In the small world, the bright moon hung high in the sky.
After this part of the celestial palace scenery took shape, Li Mo had not touched it again. The teaching location had also been moved to a training ground shaped like the Taiji Yin-Yang symbol.
The Yin-Yang Dojo stood at the highest point of the celestial palace, appearing serene and profound under the night sky.
"It still feels a bit empty," Li Mo murmured as he gazed at the silent celestial palace.
The wondrous landscapes and structures he had created could all be considered real, but all living beings were mere "special effects," making the vast celestial palace feel cold and lifeless.
"If I encounter someone blessed by destiny in the future, I might as well bring them directly into the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sect. It would be much more convenient."
"Wouldn’t that make Little Princess Jiang the senior sister then?"
The thought made Li Mo chuckle to himself.
"Teacher, teacher... I-I'm here."
Jiang Chulong, upon seeing the unfamiliar transformed scenery, hesitated timidly. She carefully ascended the steps and only quickened her pace into a light run when she caught sight of the Heavenly Venerable's back.
"Teacher, today... are we still practicing with Senior Golden Crow?"
"Mhm, do your best. There were some issues in your last battle—don’t make the same mistakes this time..."
The Heavenly Venerable did not create the art of combat; he was merely its conveyor.
After explaining everything, he asked,
"Did you understand?"
"Chulong?"
The Heavenly Venerable looked up and saw Jiang Chulong slightly dazed, her mind seemingly elsewhere.
Little Princess Jiang in a daze.jpg.
"U-understood!"
Her cheeks flushed faintly as she snapped back to attention.
"What’s going on today? You seem distracted," the Heavenly Venerable asked with a light laugh.
"It’s... it’s almost New Year..." Jiang Chulong murmured softly, fiddling with the hem of her clothes.
"So many people’s family members who were away have returned... but Big Brother Li still hasn’t come back to see me..."
The Heavenly Venerable’s smile froze on his face. Unbidden, an image surfaced in his mind—
Winter at the Joyful Lamb Hot Pot restaurant. Little Princess Jiang sat on the doorstep, hugging her knees, gazing pitifully into the distance as other families reunited in warmth and happiness.
Then, lowering her head stubbornly, she told herself:
"Big Brother Li will come back to see me..."
"......"
Li Mo’s heart clenched.
"If you defeat the Golden Crow’s projection today, I’ll bring your Big Brother Li here to see you. How about that?"
The Heavenly Venerable’s voice softened.
"!"
Jiang Chulong’s head jerked up, her face suddenly glowing with renewed vitality.
"R-really... really?"
"Mhm, so you’d better give it your all."
Jiang Chulong nodded firmly, clutching her peach blossom branch, her lips pressed tightly together as she mustered every ounce of focus.
A fierce wind swept through.
Threads of razor-sharp energy began to surge unrestrained...
The Golden Crow projection turned, its scorching aura rushing forth as a solar apparition descended, pressing down upon Jiang Chulong.
She tapped her toes lightly, her figure swaying like duckweed upon water. Her peach blossom branch found an opening, striking the hidden solar disc concealed within the blinding light.
Clang—
The disc was sent flying back.
But Jiang Chulong did not pursue. Instead, she condensed her sword intent into a shield, wrapping it around herself as she weaved through the blazing sun.
The teacher had said—let the strong be strong...
Well, the Heavenly Venerable’s teachings were actually quite plain: what appeared overwhelmingly powerful might not be invincible, and what seemed fragile might conceal sharp edges within.
The Golden Crow was clearly the former, while she was the latter...
"Little Princess Jiang has improved greatly—no, it’s more than just improvement. It’s like she’s about to break through her limits..."
The Heavenly Venerable’s eyes gleamed!
Could it be?!
Boom—
Little Princess Jiang finally seized her chance, erupting with power. Even through the thin veil over her eyes, one could almost glimpse the tender yet unyielding determination in her gaze. The peach blossom branch trembled violently in her grip, overwhelmed by the terrifying sword intent.
But the next moment, the Golden Crow youth’s form suddenly turned incorporeal.
...Well.
Back then, Li Mo had also thought he was close to victory—only to find the Golden Crow projection had such a shameless trick up its sleeve.
Even those in the Observation Divine Realm would struggle to counter such a move, which could only be countered by soul-based techniques, let alone those in the Inner Breath Realm.
"Could this move be the origin of the 'Nine Suns Dominating the Sky'?"
Li Mo’s thoughts wandered.
When he faced the Golden Crow in the Observation Divine Realm, not only could it shift between corporeal and incorporeal forms, but it could also split into a clone. Thus, it made sense that a Golden Crow in its prime could divide into nine bodies.
Whoosh—
In the end, the Golden Crow abruptly solidified again.
Though it could not split, its solar disc merged seamlessly into the dazzling radiance.
The Golden Crow’s divine intent was not limited to the path of the scorching sun—it also encompassed the path of light and shadow.
Thud—
A sharp pain shot through Jiang Chulong’s chest, forcing her to her knees. But her eyes were vacant, as if she didn’t even feel the pain.
She just sat there dazedly, as though her soul had left her body.
"I was... so close..."
"Now... now I won’t get to see Big Brother Li..."
White steam seemed to rise from Jiang Chulong’s head as she pouted, her vision blurring with tears.
But just then, a familiar voice rang out from behind her.
"Who dares bully our Little Princess Jiang?!"
Jiang Chulong’s face stiffened for a moment before she hastily wiped her eyes and turned around.
Only when her gaze landed on the white-robed figure holding a hammer did the light return to her dazed eyes.
"B-Big Brother Li..."
"That expert told me you were being bullied."
Pure bystander Little Li turned his gaze toward the Golden Crow projection.
The Golden Crow projection remained expressionless.
Though it could speak, it lacked the emotions of a true living being—otherwise, it might have dissolved into the power of sentient beings on the spot and quit right then and there.
Damn it, working as a sparring partner without pay was bad enough, but now I have to play along with this act too?
Should’ve stayed dormant.
"It’s... it’s sparring, not... not bullying," Jiang Chulong stammered.
"Then why are you crying?"
Li Mo casually wiped the tear stains from her cheeks.
"Because... because I lost so many times."
"Then Big Brother Li will win against him for you."
"Big Brother Li is... is amazing."
Little Princess Jiang believed every word Big Brother Li said without hesitation.
Jokes aside—
When Li Mo truly faced the Golden Crow projection again, he still steeled himself, silently reciting the summary the "Ice Block" had given him:
'First, engage the Golden Crow in a battle of attrition, but remember—its greatest strength is often its greatest weakness. This applies to many living beings.'
'Second, don’t rely too much on the hammer.'
Li Mo took a deep breath.
Behind him, the phantom of the Great Sage slowly materialized.
If he won this time, the Qi Tian Battle Intent would surely ascend to new heights, right?
Then, he would undoubtedly comprehend another divine ability from the divine intent.
What would it be?
Li Mo felt a flicker of anticipation.
.....
A humble plea to our esteemed audience for your support—this struggling writer is just a little boy in desperate need of love.