The Mirage Spirit Pearl, Sharing the Moon's Beauty

The Li Residence.

The winter sun was about to sink into the Clearwater River, its fading light casting a breathtaking rosy hue over the vast expanse of Qinghe County.

Bathed in the twilight, the Li Residence seemed renewed as the family gathered for dinner.

Li Dalong, who had just returned from the Ying family's old estate, recounted his earlier investigation with lingering fear.

"That disaster beast was truly horrifying. Initial assessment suggests it was at least a sixth-rank disaster beast. When we arrived, its body was riddled with sword wounds—it must have died just last night."

"Sixth-rank? Thank goodness it's dead... But who killed it?"

In a small county like Qinghe, Li Dalong, as the county captain (equivalent to a police chief), was only at the Inner Breath Realm. A disaster beast equivalent to a human's Inner Landscape Realm would have been catastrophic if it had gone berserk.

"I find it strange too."

Li Dalong shook his head, vividly describing the scene:

"There were no signs of a struggle at the site, yet the beast's body was covered in sharp, precise sword wounds—so clean they seemed almost untraceable. Son, do you have any ideas?"

Even Old Li had to admit that his son was far more authoritative in martial arts than he was.

"Ahem..."

Li Mo glanced at the ice block (Ying Bing), whose snow-white cheeks moved slightly as she chewed, and cleared his throat:

"Probably some peerless expert who dislikes worldly troubles. They dealt with it, then vanished without a trace—leaving no name behind."

"A swordmaster of that caliber in Qinghe County... I don’t think we have anyone like that."

"Who says we don’t?"

Li Mo was the first to object.

But just then, Ying Bing picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork rib and placed it in his bowl.

"Who, then?"

"Exactly—your one and only son! I was this close to becoming the Sword Hero of Hengyun, just a tiny bit away."

The self-proclaimed "Sword Immortal" Li pointed his thumb at himself with a dramatic flourish.

"Tsk..."

Both parents rolled their eyes in perfect unison, their expressions dripping with skepticism.

"..."

Yantian Sect!

I could kill you a thousand times and it still wouldn’t be enough!!!

The young "Little Overlord" Li silently thanked his lucky stars that he wasn’t some protagonist from a power fantasy novel—otherwise, with a grudge this big, he’d have to wipe out an entire sect.

Back to the matter at hand.

Li Mo set down his chopsticks and spoke seriously:

"Father, Mother, I need to make a trip soon."

"It’s almost New Year’s—where to?"

"Purple Sun Prefecture. I haven’t returned to my sect since coming back from the Southern Border. I should pay my respects to my teachers and let them know I’m safe."

"Oh ho, look at you, all grown up."

See, Young Li wasn’t the type to lie to his parents.

But how could he possibly tell them the truth—that he wasn’t going to visit his sect, but to pull off a scam, and that his target was the notoriously ruthless Demon Sect?

Ying Bing’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as she glanced at him.

......

After dinner, Li Mo returned to his room. Remembering he had an unclaimed investment reward, he summoned the system.

[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully invested in ‘Ying Bing,’ resolving her nightmare.]

[You have an unclaimed investment reward.]

"Bless me, Ice Block."

For the first time, Young Li indulged in a little superstition before opening the reward.

Ah.

This is what they call "clutching at the Ice Block’s leg in desperation."

The rewards from Ice Block were always top-tier, but they weren’t necessarily useful in a pinch...

[Investment Reward: Mirage Divine Pearl]

[Mirage Divine Pearl]: "This pearl can simulate all manner of phenomena—even cultivation realms—allowing the host to appear 360° flawlessly cool and awe-inspiring.

Your imagination determines how powerful you look. (Note: It’s purely cosmetic.)

Recommended for use only after gaining some experience in showing off, lest you fail to impress and end up humiliated..."

"..."

Li Mo summarized the description in his mind.

In short:

This thing was basically a special effects generator for him.

A thumb-sized orb materialized in his palm. Though small, it seemed to contain swirling twilight, radiating an otherworldly aura.

"It can even alter cultivation realms?"

Concentrating, Li Mo felt a surge of energy erupt from within him.

Inner Landscape!

Outer Landscape!

Law Body!

Palm Mystic!

The ascent stopped at the Palm Mystic Realm—the highest he’d seen was Divine Monk Huaikong.

As for the Celestial Passage Realm above it? He’d never even encountered it, so he couldn’t fake it.

"Yikes, this feeling... so overpowering."

Li Mo clenched his fist, then shook his head.

No matter how flashy the special effects were, they were still fake. His actual strength hadn’t changed a bit. Fool others all you want, but don’t fool yourself...

Still, this treasure was undeniably miraculous.

Unless someone actually fought him, no one would see through the illusion. Perfect for his needs.

Thud—

The door suddenly swung open.

"Hm?"

Li Mo looked up to see Ying Bing standing at the threshold, backlit by the fading twilight, her sword cradled in her arms. Her gaze was cool yet intense.

But the moment she realized the Palm Mystic aura was coming from Li Mo, her suspicion turned to confusion.

"Ice Block?"

"What are you doing?"

"Oh, I just clutched at your leg for luck. Worked like a charm."

"?"

Dispelling the Palm Mystic aura, Li Mo held up the Mirage Divine Pearl and explained.

"Simulating auras and phenomena..."

Ying Bing stepped inside, glanced toward Li Dalong and his wife in the distance, then closed the door.

"You’re planning to use this to deceive the Summoning Demon Sect again, aren’t you?"

"!!"

Staring at Ice Block’s calm face, Li Mo leaned back slightly, his heart skipping a beat.

He hadn’t said a word.

Yet she seemed to know exactly what he was thinking.

"Ice Block, do you have some kind of superpower? Like mind-reading?"

"‘Heart’s Insight’? The Buddhist sect has martial arts like that, but I’ve never practiced them."

"Then how did you know I wasn’t actually going to Qingyuan Sect in Purple Sun Prefecture...?"

"Because you didn’t ask me to come with you."

Her mirror-like eyes bore into him, making him squirm.

"..."

Li Mo sighed in defeat.

"I wasn’t hiding it from you on purpose. It’s just that the Summoning Demon Sect is mainly testing me this time. I can handle it alone."

Ying Bing said softly, "I can help."

"But bringing another person means more risk. The people coming this time aren’t like the Beast Hall Master from last time."

As he spoke, he noticed her lips pressing together and quickly added sternly:

"Don’t call me ‘little rascal.’ Not even ‘little brother.’"

He wasn’t sure he could resist.

Ying Bing studied him for a moment before speaking again.

"Fine, I won’t go with you. Release your spiritual sense."

"Right now? Are we dual-cultivating?"

"No. I’ve gained new insights into the Moon Divine Intent, and combined with Phoenix Cries in Heavenly Marsh, I’ve created a martial art somewhat similar to ‘Heart’s Insight.’"

"When did you create this?" Li Mo’s head was practically sprouting question marks.

Even with his martial arts comprehension, creating new techniques wasn’t this easy—unless it was hammer-related.

"Just now."

"????"

Soon, Ying Bing taught him the method.

It really might have been freshly invented, because it seemed tailor-made for the two of them.

The prerequisite for using it was that both had to possess Moon Divine Intent.

Once activated, it was as if they had opened a full-fledged video call. Using the moon as a medium, the two could connect their spiritual consciousness across any distance, transcending space itself.

They could even see what the other saw and hear what the other heard.

Of course, there were limitations—it could only be used at night when the moon was visible.

"Ice Block, have you named this martial technique yet?"

Li Mo gazed at the moon climbing the night sky and asked without thinking.

"Not yet."

"How about 'Sharing the Moonlight'?"

Li Mo exhaled softly, his confidence growing as he smiled.

Ying Bing's eyes flickered slightly, and she gave a faint nod.

She, too, turned her gaze to the moon. Tonight’s moonlight would likely be beautiful.

She wondered if, many years ago, her parents had stood side by side just like this, watching the same full moon rise into the sky.