The light inside the Awakening Array scattered. Among the national treasures strewn about there was only one winner left standing. The fat, large and unscathed panda who was now strutting around.
Li Mo was dumbstruck for a good 5 minutes.
Even he was duped. This guy was the first to strike and also the first to fall. Li Mo reckoned he was out of commission but it was all part of its master plan. It faked death and ended up the winner.
It was not a question of intellect, but rather ‘Could it be any more treacherous?’
By Li Mo’s estimate, the best choice was the average panda with its unyielding battle spirit. And it also knew the stance for a sacred beast skill.
The cub wasn’t a bad choice either, swift and fierce to attack. If not for its small size, it would’ve been unclear as to the winner.
The rest of them weren’t any worse either. They at least displayed the bravery and fighting ability of a true sacred beast descendant.
Except for this thing…
Li Mo’s brows were locked in a tight frown for a long time. Then he relaxed. It was natural selection, so for it to outshine the rest was proof enough of its potential.
Although the method was lackluster.
“It’s fine. I’ll take it as us being connected by fate.”
Li Mo extended a finger on the big panda’s forehead.
Awakening Array’s effect was a temporary one. Only the Awakening Art was permanent.
The finger fell and the big panda’s clouded eyes began to clear. It scratched its head and looked puzzled at Li Mo.
“Come.”
The big panda followed Li Mo, just that he would turn his head in longing at his old buddies.
“This is your choice. Don’t worry about them. They will be fine, and since they were baptized by the Awakening Array, their mind improved compared with the rest of the pandas out there.”
The big panda bolted at his old buddies.
Li Mo was startled, “It seems you are reluctant to leave. Fate can’t be forced. Just lea-…
“F***!”
When Li Mo thought it was hard to leave its friends, the big panda lay over another one, twisting his ass as he huffed…
Li Mo: …
This was no goddamned longing, it was forced mating!
The big panda climbed down the unconscious panda after a minute and strutted back to Li Mo’s side.
Li Mo facepalmed.
His awareness just awoke, so a trace of savagery still remained.
Li Mo tried his best to convince himself.
Wu~
As they Left Daliang Mountains, the big panda stood on its legs and made some unintelligible growls.
“You think you’re a wild animal so acting like one is normal. But from now on you have awareness. And intelligent beasts can’t do such acts again…”
“Wu?”
“The thing you just did.”
“Wu?”
Li Mo tried to hold a dialog with the panda along the way, but it only got it more confused.
It was now aware but its intellect was still low. It would have to study like a human if it were to increase.
“Think for yourself!”
Li Mo placed another finger on its forhead but didn’t lift it. He was getting impatient. If he waited for the panda to slowly learn, it would take too long for it to understand the rules of an intelligent creature. So he just sent what he learned in his childhood into its brain and let it mule over it.
After the memories were transferred, the panda was dazed.
It would need a few days to absorb all it received. As for understanding, he’d need an even longer time.
“You’re too big, so the plane is out. I got it!”
Li Mo took out an ancient painting from his Star Ring depicting a pond and lotuses. With no better alternative, he grabbed the big panda and crammed it into the painting.
A big panda now appeared over a third of the painting.
The ancient drawing and the storage ring were two different things. The painting’s world was similar to the world inside a time-space rupture. One needed to know just the opening method and they could squeeze anything inside, even animals. But entering himself posed danger. Like getting burnt, swallowed by torrents of water, injured, and so on. In the case the painting was destroyed, all it contained would be crushed with it.
Li Mo saw many such paintings in the underground black market and only had to pay ten thousand to get one.
“The trip to Chuan Province was one of immense harvest. Most of the body refining ingredients are here, all the ingredients to set an eight-sided Spiritual Gathering Array, and a protecting Shadow God, as well as this warding… animal…”
Li Mo recalled the big panda’s huffing and found it impossible to consider it a mythical beast.
Li Mo booked a flight and was back in Feng City the second day at noon.
When he left, Li Mo thought it would take five days at most, but it took him half a month because of his corroboration with Du Xingsun, and let’s not forget the panda.
Li Mo arrived at three in the afternoon at his house. He just passed through the door and saw Du Fei hard at work cleaning the place.
The house was spotless, without a speck of dust.
“Bro Mo, you’re back. God I missed you!”
Du Fei was moved by seeing him.
Li Mo asked, “Didn’t you have training? Why are you cleaning my place?”
“We just finished a training regime a few days ago and had a couple of days free time. Since I had nothing better to do, I thought I’d drop by to clean your house, and also visit your little sister, Qingyi.”
Du Fei acted shy.
Li Mo was stunned.
“Brother Mo, you’re back!”
Su Qingyi ran out of the house with a queer gait.
Li Mo was stunned, “You two know each other?”
Du Fei answered, “We met half a month ago when you left. Qingyi is such a nice lady, diligent, kind, gentle. I’ve never seen such a good girl in my life.”
Su Qingyi had a wooden smile, “Brother Fei is also good.”
Over this past half a month, Su Qingyi’s Corpse Controlling Art didn’t improve a yota, and her corpse possession didn’t fare any better either.
She had not one bit of talent in cultivation.
“It’s time I get back home. Bro Mo, see you tomorrow!” Du Fei threw the mop and ran.
“What’s up with him?” Li Mo was puzzled seeing Du Fei run like the wind.
“I told him that he can only stay half an hour each time he comes by or I’ll get angry. He’s afraid of that happening.”
“Ah? Why only half an hour?”
“Because after that I, ah…”
Su Qingyi couldn’t finish as her soul flew from her body and the corpse slumped on the floor.
The time she had to control the corpse didn’t increase by even a second.
Li Mo was startled then smiled, “You like him.”
“Brother Fei is such a good man, but his eyes keep darting around. His eyes are always… always… “
“Looking at something he shouldn’t?”
“If it wasn’t like this, then he isn’t Du Fei.”
“It is only human nature. He thinks one thing and does another. You have known Du Fei for so many days, but was there ever a time he was inappropriate?”
“Never. And each time I look at him, he averts his eyes bashful.”
“En…”
“Get in.”
“En.”
Su Qingyi tried to control her body but jerked a few times like a wooden puppet then nothing.
“Let me help you.”
Li Mo carried Su Qingyi’s body.
“Thank you, brother Mo.”
