After days of travel, Li Mo and the group of senior demonic cultivators finally came to a stop in the territory of the Azure Phoenix Clan.
The scenery of the Azure Phoenix Clan’s land was breathtaking.
From a distance, vast stretches of towering blue-leafed trees formed a magnificent canopy, their jade-like leaves rustling in the wind, producing crisp, bell-like sounds that mingled with the occasional notes of unseen instruments. It was almost as if the trees themselves were singing.
"If we go further south, we’ll reach the domains of the Demon Summoning Sect and the remnants of the Great Shang," Shang Qinqing remarked, gazing toward the southern horizon.
"Then we’d better not push further south," Wu Qing said with a hint of regret. Over the past days, she had felt rejuvenated, as if she had regained the vigor of her youth.
Visiting village after village, watching Li Mo perform miracles before the people, had given her the same thrill she once felt when roaming the world as a righteous wanderer.
Shang Qinqing placed a hand on her hip and grinned.
"Li Mo, where did you learn all these tricks? If you ever try to fool Little Ice like this, won’t you make her cry?"
"I would never deceive her," Li Mo answered without hesitation.
"Oh-ho-ho," Shang Qinqing teased, pursing her lips in amusement.
"The amount of mortal faith we’ve gathered this time is staggering. Surely it’s enough now?" Guo Chuan asked, rubbing his belly.
The quantity of mortal faith wasn’t just determined by the number of believers but also by their devotion.
When the common folk worshipped the Wraith Spirits, they did so with a mix of reverence and fear.
But when they worshipped the 'Celestial Venerable Immortal,' their devotion was absolute. As a result, the efficiency of gathering mortal faith was likely far greater than even the Demon Summoning Sect at its peak.
"It’s enough," Li Mo confirmed.
"So we can’t keep performing miracles in public anymore?" Ling Yuangou sounded reluctant, clearly wanting to continue.
Shang Qinqing shook her head. "If we go further south, the Demon Summoning Sect and the remnants of the Great Shang will throw everything they have at us in desperation."
After a pause, she turned to Li Mo.
"Even now, the Demon Summoning Sect won’t let this slide."
"You can stay in the Azure Phoenix Clan’s territory for a while, but we can’t protect you forever. You need to make plans soon."
It was rare to see the usually carefree Shang Qinqing so solemn.
Indeed.
They couldn’t afford to grow complacent just because they had repelled a fraction of the Demon Summoning Sect and the Great Shang remnants in Greenwood City.
First of all, that victory had only been possible because of the Greenwood Barracks’ soldiers, who had fought without regard for their lives.
Moreover, that might not have been the full strength of the Demon Summoning Sect and the Great Shang remnants—perhaps only what Han Zhen could rally at the time.
Both were ancient forces with deep roots in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. They were not to be underestimated.
Li Mo hadn’t yet reached the level where he could shatter all obstacles with sheer strength.
Talents on the Hidden Dragon Ranking were still just hidden dragons.
The true rulers of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were those on the Heaven Ranking, the Earth Ranking, and even those unrecorded powerhouses beyond the lists.
He craved power!
After bidding farewell to the senior demonic cultivators, Li Mo was led by a young girl of the Azure Phoenix Clan to a high tree hollow.
Inside, the hollow was like a hidden paradise—a quaint, delicately furnished chamber that resembled a maiden’s boudoir.
He was truly one of a kind, the first human man to ever set foot in the Azure Phoenix Clan’s territory.
"Why are you staring at me?" Li Mo asked, puzzled.
The Azure Phoenix girl shrank back slightly, her eyes still brimming with curiosity, but she only shook the bell on her wrist in response.
Ah, right.
The Azure Phoenix Clan couldn’t speak until they met their destined one…
Li Mo knew nothing of music, but his gaze instinctively fell on the red string around his wrist, from which dangled a small jade-feathered whistle.
"Do you know the Ice Block?"
"?"
The girl looked utterly confused.
"I mean the Azure Phoenix Divine Maiden."
"Ding-ding-ding—"
The girl immediately nodded, then, as if in a hurry, turned and flew away.
Left alone in the tree hollow, Li Mo scratched his head, unsure what she had meant to convey. He sat down on the bed and casually sprawled across it.
A faint, delicate fragrance suddenly wafted into his senses—like orchids blooming in a secluded valley.
It was familiar.
"Was this… the Ice Block’s bed?"
Li Mo froze. No wonder the place looked so much like an ancient maiden’s chamber.
For a fleeting moment, he imagined that not long ago, the Ice Block had lain in this very spot.
Perhaps she had gazed at the same moon outside the window, her fingers idly toying with the head of that big-headed doll…
The thought made him shake the jade-feathered whistle on his wrist.
As the breeze passed through it, the whistle emitted a clear, ethereal sound.
Faintly, as if carried by the wind, he heard the lullaby she had once softly sung…
And so, he drifted into slumber.
......
Not long after.
Within the Seed of the World.
"The current amount of mortal faith in the Void Myriad Colors Pagoda should be enough to condense an Ultimate Form."
Li Mo took out the exquisite little pagoda, carefully examining the layers now tinged with shifting hues.
Only six layers were filled.
After performing miracles before the people, it took roughly five to seven days to fill a single layer.
One layer of mortal faith could manifest a Superior Form.
Six layers could manifest an Ultimate Form.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t even have six layers yet.
But every time they visited a new village or town, the initial surge of faith from converting the locals was substantial.
It was like receiving a "down payment," with the rest coming in as a steady "monthly installment."
"By that calculation, wouldn’t manifesting a Great Dao Divine Form require thirty-six layers?"
Li Mo silently calculated in his heart—it seemed it wouldn’t take too long.
Should he first manifest an extreme form to test the waters?
Ah, right.
The Hun Tian Fan Zhen Mirror appeared capable of reclaiming projections, dispersing them back into the power of sentient beings. Naturally, there would be some loss in the process, but it wasn’t unbearable.
"After all, I can’t project the Monkey King anytime soon."
"I can’t afford to waste such a long stretch of time without refining my divine intent."
Li Mo took out the painting titled The Golden Crow Transforms into the Sun.
Perfect. Princess Jiang Chulong was also on the verge of breaking through to the Observation of Divinity realm.
Both of them could make use of it.
When the little princess ascended, there would even be a golden destiny feedback...
Whoosh—
The Hun Tian Fan Zhen Mirror projected a mass of burning flames, resembling both the sun and a pulsating embryonic fire.
Scorching solar flames surged forth.
As the power of sentient beings poured in, the shadow of a divine bird grew clearer and clearer within the blaze.
"Teacher, what... what is this?"
Jiang Chulong hugged a peach blossom branch, shivering slightly.
"Your birthday gift."
The Heavenly Venerable teacher smiled faintly.
"This is an ancient Golden Crow, an existence that once transformed into the great sun. Defeat it, and you’ll likely step into the Observation of Divinity realm."
"G-Golden Crow?"
Hearing it was a gift, Jiang Chulong no longer felt afraid. In fact, the divine bird within the fiery embryo seemed somewhat familiar.
But more than anything, she was overjoyed.
"Thank you... thank you, Teacher! If... if Big Brother Li were here... that would be even better..."
"......"
Li Mo thought to himself—had Chulong ever properly celebrated a birthday before?
An image involuntarily surfaced in his mind:
A little girl, curled up in the cold, desolate depths of the palace, no cake, no birthday song, no candles...
He couldn’t hold back the moisture in his eyes.
When they returned, he’d make up for Chulong’s birthday...
Just as this thought crossed his mind, the Heavenly Venerable suddenly stiffened.
The scene in his mind seemed to shift on its own—everything else remained the same, but...
The person had changed!
Now it was a young woman, cold and aloof, hugging her slender legs, alone in desolation and solitude, spending the day marking her arrival into this world...
It was the Ice Block!
The Golden Crow’s divine form descended, its scorching waves and thunderous presence awe-inspiring.
Yet Li Mo paid it no mind.
He murmured,
"Right... the Ice Block’s birthday is coming up too."
......