The First Immortal of Destiny

[Talent: Genius (Blue)]

Finally! A blue Basic Destiny entry! He looked at his Basic Destiny attributes, and seeing that streak of blue, tears welled up in his eyes.

According to Shen Mo's calculations, a blue Basic Destiny was equivalent to a top-level spirit bone in the cultivation world, a superior cultivation talent found only once in a thousand.

His cultivation speed would be at least twice as fast as his previous superior talent allowed. His comprehension of various forms of magic would also be greatly enhanced!

Even compared to the prodigies possessing a Spiritual Body, a top-level spirit bone shouldn't be far inferior.

Shen Mo was quite optimistic and wouldn't compare himself with that small handful of geniuses.

The one he compared himself with was himself.

From mediocre talent to superior talent, and now to a Genius with a top-level spirit bone, Shen Mo had, step by step, truly managed to change his destiny.

This is truly a joyous occasion. Next, I need to find a way to forge The Big Dipper Array!

He took out a jade slip he had found in the Treasure Hall from his Universe Bag, muttering to himself.

Previously, Shen Mo might not have been in such a hurry. But now, it was clear there wouldn't be many peaceful days left for him to cultivate slowly. He needed to prepare as many trump cards for himself as possible.

In his cultivation so far, although he had learned several forms of magic and martial arts, and cultivated them to a very high level with the aid of his Destiny [Martial Performance], these were merely low-class magic. No matter how proficiently cultivated, they ultimately had their limits. As Shen Mo's strength increased, he gradually felt that relying solely on his mastered Primary Shangqing Swordplay was still too weak.

He needed more powerful methods of attack. To forge The Big Dipper Array, I need Divine Iron. But where can I find this Divine Iron? he wondered, frowning.

Previously, he had visited the Market and found that many cultivators' stalls, including the Weapon Hall established by the sect, did not sell this item. Divine Iron was a rare Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, a top-level spirit mineral. Legend had it that it originated from Extraterrestrial Meteor Iron that fell to the mortal realm and required hundreds of thousands of years of nurturing within the deep earth to form. Not only was it immensely valuable, but it was also exceedingly difficult to find.

I should post a bounty, Shen Mo decided after a moment of thought. He would post a bounty, asking sect disciples to search for clues and information about the Divine Iron, offering a certain reward in return. This was a common method used by many sect Elders and core disciples when they lacked rare treasures.

When he arrived at the Deacon Hall, Shen Mo saw Deacon Ma again.

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Shen, you're here!" Deacon Ma was currently holding a talisman, exchanging messages with an outer disciple he fancied. Seeing Shen Mo, he was slightly startled, then his face immediately broke into a smile as he offered a warm welcome.

Clearly, someone at Deacon Ma's level, an Outer Deacon, wouldn't have access to core information like the reopening of the Heavenly Demon Channel. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so idly slacking off at his counter.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you've joined the Inner Door! It's been a long time. You wouldn't visit the temple without a cause, so what brings you here today?"

"Indeed. I'm looking for a spirit mineral, but the sect's Market doesn't stock it, so I'd like to post a bounty notice in the Deacon Hall."

"Oh? What kind of spirit mineral?"

"Divine Iron."

Shen Mo looked at Deacon Ma and held up one finger. "I'll have to trouble Deacon Ma to post a bounty for me. For anyone who can find a trace of Divine Iron or provide clues leading to it, I'm willing to pay a reward of one hundred Spirit Stones."

"Alright, I'll record it for you right away," Deacon Ma nodded, then used his Daoist brush to quickly jot down the details on the task light screen. Soon, spiritual light surged, merging this notice with the numerous other tasks.

"All set. Fellow Daoist Shen, you can head back and wait. If any clues or information surface, I will inform you," Deacon Ma said, then exchanged contact information with Shen Mo using a sound-transmitting talisman.

"Thank you for your help, Deacon Ma."

"It's a small matter." Deacon Ma smiled. "Fellow Daoist Shen, you truly are no ordinary fish in a pond. The moment you entered the Inner Door, you soared to the heavens!"

He vaguely recalled that just over half a year ago, Shen Mo had been a struggling outer disciple, barely scraping by on the single Spirit Stone he received monthly for guarding the mountain gate. Yet, in such a short time, he had become an inner disciple posting bounties, and so generously at that, offering a hundred Spirit Stones merely for information.

"It's all thanks to the care and support of my fellow sect members that I've achieved this little bit," Shen Mo said. Hearing this, he recalled his own past hardships and felt a wave of emotion.

Looking at Deacon Ma, Shen Mo suddenly remembered that when he had first entered the Inner Door, Deacon Ma had helped him arrange the selection of his cave mansion.

He owed him a favor. It was time to repay it!

He took out a jade bottle of Grade II Qi Coalescing Pills from his storage bag. There were five pills in total, enough to support a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator's cultivation for half a year. If absorbed well, coupled with some fortuitous opportunity, breaking through their current realm shouldn't be difficult.

"Fellow Daoist Shen... this?" Deacon Ma's face filled with pleasant surprise upon seeing the jade bottle of Qi Coalescing Pills Shen Mo offered.

"Deacon Ma, you went to great lengths for me before. This is just a small token of my appreciation," Shen Mo said with a smile.

What he was actually thinking was: With the Heavenly Demon Channel opening, the environment in the Red Flame Country is bound to deteriorate drastically. The Riverside Sect, as one of the Five Great Sects, will surely dispatch its powerful cultivators to battle the Foreign Realm Demons and establish a warfront. Someone like Deacon Ma, if sent to the Asura Battlefield, would likely be cannon fodder. It's hard to say how long he'd survive. It's better to repay this favor now, lest there's no chance later.

Shen Mo disliked being indebted, especially for favors. In this cultivation world, cause and effect operated subtly. If this favor wasn't repaid, who knew what kind of consequences it might lead to in the future?

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you truly are a man who repays kindness! I, Ma, certainly didn't misjudge you!" Deacon Ma, oblivious to Shen Mo's intricate thoughts, accepted the Qi Coalescing Pills with delight. He patted his chest and declared, "Rest assured, if there's any news of the Divine Iron, I, Ma, will inform you immediately! Furthermore, if Fellow Daoist Shen has any other matters requiring my assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. My abilities are limited, but if it's within my capacity, I will not decline."

"No need." Shen Mo smiled and shook his head. "Deacon Ma, just keeping an eye out for news about the Divine Iron will be enough."

* * *

After returning from the Deacon Hall where he had posted the bounty, ten days passed without any news.

Shen Mo was not in a hurry. He spent these ten days in his cave mansion, diligently practicing alchemy and talisman making. He did this to earn more Spirit Stones for his daily expenses.

His experiences in the Mountain River Realm, from which he brought back and sold a large quantity of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, making a quick fortune, had considerably broadened his horizons. Previously, he had been meticulous about spending Spirit Stones, saving as much as possible. This was because his means of earning money were once limited. Now, however, while he had more ways to earn money, his expenses had also naturally increased significantly.

His need for Spirit Stones was more pressing than ever.