Chapter 406: 408. Chapter 400: Daughter Ends Childhood, Gains Celestial Seed, Peacefully at Seven the Dao Fruit Makes Her Ten Thousan

408. Chapter 400: Daughter Ends Childhood, Gains Celestial Seed, Peacefully at Seven the Dao Fruit Makes Her Ten Thousand Demon Emperor 【Seeking Monthly Votes】

Hoo hoo hoo—

The crystal‑clear snowflakes, translucent and exquisite, seem as if a deity held thin ice and meticulously sculpted them.

Accompanied by howling winds and waves, they tumble and scatter, falling abundantly from the leaden clouds.

The black tiles become covered, gradually turning white; the muffled thudding of snow falling echoes in the ears, a intoxicating sensation that relaxes the eardrum.

Each snowfall means Xixi is about to grow a year older.

Because Xixi was born on a day of heavy snowfall, that was a difficult period, a time etched deeply in Li Che's memory, unforgettable.

Li Che's body, with its powerful and surging Qi and blood, has long settled within; techniques like Sleep Dragon Elephant, a consolidation method, become increasingly profound as the maturity of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit rises.

Breaking through to the third opening realm of the Martial Saint, he embarks on the mountain‑climbing path; like the metamorphosis of a divine embryo, each opening of the Martial Saint's road is a tremendous transformation.

The divine metamorphosis acts upon the divine embryo, whereas the Martial Saint's metamorphosis acts upon the flesh!

When the Martial Saint's intangible Qi field dissipates, the snow of heaven and earth falls, staining hair tips and shoulders.

"Hoo—"

Li Che slowly exhales.

Xixi, you're seven now.

The breath he exhales is like a Qi sword, in the deep winter cold, like a white mist blade swiftly slashing through.

Seven years, in the flick of a finger.

From Xixi being such a tiny child to now, a mischievously clever seven‑year‑old girl, Li Che can't help but feel a strong sense of pride.

Seven is a very special age.

If it were in a past life, children of this age would already be formally entering elementary school, beginning real compulsory education.

That is the true beginning of a child's growth, the time they start receiving knowledge.

At this point, children are like fledglings leaving the nest, learning to flap their wings, to soar, to encounter and feel the world.

Of course, in this world, nature differs from that of a past life.

Yet in Li Che's heart, he always sensed a slight difference.

After returning from Shendu and breaking through to the third opening of the Martial Saint, Li Che began to retreat into silence; aside from maintaining his role as the Fifth Elder of Divine Eagle Ridge, he would go to Divine Eagle Ridge to guide Divine Eagle Masters and disciples in carving Divine Eagles, learning techniques and studying mechanical arts.

He spends most of his time at the Divine Sect's mountain gate, accompanying his wife and child.

Xixi no longer needs to stay at Tai Bai Peak constantly; her current strength is enough for self‑protection, providing great safety.

The Grandmaster's and Divine Aspect's dual cultivation make Xixi's combat power extremely terrifying.

Even within the Divine Sect, her power ranks at the mid‑high tier; aside from a few veteran authentic transmissions, hardly any disciple could match Xixi.

Thus, Xixi cultivates at Tai Bai Peak by day, and at night returns to the Elders' Hall in the Outer Gate Disciple City, staying with her parents and tasting the delicacies Zhang Ya specially cooks for her.

Li Che quite enjoys these days with his wife and daughter by his side, even letting himself become a bit indulgent and relaxed.

Enjoyment, indeed, is the chief corruptor of one's fighting spirit.

"Here it comes!"

Just as Li Che's lips curled, savoring the tranquil enjoyment that erodes his spirit.

His mind and spirit flickered slightly.

Li Che's gaze suddenly deepened.

"Hoo—"

"Sss—"

A breath in and out, his entire Qi boils uncontrollably, the white snow on his body erupts and melts, the airflow roars and whirls, and his eyes blaze with an intensely fierce radiance.

This is not Li Che's first awakening of a new Dao Fruit.

His mindset is already far calmer than before.

Nevertheless, the inner turbulence still exists; naturally, he looks forward to what aspect the new Dao Fruit will be and whether it can greatly aid and elevate his cultivation and strength.

Boom—!!!

An ancient, far‑reaching boom resounds!

It is as if the summit of a ten‑thousand‑foot mountain, blanketed in white snow, an ancient temple's old bell steeped in the scent of ages, is struck forcefully.

The sound waves ripple outward, continuously expanding from Li Che's body.

Dong dong—

Dong dong dong—

Within his chest, Dao Fruits begin to bounce wildly.

Li Che feels his mind roaring, trembling with excitement.

Then, his forehead seems to turn into an incomprehensibly profound vortex, emitting a terrifying suction that draws his inner voice, as if falling into an endless strange realm.

Deep, vast, ancient, boundless…

Like primeval wilderness!

……

……

Rumble rumble rumble—!!!

The ancient heavens and earth swirl passionately, as if every gust of wind could easily extinguish souls—a calamitous divine wind!

When Li Che's mind returns to calm, his ink‑black robe flutters, his jet‑black, stiff hair crackles like lightning, and his whole body floats in the air, looking around.

He then sees, in the distance, an unmistakably familiar towering tree, soaring into the clouds as if it were piercing the heavens.

Whirl whirl—

However, this time, Li Che's sight of the Dao Tree is no longer calm.

Because the Dao Tree was actually undergoing violent trembling, accompanied by the trembling, as if countless branches and leaves were spreading out.

Pa——!!!

A lash, the terrifying Dao Tree branches actually blasted space into shards, that space breaking like a glass mirror, reflected in Li Che's pupils.

Even after that shattered space, Li Che saw layer upon layer of space like mirrors overlapping, presenting images!

The void actually has multiple layers?!

And those branches continued to lash, continuously shattering multiple layers of space, deeply piercing into them.

Overbearing to the extreme, as if the void before it were like tofu.

This left Li Che amazed, yet he was puzzled by the Dao Tree's metamorphosis, which actually produced such a strange change!

But as the change ended, the Dao Tree underwent another huge change compared to when Li Che first saw it.

It grew taller and more terrifying!

Hummm—

Countless leaves were making a rustling sound.

Li Che initially didn't pay attention, but gradually his heart began to throb violently.

Because the rustling sound of those leaves colliding seemed like a soft whisper.

Boom—

A roar exploded in Li Che's ears.

Before his eyes, fine streams of light began to rapidly intertwine.

That was a panel prompt, as if conveying the Dao Tree's low hum.

【Bond target's childhood safely completed, school age activated】

……

【Name: Li Che】

【Bond: Li Nuanxi (daughter)】

【Progress: School Age (7 years old)】

【Prompt: For each year the bond target grows up safely, the Dao Tree can bear one Dao Fruit】

……

Li Che's eyes shone brightly, his breathing involuntarily quickened.

Yet he saw, on the Dao Tree, multicolored Dao Fruits began to sway wildly, tinkling, actually emitting a clear sound.

Suddenly—

A leaf, from the multicolored leaves on the Dao Tree, actually shook off a multicolored gem no bigger than a thumb.

Li Che surveyed the whole Dao Tree; these multicolored leaves were also rather sparse.

The multicolored gem shaken from the multicolored leaves drifted down before Li Che, slowly blooming with light.

Li Che reached out, took the multicolored gem, but discovered it was not a gem but a seed like a pea.

In his mind, suddenly there was a booming like a great bell.

It let Li Che instantly understand: this multicolored seed is the reward for his daughter safely passing from childhood to school age!

There's still a reward?

Li Che was stunned for a moment, wondering if this meant that as Xixi continued to grow and enter each important stage of growth, there would be rewards?

Puberty, adulthood?

But this is merely Li Che's speculation, because if Xixi were to grow to a hundred years, two hundred years…

One thousand years, two thousand years…

What kind of growth stage would that be?

Li Che's turbulent emotions gradually calmed, his gaze falling on that multicolored seed; in an instant, the seed turned into Dao light and drilled into his body.

【Immortal Seed·Qilin Suppress Void Seal】

A golden light flashed before Li Che's eyes.

Then came a message like trickling water, flowing swiftly and filling his mind.

"Immortal Seed?!"

Li Che's eyes involuntarily brightened slightly.

His heart couldn't help but feel eager, but because he was currently in the special Dao Tree space, Li Che did not continue researching.

Li Che lifted his head; when Xixi stepped into a new age bracket, the Dao Tree swayed and lowered the Immortal Seed reward, finally beginning to give birth to the eighth Dao Fruit!

Xixi is seven years old, the eighth Dao Fruit!

The Dao Fruit drifted down.

The next moment, countless images flashed in Li Che's pupils, like a rapid slideshow, dreamlike and illusory.

That was the many things Xixi experienced that year at age seven; the most frequent images were Xixi participating in the Peach Blossom Fair, competing with many infant dragons, finally obtaining the title of Infant Dragon Champion; next was Xixi returning to the Divine Sect, then striving with effort surpassing any divine child, training hard.

That belief of becoming stronger to protect his parents made Li Che unable to help but feel delighted.

Hummm—

The eighth Dao Fruit, multicolored like glazed glass, drifted into Li Che's hand.

Reflecting light, dreamlike and illusory.

Li Che's lips involuntarily curled up slightly.

A year of guarding, the Dao Fruit finally obtained.

My daughter Xixi is seven years old!

The eighth Dao Fruit!

……

Your daughter is seven years old, combat power abundant, a fledgling dragon leader, heart full of curiosity, safe and sound, obtained the Dao Fruit "Wan Yao Di".

……

The seven‑colored mist floated and drifted, slowly coalescing, then condensed into interwoven, dream‑like, illusory characters.

Li Che's pupils widened slightly, his heart trembled.

The eighth Dao Fruit, unexpected!

Wan Yao Di?!

Li Che was a bit stunned; he truly hadn't expected it, and… had no clue at all.

Is this meant to make him transform into a demon?

Demon…

Li Che, of course, knew that within the Strange Gate that accompanies the Guiyi Miao, there exist numerous demons.

According to the classic that Fang Han Shu once showed Li Che, the description of demons is only one: they are animals between heaven and earth that have been infected by divinity, gaining sentient intelligence, and having received the temple deity's method inheritance from the Guiyi Miao, cultivated to fruition—such beings are demons!

For example, the dark turtle that Li Che saw as the mount of the Grand Overseer in the octagonal, double‑eaved, dripping‑water Treasure Tower of the Qintian Observatory in Shendu was a demon race.

The Dragon God lineage could also be called a demon race.

And within the Strange Gate realm, among the divine camps there is a camp called the Strange Demon Cave, so whether on the mortal world or within the Strange Gate realm, the demon race is an extremely vast and powerful collective.

Buzz—

Just as Li Che was pondering the properties of the 'Wan Yao Di' Dao Fruit.

A powerful repelling force erupted; Li Che felt the world spin, and his whole body was instantly back inside the Elder Hall.

Bang bang bang—

Within his chest, the eighth Dao Fruit, Wan Yao Di, was gently pulsating.

However, before the many Lv 6 Dao Fruits such as Dragon‑Elephant Vajra, Immortal Craftsman, etc., this newborn pink Dao Fruit seemed rather weak.

Wan Yao Di (Dao Fruit): All beasts of heaven and earth, living beings become demons, ten thousand demons see the emperor, demon qi fills the universe.

Buzz—

Accompanying the fruit's pulsation, the fruit's hint mantra slowly surfaced.

The dense demon qi manifested in various hues, interweaving, finally turning into a faint light blue—neither too strong nor dispersed.

The next moment.

Li Che felt a sudden daze, as if an extremely sharp sound exploded across the vast earth, and a tremendously powerful being unfurled its wings, blotting out the sky, demon qi soaring, permeating the entire universe!

Terrifying!

Unparalleled terror!

Hoo hoo hoo—

He opened his mouth and exhaled.

Dao Fruit (Wan Yao Di): Lv 1, 0%

"Indeed… a peculiar Dao Fruit; I wonder if it can help me deal with the demon race more easily."

Li Che's eyes glittered.

He thought of the upcoming journey to Qitian Cheng.

He had heard that Qitian Cheng was occupied by numerous great demon kings, and even the Dàjǐng court would find it difficult to enter.

However, Li Che did not hold much hope; after all, the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit is still newborn and immature.

For Qitian Cheng, now held by terrifying demon kings, it is unlikely to be of great use.

Li Che's mind shifted; with the fruit thumping in his chest, he began to sense its newborn function.

"Demon Transformation" is the fruit's basic ability.

Li Che couldn't help but be amazed; the so‑called Demon Transformation means that as long as a strand of demon qi is captured, the fruit's 'Demon Transformation' ability can be triggered, turning the user into that demon race.

However, it is merely a superficial transformation.

Of course, as the Dao Fruit's rank rises, this 'Demon Transformation' ability will inevitably grow stronger!

Li Che felt a slight anticipation.

Having finished studying the Dao Fruit.

Li Che's spirit stirred again at the information of the Immortal Seed 'Qilin Zhenxu Seal', which instantly flooded his mind.

"It turns out to be a… martial art? It can be called a martial art…"

Li Che's eyes lit up slightly.

Immortal Seed Martial Art!

The Immortal Seed Martial Art bestowed by the Dao Tree!

It was extremely profound; Li Che glanced at it and felt a slight dizziness, his internal torrent of Qi and blood roiling continuously!

Li Che suddenly rose, his spirit shifting, and the whole body vanished within the courtyard.

He reappeared, now in Ink City.

Whoosh—ink rain poured down.

Li Che's spirit trembled, his entire Qi and blood surged, his arms spread, and a phenomenon manifested!

A ten‑thousand‑zhang Qi Sea Golden Pool spanned above his head, massive waves surging!

Mountains rose to the heavens!

At the center of the Qi Sea Golden Pool, a column shot skyward, piercing the clouds, creating concentric void ripples!

Ten‑thousand‑zhang Qi Sea, Heaven‑reaching Mountain!

This was Li Che's pure martial limit phenomenon!

Strange phenomena hung in the air, and Li Che, based on the information of the Immortal Seed, began to practice martial arts.

【Dragon Elephant Vajra】 Dao Fruit trembled, causing Li Che's martial comprehension to rise rapidly!

With his current martial arts talent, any martial art can be learned quickly; even Divine Seed martial arts are no exception.

However, this Immortal Seed martial art, Li Che practiced continuously in Ink City, yet had no clue at all, unable even to get started.

Li Che couldn't help but feel a bit headache.

He didn't blame the Dao tree, nor did he think there was any problem with the high difficulty of the Immortal Seed.

The higher the difficulty, the greater the power.

All that can be said is……

This is his Li Che's problem; how could it be the Dao tree's problem?!

……

【Name: Li Che】

【Bond: Li Nuanxi (daughter)】

【Progress: School Age (seven years old)】

【Dao Fruit: Immortal Craft (lv6, 20%), Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv6, 75%), Pure Heart (LV6, 85%), Chess Sage (LV6, 20%), Painting Immortal (lv5, 90%), Thunder Magnetic Orb (lv5, 50%), Dream Heavenly Master (lv3, 90%), Myriad Demons Emperor (lv1, 0%)】

……

After returning from Shendu, for a year Li Che devoted himself to cultivation.

His cultivation naturally aimed at increasing the maturity of his Dao Fruit.

For example, the study of the Unparalleled Mechanism Beast, and Li Che's current Divine Condor level has already reached the level of the Divine Condor Saint's Hand.

As long as he completely carves a Saint's Hand Divine Condor, he can trigger the Divine Condor Saint's Hand Tribulation Lightning to assault the Realm of the Divine Condor Saint's Hand.

However, Li Che has never found an opportunity to carve a Saint's Hand Divine Condor, mainly because he hasn't thought of what to carve; inspiration is still important.

And over this past year, the maturity of his Dao Fruit has all received varying degrees of improvement.

Among them, the Thunder Magnetic Orb, under the stimulation of a hint of Heavenly Sky Thunder contained in the pure martial extreme, rose to 50%, also increasing the power of the Prison Thunder Heavenly Net and the Heavenly Sky Prison Thunder Sword.

The Painting Immortal Dao Fruit and the Dream Heavenly Master Dao Fruit have both risen to 90% maturity, not far from transformation; this is also the result of Li Che's efforts over the past year.

Because Ink City now had three more pinnacle experts, Li Che let the three top-tier pinnacle experts clash and fight there, causing Ink City to constantly break and heal; through this arduous cultivation, his Dao Fruit maturity finally increased considerably.

He exhaled a breath in Ink City.

Li Che no longer continued to cultivate the Qilin Suppress Void Seal, this Immortal Seed martial art.

He directly withdrew from Ink City and returned to the Elder's Courtyard.

He brushed off the snow on his body, Li Che withdrew the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, a rustling sound rose, and he saw Zhang Ya carrying a bamboo basket returning from outside the courtyard.

Zhang Ya went to find Third Elder Ding Zi for cultivation; today she finished early and deliberately bought vegetables to bring back.

"Husband, I'm back!"

Zhang Ya smiled brightly.

"Today is Xixi's birthday; quickly go to Grand White Peak to fetch Xixi back, and also invite the Sect Leader, the Sect Leader's Wife, and the Grand Elder and others to come home for a meal."

Zhang Ya said with a smile.

Li Che heard this and nodded.

He looked at Zhang Ya, his eyes slightly brightening: "Wife, your cultivation has broken through."

Zhang Ya was not surprised that Li Che could see through her cultivation; her husband is unfathomable, and she had long grown accustomed to it.

She proudly lifted her smooth chin: "In martial arts, I have finally stepped into the Grandmaster realm!"

With the help of the Chilong Blood Peach provided by Li Che, Zhang Ya's martial arts lived up to expectations and stepped into the Grandmaster realm.

Although her talent was mediocre, the peach's power was unstoppable.

This is merely the Thousand-Year Chilong Blood Peach that Li Che secretly obtained by sneaking into the Queen Mother of the West's Peach Orchard via Flying Thunder Chess Pieces during this period.

Although the Queen Mother of the West's Peach Orchard is in distant Shendu, Li Che, by using Chess Sage Flying Star, could reach it after a few teleportations; after a brief rest midway, he could accomplish the crossing.

Upon approaching, he simply used the Flying Thunder Chess Pieces to enter the peach orchard.

Unfortunately, eating too many peaches weakens the effect; however, after swallowing a few thousand-year Chilong Blood Peaches, Zhang Ya's martial arts cultivation was directly pulled up to the Grandmaster realm.

"This nine-thousand-year peach……"

Li Che took out the Nine-Thousand-Year Black Phoenix Spirit Peach he had harvested from the Nine-Thousand-Year Peach Forest during the Heroes' Triumph Assembly.

"The Nine-Thousand-Year Ginseng Fruit Peach that Xixi gave you can help extend your lifespan; there's no rush to eat it now, eat it when your lifespan nears its end. As for this Nine-Thousand-Year Black Phoenix Spirit Peach…… now that you have broken through to Grandmaster, your physical strength is sufficient, so you can consume it; it can help your divinity cultivation rapidly rise to the Divine Origin Realm."

Li Che said.

Zhang Ya was instantly astonished; a single peach could create a Divine Origin true person?!

"Of course, that is the divine energy contained in the peach that slowly aids your breakthrough, but you also need to cultivate yourself……"

Zhang Ya kept nodding.

"Husband, then this nine-thousand-year peach…… if given to Xixi to consume……"

"Xixi has no use for it; moreover, it is not her own divinity improvement, it would be extremely vain and would affect her divinity talent."

Li Che rubbed Zhang Ya's head.

Li Che, thanks to his Dao Fruit's support, fundamentally fears no vain power brought by the peach.

Zhang Ya instantly understood and no longer objected; neither her husband nor Xixi need to consume the nine-thousand-year peach.

And since her talent is trash, to avoid holding them back, she is naturally the one to take it.

Acting as Zhang Ya's Dharma protector, watching her finish the nine-thousand-year peach, the divinity on Zhang Ya's body surged up tumultuously.

Li Che placed his palm on Zhang Ya's back, slowly helping her sort out the internal divinity, until the divinity calmed down.

Next, what Zhang Ya needs to do is to refine the peach's energy.

But this will inevitably take a long time; Zhang Ya let out a belch, then with a full smile went to prepare Xixi's birthday feast.

Li Che left the courtyard and headed toward Taibai Peak.

…

…

Frozen clouds blanket the ridges, and pure snow at dawn solidifies into brilliance.

The dark night made the distant mountains seem shrouded in mist, while snowflakes fluttered down, as if freezing the hazy night canvas.

Gale howls, heavy snow whirls, dancing through the world, startling the dusk crows!

Beyond Qianyuan Dao City, atop the Grand Canal.

The river surged, not melting in the heavy snow, as if roaring in anger, with rolling waves.

A dense, unbreakable fog hovered over the river; because the water was warm while the air was icy, the rising mist veiled the surface.

Suddenly, the river's thick fog was torn apart.

One massive black mystic dragon ship after another cleaved the canal's clouds.

The river water slammed against the hull and burst apart, like firecrackers exploding.

Hoo Hoo Hoo—

Along both banks of the Grand Canal, within dense forest.

A scout, with qi and blood surging, sat cross‑legged on the trunk of an ancient tree.

Suddenly hearing a blasting sound, like the Grand Canal's roar, the scout snapped his eyes open.

His body jolted, leaping down from the tree, he sprinted wildly through the snow, leaving no trace, then, behind a snowdrift covered by shrubs, he gazed toward the Grand Canal.

He saw the rolling thick fog being sliced open by a long blade.

One colossal vessel after another broke through the waves.

Within the Grand Canal's currents, there were also massive, winding black shadows racing alongside the ships.

The scout tried to see more clearly.

Suddenly, a line flashed across his mind.

He saw on the great ship a leg‑less old man staring toward him, grinning with a mouth full of yellow teeth.

Oh no!

The scout's heart startled.

Top‑tier pinnacle!

Without hesitation, the scout drew a bamboo tube from his chest, pulling the fuse.

Then.

Brilliant light, accompanied by a whistling sound, tore the night sky and surged into the clouds!

With a bang, it burst open with a roar.

It turned into dazzling fireworks.

Simultaneously exploding…

…and the scout's flesh and blood.

…

…

"The boss and Dogzi went to Qitian Cheng to open a shop… they'll inevitably miss Xixi's birthday this year."

Li Che sighed.

However.

When the boss met Li Che on the bamboo raft, they had already prepared Xixi's birthday feast in advance.

They gave a six‑tier lunchbox, saying that when Xixi turned seven, the box would automatically produce celebratory dishes.

When Li Che brought Xixi home from Taibai Peak, Lu Taibai, Sect Matriarch Xuan Qisha, and other members of the Divine Sect gathered there.

Xixi was overjoyed; the seven‑year‑old girl hopped around the courtyard gleefully.

Not only because today is her birthday.

But also because she is seven…

Father and mother both consented to her going on a trial!

The smile on Xixi's face never faded.

She had heard Grandma Mu speak of the jianghu, and she longed for it, curious and eager.

Now she could set out on it right away.

Li Che spread the tablecloth, took out the boss's lunchbox, placed it on the table, and when opened, indeed there were dish after dish steaming hot, as if freshly cooked.

Li Che's eyes widened in surprise, then a smile curled his lips.

Boss, you're thoughtful.

Xixi smelled the aroma and immediately came over.

"Dad, is this the birthday dish the boss prepared for Xixi?" Xixi's eyes shone.

She also wondered about the boss's dishes, and Dogzi's.

Li Che served each dish.

When the final dish was taken out, Li Che's eyes suddenly narrowed slightly.

He paused his movements.

Deep within his gaze, a faint malice began to rise.

Neither early nor late… yet they chose the time of Xixi's birthday feast.

Choosing this time slot was truly sensitive.

Li Che had already guessed whose handiwork it was…

It was most likely the method of that Dàjǐng plain‑clothes National Teacher Xie Yunshen, who wanted to anger him by sabotaging Xixi's birthday banquet.

Li Che's movements only paused briefly, and his expression returned to normal.

However, Li Che had to admit.

This Dàjǐng National Teacher had successfully angered him.

Hmm, old rule: no blood should be shed on Xixi's birthday.

We'll deal with it after Xixi's birthday is over.

Under the eaves, Lu Taibai and Fang Hanshu, who were brewing and drinking tea, exchanged a glance and slowly rose.

Then, against the ink‑black sky, amid countless drifting snowflakes, a firework shot upward and burst with a roar in midair.

It was a mechanical signal flare made by Li Che.

The signal flare exploded, dazzling like fireworks.

It illuminated the entire Dry Origin Dao City.

Meaning…

The Dàjǐng court's punitive expedition army had already entered the Dry Origin Dao City region.

They are coming to attack the Mountain Breaking Sect!