The First Immortal of Destiny

The Spirit Storage Rat had told him this through Divine Sense. However, seeing it with his own eyes was far more shocking.

First were the Spirit Stones. More than a hundred middle-grade Spirit Stones and tens of thousands of low-grade Spirit Stones were packed in a large ironwood chest, piled up in a corner of the Treasure Hall. Without a second thought, Shen Mo took them all in their original state and put them directly into his Universe Bag.

"Dark Crystal Stone, Tiangeng Mine, Profound Gold Stone... Thousand-year Polygonum Multiflorum, Qianyuan Fruit, Lustrous Tree Root..."

Various ingredients for forging, alchemy, and talisman making, totaling more than five hundred types, were worth about twenty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.

Finished magic artifacts, Elixirs, and talismans, however, were not many. This was also understandable. As the disciples of the immortal sect and rogue cultivators continuously evacuated, Tianshun Country lost the ability to refine these raw materials into magic artifacts or other items. Furthermore, ghosts were wreaking havoc within its territory. Most of the powerful individuals who came to the Defense Division to claim rewards preferred magic artifacts, Elixirs, and talismans to increase their fighting power. With enormous consumption and no replenishment... How could there still be a large number of finished spiritual items in the Defense Division's Treasure Hall?

All that remained were some inferior quality goods. Shen Mo didn't even glance at them, directly stuffing them all into the Universe Bag.

However, there were exceptions. On the display stands for magic artifacts, there were surprisingly two profound-level high-grade magic artifacts and one profound-level middle-grade magic artifact. Their value was enormous. The most powerful individuals present were martial artists or eccentrics at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm. Who among them possessed the ability to slay enough ghosts to exchange for three such magic artifacts? Thus, they had remained untouched! These were likely among the single most valuable items in the Defense Division's Treasure Hall.

Among the two profound-level high-grade magic artifacts, one was a fist-sized lump of metallic sand.

Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand!

Scanning the accompanying introductory jade slip, Shen Mo couldn't help but feel pleased. This magic artifact was refined from a vast quantity of high-grade metallic materials. For each of its nine 'extremes,' inferior materials had to be stripped away, and the remainder smelted and forged anew. This nine-fold process was exceptionally time-consuming and laborious, transforming it from substantial crystal sand into an intangible, destructive aura. After complete refinement, it could be stored within one's Chakras or Qi Sea, similar in nature to the Nether Fire. When not actively used, its inherent power could significantly enhance one's physical vitality. Once an early-stage Qi Gathering Realm cultivator refined it, they could, by relying on the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand, physically withstand a full-power blow from a middle-stage Qi Gathering Realm cultivator and survive, albeit injured. With a thought, it could be summoned externally for defense, either flowing over the body to form a protection like inner armor or a magic robe, or spreading out completely to become an energy shield, defending against magic and sword Qi attacks. It could shift forms at will and was incredibly potent!

Shen Mo temporarily restrained the excitement in his heart. After putting it away, his gaze fell on the second high-grade magic artifact. It resembled a jade eyeball, with the sclera and iris clearly distinct. Through the introductory jade slip, Shen Mo learned this jade eye was called the "Flawless Dharma Eye," signifying its ability to see for a thousand li without error. Unlike his Special Destiny, Bright Vision, the Flawless Dharma Eye was an artifact for observing surrounding movements and lacked the ability to see through to the essence of things. However, compared to a cultivator's normal vision and Divine Sense, its range and level of detail were far superior. If the user possessed sufficient Mana, they could even perceive ants crawling on the ground hundreds of miles away.

The final magic artifact was a profound-level middle-grade suit of armor named "Suanni Armor." It was stalwart, imposing, and possessed a majestic aura. Forged entirely from fine gold and spiritual iron, it weighed eight hundred catties, and its defensive ability was probably not weaker than a profound-level high-grade magic robe.

However, for Shen Mo, it felt somewhat redundant. Firstly, he already wore the Blue Soul Robe, whose defensive capabilities were not inferior to this Suanni Armor. Moreover, he had recently acquired the high-grade magic artifact, the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand. Once refined, his defensive abilities were expected to rise to another level. An attack that neither the Blue Soul Robe nor the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand could withstand wouldn't be much deterred by an extra piece of heavy armor! Furthermore, this armor was too cumbersome for him. It would significantly hinder his execution of Shangqing Swordplay and his sword-based Flying Escape technique. Trading two powerful techniques for such a negligible improvement in defense would be utterly foolish! Therefore, Shen Mo had no intention of refining this suit of heavy armor. He tossed it directly into a corner of his Universe Bag, planning to auction it off at a Market in the future.

The Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand and Flawless Dharma Eye can be refined! They'll also provide some boost to my strength. Furthermore, I'm running low on Elixirs and talismans. With so many materials in the Treasure Hall, I can take the opportunity to produce a batch. I'll pick out the rare materials for myself and sell off the common, easily obtainable ones...

Shen Mo sprang into action, beginning to gather all the resources within the Treasure Hall.

SQUEAK! SQUEAK!

The Spirit Storage Rat scurried around the Treasure Hall, helping him pick out the more valuable materials.

"Lazy creature! Profound Gold Stone is high-class Forging material; don't pile it together with Dark Crystal Mine."

"Don't touch the Laughing Face Vine; it's extremely poisonous. Even with your Savage Demon Body, getting pricked by it won't be pleasant."

The master and servant duo were busily and cheerfully engaged.

In two hours, they had completely emptied the Defense Division's Treasure Hall. But that wasn't all. He had his sights set on the Formation arrayed both inside and outside the Treasure Hall, intending to leverage its power once more.

Even a peak Qi Gathering Realm expert trespassing in the Treasure Hall could be suppressed and killed! In ghost terms, that's equivalent to a Class II Peak ghost. As long as no Class III ghosts appear, I'm temporarily safe within this Treasure Hall. First, I'll refine the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand and Flawless Dharma Eye. Then I'll make a batch of Elixirs that restore Mana, along with Grade II talismans. By that time, there probably won't be many survivors left in Tianshun Country. I'll then use the Soul Refining Flag to clear out more powerful ghosts. If I can hold out until this country completely becomes a Ghost Zone, then, I think, this trial will have come to an end.

Any ordinary Qi Gathering Realm Layer II cultivator would have long since perished if placed in this situation. However, Shen Mo's current true combat strength was comparable to a Qi Gathering Realm Layer VII cultivator. Relying on his overwhelming strength, his journey thus far, while fraught with scares, had not posed any true danger. But Shen Mo had a premonition that the trials of the Death Jaw Dungeon were far from this simple. The most challenging circumstances had likely not yet arrived. He needed to seize every moment to enhance his strength as much as possible before Tianshun Country completely transformed into a Ghost Zone.

"Huh?"

Shen Mo had just begun refining the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand when his mind stirred. The Soul Refining Flag had transmitted a sensation. The Green-skinned Soul General he had stationed at the city gate had been killed. This Green-skinned Fierce Ghost, whom Shen Mo had named "Tieshan," possessed strength reaching late-stage Class II. To kill it, an adversary would need to be at least a Class II Peak ghost.

Forming a hand seal, he activated the Soul Refining Flag and issued a command to the Ghost Bride on the city wall. Moments later, the Ghost Bride flew into the Defense Division's Treasure Hall, carrying a heavily wounded Zhang Taian. She tossed Zhang Taian onto the ground and promptly retreated into the Soul Refining Flag. Shen Mo then quickly channeled his Mana into the Compass.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Amidst the thunderous explosions, the external Formation Prohibitions around the Treasure Hall fully activated. Spirit light flickered, and a murderous aura soared to the heavens as the formations began to ruthlessly slaughter the pursuing ghosts of all sizes.