Seizing Destiny From Heavens Hands

Chapter 335: Nine Nether Ice Flame Arrives at Boyang City

According to Ao Sheng’s life panel, he was destined to pass by this location during one of his patrols of the Eastern Sea and discover this stone tablet.

But he wouldn’t be able to understand it.

And then… he would simply toss it into the depths of the ocean.

A complete waste of a priceless treasure.

If Shen Mo hadn’t found it, it might have remained undiscovered for hundreds of years.

"Nine Nether Ice Flame… I wonder if it’s strong or weak."

"But a heavenly treasure like an exotic flame is unique in the world. No harm in obtaining it."

Satisfied, Shen Mo stored the stone tablet away.

The inscriptions on the tablet were extremely ancient, possibly from an era before the founding of Jing.

Even he couldn’t read them now—it would take extensive research in ancient texts to decipher them.

…

As soon as Shen Mo returned to Dragon Snake Mountain, he noticed the presence of an unfamiliar guest.

Nangong Yun was maintaining a calm and composed demeanor while receiving the elegantly dressed visitor.

"Who are you?" Shen Mo landed lightly, scrutinizing the man.

The visitor gave a slight bow and replied evenly, "An envoy of His Majesty. I have come to deliver an invitation to the Jade Cauldron Sect."

"Two years from now, on the second of August, will be the birthday of the Sword Sovereign. We invite the Jade Cauldron Sect to attend the banquet."

"Following the feast, His Majesty the Emperor of Jing will convene a discussion with the Eight Sects regarding the joint defense against the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom."

Shen Mo took the invitation and nodded slightly.

The envoy did not linger. After a brief acknowledgment, he swiftly departed.

Nangong Yun appeared somewhat worried. "Xuan’er, are you going? Will it be dangerous?"

Shen Mo was deep in thought. "The imperial court alone cannot resist the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom."

"He needs the Eight Sects to serve his purposes. For that reason alone, he won’t dare make a move against me."

"However, while he may not act against me outright, he will certainly try to suppress me."

"There’s a good chance he will attempt to force my hand into submission."

Shen Mo chuckled.

He had thoroughly analyzed the emperor’s mindset.

Nangong Yun sighed softly.

"Master, do you want to go?" Shen Mo glanced at her life panel and suddenly asked.

Nangong Yun nodded. "I’ve never been to Longzhou or the capital—I’d like to see it for myself."

Shen Mo smiled. "Alright, then you should go. You, Hai Qiankun, and Wan Muchun can ride a beast to the capital together."

"I’ll take another route."

Since the integration of the Shangqing Sect and Pill River Sect into the Jade Cauldron Sect, sect masters Mo Lingxiao and Hai Qiankun had already become elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect.

Nangong Yun was surprised. "Are you planning to travel all the way on foot?"

Shen Mo nodded. "There are still two full years before the event. I’ll advance toward the capital while seeking opportunities and tempering myself along the way."

"Who knows? I might grow significantly during this journey."

Nangong Yun nodded. "That makes sense. You’ve always been lucky."

Shen Mo laughed. "Alright, it’s settled then."

After finalizing his plans with Nangong Yun, Shen Mo gave orders to gather ancient texts regarding early human civilizations.

Though very few of such texts remained, he managed to piece together enough information to deduce the approximate location of the Nine Nether Ice Flame from the stone tablet’s map.

"Thousands of years of change, land turning into sea and vice versa… Not to mention the destruction wrought by powerful cultivator battles on the landscape…"

"The Nine Nether Ice Flame should be somewhere in Jiangzhou, in Lianshan Prefecture!"

Shen Mo’s finger landed on Jiangzhou, located northwest of Yuzhou.

Jiangzhou was under the dominion of the Tianhe Sect, with the vast Cang River running through it, dividing the region into east and west.

The land was rich with rivers, lakes, and marshes, making it one of the most spiritually abundant areas in all of the Nine Provinces.

Water was the most natural medium for gathering the essence of heaven and earth.

Because of this, Jiangzhou was known for its exceptional prosperity and dense spiritual energy.

It was widely regarded as the most fertile and blessed land in the Nine Provinces.

Even though Haizhou was adjacent to the Eastern Sea, its large stretches of saline land made it less fertile in comparison.

"I’ve heard that the Tianhe Sect maintains close ties with the imperial court. I’ll have to be cautious while searching for the exotic flame in their territory."

Shen Mo recalled the intelligence he had gathered on the Seven Sects, contemplating his next steps.

A few days later, on an otherwise unremarkable morning, Shen Mo silently left the sect and headed northwest.

…

Jiangzhou.

A vast land brimming with resources and thriving with life.

The scenery was lush and full of vitality, with flourishing landscapes stretching as far as the eye could see.

A figure dressed in blue robes walked along the narrow paths between rice fields.

His steps appeared slow, yet he covered astonishing distances with each stride.

In the blink of an eye, he had traversed endless fields and arrived at a distant city.

He looked up.

Three large characters stood boldly over the city gates.

Boyang City.

The blue-robed figure was none other than Shen Mo.

He had crossed the border from Yuzhou into Jiangzhou, following the river upstream to reach Lianshan Prefecture in central Jiangzhou.

Boyang City lay in the southern part of Lianshan Prefecture.

At this moment, Shen Mo did not carry himself with the aura of a Divine Transformation cultivator. Instead, he concealed his strength, disguising himself as a low-level Qi Condensation cultivator.

After paying a low-grade spirit stone at the gate, he entered Boyang City.

The city was neither too large nor too small—not exactly bustling, but not desolate either.

Cities like this were countless throughout the Jing Kingdom.

The only reason Shen Mo had stopped here was due to a faint pull in his destiny.

He sensed that something he was searching for might be here.

Without much thought, he found a simple tavern and went straight to the top floor.

Selecting a seat by the window, he ordered a few dishes and some wine.

He ate at a leisurely pace, casually observing his surroundings.

The dishes he ordered were not extravagant—stir-fried lamb with scallions, stewed chicken with mushrooms, sautéed lettuce, and a mixed vegetable stir-fry.

All common home-cooked dishes.

However, the ingredients had been cultivated with spiritual energy-infused water, enriching them with natural essence.

For ordinary people, consuming such food could extend their lifespan.

For body-refining and Qi Condensation cultivators, it could subtly enhance their cultivation.

Shen Mo ate and drank casually while inwardly inspecting his life panel.

[Name: Shen Mo.]

[Realm: Divine Transformation, Entry Level.]

[Fate Traits: Son of a Healer, Thousandfold Comprehension, Sword Dao Fanatic, Auspicious Star, Supreme Primordial Body, Temporary Fate’s Blessing, Temporary People's Devotion.]

Ever since he had slain the Crown Prince and Fourth Prince, his "Unbelievable Luck" fate trait had changed, evolving into "Auspicious Star."

This meant his fortune had strengthened significantly.

Even without actively seeking opportunities, they would present themselves to him unexpectedly.

If he encountered danger, his fate would allow him to turn the crisis into fortune.

As for "People's Devotion," it had appeared after news of his destruction of the demon army spread. The people of Yuzhou now sincerely revered him.

This trait was temporary.

However, it would last a long time.@@novelbin@@

Even when the current generation aged and passed, Shen Mo’s deeds would be remembered and passed down.

Only after centuries—perhaps even millennia—of time’s erosion would this trait finally fade.

[Destiny: Halted at Divine Transformation Peak. Twenty years later, with the combined efforts of the Jing Kingdom, the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom was on the verge of destruction. However, during the final battle, the Jade Cauldron Sect was ambushed by Shadow Pavilion and the Holy Spirit Sect and was nearly annihilated...]

Shen Mo calmly read on, continuing to eat and drink.

Before setting out, he had already noticed that his fate had shifted.

And this outcome was exactly as he had anticipated.

The Emperor of Jing would never accept defeat. Believing the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom was about to fall, he would inevitably turn against the Jade Cauldron Sect.

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