The First Immortal of Destiny

While Shen Mo was rejoicing over the reward he had received from the Alchemy Tower, his Alchemy record was also updated on the Stele outside the tower. Cultivators like the hefty one, who had been keeping an eye on the Stele to get the task reward offered by Zhao Lingyin, immediately noticed the change in the record. The hefty cultivator, in particular, had been standing by the Stele ever since Shen Mo entered the Alchemy Tower and instantly noticed the record change.

"This Senior Brother is truly formidable! The records on the Alchemy Tablet haven't changed for months!"

The hefty cultivator was beyond amazed. He quickly contacted the Deacon of the Deacon Hall through a Sound Transmission Talisman to have him relay this news to Zhao Lingyin. After all, he couldn't contact Zhao Lingyin directly via a Sound Transmission Talisman.

"Let me see, did he break the record for a Grade V Elixir or a Grade I Elixir?"

The hefty cultivator squinted, carefully searching through the hundreds of Elixir records on the Alchemy Tablet.

In his mind, the Senior Brother who entered earlier must be a newly-promoted Alchemist. To break the record for a Grade V Elixir! That would already be an incredible achievement. After all, Zhao Lingyin held most of the records on the Alchemy Tablet. Aside from a few Grade III Elixirs, which listed the name of Liu Yuan, a Grade III Alchemist... and then there was Mo Shen, an Alchemist who had recently gained fame and also broken several of Senior Sister Lingyin's records. To compete with these prodigies of the Alchemy Path, one would have to dedicate themselves to researching one low-grade Elixir until they understood it completely. Only then would they have a chance to get their name on the tablet!

Therefore, the hefty cultivator naturally started his search from the very bottom, with the Grade V Elixirs.

"Huh... strange. The Grade V Elixir records haven't changed!"

The Alchemy Tablet's record update notification couldn't be wrong.

He then quickly scanned the Grade I Elixir records. After searching for a moment, he still found nothing.

It was only then that the hefty cultivator began to realize what might be happening. He felt an irrepressible surge of excitement, and even the fat on his face quivered slightly.

"Grade II Elixir... Grade II Elixir! Found it..."

Even though he'd had a suspicion, when the hefty cultivator saw the changed records with his own eyes, he couldn't help but exclaim, "It's Mo Shen! That Senior Brother is Mo Shen! It's really him!"

The latest records were clearly displayed on the Alchemy Tablet.

[Demon Suppressing Pill: Grade II]

[Record Holder: Mo Shen]

[Note: Alchemy took two Shichen less a quarter-hour; Elixir successfully refined to transcendent quality.]

[Great Yuan Cultivation Pill: Grade II]

[Record Holder: Mo Shen]

[Note: Alchemy took two Shichen less a quarter-hour; Elixir successfully refined to transcendent quality.]

...

[Sweet Rain Pill: Grade II]

[Record Holder: Mo Shen]

[Note: Alchemy took two Shichen less a quarter-hour; Elixir successfully refined to transcendent quality.]

Gazing at the four brand-new records, the hefty cultivator's hands trembled slightly. "Twenty middle-grade Spirit Stones... that's two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones! Senior Brother Mo Shen, you're truly my great benefactor!"

Voice trembling with excitement, he used a Sound Transmission Talisman to inform the Deacon in the Deacon Hall who was in charge of this bounty.

"Deacon Wang, quickly inform Senior Sister Lingyin that Mo Shen is in the Alchemy Tower right now!"

"Tell her to come to the Alchemy Tower immediately!"

"When I receive the two thousand Spirit Stone reward, I definitely won't forget your share."

"Don't forget to note that I, Zou Yong, was the first to complete this task!"

"Quick, quick! Mo Shen is about to come out of the Alchemy Tower!"

The moment Shen Mo stepped out of the Alchemy Tower, he was completely blocked by an extremely excited Zou Yong.

Zou Yong's chubby face was flushed red, his elation irrepressible. He lowered his voice and said, "Senior Brother Mo Shen! Please, wait just a moment. Senior Sister Lingyin will be here right away."

"She admires you greatly! You mustn't avoid seeing her!"

"Senior Brother Mo, your bearing is truly extraordinary! You are indeed a role model for us cultivators on the Alchemy Path..."

Shen Mo almost burst out laughing.

Just two Shichen ago, this portly Junior Brother had said Zhao Lingyin was furious that he'd broken her records and wanted to cause trouble for him. Now, it had somehow turned into admiration! For a reward of two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, he was really pulling out all the stops.

Unfortunately... although Shen Mo intended to reveal his 'Mo Shen' persona, he didn't want to be cornered by Zhao Lingyin. The Mo Shen identity was, after all, unofficial. He didn't possess a Riverside Sect identity jade pendant. If Zhao Lingyin latched onto him, there would be endless trouble later.

Seeing more and more cultivators gathering around the Alchemy Tower, he gave Zou Yong a faint smile, then reached out and casually pushed him aside. Empowered by the Dragon Elephant Blood Fiend Body and the Three-Heads Six-Arms True Immortal Technique, two external cultivation arts, his physical strength was comparable to that of a demonic beast.

Before Zou Yong could react, his body had already been gently nudged to one side.

"Junior Brother, don't be too greedy!"

"You've relayed the message and earned the Spirit Stones you should have. Don't keep thinking about that reward of twenty middle-grade Spirit Stones."

As Shen Mo spoke, he activated Thunderclap Rapid Step and quickly moved away from the Alchemy Tower.

Meanwhile, other cultivators competing with Zou Yong also successively discovered the changes on the Alchemy Tablet. An uproar immediately followed. The commotion here attracted even more cultivators from the Alchemy Zone, who stopped to watch.

"It's Mo Shen! Alchemist Mo Shen has made his move again!"

"He broke Senior Sister Lingyin's records for four types of Grade II Elixirs!"

"Quick! Find Mo Shen! Senior Sister Lingyin has offered a two thousand Spirit Stone reward for him!"

"The person who just left the Alchemy Tower seemed to be Mo Shen. Ask Zou Yong; he went up to talk to him."

Immediately, the hefty cultivator Zou Yong was surrounded by the crowd. He was so flustered that he broke out in a sweat, not knowing how to explain.

However, Zou Yong's efforts were not in vain.

As soon as Zhao Lingyin received Deacon Wang's voice transmission, she immediately found her Master, Wu Gong. She had her Master, Wu Gong, fly her through the air from Spirit Gathering Peak to the vicinity of the Alchemy Tower.

The Alchemy Zone had Prohibitions preventing disciples from flying on swords, but these did not stop Spirit Sea Realm Cultivators from using the Ride the Cloud Skill.

Thus, not long after Shen Mo left the Alchemy Tower, he was locked onto by Wu Gong's powerful spiritual sense.

"My dear disciple, your Master has already found that person! I'll take you to see just who this remarkable individual is," Wu Gong said, an indulgent and smug smile on his face.

He, too, had been pushed into this by Zhao Lingyin. Ever since that Alchemist named Mo Shen had appeared, Zhao Lingyin had become obsessed, constantly researching the Elixirs whose records he had broken. She had lost all interest in comprehending the Grade IV Dragon Tiger Formless Pill, and her Alchemy Path Realm was stuck at the peak of Grade II. For a long time now, she had been unable to advance to Grade III Alchemist.

If they could just catch Mo Shen this time and let Zhao Lingyin observe his Alchemy process... It would fulfill her wish and allow her to gain new insights on the Alchemy Path. Perhaps she could even break through to the Grade III rank.

In the next instant, however, Wu Gong's smile froze. "What's going on? His aura vanished in an instant! Could it be he's cultivated an advanced Concealment Magic?"

Seeing her Master falter at a critical moment, Zhao Lingyin's slender brows furrowed slightly. Suddenly, she activated Lightness Magic and sped off towards "Mo Shen's" last known location.

"Sigh. Foolish child..."

Wu Gong shook his head and, with his hands clasped behind his back, strolled towards the Alchemy Tower. Amid a chorus of "Mr. Wu!" greetings, he began to browse the updated records on the Alchemy Tablet.

「 」

Reverting to his original appearance, Shen Mo deactivated Thunderclap Rapid Step. He walked unhurriedly through the Alchemy Zone, planning to buy a few more Grade II Elixir recipes. After all, compared to Zhao Lingyin, who was proficient in hundreds of Elixirs, the number of Elixirs he could concoct was far too small. He wouldn't be able to fleece the Alchemists Alliance for much.

Unexpectedly, he hadn't gone far when he saw Zhao Lingyin, employing some magic, pass by him as gracefully as a startled swan.