66 - Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’

# Chapter 66: A Single Straw, Slicing Through Sun, Moon, and Stars! ## Li Mo: "What has she realized now?" In the midst of his confusion about how he was being defeated, Li Mo found himself back in his room. He carefully reviewed the notes he had just recorded, made a few refinements, and added his reflections. As he completed this task, four words echoed in his mind: "Skill approaches Dao." "For others, this might be an endless dead-end path." The night breeze gently flickered the candlelight reflected in Li Mo's eyes. After spending a significant amount of time with Princess Xiao Jiang and Bing Tuozi, he had come to understand deeply that those destined by the heavens possessed unparalleled talent, treading paths far from ordinary. The ordinary path was too lengthy. Yet, for someone like him, an 'ordinary person,' it was the only viable route. However, due to his martial comprehension, he had a shortcut that allowed him to rocket forward on this ordinary path. "In the future, any additional martial insights should be invested in swordsmanship.” Li Mo's mind was abuzz with thoughts. Hammer techniques remained the primary focus without question. Secondary foci would be body techniques, mental cultivation, and physical training. Only once he reached the pinnacle of these disciplines at his current level would he consider swordsmanship. Especially when the two heavenly ordained prodigies by his side were unparalleled geniuses in swordsmanship. Not learning it would simply be a waste. Besides, it wouldn't bode well for interactions if he continued to lag behind as a novice in swordsmanship. "Speaking of martial insights," he mused, "how many years have I accumulated at this point?" Li Mo checked: Martial Insights Available: 71 years. For hammer techniques, it was ample. For swordplay, it was insufficient. It was a story of mixed emotions. After some contemplation, Li Mo decided, "I'll cash them in for rewards first." Investing in Princess Xiao Jiang and the recent philosophical discussion with Ying Bing had both yielded rewards for him. He wasn't a swordsmanship prodigy; he was merely a conveyor of truths, making a small profit along the way... [Congratulations, Host, for engaging in Dao discussions with 'Ying Bing' and providing a summarized swordsmanship theory.] [Investment Feedback: 60 years of martial insights.] [Congratulations, Host, for aiding 'Jiang Chulong' in recovering her physical state and repairing her foundation.] [Investment Feedback: A bottle of Earth Vein Spirit Dew (ten thousand years).] **[Ten Thousand-Year Earth Vein Spirit Dew]: "Consuming a single drop can extend an ordinary person's life by twenty years, rendering them immune to all toxins, free from illness, and greatly enhancing their strength. It serves as an ingredient for longevity pills and is a superb elixir for purifying and refining vital energy."** Bing Tuozi consistently surprised him. Martial insights, when unlocked, amounted to a full sixty-year cycle. In the vast expanse of the nine heavens and ten lands, many ordinary people didn't live to see sixty years. Princess Xiao Jiang didn't disappoint either. Ten Thousand-Year Earth Vein Spirit Dew was unknown to Li Mo. It might have appeared in the Eastern Wastelands but rarely spread in public knowledge, a rarity indeed. After all, who wouldn't keep an elixir for extending life to themselves? Which reward was more precious? Li Mo believed, according to system definitions, they were about equal. Ying Bing's fate level was higher, but the recent discussion offered her limited benefit, serving as a marginal aid. Meanwhile, the elixir he invested in could restore Jiang Chulong's injuries and repair her foundation. Ten Thousand-Year Earth Vein Spirit Dew... "I was just troubled by the increasingly slow pace of condensing my meridians." "Normal Earth Vein Spirit Dew wasn't effective enough for me anymore." Li Mo hadn't anticipated that after the twenty-four meridians, condensing further would be exceedingly difficult. Even in constant harmony with nature, progress was still painstakingly slow. "This Profound Essence Celestial Body, if placed on anyone else, would be an abyss of challenge." "Breaking through to the Blood Qi Realm might take countless years." Li Mo opened the jade bottle, and the pure essence of the Earth Vein filled his senses. To avoid damaging the room, he ventured out into the dark night, arriving at a waterfall near the Autumn Water Pavilion. First, he dug a basin-sized pool, filled it with water, and added a single drop of Ten Thousand-Year Earth Vein Spirit Dew. He then took the bottle and sampled a sip. System-produced, it's undoubtedly top quality. 99% purity, a rarity indeed ~ External application with internal ingestion, its potency surged within him. "I hope my Inner Breath Stage lives up to this arduous task....." **The Next Day** Inside the World Seed. "The so-called swordsmanship encompasses three realms of mastery." "The first realm is sword skills and sword techniques....." Master Yuan Shi was delivering a lecture. Jiang Chulong still wore her tattered, washed garment. Her small face was now free of grime, and her gray eyes sparkled with admiration. Lord Tianzun's lectures were vivid and engaging, complete with animated visuals. "The second realm is holding no sword in hand, yet possessing one in the heart." "With sword qi in the chest and sword intent in mind, leveraging the momentum of heaven and earth, even a single straw can cleave the sun, moon, and stars!" The voice resonated powerfully, masking its authority with a calm demeanor. "A single straw cleaving the sun, moon, and stars?!" Jiang Chulong's little mouth slightly agape. Historical records state that the three suns in the sky, two of them were transformed from ancestors of the Yu dynasty emperors, including the founding Martial Emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty. These figures were invincible powers that suppressed their eras. Could they be cut down by a mere blade of grass? This... far surpassed her imagination. A soft chuckle came from the teacher, sensing her doubt. With a casual gesture, a blade of grass appeared between his fingers from nowhere. With a gentle flick, it unleashed endless sword qi, tearing the sky, shattering the cosmos, sweeping all into oblivion. The sword intent, qi, and momentum were imprinted in Jiang Chulong's gray-white eyes. Including something growing wildly in her mind like wild grass... "As for this third realm..." **One Incense Stick of Time Later** The Tianzun's swordsmanship class concluded. "I trust your comprehension should allow you to understand it all." "Mhm! Master is amazing...." Jiang Chulong clapped her little hands, her dirty face filled with adoration. She now realized that the things she couldn't previously name were called sword qi, sword momentum, sword intent? But... grass and wood slicing through stars? Even she hadn't imagined such feats! But since the teacher said it was possible, then it must be! Right now, she was simply too weak, her understanding of swordsmanship too shallow.... **Ziyang Prefecture City** "A single straw, slicing through the sun, moon, and stars!" In Mud Horn Alley, the words imbued with calm authority echoed in her ears. Jiang Chulong woke from her dreams, the sprawling sword qi seemingly lingering in her eyes. She once again smeared dirt on her face and tied a ragged cloth over her eyes. Picking up a dry branch from the ground, she began practicing in the courtyard. She had to become stronger... For her mother. And to not let her teacher down... **WOOSH—** Despite her frail arms holding a gnarled branch, her earnestness was genuine, and anyone who saw her might mistakenly think she was a little beggar idly playing. Yet, in the rundown courtyard, weeds and leaves began to move without any wind. **Qingyuan Sect** Li Mo pondered deeply while observing the martial reward just credited by the system. "Emmmmmm..." "What has she realized again?" "If I were to ask, would it make me, as Master Yuan Shi, seem less dignified?" "Hmm, perhaps I'll say it’s an assessment next time." Li Mo congratulated himself for his cleverness. Being this intermediary wasn't easy at all. And as such, Princess Xiao Jiang had raised more questions..... filling three sheets of notes. Just as Li Mo was searching the courtyard for Bing Tuozi, a woman peeked over the wall of the Autumn Water Pavilion, cautiously observing inside. "Master?" Who else but Shang Wu? "My dear apprentice, you're back? Lucky you found me first." "Staying here, do you have a death wish?!" Shang Wu whispered urgently, her almond-shaped eyes filled with caution. "Huh?" Li Mo was baffled. "No time to explain, Xiao Bing'er has recently taken a liking to cooking!" "Quick, follow me!" Shang Wu's urgency was palpable. Li Mo: "....." Can you guess when I came back? No wonder I haven't seen Master lately. So it seems, as the saying goes, one thing subdues another. Even the fearless Master has moments of trepidation.