Chapter 481
As the discussion dragged on, words began to falter, and some even resorted to throwing mud, linking it to the divine power of the gods. The scholar himself, after finishing his speech, couldn't help but doubt whether he was being too outrageous, while a few colleagues looked at him with mild surprise.
What connection could Li Mo possibly have with the divine instant noodles? It was a bit of an awkward dig.
But that wasn’t what mattered.
What mattered was to show loyalty, to stand united with His Majesty.
Once everyone had expressed their opinions, the latter half of the Emperor Jingtai's statement floated down lightly:
“Indeed, heroes emerge from youth. As for Jiang Yu, life is never smooth sailing. It’s better to suffer some losses and lose a bit of face now than to become arrogant and reckless in the future, endangering the realm.”
“...”
The scene fell into a profound silence, broken only by the sound of slaps to the face.
But those who had managed to reach their current positions had long since developed thick skin.
“I’ve heard he’s known in the martial world for his benevolence and wide circle of friends. Indeed, seeing is believing.”
“Our Qianlong Conference has been held many times, always fair and just!”
“A hammer represents honesty and straightforwardness. How could anyone using a hammer be a bad person?”
“Your Majesty is wise!”
While the close ministers internally scoffed, wondering if this kid was the Emperor's illegitimate son, they praised him in unison.
The top spot on the Qianlong List changed hands without even waiting for the finals.
Chaos erupted throughout the imperial capital; this was indeed a shocking turn of events.
The scene outside the Wumen Gate was even more spectacular, no words needed.
“Divine Hammer Little Overlord! I’m your fan!”
“I love the Little Overlord, I love the Little Overlord!”
“Fake fans! It’s not a divine hammer, it’s a divine sword!”
“I suggest the Divine Hammer Little Overlord change his name to Divine Sword Little Gentleman.”
“Hey? What about the best sword in our village?”
Some were bewildered, some were excitedly cheering, and some were on the ground searching for the best sword in the village... the entire arena was a chaotic mess.
Meanwhile, Li Mo, who had truly indulged in the thrill of being a swordsman, didn’t even wait for the purple-robed eunuch to announce the results before stepping off the stage.
Enjoying the attention from all directions and the roaring cheers, he didn’t feel the joy he had imagined.
Was it the loneliness of being invincible, like Dugu Qiubai with his empty sword, while all the heroes stood helpless?
What a joke; he was only at the third realm.
“My dream isn’t just to show off as a swordsman in front of others, right?”
Li Mo found himself confused about what he was being sentimental about.
“Li brother!” Xiao Qin, not one for many words, looked at him with excitement.
“Old Li, you really won! Here, I still have some face-repairing powder left; use it to heal your wounds first.” Huang Donglai was heartwarming.
“We are the champions!” Murong Xiao shouted loudly.
The monks from the Longxiang Ancient Temple nearby looked bewildered; their junior brother, the one who could see through the void, hadn’t even competed yet. When did the match end?
The earlier chaos had almost made everyone forget that the Qianlong Conference wasn’t over yet.
“Li Mo still has a match with the Cold Fairy.”
“I’ll always support Ying Bing.” This was a fan of Bing.
“Even the Crown Prince lost; the Cold Fairy might not have a chance, right?” This was a champion fan.
“Does it matter who wins? We’ll all ship them anyway!” This was Shang Qinqing.
As Shang Qinqing spoke, she glanced over not far away, narrowing her eyes slightly.
How delightful.
She saw that Li Mo hadn’t accepted any post-match interviews or made any statements, seemingly indifferent to what had just happened. He walked straight through the crowd, and only when he saw Ying Bing did he reveal a relieved smile.
Not far away, Ying Bing had also shed her earlier aloofness. Her expression was like snow melting, pure and gentle, even her steps seemed lighter.
So, who won or lost didn’t matter at all.
For CP fans, they would always stand undefeated!
“Why don’t you say a few words?” Ying Bing turned her face, as if just realizing he had come down.
“It wasn’t really just my win; it was pretty exhausting,” Li Mo shook his head.
“I didn’t.”
Ying Bing shook her head.
She had indeed allowed Li Mo to merge with the divine sword for a brief moment during the connection with the Taiyin Yihun, but what happened afterward had nothing to do with him.
The sword’s essence opened its doors to him because he was the one holding the sword, not her.
“Didn’t you do what you always wanted to do? Aren’t you happy?”
“Not as excited as I imagined.”
Her delicate hand curled gently in his larger one. Ying Bing suddenly looked up, gazing at him earnestly.
Still that youthful face, with features unchanged.
But in her eyes, there was clearly a newfound depth...
She had to admit.
At times, being reborn and carrying the experiences of her past life, having been an empress and the master of the Gui Palace for so long, she often unconsciously placed herself in the position of her mentor.
Even though she had hardly ever won in the system’s rankings...
She still instinctively wanted to guide this exceptionally gifted young fool...
In a daze, he had already defeated the top of the Qianlong List, becoming the first in Longmen, admired by all the young heroes across the nine heavens and ten lands.
Just as she was lost in thought, Li Mo suddenly leaned closer to her ear, lowering his voice:
“Bing Tuozi, didn’t we agree to share everything?”
“Why bring this up all of a sudden?”
“What I mean is, since it’s like this, it doesn’t matter who wins. Let’s not fight later; I’ll just step down.”
“Why?” Ying Bing frowned slightly.
If she won against him again, it would basically secure her position as the top of the Qianlong List, an opportunity many dreamed of.
And she was also a bit curious.
In this system ranking, who would ultimately win...
“I just want to go back early. You know, my curiosity has always been strong. I’ve always wondered whether the feel of pearl white lotus is better or if the dark cloud gauze is superior.”
“.....”
Ying Bing’s breath caught, and she reached out to pinch his waist.
After pinching his waist, Ying Bing paused for a moment before saying:
“No way, we have to compete.”
“Alright then...”
---
**Chapter 539: So Who Won After All?**
On the arena.
The wind howled, a few blades of grass swept by in the breeze between the two swordsmen.
A scene of unparalleled swordplay, despite it still being early summer.
“Today’s wind is quite boisterous,” Wu Chushu, dressed in flowing robes and holding a long sword, said with a hint of melancholy.
“It’s a good day for a duel,” Xie Xuan, with his sword inverted and a straw in his mouth, replied with a resigned expression.
Wu Chushu sighed softly, squinting his eyes. “I’ve long heard that the Tianshan Sword Manor is a sacred place for swordsmanship, but that title originally belonged to my Hengyun Sword City. Today, I’m not here to prove I’m stronger than you, but to tell the world that what Hengyun Sword City has lost, I will reclaim with my own hands.”
As he spoke, he struck a very handsome sword pose.
“Please!”
“Uh, you go ahead,” Xie Xuan vaguely felt that this pose looked familiar, as if he had seen it not long ago.
“Please, you go first!”
Wu Chushu changed his pose again.
“... You really don’t need to keep posing.”
Xie Xuan’s lips twitched as he spat the grass root on the ground, pointing around:
“Even if you imitate Li brother perfectly, look around—are there any spectators left?”
“Is there anyone?~ Anyone?~ Anyone...”
His voice echoed in the silence, and Wu Chushu froze, turning around to find the surroundings empty.
He recalled Li Mo’s earlier stance, holding the divine sword with a thousand swords in the air, and felt a chill run down his spine. His mind trembled, so he had earnestly practiced for a long time.
Now that he had nailed the small poses, the wind was boisterous, and the atmosphere was set.
But no one was watching?
“How could this happen?” Wu Chushu felt as if struck by lightning.
“Isn’t the duel between Li Mo and Ying Bing more exciting? Why would anyone come to watch you and me?”
Xie Xuan, with no patience left, drew his sword:
“Get on with it; I’m waiting to go watch too. If you keep asking me to ‘please,’ I’ll stab you with one sword.”
“.......”
Wu Chushu was on the verge of tears.
Why was there Li Mo, but not Wu Chushu?
---
On the opposite arena, the scene was entirely different. It was bustling with people, discussions never ceasing, countless gazes fixed on the two on stage.
The world was focused on them.
The young man stood tall and handsome, his baby face having shed its fuzz, radiating a sunny charm. His face, at first glance, seemed non-threatening, evoking thoughts of a kind-hearted gentleman.
In contrast, under the hues of dusk, Ying Bing’s natural grace shone through. Her face, caught in the interplay of light and shadow, was cool yet beautiful, exuding a certain divinity.
If one had to describe it, she resembled a celestial being who had accidentally wandered into the mortal realm and fallen in love with a human.
Standing on the stage, despite the duel, there was no trace of tension, creating an oddly harmonious atmosphere.
“Get together, get together!”
“I suggest you kiss first.”
“Be serious; this sparring match could very well produce this year’s Qianlong champion.”
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