The First Immortal of Destiny

The Taihua Mirror did not renege, and neatly settled twenty thousand merit points.

Then, Shen Mo spent ten thousand merit points to establish a contract with the Mirror Spirit, officially designating Five Dragon Mountain as the Red Flame Sect’s sphere of influence!

Upon leaving the Mirror Realm, he appeared directly on Dragon-suppressing Slope at Jade Spring Mountain.

Deputy Sect Master Situ Huo, along with many sect high-ranking members, led over a thousand inner and outer disciples, awaiting early outside the Mountain Protection Array. As soon as they saw Shen Mo’s appearance, celestial music resounded and all Dharmas manifested, creating a grand spectacle.

Shen Mo was slightly puzzled, as he has always disliked making a big scene, yet Situ Huo and the others still did so.

Just then, he sensed threads of sense sweeping by, causing tiny ripples in the void, scattering like startled birds upon touching him.

After a brief thought, Shen Mo understood the reason behind it...

Following the Red Flame Sect’s battle, the gains were immense, monopolizing Five Dragon Mountain with unparalleled power, inevitably inciting intense envy from outsiders!

Although sect disciples, aided by the Creation Array, killed and injured several Divine Bridge Realm cultivators, momentarily subduing the situation, outsiders nevertheless saw through the reality;

As long as he, the sect’s strongest, remained unseen, other cultivation forces and alien tribe experts would never give up, always harboring intentions of coveting, attempting to share in Five Dragon Mountain!

Situ Huo and other sect leaders made such a grand display to publicly announce Shen Mo’s return to deter any scoundrels.

Aside from the Formless Realm evil cultivator and Class VI big demon blood-sacrificed by Hollow Venerable, the beasts Shen Mo slew, like the Mingpeng, are among the few great demons felled by the righteous path, confirming his ability to kill Class VI creatures; among the powerful figures participating in the Shitu Mountain Range fight, those from Jade Spring Mountain, other Immortal Mountains, and local Formless Realm did not even amount to the count on two hands!

With this calculation, Shen Mo has become a prominent figure at Jade Spring Mountain, if not a household name for now, reminiscent of Fulong Immortal Master over six thousand five hundred years ago.

Having figured this out, he let Situ Huo and others continue;

He cooperatively summoned the Ghost Bride, Thousand-eyed Demon, Banzhi Jiaming, Fox Demon Pei Wanchen, Corpse King, along with more than twenty top Demon Soul Generals, carrying rolling demon clouds and demon light, cruising over Dragon-suppressing Slope, flaunting authority and showcasing strength!

"Though the current disciple count and industrial scale of the Red Flame Sect is second to none compared to the top immortal sect like Jade Spring Mountain. Yet, when compared to ancient sects existing for tens of thousands of years, it’s still lacking in heritage."

"Aside from me, no one has yet built a Divine Bridge Realm, relying solely on the Demon Soul Generals to hold the ground!"

"The overall proficiency in elixir, talisman, artifact and array also generally lags behind the average standards of other major forces in the mountain...."

Under the ceremonial welcome by Situ Huo and others, Shen Mo ascended using escaping light into the Mountain Protection Array, filled with emotion.

"The sect lacks Great Cultivators," this point indeed cannot be rushed.

Given the current development momentum of the Red Flame Sect, Golden Core Realms will eventually emerge, cultivating to Divine Bridge;

Especially after the sect took over Five Dragon Mountain, outer disciples are much wealthier than Shen Mo was back then, even possessing fertile grounds for Formless Realm cultivation, given time there will be no shortage of strong individuals in these two great Dao Realms!

If suddenly numerous Great Cultivators appeared now, it would objectively be disadvantageous to Shen Mo...

Currently, he commands absolute authority in the Red Flame Sect, the entire sect’s resources devoted to him, enjoying unparalleled freedom and pleasure; once someone builds a Divine Bridge, no matter how respectful and accommodating, it inevitably impacts him to some extent!

Of course, with Shen Mo’s perspective and character, he wouldn’t deliberately suppress newcomers, he hopes all sect cultivators have great opportunities and several Divine Bridge Realms emerge to ease his burdens.

Taking a step back, even if a newly minted Divine Bridge inherently rebels, he has nothing to worry about, his own strength is his greatest confidence!

Regarding the Hundred Arts of Cultivation within the Red Flame Sect, there is also constant improvement, now far stronger than when first arriving in the Immortal Realm.

Now Shen Mo has received a jade slip containing over a thousand elixir recipes from Guan Ling, once he researches and processes it, he can nourish the sect’s Hundred Arts Hall, significantly lifting the sect’s alchemy proficiency!

While pondering, Shen Mo arrived at the Longevity Hall of the Mountain-River Zone.

He initially intended to return to GuanYun Mansion first, to ensure Zhao Lingyin’s well-being and spend some tender time.

Yet upon returning to the sect, he was ceremoniously welcomed by Situ Huo and others, it wouldn’t be reasonable to leave them and immediately see his Dao companion.

...

Inside the Longevity Hall.

Though no high-level meeting was held, more than half of the sect’s high-ranking members arrived, starting with the deputy sect master reporting to Shen Mo various aspects of the Red Flame Sect over the past year.

Once Heaven Sword Peak Master Xu Liang finished his presentation, Shen Mo specifically mentioned Jiang Yingying.

Jiang Yingying hailed from Heaven Sword Sect, after Heaven Sword Sect merged into the Red Flame Sect, she became a core disciple of Heaven Sword Peak, taken by Death Jaw when newly promoted to Golden Core, and was bestowed the position of deputy peak master by the sect.

Xu Liang was the original Supreme Elder of Heaven Sword Sect, holding late-stage Golden Core Realm cultivation, and was Situ Huo’s senior brother, also the Master to Dustless Sword Master and Yuxin Sword Master;

And Yuxin Sword Master, was Jiang Yingying’s Master!

However, today Yuxin Sword Master couldn’t make it back to Red Flame Sect, so Shen Mo spoke directly to Xu Liang.

As Jiang Yingying is newly promoted to Golden Core, and Chen Mengze’s close friend, hence before their departure, they specifically inquired Guan Ling about Jiang Yingying’s situation.

However, even Guan Ling only knew that up until Shen Mo and Chen Mengze’s return to the Immortal Realm, Jiang Yingying hadn’t fallen; only if she slays a Deity or perishes in the cultivation world, would Guan Ling be able to project his power to further ascertain her situation.

"Thank you, Law Master, for informing me!"

Xu Liang respectfully bowed, then retreated to a side, taking out a Communication Talisman to relay this news to Yuxin Sword Master.

Shen Mo nodded slightly to signal, then Profound Moon Peak Master Feng Wushuang stepped up to report various matters related to Profound Moon Peak...

Only as dusk fell, Shen Mo could free himself.

Utilizing the characteristics of the cave paradise, with a thought, he appeared in GuanYun Mansion within the Vacuous Zone!

Today he merely listened to a general overview, in a couple of days, everyone at the high level will be gathered to discuss affairs.

This past year, the Red Flame Sect’s high ranks believed peace prevailed, fully focused on developing Five Dragon Mountain strategy;

Yet only he and Chen Mengze know that two True Immortal figures are still engaged in life-and-death battle within the cultivation world, the outcome undecided!

Should Hollow Venerable slay Jade Spring Fairy and fulfills the agreement with Guan Ling, returning from the cultivation world to the Immortal Realm, then the Shitu Mountain Range would become notoriously perilous, even Jade Spring Mountain might be unsafe.

Thus, Shen Mo must have sect higher-ups rethink strategies, preparing for both scenarios.