Capítulo 247: Chapter 247: Nascent Soul Stage Perfection, A Predetermined Fate
Chapter 247: Nascent Soul Stage Perfection, A Predetermined Fate
In the valley, the old flood dragon lay resting, its eyes half-closed in feigned slumber.
A cultivator clad in green robes sat cross-legged on the ground, his robes rippling as his aura surged steadily upward.
Time flowed like water.
A day passed, then two. A month, then two months…
Until one day, six months later.
In a fleeting moment, the green-robed cultivator's aura seemed to pierce through an unseen barrier, shattering the fragile veil that held him back.
Instantly, his energy surged to the level of Nascent Soul Stage Perfection.
In that moment, the heavens opened wide, and the seas stretched endlessly, as though granting him unlimited freedom.
Shen Mo abruptly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. In the depths of his gaze, a faint light flickered, sharp and clear.
The old flood dragon smacked its lips lazily. "You're finally awake. I was getting bored of waiting."
Shen Mo stood up and smiled. "Thank you, Lord Protector, for watching over me."
The flood dragon waved its claw dismissively with a hint of pride. "You've got a bright future ahead of you, kid. Watching over you wasn't much trouble. Don't make a big deal out of it."
Shen Mo chuckled lightly. "How long have I been cultivating?"
The flood dragon scratched its claw thoughtfully. "Time? I don't really keep track of that. But I'd say about six months.
During that time, Li Zhendao came by once. He wanted to see me, but when he noticed you breaking through, he kept his distance and left after saying a few things.
Oh, and that old fellow from the Tenth Peak came looking for you too."
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. "Elder Wan Muchun from the Tenth Peak? What could he want with me?"
The flood dragon scratched its head. "Something about alchemy, I think? I wasn't really paying attention."
Shen Mo nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. I'll head to the Tenth Peak, then."
"Go on, but don't forget what you promised me—help me find that dragon egg," the flood dragon said nonchalantly.
"Don't worry," Shen Mo replied with a nod.
The Tenth Peak
In a blink, Shen Mo landed atop the Tenth Peak.
As expected, there were quite a few people gathered around a stone table at the peak, all engrossed in a game of high-stakes gambling.
Zhao Yaolu, as usual, was dominating the game. She was winning every single round.
No elder attempting to win the Grade-B contribution token from her succeeded. Without exception, they all lost.
If anyone, driven by frustration, tried to gamble even more, they only lost even greater amounts.
Zhao Yaolu was grinning from ear to ear, unable to contain her delight.
Noticing Shen Mo, she waved at him and said, "Oh, it's Junior Brother! Wait over there for a bit. Let me finish dealing with these guys first."
Shen Mo nodded and sat down nearby.
Not long after, the elders left one by one, dejected and downcast. They had all lost a considerable amount of pills, artifacts, and contribution points to Zhao Yaolu.
Zhao Yaolu gleefully sorted her spoils, laughing to herself the entire time.
Shen Mo coughed lightly a few times.
Only then did Zhao Yaolu realize someone was still there. She quickly stashed her winnings into her storage ring and forced a sheepish smile.
"Junior Brother, what brings you here?"
Shen Mo relayed what the old flood dragon had told him and asked, "The elder came looking for me earlier—what was it about?"
Zhao Yaolu scratched her head. "I don't really know."
"But I do know where the old man is. Come on, I'll take you!"
Without waiting for a response, Zhao Yaolu grabbed Shen Mo by the sleeve and soared into the air, flying straight toward the northern foothills of the Hengtai Mountains.
The entire Tai Mountain Prefecture was under the jurisdiction of the Jade Cauldron Sect, and even the local magistrate was backed by the sect.
The Hengtai Mountains were the core territory of the Jade Cauldron Sect, and the dozens of cities surrounding it were bustling hubs of activity.
As they flew, Shen Mo gazed down at the cities below, feeling the vibrant pulse of mortal life.
A sense of nostalgia washed over him.
He had spent so much time cultivating that he had unknowingly grown distant from the warmth of the human world.
"See those four cities over there? Their red-light districts are the best. The old man loves visiting them."
"We'll split up and search. If you find him, just send me a message through the transmission jade," Zhao Yaolu said, pointing to several cities below.
With that, she darted toward one of the cities without waiting for a reply.
Shen Mo nodded and descended into one of the cities.
He concealed his identity as a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, changing into the plain robes of a rogue cultivator.
Shen Mo deliberately suppressed his aura, presenting himself as merely at the Core Formation Stage.
This level wouldn't draw too much attention or invite trouble, making it the most appropriate disguise.
After entering the city, Shen Mo wandered casually through its streets.
After only a short walk, he overheard a group of Qi Condensation cultivators at a roadside stall whispering among themselves.
"Things are terrible in Mist Province. Five cities were wiped out in a single day, not a soul left alive. They say it was the Demon Emperor of the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom who personally acted!"
"Seriously? Mist Province's forces can't handle the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom? How could they let the Demon Emperor destroy five cities in a day?"
"It's not that they can't handle them—they're simply no match. How could one province compete with such power? I heard half of Mist Province has already fallen. It's tragic."
"Do you think the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom will eventually invade Yu Province?"
"Hard to say… We should probably start preparing, just in case."
Shen Mo's gaze grew colder.
That day, he had forced the lingering will of the Demon Emperor out of his blood essence.
Before leaving, the Demon Emperor had sworn to slaughter five cities as revenge.
Shen Mo had anticipated this possibility but hadn't expected the Demon Emperor to annihilate five cities so effortlessly.
It seemed Mist Province's strength was even weaker than he had imagined.
At this rate, the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom would inevitably set its sights on Yu Province.
Subconsciously, Shen Mo glanced at his destiny panel.
[Destiny: Fifteen years from now, the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom launches a full-scale invasion of Yu Province. The four major forces of Yu Province mount a desperate defense but are successively destroyed. Thanks to the protection of Li Zhendao, Wan Muchun, and the old flood dragon, Shen Mo narrowly escapes with his life and flees Yu Province. However, the Demon Emperor's overwhelming power leaves a profound shadow on Shen Mo's heart, halting his progress at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage and preventing him from advancing to the Divine Transformation Stage. He lives a lonely life and dies peacefully.]
"So it's true…" Shen Mo sighed softly.
Although he would survive, his destiny indicated that he would remain trapped at the Nascent Soul Stage, unable to reach greater heights.
The lingering shadow left by the Demon Emperor would haunt him forever.
In essence, it was no different from death.
After a brief moment of reflection, Shen Mo quickly steadied his mind.
Back in Xuanjiang Prefecture, he had faced an even bleaker fate, where a single misstep would have led to his death.
Yet back then, he had managed to defy his destiny and break free from his chains.
This time, his life wasn't even at stake. Thanks to Li Zhendao and the others, he would escape alive.
If he had defied fate before, he could do so again.
Fifteen years. That was all the time he had.
Shen Mo quickened his pace, following the flow of people until he arrived at a vibrant red-light district.
The heavy scent of cosmetics and perfume hung thick in the air, detectable even from ten miles away.
Standing outside a grand building, Shen Mo extended his senses and quickly pinpointed an elegant room on the second floor.
Inside, the old elder Wan Muchun was with two poorly dressed young girls, passionately discussing the art of flower arrangement.
They were debating which flowers were best for drying, how to choose the right vase, when to arrange the flowers, and when to add water.
The discussion seemed to be going on for far too long.
Helpless, Shen Mo lightly cleared his throat, channeling a trace of spiritual energy into the sound.
Ordinary people wouldn't hear it, but cultivators at his level or higher would immediately sense it.
Sure enough, the window of the second-floor room soon opened.
A head of white hair popped out, and Wan Muchun's voice called down cheerfully: "Oh, Shen Mo, what brings you here?"
"Apologies, I'm in the middle of discussing the art of flower arrangement with these two young ladies. Wait there, I'll come right down."
Wan Muchun laughed awkwardly.
Moments later, Wan Muchun descended the stairs, trying his best to appear dignified.
However, the lipstick marks on his neck and collar betrayed him, as did the strong scent of perfume clinging to his clothes.
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