The First Immortal of Destiny

「Not long after.」

Ming Yu invited her mother Ming Cang, Gui Wannian, Shen Jun, Jing Fuhai, Zhang Jiujiu, and four other purple-robed Elders to the Water Palace. She also invited over ten Marine Race elites who had previously clashed with Green Cloud Peak’s disciples. Additionally, many Ascending Lake Elders, Elite Disciples, Deacons, and Inner Door disciples with cultivation levels of late-stage Class II and above attended. Together, they held an internal meeting within Ascending Lake.

The core content was simply to convey Shen Mo’s will, describe the vision for the Shape Transforming Pill and the demon cultivator lineage, and to quell dissatisfaction within the Marine Race.

Shen Mo attended the meeting as well. However, he did not lead its proceedings. Instead, he served more as the master of cave paradise, the Divine Bridge Realm Immortal Master, and the Law Master of the Red Flame Sect, lending his authority to endorse Ming Yu’s words and actions.

Once these matters were concluded, Shen Mo bid farewell to the Marine Race disciples and teleported back to the Vacuous Zone, heading to Chen Mengze’s cultivation mansion instead of directly returning to GuanYun Mansion.

Because she cultivated the Pure Jade Mantra, her cave mansion was located deep within Jade Mountain. The mountain’s interior had been hollowed out and filled with countless blocks of Dark Ice, sourced from the Extreme Northern Zone, then meticulously crafted into an Ice Palace.

Although the depths of the mountain received no sunlight, numerous magic artifact pearls illuminated it, making it bright both inside and out. Within the cave mansion, the scenes could be changed between day and night according to her will.

Upon sensing Shen Mo’s arrival, Chen Mengze deactivated the Prohibition Formations enveloping her cave mansion, but she did not personally come out to greet him.

Shen Mo didn’t mind. He pushed open the Dark Ice door, which was etched with strange runes, and followed the icy corridor deeper inside. As far as the eye could see, ice walls, ice pillars, and ice tiles shimmered, radiating a bone-chilling cold.

Any cultivator below the Golden Core Realm, unless they possessed an Ice Spirit Body, would easily suffer frostbite to their Dao Body if they stayed in this Dark Ice Cave for too long. Coupled with Chen Mengze’s naturally cold temperament, the entire cave mansion lacked even a single Maid or disciple, making it feel somewhat desolate and serene.

In a Dark Ice secret chamber deep inside, Shen Mo found Chen Mengze.

She was still cultivating the Pure Jade Mantra and was at the closing stage of a Grand Circulation. That she allowed Shen Mo to enter in this state, without even rising, was enough to demonstrate her immense trust in him, showing almost no defensiveness.

A fluorescent glow, like moonlight, enveloped Chen Mengze’s delicate form.

Tiny ice crystals, formed from the Spiritual Qi of the Immortal Realm, drifted up and down within the moonlight, resembling wisps of crystalline smoke that danced with her every breath.

As her cultivation method circulated, her already flawless skin grew even more crystalline and translucent. Her long eyelashes were adorned with a touch of frost, giving her the appearance of an ice and snow deity.

The Flesh and Blood, sinews, and bones beneath her skin also seemed like pure jade marrow, exuding a divine and mystical beauty.

Only after Chen Mengze exhaled a long, white breath, concluding this cultivation session, did Shen Mo approach and sit before her with a faint smile.

”Senior Sister Chen, your cultivation level has deepened considerably. It won’t be long before you step into the middle-stage of the Golden Core Realm.”

Many years ago, Yuan Heming, the cultivator with the highest cultivation in the original Riverside Sect, was only at the middle-stage of the Golden Core Realm. Chen Mengze’s ability to reach this Realm so quickly was due to both the various benefits of the ”Ascension to the Immortal Realm” and her own unceasing, diligent cultivation.

Unexpectedly, Shen Mo’s compliment struck the wrong chord.

Chen Mengze turned her pretty eyes, giving him a look filled with endless charm, and said, ”Sect Master Shen is already a Divine Bridge Realm Immortal Master. How could a mere Golden Core cultivator like myself presume to be called ’Senior Sister’ by an Immortal Master?”

”Ahem…”

Shen Mo felt a chill seize his lungs, and his mind raced.

”Senior Sister, my dear Senior Sister, please don’t be angry.”

As he spoke, Shen Mo took Chen Mengze’s cool, soft hand and said gently, ”Those Peak disciples are entirely to blame for what happened to them. It’s not worth getting upset over their punishment. As for your monthly allowance being forfeited, Senior Sister, that was done according to sect rules. Otherwise, if other disciples were to follow their example, the sect would likely fall into disarray.”

Chen Mengze struggled but couldn’t break free, so she allowed Shen Mo to keep holding her hand tightly. Her tone softened as she said, ”Whether they deduct my allowance or make me restore the mountain’s herb garden, I have no complaints. But I still feel the punishment those seven disciples received was indeed a bit too severe.”

Shen Mo nodded slightly but said, ”This matter concerns the internal harmony of the sect.

”Only through severe punishment can we achieve a deterrent effect, preventing those disciples who hold themselves in high regard from acting arrogantly again. Only by suppressing this kind of detrimental behavior can we ensure that human disciples not originally from the Riverside Sect, as well as the Marine Race disciples, do not develop thoughts of desertion.

”Let’s just consider the Marine Race disciples. Five Dragon Mountain, with its rich water veins and abundant Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, depends on them to diligently gather resources. Furthermore, the income from spiritual items from the Outer Realm is fundamental to the cultivation of you, me, and everyone else.

”Therefore, I have set aside factional biases and strive to create a situation of harmony and cooperation.

”Speaking of which, knowing your temperament, even if you were at odds with Ming Yu, you wouldn’t typically engage in a direct confrontation with her out of pique. What happened this time?”

Based on Shen Mo’s understanding of Chen Mengze, even if Ming Yu disliked her and frequently provoked her verbally, Chen Mengze wouldn’t typically mind much. Instead, it was the disputes between the disciples of their respective factions that led her to accumulate ’resentment.’ The previous incident then became the spark that caused the two of them to come to blows.

And at the root of it all, Shen Mo felt that Chen Mengze was overly focused on, perhaps even a bit indulgent towards, the Green Cloud Peak lineage.

Chen Mengze understood Shen Mo’s implication. She lowered her head slightly, pondered for a moment, and then confided, ”You entrusted Green Cloud Peak to me, so I thought I should put in more effort to help it develop and prosper.

”Moreover, I’m aware that the Red Flame Sect is currently rife with internal contradictions and numerous hidden dangers.

”It is precisely for this reason that I want to vigorously support your direct line of trusted followers.

”If the Green Cloud Peak lineage were to become dominant, suppressing the other eight peaks and Ascending Lake, then you, Junior Brother, wouldn’t have so many troubles!”

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo suddenly understood, and a wave of warmth spread through his heart.

Chen Mengze also knew that the more prosperous and thriving the Red Flame Sect became, the greater the benefits for both Shen Mo and herself. She, too, didn’t want the sect to be like a heap of loose sand, consumed by internal strife.

However, due to differences in their identities, experiences, and Cultivation Realms, her perspective differed from Shen Mo’s.

During her time in the Riverside Sect, she had been an ordinary inner disciple, not one of the elites from the three Main Peaks. It was only after Green Cloud Peak was established that she transferred there. Consequently, she held no particular affection for Rising Sun Peak, Jade Peak (also known as Bright Moon Peak), or Milky Way Peak (also known as Stars Peak).

Therefore, the idea had formed in her mind: if Green Cloud Peak could achieve sole dominance, suppressing the other nine Main Peaks and Ascending Lake, it would also eliminate the hidden dangers within the Red Flame Sect.

Shen Mo gripped her soft hand even tighter and said with a gentle smile, ”Senior Sister, I understand your intentions.

”However…

”For Green Cloud Peak to be the sole dominant power might not necessarily be a good thing!”