The room was brightly lit under the glow of the pearl.
The sweet aroma of cake filled the air, as if even the lamplight had taken on a creamy sheen.
Li Mo held the Chixiao Sword and sliced into the cake. Shang Qinqing had long been curious about its taste—when the cake had first come out of the oven, its fragrance had carried for half a mile.
And though it looked plain at first glance, the ingredients were anything but ordinary.
The eggs were from divine fowl, the sugar was royal jelly, and the fruit filling was packed with heavenly treasures...
Ying Bing sat quietly, her fingers lightly tracing the hem of her skirt as she stole glances at the slice Li Mo was cutting.
It was like waiting for snacks to be handed out in class—pretending to focus on studying until it was your turn, only to feign surprise when you finally got yours...
"Is it good?"
Even Li Mo, the master chef, hadn’t tasted it yet.
"Here."
Ying Bing offered him the first bite, but Li Mo shook his head with a smile, insisting she try it first—after all, it was her birthday. She took a small sip, her lips glistening faintly afterward.
Just like the sparkle in her eyes.
"How did you make it?"
"!"
Li Mo leaned back slightly, the hairs on his neck standing on end.
Making a cake was far more complicated than scrambling eggs with tomatoes.
"Oh right, Li Mo is just two months younger than you."
Shang Qinqing, a seasoned scientist, needed no introduction—her sharp eyes instantly saw through the ice block’s thoughts.
Hmm...
Making a cake for her boyfriend with her own hands?
She had the same idea, which was why she had watched Li Mo’s every move while he baked, even jotting down notes.
Truly befitting the Qingluan Goddess of the Qingluan Clan—great minds think alike.
"No, I was just... curious."
Ying Bing brushed a stray lock of hair from her lips and spoke softly.
But Li Mo could clearly see the eagerness in her expression!
"If you're asking me, you’ve come to the right bird."
Shang Qinqing adopted a profound and mysterious air, mimicking the posture she’d learned from the Little Heavenly Venerable.
Ying Bing’s talent in music and cultivation had always left her feeling inadequate.
This was the first time the ice block had ever asked her for advice!
"Since you’ve asked so sincerely, I shall be your guiding light."
"!!!"
"Alright."
Ying Bing nodded seriously, as if she truly saw a guiding light.
Li Mo, meanwhile, broke into a cold sweat, as if he’d just glimpsed a guiding death light.
"Senior Shang, it’s been so long since you last saw my master—she must miss you terribly. Next time I visit, I’ll bring her along."
"???"
Shang Qinqing stiffened, leaning back abruptly.
In her eyes, the usually gentle, easygoing Li Mo suddenly seemed to sprout devil horns.
His voice whispered in her ear:
"Senior Shang... surely you wouldn’t want me to bring my master to your clan’s territory, would you?"
If Shang Wu showed up, the next cake might very well be made from Qingluan eggs.
"Hm?"
Ying Bing frowned slightly, puzzled by Shang Qinqing’s sudden silence. Wasn’t she usually a chatterbox?
She glanced at Li Mo, still wanting to ask more.
"I want cake too," Li Mo suddenly said.
"Then eat."
"Big sister, say 'ah'—"
Little Li opened his mouth wide, pulling out all the stops to defuse the crisis.
Ying Bing’s slender fingers trembled, nearly crushing the porcelain spoon.
After feeding Li Mo a bite, she took one herself—somehow, the already sweet cake now made her heart race.
Had he put something strange in it...?
Seeing this, Shang Qinqing’s frown turned into a smirk.
Hmph.
Given Li Mo’s youth and ignorance—and the fact that he’d just served her another delicious spectacle—she’d let his earlier threat slide.
This was the magnanimity of a great bird.
And so, a life-or-death crisis was deftly averted by the quick-witted Li Mo!
He’d even turned the tables!
"Which parts of the Southern Border did you visit?" Ying Bing asked, holding her cake.
Her mind was too scattered to think about baking now.
"Lots of villages—some in the mountains, some by the water... Remember that place where we killed that fat-headed fish calamity beast?"
Li Mo recounted his travels while Ying Bing listened, nibbling her cake.
Shang Qinqing occasionally chimed in with amusing anecdotes:
"Hah! Some Summoning Demons cultists actually fell for the Heavenly Venerable act—they wanted to join the Ten Thousand Forms Immortal Sect and learn his martial arts!"
"I nearly burst out laughing trying to keep a straight face."
"So many villages..." Ying Bing murmured, calculating silently. "We should head back soon."
Li Mo’s grand performance had drained nearly a third of the Summoning Demons Sect’s power of mortal faith in the Southern Border.
In the past, this would’ve been unthinkable—before Li Mo could amass such a staggering amount, the sect would’ve already taken action.
But after the battle at Greenwood City, their Southern Border branch was still recovering. They likely never expected the Qingyuan Sect’s best actor to be this effective at stealing their followers.
In any case, the Summoning Demons Sect’s Beast Hall would retaliate—it was only a matter of time.
"The Summoning Demons Sect treats even its own people with... heartfelt sincerity," Li Mo muttered.
They’d definitely try to reclaim the villages now devoted to him.
If that happened, his supply of mortal faith would dry up.
Who knew how many years it’d take to gather enough to project the Great Dao’s divine form?
"Relax, you’ve already hit the jackpot, Heavenly Venerable," Shang Qinqing said, rolling her eyes.
"You can’t seriously expect the Summoning Demons Sect to just hand over their faith, can you?"
"They’re probably already on their way to settle the score."
"The Southern Border’s situation won’t change overnight," Ying Bing said softly, watching Li Mo.
"I know."
Li Mo nodded, but his gaze remained thoughtful.
Getting the Summoning Demons Sect to surrender their faith?
It sounded impossible—utterly unrealistic.
But as everyone knew, he was a genius!
And geniuses dared to attempt the impossible...
Was there a way?
Meanwhile, fifty miles outside Greenwood City—
Unbeknownst to them, Shang Qinqing’s words had proven prophetic, despite her not being a crow.
A disguised Summoning Demons Sect caravan moved along the road.
Inside the central carriage, the Beast Hall’s leader frowned at his high priest.
"Confirm the direction of the mortal faith again."
"Yes."
The gaunt high priest, a fifth-realm expert, produced vials of powdered beast blood.
With a flick of his fingers, the powder dissolved into faint crimson smoke.
Crimson smoke rose and drifted through the air, converging from all directions toward Greenwood City like a school of fish merging into the ocean.
It was as if the fish had encountered an ocean current.
"That Celestial Venerable Immortal truly is in Greenwood City..." murmured Luo Yexian, the Beast Hall Master, narrowing his eyes slightly.