Conditions of the Deal

Zhen Yuanzi watched with a moved expression as the Earth Vein energy network in midair faded away, followed by the rapidly forming Heavenly Stellar Formation. Then he looked at Shi Mo and said,

"Brother Shi Mo, it seems you came prepared and were completely confident! Even with the power of the Earth Book, I could hardly mobilize so much Earth Vein power. Yet you were able to directly use the Earth Vein network to form a formation—truly unbelievable!"

"Brother Zhen Yuan, if you had not brought out the Earth Book to assist me, I would not have been able to block the Chaos Bell's attack so easily," Shi Mo replied with a noncommittal smile.

"Even if I had not acted, you could have withstood it," Zhen Yuanzi said, shaking his head slightly. His expression also became solemn. "Still, the Chaos Bell truly possesses terrifying power. If Donghuang Taiyi's cultivation had not been limited, preventing him from unleashing the Chaos Bell's true might, I fear that even with the Earth Vein Formation, you might not have been able to withstand it."

"It is indeed terrifying! Worthy of being a supreme innate treasure! The Monster Clan truly has remarkable fortune," Shi Mo said with a nod of agreement. Noticing Bai Ze approaching alone once more, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Bai Ze? It seems Di Jun and the others do not intend to act again. They are sending Bai Ze to negotiate with you," Zhen Yuanzi said, relaxing a little as well.

Even with the Earth Book protecting him, the terrifying might of the Chaos Bell in Donghuang Taiyi's hands still made him uneasy.

"Few in the Monster Clan have good tempers. Bai Ze is quite the exception," Hongyun remarked from the side. "Brother Shi Mo, for the Monster Clan to make such a huge fuss, it seems the Heavenly Stellar Formation you developed has truly made them salivate!"

"Fellow Daoist Shi Mo." Bai Ze's clear voice came from outside the Heavenly Stellar Formation. With a thought, Shi Mo condensed starlight and teleported him inside.

"What, your Monster Emperors could not do anything to me, so now you want to come and have a proper talk?" Shi Mo asked Bai Ze with a faint sneer.

Bai Ze smiled somewhat helplessly. "Fellow Daoist Shi Mo, what will it take for you to pass the Heavenly Stellar Formation to my Monster Clan? Name your terms!"

"Pass the Heavenly Stellar Formation to your Monster Clan, so that once you figure out how to break it, you can come deal with me again? Do you take me for a fool?"

Shi Mo said directly, "Give up on that thought! I will never pass the Heavenly Stellar Formation to you."

"Is there truly no room for negotiation?" Bai Ze asked, frowning at Shi Mo.

Shi Mo's eyes flickered slightly at those words. "That depends on what price you are willing to pay. Do you expect me to pass on a formation I comprehended myself for nothing?"

"What does Fellow Daoist Shi Mo want?" Bai Ze hurriedly asked, suddenly invigorated.

Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun exchanged surprised glances. Shi Mo was actually willing to pass the Heavenly Stellar Formation to the Monster Clan?

"What do I want?" Shi Mo asked with a half-smile. "Bai Ze, I need not explain how significant the Heavenly Stellar Formation is to your Monster Clan, do I?"

Bai Ze's heart sank, and he promptly asked, "What are your conditions?"

"Very simple! Give me one hundred low- and mid-grade innate spiritual treasures, with mid-grade innate spiritual treasures making up no fewer than half. Or ten high-grade innate spiritual treasures, or one supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure."

Shi Mo's demand changed Bai Ze's expression and made both Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun suck in a breath.

"Fellow Daoist Shi Mo, are you joking?" Even Bai Ze, who was usually gentle and good-tempered, looked rather displeased.

"I am not joking in the slightest," Shi Mo said seriously. "Your Monster Clan is wealthy and powerful. Surely you cannot fail to produce a few innate spiritual treasures? If you have no sincerity at all, why should I make a deal with you?"

"Shi Mo, you are asking far too much! What do you take innate spiritual treasures for? Though my Monster Clan has quite a few powerful experts, only a minority possess innate spiritual treasures. Where are we supposed to find so many to give you?"

Bai Ze frowned. "What do you need so many innate spiritual treasures for?"

"How many can you offer, then?" Shi Mo countered.

Bai Ze was silent for a moment before saying, "Five mid-grade innate spiritual treasures and ten low-grade innate spiritual treasures."

"Heh. Your Monster Clan is being rather stingy," Shi Mo said with a shake of his head and a smile. "I will take a step back as well. Five high-grade innate spiritual treasures and ten mid-grade innate spiritual treasures. Or you can use innate spiritual roots in their place. One innate spiritual root can offset five innate spiritual treasures of the same grade."

Innate spiritual roots? Bai Ze gritted his teeth. Innate spiritual roots were even rarer and more precious than innate spiritual treasures. Even if the Monster Clan possessed them, how could they bear to hand them over so easily?

"Ten mid-grade innate spiritual treasures and twenty low-grade innate spiritual treasures," Bai Ze said through gritted teeth.

"Forget it. There is no need for us to continue talking," Shi Mo said, shaking his head slightly. "Since your Monster Clan has no sincerity, let us leave it at that! In any case, I never intended to pass the Heavenly Stellar Formation to the Monster Clan."

"Add one high-grade innate spiritual treasure," Bai Ze said, sounding aggrieved and helpless.

"Oh?" Shi Mo raised an eyebrow before smiling. "Let me ask one more question. Why exactly do your Monster Emperors want the Heavenly Stellar Formation? Is it to gather the power of the heavenly stars for the Monster Clan in the Heavenly Court to cultivate? Or have they set their sights on the Heavenly Stellar Formation's power?"

"What do you mean?" Bai Ze asked with a frown.

"If you only wish to gather the power of the heavenly stars and turn the Heavenly Court into a sacred cultivation ground for the Monster Clan, I can help you build the Heavenly Court and set up large-scale formations and restrictions," Shi Mo said, stirring Bai Ze's interest.

Before long, Bai Ze went to see Di Jun and explained Shi Mo's proposal.

"This Shi Mo dares to demand one high-grade innate spiritual treasure, ten mid-grade innate spiritual treasures, and twenty low-grade innate spiritual treasures merely to set up formations and restrictions in the Heavenly Court that gather the power of the heavenly stars for my Monster Clan. He truly is greedy," Di Jun muttered with a frown. Beside him, Donghuang Taiyi could no longer hold back his anger.

"Bai Ze, Shi Mo said that innate spiritual roots and spirit materials may also be used in their place," Bai Ze quickly added cautiously.

"He is dreaming!" Donghuang Taiyi had barely finished speaking when the silent Di Jun said directly, "Agree to it!"

"What?" Donghuang Taiyi froze in surprise, while Kunpeng beside him also looked at Di Jun in astonishment.

"Bai Ze, go tell him that I accept his terms. However, the formations and restrictions he sets up in the Heavenly Court to gather the power of the heavenly stars must be effective enough," Di Jun instructed Bai Ze directly.

After Bai Ze answered and departed, Donghuang Taiyi could not help asking anxiously, "Brother, have you lost your mind? Why agree to such terms?"

"Second Brother, do you take me for a fool? Tell me, where did his formations and restrictions that can gather the power of the heavenly stars come from? Did he comprehend them out of thin air?" Di Jun asked.

Donghuang Taiyi was stunned. Kunpeng, however, quickly realized it, his eyes flashing. "The Heavenly Stellar Formation. Those formations and restrictions must contain the mysteries of the Heavenly Stellar Formation."

"Exactly. From the formations and restrictions he sets up, perhaps I can comprehend the true Heavenly Stellar Formation," Di Jun said with a confident smile.