If the eighth layer of Body Tempering was divided into four stages—early, middle, late, and perfection—
Shen Mo's accumulated strength had now reached the late stage, and he could faintly sense the profound threshold of a new breakthrough.
Previously, he would have begun searching for an opportunity to break through.
But Uncle Chen had told him that after entering the Qi Gathering Realm, anyone hoping to open multiple dantians needed to firmly consolidate their foundation. The deeper their reserves, the better.
A towering building rose from level ground.
So Shen Mo wasn't anxious to break through just yet. Instead, he wanted to keep consolidating his cultivation and, once his accumulation was complete, achieve a natural breakthrough.
"One hundred Separating Fire Crystals yielded a total of twenty-three finished Separating Fire Talismans."
He took all the Separating Fire Talismans out of his storage pouch and counted them, feeling quite satisfied.
"Even allowing for the worst, twenty Separating Fire Talismans will be more than enough to deal with that Two-Headed Python."
"I'll sell the remaining three at the market and trade them for some defensive talismans."
He set out immediately and soon arrived at the Heavenly Talisman Hall in the market.
"Separating Fire Talismans sell for nine low-grade Spirit Stones."
When the shop's attendant heard that Shen Mo wanted to sell talismans, he told him the purchase price.
At the usual market rate, a Separating Fire Talisman sold for ten low-grade Spirit Stones.
But the Heavenly Talisman Hall didn't buy them to use like ordinary cultivators did. They bought them to resell, so naturally they needed to make a profit.
Shen Mo didn't mind losing a Spirit Stone on each one. After all, setting up a stall and selling them to other cultivators would cost him time, too.
He promptly sold the three talismans and received twenty-seven low-grade Spirit Stones. Then he bought a Bedrock Talisman and an Earth Escape Talisman there.
He had experienced the effects of both talismans firsthand and was quite satisfied. They were truly indispensable for life at home and travel abroad.
On this trip back to Yongan Town, having these two talismans in hand greatly bolstered Shen Mo's confidence.
Even if something went wrong and he failed to kill the Two-Headed Python, he could still ensure his own safety.
"Lastly, I need one more thing."
He had prepared all the talismans he needed.
But for this trip, he still lacked a portion of Grafting Spirit Soil.
According to the Zhao Family, the Vermilion Fruits planted this time would need another two or three months to ripen.
Even if he killed the Two-Headed Python, he couldn't stay in the Zhao Family's Spirit Field until they were ripe.
So, to prevent the Purple Sun Vermilion Fruits from being picked before they matured and losing their medicinal effects,
he needed the soil to hold the still-unripe Purple Sun Vermilion Fruits and allow them to keep growing.
Grafting Spirit Soil was nothing rare. Many spirit planters used it.
It wasn't expensive, either. Five Spirit Stones would buy a pot.
Shen Mo bought some from a stall run by an Inner Sect senior brother in the market.
After putting it in his Qiankun Pouch, Shen Mo officially set off!
Yongan Town, the Zhao Family.
A family meeting was underway in the inner hall.
The family head, Zhao Bing, sat at the head of the room.
Beside him sat his eldest son, Zhao Jiachang, and his second son, Zhao Jiaxing.
Behind them sat some members of the collateral branches.
At today's family meeting, they were discussing seeking help.
"Father, the Chen Clan's ancestor has agreed to come help us exterminate the demons. But they aren't satisfied with our offer: once this is done, the Chen Clan will get all the spirit fruits harvested over the next three years."
"The Chen Family's young master has declared that our Zhao Family must hand over ten mu of Spirit Fields as payment before the Chen Family will help."
"Ten mu of Spirit Fields? The Chen Family has gone too far! They're disregarding the friendship our families have shared for years and making an outrageous demand!"
Hearing his son's words, Zhao Bing's expression darkened. He slapped the table and rose to his feet.
"The Chen Family knows our Zhao Family is in dire straits and has no time to deal with anything else."
"No matter what, the Spirit Fields are ancestral property of our Zhao Family. We absolutely cannot give them up!"
"But if we don't ask the Chen Family for help, how can we hold on to our Spirit Fields? If we keep delaying, the fields will be cut off from spirit water, go barren, and turn into ordinary soil."
"What about that immortal master from the River-Facing Sect? He said he'd come back and help us exterminate the demons."
"That immortal master probably said it offhand. Putting all our hopes in him is far too uncertain."
"We still need to prepare for both possibilities. If the immortal master doesn't come on the appointed day, we'll at least be ready."
"What are you all talking about?"
Just as the Zhao Family members were arguing, Shen Mo's voice rang out in the hall.
"Immortal master?"
Everyone froze, then turned toward the sound.
When they saw Shen Mo, they were overjoyed.
"Hahaha! I knew the immortal master was a man of his word!"
Zhao Bing hurried forward and bowed in greeting.
"Didn't I tell you to wait a month for me?" Shen Mo had heard the Zhao Family's discussion clearly. "Why did you agree to that, only to go looking for help elsewhere?"
"Immortal master, you may not know..."
Zhao Bing looked embarrassed as he explained, "After you left, the demonic aura in the Spirit Fields didn't diminish. It grew even stronger."
"Everyone in the Zhao Family has been living in constant fear."
Although the demonic snakes had so far only occupied the Spirit Fields and hadn't ventured beyond them to attack anyone at the Zhao Family residence,
the threat remained, naturally leaving everyone in the Zhao Family on edge.
Besides, Shen Mo had only casually left them his word before, so the Zhao Family didn't dare place all their hopes on him.
That was why they had thought to seek help from a friendly cultivation family.
"Forget it." Shen Mo waved his hand, not dwelling on it.
"I've made thorough preparations for this trip. Today, I'll rid your Zhao Family of the trouble in your Spirit Fields!"
Zhao Bing beamed at those words.
But he couldn't help peering carefully beyond the residence. Seeing no one else besides Shen Mo, his smile slowly faded, and he asked hesitantly, "Did the immortal master come alone?"
The head of the Zhao Family had assumed Shen Mo would bring along plenty of friends and powerful cultivators from his sect.
After all, the last time he came alone, he'd fled in quite a sorry state.
"Last time, I failed because I didn't know in advance that a great demon was there and hadn't prepared well."
Shen Mo had guessed what Zhao Bing was thinking. He raised an eyebrow. "This time, I'm thoroughly prepared. You can rest assured, Family Head Zhao."
Shen Mo instructed the Zhao Family members to wait for word from him at the entrance and not let anyone else in to interrupt him while he exterminated the demons.
Then he entered the area once more.
"Hiss! Hiss!"
This time, when he entered the Spirit Fields again, the demonic snakes lurking throughout the area no longer had the courage to charge at him.
Sensing Shen Mo's aura, they acted as if facing a formidable foe and scattered in every direction.
Clearly, the last time he had sliced through snakes like chopping vegetables had left a deep impression on these low-intelligence little beasts.
Shen Mo paid them no mind. They weren't his main target to begin with.
He would kill the Silver-Ringed Two-Headed Python first. Once their leader was dead, dealing with the remaining little demonic snakes would be much easier.
Before you continue