Wandering Swordsman |

With Yue Linglong leaving with Xie Xin, only Shen Mo, Juechenzi, and Yue Mojun remained.

After a moment, the Moon Demon Lord said softly, "Juechenzi, you may step down now."

Juechenzi nodded, gave Shen Mo a meaningful look, and then left the hall. Only Shen Mo and Yue Mojun remained in the hall, and the surrounding air seemed to grow even more heavy.

In this tranquil setting, the Moon Demon Lord slowly approached Shen Mo, four ancient-looking manuals appearing in her hands. She handed these manuals to Shen Mo, a hint of seriousness in her eyes.

Shen Mo took the manuals and examined them; they were titled "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Heaven Scroll," "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Earth Scroll," "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Profound Scroll," and "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Yellow Scroll." He then looked at Moon Demon Lord with a puzzled expression, as if asking why he had done this.

However, before Shen Mo could ask, Moon Demon Lord explained, "The Heaven-Defying Divine Skill is divided into four volumes according to difficulty: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Anyone who joins the Heavenly Demon God Sect must learn the Heaven-Defying Divine Skill."

"Furthermore, for the next two and a half months, you must seize every second to cultivate from the Yellow Scroll until you master the Heavenly Scroll. Otherwise, you will face mortal danger when facing other competitors within the Demon Refining Mountain," the Moon Demon Lord solemnly instructed. Her voice echoed in the silent hall, each word like a heavy stone falling into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

However, what Shen Mo didn't know was that only those who reached the position of the Twelve Masters were qualified to access the "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Heavenly Scroll," and even for a martial arts genius with extraordinary talent, it would take at least twenty years to master the Heavenly Scroll.

After Shen Mo nodded in response, just as he was about to retreat to study these manuals, the Moon Demon Lord gave him a final reminder: "The four volumes of the 'Heaven-Defying Divine Art' are ranked from highest to lowest as Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Practicing a higher-level 'Heaven-Defying Divine Art' allows you to directly absorb the internal energy of those who have practiced lower-level versions and temporarily convert it for your own use. Therefore, you must cultivate to the Heaven volume to ensure your safety on Demon Refining Mountain."

Hearing this, Shen Mo's eyes became even more determined. He took a deep breath and refocused his gaze on the Moon Demon Lord. "Thank you for your guidance, Moon Demon Lord. I will master the 'Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Heavenly Scroll' as soon as possible."

The Moon Demon Lord nodded in satisfaction, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. "Very good. I believe that with your special physique, you can definitely do it."

......

After Shen Mo left the Moon Demon Pavilion, he found Juechenzi standing quietly outside the pavilion waiting for him.

When Juechenzi saw Shen Mo, he greeted him, "Shen Mo, come with me. I've already arranged accommodations for you."

Shen Mo nodded and looked at Juechenzi gratefully, "Thank you, Senior Juechenzi."

Then Juechenzi led Shen Mo through a small courtyard filled with exotic flowers and plants, arriving at an exquisite courtyard. At this time, a young disciple was already waiting there, holding a bunch of keys and a piece of paper with a room number written on it.

"This is Xiao Li. He will take you to your room," Juechenzi introduced, patting Shen Mo on the shoulder and encouragingly saying, "In the days to come, do a good job of completing the tasks assigned to you by the Moon Demon Lord. I'll be leaving now. If you need anything, just let Xiao Li know."

After bidding farewell to Juechenzi, Shen Mo followed Xiao Li to his new residence. Along the way, Xiao Li gave a brief introduction to the courtyard, saying, "This is a residence specially prepared for distinguished guests. The environment is quiet and secluded, making it very suitable for cultivation."

As he spoke, he opened the door to one of the rooms in the corner of the courtyard. The room was simply yet cozy, with a comfortable bed, a desk, and a large south-facing window. Outside the window was a lush bamboo forest, and a gentle breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, adding a touch of tranquility to the room.

After Xiao Liu left, Shen Mo closed the door, sat down at his desk, and immediately took out the four volumes of "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill." He knew that the coming period would be the most crucial time of his life, as it concerned preventing Yan Mojun from using the Heavenly Demon Sect to invade the Central Plains, which was the most important matter at hand! Therefore, he decided to stay indoors and devote himself entirely to cultivation.

......

For the next few days, Shen Mo almost forgot about time. Within a single day, he had mastered the "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Yellow Scroll," which surprised even himself.

Five days later, he successfully deciphered the "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Mysterious Scroll" and reached a higher state of consciousness.

A month later, he even mastered the "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Earth Scroll", which allowed him to flexibly use even more powerful demonic energy to enhance his own strength.

However, when Shen Mo began to study the "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Heavenly Scroll," he encountered unprecedented difficulties. Despite his best efforts, he was still unable to fully grasp its essence.

Inside the room, Shen Mo sat cross-legged, eyes closed, trying to calm his mind. He followed the descriptions in "The Heavenly Scroll of the Heaven-Defying Divine Skill" in terms of breathing and movements, each attempt feeling like a battle against his own limits. Sweat streamed down his forehead, soaking his clothes, but he didn't give up; instead, he persevered...

After trying for a long time, Shen Mo still couldn't master the "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Heavenly Scroll". He tried various methods, from adjusting his breathing rhythm to changing his body posture, and even simulating the details of every movement countless times in his mind, but no matter how hard he tried, that invisible barrier always stood between him and the "Heaven-Defying Divine Skill - Heavenly Scroll".

Time slipped away like sand in an hourglass, and with only two days left until the two-and-a-half-month deadline, Shen Mo felt an unprecedented sense of urgency and pressure.

With only one day left until the two and a half months were up, Shen Mo decided to temporarily put down the manual in his hand and take a walk in the courtyard, hoping to gain some insights.

It was dusk, and the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the courtyard in a golden glow. In the center of the courtyard stood a fishpond, its surface shimmering, where several koi carp swam leisurely, occasionally leaping out of the water and splashing out ripples.

Shen Mo stood by the fishpond, quietly observing the fish. They sometimes gathered together, sometimes dispersed, as if performing a silent dance. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: these koi, seemingly fighting individually, were actually interdependent, forming this harmonious little world together. So why couldn't he adopt this concept? Since his internal energy was insufficient to support the cultivation of the *Heaven-Defying Divine Art - Heavenly Scroll*, why not utilize the other internal energy he had already cultivated—the Heavenly Void True Qi?

This sudden realization was like a lightning bolt piercing the night sky, illuminating Shen Mo's path forward. With this thought, Shen Mo's heart stirred, and he immediately sat down cross-legged on the spot.