The bright sunlight poured through the car window, turning into golden glimmers dancing on strands of hair.
In the interplay of light and shadow, Ying Bing’s clear, captivating eyes shimmered with a faint golden hue, exuding a divine charm mixed with a hint of bashfulness—almost surreal, as if she had her own special effects.
Little Li’s dog-like eyes were about to be blinded by the brightness.
“What are you staring at me for?”
Ying Bing instinctively twirled a strand of black hair around her finger.
“The last life I saved the world wasn’t enough, so in this life, I guess I have to save the world again, right? Otherwise, I’d just be a big shot still stuck in a dream…”
Little Li, our gentleman, was malfunctioning as he mumbled to himself, body slightly hunched.
He glanced at the ice chunk for a few moments, then down at his life choices, and then looked back at her.
Suddenly, she gently took his hand, and a delicate, soft sensation coursed through him.
Li Mo froze, seeing his hand being held by the ice chunk, resting against her lovely face.
Ying Bing smiled subtly, her brightness illuminating the confused goose in front of her.
“Childish ghost.”
“…..”
Li Mo slightly leaned back, suddenly feeling like he couldn’t catch his breath.
It felt like the first time meeting, like a long-awaited reunion, like a beautiful dream reawakening after a blaze of life—sunshine quietly flowing, something lifting with the breeze, with the wind halted yet still resounding…
“Ice chunk.”
“Hmm?”
“Once we get past the noon gate, let’s just stay in the carriage, okay?”
“Sure.” Ying Bing nodded.
Li Mo was momentarily taken aback. “But I haven’t even said why…”
“Then why?”
Little Li stared into those giggling bright eyes, the serious lines he had just prepared completely vanished, leaving his reasons feeling inexplicably pale.
Alright then.
He really did learn a bad habit from Shang Wu—guarding his food.
And apparently, like a greenhorn surpassing his mentor…
The bustling noise outside made it feel as if they were beneath a pouring rain in the clouds—what a wonderfully sunny day, yet it still felt like a mountain wave rising.
The noon gate was treated like a dragon gate, casting shadows on the map of the country—a new ranking from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
The Qianlong List existed too, but the Qianlong Conference had already come and gone.
“Wonder what’s happening with the Qianlong List…..”
“What era are we in? Still looking at the Qianlong List? Who even cares about that? Check out the Hundred Flowers List!”
“For example, Young Hero Li’s new nickname.”
“Gah… I told my wife the same. She just finally let me out today.”
In the crowded space of greetings and handshakes, a few gentlefolk exchanged pleasantries, all agreeing on this.
“Divine Hammer, Little Overlord, and Wife Booster—none of these are easy to take down, but Young Hero Li has indeed dazzled the capital, making the whole place intoxicated.”
“While on-site, did you know the sword borrowed by Young Hero Li saw a surge in its sword aura after? It became sharper than ever.”
“Right, right! Our village’s best sword is almost giving birth to a sword intention!”
“Isn’t that a benefactor to many swordmasters?”
“We’re in trouble now. It looks like that nickname for swordmasters also has to be added, but which one do we take away? It’s a pity about all of them…”
“Hey, don’t forget, he’s the owner of Wanchun Courtyard and Wind Moon Small Residence, rich as can be, isn’t that something to add?”
In the teahouse, everyone was intrigued, their attention shifting from the beauty of the Hundred Flowers to the top of the Qianlong List’s nicknames.
Inside the carriage, Li Mo, holding the ice chunk’s hand, also caught the discussions wafting in from outside.
With the Hammer Treasure making quite the uproar, Li Mo had to divert his attention:
“Hey, Tian Miao seems to have sent me a message.”
“What did she say?”
“She said her master agreed to give me a sword fairytale nickname.”
As he spoke, Li Mo glanced at the high-hanging Qianlong List by the noon gate, an uncontainable excitement bubbling beneath his brows.
“Just need to return the Divine Sword to the Celestials soon.”
Ying Bing frowned ever so slightly.
“Ice chunk, you wouldn’t be thinking of leaving the Divine Sword for yourself, would you?” Li Mo chuckled incredulously.
To his surprise, Ying Bing stared at him, nodding lightly.
Li Mo: “….”
Wait, she’s really considering this!?
“The Divine Sword in my grasp has already fulfilled its purpose.”
Li Mo felt no lingering attachment:
“That day, using the Divine Sword to summon a thousand swords into the air—having countless swordsmen accept my personal favor, it’s no wonder Tian Miao said my swordmaster nickname fits perfectly.”
Little Li’s swordmaster ambition remained unchanged.
Using his sword was about appearing in front of people, and where better to shine than the grand stage of the Qianlong Conference?
The Divine Sword had already brought him what he desired.
“Curious what Yantian Sect named me…”
Little Li felt a tinge of expectation.
After all, he had invested so much, and it seemed like the time for reaping the rewards had finally come…
As the names on the Qianlong List rolled by, they reached the top three. When it got to second place, a wave of gasps and discussions erupted among the crowd.
They frequently heard the words ‘Cold Fairy.’
After all, she was undeniably the legitimate second of both lists.
“To be honest, if they declare her as first on both lists, I wouldn’t be surprised either.”
“Beating the princess on the Hundred Flowers List might still take a few years, but on the Qianlong List, you never know. However, that part doesn’t concern them; they’ve got nothing to compete for…”
“The top has been revealed!”
A moment later, colors danced in the sky above the noon gate, pouring radiance like a dragon and phoenix; the grand scene of the national map provided ample effects, and at the same time, the majestic calligraphy appeared:
【Qianlong List First: Li Mo】
【Martial Arts: Guan Shen Nine Apertures, with terrifying horizontal training skills equivalent to mysterious weapons, Hammer Technique reaching the divine, swordsmanship like tempered steel, capable of wielding the Divine Sword of the Celestials due to the Cold Fairy’s careful guidance, a gifted talent in forging, bearing divine intentions that outstrip mere shapes.】
【Battle Achievements: Once slashed the sixteenth of the Qianlong List, He Lian Wu, possessing divine general qualities, able to control various soldiers’ gears; within the ten thousand troops, capable of beheading the former national master, dispelling the bl**d God’s phantom, dominating the South Border, battling with the known prodigies of the Qianlong Conference, including Xie Xuan, Ning Que, and Crown Prince Jiang Yu… against Cold Fairy, the audience was likely involved, so not counted…】
【Nickname: Wife Booster Little Overlord, Benefactor Sword Master.】
“Indeed, the nickname changed!!”
“The Hammer’s gone? Well, it makes sense; there aren’t many who’ve seen him swing it…”
“This particularly unique nickname feels quite fitting too.”
“Haha, Brother Li should finally get what he wished for.”
“Brother Li walks on thin ice in the sword world; he deserves all of this.”
Huang Donglai, Xiao Qian, and Murong Xiao each looked at the Qianlong List from behind, revealing smiles of joy for their friend.
They all knew Little Li had a persistent obsession with becoming a swordmaster.
So up high on the Qianlong List, shining bright over the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, echoing through all corners—he was a hardworking soul, and he truly deserved it.
They exchanged glances, silently understanding each other’s thoughts.
“My brother is Qianlong’s number one—I’m so proud! When Brother Li is at the top of the world, how could there not be a little showmanship?”
“Benefactor Sword Master!”
The three of them shouted in unison.
Suddenly, those around them joined in, a wave of voices rising together, praising him to the heavens.
“Benefactor Sword Master!”
Throughout the inner and outer cities of the Imperial Capital, this name echoed loudly, and golden rain began to fall from the sky—this name would leave a vibrant mark in the history of the Da Yu Dynasty…
Yet they were entirely unaware.
Listening to the mountain-like roar, inside the bronze carriage, a pin drop could be heard in the silence.
Little Li, the swordmaster, wore a face of disbelief, his eyes blank.
He never expected this much from all his efforts…
“God d*mn Benefactor Sword Master!”
“I’m still the Hibiscus Sword King here! What a joke! (Slam!)”
