Chapter 34
**Age: 19**
**Root Bone: None.**
**Realm: Four Meridians of Qi and Blood.**
**Destiny: Black**
**Evaluation: Among the masses, there is little to commend.**
**Recent Encounter: On his way back home from the mountain, he encountered a cultist of the Demon Summoning Sect, was implanted with a beast seed, and died from having his essence devoured.**
**Name: Duan An**
**Age: 18**
**Root Bone: None.**
**Realm: Two Meridians of Qi and Blood.**
**Destiny: Black**
**Evaluation: Among the masses, there is little to commend.**
**Recent Encounter: On his way back home from the mountain, he encountered a cultist of the Demon Summoning Sect, was implanted with a beast seed, and died from having his essence devoured.**
...
These two were not isolated cases.
Li Mo looked around, the scene before him dark and oppressive; every disciple returning home bore a black destiny above their heads.
Everyone here was destined to die.
And their deaths followed a similar pattern.
“Demon Summoning Sect?”
Li Mo furrowed his brows tightly.
After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly stepped in front of the group of disciples.
“Brothers, please wait...”
“I have stored ten thousand taels of silver at Fanghua Tower, but since joining the Qingyuan Sect, I’ve resolved to focus on martial arts and figured I wouldn’t need it.”
“Since you’re heading home, why not enjoy a few days of feasting and fun? Help me spend that silver, and it’ll put my mind at ease.”
...
Ten minutes later.
Li Mo had a pile of investment returns waiting to be collected.
His martial arts insights added up to a total of one hundred and ten years, along with various odds and ends.
Well, he had successfully convinced those returning disciples to go to Fanghua Tower.
Fanghua Tower was the liveliest entertainment spot in Ziyang Prefecture, frequented by officials and nobles, with the cheapest overnight stay costing thirty taels of silver.
Naturally, it was also a safe place.
When they heard that they could enjoy food and fun at Fanghua Tower for free, everyone was overjoyed.
Such a good deal?
They were practically ready to call Li Mo “Uncle” right then and there!
Seeing their excited expressions, it was clear they wouldn’t want to leave without having a good time for a few days.
“The Demon Summoning Sect doesn’t seem to be one of the three sects of Ziyang Prefecture.”
“It doesn’t sound like a legitimate sect...”
Li Mo withdrew his gaze and headed toward Shenbing Peak.
This world was certainly not a law-abiding society.
Thinking too much was pointless; the real task was to grow stronger.
...
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
Qiu Shui Pavilion.
“It seems I can reach a maximum of ten meridians.”
Li Mo stood up, stretching his legs that had grown stiff from sitting all night, and opened a nearby bundle.
Inside were two garments, one black and the other indigo, both made of fine Songjiang brocade.
Little Li immediately recognized that these were crafted by his mother.
There was also a letter from home.
“My dear son, as you read this, it feels like we’re together.”
“You and Xiao Bing have both become true disciples of the Qingyuan Sect? Good, good, good! My son is truly exceptional!”
The handwriting was a bit messy, indicating that his father had been so excited while writing that he struggled to hold the pen steady.
Li Mo couldn’t help but chuckle as he continued reading.
“Now that you’re a true disciple and practicing martial arts, you should mature a bit. Change that reckless nature of yours; you can’t keep being so mischievous like before.”
“A real man should settle down and start a career; it’s time for you to consider a marriage proposal.”
“Be especially good to Xiao Bing. You two have known each other since childhood, and now you’re both true disciples of the Qingyuan Sect. This is fate bestowed upon you by heaven.”
“Being close to the water’s edge means you’ll get the moon first; open your eyes and seize this opportunity!!!”
It was clear.
His father was a bit anxious, and he wrote with great emphasis at the end.
He couldn’t wait to hold a chubby little grandson next year.
Li Mo: “...”
Who understands family? In my last life, I was pressured to have kids at twenty-six.
In this life, at sixteen, I still can’t escape the marriage pressure.
Well, it’s quite common for men in Dayu to marry at sixteen.
“Is this my problem...?”
Li Mo felt a bit of a headache.
It was hard to imagine the virtuous wife and mother that Bing would become.
Not to mention.
Just the thought of the two of them sleeping in the same bed at night sent a shiver down Little Li’s spine.
“It seems I’ll have to disappoint my father.”
Li Mo shook his head and changed his clothes.
In just half a month, the boy in the mirror had become more defined, looking even more radiant and sunny.
His once frail body had transformed into one with distinct muscles, the kind that looks slim in clothes but fit without them.
Wearing the outfit his mother had sewn, anyone who saw him would have to praise him as a dashing young man.
Well, if you ignore the playful waterfowl design on the fabric.
“Ying Bing, your mother made you new clothes.”
Li Mo held the garments and knocked on the door next door.
Recently, during the plum rain season, the air was humid, and the door had frozen shut, making a loud sound when he knocked.
“Just leave it at the door.”
A voice clearer than ice cubes came from inside.
Li Mo nodded and went to prepare breakfast.
Before long.
Footsteps echoed from the stairs.
Li Mo instinctively turned around, and the bun in his mouth fell silently.
Ying Bing stood there, her head slightly bowed, her beauty shining in the morning light, her long hair tied up in a high ponytail swaying behind her.
The fitted clothing accentuated her graceful figure.
Her legs were impossibly long, and the black gauze clearly outlined the curves of her legs.
Black... stockings?
Li Mo realized that it must be a material called Wuyun Sha, thin yet durable, resistant to cold and high temperatures.
Moreover, it was quite expensive; such protective gear was far more costly than weapons.
The person who invented this was truly a genius.
“I’ll wait for you at Wangyue Cliff for an hour.”
“Try to hurry.”
Ying Bing spoke suddenly.
“Wangyue Cliff? Why?”
Li Mo was puzzled as to why she suddenly mentioned this.
Clearly, Bing had no intention of explaining.
Curiosity piqued, Li Mo activated his Destiny Divine Eye.
**Name: Ying Bing**
**Age: 16**
**Root Bone: Taiyin Moon Phoenix Body.**
**Realm: Ten Meridians of Qi and Blood.**
**Destiny: Red (Bearing imperial bones, with Xuanbing as her fate, and Qiushui as her spirit, she has the appearance of a phoenix in the sky.)**
**Evaluation: Her fate is fraught with tribulations, yet she can always turn misfortune into fortune. Though her feathers are not yet fully grown, when the winds and clouds change, she will surely soar high above the heavens and earth, a phoenix reigning over the six realms.**
**Recent Encounter: Participated in the sect’s trial, planning to go to the Nine-Colored Yuan Phoenix inheritance site to obtain one of the Yuan Phoenix’s nine souls, the ‘Xia Soul,’ and intends to bring along a ‘burden’ as a favor.**
---
**Chapter 30: The Trial Begins, Encountering the Demon Summoning Sect Again**
From the carriage, Li Mo gazed into the distance and could already see the Beast Treasure Peak.
Beast Treasure Peak was the last peak of the Qingyuan Mountain Range and was closest to the wilderness.
Ahead, a large crowd of inner and outer disciples was clearly divided.
But without exception, they were all new disciples who had yet to participate in the sect’s trial.
As soon as the sect leader’s carriage came to a stop, it instantly became the center of attention.
“Is that the true disciple Ying Bing?”
“Wow... this junior sister is stunningly beautiful.”
“Keep it down; I heard she’s at the Eight Meridians of Qi and Blood. I heard it from Elder Qian Bufan’s true disciple, and she was even granted a set of Wuyun Sha inner armor.”
“How long has she been in the sect? Eight meridians? What a prodigy!”
“Is there really someone who can take the top spot in the sect’s trial in their first year? That would be astonishing.”
“Who’s that next to her?”
“That’s Li Mo, who entered the sect with her.”
“I know, Li Mo is a really good guy!”
Hearing the discussions around him, Li Mo couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Thanks, but I prefer to do good deeds without seeking recognition; no need to hand me a good guy card.
“Wangyue Cliff seems to be deep in the trial area.”
Scanning the map, Li Mo found the place where he had agreed to meet Ying Bing.
The deeper one went into the trial area, the stronger the beasts became.
Wangyue Cliff was quite remote, and along the way, they would have to pass through the territories of many late-stage and even peak-level ninth-grade beasts.
If one didn’t have some skills, it would be impossible to venture there.
“An hour...”
Li Mo looked at Ying Bing, who had moved to the front of the crowd, and silently encouraged himself.
Don’t underestimate us time travelers!
Suddenly.
Li Mo noticed a familiar gaze fixed intently on him.
Wang Hu.
At this moment, Wang Hu still wore that defiant expression, but a hint of illness in his demeanor made him appear shadowy.
Locking eyes with Li Mo, he blankly drew his hand across his throat, making a slashing gesture.
“What’s this guy up to now?”
Li Mo felt speechless, but instinctively sensed that something was off with him.
So, he focused and activated his Destiny Divine Eye.
**Name: Wang Hu**
**Age: 16**
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