The First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Return to Yong’an Town_1

If Body Tempering Layer VIII were divided into early-stage, middle-stage, late-stage, and Perfection stages, Shen Mo’s current accumulation had reached the late-stage, and he could vaguely sense the threshold of a new breakthrough.

If this had happened before, Shen Mo would have begun seeking opportunities for breakthroughs.

But he learned from Uncle Chen that to enter the Qi Gathering Realm and open up multiple Dantians, one needed to solidly consolidate their foundation; the greater the accumulation, the better.

A thousand-zhang high tower starts from the ground up.

So, Shen Mo was not anxious about making a breakthrough at this moment. Instead, he wanted to continue consolidating his cultivation, striving to naturally break through after his accumulation reached Perfection.

One hundred Li Fire Crystal Stones allowed me to refine a total of twenty-three finished Li Fire Talismans.

He took out all the Li Fire Talismans from his storage bag and counted them, feeling quite satisfied.

Even if I account for unexpected difficulties, twenty Li Fire Talismans should be absolutely enough to deal with that Double-headed Python.

I’ll sell the remaining three talismans in the Market and exchange them for some defensive talismans.

He set off immediately and quickly arrived at the Talisman Hall in the Market.

”A Li Fire Talisman, selling price is nine low-grade Spirit Stones.”

Hearing that Shen Mo intended to sell talismans, the disciple attending the shop informed him of the purchase price.

The normal market price for a Li Fire Talisman was ten low-grade Spirit Stones. However, the Talisman Hall’s purchases were not for ordinary cultivators to use; the Hall intended to resell them, so naturally, it needed to make a profit.

Shen Mo didn’t care much about the one Spirit Stone difference. After all, setting up a stall to sell to other cultivators would also cost him time.

After swiftly selling three talismans for twenty-seven low-grade Spirit Stones, he purchased a Boulder Talisman and an Earth Escaping Talisman from the same place.

He had personally experienced the effects of these two talismans and was quite satisfied; they were essential items for both home and travel.

With these two talismans for his trip to Yong’an Town, Shen Mo felt much more confident.

Even if something went wrong and he failed to successfully kill the Double-headed Python, he could ensure his life was safe.

Lastly, there’s one more thing I need.

All the necessary talismans had been prepared. But for this trip, he was still missing some grafting spiritual soil.

According to the Zhao Family, the Red Fruits sown in this round would require another two or three months to mature.

If I kill the Double-headed Python, I won’t be able to stay in the Zhao Family’s Spirit Field until the fruits mature.

So, to prevent the Purple Sun Red Fruits from being picked before they mature and losing their medicinal efficacy, I need this grafting spiritual soil to hold the immature fruits, allowing them to continue growing.

Grafting spiritual soil was not rare; many spiritual plant farmers used it.

The price was not too expensive either; one pot could be bought for five Spirit Stones.

Shen Mo purchased this item at a stall in the Market run by an inner sect senior brother.

After putting it into his Universe Bag, Shen Mo officially set off!

「Yong’an Town, Zhao Family.」

A family meeting was being held in the inner hall.

The patriarch, Zhao Bing, sat at the head of the table.

To his sides sat his eldest son, Zhao Jiachang, and his second son, Zhao Jiaxing.

Behind them were some collateral family members.

The issue they were discussing at the family meeting was about asking for help.

”Father, the patriarch of the Chen Family has already agreed to come and help get rid of the demon,” Zhao Jiachang reported. ”However, they are not satisfied with our proposed condition: giving all the Spirit Fruit harvested over three years to the Chen Family after the task is done.”

”That young patriarch of the Chen Family has explicitly stated that our Zhao Family must hand over ten acres of Spirit Field as a reward. Only then will the Chen Family take action.”

”Ten acres of Spirit Field! The Chen Family is truly unreasonable, disregarding the many years of friendship between our two families and making such a huge demand!”

Upon hearing his son’s words, Zhao Bing’s expression turned gloomy, and he slammed the table in frustration.

”The Chen Family is taking advantage of our Zhao Family’s desperate situation, knowing we have no other recourse!”

”No matter what, the Spirit Field is our Zhao Family’s ancestral property! We absolutely cannot give it up!”

”But if we don’t seek help from the Chen Family, how can we hold onto our Spirit Field?” Zhao Jiaxing lamented. ”If we drag this on any longer, the Spirit Field will lose contact with the spiritual water and will become barren, turning into ordinary soil.”

”Isn’t there that Immortal Master from the Riverside Sect?” a collateral member piped up. ”He said he would come back to exorcise the demon for us.”

”The Immortal Master probably just made a casual comment. Pinning our hopes on that seems too far-fetched.”

”We still need to make preparations for both scenarios. If the Immortal Master doesn’t come on the agreed date, at least we’ll have a backup plan.”

”What are you all talking about?”

Just as the Zhao family members were arguing incessantly, Shen Mo’s voice filled the hall.

”Immortal Master?”

Everyone was stunned, then immediately looked towards the source of the voice.

When they saw Shen Mo’s figure, they couldn’t help but become overjoyed.

”Hahaha, I knew it! The Immortal Master is a man of his word!”

Zhao Bing quickly stepped forward, bowing in respect.

”Didn’t I tell you to wait for me for a month?” Shen Mo, who had clearly heard the Zhao family’s discussion earlier, asked. ”Why did you agree to wait, only to seek help from others?”

”Immortal Master, you may not know...” Zhao Bing looked embarrassed as he explained, ”After you left, the Demonic Aura in the Spirit Field didn’t recede; instead, it grew even stronger. Everyone in our Zhao Family has been worried sick. Even though the Demon Snakes are currently only occupying the Spirit Field and haven’t yet harmed anyone on our Zhao Family’s property, the threat still exists. This naturally makes everyone in our Zhao Family uneasy.”

Considering Shen Mo’s rather casual remark earlier, the Zhao family members hadn’t dared to pin all their hopes on him. That was why they had sought help from Cultivating Families with whom they were on friendly terms.

”Forget it.” Shen Mo waved his hand, apparently not bothered by this.

”I have come fully prepared this time. Today, I will rid your Zhao Family of the scourge in your Spirit Field!”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Bing couldn’t stop smiling.

However, he couldn’t help but carefully look outside the mansion. Seeing no one else apart from Shen Mo, the smile on his face slowly froze, and he asked with some hesitation, ”Did the Immortal Master come alone?”

Patriarch Zhao had thought that Shen Mo would bring along some powerful experts from his sect this time. After all, the last time he came alone, he had to flee in a rather embarrassing state.

”The previous defeat was due to not knowing about the big demon’s existence and being underprepared,” Shen Mo said, guessing Zhao Bing’s thoughts with a slight raise of his eyebrow. ”This time, I am thoroughly prepared. Patriarch Zhao, you can rest assured.”

Shen Mo instructed the Zhao family members to wait for news at the entrance and not to let anyone else in, lest they disturb his demon-slaying.

Then, he once again set foot in that area.

HISS! HISS!

This time, when he re-entered the Spirit Field, the Demon Snakes lurking in various places lacked the courage to charge.

Upon sensing Shen Mo’s aura, they scattered and fled as if facing a formidable enemy.

Obviously, his previous display of slaying them like cutting vegetables had left a deep impression of fear in these creatures of low gnosis.

Shen Mo paid this no mind; his primary target was not these little Snake Demons anyway.

His first priority was to slay the Double-headed Silver Ring Python. Once the leader was killed, handling the remaining little Snake Demons would be much easier.