The First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 618: Chapter 618: One Year_1

Within these ancient tombs, countless Prohibitions lay hidden, significantly affecting everyone’s five senses.

Normally, a powerful Golden Core Realm cultivator could comprehend everything within a thousand li with a thought. However, this was not possible here. Most areas were enveloped in fog, with all kinds of bizarre spectacles mixed within, rendering people blind and deaf!

Even Shen Mo was no exception. Whether it was his sense or the [Method Eye Candle Wisp] Destiny, it was hard to accurately perceive the conditions of each Ancient Cultivator’s Tomb.

Previously, their group had successively broken into seven tombs. The time consumed varied, from as short as two to three days to as long as over ten days. In total, this took over two months, and their gains were sparse.

After summarizing their experiences, Shen Mo, Lady Scarlet, and the others no longer rushed to action upon encountering an Ancient Cultivator’s Tomb. Instead, they used their own methods to discern whether the tomb contained any treasures. Only if they deemed success likely would they combine their efforts to break the Formations and Prohibitions inside and outside the tomb!

Shen Mo also released the Spirit Storage Rat.

After many years, this little creature had finally digested the origin power from the Barbarian Bull Venerable’s inheritance. Combined with Shen Mo occasionally feeding it high-class demonic beast Flesh and Blood, its Realm had reached the late-stage of Class III.

Its Innate Divine Ability [Hiding] had also been greatly enhanced. However, with its current strength, entering tombs directly was still too dangerous. It could easily encounter a ”revived” Corpse Spirit and tragically die within an ancient tomb.

Therefore, Shen Mo did not let it rush into the tombs in search of treasures. Instead, he relied on its innate treasure-hunting instincts to determine whether the tombs they encountered were worth excavating.

”Master, there are good things in this grave!” the Spirit Storage Rat squeaked, standing on Shen Mo’s shoulder and waving its little paws excitedly.

”Is it a cultivator’s remains, a magic treasure remnant, Yin Elixirs, or mineral deposits?” Shen Mo asked, nodding slightly.

This ancient tomb Forbidden Area had existed for an unknown number of millennia. Only a few types of items could endure the erosion of time and remain.

Even if spiritual level magic artifacts were buried with the dead, their Artifact Spirits would, in most cases, have exhausted their long Lifespans, their consciousness fading and dissipating. While the artifact’s body might not decay into dregs, it would regress to a profound level magic artifact and need to be reforged and nurtured to regain its former might!

Other materials, such as spirit gold deposits, if not completely decayed, would have been suffused by intense Yin-cold Demonic Qi for countless years. Consequently, most of their properties would have changed, leaning towards Yin-cold and Dark-type attributes.

A similar situation applied to the spiritual medicines that grew in this extreme environment. Those unable to adapt would not appear in the tombs at all. However, those that could adapt were usually of high quality. Moreover, after countless cycles of growth and decay over many years, they would generally possess unique medicinal properties!

”I don’t know. My perception is very vague,” the Spirit Storage Rat replied after sensing carefully.

Hearing this, Shen Mo acknowledged it with an ”Oh” and then turned his gaze to Lady Scarlet and the others.

Lady Scarlet took out a peculiar pill and flicked it into the tomb. It was quickly destroyed by the Prohibition, but not before the pill emitted a rich blue light tinged with purple.

Clearly, this was a treasure-detecting method of the LiMountain Elixir Sect. Judging by Lady Scarlet’s delighted expression, there were indeed valuable treasures hidden in this tomb.

Fu Jianghuo of the Clear Heart Sect and the Peng Siblings, on the other hand, used magic artifacts like Treasure Mirrors and Jade tablets. They focused their minds to divine the conditions within the tomb before them!

After a few moments and some discussion, they all agreed to attempt to breach this tomb.

Without hesitation, Shen Mo stretched out his hand, formed seals, and cast a series of Void Palms, bombarding the Prohibitions outside the tomb.

Under the enhancement of the [Spiritual Wisdom] Skill, the illusory Void Sun Mice he conjured sprang to life. Baring their sharp teeth, they ferociously bit and tore at the tomb’s Prohibitions, just like real creatures!

Lady Scarlet and the others were not to be outdone. They either cast magic or deployed magic treasures, continually eroding the Prohibition’s power...

Several days later, the Prohibitions outside this Ancient Cultivator’s Tomb were completely broken.

Inside the tomb, there was only a single bronze coffin, so corroded and decayed it was falling apart, revealing its contents. The ancient cultivator’s corpse had decomposed into a pile of sludge, and no Corpse Spirit had formed from it.

Additionally, the faint outlines of a magic robe, magic sword, and other burial items were visible inside the coffin. Like their owner, they had all decayed into dregs, leaving only a single Treasure Bead that still emitted a faint glow.

However, in the main burial chamber, numerous Yin Elixirs grew. The oldest among them had been growing for nearly ten thousand years, while those several thousand years old were abundant. Any exceeding ten thousand years had withered into mulch, becoming nutrients for other spiritual medicines.

The Treasure Bead from the coffin was given to Lady Scarlet, while the Yin Elixirs were divided among Shen Mo, Fu Jianghuo, and the Peng Siblings.

After the division, Shen Mo and the others hurried to the next tomb.

Approximately a year later, they had excavated twenty to thirty Ancient Cultivator’s Tombs in succession.

During this period, they encountered various deadly dangers, such as formidable and terrifying Corpse Spirits, lethal trap formations within the tombs, dormant tomb-protecting exotic beasts, and highly poisonous Gu insects breeding inside. However, overall, everyone made considerable gains!

Shen Mo’s greatest gain was not spiritual medicines, mineral deposits, or other cultivation resources, but a piece of beast bone that recorded numerous ancient Elixir recipes.

After roughly sorting them, he obtained over thirty complete Elixir recipes and more than fifty incomplete ones.

However, the spiritual medicines and spiritual materials from the Vacuous Realm of the Ancient Times, which these elixirs required, had mostly changed their characteristics over time. Furthermore, many were raw materials not found in the Red Flame Zone or the Heaven Patrolling Zone.

He could not simply replicate them according to the recipes. He would have to find substitutes for the spiritual medicines based on these ancient Elixir recipes and attempt to restore and concoct the ancient elixirs.

Even though this might not immediately improve his attainment in the Alchemy Path, it undoubtedly deepened his foundational knowledge.

Furthermore, the flame-shaped Fire Spirit was still following Shen Mo. It would occasionally disappear for a period but would always reappear before long.

Shen Mo admired its perseverance and understood the significance of the Samadhi True Fire to the Fire Spirit Clan.

However, regardless of the circumstances, he would not return this spirit flame to them; after all, it was crucial for his cultivation progress.

After this year of exploration and seeking opportunities, Shen Mo, Lady Scarlet, and the others began to consider leaving. They planned to first return to Caiyi Country to rest and reorganize. They would sell the items they had collected over the year and replenish their consumed spiritual items. After some time, they intended to return to the ancient battlefield of immortals and demons, specifically to this tomb complex, to continue treasure hunting!

Just as they were heading towards the periphery of the tomb complex, the flame-shaped Fire Spirit finally lost its patience. From a ruined tomb, it lured a peak Class IV Centipede Demon and guided it straight to Shen Mo and his companions.

Then, it transformed into a streak of fiery light and vanished without a trace.

”ROAR~~~”

This Centipede Demon was already incredibly ferocious. After being roasted by the flame-shaped Fire Spirit, its savagery flared.

Having lost the flame-shaped Fire Spirit, its primary target of hatred, it immediately fixed its attention on the Fleeting Boat and Shen Mo’s group aboard it. Its monstrous body, stretching for thousands of yards, writhed as it charged toward them.