The Pact with the Ice Block: See You in the Finals

"My dear disciple has been looking exhausted lately, never staying home these days."

"I wonder what he's been so busy with."

Shang Wu muttered as she watched the busy figure in the kitchen.

The venerable master remained oblivious to Li Mo's recent progress.

"He must be practicing his swordsmanship."

Ying Bing withdrew her gaze.

These days, she grew increasingly certain that Li Mo's insightful questions last time were no coincidence.

Every day, he raised new questions about the sword path—many of them deepening the inquiries from the day before.

What did this mean?

It meant he hadn't slacked off. After their discussions, he had devoted himself to rigorous training and study.

That was why he left early and returned late each day.

"He's working that hard?"

Shang Wu blinked, slightly bewildered.

"Very hard indeed."

A flicker of admiration passed through the beautiful eyes reflected in the teacup.

If asked what had carried her to the pinnacle of the heavens in her past life—

Was it her transcendent physique?

Or her unparalleled talent?

No. For those truly qualified to contend for the summit of martial arts, such things were merely embellishments.

The only indispensable quality was perseverance.

It was the most easily obtained, yet most easily lost treasure for all who dared swim against the current of the martial path.

"Ah! Then he must have improved a lot recently."

Shang Wu's cheeks flushed pink as her almond-shaped eyes sparkled. "This time, our Jade Cluster Peak will finally make everyone take notice at the Nine Peaks Tournament!"

Well, "take notice" wasn’t quite accurate.

Jade Cluster Peak hadn’t even participated in years...

Shang Wu had long coveted the tournament’s rewards.

Based on their disciples' rankings, the sect bestowed generous resources—martial techniques, elixirs, rare treasures, and more.

"I wonder what the top prize for this tournament will be."

Shang Wu’s imagination ran wild.

The tournament champion would be recognized as Qingyuan Sect’s current top disciple.

The rewards for that were even more extravagant.

"Rewards..."

Ying Bing refilled her tea, her thoughts drifting far away.

She couldn’t recall most of the prizes clearly.

But one had always been granted to the top three finishers:

The right to select a supreme martial art.

At this thought, Ying Bing gently stroked the Frostblade.

The swordplay of the Frostblade’s first master was among those supreme arts—as was that of the Vermilion Dawn Sword.

The two sword techniques complemented each other, resonating and mutually reinforcing.

Strictly speaking, they were one and the same.

The "Sun-Moon Crossed Swords Manual," originating from the Heavenly Mountain Sword Manor.

Originally, it was a martial art designed for two practitioners to refine their skills together through synchronized swordsmanship.

Many in Qingyuan Sect’s history had attempted to recreate the combined might of the twin swords, yet all failed—because they had missed the essence while chasing the superficial.

"Almost time to eat. Come help, will you?"

Just then, the voice of Head Chef Li echoed from the kitchen.

Ying Bing set down the Frostblade and stepped inside.

Tonight’s meal was hotpot. The broth was ready, and Li Mo stood with his back to the door, diligently chopping ingredients.

"Li Mo."

"Hmm? Oh, right—you’re not eating spicy these days, are you?"

Li Mo, absorbed in his task, didn’t turn around.

"No. What’s your current realm?" Ying Bing asked.

Li Mo paused, then ventured cautiously:

"Late-stage Qi-Blood Realm peak perfection supreme culmination?"

Ying Bing: "?"

Couldn’t he just say "Qi-Blood Realm perfection"? What was with all the extra words?

But the young man had his reasons.

Ordinary Qi-Blood Realm perfection meant opening twelve meridians. He, however, had unlocked thirty-five.

Clearly, this wasn’t your average "perfection."

"Then we’ll skip the chili. Clear broth tonight."

Curious himself, Li Mo asked, "How about you? How’s your progress?"

"I’ll reach Internal Breath tonight."

"On second thought, let’s add some spice. Hotpot isn’t hotpot without chili."

Ying Bing’s tone was matter-of-fact, as if failure to break through was inconceivable.

Li Mo wasn’t surprised.

Just the ice block’s usual standard.

"Figured you wouldn’t linger in the Internal Breath Realm long. How’s your prep for the Nine Peaks Tournament? Extra garlic for me—I love garlic."

"I will take first place in the tournament."

"You can make yourself a garlic dipping sauce."

The scene was slightly surreal.

Earth-shattering declarations interspersed with debates over chili and garlic in hotpot—yet neither participant found it odd.

"You’ve improved greatly as well."

Ying Bing’s voice softened as she levitated minced garlic into a small bowl with a shimmer of light.

"Nothing compared to you."

As a descendant of the Yellow Emperor, Li Mo upheld the traditional virtue of humility.

"No need for modesty. I can sense your progress."

Ying Bing’s eyes reflected Li Mo’s busy silhouette as she murmured, "Among your peers, your swordsmanship is second only to mine. You could contend for a high ranking."

Li Mo’s hands stilled briefly before he chuckled dismissively:

"Why bother with rankings?"

"Don’t tell me you want to face me in the finals."

Truthfully, Li Mo had little interest in competing for rank.

Sect rewards held no allure for him.

"I want you to make the top three."

Suddenly, her voice rang clear as jade striking stone.

Clang—

Li Mo froze, then turned.

The girl stood at the doorway holding the hotpot, moonlight casting an ethereal glow over her jade-like skin.

The night breeze stirred the hem of her mother-sewn robes, rippling like water...

"Alright. See you in the finals."

Li Mo nodded.

"Mm."

Ying Bing lowered her eyes in agreement.

Listening to her footsteps fade, Li Mo finally looked down at the chipped kitchen knife in his hand and sighed:

"Asking why right then would’ve killed the mood, huh?"

Well, regardless of why the ice block had such expectations of him—

A promise was a promise.

His swordsmanship might not be as refined as she believed, but if push came to shove...

He could always pull out the hammer.

......

Dinner at Autumn Water Pavilion ended pleasantly.

Everyone retired to their rooms.

Li Mo, however, slipped out under cover of darkness.

Exhausted as he was, he intended to train extra tonight. With the Internal Breath Realm so close, he couldn’t suppress his excitement to glimpse that new horizon.

The night deepened.

Gurgle, gurgle—

The stone pool’s water abruptly boiled as the ten-thousand-year earth vein spirit milk’s energy, shimmering like starlight, flowed rhythmically into his body with each breath.

Within his dantian.

Nourished by the concentrated earth essence, the final lotus seed took root.

All thirty-six seeds now glowed with perfection, radiating treasure light as they churned with draconic surges of qi and blood energy.

Li Mo didn’t stop.

Harnessing the residual earth essence, he began his assault on the Internal Breath Realm.

According to the "Lotus Blossoms from Fire Heart" method—

Success came when the lotus seeds cracked, took root, and transformed qi-blood into internal breath.

Yet for the first time, Li Mo—who’d never encountered bottlenecks—frowned.

"I can’t convert qi-blood into internal breath?"

"Is the earth vein essence ineffective? No... that’s not it..."

His eyes snapped open, ember-like sparks flashing briefly in his pupils as he analyzed the problem.

The earth vein essence remained potent; the issue lay elsewhere.

The problem was him.

His qi-blood was too vast to condense into internal breath.

Thirty-six meridians’ worth of qi-blood was simply too immense.

Even the creator of the Blazing Heart Lotus Technique could never have anticipated the emergence of a freak capable of condensing thirty-six lotus seeds, hence never accounting for such a scenario.

"Superior cultivation techniques are insufficient."

"As for the Ancient Bronze Scripture Seals, I still have one left."

Li Mo pondered for a moment before retrieving an Ancient Bronze Scripture Seal he had obtained from Princess Xiao Jiang.