Wandering Swordsman |

Faced with Yue Linglong's questioning, Shen Mo took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil. He knew he had to explain things clearly to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.

Shen Mo's voice was calm and sincere, "Miss Linglong, what I'm trying to say is that your strength is very powerful, and I have benefited greatly from today's duel. Secondly, although you lost, I can't really be considered a winner in my current state."

As Yue Linglong listened to Shen Mo's words, her brows gradually relaxed, and the anger in her eyes slowly subsided. She began to realize that Shen Mo's refusal was not a denial of her abilities, but rather an expression of respect. She nodded gently, indicating her understanding, "What you said makes sense, but I still feel that since I lost, I should be responsible for my promise."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo felt a surge of complex emotions. Weren't the members of the Demonic Sect all treacherous and cunning as rumored in the Central Plains martial arts world? The demeanor and aura displayed by Yue Linglong and her grandmother, Yue Mojun, completely overturned his perception of the Demonic Sect based on rumors.

The Moon Demon Lord quietly observed everything from the side, seeing Shen Mo deep in thought. She gently patted her granddaughter's shoulder, "Linglong, strictly speaking, Shen Mo's statement isn't wrong, so you don't need to worry too much about the bet."

Moon Demon Lord turned to Shen Mo, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "Young brother, your magnanimity and insight are truly admirable. As your senior, I also hope that you will continue to advance on the path of martial arts and constantly break through your own limits. I saw that you didn't go all out during the duel just now. So, to express my gratitude, I would like to give you a gift."

As he spoke, the Moon Demon Lord took out a pill emitting a faint golden light from his robes and handed it to Shen Mo. "This Great Rejuvenation Pill is a treasure I have cherished for many years. It takes Shaolin Temple fifty years to refine just one. Consuming it will grant one sixty years' worth of internal energy. Although one can only consume one in a lifetime, it is something that countless people dream of but cannot obtain. I hope you can accept this humble gift."

"The Great Rejuvenation Pill!" Juechenzi swallowed hard, staring at the pill in Yue Mojun's hand. The pill, emitting a faint golden light, shone brightly in the dim candlelight, as if it contained boundless power. Even a master like Juechenzi couldn't help but be moved by such a rare treasure.

However, to everyone's surprise, Shen Mo felt the gift was too valuable and decided to politely decline. "Moon Demon Lord, I appreciate your kindness, but this Great Rejuvenation Pill is far too precious for me to accept." Shen Mo's voice was firm yet gentle, every word revealing his gratitude and reverence for the gift.

The Moon Demon Lord was taken aback, clearly not expecting such an answer. She asked curiously, "Why? This Great Rejuvenation Pill is not only a token of my appreciation for you, but also an acknowledgment of your performance today. Why do you refuse?" Her voice carried a hint of confusion and slight disappointment, as if she was perplexed by Shen Mo's choice.

Shen Mo raised his head, meeting the Moon Demon Lord's gaze frankly. "Moon Demon Lord," he said, "I feel my current cultivation is still too shallow to withstand such immense power. Moreover," he paused, his tone becoming more sincere, "why not leave it to your granddaughter, or perhaps you could enjoy it yourself?"

Hearing this, Moon Demon Lord shook her head slightly, a helpless smile flashing in her eyes. "Linglong has already eaten one, and eating another won't have any effect. As for myself..." She paused, seemingly considering how to phrase it, "I have already reached the state of returning to simplicity, and such external objects can no longer enhance my strength."

Just then, Yue Linglong said solemnly, "Shen Mo, if you don't accept this Great Rejuvenation Pill, it will be disrespectful to the Demon Lord. According to the rules established by the Heavenly Demon God, this is a capital offense." Although her voice was calm, it revealed an undeniable determination, and the surrounding air seemed to become heavy because of her words.

Shen Mo's heart tightened, and he turned his gaze to Juechenzi beside him, giving him a pleading look. Juechenzi frowned slightly and immediately gave Shen Mo a wink, signaling him to accept the Great Rejuvenation Pill.

Then Shen Mo slowly reached out and accepted the Great Rejuvenation Pill that emitted a faint golden light. "Thank you, Demon Lord."

Seeing that Shen Mo accepted it, the Moon Demon Lord nodded in satisfaction. "In that case, take it now. I will help you circulate the medicinal power, and you will be able to absorb it all in less than an hour."

Shen Mo nodded and carefully placed the Great Rejuvenation Pill into his mouth. The moment he swallowed it, a surge of intense heat erupted within him. Initially, the power was gentle, like a trickle, instantly relieving the intense pain caused by the Nine Revolutions of Yin and Yang. But soon it surged like a mighty river, turbulent and overwhelming. Shen Mo felt his blood and qi churning throughout his body, his meridians feeling as if they were being burned by countless raging flames, and every inch of his skin enduring indescribable pressure.

He immediately sat cross-legged and began circulating his internal energy, attempting to guide the powerful medicinal force. However, after only a moment, he felt a sudden increase in pressure within his body, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on his chest, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. Shen Mo's face quickly turned pale, and beads of sweat dripped down his forehead like raindrops.

Seeing this, Moon Demon Lord immediately walked behind Shen Mo and gently patted his shoulder. "Circulate all your internal energy to your lower dantian. I will help you from now on." Her voice was steady and firm, exuding a reassuring power. She gently placed her hands on Shen Mo's back and began to use her own demonic energy to help Shen Mo guide the medicinal power.

With the help of the Moon Demon Lord, the powerful medicinal force of the Great Restoration Pill that had erupted within Shen Mo's body gradually became more organized.

However, during this process, the Moon Demon Lord suddenly noticed that there were still two streams of medicinal power within Shen Mo's body that had not been fully absorbed. These two streams of medicinal power were not as strong as the Great Rejuvenation Pill, but they were exceptionally resilient, as if they were traces left by some kind of precious medicinal material.

Of course, the Moon Demon Lord didn't know that this was actually the medicinal power that Shen Mo had consumed after eating the two ginseng roots, which remained in his body and hadn't been absorbed.

Out of curiosity and concern for Shen Mo, the Moon Demon Lord decided to help him absorb both medicinal energies as well. However, she did not mention this to Shen Mo, but silently continued to help him guide the medicinal energy. Her demonic energy, like warm spring water, slowly flowed into Shen Mo's meridians, merging with the fiery medicinal energy and gradually calming the storm within Shen Mo's body.

Shen Mo closed his eyes, focusing intently on the changes occurring within his body. Each breath felt like a dialogue with heaven and earth, and each circulation of his internal energy allowed him to feel his own power increase. Although the process of absorbing the medicinal power was extremely uncomfortable, with the help of the Moon Demon Lord, he was pulled back from the brink of collapse time and time again, regaining his balance.