"SWOOSH!"

"SWOOSH, SWOOSH!"

Numerous small swords, entirely black and adorned with brilliant, star-like specks, flew out from Shen Mo's sleeve, shooting towards Chen Mengze.

Chen Mengze, naturally, didn't believe Shen Mo intended to harm her, so she remained utterly composed, still savoring her spiritual tea, making no move to dodge or defend.

The small swords, resembling a sky full of stars on a dark night, circled her once before obediently coming to rest in front of her.

This is...

Chen Mengze put down her teacup and reached out to pick up one of the small swords.

Upon careful inspection, she found that these inch-long small swords were almost identical in design to the Dao swords Shen Mo used for his Sword Array.

The slight difference was that each of Shen Mo's Dao swords was high-grade Profound-level. Furthermore, having been constantly nourished by his 'Carefree' sword intent, they possessed a greater degree of spirituality than ordinary high-grade magic artifacts.

However, the seven small swords before her were all low-grade Profound-level Flying Swords. Moreover, they bore no traces of Blood Sacrifice refining; in other words, these small sword magic artifacts were ownerless.

Shen Mo handed Chen Mengze two jade slips and said with a smile, "Senior Sister, you've helped me so diligently; I can't not show my appreciation.

"These two jade slips contain two high-class magics from the Cloud Sword Sect.

"One is the 'Sword Control Spirit Technique,' the core manual for Sword Cultivators of the Cloud Sword Sect. Cultivating this spiritual technique allows one to comprehend the true essence of the Sword Path and offers a high probability of condensing one's unique sword intent.

"The many profound methods within it will enable you to wield Flying Swords with effortless mastery!

"Whether it's wielding a sword to slay enemies, unleashing sword Qi, setting up a Sword Array, or flying on a sword, it provides incredible enhancements.

"The other is 'The Big Dipper Array.'

"You've often seen me use this Sword Array, so I won't elaborate on its power and features.

"These seven Dao swords are necessary to set up the Sword Array.

"I've already refined them for you. You just need to perform a Blood Sacrifice and then, following the cultivation method, you can set up The Big Dipper Array to trap and kill enemies!

"However, for subsequent upgrades in their grade, you'll have to gather various spiritual materials imbued with extreme intent yourself."

With Shen Mo's vast merits from slaying demons, he had enough to exchange for everything in the Treasure Hall of the Hongye City Defense Division. However, since he had built this Treasure Hall himself, he knew its contents well and found little that he needed.

Therefore, he made a special trip to the Zhong State Defense Division headquarters. He exchanged all his merits from slaying demons for precious materials imbued with extreme intent, such as Thunder Killing Pearls!

Additionally, he specifically exchanged for ten jin of Divine Iron to reforge a set of seven Big Dipper Sword embryos. Using precious materials imbued with extreme intent, he upgraded them to the low-grade Profound level.

Shen Mo couldn't afford to upgrade them further; he needed the remaining spiritual materials containing extreme elements to raise the grade of his own Dao swords.

Chen Mengze extended her sense into the two jade slips. After a careful examination, her expression turned solemn.

Then, she pushed both the jade slips and the seven small swords back to him.

"These two cultivation methods, and the Dao swords for the array, are far too valuable! I cannot accept them."

The seven low-grade Profound-level Dao swords were one thing. Even if made from exceptional materials, their total value would be around ten thousand middle-grade Spirit Stones.

However, 'The Big Dipper Array' and the 'Sword Control Spirit Technique' were worth a fortune!

Judging by the power Shen Mo usually displayed when using the Sword Array, the former was definitely a Spiritual-level martial art or higher. The latter, listed alongside it, contained various profound methods and spiritual techniques, equally extraordinary, and should also be a cultivation method of the same level.

Such cultivation methods and magics, if sought from the Riverside Sect's Magic Tower, would require not only a substantial amount of Sect Merit Points but also at least thirty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.

Thus, even if both techniques were only low-grade Spiritual-level, their combined value would exceed sixty thousand Spirit Stones. If they were middle-grade Spiritual-level, the value would at least double, if not more!

It might seem like Shen Mo only gave two jade slips and lost nothing, but if Chen Mengze accepted, her gain, calculated at market price, would be immense—and that wasn't even counting the substantial Sect Merit Points.

After all, Shen Mo was taking an enormous risk by imparting these two magics to her. If she were to be Demon-corrupted, then before the Demon-corrupted 'Chen Mengze,' Shen Mo's Sword Array and Sword Control Spirit Technique would be almost entirely exposed.

Therefore, it wasn't unreasonable for her to value these two cultivation methods and magics at over sixty thousand Spirit Stones!

Chen Mengze knew in her heart that Shen Mo's claim—that this was a token of gratitude for her agreeing to succeed him in the Defense Division and for helping his shops—was merely an excuse. His intention was to allow her to accept this kindness with a clear conscience. However, Chen Mengze truly couldn't feign ignorance and accept such a generous gift so readily.

Shen Mo didn't take back the jade slips and Dao swords. Instead, he looked directly into her eyes and said slowly, "Mengze, we've known each other since childhood!

"Although I call you Senior Sister, in my heart, I've long regarded you as family, as a sister."

A flicker of loneliness crossed Chen Mengze's eyes, but she quickly hid it.

Shen Mo continued, "When I learned that you were cultivating diligently, all for the sake of one day taking your great revenge, I was filled with admiration for you!

"To have a conviction and strive tirelessly for it, making relentless progress, unregretful even in the face of countless perils...

"That is the Chen Mengze I know!

"Since your return from Sishui City, your cultivation has seemed smooth, and you've even reached the late stage of the Qi Gathering Realm.

"But, spending time with you day in and day out, I can feel that... you've clearly lost the drive to advance on the immortal path!

"You were driven by your obsession, and when that obsession was resolved, you fell into a slump. Have you not realized this yourself?"

Shen Mo's words, like the tolling of a great bronze bell, resonated in Chen Mengze's heart.

Reflecting on her thoughts and actions over the past few months, Chen Mengze suddenly understood why her cultivation progress had significantly slowed after reaching the Seventh Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. Even though she had more cultivation resources than before and no longer had to run around tirelessly to earn a few Spirit Stones, she had become even more slothful and lax than before she had exacted her revenge. It wasn't that she spent less time cultivating; she invested as much time and energy as ever. But before her revenge, she had a clear goal and knew why she was cultivating. Afterward, with her long-standing obsession gone, she often felt lost, unsure of what she was striving for or what goal she was pursuing. Her state of mind during cultivation was nowhere near what it used to be. The image of the man before her appearing with increasing frequency in her mind during her recent cultivation sessions was a clear manifestation of this.

When Shen Mo saw Chen Mengze looking thoughtful and then frustrated, he knew she had realized the problem.

"Mengze!"

"Two years ago, I was merely a minor cultivator in the Body Tempering Realm, an entire major Realm beneath you.

"Today, our Realms are equal. In terms of combat strength, not even an early-stage Class III demon head is a match for me!

"It may sound harsh, but in the future, the gap between us will only widen, until you are left far behind, as distant as clouds from the earth.

"I don't know if you, like me, yearn for longevity and a Carefree existence!

"If, for a time, you cannot find a goal to strive for, a reason to persevere... then why not set aside your long-term plans and distant worries for now.

"Make catching up to me your new obsession!"

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