Qingyuan, the Leap of Faith

Moonview Cliff.

Along the way, Li Mo didn’t spend much effort hunting exotic beasts.

No matter how generous the sect’s rewards were, they couldn’t compare to the inheritance hidden within the "ice block."

Just listen—Nine-Colored Primordial Phoenix.

Such a high-tier opportunity would have been beyond his reach in this lifetime if he hadn’t clung to Ying Bing’s jade-like legs.

"So worth it."

Lost in thought, Li Mo had already ascended Moonview Cliff.

Looking down from here, he saw a sheer drop of ten thousand feet, with mist swirling below, obscuring any sight of the bottom.

Not even a single bird could be seen.

Qingyuan.

This was the origin of the entire Qingyuan Sect.

If one strained their gaze further, they’d notice that the entire Qingyuan seemed unnaturally abrupt.

Without beginning or end, it bore no resemblance to a naturally formed landscape.

"Where’s the inheritance site?"

Li Mo scanned his surroundings but found no trace of the so-called inheritance.

Of course.

Moonview Cliff wasn’t some remote, untouched place. Rumor had it that couples from Rare Beast Peak often came here for secret rendezvous, and the sect had no shortage of legends about this spot.

If it were so easily discovered, it would’ve been public knowledge long ago.

But how had Ying Bing found it?

Did she, like him in the Divine Edge Cave when he sensed the hammer, feel a calling from the opportunity here?

"Wait… it can’t be that I have to jump off Moonview Cliff into Qingyuan, right?"

"How deep is this thing…?"

Li Mo stepped to the edge and peered down.

Suddenly, his vision blurred.

An overwhelming sword intent, as if a divine punishment from the heavens, slashed through his consciousness.

It felt like a strike capable of cleaving through any obstacle in this world, relentless until its target was utterly annihilated.

At that moment, Li Mo realized his body—tempered by the Extreme Soldier’s Forging Technique—was as fragile as any mortal flesh.

"Phew…"

"Qingyuan… was carved out by a single sword strike?"

A terrifying thought took root in his mind.

A strike from untold ages ago, yet its residual intent lingered even now.

"A single sword’s radiance chilling nineteen provinces"—no longer just a poetic phrase in the face of this sword intent.

What kind of supreme expert could wield such power?

"In the future, Ying Bing might reach such heights… or even surpass them."

Li Mo recalled the evaluation of Ying Bing from the Heavenly Fate Divine Eye:

"Destined to become a supreme powerhouse across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths."

At least in the Qi-Blood Realm, he wasn’t too far behind her…

With that, Young Li sighed.

"Why aren’t I cut out for swordsmanship?"

"Next time, I’ll try again with a better sword…"

---

A chilly wind swept across Moonview Cliff.

Ying Bing tidied her slightly disheveled hair, her gaze distant.

"The Lingxiao Sword Path is indeed vast and majestic, its aura spanning mountains and rivers."

"The master who now wields this path… should still be guarding the Sword Mausoleum, no?"

Even at her peak, the one who had delivered that strike would’ve been worthy of her respect.

Later, that master passed the Lingxiao Sword Path to a deposed princess of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Ironically, Ying Bing had known the woman who inherited this path—the one who would later become the world’s foremost swordswoman—back when they were both insignificant.

In her past life, Ying Bing had been mistaken for having blocked meridians, delaying her entry into Qingyuan Sect.

During that time, she and the future swordswoman had relied on each other, weathering hardships together.

That was Ying Bing’s first time learning the sword.

"Chu Long should have also been exiled to the Eastern Wasteland by now."

"But she wouldn’t recognize me anymore."

A faint smile touched Ying Bing’s lips.

Just then, she reached the summit of Moonview Cliff.

"Hm?"

Her eyes landed on Li Mo, standing at the cliff’s edge, his clothes stained with beast blood.

She had expected him to still be in the Stone Creek Forest by now. After all, he might’ve encountered peak ninth-grade exotic beasts there.

Even with twelve opened meridians in the Qi-Blood Realm and mastery in swordplay, he shouldn’t have handled them effortlessly.

Considering the difficulty of the path for someone at his level, she had deliberately given him an extra hour.

Yet… he had arrived before her?

"Took you long enough."

Li Mo grinned, unsurprised.

Seems Ying Bing had an easy trip—her hair wasn’t even messed up.

Meanwhile, his clothes were torn…

Well, that was his own doing.

"Rest and recover. I’ll wait," Ying Bing said softly, a realization dawning.

Li Mo must’ve avoided all battles with beasts along the way, rushing straight here without engaging.

"Recover?"

Li Mo blinked, then chuckled.

"I’m not hurt. This is all beast blood. See?"

He stepped closer.

"Two weaker beasts blocked my path, and I was in a hurry, so I didn’t hold back."

Ying Bing’s brows furrowed slightly. To his surprise, she actually reached out and pressed a finger against his chest.

Indeed, it was beast blood.

Had he really encountered no obstacles except for two early ninth-grade beasts near Moonview Cliff?

His luck was… unusually good.

But this also meant he’d forfeited the trial’s rewards.

Ying Bing cared little for the sect’s rewards, yet Li Mo—without knowing why she’d summoned him—had chosen to abandon everything to come.

When she looked up, she met his bright, untroubled smile.

No resentment, no impatience—just pure satisfaction at having fulfilled their arrangement.

As if he trusted her completely, believing she must have a reason for calling him here.

Why?

Ying Bing found this youth increasingly inscrutable.

"Uh…"

Li Mo shifted awkwardly.

Ying Bing’s finger was still pressed against his chest.

It felt… icy.

"Ah, Young Masters… have I come at a bad time?"

A raspy, ill-timed voice cut through the cold breeze.

Li Mo and Ying Bing turned simultaneously.

At the only path leading up to Moonview Cliff stood a black-robed, iron-masked figure who had appeared without a sound.

"I only came to settle a score with Young Master Li."

"Never expected a pleasant surprise—Young Master Ying is here too."

When mentioning Ying Bing, the masked man’s voice trembled with barely restrained excitement.

Whoosh—

A flare arrow shot into the sky.

The man might as well have "villain" written on his forehead.

Li Mo wasted no words—he immediately signaled for backup.

Yet the black-robed man remained unperturbed, sneering.

"Young Master Li, use your head. Do you think I’d show myself here without thorough preparations?"

"Ying Bing… ah, Ying Bing. I’d hate for you to die alongside him. If you just—"

Ding-ding.

Two crisp chimes.

Li Mo shook the Harmony Bell expressionlessly.

"Li Mo!!"

Instantly, the masked man’s voice cracked.

If his mask weren’t in the way, one would see his face drain of color, sweat beading.

He knew exactly who that bell would summon!

"You’re dead!"

A bestial roar echoed from the depths of Qingyuan.

But before the man could act—

A sword gleam flashed.

Cold, ruthless, and decisive, its intent pierced to the bone.

Ying Bing had thrown her sword.

The masked man was confident he could withstand this strike.

Yet it had to be admitted—Ying Bing's strength far exceeded his expectations. She couldn't even be described as a mere genius.

Taking the blow head-on, even as a Divine Observation Realm cultivator, he would still be injured.

The air froze for an instant.

In the end, the black-robed man chose to halt his steps and sidestep the attack.

However, at that very moment—

Ying Bing didn’t spare the black-robed man a glance. Instead, her eyes locked onto Li Mo.

"Jump."

Li Mo seemed to realize what she intended to do.

Ying Bing suddenly felt she understood this young man even less.

This was the unfathomable Qingyuan Sect.

Why wasn’t he afraid—not even the slightest bit?

Or was it because of his... trust in her?

"Alright."

Ying Bing had never been one to hesitate.

Since Li Mo agreed,

even if she couldn’t fathom his thoughts,

she gripped his hand without hesitation and stepped into the void.

The icy wind instantly turned biting.

Everything around them blurred rapidly.

All their senses grew dull...

"You—!!"

On Moonview Cliff, the black-robed man lunged forward, his robes tearing apart from the force.

Staring down from above, he watched, dumbstruck, as the figures of the boy and girl—hands tightly clasped—vanished into the sea of clouds.

Nothing remained in his eyes but disbelief.