Chapter 113: Heavenly Net Earthly Trap Slays the Ox Demon, Thunder Shock Exorcise Evil Goat Has Arrived

Li Qingshan……is coming back?!

The Fishermen's Gang headquarters suddenly fell into silence.

The bearded, leopard-eyed Fishermen's Gang chief's face sank, extremely solemn.

"The spring equinox is approaching; the time for the Divine Sect Branch to open its mountain gate and recruit disciples has arrived, and Li Qingshan indeed should return."

The chief let out a breath and finally leaned back in the grand master's chair.

"No wonder the Divine Sect Branch has been inactive lately; it turns out they were waiting for Li Qingshan's return. And indeed, once Li Qingshan returns, with his temperament, he won't be any easier to deal with than the Ox Demon. Our Fishermen's Gang has been getting close to the Corpse God Sect lately… we'll definitely be eyed by this damned thing!"

Fishermen's Gang chief Jing Wudao's face grew solemn, and he couldn't help but ponder.

Originally, his anger provoked by the Ox Demon gradually calmed down. After all… the Ox Demon could only threaten their Fishermen's Gang's subordinate forces; to the gang's high-ranking members, the Ox Demon posed no threat.

But Li Qingshan is different.

This guy is a renowned expert on the Yúnzhōu Divine Foundation Register; although he has only achieved Divine Foundation Perfection, the Divine Foundation he forged is of the "Six Offices" level—the 【Suspended Thought Thunder Shock Exorcise Evil】 Divine Foundation!

Being able to cultivate the Six Offices Divine Foundation method is in itself a reflection of his foundation and talent.

Coupled with his perfected master-level physique, even an Illusory Appearance expert could be hammered into serious injury by him!

Although the Illusory Appearance is also considered a Divine Appearance realm, it is far inferior to the true Divine Appearance rank; the suppression of the Divine Foundation realm is not impossible to resist.

Many Illusory Appearance cultivators have been defeated by Li Qingshan.

And true Divine Appearance cultivators dare not act lightly, after all, although the Divine Sect Branch's experts have entered the Four Sovereigns Crown Prince Temple… but one cannot truly treat the Divine Sect Branch as having no one.

Li Qingshan is an enforcer sent out by the Divine Sect Branch, specifically targeting the aristocratic clans and sects of Jin Guang Prefecture City.

Mainly, Li Qingshan beats them, and they dare not retaliate.

This is really infuriating.

"Damn it!"

Jing Wudao cursed angrily, helpless.

He indeed does not fear Li Qingshan; as a true Divine Appearance early-stage cultivator, Li Qingshan cannot be his opponent.

But for the Fishermen's Gang, if Li Qingshan really goes on a smashing spree, it would be hard to withstand.

"Fortunately… fortunately, the Ox Demon and this Li Qingshan are not allies."

"Otherwise, the Ox Demon finds the Fishermen's Gang cultivators marked with the Corpse Curse Seal, and Li Qingshan will smash them directly… our Fishermen's Gang would probably be smashed to pieces."

Jing Wudao shook his head.

Vice chief Liu Jinsong sat to the side, his brow also furrowed, after all, the Fishermen's Gang's interests are their interests.

We all share honor together and suffer loss together.

"Chief, have you made contact with the Corpse God Sect's experts? How can the Ox Demon locate those bearing the Corpse Curse Seal? If we don't clarify this, the Ox Demon's threat won't dissipate, and afterward who would dare easily trust the Corpse God Sect's promises?"

Liu Jinsong said solemnly.

"The Strange Gate of the Eight-Armed Prison Lotus Wrath Third Prince Guiyi Miao has erupted in turmoil; the Divine Sect Branch, Temple Suppression Office, Imperial Observatory, and most of the Divine Appearance cultivators of Jin Guang Prefecture City have gone to investigate. This period should have been the Corpse God Sect's best opportunity to infiltrate Jin Guang Prefecture City… but an Ox Demon appeared…"

Jing Wudao shook his head: "What do you think caused the Eight-Armed Prison Lotus Wrath Third Prince Guiyi Miao to riot? It's not yet the fixed time for turmoil; there aren't so many sudden events—most sudden outbreaks are instigated by someone behind the scenes."

"The Corpse God Sect's experts who infiltrated Jin Guang Prefecture City have also all gone to the Third Prince's Temple."

"This is a Four Sovereigns Guiyi Miao……"

"Too many people have ulterior motives…… Just think, the Primordial Origin Divine Sect's place among the Eleven Dao of the Great Jing, the Lingnan Dao Divine Sect, is precisely because of that Four Sovereigns Guiyi Miao it suppresses……"

"Though called suppression, it's actually coexistence with the Guiyi Miao, establishing the doctrine by relying on the temple!"

Jing Wudao's leopard eyes flashed with gleaming light incessantly.

He let out a breath, feeling the topic had drifted, and steered it back.

"This Ox Demon, a clown-like thing, won't be jumping around for long; the Corpse God Sect deliberately dispatched from Yúnzhōu Prefecture City an Eight Extremes Corpse God Envoy, a true Divine Appearance cultivator, who brought a Divine Weapon specifically designed to counter the Translocation Secret Technique, together with a Divine Talisman specially made to seal space……"

"If this Ox Demon dares to jump around again, it will surely be unable to escape even with wings!"

Jing Wudao slammed his palm on the table.

"Really, damn it, is there no one who can deal with this Ox Demon?"

Vice chief Liu Jinsong and Lei Laoqi, upon hearing this, immediately relaxed their brows.

"Stabilized."

An Eight Extremes Corpse God Envoy personally took action, and brought a Divine Weapon that counters the Translocation Secret Technique.

"Everyone……"

"Finally we can sit down and share beef!"

"……"

"……"

Li Che finished his cultivation and was inside the workshop crafting "Dragon Tooth Bodhi" bullets.

This thing is truly not easy to make; previously, one bullet took a lot of time to craft, and from Flying Thunder City to the prefecture city road, over half a month passed without it being carved properly.

Although Li Che's Immortal Craft Dao Fruit has improved considerably, and he has experience making the first bullet, his production speed has increased a lot, yet it still cannot be called fast.

After careful polishing for a while, Li Che finally let out a breath of relief.

"The second 'Dragon Tooth Bodhi' bullet is completed; the Immortal Craft Barrett can finally be used again, and my gun now has ammunition!"

Li Che was in a good mood, and stored the "Dragon Tooth Bodhi" that resembled a work of art.

He stretched, and Li Che left the workshop.

Seeing Li Che come out, Shangguan Qinghong's eyes lit up slightly: "Brother Li, can I come to your house today to mooch a meal? I want to eat your sister-in-law's cooking!"

Since the last time Shangguan Qinghong poured out her heartfelt words, wanting Li Che to be her father, this girl has taken on a reckless attitude, truly treating Li Che as her father.

Li Che brought her home for a meal; after tasting Zhang Ya's craftsmanship, this girl's cheek thickened outright, and she now runs to Li Che's house every day, each time after work she runs even more homesick than Li Che.

"Which day haven't you gone to mooch a meal?" Li Che said irritably.

"Pay the meal fee."

Shangguan Qinghong, however, kept laughing nonstop; she knew Li Che was joking—after all, to them, gold and silver, such vulgar things, really weren't anything.

After Li Che simply tidied up, he left the Imperial Astronomy Bureau together with Shangguan Qinghong, who followed him like a little bug.

Having just stepped down the bluestone stairs, he saw Liu He and Hai Chuan Ying, reeking of alcohol.

"Yo, Brother Li, off work again and heading home? Why not come with us to Cloud Fragrance Pavilion today? I've invited you many times, yet you never go..." Liu He, seeing Li Che, eagerly invited.

"Listening to music in the pleasure quarters—isn't that the standard equipment for us Imperial Astronomy Bureau guest officials?"

"Only Li Che turned out to be such an oddball."

"Every day after work he rushes home, as if the women in Cloud Fragrance Pavilion would eat people."

"Hahaha, another day, another day." Li Che returned the salute with a laugh and nodded at Hai Chuan Ying.

Both shook their heads; Li Che's "another day"—who knows when it will actually come.

"Then Old Liu, I'll wait for you properly, Brother Li... don't go back on your word."

Liu He and Hai Chuan Ying laughed as they left.

Li Che shook his head; these two were rather carefree.

"A normal third-rank guest official of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, after mixing around for a long time, becomes just so carefree—visiting pleasure quarters, drinking in small gatherings, thoroughly laid-back, after all they have no ambition or hope to rise to second-rank guest official."

"To rise to second-rank guest official, one must cultivate the 'Dàjǐng Imperial Astronomy Seven Yuan Divine Eagle Technique' to great accomplishment... This is truly not an easy matter; both divine secret arts and martial arts must reach the great accomplishment level, which is extremely difficult."

"They know they have no hope, so they start enjoying life; it would be better to devote more energy to enjoyment and divine cultivation."

Shangguan Qinghong saw through the state of Liu He and the others, and said with a pout.

"Brother Li, go less to Cloud Fragrance Pavilion; that place is unclean, a mixture of fish and dragons..."

Li Che smiled.

"Would he, Li Che, be that kind of person?"

The two passed the long street and returned to Listening Flower Lane.

The scouts planted by the Black Snake Gang had not withdrawn; instead, their numbers showed a growing trend.

Li Che had never eliminated the Black Snake Gang, mainly because he first began clearing other forces of the Fishermen Gang, in order to confuse perceptions and dispel everyone's notion that the Ox Demon was him, Li Che.

Nowadays, that notion has basically been completely dispelled.

If Li Che wishes, he can wipe out the Black Snake Gang at any time.

After all, the Black Snake Gang isn't much stronger than the White Wave Hall.

His steps paused slightly; Li Che's brow furrowed—in his perception, the number of scouts the Black Snake Gang had planted today had suddenly increased about tenfold, and there was also a hidden expert's aura.

Li Che's eyes flickered with a cold glint; he returned silently to the small courtyard in the lane.

"Wow! Sister Qinghong!"

Upon entering the courtyard, Xixi, who was practicing her fists, immediately sprang up and ran over, shouting that she didn't need to practice martial arts anymore!

Chen Lao instantly felt helpless; he could only announce a break, sitting aside to drink.

Shangguan Qinghong responded with a shriek to Xixi, and the big and the small began stamping their feet nonstop in the courtyard.

"Qinghong's here? I'll stir-fry another dish and we'll have dinner." Zhang Ya walked out from the house, saw Shangguan Qinghong coming to mooch a meal, and smiled gently.

She has always been a very gentle woman.

Moreover, she could see that her husband had little genuine interest in that little girl Shangguan Qinghong; indeed... he was treating her like a daughter to raise.

Furthermore, after hearing Shangguan Qinghong's background at the dinner table, Zhang Ya's maternal love overflowed, and she could no longer hold it back.

Shangguan Qinghong comes from one of the five great clans of the prefectural capital, the Shangguan clan; her family background is excellent, her father being the clan head, an old man nearly a hundred years old; Shangguan Qinghong was born when he forced a maidservant at the age of about one hundred.

After giving birth to Shangguan Qinghong, mother and daughter were not valued; instead, they faced all kinds of difficulties.

Shangguan Zhengheng felt no affection for them mother and daughter, even some dislike; when Shangguan Qinghong was six, her mother died, leaving her alone, and she barely escaped being driven out of the Shangguan family, ending up on the streets.

Fortunately, she was noticed by Deputy Director Lin Xiu of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, who took her as a disciple, giving her a standing in the Shangguan household, and she gradually grew up.

Zhang Ya felt deep pity and affection for Shangguan Qinghong, and didn't mind her mooching meals at all.

Shangguan Qinghong dares to mooch meals without restraint because she relies on Zhang Ya's affection and Xixi's love of playing with her.

After eating, Shangguan Qinghong stayed in the courtyard to continue playing with Xixi.

Li Che entered the study.

He lit an oil lamp; the faintly flickering flame shimmered without cease.

After Li Che bolted the study, his pupils emitted a faint white vapor.

Incipient divine ability, summon spirit!

Countless divine essences piled up into the form of Yin Da, merging into Li Che's carved self-image, the 【Suspended Thought Willow Wood Body】; in the lamplight it cast a shadow, as he carved the wooden figure.

With the summoned spirit fused into the Suspended Thought Willow Wood Body, the wooden body became nearly identical to Li Che.

It could almost achieve a wooden doppelgänger that fakes reality.

Having done all that, Li Che pressed his fingers together and tore open the air.

He donned a bamboo hat, put on a cute ox mask, draped himself in a black robe, and clenched a white divine chess piece in his five fingers.

He instantly vanished inside the study.

……

……

The night was sultry, dark clouds roiling.

The piled-up dark clouds collided, and electric snakes flashed and hid.

Jin Guang Prefecture City, the official road outside the city.

Several simple carriages galloped along the official road.

The coachman whipped the reins swiftly; the spirited horses exhaled hot air, and the speedy steeds raced on the wide official road.

Li Qingshan lay on Mu Po Po's lap, allowing her to gently stroke his head.

And Mu Po Po was reciting to him the secret letter sent from the prefectural city.

"Niu Mo caused trouble again, slaughtering the White Wave Hall under the Fishing Gang's influence; the head and deputy head of White Wave Hall were all killed, their bodies torn to pieces, utterly brutal."

"According to intelligence reports, the head and deputy head of White Wave Hall were granted the Seal of Corpse Curse; the head even worshipped the Corpse God, cultivated Corpse Technique, and killed innocent women, devouring the flesh and blood of thirty‑six of them…"

"Beast!"

Mu Po Po couldn't help shouting the insult.

"Fortunately there is the hero Niu Mo!"

"This prefectural city... why is it still so chaotic!"

Li Qingshan, resting on her lap, slightly opened his eyes and sneered: "Chaos is normal... a Four Sovereign Guiyi Miao sits outside Jinguang Prefecture City, sealing Jinguang Prefecture's fate of never being peaceful."

"Among Yúnzhōu's four prefectures, the Corpse God Sect first chose to corrupt Jinguang Prefecture. Why? Not only because Jinguang Prefecture's noble families and sects easily breed ambition, but also because of the existence of this Four Sovereign Guiyi Miao."

"The Kai Shen Sect stands by the temple... what a grand ambition!"

Li Qingshan let out a sigh.

"The Four Sovereign Guiyi Miao appearing in Jinguang Prefecture is both blessing and disaster."

Mu Po Po's expression shifted repeatedly, and finally she shook her head helplessly.

"So... everywhere is the same, never peaceful."

"There is no peaceful land in the world."

Li Qingshan sat up, clasped Mu Po Po and said, "But rest assured, with me here, you will be at peace."

"Even if it's not peaceful, I will hammer out peace for you."

Mu Po Po stared at Li Qingshan absentmindedly, then her eyes dimmed a bit: "I am old, my Divine Foundation is hopeless, I am unlike you... your future may attain Divine Form and even pursue higher realms."

"And I, I am basically destined to die."

"So, I only wish to spend some peaceful days with you..."

Li Qingshan stared out the window, utterly stunned.

After a while, he kissed Mu Po Po's forehead.

"Don't worry, I will stay with you until we watch this sunset fade away."

Suddenly.

Mu Po Po struggled out of his embrace, staring at Li Qingshan: "No, it's not needed."

"You are Li Qingshan, you need not change yourself for me. I know a single person's power is limited, unable to cleanse the world's corruption, but I hope you can uphold the original resolve when you first rode a horse into the Jianghu."

"I hope you can have a clear conscience! Use your hammer... and for old lady, hammer those disgusting scoundrels to death!"

"Just like what Niu Mo is doing now."

Li Qingshan was stunned.

Then he burst into laughter, and, in a shameless manner, gave Mu Po Po a big kiss.

"No wonder she's the woman I've been thinking of for so long, Li Qingshan!"

"I have never wavered; from the moment I entered Jianghu I liked you!"

The next moment.

Li Qingshan leapt from the carriage onto its roof; the carriage galloped, fierce winds roared, and he stood like a javelin held backward, his robes clinging to his body, tilting backward!

He looked at the driver, who released the reins.

"Peak Master," the driver said respectfully.

"Safely deliver these spirit children into the city, arrange their lodging, and await the sect assessment at the spring equinox."

"Once they enter the city, Lu Chi will bring people to meet you."

The driver clasped his fists and said, "Here you go."

Li Qingshan laughed, his eyes gazing toward Jinguang Prefecture City shrouded in the heavy night mist.

His gaze shifted, looking at the terrifying Four Sovereign Guiyi Miao far away in the rushing Jiulong River, as if it twisted space and time, perched in the river's heart.

Retracting his sight, Li Qingshan tapped his toe, his body darting out like a hawk; mid‑flight a cat‑face mask instantly covered his face.

With a sweep of his wide sleeves, a ram's‑horned hammer slipped into his palm, and as he grasped it, lightning arcs crackled.

Indeed.

Li Qingshan has returned.

He cannot purge all the city's corruption, yet must exert his utmost effort.

That Niu Mo kid is also striving to be a hero.

He, Li Qingshan, once as a youth bore a sword, rode a horse into Jianghu, and chased heroic dreams.

"One can't grow old and lose courage, right?"

…

…

The night was dark and the wind high.

Hoo Hoo!

The airflow surged and rolled; Li Che employed the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao fruit, perfectly condensing his Qi and blood, as if merging into the very air of heaven and earth.

He walked through the long night, wearing a cute bull mask, his towering frame causing the scenery on both sides to recede rapidly with each stride.

Black Snake Gang stronghold.

The wailing gale howled continuously in the darkness, while the willows swayed their branches swiftly.

As the sole remaining major force under the Fishing Gang, the Black Snake Gang now defends with extreme caution, dispatching team after team of skilled warriors to patrol.

Whenever Niu Mo appears, a warning is issued, allowing the Black Snake Gang's experts to escape swiftly.

Standing on the roof, stepping on black tiles.

Li Che's burly figure, wrapped in a black robe, gazed indifferently at the brightly lit stronghold of the Black Snake Gang.

He raised his hand and tapped his brow.

Instantly…

Taking his standing point as the chessboard's star points, the heaven-and-earth chessboard unfurled and spread, mapping onto the terrain, the crisscrossing black lines tracing out the chessboard pattern.

Upon it, on the intersecting points, chess pieces appeared one after another, exuding a dark aura—killing intent aimed at his Niu Mo.

Meanwhile, the Eight Extremes Corpse Curse Seal suppressed within the chessboard kept trembling.

A ring of deathly qi appeared as concentric ripples, continually expanding!

Thereafter, on the chessboard, Corpse Curse Seals appeared one after another, revealing their traces!

Huh?

This is… the Eight Extremes Corpse Curse Seal?!!

Beneath the cute bull mask, Li Che's eyes narrowed; the experts stationed at and around the Black Snake Gang's base were not only numerous but also of exceptionally high caliber.

Among them, there was also an Eight Extremes Corpse Curse Seal, slightly trembling, and under the onslaught of deathly qi, it surfaced.

Corpse God Sect's Eight Extremes Corpse God Envoy!

Exhale——Li Che beneath the mask let out a long breath.

An ambush.

The Black Snake Gang had become bait, the bait that lured him to bite.

After all, the Fishing Gang now has only a handful of forces left; the Black Snake Gang, which surveils Xixi, because Xixi shares a substantial connection with Niu Mo, has been keeping watch and laying ambush.

But it is precisely because of Xixi's relationship with Niu Mo.

So, the Fishing Gang believes Niu Mo will definitely strike at the Black Snake Gang!

Liu Jinsong and Lei Laoqi, the two vice chiefs of the Fishing Gang, were now concealed within the Black Snake Gang's stronghold, restraining their qi and hiding their breath, using a secret technique to shield their divinity.

There is also a Corpse God Envoy from the Corpse God Sect, whose aura is extremely terrifying; though far away, the intimidation it exudes is extremely terrifying.

They are all quietly waiting for his Niu Mo to bite.

One Divine Aspect, two Void Aspect Realm cultivators—this lineup…

Truly impressive; enough to give face!

You guys are really awesome!

Li Che let out a laugh.

With the 【Flying Thunder Chess Saint】, he can come and go freely; even if it's bait, he can easily devour it.

When it comes to eating bait, his Niu Mo is a professional!

Since his debut, he's been on the path of eating bait.

Fishing?

Li Che loves fishing the most.

The Fishing Gang simply refuses to believe it; they must have guessed that Niu Mo possesses a translocation technique, so they laid an ambush in advance.

Or rather, they are confident they have mastered means to counter translocation techniques.

But his Niu Mo's translocation…

is not an ordinary translocation technique!

Although he has mastered the translocation technique of the 【Flying Thunder Chess Saint】, Li Che still feels there's no need to take such a great risk; he must charge in head-on even if the enemy has set up an ambush.

In life, being steady is never wrong.

Li Che wearing the Niu Mo mask, although unrestrained, frenzied, rampant, and utterly uninhibited…

But, he is not headstrong.

Beneath the cute bull mask came a low, sinister laugh.

"Niu Ye Ye, I won't play with you guys anymore."

Moreover, killing doesn't necessarily require close combat.

The breeze whooshed, sweeping wildly.

With a tap of his toes, his burly frame shattered the rustling cold wind, silently merging into the shadows.

Eh?!!

Suddenly, Li Che let out a soft 'eh'.

Within the heaven-and-earth chessboard, a familiar aura intruded wantonly, like a lightning serpent sweeping across the land, swiftly darting, powerful and domineering as it crossed.

Reckless… utterly chaotic!

……

……

Indoors, the lights were bright.

The Black Snake Gang chief sat upright in his chair, his face solemn; beside him stood a great iron broadsword, which he gripped tightly.

Holding the sword, he sat enthroned in the master's chair; the Black Snake Gang chief's eyes shone brightly, very composed and calm.

But his hand gripping the sword kept breaking out in cold sweat, the veins bulging and trembling nonstop, exposing his present tension.

Although he relied on the Corpse Curse Seal to become an Iron Corpse, his flesh rivaled Grandmaster strength.

His Divine Foundation, too, thanks to the Fishing Gang chief's wholehearted cultivation, was forcibly raised to complete Divine Foundation, which counts as a promise for his survival.

But he still felt somewhat terrified.

After all…

The name Niu Mo, nowadays within Golden Light Prefecture City, is indeed renowned!

The Fishing Gang's seven subordinate factions were slaughtered…

It's all the Ox Demon's doing!

Bodies shattered, heads blown apart, blood flowing like rivers…

Facing such a vicious, heinous criminal.

The Black Snake Gang leader… how could he not be afraid?

Who the hell isn't afraid of dying?

「I have forged my flesh into a curse‑iron corpse; I am comparable to a master… the Ox Demon cannot instantly kill me! 」

「As long as I survive, the hidden forces will strike; the Ox Demon won't escape even with wings! 」

The Black Snake Gang leader encouraged himself in his heart.

「Will the Ox Demon… come? 」

He will surely come.

The Black Snake Gang leader knew that, according to Zhang Xiangyang's intelligence, the Ox Demon was Xixi's Dharma protector.

The Black Snake Gang has watched Xixi for so long—how could the Ox Demon possibly let them off?!

「I just need to hold on…」

「I just need not to be instantly killed! 」

「If the Ox Demon comes, it's certain death! 」

Thinking of the ambush forces around him, the Black Snake Gang leader inhaled and exhaled sharply, stirring up a sudden violent wind!

Suddenly.

He heard the sound of rushing thunder in his ears.

He abruptly lifted his head, his pupils constricting.

The Ox Demon has come?!

However…

When the Black Snake Gang leader heard the rumbling of thunder…

Thunder…

It had already arrived before him!

In the pitch‑black night sky, it was as if the thunder god, from a height of ten thousand feet, suddenly hammered forth a bolt of lightning!

With thunder, it tore apart the darkness!

The Black Snake Gang leader's head, forged into a curse‑iron corpse, burst apart with a booming crash!

With a dull thud…

The ground behind the Black Snake Gang leader instantly sank into a deep pit, with radioactive cracks spreading in a web.

A sapphire‑blue ram‑horn hammer smashed into the center of the pit, dust flying as crackling lightning arcs danced about!

The Ox Demon never managed to get down.

But…

The ram has arrived.

No recommendations, running naked, begging for monthly votes, recommendation votes and reads, to steady Lao Li's heart! Lao Li gives thanks!