Chapter 495: Chapter 495: Outer Zone Creature Flower Fairy_1

Time galloped on. On Chong’a Mountain, where the subsidiary courtyard was located, the scenery had cycled from yellow to green and back again twice. The sweeping, majestic changes across the land had finally stabilized. Shen Mo had spent almost these entire two years within the sect’s subsidiary courtyard, rarely venturing out, thereby evading a multitude of strange and unknown dangers.

Near Chong’a Mountain, a forbidden land had also appeared, seemingly materializing overnight without alerting anyone. From this forbidden land, a host of beautiful creatures, each about the size of a thumb and possessing three pairs of transparent, delicate wings, would fly out. They gathered exotic flowers, rare herbs, and spirit wood, using magic to transplant them into this area.

Shen Mo and Patriarch Zhou Zhiwei had both scouted the region separately.

They discovered these were members of an Outer Zone race called “Flower Fairies.” Most of those who frequented the forbidden land and revealed themselves to outsiders possessed power of at least Class III.

However, Shen Mo occasionally encountered smaller Flower Fairies who were only Class II. They were likely young and not yet mature.

Such creatures possessed power comparable to the Spirit Sea Realm upon maturity, which was truly extraordinary.

Within the forbidden land, there were numerous Class IV and Class V existences. Neither Shen Mo nor Patriarch Zhou knew for sure how many.

Fortunately, the Flower Fairies’ temperament matched their appearance: they were exceptionally gentle and kind. They never carelessly harmed the nearby mountain folk or the flying birds and running beasts in the mountains.

Even when they encountered injured mortals or beasts, the Flower Fairies would find medicinal herbs or use magic to heal their wounds. However, they showed no mercy to malicious individuals or ferocious demonic beasts, swiftly turning them into flower fertilizer.

Towards cultivators at the Body Tempering Realm or Qi Gathering Realm, the Flower Fairies generally maintained a similar gentle attitude.

However, they were very wary of powerful humans like Shen Mo. Upon sensing his aura, they would immediately flee and hide far away.

Overall, as long as the Riverside Sect disciples in the subsidiary courtyard didn’t trespass into this forbidden land or actively provoke or harm them, the Flower Fairies didn’t pose a deadly threat.

After ascertaining this, Patriarch Zhou Zhiwei issued several strict orders to the inner disciples in the subsidiary courtyard, forbidding them from trespassing in the forbidden land and engaging in unnecessary conflicts with the Flower Fairies, among other things.

They were to coexist harmoniously with these “neighbors” as much as possible.

This was to avoid angering the more powerful beings within the “Fairy Flower Valley,” who might emerge from the forbidden land and destroy the sect’s subsidiary courtyard on Chong’a Mountain.

While investigating the Flower Fairies, Shen Mo encountered several late-stage Class III Flower Fairies. Perhaps due to confidence in their own strength, they weren’t particularly afraid of him.

Shen Mo then attempted to communicate with them.

The Flower Fairies’ voices were soft and delicate, as pleasant as wind chimes. Due to their different races, their languages were naturally incompatible. However, by imbuing their voices with Divine Sense, communication became possible, and they could understand each other.

The few Flower Fairies who communicated with Shen Mo didn’t reveal much information, but he still managed to analyze and glean several useful insights.

Firstly, he finally caught a glimpse of the truth behind the cataclysmic changes the world had undergone in the past two years.

Based on this, he gained a new understanding of Outer Zone creatures, forbidden lands, and the advent of Evil Spirits.

Secondly, there were indeed Class V beings within the Fairy Flower Valley.

As for whether they had just entered Class V, or were at the late-stage or peak, the number of such powerful beings, and whether any Class VI beings existed—he couldn’t uncover such details.

However, it was certain that the most powerful among the Flower Fairies were not incapable of leaving the forbidden land; they merely had reservations.

As for what these reservations were, Shen Mo had some speculations based on his new understanding of the recent upheaval, but he couldn’t be certain at that moment.

Externally, the sect’s subsidiary courtyard faced no immediate deadly threats.

Internally, after the initial chaos and turmoil, a degree of order had been restored.

Most Riverside Sect disciples hailed from Qing State. With the better part of Qing State devoured by the Soaring Serpent and the Bizarre Dragon, many had lost their close relatives, clan members, and friends.

For instance, Tian Zhaoquan, the Hall Master of the Affairs Hall; Tian Qisheng, an Elder of Rising Sun Peak; and Tian Zhiyu, formerly a core disciple, all hailed from the Tian Family. Their ancestral land and most of their clan members had been in Hongye City.

Similarly, Qian Fuming, Shopkeeper Qian, Qian Xiaofeng, and others from the Qian Family had their ancestral land in Green Sheep City.

Other prominent Immortal families, such as the Yuan, Zhou, Chu, Guo, Ji, and Jiang, also had their ancestral lands and most of their clan members swallowed by the Soaring Serpent.

Not to mention the inner disciples and over one hundred thousand outer disciples; even if they themselves had survived the calamity, many had lost parents, relatives, and friends.

Even if some had miraculously survived being swallowed by the Soaring Serpent and the Bizarre Dragon, who could possibly rip open the beasts’ bellies and rescue the countless creatures from most of Qing State?

Thus, for an initial period, the entire subsidiary courtyard was shrouded in sorrow and confusion.

Things had calmed down considerably by now.

Additionally, many disciples who were in other states before the upheaval had gradually made their way to the Chong’a Mountain subsidiary courtyard.

A few Hall Masters and core disciples from the sect’s upper echelons had also returned successively to the subsidiary courtyard, although no Peak Masters were among them.

Tang Lv, the Peak Master of Rising Sun Peak; Yuan Jing, the Peak Master of Bright Moon Peak; and Zhou Shili, the Peak Master of Stars Peak, were either trapped in the Mountain River Dungeon, had perished, or had lost contact during the upheaval. Consequently, Shen Mo had effectively become the individual with the highest strength and status in the subsidiary courtyard, second only to Patriarch Zhou.

Patriarch Zhou intended for him to take charge of the subsidiary courtyard’s affairs, but Shen Mo politely declined.

Two years prior, Shen Mo would have gladly accepted more power within the sect. Now, however, he needed to dedicate more time and energy to acquiring cultivation resources and advancing his cultivation level and strength.

It wasn’t that Shen Mo was capricious; the situation had simply changed.

His Path Heart, his aspiration for longevity and to be Carefree, hadn’t significantly changed.

Before the upheaval, the Five Great Sects, including the Riverside Sect, stood at the apex of the Red Flame Zone. They formed a pyramid-like structure of control, with the most valuable resources concentrated at the top.

The higher he climbed within the sect and the greater his authority, the easier it was for him to obtain the necessary cultivation resources.

But now, that pyramid had collapsed.

The power structure in the Red Flame Zone had undergone immense changes. The Five Great Sects were like clay buddhas crossing a river—barely able to save themselves, let alone others. Focusing solely on the Riverside Sect:

Qing State, which it had managed for many years, including its core territories and sect grounds, had been entirely devoured by the Soaring Serpent and the Bizarre Dragon. Most of its disciples were trapped in the Mountain River Dungeon. Numerous industries under its name had either vanished or severed ties. The sect was beset by troubles both internal and external. Currently, the subsidiary courtyard couldn’t even dispense monthly stipends. So what was the point of struggling for power now?

Moreover, the number of Sect Disciples in the subsidiary courtyard was not large. Any Hall Master could adequately manage its affairs; there was no need for Shen Mo to take on the responsibility.

What he needed to do now was to quickly condense his three Spirit Seas into a Chaotic Yuan One Qi Pill!

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