Chapter 277: 278. Chapter 275: A Bet That Will Sever the Dao Path, Letting Gou Za Accompany Xixi to Storm the Town Temple Gate【Seek M

278. Chapter 275: A Bet That Will Sever the Dao Path, Letting Gou Za Accompany Xixi to Storm the Town Temple Gate【Seek Monthly Ticket】

Crack—crack—

Above the heavenly dome, spring thunder raged, within the stacked, heavy leaden clouds, constantly intertwining like a spiderweb and flashing.

The rain grew ever more violent, like furious, surging river water, slamming hard against the reefs, the torrential downpour pouring down.

The open space beneath the white jade archway.

Rain columns pounded the carriage roof, bursting into spray that misted into a huge white cloth.

Inside the carriage, the nobles who had sent the prodigies from the great clans and prefectural cities sat upright, their gazes firm, watching the scene woven from sword qi.

Further away, the wandering martial artists from all over who had rushed to Qianyuan Dao City waited eagerly.

Among the four prodigies, one remained a foreign tribe, making them all involuntarily tense.

If the eliminated one were this foreign tribe from the Da Li Royal Court, that would naturally be best; even the martial artists present could not help but cheer.

The Da Li Royal Court… and Dàjǐng could be considered sworn enemies.

Although separated by desert, in the Passage of the Dark's Passage of the Dark Long Corridor, various frictions constantly erupted; Youzhou often became a war battlefield, and many Dàjǐng men died there on the sands.

Even though the Passage of the Dark Long Corridor saw Dàjǐng and the Da Li Royal Court agree to a roughly sixty-year truce, the friction and grudges between the two nations would not easily disappear.

After all, how many predecessors shed blood for Dàjǐng? Their blood, the hatred that fell—what right do we of this generation have to forgive and forget them?

In fact, the Qianyuan Divine Sect should also be unwilling to see a foreign tribe become the sect's Young Sect Master.

Otherwise, there would not be this Direct Transmission Examination that counts as the Young Sect Master selection.

After all, under Lü Taibai there is already a royal descendant of the Da Li Royal Court who ranks first in the True Transmission Register; if they truly wished to let a foreign tribe become Young Sect Master, why go to such trouble?

All that can be said is that the appearance of Jin Tai Sui left the Qianyuan Divine Sect somewhat unprepared.

Moreover, Lü Taibai once claimed to teach without discrimination; how could they not let Jin Tai Sui participate in the selection?

Back then, Chi Kuang could enter the Qianyuan Divine Sect as the Sect Master's direct disciple; why can't Jin Tai Sui?

Many looked toward Lü Taibai, thinking the Sect Master must have kept a trump card.

It's impossible to let a foreign tribe ascend to the Young Sect Master's position!

When Gong Shu Wentian opened his eyes……

Upon the Big Flat, a wave of exclamations suddenly rose; even many clan powerhouses could not contain their emotions at that moment!

This matter…… won't slip out of the Sect Master's control, will it?

"Hahaha…… worthy of the Great Witch God's bloodline!"

"From childhood, under the Great Witch God's influence, our nature tempered to the extreme; the Mind Nature Pass…… is what our Young Witch excels at!"

The two Witch God Mountain strongmen in black cloaks immediately stroked their beards and laughed loudly.

The patterns painted on their faces with pigment seemed to come alive.

Their laughter, utterly unrestrained and wild, made Gong Shu Jingjun, seated calmly beneath the white jade archway, feel a chill in his eyes.

Gong Shu Wentian is a descendant of the Gong Shu clan; as part of the Shendu Eternal Clan with deep foundations, he came straight for the quota of Lü Taibai's direct transmission disciples.

But he never expected that things would go awry.

However, Gong Shu Jingjun also knew Gong Shu Wentian's situation; his mindset was inherently poor, though his talent was extremely high, not weak even within the Gong Shu clan.

But his Dao Heart was too fragile, dubbed a Tofu Dao Heart; even a slight blow could easily lodge in his mind, shattering his Dao Heart.

Fortunately, although Gong Shu Wentian's Dao Heart was fragile, it could be reforged each time it shattered; however, after reforging it remained a Tofu Dao Heart, prone to break again easily.

As expected.

Gong Shu Wentian was taken out of the Qiankun Small Cave Heaven; the three strands of Dao Essence he had gained in the first stage were now completely stripped away.

Gong Shu Wentian's face was full of pain, clutching his chest; without a doubt, his Dao Heart lay in shattered pieces.

Gong Shu Wentian's Dao Heart had never been broken so thoroughly as today!

It would take at least a month to reforge it!

Li Nuanxi……

Just who is she?

No!

This little girl……

She's not human!

……

……

Mind Nature Pass, within the illusion.

Xixi gripped the Purple Flame Serpent Spear Fire Tip Spear; the black flames on it began to fade, when the thorough purple burning surged.

A sense of heaviness then struck Xixi's body.

The might of this mythic Purple Flame Serpent Spear Fire Tip Spear is beyond what Xixi can now wield, though she often aids herself with the divine power it releases to temper her body.

Her physical strength has reached the level of a Blood Qi Furnace.

But, having lost the power of those black markings, mastering the Fire Tip Spear has become virtually impossible.

Whoosh——

The Fire Tip Spear turned into a streak of purple fire snake, coiling around Xixi's arm, seeping beneath the skin, hidden within the muscles and bones.

Xixi immediately felt her strength rapidly weakening.

And the Hell Lotus Wind Fire Gold Light Wheel beneath her feet likewise saw its black sparks slowly fade, the hell‑lotus‑like phantom gradually vanishing.

Xixi tilted her head, and the Gold Light Wheel slipped into her little toes.

Xixi, who had happily fought her way here, slaying villains, was forced to fall to the ground, stepping in the blood‑stained earth.

At the same moment.

Outside Fēiléichéng.

A burst of silver light erupted, the extremely intense death qi and corpse qi surged and boiled, like a fierce evil corpse, silver gang like a dragon snake wildly whipping, exploding the air, as if walking out from the land of death, killing intent boiled.

Constantly following behind Xixi, the faintly glowing Li Che, his gaze involuntarily tightened.

Yuan Jingang……

The mastermind behind this Thousand Infant Banquet in Fēiléichéng, the Corpse God Sect's Seven Yuan Upper Position Corpse God Envoy, a Cursed Silver Corpse expert wielding twenty-five strands of silver gang!

Xixi, after losing the empowering power of the Purple Flame Snake Spear Fire Tip Spear and the Hell Lotus Wind Fire Gold Light Wheel, and also losing the power of that mighty will……

Then completely lost the possibility of clashing with Yuan Jingang.

Li Che also understood, Xixi's Mind Nature Gate, roughly reaching this point is the limit.

To avoid seeing Xixi being blown apart.

Li Che chose to act.

Although I don't know if his action would count the battle record towards Xixi.

But even if it would affect Xixi's battle record, Li Che still had to act.

Radiant light burst from his whole body, five fingers clenched, although it was a glowing will-formed body, it also possessed endless qi and blood, raging like a surging tide!

"Xixi, watch closely."

Li Che whispered, as his five fingers clenched, five streams like divine spears were grasped together by him.

Grand Master Realm Divine Seed Martial Art!

Myriad Transformations Dragon Elephant!

Li Che tapped his toe down, and instantly the whole Fēiléichéng seemed to tremble violently at this moment, spiderweb-like cracks rampantly exploding in this illusory space!

A huge golden divine elephant phantom emerged.

A handsome divine dragon coiled around the divine elephant's whole body.

Dragon Elephant United Form!

Cursed Silver Corpse-level Yuan Jingang……

In an instant, turned to ashes and smoke!

……

……

"Oh dear——"

On the White Jade Stairs.

Xixi's long eyelashes trembled, her face showing an expression of astonishment and joy!

Dad is so fierce!

No need for Immortal Craft Gatling, can set off fireworks barehanded!

Simply too awesome!

Xixi wants to beat Dad, but she still needs to grow stronger for a while!

Xixi's eyes sparkled, she stretched, her short arms and legs instantly made crisp crackling sounds, her bones popping like fried beans!

"Huh?!"

Xixi clenched her little fist and swung at the air, instantly a whooshing sound exploded.

"Xixi has gotten stronger again!"

Xixi was delighted!

Her physical strength seemed to have grown much stronger, why?

Is it because of that black patterned power?

Xixi still remembers that in the illusion, an older sister spoke deep in her mind, and then Xixi's whole body grew black flowers, let alone……

Xixi, Great Emperor, is simply cool to death!

Recalling the scene in the illusion, Xixi couldn't help but smile happily, Dad is always there, so Xixi's heart won't panic!

There are still fights to have, Xixi keeps getting stronger in battle!

One day, she will surpass Dad!

Xixi clenched her little fist, fighting spirit surging!

At that moment, she finally came to her senses, looking into the distance, she saw Jin taisui and Yun e still struggling in the Mind Nature Gate illusion.

"Yun e older sister, keep going! You must beat that guy!"

Xixi blinked her eyes.

Xixi on her own White Jade Stairs dared not move randomly, fearing to disturb Yun e and disrupt her Mind Nature Gate trial.

As for that Jin taisui, Xixi glanced and also didn't bother him.

Xixi is very polite!

Earlier, bombarding Jin taisui with Immortal Craft Blood Fire Bodhi Gatling was because Jin taisui struck first, so Xixi was not polite and directly attacked!

"Yun e older sister, keep going! You must beat that guy!"

Xixi clenched her little fist, cheering and boosting morale!

Meanwhile, the outside world.

When Xixi woke up, a wave of regretful sound suddenly echoed incessantly, even drowning out the sound of the heavy spring rain falling.

Many present had high hopes for Xixi, after all she completely dominated the Talent Gate of the first stage, topped first, surpassing the little genius Gong Shu Wentian!

However, in the Mind Nature Gate assessment of the second stage, Gong Shu Wentian failed, and Xixi only got third place.

And Jin taisui, this Junior Shaman of the Great Li Royal Court's Grand Divine Shaman bloodline, still persists in the Mind Nature Gate, at least ranking higher than Xixi.

In fact, after Gongshu Wentian was defeated, the three remaining god-children of the Second Heart-mind Gate emerged from the furnace and entered the third gate, and the three of the Suppress Temple Gate also became completely certain.

"What a pity..."

In the carriage, Zhang Ya let out a sigh.

Beside her, Mu Popo comforted her: "Xixi has already done very well; after all, she's only five, her innate disposition puts her at a disadvantage, her emotions are easily swayed…… She isn't as mature as other children."

Upon hearing that, Zhang Ya also quickly let it go.

Xixi at least made it into the third pass, the Town Temple Pass, so she still has a chance.

Hearing that, Zhang Ya couldn't help but feel happy; Xixi doing this well already shows she's done very well.

Under the White Jade Archway, many elders saw that Xixi was the first among the three to wake up.

They all let out a sigh in unison.

It's truly a pity.

Actually, Xixi's performance has already been quite good.

Many elders looked toward Li Che, congratulating him one after another; indeed it was worth congratulating, at least Xixi had made it into the third pass.

After all, Xixi is just a five-year-old child.

Li Che put on a gentle smile, clasped his fists, and returned the salute to the many elders.

Suddenly.

Everyone turned their heads toward the direction reflected by the Sword Qi Disk.

Finally, the two also woke up one after another.

Jin Tai Sui woke up first; after about three breaths, on Yun E's beautiful, delicate face, her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she opened her eyes, and in her pupils a crescent moon flickered past, making her whole person turn exceptionally cold and clear.

An invisible rank pressure spread from her, enveloping her, and her demeanor underwent a complete transformation.

Jin Tai Sui furrowed his brows, looking at Yun E.

"A reincarnation of the temple god?"

"No, that's not right…… You're feeding the god with your body?"

"So that's how it is; losing isn't unjust."

Jin Tai Sui said lightly; the pattern painted on his face with colored pigments trembled slightly.

Second……

Heart-nature Pass, second!

From the age of three he was thrown into the Guiyi Miao, and the spirit he forged by struggling there gave him a great advantage in this Heart-nature Pass.

The Heart-nature Pass…… is an illusion created by the power of the Primordial Origin Divine Sect's patriarch's Dao essence, which can sense the trials and tribulations a person's inner disposition encounters.

No one can completely overcome hardship and pain; only the duration of perseverance differs.

Because some hardships and pains are extremely long-lasting, experiencing them again may not even be better than before.

Jin Tai Sui looked at the tiny Xixi, a flash of strange color crossing his eyes.

He no longer dared to underestimate Xixi, after all, she had beaten him before.

This little girl pulled out a mechanism, unleashing a fierce bombardment that nearly sent him flying away.

"Big Sister Yun E!"

Xixi's little feet pattered as she ran to Yun E's side.

In Yun E's icy gaze, looking at Xixi, a hint of gentleness gradually appeared.

She rubbed Xixi's head: "Xixi, you're amazing; persisting to the third Heart-nature Pass is no easy feat—you must have suffered a lot, right?"

The difficulty of the Heart-nature Pass, Yun E knows all too well.

The pain deep within was dug up again, to be re-experienced, even intensified, simply more terrifying than a nightmare.

But Xixi kept shaking her head: "Xixi hasn't suffered at all; she's been happy, with her father always protecting her!"

Yun E laughed helplessly.

Gently stroking Xixi's head.

"What a pity…… Looks like this time, the personal transmission quota of the Great God Tai Bai is mine."

Jin Tai Sui crossed his arms; at ten years old, his figure was already quite slender, calling him a youth is no exaggeration.

"If it were Gong Shu Wen Tian and Xuan Yue who made it to the third pass, I might still feel some pressure, after all, the Gong Shu clan is the family of the Grand Director of the Imperial Observatory in Dàjǐng, and Gong Shu Wen Tian is still quite capable."

"Xuan Yue comes from the Mystic Talisman Divine Sect, and she's also very strong……"

"As for you two……"

Jin Tai Sui has always been a reckless, unrestrained person; he's arrogant, and since arriving in Dàjǐng he must flaunt the talent of the Great Li.

"A five-year-old little girl, and a piece of trash who only stands here by relying on the temple god's power……"

"You two basically pose no threat to me."

The contempt in Jin Tai Sui's words barely concealed.

Jin Tai Sui looked at Xixi: "I admit you little girl have decent talent limits; with various boosts, you should reach the level of purple qi reaching the heavens……"

"But you're only five—how strong could you really be? Without relying on mechanisms, I could suppress you like a defeated dog."

How arrogant!

Xixi's eyebrows shot up in anger!

"You, a defeated lackey, dare to look down on Xixi the Great Emperor!"

Xixi put her hands on her hips, stuck out her little belly, and shouted loudly.

Jin Tai Sui's face darkened: "Who's your defeated lackey? That was a sneak attack! Even if you used a mechanism to sneak attack, you still have the nerve to call me your defeated lackey!"

"'Little girl, dare to make a bet with me?!' Jin Tai Sui narrowed his eyes, stared at Xixi, and a wicked smile curled his lips."

"'A bet?'"

Xixi suddenly recalled the scene of her earlier bet with that traitor Ji Hai Hui.

His head immediately shook like a rattle drum.

"I wouldn't bet with people like you who don't keep their word; losing and then refusing to pay up is pointless." Xixi said.

Jin Tai sui furrowed his brows: "I am the esteemed young witch of Witch God Mountain; how could I possibly go back on my word?"

"The previous one said the same thing; he was an esteemed little prince! We agreed that if he lost, he'd become Xixi's little servant, but then he lost and refused to pay up."

Xixi sighed and spread her hands.

"This place is the minor cave heaven of the Patriarch of the Qianyuan Divine Sect; we wager here, with the Dao resonance as witness—whoever goes back on their word will have their Divine Tribulation path severed!"

Jin Tai sui raised his chin, stared at Xixi, unrestrained and arrogantly proud.

He displayed the adolescent's chuunibyou and arrogance to the fullest.

Xixi's eyes lit up instantly.

Yun'e hurriedly covered Xixi's mouth: "Xixi, we shouldn't bet with him..."

Yun'e naturally knew Jin Tai sui's strength; it was absolutely formidable—even if she harbored a temple deity within, victory was not guaranteed.

The opponent hails from Witch God Mountain, infamous for his uncanny methods; he surely also possesses means to restrain temple deities.

Xixi pulled Yun'e's hand away, tiptoed, and patted Yun'e's shoulder like a little adult.

"Sister Yun'e, with Xixi the Great Emperor taking action, you can rest assured! Xixi also has trump cards!"

Xixi said seriously.

"What are we betting? Golden Flower Cat!"

Xixi placed her hands on her hips, her little belly bouncing up and down.

"Simple—we bet on who gets first place in the third trial, the Suppressing the Temple trial."

"If you come first, I'll be your carriage servant."

"If I come first, you follow me to Witch God Mountain to meet the Great Witch God."

Jin Tai sui laughed, finally revealing his ambition.

Xixi's talent... is simply terrifying!

In a fleeting glance, he saw Xixi's purple qi divine pillar, cascading like a waterfall—it was utterly exaggerated!

The purple qi pierces the heavens; it's not even this little girl's limit!

A hexagonal warrior...

Such a little girl, the Great Witch God will surely appreciate her!

"Just go to Witch God Mountain to see the Great Witch God?" Xixi asked doubtfully.

"Exactly, that's all." Jin Tai sui said.

But, upon seeing the Great Witch God...

You, this little girl, will inevitably become a person of Witch God Mountain!

Good!

Xixi the Great Emperor has agreed to your wager!

Xixi said.

At the same time.

In the instant the two established the wager.

Buzz—

The white jade steps suddenly shook violently; the mist dispersed, the Patriarch's divine eagle eyes opened, bursting forth brilliant white light.

Instantly, Dao resonance coiled and surged wildly around Xixi and Jin Tai sui.

It was as if an invisible link had formed in the dark.

"The wager... is formed!"

"Dao resonance bears witness; breaking the pact severs the Dao path!"

Jin Tai sui's expression suddenly turned solemn; he spoke in a deep voice.

Yun'e's complexion shifted slightly; she couldn't help but sigh.

Xixi nodded heavily: "Mm-hmm!"

Jin Tai sui laughed, gave the cute little girl a deep look, his mood inexplicably brightened.

He entered the Guiyi Miao at three, struggled within it, endured all kinds of life-and-death crises; speaking of temple-suppressing experience, how could he possibly lose to a five-year-old little girl?

Buzz—

A white Dao resonance qi pillar drifted over.

Xuan Yue and Gong Shu Wentian failed to reach the top three in the second trial's Heart-mind trial, thus they were deprived of Dao resonance.

Xixi placed third in the Heart-mind trial, thus gaining two chi of Dao resonance; adding the nine chi from the first trial, her Dao resonance reached eleven chi.

On the other side, Jin Tai sui obtained five chi of Dao resonance.

Yun'e, who took first in the Heart-mind trial, received twelve chi of Dao resonance.

The total Dao resonance awarded to the top three in the Heart-mind trial exceeds that of the first trial's Talent trial!

This also indirectly shows that Lu Tai Bai's personal transmission examination, while valuing talent, places even greater emphasis on other aspects.

Buzz—

The three's vision blurred; in the next moment they all appeared outside the Qiankun minor cave heaven, having been displaced.

Father!

As soon as Xixi emerged, her eyes rolled around and she spotted Li Che seated on the elder's chair.

Recalling the vision from the illusion, Xixi happily sprang toward Li Che, leaping up and clinging to his embrace like an octopus.

Her head kept rubbing against Li Che's embrace.

"Xixi misses Daddy!"

Xixi said happily.

Li Che gently rubbed Xixi's head: "Don't worry, Daddy is always here and will protect Xixi."

Xixi lifted her head, blinked her eyes at Li Che, wondering if the Daddy in the illusion wasn't a fake Daddy.

Isn't it a product of Xixi's Great Emperor belief?

Xixi's eyes grew brighter and brighter: "Mm-hmm!"

She nodded heavily.

Xixi hurriedly finished the things left undone in the illusion.

"Daddy, pinky promise!"

Father and daughter, oblivious to others, began their pinky promise on the white jade archway.

"Pinky swear, a hundred years, no changing!"

Xixi happily kept shaking her head.

The tranquil Yun E beside them watched enviously, the envy in her eyes almost turning to substance.

Xixi also tattled about the bet she had made with Jin Tai Sui.

Upon hearing that, Li Che's eyes instantly narrowed...

In fact, Li Che had long known about this bet; he also guessed that Jin Tai Sui's motives weren't pure, intending to rely on the bet to trick Xixi into going to Witch God Mountain.

Great Li Witch God Mountain...

Compared to ordinary divine sects, it is far stronger; even the Great Li royal court was established under its supervision, and the Grand Witch's status is noble enough to appoint the Great Li emperor.

"Daddy knows."

"Since we've made the bet, Xixi must give it her all to win." Li Che rubbed Xixi's head, speaking to his daughter; his words grew gentle and cute, unable to resist adding sound effects.

However, Li Che looked at Jin Tai Sui, his eyes filling with utter chill.

Jin Tai Sui, taken away by two experts from Witch God Mountain, felt a piercing chill; having grown up scrambling in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Cavern of the Guiyi Miao suppressed at Witch God Mountain, he was highly sensitive to the danger of death.

Looking over, he saw only a warm, gentle youth holding that little girl.

"Young Witch, did you make a bet on Dao Insight witness with that little girl?"

An elderly cultivator frowned and asked.

Jin Tai Sui smiled and nodded: "That girl's talent is not bad, at least Purple Qi Reaching the Heavens; the Grand Witch will surely like her, perhaps she could even become our Witch God Mountain's goddess."

"Young Witch, aren't you afraid the Qianyuan Divine Sect won't release the person?"

"If they don't release her, then this little girl is essentially breaking the bet, the Dao Insight witness bet... once she breaks it, her cultivation path will be cut, and she will no longer be a threat in the future."

Jin Tai Sui gave a light smile.

"I'm arrogant; this little girl is even more arrogant than I..."

"She's only five; when I was five, I was far more steady than she is."

Another cultivator, seeing the confident Young Witch, couldn't help but ask: "Young Witch, have you considered the possibility of failure?"

"If you lose, will you really have to be this little girl's charioteer and servant?"

The smile on Jin Tai Sui's face gradually faded as he looked at the elderly cultivator: "If you can't speak, say less."

"I, Jin Tai Sui, entered the Ten Thousand Ghosts Cavern of the Guiyi Miao at three; how could I possibly lose?"

That Divine Embryo cultivator, his aged face like withered wood, trembled: "Young Witch..."

"This is Qianyuan Dao City, the territory of the Qianyuan Divine Sect..."

"If Lü Taibai makes a move..."

Jin Tai Sui's smile completely froze.

"Impossible, Great God... there's no way they'd be so shameless!"

Clatter-clatter.

Spring rain poured down mighty.

Jin Tai Sui only felt the rain striking his face, slightly chilly.

He lifted his head and looked beneath the "Qiankun" Dao Inscription plaque.

Silver hair flowing like a waterfall, white clothes whiter than snow—Lü Taibai.

Yet he saw Lü Taibai smiling at him.

In the Qingming season, amidst the countdown to nightfall, time slowly passed.

Spring rain drizzled incessantly, moistening the earth without end.

The Qianyuan Divine Sect's sect master, the Great God Lü Taibai's personally transmitted disciple examination, together with the third stage of the junior sect master selection—the Temple Suppression Gate—was not held on the same day as Qingming.

Instead, it was set for three days later.

And it was set in Qianyuan Dao City, within one of the Four Sovereigns Guiyi Miaos—the Nine-Teeth Banishing Demon Exorcising Evil Heavenly Peng Guiyi Miao.

The Marvelous Dao Manifesting Holy Three-Eyed True Lord Guiyi Miao, one of the Four Sovereigns Guiyi Miaos, lies within the Qianyuan Divine Sect's mountain gate, suppressed solely by the sect's own power.

As for this Heavenly Peng Guiyi Miao, it is jointly suppressed by the Four Great Thousand-Year Clans of Qianyuan Dao City—the Su, Yun, Zhong, and Zhou families—along with the Temple Suppression Office and the Bureau of Astronomy.

The establishment of this Temple Suppression Gate also came with the consent of the heads of the major clans.

As for setting it three days later, it is because advance preparations need to be made within the Guiyi Miao's Ghost Gate.

These three days also serve as time for the three personally transmitted candidates to ferment and prepare their trump cards.

After Qingming passed, the rain actually became even more torrential.

The alley became extremely muddy; Li Che held up an oil-paper umbrella, cradling Xixi in one arm, passed through Listening Thunder Alley, and slowly walked toward the restaurant.

The torrential rain splashed countless fine, overlapping droplets on the muddy ground of the narrow lane.

Along the edge of the oil-paper umbrella, rainwater slid down, weaving together into a curtain of rain.

Xixi wrapped both arms around Li Che's neck, happily shaking her head and swaying.

I'll get to see Dog Smash again, and I'll get to eat the boss's delicious dishes!

Yellowish light glowed out from within the restaurant.

Li Che arrived in front of the restaurant.

The big black dog lying on the ground, asleep to the sound of rain, twitched its nose, its eyes snapped open, and its head perked up.

At a glance it saw Xixi drifting from the alley, and naturally ignored Li Che, this intimidating person, in its doggy eyes.

The big black dog happily rose, bounced in place, and wagged its tail.

The boss sat in a chair, hastily snuffed out his cigarette, waved his hand, and dispersed the smoke.

"You're here, Xixi—are you hungry? What would you like to eat? I'll make it right away."

A rare smile appeared on the boss's face.

Xixi wasn't shy either, she began counting the dishes on her fingers.

"You're ordering this much—can you finish it?"

Li Che tapped Xixi's forehead.

"Just a bowl of noodles will do," Li Che said gently.

Moments later.

Li Che looked at the bowl of noodles before him, then at the braised pork trotters, sweet-and-sour spare ribs, and other dishes set before Xixi, and instantly fell into contemplation.

Was he being too polite?

Having eaten and drunk his fill.

Li Che and the boss each pulled a chair under the eaves of the restaurant, each holding a cigarette in their mouths as they sat.

Gazing at the rain curtain, they listened to the rain that cleansed body and mind.

The boss's face was expressionless: "You mean the little thing from Witch God Mountain wants to make a bet with Xixi?"

"If Xixi loses, does she have to go to Witch God Mountain? Otherwise, the bet witnessed by the Dao Origin will sever her cultivation path?"

Li Che nodded.

"Can you give Xixi another one of your tea‑egg snacks?"

Li Che grinned, revealing the true purpose of bringing Xixi here this time.

Everyone was preparing their trump cards, and Li Che was naturally no exception.

The boss stubbed out his cigarette: "Also… if Xixi loses, opening the restaurant on Witch God Mountain would be a bit troublesome."

He is someone who dislikes trouble.

So he shook his head: "No need for the tea‑egg."

No need for all that trouble either.

Dog Smash.

"You accompany Xixi on a little outing."