First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 1: Linjiang Sect

In the seventeenth year of Qianyuan.

In the Red Flame Kingdom, in Qingzhou, there is the Linjiang Sect.

On the cliff by the sect, Shen Mo lay on the edge of the cliff, looking at the gorgeous sunset clouds burning in the horizon, feeling a bit lost.

I really...traveled through time.

He sighed inwardly.

Just ten days ago, he was an ordinary office worker on Earth, working overtime from 9 to 9 during the day and writing novels online as a hobby at night to supplement his income.

Although life was plain and boring, it was comfortable and worry-free.

Little did he know, after staying up all night ten days ago, his vision suddenly went black.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in this unfamiliar world.

"This world has demons and monsters, as well as extraordinary immortals."

Shen Mo sorted through the memories of the original owner of his body in his mind and muttered to himself.

According to the original owner's memories, this world is just like the world in the xianxia novels he used to read in his previous life.

Vast territory, not just billions of miles, countless living beings.

The immortals can extend their lives for a thousand years, and the great supernatural powers can move mountains and fill seas.

But none of this has anything to do with Shen Mo.

Those are the stages for the talented and outstanding individuals, the protagonists in the novels.

As an outer disciple responsible for guarding the sect's gate, Shen Mo is just an ordinary and weak existence in the Immortal World, a background character for the geniuses.

His talent in cultivation is not good. At the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, his cultivation base is still at the level of the fifth stage of Body Tempering.

He doesn't know when he will have the opportunity to break through to the Qi Gathering stage.

This kind of progress, even among the outer disciples of the Linjiang Sect, is nothing remarkable.

His parents were also disciples of the Linjiang Sect.

Like Shen Mo, his parents had average aptitude and couldn't find an opportunity to break through after reaching the Body Forging Realm Returned to Origin stage.

Twenty years ago, Shen Mo's father, Shen Yuanchang, and his mother, Liu Chunan, made up their minds to venture into the deep mountains of the Linjiang Sect's territory to find an opportunity to break through.

They hoped to successfully break through to the Qi Gathering stage and become inner disciples of the Linjiang Sect.

But since then, there has been no news from them.

When his parents passed away, Shen Mo was only seven or eight years old and had no one to rely on within the sect.

Fortunately, his parents had a close friend named Chen An within the sect.

After decades of experience, this Uncle Chen has become an Outer Sect deacon of the Linjiang Sect and has some power.

He has taken care of Shen Mo over the years.

It is because of this relationship that Shen Mo was able to obtain the job of guarding the sect's gate, receiving a monthly stipend for cultivation.

But the path of cultivation is difficult, and the resources needed are endless.

Even with assistance, Shen Mo has been practicing diligently for twenty years, but has made little progress.

"It's really pitiful."

Thinking of the hardships the original owner had experienced over the years, he couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

Although he himself was not a winner in life in his previous life, at least his parents were still alive and his life was fulfilling and happy.

But the life experiences of the original owner were truly miserable.

Lost in his thoughts, Shen Mo was suddenly interrupted by the sound of breaking through the air from above, coming closer and closer.

He looked up and saw figures in purple robes flying in the sky, stepping on flying swords, turning into streams of light and rainbows, piercing through the sea of clouds and returning to the sect.

"It's Uncle Chen leading the team back."

Shen Mo immediately recognized the identities of these people.

Purple robes are the exclusive attire of the Linjiang Sect's inner disciples.

And leading the team at the forefront is a middle-aged man with half-white hair.

This person is Chen An, who has taken care of Shen Mo within the sect.

"Three days ago, Uncle Chen led the newly promoted inner disciples deep into the Linjiang Mountains to hunt Demonic Beasts. Now they have returned, and they must have gained a lot."

Shen Mo carefully observed and saw some disciples carrying the corpses of Demonic Beasts, full of spirit and vitality, secretly envious in his heart.

But soon, this envy was replaced by fear.

"I remember that when they set off, Uncle Chen brought a team of more than twenty people, but now only thirteen have returned."

Needless to say, the remaining seven inner disciples were most likely killed by the Demonic Beasts.

"The cultivation world is indeed dangerous."

Shen Mo's heart trembled slightly, and he smiled bitterly.

As a web novel author in his previous life, Shen Mo had many fantasies and longings for the xianxia world.

But after truly crossing over, he realized the cruelty and difficulty of this xianxia world.

The Linjiang Sect is known for having a hundred thousand disciples and is the largest sect in Qingzhou. Every year, there are countless people who come to join the sect.

However, most of them can only become outer disciples who are not recognized by the sect and spend their whole lives in the Body Forging Realm.

Only one in a hundred can truly become inner disciples.

Even if they enter the Inner Sect, it doesn't mean they can relax.

The path of cultivation is difficult, and the resources needed are enormous.

Although the Linjiang Sect provides monthly stipends to assist disciples in their cultivation, they never support idle people.

To advance to higher realms and obtain more powerful strength, one must find ways to obtain Spirit Stones and cultivation resources.

Hunting Demonic Beasts outside is the most common way for the Linjiang Sect's inner disciples.

Practitioners hunt and kill Demonic Beasts, extracting their Monster Cores to sell the corpses and exchange for Spirit Stones to purchase cultivation resources.

However, Demonic Beasts are not mobile experience packages and naturally resist. Although there are many Qi Gathering stage cultivators who rely on hunting Demonic Beasts to gain the capital to advance their realm, more people still die within the Linqing Mountain Range, where Demonic Beasts are everywhere.

Like Shen Mo's parents, they never returned and there was no news of them.

"The Linqing Sect has been established for over a thousand years. In these thousand years, the number of disciples who joined the sect has exceeded one million, but most of them died halfway. Only tens of thousands of people have truly become inner disciples, and as for those who can cultivate to the Spirit Sea realm and become elders within the sect, there are only a few dozen, not to mention reaching the Yuan Dan realm as the strongest in the Linqing Sect."

Although the great practitioners can move mountains and fill seas, and their supernatural powers are admirable, achieving such a level requires climbing out of countless mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"With my aptitude and talent, I shouldn't expect to become a powerful figure."

Shen Mo thought with self-awareness, "As a bottom-tier fish in the Immortal World, the death rate is too high. It's better to go to the mortal world and become a wealthy man."

As soon as he crossed over, Shen Mo had this idea. In these few days, as Shen Mo continuously digested the memories of the original owner, he became more determined about this idea after understanding the difficulties and cruelty of cultivating in the Immortal World.

Instead of constantly worrying and fighting for cultivation resources, and striving for the opportunity to become superior, it would be better to completely lay low and at least live a peaceful life, enjoying the hundred years of life in this different world without worrying about being killed.

"Mo'er, have you made any progress in your cultivation recently?"

A voice full of vitality came, and the one speaking to him was Chen An, an Outer Sect deacon of the Linqing Sect who had just returned to the sect. He was a close friend of Shen Mo's parents.

"Not much progress." Shen Mo bowed to Chen An and smiled bitterly, "My cultivation base has been stuck at the Fifth Stage of the Body Forging Realm for three years. I have been trying to break through the realm these days, but I always feel that my foundation is not enough and it's difficult to make a breakthrough. I'm sorry to disappoint Uncle Chen."

"No rush, no rush." Chen An patted his shoulder and said, "The path of cultivation is difficult. It's not surprising that you haven't made any progress in several years. You just need to practice diligently, and one day you will make progress like water wearing away stone."

"Uncle Chen, the path of cultivating immortality is too dangerous. With my mediocre aptitude, I'm afraid I won't achieve any great completion in this lifetime."

Shen Mo carefully worded his thoughts in his mind and said, "I was thinking that instead of struggling in the sect, it would be better to return to the mortal world and live a comfortable life as a wealthy man for the rest of my life."

"You want to leave?" Chen An was slightly surprised, then became somewhat frustrated, "Do you know that if you leave the Linqing Sect, you will have no chance of becoming an immortal in this lifetime?"

"So many mortals abandon their families and businesses in pursuit of immortality, but you, encountering a little setback, want to retreat!"

As an elder, Chen An's expression became solemn, "Back then, your parents entered the Linqing Mountain Range in search of an opportunity to break through. They never returned."

"Before they left, they entrusted me to take care of you if they couldn't come back."

"For the sake of this promise, I have been dedicated for these years, hoping that one day you can break through the Qi Gathering stage and embark on the true path of immortality, fulfilling your parents' unfinished wishes."

"How can you willingly give up like this? Abandoning the path of immortality!"

Chen An's face turned pale as he reprimanded him.

Then, he took out a jade box from his pocket and handed it to Shen Mo, saying with great sincerity, "I gained some gains from this trip. I encountered someone selling Qi Gathering Pills in the market and thought that these pills would greatly benefit your cultivation in the Body Forging Realm, so I bought them and brought them to you."

"There are three Qi Gathering Pills in this box. Take one every month and combine it with your cultivation. Don't slack off."

According to the normal progress, these three Qi Gathering Pills are enough to raise your cultivation base to the level of the Seventh Stage of the Body Forging Realm."

"Remember, practice diligently and don't let down the wishes of your parents! I will come to assess your progress in three months."

After speaking, Chen An didn't say anything and turned around, transforming into a streak of light and leaving the mountain gate.

"Thank you, Uncle Chen."

Shen Mo received a scolding and reluctantly accepted the jade box containing the Qi Gathering Pill. He watched Chen An's figure disappear into the distance and sighed in his heart.

Night fell, and the sky was filled with stars.

Shen Mo sat in the lotus position, holding the Qi Gathering Pill in his hands, feeling a mix of emotions.

The Qi Gathering Pill is the best cultivation pill for the Body Forging Realm. It is rumored that one pill can help a practitioner in the Body Forging Realm break through.

It is expensive.

If purchased in the market, it would cost at least thirty low-grade Spirit Stones for one pill.

This amount of money is not insignificant for a Qi Gathering stage cultivator.

Chen An prepared three pills for him, which shows that he truly treats Shen Mo like a nephew.

But amidst Shen Mo's gratitude, he also felt a great pressure from Chen An's earnest expectations.

He truly didn't believe that with his talent, cultivation base, and cultivation in the cruel Immortal World, he could carve out a path of blood.

But unfortunately, Uncle Chen has put so much effort into him.

"Forget it, let's cultivate first. We'll think about leaving the Linjiang Sect later."

Suppressing the distracting thoughts in his mind, Shen Mo swallowed one Qi Gathering Pill.

"Gurgle!"

As the pill entered his body, the medicinal power gradually spread, causing a slight soreness in Shen Mo's meridians.

Shen Mo didn't dare to be negligent and quickly activated the basic cultivation technique, "Heavenly Origin Technique," gradually absorbing the surging medicinal power.

As the medicinal power was gradually absorbed, Shen Mo trembled all over. In his mind, it seemed like something suddenly exploded.

【Destiny!】

Two golden characters gradually appeared before his eyes.

"Destiny? What is this?"

Shen Mo was slightly stunned. Before he could react, the two golden characters dissipated again, turning into a panel that recorded various life destinies.

【Master of Destiny: Shen Mo】

【Life Chart: Four white, one gray, the remaining two are currently unclear.】

Special Destiny: 【Strong (White): Your physique is good, and your strength and resilience are stronger than ordinary people.】

"What is this?"

Shen Mo looked at the panel attributes that appeared before him, feeling a bit bewildered.

"System?"

He tentatively called out, but no one answered.

So, he had to explore it himself, digesting the information that appeared before him and figuring out the function of this thing.

(End of this chapter)