The First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 613: Chapter 613: Refining Samadhi True Fire_1

Shen Mo didn’t break his promise. When he refined Yang Chengxiong into a Demon Soul General, he hadn’t completely erased his consciousness. Instead, he placed Yang Chengxiong in a higher tier within the banner’s Demon Soul General hierarchy. Consequently, much like the Ghost Bride and Master Hong Jue, he possessed greater spirituality than the other Soul Generals.

Shen Mo carefully sensed Yang Chengxiong’s lingering obsessions and found that thoughts of resentment and backlash were almost nonexistent. The only strong desires filling his soul were ”to devour blood food to strengthen himself” and ”to regain full consciousness one day.”

With this, Shen Mo felt relieved.

The Possession Ghost’s ability to conceal its form was quite remarkable, and such Soul Ghosts were exceedingly rare. Coupled with the strange changes in the Ghost Nation Ruins that made entry difficult, it would be challenging for Shen Mo to cultivate a new one. Now that he had re-refined and regained control over it, it could prove highly useful in many future situations.

After dealing with Yang Chengxiong, Shen Mo’s gaze fell upon the Universe Bag in his hand. After a moment of contemplation, he retrieved a Realm Breaking Talisman and began working to open it.

HUM!

As soon as Shen Mo opened Yang Chengxiong’s Universe Bag, a crimson spirit light shot out, attempting to flee.

However, Shen Mo was prepared. He unleashed a Palm technique, imprisoning the spirit light within a three-foot radius inside the phantom prison of Jingmu An.

Only then did he clearly see the crimson spirit light enveloping a treasured cauldron the size of a human head. The cauldron itself was filled with a rather peculiar spirit flame.

Is this spirit flame the legendary Samadhi True Fire? Shen Mo wondered.

He reached out, snatching the treasured cauldron. He discovered it was also a low-grade Spiritual Artifact.

It didn’t take much thought to guess that the true owner of this treasured cauldron was Elder Zhu of the Taiyi Sword Alliance. He had likely lent it to Yang Chengxiong to help him collect the Samadhi True Fire more effectively.

An artifact that had developed gnosis differed somewhat from a profound artifact. Within the range of its owner’s sense, it could be controlled freely, allowing its full power to be unleashed. Had Yang Chengxiong not been apprehensive at the time and stored the treasured cauldron in his Universe Bag, Zhu Zhao could have recalled the Spiritual Artifact treasured cauldron with a mere thought, even from thousands of miles away, and then calmly departed from the Fire Spirit clan’s territory. If that had happened, Shen Mo wouldn’t have been involved in any of this.

Even now, though this treasured cauldron wasn’t within the range of Zhu Zhao’s sense, it still maintained a close spiritual connection with him and was trying to escape Shen Mo’s grasp, taking the Samadhi True Fire with it.

Trying to take it back after it has fallen into my hands? You must be daydreaming! Shen Mo scoffed internally.

Immediately, Shen Mo’s surging True Yuan and formidable soul power swept out, pouring into the treasured cauldron to continuously erode the soul mark Zhu Zhao had left.

If he were still a Spirit Sea cultivator, he would have inevitably needed to ”cajole and intimidate” the Artifact Spirit within the cauldron, persuading it to cooperate for a smoother refining process. But now, that was no longer necessary.

Even if this treasured cauldron named ’Wildland Fire’ swore to resist to the death, its only fate would be to shatter and be destroyed in its fierce struggle.

Other than losing much of its spirituality and its grade dropping to the profound level, it wasn’t a major issue! With my current proficiency in forging and the Spiritual Wisdom Skill, as long as I have enough time, I won’t be short of spiritual-grade magic treasures.

Perhaps it was because the Wildland Fire Cauldron had been refined by Zhu Zhao for many years. Unlike the Ruyi Soul Stealing Needle, which Tian Zhiyu had only recently refined, or the skull whose owner Shen Mo had slain, the resistance from the Artifact Spirit within this cauldron was far more intense than Shen Mo had anticipated.

Amidst a series of jarring sounds, several fine cracks suddenly marred the cauldron’s perfectly smooth body. The Wildland Fire’s Artifact Spirit was also resisting with all its might. Its gnosis completely collapsed. In that instant of destruction, Shen Mo forced out a drop of his blood, which landed on the treasured cauldron as he simultaneously imprinted his soul mark upon it.

What a pity, Shen Mo thought, a look of regret on his face. This Artifact Spirit could be considered loyal and devoted. I thought the Wildland Fire’s Artifact Spirit would submit to me in order to ’survive.’ I didn’t expect it to be so resolute.

But this couldn’t be helped. If he didn’t gain complete control over this Prairie Furnace, he wouldn’t be able to retrieve the Samadhi True Fire within. Moreover, he would constantly have to guard against it trying to escape.

Then, Shen Mo composed himself and, with a surge of True Yuan, lifted the lid of the treasured cauldron.

As expected of a spirit flame born from the ultimate transformation of a top-tier expert’s Essence and Qi, it truly is extraordinary and mystical!

A hint of fascination flickered in Shen Mo’s eyes as he gazed at the spirit flame before him. At first glance, it appeared vibrantly colorful and dreamily beautiful, but upon closer inspection, it seemed formless, colorless, akin to Immortal Spirit Qi.

Numerous records regarding the Samadhi True Fire existed within the secret archives of the Riverside Sect. Thus, Shen Mo knew this spirit flame was considered top-grade among spirit flames, second only to the legendary Heavenly Fire.

Besides its uses in alchemy, forging artifacts, and combat, its most precious quality was its ability to continuously temper one’s own Essence and Qi after being consumed and refined, thereby advancing one’s cultivation level.

Without further hesitation, Shen Mo immediately activated his Vajra Body. His figure shimmered, transforming into the three-headed, six-armed form of a Demon God. He still had some low-class Ice Cold Pills on hand. While they couldn’t completely negate the burning sensation of swallowing the Samadhi True Fire, they would offer some relief, which was better than nothing.

Then, Shen Mo enveloped the Samadhi True Fire with his True Yuan and swallowed it in one gulp.

Compared to when he refined the Nether Fire and the Green Lotus Flame, the Samadhi True Fire felt remarkably gentle as it slowly descended his throat and esophagus.

With a mental command, Shen Mo began to circulate the Mixed Yuan Qi Technique. As his True Yuan coursed powerfully through his body, the Samadhi True Fire gradually settled into his Dantian in his lower abdomen, simultaneously becoming imbued with the unique aura of his True Yuan, vital blood, and soul.

BOOM!

Suddenly, Shen Mo perceived a blinding flash of fire before his eyes, causing his Dao Body to tremble and his mind to waver momentarily.

When he regained his senses, he found that the Samadhi True Fire had settled in his Dantian, quietly hovering beneath his Golden Core like a bonfire. His True Yuan, intrinsically linked to his Essence and Qi, now manifested as a golden haze that filled his Dantian and permeated the area around his Golden Core. Under the searing heat of this spirit flame, his True Yuan was steadily growing stronger.

[You have successfully refined the Samadhi True Fire. Tempered by the Samadhi True Fire, your True Yuan has become more profound and pure. Your cultivation has increased.]

[During the process of refining the Samadhi True Fire, you have unexpectedly received a fortuitous opportunity. Destiny Point +1.]

The interface prompts appeared the very instant Shen Mo succeeded in the refining process.

Feeling his cultivation, which had been stagnant for nearly a year, begin to slowly rise once more, Shen Mo felt incredibly exhilarated.

”With this Samadhi True Fire, I won’t face any bottlenecks at least until I reach the late-stage Golden Core Realm,” Shen Mo exclaimed, unable to contain his joy after carefully sensing the changes.

As for whether this fortuitous opportunity could help him cultivate all the way to the peak of the Golden Core Realm, or even ascend to become a Heavenly Monarch of the Divine Bridge Realm, Shen Mo wasn’t very confident. Zhu Zhao, who was already at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, had coveted this spirit flame so intensely precisely because he hoped this opportunity would grant him that slim chance of reaching the Divine Bridge Realm. It wasn’t that obtaining the Samadhi True Fire guaranteed ascension to Heavenly Monarch.

Shen Mo’s own foundation was extremely profound. Once he smoothly advanced to the late-stage Golden Core Realm, he would possess combat strength comparable to an expert at the peak of that realm.

Given this, he wouldn’t be excessively greedy or feel dissatisfied!