The First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Body Tempering Realm Layer VIII_1

”Please understand, Immortal Master, my Zhao Family really didn’t intend to hide this.”

”We really didn’t know that there was a high-class demonic beast in this Spirit Field.”

”How did this high-class demonic beast come to cause trouble in my Spirit Field?”

Zhao Bing was at a loss for answers.

However, Shen Mo knew clearly that the Double-headed Silver-pattern Python was likely attracted by that peculiar purple Red Fruit.

It seemed like the Zhao Family was not aware of the existence of this strange Red Fruit?

With his son Zhao Jiachang, Zhao Bing sincerely apologized, ”It was negligence on the Zhao Family’s part, and it almost endangered the Immortal Master. Please forgive us.”

Shen Mo didn’t speak, only quietly watching the Zhao father and son.

What he wanted wasn’t an apology. It was compensation.

”As for... the Immortal Master’s loss, my Zhao Family is willing to bear it.” Zhao Bing gritted his teeth and said, ”The ten Red Fruits we promised the Immortal Master before—we can double that.”

He also knew that just apologizing verbally wasn’t enough. Something tangible had to be offered to show sincerity.

”Immortal Master, what do you think?”

”Alright then.” Shen Mo nodded slightly, choosing to accept.

The value of ten Red Fruits in the Market could be roughly equivalent to fifteen low-grade Spirit Stones.

Although it was still not enough to make up for the loss of his two talismans.

However, the Zhao Family was showing sincerity. This would at least allow him to recover somewhat, covering most of his losses.

「The night fell.」

Inside the Zhao Family’s guest room, Shen Mo was sitting cross-legged, immersed in his cultivation practice.

He had initially planned to leave tonight, but Zhao Bing said it was late and asked him to stay overnight, to return to the sect the next day.

Thinking about it, Shen Mo agreed.

He could see that this old patriarch, with the calamity of the Spirit Field not yet fully resolved, was very reluctant to see him leave.

After all, once he left, the Zhao Family would be even more helpless against the Demon Snakes occupying their Spirit Field.

When they compensated him earlier, the Zhao father and son had hinted at their hopes. They wished Shen Mo, an Immortal Master from the upper sect, would see things through to the end.

Ideally, he would send a message to the sect, call upon friends, and they would come together to completely resolve the calamity in the Zhao Family’s Spirit Field.

Failing that, they hoped he would at least help the Zhao Family come up with some ideas to prevent the Spirit Field from being laid to waste.

Shen Mo felt no such obligation.

The reward he had accepted was for slaying minor demonic beasts; dealing with the Double-headed Silver-pattern Python was a different matter entirely, requiring a separate fee.

Of course, even if the Zhao Family patriarch was willing to pay him more, he wouldn’t take it.

The simple reason was that he wasn’t capable enough.

This journey didn’t go smoothly... but I still gained something!

After the day’s combat experience, Shen Mo felt a slight loosening in his cultivation Realm’s bottleneck, which had been solid before.

It seems Chen Mengze was right; going out for practical experience and engaging in real combat are better ways to find breakthrough opportunities!

He flipped his palm and took out a plump, round, red fruit from his Universe Bag—a Red Fruit.

Since the bottleneck of my Realm is loosening, I’ll use this Red Fruit and try to break through to the next level!

Thinking this, he swallowed the Red Fruit.

The fruit juice and Spiritual Liquid slowly flowed over the tip of his tongue, making Shen Mo’s mouth water.

It had to be said, the taste of this Red Fruit was exceptionally good—fragrant and pleasant.

It was much tastier than the Yang-strengthening Powder he usually consumed.

[You have swallowed a Red Fruit and activated the Heavenly Origin Technique. The medicinal power of the Red Fruit is gradually spreading through your body. After being digested by the Heavenly Yuan Magic, your cultivation has increased.]

An hour later, he opened his eyes again and saw this pop-up message.

The medicinal power of one Red Fruit is far from enough for my breakthrough!

Shen Mo shook his head. Although he had refined all the Red Fruit’s energy in an hour, he perceived that he was still some distance from reaching the Body Tempering Realm, Layer VIII.

Then, he once again took out two Red Fruits from his Universe Bag.

GULP!

Shen Mo quickly swallowed these two Red Fruits one after another, stimulating their medicinal power and enhancing his cultivation level.

[You have swallowed a Red Fruit and activated the Heavenly Origin Technique. The medicinal power is pervading your body. After being digested by the Heavenly Yuan Magic, your cultivation has increased.]

Two hours later, Shen Mo’s aura had evidently grown stronger.

Yet, it still wasn’t enough.

”Two more.”

Shen Mo took out another two Red Fruits from his storage bag and swallowed them in the same manner.

Ordinarily, he wouldn’t consume so many spiritual medicines in such a short time.

Such an act was more detrimental than beneficial; not only would much of the medicinal power be wasted before it could be absorbed, but it could also destabilize his cultivation foundation.

But at this moment, he was on the brink of a breakthrough in his cultivation.

If he didn’t seize the opportunity tonight and reach Layer VIII, he didn’t know how long he would have to wait for another breakthrough opportunity.

Body Tempering Realm, Layer VIII, breakthrough!

The vast Mana within him surged like a sea, constantly battering the barrier of his Realm.

Like great waves crashing against the shore, it was relentless and unceasing.

”I did it.”

After an unknown period, Shen Mo shuddered. His inner muscles, bones, and vital energy underwent another sublimation.

A faint feeling of joy surged into his heart.

I’m one step closer to the Qi Gathering Realm!

He clenched his fists, feeling a surge of strength throughout his body, as if he could shatter a mountain with a single punch.

This made him eager to rush to the Zhao Family’s Spirit Field and kill the Double-headed Silver-pattern Python, avenging how it had forced him to flee so pathetically during the day.

But as soon as this thought sprang to mind, Shen Mo suppressed it immediately.

An illusion, just an illusion.

He muttered to himself, calming his restless mind.

When a cultivator broke through, the enormous increase in strength often brought a feeling of ultimate sublimation.

It was inevitable to feel somewhat elated or overconfident.

But this sensation was merely an illusion, not real.

Even though Shen Mo had broken through to the Body Tempering Realm, Layer VIII, he still didn’t stand a chance against the Double-headed Silver-pattern Python, which was halfway into Class II.

However... even if I can’t hunt that demonic python... my combat power against those at the same level is still quite strong.

Shen Mo thought for a moment and then checked his attribute status.

His Shangqing Swordplay, after the experience gained from slaying demonic beasts during the day, was infinitely close to breaking through to the Junior stage.

And the Heavenly Yuan Magic had also progressed significantly, nearing the Senior level.

The combat power boost from these two basic cultivation methods and martial arts, which he had comprehended to a high level, was not to be underestimated.

Furthermore, with the Lightness magic, Thunderclap Rapid Step, and the augmentation from the Special Destiny—Bull’s Mighty—Shen Mo estimated his actual combat power would not be inferior to a cultivator at the Body Tempering Realm, Layer IX.

Oh yes, when I was slaying demonic beasts in the Spirit Field, I earned some Destiny Points!

He suddenly remembered something, opened his Destiny Point balance, and took a look.

[Destiny Points: 5]

Five points!

Seeing this number, a faint smile appeared on Shen Mo’s face. This is much faster than accumulating them through tedious daily cultivation!

He had initially worried that as his Basic Destiny levels increased, the Destiny Points required for each upgrade would multiply. Meanwhile, his efficiency in accumulating Destiny Points would be too slow, hindering his cultivation.

Now, it seemed his worry had been unnecessary.