"What do you mean by turning a hobby into a grand pursuit?"
Li Mo leaned back in a tactical retreat.
A faint ripple emanated from the World Seed.
The Pangu Starfall Hammer protested.
Lately, Li Mo had been focusing solely on sword practice, neglecting the hammer. The weapon's killing edge resonated with grievance—its sharp aura humming in discontent.
"Once there's a hammer trial event, I’ll let you shine and dominate the world!"
Li Mo made a solemn promise.
The hammer immediately settled down, happily accepting this empty promise.
A pang of guilt struck him.
Too easily obtained things are rarely cherished—such is human nature...
While lost in thought, Li Mo changed into the robe Jiang Chulong had made for him. The stitching was clumsy but earnest, and the fabric was of the finest quality.
"Let’s be honest—if I call myself a swordsman, who would dare object?"
Satisfied with his reflection, Li Mo pushed the door open and stepped outside.
The moment he exited, he saw Jiang Chulong crouched at the courtyard entrance, surrounded by a few scruffy stray cats nibbling at the leftovers she had set out.
Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned—and froze.
"L-L-Li... Li Dage... You’re... wearing..."
"Does it look good?"
Li Mo stood before her, grinning.
"Y-yes... like the sun itself."
Through the cloth wrappings around her eyes, her dazed gaze reflected the young man’s radiant confidence.
"Hah, where’d you learn such fancy words?"
"I heard people... praising my father... the same way..."
Jiang Chulong stole glances at him, then finally couldn’t resist reaching out to smooth the wrinkles on his robe.
"Thanks."
Li Mo ruffled her hair.
"Mmm..."
Jiang Chulong’s lips parted, but she found herself breathless.
The thought of Li Dage making a name for himself in this outfit made her head spin.
Was this how drunk patrons at the tavern felt?
But she hadn’t touched a drop...
"You should get some new clothes too."
Li Mo noticed Jiang Chulong was still wearing the plain outfit from when they ran the hotpot stall.
"N-no need... I’m happy... with this."
She clutched the hem of her garment, shaking her head hurriedly.
"We’ll go shopping when we have time. Yunzhou City is bustling—you might find something you like."
"With... Li Dage?"
Jiang Chulong murmured, already envisioning the scene.
Li Mo couldn’t help but chuckle.
Soon, his senior brothers and sisters were up as well. Ouyang shoved a stack of silver notes into Li Mo’s hands—royalties from the illustrated book.
A quick glance revealed each note was worth a thousand taels.
"‘The Domineering Empress Falls for Me’ makes this much money?"
"This is just the first installment!"
Ouyang puffed out his chest, his grin wider than an AK’s recoil, his voice booming with pride.
"Junior Brother Li, you and Junior Sister Ying Bing are my benefactors!"
"......"
Li Mo suddenly remembered the recent influx of "Beauty Preservation Pills" from investment returns—all courtesy of Ouyang.
No wonder.
Just then, a door creaked open.
The rented courtyard fell silent.
Ying Bing stepped out, her sword in hand, draped in an obsidian-feathered cloak that deepened her aura of icy nobility.
How to put it?
They were all respectable cultivators, but standing beside her, they looked like bodyguards.
If the Nine Provinces Summit judged by presence alone, the title of "Sword Prodigy" might as well be handed to her outright...
"Aren’t you all coming?"
Ying Bing turned at the gate, puzzled.
Li Mo blinked. "Ice Block, I’ve got a question."
"Aren’t you boiling in that fur in summer?"
"......"
Ying Bing’s gaze flicked to a certain part of his anatomy, then she wordlessly boarded the carriage.
Jiang Chulong whispered, "Li Dage... that’s... not fur..."
---
The streets teemed with carriages and chatter, a roaring river of life.
The Qingyuan Sect’s procession barely stood out.
And the skies were no quieter.
Giant eagles and exotic beasts carried riders across the heavens, while swordmasters who had mastered aerial techniques trod upon their blades—sheer, unbridled flair.
When it came to grand entrances, every genius had their own signature move.
"Was that Wu Chushu of the Three Heroes of Hengyun, riding his sword just now?"
"Must be."
"Wait, doesn’t he live in Sword City? Why’s he arriving from outside?"
"He’s a true swordsman. A hero’s business is none of yours."
"If you could ride a sword, you’d do the same."
Murmurs of admiration and envy swirled through the crowd.
"If only I didn’t have to write..."
Li Mo sighed. His Celestial Eye reflected Wu Chushu’s retreating figure as he jotted notes in his booklet.
[Name: Wu Chushu]
[Age: 25]
[Bone Structure: Ten Thousand Blossoms Sword Bone]
[Realm: Six-Aperture Insight]
[Fate: Blue tinged with Purple]
[Evaluation: Second Seat of Hengyun Sword City in Langya Province. Ranked 74th on the Hidden Dragon Ranking at a young age, titled "Gentleman of Ten Thousand Blossoms."]
[Recent Events: Intended to challenge Ying Bing to reclaim Hengyun Sword City’s honor, but suffered a shattered sword heart and demonic doubts.]
"......"
Li Mo paused mid-writing.
Suddenly, he wasn’t so envious anymore.
If anything, he pitied the guy.
Even if his Nine Swords of Dugu reached minor or major mastery, he wouldn’t dare claim victory over Ice Block. The only time he’d won with a sword was because of her... weakness. And he’d never seen her expose it since.
Shaking his head, he continued recording.
Every promising warrior—whether renowned like Wu Chushu or obscure but formidable—was cataloged for potential investment.
Then—
Li Mo’s eyes sharpened.
A plain-looking young man rode past on a strange beast, his aura utterly unremarkable.
But to the Celestial Eye, he was anything but ordinary.
[Name: Huang Donglai]
[Age: 25]
[Bone Structure: None]
[Realm: Five-Aperture Insight]
[Fate: Blue tinged with Purple]
[Evaluation: Possesses a mystical pearl that deconstructs martial techniques. Low-key and diligent, he trained in obscurity for ten years in his hometown before venturing out.]
[Recent Events: First duel outside ended in defeat against Jiang Chulong, convincing him he was still trash, so he retreated to train harder...]
Li Mo: "......"
What a "Sword God of Ten-Mile Slope."
If you’re this cautious, at least spar a few more times before giving up!
After more note-taking, Li Mo mused aloud,
"Our Eastern Wasteland Domain has no shortage of geniuses, huh?"
"Quite a few," Ying Bing agreed, resting a hand on Frost Sky.
"Odd, isn’t it?"
"It was once the capital of Great Shang."
"Fair point."
Li Mo nodded. A fallen dynasty’s heartland, now faded—yet still fertile ground for talent.
Before long, they arrived at Hengyun Sword City’s gates.
The venue nestled between mountain and water, with ten dueling platforms awaiting.
An elder with a sword strapped to his back clasped his hands in greeting.
"Step onto the stage as a challenger. The victor claims the platform."
"Three days later, those who still stand upon the stage as champions shall be deemed to have passed the Trial of Blades."
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
saw a female celebrity tied up and stuffed in the trunk! Little did he know, countless cameras were aimed at him at this moment - this was a new type of reality show. The first randomly selected passerby was caught in less than an hour. But when Xu Moru was selected, things started to take an unexpected turn. "Damn, this isn't how the script goes. This Xu Moru is too bold, he's not following the rules at all." "Crap, is this guy taking it seriously?" "The female celebrity has been scared to tears!"
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
