The infiltration plan had failed, leaving Hall Master Lu of the Yin-Yang Hall and the Blood Refining Hall with no immediate alternatives.
Who could have imagined that the grand scheme of their sect would be thwarted by a few dishes?
They had no idea how to explain this upon their return, but they had no choice but to report back with stiffened resolve. Their tension stemmed from the sect's utmost importance placed on the revival of the Blood God.
Deputy Sect Leader Yuwen Cuojin had arrived in the imperial capital just the day before.
They entered a mahjong parlor and descended through a hidden door to the underground hall.
"How did it go?"
Yuwen Cuojin was slurping instant noodles when the two entered. He wiped his mouth solemnly.
"We failed."
"Hmm? Incompetence demands an explanation. You two had better give me one."
Yuwen Cuojin took a sip of the noodle broth, his gaze growing increasingly icy.
"The food at Wanchun Pavilion is like this. Try it for yourself."
Hall Master Lu unpacked the dishes prepared by Ying Bing and laid them out on the table.
"What kind of excuse is this? Tch, we’re supposed to be the demonic sect..."
Yuwen Cuojin wore a cold expression, determined to set an example of ruthlessness for his subordinates.
But when he saw the multicolored pill-dusted pork intestine popsicles and the spicy fish scales, he fell into deep contemplation.
His chopstick-holding hand trembled slightly.
"Deputy Sect Leader, why is your hand shaking?"
"Oh, the weather’s just gotten colder."
The seventh-realm deputy sect leader swallowed hard, cleared his throat, and said,
"Ying Bing’s cooking is indeed terrifying. But I’ve already had dinner, and eating more would be wasteful. I trust everyone understands the shame of wasting food."
"Since we couldn’t infiltrate Wanchun Pavilion, and the Hundred Flowers Festival is imminent, what should we do?"
Hall Master Lu looked troubled.
Li Mo had snatched away their right to host the festival, leaving them unable to deploy their forces.
Now, Ying Bing had intervened just enough to make even sneaking into Wanchun Pavilion impossible. Their plan had been flawless—who could have predicted such an absurd setback?
"In my opinion, we’re left with only two paths."
Yuwen Cuojin’s expression darkened as he declared in a low voice,
"First, we send another group of Yin-Yang Hall disciples. They must endure until the day of the Hundred Flowers Festival—no matter what. These individuals must be unwavering, fearless. Any volunteers?"
His voice echoed through the empty hall.
Yet, as everyone stared at the dishes on the table, the demonic sect members exchanged glances. Not a single person dared to step forward.
"The second path is to burn our bridges and gamble everything! Abandon infiltration and launch a full-frontal assault on the day of the festival!"
"Good! Let’s fight those imperial dogs to the death!"
"Today, our demonic sect shall reshape the heavens and earth!"
"Count me in!"
A chorus of bloodthirsty voices rose in enthusiastic response.
......
Meanwhile.
The ice block—Ying Bing—seemed intent on making a late-night snack, silently gathering pots and pans. Li Mo, the chef, felt his scalp prickle and quickly grabbed her hand.
"Let’s make some potato chips instead. We can watch cartoons while eating."
Li Mo spoke with utmost seriousness.
"Potato chips? I don’t know how..."
"Big sister, I’ll teach you step by step."
With that, Li Mo wrapped his arms around her from behind, guiding her slender hands as they sliced unpeeled potatoes.
Young Li was very focused.
His arms encircled her cool, soft frame, his left hand resting on her waist, his chin brushing against the strands of hair at her neck, inhaling her orchid-like fragrance.
The night was deep, and the kitchen was silent save for the sound of chopping and bubbling oil.
Ying Bing’s fingertips curled slightly, ticklish from his breath, her whole body tingling.
"Like this... is it right?"
She distracted herself with the frying.
"Mhm. You don’t have to start with complicated dishes. Begin with simple ones. Any cartoons you want to watch tonight?"
"How about Castle in the Sky?"
Ying Bing was usually meticulous in everything she did.
But right now, she couldn’t focus at all.
Still, her relaxed posture betrayed her quiet enjoyment of the moment.
"Hmm? The salt I sprinkled seems off..."
"Li Mo, that’s sugar."
"Tsk..."
The chef inhaled sharply—along with Ying Bing’s scent.
With his experience, distinguishing sugar from salt shouldn’t require tasting. So how had he messed up?
Was her dark culinary aura so terrifying that even hands-on guidance failed?
"Sweet ones are edible too..."
"Are potato chips considered simple?"
"They are. But next time, let’s start with instant noodles."
After scooping out the chips, Li Mo led Ying Bing back to the room by the hand, then entered his pocket dimension.
The clouds above formed a screen, projecting the animated film.
Ying Bing stood to call for Li Mo but froze when she turned and saw a different version of him.
"Not bad at all."
Li Mo examined himself, relieved that his biggest concern wasn’t an issue.
Putting aside everything else.
First, the divine armor suited him perfectly. After absorbing the power of the masses, it radiated iridescent clouds, glowing brilliantly.
Once satisfied, he noticed Ying Bing wasn’t watching the film—she was stealing glances at him, her usually cool gaze slightly dazed.
"How do I look? Fitting?"
"Fitting for what?"
Her gaze snapped back as if she hadn’t been looking at all.
Well, not entirely. Her shimmering eyes reflected the film’s light, luminous and dreamy.
"This armor isn’t just for show—it’s incredibly powerful."
Li Mo smiled as the accumulated power of the masses from the Empty Myriad Colors Tower flowed into the armor.
His own divine will alone couldn’t activate its full potential; only the collective energy could.
Instantly, clouds surged beneath the Lotus-Step Silken Boots.
The once-ordinary somersault cloud transformed into an auspicious cloud, brimming with profound mystery.
Standing atop the rising mist, Li Mo felt he could now transport others with him.
Then, a peculiar ripple emanated from the Phoenix-Winged Purple Gold Crown, spreading like an invisible domain.
The Golden Chainmail shimmered as Li Mo activated his Heaven-Spanning Physique, his body swelling fivefold, raw power coursing through him.
"So strong! And this isn’t even complete—it’s still missing the final piece."
Li Mo raised his head slowly, eyes burning with fervor, his chest swelling with the ambition to ascend the heavens.
In that moment, he resembled a celestial deity.
But he didn’t attempt to draw the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod. It wasn’t the time, and he likely couldn’t yet.
"See it now?" Li Mo arched a brow, flashing Ying Bing a bright grin.
"I see."
Ying Bing’s face remained impassive, but her eyes softened.
"Like it?"
"I do."
The ice block dropped all pretense, openly staring, committing the sight to memory.
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."
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!
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
