Chapter 240: 241.Chapter 238: Let the old man see the true Great Sage; only by observing the divine two Jiazi can one know the divine

241. Chapter 238: Let the old man see the true Great Sage; only by observing the divine two Jiazi can one know the divine will.

Face the heavens!

The sound exploded, reverberating in the reception hall.

A fierce wind rose, turbulent currents surged, as if violently torn from the divine mist, letting every divine condor master observing this divine will clash turn pale with shock!

Gong Shu Jing Jun sprang to his feet, his eyes flashing, a powerful light bursting from his pupils!

In the distance, Elder Sun, whose withered body was as if half a foot had stepped into loess, his drooping eyes involuntarily widened slightly, a strange color appearing in his cloudy gaze.

How……

How could this be?!

Yun Hai Yang and Zhou Tian Shui, the two divine condor masters, rose abruptly from their seated grand master chairs, powerful divine fluctuations and surging divine sense!

They fixed their gaze on the image emerging within the divine mist.

That magic ape grasped a staff and directly forced back the divine will of the four Two-Heart Great Sage divine condors!

No……

How could the situation become like this?!

Su Huai Ming, the divine condor master of the Su family, sat upright in the grand master chair, the smile on his face frozen and stiff, his eyes showing shock.

"What level of divine will is this, actually provoking the divine will of the four Two-Heart Great Sage shrine divine condors to join forces… and so arrogantly as to plan to take on four alone?!"

Su Huai Ming's heart trembled immensely.

To take on four alone!

Su Huai Ming had great confidence in his own divine condor will.

He could even suppress other divine condor wills, but only by subduing them one by one.

As a result, before they could link their divine condor wills to seek their own targets, the wills of the four divine condors automatically moved, attacking the divine will within Li Che's carved statue!

Almost the instant this image appeared.

Su Huai Ming then knew……

The superiority was decided instantly!

If it were a clash of divine will, the Two-Heart Great Sage shrine divine condor will he carved would absolutely not match Li Che's carved magic ape statue will!

After all, Su Huai Ming lacked the confidence to let his divine condor will, in a clash, take on four alone!

"Impossible!"

Su Huai Ming's face turned grim and unsightly!

He clenched his five fingers into a fist, coldly gazing at Li Che across the dense divine mist.

Li Che sat upright in the grand master chair, his expression calm, as if he had anticipated everything.

Good lad……

Su Huai Ming raised his hand, flicked a finger, and a strand of divine power burst from his fingertip, striking the divine condor statue.

Boom——!!!

Within the dense divine mist, the Two-Heart Great Sage divine condor will of Su Huai Ming, which had been repelled by the magic ape's staff, at this moment jerked its head up, robes flying, and likewise swung a staff.

Charging again at the magic ape!

A long cry, the shrike-like sound exploded!

The magic ape's divine will grasped the golden staff with a coiling azure dragon, its eyes scanning wildly and madly.

A long cry of angry roar!

Ferocious and frenzied, it seemed to explode beside everyone's ears!

"Join forces! What are you all waiting for?!"

"Do you really intend to let this child's divine condor will suppress us four-to-one, reducing us to a laughingstock before you're satisfied?!"

Su Huai Ming shouted coldly.

On the other side, Zhou Tian Shui and Yun Hai Yang's eyes flickered, without much hesitation they likewise flicked a finger, releasing divine power to stimulate the divine condor will!

The elderly Elder Sun, however, merely smiled and did not act like them, simply sitting back down in his chair.

"Heroes emerge in each generation; the new replaces the old… good, good."

Gong Shu Jing Jun also did not stop Su Huai Ming and the others, for this was within the rules.

The divine condor statue's will must be stimulated to be fully activated.

This operation being within the rules, Gong Shu Jing Jun naturally would not stop it, and Li Che could likewise stimulate the magic ape.

"Illusion—you are all illusion!"

The magic ape's long cry burst and exploded, the four Two-Heart Great Sages also letting out cries.

In an instant it turned into four golden streaks, as if four golden dragons attacked again!

The magic ape, with one hand, lifted the golden staff coiled with an azure dragon, fierce, brutal, and domineering!

A swing of the staff, seeming slow but actually reaching extreme speed!

A hurricane suddenly arose!

The divine mist, like a great river's water, was split in two!

The four Two-Heart Great Sages scattered in four directions, likewise pointing their golden staffs, killing intent fully revealed!

This seemed not a clash of divine will but a reenactment of ancient myth, a brutal life-and-death struggle!

All the observing woodcarving masters were greatly shaken, their spirits trembling.

This Elder Condor Ridge assessment, the clash of divine condor wills…… could it really be this intense?!

Boom——!!!

The magic ape roared, golden flames blazing in its double eyes, shattering all illusion!

A staff swung out, with it as the center, it seemed as if the air within a radius of several hundred zhang of the vast sky was shaken by the whipping waves!

It seemed as if just a single staff could stir the boundless, vast ocean!

A substantial wind rose, and the images reflected within the whole divine dense mist all undulated.

Gongshu Jingjun's gaze narrowed, his five fingers rose, and divine energy surged forth, stabilizing the great divine mist so that the image of the clashing of divine wills would not completely collapse.

Sound waves surged, the wild wind howled, sharp and piercing to the ears!

A staff fiercely smashed toward Su Huaming's Great Sage of the Two Hearts, the staff's shadow dragging out a scorching air wave like a comet streaking across.

Boom——!!!

Su Huaming's Great Sage of the Two Hearts roared angrily and rose, indeed also extraordinarily remarkable, pointing the long staff in hand, the monk's robe flying aloft, as if Buddha's light shone everywhere, and the Chan chant lingered.

A point of the staff, as if transformed into a golden dragon saved by Buddha, lashed out swift as a thunderclap!

In less than half a breath, the two long staffs collided and met in midair!

The impacting divine will surged up; in an instant, where the demon ape and divine monkey clashed, it seemed as if all divinity receded, leaving only terrifyingly extreme ripples.

Clang——!!!

At the instant the two staffs collided, it seemed as if the sound of thunderclaps exploded, echoing in the hearts of all the watching woodcarving masters.

Extremely splendid golden light blazed blindingly; the terrifying ripples formed concentric shockwaves that spread, clearing the vast azure sky!

Creak—creak……

The violent friction of tendons, bones, and membranes sounded, as if cloth were being torn, like the noise of muscles and flesh unable to bear the load!

Many were startled!

This is a clash of divine will—how could there be the sound of flesh, tendons, and bones rubbing?!

Then——

Everyone focused their gaze, continuing to look into the dense divine mist.

Then they saw……

Countless splendid golden lights were instantly suppressed, the thunderous booming faded, and the monkey clad in a monk's robe, like a cannonball, flew high backward, its robe bursting apart, shredded into pieces, and the hairs on its body stained with blood droplets!

The demon ape stood firm, its form growing ever more ferocious, continually rising!

As if it were about to transform into the ancient, chaotic, ferocious ape!

Sharp fangs bared, each hair like steel needles forming a tail, it whipped out fiercely, plowing the air into a void and ravines!

Bang——!!!

The demon ape stomped heavily, a fist hammer smashing the ground, its massive sturdy body shooting up to the heavens, each hair like the sharpest blade!

In the instant it shot up from the ground, it traced a half-moon arc, its eyes blazing bright and hot!

With a single hand wielding the Azure Dragon Golden Staff, he smashed down upon the divine eagle will of Su Huaming, whose monk's robe had been blasted apart by a single strike!

The terrifying staff shadow, within the illusory domain forged by the dense divine mist, dragged out a terrifying air blast!

Ah——!!!

An extremely mournful, sharp cry!

Su Huaming's Great Sage of the Two Hearts' divine eagle will was smashed down by a staff and exploded with a boom!

Crack!

A faint breaking sound burst in everyone's ears!

Inside the reception hall.

Su Huaming's face turned pale in an instant, his body swayed as he rose sharply, his breathing ragged, and the fierce light in his eyes kept shifting!

Defeated!

The divine eagle will he had carved was actually blasted apart!

In the clash……

The divine eagle will carved by Li Che, this young man, was violently smashed apart!

Su Huaming gritted his teeth, his back molars nearly breaking.

He looked at the Great Sage of the Two Hearts statue placed on the futon, only to see a crack split open on the statue's head, and vast divine energy seeped out from the divine eagle within.

Ruined!

This divine eagle was utterly ruined, having no value whatsoever; even observing it could not draw any divine will to aid cultivation.

Now…… it is merely a piece of scrap!

"It's all because of that piece of spiritual wood! The Blood-Fire Divine Pattern Bodhi wood... after all, it is fifth-grade spiritual wood, the material too excellent, allowing this kid to snatch a bargain!"

Su Huaming stood up, speaking coldly.

Of course, everyone knows this is him seeking an excuse for his own defeat.

However, the divine eagle made from fifth-grade spiritual wood and that made from sixth-grade spiritual wood indeed have a gap, but in the clash of divine will……

Actually, the gap in quality brought by the spiritual wood itself has already narrowed considerably.

Su Huaming's face was extremely grim, his complexion changed from anger.

There was no way; originally a sure thing, the Divine Eagle Ridge elder examination should have been a certainty, and he was bound to obtain the elder position.

As a result, he became the first to be eliminated!

Li Che's carved divine eagle will was so domineering that, while facing four opponents alone would already be enough, he could even strike first and destroy his divine eagle will!

Humiliation!

Su Huaming took a deep look at Li Che, who sat calmly in the Grand Tutor's chair with a gentle smile.

Su Huaming memorized that face, memorized that name……

With an angry snort, Su Huaming did not linger in the reception hall, his sleeves flaring wildly as he strode out toward the hall's exit.

He even couldn't be bothered to pay attention to the remaining clash of divine will.

He no longer cared about who would win in the divine will showdown, persisting to the end to become the new elder of God Eagle Ridge.

Anyway, that elder won't be him.

Su Huaiming naturally had no reason to be interested.

Many of the surrounding woodcarving masters stared at Su Huaiming strangely.

Among them were many who had previously fawned over Su Huaiming, even planning to change their address to Elder Su...

As a result, Su Huaiming was eliminated first!

This...

This is a bit awkward.

However, fortunately they didn't actually shout out the title "Elder Su".

Otherwise, they'd really be embarrassed to the point of digging their toes into the ground, and then Su Huaiming would hold a grudge—after all, this Su family God Eagle Master Su Huaiming truly has superb God Eagle skill, but he also truly is narrow-minded.

His departure seemed to go unnoticed by anyone.

Everyone focused their minds, some staring in astonishment at the clash of divine will within the divine mist.

The God Eagle's divine will...

Could it possibly be that strong?

The mist surged!

As if forming its own world, the divine mist projected an image.

The divine will of one Two-heart Great Sage exploded and dissipated, yet three more Two-heart Great Sage divine wills still cried out shrilly.

The Magic Ape gripped the Azure Dragon Coiled Staff, let out a heaven-shaking roar, and stamped down heavily, as if the earth beneath trembled, sending out transparent ripples that spread ten zhang, then a hundred zhang.

Countless divine mists were pushed aside as the Magic Ape shot up into the sky, bursting forth like a thunderclap of lightning.

A sweep of the staff pressed down countless air currents.

A booming bang!

Zhou Tianshui's carved Two-heart Great Sage God Eagle divine will roared, arms crossed, yet it could not resist, as if split by force and shattered explosively.

Couldn't stop it...

Absolutely couldn't stop it!

It was completely on a different level of divine will!

Before this terrifying Magic Ape, every move was overwhelming and unmatched, directly suppressing all divine will so they could barely breathe.

Even that oppressive feeling was transmitted through the divine will into their very minds!

Boom boom boom——!!!

The Magic Ape clenched its five fingers, as if crushing the airflow and gang wind, swung the staff, smashing a Two-heart Great Sage divine will away, then followed with a swinging hammer punch.

Its eyes blazed with golden fire, its fist like a golden sun, radiant and blinding!

As if it wanted to smash a huge hole through the heavens!

Pfft——!!!

Condensed into one, the fist of utmost hardness and yang directly crushed Zhou Tianshui's great sage divine will.

Moreover, the flung Azure Dragon Coiled Staff was seized again by the Magic Ape; a horizontal sweep crushed the displaced airflow, and together shattered Yun Haiyang's great sage divine will.

In barely a breath, it consecutively shattered two Two-heart Great Sage divine wills.

Crack crack!

Two consecutive cracking explosions!

Zhou Tianshui and Yun Haiyang, the two God Eagle masters, trembled, their qi stagnant in their chests, gasping heavily.

The two stared at their God Eagles, only to see cracks appear, divine essence leaking out, completely ruined.

Defeated...

However, their attitudes were far better than Su Huaiming's.

They had originally come with a challenging mindset, expecting to lose to Su Huaiming, but they never expected a youth to appear out of nowhere.

The carved God Eagle could actually take on four opponents and suppress the divine wills of four Two-heart Great Sage temple deities!

Indeed...

Exaggerated!

Zhou Tianshui exhaled, defeated yet convinced.

After all, the opponent won by taking on four at once—what do they have to complain about?

Yun Haiyang shook his head in utter helplessness: "Really, still not enough..."

"These young people are incredible... so young yet possessing such God Eagle skill, able to imbue the God Eagle with such divine will—if they gain the tempering of years and time, what more could they achieve?"

"This youngster's future might even reach the level of a God Eagle Holy Hand capable of challenging the Four Imperial Ranks!"

Yun Haiyang's eyes showed envy.

Only after truly becoming a God Eagle master does one realize how important talent is...

Talent alone determines the upper limit of a God Eagle master.

Effort might somewhat improve the current state, but... effort cannot raise your upper limit; it merely lets you reach your potential earlier.

Elder Sun sat withered in his chair, his dull eyes opening and closing.

"Good!"

He laughed heartily.

Such a youth inheriting his elder position—he was also willing.

"Let this old man see... just how high your Magic Ape divine will has reached!"

Elder Sun rose from his chair.

Gongshu Jingjun stared for a moment, then focused his gaze and looked over.

"Elder Sun..."

However, Elder Sun merely waved his hand.

"Ridge Lord, I have devoted my entire life to Divine Roc Ridge, carving wood sculptures all my life. Alas… my talent is limited, I could never take that step, but in the end I am a fifth‑stage Divine Roc Master."

"I can feel this Divine Roc's fervent divine will; on the verge of retirement, I have seen the true talent of the Divine Roc!"

"My heart feels refreshed…… yet also itchy!"

Elder Sun's hunched frame slowly straightened.

Gazing into the dense divine mist, a terrifying demon ape, as fearsome as a collapsing mountain, wielding a golden coiling‑dragon staff, drew nearer step by step to the Divine Roc's divine will he had carved.

In Elder Sun's eyes, a rare fervor flickered into view!

"Ridge Lord, let me take a look……"

"Could I, before I die, catch a whiff of the great Dao's shadow of the Divine Roc's art?"

Boom——!!!

Elder Sun tapped his brow; the next moment, a vast surge of divine gushed forth from the old man's twilight‑years body.

It was poured into the carved Two‑Hearted Great Sage Divine Roc.

As the Divine Roc Elder of Divine Roc Ridge, he naturally often observed the deity of the Guiyi Miao of the 【Six‑Eared Prison Lotus Divine Monkey, Two‑Hearted Great Sage】.

Therefore, compared to Su HuaiMing, Zhou TianShui, Yun HaiYang, and others…

Elder Sun's foundation is the richest of all!

The observed divine will……

is the most rich and dense!

He seemed to be pouring all of the observed deity's divine will from two sixty‑year cycles into the Divine Roc.

Making the already lifelike Divine Roc seem, at this moment, as if it had truly come alive!

"Great Sage… descend!"

Elder Sun let out a low chant.

Boom——!!!

Within the dense divine mist.

It was as if two ancient giant beasts had awakened from silence, their terrifying qi raging wildly, causing the dense divine mist to boil and churn!

The entire reception hall seemed to be shrouded by a feeling of oppression.

The terrifying rank pressure, like a collapsing mountain, rolled forth in waves from that dream‑like dense divine mist!

"This……"

"What is happening?"

"Elder Sun…… how could Elder Sun's Divine Roc divine will be so powerful?"

"So this is Elder Sun's true strength? Three years ago, Master Su's divine will narrowly lost by a thread; it turns out Elder Sun simply didn't hold back against Master Su?"

The surrounding Divine Roc masters were all dazed!

Each one horrified to the extreme, scalp tingling, struck with terror to the point of despair.

Yun HaiYang of the Yun clan and Zhou TianShui of the Zhou clan were even more slumped in the grand master's chairs.

Staring blankly.

……

……

A raging snowstorm, snowflakes as big as hands, swept wildly across heaven and earth.

Inside the Divine Roc Ridge reception hall, however, all was silent.

Two Divine Roc statues sat upon the futons, trembling slightly, as if countless rays of light were bursting forth from them.

Within the dense divine mist.

Rumble——!!!

The terrifying blast echoed, yet Elder Sun's Divine Roc divine will at this moment suddenly swelled, the Buddha's kasaya robe torn apart, bursting open.

It also transformed into an extremely ferocious demon ape!

Likewise raising its stature, beneath its body, monkey hair flew, layers of muscle piled together, brimming with explosive power……

Gripping the golden staff, it was nearly identical to the Divine Roc divine will carved by Li Che!

At this moment……

Only then did Zhou TianShui and Yun HaiYang feel a chill.

As it turned out……

The deity they had carved was merely a superficial appearance of the deity.

While Elder Sun and Li Che…… perceived the inner essence of this deity!

They…… were not wrong to lose.

At this moment, the two finally felt completely relieved.

After all, they had not even seen through the deity's second form, so what talk of winning this Divine Roc divine will clash?

Within the dense divine mist……

Two colossal giant apes, wielding golden staffs, stood as if upon the human earth, mountains tiny as clods of earth, gazing at each other from afar.

One pair of eyes blazed with golden fire, the other pair burst with golden light!

Roar——!!!

The two world‑turbulent giant apes roared, dragging their staffs, battle spirit surging, they collided with a tremendous crash!

Terrifying divine will clashes and collides!

Thud!

As if a fallen star smashed heavily onto the ground!

Gorgeous light exploded, all the Divine Eagle Masters' gazes uncontrollably drawn, they saw a terrifying qi shockwave spreading like concentric circles!

The surging sea of qi, like a howling hurricane, swept all around!

Truly an apocalyptic scene, as if two Divine Eagle Masters reenacted the ancient battle of two chaos-bringing giant apes, a plain and unadorned slaughter!

Staff collided with staff, fist clashed with fist!

Destroying heaven and earth, smoke and dust rolled like an earth dragon, shooting up to the sky!

Such momentum, simply earth-shattering, as if thoroughly depicting the scenes the temple god had once experienced, replayed through the Divine Eagle's divine will!

Allowing the many Divine Eagle Masters separated by time and space to glimpse this earth-shattering battle of demon apes!

Destroying the decayed, terrifying to the utmost!

Originally, the divine will of the Two-heart Great Sage wearing a cassock was like child's play.

As it turns out…… this is the truth!

Many Divine Eagle Masters felt this trip was truly worthwhile.

Compared to the divine will clash of Su Huai Ming and Elder Sun three years ago…… that battle was nothing but child's play.

Like Elder Sun was playing with a child!

If Elder Sun back then had also unleashed the second form divine will of the Two-heart Great Sage at this moment, Su Huai Ming would not have merely lost narrowly.

But would have been utterly defeated!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Elder Sun's whole body trembled, his eyes widened enormously, he stared fixedly at the image of the divine will clash reflected in the divine mist.

He seemed at this moment to feel the excitement, exhilaration, and… happiness of the Two-heart Great Sage temple deity!

He seemed, at this moment, to feel the excitement, exhilaration, and… happiness of the god of the Er Xin Da Sheng Temple!

This moment is what the Two-heart Great Sage temple deity has always pursued!

And this emotion is the true emotion contained within the temple deity's statue!

Elder Sun's body trembled incessantly.

But……

It still lacked a bit.

Threads of blood appeared in Elder Sun's eyes, his swaying body could not suppress the ferocity in his gaze.

His nearly exhausted qi and blood burst forth, he gritted his teeth, forcing his body to hold up.

His nearly exhausted qi and blood burst forth as he gritted his teeth and forced his body to endure.

"Just a little bit and I would be able to feel it."

Elder Sun panted heavily.

Gong Sun Jingjun sat upright in the master's chair, flicked a finger, divine power surged, maintaining the divine mist.

He glanced at Elder Sun, whose face was flushed like a dying ember's last glow, saw the blood threads in Elder Sun's eyes, his whole body trembling, and let out a long sigh.

Elder Sun spent a full two cycles observing the temple deity, hoping to carve the most perfect temple deity statue.

But even now, even after observing for two cycles, Elder Sun still felt there was a great shortcoming.

He always felt something was missing……

Gong Sun Jingjun's gaze shifted, landing on Li Che.

He thought of that wisp of divinity drawn from the mysterious mist.

Then he sent a mental transmission to Li Che: "Could you let the old man… have no regrets?"

Li Che sat upright in the master's chair, hearing Gong Sun Jingjun's inquiry transmission, he was stunned for a moment.

He also looked toward Elder Sun, whose whole body trembled, face flushed red, as if burning the last vestiges of his vitality……

He also looked toward Elder Sun, whose whole body trembled, face flushed red, as if he were burning up the little vitality he had left…

Then he nodded.

He did not continue looking at Elder Sun……

The next moment.

Li Che raised his hand and tapped his brow.

Within the inner vision space of the niwan.

Divinity surged like a vast sea raising great waves, continuously rising and crashing down.

And within the divine tide,

The Heaven-Embracing, Earth-Encompassing, Spiritually Bright True Ape sat cross-legged upon the divine foundation.

The Heaven-Embodying, Earth-Embodying Spirit Bright True Ape sat cross-legged upon the divine foundation.

The Heaven-Embracing, Earth-Encompassing, Spiritually Bright True Ape slowly opened its eyes……

Clear, profound, as if wisdom flowed within!

Li Che opened his eyes, divinity instantly linked with the Divine Eagle.

Equal to Heaven……

Descended!

Then let the old man take a look……

The true Great Sage!

True Great Sage!

In the dense divine mist.

The two Havoc Demon Apes locked in fierce combat suddenly burst into violent shaking.

The Two‑Hearted Great Sage Demon Ape's fist was suddenly seized, flung away, and the ape went flying sideways with a boom.

The demon ape's divine will carved by Li Ye's eyes opened and closed, suddenly becoming extraordinarily clear.

As if a true divine will had descended.

"Six Ears."

＿￠o

A low voice exploded within the divine tide.

The demon ape that had been hurled out, slammed hard onto the ground, knelt on one knee and lifted its head; the madness in its eyes gradually subsided at the sound of "Six Ears."

"Six Ears… I regret it!"

"Regret leads to Buddhahood."

The true ape slowly lifted its head, hair and beard flying, and let out a leisurely sigh.

In the next instant, the five fingers clenched!

Boom——!!!

The terrifying divine will kept expanding, the dense divine mist roiling endlessly, as if it could no longer bear it.

Boom!

The true ape stepped down, its palm‑like sole slamming onto the ground!

Instantly, a vast barrage of Guanyin lotus bombs detonated simultaneously, the illusory earth trembling as if countless earth dragons were flipping over at once!

Endless sand, soil, and stone surged like waves, rising like a curtain to a height of a hundred zhang!

And the demon ape formed by the Two‑Hearted Great Sage, mad and ferocious, reclaimed its eyes.

A long howl!

However, the burly, massive true ape had already appeared before the demon ape shaped by the Two‑Hearted Great Sage!

A fist came crashing down!

Endless explosive radiance, dazzling to the extreme, shrouded the entire divine mist, allowing no glimmer of light to be seen.

Everyone eventually…

Through the divine mist, one could barely see a terrifying demon ape dragging the corpse of another demon ape, bit by bit vanishing into the explosion's light.

Crack——!

A sound like rolling thunder from the heavens exploded.

It jolted all the God‑Eagle masters immersed in the divine‑mist vision back to their senses!

Yet they saw Elder Sun's God‑Eagle statue suddenly burst apart, shattering into fragments of spiritual wood scattered across the ground.

Meanwhile, the God‑Eagle carved by Li Ye sat calmly upon the mat.

It was over.

At this moment, every God‑Eagle master understood which family would ultimately lose the elder quota in this God‑Eagle Ridge elder examination.

"Pfft——!!!"

At the instant the God‑Eagle exploded, Elder Sun bled from mouth and nose, spewing a thick blood mist.

"Hahahaha——"

"I understand, I've smelled it!"

Elder Sun's complexion turned sallow, yet he burst into hearty laughter.

As he laughed, murky tears streamed down his cheeks.

"The deity of the temple, the Two‑Hearted Great Sage, for two cycles—120 years… only now do I realize… the Great Sage has repented and become a Buddha!"

Elder Sun gasped heavily, his divine essence beginning to wildly dissipate into heaven and earth.

His aura weakened as swiftly as a landslide.

He collapsed into the grand teacher's chair, his body hunched and withered, like an old tree drained of all moisture.

The flame of his life, like a cold wind blowing over, could be extinguished at any moment!

Li Ye rose from the grand teacher's chair, his gaze somewhat complex as he regarded the aged God‑Eagle master.

"Thank you, young friend."

Elder Sun fell silent, looking at Li Ye with a grateful smile.

The old man coughed incessantly.

He took out a piece of wood, devoid of spirituality, utterly ordinary.

Then he produced a carving knife and began to carve upon the ordinary wood.

"Shush—"

The reception hall was utterly silent.

All the wood‑carving masters watched in silence, hearing only the sound of the old man's knife tearing through the wood grain and his continual coughing.

Trembling hand, steady blade.

Upon the wood, a statue of the Two‑Hearted Great Sage temple deity slowly emerged.

The old man leaned back in his chair, gasping heavily, his chest heaving like a bellows.

He suddenly lifted his head and looked toward Li Ye.

"To hear the Way in the morning is to be content to die by evening."

"I have observed the temple deity for 120 years; only today do I comprehend the deity's divine will."

Today, this old man finally caught a glimpse of an opportunity to enter the realm of the Four Imperial Divine Eagle Saint Hand.

A hint of regret appeared in the old man's eyes.

Master Li, thank you for seeing me through....

This statue I gift to you…… alas…… I was unable to finish carving it……

Will you finish carving it for me?

Li Che heard this and couldn't help but be stunned.

"All right."

Li Che hesitated no further and immediately nodded.

However.

The old man did not respond to Li Che.

Embracing that statue of the Two-Heart Great Sage Temple God, he had already lost his breath.

At the same time.

Between heaven and earth……

The divine essence overflowing from the shattered temple god wooden carvings carved by masters such as Su HuaiMing, Zhou TianShui, and Yun HaiYang……

Madly surging into……

Into the divine eagle carved from the most ordinary wood.