Seizing Destiny From Heavens Hands

Chapter 285: Earth-Rank Low-Grade Treasure – Phoenix Perch Parasol Tree

Ye Yan traveled south without pause.

His speed was swift, and he didn't stop for even a moment.

As he approached the border of Taishan Prefecture, he finally came to a halt.

Ahead of him was a dormant volcano, once a treasured site for alchemy within the Nine Cycles Alchemy Sect.

However, the volcano had fallen dormant after being affected by the devastating war of years past.

Why did Ye Yan stop here? Even he wasn't entirely sure.

Perhaps it was the fleeting shadow of a demonic beast in the forest.

Perhaps it was the sight of smoke curling from chimneys in the nearby village.

Or perhaps it was a subtle pull of fate, guiding him to stop unconsciously.

Many actions humans take are not the result of deliberate thought.

This sudden halt was no exception for Ye Yan.

However, as soon as he stopped, he noticed a familiar figure by the volcanic crater, which had long since transformed into a lake.

Dressed in flowing green robes, the figure was none other than Shen Mo, the current Young Sect Master of the Jade Cauldron Sect.

Ye Yan's pupils contracted sharply.

But he quickly realized that the murder of Wang Wu had likely not yet been discovered.

Shen Mo wouldn't be here to pursue him.

"Young Sect Master Shen, what brings you here?" Ye Yan asked cautiously.

Shen Mo smiled faintly. "I accepted a mission and came here to complete it."

"What about you, Elder Ye?"

Ye Yan presented a pre-prepared excuse. "I've taken on a mission in the south. I'm heading to Longjiang Prefecture to eliminate invading demons."

Longjiang Prefecture, located south of Taishan Prefecture and bordering Mist Province, shared a similar culture and was plagued by frequent demon and beast activity.

It was common for elders to go there on missions.

Shen Mo nodded with a slight smile. "I see. Elder Ye, don't mind me. Carry on with your task."

With that, he turned back toward the lake in the volcanic crater, standing quietly.

Ye Yan frowned slightly.

He had no idea what Shen Mo was doing here.

But since Shen Mo showed no hostility, Ye Yan decided it was best to avoid confrontation.

Carefully, Ye Yan circled far around Shen Mo, keeping a distance of at least 100 meters, ensuring he never turned his back on the Young Sect Master.

Only when they were over a kilometer apart did Ye Yan gradually pick up his pace and resume heading south.

Shen Mo watched Ye Yan's departing figure with a faint smile.

He already knew what Ye Yan's fate would be.

This man had witnessed the overwhelming strength of the Ten Thousand Demons Nation and the invincible power of the Demon Emperor. Coupled with the exclusion he faced within the Jade Cauldron Sect, Ye Yan would inevitably betray the sect and join the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.

Later, Ye Yan would rise to become one of the Demon Emperor's most trusted lieutenants.

Thus, it was inevitable that Ye Yan would leave the Jade Cauldron Sect one day.

Back at Fire Dragon Valley, Shen Mo had glimpsed Ye Yan's life trajectory through his unique insight.

As expected, he discovered that Ye Yan was destined to leave the Jade Cauldron Sect.

Of course, Shen Mo had no intention of stopping him or bidding him farewell.

However, Shen Mo had also noticed that on Ye Yan's journey southward, he would pause at this dormant volcano and, by sheer chance, uncover a great opportunity in the lake at its crater.

As a righteous and upright cultivator, Shen Mo could not allow such a treasure to fall into the hands of someone destined to join the enemy.

Wouldn't that be aiding the enemy?

Thus, Shen Mo arrived at this location in advance.

Knowing Ye Yan would deem himself weaker and avoid confrontation, Shen Mo was confident the man would leave swiftly.

This ensured that the opportunity would fall into Shen Mo's hands instead.

Not long after Ye Yan left, the tranquil lake suddenly began to boil as if it had been set aflame.

Crabs and shrimp floated to the surface one after another.

Without wings, they couldn't escape and soon turned bright red, their lives snuffed out in the process.

Deep within the lake, a faint glimmer of light began to shine.

"At last," Shen Mo muttered, his eyes lighting up as he leapt into the lake.

Moments later, he burst from the water, holding tightly to a piece of fiery red wood, about the length of a forearm.

"An Earth-Rank Low-Grade Treasure—Phoenix Perch Parasol Tree!"

Shen Mo's eyes gleamed with joy as he smiled.

The parasol tree was ordinarily just a common species of tree.

Only those over 500 years old could even be considered spiritual wood, let alone used in constructing sect buildings or crafting treasures.

But the phoenix has a special affinity for the parasol tree.

It often perches atop its branches, grooming its feathers.

An ordinary parasol tree, touched by the phoenix, undergoes a fiery rebirth.

Its leaves are consumed by flames.

The bark chars to black.

The core of the tree is tempered and refined in the intense fire.

Ultimately, the tree is reduced to a bare trunk, perpetually surrounded by flames.

This is the Phoenix Perch Parasol Tree.

"This treasure contains the lingering essence of a phoenix. It can help accelerate my mastery of the third and fourth forms of the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique," Shen Mo thought, his eyes gleaming.

"Perhaps I could even comprehend the fifth form on my own with its aid!"

Shen Mo smiled.

Even with his extraordinary life fate of "Understanding Thousands at a Glance," his progress in mastering the Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique had been slow.

In the current climate, with the Ten Thousand Demons Nation poised for invasion and storms brewing on the horizon, slow cultivation was a deadly liability.

Thus, Shen Mo was determined to use every possible means to accelerate his progress and increase his strength.

This piece of the Phoenix Perch Parasol Tree was an opportunity he could not afford to miss.

"Now that I have it, it's time to head back."

"By now, the Supreme Clarity Sect, the Pill River Sect, and the Governor's Office should have arrived at the Jade Cauldron Sect for the four-party talks."

Shen Mo quickened his pace, returning to the sect.

Jade Cauldron Sect – Martial Arena

Sect Master Li Zhentao, Shen Mo, and several elders stood silently, waiting.

Disciples and stewards gathered outside the arena, curiously peering in.

"I heard the Supreme Clarity Sect, the Pill River Sect, and the Governor's Office are sending people to our sect today."

"What? Why? Aren't they our mortal enemies?"

"No matter how deep the enmity, we must unite against the demons."

"That's true… though I wonder if the sect master and the others can hold their composure. If it were me, I wouldn't give the Governor's Office any courtesy."

"Look, they're here!"

A wave of excitement rippled through the disciples as they looked toward the sky.

A massive flying vessel sped through the air, soon appearing above.

The ship was over a hundred meters long and more than thirty meters wide.

Encased in iron armor, it hovered mid-air, surrounded by faint glimmers of light—evidence of the powerful formations engraved upon it.

This was the Ironclad Cloudship, a masterpiece of human formation engineering.

"So that's the Ironclad Cloudship? I've heard of how impressive it is, but today I finally get to see it."

"They say the Pill River Sect has a similar vessel. It's a pity we Jade Cauldron Sect don't have one."

"We'll definitely get one in the future!"

The disciples murmured among themselves, barely hiding their envy.

Shen Mo and Li Zhentao remained expressionless, while the Great Elder and others snorted coldly.

The Supreme Clarity Sect's flaunting was obvious.

Their intention was clear: to assert their influence and gain a stronger voice during the talks.

Even as the Ten Thousand Demons Nation threatened the human world, they still played such petty games—utterly contemptible.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Several streaks of light descended from the Ironclad Cloudship.

A loud, hearty laugh rang out.

"Hahaha! Sect Master Li, it's been over three hundred years since we last met, hasn't it? A pleasure, a pleasure!"

"When we met last, you were just a junior by the old sect master's side. Now, you've become a sect master yourself."

The leader of the Supreme Clarity Sect, Mo Lingxiao, strode forward with confident, long strides.

With thick eyebrows, fierce tiger-like eyes, and a commanding presence, he exuded natural authority without needing to speak a word.

It was clear this was a man who had earned his reputation as the sect master of the Supreme Clarity Sect.

🌟 Unlock Exclusive Early Access on Patreon! 🌟

Hello, beloved readers!

Join my Patreon community to enjoy:

📚 Daily Updates: Never wait for new chapters—get your story fix every day!

📖 20 Chapters Ahead: Access new chapters far in advance of Scribblehub/RoyalRoad/Webnovel releases.

Support the creation of the stories you love and dive deeper into my world!

Patreon.com/Alex_Cruise

https://ko-fi.com/anish_44