Chapter 29
If it weren't for the token hanging from his hand, his future would likely be no better than it is now.
He would probably return to the county, and under his father's arrangement, muddle through as the captain of the city guard.
Just as he was about to leave, something compelled him to activate his ever-open Tianming Divine Eye, and he began to scrutinize the crowd before him.
Suddenly, a multitude of information about the people around him appeared.
【Name: Wu Bing】
【Age: 19】
【Root Bone: None.】
【Realm: Qi and Blood Realm, Three Meridians.】
【Destiny: White】
【Evaluation: A Bing's martial arts achievements are rather disappointing.】
【Recent Encounter: Recently received news that the third husband of Widow Wang from the village has died, preparing to return home to pursue love.】
...
Looking around, most of the outer disciples who had voluntarily left Qingyuan Sect had destinies that were either white or gray.
There was hardly any investment value to be found.
Take this Wu Bing, for example.
What reward could he possibly offer for helping him pursue Widow Wang?
At best, a few copper coins; at worst, perhaps a special item, like Widow Wang's undergarment...
Of course, there are always exceptions.
【Name: Liu Hui】
【Age: 19】
【Root Bone: None.】
【Realm: Qi and Blood Realm, Three Meridians.】
【Destiny: Black】
【Evaluation: A poor unfortunate soul.】
【Recent Encounter: On his way home, fell victim to a scam, attempted to be a hero but ended up stabbed in the back by a woman and thrown into the river to feed the fish.】
...
After reading through the information, Li Mo let out a soft sigh.
At least he was still alive.
He couldn't claim to be indifferent to everything and everyone.
Even for those who were strangers, as long as there was no deep-seated grudge, he wouldn't want to see them die an unclear death.
“Liu Hui!”
“Uh... Huh? Li Zhenchuan?”
Liu Hui was momentarily stunned, pointing at himself, seemingly unable to believe that this Li Zhenchuan, who had risen to prominence, was calling his name.
He racked his brain, trying to figure out what connection he had with this person.
“May I ask, Li Zhenchuan, what do you need?”
“Will you be passing through Qinghe County on your way home?” Li Mo stepped forward to inquire.
“Uh... not really...” Liu Hui replied, confused.
Qinghe County? That was not just out of the way; it was practically a detour to his grandmother's house.
He could have taken the water route and floated downstream to get home, but if he went to Qinghe County, he would have to travel overland.
However, something even more bewildering happened next.
Li Mo pulled out a small gold bar, about the thickness of a thumb, from his sleeve.
“How about now?”
“Uh... yeah, it’s on the way, it’s on the way!” Liu Hui was quick to catch on.
Li Zhenchuan wanted him to make a trip to Qinghe County.
That little gold bar looked to weigh about four or five taels; it was enough to buy a house back home.
“Good, as long as it’s on the way.”
“Please help me deliver a message to County Lieutenant Li Dalong in Qinghe County…”
“Zhenchuan, please go on.”
...
Moments later, Liu Hui left with the gold bar, overjoyed.
Above his head, the black destiny had turned white.
His recent encounter now read: “Took a detour home, met the head of Yang Wei Escort Agency along the way, and became a bodyguard.”
And in Li Mo's ears, a crisp voice rang out.
【Congratulations, host, investment successful, saved a life.】
【Investment Return: Two years of martial arts insight.】
Although Liu Hui was not a person of great destiny, just an ordinary soul among the masses, he still brought Li Mo two years of martial arts insight.
“Well, that’s a pleasant surprise,” Li Mo said with a slight smile, not having thought too much about it.
Good things like martial arts insight are always welcome, whether in abundance or scarcity. Little by little, they add up.
So, he set about doing the same.
Five minutes later.
【Congratulations, host, investment successful, saved a life.】
【Investment Return: Two years of martial arts insight.】
...
Ten minutes later.
【Congratulations, host, investment successful, saved a life.】
【Investment Return: Two years of martial arts insight.】
...
Half an hour later.
【Congratulations, host, investment successful, saved a life.】
【Investment Return: Two years of martial arts insight.】
...
It must be said, this world is not particularly peaceful; natural disasters and human misfortunes abound, and there are indeed many unexpected encounters on the road home.
Some encountered fierce tigers, thinking their newly learned Liuhe Fist could withstand the pressure, only to end up as a meal.
Others fell victim to black-hearted shops, becoming human dumplings.
In short, Li Mo understood why his father had spent a fortune hiring escorts when he came to Ziyang City.
These unfortunate souls had also brought Li Mo considerable gains.
Eight years of martial arts insight accumulated!
If he were to receive another twenty or thirty years of insight, he might just be able to perfect a particular martial art.
“Before the sect trial, there will be a constant stream of people leaving the sect.”
“I can come to check every day, regularly refreshing my investments.”
Li Mo felt quite pleased.
There were still thirteen days until the sect trial.
Even if fewer and fewer people left later on, there was still a chance to gather seventy or eighty years of martial arts insight.
That would be enough to elevate several of his martial arts to a new level.
Li Mo scanned the crowd once more.
Hmm.
There were no more young men with black destinies.
Satisfied, he stepped forward, heading toward Shenbing Peak.
But that was fine; he could come back tomorrow.
He had just asked, and the disciples leaving the sect to return home would all come to the mountain gate in the morning.
After all, he planned to visit Shenbing Peak every day, so he would pass by here daily.
---
**Chapter 26: The Lesser Master of Rare Beast Peak in the Fourth Layer of Shenfeng Cave**
Time passed.
Ten days later.
The young man entered Shenfeng Cave.
The cold light within the cave reflected in his eyes, flashing with a sharp intensity for a moment.
Yet the harmless smile on his face made it almost seem like the earlier brilliance was just an illusion.
“Hey, Li Zhenchuan has arrived.”
“Junior Brother Murong was asking about you this morning.”
“Tsk tsk, training every day, Junior Brother Li, you must have a special physique like Junior Brother Murong, right?”
In these days, the disciples of Shenbing Peak had become somewhat familiar with Li Mo.
This was because Li Zhenchuan had no airs about him, treating everyone equally with a refreshing demeanor.
Last time someone got injured, if it weren't for Li Zhenchuan promptly producing healing medicine, that inner disciple's hand would have been ruined.
In just ten days, outsiders would have thought that Li Mo was the true disciple of Shenbing Peak.
After greeting everyone, Li Mo walked through the corridor and entered the second layer of Shenfeng Cave.
He did not activate the Extreme Weapon Body, yet felt no discomfort.
【Name: Li Mo】
【Age: 16】
【Root Bone: Xuanpin Immortal Body.】
【Realm: Qi and Blood Realm, Eight Meridians.】
【Destiny: ??】
【Evaluation: Possesses an immortal body, destiny is chaotic, future is uncertain.】
【Recent Encounter: In Shenfeng Cave, has tempered his body to the peak of a common weapon; with one more step, he can reach the level of a fine weapon.】
“If my physical body can be as resilient as a fine weapon, I could check out the fourth layer.”
“If not, I can use martial arts insight to perfect the Extreme Weapon Body.”
In ten days, he had accumulated seventy-six years of martial arts insight.
Not to mention perfection; even if he invested all of it into the Extreme Weapon Body, he might be able to push it to a transformative state.
But for now, it wasn't necessary.
Cross-training relies heavily on the word ‘practice’; to make progress, one must continuously refine oneself over time; otherwise, no matter how strong the theory, it remains just theory.
Unlike sword techniques, where each improvement adds to its power.
Stepping into the third layer, Li Mo walked to the end, took a Clear Heart Pill, and sat cross-legged.
...
At the entrance of Shenfeng Cave.
“Name.”
Noticing someone approaching, the inner sect steward spoke without looking up.
“Yin Huacheng.”
The newcomer replied calmly.
The inner sect steward was taken aback and quickly stood up.
Before him stood a young man in his twenties, slender and seemingly unable to fill out the cloud-patterned white robe.
His features were handsome but had a somewhat sickly pallor, and a black mole on his brow darkened his overall aura.
Of course, the steward's attitude was not due to Yin Huacheng's status as a true disciple.
The current master of Rare Beast Peak also bore the surname Yin.
“Ah, it’s Yin Zhenchuan! Long time no see. How is Master Yin doing?”
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