CHAPTER 244: PROMOTED TO QI GATHERING LAYER V - 244_1

"Mo, here are forty-three middle-grade Spirit Stones. Please take them."

In the Baodan Pavilion, the amiable and unassuming Shopkeeper Qian passed over the jade plate laden with Spirit Stones.

Shen Mo scanned it with his spiritual sense.

Knowing that the count was correct, he waved his sleeve and stored them in his Universe Bag.

In the last transaction, Shen Mo, aiming to collect enough Spirit Stones as quickly as possible, had gone to the Magic Tower to buy a spiritual-level swordplay.

He had sold all the reserved Elixirs he kept for his own use, leaving no stock.

Now he had nothing left in storage. He could only sell as much as he could refine, and the speed of earning Spirit Stones had slowed down dramatically!

It was barely enough to sustain his daily cultivation.

If he wanted to cultivate more spiritual-level cultivation methods and open a shop in Jiyun Town, he had to figure out a way to earn more Spirit Stones.

After the transaction was completed, Shopkeeper Qian brewed a cup of spiritual tea for Shen Mo and said worriedly, "Mo, whatever plans you have, you must make them soon.

"The Qian Family behind me, and that clan uncle...

"They’ve been pressing hard lately!

"I had to hand over a large sum of Spirit Stones just to appease them."

Shen Mo leisurely took a sip of spiritual tea, feeling the Mana in his body stirring.

Only then did he slowly say, "Our secret agreement was for half a year. Not even a month has passed. It’s no use, no matter how anxious you are.

"Instead of urging me, you might as well focus on dealing with your clansmen.

"If you can’t hold on for half a year, this secret agreement will be void.

"In any case... I haven’t received any benefits from you, so I have nothing to lose."

In his heart, Shen Mo could understand Shopkeeper Qian’s predicament. Dealing with his predatory clansmen all day long, and periodically having to make painful sacrifices to appease them—it would be strange if he weren’t anxious. However, was he not facing difficulties himself? Without strength comparable to a Spirit Sea Realm expert, trying to snatch meat from a tiger’s mouth—wasn’t that courting death? Therefore, no matter how anxious Shopkeeper Qian was, Shen Mo had to proceed at his own pace. The worst outcome would simply be gaining no benefits! There was no need to start a conflict with the Qian Family and Elder Qian of Rising Sun Peak prematurely for the sake of this current potential benefit.

Seeing Shen Mo’s unperturbed expression, Shopkeeper Qian sighed, "I understand. I’ll do my best to delay. I hope, Mo, that you won’t let my hard work be in vain."

Compared to Shen Mo’s detachment regarding gains and losses, Shopkeeper Qian found it far more difficult to accept the prospect of losing all his assets.

「A few days later.」

In the Inner Sect cave mansion of the Riverside Sect.

Shen Mo sat cross-legged, continuously circulating the "Purple Mansion Heart Scripture," absorbing the dense Spiritual Qi emanating from the Spirit Vein.

And the [Martial Performance] body also paused its cultivation of other methods.

It focused wholeheartedly, deducing and cultivating this main cultivation method.

The medicinal efficacy of the consumed Elixirs and the absorbed Spiritual Qi were being constantly refined into Purple Mansion Mana!

At the next moment!

Sounds like surging tides emanated from within Shen Mo’s body!

HUM!

HUM!

HUM!

All three Dantians vibrated in unison, suddenly releasing a powerful suction force.

The breakthrough is starting!

Shen Mo’s eyes lit up with a bright glint. He grabbed the Dragon Tiger Formless Pill that had been set aside and swallowed it.

This Grade IV Elixir was a gift from Zhao Lingyin.

At the Tianshan Mountain Grand Ceremony, Shen Mo had used up two.

Later, while breaking into Prince Yongzuo’s Underground Palace, he used another one.

Since then, he had been reluctant to use it. Now, at the time of his advancement, it proved to be of great use once more.

Although consuming several different Grade III Elixirs could also achieve a comparable effect...

But during an advancement, every bit of Mana and mental focus was crucial.

Spending extra effort on refining Grade III Elixirs would mean less energy available to break through the realm and solidify the foundation during the breakthrough!

Therefore, even though this Elixir held extraordinary significance, Shen Mo did not hesitate to use it for this crucial advancement.

WHOOSH!

The Spiritual Qi near the cave mansion formed an invisible vortex, continuously pouring into the cave mansion.

And it continuously bored into Shen Mo’s body!

Even outside, a strong wind funneled towards the cave mansion, creating an inward draft.

Fortunately, this area was situated directly on the Riverside Sect’s Spirit Vein, where nature’s spiritual energy was rich and abundant.

It wouldn’t cause the Spiritual Qi in a radius of tens of miles to be temporarily depleted and emptied when Qi Gathering disciples advanced.

Otherwise, the inner disciples in neighboring cave mansions would have come looking for trouble!

After a moment.

This surging tide of Spiritual Qi actually began to show signs of weakening.

Still a little bit more needed!

Shen Mo frowned and, without hesitation, swallowed another Dragon Tiger Formless Pill.

At the same time, he swiftly activated the "Three-Heads Six-Arms True Immortal Technique"!

Inside his body, the blood essence primality, comparable to that of a Class II peak demonic beast, rapidly materialized an additional head and two arms under the stimulation of the Technique.

They sprouted from Shen Mo’s neck and from his ribs and back!

As his body transformed into the strange form with two heads and four arms, the intensity of his aura abruptly surged by a notch.

BOOM!

As if it were the last straw that broke the camel’s back, his Ocean of Qi Dantian began to vibrate intensely.

Abruptly, it expanded outward by a full circle!

Success!

A smile appeared on Shen Mo’s face, and he glanced at the panel.

[Destinied Lord: Shen Mo]

[Cultivation: Qi Gathering Realm, Layer V]

After successfully advancing, Shen Mo did not immediately dispel his two-headed and four-armed form.

Instead, in this form, he continued to absorb Spiritual Qi, solidifying the foundation of this Minor Realm.

The influx of nature’s spiritual energy gradually subsided, but at this point, it was no longer critical.

Shen Mo took out several Grade III Elixirs and swallowed them. While refining their medicinal properties with the "Purple Mansion Heart Scripture," he was calculating in his mind.

It has been three months since the last breakthrough! At this cultivation speed, I should be able to reach the Qi Gathering Realm Seventh Layer in half a year. That’s exactly when my agreement with Shopkeeper Qian expires! If I use all the methods available to me at that time, even if I come across a cultivator at Layer I of the Spirit Sea Realm, I would be able to contend with them. But to kill them outright would be a bit difficult. After all... the gap between the Qi Gathering Realm and the Spirit Sea Realm is too large. Also, as cultivation progresses to the late-stage, the disparity in strength between each Minor Realm is immense!

Don’t look at how he can currently, at Layer IV of the Qi Gathering Realm, overwhelm Tian Kang, who was at Layer VII of the Qi Gathering Realm. Even when facing Layer IX of the Qi Gathering Realm, he might still have a chance to fight! All because... they are in the same Major Realm.

Shen Mo calculated that after advancing to the late-stage of the Qi Gathering Realm, his combat strength could barely match that of an ordinary cultivator at Layer I of the Spirit Sea Realm. This was already an extremely confident assessment! If others heard this, they would probably laugh at him for his arrogance and overestimation of his own abilities!

If we say that the Ocean of Qi Dantian within a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator is a lake, then for a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator, their Ocean of Qi Dantian is a vast sea. The two are fundamentally not on the same level!

Relying on his profound mastery of cultivation methods and incisive combat techniques, Shen Mo could barely contend with an ordinary Spirit Sea Realm Layer I cultivator. However, if he encountered a genius-level expert at Spirit Sea Realm Layer I, he would undoubtedly be defeated. Not to mention a cultivator at the Second Layer of the Spirit Realm or above.

Fortunately... even if things truly come to a head with that Elder Qian, as long as I am within the Riverside Sect, he wouldn’t dare to openly come and kill me!