The First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 387: Chapter 387: Cruel Truth_1

Upon hearing Big Demon Ming Yu’s question, Cao Shanyue tensed up, his gaze towards Shen Mo filled with pleading.

Even though Cao Shanyue was usually stingy, rarely helping Cao Ren with cultivation resources, Cao Ren was, after all, his own flesh and blood, and he couldn’t bear to see him meet a tragic end.

”According to the sect’s rules, I should hand Cao Ren over to the Enforcement Hall for a thorough investigation...” Shen Mo said slowly.

”No!”

Cao Shanyue hastily interjected, his tone pleading, ”Dear nephew, you too know how ruthless and decisive the cultivators of the Enforcement Hall are!”

”If we hand Ren’er over to them, even if they eventually figure out the whole story, he will most likely be tormented nearly to death.”

”Perhaps he will even be tortured to death!”

”We mustn’t let the Enforcement Hall get involved, I beg you.”

Saying this, Cao Shanyue bent over, ready to bow to Shen Mo, praying that he would find a way to save Cao Ren.

Shen Mo lightly waved his sleeve, preventing Cao Shanyue from bowing, and continued, ”Uncle Shanyue, rest assured. Although I don’t hold any official position, as a core disciple, I can provide oversight concerning the Inner Door, the Outer Door, and all Halls of the Three Peaks.”

”Even if we send Ren’er to the Enforcement Hall, the Elders and Deacons must handle it carefully!”

The position of a core disciple at Riverside Sect was not just an honorary title.

Besides their numerous benefits and monthly salaries, which far exceeded those of ordinary Elders, the sect also groomed the nine core disciples as future Peak Masters and Hall Masters.

Therefore, in many sect matters, they held considerable authority.

Even if dissatisfied with the conduct of the Elders and Deacons of the various peaks and halls, provided there was solid evidence, core disciples had the right to initiate impeachment proceedings against them!

So, even if Shen Mo decided not to intervene in this matter and leave it entirely to the Enforcement Hall, the outcome Cao Shanyue feared might not necessarily occur.

That being said, Shen Mo had no intention of immediately sending Cao Ren to the Enforcement Hall.

After a slight pause, he continued, ”Cao Ren and I have known each other since we were nobodies. I won’t just abandon him now!”

”Let me first try my techniques to see what affliction he is plagued with.”

”If my abilities cannot resolve the abnormality affecting him, I will ask the Peak Master for help. If that doesn’t work, we can also ask the Supreme Elder.”

Only after obtaining Shen Mo’s promise did Cao Shanyue breathe a sigh of relief. However, his gaze towards Cao Ren was still filled with worry.

「 」

Next, Shen Mo equipped the special Destiny ’Insight into All Beings’ in the Destiny Disc’s slot.

As ten Spirit Stones turned to dust, information about Cao Ren entered Shen Mo’s view.

[Human: Cao Ren]

[Cultivation Realm: Qi Gathering Realm Layer V]

[Brief: This cultivator is from Qing State of Red Flame Country and has been cultivating in Riverside Sect under his father’s guidance since childhood...]

Much of this information was no different from what Shen Mo already knew about Cao Ren’s life.

But as he continued reading, he eventually caught a glimpse of some clues.

[This cultivator once obtained the [Transforming Dragon Curse] cultivation method from an ancient cultivator’s tomb. With the help of this Curse, his cultivation progressed rapidly, and both his magical arts and cultivation techniques showed great improvement.

However, this Curse is a trap set by the Artifact Spirit of a Spiritual Treasure Level Magical Artifact known as the ”Dragon Rearing Pool,” which is in the possession of a celestial being. The trap is designed to gather dragon types from the world.

After cultivating it for many years, one day they will shed their mortal bodies, fly into the ”Dragon Rearing Pool,” and become dragon-beasts reared there—their livers and galls to be taken and enjoyed at will!]

[Weakness: Full of flaws, can be killed at will.]

A celestial being... A Spiritual Treasure Level Magical Artifact, the Dragon Rearing Pool!

Upon analyzing these keywords, Shen Mo couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart. The cause of Cao Ren’s anomaly wasn’t the unnamed celestial being directly, but rather a Spiritual Treasure Level Magical Artifact in their possession. More precisely, it was a creature born from this spiritual treasure and the scheme it had laid out. The sole purpose... was to select suitable candidates, transform them into dragon-beasts, and then let the master of the spiritual treasure slaughter and devour them at will. Its methods were incredibly subtle and ingenious; the thought of them sent chills down one’s spine. It brazenly spread the strange Spell, the [Transforming Dragon Curse], letting those who obtained it cultivate it on their own! If a cultivator wasn’t suitable, like Cao Shanyue, they would never be able to fathom it, no matter how hard they studied. But, once it encountered a suitable person, like Cao Ren, they could then ”have their soul enter the Dark Blue Zone” and reap great benefits. No cultivator could easily refuse such a tempting lure: rapidly improving their cultivation realm and obtaining many divine magic and powerful skills! Putting himself in such a person’s shoes, Shen Mo considered that if he himself hadn’t received the Destiny Panel when he was on the verge of wasting his life, and had instead obtained the [Transforming Dragon Curse] and tasted its benefits, he too would have chosen to continue cultivating it. But, once a cultivator of this Spell became immersed in refining it, the final outcome would be shedding their human body, transforming into a dragon-beast, and being captured by the Spiritual Treasure, the ”Dragon Rearing Pool.” From then on, they would become mere food, reared by some celestial being. Not only would they lose their freedom, but they would also be made into an exquisite dish akin to ”Dragon Liver and Phoenix Marrow,” to be savored by that celestial being.

As for Cao Ren’s previous strange behavior, it now made sense. Not long after obtaining the [Transforming Dragon Curse], he had regarded it as a treasure, just like other cultivators who stumbled upon great fortune. He hadn’t leaked a single bit of information to Shen Mo or his father, Cao Shanyue! But as his cultivation of this Spell deepened, Cao Ren’s temperament began to change. To satisfy the ”Dragon Rearing Pool’s” need to gather potential dragon-beasts, he deliberately spread the so-called ”great fortune,” encouraging more cultivators to practice the [Transforming Dragon Curse]. This was all to filter out more suitable individuals, transform them into dragon-beasts to be captured and reared by the ”Dragon Rearing Pool,” and ultimately served as dishes! The reason Cao Ren had become so ”arrogant and aloof” was that his Dao Body and soul were increasingly resembling those of a dragon-beast... Even after being stopped from spreading the [Transforming Dragon Curse] and having it confiscated into The Smallest Space, he still dared to spout such arrogant nonsense, showing no regard even for Shen Mo, a core disciple of the sect!

”This is trouble!” Shen Mo’s face was gloomy as he muttered to himself.

Now, through the special Destiny ’Insight into All Beings’, he had glimpsed a corner of the truth.

But he was horrified to discover that Cao Ren’s cultivation of the [Transforming Dragon Curse] involved the Spiritual Treasure Level Magical Artifact, ”Dragon Rearing Pool.” Furthermore, behind this spiritual treasure stood an Immortal Path magnate. Shen Mo wasn’t clear about this person’s cultivation realm, or whether they were stronger or weaker than the Heavenly Monarch of the Divine Bridge Realm who had left sword Qi on Tianshan Mountain! However, he understood that with his current power and realm, he was completely incapable of resolving this matter!

”Uncle Shanyue, you must never spread the cultivation Spell Cao Ren taught you. Otherwise, the consequences will be dire!”

”Never mind... Write down the Spell first.”

”Afterwards, I will perform a Soul Curse to help you erase the related memories. That would be safer.”

Upon hearing Shen Mo’s words, Cao Shanyue’s face instantly turned extremely unsightly.

”Dear nephew, what exactly is going on?”

”Is Ren’er’s current anomaly really related to the cultivation Spell he taught me? Why do you need to erase my memories?”

Shen Mo hadn’t wanted to frighten him, but seeing his expression, he had no choice but to reveal some of the truth.

「 」

A moment later, Cao Shanyue was so terrified that his face turned deathly pale, like a corpse!