Chapter 74
“I mean, we could go to the Neiwudian cafeteria and have someone bring us some food.”
The highest alert at Qiushui Pavilion was lifted.
Shang Wu let out a sigh of relief, sizing up Ying Bing for a moment before suddenly noticing something was off. She exclaimed in surprise, “Little Bing, the power of your blood and energy has already become perfectly integrated.”
“You’re about to break through, aren’t you?”
She was referring to a major realm.
Ying Bing nodded slightly, her jade-like face showing little change, her tone as calm as the tea in her cup: “Tonight.”
Many martial artists spend their entire lives trapped outside the Inner Breath realm, unable to enter.
But the path she had walked in her previous life meant she wouldn’t encounter any bottlenecks this time.
It was merely a matter of circulating the twenty-four meridians of blood and energy, using the power of the Taiyin (the Yin of the moon) to break through to the Inner Breath realm.
For her, it was just a trivial advancement, hardly worth mentioning.
The reason she aimed to break through tonight was simply to be prepared for any eventuality.
In the system’s rankings, she had to be at the top.
---
**Chapter 70: The Final Meeting with the Ice Block**
“Lately, my precious disciple seems so tired, always out and about.”
“I wonder what he’s so busy with.”
Shang Wu mumbled as she watched the busy figure in the kitchen.
Her master had no idea about Xiao Li’s progress.
“He must be practicing his swordsmanship.”
Ying Bing withdrew her gaze.
These days, she was increasingly certain that Li Mo’s ability to ask those questions last time was no mere coincidence.
Every day, Li Mo would pose new questions about the sword path, many of which were extensions of yesterday’s inquiries.
What did this indicate?
It showed that he wasn’t slacking off; after their discussions, he was diligently practicing and researching.
That’s why he was out early and back late every day.
“He’s working that hard?”
Shang Wu blinked, a bit bewildered.
“He is indeed very diligent.”
A hint of appreciation flickered in the beautiful eyes reflected in her teacup.
If you were to ask her what had allowed her to ascend to the heavens in her past life, what would she say?
A heaven-defying physique?
Unparalleled talent?
No, for those truly qualified to reach the pinnacle of martial arts, those were merely embellishments.
Only perseverance mattered.
This was the most easily obtained yet easily lost treasure for anyone who swam against the current in the river of martial arts.
“Hey? So he’s made significant progress recently.”
Shang Wu’s cheeks flushed, her apricot eyes sparkling. “Then it’s time for Qunyu Peak to shine at the Jiufeng Martial Arts Conference!”
Actually, saying “shine” wasn’t quite accurate.
Qunyu Peak hadn’t participated for many years...
Shang Wu had long coveted the rewards of the Jiufeng Martial Arts Conference.
Based on the disciples’ rankings in the competition, the sect would provide substantial resource rewards, including but not limited to martial arts, elixirs, and rare treasures...
“I wonder what kind of rewards the champion of this conference will receive.”
The more Shang Wu thought about it, the more outrageous her imagination became.
The champion of the conference would be the current top disciple of Qingyuan Sect.
The rewards were even more extravagant.
“Rewards…”
Ying Bing poured herself another cup of tea, her thoughts drifting far away.
She couldn’t quite remember the other rewards clearly.
But there was one that had been consistent among the top three in every conference.
That was the privilege to select a supreme skill.
Thinking of this, Ying Bing gently caressed the Tian Shuang Sword.
The first owner of the Tian Shuang Sword had a sword technique that was among the supreme skills, just like the Chi Xiao Sword.
Those two supreme sword techniques complemented each other, resonating and validating one another.
To be precise, it was actually a single sword technique.
The “Riyue Jiaozheng Sword Technique,” originating from the Tianshan Sword Manor.
This was originally a martial art designed for two people to exchange insights through their swords and progress together.
Many throughout the generations of Qingyuan Sect had attempted to recreate the power of the two swords combined, but all had failed, primarily because they were missing the essence.
“Dinner’s almost ready, come lend a hand!”
At that moment, Chef Li’s voice rang out from the kitchen.
Ying Bing set down the Tian Shuang and walked into the kitchen.
Tonight they were having hot pot, and the broth was already prepared. Li Mo had his back to the door, busy chopping ingredients.
“Li Mo.”
“Hmm? By the way, you’re not eating spicy food lately, right?”
Li Mo was quite focused, not turning around.
“No, how’s your realm now?” Ying Bing asked.
Li Mo fell silent for a moment, then tentatively replied, “Peak of the late stage of the Qi and Blood realm?”
Ying Bing: “?”
Why not just say you’ve reached the completion of the Qi and Blood realm? What’s with all the extra qualifiers?
Actually, Xiao Li had his reasons.
While others reached the completion of the Qi and Blood realm with twelve meridians, he had opened thirty-five main meridians.
Clearly, this couldn’t be compared to the normal completion of the Qi and Blood realm.
“Then I won’t add any chili; we’ll have a clear broth tonight.”
Li Mo was also a bit curious and asked, “How’s your progress?”
“I’ll be entering the Inner Breath realm tonight.”
“Still, let’s add some spice; it wouldn’t be hot pot without chili.”
Ying Bing’s tone was calm, yet it felt as solid as a nail, showing no consideration for the possibility of a failed breakthrough.
Xiao Li wasn’t surprised by her response.
Just typical Ice Block behavior.
“Of course, you won’t stay in the Inner Breath realm for long. How’s your preparation for the Jiufeng Martial Arts Conference? I’ll add more garlic; I love garlic.”
“I’ll claim the championship at the Jiufeng Martial Arts Conference.”
“You can make yourself a garlic dip.”
The scene was a bit odd.
Amidst the astonishing information, they were discussing whether to add chili or garlic to the hot pot.
Neither of them felt any sense of incongruity.
“You’ve made great progress recently too.”
Ying Bing spoke softly, wrapping minced garlic in a small bowl with a glow of dawn.
“Compared to you, it’s nothing.”
As a descendant of the Yan and Huang, Xiao Li had always adhered to the traditional virtue of humility.
“There’s no need to be modest; I can feel your progress.”
Ying Bing’s gaze reflected Li Mo’s busy figure as she softly said, “Among our peers, aside from me, your swordsmanship is unmatched, and you have a chance to compete for a ranking.”
Li Mo paused for a moment, then casually smiled, “What’s the point of competing for that?”
“You’re not hoping to meet me in the finals, are you?”
Xiao Li really wasn’t interested in competing for rankings.
He didn’t lack the sect’s rewards.
“I hope you make it into the top three.”
Suddenly, a voice like jade hitting stone rang out.
Clang—
Li Mo was momentarily stunned and turned around.
The girl stood at the door with the hot pot, moonlight streaming down from behind her, casting a clear glow on her icy skin and delicate features.
The night breeze rustled the garment sewn by her mother, creating ripples...
“Alright, we’ll meet in the finals.”
Li Mo nodded.
“Mm.”
Ying Bing lowered her gaze and nodded.
Listening to the sound of footsteps fading away, Xiao Li turned back, looking at the knife in his hand that had chipped a bit and muttered, “Asking why just now would have been quite a mood killer, huh?”
Well, he didn’t know why Ice Block had such expectations of him.
But since he had promised, he would do it.
His swordsmanship wasn’t as high as Ice Block thought, but if it really came down to it...
He could always pull out a hammer.
...
The pleasant dinner time at Qiushui Pavilion came to an end.
Everyone returned to their rooms.
Li Mo, however, slipped out into the dark.
He was already quite tired today, but he planned to practice more. After all, he was getting closer to the Inner Breath realm, and he felt a bit excited, eager to know what that world was like.
The night grew deeper.
Gurgle, gurgle—
The water in the stone pool suddenly boiled, the millennia-old earth vein spirit milk’s medicinal power flowing into his body like starlight with his rhythmic breathing.
In his dantian.
Nourished by the abundant earth vein essence, the last lotus seed was finally planted.
The thirty-six lotus seeds within him were all perfectly round, radiating a precious light, surging with a blood and energy force as fierce as a dragon.
Li Mo didn’t stop.
Using the remaining earth vein essence, he began to attempt to break through to the Inner Breath realm.
According to the description of the Huoxin Shenglian method.
When the lotus seed breaks open, takes root, and sprouts, converting blood and energy into Inner Breath, that would be considered a success.
However, for Li Mo, who had never encountered a bottleneck before, this time he frowned.
“I can’t convert my blood and energy into Inner Breath?”
“Is the millennia-old earth vein essence ineffective? No... that doesn’t seem right...”
Opening his eyes, the blazing starlight flickered in Li Mo’s pupils as he began to ponder while feeling.
The effect of the earth vein essence was still powerful; that wasn’t the issue.
The problem lay with him.
He couldn’t condense his blood and energy into Inner Breath.
The sheer magnitude of the blood and energy from thirty-six main meridians was overwhelming.
Perhaps even the founder of the Huoxin Shenglian method hadn’t anticipated that a freak capable of condensing thirty-six lotus seeds would emerge, so they hadn’t considered this situation at all.
Table of Contents
