The First Immortal of Destiny

In fact, Shen Mo had not been caught earlier because he couldn't escape. Even though the speed of these two cultivators controlling their artifacts was quite fast, Shen Mo had mastered the Control Sword Magic; if he wanted to sprint at high speed, he could have easily shaken them off. The reason he hadn't done so was that he felt confident he could deal with these two Qi Gathering Realm Layer IV cultivators.

Seeking death!

After Shen Mo took out the Soul Refining Flag, the two disciples of the Above Cloud Sect saw him preparing to resist and were immediately filled with murderous intent. They waved their magic artifacts and slammed them violently at Shen Mo.

"Imperial Soul, out!"

Facing this terrifying, sweeping attack, Shen Mo's expression didn't change; he only slightly shook the Soul Refining Flag.

CLATTER!

Flames of Bloody Demonic Qi began to sweep over the entire forest. The vast blood-red curtain, like a tide engulfing mountains and rivers, easily swallowed the attacks of the two Qi Gathering Realm Layer IV cultivators.

Next, from within this blood-red curtain, Flag Souls were summoned one by one.

The Vajra Ape, the first to be imprisoned as Shen Mo's soul general in the flag, was the first to charge out! Following it were one minor Heavenly Demon after another.

GULP!

As Shen Mo summoned the souls from the flag, he felt the Spiritual Qi in his body rapidly depleting and promptly swallowed a few Qi Restoring Pills.

This is...

When dozens of minor Heavenly Demons were condensed by the Soul Refining Flag, the faces of these two Above Cloud Sect disciples, who intended to kill and plunder, changed drastically!

Dozens of Flag Souls, all exuding the aura of the Qi Gathering Realm, appeared. Their auras resonated, forming a terrifying might as if mountains were toppling and seas churning.

Even though they were both core disciples of the Above Cloud Sect and were well-experienced, seeing such a spectacle now made their scalps tingle.

"What kind of technique is this?"

"Are you an evil cultivator?"

The two looked at each other, both seeing the intent to retreat in the other's eyes. They actually activated Thunderclap Rapid Step in unison and frantically fled backward, trying to escape.

Thinking of running now? Too late!

Shen Mo wanted to use these two Qi Gathering Realm Layer IV cultivators to test the power of the Soul Refining Flag, which had devoured more than a hundred Soul Generals, and see exactly how formidable it had become. Since the Soul Refining Flag had been brought out, he naturally couldn't let them leave alive!

"Kill!"

Following Shen Mo's command, countless minor Heavenly Demons swarmed like locusts toward the two Qi Gathering Realm Layer IV cultivators.

"AH!"

These minor Heavenly Demons were extremely fast and caught up with the two in an instant. Then, after completely surrounding them, they pounced and began to frantically bite and tear.

The two Qi Gathering Realm cultivators were terrified, their faces ashen. They managed to destroy a few minor Heavenly Demons, only to find their forms quickly turned into black smoke and returned to the Soul Refining Flag. With a wave of Shen Mo's hand, they were summoned forth once more.

They can't be killed?

Seeing this, the two fell into complete despair.

"Damn it! I told you we shouldn't chase him! You just had to insist on this murderous robbery!"

"Fellow Daoist, let's talk this over! Please, spare our lives!"

At this moment, these two Above Cloud Sect disciples had lost all their earlier arrogance. They knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.

But Shen Mo paid no heed to their pleas. If you intend to kill and plunder, you must be prepared to be killed yourself.

He immediately shook the Soul Refining Flag, commanding countless Heavenly Demons to devour them completely.

By the time the Heavenly Demons dispersed, the two Qi Gathering Realm Layer IV cultivators had vanished, leaving not even bones behind. Only their Universe Bags were left on the ground.

This spectacle is truly horrifying.

If I hadn't managed to resist that day, I would likely have ended up just like them, with not even my bones remaining.

Seeing how they had vanished so completely, without even leaving bones behind, even Shen Mo, the one responsible, felt a slight chill.

He put the Soul Refining Flag back into his Universe Bag. He also picked up the two Universe Bags they had left behind.

The power of the Soul Refining Flag, after devouring nearly a hundred minor Heavenly Demons, is truly terrifying!

Shen Mo estimated that as long as he had a continuous supply of Mana, even cultivators at Qi Gathering Realm Layer V or Layer VI would find it difficult to survive against the endless Flag Souls of the Soul Refining Flag.

However, the Soul Refining Flag could not be easily revealed; he shouldn't take it out unless absolutely necessary!

「」

Riverside Sect, Inner Door Cave Mansion.

Shen Mo returned to his cave mansion and successfully opened the Universe Bags left by the two Above Cloud Sect disciples using a Space Breaking Talisman.

Although these two had cultivated to Qi Gathering Realm Layer IV, they were still using low-grade Universe Bags.

Seeing how easily they opened, Shen Mo chuckled and shook his head. Using a Space Breaking Talisman to open a Universe Bag was a clever trick. This method only worked on low-grade Universe Bags. If it were a middle-grade Universe Bag, its construction and inscribed runes would be far more intricate and complex, making it impossible to open with such a simple trick.

There are quite a few items, but not many are valuable.

Shen Mo inspected them thoroughly but found little of interest among the contents of the two Universe Bags. All the miscellaneous items combined would probably only fetch a little over three hundred Spirit Stones in the Market.

That doesn't seem right. One of them bid against me earlier, calling out one thousand one hundred Spirit Stones. It's unlikely he was bluffing; there must be enough Spirit Stones in his Universe Bag.

Shen Mo carefully searched through the Universe Bags again. Finally, in a hidden compartment within a jade box, he found something else. This compartment looked small but contained twelve lustrous middle-grade Spirit Stones, radiating rich Mana.

Sure enough, there's a real treasure! I knew a core disciple from the Above Cloud Sect couldn't be that poor.

Seeing these twelve Spirit Stones, Shen Mo was overjoyed. This was equivalent to one thousand two hundred low-grade Spirit Stones! A fortune!

In addition, Shen Mo found a jade slip lying quietly inside the compartment.

This jade slip...

Shen Mo picked up the jade slip and scanned it with his spiritual sense.

[Immortal Wind Cloud Physique]

This jade slip recorded a Lightness Magic. Moreover, this Lightness Magic, though only Profound Level Low Grade, was a companion technique to Thunderclap Rapid Step. It was also one of the secret arts of the Above Cloud Sect. If both were cultivated simultaneously, they would complement each other, allowing a cultivator's movement speed to take a qualitative leap.

I truly am... fated with the magic arts of this Above Cloud Sect. Previously at the Market, I obtained one of their secret arts with a few worthless Lightness Talismans. Now, after counter-killing those robbers, I've obtained this companion cultivation method as well.

Since I have it, I'll start cultivating it!

This Immortal Wind Cloud Physique came at just the right time. Shen Mo's cultivation of Thunderclap Rapid Step, through continuous grinding using his "Performance Martial Arts" Destiny, was already nearing its limit. Now, the appearance of this companion cultivation method resolved Shen Mo's dilemma of having no Lightness cultivation method left to improve.

WHOOSH.

He consumed one middle-grade Spirit Stone. Soon, Shen Mo activated his "Performance Martial Arts" Destiny and began to diligently study the Lightness Magic, Immortal Wind Cloud Physique, in the dark space.

[Destinied Lord: Shen Mo]

[Cultivation Method: Purple Mansion Heart Scripture, Junior (7451/9000), Heavenly Origin Technique, Senior (3914/4000)]

[Martial Arts: Supreme Clarity Sword Technique, Master (4015/16,000)]

[Lightness Magic: Thunderclap Rapid Step, Senior (8823/15,000), Immortal Wind Cloud Physique, Primary (1/500)]

[External Magic: Dragon Elephant Blood Fiend Body, Dragon Body (3/100)]

[Soul Magic: Divine Soul Contemplation Scripture (Not Yet Condensed)]

Shen Mo cultivated using Spirit Stones with his "Performance Martial Arts" Destiny, while also practicing in reality within his cave mansion. In just half a day, he had successfully mastered Immortal Wind Cloud Physique.

Good, the results are indeed remarkable.

After a brief test, Shen Mo was very satisfied with the enhancement effect.

Next, it's time to forge The Big Dipper Array using this Divine Iron!