Charging Without Reporting, Body and Mind Take the Lead

The top three rooms of the Hidden Dragons were more spacious, and even the sword-training grounds were larger.

Ying Bing had just opened the door to the training grounds, drawing out the Taibai Sword while suppressing the mirth in her eyes. The solemnity of the Moon Palace’s master toward martial arts cast an aura of sacred wisdom around her, as though she held the very essence of truth.

As the crisp spring breeze brushed past, she suddenly found herself reminiscing about the days when she instructed her disciples back in the Moon Palace.

Had she been too strict back then?

Would a gentler approach have been better…?

Just as she was about to turn around—

Her body stiffened slightly as she realized someone’s chest was pressed against the back of her head, and a hand had quite boldly settled on her waist.

The entire motion was seamless, executed in one fluid motion.

The Moon Palace’s icy master had somehow ended up being embraced from behind without warning.

"Weren’t we supposed to learn swordsmanship?"

"Maybe… I wanted to recharge first?"

Li Mo didn’t even bother asking for permission anymore when it came to "recharging."

Because even he hadn’t seen it coming.

Imagine it—morning light at its finest, a gentle spring breeze, and a peerless beauty with fluttering skirts leaving behind a faintly lonely silhouette.

Who could resist that?

Young Li didn’t even need to ask himself whether he could hold back. Was that even a question?

"......"

Ying Bing lowered her eyes slightly, lips pressed together as she remained still.

Enveloped in his arms, she felt warm and snug, even faintly hearing a heartbeat—though she couldn’t tell if it was hers or his. Expressionless, she tried to focus on how she would teach him later, but her thoughts kept wandering.

Was this… considered gentle teaching?

If this counted, then what about those strange stockings during dual cultivation?

After all, whenever she invoked her divine forms—especially the Vermilion Bird or the Peacock King—Li Mo’s spiritual fluctuations would spike noticeably…

Just as the Palace Master was lost in thought, she suddenly shivered, her neck shrinking slightly. The stern facade she had been forcing upon herself melted away instantly.

"Li Mo, didn’t you forge your hammer into the Taibai Sword?" Ying Bing asked, gripping the blade.

"Yeah, and now you’re holding it."

"Then what’s this…?"

"It’s Hammer Treasure!"

"......"

The ice queen’s eyelashes trembled. She really wanted to believe his nonsense, but the Pangu Meteor Hammer wasn’t supposed to be capable of localized size-shifting.

"Put the hammer away for now… We’re about to train with swords."

"Hammer Treasure’s clingy. It’ll throw a tantrum if I put it away."

The self-proclaimed "Hammer Tyrant" tried to sound serious, but inwardly, he was panicking.

Some things moved faster than thought—it wasn’t even a matter of choice.

"......Then I’ll teach you the essence of the Divine Thunder Demon-Slaying Stance first."

Ying Bing didn’t want him speaking anymore. Every word he uttered sent tingles down her ears, as if tiny insects were crawling over them.

"I’ve modified this sword technique slightly—the details are different now."

"‘The body moves before the mind, the mind empties the self to become Heaven.’ The first part remains the same, but afterward, you must guide Heaven’s will with your own intent."

"The original Divine Thunder Demon-Slaying was a selfless sword, entirely submitting to Heaven’s momentum. After my revisions, it now requires you to steer Heaven’s will with your own…"

"What does ‘the body moves before the mind’ mean?"

Li Mo was studying earnestly.

If he didn’t, the ice queen might not let him hold her during lessons next time.

Just another tiny, crucial detail!

Ying Bing explained softly:

"‘The body moves before the mind’ means your body reacts optimally before your thoughts even settle. This is the core of the Divine Thunder Heavenly Heart Sword."

"I’ll probably pick this up fast."

Li Mo nodded confidently, his gaze drifting down to her delicate collarbone.

Just then, a knock came from outside. Du Wufeng and Xie Xuan had found their way to the third-ranked Hidden Dragon’s room and were now at the door.

One was a lifelong master swordsmith, the other the second-ranked Hidden Dragon who had dedicated his life to the sword.

Exchanging glances, both saw the same confusion in each other’s eyes.

"Master Du, I don’t sense any sword energy or intent inside."

"Neither do I."

How exactly was the Frost Fairy teaching swordsmanship? It was baffling.

Ultimately, to prevent the Hammer Tyrant from straying too far off the righteous path, Xie Xuan knocked—after a meaningful look from Du Wufeng.

"Hm? Master Du, Brother Xie, what brings you here?"

Li Mo poked his head out, looking both puzzled and slightly annoyed.

Xie Xuan cleared his throat. "Hope we’re not interrupting."

"A little. I was just immersed in my studies, utterly captivated."

Du Wufeng sighed inwardly. He didn’t understand how Li Mo could be so passionate yet so… unskilled.

Even Xie Xuan, nicknamed the Sword Fanatic, wasn’t this obsessed.

Despite the abrupt visit, Li Mo invited them in.

"Brother Li, weren’t you ‘utterly captivated’? Why don’t you have a sword in hand?"

Xie Xuan sat down, his expression slightly odd.

"I hold no sword in hand, yet the sword exists in my heart."

"But how do you learn like that?"

"Heh."

"?"

Xie Xuan felt Li Mo’s gaze carried a hint of pity—which was, frankly, a bit rude.

This was the first time anyone had looked at him like that during a sword discussion.

"Master Du, you came here to…?"

"I wanted to persuade you to return the Celestial Sword to Celestial City. With the sword in your possession, you can’t draw it against opponents without divine weapons. If your foe wields one, can you guarantee a flawless victory?"

"You’ve only held the sword briefly, and swordsmanship isn’t even your main path. How will you handle such situations?"

Du Wufeng spoke earnestly.

Li Mo asked calmly, "Who else can wield divine weapons?"

The old master saw through his thoughts but didn’t point it out:

"Just from what I know, there are seven. First, the thirteenth-ranked Hidden Dragon, the chief disciple of Mount Fangzhang—he wields the Twin Star-Moon Halberd, forged by an overseas divine smith. Though obscure in the Central Plains, it ranks thirty-third on the Divine Weapons Record."

"The Scholar’s Pure Qi Brush, wielded by the Great Yu’s top scholar."

"Ning Que of the Penglai Star Sect, with the Clear Sea’s Echo Lute; Tian Miao of the Yantian Sect, with the Yantian Jade Disc; Sikong Liang of the Thief Sect… Monk Guankong of the Dragon-Elephant Ancient Temple, and Xie Xuan—his ancestral sword also qualifies as a divine weapon…"

"And then there’s our crown prince, Jiang Yu, with the Heaven-Earth Seal, ranked first among divine weapons."

"At the very least, these individuals can unleash thirty to forty percent of their weapons’ power."

Li Mo silently memorized the names.

Some didn’t need memorizing—he was already very familiar with them.

These would be his main opponents in the Hidden Dragon Tournament. Without Hammer Treasure, it’d be quite the challenge.

"Is Brother Xie strong among them?"

"Have you forgotten? I’m the second-ranked Hidden Dragon." Xie Xuan’s eye twitched.

"My apologies…"

Li Mo thought to himself that Xie Xuan really didn’t carry the dignity of a second-ranked Hidden Dragon. Still, he cupped his hands respectfully.

"Thank you for the information, Master Du!"

Du Wufeng took a sip of tea. "If you change your mind, I can find you a hammer for the tournament."

"No need."

Li Mo glanced at the ice queen standing quietly nearby, his expression turning serious.

"I’d rather keep learning swordsmanship from her."

"?"

Why was this kid so stubborn?

Was his passion for the sword truly this unshakable?