The First Immortal of Destiny

Seven Big Dipper sword embryos hung in the air, revolving around Shen Mo.

The sword bodies were as dark as a night sky, adorned with sparkling stars. Even though they were merely Dao sword embryonic forms, their appearance was already extraordinary.

Shen Mo held the jade slip of the "Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Formation." He opened the Destiny Panel and equipped the "Performance Martial Arts (Blue)" Destiny!

"Do you want to consume one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones to activate the Martial Performance cultivation method deduction?"

Without hesitation, he directly took out a middle-grade Spirit Stone from the Universe Bag.

Originally, to acquire the Divine Iron, Shen Mo had spent all his Spirit Stones. However, those two disciples from the Above Cloud Sect had conveniently come to deliver wealth.

While he gladly accepted it, this also slightly eased Shen Mo's pressing financial situation.

FWOOSH!

A golden, eye-like light burst from between Shen Mo's eyebrows, instantly draining the Spiritual Qi from the middle-grade Spirit Stone.

In just a moment, the Spirit Stone turned into a pinch of useless powder.

"Martial Performance, officially begin!"

In the mysterious space within Shen Mo's mind, a figure with a blurred face appeared.

It was a Martial Performance phantom, replicated from Shen Mo as a template. It stood proudly, with seven Dao sword embryonic forms also revolving around it!

SWOOSH! SWOOSH SWOOSH!

As the phantom formed a sword seal, the Big Dipper sword embryos hummed like a dragon's roar, whirling in unison to array themselves before it in the celestial pattern of the Big Dipper.

This Sword Array resembled an ordinary Big Dipper ladle used for scooping rice wine.

The Martial Performance phantom flicked its sword seal.

Instantly, the seven sword embryos merged into one. A majestic Sword Light cascaded down like a waterfall of starlight.

Anything caught within the Sword Array's range—be it cultivators, demonic beasts, evil cultivators, or Heavenly Demons—would be pulverized.

However, Shen Mo noticed that the Sword Array deployed by the Martial Performance phantom was far weaker than the one casually set up by the white-bearded old man.

These are just sword embryos. Once I fuse various extreme elements into them to forge sword intent, the Sword Array's power will definitely increase dramatically.

But Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures imbued with the seven extreme essences—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Light, and Dark—are incredibly rare individually, let alone finding all seven!

I can only search for them gradually in the future, forging one sword at a time as I find the materials.

While contemplating, Shen Mo glanced at the information feedback on the panel.

"Through your continuous cultivation and comprehension, you have initially grasped the profundities of the 'Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Formation.' Your understanding of the 'Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Formation' has deepened. Experience +10."

"Through your continuous cultivation and comprehension, you increasingly appreciate the profundities of the 'Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Formation.' Your understanding of the 'Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Formation' has deepened. Experience +10."

"Through your continuous cultivation and comprehension…"

One middle-grade Spirit Stone, equivalent to one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, was enough for "Martial Performance" to deduce the cultivation method for a full day and night!

While the Martial Performance phantom cultivated, Shen Mo himself stopped observing the mental space and began practicing the "Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Formation."

With "Martial Performance" providing a foundation, Shen Mo had already achieved initial mastery in this Sword Array, reaching the "Primary" level.

Shen Mo formed a sword seal.

The seven sword embryos, guided by his will, formed the Sword Array, unleashing endless formations of mighty Sword Light.

As the first to learn that the "Heavenly Demon passage was opening," Shen Mo was eager to enhance his strength. He didn't plan to venture down the mountain for training expeditions until he had exhausted all the Spirit Stones in his Universe Bag.

Besides using "Martial Performance" to assist in practicing the "Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Formation," Shen Mo also planned to improve the "Sword Control Spirit Technique" he had acquired.

If he could comprehend the True Intention of the Sword Path, or even condense a sword heart, that would be ideal!

Even if he couldn't achieve this quickly, the boost provided by the "Sword Control Spirit Technique" to his swordplay and flying sword control was not to be underestimated.

As long as I run fast enough, danger can't catch up to me! Shen Mo thought.

「Time flew by.」

For ten days and ten nights, aside from eating, drinking, and minimal sleep, Shen Mo spent all his remaining time diligently training.

He continuously wore the Special Destiny "Performance Martial Arts," using its [Martial Performance] ability to cultivate the "Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Formation" and the "Sword Control Spirit Technique"!

Simultaneously, he was tirelessly undertaking Alchemy and making talismans.

Cultivating with the [Martial Performance] ability was far more efficient than practicing on his own, but the drawback was its extreme consumption of Spirit Stones.

In ten days, Shen Mo had depleted ten middle-grade Spirit Stones.

If he continued this high-intensity [Martial Performance] cultivation, depleting his reserves at this rate, he could only sustain it for about twenty more days at most!

Fortunately, Shen Mo was skilled in both Alchemy and talisman making—two of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation—which allowed him to earn a substantial amount of Spirit Stones. This provided a continuous supply for [Martial Performance], helping him grow stronger.

The Forging Path was rather distinctive.

Usually, Forgemasters crafted items tailored to a cultivator's specific requirements.

Shen Mo didn't want to reveal his proficiency in these three arts. After all, being skilled in so many areas without any apparent tutelage would undoubtedly arouse suspicion.

He could sell standardized forged items, but the profits wouldn't be substantial, and Shen Mo didn't want to bother with the hassle.

For him, the production of Grade II Elixirs and talismans had the highest cost-effectiveness!

Whenever he accumulated a batch of Elixirs and talismans, Shen Mo would disguise himself, sell them in Jiyun Town at the foot of the mountain, and then purchase a new supply of raw materials for crafting.

Through this cycle of selling and restocking, Shen Mo managed to maintain his Spirit Stone reserves in the Universe Bag at around two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.

In return, his "Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Formation" and "Sword Control Spirit Technique" progressed rapidly. His experience in Alchemy and talisman making also increased considerably.

He summoned the Destiny Panel.

[Destinied Lord: Shen Mo]

[Cultivation Method: "Purple Mansion Heart Scripture" Junior (7,885/9,000); "Heavenly Origin Technique" Senior (3,964/4,000)]

[Martial Arts: "Supreme Clarity Sword Technique" Master (4,120/16,000); "Sword Control Spirit Technique" Senior (150/3,000); "Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Formation" Senior (230/3,000)]

[Lightness Magic: "Thunderclap Rapid Step" Senior (8,823/15,000); "Immortal Wind Cloud Physique" Primary (200/500)]

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

[Soul Magic: "Divine Soul Contemplation Scripture" (Not yet condensed)]

Shen Mo had experimented. With the enhancement from the "Sword Control Spirit Technique," the power of his "Supreme Clarity Sword Technique" increased, and the speed at which he could fly on the Dragon Sparrow Sword also rose noticeably.

In essence, the "Sword Control Spirit Technique" acted as a linchpin.

For anything related to magic swords, its various profound techniques could provide certain enhancements.

Shen Mo believed that as his mastery of the "Sword Control Spirit Technique" deepened, he would sooner or later comprehend a sword intent akin to the Dragon Sparrow Sword's [Kill Life].

He might even condense a supreme sword heart!

However, the sword intents and sword hearts that practitioners of the Sword Path could comprehend and condense were all related to their personality, experiences, true heart, and aspirations.

Shen Mo knew that given his temperament, even if he successfully comprehended a sword intent, it would definitely not be one as intensely murderous as [Kill Life].

So, what kind of sword intent will it be?

Only when I comprehend it will I know.

One day, Shen Mo had just finished selling Elixirs and talismans and was returning from Jiyun Town when a crimson blur crashed into his chest. If he hadn't cultivated the "Dragon Elephant Blood Fiend Body," such an impact could have injured a Qi Gathering Realm Layer II cultivator, making them vomit blood.

"Master, I'm starving… So hungry…"

Through the Spirit Pet Contract, Shen Mo heard the Spirit Storage Rat's call.

"So you've finally woken up!"

Shen Mo grabbed it by its thick neck, like one would a kitten, and lifted it up.