Chapter 349: 351. Chapter 345: Xixi's Martial‑Will Prison Lotus Remains Undefeated; Even with a Tight Headband She Deserves to Be Cal

351. Chapter 345: Xixi's martial‑will prison lotus remains undefeated; even with a tight headband she could be called Wukong 【Seeking monthly votes】

In the ten‑thousand‑foot sky, the leaden clouds dispersed, revealing a deep blue sky, and the edges of the cloud layers glowed with gilded light.

The brilliant sunlight shone down, which should have felt warm and comfortable on the skin.

But for many inside the Xiaolingyin Courtyard, it brought only a chilling cold throughout the body.

Stagnation, loss, despair, helplessness…

All sorts of emotions surged within the Xiaolingyin Courtyard.

The dean of Haoran Academy, who is also the Sect Master Bai Bu Yi of the Divine Sect that Haoran Academy belongs to, wore a flowing Confucian robe, a hint of helplessness on his face, stroked his hanging beard, and looked toward a young scholar in a teal Confucian robe.

"You go."

"Consider it just a process; we Haoran Academy have given up this pre‑banquet."

Bai Bu Yi said lightly.

"We at Haoran Academy are scholars; we don't concern ourselves with fighting and killing. Though we may not fear it, if we can't win, there's no need to fight."

"Scholars value harmony above all."

Bai Bu Yi did not hide anything, stating plainly that his academy's champion could not defeat Li Che.

? ￠O

The academy's top champion sitting in the corner kept nodding; scholars must keep a balance in their hearts—if they can't win, there's no need to put their face forward to be beaten.

The top champion of Haoran Academy, Cui Haoran, closed his eyes and kept nodding.

"Ah?! Dean… you want me to fight Li Ban Sheng? Me? Me?!"

The scholar who was called felt as if the heavens had collapsed.

Even Senior Brother Cui had to avoid his brilliance; even Ji Mo Li's direct disciple Zhou Chiguo, who possessed the cultivation of a Martial Saint and Divine Embryo, was utterly crushed.

You have a Divine Primordial Great Immortal face a modest scholar, barely a Grandmaster in martial ways, to contend with such a demon king?

Dean… how could you be so heartless!

Nevertheless, the scholar, with a face full of frustration, could only reluctantly agree.

He wasn't foolish; it was clear the dean had abandoned this battle, letting him act… essentially the same as leaving Li Che idle.

It was only that he didn't want to waste Cui Haoran's pre‑banquet opportunity.

The favored ones are always bold; if he possessed Senior Brother Cui's talent, he might not have been chosen for the banquet.

However, the disciple, though single, composed a poem on the spot with a heroic, death‑defying spirit, grasped an Immortal Peach branch, and was instantly teleported into the Divine Hall.

In this battle, everyone in the Xiaolingyin Courtyard, even the six Sect Masters of the Divine Sect, were too lazy to enter the Divine Hall to watch, as there was no suspense.

Their gazes shifted, landing on the figure in the courtyard whose atmosphere was exceedingly solemn.

Ji Mo Li and his direct disciple Zhou Chiguo still stood in the center of the courtyard, both utterly indifferent, entering the Divine Hall to watch the return banquet of Li Che's battle with Zhou Chiguo.

However, Ji Mo Li quickly retreated.

He saw Li Che take Zhou Chiguo's white jade pipa, saying it was used as Zhou's wager.

?

The other six Sect Masters showed no change in expression and said nothing about Li Che's action.

All one could say was…

Li Che truly lives up to his reputation as an honest and upright person.

He is indeed considerate, thoughtful, and aims for fairness.

Not to mention, Li Che took Ji Mo Li's direct disciple's white jade pipa, which is a mythic weapon of the lower Four Imperial rank, a mythic weapon inherited from the Four Heavenly Kings of Pudu Vajra at Guiyi Miao that Ji Mo Li obtained.

In value, it is not inferior to the three‑life statue of Grand Master Huang Mei.

Zhou Chiguo stood uneasily beside Ji Mo Li, head lowered, his complexion very grim, and his crimson glassy eyes filled with terror and despair.

He's in big trouble!

That mythic weapon, the Pudu Vajra Heavenly King's Earth‑Fire‑Water‑Wind pipa… is extremely important to the Prince!

It concerns great matters!

He actually… lost that divine weapon!

Zhou Chiguo was terrified and uneasy, yet amidst his fear, a faint white flash seemed to flicker in his crimson glassy eyes, leaving him both frightened and bewildered…

As if to cleanse that crimson glass.

Ji Mo Li slowly opened his eyes; his obsidian armor clanged, a raging windstorm surged in the courtyard, reflecting his extreme fury.

His deep black eyes revealed no emotion, yet everyone felt a suffocating pressure.

"Prince, Li Ban Sheng asked us to convey to you that the white jade pipa was taken by Li Ban Sheng and used as the wager for the Prince's invitation to the elite disciple's banquet…"

Huang Mei spoke lightly.

On his weather‑worn face, etched with deep furrows, there was a faint, barely perceptible smile.

"Aren't you quite formidable, after all…"

"I thought your disciple Ji Mo Li was so powerful…"

"But didn't he also lose?"

"Isn't it the same outcome?"

Ji Mo Li glanced at Huang Mei, his brows slightly furrowed, then exhaled: "Indeed, you placed a wager; since I have cut in line, I naturally must place a wager as well."

"Should."

Ji Mo Li said calmly.

Without further words, he turned, his black cloak billowing like a cloud that blocks the sky, and left the courtyard.

Zhou Chiguo hurriedly followed, each step trembling as if in fear.

After exiting the courtyard.

Ji Moli's gaze turned toward the direction of Qianyuan Institute.

"Teacher…… I……"

Zhou Chiguo opened his mouth, but Ji Moli waved his hand: "Don't blame you, this person grew too fast, his divine talent is monstrously terrifying."

"Six years of time, and he actually reached such heights, no wonder his daughter could become Lü Taibai's direct disciple... Talent can be inherited."

"It's just strange, for someone with such talent to exist, when they were still a child, how could their violet aura talent be completely unknown..."

Ji Moli furrowed his brows.

"White Jade Pipa..." Zhou Chiguo took a deep breath.

Ji Moli raised his hand and gently pressed down.

"The Pudu Divine King Heaven Earth Fire Water Wind Pipa... is of utmost importance to my plan; it cannot be lost, it must be retrieved."

"Li Che..."

Ji Moli's eyes were pitch black, like two black holes.

Is Li Che really a Divine Monkey?

But... does a Divine Monkey possess such divine talent?!

The Divine Monkey excels in martial arts; his martial arts should have reached the height of a Two-Opened Martial Saint, if the Divine Monkey is Li Che...

In other words, Li Che, in a short time, has brought both his divine nature and martial arts to a terrifying height!

"If that is truly the case."

"This person..."

"He must not be spared!"

Ji Moli said softly, like a low thunder rumbling, echoing around.

"Come on, let's go to the Lotus Pavilion again."

……

……

The Dharma Heaven Earth technique instantly rose, terrifying divine power surged down like a mountain shout and sea tide.

They intertwined and gathered into that enormous palm, which came down fiercely!

The entire stage paved with white jade bricks and stones suddenly shook violently, then spiderweb-like cracks spread and intertwined, and beneath that palm...

The Divine Primordial Grand True Person of the Haoran Academy was directly slapped into annihilation, triggering the Queen Mother of the West's divine power on the peach branch, and was directly kicked out of the Queen Mother of the West's Divine Palace.

"They actually sent a Divine Primordial Grand True Person to deal with me... Haoran Academy has given up."

Within the Dharma Heaven Earth, Li Che crossed his arms over his chest, his expression involuntarily showing a strange look.

But even though the opponent displayed only the cultivation of a Divine Primordial Grand True Person, Li Che, who often schemes against others, remained highly vigilant, worried that this Haoran Academy Divine Primordial Grand True Person still had hidden cultivation.

Only after thoroughly slapping the opponent into annihilation did Li Che confirm that the other party was truly just a Divine Primordial Grand True Person.

"Did I go too hard?" Li Che reflected on himself, but soon tossed it aside.

After all, this kind of duel involves a century-spanning wager; Li Che dare not be careless.

What honest integrity do scholars have?

They're all full of dirty tricks; steadiness is the hard truth.

Li Che walked up to the table, and as expected, because the opponent was too weak, defeating him was hardly a heroic feat; he didn't even get a peach, only a cup of clear tea.

Li Che gulped down the clear tea, his soul felt clear for a moment, the taste was good.

After scanning the hall, Li Che thought, flicked his finger, and left a milky-white Flying Thunder chess piece beneath the statue of the Queen Mother of the West.

Thereafter, Li Che chose to activate the divine power on the peach branch and returned to Qianyuan Institute.

In the courtyard.

The disciples of the Qianyuan Divine Sect gathered together, each excited, chattering nonstop, their gazes toward Li Che now only filled with fervor and respect!

Now Li Che truly deserves the title of elder.

When the disciples of the Qianyuan Divine Sect were bullied, he stepped forward and, with overwhelming dominance, crushed the siege of the six great divine sects' heroes.

He let these children, as if in endless darkness, see a blade of light that tore through the clouds!

Unfortunately, Elder Li is the Elder of the Divine Eagle Ridge; to become his disciple, one must possess extraordinary Divine Eagle talent, otherwise one cannot follow Li Che in cultivation.

Li Che did not continue matching opponents this time.

He felt he should let the remaining heroes of the three great divine sects calm down.

If they all acted like Haoran Academy, slacking off, Li Che would feel a bit cheated, after all... not even getting to eat a peach.

Li Che looked at Xixi sitting cross-legged in the center of the courtyard; the qi and blood on Xixi's body began to steam.

With Li Che's current Martial Saint realm eyesight, he naturally easily saw Xixi's transformation.

True qi and strength were merging, rushing into her five viscera and six bowels, refining her five viscera and tempering her six bowels!

Xixi's small body sat cross-legged on the ground; strength spread from her spine, expanding like a great net, enveloping every part of her body, reaching throughout.

Her muscles, vibrating at extreme speed, became like tempered steel, growing ever tougher and stronger!

Five viscera and six bowels, limbs and bones... all seemed at this moment, as if undergoing rebirth and transformation, brewing a qi.

That is the qi of martial arts!

The martial qi crucial for breaking from Master to Grand Master level is the foundation of rebirth and transformation!

Li Che's brow and ancestral aperture opened and closed, golden light flashing from his pupils.

One could see the violet-flame serpent spear fire tip in Xixi's left hand, the God-Striking Golden Brick in her right hand, and the Hell Lotus Wind-Fire Golden Light Wheel on her feet all vibrating, releasing the divinity of mythic weapons...

Thus Xixi's entire body was being tempered, her five viscera and six bowels also being tempered!

Even Xixi's little belly trembled at an ultra-high frequency, thousands of times per second!

The rising and falling of her little belly even produced a blurry afterimage.

Qi and blood burst forth extremely dense, growing ever denser!

Lu Taibai flicked out sword marbles one by one, hovering around Xixi, as if they too entered a guard state.

"It's the final stage!"

Lu Taibai steadied his mind and said.

The whole courtyard fell silent, and Li Che did not rush to match another opponent.

"Bang bang bang—!!!"

In the courtyard, a sudden powerful, massive heartbeat thumped, a fierce roar echoing loudly!

Xixi's tiny body suddenly floated up, streams of Qi and blood like evaporating dense mist intertwining around her.

Zhang Ya, Mu Popo and others were startled, looking over with some worry.

Li Qingshan, Nie Yang and other strong ones who have broken into the Great Grandmaster realm had their eyes suddenly bright, some surprised, because Xixi's breakthrough seemed different from theirs!

Yun E, Zhou Peng, Jin Taishui and the other children were extremely excited, clenching fists, their gazes blazing.

Lu Qingxuan, Yang Yi and other dragon‑talent prodigies on the Qian Yuan Divine Sect's Dragon Register were utterly shocked; they knew what Xixi was doing at that moment.

Xixi is about to become a Great Grandmaster!

A six‑year‑old Great Grandmaster!

Buzz buzz buzz—

Within the courtyard, currents howled and surged, hot Qi and blood spouting up, causing the early‑spring chill and heat to rotate; Qi and blood burst, heat sank, cold rose, swirling like a vortex!

Xixi floated in mid‑air, her jet‑black hair flying, her robes billowing, yet the robes could not hide the radiance emanating from her body.

It was her pores and membranes all glowing, all three hundred and sixty human orifices shining!

Divine weapons and divinity surged into her body, altering her five viscera, six organs, and root‑bone meridians!

Faintly, thick mercury‑like blood moved slowly inside Xixi, gradually weaving a lightning‑like crimson radiance!

It is…

Gang Qi!

Sharp and domineering, its resilience far surpasses the true Qi of the Master realm!

Li Che's mud‑ball at his forehead opened and closed; he saw Xixi's Great Grandmaster realm, immensely powerful, as if her flesh continued the furnace‑like physique!

Li Che relies on refining the Master's supreme techniques to the limit, condensing an incomparably resilient divine Gang, while Xixi's strength comes entirely from the forging of divine weapons.

The forging of mythic weapons, plus the forging of the Underworld Lotus fire!

Thus Xixi's physique becomes extremely mighty and terrifying!

Boom—!!!

At Xixi's forehead, a black Underworld Lotus divine pattern blossomed with dazzling light, scorching black flames erupting—that is the Underworld Lotus fire!

The flames swept outward, but were suppressed by Lu Taibai's flicked sword marbles, limiting their spread.

Yet the air itself twisted as if burned.

A black lotus burst with immense divine power, spreading from beneath Xixi's rear and enveloping her whole body.

The entire courtyard fell silent for a moment, a suppressing divine pressure spreading outward.

Chirp chirp chirp—

Heat boiled around Xixi, finally swirling like a vortex, all flowing into Xixi's heart like a funnel, slowly pouring in.

The Underworld Lotus fire injected into Xixi's heart burst like a water puddle stepped on, exploding instantly, shooting out like water arrows toward her limbs and bones!

A streak of divine Gang pulsed around Xixi, trembling violently, emitting a buzzing sound!

"It's successful."

Lu Taibai exhaled, silver hair fluttering, his wide robe billowing.

The golden light at Li Che's forehead vanished and healed, but his face showed little joy.

"That Underworld Lotus…"

Li Che said gravely.

Lu Taibai's smile also faded: "The Underworld Lotus fire never vanished; the Third Prince deceived us. When Xixi strikes the Divine Embryo realm… this fire will inevitably flare again. If Xixi's flesh cannot be forged strong enough then, it will likely be burned to ash by the fire."

"Xixi has just broken through to Great Grandmaster; her physique is already very strong— with the Purple Flame Snake Spear, the Divine‑Smashing Golden Brick, and the Underworld Lotus Wind‑Fire Golden Light Wheel, aided by three divine weapons, her body is forged like a furnace, truly powerful… but still insufficient."

Lu Taibai sighed.

"Xixi's divinity is growing too fast… at this rate, the martial path may not keep up with her divine breakthroughs."

"The usual martial cultivation methods for tempering the body, to strengthen Xixi's flesh enough to bear the melting of the Underworld Lotus fire… that seems rather difficult."

Suddenly, Lu Taibai looked up at Li Che, his eyes flashing, and said, "Ah Che, aren't you about to go to the Qintian Bureau for the Special Guest Minister examination?"

"If you achieve the rank of Special Guest Minister, you will have a chance to ascend to the top of the Eight‑Treasure Overhanging Dripping Qintian Treasure Tower in Shendu's Second City, to meet the great overseer known for divine calculations."

"You could ask the great overseer whether there is a way?"

"The great overseer… should have a method."

Lu Taibai suggested a method to Li Che.

Li Che was startled, his heart stirred; this method… was indeed quite good!

Hoo hoo hoo—

Xixi's form floated down onto the ground, she snapped open her watery large eyes, within which black flames burned, the black flames taking the shape of an Underworld Lotus!

Extremely pitch‑black, as if scorching the endless earth, darkness suppressing light, burning mountains and boiling seas!

Boom—!!!

Then Xixi stood up, hands on hips, puffing out her little belly.

"Hey ya!"

A massive pressure suddenly erupted from Xixi, compressing the air downwards, rippling outward.

It seemed as if a translucent lotus bloomed behind her; that was her martial will!

The martial will that only a Grandmaster can comprehend!

It is the essence, Qi, and spirit refined to the utmost!

Jail Lotus, Xixi's martial will…

Jail Lotus is invincible!

"Dad!"

"Xixi has succeeded!"

Xixi's eyes ignited with Jail Lotus, thrilled beyond measure, hands on hips, she threw her head back in laughter.

"Great Emperor Xixi, succeeded!"

In the courtyard, Xixi's booming laughter echoed.

Suddenly, countless exclamations burst forth.

Zhou Peng, Yun E, Jin Taishui, Lü Qingxuan, Yang Yi, and the many scions of the families in Qianyuan Dao City each gasped in awe and boundless envy!

Xixi… is literally a freak!

A six‑year‑old Grandmaster!

Probably the whole Dàjǐng Court has never seen anything so rare, right?!

"Invincible!"

Lü Qingxuan exhaled.

Truly invincible!

Lü Qingxuan, who had originally held the top spot in the Young Dragon Manual taken by Xixi, now harbored no resentment at all.

How can anyone compare, how could anyone possibly catch up?!

Lü Qingxuan is already ten, yet still far from Grandmaster… He thinks that becoming a Grandmaster before fifteen would already be considered exceptionally gifted.

Buzz—

At Xixi's feet, the Jail Lotus wind‑fire‑gold light wheel spun at high speed, then surged toward Li Che.

"Dad!"

"Xixi's here!"

However, as soon as Xixi collided beside Li Che, he easily lifted her by the back of the neck, then, like a cat with its claws retracted, hoisted her up.

"The situation has changed, Great Emperor Xixi…"

"If not yet strong, change will surely come!"

Xixi muttered.

Li Che burst into hearty laughter, dispelling the gloom brought by the Jail Lotus fire; Xixi is still far from breaking through the divine embryo, but as a father, he can always find a way.

Moreover, Li Che possesses the Dragon‑Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit; if all else fails, he daily sets up a Dream Master's dream‑realm boxing arena for Xixi, allowing the Dao Fruit's power to feed back to her and aid her in tempering her physique.

"Xixi, solidify your cultivation well; Dad has gone to finish the remaining wager battle, after that it's up to you."

"However, now that you've broken through Grandmaster, the upcoming battles will be perfect for you to adapt."

Li Che patted Xixi's head.

Then, with a fist of five fingers, he grasped a Peach Branch, divine nature erupted, and Li Che began matching opponents.

And Xixi instantly realized that while she was pushing toward Grandmaster, Dad had already secured four consecutive victories!

"Ah?!"

Xixi's small face contorted, she pounded her chest and stamped her feet: "Xixi didn't see Dad slaughter everywhere—what a pity!"

Lü Taibai patted Xixi's head; consolidation wouldn't take long, and he directly led Xixi into the divine hall to observe the battle as a deity.

Then, Xixi saw her dad unleash a fifty‑zhang Law‑Heaven‑Earth formation; with arms crossed and a single glance, he blasted the Grandmaster swordsmen of Bashu Sword Pavilion into blood mist, turning them to ash.

Xixi's fleeting joy at just breaking Grandmaster vanished instantly.

The plan changed drastically… Xixi still needs several years to grow!

Li Che felt helpless; these divine sects have all been corrupted.

Haoran Academy, Bashu Sword Pavilion, and Dragon‑Tiger Divine Sect—the three great sects—each sent out heroes who weren't even Weapon Saints to spar with Li Che.

This was a strategic withdrawal.

Li Che crushed the brutal scene of Zhou Chiguo, delivering a massive shock to them.

So they opened the showdown directly.

Li Che, naturally helpless and unwilling to tolerate, slapped them hard, but unfortunately, because the opponents were too weak, the prepared pre‑banquet peaches were not given.

Li Che thought the three great sects were even worse; at the very least, they disgusted him, causing considerable spiritual injury.

"One match remains."

Li Che stretched lazily.

In the Qianyuan Courtyard, a gentle breeze blew, yet the temperature seemed to rise under scorching gazes.

Even Lü Taibai couldn't help but feel his mood fluctuate.

"?"

Lü Taibai asked.

Li Che nodded, hoping the Little Lingling Temple had some backbone; as the instigator, they couldn't possibly send not even a Weapon Saint, could they?

【Attendee for the pre‑banquet: Li Che】

【Western Queen Mother Divinity: Nine Strands】

【Qualification verified, eligible for the Heroic Banquet】

【Pre‑banquet prepared, attend?】

The peach branch imbued with the divine nature of the Western Queen Mother, winding nine ways, trembled slightly; Li Che's eyes brightened, his spirit stirred, and he chose to attend the banquet.

Lu Tai Bai also drew a golden peach branch, flung it violently, and led the people inside the Qian Yuan Courtyard to witness Li Che's seven consecutive victories!

……

……

Little Lingyin Temple.

Grand Master Huang Mei sat upright in the ornate Buddha Palanquin, palms pressed together, his whole body bathed in Buddha Light.

His eyes flowed with a dazzling hue.

All around, the sect masters and disciples of the other five Divine Sects cast sweeping gazes, their expressions rather complex.

Bai Bu Yi, Gu Cheng and Zhao Chunqiu, among the Divine Sect masters, shook their heads slightly, evidently indicating that Grand Master Huang Mei had not yet given up and still intended to try.

However, even Zhou Chiguo, the powerful hero who had received the blood‑line baptism from the Ji Mo Li and possessed the Second Opening Qi Sea Warrior Saint and the First Divine Transformation of the Divine Fetus, was brutally crushed.

The disciples under the sect felt a helplessness as if confronting a great demon king directly.

It made several sect masters choose to give up, no longer holding hope.

"Amitabha, the young monk is willing to give it a try."

The novice monk called "Wukong", palms pressed together, looked extremely frail, yet his gaze was resolutely firm.

"If this battle is lost, Master will have to sever a three‑life body; the young monk is willing to spare all his effort to protect Master's three‑life body."

The monk said.

Grand Master Huang Mei's eyes opened and closed, he formed a Buddha Seal with his hand, gave a faint smile: "Wukong, you have the will, go."

"Li Che, this person cultivates the Heavenly, Earthly, and Astral Dao, and also possesses an unknown third‑clear rank divine nature secret technique… just do your best."

The monk pressed his palms together reverently and bowed.

Then his eyes steadied, he grasped the peach branch, and teleported into the Divine Hall.

……

……

Li Che's embroidered golden lotus black robe fluttered, his arms crossed, and he calmly watched the frail monk in gray robes who appeared before him.

"Amitabha."

The monk looked at Li Che, palms together, and bowed.

Li Che calmly observed the novice monk surrounded by Buddha Light; the monk seemed frail, yet the Qi and blood hidden beneath his flesh were exceedingly robust.

"Li Che benefactor, my master says you have a fated connection with our Buddhist sect; would you be willing to lay down your slaughtering knife and take refuge in our Buddhist sect?"

The monk asked earnestly.

Li Che heard this and immediately let out a dry laugh: "Young monk, would you be willing to abandon the Buddhist sect, return to secular life, marry and have children?"

The monk was startled, shook his head: "Since I can recall, the first thing I saw upon opening my eyes was my Buddha; my heart contains only my Buddha, and I will spend all my time in this world pursuing the Buddha's teachings."

Li Che gave a faint smile: "Then that's settled…"

"You refuse to return to secular life, just as I refuse to take refuge in the Buddhist sect."

"You have Buddha in your heart; in my heart are my wife, daughter, my family."

Li Che said.

"Amitabha, worldly affairs are all sources of trouble; let go of everything, and the mind becomes empty and truly free." The monk said earnestly, intending to argue with Li Che.

However, Li Che waved his hand, showing some impatience.

"Amitabha, then this humble monk will first inquire about Li Ban Sheng's strength; I will exert my utmost, hoping Li Ban Sheng will also give his all."

The novice monk said earnestly.

Li Che heard this, his eyes slightly lifted, his gaze falling upon the novice monk.

Boom—!!!

The novice monk took a step, and his entire body instantly surged with expanding Qi and blood, a vast Buddha Light rose and filled around him, continuously swelling…

Finally, he transformed into a wrathful Vajra, ten zhang tall, its whole body gilded, within the golden Buddha Light Buddhist script whirled, shining brilliantly!

"Vajra Form!"

The monk let out a long howl; within the Vajra Form, his entire skin turned a scarlet hue, as Qi and blood roiled and burst, striking the skin and the orifices.

Each pore seemed to emit steam like a high‑pressure cooker.

The once frail monk suddenly swelled, his body turning as red as heated iron; on his bald head, trembling red veins writhed like coiling dragons.

The novice's necklace of prayer beads radiated an intensely dense Buddha Light!

The novice lifted his head, fangs sprouted from his mouth, and ten‑thousand‑foot Buddha Light burst like countless golden rays, not warm at all but bone‑chilling!

"Humble monk, Little Lingyin Temple… Wukong."

"Please, Li Ban Sheng, grant your instruction."

The monk who had activated the Vajra Form, his mortal body seemingly pushed to the limit, fixed his angry gaze.

His voice thundered like a sudden lightning across the entire Divine Hall.

It made everyone at the divine banquet feel their eardrums vibrate and their bodies tingle!

A sense of heaviness settled in their hearts!

"First Opening Qi Sea Warrior Saint!"

"And the Second Divine Transformation of the Divine Fetus!"

Lu Tai Bai's eyes narrowed and his brows furrowed.

"Huang Mei, that cunning old bald donkey, indeed hides a trump card!"

"This level… is not much weaker than Zhou Chiguo, the direct disciple who received the blood‑line baptism from Ji Mo Li."

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy; all the cultivators attached to the deities, who had expected this to be an unsurprising clash like those with the heroes of Haoran Academy, Bashu Sword Pavilion, and other Divine Sects, now felt the tension.

But they never expected that Little Lingyin Temple… seemed to want to make a sudden move, even to turn the tables!

It actually had such a trick up its sleeve!

"Wukong?!"

"That monk named Wukong… is probably the Little Lingyin Temple's hidden trump card that wants to make a splash at this Peach Banquet Heroic Gathering!"

"But they never expected… that during the pre‑banquet, it would be forced out!"

The heads of the great sects fixed their gazes, and a slight tremor stirred in their hearts.

The heroic competition of the Peach Banquet is certainly far larger than that of the pre‑banquet.

Because of this heroic gathering, the Dàjǐng Court not only invited the great sects and numerous feudal princes, but also the Great Li King Court, Wu Shen Mountain, the Dragon God Clan, the Western Region Buddhist Land, and many other peripheral powers.

This isn't the first time either; in the previous Peach Banquet, the prodigious young shaman god Jin Mao Xun from Wu Shen Mountain shone brightly, nearly seizing the champion of the heroic gathering, though he ultimately lost to the top hero of the Heavenly Master Dao Purple Palace Divine Sect.

But this time, that Jin Mao Xun seems set to participate as well!

"There's a good show to watch."

Everyone who came to watch the banquet became energized!

…

…

"Wukong?"

Li Che crossed his arms, slightly stunned, gazing at the reddened, fang‑toothed, snarling little monk, and exhaled slowly.

The mud‑marble at his brow split, and divine nature burst forth!

Within the inner scene.

Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation and the luminous True Ape Divine Embryo also quaked violently, as if letting out a roaring howl!

It felt like a profaned fury!

The utmost fury!

Boom—

Li Che held nothing back; as he looked into the novice's eyes, his expression grew cold.

In the next instant, the wind surged, and divine nature roared!

Li Che's Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation began to rise, rise…

Rumble—!!!

As if a mountain rose from the earth!

When the Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation reached fifty zhang!

The Wukong monk, feeling immense pressure, roared, and the Diamond Dharma Form began to race across the white‑jade arena of the temple; its massive bare foot struck, and the jade platform sank, leaving footprints!

With a leap, the arena trembled wildly, and countless spider‑web‑like cracks spread across it!

The Diamond Dharma Form sprang up, soaring high; Wukong, within the form, suddenly produced a golden tight headband!

The moment the tight headband appeared, an immensely powerful divine wave surged and spread wildly!

Within the celestial board, the floating Qi Tian Visage quivered violently at that instant, as if an extreme angry roar exploded in every corner of the board!

The True Ape Divine Embryo in Li Che's inner scene was in unprecedented fury!

He sensed this fury and the trembling of the Qi Tian Visage.

Li Che's eyes chilled; he began to unleash his divinity without restraint, after all this was the final battle of the wager, and he need not hold back!

Moreover, at this moment Li Che understood the little monk from Little Lingyin Temple's intention!

"You want to use the tight headband to make me convert?!"

Within Li Che's chest, the pure‑heart Dao Fruit trembled wildly!

The Dao Fruit's divinity burst forth.

Dao Guidance, and the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart instantly expanded dramatically.

Countless rivers of divinity poured out!

Then, the True Ape Divine Embryo leapt from his brow and merged with the Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation!

Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation transformed into a Demon Ape shape, and under Li Che's full outpouring, it kept rising!

It finally reached a height of one hundred zhang!

Almost touching the temple's apex, it stood level with the statue in the Western Queen Mother Temple.

He clenched his five fingers, and the air exploded!

The entire temple seemed to quake!

A fist struck down hard!

From the tight headband the little novice summoned, a serpentine Buddha Light shot out, coiling around the hundred‑zhang Demon Ape's arm, attempting to bind the Demon Ape Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation!

However, the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart shivered!

The Buddha Light instantly shattered piece by piece!

The tight headband's glow dimmed instantly, as if all the Buddha Light had been dispersed…

Then the other hand of the Demon Ape ripped it away, slammed it onto the Diamond Dharma Form's head, seized the form, and hurled it up and down fiercely!

The Diamond Dharma Form, facing the hundred‑zhang high Demon Ape Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation, had no power to resist!

It was smashed to pieces directly…

Bang bang bang—!!!

"You, holding the tight headband, still dare to call yourself Wukong?!"

He hurled the Diamond Dharma Form high into the air.

The Demon Ape Heaven-and-Earth Manifestation clenched its five fingers, pulling out five currents that dimmed heaven and earth!

Twist the waist!

Side step!

Throw a punch!

The fist lashes like a whip, rolling like thunder!

The Wukong monk concealed within the Vajra Dharma Form, his eyes involuntarily displayed terror and bewilderment.

Bang—!!!

The Vajra Dharma Form, together with the monk's flesh-and-blood body.

All are under one punch.

Qi vaporizes and evaporates!

This punch.

Seven consecutive wins!

The whole Queen Mother of the West's temple…

Myriad deathly silence!

Invincible and unmatched!