Chapter 265: with translation of title

Rich death and corpse energy welled up, like ignited platycodon constantly spewing black mist.

Translation: "The rich death qi and corpse qi rose up, as if igniting the platycodon, constantly giving rise to black vapor."

We must be faithful and not add anything; 'platycodon' is a flower, so translate it as 'platycodon' and keep the meaning.

Billowing and churning, like a hideous, twisted evil ghost crawling out from the netherworld.

Translation: "Rolling and surging, like twisted, ferocious evil ghosts crawling out from the netherworld."

The night was obscured, and the countless stars faded into the darkness.

Translation: "The night was shrouded, the myriad stars vanished into darkness."

Whooo—

Translation: "Whooo—"

A chilling wind rustled, sounding like ghostly wails!

Translation: "The yin wind rustled and blew, like ghostly wails!"

The terrifying rank pressure instantly spread from the corpse god's seal formed by the spreading, intertwining black qi, making breathing feel oppressive and hard to draw.

Translation: "The terrifying rank pressure instantly spread and diffused from the corpse god's seal formed by the intertwining black qi, making breathing feel oppressive and hard to draw."

Faintly, a huge and terrifying silhouette slowly coalesced around the corpse god's seal, emitting a scarlet glow, like terrifying eyes descending from the distant heavens.

Translation: "Faintly, around the corpse god's seal, a huge and terrifying silhouette slowly coalesced, emitting a scarlet radiance, like dreadful eyes cast down from the distant heavens!"

This corpse god's seal, once fully unleashed, emitted an aura far more terrifying than the one previously obtained from the demon child.

Translation: "This corpse god's seal, once fully aroused, exhaled an aura far more terrifying than the one previously obtained from the demon child."

The heretics of the Corpse God Sect wanted to corrupt Huang Jianjiu, who, as the second-ranked true successor of the Dry Yuan Divine Sect's true transmission, possessed strength and talent that were absolutely not weak.

Translation: "The heretics of the Corpse God Sect sought to corrupt Huang Jianjiu, who, as the second-ranked true successor in the Dry Yuan Divine Sect's true transmission lineage, possessed strength and talent absolutely not weak."

Such great talent naturally delighted the Corpse God Sect, prompting them to unleash the corpse god's seal as their ultimate trump card to corrupt the Lingnan Dao of the Dry Yuan Divine Sect.

Translation: "Such formidable talent naturally delighted the Corpse God Sect, who then sacrificed the corpse god's seal, intending to use it as their greatest trump card to corrode the Lingnan Dao of the Dry Yuan Divine Sect."

Because Huang Jianjiu's cultivation was strong, the corpse god's seal they granted was of extremely high rank and grade, reaching the middle level of the Five Elders.

Translation: "And because Huang Jianjiu's cultivation was formidable, the corpse god's seal they bestowed was of extremely high grade and rank, reaching the middle level among the Five Elders!"

Compared to the demon child's corpse god's seal, its rank is higher.

Translation: "Compared to the demon child's corpse god's seal, its rank is higher!"

Boom—!!!

Translation: "Boom—!!!"

When Li Che released the corpse god's seal from the heaven-and-earth chessboard, instantly a terrifying pressure swept over, overwhelming like mountains and seas, as if it would annihilate and crush everything.

Translation: "When Li Che released the corpse god's seal from the Heaven-Earth Chessboard, instantly a terrifying pressure swept over, mountains and seas overturned, as if to annihilate and crush everything."

Even Li Che's complexion changed slightly at this moment.

Translation: "Even Li Che's expression changed slightly at this moment."

Who would have thought that the revived corpse god's seal would be this terrifying?

Translation: "Who would have thought that the revived corpse god's seal would be this terrifying?"

The corpse god's seal of the middle rank of the Five Elders!

Translation: "The corpse god's seal of the middle rank among the Five Elders!"

It is equivalent to a corpse god of the rank of a martial sage and divine fetus!

Translation: "Equivalent to a corpse god of the rank of a Martial Saint and Divine Fetus!"

Moreover, the corpse god's rank is nearly on par with that of a temple god, capable of being invincible among peers.

Translation: "Moreover, the corpse god's rank is nearly on par with that of a temple god, capable of being invincible among peers!"

So, at this moment even Li Che felt as if a huge stone pressed on his chest, his blood seemed frozen, every vein throbbing, continuously conveying blood, making his blood scalding and his qi and blood boiling.

Translation: "Thus, even Li Che felt his chest as if pressed by a great stone, his blood within seemed frozen, every vein throbbing, continuously conveying blood, making it scalding, qi and blood boiling!"

Whooo—!!!

Translation: "Whooo—!!!"

It seemed as if countless ghosts were roaring; the twisted, huge visage formed from the condensing black qi exuded extreme terror, and the corpse god's seal kept growing larger……

Translation: "As if countless ghosts were roaring, the twisted, huge visage formed by the condensing black qi exuded extreme terror, and the corpse god's seal kept swelling..."

It was almost becoming like a mountain, about to annihilate everyone!

Translation: "Almost turning into a mountain, it sought to obliterate everyone!"

Very terrifying!

Translation: "Very terrifying!"

Li Che's glabella and elixir field glowed, his Star-Plucking Pupil triggered, his flesh tore open, and his golden pupils released radiant divine light.

Translation: "Li Che's glabella's niwan glowed, the Plucking-Star Pupil activated, flesh tore open, and his golden pupil released radiant divine light!"

The Innocent Heart Dao Fruit trembled, releasing the Innocent Heart's divinity; the myriad temple god manifestations within his elixir field's inner scene revived from their cultivated state, opened their eyes and roared, while the Spirit‑Clearing True Ape beat its chest and howled to the heavens.

Translation: "The Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit trembled, releasing the Immaculate Heart divinity; within the niwan's inner vision, myriad temple god aspects revived from their cultivated state, opened their eyes and roared, while the Spirit-Minded True Ape beat its chest and howled to the heavens!"

They assisted Li Che in counteracting this oppression.

Translation: "Assisting Li Che to dispel this oppression."

Beside Li Che, Huang Jianjiu's detained god's expression turned extremely solemn.

Translation: "Beside Li Che, Huang Jianjiu's divine constable's countenance turned exceedingly grave."

The sword case burst open, the Sword Immortal's sword erupted with endless fierce light; nine sword qi twisted like flood dragons shooting straight up, like propping up a canopy, holding up the terrifying rank pressure that the corpse god's seal poured down, as if a collapsing mountain.

Translation: "The sword case burst open, the Sword Immortal's blade erupted with boundless fierce light; nine sword qi, like flood dragons, twisted upward, as if propping up a canopy, bracing against the corpse god's seal's descending, mountain‑collapsing terrifying rank pressure!"

Yet even a sword saint skilled in offense felt immense pressure at this moment.

Translation: "Yet even a Sword Saint adept at offense felt immense pressure at this moment."

The nine sword qi all seemed to be bent under pressure!

Translation: "The nine sword qi all seemed to be bent by the pressure!"

A humming tremor vibrated; within a single breath, it oscillated and died hundreds or thousands of times!

Translation: "A humming tremor vibrated; within a single breath, it oscillated and died hundreds to thousands of times!"

The middle-rank corpse god's seal of the Five Elders violently swelled and twisted; the surging death and corpse qi, like a torrent, instantly filled Ting Lei Lane, as if at the lane's far end, the hellish Yellow Spring broke through the spacetime barrier, rushing forth a corrupting, murky yellow flood that wailed.

Translation: "The middle‑rank corpse god's seal of the Five Elders violently swelled and twisted; the surging death qi and corpse qi, like a tidal wave, instantly filled Ting Lei Lane, as if at the lane's far end, the Yellow Springs of hell broke through the spacetime barrier, rushing forth with a howl of corrupting yellow‑tinged flood!"

Boom—!!!

Translation: "Boom——!!!"

At this moment, Li Che finally saw the form of the corpse god summoned by this corpse god's seal!

Translation: "At this moment, Li Che finally saw the form of the corpse god summoned by this seal!"

Unlike the twisted, bloated, swollen Guanyin temple god of the demon child's corpse god's seal, this is a huge blue‑fanged Buddha covered all over with writhing tentacles, and behind it looms a dark‑colored halo.

Translation: "Unlike the twisted, obese, swollen Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara temple god of the demon child's corpse god's seal, this is a colossal blue‑fanged, fang‑toothed Buddha, its entire body covered in writhing tentacles, and behind it even a dark‑colored halo wheel sits!"

Li Che's heart trembled slightly; having cultivated the Six Desires divinity, he instantly recognized what kind of divinity this corpse god possessed!

Translation: "Li Che's heart trembled slightly; having cultivated the Six Desires divinity, he instantly recognized which divinity this corpse god possessed!"

It is the Body‑Touch Corpse God among the Six Desires Corpse Gods!

Translation: "It is the Corpse God of Bodily Touch among the Six Desires Corpse Gods!"

However.

Translation: "However."

Just as the mountain‑shouting, sea‑roaring death and corpse qi were about to pour over the surroundings of the restaurant.

Translation: "Just as the mountain‑shouting, sea‑roaring death qi and corpse qi were about to pour down upon the surroundings of the restaurant."

Woof—!!!

Translation: "\"Woof——!!! \""

A single dog's bark rang out, instantly like a thunderclap from the nine heavens crashing onto the earth.

Translation: "A single bark rang out, instantly like the thunderclap from the ninth heaven smashing onto the mortal world."

Hum—!

Translation: "Hum——!"

The sound wave burst forth, completely dispelling all the corpse god's rank pressure, leaving not a trace; even a tiny dog's paw contained the terrifying power to prop up a collapsing heaven and earth.

Translation: "The sound wave surged forth, completely erasing all corpse‑god rank pressure; not a trace could fall, and a tiny dog's paw actually harbored the terrifying power to prop up a collapsing heaven and earth!"

Li Che's pupils constricted slightly, revealing a hint of an unusual color.

Translation: "Li Che's pupils narrowed slightly, a strange hue flashing within."

That tiny dog's paw actually gave him an unprecedented sense of safety!

Translation: "That tiny dog's paw actually gave him an unprecedented sense of safety!"

The dog's paw struck out fiercely.

Translation: "The dog's paw struck out fiercely."

It sounded like a terrifying thunderclap exploding, as if a heavenly deity hoisted an enormous mallet and slammed the earth hard!

Translation: "Like the roar of a terrifying thunderclap exploding, as if a heavenly deity hoisted an enormous mallet and slammed it down upon the earth!"

The newly formed, enormous corpse god, grown with countless tentacles, was pressed down hard by the dog's paw, like a cream cake twisted and burst apart, blown into pieces!

Translation: "The newly coalesced colossal corpse god, bristling with countless tentacles, was pressed down by the dog's paw, like a cream cake twisted and burst apart, blown into fragments!"

With a muffled pop!

Translation: "With a muffled 'pop'!"

This newly descended Body‑Touch Corpse God was thus slapped to death!

Translation: "This newly descended Corpse God of Bodily Touch was thus slapped to extinction!"

Countless death and corpse qi completely dissipated, as if in an instant they were evaporated and nullified by a mighty, radiant force.

Translation: "Countless death qi and corpse qi utterly dissipated, as if in an instant they were steamed away by a magnificent, righteous force into nothingness."

Only a single spinning corpse god's seal remained, hovering before Li Che.

Translation: "Only a single spinning corpse god's seal remained, hovering before Li Che."

Heaven and earth fell silent; the obscured, cold moonlight shone down once more, casting on the ground the extraordinarily elongated shadows of Li Che and the great black dog.

Translation: "Heaven and earth fell silent; the veiled, clear cold moonlight shone down once more, stretching Li Che's and the great black dog's shadows on the ground into extraordinarily long silhouettes."

Although Huang Jianjiu stood beside Li Che, emitting sword intent, as a detained god he could not cast a shadow.

Translation: "Although Huang Jianjiu stood beside Li Che, emitting sword intent, he is a divine constable and cannot cast a shadow."

This Five Elders middle‑rank corpse god's seal became exceedingly obedient, utterly devoid of malice.

Translation: "This Five Elders middle‑rank corpse god's seal became extraordinarily obedient, devoid of any malevolence."

It quietly spun in the air, whirring softly.

Translation: "It quietly spun in the air, whooshing as it turned."

It was thoroughly subdued by a single slap from the dog.

Translation: "Thoroughly subdued by a single slap from the dog."

A rotating 'touch' character indicated the attribute of this corpse god's seal.

Translation: "A rotating 'touch' character indicated the seal's attribute."

Huang Jianjiu's detained spirit stared at Li Che, eyes locked.

Is it… over now?

This is the Corpse God's Seal!

Huang Jianjiu was all too aware of how terrifying this Corpse God's Seal was; after all, he had been tormented by it to the point of wishing for death.

However, such a Corpse God's Seal, under a single paw of the dog… no, the dog senior, was completely obliterated, the Corpse God's will utterly erased, and it became utterly obedient?

★￠o

Huang Jianjiu felt a sudden awe rise in his heart, he retracted his sword qi, and stood in solemn respect.

Dog senior… awesome!

Li Che's eyes also grew ever more astonished; he glanced at the boss, whose expression remained normal as he took a puff of his cigarette and flicked away the ash, and his curiosity about the origins of these two grew ever stronger.

The dogs you raise… are they all this fierce?

And what about this boss?

Li Che withdrew his gaze, looking toward the big black dog, which proudly flicked its paws, its eyes glinting with a hint of teasing and satisfaction.

As if saying, a light swipe earns a day playing with Xixi—a bloody profit for the dog!

Li Che smiled, indicating the dog could rest easy.

He, Li Che, always keeps his word; honest to young and old alike.

With a thought, the Heaven-Earth Chessboard contracted, taking in the Corpse God's Seal; then, using the divinity of the immaculate heart Dao Fruit that had just completed three transformations, he washed it over once, and only then flicked a finger, sending the Corpse God's Seal into Huang Jianjiu's Soul-Sealing point between the brows.

"I entrust the Corpse God's Seal to you; seek out the traces of the Corpse God Sect in Primordial Origin Dao City…"

Li Che said.

Huang Jianjiu, hearing this, uncharacteristically adopted a solemn expression.

"As you command, my lord."

Thereafter, Huang Jianjiu was taken in by Li Che, transformed into a Soul-Seizing chess piece, and nurtured within the Heaven-Earth Chessboard.

After all, having self-destructed once and then been smashed by the big black dog, Huang Jianjiu's Soul-Seizing state had somewhat deteriorated.

Before Huang Jianjiu was taken in, he opened his mouth as if to speak, then stopped, tears glistening in his eyes.

No……

He's come all this way; won't you let him have a drink?

Unfortunately, Li Che ignored his gaze begging for three hundred cups of dragonblood wine.

Li Che brushed off his dark robe and stepped into the eatery.

"Boss, I'd like something to eat."

"Only noodles."

"Then I'll have a bowl of noodles."

"Heh."

"I'm not picky."

"Just wait."

The boss stubbed out his cigarette, yet there was no trace of tobacco on him; he turned and pushed the door open, the copper bell hanging above letting out a clear 'ding'.

Moments later, aroma drifted out from the kitchen.

A small lamp, a small bowl of noodles.

Warm and familiar as before.

……

……

Li Che kept his word; the next day he brought Xixi to the eatery.

After playing all day with the big black dog, naturally Xixi was the happiest; under the boss's feeding, her mouth hardly stopped all day.

Whatever she wanted to eat, the boss would make for her.

Xixi would occasionally ride the big black dog, leaning forward, her little arms wrapped around its neck, darting back and forth through the alleys.

The big black dog panted with its tongue out, happily bouncing about, carrying Xixi at breakneck speed.

Nothing like the dog senior who had slapped away the Corpse God's will with a single paw the night before.

However, happy times are always fleeting; after a day of feasting, drinking, and revelry at the eatery, Li Che took Xixi and left.

Li Che took Xixi's small hand; the father and daughter duo vanished into the dark alleys of Listening Thunder Lane as night fell.

The dog, panting, suddenly felt life had lost its fun; it flopped to the ground, yawned, and began to snore loudly.

The boss watched until their figures had completely disappeared.

Only then did the boss exhale, take out rolling paper, pinch a pinch of tobacco from his pouch, roll it into a cigarette, and light it with a match.

The spark burning the cigarette paper made a 'hiss-hiss-hiss' sound.

Smoke hazy, moonlight cold and still.

The eatery's dim yellow light seemed to uphold specks of brilliance in the endless darkness.

……

……

The Su family's miserable state did not affect Primordial Origin Dao City.

The vast Dao City, with a huge populace, operated in orderly fashion.

However, Huang Jianjiu's night raid on the Su family—slaughtering hundreds of its offspring and beheading the family head, Martial Saint Su Wenxi—before retreating unscathed, swept through the streets, alleys, taverns, and teahouses like a storm.

The tale spread wildly through the jianghu, and virtually every wandering martial artist who came from outside Primordial Origin Dao City couldn't help but inquire about it.

After hearing it, they couldn't help but clap and shout, "Huang the Sword Saint!"

Yet they dared not be too presumptuous, for after all the Su family remained the foremost clan of Primordial Origin Dao City; even with a Martial Saint slain and hundreds of disciples massacred, its foundation was still beyond what these jianghu folk could provoke.

However, it didn't stop them from speaking well of them; some rumors about the Su family in the martial world, many people have heard of.

Rumor had it that martial women who came to Qianyuan Dao City all ended up at the Su family manor, which made many martial world visitors extremely resentful.

Qianyuan Dao City.

Dao Master's residence.

Dragon Princess Consort wore splendid robes and sat in the leisure pavilion, holding a handful of fish bait, scattering it into the pond of the winding water cup, attracting countless fish that gathered, splashing their tails with a splash-splash sound, vying for the food.

Not far away, the young dragon maiden Ao Qingqing, under the guidance of the Young Dao Master Yue Weizheng, was perfecting her martial way.

Her formidable tempered physique made the Young Dao Master Yue Weizheng praise it without cease.

"Not bad for the East Sea Dragon God clan, innately gifted in body tempering, truly extraordinary; Qingqing, though young, her body tempering is likely not inferior to that of a post-mastery grandmaster, possessing innate divine strength, wielding the power of the dragon god..."

"Even Yang Yi, second in the Qianyuan Divine Sect's Young Dragon Rankings, famed for innate divine strength and able to draw a thousand-jin divine bow, would find it hard to match Qingqing in strength."

The Young Dao Master Yue Weizheng exclaimed in admiration.

"Sect Master Grand Divine Lü Taibai teaches without discrimination; Qingqing has an excellent chance of becoming his final personal disciple."

Ao Qingqing's youthful face instantly showed a hint of a smile.

Having scattered the fish bait, the consort clapped her hands; her dim, lightless eyes, upon hearing the Young Dao Master's words, also regained some radiance.

Ao Qingqing… was her final hope in Dao City.

Originally, she lived in Hope Spring Pavilion, using herself as bait to attract the netherworld to come kill her.

But when she learned that the netherworld had joined forces with Huang Jianjiu to kill the Su family's martial sage Su Wenxi.

The consort's original plan to feign serious injury to fish for the netherworld ox demon was directly strangled by her.

She moved back into the Dao Master's residence, feeling only stifled in her heart.

The netherworld's strength…

Unbeknownst to her, it had become stronger than she could imagine.

Su Wenxi was restrained by the netherworld, giving Huang Jianjiu time to slaughter the Su family's descendants…

The fact that the netherworld could restrain Su Wenxi shows that its combat power is comparable to that of a martial sage.

She exhaled, clapped her hands, and walked over slowly.

A fierce gleam appeared in her eyes.

Now, she placed all her hopes on Ao Qingqing.

She knew that the brat Li Nuanxi had a close relationship with the netherworld's ox demon, and moreover, it was because of her that her son Ji Haihui had died; the Sect Master's wife, this Half-Sage of Divine Talismans, suppressed her, and that despicable wretch You Liqing, who had caused her death, was currently preparing for the Qianyuan Divine Sect Sect Master's personal disciple trial.

Therefore, she wants Ao Qingqing to successfully secure a spot in the Sect Master's personal disciple examination, so that Li Nuanxi cannot become the Sect Master's personal disciple.

Only then can she resolve the hatred in her heart.

When she returns to Jizhou, she will inform Ji Moli and have him handle it; surely that despicable little girl won't get away with it!

As for Ao Qingqing becoming the Sect Master Grand Divine's personal disciple, the consort still had a bit of confidence.

Mainly because she also knew that the Qianyuan Divine Sect Sect Master Lü Taibai, who ranked fifth on the Divine Sage List and was an eminent figure, was famous for teaching without discrimination.

Even barbarians from the Great Li could be accepted as his disciples, so the fairness of his personal disciple examination is naturally assured.

Even if Li Nuanxi clung to the Sect Master's wife's thigh, it would still be impossible for Lü Taibai to accept her as a disciple just like that.

Given how seriously Lü Taibai arranged this examination, if it truly ended with a backdoor deal, his reputation would likely plummet.

"Qingqing, you must become Lü Taibai's disciple!"

The Dragon Princess Consort approached, her eyes blazing with hopeful fervor as she looked at Ao Qingqing.

Ao Qingqing pressed her lips together, and the smile on her face vanished instantly.

She felt a heaviness in her chest, stemming from the Dragon Princess Consort's weighty expectations.

"Little aunt, I… I will strive!"

Ao Qingqing took a deep breath and clenched her fists.

"No! It's not about effort; you must give it your all, aunt—I want you to crush that dead girl!"

A ferocious intent flickered across the Dragon Princess Consort's exquisite visage.

She stepped forward and grabbed Ao Qingqing's shoulders.

Ao Qingqing's face turned deathly pale from fright, and she felt a slight sting in her shoulders.

Beside them, the Young Dao Master Yue Weizheng furrowed his brow.

However, he said nothing.

"Aunt…"

"You hurt Qingqing."

Ao Qingqing said with difficulty.

The consort startled, released her hand, the ferocity vanished from her face, but the hands hidden in her sleeves continued to tremble.

"Young Dao Master, I entrust Qingqing to you…"

The consort said.

The Young Dao Master Yue Weizheng chuckled: "My son Yue Linghu also wishes to participate in the Sect Master's personal disciple examination; my father will emerge from seclusion in two days, at which point… it would be perfect for Qingqing to train together with Linghu and receive my father's guidance."

As for the personal disciple examination, they will each compete fairly based on their children's abilities.

Upon hearing this, the consort couldn't help but reveal a hint of joy in her eyes.

The Dao Master of Qianyuan Dao City… Yue Huanglong?!

He's actually going to emerge from seclusion?!

If he could give his guidance, Qingqing's chance to become the Sect Master's personal disciple would be even greater.

……

……

Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Outer Sect, Disciple City.

Elder's Hall.

"Dad! Are you ready?"

"Xixi is coming!"

Xixi wore the tiny training outfit personally sewn by Zhang Ya for her; because the outfit was quite form‑fitting, it made Xixi's little belly even more noticeable.

Li Che wore a dark robe, smiling gently, one hand behind his back, the other held forward.

"Come on, Dad is ready."

Li Che laughed.

Xixi's eyes lit up, she stomped hard, her tiny figure suddenly shaking the ground, qi and blood surging up, turning into a swift black shadow that darted toward him.

"Hey-ha!"

Xixi clenched her five fingers into a fist, thrust it forward sideways, with a slap, she heavily struck Li Che's palm, his fingers spread wide.

Qi and blood exploded, faintly spreading like a smoke band expanding!

Taking advantage of the momentum, Xixi wrapped up, grabbed Li Che's arm, and kicked his face with a flying leg.

Li Che's lips curled slightly; the hand gripped by Xixi slipped free like a swimming snake, lightly tapping the foot she had kicked.

A strand of the Immaculate Heart Divine Nature after the Three Transformations of the Dao Fruit spread silently, merging into Xixi's body to cleanse and transform her flesh!

Xixi is now five; her flesh has already reached the master level, but her martial arts realm still lacks a bit.

When Li Che enters the Immaculate Heart Divine Nature, he also transmits some martial insights to her.

As for his own daughter…

A small opening doesn't count as opening.

The sect master's personal transmission assessment is imminent; all prodigies are striving, and he, Li Che, is giving his daughter extra tutoring… what's the problem?

Xixi and Li Che crossed blades; the more they fought, the more excited she became, as if only fighting Dad could give her this feeling!

Xixi's fighting spirit soared, like a frenzied calf.

Slap slap slap slap—

She unleashed consecutive kicks, sending out bursting qi‑blood ripples in the air, the explosive sound like firecrackers going off together.

"Whoa, Xixi, you're terrifyingly strong!"

"Hey-ha!"

Xixi's speed was extremely fast, darting swiftly through the courtyard, agile and lively like a spirit fox.

While guiding Xixi, Li Che also stimulates the Purple Flame Serpent Spear Fire Tip and the Strike‑God Gold Brick within her arms.

The two mythic weapons overflow with divine power, helping to temper Xixi's physique!

"Dad, catch my Dragon‑Elephant Fist!"

Xixi's body shot up, spinning rapidly in the air, then she let out a childish shout, clenching her five fingers.

The fist intent undulated, and behind her a Dragon‑Elephant phantom emerged!

This is the Myriad Transformations Dragon‑Elephant, the martial sage absolute art Li Che taught her!

Now she has manifested the Dragon‑Elephant phantom!

This means Xixi has finally cultivated this martial art to the Great Accomplishment stage, giving birth to its true form!

She is just one step away from grasping the true intent!

Boom—

Xixi's eyes brightened; her belly quivered weakly, and both arms thrust forward toward Li Che.

Qi and blood fused with the true form of the absolute art, transforming into master true qi that erupted and surged downward!

Li Che's eyes also flashed with light.

He flicked a finger, neutralizing Xixi's Myriad Transformations Dragon‑Elephant Fist.

Xixi's move came to nothing; she fell to the ground, then bounced back with three consecutive arched jumps.

Landing on the ground, she jumped about in delight, staring at her own hands.

"Dad! I made it, Xixi made it! Xixi expelled true qi and became a master!"

Xixi was overjoyed, happily twisting her little bottom in place.

Under the eaves in the distance.

Nie Yang stood with legs apart, holding his sword, taking a deep breath.

Beside him, Li Chengzhou also imitated his cold demeanor, gripping his sword with legs apart, inhaling the cold air.

Li Chengzhou truly inhaled.

On his handsome face lay astonishment and envy.

"Sister Xixi, you're amazing."

"A five‑year‑old master…… too powerful."

Li Chengzhou said seriously.

Nie Yang glanced at Li Chengzhou, ruffled his head with a big hand: "Indeed impressive."

"You must work harder, channel your youth into the right place; facing such a genius, your talent is ordinary—only the sword can keep you up with them, so you must catch up through effort and diligence."

The stern grand master Nie Yang rarely spoke so much.

Li Chengzhou adored his master immensely, nodded firmly, held his sword tighter in his embrace, and widened his stance.

"The sect master's personal transmission assessment—I've also signed you up; you can go give it a try."

Nie Yang said.

"Ah?" Li Chengzhou lifted his head, somewhat dazed.

Nie Yang turned his head and looked down at Li Chengzhou, the corner of his cold lips curling up, revealing a white tooth that faintly glowed in the sunlight.

"Don't fear failure! Excellent swordsmen are forged invincible through repeated failures!"

"Taking failure as the whetstone for your sword..."

"It is not without advantage!"

……

……

With spring's arrival, daily rain and wind; after the rain, spring returns and the green grows denser.

As Qingming approaches ever closer, the fine rain moistens like butter.

Along the streets of Qianyuan Dao City, the willows have sprouted tender green branches, filling the city with renewed vitality.

The pattering rain was like countless fine needles drifting down from the sky.

It moistens all things silently.

"Who——"

"Inhale——"

Listening Thunder Lane, independent workshop courtyard.

Li Che stood in the center of the courtyard, bathed in the moistening rain like butter, his whole body as if forged from a branding iron, every inch of skin emitting a glazed crimson.

Beneath the crimson, the blood in each vein, like mercury, flowed clearly visible!

Within his chest, the 【Dragon Elephant Golden Body】 Dao Fruit throbbed violently!

In an instant.

A strong surge of enlightenment feedback from the Dao Fruit poured into Li Che's mind.

His eyes instantly filled with gold smoke like sinking incense, as if entering the state of a nascent divine ability ascending.

His five fingers spread open, like fist and palm, trembling between them, they tore the air, violent gusts raged and howled, all airflow within the courtyard was stirred!

Tendons and bones rubbed violently, emitting a metallic clang, the nine major tendons on his back trembled, his spine roared like a great dragon lifting its head.

The eight Qimen meridian nodes all connected upon the dragon-like spine.

The eight nodes emitted a hollow radiance!

His five fingers lashed out like divine spears, within the Myriad Transformations Dragon Elephant divine-seed martial art he himself derived, which fused the Myriad Dragons Subduing God, as his fingers trembled and struck, countless dragon shadows raged, finally gathering and coiling around a vital-blood divine elephant.

The divine elephant bellowed, myriad dragons entwined and coalesced!

Li Che clenched his five fingers into a fist and blasted it out, the air instantly exploding into a tremendous void!

Countless raindrops evaporated into a misty vapor!

"Divine-seed martial art, Myriad Transformations Dragon Elephant... Master level achieved!"

Li Che stood in place, his aura roaring above his body, whipping up violent gusts that flung his black hair like black lightning.

A beating blood-red divine seed instantly solidified, fist-sized, its surface covered with raised vein-like patterns.

As if fused with Li Che, it trembled incessantly with each breath he took.

Like a drumstick striking the ground, the vibrating waves rippled outward.

In Li Che's gaze, the gold smoke sank and condensed.

His powerful primordial spirit surged, gradually conveying this divine seed to the first Qimen node within his spine!

Boom——!!!

When the divine seed and the Qimen node fully merged!

Li Che felt only that his spine seemed to emit a deafening roar!

Crack crack crack——

Like a slumbering giant dragon suddenly raising its head, roaring to the heavens, bones and tendons ringing in unison, every meridian following the vibration!

He took out a fifth-grade lower-rank martial pill and swallowed it in one gulp.

His powerful stomach walls churned, crushing the pill's casing, the surging medicinal potency gushed forth, which he frenziedly refined.

One strand, two strands, three strands……

Relying on the martial pill's potency, strands of Innate True Gang spread and intertwined from the divine seed!

In but a moment, it gave rise to one hundred and eight strands of Innate True Gang, like one hundred and eight flood dragons roaring and coiling around his body!

Li Che's black hair danced wildly as he lowered his head to gaze at his fist, feeling the terrifying power emanating from his flesh.

If he wished, he could directly detonate the divine seed, as if breaking the shackles of the human body to gain even greater power!

And Li Che, possessing one hundred and eight strands of Innate True Gang, his cultivation equaled having reached the pinnacle of the Innate Grandmaster.

The next step is to begin igniting the three flowers atop his head, assaulting the realm of the Supreme Grandmaster.

However, Li Che is not in a hurry.

He intends to cultivate all eight divine-seed martial arts to master level, fuse them into the divine seed, obtaining eight kinds of Innate True Gang, merging them into one……

Obtain the eight-door Innate True Gang!

One strand of Innate True Gang is refined from eight kinds of divine-seed True Gang!

Perhaps then, Li Che could directly leap over the realm of the three flowers atop his head……

And do battle with a Martial Saint!

Although aided by the enlightenment boost of the Dragon Elephant Golden Body Dao Fruit.

Li Che merely cultivated the Myriad Transformations Dragon Elephant divine-seed martial art to master level; the originally perfected 【Wrathful Heavenly King Eye】 and 【Ten-Zhang Demon Python Spear】 could not in one leap reach the master tier.

Because Li Che had trained the remaining divine-seed martial arts such as the 【Myriad Nine Divine Seals】, 【Blood Crocodile Rending Heaven Palm】, and 【Weeping Blood Divine Phoenix Life and Death】 to perfection.

Among them, the 【Nine Heavens Mystic Hawk Rending Void Fist】 obtained from Su Wenxi, the head of the Su family, also, with the Dao Fruit's enlightenment feedback, was cultivated to perfection.

Regarding this wave's overall breakthrough, Li Che was very satisfied.

As he slowly wrapped up, the qi and blood that had been howling throughout the courtyard were instantly completely drawn back by him.

He returned to under the eaves and sat cross-legged quietly.

Moving like a cunning rabbit, still like a maiden.

Li Che's switching between movement and stillness had long been extremely familiar; this is control.

He took out a fifth-tier middle-grade divinity crystal.

Such fifth-tier middle-grade divinity crystals, Li Che only had five in total.

After gripping it, a powerful drawing-and-swallowing force erupted.

The divine aspect of the Heaven-Embodying, Earth-Embracing, Spiritually Bright True Ape God, in its contesting eyes, let out a roar.

After devouring a large amount of divinity, he let out a satisfied burp.

It is obvious that the ape god's divinity accumulation has already reached the extreme of the primordial aspect.

The remaining seven Seven Emotion Temple gods also all reached the extreme of the primordial aspect, their divinity abundant.

He could begin condensing the Divine Origin Golden Core.

While sensing the Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit devouring the divinity within the fifth-tier middle-grade divinity crystal.

Li Che, meanwhile, began to ponder.

"The Six Desire Divine Foundation has been waiting for a long time......"

"I don't know how Huang Jianjiu's preparations are going......"

The Six Desire Divine Foundation, Li Che gained inspiration from Huang Jianjiu.

Whether it is possible to directly through the power of the Six Desire Slay Evil Lü Xuan Sword Immortal Temple God......

Using six divine foundations to forge a divine aspect of the Six Desire Slay Evil Lü Xuan Sword Immortal?

Li Che was unsure whether it could succeed.

But, at least he should give it a try.

Spring rain poured down, drifting and scattering.

Six Desire Slay Evil Lü Xuan Sword Immortal Guiyi Miao.

Huang Jianjiu, the god-binder, wore a bamboo hat on his head, carried a sword case on his back, and had a wine gourd tied at his waist.

Looking at the Guiyi Miao shrouded in the spring mist and rain, under the jurisdiction of the Temple Warden's Office in the distance.

Huang Jianjiu took off the wine gourd and gulped a mouthful of wine.

"Riding the sword on the wind, I come to slay demons between heaven and earth; with wine I enjoy carefree bliss, without wine I am still mad......"

He laughed hahaha, his feet swaying as if he had stepped on oil.

He familiarly greeted the many divine officials stationed at the Temple Warden's Office.

He then planned to sneak into this Guiyi Miao.

However.

He had just appeared.

The air instantly exploded, and countless spring rains burned directly.

The eerie mist tore apart.

The Temple Warden's Office Governor, Si Fengzhiqi, had a burly stature, wearing the governor's robes, majestic and unmoving.

He stepped out step by step from the eerie mist.

Martial Saint's Three Openings, Open the Mountain Path!

The terrifying martial will formed a domineering domain aura that instantly froze the surroundings, like a towering mountain that had risen from the ground, standing before Huang Jianjiu.

And Fengzhiqi stood upon the peak.

Looking down from above, he gazed upon the stingy Huang Jianjiu.

Lips and teeth clashed, tongue bursting like thunder.

"Get lost."

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