"Top three in the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"

The owner of a certain Happy Sheep Hotpot shop adjusted his sunglasses and sat in a corner, pretending not to care about anything while secretly perking up his ears.

Let’s be honest—when you take someone’s gifts, your hands feel soft; when you eat someone’s food, your mouth feels short.

After mooching meals at the Autumn Water Pavilion for so many days, could Tian Miao still call himself the "Divine Hammer Little Tyrant" with a straight face?

"Li... Li Big Bro?"

Just as Li Mo was about to listen closely to the gossip from those wandering warriors, he heard someone calling him from behind. Princess Jiang Chulong stood there with a towel draped over her shoulder and a menu in hand, clearly ready to take orders.

"You... What brings you here?"

"Here, do you like it?"

Li Mo pulled out another pair of sunglasses from his pocket.

Though the sunglasses were small, their materials were anything but ordinary. The frames were forged from frost silver and crimson copper, refined through divine smelting techniques, while the lenses were sourced from his master.

Well, among the shattered divine statues his master had broken, a few had eyes inlaid with premium black jade. The lenses even bore mysterious inscriptions carved by some unknown method, each with different effects.

In the end, one pair—designed to enhance dignity and presence—was meant for Princess Jiang Chulong.

"Wow! I..."

Jiang Chulong was overjoyed, her lips parting to let out a delighted squeal, but Li Mo raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to keep it down.

Grinning, she took the glasses and put them on, mimicking Li Mo’s cool demeanor.

"How... How do I look?"

"Full of spirit!"

"R-Really?"

"Yep. From now on, even if you’re too shy to meet someone’s gaze, no one will know where you’re looking behind these shades. And if anyone dares to glare at you, just plant your hands on your hips!"

Seeing the timid little Jiang suddenly looking so badass, Li Mo couldn’t help but chuckle. He then demonstratively struck a pose with his hands on his hips.

Princess Jiang followed suit.

At that moment, the wandering warriors who had been chatting and drinking turned around to call for more wine—only to see the now ultra-cool Princess Jiang and Li Mo standing there, looking like they owned the place.

And... the gaze behind those lenses seemed to be fixed on them.

As if saying, "The hell you lookin’ at?"

"!"

Would you still ask a waiter to take your order if they were wearing sunglasses and striking a pose?

The man silently turned back around, his bravado deflated.

"...These sunglasses might be a little too effective. They just shut the customers up."

"Li Big Bro, what were you listening to?"

"The Hidden Dragon Ranking. We’re heading to the imperial capital soon—gotta know who we’re up against."

Li Mo spoke with utmost seriousness, as if it had nothing to do with hammers or whatever.

"Li Big Bro... You’re so meticulous."

Jiang Chulong thought for a moment, then added, "But let’s wait a bit longer. The storyteller will be here soon."

Though the Hidden Dragon Ranking was posted in many places, hearing it narrated by a storyteller was far more entertaining.

"Chulong, do you want to go to the imperial capital?"

"I... I’m not sure yet..."

A short while later, a long-robed storyteller entered the hotpot shop, greeting the crowd with a cupped fist before taking a sip of tea and slapping his wooden gavel.

"Hm?"

Li Mo studied the man. There was something oddly familiar about him, even though he was sure they’d never met.

"Thank you all for your kindness. This old man is just here to earn a humble living. As usual, the Hidden Dragon Ranking lists a hundred names—covering them all would take three days and nights, so I’ll focus on the noteworthy ones."

The storyteller unfurled a scroll of the Hidden Dragon Ranking and hung it on a pillar, pointing at the names.

"Take Huang Donglai at the bottom of the list—no need to waste words on such a nobody."

"?"

Li Mo didn’t even need his Divine Eye of Fate to confirm it now.

The "storyteller" was Huang Donglai in disguise!

The "Flying Poison Two-Faced Turtle" had picked up yet another side gig. Might as well call him the "Jack of All Trades Master" at this point.

"But the real highlight is the long-missing little princess of the Great Yu Dynasty, who has debuted on the ranking at an impressive 48th place!"

"Moreover, the ranking speaks highly of her, mentioning her innate Sword Bone and her mother—Shi Sujun, the Sword Sovereign of thirty years ago, who topped the Hidden Dragon Ranking and ranked second on the Heaven Ranking."

"However, it seems she has since lost that Sword Bone."

As the man prattled on, Li Mo, sitting in the corner, fell into deep thought behind his sunglasses.

Princess Jiang had made the list.

This was inevitable, but... it was also something many wouldn’t want to see.

Some things weigh nothing until placed on a scale—but now that the Hidden Dragon Ranking was out, Chulong had been weighed for all to see.

"I... I’m not that strong."

Princess Jiang nervously fiddled with the hem of her clothes, but upon seeing Li Mo’s contemplative expression, she crossed her arms in imitation.

Couldn’t afford to look weak when standing beside Li Big Bro!

[Name: Jiang Chulong]

[Age: 15]

[Root Bone: Innate Sword Embryo, Sprouting Wild Grass Sword Bone.]

[Realm: Three Apertures of Observation.]

[Fate: Gold tinged with Gray.]

[Evaluation: Youngest daughter of the Great Yu Emperor, born with a Sword Embryo physique. At fourteen, her Sword Bone was taken by her elder brother, the Crown Prince. Yet, the Sword Bone existed because of her—she was not defined by it. If she can cleanse the dust from her heart and refine herself, she may yet ascend as a Sword Sovereign.]

[Recent Events: Remained at the hotpot shop, but due to the rebirth of her Sword Bone, the Third Heavenly Killer of the Misty Rain Pavilion’s headquarters personally intervened to take her away. Current whereabouts unknown.]

Li Mo’s frown deepened.

He tested the waters:

"Chulong, do you want to go to the imperial capital with me?"

"With Li Big Bro? Sure!"

The previously hesitant Princess Jiang nodded immediately.

With Li Big Bro, anywhere was fine.

The moment she spoke, the "Recent Events" in the Divine Eye of Fate shifted.

[Recent Events: Returns to the imperial capital with Li Mo, re-entering the sight of ??. Targeted by Jiang Yu. Her newly sprouted Wild Grass Sword Bone is shattered during the Hidden Dragon Tournament. Fortune or calamity remains uncertain.]

"......"

Li Mo looked at Jiang Chulong’s cautious smile and patted her head.

After witnessing the revival of the Cloud Dream Immortal, he had some guesses. The Divine Eye’s use of question marks might not mean it couldn’t see—but that some existences, merely by knowing their names, would entangle one in karma.

When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back...

Whether he advanced or retreated, the blade would fall either way. At least in the imperial capital, Chulong would be by his side.

"Li Big Bro, why do you seem unhappy?"

"Since Chulong is from the imperial capital, you must know all the best places to eat, right? I’ll be counting on you."

"It’s no trouble..."

Jiang Chulong’s cheeks flushed slightly, her misty eyes brimming with anticipation.

"However, the biggest surprise on this Hidden Dragon Ranking comes from two individuals in our Purple Sun Prefecture."

Here, Huang Donglai—disguised as the storyteller—paused dramatically.

The man had a knack for suspense. Wonder where he picked that up.

"Two? Wasn’t the Divine Hammer Little Tyrant supposed to have perished in the Cloud Dream Catacombs?"

"Exactly, sigh... I still can't believe it's true."

"Young Hero Li was a good man in his lifetime..."

Some wandering martial artists who hadn’t seen the latest Hidden Dragon Ranking but had heard the recent rumors began discussing among themselves.

"Ah, this gentleman asks a fine question."

The storyteller, Huang Donglai (affectionately nicknamed "Huang the Bookman"), raised a finger and declared:

"When I first heard the news, I refused to believe it. So I... ahem, interrogated—no, questioned—a disciple of the Demon Summoning Sect. Their answer? They saw it with their own eyes—the Divine Hammer Little Tyrant was beaten until only a single strand of hair remained."

"Thus, I traveled here to investigate the truth."

"Who would’ve thought that when the Hidden Dragon Ranking was updated, not only was he not dead, but he didn’t even have a scratch on him! Still firmly holding his spot as fourth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking!"

"He was left with just one strand of hair—so how did he survive? What really happened behind the scenes? Was it a distortion of human nature, or the collapse of morality..."

At this point, Huang the Bookman’s voice trembled with passion, all emotion and no technique.

"Sir, do you perhaps know the inside story?" someone asked.

"Nope," Huang Donglai shook his head.

A chorus of disappointed boos erupted in the hotpot restaurant.

"But think about it—our Divine Hammer Little Tyrant once charged alone against thousands on the southern battlefields. A mere underground labyrinth is nothing to him!"

"If any of you had witnessed his prowess in the southern wars, you’d never believe he could fall. Honestly, I think his nickname should be changed to ‘The Unkillable Divine Hammer Little Tyrant.’ Fits much better."

No sooner had he spoken than Huang Donglai felt a chill crawl up his neck. His sharp instincts made him glance to the side—

And there they were: two icy figures in sunglasses, staring directly at him.

"!"

"Just an unbiased observer here, but let’s be real—the ‘Divine Hammer Little Tyrant’ title never made much sense. Everyone knows Li Mo’s swordsmanship is top-tier too..."

Huang the Bookman quickly toned down his act and, before anyone could react, swiftly changed the subject.

"Ah, but the big changes I mentioned aren’t just about him."

"Frost Fairy has surged ahead, officially overtaking many of the Hidden Dragon Ranking’s top contenders—including the Demon Summoning Saint, the Heavenly Grace Wanderer, and the Mystic Maiden of Penglai—to claim a spot in the top three!"

"And it’s not just the Hidden Dragon Ranking—she also climbed one place on the Hundred Flowers Beauty Ranking!"

The hotpot restaurant buzzed with noise. Those who’d heard the news sighed in admiration, while newcomers gasped in shock.

"Let’s be honest, though—the top spot on the Hundred Flowers Ranking going to Her Majesty the Empress? That’s gotta be politics. Pure politics."

"The first place is the Crown Prince, second is Xie Xuan of Heavenly Mountain—how long has it been since either of them moved?"

"Every previous top-three contender was at least at the Nine-Aperture Observation Realm, if not half-step into the Inner Scenery. Yet she just broke through to the Seven-Aperture Realm!"

"Last time, she was still beneath the Divine Hammer Little Tyrant. I’d say they’re practically neck-and-neck."

"She’s been so quiet lately—who knew she’d make such a leap without anyone noticing?"

"She must’ve put in an insane amount of effort..."

Meanwhile, at Qingyuan Sect.

Inside the Autumn Water Pavilion.

[Congratulations, Host. You’ve once again completed the Loser’s Punishment.]

[Completion rate: 120%.]

[Grade: C+.]

Ying Bing: "?"

After all that yesterday... and it’s still only a C?

Then what would an A even look like?

[Distributing C+ grade rewards...]

[Reward: One set of black combat attire. Must wear it and spar with the victor!]

"Combat attire? Sparring?"

Ying Bing’s delicate brows relaxed slightly. At least the system was being somewhat reasonable this time.

She wasn’t stupid—did anyone actually believe Li Mo carried a hammer in his pocket?

Ying Huang might not understand love or romance, but did the system really think she was that much of a degenerate?

Still... why did it specifically emphasize that the combat attire had to be black?