The game segment in Qiushui Pavilion came to a close.
“Alright, I’ll admit you’re pretty impressive.”
The young man’s face was now adorned with seven sticky notes.
Through the gaps of the notes, he saw the girl slightly lifting the corners of her mouth.
At the same time, the system pinged with a series of notifications:
【Congratulations, Host! You successfully led ‘Ying Bing’ to victory in Go.】
【Investment Feedback: Qingmai Jade Raft.】
【Congratulations, Host! You invested in ‘Ying Bing’ Linglong Tofu and Seven-leaf Moistening Herb Pickles.】
【Investment Feedback: Dustless Pen.】
…
Though these were tools like brushes and ink, they were definitely not ordinary.
That understated yet luxurious air screamed premium quality.
Who says we lost?
Wasn’t it basically a win?
Li Mo was secretly pleased when Ying Bing, sitting opposite him, lightly reminded him:
“Practice your sword.”
Their joint sword training had decreased from once a day to once every three days.
Well, if he could just ask Little Jiang, the frequency of questions had definitely lowered.
For some reason.
Today, Ying Bing seemed particularly serious.
Little Li was both pained and delighted.
Half an hour later.
Little Jiang’s teaching materials grew a bit thicker.
While Li Mo had paused for a rest, he picked up his sword again, merging martial insights as he practiced the newly borrowed sword techniques from the library.
“Why do you insist on practicing these superior sword techniques?”
Ying Bing stood there, swords in hand, with a hint of confusion reflecting in her moonlit eyes.
He had already mastered a formidable sword technique.
Superior martial arts are a far cry from absolute techniques; the saying “one stone can attack jade” doesn’t really apply here.
What’s the point?
“…..”
Li Mo was genuinely stumped by the question.
He couldn’t just say he was doing it to feed Jiang Chulong and pocket the difference, could he?
If it weren’t for all the gains lately, he wouldn’t even be able to unlock “Hellfire Red Lotus Divine Method.”
Just when Little Li was pondering how to respond.
Ying Bing suddenly spoke up again:
“Are you really planning on preparing… to pursue the path of ‘technique nearing the Dao’?”
Li Mo: “….. Ah, yes, yes.”
No explanation needed.
Ice Chunk would fill in the blanks herself.
“That’s a tough one.”
“Even with your talent.”
Ying Bing spoke softly.
Not just sword techniques, any path bears the notion of ‘technique nearing the Dao.’
Throughout history, countless geniuses have tried and failed, like fish crossing the river…
No one succeeded.
It almost seemed like the heavens were showcasing this divide between mortals and immortals as a mockery.
Even Jiang Chulong, regarded as the unparalleled master of swordsmanship, was still far from the ultimate understanding of the sword’s essence.
“I know that.”
Li Mo nodded without hesitation.
Though he had no clue what Ice Chunk was thinking.
But he knew his own worth.
Huh? Me? Technique nearing the Dao!
Impossible, utterly impossible!
Nearing the Dao my foot!
Little Li clearly understood this was just a means to rack up rewards!
He chuckled and turned to practice his sword again.
“Knowing it can’t be done yet doing it anyway?”
Ying Bing murmured softly.
Whoosh—
The night breeze wafted by, the moonlight like frost.
The young man swung his sword at times, pondering deeply at others, each time stronger than the last.
For a moment, time seemed to lose its meaning around him.
Martial arts are a long river, and those legendary sword geniuses are but sparkling stars in clear waters.
Perhaps, regardless of whether he could reach the end of this path.
He’d shine brightly in the river of martial arts, wouldn’t he?
Leaves rustled, producing a ‘swish-swish’ sound.
“bl**d Phoenix Secret Realm, watch out for Han Zhen.”
She said no more and quietly turned to head upstairs.
Watching Ice Chunk walk away, Li Mo recalled he had seen that name somewhere.
The author of ‘The Chronicle of the Divine Forms’?
No, that book was published years ago, the author would have to be quite ancient by now.
A homonymous genius?
…..
In his little world.
Taking advantage of the moment Little Jiang hadn’t arrived yet, Li Mo surveyed this exclusive little world of his.
“It’s grown a lot bigger.”
Warm reminder: If you think this book is good, to avoid not finding it next time, please remember to add it to your bookshelf!
Setting
The current little world had expanded hundreds of times compared to before.
Just like his realms.
The buildings were still the same as before, now appearing eerily empty.
Snap—
Li Mo snapped his fingers.
In his little world, scenes shifted, everything transformed, suddenly reminiscent of the seaside villa he had struggled to acquire in his past life.
In this space of a few hundred square meters, the villa even had a garden; it took a ten-minute walk just to use the bathroom.
“To see the sea, there has to be… a sun?”
Li Mo gazed at the ocean, lounging in a rocking chair.
The thought dropped.
A projection of the sun appeared in the sky.
Though, it was merely a projection, superficial at best, far from a real sun.
“If I can condense a mysterious pill, I could probably create a real sun in this little world, right?”
“Still feels like something’s missing…”
Li Mo looked at the ocean surface.
Sunshine, sandy beaches….. cough.
When would he get Ice Chunk and his beautiful master to come in, donned in swimsuits? Now that would be perfect…
With that thought, Little Li caressed the Stellar Devastation Hammer, giving it a gentle shake.
Suddenly.
Li Mo felt a shift as the Boundless Glazed Gauze appeared around him.
“L-Lord… Master?”
“What is this place?”
Little Jiang gazed curiously around her, bewildered.
“Hmm, just a place for some leisure and relaxation, after practicing, you can come and play.”
The Heavenly Master casually responded.
“Then… can… can I bring Brother Li along?”
“Hmm?”
The Heavenly Master was perplexed by her words.
Little Jiang’s heart tightened, her delicate body trembling lightly.
She thought the Heavenly Master was angry.
Well, this was his secret hideaway, where could she just bring anyone…
“Master… I…”
“….. You may.”
The Heavenly Master lightly nodded.
“Really… really?”
Little Jiang barely dared to lift her little head to look at him.
“Focus on your training, once you break through, I’ll agree to it.”
The Heavenly Master waved his sleeve lightly.
Instantaneously, the sunny beach villa vanished.
What reappeared, however, was not the old little Taoist temple.
“Master… where… where is this?”
Having changed locations, Jiang Chulong clutched a twig, cautiously surveying her surroundings.
Under her feet was a sea of clouds, not far away was a purple-gold eight-trigram dan furnace toppled over.
The buildings behind her resembled a palace more than a temple.
The shining plaque indeed read:
‘Dou Shuai Palace.’
“A corner of the Heavenly Court lost to time.”
The Heavenly Master began slowly, suffused with immeasurable lament.
As if returning to an old place, filled with unwritten nostalgia.
“How did it end up like this?”
Jiang Chulong dared not wander too much but was utterly curious.
“If you want to hear stories, I must first test your progress.”
The Heavenly Master chuckled softly.
With a flick of the hand, he tossed out a small blade of grass that transformed into a grass puppet.
It could be controlled by Li Mo and would perform his techniques.
Hmm…
With the Heavenly Master’s stature so grand, of course, he couldn’t just step onto the battlefield himself!
That aside, Li Mo had an idea.
He was just planning to renovate the seed of the world and create a better practice environment for Little Jiang. So he thought, why not call this place the Heavenly Court?
A quarter-hour later.
The twig pierced the grass puppet’s throat.
Yet Jiang Chulong remained rooted, seemingly enlightened.
【Congratulations, Host! Your investment in ‘Jiang Chulong’ superior sword techniques has paid off, resolving her confusion.】
【Two investment feedbacks: A total of one hundred and fifty martial insights.】
….
Thus, ten days later.
Little Li had passed through an exceptionally fulfilling ten days.
Using the price difference, he reaped five hundred martial insights.
His daily training sessions had shifted from a small waterfall to Danding Peak.
The lotus in his Dantian had already bloomed with nine leaves.
Just one more step, and he could enter the realm of the mysterious pill.
The day to return home had finally come.
The bl**d Phoenix Secret Realm in Qinghe County.
Little Li’s hometown.
