"What nonsense is this? Wishing for 'early offspring' can't possibly be this early."
Li Mo had black lines forming on his forehead. Although he had lived two lifetimes, in this life, he was only sixteen years old—barely turning seventeen in three months.
"It's not too early."
Wu Qing thought back for a moment:
"When I met Brother Feng, I was only a little over a hundred years old when I gave birth to Xiao'er..."
By the standards of the demon race, a hundred years was roughly equivalent to fourteen in human years.
"Demons and humans can't be compared like that."
Li Mo waved his hand dismissively.
Shang Qinqing glanced at the overly serious young Li, then at Ying Bing, who seemed completely unperturbed, her gaze drifting as if she hadn't heard a thing—though her lips were slightly pursed.
Ice block doesn’t understand what you’re talking about.jpg.
The Shang clan leader couldn’t suppress the corners of her lips:
"Sixteen-year-olds having children isn’t that uncommon in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. But before that, they’d have to get married first."
"Clan Leader Shang used to oversee marriages, didn’t she? Every union had to be witnessed by the Azure Phoenix."
Wu Qing acknowledged Shang Qinqing’s authority on the matter.
"When the two of you decide to marry, how about I officiate?"
Shang Qinqing asked with a beaming smile.
She didn’t even ask if they planned to marry—just straight-up offered to be the officiant. Truly, the former deity of love from Great Shang knew how to strike with precision, all while making it seem effortless!
"Ah? Well..."
Just as Li Mo opened his mouth to respond, a dumpling was stuffed into it.
Ying Bing withdrew her chopsticks and said softly,
"Eat slowly. Be careful not to bite into a gold bean."
Shang Qinqing, undeterred, was determined to get her big moment:
"Oh, I have a set of phoenix coronet and robes—a treasure left behind by the former dynasty’s empress. Wearing them for the wedding would ensure love as strong as gold. Little Bing, how about I gift them to you for the occasion?"
"Something that precious?" Li Mo blinked.
Ying Bing tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear: "Li Mo, are we spending New Year’s at home this year? We should bring some Southern Border specialties for your parents."
Li Mo thought for a moment, then nodded:
"Like some traditional Southern Border clothing?"
Ying Bing’s eyes flickered slightly: "...Better to bring snacks and tea."
"......"
Shang Qinqing puffed her cheeks, pouting in frustration.
She hadn’t gotten her satisfying moment, and now she was sulking.
Just as she was about to speak, Ying Bing cut in first:
"Li Mo, didn’t you have something to ask the demon elders? Best not to delay."
"Right, this is quite important."
Li Mo interlaced his fingers, his expression turning serious:
"I’ve heard that many calamity beasts rely on the power of collective belief to exist. Does that mean as long as people still worship them, they’ll eventually revive?"
"That’s correct."
Shang Qinqing huffed, thinking that while this was serious business, it still wasn’t as important as early offspring.
"Honestly, it’s already much better than before. The calamity beasts of the past were far stronger. It was only after the Southern Suppressing King arrived that things improved."
When Wu Qing was young, the Southern Border had practically been ruled by calamity beasts.
That was why the Mingjiao clan had risked migrating to human lands rather than staying in the Southern Border.
Later, after too many sneezes, they were driven back.
It was around that time that the Southern Suppressing King arrived.
He expanded Great Yu’s territory in the Southern Border, integrating many locals into Central Plains culture—Greenwood City being one such example.
Most Southern Borderers here no longer worshipped the Wraith Spirits.
Had Emperor Jingtai continued his full support, the Southern Suppressing King might have expanded further, weakening the calamity beasts until they vanished entirely.
But things didn’t go as planned.
Li Mo asked, "Then can we stop people from worshipping the Wraith Spirits?"
"Easier said than done."
"Exactly. Many humans in the Southern Border are less cultured than we are."
"What if I became their god instead?"
With that, Li Mo straightened up, plucked a dumpling from Ying Bing’s chopsticks, and swallowed it in one go.
"......"
The tent fell silent.
The demons exchanged glances, all seeing the same stunned expression on each other’s faces.
"You want to absorb the power of collective belief?"
Shang Qinqing’s eyes widened. Seeing how serious Li Mo looked, she shot Ying Bing a meaningful look.
Your future husband’s gone mad—aren’t you going to do something?!
Ying Bing also frowned.
She knew Li Mo well—he wasn’t the reckless type. If he suddenly proposed absorbing collective belief, he must have some plan.
"The power of collective belief isn’t something to take lightly."
"Right. While it can make you incredibly strong in the short term, the lingering thoughts within it can warp you, even turn you into a different person. And if you lose your followers, you’ll vanish too."
"Exactly. Just look at Clan Leader Shang—doesn’t that prove how serious this is?"
"?"
Shang Qinqing’s obsession with romance wasn’t without reason.
Though she wasn’t a Wraith Spirit, many across the Southern Border and the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands who longed for love prayed to her.
"Don’t worry, everyone. I’m not using collective belief for cultivation—it’s for another purpose."
"Plus, I have a method similar to the Marriage Tree that can purify the power. Though the purified amount is small, so it wouldn’t be enough for training anyway..."
Li Mo held nothing back.
Seeing his sincerity, the demons finally relaxed.
"I know a shape-shifting martial art that lets me mimic other races. If the Southern Border tribes start worshipping the demons I transform into, they’ll stop feeding power to the calamity beasts."
"But how do you make them believe in you?" Wu Qing asked.
The demons were more than happy to see this happen.
They’d be thrilled if calamity beasts vanished from the Southern Border entirely.
Li Mo cleared his throat, adopting Ying Bing’s aloof expression as if everything was under control:
"That’s where I’ll need your help, honored elders."
"Don’t worry—I’m the first Golden Statue Award’s Best Actor. With your cooperation, the performance will be flawless!"
"......"
"How exactly do we perform?"
"We’ll adapt to each tribe’s circumstances."
Li Mo pulled out a map.
Just as he was about to explain, Ling Yuangou, the bald eagle, pointed at the map in confusion:
"Li Mo Mountain... Li Mo River... Li Mo Village?"
"Tsk tsk tsk, so sweet. His name’s everywhere—can’t get lost, huh?"
Shang Qinqing was ready to roll around in excitement again.
The demons grinned mischievously, their lips curling.
Not only were there dumplings and barbecue to eat, but they also got to enjoy some dog food.
This trip was worth it.
Li Mo: "......"
He pulled out another map and got back to business.