"You know of it?"
Su Mo looked at Qingyunzi in surprise.
Qingyunzi replied, "While Long Chuan and I were surveying earth veins, we traveled far and wide. In a certain burial ground, we heard of the Soul-Burying Blood Flower that you need, Elder Su."
"Unfortunately, we were too weak and didn’t dare venture deep into the burial ground, so we never managed to pick the Blood Flower. Otherwise, we would have presented it to you by now," Long Chuan said with regret.
Su Mo waved a dismissive hand. "There’s no need for regret. As long as you’re certain the Soul-Burying Blood Flower is truly in that burial ground, that’s all that matters."
"We’re certain!"
Long Chuan said with conviction, "Elder Su, I’m ninety percent sure. The Soul-Burying Blood Flower is definitely in that burial ground, and it must still be there."
The burial ground was extremely dangerous.
He and Qingyunzi had seen with their own eyes many masters at the Martial Monarch Great Perfection Realm die inside. Almost no one dared to venture deep.
That was why he dared to make such a guarantee.
Su Mo gave an order. "Alright then. You two, pack your bags. Take me to that burial ground so I can retrieve the Burial Ground Blood Flower."
"Yes, Elder Su!"
The two readily agreed. They were also curious about just how terrifying the burial ground was, and this was a perfect opportunity to go inside with Su Mo.
With Su Mo around, they were confident they could make it out safely.
After all, Su Mo could effortlessly kill a Martial Monarch.
Now that he had a lead on the rarest ingredient, the Burial Ground Blood Flower, obtaining the remaining Nine-Hearted Demon Fruit and Holy Spirit Spring Water seemed much simpler.
Although these two ingredients were precious, they weren’t impossible to find. He just needed to ask around a little.
SLAP!
Master Mo suddenly slapped his forehead. "I remember! I think Holy Spirit Manor has the Nine-Hearted Demon Fruit and Holy Spirit Spring Water."
"Holy Spirit Manor? What’s that?" Su Mo asked, puzzled.
Master Mo explained, "Holy Spirit Manor is a top faction in our Northern Profound Domain. They possess a Secret Realm called the Holy Spirit Secret Realm, and inside is the Holy Spirit Spring Water. The only issue is that the annual yield is quite low."
"As long as they have it, that’s enough!" Su Mo said coolly.
’No matter what the yield of the Holy Spirit Spring Water is, I have to get my hands on it. If I can’t buy it, I’ll just take it by force.’
’And I’ll kill anyone who dares to stop me.’
Su Mo asked, "And the Nine-Hearted Demon Fruit?"
Master Mo replied, "They have the Nine-Hearted Demon Fruit as well, but you have to participate in their Holy Spirit Assembly first. If you take the top prize, they’ll reward you with it."
"I see," Su Mo murmured to himself.
Master Mo continued, "Elder Su, if you want to enter the Holy Spirit Secret Realm to get the Holy Spirit Spring Water, you also have to achieve an outstanding result at the Holy Spirit Assembly. It’s just..."
"Just what?" Su Mo asked, intrigued.
Master Mo said grimly, "It’s just that the ones who participate in the Holy Spirit Assembly are all monstrous geniuses from the Northern Profound Domain. They are all incredibly powerful and have their elders backing them. It’s extremely brutal and dangerous. Elder Su, you..."
"I have to go," Su Mo replied firmly.
’To get the Nine-Hearted Demon Fruit and Holy Spirit Spring Water, and to successfully break through to the Martial Master Realm, I have to go no matter how dangerous it is.’
’No matter how dangerous the Holy Spirit Assembly might be, could it possibly be more dangerous than the burial ground?’
"Alright. Since you’ve already decided, Elder Su, I won’t try to stop you. As it happens, I have a letter of recommendation right here that will allow you to participate in the Holy Spirit Assembly."
Master Mo took a Jade Scroll from his robes. The location and requirements for participating in the Holy Spirit Assembly were clearly recorded on it.
Su Mo asked in surprise, "You were able to get your hands on something like this?"
Master Mo said awkwardly, "Master Jia and I helped someone refine some Elixir Pills, and they gave it to us as a token of thanks. Of course, compared to you, Elder Su, we are not even worthy of carrying your shoes."
’He knew that with Su Mo’s abilities, getting a mere letter of recommendation would be effortless; it was nothing to him at all.’
"Thank you."
Su Mo accepted the recommendation and put it away.
Qingyunzi asked, "Elder Su, shall we set off now?"
Su Mo shook his head. "There’s no rush. The Holy Spirit Assembly is still some time away. First, let’s deal with the assassins from the Celestial Slaughter Hall. Go and fetch Daoist Xuanqing."
Soon, Daoist Xuanqing arrived before Su Mo and said respectfully, "Elder Su, you were looking for me!"
"Have you finished investigating the matter I assigned you?" Su Mo asked, getting straight to the point.
Daoist Xuanqing nodded. "Yes, I’ve investigated it thoroughly. However, our strength is somewhat lacking. I’m afraid it will be difficult to eliminate them all at once."
The Celestial Slaughter Hall has many branch halls established throughout the Eighteen Kingdoms.
Excluding the branch hall in the Desolate Empire that Su Mo previously destroyed, there are at least eight or nine others.
Each branch hall is guarded by a Grandmaster Great Perfection master.
The Xiao Alliance also has many Grandmaster Great Perfection masters, but killing their opponents would be difficult. At best, you could say they’re evenly matched.
If Su Mo were to handle them all himself, there wouldn’t be enough time.
Once one branch is destroyed, the other assassins will get word and immediately go into hiding.
At that point, finding them again would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
"So, you’re saying our top-end fighting power isn’t enough."
Su Mo asked, "Then if I were to dispatch nine Martial Monarch experts, could we annihilate them all at the same time?"
"Theoretically, yes. But where are we going to find that many Martial Monarchs?" Daoist Xuanqing asked, troubled.
Su Mo said coolly, "That’s simple. I’ll just create a few Martial Monarchs."
"Huh...?"
Daoist Xuanqing was utterly dumbfounded.
’How many masters at the Grandmaster Great Perfection Realm spend years in seclusion, unable to break through to the Martial Monarch Realm, only to die full of regret?’
’Breaking through to the Martial Monarch Realm is unbelievably difficult.’
’And yet, Su Mo was talking about mass-producing Martial Monarchs.’
’That’s completely unrealistic!’
Daoist Xuanqing shook his head. "Elder Su, I know your abilities are profound, but something like a Breakthrough isn’t something others can help with."
"So you don’t believe me."
Su Mo said, "Fine. Then I’ll start by making you a Martial Monarch. I guarantee I can make you achieve a Breakthrough in the shortest possible time. Do you dare to try?"
"This..."
Daoist Xuanqing was hesitant.
’To be honest, he dreamed of breaking through to the Martial Monarch Realm. But with his limited talent and resources, he had struggled for over a decade without a Breakthrough.’
’But if something went wrong, his Martial Dao path would be cut off, and he would never be able to break through.’
After a moment of thought, Daoist Xuanqing agreed.
’I’ll risk it!’
’He couldn’t break through to the Martial Monarch Realm anytime soon anyway, so he might as well take this chance and gamble.’
’The worst that could happen was failure, and he’d remain at the Grandmaster Great Perfection Realm for the rest of his life.’
’There was nothing to regret.’
Daoist Xuanqing clenched his jaw and said, "Fortune favors the bold, and the timid starve to death. Elder Su, I’m willing to try. Just tell me what you want me to do."
"Take this Elixir Pill."
Su Mo casually produced an Elixir Pill and handed it to Daoist Xuanqing.
’An Elixir Pill?’
Daoist Xuanqing’s face was filled with doubt.
’Is it really that simple?’
’If you could break through to the Martial Monarch Realm just by swallowing an Elixir Pill, wouldn’t Martial Monarchs be a dime a dozen by now?’
Daoist Xuanqing was skeptical.
"This is... a Nine Dragon Venerable Pill," Master Mo’s eyes lit up.
Daoist Xuanqing asked, confused, "Master Mo, what’s a Nine Dragon Venerable Pill?"