Circle Realm is Li Shuwen's incredibly powerful ability.
It's a martial arts achievement, but after he became a Heroic Spirit, it transformed into a personal ability.
Its effects are quite simple: first, it enhances perception. Even the strongest concealment techniques will be detected, as it's a perception of qi, something Li Shuwen has demonstrated several times.
Second, it provides concealment. This isn't like Presence Concealment, which lowers one's presence by masking qi. Instead, it's a true fusion with the surroundings! If the elderly Li Shuwen, who has reached Circle Realm (Extreme), were to use it, he could stand right there, and even if someone touched him, they wouldn't feel anything out of the ordinary.
It's truly absurd.
Mo Shuying doesn't actually know what level he's inadvertently reached. While it's not yet Circle Realm (Extreme)—that will require some time to solidify—his current level is higher, not lower, than Li Shuwen's when he was young.
It's fortunate that Mo Shuying isn't from the same era as Li Shuwen, otherwise, Li Shuwen would have surely abandoned martial arts for scholarship on the spot.
Night had fallen.
Unconsciously, Mo Shuying could now feel the warmth of the hot spring.
The comfortable temperature allowed Mo Shuying to relax even further.
Because Mo Shuying arrived late, several of the hotel staff had already left work. Besides the old woman who lived in the inn and her granddaughter, only a good-for-nothing eldest son remained.
The granddaughter had made Mo Shuying's bed and prepared his clothes before leaving; she was probably asleep by now. This meant no one noticed that Mo Shuying had been soaking for almost the entire night!
As for Mo Shuying himself, his body showed no ill effects from soaking all night. Not only was he fine, but he actually felt incredibly comfortable, almost as if he had been reborn.
With only two or three hours left until dawn, it was then!
"Hmm?"
Mo Shuying, who had been comfortably soaking in the hot spring, frowned. With his eyes closed, he felt the water temperature change.
The previously very comfortable water began to cool, eventually becoming quite icy. Mo Shuying was speechless. Had the boiler in the boiler room gone out?
Mo Shuying immediately dismissed this possibility in his mind. The hot springs here used natural thermal water, and there were several volcanoes nearby whose temperatures created these springs. Generally, the water temperature wouldn't change.
But now...
"Huh?"
Just as Mo Shuying was about to open his eyes, he suddenly "saw" a figure slowly drifting down.
It was strange; he hadn't opened his eyes, yet he could "see" everything around him.
The descending person was a woman, her long hair and clothes fluttering, her bare feet descending from the air to land on the surface of the hot spring water.
*"Crack!"*
With a crisp sound, the entire surface of the hot spring froze, trapping Mo Shuying directly in the ice. His skin could feel the cold wind carrying snowflakes, the icy cold slapping his face. He couldn't help but open his eyes.
"..."
Mo Shuying looked at the beautiful woman before him with a blank expression, completely unfazed.
She wore a blue kimono adorned with snowflakes, her long blue-white hair reaching her calves. On her delicate small face were a pair of golden eyes, her complexion slightly pale, and a single ice-blue flower adorned her head.
"A Snow Woman?"
Mo Shuying was surprised. What was going on with Nihon? Was it really going to be a Night Parade of a Hundred Demons?
"You're not afraid of me?"
The "Snow Woman" seemed a bit puzzled, seeing that Mo Shuying appeared completely unafraid.
In her eyes, the person before her was just an ordinary individual with a mediocre aura. He looked physically robust, but his aura was very faint, clearly a show-off, good for nothing but looks.
But how could such a show-off not show a single trace of fear? Was this rational?
"Afraid of you? Should I be afraid? Honestly, a girl as cute as you isn't scary at all. But what do you want, freezing me like this? You're not plotting something wicked, are you?"
Mo Shuying teased with a smile. He could sense that this "Snow Woman" was very strong, much stronger than Chong Gui or Tsuchigumo. But... he still felt he could easily manipulate her.
"Bah! Nonsense! Empty words! Men really are no good!"
The "Snow Woman" spat, and even her cursing was adorable. But then, the "Snow Woman" remembered why she was there: she was to collect the soul-blood of living beings! To fill the fragments of the secret realm!
Thinking of this, a hint of hesitation and sadness appeared in the "Snow Woman's" eyes. Since being dispatched here, she had collected very little soul-blood, only from those who went "adventuring" in the mountains and then fell off cliffs.
Moreover, she only took those who died instantly from the fall. For those who merely had an accident or didn't die from the fall, she would even offer assistance, secretly guiding them to safety.
But she was too slow. So slow that today, her master sent a Servant, instructing her to complete her task quickly, otherwise...
The "Snow Woman" sighed helplessly. In the end, she had no choice but to descend the mountain to find a target, eventually discovering Mo Shuying.
"I apologize. Taking your life is not my wish, but you may resent me. Remember my name, I am Qing Nü!"
Qing Nü said apologetically, then waved her hand. Dozens of ice spikes appeared out of thin air and shot towards Mo Shuying!
At this moment, Qing Nü had already turned her head, unable to bear watching Mo Shuying being impaled. But—
*"Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink!"*
A series of crisp shattering ice sounds made Qing Nü frown. She turned to look, and all the ice she had shot out were shattered! Mo Shuying was still lying there completely unharmed, a smile on his face.
"How is that possible!"
Qing Nü was stunned, then immediately jumped back to create distance. She realized Mo Shuying was not normal! And really, who soaks in a bath until three or four in the morning?!
"Who exactly are you!"
Qing Nü waved her hand, and a massive ice spike materialized in the air. She shrieked a question, ready to unleash the attack at any moment.
Meanwhile, Mo Shuying stretched his neck and began to stand up.
The thick ice covering the water's surface did nothing to hinder Mo Shuying's movements; he stood up effortlessly, his perfect physique fully revealed.
"Ah! You pervert! Go to hell!"
Qing Nü shrieked and hurled the ice spike! Mo Shuying froze, looking down to realize the towel he had wrapped around his waist was frozen stuck and hadn't come up with him when he stood.
"Damn it!"
*Bang!*
Mo Shuying raised a fist, shattering the ice spike. With his other hand, he quickly grabbed the towel and pulled hard.
"Hiss!"
Well, the cold ice had frozen the towel brittle, and that tug instantly tore it to shreds.
"..."
Speechless, Mo Shuying could only glare! A radiant glow enveloped him as he transformed into King Arthur, donning a full suit of armor, finally covering his exposed parts.
"You! You're a Servant!"
But the moment Mo Shuying transformed, the aura of a Heroic Spirit could no longer be concealed. Qing Nü's face paled; she realized she had bitten off more than she could chew. Without another thought, she turned and fled! She transformed into a swirling snowstorm and flew outside!
"You saw what you shouldn't have! Since you're already here, don't even think about leaving!"
Mo Shuying gritted his teeth. Twice in two days he'd been seen naked by others—he wondered what kind of curse he was under! He'd ignore the centaur and the white-haired girl for now, but this Qing Nü! Mo Shuying wouldn't let her leave so easily! Daring to attack him! She was practically offering herself up as his first kill of the day!
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