“Wow, what a breathtakingly beautiful friend!”
Li Mo eyed the slender sword that glistened like moonlit frost, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
He had long planned a date for his Hammer Treasure—or was it a blind date? Just his luck, right when he thought it was double cultivation time, Hammer Treasure had run off to play with Little Moon! But now, he found himself with an unexpected hammer in his pocket—what was he supposed to do with that?
Too bad Ice Chunk had already brought out her “good friend.”
Legendary weapons and hammer-folk shared a psychic bond at some level, so as Hammer Treasure excitedly spun around in his little dimension, it was like an eager puppy chasing its tail.
Wasn’t he, a proud member of the Qianlong Fourth, supposed to withstand this test?
Little Li, with his iron resolve, clenched his teeth and summoned the Hammer Treasure from his spatial pocket.
“Hammer Treasure is a bit fierce, with a sharp edge and killing vibe… um?”
When the Hammer Treasure finally appeared, it sat quietly, looking shy as it vibrated in greeting like a cat purring.
The two weapons emitted a resonance, like two whales trying to find each other’s frequency.
Surprisingly harmonious, honestly.
Seeing this scene, Ice Chunk’s eyes softened,
“Hello there, I’m Hammer Treasure~” her voice deep and rumbling.
“Hello there, I’m Little Moon,” chimed in a soft and delicate tone.
“Let’s go catch some jellyfish together!”
“?”
Ying Bing turned around only to see Li Mo perched on the Cold Marrow Jade Bed, animatedly voicing the conversation between the two divine weapons.
“Are they really saying that?”
“The content isn’t important, as long as the gist is right,” Li Mo replied with casual curiosity.
Out of the one hundred prodigies on the Qianlong List, he was the only one wielding a hammer. They say swords are the kings among weapons, spears are the lords, and knives are brave…. so what’s a hammer?
“Weapons aren’t as complex as people,” Ying Bing said, pulling up a chair and extending her cool, jade-like hand toward Li Mo.
“Ice Chunk, aren’t you coming up here?”
Ying Bing’s eyes seemed to mix playful annoyance with a hint of longing:
“But you don’t have a hammer left in your pocket.”
“???!”
Li Mo squeezed Ice Chunk’s icy little hand, picturing her in his embrace, her silver teeth playfully nibbling like she wanted to bite him….
So, right from the start, Ice Chunk was just waiting for him to find a friend for her divine weapon?
Her dreamy eyes seemed to say,
“What will you say about the things in your pocket without Hammer Treasure?”
“… You said you wanted to find a friend for Hammer Treasure, so here we are.”
Li Mo suspected he had fallen into Ice Chunk’s tricks, but he had no proof.
“Didn’t we agree on this long ago?” Ying Bing said, her expression flat, tilting her head slightly.
Ice Chunk didn’t seem to understand what he was talking about.jpg.
Little Li felt a bit suspicious, still thinking something was off, and just as he opened his mouth to ask, a Bodhi bead was shoved into it.
To enhance their dual cultivation efficacy, Li Mo always kept some sort of snack, like a Soul-Purifying Bodhi bead, on him….
“Let’s practice.” Ying Bing twisted one for herself too.
This natural treasure’s effect wasn’t as strong as a pill, but the best part? No side effects.
Plus, the taste? Truly a delightful treat.
With a bead stuffed in his mouth, it didn’t stop Li Mo from talking: “So….”
“Is one not enough?”
Ying Bing shoved another bead into his mouth, her fingertip glimmering with sheen.
“Wait, I’m—”
“Your appetite seems pretty big,” she said teasingly.
“Mm mm….”
And so, Little Li’s cheeks puffed up, leaving him stuttering and unable to form coherent sentences.
He was nearly drooling.
Ying Bing pursed her lips, a hint of joy igniting in her eyes, though perhaps stimulated by the sudden relaxation of her mood, she unexpectedly licked her fingertip.
Startled by her own action, she froze, likely feeling the warmth of spring rise in her fair neck, painting a delicate blush.
“!”
Ke Mo was shocked, but alas, words escaped him.
This dual cultivation tonight, as always, was about to take a wild turn.
Ke Mo had once wondered how the majestic Huan Shen Sect Master, a profound master of Yin and Yang, could end up in such a state as that of the He Huan Sect elder.
Now, he understood it was his own youthfulness that was to blame.
If it weren’t for that wisp of ethereal spirit, he might have wandered astray on the first day.
After all, how many of the upper brass could handle such trials?
Time flew.
As the moon hung high, and the influence of the Yin was peaking, Ke Mo, seated on his jade bed, suddenly felt a familiar yet strange surge of energy drawing closer to his inner world’s Yin essence, like an eternal stream of light illuminating his past.
Ice Chunk…. was about to break through?
Ke Mo opened his eyes to see Ying Bing before him, a divine mark glowing on her forehead, mysterious and regal.
He could sense the Yin and Yang energies nourishing her consciousness in her control, continuously impacting the seventh orifice.
No words were needed; Ke Mo knew exactly what she needed at that moment.
True essence and the Yang energy built in his body suddenly ignited.
For some reason, he was hit with a nostalgic gaming feeling, pushing the crystal—his face rolling over the keyboard, he unleashed all his skills…
And at last, the crystal shattered!
【Congratulations, host! Investment in ‘Ying Bing’ successful, aiding her breakthrough into the Guan Shen Seventh Orifice!】
【Investment feedback: Golden Dragon Guan Shen Map.】
Before him floated an image of triumph…. oh no, a flawless jade-like visage, Ice Chunk gazed at him, her eyes filled with moonlight like the Yin watching over the mortal realm as she broke through.
But then she pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze:
“Now it’s my turn to help you.”
“Just do your best, no need to force it.”
Ke Mo was just a heartbeat away from breaking into the Guan Shen Seventh Orifice.
But alas, the Great Sage spirit couldn’t be observed and could only be improved through battle.
And both the Great Sage’s and the Yin’s consciousnesses had to advance together for him to break through.
Ying Bing nodded slightly, her fingertip tapping Ke Mo’s forehead.
…….
In the night enveloping Qiushui Pavilion.
A faint ringing echoed at the courtyard entrance as Tian Miao from the Qingyuan Sect had been lingering for quite some time, having important matters to attend to, she prepared to leave that night.
But just as she reached the courtyard door, her step halted.
“The wave of Yin essence….”
She turned back to glance at the room on the second floor: “Ying Bing has broken through again?”
Tian Miao took a deep breath, deciding to leave early wasn’t solely about business.
Staying in this place day-after-day made her heart feel like it might burst.
These two, regardless of anything else, just the nature of their cultivations skyrocketing daily was enough to unsettle anyone.
For context, Ying Bing and Ke Mo were not only young, but they’d only been in martial arts for just a year.
At this moment,
The wave gently pulsed, with no signs of another breakthrough.
“They must be dual cultivating.”
“However, while Ice Chunk broke through, Ke Mo did not.”
Tian Miao felt a weight lift off her heart.
She pulled out a piece of paper, jotting down her notes.
She recorded Ice Chunk’s realm as Guan Shen Seventh Orifice while Ke Mo’s realm remained unchanged, only with some additional remarks:
‘Cooks well, currently practicing forging, may become a divine blacksmith.’
