The next night, also deep into the darkness.
Li Mo, who had just finished tutoring Princess Little Jiang, checked the investment returns from the arena challenges over the past two days.
Having stood on the arena for two consecutive days, challengers had come in an endless stream.
The martial heroes attending the Martial Arts Summit were all of considerable cultivation.
Yet, for some reason, their fates were uneven—mostly green-tier, with very few blue-tier.
Still, Li Mo hadn’t suffered losses, as all he’d invested was some gold and guidance.
[Investment Return: Three Five-Qi Peonies]
[Investment Return: White Jade Relic]
[Investment Return: Hundred-Fruit Celestial Balm]
"Let’s pick out the ones beneficial to the soul first."
A wooden box appeared in Li Mo’s palm. Inside lay a peony of dazzling hues, still vibrant despite having no roots.
He had seen this item in the Contribution Hall’s exchange list—it wasn’t cheap.
Even a Divine Observation cultivator would need to complete several difficult missions to afford it.
But its aura paled in comparison to the White Jade Relic.
Unfortunately, Li Mo wasn’t versed in Buddhist teachings.
The profound wisdom within this relic of a venerable monk required Buddhist principles to unlock.
That made it rather useless to him.
At best, wearing it would calm his mind and ward off evil spirits—neither of which he needed the relic for.
"Brother Murong studies Buddhist philosophy."
"I’ll save it for him."
After some thought, Li Mo stored it away.
Then, with slight confusion, he picked up a crystal vial.
Hundred-Fruit Celestial Balm?
Just from the name, he couldn’t tell what it was for.
Was it for external application or internal use?
What were its effects?
Li Mo never wasted time guessing—he checked the system description directly.
[Hundred-Fruit Celestial Balm]: "Dispels impurities, nourishes body and mind. Produced by the Shuiyun Pavilion in the Imperial Capital of Central Divine Land. Highly praised by nobles and royals. Best used with massage techniques for an enhanced experience."
As everyone knew, protagonists in novels usually had side professions.
Like blacksmithing, alchemy, or formations...
But a massage therapist?
That was way too niche.
"Whatever, I’ll pretend I didn’t see this."
He tossed the vial carelessly into his system storage.
He’d also invested in Zhong Zhenyue yesterday.
Hadn’t claimed the reward yet.
It should count as a major influence on his fate...
[Congratulations, Host. Successful investment in ‘Zhong Zhenyue,’ freeing him from Yin Mianmian’s control.]
[Investment Return: Crying Wind Beast Soul Pill]
[Crying Wind Beast Soul Pill]: "Quintessence of a fifth-tier exotic beast, the Crying Wind Beast, refined by an alchemy grandmaster. An excellent treasure for strengthening the soul."
"Not bad, comparable to the Seven-Lined Void Pill."
Li Mo sighed inwardly.
The system had given him quite a few soul-enhancing treasures, but his consumption rate was staggering.
He used them almost as soon as he got them.
Or rather, they were all spent on ‘Mona Ice Slush.’
Without the recent haul, his Divine Observation cultivation would’ve hit a bottleneck.
"It’s been a while since I broke through. Feels unusual."
"Well... I’m observing the Divine Form of the Great Dao, so my progress isn’t actually slow."
He reminded himself not to grow impatient.
Judging from the martial artists he’d fought recently, most only observed mid-tier forms.
If not for being in Hengyun Sword City, he wouldn’t even have seen this many mid-tier forms.
Many of them were in their thirties, yet hadn’t even completed half the Divine Observation path, with some stuck on a single aperture for years.
Li Mo decided to take stock of his assets to cool his head.
Half an hour later...
His current wealth probably surpassed several years of Yun Province’s GDP.
In high spirits, he swallowed the Seven-Lined Void Pill and began his daily divine contemplation.
The pill’s energy was exhausted, so he took out the Crying Wind Beast Soul Pill.
Unnoticed, time flowed by.
The first light of dawn pierced through the window paper.
The fluctuations of divine contemplation gradually subsided.
The miniature figure in his dantian grew more lifelike, its divine patterns intricate.
"Otherwise, I could’ve tried breaking through the second aperture."
The moonlit shadows in Li Mo’s eyes faded as he stretched and stood up.
How many apertures would it take to fully outline the Divine Form of the Great Dao?
He headed to the kitchen.
By the time breakfast was ready, three ethereal bell chimes resonated through the heavens, cleansing the layered clouds.
The morning bell of Hengyun Sword City.
"Even if I didn’t last till the final day, this trip was worthwhile."
Senior Brother Shen Yunfei had long left the arena, but his progress was notable.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Senior Brother."
Li Mo handed him a plate of fried dough sticks with a smile.
Suddenly, he paused, spotting Ouyang in the distance.
Senior Brother Ouyang sported dark circles, a bird’s nest for hair, and an aura of exhaustion.
"Senior Brother Ouyang, are you... haunted?"
"It’s fine, no big deal. I finally finished the manuscript before the deadline."
Upon asking, he learned:
The arena challenges lasted only three days. On the third day, after the final rankings were set, the Sword Tower would open.
"The publishing house believes Junior Brother Li and Junior Sister Ying will both comprehend extraordinary martial techniques from the Hengyun Sword Mark, which will skyrocket their fame."
"The illustrated book will sell like crazy."
"So I pulled three all-nighters to finish The Domineering Empress Falls for Me."
Ouyang scratched his messy hair, yawning nonstop.
Those lousy novelists should learn from you.
Fame was inevitable, but the book’s sales were another matter.
After comprehending the Hengyun Sword Mark, "Swordsman Li" might face a reputation crisis.
As for the ice block...
"Sister Bing’s sword... seems less sharp than before..." Jiang Chulong murmured while washing dishes, sleeves rolled up.
"You noticed it too?"
Li Mo had thought it was his imagination.
Why would her condition worsen the more she fought?
"Was she injured during the fight with Yin Mianmian two days ago?"
Light footsteps descended the stairs.
Ying Bing seemed to space out for a moment before nodding belatedly.
"Didn’t you say tea?"
"What I picked up..."
She realized she was holding Li Mo’s bobblehead doll. At some point, she’d twisted its head open, as if about to take a sip...
The ice block was definitely off.
While brewing tea, Li Mo activated his Heavenly Fate Divine Eye.
[Root Bone: Lunar Phoenix Body]
[Realm: Divine Observation, First Aperture]
[Fate: Red (Bearing Imperial Bone, Destiny of Profound Ice, Spirit of Autumn Waters, Phoenix Heaven’s Visage)]
[Evaluation: A life of trials, yet always turning calamity into fortune. Though her wings are still tender, when the winds of change rise, she will soar above the nine heavens and ten earths, reigning over all realms.]
[Recent Circumstance: Struggling with whether to persist in her martial path, severing all attachments. Currently locked in inner turmoil.]
The ice block was stuck in a mental spiral?