The fighting tutorial session of the Phoenix Sky came to an end.
According to the master’s orders, they had to continue tomorrow.
“More fighting tomorrow?”
Ke Mo walked into the kitchen with lifeless eyes.
This life was unbearable.
“Using the power of the world seed, the burden of the fruit is just too heavy…”
“Wait a minute, my internal energy?”
Just as he was about to light the stove and start cooking, Ke Mo noticed that his body had changed.
His internal energy was actually stronger now than before the brawl?
But all he did was take a beating!
“You’re starting to realize now, huh?”
“Hmph, ordinary folks want to be beaten by me? They don’t have that privilege yet.”
Shang Wu’s lazy voice drifted in as she resumed her casual pose, leaning against the doorframe.
Ke Mo pondered.
The field?
It seemed the beautiful master didn’t just release the field for no reason.
He had been taking the Earth Vein Spirit Milk for a long time; his essence must have lingered in his body, unable to be fully absorbed.
Was the master’s field helping him further refine that essence?
Also, his physical body seemed much more comfortable than before. The hidden fierce energy within him had been smoothed out.
It was a bit like…
A flash of Sun Wukong jumping into the furnace crossed Ke Mo’s mind.
“Thank you, Master.”
“I’ll treat you to some really, really good wine tonight.”
Ke Mo sincerely expressed his gratitude.
“Look who’s got a conscience now.”
The beautiful master huffed lightly, her hands that were tucked behind her back finally releasing the rolling pin.
“Hey? Where’s my rolling pin? How strange…”
Little Ke Mo looked puzzled.
He still planned to make dumplings that evening.
After a flurry of activity, dinner at Qiushui Pavilion was finally served.
Keeping his word, Ke Mo brought out the wine he mentioned.
Immortal Drunk.
A reward from the system that had only popped up twice, it was reputedly the best wine of all.
“You actually have this kind of awesome stuff!”
“I knew you were the master’s most obedient disciple.”
Shang Wu hugged the wine jar, her beautiful nose twitching as she took a couple of sniffs, instantly getting lost in the aroma.
With a blissful smile, she added, “Tonight, I’ll teach you the fifth skill that your master excels at—never getting drunk after a thousand cups!”
“……”
Ke Mo felt that maybe he didn’t really want to learn that.
Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned around.
“Finally, you’re back… Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Ying Bing shook her head, her eyes carrying a complex look, her face pale as if just before breaking through, and her throat a bit hoarse.
Ke Mo poured her some tea, looking thoughtfully at her.
Something felt off, very off.
Ying Bing was his number one investor; she absolutely couldn’t have any problems.
But if she wouldn’t share her issues, how could he…
No, wait a minute.
I have the heavenly mandate! Why am I second-guessing myself here?
Heavenly Mandate Divine Eye, activate!
[Name: Ying Bing]
[Age: 16]
[Root Bone: Taiyin Moon Phoenix Body.]
[Realm: Internal Energy Condensing Qi Level.]
[Fate: Crimson (Bearing the imperial bone, destined for the mysterious ice, with the autumn water as her spirit, holds the Phoenix Sky’s resemblance)]
[Evaluation: A life fraught with calamities, always able to turn misfortunes into blessings; though her wings are not yet fully developed, when the clouds and winds shift, she will soar high above the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the phoenix reigning over the Six Harmonies and Eight Wildernesses.]
[Recent Encounter: Foreseen an existence she cannot surpass, currently struggling to accept her defeat. A feeling of lack has arisen, causing her to doubt her martial prowess.
The Taiyin power has gone out of control, deeply rooted and residual within her body, leaving her in a weakened state.]
Ke Mo: “??”
Making Ying Bing feel defeated?
Who is this person, so formidable?
“You… you’re a lot stronger than yesterday.”
Ying Bing’s voice arrived softly, tinged with a trace of weakness.
“Me?”
Ke Mo pointed to himself, momentarily stunned.
“Yeah.”
“Besides the divine weapon, your internal energy is also extraordinary.”
Friendly reminder: If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your shelf so you don’t lose it next time!
Ying Bing sat at the stone table, looking somewhat frail.
Her heart was indeed in turmoil.
The system’s demands had taken the boy by surprise.
These weren’t the real reasons she felt this way, though.
The most crucial factor was returning to the ruins in last night’s dream.
She had begun to doubt her path, questioning the very persistence she held dear.
She wondered if she was still on the road to immortality, enduring tribulations, never truly having ‘ascended’…
She really couldn’t tell.
“…Me?”
Li Mo was left speechless for a moment.
Was it him that made Ying Bing withdraw into herself?
Oh, come on.
“How is that possible?” Li Mo instinctively waved his hands.
Ying Bing remained silent.
Shang Wu pondered seriously for a moment.
“Good disciple, you’re pretty strong.”
“If I were to suppress my powers and fight you, I’d probably win maybe six out of ten times. In a life-and-d*ath battle, your chances of winning would be even greater—maybe seven to three.”
Getting the compliment from the fighting king of Qingyuan Sect was pretty darn valuable.
Li Mo was caught off guard.
In his past life, he had been a salted fish, and he had long accepted his mediocrity.
What could he do? The internet was filled with various twenty-four-year-old paragons and fourteen-year-olds getting into Tsinghua, making him feel like an NPC just filling up space in this world.
But…
In such a short time, his changes genuinely seemed significant.
Significant enough that even he felt a bit unfamiliar with himself.
He had just felt that as long as he didn’t doubt himself too much, life would be alright—even with someone like Ying Bing, the fated daughter, just a little frost wouldn’t matter…
Thinking about it another way, wasn’t this just projecting his own feelings onto her?
If he struggled to accept the sudden success that had come to him, he could somewhat understand Ying Bing. After all, she was inherently cold and proud…
“This wine… tsk tsk.”
Shang Wu’s cheeks flushed; she was getting drunk quickly tonight, dumbly giggling as she started to mumble.
“Reminds me of the time I was down the mountain, wandering the martial world, in the tavern where storytellers…”
“The stories were quite interesting, but they loved to embellish, spreading rumors and slandering…”
At that, Shang Wu slammed her fist on the table.
Hearing that, Li Mo’s eyes lit up.
Storytelling…
“Hey? Precious disciple, have you heard of storytelling?”
Shang Wu rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head to ask.
Heard of it? More than that!
A mysterious smile crept onto Li Mo’s lips. “I have indeed heard many tales, and I know plenty that I bet you haven’t.”
“Pfft, please. I’ve read more books than you’ve used paper.”
Seeing that she didn’t believe him, Li Mo threw a quick glance at Ying Bing and cleared his throat.
“Don’t believe me? Then let me tell you a story.”
“Go for it.”
Shang Wu egged him on.
Although Ying Bing was still a bit out of it, she was intrigued.
His heritage was extraordinary; perhaps some of it included long-lost secrets?
Smack—
Li Mo slammed the table, channeling the aura of a seasoned storyteller:
“Ladies and gentlemen, two lovely guests.”
“My throat is parched, and I can’t tell a story without a drink. May I have a glass of wine?”
Little Li Mo was quite the performer.
Over time, Shang Wu and Ying Bing had seen many oddities.
“Tsk tsk, that’s got a nice vibe to it.”
“Go on, if you tell a good story, there might be a reward,” Shang Wu laughed, pouring him a cup of Immortal Drunk.
Li Mo took a sip, feeling warmth wash over him, his mind snapping into clarity.
The novels from his previous life were still distinct from the storytelling here.
But none of that could stump him.
Just needed some trimming and polishing.
Also, considering the audience, since girls loved stories with romantic elements…
“Today, I’ll tell a story titled ‘The Return of the Empress’.”
Ying Bing: “?”
Shang Wu: “Sounds interesting.”
Li Mo’s clear voice resonated:
“This story comes with a little poem.”
“Cold winds blow in the valley wind, spring and autumn cicadas cry…”
And so, the tale began!
