Returning the Favor: The Astonishment of Thousand-Form Martial Sovereign

The next morning.

Li Mo woke up feeling refreshed and invigorated.

He had only slept for four hours, yet his energy and spirit were brimming, his body filled with strength.

The night before, he had practiced his cultivation late into the night.

The result? His third meridian was just a hair's breadth away from being fully unblocked.

If nothing else, his physical strength alone had increased significantly compared to before—a conclusion he reached after accidentally snapping a pair of chopsticks while preparing breakfast.

"Is the ice block still training?"

"She’s really grinding, no wonder she’s the Chosen One."

Li Mo placed breakfast in the steamer.

All she had to do was light a fire to heat it up—another small but thoughtful gesture.

Joking aside, was this just breakfast for Ying Bing?

No, this was a solid investment of hard-earned silver!

And given Ying Bing’s level as the Chosen One, she might just surprise him with some incredible returns.

"Details determine success or failure. I’m practically an investment genius."

Young Li couldn’t help but praise himself.

Now, forget about silver—his system space was stocked with five thousand taels of gold, along with all sorts of rare and exotic treasures.

Who knows? They might all come in handy someday.

A truly successful investor knows that even the smallest gains add up!

"This morning, I’ll head to the Divine Edge Cave to train the Extreme Arms Slaughter Body."

Li Mo made his plans.

In his view, a powerful physique was just as important as cultivation realms.

Sure, young Li aspired to be a swordsman.

But who said a Sword Saint couldn’t also build tank stats?

Besides, the Extreme Arms Slaughter Body enhanced the connection between a cultivator and their weapon. Once he got his hands on a top-tier sword, his sword techniques would unleash even greater might.

Li Mo had just stepped outside when he ran into a familiar figure not far from his doorstep.

Xiao Qin.

Though he still wore the gray robes of an outer disciple, his demeanor had improved dramatically—standing tall, as if the shadows over him had finally lifted.

Inner sect.

Moreover, Xiao Qin’s aura was far stronger than before.

"Junior Brother Li."

Xiao Qin had clearly been waiting outside the Autumn Water Pavilion for a while.

When the door opened and he saw Li Mo emerge, he greeted him with a hearty laugh:

"Thanks to you, I’ve returned to the Ten Meridians of the Blood Qi Realm."

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Xiao."

Li Mo wasn’t surprised, but he was genuinely pleased.

Old Xiao was a decent guy, and it was good to see him avoid wasting more time in stagnation, finally stepping back into the light.

"I owe it all to you, Junior Brother."

Xiao Qin shook his head, sincerity in his voice. "If not for that Mystic Crystal you gave me, I might have remained stuck for who knows how long. This is a debt of rebirth."

"Glad you’ve recovered. At this rate, you’ll return to the inner sect in no time."

Li Mo offered his praise without hesitation.

Old Xiao must have already activated the Seven Stars Ancient Pendant.

The question was—did it contain an inheritance, a fallen expert’s legacy, or perhaps... the expert themselves?

Whatever the case, Xiao Qin’s future achievements would be anything but ordinary.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Li Mo suddenly sensed something.

Someone... was observing him?

A realization struck him.

Could it be... Xiao Qin’s "old grandpa"?

"Junior Brother, your kindness in my darkest hour is something I don’t know how to repay."

"Recently, I had a stroke of fortune—an elder bestowed upon me a protective talisman."

Xiao Qin pulled out a golden brocade pouch from his sleeve.

Its design clearly didn’t belong to this era, and the material wasn’t ordinary gold thread. Even from a distance, one could feel a soothing, gentle warmth radiating from it.

The only flaw? It was strung on a rough hemp cord.

"Inside is a feather left behind by a divine beast of immense bloodline power. It wards off evil and nourishes the body."

"Such a treasure—wouldn’t you need it more, Brother Xiao?"

Li Mo had a good idea who this "elder" was.

So, it really was a case of meeting an old grandpa.

No wonder he could produce such a rare protective treasure.

"It’s not as useful to me anymore."

"Please, Junior Brother, don’t refuse."

Seeing Li Mo hesitate, Xiao Qin pressed urgently.

Understanding, Li Mo accepted the pouch with a smile, not letting his thoughts show.

"Then I’ll gratefully accept. Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao."

Defensive treasures? One could never have too many.

Right now, he was training the Extreme Arms Slaughter Body, so his physical defense would be formidable.

In short—his armor stats were stacked.

But against "magic damage"? Not so much.

This pouch perfectly covered that weakness, ensuring he wouldn’t fall victim to underhanded tricks.

One investment, double the returns.

Absolute win.

"As long as it’s useful to you, Junior Brother."

Xiao Qin exhaled in relief, as if a weight had lifted.

He’d been worried Li Mo would stubbornly decline.

"Junior Brother, I’ll take my leave now. There are still some matters I need to attend to."

Xiao Qin waved.

His master was still weak, urgently needing spirit-nourishing herbs and treasures.

He had to figure out where to find them.

Even if they’d cost a fortune, at least he could start by gathering intel.

"Take care, Senior Brother."

Li Mo nodded.

Once he fastened the pouch, a faint warmth immediately spread through him.

Clatter—

A sound came from behind—Ying Bing had opened a window for ventilation.

The ice coating the windowsill shattered as it hit the ground.

......

On the mountain path.

Xiao Qin’s steps were noticeably lighter.

But before he’d gone far, the voice of Thousand Forms Martial Venerable echoed in his mind.

"Such talent... such talent... it’s unparalleled in all of history!"

The tone was thick with astonishment, even a trace of awe.

This expert, who once dismissed the Purple Sun Prefecture’s lord as an ant, was clearly shaken.

"Master?"

Xiao Qin paused mid-step, momentarily stunned.

"Master, are you saying Junior Brother Li’s aptitude is extraordinary?"

"No, not him—that girl!"

The old man’s voice still couldn’t seem to calm down.

"The girl?"

Xiao Qin thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Ah, you mean Junior Sister Ying Bing? I heard she and Li Mo grew up together as childhood friends, both now true disciples."

"They’ll probably advance side by side—might even become a legendary pair someday..."

A faint, knowing smile crept onto Xiao Qin’s face, mixed with a hint of envy.

"Side by side?"

Thousand Forms Martial Venerable sighed deeply. "Disciple, you have no idea what she carries within her. Beings like her are born by the will of fate itself."

"Your Junior Brother Li’s innate foundation is solid—for a small place like Purple Sun Prefecture, he stands out. But that’s where it ends."

"That little girl, however... in the future, her brilliance may illuminate all Nine Heavens and Ten Lands."

"To think that after my death, I’d witness the humble beginnings of such an existence..."

Xiao Qin was utterly lost.

Just yesterday, his master had carried the air of an untouchable expert. This shift in attitude was... abrupt.

Like, really abrupt.

"But Master, yesterday you told me not to underestimate myself."

"Hmm. If you reach the realm I once stood in, you might be fortunate enough to witness her soar through the heavens."

Thousand Forms Martial Venerable spoke with solemn reverence.

It seemed that even just being a witness to such events was an immense honor.

The firebird feather he had given to Xiao Qin, which Xiao Qin then passed on to Li Mo, had come from one of his close female companions.

Had he not been familiar with it, he might not have sensed its significance so clearly.

"???"

Xiao Qin was utterly bewildered.

He had never even left Purple Sun Prefecture, let alone ventured into the Eastern Wasteland Domain or the vast Nine Heavens and Ten Lands beyond.

He had no idea what any of those concepts truly meant.

Thousand Forms Martial Venerable continued,

"To Purple Sun Prefecture, the Qingyuan Sect may seem like an insurmountable giant, but in the Eastern Wasteland Domain, it’s nothing extraordinary. The most I can do for you is grant you the opportunity to witness the vastness of this world."

"That girl Ying Bing may one day carve her name into the legends of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands."

"The gap between you and her will become clear to you in time."

The old man’s voice paused briefly before adding,

"When one attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven."

"Since Li Mo shares a childhood bond with Ying Bing, his future achievements will undoubtedly be extraordinary—at the very least, no less than yours. Maintain your ties with him."

Unconsciously,

Thousand Forms Martial Venerable’s attitude had shifted.

From offering guidance to simply advising closer association.

And this change was all because of Ying Bing?

"Li Mo and I share a mutual understanding. He’s my first true friend."

Xiao Qin’s smile was filled with unreserved ease.

If they were friends, why overthink it?

"Your mindset is commendable."

"I hope you can hold onto that sincerity. Hahaha."

The old man couldn’t help but be infected by his laughter.

But then, perhaps from speaking too much, his voice grew faint and indistinct.

"I hope we can find some soul-nourishing treasures today."

Xiao Qin quickened his pace as he descended the mountain.