WHIZ!

A jade hairpin magic artifact, emitting a hazy spiritual moonlight.

HISS! HISS!

There was also an inconspicuous blood imprint, wreathed in a venomous aura.

Two sharp attacks suddenly landed on Shen Mo, one after the other.

The jade hairpin magic artifact pierced through Shen Mo's outer robe, an inner disciple's uniform, but then seemed to strike an iron plate, unable to penetrate further. The spiritual moonlight flared, and in the next instant, the hairpin exploded into a sky full of jade fragments. The Vicious Blood Seal also corroded a corner of Shen Mo's outer robe then, emitting white smoke, silently dissipated into nothingness.

Shen Mo was still immersed in his cultivation and comprehension, only now did he slightly regain his senses. It wasn't that his sense wasn't sharp enough to detect the attacking jade hairpin magic artifact and the Vicious Blood Seal; neither posed any real threat to him. They were like a light breeze rustling leaves against his skin. Naturally, Shen Mo was disinclined to immediately interrupt his comprehension to deal fully with such minor attacks.

Have I unknowingly climbed over a hundred stone steps already?

Shen Mo removed his tattered outer garment, retrieved a new standard-issue robe from his Universe Bag, and put it on. Only then did he raise his eyes to look ahead and upwards.

He saw a Profound Moon School disciple and a Seven Stars Altar disciple standing seven or eight stone steps above him, looking down at him with grave expressions. These two were not Xiao Ling'er and Yang Chi but the assisting Proud Disciples. Before Shen Mo arrived, they had been fighting fiercely here, each intent on knocking the other down. This would allow them to continue climbing the stone steps, catch up after a while, and then continue to assist their respective main forces. Now, upon seeing Shen Mo catching up, they immediately and tacitly ceased their fight, attacking Shen Mo in unison. They were attempting to join forces to eliminate a competitor for Xiao Ling'er and Yang Chi.

"Senior Brother Cheng, this man is wearing a high-grade magic robe, and his vitality is astonishingly strong! If you don't use some real techniques, I'm afraid you won't be able to harm him in the slightest!" the Profound Moon School disciple said to the Seven Stars Altar disciple, taking another hairpin from her bun. Her voice was soft and sweet, but her words were far from pleasant.

The Seven Stars Altar disciple nodded solemnly and patted his Universe Bag. A table landed before him, and then, one by one, ritual magic artifacts were arranged upon it. "I am going to open the altar and perform a ritual, invoking the Killing Power of the Seven Stars to curse him! Junior Sister, hold him off for now; don't let him interrupt my incantation." As the Seven Stars Altar disciple spoke, he was already circling the magic altar, continuously muttering words.

If he weren't a newly promoted Proud Disciple of the Seven Stars Altar, Shen Mo would have mistaken him for some charlatan deceiving people in the mortal world. Speaking of which, the ritual Spells of the Seven Stars Altar were indeed quite notorious. Many rogue Daoists in the mortal world who exorcised demons, expelled evil, and performed rituals at altars would, in roundabout ways, claim some connection to the Seven Stars Altar in their lineage.

Seeing this, a strange look flashed in the eyes of the Profound Moon School disciple, but she ultimately suppressed her distracting thoughts. She threw the hairpin, her hands rapidly forming a seal. "Go!"

With a sharp cry, a halo of light swirled around the hairpin, transforming into a streak of spiritual moonlight that shot towards Shen Mo. This jade hairpin magic artifact was far superior in quality to the previous one, its piercing intent significantly stronger. Even Shen Mo couldn't guarantee that the Blue Soul magic robe could block it completely unscathed. However, breaking through the defenses of the Blue Soul magic robe, the Red Carp inner armor, and the layers of the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand, to then injure his robust physique, was not so simple. Ultimately, Shen Mo simply didn't want to reveal more of his techniques at this moment.

BUZZ!

With a tremor of the Demon Slaying Sword, the moonlight jade hairpin was enveloped by Sword Light.

WHIZ! WHIZ!

Translucent jade dust scattered everywhere, looking exceptionally beautiful mixed within the flurry of Sword Light. This jade hairpin was also a magic treasure that the Profound Moon School disciple had continuously been refining. Logically, even after clashing with a high-grade magic sword several times, it shouldn't have suffered much damage. Unfortunately for her, Shen Mo's Demon Slaying Sword had no flashy special effects; it was known solely for its sturdiness and sharpness. Combined with his Master-level swordplay and the enhancement from his Carefree Sword Intent, it wasn't surprising that it was shaved into jade dust in a single exchange!

Seeing her magic treasure destroyed in an instant, the Profound Moon School disciple's expression turned very grim. Just then, Shen Mo made another move. The magic sword in his hand flashed with spirit light, and a formidable sword Qi slashed towards the stone steps. The sword Qi's target wasn't the hairpin's owner, but the Seven Stars Altar disciple circling the magic altar.

"Not good!" the Profound Moon School disciple cried out, quickly throwing out several talismans. Spiritual Qi surged, and light and shadow shifted. In an instant, several defensive measures appeared, blocking the Seven Stars Altar disciple. It wasn't out of kindness from the Profound Moon School disciple; rather, she reckoned that she alone was insufficient to stop Shen Mo's ascent. Her only hope of knocking Shen Mo down lay in relying on Senior Brother Cheng's Spell from the Seven Stars Altar!

PUFF! PUFF! PUFF!

The Fire Turtles, Wind Walls, and Gold Shields formed from the talismans were as fragile as thin paper under the Sword Light. In the span of a breath, they were shattered, yet the Sword Light's power remained undiminished, thundering towards the magic altar.

In the next moment, the Seven Stars Altar disciple stopped his movements. His hands formed seals, his gaze fixed downwards as he intoned, "Soul Injury, Spirit Decay, Evil Expulsion! Go!"

A dim blood seal, containing faint traces of starlight, materialized out of thin air before Shen Mo, landing without warning on his glabella. Meanwhile, the Sword Light had already struck both the disciple and the magic altar, sending the Seven Stars Altar disciple flying.

HISS!

The moment the blood seal landed on him, Shen Mo felt a prickling sensation, as if pierced by countless needles through his body and soul. His body swayed slightly, and he nearly tumbled from the stone step. But the pain lasted only for a moment. The Scorching Sun Soul Phase in his Mind Sea blazed with brilliant light, illuminating and dissolving every trace of starlight flecks and blood radiance that had tainted his soul. Simultaneously, his Dragon Elephant Blood Fiend Body and Three-Heads Six-Arms True Immortal Technique began to circulate at the opportune moment. As his Qi and blood, thick as slurry and mercury, surged, the alien power of the blood seal was washed away completely, like a sandcastle before a great tide.

At that moment, the Seven Stars Altar disciple, who had been struck by the Sword Light and lay on the steps, thrashed violently for a few moments like a large fish hauled from a river, then lay still, utterly still.

The Spells of the Seven Stars Altar certainly have some tricks up their sleeve, Shen Mo mused. This Blood-Imprinted Spell not only harms the body but also the soul. Its cursing power could probably kill an ordinary Qi Gathering Layer VI cultivator! Fortunately, I've already cultivated the Divine Soul Contemplation Scripture and possess the Scorching Sun Soul Phase to resist the cursing power invading my soul. Otherwise, I truly would have suffered a significant loss!

Shen Mo continued to ascend the steps.

The Profound Moon School disciple, wielding a sharp sword and holding a talisman, looked hesitant. After much deliberation, she ultimately decided not to attack Shen Mo again. Instead, she put away her talismans, saluted with her sword, and her expression shifted to one of apology and shame. "Junior Sister was merely fulfilling her duties and had no choice but to act against Senior Brother. I hope you won't hold it against me. Please, Senior Brother, proceed!"

"You're certainly quick-witted!" A smile touched Shen Mo's lips. Without waiting for the Profound Moon School disciple to speak further, he kicked her on the backside.

RUMBLE!

Caught off guard, the Profound Moon School disciple tumbled down more than ten steps before managing to steady herself. Both humiliated and furious, her pretty face flushed crimson.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.