Chapter 165
A few people were momentarily stunned by the sight before them.
He removed the Qinglong iron mask and peeled away the Wuxiang liuli gauze, smiling as he said,
“Here we meet again. Surprised? Unexpected?”
As his words fell, the senior brothers and sisters of Qingyuan Sect emerged from the woods, including the supposedly ‘mortally wounded’ Ouyang.
“.....”
The dense forest fell into silence.
This King of the Northwest Hammer was none other than Li Mo.
A chill ran down their spines, their eyes wide with disbelief.
How... is he even here, enforcing the law like a fisherman?
---
**Chapter 171: New Punishment Announced**
Yunzhou.
In the vast expanse of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the horizon stretched endlessly.
Geographically, the Nine Heavens are divided into nine states, with the Central Divine State directly ruled by the royal family of Dayu, a place rich in talent and resources.
Yet, the other Nine Heavens and Ten Earths once basked in their own glory.
Take Yunzhou, for instance.
Yunzhou was home to many swordsmen, and before the emergence of Tianshan Sword Manor, it was the true sacred ground of swordsmanship in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Even the Martial Emperor of Dayu had once studied in Hengyun Sword City.
After handing over the assassins from the Drizzle Tower to the authorities, the members of Qingyuan Sect traversed the tranquil sea of the dense forest.
---
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by.
Outside Yunzhou City, a camp by the stream.
“Breaking through the Divine Realm is indeed not as easy as it seems.”
Inside a simple tent, Li Mo was observing the little figure in his dantian.
The intricate patterns on the little figure now numbered only seven, and he still had a long way to go before he could fully comprehend the Ice Block’s Ascension Diagram.
Of course, he could attempt to open the second acupoint now, as the strength of his consciousness was sufficient to support it.
But the stronger the consciousness, the broader the acupoint he could open.
Little Li wasn’t lacking in conditions.
Naturally, he aimed to perfect every step he took.
After breakfast, he went next door to Ying Bing’s tent as usual.
“Wait for me a moment.”
Inside the tent, the calm voice of the Ice Block resonated, accompanied by an inexplicable, strange fluctuation.
It didn’t seem like a breakthrough.
Could it be because of that sword technique?
In recent days, the two had been verifying each other’s progress daily. Li Mo practiced the “Dugu Nine Swords,” while Ying Bing was filling in the gaps in her newly learned divine-level sword technique.
Li Mo could sense that Ice Block was improving rapidly, and that sword technique was of no low grade.
Could it be related to the sword technique?
Forget it.
He would find out later with the Tianming Divine Eye.
“We’ll know if there’s an investment later.”
Li Mo shrugged and went to prepare breakfast.
Chef Li was in charge of cooking.
The other senior brothers and sisters busily tended the fire and washed the pots, working in an orderly fashion.
Before long, a pot of wild vegetable soup was ready.
“Li Shidi, have you finished writing that letter regarding the Drizzle Tower?”
“Yeah, once we reach Yunzhou City, I’ll hand it over to the disciples of Hengyun Sword City.”
Li Mo nodded and served a bowl of soup to Princess Xiao Jiang.
Hengyun Sword City in Yunzhou was akin to Qingyuan Sect in Ziyang Prefecture.
For any matters, it was safer to leave them to the local hosts.
Before long, Jiang Chulong suddenly perked up, turning to look back.
“What’s wrong?”
Li Mo was puzzled when he heard a sharp sound of a sword ringing out, startling the birds in the woods into flight.
Everyone stood up.
Following Jiang Chulong’s gaze, Li Mo looked over.
He saw the tightly closed tent moving on its own without any wind.
“I’m fine.”
A voice as tranquil as jade floated out.
Inside the tent, Ying Bing slowly opened her eyes, and there was a hint of ethereal clarity in her gaze.
The first three forms of the “Shenxiao Tianxin Sword” had almost no flaws left.
As she grasped the essence of the divine sword technique, her heart grew increasingly calm.
However, just as she was about to step outside...
【The host has completed the last punishment.】
【The third round of comparison will commence in thirty days; I’m sure the host can’t wait.】
【Would you like to activate the Loser’s Punishment? Once activated, the rewards will be even richer.】
Ying Bing paused slightly.
She furrowed her brows, feeling a twinge of hesitation.
The first time, she had no doubts, thinking it was a piece of cake, as if the system was handing her rewards for free.
The second time, she thought the last one was just a fluke...
What about this time?
Flashes of the past few days, the moments when Tianshuang and Chixiao clashed, flickered through her mind.
In their sword duel, he hadn’t won against her since that time.
In terms of realms, she had observed the forms of the Great Dao, one being the Taiyin and the other the Hundred Birds Phoenix form.
As for that divine weapon, it could easily be countered with the True Phoenix Feather.
To this day, Ying Bing still didn’t understand how Li Mo had managed to rank above her last time.
Oh right.
The Hengyun Sword Marks.
With the help of the sword marks, the Shenxiao Tianxin Sword could reach new heights.
“Losing isn’t scary.”
“What’s scary is losing the heart to seek the Dao.”
This was a truth Ying Bing had understood long ago.
It was also the essence of that divine sword technique.
【Loser’s Punishment activated successfully.】
【Punishment conditions have been determined.】
【Condition】: “Request the winner’s touch.”
【Requirement】: “At least eighty percent of the body’s surface area, okay~”
Crack.
A certain big-headed doll was suddenly gripped tightly by a delicate hand.
She... suddenly felt a bit regretful.
Requesting a touch?
She couldn’t even imagine asking for something like that!
She couldn’t lose...
This time, absolutely... must not lose...
The sword marks... she had to grasp and comprehend them...
“Ice Block, come out for breakfast; we’re getting ready to enter the city.”
Outside, Li Mo looked at the tent that had been silent for quite a while, puzzled.
“What’s taking Ice Block so long to come out...”
“Has she finished comprehending her martial arts?”
“Yeah.”
Jiang Chulong nodded cautiously.
“Then that’s strange...”
Just as Li Mo was wondering, a notification sound rang in his ears.
【Congratulations, host, for successfully investing in ‘Ying Bing’ and helping her comprehend the sword technique.】
【Investment feedback: “Nianhua Finger”】
From the name, it sounded like some kind of finger technique?
But he was too busy practicing his hammer and sword to have time for any finger techniques...
Li Mo took a sip of soup, puzzled as to why the system would issue such a reward.
【“Nianhua Finger”】: “A legendary finger technique that allows for precise stimulation of all body acupoints, truly a divine skill for relieving fatigue!”
“Warning: Do not use on the opposite sex, as it may lead to being reported.”
Pfft—
Li Mo sprayed the soup he had just sipped.
What the heck?
A legendary skill, and it’s a massage technique?
“What’s wrong, Li Dage?” Jiang Chulong hurriedly patted his back.
“Cough, cough, it’s nothing. I just thought of a brilliant martial art...”
Li Mo wiped his mouth.
Forget the massage; what did that last line mean?
Was this massage even legitimate?
---
**Chapter 172: What Divine Skill is He Researching? Bai Jinghong’s Greeting Style**
The carriage was slowly making its way toward Yunzhou City.
Li Mo sat inside the carriage, flipping through the booklet in his hands.
To be honest, he found the investment feedback utterly ridiculous and seemingly useless.
But he still had to read it.
Mainly out of curiosity.
A massage technique could become a legendary skill?
“First form, Wandering Through Mountains and Waters, what mountains? What waters?”
Li Mo leaned back in shock, utterly astonished.
This really was a legendary skill!
If he mastered it and worked at Chunfeng Tower as a technician, he would surely be exceptional.
Jiang Chulong looked on with curiosity.
“What’s Li Dage looking at?”
Unfortunately, just as she was about to lean in, Li Dage wouldn’t let her see...
By the tea table, Ying Bing rested the Tianshuang Sword across her knees, a cup of tea in front of her, her gaze slightly lowered.
The Yunzhou Martial Arts Summit would feature many martial artists who would soon make their names in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Just the top talents from the Potential Dragon List alone numbered four or five, along with many powerful figures who had been lying low for a long time.
Many of these prodigies viewed Hengyun Sword City as their first battlefield to test their swords against the world.
In a clash of experts, it was also a battle of spirit and will.
She certainly wasn’t worried about whether she could make it into the top three.
But the Shenxiao Tianxin Sword emphasized relentless forward momentum.
The more it accumulated strength, the stronger it became.
And that had to start from this moment.
“Eighth form... hiss...”
A gasp of astonishment escaped Little Li’s lips.
Ying Bing furrowed her brows slightly.
He... was researching new martial arts again?
“Twelfth form, wow... amazing, he’s truly a genius.”
Li Mo marveled.
Well, of course.
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