Oi, Old Man

When Luo Yu arrived at the location,

the temple held nothing but shattered, dull fragments of a Buddha statue, revealing skeletal remains within.

There was also a smiling Buddha ice sculpture.

It was clear that a fierce battle had taken place here not long ago, though no one remained now...

Wait, that wasn't entirely true.

Luo Yu realized the so-called ice sculpture was actually a person obliterated by sword energy!

"The temple keeper?"

"If he was the temple keeper, he must have known about the bones inside."

"This man practiced... the forbidden art of Substituting the Divine with the Flesh?!"

Luo Yu's expression instantly darkened.

The so-called Substituting the Divine with the Flesh involved crafting a golden body for oneself, siphoning worship and incense to nourish one's own being.

For instance, a statue frequently worshipped and observed could develop spiritual energy over time.

By envisioning oneself as a deity, one sought to strengthen the soul.

However, this martial art was undeniably a forbidden technique.

Moreover, it required at least the Observation Divine Realm to practice.

"The temple keeper was in the Observation Divine Realm, and someone killed him?"

"The one who killed him was..."

Luo Yu studied the icy sword energy lingering in the air...

Ying Bing?!

Ying Bing killed an Observation Divine Realm expert?!

His mind reeled—this was terrifying.

Even he couldn't have slain a practitioner of Substituting the Divine with the Flesh so effortlessly.

At best, with rare treasures, he might have held his ground.

If she continued to grow, she would undoubtedly alter the entire landscape of the Eastern Wasteland Domain...

"This temple keeper is suspicious. I must report to the prefecture office immediately."

No sooner had he stepped outside than—

Whoosh—

A sudden, howling gale swept across the sky, blotting out the sun and plunging the world into darkness.

The terrifying phenomenon spread from Mud Corner Alley.

Everything in its path withered and darkened.

Then, just as abruptly, a clear spring surged forth, its sword intent piercing the heavens, carving out a sanctuary.

These were manifestations of Inner Realm domains.

"An Inner Realm battle?!"

Even a fool could tell something major was happening in the prefecture city.

He sprinted toward the prefecture office.

Yet before he could reach it, he spotted Prefecture Lord Cui's sedan chair.

"Young Master Luo, did you come from Lingjiang Pier?"

Prefecture Lord Cui's voice emerged from within the sedan.

"Yes. A temple keeper was killed there—slain by Ying Bing..."

Without hesitation, Luo Yu quickly summarized what he had witnessed.

The prefecture lord inside the sedan fell silent.

"Young Master Luo, return to your sect elders at the prefecture office. It's dangerous outside."

"But, Prefecture Lord, you—"

"As the ruler of this prefecture, how can I abandon the people for mere danger?"

"Prefecture Lord!"

Luo Yu was deeply moved. He had previously thought the prefecture lord negligent, but now he realized he had misjudged him.

The sedan continued forward.

Only after turning the corner, out of Luo Yu's sight, did the sound of a teacup shattering erupt from within.

"Useless! To die just like that!"

"With you dead, who will handle the task?"

Who else could it be?

He would have to do it himself.

......

Meanwhile.

At the pier.

Li Mo gazed at the sky.

Mud Corner Alley wasn't far, and the clash of Inner Realm domains had reached here, the shockwaves striking him before being neutralized by his Extreme Weapon Slaughter Body.

"An Inner Realm battle can unleash such overwhelming power?"

It seemed his beautiful master had been considerate, carefully controlling the domain's intensity to a level he could endure—just enough.

"This sword intent..."

Ying Bing lifted her head, her clear eyes filled with contemplation.

"Why would Inner Realm experts battle within the prefecture city?"

Xiao Qin's expression was grave.

"One of them is definitely a DiSha-ranked assassin from the Misty Rain Pavilion!" Zuo Qiuyang declared confidently.

"Wait... is that... Mud Corner Alley?"

Li Mo's figure vanished abruptly.

As if merging with the wind, he raced toward the location at full speed.

Ying Bing, too, was enveloped in radiant mist, her form flickering like a fleeting shadow.

Both of them rushed toward Mud Corner Alley without hesitation.

Pushing Wind Shadow Step to its limits,

Li Mo watched as the scenery on either side of the street blurred past.

The closer he got, the more he sensed the terrifying might of the Inner Realm.

The clash between the two experts had stirred the heavens themselves.

Bodies littered the streets—pale-faced, eyes shut—victims of the Misty Rain Pavilion assassin's eerie martial techniques.

Wailing specters surged toward Li Mo like a tide.

The sword energy grew increasingly frigid.

His Extreme Weapon Slaughter Body activated, the sharp, murderous aura transforming him into a living weapon.

Though he hadn't yet reached the Observation Divine Realm and couldn't perfect his Extreme Weapon Slaughter Body, it was more than enough.

He advanced unimpeded.

Upon arrival, his pupils constricted.

In the courtyard,

a middle-aged woman in rose-red robes wielded a sword, its light multiplying—one into ten, ten into a hundred, a hundred into a thousand—filling the domain with a storm of blade energy.

Opposite her stood a black-robed figure in a demonic mask.

Sword energy pierced his body, yet no blood spilled—only dark light sealing the wounds.

With a single palm strike, a black tide surged, countless vengeful spirits crashing against the sword light in reckless abandon.

The woman was clearly the stronger of the two, but she was injured.

And she had to protect the unconscious children behind her.

One side was prepared, attacking without restraint; the other was distracted, wounded, and on the defensive.

The outcome was obvious.

Li Mo subtly shook the bell in his sleeve, exchanging a glance with Ying Bing.

No words were needed.

Just as the black-robed man pressed forward—

Their combined assault struck. This time, Ying Bing didn't disperse her radiant mist—at her current level, it would be meaningless against an Inner Realm domain. Instead, she condensed it.

The mist solidified into chains, the power of the Supreme Yin enveloping her Skyfrost Sword.

Meanwhile, Li Mo had already stashed away Chixiao, immediately summoning the Star Mallet instead.

The black-robed man raised an eyebrow, flicking his sleeve.

Every attack dissolved.

Only a layer of frost coated his robes, his stance slightly shaken by the hammer's force, and a stubborn, eerie flame clinging to his sleeve, refusing to be extinguished.

Two major realms apart.

Even a deity couldn't bridge that gap.

Two... Inner Breath Realm cultivators?

One at Jade Liquid, the other barely... Condensed Qi?

Frowning, he glanced at the flame on his robe and decisively tore the fabric away.

"Wow, do you have a habit of cutting your sleeves?"

Li Mo had clearly inherited a certain brawler's spirit.

The black-robed man: "......"

He remained silent, ignoring them both.

Instead, he focused on attacking past the woman—his target was Jiang Chulong.

At that moment,

another black-robed figure, this one wearing a judge's mask, materialized abruptly.

Without a word, he lunged at Li Mo and Ying Bing.

"Capture these two alive."

"As you command!"

Yet the Judge didn't slow his assault.

A single stroke of his brush carried the power to decree life or death.

But then, he forcibly halted.

In Li Mo's hand was still that hammer.

It looked the same, yet different.

The Mountain-Shattering Starfall Hammer!

A divine weapon!

The hammer's momentum rippled outward.

"You... the Hammer King of the Northwest?!"

The Judge seemed to suddenly understand.

But then, his face twisted into a cold smirk:

"You can wield a divine weapon at the Inner Breath Realm? I’ll smash that hammer of yours right now—"

Boom—

The earth seemed to tremble.

That hammer strike was heavy.

So heavy that the surrounding field distorted under its force.

So heavy that after Li Mo swung it, he could no longer even stand.

And the target of this strike wasn’t the Judge, but the black-robed man.

Locked onto by the divine weapon, there was no dodging, no escaping. He could only raise his left hand, summoning countless vengeful spirits to shield him—yet they were obliterated in an instant, along with his left hand.

Crack—

A powerhouse of the Inner Scenery Realm had his hand brutally crushed.

"Impressive. In a few more years, I’d have to look up to you."

"But today, you’re still nothing but an ant!"

The black-robed man’s left hand dripped with blood as he roared furiously.

Hearing the Branch Tower Lord’s furious cry, the Judge prepared to strike.

But...

He noticed that despite his exhaustion, Li Mo was smiling at him.

"Oi, old man, what’s the matter?"

Someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind.

For some reason.

A chill ran down his spine, and cold sweat drenched his back.

Right.

Li Mo and Ying Bing were both here.

How could he have forgotten about her?