Chapter 346: The Four Transformations of the Dao Fruit, the Seven Orifices' Exquisite Heart, and Lu Taibai Who Wields the Calamity Sw

Shendu, the Fourth City.

Basically, all cultivators of the Divine Sect who are dispatched to the Divine Sect reside in the Fourth City.

The upper three cities constitute the true core of Shendu; only high officials and nobles may live there, and according to the relationship between the Dàjǐng court and the Divine Sect, the Divine Sect's cultivators are not allowed to live in the Fourth City.

It is a display of posture and attitude.

Nevertheless, the Fourth City is extremely prosperous, housing many first‑rate noble families' mansions, and any family that attains first‑rate status in Shendu has at least several Saint of War or Divine Embryo strongmen stationed within.

First‑rate families in Shendu are generally no weaker than the top families of Qian Yuan Dao City; they have developed over many years, are deeply rooted in Shendu, and their influence is tangled and extensive.

Within the Fourth City divided among these first‑rate families, courtyards have been allocated for Divine Sect arrivals to reside, and they are not neglected.

Fourth City, Zhenwu Courtyard.

In the courtyard where Zhenwu Divine Sect arrivals dwell.

Within the spacious courtyard, the divine aura on a branch of a peach tree abruptly shattered, then a formation activated, and a black silhouette clad in black armor materialized.

Shi Ming, accompanied by the shattered divine light, teleported back into the courtyard, grasped his peach‑branch, slowly opened his eyes, and two streams of hot tears rolled down.

He was defeated.

Defeated by a six‑year‑old girl!

He even…

He didn't even touch the girl's hem, even though he had clearly given his all.

But the opponent used a mechanism…

When the mechanism detonated, even his near‑pure‑martial flesh couldn't withstand it; he was blown to pieces.

He is still only a fourteen‑year‑old boy…

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

Under the eaves.

One by one, Zhenwu Divine Sect masters clad in extremely heavy black‑iron armor looked at the tear‑filled, humiliated Shi Ming and could only sigh faintly.

Zhenwu Divine Sect leader Shi Jian frowned: "Why are you crying?!"

"If crying worked, the common folk of our Thirteen Cities on the Tongyou Path frontier could just cry and bring endless peace; why would we have to bleed and fight to death?"

"Every time the barbarians of Great Li descend south to loot and slaughter the people of our Thirteen Cities, can the common folk's cries make those barbarians retreat?!"

Shi Jian's voice was utterly cold, echoing throughout the courtyard.

Shi Ming's silent sobbing gradually ceased, and he clenched his fist.

"Defeated, you still have a chance; this is only a pre‑feast. From the pre‑feast to the main feast there are two months. In these two months, if you can break the shackles and step into Grandmaster… would you still fear that little girl?"

Shi Jian said gravely.

"That mechanism art is truly uncanny; the explosive force fills the divine aura, the blast speed is extremely fast, and its power… should only be evaded and endured by a Grandmaster. If you can reach Grandmaster level, perhaps you'll have the strength for a battle, the capability to challenge that girl."

"If my guess is correct, that girl should be the last direct disciple of Lu Taibai, the head of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect; though six years old, she must not be underestimated."

"You are only the third in our Zhenwu Divine Sect's Young Dragon Register; you lost, what's there to cry about? Cry again, and go back to Youzhou!"

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

"Master, I understand."

After speaking, Shi Ming turned away silently, seeking a place to cultivate in hardship.

Many strong members of the Zhenwu Divine Sect looked at Shi Ming's forlorn back and felt a pang of compassion.

"Master, is that too harsh?"

A figure entirely covered in black armor asked gravely.

"What's too heavy? If crying worked, I'd have already killed the king of Great Li! Damn it!"

Zhenwu Divine Sect leader Shi Jian cursed.

The others fell silent.

"Lu Taibai this time actually took a normal disciple… Shi Ming isn't weak; although his cultivation isn't pure martial, his physical body is extremely strong; though he's a half‑step Grandmaster, he can nearly contend with some divine‑steel Grandmasters…"

"Yet even the girl's hem couldn't be touched before he was blown up…"

"This pre‑feast, lacking Grandmaster and Divine Core cultivation, meeting that girl, we'd probably get blasted…"

"However, the way of mechanisms… really has something; if we could equip our Zhenwu Divine Sect with it, to face Great Li's ghost‑wolf cavalry, we'd likely all have a fighting chance."

Shi Jian's eyes flickered, and interest sparked in his mind.

Among the great sects, the Zhenwu Divine Sect and the Dragon‑Tiger Divine Sect have the most harmonious relations with the Dàjǐng court.

Because the Zhenwu Divine Sect is stationed on the Tongyou Path, adjacent to the Great Li royal court, a borderland, it often cooperates with Dàjǐng's stationed army on the Tongyou Path to clash with Great Li's barbarian troops.

Perhaps due to a common enemy, the two have an untainted, unified stance outward.

The Dragon‑Tiger Divine Sect, situated on the Shendu Road, essentially belongs to the Divine Sect under Dàjǐng court's control, so the relationship is naturally good.

Shi Jian stood with his hands behind his back; beneath his black armor, his eyes were filled with fierce blood and grim killing intent.

"Observe a while longer; if it truly works… I'll go find Lu Taibai to see if we can join forces."

"The Tang Clan has declined, the development of the way of mechanisms has stalled; although the Gongxu family also studies mechanisms, they're still inferior to the Tang Clan. Even if they inherit the Tang Clan's mechanism legacy, they mainly focus on mechanical beasts…"

"Mechanical beasts are powerful and highly destructive, but they're costly; when blocked one‑on‑one by an opponent's strongman, most of their effect is lost… what a damn waste!"

"Warfare… still depends on troops!"

"If every Zhenwu disciple could equip such mechanisms, we'd bomb even the barbarians' eggs!"

"If there's another pre‑feast with that little girl, inform me immediately."

"I want to see, I love to watch."

…

…

Qian Yuan Courtyard.

Xixi opened her eyes, grasped her own Peach Branch, and the divine nature on the branch increased from three strands to four strands.

"Mouth smash," Xixi said, still a bit unsatisfied…

Peach, so delicious!

Xixi wants more!

Unfortunately, only one pre‑feast can be held per day.

Sweat beads formed on Xixi's forehead; she was a bit sweaty, but her eyes were bright, full of spirit, and whether she opened or closed her mouth, it seemed as if vital essence were spilling out.

? ￠o

"Calm the Qi, focus the mind, refine the vital essence within the peach, mobilize and fuse Qi and blood, attempt to comprehend the martial will, and condense the Divine Gang."

Lu Taibai's leisurely voice floated and resonated in Xixi's ears.

"Alright!"

Hearing that, Xixi quickly replied, a serious expression appearing on her chubby face, and she sat cross‑legged.

She indeed felt the feedback from having a peach in her stomach!

Boom—!!

It sounded like a great river's waves; it was the sound of Xixi's internal Qi and blood being transported.

Lu Taibai's figure seemed to appear instantly beside Xixi; he raised his hand, a strand of sword qi guided, pulling Xixi's internal Qi and blood.

Xixi's left hand, right hand, and both legs began to emit brilliant radiance.

The luminous glow was vast; the divine weapon's divine nature was drawn out, continuously washing Xixi's flesh, counterbalancing the peach's power.

"The effect is a bit good…"

A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Taibai's eyes.

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

A six‑year‑old Grand Master!

Exaggerated!

While Xixi was cultivating, Lu Taibai suddenly turned his head to look at the trembling Peach Branches.

He saw the divine nature on the Peach Branches repeatedly exploding.

Then, one by one, pale‑faced disciples of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect were teleported back.

Their faces were pale, and their eyes still carried a hint of loss and self‑blame.

"Sect Leader… I… I lost…"

Lu Qingxuan, second in the Dragon Pup Chart, struggled to rise from the ground, his face wistful.

"I encountered the Ji Family's prodigy from the Wan Gu Clan, and I couldn't win…"

Lu Qingxuan felt guilty; this meant that in the first round of the pre‑feast, the Divine Sect had already lost.

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

Then he looked at the other awakened, somewhat dazed and disappointed disciples of the Divine Sect.

Each one's mood was very low and regretful.

Yang Yi's body trembled, fists clenched, like Lu Qingxuan, lost and despondent.

"Also lost?"

Lu Taibai asked calmly.

Yang Yi gritted his teeth and nodded: "Sorry… Sect Leader, I have disgraced the Qian Yuan Divine Sect."

"It's not your fault."

Lu Taibai shook his head.

As the disciples of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect each teleported back, their faces were filled with loss.

Not only the Qian Yuan Divine Sect, but also the clan youths of Qian Yuan Dao City were the same.

Almost all were defeated, even Zhou Peng and Yun E alike.

"I won." Jin Taishui opened his eyes and said calmly.

Lu Taibai glanced at Jin Taishui; Jin Taishui originally came from Wu Shen Mountain, and although now considered a disciple of the Divine Sect, others might not see it that way.

It also ties in with Xixi's first round encountering the fierce youngster of the True Martial Divine Sect.

That Shi Ming is indeed not weak; he cultivates the True Martial formed by Sect Master Shi Jian combining pure martial, making True Martial extremely powerful.

If Xixi hadn't directly bombarded with a single click, she might not have won so easily.

In theory, the opponents for the Dragon Pup pre‑feast are matched randomly, and among the many participants, there are strong and weak; the Shendu, Dao City, and other clan prodigies even occupy the majority.

And the disciples of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect, by chance, all met the Qian Yuan Divine Sect's and Wan Gu Clan's dragon pups in the first feast.

"We were targeted…"

Lu Taibai's expression grew cold.

The pre‑feast differs from the main feast; it randomly draws opponents by extracting the divine nature of the Western Queen Mother embedded in the Peach Branch…

But though called random, there is a pattern.

At the same time, stimulating divine nature and preparing for the feast will select opponents from those prodigies who are stimulating the Peach Branch at that moment.

For example, when Xixi stimulates the Peach Branch to attend the feast, simultaneously, other sects' dragon pups on the Dragon Pup Chart also stimulate their Peach Branches.

Thus, strong‑strong matches may occur.

It can also be understood as a kind of sniping.

Zhao Fangzhou also stepped forward, his face solemn: "Sect Leader, could this situation be related to the Empress?"

Lu Taibai's eyes flickered: "Perhaps, perhaps the Empress has allied several great sects, the Wan Gu Clan, and top families, aiming to wipe out our disciples of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect or, rather, the Qian Yuan Dao City."

"Why?" Zhao Fangzhou frowned.

"It's probably because of that Wish-Fulfilling Gold-Iron Divine Rod..." Lü Taibai snorted.

"Although I said that the Wish-Fulfilling Gold-Iron Divine Rod was taken by the Netherworld Divine Monkey, they might not believe it; they might think the netherworld is something our Heavenly Origin Divine Sect put out to confuse the senses..."

"The Wish-Fulfilling Gold-Iron Divine Rod is related to the Equal Heaven Temple..."

"Not only the court worries about the Equal Heaven Temple reappearing in the world, other divine sects also worry..."

"One sect strong and the others weak…… they also don't wish to see this situation."

"So…… this counts as a warning."

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

"You watch these little guys, I'll go find those fellows and chat…… see who's joining forces, wanting to wipe us out; before I return, don't let any of the little guys besides Xixi continue to attend the feast."

Zhao Fangzhou heard this and solemnly nodded.

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

Lü Taibai glanced at the overheating Xixi and smiled.

"Xixi is only one step away from being able to assault the Grand Master realm..."

"If there were more battles, for Xixi it would be excellent training; these obstructing juvenile dragons from the great divine sects and clans are, for Xixi, actually excellent tempering."

"After all, obstruction targeting…… is also double-edged; as long as Xixi's strength is sufficient, the so-called obstruction targeting is just a joke, only able to exchange for three words……"

"They all must die!"

"The pre-banquet peach branches possess three divine essences in total; once all three divine essences scatter, it means losing the qualification to attend the main banquet of the Young Dragon Triumph Assembly."

"Thus also no longer qualified to contend for the millennium peach……"

"Equivalent to being washed out during the pre-banquet stage."

"This kind of disgusting people's yang plot is probably devised by the Little 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, so the likelihood of them actively targeting the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect is small; even if they act, it should be the National Preceptor Xie Yunshen..."

"Earlier Gu Changqing made a move…… perhaps also arranged by Xie Yunshen."

"Probably the National Preceptor gave some information assistance on when Xixi and they would attend the feast."

"As for the Little 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 being cut off?"

"Hah, whatever those are..."

Lü Taibai's silver hair flew up, his eyes cold and ruthless; he lightly tapped his foot and his whole body shot up into the sky.

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

……

……

Li Che was not clear about what happened in the courtyard.

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

Pure Heart Dao Fruit……

Four Transformations!

Thud thud thud——

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

Each strike sends forth invisible ripple-like undulations, spreading throughout his body, filling it completely!

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

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

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

The glabellar cinnabar field burst forth with vast radiance, presenting a pure white luster.

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

Who——

Inh——

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

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

? C〇

Here it comes.

Li Che opened his mouth and spat out a thick mist-like airflow.

Next, his heart and mind violently shook, being pulled by a terrifying force, the world spun, and the scene abruptly changed!

He entered the vast primordial 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, cloud layers pierced and spreading, branches lush and leaves glazed, glittering with rippling light!

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

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

【Pure Heart】 Dao Fruit hangs, heavy and swaying, as if the sound of water colliding and splashing echoes incessantly.

Between heaven and earth, a fierce wind suddenly rose!

Space seemed to ripple, as if time were vibrating, the formed undulations spreading onto the Dao Fruits, causing each to sway incessantly.

Seven-colored glazed, magnificently splendid!

The Pure Heart Dao Fruit, buffeted by the wind and waves of that undulation, had its outer skin scraped off; the seven-colored glazed skin fell away……

Slowly, in the suspended air, myriad changes occurred, like dough being continually kneaded.

Finally…

Li Che's pupils constricted slightly.

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

Exactly!

It was a heart!

Like a real heart, it was crystalline and translucent, bursting with myriad rays of light, seven-colored glazed.

Just a glance seemed to have his mind and spirit wholly drawn away by that heart.

The heart hovered in midair, streams of light constantly erupting from within it.

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

When the engraving of the divine patterns was complete.

This heart then began to beat!

Each beat seemed to cause space to ripple with wrinkles, and time to tremble!

Boom——!!!

Everything shattered into fragments.

Li Che felt only that his consciousness was pulverized, and he exited the Dao Tree space.

Expansion!

Dizziness!

The world spun!

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

Countless torrents of divinity swept in from all directions of heaven and earth at breakneck speed, devoured by greed and madness!

The Four Emperors' Upper-Rank divine crystal that Li Che gripped in his hand, after absorbing only a little, completed the accumulation of the Dao Fruit's maturity, causing the Dao Fruit to undergo four transformations.

But at this moment, the divinity within the Four Emperors' Upper-Rank divine crystal surged forth almost madly, and was devoured by Li Che's Niwan inner realm between his brows.

Countless divinity spilled out, wildly sweeping around his body, as if forming a vortex!

Within the Niwan inner realm.

Each and every golden core was submerged by the divinity, frantically beating and absorbing.

And the True Ape Divine Fetus roared, gulping down the divinity in huge mouthfuls!

The dizziness lingered, not fading away.

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

【Dao Fruit LV6, Four Transformations, Divine Ability (Divine Guide) Promoted, Dao Guide (Seven Apertures Crystal Heart)】

Boom——!!

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

Li Che felt as if his very soul were undergoing a transformation, as if an intangible heart hovered within his Niwan inner realm.

Hovering high, streams of light shimmering!

The divine essence of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Golden Core, the Lü Xuán Sword Immortal Golden Core, and the True Ape Divine Fetus of the Heaven‑Earth Spiritual Brightness were all uncontrollably drawn out, flowing into the Seven Apertures Crystal Heart, where they seemed to be washed clean of impurities, becoming purer and spotless, and then fed back into the divine fetus and golden cores.

It was like a cleansing pump!

As if impurities in the divinity were expelled, like extracting the essence of medicinal ingredients from an alchemical furnace!

The vertigo began to gradually fade.

Li Che's eyes flickered with a faint light!

Dao Guide!

Indeed…

After the Dao Fruit underwent four transformations and reached LV6, it, like the Dragon-Elephant Golden Strength Dao Fruit, transformed into a Dao Guide.

【Dao Guide (Seven Apertures Crystal Heart): Dao Fruit skin shedding, to guide into the Dao, Seven Apertures Crystal Heart, cleansing the divine spirit】

The Dao Guide's true words slowly appeared before Li Che's eyes.

Li Che's eyes revealed a strange hue.

The Seven Apertures Crystal Heart can cleanse divinity, as if it could wash away the divine will within the divinity, turning it into extremely pure divinity for one's own use!

"Dragon-Elephant combined furnace brings only pure martial…"

"Seven Apertures Crystal Heart, is this meant to let me cultivate into a 'Pure Divine'?"

In fact, although the divinity within the divine crystal is said to be pure, in reality, since it was born in the Guiyi Miao's strange gate, it is naturally condensed from the divinity left after the temple god's fall.

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

Why, despite using the divine crystal to cultivate, is the speed still slow and cannot be accelerated?

This is because even when using the divine crystal to cultivate, during the Niwan inner realm's absorption of divinity, one must also refine away the temple god's will contained within the divinity of the divine crystal.

Thus, the speed becomes extremely slow.

Li Che previously possessed the 【Flawless Heart】 Dao Fruit; when absorbing divinity from the divine crystal, the first absorption was extremely fast, for at that time the Flawless Heart Dao Fruit helped cleanse the temple god's will contained within the divinity.

But afterward, when absorbing more, the Flawless Heart Dao Fruit became unwilling to act, and Li Che came to rely on the Niwan inner realm to automatically refine away the temple god's will.

So, thereafter, absorbing the divine crystal slowed the speed, and the feedback diminished.

And now…

It's different now!

Li Che curled the corner of his mouth into a smile.

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

The Seven Apertures Crystal Heart has altered his divine aptitude!

Li Che's current divine talent…

It has even reached an extremely exaggerated and terrifying level!

Hoo hoo hoo—

Inside the room, a gentle breeze drifted.

Li Che opened his eyes, his jet‑black, sturdy hair fluttering lightly.

The sense of vertigo vanished completely.

Li Che clenched a divine crystal in one hand and slowly raised the other; countless divine essences intertwined like delicate threads, gradually outlining the shape of a heart!

There were seven orifices on the heart.

Li Che's eyes flickered, his spirit stirred.

The inner scene of the dantian glowed!

In an instant!

Seven Golden Cores instantly manifested behind him!

They shone like seven brilliant golden suns!

Li Che attempted to guide the seven Golden Cores to the seven orifices of the exquisite heart.

However…

It was not easy; when the first of the seven emotional Golden Cores reached the corresponding orifice of the exquisite heart…

Li Che only felt a massive divine force surging wildly.

Gradually it refined that Golden Core; faintly, a breath of fetal respiration resonated, and with each inhale and exhale, it seemed to steadily transform toward a divine embryo.

Once this Golden Core metamorphosed into a divine embryo, he could begin to draw the second emotional Golden Core, merging it into the exquisite heart's orifice, and transform it into a divine embryo!

With a wave of his palm, the seven‑orifice exquisite heart returned to the dantian's inner scene.

Li Che lightly tapped the space ahead with his five fingers.

Countless divine essences converged and intertwined, vast and mighty, and… exceedingly heavy and powerful!

"My divine nature… is more pure and refined, and its power is stronger!"

"Just as pure martial Qi and blood surpass divine martial Qi… refinement signifies strength! Like hundred‑fold forged steel!"

Li Che laughed, and his mood instantly brightened.

Another Dao fruit completed its transformation.

Moreover, he obtained a Dao guide; his current study of this guide is still rather superficial, and he can gradually develop it.

Of course, what delighted Li Che most was…

"From now on, I am also a prodigy in terms of divine talent."

Li Che smiled.

He rose from his cross‑legged posture, spreading his arms…

Boom—!!!

A terrifying roar erupted from his mortal body, like a perfectly tempered steel projectile detonating!

"Mortal body control… feedback is clearer and more lucid."

"Although the mortal body is purely martial and the divine nature purely divine, the soul's control over the body is now finer than before, truly meticulous!"

Li Che's smile brimmed.

"However, relying solely on my divine cultivation now, I fear it's hard to compare with a great divine embryo deity…"

Li Che released his grip.

The divine crystal of the Four Sovereigns' ascended divine crystal in his hand had already been fully absorbed.

The crystal stone of that divine crystal was ground by Li Che's five fingers, his powerful, scorching blood turning it into powder of the Four Sovereigns' ascended divine crystal.

When this powder was scattered, it could even affect the divine nature of a divine embryo cultivator…

Combined with Li Che's powerful pure martial mortal body.

Li Che was confident; as long as he calculated well… killing an ordinary divine embryo is like killing a chicken…

Of course, if Li Che directly detonated six divine seeds, only a top‑tier deity who has reached the ultimate transformation of embryo to god in the Four Divine Transformations could match him; otherwise, none would be his equal.

Feeling the nascent divine embryo of the luminous true‑ape as it faintly began to coalesce lungs, Li Che's lips curled.

Indeed, after the talent's metamorphosis, the speed of cultivating divine nature was completely different.

Heaven and earth were clear, the sea vast for fish to leap!

Li Che spread his arms and smiled gently.

Without further cultivation, Li Che, feeling refreshed, put away the Heaven‑and‑Earth chessboard and then left the house.

He strolled into the courtyard.

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

His expression darkened slightly.

…

…

Rumble—!

Countless brilliant sword lights swept across, their radiance ten thousand folds!

Ravaging heaven and earth, arrogant and domineering!

The entire Fourth City sensed this change almost instantly.

Lu Taibai's silver hair fluttered, his great sleeves billowed wildly, and behind him, sword lights erupted around his body.

A powerful Heaven‑and‑Earth soul thundered down, nearly enveloping the entire Fourth City.

Lu Taibai's expression was cold, with no intention of concealing his movements.

Boom!

In the distance.

A figure wrapped in faint golden Qi and blood leapt into the air, its whole body clad in dark black mystic armor that clanged and rang, emitting bursts of roars.

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

Lu Taibai's sword aura raged as he stared at the leaping True Martial Divine Sect sect master Shi Jian.

Shi Jian's Qi and blood were immensely massive and powerful, and faintly it seemed as if a heavenly gate opened behind him.

His towering body was vaguely visible, the bulging muscular lines beneath the armor.

"I won't stop you; I have a matter to request of you."

Shi Jian said in a deep voice.

Lu Taibai paused, his silver eyebrows lifting; indeed he was a warrior, straightforward, with no tricks. Judging by his demeanor, this joint effort likely did not involve the True Martial Divine Sect.

Lu Taibai gave him a glance and said nothing more.

Sword light streaked beneath his feet, heading straight across toward a courtyard.

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

Shendu Fourth City.

Xiaolingyin Courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, a long‑browed monk clad in a crimson robe edged with gold sat upright on a Buddhist sedan.

Several rows of chairs were arranged, and figures sat upright upon them.

Heavenly Elixir Divine Sect sect master Gu Changqing, Seven Treasure Divine Sect sect master Ning Caishen, Haoran Academy dean Bai Bu Yi, Bashu Sword Pavilion master Gu Cheng, and Dragon Tiger Divine Sect sect master Zhao Chunqiu.

Dàjǐng's Eleven Paths Eleven Divine Sects, with a total of six divine sect masters gathered here.

They seemed to have been waiting already.

Sure enough, each one looked toward the sword light raging across the sky.

A strange hue flashed in their eyes.

They twirled their whiskers and smiled.

Sitting cross‑legged on the Buddhist sedan, his figure shone like gold reflecting myriad lights, smiling brightly as he lifted his head.

"Patron Taibai's temperament is indeed as fiery as ever… so that's why it came?"

Sitting on the Buddhist sedan, the two long yellow eyebrows rippling in the wind belonged to the abbot of Xiaolingyin Temple, Grand Master Yellow Eyebrow.

When Lu Taibai's sword light sliced through the massive Qi wave and crashed into the courtyard, he rolled up his wide sleeves, indifferently scanning the few strong figures present, his eyes growing ever more fierce.

Behind Lu Taibai, the armored Shi Jian fell.

Suddenly a faint sigh sounded.

Xuanfu Divine Sect sect master Xuan Jiuzhuan also landed behind Lu Taibai.

"Thanks, big uncle."

Lu Taibai beamed brightly.

However, Xuan Jiuzhuan of the Xuanfu Divine Sect ignored him; he stood here to support Lu Taibai only because of his own sister who had gone astray, possessed by a demon.

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

"It's rare to gather so neatly."

Lu Taibai sneered, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces.

He lingered a moment on Yellow Eyebrow and Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing, using his Heavenly Elixir Golden Vajra incarnation as a hunting king, intended to take his direct disciple Xixi; this grudge… Lu Taibai still remembered.

A single Heavenly Elixir Golden Vajra is not enough to atone!

Lu Taibai would eventually make him pay a heavy price!

Gu Changqing smiled gently, trying to explain something, but Lu Taibai simply raised his Taibai Sword at him; Gu Changqing's expression stiffened and gradually sank.

"What a grand spectacle, the Six Great Divine Sects' top‑tier pinnacle conference joining forces… just to erase my Qian Yuan Divine Sect disciples? To deny my Qian Yuan Divine Sect fledgling dragons the right to attend this Peach Banquet?"

"Or perhaps… this is just the beginning?"

"Targeting my Qian Yuan Divine Sect like this…"

"Do you all wish to know whether that 'Free‑willed Golden Iron Divine Staff' has fallen into the hands of my Qian Yuan Divine Sect?"

Lu Taibai's sword turned again, pointing at Yellow Eyebrow.

A murderous glint sharpened in his eyes.

Behind Lu Taibai, Xuan Jiuzhuan showed helplessness, while Shi Jian's gaze hardened, finally becoming resolute.

Lu Taibai's aura gradually rose; he cared not whether these people had allied with State Master Xie Yunshen to scheme.

Lu Taibai would not continue to play with them!

What's so fun?!

He brought his disciples a thousand miles from Qian Yuan Dao City to Shendu—was it to suffer grievances?!

Lu Taibai raised his hand, tapped his brow, and made a light slash!

Within his brow, as if a flash of supremely brilliant sword light quivered and erupted, a terrifying aura so fierce that it froze the entire courtyard intertwined and raged!

The previously calm Yellow Eyebrow, along with Gu Changqing and the other strong ones, suddenly changed expression.

"Dao‑yun Disaster Sword!"

Lu Taibai coldly scanned the six strong figures in the courtyard.

"Whether you have allied with State Master Xie Yunshen or not, targeting a group of children—what skill is that, what business…"

"…coming straight at me, Lu Taibai!"

「Don't let my sect's hatchling dragons eat the peaches, then everyone... just don't eat! 」

First Update, there's still more tonight; last month didn't make the recommendations via pk, this month still pk, asking for a wave of support from everyone, asking for monthly tickets, asking for recommendation ticket support! Lao Li continues writing, thanks!