Chapter 489
As he recalled the time when he and Ying Bing first arrived at Ziyang Mansion, it truly felt like ice. Just lingering his gaze on her for more than two seconds, or being within three meters of her, could result in the chilling stare of an ice block, making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
The term "ice block" had become a catchphrase back then.
If such a "misunderstanding" had occurred at that time, how would he have explained it?
Well, he probably wouldn’t have had the chance to explain at all. Before anything could happen, the wicked big pig's hoof might have waved goodbye, sailing away from his body.
Back then, the ice block's "keep your distance" was about life, not about being a stranger...
Only he could see the bad side of the ice block when it came out to play.
Buzz—
The vibrations in his little world disrupted his thoughts, and Li Mo hurried back to his room, lying down on his bed.
.....
What little Li didn’t know was that Ying Bing, leaning against the door, watched as his footsteps faded away. The smile she had feigned gradually dissipated, replaced by a hint of confusion.
Having been reborn, she often regarded Li Mo as a childish fool.
In short, how could a mere Li Mo be someone I, the Phoenix Empress, can’t handle?
But just now, little Li had turned the tables and even threatened her...
【Congratulations, host. You have successfully ranked first in this system's leaderboard.】
At that moment, the hour of the rat had passed.
Hearing the system's notification, Ying Bing felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart.
If she had heard that she had become number one before, she would have thought it was only natural, nothing to be surprised about.
Now, however, she felt a bit relieved...
“No need for punishment anymore,” Ying Bing murmured softly.
【Not necessarily.】
Ying Bing: “?”
【Host, please do not doubt the system's integrity. This system is honest and never goes back on its word. The mandatory punishment indeed does not need to be carried out.】
To seemingly validate its statement, the system's punishment of 【Planting forty-nine strawberries and calling your husband】 slowly faded away.
【But don’t you think... you’ve taught him too well? And now that he knows everything, his courage is growing. Can you guarantee he won’t act without punishment?】
Sitting on the bed, the ice block instinctively touched her ivory-white neck.
Images of herself teaching him how to reinforce seals in the small grove floated in her mind...
“I can only guarantee myself...”
---
Chapter 549: Breaking Through
【Congratulations, host. You have successfully invested in Jiang Chulong, helping her defeat the Black Dragon projection.】
【Investment Feedback】: “Black Dragon Blood.”
“Five Dragon Bloods can forge divine weapons. Now, only one more type is needed, and the five Dragon Bloods will be complete.”
On the carriage, Li Mo examined the translucent jade bottle in his hand.
He could feel the deep and powerful energy within, just like the other few bottles of blood.
He didn’t dare to take out the dragon blood all at once.
For some reason, even though they were all from the dragon clan, the various bloods seemed to act like enemies. The moment they sensed each other’s aura, they would inexplicably boil, their powers clashing in the void.
“If they were forged into a divine weapon, where would they rank on the divine weapon list?”
Little Li often considered himself a gentleman and a dashing swordsman.
But to be fair, he had to admit that he was naturally suited for blacksmithing, harboring a deep-seated expectation for forging divine weapons.
What would he forge then?
He already had a hammer, and the Celestial Sword would be returned to Celestial City in a few days.
Forging a sword?
He couldn’t just wield two hammers; he wasn’t Li Yuanba. He would end up being the little tyrant of divine hammers.
“Overthinking won’t help. I’m still far from forging profound weapons, let alone divine ones...”
Li Mo halted his chaotic thoughts.
Becoming a divine craftsman, skills and hammer techniques aside, he couldn’t even pass the test of physical strength.
Now, he was on his way to the sword furnace, preparing to heed the teachings of the ice block teacher and strengthen his strengths...
The air was cold, and sunlight barely penetrated the Tianshan Sword Manor.
In front of the blazing sword furnace, Du Wufeng squatted, slurping a bowl of wide noodles.
Beside him were two old men, one with only one arm, dressed in blue, looking younger than Du Wufeng, yet carrying a heavier aura of age.
If Elder Han He and Elder Zeng were present, they would surely recognize this man, a renowned divine craftsman.
They had both been apprentices under him in their youth.
The last man was the manor's owner, Xie Xuan.
“That kid learned your forging techniques and mastered them in just a day?”
The one-armed divine craftsman, Lan Shan, let his empty sleeve sway in the wind, deep in thought.
Du Wufeng slurped another mouthful of noodles. “To be precise, it took him less than half an hour.”
“I might not have been fully awake…”
The one-armed divine craftsman scratched his messy hair.
Though he often claimed Du Wufeng was nothing special, he knew that among the divine craftsmen at the sword furnace, Du Wufeng had taken the hardest path.
“But compared to the first potential dragon under eighteen, this doesn’t seem like much.”
“Right? What could be more unbelievable than him holding onto Bing Bing?”
“Let’s be honest, what does Yantian Sect mean? What level is the Empress? How can she be ranked above Bing Bing?”
“Shut up! Old Tian, are you out of your mind?”
“Hmm? You don’t agree with me?”
“Don’t you understand? Discuss it privately.”
As the two divine craftsmen were talking, the sound of a carriage suddenly approached. A hand reached out from the window, occasionally grasping as if feeling something.
Seeing the carriage stop, Du Wufeng asked:
“What are you doing sticking your hand out the window?”
“I’m capturing the force and shape of the wind.”
Li Mo, having gotten out of the carriage, wore a serious expression.
Oh?
The several sixth and even seventh realm experts exchanged glances.
Wind is formless; trying to capture its shape and force is nonsense to ordinary people.
It seemed Li Mo was comprehending some profound martial arts?
Xie Xuan smiled and said, “You’ve already begun to understand the essence of heaven and earth. This is the path of external perception; indeed, geniuses take a few more steps than others.”
“Senior, you flatter me. Why haven’t I seen Xie Xuan today?”
Li Mo casually asked, greeting Lan Shan and Du Wufeng before taking out his anvil and blacksmithing tools.
“Xie Xuan…”
Xie Yiding’s forehead broke into a sweat:
“He went out with a master from the Xuankong Temple, and it seems he’s been going out every day lately. I suspect he’s slacking off in his martial arts training, not doing anything serious. But he’s clearly with someone from the Buddhist sect; who knows what they’re up to?”
“Which master?”
“Master Zang Ai. You’re familiar with him; do you know what they’re doing?”
“.....”
Li Mo leaned back slightly, thinking that the sword techniques of Tianshan Sword Manor were indeed impressive; his sixth sense was spot on.
Now that Fengyue Pavilion had turned into a foot massage parlor, the owners had also included Xie Xuan and Zhong Zhenyue.
According to Zhong Zhenyue, Xie Xuan had been using public resources for personal gain, calling Hua Nongying over to give him foot massages three times a day, nearly rubbing her skin raw.
He guessed it was to avoid being caught by Xie Yiding, so he brought Murong Xiao along?
The two might have hit it off quite well...
“Probably busy. How’s his martial arts progress lately?”
“Busy?”
Xie Yiding thought for a moment. “He has made considerable progress; his sword heart has become much clearer and more relaxed. I wonder what he’s been busy with to achieve such results?”
Who knew how he was improving by getting foot massages every day!
Little Li, who had mastered the art of foot massage, didn’t understand.
But that’s why they called Li Mo a genius:
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
“Staying in the sword manor for so long, it’s about time he went out to see the world.”
Xie Yiding sighed with emotion.
He still had to thank little Li...
“Alright, enough chit-chat.”
Du Wufeng set his bowl aside:
“Kid, today you’ll receive what you’ve earned. I and Master Tian will teach you the art of weapon forging together. I know you have the physique of a fine weapon and a good foundation, but you’re still far from being a divine craftsman.”
“Can’t wait!”
He and Ying Bing had different goals for going to Celestial City.
Other prodigies entered Celestial City mostly to seek the strongest inner vision techniques. Anyone who came out of Celestial City with the God-Viewing Realm would be much stronger when entering the inner vision again.
But what he wanted was to help the ice block take Celestial City into her grasp...
So even if he had become the first potential dragon, it was not a time for idleness.
In front of the sword furnace.
Li Mo gripped the Star Hammer Plus version, and under the guidance of Du Wufeng, he brought the hammer down with a resounding thud.
One breath, a hundred strikes!
Boom—
“Not enough, not enough! Did you forget to eat?”
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