At this moment, Young Li Mo was advancing through the tunnel leading deep into the fire vein, his expression grave.

Why am I having such thoughts?

What exactly has stolen my innocence?

As a righteous gentleman, how could I entertain such terrifying ideas—ones that even the Patriarch of the Joyous Union Sect would exclaim in awe?

Li Mo took out a Cold Spring Pill and swallowed it. While the pill could quell the physical heat, it did nothing to ease the torment of his conscience!

The Frost Fairy was pure and flawless, like unblemished jade. If she were to learn of the thoughts swirling in his mind, her gaze would no longer be merely scrutinizing—it might turn to... fear?

She might even shrink back, hugging her long legs tightly, curling into herself, begging him not to come closer...

"!"

"The influence of the Roaring Serpent bloodline on me has lasted far too long!"

"No wonder even the Buddha Sect's Master Zangai couldn't resist its allure—such a formidable bloodline..."

"But then again..."

As his thoughts churned, Li Mo recalled a joke from his past life.

God descended and said to a man, "I can grant you three wishes."

The man was overjoyed. "My first wish is immortality. My second wish is endless wealth."

God replied, "Done. I have fulfilled all your wishes."

The man was puzzled. "But that was only two?"

God said, "Look down."

And so, the moral of the story was clear—even God found his desires perfectly reasonable.

"Right, that's how it is."

Li Mo let out a relieved sigh and decided to shelve his bold idea for now. After all, while his Pure Yang robe was made of special material that could adapt to bodily changes without tearing...

The same couldn't be said for his pants.

Ahead lay the depths of the fire vein.

Li Mo took the opportunity to practice his use of the Heaven-Earth Manifestation technique, finding it somewhat similar to the Indestructible Vajra Body. His current physique couldn't sustain it indefinitely.

He could only use it intermittently, and after each activation, the cooldown period grew longer.

A short while later, footsteps echoed from the tunnel.

"Xiao Mo, have you broken through again?"

Elder Hanhe arrived, carrying an assortment of damaged weapons.

Some were broken blades from the Divine Edge Cave, while others were flawed castings from the smithing hall. Li Mo lacked a deep understanding of the essence of different weapons.

Thus, his daily task was to reforge these weapons.

"Seven Apertures of Insight... Tsk tsk, rarely does a craftsman possess such astonishing talent."

Elder Zeng, both amazed and pleased, wore a hopeful smile.

This was precisely why master smiths were so rare. Those with exceptional cultivation aptitudes usually focused solely on reaching higher realms—who would waste their time on forging weapons?

But a master smith required more than just unparalleled forging skills; their own cultivation was equally crucial.

A divine weapon often harnessed the power of heaven and earth.

"Begin. Now that your cultivation has improved, let's see if you can forge a top-grade weapon from these materials today."

"These aren't as precious as refined iron or gold—you'll need to maximize their potential."

Li Mo nodded. Under the watchful eyes of the two elders, he approached the pile of broken weapons and began sorting those with similar materials.

Would reforging these weapons over the next five days allow his Extreme Arms Forging Body to advance further?

Though he still couldn't wield the hammer treasure for extended periods, he now had the Heaven-Earth Manifestation technique.

Quieting his restless thoughts, he began melting down the damaged weapons.

Heat the furnace, pour in oil, stir-fry and forge.

Thirteen flawed weapons were reforged at once, their impurities purged.

Clang—

Li Mo gripped the hammer, his eyes narrowing slightly. Amidst the crisp ringing of metal, sparks flew as he struck the glowing iron on the ancestral anvil.

He activated the Divine Treasure Hundred Refinements technique—ten strikes in a single breath—before exhaling a long, scorching sigh.

The chaotic energy of the Heaven-Earth Manifestation silently coiled around his arm, a slow and deliberate process as Li Mo cautiously experimented with applying this divine ability to forging.

Lift, strike!

Another near-overlapping flurry of hammer blows!

But this time, only six strikes rang out.

"Didn't Xiao Mo's forging technique allow ten strikes per breath before?"

Elder Hanhe narrowed his eyes. "Why has he regressed after breaking through..."

"Something's off..."

Elder Zeng observed for a moment before murmuring, "Haven't you noticed? Each strike carries more force now."

"True. Could it be... he's trying to master this newfound strength?"

No sooner had Elder Hanhe spoken than—

Crack!

The metal on the anvil let out a grating shriek.

The once-dense weapon blank fractured with fine cracks—a sign of failure.

"Still lacking in control."

Li Mo shook his head but showed no discouragement. He began reforging the weapon anew, adjusting his approach, waiting for the Heaven-Earth Manifestation to cool, then starting over.

Remelt the materials, forge the blank—beginning with six strikes per breath.

Seven...

Eight...

Nine...

Ten!

Clang—

The rhythmic hammering sent sparks flying.

"It seems he's finally adapted to his increased strength."

"Impressive. It only took him two attempts to regain control of his body. Xiao Mo's physical and forging talents are truly once-in-a-lifetime."

Before the two elders could finish their praise—

Boom—

An even heavier metallic clang reverberated endlessly through the cavern.

"Huh?"

Elder Hanhe and Elder Zeng exchanged stunned glances.

How had his strength increased again?

The boy hadn't broken through another realm!

"Slowly increasing the infusion of chaotic energy..."

Li Mo's right arm was now visibly thicker than a normal person's, pulsing with even greater power.

Indeed, he hadn't fully unleashed the Heaven-Earth Manifestation yet.

Instead, after improving his control, he raised its power another level.

Time passed.

The two elders watching from the side were utterly dumbfounded.

A large pile of ruined weapon blanks had accumulated.

Because every time Li Mo mastered ten strikes per breath, his strength would surge to yet another tier.

Physical growth was supposed to be a gradual process.

What they were witnessing was no different from watching a seed sprout, bloom, and bear fruit the moment it touched the ground.

And stranger still...

"Why is only one of his arms growing stronger?"

Finally.

In the timeless cavern, Li Mo's ears seemed to roar with the sound of surging blood and energy. He could feel the violent power coursing through that arm—

But unlike before, this strength now answered to his will.

"I've reached the limit."

"This state can't be maintained for long."

Li Mo opened his eyes, his gaze reflecting the blazing glow of fire and iron.

"Today, I only have one chance."