The First Immortal of Destiny

The Spirit Storage Rat's inability to sense treasures was not because there were none nearby; rather, the presence of the Death Jaw severely interfered with its natural perceptive abilities. It was like trying to spot a few insignificant copper coins at the foot of a mountain of gold; no matter how good a person's eyesight, they could only see the mountain, not the coins.

Resigned, Shen Mo gave the little fellow several pounds of dried meat and returned it to the Spirit Pet Bag.

Those who entered the Death Jaw and survived could always emerge within two hours, regardless of their experiences inside. If Shen Mo wanted to continue using the Spirit Storage Rat to search for treasures, he would have to wait until Chen Mengze and the others came out and moved farther away from the Death Jaw. This two-hour delay was acceptable.

"Junior Brother Shen, it seems we're being watched," Peng Chenshu of the Heaven Sword Sect said in a low voice, approaching with his magic artifact sword in hand.

Although Peng Chenshu called Shen Mo his junior brother, having seen Shen's capabilities, he didn't treat him as a typical Qi Gathering Realm Layer II cultivator. In fact, he was somewhat relying on him.

Shen Mo scanned their surroundings. Indeed, two groups of people were slowly closing in on them. Neither group wore the attire of immortal sect disciples. Or rather, even if they were cultivators from other immortal sects, they would likely conceal their identities when engaging in nefarious activities, unwilling to easily expose their origins.

One group consisted of four men, their cultivation ranging from Qi Gathering Realm Layer III to Layer V. The other was a lone rogue cultivator at Qi Gathering Realm Layer VII, considered to have just entered the late-stage of the Qi Gathering Realm.

By all appearances, both groups possessed the strength to easily deal with a Qi Gathering Realm Layer IV and a Qi Gathering Realm Layer II cultivator.

"Didn't they see the six of us arrive together? Aren't they afraid Senior Sister Jiang and the others will seek retribution once they emerge?" Peng Chenshu's expression was grim. Anyone targeted by ruthless bandit cultivators would be in a foul mood.

"Alas! I'm afraid these wolves are after the opportunities Senior Sister Jiang and the others might obtain," Shen Mo sighed, then continued, "If they can capture us and cripple our Qi Sea and Dantian before Senior Sister Jiang and the others come out, their group will face two fewer opponents when they make their move. They could also use our lives to threaten Senior Sister Chen and Senior Sister Jiang. At worst, they'll just rob us of our possessions..."

Peng Chenshu nodded slightly, agreeing with Shen Mo's assessment.

"Should we try to avoid them for now? They do outnumber us. We can wait for Senior Sister Jiang and the others to come out and then regroup."

It had to be said, Peng Chenshu's suggestion was quite sound. As long as he and Shen Mo weren't captured or killed before the others exited the Death Jaw, the bandits' plans would naturally fall through.

Unfortunately, Shen Mo was not in a good mood. He had just refined a new magic robe and was eager to test the defensive capabilities of the 'Blue Soul.' Therefore, he refused Peng Chenshu's proposal, declaring, "No need! If they dare to come, I dare to kill."

WHOOSH!

SURGE!

Unable to hold back any longer, the solo cultivator attacked first, unleashing a torrential flood of poisonous water that resembled a mighty river.

The onlookers who had been watching the commotion quickly fled on their Flying Swords, each scrambling to avoid the onrushing toxic tide.

One of the more knowledgeable cultivators, a hint of fear in his voice, transmitted a message to his bewildered companions, "That's Master Hong Jue, a Qi Gathering Realm Layer VII cultivator. He practices the Poison into Water technique! He has collected over ten thousand types of poisons from the world and refined them into a special liquid magic artifact. It's extremely poisonous; even a concoction of just ten refined poisons could kill a cultivator who had just entered the Qi Gathering Realm. Judging by the power of his poisonous water, its toxicity must have surpassed the hundred-poison level and reached the thousand-poison threshold. Such poisonous water can even kill cultivators in the late-stage of the Qi Gathering Realm."

Shen Mo, naturally, couldn't hear these explanations, but it didn't prevent him from making the correct judgment instantly. No matter how virulent the poisonous water, as long as I don't let it get close, I'll be fine!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

With a flick of his fingers, the Yaoguang Sword shot out from his sleeve, leading six Big Dipper Sword Embryos in a whistling charge. A brilliant spirit light flashed! In the blink of an eye, sword Qi soared, and a formidable Sword Array materialized before Shen Mo.

"The Big Dipper Array, Conversion!"

With a cold snort, Shen Mo activated the Sword Array, enveloping Master Hong Jue. The sheer power of the array forced back both the cultivator and the river of poisonous water he had unleashed.

"Is this... a Sword Array technique? It's so incredibly powerful!" the knowledgeable onlooker cried out in surprise.

Using a Dao sword to form an array wasn't uncommon. What was extraordinary was the sheer, formidable power of The Big Dipper Array Shen Mo had deployed. With a cultivation of only Qi Gathering Realm Layer II, he was driving a Sword Array that could withstand the signature magic of a Qi Gathering Realm Layer VII cultivator.

Though the difference between Layer II and Layer VII was merely five layers, it represented the vast chasm between the early-stage and late-stage of the Qi Gathering Realm. Even a genius disciple from a major immortal sect would be considered incredibly talented if they could fight evenly against a middle-stage Qi Gathering Realm cultivator while still in the early-stage. To contend with a late-stage Qi Gathering Realm cultivator was almost unheard of.

At this moment, Shen Mo indeed felt some strain. His mana was draining like a receding tide, continuously pouring into the Sword Array. This Qi Gathering Realm Layer VII rogue cultivator truly possessed the capability to venture through the Ghost Nation Ruins alone. The Sword Array's relentless and terrifying Sword Light, for a time, struggled to quickly dissipate the toxic water manifested by his artifact, which clung around him. It was like a plane shaving wood; although it was grinding away at the poisonous water layer by layer, it would clearly take some time.

His gaze shifted to the other group of bandit cultivators. Their strength was far inferior to Master Hong Jue's. Having seen him attack first, they had initially held back, hoping to capitalize on the situation. But in a single exchange, Master Hong Jue was ensnared by the Sword Array, unable to fend for himself. The four bandits immediately discarded their greedy thoughts. They all summoned their Flying Swords and fled in the direction opposite to Shen Mo.

Attack and plunder if you can win, run if you can't? There's no such easy way out in this world, Shen Mo thought.

While controlling The Big Dipper Array to trap Master Hong Jue, Shen Mo divided his attention and summoned the Soul Refining Flag. "Imperial Soul, out!"

WHOOSH!

Thick, overwhelming blood flames swept towards the group of four. Within the sanguine light, the figures of Soul Generals began to manifest. Due to certain considerations, Shen Mo did not summon the minor Heavenly Demon Soul General. Instead, he called forth the Ghost Bride, along with hundreds of newly refined, high-quality Hungry Ghosts, Hanged Ghosts, and Drowned Ghosts.

A curtain of blood veiled the sky, filled with ominous, ghostly figures.

The four bandit cultivators, escaping on their Flying Swords, glanced back and felt their scalps tingle. They were so terrified they nearly tumbled from their swords.

At Shen Mo's command, the Ghost Bride, restored to her former terrifying glory, led the massive contingent of ghosts surging towards the four cultivators. Ordinarily, if the Ghost Bride had used her 'Glare' Skill, their escape would have been impossible. However, given the crowded and conspicuous area near the Death Jaw, Shen Mo didn't want to expose the Ghost Bride's peculiar abilities. He simply ordered her to lead the multitude of ghosts to tear and devour them.

Unsurprisingly, in just over ten breaths, the four Qi Gathering Realm bandit cultivators were gnawed down to bare bones. Their souls were drawn into the Soul Refining Flag, and the Ghost Bride collected their Universe Bags and other belongings, presenting them to Shen Mo.