitation, he dove straight into the gaping wound he had just created!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
zing pirs of fire erupted once again inside the Devourer Silkworm Mother, tearing through its massive body in an unstoppable rampage!
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Chapter 328: Now, We Can Finally Talk Normally, King Jing
Chapter 328: Now, We Can Finally Talk Normally, King Jing
Outside the gates of the Supreme Purity Sect, the wretched screams of the Devourer Silkworm Mother echoed between heaven and earth.
Its cry was sharp and piercing.
Even with ears covered, it felt like countless needles stabbing into the mind.
The weaker disciples clutched their heads in agony, writhing on the ground.
Mo Lingxiao and the Supreme Purity Sect cultivators at the Divine Transformation Realm and above had no choice but to unleash their spiritual power to shield their disciples from the sound.
The human cultivators could still protect themselves.
But the mighty demons had no such mercy for their weaker kin.
The greatest strength of the demon race was their sheer numbers and rapid reproduction.
If one batch perished, more demon fodder would take their ce.
The demon kings could barely withstand this mind-piercing sonic assault.
But below them, including most of the demonmanders, blood gushed from all seven orifices of their faces in excruciating pain.
As for the lower-ranked demon generals and soldiers, their skulls simply burst apart, their headless corpses crashing heavily to the ground.
In this single wave of devastation, the demon army was all but annihted.
Only the three demon sovereigns, a dozen demon kings, and a handful of high-bloodline, powerful demonmanders remained.
All three factions had their gazes locked on the writhing Devourer Silkworm Mother.
The three demon sovereigns only knew how to awaken the creature
But now, they had no idea how to deal with this situation.
Moreover, the Devourer Silkworm Mother was thrashing violently.
With each convulsion, it was like a dragon awakening from slumber.
One careless move, and they might get caught in its rampage.
None of them dared to approach.
As for the cultivators of the Supreme Purity Sect and the State Governor''s Office, their eyes remained fixed on the raging firelight flickering from within the beasts body.
Hope zed within their hearts.
A low, droning hum filled the air.
Inside the Devourer Silkworm Mother, the firelight gathered madly, growing ever brighter.
It was like a miniature sun forming within its body.
At its peak
The energy of this small sun reached its absolute limit.
Then, it exploded!
Boom!
The Devourer Silkworm Mother was instantly torn apart into countless pieces of flesh and viscera.
Dark green insect fluids shot out in all directions, sttering everywhere.
The demon kings let out strange cries, scrambling backward.
But some were not so lucky
Those struck by the putrid fluids found their bodies corroded on contact, their flesh dissolving into an unsightly mess.
Even the three demon sovereigns were drenched in the foul green blood.
However, their powerful blood essence surged outward, instantly evaporating the corrosive liquid before it could cause harm.
They stared in shock at the sky, where the remnants of the Devourer Silkworm Mother rained down.
Where was Shen Mo?
Before they could find an answer, a sharp, thunderous sound echoed through the air.
And the next moment, a calm voice spoke from right behind them
"Looking for me?"
The three demon sovereigns'' eyes widened in disbelief.
They instinctively turned to strike
But Shen Mo had alreadyunched his attack.
His left hand formed a fist, his right hand an open palm.
In his left, the Heavenly me of Creationzed fiercely.
In his right, the Sr Essence meerupted.
With ruthless force, he struck forward.
The raging otherworldly mes howled through the air.
In an instant, the three demon sovereigns were engulfed.
Having spent much of their blood essence to awaken the Devourer Silkworm Mother, they had not yet fully recovered.
Now, facing such a devastating, point-nk attack, they had no means of countering it.
Surrounded by the inferno, their only option was to unleash their bloodline arts in a desperate bid for survival.
However
The moment their bloodline arts manifested, forming enormous projections of blood energy
They were instantly incinerated by the raging mes.
They had no chance to resist!
"Die!"
Shen Mo raised his right hand and clenched his fist.
The red and golden mes converged rapidly, pulling inward.
"Ahh!"
Three agonized screams pierced the air.
Three charred corpses plummeted from the sky, lifeless.
The cultivators of the Supreme Purity Sect and the State Governors Office were left speechless!
Mo Lingxiao, King Jing, and Wu Renyin were utterly shaken!
None of them had imagined
That Shen Mo had already reached such an overwhelming level of power.
First, he had burrowed into the Devourer Silkworm Mother and obliterated it from within.
And with a single strike, he slew the three demon sovereigns!
Did he possess limitless spiritual power?
How could he withstand such an overwhelming expenditure of energy?
Whoosh.
With a flicker, Shen Mo appeared atop the Golden Dragon Cloud Vessel.
"King Jing, its been a while." Shen Mos expression was calm.
The aura of a Divine Transformation cultivator radiated from him without restraint, surging in all directions.
Moreover, he had just in the Devourer Silkworm Motherand three demon sovereigns.
His presence alone carried lingering dominance.
Even if he wasnt actively unleashing his Divine Transformation aura, it was enough to make peoples legs go weak with fear.
King Jings face turned deathly pale.
What was happening?
One moment, this man had been hundreds of zhang away.
The next, he was standing right before him.
Did this not mean that killing him would take no more than a flick of a finger?
Wu Renyins face was just as bloodless.
Yet, he still fulfilled his duty as a bodyguard.
Gripping his weapon tightly, he stepped in front of King Jing.
"Please step back," Wu Renyin gritted his teeth, bearing the full force of Shen Mos unrestrained Divine Transformation aura.
The pressure Shen Mo exuded was like a waterfall weighing thousands of tons, relentlessly crashing down on his body.
As though it sought to strip the flesh and skin from his bones
To reduce him to nothing but a stark-white skeleton.
"A full realm of difference in power, yet you still dare to stand and protect your lord. Admirable courage."
Shen Mos voice remained indifferent as he casually waved his hand.
Wu Renyin was sent flying like a ragdoll.
He was nothing more than a flimsy puppet in Shen Mos grasp.
He was flung hundreds of zhang away, crashing into the dense forest below.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two Divine Transformation cultivators instantly positioned themselves beside King Jing, gritting their teeth as they red at Shen Mo.
These were King Jings most powerful guards.
They normally remained hidden, only revealing themselves in dire situations.
"Two mid-stage Divine Transformation cultivators. You are no match for me." Shen Mo shook his head.
The Divine Transformation cultivator on the left clenched his jaw. "What kind of monster are you? You just stepped into the Divine Transformation Realm, yet you wield such terrifying strength! Have you been possessed by a demon?!"
Shen Mo chuckled. "With your limited knowledge, I suppose possession is the only exnation you can think of."
"Attack together! We cant let him harm King Jing!" the right-side Divine Transformation cultivator roared.
Both of them lunged at the same time.
Their Primordial Spirit Domainsunfolded simultaneously.
The cultivator on the left summoned a domain of flowing water, transforming all iing attacks into water-based constructs that surged toward Shen Mo.
The cultivator on the right enveloped the Golden Dragon Cloud Vesselin a thick ck mist.
His own figure dissolved into the haze, vanishing without a trace.
"This is the first time Ive seen the Primordial Spirit Domainsof other Divine Transformation cultivators."
"Interesting
Butpletely useless."
Shen Mo shook his head.
Against absolute power, all shy techniques were nothing more than meaningless disys.
He, too, unfolded his Primordial Spirit Domain.
His Twin Extremities Swordsoared into the air, unleashing a torrential surge of gray sword energy, covering all directions.
"Ahh!"
A pained scream echoed.
The ck mist instantly dissipated.
The right-side Divine Transformation cultivator was flung backward, a long, deep gash carved into his chest, nearly exposing his internal organs.
Shen Mo raised his fist and struck again.
The Red Lotus meerupted in an overwhelming surge.
The water constructs within the left-side cultivators domain instantly evaporated into steam, dispersing into the sky.
The left-side Divine Transformation cultivators eyes widened in shock.
Before he could react, the Red Lotus mestruck him in the chest.
His entire front was instantly charred ck, his injuries horrific and irreversible.
Clearly, he was no longer fit to fight.
Watching the two Divine Transformation cultivators copse in mere moments@@novelbin@@
The other cultivators from the State Governors Office didnt even dare to step forward.
Ovee with fear, they dropped to their knees, trembling.
Shen Mo took a step forward, his gaze settling upon the young prince.
"Now, we can finally have a proper conversation, King Jing."
He smiled slightly.
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Chapter 329: Don’t Say You Dare Not Refuse Me—Even the Emperor Doesn’t Dare
Chapter 329: Don''t Say You Dare Not Refuse MeEven the Emperor Doesn''t Dare
King Jing wanted to laugh.
But his smile was uglier than crying.
"Shen Mo Daoist Shen, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Do you realize that opposing me means opposing His Majesty Emperor Jiang and the entire Jing Kingdom?"
His voice carried forced authority, but there was fear beneath it.
Shen Mo chuckled. "I dont like being threatened. Youd best not try that."
"Besides, youre not even qualified to be my enemy. As for your claim that opposing you means opposing the entire Jing Kingdom you are not the emperor."
King Jing clenched his teeth but said nothing more.
Shen Mo turned toward the gates of Supreme Purity Sect and called out loudly, "Sect Master Mo, no need to keep watching. Come up and speak."
In an instant, countless eyes turned toward Mo Lingxiao.
Mo Lingxiao sighed softly before stepping onto the Golden Dragon Cloud Vessel, standing face to face with Shen Mo.
He already had a vague idea of what Shen Mo was going to say.
Shen Mo spoke calmly, "Ill make it simple.
Including this front, all three of the demon armies have been completely annihilated."
Both Mo Lingxiao and King Jing froze, their faces filled with shock.
"Completely annihilated?!"
They exchanged bewildered glances.
This was beyond belief.
Shen Mo remained indifferent. "I''m just here to inform you.
From now on, Supreme Purity Sect and Pill River Sect will be merged into Jade Cauldron Sect.
The Yuzhou Governor''s Office will remain, but the governor will be the Sect Master of Jade Cauldron Sect.
As for you, King Jingyou may return to where you came from."
After these words, Mo Lingxiao and King Jing fell silent, struggling to process what they had just heard.
Mo Lingxiao did not speak first.
His stance was irrelevantwhat mattered was King Jings reaction.
King Jing took a deep breath.
"Shen Mo, do you even understand what you''re saying?"
"My imperial brother has spent twenty years carefully planning to bring the kingdom''s sects under complete control."
"The first step is to eliminate the fragmented rule of sects in Yuzhou and bring the entire province under the imperial court."
"But now, you say that Jade Cauldron Sect will absorb Supreme Purity Sect and Pill River Sect, and you tell me to leave?"
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
His eyes locked onto Shen Mo, searching for an answer.
He didnt dare agree.
He had no idea how the Emperor would react if he accepted this.
Shen Mo replied nonchalantly, "Jing Kingdom consists of nine provinces. Except for Wu Province, which lacks sects, the other seven provinces already have a dominant major sect."
"What those seven sects are doingI am doing the same."
From Emperor Jiangs perspective, he wanted all sects to bow before him and rule the kingdom unchallenged.
That was natural.
From Shen Mos perspective, he needed to ensure his own security.
Thus, he had to unite the three sects and solidify Yuzhou, making Jade Cauldron Sect an equal power to those seven great sectsand, in turn, stand against the Emperor.
Neither side was right or wrong.
It all depended on perspective.
"What if I refuse?" King Jings voice was tight, his jaw clenched.
Even his breath carried a chill.
Shen Mos eyes grew cold.
"When the Demon Nation launched its invasion, why did the Yuzhou Governor''s Office fail to immediately send reinforcements?"
"Why did they allow Yuzhou''s people to suffer?"
"Why did they wait until Supreme Purity Sect was on the brink of destruction before showing up at a leisurely pace?"
"Do you and Emperor Jiang think I can''t see your intentions? Do you think the people of Yuzhou are blind?"
"Meanwhile, Jade Cauldron Sect and I personally stood against the demons! We are the heroesthe ones who saved this land!"
"Don''t say you dont dare refuse me
Even Emperor Jiang himself wouldnt dare refuse me!"
By the time he finished speaking, his gaze was ice-cold.
If King Jing dared to reject him, Shen Mo would kill him on the spot.
That deadly aura was so intense that even Mo Lingxiao felt a chill run down his spine.
King Jing shuddered.
He was merely at the Nascent Soul stage.
He had lived a luxurious life, always enjoying comfort and privilege.
Moments ago, he could still rely on his royal status and invoke the Emperors name to suppress Shen Mo.
But now, with Shen Mo revealing his fangs, he immediately lost all composure.
"I I will report this to my imperial brother."
King Jing stared deeply at Shen Mo before speaking.
Shen Mo smiled.
The killing intent vanished instantlyas if it had never been there.
"Sect Master Mo, you may disembark. The King is leaving." Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Shen Mo said with a lighthearted chuckle.
"Ah yes, yes."
Mo Lingxiao could only nod along.
As soon as the two disembarked, the Golden Dragon Cloud Vessel sped away at its fastest possible speed.
As if Shen Mo were some kind of peerless beast.
Of course, the vessel was already riddled with holes.
Even though it was pushing itself to its absolute limit, it was still painfully slow.
On the ground, Mo Lingxiao cupped his hands toward Shen Mo and bowed deeply.
"Daoist Shen, from today onward, Supreme Purity Sect will be merged into Jade Cauldron Sect. I, Mo Lingxiao, swear upon my Nascent Soul that I will remain loyal and harbor no treachery."
Shen Mo gave a slight nod.
Swearing upon one''s Nascent Soul was a solemn and binding oath.
Breaking such an oath would halt one''s cultivation entirely.
Though there were secret methods to bypass it, they were exceedingly difficult to practice and would significantly shorten one''s lifespan.
No one would take such risks unless absolutely desperate.
Clearly, Mo Lingxiao had seen the vast difference in power between them and dared not harbor any disloyalty.
"Elder Yang, you will remain here to help Supreme Purity Sect clean up the battlefield and handle the sect''s integration matters." Shen Mo spoke calmly.
"Yes, yes, of course!" Yang Qiye nodded so vigorously that it looked like he was pounding garlic, afraid that any delay might anger Shen Mo.
"Sect Master Mo, come with me." Shen Mo said.
"Where are we going?" Mo Lingxiao felt a tightness in his chest.
His strength was clearly inferior to Shen Mo''s.
Hearing such words, immense pressure instantly settled upon him.
Shen Mo replied, "To Ironstone Valley."
"There are still quite a few Divine Transformation cultivators from both sects trapped there."
"After such a great battle, Yuzhou is already in ruinsthere is no need for further bloodshed."
"Besides, I have no patience for long-winded explanations."
Mo Lingxiao let out a sigh of relief.
So it was just that.
Nearly scared me to death.
But deep down, he couldn''t help muttering to himself.
You have no patience to explain, so you want me to do it?
I am still a sect master, you know
Well, not for much longer.
Might as well accept my fate.
Several days later, they arrived at Ironstone Valley.
The Blood Fiend Chaos Formation was incredibly difficult to break.
So Shen Mo simply blasted it apart with brute force.
As for the traitors within, he left none alive.
The freed cultivators still had bloodshot eyes, their hearts filled with murderous intentso Shen Mo simply knocked them unconscious.
Nascent Soul cultivators were barely able to resist the killing auras control, and after much persuasion from Mo Lingxiao, they finally accepted reality.
But after this battle, Ironstone Valley was littered with corpses.
The remains of both Supreme Purity Sect and Jade Cauldron Sect disciples lay everywhereit was a ghastly sight.
"You may return. If anything comes up, find Li Zhendao at Jade Cauldron Sect."
Shen Mo said to Mo Lingxiao, his tone indifferent.
Mo Lingxiao nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, I understand."
The cultivators who had gradually regained control over their minds watched in shock.
The mighty Sect Master of Supreme Purity Sect, standing before Shen Mo, was acting so humble.
Anyone who didnt know better would think Shen Mo was a legendary Divine Palace Realm expert.
As Shen Mo and the Jade Cauldron Sect cultivators disappeared into the horizon, Mo Lingxiao let out a bitter laugh.
"Let''s go. Once we return, I''ll explain everything."
"Even if you dont believe it I myself still feel like Im dreaming."
In the dense forest outside Supreme Purity Sect, Wu Renyin struggled to stand.
He gazed at the empty sky and let out a self-mocking laugh.
"Loyalty and devotion, yet my lord abandoned me."
"Instead of wasting my life serving the court, I might as well head to Wu Provinceperhaps I can save a few more innocent lives"
With staggering steps, he turned southward, heading toward the land of exiles.
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Chapter 330: Why Didn’t You Die in Yuzhou? Why Did You Return Alive?
Jade Cauldron Sect, Grand Hall.
Li Zhendao sat at the head of the hall, with the Grand Elder, Third Elder, and Eighth Elder occupying their respective seats.
Aside from Li Zhendao, the other three were covered in injuries, but despite this, their conversation was filled with joy.
"Sect Master, no matter how I think about it, I still cant believe it. The Young Sect Master has just stepped into the Divine Transformation Realm, yet he already possesses such overwhelming strength. When you told me about everything that happened, I kept feeling like I was still in a dream." The Third Elder sighed deeply.
"Youre not alone. Even I feel like Im dreaming." Li Zhendao chuckled at himself. "A dream of uniting Yuzhou."
The Grand Elder laughed. "As of now, our sect is undoubtedly the strongest force in Yuzhou."
The Eighth Elder nodded repeatedly. "The Tenth Elder has already sent wordPill River Sect has only Hai Qiankun and two Divine Transformation Elders left."
"The Second Elder also sent newsSupreme Purity Sect has only Mo Lingxiao and three Divine Transformation Elders remaining."
Li Zhendaos eyes gleamed with excitement. "Meanwhile, our Jade Cauldron Sect still has five Divine Transformation cultivators!"
"Not only do we have the Young Sect Master, who possesses unparalleled strength despite just stepping into Divine Transformation, but we also have our guardian''s hidden trump card!" Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
The Grand Elder, Third Elder, and Eighth Elder were all thrilled.
The three major sects of Yuzhou had been entangled for far too long.
Sometimes they fought.
Sometimes they cooperated.
But never before had there been such an overwhelming disparity in power.
Now, for the first time in a thousand years, Yuzhou was on the verge of unification!
Each of them shared the same thought.
All of this was possible because of Shen Mo!
Tap.
Footsteps echoed through the hall.
Shen Mo strode in with a confident, steady pace.
He smiled. "Apologies for being late."
After rescuing the Third Elder, Eighth Elder, and the other Jade Cauldron Sect disciples from Ironstone Valley, Shen Mo had immediately returned to the sect, but he had taken a brief moment to assess his gains before arriving.
That had delayed him slightly.
"No worries at all! Waiting for you is only natural." Li Zhendao laughed heartily.
"Exactly! You''re the one who did all the work, while we barely lifted a finger." The Grand Elder looked at the young Shen Mo with deep admiration.
Shen Mo nodded. "In that case, lets discuss the next steps."
"I wont be giving opinionsspeak freely."
With that, he took his seat.
Li Zhendao and the other three elders nodded vigorously.
Shen Mo had originally not planned to attend this meeting.
But Li Zhendao and the elders insisted on his presence.
Even if he didnt contribute to the discussion, he had to listen from start to finish.
This wasnt like the passive observation of the past.
Shen Mos status had completely changed.
At this point, even if Shen Mo wanted to take the position of Sect Master, Li Zhendao would step down without hesitation.
Yuzhous current situation was almost entirely Shen Mos doing.
With so many crucial topics at handthe merging of the three sects, diplomacy with the Seven Great Sects, resistance against Jing Kingdom, and dealing with the Demon Nationthey needed Shen Mo to be present.
Only then could they discuss matters without worry.
If Shen Mo disagreed with any decision they made, it could spell disaster for them.
That was a risk they could not afford.
The heated discussion began.
When Divine Transformation cultivators spoke at full speed, their communication was incredibly fast.
Glances, words, gestureseverything blurred into a rapid exchange of ideas.
If a Nascent Soul cultivator were here, they wouldnt even be able to keep up with the conversation, let alone participate.
Shen Mo sat calmly to the side, effortlessly splitting his focus
Listening to their debate while continuing to examine his recent spoils.
His storage ring was already filled with all kinds of treasures.
First and foremost were the corpses of various demon clan sovereigns.
There were now ten such bodies in total.
Whether for forging spiritual weapons or using secret arts to refine puppets, they were top-tier materials.
Next was a fragment of the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique, found within Crown Prince Xiang Jues storage shell.
This fragment contained the method for cultivating the fourth layer.
Then, there was the ancient giant elephants blood within Xiang Jues body.
There was only a small vial, but it should be enough for Shen Mo to awaken the strength of one hundred giant elephants and master the Immovable Saint King''s Physique.
Finally, there was an assortment of rare spiritual treasures.
Xiang Jue, Yuan Kong, and Ao Shengeach of them had amassed vast collections of heavenly materials within their storage shells.
Though the individual quality of these materials was mediocre, their sheer quantity was staggeringpiling up like mountains.
For example, Blood God Flowers, which only grew deep within the Demon Nation, were known for accelerating the refinement of blood energy.
Xiang Jues storage shell contained three thousand of them.
As for Blood God Wine, brewed from these flowers and refined to the highest grade of Earth-Tier, there were three full vats.
These were likely Xiang Jues private reserve.
Now, they belonged to Shen Mo.
Another rare material, Coral Gold, only found in the deepest parts of the ocean, could greatly enhance the growth of aquatic demon beasts.
Ao Shengs storage shell contained two thousand jin of it.
Of course, this was of no use to Shen Mo, but it could fetch a high price in trade.
There were plenty of cultivators willing to pay handsomely to use it for nurturing their own spirit beasts.
Besides these, Shen Mo had also memorized the hidden fortunes left behind by Xiang Jue, Yuan Kong, Ao Sheng, and Xiao Fan.
There were six in total.
Each of these opportunities was concealed somewhere in Yuzhou, Wuzhou, the Eastern Seas, or the Demon Nation, waiting for a fated person to discover them.
But as someone who adhered to the philosophy of diligence and frugality, Shen Mo couldnt let such treasures go to waste.
Thus, he could only reluctantly accept them one by one.
However, because these fortunes were spread out over vast distances, some of them would only manifest at specific times.
It was impossible to claim them all at oncehe would have to collect them gradually.
That wasnt a concern, though.
With his current strength, unless ancient beings like Gu Ming or the Sword Sovereign personally intervened, no one could stand in his way.
"First, Ill refine the Ancient Giant Elephants Blood and awaken the strength of one hundred elephants."
After issuing orders that he was entering seclusion, Shen Mo immediately retreated into an underground cavern beneath Dragon Snake Mountain, where he began a long period of cultivation.
Longzhou, Jing Kingdoms Imperial Capital.
This city was the grandest and most ancient within Jing Kingdom.
It was from this very place that the first human emperor of Jing Kingdom had set forth, sweeping across the demon clans and establishing the realm of mankind.
The suffering and devastation in Yuzhouits lands drenched in blood and littered with corpsesdid not disturb the capitals endless festivities.
Even the looming invasion of the Demon Nation, a million miles away, did not interrupt the hedonistic pleasures of the nobles.
The decay of Jing Kingdom flowed quietly through the alleys of the capital, hidden behind laughter and indulgence, corroding more souls with each passing moment.
At the heart of the capital stood a magnificent imperial palace.
From its highest point, one could overlook the entire city, as well as the mountains and rivers beyond.
At this moment, two figures stood atop this highest platform.
Their appearances bore a striking resemblance.
However, the man at the front stood with his hands clasped behind his back, clad in a five-clawed golden dragon robe, his sharp gaze filled with imperial dominance.
The man behind him kept his head lowered, dressed in a python robe, his heart filled with fear.
King Jing did not dare to lift his head.
Because he had no idea what his elder brother, Emperor Jing, was thinking.
The more calm the emperor seemed, the more it meant that his rage had already reached its peak.
After a long silence, Emperor Jing finally spoke, his voice icy and slow.
"Why didnt you die in Yuzhou?"
"If you had died for the nation, I would have enshrined your spirit in the Grand Ancestral Temple, granting you eternal reverence from our royal lineage."
"Why, then, have you returned alive?"
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Chapter 331: Shen Mo, It’s Time for You to Compromise with Me
Chapter 331: Shen Mo, Its Time for You to Compromise with Me
Upon hearing these words, King Jing shuddered.
He was terrified.
Emperor Jings words were certainly not meant as a kindness.
He had never been someone who faced death fearlessly.
The higher his status, the greater his fear of death.
The more he had, the less willing he was to let it go.
Royal Brother King Jing whispered.
Emperor Jing turned around, revealing an icy expression.
His appearance was not particularly striking.
But his eyeshis eyes seemed to pierce straight into ones heart, seeing through to the deepest layers of fear within King Jing.
King Jing had just started to lift his head, but the moment he met Emperor Jings gaze, he instantly lowered it again.
Even his neck instinctively shrank back.
So cowardly.
How could I have a younger brother like you?
From this day forward, you are stripped of your princely stipend for ten years. Go to the Sutra Repository and reflect upon your mistakes for a decade.
Emperor Jings voice remained cold.
Yet, upon hearing these words, King Jing let out a long sigh of relief.
After all, they were brothers of the same father and mother.
Emperor Jing would not kill him.
Yes, I will strictly follow Royal Brothers orders. King Jing nodded repeatedly, hastily taking small steps to retreat.
Once King Jing had left, Emperor Jing turned back, clasped his hands behind his back, and continued gazing over the prosperous capital.
Beneath its surface prosperity, how much corruption and hidden turbulence lay in waitonly he knew.
The Ten Thousand Demons Nation, the Flood Dragon Palace, and the Suppressing Demon Sea.
Any of these forces could bring down this nation that had endured for millennia.
No matter what, he could not be the empires last ruler.
Emperor Jing raised a hand and lightly tapped the jade pendant at his waist.
A shadow-shrouded figure abruptly appeared in the corner of the room.
Its speed was ghostly, nearly imperceptible.
How is the situation in Yuzhou? Emperor Jing asked calmly.
The shadow responded in an emotionless voice, The Jade Cauldron Sect has begun absorbing the remnants of the Shangqing Sect, Pill River Sect, and the Governors forces to restore order.
Shen Mos feat of annihilating the three invading armies of the Ten Thousand Demons Nation has spread far and wide across Yuzhou. Both the common folk and mages in Yuzhou hold great reverence for Shen Mo and the Jade Cauldron Sect.
What of the Seven Great Sects? Emperor Jing asked again.
The shadow replied, The Qianyuan Sect of Qianzhou and the Poseidon Island of Haizhou have both sent delegations to Yuzhou to offer their regards.
As for the Great Snow Palace of Hanzhou, the Holy Spirit Sect of Cangzhou, the Tianhe Sect of Jiangzhou, the Frenzied Blade Alliance of Mozhou, and the Shadowless Pavilion of Longzhouthere has been no response.
What about the Four Seas Flood Dragons? Emperor Jing continued.
The shadow answered, The Eastern Sea Flood Dragons and their kin are enraged, eager to take revenge on land, but they dare not act due to the Sword Sovereigns deterrence.
The Northern Sea Flood Dragons, as always, remain aloof and indifferent.
The Western Sea Flood Dragons, deeply connected with the Ten Thousand Demons Nation, appear to be mobilizing forces to attack Mozhou and Qianzhou.
The Southern Sea Flood Dragons, who harbor deep enmity toward the Ten Thousand Demons Nation, were delighted to hear that Ao Sheng of the Eastern Sea had aided the demons. They used this opportunity to invade the Ten Thousand Demons Nations heartland, wiping out several smaller tribes and seizing a significant amount of resources.
Emperor Jing nodded slightly and posed his final question. What of the Suppressing Demon Sea?
The shadow hesitated momentarily. No changes. The long-distance transmissions from the Suppressing Demon Sea remain normal.
Emperor Jing nodded. Go carry out your tasks.
Yes. The shadow nodded and vanished in an instant.
Frowning in contemplation, Emperor Jing muttered to himself, The Ten Thousand Demons Nations Crown Prince and Fourth Prince are both dead. A million-strong army of demons has been obliterated. When Gu Ming emerges from the Blood Gods Vault, he will undoubtedly be furious.
That will be the truly terrifying moment.
At that time, I may have no choice but to compromise with the sects. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
But even in compromise, there are choiceswho to yield to, who to win over, and who to suppress under the guise of leniency
In five years, Gu Mings first target will inevitably be the Jade Cauldron Sect in Yuzhou. Without support from the Seven Great Sects and the imperial court, the Jade Cauldron Sect will still be hanging by a thread.
Emperor Jing leaned against the railing, gazing southward, and spoke calmly, Shen Mo, its time for you to compromise with me!
...
Three months later, at the Jade Cauldron Sect, Dragon Snake Mountain.
Several figures soared through the air.
Leading the group was Wan Muchun, an elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
The four individuals accompanying him, however, were unfamiliar faces.
To Wan Muchuns left were an elderly man with white hair and a vigorous spirit, and a delicate-looking young man.
To his right were a stern-faced old woman and a youth who walked with the commanding presence of a dragon and tiger.
So this is Dragon Snake Mountain? It doesnt seem to be a particularly blessed land of nature and spirit energy. Why would your sects young sect master choose to train here? the elderly man on the left asked in puzzlement.
Wan Muchun chuckled. The young sect master rose to prominence in this place and has grown accustomed to training here.
After speaking, he suddenly recalled something and added, By the way, the four of you should remember to protect your ears, or you might be startled.
The young sect master is practicing a technique that causes a primordial beasts roar to erupt from within him every few daysit is quite awe-inspiring.
If you arent mentally prepared, it could easily shake your spirit.
As soon as Wan Muchun finished speaking, the four visitors chuckled.
The young man laughed heartily. Elder Wan, I, Shi Jingtian, have fought against sea beasts and water demons in the ocean since childhood, relying only on my physical strength. What kind of beasts roar could possibly frighten me?
The other youth said nothing, but a hint of disdain flashed across his face.
The elderly man and old woman exchanged smiles. Rest assured, Elder Wan, these two are our chosen successors. Their talents are in no way inferior to your sects young sect master. A mere beastly roar wont startle them.
Wan Muchun smiled helplessly. Alright then, follow me.
Inwardly, he muttered,
The five quickly descended near the dwellings on the mountainside of Dragon Snake Mountain.
Mei Haihe and the others noticed their arrival and hurried forward.
Elder Wan, these guests are? he asked in confusion.
Though they were unfamiliar faces, each one exuded an astonishing presence.
Wan Muchun smiled. These four are honored guests from the Qianyuan Sect of Qianzhou and Poseidon Island of Haizhou. They have come specifically to meet our young sect master.
Steward Mei, is the young sect master still training?
Mei Haihe nodded. Hes in the wasteland. I dare not approach. Elder Wan, you should take our esteemed guests there.
Wan Muchun nodded with a smile. Alright.
After clasping his hands in farewell, he led the four guests toward the wasteland.
However, just as they took off
A deafening, earth-shattering roar suddenly erupted!
It was as if a hundred ancient, primeval beasts had stepped out from the depths of history.
The roar resounded across the stars!
It shook the heavens and the earth!
In that instant, the four visitors were forcibly reminded of an era when humanity was still in its infancysurrounded by countless primordial and prehistoric beasts, teetering on the brink of extinction.
That deep-seated terror, buried within their very blood, was suddenly unearthed and surged through their limbs.
Their scalps tingled with chills!
Wan Muchun, having heard it many times before, was unfazed. He simply turned around with a grin and looked at the four guests.
The elderly man and old woman were the first to shake off their fear. Seeing Wan Muchuns amused expression, they immediately realized they had lost their composure.
It took another ten breaths for the young men to recover.
Yet the lingering fear on their faces had not entirely faded.
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Chapter 332: Shen Mo, Shen Mo, Am I Impressive or What?
Chapter 332: Shen Mo, Shen Mo, Am I Impressive or What?
Wan Muchun chuckled and said, Dont worry. Listen a few more times, and youll get used to it.
The stewards and disciples of Dragon Snake Mountain hear this every few days, so its nothing unusual to them.
Look, they barely react at all.
The four of them turned to observe the cultivators of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Sure enough.
These people acted as if nothing had happened and continued with their tasks as usual.
The young man felt deeply ashamed.
He was the dignified young master of Poseidon Island, possessing peak Nascent Soul cultivation, on the verge of breaking through to Divine Transformation at any time.
Yet, he had been outperformed by these low-level Core Formation and Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The young man beside him also looked a little embarrassed.
As the esteemed young sect master of the Qianyuan Sect, a once-in-a-generation genius expected to reach Divine Transformation before the age of fifty, it was rare for him to lose composure like this!
Please, follow me, Wan Muchun said with a laugh, his mood evidently lifted.
The four quickly curbed their arrogance and hurried after him.
On the wasteland of Dragon Snake Mountain, Shen Mo stood bare-chested, his muscular physique fully revealed.
Sweat poured from his body, soaking his pants and boots.
Even the surrounding sand and soil had become unusually damp.
Within his body, the roars of ancient beasts were growing wilder and more intense.
It was as if a terrifying primordial beast was about to break free from his flesh and manifest in this world.
Every time such a roar echoed, all the demon beasts of Dragon Snake Mountainwhether in the air, on land, or in waterwould instantly fall silent, not daring to make a single move.
A hundred meters away, a woman in elegant palace attire stood quietly, watching him with a calm gaze.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with deep affection.
Before long, an exceptionally loud beastly roar erupted from within Shen Mo.
It was as if a newborn creature had broken through its shell.
Shen Mos eyes snapped open, his heart surging with boundless joy.
He did it!
He had successfully refined the blood of the eldest imperial princes ancient giant elephant, awakening the power of a hundred colossal elephants!
With this, he had reached the second stage of the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique.
A strange flow of information naturally surfaced in his mind.
It was the method for cultivating the Immovable Sacred King Body.
Murong Yues eyes shimmered as she gracefully stepped forward, taking out a towel to wipe the sweat from his face and chest.
Although powerful cultivators could instantly evaporate their sweat using spiritual energy, keeping themselves impeccably clean at all times
Shen Mo chose not to.
Instead, he let Murong Yue wipe him down, just as a wife would care for her husband.
After all, if spiritual energy was used for everything, wouldnt life lose much of its enjoyment?
Just as Shen Mo was about to test the strength of his Immovable Sacred King Body, he suddenly sensed five approaching presences.
Four of them were unfamiliar.
Though their strength was mediocre.
At most, he could eliminate them in two moves.
However, unfamiliar presences appearing in Dragon Snake Mountain was never a good sign.
Shen Mo immediately turned toward the direction of the incoming group.
His spiritual energy and blood essence tensed, ready to unleash a strike at any moment.
But before he could make a move, Wan Muchun hurriedly called out from afar, Shen Mo! Young Sect Master! No, nodont attack! They are guests from Qianyuan Sect and Poseidon Island!
Upon hearing this, Shen Mo finally relaxed his guard slightly.
Two months ago, Li Zhendao had already informed him about this.
The Qianyuan Sect from Qianzhou and Poseidon Island from Haizhou had heard about what happened in Yuzhou. They had sent messages from tens of thousands of miles away, expressing their intention to visit and offer resources to help rebuild Yuzhou.
Regardless of their true motives, the fact that they were offering supplies for free deserved some recognition.
As for their visit to Dragon Snake Mountain, they were likely here to assess his potential and strength as the future sect master of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
And, of course, to witness firsthand the man who had annihilated two imperial princes of the Myriad Demon Nation and a million-strong demon army.
In front of the five visitors, Shen Mo casually took a long blue robe from Murong Yues hands and draped it over himself.
Welcome. I am Shen Mo, the young sect master of the Jade Cauldron Sect. And this is my master, Murong Yue.
Shen Mo cupped his hands slightly toward them in greeting.
The elderly man and woman exchanged glances, their eyes moving between Shen Mo and Murong Yue.
With their vast experience, they immediately understood the nature of the relationship between the two and couldn''t help but smile knowingly.
A romantic bond between master and disciple wasnt uncommon.
At their level of cultivation, the concept of age difference became almost meaningless.
After all, who wasnt just a five-hundred-year-old "young fairy"?
And who wasnt a nine-hundred-year-old "fresh-faced youth"?
A cultivators appearance was nothing more than an illusion, only revealing signs of age when their lifespan neared its end and their spiritual energy was exhausted.
But if one was fortunate enough to ascend to a higher realm, they could extend their lifespan once againinstantly transforming from a decrepit elder into a figure brimming with vitality.
The four visitors then introduced themselves one by one.
Through this, Shen Mo learned their names and identities.
The white-haired elderOuyang Lang, the fourth island master of Poseidon Island.
The passionate young manShi Jingtian, the young master of Poseidon Island.
The strict elderly womanTong Yuan, the third elder of Qianyuan Sect.
The cold and aloof youthDu Cangqing, the young sect master of Qianyuan Sect.
Shi Jingtian''s eyes burned with excitement. "Shen Mo, what technique do you practice? I can sense that, like me, you also cultivate a blood energy technique!"
"Am I right? Am I right? I guessed correctly, didnt I?"
At his words, Ouyang Lang, Tong Yuan, and Du Cangqing all raised their eyebrows slightly.
The existence of two primary cultivation pathsspiritual energy cultivation and blood energy cultivationwas common knowledge.
However, cultivating both simultaneously required extraordinary talent, immense endurance, vast resources, and ample time.
Very few humans or demons could master both.
It was said that the ancient Demon Emperor Gu Ming was the first and greatest being to successfully cultivate both paths.
But those who attempted dual cultivation and succeeded were exceedingly rare.
Most practitioners who attempted it would eventually hit a bottleneck, unable to progress further.
Either their blood energy would suppress their spiritual energy, or their spiritual energy would overpower their blood energy.
In the end, instead of complementing each other, the two forces would become an obstacle to one another.
Shen Mo smiled slightly.
This young man was rather perceptivehe had instantly recognized the similarity in their energies.
"You''re right. I practice a blood energy technique."
Shi Jingtian exclaimed in admiration, "Thats incredible! My cultivation technique is the Whale Devouring the Sea Art, and Ive already reached the peak of the fifth level. Every time I advance, I can hear the call of a giant whale echoing in my body."
"But I can tell that your technique is even more powerful than mine."
"The beastly roars erupting from your body are terrifying, even to me."
Shen Mo simply smiled without responding.
Ouyang Lang hurriedly covered Shi Jingtians mouth and coughed awkwardly. "Apologies. The young master likes to exaggerate. In truth, he hasnt quite reached the peak of the fifth level yet."
Shi Jingtian made muffled protest sounds, but Ouyang Lang kept his grip firm, rendering him unable to speak.
Murong Yue couldn''t help but cover her mouth and laugh softly.
This Shi Jingtian was clearly a walking information leak.
Without realizing it, he had revealed the true extent of his strength.
Among the seven great sects, everyone knew each others general capabilities.
By openly stating that he had reached the peak of the fifth level of Whale Devouring the Sea Art, other sects could immediately infer the cards he had up his sleeve.
That was hardly a good thing.
Shen Mo also found himself amused.
This young man was quite entertaining.
"Enough talking!" Ouyang Lang warned.
"Not saying anything" Shi Jingtian struggled to reply.
Only then did Ouyang Lang release him.
Shi Jingtian took a deep breath and then burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Actually, not only have I reached the peak of the fifth level of Whale Devouring the Sea Art, but Ive also cultivated the Titan Overseeing the Seas Scroll, a heaven-tier martial art, up to the third level! Shen Mo, Shen Mo, am I impressive or what? Mmmph!"
Before he could finish, Ouyang Lang swiftly covered his mouth again.
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Chapter 333: What Gives the Jade Cauldron Sect the Right to Lead?
Chapter 333: What Gives the Jade Cauldron Sect the Right to Lead?
Ouyang Lang once again covered Shi Jingtians mouth.
Shi Jingtian struggled desperately, his face turning red, but he was powerless against the restraint of a Divine Transformation realm cultivator.
Ouyang Lang smiled awkwardly. Apologies, everyone. Our young master is just like thishe enjoys boasting. I hope youll all understand.
Everyone let out a dry cough.
Enough already.
Your young master just exposed every single one of his trump cards.
At this rate, once he becomes island master, Poseidon Island might as well be renamed Leak Island. Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
After a brief moment, Ouyang Lang whispered something into Shi Jingtians ear before finally letting go.
He then wiped his hand, looking slightly disgusted by the saliva.
Strangely enough, just moments ago, Shi Jingtian had been eager to spill everything. Now, however, he was completely silent.
He forcibly swallowed back whatever he had been about to say.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. Elder Ouyang, what did you tell him?
Ouyang Lang chuckled. Nothing much. I just told him that if he leaks any more of Poseidon Islands secrets, he wont be allowed to set foot in the sea for the next ten years.
Shen Mo couldnt help but laugh.
Shi Jingtian had grown up in the ocean, constantly battling sea beasts and water demons.
Forbidding him from entering the sea for ten years? That was probably worse than killing him.
Lets not waste time with small talk. Weve already reported the situation to Sect Master Li, but we felt it was necessary to also inform you directly, Tong Yuan said calmly.
After all, in our eyes, you are the one who is truly suited to be sect master.
Shen Mo smiled. Go ahead.
Tong Yuans expression grew serious. After Wuzhou was conquered by the Myriad Demon Nation, Yuzhou and Qianzhou are now at the frontline, directly facing their invasion.
Ouyang Lang continued, Additionally, Haizhou is located north of Yuzhou, within the attack range of the Eastern Sea Flood Dragons.
When the second prince of the Eastern Sea attacked Yuzhou, the ninth prince led a group of water demons to assault several small islands of Poseidon Island.
The two exchanged glances, their expressions grave. Thats why we believe our three forces need to form an alliance.
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
He had already anticipated this response from the two sects.
After all, Qianzhou, Yuzhou, and Haizhou, located in the southern part of Jing Kingdom, were the next regions in the Myriad Demon Nations path of conquest.
Anyone with basic intelligence could predict what was coming.
Tong Yuan continued, You killed the eldest and fourth princes of the Myriad Demon Nation, annihilated the second prince of the Eastern Sea, and wiped out a million-strong demon army.
In five years, when the Demon Emperor Gu Ming emerges from the Blood Gods Vault, he will undoubtedly be furious and launch a northern invasion.
If the Eight Great Sects and the imperial court remain fragmented and even continue their internal struggles, we will inevitably be defeated by the Myriad Demon Nation one by one.
Our only hope of resisting them is for the Eight Great Sects and the imperial court to unite.
Shen Mos expression remained unchanged.
This was simply the natural course of events.
Anyone who thought about it for a moment could predict what was going to happen.
Tong Yuan looked at Shen Mo and said calmly, It will take time for the Eight Great Sects and the imperial court to fully unite. In the meantime, our three forces should form an early alliance.
But we will need a leader.
Shen Mo smiled.
This was the key point.
A leader!
Sects had sect masters.
Holy orders had grandmasters.
Islands had island masters.
Likewise, an alliance needed a supreme leader.
Tong Yuan spoke arrogantly. Qianyuan Sect has twelve Divine Transformation realm cultivators. The strongest of them has already reached the peak of Divine Transformation.
This leader should be from Qianyuan Sect.
Ouyang Lang coughed lightly. I disagree. Poseidon Island has thirteen Divine Transformation cultivatorsone more than you.
Moreover, Poseidon Island has a good relationship with a peak sixth-rank sea beast from the Eastern Sea, which should also count as part of our combat strength.
That means the leader should be from Poseidon Island.
Shen Mo smiled faintly. Thats not quite right. Qianyuan Sect may have twelve Divine Transformation cultivators, but they are split between the Qian Sect and the Yuan Sect.
The Qian Sect and the Yuan Sect have been feuding for centuries, constantly in conflict.
If Qianyuan Sect takes the leadership, would it be the Qian Sect leading, or the Yuan Sect?
Tong Yuans expression darkened instantly.
Shen Mo turned to Ouyang Lang and continued, As for Poseidon Island, though you have thirteen Divine Transformation cultivators, the various islands are scattered and lack unity.
Ive heard that the island farthest from the mainland doesnt fully obey the orders of the Grand Island Master.
If Poseidon Island takes the leadership, which island master will actually be in charge?
Ouyang Lang was stunned into silence.
Shi Jingtian and Du Cangqing, on the other hand, looked at Shen Mo in amazement.
How did he know so much about Qianyuan Sect and Poseidon Island?
Wan Muchun and Murong Yue, however, simply smiled.
Shen Mo also smiled lightly.
It had been two months since the annihilation of the three demon armies.
During that time, he hadnt focused solely on cultivation.
He had ordered a thorough collection of intelligence on every region of Jing Kingdom.
Some of the information was outdated, but it still provided a solid understanding of each states situation.
For example, Hanzhou, the northernmost region of Jing Kingdom, was too far from Yuzhou.
The most recent intelligence he had on Hanzhou was from twenty years ago.
But Qianzhou and Haizhou bordered Yuzhou, so their intelligence was much more up-to-date.
That was how he had gained such a deep understanding of Qianyuan Sect and Poseidon Island.
Both sects were internally divided due to historical reasons.
Much like the old Jade Cauldron Sect.
Qianyuan Sect, for instance, was originally two separate sects that had merged.
Yet the internal rivalry between the two factions had persisted for centuries.
Poseidon Island was even more fragmented.
It had once been a collection of independent beast-taming sects spread across various islands.
They had only united out of necessity to resist invading water demons.
Even now, their unity was superficial.
Some islands were nominally part of Poseidon Island, but their true allegiancewhether to the Eastern Sea Flood Dragons or to Jing Kingdomwas questionable.
Under such circumstances, appointing either sect as the leader was clearly a poor choice.
Oh? So youre saying the Jade Cauldron Sect should lead? Tong Yuan asked coldly.
A Yuzhou that was nearly reduced to ruins, a sect that suffered great losseswhat qualifies you to take this position? Ouyang Lang pressed.
Shen Mo smiled. Yuzhou may have been devastated, and the Supreme Purity Sect and Pill River Sect may have suffered heavy losses, but the Jade Cauldron Sect has absorbed them both. Rather than weakening, weve become even stronger.
Furthermore, I can tell you with certaintyJade Cauldron Sect now has fifteen Divine Transformation cultivators, all of whom follow my command without question.
Tong Yuan and Ouyang Lang were momentarily stunned.
They instinctively asked, Why?
Shen Mo replied calmly, Because I am stronger than each and every one of them.
The two were left speechless.
They couldnt refute that.
After all, even the sect master of Qianyuan Sect and the Grand Island Master of Poseidon Island had admitted that Shen Mos strength was unrivaledhe was the strongest cultivator below the Divine Transformation peak.
Shi Jingtian and Du Cangqing both looked at Shen Mo with newfound respect.
When he spoke those words, his expression, posture, and tone radiated absolute confidence.
It was impossible not to admire him.
Tong Yuan and Ouyang Lang exchanged glances before suddenly bursting into laughter.
In truth, before coming here, we had already decided that the Jade Cauldron Sect would take the lead.
We simply wanted to see whether you were truly worthy of the position.
Now, it seems that you are.
The two extended their hands toward Shen Mo.
Shen Mo smiled and clasped their hands in return.
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