Chapter 288: with translation of chapter title, then ===GLOSSARY=== with list of named entities/coined terms appearing in these lines

290. Chapter 286: The eerie mist manifests a carved temple deity, the wooden carving splits, and Elder Li goes completely mad 【seeking monthly tickets】

Whooo—

A sudden gust of wind arose, pouring its howl between the ridges of God Eagle Ridge; the sound of the dense trees being blown by the wind, countless leaves rubbing, producing a rustling.

Like huge waves surging to the sky, shocking breakers striking the shore!

It seemed as if, between heaven and earth, an invisible will was roaring angrily, causing the firmament to explode with sound and the air currents to surge!

Within God Eagle Ridge, numerous workshops were dotted about; some workshops even set up many workstations, allowing the woodcarvers to carve divine wood sculptures here.

On many workbenches, there were also placed divine wood sculptures not yet finished carving.

Some were rough blanks, some were undergoing fine carving, and some had reached the final polishing stage.

But, at this very moment……

All these wood carvings seemed to have been endowed with spirituality, or rather the divinity inherent in the divine wood carvings was being stirred forth, and they were constantly trembling.

As if one could feel a fervor, submission, and exhilaration……

That is a pilgrim's mindset!

Exactly, it is pilgrimage!

Outside the workshops, the God Eagle masters, woodcarving masters, and other old masters each showed an expression of disbelief in their eyes.

Because, these old masters, each one is a veteran who has been immersed in the Way of God Eagle for decades, and their reaction to divine wood carvings is all too clear.

It can almost be said that they are of one mind.

At this moment, they seemed to be able to feel the emotions of their own unfinished divine wood carvings.

Yun Haiyang and Zhou Tian Shui, the two God Eagle masters, were even more astonished, standing up, their bodies trembling slightly.

Carving ordinary wood, endowing it with spirituality, draws myriad wood carvings to pilgrimage.

Like ancient devout disciples, they walk toward the holy mountain, bowing with each step, making a great kowtow every three steps!

Yun Haiyang and Zhou Tian Shui are, after the death of Su Huai Ming, the top God Eagle masters of Qian Yuan Dao City.

Their eyesight is extraordinary, yet at this moment they cannot help but have their hearts stirred.

Watching Li Che at this moment, with merely nine strokes, there is a sense of smoothness and lightness as if lifting a heavy weight lightly; to him, the texture of the ordinary wood, as soft as tofu, is cut and slides away.

It is simply a pleasure that makes their pores all open and exhales hot breath.

Smooth enjoyment! Mental pleasure and revelry!

Too wonderful, such skill……

The bodies of the two God Eagle masters trembled incessantly.

They had seen Elder Sun suddenly attain enlightenment, clearly comprehending the artistic conception of the Holy Hand God Eagle, also carving ordinary wood.

But Li Che's style is completely different from Elder Sun's, or rather one can faintly see that shadow, yet Li Che seems……

Even more confident and composed, even more at ease!

Elder Sun reached that point when his life had come to an end, grasping a glimmer of spiritual light; Li Che is not like that……

Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick—

A crisp sound rang out from the workshops of the many God Eagle woodcarving masters throughout God Eagle Ridge.

Extremely clear and crisp, fine and continuous like a heavy rain striking the ground.

As if myriad monks and nuns were devoutly chanting, paying homage to the holy one!

It made many woodcarvers feel their hearts pounding violently, unable to restrain, as if about to burst from their chests.

"This artistic conception!"

"There's a show!"

Zhou Tian Shui and Yun Haiyang, the two God Eagle masters, breathed rapidly, their five fingers clenched tightly into fists.

On the other side.

The ridge lord of God Eagle Ridge, Gong Xu Jingjun, and the grand elder Tang Xiejia, both having long dealt with God Eagle, are extremely familiar with it.

Therefore, when Li Che merely made nine cuts on ordinary wood, the outlined blank possessed such unique and grand artistic conception, causing myriad carvings to pilgrimage!

This is enough to explain the matter!

"Li Che's God Eagle technique… has improved far too much compared to before!"

"Could it be that he has truly mastered the Holy Hand God Eagle artistic conception passed down by Elder Sun?"

"How short a time this has been…"

Gong Xu Jingjun took a deep breath.

Tang Xiejia, on the other hand, revealed a fervent light in his eyes, staring intently, fists clenched.

God Eagle aptitude actually can also feedback to mechanism aptitude, no wonder Tang Sanjia thinks highly of Li Che, even passing down the Tang family's cherished mechanism art to Li Che.

Perhaps, Li Che really could possibly repair that mechanism beast?

Tang Sanjia's eyesight… really is good, at least much better than his Tang Xiejia; Tang Xiejia took a different path from Tang Sanjia, not putting too much effort into mechanism arts, but rather focusing more on martial cultivation.

In the distance.

The supervisor of the Imperial Observatory, Hong Shifo, carrying a chessboard, narrowed his eyes; the strange color in his eyes had already become intensely rich.

Merely as the rough blank just took form, it caused the ordinary wood to shed its mundanity.

This shows that Li Che's God Eagle technique has absolutely touched the threshold of a God Eagle half-saint, possessing the means akin to a half-saint turning stone into gold!

Hong Shifo stroked his beard and narrowed his eyes: "This kid… is only twenty-four years old, God Eagle aptitude… could it actually reach such a level?"

God Eagle, God Elixir, God Talisman, and God Weapon—these four divine paths are all extremely dependent on talent.

Among them, the Way of God Eagle depends most on talent, requiring a grasp of artistic conception and a mastery of skill through practice.

This is also why the numbers of God Elixir half-saints and God Talisman half-saints are greater than those of God Eagle half-saints.

That profoundly mysterious artistic conception is simply like illusory clouds and mist, extremely hard to grasp and hold.

Of course, in practice, reaching the level of Holy Hand and Half-Saint makes breakthroughs extremely difficult; one must push a single path to the extreme, whether it's Divine Pill Half-Saint or Divine Talisman Half-Saint…… the difficulty is no less than that of breaking through to Divine Condor Half-Saint.

However, compared to high-level Divine Condor Masters, the numbers and proportion of Divine Pill Masters and Divine Talisman Masters are somewhat higher.

"This kid…… is really going to make it."

……

Lü Taibai's silver hair flew as he held Xixi in one hand and the Sect Leader's Wife Xuan Qisha in the other.

One adult and two children gazed into the workshop from afar; Li Che's nine strokes manifested an extraordinary woodcarving.

Unable to help himself, he turned to look at the Sect Leader's Wife Xuan Qisha beside him: "Wife…… it looks like you're going to lose this bet."

Xuan Qisha's delicate makeup adorned her small face, yet upon hearing this she couldn't help but purse her lips.

"You're already drawing a conclusion this early?"

"It's still early; for any profession to step into Half-Saint is never easy or simple, just begun…… to carve a Half-Saint Divine Condor still requires enduring many difficult steps……"

Xuan Qisha tilted her head; as a Divine Talisman Half-Saint, she knew all too well how high the value and how great the difficulty of a Half-Saint in a single path are.

Thinking of this, Xuan Qisha fixed her gaze on Li Che's movements, observing carefully.

In practice, the bet is no longer important.

Whether Li Che can achieve Divine Condor Half-Saint is the key.

For Xuan Qisha, Lü Taibai, Hong Shifo and the others, from the first few strokes of Li Che's carving they could already tell whether he had a chance to strive for Divine Condor Half-Saint.

And now……

Li Che obviously has a chance.

Xixi didn't understand, blinking her big eyes; although she couldn't tell how skilled her father's carving was, she turned her head to look at the expressions of those around her.

The Sect Leader and the Master of the Sect Leader's Wife both had extremely solemn expressions.

Xixi immediately understood.

My dad is awesome——!

……

……

Li Che felt himself enter a unique state.

His spirit seemed to boil, his blood throughout his body rolling like hot waves bubbling in magma.

Terrifying power roared in his bones, flesh, and meridians; the mighty force, like a heavenly flood crashing down hard, would instantly shatter the mundane wood in his hand into powder if even a hint leaked out.

The Immortal Craft Dao Fruit's frantic stimulation seemed to release wave after wave of heat.

Li Che needed to control the carving knife with extremely subtle force, guiding it over the mundane wood to begin outlining the rough form.

The Divine Origin Golden Core also emerged, spinning round and pouring down mighty divinity.

This time, Li Che intends to carve the 【Six-Eared Prison Lotus Divine Monkey Two-Heart Great Sage Divine Condor】 again.

Exactly, it is the Divine Condor that Elder Sun originally carved from mundane wood.

The unfinished Divine Condor, continued and completed by Li Che, contains Elder Sun's understanding of this Divine Condor.

Before his death, he attained enlightenment and understood the Temple God's second form……

He attained enlightenment of the Temple God's true feelings and attitude.

And now, the Divine Condor Li Che intends to carve is likewise this Temple God's Divine Condor.

Originally, Elder Sun carved it before everyone, only a little shy of finishing the final carving to become a genuine Divine Condor Half-Saint.

But he fell just short; though he harbored no regret in his heart, he still departed carrying a sense of regret.

Li Che can be said to have inherited his legacy; that Divine Condor indeed brought him great gains, allowing his Immortal Craft Dao Fruit to achieve breakthrough and transformation.

Grasping the Divine Weapon Carving Knife, his mighty qi and blood and divinity almost tangled and fused together; the knife seemed like a branding iron, lightly gliding over the mundane wood as if it were butter.

With a sizzling sound, wood shavings fell; after the nine strokes outlined the rough form, Li Che began to continue carving.

With each blade descent, the divinity between heaven and earth suddenly began to gather, as if pulled by some invisible force.

Boom——

The spring rain twisted and tilted, shattered and exploded by the invisible force; in an instant, the entire sky above the Divine Condor Ridge workshop burst into an extremely hazy water mist, blocking out the heavens.

Li Che's eyes seemed to pour down thick golden agarwood; his essence, energy, and spirit converged to the utmost at this moment.

Golden Core, fleshly body, and Dao Fruit— the three were as one.

The surroundings were deathly silent; no one spoke, not even daring to breathe.

Sensing the growing richness of the Temple God's divinity in the air, sensing the Divine Condor Ridge as if shrouded in thick mist, many people's eyes flickered with strange colors.

Those Divine Condor Masters and woodcarvers looked as if intoxicated, completely immersed in Li Che's technique of returning to simplicity and authenticity.

Every technique of the Divine Condor carving, every angle of the carving knife's descent, the winding and delineating handling, etc., were extremely perfect, belonging to a style that is not flashy but gives a feeling of extreme maturity and steadiness!

The two masters, Yun Haiyang and Zhou TianShui, even had their faces flushed red.

Insiders look for the way, outsiders look for the excitement.

Outsiders only notice that as Li Che carves, the divinity between heaven and earth is drawn forth, like a heavenly-earthly phenomenon, indicating that Li Che's carved Divine Condor is absolutely formidable, incredibly awesome.

And like Zhou TianShui, a Divine Condor master, he looks for the way.

They, from Li Che's carving technique, thought process, order of knife strikes, etc., sensed his unparalleled skill and the exquisite subtlety of the Divine Condor carving technique!

"Is this really a twenty-four-year-old young man?"

The Yun family's Divine Condor master, Yun Haiyang, his whole body trembled slightly, astonished, amazed, shocked to the point of disbelief!

Even they, in terms of skill, are far unable to match Li Che's steadiness.

Steady, stable, meticulous…… belonging to the style of an honest person, forming its own school!

"Most importantly……"

"The divine will of this Two-Heart Great Sage!"

"Different…… again different…… compared to what Elder Sun carved initially, it's different!"

"He isn't simply making a copy! He truly has his own stuff!"

The astonishment of the people around nearly overflowed.

But for Li Che, nothing mattered; at this moment, his eyes held only the wood carving before him.

Five fingers gripped the carving knife, qi and blood surging, extremely terrifying, yet inwardly restrained within the surging strength; the flashing blade light resembled pouring spring rain, the blade slipped into the wood, following the grain, tearing open the annual rings' pattern, a smooth, flowing turn, sending wood shavings flying!

Li Che stood still, his black hair flying, the surrounding space struck by his qi and divinity, as if a dark current surged like a tide.

But the wood placed on the rack was completely unharmed, not disturbed in the slightest.

Blade up, blade down, blade moving, blade gliding—smooth as a master of traditional painting wielding a wolf-hair brush on thin xuan paper, splashing ink landscapes!

Buzz buzz buzz buzz……

Time trickled away bit by bit.

The people around gradually felt a sense of oppression, as the gathered divinity grew ever more.

The half-saint divine roc, the divinity it carries, is described in vast amounts—it is a half-saint divine roc that can inspire insight even in Divine Fetus cultivators!

Such a divinity-infused wood carving—how immense is the divinity contained within the wood?

Li Che set his horse stance, his eyes firm and unwavering, his spine straight as a rod, and began to finely carve the complete outline of the Two-heart Great Sage.

Yet the divinity gathering and being drawn to Li Che's surroundings had become terribly terrifying.

Some weaker cultivators among the woodcarvers flushed red, forced to retreat to a distance, out of the storm's center, before they could gasp deeply.

Whether it be divine talismans, divine elixirs, divine weapons, or the half-saint divine roc, carving a work of half-saint rank tests one's own strength and cultivation.

Insufficient cultivation, insufficient foundation—it is fundamentally impossible to carve a work of half-saint rank.

This is also why, after Li Che displayed his Divine Origin Golden Core cultivation, many divine roc masters felt their hearts stir, gaining a bit more anticipation.

Cultivation and strength also count as the confidence of the divine roc masters!

"The mist tide is rising!"

"It's not water vapor, it's mist…… it seems like uncanny mist?!"

Suddenly.

Outside the Divine Roc Ridge workshop.

A divine roc master cried out in alarm.

Yet no one knew when, an extremely thick mist drifted in, as if pushed by an invisible force, arriving faintly yet rolling in waves!

"Uncanny mist?"

Many strong individuals' faces twitched slightly.

Especially Gongshu Jingjun and Tang Xiejia.

As the powerhouses suppressing the Two-heart Great Sage Uncanny Temple of Divine Roc Ridge, they never expected uncanny mist to appear outside the temple!

"It's not the uncanny mist seeping out from inside the Uncanny Temple."

Lü Taibai's silver hair flew, yet he remained calm, speaking quietly.

"Quiet."

"Do not disturb Elder Li's carving."

Lü Taibai sat in the grand master's chair, and said.

"Is it not the uncanny mist born within the Uncanny Temple?"

That is……

"It is the divine roc carved by Elder Li…… it is the temple's god roc; due to a high degree of resonance in divine rhythm, it achieved a lifelike effect, even causing the temple god's uncanny mist to surface!"

Master Yun Haiyang of the Yun family divine roc stroked his beard, his voice trembling slightly.

This might not be……

Are we going to directly carve out a temple god?!

……

……

Qianyuan Dao City.

Dao Lord's Mansion.

The spring rain pattered softly on the garden within the Dao Lord's Mansion, the quiet pavilion stood upright, black tiles neatly arranged, channeling all accumulated rainwater down the eaves.

Inside the quiet pavilion.

Young Dao Lord Yue Weizheng sat in a chair, opposite him his son Yue Linghu was busy brewing tea.

The boiling hot water struck the spring tea buds in the cup, causing them to unfurl, lush green, exuding a rich tea fragrance, mellow and fresh.

Yue Weizheng watched Yue Linghu silently brewing tea, and sighed.

"You brat…… you know you've taken a liking to Ao Qingqing, but all I can say is that your fate isn't meant to be."

Yue Linghu set down his cup, his fist slowly clenching, his face showing a hint of sorrow.

"Qingqing is a good girl…… she died too tragically."

More than a month has passed, yet he still cannot let go.

Yue Weizheng sighed: "The princess took her away from Qianyuan Dao City; in fact, she no longer had any chance to live……"

"The underworld's ox demon—what a vicious existence, killing without blinking, leaving no lingering threat; for Ao Qingqing not to eradicate the root, it wouldn't be an ox demon……"

"All I can say is that the princess is too ruthless; to ensure her own departure from Qianyuan Dao City and lure the underworld accurately, she brought Ao Qingqing along—a battle of that level…… Ao Qingqing couldn't survive."

Yue Linghu's face showed a hint of pain: "Qingqing, so pitiful……"

"As a woman of the Dragon God lineage, her future will be even more pitiful." Yue Weizheng said lightly: "Do you say the princess is pitiful? Actually, the princess is even more pitiful……"

"Alright, don't think so much…… the Dragon God clan still has other dragon maidens; if you truly like her, later let your grandfather take you to meet them, marrying into the Dragon God clan wouldn't be bad either."

Upon hearing this, Yue Linghu's face involuntarily flickered with a hint of stirred emotion.

Translation: "Yue Linghu heard the words, and a few shades of moved emotion involuntarily flickered across his face."

We need to keep concise but faithful. Could be: "Yue Linghu heard the words, and his face involuntarily flickered with a few traces of moved emotion."

We'll output: 【181】 Yue Linghu heard the words, and his face involuntarily flickered with a few traces of moved emotion.

Actually… if you could get on good terms with Li Nuanxi, that would be ideal. She's become Lü Taibai's personal disciple and even the junior sect master of the Qianyuan Divine Sect—her status is far beyond what it once was.

Translation: "Actually…… if you could connect with Li Nuanxi, that would be best; this girl has become the personal disciple of Lü Taibai, and moreover the junior sect master of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, her status far surpassing what it once was."

We need to keep quotes? The Chinese includes quotation marks. We should keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully; we can keep the quotation marks as part of translation. Usually we keep them. We'll output: 【182】 "Actually…… if you could connect with Li Nuanxi, that would be best; this girl has become the personal disciple of Lü Taibai, and moreover the junior sect master of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, her status far surpassing what it once was."

Even the God‑Hunting Pavilion's bounty list has risen to third place… she's a real delicacy.

Translation: "Even the bounty list of the God-Hunting Pavilion has climbed to third…… a real delicacy."

It's a pity you don't have much interaction with her.

Translation: "It's a pity, you don't have much interaction with her."

Yue Wuzheng took a sip of tea and said with a smile.

Translation: "Yue Weizheng took a sip of tea, smiling as he spoke."

Yue Linghu shook his head. He had no interest in such a young girl; moreover, her talent was extraordinary and her fighting power overwhelming—just picturing how Xixi had blown King Jin Tai Sui out of the sky with a machine gun…

Translation: "Yue Linghu shook his head; such a little girl, he wasn't interested at all, and moreover that girl's talent was transcendent, her combat power extremely domineering—thinking of the scene where Jin Taishui was blasted to the ground by Xixi with a machine gun……"

We need to keep the ellipsis? Chinese ends with two dots? Actually "……". We'll keep as "……". We'll output: 【186】 Yue Linghu shook his head; such a little girl, he wasn't interested at all, and moreover that girl's talent was transcendent, her combat power extremely domineering—thinking of the scene where Jin Taishui was blasted to the ground by Xixi with a machine gun……

He couldn't help but shiver.

Translation: "He couldn't help but shiver."

That little brat… nothing beats the energy a dragon girl brings.

Translation: "That damned girl…… nothing compares to the vigor a dragon girl brings."

Yue Wuzheng shook his head, thinking of his son… his talent is quite good, though not top‑tier, but with the family's support he could still become a grand master of the Supreme Three Flowers Realm; achieving Martial Saint or a Divine Fetus would still rely on fate.

Translation: "Yue Weizheng shook his head; his son…… his talent is quite good, though not top-notch, but with the family's backing, becoming a grand master of the Upper Three Flowers Realm in the future is no problem; as for Martial Saint and Divine Fetus, it will depend on fate."

Suddenly.

Translation: "Suddenly."

The commander of the Divine Guard from the Lord's Mansion hurried over in golden armor and whispered something in Yue Wuzheng's ear.

Translation: "The commander of the Divine Guard Army of the Dao Lord's Manor, clad in golden armor, hurried over and whispered something in Yue Weizheng's ear."

Yue Wuzheng's expression changed instantly.

Translation: "Yue Weizheng's expression changed instantly."

"Quick, quick, please come in!"

Translation: "Quick, quick, please come in!"

He hastily rose and brushed off his clothes.

Translation: "He hastily rose and brushed off his clothes."

Meanwhile, Yue Linghu in the leisure pavilion remained stunned.

Translation: "Meanwhile, Yue Linghu in the leisure pavilion remained stunned."

"Linghu, go back to your room."

Translation: "Linghu, go back to your room."

Yue Wuzheng said.

Translation: "Yue Weizheng said."

Upon hearing that, Yue Linghu immediately understood, and without hesitation turned and left.

Translation: "Yue Linghu heard the words, immediately understood what it was, without hesitation turned and left."

Moments later, the golden‑armored commander led two figures wearing bamboo hats and cloaked in black robes out from outside the courtyard.

Translation: "Moments later, the golden-armored commander led two figures wearing bamboo hats and cloaked in black robes walking from outside the courtyard."

"Young Dao Master, the guests have already been invited."

Translation: "Young Dao Lord, the guests have been invited."

The golden‑armored commander clasped his fists, and was dismissed by the Young Dao Master, Yue Wuzheng.

Translation: "That golden-armored commander clasped his fists, and was sent away by the Young Dao Lord Yue Weizheng."

After the golden‑armored commander had completely departed…

Translation: "After the golden-armored commander had completely departed,"

Only then did the Young Dao Master Yue Wuzheng's face subtly shift, carrying a hint of solemnity, excitement, and sorrow…

Translation: "Only then did the Young Dao Lord Yue Weizheng's expression slightly shift, carrying a hint of solemnity, excitement, and sorrow……"

"Your Highness the Prince, it's been thirty years since we last met in the Shendu. I've long missed your peerless bearing at the Shendu's Peach Blossom Festival—you truly have the grace of a prince."

Translation: "Your Highness the Prince, since our parting in the Shendu thirty years ago, I have long missed your peerless demeanor at the Shendu's Peach Blossom Banquet; truly you bear a semblance of a prince's bearing!"

The Young Dao Master Yue Wuzheng clasped his fists in salute and said.

Translation: "The Young Dao Lord Yue Weizheng, clasping his fists in salute, said."

"Brother Wuzheng, it's indeed been a long time."

Translation: "Brother Weizheng, indeed it's been a long time."

The bamboo hat was lifted, revealing a handsome face, dark eyes, and black hair flying wildly.

Translation: "The bamboo hat was removed, revealing a handsome visage, jet-black pupils, and jet-black hair flying wildly."

Just a single glance made Yue Wuzheng's heart skip.

Translation: "Just a single gaze made Yue Weizheng's heart shudder."

The figure beside him also removed his hat, revealing an extraordinarily handsome visage—except two sharp dragon horns sprouted from his forehead, his violet eyes swirling as if a dragon coiled within.

Translation: "The figure beside the man also removed his bamboo hat, revealing an extremely handsome face, except that two sharp dragon horns grew from his forehead, his violet pupils swirling as if a dragon shadow churned within."

"Greetings, Your Highness the Dragon Prince."

Translation: "I have seen the Dragon Prince."

Yue Wuzheng's heart tightened, and he also clasped his fists.

Translation: "Yue Weizheng's heart tightened, and he also clasped his fists."

He was greatly shaken; he never imagined these two had concealed their identities and auras, and had unknowingly arrived in Qianyuan Dao City.

Translation: "His heart was greatly shaken; he never expected these two to have concealed their identities and auras, arriving unnoticed at Qianyuan Dao City."

Their arrival…

Translation: "Their arrival……"

Does the Qianyuan Divine Sect know about this?!

Translation: "Does the Qianyuan Divine Sect know about this?!"

These two…

Translation: "These two……"

They are none other than… the one he called the Prince is actually the fourth son of the Pacification King Ji Moli, Ji Lishou—one of the four children endowed with heavenly purple aura.

Translation: "No one else; the one he called the Prince…… is none other than the fourth son of the Pacification King Ji Molie, one of the four children endowed with purple aura reaching the heavens, Ji Lishou!"

The four sons of Ji Moli are the same age and lifespan, rumored to be quadruplets born of one mother.

Translation: "Ji Molie's four sons are the same age and lifespan, rumored to be quadruplets born of one mother."

Their talent is extraordinary, having inherited Ji Moli's bloodline, with divine purple aura piercing the heavens.

Translation: "Their talent is transcendent, inheriting Ji Molie's bloodline, with divine purple aura reaching the heavens."

Thirty years ago, at the Peach Blossom Festival hosted by the Empress Dowager of the Great Jing, Ji Lishou was already a Martial Saint First Opening.

Translation: "Thirty years ago, at the Peach Blossom Banquet hosted by the Empress of the Dàjǐng dynasty, Ji Lishou was already an existence of the Martial Saint First Opening Realm."

Now, thirty years later, Ji Lishou's strength has likely advanced even further.

Translation: "Now thirty years have passed, Ji Lishou's strength has likely advanced further."

Ji Moli's four sons are his four chief generals, immensely powerful; in the standoff between Ji Province and the Corpse God Sect they have slain countless foes and earned great military merit.

Translation: "Ji Molie's four sons are his four great generals under his command, immensely powerful; in the standoff between Jizhou and the Corpse God Sect, they have slain countless enemies, earning remarkable military merit!"

They cannot be matched by the Ji Hai Society.

Translation: "They cannot be compared to the Ji Hai Hui."

And beside Ji Lishou is the dragon son of the Dragon God clan—none other than Ao Qingqing's biological father, the elder brother of Consort Ao Yuxin… the dragon son of the Dragon God lineage, Ao Lie.

Translation: "And beside Ji Lishou is the Dragon Son of the Dragon God clan, namely the biological father of Ao Qingqing, the elder brother of Princess Ao Yuxin…… the Dragon Son of the Dragon God lineage, Ao Lie."

An existence of Dragon King level!

Translation: "An existence of Dragon King level!"

Ao Lie's handsome face is full of coldness and killing intent.

Translation: "Ao Lie's handsome face is full of coldness and killing intent."

Yue Wuzheng's face showed great enthusiasm, yet his eyes flickered and his mind subtly tightened.

Translation: "Yue Weizheng's face showed immense enthusiasm, yet his eyes flickered and his mind slightly tightened."

For two individuals of such special status to arrive without fanfare, choosing to come low‑key, is hardly their style!

Translation: "With such special identities, they actually came without fanfare, choosing to arrive discreetly—not their style at all!"

Especially Ji Lishou…

Translation: "Especially Ji Lishou……"

Since the Pacification King's consort was slain, if he were to come he should represent the Pacification King, arriving wrapped in fury.

Translation: "The Pacification King's consort was slain; if he were to come, he should represent the Pacification King, arriving wrapped in fury."

Acting so low‑key now… it must be at Ji Moli's behest.

Translation: "Now being this low-key…… certainly it is Ji Molie's orders."

Ji Moli…

Translation: "Ji Molie……"

What is he planning to do?!

Translation: "What does he intend to do?!"

…… (just ellipsis) We need to translate? It's just "……". We'll output the same: "……". Probably keep as is.

…… same.

The divine essence between heaven and earth grows ever denser, while strange mists roil, making the divine aura feel oppressively heavy, to the point that even breathing becomes extremely difficult.

Translation: "The divinity between heaven and earth grew ever richer, the eerie mist roiling, making the divinity feel extremely oppressive, so that even breathing became extremely difficult."

The entire Divine Condor Ridge has become utterly quiet.

Translation: "The entire Divine Eagle Ridge became extremely quiet."

The pilgrims' wooden carvings no longer tremble; they are still to the point of being obedient.

Translation: "Those pilgrimage wood carvings no longer trembled, becoming still and obedient."

Yet within each wooden statue, tiny specks of divine essence are drawn out and drift away, floating in the air and scattering in the strange mist, as if gathering into countless specks of starlight.

Translation: "However, in every wood carving, bits of divinity were drawn out and scattered, floating in the air, drifting in the eerie mist, as if gathering into specks of starlight."

Li Che gripped his carving knife, focusing his mind.

Translation: "Li Che grasped the carving knife, focusing intently."

Before him, the statue carved from ordinary wood of the Six-Eared Prison Lotus Divine Monkey Two-Heart Great Sacred Temple Divine Eagle had basically been completed, its image leapt forth, lifelike.

Li Che grabbed the carving knife, began the finishing!

Everyone's breathing grew rapid, realizing the most crucial moment was approaching; whether Li Che could carve a half-saint wood carving depended on this final finishing!

"Can it succeed?"

Supervisor Hong Shifo's eyes flashed with a hint of astonishment.

In the Way of the Divine Eagle, every step must be flawless; a single mistake will cause the wood carving's spirit to deviate greatly from the conception, making it impossible to become a perfect half-saint Divine Eagle.

Buzz—

With each breath Li Che took, his ears seemed to become extremely silent.

Only left in his chest was the Immortal Artisan Dao Fruit, beating wildly, its frequency far surpassing before!

The level-five Immortal Artisan Dao Fruit was fully unleashed by Li Che at this moment!

When the first cut of the finishing fell.

In an instant……

The mysterious mist that had been hovering between heaven and earth, faintly forming unseen around, suddenly began to surge, as if guided by the edge of Li Che's carving knife, rushing wildly into the wood carving!

Whoosh—

A fierce wind rose up, raging wildly!

Buzz—

The influx of divinity seemed to endow the Divine Eagle with life, turning it from an inanimate object into a living being, beginning to become vivid and lifelike!

However!

Just when everyone thought everything was settled.

A crystal-clear sound suddenly rang out in the workshop of Divine Eagle Ridge.

Although it was faint, at this moment Divine Eagle Ridge was so quiet that a falling pin could be heard; in everyone's ears, that cracking sound……

It was so clear it seemed as if the heavenly empress atop countless cloud layers had unleashed a thunderclap!

Zhou TianShui and Yun Haiyang, the two Divine Eagle Masters, had their eyes narrow; they sprang up from their chairs instantly, their whole bodies trembling uncontrollably, the ten fingers of their hands shaking at a visible frequency.

"Ah… ah…"

"Cracked, it cracked?!"

Zhou TianShui felt heart-wrenching pain to the point of being unable to breathe, his eyes filled with anguish.

That was a pain and despair only a Divine Eagle Master could understand; clearly a perfect Divine Eagle was about to be born, yet… an mishap occurred during the finishing.

That feeling was like a blade carving a cut into his very flesh!

Yun Haiyang also had a face twisted with anguish, defeated...

When a crack appears on the divine roc, it signifies a flaw, meaning this divine roc can never become a semi-sacred divine roc.

Perhaps Li Che could salvage it with superb skill, but the roc's rank will surely plummet.

There is no hope left, not a shred of hope...

It's not just these two roc masters.

All the many roc masters and woodcarvers from Roc Ridge watching around showed regret on their faces.

However perfect the earlier performance, a mistake at the end is just as shocking.

Some woodcarvers could not even restrain their emotions, forgetting to maintain the carving's quiet atmosphere, letting out long sighs and wails.

Gongshu Jingjun and Tang Xiejia were also stunned, somewhat dazed.

"Defeated?"

"Looks like it's defeated...... a crack has appeared on the woodcarving, which cannot be salvaged."

Gongshu Jingjun leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh.

Tang Xiejia shook his head.

"What a pity......"

Too overconfident.

Actually, judging from Li Che's earlier carving methods and skills, Hong Shifo felt Li Che had the ability to achieve a semi-sacred divine roc.

Unfortunately, Li Che was too overconfident, actually choosing ordinary wood as the material for carving.

When bearing divinity, the material's flaws were exposed...

"What a pity, truly a pity...... it cracked!"

Sect Leader's Lady Xuan Qisha covered her exquisite head, tactically clutching her head.

She felt no joy or schadenfreude, only regret.

Everyone here is a technician.

Just as she once, in her attempt to break into the semi-sacred realm of divine symbols, with merely a single stroke, suffered countless failures that left her nearly numb.

And now, seeing Li Che, she seemed to see her former self.

Xixi was dazed, everyone's reaction...

It made Xixi's heart involuntarily rise to her throat.

"Ah? Father is going to fail?!"

Xixi's big eyes instantly showed a hint of worry.

Lu Taibai rubbed Xixi's head.

"Who said your father is going to fail? It's just...... just begun."

Lu Taibai said with a smile.

Xuan Qisha furrowed her brows: "Although I don't understand divine rocs, the woodcarvings Li Che carved have cracks, which is an irreparable defect..."

"Just like when I draw talismans, the talisman paper cracks...... can it still succeed?"

Xuan Qisha looked at Lu Taibai, without any hesitation about his status as fifth on the Divine Ranking: "You're just a sword player, you don't understand a hammer's Divine Eagle!"

Lu Taibai felt somewhat helpless.

The wife he married himself, he could only pamper her; being scolded was also what he deserved...

"Madam... don't be anxious."

Xuan Qisha crossed his arms, snorted, and turned his gaze back toward the direction where Li Che was carving the Divine Eagle.

She wanted to see how Li Che would save it!

……

……

Li Che's expression remained calm; at the instant the crack appeared on the Two-heart Great Sage statue, his heart did not stir any ripple or wave.

Because...

The appearance of this crack was exactly what he had intended!

Elder Sun could carve a Divine Eagle from ordinary wood and bear immense divinity without cracking; with Li Che possessing the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, how could he fail?

The cracking was entirely intentional on the part of the Divine Eagle Master.

Ignoring the crack, Li Che's carving knife did not stop; its originally leisurely speed suddenly changed, accelerating to the extreme in an instant, and the hand gripping the knife actually showed countless afterimages.

Boom boom boom boom—

The Immortal Craft Dao Fruit raced wildly!

Crack—!

A second crack appeared on the wooden carving.

Li Che paid no heed and continued carving.

Crack—!

Again came a sound that seemed to make everyone's souls tremble, the sound of breaking.

Then came a third, fourth, fifth crack...

The number of cracks kept increasing.

The amount of divinity floating in Divine Eagle Ridge did not cease, but continued to surge wildly into the wooden carving.

The eyes of the Divine Eagle in the Two-heart Great Sage Temple began to flash with golden light.

But the dense cracks truly made the entire statue look shocking.

The Supervisor Hongshi Fo, carrying a chessboard, gazed intently, looking at those cracks splitting open, yet felt no leakage of divinity from them...

Suddenly.

Amidst everyone's regretful gaze.

Li Che stopped his carving knife.

He stepped back.

He spread his five fingers wide with both hands, amidst everyone's astonished gaze.

He struck down fiercely!

The entire wooden carving instantly exploded into pieces!

Wood chips flew everywhere, shattering into countless tiny fragments!

"Ah?!"

"Crazy! Elder Li, ashamed and angry, has gone completely mad?!"

"Carving failed; Elder Li smashed the wooden carving, huh?"

The surrounding woodcarvers stared dumbfounded, shocked to the extreme, as if struck by lightning, and erupted in an uproar!

But.

Gongshu Jingjun, Fang Hanshu, Ding Zi and other Divine Embryo cultivators, however, sensed something and looked over in realization.

Their powerful Heaven and Earth souls clearly perceived it.

The wooden carving fragments that Li Che had smashed and exploded...

On each fragment...

were actually carved with exquisite craftsmanship into a wooden statue of the Two-heart Great Sage!