My verdict is it's worse than an ice chunk.

"I probably didn’t give myself away."

Watching Tang Xiaobao skip off toward the villa, Yin Mianmian took a quiet breath.

After entering the tavern, she had encountered three people.

One was Xu Yi—no need to overthink that.

Another was Ouyang, who floated about with an immortal air, probably seeing double—no need to worry about him either.

The last was Tang Xiaobao, who looked downright simple-minded.

No issues there.

She was at the ninth aperture of Insight.

Li Mo, at best, was stuck at the third aperture.

As long as she got close, her chances of success would be... one hundred percent!

But there was a catch.

Inside the tavern, there were at least three Inner Realm experts, especially that palace-robed woman, who wielded Outer Realm power!

So her goal was assassination—preferably ensuring Li Mo died without a sound.

If things got too loud, she might end up staying here permanently, and this time, there’d be no Physical Manifestation expert from the tower to extract her...

She pushed the door open.

"You’re back?"

Li Mo was shirtless, hammer in hand, nailing a painting to the wall.

Something felt off about the ice block today.

But... teenage girl moods.

It wasn’t the first time the ice block had acted strange.

That time of the month, probably...

"Yeah."

Yin Mianmian’s gaze lingered on the hammer in his palm, her eyes narrowing slightly.

A mystic weapon.

A mere Insight Realm cultivator, wielding a mystic weapon.

And... the bounty on Li Mo’s head at the Misty Rain Tower was staggering, proof of his immense wealth.

Just what kind of fortune had he stumbled upon?

But Li Mo noticed a nearby frame was crooked and stepped away to adjust it.

"What were you doing earlier?" he asked casually.

"Someone challenged me."

Yin Mianmian wasn’t lying.

That challenger had only come at her because she’d paid him to test Ying Bing.

"Best be careful these days. My bounty at the Misty Rain Tower hasn’t been lifted yet."

"That Holy Maiden Yin Mianmian might still be plotting something."

Li Mo shook his head.

Being someone’s target never felt good.

"Oh? What do you think Yin Mianmian would do?"

Yin Mianmian stepped closer.

Her eyes swept over Li Mo’s body, but she saw no trace of a spatial treasure.

Where was he hiding his wealth?

Li Mo turned back, his expression serious.

"Well, first off, she’s a stunted old crone."

Crack—

Yin Mianmian’s fist clenched.

"?" Li Mo didn’t notice the sound and continued, "People with physical flaws tend to develop psychological issues."

"Add to that, growing up in the Misty Rain Tower—a den of deceit, bloodshed, and instability—she’s practically guaranteed to be a psycho."

"Otherwise, why would she get off on watching men lose their minds and tear each other apart?"

"Huh, ice block, why do you look so pale?"

Li Mo frowned.

Yin Mianmian’s face had darkened, radiating...

Aggression?

Little did he know, this was her restrained reaction. Inside, she was seething.

"How do you know about her... interests?"

"So you’re..."

Yin Mianmian gritted her teeth.

A poisoned dagger slid into her palm.

For the first time in years, her composure shattered. She didn’t even care about his wealth anymore.

But then—

Hum.

Moonlight shimmered.

Li Mo had released the divine intent from his soul.

Some girls had rough periods—mood swings, physical discomfort.

This lunar radiance had been tested before. It dispelled distractions and negative emotions, like when Senior Brother Ouyang had gone berserk last time.

One flash of divine intent, and he’d calmed down.

Sure enough.

As the moonlight bathed her, Yin Mianmian’s fury froze mid-boil.

All emotion drained away.

"You’re... bl-blurgh..."

Suddenly, she thought—

Li Mo was still young. And they were enemies.

If an enemy trash-talked you... wasn’t that normal?

Of course she’d forgive him...

But.

She’d still kill him.

The rage was gone, but the intent remained.

Every day Li Mo’s bounty stayed up, it was a slap to her face as the Holy Maiden.

Still, she could first figure out where his wealth came from—and how he knew her secrets.

"So you know Yin Mianmian well?"

Her voice was icy again.

"Not really."

Li Mo set the hammer down.

Glancing outside—Xiaobao wasn’t back yet—he lowered his voice.

"I heard by chance. Honestly, that Yin Mianmian is more pitiable than hateful."

"Oh? How so?"

"The Misty Rain Tower Lord treats her as a cultivation cauldron because of her physique. She probably doesn’t even realize it..."

"??!"

Yin Mianmian’s sneer stiffened.

Li Mo thought she was Ying Bing.

So this wasn’t a ploy.

He had no reason to lie.

And if he’d guessed her other secret correctly...

What if... what if it was true?

For a moment, her mind blanked.

Meanwhile—

Ding.

A notification chimed in Li Mo’s ear.

[Congratulations, Host. Successful investment in Yin Mianmian—doubt sown against the Misty Rain Tower Lord.]

[Feedback reward available.]

Li Mo barely registered the reward.

He and Ying Bing often cultivated together, their souls deeply familiar.

The moment his divine intent touched her, something felt off—but he couldn’t pinpoint it.

Just as he prepared to activate his Heavenly Eye—

The system’s alert came.

Yin Mianmian?!

His pupils sharpened.

At the same time, Yin Mianmian’s thoughts raced. She no longer wanted him dead—not yet.

She needed answers.

Instantly, her Heavenly Temptress Physique surged to its peak, a tidal wave of divine intent crashing toward him.

Ninth aperture of Insight, unleashing a supreme art.

Even an Inner Realm expert might fall under its sway, let alone a third-aperture Insight cultivator.

This was a battle of souls!

In that instant—

Boom.

Souls collided.

Li Mo grunted, his vision swimming. Suddenly, he stood among clouds, surrounded by celestial maidens—each a peerless beauty, their dances intoxicating.

The real Yin Mianmian moved among them, smiling, her eyes alluring, whispering to his soul to surrender.

To sink into blissful oblivion.

Li Mo’s soul was stronger than most in his realm.

But pure will alone couldn’t resist this.

Yet—who was Li Mo?

In his past life, he’d weathered endless temptations from alluring sirens. It left him just lucid enough.

He stared, dazed, at the undulating figures.

Then another image surfaced—

The swimsuit template the system had once loaded during an update.

The yet-to-be-released limited skin for the Ice Block—"Cool Summer: Black Temptation."

Little Li's gaze gradually hardened as he declared:

"My verdict is..."

"It's no match for the Ice Block."

The next moment—

A brilliant radiance erupted!

A luminous moon slowly ascended, its frost-like glow illuminating all things.

Every celestial maiden touched by its light withered to bone, their beauty turned to dust.