The Monkey Steals the Peaches

In the small world.

The night was deep and silent, with mist flowing around the mountain's waist, obscuring the view below. Unfortunately, the stillness lacked vitality, making it feel lifeless.

A stone monkey statue stood in the training ground, silently watching the mist drift.

Out of nowhere, a gourd flew in. The "statue" suddenly moved, reaching out to grab it. Pulling out the stopper, it sniffed the scent of liquor inside, and its eyes gradually brightened with life.

"Should we eat something before we start?"

A young man appeared in the Yin-Yang training ground, smiling as he carried fruits in his hand.

The stone monkey remained silent.

Li Mo grinned and sat down beside it.

"Met an old lady selling fruits on the way. It was so late, and she still hadn’t sold out. When I offered to buy them all, she worried I wouldn’t finish them—pfft, who does she think she’s underestimating?"

"Once I beat you, I’ll take you to her peach orchard for a stroll."

"Hey, slow down with the drink. If you get drunk, who knows who’ll win or lose between us."

"Heh."

A sudden voice.

Li Mo froze. "Wait, you can talk?"

Previously, the projections of divine will had been emotionless, driven only by combat instincts.

Plus, he had occasionally muttered to himself, and the Monkey King had never responded, so he had assumed it couldn’t speak either.

The gourd was tossed back into his arms, accompanied by the sound of stone fragments crumbling and the voice that had just spoken:

"Your body’s cultivation is decent, but your spirit still lacks. Fifty moves—consider it a pass."

"Has it been like this from the beginning?"

Li Mo suddenly understood.

The corners of the monkey’s lips curled slightly.

It seemed amused that this kid’s goal all along had been to defeat it.

"Come!"

In a flash, Li Mo wielded divine weapons in both hands—the Hammer Treasure and the Celestial Divine Sword.

After advancing further in the Eight-Nine Mystical Art, he could now wield the Hammer Treasure without relying on the power of the world.

The Celestial Divine Sword, too, was usable only because his swordsmanship had reached the required level. Thus, neither counted as external assistance.

The hammer’s wind howled, carving a path through the void.

His stature grew slightly taller—a sign of the mystical art in motion. The dragon-like surge of his bloodline’s power was enough to tear apart the inner realm’s field. The mystical art didn’t just strengthen his physique; once mastered, it allowed him to fully harness every inch of his body.

So while Li Mo’s strength seemed to have only increased by half, the force behind this hammer strike was several times greater than before.

Clang—

The seemingly immovable Divine Needle of the Seas trembled ever so slightly.

Of course, this was because the Great Sage’s projection was restricted to the same realm.

At this point, Li Mo could no longer be measured by the standards of the Observation Divine Realm.

"It’s working!"

Li Mo steadied himself, a flicker of joy in his heart.

The Ice Block had told him to fully exploit his physical advantages.

His soul’s intent originated from the Great Sage’s projection, so no matter how strong his divine will was, it could only avoid suppression—never gain an upper hand. As for combat experience? Forget about it. The only possible advantage was his physique.

She was right. This was Li Mo—his body tougher than calamity beasts, his defenses rivaling mystical artifacts, his hammer mastery divine, his swordsmanship honed through lifetimes of martial insight. With five mystical cores, Karmic Flame True Energy, Falling Star Flame, mastery of the Indestructible Vajra Body, External Incarnation, and the Eight-Nine Mystical Art to multiply all his strengths...

Who in the same realm could compare to his stats?

This hammer strike was pure sweat and effort! Monkey-head!

Using the recoil, Li Mo soared into the air before crashing down like a meteor. His bloodline ignited the Falling Star Flame, setting the Hammer Treasure ablaze with explosive radiance.

What looked like a mountain-splitting strike was actually the Heaven-Slaying Hammer.

The Great Sage’s projection twisted its wrist, dispersing the previous strike’s overwhelming force.

Then, gripping its weapon, it thrust upward.

Clang!

Energy erupted, and the metallic resonance of a colossal bell reverberated far and wide.

Logically, such force should have flattened a small mountain, yet the training ground’s floor remained unscathed.

This wasn’t due to the Yin-Yang training ground’s durability—it was because the power had been neutralized, perhaps even absorbed. The staff bent slightly, borrowing force to redirect it, instantly clearing the dust with a twist.

Where the staff’s shadow blurred, wind and clouds clashed.

Li Mo fought with both hands—the Hammer Treasure leading the assault, while the Celestial Divine Sword occasionally darted in from the side.

Weapons clashed repeatedly, their echoes shaking the heavens.

This was the first time Li Mo had traded blows evenly with the Great Sage’s projection. Before, he had always been battered into submission by that effortlessly wielded staff. This time, he had the advantage only because the projection, being just a projection, was physically outmatched.

So...

All those past fights had been teaching sessions?

He just hadn’t realized it, often smug about lasting a few extra moves—like solving a difficult exam question without grasping the gap between himself and the examiner.

Even now, with every advantage, his only concern was surviving...

Because until now, the Great Sage had relied solely on pure martial skill.

If it unleashed its divine abilities, the battle’s balance would instantly collapse.

"Fifty moves..."

Suddenly, the shadow of a staff appeared in Li Mo’s pupils, bearing down like a colossal mountain.

Behind it were those fiery eyes, now alight with an interest absent before—and an even greater pressure.

Block with the hammer?

Counter with the sword?

No, neither would be fast enough...

Fortunately, the little genius had developed instinctive reflexes from countless spars. Using his Moonlight Soul Intent, he slowed the staff’s momentum.

Li Mo ducked low.

Roll!

To win? No shame in it...

Of course, if there had been an audience, the young swordsman Li Mo would never have stooped to such a move.

And perhaps no one would have imagined—

The undisputed top talent of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the unrivaled pinnacle of the Observation Divine Realm (except for the Ice Block), spent his days tumbling like a gourd in unnoticed corners.

But this roll wasn’t just any roll.

Springing up, his body coiled like a taut wire.

Inside him, the five mystical cores spun within the Falling Star Flame.

True energy and bloodline power fused seamlessly during the roll, his essence, energy, and spirit aligning perfectly, flowing into his divine will.

"Earth-Slaying Hammer!"

(Well, Li Mo only thought it—he didn’t shout it out.)

Ravines cracked, earth shook, mountains trembled!

The hammer surged like a dragon emerging from the land, roaring as it charged upward.

This time, it was the Great Sage’s projection’s turn to split a mountain. A thousand-jun staff smashed against the hammer.

The Hammer Treasure was forcefully halted, but Li Mo flipped back a step—only to twist mid-air.

Sword light erupted.

A single strand of hair was severed, silently drifting to the ground. But no one noticed, because from the sword pellet, hundreds of sword intents surged forth—remnants of the Celestial Divine Sword’s essence, now unleashed by the pellet.

The sword intents formed a river, and Li Mo’s figure vanished into it.

"This isn’t the path I taught you, but..."

For the first time, the Great Sage gripped its staff with both hands:

"Interesting."

Before the words faded—

Within the raging river of swords, a single staff stood like a pillar between heaven and earth, piercing the current and stirring not just the sword tides but the very winds and clouds.

This, too, was momentum—but it overshadowed even the master of this domain, becoming the center of the world.

"Until now... it was still holding back?"

Li Mo realized with a jolt.

He had merely felt that he had made some progress, so he switched from elementary school-level questions to those of a middle schooler.

That didn't mean he was anywhere close to their level.

At this point, there was no choice but to resort to this move....

"Monkey Steals the Peach!!"