Chapter 415: Opening the Eight Strange Gates, a Qilin Dance in One Step, the World's Qi Flow Can Gather the Primordial Yuan【Seeking M

Boom—!!!

The whole Ink City seemed to violently quake at this moment!

Eight Gates!

The eighth Strange Gate!

Open!

Li Che looked up, his black hair tinged with gold, as if in an instant it turned into dazzling golden light, extremely brilliant, wildly flailing, as if in a moment the space itself was split with cracks!

Standing still, Li Che only felt eight vortices behind his back appear one by one, then stack together, erupting a terrifying, earth‑shaking roar!

Ink City Fengdu!

The ink‑colored brick ground kept cracking and rapidly expanding, the whole city trembling as if mountains were collapsing and cities being destroyed!

Thump—

Within his chest, his heart seemed fully ignited to the extreme, massive and powerful; each beat was like a celestial deity standing atop the heavens, looking down on the mortal world, swinging the ancient hammer recorded in myth, and the instant it fell, rippled the space, the sound roaring like thunder!

Hoo—

Hoo—

Hoo—

There was no breathing, only exhaled gusts, like scorching steam currents, continuously erupting from his body; Li Che's eyes opened, their light like lightning, golden and brilliant.

His entire aura rose step by step, eight chains wildly whipping behind him, as if sprouting simultaneously from his spine; his flesh seemed to become a slab, both inside and out burned by scorching temperatures to the extreme, like star‑fallen iron!

Like a twisted collapse that scorches the very air!

The eighth Strange Gate!

The legendary Strange Gate!

Even in the annals, it has never been recorded; who has ever simultaneously opened the Eight Strange Gates!

This martial art passed down from the Martial Saint seems shrouded in mystery.

Because cultivating this Martial Saint Divine Seed supreme art carries enormous risk, a risk that can doom a person for ten thousand eons.

Precisely because of this dreadful risk, few can master this martial art.

Li Che stood still, his body as the center; the brick ground was peeled away inch by inch by terrifying surging Qi and blood, constantly whipping and flying, the ground collapsing as if a golden Qi‑blood field kept boiling and rolling.

Boom—!!!

Li Che's whole body was covered with cracks, like an exquisitely delicate porcelain that had been lightly chipped.

In his eyes, the sudden insight feedback of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit was slowly fading, but for Li Che, this insight had finally taken concrete effect!

Because it helped him successfully channel and open the eighth Strange Gate!

Immortal Seed·Qilin Town Immortal Seal!

This Immortal Seed martial art differs from the Divine Seed martial art; it is a reward given after Xixi turned seven, crossing a growth stage, a reward for moving from childhood into the school‑age period.

Obviously, its rank is above that of Divine Seed martial art.

Li Che had previously expended much insight feedback to cultivate this Immortal Seed martial art, yet he could not even barely enter its basics.

This time, using this exhilarating battle, one could even say that by slaying the demon maiden's clone and gaining the Dao Fruit's maturity, he successfully advanced this Immortal Seed martial art to its introductory stage.

Originally, Li Che's eighth Strange Gate Divine Seed had already matched a Divine Seed martial art, because for the eight Gates he had already gathered eight Divine Seed martial arts.

But the emergence of the Immortal Seed martial art was somewhat unexpected.

There was little hesitation; compared with the originally prepared Divine Seed martial art and the bond reward after Xixi grew up safely…

Li Che naturally chose the Immortal Seed martial art!

Qilin Town Void Seal!

On Li Che's back, the eighth Strange Gate Divine Seed shone like a blazing sun, its vortex spiraling, larger than any Divine Seed vortex.

Not only because it channels the Immortal Seed martial art.

But also because it is the eighth Strange Gate Divine Seed being channeled!

Eight Strange Gates!

That is the legendary power!

Li Che, who opened the Eight Gates, is himself a legend!

Li Che even wondered whether the warrior who devised this Eight Strange Gate Divine Seed technique had ever opened the Eight Gates, whether he had reached this height.

Originally Li Che even speculated whether the eighth Strange Gate existed within his spine…

"Prioritizing the Immortal Seed, with the seven Divine Seeds as support, the Eight Strange Gate Divine Seed technique I now practice… even qualifies as Immortal Art!"

Immortal Art!

Indeed, that is Li Che's description of this martial art.

It is a top‑tier martial art as if guided by an immortal.

When his five fingers clenched, Qi and blood seemed to roar, an incomparably terrifying and powerful force bursting from Li Che's cracked palm, circles of white vapor rippling, shaking, as if the very space were torn open.

"So strong!"

Li Che's eyes streamed with golden light!

It is a trans‑level power; Li Che feels his current strength is only a final step away from the Martial God Realm!

Mainly because his mortal body is still insufficient, and the Immortal Seed… is only just at the entry level.

Even in the small city of Chengdu, he cannot manifest the power of the Immortal Seed martial art, which is also a limitation.

Thus, he cannot fully release the power unleashed by channeling and opening the Eight Strange Gates!

However, the current Li Che can single‑handedly kill any half‑step Martial God he faces!

His martial cultivation, having broken through to the Martial Saint Third Opening, opened a ten‑thousand‑zhang Qi Sea Golden Pool, allowing him to detonate the seventh Strange Gate Divine Seed, enabling him in the previous mountain‑slashing sect‑breaking battle to confront a half‑step Divine Tribulation realm being.

But he achieved this power by simultaneously detonating seven Strange Gate Divine Seeds.

And now, even without detonating the strange gate divine seed…

Li Che can also unleash the power of a half‑step War God; if he were to detonate seven more strange gate divine seeds…

Below the War God, I am invincible!

Even battling Divine Tribulation or the War God is not out of the question!

And if the physical body's resilience keeps pace, reaching a level that can withstand the power of detonating the eighth strange gate divine seed…

That ultimate detonation, with all eight gates opening, ignites a fleeting bloom of brilliance!

Killing the War God would surely be hopeful!

However, regarding realms, Li Che also knows there remains a huge gap compared to Divine Tribulation and the War God.

It's like a brute with innate divine strength who knows no martial technique fighting a martial master who knows techniques but is weaker than the brute.

If strength is sufficient, one can subdue ten techniques with a single force.

But the premise is that strength must be sufficient.

The gap in grasping Dao essence and Heaven‑and‑Earth will is a gap in skill.

His thoughts gradually calm, while the qi currents of Heaven and Earth swirl wildly; the entire Ink City is scorched by furnace‑like heat, its steam perpetually rising.

"Hoo—"

"Sss—"

One breath in, one out, and the gale whirls the dense mist!

His spine like a great dragon, the vortex of the eight strange gate divine seeds instantly begins to contract, his spirit fully unifies, golden qi and blood cool into silence; under the aid of the Dao Fruit ability Sleeping Dragon Elephant, it is like a river surface without ripples, calm and leisurely.

"Do not expand…"

Without a Divine Tribulation cultivator as a reference, Li Che cannot overinflate; he silently recites in his mind, letting his swelling thoughts gradually settle.

He is a father, a head of a household with a wife and children!

Steadiness is the life principle of this family head.

This world is too mysterious; the higher one's cultivation, the more unfathomable it feels.

Whether in the mortal world, the Strange Palace, or the Guiyi Miao, mystery abounds; to Li Che, that mystery is like a light veil, impossible to pierce.

Therefore, Li Che does not dare to overinflate; he must tread as if on thin ice.

Li Che sits cross‑legged, the divine seed contracts, and he begins to release qi and blood.

A ten‑thousand‑zhang golden Qi Sea pool instantly materializes above his head, its golden light blinding, the surging golden sea water roars endlessly, each surge like an exploding wave!

Within the golden Qi Sea, a mountain rises from the ground.

That is Li Che's Martial Path Mountain!

As Li Che successfully translocated the eighth strange gate, this Martial Path Mountain, within the ten‑thousand‑zhang golden Qi Sea pool, stirred terrifying tides.

It seems to keep rising, making the climb ever more difficult.

In this world, there are many Martial Path summits; those who achieve the Martial Saint Four Openings ascend the mountain path to the peak, step onto the Four Openings, translocate to the Heaven Gate, and that is the summit.

Opening the Heaven Gate is the ultimate summit.

However, the countless Martial Path mountains vary in height.

Each person's Martial Path cannot be identical; their understanding, cultivation, bodily forging, qi and blood condensation, combat comprehension, and so on, shape Martial Path peaks that differ.

Li Che's Martial Path Mountain can be said to be the highest peak in Heaven and Earth.

Because the eighth strange gate divine seed was successfully translocated, the Martial Path Mountain nearly bursts through the sky.

Li Che's spirit steadies, and he begins to surge forward, stepping up the mountain path.

However, the mountain path is also a process of strengthening Martial Path qi and blood.

Li Che needs ample resources; he needs the Four Sovereign Upper‑level Martial Pill!

Riding the momentum of the eighth strange gate translocation, Li Che climbs over a thousand zhàng on the Martial Path, then feels a void in his qi and blood that must be promptly replenished.

Thus, Li Che chose to end his five‑ to six‑day cultivation.

While he climbs, the floating seven‑orifice Exquisite Heart within the inner space of the Niwan emits pure divine spirit, rapidly repairing Li Che's shattered flesh; by now it has fully recovered.

With the successful translocation of the eighth strange gate, the immortal seed Qilin Town Void Seal condenses within the spinal strange gate, putting Li Che in high spirits.

Although Xie Yunshen's imperial army still exerts pressure, Li Che now still has the confidence to overturn everything!

If they truly push him to the limit.

Li Che doesn't mind a genuine momentary bloom!

Unleash the Qilin's kick!

Let's have a final dance!

"Buzz—"

Li Che's spirit stirs, and his whole being withdraws from Ink City Fengdu.

Only the ancient evergreen God‑binding Gu Changqing remains in Fengdu, diligently forging Martial Pills; he needs resources, and Li Che found them—Li Che is always more tolerant toward technical personnel.

"Rumble—!!!"

Li Che, just back in the Elder Hall.

His hair bristles instantly, even though he has already used Sleeping Dragon Elephant to maximally contract his breath.

Yet at this moment, he still feels a looming catastrophe; he thrust his head upward, as if seeing high above the ten‑thousand‑zhang sky the manifested will of Heaven and Earth, slowly revealing an incomparably gigantic face.

From the heights, it gazes down upon Li Che!

An endless, oppressive pressure—constricting, heavy, suffocating…

It makes Li Che feel an unprecedented great evil, as if a calamity is brewing to erase him from the mortal world!

"Completely strangled!"

As if the world does not permit a being as awesome as him!

Li Che's spine trembled, the eight strange‑door divine seeds seemed to quiver faintly, wildly vibrating at a breakneck pace.

Even if Li Che runs the Sleeping Dragon Elephant to its limit, he still cannot shield this calamity's lock‑like targeting!

Li Che felt a slight heaviness in his heart—had he been deemed a divine tribulation, a Martial God?

The terrifying pressure descended, and Li Che's spine seemed about to be bent.

But when Li Che's mind stirred, he summoned the Heaven‑and‑Earth chessboard across the void, cutting off the seal on his own aura.

Then, using his seven‑orifice exquisite heart, he released divinity, filling and sealing the spot of the eighth strange‑door divine seed in his spine.

When it dispersed again, the heavenly might vanished completely.

As if, in a game of chess with Heaven and Earth, he were pulling a "deceive the heavens and cross the sea" move.

……

……

The roof was covered with white snow.

Black clouds came and went, vanishing in an instant.

Warm sunlight poured from beyond the doorway onto the ground, mottled like gold.

Li Che stretched lazily, his whole body crackling with bone and tendon sounds.

Having ended his arduous seclusion, Li Che had not paused his cultivation since the clash with the imperial army.

Unwittingly, several days passed.

Stepping out of the house, Zhang Ya, Xixi, Jin Ta Sui and others were each cultivating outside the courtyard.

Seeing Li Che emerge, their eyes all lit up.

"Husband!"

"Dad!"

The mother and daughter shouted almost simultaneously.

Then, they both ran toward Li Che at the same time.

Li Che, smiling warmly, spread his arms and embraced his wife and daughter, as a fledgling swallow returns to its nest.

Such is life; what more could a husband ask for?

Li Che patted the heads of his wife and daughter, the big and the small clinging to him dependently.

His sharp gaze softened a bit.

"Master."

Jin Mao Hun, upon seeing Li Che emerge, respectfully clasped his fists.

Li Che glanced at Jin Mao Hun, his eyes revealing a faint strange radiance.

"Transform into the Golden Lion King and see how you fare with me."

Li Che said.

Jin Mao Hun was startled instantly.

"Alright!"

Jin Mao Hun hesitated not; his qi and blood erupted, and the next moment his whole body began to swell, flesh and bone expanding as if constantly proliferating, thick veins bulging one after another.

After only a few breaths, accompanied by a phantom Golden Lion King forming behind him, Jin Mao Hun fully transformed into the Golden Lion King.

Dense, overwhelming demonic aura instantly radiated from the Golden Lion King form of Jin Mao Hun.

The Golden Lion King's figure was colossal, standing in the courtyard like a small mountain.

Roar—!!!

He let out a roar, shaking the courtyard roof and sending the white snow fluttering down.

Li Che's eyes lit up.

Within his chest, the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit kept pulsating.

Li Che seemed to clench his five fingers, grasping the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit.

In an instant, Li Che tiptoed, appearing before the Golden Lion King.

Jin Mao Hun tilted his head.

Then Li Che extended his hand and pressed it onto the Lion King's forehead.

In that instant, the terrifying demonic aura seemed to have a source, wildly converging into the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit within Li Che's chest.

Then Li Che saw the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit's maturity surge at breakneck speed!

The Golden Lion King, formed from Jin Mao Hun, possessed the supreme combat power of the Four Openings of the Martial Saint; as a beast, it could be called a Demon King.

The Wan Yao Di was still a nascent Dao Fruit, like Li Che's former Xian Gong and Long Xiang Jin Gang fruits, all cultivated and transformed from low realms.

This Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit, upon appearing, immediately faced a high‑tier scenario, devouring high‑level demonic aura, becoming almost greedily voracious.

Jin Mao Hun felt his own demonic aura rapidly draining.

He suddenly felt a surge of dread; moreover, his gaze at Li Che swelled with fear and submission…

Indeed, this was unlike the surrender born of losing a bet and agreeing to the terms.

It was a surrender at the level of life itself, of mind and thought.

It gave Jin Mao Hun a sense of…

…as if confronting the Great Witch God atop Witch God Mountain.

How could this be possible?!

Boom!

The Golden Lion King obediently lay down at once, as a sign of submission.

Hoo—hoo—

The wind and waves vanished.

Li Che furrowed his brows; the demon aura had been drawn to its peak.

【Dao Fruit: Ten Thousand Demon Emperor (lv1, 90%)】

He was close to breaking through to lv2; it wasn't that the Golden‑haired Xun's demon aura was insufficient, but that his Golden‑haired Xun was not a pure demon lineage, merely possessing demon blood, so the demon king it formed also had limited demon aura.

"And great demons like the Golden‑haired Xun, there are four more…"

Li Che's eyes flickered faintly.

Just eight hundred li away, not far.

Within the Court's encamped camp, the Dragon God Clan's Dragon God Crown Prince, and three Dragon Offsprings that can form a half‑step Dragon God phantom, are also considered great demons.

"Wait until nightfall, then sneak over and see."

Li Che emerged from his sect, but news arrived that Lu Taibai had entered seclusion.

Now the whole Divine Sect is seemingly being handled by Fang Hanshu, keeping it running.

Upon learning of Li Che's emergence, Fang Hanshu quickly dropped what he was doing, rushed over at speed, and arrived inside the courtyard.

"Ah Che, are those resources useful to you? Do you still need to keep gathering them?"

When Fang Hanshu first saw Li Che, for some reason his hair stood on end.

A scholar's intuition told him that the current Li Che was absolutely not to be provoked.

Because Li Che might become extremely unreasonable.

"Useful, keep collecting. As for how many Divine Crystals are needed for purchase and exchange, tell me; I can use the Sacred Hand Divine Eagle for the exchange."

Li Che said.

"The Patriarch originally wanted to summon you for a meeting, but you were in seclusion, so the Patriarch fell back into deep slumber…"

"Xie Yunshen's side hasn't shown any movement, yet the Court's army is stationed outside, like a long sword hanging over one's head, making it hard to rest or eat."

Fang Hanshu furrowed his brows and shook his head.

Scholars hate being pointed at with a blade the most.

"Within that large camp, flying hawks keep swooping away, clearly sending messages, calling for aid…"

"Fortunately, there is good news: the Patriarch of the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect, Zhao Beidou, broke through the void and returned. My scout saw him; when he returned to the camp, he seemed to have been wounded by a calamity tribulation…"

"As for Gu Qianchi of the Bashu Sword Pavilion, there hasn't been much movement."

Fang Hanshu explained the situation to Li Che.

Li Che heard this, and his eyes brightened slightly…

"Zhao Beidou… seriously injured?"

Fang Hanshu, looking at Li Che's suddenly bright gaze that resembled a billion‑watt bulb, couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth…

"Of course not… it probably wasn't a serious injury, but although the calamity tribulation was avoided, he likely sustained some minor wounds."

Li Che felt a hint of regret upon hearing that.

He plans to use the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard to investigate thoroughly.

"Xie Yunshen has temporarily retreated eight hundred li, but will surely return… The Patriarch faces two Divine Tribulations directly; the difficulty is great. If Xie Yunshen summons another Divine Tribulation…"

Fang Hanshu sighed.

This is why Lu Taibai, feeling immense pressure, went into seclusion, aiming to break into the half‑step Martial God realm.

Time does not stand on their side.

Time waits for no one!

Li Che's eyes were dim: "Indeed, the ruthless Commoner State Tutor Xie Yunshen may even invite more than one Divine Tribulation. He seems to have secured a lot of power from the emperor; Xie Yunshen is certainly planning to crush us in one fell swoop!"

"For example, the Dragon God Clan might dispatch a Great Divine Tribulation Cultivator."

Fang Hanshu nodded: "The Dragon God Clan indeed still has an Old Dragon God approaching its Great Limit, the Clan's last reliance. If truly summoned, it would mean the Dragon God Clan… stakes everything."

Fang Hanshu looked at Li Che, his scholar robe fluttering, his eyes flashing with cold.

"So… I have an idea."

"Grand Elder, please speak."

"Ah Che, you are familiar with the Underworld; could you perhaps ask the underworld demons to act… assassinate…"

Li Che looked at Fang Hanshu with startled doubt.

Fang Hanshu's scholar robe swelled, his fine beard fluttered in the wind, and he smiled: "On my side, I am trying to invite a Hunt God Assassin from the Hunt God Hall to act…"

"We are striving to contact the top‑tier Hunt God Assassin of the Hunt God Hall… If we can secure a Hunt God Assassin, combined with the Underworld's elusive assassination techniques, the success rate should still be viable."

Fang Hanshu's words made Li Che feel a sense of kinship.

Wait… Hunt God Assassin?!

"Hunt God Assassin?"

Li Che was somewhat puzzled.

"The strongest assassin of the Hunt God Hall isn't the Hunt King, right? Like a Sect Master such as…"

Fang Hanshu gave a light smile, his eyes flashing with a different hue.

"Ah Che, the origins of the Hunt God Hall are far grander than you imagine; the Hunt King only hunts the strongest mortals, but a Hunt God… can even slay a deity."

Fang Hanshu exhaled.

"However, assassinating Xie Yunshen is not easy; despite the unknown betrayal of Tian Can and Di Que, given Xie Yunshen's role as commander and backbone of the Court's mountain‑crushing army, there will certainly be a Great Divine Tribulation Cultivator protecting him."

"Patriarch Zhao Beidou of the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect and Patriarch Gu Qianchi of the Bashu Sword Pavilion are Divine Tribulation cultivators of the Calamity‑One, Tribulation‑One realm. Our Patriarch Qian Yuan is at Calamity‑One, Tribulation‑Two realm; if we meet in the Strange Abyss, the Patriarch facing two is no issue. In the mortal world, because of the threat of the Three Calamities Nine Tribulations of Heaven and Earth's will, the Divine Tribulation dares not…"

"Thus, although the Patriarch has the strength to take on two, he will be restrained beforehand."

"If the Patriarch were at Calamity‑One, Tribulation‑Three realm, he could naturally suppress them."

Li Che felt a slight stir in his heart upon hearing that.

The tiered divisions of the Divine Tribulation realm, Li Che learned for the first time.

"What about the Martial God? Is it divided the same way?"

Li Che asked.

Fang Hanshu glanced at Li Che, nodded, and said: "The Martial God… is actually the fusion of the martial path and divinity, a leap of the divine‑martial Dao. In fact, once one reaches the Divine Tribulation realm, the difference is minimal, and it is likewise unacceptable to heaven and earth; therefore, one must also cross the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations."

"However, the great cultivation of the Divine Tribulation expands one's internal scenic space, forging a small pocket heaven."

"The Martial God, on the other hand, expands and alters the body's dantian, forming a martial‑Dao celestial phenomenon. That phenomenon can exist in the void, and the Martial God, bearing the phenomenon, can slip into the void to evade tribulations. In practice, it is not much different from the small pocket heaven of the Divine Tribulation."

Seeing Li Che's curiosity, Fang Hanshu offered a sentence or two of further explanation.

The Martial God bears a celestial phenomenon, while the Divine Tribulation internalizes into a pocket heaven…

"Regardless of Martial God or Divine Tribulation, enlarging the celestial phenomenon or the small pocket heaven requires Dao Essence… The Great Dao's Intent Essence is the foundation for forging celestial phenomena and pocket heavens!"

"Without sufficient Dao Essence, the failure rate of tribulation crossing is high, not to mention that Martial God and Divine Tribulation… may even regress in realm."

"Do you know why the opening of Qitian Cheng caused such a stir? Not only because of the Qitian inheritance, but also because… Qitian Cheng lies within the mysterious void of Heaven and Earth, and after the Divine Tribulation's great cultivation survey, it was discovered that the Qitian Guiyi Miao is actually situated at the junction of the Inner Mysterious Void and the Earthly Mysterious Void."

"The city must contain an abundance of Dao Essence spirit crystals…"

"Why did numerous demon‑tribe demon emperors seize Qitian Cheng? It is also to grab the initiative; when Qitian Cheng revives and opens, they aim to be the first to seize Dao Essence spirit crystals and ascend to demon god!"

Fang Hanshu, widely read and with a prodigious memory, possesses an extremely deep understanding of the world's affairs.

Li Che listened in a daze, and his eyes had already become fully bright.

Qitian Cheng, situated at the junction of the Inner Mysterious Void and the Earthly Mysterious Void!

It hides an extreme abundance of Dao Essence spirit crystals?!

Isn't the key to Huang Jianjiu's transformation into a temple deity the need for these Dao Essence spirit crystals?!

If there are enough Dao Essence spirit crystals…

Huang Jianjiu, becoming a temple deity, would surely become a great aid to Li Che.

Moreover, Li Che now summons the eighth Qimen divine seed…

Dao Essence spirit crystals are, for him, undoubtedly extremely important!

Fang Hanshu inhaled deeply, his brows slightly furrowing: "If Xie Yunshen truly summons that old dragon god of the Dragon God Clan, it would indeed be somewhat difficult and dangerous…"

"Why?" Li Che asked, puzzled.

"Because that old dragon god is approaching his final limit… moreover, he has lived far too long, having passed one disaster and two tribulations, placing him on the same tier as our ancestor."

"And the old Dragon King, nearing his limit, can be even more insane than our ancestor!"

Li Che instantly understood.

It's the barefoot who aren't afraid of those shod, fighting for a future for the Dragon God Clan?

Li Che inhaled deeply, an inexplicable pressure surged in his heart.

"Therefore, if we can assassinate Xie Yunshen, that commander, we should be able to buy the Qianyuan Divine Sect a considerable breathing room."

Fang Hanshu said.

"I'll go contact the Underworld and give it a try."

Li Che thought for a moment, took out an Underworld Divine Communication Mirror, and handed it to Fang Hanshu.

"Using this to contact, if the Underworld acts, it will inform us through it."

Fang Hanshu, without hesitation, took the Divine Communication Mirror, a strange hue flashing in his eyes.

A variant of the Corpse God Sect's thousand‑mile Divine Communication Mirror?

What relation is there between the Underworld and the Corpse God Sect…?

The more Fang Hanshu dealt with the Underworld, the more he felt the Underworld resembled a force that truly wielded death more than the Corpse God Sect.

After a detailed chat with Li Che for a while, Fang Hanshu prepared to drift away.

He was too busy.

Lu Taibai forced people to close their sects and become idle managers, leaving Fang Hanshu to take on these matters.

"By the way…"

Fang Hanshu suddenly recalled something, his gaze sweeping to the distant courtyard where Xixi, training her mortal body in the martial path under the guidance of the golden‑maned Jin Mao Houn, was.

"Regarding Xixi's cultivation trial…"

"Initially I was opposed; I thought Xixi should read more books, increase her wisdom before venturing out for trials…"

Xixi, who was practicing martial arts, suddenly felt a chilling cold sweep her body, as if falling into a demon cave.

What—!!!

Xixi's ears twitched, and she looked over in terror.

Master of the demon cave, could you at least be human!

However, Fang Hanshu's tone shifted once again.

"But now… I've changed my mind."

Fang Hanshu's voice suddenly grew heavy.

"We, just in case…"

"Need to leave a seed for Qianyuan Divine Sect…"

Fang Hanshu said.

Li Che was startled, then fell silent.

Leave a seed…

In case Qianyuan Divine Sect is destroyed?

Indeed, facing the court's resolute will to raze mountains and break sects, even Li Che, who possesses many methods, felt such immense pressure.

Not to mention the others of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Thus Fang Hanshu finally agreed to let Xixi go on a trial, disguising herself and assuming a false identity to train.

"Fine."

Li Che thought for a moment, exhaled, and nodded.

His eyes flickered briefly.

"When I assassinated Xie Yunshen... I arranged for Xixi to leave the sect for training. At that time, I happened to send Xixi and the others away, so as not to draw the court's great army's two Divine Calamities' attention."

Li Che said.

Fang Hanshu gave Li Che a deep look, then glanced at Xixi in the distance.

"The court should sense something, so... it begins to consolidate all worldly power, intending to gather the world's Qi and fate. The Qian Yuan Divine Sect... won't be the first; those Divine Sects cooperating with the court are merely colluding with Hu Mou Pi. In the end, they also cannot escape the fate of mountain‑crushing, sect‑destroying calamity."

"Thinking that by submitting and seeking refuge, they could avoid the mountain‑crushing sect‑destruction calamity? They can't escape..."

"Even the ancient Qitian Divine Sect couldn't escape; on what grounds do they claim they can?"

Fang Hanshu sneered, then his wide sleeves fluttered as he rose into the air and flew away.

But his words gave Li Che a slight shock in his heart.

Fang Hanshu seemed very pessimistic, not hopeful about the Qian Yuan Divine Sect's outcome.

Although the Qian Yuan Divine Sect achieved a great victory.

But...

Not enough!

"The fate of the Qitian Divine Sect?"

Li Che exhaled slowly...

He tipped his toe.

Li Che's body sprang upward, hovering high in the sky, brilliant sunlight pouring down, bathing him in shimmering gold light.

He stood in the void, looking around.

Snow fell across the mountains, the scenery like a painting.

In the courtyard, Xixi with Jin Tai Sui, Zhou Peng, Yun E and other youngsters practiced martial arts while playing, laughing heartily; Zhang Ya also worked hard to train with them, and her martial path has improved considerably.

This sect that has borne so much joy, protection, and growth for their family...

Will it truly be destroyed one day?!

Fang Hanshu was very pessimistic; Lv Taibai was striving, and the Patriarch seemed... also helpless.

Li Che slowly extended his hand, his five fingers shielding the vast sky and sun; sunlight pierced through the gaps, illuminating his face.

The head of the family only seeks stability, comfort, and peace.

The Qian Yuan Divine Sect is fine...

The tide of events is like a surge; to gather all worldly Qi, must the court annihilate the Qian Yuan Divine Sect?

If so...

Then all worldly Qi would converge upon Qian Yuan.

That wouldn't be impossible!

Before his raised five fingers, space cracked, and a horse‑face mask was slowly placed over Li Che's face.

His fingers slid over the mask, his eyes flashing.

Like the gaze of a hawk, it spanned and tore the Grand Canal for eight hundred li.

"So..."

"National Teacher, it's time to set out."

First One Update, this chapter has taken a bit long; I won't rest and will keep writing. There will be another chapter later, finish it early, please give monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, follow‑reads; Lao Li keeps at it, thank you!