It seems like you're going to exceed the system schedule

The Hidden Dragon Tournament had only one final round left, but it seemed almost inconsequential now.

Li Mo had become the only participant with a flawless victory record so far. Even if he lost one more match, it wouldn’t affect his guaranteed spot in the top three—and he was practically certain to take the championship.

Crown Prince Jiang Yu had been defeated by him.

Xie Xuan? If they fought seriously, Xie Xuan might not even withstand Li Mo’s opening move—the "King of Brawls Ultimate Technique."

Ying Bing? Well, need we even mention the Frost Fairy?

Before anyone realized it, this "Hidden Dragon Fourth" had already defeated all three of the tournament’s top-ranked contenders.

Outside the Step Cloud Pavilion, a victory banquet had already begun prematurely.

Fame brings trouble, especially when rumors spread—courtesy of certain well-informed imperial advisors—that Li Mo might have blood ties to the Emperor himself.

Otherwise, why would the Emperor praise him so lavishly after his victory over Jiang Yu?

Otherwise, why would Jiang Chulong follow him around?

The implications were terrifying!

Regardless of whether the rumors were true, many came bearing extravagant gifts, hoping for an audience. Most sought out Zhong Zhenyue to arrange introductions.

Old Zhong had initially refused to bring them along.

But their offerings were simply too generous.

"Why is the victory banquet set up in the middle of the street? Like some commoner’s feast—sitting on the roadside to eat? What kind of standard is this..."

"Well, he is of humble origins. Understandable, understandable."

"Hey, don’t knock it—this stuff is actually delicious. What’s it called... barbecue?"

"Sitting right here on the street? Now that’s authentic."

"I’ll have to ask who came up with this recipe later..."

"It was Brother Li," Zhong Zhenyue replied cheerfully, munching on a skewer while patting his noticeably heavier coin pouch.

"Then where is he?"

"The guy at the grill."

"???"

...

At the grill.

The renowned "Idea King" of the Clear Abyss Sect, Best Actor of the inaugural Golden Statue Awards, pioneer of the barbecue strategy, and the one and only "immature brat" personally designated by the Phoenix Heaven Empress—what was his status? Something as trivial as socializing wasn’t worth his time.

He had more important matters to attend to.

"Extra spicy on this one—Frosty’s been craving heat lately."

"Oh, and sour too. Barbecue dipped in vinegar? Hmm... got it, sour plum soup!"

Li Mo wore a solemn expression as he prepared his excuse for later when he barged into Frosty’s chambers. In the meantime, he checked the pending investment rewards.

Two were from Little Jiang Chulong, and one from Ning Que.

Both were of golden destiny, though Jiang’s had grown richer after her sword bone’s rebirth.

[Investment Reward: Secret Silver Tome Seal]

The "Seventy-Two Transformations" technique currently only had its introductory chapter, so the Secret Silver Tome Seal would still be necessary.

[Investment Reward: Lotus-Step Cloud Treads]

"With this, the Great Sage’s battle regalia is almost complete, huh?"

Li Mo shook his head slightly—still missing the most crucial piece.

The staff.

The Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod was part of the set too.

"Not knowing staff techniques isn’t a problem. With my martial insights, my talent for staff arts should surpass my swordsmanship anyway..."

"Though my nickname might take another strange turn."

His thoughts wandered, but he quickly dismissed them as premature. Golden destiny rewards probably wouldn’t drop that easily.

In the end, he’d have to rely more on clinging to Frosty’s jade-like legs.

"Should I go for the black or the white ones?"

With that in mind, he opened the reward from Ning Que—a treasure-tier weapon embryo, similar to a mystic-tier one, capable of replicating a divine weapon in treasure-tier form.

...

Splash—

Soft ripples broke the moonlight in the basin as fair, jade-like toes playfully scattered its reflection.

Ying Bing bit her lip, her gaze lowered to her knees, where pearl-white lotus silk and dark cloud gauze lay neatly folded. She stared blankly, lost in thought.

Why had she agreed to this again?

She couldn’t quite remember, but when that little rascal Li Mo declared he wanted "everything," she’d somehow nodded along...

[Reminder: Next punishment—er, system ranking update in two days.]

[Wait, host, what’s that in your hands?]

"Two very precious materials," Ying Bing replied with icy dignity.

[This system strongly suspects you two might outpace the punishment schedule entirely.]

For the first time, the system sounded almost defeated. After that remark, it fell silent—whether to self-reflect or prepare something truly devastating next time, no one could say.

"Frosty, dinner’s ready."

A knock came at the door, and Li Mo’s head popped in.

"Later, we’re only... touching. That’s what we agreed on."

Ying Bing pressed her crimson lips together, her narrowed eyes tinged with wariness.

"?"

Li Mo blinked, momentarily baffled. What kind of talk was this?

Obviously! What else would they be doing?

"I’m just curious about how the material feels when worn. As a blacksmith, these are my two finest works. Master Du always said, 'Touch with your hands, feel with your heart.'"

"You’d better mean that literally..."

"Just like how you taught me to 'seal' things on your neck."

"..."

Moments later, the speechless Frost Fairy could only shut her eyes as warmth seeped through the pearl-white silk, leaving her mind and heart in disarray.

If he was making socks from pearl-white lotus silk and dark cloud gauze now... what kind of garments might he craft later?

She remembered when even holding hands had been purely for cultivation, when sharing a bed left her heart as still as an ancient well.

But now?

...