The pool water rippled as mist rose into the air.
Within the modest confines of the Mistbloom Everlasting Spring, silence hung thick in the air.
Little Li crouched in the water, the fruit in his mouth plopping into the pool unnoticed.
Meanwhile, Ying Bing stared fixedly at the illusory panel before her, her expression one of stunned disbelief.
[Eastern Wasteland Domain’s Second-Ranked Prodigy: Ying Bing.]
[Eastern Wasteland Domain’s Top-Ranked Prodigy: Li Mo.]
She wondered if this was a dream—one she hadn’t yet woken from.
This time, their cultivation realms were the same.
And yet, compared to her past life, she had grown immeasurably stronger.
She had the Blood Phoenix Essence.
She had mastered martial techniques to their absolute limits.
She had even glimpsed the Bronze Divine Tree and was now condensing a Divine Form of the Great Dao.
Not to mention, she possessed the True Phoenix Feather bestowed by her system.
And yet, she had still lost.
“Why?”
Ying Bing’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion.
She had believed that, even across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, no prodigy who had just entered the Observation Divine Realm could match her.
Setting aside other methods, within the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm, she had already seen everything there was to see.
But how many in the world could enter the Observation Divine Realm by witnessing a Divine Form of the Great Dao, let alone have a physique perfectly suited for it?
She had never seen him observe a Divine Form.
Hadn’t Li Mo only awakened his potential through a chance encounter with a natural wonder?
That would mean his soul had merely grown stronger—he shouldn’t possess a Divine Form.
Without a Divine Form, how could he still surpass her?
‘Is the system malfunctioning?’
The thought crossed her mind.
[This system operates on principles of absolute fairness and impartiality. Combat power comparisons are calculated based on the individual’s current peak performance.]
[In ten life-and-death battles, the host has only won three times.]
[One of those victories was solely due to Li Mo’s clothing tearing, which inflicted a hard crowd-control effect, allowing the host to narrowly prevail.]
Ying Bing: “......”
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Li Mo sitting there dazed, his ears turning red.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Just an old issue… high blood pressure, you know.”
Li Mo cleared his throat.
Little Li’s blood pressure might look high, but it wasn’t exactly low either.
In his mind, he wanted to look away—staring at the ice block for too long wasn’t proper.
But strangely enough, his eyes seemed to have a mind of their own.
“Hmm…”
Ying Bing pressed her lips together and slowly sank back into the pool, her emotions in turmoil.
The system’s judgment seemed… oddly reliable.
Could it be… that this sixteen-year-old boy, whose “old issue” was high blood pressure, had truly surpassed her again in the same realm?
Wasn’t that even more absurd than the system being faulty?
[Congratulations, host, for securing second place in this prodigy ranking.]
[Rewards are being distributed…]
[Detected that the host has activated the “Punishment for the Defeated.” All rewards have been stored in the system’s inventory and will be issued upon completion of the punishment mechanism.]
[This punishment’s content: Bathe together with ‘Li Mo.’]
[Requirement: Wear the “special outfit” provided by the system.]
For anyone else, stepping into the Mistbloom Everlasting Spring would have earned them a swift decapitation.
But him…
Well, they had already shared a bed once before. Compared to that, bathing together wasn’t entirely unacceptable.
But wearing that outfit…
If she could, she would have long since destroyed that shameless garment!
[Ding!]
As if on cue, another notification chimed.
[Detected that the host’s current environment meets the scenario requirements. Punishment will now commence.]
[In ten seconds, the system will automatically equip the host with the designated attire. Countdown begins…]
[Ten…]
[Nine…]
[Eight…]
The countdown ticked away mercilessly.
At this moment, Ying Bing’s eyes lost their focus, her mind a storm of chaotic thoughts.
“Huh?”
Li Mo, who had been struggling to find a place to rest his gaze, suddenly frowned.
He noticed Ying Bing curling her fingers against the edge of the pool, her expression vacant.
Ice block, your whole vibe just changed!
“Are you sick? Your face is so red…”
Li Mo stood with a splash and moved toward her, reaching out to press a hand against her forehead.
Feeling the warmth of his touch, Ying Bing looked up in a daze.
[Five…]
[Four…]
[Three…]
The countdown continued, flickering right above the boy’s head in her line of sight.
Ying Bing: “!”
Li Mo: “(⊙ˍ⊙)”
Visibly, the “ice block’s” neck turned as red as a ripe pomegranate.
Li Mo opened his mouth, but before he could speak—
Ying Bing suddenly stood, her hand shooting up to cover his eyes.
Her movement was so fast it resembled a perfected palm technique.
And so…
Little Li’s vision plunged into darkness.
Her slender fingers trembled slightly, warm and unyielding as they pressed against his eyelids.
“What’s wrong?”
“D-don’t… look at me.”
Was the ice block really sick?
Since when did she stutter?
Li Mo detected a faint quiver in her voice.
But then he realized something else was off.
Just before his vision was cut off, his keen eyesight had caught a fleeting glimpse—a flash of silk-like white and an intoxicating black, both adorning Ying Bing’s dangerously alluring figure…
“If it’s inconvenient, I can leave first?”
He ventured the question softly.
“You… can’t leave either.”
Her voice, usually as composed as jade striking stone, now carried a forced calm.
Li Mo: “??”
Now he was thoroughly baffled.
He knew Ying Bing was proud and strong-willed at her core, unwilling to show vulnerability. That was why he offered to leave—to avoid another awkward situation like last time.
But…
Don’t look, and don’t leave? What kind of confusing logic is this?
“So… we’re just going to stand here like this?”
“Close your eyes… and sit down.”
“…Fine.”
Li Mo sighed inwardly.
The sound of water shifting followed.
Ying Bing seemed to be moving behind him.
Splash—
Suddenly, she stumbled, nearly losing her balance.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s just slippery… Don’t turn around.”
“……”
……
And so, Little Li sat in the pool, facing the wall as if in deep reflection.
He knew the ice block hadn’t gone far.
Every now and then, he could feel her slightly uneven breaths brushing against his back—a ticklish sensation…
Great.
Li Mo had originally planned to cultivate.
Now? That wasn’t happening.
Behind him…
Her bathing robe had vanished without a trace.
The shimmering water revealed glimpses of a breathtaking, almost mystical sight.
This outfit… is somehow even more embarrassing than being naked.
Ying Bing’s fingers had curled so tightly she couldn’t straighten them even if she tried.
“That was close… Just a little more and he would’ve…”
“The system… actually set a distance requirement between us…”
Her mind replayed the scene from moments ago.
She had risen from humble beginnings to stand at the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
But… she had never experienced anything like this!
Her heart refused to calm down.
She couldn’t help but wonder—
Weren’t you once unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before you?
[Bathing countdown: Two quarters of an hour remaining.]
"As everyone knows, soaking in a hot spring for half an hour is the healthiest duration."
Another... half an hour?!
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