The First Immortal of Destiny

The sharp blade of the Dragon Sparrow Sword was enveloped with Nether Fire. He executed the Supreme Clarity Sword Technique with Master-level proficiency, further enhanced by the Sword Control Spirit Technique and his Basic Destiny...

A simple slash, yet its lethal power reached a terrifying level!

"BUZZ!"

The sword Qi rolled past, and the Big-bellied Ghosts feasting on Human Cultivators were all swept into the Sword Light. Amidst a series of mournful screams, they were all cut down in the blink of an eye.

The surging Ghost Qi suddenly dissipated, melting into the surroundings like mist. Their ghostly forms turned into ragged, cotton-like filth, falling to the ground and quickly merging with the barren, withered soil. The partially consumed remains of cultivators and their organs also appeared rotten, a nauseating sight.

Only clear, translucent soul cores remained, swept up by the Sword Light and obediently falling into Shen Mo's hands.

"The soul cores of Hungry Ghosts! Very good."

"Who would have thought that the soul core left behind by such a repulsive, all-devouring Hungry Ghost would be so clean and beautiful?"

"It's a pity not every Hungry Ghost leaves a soul core. Probably only about thirty percent."

"Otherwise, just killing the Hungry Ghosts in these ruins would be enough for me to cultivate my Bloody Dragon-shaped Body to a more profound level."

Upon their first encounter, Shen Mo had tried to use Monster Identify to scrutinize the detailed information of these Big-bellied Ghosts. But he had failed. His Special Destiny, Monster Identify, could only perceive the conditions and weaknesses of the world's demonic beasts. But the ghosts in these ruins did not belong to the category of demonic beasts.

Once I accumulate some more Destiny Points, I'll try to upgrade Monster Identify to Purple Destiny.

Perhaps then, I'll be able to observe and identify anomalies like ghosts, Heavenly Demons, and such.

But Destiny Points are too difficult to accumulate!

Shen Mo's mind raced with thoughts, but his hands didn't stop; he shoved the obtained soul cores into his Universe Bag. Monster Identify hadn't been useful this time.

However, thanks to the preparations he made before entering the ruins, Shen Mo knew that these Big-bellied Ghosts were a type of vicious ghost called "Hungry Ghosts"!

They ate everything: flowers, grass, fish, insects; flesh and blood, feces; mud, soil. Anything that could be stuffed into their mouths, they would swallow. Living humans were a supreme delicacy in their eyes; they would devour a person so thoroughly that not even fingernails or hair would remain.

Hungry Ghosts were likely peak Class I ghosts. Their strength was equivalent to a Human Cultivator at Layer IX of the Body Tempering Realm. No wonder these eight Body Tempering Realm cultivators had nearly all been devoured by them.

"Thank you, Senior, thank you for saving our lives!"

"If it weren't for your divine might, Senior, we would have all died here."

"I, Li Sanming, will always remember your kindness. Once we get out of this cursed place, I'll set up a longevity tablet for you!"

"Me too..."

The few surviving Body Tempering Realm cultivators all bowed their heads and thanked Shen Mo profusely.

Shen Mo stood with his hands clasped behind his back, remaining silent. Seeing this, the burly cultivator who called himself Li Sanming hurriedly pulled out five low-grade Spirit Stones and one translucent soul core from his Universe Bag. Then he urged his companions to also take out Spirit Stones and soul cores to repay the Senior's life-saving grace!

The most grievously injured was a cultivator whose legs had been severed; having lost too much blood, he was half step to death. Consequently, Li Sanming forcibly roused him. From the injured man's bloodstained Universe Bag, he retrieved a few Spirit Stones and a piece of Nether Mine, presenting them to Shen Mo.

In total, they gathered forty-five Spirit Stones, seven soul cores, and some assorted ores. Shen Mo nodded with satisfaction.

With a sweep of his large robe, he collected all the Spirit Stones and other items into his Universe Bag. Immediately, he flipped his palm, and seven Sweet Spring Pills and one Sweet Dew Pill floated out, accurately flying towards the eight Body Tempering Realm cultivators.

The Sweet Spring Pills landed in the palms of the seven cultivators whose injuries were relatively light and not life-threatening. The Sweet Dew Pill, however, flew directly into the mouth of the cultivator with severed legs who was half step to death.

Sweet Spring Pill, Sweet Dew Pill, Sweet Rain Pill... this was a series of Healing Pills.

The Sweet Spring Pill was Grade V, but its healing effects were quite remarkable. Ordinary quality ones were worth about one Spirit Stone each. However, those Shen Mo personally refined were all of exceptional quality and could fetch at least five to ten Spirit Stones in the Market.

The Sweet Dew Pill, on the other hand, was a Grade I Elixir. Ordinary quality ones were worth around five Spirit Stones; the better the quality, the higher the price. The Sweet Dew Pill given to the cultivator with severed legs was naturally a top-quality Elixir, valued between twenty and fifty Spirit Stones.

In other words, based on Market prices alone, the Elixirs Shen Mo gave out were worth far more than the life-saving money Li Sanming and the others had presented.

Of course, this didn't account for Shen Mo's Alchemy skills or the augmentation from his Alchemy Path. Considering only the cost of the spiritual grass materials, it was a mere two Spirit Stones.

For Grade V and Grade I Elixirs like these, Shen Mo, having learned from experience, had prepared many in his Universe Bag. He had fewer Grade II Elixirs, all kept for saving his own life in critical situations. As for Grade III Elixirs, Shen Mo had previously refined two Exorcism Origin Pills and taken them to eliminate their pill's poison. After that, he hadn't refined many more. He had only refined one of perfect quality, which he kept in his Universe Bag for emergencies.

Li Sanming and the others were experienced cultivators. They all believed they had encountered an exceptionally kind and compassionate Senior, feeling they had profited immensely. They once again showered Shen Mo with gratitude. Even Chen Mengze, who hadn't had a chance to act, benefited from a few flattering remarks like, "Thank you, Fairy, for your compassion!"

"You should leave quickly!" Shen Mo advised calmly. "Given your current strength and condition, staying here will only mean becoming food for the Hungry Ghosts."

But good advice is often lost on those determined to court death! If they were still reluctant to leave, Shen Mo wouldn't waste any more words on them.

Li Sanming and his group had already lost many companions to the Hungry Ghosts. Having almost been eaten alive themselves, they wouldn't dare linger any longer. They all bid farewell to Shen Mo and Chen Mengze, preparing to leave while carrying their companion whose legs were severed.

"Senior..." Before leaving, Li Sanming called out hesitantly.

"What is it?" Shen Mo glanced at him, somewhat puzzled.

"Senior, you saved our lives and gave us Elixirs to heal our injuries. We juniors will engrave this kindness in our hearts." Li Sanming was quite eloquent. Shen Mo nodded slightly, indicating he understood.

Unexpectedly, Li Sanming lowered his voice and said, "Senior, do not go fifteen miles north from here. The ghosts there are very sinister! Many Qi Gathering Realm experts have died there."

"Alright, I understand. Thank you for the warning!" Shen Mo cupped his fists towards him slightly.

Shen Mo checked the information recorded on the fengshui jade slip. From their current position, if they wanted to delve deeper into the Ghost Nation Ruins, they had to head north. The area fifteen miles to the north was marked on the jade slip with two words: "Extreme Peril." Li Sanming's warning was not baseless.

After Li Sanming and the others departed, Chen Mengze approached. She looked at Shen Mo, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "Since you were so generous as to give them Elixirs, why did you still insist they offer Spirit Stones as thanks?"