The First Immortal of Destiny

After a few days of consideration, Lady Yu agreed to the conditions proposed by Shen Mo.

The method to refine a forbidden land and sense or descend to other realms was not complex. If not for the limitations of Cultivation Realms, even a Golden Core Realm cultivator could master it!

In just a few days, Lady Yu had taken a section constituting nearly half of the Spirit Deer Mountain Range and severed it from this world. This section encompassed the secluded valley where she lived and extended to a point several dozen miles before the royal tombs of Zuoli Country. Then, she used the method taught by Shen Mo to begin transforming it into a forbidden land.

Once this task was accomplished, she could sense the existence of other Withering Realms and the Immortal Realm within the Profound Darkness. Then, using her supreme Mana, she could propel the forbidden land of the Spirit Deer Mountain Range to break free from this world’s constraints and descend to another realm!

While Lady Yu was refining the forbidden land, Shen Mo opened a simple cave mansion not far away, keeping a close eye on her every move. When Lady Yu encountered any difficulties during the process, Shen Mo was able to answer her questions in a timely manner.

「Inside the simple cave mansion.」

Shen Mo withdrew his gaze from the Print Heart Cottage, took out the Mechanic Path cultivation method he had exchanged with Lady Yu, and began to study it carefully.

This was Lady Yu’s main cultivation method. Its essence was no different from ordinary cultivation methods. It also involved absorbing nature’s spiritual energy and extracting the vital essence from spiritual materials, refining these into one’s own Mana and True Yuan, which in turn nourished one’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit, thereby advancing one’s cultivation level.

The primary distinction was that, in addition to the breath of Primal Spirit, this method absorbed vast quantities of various Demonic Qi and Turbid Qi from nature’s spiritual energy, specifically those aligned with the five elements. These included Gold Iron Demonic Qi, the medicinal qi of plants, and the earthen Evil Qi of stones. Such absorption enhanced the coverage and quality of the construct-like bodies of Mechanic Path cultivators, thereby boosting their cultivation!

Extracting vital essence from spiritual materials followed the same principle. For Mechanic Path cultivators, this was akin to consuming an Elixir that fortified their physical bodies.

If an ordinary cultivator were to follow this method, their internal Mana and True Yuan would quickly become hopelessly turbid. Soon, they would be afflicted by severe illnesses: their lungs would fill with metallic shards, their kidneys would liquefy into a dense fluid, their livers would sprout weeds and wildflowers, their hearts would be incinerated, and their spleens would become engorged with sludge and sediment. Forget advancing their cultivation; they would forfeit their very lives!

However, Shen Mo possessed the [Martial Performance]Destiny. Even if he was unsuited for the Mechanic Path, he could consume Spirit Stones to forcibly deduce the cultivation method to its next stage, tailoring it to his current state.

[Consume 335,000 low-grade Spirit Stones to deduce the Nanhua Treasured Body Sutra to the next stage?]

Shen Mo sat cross-legged and activated the [Martial Performance]Destiny. He discovered that this cultivation method was neither incomplete nor tampered with.

Otherwise, the number of Spirit Stones required for a single deduction would not be so exorbitant. It had to be the main cultivation method of some powerful expert from the now-vanished Artificial Realm—perhaps even a cultivator like Lady Yu—projected here by an Evil Spirit.

Although this cultivation method has no hidden flaws, the number of Spirit Stones required for one deduction is indeed rather steep!

I’m not a Mechanic Path cultivator, so I don’t know what effects the deduction will yield... If, after deduction, it only aids in breathing techniques and increasing Mana, it would overlap with the Mixed Yuan Qi Technique, which has already been deduced multiple times. There would be no value in cultivating it further or making subsequent deductions, making it a waste of over three thousand middle-grade Spirit Stones.

Gazing at the prompt on the Destiny Panel, Shen Mo sank into deep thought.

The Nanhua Treasured Body Sutra was likely a cultivation method of no low grade, judging by the Spirit Stones required for its initial deduction. However, no matter how exceptional, it couldn’t compare to the Mixed Yuan Qi Technique. That technique had already consumed a cumulative 14,818,000 low-grade Spirit Stones over five deductions, elevating it to the treasured middle-high grade!

Unfortunately, he couldn’t ascertain the precise effects of the deduced method and could only take a gamble.

The Artificial Realm is so distinct; its cultivators are vastly different from those of the Primordial Realm or the Immortal Realm who practice the Mechanic Path! Their cultivation methods must also be unique. Over three hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones is a manageable expense for me now. Even if the results are subpar, I can always add it to the sect’s Magic Tower to offer the Sect Disciples another option…

The deduction ability of [Martial Performance] used Shen Mo himself as the ’template.’ It recompiled and enhanced the cultivation method, making it more suitable for ’the current Shen Mo’ to cultivate.

A cultivation method tailored for him might not be entirely suitable for other disciples of the Red Flame Sect.

However, a method Shen Mo could cultivate would have undoubtedly removed the characteristic peculiar to cultivators of the Artificial Realm—that of being born with partially construct-like bodies. Ordinary cultivators could also practice it. Though it might be abstruse and complex, potentially yielding less effective results, it still held value.

With this in mind, Shen Mo hesitated no longer. A flick of his finger produced a Sword Light, and a pile of middle-grade Spirit Stones materialized before him, forming a small, brilliantly glowing hill.

”Begin deduction!”

Shen Mo focused his intent.

In the next instant, a golden, eye-like radiance emanated from between his brows. It completely absorbed the Spiritual Qi within the pile of Spirit Stones, reducing them to a heap of gray, powdery dust.

Within the Profound Space, the Martial Performance Body, modeled after Shen Mo, commenced the deduction of the Nanhua Treasured Body Sutra!

「...」

Once the deduction was complete, Shen Mo began to practice it. Soon, aided by the cultivation assistance of [Martial Performance], he mastered this method and thoroughly understood its characteristics and effects.

The effects of the method, based on the original, had been somewhat adjusted. It could still absorb nature’s spiritual energy, various Demonic Qi and Turbid Qi aligned with the five elements, and the vital essence from materials like Gold, Wood, Jade, and Stone. The key difference was that this deduced method did not convert these baleful energies, turbid qi, and vital essences into True Yuan Mana. Instead, it transformed them into a peculiar kind of true qi that strengthened his internal organs!

Consequently, the Nanhua Treasured Body Sutra was categorized under ’External Magic’ on the Destiny Panel.

More than three hundred thousand Spirit Stones were not spent in vain!

Realizing this, a smile of relief touched Shen Mo’s lips.

He then retrieved a large quantity of extraordinary materials, arranged them floating before him, and began to circulate the Nanhua Treasured Body Sutra.

He began to continuously draw in the breath of Primal Spirit—mixed with Gold Iron Demonic Qi, the medicinal qi of plants, and the earthen Evil Qi of stones—from nature’s spiritual energy, while also extracting vital essence from spiritual materials like Gold, Wood, Jade, and Stone.

Unlike when circulating the Mixed Yuan Qi Technique, various Demonic Qi aligned with the five elements were now beneficial while cultivating this method, much like the breath of Primal Spirit or Clear Spirit Qi. His Flawless Skill no longer expelled them, and soon, the area around Shen Mo was suffused with a vibrant, multicolored Spiritual Qi.

After a period of cultivation, Shen Mo clearly felt his internal organs had become significantly stronger than before, and his already formidable physique had also improved slightly!