CHAPTER 242: CHAPTER 242: GLIMPSE INTO THE IMMORTALS_1

An Immortal clan.

Apart from those in the Spirit Sea Realm within the immortal sect, the Clan Leaders wielded the greatest power. This was similar to how Yuan Qingshi, the Sect Master of the Riverside Sect, held authority over the entire sect, while the Golden Core Realm Supreme Elders rarely interfered in its affairs. Sometimes, these Supreme Elders even acted upon the Sect Master’s orders! Consequently, Patriarch Tian and Patriarch Shi, despite not having cultivated to the Spirit Sea Realm, possessed enough clout to critique the elites of the Riverside Sect’s Three Peaks and direct sect disciples to serve their family interests. They could even stir significant undercurrents within the Riverside Sect, thousands of miles away!

"Unexpectedly, Shen Mo, who has not spent a full year as an inner disciple, already possesses such terrifying strength!"

Patriarch Tian sighed lightly as he put down his teacup.

He was somewhat dissatisfied with Tian Kang’s way of handling things! After communicating with the Shi Family and other powerful Immortal clans, he had hinted to Tian Kang to gauge Shen Mo’s capabilities. Afterward, depending on his strength and potential, they would decide whether to win over or suppress this newly emerged exceptional talent. Who would have thought that Tian Kang, the most outstanding of his generation... would handle this matter so carelessly and incompetently! He sought Shen Mo out so blatantly, as if afraid Shen Mo wouldn’t guess their intentions. Even if he had pretended to stumble upon Shen Mo on the road and, out of jealousy over his escalating fame, tried to take him down a notch... that would have been smarter than his previous approach! But his foolishness was one thing. What was even more infuriating was that with his cultivation at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, he was thrashed by someone at the Fourth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. He even alarmed the sect’s Enforcement Hall. It was a complete loss of face for the Tian Immortal Clan, and they might even be targeted by the Enforcement Hall. Furthermore, Patriarch Guo had sent a talisman message, questioning why he had allowed Tian Kang to involve Guo Zhao in the attempt to test Shen Mo, and had fiercely berated him! Losing face and suffering tangible losses—it was truly infuriating.

While Patriarch Tian sighed, Patriarch Shi wasn’t faring any better. Although Shi Xiaoqian was merely supporting Tian Kang’s actions, she too had been severely taught a lesson by Shen Mo and was in no better state than Tian Kang.

"Mr. Tian, what’s done is done," Patriarch Shi said. "Sighing about it now is useless! Instead, let’s discuss what stance we should take towards this Shen Mo. If we intend to suppress him, we must coordinate with other allied Immortal clans... Only by acting in concert can we quell this man’s burgeoning momentum. If we wish to recruit him, we must also devise a proper strategy."

As Patriarch Shi spoke, his mind was already racing with various thoughts. The Shi Family’s old patriarch, the former Peak Master of Bright Moon Peak, had perished in the demon disaster decades ago. Although they still had a Spirit Sea Realm clansman serving as an Elder on Stars Peak, his talent was merely average. Back when he broke through to the Spirit Sea Realm, it had cost numerous Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and he had only barely managed to open his Spirit Sea after great difficulty. All these years later, this clansman remained at the Second Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm. It was feared he had no hope of advancing further in this lifetime! Consequently, among the numerous Elders of the Riverside Sect, his status and prestige were near the bottom. The Shi Immortal Clan had thus declined considerably, completely losing the influence it wielded when their old patriarch held the position of Bright Moon Peak’s Peak Master! This time, when testing Shen Mo, Shi Xiaoqian had been willing to follow Tian Kang’s lead... On one hand, it was to foster good relations with other powerful Immortal clans. On the other hand, Patriarch Shi also harbored some ulterior motives. If this Shen Mo truly had the capability to contend for a core disciple position in the Riverside Sect, then he would have Shi Xiaoqian attempt to befriend him. Perhaps they could even secure an excellent son-in-law for the Shi Family, thereby revitalizing the Shi Immortal Clan’s prestige! Of course, he wouldn’t openly state these subtle thoughts to Patriarch Tian. He had only vaguely hinted at this when communicating with Shi Xiaoqian, both overtly and covertly. Judging from her talisman message responses, while not perfect, there seemed to be some leeway, suggesting that resolving future conflicts wouldn’t be overly difficult. However, this Shen Mo appeared to be quite close to Zhao Lingyin of Spirit Gathering Peak. His earlier calculations might encounter many complications!

Patriarch Tian pondered for a while, then slowly said, "Whether we suppress or win him over, our two families alone cannot make a decision. I’ll send out talisman messages and discuss this in detail with the other families before we proceed. However, judging by their attitudes, they seem inclined to suppress him. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have made our two families the vanguards... to test this junior, Shen Mo. A prodigy without backing or background, seeking to rise in the Riverside Sect, will inevitably encroach upon substantial benefits... various cultivation resources, quotas for elite disciples, the positions of the Law Master and the three Peak Masters. Even a single position as an influential Elder—if he obtains it, it means one less for us! Suppressing him, on the other hand, wouldn’t be too difficult..."

Just as Patriarch Shi was about to nod in agreement, he suddenly felt the Sound Transmission Talisman on his person vibrating incessantly. He retrieved the talisman and scanned it with his sense. His expression instantly turned exceedingly grim. "Mr. Tian, a Deacon from my clan, caught embezzling the monthly stipends of outer disciples, has been apprehended by Shentu Gui."

The positions of Outer and Inner Door Deacons in the Riverside Sect, though seemingly insignificant, were quite important to the powerful Immortal clans. It was precisely because their own clansmen served as Deacons, spread throughout the Outer and Inner Doors of the Riverside Sect, that disciples from their families could navigate their paths within the sect more smoothly after joining. Take Shen Mo, for instance. If not for the care of Uncle Chen, an Outer Deacon, he probably wouldn’t have even secured the task of guarding the mountain gate! He would have long since packed his bags and returned to the mundane world to muddle through life.

Just as Patriarch Tian was about to offer some words of comfort, he suddenly felt his own Sound Transmission Talisman vibrate violently. He picked it up, and his expression darkened as well.

"It seems that Shentu Gui, that bastard, has targeted both our families!" Law Enforcement Elder Shentu Gui came from a humble background; born to a prostitute in the mortal world, his father’s identity was unknown. Consequently, those who despised him intensely often cursed him as a bastard! "An Inner Door disciple from my Tian Family has also been taken to the Enforcement Hall. It involves a cold case! They claim that this disciple of my Tian Family encountered danger during an experiential training mission, only surviving by sacrificing two fellow disciples..."

Patriarch Shi was anxious to deal with these urgent matters, so he promptly rose and bid farewell. Soon, he transformed into a streak of light, departing Hongye City and flying towards his family’s ancestral land.

Shen Mo was unaware that, thousands of miles away in Hongye City, people were plotting against him. He was even less aware that Shentu Gui, known for his cruel and harsh nature, had specifically gone to cause trouble for the Tian and Shi Families.

At this moment, he was engrossed in refining a batch of Flesh Bone Pills. After leaving the Enforcement Hall, he sensed that this matter was merely the beginning and that more trouble was undoubtedly waiting for him. Thus, he had recently chosen to remain in seclusion, focusing solely on refining elixirs to earn Spirit Stones. It wasn’t that he was fearful, but rather he didn’t want these troublesome affairs to interrupt his cultivation progress. Some time had passed since he had advanced to the Fourth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. He faintly sensed that a breakthrough to the next minor realm was imminent. Therefore, he planned to accumulate a supply of Spirit Stones and elixirs, intending to return to Tianshan City to slay demons after advancing to the Fifth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm.