Chapter 158: Observing Equal Heaven to Gain the Spirit Monkey Mask; With the Divine Pupil, Flower Fruit Mountain Is No More [Seek Mon

Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly.

His brow kept burning, and the Plucking Star Pupil divine ability was subconsciously activated.

Plucking Star Pupil — Myriad Analysis Endless, Gather Soul Point Spirit, Examine Void Return True, Shock Evil Slay Evil!

In Li Che's eyes, any evil cannot escape or hide; it can all be seen by the Plucking Star Pupil.

Therefore, Li Che never doubted the judgment of the Plucking Star Pupil.

In his eyes, the tranquil Heart Monkey Temple amidst the wind and snow instantly became filled with a ghostly aura.

This definitely wasn't a problem with his eyes.

Surely the Heart Monkey Temple has a problem.

"Ghostly aura everywhere, deathly aura surging to the heavens — this Heart Monkey Temple... is actually a ghost temple?"

Li Che furrowed his brows.

Or rather, is there a ghostly entity hidden within the Heart Monkey Temple?

Besides that…

"Could it be related to the Corpse God Sect?"

Li Che's heart stirred.

He couldn't help but think of this, and verifying it is not difficult.

In his chest, the Chess Saint Dao Fruit throbbed violently; the next moment, his mind immersed into the Heaven-Earth Chessboard.

The chessboard's interwoven net spread down, instantly enveloping heaven and earth, covering the ghostly-aura-filled Heart Monkey Temple within.

Thereafter, Li Che's mind hovered in the Heaven-Earth Chessboard, lightly flicking his fingers at the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Letter Seal that had been refined more than half.

One Pure Heart Dao Fruit slammed into it, suddenly exploding!

Then came a second…

As if an ancient bronze bell were violently struck!

Instantly, an intangible black ripple, like the sound waves of a bronze bell, continuously spread from Li Che's body…

Like a black wave, it continuously spread toward the Heart Monkey Temple, then into Li Che's strange gaze.

Under the enveloping heaven-and-earth aura, the Heart Monkey Temple showed one strand, two strands, three strands…

Countless Corpse Curse Seal auras burst forth.

Even Li Che couldn't help but stare wide-eyed.

Li Che suddenly understood where the Corpse God Sect experts who had withdrawn from the prefecture city had hidden.

It turned out…

They were hiding in this temple?

Of course…

Perhaps this Heart Monkey Temple is merely one of the Corpse God Sect's outposts outside the prefecture city.

But, isn't this… a coincidence?

Li Che laughed.

He wasn't frightened at all; instead, he became even more excited.

Even the little hands in his heart couldn't help but rub together.

One could only say, having searched in vain with iron shoes, he stumbled upon it by accident.

Li Che slowly dispersed the Heaven-Earth Chessboard, withdrew his mind, and the brow-heat Plucking Star Pupil returned to stillness.

"Palace Junior Superintendent, I heard this Heart Monkey Temple was once a branch of the glorious Equal Heaven Temple?"

Li Che asked, turning the topic to the Heart Monkey Temple.

Gong Yunli hearing this, immediately scoffed: "The Heart Monkey Temple just slaps gold on its own face; at its peak, the Equal Heaven Temple was a colossal entity occupying the six circuits and twelve prefectures of the world; to say it was the number one sect under heaven is not an exaggeration…"

"Although due to the Guiyi Miao uprising and human factors, the Equal Heaven Temple declined and split, now it has split into the Three Great Sects…"

"But actually, the Three Great Sects' temples and the Equal Heaven Temple share only a superficial origin."

"The Equal Heaven Temple is too strong, while the Three Great Sects… are too weak."

"From this comparison, one can see… the loss of Dao Orthodoxy is too severe." Gong Yunli said.

"Sects and the imperial court are different; sects place great importance on Dao Orthodoxy; a Dao Orthodoxy passed down for a thousand years is not just empty talk."

Li Che nodded.

The Equal Heaven Temple is a colossal entity encompassing the six circuits and twelve prefectures; what is the Heart Monkey Temple?

Merely a small sect outside Jinguang Prefecture in Yúnzhōu under the Lingnan Circuit.

Weakness has its own sorrow.

If the Heart Monkey Temple is not colluding with the Corpse God Sect, then the only possibility is that the Corpse God Sect has completely eroded the weak Heart Monkey Temple.

Either way, it's not good news.

Li Che and Gong Yunli didn't chat further; the carriage convoy smashed through the wind and snow, slowly entering the vast plaza before the enormous temple of Heart Monkey Temple.

Li Che and Gong Yunli got off the carriage and horses, the wind and snow howled.

Gongyang Liancheng walked over and joined with Gong Yunli.

Li Che and the several woodcarving masters quietly stood in the ranks, waiting for Gongyang Liancheng and Gong Yunli's arrangements.

To go to the Fire Eye Mysterous Shock Spirit Monkey Temple, two guides are still needed.

Besides the Four Sovereigns Level Eight-Armed Prison Lotus Fury Third Prince Guiyi Miao, Jinguang Prefecture also has two major Eight Extremes Guiyi Miao, namely the Fire Eye Mysterous Shock Spirit Monkey Temple and the Iron Crutch Joyful Ascetic Temple.

They are all Eight Extremes Guiyi Miao, suppressed by the imperial court, now under the jurisdiction of the Temple Suppression Office.

To enter a Guiyi Miao, one needs a Temple Entry Order.

Originally, Gong Yunli had already applied for and obtained a Temple Entry Order from the Temple Suppression Office a few days earlier.

However, the Chief Envoy of the Temple Suppression Office stationed at the Fiery Eye Myster Shock Spirit Monkey Temple reported that the Guiyi Miao had trembled for a while.

Therefore, the day for entering the temple to view the deity was postponed, and now it has finally been approved.

Gongyang Liancheng's expression turned solemn; after checking the list, he then nodded.

"Everyone is here; prepare a bit, we will soon head to the Guiyi Miao to view the temple deity."

"This is a rare opportunity for all of you; you must seize it well."

Facing the many third-rank guest officials, Gongyang Liancheng did not show the fawning he had when facing Deputy Inspector Lin Xiu; instead, he displayed considerable official authority.

In the distance, two elderly monks walked slowly out of the Heartmonk Temple.

They had kind brows and gentle eyes, with white brows and white beards, both elderly monks.

"Master Xuanli, Master Xuanyuan..."

Gongyang Liancheng clasped his fists in salute and smiled gently at the two monks.

"Master Xuanli is the abbot of the Heartmonk Temple; the Heartmonk Temple's assistance to the Temple Suppression Office in stabilizing the Guiyi Miao has been meritorious, and Master Xuanli's help is indispensable."

Gongyang Liancheng introduced Li Che and the other third-rank guest officials.

The many guest officials then likewise clasped their fists in salute.

The elderly monk pressed his palms together, smiled kindly, and said: "You are all masters of woodcarving; if you gain something from viewing the temple deity, it will not be in vain of the hardship we, the Heartmonk Temple and the Demon Suppression Office, endured together to suppress the Guiyi Miao."

Li Che blended among the many guest officials, also performing the salute.

However, Li Che felt a stir in his heart; he activated the Seven Element Corpse Curse Mother-Child Seal to probe whether these two Heartmonk Temple masters of the Divine Appearance Realm were related to the Corpse God Sect.

Huh?

However, as soon as Li Che activated it, the Seven Element Corpse Curse Mother-Child Seal suppressed within the Heaven-Earth Chessboard trembled violently.

Li Che raised his eyebrows and directly brought forth the dark-gold Heavenly King Divine Chess Piece.

He forcefully suppressed the Mother-Child Seal.

And Li Che, through the Heaven-Earth Chessboard, saw the two Heartmonk Temple masters, Master Xuanli and Master Xuanyuan...

Their bodies exuded a deathly and corpsely aura so intense it seemed almost to become evil spirits crawling out of hell!

Good fellow!

Li Che startled, inwardly calling out 'Good fellow!'

Is this a Corpse God Sect villain hiding beneath a monk's skin?

Li Che's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged; over the years he had cultivated the skill of a face as still as an ancient well.

Ordinary people cannot detect the Corpse Curse Seal, which is why the Corpse God Sect's villains have been able to infiltrate and corrupt many high-ranking powers in the Jin Guang Prefecture.

Because even if one receives the seal, it won't be detected, allowing one to hide inner evil.

Thus, what harm is there in receiving the seal?

However, ever since the Bull Demon appeared in Jin Guang Prefecture City, everything has changed.

The Bull Demon can actually detect those who have received the seal among the Corpse God Sect villains, which is an extremely heavy blow to them.

The two masters naturally do not know that Li Che has already discovered the identity hidden beneath their benevolent façades.

Li Che also did not expose them.

Exposing them now would be utterly unwise; he himself possesses the Flying Thunder Chess Piece, so he is unharmed and could simply leave if he wished.

But others would not be so fortunate.

Even Gongyang Liancheng and Gong Yunli, these two Void Appearance cultivators...

they would likely be detained as well.

Therefore, Li Che had no intention of exposing them; he first left a Flying Thunder Chess Piece, dropped a coordinate point, planning to later contact Li Qingshan and find an opportunity...

... to together dismantle this stronghold of the Corpse God Sect!

Regarding the Corpse God Sect, Li Che has always felt a deep, anguished hatred.

Following the principle of rather killing a mistake than letting it slip.

Having discovered the Corpse God Sect's stronghold, how could Li Che possibly let them go easily?

Perhaps the Corpse God Sect is still scheming how to abduct Xixi!

Just thinking about it makes Li Che feel the Corpse God Sect deserves death by a thousand cuts.

Masters Xuanli and Xuanyuan, wearing gentle smiles, saw off Gongyang Liancheng and Gong Yunli, leading the woodcarving masters' troupe as they walked deeper into the temple behind the Heartmonk Temple.

The two monks exchanged a glance, and the smile in their eyes involuntarily vanished.

Master Xuanli's stature suddenly straightened, his eyes devoid of any trace of age, sharp to the extreme.

"Just now... my Thousand Miles Divine Communication Mirror seems to have reacted..."

"Master Xuanji seems to be nearby!"

Master Xuanyuan's bald head shone bright; he wiped his brow and exclaimed in astonishment, "Master Xuanji... is he still not dead?"

"How could he die? He was merely injured by that old coot from the Imperial Astronomy Bureau; death doesn't come that easily... after all, he is a half-step Corpse Silver Corpse."

Master Xuanji has indeed refined a trace of silver aura, making him a half-step Corpse Silver Corpse.

Master Xuanli felt that Master Xuanji certainly would not die so easily.

"So you suspect Master Xuanji has hidden his identity, concealed among the ranks of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau's third-rank guest officials?"

Master Xuanyuan furrowed his brows.

Master Xuanli nodded, gazing at the procession gradually becoming hazy in the heavy snow as it went deeper into the mountain path.

His eyes flashed with a sharp gleam.

"This Master Xuanji, don't let him ruin our plans."

Master Xuanyuan's brows instantly relaxed: "Master Xuanji perhaps intends to use the corpse guardians of the Guiyi Miao to restore his silver aura... you might as well send him a message telling him not to sabotage our plans."

Master Xuanli nodded, feeling it made sense.

……

……

The fierce wind and snow at the peak, after walking a short while on the mountain path.

Everyone is a cultivator; those capable of becoming woodcarving masters are not weak, so naturally they are not hindered by environmental factors in their travel and advance.

After about the time to burn half an incense stick, Li Che and his group arrived before that Guiyi Miao.

Fire-eye Profound Shock Spirit Monkey Guiyi Miao!

Situated on the mountainside, it nevertheless shrouds the entire mountainside.

Here, Li Che even saw many old village sites.

It is obvious that this Guiyi Miao originally grew because of the village; now the village has been destroyed, and the Guiyi Miao has expanded to the extreme.

The thick gray mist roiled, accompanied by wind and snow, appearing as if a temple situated in the smoke mist, located in another space-time.

The divine constables of the Temple Guard raised a fence around the perimeter.

Prohibiting cultivators without a temple entry permit from stepping inside.

Compared to the defenses of the Four Divine Guiyi Miao, it is naturally much weaker.

The Eight Extremes Guiyi Miao had already spawned a strange gate; Li Che curiously observed the strange gate, and initially the city lord of Fēiléichéng, Cao Guang, had planned to hold a Thousand Infant Banquet to let the Guiyi Miao ascend in rank and give birth to the strange gate.

Unfortunately, the plan was ruined by Li Che.

Because they had a temple entry permit, and the Imperial Observatory bringing the woodcarving master to observe the temple deity was not the first time.

Thus, the stationed chief constable of the Temple Guard merely performed a simple check and then let them pass.

The chief constable produced a censer in his hand and lit three incense sticks.

Holding the censer, he walked forward.

The strange gate's thick mist, like a curtain, tore open to both sides, revealing a wide passage that led straight to the lofty temple.

The temple featured carved beams and painted columns, flying eaves and upturned corners; black tiles were covered with heavy white snow, making it look somewhat dilapidated, while the walls were engraved with various postures of monkey images.

Just as when they first saw the Guiyi Miao.

A mighty suction suddenly erupted from within the temple, but Li Che is no longer the naive youngster who first saw the Guiyi Miao.

Not to mention that his physique has now reached the level of a Forge Furnace Grandmaster.

Just the powerful divine sense condensed from forging the seven-wheel divine foundation is enough for him to easily break free from the Guiyi Miao's strange allure.

「The strange gate is the most dangerous part of the Guiyi Miao; generally, it is considered a self-defensive measure of the Guiyi Miao……」

「As long as the strange gate is broken, one can part the strange mist and see the divine temple。」

The team-leading chief constable of the Temple Guard held the censer and said lightly:

「The strange gate is dangerous; if one has not conquered the Guiyi Miao and gets swept into the strange gate, they will be dragged into the temple deity's illusion, easily sinking into it, and will also face attacks from the temple-guarding corpse soldiers……」

「The temple-guarding corpse soldiers of the Eight Extremes Guiyi Miao can reach a level comparable to the bronze corpse soldiers of the Corpse God Sect。」

「The corpse soldier techniques of the Corpse God Sect seem to have originated from the Guiyi Miao's temple-guarding corpse soldiers。」

After a simple introduction of a few sentences,

The group walked roughly a kilometer of the strange mist path and arrived before the temple.

「Everyone, the path ends here; inside the Guiyi Miao, you may proceed on your own。」

「Observing the temple deity, observing the temple deity…… one must self-control a limit。」

「If one's divine sense cannot bear it, if one's divinity cannot withstand it…… then wisely withdraw oneself。」

「Otherwise, having one's consciousness controlled by the temple deity, becoming a temple-guarding corpse soldier, one will regret it too late。」

That Temple Guard chief constable placed the censer with burning three incense sticks at the entrance of the Guiyi Miao.

「Everyone, go inside。」

「Before the three incense sticks burn out, one must leave! 」

Temple Guard chief constable Qi Yanghao said in a deep voice:

Many third-rank guest officials solemnly expressed their understanding and each agreed.

Li Che also went along with the crowd and agreed.

Thereafter, like the other third-rank guest officials, he passed the censer and stepped into the Guiyi Miao.

Chief constable Qi Yanghao, meanwhile, stood still before the temple with arms crossed, a knife at his waist.

Once the three incense sticks burn out, he will immediately lift the censer and retreat.

By then……

When the strange gate closes, these third-rank guest officials who wish to leave the temple will have to rely on their abilities.

The first principle of guarding the Guiyi Miao is: if possible, avoid combat with the temple-guarding corpse soldiers and temple-guarding demonic beasts……

Once there is too much fighting, it easily provokes the temple deity to revive and triggers a riot in the Guiyi Miao!

As for the life or death of these third-rank guest officials……

He won't care, because the time has already been set.

These guest officials, greedy for more observation of the temple deity, will pay the price for their greed.

……

……

Li Che and many other third-rank guest officials stepped into the Guiyi Miao.

Compared to the Spirit Infant Temple outside Fēiléichéng, this Spirit Monkey Temple is considerably more spacious.

Around, white candles were lit, purely for illumination, lighting up the darkness inside the temple.

But actually, this Spirit Monkey Temple is not that large.

As many guest officials poured in, it became somewhat crowded.

A small temple, on the altar, had three statues placed.

One tall deity statue, while the other two were somewhat smaller.

Yet without exception, all were in the form of monkeys.

That deity spirit monkey wore armor, its eyes golden like flowing fire, legs crossed, seated upon a lotus pedestal.

Just a glance, and it seemed lively and spirited, as if leaping from the wooden carving of the deity.

Li Che found a spot.

Like the other guest officers, he sat cross‑legged, lifted his head, released his divine sense, and observed the deity.

By observing the deity statue's divine charm, he mentally simulated carving to improve his own carving skill.

A guest officer lifted his hand in the air, tracing a void, and unleashed the Dàjǐng Heaven‑Observing Seven Primordial Thousand‑Hand Divine Eagle Technique.

The atmosphere instantly grew heated; everyone was earnestly observing the deity.

Li Che merely watched a moment, then understood the theory of observing the deity.

It was simply to sense and grasp the deity's inner meaning.

The deity's wooden carving…… I don't know who carved it.

It is said to have appeared together with the Guiyi Miao, out of nowhere.

It contains a unique carving technique.

The reason the profession of wood‑carving master exists is because wood‑carving masters imitate the deity's wooden carving, by capturing and imitating its inner meaning, allowing spirit children and prodigies to accelerate the cultivation of divinity.

Only then does this world, building upon the original path of blood‑and‑vigor martial artists, develop and propagate anew the path of divine cultivation.

Li Che, possessing the Star‑Plucking Pupil, basically imitated and learned the deity spirit monkey's carving technique at a glance.

Such imitation posed no difficulty for him.

But things like the 【Great Snow Avalanche Guanyin Lotus Bullet】 and the 【Guanyin Lotus‑Seated Main Battle Tank】, which involve technical and developmental aspects, even with the Star‑Plucking Pupil, still require step‑by‑step research and trial‑and‑error.

The surroundings gradually grew quiet.

"Ha—"

"Huh—"

All around was utterly silent.

Everyone seemed to have sunk into contemplation of the deity, their minds drawn away.

Only Li Che's mind was exceptionally agile.

After scanning the surroundings and confirming everyone had fallen into stillness,

Li Che then rose, brushed off his dark robe, lifted his hand, and touched his brow.

He gently drew downward.

"Star‑Plucking Pupil!"

"Myriad analyses endless, drawing soul to point spirit!"

The brow split open, flesh and blood seeming to tear apart in two directions.

One eyeball rolled about, a faint golden smoke drifting out from the pupil.

As the Thousand‑Analysis Hand advanced to become the Star‑Plucking Pupil, he drew in the deity's divinity, needing neither to leap onto the altar nor to reach out and touch it.

He needed only to meet the deity's gaze with his Star‑Plucking Pupil.

"Hum—"

Streaming light shot forth, landing upon that fire‑eyed Mystic Shock Spirit Monkey.

The next moment.

Li Che then saw the deity statue seeming to revive.

The spirit monkey's fire eyes swept over fiercely, and between heaven and earth it seemed to echo the spirit monkey's cry!

Li Che felt a moment of dizziness before his eyes.

It seemed as if everything around had changed.

It felt as if mind and spirit had shifted from the outer world to the heavenly‑earthly chessboard!

In an instant.

Heaven and earth changed color.

……

……

Boom—rumble—rumble!

Outside the Guiyi Miao.

The incense burner sat still, three sticks of incense burning quietly, the smoke rising straight upward.

Suddenly.

Qi Yanghao suddenly opened his eyes, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze sharp.

He fixed his gaze on the rising column of smoke from the three incense sticks.

Yet he found that the rising smoke column first swayed left, then twisted rightward.

As if torn apart by simultaneous left‑and‑right gusts!

Qi Yanghao's hairs stood on end; he turned his head left and right, discovering the separated Guique mist.

It actually began to slowly close!

Qi Yanghao could even see within the Guique the faintly visible temple‑guarding curse corpses…… and various illusions that bewilder the mind!

"Wrong!"

"How did the Guique close ahead of time?!"

Isn't it supposed to wait until the three incense sticks burn out?

Qiyang Hao was horrified.

His heart gave a huge shock!

Guiyi Miao rioted!

A riot with no warning!

You know, in previous years, the guest officials of the Imperial Observatory entering the temple always followed this procedure!

Not good!

Qiyang Hao hurriedly rushed to the incense burner.

He roared at the many guest officials still inside Guiyi Miao contemplating the temple deity.

Wake up!

Retreat!

But those guest officials seemed to have completely fallen into a strange hallucination.

His shout actually had no effect at all!

Damn it... what on earth is going on?

Chief Qiyang Hao's face looked awful.

But he couldn't afford to worry about it.

He didn't even have time to grab the incense burner, directly striding out, his qi and blood bursting forth, he sprinted at breakneck speed toward the outside of the strange gate, which was about to collapse together like hanging curtains.

Whoosh—

At the very moment when the two side strange gates, like two great waves, slammed together.

Chief Qiyang Hao was the one who rushed out.

In the distance.

Gongyang Liancheng and Gong Yunli instantly changed color, and they all hurried over.

What happened?!

Gongyang Liancheng took advantage of the face.

After Qiyang Hao landed, he stood up, patted the dust off his uniform, and placed one hand on the knife at his waist.

His eyes were icy cold.

What else could happen?

Guiyi Miao...

Riot.

Shouts of killing, sounds of flowing fire, and explosions!

Li Che opened his eyes and saw a scene of ruined walls and broken walls, a palace collapsing and shattering, countless stones flying and collapsing.

On the ground, densely packed, were the corpses of monkeys...

Scattered across the ground, a thick stench of blood filled the heavens and earth.

Li Che involuntarily lifted his head and saw above the firmament.

A figure in a huge red cape billowed, with two long plumes flying on its head, wearing gilded Mysterious Spirit treasure armor, gripping a golden divine staff, its momentum overwhelming, as if the heavens and earth's clouds were overturned.

Opposite that figure, dense black clouds roiled; upon the black clouds stood countless figures, their aura shaking the heavens, oppressive and cramped!

It was too far away.

Could not hear their dialogue.

Only heard the heavens and earth suddenly filled with a mournful, booming laughter that rolled and surged!

His heart filled with sorrow, endless grief...

Li Che merely lifted his head and glanced.

He still wanted to take another look.

But he simply couldn't; no, it wasn't that he couldn't...

But rather, his point of view began to turn, fleeing like the wind and lightning.

It seemed to be inheriting the will of that mighty divine ape wielding a golden staff, facing the endless strange.

To survive...

A great sorrow spread, his vision blurred, the picture shattered.

Countless streams of fire blazed up, turning into dripping tears of flame!

Like a weeping spirit ape, it leapt and darted nimbly through the mountains and wilds.

Qi Tian—

Qi Tian!!!

By the ear.

The boundless fervor, excitement, and roars of the spirit ape exploded in Li Che's ear in an instant!

Boom...

The endless viewpoint shattered completely.

Li Che felt a sharp pain.

The possessing spirit ape, its viewpoint spinning, finally crashed hard onto the ground.

He had already fled to the foot of the mountain.

He struggled, swaying as he crawled toward a standing……

A burned stone tablet covered in cracks.

He struggled to raise his hand, his palm stained with blood, and with difficulty slapped it onto that stone tablet.

Slowly, rubbing and pulling out a trace of blood……

As if engraved deep in the soul of the spirit ape, a sense of belonging.

Only because, three characters were inscribed on the stone tablet.

"Flower Fruit Mountain."

Pat, pat……

In his fiery eyes, tears like flames dripped down.

"But from now on."

"No more Flower Fruit Mountain."

"No more the Great Sage."

……

……

The scene was fragmented and broken.

Li Che's star-picking pupil in the glabella radiated endless heat.

His eyes opened and closed, slowly opening.

At some point, his cheeks were already wet with tears.

Li Che remained dazed.

He touched his damp cheeks.

He had not yet come back from the scene he had just witnessed.

What was that?

The obsession of the temple god?

But he had not intended to watch the temple god's obsession……

He only intended to harvest the temple god's divine chess piece.

Why?

Why could he see the lingering obsession of the temple god?

Was it because of the divine ability【Star-Picking】?

Li Che didn't know, couldn't figure it out, and didn't bother to think about it.

Suddenly.

In his chest, the【Chess Saint】dao fruit throbbed!

His mind and spirit plunged into the heavenly chessboard.

But he saw……

Upon the intersecting lines of the heavenly chessboard,

Floating silently was a……

Spirit monkey mask.

I've hit a writer's block, I've been writing for a while, revising over and over, folks, monthly votes, recommendation votes, come one wave, let Lao Li's thoughts flow smoothly!