In the misty old fountain, the sweet fragrance of the spiritual milk from the earth’s veins rose with the steam.
Any sort of spiritual liquid mixed with medicine in this hot spring absorbed at an improved rate.
And it was pretty comfy too.
“Umm?”
While lost in the bath, Shang Wu slightly opened her almond-shaped eyes, pondered for a moment, then mused:
“There used to be some.”
“Used to?”
“Used to, on Qunyu Peak, there were dozens of jade sculptures—all Observation Realm images.”
Shang Wu lazily tugged at her bathrobe, seemingly feeling that it was a tad tight.
Li Mo had a sudden realization.
No wonder Qunyu Peak had such a name; it was quite apt.
He had been puzzled before—each peak of Qingyuan Sect had its own unique features, yet Qunyu Peak was all bare, with nothing at all.
Wait a minute.
It seemed pretty bare now too.
“What happened to those jade sculptures?”
Little Li speculated. Could it be that their beautiful master ran out of money for drinking, so she sold them for a drink?
It sounded ludicrous, but considering it was their master, it seemed somewhat reasonable…
“Ah, one day, I got a bit tipsy,” Shang Wu reclined her head back, reminiscing:
“And then when I returned to the peak, I just bumped into those jade sculptures…”
Listening to Master’s narrative, Little Li finally figured out the story.
That day, Shang Wu had gotten incredibly drunk, probably seeing things all blurry.
And then she ran into those jade sculptures.
As everyone knows, Observation Realm images or statues emphasize both spirit and form, vivid enough to make one feel immersed in their essence—the more lifelike, the better.
And Shang Wu took it seriously.
Even Wu Song dared to tackle a tiger when drunk; who was Shang Wu?
Thinking her sect was facing a fierce enemy, she pulled up a tree and charged in, causing chaos.
When she woke up, she realized the jade sculptures of Qunyu Peak, passed down through generations, had all been turned into a pile of rubble.
Li Mo: “…..”
Great.
So that’s why Qunyu Peak looked like a wreck; it was you who wrecked your own home.
He couldn’t help but remember the weird signs set up at the other peaks.
[Drunkards Prohibited from Entering the Peak]
At that time, he had been wondering what a peculiar rule it was.
Turns out it was tailor-made.
“Precious disciple.”
Shang Wu suddenly called out to him.
Li Mo instinctively looked over and saw their beautiful master with crescent-moon eyes and lightly furrowed brows.
An indication.
She remembered her disciple had said that soaking in the hot spring with a drink was a blissful affair.
“Cough, Master, from a medical perspective, soaking in hot springs and drinking is actually not good for your health.”
“I’m in perfect health; if you don’t believe me, we can spar.”
“……I forgot to bring any alcohol.”
“Real men keep their word.”
Splash—
Shang Wu’s lovely face scrunched up, arms crossed, and she turned her back to him.
Her disciple didn’t keep his word and wouldn’t listen to Master.
Annoyed.
Li Mo: “…..”
In general, he was one to walk the talk.
Mainly because he had just heard the story about the jade sculptures.
Now they were both soaking in the bath; what if Shang Wu got tipsy again, mistook him for a peeping Tom, and threw a few punches at him?
Who could withstand that?
Seeing that this trick didn’t work, Shang Wu held her forehead, her brows knotted:
“Tsk, I was going to tell you about breaking through the mysteries and stepping into the Observation Realm.”
“How did you forget everything so quickly?”
“My head hurts; I’m probably a bit ill~”
Master’s three prongs.
Implying, playing dumb, and intimidation.
Watching a master who could casually uproot willow trees play weak, Little Li couldn’t help but twitch his lips.
Sighing, Li Mo set out a floating tray with a jug of wine on top.
“Master, just drink this much…”
Before he finished speaking, the floating tray suddenly vanished and was mysteriously drawn to Shang Wu.
She happily perched her arm on the edge of the pool, balancing her chin, and poured herself a cup.
“What’s this wine? It smells pretty good.”
“Chizhi Wine.”
Li Mo helplessly watched as she gulped the wine down with her crescent-moon eyes squinting pleasantly with happiness.
“Master, can we talk about martial arts now?”
“Hmph, actually, Observation is about the transformation and refinement of one’s Consciousness Soul.”
Shang Wu, smelling the aroma of the wine, had a slight smile on her lips:
“It’s like root bones; some people are brawny, while others have divine strength. Their physical bodies surpass ordinary folks.”
“And observing form and essence is a way to temper the spirit of the Consciousness Soul.”
“Like naturally changing one’s roots?”
Li Mo had an epiphany.
Roots can also be transformed through rare treasures or years of honing.
“Yeah, they’re somewhat similar.”
Shang Wu nodded.
She explained the methods of tempering the spirit and the essence in general.
“Remember: the one that fits you is the best.”
“For example, that old man Shangguan only observes the shape of sparrows, which is just a low form, but he extends it to a higher form, approaching the ultimate form.”
Shang Wu became a bit parched after talking so much and took another swig of Chizhi Wine.
“So how do I find the right form to observe for myself?”
Thinking that Master was about to fall asleep, Li Mo hurriedly asked.
“You can go… to Ruyi Peak… zzz…”
Shang Wu floated on the water’s surface.
“…..”
Falling asleep while talking; Master, you really are something.
By the way, martial artists shouldn’t get all bloated in a bath, right?
Reclaiming his focus, Li Mo stood up from the hot spring.
“Ruyi Peak… Guess I should visit it tomorrow.”
Up in the loft.
Ying Bing looked at him emerging from the fake mountain.
Noticing his good mood, she felt a bit puzzled.
Is soaking in hot springs really that comfortable?
After a moment’s thought.
If the punishment of the defeated was just a façade, why should she avoid it intentionally?
“Talk about it later.”
Ying Bing slightly shook her head.
Tomorrow she needed to enter the Nine Peak Shrine, and her current task was to get herself in the best state.
Based on her experience from a previous life, along with the vaguely revealed information from Shangguan Wen, she had a feeling.
There was likely a significant divine shape hidden in the Nine Peak Shrine.
“Taiyin divine shape combined with Phoenix divine shape.”
“My Observation Realm will be much stronger than in my last life.”
Ying Bing knelt under the moonlight, bathing in its soft glow, like the world’s most exquisite jade sculpture.
The Xuan Dan inside her slowly rotated, seemingly connecting with the moon in the sky.
…..
The next day.
The sky was gloomy, looking almost like it was going to be nighttime early; not a single sun could be seen out of the three.
Thick black clouds brewed, hinting at pouring rain.
On the grey stone road of the sect, a young man in a white robe moved lightly, his handsome face warm; if someone said he was a cultured gentleman studying the sacred texts of Ruyi Peak, probably no one would oppose.
Well… Ouyang might.
After asking around, Li Mo didn’t take long to find a house amid the bamboo grove.
To his surprise, there was a crowd in front of Ouyang’s courtyard.
Disciples from all the peaks were present in a long line.
He even spotted a familiar face.
“Brother Li, are you here to buy Brother Ouyang’s latest work too?”
As soon as Murong Xiao saw him, he broke into a big grin.
This smile seemed a bit silly, exuding a kind of wit that belied his intelligence.
“Pretty much,” Li Mo nodded.
Painting was one of Ruyi Peak’s proudest skills, holding a status similar to Shenbing Peak’s forging and Danding Peak’s alchemy.
A true master of painting could recreate Observation Realm images to perfection.
Everyone hoped the quality of elixirs and weapons would improve, and the same went for Observation Realm images.
A good Observation Realm image could be worth more than gold.
However, he wasn’t actually here to buy paintings, since he didn’t even know what he was suitable to observe.
“There are so many people.”
Murong Xiao gazed into the distance.
“Yeah, I doubt we’ll see Brother Ouyang anytime soon.”
Li Mo couldn’t help but sigh.
Wow, our Qingyuan Sect is really booming!
So many disciples are so hardworking, striving towards the Observation Realm.
“You two true disciples, are you here to buy paintings too?”
At that moment, an inner sect disciple suddenly approached them.
He had a mysterious expression on his face:
“I, unfortunately, am not talented; I started lining up early and have already secured Brother Ouyang’s latest masterpiece. I wonder if you two brothers are interested? The price is a bit… on the expensive side.”
“I’ve queued for so long that I’d like to recoup some hardship expenses.”
“Uh?”
Li Mo was confused.
Why does he sound like a scalper?
But Observation shapes and intentions aren’t interchangeable; what’s the point of scalping?
“Brothers, absolutely lifelike! You know Brother Ouyang’s skill.”
The inner disciple coaxed them.
“Fine, give it to me.”
Li Mo wasn’t short on cash, so he pulled out the money readily. The inner disciple beamed as he handed over a painting booklet.
Upon seeing the cover, Little Li felt an uneasy premonition rise within him.
As he flipped it open, his face turned pallid.
What the heck…
It’s this lifelike?!
“So everyone’s lining up early to buy His Majesty’s stuff!”
Slap—
Little Li angrily threw the painting booklet to the ground.
