Did You Really Open It Uproar at the Rare Beast Peak

Li Mo was stunned, then couldn’t help but sigh in amazement.

Even an ice block couldn’t escape it.

See? The "True Fragrance Law" is just that powerful.

"Another daily investment return to look forward to."

He felt that from now on, he could no longer introduce himself as "moderately wealthy" without his conscience aching.

As the saying goes:

Wealth breeds boldness.

From now on, he would be Li Mo—bold and wealthy.

With a thought, a pair of white cloud-patterned boots adorned with seven mystical stones appeared on his feet.

Seven-Star Cloud-Treading Boots.

Li Mo felt as if he were stepping on clouds. With a single stride, his entire body shot forward.

The acceleration was intense.

He attempted to channel the nascent True Essence in his dantian with his will.

Whoosh—

This was the feeling of soaring!

Only those who had reached the Inner Scenery realm could fly, but with these boots, he was experiencing aerial movement ahead of schedule.

Of course, there were differences.

Unlike the effortless flight of an Inner Scenery expert, he was more like sprinting across the sky on clouds.

......

Outer Affairs Hall.

At this moment, the vast hall was packed to the brim, filled with true disciples and even senior inner sect deacons.

Any one of them, if placed in the martial world of Purple Sun Prefecture, would be qualified to establish their own sect. Some were even the strongest in their counties, having only reached the Observing Divinity realm.

Every face was solemn.

Qian Bufan stood at the front, hands clasped behind his back, and declared:

"Though Yin Huaxuan is severely injured and used a secret technique to escape, losing eighty percent of his strength..."

"His foundation as an Inner Scenery expert remains. We don’t know what other sinister tricks he might have, so do not let your guard down."

"If you discover any trace of him, fire a signal arrow immediately."

"Yes!"

Everyone nodded in unison.

The atmosphere was tense.

Boom—

A thunderous crash echoed from the sky!

A figure descended from above, smashing through the floor and sending dust flying. And within that dust...

Stood a figure!

Everyone braced for battle, especially the Outer Affairs Hall disciples, because the only one who usually made such an entrance was... Shang Wu!

After all, the number of Inner Scenery experts in the sect could be counted on one hand.

As the dust settled, countless eyes turned to see a man standing tall, hands behind his back. They froze in surprise.

"Junior Brother Li?"

Ouyang blinked in recognition.

"You... flew here?"

"Yep."

Li Mo clicked his tongue and tilted his chin up.

"How can you already fly?"

"Cool, right?"

Truthfully, he had lost his aerial momentum right at the entrance.

So he had crashed down.

"Cool, sure..."

Ouyang’s expression was odd. Puzzled, Li Mo followed his gaze and nearly jumped in fright.

Elder Qian stood there with a deadpan expression, his beady eyes filled with displeasure.

In the end, young Li had to cough up three hundred taels to repair the floor tiles.

Pocketing the silver note, Qian Bufan grumbled:

"Li Mo, why are you stirring up trouble? The sect leader specified Observing Divinity disciples."

Admittedly, he knew Li Mo was exceptionally strong in combat.

But this mission wasn’t about fighting—it was about a thorough search.

Without reaching Observing Divinity, one’s spiritual perception was insufficient. Strength alone wouldn’t help.

"Does opening the Divine Aperture count as Observing Divinity?"

"Of course it does... Wait, what?"

What did that mean?

Qian Bufan’s expression shifted. He probed briefly, then his face twisted in disbelief.

Li Mo had actually opened his Divine Aperture.

No way.

Ying Bing was still struggling to open his aperture in the ancestral hall, using an incomplete Bronze Divine Tree as his visualization.

And this kid had already succeeded?

"Got lucky, stumbled upon a natural wonder."

"Fell asleep, woke up, and bam—aperture opened."

Li Mo shrugged.

Qian Bufan: "..."

Who taught you to break through like this?

Oh right, his master was Shang Wu... That still doesn’t make sense!

"A sixteen-year-old Observing Divinity expert?"

Silence fell over the crowd.

In all of Purple Sun Prefecture—no, even the entire Eastern Wasteland Domain—no young genius had ever progressed this fast.

This was a level that could rival the top prodigies of a province, earning a spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

Of course, apart from the deacons, the Observing Divinity disciples like Ouyang weren’t surprised.

Anyone who had ventured into a secret realm with Junior Brother Li wouldn’t bat an eye at his early breakthrough.

Even Bai Jinghong had to call him "Brother Li"!

"Ahem, well then..."

Qian Bufan cleared his throat. "Li Mo, you may join the operation. But stay cautious."

Then he turned to the others:

"Which team is short on members?"

Whoosh—

Ouyang raised his hand without hesitation, his determination as firm as a Party member’s.

Li Mo nodded.

Teaming up with familiar faces was ideal.

"Greetings, Senior Brothers and Sisters."

Li Mo stepped forward and bowed.

After brief introductions, he fell silent, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the crowd.

Might as well give everyone a once-over with his Heaven’s Mandate Divine Eye.

Maybe there’d be a surprise?

[Name: Xu Zhiqing]

[Age: 27]

[Root Bone: Heavenly Water Sword Body]

[Realm: Observing Divinity (Four Apertures)]

[Fate: Blue-Gray]

[Evaluation: True Disciple Master Sister of Sunset Peak. Secluded for five years, honing the Wave-Cutting Sword Draw, hoping to stun at the Martial Arts Summit and glimpse the sword marks of Cloud-Severing Sword City.]

[Recent Event: Injured her right hand while hunting Yin Huaxuan, missing her chance at the Martial Arts Summit.]

[Name: Miao Jinyin]

[Age: 26]

[Realm: Observing Divinity (Two Apertures)]

......

These two were the senior siblings he’d be working with.

Meaning...

Would they end up facing Yin Huaxuan?

Li Mo glanced toward them.

Miao Jinyin was a square-faced senior brother.

As for Xu Zhiqing, dressed in tight-fitting martial attire, she was speaking with Ouyang.

"Didn’t we already have enough people?" Xu Zhiqing frowned.

No matter how talented, a freshly ascended Observing Divinity would only hold them back. If they encountered a strong enemy, they’d have to split focus to protect him.

"Senior Sister Xu, you’ve just come out of seclusion, so you wouldn’t know."

Ouyang lowered his voice.

"Junior Brother Li is not only eloquent and strong... but also exceedingly generous."

Xu Zhiqing: "..."

Mostly the "exceedingly generous" part, huh?

Qian Bufan stepped forward and announced:

"Alright, everyone, move out to your assigned areas."

......

Before long.

Deep in the forests near Rare Beast Peak, several figures darted through the trees.

With the peak’s elder and head disciple gone, the remaining disciples seemed lost.

But under Qian Bufan’s temporary management, operations continued smoothly without major disruptions.

The various exotic beasts, whether reared or caged, remained eerily quiet.

"Would that traitor Yin Huaxuan really return to Rare Beast Peak?"

Miao Jinyin chewed on a blade of grass.

"Let’s just focus on the search and end this quickly."

Xu Zhiqing just wanted to return to her sword practice.

"Junior Brother Li, how’s your painting coming along?"

"Need any one-on-one guidance?"

"Oh, and my ‘Romance of the Moon’ can be customized. If you’re interested..."

Ouyang was hard at work promoting his wares.

"...Senior Brother, I have no interest in your artbooks. And... we’re on a mission."

Li Mo massaged his temples, then said seriously:

"The darkest place is under the lamp. Yin Huaxuan might just come back here."

"Let's focus on completing our mission first."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhiqing couldn't help but glance at Junior Brother Li Mo with newfound respect, thinking him quite reliable.

Night deepened.

The group maintained some distance as they spread out to search through the woods.

Half an hour later—

Roar—!

Suddenly, a chorus of beastly howls erupted from Rare Beast Peak, one after another!

Even the ground seemed to tremble beneath their feet.

"Run!"

"The exotic beasts are rampaging!"

A true disciple of Rare Beast Peak came sprinting toward them in a panic.