"[After arduous cultivation, you have finally developed a sea of Mana in your three Dantians.]"

"[You have successfully advanced to the Spirit Sea Realm.]"

Even with incomparable confidence in himself, a surge of joy welled up in Shen Mo's heart the moment he saw the panel notification.

Know this, the path to the Elysian Realm is paved with hardships!

The road to immortality...

I have finally taken yet another giant stride!

With a single thought, Shen Mo drew in nature's spiritual energy, more than ten times denser than before. Luckily, the Spiritual Qi in the Jade Pool Dungeon was five times denser than outside. Otherwise, his terrifying absorption speed could likely deplete the Dungeon's Spiritual Qi by ten to twenty percent in a very short time. Even though nature's spiritual energy here would slowly recover, the spiritual medicines sensitive to it might face danger. For now, however, the degradation of Spiritual Qi in the Jade Pool Dungeon was minimal, so it wouldn't significantly impact the precious spiritual medicines cultivated here.

Feeling the surging power within his body, Shen Mo longed to immediately display his augmented strength. But he couldn't do that yet! Having just advanced to the Spirit Sea Realm, he had yet to fully master his increased strength. A single spillover of his sword Qi could potentially destroy a large quantity of precious spiritual medicines. To avoid Elder Li reporting him to the Peak Master, Shen Mo suppressed his excitement and continued operating his cultivation method to fill his three Spirit Seas.

The Spirit Sea opened by ordinary cultivators at Layer I of the Spirit Sea Realm was like a small pond. Yet, each of Shen Mo's Spirit Seas, if considered individually, was incomparably vast and boundless. Moreover, his three Spirit Seas were not independent but interconnected, mutually attracting and amplifying each other. The Mana he could wield had reached an extremely terrifying level! In terms of the total Mana within his body alone, perhaps only experts at Spirit Sea Realm Layer III from the Five Great Sects could compare to Shen Mo.

At this moment, with my strength, if I were to have another fight with Tian Qisheng... It wouldn't take much effort to slay him.

Shen Mo roughly estimated his own combat strength and found that Elder Tian, whom he previously could only defeat through opportunism, was now beneath his notice.

But I cannot be complacent and underestimate other Spirit Sea Realm experts. After all, even if two cultivators are at Layer I of the Spirit Sea Realm, their strengths can vary greatly due to their origins, Talent, magic artifacts, talismans, and magic learned. Let alone the comparison between early-stage, middle-stage, and late-stage Spirit Sea Realm. Whether one was strong or weak could only truly be known after a fight!

As Shen Mo contemplated, he simultaneously consolidated his cultivation and gained mastery over his burgeoning power.

...

"Youngster, the one-month period is up. You must leave the Jade Pool Realm," a wizened voice spoke. Elder Li, standing outside the small courtyard, said slowly.

CREAK!

The door opened, and Shen Mo, dressed as an inner disciple, walked out of the house.

"Hmm?"

At the sight of Shen Mo, Elder Li's heart skipped a beat. His expression drastically changed, and he staggered backward several steps, nearly shattering the Qingshi slate path. He felt as if he had suddenly encountered a terrifying Demon, hiding its fangs yet brimming with power. Although his mind registered no alarm, and there were no threats around... yet, his intuition, honed over hundreds of years of life, told him that the young man before him was very dangerous!

"Elder Li... what's the matter?" Seeing the old man, who had lived for six or seven hundred years, behaving rather unusually, Shen Mo couldn't help but ask with concern.

"No, nothing." Elder Li calmed his mind, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Having lived for so many years and experienced countless crises, to think he was now frightened like this by an inner disciple!

"Eh... youngster, have you successfully opened your Spirit Sea?" Only then did this extremely senior Elder of the sect notice that the young man before him was now a Spirit Sea Realm Cultivator. He was unavoidably surprised! Although the Spiritual Qi in the Jade Pool Dungeon was dense, and ten months of secluded cultivation would definitely yield significant gains, opening a Spirit Sea was not something that could be achieved overnight, not even for someone at the peak of Qi Gathering, let alone Qi Gathering Realm Layer VII. Guarding the Jade Pool Dungeon for so many years, he had encountered countless talented individuals from the sect. There were also many peak Qi Gathering disciples who, having performed great merits, were rewarded with the opportunity to cultivate in the Dungeon. But those who successfully opened their Spirit Sea in the Dungeon could be counted on one hand!

"Thank you for your concern, Elder. I was just lucky enough to break through!" Shen Mo replied with a faint smile, clasping his hands.

After advancing to the Spirit Sea Realm, Shen Mo spent a month and a half thoroughly solidifying the foundation of Spirit Sea Realm Layer I and gained complete mastery over his surging strength. However, after stepping into this realm, it would be much harder to progress as he did in the Qi Gathering Realm, where he could advance a Minor Realm in only a few months. Given his current cultivation progress, it would probably be half a year before he could advance to Spirit Sea Realm Layer II. According to the Riverside Sect's rules, after advancing to the Spirit Sea Realm, one could go to the Magic Tower and choose a spiritual-level magic without spending any Sect Merit Points or Spirit Stones. Therefore, Shen Mo planned to select a suitable main cultivation method when he returned to the sect!

...

「Star Hall.」

Shen Mo stood quietly in the hall, allowing Peak Master Zhou Shili and Elder Huang to scrutinize him closely.

"Good. His sharpness is restrained, and an immortal charm emanates naturally! It seems Stars Peak is about to gain another core disciple," Zhou Shili said, a gentle smile on his face. He hadn't expected Shen Mo to open his Spirit Sea so quickly. What was remarkable was that his foundation showed no trace of instability; on the contrary, it was as solid and unshakeable as a mountain. He didn't resemble someone who had just opened his Spirit Sea at all, but rather a seasoned expert who had been immersed in this realm for many years.

"It is thanks to the sect's backing and the guidance of the Peak Master and Elders that this disciple was able to cultivate successfully to this realm." Shen Mo's words were not entirely flattery. If he were merely a rogue cultivator, even with the aid of the Destiny Panel, he might eventually achieve what he had today, given enough time. However, he would have had to take many more detours and expend far more effort and toil!

Elder Huang, standing to the side, was also full of praise. Under his administration, the information on Shen Mo's identity jade pendant was quickly updated. Other details remained largely unchanged, except that next to the words "inner disciple," a note was added: "Core Disciple candidate."

Seeing Shen Mo's inquisitive look, Elder Huang, at a gesture from the Peak Master, began to explain.

"You're under forty and have entered the Spirit Sea Realm. If it were like previous years, when the sect's nine core disciple positions were not yet filled, you would already be a core disciple of our Stars Peak. However, in recent years, our sect has produced a multitude of talented individuals, and they have already occupied these nine spots. If you wish to obtain a core position, you must surpass the lowest-ranked core disciple in terms of Sect-accumulated Merit Points and cultivation strength. With your contributions, your Merit Points should be sufficient. You only need to defeat the ninth-ranked core disciple in a challenge witnessed by the sect's upper echelons, and you can obtain the core position!

"The ranking of core disciples is not fixed; it is usually re-ranked every three years. Currently... the ninth core disciple seat is at Rising Sun Peak. He is Tian Zhiyu, a disciple from the Tian Clan, with whom you have some friction. However, he has been in the Spirit Sea Realm for more than ten years, and his cultivation has reached Spirit Sea Realm Layer IV. You have six years to challenge him. If you win, you will naturally become the ninth core disciple, and Tian Zhiyu will automatically be demoted to a sect Elder... If you lose, you will have one more—and only one more—chance to challenge the ninth seat. If you lose again, you can only serve as a sect Elder!

"With this 'Core Disciple candidate' status, you can go to the Magic Tower to receive one spiritual-level cultivation method and three profound-level cultivation methods. All cultivation grounds within the Peak are open to you. You will also receive a monthly allowance of resources worth one thousand Spirit Stones, until you officially become a core disciple or are transferred to become a sect Elder!"

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