Under the shimmering light of the pearl, the guest room was as bright as day.
The sweet aroma of the cake wafted through the air, almost giving the flickering lights a creamy glow.
Li Mo held the Qi Xiao Sword and sliced into the cake. Shang Qin Qing had been curious about the flavor since the cake had just come out of the oven, its delightful scent already drifting half a mile away.
And don’t let its plain appearance fool you; the ingredients were exquisite.
The eggs were from the Phoenix Bird, the sugar was royal jelly, and the filling was made of top-notch ingredients…
The Cold Fairy sat quietly, her fingers twirling the hem of her skirt, her gaze lingering on the cake Li Mo was slicing.
It was reminiscent of a classroom snack distribution, where you pretended to focus on your studies, waiting to show an exaggerated surprise after you finally got your hands on the treat…
“Is it good?”
Actually, even the great chef Li hadn’t tasted it himself.
“Here.”
Ying Bing handed over the first bite of cake, but Li Mo chuckled and shook his head, asking her to try it first. After all, it was her birthday today. She took a subtle bite, her lips shimmering with a glossy sheen.
Just like the sparkle in her eyes.
“How did you make this?”
“!”
Li Mo leaned back slightly, suddenly feeling a chill run down his spine.
Making a cake was a far cry from whipping up some scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
“Oh right, Li Mo is just two months younger than you.”
The seasoned snack connoisseur Shang Qin Qing’s wisdom needed no further explanation. Her eyes narrowed as she caught onto Ying Bing’s intention.
Hmm…
Making a cake for your boyfriend?
She thought the same thing. So when Li Mo was preparing the cake, she attentively watched every step, even jotting down notes.
No wonder she was the Qingluan Divine Maiden; anything she saw was quickly understood.
“No, I’m just… curious.”
Ying Bing brushed a strand of hair from her mouth and spoke softly.
But Li Mo could see the eagerness dancing in her expression!
“You’re asking me? You’ve hit the jackpot with that question.”
Shang Qin Qing put on an air of mystery, striking a pose she’d learned from Little Li Tianzun.
The Ice Chunk’s musical talent and cultivation left her feeling somewhat hurt.
This was the first time Little Ice Girl had come asking for advice!
“Since you’re sincerely asking, I’ll be your guiding lantern!”
“!!!”
“Sounds good.”
Ice Chunk was serious, as if she’d really found a guiding lantern.
Li the Chef was sweating bullets, as if he’d truly encountered a guiding ghost light.
“Senior Shang, it’s been a while since Master has seen you. She must miss you dearly. Next time I visit, I’ll bring her along.”
“???!”
Shang Qin Qing straightened her back, slightly leaning back.
In her eyes, the warm and sunny gentleman Li seemed to sprout two little devil horns.
She leaned in and whispered:
“Senior Shang, you wouldn’t want Master to be trapped in your family’s land, would you…?”
Shang Wu was on her way. Next time, that cake might actually be made with Qingluan eggs.
“Hmm?”
Ying Bing furrowed her delicate brows, puzzled by Shang Qin Qing’s sudden silence; wasn’t she usually the chattiest one?
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Li Mo, seemingly wanting to continue her questions.
“I want some cake too.”
Li Mo suddenly declared.
“Then eat!”
“Sister, ah~”
Little Li widened his mouth, trying to resolve the brewing crisis with all he had!
Ying Bing retracted her neck slightly, her long fingers trembling as she nearly crushed the delicate porcelain spoon.
She scooped a bite for Li Mo, and when she took a bite herself, the already sweet cake somehow quickened her heartbeat.
There wasn’t anything in the cake that shouldn’t be there, right…?
Seeing this, Shang Qin Qing’s pout turned into a smile.
Hmph.
Considering Little Li’s innocent naivety and the fact that he contributed a grand feast, I suppose I won’t pursue the threatening incident he just pulled, right?
This is called being magnanimous.
Thus, the little crisis was cleverly defused by the wise Little Li!
“Which places did you visit in the South Border?” Ying Bing asked as she held the cake.
Her mind was a bit scattered, and she momentarily had no interest in the cake’s ingredients.
“Right, I went to many towns, some in the mountains, some by the water… By the way, do you remember that village where we took down the Fathead Fish Disaster Beast?”
Li Mo started recounting his travel experiences.
Ying Bing nibbled at her cake while listening intently.
Whenever Shang Qin Qing remembered something amusing, she laughed and chimed in:
“Hahaha, there were a few Huanmo Sect disciples who really believed in the Heavenly Master’s teachings and wanted to join the Wanxiang Xianzong to learn the Heavenly Master’s form-based martial arts.”
“I really had to hold back my laughter then.”
“So many villages, huh….”
Ying Bing lowered her eyes, silently calculating: “Then we better head back soon.”
With this meal, Li Mo’s public display of grace almost reduced the Huanmo Sect’s forces in the South Border by a third.
In the past, this would have been impossible. Before Li Mo could gather such a large crowd of supporters, the Huanmo Sect would have already moved upon receiving the intel, not daring to wait until things had escalated.
But due to the battle at Qingmu City, the Huanmo Sect’s South Border branch hadn’t had a moment to catch its breath; they probably also didn’t anticipate that the Qingyuan Sect’s best male performer would be so powerful in front of the crowd, outpacing them by a long shot.
Regardless, a counterattack from the Hall of Beasts was only a matter of time.
“Hmm… the Huanmo Sect seems to be very devoted to their followers…”
Li Mo frowned.
The Huanmo Sect would definitely find a way to win over those villages loyal to him.
When the time comes, wouldn’t the support he had gathered be impossible to maintain?
He wondered when he would be able to collect enough power to project the divine form of the Great Dao.
“Okay, anyway, you’ve already raked in a huge return this time, dear Heavenly Master.”
“Do you think the Huanmo Sect is just going to hand over their abundant support?”
“Who knows, they might already be on their way to figure out the bill with you.”
Shang Qin Qing rolled her eyes, unimpressed.
With so many villages, Li Mo couldn’t possibly send a priest to watch over each one, like the Huanmo Sect, could he?
“The situation in the South Border cannot be changed overnight.”
Ying Bing looked at Li Mo and suddenly spoke softly.
“I know.”
Li Mo nodded, but his eyes were still lost in deep thought.
Letting the Huanmo Sect willingly relinquish their supporting power?
That sounded pretty unrealistic; it was utterly impossible.
But everyone knew he was a genius!
Geniuses had to be brave and face the impossible…
Was there any way…?
……….
Meanwhile, outside Qingmu City.
No one expected that Shang Qin Qing, although not a crow, would indeed jinx the situation this time.
Fifty miles away from the city, a group of Huanmo Sect members disguised as merchants were surreptitiously moving along the road.
In the center of the merchant caravan’s carriage.
Luo Yexian, the leader of the Hall of Beasts, frowned at one of his high priests.
“Confirm once more the direction the supporting power is gathering.”
“Yes.”
The high priest was a lean man of the fifth realm, with an exterior appearance that matched.
He pulled out bottles and jars filled with various animal bl**d that had solidified and been ground into powder. He rubbed them together lightly, releasing a faint red smoke.
The red smoke floated upwards, resembling a school of fish gathering in the ocean, converging from all directions toward Qingmu City.
As if the fish had found a current.
“The Heavenly Master is indeed in Qingmu City…”
Luo Yexian squinted slightly.
