[{"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-14":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},596537,846,"Chapter 14: Hot Pot, Ying Bings Dream","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>Inside the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this carriage appeared modest on the outside, it concealed extraordinary craftsmanship within. The beams alone were carved from golden fragrant wood, adorned with gluttonous motifs—sturdy, rot-resistant, and exuding an exotic aroma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was essentially the martial world’s equivalent of a luxury sedan, and riding in it, one couldn’t even feel the slightest jolt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder it’s the sect leader’s personal ride.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elder, how much does a carriage like this cost?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo couldn’t help but marvel, though he remained somewhat reserved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was like a country boy stepping into a nobleman’s estate—curious but too cautious to touch anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This old man is merely a servant, surnamed Ba. Young master may call me Old Ba,\" the elderly coachman chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If measured in gold, this carriage would cost tens of thousands of taels. It was a gift from the owner of Hesheng Trading Company.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man, who had once considered himself modestly well-off, suddenly felt the sting of poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tens of thousands—and in gold, no less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the entire thing were forged from solid gold, it wouldn’t cost that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing his bewilderment, Old Ba grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This carriage is forged from Frost Iron. Even an expert in the Observation Divine Realm couldn’t damage it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder I can’t afford it,\" Li Mo sighed, patting his empty coin pouch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His dream of owning a similarly extravagant ride had just been dashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the tea table, Ying Bing sat with effortless grace, sipping her tea as if she were the carriage’s rightful owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—Li Mo even had the fleeting thought that she was merely condescending to grace it with her presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wasn’t this ice block just a punching bag back at the Li Manor?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo couldn’t help but marvel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the privilege of one born with the Emperor’s Bone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the Autumn Water Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing picked up a withered branch and began practicing her swordplay, testing the limits of her current cultivation level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Li Mo stood by the kitchen door and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anything you’d like to eat today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qingyuan Sect naturally had a dining hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since every meal with the ice block yielded rewards, Li Mo was more than happy to cook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anything is fine. I have no particular cravings, so don’t waste effort on it,\" Ying Bing replied without turning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s because you’ve never tasted real food.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not boasting, but if I put my mind to it, my cooking would be unmatched in this world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo brimmed with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the white-tier rewards he’d received were rare seasonings unknown to this world—even a pack of hotpot base he’d been itching to try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether she heard him or not was unclear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s way too focused,\" Li Mo sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humans weren’t machines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neglecting one’s basic needs for too long would only lead to trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is Senior Sister Ying Bing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice called from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo stepped out to find an outer sect steward delivering bundles of exotic beast meat—precious ingredients that nourished qi and blood, rarely seen outside the sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such were the privileges of a sect leader’s direct disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steward explained that these were raised on Rare Beast Peak: Ironbone Ox, Azure-Scaled Fish, and Stonehorn Sheep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beef, lamb, and fish—perfect for hotpot,\" Li Mo mused, already salivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard was filled with the rich, spicy aroma of simmering broth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo sat by the stove, dipping paper-thin slices of Ironbone Ox into the bubbling pot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Divine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When this world’s exotic meats met a hotpot base from Earth, the result was nothing short of heavenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo fished out a piece of fish and placed it in Ying Bing’s bowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A layer of red oil glistened on the girl’s lips, making them appear even more vivid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Passable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the speed of her chopsticks had quickened ever so slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo noticed and grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eat up. Beast meat’s good for martial training too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Food and pleasure are human nature. You should indulge once in a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the rising steam, the girl’s face blurred in the haze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cheeks moved faintly—whether she heard him or not was anyone’s guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third floor, inside the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Congratulations, Host. Investment: Exotic Beast Hotpot.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Reward obtained: One Mystic Crystal.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mystic Crystal]: \"Contains the purest natural energy of heaven and earth. Used in alchemy, weapon forging, or as a power source for artifacts. Its applications are boundless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That hotpot was worth every bite.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A milky-white crystal materialized in Li Mo’s palm—a prism shimmering with faint light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy within felt familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t this the same energy he absorbed during cultivation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the amount condensed in this single crystal was staggering. It would take him ages to accumulate this much on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that he needed it much right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, this thing was priceless—worth a fortune!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Ascension Steps relied on these to activate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Decision made. We’re eating exotic beast meat every day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll keep that ice block well-fed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo pocketed the crystal, his mind made up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then another thought struck him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t Senior Brother Xiao Qin have that Seven-Star Ancient Jade?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cultivation had been deteriorating because the jade required energy to activate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wouldn’t this Mystic Crystal solve his problem?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t need the crystal anyway. Might as well invest it in him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo had pieced together some patterns regarding investments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fate rank determined the baseline reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the more beneficial the investment was to the recipient, the greater the reward would be beyond that baseline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qin had a purple-tier fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The return would undoubtedly surpass a single Mystic Crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need to keep practicing Six Harmonies Fist.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Twenty years of martial insight should be more than enough to master it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning from last time, Li Mo didn’t expend all his insights at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Five years of martial insight successfully infused.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[After one year of practice, you’ve fully grasped the Six Harmonies Fist, reaching the Novice stage.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[By the fourth year, the fist art had integrated into your daily movements, no longer bound by rigid forms.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In the fifth year, your Six Harmonies Fist reached Minor Achievement.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar sensation washed over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Minor Achievement wasn’t enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Another five years of martial insight infused.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In the first year, relentless training hinted at a higher realm of the fist art.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[By the third year, a flash of inspiration pointed you toward the right path, which you tested and refined.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In the fourth year, your Six Harmonies Fist reached Major Achievement!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The fifth year brought new insights, though they remained elusive...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the insights fully settled, Li Mo clenched his fists, itching to test them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without delay, he assumed a stance in his room and began executing the fist techniques with fierce precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every motion flowed naturally, as if he’d honed them through years of practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Power surged from the ground, coalescing into a single devastating strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six Harmonies United!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force shredded his sleeve into tatters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And this is just with one meridian unlocked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo exhaled deeply and changed into fresh clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, he couldn’t even unleash the full potential of Six Harmonies Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time to cultivate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat cross-legged and quietly activated the Fire Heart Lotus Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single sword flicked by Ying Bing blossomed into nine sword flowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Flower-Seeking Sword Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had mastered it in her past life, yet today she still watched Elder Han He’s meticulous demonstration with focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was a secret sect technique. If she outright claimed she already knew it, she wouldn’t be able to explain how.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her current level, she could already summon nine flowers with a single stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her prime, a casual swing of this sword art would conjure a sky full of falling petals—all transformed from sword energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if augmented by the power of the Supreme Yin, freezing an entire lake would be effortless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her current realm… was still far too weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing sheathed her sword and stood still, preparing to intensify her training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, her delicate brows furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commotion next door…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s drawing upon the world’s vital energy during his training?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This shouldn’t be a technique from Shang Wu’s repertoire. It feels more like… a unique physique.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing was mildly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew many methods to harness the world’s energy to strengthen oneself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But without exception, all such techniques required at least the Outer Scenery Realm. Without an inner world connected to the external one, a martial artist simply couldn’t siphon energy directly from heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That could only mean one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a trait of Li Mo’s special physique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sourceflow Martial Body… Evergreen Wood Physique… Boundless Celestial Body…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing fell into reminiscence, recalling the many prodigies she had encountered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some among them had left a lasting impression with their brilliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which of these would Li Mo’s physique resemble?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps… one she had never seen before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, she dismissed the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was merely curious about the drastic changes in Li Mo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exact nature of his physique didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she didn’t recognize it, it couldn’t be that formidable—at least not enough to rank on the Heaven’s Secrets Pavilion’s Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Leaderboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if it belonged to one of those past rivals she had defeated… what of it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, none could compare to the Ten Extremities Physique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two hours of training, $2 chilling aura began seeping from her body once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had just settled onto her bed when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock knock—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door creaked open slightly. Li Mo peeked in, carrying a bronze basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ying Bing, the exotic beast meat needs refrigeration. I’ll leave it in your room!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Ice Block\" brand fridge—praised by all who used it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing watched as he placed the covered basin in the corner and left, $2ven turning off the lamp for her on his way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, she would have hurled the basin out and fixed him with a frosty glare, warning him never to enter her room uninvited or leave things there again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lingering richness of the hotpot still danced on her tongue, unforgettable…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the meat spoiled, she wouldn’t get to enjoy it, would she?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She drew the bed curtains shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room grew quieter as the biting cold spread, and she gradually drifted into sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sleeping girl’s face tensed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not from the torment of extreme cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was dreaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dreaming of her past as the Phoenix Sovereign, ruling over the Cassia Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Palace Master, I know disciples of the Cassia Palace must never indulge in love… So I beg you—strike down my martial arts and strip me of all my power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master… I’ve met someone during my travels…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Palace Master…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha! Ying Bing, you don’t even understand what love is! How pathetic!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fragmented scenes flashed chaotically, and her frown deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>",1836,"2026-05-30T17:18:59.992Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.286Z",1,"novelbin.me","8a3507b8457020f8e2f48cf1600936a7668a1279d6882c181a0ff3d15b2f7bb2","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-15","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-13",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]