The First Immortal of Destiny

"Sect Master!"

Cao Ren entered and, seeing Lady Scarlet was present, quickly paid his respects to her as well, "Junior Cao Ren greets Senior Duanmu, wishing you boundless blessings and longevity."

"Humph!"

Lady Scarlet snorted coquettishly, evidently displeased.

Previously, Cao Ren had disrupted her good mood, and now, although his tone was respectful, the honorifics made her feel old, naturally giving Cao Ren nothing pleasant to look forward to.

"Uh..."

Cao Ren felt somewhat puzzled, but didn’t dwell on it. He pointed to the young cultivator who had been kneeling on the ground since entering the mansion and spoke boldly, "Sect Master, this fellow Daoist claims to come from the human force at the top of the East Slope of Five Dragon Mountain—Jade Verdant Cave. Because the mountain gate is surrounded by demons, he came out specifically to seek external assistance!"

"I encountered him near the Hundred Beasts Forest base at the East Slope. His skill in concealing his aura is truly impressive. Had it not been for the activation of the fortress’s external prohibitions, he might have reached the edge of the array unperceived."

"Upon seeing me, he thought I was a dragon-type demon who had taken human form, and we fought. Later, upon realizing I am a cultivator from the Red Flame Sect, he honestly explained his intentions!"

It was quite normal for Cao Ren to be mistaken for a dragon being, considering his aura significantly differed from that of regular cultivators due to his cultivation of the [Transforming Dragon Curse].

Fortunately, when Jade Spring Fairy severed Hallow Venerable’s forefinger years ago, she also cast a spell disrupting his connection with the Dragon Rearing Pool’s master, allowing him to venture normally outside rather than being trapped in the Demon-Suppressing Tower, making normal cultivation impossible!

"Earlier, I already let him into the Mirror Realm through the imitation Taihua Mirror within the Hundred Beasts Forest base and confirmed he’s not a demon spy or the like."

"However, according to him, Senior Taihua directed him to come straight to find the Sect Master, hence I brought him here!"

"Regarding more details, let him report them himself."

Shen Mo nodded slightly, then his gaze fell upon the young cultivator kneeling on the ground.

"Greetings, Senior Qingyun and Senior Duanmu. Junior’s surname is Lü, named Xiangtai, originally a cultivator from Red Lotus Cave! Later, I was taken in by Jade Verdant Cave..." Lü Xiangtai prostrated to Shen Mo and Lady Scarlet, expressing a sense of urgency as he quickly elucidated his purpose for coming.

It turned out this person was not a native creature of Jade Verdant Cave but originally from Red Lotus Cave.

Dozens of years ago, under Hallow Venerable’s decree, Tiger Demon Shan Hao gathered the fox demon intellectual Pei Wanchen, Pig Demon Heisha, and other great demons, waged wars everywhere, intending to unify various powers on Five Dragon Mountain. When they led Hou Corpse Cave’s demons to take Red Lotus Cave, the Human Race Immortal Master and Red Lotus Cave Lord swore to die rather than submit, then was killed by Shan Hao using the Creation Array and Ocher Immortal Slaying Bracelet!

Most Red Lotus cultivators scattered, lurking everywhere to combat Hou Corpse Cave’s demons, almost being exterminated.

Another part of the highly talented, picked by the Red Lotus Cave Lord as cultivation seeds, escaped with the mundane mortals of Red Lotus Cave through spatial treasures and Teleportation Array;

While some fell into the hands of demons, becoming their blood food, many preserved their lives, eventually reaching the East Slope of Five Dragon Mountain and being sheltered by Jade Verdant Cave’s lord, Divine Bridge middle-stage Immortal Master Cheng Qianbao!

Lü Xiangtai is among the few fortunate ones, though this fortune didn’t perpetuate until now.

Although Tiger Demon Shan Hao’s demons of Hou Corpse Cave were annihilated in a war years ago, stripping him of leadership, not all demons of Five Dragon Mountain were eradicated. Mingpeng, a Formless Realm Thousands Insects Evil Corpse more powerful than Shan Hao, arrived.

Recently, Mingpeng discovered Jade Verdant Cave’s Dungeon, dispatched demons to surround it, and severely injured Jade Verdant Cave Lord Cheng Qianbao.

As a fellow clan member of Hallow Venerable, Mingpeng is even more brutal and murderous than Tiger Demon Shan Hao.

Back then, Shan Hao worked to fulfill Hallow Venerable’s command to gather Mountain’s strong figures, attempting to recruit Red Lotus Cave Lord and his disciples.

However, Mingpeng, who took over Five Dragon Mountain’s leadership, doesn’t intend to leave any mortal or immortal alive. Even humanity that joined demon forces and willingly inscribed Spirit Control Talismans didn’t escape... all mundane mortals, regardless of gender, young or old, were turned into food, and cultivators were used as cultivation resources!

This Thousands Insects Evil Corpse’s favorite pastime is releasing a tiny worm from his body, which enters through a human’s nasal cavity, devouring their flesh and soul, leaving only a complete human skin to be crafted into a magic robe.

Shen Mo has repeatedly battled Mingpeng, witnessing the power of his human skin magic robe, with capabilities in both offense and defense, its might extraordinary;

At least several millions of diverse human skins crafted, exuding heavy sinister demonic Qi!

Once Jade Verdant Cave falls to Mingpeng, one can only imagine the tragic fate awaiting the humanity within the Dungeon.

Helplessly, Lü Xiangtai and other Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators sneaked out of Jade Verdant Cave, seeking external support to secure a path of survival for Red Lotus Cave survivors and billions of creatures within Jade Verdant Cave!

He was fortunate enough, relying on superb concealment skills to pass through layers of demonic blockades, reaching near Red Flame Sect’s base in Hundred Beasts Forest at the East Slope, where he encountered Cao Ren, who then brought him to Shen Mo at the Demon Burial Plain base.

During Lü Xiangtai’s statement, Shen Mo had already utilized "Insight into All Beings," seeing through his background.

According to the Destiny Panel information feedback, he indeed hadn’t lied; whether it be his name, origin, or overall experiences, matched what Shen Mo observed!

"What did fellow Daoist Taihua say to you?" Shen Mo asked after Lü Xiangtai finished speaking.

In the Hundred Beasts Forest base, Lü Xiangtai informed the Taihua Mirror’s Artifact Spirit authentically about Jade Verdant Cave’s predicament through the imitation Taihua Mirror. Shen Mo wished to understand this Immortal Treasure Artifact Spirit’s thoughts.

"Reporting to Senior..."

"Senior Taihua informed me that Jade Verdant Cave has been completely blocked by a Formless Realm great demon. My successful escape was intentional on her part!"

"She guided me to seek out Senior, saying you might find a way to send the imitation immortal mirror into Jade Verdant Cave to rescue millions of creatures from the demon’s grasp."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo’s eye slightly twitched, saying, "Wait here for a while. I will visit the Mirror Realm to ask fellow Daoist Taihua some questions and will return shortly."

"By the way!"

"I remember amongst the newly advanced Nascent Souls at Myriad Phenomenon Peak, there is a disciple named Pang Dong who hails from Red Lotus Cave!"

"Currently, he should be patrolling near the Demon Burial Plain base looking for signs of demons, Cao Ren, go and find him to let these two former co-disciples meet."

Years ago, when Shen Mo conquered Hou Corpse Cave, he saved many Red Lotus Cave cultivators in the demonic cave, the low-class disciples distributed to inner and outer sect, while the elites were placed entirely at Myriad Phenomenon Peak under Prince Yongzuo’s command, among which Pang Dong was one; he successfully formed a Golden Core a year ago.

"Nephew Pang is still alive!" Lü Xiangtai exclaimed, surprised and delighted.

Shen Mo smiled gently and paid no more heed to him.

The spirit light on his body flickered slightly; he vanished from the temporary mansion and appeared before the imitation Taihua Mirror, then sensed the mirroring light’s pull, entering the Mirror Realm.