[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal":3,"chapter-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-129":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},596889,846,"Chapter 129: Eighty for the Big Hammer, Forty for the Small Hammer","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-129",129,"\u003Cp>In the dense forest, two figures approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man's clothes were spotless, as if he hadn't undergone any life-and-death trials but had instead been out for a leisurely stroll. Behind him followed a burly man, towering like an iron pagoda, resembling a bodyguard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo casually tossed a watermelon rind to the ground and asked in confusion,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Xiao, Senior Xiaobao, what are you two...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Junior Brother Li, this secret realm is fraught with danger, so I had no choice but to resort to this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qin couldn't help but force a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This method had been taught to him by his master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to look like a mud-covered monkey than to be discovered by the powerful skeletal beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what was up with Junior Brother Li?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Junior Brother Li, you’ve come at the perfect time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We were just about to pick the Phoenix Blood Spirit Grass.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Xiaobao was now filled with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His trump card had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By joining forces with Junior Brother Li using their 'fusion technique,' even the strongest skeletal ape wouldn’t be a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo looked ahead and spotted the crimson spirit grass hidden behind the waterfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze then swept over the group of skeletal apes guarding the waterfall before settling on the largest one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh-rank mid-stage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Much stronger than the Tree Demon King, and not conveniently weak to karmic flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll handle that seventh-rank mid-stage skeletal ape.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he spoke, the Chixiao sword at Li Mo’s waist unsheathed itself, transforming into a fiery streak as it slashed toward the Skeletal Ape King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Qi followed closely behind. They had encountered beasts blocking their path before—no words were needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Junior Brother Li is still so eager to help others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The gap between us has only grown wider.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qin sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Focus on the fight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aged voice of the Thousand Forms Martial Venerable echoed in his ears:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With the Phoenix Blood Spirit Grass, I can teach you a complete divine technique.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Observation Divine Realm is where you’ll truly shine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he spoke, Xiao Qin had already charged forward, facing off against an eighth-rank late-stage skeletal ape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle erupted instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Start with the sword.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo’s mind was completely focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No martial art could be mastered through isolation—true mastery required constant real combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had noticed that after actual battles, refining his techniques with martial insights cost fewer insights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swordplay had always been his biggest investment in martial insights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no helping it—it was also his greatest source of martial insights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just had to find ways to maximize the returns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Giant Peak!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo flicked his wrist, and countless sword energies condensed on Chixiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overwhelming momentum enveloped the entire space ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A high-tier sword technique, executed at its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Roar!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The skeletal giant ape, provoked by the tiny creature before it, erupted in human-like fury, pounding its chest bones with thunderous force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It swung its arm in retaliation, smashing the sword-formed giant blade back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This seventh-rank mid-stage skeletal giant ape had remarkable intelligence. Though it couldn’t wield martial arts like a warrior, it could use something akin to 'combat techniques' and even knew how to wield tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, $2oung Li dodged and weaved, employing various sword techniques in a fierce struggle against the giant ape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Old Xiao’s battle was much simpler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mainly because he had Tie Qi, an Observation Divine Realm warrior with two opened apertures, as backup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every swing of his halberd carried terrifying strength, infused with the battlefield’s killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, $2i Mo had finally tested all the high-tier sword techniques he had mastered to perfection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Xiao Qin and the others were nearly done as well, he mused:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Relying solely on swordplay to quickly defeat an enemy a whole major realm above me is still difficult...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even using the Solar Wheel Sword Canon wouldn’t guarantee a kill.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo stood still, halting his movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a glance, the giant ape looked miserable, covered in wounds—but none were critical. Instead, Li Mo’s hit-and-run tactics had only enraged it further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Roar...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the little insect stop moving, the skeletal giant ape’s mouth twisted into an eerie grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This little bug had dared to fight it head-on—it must have been terrified of its strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it finally run out of stamina?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It grabbed a massive boulder and hurled it straight at Li Mo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"About time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the crushing wind pressure, $2i Mo’s robes flapped wildly, yet not a trace of panic showed on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of countering with his sword, he sheathed Chixiao and let his left arm hang slightly, his entire body tensing like a drawn bow as all his power gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Quell the Raging Tide.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the strike that had instantly killed Yin Huacheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seven Strikes to Settle the World\" was a supreme technique, and in the hands of Young Li, it had reached the pinnacle of mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air grew thick and heavy, as if a storm was brewing, suffocating to the point of breathlessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth’s sleeve swung forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—not the sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the hammer inside the sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant ape barely managed to raise its arms in defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unstoppable hammer shattered both skeletal arms like kindling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still pretty tough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bodies of these beasts were indeed far sturdier than humans, and he hadn’t even used world force or divine weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star Mallet was the small hammer—\"small hammer, forty strikes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Worldbreaker Meteor Hammer was the big hammer—\"big hammer, eighty strikes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one strike wasn’t enough, then two—Young Master Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hammer hidden in his sleeve descended once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The skeletal giant ape stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its head exploded violently, the force even traveling through its entire body and into the ground, cracking the earth in concentric circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Observation Divine Realm warriors may have weaker bodies, but they have divine intent to compensate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two small hammer strikes should still be enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo rubbed his chin and stowed the Star Mallet back into his system space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he casually pick up the beast token on the ground—though, honestly, it wasn’t of much use to him now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qin and Tie Qi stared at the aftermath of Li Mo’s battle in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seriously?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother Li, you could’ve used that move from the start, couldn’t you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what was that just now? They hadn’t even seen it clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surely he hadn’t actually smashed it with his sleeve?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo also noticed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pool and waterfall, once a scenic spot, were now a complete wreck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo suddenly remembered—the Phoenix Blood Spirit Grass!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the waterfall destroyed, was the spirit grass still intact?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without it, his investment plan would fall through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly landed amidst the rubble of the waterfall and began frantically searching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Junior Brother Li, what are you looking for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grass! (A type of plant)\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, that? I already picked it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Xiaobao raised his hand, revealing the blood-red spirit grass. He grinned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"While you guys were fighting, I sneaked over and plucked it ages ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good job, Senior Xiaobao.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo gave him a thumbs-up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From now on, no one can call you simple-minded.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly, exactly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Xiaobao beamed, tilting his head proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, $2he words in the sky changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[First Trial Complete.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Qualified participants, gather at the designated location.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance, a pillar of light shot into the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>",1247,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.269Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.889Z",1,"novelbin.me","e8819c7e3de373de837ce68b85c28bc4743ee270ac0b49820c838f8814edbb1d","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-130","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-128",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]