The First Immortal of Destiny-Chapter 390: Fortuitous Encounter_1
"The Dragon Reversing Spell..."
Shen Mo’s sense scanned the jade slip. He discovered that the cultivation method Senior Xiang Shengtian had created for him was named in direct opposition to the [Transforming Dragon Curse].
He attempted to cultivate it using [Martial Performance], but just like with the [Transforming Dragon Curse], he still found it impossible to make any headway.
Seeing this, he stopped wasting his energy and placed it together with the paper booklet that recorded the [Transforming Dragon Curse].
Perhaps it would be useful someday.
"No wonder I tried so many methods but couldn’t break the Prohibition on the Blue Jade Slip!" Shen Mo remarked calmly.
"So, this jade slip actually contained Senior Xiang’s remnant soul, searching for a cultivator who had also practiced the [Transforming Dragon Curse] to inherit his legacy."
"For you to receive this inheritance... it’s truly a blessing in disguise!"
He didn’t much mind losing the Blue Jade Slip. After all, he wasn’t Senior Xiang Shengtian’s chosen one. Since he hadn’t cultivated the [Transforming Dragon Curse], he wouldn’t have been able to receive the inheritance, no matter how ingenious his methods.
It was all rather miraculous!
This Senior Xiang had perished a thousand years ago. After his inheritance jade slip vanished, it somehow reappeared in the Jade Pool Dungeon.
Then, it was unearthed by a Spirit Storage Rat and fell into Shen Mo’s hands.
Coincidentally, an old acquaintance of his... Cao Ren, had obtained and cultivated the [Transforming Dragon Curse] a year prior, becoming a victim of the Dragon Rearing Pool.
This all led to today’s scene: Xiang Shengtian’s remnant soul, spanning a thousand years, taking Cao Ren as his Direct Disciple!
If Shen Mo hadn’t entered the Jade Pool Realm, or if the Spirit Storage Rat hadn’t unearthed the jade slip, or even if he hadn’t asked Cao Ren about his "opportune encounter"... that scene from before would never have occurred!
It could only be described as a wondrous and ineffable twist of fate.
Aside from offering words of encouragement, Shen Mo didn’t make any solemn promises to Cao Ren about helping him overcome the ordeal when the Dragon Rearing Pool arrived decades later.
He reckoned that by that time, his own cultivation would have reached towering heights. But ultimately, it was unknown just how profound the cultivation level of that Immortal Path titan who reared dragons for food truly was. If, at that time, he could contend with it, Shen Mo certainly wouldn’t stand idly by and watch Cao Ren be captured by the Dragon Rearing Pool, nor let him suffer the same valiant yet tragic fate as his Master Xiang Shengtian, dashing himself to death against the pool’s edge. However, if this unknown entity was unfathomably powerful, Shen Mo could only be a spectator. At best, once his own cultivation level was sufficiently high, he could then help Cao Ren seek justice. Therefore, rather than making reckless promises, it was better to provide Cao Ren with more support, helping him increase his strength as quickly as possible. That way, when the Dragon Rearing Pool came for him, he might, like his Master Xiang Shengtian, manage to escape alive repeatedly, buying himself more time!
"Actually, on second thought, I don’t have much to complain about!" Cao Ren suddenly laughed.
"If I hadn’t obtained the [Transforming Dragon Curse] and my Master’s legacy, with my Talent, the most I could have cultivated to would be the middle-stage of Qi Gathering."
"After that, I’d either have to leave the mountain to establish a cultivation family or become a sect Deacon!"
"Either way, I would have just lived on in mediocrity for another hundred and seventy or eighty years, whiling away my time."
"But now, cultivating the [Transforming Dragon Curse], my soul can enter the Dark Blue Zone, and I’ve also received some of my Master’s origin power... Not to mention the Golden Core Realm, even opening the Spirit Sea shouldn’t be difficult."
"To be able to live as splendidly as you have for several decades—I wouldn’t consider that a loss!"
Watching his old friend, with whom he used to guard the mountain gate, steadily rise in strength and status, Cao Ren couldn’t help but feel envious and jealous, though he never voiced it.
Especially since his father, Cao Shanyue, frequently compared him to Shen Mo...
That he could maintain his composure and not view Shen Mo as an enemy already spoke volumes about his peaceful state of mind.
The [Transforming Dragon Curse] and Xiang Shengtian’s legacy, however, had given him a chance to once again walk shoulder-to-shoulder with Shen Mo!
"Well, I’ll be. You’ve got some ambition in you yet, fellow."
Shen Mo chuckled, feeling quite gratified by Cao Ren’s display of spirit.
The two then discussed on Coral Island how to handle the mess outside. Meanwhile, Cao Shanyue, who had been unconscious, slowly regained consciousness after Shen Mo fed him a Soul Nurturing Pill.
Then, Shen Mo called out, "Ming Yu, please retract your Skill and let us out."
"Alright, Brother." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
The Clam Girl Ming Yu, watching from the side in a daze, wasn’t clear on the full picture but still obediently complied.
As the clam shell dome that had enveloped the area slowly shrank and opened, Shen Mo and the others instantly reappeared on the flat ground outside the cave mansion.
The inner disciples and Deacons who had previously asked Cao Ren about the Spell had not dispersed.
Seeing Shen Mo’s group suddenly appear, they immediately swarmed around them again, calling out their offers, wanting to exchange for that miraculous Spell.
"Fellow Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, I am truly sorry!"
"Earlier, I was overcome by a Heart Demon, which caused me to spout nonsense, intending to trick you out of your Spirit Stones, magic artifacts, and other cultivation resources."
"Fortunately, Shen Core noticed something was amiss with me in time. He intervened to help me suppress the Heart Demon, preventing my malicious act from succeeding and also saving me from punishment by the sect’s regulations."
"Please, I ask for your forgiveness..."
Saying this, Cao Ren bowed deeply to them in apology.
"See? I told you! Who would go around shouting about a great fortuitous opportunity they’d stumbled upon? They might not even tell their own parents."
"So, it turns out Junior Brother Cao was overcome by a Heart Demon. In that case, you can’t really be blamed... After all, for cultivators like us, a single moment of carelessness can give rise to Demonic thoughts. Thankfully, Senior Brother Shen intervened and averted a disaster."
"Junior Brother Cao, are you that short on funds lately? To think you were still trying to gather wealth even while possessed by a Heart Demon!"
"Sigh, what a shame! I even had my Spirit Stones ready."
The various guests at the feast chimed in one after another.
Since no one had actually handed over any cultivation resources to Cao Ren, the matter was dismissed amidst some talk and laughter.
Of course, this was largely out of consideration for Shen Mo.
Otherwise, based on Cao Ren’s earlier actions alone, the Sect Disciples who had been led on would certainly not have let him off without teaching him a harsh lesson.
Shen Mo also opportunely adopted the air of his position as the third seat of the core disciples, admonishing and encouraging them all.
It wasn’t until the latter half of the night that everyone gradually dispersed.
Cao Ren and his father, Cao Shanyue, after bidding Shen Mo farewell, also controlled their magic artifacts and flew towards their respective cave mansions.
Before long, outside Shen Mo’s cave mansion, only Shen Mo, Zhao Lingyin, and Chen Mengze with her father, Chen An, remained.
Chen An, his eyes hazy and narrowed from drink, smiled at Shen Mo, then mounted his Flying Sword and departed alone, leaving his treasured daughter behind.
"The Defense Division branch has many trivial matters... I should be heading back too," Chen Mengze said, her expression calm.
Just as Shen Mo was about to remind her to be careful on her way, Zhao Lingyin spoke up first.
"Sister Mengze, the demonic scourge at Wolf Howling Ridge has been quelled. Even if you have to go back, there’s no rush."
"It’s rare for us to meet. Why don’t we have a few more drinks... How about it?"
As she spoke, she beamingly retrieved an even finer spiritual wine from her Universe Bag—a specialty of the Immortal Burial Sea that Shen Mo had brought back from Demon King Mingcang’s Palace.
A flicker of emotion rippled through Chen Mengze’s eyes. She shot Shen Mo a quick glance, then nodded and sat back down.
