The First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Yong’an Town_1

”This talisman is an essential item for escaping danger.”

The disciple in the blue robe explained, ”When you’re out exploring and adventuring, if you encounter a perilous situation, just crush this talisman. It can instantly teleport you over a hundred yards away.”

Under normal circumstances, a distance of a hundred yards is enough for a cultivator in peril to escape to safety.

Of course, if the dangerous area has Prohibitions or restrictive chains, or if you are suppressed by an opponent, this talisman may not be very effective.

”What’s the price?”

After understanding the Earth Escaping Talisman’s effect, Shen Mo decided he needed to buy it.

”Fifteen Spirit Stones.”

”I’ll take it.”

Although the price was comparable to a Qi Gathering Pill, Shen Mo didn’t hesitate to purchase it.

「 」

After leaving the Market, he carefully stored these two life-saving talismans in his Universe Bag.

”I’m all set. Time to depart!”

He returned to his room, tidied up some miscellaneous items, concocted two batches of Qi Restoring Pills and Yang-strengthening Powder, and finally, fastened the longsword exclusive to outer disciples to his waist.

He then stepped out of the Mountain Gate.

「 」

Once down the mountain, Shen Mo affixed a Lightness Talisman to his leg. His figure moved like lightning, speeding through the mountains and forests.

[You have perceived the profound subtleties of your footwork while using ’Thunderclap Rapid Step’ to travel. Your understanding of this Lightness Art has deepened. ’Thunderclap Rapid Step’ Experience Points +1.]

[You have perceived the profound subtleties of your footwork while using ’Thunderclap Rapid Step’ to travel. Your understanding of this Lightness Art has deepened. ’Thunderclap Rapid Step’ Experience Points +1.]

As he journeyed, he moved through the wilderness, unhesitatingly utilizing this Lightness Art, and notifications kept appearing one after another.

Shen Mo’s travel was exceptionally swift.

Yong’an Town was located about one hundred and twenty miles from the Riverside Sect.

It took him less than two hours to reach the town.

”Has the Immortal Master from the upper sect arrived to help our Zhao Family exterminate the demons?”

Just as he arrived at the town entrance, Shen Mo saw an elderly man dressed in opulent attire leading a group of people, waiting with eager anticipation.

”Indeed. I am a disciple of the Riverside Sect, assigned by my sect to come to the Zhao Family and slay the demon.”

He looked at the leading elder and said calmly, ”You must be the patriarch of the Zhao Family, correct?”

”Reporting to the Immortal Master, I am indeed Zhao Bing, the patriarch of the Zhao Family.”

Upon confirming Shen Mo’s identity, Zhao Bing immediately bowed respectfully.

Despite the Zhao Family’s considerable wealth and influence in Yong’an Town, making them a dominant local power, they were extremely deferential, almost sycophantic, in Shen Mo’s presence.

Zhao Bing, as the family patriarch, consistently addressed him as ”Immortal Master from the upper sect” and maintained a very humble posture.

Shen Mo found none of this surprising.

Although he wasn’t even considered an inner disciple of the Riverside Sect, merely a minor figure at the bottom of the cultivation world, when he stepped into the mortal realm, even secular nobles and magnates had to bow their heads and treat him with utmost respect.

This was the difference between immortals and mortals!

”Immortal Master, please accompany this old one back to the Zhao residence. Knowing of your arrival, I have already instructed my family to prepare a welcome banquet to help you wash away the dust from your journey.”

”That won’t be necessary.” Shen Mo shook his head and got straight to the point, ”I am here on official business. Tell me in detail, what exactly is the situation with your Spirit Field?”

Seeing Shen Mo’s refusal, Zhao Bing didn’t insist. He pulled a middle-aged man from his side and urged, ”Jiachang, quickly inform the Immortal Master about the specific situation at the Spirit Field!”

This middle-aged man, named Zhao Jiachang, was Zhao Bing’s eldest son.

He had always been responsible for managing the Zhao Family’s Spirit Field.

”Reporting to the Immortal Master, the Snake Demons have currently overrun our Zhao Family’s Spirit Field and have killed twenty-three of our Protectors.”

”Right now, the Spirit Field has become a Forbidden Area for our Zhao Family; no one dares to set foot in it anymore...”

He recounted everything to Shen Mo exactly as it had happened.

It turned out this was not the first time the Zhao Family’s Spirit Field had been troubled by demonic beasts.

The Red Fruit, which the Zhao Family had cultivated for generations, was an excellent spiritual medicine.

This item could not only enhance the strength of Body Tempering Realm cultivators but also offered significant benefits to demonic beasts.

It was a treasure highly coveted by demonic beasts.

Due to the Red Fruit’s potent allure for low-class demonic beasts, demonic beasts would inevitably catch its scent whenever the Spirit Fruit was about to ripen each year. They would then come to the Zhao Family’s Spirit Field to steal the Red Fruit, disrupting the normal cultivation work.

The Zhao Family once had a cultivator patriarch presiding over them.

This patriarch of the Zhao Family had also been a disciple of the Riverside Sect. Unable to break through to the Qi Gathering Realm after a long time, he eventually chose to leave the sect.

He married, had children, and his lineage flourished.

While the patriarch was still alive, the Zhao Family didn’t have to worry about incursions from demonic beasts.

Yong’an Town was a small place, and there were no high-class demonic beasts in the vicinity.

Having a patriarch who was a high-class Body Tempering Realm cultivator was sufficient to handle any problems.

However, ten years ago, this patriarch of the Zhao family reached the end of his Lifespan.

To try and extend his life, he announced he was entering secluded cultivation for crossing the Death Pass.

Once he entered seclusion, no further news of him was ever heard.

Without their patriarch, the Zhao Family had to spend a considerable sum to hire fifty martial arts experts as Protectors, specifically to deal with the intruding demonic beasts.

These martial artists, with their advantage in numbers, were capable of driving away some low-class demonic beasts and ensuring the Zhao Family’s safety; this hadn’t been an issue.

But last month, a major incident occurred!

Zhao Jiachang said, his voice still tinged with lingering fear, ”Initially, a Protector reported sightings of a Silver Ring Snake Demon in the Spirit Field. So, I organized the Protectors; we grabbed our weapons and went together to drive it away. At the time, we figured that the Silver Ring Snake Demon wasn’t very powerful and that we could easily deal with it. But unexpectedly, the Silver Ring Snake Demons that had invaded the Spirit Field weren’t solitary like other demonic beasts... their numbers were staggering!”

Zhao Jiachang estimated that at least a hundred Demon Snakes were entrenched in the Spirit Field.

”That day,” he continued, ”when we managed to kill one of the Demon Snakes, all the others became agitated and viciously attacked our Zhao Family members. A single Demon Snake isn’t that strong, but when hundreds of them gather, even a high-class Body Tempering Realm cultivator would feel their scalp tingle. Half of our Zhao Family Protectors were killed that day... The rest were lucky to escape and haven’t dared to go back in since.”

”So... we had no choice but to report the situation to the upper sect and request the immortal sect to dispatch an Immortal Master to handle it.”

Zhao Bing took over, saying solemnly, ”We implore the Immortal Master to eradicate this Demon Snake scourge for our Zhao Family!”

”Mm, I generally understand the situation now.”

After listening to Zhao Jiachang’s account, Shen Mo had a plan forming in his mind. ”Rest assured,” he said, ”I came here this time precisely to resolve this matter.”

From their description, although these Demon Snakes were numerous, their individual strength wasn’t high.

Most of the Demon Snakes were merely low-class demonic beasts, their strength not exceeding the level of a cultivator at the Fifth Level of the Body Refining Realm.

With his current cultivation, Shen Mo was confident he could handle this situation.

”Where is your Spirit Field located? Take me there.”

”This way, please, Immortal Master.”

Zhao Jiachang led a group of Protectors, guiding Shen Mo.

They passed through the Zhao Family’s grand residence and arrived at the fertile Spirit Field at the rear.

Zhao Jiachang cupped his fists and said, ”This is the entrance to the Spirit Field. Immortal Master, if you require any preparations from the Zhao Family for the demon extermination, please do not hesitate to ask.”

”There’s no need for any special preparations.”

Shen Mo shook his head and said, ”You wait here. The rest of the Protectors, follow me in for a look.”

With that, he strode into the inner area of the Spirit Field.

Behind him, the Zhao Family’s Protectors followed closely, not daring to fall a single step behind.