Qiushui Pavilion.
As the night fell, a gentle chill settled in.
On the table today were just three small dishes, neither cooked by Li Mo nor particularly exceptional; they were simply brought back from the cafeteria.
Ying Bing held her bowl, her cheeks slightly moving.
After only half a bowl, she set down her chopsticks.
Today’s meals were indeed bland and tasteless.
Ying Bing never fussed about her food; as long as it was clean and filling, that was enough for her. To her, eating was merely a necessity for the current state of her body—nothing more.
Her desire for food was as thin as her other desires.
Hmm…
Before she ever tasted hot pot or barbecued meat, it was indeed like this.
“I could bear the darkness if I had seen the light.”
This principle applied to food as well.
Now, when she looked at these ordinary meals again, a slight emptiness filled her heart.
She cast a discreet glance across the table.
The Young Man was mechanically shoveling food onto his plate, his face full of existential doubts.
Little Li’s mood was indeed extremely complicated.
“The Pangu Cataclysm Star Hammer… Divine Weapon…”
At that time, Murong Xiao had quietly informed him that there might be some divine weapon activity beneath Divine Edge Cave.
Li Mo’s expression was priceless.
“The sword technique is minor, the Yinxiao Sword completely ignores me.”
“But the hammer technique? I’ve never practiced it, yet that hammer has developed an affection for me.”
That hammer could easily be claimed as the father of the Yinxiao Sword.
Was it possible that he was fundamentally unsuited to learning the sword but instead destined to master the hammer?
Images unconsciously floated in his mind of him, winking devilishly, swinging a hammer to smash the enemy’s skull.
“Ugh…”
“No way! Absolutely no way!”
Li Mo slammed down his chopsticks, dispelling the images from his mind.
He lost all appetite after that; picking up his sword instead, he ambled out into the yard.
With the Qing Steel Sword in hand, it was his first time personally practicing sword techniques.
The sword gleamed as it danced through the air, looking quite majestic.
With such a demeanor, anyone who saw him practicing this superb sword technique, albeit in a minor version, would surely praise him as a swordsmanship genius.
“Minor technique in just ten days.”
“Turns out he does have some talent for swordplay.”
Ying Bing also thought it was decent enough.
Yet, he was still far from being a true swordsmanship genius.
Even without his past life’s experience and perspective, she could master a superb sword technique in just half an hour.
In the realm of swords, there were others far more terrifying than her.
With an innate Sword Heart and Sword Bone, any sword technique could be seen just once before innovating it. By the age of ten, they could create their own ultimate sword techniques, and by twenty, they could master divine-level sword techniques.
Such people really existed.
They even left a deep impression on Ying Bing as a defeated foe.
If Li Mo could know what she was thinking, he would probably smile bitterly.
His own training time for swords was larger than his actual age because of his rigorous practice.
Now, he could barely say he was presentable.
His true talent could only be said to be a supportive argument…
“I don’t feel any progress whatsoever.”
“I can’t even see the brilliant dawn.”
As Li Mo practiced, he had to admit one thing.
His sword training was barely just that—training, because after a full round, there had been no progress.
He didn’t even know where to direct his efforts.
One need not fear not making an effort, yet it was frightening to not even know what direction to strive for.
Could it be that he truly wasn’t cut out to be a swordsman?
“This sword technique is all about internal accumulation.”
A familiar, melodious voice suddenly rang in his ears.
Before Li Mo could even react, a long and slender delicate hand had already taken his Qing Steel Sword from him.
“The longer you can accumulate, the stronger the final explosion of power will be.”
Swish—
“So, when you strike, it should be as if you’re embroidering flowers, controlling every bit of your strength.”
Swipe—
“The stronger your control, the stronger your potential accumulation will be.”
Under the moonlight, a beautiful figure danced with the sword, graceful and enchanting.
When she fought, her attention was focused and earnest; her movements carried a kind of untainted, heavenly beauty.
Like an ice lotus blooming slowly after experiencing spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Li Mo was momentarily captivated.
He quickly felt somewhat confused.
Little Ice Girl hadn’t practiced “Fire Crane Thousand Feathers,” had she?
Could she really be right about that?
【Twenty levels of martial arts insight infused into the kung fu.】
Little Li decided to take a small leap.
After all, the sect trial would be taking place soon, and if he could enhance his sword technique, it would surely come in handy.
【First level: Thanks to Ying Bing’s tips, you have found the correct practice method for Fire Crane Thousand Feathers.】
【Fifth level: You’ve diligently practiced your control over the sword, and you can finally manage to release seventeen feathers without letting them fly.】
【Seventh level: As you progress, the control becomes increasingly difficult; even making the slightest improvement requires immense effort, and you spent two days with no progress at all.】
【Thirteenth level: With steady effort, you finally integrated the technique into your body’s instinct, leaving twenty-four feathers.】
【Twentieth level: For the first time, you executed the technique on a wooden man, and left behind thirty feathers.】
【Fire Crane Thousand Feathers sword technique, major achievement.】
Li Mo: “……”
Swordsmanship experience, as fluid as water, instantly flooded into his mind.
Yet there was no joy in his heart whatsoever.
Little Ice Girl was indeed correct.
What was clear was that she had never practiced this sword technique; she simply watched him do it once.
And then… only then could she guide him?
Although he was reluctant to use this term, Li Mo had to admit that he was filled with…
Fearsome awe!
Boom, boom, boom—
A flurry of dull thuds echoed.
The girl sheathed her sword and turned, and behind her, bamboo stalks suddenly sprouted dozens of feather marks, bursting forth into dazzling ice flowers.
She didn’t even glance back, only softly asking:
“Did you learn it?”
Li Mo: “…..I learned it.”
It was apparent that Little Ice Girl had no teasing intent.
She genuinely wanted to teach him and truly believed that he could improve after just one demonstration.
Suddenly, Li Mo remembered the previous life when he asked a top student for solutions to a math problem, and the student didn’t even look up as they wrote out four methods.
Each one exceeded the syllabus.
Then they curiously asked him, “Did you get it?”
“Give it a try.”
The sword was tossed back to him.
Li Mo’s mood was complicated as he took the sword to practice.
Ying Bing’s slightly lowered gaze reflected the Young Man’s somewhat inexperienced silhouette, revealing a trace of satisfaction.
Not bad.
If she could teach him, it was not too foolish; he could still be regarded as sword training material.
“I practiced correctly, right?”
Li Mo turned around only to find the place empty.
The window on the second floor was already shut, and a thin layer of ice quickly formed on the glass.
It seemed that she had returned to her training.
“How many meridians has Little Ice Girl opened now?”
Li Mo pondered slightly.
He originally thought that he was progressing quite fast in the Qi and bl**d realm.
Even with a red destiny, she still probably wouldn’t catch up to him.
What just happened made him realize that he should stay grounded.
Little Li put away any of his small smugness and returned to his own room, sitting cross-legged on his bed.
A warm sensation came from the fiery sparrow feather pouch resting on his chest.
Activate the Fire Heart Lotus technique!
Tonight, let’s try to open the ninth meridian!
Unknowingly, the moon hung high above.
Next door.
“Ninth meridian, opened.”
Ying Bing opened her eyes, her eyelashes shimmering with cold crystals.
From opening the meridian until now, it had only been half a month, and she had condensed the nine meridians.
In her previous life, it took her a whole three months.
Her progress in cultivation was several times faster.
Thus…
In terms of battle power, it exceeded by countless folds!
Now, she could use her current body to employ a perfected sword technique.
Her combat experience, far from the Ziyang Mansion, could be said to be the undisputed number one throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Moreover, she bore the power of Taiyin; even if she couldn’t fully control it just yet, the mere release of its aura was enough to serve as a trump card.
“I should be well prepared for any variables in the sect trial.”
If I could acquire the Nine Colors Original Phoenix’s nine souls, I would be able to reach the perfect stage of the Qi and bl**d realm.
“And that mysterious system…”
A hint of excitement couldn’t be hidden in Ying Bing’s eyes.
Without a doubt, she would rise to the top rank in the system.
At that time, she would also receive system rewards, which would make her even stronger.
When it comes to the Qi and bl**d realm, she dared to say that across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, past and present, she had no equal.
….
Time flew by.
Days passed like a blink.
The diligent Little Li had already sprung into action, busily working away in the kitchen early in the morning.
“Since she guided me yesterday, I should make a rich breakfast today.”
“By the way, breaking through to the ninth meridian using the Fire Heart Lotus technique has also greatly improved my control over the heat.”
As Li Mo cooked, he thought.
That’s right.
Last night, he successfully opened the ninth meridian.
He heard that the later meridian openings were tougher, yet he had felt no bottleneck at all.
Every breakthrough felt like a smooth sailing stream.
After finishing breakfast, he hurriedly ate a bit, just like every day, ready to head to the mountain gate to reap some martial insights.
“Li Zhenchuang, back again today?”
It was that same elderly woman who handled the withdrawal for leaving disciples.
With Li Mo coming every day, the old lady was both suspicious and anxious in her heart.
Didn’t he want to withdraw from the sect like the outer disciples?
“No worries, I’m just taking a stroll.”
Li Mo smiled and greeted her, but the next moment, his expression froze suddenly.
He had just activated the Destiny Divine Eye.
【Name: Jiang Yue】
【Age: 19】
【Root Bone: None.】
【Realm: Qi and bl**d realm, four meridians.】
【Destiny: Black】
【Evaluation: Among the many mortals, lacking anything to note.】
【Recent Encounter: On the way down the mountain and returning home, encountered disciples from Huanmo Sect, who planted beast seeds in him. He died from bl**d being devoured.】
【Name: Duan An】
【Age: 18】
【Root Bone: None.】
【Realm: Qi and bl**d realm, two meridians.】
【Destiny: Black】
【Evaluation: Among the many mortals, lacking anything to note.】
【Recent Encounter: On the way down the mountain and returning home, encountered disciples from Huanmo Sect, who planted beast seeds in him. He died from bl**d being devoured.】
…..
These two were not isolated cases.
Li Mo gazed around, and the sight was overwhelming—a sea of dark destinies above every returning disciple was black.
Every single one of these people was fated to d*e.
And even more disturbingly, their manner of d*ath was identical.
“Huanmo Sect?”
Li Mo’s brow furrowed tightly.
After pondering for a moment, he suddenly stood in front of the crowd of disciples.
“Brothers, please hold!…”
“I have stored ten thousand taels of silver in Fanghua Tower, but ever since I left Qingyuan Sect, I’ve resolved to focus solely on martial arts, so I figured it wouldn’t be of use anyway.”
“Since you all want to return home, why not indulge yourselves for a few days to help me spend that silver and make sure my longing is settled.”
…….
Ten minutes later.
Li Mo had a pile of investment returns to collect.
Combined, he had insights into martial arts worth ten years, and a variety of odds and ends.
Yes, that group of returning disciples had been tricked into Fanghua Tower by him.
Fanghua Tower was the busiest brothel in Ziyang Mansion, frequented by high officials and nobles, with the cheapest overnight rates being thirty taels of silver.
Naturally, it was a safe place.
Hearing that they could enjoy themselves at Fanghua Tower for free, the crowd was ecstatic.
What kind of luck was this?!
Right then, they were just short of calling Li Mo “Uncle”!
Upon seeing their eager looks, it seemed they wouldn’t want to leave after a few days of hearty fun.
“Huanmo Sect doesn’t seem to be one of the three major sects of Ziyang Mansion.”
“Sounds like it might not be a proper sect at all…”
Li Mo withdrew his gaze and headed toward Shenbing Peak.
This world was hardly governed by legal systems.
Thinking about it too much was futile; what mattered was his own strength.
……
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
Qiushui Pavilion.
“It appears I can only make it to ten meridians at most.”
Li Mo stood up, stretching his legs a bit after sitting still for an entire night, then opened the sack beside him.
Inside were two garments—one black, the other indigo—both made from high-quality Songjiang brocade.
Little Li immediately recognized that these were crafted by his mother.
The sack also contained a letter from home.
“My dear son, it’s like meeting when reading these words.”
“You and Little Ice Girl have both become true disciples of Qingyuan Sect? Good, good! My son is truly splendid!”
The handwriting was a bit messy, indicating his father’s excitement while writing this.
Li Mo couldn’t help but laugh as he continued reading.
“Now that you’ve become a true disciple and are practicing martial arts, you should settle down and change that reckless nature of yours. No more acting carelessly like in the past.”
“As a man, once you have a family, it’s time to establish your career; you should consider getting married.”
“Treat Little Ice Girl with care, the two of you have known each other since childhood, and now you’ve both joined Qingyuan Sect as true disciples; this is fate granted by heaven.”
“Close access to water allows one to catch the fish first—open your mind and seize this opportunity!”
It was clear.
His father was in a bit of a rush, and the last words became quite heavy-handed.
He seemed to be eager to embrace a chubby little grandchild before he got any older.
Li Mo: “……”
Does anyone in the family understand? He was pressured to pop out kids at twenty-six in his last life!
And now at sixteen, he was still facing the marriage urge!
Well, marrying at sixteen was quite common for the men of Da Yu.
“This is my dilemma…”
Li Mo felt a headache coming on.
It was hard to imagine Little Ice Girl as a virtuous wife.
Not to mention, just the thought of the two of them sharing a bed at night made Little Li tremble.
“It seems I’m destined to disappoint my dad again.”
Li Mo shook his head and changed his clothes.
In just half a month, the boy in the mirror had defined features, appearing more radiant and youthful.
His previously frail body had taken on a muscular shape, typical for a well-dressed character.
When wearing the supportive clothing made by his mother, anyone would have to praise the dapper young man.
Well, unless one ignored the playful image of mandarin ducks embroidered on the clothing.
“Ying Bing, mother made a new outfit for you.”
Li Mo hugged the garments as he knocked on the door next door.
Recently, during the rainy season, the air was humid, and the door was frozen shut, making a resounding bang when he knocked.
“Just leave it at the door.”
A voice even colder than ice echoed from within.
Li Mo nodded and went to prepare breakfast.
Before long, footsteps could be heard on the stairs.
Instinctively, Li Mo looked up, and the bun in his mouth silently dropped.
With a low gaze, she shone like bright stars in the morning light, her dark hair tied up in a high ponytail, swaying gracefully behind her.
The fitted clothes accentuated her figure beautifully.
Not to mention her legs, which seemed to go on for infinity—oh, and the black stockings that outlined her long legs.
Black… stockings?
Li Mo soon realized that it was likely a material called “Thundercloud Silk,” which was lightweight, durable, and resistant to both cold and high temperatures.
Back then, it was quite expensive; such protective garments were far pricier than weapons.
Anyone who invented such items was truly a genius.
“I will be waiting for you at Wangyue Cliff for an hour.”
“Try to hurry.”
Ying Bing spoke coldly without any warmth in her voice.
“Wangyue Cliff? Why?”
Li Mo had no idea why she suddenly brought this up.
Little Ice Girl evidently had no intention of explaining her reasoning.
Curiosity piqued in Li Mo’s heart, he activated the Destiny Divine Eye.
【Name: Ying Bing】
【Age: 16】
【Root Bone: Taiyin Moon Phoenix Body.】
【Realm: Qi and bl**d realm, ten meridians.】
【Destiny: Red (possessed of imperial bones, mysterious ice for fate, autumn water for spirit, with Phoenix Sky as the backdrop)】
【Evaluation: Her fate is filled with tribulations; she always manages to find fortune amid calamity. At this moment, her wings are well-developed, and as the winds and clouds shift, she shall surely soar across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, destined to reign over all.】
【Recent Encounter: Participating in the sect trial, intending to go to the Nine Colors Original Phoenix’s inheritance site to obtain one of the Nine Souls, “Xia Po,” and preparing to take along a ‘burden’ for the sake of karmic reciprocity.】
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