Chapter 301: with translation of title, then ===GLOSSARY=== with list of named entities appearing in these lines, using glossary form
303. Chapter 298: Who says the underworld has no supreme peak? The King of Hell ascends the tower and slays a half-saint【Seek monthly ticket】
Black and white distinct, the wheel of reincarnation turns.
Starlight shines upon the Northern Dipper!
After merging the aura of the 【Chess Saint】 Dao Fruit with starwood, the mask thus forged is the King of Hell mask that Li Che has established for the underworld.
Having fused the Dao Fruit's qi into the mask, Li Che is confident that even a Heaven Gate Martial Saint would struggle to detect his qi, given the LV5-tier Chess Saint Dao Fruit.
This is the first time Li Che has infused a Dao Fruit's power into an external object; this King of Hell mask seems to have become a special divine weapon.
He clenched his five fingers, placing the mask over his face.
Left black, right white, starlight gleaming, his eyes like stars and a bright moon!
His ink-black hair flew up wildly from behind, like a cape sweeping sideways; Li Che's aura seemed to grow obscure, as if imperceptible.
He closed his eyes, then opened them again.
Strictly speaking, this mask follows the ox demon, horse face, divine monkey, and thunder dragon masks Li Che has worn, representing a new identity.
It differs in concept and meaning from the Black and White Impermanents, the Wine Sword Immortal, You Liqing, the cat-faced mask, and so on.
King of Hell, what is a King of Hell? A top-tier existence in the underworld, governing the life and death of souls, overseeing reincarnation, the six paths of morality, an important role in maintaining cosmic order.
The King of Hell of the underworld is what Li Che intends to set as one of the underworld's top-tier powerhouses.
Li Che wore the King of Hell mask, closed his eyes, and his entire aura began to turn ethereal.
The underworld lacks top-tier combat power, and perhaps even no ultimate power exists; this is the consensus among all factions.
Because so far, no one has seen the underworld produce a Heaven Gate Martial Saint, a Divine Fetus Great God, or similar beings standing at the pinnacle of cultivation in Dàjǐng.
This greatly diminishes the underworld's deterrent power.
He slowly opened his eyes; Li Che's pupils suddenly surged with the intertwining lines and colors of a chessboard, as if heaven and earth turned cold, desolate, barren, and bleak within his gaze.
What his eyes perceived was not the real world, but the nether realm.
"King of Hell..."
Li Che took a step forward; instantly, the heaven-and-earth chessboard shot up into the sky, spinning rapidly above the room, yet it isolated all aura, unnoticed and unfelt by anyone.
And Li Che's figure instantly shifted and vanished.
He reappeared.
Yet he now stood at the central point of the heaven-and-earth chessboard.
He sat cross-legged.
An ancient city, black as ink, shrouded in deathly aura, continually rising higher and higher...
Li Che, wearing the black-and-white King of Hell mask and a dark robe embroidered with golden lotus patterns, fluttered in the gale, seated high upon the city walls.
"Such a King of Hell!"
Li Che exhaled a breath.
Between one exhalation and inhalation.
His long breath surged; Li Che's mind instantly sank into his flesh and blood, seeing the flow of blood through every inch of muscle and the intertwining of meridians.
His spine resembled a dormant great dragon, lying within his body, holding explosive power; the five meridian nodes, as qi and blood surge, would flow through five extraordinary gates that had been infused with divine seeds, causing his qi and blood to swell in a great wave, passing continuously through five divine-seed gate nodes, as if he had been elevated fivefold.
It took Li Che more than half a year to finally succeed in opening the fifth extraordinary gate.
At this moment, Li Che, having opened five extraordinary gates, can almost be said to be exceedingly rare.
Even someone as talented as You Liqing, a supreme grand master, has only opened two divine seeds.
Li Che does not know whether anyone in the world has successfully opened the eight great extraordinary gates and infused the eight divine seeds.
Even if such a person exists, they would be exceedingly rare.
At least, in the field of divine-seed infusion, Li Che is among the forefront, with few able to match or compare with him.
Li Che's only shortcoming now is the gap in his own strength.
Because his foundation is too solid, breaking through to Martial Saint will be even harder for him than for ordinary people.
Sensing the five dormant divine seeds, if they were to explode simultaneously...
Detonating the five extraordinary-gate divine seeds, what kind of power could they unleash?
Li Che does not know, for he has never tried...
You Liqing detonated two divine seeds and perished utterly; his flesh could not bear it, turning to ash and smoke.
And Li Che?
Whoosh—
The exhaled current rolled, scalding and boiling.
Li Che, seated atop the ink-black city, resembled a King of Hell enthroned upon Fengdu's walls, beholding the endless cycles of life and death, the six paths of reincarnation!
"But, it's still not enough..."
Li Che closed his eyes; the next moment, he flung them open.
The five extraordinary-gate divine seeds detonated; the power they released... might be quite formidable.
But it cannot be considered the true strength of the underworld's King of Hell.
To regard this as the underworld's strongest combat power...
Li Che feels it is far from sufficient.
"The power of the temple gods! That is the key..."
Li Che rose from the ink-black city's summit; his ink-black, vigorous hair crackled, whipping the air and emitting explosive booms.
Beneath the King of Hell mask, his eyes were cold and unparalleled, devoid of emotion, flickering slightly.
In an instant, his entire being directly achieved lightning-fast translocation.
He didn't even need to grasp the initiating motion of the lightning chess piece.
Om——!!!
Almost merely an instant, Li Che emerged from the Divine Sect mountain gate and appeared within the profoundly tranquil Guiyi Miao of the Two‑Heart Great Sage.
His mind stirred.
Instantly, four temple‑god divine chess pieces glowing with Buddhist light floated up around his body!
These are the temple‑god divine chess pieces Li Che has extracted over the past half year from the body of the Six‑Eared Prison Lotus Divine Monkey, the Two‑Heart Great Sage's temple‑god.
Four in total.
Beneath the Yama mask, Li Che's eyes flickered with a deep, mysterious light.
He has now introduced five Mysterious Gates divine seeds, five in total.
The five great Mysterious Gates each hide a blood‑qi divine seed; can, in the Ascension state, five more temple‑god divine chess pieces be added?!
Such a state…
Li Che's heart pounded; merely thinking of it set his blood racing wildly, boiling hot, anticipation overflowing!
"That is the fully enhanced Ascension state!"
"It shall be called, the Yama Ascension state!"
Originally, the Ascension state could only be aroused by borrowing the temple‑god's power; it inherently uses that power to stimulate the body's toughness and increase its strength.
If we add the bodily shackles shattered by the Mysterious Gates divine seeds, that state…
Perhaps it would be the strongest state Li Che could erupt with!
He suppressed the boiling emotions into stillness.
Li Che's gaze turned to the temple‑god on the altar; the candlelight swayed slowly, as if mirroring the temple‑god's restless heart.
Beneath the mask, Li Che's lips curled slightly.
The black‑and‑white mask glittered with starlight; his whole form vanished in a blink and reappeared right before the temple‑god's statue.
His five fingers spread, jade‑like fingertips extending to press upon the Two‑Heart Great Sage's forehead.
He gently rubbed.
The feel was superb!
Thousand‑Scrutinizing Hand, absorb and devour!
Boom——!!!:
Within the Guiyi Miao, a raging wind surged forth suddenly, shockwaves blasting!
About one and a half months are needed to finish absorbing a single divine chess piece.
Now Li Che estimates that the fifth Two‑Heart Great Sage temple‑god divine chess piece should soon appear!
Within the Guiyi Miao, the white candle flames flickered incessantly, as if emitting a soundless wail.
Slowly…
The candle flames ceased their flickering, settling into calm.
And in Li Che's hand appeared another black temple‑god divine chess piece, its Buddhist light flowing.
Distorting the airflow, collapsing the void!
The fifth temple‑god divine chess piece, the set is now complete.
Beneath Li Che's Yama mask, lines intertwined vertically and horizontally, deep as if studding the night sky with stars.
Clenching his five fingers, this temple‑god chess piece instantly fell into the heavenly‑earth chessboard, landing at the celestial origin, crushing the intersecting board lines.
Li Che leapt down from the altar, glancing at the temple‑god statue that trembled slightly before gradually settling.
"Sorry for the offense."
Li Che bowed his fists and smiled.
Then his whole form twisted and vanished into nothingness, disappearing without trace within the Guiyi Miao.
Only the faintly jumping candle flames remained, indicating that someone had just appeared in the temple.
The Two‑Heart Great Sage divine monkey, draped in a monk's robe, had its eyes upon the divine eagle flicker with a faint golden light.
……
……
Qianyuan Divine Sect, disciple city.
Elder's courtyard.
Creak.
Li Qingshan donned a thin outer garment, glanced at the already‑asleep Mu Po, and stepped out.
The night was deep, yet within the courtyard a faint light glimmered.
Li Qingshan walked hunched along the corridor; beneath the black eaves, icicles hung like stone shoots, sharp beyond compare.
Li Qingshan looked toward the study; that light was shining out from within the study.
Li Qingshan, intimately familiar with the Ox Demon's modus operandi, narrowed his eyes slightly.
Today is Xixi's birthday; following Li Che's past habits, he should have taken a day off and not be laboring in the study late at night.
He would be accompanying his wife and daughter to sleep well.
In other words…
Li Che, or rather the netherworld, is about to move!
Li Qingshan hunched his back, his gaze deep, and slowly exhaled a breath.
Ding——
Suddenly, Li Qingshan took out a shard of mirror from his waist.
That was the netherworld's divine exchange mirror.
Li Qingshan glanced over, and suddenly his eyes twitched slightly, his pupils trembling.
Because a newcomer appeared in the Divine Communication Mirror.
【King of Hell】: Tonight's target, the Su family; to ensure nothing goes awry, I, the King, will act.
【Bull Demon】: Received.
【Horse Face】: Received.
【Divine Monkey】: Received.
【Thunder Dragon】: Received.
……
Li Qingshan stared blankly at the information in the Underworld's Divine Communication Mirror.
Seeing that speaking presence, his mind seemed to undergo a violent shock.
Who is this?!
In the Underworld… there is actually such a figure?!
Underworld… King of Hell?!
With "King" as a suffix, is this the head of the Underworld?!
Li Qingshan's heart pounded violently; the Underworld's upper echelons… finally appeared?
Is it an Underworld superior higher than the Thunder Dragon?
One must know, the Thunder Dragon can slay a Saint of Martial Arts, and a being higher than that…
Could it be a powerful existence capable of killing a Saint of the Qi Sea Realm?!
This is the Underworld's depth!
Li Qingshan has actually heard many rumors during this period, spreading throughout Qian Yuan Dao City.
They say the Underworld is mysterious and its methods are bizarre, but not to be feared, because it lacks a true powerhouse that can suppress everything!
Need not mention the Qian Yuan Divine Sect's towering cultivator Lu Taibai, who stands atop Dàjǐng's cultivation pinnacle, a Great Divine Rank listed fifth, and a mighty presence stationed at the Seventh Gate of Heaven Gate!
Just to name a few, the Temple Guard Office has Feng Zhiqi, the Qin Tian Jian has Witness Hong Shi Buddha, the Dao Master Residence has Dao Master Yue Huanglong… these top‑tier powers are the key that uphold a faction.
Yet the Underworld, on the surface, seems to lack any figure capable of holding the stage.
Li Qingshan, being a member of the Underworld, naturally feels righteous anger.
You know nothing at all about the Underworld's depth, about its mysteries!
Although Cat Face also knows nothing.
But a single leaf reveals the autumn; judging from those mysterious methods of the Underworld, there must be a top‑tier existence behind supporting the entire force and its depth!
Like the Flying Thunder chess piece, a power that can shift instantly, even techniques that even Divine Talisman Wind‑Stabilizing Waves struggle to trap—could a faction without depth possess such?
Moreover, there is that Ink City…
The Underworld is truly unfathomable!
Therefore, as a member of the Underworld, proud of it, Li Qingshan cannot bear the world's negative remarks about the Underworld!
Unfortunately, Li Qingshan cannot refute, because as a member of the Underworld, he truly has never seen its upper‑level powers.
And now…
It has arrived!
Finally arrived!
Every inch of Li Qingshan's body trembles!
He slowly took out the Cat Face mask and placed it over his face!
Then, he slowly sent a reply on the Divine Communication Mirror.
【Cat Face】: Received!
Then, clenching his five fingers, he vanished within the Elder Hall.
Reappearing.
He already appeared in the courtyard of Liuxiang Alley.
Dressed in a blue robe, Li Qingshan looked into the courtyard through the Cat Face mask, his heart suddenly chilled.
He saw one silhouette after another standing in the courtyard.
Bull Demon, Horse Face, Divine Monkey, Thunder Dragon, as well as Black and White Impermanence, Wine Sword Immortal, You Liqing, Dragon Maiden, Xue Dufu, Long Tai, Blue Bird…
Almost all members of the Underworld have gathered here.
Li Qingshan pressed the Cat Face mask down, a faint smile appearing beneath his eyes.
The Underworld's second full‑member assembly?
Li Qingshan felt honored to be able to attend the Underworld gathering a second time.
He was about to greet Li Che, who wore a Bull Demon mask and whose stature rose like a tower.
However, Li Qingshan only felt his heart suddenly lag half a beat.
Boom—
An extremely terrifying pressure swept over and enveloped the entire courtyard.
Li Qingshan's neck seemed to stiffen, as if time and space froze at that moment.
The displaced gale whistled, continuously venting above his head and crashing down.
He struggled to lift his head.
Then he saw above his head a city as black as ink, its dead aura churning, emerging.
That is…
Ink City!
On the city wall of Ink City.
Li Qingshan's pupils contracted violently, as if he had forgotten to breathe.
He saw a figure, a figure clad in a black long robe, with jet-black hair wildly swirling and constantly flying!
Yama!
This is Yama!
And Li Qingshan saw Yama's black-and-white rotating mask, as well as eyes that seemed to encompass the entire starry sky.
Just a glance.
Li Qingshan felt as if he were facing a towering, colossal existence that seemed to envelop the entire planet.
In the world……there actually exists such a colossal being?!
Like a giant dog magnified countless times?!
Li Qingshan was drenched in sweat, feeling his hands and legs go weak; that colossal being's gaze seemed as if it wanted to annihilate his soul.
Terrifying!
This is the mainstay of the netherworld……Yama?!
Who said the netherworld lacks a presence that holds things together?!
Li Qingshan's emotions instantly flared.
He clasped his fists and bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.
"Netherworld Cat Face, pays respects to Yama!"
……
……
Frozen clouds fill the ridges at night, pure snow condenses into brilliance at dawn.
The mountain ranges on the horizon seem shrouded in mist and smoke; the deep night resembles a painting of thick ink split open, and the whistling snowflakes between heaven and earth seem to freeze the cold, silent night into ice.
Heavy snow flutters, filling the universe, dancing wildly in the world, startling drowsy crows.
The Su family manor.
The entire Su family manor occupies a vast area in Qianyuan Dao City, resembling a palace complex; inside, it is divided into several zones, with buildings arranged in orderly succession, one tranquil courtyard after another dotting the inner walls, narrating the Su family's rise and fall over three thousand years.
A family, if it possesses a complete inheritance mechanism and develops steadily, can continue for hundreds of years.
And for an aristocratic clan, the most important thing is that each generation can produce top-tier combat power.
Like the Yun, Zhong, and Zhou families, these three great clans in Qianyuan Dao City are thousand-year-old aristocratic houses; before them, many clans had declined, giving rise to succession.
Five hundred years is a hurdle, a thousand years another hurdle; a three-thousand-year-old clan, looking across the region, already stands at the pinnacle.
Of course, compared to Shendu and the many ancient clans bound to the Divine Sect, they are naturally far inferior.
However, the Su family's ability to endure and continue for three thousand years in Qianyuan Dao City stems from each generation producing a Martial Saint and a Divine Embryo.
Like this generation's original patriarch Su Wenxi, Su Daoling—one a Martial Saint, one a Divine Embryo, and Su Daoling even became a Half-Saint of Divine Talismans!
The Su family now possesses even greater capital!
In the previous generation, the Su family produced two Martial Saints: one was Su Leibao, and the other was Su Canghai, the Martial Saint at the peak of the Qi Sea in Shendu.
Su Canghai even went further, stepping onto the Martial Mountain Path, possessing the capital of a Martial Saint capable of ascending mountains!
Having the capital to climb high, gaze far, and glimpse the Heavenly Gate!
Once Su Canghai sets foot in the mountain-ascending realm, the Su family then possesses the capital to strive for a five-thousand-year-old clan!
Unfortunately, this generation's Su Wenxi has died.
Inside the patriarch's pavilion.
Su Daoling sat upright in a chair, oil lamps filling the room, casting light as bright as daytime within.
Su Leibao now oversees the two Guiyi Miao temples, Ha and Heng.
Most of the Su family's affairs rest on Su Daoling's shoulders, but after a year of settling, the Su family, greatly wounded in vital energy, has returned to the proper path.
After a massacre by Huang Jiujiu, many young members of the Su family were slain; for the Su family, this is certainly no small matter, and many industries have also suffered impact.
But the greatest impact, in fact, is the death of the newly risen Martial Saint Su Wenxi.
Leaning back in the chair, he rubbed his temples.
Even as a Divine Embryo cultivator, handling mundane affairs annoys him greatly, mainly due to scheming with the great clans, needing to balance between the Divine Sect and the Dao Lord's Manor, and also maintaining good relations with the Temple Garrison Bureau and the Imperial Astronomy Bureau.
For an aristocratic clan to endure and last, balancing relations with all major powers is the key.
"Fortunately, the Su family has essentially opened relations with the Dao Lord's Manor… although we suffered some losses, it's not a big problem; at least it can help the Su family gain a foothold."
"The Zhou, Yun, and Zhong families three are trying to erode the Su family during this time… hum… whatever they swallow will eventually have to be spit out."
"And those two… a Star Assassin from the Hunter God Pavilion, and the Dragon God lineage's dragon son Ao Lie—why have they been silent? Were they intimidated by Lü Taibai?"
"Trash… his younger sister killed, his own daughter killed, yet he still acts timid and fearful."
Su Daoling sneered and muttered a curse.
Regarding the newly risen Golden Condor Half-Saint Li Che of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, he still feels very displeased.
After all, this Golden Condor Half-Saint should have appeared in their Su family; Su Huai Ming was indeed a master the Su family poured vast resources into cultivating—the Five Elders Golden Condor Grandmaster—but… he ended up falling at the final step, assassinated.
The Su family believes that Master Su Huai Ming's death is definitely related to this Li Che!
"Besides, there's Lü Taibai's personal disciple, the Qianyuan Young Sect Master Li Nuanxi… I don't know how those two little rascals are progressing; our Su family men excel at beauty temptations… if we could truly win Li Nuanxi's favor, the Su family would be firmly secured in Qianyuan Dao City, and even have spare strength to support Shendu."
"If the Third Prince can secure the position of Crown Prince… then the Su family's status will rise enormously, making a five-thousand-year-old clan no problem."
Su Daoling exhaled; recently, a letter from Shendu said that as the Empress Dowager's Peach Blossom Victory Festival approaches, the contest for the Crown Prince is gradually intensifying.
The Third Prince holds a great advantage, prompting the Su family to send a batch of resources to Shendu to support the Third Prince.
Su Daoling had no objection; he gathered a batch of resources and sent them to Shendu, hoping to obtain a Dragon's Merit technique—if successful, the Su family might even have a chance to join Shendu's grand stage.
Rather than being situated in a corner of Lingnan Dao.
Clan leader, the four inner-door elders of the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect have brought Su Li.
Translation: "Patriarch, the four inner-door elders of the Qianyuan Divine Sect have brought Su Li."
Note: Heavenly Origin Divine Sect, the four inner-door elders brought Su Li.
Heavenly Origin Divine Sect
But we need to be consistent: The glossary provided only includes Li Nuanxi, Dàjǐng, Shendu. So we must not add other entries? Actually the glossary list after translation should list every term that appears. The provided glossary is for these lines — use these EXACT English forms every time (never romanize or paraphrase them). That means for those specific terms we must use those forms. For other terms we need to translate them ourselves and include in the glossary list.
Thus we need to produce a glossary list after translations, containing all names that appear. We'll need to extract them.
Let's continue translating lines, then later compile glossary.
Outside, a guard whispered.
Translation: "Outside the gate, a guard spoke softly."
Su Daoling heard it, smiled, and said, 'Please come in quickly.'
Translation: "Su Dao Ling heard this, smiled, and said: 'Please come in quickly.'"
"Please, come quickly."
Ji Heshan was the connection the Su family had forged within the Divine Sect, having spent a considerable cost and even promised to fund Ji Heshan's attempt to reach the Divine Fetus realm.
Translation: "Ji Heshan is the connection that the Su family has forged within the Divine Sect, at considerable cost, even promising to fund Ji Heshan's assault on the Divine Fetus realm."
The Divine Fetus realm of the Divine Sect, Ji Heshan of the Su family.
Su Li became Ji Heshan's disciple, and Su Daoling also begged Ji Heshan to create a chance for Su Li to spend time with Li Nuanxi.
Translation: "Su Li became Ji Heshan's disciple, and Su Dao Ling also begged Ji Heshan to create an opportunity for Su Li to interact with Li Nuanxi."
Moments later.
Translation: "Moments later."
Ji Heshan wore an ancient-style long robe, his wide sleeves fluttering, with Su Li following behind as he slowly entered the clan leader's main hall.
Translation: "Ji Heshan wore an ancient-style long robe, his wide sleeves fluttering, with Su Li following behind, he slowly stepped into the patriarch's main hall."
'Su Li pays respects to the clan leader.' Su Li bowed respectfully with a fist salute.
Translation: "\"Su Li greets the patriarch. \" Su Li bowed earnestly and respectfully."
Su Daoling wore a gentle smile, stroking his beard, and said, 'Su Li, you are the most talented youngster of our Su family; you must strive harder, for the burden of our family's rise rests upon you.'
Translation: "Su Dao Ling's face was warm as he stroked his beard and smiled: 'Su Li, you are the most talented youngster of our Su family; you must strive harder, for the great responsibility of our family's rise rests upon you.'"
'Although you cannot use the Su family's secret arts after marrying Li Nuanxi, her status and position bring you benefits greater than the secret arts; relying solely on your own talent, you have already reached an extremely high level.'
Translation: "\"Although after you and Li Nuanxi become husband and wife you cannot use the Su family's secret arts, Li Nuanxi's status and position bring you benefits greater than the secret arts; relying solely on your own talent, you have already reached an extremely high level. \""
Su Daoling laughed.
Translation: "Su Dao Ling laughed."
Su Li's heart fluttered slightly.
Translation: "Su Li's heart fluttered slightly."
Ji Heshan sat opposite, smiling faintly as he chatted casually with Su Daoling.
Translation: "Ji Heshan sat opposite, smiling narrowly as he chatted casually with Su Dao Ling."
'Su Chuyang is no good; his mind is full of nothing but defeating Li Nuanxi—he's quite blunt.'
Translation: "\"This Su Chuyang is not up to par; his mind is full of thoughts of defeating Li Nuanxi... a bit straightforward. \""
Ji Heshan shook his head.
Translation: "Ji Heshan shook his head."
Su Daoling heard this, nodded, and said, 'Then all of Su Chuyang's resources will go to Su Li...'
Translation: "Su Dao Ling heard this, nodded: 'Then all of Su Chuyang's resources will go to Su Li...'"
'Elder Ji, please try this tribute tea that my obedient daughter sent back from the Divine Capital; only high-ranking officials and nobles in the imperial palace are allowed to drink such tribute tea.'
Translation: "\"Elder Ji, come try this tribute tea that my obedient daughter sent back from Shendu; only high-ranking officials in the imperial palace can drink such tribute tea. \""
Su Daoling laughed.
Translation: "Su Dao Ling laughed."
Gurgle-gurgle.
Translation: "Gurgle gurgle." (Onomatopoeia)
The water boiler beside the table boiled vigorously, exhaling clouds of hot steam.
Translation: "The water boiler beside the table was boiled to a rolling boil, exhaling hot air with a woo-woo-woo sound."
He opened the lid, placed a few sheets of tea leaves overflowing with spiritual energy onto bamboo tweezers, and tossed them into the gurgling boiling water; in an instant the leaves unfurled, their emerald hue shimmering, and a rich tea aroma wafted continuously.
Translation: "Opening the lid, I placed several pieces of spirit-infused tea leaves with bamboo tweezers, tossed them into the gurgling boiling water; in an instant the leaves unfurled, their green hue rippling, the rich tea aroma wafting continuously."
Su Daoling inhaled the tea fragrance deeply, a smile blossoming at the corners of his mouth.
Translation: "Su Dao Ling inhaled the tea fragrance deeply, a smile blooming at the corners of his mouth."
He, Su Daoling, had a fine daughter, which gave him the chance to taste such a delicacy that only could be enjoyed in the Great Jing Imperial Palace.
Translation: "He, Su Dao Ling, having fathered a fine daughter, now has the chance to savor this delicacy that only the Dàjǐng imperial palace can offer."
Ji Heshan's eyes also brightened.
Translation: "Ji Heshan's eyes also brightened."
Anything that can be sent to the Great Jing Imperial Palace is surely good stuff.
Translation: "Anything that can be sent to the Dàjǐng imperial palace is surely something good."
He poured two cups of hot tea; the vapor swirled amidst the chill, the rich tea aroma seeming to condense into a silken ribbon.
Translation: "Two cups of hot tea were poured; the fragrant vapor rolled amidst the chill, the rich tea aroma seeming to condense into a tangible bolt of silk."
Su Daoling leaned back in his chair, having finished handling the mundane affairs of the great clan; finally it was time to rest, a moment he enjoyed most.
Translation: "Su Dao Ling leaned back in his chair; after finishing the mundane affairs of the great clan, he finally had time to rest—this was his most enjoyable moment."
He had picked up the teacup, about to bring it to his lips.
Translation: "The teacup he had picked up was about to be brought to his lips."
Suddenly.
Translation: "Suddenly."
His pupils constricted slightly.
Translation: "His pupils constricted slightly."
Through the tea cup's mirror-like reflection, he saw a figure silently appear behind him.
Translation: "Through the light reflected like a mirror in the teacup, he actually saw a figure appear silently behind him."
His hand involuntarily trembled.
Translation: "His hand involuntarily trembled."
The tranquility of the tea was shattered, ripples spreading across its surface!
Translation: "The calm of the tea water was broken, ripples spreading!"
'Who?!'
Translation: "\"Who?! \""
Su Daoling felt a sudden chill in his heart and immediately let out an angry roar.
Translation: "Su Dao Ling felt a sudden chill in his heart and immediately let out an angry roar."
Ji Heshan, who was about to reach for the teacup, suddenly jerked his hand and blankly lifted his head.
Translation: "Ji Heshan's hand, which was about to reach for the teacup, suddenly trembled, and he blankly lifted his head."
Su Li beside him was so frightened he was almost driven to idiocy.
Translation: "Su Li beside him was even more frightened, almost to the point of becoming foolish."
A mighty Heaven-Earth Soul surged forth, as if an invisible, twisted figure had entwined the power of heaven and earth behind him, swelling like a balloon being inflated in an instant.
Translation: "A mighty world-soul arose, as if an invisible, distorted figure had entwined the forces of heaven and earth behind him, swelling instantly like a balloon being inflated."
Yet he horrifiedly discovered that his own roar seemed to have been choked off.
Translation: "However, he horrifiedly discovered that his own roar seemed to have been cut off."
Not a single sound could escape.
Translation: "Not a single sound could escape."
Silence, a deathly silence pervaded the surroundings!
Translation: "Silence, the surroundings deathly silent!"
'Who the hell?!'
Translation: "\"Who is it?! \""
Su Daoling's heart and spirit trembled.
Translation: "Su Dao Ling's mind and spirit trembled."
This is the Su family!
Translation: "This is the Su family!"
But the Su family estate, after the incident with the Huang Jian wine, he, as head of the Su family, personally laid
Translation: "But the Su family manor, because of the previous incident with Huang Jian wine, he, as the patriarch of the Su family, personally set up a talisman formation for the manor."
As long as anyone intrudes, the talisman formation will give feedback to alert him.
Translation: "As long as anyone intrudes, the talisman formation will give feedback to warn him."
Unless...
Translation: "Unless……"
Unless the intruder's strength is vastly superior to his, capable of directly clouding his Heaven-and-Earth soul!
Translation: "Unless the intruder's strength is far greater than his, able to directly conceal his world-soul!"
In fact, that is indeed the case.
Translation: "And indeed, that is exactly the case."
If it weren't for a chance coincidence—seeing it through the tea noodles—he wouldn't even know anyone had slipped in!
Translation: "If not for a fortunate coincidence, seeing through the tea surface, he would not have known someone had sneaked in!"
A chill rose swiftly from the base of his neck.
Translation: "A chill rose in bursts from the base of his neck."
An overwhelmingly massive divinity erupted thunderously from the mud‑ball palace at his brow.
Translation: "An immense divine power exploded suddenly from the Niwan Palace at his brow!"
Bang—!!!
Translation: "Boom——!!!"
The tea cup in his hand exploded instantly, and the entire table was reduced to dust in an instant by the terrifying force.
Translation: "The teacup in his hand instantly shattered, and the entire table was obliterated to dust by the terrifying force in an instant."
Su Daoling, in a single breath, transformed his Divine Fetus, fully revealing his cultivation that birthed the three organs.
Translation: "In an instant, Su Dao Ling revealed the full extent of his cultivation—his Divine Fetus undergoing a divine transformation, giving birth to the three viscera."
The Divine‑origin golden core floated up, its surface riddled with cracks, revealing a vague Divine Fetus inside that pulsed like a flesh ball, its heart, kidneys, and lungs distinctly visible, breathing in and out, one could even feel the divinity coursing like a current.
Translation: "The divine essence golden core hovered aloft, its surface covered in cracks, through which a vague divine fetus could be seen, like a beating ball of flesh; the heart, kidneys, and lungs of that flesh were distinctly visible, and with each breath one could even feel the divine power throbbing like a current!"
Splash splash splash!
Translation: "Rattle rattle rattle!"
One talisman after another appeared around Su Daoling.
Translation: "One talisman after another appeared around Su Dao Ling."
The talismans were triggered, and in an instant, an overwhelming divinity surged like rolling waves, instantly bursting forth endless light and heat around him, like a towering sun.
Translation: "The talismans were activated; in an instant, the supreme divine power surged like rolling waves, and boundless light and heat erupted around him, as if a great sun had risen."
Terrifying pressure...
The divine embryo's hierarchical pressure left Ji Heshan gasping for breath, and Su Li had already collapsed on the ground, unable even to move a single finger.
Su Daoling wanted to warn the members of the Su family!
Or rather, he wanted to warn Su Lei Bao!
The great sun rose high in an instant, and the endless light and heat gathered together, swirling around Su Daoling, turning into one sword‑light after another, each razor‑sharp, soaring skyward!
Fifth Elder, middle rank, Half‑Saint Sword Talisman!
Chi chi chi—
The surrounding light seemed to be sliced away!
But…
Su Daoling suddenly became rigid all over.
His Heaven‑and‑Earth soul seemed to be horrifically suppressed, unable to transmit at all.
His neck stiffened as he lifted his head bit by bit.
He looked upward toward the ceiling.
Above his head, a chessboard spread out like a net had appeared.
A chessboard?!
"Underworld—!!!"
Su Daoling roared in anger.
In an instant, he knew who had struck him.
It was the Underworld!
Su Daoling let out a long howl, the warning in his heart repeatedly rang, he pressed his two fingers together and struck the void hard; the void rippled with countless folds, and within that single strike, divinity erupted, surging and churning, shaping a mountain‑sized talisman that almost covered the entire ceiling of the room!
Aiming to break through the chessboard's barrier.
However…
The moment the talisman had just formed.
He immediately felt his spirit hazy, a tide of drowsiness surging toward his mind, but after a moment he snapped back to clarity.
His angry eyes widened!
A murderous intent surged!
But the next moment, his whole body went rigid.
He opened his eyes again.
He saw that the chessboard on the ceiling had turned into an enormous black city, surging with overwhelming death aura and killing intent!
And atop the city's ramparts that released the terrifying death aura,
a figure wearing a black‑and‑white mask sat desolately in a lotus pose,
coldly gazing down at him.
Black and white, like star‑glass!
In its eyes was only the indifference of looking down on ants, the casualness of piercing death, and the nobility of mastering life and death.
And more terrifying was…
From behind the seated figure, Su Daoling saw a terrifying colossal beast that seemed to annihilate stars; the beast, which had been lying down, slowly rose—a magnitude never before witnessed, an enormity unheard of, oppressive and cramped—making his body and mind, as a divine‑embryo single‑god transformation cultivator, shudder with fear…
It tilted and surged forward at the same time!
This is…
What level of existence is this?!
Mountain‑climbing Martial Saint?
Or perhaps… Divine‑Embryo Great God?!
"You… you… who are you?!"
Underworld…
The Underworld has a figure like this?!
As for the Underworld, Su Daoling had studied it with utmost seriousness.
Niu Mo, Ma Mian, Shen Hou, Lei Long… even the comical cat‑face that appears after each Underworld demon finishes its business, he had investigated in detail.
But the Underworld…
In all his records, there was no information at all about this powerful black‑and‑white‑masked presence before him!
What on earth, what on earth…
The Su family patriarch's palace seemed to vanish in an instant; all he could see was that black city and the person in the black‑and‑white mask!
As if a demon god who controls life and death!
Su Daoling's question sank like a stone in the sea, receiving no reply.
He let out a roar.
Sword sigils around him surged skyward, driving the mountain‑sized talisman toward the terrifying presence perched on the city's rampart!
After that…
Su Daoling then saw the black‑and‑white‑masked figure on the city's rampart slowly stand up.
In an instant, the extremely terrifying blood‑qi surged violently within heaven and earth!
It was as if five blood‑red blazing suns rose, dazzling blood‑qi that almost filled Su Daoling's entire vision and the world!
The void's great waves rose in succession!
Billowing surges, high‑pitched and raging!
The blood‑qi wave surged a thousand or hundred meters into the sky, like a continuous avalanche on a ten‑thousand‑meter snow mountain!
Five Sun‑blazing Blood Qi rose like a vast sun hanging high.
Su Daoling was bewildered……
"Qimen Divine Seed? Five… five Qimen Divine Seeds?!"
"No, no! How could this be possible?!"
"Who on earth are you?!"
Su Daoling let out a low growl.
Then.
He saw the figure shift slightly, and the five Qimen Divine Seeds unintentionally detonated.
It was as if the shackles binding heaven and earth collapsed with a thunderous crash as muscles and bones relaxed.
Then countless Blood Qi converged into a single fist!
It tore through his mountain‑like talisman array, those countless sword sigils, shattering his three‑organ divine embryo……
His hair and the clan master's robe were all flipped and flailed, the flesh trembling like waves beneath that fist.
Su Daoling felt intensely bitter at that moment.
Who says the Underworld has no ultimate peak?!
A powerful being who ushered the five Qimen Divine Seeds.
Directly detonated the seeds to kill him……
"Senior……"
"I am Su Daoling……"
"What merit… what ability?!"
……
End of Chapter
