The dark and unadorned hammer hung silently at the intersection of ice and fire.
It stood about three hundred paces from the cave entrance.
"Huff..."
Li Mo exhaled a white breath, his forehead drenched in sweat.
After walking a hundred paces, his entire body was soaked, and even his bones itched from the vibrations.
Exhausted, yet the fire in Li Mo's eyes burned brighter than ever.
The divine weapon tempered his bones—each step strengthened his blood and refined his physique.
In just a hundred paces, he had opened another meridian.
Thirteen meridians.
For ordinary martial artists, twelve was the limit, the point where blood would condense into qi and force transform into breath.
Li Mo had already surpassed the boundaries of the Qi-Blood Realm.
And he wasn’t stopping.
One hundred and forty paces.
"The pressure is growing unbearable."
Every step became a struggle as his body reached its breaking point.
Fine blood streaks appeared on his skin.
He had done his best to mitigate the weapon’s killing edge using the techniques of Extreme Weapon Tempering Body, but a divine weapon was still a divine weapon.
"At least I still have some martial insights left."
"Otherwise, I’d have to stop here today..."
Li Mo wanted to push further.
But the moment he took another step, the weapon’s killing aura surged from all directions.
Blood seeped from the cracks in his skin, his body on the verge of collapse. He hastily retreated.
"Fine, no more struggling."
Young Li sighed, finally acknowledging the hammer’s might.
He hadn’t wanted to rely on shortcuts.
But reality left him no choice.
Hard work alone wouldn’t claim a divine weapon.
"Let’s start with twenty years."
Li Mo focused his mind, channeling his insights into Extreme Weapon Tempering Body.
[Ten years of martial insights successfully infused.]
[Year One: Observing the divine weapon Pangu Calamity Meteor Hammer, you gain deeper understanding of body tempering. You ponder the essence of Extreme Weapon Tempering Body.]
[Year Eight: You finally master Extreme Weapon Tempering Body to perfection.]
[Year Ten: You begin exploring the mysteries of body tempering, seeking the pinnacle of mastery...]
Ten years of insights—eight, to be precise—brought the technique to completion.
Li Mo rubbed his face, once again facing reality.
A high-tier sword art, taught personally by the "Ice Block."
A supreme body-tempering method, self-taught.
Yet the former had cost him multiple times more insights than the latter.
"Fine."
Li Mo activated Extreme Weapon Tempering Body at its perfected level.
Instantly, the frenzied killing edge around him grew docile.
With renewed determination, he strode toward the Pangu Calamity Meteor Hammer.
One step, two steps...
Ten steps, a hundred steps...
In no time, only fifty paces separated him from the ice-fire boundary.
But the moment he crossed that threshold—
BOOM!
A thunderous hammer strike echoed.
The killing aura surged violently once more.
It was like stepping into a whirlpool, battered by relentless currents.
"No wonder the Pangu Calamity Meteor Hammer can forge divine weapons."
"A single strike would shatter even famed blades."
Li Mo felt like a weapon himself, being tempered by the hammer.
The founder of the Divine Weapon Peak must have been a true powerhouse.
At least in body tempering, his prowess was undeniable.
No wonder Elder Hanhe left the hammer lying in the depths of the Divine Edge Cave.
Even an expert at the Observation Divine Realm might not qualify to stand before it.
"What kind of monster could wield this thing freely?"
Li Mo shook off the thought.
No time for doubts—he had insights to burn.
He poured another decade of martial understanding into Extreme Weapon Tempering Body.
[Year One: Studying the divine weapon, you grasp the concept of Body as Weapon, learning to emit your own killing edge.]
[Year Three: Your personal killing edge resonates with the hammer’s, complementing each other.]
[Year Twelve: You reach the pinnacle of mastery, your comprehension rivaling the technique’s creator.]
[Insight complete—Extreme Weapon Tempering Body ascends to Transcendent Pinnacle!]
Twenty years total—from mastery to the transcendent pinnacle.
Li Mo raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
After being humbled by sword arts for so long, he wasn’t used to such efficiency.
"Body as Weapon."
He murmured the words.
In the next moment, his own body began radiating the same killing edge used to temper him.
It wasn’t strong—barely surpassing a sharp blade.
Compared to the Pangu Calamity Meteor Hammer, it was like firefly light against the full moon.
But!
Extreme Weapon Tempering Body was a supreme art, and he had pushed it to the transcendent pinnacle.
That meant he could leverage minimal force to shift immense weight.
The pressure dwindled drastically. Now, Li Mo could control how much he endured at will.
The remaining fifty paces?
He sprinted.
In moments, he stood at the ice-fire boundary, finally able to examine the hammer up close.
The weapon seemed forged as one piece—hammerhead and handle seamless, as if nature itself had shaped it.
The hammerhead was blunt at the front, tapered at the back.
Square like an imperial seal—unrefined yet profound.
Pointed like jagged wind-carved stone—a masterpiece of the uncanny.
One side for forging weapons, the other for... forging people.
Li Mo dismissed the dangerous thought.
"I don’t know why you called to me."
"But since you’ve chosen me, today I take you with me!"
He reached out, gripping the handle.
BOOM—
His mind erupted as if the cosmos had birthed anew, a meteor crashing into his consciousness.
Li Mo’s thoughts blanked. His fingers nearly loosened from the shock.
Don’t let go!
He clenched his teeth.
All thirteen opened meridians surged to life.
Every ounce of strength in his body was wrung dry.
The Pangu Calamity Meteor Hammer was being merciful.
Against all odds, it budged—just a fraction—for a mere Qi-Blood Realm cultivator.
RUMBLE—
The earth quaked.
The entire Divine Edge Cave trembled violently.
...And not just the cave.
The Divine Weapon Peak itself shook.
"Earthquake! Earthquake!"
"Is the peak collapsing?!"
"Don’t spout nonsense—it’s just the earth veins erupting early!"
"Wasn’t there supposed to be a dormant period? Today’s only the first day!"
"RUN!"
Those still inside bolted for the exit, not daring to look back.
Fortunately, most had already claimed their weapons.
"Teacher, what’s happening?"
Xiao Qin had exited earlier, but Li Mo was still missing.
The voice of Thousand Forms Martial Venerable turned grave.
"The cave shouldn’t collapse."
"But that... is the aura of a divine weapon?"
Xiao Qin didn’t fully grasp the implications, but his teacher’s tone worried him.
"Master! Junior Brother Li is still inside!"
Murong Xiao couldn’t stay seated. Yet the entire Divine Edge Cave now pulsed with overwhelming pressure.
"So it is him..."
Elder Hanhe’s expression shifted.
He had suspected as much.
The last time the founder’s artifact stirred, he’d guessed Li Mo was involved.
But he never imagined the Pangu Calamity Meteor Hammer would react so violently!
An almost absurd thought suddenly surfaced.
Could it be... that it's about to acknowledge a master?
"Oi, old man."
"You'd better keep your word from earlier."
Shang Wu crossed her arms, her almond-shaped eyes narrowing like a fox that had just pulled off a clever trick.
"If he can truly lift it, then let him take it away!"
Elder Hanhe's eyelid twitched as he flicked his sleeve and strode into the Divine Edge Cave.

young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."

grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)

rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!

for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?