Chapter 330: with translation of the chapter title, then ===GLOSSARY=== with list of named entities appearing in these lines

332. Chapter 327 Pure Martial Path Severed, Above Martial Saint, Title Dragon King Dog Son Tooth Sacrifice 【Seek Monthly Ticket】

Using martial arts to enter the Dao?!

Fang Hanshu's eyes narrowed, staring at the young man in dark robes walking through the wind and snow.

In his eyes, it seemed as if a white river flowed, stimulated into surging waves!

Fang Hanshu is well-read, his knowledge vast; as the Grand Elder of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, he also oversees the library, essentially making all the sect's books accessible to him.

Over these years in the Qianyuan Divine Sect, he has read far too many books, among which are not lacking some that study martial arts.

Since the rise of divinity and the decline of pure martial arts, wanting to enter the Dao purely through martial arts, without mixing in divinity, has become extremely rare.

Fang Hanshu's brow furrowed slightly; looking again, he discovered that the furnace Li Che bore on his back seemed to have vanished, impossible for him to capture, as if what he had just seen… was merely an illusion.

"Dad!"

Xixi was wrinkling her face, pursing her expression as she recited the lessons assigned by Fang Hanshu.

Li Che walked from the wind and snow; Xixi immediately sensed it, lifted her head to look over, and instantly her features relaxed with joy, she broke into a brilliant smile!

She tossed aside her books, leapt up from the bamboo chair, sparks flying from her feet as two golden light wheels began to spin rapidly, her whole body turning into a streak of extreme speed that flew over.

In the blink of an eye, Xixi crashed into Li Che's embrace.

However, the moment Xixi plunged into Li Che's arms, she was tightly held; despite the momentum from her rapid descent on the wind-fire golden wheels, it could not affect Li Che in the slightest, not even moving him half a step.

"Dad, what great strength!"

Xixi's heart jolted!

Looks like the situation has changed; Xixi, Great Emperor, is still not strong enough!

Li Che rubbed Xixi's head, and by the way sensed the stability of her divine visage within her Niwan inner realm.

A hint of pity flickered across his face.

Because the Dao of the Prison Lotus lurks within Xixi's body, it is like a time bomb; when her cultivation breaks through and she attempts to condense a divine fetus, it will surge forth again and detonate completely.

At that time…

But there would no longer be the clear-minded divine thought of the god of the Third Prince Temple burning itself to suppress the Prison Lotus Dao.

Thus, Li Che felt pity; Xixi, at such a young age, was actually entangled by such a terrifying danger.

Li Che harbored great anger in his heart.

This time, with the help of Gouye, he summoned gods to overthrow the Golden Heavenly Tower Guiyi Miao, barely managing to vent a breath.

But it's still not enough!

That Golden Heavenly Tower dared to use his daughter as a pawn, treating her as a tool; Li Che naturally still harbored anger.

Shendu also has another Heavenly Tower, although that tower is of the Four Emperors rank.

But Li Che…

He had completely set his sights on It; coincidentally, this trip also required him to go to Shendu, and Li Che was also heading there for that Guiyi Miao.

Sooner or later we will destroy It!

Li Che suppressed the killing intent in his heart, rubbed Xixi's head, and held her as he went into the Grand Elder's small courtyard.

"Grand Elder."

Li Che restrained his negative emotions, putting on a gentle smile.

"Elder Li, a rare guest; it's rare that you actually came to my bamboo lodge…"

Fang Hanshu stroked his beard and lightly laughed.

Fang Hanshu still felt quite favorable toward Li Che, not only because of Li Che's hidden identity, but also because Li Che is a rare Golden-winged Peng half-sage of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

As Grand Elder, Fang Hanshu had long regarded himself as a member of the sect, naturally hoping for the Qianyuan Divine Sect to grow stronger.

"It is my fault; I should have come to visit the Grand Elder earlier."

Li Che apologized with a bitter smile.

However, Fang Hanshu was just joking; the two sat under the eaves and began drinking tea.

After Li Che and Fang Hanshu chatted for a while, he was about to ask about the pure martial path.

But Fang Hanshu was the first to act, taking out an enormous jade box from the Qiankun Jade.

"Inside this jade box lies the past incarnation of the Golden-winged Peng Holy Hand, Great Master Huangmei of the Xiao Lingyin Temple; although his divinity was severed by the sect master, his Golden-winged Peng techniques, etc., still reveal a glimpse, a masterpiece of a Golden-winged Peng Holy Hand, hoping it will be useful to you, aiding your Golden-winged Peng techniques to reach a higher level."

"The sect master is in closed-door cultivation, so he had me give you this jade box."

Upon hearing that, Li Che felt no embarrassment.

"Then many thanks to the sect master and Grand Elder."

Li Che received the enormous jade box; upon opening it, he saw a statue of a Golden-winged Peng covered in sword marks, having been reassembled and repaired, although its surface was full of cracks and signs of mending, its divinity had long vanished, yet its divine intent still retained thirty to forty percent.

Li Che glanced at it, and the 【Immortal Craft】 Dao fruit in his chest twitched slightly, after which he was quite satisfied.

It was obvious that this Holy Hand Golden-winged Peng could still enhance his Golden-winged Peng techniques.

Unfortunately, it is not a complete Holy Hand Golden-winged Peng.

However, a complete Holy Hand Golden-winged Peng is extremely precious, all made by the hands of a Golden-winged Peng Holy Hand; after the Qianyuan Divine Sect lost its Golden-winged Peng Holy Hand, such statues were long exhausted.

Thus, there was no spare Holy Hand Golden-winged Peng to give Li Che for contemplation and research.

The Holy Hand Golden-winged Peng can be said to be the trump card hidden at the bottom of every divine sect and every power, an extremely precious resource.

Moreover, for cultivators who practice clone techniques, the Holy Hand Golden-winged Peng is an excellent vessel for clones, even able to retain ninety percent of the main body's strength.

For example, the past, present, and future three-life incarnation technique cultivated by Great Master Huangmei requires the Holy Hand Golden-winged Peng.

"If it helps your Golden-winged Peng techniques, that's good; if you can prove the Dao and become a Golden-winged Peng Holy Hand… that would be even more an honor for our Qianyuan Divine Sect, allowing us to be more competitive among the divine sects of the Eleven Dao of Dàjǐng."

Fang Hanshu said with a smile.

"Elder Li, what do you want to ask?"

Fang Hanshu asked.

Li Che straightened up, saying: "I have recently made a small breakthrough in martial arts, and I am quite interested in pure martial arts. Having heard that the Grand Elder is well-read, I would like to inquire about information related to pure martial arts."

Or perhaps the Elder could recommend some books on pure martial arts...

Li Che's words left Fang Hanshu slightly stunned.

Pure martial arts?

How could Elder Li suddenly want to learn about pure martial arts?

Fang Hanshu sat on the bamboo chair, took a sip of hot tea, and smiled: "Pure martial arts... have actually declined."

Nowadays, the number of pure martial artists in the world is so few you could count them on one hand.

To cultivate pure martial arts, the restrictions are too many; one must completely sever divinity, temper the body in the ancient way, nurture qi and blood, ignite the three flowers, and strengthen the essence.

Difficult, difficult, difficult...

Among the divine sects of the Qianyuan Eleven Dao, only the True Martial Divine Sect of the Tongyou Dao perhaps still preserves the tradition of pure martial arts; however, even most of the True Martial Divine Sect follow the path of using divinity to temper the body and enhance the speed of martial cultivation.

Fang Hanshu sighed and said.

The decline of pure martial arts is due to the great trend and the flood; the emergence of the Guiyi Miao has seen divinity surge like a sea, merging with heaven and earth. Pure martial artists have short lifespans, lengthy training, and even suffer hidden injuries, which cannot compare to the divine martial arts that use divinity to temper the body.

Li Che also fell silent upon hearing this.

The days of pure martial arts are indeed harder than imagined.

However, Li Che now, with the aid of the Dao Yin, faintly shows a tendency to transform toward pure martial arts.

The current pure martial physique has nearly completed almost ninety percent of refinement.

Li Che could also feel the advantages of pure martial arts: compared to divine martial arts, its foundation is more solid, its strength more robust, and its martial slaughter is more fierce!

Divine martial arts, after all, are linked to divinity, and ultimately lack a hint of iron-blooded flavor.

Fang Hanshu looked at Li Che, not knowing why he suddenly inquired about pure martial arts; after all, Li Che had cultivated martial arts but could not be a pure martial artist, given that Fang Hanshu had reviewed Li Che's records.

In fact, the current worldly environment lacks any pure martial arts inheritance, making it impossible to cultivate true pure martial arts.

Fang Hanshu stroked his handsome beard: "Of course, the greatest problem of pure martial arts... is not this."

Although pure martial arts cultivation is slow, the conditions are harsh, the difficulty extreme, and the lifespan short...

But it is not impossible to overcome and persevere; after all, there will always be some who harbor a heart full of passion.

Fang Hanshu gazed at the flying white snow and the icy snow-covered landscape, exhaled lightly: "The greatest problem of pure martial arts..."

It is that the path has been cut off.

His voice carried a hint of sigh and a tinge of regret.

As Fang Hanshu's words fell, Li Che's body shuddered violently.

Grand Elder... what do you mean by the path being cut off?

In divine cultivation, after the four divine transformations of the divine fetus, once the fetal head transforms into divinity, one can sense the Dao's essence, capture it to assault the divine tribulation.

Nowadays, in martial arts, after a Martial Sage opens the four gates and reaches the pinnacle of the martial path, upon opening the Heavenly Gate, a vast surge of divinity pours forth within; the immense divinity stored in the Heavenly Gate can help a supreme Martial Sage achieve tempering and transformation, entering the Dao through martial arts, capturing the Dao's essence, proving the Dao... becoming divine martial arts.

Of course... you may also call it a Martial God; in fact, pure martial arts has no Martial God realm—searching through the classics, the highest realm a pure martial artist can attain is merely that of a Martial Sage.

A Martial God, in fact, grasps the Dao's essence just like the divine tribulation; essentially, there is hardly any difference between them.

Both must endure the three calamities and nine tribulations provoked by grasping the Dao's essence and angering heaven and earth; however, a Martial God leans toward strengthening the flesh, while the divine tribulation excels in heavenly-earthly soul and arcane arts.

Fang Hanshu spoke at an unhurried pace, hiding nothing, and explained to Li Che the realm above Martial Sage—the Martial God.

So... the Grand Elder's saying that the path of pure martial arts is cut off is because pure martial arts' highest attainment is only the Martial Sage?

Li Che frowned and asked.

Fang Hanshu stroked his beard, chuckling lightly: "You may understand it that way, but the main reason... is that pure martial arts cannot perceive the Dao's essence."

And without the Dao's essence, how can one become a Martial God?

Li Che was slightly stunned.

Upon hearing Fang Hanshu's words, it was as if a great bell and a great drum exploded beside his ears, deafening and rumbling without cease.

Pure martial arts... cannot sense the Dao's essence?!

No...

His pure martial physique had been refined to 85%, his heaven-man sensitivity becoming ever sharper; he clearly sensed between heaven and earth... drifting strands of mist, which were...

the Dao's essence!

Why would Fang Hanshu say that pure martial arts cannot perceive the Dao's essence?

"Does pure martial arts truly fail to sense the Dao's essence?" Li Che drew a deep breath, asking doubtfully.

Fang Hanshu glanced at Li Che, seemingly puzzled as to why he was fixated on this point.

He is well-read, has a strong memory, having read so many books and earned the title of third-place laureate... could he possibly be spouting nonsense to you?

The ancient text 《Heaven's Severing Pure Martial》 of the True Martial Divine Sect contains a record; I have had the fortune to peruse it, wherein there is a clear notation, and there is also an annotation by the sect's patriarch.

Alas! Alas! Alas! The path of Heaven's Severing Pure Martial, human power cannot prevail against heaven! Pure martial arts lacks the Dao's essence—where does the path lie? Where does it lie?

This is the final testament of the True Martial Divine Sect's patriarch.

Fang Hanshu said, also revealing the origin of the ancient text.

The path of Heaven's Severing Pure Martial, human power cannot prevail against heaven...

Li Che's eyes narrowed.

Does pure martial arts truly cannot sense the Dao's essence?

Is it the True Martial Divine Sect's patriarch who is at fault, or is it Li Che himself?

Or perhaps...

Is it because they...

are not pure enough?!

Fang Hanshu looked at Li Che, who seemed somewhat dazed, and said: "There are books on pure martial arts in the bamboo pavilion; go look for them yourself, so you can have a clear idea."

However, you have already cultivated the martial way; it's impossible to switch to pure martial arts… also do not rashly switch to pure martial arts.

Pure martial…… is too difficult.

Perhaps after another hundred years, the world will have no pure martial arts left; pure martial…… will completely die out.

Fang Hanshu sighed.

Li Che clasped his fists, and under Fang Hanshu's guidance, entered the library building and began to search for pure martial books to peruse.

……

……

Time turned, and in the blink of an eye a month drifted by.

Like sand slipping between fingers, unnoticed only three or two grains remained.

During this month, the entire Qianyuan Dao City actually calmed down, with little turbulence.

Mainly, during this period Qianyuan Dao City experienced too many major events, causing even minor matters to be unable to stir ripples in people's hearts.

On the other hand, at Xiao Lingyin Temple, due to the deaths of Huang Tuo and Wu Gang, plus the past incarnation of the Great Dharma Master Huang Mei being slain, a barefoot monk from Xiao Lingyin Temple actually brought a questioning letter from Huang Mei.

However, this questioning letter was shattered into pieces by a sword qi flicked from the fingertips of Lü Taibai upon leaving seclusion.

Killing Huang Tuo, Wu Gang, and slaying the past incarnation of the Great Dharma Master Huang Mei was done by the King of Assassins from the Netherworld and the Hunter God Pavilion; what does it have to do with me, Lü Taibai? What does it have to do with my Qianyuan Divine Sect?!

You are slandering, spewing blood!

Lü Taibai said coldly.

Afterward, the barefoot monk who had painstakingly walked a thousand miles on foot was entwined by Lü Taibai's flying sword, and another sword qi was sent a thousand miles away.

Lü Taibai is too familiar with dealing with those bald donkeys who love to climb onto the high horse.

As long as he lacks morality, he will not give them the chance to occupy the moral high ground and attack him.

After this little incident, Lü Taibai announced, in his capacity as sect master of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, that he would soon lead a team to Shendu to participate in the Peach Blossom Victory Assembly.

In an instant, like a boulder thrown into a lake, it caused Qianyuan Dao City to erupt in ripples.

The great clans all began selecting outstanding youngsters from their families, sending people to join the troupe, to strengthen the prestige of the Qianyuan Divine Sect's contingent, and also with the idea of going to Shendu to broaden their horizons.

At every Peach Blossom Victory Assembly, the Qianyuan Divine Sect has the various great clans of Dao City arrange their juniors to follow along.

This year is naturally no exception.

Although the quota is limited, the great clans nevertheless take pleasure in it, regarding it as a rare opportunity.

Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Snowflakes drift abundantly, a glazed world.

The Grand Elder's library bamboo pavilion.

Li Che sat quietly under the eaves reading books; he was not only perusing pure martial texts, but also scriptures concerning divine cultivation and so on.

During this month, Li Che's life became very regular.

Because the martial way's human elixir had opened eight fissures, the dao fruit feedback also ended; in a short time it is hard to break through, and Li Che is not anxious.

Having just completed the transfer of the sixth divine seed through the mysterious gate, the transfer of the seventh divine seed cannot be moved at all.

However, the Dragon-Elephant Crucible dao guide for pure martial is slowly refining Li Che's pure martial purity; yet the pace is becoming ever slower, and after a month only a 1% increase in purity was achieved.

Moreover, the divine path, the Heaven-Earth Embracing Spirit Monkey Golden Core, because the divine power of the Heavenly King Tower Temple suppressed in the earthly chessboard was drawn and swallowed by the summoning of gods, the Spirit Monkey Golden Core is only a hair's breadth away from breaking through to the divine fetus.

Both martial way and divine path are only one step away from completion; at first Li Che really felt somewhat anxious.

But some things, the more anxious one becomes, the more they affect progress.

In the regular life, Li Che also gradually calmed down.

Cultivating, reading, carving, researching the half-step supreme mechanism beast……

Everything is progressing in an orderly manner.

Closing the book in his hand, Li Che, clad in a dark robe, stretched lazily.

Before his eyes, flowing light flickered past.

……

【Name: Li Che】

【Bond: Li Nuanxi (daughter)】

【Dao Fruit: Immortal Artisan (lv5, 65%), Dragon-Elephant Golden Vajra (lv6, 0%), Immaculate Mind (LV5, 55%), Chess Sage (LV5,, 35%), Immortal in Painting (lv4, 72%), Lightning Magnetic Orbit (lv3, 60%), Dream Heaven Master (lv3, 5%)】

【Divine Ability Prototype: Immortal Artisan·Thousand Analysis Hand, Dragon-Elephant Golden Vajra·Ascend the Tower, Immaculate Mind·Seize the Divine, Chess Sage·Great Snow Avalanche, Immortal in Painting·Ink Slay, Lightning Magnetic Orbit·God Heaven, Dream Heaven Master·Dream Butterfly】

【Divine Ability: Pluck Stars, Raise Rosy Clouds, Divine Guidance, No Extremes, White Jade Capital】

【Dao Guide: Dragon-Elephant Crucible】

【Prompt: For each year the bonded one grows up safely, the Dao Tree can bear one Dao Fruit】

……

The various maturation levels of the Dao Fruits were reflected before his eyes.

Many Dao Fruits have improved to varying degrees, making Li Che's mood quite pleasant, like an honest fruit farmer, full of joy, awaiting harvest.

Although the Immortal Artisan Dao Fruit has reached lv5, its maturation increase has become slow, but with the research on the blueprint of the supreme mechanism beast provided by Tang Xiejia, the Dao Fruit's maturation is also slowly rising.

And that half-step supreme 【Double-Winged Little Yinglong King】, Li Che has even begun polishing the mechanism parts; however, compared to the Blood Yang Nine Gods Golden Vajra Ape mechanism beast, the parts are more numerous, more delicate, demanding higher material quality and higher mechanism seal standards!

And the other Dao Fruits, too, have been enhanced by various means.

For example, after Su Dao Ling became proficient in drawing the minor Heavenly Thunder Talisman, Li Che's Lightning Magnetic Orbit progress noticeably increased, and he can soon reach lv4, achieving the second transformation.

Are we preparing to set out?

Fang Hanshu sat on the bamboo chair, seeing Li Che close the book and stand up, he stroked his beautiful beard and smiled.

Li Che gently nodded, the sect master has already prepared the vessel; we too should set out.

The Lingnan Dao is quite far from Shendu, but the Dàjǐng founding emperor recruited many divine sect divine fetus great gods to dig out a grand canal running north-south, facilitating commerce and strengthening national strength.

This Grand Canal actually shortened the route from Lingnan Circuit to Shendu by quite a bit, and also made Shendu's control over the several circuits to the south tighter.

Riding the nine-story Yellow Dragon Mystic Wood great ship of Qianyuan Dao City, going north along the Grand Canal, it takes about… over half a month to reach Shendu.

Otherwise, Lingnan Circuit has many mountain roads; relying solely on flood-dragon horses to pull carts, plus bad weather, could waste a great deal of time.

Li Che clasped his fists: 'Many thanks, Elder, for the tea hospitality during your spare time from reading these days.'

Fang Hanshu stroked his beard, smiling: 'What's there to thank for? Having one more person to read together makes me happy too; reading is only meaningful when done together.'

Reading alone is rather lonely.

Li Che smiled and took his leave of Fang Hanshu.

We should strive for the Peach Blossom Assembly; the peaches can prolong life… they're not bad.

Fang Hanshu rose to his feet and stood under the eaves, saying.

By the way, Elder Li, there's one more thing…

Li Che looked over, puzzled.

You are now a Divine Eagle Half-Saint; upon reaching Shendu, you can go to the headquarters of the Imperial Observatory to be evaluated for the rank of Special Guest Officer; a First Guest Officer may not mean much, but a Special Guest Officer is different.

If you become a Special Guest Officer, even if it's just a title, you'll be considered a person of the Imperial Observatory… having that connection, relying on that title, you can have some safety guarantee in Shendu.

Li Che froze for a moment.

Special Guest Officer…

Needless to say, he really hadn't thought of that, but what Fang Hanshu said was indeed quite right.

Going to Shendu, if we could actually obtain the title of Special Guest Officer, things would indeed be much more convenient.

Without lingering further, Li Che left the Library Bamboo Pavilion.

He returned to the Elders' Courtyard in the Disciples' City.

The courtyard was very lively.

Many children gathered at the gate, chattering nonstop, sniffling, full of reluctance, wanting to see Xixi off.

? ￠o

Like Gong Yuanliang, Gongyang Yu, and others, they did not have sufficient talent, so they failed to obtain the opportunity to go to Shendu to broaden their horizons.

Each of them had red eyes, resentful of their own powerlessness, unable to follow Great Emperor Xixi on the northern campaign.

They could only regretfully bid farewell to Great Emperor Xixi, who was not stingy, generously giving each of them a hug, spreading kindness evenly.

This made those little ones' faces flush red with excitement.

When Li Che returned, he saw this scene and instantly felt unhappy.

But when Xixi saw Li Che, she cried out 'Daddy' and ran over, instantly cheering him up.

Li Che held Xixi in his arms, while Zhang Ya packed her belongings and walked out of the room.

Li Qingshan and Madame Mu also packed their belongings, intending to follow along.

With Li Che's current status, bringing a few people along is no problem.

'I plan to take you, Madame Mu, to Shendu to see the world… Speaking of which, back when we trained, we truly never went to Shendu; it's really too far, and the journey is too dangerous.'

'The Shendu of the Great Jing is called the center of the Great Jing realm, possessing a Guiyi Miao of the Three Purities rank, and with experts as numerous as trees, it is a place longed for by cultivators worldwide.'

Li Qingshan put his arm around Madame Mu's waist, his eyes glimmering slightly.

Old Chen had no intention of going to Shendu; although Xixi earnestly invited him, Old Chen still smiled and waved his hand: 'My strength is weak, so I won't go along and cause trouble… Shendu may be good, but I'll stay in the Dao City; waiting for your good news to return, I hope you father and daughter can both shine together at the Peach Blossom Assembly and bring back the peaches.'

Old Chen rubbed Xixi, who was clinging to his thigh, his eyes full of tenderness.

Looking at the little girl who once lay in swaddling clothes and still needed his protection, now grown so big, increasingly lively and clever, his heart felt very happy.

Uncle and Aunt's family also came to see Li Che and them off, of course also to see Li Chengzhou off.

Nie Yang waited outside the gate in his carriage, holding his sword, eyes closed in contemplation.

Li Chengzhou was pulled away by his parents, expressing the sorrow of parting.

We're off, little companions!

On the carriage's shaft, Xixi pressed the head of the Golden Tai Sui sitting similarly on the shaft, tiptoed, and waved goodbye to Gongyang Xiu and others in the courtyard.

All the way along the mountain base, before the Qiankun plaque in front of the sect's mountain gate.

Already gathered were several luxurious carriages.

They are the teams that the Qianyuan Divine Sect is about to dispatch to Shendu to participate in the Peach Blossom Assembly.

As soon as Xixi arrived, she saw Yun E, wearing a fox fur cloak and holding a chubby little rabbit, and the little fatty Zhou Peng always hovering beside Yun E; Zhou Peng seemed to have gained another round, his whole body looking ever more plump.

Besides them, the divine children on the Dragon Chick List will also go together.

On the Dragon Chick List, since Xixi's ascent, it has never dropped; the subsequent list goes down in order: Lü Qingxuan, Yang Yi, Yun E, Zhou Peng, Cheng Yan, Zhuo Banxiang, and other divine children.

They are all going to participate in the Dragon Chick Tournament of the Peach Blossom Assembly, needing to contend with the divine children of the other eleven Dao Sects.

Thus, Lü Qingxuan and Yang Yi's eyes brimmed with soaring fighting spirit.

Lü Taibai set up an altar under the Qiankun plaque at the sect's mountain gate, simply offered sacrifices to the ancestral master, then slipped into the carriage and lowered the curtain.

Besides Lü Taibai, the inner-door elder leading the team is Second Elder Zhao Fangzhou, with an explosive temperament, shattered strength, full of combative spirit; he is indeed the most suitable elder to lead the team.

This is not Zhao Fangzhou's first time leading a team.

The flood-dragon horses neighed, raising their hooves and striking down; wind and snow exploded, the wheel hubs roared.

The sect's procession drove into Qianyuan Dao City, heading toward the dock of the Qiankun Great River within the city.

On the dock, a nine-story Yellow Dragon Mystic Wood great ship was already moored, like a colossal creature; on its deck stood a pavilion with flying eaves and upturned corners, reaching nine stories high, with carved beams and painted pillars, exquisite and shocking!

Sect Master Yue Huanglong, wearing a crane-feather cloak, smiled as he organized and directed the workers on the dock, sending the children of the great clans arranged there onto the Yellow Dragon Mystic Wood great ship.

When the sect's convoy arrived, Yue Huanglong's eyes flashed with a hint of sharpness and wariness; over the past month, he had basically stayed in the city lord's mansion, not daring to show himself, being very vigilant, fearing that Lü Taibai would directly put on a mask and cause trouble for him.

Li Che lifted the curtain, holding Xixi as he stepped down from the carriage, his other hand pulling Zhang Ya.

'Li Half-Saint, on this journey to Shendu, along the way… please be careful, you are our Qianyuan Dao City's precious Divine Eagle Half-Saint; for Qianyuan Dao City to produce another Divine Eagle Half-Saint would be extremely difficult.'

Yue Huanglong smiled and greeted Li Che, who appeared gentle and refined, seeming harmless to humans and beasts alike.

But in reality, Li Che harbored intense killing intent toward Yue Huanglong, for this person had done nothing but inhuman deeds.

The Su family was slaughtered to the last member, and Yue Huanglong acted without hesitation, even throwing dirty water at the netherworld...

This person still has his name recorded in the Book of Life and Death.

However, Yue Huanglong's strength is extremely great; according to Li Che's judgment, he is a first-rate peak expert, though not as lofty as Lü Taibai, who stands among the supreme peaks at the Heavenly Gate Pass, he is still far from weak.

Moreover, as the lord of Qian Yuan Dao City, residing within the city grants him the support of the city's millennia-old divine grand formation, giving him many methods; Li Che did not rush to act, waiting for his own cultivation to break through.

Everyone boarded the Yellow Dragon Giant Ship; it was their first time boarding, and Xixi excitedly led a group of little companions, running from the bow to the stern and then from the stern back to the bow!

Li Che and Zhang Ya began laying out blankets in the ship's cabins; although the Yellow Dragon Giant Ship sails along the Grand Canal, they could reach Shendu in less than half a month.

But half a month is actually not short either.

"Set sail——!!!"

On the deck, the captain, whose cultivation was that of a grand master, let out a long whistle.

Instantly the sails rose, the north wind howled and blew, and the giant ship slowly left the dock, cutting through the surging waters of the Qiankun Great River, sailing forward and converging toward the direction of the Grand Canal.

On the nine-layer Yellow Dragon Mystic Wood Giant Ship, everyone gathered at the railing, looking out from a high point.

Li Qingshan accompanied Old Lady Mu as they sat in chairs, admiring the picturesque scenery.

Zhang Ya embraced Li Che's arm, resting her head on it, the corner of her mouth curling with a smile of contentment.

She wished to accompany her husband and daughter...

To tread across thousands of mountains and rivers, walking on and on.

……

……

Yue Huanglong stood on the damp wharf cliff rock, hands behind his back, wearing a crane-feather cloak; beside him was Yan Jing, Grand Marshal of the Divine Guard Army at the Qi Sea Peak.

"We have finally set out…… Unfortunately, with Lü Taibai personally leading the troops, otherwise, if the Qian Yuan Divine Sect's force were to have its bones buried in the Grand Canal's riverbed, the sect's future fortune would surely be weakened by three tenths."

"As an official in Qian Yuan Dao City, I would also be more at ease."

Yue Huanglong said with a smile.

Yan Jing's armor clattered beside him, unable to help turning his head and asking, "Your old self, how can you speak such cruel words with a smile?"

"Especially that young sect master Li Nuanxi…… this girl…… her talent is truly astonishing; at six years old she has condensed the divine visage of the Three Pure Ones realm, unbelievable, truly unbelievable."

"If she grows up, she will surely become another Lü Taibai!"

Yue Huanglong's smile gradually faded as he exhaled a turbid breath.

He looked toward Yan Jing: "Let the antelope eagle deliver the message, saying that the Qian Yuan Divine Sect's force has already set out, heading north along the Grand Canal."

"The Dragon God lineage…… a dragon son has died; that Ao Lie is a dragon son of Martial Saint level, the beloved son of the Enfeoffed Old Dragon King, the dragon god clan's titular old dragon king—this old dragon is naturally furious beyond restraint."

"It so happens that the Qian Yuan Divine Sect's force this time chose the water route; that Enfeoffed Old Dragon King…… on the water, even Lü Taibai would have a headache dealing with him."

Yue Huanglong rubbed his plump palm.

"Alright then, let's also go watch the excitement……"

"If we could pick up a leak, that would be best; the Qian Yuan Divine Sect producing a Lü Taibai is already enough pressure, and now there's also a Li Nuanxi……"

"Are we even allowed to live anymore……"

"Being an official is truly too difficult."

Yue Huanglong said to Yan Jing.

As his words fell, the crane-feather cloak fluttered, and he strode boldly toward the lord's manor.

……

……

Nine-layer Yellow Dragon Mystic Wood Giant Ship.

Flying eaves and upturned corners, the railings sway in the wind.

Li Che embraced Zhang Ya as they stood upon it, his pupils filled with countless intersecting lines like a grid of fields.

After a long while.

His gaze gradually solidified, withdrawing the silent, all-encompassing heavenly-earth chessboard that had shrouded the dock.

Looking afar, the great river surged, the river wind blew, and his black hair fluttered, striking the void.

Li Che's gaze gradually turned cold.

"Yue Huanglong still……"

"The Dragon God clan……"

"The Enfeoffed Dragon King?"

……

……

Listening Thunder Alley.

Inside the restaurant, dim yellow light glowed.

The boss sat in a chair, legs crossed, two fingers holding a cigarette, the smoke curling as it burned.

One cigarette burned out.

The boss, dressed in white whiter than snow, slowly rose and brushed off the ash clinging to his clothes.

He stretched, then the boss slowly stepped out of the restaurant.

The big black dog immediately hurried to follow.

One person, one dog; one in black, one in white.

Merging into the wind and snow.

The restaurant lit by the dim yellow-orange light instantly slowly turned transparent, gradually transparent…

Finally, it seemed as if it had never appeared.

Deep in the alley, a languid voice drifted on the wind and snow.

"Don't panic."

"Just a title, Dragon King."

"Little dog, let's go get a bite."

…