Xiao Li's Birthday Gift

In the room on New Year's Eve.

Li Mo gazed up at the night sky outside, his eyes illuminated by the dazzling fireworks. Judging by the position of the moon, it wasn’t yet midnight.

But this world had no restrictions on fireworks—the sky was ablaze with shimmering displays, the deafening explosions drowning out even his own voice.

"Having lived two lifetimes, why bother celebrating a birthday?"

The soon-to-be-a-year-older Li Mo shook his head and immersed his consciousness into the Seed of the World.

Instantly, the world fell silent.

The tranquil miniature realm had been transformed into the image of an immortal sect from Li Mo’s imagination—filled with breathtaking, ethereal landscapes standing tall under the serene moonlight.

It was as if it existed beyond the mortal world, untouched by all earthly clamor.

The Heavenly Venerable Teacher sat once more on his Yin-Yang Dao Platform, taking out the Tower of Ten Thousand Colors and Emptiness.

"The power of sentient beings within the Eight-Armed Bodhisattva Statue has been mostly purified."

"Twelve layers can manifest two Supreme Forms, but the Great Dao Divine Form requires thirty-six layers... only a third of the way there."

Li Mo wasn’t in a hurry.

At the very least, the southern borderlands were still continuously supplying him with the power of sentient beings, and on New Year’s Day, the amount was especially abundant.

For the time being, that source wouldn’t run dry—it should be enough to fully charge the Tower of Ten Thousand Colors and Emptiness.

Besides, he had only barely managed to defeat the Primordial Golden Crow.

Him, against the full-strength projection of a Great Sage?

The gap was likely more than just a little.

"Teacher... Happy New Year."

Lost in thought, Jiang Chulong entered the Seed of the World. Today, she too had changed into new clothes—the ones she had bought back in Yunzhou.

In her hands, she carried a food box and a small bundle.

"Haven’t eaten yet?"

"I... I have. This... is for you, Teacher."

Jiang Chulong opened the food box, revealing clumsily wrapped dumplings inside.

Her small hands fidgeted nervously as she murmured,

"I... I learned to make them for the first time... They don’t look very good..."

"I’ll enjoy them properly. By the way, what’s this?"

The Heavenly Venerable Teacher was more curious about the bundle.

"That’s for Big Brother Li..."

Jiang Chulong clutched the bundle, her voice growing clearer as she lowered her head.

"Big Brother Li said his birthday is on New Year’s Eve. Since everyone is busy celebrating, I thought... he might not receive any gifts."

"Teacher, could you please give this to him for me?"

The small bundle unfolded to reveal an exquisitely crafted belt embroidered with flowers, birds, insects, and fish—a testament to the care and effort put into it.

"!"

The young Heavenly Venerable Li Mo leaned back slightly.

Chulong, really... my heart can’t take this.

Not only did Princess Jiang remember his birthday, but she might have started preparing for it long ago.

And yet, he hadn’t even visited her or the little ones in Mud Corner Alley during the New Year...

He patted her head gently and said,

"Well, actually, Big Brother Li has a gift for you too."

"Really?"

Jiang Chulong’s eyes, hidden behind the cloth, instantly brightened.

"He also asked me to wish you a Happy New Year."

Li Mo rummaged through his system space, pulling out a red cloth and wrapping some silver notes inside.

Watching as Princess Jiang carefully tucked the red envelope into her robes, even giving it a light pat to make sure it wouldn’t fall, Li Mo felt a pang of guilt.

He had acted on a whim, yet she treated it with such importance.

Hmm, I’ll make sure to properly make it up to her with a real New Year’s gift later...

With her gift received, Princess Jiang threw herself into her training with even greater determination than usual.

In just one hour, she challenged the Golden Crow projection three times.

And!

On her final attempt, she seized a fleeting opportunity, finally spotting a weakness in the Golden Crow’s projection—coming within a hair’s breadth of victory.

"Once Chulong breaks through the Observation of Divinity, she’ll definitely make it onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

The Heavenly Venerable Teacher murmured to himself, a sense of pride swelling in his chest.

It was as if he had stumbled upon a seed by chance, only to watch it bloom, bear fruit, and flourish beyond expectation.

But still...

Why was Princess Jiang pushing herself so hard during the New Year?

Too much strain could backfire. The Heavenly Venerable Teacher felt she was stretching herself too thin—she needed balance.

Just as he pondered this...

A ripple of disturbance came from the outside world.

---

Meanwhile, young Li Mo’s soul was still inside the miniature world. His parents, Li Dalong and Gu Xueqin, had just finished distributing New Year’s bonuses to the servants and tidying up the kitchen.

Recalling their son’s previous habit of spinning tall tales, the couple exchanged a glance, silently agreeing on their next move.

"Right, today’s our son’s birthday."

"Let’s have the kitchen make him a bowl of noodles. And... maybe check on him?"

"Mm. Let’s hope he’s actually in his room this time."

Before long, Li Dalong and Gu Xueqin—carrying a bowl of noodles—arrived at Li Mo’s door.

Sometimes, fate had a funny way of playing out.

The couple ran straight into a certain ice block of a girl.

Good news: they caught the culprit.

Bad news: this time, it wasn’t Li Mo.

"Little Bing’er?"

"..."

Ying Bing, still wearing her white cat-fur hat, clutched a large box in her arms. The fireworks outside painted her usually cold features with a warm, festive glow.

She paused mid-step, her lashes fluttering slightly, before calmly stating,

"I... I took a wrong turn."

"..."

Gu Xueqin froze, a flicker of recognition crossing her face as she glanced at her husband.

Years ago, when she had returned from a trip and traveled with a younger Li Dalong, they had stayed at an inn together.

Back then, the two had already developed feelings for each other—though neither had confessed yet—so they booked separate rooms.

That night, a drunken Li Dalong had stumbled into her room by "mistake."

The next morning, he claimed he had been too drunk and entered the wrong door...

Feeling his wife’s narrowed gaze, Li Dalong coughed loudly.

"Ah, Little Bing’er, you’re here to celebrate Li Mo’s birthday too? Perfect—could you take this bowl of noodles in for us?"

"I still have some firecrackers to set off. Don’t want to miss them!"

"?"

Ying Bing watched as Li Dalong hurried off, Gu Xueqin following close behind, before shifting her gaze to the bowl of noodles in her hands.

---

Li Mo lay on his bed, his soul still inside the Seed of the World.

But with the commotion outside, he wasn’t completely unaware. The moment Ying Bing bumped into his parents at the door, he had already sensed it.

Now, he opened his eyes.

Just as he sat up, the door creaked open.

"Ice block? Did you think I wouldn’t come find you today, so you came yourself? Actually, I was just about to—"

"Not dual cultivation."

"Eh?" Li Mo blinked.

"Happy birthday."

Ying Bing set down the noodles, then opened the box in her arms.

Inside were many things—a spinning top... a tangram puzzle... marbles...

And a small wooden sword, its surface still carrying the fresh scent of timber, clearly newly carved.

If one were to count...

There were exactly seventeen gifts.

Matching Li Mo’s age.