Chapter 205: 205.Chapter 204: Guanyin Lotus Seat Main Battle Tank Completed, All of the Netherworld's Myriad Fiends Deployed

205. Chapter 204 Guanyin Lotus Seat Main Battle Tank completed, all of the Netherworld's Myriad Fiends deployed

Golden light flowed, ink stains surged.

Li Che's pupils reflected the light, slowly revealing a line of text prompt.

The ink staining his whole body grew denser, centered on his form, as if a drop of thick ink had fallen onto white raw paper, quickly spreading and diffusing.

The white snow on his shoulders and hair tips, and the snow drifting from the heavens that fell within ten zhang of Li Che, was all dyed pitch-black ink.

The Dao Fruit 【Ink Immortal】, as Li Che continually squeezed the Ink Immortal avatars, finally raised its maturity to LV3.

Achieving the Dao Fruit's first metamorphosis, it gave rise to a nascent divine ability.

Nascent divine ability…

Ink Immortal·Ink Kill!

Now Li Che, having completed the second metamorphosis of his other Dao Fruits, not only grasps nascent divine abilities but also has mastered divine abilities.

Regarding nascent divine abilities, Li Che is not unfamiliar; each nascent divine ability has a special power.

However, obtaining this 【Ink Immortal】 Dao Fruit and raising its maturity is actually somewhat difficult.

It requires using Ink Immortal avatars, grinding out maturity one by one, in order to increase it.

Nevertheless, it must be said that the help the Ink Immortal avatars bring to Li Che is immense, at least liberating his true self.

While cultivating, he can also free up his hands to do many other things.

The replication effect brought by the 【Ink Immortal】 Dao Fruit further greatly amplified Li Che's Immortal Craft mechanism technique.

Although something like the large-quantity great avalanche Guanyin lotus bullet is difficult to replicate.

However, small-quantity power immortal craft bullets such as Dragon Tooth Bodhi and Avalanche Ferry Crow can be replicated, saving Li Che much material and effort.

In other words, it provides Li Che with a mobile arsenal.

Therefore, Li Che still looks forward to the nascent divine ability of the 【Ink Immortal】 Dao Fruit.

With a stir of heart and mind, the 【Ink Immortal】 Dao Fruit in his chest throbbed; each throb seemed to explode dense ink mist from around his body.

【Nascent Divine Ability (Ink Immortal·Ink Kill): one dot, two dots, three dots, four dots, ink becomes four, Ink Kill obliterates】

A line of flowing gold introduction slowly unfurled before his eyes.

Li Che's brows furrowed slightly, feeling a bit doubtful.

What the heck is this…

One dot, two dots, three dots, four dots…

Are you singing?

But this simple line of introduction made Li Che's hairs stand on end involuntarily.

As if an invisible deity held a brush, soaked in icy and killing cold ink, slowly tracing scars on his body.

Like the tongue of a cold-blooded animal licking the skin, freezing to the heart!

Making the surging, mercury-like blood in Li Che's meridians difficult to circulate.

"This is…"

Li Che's gaze narrowed.

Instantly, information about Ink Kill welled up in his mind and spread out.

Gradually, Li Che came to understand the meaning of Ink Kill.

"Ink Kill… obliterate…"

"As long as four ink marks are landed on the enemy, whether horizontal, vertical, or scattered… as long as there are four ink marks, the power of Ink Kill can be invoked to obliterate the opponent."

Hiss—

Is this a conceptual nascent divine ability?

Of course, it should also have a power limit.

However, this bizarre killing power instead sparked some interest in Li Che.

A flick of the finger, the Pure Heart Mind-Spirit condensed paper bullet trembled.

The next moment, a figure stepped out from the painting.

Li Che casually replicated the painting of 'Yuan Gangang'.

Yuan Gangang's body burst with silver radiance, his flesh touching divinity and exploding.

＿ttkдn＿￠O

Because it is a replication of the Ink Immortal Dao Fruit, it is far inferior to Yuan Gangang's true body.

Li Che flicked his finger, and instantly four drops of divine ink, a mixture of vital blood and divinity, shot out, blooming like four ink plum blossoms on Yuan Gangang's cursed silver corpse.

The next moment, Li Che clenched his five fingers.

Ink Kill!

Those four drops of divine ink then seemed to come alive, frenziedly burrowing into Yuan Gangang's cursed silver corpse's body and spirit; Yuan Gangang let out a horrible scream and turned into a pitch-black ink person.

Reaching forward with his hand, like a melting snowman, he melted bit by bit…

In the end, he turned into a pool of black ink.

"A powerful corrosive force; four ink marks seem to form a unique rule—once stained with four ink marks, it automatically erupts in carnage."

Li Che's whole body was stained with ink, as if he had stepped out of an ink-wash landscape painting.

In Li Che's inner vision of the mud pill, his primordial spirit swept over his whole body.

He discovered that his entire self had turned into ink wash.

Even if he suffered a terrifying carnage attack, he would only explode into ink marks, slowly recondensing into a human shape.

Having withdrawn the nascent divine ability Ink Kill, Li Che restored his flesh and blood body.

"This nascent divine ability consumes an enormous amount of divine sense… Moreover, although it somewhat resembles rule-based carnage, against a powerful cultivator it may not truly be able to obliterate the opponent."

Li Che rose to his feet, his muscles and bones quivering, and he stretched.

The crackling explosive sound rolled like thunder.

Not a bad method……

The Ox Demon turned even more sinister.

This thing is far more useful than that see‑hand green powder, crane‑top red, and the like.

Li Che liked it; he was quite satisfied with this prototype of his divine ability.

He took a look at the courtyard; for the little nest in Flower Lane, Li Che still felt quite attached.

He also had no intention of selling it; considering it his property in Golden Light Prefecture City, Li Che had a hunch he would return here.

So, there's no need to sell it.

"The Eight‑Armed Prison Lotus Furious Third Prince Guiyi Miao is still here, not yet breached…… This Guiyi Miao hides great secrets within its queer arches……"

"I should come back again……"

Li Che turned, looking through the snow‑filled sky toward the Nine Dragon River outside the city.

Xixi obtained the Third Prince's inheritance, thereby binding karma.

Afterward, she will surely return to this Guiyi Miao; moreover, if Xixi wishes to reach a higher realm, it will likely be inseparable from this Guiyi Miao.

So Li Che doesn't need to clear everything.

With a flick of his finger, the scroll unfurled.

Seven scrolls, trembling as they were flicked, seven painted immortals of Li Che stepped out, sitting cross‑legged, each cultivating divinity.

Li Che sensed for a moment, his eyes bursting with light.

"The clones' cultivation speed has increased, and they have also grown stronger……"

Li Che felt a little delighted.

Previously, the painted immortal clones drawn with the same expenditure of qi and blood, if they were only at the early Master stage, now they have reached the middle Master stage, even the late Master stage.

In short, as the maturity of the painted immortal Dao fruit rises to LV3, the quality of the painted immortal clones has also increased!

Li Che's mood was actually quite good.

Before his eyes, a stream of light slowly flickered past.

……

【Name: Li Che】

【Bond: Li Nuanxi (daughter)】

【Dao Fruit: Artisan (lv4, 50%), Dragon Elephant Prajna (lv4, 40%), Immaculate Mind (LV4, 15%), Chess Sage (LV4, 10%), Painted Immortal (lv3, 0%)】

【Divine Ability Prototype: Artisan·Thousand Analysis Hand, Dragon Elephant Prajna·Ascend the Tower, Immaculate Mind·Detain the Divine, Chess Sage·Great Snowfall, Painted Immortal·Ink Kill】

【Divine Ability: Pluck the Stars, Raise the Rosy Clouds, Divine Guidance, Limitless】

【Tip: For each year the bonded one grows up safely, the Dao tree can bear one Dao fruit】

……

The long‑absent interface surfaced before his eyes.

Li Che glanced, his eyes lingering twice on the 【Artisan】 Dao Fruit.

"Indeed, the Guanyin Lotus Battle Tank was successfully crafted; the Artisan's maturity rose significantly, reaching LV4, after which carving ordinary divine wood sculptures hardly increased maturity any further."

"We still need to innovate……"

Li Che smiled.

Indeed, the 【Guanyin Lotus Battle Tank】 that had been researched for a long time has been successfully completed, fusing multiple kinds of spirit wood, even the Fire God's Angry Flood Dragon wood incorporated by Li Che.

This big guy has finally been completed.

Capable of carrying the 【Great Snowfall Guanyin Lotus Bullet】 and the large mechanism currently being researched to integrate the divine ability 【Black White Extreme Collapse】……

Li Che's mood was quite good.

However, compared to the imagined increase in maturity, it is still somewhat lacking.

Of course, this is also because the Artisan Dao Fruit has already reached LV4; going higher would be LV5……

Li Che is very curious about what transformation an LV5‑level Artisan Dao Fruit could bring.

"Once the Artisan improves a bit…… perhaps, hand‑crafting a Gundam will no longer be a dream."

Li Che smiled, and ambition surged uncontrollably in his heart.

"I have the Black White Extreme Collapse, Great Snowfall, etc., these extremely terrifying explosive energy sources; I might really be able to produce mechas, Gundams, and the like……"

The moment the thought arose, it was truly hard to erase.

However, for Li Che now to develop this, there is still some difficulty.

Li Che also isn't in a hurry about it.

The main issue is that materials are hard to find; even ordinary materials and spirit wood may not suffice.

After all, once such a big guy is made, the opponent could very well be a Martial Saint; ordinary materials…… would likely be easily blown apart by a Martial Saint.

After a simple tidy‑up, Li Che placed the painted immortal clones and continued cultivating divinity.

Li Che then left the small courtyard.

Strolling down the long street, he arrived at the Bureau of Astronomy's Treasure Pavilion.

Outside the Treasure Pavilion, a luxurious carriage was parked, with Lu Yao and Tang Ren waiting for him inside.

After Li Che boarded, the carriage slowly set off, heading outward from the city toward God‑Condor Ridge.

Since he was leaving Jin Guang Fu, Li Che naturally went to bid farewell to the late‑met machinery master Tang Sanjia.

Because the horses pulling the carriage are flood‑dragon‑blood flood‑dragon horses, their galloping speed is extremely swift.

Li Che and Lu Yao chatted for a while, then they arrived at God‑Condor Ridge.

Tang Sanjia's physique, physique, as always, was stalwart, not at all like a master of mechanisms.

In the reception hall.

Tang Sanjia looked at Li Che with a sigh: "I never expected that Little Brother Li Che would be leaving Guangguang Prefecture so soon…"

"I heard that after arriving in Dao City, Little Brother Li Che wants to join the elder competition at Qianyuan Divine Eagle Ridge?"

It must have been Lu Yao who told Tang Sanjia, though there's nothing to hide about it.

Li Che wore a gentle smile and nodded.

"Give it a try; if it succeeds, I'll be able to see Xixi every day, just like the Divine Sect's mountain gate."

Tang Sanjia exhaled: "This isn't easy at all; it's quite a challenge."

Li Che looked at Tang Sanjia, narrowed his eyes: "Woodcarving technique has just made a breakthrough; I could give it a try…"

Lu Yao didn't quite grasp what Li Che meant.

But Tang Sanjia's eyes suddenly brightened.

"Old Yao, step out for a moment."

Tang Sanjia issued the order to evict the guest.

Lu Yao was sipping tea when he suddenly went blank.

"I should leave?"

Lu Yao pointed at himself.

Tang Sanjia's stalwart frame bore an air of solemnity.

Lu Yao felt the sky collapse; his decades‑long friendship with Tang Sanjia paled beside Tang Sanjia's mere year of bond with Li Che!

He had even specially rushed from Dao City to see Tang Sanjia.

All that sincerity went to feeding the dogs!

Lu Yao angrily flicked his sleeves and left, picking up Tang Ren and running off to God Eagle Ridge to enjoy the scenery.

After Lu Yao left, Tang Sanjia's nascent soul emerged and set up a restriction.

He rubbed his hands…

His face showed a hint of excitement.

"Ah Che… may I take a look?"

Tang Sanjia had seen the design schematics for the Avalokiteshvara Lotus Battle Tank and had offered many suggestions.

Now, from Li Che's words, it seemed he intended to actually manufacture the Avalokiteshvara Lotus Battle Tank.

How could that be possible?

It's only been this long… such a huge project!

The placement of tens of thousands of components!

Li Che didn't refuse; he expanded the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard, sealing off Lu Yao's stubbornly lingering nascent soul.

Only then was the Avalokiteshvara Lotus Battle Tank taken out.

Just a glance.

Tang Sanjia could no longer move his gaze away.

……

……

When Tang Sanjia saw Li Che and Lu Yao off from God Eagle Ridge.

Tang Sanjia's enthusiasm made Lu Yao quite jealous.

"Ah Che… I'm optimistic about you! Your talent for mechanisms is something I've rarely seen in my life; I underestimated you."

"Originally you promised to help me with a favor, which I still haven't finished… but I hope that when you reach Dao City you won't abandon mechanism research—mechanic arts have great potential!"

Tang Sanjia was very enthusiastic, even reluctant to let Li Che go.

Until the carriage drawn by the flood‑dragon horses bearing Li Che and Lu Yao disappeared from sight.

Only then did Tang Sanjia reluctantly withdraw his gaze.

"Unbelievable talent…"

"Perhaps… there really is a chance to help me accomplish that."

Tang Sanjia exhaled.

He crouched on the ground and lightly patted God Eagle Ridge.

On his rugged visage appeared a hint of Zhang Fei's embroidered‑flower gentleness.

……

……

Li Che returned to Gold Light Prefecture City and then went to bid farewell to the Imperial Tutor Hu Yingyue.

Afterward he turned back to the half‑mountain cottage on Zhenglei Peak.

The courtyard was very lively.

Zhang Ya was busy with Madame Mu and Chen Lao, packing up belongings—bedding, mats, and so on, plus some pots, bowls, and utensils.

Although Zhang Ya now understood that her family was no longer short of money, she couldn't bear to replace these things.

Even though Li Che said they could be bought in Dao City.

Watching the few people bustling about with fervor, Li Che smiled and turned into the study.

He took out the book Tang Sanjia had given him, *Tang Clan Mechanism Beast Compendium*.

This was something Tang Sanjia had hesitated over for a long time before finally presenting to Li Che.

Inside it recorded the manufacture of five mechanism beasts.

The highest-ranked mechanism beast has reached the absolute supreme level; unfortunately, there is no introduction of its crafting technique.

Instead, it records several kinds of mechanism beasts below the absolute supreme level.

Below the absolute supreme, mechanism beasts are fifth rank, and thereafter the lowest is ninth rank.

Ninth-rank mechanism beasts pose no difficulty for Li Che now; for example, the Wood Spirit Crane is a ninth-rank mechanism beast, even approaching eighth rank.

Upon touching the Tang Clan Mechanism Beast Compendium, Li Che felt only the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit in his chest throbbing nonstop.

If he could fully comprehend this mechanism beast compendium, he would replicate all the mechanism beasts within it.

The Immortal Craft Dao Fruit could likely be raised directly to LV5, and even have hopes of reaching LV6.

Tang Sanjia told Li Che not to even think about fifth-rank mechanism beasts; they are too difficult.

To craft a fifth-rank mechanism beast, one needs at least the qi and blood of a Supreme Grand Master who has reached the Three Flowers Realm.

If one's cultivation is insufficient, do not even consider it; forced research will only harm oneself.

Tang Sanjia told Li Che that after reaching Dao City, these years he could attempt to craft seventh-rank mechanism beasts.

This is Tang Sanjia's advice based on Li Che's cultivation.

Li Che naturally…… does not accept his advice.

Returning to the study, he directly opened the illustrations of other sixth-rank mechanism beasts.

"In this compendium, a total of three sixth-rank mechanism beasts are recorded……

Li Che's gaze locked onto a page's illustration frontispiece, instantly drawing his attention.

"Upper-tier sixth-rank mechanism beast……

"Blood Yang Nine Divine Vajra Ape！

……

……

Li Che, regarding mechanism beasts, now merely studies them.

Sixth-rank mechanism beasts indeed make his heart race, but the materials are too hard to gather; crafting a sixth-rank mechanism beast requires fifth-grade spirit wood and sixth-grade spirit wood, plus many rare metal divine ores, etc……

Gathering the materials alone is enough to give Li Che a headache.

Tang Sanjia told Li Che that after reaching Dao City, he could try to take the examination for a First-Class Guest Official of the Imperial Observatory; as for material gathering, no power can compare to the Imperial Observatory.

The next day, the leaden clouds were heavy.

The wind and snow remained as before.

But the cold wind and snow could not dispel the fervor in the small courtyard.

Zhenglei Peak, halfway up the mountain.

The courtyard where Li Che's family resides is unprecedentedly lively.

Zhang Ya put all the packed items in the courtyard; she had originally planned to arrange a cart to load them, but Li Che swept them all away clean with a wave of his hand.

Li Che's Qiankun space, as the Pure Heart Dao Fruit improved, swallowed several supreme Qiankun jades, directly expanding to an outrageous extent.

The elder uncle's family also packed up and came over.

Because Li Chengzhou apprenticed to Nie Yang, the carriage driver grand master under Jiao Shaoqiu, Li Che gave a Qiankun jade as a congratulatory gift.

Also included was a divine weapon treasure sword, though its quality is not high, it is still a token of goodwill.

Now, the elder uncle's family's betrothal gifts are all stored in Li Chengzhou's Qiankun jade.

Nie Yang led Li Chengzhou, seemingly sensing Li Che's gaze, and Nie Yang nodded.

Regarding this carriage driver grand master, even though Li Che now practices unrivaled external training, he still does not dare to look down on him.

This grand master is stronger than anyone Li Che has ever encountered.

Jiao Shaoqiu introduced Li Che to Nie Yang, who is a swordsman currently stuck at a bottleneck, tempering his mind in search of a breakthrough.

Li Che understands, once Nie Yang breaks through, he will likely become an Innate Grand Master of Heaven-Man Unity!

"Let's go, down the mountain."

"The convoy is waiting at the mountain's base."

In the distance, Chen Lao wore a bamboo hat, pushed through the wind and snow, and shouted.

Li Che held Xixi, while Zhang Ya leaned against his arm.

A family of three gazed at the small courtyard where snowflakes fluttered down.

Unbeknownst to them, they have spent a year in this small courtyard.

Zhang Ya actually feels somewhat reluctant to leave.

In this courtyard, she has experienced many things.

Also in this courtyard, with her husband's day-and-night help and guidance, she has unblocked her meridians and tempered her bones……

Although only a year, it carries too many memories for their family.

"Husband, will we come back?"

Zhang Ya pursed her lips, exhaled a breath of warm air, and asked softly.

"Yes."

"Later, when Xixi grows up, her wings harden, and she can fly on her own; if you like, I will bring you back here to spend your old age."

Li Che spoke softly.

Xixi rubbed against Li Che's chest, dissatisfied: "Dad's nonsense, Xixi's wings won't harden; Xixi's wings are very soft!"

"Xixi also wants to come back and live here!"

Li Che rubbed Xixi's head: "Got it, little follower."

"Hmph!"

Zhang Ya suddenly let out a light laugh.

The world was quiet, and the wind‑snow rose gently.

It fell upon the black tiles and walls steeped in memory, and the loquat tree planted in the courtyard; perhaps when they return years later, it will already stand tall like a canopy.

The party descended the mountain.

? co

At the gate of the Divine Ancestor Sect, countless carriages were parked.

Nan Li Huo, Zhang Qingzheng, Zhu Hongdou, Weng Wuyu and others waited early.

Xixi's senior sister Sang Guanyin had also packed her luggage; she too would go with Xixi to train at the Divine Ancestor Main Sect.

Liu Yangyuan lingered beside Nan Li Huo, head bowed, his face sullen.

He had thought that this time the one going to Dao City would be him.

Because, according to the order, it should have been his turn, but…

The senior master actually sent Sang Guanyin instead of him.

He still had to remain at the Golden Light Mansion…

Liu Yangyuan felt a certain uneasiness.

Nevertheless, he came today to see Xixi off.

"Xixi! Want to ride in one of our carriages?"

In the distance, a massive carriage drawn by three drake horses had its window lifted, revealing the small heads of Gong Yuanliang and Gongyang Yu.

They cheerfully waved at Xixi.

It was a carriage jointly built by the three great families, for the children to ride together.

It was also meant to strengthen the children's bonds so that after arriving at the Divine Ancestor Sect they could look out for each other.

"If you want to go, go; when you're tired of playing, return to the carriage where your mother is."

Li Che rubbed Xixi's head and let her down.

Xixi slipped onto the ground in an instant and ran off excitedly.

"Xixi, the Great Emperor, is here!"

Then she leapt, darted into the carriage, causing it to sway wildly from side to side.

There were many carriages; the three great families also hired top merchant convoys that travel to and from Dao City for escort.

Moreover, Jiao Shaoqiu, Lu Yao, Wang Kuyu and other Divine Primordial Immortals were stationed there.

The convoy heading to Dao City was, of course, safe and needed no worry.

Li Che also arranged a luxurious carriage for Uncle's family; it was their first time riding such an opulent, comfortable vehicle, and Uncle and Aunt felt somewhat uneasy.

Their hair was tinged with gray; through the window, watching the flying snow, the two elders seemed a little dazed.

They had never imagined, having lived their whole lives in the small town of Fēiléichéng.

Now they actually had the chance to come to the capital city, and even to go further; in the past, they could never have heard of Dao City even a few times in their whole lives.

Chen Lao also rode with Uncle's family's carriage.

Li Qingshan and Mu Popo shared a carriage.

Shangguan Qinghong slipped onto the carriage full of children and went along.

Jiao Shaoqiu rode alone in a carriage, with Nie Yang at the reins.

Li Chengzhou, a tiny one, braved the wind and snow, wearing a small bamboo hat, his cheeks flushed, insisting on driving the carriage together with his master.

"Let's go."

Accompanied by a loud shout from the convoy leader.

Numerous drake horses whinnied, hooves struck, and the wind‑snow burst.

The convoy moved slowly, exiting the gate of the Golden Light Branch Sect, passing through the spacious blue‑stone avenue; under the gaze of countless townsfolk, it gradually broke through the snow and left the ancient city.

Among the crowd seeing them off,

a young man in white, accompanied by a dog, silently watched the convoy depart the city.

……

……

The Nine Dragons River roared, its waters raging endlessly.

A massive Yellow Dragon Wood ship struck the water with its oars, splashing the flow.

The heavy snow that fell from leaden clouds melted instantly into rain upon contact with the scorching divine energy of the river, spraying into the water.

At the prow, a solitary figure stood quietly.

Clad in a crane mantle, the figure was tall and robust.

Whoosh—whoosh…

A grey eagle flapped its wings and swooped down.

It landed on the figure's shoulder.

"Information from the Hunting God Pavilion?"

"Heh… indeed, the Hunting God Pavilion, an entire outpost set up by the Golden Light Mansion, was seized; how could they have no temper at all?"

"They directly summoned the heads of the Hunting God Pavilion from the three surrounding prefectural cities…"

"Still the same foul temper as always."

He took the letter off the grey eagle, the hulking figure glanced at it and squinted.

"Jiao Shaoqiu escorted the convoy out of the city… sending the promising talent resonating with the capital city's temple deity to Dao City."

"It seems that this trip of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect… has taken in a prodigy, departing before spring even arrives."

The hulking figure lifted his head, his twin violet pupils interlacing with flickering lightning.

Corpse God Sect, God-Hunter Pavilion—I want to see…… how can you, Jiao Shaqiu alone, possibly hold them off?

Inside the cabin of the Yellow Dragon great ship.

Several figures walked out.

Young master.

The princess consort ordered us to retrieve the young prince's corpse…… but the God-Hunter Pavilion sent word that the young prince, the shadow guards, and the six black-armored blood guards have all been slain, leaving no remains……

One of the figures, with an ugly complexion, said.

How are we to report to the princess consort……

A purple-eyed figure stood with hands behind back, his stalwart physique gazing at the surging, boundless Nine Dragons River.

Is the Eight-Armed Prison Lotus, Wrathful Third Prince, the Guiyi Miao?

The Guiyi Miao that both the Pacification King Princess Mo Li and the Dragon God hold in high regard……

After all, it still seems somewhat mysterious.

Even the princess consort, despite having lost her son, dare not come……

The stalwart figure, purple hair flying, his mirror-like purple pupils flickered.

He lightly shook his head.

It's fine……

We will go block those coming from Dao City of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, letting the God-Hunter Pavilion and Corpse God Sect properly receive them.

Just a mere Jiao Shaqiu—I want to see how he can possibly hold off the wrathful God-Hunter Pavilion and Corpse God Sect.

Within the Jinguang Prefecture region, we…… will avoid acting if we can.

After the words were spoken.

The purple-eyed youth burst into laughter.

The crane cloak on his body exploded, his physique suddenly twisted and bulged, and countless fine scales sprouted.

His whole person transformed into a dancing flood dragon, which dove into the Nine Dragons River.

The remaining figures likewise transformed into their true flood python forms, following as they plunged into the river.

……

……

The waters of the Nine Dragons River raged, exploding spray scattering without cease.

At the city gate.

Jiao Shaqiu ordered Nie Yang to halt the carriage.

He lifted the curtain; cold wind gusted in, stirring the ancient-style robes' sleeves.

The people of the Underworld…… haven't come?

A flicker of doubt crossed Jiao Shaqiu's gaunt face.

Suddenly.

He looked toward the distance.

Yet he saw, on a tree thickly covered with snow a hundred zhang from the official road,

a figure wearing a bamboo hat, black robe fluttering, gripping a device resembling a crimson-red spear barrel, three chi long and narrow.

Apparently sensing Jiao Shaqiu's gaze, the figure lifted his head, revealing a horse-face mask.

Underworld…… Horse Face.

Jiao Shaqiu narrowed his eyes.

Then, suddenly, he raised his head.

His powerful divine sense shot straight to the heavens, and he discovered that, amidst the leaden clouds a thousand zhang high, there seemed to be a mass of blood clouds roiling.

Upon the blood clouds, a figure lay lazily.

He toyed with a crimson-gold long staff, wearing a wanton divine monkey mask.

Underworld, Divine Monkey!

And furthermore……

Jiao Shaqiu turned his head to look toward the side of the official road; within the dense woods, two figures whose auras were barely perceptible were slowly pacing.

One black, one white.

Li Qingshan told Jiao Shaqiu, these are the new members of the Underworld…… Black and White Impermanence.

And the Bull Demon?

Jiao Shaqiu murmured softly.

However, his primordial spirit did not locate the Bull Demon's position.

Nevertheless, although he did not know the Bull Demon's position……

but Jiao Shaqiu had a feeling that the Bull Demon……

has been here all along!

Since he knew the Underworld had already been deployed, it also counted as a comfort to his heart.

Jiao Shaqiu lowered the curtain; his gaunt, wood-like face filled with a solemn hue.

Having left Jinguang Prefecture.

His primordial spirit then fully erupted, a golden radiant primordial spirit sweeping outward, vigilant in all directions.

Because, having left the prefectural city,

danger……

is when the true danger begins.

"The Dragon Girl's mother from the Ji Sea Society, plus the Corpse God Sect and the God‑Hunting Pavilion…"

"This trip is not peaceful at all!"

……

……

The carriage crept forward, the convoy proceeded in order on the official road, like a long dragon, winding and advancing.

Li Qingshan looked outside the carriage; wind and snow drifted.

He held the cat‑face mask in his hand, always ready.

His body trembled slightly.

Because he knew, the Netherworld's ferocious beings were escorting them all around.

The Netherworld accepted Jiao Shaoqiu's escort mission, enabling this expert who had once reached Golden Body Metamorphosis to issue escort missions.

This suffices to show that escorting the convoy into Dao City is absolutely unsafe along the way.

So Li Qingshan could also guess that there would surely be many opportunities to go out together with his Netherworld comrades.

Whenever a battle breaks out, Li Qingshan will immediately don the cat‑face mask and join the fight!

He is always ready!

How could this loving Netherworld family be without his cat‑face?!

This time……

He, Li Qingshan, will definitely not miss it!

……

……

Li Che had a solitary carriage.

Used for practicing woodcarving, because upon reaching Dao City he needed to attempt the Elder Examination of Divine Eagle Ridge.

So everyone understood, and thus no one disturbed him.

The charcoal stove burned, making the spacious carriage interior warm as spring.

The carriage wheels turned, yet the interior was extremely tranquil; speaking of enjoyment, the Three Great Clans are naturally adept.

Leaning against the seat back.

Li Che lightly tapped the carriage wall with his fingers.

He sensed Jiao Shaoqiu's tense, expanding primordial spirit enveloping the entire convoy.

Sitting cross‑legged, Li Che quietly closed his eyes.

He held his breath and focused his mind.

The convoy had just left Golden Light Prefecture City by about ten li.

Li Che then felt his chest cavity throb violently as one Dao Fruit after another beat wildly.

As his eyes opened and closed, a stern, killing aura appeared on Li Che's face.

He raised his hand, touched his brow, and lightly drew downward.

Flesh parted, the Star‑Plucking Pupil!

Hum——

The Heaven‑Earth Chessboard shot up instantly, hovering above the convoy, expanding with a roar……

Welcoming the Storm Surge!

Ten zhang, a hundred zhang!

Ten li, a hundred li!