New Penalty Announced: Is This a Proper Forbidden Technique

Yunzhou.

The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths stretch boundlessly across the cosmos.

Geographically, the Nine Heavens are divided into nine provinces, with the Central Divine Province directly ruled by the Great Yu Imperial Family, renowned as the most prosperous and spiritually rich land.

Yet the remaining realms of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths once held their own glorious eras.

Take Yunzhou, for instance.

Yunzhou was home to countless swordsmen, and before the emergence of the Heavenly Mountain Sword Manor, it was the true sacred land of sword arts in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Even the Martial Emperor of Great Yu once sought tutelage at the Hengyun Sword City.

After handing over the assassins from the Drizzle Tower to the authorities, the disciples of the Qingyuan Sect also traversed the Silent Sea Forest.

...

Time flowed swiftly.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

A campsite by a stream, a hundred miles outside Yunzhou City.

"Breaking through the Observation Divine Realm really isn’t that easy," Li Mo mused, examining the miniature figure within his dantian.

The intricate mystical patterns on the figure’s body had only formed seven so far—still a long way from fully comprehending the Ascension Diagram of the Ice Block.

Of course, he could now attempt to unlock his second acupoint, as the strength of his soul was more than sufficient.

But the stronger the soul, the vaster the acupoints one could open.

And Young Li here was hardly lacking in resources.

Naturally, he aimed to push every step to its absolute limit.

After breakfast, he headed to the neighboring tent as usual—Ying Bing’s.

"Wait for me a moment."

The Ice Block’s voice was calm, carrying an inexplicable, peculiar resonance.

It didn’t sound like a breakthrough.

Could it be related to that sword technique?

Over these days, the two had sparred daily. Li Mo practiced the Nine Swords of Dugu, while Ying Bing refined the gaps in her newly acquired divine-level sword art.

Li Mo could sense her rapid progress—and that the sword art’s rank was no trifling matter.

Was this related to her swordsmanship?

Never mind.

He’d find out soon enough with his Heavenly Fate Divine Eye.

"Later, I’ll see if there’s any investment opportunity."

Shrugging, Li Mo went to prepare breakfast.

Chef Li was in charge of cooking.

The other senior brothers and sisters dutifully lit fires, washed pots, and worked in perfect order.

Before long, a pot of wild herb and rare ingredient soup was ready.

"Junior Brother Li, have you finished writing that letter about the Drizzle Tower incident?"

"Mn. Once we reach Yunzhou City, I’ll hand it over to the disciples of Hengyun Sword City."

Li Mo nodded, serving a bowl of soup to Princess Jiang.

In Yunzhou, Hengyun Sword City held the same status as the Qingyuan Sect did in Purple Sun Prefecture.

For matters like this, it was wiser to leave them to the local authorities.

Not long after, Jiang Chulong suddenly pricked up her ears and turned her head.

"What’s wrong?"

Before Li Mo could voice his confusion, a sharp sword hum echoed through the air, startling flocks of birds from the forest.

Everyone stood up in alarm.

Following Jiang Chulong’s gaze, Li Mo saw Ying Bing’s tightly shut tent fluttering without wind.

"I’m fine."

A voice as clear as jade rang out.

Inside the tent.

Ying Bing slowly opened her eyes, her gaze now carrying an ethereal depth.

The first three stances of the Divine Firmament Heavenly Heart Sword were now nearly flawless.

As she contemplated the essence of the divine sword art, her mind grew even more tranquil.

Yet—

Just as she prepared to step outside—

[Host has completed the previous punishment.]

[The third round of comparisons will commence in thirty days. Surely, the host is eager.]

[Would you like to activate the Loser’s Punishment? Greater rewards await upon activation.]

Ying Bing’s steps faltered.

Her brows furrowed slightly, hesitation flickering in her heart.

The first time, she had accepted without a second thought, believing it to be a trivial challenge—practically free rewards from the system.

The second time, she had dismissed it as a fluke...

But this time?

Memories flashed before her eyes—every clash of Frost Sky and Crimson Sky during their sparring sessions.

In swordplay, he had never bested her since that one time.

In cultivation, she meditated on divine forms—one of the Supreme Yin, the other of the Hundred Phoenixes.

Even that divine weapon of his could be countered with her True Phoenix Feather.

To this day, Ying Bing still couldn’t fathom how Li Mo had ranked above her last time.

Ah.

The Hengyun Sword Mark.

With its aid, the Divine Firmament Heavenly Heart Sword could ascend even further.

"Losing isn’t terrifying."

"What’s terrifying is losing the heart to seek the Dao."

This was a truth Ying Bing had long understood.

It was also the very principle of her divine sword art.

[Loser’s Punishment successfully activated.]

[Punishment conditions confirmed.]

[Condition]: "Request the victor’s touch."

[Requirement]: "Must cover at least 80% of your body’s surface area~"

Crack.

A certain big-headed doll figurine was suddenly crushed in her delicate grip.

She... was starting to regret this.

Touch? And she had to request it?

She couldn’t even imagine herself uttering such words!

She couldn’t lose...

This time... absolutely could not lose...

The sword mark—she had to obtain it for enlightenment...

"Ice Block, come out for breakfast. We’re heading into the city soon."

Outside.

Li Mo frowned at the motionless tent.

"The commotion stopped ages ago. Why isn’t she coming out...?"

"Hasn’t her martial epiphany ended?"

"Mn."

Jiang Chulong nodded cautiously.

"That’s strange..."

Just as Li Mo puzzled over it, a notification chimed in his ear.

[Congratulations, Host. Successful investment in ‘Ying Bing,’ aiding her sword art comprehension.]

[Investment Reward: Flower-Picking Finger.]

Judging by the name, it seemed to be some kind of finger technique?

But between hammers and swords, he barely had time to train—let alone some obscure finger art...

Li Mo sipped his soup, baffled by the system’s choice of reward.

[Flower-Picking Finger]: "A peerless finger technique. Each press carries divine precision, capable of stimulating every acupoint with perfect accuracy—a miraculous skill for relieving fatigue!"

"Warning: Avoid using on the opposite gender. High risk of being reported to authorities."

Pfft—

Li Mo spat out his soup.

What the—?

A peerless technique with such an elegant name, and it’s just for massages?!

"Big Brother Li, what’s wrong?" Jiang Chulong hurriedly patted his back.

"Cough, nothing. Just thought of an ingenious martial art..."

Li Mo wiped his mouth.

Massages aside, what was that last line supposed to mean?

Just how unorthodox was this "massage"?