“Who am I? Where am I?”
It felt like a long time had passed, yet it seemed like just a fleeting moment.
Outside the window, the cold moon still shone down upon the frozen, ice-covered little stream.
In the room, Li Mo opened his eyes in confusion.
That grand and vast image from before still lingered in his mind, almost consuming all his thoughts.
At this moment, only one emotion occupied his senses.
Hunger.
Not just the regular hunger of the stomach, but a deep craving from the depths of his soul.
He instinctively pulled out a bottle of Heavenly Pulse Spirit Milk and gulped it down like it was the last drink on Earth.
The energy of the Earth Pulse surged through his body, continuously being absorbed by the thirty-six meridians, filling him with the refreshment like a drought finally meeting rain.
“Phew…”
Little Li wiped his mouth and finally took a moment to collect himself, recalling what had just happened.
He had somehow deduced martial arts from the heavenly text.
He had elevated a divine skill to a higher level, turning it into a lotus petal.
“That martial art… I wonder if it can even be called a martial art anymore.”
This feeling was quite strange.
Li Mo knew the content but couldn’t figure out how to describe it.
Words were simply inadequate.
The ways he used to convey information were utterly useless when it came to articulating things related to martial arts.
Then he noticed something was off.
He quickly shifted his focus to his own dantian.
Lo and behold.
A faint breath coiled within, almost tangible.
It was a light crimson color, like an ancient flame burning eternally, never to d*e out.
Internal Breath!?
This time, his internal breath didn’t disappear!
“A bottle of Heavenly Pulse Spirit Milk only gave me a strand of it?”
Li Mo was dumbfounded.
Now he finally understood the use of those thirty-six meridians.
Without them cleverly channeling the Earth Pulse essence, he wouldn’t have been able to gather even this single strand of internal breath.
He raised a finger.
That strand of internal breath instantly materialized at his fingertip.
It had no temperature and no aura.
With a flick of his finger, the internal breath shot out the window and landed on the frozen stream.
Miraculously, it caught fire.
The ice was ‘ignited.’
And it didn’t even turn into water.
The flames danced in Li Mo’s pupils, reflecting astonishment deep within his eyes.
“If I don’t retrieve it, it will just keep burning like that.”
“Burning until the entire stream is consumed…”
“This internal breath can not only burn ice but can probably scorch other ‘fires’ as well…”
A moment of clarity dawned upon him.
Other martial artists’ internal breath definitely didn’t possess such exaggerated characteristics.
At most, they were just a bit tougher and had greater lethality.
But his internal breath could burn everything; it was just a matter of time.
“So how did this internal breath get into my body?”
Little Li identified a gap in his understanding.
Well, this probably could only be attributed to the incredible nature of the Xuanpin Immortal Body.
“In any case, I’m finally at the Internal Breath Realm.”
Li Mo finally laid down the huge boulder weighing on his heart.
He had, after all, twelve bottles of Earth Pulse Spirit Milk left.
He pulled out three bottles, keeping two for his mother, one for emergencies, and planned to use all nine remaining for his training.
Time to kick things off!
…
Upstairs.
The room was draped in snow white, frost sparkling everywhere.
The wooden bed creaked under pressure, almost frozen in place.
Ying Bing frowned slightly.
A faint fluctuation of internal breath could be felt.
That’s right, even at this moment, she was using the restless Taiyin energy to practice her cultivation.
It required enduring immense pain, but the rewards were even greater.
Taiyin was the essence of coldness and softness.
While it withered all things, it also contained the vital energy for all life.
Warm reminder: If you think this book is good, to avoid losing it next time, please remember to add it to your shelf.
“Time should be… just about right.”
Ying Bing raised her eyes to gaze at the brilliant moon.
It was midnight.
The system, always punctual, delivered a timely notification:
【Laying out all the talent rankings for the Eastern Wilderness Realm…】
【Conducting combat power comparisons for the host…】
The two tasks of the system were proceeding simultaneously.
Actually, she could just look at the ranking list.
As long as her name appeared at the top, everything else was self-evident.
“Phew…”
With icy breaths escaping from her mouth, a hint of seriousness appeared on her delicate face.
Not that she was worried about her position; rather, she was curious.
Besides Li Mo.
In this lifetime, would there be anyone else who would surprise her?
That young man, so different from his previous life, would be ranked how high?
In the freezing cold where water turns to ice, time seemed to lose all meaning.
【Ding dong—】
【The results of the first ranking have been announced.】
【Fiftieth in Eastern Wilderness Realm: Lin Jiang.】
【Forty-ninth in Eastern Wilderness Realm: Zhao Qin.】
…..
【Thirtieth in Eastern Wilderness Realm: Murong Xiao.】
……
Seeing the lines of text appear from the system, Ying Bing’s expression returned to calmness.
The system ranking did show some discrepancies from her memories.
For example, Lin Jiang and Murong Xiao.
Interesting, these two seem to know Li Mo?
So far, she hasn’t seen his name.
Well, that’s normal.
Li Mo’s sword is the same as the one she learned.
And today’s spar revealed things she hadn’t anticipated.
His name should be at least in the top twenty.
The text from the system continued to flow.
【Nineteenth in Eastern Wilderness Realm: Mei Ziguan.】
…..
【Fourteenth in Eastern Wilderness Realm: Luo Yu.】
【Thirteenth in Eastern Wilderness Realm: Zuo Qiuyang.】
….
Gradually, among the rankings, some names started to resonate with Ying Bing. Some were renowned in her previous life within the Eastern Wilderness Realm, while others carved their names in the chaotic storm across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
For instance, after the decline of the Qingyuan Sect, Luo Yu led the Burning Jade Valley to become the Ziyang Mansion’s leader.
And Zuo Qiuyang, who topped the test in the Trial of the Abyss and more recently became the infamous killer in Misty Rain Tower.
All rising talents.
As for the top ten, those were true elites.
A thought crossed Ying Bing’s mind.
She realized that Li Mo was not among them.
Had he entered the top ten?
No… it must be more than just the top ten.
【Fifth in Eastern Wilderness Realm: Zhong Zhenyue.】
【Fourth in Eastern Wilderness Realm: Han Zhen.】
【Third in Eastern Wilderness Realm: Shang Li.】
Seeing this, Ying Bing’s eyes finally revealed a glimmer of confusion and bewilderment.
These individuals would shine brightly in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths in the future, creating their own waves in the grand tide of destiny.
For example, Shang Li, the former Crown Prince of the Da Shang Dynasty.
Possessing the last vestiges of his kingdom’s fortune, later he made waves as he controversially restored his nation.
Then there was Han Zhen.
This person was rather mysterious, and Ying Bing only knew that his rise was astonishing. His martial arts seemed completely out of this era, possibly a remnant of an ancient power.
Could Li Mo surpass them just under his own power?
Just as this thought arose.
Ying Bing’s mind suddenly froze, her serene eyes shook violently.
【Second in Eastern Wilderness Realm: Ying Bing.】
She looked at herself.
