Chapter 20: Encounter with Liu Yunxuan

Nearby, three inner sect disciples expressed their admiration.

"I heard that the Flame Hell Immortal's cave mansion is somewhere in the Qingcang Mountains. If I could find it and obtain the Flame Hell Destruction Manual, I would be set for life!"

"Give it a rest. Many experts have searched for hundreds of years without finding it. You, a mere Qi Condensation minor achievement cultivator, think you can?"

"Yeah, I heard it's a heaven-grade technique. The sect master, the vice sect master, and many elders must have secretly searched for it too. Since there's been no news, it means they haven't found it either."

"I wonder who will eventually get lucky and find it."

The three inner sect disciples took their tasks and walked away, still dreaming about finding the cave mansion.

Shen Mo touched his nose.

In truth, he wanted to say, "You guys are wasting your time looking for it."

The Flame Hell Destruction Manual was already in his hands, so no matter how hard others searched, they would never find it.

Unfortunately, he couldn't say that.

If he did, even his current master, Murong Yue, would force him to hand over the Flame Hell Destruction Manual.

Shen Mo continued looking at the stone tablet.

Soon, he found his target.

"Four-star task: Kill the Green Forest Python. Reward: thirty low-grade spirit stones."

"Three-star task: Clear out the Black Wind Bandits harassing Ironwood Town. Reward: twenty low-grade spirit stones."

Both tasks were posted by the sect.

The star rating corresponded to the difficulty of the task.

Tasks that Body Refining Realm disciples could handle were only one or two stars.

Tasks that Qi Condensation cultivators could handle were three or four stars.

Beyond that, tasks were suited for Foundation Establishment or Core Formation cultivators.

"Ironwood Town... I've never been there."

Shen Mo approached the mission steward on the second floor.

The steward, a round-faced woman at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, was dozing off with her chin in her hand.

Shen Mo lightly tapped the table. "Senior Sister Steward, I need a map of the sect's surroundings."

The round-faced woman glared at him, then pulled a map from the drawer. "Three low-grade spirit stones."

Shen Mo nodded and handed over the spirit stones.

The price was clearly marked, and it was indeed three low-grade spirit stones. She wasn't overcharging him.

"The Green Forest Python is in this valley, and the Black Wind Bandits are near Ironwood Town. Perfect, I'll deal with the Green Forest Python first, then handle the Black Wind Bandits on my way back."

Shen Mo nodded slightly.

"But before that, I need to enhance my strength."

Since obtaining the Flame Hell Destruction Manual, he hadn't practiced it yet.

He believed that the first time he cultivated it, he would be pleasantly surprised!

Shen Mo returned to his inner sect disciple residence, closed and locked the door, then sat cross-legged on his bed and began to cultivate according to the Flame Hell Destruction Manual.

A cultivation technique, in essence, is a breathing method.

Its purpose is to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, convert it through the spiritual power vortex, and turn it into one's own spiritual power.

The higher the grade of the cultivation technique, the faster the conversion rate.

Shen Mo took out two bottles of Qi Condensation Pills from his storage ring and poured them into his mouth after pulling out the cork.

Ten Qi Condensation Pills were ingested.

Combined with the cultivation of the Flame Hell Destruction Manual.

The spiritual power within him was rising at an astonishing speed.

After two hours, he naturally reached the perfect stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.

He could even feel his spiritual power swelling within him.

It seemed he wasn't far from the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm either!

Shen Mo suddenly opened his eyes, feeling the surging spiritual power within him, revealing a look of surprise.

"As expected of a heaven-grade technique!"

"I reached the perfect stage of the Qi Condensation Realm so quickly."

The Flame Hell Destruction Manual is divided into six levels.

Comprehending the first level would allow one to enter the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Comprehending the second level would lead to the Peak stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Comprehending the third level would lead to the Core Formation Realm.

Comprehending the fourth level would lead to the peak stage of the Core Formation Realm.

Comprehending the fifth level would lead to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Comprehending the sixth level would lead directly to the peak stage of the Nascent Soul Realm!

Shen Mo eagerly anticipated the day he would comprehend the first level and enter the Foundation Establishment Realm!

He stood up and wielded his Thunder Sword, performing a set of Thunder Shadow Sword Techniques.

Swish, swish, swish.

In the small courtyard, sword shadows crisscrossed, and the sound of the sword slicing through the air suddenly arose.

Fiery spiritual power surged, and a scorching aura clung to the blade.

Each strike was decisive and lethal.

Even a Qi Condensation cultivator of the same level would not be able to withstand three of Shen Mo's strikes in a direct confrontation!

"After reaching the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, I can unleash up to four strikes at full strength."

Shen Mo nodded with satisfaction.

"Now, it's time to set off!"

...

Shen Mo, dressed in the dark green inner sect disciple robe of the Qingxuan Sect, carrying the Thunder Sword on his back, left the mountain gate alone, heading towards the nameless valley where the Green Forest Python resided.

The further he advanced in that direction, the fewer disciples he encountered.

The Qingcang Mountains were vast and majestic, nominally under the control of the Qingxuan Sect, but many high mountains and deep valleys were beyond the sect's reach.

Shen Mo walked through the lush, dense forest, feeling a sense of joy and relaxation as he took in the verdant scenery.

Suddenly, he smelled blood in the air.

Ahead, he also heard the feeble cries of a beast.

Shen Mo paused, then quickly headed towards the source of the blood scent.

Before long, he discovered a dying, critically wounded beast.

This beast was over three meters long, with a massive, snow-white body.

In his previous life, it would have been comparable to a small car.

Its body was covered in knife wounds and burn marks.

Clearly, it had been injured by a cultivator skilled with blades and possessing a fire spiritual root.

As he approached, Shen Mo felt a faint pressure.

It was the suppression of a higher realm over a lower realm!

"This size and this pressure, it's a third-rank beast!"

Shen Mo was overjoyed.

A third-rank beast was equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Killing it would definitely yield a third-rank monster core.

Such a core would certainly fetch a high price.

Could it be that his "somewhat lucky" fate led him to encounter a dying beast by chance?

He instinctively checked his life panel.

"No... I don't have such an opportunity recorded."

Shen Mo was puzzled.

After pondering for a while without understanding, he decided to take out a small knife to gut the third-rank beast and retrieve the monster core.

If he refused a free gift, he'd be a fool.

Shen Mo made a precise cut, ending the beast's life.

Sure enough, he found a large, pristine monster core.

This third-rank monster core was as big as a fist, crystal clear and bright.

The spiritual power contained within was evidently immense.

However, the spiritual power in a third-rank monster core was too powerful for a Qi Condensation cultivator to absorb.

Forcing absorption could cause the body to explode.

Shen Mo only intended to take it back to the sect for trade, to exchange for items he needed.

At that moment, a cold voice came from behind him.

"Hand over the monster core."

Shen Mo's heart sank as he quickly turned around, seeing a tall, handsome young man with an air of elegance.

With sharp brows and bright eyes, the young man had an imposing presence and extraordinary aura.

He clearly held a high position.

Moreover, the aura emanating from this person was terrifying, clearly surpassing Shen Mo by a significant margin!

"Didn't you hear me? Hand over the monster core." The young man frowned and scolded when Shen Mo didn't respond.

Shen Mo also frowned. "Who are you?"

The young man frowned deeper. "You're a Qingxuan Sect disciple and don't recognize me? I am Liu Yunxuan!"

Shen Mo was slightly surprised.

So this guy was Liu Yunxuan.

No wonder he was one of the four true disciples, truly impressive.

"Senior Brother Liu, I found this dying beast and the monster core is mine." Shen Mo cupped his hands in respect.

The other party was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and their strengths were not on the same level.

Therefore, Shen Mo hoped to reason with him.