Chapter 208: Fire Dragon Egg Beneath Dragon Snake Mountain
"Indeed, if it's not meant for me, I wouldn't be able to see it with the naked eye."
Shen Mo shook his head and took out a handful of bait from his storage ring, throwing it into the water.
He was well-versed in the habits of demonic beasts, including the yixianqing.
The bait he tossed had two layers: the outer layer was something the yixianqing loved to eat, while the inner layer was something they found repulsive.
This way, without having to dissect them, he could induce them to regurgitate anything in their stomachs.
Moments later, the yixianqing began to vomit, and a palm-sized jade bottle emerged from the mouth of one of them.
Shen Mo's eyes lit up with delight as he stepped forward to retrieve it.
The jade material of the bottle was high quality, so it hadn't been corroded by the stomach acid even after being inside the yixianqing.
With a gentle wipe, it shone as if new.
Shen Mo opened the bottle, and a rich fragrance of medicinal pills filled the air.
He felt a slight strengthening of his Nascent Soul within his dantian as well.
His spirits lifted immediately.
He swiftly stored the bottle of Grand Infant Transformation Pills.
"This bottle contains five Grand Infant Transformation Pills, enough to help me reach the intermediate Nascent Soul stage."
"By calculation, it's worth at least two Grade C contributions."
Shen Mo sighed slightly.
He had long since learned that contributions in the Yuding Sect were graded from A to D, with A being the highest and D the lowest.
Ten Grade D contributions could be exchanged for one Grade C contribution.
The system continued in this way, with exchanges typically going upwards rather than downwards, similar to the use of spiritual stones.
For most of the Yuding Sect's properties, if they met the standard for annual requirements, they earned only two Grade D contributions. More significant properties might yield more, but no more than four contributions.
Two Grade D contributions could only be exchanged for a single Infant Transformation Pill.
Exceeding the sect's requirements would yield multiple contributions as a reward, depending on the situation.
The bottle of Grand Infant Transformation Pills Shen Mo obtained saved him a significant amount of contribution points.
He nodded slightly, intending to leave.
Suddenly, he saw a streak of light in the sky, and within an instant, it appeared a hundred meters before him.
The figure in the streak of light took shape—a pale-faced cultivator in a crimson robe, with three small cauldrons embroidered on his chest, signifying his rank as a three-cauldron elder.
His cold expression seemed to deter anyone from approaching.
It was Ye Yan, whom Shen Mo had previously encountered in a skirmish above Cangjiang.
Ye Yan, recognizing Shen Mo's one-cauldron elder robe, hesitated for a moment but quickly masked his reaction with his usual cold demeanor.
Shen Mo feigned confusion. "Who are you? Why did you react that way? Could it be that you know me?"
On that day above Cangjiang, Ye Yan had worn a demon mask and hadn't been in his Yuding Sect elder robe.
Thus, he hadn't revealed his identity.
Shen Mo had no intention of exposing him either, so he acted as though he was unaware.
Ye Yan didn't answer and instead asked coldly, "Are you the guarding elder of Dragon Snake Mountain, Shen Mo?"
"Yes, that's me. May I ask who you are?"
Ye Yan responded, "I am Ye Yan, here on orders from the Second Elder to retrieve the ten yixianqing in this area."
Shen Mo nodded, "Since it's the Second Elder's order, I will comply. Please, go ahead."
The two exchanged no further words.
Ye Yan took the ten yixianqing and departed quickly.
Shen Mo watched him leave, his expression unchanged.
Only after putting several hundred miles between himself and Dragon Snake Mountain did Ye Yan's expression shift, a look of suspicion and realization emerging.
"So, the one who took the Yin Evil Pearl was him—the tenth peak's Shen Mo."
"Yang Qiye was right; this person is indeed a young prodigy, a true rival of mine."
"There are two ways to deal with such a person: either cut him down or make him serve as a loyal dog."
Ye Yan raised his eyebrows as a plan formed in his mind.
…
Meanwhile, Shen Mo quickly made his way to a cave.
"It's time to begin cultivating demonic beasts."
After feeding them heavenly essence grass and blue-blood mulberry leaves, the restless flying cloud mothers here had finally calmed down.
Having practiced the True Beast Mastery, Shen Mo now had an intimate understanding of various demonic beast habits.
Cultivating them was well within his capability.
"The flying cloud mothers carry traces of the ancient bloodline of the Golden Silkworm. To purify their bloodline, I'll need to provide certain heavenly materials and earthly treasures."
"The necessary items include…"
A flood of medicinal herbs flashed through Shen Mo's mind.
Some of these herbs could be found on Dragon Snake Mountain, while others could be purchased from the Jade Sea Hall in Jade Sea City.
Since Jade Sea Hall wasn't the Jade Sea Sect's Treasure Pavilion, they accepted spirit stones for purchases.
Soon, Shen Mo gathered all the herbs he needed and brewed a medicinal solution.
He selected a few particularly robust flying cloud mothers and soaked them in the solution.
After a day, these flying cloud mothers had noticeably grown stronger.
However, when Shen Mo checked on them the following day, they had mysteriously returned to their original state!
"Strange… why is this happening?"
Shen Mo immediately checked his personal life panel.
[Recent Turn 1: Today, the flying cloud mothers that were soaked in medicinal solution reverted to their original state. No solution has been found.]
[Recent Turn 2: One month later, two especially strong long-maned oxen are selected to drink the medicinal solution, quickly becoming stronger. A few days later, they return to their original state. No solution has been found.]
[Recent Turn 3: Three months later, a green-eyed python is soaked in medicinal solution to enhance its bloodline, but after a few days, it reverts back. No result.]
[…]
[Recent Turn 10: Ten years later, Ye Yan arrives at Dragon Snake Mountain and, while pursuing a rare demonic beast, discovers a fire dragon egg beneath the mountain that is in the process of hatching. The young dragon recognizes Ye Yan as its master.
This event causes the Jade Sea Sect's guardian spirit beast, the fire dragon, to fly over from the Heng Tai Mountain Range, leading to the destruction of Dragon Snake Mountain. Shen Mo is affected by the disaster and takes five years to recover.]
Shen Mo's eyes widened.
So that's the reason!
No wonder the bloodlines of those demonic beasts would strengthen briefly, only to be immediately drained.
It was all because the fire dragon egg had been secretly absorbing them!
"Who would have thought that the fire dragon egg from years ago drifted down the Cangjiang River and ended up beneath Dragon Snake Mountain?"
"It must have entered the underground river."
"This opportunity eventually fell to Ye Yan, and I was caught in the aftermath, severely injured."
Shen Mo marveled at the revelation.
He couldn't help but feel sympathy for the elders who had managed Dragon Snake Mountain in the past.
No wonder the Dragon Snake Mountain industry could never prosper. Who could have guessed that the only fire dragon egg was hidden here?
"Now that I know the cause, this will be easy to handle."
"I'll find the fire dragon egg and hatch it early, making it recognize me as its master!"
Shen Mo acted decisively.
He ventured deep into the dark cave to begin his search.
After half a month of exploring, he finally located his target about a thousand feet underground.
It was an underground lake.
Cold, biting water flowed through the lake.
At the bottom of the lake lay the fire dragon egg, nearly as tall as a person!
It radiated heat, making the once frigid lake water pleasantly warm.
Perhaps sensing the powerful life force of the beast within, a few demonic beasts lingered nearby, though none dared approach.
This place had clearly become a forbidden zone.
Shen Mo muttered to himself, "The fire dragon egg must have been absorbing the world's essence for centuries and is only now showing signs of hatching."
"Now, let's take you away!"
Shen Mo took the fire dragon egg and, at a depth of about three hundred feet, found a hidden cave. He then prepared a bath of medicinal solution brewed from heavenly essence grass and white-shell fruit for the egg.
The fire dragon egg sensed the nutrient-rich solution and immediately began absorbing it.
Shen Mo arranged various formations around the area and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The reason the fire dragon egg had been absorbing the blood energy of the demonic beasts on Dragon Snake Mountain was simply due to a lack of nutrients.
With sufficient nourishment, the previous issue would naturally stop.
"However… at this rate, the heavenly essence grass and white-shell fruit I exchanged for two Grade D contributions may not be enough."
Shen Mo's eyes widened as he saw the large barrel of solution quickly depleting.
"Right, that corpse cultivator must be valuable, right?" He recalled Ye Yan's previous opportunity, and a glint of excitement flashed in his eyes.
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