The Ice Block Surrounded by Stars, Li Mo: "I'm Really Not Envious at All"

At this moment, the Qingyuan Sect had undoubtedly become the most dazzling presence in Purple Sun Prefecture, its radiant glow nearly eclipsing the brilliance of the moon in the sky.

In Purple Sun Prefecture’s city, within an elegantly adorned room, an elderly man dressed in luxurious robes rested his feet in the laps of two young maids for warmth. Suddenly, the color of the window curtains shifted.

He slowly rose to his feet and asked, "Why is there such a dazzling radiance outside?"

"Prefecture Lord, it comes from the direction of the Qingyuan Sect."

"Qingyuan..."

The old man fell into contemplation, his expression shifting several times.

"Prepare a letter. Invite Elder Yin Hua of the Rare Beast Peak for a discussion at our residence."

"Yes..."

The steward acknowledged the order but hesitated, as if wanting to say more.

"Hmm? Speak if you have something to say."

"Princess Chulong... she has disappeared."

By the time the steward finished speaking, he was drenched in sweat, not daring to look at his master—the expression of the Purple Sun Prefecture Lord.

After a long silence, a low, eerie voice finally responded:

"Dig three feet into the ground if you must, but find her and bring her back."

"Yes."

......

Over at Biluo Lake, a massive ship, as towering as a mountain, lay anchored in the river, its size nearly rivaling the surrounding islands.

Black banners fluttered fiercely in the wind, their silver-embroidered characters boldly declaring:

[Crimson Whale]

The Crimson Whale Gang—one of the three great sects of Purple Sun Prefecture—was ostensibly the weakest of the three.

Yet its members were a motley crew of rogues and drifters, rumored to number in the tens of thousands. Countless underworld factions were secretly entangled with them.

A burly, bearded man stood at the ship’s bow, hands clasped behind his back as he gazed into the distance.

"Has the Qingyuan Sect unearthed a rare treasure, or has some kind of legacy been awakened?"

"Great Leader, in my opinion, it’s the latter."

Behind him, a pale-faced, beardless youth spoke up.

Strangely, the bearded man—the leader of the Crimson Whale Gang and a powerhouse of the External Scenery Realm—did not refute or doubt the young man’s words.

"The Qingyuan Sect has a long history. If a legacy has emerged now, it must be extraordinary."

"And the one worthy of inheriting it must be a prodigy—perhaps even someone fit for the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"

The bearded man’s voice was grave.

He had long dreamed of elevating the Crimson Whale Gang under his leadership, surpassing the Qingyuan Sect to claim the top position.

It was entirely possible.

After all, Shangguan Wencang was growing old.

"With me here, what does it matter if a couple of freaks emerge in this tiny Purple Sun Prefecture? Could they possibly surpass me?"

The youth in crimson robes licked his lips.

"You speak true, Senior." The worry in the Crimson Whale Gang leader’s eyes vanished.

......

In the Northern Nether Domain, atop an impossibly towering mountain peak, stood a hundred-story pagoda so high it seemed to scrape the heavens.

The Yantian Sect.

The renowned Hidden Dragon Ranking, along with the Three Rankings of Heaven, Earth, and Man, all originated from here.

At the top of the observatory tower, an elderly woman with silver-white hair stood frozen in place, her face tilted toward the sky—how long had she been like this?

Suddenly, the corner of her eye twitched, and her aged voice murmured:

"The celestial alignment was originally one of the Nine Heavens shifting, with the Taiyin Star dominant. So why is everything in chaos now?"

She retrieved a jade plate from her robes, upon which countless fingernail-sized jade pieces slowly slid about.

As she channeled her power, the pieces moved faster and faster—until, abruptly, they locked in place.

The entire jade plate dimmed.

So too did the old woman’s complexion.

"Cough... cough..."

"Master, what’s wrong?"

"The Yinghuo... Yinghuo..."

"You mean the Yinghuo Chaos Phenomenon recorded by our founder?"

The old woman sighed deeply, her already pallid face aging further.

The bright-eyed young maiden bit her lip, her heart in turmoil.

The Yantian Sect could perceive fate, observe the rise and fall of eras, and even manipulate events from behind the scenes.

This included the founding of Great Yu and the ascension of the Martial Emperor.

The Yinghuo Chaos Phenomenon signified one thing:

The Yantian Sect was about to lose sight of destiny.

"Master, the Crown Prince requests an audience."

Another disciple stepped forward to relay the message.

"Tell him this old woman will not help him find Princess Chulong—nor could she even if she tried."

......

Back at the Qingyuan Sect, with such a monumental event unfolding, the sect’s trial had naturally been cut short.

After all, across the entire Qingyuan Mountain Range, wherever the radiant glow touched, beasts of all strengths either fled in terror or cowered on the ground, trembling.

Continuing the trial would have been pointless.

At Moonview Cliff, a gaunt elder stepped to the edge of the precipice.

Shangguan Wencang still wore his plain, ash-gray hemp robes—looking less like a sect master and more like a kindly old farmer.

"Sect Master."

"Sect Master."

The elders snapped out of their daze one by one.

"How long have Ying Bing and Li Mo been down in the Qingyuan Abyss?"

Shangguan Wencang’s voice was soft.

"About two hours."

Xue Jing’s brows were now completely free of worry.

"Sect Master, the two of them must have entered one of the Qingyuan Sect’s hidden realms—and... they’ve likely already claimed the legacy within."

"This... this old man thinks so as well."

Han He’s expression was a sight to behold.

Not that Han He lacked composure—none of the other elders looked much calmer.

Since the founding of the Qingyuan Sect, no one had ever laid eyes on this legendary opportunity.

A radiance stretching for miles, illuminating heaven and earth—this was a legacy beyond even their wildest imaginations!

The only question was: Who had obtained it?

Ying Bing?

Or...

"Hahaha! My precious disciple really brings me face!"

Shang Wu planted her hands on her hips, her almond-shaped eyes reflecting the shimmering glow.

"If my disciple inherits this legacy, he’ll definitely become the next Sect Master."

"And when he’s Sect Master, I’ll be the Grand Elder."

"Then I can spend the sect’s money however I please!"

"Heheh... hehehe..."

Shang Wu wiped the corner of her mouth, utterly delighted.

The elders: "..."

Young Lady, we don’t even know who the legacy belongs to yet.

And the Sect Master is still alive and well—and you’re already plotting how to run amok?

If Shang Wu became Grand Elder...

A collective shudder ran through the group.

Qian Bufan declared sternly, "Even the Sect Master must seek approval from the peak elders to use the sect’s resources."

"This old man believes Ying Bing is more likely to have obtained the legacy," Elder Han He said.

The Elder of the Sunset Peak nodded in agreement. "That cry earlier sounded feminine."

Shang Wu: "?"

You can tell gender by sound now?

Xue Jing could only laugh helplessly. "It’s also possible the two of them shared the inheritance."

Finally, the radiance filled the entire Qingyuan Abyss.

The young man and woman stepped back onto Moonview Cliff.

Li Mo wore a bright, satisfied grin.

Ying Bing’s forehead faintly shimmered, adding a touch of divinity to her already breathtaking beauty.

But...

Li Mo’s smile was simply too radiant.

For a moment, no one could tell who had truly obtained the legacy.

"So? Where’s the legacy?"

Shang Wu immediately rushed up to Li Mo, scrutinizing him and even sniffing at him.

"Not with me."

Li Mo spread his hands.

"Then what are you grinning about, idiot?"

"???"

Not with Li Mo?

All eyes turned to Ying Bing.

"I did indeed obtain an ancient legacy," Ying Bing confirmed with a nod.

She knew the origins of the Nine-Colored Primordial Phoenix.

But in everyone's eyes, this should be her first time receiving an inheritance, so she shouldn’t be able to recount its origins with such familiarity.

Of course, this didn’t lessen the elders’ astonishment.

Because of two words: ancient.

While revering the past and belittling the present is unwise—such as with cultivation techniques, which may be refined and improved by later generations—inheritance is an exception. The older it is, the more precious it becomes.

If it lacked significance, it would have long been lost to time. Only the truly remarkable endure to the present day.

"Our Qingyuan Sect may have just birthed a prodigy capable of making the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

"The Qingyuan Sect’s history runs deep, yet countless explorers have returned empty-handed. Who would have thought we’d live to see such an inheritance resurface?"

"With such unparalleled talent and immense fortune at her side, Ying Bing’s future achievements are beyond imagination!"

...

The crowd couldn’t contain their awe and excitement.

As the elders gazed at her like a priceless treasure,

Ying Bing herself pressed her lips together and instead turned her gaze toward a young man not far away.

There, she saw him smiling even wider.

[Congratulations, Host. Your investment in Ying Bing has succeeded, granting her a pivotal inheritance in her life.]

[Would you like to claim your reward?]

While the "ice block" was showered with admiration, Young Li Mo wasn’t the least bit envious.

Because just moments ago, he had received feedback from the system regarding his investment.

If not for the inconvenient timing, he would’ve claimed it immediately.

"Wait till I get back... wait till I get back..."

Rubbing his hands in anticipation, Li Mo couldn’t wait to return to the Autumn Water Pavilion.

At that moment, Shangguan Wencang finally spoke in a measured tone:

"Enough. Ying Bing, this opportunity is yours to wield. You need not explain it to anyone."

"From this day forth, the Moonview Cliff is sealed."