Chapter 393: 395. Chapter 388: Qi Tian's Face, Passive Monkey Steals Peach, Temple Deity Resonates to Open Ten-Thousand-Year Immortal

395. Chapter 388: Qi Tian's Face, Passive Monkey Steals Peach, Temple Deity Resonates to Open Ten-Thousand-Year Immortal Peach Forest 【Seeking Monthly Votes】

Huff huff huff huff—

The surging wind continuously brushes and churns.

Like the rumble of a muffled thunder, the booming sound cracks and roars, rolling endlessly!

Ancient, heavy bell tones linger endlessly between heaven and earth, echoing among the swaying Immortal Peach trees.

Ascend to the nine-thousand-year Immortal Peach Garden!

The sound, like an ancient bell, rings around Li Che's ears.

Buzz buzz buzz—

Immediately, a buzzing erupts from the earth, turning it into ruins; countless soil surges, deep pits abound, the roots of the Immortal Peach trees rise from the ground like snarling serpents, resembling a flood dragon rolling and soaring within the exposed pits.

However, due to protective seals, the Immortal Peach trees remain intact, showing no damage from Li Che's clash with the golden-furred hound, Kalu monks, and others.

Only a few roots were slightly injured; for Immortal Peach trees towering three hundred zhang, such root damage is minor.

Splash splash—

The three-hundred-zhang Immortal Peach tree begins to quake violently, then clears a path for Li Che; countless dense, swirling white celestial mist surges forth, forming an auspicious cloud beneath Li Che's feet.

Propelling his body forward, he continues toward the next Immortal Peach garden.

Each seven-thousand-year Immortal Peach tree sways left and right, as if crying with joy, as if saying, "At last we have sent off this plague deity!"

Nine-thousand-year Immortal Peach Garden.

Li Che steps on flowing clouds; wherever his gaze falls, the shimmering fence wall opens its gates, offering no obstruction.

His feet touch the ground, the ultra-soft soil rippling like rolling waves; atop the waves grow one razor‑sharp frost grass after another. Li Che plucks a piece of frost grass, feeling its quality rivals that of some Eight‑Extremes or even Seven‑Yuan divine weapons.

Within the nine-thousand-year Immortal Peach garden, the peach trees stand perfectly straight, piercing the clouds, over eight hundred zhang tall, towering like the sharp spears in an old general's hand on the battlefield!

Banners flutter, totems roll!

Scorching, boiling!

Li Che's feet sink in the soft soil; looking up, though the Immortal Peach trees reach eight hundred zhang, their lush branches spread to enshroud heaven and earth, obscuring all brilliance.

Yet heaven and earth are not dim; each leaf flickers with radiance, making the light between the peach forest shine.

Li Che lifts his head, his brow flesh tearing to both sides, deploying the star‑plucking divine eye technique.

Peering into the void and returning true, he sees within the leaves of these peach trees the capture of the Kunlun death‑light from the Haori Kunlun Mirror.

It seems the Kunlun death‑light is diluted, then captured within the leaves.

"It's denser… hotter, almost comparable, as if the very souls of heaven and earth lift into the void, feeling close to the Kunlun Mirror."

"Indeed, as the peach garden rises, the barrier with the Kunlun Mirror seems torn open; the older the garden, the nearer it feels to this Haori Kunlun Mirror!"

Li Che feels a torrent of heat surging in his mind, becoming intensely eager.

He does not immediately choose to pluck a nine-thousand-year peach.

Having scarcely arrived at this nine-thousand-year peach garden, how could Li Che be willing to leave so easily?

Because only Li Che has entered the nine-thousand-year peach garden, if he were to pick a nine-thousand-year peach, it would mean ending this heroic contest and being expelled from the garden…

Li Che does not wish to leave so soon.

Even though he knows the Heaven River Ruyi hairpin's drawn water screen can observe his every move within the nine-thousand-year peach garden.

Because now there is nothing else, the scene reflected in the Heaven River water screen is his entire conduct.

If Li Che makes any small move, it will be scrutinized by all.

But Li Che does not care.

The swirling white celestial mist beneath his feet gradually dissipates; Li Che stretches lazily, his whole body emitting crackling bursts, loosening his form, and his supple figure erupts with great power.

The celestial board expands; Li Che's mind scans the entire peach garden.

The nine-thousand-year peach garden, compared to other gardens, does not shrink in area at all, as each nine-thousand-year peach tree reaches eight hundred zhang, dense and leafy, shading the sky.

The near‑ten‑thousand-year peach trees are each ancient relics.

In Li Che's perception, the number of peaches in this nine-thousand-year peach forest is unexpectedly high.

"There are actually five nine-thousand-year peaches?"

"If one is taken as a reward, given to Xixi later…"

Li Che rubs his hands.

The peach‑stealing gene seems to reactivate at this moment.

But Li Che quickly restrains himself; after all, under everyone's gaze, it's not proper to steal peaches without regard for his image.

Moreover, if he steals now, wouldn't that tell the Empress that the peaches in the seven-thousand-year peach forest were taken by him?

Li Che would never do something that self‑incriminates.

But leaving each nine-thousand-year peach hanging here, each ripe and heavy, seems ready to fall to the ground.

Later they would rot, or be devoured by the guarding beasts.

That would be such a waste.

Li Che has endured hardship; he is far from a wasteful, extravagant person.

Looking around, Li Che ponders, a glimmer flashing at his brow.

The Heaven River Ruyi hairpin can peer into the peach garden's scenes.

It's like having a camera hanging above his head; how can he block this camera?

Li Che sits cross‑legged, not immediately picking a nine-thousand-year peach despite the public's gaze.

"Just feed the camera with a fake image, right?"

"The picture everyone sees would be completely different from what I truly do."

Li Che smiles.

Otherwise, under the watchful eyes of all, Li Che could not act.

As for stealing peaches in the Dàjǐng Imperial Family's nine-thousand-year-old Peach Garden…

Actually, Li Che does not count as stealing peaches.

Because this Peach Forest belongs to the Western Queen Mother Temple Deity, not the Dàjǐng Imperial Family.

The Dàjǐng Imperial Family can pick them, so Li Che can naturally pick them as well.

As for how to alter the picture that everyone sees…

Li Che raised his hand and touched his brow; the Heaven and Earth Chessboard net swirled, linking every corner of the Peach Forest.

Subsequently, within Li Che's chest, a Dao Fruit began to beat rapidly.

Thump thump thump—

This Dao Fruit is precisely the 【Dream Heavenly Master】 Dao Fruit.

This is the Dao Fruit Li Che awakened after Xixi turned six; its function is relatively simple, and it does not help Li Che much.

But at this moment, it unexpectedly can solve the problem Li Che currently needs.

Altering the picture that everyone sees…

His mind stirred slightly.

As the Dao Fruit contracted and expanded, it seemed as if seven-colored streams of light began to surge forth rapidly.

Like a butterfly mastering dreams, it lightly flapped its wings, scattering countless dream-inducing substances, turning everything visible into the image Li Che wished to show.

Buzz buzz buzz—

Seven-colored light mist swirled around; Li Che opened his eyes, glanced around, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly.

He communicated with the Flying Lightning Chess Piece on Xixi's body, through it viewing the Heavenly River Light Curtain from Xixi's perspective.

He then saw the image displayed within the Heavenly River Light Curtain.

In the image, Li Che sat cross-legged, inhaling and exhaling, absorbing the extremely rich divinity and heavenly-earthly spiritual energy of the Peach Forest.

Li Che stood up, stretched his limbs on the spot, while the image of Li Che continued to breathe out and in, diligently refining the divine crystals.

Li Che flicked his finger, and the Little Yinglong King instantly appeared, spreading its wings, its sharp metallic gleam bursting forth with a violent force that cuts the air.

Meanwhile, in the Heavenly River Water Curtain, Li Che remained seated, breathing out and in to refine his spirit.

Li Che tapped his foot, leapt up, slapped his five fingers together, and instantly unleashed the Thunder-Struck Peach Wood Seven Star Sword, with electric arcs darting and lightning coiling.

In the Heavenly River Water Curtain, Li Che remained at peace, leisurely breathing out and in.

Li Che suddenly laughed, feeling quite satisfied.

The Heavenly River Ruyi Hairpin is ultimately just a divine weapon for transmitting images, although it can reflect the concrete scene of the Peach Forest.

But after all, it is a lifeless object, lacking the ability to discern right from wrong, and also lacking the power to perceive the false and return to the true.

The current Dream Heavenly Master Dao Fruit is level lv3; if the masters of the various divine sects personally arrived and appeared within the Peach Forest, with those top-tier experts' eyesight, they could naturally clearly see through the Dao Fruit's dream-like disguise.

However, blocked by the Heavenly River Ruyi Hairpin, it is naturally impossible to distinguish truth from falsehood.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh—

The wind and waves suddenly surged, raging and howling, causing the peach trees that rushed into the clouds at least eight hundred zhang tall to violently shake one after another; because the trees are extremely tall, their shaking creates tremendous movement.

Countless leaves fluttered down, as if a rain of peach leaves had fallen.

Li Che stood upon the Little Yinglong King's head, his hair dark and vigorous, his eyes like lightning.

Feeling the scorching heat of the Kunlun Mirror's projected light.

Li Che's emotions surged; this Peach Garden truly is a wonderful place.

Li Che no longer held back.

Having found a direction, there hung a nine-thousand-year-old Chilong Blood Peach upon it.

Bright red, about to drip, as if blood were pooling and ready to flow down.

An incredibly rich fragrance spread rapidly, making Li Che unable to help but inhale deeply.

Nine-thousand-year-old Peach!

Like aged vintage liquor, its flavor infinitely mellow; Li Che took a deep breath, feeling his taste buds completely opened.

I really want to take a bite!

Within his body, qi and blood surged uncontrollably, like boiling water.

After two seven-thousand-year-old Chilong Blood Peaches entered his belly, Li Che had not yet fully refined the peaches' energy into the qi and blood of his Qi Sea Golden Pool, yet he already longed for the nine-thousand-year-old Peach.

One cannot deny that, with the nine-thousand-year-old Peach hanging before him, Li Che felt his refinement speed of the seven-thousand-year-old Peaches had increased greatly.

His Dantian Qi Sea continually expanded, within the Human Elixir surging forth vast qi and blood and essence, intertwining and gathering like a raging tide!

His mind stirred slightly.

【Dragon Elephant Crucible: Pure Martial Purity (91%)】

His eyes opened, golden light flashed past, revealing a hint of unusual color.

The expansion of the Qi Sea Golden Pool brought about by the two seven-thousand-year-old Peaches increased his Pure Martial Purity by 1%!

Indeed, the increase in Pure Martial Purity becomes harder the further along.

"The nine-thousand-year-old Chilong Blood Peach should also be able to increase some Pure Martial Purity..."

Li Che exhaled a breath.

Subsequently, he flicked his finger; sword light intertwined with lightning, swiftly forming a net that shot rapidly toward a direction of the Peach Tree.

But then, behind the nine-thousand-year-old Peach Tree, a huge thick tail suddenly swept out, that tail extremely sharp, accompanied by a clattering sound.

However, the Divine Thunder Prison Thunder Sword slashed at that sweeping tail, instantly erupting with a metallic clang, countless bolts of lightning exploding.

Thereafter, the massive creature coiled behind the Peach Tree emerged into view.

That enormous Snake King flicked its tongue, slowly revealing its head, a huge triangular skull, eyes sharp as blades, each flick of its tongue seeming to twist the air itself.

This snake king already possesses absolute‑peak level power, its demonic aura soaring to the heavens; the venom it spits even warps the air, and faintly, abundant toxins spread and intertwine.

"The protective beast of the Nine‑Thousand‑Year Peach Tree really is something else…"

Li Che let out a sigh of admiration.

Then he clenched his five fingers.

His whole body swapped places with the Flying Thunder Chess Piece hidden on the Peach Wood Sword; the instant he grasped the thunder‑struck Peach Wood Sword, his fingers spread like a rake, seizing the great serpent's tail.

On the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard, Ink City thunderously opened.

Li Che tossed the great serpent straight into Ink City.

With a bang, Ink City's gates slammed shut.

Inside Ink City, Yue Huanglong, accompanied by numerous Binding Deities, awaited the serpent; with the Binding Deities' siege level, they should be able to kill it.

Li Che need not waste any effort worrying about it.

Sure enough, with the cameras blocked, everything became far more reckless.

Li Che did not pick the peach himself; he sent Xiao Yinglong Wang to harvest it.

However, the moment Xiao Yinglong Wang plucked the Chi Dragon Blood Peach, it was instantly pierced by Kunlun Death Light…

That terrifying, scorching penetrating force left Xiao Yinglong Wang unable to even resist; ten‑thousand mechanism seals activated simultaneously, yet he was still pierced…

Heh heh heh heh—

The searing heat made the wound where Xiao Yinglong Wang was pierced melt as if liquefying.

Li Che harvested the Chi Dragon Blood Peach, which swirled with an intensely rich aroma nearly becoming solid scent; then he spread his fingers, the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard netting, and extracted the Kunlun Death Light within Xiao Yinglong Wang's body.

The extracted Kunlun Death Light instantly converged into the Kunlun Death Light that Li Che had refined.

The gaping wound, once like a celestial hound devouring the sun, gradually filled up.

"It's becoming more like the radiance reflected by a mirror."

Li Che's eyes flickered, and his heart grew increasingly hopeful.

Whether he could truly condense that radiance and thus summon the Three Purities‑rank divine weapon Kunlun Mirror…

He lifted his head, his gaze seeming to pierce the towering, cloud‑piercing peach tree, as if to stab through the heavens themselves.

Branches and leaves fluttered, shadows obscuring.

Yet every leaf of the peach tree shimmered, as if capturing the light of the Kunlun Mirror.

"Hoo—"

"Sss—"

Li Che's inhale and exhale stirred the dense forest, and a gale rose.

He sat cross‑legged on the massive trunk of the very peach tree from which he had just plucked a peach; his dark shirt fluttered, and his jet‑black, sinewy hair rustled.

The mud‑marble at his forehead trembled incessantly.

The three‑in‑one Heaven‑Earth Soul instantly surged skyward.

It seemed to become Li Che's illusory divine form, stepping toward the heavens, one step at a time, until it reached beneath the Haori Kunlun Mirror.

The heat was extreme, scorching without cease, like a volcano's mouth, making Li Che's Heaven‑Earth Soul nearly unable to endure, as if it would burst open.

The location of the Nine‑Thousand‑Year Peach Forest was clearly nearer to this Kunlun Mirror.

Li Che could feel that with a single thought he could seize an immensely massive Kunlun Death Light.

Li Che didn't hold back; his Heaven‑Earth Soul's primordial spirit clenched his five fingers and reached for an enormously thick Kunlun Death Light.

In an instant, the Kunlun Mirror, as vast as the sun, trembled and projected an extremely sharp radiance.

It pierced the Heaven‑Earth Soul.

Li Che felt searing pain at his forehead, and the next moment the Heaven‑Earth Soul exploded, unable to bear the impact…

It shattered into pieces.

However, the Seven‑Orifice Exquisite Heart trembled, its pure divine nature surging wildly, causing Li Che's Heaven‑Earth Soul to reconsolidate.

Within the re‑formed Heaven‑Earth Soul, it had captured a Kunlun Mirror's death light…

Li Che sat cross-legged, his expression unchanged, as he once again manipulated the Heaven and Earth Soul to surge forth.

He continued to refine the Kunlun Death Light, while honing the Heaven and Earth Soul.

His Heaven and Earth Soul, undergoing repeated bursts and reconstructions, became exceedingly tenacious and powerful.

As his Heaven and Earth Soul grew stronger, the divinity of the two temple gods he had summoned—the Golden Heavenly King Tower Temple God and the Dark Heavenly Court Thunder Temple God—was being drawn in and swallowed at an ever‑increasing rate.

Faintly, it seemed one could hear the shrill, painful howls of the two temple gods.

The Dark Heavenly Court Thunder Temple God is merely of the Fifth Elder rank, almost like ice cream melting rapidly under the blazing sun.

However, the Golden Heavenly King Tower Temple God, being a Four Emperors temple god, although a large amount of its divinity has been drawn in, it still persists and has not perished.

However, Li Che used the Kunlun Death Light to temper the Heaven and Earth Soul, and by devouring the temple gods' forms he strengthened his divine fetus.

Within Li Che's Niwan inner realm, the Heaven‑Earth Encompassing Spirit Bright True Ape Divine Fetus let out a roar.

The huge golden core burst forth with radiance, the heart throbbing vigorously, strong and powerful.

Faintly, one could even see the perfect manifestation of the five viscera and six bowels!

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Boom—

Li Che felt that within his inner space, divinity was erupting in a terrifying storm!

His expression slightly sank as he manipulated his mind, accelerating the devouring of the temple gods' divinity; his five fingers clenched, and he drew out an Upper‑Rank Divinity Crystal of the Four Emperors.

Through the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, he swiftly extracted the divinity from the Divinity Crystal and merged it into the Heaven‑Earth Encompassing Spirit Bright True Ape Divine Fetus.

Click—click—click—click—click—click—

As the divinity continually merged.

Slowly, Li Che even heard the sound of bones colliding in his ears, as if countless divinities piled up, within the divine fetus, giving rise to skeletons!

As if there were a heaven-embracing, earth-encompassing spiritually enlightened true ape, within the divine fetus it spread its arms and raised its head to let out a long howl.

A single spinal bone, like a central beam, supported the true ape's body!

Hum—

Li Che suddenly opened his eyes; within his pupils, divine radiance shone in myriad splendors.

Divine Fetus Second Divine Transformation, the fetus gives rise to a hundred bones!

Only upon first entering the Divine Capital did one transform from a Divine Origin Golden Core into a Divine Fetus.

Yet in a short time, he achieved the Divine Fetus's second divine transformation, the fetus giving rise to a hundred bones!

When the divine fetus gives rise to bones, it is as if it has gained a spine; essence, energy, and spirit become entirely different, and the divine aura is also markedly different.

He obtained an improvement that could be called tremendous!

Li Che's brow twitched slightly; instantly, an invisible ripple spread, as if wrinkling space, forming an invisible storm that expanded in all directions.

The frost grass on the ground was instantly scraped by a sickle, blasting out ring after ring, yet had not yet fallen, being condensed by an invisible mental force and suspended in midair.

Li Che's lips curled into a smile.

The Divine Fetus's second divine transformation occurred.

Indeed, with the aid of the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, the speed of divine cultivation became incomparable.

If it were before, he would have to spend a considerable amount of time on this divine cultivation.

Hummm—

Suddenly, as Li Che's divine fetus transformed again, his five senses and six consciousness became sharper; this was a transformation at the soul level.

Accompanied by a gentle breeze swaying.

As if a sound slowly drifted over.

"Save me……"

"Save me——!!!"

It's here again!

The sound exploded in his ears like thunder; within his chest, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit leapt with extreme excitement, booming and shattering, each jump's shockwave rippling out, striking Li Che's body, causing it to tremble slightly.

It's getting closer……

Even closer……

But!

It's still not here!

Li Che's brows furrowed slightly.

He stood up, his eyes flashing like lightning, and gazed into the depths of the Peach Forest.

"Could it not be coming from the Nine-Thousand-Year Peach Forest?"

"Or could there be other peach forests above the Nine-Thousand-Year Peach Forest?"

Li Che's heart jumped.

"Ten-Thousand-Year Peach Forest?!"

Upon this thought, Li Che's heart suddenly blazed hot.

"Could there really be ten-thousand-year peaches? Meaning there are ten-thousand-year peaches?!"

Li Che drew a deep breath; each inhale and exhale rolled like thunder, unable to conceal the agitation in his heart.

"But how does one enter the Ten-Thousand-Year Peach Forest from the Nine-Thousand-Year Peach Forest?"

For Li Che, this is obviously a tremendous difficulty.

Before, gathering enough peaches would trigger the rules of the Guiyi Miao, transporting one from lower-year peach forests to higher-year peach forests……

But now, Li Che merely vaguely suspects the existence of the Nine-Thousand-Year Peach Forest, and knows nothing of the rules for ascending to the Ten-Thousand-Year Peach Forest.

"Not knowing the rules…… how then can one ascend?"

Li Che couldn't help but feel a headache.

If he didn't know about the Ten-Thousand-Year Peach Forest, it would be fine.

Now that he knows……

Li Che would just leave like this, naturally feeling unwilling.

After all, whether it's the desperate cry for help that irresistibly attracts the Pure Heart Dao Fruit, or the Ten-Thousand-Year Peach Forest, the ten-thousand-year peaches that exert a tremendous allure on him……

all make Li Che unwilling to give up easily.

"What should we do?"

Li Che's breathing became hurried.

He stood up, and over his entire body, his flesh and blood burst forth with an ultimate brilliant radiance, golden qi and blood surging out like a thick golden beacon.

His gaze shot forth like an arrowhead, as if piercing the distant horizon, looking toward the far-off nine-thousand-year peach that could be seen hanging……

"What to do?"

"Perhaps…… the way to break the situation is to pick peaches!"

Li Che's heart sank.

According to the rules, whether ascending from the One-Thousand-Year Peach Forest to the Five-Thousand-Year Peach Forest, or from the Five-Thousand-Year Peach Forest to the Seven-Thousand-Year Peach Forest……

the standard for measuring whether one can ascend is whether enough peaches have been picked.

So, Li Che made up his mind.

He wanted to try ascending to the Ten-Thousand-Year Peach Forest……

What he should look at, then, is whether he can pick enough peaches!

Well then... just harvest all the peaches from the nine‑thousand‑year peach forest!

Then… just pick all the peaches in the Nine-Thousand-Year Peach Forest!

Li Ze's eyes instantly blazed bright.

Li Che's eyes instantly blazed with fierce light.

But I'm the only one left in the nine‑thousand‑year peach forest, so if I harvest all the peaches, I can't hide it—the Da Jing royal family will surely think it was me and cause needless trouble.

But now, in the Nine-Thousand-Year Peach Forest, I am the only one here, so if all the Nine-Thousand-Year Peaches are picked, it will surely not stay hidden; the Dàjǐng imperial family will certainly guess it was me… inviting unnecessary trouble.

Li Ze fell into thought.

Li Che fell into thought.

Then I'll just harvest them openly before everyone.

If that's the case… I'll just pick them openly in front of everyone.

I'm openly picking the nine‑thousand‑year peaches, but my goal is to ascend to the ten‑thousand‑year peach garden, so I sacrifice all the peaches I pick.

I'll openly pick the Nine-Thousand-Year Peaches, but my purpose is to ascend to the Ten-Thousand-Year Peach Garden, and the picked Nine-Thousand-Year Peaches… will all be offered as sacrifice.

The empress likely won't blame me either.

The Empress probably won't blame me for this…

Once this thought formed, it expanded and became impossible to contain.

Once this idea arose, it swelled up and became unstoppable.

He splayed his fingers and pressed them to his chest.

He spread his five fingers and pressed them against his chest.

His throbbing heart seemed to erupt with an intensely vivid seven‑colored glow!

His pounding heart seemed to burst forth with an extremely rich seven-colored light!

In the next moment, the Dream Heavenly Master's Dao fruit, under Li Ze's control, changed the scene.

The next moment, the Dream Heavenly Master's Dao Fruit, under Li Che's control, altered the scene.

In the vision, Li Ze stopped cultivating, stood up, and began to face the rattlesnake king guarding the nine‑thousand‑year peach trees.

In the scene, Li Che was not continuing his cultivation; instead, he rose to his feet and began to face the Rattlesnake King guarding the Nine-Thousand-Year Peaches.

Meanwhile, as the scene played out.

And while the scene was in progress,

Li Ze snapped his finger.

Li Che flicked a finger.

Yue Huanglong's captured spirit appeared, immediately knowing its duty, and it shot straight toward a hanging nine‑thousand‑year peach.

Yue Huanglong's Binding Spirit appeared; as soon as it showed up, it instantly understood its task and, extremely decisively, shot toward a hanging Nine-Thousand-Year Peach.

A roar——

Roar——

Another snake king shot out from the nine‑thousand‑year peach tree, sporting a massive fan on its back.

Another Snake King shot out from the Nine-Thousand-Year Peach Tree at high speed, and this Snake King actually had a huge fan on its back.

Li Ze splayed his fingers, revealing his martial prowess; his blood and qi boiled, his golden sea of qi surged upward, pressing the heavens, and he ferociously charged at the king snake like a bolt from the blue.

However, Li Che spread his five fingers, not hiding his martial cultivation; his qi and blood boiled, his qi sea golden pond surged forth, pressing down on the heavens, and like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, he fiercely charged at that King Snake.

The king snake bellowed, its heart racing with terror.

That King Snake roared, terrified to the extreme.

Li Ze's horizontal punch smashed the snake's head, spraying blood everywhere; its massive body shot forward like an arrow, rigid and straight.

Struck by Li Che's horizontal punch, it smashed the head, spraying countless flying droplets of blood; its huge body shot out like an arrow, its snake body rigidly straight.

Yue Huanglong shot up eight hundred zhang and plucked the nine‑thousand‑year black phoenix spirit peach from the tree.

Meanwhile, Yue Huanglong shot straight up eight hundred zhang, and on the peach tree plucked that Nine-Thousand-Year Black Phoenix Spirit Peach.

A humming——

Hummm——

Perhaps the second nine‑thousand‑year peach had been picked.

Perhaps the second Nine-Thousand-Year Peach had been picked.

The Hao Ri Kunlun Mirror hanging in the heavens flared with anger, and as it vibrated it shot out a fierce beam of light.

The Vast Sun Kunlun Mirror hanging in the heavens seemed enraged; as it trembled, it fiercely shot forth a beam of light.

A hiss.

With a puff,

It instantly blew Yue Huanglong's body apart.

instantly blasting Yue Huanglong's body to pieces.

But Yue Huanglong had already flung the peach to Li Ze.

However, Yue Huanglong had long been accustomed to tossing the peach to Li Che.

Li Ze left the peach hovering on his shoulder, and with a tap of his foot his mighty blood and qi surged like a waterfall in all directions.

Li Che did not put away that peach; instead, he let it hover on his shoulder, tapped his foot, and his mighty qi and blood surged like a waterfall in all directions.

He swept across and appeared before the third peach tree.

His whole body flashed across, appearing before the third peach tree.

He rose up, aiming to pluck the third nine‑thousand‑year peach!

He soared straight up, intending to pluck the third Nine-Thousand-Year Peach!

Perhaps because Li Ze's terrifying aura surged, the beast guarding the peaches fled outright.

Perhaps because Li Che's terrifyingly fierce qi intertwined and raged, the beast guarding the peaches actually fled directly.

Or perhaps the beast sensed a catastrophic threat like a heaven‑shattering disaster.

Or perhaps that beast sensed a catastrophic threat akin to a heaven‑toppling disaster.

It ignored Li Ze, darted away, and fled.

Ignoring Li Che, it bolted straight away, fleeing by any route.

Seeing this, Li Ze snapped his finger, summoning the captured spirit of Su Lei Bao to pluck the peach.

Li Che, seeing this, saved himself the trouble; he flicked a finger, and Su Leibao's Binding Spirit appeared to pick the peach.

However…

However……

But this time something unexpected appeared.

But this time an unexpected thing appeared.

Because the Kunlun Mirror's Kunlun Death Light, thick and massive, shot down, aiming not at the captured spirit but…

Because the Kunlun Mirror's Kunlun Death Light, immensely thick, shot down, and its target was no longer the Binding Spirit.

And it seemed to lock onto the spirit's aura, pointing straight at the mastermind, Li Ze!

And it seemed to judge the source by the Binding Spirit's aura, pointing straight at the mastermind, Li Che!

Instantly, Li Ze felt an endless chill envelop him—a deathly aura seeking to annihilate his soul.

In an instant, Li Che felt endless cold envelop his whole body—a deadly aura, a terrifying force seeking to annihilate his soul!

Just as Li Ze was about to unleash the Qimen Divine Seed at full power.

Just as Li Che was about to detonate the Mystic Gate Divine Seed at full power,

His heart gave a slight start.

his heart gave a slight start.

But he saw the Heavenly Equal Face sealed in the heaven‑earth chessboard suddenly tremble.

but he saw that the Heavenly Equal Face sealed within the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard suddenly began to vibrate.

Hehehe…

Hehehe……

Suddenly.

Suddenly.

A laugh burst from the Heavenly Equal Face.

A laugh burst forth from within the Heavenly Equal Face.

Li Ze's expression instantly turned odd.

Li Che's face instantly turned strange.

He splayed his fingers, seized the Heavenly Equal Face, and placed it over his face.

He spread his five fingers, grasped the Heavenly Equal Face, and placed it over his face.

His fingers slid down lightly.

His fingers slid down lightly.

Instantly his eyes flew open, blazing like molten gold.

In an instant, his eyes opened, like flowing gold, blazing!

Golden monkey hair streamed in the wind.

Golden monkey hair flew in the wind.

His arms outstretched, muscles bulging, his black hair seemed gilded, streaming behind him like a golden cape, making him look like a divine, handsome spirit monkey.

His arms spread, muscles knotted, his black hair seemed dyed with a layer of gold, fluttering and striking, behind him like a golden cape fluttering, his whole body like a divine, handsome spirit monkey!

He clenched his fingers into a fist.

He clenched his five fingers into a fist.

Facing the massive Kunlun Death Light, Li Ze, wearing the Heavenly Equal Face, unleashed a fierce horizontal punch.

Facing that immensely thick Kunlun Death Light, Li Che, wearing the Heavenly Equal Face, fiercely thrust out a horizontal punch.

The endless qi surges were utterly cleared!

The endless qi waves were completely cleared out!

His golden sea of qi boiled, swelling to over a thousand zhang and raising ten‑zhang waves that roared furiously.

His qi sea golden pond seemed to boil, expanding to over a thousand zhang, stirring up ten‑zhang waves, roaring and howling!

As Li Ze's fist collided with the Kunlun Death Light!

Accompanying Li Che's punch colliding with the Kunlun Death Light!

A terrifying explosion erupted, its piercing, scorching force nearly melting the flesh on Li Ze's fist, then fusing his meridians and bones and erasing his whole arm.

An extremely terrifying explosion instantly burst forth, its terrifying penetrative force, scorching burning power, almost melting the flesh on Li Che's fist, then melting his meridians, fist bones, and arm bones, erasing his entire arm!

Yet the Heavenly Equal Face on his visage flickered faintly.

However, the Heavenly Equal Face on his visage flickered faintly with light.

In the next moment, his eyes, like molten gold, swayed and caught that massive Kunlun Death Light—the strongest he had ever faced.

The next moment, his eyes, like flowing gold, actually caught that immensely thick Kunlun Death Light with a shake of the head, capturing the strongest Kunlun Death Light Li Che had ever encountered!

Boom——!!!

Boom——!!!

Explosions erupted, Li Che's legs were planted in the soft ground, countless frost grasses were obliterated, and the ground blasted a deep crater.

Beneath the mask, Li Che's eyes seemed to be filled with blazing, unparalleled radiance, emitting scorching heat.

Hehehe……

A low laugh came from beneath the Heaven-Equalizing Mask.

Yet Li Che's face broke into a smile.

So that's how it is……

Monkey stealing peaches, the temple gods resonate……

The Dàjǐng imperial family, thank me.

Li Che's smile was full.

With a single step down, his whole body caused the ground to instantly crack open with countless spiderweb-like fissures, and he shot up into the sky, rushing toward the fourth peach tree at breakneck speed.

That speed was as fast as a cannonball!

This time, Li Che used his true form to pick the peaches!

He no longer resisted; using his true form to pick the peaches meant that he might possibly be transported out of the Peach Garden if he succeeded in picking one.

But, when Li Che successfully picked it.

The Kunlun Death Light did not fall, Li Che himself……

nor was he ever transported out with the nine-thousand-year peach!

The reason he wasn't targeted by the death light is because this peach was originally his allotted share; after he ascended to the nine-thousand-year Peach Garden, he was destined to obtain one peach.

And he had the Little Yinglong King, the Yue Huanglong Binding God, and the Su Leibao Binding God pick the peaches, which were all violations; consequently they were suspended in midair, targeted by the high-hanging Kunlun Mirror's clear light, and suffered extermination.

"Four nine-thousand-year peaches……"

"I have already felt the summons of the rules."

Li Che burst out laughing.

Actually, upon obtaining the third peach, Li Che could confirm that the rule for ascending to the ten-thousand-year Peach Forest was to obtain three nine-thousand-year peaches……

Picking three nine-thousand-year peaches is no small feat; the threat of the Kunlun Death Light could almost shoot down any supreme martial sage!

＿Co

Such power, if not for Li Che's great strength and numerous methods, might also be impossible to achieve and reach.

"There is still one nine-thousand-year peach left……"

Li Che glanced over.

"It's rather lonely; better to keep each other company."

He gave a hehe laugh.

Li Che put on the Heaven-Equalizing Mask.

His body shot forth.

At the same time.

The Dream Heavenly Master's Dao Fruit instantly began weaving images.

After all……

Heaven-Equalizing Mask, Golden Pool of Qi and Blood, Monkey Stealing Peaches……

These images cannot be broadcast.

……

……

Shendu Second City.

The night was deep and dark, clouds drifting.

The Heavenly River Water Curtain, with a clatter, dropped down the images.

Everyone held their breath and focused, watching the images projected by the Heavenly River Water Curtain of the nine-thousand-year Peach Garden.

A strange color gradually appeared on their faces.

Some people even erupted in an uproar.

Because in the image, Li Che, after defeating the Snake King, picked the first nine-thousand-year peach.

But he did not stop, heading toward the second nine-thousand-year peach.

Then, at the moment he picked the peach, he was struck by the death light, fell to the ground, and blasted the ground into ruins.

Amidst the uproar of the crowd, it was thought that this newly risen hero chief would die in the Peach Forest due to his own greed.

Li Che, holding fast to great perseverance and belief, staggered to his feet.

He continued toward the third peach.

Picking the peach, he was hit by the terrifying annihilation light, his breath feeble, vague……

He was almost on the brink of death, yet he still staggered upright, sat cross-legged, recovered from his injuries, and then picked the peach again……

When Li Che was picking the third peach, his life force was about to be completely erased by that terrifying light……

At that moment, everyone's hearts were in their throats.

Li Che once again strongly rose to his feet.

In the reflection of the Heavenly River Water Curtain, his body was covered with ferocious wounds, blood and filth staining him.

Li Che revealed a determined and radiant smile.

Then, the three nine-thousand-year peaches hovering above his shoulders simultaneously burst forth with light.

The next moment.

His body covered in scars, Li Che's face full of determination lay before him.

Instantly, a colossal gate spanning the heavens appeared.

……

……

Shendu's second city, third city……dead silent!

However.

Seeing the image in the heavenly river water curtain, everyone could not stay seated!

The Lotus Flower Pavilion's National Preceptor Xie Yunshen, the Prince Pacifying Rebellion Ji Moli, the Sect Leader of the Purple Palace Divine Sect, First Divine Sect, advocating Wuji, and the Grand Commander Ye Pengju of the Temple Stabilization Office, among other strong ones, had their eyes wide open as they rose to their feet.

「This is…… temple god resonance?! 」

Meanwhile, at the main banquet.

The emperor, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, suddenly rose.

His eyes burst forth with dazzling light, and even a feeling of shock and anger surged continuously.

The dignified and splendid empress, wearing a phoenix-crowned rosy hat, her body swayed as if about to fall.

The sense of emptiness conveyed by the Heavenly River Ruyi hairpin only made a hint of panic appear in her eyes.

「Ten-thousand-year Peach Garden……」

「Opened?! 」