Treasure-Dropping Money

A towering old tea tree, several zhang tall, with a vigorous, twisting trunk, was covered in crystal-clear emerald leaves that gave off a rich fragrance.

The fresh scent of tea had not even been brewed with spiritual spring water or spiritual fire, yet merely smelling it left one refreshed and clear-headed, with insights into the mysteries of various Dao appearing in his mind.

"Eh, why does it seem like some leaves are missing?" Noticing that one branch was nearly bare and bore faint scorch marks, Shi Mo frowned slightly before his expression shifted. "Could it be that Earth-Core Fire Dragon ate the leaves of this Innate Enlightenment Tea Tree, causing its spirituality to suddenly awaken, allowing it to comprehend the Dao and advance its cultivation, thus drawing down the transformation lightning tribulation?"

"Right, that fellow is still undergoing its tribulation!" Shi Mo's expression changed slightly as he hurriedly left the underground spiritual vein. When he returned outside, he saw that the lightning tribulation vortex in the sky was slowly dissipating, while Earth-Core Fire Dragon, bathed in dazzling golden light, had undergone a change in aura.

"What? It... it's already over? It only took a few heavenly lightning strikes, and it passed the transformation lightning tribulation? Earth-Core Fire Dragon's innate foundation shouldn't be this weak, should it?"

Somewhat shocked and puzzled, Shi Mo saw the dazzling golden light of merit surrounding Earth-Core Fire Dragon's rapidly shrinking body and suddenly understood. "Could it be that it possesses great merit, so the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World favors it? Even its transformation lightning tribulation was relatively weak, merely going through the motions and letting it pass?"

Immediately after, the crimson-gold Earth-Core Fire Dragon's rapidly shrinking body transformed into a handsome young man with long crimson-gold hair, crimson brows, and a golden robe.

"Greetings, Master. Thank you, Master, for your guidance and grace of remaking me!" The handsome young man in golden robes and with crimson brows stepped forward and knelt respectfully before Shi Mo.

Earth-Core Fire Dragon was merely Earth-Core Fire Dragon. Had it not followed Shi Mo to help repair the Western Continent's earth veins, it could never have gained such great merit. As for overcoming a tribulation and transforming, that would have been unimaginably difficult.

Thus, it was no exaggeration to say that Shi Mo had bestowed upon him the grace of remaking him.

"Rise! Your successful tribulation and transformation are also your own fortune," Shi Mo said with a smile and nod. Then he added, "Since you have taken human form, you should have a name. You shall be called Golden Flame."

"Thank you, Master, for bestowing a name!" Earth-Core Fire Dragon, Golden Flame, was even more delighted.

"Golden Flame, what are your plans for the future? Will you continue following me, or would you like to venture out on your own?" Shi Mo continued.

Golden Flame replied respectfully, "I still wish to remain by Master's side."

"Good. Then from now on, cultivate with me at Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain!" Shi Mo nodded with satisfaction and smiled. "Though you possess Mysterious Immortal cultivation immediately after undergoing transformation, this level of cultivation is still far too weak in the Primordial World."

"Yes, Golden Flame also wishes to hear more of Master's teachings!" Golden Flame answered respectfully.

After bringing Golden Flame back to Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain, Shi Mo first planted the Innate Enlightenment Tea Tree he had brought back on Eight Treasures Peak. He then gave Golden Flame some guidance on the methods and key points of cultivation from the Mysterious Immortal realm to the Taiyi Loose Immortal realm before sending him to lead the other Earth-Core Fire Dragons in continuing to explore paradises and blessed lands along the earth vein network.

As for Shi Mo, who remained at Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain, he began attempting to cultivate with the leaves of the Innate Enlightenment Tea Tree.

Just as expected, the enlightenment spiritual tea brewed from the leaves of the Innate Enlightenment Tea Tree had an astonishingly good supplementary effect on Shi Mo's cultivation and comprehension of the Dao. Its efficiency was akin to sudden enlightenment, leaving Shi Mo greatly pleased.

Yet even greater surprises lay ahead! As Golden Flame and the Earth-Core Fire Dragons explored more and more immortal mountains and blessed lands along the earth vein network, they obtained many other innate spiritual materials and treasures besides millet and enlightenment tea trees. They even acquired several low- and mid-grade innate spiritual treasures.

However, what delighted Shi Mo the most was Golden Flame's discovery several years later in the southeast of the Primordial World.

Within a great mountain shrouded in mist and isolated and protected by a mysterious Innate Chaos Restriction.

Shi Mo suddenly appeared in the valley and saw magnificent mountain peaks thrusting into the clouds before him. Rare treasures and exotic grasses could be found everywhere, while vast quantities of immortal herbs and spiritual plants had already matured, yet no one had harvested them.

"What a fine immortal mountain and blessed land." Shi Mo's eyes brightened at the sight before he noticed Golden Flame approaching him respectfully.

Led by Golden Flame, Shi Mo soon saw a coin-like treasure floating in midair within a nearby valley. It shimmered with golden light and bore a pair of wings.

"This... could this be Treasure-Dropping Money? In the southeast of the Primordial World—could this be Wuyi Mountain?" Shi Mo was briefly stunned by the extraordinarily mysterious aura of the flying coin before a delighted expression appeared on his face.

Golden Flame hurriedly said from the side, "Master, this thing appears to be a very special innate spiritual treasure. I cannot approach it or take it away."

Without commenting, Shi Mo flew closer. Sensing the distorted fluctuations in the space around the flying coin, his heart stirred. It contains the power and mysteries of the spatial Dao. No wonder it can drop treasures. Its essence in dropping treasures must be using spatial power to sever the invisible connection between an opponent's treasure and its owner.

"However, the innate power of Treasure-Dropping Money cannot stop me from approaching it." Calm and confident, Shi Mo did not forcibly approach Treasure-Dropping Money. Instead, his powerful invisible divine sense seemed to pass through the distant barrier and entered Treasure-Dropping Money.

Treasure-Dropping Money trembled with a hum. Golden light flowed across its surface, the invisible isolating power around it vanished, and Treasure-Dropping Money then drifted directly into Shi Mo's hand.

"It truly is Treasure-Dropping Money! Though it is only a high-grade innate spiritual treasure, its value is no less than that of a top-grade innate spiritual treasure. It is even more useful than many top-grade innate spiritual treasures." As Shi Mo played with Treasure-Dropping Money in his hand, he was overwhelmed with delight.

After all, during the Investiture of the Gods, the Treasure-Dropping Money of Wuyi Mountain's loose immortals Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao had dropped Zhao Gongming's Sea-Calming Divine Pearls.

The Sea-Calming Divine Pearls possessed incredibly profound power and ranked among the very finest top-grade innate spiritual treasures. They had beaten the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Jade Void School until they could not fight back, yet Treasure-Dropping Money had easily brought them down.

Powerful magical treasures were an important reliance for cultivators. Once they were taken away, one's strength would be greatly diminished.

Therefore, Treasure-Dropping Money, as the nemesis of magical treasures, was tremendously useful. It could entirely serve as an important trump card for turning defeat into victory and seizing an opponent's magical treasure.

Having obtained Treasure-Dropping Money, Shi Mo was in high spirits. After returning to Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to studying the Innate Chaos Restriction within Treasure-Dropping Money.

Given Shi Mo's current realm, although the Innate Chaos Restriction on Treasure-Dropping Money contained the mysteries of space and was relatively unusual, it did not take him much effort to comprehend most of it.

On this day, Shi Mo rarely emerged from his cave abode. His figure was like an illusion as he arrived atop Eight Treasures Peak as though twisting space itself. Seeing flower buds on the Flat Peach Mother Tree, which had long since grown lush and flourishing, he was even more delighted. "The Flat Peach Mother Tree is about to bloom?"

However, at that very moment, several powerful auras rapidly approached Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain. Shi Mo's expression changed slightly as he looked up, narrowing his eyes. "They've come after all!"