Chapter 119: Time to Divide the Spoils
The Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill is a rare medicinal elixir that enhances one's physical constitution.
It's so precious that even the entire Xuanjiang Prefecture has only a few of them, and finding someone capable of refining this pill is even harder.
However, Shen Mo's physical constitution has already reached the pinnacle of the Heaven rank. A Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill, being only an Earth rank elixir, might no longer be effective in further enhancing his physique.
Shen Mo estimated that at least a supreme Earth rank elixir would be necessary to have any noticeable effect.
Of course, this didn't mean he would give up on this opportunity. Even if he couldn't use it himself, it could be valuable for others.
For instance, Murong Yue. If she took it, her constitution would definitely be strengthened.
As Murong Yue grew stronger, Shen Mo's life would naturally become more stable.
Moreover, the Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill was so valuable that it could be auctioned off at a high price. There would certainly be many willing to pay a premium for it.
As for the Thousand-Handed Lotus, it was even more important.
Shen Mo quickly headed towards the ninth stone chamber in the Heaven section, recalling information about the Thousand-Handed Lotus in his mind.
The Thousand-Handed Lotus is a supreme Earth rank treasure, one of the essential items recorded in the Flame Hell Destruction Manual for nurturing a Nascent Soul!
Thinking of this, Shen Mo felt a surge of excitement.
Although he was currently only at the early stage of the Core Formation realm, he knew that one day he would have to nurture a Nascent Soul.
Thus, he was already aware of many things related to the Nascent Soul.
The Nascent Soul is nurtured within the Golden Core and eventually ascends to sit solemnly on the Dao Platform.
Like the Golden Core and Dao Platform, the Nascent Soul is also divided into different grades.
Depending on the foundation of its cultivation, the Nascent Soul will develop different lotus platforms beneath it.
The minimum is one lotus platform, while the maximum is nine.
A Nascent Soul with one lotus platform is called a One-Lotus Nascent Soul.
A Nascent Soul with two lotus platforms is called a Two-Lotus Nascent Soul, and so on.
If one can grow nine lotus platforms, it is called a Nine-Lotus Nascent Soul.
The strength of the Nascent Soul is related not only to the Golden Core but also to the number of lotus platforms.
A Nine-Lotus Nascent Soul is universally recognized as the strongest.
However, the methods to nurture a Nine-Lotus Nascent Soul are very few, and even some Heaven-rank cultivation techniques may not be able to achieve it.
Shen Mo's Flame Hell Destruction Manual is a technique capable of nurturing a Nine-Lotus Nascent Soul!
And the Thousand-Handed Lotus is precisely one of the treasures recorded in this technique!
Shen Mo quickly arrived at the ninth stone chamber in the Heaven section.
A person stood at the entrance of the stone chamber—it was an elder from the Stormy Rain Sect.
He had also intended to enter, but upon seeing Shen Mo, he immediately smiled.
With a smile, he said, "I'll leave this place to you; I'll go to another stone chamber."
The elder was quite young and had boundless potential, with rumors suggesting that the demon lord Zi Moye held him in high regard.
Naturally, it was wise to build a good relationship.
Shen Mo smiled and cupped his hands in thanks, "Much appreciated."
The elder's tactfulness saved Shen Mo the trouble of arguing.
Shen Mo entered the ninth stone chamber and quickly searched around, finding two bottles of Essence Restoration Pills.
Following the guidance of his life panel, he noticed a decorative vase in the corner.
There were many vases, all of them spotless.
It wasn't like in the dramas, where one vase is covered in dust while another is shiny from frequent use.
Shen Mo manipulated each vase in turn, and when he twisted the fourth one, a passageway appeared beneath it, just as he had expected.
He entered the passage and reached the deepest level beneath the Heavenly tier.
The lighting here was even dimmer, shrouding everything in darkness.
Shen Mo listened carefully and could hear the faint dripping of water.
In such an environment, the sound of dripping water seemed especially eerie.
But Shen Mo wasn't concerned.
He knew there was no danger here.
He strode forward confidently.
Soon, he found a small pool of water.
In the pool, a pure and sacred lotus was growing.
But the petals of the lotus were not like ordinary petals; they resembled human hands, flesh-colored and human-like.
Countless human hands formed this Thousand-Handed Lotus.
Anyone who saw this scene would instinctively be horrified.
"No wonder it's called the Thousand-Handed Lotus. It really lives up to its name," Shen Mo marveled.
Upon closer inspection, the petals were still just petals, merely shaped very much like hands.
"Gu Sanqiu must have obtained this Thousand-Handed Lotus long ago and carefully nurtured it here, intending to use it when he eventually forms his Nascent Soul."
"Now, it's my turn to benefit from this," Shen Mo said with a slight smile.
He glanced around.
Behind him was a stone table, on which sat two jade bottles.
The bottle on the left contained three Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pills.
The bottle on the right contained a single Great Enlightenment Pill.
"Now that I've got what I need, it's time to leave."
Before long, the exploration of the Alchemy King's cave was completely finished.
Everyone returned to the place where they had previously confronted Gu Sanqiu and regrouped.
Liu Menghu frowned and said, "We didn't find a single Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill... How about you?"
Murong Yue also shook her head. "We found plenty of other pills, but no Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pills."
"What about the elders?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Everyone present knew that it was the Verdant Vine Sect pulling the strings between Qingxuan Sect and the Stormy Rain Sect. The spoils from the Alchemy King's cave naturally had to be partially offered to Verdant Vine Sect. And it had to be the most valuable portion.
The most valuable treasure in the Alchemy King's cave was undoubtedly the Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill. But now, without a single Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill found, it would be difficult to explain this.
Shen Mo chuckled, "I'm sure Mo Yuheng has already mentioned it to Sect Master Liu: the treasures belong to those who are fated to obtain them."
Liu Menghu nodded, "Of course, I agree with that. You can rest assured."
"Our Stormy Rain Sect is allied with your Qingxuan Sect now, so no matter what treasure it is, whoever gets it, it's theirs."
Shen Mo smiled, "The Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill is with me."
As he spoke, he took out a jade bottle and gave it a little shake.
It was exactly the same as the one the Divine Sword Sect had awarded as the top prize in the Hundred Schools Grand Tournament—the Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill.
Liu Menghu was overjoyed, "Good, good, good!"
He understood Shen Mo's intention and nodded slightly, "Our Stormy Rain Sect is willing to buy this pill! Name your price!"
Murong Yue frowned, "Wait, Shen'er also needs this Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pill; we're not selling it."
Shen Mo was momentarily stunned, caught between laughter and tears.
Murong Yue was overly considerate of him.
But in fact, he had obtained three Taiyi Soul-Nurturing Pills, so selling one didn't matter.
Moreover, since Verdant Vine Sect was one of the Five Sects of Xuanjiang and an important ally for Qingxuan Sect, it made sense both emotionally and logically to offer one to them.
Not to mention, it wasn't being given away for free—Liu Menghu was savvy enough to want to purchase it.
Murong Yue looked at Shen Mo, as if she wanted to say something more.
But Shen Mo looked at her and shook his head.
Murong Yue blinked, seemingly understanding something.
With a sigh of resignation, she said, "Alright, Sect Master Liu has to complete his task from above, so I agree."
Liu Menghu grinned, "Good, good, as long as Sect Master Murong agrees."
Shen Mo thought for a moment, "I've heard that the Flying Frost Sect has a place called the Profound Frost Grotto, right?"
As a first-class sect, Flying Frost Sect controlled numerous mines, medicinal fields, and treasure sites.
Profound Frost Grotto was one of them.
The Profound Frost Grotto produced a treasure called "Profound Frost Amber," which contained a drop of ice-elemental blood.
This item could be used to temper the physical body.
For Shen Mo, not only could this item be used to strengthen his body, but it could also serve as a consumable to activate his Demon Armor.
After all, using the Demon Armor always required the consumption of blood.
Shen Mo didn't want to feel drained and weak after every use of the Demon Armor, as if he had been stripped of his vitality.
So, he had long set his sights on Profound Frost Amber.
Unfortunately, it was tightly controlled by Flying Frost Sect.
Now, with the core members of Flying Frost Sect under control, their assets would soon be divided between Qingxuan Sect and Stormy Rain Sect.
Shen Mo finally had a chance to obtain Profound Frost Amber, and he wasn't about to let it slip through his fingers.