Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’
Chapter 293: Winter Sunshine, Hidden Dragons Results Released

Qingmu City.

The dawn sky was on the verge of breaking, and the first light of day peeked through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating this newly - built magnificent city.

The huge city gate stood wide open, allowing the endless stream of carriages and horses to flow in and out.

Qingmu City was a dividing line in the southern border and the first major human city outside the core area of the demon race.

Reaching here meant one had entered the sphere of influence of Nanguan.

Above the city gate, which was bustling with people, hung a huge head of a calamity beast, the head of a fourth - grade demon king personally beheaded by the Southern Suppressing King. Even after many years, it still looked lifelike.

Inside the city, the bungalows in the style of Great Yu and the corner towers commonly seen in the southern border were interspersed. On the streets, some people wore long gowns and skirts, while others dressed more boldly.

The cultural customs of the two regions blended together in this city, oddly yet harmoniously.

Inside a carriage in the traffic flow.

"Finally back in the human - dominated area," Li Mo said with a relaxed and cheerful look behind the carriage curtain, as if he had put down a heavy burden.

Qingmu City was not a prosperous place. It couldn't even compare to Ziyang Prefecture City, let alone Yunzhou.

But it gave him a sense of bustling humanity that he found extremely familiar.

"Glacier girl, do you want some?"

"What?"

Ying Bing, who was sipping tea, looked up and followed his gaze.

There was an old man sitting in front of a cart on the street, dipping a bamboo stick into the sugar syrup in the pot and drawing on a stone slab. As he drew, he vividly told stories, attracting a large group of children around him.

Sugar paintings?

Isn't this something only kids eat...

"Yes, I do."

"Okay, then I'll draw one for you too."

Li Mo's smile immediately became brighter.

He talked to the old sugar - painting vendor for a while. When he took out a gold bean, the old man's cloudy eyes instantly cleared up, and he said, "I can tell you're an expert."

Sugar painting wasn't that difficult. As long as you drew quickly before the sugar syrup solidified.

In a short while, a sugar figurine that looked like a chubby - faced doll emerged. With Li Mo's painting skills, it was incredibly lifelike.

"Wow, big brother draws so well!"

"Is this a self - portrait of you?"

"Grandpa Qi always draws the same rabbits and tigers. We're so bored with them."

The children surrounded Li Mo, shouting for him to make more different sugar figurines.

The old vendor's grandson, a chubby and lively boy who was the leader of the local kids, stood with his hands on his hips defiantly and said, "My grandpa is the best. If you're so good, draw more kinds."

Li Mo handed the sugar - made chubby - faced doll into the carriage and raised his eyebrows.

Here it comes. As soon as he entered the human city, he encountered such a classic situation.

The disdain from the so - called "villain"!

Well, there was no need to say what to do next.

Fortunately, Senior Brother Ouyang didn't come with them. The things he drew weren't suitable for kids.

Li Mo curled the corner of his mouth and said, "Today, let me show you what a real painting saint is!"

So.

Two quarters of an hour later.

"Wow, this big snake looks so fierce. What kind of monster is it?"

"Humph, haven't you seen it? This is a Mingjiao."

"What about this one?"

"This is a Shrimp - headed Man."

"Wow, big brother, you draw so realistically. Have you seen all these?"

"Not only seen."

Li Mo stood with his hands on his hips and proudly said, "I've even been one! Have you heard of the talent selection?"

The winter sun seemed to warm up a bit.

The children all had various sugar paintings in their hands, eating while listening to the stories. Even the chubby - faced boy was convinced and voluntarily recognized Li Mo as the new leader.

A new kid - leader on this street was born!

Ying Bing crossed her slender legs. Her fair and cold face was like a goddess in the snow, but she gently took a bite of the sugar - made chubby - faced doll.

It was sweet.

The scene of the young man showing off his skills among the kids was reflected in her eyes.

It made her eyes shine like the winter sun.

After saying goodbye to these little kids, the carriage slowly moved on.

As they were looking for an inn, they saw a large crowd gathered in the distance, three or four layers deep. The carriage couldn't even get through.

"The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Hidden Dragon Ranking is out again. It's a pity there's no Dragon Gate here."

"It's good enough to have something to look at. Well... There aren't many changes in the Heaven Ranking and the Earth Ranking. That's normal... How about the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"

"Here it comes!"

An officer walked through the crowd and posted the last Hidden Dragon Ranking on the bulletin board.

The Heaven Ranking and the Earth Ranking rarely changed throughout the year, and even the Human Ranking didn't change much.

Therefore, the most talked - about one was naturally the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

For a moment, many commoners were stunned, and the sound of discussion rose.

"The changes are so great this time!"

"Lord Zhong, the young marquis guarding our city, has jumped to the sixty - fifth place! With him and General Qu leading the troops in our Qingmu City, we can rest assured."

"If Lord Zhong is on the battlefield, his strength will be even stronger. He can fight beyond his rank. This ranking still seems a bit low."

"Wait."

The commoners whispered to each other, showing great respect for Zhong Zhenyue. After all, with his status, he could have stayed safely in Nanguan, but after returning from Yunzhou, he voluntarily requested to come to Qingmu City.

"Zhong Zhenyue is also in Qingmu City?"

Li Mo in the crowd heard the familiar name.

Not long after.

All the Hidden Dragon Rankings were posted. When it came to near the top ten, the crowd suddenly fell silent.

"Fierce Husband Fighting Spirit, eleventh? Ying Bing... tenth?!"

After a long while, someone exclaimed in surprise, as if opening the floodgates. The crowd erupted in an uproar.

"They're only at the Observation Divine Realm. Even experts at the fifth - grade Outer Scenery Realm wouldn't dare to venture deep into the southern border casually. How on earth did they do it? What is the Heavenly Divine Jade?"

"Tsk tsk, the two of them killed four sixth - grade calamity beasts together. It's extremely difficult for someone at the same realm to fight against two opponents, let alone calamity beasts."

"If this achievement is true, their rankings are understandable."

These two young talents were still quite young.

Moreover, this was only their second time on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and their first - time rankings were already quite astonishing. No one expected them to rise even higher.

But this achievement was real. Xiangliu, Feiyi, Dafeng, and Fanjiaoe were all extremely powerful calamity - beast tribes. In their heyday, they had left many legends in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Fighting against multiple opponents with few, they managed to kill every single one of them without letting any escape.

"By the way, have you noticed?"

"What?"

"Li Mo and Ying Bing always appear on the ranking together, and their rankings rise together. They're so closely linked."

"Is there no room for anyone else between them?"

"You're amazing, Sword Phoenix of the Moon. You're in the top ten," Li Mo said with a smile, looking back.

"...... You're not bad either, Fierce Husband Fighting Spirit."

"..."

Li Mo's smile disappeared.

Wasn't he supposed to be the Peerless Heavenly Jiao?

He had made such a big name in the southern border, but they just changed his nickname. Damn it!

Li Mo decided to leave this place that made him sad and find a restaurant to stay in first.

Ying Bing lowered her eyes and couldn't help but narrow her eyes in thought.

The Hidden Dragon Ranking was out.

Would the calamity beasts become even more aggressive?

Meanwhile.

Inside a restaurant named 'Jiawei'.

"Your Highness, the rankings have been sent to you."

In the private room on the second floor, Zhong Zhenyue rubbed his hands. Without even glancing at the other rankings, he directly picked up the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

He used to be extremely confident in himself.

However, ever since he met Li Mo and Ying Bing, his confidence had been shattered.

So, he learned from his humiliation and took the initiative to come to Qingmu City for training!

"Hopefully, the gap between me and them will be a bit smaller this time..."