Chapter 281

Hualahuala—

A huge and ferocious dragon head plummeted from the high heavens, the shattered azure dragon bones like cracked blue sapphire scattering across the ground.

Dragon blood gushed nonstop from the severed neck, scorching dragon blood containing the immense energy of a dragon god lineage expert who had undergone ultimate transformation and stepped into the Martial Saint realm.

Hiss—

The ground instantly corroded and sank, like snow meeting hot water, instantly forming pits.

Then, the enormous dragon head crashed into the deep pit ruins, kicking up clouds of dust.

Meanwhile, above the sky, the Dragon Queen Consort had her head severed, losing control, and her thrashing body was seized in the five fingers of the towering, mountain‑like Li Che.

However, having lost its head, as if losing its essence, countless azure dragon bones were covered in fine cracks, then shattered and exploded into countless bone powder.

In the wind‑wave formed by the surging qi and blood, they drifted apart and dissipated.

Slowly, the dragon body covered in fine scales transformed into the Dragon Queen Consort's humanoid flesh, continually collapsing and breaking apart…

Bit by bit turning into sand‑like matter, it was about to drift away between heaven and earth.

Huh?

Beneath Li Che's ox‑demon mask, his pupils instantly showed a hint of regret—what a pity…

A Martial Saint‑level dragon corpse is a treasure trove; every part is top‑grade material, and just that dragon tendon alone is prime material for forging a god‑bow of the Five Elders' level.

Among the divine‑seed martial arts Li Che cultivates, there is one learned from the azure bird—the Weeping Blood Divine Phoenix Life‑Death Arrow—which requires a top‑tier god‑bow to unleash its power.

Li Che has never been lacking in archery; he once learned it from the Divine Archer of Wenlong Mountain, has always dabbled in it, and now he has cultivated the Weeping Blood Divine Phoenix Life‑Death Arrow to perfection.

Naturally his archery is extraordinary; with a divine bow, the destructive power it unleashes is certainly not insignificant.

"Burning the dragon god's bloodline, he forcibly crossed the barrier from half‑step Martial Saint to open Martial Saint; thus his flesh and blood were burned and destroyed, and upon death he returns to dust and earth…"

Li Che sighed regretfully.

Fortunately…

The Dragon Queen Consort's universe‑jade was not shattered; it fell into his hand, which counts as a gain, so he won't come away empty‑handed.

Boom—

Feeling the surging qi and blood within his body, the immense burden on his flesh from the eruption of two divine seeds is now assaulting his physique.

Li Che rarely felt a stabbing pain coming from his spine.

Like the memory of childhood when getting a shot at the clinic and the needle pricked his buttocks…

Having landed on the ground, standing beside the ferocious dragon head, Li Che felt a faint throbbing pain from his spine and involuntarily exhaled.

"Is this the injury after the two divine seeds erupt?"

"Indeed not bad… I actually feel pain."

His towering, mountain‑like physique slightly raised his arms; muscle lines stretched, tendons and bones trembled, wriggling over his flesh like a flood dragon.

Within his chest, the Dragon‑Elephant Diamond Dao Fruit was beating frenziedly, as if rejoicing in this fierce battle.

Li Che twisted his neck, and the sound of bones grating and colliding burst forth with a deafening roar.

"When the divine seeds burst… one will surely die."

"But not me."

Li Che glanced at the Dragon Queen Consort's corpse.

Two divine seeds…

Clearly, this is not the limit of Li Che, who possesses the Dragon‑Elephant Diamond external‑training Dao Fruit.

Just a brief moment of rest.

Li Che felt that the injuries from the eruption of the two divine seeds… had already healed.

Whoosh—

A gentle breeze swept by, lifting the dry sand and gravel on the ground.

Li Che's back twitched, and the vast qi and blood all returned to the spinal extraordinary meridian.

After opening the Ascension Tower and the Dragon‑Elephant Heavenly Gang, his increasingly towering stature gradually returned to normal, yet still retained the ox‑demon's towering, robust build.

With a clench of his five fingers, the Dragon Queen Consort's dragon head vanished at once, stored by him in his universe‑space for later use in summoning spirits.

With a tap of his foot, the ground exploded, and Li Che's whole person blurred and vanished from the spot.

In the distance.

Sand and gravel rolled, dust and smoke roared.

Ao Qingqing trembled uncontrollably all over, watching the Dragon Queen Consort, who had forcefully broken through to Martial Saint and possessed Martial Saint combat power, be ruthlessly slain.

Ao Qingqing could no longer suppress the fear and sorrow within her…

"Aunt…"

Ao Qingqing's tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes.

However, Ao Qingqing, having undergone the temperament trial, had matured greatly; she wiped away her tears.

"Aunt… I… I have grown up… I will avenge you."

Ao Qingqing gritted her teeth.

After all…

It's her aunt after all.

Clenching her five fingers, Ao Qingqing turned and began to flee madly toward the distance.

However…

She had just escaped two or three steps.

She then discovered her legs… could not move.

That was a terrifying pressure originating from the physiological level.

She stood frozen like a sculpture on the ground, wanting to lift her legs and flee swiftly, but her legs felt as if filled with lead.

Thud—thud—thud—

The heavens and earth fell utterly silent; the sounds of wind and rolling stones vanished completely, not a whisper to be heard.

Her neck stiffened, her eyeballs slowly rolled, then gradually sank.

Watching the shadow slowly spreading on the ground, obscuring hers… a larger shadow…

She strained to turn her neck behind her.

"Don't look back, child."

"Look ahead."

A faint, hoarse voice slowly rose and echoed.

Ao Qingqing's twisting neck suddenly stiffened; in the next instant, her chest exploded with a huge wound, spraying countless drops of blood.

She collapsed helplessly to her knees on the ground…

Her life force was slowly drained away, leaving her completely empty.

But from beginning to end…

Ao Qingqing never turned her head.

Li Che pressed the Ox Demon Mask on his face; the expression in his eyes showed little fluctuation, for he naturally understood the principle of eradicating the root.

In fact.

Even if Ao Qingqing broke free and fled at the very moment he clashed with the Princess Consort, she could not have gotten far.

Because…

From within Ao Qingqing's shadow, the twisted writhing of the Shadow Guard True Person rose to a stand, clasping fists toward Li Che.

"My lord…"

"Let's go."

Li Che flicked his finger.

In an instant, an invisible burst of qi exploded; Ao Qingqing's corpse shuddered once and vanished into smoke.

Although Ao Qingqing was merely a ten-year-old child, she bore the bloodline of the Dragon God Clan, and in the second level, the Mind Nature Pass, she barely managed to hold on until the top three…

Such a talent, now that she bears a grudge against me, if I let her go, her future growth…

could bring danger to myself or my family.

even threaten Xixi's life safety.

Therefore, reducing trouble for Xixi is naturally best.

Two black shadows twisted and instantly vanished.

At the same time.

On the official road, the other ongoing battles also ceased instantly.

Huang Jianjiu, who was clashing with the Star Host Assassin, brandished his sword with a burst of laughter, then directly exploded into dissipating black mist.

On the other side, You Liqing, who was locked in a deadly struggle with the Corpse God Sect's Half-God Corpse Envoy, also narrowed his eyes, gazing deeply at that half-god corpse.

The next moment, it exploded into black mist and vanished.

The Corpse God Sect's half-god corpse…

You Liqing took note.

This half-god corpse is formidable, even stronger than an ordinary early-stage Martial Saint; if You Liqing had not obtained Li Che's previous Corpse God Seal, facing this half-god corpse would likely see him completely overwhelmed.

But now…

Then, with the lord's hatred of the Corpse God Sect, he will…

"You're dead!"

You Liqing vanished.

Meanwhile, the grand masters Long Tai, Qingniao, and Xue Dufu, who had been holding back the Divine Guard Army, also retreated one after another.

The underworld's fiends, in an instant, all vanished.

Bang—bang—bang—

The Star Host Assassin hovered midair; the Corpse God Sect's half-god corpse's eyes flickered with bloodlight, both gazing into the distance, sensing the aura of extinction.

The furious, howling will of the Martial Saint had not yet faded…

Princess Consort Pingluan Ao Yuxin…

She had died.

"The underworld… what a ruthless underworld…"

The Star Host Assassin pressed the star-carved wooden mask on his face, exhaled lightly, and turned into flowing light, vanishing.

The Corpse God Sect's half-god corpse dared not show its face, a vortex of death qi forming behind it, into which it plunged and vanished.

The Divine Guard Army's generals Han Qizhong and Dai Qingxiao, leading their troops, sped toward the battlefield.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—

A pit dozens of zhang wide lay exposed before everyone.

In the pit,

Scorching dragon blood that had corroded the ground into pits still lingered, yet the dragon corpse was gone.

All that remained in the air was a mournful, immensely powerful, heart‑shaking Martial Saint will!

"Dead… dead…"

Han Qizhong and Dai Qingxiao exchanged a glance, their hairs standing on end.

That is…

Princess Consort of the King of Pacifying Chaos!

She is the vital bond linking Princess Demon Ritual of the King of Pacifying Chaos and the Dragon God's lineage!

"The underworld... dare to kill this?" Dai Qingxiao muttered.

"What is there that the underworld wouldn't dare to kill?"

Han Qizhong glanced over and said in a deep voice.

Suddenly.

Han Qizhong and Dai Qingxiao turned their gaze toward the distance.

Across the ruined deep pit, yellow dust swirled, and a hunched figure stood at the edge of the pit.

In one hand he clutched a jet‑black book exuding dense black mist; in the other he held a wolf‑hair brush.

A smiling cat‑face mask tore through the yellow dust, gradually revealing itself.

"Jie jie jie jie jie…"

"Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth."

"The underworld lets you die at the third watch; who dares keep you until the fifth watch…"

"Princess Consort Ao Yuxin of the King of Pacifying Chaos, erase her name from the Book of Life and Death."

……

Cat face!

Underworld cat face!

Listening to that faint voice.

For a moment, Dai Qingxiao and Han Qizhong, both top three‑flower Grandmasters, felt a chill spread through their bodies.

The many Divine Guard soldiers narrowed their eyes even further.

They only sensed the underworld's mystery and terror!

This was not the first time they had heard the cat face utter such words.

The first time they thought it was a ruse, the second time it could still be considered a ruse…

But the third, the fourth…

It truly made one's hair stand on end.

When the cat face appears…

It means the underworld has killed again!

Huff huff huff huff—

The wind and waves brushed past.

The hunched cat‑face figure seemed to carry the endless echo of a "jie jie jie" laugh.

It slowly faded, disappearing into the yellow dust.

……

……

Qian Yuan Dao City.

Above the octagonal, double‑eaved Qin Tian Treasure Tower.

Chief Overseer Hong Shifo stood with his arms folded, his loose robe fluttering wildly in the strong wind aloft.

Behind him, on a sandalwood chessboard, white and black pieces lay scattered.

On his hoary face, his eyes narrowed as he looked toward the southern part of the city.

It was as if, from his lofty viewpoint, he took in the entire southern district at a glance.

In front of the Heavenly Canopy Guiyi Miao.

The Chief Overseer's gaze fell upon Li Che, seated on the elder's chair, wearing a gentle smile, conversing with Gongxu Jingjun.

"The princess consort is already dead…"

"The underworld Bull Demon… isn't it him?"

Chief Overseer Hong Shifo raised his hand, a white piece rolling between his fingers.

He tried to calculate with his fingers, but could not, as if a colossal chessboard blocked his sight.

"Underworld Bull Demon… who exactly is it?"

Originally, Hong Shifo had inferred from clues that it was Li Che, but now…

The Princess Consort of the King of Pacifying Chaos was slain, and Li Che, whom he suspected to be the Bull Demon, has been right under his nose all along.

In front of Guiyi Miao.

He was carefully studying a Fang Han book, a Confucian classic, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Almost done reading?"

He slammed the book shut, and instantly a powerful divine consciousness surged, as if merging with heaven and earth, as if the world birthed three souls and seven spirits.

Boom—!!!

Hong Shifo's unique perspective was instantly shattered by the boom.

He closed his eyes, then opened them again…

"The underworld… is too arrogant."

"Truly, it does look down on Princess Demon Ritual."

……

……

Buzz—

Li Che, whose Painting Immortal duplicate was gently conversing with Gongxu Jingjun, suddenly felt his body tremble with an extremely subtle curvature.

The original body then merged with the Painting Immortal duplicate.

The topic that the Painting Immortal duplicate was discussing with Gongxu Jingjun was smoothly and seamlessly inherited by Li Che, perfectly continuing the conversation.

Gongxu Jingjun, this Divine Embryo cultivator, had not sensed the slightest something amiss.

From afar.

Fang Hanshu, however, cast a glance toward the direction where Li Che stood.

"Why has Hong Shifo been constantly monitoring Elder Li Che…?"

Fang Hanshu had not noticed Li Che's duplicate swapping with his original, after all, Li Che's Painting Immortal duplicate also possessed divine cultivation.

Unless killed and blown into ink mist, it cannot be distinguished at all.

He only cared why the supervising Hong Shifo was watching Li Che…

Li Che's return did not draw anyone's attention.

In front of Guiyi Miao, everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Time was like sand between the fingers, slowly slipping away drop by drop.

The news that the Dragon Princess Consort had been slain by the Underworld spread as the great generals Han Qizhong, Dai Qingxiao, and others returned.

In front of Guiyi Miao.

The chief Daoist, Yue Huanglong, had a comically endearing face, and his flesh twitched.

"Really dead…"

"How ruthless."

Junior Daoist Yue Weizheng also stood frozen in place.

In the Su family camp, the current head Su Daoling clenched his five fingers, a flash of helplessness passing through his eyes.

The trump card was played, and the Hunting God Pavilion's Stellar Assassin was also summoned…

It was almost a heaven‑and‑earth net to lure and kill the Underworld's Ox Demon, but it still failed, and like You Liqing, was killed by the Underworld.

All of the Su family's investments went down the drain!

Even if the Su family's fortune were vast, it could not endure such turmoil.

"Dead… dead in a good way."

Su Daoling leaned on the Grand Tutor chair, his fingers lightly tapping the tea table.

He squinted slightly.

Son dead, disciple dead, now…

Even the wife is dead!

Your concubine's rite…

How can you have not even a hint of temper?!

Underworld…

How should one now face the wrath of King Pingluan, one of the Eight Feudal Princes under Dàjǐng?!

…

…

Boom—

Beyond Guiyi Miao, the strange mist kept rolling.

Faintly, angry voices rang out, with the shrine‑guarding corpse‑shouting roar and the shrieking of demonic beings!

It provoked many people within three li of Guiyi Miao to repeatedly look toward the Strange Gate.

The Dragon Princess Consort's being hunted by the Underworld… few knew of it, because it occurred outside Qianyuan Dao City.

So, at this moment, everyone's attention in front of Guiyi Miao was more on the upcoming third‑stage assessment at the Temple‑Lock.

Li Che sat in the chair and exhaled.

Killing the Dragon Princess Consort settled one of his concerns.

And Xixi's assessment result was what Li Che now paid even more attention to.

Father has cleared another stumbling block on your path… Great Emperor Xixi, you must also strive yourself.

Li Che looked toward the strange mist, his eyes tinged with anticipation.

Just as Li Che intended to connect the Flying Thunder Chess Piece retained on Xixi, to see how far Xixi had progressed on the Temple‑Lock path.

A distant, ancient bell tolled.

"When—"

The bell's ripple shimmered, the sunlight radiant.

Beyond Guiyi Miao.

The first incense stick in the three‑legged bronze incense burner burned out.

Fang Hanshu brushed his sleeve and lit the second incense column.

And his divine nature burst forth; with a flick of his finger, a roll of golden paper slowly unfolded.

"When an incense stick ends, the golden list will display the Dao‑Essence height of the three children at this moment."

A faint voice resonated from Fang Hanshu's mouth.

For a moment, it attracted everyone's gaze.

Li Che couldn't help but look over, his eyes sparkling.

Fang Hanshu's scholar's robe fluttered, his wide sleeves billowing, his five fingers clenched as if grasping a flying, ink‑tailed wolf‑hair brush.

In an instant, a wisp of strange mist from the Strange Gate was squeezed out by him.

On the golden list, the writing was slow.

Everyone stood on tiptoe, stretching their necks to watch.

The two Divine Fetus cultivators of Witch God Mountain stared fixedly at the golden list.

Number Three Temple Suppression Path, Yun'e, Dao Accumulation height twenty feet.

The words appeared, and instantly many people cried out in surprise.

Yun'e's basic Dao Accumulation height was twelve feet; that was the Dao Accumulation height she gained for placing first in the second stage, the Mind Nature Pass.

Now it had actually reached twenty feet, showing that on the Temple Suppression Path, Yun'e had slain the temple-guarding corpse talismans and evil entities, extracting eight feet of Dao Accumulation.

The Guwu Wolf-Hair Brush continued writing on the golden list.

Number One Temple Suppression Path, Jin Taisui, Dao Accumulation height twenty-five feet.

At the moment the words appeared.

Like a boulder thrown into a lake, it stirred up a great wave.

Before the Guiyi Miao.

Many elders rose to their feet, their faces extremely solemn, almost dripping with gravity.

Because in the time it took to burn an incense stick, Jin Taisui… actually slew the temple-guarding corpse talisman and gained twenty feet of Dao Accumulation!

This speed…

Too fast!

Without a doubt, Jin Taisui's speed in slaying the temple-guarding corpse talismans and evil entities on the Temple Suppression Path far surpassed Yun'e's.

Hahaha…… Truly worthy of the Young Witch Lord.

The Young Witch Lord grew up in the Guiyi Miao from childhood; the Great Witch God Lord would have him fight temple-guarding corpse talismans of various levels, so these two girls raised in a greenhouse could never compare!

A cultivator from Witch God Mountain suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter.

It's settled.

Absolutely settled!

Among those two girls, although Li Nuanxi has the highest potential, … she is nevertheless the youngest.

Therefore, what they truly fear is still the Yun family's girl, worrying that the Yun family hides some special means.

Now it seems…

Just that!

The Yun family's ancestor, Yun Sanxiao, frowned involuntarily as he looked at the situation displayed on the golden list, and let out a sigh.

In the distance, cultivators of the great and small clans of Qianyuan Dao City, as well as wandering martial artists, all raised an uproar, with regret and sighs…

However, everyone seemed to think of something, their gazes focusing as they continued to stare at the golden list.

Li Che sat in the chair, his brows furrowed.

At this moment…

Even he felt a bit nervous, although the big black dog accompanied Xixi inside, so everything should be fine.

But…

Li Che took a deep breath, clenching his fingers.

The Guwu Wolf-Hair Brush continued writing on the golden list.

Number Two Temple Suppression Path, Li Nuanxi, Dao Accumulation height eighty-nine feet.

As soon as the wolf-hair brush finished writing, it immediately exploded.

And before the entire Guiyi Miao.

it suddenly became deathly silent.

The crowd that should have cheered froze, staring at the numbers written on the golden list, feeling dazed for a moment.

Even Fang Hanshu couldn't help but take another look…

Eighty-nine feet?!

Did it glitch and write an extra '8'?

Li Nuanxi's initial Dao Accumulation was eleven feet, now it's eighty-nine feet, meaning she gained seventy-eight feet of Dao Accumulation in the time it took to burn an incense stick!

Fang Hanshu almost thought the sect leader had intervened, secretly helping Xixi slay the temple-guarding corpse talismans and evil entities.

But Fang Hanshu thought, given the sect leader's temperament, he probably wouldn't intervene.

After who knows how long, the exclamations finally burst forth, instantly tearing apart the silence before the Guiyi Miao!

Wow! My Xixi… my Xixi!

On the carriage's shaft, Zhang Ya happily screamed like a little girl, almost jumping up.

The two cultivators from Witch God Mountain also couldn't help but widen their eyes.

The next moment, the cultivator who had previously laughed and spoken, glared angrily.

Impossible…… absolutely impossible……

You Qianyuan Divine Sect have cheated! You deliberately made things difficult for my Young Witch Lord!

This cultivator said loudly.

However.

The moment he spoke, another cultivator's expression slightly changed.

As expected.

On the elders' bench, Second Elder Zhao Fangzhou shouted angrily: 'Impudent!'

"What are you?! You dare to slander my Qianyuan Divine Sect!"

Bang——!!!

The terrifying Qi and blood surged upward like a pillar of blood, instantly piercing the heavens.

A mass of primordial steel rose behind Zhao Fangzhou like an ocean, and Zhao Fangzhou instantly appeared before the cultivator of Wushen Mountain.

He clenched his five fingers into a fist and struck down; the moment of impact transformed into claws.

The cultivator of Wushen Mountain's complexion shifted slightly, intending to wield divine nature in resistance.

However, Grand Elder Fang Hanshu snapped his fingers, and a pure white divine energy surged forth, striking his forehead's mud‑marble point.

The cultivator of Wushen Mountain only felt a thunderous bell and great drum exploding beside his ears.

Zhao Fangzhou seized him, slamming him hard onto the ground; the terrifying force nearly shattered the divine‑fetus cultivator of Wushen Mountain.

Zhao Fangzhou's eyes flashed brilliantly.

At last, he finally got a chance to strike!

Another cultivator of Wushen Mountain hurriedly apologized, which pacified the elders' fury.

Li Che glanced, shook his head, his spirit stirred, and entered the celestial chessboard, using the Flying Thunder pieces to reflect the scene within the Guiyi Miao.

The image swirled and materialized.

……

A petite, exquisite little black dog paw.

Black fur, pinkish paw pads, and not even a visible claw.

It lightly patted down…

Then, a towering figure, its whole body flashing silver light, became fat‑headed and big‑eared, with an expanded pig snout and a mane of hair—the Temple‑guarding Silver Cursed Corpse…

It was instantly shattered by the blow!

The entire massive Temple‑guarding Silver Cursed Corpse's flesh exploded into a clump of tofu‑like mush, a mass of rotten meat.

An extremely dense Dao Essence force roared out from the Temple‑guarding Silver Cursed Corpse, coiling above Xixi's head.

The Dao Essence pillar, built from the accumulated Dao Essence, combined with this corpse's Dao Essence power, reached a height of 120 feet.

The little black puppy wiggled its short black tail, its four delicate paws bouncing on the ground, as carefree as returning home.

Xixi shouldered a pink Celestial Gatling, took short steps, and followed behind the dog's assault.

The two tiny ones, amid the gloomy, eerie, and dread‑filled Guiyi Miao, felt a leisurely, picnic‑like ease.

Suddenly, the dog stopped, lifted its paw, and pointed into the distance.

With that Temple‑guarding Silver Cursed Corpse smashed into tofu‑like mush by the dog's paw, Xixi's quest to seal the temple drew to a close.

Whoosh—

It was the sound of flowing water, as if a raging river kept rolling and roaring.

Xixi stuck out her little head forward; the next moment, the eerie mist cleared, revealing an immensely wide, surging river.

The water surged and roared at great speed, and with its rush, a hazy white vapor drifted, like a fairyland.

"Heavenly River!"

Xixi let out a "Wow," and saw, after the mist cleared, two characters—dragon and phoenix motifs—etched on a black stone tablet.

Having learned many characters from the sect matriarch, Xixi instantly read them aloud.

Rumble—

The Heavenly River's waves rolled up.

The water piled into a dragon‑twisting river, spreading before Xixi.

The puppy leapt up, scurried back into Xixi's arms, tucked its head in, and lazily yawned.

Xixi stepped onto the river and was instantly lifted onto the white jade staircase before the Guiyi Miao.

Upon reaching the white jade staircase, Xixi became the first candidate to set foot there.

She instantly sensed Dao Essence rising within the white jade steps.

Five streams of Dao Essence merged into Xixi's 120‑foot Dao Essence pillar, ultimately raising its height to 125 feet!

……

……

The young shaman robe on Golden Tai Sui fluttered upward, the whole figure levitated into midair, and his eyes shone with brilliant gold.

Behind him, a figure wearing a tall hat glowed blood‑red, granting Golden Tai Sui immense divine power.

The divine pattern on Golden Tai Sui's forehead continuously writhed.

He employed Wushen Mountain's "Divine Summoning Technique," drawing forth a strand of the Great Witch God's will!

This is why Golden Tai Sui is confident of being invincible on the path to sealing the temple.

However.

At this moment, Golden Tai Sui encountered an obstruction.

The Temple‑guarding Silver Cursed Corpse before him surprisingly had a second form, as if aided by temple‑god power, becoming fat‑headed, big‑eared, with a pig snout and mane!

Its ferocious fangs resembled two divine blades.

It drained the power he borrowed from the Great Witch God so quickly that he could not crush the opponent!

Mainly because…

Its hide is too tough and its flesh too thick; it's too hard to kill!

Golden Tai Sui gritted his teeth, feeling a vague unease.

He glanced at the eerie mist surrounding the ferocious, hideous Temple‑guarding Silver Cursed Corpse, and faintly seemed to see the Guiyi Miao faintly glowing!

"Not good…"

Golden Tai Sui let out a long howl, slashed the air above his palm, blood oozed out, and he pressed it onto his forehead's divine pattern.

He intends to summon more of the Great Witch God's power!

Boom—

Sudden.

A blood‑red bolt of lightning streaked across the strange arch, sweeping by in a rolling surge.

Jin TaiSui radiated brilliant gold, and the summoned Great Shaman God's will behind him slowly opened its eyes.

The instant the eyes opened.

The extremely dense strange mist vanished in an instant…

A nine‑foot silver‑shining spade ripped through the threads of strange mist, swung in an arc and thunderously plunged down.

Jin TaiSui let out a wailing cry.

Blood spurted from his mouth and nose.

When he opened his eyes…

His whole body had already appeared outside the Guiyi Miao, under countless gazes.

Jin TaiSui staggered to his feet, the divine mark on his brow already gone; he wiped away the blood from his mouth and nose, his heart still trembling.

Nine‑Tooth Exorcising Evil Suppressing Demon Heavenly Canopy Strange Temple…

So, the Great Shaman God…

Was actually taken as a demonic evil?!

How cunning…

Lu Taibai!

Jin TaiSui wasn't foolish; he instantly understood that this test began the moment the Heavenly Canopy Strange Temple was chosen as the testing ground.

Jin TaiSui already had no chance.

Lu Taibai knew from the start that the Great Shaman God's will would provoke the temple deity Heavenly Canopy's power, and would trigger that Heavenly Canopy divine weapon!

Jin TaiSui gasped heavily, a bright scheme…

Truly insidious!

He turned his head to look at the golden list.

The second incense stick just went out.

Then, on the golden list, the wolf‑hair brush wrote again, showing each one's Dao Essence pillar height.

Jin TaiSui saw his own Dao Essence pillar frozen at only eighty‑three.

And when he looked at Xixi's record from the first incense…

He froze completely, the divine light in his eyes completely drained.

Lost and despondent.

He fought for his life, and the result…

He couldn't even match Li Nuanxi's first‑stage record?

Suddenly.

On the golden list…

The second incense burned out, and Xixi's record was greeted with a roar of cheers.

Gradually emerged.

"The second Temple‑Securing Path is opened, Li Nuanxi, Dao Essence height one hundred twenty‑five chi."

…

…

Nine‑Tooth Exorcising Evil Suppressing Demon Heavenly Canopy Strange Temple.

Inside the Guiyi Miao.

Accompanied by resonant clangs.

A nine‑foot spade of flowing silver darkness instantly shot back, embedding itself on the altar of the Guiyi Miao, where a strikingly handsome man sat cross‑legged.

Accompanied by the flickering sound of candle flames.

The nine‑foot spade seemed to turn into nine candles, slowly igniting a steady, flickering light.

On the meditation mat inside the Guiyi Miao.

Wearing a white shirt, the silver‑haired Lu Taibai slowly opened his eyes.

He brushed his white robe, smiled and stood, and bowed toward the temple deity's divine eagle.

"Thank you, Heavenly Canopy Temple deity, for your assistance."

The man on the altar opened his eyes and actually spoke.

"Quickly take that little girl and the dog away!"

Lu Taibai heard this and instantly laughed.

A strange hue flickered in his eyes.

That dog…

Where did it come from?

Dog…

Lu Taibai couldn't help recalling the slender black dog in the Guiyi Miao of the Four Imperial Three‑Eyed Manifested Saint True Lord.

But he didn't dwell on it.

He took a step forward, his sword light flashing, landing beside Xixi, who was peeking out of the Guiyi Miao.

He patted the little girl's head.

"Little girl, congratulations."

Xixi had a dog bomb tucked in her arms, looking at the silver hair flying, the peerlessly handsome Sect Master Lu Taibai.

Her eyes instantly overflowed with light!

"Pa!"

Two chubby palms made a fist-and-palm bow.

"Xixi, I pay my respects to the Sect Master, my teacher!"

Lu Taibai's silver hair flew as he looked at the clever and lively Xixi, and he burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha——"

Sword light swept up Xixi, and Lu Taibai stepped forward.

The strange mist within the Strange Gate seemed, in an instant, to be split in two by the sword light.

The sword light even enveloped Xixi.

Having already appeared outside the Guiyi Miao, the sword qi bestowed flowing light, soaring straight up!

The lofty, resonant voice echoed throughout the entire Qianyuan Dao City.

"The prodigy of Golden Light Prefecture, Li Nuanxi, passed the three-tier examination, her purple aura reaches the heavens, her disposition surpasses others, her methods are transcendent!"

"Indeed, a prodigy rarely seen in ages in the Lingnan Dao!"

"Today I, Lu Taibai, formally take you as my final closed-door disciple, and also as the Junior Sect Master of my Qianyuan Divine Sect!"

"Today I, Lu Taibai, joyfully gain a beloved disciple!"

"Spread the word under heaven!"

"Let us celebrate together!"

Two Updates arrives, deleting and revising again, and it's late at night with everyone quiet, I feel a bit numb, these days Lao Li's condition is a bit off, his mindset a bit unstable, but I will look at everyone's suggestions, I will change if persuaded, starting a book is not easy, Lao Li will strive to write the book well, okay, it's time to sleep, I ask for a wave of monthly tickets and recommendation tickets, Lao Li will adjust his mind, tomorrow I will continue writing.