Fairy, don't be afraid, I'm about to begin my strategy.

Not only Wang Rui was keeping a close eye on Shen Mo's movements, but many people in the outer sect were also paying attention.

For nearly a month, everyone speculated about how Shen Mo would repay his debts.

At first, everyone thought he was going to do something big again, and that he could really make tens of thousands of spirit stones in a short time to slap Wang Rui in the face.

But Shen Mo spent the past month in a relaxed and carefree manner, more like a cultivator than any other Lingzong cultivator, leaving the outer sect members completely baffled.

Could it be that Shen Mo really doesn't intend to return the spirit stones?

As a result, many forces have opened betting operations in private.

The odds are 10 to 1 if Shen Mo can repay the money, and 1.1 to 1 if he can't.

Aside from the fact that an inner sect immortal descended from the heavens to pay the tens of thousands of spirit stones for Shen Mo, no one could imagine why Shen Mo was able to survive.

Time passed slowly, and finally the last day of the deadline arrived.

On this day, Shen Mo put on his newly bought gorgeous Taoist robe, rode a swift spirit horse, and swaggered through the city, attracting the attention of all the outer sect members.

Then, he swaggered into Wang Rui's cave.

The protective barrier in front of the cave entrance blocked the curious gazes of the crowd, but they lingered there, eager to know the outcome as soon as possible.

"She just went in like that?"

"Um!"

"Nothing prepared?"

"without!"

The silent ending left everyone in suspense.

At this moment, Wang Rui, who was inside the cave, had already dismissed everyone and was facing Shen Mo alone.

He had waited too long for this day!

"Outer disciple Chen Qingqing greets senior brother. Senior brother, are you eating and sleeping well these days?"

Shen Mo had a sly grin on her face, which made Wang Rui so angry that he wanted to punch her in the face.

"Be patient, be patient some more, she'll get what's coming to her soon enough!"

"Junior Sister Chen, how have you been? Are you here today to return the spirit stones? How many were you referring to? Let me help you calculate it!"

Shen Mo deliberately adopted a girlish demeanor, "I, Chen Qingqing, am a person of my word. As for these spirit stones, I'm not planning to return them!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Rui nearly spat out her tea. How could she be so audacious as to say such a thing?

"Oh, so Junior Sister Chen is trying to renege on her debt!"

Wang Rui's smile was barely concealed, and his eyes, filled with an undisguised predatory light, scanned Chen Qingqing from head to toe, already having devised hundreds of ways to torment her.

"No, they are a person of their word, so naturally they wouldn't renege on their debt."

"You're neither going to renege on your debt nor want to return the spirit stones, so what do you want?"

"Junior sister here has learned some information by chance and wants to sell it to you, senior brother. I wonder if it can offset those debts."

Chen Qingqing sat down with a grin and swagger, even taking a sip of tea.

"Oh, junior sister, what news have you heard? Why don't you tell me? I'll give you a high price."

Wang Rui felt that Shen Mo had run out of tricks and was just putting on a brave face.

"Senior brother, the soundproofing in your secret room doesn't seem very good. Is there always a woman screaming? Tsk, this tea is a bit weak."

Shen Mo put down his teacup and looked at Wang Rui with a smile.

"Hahaha, Junior Sister, are you trying to threaten me? Do you think you know any secrets? Why don't you try reporting me to the sect deacon?"

Wang Rui smiled, and even felt a sense of relief.

Although his little quirks are not known to everyone, they can be acquired by paying a price, but to think that you can use them to threaten him is simply wishful thinking.

Shen Mo blinked her innocent-looking big eyes. "Senior brother is joking. We are so close, how could I, junior sister, bear to report you! This information isn't worth much, how about 3000 spirit stones?"

"I don't believe a damn thing about your deep affection and loyalty!"

Wang Rui found it somewhat ridiculous. "Okay, okay, I agree. It'll be 3000. Is that all?"

"Senior brother, don't be in such a hurry. Does the name 'Essence Gathering and Marrow Transformation Technique' sound familiar?"

"Clang!" That was the sound of a teacup being overturned.

Wang Rui's expression suddenly changed. "How did you know? Did you open that treasure bag?"

The words "Collecting True Essence and Transforming Marrow Technique" sent a shiver down Wang Rui's spine.

He didn't care about the female cultivators in the secluded chamber, nor did he care if they caused trouble in major sects. But privately cultivating demonic arts was a major taboo, especially since this matter had far-reaching implications.

Wang Rui had already harbored murderous intent. His Taoist robe fluttered without wind, and his spiritual energy was overflowing, ready to deliver a fatal blow to Shen Mo at any moment.

"Senior brother, are you planning to kill me now? I'm so scared! Look how many eyes are gathered outside the cave. Besides, I've prepared several big gifts for you. If you kill me, you won't get them, will you?"

Shen Mo deliberately feigned fear, "Even without this message, the price is 5000 spirit stones. Senior brother, you should just give in!"

Shen Mo appeared calm on the surface, but was actually incredibly nervous. He didn't have any backup plans; he was simply gambling, and he was prepared for a rollback anyway.

"She couldn't possibly have broken the seal placed by a Crystallization Realm cultivator unless they had the help of one! But none of the outer sect members capable of breaking seals have any dealings with Chen Qingqing! Could it be Lin Qing?"

Wang Rui's face turned red, then white, then blue, and finally completely black.

"If you think you're capable of handling 5000 spirit stones, I'll agree."

Wang Rui struggled internally before finally uttering those words, one word at a time.

"Alright, Senior Brother is indeed a straightforward person, I admire him greatly. Two messages for only 8000 spirit stones are still not enough to repay Senior Brother, how about I sell you another message?"

After Shen Mo finished speaking, he looked at the other person with a grin.

"Crunch, crunch."

A sickening sound rang out, and the armrest of the chair Wang Rui was sitting on slowly shattered.

"good!"

Wang Rui's voice was already hoarse.

"I wonder if Senior Brother has ever heard of—the Formless Old Man!"

The spiritual energy surged, and the chair Wang Rui sat on shattered with a crash. A black shadow, as fast as lightning, rushed straight towards Shen Mo.

"Oh no, we've gone too far!"

Instead of being beheaded, Shen Mo opened his eyes and saw that Wang Rui's claws were only half an inch away from his neck, but he never stabbed down.

Shen Mo raised his head, exposing his entire neck. "Senior brother, you're so fierce!"

At this moment, Shen Mo was overjoyed. He couldn't have been happier seeing Wang Rui so frustrated and unable to do anything about it.

A wisp of spiritual energy shot out from Wang Rui's hand and instantly slashed Shen Mo, staining most of his snow-white neck red with blood.

"You think I really can't do anything to you? I'll capture you and let you experience what it's like to be worse than dead. Then I'll see how many secrets you know."

"Senior Brother, you only have less than half an hour to consider. Either kill me, or agree to my offer!"

Wang Rui remained silent, staring coldly at Shen Mo, seemingly plotting something.

A sharp pain shot through his neck as Wang Rui grabbed Shen Mo's chin and forced a pill into his mouth.

The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, leaving Shen Mo no time to react.

Wang Rui smiled coldly, "It's only polite to reciprocate. I agree to your offer."

"What did you give me to eat?"

"It's nothing, just a Soul-Devouring Yin Gu, a rare treasure. As long as I don't activate it, you'll be fine. Once activated, it will slowly devour your spiritual energy, then your internal organs and flesh, and finally make you die in endless agony."

Wang Rui smiled sinisterly, "Junior sister, what do you think of my gift? Do you like it?"

"Damn, I got tricked!"

Shen Mo sighed inwardly, realizing that those who could make it in the cultivation world were indeed not easily fooled.

"Alright, now that the deal is done, the last message is worth 10000 spirit stones. Now you can return the loan agreement to me."

Wang Rui remained silent and tossed the loan agreement to Shen Mo's feet.

"Anything else?"

"What else do you want?"

Wang Rui really didn't want to see Shen Mo for even a second right now.

"It's 18000 spirit stones in total. Senior brother, you still owe me 3000 spirit stones."

"You, take the spirit stones and get out of here..."

Wang Rui tossed out a handful of spirit stones and turned his back, clearly not wanting to see Shen Mo again.

Shen Mo leisurely picked up the 21 mid-grade spirit stones scattered on the ground.

"Senior Brother, your math skills are quite impressive; you're unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss!"

"roll!"

Shen Mo leisurely left Wang Rui's cave, feeling completely relaxed, a sensation comparable to being served by a full-service escort at a high-class establishment.

He made the right bet!

The biggest weakness of smart people is that they are too smart!