CHAPTER 360: CHAPTER 360: DAILY LIFE IN THE SMALL COTTAGE _1

When Lake Heart Cottage was built, different functional areas such as a meditation chamber, an Alchemy Room, and a Forge Room were designated.

However, Zhao Lingyin still used the Alchemy Room the most; it was conveniently connected to her boudoir.

She would rest and cultivate in her boudoir and could start the alchemy furnace just a few steps away!

As for the Forge Room, she barely used it a few times throughout the year.

Luckily, all rooms were protected by Prohibitions, so they wouldn’t be covered in dust or cobwebs.

Recently, however, intense heat emanated from the Forge Room, and various crackling and banging sounds could often be heard from inside.

"The construction of this magic artifact is extremely intricate. If my forging skills hadn’t advanced, I might not have been able to successfully recast this treasure and elevate it to the top-grade level!"

Inside the room, Shen Mo sat cross-legged.

Clam Girl Ming Yu sat obediently to the side, watching him intently as he forged magic artifacts.

The high-grade profound level magic artifact, the "Flawless Dharma Eye," was disassembled into thousands of tiny pieces, floating quietly in front of Shen Mo.

Since his Forging Path had advanced to Grade IV and he had obtained a large number of rare spiritual materials through merits of slaying demons, he planned to re-refine all his magic artifacts.

This was especially true for this scout-type magic treasure from Tianshun Country, which was exactly to Shen Mo’s liking.

Once activated, it could instantly survey all activity within a radius of one hundred miles!

However, after opening his Spirit Sea, Shen Mo’s senses could already cover a distance of one hundred fifty to one hundred sixty miles, making this treasure somewhat redundant.

Only by re-refining it and enhancing its grade, thereby substantially increasing its reconnaissance range, could it fulfill its marvelous purpose as an auxiliary magic treasure.

What gave Shen Mo a headache was that the Flawless Dharma Eye was not a single entity but was composed of more than a thousand intricate components.

He had to first disassemble it, refine each part individually until every component was enhanced, then reassemble and merge them back into its original form!

None of this stumped Shen Mo; it was just a tedious process.

Dozens of exotic spiritual materials were piled to one side. Shen Mo sliced off fingernail-sized portions and, under the lick of the Nether Fire, they melted into droplets of molten spiritual metal.

Shen Mo even manifested his Three-headed Six-armed form. While explaining to Ming Yu, he simultaneously controlled the spirit flame and executed various forging techniques.

Whether it was replacing materials with higher quality ones or re-engraving runes...

After half a day, all the intricate components were completely renewed. Under Shen Mo’s control, they gathered together in a specific order, like a swarm of dancing bees.

CRACK!

When the final component clicked into place, the Flawless Dharma Eye, now perfectly seamless, appeared before him.

[You successfully upgraded the Flawless Dharma Eye to the top-grade profound level using Qiling Iron, Fire Frost Gold, Colorless Jade, White Feathered Earth Spirit, etc. Your understanding of the Forging Path was enhanced during the forging process. Forging experience +170.]

The notification from the panel appeared.

With a mental command from Shen Mo, the jade eye silently flew out, ascending into the clouds above Heaven Pool and concealing itself within.

With his consciousness linked to the Dharma Eye, his vision instantly became incredibly vast and wide.

The reconnaissance range has expanded to a radius of three hundred miles. That’s enough!

The Dharma Eye’s perception was filled with a large expanse of mysterious fog—the numerous Formations and Prohibitions spread across the Riverside Sect’s mountain gate.

Only the areas where the outer disciples lived and cultivated were relatively clear.

Compared to several years ago, their numbers had clearly decreased significantly!

Some had died in the demon disaster, but more had accepted sect tasks and gone down the mountain.

For them, the Heavenly Demon invasion was both a crisis and an opportunity... compared to previous years, it was easier to perish, but also easier to earn cultivation resources!

Withdrawing the Flawless Dharma Eye, Shen Mo then took out the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand.

"This treasure is composed of billions of particles of energy and baleful qi, both tangible and intangible. Each grain of crystal sand is obtained from nine extreme refinement cycles of precious spirit gold..."

Shen Mo demonstrated this magic artifact to Ming Yu. Under his control, the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand transformed from a sandy cluster into a crystalline shield, and then into a thin layer that coated his body.

Compared to the Flawless Dharma Eye, the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand was easier to elevate; it only required a vast amount of precious spirit gold to be extremely refined nine times and then integrated into it.

The denser the Crystal Sand Energy, the stronger its power!

Of course, to promote it to the top-grade profound level, at least several times the original amount of Evil Qi would need to be supplemented.

In the past, Shen Mo’s finances had not been abundant, so he could only replenish some spirit gold Crystal Sand after it was consumed, restoring it to a usable state.

Now, however, he could afford to splurge, using a large amount of extremely refined spiritual materials to enhance its power.

「...」

「In the Alchemy Room.」

Zhao Lingyin, in her pure white alchemist’s robe, sat before the cauldron, attentively controlling the Earthly Fire, refining the spiritual medicines within.

She was refining a furnace of Grade III Elixirs, a task requiring her full attention, as any lapse could easily result in substandard products.

Shen Mo pushed the door open and walked in. He didn’t disturb her, just watched quietly.

One and a half Shichen later, this furnace of Elixirs was finally complete. Zhao Lingyin collected the pills one by one, then stretched languidly before nestling into Shen Mo’s arms.

"I haven’t used the Forge Room much, so many of the tools aren’t properly arranged..."

"If you plan to stay here regularly, you can set it up to your preference, making it more convenient to use," Zhao Lingyin said softly.

These past few days, Shen Mo had been living in Lake Heart Cottage, rarely returning to his Inner Door cave mansion.

Although the nature’s spiritual energy here was somewhat thinner in comparison, the scenery was quite pleasant.

More importantly, during his cultivation breaks, he could see Zhao Lingyin by taking just a few steps, allowing him to accompany her day and night.

With Shen Mo’s current realm and his proficiency in his main cultivation method, whether the nature’s spiritual energy was dense or sparse made little difference to him. It didn’t affect his cultivation progress; it merely meant the spiritual Qi vortex he formed during his breathing exercises was wider.

Hence, he lingered on Spirit Gathering Peak.

Moreover, Shen Mo was careful to maintain a respectful distance with Zhao Lingyin, not overstepping any boundaries, so Zhao Lingyin tacitly allowed him to stay for an extended period.

She had even specially set aside a room for him to rest in, right next to the Forge Room.

As for the Class III big demon, Clam Girl Ming Yu, she naturally had her own room as well. However, she usually returned to The Smallest Space to cultivate, as the seawater environment there was more comfortable for her.

Regarding Shen Mo’s lingering at Lake Heart Cottage, Zhao Lingyin’s Master, Wu Gong, had quite a few reservations!

After all, they had not formally become Dao companions, nor had they even made their hundred-year pledge.

Although cultivators didn’t fear gossip and slander as much as mortals did, it still wasn’t ideal for Zhao Lingyin’s reputation.

If Shen Mo were to perish in the demon disaster, it would be difficult for her to find another suitable partner afterward...

Wu Gong had initially intended to have a serious talk with Shen Mo. However, after witnessing Ming Yu’s potent demonic aura in Heaven Pool, he stood silently in mid-air for a long while before turning and returning to his mansion.

For this, Shen Mo scolded Ming Yu, believing she had frightened Alien Minister Wu.

Ming Yu felt wronged. She had merely opened her shell and swum around in Heaven Pool; how could she have known she would happen to encounter Zhao Lingyin’s Master?

Zhao Lingyin, however, believed Shen Mo had misunderstood.

She believed her Master, Wu Gong, had likely recognized Shen Mo’s abilities and prospects, trusting he wouldn’t perish before fulfilling his potential!