So it wasn't about children after all

"Li Mo is on his last legs!"

"He's about to fall!"

At this moment, the Lingxi Sect members, seeing Li Mo like a flickering candle in the wind, were giving it their all.

To be honest, when they first attacked, it was mostly because the momentum had built up to that point.

Not joining in would have made them look a bit foolish.

Now, however, it was because they saw the hope of taking down Li Mo.

Indeed, those who remained were the elite of the Lingxi Sect. Their endless barrage of Evil Subduing Arts, Zhuyou Curses, and Death Hexes was like setting off firecrackers during New Year. Even a Dharma Body expert who had unified their inner and outer worlds would likely meet their end here, right?

Especially since Li Mo was putting on a show of barely holding on, looking like he could collapse at any moment.

It was like a boss with just a sliver of health left, constantly beckoning you, making you believe that with just a little more effort, you'd see it explode into a shower of golden loot...

"Undergoing tribulations is indeed the fastest way to advance the Nine Revolutions Profound Art."

While verbally exclaiming 'Ah, I'm about to die.', Li Mo was simultaneously putting his genius mind to work.

Curses like Death Hexes could also help him temper his Profound Art.

Couldn't he then find sects similar to the Lingxi Sect, use the 'Fighting King's Ultimate Move' on them, and have his physical body improve as rapidly as it was today, every single day?

When one thinks too much, it's easy to get distracted.

"How can Li Mo, drained and exhausted, hold on for so long?"

"I feel like his cries of agony are becoming more and more vigorous."

Some within the Lingxi Sect also began to sense something was off.

Whether it was Evil Subduing Arts or Zhuyou Curses, while powerful and bizarre, they all came at a significant cost.

Now, they were almost worn out themselves, yet Li Mo remained exactly the same as before.

However, right at this moment, Li Mo sensed their suspicion and actively compressed his inner world and the vital energy within his body:

"Today, even if I die, I'll still be the Prosperous Wife Little Overlord!"

"Keke!"

The doubts in the hearts of the Lingxi Sect members vanished, replaced by sinister smiles.

It wasn't an illusion.

He truly had reached the end of his rope.

Because Li Mo, just like the elder steward from before, was loud in voice but his footsteps were actually retreating, ready to flee at any moment!

They'd been tricked by one of their own once already; did he really think the same trick would work a second time?

"Enough with the sound and fury signifying nothing! Bring out your trump cards!"

"Fine, fine! The Green Corpse Chill I've prepared for years is finally going to see use."

"Hmph, trying to escape!"

Instantly, the mountain forest echoed with various whistling sounds: sharp black rays, eerie green mother-child ghost faces, blood-curtains billowing with baleful aura... All sorts of visible and invisible techniques surged forth.

Seeing this, Li Mo didn't dare to be careless either, releasing the vital energy and inner world he had been compressing.

Amidst the birth and destruction of strange phenomena, a crimson giant rose from the ground.

Sssss—

The Lingxi Sect members who had just unleashed their trump cards quickly realized something was wrong.

Their attacks this time were several times stronger than before.

Yet, when they exerted their full force, why did the winds and clouds around the crimson giant only grow more turbulent?

Conversely, their own inner worlds, illuminated by the crimson light, instantly fell into silence.

"Did he... break through in the heat of battle?"

"That can't be right. Even a mid-battle breakthrough wouldn't instantly restore him to peak condition."

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

They had used their full strength to defeat the boss, only to discover there was a second phase.

Flee? No one was willing; they had just paid a huge price. Fight? They lacked the capability. They were stuck in a dilemma.

"Everyone, let's..."

"Enough! Stop the nonsense! We've used that 'let's work together' line three times already!"

"Let's each escape on our own merits. No matter how powerful Li Mo is, I refuse to believe he can kill all thousands of us!"

"Speaking of which... where are our fellow disciples outside?"

They scattered and fled in all directions, completely unaware that the real Summoning Demons Cult had arrived outside.

Fortunately, a portion of the lucky ones would never know either.

Li Mo sighed, knowing that no matter how good his acting was, they wouldn't fall for it again. Gritting his teeth, he plucked nine strands of hair.

The hairs fell to the ground and instantly split into external incarnations.

Those Lingxi Sect members were now suffering from varying degrees of backlash from their arts and were also suppressed by his inner world phenomena. Even though they were scattering and running, they couldn't get far.

Once caught up by an external incarnation, they were met with a punch to the head.

"I'll help you!"

Qian Bufan, having removed his Formless Glazed Veil, also emerged.

His Money Tree rustled noisily, at least giving him a sense of participation.

Before long.

The commotion in this part of the mountain forest grew smaller and smaller.

"Quite a few still slipped through the net. There were just too many people."

Qian Bufan's chubby face wore a solemn expression.

The Lingxi Sect's foundation was deeper than this; they probably wouldn't just swallow this loss.

"Actually, not that many got away," Li Mo scratched his chin.

"Huh?"

"The Summoning Demons Cult people really did track us here. They just happened to run into the Lingxi Sect members impersonating them. As everyone knows, the Hundred Beasts Hall folks aren't the sharpest tools in the shed."

This was a scene witnessed by one of Li Mo's external incarnations moments ago.

An Inner World expert who had just escaped from the tiger's mouth (Li Mo) immediately ran into a Summoning Demons Cult disciple.

Qian Bufan was silent for a few seconds: "...To be that unlucky, I'd rather die than touch something like Evil Subduing Arts."

"Quite unlucky indeed."

Young Li nodded in deep agreement and summoned his Somersault Cloud.

The Lingxi Sect people knew a bit about him, but not enough.

They knew he had a four-layered inner world, but not the specific miraculous functions of his inner world phenomena. They knew his physique was strong, but not exactly how strong...

If the Lingxi Sect had taken a normal approach, he would have had to weigh his options carefully and truly find an opportunity to lay low for a while.

But instead, they started right off with a Mystic-Sealing Secret Array and Evil Subduing Arts that could help him temper his Profound Art...

Hmm?

Why does it always feel like the Lingxi Sect had already been fooled once before he even showed up?

The cloud carried the two away from the scene of the crime... ahem, the battle.

...

Not long after, Luo Yexian fought his way to this location. His eyes were bloodshot, his baleful aura surged, and his breathing was somewhat ragged.

He never expected it.

These bandits impersonating their Demonic Cult actually had reinforcements, seemingly endless, constantly rushing out.

The disciples of the Hundred Beasts Hall were all about the thrill of battle.

Even so, he had now killed until his arms were tired.

"Hall Master, what about Li Mo?"

"Oh no! I got so carried away with killing, I forgot about that!"

"Do you think killing this many bandits counts as meritorious service? Will the Great Yu issue us a super awesome 'Good Citizen' banner?"

"Would you dare accept it if they did?"