The First Immortal of Destiny

”Bian, have you chosen a place to settle down yet? If it’s not too far away, I’ll have my Imperial Soul escort you there.” Once the last batch of disciples from the Fulong Sect had departed, Shen Mo turned to True Master Bian and said.

Although Jade Spring Mountain had a True Immortal’s protection and a certain order, the Xiu Xian Forces, rogue cultivators, and humans (both immortal and mortal) here had all spontaneously gathered and grown to achieve the scale it possessed today. There was no single powerful organization ruling over the mountain.

Even evil cultivators and Demons could find a foothold on Jade Spring Mountain, provided they disguised themselves well and avoided provoking the mountain’s powerhouses.

Incidents such as murders for various reasons, overt and covert struggles for resources and blessed lands, and retaliatory killings stemming from grudges were common. However, these were controlled to a certain extent. It was slightly better than Five Dragon Mountain, but definitely not what one would call ”a world at peace.”

The primary cause of Jade Spring Mountain’s current state, Shen Mo mused, must be the Jade Spring Fairy herself.

It was said that this female immortal had always been a solitary figure; none of the various powers on Jade Spring Mountain originated from her background. Alternatively, perhaps her family or immortal sect had once been a power on Jade Spring Mountain but had perished in the river of time long before she attained immortality.

To date, the Jade Spring Fairy had not established her own lineage or founded a direct-line immortal sect. She treated all cultivators and forces on the mountain equally. Consequently, no dominant power existed to govern Jade Spring Mountain.

However, even True Immortals required spiritual resources and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures for their cultivation. Thus, the Jade Spring Fairy was willing to offer sanctuary.

In return, the cultivators and various forces on the mountain would annually offer a large quantity of spiritual resources to the Jade Spring Fairy, proportionate to their own gains. This formed a relatively stable relationship of dependence.

If conflicts and killings on the mountain became too rampant, causing instability, it would, to some extent, affect the Jade Spring Fairy. She would then intervene to discipline and make an example of those responsible.

Over time, this had naturally led to the current situation on Jade Spring Mountain.

Returning to the matter at hand, True Master Bian, carrying so many spiritual resources, was not very safe. Shen Mo’s proposal was made out of good intentions.

”Thank you, Senior, for your concern!

”I have already had my disciples rent a cave mansion. We just need to use the Teleportation Array in the nearby immortal workshop to reach it, so there is no need to trouble you, Senior.

”After some time, when we find a suitable blessed land and re-establish our sect, we would love to invite Senior to join us for a banquet and drinks...” The Law Master of the Fulong Sect spoke with utmost humility, bowing respectfully.

Shen Mo smiled and nodded, saying no more.

Many areas on Jade Spring Mountain had cave mansions developed by major forces, which were rented out to rogue cultivators without a sect to call home and to traveling cultivators seeking temporary lodging.

The Dragon-suppressing Sect had fewer than a thousand disciples. Renting a slightly larger cave mansion would comfortably accommodate everyone. After all, most of Bians disciples were low-class cultivators who lacked the status to be picky about their living conditions.

As for finding a place to rebuild their sect, it wasn’t too difficult.

For someone like Shen Mo, who needed a blessed land with a radius of a hundred li to establish his Green Cloud Cave, it was indeed hard to find.

But blessed lands covering several li, or even tens of li, were common. Buying one would be enough for the Dragon-suppressing Sect to establish a moderately sized sect.

After True Master Bian took his leave and departed, Shen Mo’s five senses remained focused on him for a while.

Only when True Master Bian entered the immortal workshop, reunited with his disciples, and left via the Teleportation Array did Shen Mo withdraw his gaze. Murmuring to himself, he said, ”Dragon-suppressing Sect... its patriarch in the Formless Realm, Fulong Immortal Master, must have been the ’Immortal’ who subdued the True Dragon that once occupied Five Dragon Mountain. We do have some connection, it seems.”

”What a pity that such a figure met an untimely end, with no one knowing who their enemies were or why they perished! It is truly lamentable.”

After a moment of silent reflection, Shen Mo reined in his emotions and turned his attention to the Mountain Protection Array currently under construction.

This array originated from the most common Yin-Yang Five Elements Array in the cultivation world of the Red Flame Zone. It formed various incredible effects by balancing Yin and Yang and harnessing the generating and restraining cycles of the Five Elements, combining the powers of energy congregation, confusion, concealment, defense, entrapment, and slaughter.

However, after years of development and evolution, it had significantly diverged from the initial Yin-Yang Five Elements Array, with many of its effects correspondingly enhanced.

During the Riverside Sect era, the Mountain Protection Array, built with the combined efforts of the entire sect, had struggled to resist the onslaught from Immortal Master Lin Zhaozai of the evil path and the strikes of tribulation lightning. Now, however, as long as the array was operational and supplied with sufficient Spirit Stones and cultivators for Mana, it could withstand repeated attacks from those at the early-stage Divine Bridge Realm (Fifth Stage)!

Even a cultivator at the middle-stage Divine Bridge Realm, more powerful than Shen Mo, would find it difficult to breach quickly. If they lacked understanding of the Array Path and merely attacked with brute force, the array could still hold for a short period.

Previously, to counter the threat from the demons of Hou Corpse Cave, Red Flame Sect Members had constructed several Yin-Yang Five Elements Arrays, each with different emphases. Through this, they accumulated a wealth of experience in array assembly. It was estimated that this new array would take two or three months to complete.

By then, Shen Mo would be able to unfold the Green Cloud Cave within the array.

He had expended so much energy and cultivation resources, even buying a piece of land to build a Mountain Protection Array and situate his cave paradise. This decision was made after careful consideration, for three main reasons.

First, always carrying the Green Cloud Cave with him, while seemingly secure for the creatures within the Fairyland and the Red Flame Sect Members, was actually incredibly risky.

If Shen Mo were to meet an untimely end from inner and outer tribulations, the Green Cloud Cave would likely fall into an extremely precarious situation. It would have little chance of long-term survival in the world and, over time, would gradually degenerate into a mere Dungeon.

The hundreds of millions of creatures within, including people close to him such as Zhao Lingyin, and Chen Mengze and her father, would all perish with him!

Second, a secluded and cozy environment was not conducive to the cultivation of Red Flame Sect cultivators or the development of the sect.

After integration, the Green Cloud Cave was relatively peaceful. When Sect Disciples needed training, they could venture into areas like the Mountain-River Zone, Demon Zone, Thousand Swords Zone, and Heart Refining Zone!

However, without significant adversaries like Heavenly Demons or Outer Zone demons, and lacking interaction with the Outer Realm, the cultivators of the Red Flame Sect, regardless of their cultivation Realm, would eventually grow complacent. They would lose their drive and ambition, ending up like the cultivators of Azure Heaven Cave.

Their perspective would be limited to a single cave or mansion, unable to comprehend the vastness of the Immortal Realm or the brilliance of the Immortal Path, like a frog at the bottom of a well.

Unfolding the Green Cloud Cave on Jade Spring Mountain would allow Red Flame Sect cultivators to interact with the Outer Realm. This would bring multiple benefits to both the sect and individual disciples!

Third, and most importantly, solely relying on the spiritual items and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures produced by the Fairyland was not enough for Shen Mo’s cultivation.

On Jade Spring Mountain, while it was not possible to freely gather resources, the surrounding hills and mountains were infinitely vast. These lands held an endless supply of various spiritual resources and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. By occupying and clearing an area, then constructing a Teleportation Array, disciples could continuously supply Shen Mo and themselves with resources from the Outer Realm, just as they had on Five Dragon Mountain!

Additionally, they could trade with other Xiu Xian Forces to acquire different spiritual items, unique products from Dungeons, and so on.