Little Li's Birthday Gift

Inside the room on New Year's Eve.

Li Mo looked up at the night sky, his eyes illuminated by the dazzling fireworks. Judging from the moon's position, it was not yet midnight.

But this world doesn't prohibit fireworks and firecrackers. The sky is ablaze with dazzling lights, and the dense noise makes it impossible to hear your own voice.

"You've already lived two lives, why bother celebrating your birthday?"

Little Li was about to turn a year older, shook his head and his mind sank into the World Seed.

The world fell silent for a moment.

The tranquil Small World has been transformed into the image of the immortal sect in Li Mo's mind, full of beautiful, ethereal and transcendent wonders, standing tall under the serene moon.

It was as if it had transcended the mundane world, isolated from all the noise and clamor.

The Teacher Heavenly Venerable sat down again in his Yin-Yang Dojo and took out the Empty-Bright Myriad-Color Pagoda.

"The Power of All Living Beings within the Eight-Armed Bodhisattva Statue has been almost completely purified."

"Twelve layers can manifest two Extreme Form, but the Great Dao Divine Form requires thirty-six layers... that's only one-third."

Li Mo wasn't in a hurry.

At least the Southern Border continues to provide him with the Power of All Living Beings, and on New Year's Day, the amount is especially generous.

In the short term, the Power of All Living Beings over there will not be a problem and should be enough to fill the Empty-Bright Myriad-Color Pagoda.

Furthermore, he only barely surpassed the Innate Golden Crow.

Is he Great Sage Projection of the Great Sage at his peak?

The difference is probably not small.

"Teacher, Happy New Year... Happy New Year!"

As she was pondering, Jiang Chulong entered the World Seed. She was wearing a new outfit today, which she had bought in Yun Province back then.

He was also carrying a food box and a small bundle.

"You haven't eaten yet?"

"I... I ate it. This... it's for the teacher."

Jiang Chulong opened the food box, which contained dumplings that looked rather clumsy.

Her little hands were clasped together, and she stammered:

"I... this is my first time learning to make dumplings... they don't look very good..."

"I'll eat well. Oh, and what about this?"

The Teacher Heavenly Venerable was quite curious about that joke.

"That's for Big Brother Li..."

Jiang Chulong, clutching her bundle, spoke clearly, her head bowed:

"Big Brother Li said his birthday is on New Year's Eve, but everyone else is celebrating the New Year, so Big Brother Li won't get a birthday present."

"Teacher, could you please give this birthday present to him for me?"

The small bundle was opened, revealing a belt inside. It was exquisitely crafted, embroidered with flowers, birds, insects, and fish, showing the care and attention put into the embroidery.

"!"

Little Li Heavenly Venerable leaned back slightly.

Chulong, I'm really... I'm crying my eyes out.

Princess Little Jiang not only remembers his birthday, but may have even started preparing for it long ago?

I didn't even visit her and the little ones in Mud Horn Alley during the Chinese New Year...

He gently rubbed Princess Little Jiang's head and whispered:

"Well, actually, Big Brother Li also has a gift for you."

"What?"

Jiang Chulong's eyes, hidden behind the cloth strip, immediately lit up.

He also asked me to wish you a Happy New Year.

Li Mo found some red cloth in the System Space and wrapped silver notes inside.

Seeing Princess Little Jiang carefully stuff the red envelope into her bosom, even patting it gently as if afraid of dropping it, Li Mo felt a pang of heartache.

It was just a spur-of-the-moment idea, but Princess Little Jiang took it so seriously.

Hmm, I'll make sure to get her a proper New Year's gift later...

So, having received the gift, Princess Little Jiang began her arduous training again tonight, appearing even more focused than usual.

Within an hour, he challenged the Golden Crow Projection three times.

And!

In the final stretch, seizing a slim opportunity, they finally found a flaw in the Golden Crow Projection and were just a hair's breadth away from victory.

"Once Chulong breaks through the Divine Observation, she'll definitely be able to climb the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

The Teacher Heavenly Venerable murmured to himself, a sense of pride welling up within him.

It's like a seed I accidentally picked up, which has now blossomed, borne fruit, and grown freely.

But it's the Lunar New Year.

Why has Princess Little Jiang suddenly become so extra hardworking lately?

Too much of a good thing can be bad. Teacher Heavenly Venerable felt that she was holding herself too tightly; she needed to find a balance...

That's what I was thinking.

Suddenly, a disturbance came from the outside world.

Little Li's Will Soul was still in his Small World. Li Dalong and his wife, who had just finished distributing rewards to the servants in the mansion, had just finished cleaning up the kitchen and came out.

Given that the previous inmate, Xiao Li, had been spouting nonsense, the couple exchanged a glance and simultaneously understood the meaning in each other's eyes.

"Oh, by the way, my son's birthday is today."

"Let the kitchen make a bowl of noodles, and while you're at it... let's go check on him?"

"Well, he'd better stay in his own room."

Not long after, Li Dalong and Gu Xueqin, who was carrying a bowl of noodles, arrived at Little Li's room.

Sometimes, it's just that coincidental.

The couple bumped right into an Ice Block.

Good news, the culprit has been caught.

Bad news, this time it's not Xiao Li.

"Little Bing?"

"..."

Ying Bing was still wearing that white cat-patterned fur hat, carrying a large box in her arms. The night sky, ablaze with the colors of fireworks, tinged her face with a smoky hue.

She paused, her eyelashes fluttered, and after a moment's hesitation, she pretended nothing had happened and said earnestly:

"I... I went into the wrong room."

"..."

Gu Xueqin paused, seemingly recalling some memories, and looked at her husband beside her.

Back then, she returned home from out of town and traveled with Li Dalong, who was still young at the time. They stayed at a restaurant together that night.

At that time, the two had already developed feelings for each other, but they hadn't confessed their feelings yet, so they were staying in separate rooms.

As a result, in the middle of the night, Comrade Li, half-asleep, entered her room, reeking of alcohol.

The next morning, he said he was drunk and went to the wrong room...

Sensing his wife's narrowed eyes, Li Dalong coughed heavily:

"Oh, Little Bing, you've come to celebrate Xiao Mo's birthday too? Then please take this bowl of noodles in."

"I haven't set off the firecrackers I bought yet, or I'll miss them."

"?"

Ying Bing watched Li Dalong leave, and Gu Xueqin follow him, before her gaze finally settled on the bowl of noodles.

Li Mo lay on the bed, his Will Soul entering the World Seed.

But he couldn't possibly be unaware of the commotion outside; he had already sensed it when the Ice Block at the door bumped into his parents.

He had already opened his eyes.

I had just sat up when the door was opened with a click.

"Ice Block? You thought I wouldn't come looking for you today, so you came by yourself? Actually, I was just about to..."

"It's not dual cultivation."

"Huh?" Li Mo was taken aback.

"Happy birthday."

Ying Bing put down the noodles and opened the box in her arms.

There were many things inside: a spinning top, a tangram puzzle, marbles...

There was also a small wooden sword, still carrying the fresh scent of wood, clearly recently made.

If we were to count them...

There were exactly seventeen gifts.

She is the same age as Little Li.