The Golden Crow projection radiated even more intense solar energy, elevating its cultivation to the fifth aperture of the Observation Divine Realm. Its expression remained impassive, yet its aura grew heavier, as if sensing the fighting spirit emanating from the young man before it.
"Brother Li, go for it!"
Princess Jiang Chulong cheered him on with a spirited voice, her enthusiasm unmistakable.
In the next instant, sunlight erupted in brilliance. A sun, as real as the one in the sky, rose above the Yin-Yang arena, illuminating everything beneath it—including the opponent's techniques—with nowhere to hide.
Li Mo wielded a sword in his right hand and a hammer in his left, his figure shrouded in the cool luminescence of the Moon's essence. Amidst countless flickering rays of light, he pinpointed the presence of the Solar Radiance Golden Wheel.
The true strength of this exotic weapon, the Solar Radiance Golden Wheel, lay in its ability to blend seamlessly with light and shadow.
This time, Li Mo recalled a lesson from his middle school physics class.
The fish in the river isn’t actually where your eyes perceive it to be... An exotic weapon should have been countered with a sword from the start. He had been overly reliant on his hammer.
The Scarlet Sky Sword seemed to strike out casually, full of openings, yet its tip landed precisely at the center of the Solar Radiance Golden Wheel.
The golden wheel was forced downward abruptly. The Golden Crow projection, caught off guard, had no choice but to erupt with true essence, forcing the Solar Radiance Golden Wheel back into the air.
Yet this tremendous force was precisely what Li Mo exploited. Borrowing its momentum, he swung his hammer overhead, smashing toward the blazing solar halo protecting the Golden Crow.
The radiance of the solar halo flared violently, and the Golden Crow’s figure suddenly split into two.
Both figures, accompanied by the Solar Radiance Golden Wheel, moved like shimmering fish darting through sunlit waves—overwhelmingly powerful yet endlessly elusive.
"This was the move that defeated me back then."
Jiang Chulong nervously clutched the hem of her robe. A Golden Crow projection at the Observation Divine Realm was clearly far more troublesome.
But if the opponent had divine intent, so did he.
Li Mo closed his eyes, refusing to be dazzled by the two Golden Crow figures. The Moon's essence enveloped him, slowing the enemy’s movements.
With a sudden motion, he hurled the Scarlet Sky Sword in his right hand, its spiraling blade wreathed in entangled karmic flames, slashing toward the golden wheel on the left.
Meanwhile, the hammer in his left hand twisted the surrounding sunlight as it swung upward.
The strike appeared light, almost effortless, yet carried the force to shatter heaven and earth, compressing the air around its target. Though it seemed to strike empty space, it was anything but.
The second Solar Radiance Golden Wheel, hidden within the light, was sent flying backward!
The Golden Crow remained expressionless, manipulating the flung golden wheel to absorb all surrounding light, transforming it into a searing beam that shot toward Li Mo.
Yet when struck by the solar ray, Li Mo’s body didn’t char—instead, it erupted with dazzling golden radiance.
Indestructible Diamond Body!
The hammer rose once more, this time trembling the very stars in the sky.
The sunlight remained blinding, but within it, a figure cloaked in the shadow of the Great Sage soared upward against the light, hammer raised as if to overturn the heavens.
The solar halo trembled, cracks visibly spreading across its surface. No longer able to protect the Golden Crow, it instead burst into flames—the Golden Crow had ignited its own divine intent, ensuring it exploded before shattering completely.
The hammer was temporarily out of commission, but the Scarlet Sky Sword arrived at the perfect moment. And the technique he used? A long-forgotten move buried in the depths of his memory—Thousand Feathers of the Fire Crane.
A wildfire-like momentum pierced through the gaps in the true essence eruption.
The Golden Crow projection was impaled through the chest. The other clone instantly froze before dissipating into motes of light.
Li Mo released both the hammer and the Scarlet Sky Sword. His body might be impervious to fire and water, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt!
A wave of exhaustion washed over him, his breaths coming out as if laced with embers.
Truly worthy of a primordial Golden Crow.
In its era, it had been one of the most dazzling heroes beneath the heavens.
Even after deciphering its techniques and rhythm, without relying on divine weapons, the fight had still been this grueling.
"Brother Li... you won in one try?"
Jiang Chulong stared blankly at his back, her bright eyes shimmering even through the cloth covering them.
That figure stood tall enough to block out the sun.
Truthfully, he had fought far more times than the little princess.
Li Mo shook his head and sighed.
"The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths truly teem with countless heroes."
"Mhm, but Brother Li is the strongest."
"Did you manage to see through the Golden Crow’s moves just now?"
Jiang Chulong nodded vigorously.
After receiving a pat on the head, the little princess bounced off energetically to practice her swordsmanship.
"After the battle, the Great Sage’s shadow has grown more solid."
Li Mo turned to observe the divine manifestation behind him, his eyes gleaming.
Sitting cross-legged, he meditated briefly before retrieving the Great Sage Stirs the Heavenly Palace divine observation scroll.
The grand and boundless imagery within seemed slightly clearer to him now.
"I was right. This divine form can only be perfected through continuous battle."
"After defeating the Golden Crow projection, the fighting spirit in my heart has grown even stronger."
As enlightenment dawned, one of the many divine abilities within him flickered faintly, like a pearl emerging from the depths of the sea.
The Great Sage’s shadow nodded slightly, as if acknowledging him.
From behind its ear, it plucked a single golden strand and blew gently.
The strand, shimmering with ethereal radiance, flew into Li Mo’s own ear.
Divine Ability: External Avatar.
Immersed in the profound mysteries of this ability, a thought surfaced in Li Mo’s mind.
"The Great Sage has a whole body of fur to pluck, but I only have hair on my head."
"Guess this technique has nothing to do with Buddhism..."
Over the next few days, Li Mo continued sneaking into Ying Bing’s room every night—even running into his father again along the way.
No helping it. His Heaven-Defying Battle Will had strengthened his soul. If he kept dual-cultivating with the ice block every night, breaking through to the sixth aperture of the Observation Divine Realm would be just around the corner.
But a father knows his son best.
These small traces had already aroused Li Dalong’s suspicions. After all, as the county sheriff responsible for public order, he had apprehended plenty of suspects in his time.
His eyes were as precise as a ruler!
"Ah, Dad, you’re up early again. Doing your second round of calisthenics?"
One morning, as Li Mo slipped out of the ice block’s room, he bumped into his father during his morning exercises.
This time, instead of engaging in their usual banter, Li Dalong scrutinized him with a stern gaze.
"What were you up to, kid?"
Li Dalong crossed his arms, his expression full of doubt.
Li Mo nodded and promptly retrieved a paper bag of steamed buns from his system storage. Only then did his father let him pass.
But Old Li’s suspicions didn’t fade—they only grew stronger!
Returning to his room, Li Dalong said to his wife,
"Dear, something’s off with our son."
"He might be trying to make me a grandfather in secret."
"I suspect he’s been visiting Little Bing’s room every night. But I don’t have proof yet."
Gu Xueqin’s eyes widened slightly. The couple exchanged a complicated look as they began discussing the matter.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
But sneaking into a young lady’s chambers at night before marriage? That was hardly proper. Still, if it was true, they’d need to start making preparations.
First, though, they had to confirm whether it was really happening...
Li Mo, blissfully unaware, thought he had covered his tracks perfectly. Little did he know, he had just been promoted to his parents’ most-watched list!