Chapter 160: The foundation for the underworld

The daughter brought a friend home to play.

This was originally no problem, and it's normal and customary.

But the friend the daughter brought home actually harbors a temple deity inside— that's definitely not right.

Li Che now faces this situation.

Turning into the kitchen, Li Che's expression grew grave; a little girl has a temple deity hidden inside her.

Through the Star-Plucking Pupil, he could clearly see the temple deity's divinity inside the girl— immensely intense, and even the deity's rank is not low.

At least, it's higher than the rank of the Eight Extremes Fire Eye Mystic Shock Spirit Ape Temple Deity he just absorbed.

Li Che's face sank; this means the girl staying beside Xixi is like a time bomb.

No one knows when it will completely explode.

However, Li Che observed the girl's condition, and it seemed quite normal— obviously she hasn't been controlled by the temple deity's will.

So, this temple deity… is it sealed inside her?

Could this be a method used by those ancient aristocratic clans?

Li Che fell into thought.

This girl, Yune, comes from Lingnan Dao City; she is from a thousand-year-old aristocratic clan of Dao City, with extremely deep foundations.

Therefore, it's highly likely the thousand-year-old clan sealed the temple deity inside the girl's body.

Perhaps… it's for this temple deity resonance?

Just as Xixi hides a Purple Flame Snake Spear, Fire Tip in her arm, this girl harboring a temple deity is also preparing to enter the Third Prince's Guiyi Miao?

Li Che couldn't help but think of this reason— frankly, it's quite plausible……

But having a temple deity hidden in a little girl's body— what kind of heart must the parents have? A temple deity isn't a divine weapon; if it riots… the girl's consciousness could be killed instantly.

No matter what, we can't underestimate those genius divine children from Dao City; these two are like that— what about Ji Mo Li's son?

Since Ji Mo Li eyes this Guiyi Miao covetously, he certainly wouldn't send his young son to participate in the temple deity resonance unprepared……

Li Che immediately felt a sense of danger.

Originally, because Xixi obtained the Mythic Fire Tip Spear in the Golden Heavenly King Hall, he felt she should be secure.

In the temple deity resonance, she should be outstanding.

But looking now, he was happy too soon.

Even holding the Fire Tip Spear, one can't say it can completely crush all divine children.

Moreover… Xixi still can't use the Mythic Fire Tip Spear.

Li Che's eyes narrowed.

Looks like we need to find a way to help Xixi master the Fire Tip Spear— even a basic grasp would be great.

Everyone's competing; as parents, we have no choice but to compete……

Li Che thought while walking into the kitchen.

His wife Zhang Ya was seriously preparing the dishes; after all, Xixi brought a new friend home, so as a mother she naturally wanted to show off her skills.

"Husband, you're back?"

Zhang Ya saw Li Che and immediately raised her spatula, showing a happy expression.

Upon learning Li Che was going to the Guiyi Miao today to observe the temple deity, her heart couldn't help but rise— after all, the Guiyi Miao is synonymous with terror for ordinary people.

Now that her husband has returned safely, that worried heart naturally lets go.

Li Che took out the packed meal, letting his wife skip cooking, but Zhang Ya disagreed, intending to show off her skills in front of the daughter's friend.

Upon hearing this, Li Che felt helpless.

He didn't say much, rolled up his sleeves, and joined in the cooking.

Since becoming wealthy, Li Che rarely cooks; back when he was a woodcarving shop laborer, he often cooked.

Now cooking together with his wife, he actually rediscovers some of those old feelings.

The couple made three dishes: Xixi's favorite sweet and sour pork ribs and braised pork, while Li Che prepared ginger‑mother duck, a hometown dish from his past life.

He also took out the takeout from the restaurant and called the kids to eat together.

Granny Mu and the dust‑covered Li Qing Shan, who had just fled back, brought Lv Chi along to mooch a meal.

Seeing Li Che safe and sound, Li Qing Shan couldn't help but exhale a breath of relief.

But his inner turmoil was hardly less.

Li Che…… killed Wen Long Shan!

No, it should be said that Li Che and Ma Mian joined forces to kill Wen Long Shan; even two against one, that's absolutely no easy feat.

Li Qing Shan's amazement at Li Che's growth rate grew ever stronger.

Presumably, acting together with the Ox Demon later will let them have even more fun.

The long table was set, covered with a clean cloth, and the steaming dishes were placed on it.

Xiao Pangzi smelled the food and felt hungry— even though he'd just eaten his own big drumstick, his stomach was a bottomless pit he couldn't fill.

Compared to the well‑mannered, well‑bred Yune, Xiao Pangzi Zhou Peng was like a beggar who'd starved for ten lifetimes, constantly shoving food into his mouth.

Xixi couldn't stand it at all; after trying to compete in eating speed with Zhou Peng, she simply gave up.

Li Che and Li Qing Shan drank and clinked cups.

"Senior Qing Shan, I went outside Mind Monkey Temple to that Guiyi Miao today and saw something interesting."

Li Che said with a smile.

Li Qing Shan's drinking motion stalled; he seemed not to understand why Li Che would suddenly say these things to him.

But he's not stupid— he immediately sensed something.

"You mean… there's something dirty? Do we need to clean it up?" Li Qing Shan narrowed his eyes and asked softly.

The filthy things Li Qingshan spoke of were naturally those wicked ones of the Corpse God Sect.

Li Che nodded, indicating his affirmation of Li Qingshan's guess.

Killing intent surged in Li Qingshan's eyes: "Let's get started."

The two simply clinked cups and drank, thus completing the formulation of a plan.

They had finished eating.

Li Qingshan took Aunt Mu for a stroll to walk off the meal.

The children played in the courtyard, while Zhang Ya resumed diligent martial practice, and life began to become slow and harmonious.

Li Che sat under the eaves for a while, then smiled and entered the study.

The Heaven and Earth Chessboard unfolded, sealing off investigation.

Li Che sat cross-legged in the study, beginning to study the Guanyin Seated Lotus Main Battle Stand, researching the secret art "Mechanism Nine Seals".

Li Che remained quite interested in this secret art.

Li Che felt this secret art's potential far surpassed ordinary secret arts, so he would devote more energy to studying it.

"My Dragon-Elephant Dao Fruit has already reached level 3, with up to 90% maturity; after a few more battles, I should be able to break into level 4……"

Li Che couldn't help but feel anticipation.

Compared to the three Dao Fruits of Immaculate Mind, Chess Sage, and Painting Immortal, the Dragon-Elephant Dao Fruit's progress follows closely after the Artisan Dao Fruit.

The gains from the battle at Wenlong Mountain let the Dragon-Elephant Dao Fruit swallow a big boost in one go.

"So…… this trip to Heart Monkey Temple might allow the Diamond Dragon-Elephant Dao Fruit to rise to level 4, advancing the embryonic divine ability to a full divine ability!"

Li Che's eyes flickered, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

Mainly, the appearance of the grandmaster beside the young prince brought great pressure upon Li Che.

Therefore, enhancing the Diamond Dragon-Elephant Dao Fruit, adding some more foundation is also good.

More foundation means more confidence.

If necessary, when the time comes to face that grandmaster unavoidably, he will also have the capital to act.

After pondering for a while.

Li Che's mind suddenly stirred slightly.

He pressed two fingers together, tearing open the air.

A gleaming mirror fell out from the cosmic space.

It was precisely that round-faced bronze-backed Thousand Miles Divine Communication Mirror!

Li Che's face turned strange.

He picked up the round mirror, glanced at it, and instantly radiant light shone forth, converging into text before it.

"Xuan Jiu, the Fiery Eye Xuanjing Lingyuan Temple, the sect's hunting plan will commence; do not act privately."

Li Che almost laughed out loud.

A sincere message came.

After careful thought, Li Che was certain it must have been when he stayed at Heart Monkey Temple that the other party sensed the Thousand Miles Divine Communication Mirror.

He was surprised, storing the Divine Communication Mirror in his cosmic space; both sides could sense each other.

However, they need to be quite close.

"Those Corpse God Sect wicked ones at Heart Monkey Temple... do they intend to attack the Fiery Eye Xuanjing Lingyuan Guiyi Miao? The hunting plan? Hunt what... the temple deity?"

Li Che's heart jolted.

They don't know that Xuan Jiu has already been killed by him in secret, so this message's authenticity can be trusted.

"Hunt the temple deity?"

"The Corpse God Sect still has such methods?"

Li Che's face involuntarily grew solemn.

He studied the Thousand Miles Divine Communication Mirror, slowly pouring his divine sense into it, finding no response.

This thing seems to have been implanted with a Corpse Curse Seal, requiring deathly qi to activate.

If anyone else obtained it, they truly couldn't operate it.

But Li Che is different...

With a stir of his mind, he raised his finger, and deathly qi overflowed and coiled from the Corpse God Death Smoke Finger.

Using deathly qi, he wrote on the mirror.

"I have suffered grave injuries; when will we act? Do you need my assistance?"

Within the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

The Corpse Curse Seal trembled, spreading a ripple.

The written message...

Sent!

Li Che also didn't mind if the other side saw through his identity, nor did he mind treating it as a casual move.

……

……

Heart Monkey Temple.

Master Xuanli sat cross-legged inside the side room, inhaling and exhaling deathly qi and corpse qi, when he suddenly opened his eyes.

He took out the Thousand Miles Divine Communication Mirror from his bosom; the mirror shone with radiant feedback.

Faint radiance flickered, weaving into text.

Master Xuanli's face showed a smile: "If there's no reply for too long, it means the Divine Communication Mirror has been taken by another, unable to be activated with deathly qi and the Corpse Curse Seal, so naturally it cannot return a message."

Now that he has recovered…… it shows that Xuan Jiu should still be alive, indeed as I expected, he suffered heavy injuries.

Although I don't know why he is hiding in the team of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau……

But Xuan Jiu should have his own plan.

After all, something like the Corpse Curse Seal cannot be forged; once the seal is bestowed…… that person is one of my sect!

The Divine Communion Mirror is not something just anyone who gets hold of can activate.

Xuan Li exhaled a breath.

Afterward, he revealed a sneer: "Xuan Jiu…… truly lacking in skill, no wonder after half a lifetime he's only a Seven Yuan Lower Rank Corpse God Envoy; the Silver Vital Energy he condenses is unstable, and after the Supervisor easily broke it, he suffered heavy injuries……"

"Embarrassing."

His eyes flickered, he shook his head: "But for the follow-up plan, if we add another Seven Yuan Lower Rank Corpse God Envoy like Xuan Jiu to assist, the plan to hunt the temple gods will still proceed smoothly."

Death qi arose on his fingertips, and he wrote on the Divine Communion Mirror.

"Xuan Jiu, are your injuries severe? Do you need a Death-Qi Condensing Pill? I have a Seven Yuan Death-Qi Condensing Pill here; take it, quickly recover from your injuries, then cooperate with us in the god-hunting operation."

The Divine Communion Mirror fell silent for about ten or more breaths.

Xuan Li smiled, and through the Divine Communion Mirror, it seemed he saw Xuan Jiu's conflicted expression—yearning yet reluctant to accept due to pride.

Moments later.

The Divine Communion Mirror transmitted a message back.

(He was) shy and hesitant.

"Good."

Xuan Li smiled.

He replied in a sentence.

"Don't be embarrassed; your recovery from injury is what matters most for us to complete the mission."

"Prepare to receive."

Afterward, he took out a black jade bottle from the Cosmos Jade.

He placed it on the Divine Communion Mirror……

He formed hand seals.

Instantly, black smoke rose from the Divine Communion Mirror and spread out, enveloping the black jade bottle.

……

……

In the study.

The candlelight was dim and tranquil.

Li Che stared in astonishment at the message coming from the Divine Communion Mirror.

Are the Corpse God Sect's Corpse God Envoys really this passionate and friendly toward each other?

Knowing he was seriously injured, they immediately sent a precious Seven Yuan Condensed Death-Qi Martial Pill.

But most importantly, Li Che was somewhat astonished that the Divine Communion Mirror could actually transmit objects across space?!

The black smoke billowed, resembling a small black death-qi vortex caused by a minor spacetime corpse technique, swirling upward.

Slowly, the black smoke dissipated from the mirror Li Che held.

A black jade bottle appeared.

After scanning with his divine sense and confirming there were no hidden mechanisms or poison needles, Li Che grabbed the jade bottle.

"Seven Yuan Condensed Death-Qi Martial Pill…… indeed……"

Li Che broke into a grin.

Truly generous.

On the mirror, another message came: "Keep it safe, quickly recover from your injuries, we'll call you for the operation."

Li Che replied warmly: "Good."

Then he placed the Divine Communion Mirror on the desk.

His qi and blood, together with his divinity, surged, transforming into divine ink; then, on the pristine heart painting paper, after splashing ink...

A vivid, lifelike Divine Communion Mirror fell into his hand, which he had replicated.

During his replication process, with the aid of the Star-Picking Pupil, after grasping the principle, he slightly altered some steps.

This made the Divine Communion Mirror not limited to death qi and the Corpse Curse Seal.

But was altered to require Li Che's divine chess pieces to be activated.

This thus became a mark unique to Li Che alone.

As long as the user fuses divine sense or qi and blood with the divine chess pieces, a fixed identity is bound, and others cannot activate or manipulate it.

"This thing…… as a means to communicate with the netherworld, is actually quite good."

Li Che smiled.

Nowadays, he, with the Painting Immortal method plus divine chess pieces, can make these things last a long time; as long as they are not forcibly destroyed, they will not be ruined.

For an organization, having a means of communication is natural; that is the foundation for a power to grow and strengthen.

The Corpse God Sect possesses a thousand-mile Divine Communion Mirror.

That netherworld…… can simply be copied.

"However, this ability to transmit materials cannot be copied, after all, one must cultivate the spacetime corpse technique to possess this function."

Li Che shook his head.

But being able to transmit messages is enough for this function.

Afterward, Li Che replicated several more Divine Communion Mirrors.

He then stopped, feeling satisfied.

……

……

After helping his wife Zhang Ya properly practice the bone-tempering posture,

The next day.

Li Che opened his eyes; the sunlight was just right, a rare day without snow.

Seeing his wife Zhang Ya lazily curled up in the blankets, Li Che took out a Divine Communication Mirror and handed it to her.

After teaching Zhang Ya how to use it, his wife Zhang Ya immediately began to play with it gleefully.

"Beep beep beep, husband, please respond if you received this!"

"Husband, you did great; my beloved wife is very pleased!"

……

Li Che directly received the message through the Heaven-Earth Chessboard.

Seeing the various playful messages sent by Zhang Ya, he couldn't help but reveal a smile.

After breakfast, Li Che sent Xixi, Yun'e, and the little fatty Zhou Peng together to cultivate on Golden Radiance Peak.

Sang Guanyin stood tall and graceful on the mountain path, already waiting for Li Che.

Seeing Li Che bring the children, she warmly smiled and took them.

"Goodbye, Father, miss Xixi!"

After bidding farewell to Xixi, amidst the little girl's constantly waving arms, Li Che descended the mountain.

He first arrived at the temple atop the main thunder peak of Li Qing Shan.

Li Qing Shan was still stabilizing his divine appearance.

Upon seeing Li Che appear, his eyes instantly flashed with a gleam.

After Li Che briefly discussed the next steps with him, he handed the Divine Communication Mirror to Li Qing Shan and taught him how to use it.

"This is… the Corpse God Sect's Thousand-mile Divine Communication Mirror? This thing is a Seven-Origin Divine Weapon… Do you lot in the underworld just hand it out like that?"

Li Qing Shan, naturally broad-minded, was utterly astonished.

The Thousand-mile Divine Communication Mirror is a divine weapon exclusive to the Corpse God Sect, usable only after receiving the Corpse Curse Seal.

The underworld where the Ox-Head and Horse-Face reside instantly rose a notch in Li Qing Shan's estimation.

"Tonight I will first go to scout the situation, to see how many Corpse God Sect experts are hidden within the Mind Monkey Temple."

Li Che said softly.

Li Qing Shan was eager to try, but realized he lacked the Horse-Face's almost miraculous means of escape.

If the Mind Monkey Temple were filled with Corpse God Sect experts, and even a Seven-Origin Corpse God Envoy held the fort, once he fell into a siege, he would likely only be able to sigh in resentment.

After telling Li Qing Shan to pay attention to the Divine Communication Mirror's messages, Li Che then went down the mountain.

As usual, he went to work at the Cliffside Treasure Tower of the Imperial Observatory.

In his work, Li Che was earnest.

Nine to five, unshakable.

Over the next two days, Li Che's life returned to stability and normalcy.

During the day, he worked while sending his Painting Immortal clone to complete woodcarving commissions, earning wages.

Meanwhile, his main body cultivated various supreme arts, strengthening his five viscera and six bowels; as for nurturing the Divine Foundation, he distributed Divine Nature Crystals to each nurturing clone to meet cultivation needs.

Li Che felt he was too busy.

Even with his clones, he remained busy.

Yet this busyness, accompanied by the gradual sense of growing stronger, made him feel very steadfast and fulfilled.

……

……

Ji Mo Li's young son, the Young Prince, upon entering the prefectural city, was only ostentatious on the first day of his arrival.

Afterwards, after taking up residence in the Lord Mayor's Manor, there was no further movement.

He seemed to have sunk completely into silence, diligently cultivating in preparation for the Temple God Resonance.

During this period, the Five Great Clans all sent people hoping to curry favor, and the Five Great Sects also sent emissaries, but all were turned away by the Young Prince at the gate.

No one knew what the Young Prince was doing.

Only when the Temple God Resonance was about to begin did the Young Prince need to focus his energy on preparation.

Thus, they ceased to disturb him.

"Then we shall wait until the Young Prince successfully completes the Temple God Resonance and obtains the temple god's inheritance, after which we will come to offer congratulations."

Qin Clan Head Qin Cang respectfully clasped his fists and bowed, then retreated amidst the wind and snow.

Inside the Lord Mayor's Manor.

Snow fell heavily in the Leisure Pavilion.

The entire garden was a vast expanse of white.

The Young Prince draped himself in a crane-feather cloak, seated in the Leisure Pavilion, with a charcoal brazier beside him roasting, emitting warmth to dispel the chill.

The one-armed old man sat quietly in the Leisure Pavilion, accompanying the Young Prince.

The Young Prince's name is Ji Hai Hui, a name personally bestowed by the Pacification King Ji Mo Li.

Manor Master Su Huai Li, dressed in plain clothes, also sat in the Leisure Pavilion.

The Young Prince looked seriously; this was all the information concerning the Third Prince's Guiyi Miao that Su Huai Li had gathered after serving as Manor Master of Golden Radiance Prefecture.

It concerned whether, in the upcoming Temple God Resonance, he would be able to obtain the temple god's inheritance.

The young prince naturally would not treat it lightly.

These days, he has been looking at these materials.

Tie double horn braids, wear a red dudou, wrapped in red silk...

"Do I also need to dress like that?" the young prince set down the materials, his face slightly flushed.

Just imagining that image makes him somewhat embarrassed.

Temple god resonance... requires as close a match to the temple god's true form as possible; the young prince has been cultivating the fire-element absolute spear technique since childhood, isn't it precisely for this moment?

It's all to maximize conformity with the temple god.

For the temple god resonance, no hardship." Su Huaili said with a gentle smile.

Hearing this, the young prince's youthful face also showed a look of agreement.

My four elder brothers all achieved up to ninety percent temple god resonance, obtaining the temple god's inheritance... and now they are the four great fierce generals under Father King's command.

I also want to be like my brothers, to share Father King's worries!

To become the sharpest spear under Father King's command, invincible wherever it points!

The young prince's eyes gleamed: "So, for this temple god resonance, I am determined to obtain it; I will surely strive for ninety percent conformity!"

I will definitely obtain the divine armament set of the Temple God Third Prince!

The young prince's fighting spirit soared!

The competition isn't that great; although the Third Prince's Guiyi Miao is one of the Four Divine Guiyi Miaos and possesses tremendous numinosity, the top-tier divine children of Shendu are all fixated on the Three Pure Guiyi Miao.

To accomplish the resonance of the Three Pure Guiyi Miao, one must obtain the inheritance...

They don't come to contend with me over these Four Divine Guiyi Miaos, which makes things easier for me; as for the divine child sent by the Lingnan Dao City Qian Yuan Divine Sect... it's nothing to fear.

The young prince sat on the chair, his palm near the stove, gently rubbing.

As for that divine child from Jinguang Prefecture... we ought to pay more attention.

The young prince said.

Su Huaili was taken aback; he hadn't expected the young prince's vigilance to be directed at that native divine child instead.

Father King said before, native divine children must be kept in mind; with the temple god resonance imminent, those divine children born at this critical juncture... could possibly possess tremendous divine fortune.

Such divine children are more likely to gain favor.

Upon hearing this, Su Huaili's expression changed, and he nodded solemnly.

Senior Brother Su, make arrangements; we'll go to Jinguang Peak for a visit—I want to take a good look at that Jinguang Prefecture divine child.

See whether this girl is worthy of my attention.

The young prince said lightly.

Su Huaili raised his eyebrows, though his visage didn't change much.

He and Nan Lihuo have basically turned against each other; one is the prefectural lord, the other is the branch sect sect master.

If he were to visit the Jinguang branch sect, he would likely be refused by Nan Lihuo.

But the problem is not big.

Su Huaili glanced at the young prince's side, where a quiet, seated old man with one arm, withered like ancient wood, sat.

He is a grand master.

If Nan Lihuo lacks tact, he will only lose face himself.

……

……

A pill was swallowed into the belly.

Following the mouth and tongue, it fell into the stomach; the powerful stomach walls churned, crushing the pill coating, drawing out the potent medicinal properties.

In the Fire Eye Mysterious Astonishing Spirit Ape Guiyi Miao.

The airflow followed, Li Che's surroundings continually rolled, forming a dragon-like tornado of angry wind.

That was the internal true qi following the meridians, circulating through the body's channels, then diffusing more finely, permeating the five viscera and six bowels.

Refining the five viscera, pounding the six bowels.

Li Che walked slowly in the temple; each step he took caused sound waves to explode.

The Azure Thunder Body, Profound Mysterious Sword Classic, Eight Flood Dragons Turning the River, and various other absolute arts he employed, merging and transforming freely.

Ultimately it transformed into the Myriad Transformations Dragon-Elephant; a dragon-shaped apparition formed behind him, accompanying Li Che's punching sweep, exploding with a resonant hum, causing the temple's air waves to surge forth!

Myriad Transformations Dragon-Elephant, achieving myriad transformations returning to one, transformed into Dragon-Elephant true vigor!

Li Che gradually ceased work, having completed today's refinement of the five viscera and six bowels; the grand master realm advanced a small step forward.

Feeling the boiling qi and blood in his meridians, Li Che shuddered all over, evaporating all sweat from his body surface, forming a light white mist.

After extracting the divine chess piece of the Fire Eye Mysterious Astonishing Spirit Ape temple god seated on the altar.

Li Che then trembled all over, having already torn open the space of heaven and earth.

He took out a black robe, a bamboo hat, and a cute ox mask, placing them over his face.

Mind Ape Temple.

A force related to the Corpse God Sect...

Not worth dying for.

Accompanied by low, rumbling sounds.

His body swelled and rose like an inverted tower mountain silhouette, seeming to merge into the darkness and vanish.

Only within the Guiyi Miao remained the surrounding flickering candles, illuminating the mournful fire eye of the Lingyuan temple god seated on the altar.

……

The wind‑snow night was like thick ink splashed.

The darkness was so thick that not even five fingers could be seen when a hand was stretched out.

Li Che wore the Cute Ox Mask and appeared outside the temple.

【Dragon Elephant Vajra】 Dao Fruit spun to the extreme!

Sleeping Dragon Elephant!

His aura completely retracted into his body, as if merging with the wind, matching the extremely dark and deep night.

Li Che walked along the wall corner and silently entered the Mind Monkey Temple.

In his chest cavity.

【Chess Saint】 Dao Fruit trembled.

The Heaven-Earth Chessboard instantly expanded, enveloping the entire temple.

Although this Mind Monkey Temple occupies a vast area, under the Heaven-Earth Chessboard it is still completely covered.

Striking the seal of the Seven Element Corpse Curse, streams of aura instantly rose up.

Because the Seven Element Corpse Curse mother-and-child seal had not been fully refined, his aura perception was somewhat blurry; Li Che came tonight to ascertain the strength of this Corpse God Sect stronghold.

He directly entered the temple interior using the unparalleled breath-concealing technique of the Sleeping Dragon Elephant.

Li Che strolled in the darkness, not leaking a trace of aura.

As if he had been erased from this world.

Silently, within the Heaven-Earth Chessboard, he recorded all the evildoers who had received seals inside the temple.

Suddenly.

Li Che's steps paused.

"Huh?"

He felt a familiar aura.

It was none other than Fakong Monk, the first person to buy a wood carving from him after he became a third-rank guest elder.

And also, the wood-carved deity statue of Zhong Kui Subdues Demons that Li Che had carved.

In his perception.

The Zhong Kui statue was like a firefly in the night, raising a glimmer of light in the endless darkness of this grim ghost temple.

Li Che, through the Heaven-Earth Chessboard, saw the scene clearly.

For a moment, the chill in his eyes grew ever more intense.

He exhaled a breath and murmured softly.

"Senior Qingshan, it seems…"

"This time, Niu Mo can't play with you again."

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