The First Immortal of Destiny

Shen Mo’s intention to infiltrate the Heaven Patrolling Temple was fairly simple.

The temple reigned supreme over all Xiu Xian Forces, amassing the most top-notch cultivation resources and Xian Dao Strongholds in this realm. It was the center of wealth and power, and also the holy land for cultivators! It was somewhat similar to the position of Yan Tianjing, the Capital City, in the mundane world of Red Flame Country. Inside, it would be easier to access top resources, inside information, magic, elixir recipes, talisman scrolls, and even get to see the living Heavenly Monarchs... Besides, I could also get to know more top Xian Dao Strongholds of the Heaven Patrolling Zone. Whether it’s saving Yuan Jing of Bright Moon Peak or, one day, facilitating the Riverside Sect’s migration here, there would be opportunities for me to exert influence.

But conversely, for me at present, it would certainly be a good thing if everything went according to plan. If not, it wouldn’t be a big issue and wouldn’t affect my Path. For things like top-grade resources, the acquisition process would just be a bit more complicated. As for understanding the movements and situation of the top powers in the Heaven Patrolling Zone, I’ve already made acquaintance with many cultivators of the temple, so I can always get some information. Even if I did enter the Heaven Patrolling Temple, with a Divine Bridge Realm Heavenly Monarch presiding, I wouldn’t be able to stir up significant trouble anyway. Laying the groundwork for the Riverside Sect also wouldn’t be a tough nut to crack.

From what I understand, the current situation in the Heaven Patrolling Zone isn’t like in olden times. Due to the arrival of creatures from the Outer Zone and forbidden lands, the entire realm is as porous as a sieve. Although it isn’t as severe as in the Red Flame Zone, the Heaven Patrolling Temple cannot monitor this world as closely as it did many years ago. Even if a hundred thousand disciples of the Riverside Sect crossed the sea and migrated here, they could find a remote place to settle, recruit native disciples, and develop discreetly. Heavenly Monarch level characters would probably not bother them. If other powerful immortal sects pressured them, with me here, I could resist most of it. After several decades, they wouldn’t be much different from the local sects and could naturally integrate into the Heaven Patrolling Zone!

Of course, the Riverside Sect’s current situation hasn’t reached that level of danger yet. Even if more than half of Qing State was consumed by the Soaring Serpent and Bizarre Dragon, the Riverside Sect, much like a wrecked ship still retaining some valuable nails, could still survive at the new sect gate as long as they didn’t encounter the previous calamities. They would still be one of the Five Great Sects in the Red Flame Zone. Besides, many foundations couldn’t be transferred, such as the mountains and rivers, the Jade Pool, the three major Dungeons, various mines, industries under their name, and the influence and reputation accumulated over a millennium.

Thus, I don’t feel too regretful about being unable to enter the Heaven Patrolling Temple due to my identity being exposed. I just have to follow my own cultivation pace. Once I cultivate to the peak of the Golden Core Realm, I might even possess the combat strength of the Divine Bridge Realm. By then, many problems will simply dissipate into thin air!

「」

Upon returning to the temporary mansion, Shen Mo notified Liu Siyun and then activated the Prohibition inside and outside the Cultivation Room.

He first spent a significant amount of time using the spiritual medicinal materials obtained from the Tianyin Valley trade fair to re-refine more than a dozen furnaces of Grade IV and Grade V Elixirs for replenishment.

Once the routinely used Elixirs were restored to a normal level, Shen Mo, satisfied, put away the Fire Chi Cauldron and Green Lotus Flame. He then took out the Taiyi Sword, covered in talismans, and the Enlightenment Tea Leaves he had gotten from the Ancient Vine Sect from his Universe Bag!

CHH!

CHH! CHH!

With a thought from Shen Mo, the talismans on the Taiyi Sword turned to ash one by one. However, he had already laid down a sword array, trapping this Supreme Spirit Sword within a few square inches. It darted and thrust but could not break free.

Leaving it aside, Shen Mo took out some celestial spring water and, after boiling it with Green Lotus Flame, brewed himself a cup of Enlightenment Tea.

Soon, a faint, refreshing tea fragrance filled the room, dispelling Shen Mo’s fatigue from several days of Alchemy.

As the spiritual tea entered his mouth, Shen Mo’s eyes lit up instantly.

The tea tasted clear and crisp, penetrating straight to his marrow. At the same time, a faint Dao Rhyme gradually rippled out from his heart.

After an indeterminable time, Shen Mo exhaled a long breath imbued with the aroma of tea. Unbeknownst to him, he had drained the cup of the nectar-like tea and even swallowed all the tea leaves.

[You have consumed Enlightenment Tea, entering an extremely profound state of sudden comprehension. You have developed a fresh understanding of cultivation, and your cultivation has increased somewhat.]

Shen Mo glanced at the panel prompt, feeling his Golden Core becoming more translucent and perfect, and a surge of joy arose in his heart.

The Ancient Vine Sect is too stingy! The spiritual tea they served me before was clearly made from old leaves of the Enlightenment Tea Tree. It only had minor effects like restoring True Yuan and calming the mind; it couldn’t even be considered true Enlightenment Tea! The tea I’m drinking now, *this* is true Enlightenment Tea. The difference in effect is like night and day… Unfortunately, they only give me three taels of new leaves each year. Even if I drink sparingly, it’s only enough for a month. If I could drink this tea every month, my cultivation speed could increase by at least thirty percent! Besides, it would greatly increase my chances of reaching the peak of the Golden Core Realm.

His current cultivation progress could already be described as lightning-fast. After all, he possessed a profound cultivation method that had been deeply cultivated and deduced once, the Flawless Skill, the ’Extremely Rare’ basic Talent, and an ample supply of High-Grade Spirit Pills. Even with all this, the Enlightenment Tea could still significantly boost his cultivation level; it truly deserved to be called one of the ’Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures’!

It was no wonder that the Ancient Vine Sect, despite governing only four to five million immortals and mortals in Caiyi Country from their remote corner, possessed three Yuan Dan Cultivators. Consider that during its heyday, the Riverside Sect’s territory in Qing State had a population exceeding one hundred million, yet even so, before I arrived, it only had four Golden Core patriarchs!

In short, since arriving in the Heaven Patrolling Zone, Enlightenment Tea was the second spiritual item Shen Mo had encountered that could enhance his foundation, second only to the Samadhi True Fire.

If only I could get more Enlightenment Tea Leaves from the Ancient Vine Sect… Shen Mo mused.

However, the Ancient Vine Sect’s ten-thousand-year-old Enlightenment Tea Tree produced only a limited amount of new leaves each year. Even people like Qin Wenzhen and Ge Qing only received a few taels each year, which was why they served him tea brewed from old leaves when they hosted him. For them to give him three taels of Enlightenment Tea annually was already a considerable gesture!

It’s nearly impossible for me to get more, unless…

CLANG!

His Carefree Sword Heart trembled, sweeping away the inappropriate thoughts.

Some things can be done but should not be. Otherwise, once I go against my conscience and allow worldly dust to cloud my Path Heart, no amount of Enlightenment Tea could ever make up for it!

After carefully storing the remaining Enlightenment Tea Leaves, Shen Mo turned his gaze to the Taiyi Sword trapped in The Big Dipper Array.

His sense stirred, gently conveying his thoughts to the Taiyi Spirit Sword, ”Your body is damaged, unable to absorb nourishment from sword intent, and you’ve been trapped in darkness for months. Has it been easy for you? Since you are a masterless treasure, with no one wielding your hilt, you cannot display your full sharpness. Why not acknowledge me as your master? I can repair your damaged Sword Body, use my own sword intent and Dao Rhyme to aid your cultivation, and wield you to perform peerless swordplay… Wouldn’t that be a hundred, even a thousand times better than your current situation?”