SWOOSH!

SWOOSH!

Before long, two figures controlling magic artifacts burst out from the river's surface.

The magic robe Tian Kang wore had water-repelling and self-cleansing properties, so apart from his disheveled hair, he didn't look too wretched.

Contrastingly, Shi Xiaoqian was obviously not as well-off as Tian Kang, as her robe was completely soaked. The wet cloth outlined her graceful figure. However, she quickly stirred up her mana, shaking off the river water and mud. These were reduced to fine dust, instantly cleaning her.

HUM!

This time, Tian Kang had learned his lesson. As soon as he flew out of the water, he activated the Sword Prison Talisman in his hand.

Dense and sharp sword Qi enveloped Shen Mo in an instant. This display was similar in force to The Big Dipper Array!

"You insolent brat! How dare you humiliate me like this?"

"If I don't teach you a lesson, this fury in my heart will never subside!"

After successfully casting the talisman, Tian Kang spat out a mouthful of blood, gritted his teeth, and said.

The mockery on Shen Mo's face deepened.

With a thought, his Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand Energy transformed into a protective shield. The Crystal Sand Energy particles, neither entirely tangible nor intangible, quickly neutralized the torrential rain of sword Qi amidst a soft RUSTLE, reducing it to virtually nothing.

Unexpectedly, another sharp sword Qi followed the Sword Prison Talisman. It was an attack manifested from a Grade III talisman!

This man is indeed from a big immortal clan. His cultivation method and magic are ordinary, but the talismans he wields are impressively powerful!

This sword Qi is different from the previous sword rain! If I use the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand Energy to neutralize it, I'm afraid much of the Crystal Sand Energy will be destroyed.

Then, I'd have to gather Spirit Gold again to repair this treasure, which would be too troublesome.

In a flash, Shen Mo retracted his Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand Energy into his internal Chakra. At the same time, his hands, concealed beneath his outer robe, rapidly formed a series of complex seals. The final hand seal he formed was a posture with crossed hands. The left hand was inside, the right hand outside. The back of his left wrist rested against the inner side of his right wrist. His left thumb pressed the first knuckle of his ring finger, while his right thumb pressed the first knuckle of his middle finger.

"The Seven Constellations of the Northern Black Tortoise—Palm, Wall!" Shen Mo intoned.

Instantly, a phantom resembling a Pig Badger shot out from between his hands. It shielded Shen Mo from all sides like an iron rampart.

PUFF!

The sword Qi slashed down before Shen Mo. In the next instant, it crashed violently against the Palm. The sword light shattered, and the Pig Badger phantom dissipated.

"You two haven't even found the river clams, yet you're rushing to surface? Get back down there!" Shen Mo roared with laughter, swinging the Demon Slaying Sword in his hand once more.

Universal River Opening!

BOOM!

The sword style, imbued with the intent of parting a river, once again struck Tian Kang and Shi Xiaoqian, plunging them back into the Lancang River. The aftershocks of the sword Qi disrupted the river's flow, once again exposing the muddy, weed-strewn riverbed. Then, the severed upstream current surged downwards with a great RUSH. It submerged the stumbling figures of Tian Kang and Shi Xiaoqian, dragging them to the river bottom.

A moment later, they burst from the water once more. They immediately unleashed various techniques, attempting to kill Shen Mo.

However, it was all for naught.

Before three breaths had passed after they exited the Lancang River, they were slammed back into it.

This repeated several times.

Guo Zhao, standing to the side, couldn't bear to watch any longer. After some hesitation, he spoke up, "Junior Brother Shen, they haven't managed to gain any advantage from you."

"Perhaps... just let them go!"

Shen Mo's tone was polite enough; after all, he considered himself a reasonable person. However, a hint of detachment tinged his words. "For Senior Brother Guo's sake, I've already shown restraint."

"Otherwise," Shen Mo continued, his voice cold, "given that Tian Kang used the Life-Destruction Pulse-Breaking Finger on me, it wouldn't be excessive if I crippled him!"

"Since Senior Brother Guo doesn't wish to get involved, please just stand aside and watch."

"Once these two retrieve a river clam, I will naturally allow them to come ashore."

Upon hearing this, Guo Zhao's face showed a hint of helplessness. He was simple and honest, but not foolish; he understood Shen Mo's meaning.

Since he had chosen not to help either side earlier, he shouldn't try to intervene and play mediator now.

If it were someone else, they might have offered plenty of excuses. But Guo Zhao knew he was in the wrong, and for the moment, he felt too ashamed to press further.

WHOOSH!

Drenched to the skin, Shi Xiaoqian flew out of the water. Before Shen Mo could act, she quickly said, "Junior Brother Shen, hold on!"

"I give up! This is a river clam from the bottom of the Lancang River. Could you see if it weighs two jin?"

As she spoke, she tossed out a clam the size of a washbasin.

Shen Mo caught it with a grasp of his fingers, placed it by his feet, and nodded in satisfaction. "This is more than two jin. It's so plump, it must be at least five jin."

"Fellow Daoist Shi, please come ashore quickly. The water is dirty and cold; it's not good to stay in it for too long."

The next instant, Shi Xiaoqian used her mana to dry her robes and swiftly landed back on the riverbank. Her face was pale, and she still looked somewhat shaken. She walked behind Guo Zhao, deliberately keeping a significant distance from Shen Mo.

"Junior Sister Shi, are you injured?" Guo Zhao asked with concern.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Guo. I'm a bit disheveled and embarrassed, but I'm not injured."

Shi Xiaoqian adopted a delicate tone and demeanor, with a hint of pitiable charm that could stir one's heart.

"Oh, it's good you're not hurt." Guo Zhao seemed oblivious, his gaze returning to the Lancang River.

Having known him for many years, Shi Xiaoqian was accustomed to his nature and didn't say anything more.

She then looked at Shen Mo, a glint in her eyes. At merely the fourth layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, he can fight Tian Kang and me until we have no power to resist! Is this the one who outshone all the new prodigies of the Five Great Sects, surpassing even Fairy Pei Yu of old... truly a talent seen only once in decades? With such strength, he's likely already comparable to the senior disciples at the ninth layer of the Qi Gathering Realm on Stars Peak. Do those old geezers in the clan truly believe they can control such a person with their insidious schemes?

At this moment, Shen Mo's gaze shifted to her.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, since you've retrieved a clam, take these fifteen middle-grade Spirit Stones." Shen Mo opened his hand, revealing the lustrous, round Spirit Stones.

Seeing the faint, teasing smile on his face, how could Shi Xiaoqian dare to actually accept the "reward"?

She gave an awkward chuckle and said, "Junior Brother Shen, you jest. This clam isn't even a Class I demonic beast; how could it be worth so many Spirit Stones?"

"A single low-grade Spirit Stone would be sufficient payment for our efforts."

Seeing her astuteness, Shen Mo's smile faded slightly. He then took out one low-grade Spirit Stone. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it floating towards Shi Xiaoqian. Then, he paid her no further heed.

As for Tian Kang, he was still resisting desperately. He stubbornly refused to simply pick up a clam or two from the riverbed.

Just as Shen Mo's patience was wearing thin and he was about to deal Tian Kang a harsh blow, he suddenly sensed a faint spiritual sense fluctuation wash over the area.

You're lucky!

The extra arms that had sprouted from his ribs reverted to blood essence primality and retracted into his body.

A moment later, a stern-faced middle-aged man descended from the sky. He moved swiftly, appearing before Shen Mo and the others in the blink of an eye.

His voice was filled with an icy severity. "What is happening? Why are you fighting here?"

From the details of his attire, Shen Mo recognized him as a Law Enforcement Elder from the Enforcement Hall and respectfully performed a disciple's salute.

"Reporting to the Law Enforcement Elder, this person has repeatedly provoked and insulted me."

"I could not tolerate it further, so I decided to teach him a lesson."

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