The carriage traveled far into the distance, heading toward Yunzhou City.
Li Mo sat inside the cabin, flipping through a booklet in his hands.
To be honest.
He found this investment return utterly ridiculous and seemingly useless.
But he still had to read it.
Mostly out of curiosity.
Massage techniques could actually become a peerless skill?
"First Form: Roaming Mountains and Waters—what mountains? What waters?"
Li Mo leaned back in shock, utterly astonished.
This really was a peerless skill!
If he mastered it, he’d be an absolute legend working as a masseur at the Spring Breeze Pavilion.
Jiang Chulong watched him with curiosity.
What was Big Brother Li reading?
Unfortunately, just as she tried to peek, he wouldn’t let her see...
By the tea table.
Ying Bing rested the Frost Sky Sword across her knees, a cup of tea placed before her, her gaze lowered.
The Yunzhou Martial Arts Summit was no ordinary gathering—many of the fighters here would one day shake the heavens and earth.
Just from the Hidden Dragon Ranking alone, four or five prodigies had arrived, along with numerous long-hidden experts.
Many young talents saw the Crosscloud Sword City as their first grand stage to test their skills against the world.
When masters clashed, it wasn’t just about strength—it was a battle of will and spirit.
She wasn’t worried about whether she could make the top three.
But the Divine Skyheart Sword demanded unwavering forward momentum.
The more she built her momentum, the stronger she became.
And that buildup had to start now.
"The Eighth Form... damn..."
Li Mo’s gasp of amazement cut through the silence.
Ying Bing’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Was he... studying another martial art?
"The Twelfth Form... holy hell... this is insane. What a freaking genius."
Li Mo marveled.
No kidding.
Only a genius could turn a massage technique into a peerless skill.
Unable to resist, Ying Bing opened her eyes and glanced at the booklet in his hands. The title read:
‘Flower-Picking Finger.’
Given her knowledge, she could sense profound Zen philosophy woven into the name.
Could it be... an advanced Buddhist martial art?
Otherwise, why would he be so impressed?
Her heart tightened inexplicably.
Strange.
She had never known what it meant to feel nervous before.
But watching the young man alternate between awe and sighs, her mind grew restless.
"Who even came up with this? It’s too good."
"Even divine techniques can’t compare."
Li Mo finished reading Flower-Picking Finger and sighed.
Honestly.
He hadn’t been interested at first.
But now? He couldn’t resist learning a few moves.
"What... are you reading?"
Ying Bing finally spoke up.
Even when studying the peerless Sunwheel Sword Canon, he hadn’t been this amazed.
Better than divine techniques?
According to the system’s judgment, he was already stronger than her. If he mastered Flower-Picking Finger too...
"Oh, this?"
Li Mo waved the booklet.
"A peerless skill."
"Specialized in massage techniques."
He scratched his head awkwardly.
This massage method... wasn’t exactly orthodox.
For the sake of effectiveness, it didn’t shy away from touching certain... sensitive areas.
No wonder the warning said not to use it on the opposite sex—unless you wanted to get arrested.
"A peerless skill..."
Ying Bing’s tension eased slightly—until she processed the rest.
"Massage...?"
She recalled the terms of their next bet:
[Request the winner to caress...]
At first, she hadn’t given it much thought.
But ever since their last sword sparring session...
Every time she remembered that electric sensation, her emotions churned. The initial anger had faded, leaving behind an indescribable restlessness.
"Such martial arts... are a waste of time."
"Don’t worry, I’m just reading for fun."
Li Mo chuckled.
Was she concerned he’d spread himself too thin?
Ice Block here was surprisingly considerate.
Wait.
He noticed a trace of unease in her usually calm expression.
What was wrong?
[Name: Ying Bing]
[Age: 16]
[Physique: Lunar Phoenix Body]
[Cultivation: Insightful Spirit—First Aperture]
[Fate: Crimson (Bearing Emperor’s Bone, Destiny of Frost, Spirit of Autumn Waters, Phoenix Heaven’s Visage)]
[Evaluation: A life of tribulations, yet always escaping calamity. Though her wings are still tender, when the winds of fate shift, she will soar above the nine heavens and ten earths, reigning supreme.]
[Recent Events: Hopes to place in the top three at the Martial Arts Summit to study the Crosscloud Sword Marks and solidify her position as the unrivaled genius of her generation.]
"Huh?"
Li Mo instantly grew alert.
Ice Block was... nervous.
Was there someone among her peers who made her feel inferior?
Another hidden expert?
Immediately, Li Mo’s attitude toward Yunzhou became far more cautious.
---
Before long.
A grand and bustling city came into view, its majesty dwarfing even the rebuilt Ziyang Prefecture City. It stood as if carved from time itself.
And today, Yunzhou City was livelier than ever.
"Wow..."
Jiang Chulong stuck her head out like an eager child, taking in the sights.
Having grown up confined to the imperial palace, then rarely leaving her residence in Ziyang, she had never seen anything like this.
Excited yet timid, she clutched Li Mo’s sleeve tightly.
"Big cities mean more good food."
Li Mo grinned. "I’ll take you to try some later."
"Okay!"
Jiang Chulong smiled shyly. "Big Brother Li is so kind..."
Li Mo: "..."
This silly girl was lucky she met him first. If she ran into a scammer, she’d be counting their money for them.
How had she survived in the palace being this trusting?
Due to the recent influx of martial artists, the city gates were heavily guarded, with strict inspections.
Everyone entering had to be checked and pay a one-tael silver fee.
"One tael per person... damn."
Senior Brother Ouyang was floored.
That much silver in a day would take him years of backbreaking work as an artist!
"Yunzhou’s martial culture is far stronger than the Eastern Wasteland Domain’s."
Xu Zhiqing felt both exhilarated and apprehensive.
In Ziyang, she had been a celebrated swordswoman—but here, she was just a drop in the ocean.
"Lots of swordsmen around."
Li Mo nodded, adjusting the Crimson Sky Sword at his waist.
Hah!
No one could deny he was a swordsman now.
Activating his Heaven’s Eye, he scanned the crowd for potential investment targets.
"Hey, the new Hidden Dragon Ranking is out!"
"Zhong Zhenyue made it! He’s been fighting disaster beasts at the border with his father, the Marquis of the Southern Garrison. Will he come to Yunzhou?"
"He’s 89th? Wasn’t that spot held by Crosscloud Sword City’s Bai Jinghong before?"
"Bai Jinghong moved up to 81st!"
The Hidden Dragon Ranking!
Published by the Yantian Sect, it was the most authoritative ranking of young talents across the land, based on combat achievements.
Since the Martial Arts Summit was where the young proved themselves, no other list drew as big a crowd.
"I’ll probably never make that ranking in this lifetime."
Shen Yunfei sighed. At his age, he could hardly be called a young genius anymore.
As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward a nearby figure.
Not just him, but the other disciples of Qingyuan Sect also turned to look.
"Junior Sister Ying Bing, Junior Brother Li Mo..."
"After the Martial Arts Summit, when they rise to prominence, how dazzlingly brilliant will they be?"
"In the grand stage of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, they will be the true protagonists..."
As they were sighing in admiration—
"It's Young Hero Bai!"
"And Young Hero Cao, Young Hero Wu!"
"The Three Heroes of Hengyun have come to witness the rankings!"
Suddenly, someone exclaimed in surprise, recognizing the young man riding a white horse—his demeanor cold and aloof, exuding the aura of a true master.
And he wasn't alone.
Accompanying Bai Jinghong were two other prodigies from the Hidden Dragon Ranking, their ranks even higher than his.
The crowd quickly parted ways, for these were not just geniuses but also true disciples of the Hengyun Sword City.
However—
Just as everyone marveled at their chivalrous bearing and peerless elegance—
Bai Jinghong's gaze suddenly froze.
Thud—
Young Hero Bai reacted as if he had seen some monstrous beast, his pupils contracting in shock.
Then, as if by reflex, his knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground with a plop.
The crowd: "......???"
Li Mo: "......"
He was holding the Star Piercer, just about to store it in his system space.
Awkward.
What do you do when you visit someone else's turf, and they kneel before you in front of everyone?
Asking for a friend. It's urgent.
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
ial death, also known as "shè sǐ" in Chinese, generally refers to... well, never mind, it's not important. My name is Ye Cheng, and I'm about to experience social death firsthand. ... 【Host, your mission is to confess your love to the young lady of the Dongfang family, the current student council president, in a way that will be unforgettable for everyone at the freshman ceremony!】 【Host, assist the girl with a sprained ankle in front of you to reach the infirmary, and fulfill the wicked thoughts in your heart!】 【Host, act on your desires and punish the arrogant young lady before you mercilessly!】 【Host, follow your instincts—abandon shameful surrender, begging, or groveling, and ruthlessly criticize the domineering, ill-mannered young lady in front of you!】 【Host...】 Ye Cheng: "Here, here, you take this host role—I quit!" Wait, why is the girl with a sprained ankle the daughter of a mafia boss? And what kind of punishment method is this for the arrogant young lady? Also, who the heck said anything about wicked thoughts in my heart? Come out here, let’s settle this one-on-one!!! ... The haughty student council president, the scheming mafia princess, the fragile yandere young lady, the airheaded maid-in-waiting, the mixed-blood loli/...
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
