The First Immortal of Destiny-Chapter 663: Reunion, Change_1

Upon examining the Sound Transmission Talisman, a knowing smile quickly emerged on Shen Mo's face.

He promptly bid farewell to the cultivators present, reclaimed the Evil-eating Centipede into the Sword Zone, and transformed into a golden rainbow, speeding off toward the western horizon.

In a short while, Shen Mo saw the Heaven Patrolling Boat House floating above the white clouds, slowly sailing his way.

Aboard the bow, Zhao Lingyin, who hadn't aged a bit over the years, was waving at him with a tranquil smile. Her black hair fluttered like silk, her smile was as radiant as the moon, and her beautiful eyes, brimming with tenderness, were filled with deep affection. This scene was like a timeless, never-fading painting.

In the next moment, Shen Mo's escaping light descended onto the Boat House.

He waved his hand, activating all the Prohibition Arrays on the vessel. Then, amid Zhao Lingyin's soft exclamation, he scooped her into his arms and strode into their sleeping quarters.

Though unseen in the clouds, voices echoed faintly;

The evening glow streamed through the spring window, reflecting upon the red curtains.

「Half a month later,」 the Heaven Patrolling Boat House appeared on Chong'a Mountain in Yu State.

If they had utilized the restored Teleportation Array, they could have returned directly to the sect from Dingbo City. However, Shen Mo and Zhao Lingyin, feeling like newlyweds after their brief separation, were in no rush to return to the Riverside Sect and instead piloted their treasured ship all the way back from Sea State.

Shen Mo's return instantly stirred a commotion within the Riverside Sect.

Ever since Yuan Jing, the Peak Master of Bright Moon Peak, had returned to Chong'a Mountain, the sect knew his combat prowess had reached a level comparable to the peak of the Golden Core Realm. Shortly afterward, news of Shen Mo single-handedly annihilating the Near Sea Demon Cave and exterminating a host of Heavenly Demons spread throughout the cultivation world of the Red Flame Country and back to the Riverside Sect. This news, like a series of thunderclaps, left the entire sect reeling in shock.

These astonishing achievements brought Shen Mo's image, which had faded into obscurity after years of silence, roaring back into everyone's consciousness in an extremely shocking manner!

Even Yuan Jing, who had smoothly advanced to the Golden Core Realm and been promoted to Supreme Elder, found his doorstep somewhat quiet.

Yuan Heming and Zhou Zhiwei, both Golden Core Realm patriarchs, ended their secluded cultivation and personally led a group of Sect Disciples out of the mountain gate to welcome him. The newly promoted Supreme Elder Yuan Jing, along with his Direct Disciple Yu Yan, whose Soul Ghost body was concealed beneath a black robe, were also in the welcoming party!

After Shen Mo brought Zhao Lingyin into the mountain gate and back to GuanYun Mansion, a constant stream of visitors arrived.

Most were Sect Disciples from the Riverside Sect, but there were also cultivators from other forces who had received the news early and rushed to Chong'a Mountain to wait. Even Golden Core Realm patriarchs from the other Four Great Sects came!

As a result, Guanyun Mansion bustled with activity.

It could be said that small banquets were hosted every three days and grand banquets every five, to entertain the visiting cultivators. These guests were mostly familiar and close acquaintances from within and outside the Riverside Sect, as well as Golden Core Realm experts and higher-ups from the Four Great Sects.

For the next month or so, maid disciples like Lu Taorui were so busy attending to guests and arranging banquets that they hardly had time to eat.

Through countless reunions, feasts, and conversations with old friends, Shen Mo gained a clear understanding of the changes within and outside the sect over the years.

He had been away from Chong'a Mountain for over twelve years in total.

He spent more than two years traveling or cultivating on Wangxian Mountain. Ten years were spent within the borders of Caiyi Country. During that time, he ventured into the ancient battlefield of immortals and demons searching for opportunities, or focused on cultivation and Alchemy in the Hidden Phoenix Mountain Range, earning resources for cultivation from Tianyin Valley's trade fair.

Over these dozen years, the overall situation in the Red Flame Zone and for the Riverside Sect had remained relatively peaceful.

Occasionally, conflicts erupted between moderate faction foreign creatures and Outer Zone demons, sometimes escalating to major battles involving Class IV and even Class V entities.

Fortunately, Yu State did not have many forbidden lands. Additionally, their neighbors, the Flower Fairy clan, were considered a relatively powerful force among the foreign creatures, so the flames of war did not reach the Riverside Sect.

The Soaring Serpent Bizarre Dragon, which had devoured more than half of Qing State, still lay in deep slumber within the Linjiang Mountain Range, showing no signs of waking.

Due to changes in the power structure of the Red Flame Country's cultivation world, several new Golden Core Realm experts had emerged outside of the Five Great Sects. They came from smaller immortal sects or were rogue cultivators; one of them was even Prince Yongzuo. All of them had visited the Riverside Sect to pay their respects.

Within the Riverside Sect, a continuous influx of Born Immortals from various states and disciples from the Wando Archipelago's Bloody Fiend School steadily arrived. The number of cultivators within the sect had once again returned to over one hundred thousand. Consequently, the sect's grounds and many Formations had also expanded considerably, drawing some criticism from the Seven Stars Altar, which was also located in Yu State.

The sect's finances—namely the income and expenditure of various spiritual items such as Spirit Stones, medicinal herbs, and ores—had stabilized once more, no longer operating at a deficit.

On an individual level, over twenty inner disciples had successfully opened their Spirit Seas, subsequently becoming Elders or advancing as core candidates. At the same time, nearly ten Spirit Sea Realm cultivators had unfortunately perished due to various reasons.

Moreover, Chen An, who had been appointed as a Deacon of Green Cloud Peak many years ago, had, with the nourishment of ample High-grade Elixirs, exceptionally managed to break through to the late-stage Qi Gathering Realm. However, considering his age and cultivation Talent, it was almost impossible for him to open his Spirit Sea.

As a Deacon, Chen An's monthly salary could not cover the cost of so many elixirs and herbs; some were filial gifts from Chen Mengze, and others were provided by Zhao Lingyin on Shen Mo's behalf.

Even so, his cultivation progress remained incredibly difficult!

During a banquet held for Chen An at Guanyun Mansion, Shen Mo presented him with many High-Grade Spirit Pills and even two or three portions of Enlightenment Tea as a gesture of respect.

After all, Chen An initially had the chance to open his Spirit Sea. However, during his prime years, a significant portion of the cultivation resources he earned was supplied to Chen Mengze and Shen Mo. Furthermore, he frequently suffered injuries in his early years while earning Spirit Stones and Elixirs. It was difficult to say for certain that these factors hadn't hindered his cultivation progress.

Shen Mo only hoped that Uncle Chen could cultivate to the Spirit Sea Realm, thereby gaining a Lifespan of five hundred years, and not face the depletion of his Lifespan in just another hundred years or so.

As for Chen Mengze, Shen Mo had initially intended to recommend her as the successor to the position of Green Cloud Peak Master.

However, due to his sudden change of plans to go to the Heaven Patrolling Zone, Chen Mengze ultimately failed to accumulate enough prestige and Sect Merit. In the end, she took up the position of Affairs Hall Master.

At present, Chen Mengze was still in seclusion, and Shen Mo had yet to meet her. The treasures and spiritual items he had prepared for her were still with him.

The former Affairs Hall Master, Jiang Lingfeng, had become the new Green Cloud Peak Master!

This woman was originally one of the "Three Ancestors of the Bloody Fiend." Entrusted with leading Green Cloud Peak, home to numerous disciples from the Bloody Fiend School, it was an appropriate use of her abilities. Since her relationship with Shen Mo was also quite good, he had no major objections to this appointment.

Regarding other high-level positions, there hadn't been much change since Shen Mo's departure.

The Peak Master of Rising Sun Peak was the former Enforcement Hall Master, Jin Chinian. The positions of Peak Master for Stars Peak and Bright Moon Peak remained vacant. However, with Yuan Jing's return to the sect and his attainment of the Golden Core Realm, a new master for Bright Moon Peak would need to be selected.

Zhou Shili, the Peak Master of Stars Peak, along with Supreme Elders Gongsun Jiuru and Feng Daogu, were still missing.

However, Feng Daogu, who was stationed near the Black Mountain Demon Suppression Cave, might have already perished. This was because, throughout the past decade, not a single cultivator, nor even a single Heavenly Demon, had escaped from the expanding Ghost Nation Ruins.

Shen Mo's Direct Disciple, Qian Xiaofeng, had also cultivated to the late-stage Qi Gathering Realm over these years.

She had also practiced the spiritual level cultivation method, the "Maiden Sword Mantra," and her Proficiency in Swordsmanship was considerable. She had made a name for herself among the inner disciples, certainly not disgracing Shen Mo's reputation!

Clam Girl Ming Yu had returned to the Marine Race a few years ago.

She had successfully reached the Class III peak. She returned this time hoping her mother, Demon Lord Ming Cang, would guide her advancement to Class IV.