Chapter 100: Dragon's Tooth Bodhi, Hundred Miles Lock Soul【Seek Monthly Ticket】

The spring rain seemed to become violent, evaporated by the scorching heat, rising up in hazy waves.

Lingering in the air, it brought forth a trace like the aftermath of a raging flood dragon rolling over.

Before the Qin Manor gate.

A terrifying divine aura exploded like thunder, countless electric snakes intertwining and coiling, while an extremely cold deathly aura permeated!

That gray-masked Initial Divine Foundation cultivator had his brow pierced; the terrifying inertia carried by the arrow nailed him hard onto the vermilion door of the Qin Manor, studded with copper nails.

Blood blossomed from the back of his head like a bursting lotus.

Then, a faint 'click' sounded.

That was the gray mask; the sound of it shattering, the cracked mask split in two, slipped off and fell to the ground, revealing a pale middle-aged face, pallid from never seeing sunlight.

His eyes still lingered with the terror before death.

Just a single arrow……

An Initial Divine Foundation cultivator was shot dead on the spot!

Boom—!

The silence lasted only a moment.

A terrifying aura suddenly rose from within the Qin Manor.

"Impudence—!"

A deafening sound, like a thunderclap striking the mortal world, a boulder smashing into a great lake, the sound wave forming a shockwave that erupted from within the Qin Manor, instantly evaporating the spring water swaying in the rain curtain.

Li Che, wearing a horse face, after loosing an arrow, immediately restrained his breath, pushing the 'Sleeping Dragon Elephant' of the 【Dragon Elephant Vajra】 Dao Fruit to the extreme.

His whole body turned into a straight black line, merging into the rain curtain, he clung to the wall and fled.

After darting through several alleys, he finally stood still, pressed flat against the wall, held his breath, even slowing the rhythm of his heartbeat to the extreme.

He gazed with solemn eyes at the space above the Qin Manor, as if a mirage, a huge phantom appeared, a condensation of divinity; merely appearing there gave a feeling of suffocation.

That phantom wore a sorrowful expression, clad in golden armor with scales like golden dragon scales, robes fluttering, possessing four arms, muscles knotted, veins like flood dragons upon them, and thin serpents coiled around his body.

The serpents bore nine heads, twisting and winding along his body, their skin purple, an intense sorrowful divinity surged like a storm, nearly scattering the falling spring rain across the sky!

Divine Aspect!

Li Che's pupils narrowed slightly, his heartbeat becoming ever more steady.

That is the realm above Divine Foundation, Divine Aspect!

The temple deity, by condensing the divine aspect, resembles a god's descent, possessing divine power, thus is the Divine Aspect realm!

This is an extremely powerful realm.

The Qin family, as a clan inheriting for hundreds of years in the prefectural city, is a Divine Aspect lineage; not only does it inherit the Divine Aspect, but it also has a living Divine Aspect old ancestor holding the fort!

This is the foundation of the clan!

Li Che's mind had already linked with the 【Chess Saint】 Dao Fruit, preparing to use the power of the Flying Lightning Chess Saint to shift and depart.

Of course, the premise is that he exposes himself……

Boom—!

Countless raindrops exploded, a powerful force almost forming tangible divine awareness swept across the long street, like a radar scan.

Li Che could even clearly feel countless raindrops invisibly twisting, forming layers of overlapping water waves.

This is the Divine Aspect's divine awareness, sweeping across a ten‑li long street in one pass……

However, when Li Che sensed the opposing divine awareness sweep over his body, he seemed to detect something, withdrew, then swept again.

Li Che made no movement, remaining utterly still, as if fused with the wall.

The divine awareness swept away, then returned, then departed again.

After roughly five or six breaths, the divine awareness swept back once more.

After going back and forth four or five times, it finally left.

Li Che also felt speechless: 'This damned old coot……'

However, Li Che also felt a flicker of joy; after the Dragon Elephant Vajra rose to level 3, the Breath‑Concealing ability of the Sleeping Dragon Elephant could barely evade the divine awareness of a Divine Aspect cultivator.

Just this realization alone made this sortie in horse‑face guise an extremely worthwhile gain.

As for the other gains……

Li Che remained still, aside from guarding against the Qin family's Divine Aspect old coot firing a divine awareness counter‑shot, he was also using the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard ability of the Chess Saint Dao Fruit.

In his pupils, black lines seemed to dance, then crisscross, forming a chessboard grid that spread downward.

Taking Li Che's body position as a chessboard star point, the lines instantly intertwined and spread out, encompassing the area before the Qin Manor gate, because Li Che had pulled in a close‑range view.

Thus he did not venture into the Qin Manor interior, for the Divine Aspect cultivator's divine pressure permeated heaven and earth.

Li Che dared not directly intrude to spy.

However, this was already enough.

With the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard view, Li Che clearly saw the situation before the Qin Manor gate at that moment.

Three figures burst from within the Qin Manor at great speed, their mighty qi and blood intertwining and pervading, striking in all directions.

Two men and one woman; the two men were middle‑aged, dressed in fine silks, while the woman had a graceful, noble appearance, beautiful features, and a slender figure.

Li Che's gaze instantly locked onto that woman.

When the woman saw the gray‑masked man killed by an arrow, her face turned grim as water, her long, fair fingers clenched into fists, deadly killing intent intertwining and pervading.

Li Che wore the horse‑face mask, pressed against the wall.

His expression showed no ripple.

Beneath the horse‑face mask, his eyes were deep and quiet, as if reflecting the woman's exquisite beauty.

He etched it deeply into memory.

Qin Yuqing, the Jade‑faced Toxic Rakshasa.

I am Horse Face—I've remembered you.

The next moment.

Li Che lightly tapped his toes, wearing the horse face, as if merging into the spring rain, vanishing silently.

……

……

The Qin manor was filled with a rich, intertwining scent of blood.

The air still held the burnt smell from bursting electric arcs, along with the scorching heat of evaporated spring rain.

Three splendid figures stood before the gate, gazing at the nailed‑killed silhouette.

Two middle‑aged men fixed their gaze on the woman: 'Yuqing, is this your man?'

Qin Yuqing's coiled black hair lightly brushed her fair, tender cheek; her beautifully maintained face flickered with a cold gleam.

"Yes."

"I sent him on a mission; he should have made some discovery, wanted to return to the manor to report, but was shot dead before the gates."

"Villain… truly bold! Do you regard my Qin manor as nothing?!"

Qin Yuqing's eyes beneath her willow‑leaf brows burst with sharp killing intent; the emanating divine nature of a perfected God‑Foundation intertwined constantly, summoning gloomy winds and ghostly wails.

She now… really wants to kill!

The gray‑faced scout she sent to monitor that carpenter is dead—this is a provocation; who is it?

That stinking carpenter from Fēiléichéng?!

Or someone from another clan? Or perhaps the Temple Garrison? Or a branch of the Divine Sect?

In the capital, there are truly too many forces that would move against the Qin family.

Too chaotic… I really can't guess right away.

Qin Yuqing bit her full lips, light flickering in her eyes, constantly pondering; everyone says she is a mad, poisonous woman who loves to torment people and listen to their cries of pain.

But in fact, her actions are always orderly, she never leaves herself open to being caught, she prepares thoroughly before acting, aiming for a single killing blow, giving the target no chance to struggle.

"By sensing the lingering divine nature, we can analyze the attacker's divine nature… it is the divine nature of wrath."

"Killed by an arrow, a single strike taking down an early God‑Foundation cultivator—must be a divine archer, skilled in archery, to have confidence in a one‑shot kill, leaving no chance."

A middle‑aged man closed his eyes, then opened them; his pupils held a faint red swirl, as if the air were being drawn, continuously spiraling like a vortex.

"A divine archer? One who also cultivates the wrathful divine nature—such cultivators are few even in the capital; even if disguised, divine nature doesn't lie… could it be the "Mind‑Ape Temple"? Or perhaps the divine archer of the Gongyang clan?"

Another middle‑aged man also frowned and speculated.

"An arrow shot from several li away pierced a God‑Foundation cultivator, shattering his inner vision; such accuracy, power, and lethality… this is no ordinary divine archer— which of the great clans in the capital secretly raises such a terrifying divine archer?"

"Why again strike at my Qin family's cultivators? Is it a demonstration? Or… third sister, have your recent deeds been sloppy, leaving a handle?"

Faced with her two brothers' questioning, Qin Yuqing wore a look of impatience: 'Impossible; if I acted, it would surely be clean and tidy…'

"This divine archer perhaps isn't aimed at me, but maybe at our Qin family!"

Qin Yuqing was dissatisfied with her brothers' questioning of her; it was a lack of trust in her ability.

Qin Yuqing clenched her fingers and yanked out the wooden arrow deeply embedded in the wooden door; the arrow bore a spiral pattern, made of spirit wood, like a swimming snake winding along it.

The divine nature lingering on it…

Wait!

"This is…"

Qin Yuqing's pupils suddenly contracted, as if struck by lightning on a clear day.

"The divine nature of the Three‑Eyed Wrathful True Lord?!"

"The divine nature that could be produced by the Three‑Eyed Wrathful True Lord's spirit infant from the Guiyi Miao of Fēiléichéng?"

Qin Yuqing felt somewhat incredulous.

And Qin Yuqing's two brothers, Qin Hano and Qin Lei Xiao, were also stunned, their faces gradually turning strange.

"The divine nature of the Three‑Eyed Wrathful True Lord? Indeed…"

"Third sister, it couldn't be your ex‑husband from Fēiléichéng…"

Qin Hano couldn't help but say.

Qin Yuqing's face instantly turned ferocious: 'Impossible, shut up!'

"That good‑for‑nothing is dead—he died long ago! No corpse can be found!"

"It can't be him!"

Clutching with five fingers, the wooden arrow instantly shattered into powder; Qin Yuqing's eyes went madly wild, making her beautiful face appear twisted and harsh.

"Who on earth is it?"

"Three‑Eyed Wrathful True Lord… who else could refine such divine nature?"

"That stinking carpenter from Fēiléichéng surely can't wash away suspicion… my people just sent to investigate him, and the result was he died—shot dead before the manor."

"Li Che… he surely can't escape involvement!"

……

……

Li Che put away the horse face, propped his oil‑paper umbrella, and returned to the bustling street.

His soles soaked in the wet blue‑stone ground, Li Che walked while pondering, recalling the lovely female visage locked onto by the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard.

Qin Yuqing, that must be her.

Just don't know how her cultivation actually is.

Earlier, through a fleeting glance via the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard, I vaguely sensed her qi and blood strength absolutely not low, her divine nature vast—she should have reached the later God‑Foundation stage.

"The core true transmission of the Golden Split Sect—its cultivation is absolutely not low; as one of the five major sects of Jinguang Prefecture's capital, perhaps it doesn't match the Divine Sect's branch, but within the sect the core true transmission has abundant medicinal resources, plentiful martial methods, qi and blood cultivation… very likely reaching the level of a True Qi Master."

"A generation of nameless immortal artisan bodhi Barrett…… made of dragon-tooth yang wood surpassing refined iron in strength, its body imbued with vast spirituality and divinity, further refined by meticulous carving of dragon-tooth yang wood, fused with bodhi blood-tears and spirit-wood raven-craft, forming the dragon-tooth bodhi bullet……"

"Can it kill a grandmaster?"

"In the depths of Li Che's eyes, his pupils intertwined and flickered with flowing light."

"He certainly knew that between grandmasters there must be a huge gap."

"Between Qin Yuqing and Li Qingshan there must be a huge gulf; just as Liu He and others, when mentioning Li Qingshan, cannot help but be respectful, calling him 'Senior Qingshan' over and over, but when mentioning Qin Yuqing, they call her 'that poisonous woman' in one breath."

"This indicates that even if Qin Yuqing is a grandmaster, she is certainly not a powerful grandmaster……"

"So……"

"Let's try."

"If it can kill her, that's best; if not…… it should at least be able to make her restrain herself a little."

"A wise person, upon learning of a great threat lurking in the shadows, will surely act more cautiously and steadily, not daring to cause trouble lightly."

"Upon first arriving at the prefectural city, Li Che also did not want to cause too much trouble."

"But in this life, walking on thin ice, Li Che must be cautious and careful; he fears not thieves stealing, but thieves taking a liking to him……"

"Qin Yuqing……"

"Such a poisonous woman's fixation makes Li Che's hair stand on end all over; once he thinks of his daughter encountering a great calamity, his liver and gallbladder feel torn apart."

"Therefore, Li Che, in order to gain a bit of peace and quiet."

"He can only make a gamble."

"Li Che closed his eyes, and in the next instant opened them, having already regained calm."

"In Jiangnan, spring mist and rain haze; the willows sway, drunk on the spring breeze."

"Clad in black rugged attire, Li Che in black clothing, lacking the snowy white of a scholar, not like a Confucian who seems to have stepped out of an ink painting."

"Yet he is also refined and gentle, as if blending with the spring rain filling the sky."

"The prefectural city's Bureau of Astronomy has dedicated buildings."

"Yesterday, Liu He and Hai Chuan Ying told him the exact location of the Bureau of Astronomy in the prefectural city."

"Amid the hazy mist and rain, by a tributary of the Nine Dragon River, facing the spring breeze, stands a nine-story jeweled pagoda tower, with eight treasures' layered eaves, two dragons on the summit holding a pearl, its black tiles laid neatly and finely; the water gathered from the spring rain flows down along the edges, like a curtain of jade beads."

"Li Che stepped forward and arrived at the Bureau of Astronomy, to learn about the examination requirements needed to become a guest official of the Bureau of Astronomy."

"Upon reaching the pavilion, he put away his umbrella and shook off the water droplets."

"Li Che stored his oil-paper umbrella into his Qiankun space, then stepped into the pavilion."

"Unlike the imagined office and residence of court officials, there are no hurried figures, no government-assigned personnel paddling about; instead, it is filled with dazzling, myriad glimmers."

"Within frames made of transparent crystal, lined with silk, are displayed all kinds of objects."

"Li Che's gaze swept over, seeing elixirs, weapons, divine wood carvings, and so on……"

"Divided and categorized by wooden plaques."

"Li Che stood dumbfounded; this is the Bureau of Astronomy…… not a supermarket?"

"Sir, do you have any items you wish to purchase?"

"A soft, gentle voice came from the side, a waft of fragrance drifting slowly; Li Che turned his head and saw a graceful young lady, her skin white as jade, her gaze tender and turning a thousand times, standing quietly beside him."

"Li Che's heart gave a start; having entered the Bureau of Astronomy, he had actually never noticed when this woman appeared."

"The woman looked at Li Che and smiled, saying: 'On the first floor of the Bureau of Astronomy, all are top-tier grade-ten goods; of course, there are also mundane items of lesser grade. Sir, state your needs, and I can help you advise.'"

"Li Che shook his head and clasped his fists, saying: 'I have come to learn about the examination for becoming a guest official of the Bureau of Astronomy.'"

"A flicker of surprise appeared on the woman's face."

"Before she could answer, a hearty laugh rang out."

"'Hahaha, Master Li has arrived? I've been waiting for you.'"

"Liu He arrived wearing the constable's uniform, with the token of the Guard Office at his waist, smiling broadly."

"He had just conversed with Li Che yesterday, and felt quite favorable toward him; although this person comes from Feilei Small Town, he is well-versed in worldly affairs, and with Li Qingshan's recommendation, his first impression is excellent."

"The fair young lady saw Liu He, nodded, and said: 'Guest Official Liu, won't you introduce yourself?'"

"'Miss Shangguan, this is Li Che, a woodcarving master from Feilei City, recommended by Senior Qingshan, who has come to our Bureau of Astronomy to participate in the guest official examination.'"

"Liu He didn't beat around the bush, directly stating Li Che's identity."

"'I am Shangguan Qinghong, Master Li, pleased to meet you.' Upon hearing, she smiled and said, 'Is it Senior Qingshan's recommendation?'"

"'Alright, Guest Official Liu, you can go get busy; I heard you've taken on a big job, carving a model sculpture of the 'Eight-Armed Prison Lotus Wrathful Third Prince Temple Divine Statue'—this work is not easy, Master Li, I'll handle the reception.'"

"The woman said with a smile."

"Liu He's face stiffened, he helplessly shook his head, knowing that Shangguan Qinghong was like this because of Li Qingshan."

"He didn't mind either, looking at Li Che: 'Master Li, I wish you success in your examination; another day I'll take you to Yunfang Pavilion for drinks and music.'"

"Shangguan Qinghong, not pleased, kicked Liu He; Liu He laughed heartily and left."

"'Master Li, don't hang out with him; that Yunfang Pavilion is not a good place.' Shangguan Qinghong restored her dignified appearance, looked at Li Che, and her voice turned sweet and girlish."

"Li Che smiled, his eyes flickering."

"The double surname Shangguan…… could she be from the Shangguan clan among the five great clans of Jinguang Prefecture?"

"Shangguan Qinghong brought Li Che to a private room inside the pavilion, where a hot stove boiled water, and the rich tea fragrance filled the entire room."

"'Master Li, have some tea; this tea is the 'Dragon Spine Tea' grown with water from the Nine Dragon River, sweet on the palate, and upon ingestion it feels like a blaze burning, like a dragon surging through the river, containing a hint of divinity, with an excellent flavor.'"

"Shangguan Qinghong had previously been reading and drinking tea in the private room; because she sensed Li Che's arrival, she went out to receive him."

"Today is her shift; during her shift, reading and drinking tea is naturally the most comfortable."

"Shangguan Qinghong is an official staff member of the Bureau of Astronomy, certified by the court, not like Liu He and Hai Chuan Ying, who became guest officials merely by passing the examination."

"'Master Li, you come from Feilei City?'"

"Shangguan Qinghong poured a cup of tea for Li Che, her slender fingers pressed together, pushing the teacup toward Li Che's face."

Fēiléichéng is far from peaceful; I heard the city lord went mad, gathering the blood of a thousand infants, seizing the divinity of a thousand woodcarvers, sacrificing the entire city's populace to aid the Guiyi Miao's ascent to the Nine Luminaries… Fortunately, the Blue Mountain senior smashed their plot with a goat‑horn hammer.

For Master Li to come from Fēiléichéng to the prefectural city is indeed no easy feat.

Shangguan Qinghong glanced at Li Che.

My daughter, the spirit child, has decent divinity; she was valued by the Blue Mountain senior, so she left Fēiléichéng early and thus avoided a disaster.

Li Che laughed.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Qinghong's face stiffened.

Ah? Master Li already has a child?

Li Che's hand holding the tea cup paused; he is twenty‑two… has a child… is that abnormal?

Shangguan Qinghong's posture relaxed all at once, and she slumped into the grand chair like a roguish maiden.

Now that he's a married man, there's no point in pretending anymore.

"That's truly a pity." Shangguan Qinghong took out various candied fruits, melon seeds, and jerky from the tea table drawer and began eating them without restraint.

What image is there to maintain before a married man?

Anyway, he won't marry her.

Li Che: "……"

However, at this moment Shangguan Qinghong gave off an even more relaxed feeling.

The two conversed, and their rapport grew even better.

Senior Brother Li, this is your examination token and also your identity travel token; you can come to the Imperial Astronomy Bureau tomorrow. The guest official examination must be prepared in advance, requiring the Director's consent and seal before it can be enacted; we will need to report this.

Shangguan Qinghong handed Li Che a wooden plaque, which was actually made of spiritual wood.

A jade hue flowed from the fingertips, and the information instantly appeared before his eyes.

……

【Divine Weapon (Top Grade of Ten Capitals): Imperial Astronomy Bureau Third‑Rank Token】

【Craftsmanship: made from ninth‑grade spiritual wood "Southern Separation Pine", capable of storing divinity and inner energy, extremely sturdy, can be fashioned into floor tiles, a symbol of identity】

【Overseen by: Imperial Astronomy Bureau Third‑Rank Guest Official and Bureau Executor】

……

Li Che fiddled with the token, his eyes lighting up: "Southern Separation Pine wood?"

Shangguan Qinghong looked at Li Che in surprise: "Senior Brother Li, you have keen eyes to spot the token's wood type at a glance—that's extremely rare."

Once Senior Brother Li passes the examination, he can input his own divinity or inner energy, making it a symbol of identity.

Li Che nodded and put the token away.

Shangguan Qinghong then told Li Che a few more points about tomorrow's examination, after which Li Che took his leave.

At the latticed window, Shangguan Qinghong cracked a handful of melon seeds, watching Li Che's black silhouette merge into the rain‑curtain as he held up his umbrella; her eyes flickered.

"Crack‑crack, in front of the Qin manor, someone was shot dead…… Probably not him? He showed no sign of divinity‑foundation, his qi and blood cultivation merely at the blood‑exchange stage."

"One arrow killed an early‑stage Divinity Foundation cultivator; crack‑crack, the Qin family's poisonous woman seems to have kicked an iron plate."

……

……

Leaving the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, Li Che went to Liuxiang Pavilion, packed wine and dishes, stored them in the Cosmos Jade, then headed home.

Along the way, the spring rain drizzled, making a muffled sound on the oil‑paper umbrella.

Just as he reached the entrance of Tinghu Alley,

Li Che stepped down; the pooled water on the ground instantly rippled, and the 【Chess Saint】 dao fruit in his chest throbbed as the heavenly chessboard unfolded.

Within the intersecting grid of the chessboard,

Strands of aura rose from the ground, appearing in his perception as brilliantly flashing starlight.

"One two three…… suddenly three gray‑masked watchers appeared—what a poisonous woman."

Li Che's expression didn't change; he kept his umbrella shaft straight and strode into Tinghu Alley.

Around him, three figures in gray masks lurked, their eyes deep, breaths restrained, following orders to continue surveillance.

The next day, the spring breeze brought rain.

Li Che instructed his wife Zhang Ya in a more advanced tendon‑opening exercise, and incidentally used the 【Flawless Heart】 divinity to help her tidy her body.

He also routinely taught Xixi martial arts, and after refining her internal divinity to strengthen her physique, Li Che left the cottage.

Leaving Tinghu Alley, the three strands of surveillance sensation surfaced once again.

Li Che paid it no mind, holding his umbrella toward the Imperial Astronomy Bureau.

Under the gaze of the three Qin manor gray‑masked observers, he entered the Imperial Astronomy Bureau.

The next moment.

Li Che clenched the Feilei chess piece in his five fingers, and the instant he restrained his breath and stepped onto the Imperial Astronomy Bureau grounds, he vanished without a trace.

……

……

Workshop cottage.

Spring rain drizzled.

It soaked much of the timber.

Li Che sat in a chair, took out the "Dragon Tooth Bodhi" crafted from dragon‑tooth yellow‑yang wood, and carefully polished its grain.

After it was thoroughly polished,

Li Che tore open the air with his five fingers, seized a horse‑face mask, and placed it on his face.

He donned a bamboo hat, lowering its brim.

Click!

With the sound of metal grinding and clashing, the slender barrel crafted from seventh‑rank spirit‑wood dragon‑tooth yang was set into the gun body.

"Namo Immortal Craftsman Bodhi Barrett" was seized diagonally by Li Che in his hand, and the sole dragon‑tooth bodhi was pushed into it.

Instantly, a wave of scorching heat and a tumultuous noise surged, like a flood dragon's roar, building up, ready to erupt!

From a hundred li away, they aimed to lock souls!

They tapped the tip of their foot.

The horse‑face was like a ghost, soundlessly blending into the fine, comfortable spring rain as thin as cow hair.

Six‑thousand‑word big chapter, please vote for monthly tickets, please vote for recommendation tickets, please keep reading, wow, next strong push, subscriptions aren't rising much, can only rely on continued reading to maintain, recommendation after launch on PK, Lao Li continues to burst out updates, please everyone support!





(End of chapter)