Shen Mo hadn't deeply studied the Dao of Formations.

Sure, when it came to breaking a formation or a Prohibition, he was confident his methods were second to none.

When it came to setting up formations and Prohibitions, Chen Mengze, who knew a bit about formations, was much more proficient than him.

Unfortunately, Chen Mengze, having had no guidance from a master nor received any extraordinary Array Path inheritance, found her Array Path expertise limited to setting up a Spirit Gathering Array.

One by one, she slotted Array Path magic artifacts into various parts of the Defense Division.

She then used numerous spiritual materials and treasures to create Spiritual Liquid, with which she sketched out many rune nodes.

A Spirit Gathering Array, neither too big nor too small, slowly took shape!

Chen Mengze took out Spirit Stones and embedded them into each node.

Suddenly, the runes of the entire Spirit Gathering Array circulated, and a light flashed before vanishing.

Then, it disappeared into the void, as if nothing had happened.

However, Shen Mo clearly perceived nature's spiritual energy from within and outside the city slowly gathering towards the Defense Division. Given some time, the concentration of Spiritual Qi here should be no less than that in the outskirts of the Riverside Sect!

"Thank you for your hard work, Senior Sister Chen."

Shen Mo took out ten middle-grade Spirit Stones from his Universe Bag and gave them to Chen Mengze.

Setting up the formations within the division was a public matter; how could he let Chen Mengze pay for it out of her own pocket?

In fact, every Spirit Stone Shen Mo took out was recorded in the division's ledgers, to be reimbursed once the division generated income.

"I've prepared a cultivation residence for you. If you're tired, go rest first."

Although the Defense Division was rundown, there were enough residences. They could expand and renovate later when more registered cultivators joined.

"I'm not too tired. After my advancement, my Mana has become much more abundant, and my soul has also become more resilient," Chen Mengze shook her head.

Soon after, she asked about the current situation.

「…」

With Chen Mengze's help, Shen Mo felt a great sense of relief.

With her personally overseeing the recruitment of registered cultivators, Shen Mo was naturally at ease.

Don't underestimate Chen Mengze just because she was an inner disciple of the Riverside Sect; in the local cultivation circle, she was considered an expert, one of the best below the Spirit Sea Realm.

Even the core disciples of the Gold Toad Tower or the Thriving Gold Sect would not find it easy to defeat her.

After all, the standing of the Red Flame Country's Five Great Sects was not just for show.

With some free time, Shen Mo immersed himself in rigorous cultivation again.

Strengthening oneself is the priority!

Even if, in the future, he had to reclaim the interests, rights, and responsibilities that rightfully belonged to the Defense Division from factions like the Tian Clan, the Gold Toad Tower, and the Thriving Gold Sect, without powerful strength to rely on, it would be impossible to make any headway!

Within a tranquil courtyard.

The door to Shen Mo's residence was tightly closed.

The now denser Spiritual Qi near the Defense Division, like water flowing into a basin, continually converged towards his residence.

GULP!

After swallowing a Ganoderma Marrow Pill, Shen Mo began to circulate the Purple Knack Sutra.

He refined its vast medicinal properties into Mana within his Purple Knack!

Even though a Spirit Gathering Array had been set up outside the Defense Division, Shen Mo still found the Spiritual Qi insufficient and had to consume Elixirs to compensate.

A moment later, the medicinal energy of this Grade III Elixir was completely refined by Shen Mo.

Feeling the slight increase in his cultivation, a trace of satisfaction emerged on Shen Mo's face.

"With enough Elixirs, my cultivation progress hasn't slowed down much."

"Senior Sister Chen, however, has just advanced to the Seventh Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. I need to prepare some top-grade spiritual Elixirs for her to avoid delaying her cultivation!"

"At my current rate of cultivation, I should be able to attempt advancing to the Sixth Layer next month!"

Shen Mo hadn't forgotten his deal with Shopkeeper Qian of the Baodan Pavilion.

It looked like he should be able to make it in time!

Not to mention his plans concerning the Baodan Pavilion and the Ascending Pill Shop.

Now that Shen Mo was to take charge of Hongye City, he urgently needed greater strength.

He wasn't naive enough to think that simply ousting a group of mediocre individuals and recruiting some registered cultivators would make everything secure.

The Tian Clan will definitely cause him trouble!

If he did nothing and maintained the status quo of the Defense Division, the Tian Family might use his responsibilities against him.

For instance, if they allowed a mutated Heavenly Demon to enter the city, devour a large number of creatures, and advance into a high-class demon head...

For that alone, Shen Mo would be dragged into the Enforcement Hall, and he wouldn't expect to get out without losing a layer of skin.

In a more serious case, he might even be beheaded!

As long as the Tian Family still controlled the responsibilities that rightfully belonged to the Defense Division, Shen Mo wouldn't be able to evade such schemes.

Who else could they target but him, the Commander of Hongye City's Defense Division?

That was why Shen Mo was determined to reorganize the Defense Division and reclaim the authority that belonged to him from the Tian Family, the Gold Toad Tower, the Thriving Gold Sect, and other factions.

This was to avoid giving others a handle against him!

Yet, doing so would inevitably lead to conflict with these various factions...

Both the Gold Toad Tower and the Thriving Gold Sect had Spirit Sea Realm powerhouses overseeing them!

The commander before last had died mysteriously outside the city, and the Riverside Sect was still investigating the matter. Perhaps the Tian Clan harbored precisely such intentions!

As long as Shen Mo dared to take charge of Hongye City, he would find himself in a perilous predicament.

"Despicable, underhanded schemes... ultimately, they can't see the light of day!"

Shen Mo was not afraid.

On the contrary, a fire burned brightly in his heart.

Demonic beasts, Soul Ghosts, evil cultivators, Heavenly Demons... he had the skills and magic to slay them.

All other monsters and fiends, he could slay them too!

Brushing aside the miscellaneous thoughts in his heart, Shen Mo summoned the Destiny Panel.

[Destinied Lord: Shen Mo]

[Cultivation Method:

Purple Knack Sutra, Senior (4,370/12,000);

Heavenly Yuan Magic, Elite (2,620/8,000)]

[Martial Arts:

Shangqing Swordplay, Master (15,045/16,000);

Control Sword, Senior (3,265/12,000);

The Big Dipper Array, Senior (7,275/12,000)

Constellations Palm, Senior (3,455/5,000)

Universe Sword Guildbook, Senior (1,295/6,000)]

[Lightness Magic:

Rushing Thunder, Senior (14,630/15,000);

Wind and Cloud Body, Junior (2,045/3,000)]

[External Magic:

Bloody Dragon-shaped Body, Dragon Body (100/100)

Three-headed Six-armed True Immortal Magic, Senior (5,785/6,000)]

[Soul Magic:

Soul Contemplation Sutra, Junior (1,695/3,000)]

Seeing that each of his magic techniques and cultivation methods had improved to varying degrees, Shen Mo was quite satisfied.

"Shangqing Swordplay is about to advance to the [Epic] realm. This is the first magic technique I have cultivated to Perfection!"

The Perfection Shen Mo referred to was naturally the Perfection defined by the Destiny Panel's grading system.

This 'Perfection' was not what cultivators in the cultivation world called 'Perfection,' which was equivalent to the 'Senior' realm on his panel.

"I wonder what kind of marvels will occur then?"

"Recently, I should focus my [Martial Performance] cultivation on Shangqing Swordplay."

"Also, the Three-headed Six-armed True Immortal Magic is about to reach the threshold of the Senior realm. It can greatly enhance my vitality..."

"Moreover, after reaching the Senior realm, I should be able to use my blood essence primality to manifest a third head and a third pair of arms, fully unleashing the power of this cultivation method!"

"Naturally... I can't halt the cultivation of this magic technique either."

Shen Mo took out a middle-grade Spirit Stone and offered it to Destiny [Martial Performance].

The Martial Performance Body once again began to deduce and cultivate the Shangqing Swordplay, and numerous profound sword intent comprehensions wrapped around Shen Mo's mind.

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