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

# Chapter 68: Junior Brother Li's Noble Character and Feedback: Mystical Weapon Embryo Ah, this. Seeing Li Mo's casual expression, Xiao Qin thought he was unaware of the item's value. "Junior Brother Li, this item is invaluable for those at the Observation State and even higher realms. It's an extremely rare treasure!" Thousand Forms Martial Lord: "....." If this thing were given to him, it would restore his spiritual soul to thirty percent of its peak state. His disciple was just too honest. Well, it's a good thing... If Xiao Qin had any character issues, he wouldn't have considered him his successor. Li Mo chuckled helplessly. These days, even giving someone a benefit requires mental gymnastics. Is gifting truly an art? "So, in the short term, this isn't of much use to me?" "That's right..." Xiao Qin paused, nodding in agreement. Li Mo continued, "So, do you want it?" "Naturally..." Xiao Qin nodded, bewildered. "Then the only value it holds for me right now is to help a friend, right?" "That's correct." Xiao Qin thought it over and realized Li Mo's reasoning was spot on, leaving him without a counter. Li Mo carried on with his gentle persuasion, "So, aren't we good friends?" "Absolutely!" Xiao Qin immediately replied earnestly. "Then there's no problem, is there? Take it." Li Mo, all smiles, handed over the Soul Nourishing Wood to him. Xiao Qin opened his mouth in surprise. Is... is that how this works? It felt odd, yet he couldn't pinpoint where the issue lay. Thousand Forms Martial Lord was equally bewildered. As someone who had grown wise with age, he could clearly see his disciple was being led by this young Li. However, in the two lifetimes he's lived, it was the first time he'd witnessed someone so deft at giving gifts through such tactics. You could call it a deception, but with such an altruistic twist, it was quite absurd. "Alright then. Xiao Qin, you can carve your own path to success in the future, and then such things won't seem so precious." "I'll go hand in the task now," Li Mo said, avoiding any further conversation, as if afraid Xiao Qin would return the gift, and then turned and left. "No wonder everyone in the sect says Junior Brother Li is noble and virtuous, almost like an ancient sage." "In comparison to him, who am I to call myself honest and straightforward?" Xiao Qin thought as he watched Li Mo's dashing figure fade into the distance, feeling a mix of emotions. He already felt indebted to him, and now even more so. But with Junior Brother Li's words, he found it impossible to refuse further, plus his master truly needed the item urgently. "Hmph, it seems you still think of this old man," came a grunt from his mind. "Master, I didn't mean anything else..." Xiao Qin replied awkwardly. "Alright, this old man knows your nature." "If you weren't trustworthy, I wouldn't dare entrust my life to you," said the Thousand Forms Martial Lord, without genuine anger. He then continued, "That Li boy is indeed someone worth befriending, and... he is quite extraordinary himself." "You should work harder and see if you can catch up to him." Xiao Qin was about to nod when he paused, astonished. Catch up to Junior Brother Li? He had recently rebuilt himself after expelling his old power and had just reached the peak of the twelve meridians in the Blood and Qi State. Could Junior Brother Li have condensed his internal breath already? Seeing the doubt in his foolish disciple’s mind, the Thousand Forms Martial Lord stated, "More extraordinary than you imagine." "While he hasn't condensed internal breath, his journey in the Blood and Qi State surpasses yours in length. The exact number of meridians he's opened is unknown to this old man, but it surely exceeds twelve." In the past, the Thousand Forms Martial Lord was a great power. Even now, though just a spiritual soul, his perception is exceptional. "More than twelve meridians?" Xiao Qin was shocked, touching on a significant knowledge gap. "For martial arts, you are still a frog in a well." "Nature gives everyone twelve primary meridians, but some are born with innate talents surpassing normalcy. In my prime, I possessed fifteen primary meridians, exceeding others in the same realm," the Thousand Forms Martial Lord said, his tone proud. As his words settled, a voice from the Outer Affairs Hall proclaimed, "Verification complete." "True Disciple Li Mo, for pursuing and killing a practitioner at the Inner Breath Condensation State, is rewarded five thousand contribution points!" The Inner Breath Condensation State! Xiao Qin's spirit soared, eyes wide in amazement. While he felt a smug satisfaction at nearing a breakthrough to the Inner Breath State, Junior Brother Li was already capable of defeating an Inner Breath practitioner? Astounding! "Hmm, just as expected, he is comparable to my younger self," the Thousand Forms Martial Lord stated solemnly. "It's no wonder Ying Bing still remains at the Blood and Qi State." "Then how can I ever hope to catch up to Junior Brother Li?" Xiao Qin felt a sudden sense of helplessness. Despite having a master's guidance, the gap only seemed to widen. "Hahaha... Talent is vital, but who says later efforts can't prevail before the end is reached?" The Thousand Forms Martial Lord's goal was to pressurize his disciple, not break his spirit. He continued, almost prophetically, "What I'm most proud of isn't the fifteen meridians, but the 'Thousand Forms Art'!" "When you reach the Observation State, you'll understand its profoundness." "Yes!" Xiao Qin clenched his fists, reignited by determination. If he couldn't even catch a glimpse of Junior Brother Li in the future, how could he repay him? --- Within the Outer Affairs Hall: "Blood and Qi defeating Internal Breath? Is this truly a true disciple?" "Ha, don't mistake Junior Brother Li's kindness for naivety." "Why is Brother Li so strong?" "Don't forget, his master is Elder Shang Wu." "Ah, that explains it." After exchanging pleasantries with a few acquaintances, Li Mo felt quite pleased. Not because of the recent five thousand contribution points he earned, but because of the notification from his system. [Congratulations to the host for successfully investing a piece of Soul Nourishing Wood in 'Xiao Qin'.] [Investment return: One Mystical Weapon Embryo.] [Mystical Weapon Embryo]: "Can generate a supreme mystical weapon similar to the template provided by the host." Li Mo, though reluctant to admit, had to acknowledge that he currently lacked a suitable hammer. With his current cultivation level, wielding a divine weapon was unattainable, let alone using one. Even if his physique was strong enough to harness worldly energy, it could only serve as a last resort. With this Mystical Weapon Embryo, he could use the Turmoil Sundering Meteor Hammer as a template and craft a 'replica.' "True Disciple Li, do you need to exchange something?" the Inner Door Affairs officer inquired, assuming Li Mo was considering his next exchange. "Yes," Li Mo nodded as he returned from his thoughts. "I need some exotic beast meat." "Oh?" The officer expressed surprise but then added, "Though not as potent as elixirs, exotic beast meat offers substantial benefits with no pill toxicity. It appears True Disciple Li is making very prudent decisions." "Do you need it for refining your Blood and Qi, enhancing your physique, or surpassing your current state?" "I just want something tasty." "?" 8book.com