Bai Ze

Inside the cave dwelling on Eight Treasures Peak, Shi Mo personally brewed tea with leaves from the Enlightenment Tea Tree, entertaining Zhen Yuanzi, who had just arrived.

"Brother Zhen Yuan, come, try this Enlightenment Spirit Tea," Shi Mo said with a smile, placing a jade cup filled with fragrant Enlightenment Spirit Tea before Zhen Yuanzi.

"Hehe, it truly deserves to be called Enlightenment Spirit Tea. I haven't even taken a sip, yet merely smelling it has already cleared my mind and filled my heart with all manner of insights," Zhen Yuanzi said with a smile. "Every time I visit you, Brother Shi Mo, there's always a surprise!"

Shi Mo smiled helplessly. "I'm ashamed! Brother Zhen Yuan, every time, I seem to have troubles that require your help."

"What are you saying, brother? Given our friendship, how could I stand idly by while the Monster Clan comes knocking like this? Don't worry, Hongyun should be here soon as well. With the three of us joining forces, even if Di Jun, Donghuang Taiyi, and Kunpeng all come together, there's nothing to fear," Zhen Yuanzi said with complete confidence.

Naturally, he had reason to be confident. After all, he possessed the Earth Book, an ultimate-grade innate spirit treasure renowned as the foremost in defense. By drawing upon the power of the earth to protect himself, he would even dare withstand an attack from the Chaos Bell in Donghuang Taiyi's hands.

As the two spoke, intense energy fluctuations suddenly swept over them, causing Shi Mo and Zhen Yuanzi's expressions to change as they hurried outside.

When they reached the summit of Eight Treasures Peak, they saw what looked like a rain of fire falling through the void beyond the Heavenly Stellar Formation. Amid the flames, Ji Meng and the others could vaguely be seen in rather bedraggled condition.

"Haha! Are you lot guarding the mountain gate for my Brother Shi Mo? You have no sense of propriety at all, daring to stop me, Hongyun!"

Amid a hearty laugh, the flames filling the sky gathered together, and Hongyun's figure solidified outside the Heavenly Stellar Formation. "Brother Shi Mo, let me in."

With a thought, Shi Mo controlled the Heavenly Stellar Formation. Starlight enveloped Hongyun, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared atop Eight Treasures Peak.

"Haha, Brother Shi Mo, this formation of yours that draws upon the power of the stars is truly formidable! No wonder even Di Jun and the others are tempted by it," Hongyun said with a laugh. Then he noticed the Flat Peach Mother Tree atop Eight Treasures Peak, which was about to blossom, and his eyes lit up. "It's actually about to bloom? Wonderful! Brother Shi Mo, once these flat peaches ripen, you must notify me at once."

"Don't worry! Once the flat peaches ripen, I'll definitely save some for you," Shi Mo replied with a smile.

As they spoke, Shi Mo hurriedly invited Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi into the cave dwelling for tea.

"Enlightenment Spirit Tea? Fine tea!" After curiously taking a sip of the Enlightenment Spirit Tea, Hongyun closed his eyes to savor it. Then he directly burrowed into the underground spirit vein, his voice ringing in Shi Mo and Zhen Yuanzi's ears. "I've gained some insight. I'll borrow your treasured land for cultivation, Brother Shi Mo."

"Brother Shi Mo, I also intend to meditate for a while. Call me if Di Jun and the others arrive," Zhen Yuanzi said, shaking his head with a smile before likewise burrowing into the underground spirit vein.

Shi Mo remained seated at the table, turning the teacup in his hand as he narrowed his eyes and slowly sipped the remaining Enlightenment Spirit Tea, as if deep in thought.

Time quietly passed. Just as Shi Mo was wondering why the Monster Clan had yet to respond, a clear, gentle voice suddenly rang out from midair.

"Fellow Daoist Shi Mo, I am Bai Ze. I have come on the Demon Emperor's orders. Might I be granted an audience?"

"Bai Ze?" Shi Mo raised a brow and shot into the sky, arriving at the summit of Eight Treasures Peak. Looking beyond the Heavenly Stellar Formation, he saw an elegant white-haired man in white robes holding a feather fan, a gentle smile on his face. Behind him stood Ji Meng and the other four great Monster Saints.

With a wave of Shi Mo's hand, starlight gathered, and Bai Ze, holding his feather fan, appeared before him.

"Fellow Daoist Shi Mo," Bai Ze said, cupping his hands in greeting. His gentle gaze swept over the Heavenly Stellar Formation, which was continuously gathering the power of starlight, and his eyes could not help revealing admiration. "Fellow Daoist, what remarkable methods you possess!"

"Hmm? So you gather the power of the stars for the sake of this spirit root," Bai Ze said as he noticed the Flat Peach Mother Tree. He became even more astonished and envious. "To obtain such an innate spirit root, Fellow Daoist Shi Mo is truly blessed with good fortune."

"Bai Ze, the wisest among the Ten Monster Saints. I've heard of you. What brings you here? You may as well speak plainly," Shi Mo said directly.

Bai Ze smiled. "Good. Fellow Daoist Shi Mo is indeed straightforward, so I won't waste words. I have come on the Demon Emperor's orders to invite you to join our Monster Clan."

"You want me to serve Di Jun?" Shi Mo shook his head slightly. "I've grown used to freedom on my own. I've never considered exhausting myself for another."

Bai Ze's expression shifted slightly at those words, but his smile remained. "Everyone has their own aspirations. The Demon Emperor had anticipated that Fellow Daoist might not wish to join the Monster Clan. Naturally, our Monster Clan will not force you. It's merely that—"

"Merely what?" Shi Mo asked.

Bai Ze continued, "Our Monster Clan is very interested in the Heavenly Stellar Formation. As long as Fellow Daoist reveals its mysteries to our Monster Clan, I will be endlessly grateful on the Demon Emperor's behalf."

"Grateful?" Shi Mo found it rather amusing. "Why should I give the Monster Clan a formation I painstakingly devised? Earlier, when I wished to pass through the Heavenly Court to visit the Primordial World's starry skies, Ji Meng did everything he could to stop me. Since your Demon Emperor regards the Primordial World's starry skies as a forbidden ground of the Monster Clan and cultivates within them, could he not comprehend the Heavenly Stellar Formation himself?"

"Besides, if the Demon Emperor wants the mysteries of the Heavenly Stellar Formation, why doesn't he come himself? Is he afraid I'll refuse to instruct him? Or is he too embarrassed?" Shi Mo continued.

Bai Ze replied, "The Demon Emperor merely feared that if he came personally, he might not get to see Fellow Daoist Shi Mo. Thus, he first sent me to inform you."

"Oh? He thinks I would fear him, hide from him, or flee outright? Your Demon Emperor is rather too confident," Shi Mo said directly, raising his brows as his expression darkened. "Then go back and tell him to come himself. I'd like to see exactly how he intends to break my Heavenly Stellar Formation."

Bai Ze's expression changed upon hearing this. Seeing Shi Mo's resolute attitude, he could only leave first.

"Hmph! Do they really think I'm a soft target? They want the secrets behind the Heavenly Stellar Formation, yet they still put on airs before me. Do they really think I'm afraid of the Monster Clan?"

Watching Bai Ze depart, Shi Mo sneered. Then he flicked his sleeve and sat cross-legged beneath the Flat Peach Mother Tree. His divine soul perception spread outward as he pondered how to better combine the Earth Vein Formation, the Heavenly Stellar Formation, and the Innate Chaos Restriction inherent to Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain, allowing them to complement one another and strengthen the mountain's overall defenses.

Shi Mo did not have to wait long before he sensed two scorching, surging auras and one icy, violent aura approaching Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain.

"Di Jun, Donghuang Taiyi, and Kunpeng have all come?" Shi Mo opened his eyes and looked at the three figures appearing high in the sky, his gaze growing fiery as well.

With the Monster Clan coming to his doorstep, Shi Mo also wanted to use them to test just how strong his mountain-protecting formation's defenses truly were.