Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’ Chapter 6: Third Class

High upon the elevated dais.

"Truly a rare find—likely the most exceptional talent I have encountered in my entire existence."

Xue Jing, still dressed in his tattered, patched robe, stroked his long beard while his eyes shimmered with intrigue.

The revelation of Ying Bing possessing a "Heaven-grade" bone structure was something he had already anticipated.

"Is this the promising young sprout you spoke of meeting during your recent travels down the mountain?"

A relaxed, melodic voice drifted from the side.

A woman adorned in elegant palace robes, her face flushed with a crimson tint, reclined with languid grace in her seat.

"That is her. Now, the curiosity lies in how many steps she can conquer on the Stairway to Heaven."

Xue Jing turned toward the woman, his expression reflecting a sense of helpless resignation.

The woman in palace robes took a hearty, uninhibited gulp of wine.

The surrounding Elders: "..."

Are you certain your interest isn't merely due to her breathtaking beauty?

"Her nature is a poor match for your martial path."

Xue Jing let out a weary sigh.

"In what way is she a poor match?!" The woman’s eyebrows arched sharply.

"Do not attempt to force it. You have refined yourself into a human furnace—this young lady is clearly unsuitable to be your disciple."

A voice, cold and inflexible, cut through the conversation.

"Han He, are you looking for a fight?"

The woman in palace robes cracked her knuckles, her face lighting up with a sudden desire for combat.

Elder Han He instinctively pulled back half a step, emitting a cautious, defensive snort.

"That is enough."

The command was spoken with undeniable gravity.

Obeying the Sect Master’s order, the woman begrudgingly raised her gourd and took two more deep swallows.

The other Elders traded meaningful looks.

Could it be... that the Sect Master himself has taken an interest in the girl?

......

Without anyone noticing, the time it takes for another incense stick to burn passed by.

By this point, five hundred hopefuls had finished their bone structure evaluations.

At last, it was Li Mo’s turn to step forward.

The elderly woman gripped his shoulder, sending a burst of internal energy into him, intending for it to flow through his meridians.

However, that energy vanished in the blink of an eye.

Hmm?

The old woman’s brow furrowed for a second time that day.

Typically, internal energy is used to stimulate the subject's organs, meridians, and bones.

The more powerful the underlying bone structure, the more vigorous the reaction should be.

And yet.

This youth’s body gave no reaction at all.

If it were just a lack of response, it might be one thing, but her energy had disappeared like a clay ox entering the ocean—vanishing without a single trace.

If the boy weren't standing right in front of her, she would have sworn she was touching a lifeless block of stone.

After a brief pause of uncertainty, she recorded his result:

"Li Mo, Third-grade. You may pass."

"My thanks."

Li Mo had foreseen this outcome. He offered a respectful cupped-hand salute and walked through the mountain gate, showing no signs of disappointment.

"Oh, only Third-grade. Father is going to be quite unhappy."

"You will have to say something nice about me—he actually listens to you."

Li Mo smiled, playfully bumping his shoulder against the girl walking beside him.

Ying Bing felt a flicker of surprise.

A Third-grade aptitude was exactly as she remembered it being.

But he seemed completely unbothered by it.

Li Mo wore a look of genuine indifference, his mood remaining bright:

"Three parts are destiny, seven parts are hard work."

"Many people don't even make it past the gate. I consider myself lucky enough."

Inside his mind, he added:

No need to worry. I have my cheats.

Observing his authentic calmness, Ying Bing’s heart softened slightly.

Very well.

After all, his bottle of Pure Yang Pills had allowed her to open her meridians six months earlier than expected.

With a temperament like his, she wouldn't mind giving him a small push—though how far he climbed would remain his own responsibility.

In that moment.

The loud voice of a steward caught everyone's attention:

"Wang Hu—arms of a tiger, waist of a leopard! High Second-grade!"

The square immediately filled with excited whispers.

Setting aside the two Heaven-grade anomalies.

Wang Hu now possessed the most impressive innate talent present!

To say he was one in ten thousand was no hyperbole.

Soaking in the surrounding praise, Wang Hu wore a smug, haughty grin as he scanned the crowd.

"What are you staring at?"

Li Mo fell into a quiet state of contemplation.

......

Suddenly.

A figure descended from the air, landing right before the gate.

"The Tiger-Leopard physique?"

A man built like a massive tower grabbed Wang Hu’s shoulder.

Wang Hu was startled, but then his cousin, Wang Hao, stepped out from the ranks of existing disciples and gave him a reassuring nod.

"A fine specimen indeed. These are true Tiger-Leopard traits."

The man, solid as an iron pillar, nodded his approval.

"Master, this youth is my younger cousin," Wang Hao said, bowing low with respect.

"Excellent, excellent. He is a far better fit for my Tiger-Leopard Thunderclap Fists than you ever were."

His laughter roared like a thunderclap, causing the eardrums of those nearby to ring.

"Fu Tu, you should wait until he officially joins the inner sect before you start taking him as a disciple."

A stout elder nearby offered a blunt reminder.

Fu Tu?!

Wang Hu’s eyes grew wide before filling with a sense of triumph.

This man was a powerful inner sect steward—if not for the limited number of Elder seats, he would likely already be in charge of his own mountain peak.

"Naturally, I will follow the regulations."

Fu Tu gave a casual, perfunctory salute.

Following his cousin's lead, Wang Hu quickly bowed:

"My greetings to you, Master."

"Go and conquer the Stairway first."

Fu Tu did not bother to correct the boy's choice of title.

Once the man had departed.

Wang Hu’s head lifted even higher, his arrogance practically radiating off him.

He strutted through the gate and walked directly toward them, clasping his hands with a flourish:

"Miss Ying, it seems we shall be fellow disciples from this day forward."

He was met with nothing but cold apathy.

In a backwater region like the Purple Sun Prefecture, such talent might be notable, but it was barely adequate in her eyes.

To Ying Bing, there was no meaningful difference between Wang Hu’s Second-grade and Li Mo’s Third-grade.

They were both just ordinary pebbles—why waste time deciding which one was slightly less rough?

Wang Hu stood there awkwardly, his face turning a deep shade of red.

He shifted his focus to Li Mo instead:

"Heh. We both come from the same county. Once I have achieved success, I haven't forgotten about you."

"But wait—the inner and outer sects are entirely different worlds. It won't be easy for me to come down and visit."

"Who can say? I might even become a core disciple before long."

"At that point, seeing you might be even harder than seeing Miss Ying, wouldn't it?"

His smile was thick with spite.

With an inner sect steward backing him.

The young and impulsive Wang Hu felt his ego swell to the heavens.

The other youths from Ning'an County clenched their teeth in frustration. Wang Hu had been unbearable back in their hometown—now he had truly soared beyond their reach.

Even those who previously disliked Li Mo now found him much more tolerable by comparison.

"...Sure, whatever you say."

Li Mo had never deactivated his Heavenly Destiny Eye.

Since Wang Hu’s assessment, the cyan threads of destiny around him had begun to turn dark.

Now, as he continued to boast, that blackness deepened significantly.

The updated status read: "Stubborn and arrogant. An unwitting test subject for Inner Sect Steward Fu Tu. Future: Grim."

Li Mo had no interest in wasting words on fools—especially those who were practically dead already.

He responded with more indifference.

"You—!"

Wang Hu choked on his own anger, his blood boiling.

However, the stout elder's attention had shifted back toward them.

Pulling his gaze away from Li Mo and Ying Bing, the elder thought to himself with a smirk:

"There is plenty of time ahead."

"The outer sect and core disciples live in two separate realms—they are destined to never cross paths again."