Chapter 311: 313. Chapter 308: The Unrestrained God Monkey Takes the Divine Staff, the God Monkey Revealed to Be Elder Li 【Seeking Vo

313. Chapter 308: The Unrestrained God Monkey Takes the Divine Staff, the God Monkey Revealed to Be Elder Li 【Seeking Votes】

The mountain peach creek and apricot hold little meaning, seizing the season to usher in the spring wind.

Within Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Spring is abundant, blossoms cluster like brocade.

The chattering clamor rings continuously through the ridges.

Among the green trees, between branches, monkeys of all colors—golden, brown, tawny, white, gray—dart and leap with lively agility.

Each pair of eyes flickers with lively light, gazing at the great plain at the mountain's foot and the figures on the stone path.

They scratch their ears and rub their chins, as if curious about what those people are doing.

But everyone knows these monkeys are false; everything is a sham.

This world, or rather this Flower-Fruit Mountain, is merely a fabricated illusion constructed by the temple god's divinity.

Among those present, not a single weak one; all are saints of martial arts or in the Divine Embryo realm, transcended mortals who have successfully shed the mundane.

They can naturally discern the differences of the Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Yet no one attempts to break the illusion; each lifts their head, eyes shining with excitement and anticipation toward the monk Wu Gang on the mountain path of Xiao Lingyin Temple.

Wu Gang's dust‑free cloth shoes step onto the three‑hundredth step, palms pressed together; a spring breeze scented with birdsong and blossoms brushes past, stirring the gray monk's robe.

Verdant pines stand sturdy, their needles dense and hanging, sprouting on both sides of the stone path like mirrors.

"Amitabha."

Wu Gang gazes at Li Che seated cross‑legged upon two green stones.

Almost identical; no distinction can be seen.

Nevertheless, Wu Gang is unperturbed; with his palms together, he looks at the two Li Che seated on the green stones—three opponents, each set at a separate gate. This Li Che should be the weakest and the easiest gate to pass.

After all, although Li Che is a half‑saint of the Divine Eagle, he forced his way in relying on his powerful Divine Eagle talent.

In fact, according to Wu Gang's knowledge, Li Che's martial cultivation is merely Divine Steel Grandmaster, and his divinity barely reaches Divine Origin.

Compared with the Vajra Martial Saint of Xiao Lingyin Temple… the gap is truly enormous.

It is a gap as vast as heaven and earth.

Thus, Wu Gang is confident that with such a disparity, how could Li Che possibly disguise himself before him?

Moreover, Wu Gang trusts his celestial‑human resonance to easily discern Li Che's true and false bodies; the weaker the cultivation, the more flaws.

"Li Half‑Saint, I have offended you."

Wu Gang bows.

In the next instant, as he straightens, his spine seems to transform into a golden celestial dragon, winding and roaring around him, its dazzling scales reflecting myriad lights.

"Great Mighty Celestial Dragon!"

"Buddhist Void!"

Wu Gang's towering, robust frame emits sounds like bones grinding and muscles booming like great bells, his body exuding a faint golden hue.

A tremendously powerful martial will roars in fury like an angry Buddha, Vajra enraged!

Tear!

His gray monk's robe bursts open instantly, revealing Wu Gang's steel‑reinforced flesh; bulging muscles ripple with striking lines.

As if golden dragon shadows wander across it!

After tearing his garment, the center of Wu Gang's chest appears as if cleaved open.

Flesh splits to both sides, revealing a blood‑red eye that slowly opens!

Boom—Boom—Boom—!!!

The terrifying will pressure gushes like a mountain flood, shaking the entire mountain path of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

It begins!

The great plain at the mountain's foot.

Gong Xu Jingjun, Tang Xie Jia and other remaining strong ones stare intently.

They wish to see what the so‑called discernment of true and false bodies truly entails.

"Hmph! The top divine lineage of Xiao Lingyin Temple can cultivate the divine‑type martial art 【Great Mighty Celestial Dragon】 that transforms into a true divine warrior!"

Above the great plain.

Ao Lie, a dragon child of the Dragon God Clan wearing a star‑mask, let out an angry hum.

Cultivating Great Mighty Celestial Dragon requires slaying a dragon, extracting its bone, sinew, marrow, and soul to forge a Celestial Dragon Pill; after ingesting the pill, the dragon soul is suppressed within the body using a Buddhist secret art, finally allowing transformation into Great Mighty Celestial Dragon!

For the Dragon God Clan, it is an exceedingly vile secret technique!

Extremely hateful!

"That is the Buddhist Void Gaze!"

"A top‑level Buddhist eye technique; this martial monk has specifically cultivated the Buddhist Void Gaze. It seems his visit to the Qian Yuan Divine Sect is aimed at the Two‑Hearted Great Saint Guiyi Miao."

The martial saint Ning He of the Seven Treasure Divine Sect, well‑versed, could not help but exclaim,

"The Buddhist eye technique is indeed formidable; Li Che's half‑saint true and false bodies will soon be exposed,"

Gu Chuan of the Heavenly Elixir Divine Sect also nodded.

However, he is not in a hurry; if it were that easy, everyone would have rushed to be the first.

In fact, the main difficulty remains discerning the authenticity of that treasured staff.

Testing the staff's authenticity should be harder than discerning an opponent's true and false bodies.

In their view, the temple god's test is meant to acclimate them to the process of discerning true and false bodies, so that when confronting the Golden Iron Divine Staff's authenticity, they won't be at a loss.

That said, the Temple God of the Two‑Hearted Great Saint is oddly benevolent…

Xuanfu Divine Sect's Xuan Yin, Heavenly Elixir Divine Sect's Gu Chuan, and Seven Treasure Divine Sect's Ning He each felt a faint anticipation.

Especially Ninghe, the target was to rush straight to this Random Heart Gold Iron Divine Rod.

Suddenly.

The young Dao Sect Leader Yue Wei, who was staring intently from the side, let out a cry of surprise.

"What's going on?"

"What happened to Master Wugang?"

His cry of surprise instantly interrupted the thoughts of the three powerhouses from other divine sects.

Each of them looked up, and they were stunned.

Because……

On the stone steps, Wugang, who had unleashed the Mighty Heavenly Dragon and opened the Buddhist Kanxu Pupil, was trembling violently all over; his body, as if forged of golden steel, trembled at a frequency beyond their imagination.

As if he were encountering some great terror.

"What happened?"

Because the three hundred steps of Huaguo Mountain were too far away, and in this world constructed by the temple god's divinity, they could not use heavenly-human induction and earthly souls to probe.

Instantly, they were utterly bewildered.

……

……

Wugang's body trembled like a sieve; his eyes were bloodshot, his bald head, with only nine precept scars, was covered in fine beads of sweat.

And the Buddhist pupil in his chest, torn open from flesh and ferociously opened, was likewise bloodshot, its eyeball spinning at extreme speed, as if… somewhat short‑circuiting.

"Why?!"

"Why… can't I see through?! Can't I penetrate?!"

"Why… oh Buddha… I can't see through!"

Wugang's body trembled.

His Buddhist Kanxu Pupil was not cultivated by himself; for this journey, the Great Dharma Master Huangmei specially had a mountaineering martial saint dig out his own successfully cultivated Buddhist Kanxu Pupil!

They transplanted this Kanxu Pupil into his body.

This was so that he could, in this trial of the temple god of the Two‑Mind Great Sage, see through falsehood, find the true opportunity, obtain the Random Heart Gold Iron Divine Rod, and invite the Two‑Mind Great Sage back to the Buddhist realm!

Although it was not his own Buddhist Kanxu Pupil……

But after all, it is the Buddhist Kanxu Pupil cultivated by a mighty martial saint who traversed the qi sea and climbed the mountain path!

In his body it is merely a divine seed, but in fact… it is the martial saint's incarnate true martial!

Therefore, this Buddhist pupil possesses the power of true martial!

However……

Cannot see through!

The Buddhist pupil's gaze fell upon the two Li Che beneath the ancient pine and blue stone.

The information feedback received was……

Cannot see through!

It seemed as if both were real, yet also as if both were fake!

This situation even made Wugang suspect that the Buddhist pupil, due to the transplant, had become incompatible, delaying this important matter!

Wugang stared fixedly at Li Che, who sat cross‑legged beneath the ancient pine and blue stone, his ink‑robe embroidered with golden lotus fluttering in the gentle breeze.

Li Che smiled warmly and lightly, appearing honest and dutiful.

Wugang did not suspect Li Che of tampering, after all, how could such an honest and dutiful God‑Condor Half‑Saint play tricks?

Even if Wugang suspected the Buddhist pupil was faulty, he did not suspect that Li Che was the problem.

Wugang's body, like a pagoda, was almost unsteady, swaying as if about to tumble down the mountain path.

But he suddenly stepped down, firmly bracing his swaying body.

He clenched his five fingers against his chest, tightly grasping the Buddhist Kanxu Pupil whose pupil kept rolling and whose eyes kept rolling white.

His eyelids were pulled shut!

Since he couldn't see through, he shut the Buddha Lord's eyes!

Wugang let out a low roar; the throbbing veins on his forehead seemed to erupt in explosive booms, his pupils shrank to the size of sesame seeds and mung beans, his body swelled and grew, his whole body steaming with heat, as if he had fallen into a frenzied state!

This is Wugang, the martial monk of the Xiao Lingyin Temple, usually serene and simple.

But once he enters combat mode, he becomes frenzied, even mad!

He calls himself…… Buddha Lord!

"Damn it! If you can't see through the false and true, shut the Buddha Lord's eyes! The Buddha Lord will do it himself!"

Wugang's muscles, like steel and iron, were wrapped in a golden‑colored Mighty Heavenly Dragon; he stared at the two Li Che sitting peacefully cross‑legged on the blue stone.

They appeared to be full of loopholes, not like true bodies, but rather like false ones!

But Wugang knew well: how could the temple god of the Guiyi Miao allow two false bodies to sit before it?

This shows that at least one of them must be real!

But the Buddha Lord is simply too foolish, unable to see through!

But it's fine; we'll rely on the Buddha Lord's true heart!

The Buddha Lord closed his eyes, thump‑thump, then suddenly opened them, clenched his five fingers into a fist, the airflow on the mountain path surged wildly, and Wugang, his face ferocious, extended his index finger.

"Pointing at soldiers and commanders, great soldiers and great generals, small soldiers and small generals—whomever the Buddha Lord points to, that's who it is!"

In the end, his index finger hovered over the Li Che on the left blue stone, whose face was full of speechlessness.

"It's you!"

"The Buddha Lord…… has chosen you!"

Wu Gang's temples throbbed, and he broke into a wide grin.

Buzz——!!!

Li Ban Sheng!

Wu Gang clenched his five fingers, then took a heavy step forward as if a mountain flood were raging, his excitement unparalleled, his heart pounding violently in his chest.

The monk's Buddha‑heart intuition told him he had chosen correctly!

This Li Che is definitely the true form!

Even without the Buddhist Void Eye, the monk's Buddha‑heart intuition alone can break the deadlock!

Whoosh—

A spring breeze brushed by, and the umbrella‑shaped pine needles on the ancient pine brushed and collided in the intertwining wind, producing a soft rustle.

On the bluestone.

Facing the wildly excited, frantic, and ferocious Wu Gang.

Li Che smiled gently, and a trace of apology appeared on his honest, upright face.

He spread his hands.

"Master Wu Gang, my apologies."

The gentle voice was like a steel needle, piercing Wu Gang's heart mercilessly!

"Ah—?!"

A voice full of doubt exploded from Wu Gang's mouth like a booming bell.

Bang—!

Then, as Wu Gang felt even the Buddha's gaze was deceitful, Li Che… exploded into a ball of black mist, which the spring breeze swept away cleanly.

"Ah?!"

"Fake, is it really fake?!"

How could it be fake?

His Buddha‑heart clearly told him he had chosen correctly, that his bold choice was right!

But why?

Wu Gang felt a bit bewildered; it was a kind of long‑standing steadfast trust that could also deceive him, leading to bewilderment and collapse!

He abruptly turned his head toward another Li Che in the distance.

"The Buddha doesn't believe!"

Boom—!

He clenched his five fingers, the Heavenly Dragon roared, golden flames erupted instantly, forming one fire ring after another that coiled around his massive arm, then burst out as a terrifying horizontal punch.

Then, within Wu Gang's bewildered gaze, another Li Che seated on the bluestone…

Also burst apart, turning into white strange mist…

Wu Gang: "???"

Don't bully the monk like this!?

All fake?!

What on earth is real?!

"When truth is false, false is truth; when false is truth, truth is false…"

"When truth and falsehood are indistinguishable, failure to discern means the treasure staff has no fate with you."

Buddha Light bathed everything below.

Wu Gang looked up and saw the temple deity clad in a kasaya, grinning at him with a mouth full of sharp fangs.

Boom——!!!

Wu Gang suddenly felt the scene around him begin to fragment and shatter.

When the view before his eyes cleared,

He discovered the Temple‑Guard Cursed Corpse King Demon Ape pinching him between thumb and forefinger, then flinging him violently—

Puff—!

Wu Gang spewed blood in a huge gulp, and his whole body shot out like a cannonball; the mighty Saint‑of‑War body could not endure such terrifying throwing force.

He turned into a golden flash that was blasted out of the Strange Palace.

However, Wu Gang still felt a bit relieved…

Relieved that after his misjudgment he was only expelled…

And not strangled to death by that Temple‑Guard Cursed Corpse King!

"Amitabha..."

"Our Buddha is merciful."

…

…

Clack clack—!

Thunder rolled, and lightning flashed like a wandering snake!

Lead‑colored clouds piled high in the sky, with sudden bursts of electric light resembling a deep‑blue electric dragon that occasionally thrust its head from the black clouds, snarling across the heavens!

The reflected brilliance was dazzlingly radiant!

The snow on Divine Eagle Ridge ceased, but a thick fog rose, as dense as the vapor that rose from the evaporated waters of the Great River of Heaven and Earth flowing through Dry Origin Dao City.

It also resembled the strange mist of the Strange Palace boiling up, engulfing seething divinity, surging from another world as if to engulf the present realm.

Like an interaction between two worlds!

Six‑Ear Prison Lotus Divine Monkey Two‑Heart Great Sage Guiyi Miao.

On the outer perimeter, many strong cultivators, about a hundred zhang from Guiyi Miao, had their carriages parked, each sitting upright inside the carriage.

They lifted their heads in anticipation, gazing at the Strange Gate of Guiyi Miao shrouded by eerie mist, hoping to see clearly how the many strong cultivators entered the Strange Gate.

Who, after all, has obtained that Heart‑following Golden‑Iron Divine Staff.

But it was impossible to see clearly; the eerie mist grew extremely dense, obscuring both sight and spirit.

"The mist is rising!"

"Such a thick eerie mist, what's happening? What occurred inside Guiyi Miao?"

"The snow has stopped, and the heavens and earth seem to show an omen; the thunder rages as if to strike down, to suppress this existence that the world cannot tolerate!"

…

Several of the strong cultivators present felt a slight tremor in their hearts, and a strange hue flickered in their eyes.

Seated in the Buddha Carriage, Divine Eagle Half‑Saint Huang Tuo squinted; his cultivation was the Divine Embryo Double‑Transformation, preventing him from stepping into Guiyi Miao.

Therefore he could only send Wu Gang forward; in fact, Huang Tuo had great confidence in Wu Gang.

After all, Wu Gang practiced the Vajra Arhat Body‑Refining Method of Little Lingyin Temple; his flesh was immensely strong, and being of the same origin as the Two‑Heart Great Sage who also came from the Buddhist sect, his prospects were naturally greater.

However, despite such reasoning, what exactly transpired inside the Strange Gate could only be guessed by him.

Just by observing this omen, it seemed that the temple deity of Guiyi Miao had revived.

Divine Weapon… it seems it will also choose its destined wielder soon.

From afar, the wandering guests who had come to watch the excitement found their bodies involuntarily trembling.

After all, they were somewhat worried that this Two‑Heart Great Sage Guiyi Miao might again spark a riot.

Inside the carriage.

Lu Taibai's silver hair fluttered as he drank the milk tea he had prepared for Xixi.

He glanced at the sky, then at the thickening eerie mist, and said nonchalantly, "The temple deity has awakened."

"It should have already entered the testing phase."

"Testing who can obtain the approval of the Heart‑following Golden‑Iron Divine Staff…"

Lu Taibai said.

Inside the carriage, Xixi cupped the steaming milk tea with both hands, her mouth surrounded by foam.

Xixi blinked, "Does that mean the result will come out soon?"

"I wonder if dad will be able to obtain the Divine Weapon…"

Xixi still hoped dearly that dad would obtain the Divine Weapon, even though many times she felt rebellious, wanting to suppress the dad who constantly spanked her.

But sometimes, Xixi was also very filial.

For example now, Xixi wishes that dad could suppress everyone.

After all, he is the father of Xixi the Great Emperor!

Lu Taibai shook his head; although he had created conditions and opportunities for Li Che, whether he could truly obtain this chance remained uncertain.

Fate like this, if it's not yours, it ultimately isn't yours.

Even if you forcefully obtain it, it will eventually flow away like water.

As for what exactly happened inside, Lu Taibai was also unsure; all he could do was uphold the rule he had set.

Whoever dares to breach the Strange Gate shall be beheaded.

Suddenly.

Lu Taibai's silver eyebrows twitched as he lifted the curtain, looking toward the swirling eerie mist.

Xixi sensed movement in the Strange Gate, thought it was related to dad, hurriedly got up, and tiptoed to the carriage window to peer out.

The eerie mist was torn apart.

A towering figure spun out at high speed.

Massive as a treasure mountain, its whole body gilded, each trembling sinew roared like an angry dragon, an extremely terrifying Saint of War's aura sweeping over everything.

Wu Gang slammed onto the ground; his body, scorching like a hot iron, instantly melted the snow beneath, creating a huge pit.

"The Buddha says... it's false, everything is false."

Wu Gang staggered out of the deep pit, his face full of bewilderment.

Above the Buddha Carriage.

The venerable Huang Tuo's expression changed slightly in an instant.

"Wu Gang?!"

"Wu Gang—!"

His tongue cracked like spring thunder, and a burst of Sanskrit-like sound exploded at Wu Gang's ears, finally waking him.

His whole body trembled incessantly.

Wu Gang, tears streaming down his face, looked at Huang Tuo, pressed his palms together, lifted his tattered monk robe, and knelt on the ground.

"Master, Wu Gang... cannot discern, truly cannot discern..."

"Who is truly real, who is false? Is everything false, or perhaps everything true..."

"My Buddha... has gone blind."

Huang Tuo was instantly speechless, feeling that at this moment Wu Gang seemed to be on the brink of a demonic deviation.

His heart involuntarily trembled; he knew clearly that Wu Gang had implanted a Buddhist Kanhua Eye…

With a Kanhua Eye, how could one still be unable to discern?!

Huang Tuo's form instantly floated out, stepping forward as if lotus blossoms rose beneath his feet, reaching Wu Gang's side; he raised his hand, and Buddha light showered onto Wu Gang.

It allowed the wildly fluctuating spirit of Wu Gang to gradually calm down.

Speak up…… What exactly happened inside the Deceitful Gap?

Is it a matter of the Buddhist Sect or a Martial Saint matter of the Martial Dao?

We need to list each distinct name that appears: characters, places, sects, ranks, techniques, items, beasts, realms.

Let's go through lines and extract.

I'll create a set.

Characters:

I said that the Divine Seed matters are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

Beasts: none explicit.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

Now we need to produce glossary list after translations. Use the exact English forms we used in translation. So we need to decide on translations for each term and ensure we use those forms in the glossary.

Let's go line by line and produce translations, using our decided translations.

We'll need to be careful to not add extra words.

Let's start.

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

Translation: "Speak up…… What exactly happened inside the Deceitful Gap?"

I said that the Buddhist Sect's affairs are known only to me.

Huang Tuo, with kind eyebrows and gentle eyes, gently stroked Wu Gang's bald head and asked softly.

……

……

Wu Gang……

Failed!

The Martial Saint of Xiaolingyin Temple, a Buddhist Vajra Martial Saint who had cultivated the divine lineage that can self‑elevate into the Great Mighty Celestial Dragon and the Buddhist sect's Kanxu Eye, thereby transforming into a Divine True Warrior, actually… failed!

The Martial Path Martial Saint, in the Buddhist sect… also called Vajra.

The realms are divided the same way as for the Martial Saint; in fact the cultivation is identical, only the terminology changes in the Buddhist land.

The Martial Saint's Four Openings: opening the Human Pill, the Qi Sea, the Mountain Path, and the Heavenly Gate…

In the Buddhist land they are renamed: Buddhist Pill, Suffering Sea, Spirit Mountain, and Buddhist Gate.

In fact, it is merely the same Martial Path cultivation.

However, it cannot be denied that Wu Gang has cultivated top‑tier divine‑lineage martial arts from both schools, so his strength is undoubtedly immense.

Especially that Buddhist sect's Kanxu Eye—extremely terrifying!

Nevertheless…

Still failed!

"How could we misjudge already at the first trial?"

Everyone was a little stunned, even Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia and the others were utterly bewildered.

The next moment, each person's expression changed slightly.

The destiny test of this divine weapon, compared to what they imagined…

is even harder!

"I won't believe it, I'll go!"

The Dragon Son Ao Lie, wearing a star‑sign mask, gave a cold smile.

The black robe fluttered; Ao Lie also ascended the mountain path step by step, three hundred steps.

Then, just like Wu Gang, he saw, under the ancient pine, two upright and honest Li Che sitting cross‑legged.

Ao Lie's violet pupils flickered—Dragon‑God violet pupils!

The Dragon‑God bloodline within him surged, as if communicating with the Dragon‑God's power, forming a unique celestial‑human resonance, attempting to discern the true and false bodies of Li Che…

In the dimness, within Ao Lie's mirror‑like violet pupils, it seemed a dragon head tilted slightly to the left.

Ao Lie, without hesitation, struck.

But he had not yet acted.

The upright Li Che spread his hands, exploding into a black mist…

"Fake?"

For a moment, Ao Lie's heart faltered, his eyes showing panic and bewilderment.

Boom—!

The Buddha light transformed into a massive sky‑covering palm, slapping down.

At the three‑hundredth step of the Flower‑Fruit Mountain path.

Ao Lie also vanished, being expelled outward.

On the great plain.

A silence fell, only the rustle of leaves stirred by the spring breeze and the incessant cries of monkeys on both sides remained.

"How could it be like this?!"

Xuan Yin, the divine fetus of the Xuanfu Divine Sect, slightly furrowed his dark eyebrows.

Then, her white dress fluttered as she ascended the path; she produced a Broken Delusion Divine Talisman, which was a fifth‑rank mid‑level talisman.

The first opponent she judged for truth or falsehood was also Li Che.

The talisman had not yet burned out when a gigantic hand formed of Buddha light thundered down.

Bang bang bang—!

The Buddha hand kept falling.

The entire Flower‑Fruit Mountain trembled incessantly.

One after another, strong cultivators were eliminated and, in bewilderment and amazement, were expelled from the strange palace.

Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia, and Ding Zi were completely numb; this situation…

is truly…

Unexpected.

"Is it… Elder Li Che… poisonous?"

"Why did those who chose Elder Li Che all get expelled?"

Elder Ding Zi couldn't help but speak, with a hint of startled doubt.

Li Che pressed down his divine monkey mask, and indeed… it was much as he had imagined.

The painted immortal clone of Li Che was itself a fake body, plus the counterfeit body created by the Two‑Heart Great Sage.

Whether it was Wu Gang's Kanxu Buddhist Eye, Ao Lie's Dragon‑God violet pupils, or the Broken Delusion talisman of Xuan Yin, the divine fetus of the Xuanfu Divine Sect…

All revealed the true bodies among the two Li Che.

However, their methods could not pierce the power of the Dao Fruit 【Painted Immortal】.

According to Li Che's conjecture, the Dao Fruit's power… might actually involve Dao Essence!

So, at their level, they simply cannot discern it!

As for how to break the situation…

"Perhaps, only a firm confirmation of one's choice in the heart, with the inner self unmoved by external circumstances, can one truly pass the first gate."

Li Che wore the Divine Monkey mask and smiled.

Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia, and Ding Zi, the three elders, were instantly stunned.

They looked toward Difu Shenhou.

Then they saw Difu Shenhou shake off his black robe, take a step, and land on the stone path.

"Now it's much quieter."

A faint voice drifted from the Divine Monkey's mouth.

The mountain path opened.

The Divine Monkey flaunted itself, climbed three hundred steps, and arrived before the first opponent.

Ancient pine and blue stone, two martial monks sat cross-legged.

Li Che's opponents were Wugang, Yueweizheng, and the Star Slayer Aolie, respectively.

Looking at the two martial monks who simultaneously uttered 'Amitabha Buddha'.

Li Che raised his hand and touched the 【Face of Heaven Equal】.

In an instant, the flesh between the brows opened and closed, the Star-Plucking Pupil…

Golden light swept across.

Instantly locked onto Wugang's true form.

Boom—

At the moment Wugang erupted, Li Che detonated the divine seed; a powerful heaven-man induction fell, causing the mountain winds to howl and the air currents to surge!

Below, the large flat area.

Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia, and the others were greatly shocked in their hearts!

"The Divine Monkey… broke through to Martial Saint?!"

They had previously seen Difu Shenhou; that Difu Shenhou… was absolutely not a Martial Saint!

But now, he has indeed broken through to become a Martial Saint.

When did he break through?

How could a Martial Saint's tribulation possibly have no movement at all?

Could it be that the Underworld has a means to suppress heavenly tribulation? A silent crossing of the tribulation?!

And on the stone path.

Because Wugang had already been expelled from the Ghostly Strife, after determining his true form, even without Li Che lifting a hand, Wugang's true form collapsed and vanished.

Whoosh—

The mountain wind blew past.

After three hundred steps, then another three hundred, someone finally set foot.

In the silent gaze of Gongshu Jingjun and the others.

Then they saw Difu Shenhou stepping steadily upward; the second gate's Yueweizheng and the third gate's Star Slayer Longzi Aolie could not form any obstruction.

Under the Star-Plucking Pupil, true and false… were easily judged by Li Che.

Gongshu Jingjun and the others were merely in a daze.

Then they saw the Divine Monkey appear at the summit of Flower-Fruit Mountain, beside the cliff of the waterfall that cascades down.

The Follow-Heart Gold-Iron Divine Rod was then planted right in the middle of that waterfall.

One split into three, three transformed into six, six changed into nine!

Altogether nine radiant, gilded Follow-Heart Gold-Iron Divine Rods were inserted into the waterfall.

The Two-Heart Great Sage Temple God, hovering in the air, opened and closed its eyes, and Buddha light shone behind it.

As if curious…

"What choice will the Divine Monkey make?"

Nine Follow-Heart Gold-Iron Divine Rods.

"It's too hard to choose!"

"True and false intermingled— which is real, which is fake?!"

On the large flat area, Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia, and the others had already given up choosing among the Follow-Heart Gold-Iron Divine Rods, and they looked with some regret toward Li Che's incarnation as the Painting Immortal.

"Elder Li, it's truly a pity…"

"You could carve the statue of the Two-Heart Great Sage Temple God… this precious staff, you actually have great hopes for it."

Gongshu Jingjun felt somewhat unwilling, and said.

However, Li Che glanced at Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia, and the others.

He gave a smile as warm as the spring breeze.

"They're all the same."

"How could they be the same…"

Although Difu Shenhou has a fairly good relationship with the Divine Sect, … after all, he is not a person of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

"Lord Gongshu Ridge! Look quickly!"

Suddenly, Tang Xiejia's hurried breathing echoed.

Gongshu Jingjun startled, turned his head, following Tang Xiejia's point, and looked toward the summit of the Flower-Fruit Mountain waterfall.

Then they saw…

The Divine Monkey, clad in a black robe, sat cross-legged, facing the nine Wish-Fulfilling Golden Iron Divine Rods, and clenched his fist……

A piece of ordinary wood appeared in his hand.

Then a divine carving knife appeared, and a blade flower blossomed at the Divine Monkey's fingertip.

It fell onto the wood.

He began to carve the divine eagle with a rustling sound.

His heart immersed, in the rise and fall of the knife, in the extremely familiar carving technique……

A temple deity divine eagle, its every monkey hair carved with the Two-heart Great Sage pattern, appeared in the Divine Monkey's hand.

Hummm——

The Divine Monkey held up the Two-heart Great Sage divine eagle with one hand, slowly rose to his feet, and aimed far away at the nine Wish-Fulfilling Golden Iron Divine Rods.

His other hand, fingers spread wide.

The wanton Divine Monkey, the flamboyant Divine Monkey…… did not care at this moment that carving a Half-Saint divine eagle would expose his identity.

The Divine Monkey…… had no need to worry about so much.

He even…… did not care about the exposure of his identity.

Facing truth and falsehood head-on, perhaps this is what the Wish-Fulfilling Golden Iron Divine Rod expects.

If that is the case……

"Come."

The waterfall of Flower-Fruit Mountain suddenly roared, the water burst apart, reflecting sunlight, sparkling crystal-clear!

Hummm——!

The nine treasure staffs trembled violently, emitting a sound like the quivering of bells and drums.

The next moment.

A brilliant humming resonance!

The nine treasure staffs converged into one!

From the waterfall embedded in Flower-Fruit Mountain, it shot up into the sky, countless streams of water instantly exploded, the waterfall surged upward into the high heavens, then, as if turning into a torrential downpour, it rushed down swiftly toward the mortal realm.

In the pouring downpour, countless staff shadows appeared in the air, constantly spinning.

It seemed as if, in the sky, countless flower-like staff shadows blossomed forth!

Finally, all the staff shadows returned to one.

Turning into a golden light, it fell into Li Che's palm, his fingers spread wide.

A gilded, brilliant golden needle……

Just hovering in the center of his palm.

Wish-Fulfilling Golden Iron Divine Rod!

The divine weapon has a spirit!

It chooses its own master!

On the great plain, Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia, and Ding Zi, their bodies trembled incessantly.

Their eyes widened, all feeling incredulous.

Even though the divine weapon chooses its master…… it had never shocked and terrified them like this!

"This…… this……"

Gongshu Jingjun's body shuddered slightly.

Whoosh——

The waters of Flower-Fruit Mountain turned into a downpour that lashed him, yet he seemed to have lost even the consciousness to mobilize his strength to scatter these raindrops.

He turned his head to look at the painting immortal's avatar Li Che, who still retained a smile.

He also looked toward the side of the Flower-Fruit Mountain waterfall.

The Divine Monkey who had just carved the Half-Saint divine eagle……

The Underworld Divine Monkey……

It turned out to be Elder Li!!