Princess Jiang's New Rival: Your Tea is So Refreshing

Inside the World Seed.

"With Diamond Indestructibility, I can at least withstand attacks at the Outer Scenery level."

"The stronger my physique, the longer it lasts."

Our esteemed Heavenly Venerable stood before the overturned alchemy furnace, summarizing the results of his recent efforts.

After conducting several more careful tests, he had nearly mastered Diamond Indestructibility.

"I should also find time to refine the Extreme Weapon Slaughter Body to its peak."

Every extra second of Diamond Indestructibility’s duration was valuable.

Truthfully, his physique was already formidable, but he wondered just how much stronger it needed to be to remain unyielding at all times.

No point in reaching for the stars too soon...

Young Li Mo shook his head.

Clearing his mind, he glanced at the ever-expanding World Seed and couldn’t help but feel that this miniature world was now far too empty.

Then again, the Moon Goddess’s divine intent he had observed might manifest a true moon within this world.

What about the Stone Monkey’s divine intent?

As he pondered this—

Jiang Chulong arrived, clutching a small bundle in her arms. After hesitating for a moment, she handed it over.

"What’s this?"

"A... a gift for Teacher... for the Autumn Eve Festival."

The Autumn Eve Festival was similar to the Mid-Autumn Festival from his past life, with nearly identical customs, though it came a bit earlier.

Unwrapping the cloth, he found several mooncakes inside, each stamped with the emblem of the Hengyun Sword City’s sect.

The Heavenly Venerable couldn’t help but picture the scene—

Little Princess Jiang sneaking glances at the banquet in Hengyun Sword City, waiting for the right moment to pocket the mooncakes meant as dessert.

Li Mo chuckled.

"Thank you."

"Teacher must... must be lonely... spending the festival alone."

Jiang Chulong knew that feeling all too well, and her heart ached at the thought.

After celebrating with Big Brother Li, she’d make sure to keep Teacher company.

Her mind conjured an image of her teacher, solitary and forlorn in this vast space.

A Heavenly Venerable left waiting—don’t let absence turn into regret...

"Teacher, don’t worry... Chulong will... will work hard to restore your body as soon as possible."

"??... Well, yes, but remember to pace yourself."

The Heavenly Venerable wasn’t entirely sure where this sudden surge of determination had come from.

But Jiang Chulong really had been diligent.

Now, she was on the verge of breaking through to the Insight stage, just a step away from Divine Observation.

Lately, though, she had been asking fewer and fewer questions about the sword path.

This meant her confusion had lessened—all she lacked now was accumulation.

Hmm...

Li Mo was happy for her, but also a little troubled.

Where could he make up for the missing martial insights? In the future, he’d need to master many more techniques to condense his Mystic Elixir, and insights would be spent like flowing water.

Looking up—

Jiang Chulong’s sparring sessions with the straw dummies were ending faster and faster.

Young Li Mo put his mind to work.

A moment later—

All the straw dummies vanished with the wind.

With no opponents left before her, Jiang Chulong turned and asked:

"Teacher... are we... telling stories today too?"

Usually, after sword practice, Teacher would tell her stories during breaks.

"It’s still too early."

The Heavenly Venerable stood and glanced at the moon—less than half their training time had passed.

Besides, Little Princess Jiang hadn’t made much progress today.

The straw dummies no longer posed any challenge to her.

"Disciple, I think it’s time."

"Huh? Time... for what?"

Jiang Chulong blinked in confusion.

Then, she heard the amusement in her teacher’s voice:

"Time to give you a new opponent."

As the words fell—

The miniature world transformed.

The celestial palace scenery vanished, replaced by lush mountains and forests, a waterfall cascading in the distance, its mist forming a rainbow under the sunlight.

"This... this place is..."

Jiang Chulong’s gray-white eyes behind the cloth strip widened in shock.

"Correct. This is none other than the Flower-Fruit Mountain."

The Heavenly Venerable’s voice deepened, tinged with nostalgia.

"Your new opponent awaits here."

"Is it... is it..."

The little princess eagerly scanned the surroundings.

Then—a figure emerged from behind the waterfall, stepping through the mist to stand before her.

"Sun Wukong!"

Jiang Chulong clapped excitedly. She wanted to approach but hesitated.

"Master, how... how is he here...?"

"This isn’t the real one—not even a living being. It’s merely an imprint he left behind, entrusted to my care."

The Heavenly Venerable’s voice was soft.

Jiang Chulong: "!"

Teacher had actually met the Great Sage who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace? And they were close enough for him to leave something behind?!

As expected of the Heavenly Venerable!

Well... the Heavenly Venerable knew the truth.

This was similar in principle to the straw dummies.

The key difference was that it contained the divine intent from the "Monkey Seeks the Dao" painting—projected through the Stone Monkey divine pattern in Li Mo’s soul.

"This will be your new opponent from now on."

"But... but..."

"Chulong, what did I once tell you?"

"No matter... no matter the enemy... always dare to draw your sword..."

"Go on, then!"

......

The next morning.

"Another forty years’ worth of martial insights gained, plus Chulong got some good training."

"Li Mo, oh Li Mo, you’re truly a genius!"

He grinned at his reflection in the mirror, pointing at himself playfully.

Once Jiang Chulong broke through, there’d surely be more rewards.

That morning, he intended to ask when they’d depart for Purple Sun Prefecture, but Elder Qian and Elder Xue were nowhere to be found.

So instead, he took out the Unyielding Meteor Hammer and began tempering his body.

Martial techniques generally grew harder to refine the further one progressed, and body tempering was especially grueling—requiring years of relentless grinding. Raw talent couldn’t speed it up.

Thankfully, with divine weapons and high-grade medicinal aids, his progress wasn’t painfully slow.

Just exhausting.

By noon, the sky had turned overcast, and fallen leaves piled up in the courtyard.

Li Mo finished his training, arms limp and useless, and slumped at the table, too drained to move.

Earlier, before putting away the hammer, he had deliberately held back some of the World Seed’s power to test his limits.

This was the result.

At the table—

A girl sat quietly, a withered-leaf-colored butterfly perched on her fingertip before she gently sent it fluttering away.

The Phoenix Heavenly Empress was truly easy to please—just give her food and tea, and she asked for nothing more.

"Ice Block, I’m thirsty."

"Drink tea."

"No strength."

"?"

Ying Bing looked up and saw the boy drenched in sweat, lips parched.

A flicker of resignation passed through her serene eyes as she handed him the teacup she had been about to sip from.

He gulped down three cups in quick succession.

Tea clung to his lips, but he couldn’t be bothered to wipe it off.

Naturally fair-skinned and rosy-lipped, the moisture only made his mouth look even more vividly red.

Not only did it look smooth, but the touch was also...

Ying Bing was never one to let her thoughts wander.

Yet, certain moments and sensations always left a lasting impression on a woman.

Especially when it was her first time experiencing them in two lifetimes...

Li Mo noticed the young girl glancing subtly in his direction and complimented,

"Thanks, your tea is really smooth."

"......"

Ying Bing quietly lowered her gaze.

Should she buy another teacup?

But she hadn’t seen this design anywhere else.

If they didn’t match, it would feel unsettling...

Just then,

Shang Wu walked in, yawning and looking displeased.

Qian Bufan and Xue Jing followed, their expressions equally grim.

"What’s wrong?" Li Mo asked, noticing their mood.

"A rebel general from the southern border has fled into Yunzhou."

"I’ve heard about that."

"Along the way, he’s killed quite a few people. Recently, a disciple from a sect crossed paths with him and was taken hostage."

"Who’s that unlucky?"

Li Mo’s question trailed off as he realized something was off.

Yunzhou’s affairs shouldn’t concern their Qingyuan Sect, should they? With a city as large as Sword City and a Dharma-Protector overseeing it, how could an Inner Realm cultivator cause such trouble? There was no need to call for outside help.

"Murong Xiao."

"......"