Chapter 344: with translation of the chapter title, then ===GLOSSARY=== with list of named entities appearing in these lines, using e

346. Chapter 340 Dao Fruit Four Transformations Dao Guide Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, Dao Accumulation Tribulation Sword Upsetting the Table Lü Taibai【Seek Monthly Ticket】

Shendu, the Fourth City.

Basically, all the divine sect cultivators who rush to the divine sect reside in the Fourth City.

The upper three cities belong to Shendu's true core area; not only are officials and nobles not allowed to reside there, but according to the relationship between the Dàjǐng court and the divine sect, divine sect cultivators would not be allowed to live in the Fourth City either.

This is an attitudinal display of posture.

However, the Fourth City is also extremely prosperous, being the area where many first-rate clans' mansions in Shendu are located; and to be able to become a first-rate clan in Shendu, at least several martial saints and divine fetus experts must be seated in the clan.

The first-rate clans of Shendu are basically not inferior to the top clans of Gan Yuan Dao City; they have developed for many years, are deeply rooted in Shendu, and their forces are intertwined.

And in the Fourth City divided among these first-rate clans, courtyards have been allotted for the divine sect's visitors to reside, yet it cannot be said to be neglectful.

Fourth City, True Martial Institute.

In the courtyard where the visitors of the True Martial Divine Sect reside.

In the spacious courtyard, the divinity on a peach branch suddenly burst apart, then the formation activated, and a black-clad shadow emerged.

Shi Ming, accompanied by the radiant shards of divinity, teleported back into the courtyard, grasped his own peach branch, slowly opened his eyes, and two streams of hot tears poured down.

He lost.

He lost to a six-year-old little girl!

He even……

He didn't even touch the corner of her clothing, yet he had clearly exerted his utmost, given his all.

But the opponent played with mechanisms……

That mechanism detonated; even his near-pure martial flesh could not withstand it, being blown to pieces.

He was still just a fourteen-year-old child……

He actually suffered such a tragic and massive blow, his mindset collapsed.

Under the eaves.

One by one, the True Martial Divine Sect experts clad in extremely heavy black iron armor looked at Shi Ming, tears streaming down his face, feeling utterly aggrieved, and could only sigh softly.

True Martial Divine Sect Sect Leader Shi Jian furrowed his brows: 'What are you crying for?!'

'If crying were useful, then the people of the thirteen border cities along the Tongyou Dao would just cry and gain endless peace; why would we need to shed blood and fight desperately?'

'Each time the barbarians of Dai Li descend south to plunder and slaughter our thirteen cities' people, would the people's crying make those barbarians retreat?!'

Shi Jian's voice was icy cold, echoing within the small courtyard.

Shi Ming's silent weeping gradually ceased, and he clenched his fists.

'You lost, but you still have a chance; this is merely a prelude, with two months left until the main event. If in these two months you can break through your shackles and reach the Grand Master level… will you still fear that little girl?'

Shi Jian said in a deep voice.

'That mechanism art… is truly miraculous; the explosive power fills divinity, the ejection speed is extremely swift, its power… likely only a Grand Master can dodge and withstand; if you can reach Grand Master level, perhaps you would have a fighting chance, the strength to challenge that girl.'

'If I am not mistaken, that girl… should be the last personal disciple of the Sect Master of the Gan Yuan Divine Sect, Lü Taibai; although she is six years old, … she must not be underestimated.'

'You are merely the third on our True Martial Divine Sect's Young Dragon Register; you lost, what is there to cry about? Cry again, and get lost back to Youzhou!'

Shi Jian's words made Shi Ming completely stop crying; he clenched his five fingers, rose silently, his armor clanking, and he bowed his fist.

'Sect Leader, I understand.'

After Shi Ming finished speaking, he silently turned and left, seeking a place to cultivate bitterly.

Many True Martial Divine Sect experts looked at Shi Ming's desolate turning back, feeling somewhat reluctant.

'Sect Leader, won't you have said it too heavily?'

A figure completely covered in black armor asked in a deep voice.

'What's too heavy? If you lose, just reflect; if crying were useful, I'd have already killed my way to the capital of Dai Li! Damn it!'

True Martial Divine Sect Sect Leader Shi Jian cursed.

The others couldn't help but fall silent.

'Lü Taibai this time really took on a proper disciple… Shi Ming is not weak; although he does not cultivate pure martial arts, his physique is extremely strong; although he is only a half-step Grand Master, he can nearly contend with some Divine Gang Grand Masters……'

'Yet he couldn't even touch the girl's sleeve before being blown up……'

'In this prelude, there are no Grand Masters or Divine Yuan cultivations; meeting this girl, we'd probably all get bombarded.'

'However, this mechanism art… really has something; if we could popularize and equip it in our True Martial Divine Sect, facing Dai Li's You Wolf cavalry, we might actually have a fighting chance.'

Shi Jian's eyes flickered, and he couldn't help but develop some interest.

Among the various divine sects, the True Martial Divine Sect and the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect have the most peaceful relations with the Dàjǐng court.

Because the True Martial Divine Sect is stationed at Tongyou Dao, bordering the Dai Li royal court, it is a frontier region, often cooperating with the Dàjǐng troops garrisoned at Tongyou Dao and the Dai Li barbarian soldiers in battle.

Perhaps because they share a common enemy, their relationship is fundamentally untainted, presenting a united front outward.

As for the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect, it is located on Shendu Dao, basically belonging to the divine sect under the control of the Dàjǐng court, so relations are naturally good.

Shi Jian stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes beneath the black armor filled with vigorous qi and blood and a killing aura.

'Let's observe a bit more; if it's truly feasible… I'll go find Lü Taibai to see if we can join forces.'

'The Tang clan has declined, the development of mechanism arts has stalled; although the Gongshu clan also researches mechanisms, they are inferior to the Tang clan, and even after inheriting the Tang mechanism legacy, they mostly study mechanism beasts……'

'Mechanism beasts have great power and extremely high destructive force, but they are costly to produce; if opposed by a strong enemy one-on-one, they lose most of their usefulness… What a damn bird's use!'

'Fighting wars… still comes down to the troops!'

'If our True Martial disciples could all equip such mechanisms, we'd blast even the barbarians' eggs, let alone the barbarians themselves!'

'If there is another prelude with this little girl, notify me immediately.'

'I want to see it; I love to watch it.'

……

……

Primordial Origin Court.

Xixi opened her eyes, seized her own divine peach branch; the divine nature on the branch, originally three strands, increased to four strands.

She smacked her lips, Xixi felt somewhat unsatisfied…

Divine peach, so delicious!

Xixi still wanted to eat!

Unfortunately, only one pre-banquet can be held per day.

Sweat beaded on Xixi's forehead, she was slightly sweating, but her eyes were bright, full of spirit, opening and closing her mouth as if essence were escaping.

"Calm the qi and focus the spirit, refine the essence within the divine peach, mobilize and merge qi and blood, attempt to comprehend martial will, condense divine gang."

Lu Taibai's leisurely voice floated and echoed beside Xixi's ears.

"Good!"

Xixi, upon hearing, quickly responded, her chubby face putting on a hint of seriousness as she sat cross-legged.

She indeed felt the feedback from having swallowed a divine peach!

Boom—!!

It sounded like a great river's waves, that being the sound of Xixi's qi and blood being circulated.

Lu Taibai's figure almost instantly appeared beside Xixi, raising his hand, a thread of sword qi guiding, drawing upon Xixi's internal qi and blood.

Xixi's left hand, right hand, and both legs began to burst forth with brilliant light.

Gleaming light surged forth, the divine weapon's divine nature drawn out, continually washing over Xixi's flesh, neutralizing and offsetting the divine peach's power.

"The effect is rather good…"

A flash of astonishment appeared in Lu Taibai's eyes.

Perhaps Xixi truly has a chance to break through to the Grand Master realm before the main banquet begins!

A six-year-old Grand Master!

Exaggerated!

Just as Xixi was cultivating, Lu Taibai suddenly turned his gaze to the trembling divine peach branches.

Yet he saw the divine nature on the divine peach branches bursting open one after another.

Thereafter, one after another, the pale-faced disciples of the Primordial Origin Divine Sect returned via transmission.

Their faces were pale, their eyes still carrying a sense of loss and self-reproach.

"Sect Master… I… I lost…"

The second-ranked Dragon Cadet, Lu Qingxuan, struggled to rise from the ground, his expression forlorn.

"I encountered a divine prodigy of the Ji family of the Myriad Ancient Clan, and I could not win…"

Lu Qingxuan felt great self-reproach; this represented the Divine Sect's first battle in the pre-banquet, and he lost.

Lu Taibai furrowed his brows slightly, patted Lu Qingxuan's shoulder: "It's fine, there's still a chance…"

Afterward he looked at the other disciples of the Divine Sect who had awakened, some dazed, some lost.

Each one's mood was deeply low and forlorn.

Yang Yi's body trembled, clutching his fists, like Lu Qingxuan, lost and dispirited.

"Also lost?"

Lu Taibai asked calmly.

Yang Yi gritted his teeth, nodded: "Sorry… Sect Master, I have brought shame upon the Primordial Origin Divine Sect."

"It's not your fault."

Lu Taibai shook his head.

As the disciples of the Primordial Origin Divine Sect returned one by one, each face filled with loss.

Not only the Primordial Origin Divine Sect, but the aristocratic youth of the Primordial Origin Dao City were likewise.

Almost uniformly defeated, even Zhou Peng and Yun E were no exception.

"I won." Jin Taishui opened his eyes, speaking calmly.

Lu Taibai glanced at Jin Taishui; Jin Taishui originally came from Wu Shen Mountain, though now counted as a Divine Sect disciple, but perhaps others do not see him that way.

Moreover, Xixi's first battle happened to be against a tough opponent from the True Martial Divine Sect.

That Shi Mingzhen is not weak; his cultivation is the True Martial evolved from the True Martial Divine Sect's Sect Master Shi Jian combined with pure martial, his combat power extremely formidable.

If not for Xixi directly detonating a mechanism with her own hand, she might not have won so easily.

Logically, the opponents in the Dragon Cadet pre-banquet are matched randomly; among the many attendees, strong and weak, the divine prodigies of Shendu, Dao City, and other clans even occupy the majority.

Yet the disciples of the Primordial Origin Divine Sect, by coincidence, all encountered the Divine Sect and Myriad Ancient Clan's Dragon Cadets in the first banquet.

"We've been targeted…"

Lu Taibai's expression turned cold and stern.

The pre-banquet differs from the main banquet; it draws opponents randomly via the Queen Mother of the West's divine nature contained in the divine peach branch……

Though said to be random, there is actually a pattern to follow.

Within the same time frame, stimulating divine nature and preparing to attend the banquet, one will be selected from among those divine prodigies of the same time.

For example, Xixi stimulating the divine peach branch to attend the banquet; at the same time, the Dragon Cadets on other Divine Sects' Dragon Cadet registers will also simultaneously stimulate the divine peach branch.

Thus, a strong-strong matchup may occur.

This can also be understood as so-called sniping.

Zhao Fangzhou also walked over, his expression solemn: "Sect Master, could this situation… be related to the Empress?"

Lu Taibai's eyes flickered: "Perhaps, perhaps the Empress allied with several major Divine Sects and the Myriad Ancient Clan, plus first-rate clans, seeking to wipe out our Primordial Origin Divine Sect, or rather the disciples of the Primordial Origin Dao City."

"Why?" Zhao Fangzhou furrowed his brows.

"It's probably because of that Following Heart Gold Iron Divine Staff..." Lü Taibai snorted with laughter.

"Although I said that the Following Heart Gold Iron Divine Staff was taken by the Underworld Divine Monkey, they might not believe it; they might even think the Underworld is something our Qianyuan put out to confuse the senses..."

"The Following Heart Gold Iron Divine Staff is related to the Heaven Equal Temple..."

"It's not just the imperial court worrying about the reappearance of a Heaven Equal Temple in the world; other divine sects... are also worried."

"One sect strong and all sects weak... they also don't wish to see this situation."

"So... this counts as a warning."

Lü Taibai stretched his body, a fierce hue flashing in his eyes.

"You watch these little ones; I'll go find those guys to talk... see who's joined forces, wanting to wipe us out. Before I return, don't let any of the little ones besides Xixi continue attending the feast."

Zhao Fangzhou heard this and nodded solemnly.

"Xixi is fine; encountering obstruction is also a good chance to give her some tempering..."

Lü Taibai glanced at the feverish Xixi and smiled.

Xixi is only one step away from striking into the Grand Master realm...

If there were more battles, for Xixi it would be excellent training; these obstruction attempts by the junior dragons of the various divine sects and clans are, for Xixi, actually excellent tempering.

After all, obstruction cuts both ways; as long as Xixi is strong enough, the so-called obstruction is just a joke, amounting to only three words...

They all must die!

The pre-feast peach branches possess three divine essences; once all three divine essences scatter, it means losing the qualification to attend the main banquet of the Junior Dragon Grand Assembly.

Thus, they also lose the right to compete for the millennium peach...

This amounts to being washed out during the pre-feast stage.

"This kind of disgusting yin plot is most likely devised by the Lesser Spirit Sound Temple..."

"The Empress is preparing the Peach Blossom Assembly; she should now be deep within the Queen Mother of the West Guiyi Miao... thus the likelihood of them actively targeting our Qianyuan Sect is low; even if they act, it should be the National Preceptor Xie Yunshen..."

"Earlier, Gu Changqing made a move... perhaps it was also arranged by Xie Yunshen..."

"Most likely the National Preceptor provided some information assistance about when Xixi and they would attend the feast."

"As for the Lesser Spirit Sound Temple... could it be because of Huang Tuo's death? Or perhaps Huang Mei, that old bald donkey, seeking revenge for his past self that was cut down?"

"Hah, whatever..."

Lü Taibai's silver hair flew up, his eyes cold and ruthless; with a light tap of his foot, his whole body shot into the sky.

With a booming roar, countless sword lights blossomed brilliantly in the high heavens.

Li Che did not know what had happened in the courtyard.

At this moment, he sat cross-legged inside the house, entering a state of profound and mysterious transformation!

Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit...

Four Transformations!

Dong dong dong—

The beating in his chest was truly too violent, as if an ancient deity were fiercely striking the divine drum of the celestial court, whose skin is made of divine beasts.

Each strike sent forth invisible rippling waves, spreading throughout his body, filling every part.

His jet-black, vigorous hair continually flew and danced, while Li Che's eyes burst forth with an extreme, brilliant white.

The white condensed into thick mist, slowly coiling and drifting downward.

Li Che only felt that at this moment, his spirit had become powerful to a transcendent degree.

The glow at his brow's cinnabar field surged forth, presenting a pure white luster.

Like flowing water, smooth and supple, yet also like a mountain stream, it trickled down from the cinnabar field, winding around his body.

"Hu—"

"Xi—"

One exhale, one inhale—heaven and earth suddenly fell silent!

All sounds seemed to vanish completely at this moment; by the ears, only the sound of divine essence surging like a river remained within the inner vision of the cinnabar field.

"It's here."

Li Che opened his mouth and exhaled a thick, mist-like airflow.

Then, his heart and mind shuddered violently, pulled by a terrifying force, the world spun, and the scene abruptly changed!

He entered the vast heavens, gazing upon the towering Dao Tree that spans the firmament.

"Dao Tree space..."

Li Che's mind is now much calmer, after all, he's no longer a greenhorn entering this space for the first time.

The Dao Tree spans heaven and earth, its cloud layers pierced and spreading, branches lush and leaves lustrous glass, glittering with rippling light!

Li Che's gaze instantly fell upon the Dao Fruits hanging upon the Dao Tree.

Seven-colored Dao Fruits, each seeming to sway in the wind.

【Immaculate Heart】 Dao Fruit hung, heavy and substantial, swaying with the sound of water colliding, gurgling incessantly.

Between heaven and earth, a fierce wind suddenly rose!

Space itself seemed to ripple, as if time were trembling, the undulations spreading onto the Dao Fruits, causing each to sway without cease.

Seven-colored glass, magnificently splendid!

The Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit, buffeted by the undulating wind and waves, had its outer skin scraped off; the seven-colored glass skin fell away...

Slowly, in the suspended air, it underwent myriad changes, constantly being kneaded like dough.

Finally...

Li Che's pupils contracted slightly.

He discovered that the fruit peel seemed to have been kneaded into a……heart!

Correct!

It's a heart!

Like a real heart, exquisite and translucent, bursting with myriad rays of light, seven-colored glazed!

Just a glance and it seemed the heart completely attracted one's mind and spirit.

The heart hovered in midair, radiant light continuously erupting from within the heart.

It seemed as if countless ancient and mysterious scriptures emerged from the heart's surface, densely intertwined, as if inscribing many divine patterns upon the heart!

When the divine patterns were finished being engraved.

Then this heart began to beat!

Each beat seemed to cause space to ripple and time to shudder!

Boom——!!!

Everything shattered into pieces.

Li Che only felt his consciousness shattered, exiting the Dao Tree Space.

Expansion!

Dizziness!

The world spun!

Li Che only felt his mind as if about to burst from being stretched, everything spinning, all things dizzy.

Countless majestic divinity swept in from all directions of heaven and earth, devoured by greed and madness.

Li Che, clutching that Four Sovereign Upper Divinity Crystal in his hand, absorbed only a bit, completing the accumulation of Dao Fruit maturity, causing the Dao Fruit to undergo four transformations.

But at this moment, the divinity within the Four Sovereign Upper Divinity Crystal surged out almost madly, being devoured by Li Che's Glabellar Niwan Inner Vision.

Countless divinity emanated out, wildly sweeping around his whole body, as if forming a vortex.

Within the Niwan Inner Vision.

Each and every Golden Core was submerged by the divinity, frantically throbbing and drawing it in.

And the True Ape Divine Fetus roared, gulping it down in big mouthfuls!

The dizziness lingered without fading.

Li Che endured, gazing at the white luster that appeared before him.

【Dao Fruit LV6, four transformations, Divine Ability (Divine Guide) promotion, Dao Guide (Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart)】

Boom——!!

The prompts coalesced into a vast white light that kept piling up before his eyes.

Li Che felt his soul as if undergoing transformation, as if there were an intangible heart hovering within his Niwan Inner Vision.

Highly suspended, radiant light shining!

The divinity of the Seven Emotions Six Desires Golden Core, the Lü Xuan Sword Immortal Golden Core, and the Heaven-Earth Emulating Spirit Bright True Ape Divine Fetus, all uncontrolled, were drawn out and poured into the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, where it seemed to be washed clean of impurities, becoming ever more pure and flawless, feeding back into the divine fetus and golden cores.

It was like a cleansing pump!

It was as if impurities in the divinity were expelled, like extracting the essence of medicinal ingredients from an alchemy furnace!

The vertigo began to gradually fade.

Li Che's eyes flickered slightly bright!

Dao Guide!

Indeed……

Dao Fruit four transformations, upon reaching LV6, also transformed into a Dao Guide just like the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

【Dao Guide (Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart): Dao Fruit Peel Transformation, to guide into the Dao, Seven Apertures Exquisite, Purify Divine Spirits】

Dao Guide Mantra slowly appeared before Li Che's eyes.

Li Che's eyes showed a strange hue.

The Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart can cleanse divinity, seemingly able to wash away the divine spirit will within divinity, turning it into extremely pure divinity for one's own use!

「Dragon Elephant Combined Furnace brings forth Pure Martial……」

「Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, is this meant to let me cultivate into Pure Divine? 」

In fact, the divinity within the divinity crystal is said to be pure, but actually, since it was born in the Strange Que of the Guiyi Miao, it is naturally the condensed divinity from the fallen Temple God.

Even if it is purer, it still bears the influence of the temple god's will.

Why, even with the aid of divine crystal cultivation, is the speed still slow and unable to be accelerated?

It is because, even when aided by divine crystal cultivation, in the process of the mud-pill inner vision absorbing and swallowing divinity, one must also refine away the temple god's will contained within the divinity of the divine crystal.

Therefore, the speed becomes extraordinarily slow.

Li Che previously possessed the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit; when absorbing the divinity in the divine crystal, the first absorption was extremely fast, and at that time the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit would help cleanse away the temple god's will contained in the divinity.

But thereafter, when absorbing again, the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit grew lazy and did not act, and Li Che came to rely on the mud-pill inner vision to automatically refine away the temple god's will.

So, thereafter, absorbing divine crystal would slow the speed and reduce the feedback.

And now...

It's different now!

Li Che's lips curled into a smile.

Because he received feedback from the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, he learned of an extremely important matter.

The Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart has changed his divine talent!

Li Che's current divine talent...

It even reached an extremely exaggerated and terrifying degree!

Whooo—

Inside the house, a gentle breeze blew slowly.

Li Che opened his eyes, his jet-black, vigorous strands of hair lightly floating.

The dizziness completely disappeared.

Li Che gripped a Divine Crystal in one hand and slowly raised the other; countless threads of divinity intertwined, like fine lines, slowly tracing out the shape of a heart!

Upon the heart were seven apertures.

Li Che's eyes flickered, his mind stirred.

The Niwan Inner Vision glowed!

In an instant!

Seven golden cores instantly appeared behind him!

Like seven blazing golden suns!

Li Che attempted to guide the seven golden cores onto the apertures of the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart.

However……

It was not easy; when the first Seven Emotions Golden Core was guided onto an aperture of the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart……

Li Che only felt a vast surge of divinity rushing in wildly.

Slowly cleansing and transforming this golden core, faintly, the rhythm of fetal breathing echoed; with each inhale and exhale, it seemed to be steadily progressing toward the metamorphosis into a Divine Fetus!

Once this golden core transforms into a Divine Fetus, he can then guide the second Seven Emotions Golden Core into an aperture of the Exquisite Heart, transforming it into a Divine Fetus!

With a wave of his hand, the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart returned to the Niwan Inner Vision.

Li Che lightly slapped forward with his five fingers.

Countless threads of divinity converged and intertwined, vast and mighty, and…… extremely weighty and powerful!

"My divinity…… has become purer and more refined, and its power is stronger!"

"Just as pure martial qi and blood surpass divine martial qi and blood…… refinement represents strength! Like tempered steel!"

Li Che burst into laughter, his mood instantly becoming very good.

Another Dao fruit underwent transformation.

Moreover, he obtained a Dao Guide; his current study of this Dao Guide is still superficial, allowing him to slowly develop and research it.

Of course, what made Li Che most delighted was……

"From now on, I too can be considered a heaven‑chosen talent in divinity."

Li Che burst into laughter.

Rising from a seated cross‑legged position, he spread his arms……

Boom——!!!

A terrifying roar erupted from within his physical body, like the explosive tremor of tempered steel pushed to its limit!

"Control of the physical body…… the feedback is now clearer and more distinct."

"Although his physical body is pure martial and his divinity pure divine, the soul's control over the body has become even more refined than before, reaching the level of minutiae!"

Li Che smiled broadly.

"However, relying solely on my divinity cultivation now, I fear it would be hard to match a Divine Fetus Great God……"

Li Che loosened his grip.

The Divine Crystal of the Four Emperors Upper Rank in his hand had been completely absorbed.

The crystal of that Divine Crystal was gripped by Li Che's five fingers, and his mighty, scorching qi and blood ground it into powder of the Four Emperors Upper Rank Divine Crystal.

This powder, when scattered, could even affect the divinity of Divine Fetus cultivators……

Combined with Li Che's mighty Pure Martial physique.

Li Che is confident that, if he plans well…… killing an ordinary Divine Fetus is no different from killing a chicken.

Of course, if Li Che directly detonates six Divine Seeds, unless it is a top‑tier Great God who has brought the Fetus Head to God transformation to the utmost extreme within the Four Gods Transformation, he would not be a match for him in one clash.

Feeling the faintly condensing lungs of the Spirit‑Bright True Monkey Divine Fetus, Li Che curled the corner of his mouth.

Indeed, after the talent transformation, the speed of cultivating divinity is completely different.

Heaven and earth are clear and bright; the sea is vast, letting fish leap!

Li Che stretched out his arms and gave a light smile.

Without continuing his cultivation, Li Che, refreshed and invigorated, put away the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, then walked out of the house.

He strolled into the courtyard.

However, upon arriving, his eyes involuntarily flashed a strange hue.

His expression slightly darkened.

……

……

Boom—!!

Countless swords of light swept forth in glorious brilliance, their radiance stretching ten thousand zhang!

Ravaging heaven and earth, arrogant and tyrannical!

The entire Fourth City almost instantly sensed this change.

Lü Taibai's silver hair flew, his wide sleeves whipped wildly behind him, and streaks of sword light burst forth from around his body.

A mighty heaven-and-earth soul descended with a boom, nearly enveloping the entire Fourth City.

Lü Taibai's expression was cold and ruthless, with no thought of concealing his tracks.

Boom!

In the distance.

A figure wrapped in faint golden qi and blood stepped into the void, his whole body clad in dark mystic armor clanking and ringing, explosive sounds echoing.

"Shi Jian? What? You want to stop me?"

Lü Taibai's sword qi raged as he gazed at the True Martial Divine Sect Sect Leader Shi Jian who had stepped into the void.

Shi Jian's qi and blood were immensely massive and vigorous; faintly, it seemed as if a Heavenly Gate had opened behind him.

His burly frame was faintly visible, the bulging, muscular lines beneath the armor.

"I won't stop you; I have a request for you."

Shi Jian said in a deep voice.

Lü Taibai paused, his silver eyebrows twitching; indeed a martial man, straightforward, no deceit—looking at him, this joint effort, the True Martial Divine Sect should not be involved.

Lü Taibai glanced at him, saying nothing more.

Sword light crisscrossed beneath his feet as he headed straight for a courtyard.

Shi Jian took a step, his body shooting forward, closely following.

Shendu Fourth City.

Little Spirit Sound Courtyard.

Within the courtyard, a long-browed monk clad in a gold‑trimmed vermilion robe sat upon the Buddha's palanquin.

Several chairs were arranged, with figures seated upon them.

Heavenly Elixir Divine Sect Sect Leader Gu Changqing, Seven Treasures Divine Sect Sect Leader Ning Caishen, Haoran Academy Head Bai Buyi, Ba-Shu Sword Pavilion Pavilion Master Gu Cheng, and Dragon Tiger Divine Sect Sect Leader Zhao Chunqiu.

Dàjǐng's Eleven Dao, Eleven Divine Sects—six Divine Sect Sect Leaders have gathered here.

They seemed to have been waiting all along.

Indeed, each gazed at the sword light rampaging across the sky.

In their eyes, a strange hue inevitably appeared.

They stroked their beards and laughed.

Seated cross-legged upon the Buddha's palanquin, a figure shining like gold illuminated with myriad rays, he chuckled as he lifted his head.

"Taibai patron's temper is indeed as fiery as ever… he's come, huh?"

Seated upon the Buddha's palanquin, the figure with swaying yellow long eyebrows in the wind was none other than the abbot of the Little Spirit Sound Temple, Great Dharma Master Huangmei.

When Lü Taibai's sword qi cleaved the massive air wave and crashed into the courtyard, he swept his sleeve, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the several strong ones present, the fierce light in his eyes growing ever more intense.

Behind Lü Taibai, Shi Jian in full armor landed.

Suddenly, a faint sigh sounded.

Mystic Symbol Divine Sect Sect Leader Xuan Jiuzhuan also fell behind Lü Taibai.

"Thanks, big maternal uncle."

Lü Taibai broke into a brilliant smile.

However, Mystic Symbol Divine Sect Sect Leader Xuan Jiuzhuan ignored him; he stood here supporting Lü Taibai solely because his own sister, possessed by a demon and having fled home!

"Looks like everyone's here, except the South Sea Purple Bamboo Forest and the Purple Mansion Divine Sect of the Orthodox Celestial Master Dao..."

"It's rare to gather so completely."

Lü Taibai snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over familiar faces.

Especially, he paused a moment on Huangmei and Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing, taking the form of the Heavenly Elixir Vajra Hunter King, came to take his closed‑door disciple Xixi—this grudge… Lü Taibai still remembers.

One Heavenly Elixir Vajra is nowhere near enough to atone!

Lü Taibai will surely make him pay a heavy price!

Gu Changqing gave a gentle smile, wanting to explain something, but Lü Taibai merely raised his Taibai Sword and pointed it at him; Gu Changqing's expression stiffened, then gradually sank.

"What a grand spectacle, the six great Divine Sects' top‑tier pinnacle conference have joined forces… just to wash away my Qianyuan Divine Sect's disciples? To deny my Qianyuan Divine Sect's young dragons the right to participate in this Peach Banquet?"

"Or rather… is this just the beginning?"

"Thus targeting my Qianyuan Divine Sect…"

"Do you all want to know whether that 'As‑One‑Wishes Golden Iron Divine Staff' has fallen into the hands of my Qianyuan Divine Sect?"

Lü Taibai's sword turned again, aiming at Huangmei.

Killer intent gleamed in his eyes.

Behind Lü Taibai, Xuan Jiuzhuan showed a look of helplessness, while Shi Jian's gaze hardened and finally became resolute.

Lü Taibai's aura gradually rose; he didn't care whether these people were colluding with National Preceptor Xie Yunshen, wondering what scheme they had.

Lü Taibai declared he would no longer play along with them!

What's fun about that?!

He brought his disciples all the way from Qianyuan Dao City to Shendu, just to suffer injustice?!

Lü Taibai raised his hand, touched his brow, and made a light slash!

In the center of his brow, a wisp of ultimate brilliant sword light trembled and burst forth, a terrifying aura that froze the entire courtyard stiff, raging and intertwining!

The formerly calm Huangmei, Gu Changqing, and the other strong ones saw their expressions suddenly change.

"Dao Essence Calamity Sword!"

Lü Taibai coldly swept his gaze over the six strong ones in the courtyard.

"Regardless of whether you're colluding with National Preceptor Xie Yunshen, what skill is it to target a bunch of kids, what business…"

"Come straight at me, Lü Taibai!"

"Don't let my sect's young dragons eat the Peach Banquet, then everyone… just don't eat it!"