I'm Planning to Build a Hot Spring in the Yard

In the World Seed.

The sun in the sky continued to expand and contract rhythmically.

Having transformed it into the sun of his miniature world, Li Mo could perceive his Profound Core with exceptional clarity.

"It can still be compressed further..."

Li Mo steadied his mind and focused on condensing his Profound Core.

Hiss—

Karmic flames surged, expanding and contracting, stirring winds and clouds within the miniature world.

This step was far from easy.

Fortunately, Li Mo's spiritual will was strong, and since this was his own miniature world, he managed to keep everything under control.

After an indeterminable period of struggle—

Boom!—

A resonant roar echoed simultaneously in both the miniature world and the real world, emanating from Li Mo's body.

"What's happening to our son?"

Gu Xueqin was tense but dared not enter, afraid of disturbing him.

"Is... is he condensing his Profound Core?"

Li Dalong stared blankly toward the room as he spoke.

The fluctuations from inside the house were indeed the signs of Profound Core formation.

But this commotion...

Wasn't it too excessive?

"This means the Profound Core he's forming is extraordinary."

A voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Not far away, Shangguan Wencang appeared in the courtyard, his aged yet sharp eyes fixed on the scene.

Many high-ranking members of various sects had also gathered.

Normally, the breakthrough of an Inner Breath Realm disciple wouldn’t warrant such attention.

But everyone was deeply curious about young Li Mo.

As soon as they stepped into the courtyard—

Hum—

An aura that seemed capable of burning away all sin spread outward from the house.

The powerful cultivators present all felt an increasingly intense scorching sensation.

"This power..."

Shangguan Wencang murmured, his eyes widening slightly.

The others exchanged uneasy glances.

Previously, they had been skeptical of Ying Bing's claims, but now they were beginning to doubt their own disbelief.

What Inner Breath Realm cultivator could exert pressure on even Internal Scenery experts while condensing a Profound Core?

Strangely, the heat each person felt varied.

For instance, Ying Bing remained completely unaffected.

The elders of the Qingyuan Sect experienced only mild discomfort.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Whale Gang’s branch leader was drenched in sweat.

A realization slowly dawned on them.

"Could this power be reflecting our own sins?"

The more they thought about it, the more astonished they became.

"Master, will Mo'er be alright?"

Li Dalong asked in a hushed voice, unable to suppress his worry.

The commotion from this Profound Core breakthrough was far too abnormal.

"He’ll be fine."

Xue Jingxin glanced at the anxious couple and thought to himself, This is nothing—you didn’t see your son jumping into a cauldron to refine himself like a pill.

After a brief pause, he added uncertainly,

"The aura from Li Mo’s Profound Core formation somewhat resembles the karmic flames spoken of in Buddhist teachings."

"There is some similarity," Shangguan Wencang nodded.

Karmic flames—fueled by the sins of all living beings.

The concept wasn’t exclusive to Buddhism, though the tradition had popularized it.

"So the heat we feel corresponds to our own karmic burden?"

Qian Bufan suddenly understood.

Well then.

Li Mo would practically become a nemesis of evildoers from now on.

"Karmic flames? Something an Profound Core Realm cultivator can wield?"

"Perhaps it's just something similar..."

"Even so, it's terrifying."

The group couldn’t help but feel a chill down their spines.

Even if it was merely an imitation, the implications were horrifying.

Thinking of karmic flames, they finally grasped the truth.

Han Zhen, who had lived for millennia, must have committed countless atrocities—like fabricating the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm and slaughtering innocents—perhaps even worse deeds beyond description.

Karmic flames could ignite a person’s sins.

The deeper the sin, the greater the suffering.

This explanation made sense...

Relieved that his son was safe, Li Dalong relaxed, his face breaking into a proud smile.

Noticing the sweat on everyone else, he asked,

"Esteemed seniors, it’s quite hot—would you like some watermelon?"

"Ah... no need, this old man isn’t that warm."

"Neither am I."

"Hah! I’m perfectly cool, hahaha..."

"Old Qian, why are you sweating so much? If you’re hot, just say so—I’ll have my disciple cut some watermelon for you."

"Shove your spiral bullshit! I’m sweating because I’m fat!"

"Does swearing count as sin?"

The Internal Scenery experts, all drenched in sweat, tried to laugh it off.

After all, who in this mortal world was completely free of sin?

Meanwhile, the disturbances inside the house gradually subsided.

Li Mo exhaled deeply and opened his eyes, thrilled.

Now, the sun in his miniature world had stabilized completely.

Within his dantian, a deep-red Profound Core rotated slowly, drawing in and expelling vast amounts of inner energy.

This marked his official entry into the late stage of the Inner Breath Realm!

Only one step away from Internal Scenery!

"Three hundred and sixty-five cores, and I’ve only formed one."

"There’s still a long way to go, but no rush."

Li Mo wasn’t anxious.

The number of Profound Cores wouldn’t hinder his advancement to Internal Scenery.

After testing the core’s movements a few times, he found it responded effortlessly—likely due to his prior experience coordinating with Senior Brother Xiaobao.

Stepping outside, he saw the group of sweat-drenched experts insisting they weren’t hot.

"Hm?"

"Good, good! My son, you’ve finally reached the Profound Core stage."

Li Dalong approached and patted Li Mo’s shoulder emotionally.

"Sending you to the Qingyuan Sect was the right decision."

"I’ll continue learning diligently under Master’s guidance."

Li Mo was equally moved.

Li Dalong’s expression stiffened as he considered whether he and his wife should have a second child.

That same day, Li Mo and the group set off back to the Qingyuan Sect.

---

Three days later.

An imposing war chariot arrived in the Qingyuan Mountains.

It wasn’t that Qian Bufan had suddenly become generous—he was notoriously stingy.

The chariot was necessary for a reason.

Shangguan Wencang had decided that Ying Bing would enter the ancestral hall of the main peak to embark on the path of Internal Scenery. The auspicious time was set for the next day, so they had hurried back without delay.

At the front of the chariot, a young man stood with robes fluttering, gazing at the sky.

Flickers of deep-red firelight seemed to burn in his eyes, but the longer he observed, the deeper his frown became.

Strange.

Now that he had condensed a karmic flame Profound Core, he should be able to study the sun.

Yet when he looked up, the three suns appeared not just scorching but also like swirling vortices, moving in an unfathomable pattern that made his head throb.

"The sun must not be stared at directly."

A soft voice came from behind.

"But last night, you were looking at the moon, weren’t you?"

Li Mo withdrew his gaze, rubbing his aching temples.

"The sun and the moon are different," Ying Bing replied with a slight shake of her head.

"How so?" Li Mo asked curiously.

All living beings rose with the sun and rested at sunset—countless people relied on it to tell time.

If ordinary people could look at it, why couldn’t those seeking Internal Scenery?

"Only the Great Yu Imperial Family may perceive the divinity of the sun."

Ying Bing finished speaking and lowered her gaze.

From here, the Autumn Water Pavilion was already visible.

Li Mo scoffed.

Perhaps the Martial Emperor the Great Ancestor had placed restrictions to ensure his dynasty’s eternal rule?

Typical of feudal dynasties...

In that case, Princess Little Jiang could probably do it.

Before long, the two returned to the Autumn Water Pavilion.

Shang Wu had returned long ago, and as expected, the master was reclining on a rocking chair, his figure dappled by the shadows of the trees.

As soon as he got home, Li Mo began wandering around the Autumn Water Pavilion, occasionally pulling out a ruler to measure things.

Ying Bing settled at the tea table and brewed the tea he had brought from the Li residence.

After watching Li Mo pace around the courtyard, muttering to himself for quite some time, Ying Bing couldn’t help but ask:

“What are you doing?”

“I’m planning to build a hot spring in the courtyard.”

Li Mo answered offhandedly.

Ying Bing froze.

Tea spilled noisily over the rim of the cup.