Chapter 119
If it weren't for the fact that he had made quite a bit of money recently, he wouldn't even be able to light up the "Fiery Lotus Secret Technique."
Just as Xiao Li was pondering how to respond, Ying Bing suddenly spoke up from across the table.
"Are you really planning to pursue the path of 'Technique Approaching Dao'?"
Li Mo replied, "Uh, yeah, yeah."
No need for further explanation. Bing Tuozi would fill in the gaps herself.
"It's very difficult."
"Even with your talent."
Ying Bing's voice was soft.
Not just in swordsmanship, but in any discipline, the concept of "Technique Approaching Dao" existed.
Throughout history, countless prodigies had attempted it, like fish crossing a river, yet...
None had succeeded.
It seemed like a mockery from the heavens, a chasm dividing mortals from immortals.
Even Jiang Chulong, later recognized as unparalleled in the sword path, was still far from exhausting the principles of swordsmanship.
"I know."
Li Mo nodded without hesitation.
Though he had no idea what Bing Tuozi was imagining, he had a clear understanding in his heart.
Huh? Me? Technique Approaching Dao!
Impossible, utterly impossible!
Technique Approaching Dao? Not a chance!
Xiao Li was acutely aware that this was merely a way to rack up rewards!
He chuckled and turned back to practice his swordplay.
"Are you really going to do something you know is impossible?"
Ying Bing murmured softly.
Whoosh—
The night breeze rustled, and the moonlight fell like frost.
The young man swung his sword at times, lost in thought at others, each time growing stronger than before.
For a moment, it felt as if time had lost its meaning in his presence.
Martial arts was a vast river, and those legendary sword geniuses were like stars in a clear sky.
Perhaps...
No matter whether he could reach the end of this path, he would surely shine brightly in the river of martial arts, right?
Leaves rustled, making a soft 'rustle' sound.
"Beware of Han Zhen in the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm."
She said no more and quietly turned to head upstairs.
Watching Bing Tuozi's retreating figure, Li Mo recalled seeing that name somewhere before.
The author of "Chronicles of the Divine Shape"?
No, that book was from many years ago; if the author were to be counted, they would be thousands of years old by now.
A namesake prodigy?
...
In the Seed of the World.
Taking advantage of the fact that Princess Xiao Jiang hadn't arrived yet, Li Mo began to survey this little world that belonged solely to him.
"It's grown so much since before."
Before his eyes, the current little world was now hundreds of times larger than it used to be.
Just like his own realm.
The buildings, however, remained the same, making everything feel quite empty.
Snap—
Li Mo snapped his fingers.
The scenery in the little world shifted, everything transformed, and it instantly became the seaside villa he had worked hard for in his past life, which had finally allowed his boss to afford it.
Within a radius of several miles, this villa even had a garden; it took ten minutes just to walk to the bathroom.
"To see the sea, there naturally needs to be... a sun?"
Li Mo gazed at the ocean and reclined in a rocking chair.
With a thought, a shadow of a sun appeared in the sky.
Of course, it was just a shadow, merely a facade, far from a real sun.
"If I condense a Xuan Dan, I could probably create a real sun in this little world, right?"
"Still feels like something's missing..."
Li Mo looked out at the sea.
Sunshine, beach... cough.
When could he invite Bing Tuozi and the beautiful master in here, dressed in swimsuits? That would be perfect...
Thinking of this, Xiao Li touched the Panjie Meteor Hammer, giving it a gentle shake.
Suddenly, he felt something, and the Wuxiang Liuli Sha (Formless Glazed Silk) instantly enveloped him.
"Teacher...?"
"Where is this?"
Princess Xiao Jiang looked around, confused yet curious.
"Ah, this is just a place where I usually relax. After your training, you can come here to play."
The Celestial Master casually replied.
"Then... then..."
Jiang Chulong lowered her head, her small hands fidgeting.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered the courage to say:
"Can I... bring Brother Li along?"
"Huh?"
The Celestial Master was momentarily puzzled by her words.
Jiang Chulong's heart tightened, and her delicate body trembled slightly.
She thought the Celestial Master might be angry.
After all, this was the teacher's secret place; how could she casually bring someone else?
"Teacher... I..."
"...You can."
The Celestial Master nodded gently.
"Really... really?"
Jiang Chulong didn't dare lift her little head to look at him.
"Focus on your training. Once you break through, I will agree."
As the Celestial Master spoke, he waved his sleeve lightly.
Instantly, the sunny beach villa vanished.
What reappeared, however, was not the old Taoist temple.
"Master... where... where is this?"
In the new location, Jiang Chulong clung tightly to a branch, cautiously surveying her surroundings.
Beneath her feet was a sea of white clouds, and not far away, a purple-gold Eight Trigrams Dan furnace lay toppled.
The building behind her was less of a Taoist temple and more like a palace.
The shining plaque indeed read:
'Doushuai Palace.'
"A lost corner of the Heavenly Court."
The Celestial Master spoke slowly, carrying an endless sense of nostalgia.
It was as if he had returned to an old place, filled with unspoken sighs.
"How... how did this happen?"
Jiang Chulong dared not wander around but was filled with curiosity.
"If you want to hear a story, I must first test your progress."
The Celestial Master chuckled lightly.
With a flick of his hand, he tossed a small blade of grass, which transformed into a grass puppet.
It could be controlled by Li Mo, who would use it to demonstrate his sword techniques.
Well...
The Celestial Master had such high standards; of course, he couldn't take the stage himself!
Speaking of which, Li Mo had a sudden inspiration.
He just happened to plan to renovate the Seed of the World, giving Princess Xiao Jiang a new training environment, so he simply said this was the Heavenly Court.
A quarter of an hour later.
The branch pierced the grass puppet's throat.
Yet Jiang Chulong stood still, as if she had gained some insight.
[Congratulations, host, you have successfully invested in 'Jiang Chulong's' superior sword technique and helped her gain clarity.]
[Two investment returns: a total of 150 years of martial arts insight.]
...
Thus, ten days later.
Xiao Li had spent an incredibly fulfilling ten days.
By taking advantage of price differences, he earned five hundred years of martial arts insight.
His daily training sessions had transformed from a small waterfall to the peak of Dan Ding.
The lotus in his dantian had already bloomed with nine leaves.
Just one step away, and he could enter the realm of Xuan Dan.
The day to return home had finally arrived.
The Blood Phoenix Secret Realm was in Qinghe County.
Xiao Li's hometown.
---
Chapter 118: Departing for Qinghe County
Early morning.
At Qiushui Pavilion.
"Still a bit short of the Xuan Dan realm."
Li Mo shook his head.
For most people in the Inner Breath Jade Liquid realm, even with good talent, it was normal to be stuck for three to five years before reaching Xuan Dan.
His current rate of progress was already something that countless people could only dream of.
"With the Seven Settlements of Heaven and Earth, I can now perform the sixth settlement."
"My swordsmanship... hmm, even cooler!"
Xiao Li was now unmatched in the Inner Breath realm, just using his sword.
After finishing breakfast, he ate while glancing at the room on the second floor.
"Two types of Inner Breath combined, tsk tsk."
Shang Wu squinted her apricot eyes:
"Even without entering Xuan Dan, her Inner Breath strength is enough to take down most in the Xuan Dan realm, making those in the Observation God realm wary."
"....."
Li Mo fell silent for a moment.
He was pondering whether this counted as him cultivating with himself.
That meant he wouldn't need to practice "Phoenix Crying in the Sky" with her anymore.
Well... the second layer was still a possibility.
But that would be after entering the Observation God realm.
Bringing his thoughts back, Li Mo began checking the essential items for his trip.
As he checked, he casually asked:
"Master, aren't you planning to go to Qinghe County this time?"
After seeing Shang Wu not take things too seriously during her last outing, Xiao Li felt that having her around would definitely provide a sense of security.
"Hmph, not going."
Shang Wu huffed lightly, clearly displeased:
"Those old men said I've worked hard enough, so they won't let me come along this time."
Li Mo tentatively suggested:
"Is it possible they're afraid you'll get into a fight with people from other sects?"
"Come, come, come, before we set out, let me see if you've regressed."
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