Chapter 331: with translation of chapter title, then ===GLOSSARY=== list of named entities appearing in these lines, using exact Engl

333. Chapter 328: Xixi's Dragon Marrow Jade Lotus Bone-Strengthening Soup, Three-Thousand-Year-Old Queen Mother of the West Peach【Seek Monthly Ticket】

Lead-colored clouds roiled, flying snow howled!

The great river surged, rolling up thousands of wave piles!

Snowflakes as big as hands drifted down from the cloud layers.

Within Primordial Origin Dao City, Guiyi Miao were scattered abundantly; even within the Heaven-Earth Great River, Guiyi Miao lay across it. Therefore, the flow of this great river, even in the depths of winter, had never frozen over.

The nine-story Yellow Dragon Black Wood flying eaves pavilion treasure ship broke through the river water, blasting up roaring waves!

Like a colossal beast, it pressed horizontally upon the river surface, the water parting to both sides; as the treasure ship sailed, faint invisible shockwaves spread, dividing the river flow.

The icy river water slapped and rolled up, striking together with the snowflakes drifting in midair, blasting the snowflakes into a flurry of snow powder!

Inside the treasure ship's pavilion, inside a spacious side room.

Carved wooden windows closed one by one, etched with exquisite patterns; the interlocking mortise-and-tenon roof, stacked and woven, was filled with an ancient ambience.

This room was specially prepared for Li Che, a place for him to carve wood sculptures.

Inside the room, many precious spiritual woods were laid out; these spiritual woods had been prepared by the Primordial Origin Divine Sect for Li Che to practice.

Upon learning that Li Che would head to Shendu, Gongyu Jingjun began preparations a month earlier, gathering many rare spiritual woods, intending for Li Che to hone his Divine Eagle technique along the journey, and upon reaching Shendu, to obtain that Special Guest Official position of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau.

The identity of a Special Guest Official is highly special; to become one certainly means being a half-saint-level existence in all trades and paths.

However, becoming a half-saint does not necessarily guarantee obtaining the identity of a Special Guest Official.

Each Special Guest Official is decided upon by the Chief Director and two Vice Directors of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau headquarters together.

If even one Vice Director disagrees, the quota for a Special Guest Official cannot be issued.

However, Li Che merely went to give it a try; if he could truly become a Special Guest Official, that would naturally be a good thing…

It is heard that only by becoming a Special Guest Official of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau can one qualify to apply for spiritual wood of the Four Emperors' rank!

The Imperial Astronomy Bureau and the Temple Suppression Office, as the two top powers under the Dàjǐng court, if considered separately, could at least rank among the top three Divine Sect-level forces.

After all, they are official forces, with countless resources piled up, backed by the court's endorsement, naturally not inferior.

Not mentioning the Temple Suppression Office headquarters' Chief Secretary and the Imperial Astronomy Bureau's world-renowned Chief Director of divine calculation, just the Temple Suppression Office's two other Chief Secretaries and the Imperial Astronomy Bureau's two Vice Directors are already supreme experts of the world.

Like Tie Shancai's father, who is the Second Chief Secretary of the Temple Suppression Office, just like Lü Taibai, he is a top expert on both the Divine Register and the Heavenly Gate Pass rankings!

The charcoal brazier burned quietly inside the house, its temperature rising, warm as spring.

The treasure ship had a slight sway, but the effect was not great; for a martial artist like Li Che, even on the water he could walk as if on level ground, naturally not suffering from seasickness.

Seated in the Grand Master's chair, Li Che played with the carving knife in his hand, his gaze falling upon the Divine Eagle taken from the jade box before him.

The Divine Eagle was shattered, covered in cracks, indeed the past dharma-body of the Great Dharma Master Huangmei of the Xiao Lingyin Temple.

Lü Taibai's sword qi was overly domineering, chopping this holy-hand Divine Eagle into countless pieces; after Lü Taibai took away this wood carving, he spent considerable time extracting each trace of sword qi that had corroded the wood carving from his sword intent, then reassembled them into the Divine Eagle.

This is also why Lü Taibai did not immediately let the King of Hell of the Underworld, who had gravely wounded Huangmei's past incarnation, take away this Divine Eagle.

Li Che felt no enlightenment; the carving knife spun nimbly between his fingers, with a whooshing sound as if it were slicing and shattering the air.

With a snap, Li Che suddenly gripped the carving knife.

In his eyes, a sharp gleam also arose.

「Yue Huanglong…」

By eavesdropping on the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, Li Che heard the conversation between Yue Huanglong and Yan Jing, learning that Yue Huanglong had notified the strong ones of the Divine Dragon Clan.

In fact, the Divine Dragon Clan coming to cause trouble, Li Che truly did not find it strange.

After all, the Divine Dragon Clan lost its dragon daughter and dragon son, one of whom had even married Ji Molie as a consort.

For the Divine Dragon lineage, identity is of utmost importance.

And the dragon son Ao Lie, being able to become a Martial Saint-level dragon son, is undoubtedly crucial to the Divine Dragon lineage.

Due to their innate talent and bloodline, the Divine Dragon Clan's physiques are naturally strong, yet wanting to break through to Martial Saint is no easy feat.

Just look at the dragon daughter queen consort Ao Yuxin, and you know breaking through to Martial Saint is extremely difficult.

Therefore, this dragon son Ao Lie…

To suffer such a loss and fall here, how could the Divine Dragon Clan not be heartbroken?

Therefore, when Yue Huanglong said the Divine Dragon Clan might come with a titled Old Dragon King, Li Che also felt it was only natural.

「Titled Dragon King…」

「It should be an existence comparable to the supreme peak level, and not just an ordinary second-rate peak, but rather a first-rate peak on par with Yue Huanglong and Hong Shifo. 」

Li Che leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.

「But a single titled Dragon King wouldn't be enough…… who would dare to block the treasure ship of the Primordial Origin Divine Sect? 」

「After all, the sect chief is stationed to escort……」

Li Che furrowed his brows.

Li Che always felt that Yue Huanglong was sinister and crafty, surely harboring some scheme.

Regarding the conflict between the Dàjǐng court and the Divine Sect, Li Che, during this period, had studied in front of Fang Hanshu's bamboo pavilion and had also heard his description.

The Dàjǐng court's officials dispatched as Dao Masters to each Dao City were not randomly selected; they were all specially screened by Grand Preceptor Xie Yunshen.

They upheld Grand Preceptor Xie Yunshen's will, suppressing the development of the Divine Sect, to prevent the emergence of a supreme Divine Sect like the Equal Heaven Temple of old that once dominated half the world.

Not to mention, it actually had some effect.

Not only the Primordial Origin Divine Sect; among the eleven Dao Divine Sects, except for the South Sea Purple Bamboo Grove and the Celestial Master Dao's Purple Mansion, these two rather special Divine Sects.

The other Divine Sects were all somewhat affected.

「Yue Huanglong surely has allied with other strong ones…… Hall of Hunting Gods? Corpse God Sect? Or is it Ji Molie's side? Or perhaps the Xiao Lingyin Temple? 」

Li Che furrowed his brows, tallying up the forces that bore grudges against Xixi.

Without counting, one wouldn't know; but upon careful counting, he found that the forces bearing grudges against Xixi were indeed not few.

This little girl…… really has attracted hatred.

Where is he like her father, honest and upright, and kind to others.

Li Che gently closed his eyes.

In his mind, he couldn't help recalling the dream butterfly fluttering its wings, the grand Xixi scene he had witnessed.

The next moment he opened his eyes, murderous intent rolling in his pupils.

These forces that could threaten his daughter…

All must die!

Perhaps he sensed Li Che's thoughts.

In his chest, the Dao fruits began to throb violently.

"Titled Dragon King…"

Li Che fixed his gaze.

He raised his hand and tapped his forehead.

Flesh and blood split, stretching to both sides, the star‑plucking pupils shining brilliantly!

Buzz——!!!

The celestial chessboard surged to his head in an instant, circling above the Nine‑Layer Yellow Dragon Mystic Wood Treasure Ship, then suddenly unfurled.

Rising with the wind, it surged, covering heaven and earth!

Hundreds of zhang, thousands of zhang!

Hundreds of li, thousands of li!

Li Che's eyes opened and closed, as if seated at the Tianyuan position at the very center of the chessboard.

Waiting for a head.

Dragon King.

Shendu Dao.

Dàjǐng Shendu.

The power and political center of the Dàjǐng Court.

Ruling over the earth, ice and snow cover it, yet cannot hide the Shendu's radiant brilliance that illuminates the sky.

Shendu is exceedingly prosperous, surpassing any Dao city.

Streets crisscross, long avenues paved with blue stone, extremely spacious; even in heavy snowfall, crowds surge, heads jostle, countless in number.

In a garden, white snow fell, covering the whole garden with a thick blanket of snow.

A youth cloaked in a crane mantle, handsome and graceful, with a rather large head, stood in an octagonal pavilion, hands behind his back, gazing at the roof glittering under the white snow.

He didn't know what he was thinking, what he was yearning for.

Buzz——

An elderly man in a black robe walked out of the snow, his silver hair fluttering in the wind.

"Your Highness."

Mo Lao looked at Lu Chi, whose stature had suddenly risen, gradually revealing the royal bloodline.

Lu Chi came to his senses, looked at Mo Lao, his face expressionless.

"The Qian Yuan Divine Sect's team for the Peach Banquet has set out; they should reach Shendu in about half a month."

"Li Nuanxi is among them."

Mo Lao conveyed the information he had obtained to Lu Chi.

He knew that Lu Chi had been waiting for this news.

A faint light instantly flickered in Lu Chi's previously expressionless pupils.

"Is it here?"

Lu Chi's eyes brightened, his expression melting like ice turning to water, revealing a smile.

"In half a month we'll be at Shendu… finally I can see that little girl again."

Lu Chi's eyes softened.

But soon, a look of pain resurfaced on his face.

Thinking of Xixi's words cutting off ties with him made his heart feel as if sliced by a knife.

"It's my fault… it's all my fault…"

"I wonder, do we still have a chance to be good friends?"

A trace of pain showed in Lu Chi's gaze.

He exhaled slowly.

"This vast Shendu, though it gave birth to me and raised me, here… I have no friends."

"Not a single one."

"Everyone wants my life… where could there be friends?"

Lu Chi murmured.

Mo Lao stood aside, letting out a soft sigh.

"Mo Lao, they set out by waterway, traveling upstream from the Grand Canal to Shendu, right?"

Lu Chi asked.

Mo Lao nodded: "Half a month from Lingnan Dao to Shendu can only be by water route…"

"Is it safe?"

Lu Chi looked at Mo Lao.

Mo Lao heard that, paused, hesitated for a moment, and said, "It should be safe… after all, we have the great Lu Taibai personally escorting us."

"But …"

Lu Taibai frowned, "But what?"

Mo Lao thought for a moment, clasped his fists, and said, "I have received news… the Dragon God Clan has dispatched a titled Dragon King, perhaps to avenge the dead Dragon Son."

"Also, over at Little Lingyin Temple, Grand Master Huangmei has sent a Buddha Pagoda, leading a team of Buddha Children to escort a procession to Shendu, but it's uncertain whether they will divert midway to meet the Qianyuan Divine Sect's procession."

"Furthermore… Prince Wang Ji Mo Li's side has also set out for Shendu."

Mo Lao spoke in a deep voice, recounting each point.

Lu Chi, upon hearing the report, even just the intelligence, felt a terrifying pressure rolling in like gathering black clouds.

"This Shendu Peach Banquet… looks like it will be unprecedentedly lively."

Lu Chi murmured.

Mo Lao's silver hair fluttered as he said, "This Peach Banquet is more than just a banquet. The eleven Divine Sects of Dàjǐng, aside from the Southern Sea Purple Bamboo Grove and the Celestial Master's Purple Palace, may not have their sect leaders attend, but the leaders of the other nine Divine Sects will come in person."

"To discuss the detailed plans for attacking Qitian Cheng."

"The Grand Overseer is calculating that the Guiyi Miao at Qitian Temple will revive soon… therefore, he has summoned the leaders of all Divine Sects to arrive, to clear the ten thousand demons occupying Qitian Cheng before the Guiyi Miao revives."

"And with many Divine Sect leaders personally present, they will naturally watch this Peach Banquet. After the Empress learned of it, she increased the rewards for this banquet, even presenting the Three‑Thousand‑Year Western Queen Peach as a prize…"

"Thus, this Peach Banquet, whether it's the Fledgling Dragon Contest or the Heroic Contest, will be fiercely competitive. Aside from any sect leader not wanting to lose face, the two Three‑Thousand‑Year Western Queen Peaches are also at stake…"

Mo Lao said in a deep voice.

Lu Chi inhaled deeply, his eyes involuntarily hardening.

When the strong gather, turmoil is bound to erupt.

Lu Chi has been keeping an eye on the events in Qianyuan Dao City.

"I hope it won't affect Xixi…"

Suddenly, Lu Chi looked at the hesitant Mo Lao, his brows slightly furrowing, "Mo Lao, is there any other issue?"

Mo Lao thought for a moment and said, "I have also received a piece of information, but its authenticity is uncertain."

"Speak." Lu Chi said.

Mo Lao, hearing that, did not hesitate: "The newly received news is that Lu Taibai's former direct third disciple may head to the Grand Canal and join forces with the titled Old Dragon King of the Dragon God Clan to attack the Qianyuan Divine Sect's treasure ship."

Lu Taibai's direct third disciple?

Lu Chi was stunned, then recalled.

"The sect leader's direct disciple who betrayed Lu Taibai and the Qianyuan Divine Sect?"

Mo Lao nodded, sighing.

"This person… possesses both supreme martial and divine talents, innate Saint‑Warrior roots, and the celestial purple Qi gift. Lu Taibai once treasured him, even grooming him as a future junior sect leader, but unfortunately …"

"For some reason he betrayed Lu Taibai."

"He even became mortal enemies with Lu Taibai, a blood feud of life and death …"

Lu Chi naturally did not know the reasons.

His expression only grew slightly sour.

"Since this person was once Lu Taibai's direct disciple, and given his understanding of Lu Taibai, daring to confront Lu Taibai… it's clear he believes he can handle Lu Taibai."

"This person defected to the Corpse God Cult, and this time, confronting Lu Taibai… the target is likely Li Nuanxi."

The target is Xixi?!

Just as Lu Chi was about to ask more,

In the garden, a armored guard, whose arrival time was unknown, appeared, clasped his fists and knelt.

"Your Highness, the Noble Consort has arrived."

…

…

Whooo—

Across the endless surface of the Grand Canal, waves roiled, beating the water with fine ripples!

The colossal nine‑layer Yellow Dragon Xuanwood Treasure Ship, after merging from the Qian Kun Great River into the Grand Canal, suddenly accelerated greatly.

The Grand Canal is wider than the Qian Kun Great River, allowing the Yellow Dragon Xuanwood Treasure Ship to sail even more recklessly.

Above the Grand Canal's surface, thick mist churned, resembling silky agarwood, hanging clear streams, occasionally coalescing into smoky ribbons that floated above.

The snow in the sky seemed to melt, turning into pea‑sized raindrops that tore the air with a whoosh, pouring onto the Grand Canal, the downpour's roar echoing nonstop, crackling as countless water droplets burst on the surface.

The droplets struck the deck of the Yellow Dragon Xuanwood Treasure Ship, like water splashing on a hot pan, bouncing endlessly.

Only crew members wearing conical hats and straw raincoats remained on the deck, pulling ropes and rushing about.

In the ornately carved house, the curtains fluttered gently in the wind.

Li Che sat in the chair, the hem of his ink‑colored shirt fluttering continuously.

After a long while, he exhaled a breath, then slowly opened his eyes.

"Five days have passed… why is there no change?"

"Where is the titled Old Dragon King?"

"The flowers we await have withered… "

Li Che leaned back in his chair, murmuring.

Waiting for a Dragon King, waiting in vain…

Li Che sensed the figures of Yue Huanglong and Yan Jing, who had been following along. When the treasure ship merged into the Grand Canal, Yue Huanglong and Yan Jing's forms clearly stalled for a moment, but after hesitating, they still followed.

They seemed also to be waiting for the Dragon King, wanting to watch some excitement.

As a result……

All the ships had sailed into the Grand Canal, yet the Dragon King had not shown up.

They and Li Che seemed to have been stood up by the Old Dragon King.

Even Li Che felt something strange.

"This Old Dragon King……could he be brewing something big?"

Li Che's expression became extremely solemn.

The Heaven-Earth Chessboard continued to expand, maintaining a range of a thousand li; this was the maximum extent Li Che could expand to while expending his mental energy.

Compared to before, it had indeed increased, but the consumption was also greater than before.

However, Li Che now possesses a Primordial Spirit with Fetal Breath Transformation, and his cultivation is incomparable to what it was before.

The Heaven-Earth Chessboard shot into the clouds, its net spreading, crisscrossing the fields, weaving the firmament!

It encompassed the desolate landscape of the Grand Canal's surroundings, like the scene of 'Lone Fishing on the Cold River Snow.'

Huh?!

Suddenly, Li Che narrowed his eyes, his movement pausing slightly.

He only felt that within the range sensed by the Heaven-Earth Chessboard, roughly eight hundred li north of the canal, an invisible killing intent surged forth from the board, as if a breach had been torn in the heavenly river's levee, letting heavenly waters rush out, causing the mountains, forests, insects, birds, and beasts to fall silent.

Killing intent……

Such intense killing intent?!

Li Che rose from his chair, having finished today's training; he slowly walked out of the room and arrived at the railing of the pavilion on the Yellow Dragon Profound Wood Treasure Ship.

Watching the torrential rain pour down, the winter rain covering the sky and earth made the waters of the Grand Canal roar and churn!

It seemed as if someone had deliberately altered the celestial phenomena, bringing down a torrential downpour.

Even a Divine Fetus cultivator, whose Heaven-Earth Soul is immensely powerful, would still suffer perception and influence.

The appearance of this torrential rain was intended to affect the perception and investigation of the Divine Fetus's Heaven-Earth Soul.

However, this influence on Li Che can be disregarded.

After all, Li Che uses the Heaven-Earth Chessboard for perception, not the Heaven-Earth Soul.

Under the perception of the Heaven-Earth Chessboard, the killing intent at that eight-hundred-li point could not hide at all.

The thick deathly and corpse qi almost coalesced into a deathly evil dragon coiled on the chessboard, surging and rolling over those figures.

Li Che felt the water vapor spreading over him, listening to the thunderclaps of the violent rain striking the deck.

He slowly exhaled a breath.

"Corpse God Sect……"

He sensed the terrifying yet familiar aura fed back from the Heaven-Earth Chessboard.

Li Che was all too familiar with the aura of the Corpse God Sect's evildoers.

"It's you again……"

"You truly are relentless, unafraid of slaughter!"

Li Che's voice turned utterly cold.

"The Corpse God Sect, while confronting Ji Moli……actually managed to dispatch so many strong ones to appear beside the Grand Canal."

"The Corpse God Sect could pull off such a grand move leaving Ji Province……"

Li Che narrowed his eyes.

"Pacification Rebel King Ji Moli……"

"Are you eating shit?"

Li Che even seriously suspected that Ji Moli……might be colluding with the Corpse God Sect.

Otherwise, as the Pacification Rebel King, as the most powerful prince of the Great Jing court, how could he allow the Corpse God Sect's evildoers to be so easily mobilized?

Not even a bit of pressure?

What kind of Pacification Rebel King are you?

At least, from the frequent appearances of the Corpse God Sect's evildoers, Li Che felt……

Ji Moli……

He definitely has a problem.

Leaning on the railing to watch the rain, heaven and earth were utterly silent, save for the thunderous roar of the storm.

Li Che clasped his hands behind his back, turned, and left.

He arrived at the pavilion hall.

Inside the hall, it was very lively; because the deck had been drenched by rain, the children could only gather in the pavilion hall to play.

Li Che immediately spotted Xixi, slightly startled.

Yet he saw Xixi furrowing her brows, racking her brains as she played against the similarly formidable Supervisor Hong Shifo.

You place a stone, I place a stone; the two seemed locked in an inseparable struggle.

Hong Shifo did not remain at the Dao City Astral Observatory; he also followed the troupe onward to Shendu.

And ever since Hong Shifo played a game of five-in-a-row with Xixi, enduring an evenly matched battle, he has never forgotten, coming each day to seek Xixi for a game.

"Father!"

With her head tilted, Xixi, racking her brains, saw Li Che, her eyes instantly lighting up; she hurriedly stood and waved, her little belly inadvertently overturning the board, scattering the pieces across the floor.

"Oh no, the board's overturned; Xixi the Great Emperor was about to win, what a pity, let's start over, start over."

Xixi exclaimed in dismay, her face full of regret.

Hong Shifo's beard trembled with anger as he pointed at Xixi, his fingers fluttering up and down.

His 'Four-in-a-Row Kill' and his 'Double Dragon Playing with Pearl'—both ruined, both ruined!

This little girl……

Sure enough, he and Hong Shifo are evenly matched at chess!

Even the posture of flipping the chessboard is so similar!

However, Hong Shifo truly felt the stifling emotion of others playing chess against him.

Li Che's lips curled, he walked over and ruffled Xixi's head.

"Don't bully Inspector Hong, that's enough."

Li Che said with a smile.

Xixi instantly grinned, beaming, hands on hips: "Oh! Got it."

Hong Shifo immediately blew his beard and glared: "Li Che, what nonsense are you spouting? How could I possibly be bullied by this little brat!"

"Come on! Little girl, let's fight another three hundred rounds! Whoever loses gets no dinner tonight!"

Hong Shifo shouted, calling Xixi to start another game of five-in-a-row.

"Hmph! Come if you dare, Xixi the Great Emperor will surely kill you leaving no armor!"

Xixi's fighting spirit was also high.

Li Che reached out and ruffled Xixi's head.

In his chest, the Chess Saint Dao Fruit trembled slightly; the next moment, it seemed a warm current surged into Xixi's body.

The Chess Saint Dao Fruit, since it's called Chess Saint……

Of course it couldn't possibly have only the effect of Gao De Chess Saint.

Li Che gave a meaningful smile, pitifully glanced at Hong Shifo, then headed toward Lü Taibai's house.

And after Li Che left.

Xixi, her fighting spirit high, began another game against Hong Shifo.

And her chubby little hand reached into the chess box; the original chicken-claw grip shifted slightly……

Her index finger and thumb automatically and elegantly picked up a piece, swept horizontally before her eyes, then with a pat sound, it landed steadily with a clink at the center, momentum like the heavens tilting!

Xixi's eyes lit up, here it comes! This is that swollen feeling……

Oh, my hands have a mind of their own!

Hong Shifo's face sank solemnly; he, battle-hardened.

He instantly felt a pressure like mountains pressing down.

He looked at the pieces in the box, as if they were slightly jumping!

Facing Xixi this little girl……

Actually felt like facing the current national chess master, a Chess Saint?!

Oh, damn it!

Li Che saw Lü Taibai polishing his Taibai Sword.

It seems Lü Taibai also knows that this treasure ship's voyage on the Grand Canal is not safe, so he's already polishing his treasure sword, waiting to draw it.

"This time… the Taibai Sword will likely have to be soaked in blood."

Lü Taibai lowered his head, focusing on polishing, not looking at Li Che, yet he spoke, these words clearly meant for Li Che.

"The Underworld sent word… eight hundred li out, there are Corpse God Sect evildoers waiting, their formation not weak; according to the density of deathly and corpse qi… it's stronger than the Corpse God Sect forces previously hidden in the Corpse God Realm outside Condor Ridge."

Li Che said in a deep voice.

In front of Lü Taibai, Li Che basically stopped pretending.

Lü Taibai raised his head, his eyes flickering faintly: "Eight hundred li out?"

At such a distance, can the Underworld clearly detect it?

Even Lü Taibai couldn't help but sigh; the Underworld's grasp of information is simply top-tier among all powers.

The Corpse God Sect's move is surely lurking, lying in wait for a fatal strike.

Yet, the Corpse God Sect's ambushes are all seen through by the Underworld.

"It seems there is a corpse god……"

Li Che pondered, sensing the terrifying, mighty death and corpse qi beyond the eight hundred mountains and rivers on the heavenly earth chessboard, and said solemnly.

"Corpse god?"

Lü Taibai slightly narrowed his eyes.

"Furthermore……"

Lü Taibai's motion of polishing the Taibai Sword paused.

"Furthermore, I also learned that the Dragon God lineage sent a titled Old Dragon King, but for some unknown reason, this old dragon king has yet to appear."

"Also, three hundred li out, there are two figures following our treasure ship, Sect Leader… you should be able to guess who they are, right?"

Lü Taibai gripped the sword hilt, a hum rang as the long sword turned, and a strange color flashed in his eyes.

"The Dragon God clan's titled Dragon King came for Ao Yu's heart or the deceased Dragon Prince Ao Lie…… The Dragon God clan shouldn't be so clueless about gains and losses; the Dragon God clan is already waning, yet they'd still send a titled Dragon King for a mere dragon prince?"

Lü Taibai narrowed his eyes.

"It should be Ji Molie's arrangement…… The Dragon God clan is allied by marriage with Ji Molie; many things follow Ji Molie's arrangements."

"It seems those few old dragons of the Dragon God clan are also betting the clan's future on Ji Molie."

Lü Taibai gave a cold laugh.

Li Che blinked, not quite understanding what Lü Taibai meant by 'betting'.

It seems there are still some inner details he doesn't know about.

Lu Taibai sheathed his sword, his white clothes outshone the snow, his silver hair fluttered.

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His silver eyebrows also lifted slightly, he looked at Li Che and smiled: "If it were the old days, Ji Moli would have killed a son and already seized his peerless umbrella gun to storm Qian Yuan Dao City…"

"But now, having lost a son, he still makes no move at all, swallowing his anger."

"One can only say that Ji Moli… has grand ambitions."

Lu Taibai stood up, paced to Li Che's side, and together they walked to the railing, watching the relentless rain hammer down.

He gently closed his eyes; the Taibai Sword hidden within Lu Taibai's wide robe quivered slightly, emitting a sharp sword chant.

"In this rain."

"There's a scent of blood…"

"My sword is excited."

Lu Taibai opened his eyes, sword light raging and swirling in his pupils.

Li Che stared in astonishment; he truly hadn't smelled any blood.

"This is… the smell of dragon blood…"

Lu Taibai exhaled.

"The titled Old Dragon King of the Dragon God Clan… should be on the move."

Li Che heard this, his eyes flickered briefly.

He seemed…

to have guessed something.

Back then, traveling from Golden Light Mansion City to Qian Yuan Dao City…

Li Che also seemed to have heard that strong members of the Dragon God Clan were preparing to ambush them midway.

In the end, they released the pigeons of the Corpse God Sect and the Hunting God Pavilion.

Originally, Li Che thought those Dragon God Clan strongmen had a change of heart.

Now it seems…

Turns out they all turned into dog poop.

Li Che's mouth twitched…

So the dragon blood wine he drank at the restaurant back then…

came from this?!

His mind sank into the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

He drove the Heaven and Earth Chessboard to its limit.

If the boss and the dog make a move, the Heaven and Earth Chessboard wouldn't perceive it, yet that's normal; he must switch methods.

He initiated a gradual sweeping probe.

Finally…

Li Che, on the canal surface five hundred li away, saw a vast silent crimson spreading as if blossoming from another world.

…

…

Boom—!!!

Huge waves surged endlessly, scorching qi and blood raging across the river, and the water within hundreds of zhang turned blood‑red.

A lone leaf‑shaped boat drifted solitary on the river.

The surging waves crashed, but before reaching the lone boat they calmed automatically, with no ripples at all.

On the boat's deck lay a small stool and a white robe.

The boss held a scroll, pinched tobacco from a scented pouch at his waist with bamboo tweezers, spread it evenly, rolled it into a cigarette, and tapped it lightly on the back of his hand.

"Gouzi, take it easy, don't eat all the dragon marrow; that thing can make a hearty 'Dragon Marrow Prison Lotus Strong Bone Soup' for Xixi. If you spoil the dragon marrow, you won't get a good meal."

The boss, with the cigarette perched at his mouth ready to light it, saw in the distance a massive big black dog as huge as a mountain, brutally tearing a terrifying creature, exuding an intensely oppressive aura of dragon corpse flesh and blood.

He hurriedly shouted.

The big black dog's body was covered in patterns like flowing magma; hearing the boss's shout, it froze, lifted a paw, and scratched its own head.

Then, carefully using its paw, it snapped off the massive dragon head, and the dragon blood, pouring like a waterfall, crashed into the canal with a thunderous splash, scorching hot, hissing as it turned the canal water into white, misty waves.

Afterward, the dog's paw buzzed, launching razor‑sharp claws.

It began on the river surface, expertly scraping scales and cutting open the belly…

Suddenly.

Gouzi's movement halted.

The pitch‑black dog eyes, like dark dates, suddenly lifted, gazing toward the heavens.

It tilted its head.

Its canine teeth revealed two perfectly aligned rows…

Sharp dog teeth stained with a few strands of old dragon meat.