Jiawei Tavern.
Under the system’s persistent prompts, the so-called "Cold Immortal" finally snapped back to attention and turned her gaze toward the rewards—though it was unclear how much of her mind was truly occupied by them.
[Host, the reward for first place is a world apart from second place.]
The system offered an unusually explicit reminder.
"Oh."
[Would you like to claim it now?]
"Claim it."
Ying Bing took a light sip of tea and nodded subconsciously.
The next moment, a longsword materialized on the table. Though the system suppressed all its extraordinary phenomena, even to the naked eye, it radiated an otherworldly brilliance.
The sword measured three feet and three inches, slender and elegant, its blade shimmering with a frosty iridescence. Near the hilt was a hollow space, within which a divine light seemed to flicker.
[Reward One: Moon’s Shadow]
Without even needing to read the system’s description, Ying Bing knew its origins the moment she picked it up.
Moon’s Shadow, also known as Beauty Under the Moon, was a divine weapon.
Ranked fourth on the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Divine Arms Registry, it stood as the second among swords, surpassed only by the Celestial Sword housed in the Imperial Capital’s Heaven’s Gate.
It had also been her weapon in her past life.
Hum—
Though Moon’s Shadow showed no overt divine aura, it emitted a faint, resonant hum. Divine weapons possessed sentience—though it could not speak, it conveyed its confusion through sword intent.
Like a young girl with a crisp voice, it seemed to ask:
"I don’t know you, yet you feel familiar."
"Then be obedient from now on."
A trace of nostalgia flickered in Ying Bing’s eyes as her pale fingers gently brushed along the blade’s spine.
"If I acknowledge you as my master, will you introduce me to new friends?"
Moon’s Shadow radiated curiosity and longing.
Hearing this familiar question, Ying Bing froze.
In her past life, Moon’s Shadow had asked the same thing when it first recognized her as its master.
Back then, she had answered without hesitation: Yes.
Who would have thought that the Moon Palace’s Mistress, who never lied, would end up deceiving a weapon?
Not that Ying Bing could be blamed.
Divine weapons never regarded anyone but their masters as friends—their companions were naturally other weapons.
Without intelligence, there could be no talk of friendship.
But aside from Heaven’s Fortune Artifacts and divine weapons, what other arms possessed sentience?
The Moon Palace’s Mistress stood aloof from the world—she herself had no friends, so where would she find any for Moon’s Shadow?
"Introduce you to new friends..."
Ying Bing lowered her gaze, pondering for a moment before her jade-like features softened.
"I will."
"What kind of new friends?"
"A hammer."
"Wow!"
Moon’s Shadow was thrilled and excited. It didn’t care what kind of friend it was, as long as it wasn’t the unpleasant sort.
None of its previous masters had ever introduced it to a hammer friend before.
And so, filled with anticipation for its new companion, Moon’s Shadow was stored away inside the big-headed doll.
A glint of amusement flashed in Ying Bing’s eyes.
Not because she had obtained a divine weapon—Moon’s Shadow could only serve as a trump card. At the Observation Realm, wielding a divine weapon was far too demanding. At best, she could barely tap into a fraction of its power in critical moments.
Even for her, she would need to reach at least the Inner Scenery’s Ninth Heaven, or even the Outer Scenery, to use it properly.
[Reward Two: A Bottle of Immortal Qi.]
[Immortal Qi]: "In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the first human to achieve immortality ascended to the heavens. Moved by humanity’s struggles, they not only left behind the Great Dao they had mastered but also preserved the first wave of Immortal Qi they bathed in within this bottle, entrusting it to future generations."
Immortal Qi?!
This was likely the first reward from the system that bore any connection to the word "immortal"!
Immortal Qi did exist in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, but it was exceedingly rare—so rare that it seemed not to originate from this realm at all. Even those at the Seventh or Eighth Realms would covet it.
It could be used to refine divine elixirs like the Nine-Apertured Dragon-Tiger Golden Pill.
It could forge divine weapons... set up formations... or even...
Repair Heaven’s Fortune Artifacts!
Beyond that, it could also be used on oneself—channeling it into martial techniques, storing it within the dantian to slowly refine the body, or even suffusing one’s flesh with its essence.
"I’ll keep this for now."
Ying Bing carefully stored it away.
There was one last reward.
Two... pieces of clothing?
[Reward Three: A Set of Pure Yang Robes.]
[Pure Yang Robes]: "Worn alone, they function as a top-grade Earth-tier garment, enhancing all martial techniques with a Yang attribute. However, prolonged solitary use may lead to excessive Yang energy, making it difficult to restrain oneself."
"If worn while engaging in dual cultivation with someone clad in the Lunar Fairy Skirt, the Yin and Yang energies will harmonize, doubling the benefits. It also aids in comprehending the Dao of Yin-Yang, offering profound mysteries."
[Note]: "This garment is strictly forbidden for women. If worn by a woman, prolonged use will deplete her Yin energy..."
Ying Bing: "?"
What was the system thinking, giving her a reward she couldn’t even use?
Still, it might make a decent gift for Li Mo...
Just as this thought crossed her mind—
[Congratulations, Host. For securing first place, an additional reward has been granted.]
[Reward Four: A Set of Lunar Fairy Skirts.]
[Lunar Fairy Skirts]: "Worn alone, they function as a top-grade Earth-tier garment, enhancing all martial techniques with a Yin attribute..."
The description was nearly identical to the Pure Yang Robes, except the effects were reversed.
Men could not wear the Lunar Fairy Skirts, and when paired with someone in the Pure Yang Robes, the two would harmonize Yin and Yang...
The two garments lay quietly on the table.
One was pure white, embroidered with golden threads forming an intricate, majestic sun.
The other was an inky black fairy skirt, stitched with mysterious silver threads depicting the moon.
Placed side by side, the very air between them seemed to grow thick and heavy.
Opposites attract...
Even a fool could tell these two outfits were a set.
"......"
Ying Bing pressed her lips together.
Had she known about a certain Little Li’s past-life memories, she might have understood why she felt so strange inside.
Isn’t this a couple’s outfit?
......
Meanwhile.
Li Mo tossed and turned, unable to sleep. When he rolled over, his gaze landed on the pearl-white silk socks resting near his pillow.
Leaving socks lying around after washing your feet is a terrible habit!
Little Li agreed wholeheartedly with his mother’s wisdom.
Now, every time he closed his eyes, that faint fragrance filled his senses...
He had regained enough mobility to sit up with great effort, gritting his teeth through the pain.
But his arms remained numb—the hammer strike had nearly torn them clean off, and it was a miracle they hadn’t shattered outright.
So, the simple act of moving the socks with his hands was now an impossible task.
"Surely I can’t use my mouth..."
Little Li shook his head, dismissing the dangerous thought.
After a moment’s contemplation, he decided to claim his system rewards instead—perhaps it would distract him enough to sleep.
Like counting sheep, he had no idea how many rewards the system had piled up. He could only sort through them one by one.
"The feedback from low-tier Fate, I’ll skip for now."
"Gray and Black Fate haven’t even been yielding much martial insights lately. Is it because my cultivation is too far below the investors’?"
"As for Blue and Green Fate feedback..."
Li Mo mulled it over.
Most were just trinkets—gold, silver, jewels, or materials he didn’t consider particularly valuable.
But quantity made up for quality.
This allowed his depleted purse to fill up once more. If he were to tally everything, his current wealth might even surpass what he had before?
But the sheer quantity was overwhelming—there was simply too much to count.
After a while, Li Mo's eyes finally lit up.
[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully invested in 'Huang Donglai,' sparing him from severe injury during the fall of Greenwood City.]
[Investment Reward: Longevity Elixir of Life.]
......