Li Mo: "Am I That Awesome", "The Empress Returns"

Today's combat training session came to an end.

But according to the master's instructions, it would continue tomorrow.

"We're fighting again tomorrow?"

Li Mo walked into the kitchen with a dazed look in his eyes.

This life was unbearable.

"Using the power of the World Seed really takes too much of a toll..."

"Wait, my inner energy?"

Just as he lit the fire to start cooking, Li Mo noticed a change in his body.

His inner energy had actually grown slightly stronger than before the fight.

And yet, all he had done was get beaten up.

"Starting to see the benefits, aren't you?"

"Hmph, most people aren’t even qualified to get beaten by me."

Shang Wu's lazy voice drifted over as she leaned against the doorframe, hands clasped behind her back, back to her usual carefree demeanor.

Li Mo pondered.

Domain?

So the beautiful master hadn’t unleashed her domain without reason.

Having consumed Earth Vein Spirit Milk for so long, traces of its essence had inevitably lingered in his body, unabsorbed.

His master’s domain must have accelerated the refinement of that residual energy.

Moreover, his body felt more at ease than ever, and the sharp, weapon-like aura hidden within had been tempered and smoothed.

It was almost like...

Li Mo’s mind flashed to the image of the Monkey King leaping into the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

"Thank you, Master."

"I’ll treat you to some good wine tonight—really, really good wine."

Li Mo expressed his gratitude sincerely.

"At least you’ve got some conscience."

The beautiful master snorted lightly.

Her hands, hidden behind her back in her sleeves, loosened their grip on the rolling pin.

"Huh? Where’s my rolling pin? That’s strange..."

Young Li was puzzled.

He had planned to make dumplings tonight.

After some busy work, dinner at the Autumn Water Pavilion was finally served.

True to his word, Li Mo brought out the fine wine he had promised.

Immortal’s Drunkenness.

It was one of only two rewards the system had ever dropped in the liquor category—likely the best of its kind.

"You actually have something this good!"

"I knew you were my best, most obedient disciple."

Shang Wu hugged the wine jar, her delicate nose twitching as she took in the aroma. Just a couple of whiffs left her face flushed with intoxication.

With a blissful smile, she declared:

"Tonight, I’ll teach you the second of my master’s signature skills—Drinking a Thousand Cups Without Getting Drunk!"

"......"

Li Mo wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to learn that.

Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned:

"Finally decided to come down... Are you alright?"

"I’m fine."

Ying Bing shook her head, her eyes flickering with unreadable emotions. Her face was as pale as before her meridians had been opened, and her voice was slightly hoarse.

Li Mo poured her some tea, his expression thoughtful.

This was unusual. Too unusual.

The Ice Block was his top investor—she absolutely couldn’t afford to have anything happen to her.

But if she wouldn’t say anything, how could he...

Wait.

I have cheats. Why am I guessing blindly?

Heaven’s Mandate Divine Eye—activate!

[Name: Ying Bing]

[Age: 16]

[Constitution: Lunar Phoenix Body of Supreme Yin]

[Cultivation: Inner Energy Condensation Realm]

[Destiny: Crimson (Bears the Emperor’s Bone, with Profound Ice as her fate and Autumn Water as her spirit. Possesses the bearing of a Heavenly Phoenix.)]

[Evaluation: A life fraught with trials, yet always overcoming adversity. Though her wings are still tender, when the winds of change come, she will soar above the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, reigning over all directions as the Phoenix.]

[Recent Events: Foresaw an existence she could not overcome, leaving her unable to accept her own defeat. Her heart is flawed, and she now doubts the path she has steadfastly pursued.

Supreme Yin energy has run out of control, deeply entrenched in every part of her body, leaving her in a weakened state.]

Li Mo: "??"

Made the Ice Block feel defeated?

Whose general is this, to be so formidable?

"You... are much stronger than yesterday."

Ying Bing’s voice, faint and weak, reached him.

"Me?"

Li Mo pointed at himself, momentarily stunned.

"Yes."

"Aside from your divine weapon, your inner energy is also... unusual."

Ying Bing sat at the stone table, her figure looking almost frail.

Her heart was truly in turmoil.

The system’s demands had been unexpectedly harsh.

But these weren’t the real reasons for her state.

The most important factor was last night’s dream—a return to the Nether Abyss.

She had begun to doubt her path, the one conviction she had held onto.

She wondered if she was still undergoing tribulations on the Immortal Ascension Road, never truly reborn...

She truly couldn’t tell anymore.

"...Me?"

Li Mo was at a loss for words.

The one who had made the Ice Block doubt herself... was him?

Well, this was awkward.

"No way." Li Mo instinctively waved his hands in denial.

Ying Bing remained silent.

Shang Wu, after a moment of serious contemplation, remarked:

"My dear disciple, you’re actually quite strong, you know."

"If I suppressed myself to the same realm as you, it’d be about fifty-fifty. In a life-or-death fight, you’d have the upper hand—seventy-thirty odds."

Coming from the Qingyuan Sect’s undisputed combat maniac, this recognition carried weight.

Li Mo was stunned.

In his past life, he had been content with mediocrity, long resigned to his ordinariness.

What else could he do? The internet was full of twenty-four-year-olds driving Porsches and fourteen-year-olds admitted to Tsinghua—it made him feel like an NPC just filling space in the world.

But now...

In such a short time, the changes in him were almost too much.

So much that even he found it hard to recognize himself.

Just moments ago, he had thought:

If it’s just a temporary setback, there’s no need to doubt yourself, much less your entire existence.

For a chosen one like the Ice Block, this was just a minor trial...

But then again, wasn’t that just projecting his own perspective?

If even he struggled to accept sudden success, maybe he could understand Ying Bing’s turmoil. After all, beneath her icy exterior, she was proud and solitary to the bone...

"This wine... mmm."

Shang Wu’s cheeks flushed red. She was getting drunk unusually fast tonight, giggling to herself as she mumbled:

"Reminds me of when I used to wander the martial world. There were storytellers in the taverns... spinning tales of strange happenings and legends."

"The stories were fun, but they always exaggerated and twisted the truth."

At this, Shang Wu clenched her fist and slammed the table.

Hearing this, Li Mo’s eyes lit up.

Storytelling...

"Hey, dear disciple, have you ever listened to storytellers?"

Shang Wu propped her chin on one hand, tilting her head as she asked.

Had he ever?

Li Mo’s lips curled into a mysterious smile. "I’ve heard quite a few—and I know plenty you’ve never heard before."

"Bragging."

Shang Wu scoffed. The books she’d read outnumbered the paper he’d ever used.

Seeing her disbelief, Li Mo glanced at Ying Bing and cleared his throat:

"Don’t believe me? Then let me tell you one."

"Go on."

Shang Wu egged him on.

Though still lost in thought, Ying Bing was somewhat intrigued.

Given his extraordinary inheritance, perhaps he knew some long-lost secrets or ancient texts?

Thud!

Li Mo slapped the table, imitating the dramatic flair of a storyteller striking his gavel:

"Fair ladies and honored guests."

"My throat is parched—how can I spin tales without a drink?"

Li Mo had always had a flair for the dramatic.

By now, Shang Wu and Ying Bing were used to his antics.

"Oho, getting into character, aren’t we?"

"Tell it well, and there’ll be a reward."

Shang Wu giggled as she poured him a cup of Immortal’s Drunkenness.

Li Mo took a sip and immediately felt warmth spread through his body. His mind sharpened, ideas flowing effortlessly.

The novels from his past life were quite different from the storytelling traditions of this world.

However, none of this could stump him.

A little editing and polishing would suffice.

Moreover, considering the audience—after all, young women do enjoy a touch of romance in their tales...

"Today, the story I shall tell is called The Return of the Empress."

Ying Bing: "?"

Shang Wu: "Interesting."

Li Mo's clear voice resonated:

"This tale also comes with a short verse."

"In the Valley of Desolation, the cold wind blows,

The Cicada of Ages sings, the maiden... returns!"

...