The bright sunlight, filtered through the car window screen, turned into shimmering gold reflected on my hair.
In the interplay of light and shadow, Ying Bing's bright eyes were tinged with a pale gold, sacred yet tinged with shyness, possessing an unreal and captivating charm, as if they had special effects.
Little Li's eyes were almost blinded by the light.
Why are you staring at me like that?
A strand of black hair unconsciously twirled around Ying Bing's fingertip.
"Saving the world in my past life isn't enough, I guess I have to save the world in this life too, otherwise I'll just be dreaming..."
Little Li the Gentleman's mind went blank, and he muttered to himself, his body slightly hunched over.
She looked up at the Ice Block for a few seconds, then looked down for a moment, questioning her existence, before looking up at her again.
Suddenly, his hand was gently lifted by the Ice Block, and then a delicate, warm touch came over him.
Li Mo was taken aback when he saw his hand being held by the Ice Block and placed on her beautiful face.
Ying Bing smiled slightly, looking brightly at the silly goose in front of her:
"Childish ghost."
"..."
Li Mo leaned back slightly, suddenly feeling like he couldn't breathe.
Like a first encounter, like a long-awaited reunion, like a beautiful dream shattered and then regained; from a bright and beautiful spring day to waking up to a sunny and breezy night, like sunlight flowing quietly, something rising with the wind, and life continuing even after the wind stops...
"Ice Block."
"Um?"
"After we pass through the Meridian Gate, shall we stay in the carriage?"
"Okay." Ying Bing nodded.
Li Mo was taken aback. "But I haven't explained why yet..."
"Then why?"
Looking into those bright, smiling eyes, Little Li completely forgot the serious lines he had just prepared, because his reasons inexplicably became weak and ineffective.
All right.
He eventually picked up a bad habit from Shang Wu —food possessiveness.
And it seems the student has surpassed the teacher...
The noise outside the window made it feel as if I were in the clouds during a downpour. Even though it was a sunny day, I could still feel the roar of the storm.
The Meridian Gate was used as the Dragon Gate, and light and shadow were projected onto the Map of Mountains and Rivers, representing the latest Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Ranking List.
The Hidden Dragon Ranking is also available today, but the Hidden Dragon Assembly is already over.
"I don't know about the Hidden Dragon Ranking..."
"What era are we living in? Still looking at the Hidden Dragon Ranking? What's so interesting Hidden Dragon Ranking it? Look at the Hundred Flowers Ranking!"
"For example, Young Hero Li's new nickname."
"Hiss... That's what I told my wife, and that's why she let me out today."
Among the crowd, deep in layers, several upright gentlemen exchanged greetings, their minds in agreement.
"The Divine Hammer, the Little Tyrant, and the Wife-Boosting Star—these three are not easy to remove, yet Young Hero Li has indeed risen to prominence in the capital, captivating all the beauties in the hall."
"Did you know at the scene that the sword that Young Hero Li borrowed that day, although its material remained the same, its Sword Qi greatly increased, becoming even sharper?"
"Yes, yes, yes, the best sword in our village seems to be almost imbued with sword intent!"
"Wouldn't that make him a benefactor to many swordsmen?"
"This is troublesome. It seems we'll have to add the swordsman's nickname too, but it would be a shame to remove any of his titles..."
"Hey, you guys forgot, he's still the owner of Wan Chunting and Wind and Moon Cottage. He's incredibly wealthy, how can we not add more?"
The people in the teahouse were intrigued, and their attention temporarily shifted from admiring the beauty of the flowers to the nickname of the number one Hidden Dragon.
From the outer city to the Meridian Gate of the Inner City, there are teahouses, restaurants, and canopies in that order.
Li Mo, who was holding Ice Block's hand in the carriage, also heard the discussions outside.
Hammer Treasure was making a huge fuss, so Li Mo had to divert his attention:
"I remember now, Tian Miao seems to have sent me a message."
"What did you say?"
"She said her master approved of giving me the nickname 'Sword Immortal'."
As he spoke, Li Mo glanced again at the Hidden Dragon Ranking hanging high above the Meridian Gate, his brows furrowed with anticipation.
"But today we must return the Heavenly Human Divine Sword."
Ying Bing's brows furrowed slightly.
"Ice Block, you're not trying to find a way to leave the divine sword behind, are you?" Li Mo chuckled.
Unexpectedly, Ying Bing looked at him coldly and nodded slightly.
Li Mo: "..."
No, Ice Block is actually considering this?
"The divine sword is in my hands, and it has already been put to its full potential."
Li Mo showed no sign of lingering attachment.
"That day, I used the divine sword to summon ten thousand swords into the sky. Now, thousands upon thousands of swordsmen owe me a debt of gratitude. No wonder Tian Miao said that my title of 'swordsman' is well-deserved."
Little Li the Swordsman remains true to his original aspirations.
He wields the sword because he yearns to display his divine power before the world. And now, in terms of displaying divine power, what can compare to the grand stage of the Hidden Dragon?
The divine sword has given him what he wanted.
"I wonder what name the Heaven Derivation Sect gave me?"
Little Li the Swordsman is a little excited.
After all he's sacrificed, it's finally time for his efforts to bear fruit...
At the same time, names flashed across the Hidden Dragon Ranking, reaching the top three, and when it reached the second, the crowd couldn't help but gasp and discuss.
The name "Cold Fairy" can be heard frequently from people's mouths.
After all, she is now officially ranked second on both lists.
"If you ask me, I wouldn't be surprised if she were number one on both lists."
"It will probably take a few more years to surpass the Empress on the Hundred Flowers Ranking, but the Hidden Dragon Ranking is hard to say. However, that's not important; there's nothing for them to compete for..."
"The top scorer has been announced!"
The next moment, dragons and phoenixes danced on the Meridian Gate, and the rosy clouds shone brightly. The visual effects of the "Map of Mountains and Rivers" were truly impressive, and the magnificent calligraphy also appeared:
[Hidden Dragon Ranking: Li Mo]
[Martial Arts: Nine Apertures of Divine Observation, his mastery of external martial arts is terrifying, comparable to Mystic Weapon; his hammer techniques are divine, and his swordsmanship is like being forged a thousand times; he can wield Heavenly Human Divine Sword, possibly due to the meticulous instruction of the Cold Fairy; his forging skills are also exceptionally gifted, his Divine Intent is unclear, yet it surpasses even his physical form.]
[Battle Record: Slayed Helian Wu, the former sixteenth-ranked member of the Hidden Dragons, a general with the potential to command hundreds of troops. He killed the former Imperial Preceptor amidst a vast army, dispelled the Blood God's phantom, and became a force to be reckoned with in the Southern Border. He defeated many renowned prodigies at the Hidden Dragon Assembly, including Xie Xuan, Ning Que, and Crown Prince Jiang Yu... His battle with Cold Fairy was likely against an audience member, therefore it is not counted...]
[Account: Wife-Promoting Little Tyrant, Group-Focused Swordsman.]
"The nickname has indeed been changed!!"
"The hammer's gone? Yeah, not many people have ever seen him wield it..."
"This new nickname, though novel, is quite fitting."
"Haha, Brother Li, you must have gotten what you wanted this time."
"Brother Li walks on thin ice in the path of the sword; he deserves all of this."
Huang Donglai, Xiao Qin, Murong Xiao, each looking at the Hidden Dragon Ranking from behind, all wore smiles of joy for their friend.
They all knew that Little Li had always harbored a deep desire to become a swordsman.
Now, it hangs high at the Hidden Dragon Ranking, shining brightly Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and its fame resounds throughout the four seas and eight directions. It is truly a testament to the hard work of those who have persevered.
They exchanged a glance, both understanding the meaning in each other's eyes.
My brother is the Hidden Dragon Ranking, I'm truly honored! And with Brother Li at the height of his fame, how can I not have prestige?
"The Swordsman of the Martial Clan!"
The three of them shouted in unison.
Immediately, others joined in the chorus of voices, and the power of collective opinion became undeniable.
"The Swordsman of the Martial Clan!"
Throughout the Imperial Capital city, both inside and outside, people chanted this name in unison. Golden rain fell from the sky, and this name would leave a profound mark on the annals of the Great Yu Dynasty...
They were completely unaware.
Despite the deafening roar of the surrounding mountains, the Bronze Chariot was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Xiao Li Jianhao's face was filled with disbelief, and his eyes were blank.
I never expected him to have sacrificed so much...
"What the hell is this Li Qun Swordsman?!"
"I'm supposed to be the Hibiscus Sword King?! This is ridiculous! (slams his fist on the ground)"