Chapter 311
The border army stationed in Qingmu City for quite some time had a deep understanding of the various tribes in the southern regions. They did not harbor much hostility towards the ordinary demon clans, and occasionally, there would even be cooperation.
For instance, the fields surrounding Qingmu City were plowed by the Qingniu demon clan.
After exchanging pleasantries, Li Mo went to the kitchen to request more grilled skewers and dumplings.
When he saw Shang Qinqing, he had a rough idea of what had happened.
On their way back to Qingmu City with Bing Tuozi, they hadn’t encountered any high-grade disaster beasts, which was likely due to the efforts of those demon clans who had held them at bay.
Regardless of the reasons, they had done him a great favor.
Moreover, he had a request concerning the power of all beings.
Many disaster beasts had perished in the southern regions, which meant that numerous towns had lost their "Wuling Laoye" (spiritual guardians).
Through his experiences, Li Mo understood that simply killing the "gods" before them was futile; the ignorant common folk would always have an idol in their hearts, one that could not be toppled in a day.
It had to be a gradual process.
Thus, it was quite reasonable for him to collect some power of all beings along the way...
Before long, a group of skilled martial artists, adept in the art of symbolic martial arts, gathered in the military tent.
The demon kings and great demons, aside from the already familiar Wu Qing, had rather complex expressions.
After all, these two little ones had taken the Celestial Jade right under their noses and were regarded as the hope for the future of the demon clans.
"Ah, Wu... Li Mo, Ying Bing..."
A middle-aged member of the Giant Whale clan sighed.
"There are reasons for everything, so please forgive me. But what I said before was from the heart."
Li Mo wore a serious expression as he brought over a large pot of dumplings.
"We will continue to share the Celestial Jade with everyone regularly."
"Wow, these dumplings are really delicious! How did you come up with this recipe?" Guo Chuan exclaimed, gulping down a bowl of dumplings as if it were soup.
"Tsk, what a pity, what a pity."
Tu Tou Peng Lingyuan, munching on skewers, muttered with a tearful expression:
"I’ve been pondering a question for a long time: what kind of offspring can a true phoenix and a true dragon bloodline produce?"
"But you guys are actually human..."
"Didn’t I just wish you both a prosperous future?!"
...
P.S.: Little Pu Jie is suffering from ear ringing today and is applying for an early bedtime. The update from last night will be made up tomorrow. Mwah!
Seeking support for a recharge.
---
Chapter 338: Am I Not a God?
"What are you talking about? It’s too early for that."
Li Mo felt a black line forming on his forehead. Although he had lived two lives, he was only sixteen in this one, and it would be three months before he turned seventeen.
"Not too early," Wu Qing recalled.
"When I met Feng Ge and gave birth to Xiao'er, I was only a little over a hundred..."
In terms of demon age, a hundred years was roughly equivalent to fourteen years for humans.
"You can't generalize the physical conditions of demons and humans," Li Mo waved his hand.
Shang Qinqing glanced at the serious-looking Li Mo and then at Ying Bing, who seemed unfazed, her gaze drifting as if she hadn’t heard anything, yet her lips were pursed.
Bing Tuozi didn’t quite understand what they were talking about.
Shang, the clan leader, couldn’t help but smirk:
"It’s quite common for humans to have children at sixteen in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, but before that, they need to get married first."
"Clan Leader Shang used to oversee marriages, and everyone had to go through Qingluan’s witness."
Wu Qing acknowledged Shang Qinqing’s authority in this matter.
"When you two decide to get married, how about I officiate the ceremony?"
Shang Qinqing asked with a smile.
She didn’t ask if they planned to get married; she directly offered to officiate, proving she was indeed the former goddess of love! Her approach was lethal and so subtle!
"Uh? This..."
Li Mo was about to speak when a dumpling was shoved into his mouth.
Ying Bing retracted her chopsticks and said softly, "Slow down, be careful not to choke."
Shang Qinqing was undeterred and wanted to push for something bigger:
"By the way, I have a set of phoenix crown and bridal attire, a treasure left by a former empress. Wearing it for your wedding would surely symbolize a love as strong as gold. How about I gift it to you, Xiao Bing?"
"Such a precious item?" Li Mo blinked.
Ying Bing tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Li Mo, are we going to celebrate the New Year at home this year? Let’s bring some local specialties from the southern regions for Uncle and Aunt."
Li Mo thought for a moment and nodded, "Like some local clothing from the southern regions?"
Ying Bing’s eyes flickered. "Or maybe some snacks, and tea..."
"....."
Shang Qinqing puffed her cheeks, feeling frustrated.
Not getting to the point made her unhappy.
Just as she was about to speak, Ying Bing interjected, "Li Mo, didn’t you have something to ask the elder demon clans? Time is of the essence."
"Right, this matter is quite important."
Li Mo clasped his hands together, his expression serious:
"I’ve heard that many disaster beasts are sustained by the power of all beings. Does that mean as long as there are still believers, they will eventually revive?"
"That is indeed the case."
Shang Qinqing huffed, feeling that while this was important, it wasn’t as pressing as the topic of having children.
"Actually, things are much better than before. The disaster beasts were much stronger in the past. It was only after the arrival of the Southern King that things improved significantly."
When Wu Qing was young, the southern regions were essentially ruled by disaster beasts.
That was why the Mingjiao clan chose to risk everything and move to the human territories rather than stay in the southern regions.
Later, after sneezing too much, they were driven out.
It was during that time that the Southern King came to the southern regions.
He expanded the territory of Dayu in the south significantly and gradually integrated many locals into the Central Plains, with Qingmu City being one such example.
Most of the people in the southern regions no longer revered the Wuling.
If Emperor Jingtai had continued to support this effort, perhaps the Southern King could have further expanded the territory, and the disaster beasts would have been weakened or even eradicated.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.
Li Mo asked, "So can we make people stop believing in the Wuling?"
"That’s easier said than done."
"Yeah, many humans in the southern regions are less cultured than us."
"I just need to become their god, right?"
With that, Li Mo straightened up, snatching a dumpling from Ying Bing’s chopsticks and swallowing it whole!
"....."
The tent fell silent for a moment.
The demons exchanged glances, all taken aback by the astonishment in each other's expressions.
"You want to absorb the power of all beings?"
Shang Qinqing’s eyes widened as she looked at Li Mo’s serious face, signaling Ying Bing with her eyes.
Your future husband has lost it! Aren’t you going to do something about it?
Ying Bing furrowed her brows.
She knew Li Mo well enough to understand he wasn’t the type to act recklessly. His sudden mention of absorbing the power of all beings might have some preparation behind it.
"This power of all beings isn’t easy to absorb."
"Exactly, while you might become very powerful in a short time, you’ll constantly be influenced by the mixed thoughts within the power of all beings, potentially turning into a different person. And once you lose faith, you’ll vanish as well."
"Right, can’t you see, Clan Leader Shang, that you still don’t grasp the seriousness of the situation?"
"?"
Shang Qinqing’s love for gossip indeed had its reasons.
Though she wasn’t a Wuling, many who yearned for love across the southern regions and the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths would pray to her.
"Everyone, rest assured, I’m not cultivating through the power of all beings; I have other uses for it."
"And I have methods similar to the Yinyuan Tree that can purify the power of all beings, though the amount purified will be relatively small. It might not be enough for training..."
Li Mo didn’t hold back.
Seeing his expression, the demons finally relaxed.
"I have a form of symbolic martial arts that can transform into other races. If many tribes in the southern regions believe in the demons I transform into, they won’t provide the power of all beings to the disaster beasts anymore."
"But how can you make them believe in you?" Wu Qing asked.
The other demons were eager to see this matter come to fruition.
They would be more than happy to see the disaster beasts disappear from the southern regions.
Li Mo cleared his throat, adopting a cool demeanor like Bing Tuozi, as if everything was under control:
"Then I’ll need the cooperation of all you elder demon clans for my performance."
"Don’t worry, I was the Best Actor at the first Golden Statue Awards. If you cooperate with me, it’ll be seamless!"
"......"
"How do we perform?"
"Specific situations require specific analyses; it depends on the actual conditions of different tribes."
Li Mo took out a map.
Just as he was about to discuss it with everyone, Tu Tou Peng Lingyuan pointed at the map in confusion:
"Li Mo Mountain... Li Mo River... Li Mo Village?"
Table of Contents
