Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’
Chapter 209: Non-Aggression Pact, Top of the Hidden Dragon Ranking

[Hidden Dragon Ranking, 18th Place: Ying Bing.]

[Martial Arts: Attained the Second Aperture of Divine Insight, Sword Heart Bright as Mirror, mastery of martial arts reaching the pinnacle of creation, possesses formidable secret techniques, suspected to have glimpsed divine forms.]

[Achievements: Current top disciple of the Qingyuan Sect, Yunzhou’s Sword Prodigy. In the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm, joined forces with Li Mo to repel Han Zhen and Yin Huaxuan, forcing their retreat. Defeated the Heavenly Demoness while at the First Aperture of Divine Insight, despite her being at the Third Aperture. Comprehended a divine technique by studying a mystical stone atop the Sword Tower. At the Second Aperture, shattered the Heavenly Demon’s illusions with her sword.]

[Titles: Moonlit Sword Phoenix, Frost Immortal]

The lakeside at Yulong fell silent. The earlier clamor about inviting "Young Li" to be a son-in-law had completely died down.

No one alive had ever witnessed someone so young receive such high praise from the Yantian Sect. To find a comparable figure, one would have to dig through the annals of legendary heroes.

The crowd realized they might be witnessing history in the making.

"I’m past fifty and haven’t even mastered a single supreme technique, yet her martial arts have reached the pinnacle of creation?"

"I was fortunate enough to hear her lecture at the Sword Pool. I bent down to pick up a brush, and when I looked up, I couldn’t understand a word anymore."

"She’s only at the Second Aperture of Divine Insight. Once her cultivation catches up, won’t she easily claim the top spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"

"The fact that she’s repeatedly humbled Yin Mianmian, ranked 6th, speaks volumes about her prowess."

"If not for her and Young Master Li, the treasured sword of Hengyun Sword City might have been lost!"

"I thought The Domineering Empress Falls for Me was just an illustrated book. Turns out, it was an understatement."

"Anyone got the latest issue? I haven’t been able to buy it for three days—I feel like ants are crawling under my skin."

"Wait a minute… Young Master Li brings luck to his partner, and Ying Bing’s talent is unparalleled. If the two of them were to…"

……

The scene at Yulong Lake descended into chaos.

---

Atop the towering Sword Tower in Hengyun Sword City, one could vaguely glimpse the Dragon Gate in the distance—though for certain powerhouses, such a distance posed no obstacle to a clear view.

Tian Miao sat at a stone table, sipping a bowl of blood-nourishing soup made from dragonhide gelatin, lost in thought.

Though she couldn’t discern the young man’s fate, the Yantian Sect’s intelligence network wasn’t solely reliant on field agents—there were other sources.

From what the Yantian Sect had gathered, the Hidden Dragon Ranking’s description of Li Mo was deliberately understated.

It hadn’t even mentioned the term "Yinghuo" (Mars/Ill Omen).

What was her master considering with this move?

"Many thanks, Envoy Tian Miao."

Elder Xu, a white-haired elder, finally let out a sigh of relief.

The treasured sword inscription had been preserved.

"Thanks for what?"

Tian Miao, her complexion slightly improved, glanced up in confusion.

Another elderly Dharma Body Elder hesitated.

"Well… about that lad comprehending the mystical stone…"

"……"

Tian Miao was baffled. She’d passed out from the backlash of her fate-reading technique and had no idea what happened afterward.

What exactly had he comprehended?

After a pause, she smiled faintly.

"No need for thanks. It was only natural."

---

Inside a lavish pleasure boat, rumors of a new courtesan—graceful, enchanting, and innately alluring—had drawn some away from the Hidden Dragon Ranking spectacle, hoping to become her favored guest.

Melodious strings and pipes filled the air.

The audience in the courtyard gradually fell into a daze, as if celestial maidens had descended, weaving a dream of tender passion.

Then, someone struck first—and soon, they were brawling, blood splattering.

The madam, seemingly accustomed to such scenes, stepped behind a folding screen.

"Saintess, Xu Yi still hasn’t sent word."

"He’s likely dead. It seems that boy is determined to sever ties with the Misty Rain Pavilion."

No reply came for a long while, and the madam dared not press further.

The Saintess had twice been reduced to a mere backdrop, and in Yunzhou, the Misty Rain Pavilion’s reputation had suffered greatly, its once-feared aura all but gone.

If there were stocks involved, they’d be plummeting—desperately in need of some positive news…

After a lengthy silence, Yin Mianmian finally spoke as if snapping out of a trance:

"Then revise the bounty. Raise it tenfold."

"As you command."

---

[Hidden Dragon Ranking, 17th Place: He Jinhuan.]

[Hidden Dragon Ranking, 16th Place: Hui Kong.]

……

The Hidden Dragon Ranking continued to flash name after name of rising talents.

"Tsk… look at Ice Block’s nicknames."

Young Li wasn’t surprised by Ying Bing’s ranking.

Just one spot apart, yet the nicknames were worlds apart. Were they even from the same story?

Well, at least they were better than "Flying Poison Green-Turtle" or the like.

Thinking of Huang Donglai’s unfortunate moniker, Li Mo’s mood improved. He smirked and teased:

"Moonlit Sword Phoenix?"

"……"

The "Ice Block" in question cast a cool glance his way, her fingers tightening slightly around her teacup.

Silence.

Undeterred, Li Mo grinned wider. "Frost Immortal?"

"……" Ying Bing took a sip of tea, her brows arching slightly.

"‘Wife-Fortune Battle Soul’?"

"Gah—!"

Li Mo sucked in a sharp breath, his skin crawling.

He couldn’t even imagine the horror of future challengers shouting those four words at him in public.

It was practically a scene of social suicide...

Yet the ice block known as Ying Bing set down her teacup and rested her chin on one hand.

After a few seconds of silence, she met Li Mo’s gaze and added:

“Wife-prospering Battle Soul?”

“......I spoke out of turn earlier.”

Who would’ve thought the ice block would one day learn to deliver a finishing blow?

Young Li had been thoroughly humbled.

Noticing this, a faint trace of satisfaction flickered in Ying Bing’s eyes.

Was she... happy about something?

Even she wasn’t quite sure.

Perhaps it was because... she had finally outranked Li Mo?

Then the next system ranking should also...

Later.

Ignoring Elder Qian and Elder Xue, who were busy pressing each other’s pressure points to stay conscious, and paying no mind to the stunned senior disciples questioning their life choices, the two parties signed a non-aggression pact—henceforth, neither would use the other’s nicknames.

“Chu Long, you’re our witness. From now on, no one calls anyone by nicknames... Chu Long?”

As Li Mo spoke, he turned his head.

But the little princess Jiang Chulong’s expression was off. Her small face had gone pale, her gaze fixed on the Hidden Dragon Ranking displayed over the lake, her lips nearly bitten bloody.

Following her line of sight, Li Mo looked toward the center of the lake.

[Hidden Dragon Ranking – No. 2: Xie Xuan]

[Hidden Dragon Ranking – No. 1: Jiang Yu]

[Martial Arts: Possesses the True Dragon Physique and the Emperor’s Sword Bone, born with divine grace. Capable of comprehending the Landscape of Nations Diagram, inheriting the will of the Nine Provinces, and bearing a strand of imperial destiny. Mastered the Dragon Transformation Art and the Shangfang Emperor’s Sword Technique...]

[Battle Record: Undefeated among peers. Captured the colossal whale of the North Sea alive, engaged in a days-long duel with the former No. 1 of the Hidden Dragon Ranking—the Demon-Summoning Sect’s Holy Son—and achieved a breakthrough mid-battle to severely wound him.]

Jiang Chulong’s delicate face turned whiter than snow.

She frantically wiped her tears, her words stumbling:

“I... I’m... fine...”

“That’s the Crown Prince of Great Yu,” Ying Bing’s voice whispered into her ear via secret transmission.

Hmm... same surname, Jiang, and ranked first on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

He was both Chu Long’s closest kin... and her deepest nightmare.