Hot Pot, Ying Bing's Dream

Inside the carriage.

Though this carriage appeared modest on the outside, it concealed extraordinary craftsmanship within. The beams alone were carved from golden fragrant wood, adorned with gluttonous motifs—sturdy, rot-resistant, and exuding an exotic aroma.

It was essentially the martial world’s equivalent of a luxury sedan, and riding in it, one couldn’t even feel the slightest jolt.

"No wonder it’s the sect leader’s personal ride."

"Elder, how much does a carriage like this cost?"

Li Mo couldn’t help but marvel, though he remained somewhat reserved.

He was like a country boy stepping into a nobleman’s estate—curious but too cautious to touch anything.

"This old man is merely a servant, surnamed Ba. Young master may call me Old Ba," the elderly coachman chuckled.

"If measured in gold, this carriage would cost tens of thousands of taels. It was a gift from the owner of Hesheng Trading Company."

Li Mo: "!"

The young man, who had once considered himself modestly well-off, suddenly felt the sting of poverty.

Tens of thousands—and in gold, no less.

Even if the entire thing were forged from solid gold, it wouldn’t cost that much.

Noticing his bewilderment, Old Ba grinned.

"This carriage is forged from Frost Iron. Even an expert in the Observation Divine Realm couldn’t damage it."

"No wonder I can’t afford it," Li Mo sighed, patting his empty coin pouch.

His dream of owning a similarly extravagant ride had just been dashed.

At the tea table, Ying Bing sat with effortless grace, sipping her tea as if she were the carriage’s rightful owner.

No—Li Mo even had the fleeting thought that she was merely condescending to grace it with her presence.

‘Wasn’t this ice block just a punching bag back at the Li Manor?’

Li Mo couldn’t help but marvel.

This was the privilege of one born with the Emperor’s Bone!

......

Back at the Autumn Water Pavilion.

Ying Bing picked up a withered branch and began practicing her swordplay, testing the limits of her current cultivation level.

Meanwhile, Li Mo stood by the kitchen door and asked,

"Anything you’d like to eat today?"

The Qingyuan Sect naturally had a dining hall.

But since every meal with the ice block yielded rewards, Li Mo was more than happy to cook.

"Anything is fine. I have no particular cravings, so don’t waste effort on it," Ying Bing replied without turning.

"That’s because you’ve never tasted real food."

"I’m not boasting, but if I put my mind to it, my cooking would be unmatched in this world."

Li Mo brimmed with confidence.

Among the white-tier rewards he’d received were rare seasonings unknown to this world—even a pack of hotpot base he’d been itching to try.

Ying Bing remained silent.

Whether she heard him or not was unclear.

"She’s way too focused," Li Mo sighed inwardly.

Humans weren’t machines.

Neglecting one’s basic needs for too long would only lead to trouble.

"Is Senior Sister Ying Bing here?"

A voice called from outside.

Li Mo stepped out to find an outer sect steward delivering bundles of exotic beast meat—precious ingredients that nourished qi and blood, rarely seen outside the sect.

Such were the privileges of a sect leader’s direct disciple.

The steward explained that these were raised on Rare Beast Peak: Ironbone Ox, Azure-Scaled Fish, and Stonehorn Sheep.

"Beef, lamb, and fish—perfect for hotpot," Li Mo mused, already salivating.

Half an hour later.

The courtyard was filled with the rich, spicy aroma of simmering broth.

Li Mo sat by the stove, dipping paper-thin slices of Ironbone Ox into the bubbling pot.

"Divine."

When this world’s exotic meats met a hotpot base from Earth, the result was nothing short of heavenly.

"Try this."

Li Mo fished out a piece of fish and placed it in Ying Bing’s bowl.

A layer of red oil glistened on the girl’s lips, making them appear even more vivid.

"Good, right?"

"Passable."

But the speed of her chopsticks had quickened ever so slightly.

Li Mo noticed and grinned.

"Eat up. Beast meat’s good for martial training too."

"Food and pleasure are human nature. You should indulge once in a while."

Amid the rising steam, the girl’s face blurred in the haze.

Her cheeks moved faintly—whether she heard him or not was anyone’s guess.

......

Third floor, inside the room.

[Congratulations, Host. Investment: Exotic Beast Hotpot.]

[Reward obtained: One Mystic Crystal.]

[Mystic Crystal]: "Contains the purest natural energy of heaven and earth. Used in alchemy, weapon forging, or as a power source for artifacts. Its applications are boundless."

"That hotpot was worth every bite."

A milky-white crystal materialized in Li Mo’s palm—a prism shimmering with faint light.

The energy within felt familiar.

Wasn’t this the same energy he absorbed during cultivation?

But the amount condensed in this single crystal was staggering. It would take him ages to accumulate this much on his own.

Not that he needed it much right now.

Still, this thing was priceless—worth a fortune!

Even the Ascension Steps relied on these to activate.

"Decision made. We’re eating exotic beast meat every day."

"I’ll keep that ice block well-fed."

Li Mo pocketed the crystal, his mind made up.

Then another thought struck him.

Didn’t Senior Brother Xiao Qin have that Seven-Star Ancient Jade?

His cultivation had been deteriorating because the jade required energy to activate.

Wouldn’t this Mystic Crystal solve his problem?

"I don’t need the crystal anyway. Might as well invest it in him."

Li Mo had pieced together some patterns regarding investments.

Fate rank determined the baseline reward.

But the more beneficial the investment was to the recipient, the greater the reward would be beyond that baseline.

Xiao Qin had a purple-tier fate.

The return would undoubtedly surpass a single Mystic Crystal.

"No need to keep practicing Six Harmonies Fist."

"Twenty years of martial insight should be more than enough to master it."

Learning from last time, Li Mo didn’t expend all his insights at once.

[Five years of martial insight successfully infused.]

[After one year of practice, you’ve fully grasped the Six Harmonies Fist, reaching the Novice stage.]

[By the fourth year, the fist art had integrated into your daily movements, no longer bound by rigid forms.]

[In the fifth year, your Six Harmonies Fist reached Minor Achievement.]

The familiar sensation washed over him.

But Minor Achievement wasn’t enough.

[Another five years of martial insight infused.]

[In the first year, relentless training hinted at a higher realm of the fist art.]

[By the third year, a flash of inspiration pointed you toward the right path, which you tested and refined.]

[In the fourth year, your Six Harmonies Fist reached Major Achievement!]

[The fifth year brought new insights, though they remained elusive...]

As the insights fully settled, Li Mo clenched his fists, itching to test them.

Without delay, he assumed a stance in his room and began executing the fist techniques with fierce precision.

Every motion flowed naturally, as if he’d honed them through years of practice.

Crack—

Power surged from the ground, coalescing into a single devastating strike.

Six Harmonies United!

The force shredded his sleeve into tatters.

"And this is just with one meridian unlocked."

Li Mo exhaled deeply and changed into fresh clothes.

Right now, he couldn’t even unleash the full potential of Six Harmonies Fist.

Time to cultivate.

He sat cross-legged and quietly activated the Fire Heart Lotus Technique.

......

A single sword flicked by Ying Bing blossomed into nine sword flowers.

The Flower-Seeking Sword Technique.

She had mastered it in her past life, yet today she still watched Elder Han He’s meticulous demonstration with focus.

After all, this was a secret sect technique. If she outright claimed she already knew it, she wouldn’t be able to explain how.

At her current level, she could already summon nine flowers with a single stroke.

In her prime, a casual swing of this sword art would conjure a sky full of falling petals—all transformed from sword energy.

And if augmented by the power of the Supreme Yin, freezing an entire lake would be effortless.

But her current realm… was still far too weak.

Ying Bing sheathed her sword and stood still, preparing to intensify her training.

Suddenly, her delicate brows furrowed.

The commotion next door…

"He’s drawing upon the world’s vital energy during his training?"

"This shouldn’t be a technique from Shang Wu’s repertoire. It feels more like… a unique physique."

Ying Bing was mildly surprised.

She knew many methods to harness the world’s energy to strengthen oneself.

But without exception, all such techniques required at least the Outer Scenery Realm. Without an inner world connected to the external one, a martial artist simply couldn’t siphon energy directly from heaven and earth.

That could only mean one thing.

It was a trait of Li Mo’s special physique.

"Sourceflow Martial Body… Evergreen Wood Physique… Boundless Celestial Body…"

Ying Bing fell into reminiscence, recalling the many prodigies she had encountered.

Some among them had left a lasting impression with their brilliance.

Which of these would Li Mo’s physique resemble?

Or perhaps… one she had never seen before?

A moment later, she dismissed the thought.

She was merely curious about the drastic changes in Li Mo.

The exact nature of his physique didn’t matter.

If she didn’t recognize it, it couldn’t be that formidable—at least not enough to rank on the Heaven’s Secrets Pavilion’s Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Leaderboard.

And if it belonged to one of those past rivals she had defeated… what of it?

In the end, none could compare to the Ten Extremities Physique.

After two hours of training,

a chilling aura began seeping from her body once more.

She had just settled onto her bed when—

Knock knock—

The door creaked open slightly. Li Mo peeked in, carrying a bronze basin.

"Ying Bing, the exotic beast meat needs refrigeration. I’ll leave it in your room!"

The "Ice Block" brand fridge—praised by all who used it.

"?"

Ying Bing watched as he placed the covered basin in the corner and left,

even turning off the lamp for her on his way out.

In the past, she would have hurled the basin out and fixed him with a frosty glare, warning him never to enter her room uninvited or leave things there again.

But today…

The lingering richness of the hotpot still danced on her tongue, unforgettable…

If the meat spoiled, she wouldn’t get to enjoy it, would she?

Swish—

She drew the bed curtains shut.

The room grew quieter as the biting cold spread, and she gradually drifted into sleep.

The sleeping girl’s face tensed slightly.

But not from the torment of extreme cold.

She was dreaming.

Dreaming of her past as the Phoenix Sovereign, ruling over the Cassia Palace.

"Palace Master, I know disciples of the Cassia Palace must never indulge in love… So I beg you—strike down my martial arts and strip me of all my power."

"Master… I’ve met someone during my travels…"

"Palace Master…"

"Hahaha! Ying Bing, you don’t even understand what love is! How pathetic!"

Fragmented scenes flashed chaotically, and her frown deepened.