Chapter 371: Obtaining the Temple God Dao Position and Shedding the Divine Embryo Again, the Peach Banquet Host Feasts Father and Dau

373. Chapter 366: Obtaining the Temple God Dao Position and Shedding the Divine Embryo Again, the Peach Banquet Host Feasts Father and Daughter Together for the Expedition 【Seeking Monthly Votes】

Buzz—

Countless specks of light burst continuously from the golden orb, which trembles violently, quivering at an extremely high frequency as if a tiny motor were inside it.

Li Che clutches the orb and feels a warm sensation radiating from within it.

An overwhelmingly dense divinity slowly flows out of the golden orb.

The divinity seems to have a will of its own, raging toward Li Che's body, but Li Che's immensely powerful pure martial physique repels it.

Li Che couldn't help but feel curious; after all, he had never seen something like this before.

He hadn't even destroyed the first Golden Heavenly King Guiyi Miao; ever since the Guiyi Miao's temple deity schemed against the Third Prince, affecting his daughter, Li Che has eradicated the Guiyi Miao in both Golden Light Mansion and Qian Yuan Dao City.

But he had never encountered this thing.

In Qian Yuan Dao City he didn't summon a deity just once; he has summoned deities against other Guiyi Miao as well, to assemble the Seven Emotions and Six Desires divine image…

Precisely because of that, Li Che is rather curious.

"Is it because… the Four Sovereign rank Guiyi Miao that such things erupt?"

Divine Art, Star‑Plucking Eye!

Endless ten‑thousand analyses, peering into void to return truth!

Within the torn flesh of the mud‑marble at his forehead, a golden pupil bursts with radiance.

【World‑Rare Artifact: Four Sovereign Upper Temple God Dao Position Pearl】

【Origin: Formed from divine nature, Dao essence, and primal source after a deity's fall; refined through blood‑sacrificed flesh's vitality, can obtain Temple God Dao Position】

【Requirement: After refining, the Temple God Dao Position must not descend to the mortal world】

…

Seeing the prompt materialize before him, Li Che's astonished expression grew even more intense.

He had thought this golden orb, with such dense divinity, might be a precious cultivation resource.

Something akin to a divine crystal, but he never imagined… this thing is entirely different from a divine crystal!

"Four Sovereign Upper Temple God Dao Position Pearl?!"

Li Che took a deep breath.

Dao Position… Li Che had naturally heard of it; Lu Taibai and Huang Mei are among those who have touched Dao Positions, and to break through a divine tribulation they must first obtain a Dao Position.

Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, each calamity or tribulation contains three Dao Positions, meaning that whether it's a Three Calamity or a Nine Tribulation, Dao Positions exist.

Acquiring a Dao Position is the most crucial step in the promotion tribulation!

"So, the Temple God Dao Position Pearl… after refinement, can directly become a Temple God?"

A strange expression flickered in Li Che's eyes.

However, it likely cannot possess Temple God combat power; like the Golden Heavenly King Temple God, it would only have top‑tier ultimate combat strength.

If a Four Sovereign Upper Temple God had divine tribulation combat power, then Lu Taibai and the others who attacked the Guiyi Miao would have all perished.

"Interesting."

"Can it be understood as… the Temple God's divine stature?"

Li Che's eyes flickered.

"However, this Temple God Dao Position Pearl is not a good thing; it is dangerous. Once refined, it becomes a Temple God, its body falls into the void and cannot return to the mortal world."

"This thing… is very dangerous, very hot to handle."

Li Che shook his head, toyed with the Dao Position Pearl for a while, and casually pocketed the orb.

He glanced at the seated Xixi, who was cultivating.

Li Che's spirit stirred slightly.

Leaving a painted immortal avatar behind, Li Che himself entered the Ink City.

Within Ink City, the fissures left by the previous battle had long been gradually healed by the city's self‑repair.

The rain over Ink City fell incessantly, and the raindrops seemed to contain restorative power.

It was as if the divinity, souls, and flesh of the strong who died in Ink City evaporated into the heavens, then turned into rain, nourishing the whole city and completing a perfect loop.

Li Che stood on the wet ground; the world was silent, and the entire city was very quiet.

A flick of his finger.

Each Binding‑God chess piece rapidly expanded, turning into a Binding‑God.

Li Che intended to test whether this Temple God Dao Position Pearl could truly forge a Temple God.

Of course he didn't plan to try it himself; after all, the side effects of the Pearl are huge, and Li Che didn't want to sacrifice himself.

Buzz—…

Rows of Binding‑God silhouettes materialized.

Huang Mei, Han Si Xi, Yue Huang Long, Su Lei Bao, Huang Jian Jiu, You Li Qing, and other capable commanders under Li Che stood uniformly in the ink‑colored rain.

"Lord!"

After the many Binding‑Gods appeared, they fervently and submissively bowed fists to Li Che in salute.

Li Che gave a slight nod, then his gaze swept over the bodies of the crowd.

He automatically ignored Huang Mei and Han Si Xi; these two top‑tier ultimate warriors were still useful to keep.

As for Yue Huang Long…

Burning fat, he barely reaches top‑tier ultimate level, but still somewhat useful.

In contrast, Su Lei Bao, Huang Jian Jiu, You Li Qing and the like can't keep up with the level of enemies Li Che now faces.

Often combat is useless; they merely become a source of power for his dominion over Ink City.

Li Che's gaze swept over, contemplating who should refine the Pearl.

Of course, he also doesn't know whether a bound spirit can attempt refinement, but trying it isn't a problem; refining the pearl requires a sacrifice of blood and flesh vitality…

Bound spirits are the least fearful, because a bound spirit is an existence revived after death by Li Che's divine means; whether you call it having life—it is reborn, or having no life… they are bound spirits.

Moreover, with the current rise in Dao Fruit rank, now at level 6 Pure Heart Dao Fruit, the power of these bound spirits has become increasingly mysterious and formidable.

After being resurrected, the bound spirit is unlike before, possessing real flesh and blood, becoming more vivid and hard to distinguish between real and fake.

Take Huang Mei, for example; the revived Huang Mei is almost identical to when he was alive, even someone as strong as Ji Mo Li cannot tell the difference.

Life and death seem to be a blurred distinction.

Thus, after Li Che used Star‑Plucking Eye to analyze the function and effect of this Temple God Dao Position Pearl, he considered letting a bound spirit try it.

Anyway, even if it fails, it's no problem; the bound spirit can still be revived.

As for being corrupted by the power of the Temple God Dao Position Pearl, leading to an inability to revive…

Li Che does not believe that the power of this Temple God Dao Position Pearl can suppress a Pure Heart Dao Fruit.

Seemingly aware of Li Che's intention, Huang Jianjiu, You Liqing, Su Leibao and Su Daoling—several bound spirits of the Saint of War and Divine Fetus realms—stepped forward.

"Lord, we are willing to try."

The four bound spirits clasped their fists and said.

Their tone carried zeal, trust, and no regret.

Whatever Li Che asks them to do, they are willing to do; their trust and submission to Li Che have fully merged into their souls, because Li Che granted them a second life.

Huang Mei, Han Sixi and Yue Huanglong did not compete for it; the three also know that their current cultivation benefits Li Che more.

Li Che stood with his hands behind his back, his black robe fluttering; the ink‑black rain falling from the heavens dripped onto him, instantly vaporizing into mist.

His gaze swept over and immediately excluded Su Daoling; he is a half‑saint of divine talismans, an intellect‑type bound spirit, and Li Che naturally would not let him take the risk.

As long as Su Daoling remains, Li Che will have a continuous supply of divine talismans, and Su Daoling even excels at arranging massive talisman arrays.

Huang Mei is actually as talented as Su Daoling; Huang Mei is also a Divine Eagle Holy Hand, even though Li Che has already brushed the realm of the Divine Eagle Holy Hand.

But having an extra Divine Eagle Holy Hand can save him a lot of trouble.

Huang Jianjiu had a large wine gourd at his waist, his eyes sparkling.

In the end, Li Che's mind leaned toward Huang Jianjiu.

"Let's try and see if it can be refined."

Huang Jianjiu shouldered his sword case, took a step, and smoothly caught the Four Imperial Temple God Dao Position Pearl that Li Che tossed.

"Alright."

Huang Jianjiu cracked open the wine gourd, poured a sip of fine wine, then sat cross‑legged and began to grasp the Dao Position Pearl, refining it.

You Liqing's face bore great regret and grievance.

Sure enough, in his lord's eyes, he still wasn't as good as Huang Jianjiu.

Li Che snapped his fingers; the other bound spirits dispersed, while Huang Mei and Han Sixi returned to reality.

Clack clack clack clack—

During the refinement of the Temple God Dao Position Pearl…

Huang Jianjiu's bound spirit flesh began to sizzle and melt, as if being corroded by a strange force.

Li Che frowned and examined for a moment, then felt the Temple God Dao Position Pearl seemed to come alive, greedily devouring Huang Jianjiu's flesh during the ritual.

What a bizarre thing!

Temple God Dao Position… the Dao Position achieved by this thing— is it a legitimate Temple God?!

Huang Jianjiu refined the Dao Position Pearl inside Ink City; the speed wasn't fast, mainly because the pearl's consumption of flesh wasn't rapid.

It seems it will take some time.

Li Che also stopped staring and began refining the suppressing seal of the summoned Temple God power locked within the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard.

Lu Xuan Sword Immortal Gold Elixir was pulsating rapidly, continuously siphoning the divinity of the Four Imperial Golden Heavenly King Tower Temple God, but unlike the earlier Law‑Heaven‑Earth‑Spirit Bright True Ape Gold Elixir's violent, frenzied tearing and devouring.

The Lu Xuan Sword Immortal Gold Elixir appeared much more refined, with the sword‑immortal's characteristic leisurely pace, as if cutting flesh slowly with a sword.

The Golden Heavenly King Tower Temple God let out a roaring howl, as if feeling the pain of being slowly torn apart!

Just like slow torture!

If devoured by the True Ape Gold Elixir, one would die swiftly, but being devoured by the Lu Xuan Sword Immortal Gold Elixir… feels like being sliced by countless knives.

Li Che gave a detached glance, showing no emotional fluctuation.

When his beloved Xixi was cursed by the Yulian fire, you Temple God… did you ever consider that?

If Xixi's mortal body is not strong enough, when she impacts the Divine Fetus, the Yulian fire will scorch her…

Doesn't she suffer?

Doesn't she wail?

Li Che just thought about it and felt his heart being pierced and his bones gouged.

"【Heixumi】…"

Li Che narrowed his eyes.

The Seven‑Treasure Relic Ruyi Golden Heavenly King Tower Strange Temple, within the Strange Gate, belongs to the Heixumi divine faction.

Regarding the divine factions within the Strange Gate, Li Che truly knows little.

Heixumi, Yulian, Dark Heavenly Court and Strange Demon Cave—these four camps are the divine factions Li Che knows; whether there are other divine factions, Li Che does not know.

This was still informed to him by Huang Mei, and Huang Mei… only knows this much.

Only upon reaching the Divine Tribulation Realm, to evade the three calamities and nine tribulations, must one enter the Strange Gate, thereby truly confronting and encountering these divine factions.

Li Che's brows twitched slightly.

And now the one thing he knows is that Xixi and the Yulian faction may already be bound together.

Because, as Xixi obtained the transmission of the Third Prince Temple God, and with the Yulian fire's contamination, she is essentially inseparable from Yulian.

Li Che couldn't help but recall the scene he saw when the Dream Celestial Master's Dao Fruit metamorphosed, using the Dream Butterfly divine skill…

The future "big Xixi" seems to have become a formidable figure within the Prison Lotus faction.

But… Xixi also appears to have paid a great price for it.

Li Che held his breath, focused his mind, and brushed away the scattered thoughts.

Sitting cross‑legged, he began earnestly assisting in refining this Golden Heavenly King Temple Deity.

A Four Imperial Ministers‑ranked temple deity, equivalent to a top‑level Saint of War, had its divine power purified by the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart into clean energy, which merged into numerous divine embryos and Golden Cores.

Li Che's own aura was steadily rising.

The Seven Emotions and Six Desires Golden Core had nearly reached full fetal breath, and Lu Xuan Sword Immortal's Golden Core should also slowly ascend now that this Four Imperial Ministers temple deity has been fully refined!

Moreover, because this temple deity was of the Four Imperial Ministers tier, the divine nature extracted was immensely massive; Li Che might even have surplus after helping Lu Xuan Sword Immortal's Golden Core transform.

The remaining divine nature, Li Che poured almost entirely into the Divine Ape Embryo of the Law of Heaven and Earth.

Now, this Ling Ming Divine Ape embryo, though only recently broken through, has already woven divine nature, condensed a third organ, and continues to devour the temple deity's divine nature, striking the fourth organ…

Once all five organs are complete and the fetal five‑organ birth succeeds, it will step into the second divine transformation of the divine embryo, spawning a hundred skeletons—by "hundred skeletons" meaning bone, a body full of divine‑nature skeletons…

It can be said that cultivation and breakthrough at the divine‑embryo stage are not truly difficult; the real difficulty lies in accumulating divine nature!

Other cultivators of divine nature either obtain Divine Essence Crystals or draw and ingest divine nature from the heavens and earth.

These divine natures all come from the overflow of temple deity divine nature in Guiyi Miao.

Even when using Divine Essence Crystals for refinement, divine‑nature cultivation is an extremely slow process; one must reshape the refined divine nature to suit oneself and suppress the contaminating force within it, lest one's mind be affected.

Overcoming the influence of divine‑nature contamination is a key point that must be mastered from nurturing nature to Divine Base, and from Divine Base to the current divine embryo.

Li Che is different; he possesses the Pure‑Heart Dao Fruit and the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart, allowing him to lie atop the temple deity, tear and devour it directly, so his speed is naturally unmatched.

He spent roughly a day cultivating.

Li Che exhaled slowly, then snapped his eyes open; in his gaze, colors burst and shifted continuously, dream‑like and illusory!

A thought flickered, and instantly countless Divine Essence Crystals floated around.

Li Che clenched his five fingers, and the crystals exploded.

Massive divine nature surged wildly in Ink City.

Li Che began striking the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Golden Core to turn it into a divine embryo!

Taking down a Four Imperial Ministers temple deity is no easy feat; Li Che leveraged contacts and the power of restraining deities, deploying about seven or eight top‑level Absolute‑Peak forces to resolve the deity.

Li Che naturally took the time to savor the fruits of this moment.

Let his own divine cultivation achieve a… explosive boost!

…

…

Xixi opened her eyes; the two red‑rope‑tied sky‑piercing braids twitched, and she saw her father, eyes closed, clutching a Divine Essence Crystal while cultivating.

A sweet smile instantly spread across Xixi's face.

The little adult hopped over to Li Che's side.

After circling Li Che once, she wrinkled her cute little nose.

"Father isn't here—where did Father run off to?"

Xixi muttered.

Then she shook her head: "Never mind, Father will definitely come out after his cultivation ends to find Xixi."

Not wanting to disturb Li Che, Xixi tiptoed out of the cultivation chamber and carefully closed the portal behind her.

Outside the room, Fang Shangzhen sat at the doorway flipping through books, and his eyes immediately caught the sprightly, impish Xixi.

Xixi kept muttering, "Sister of the Demon‑Cave Master, can't see Xixi, can't see Xixi…"

"Little girl, where are you heading?"

Fang Shangzhen laughed outright.

Xixi blinked, her body stiffened a bit.

"Come, the Grand Overseer has given me free time to teach you more cultivation. Though you're a disciple of Lu Taibai, I discuss matters separately with him. Moreover, my younger brother wrote saying he admires you… says you love reading. Come, I have a few books here; take a look while you wait for your father to emerge."

Fang Shangzhen waved his hand gently.

Xixi was struck as if by lightning.

"No wonder, you're the sister of the Demon‑Cave Master!"

Xixi had just escaped one demon cave and fell into another!

"Can I go back and continue cultivating?"

Xixi smiled sweetly.

She turned and tried to open the cultivation chamber's portal.

However, seven divine seals sprang out, plunging Xixi into despair.

"Father, save me—!"

Three days passed in a flash; Xixi sat beside Fang Shangzhen, dutifully reading for three days, feeling herself become noticeably thinner.

Only when Fang Shangzhen let her rest and offered some delicacies did Xixi regain a bit of spirit.

The poor little girl, yet Fang Shangzhen learned from Fang Han's letter about Xixi's mischievous wit and intelligence.

He didn't soften, instead arranged for her to read properly.

After all, the books Fang Shangzhen gave Xixi are extremely hard to find elsewhere.

Li Che completed the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Golden Core, fully breakthrough to the divine embryo, then chose to suppress the divine‑embryo thunder without triggering it.

When he stepped out of the cultivation chamber, his eyes met Xixi, who wore dark circles and tears mixing in her eyes, looking aggrieved.

"Father, you finally emerged! If you hadn't, Xixi would have turned into a book‑worm!"

Xixi puffed out her lips, and the dark circles under her eyes vanished instantly.

- Xixi

She quickly set the book aside and sprinted toward Li Che.

- Li Che

Li Che laughed, ruffled Xixi's hair, took her hand, and thanked Fang Shangzhen.

- Li Che, Xixi, Fang Shangzhen

"Official Li, no need to be formal—Xixi is diligent and earnest, just as Han Shu said, she truly loves reading."

- Li Che (as Official Li), Xixi, Han Shu

Fang Shangzhen gave Xixi an amused look.

- Fang Shangzhen, Xixi

Of course, it's never wrong for children to learn more; Xixi's talent in cultivation is beyond doubt—at six years old her divine appearance already places her among the elite of the Great Jing, and she could easily shine at this Young Dragon Victory Assembly.

- Xixi, Great Jing, maybe "Young Dragon Victory Assembly" - event; we

But we also need to keep up with cultural knowledge, such as familiarity with certain herbs, understanding of spirit medicines, distinguishing spirit woods, and so on.

- No names.

For divine cultivators, these are all extremely important.

- No names.

Although Li Che was striking the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Divine Embryo in Mo City, he still sensed Xixi leaving the cultivation chamber.

Li Che, Xixi, Mo City – a place; also the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Divine Embryo technique.

When he sensed Xixi being pulled by Fang Shangzhen to look at astronomy and geography books, he did not intervene.

- Xixi, Fang Shangzhen

After all, Xixi is different from Li Che; she does not possess the Star‑Plucking Pupil divine ability, so she cannot analyze endlessly. To study various wondrous phenomena, spirit medicines, spirit woods, etc., she must rely solely on her own knowledge, so gaining more understanding is beneficial.

Xixi, Li Che, Star‑Plucking Pupil technique.

Fang Shangzhen glanced at Li Che, and his smile gradually faded.

- Fang Shangzhen, Li Che

"Lord Li Keqing, that Seven Treasure Relic Like‑Intent Golden Heavenly King Pagoda Strange Temple… has vanished! It disappeared into thin air!"

Li Che, Seven Treasure Relic Like‑Intent Golden Heavenly King Pagoda Strange Temple.

Fang Shangzhen chose to send a telepathic message because Xixi was present.

- Fang Shangzhen, Xixi

Li Che heard this, his face instantly showing surprise, and he hurriedly responded telepathically, "How did it just disappear? I haven't beaten it enough yet! My qi hasn't been fully expended!"

- Li Che

Fang Shangzhen paused and gave Li Che a look.

- Fang Shangzhen, Li Che

There's no such coincidence; Li Che invited their group to brutally beat the temple deity, and then the strange temple vanished into thin air.

- Li Che, Guiyi Miao

Fang Shangzhen honestly admits he did suspect Li Che.

- Fang Shangzhen, Li Che

Making a strange temple disappear into thin air completely severs its connection to the mortal world, cutting off the temple deity's divine essence from spilling into humanity…

- Guiyi Miao

This is certainly no small matter.

- None.

However, Ye Pengju personally entered the Mysterious Void to investigate, saw the cyan Great Buddha of the Black Sumeru faction intervene, and the news spread, dispelling Fang Shangzhen's doubts.

Ye Pengju, Mysterious Void.

Black Sumeru.

Also Fang Shangzhen.

"Lord Li Keqing, because of this matter… news has come from the First City Imperial Palace that they plan to hold the Peach Blossom Victory Assembly early. In three days it will be the Peach Blossom Victory Assembly; you should take Xixi back to prepare."

Li Che, First City Imperial Palace, Peach Blossom Victory Assembly.

"Both you and your daughter have entered the main banquet of the Peach Blossom Victory Assembly and have a chance to claim the top spot, so… prepare well."

Peach Blossom Victory Assembly, Main Banquet.

Fang Shangzhen rose, his loose Taoist robe flailing wildly in the wind.

- Fang Shangzhen

She escorted Li Che and the other person out of the Qintian Jian Treasure Tower.

- Li Che, Qintian Jian (Imperial Observatory), Baolou (Treasure Pavilion)

Nie Yang guarded the carriage, waiting beneath the White Jade Steps, and also took his disciple Li Chengzhou to cultivate.

Nie Yang, White Jade Steps, Li Chengzhou.

When he saw Li Che and Xixi emerge from Qintian Jian, he immediately stopped his cultivation and drove back to the Qianyuan Institute.

Li Che, Xixi, Qintian Jian, Qianyuan Institute.

The carriage from Qintian Jian traveled smoothly without obstruction; especially now that Li Che has some fame in the Divine Capital, he is a newly appointed Special Guest Official of Qintian Jian, capable of carving a top‑tier Half‑Sacred Divine Eagle of the Ultimate Peak.

Qintian Jian, Li Che, Divine Capital, Special Guest Official, Ultimate Peak Half‑Sacred Divine Eagle, Top Half‑Sacred.

Who wouldn't respect him?

- None.

After all, cultivators who refine divinity never know when they might be called upon to ascend to the Divine Eagle Half‑Sacred.

Divine Eagle Half‑Sacred.

Crossing such tech‑savvy practitioners brings no benefit at all.

- None.

Of course, the most crucial point is Li Che's terrifying network as a Divine Eagle Half‑Sacred; it is rumored that he led four top‑tier warriors to assault a temple, severely injuring the deity of the Golden Heavenly King Pagoda Strange Temple, causing the temple to be annihilated by a terrifying entity in the Mysterious Void, completely vanishing from the mortal world.

Li Che, Divine Eagle Half‑Sacred, Golden Heavenly King Pagoda Strange Temple, Mysterious Void.

Rounded up, Li Che can be said to be a ruthless person who single‑handedly toppled a strange temple!

- Li Che, Guiyi Miao

Qianyuan Institute.

- Qianyuan Institute

Fine rain drizzles continuously.

- None.

Zhao Fangzhou fervently guided the children who had entered the Main Banquet of the Young Dragon Victory Assembly.

Zhao Fangzhou, Young Dragon Victory Assembly, Main Banquet.

Children such as Lü Qingxuan, Yang Yi, Yun E, Zhou Peng, and Jin Taishui.

- Lü Qingxuan, Yang Yi, Yun E, Zhou Peng, Jin Taishui

When the carriage entered the courtyard, all the cultivating children could no longer contain themselves and rushed out one by one.

- None.

"Xixi is back!"

- Xixi

The children cheered.

- None.

They had missed Xixi dearly during her many days away.

- Xixi

As soon as the carriage came to a halt, Xixi sprang out, hands on her hips, puffing out her little belly.

- Xixi

Www? TtkΛn? co

- This looks like gibberish; likely a placeholder or spam. It's not a name; we should treat as not a name. Probably ignore.

"Esteemed ministers, your Great Emperor Xixi has returned!"

Esteemed officials, Xixi Great Emperor.

Xixi flashed a radiant smile, and the two skyward braids tied with red cords twitched slightly.

- Xixi

Then Xixi mingled with the children, playing joyfully.

- Xixi

Lü Taibai looked at Li Che, a strange expression appearing in his eyes; the news of the Golden Heavenly King Strange Temple's extinction had already spread throughout the Divine Capital.

Lü Taibai, Li Che, Golden Heavenly King Strange Temple, Divine Capital.

Although Ye Pengju spoke up to provide evidence, Lü Taibai's intuition told him that the mastermind behind the disappearance of the Golden Heavenly King Strange Temple could very well be the Underworld!

Ye Pengju, Lü Taibai, Golden Heavenly King Strange Temple, Underworld.

However, Lü Taibai didn't care; many divine cultivators cared deeply, since the extinction and disappearance of the strange temple affects the concentration of divinity in the world and their own interests.

- Lü Taibai, Guiyi Miao.

Lü Taibai didn't ask Li Che, but instead mentioned the news that the Peach Blossom Victory Assembly would start early.

Lü Taibai, Li Che, Peach Blossom Victory Assembly.

Li Che first spent a moment with his wife Zhang Ya, who leapt into his arms.

- Li Che, Zhang Ya

When Zhang Ya learned that Li Che had actually gone to attack the Four Imperial Strange Temple, her face turned pale; after all, it was the Four Imperial Strange Temple, whereas the Eight‑Armed Prison Lotus Furious Third Prince Strange Temple in Jin Guangfu was only of the Four Imperial rank.

Li Che, Zhang Ya, Four Imperial Strange Temple, Eight‑Armed Prison Lotus Furious Third Prince Strange Temple, Four Imperial Rank.

After soothing his wife, Li Che sat under the eaves, drinking tea with Lü Taibai and discussing the rules of the Peach Blossom Victory Assembly's main banquet.

Li Che, Zhang Ya, Lü Taibai, Peach Blossom Victory Assembly, Main Banquet.

"The rules of the main banquet change each session; of course, it depends on how the Empress decides. It might be just minor tweaks, or the entire rules could shift unpredictably."

Main Banquet, Empress.

"However, this year's Peach Blossom Victory Assembly differs from previous ones… it will be held within the West Mother of the West Strange Temple at the Three Pure Realms level, because a Ten‑thousand‑year Peach will appear. That Ten‑thousand‑year Peach… I intend to vie for it."

Peach Blossom Victory Assembly, Three Pure Realms, West Mother of the West Strange Temple, Ten‑thousand‑year Peach.

"If I win, eating this peach might give me the chance to truly step into the Divine Tribulation."

Li Che, Ten‑thousand‑year Peach, Divine Tribulation.

Lü Taibai took a sip of tea and said in a deep voice.

- Lü Taibai

……

- None.

……

- None.

The twenty-ninth day of the first month, the spring chill was still biting.

The spring rain was hazy, all things revived, the dark birds returned, and day and night gradually grew equal in length.

Each spring rain brings a bit of warmth.

The early spring chill, amidst one spring rain after another, retreated; the spring rain falling on the palm carried a few points of oily, soft warmth.

The Peach Blossom Assembly was an extremely grand affair for the entire Shendu.

These days, the wandering cultivators rushing from the various Dao of Dàjǐng and the prefectures had almost packed every inn in Shendu's lower three cities to the point of being impassable.

But today, as the Peach Blossom Assembly opens, Shendu's nine cities will open eight of them to the wandering cultivators.

That is to say, aside from Shendu's First City, which remains closed, the remaining eight cities—including the Second and Third Cities of the Upper Three—are all throwing their gates wide open, allowing unimpeded passage.

For a moment.

Along the Grand Canal, the white jade boulevard wide enough for dozens of luxurious carriages to travel side by side had become a throng of carriages and horses.

The crowd surged, carriages and horses intertwined!

The spring rain drizzled, and the oil-paper umbrellas resembled blossoms of spring's revival, blooming along the long street.

Fourth City, Qianyuan Academy.

Outside the Qianyuan Academy, which had been quiet and secluded for many days, it suddenly became lively.

Because the streets of Fourth City, which usually saw few people, now teemed with crowds flowing back and forth.

Many wandering warriors, as if touring in groups, pointed and chattered outside Qianyuan Academy, as though sightseeing a scenic spot.

Inside Qianyuan Academy.

Xixi and the other children who had ascended to the main banquet all changed into clean, neat azure disciple robes of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Li Che changed into the wide-sleeved, ancient-style long robe of a Qianyuan Divine Sect elder, his sleeves infused with wind and waves, billowing softly, giving him an air of grace and nonchalance.

Zhang Ya thoughtfully straightened his robe, smoothing out the wrinkles.

"Husband, don't put too much pressure on yourself; if you don't win first place, it's no big deal…"

Zhang Ya gazed at Li Che gently.

She naturally knew why her husband and daughter were taking part in this Peach Blossom Assembly: to earn that precious millennium peach for her.

Zhang Ya felt moved and also blamed herself; the feeling came naturally from her husband's and daughter's intentions.

But her self-reproach stemmed from the fact that her cultivation aptitude was truly lacking.

"Mother, rest assured! Xixi will definitely seize the Young Dragon championship for you! Whoever blocks Xixi, Xixi will beat them!"

Xixi clenched her chubby little fists, raised her eyebrows, and declared.

Zhang Ya, eyes moved, embraced her daughter, then pinched Xixi's nose: "Mother has heard that those you'll compete against are all Young Dragons capped at the fifteen-year age limit—each a miniature adult, having trained many more years than you; it's fine if we lose."

"Mother! Xixi won't lose!" Xixi instantly grew unhappy, puffing out her lips.

Li Che rubbed the heads of Xixi and his wife Zhang Ya, smiling gently: "Xiaoya, don't mind her; let her jump about as she pleases… Winning is nice, losing is no matter—just treat it as tempering one's mindset."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ya naturally said nothing more.

Lü Taibai smiled as he watched the affectionate family, a flash of envy crossing his eyes.

When, beneath the gate adjoining Shendu's Second and Third Cities, the resounding toll of the great bell spread throughout the city.

Lü Taibai then ordered departure.

The children excitedly poured out of the courtyard, crowding onto the carriages.

Xixi, bringing along her little servant Jintaishui, followed behind Li Che and slipped into the carriage of the Bureau of Astronomy, wishing to travel together with Li Che.

However.

When Nie Yang had just driven the carriage into the bustling long street.

Suddenly, a figure wrapped in a black robe stepped forward and blocked Li Che's carriage.

Nie Yang frowned, tugged the reins, the flood-dragon horse neighed, and as its hooves struck, they shattered the spring water.

"Who are you? How dare you block the carriage of a Qianyuan Divine Sect elder?!"

Nie Yang handed the reins to Li Chengzhou.

He himself clenched the hilt of the sword at his waist, his aura surging.

Yet, beneath that black robe, the opponent needed only a glance to make Nie Yang's whole body feel as if it had stiffened, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He was a swordsman capable of cleaving a Three-Flower Grandmaster with his blade!

And yet the opponent could impose such terrifying pressure upon him!

This shows that this person is a……

Martial Saint!

And an extremely powerful Martial Saint!

Yet the black-robed figure slowly lifted his head, removed his hood, revealing a head of golden hair flying in the spring wind and rain, and his face daubed with pigmented totemic patterns.

An unrestrained, unbridled, wild aura raged across the long street.

For a moment, the entire noisy long street fell silent.

And the golden-haired figure, his eyes like those of a peerless ferocious beast, swept over and landed on the carriage, ignoring the sword-wielding Nie Yang, his fierce, violent gaze seeming to pierce straight through the carriage curtains.

He saw the seated figures within the carriage.

On that pigment-smeared face, the shadow's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

"Golden Mastiff of Wushen Mountain."

"Get Jintaishui out here to see me."