Tian Qisheng's face was pale. His chest robe had been cut open by sword Qi.

A sword mark ran across his chest and abdomen.

The elixir he had ingested must have been a Grade III Flesh Bone Pill.

Under the medicinal effect, his sword wound gradually healed. Once the remaining Starfall Sword Qi in his body was eliminated by Mana, he was largely unharmed.

"Boy, how were you able to see the weakness in my spellcasting?" Tian Qisheng's voice was somewhat weak.

He was frustrated at losing to someone in the Qi Gathering Realm. If this spread in the future, he might become the laughing stock of his peers. What bothered him more, however, was that Shen Mo seemed able to foresee and seize the weakness in his spellcasting. This weakness was very subtle, insignificant. Even those in the Spirit Sea Realm who fought him could hardly notice. Yet now it had been seen through by a cultivator in the Qi Gathering Realm... This made Tian Qisheng quite wary and utterly puzzled.

Seeing Tian Qisheng questioning, Shen Mo just shook his head without revealing a word.

This Special Destiny, "Insight into All Beings," was his greatest secret. Even if he exposed the unusual properties of the Soul Refining Flag, he would not reveal that he possessed the Destiny Panel.

"Your Palm Magic must have been taught by Peak Master Zhou Shili..." Tian Qisheng muttered to himself, his suspicion falling on the Stars Peak Master. "It's not impossible that he values you so much he told you my weaknesses!"

Shen Mo didn't mind letting Zhou Shili take the blame. After all, given Zhou Shili's status, Tian Qisheng wouldn't dare to question him.

"Tian Hong is the patriarch of our Tian Family. Since he has verbally conceded," Tian Qisheng declared, "then I won't say much more! I'll go to the family Treasure Hall now to retrieve the Spirit Stones. But... will you also return my Tian Family's Flowing Shadow Sword to me?"

The situation was now settled. When it came to receiving the spoils of war, Shen Mo would naturally not back down.

He smiled faintly. "Elder Tian, one matter doesn't negate another. The over 70,000 Spirit Stones are materials the Tian Clan owes the Defense Division. Once this is settled, that matter will be over. But the patriarch of your Tian Family stabbed me with a Spirit Sword. Assaulting the Commander of the Defense Division is not a minor crime... Moreover, the Flowing Shadow Spirit Sword is now my trophy! How can private assets be used to compensate for public matters?"

Tian Qisheng coughed violently again.

After suppressing his injuries with his cultivation method, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said sullenly, "Boy, you should know that the Flowing Shadow Sword is the personal sword of the Tian Family Patriarch! Its value and significance are entirely different from ordinary magic artifacts. Aren't you afraid it'll burn your hands if you keep it?"

No matter what Tian Qisheng said, Shen Mo adamantly insisted that the sword was a trophy.

If it weren't for his severe injuries, Tian Qisheng would have liked to fight Shen Mo again. He even felt the urge to kill his unworthy descendant, Tian Hong.

After glaring viciously at Tian Hong several times, Tian Qisheng's forced composure weakened. "Name your price. How many more Spirit Stones do you want?"

"Spirit Stones are not what I currently lack!"

Shen Mo's mind raced. He soon listed a series of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and spirit gold ores. The Tian Clan boasted a five-hundred-year lineage; their family Treasure Hall must be abundant. Rather than wanting more Spirit Stones, it was better to use the Flowing Shadow Sword to exchange for some rare and valuable resources that were priceless or unavailable on the open market.

Tian Qisheng's chest heaved as he listened. Despite his injuries, he argued fiercely with Shen Mo.

Even Tian Hong, pinned to the ground by the sword Qi, couldn't help but haggle!

Thus, the few individuals who had been fighting to the death moments before now found themselves in a strangely peaceful, albeit absurd, argument.

The watching cultivators looked on, dumbfounded, though they understood the situation.

After some bargaining, Shen Mo finally reached an agreement with the Tian Family.

Once Tian Qisheng entered the Tian Family mansion, he didn't attempt any subterfuge; he didn't know what Shen Mo was "plotting."

Even Tian Hong, for his own life's sake, wouldn't use his Divine Sense to inform him to activate the Formation to shield the Tian Family mansion.

A moment later, Tian Qisheng walked up to Shen Mo with a Universe Bag. He had also wiped away the mind mark on it.

Shen Mo accepted the Universe Bag, refined it, and then probed its contents with his sense.

Seven hundred and twenty middle-grade Spirit Stones, not one less than agreed. The Tian Family hadn't quibbled about his rounding of the figure; it was unclear if they didn't care or were too exasperated to notice.

Divine Iron, Red Heaven Gold, Thunder Killing Pearl... These were the spiritual items he needed. If put up for auction, they could fetch a premium price he currently couldn't afford. Overall, their value was close to that of a low-grade spiritual level Flying Sword. However, such spiritual items were usually snapped up as soon as they appeared. For him to gather them all would require a large amount of Spirit Stones and considerable time. From his perspective, saving the time to collect these materials was a huge profit!

Shen Mo nodded with satisfaction. He took out the Flowing Shadow Sword—firmly suppressed by the Palm technique and a Prohibition talisman—from the Universe Bag and returned it to Tian Qisheng.

Then, lifting the Demon Slaying Sword in his hand, he dissipated the River Opening Sword Qi that had been condensed but not yet unleashed. This freed all members of the Tian Family, including Tian Hong, from the suppression of the sword Qi.

"Elder Tian, Clan Leader Tian Hong, and all members of the Tian Family!" Shen Mo didn't leave immediately. Instead, he stood at the gate of the Tian Family mansion and spoke loudly. Under the influence of his Mana, his voice reached the ears of all cultivators present with remarkable clarity.

"Despite the minor unpleasantness between us, the Defense Division still welcomes members of the Tian Family to register. Most of these Spirit Stone resources will become monthly stipends, distributed to those fellow daoists dedicated to slaying demons!"

Seeing Shen Mo act this way, Tian Qisheng and Tian Hong couldn't help but scowl again.

He clearly intended to use the prestige gained from subduing the Tian Family to curry favor with and attract the smaller cultivating families and rogue cultivators in the city.

As the two had expected, Shen Mo immediately continued, "This applies to other fellow daoists in the city as well. Whether you come from Cultivating Families, Gold Toad Tower, Thriving Gold Sect, or other immortal sects, or are rogue cultivators, as long as your abilities are outstanding, there's no need to worry about low stipends! The Defense Division treats everyone equally. In addition to your stipend, meritorious service will be rewarded..."

Immediately after humbling the Tian Clan, he used this newly gained prestige to announce to all cultivators in the city that the Defense Division was recruiting cultivators for its roster. Shen Mo even "magnanimously" offered to recruit talent from the Tian Clan, with whom he had a vendetta.

This clear declaration was sure to sway many cultivators who harbored doubts!

"Good lad, good methods!" Tian Qisheng said, his voice a mix of praise and sarcasm. He waved his sleeves, turned, and walked back into the mansion.

Tian Hong and the others naturally followed. With a RUMBLE, the great door was heavily closed.

Shen Mo paid it no mind and continued recruiting cultivators.

Before long, dozens of cultivators had gathered around him, from both the Body Tempering and Qi Gathering Realms.

Elder Xu Tong from Gold Toad Tower, along with the cultivator surnamed Zhang, Qingfeng Master, and others, descended from the high tower, squeezed through the crowd, and came to stand before Shen Mo.

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