Chapter 121: Xixi's Fireworks Debut, Divine Sect Elder Scouts Early [Seek Monthly Ticket]

The spring rain was chilly and icy, striking the face, actually releasing all myriad chill in a blooming blur.

Shangguan Qinglei's body was intertwined with darting lightning arcs, but his eyes suddenly widened, staring at the big thing Xixi carried out—those six metal tubes, like poisonous snakes, making his hairs stand on end.

An extremely intense threat of death simply enveloped his heart……

He's going to die!

The perception abilities of top-tier spirit children are extremely strong; they possess a sense of smell far surpassing ordinary people.

Shangguan Qinglei's perception is naturally not bad either.

His body stiffened, his tempered bone perfected physique at this moment felt as if filled with mercury and loaded with lead blocks.

"Fireworks?"

"What fireworks?!"

It was unclear whether it was sweat or raindrops silently sliding down from Shangguan Qinglei's forehead.

He fiercely stared at the mechanism in Xixi's hand, made of mixed wood and metal!

Watching the little girl produce the mechanism, the whole person seemed to go mad, shouting nonstop about fireworks.

Shangguan Qinglei then felt an inexplicable fear arise from deep within his heart!

In the air……

At some point, a smell of gunpowder began to permeate!

"Let's set off the fireworks——!"

"Ahahahaha!"

Xixi's eyes seemed embedded with the brightest stars, sparkling and bursting with radiance.

The next moment, she pulled the trigger!

Boom—boom—boom——!

The terrifying blast erupted instantly on the fighting stage, accompanied by extremely dazzling light!

The sound wave swept across, tearing apart the endless spring rain!

Extremely powerful airflow and a howl suddenly spewed from Xixi's hand-held "Custom-made Nameless Immortal Craft Gatling".

The recoil force made Xixi's little flesh all over vibrate at high frequency; her new clothes were blown tight by the jetting airflow, outlining her little belly!

The piercing howl, gorgeous fireworks, and surging shockwave——

The six rapidly rotating metal tubes glowed red, emitting scorching heat, feeding qi and blood, squeezing and ejecting the "Wooden Ferry Crow" contained within at extreme burst speed!

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

Countless brilliant golden lightning, like golden sword qi, slashed swiftly, tearing apart the leisurely spring rain of the equinox.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Shangguan Qinglei's hairs stood on end……

Fast!

Too fast!

What the hell is this thing?!

He cursed in his heart, but his body moved without hesitation, heavily kicking off the fighting stage, launching himself upward and beginning to sprint!

His qi and blood surged out recklessly; the spot where he had stood was instantly swallowed by the explosion, the blast's shockwave fiercely lashing his body.

Wild winds surged, airflow jetted, the wooden fighting stage exploded into splinters like steel needles, scraping Shangguan Qinglei's cheek……

His eyes seemed to lose focus……

Because he had only launched himself about two or three body lengths, he had no further means and could not dodge!

The terrifying sweeping Wooden Ferry Crows exploded on the fighting stage into continuous spray-like smoke and dust, closely following!

The wooden black crows ejected from the mechanism Xixi held seemed to flap their wings, a thousand crows crying shrilly……

Shangguan Qinglei was ultimately submerged!

Countless golden light burst in his pupils, thick gunpowder smoke engulfing him.

Accompanying it was the pain that nearly made him faint, like a tide, surging over heaven and earth.

Could not dodge……

Absolutely could not dodge!

At this moment, Shangguan Qinglei finally let out an uncontrollable, deep-throated painful howl!

"Ah——!"

Rat-tat-tat——

Countless Wooden Ferry Crows struck Shangguan Qinglei's body, a strong burnt smell spreading, his body suspended in midair, struck by countless Wooden Ferry Crows.

Struck…… he couldn't fall down, like a picturesque painting amidst the spring rain!

Blood mist, one puff after another, suddenly exploded!

Blood red and gold blended into extremely beautiful fireworks!

Thick black smoke, accompanied by the fleeting exploding golden blossoms within, filled with artistic beauty.

Heaven and earth, a deathly silence.

Only Xixi remained, along with the ecstatic shriek of the Wooden Ferry Crows spewed from the barrel.

And……

Rat-tat!

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

……

……

Above and below the arena, everyone had fallen into a deathly silence.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at Xixi as she pulled out a big thing and unleashed a furious barrage at Shangguan Qinglei.

Her mad, excited appearance, accompanied by the word "fireworks" from her mouth, made everyone feel a slight chill.

You call this… fireworks?!

Can this be called fireworks?!

Death fireworks?!

Not far away, Gong Yuanliang and Huang Sixiang on the arena almost simultaneously stopped their attacks.

Watching the abused, unrecognizable Shangguan Qinglei, Gong Yuanliang let out a long breath—indeed… just like that!

This little girl, she's indeed dangerous!

Shangguan Qinglei… is he about to be beaten to death?

Gong Yuanliang and Huang Sixiang both shivered almost simultaneously, then they resumed fighting each other.

Fortunately… the first segment is about to end, so they don't have to face this crazy girl.

Huang Sixiang's body trembled slightly—this girl… is she really that fierce?

He recalled that, down below earlier, he seemed to have glanced at Xixi, and at that time his eyes held contempt.

Now he realizes he was wrong—it was his eyesight that was poor.

……

Below the arena.

Shangguan family area.

Leisurely seated in the grand master's chair, eating melons and fruits, preparing to watch his son ruthlessly bully that three-year-old little girl, the head of the Shangguan family, Shangguan Zhengheng, suddenly sprang to his feet.

His beard and hair flew up, his eyes fixed tightly on the arena.

Originally, seeing Xixi block Shangguan Qinglei's Azure Lightning Body with Grand Master-level martial arts, he felt quite amazed, thinking this little girl truly had talent; if she grew up, she could indeed be a match for Qinglei.

But when Xixi pulled out the "special edition Namu Xian Gong Gatlin", spewing out wooden ferry crows that engulfed Shangguan Qinglei, he could no longer remain leisurely.

With a flash, he almost instantly appeared at the edge of the arena.

"Stop!"

A roar burst from deep within Shangguan Zhengheng's throat.

Clenching his five fingers, it seemed as if heaven and earth were sealed; a terrifying pressure, like a mountain, bore down horizontally, pressing toward Xixi.

Void Phase pressure, like a mountain flood bursting forth, surged rolling!

However, just as he made a move, two figures appeared before him, one after another.

The first was Zhang Qingzheng in a scholar's robe, his face as bitter as coptis, increasingly reeking, his dead-fish eyes fixed on the oily, slick-haired Shangguan Zhengheng, he said coldly: "Shangguan Zhengheng, do you want to die?"

Beside Zhang Qingzheng stood Li Qingshan in green clothes, gripping a ram's horn hammer that had slipped from his sleeve, coldly staring at Shangguan Zhengheng, eager to strike.

"My son… is going to be beaten to death!"

Shangguan Zhengheng's face cold, his beard and hair flying wildly, his supremely luxurious gold silk robe dancing in the spring rain.

"Whether he's dead or not, as the examiner, I know better than you."

"Moreover, even if he only has a breath left, I can revive him."

Zhang Qingzheng's beard and hair fluttered lightly, his dead-fish eyes lightly regarding Shangguan Zhengheng.

Compared to Shangguan Qinglei's life or death, Zhang Qingzheng felt maintaining the Divine Sect examination's order was more important; even though Shangguan Zhengheng was a Void Phase cultivator, he must not interfere with the Divine Sect's order!

"You…!"

Shangguan Zhengheng was furious, this pedantic bastard, a dead scholar!

It's not your son who's about to be beaten to death, so of course you don't care!

However, Shangguan Zhengheng also sensed the atmosphere was off, and did not forcibly intervene again.

He turned his head to look at the arena.

Li Qingshan felt regretful; seeing Xixi's fireworks just now so powerful… he couldn't help but feel an urge to act.

If Shangguan Zhengheng intended to act forcefully, he would have no choice but to reluctantly smash his head.

Too bad, Shangguan Zhengheng chickened out.

Zhang Qingzheng appeared on the arena in a flash; Xixi had already ceased firing, six scorching metal barrels slowly winding down, pointed skyward, emitting diffuse green smoke.

Xixi panted heavily, brows furrowed, her little face flushed red, full of excitement after setting off the fireworks.

Finally set off the fireworks!

Happy!

Xixi's little face smiled brightly.

Zhang Qingzheng's bitter-coptis face looked at her; Xixi hurriedly put away the "Namu Gatlin", her two small hands clasped together, resting an inch above her buttocks, a picture of wronged grievance after doing something wrong.

Zhang Qingzheng's heart melted, yet his bitter-coptis face showed no change, looking indifferent to joy or anger.

"It's fine; you asked me beforehand, and I said divine weapons and mechanisms are unrestricted, because with me here, your life and death won't be a problem."

Zhang Qingzheng said lightly, this was to comfort Xixi so she wouldn't be afraid.

Zhang Qingzheng turned his head toward the scorching smoke and dust that had finally smashed down onto the arena, Shangguan Qinglei.

He flicked his sleeve fiercely; divine essence like rain condensed into a flowing cloud, hovering above Shangguan Qinglei's head, pouring down.

The smoke and dust cleared, revealing Shangguan Qinglei's appearance.

Hiss—

The sound of drawing in cold breaths came from the mouths of the spectators around the arena.

Too horrible!

Shangguan Qinglei's body was completely scorched black, skin split and flesh torn, he hardly looked human anymore, his blackened skin piled thickly, his whole body reeking of roasted meat.

He fell to the ground, his eyes vacant, focus lost.

Only his still‑rising chest showed he was not dead, that he still had a breath.

With Zhang Qingzheng's divine rain, like drought meeting sweet rain, Shangguan Qinglei was hauled back from death's door; his flesh twitched and the shattered wood splinters embedded in it were expelled.

His wounds gradually healed, vitality restored.

He didn't die, but the psychological shadow left is likely far greater than Liu Changqing's.

「Not dead. 」 Xixi craned her neck to take a look, then breathed a sigh of relief.

Xixi didn't want to kill anyone, even though Shangguan Qinglei's mouth was a bit foul and he was somewhat unpleasant.

But after all, he was the younger brother of her good friend Qinghong Jiejie; Xixi didn't want to leave a bad impression on Qinghong Jiejie because of this.

Xixi breathed a sigh of relief; just thinking about setting off fireworks made her hard to control herself.

Good, he didn't die.

Under the divine rain, Shangguan Qinglei's wounds were mostly healed; old flesh sloughed off and tender new flesh grew.

「Shangguan Qinglei failed his assault on the stage, while Li Nuanxi succeeded in defending it. 」

In the first round, Shangguan Qinglei received a rating of 'lower A'.

「Li Nuanxi received a rating of 'upper A】! 」

Zhang Qingzheng's robes fluttered as he spoke lightly.

Shangguan Zhengleng stared coldly, said nothing, raised a hand and gestured; Shangguan Qinglei was instantly swept up by an invisible force to his side.

Holding his son, although his wounds had healed, the laceration scars had not yet faded.

「Good, very good……」

Shangguan Zhengleng felt extreme heartache; this was his most beloved son.

He had great talent, resembling him in his youth; he had placed high hopes on him, never expecting that he would be eliminated in the first round.

A rating of lower A belongs to the third tier among supreme-quality prodigies.

Only a supreme-quality prodigy still standing on the stage after the first round can earn an upper A rating.

In fact, the five supreme-quality prodigies on the stage are essentially the true heirs of the Divine Sect; in the second round's spirit-assessment technique, they are all supreme-quality prodigies, with little difference.

「Father…… it hurts so much……」

Shangguan Qinglei, held in Shangguan Zhengleng's arms, his 1.7‑meter height made him look slightly awkward.

But Shangguan Zhengleng was deeply distressed.

「It's fine, my dear son is fine…… Dad won't let you suffer for nothing! 」

A flicker of cold stillness and icy killing intent flashed in Shangguan Zhengleng's eyes; he had never suffered such a great loss.

In the distance, the location of the Imperial Observatory.

Shangguan Qinghong sneered at the scene of fatherly love and filial piety, her eyes full of disappointment and disgust.

In his impression, Shangguan Zhengleng had never treated her like this; even as she grew up, the number of times she had seen him could be counted on one's fingers.

She looked toward Xixi.

A tenderness welled up in her eyes.

She knew Xixi was angry because of Shangguan Qinglei's repeated baseborn remarks.

However, Shangguan Qinghong never imagined Xixi could be so fierce……

「Interesting, that mechanism…… rumored to be a device mastered by the Ox Demon, capable of shooting explosive blasts—the Tang clan mechanism 'Wood Ferry Crow', an enhanced version of the Tang clan mechanism. 」

Liu He stood aside, squinting in observation, his eyes filled with a hint of awe.

「What a formidable mechanism and concealed weapon……」

「The rumors say that Brother Li's daughter Xixi is the Ox Demon's heir; looking now…… indeed so, the Ox Demon is famed for its concealed‑weapon techniques. 」

Hai Chuan Ying beside him drew a deep breath.

He couldn't help but think, couldn't help but compare and simulate……

If it were his Hai family's genius prodigy Hai Chaosheng facing Xixi wielding such a mechanism and concealed weapon, could he win?

The final result was disheartening to him.

He couldn't win, simply couldn't win……

Hai Chaosheng, though a seven‑year‑old who had completed the marrow‑tempering stage, could at most endure a few breaths longer, judging from Shangguan Qinglei's performance.

The final result would not be any better than Shangguan Qinglei's.

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The explosive power of that 'Wood Ferry Crow' is enough to disrupt the qi‑blood circulation of a bone‑tempered cultivator with a single shot, and Xixi…… has over a hundred such shots……

Equivalent to a hundred bone‑tempered cultivators unleashing killing blows simultaneously.

Marrow‑tempering completion…… cannot be blocked!

Even an ordinary three‑stage blood‑exchange might not withstand it, unless one forges a divine foundation to resist with mighty divine power.

「I admit…… I misjudged. 」

Hai Chuan Ying drew a deep breath.

「Three years old is also an age not to be underestimated. 」

……

……

Among the family seats.

Li Che's raised mouth corner was hard to suppress even compared to an Immortal Craft Barrett; his eyes showed a hint of satisfaction.

As expected of Li Che's daughter, the fireworks she set off……

It has a touch of his standard!

Although the aim was still a bit off, many fireworks techniques were rather clumsy, and controlling the recoil of the "Immortal Craft Gatling" was also quite taxing; this was already a weakened version of the Immortal Craft Gatling, and if it were the Ox Demon version, a few shots would likely have Xixi's bones falling apart.

Li Che never stopped improving and upgrading the "Homage Immortal Craft Gatling" and the "Homage Immortal Craft Barrett".

Mainly, the "Wood Ferry Crow" was being upgraded, so its carrying mechanism naturally had to be upgraded as well.

Beside her, Zhang Ya linked arms with Li Che, watching the three-year-old daughter on the arena who bore the mechanism, slaying gods who block gods and buddhas who block buddhas; for a moment she felt a bit dazed, even questioning life.

Is this Zhang Ya's daughter?

She turned her head to look at her husband, thinking of her husband's identity as an Ox Demon, and suddenly felt relieved.

However, she also had some worries in her heart.

"Husband... do you think Xixi might be a bit too violent?"

Zhang Ya looked at Li Che, lowered her voice, and asked softly.

"Violent? No... haven't we not yet beaten Shangguan Qinglei to death?"

"How could that be considered violent?"

"Besides, a girl needs some self-defense ability, otherwise she'll be bullied in the future."

Li Che, however, didn't think much of it.

Where's the violence? Xixi is clearly gentle.

If it were him, Shangguan Qinglei would now be a pile of broken corpses, his Heaven-and-Earth Jade completely emptied.

Compared to him, Xixi is extremely gentle.

Zhang Ya immediately closed her mouth; indeed, discussing violence with her husband... it's like playing music to an ox.

Li Che patted his wife's hand, his gaze falling on Shangguan Zhenghe, who had appeared beneath the arena, intending to use his aura to pressure Xixi, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Bullying the small with the great, a grandmaster of the Void Appearance... actually plans to use his own Void Appearance aura to pressure a three-year-old child.

Are you even still human?!

Wretched beast!

Li Che quietly pulled out the little notebook he had kept hidden for a long time, and wrote Shangguan Zhenghe's name on it.

This grudge, noted!

Li Qingshan and Zhang Qingzheng's intervention, together protecting Xixi, actually left him with no further action.

After Zhang Qingzheng announced the conclusion of Xixi's first segment's scoring on the Jia scale, Li Qingnian embraced Xixi and returned to Li Che and the others.

"Mother——!"

As soon as Xixi returned, she darted into Zhang Ya's embrace, her head constantly rubbing.

"Xixi is so scared, she was frightened to death......"

Xixi said pitifully.

Zhang Ya hurriedly fumbled to comfort her: "Xixi sweetheart, does anything feel uncomfortable? Mommy will look, tell Mommy!"

Zhang Ya sized up Xixi, her face showing heartache.

At such a young age, to have to spar on the arena with a bunch of kids older than her by a full cycle, how arduous.

"That Shangguan Qinglei is so ugly and scary, Xixi is afraid, Xixi wants to eat braised pork, big chunks, Mommy make it!"

Xixi continued to nuzzle in Zhang Ya's embrace, timely putting forward her own conditions.

"Okay okay, when we get home, Mommy will make it for you."

Zhang Ya rubbed Xixi's head, saying affectionately.

"Mommy is so nice, I like Mommy." Xixi's little face kept rubbing against Zhang Ya's long legs.

Beside him, Li Che looked on with extreme envy.

Li Qingshan first went to Aunt Mu's place to show some attentiveness, then came to Li Che's side, pulled a master's chair and sat down, the two sitting side by side.

"Senior, I have a small doubt." Li Che looked at Li Qingshan, speaking seriously.

"Go on." Li Qingshan laughed.

"When you initially tested my divinity, I was also a top-tier spirit child... why don't I need to go on the stage?" Li Che said, pursing his lips.

Li Qingshan looked at Li Che with a face of contempt: "Show some face, what cultivation level do you have in martial arts and divinity, to be embarrassed to go on stage?"

"Do you want to destroy these children?!"

Li Che: "..."

"You're twenty-two, still embarrassed to argue with these kids?" Li Qingshan shook his head: "After Xixi entered the Divine Sect, I guided you into the Woodcarving Ridge, which also counts as a member of the Divine Sect."

"The Woodcarving Ridge is perfect for you; it has vast expanses of spiritual wood for you to tinker with."

Li Qingshan said.

Li Che, hearing that, laughed: "No, I don't mean that..."

"Don't spirit children have the chance to enter the Third Prince Guiyi Miao within a hundred-zhang range to undergo the trial of divine resonance?"

"I think I can also go resonate..."

Li Qingshan suddenly realized; this was actually Li Che's purpose, wanting to observe the Four Emperors Guiyi Miao up close.

Entering the Guiyi Miao to observe the deity, this is a thought every woodcarving master has, human nature, understandable.

But Li Qingshan was somewhat uncertain: "This is hard to say... I'll ask the sect leader later."

"Strictly speaking, divine resonance... you cannot go."

"Why?"

"Although your divinity is young, like a spirit child's, but you are ultimately too... mature."

Li Qingshan weighed his words.

Li Che was speechless; you might as well just say he's too old, huh?

Li Qingshan glanced at Li Che, hesitated, then said: "Can you imagine yourself with Nezha's braids, wearing a red dudou, standing before the Guiyi Miao, striking a pose?"

Li Che opened his mouth.

The temple god's resonance... is it like this?

"After all, it's the Guiyi Miao of the Eight-Armed Hell Lotus Wrathful Third Prince; naturally it should be more vivid, making it easier to resonate with the temple god."

"Like Lu Chi, he still keeps his Nezha braid to this day, just to maintain the temple god's resonance and more easily accommodate the temple god's divinity."

"If you can accept it... then there's no harm in giving it a try."

Li Qingshan's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but break into a grin.

"Damn, though it's eye‑stinging, I'm really curious what's going on."

Li Che didn't even dare imagine that scene, waving his hand: "Forget it, let's talk later, let's talk later..."

Li Qingshan nodded, then his expression turned solemn.

A sound echoed in Li Che's ears, that was Gao Ming's divine resonance transmission technique.

"Niu Mo, let's discuss cooperation."

Li Qingshan transmitted via voice.

Li Che raised an eyebrow, the Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit trembled slightly, and he quickly deciphered Li Qingshan's method—a special divine resonance vibration technique.

"Senior, please speak."

Li Che also tried to respond using divine resonance transmission.

Li Qingshan stared, astonished, glancing at Li Che, never expecting him to have mastered the divine resonance transmission technique.

"Today, many strong cultivators have gathered in Jinguang Prefecture City—the five great clans, the five great sects, the Divine Guard Army, the Temple Suppression Office, the Bureau of Astronomy, and the Divine Sect Branch... almost all the strong ones are present."

"This opportunity is truly rare..."

"You can detect the corpse curse seal, right? This is an excellent opportunity to sweep a detection... to see... just how many demons and monsters are hiding!"

Li Qingshan transmitted his voice, very solemn.

Li Che's eyes narrowed; he realized Li Qingshan had been waiting for such an opportunity—the Divine Sect's entrance examination, even hidden powerhouses of the five great clans and five great sects would come out to show themselves.

Only at this time would the investigation be the most comprehensive!

Li Che thought it over and did not refuse.

But he still made it clear beforehand.

"If the opponent bestows a seal surpassing the Eight Extremes Corpse Curse Seal... I wouldn't be able to judge it."

"The Eight Extremes Corpse Curse Seal... no problem. When we launch the second round of purple qi detection later, with great fanfare, you can seize the chance to detect the corpse curse seal, record the list of those detected, and I'll have Shangguan Qinghong come over—you can just ask her about anyone you don't recognize."

After Li Qingshan finished transmitting his voice in detail, he cut off the divine resonance, stood up, and patted his blue robe.

After exchanging a glance with Mu Popo, he clasped his hands behind his back, hunched his figure, and returned to the Divine Sect's high platform.

Li Che sat in the chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the grand master's chair.

……

……

On the high platform.

After Li Qingshan returned, Zhu Hongdou approached, her red robe billowing, she stared at Li Qingshan, causing his expression to shift slightly.

"Old Zhu, why are you staring at me like that?"

Li Qingshan felt a bit guilty.

He hadn't told Zhu Hongdou what he was planning to do.

"Lao Li, are you close with Xixi's father?" Zhu Hongdou said lightly.

Upon hearing that, Li Qingshan's heart eased: "Li Che... that kid is quite good, gentle and modest, with decent talent."

"Then tell him that Xixi joining my Red Cloud Peak would be most suitable."

Zhu Hongdou said earnestly: "My Red Cloud Peak has only female disciples; you can let Li Che rest assured—no male disciple would dare harass Xixi!"

In short, Red Cloud Peak has no yellow-haired delinquents!

Li Qingshan's heart instantly understood what Zhu Hongdou intended.

Things are getting heated!

Only the first stage of the sect's true transmission examination had just ended...

The Divine Sect Branch Elder of Divine Appearance, Zhu Hongdou...

Was already planning to poach people early?!

"Seeking monthly votes, recommendation votes, and readership support! During the bare‑run period, we can only rely on everyone's votes to keep going—Lao Li thanks you!"