Chapter 372

Spring rain pattered, pitter-patter.

The warm spring had just shown its tail, and the rain grew ever more damp, as if soaked in oil.

The dripping spring rain struck the black tiles, emitting a sound like a clock's hands ticking.

Shendu's Fourth City.

Because today marked the opening of Shendu's grand Peach Blossom Festival, the entire long street buzzed with excitement; many wandering martial artists who normally could not set foot there, as well as cultivators from various sects and provinces who had rushed over, all flocked to the Fourth City, eager to see where Shendu's upper-class residents lived.

But who would have thought they'd stumble upon a good show.

A cold, unrestrained, overbearing voice, like a shock wave, surged through the inside and outside of the long street; the speaker's voice was full of vigor, its impact extremely strong.

In an instant, it actually managed to completely suppress the long street's clamor.

Furthermore, the released martial saint's aura, the vast and rampant heaven-man induction, was like a great mountain being cut at the waist and toppled down, pressing on people's chests full of suffocation, making it painful to breathe.

The long street fell silent all at once.

Many gazes turned over, curious and doubtful.

Shaman God Mountain?

Isn't that the power from outside the Dàjǐng dynasty, the force within that great Li royal court?

The wandering cultivators who could make it to Shendu are no fools; each naturally knows what the Shaman God Mountain is about.

Removing the black robe and hood, a burly figure with a head of wildly flying golden hair was revealed, like a ferocious wild wolf on the plains, full of savage and vicious energy.

The totems and patterns painted on his face with pigment were even more filled with an eerie aura.

Jinmao Xiao!

Nie Yang gripped his sword tightly, his eyes narrowed, panting heavily; his sword… might still manage against a Three Flowers Grand Master, but against a Martial Saint… it would be too much of a strain.

Moreover, this Golden-haired Xiezhi before him was clearly no ordinary Martial Saint.

Hum—

Abruptly, a warm divine aura surged forth, as if a pair of eyes inside the carriage cabin slowly opened, then completely blocked the Golden-haired Xiezhi's overbearing heaven-man induction from outside.

Inside the carriage cabin.

Jin Taishui's face turned pale; he sat behind Xixi, his eyes somewhat dazed.

"It… it is my elder brother… Golden-haired Xiezhi…"

Jin Taishui said in a low voice.

Li Che leaned against the carriage cabin, wearing a plain smile, not taking it to heart.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ya by his side was somewhat angry.

"How could you tell him to get lost? His tone is so arrogant! Blocking our carriage in the street… this person is truly overbearing!"

In Shendu, Zhang Ya had rarely encountered such overbearing behavior.

Besides the first time she came to Shendu, when she met Consort Ji, who had brought Lu Chi and unilaterally come to arrange a marriage engagement, Consort Ji had never been so overbearing either.

And this Golden-haired Xiezhi, a man from the great Li royal court, dared to be so arrogant in Shendu?

Xixi widened her eyes, the flesh on her cheeks twitching, she directly lifted the carriage curtain and walked outside.

Jin Taishui is now her servant, her little brother; as the big sister, how could she let her little brother suffer a loss?!

Xixi was very angry!

The carriage curtain was lifted, a rolling wave of air; Xixi, however, glared with wide eyes, her two pigtails bound with red rope shaking, full of vitality.

She placed her hands on her hips, stepped forward with her feet, stood on the carriage's shaft, and glared at the person blocking the carriage ahead, a face of unrestrained and unruly Golden-haired Xiezhi.

"Jin Taishui is my little brother, you golden-haired dog, what are you shouting for?"

Although Xixi is six years old, when her temper flares, besides her father, mother, and the master of the demon cave, she fears no one and gives no face to anyone!

Moreover, this golden-haired dog has come to snatch her little brother; as the big sister, how could Xixi tolerate that?!

Take a step back, and Xixi the Great Emperor's reputation would completely collapse!

How will we ever get by in the kids' circle now!

In the distance, the carriages that were about to move all came to a halt, and pairs of eyes peered out from within.

Lü Taibai lifted the curtain, and Zhao Fangzhou, sharing his carriage, narrowed his eyes: "Sect Leader, this is the Golden-haired Xuan of Witch God Mountain… one of the envoys sent by Witch God Mountain to communicate with Dàjǐng, a formidable figure whose strength is said to have already crossed the Qi Sea and reached the pinnacle of the mountain path."

Lü Taibai's silver hair flowed and fluttered as he gave a light smile: "It has opened four times; this Golden-haired Xuan can now open the Heavenly Gate, for it possesses the bloodline of the Great Witch God, and its talent is indeed quite good."

"Then what about us…"

"No problem, this guy had to pick a fight with anyone but chose to provoke Xixi; the last one who provoked Xixi has already gone through his seventh day mourning several times over."

Xixi had Li Che standing behind her, and Li Che had the Netherworld standing behind him.

Even someone of the rank of Consort Ji, residing in the Ji family's mansion—an ancient clan's residence—the Netherworld gave no face, daring to storm in and reap her life.

This is enough to demonstrate the Netherworld's dominance.

Upon hearing Lü Taibai's words, Zhao Fangzhou also relaxed his mind.

Yet the crowd of onlookers only grew larger.

……

……

The Golden-haired Xuan's expression turned cold as he indifferently gazed at the little girl who had slipped out of the carriage.

A yellow-haired little girl whose hair hadn't even fully grown in dared to speak to him like that?

She even called him a golden-haired dog?

He is a Golden-haired Xuan!

It's merely a wolf totem painted on his face; moreover, it's a wolf, not a dog!

"Little girl, you may be small, but your tone is not…"

The Golden-haired Xuan couldn't be bothered to argue with a six-year-old girl; winning would be unworthy, and if she cried he'd still be blamed by the masses… he certainly wouldn't stoop to trading barbs with a little girl.

His gaze shifted, looking toward the inside of the carriage.

He sensed a Divine Fetus cultivator seated inside the carriage, blocking his heaven-man induction, but it was no big problem—just a preliminary contact, and he already sensed that the person's divine cultivation was not too strong.

Most likely, he was only at the Divine Fetus One or Two Divine Transformations stage.

He should be that Li Che, the Half-Saint Divine Eagle who has been the talk of Shendu lately.

Jin Mao Niu had just been to West Ling Road, and not long after arriving from West Ling Road to Shendu, he had also heard of the newly appointed guest minister of the Imperial Observatory who had personally received an audience from the Grand Supervisor—the Half-Saint Divine Eagle Li Che.

Li Che's status is indeed noble, but what does that have to do with him, Jin Mao Niu?

He, Jin Mao Niu, doesn't need to ask this Li Che to carve a Divine Eagle.

"Do you understand willing to bet and accept loss? Little Gold wants to compete with me; if he loses, he must accept loss! So now he is my little brother!"

Xixi put her hands on her hips, glared, and stuck out her little belly.

Jin Tai Sui slowly emerged from the carriage, having already washed away the tattoo on his face; he looked somewhat handsome, and looking at Jin Mao Niu, a hint of fear flashed in his eyes.

"Older brother."

Jin Tai Sui lowered his head.

Jin Mao Niu's eyes turned cold and indifferent as he looked at Jin Tai Sui.

"You embarrassing thing, get down, tie yourself up, and after the Flat Peach Victory Assembly, I'll take you back to Witch God Mountain to see the Great Witch God."

His voice, indifferent and cold, lacked much emotion and brotherly feeling, emanating from Jin Mao Niu's mouth.

In his eyes, Jin Tai Sui's conduct had completely lost the face of Witch God Mountain; he wasn't worth mourning.

However, Jin Tai Sui shook his head.

"Older brother, I am willing to bet and accept loss; I will stay long enough, and then I will return to Witch God Mountain to pay respects to the Great Witch God……"

Jin Tai Sui clasped his fists and bowed.

In the Primordial Origin Divine Sect, following behind Xixi and being educated together by Fang Hanshu, Jin Tai Sui also learned etiquette and bearing.

Jin Mao Niu looked at Jin Tai Sui's manner, that of a Dàjǐng scholar, and the disgust in his eyes grew stronger.

"Jin Tai Sui, don't forget—you are a person of the Great Li Witch God Mountain, with the blood of Witch God Mountain flowing in you; don't act like you're a Dàjǐng person—I've walked the Dàjǐng Jiangnan Road myself, and those scholars there are not a single good thing! They're all a bunch of heartless, venomous creatures who eat people and don't spit out the bones!"

Jin Mao Niu narrowed his eyes, and on his tattoo-covered face, a cold and murderous intent instantly appeared.

"Now, I'll give you one last chance—come down, bind your own hands and feet, and return with me!"

"Otherwise, you will never be able to return to Witch God Mountain again."

Jin Mao Niu said in a deep voice.

Xixi swung her two sky‑reaching braids, sparks flying beneath her feet, and two Hell Lotus Wind Fire Gold Light Wheels spun up at high speed, her fighting spirit surging as she glared angrily.

"Little Gold, rest assured—Xixi the Great Emperor watches over you!"

However.

The curtain was quickly lifted.

Just as Xixi was about to leap into the sky, Li Che grabbed her with one hand and pressed her back onto the carriage shaft.

"Even the kids understand willing to bet and accept loss—how can someone as big as you not get it?"

His dark robe fluttered, his black hair stiff and rustling in the wind.

Li Che smiled faintly.

And in the instant Li Che stepped out, Jin Mao Niu felt the heaven‑earth soul between heaven and earth suddenly surge, like a great hand trying to crush his heart.

Jin Mao Niu, however, narrowed his eyes, like a vicious wolf eyeing its prey.

"Matters between adults should be settled with adult methods……"

Li Che laughed.

Jin Mao Niu narrowed his eyes: "Li Half‑Saint, how do you want to settle this?"

"Since Jin Tai Sui ultimately bears the blood of the Great Witch God of our Witch God Mountain, making him a slave or servant would indeed lose face for Witch God Mountain; Li Half‑Saint today will give our Witch God Mountain face, letting me bring Jin Tai Sui back, and I, Jin Mao Niu, will thus owe you, Li Half‑Saint, a favor—how about that?"

Li Che heard this, shook his head: "Face is earned, not owed… Well then, Jin Tai Sui originally lost a bet with my daughter, accepted the loss, and became her servant, swearing an oath……"

"If you want to take him away, that's not impossible—Jin Tai Sui bet with my daughter, so why don't you and I make a wager instead?"

Jin Mao Niu crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow in surprise: "What are we betting on?"

"You're probably also here to participate in the Heroes' Victory Assembly as a hero, right?"

Jin Mao Niu laughed: "I also participated in the previous session, but sadly fell just short of taking first place…… This time I'm coming for the championship, hoping to pluck that nine‑thousand‑year flat peach and bring it back as an offering to the Great Witch God."

Li Che rubbed Xixi's head: "Then let's make a wager between you and me—whoever can pluck that nine‑thousand‑year flat peach……"

"If you pluck the nine‑thousand‑year flat peach, the bet between Xixi and Jin Tai Sui is void, and Jin Tai Sui will return with you to Witch God Mountain."

"But if I pluck the nine‑thousand‑year flat peach, you will become like Jin Tai Sui serving my daughter…… and be my servant."

The words having been spoken,

The entire long street fell silent at that moment.

The spring rain pattered on the black tiles, making a crackling sound.

Many inhalations sounded, continuous and unbroken.

At this moment, on the long street of the Fourth City, gathered were not only wandering martial artists but also heroic young dragons from the various divine sects, each seated in a carriage.

After learning of the conflict between Witch God Mountain's Jin Mao Niu and Li Che, they all pricked up their ears and listened attentively.

Who would have thought that Li Che would actually throw out such a grand wager!

Lu Taibai's silver hair fluttered as he leaned against the window, unable to help laughing: "What a confident kid."

Zhao Fangzhou also wore a strange expression: "Elder Li's tone has indeed grown much bolder…… but only by winning the championship at the Heroes' Victory Assembly can one have a chance to obtain the nine‑thousand‑year flat peach……"

"The main banquet and the pre‑banquet of the Heroes' Victory Assembly are quite different."

Lu Taibai burst out laughing: "Don't worry—does Elder Li seem like someone who would suffer a loss?"

And amidst the spring wind and spring rain.

Jinmao Xiong's head of golden hair swayed in the wind, his brows involuntarily furrowing.

This bet……

How audacious!

This newly appointed Special Guest Minister of the Imperial Observatory, this Divine Eagle Half-Saint…… is actually this audacious!

Most importantly……

Jinmao Xiong couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth……

You really don't treat other heroes as people, do you?

All you talk about is which of us will pick the peach…… Do you think other heroes are just wooden puppets?

Not to mention those like the offspring of Prince Jimo Li, or the top hero of the Zhenwu Divine Sect, which excels at combat, or the number one hero of the Tianshi Dao Purple Mansion Divine Sect, hailed as the number one divine sect of Dàjǐng……

They are all extremely troublesome characters; even Jinmao Xiong doesn't think he could easily overcome them.

Especially the Purple Mansion Divine Sect; in every Peach Blossom Victory Assembly, only three emerge, yet each is a true hero, their strength and cultivation immensely formidable.

"Li Half-Saint…… how can you be so confident?" Jinmao Xiong asked.

"What if neither of us manages to pluck the nine-thousand-year peach?"

Li Che laughed: "Then I'll count it as your win…… Jin Tai Sui goes back with you, how about that?"

Jinmao Xiong narrowed his eyes.

What a fine fellow!

You're truly audacious!

Just a Divine Fetus and a Divine Transformation—how can you be so audacious?!

Jinmao Xiong stared at Li Che; this Divine Eagle Half-Saint's confidence is truly intense—heard that upon reaching Shendu he had just broken through to the Divine Fetus realm.

Even if he obtained the cultivation cottage set up by the Grand Minister of the Imperial Observatory, which everyone under heaven envies……

And what gives him such confidence?

"If you don't dare to bet, then forget it…… don't block my carriage."

Li Che's smile faded as he stood by the carriage shaft; his jet-black, vigorous hair flashed like lightning, tearing through wind and rain, he spoke indifferently.

A surge of heat rose in Jinmao Xiong's heart; Li Che had confidence in himself, so Jinmao Xiong…… what reason did he lack confidence?

He had lost the previous session; Jinmao Xiong felt it was because he was too young.

This session of the Peach Blossom Victory Assembly, he tempered his cultivation, traveling through Dàjǐng's mountains and rivers for many years, honing himself, his cultivation also made a great breakthrough……

How could he lack confidence compared to a brat who just broke through to the Divine Fetus?

Li Che, when it comes to age, is younger than Jinmao Xiong.

Jinmao Xiong is already forty-nine, at the very limit of the age restriction, participating in this Peach Blossom Victory Assembly.

This will also be his last Peach Blossom Victory Assembly; if he fails to pluck a peach for the Great Witch God to taste, he may never get another chance in this lifetime.

Unless one day, he conquers Shendu of Dàjǐng and takes over the Guiyi Miao of the Western Queen Mother of the Three Pure Ones' rank……

"Good!"

A blaze-like radiance burst forth from Jinmao Xiong's eyes.

His whole body's golden hair blazed like golden flames.

"I'll bet with you!"

Jinmao Xiong lifted his chin, confident, unrestrained, and flamboyant, full of fighting spirit, his battle intent surging.

He gave a deep look to Jin Tai Sui, who stood with head lowered behind Xixi; the mockery in his eyes grew ever richer.

An embarrassing disgrace!

I will surely drag you back to Witch God Mountain to await the Great Witch God's judgment!

Jinmao Xiong donned his hood again; the black robe's sleeves shook violently, shattering each distinct spring rain droplet, bursting into white mist, then he strode forward, walking on foot toward the direction of Shendu's Second City.

"Father, you must win!"

Xixi clenched her little fists: "I'll definitely teach that golden-haired dog a lesson for Xixi!"

Li Che smiled gently, bringing Xixi into the carriage.

Nie Yang continued driving, crushing the accumulated water on the ground as they headed toward Shendu's Second City.

And as the good show came to a close,

The wager between the Imperial Observatory's Special Guest Minister Li Che and Jinmao Xiong of the Great Li Witch God Mountain spread instantly throughout Shendu.

For this Peach Blossom Victory Assembly, it added a bit of topicality.

……

……

Shendu's road surface was very level, and moreover, the carriage provided by the Imperial Observatory was of a luxurious sort.

Thus, inside the carriage, it was very quiet.

Li Che closed his eyes to nurture his spirit, yet his mind sank into Mo City, examining to what extent Lü Xuan Sword Immortal's Golden Core had been cultivated, and whether it would transform into a Divine Fetus.

Moreover, Li Che was also monitoring the progress and reaction of Huang Jiujiu refining that Temple God's Dao Position Pearl.

Huang Jiujiu's refining speed obviously exceeded Li Che's estimate; in just this time, half of the flesh on his body began to melt, more than half devoured by that Temple God's Dao Position Treasure Pearl.

This speed is far faster than imagined.

It was as if the treasure pearl, after consuming and refining the blood-flesh, like a wolf that had just tasted blood, suddenly sped up its eating.

Hiss—

In a vague sense, Li Che felt a transformation in Huang Jiujiu, as if some Dao essence had been added; upon the body that originally emanated a black halo, golden light slowly began to burst forth.

As if infected by a Golden Dao Position Treasure Pearl.

And on Huang Jiujiu's body, a touch of 'Divine Essence' appeared, just like the Golden Heavenly King who holds up the Golden Heavenly King Tower.

「Is this transforming into a temple deity? 」

Li Che's brows furrowed slightly.

No longer continuing to study, his mind withdrew from Mo City.

And the carriage traveled along the main road, quickly reaching Shendu's Second City.

Although the imperial palace direction had opened all of Shendu's cities except the First City, the Second City remained inaccessible to ordinary people.

Shendu's Mystic Guard, the four great guards—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird—each dispatched massive forces to guard, thus protecting the Second City.

Only those participating in the Peach Banquet Triumph Assembly could enter; everyone else had to stay outside the Third City.

As for the many martial cultivators who wished to visit the headquarters of the Octagonal Triple-Eave Dripping Water Celestial Treasure Pavilion, as well as the Temple Suppression Office and Lotus Pavilion, their hopes were dashed, leaving them immensely regretful.

They were blocked outside the city gate, only able to glimpse the situation inside the Second City by looking afar.

Upon the vast, empty White Jade Plaza of Shendu's Second City, at some unknown time, neat rows had been arranged.

The carriage of the Primordial Origin Divine Sect arrived; the armored soldiers of Shendu's Azure Dragon Mystic Guard inspected it, then allowed the sect's members to pass, but the carriage could not enter the Second City, so everyone had to disembark and enter on foot.

Li Che took Xixi's hand, while Zhang Ya embraced his arm beside him; the family chatted and laughed, unhurried, stepping onto the White Jade Plaza at the center of Shendu's Second City amidst the envious gazes of many martial wanderers.

The White Jade Plaza was erected with a huge canopy to block the spring rain; inside, countless candles were lit, illuminating the light obscured by the canopy.

Lü Tai Bai, in flowing white robes with silver hair spread out, had specially waited for Li Che's family.

Afterwards, they chatted and laughed as they walked together.

Meanwhile, the martial wanderers outside the Third City, eagerly looking forward, each had bright eyes.

"This is the sect master and great deity of the Primordial Origin Divine Sect, Lü Tai Bai! Ranked seventh on Heaven's Gate Pass, fifth on the Divine Gods Ranking! Present on both lists, his power is outrageous!"

"Have you seen him? Clad in dazzling divine weapons, he is the sect master of the Seven Treasures Divine Sect of the Long Abyss Dao, Ning Cai Shen!"

"This one, this one, carries the fragrant scent of divine elixirs as he walks; a whiff makes one feel like soaring—this is the sect master of the Heavenly Elixir Divine Sect, Gu Changqing!"

"This venerable monk is the abbot of the Little Spirit Sound Temple, Great Master Yellow Brow? The Holy Hand of the Divine Eagle! Alas, the Little Spirit Sound Temple suffered a slaughter by the Netherworld… Now only Great Master Yellow Brow alone participates in the Peach Banquet Triumph Assembly."

……

The martial wanderers showed quite a bit of the enthusiasm of chasing stars like Li Che did in his previous life.

For these figures who exist only on the Heaven's Gate Pass and the Divine Gods Ranking, the martial wanderers were each excited beyond containment, all planning to properly broaden their horizons.

Although the various divine sects are not on good terms with the Dàjǐng court, since they gave face by coming to the Peach Banquet Triumph Assembly, the court naturally will arrange seats well for them.

A respectful monk from the Little Weasel Temple led the way, bringing the members of the Primordial Origin Divine Sect to their seats.

"Ah Che, you really are playing the 'get something for nothing' trick… If you lose, you'll have to return the Golden Tai Sui to that Golden-haired Qilin; if the Qilin loses, it will become your servant…"

"I have to say, this Golden-haired Qilin is a bit hot-headed, just like the Golden Tai Sui… No wonder they're brothers."

"They're probably about to become brothers in adversity."

"However, being your servant, Li Che, isn't necessarily misfortune; perhaps it's his opportunity."

Lü Tai Bai and Li Che sat on the sandalwood grand master's chair and began to chat.

Upon hearing Lü Tai Bai's words, Li Che couldn't help but reveal an embarrassed smile.

How does Lü Tai Bai seem even more confident than him?

Suddenly, Lü Tai Bai lightly tapped his finger on the table, gesturing for Li Che to look in a certain direction.

"That is the sect master of the Celestial Master Dao's Purple Mansion Divine Sect, Zhang Wuji, and the three heroes of this session's Heroes' Triumph Assembly from the Purple Mansion Divine Sect… Their auras are not weak, their divinity quite massive, likely they have all reached the divine fetus of the Four Divine Transformations realm."

Upon hearing this, Li Che's eyes narrowed.

The Purple Mansion Divine Sect… called the number one divine sect of Dàjǐng, Li Che truly felt quite curious about it.

Following Lü Tai Bai's pointed direction, I saw several figures in Daoist robes in the distance; the leader wore a purple broken-robe, held a whisk, seated on a chair like an old monk in meditation.

As for the other three figures resembling young Daoists, they seemed to sense Li Che's gaze, lifting their eyes; their gazes collided in the air, crackling like electric currents.

Powerful divinity surged, faintly as if countless cold, merciless temple deities were casting their gazes.

Li Che's eyes narrowed, then he shifted his gaze away.

This Purple Mansion Divine Sect…

is somewhat interesting.

Lü Tai Bai took a sip of the tea placed before the desk, then said lightly: "This Purple Mansion Divine Sect… being able to become Dàjǐng's number one divine sect is not without merit."

"They condense the inner palace of the crimson field into a Purple Mansion, then invite the temple deity inside, each cultivating with the deity's aid, their training speed extremely fast, like flying; their divinity-rank aura possesses the trait of being invincible against same-rank temple deities…"

"Fighting them is like fighting a temple deity itself."

Lü Tai Bai said.

"The Purple Mansion Divine Technique they cultivate is like assisting a temple priest, allowing them to happily draw on the deity's power… thus it is also a characteristic of the Celestial Master Dao."

Upon hearing this, Li Che's heart also couldn't help but feel a bit interested.

However, Li Che did not look for long.

His gaze swept over the assembly.

Ji Mo Li also arrived, clad in profound black armor, with four sons behind him—whether true or false—all gathered at his rear.

Besides that, Li Che also saw Lü Chi, sitting beside an old man with half-white, half-black hair; the old man wore a plain cloth robe yet sat in the front rows of the assembly, his status obviously extremely special.

"This person is the Grand Preceptor of Dàjǐng, Xie Yun Shen… Back on the Grand Canal, the Heavenly Elixir clone of Gu Changqing was sent by him to do mischief…"

"His cultivation is not high, but he is extremely scheming and deceitful, skilled at calculation; when we just entered the sect, the seven great divine sects gathered to oppose us, likely he also guided from behind."

Lü Tai Bai's voice suddenly grew solemn.

"But whether this person truly lacks cultivation… no one knows; such an old schemer, feigning weak cultivation, we dare not truly assume he has none at all."

Upon hearing this, Li Che turned his head to look.

Lü Chi dared not meet Li Che's gaze, whereas Xie Yun Shen stroked his beard, smiled, and gently nodded at Li Che.

The plain-clothed Grand Preceptor of Dàjǐng… Xie Yun Shen!

Li Che's face showed little emotional fluctuation.

He assigned Gu Changqing to come, intending to take Xixi away?

This matter…… since you did it, then Li Che will consider it remembered.

Wanting to take his daughter Xixi is tantamount to touching Li Che's reverse scale; Li Che naturally won't have a good look.

After being schemed against twice in a row, although Li Che resolved both, this loss, Li Che naturally cannot swallow it for nothing.

He glanced lightly at National Preceptor Xie Yunshen.

Li Che shifted his gaze away with a blank expression.

In his heart, he silently wrote this name in the Book of Life and Death of the Netherworld.

National Preceptor Xie Yunshen sat in the Grand Master's chair, his position extremely forward, he turned his head, withdrew his gaze, and the smile on his face began to gradually fade.

"What a Li Half-Saint……"

Xie Yunshen's eyes involuntarily flashed a hint of solemnity.

This was the first time he had personally seen Li Che, the first time he met Li Che face to face.

Xie Yunshen actually had some anticipation for this day.

He had stayed in the Lotus Pavilion for so long, studied Li Che's materials, yet this was the first time he had encountered such a person.

In just a few short years, he could actually rise from a mud-legged nobody of a small Feilei city.

And then he proceeded to his current height, sitting in the Peach Banquet before the second city of Dàjǐng Shendu.

A person born of a mud-legged background…… what special quality does he have to be able to support the soaring like a great peng spreading its wings?!

Xie Yunshen truly wanted to witness it.

And today, he has witnessed it.

"This Li Half-Saint…… what a strong killing intent!"

Xie Yunshen stroked his beard and spoke softly.

"This person……"

Could it be that he is a great peng soaring straight up after carving a path through slaughter?

Lü Chi, hearing this, was stunned for a moment.

He naturally knew that Li Che was not as honest and simple as he appeared on the surface.

Yet he never expected that National Preceptor Xie Yunshen would just exchange a glance and reach a conclusion.

Xie Yunshen glanced at Lü Chi: "His daughter possesses extraordinary talent; upon seeing her today, she is indeed extraordinary, a dragon among men, a phoenix among phoenixes—you are not worthy……"

"Consort Ji initially brought you here, yet dared to directly go for the engagement—truly shameless……"

Lü Chi blushed and lowered his head.

Xie Yunshen said lightly.

"This Li Half-Saint…… even directed killing intent toward this old man."

"Lü Taibai, this Taibai Killing Star, compared to Li Half-Saint, seems still lacking a bit."

"One Gan Yuan, two great killing stars……"

"The Gan Yuan Divine Sect is truly going to rise…… headache."

Xie Yunshen's eyes slightly narrowed.

……

……

Fine drizzle, the spring breeze teasing.

On the White Jade Plaza of Shendu's Second City.

Accompanied by the sound of the massive, heavy and sonorous ancient bell being struck, the exploding sound waves shattered the tranquil spring rain falling from the sky.

The bell's vibrations surged, raising sound waves like waves and tides……

The entire venue fell silent; the many martial artists crowded in the vast sea of people in Shendu's Third City were all immersed in watching, daring not to speak loudly.

The heavy, solemn gate of Shendu's First City slowly opened, with creaking sounds, a luxurious, extravagant carriage frame with gold flowing slowly drove out.

A mighty, terrifying aura, as if bearing the will of heaven and earth, accompanied the opening of the First City's gate and the slow emergence of the carriage procession.

Like the heavenly river opening its sluice, releasing a terrifying torrent.

Li Che, seated in the position of the Gan Yuan Divine Sect, only felt that his heaven-and-earth soul, in an instant, seemed to be suppressed by a great force, making it somewhat hard to breathe.

Click-click-click——

Above the firmament, within the leaden clouds, it seemed as if countless spring thunder rumbled and exploded.

Under the great canopy of the White Jade Plaza, civil officials, generals, nobles and the like all rose to their feet, clasped fists in salute, and performed the rites solemnly.

An elderly purple-robed official of the Bureau of Ceremonies raised both arms, lifted his spine, and held his head high.

His breath and blood surged like a great river and tide!

In his roar, he emitted a piercing sound like tearing open the heavens and leaden clouds.

"His Majesty has arrived——!!!"

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived——!!!"

Second Update, more tonight, Lao Li continues writing, seeking monthly votes, seeking recommendation votes, seeking readers, Lao Li thanks!