Wudao Peak

Night.

Li Mo arrived at the main hall of the Cultivation Hall.

He didn't see Uncle-Master Ding Wei among the disciples on duty this time, so he handed his mission token to an unfamiliar Uncle-Master.

"Very good, a total of ten points of sect contribution have been recorded under your name. This is your Spirit Stone reward from last month."

"Thank you, Uncle-Master."

Even though it was only one Spirit Stone as a reward, Li Mo accepted it with a look of joy.

Back in his dorm, Li Mo opened his storage bag and looked at the eleven Spirit Stones inside. He hesitated, wondering whether to use these Spirit Stones to cultivate and improve his cultivation.

After a long period of hesitation, Li Mo gave up the idea.

Firstly, after circulating the Greater Heavenly Cycle through the Misty Dreamscape, his cultivation speed had already surpassed that of many disciples at the same level. He had now reached the late stage of Qi Refining second layer.

At most, in about a month, he would reach Qi Refining third layer. There were no assessments in the near future, so he wasn't in a hurry to rapidly improve his cultivation realm.

Secondly, he had other important uses for these Spirit Stones.

Even purchasing a low-grade alchemy furnace would cost at least dozens of Spirit Stones.

Furthermore, if he wanted to master low-level lightning-attribute spells now, he could spend Spirit Stones to learn from senior disciples in the Cultivation Hall, or buy magical artifacts. Traveling to various places by flying boat also required Spirit Stones. There were expenses everywhere.

To him, the two Spirit Stones he had consumed during his previous cultivation were simply too extravagant.

"I have to face the problem of making money again."

Li Mo once thought he had already regarded money as dirt.

Looking back now, he had simply not broadened his horizons during his time in Eighteen Mountains.

So, he planned to find a senior disciple in the Cultivation Hall tomorrow to learn a low-level, beginner lightning-attribute spell.

At this moment.

Li Mo couldn't help but think of another question.

Why would Deputy Hall Master Qin Yue of the Treasure Gathering Hall act like this?

"Was it intentional, a deliberate attempt to win over rogue disciples?"

After thinking back and forth for a long time, Li Mo couldn't figure it out and gradually fell asleep without realizing it.

That night, he entered the Misty Dreamscape again. The dreamscape still exuded an ancient and desolate aura, with no significant changes.

After circulating the Greater Heavenly Cycle three times in the dream, Li Mo's Magical Power increased significantly. He then woke up leisurely, yawned, and opened the wooden window. The morning sunlight shone on his face, making him feel warm. Just then, Ma Ling was outside.

"Good morning, Li Mo!"

"Good morning."

Li Mo glanced at the time; it was already the hour of the morning. After a quick wash, he opened his door.

"Let's go, we'll collect our duty tasks together."

"Huh?"

Li Mo was surprised for a moment, then followed Ma Ling to the hall.

Niu Li and Yang Guang were already waiting there. Seeing Li Mo and Ma Ling arrive, they waved and greeted them.

The four of them gathered together.

Niu Li chuckled, "Li Mo, last month you went on duty every night while the three of us practiced martial arts. Ma Ling kept complaining it was boring and said it would be better if you were here. So this time, we'll collect our duty tasks with you. Ouch!"

Ma Ling's chubby hand patted Niu Li on the back, and he paid the price for his loose tongue.

Yang Guang explained, "I heard from the senior disciples that if we collect our daily duty tasks at the same time, there's a high chance we'll be assigned to the same group."

Li Mo couldn't help but recall last month's daily duty task, where he was almost caught in the conflict between two acting sect leaders. He still felt a lingering fear.

If he could carry out tasks with a few friends, looking out for each other, it would be a good option.

So, he, Ma Ling, Niu Li, and Yang Guang collected this month's daily duty tasks together, and then the four of them gathered again.

Ma Ling looked at everyone, seeming a little apprehensive.

"My task is in the Cultivation Hall's kitchen, responsible for carrying water. What about you guys?"

Niu Li's face lit up with surprise.

"My task is also in the Cultivation Hall's kitchen, but I'm responsible for chopping wood!"

Yang Guang continued, "Me too! But I'm responsible for organizing the plates."

Finally, it was Li Mo's turn. The three of them looked at him.

Li Mo held his token and said, "It seems there's some truth to this. My task is also in the Cultivation Hall's kitchen, but I'm responsible for cooking."

"Haha!"

The four of them looked at each other and smiled.

Glancing at the time, the four of them arrived at the kitchen in advance.

This time's task was divided into two periods: the morning hour of巳 and the afternoon hour of You Time.

Although the workload of the task was greater, the time allotted for it was shorter. This made Li Mo understand why the meals on Qingming Mountain were simple.

Firstly, the cultivators on the mountain did not seek gratification of the palate. Secondly, the disciples responsible for the rotating tasks had varying levels of skill.

Only with simple fare could the taste be uniform.

After the four of them arrived at the kitchen, more than a dozen others trickled in.

One senior disciple, who seemed to be in charge, directed everyone.

"Those carrying water, stand over there. Those carrying firewood, stand here. Those washing dishes..."

After everyone took their positions in an orderly fashion, Li Mo was surprised to find that Zhang Guoyin had also come to his side.

"Uncle Zhang, you're also responsible for cooking?"

"Ah, Li Mo, it seems we'll be performing the rotating duty together this month."

Zhang Guoyin stood beside Li Mo, chuckling. There were four people in total responsible for the cooking task this time: besides Li Mo and Zhang Guoyin, there was also one male and one female disciple.

The kitchen manager was assigning tasks to the disciples responsible for chopping wood and carrying water, so the four-person cooking team introduced themselves and got acquainted.

After Li Mo and Zhang Guoyin finished their introductions, the only female disciple began hers.

"Hello everyone, my name is Lü Cuicui. This is my first time performing the cooking duty, so please give me your guidance."

"Huh?"

The last male disciple let out a soft exclamation.

"My name is Zhao Dongpu. If it's just simple meals, I have no problem. You're Lü Cuicui, are you perhaps from the Lü Family, one of the four great families?"

Hearing this, Li Mo couldn't help but think of Lü Ci and Lü Song from the Treasure Gathering Hall, and his expression changed slightly.

Lü Cuicui nodded in acknowledgment.

"Yes, I know many rogue disciples have opinions about us disciples from the great families. However, please don't misunderstand. Our Lü Family has always led by example, dedicating ourselves to the Lingmu Sect, and has never engaged in favoritism or sought personal gain."

Li Mo quietly observed the girl named Lü Cuicui.

She wore her hair in a double flat bun, with willow-leaf eyebrows, bright, expressive eyes, and rosy lips on a jade-like face. She possessed a refined and attractive appearance, like a young lady from a good family, and wore an inconspicuous green crane cloak.

When discussing the Lü Family, her expression was particularly earnest, as if she intended to set an example. She seemed quite pure.

Seeing this, the other three didn't say much more.

Then came the busy part.

It had to be said, simple meals were indeed easy to prepare. One only needed to lightly rinse the coarse grains, put them in water, add some coarse salt, and wait for the water to boil. Then, the meal was ready.

Next were the tea and vegetables, which were also boiled, requiring no special skill.

However, because they had to prepare meals for hundreds of people, it was a physically demanding task that the elderly Zhang Guoyin found difficult to endure.

"Let me do it!"

Li Mo, due to his martial arts training, had excellent stamina and voluntarily took over Zhang Guoyin's task of cooking the vegetables.

"This... I'm truly grateful."

Zhang Guoyin sighed, then turned to Li Mo, expressing his sincere gratitude.

Seeing this, Lü Cuicui looked surprised.

"Li Mo, have you practiced martial arts before?"

Zhao Dongpu, who was boiling tea and tending the fire, also looked towards Li Mo upon hearing this.

Li Mo nodded in acknowledgment, but he didn't sense any martial aura from Lü Cuicui, which made him frown slightly.

"Yes, do you practice martial arts too?"

Lü Cuicui did not hide anything and explained with a smile.

"I don't, but some people among the disciples of the great families, unable to cultivate before reaching adulthood, and many of them not interested in learning alchemy, talisman crafting, artifact refining, Puppet Technique, or rune formations, are required by their elders to practice martial arts. This serves to strengthen their bodies and allows them to apply what they learn."

Her explanation confirmed some of the information Li Mo had heard before.

"My elders say that mastering a decent set of martial arts not only allows one to achieve relatively better results in the year-end assessments of the first two years in the Advancement Hall, but if basic martial arts can be cultivated to great mastery, it will also be greatly beneficial for future cultivation."

Li Mo suddenly had an idea.

He remembered that after he cultivated the Three-Way Swordplay to great mastery in Anle City, his spiritual sense had suddenly improved significantly, and even his perception of spiritual energy had slightly increased.

Could this be the "great benefit" she spoke of?

After the hour of Si Shi (9-11 AM), breakfast ended.

Those who had been busy in the kitchen for an hour could finally rest.

Ma Ling, Niu Li, Yang Guang, and Li Mo gathered again, exhaustion evident on each of their faces.

"Go practice martial arts?"

"Let's go!"

Li Mo and the other three went to a secluded spot near Wudao Peak in the back mountains to practice martial arts. They trained vigorously for over half an hour before parting ways, feeling thoroughly satisfied.

Ma Ling invited Li Mo to the Divine Tree Plaza to see the spirit birds, but Li Mo declined, stating he needed to study lightning techniques.

The back mountain of Wudao Peak is divided into three parts.

One is the main peak of Wudao Peak, which is where the disciples of Qi Refining cultivate their spells.

One is the numerous branch peaks of Wudao Peak, serving as places for Foundation Establishment cultivators of the sect to establish their private cave dwellings.

The last is the so-called back mountain, a continuous range of beautiful scenery that encircles Qingming Mountain and Wudao Peak. It is said to be occupied by the Jindan Hall Master and Jindan Offering of the Lingmu Sect.

After Li Mo had walked around Wudao Peak alone, he was about to head towards the further study hall when he saw his new friend Lü Cuicui studying something by herself. He immediately showed curiosity and walked over to greet her.

"Fairy Lü, what are you doing here?"

Upon hearing Li Mo, Lü Cuicui was relieved to see it was him.

"Oh, it's you. I thought it was my brother, you scared me. If he saw the puppet I made, he'd definitely laugh at me."

"Puppet?"

Li Mo became even more curious.

He moved closer and saw a crude, ugly wooden object doing somersaults on the ground.

"Is this Puppet Technique?"

Li Mo could hardly believe his eyes.

The thing in front of him looked truly hideous, like a broken stool with a head attached and carrying a turtle shell. However, it could move according to Lü Cuicui's instructions, which was indeed somewhat magical.

Lü Cuicui's small face flushed, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"You've seen something unsightly."

Li Mo realized his gaffe and quickly waved his hands, fearing misunderstanding.

"No, no, Fairy, you misunderstand. This is my first time seeing Puppet Technique, and I find it very magical, truly magical."

Lü Cuicui was slightly taken aback.

"Aren't there many Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse below the mountain?"

"Ah?"

It was only through Lü Cuicui's explanation that Li Mo understood. The Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse that were everywhere in Anle City had actually evolved from Puppet Technique. He quickly explained that he grew up in a small town and had never seen Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse before.

"So that's how it is."

Lü Cuicui mused.

"I heard the farmers below the mountain work very hard, as do the workers in the ore mountains. If Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse could replace them in their labor, they wouldn't have to work so hard."

According to Li Mo, many of the rich prefectures and counties in Gan State had already achieved what Lü Cuicui described.

"It's a pity that although our Lingmu Sect is also skilled in puppet making, we are not the best in Gan State. The puppets of Shenji Sect and Puppet Sect are truly peerless. Additionally, Zai Zao Sect of Lu Country and the Myriad Bone Sect of Ling Country are also extremely proficient in Puppet Technique."

Li Mo's heart stirred upon hearing this.

He knew that Gan State had twelve major sects. Not to mention the Tu Xing Sect, which betrayed them a hundred years ago, he already knew of Lingmu Sect, Sacred Cauldron Gate, and Heavenly Talisman Sect. Now he had heard of Shenji Sect and Puppet Sect. He still didn't know what the remaining seven major sects were.

This Lü Cuicui had good intentions, so he could inquire with her.