Chapter 416: Having shed his Confucian robes, the great elder turns out to be a Divine Hunter; go, little Xixi, the fledgling hawk le

The eagle's cry and long howl tore open from the nine heavens above!

Like a ball of fire, the red hawk flapped its wings, falling like a meteor from the high heavens, the clouds parting to reveal towering, majestic palaces and temples!

Shendu, the first city!

Imperial palace divine hall.

Cloudtop Hall.

The red hawk smashed down like a meteor onto the white jade plaza before Cloudtop Hall, billowing smoke and dust rising endlessly.

That red hawk looked tiny in the high heavens, but upon landing it proved to be a colossal beast.

Eunuch Lian of the Purple Robe Marten Temple walked out, a few steps bringing him before the red hawk; after taking a treasure pill and feeding it to the red hawk, the red hawk turned and pecked at its own body.

A single red-hued hawk feather was plucked off and handed to Eunuch Lian.

Eunuch Lian merely glanced at it, and a flash of astonishment appeared in his eyes.

He patted the red hawk, then turned and hurried swiftly into Cloudtop Hall; even though his steps were fast, his whole bearing remained respectful.

Cloudtop Hall, atop the main hall.

The Emperor, clad in bright yellow robes, sat enthroned above, while below sat the four princes, listening respectfully to the Emperor's teachings.

Eldest Prince, Second Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince… Lu Chi!

Lu Chi, having gained the Grand Preceptor's favor and backing, now enjoys a rising status in Shendu; he is no longer the weak, unloved prince of before.

Although his cultivation is modest, the Emperor suddenly became very pleased with Lu Chi.

The tone of his words grew much more affectionate.

"Your Majesty, news has returned from Qianyuan Dao City..."

Eunuch Lian held the red hawk feather, head bowed, and spoke respectfully.

The Emperor waved his hand, and the red hawk feather flew to his palm; the entire Cloudtop Hall fell silent at once.

Everyone dared not even breathe.

They all knew that the Emperor had ordered the Grand Preceptor to lead the army forth, joining forces with the experts of the great divine sects, to attack and destroy the sect, aiming to annihilate the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Therefore, the message carried back by this red hawk feather must be military intelligence.

Because the red hawk feather is the trained demon beast used by the Dàjǐng army to transmit information.

After reading it, though his countenance, woven of divinity and blood, gave no clear expression, everyone in the hall could clearly sense the shock and anger flashing in the Emperor's eyes.

"Trash!"

"Two Divine Tribulation experts, plus so many top-tier apex cultivators, even Ji Molie joining the battle, yet they ended up like this—failing to take Qianyuan Dao City outright is bad enough, but they retreated eight hundred li, losing all face for the court."

The Emperor said coldly.

"How dare you still ask me to issue an edict mobilizing the Old Dragon God of the Dragon God clan!"

"What cultivation does Ji Molie have—how could he possibly be slain on the spot? Prince Pinglu… is this how you pacify rebellion? Trash!"

The Emperor's angry reprimand boomed like thunder, echoing throughout the hall.

It made everyone's hearts and souls tremble incessantly.

The four princes likewise dared not even breathe.

Lu Chi lowered his head; upon hearing that the Qianyuan Divine Sect had actually blocked the imperial army's advance and even won a great victory, his heart involuntarily stirred with a hint of joy.

But soon, Lu Chi felt the Emperor's gaze sweep over him.

"Red son, you say, the Qianyuan Divine Sect's such blatant treason, daring to act against the imperial army, even slaughtering court officials—should it not be destroyed?!"

The Emperor's voice was icy and overwhelming, a vast pressure surging through the palace, making Lu Chi's whole body turn icy cold.

Gazes swept over and fell upon him, as if looking at a joke.

Lu Chi lowered his head, clenched his fists tightly, but soon slowly lifted his head, his face already calm.

Still as an ancient well, without joy or sorrow.

"The dignity of Dàjǐng cannot be violated, the Qianyuan Divine Sect…"

"Should be destroyed."

When Lu Chi spoke those words, his eyes were somewhat hollow.

Within the palace, the Emperor's low laughter suddenly rang out.

It echoed for a moment.

Eunuch Lian, convey my decree: let the Old Dragon God of the Dragon God clan enter the realm!

……

……

Whooo—

The night was deep as water, thick to the point of almost being unable to dissolve.

The surging Grand Canal roared without cease, as if awed by the army's might, constantly throwing up rolling waves.

Perhaps it was also provoked by the terrifying aura of the two Divine Tribulation experts stationed in the Dàjǐng army camp, angering the will of heaven and earth, which then transmitted from the Grand Canal.

The night wind wailed without cease.

As the temperature dropped, the sky began to flutter with dense white snow, blanketing the whole world in a white coat.

Xie Yunshen, clad in white, walked through the snow of the great camp, his cloth robes constantly billowing, clinging close to his body.

Snowflakes clung to his beard, making him look somewhat forlorn.

Xie Yunshen never imagined he would face such a great defeat.

It can indeed be called a great defeat; although the enemy also lost top-tier apex cultivators, Xie Yunshen felt that casualties on his side were far more severe, for no reason—just his intuition.

Although the dead were all the masters of the great divine sects.

Although Ji Molie was slain in explosion, he is not considered dead, having revived through a reincarnation technique; however, because of this life, another city's populace may yet be slaughtered.

Xie Yunshen did not approve of Ji Molie's actions, but he did not go to stop them; there was cooperation between him and Ji Molie.

"National Teacher…… we have suffered such a defeat; on His Majesty's side, can he agree to our request to invite the Dragon God of the Dragon God clan to come and assist?"

Sword-wielding guard Ning An, following beside Xie Yunshen, couldn't help but ask.

"Of course, His Majesty will not disagree."

"His Majesty needs Li Che, needs to overthrow the Qian Yuan Divine Sect…… for this, paying some insignificant cost, naturally he won't say anything."

The National Teacher said lightly.

"Besides, do you think our defeat looks ugly? The fallen and deceased Gu Changqing, Bai Buyi, and Zhao Chunqiu are all sect masters of the Divine Sect; actually…… their deaths have little impact on the court."

National Teacher Xie Yunshen said with a smile, not taking it to heart.

Ning An stared, then his pupils constricted: 'So…… National Teacher, did you already encounter such a situation earlier?'

Xie Yunshen shook his head: 'But this is for His Majesty; for me, a loss is a loss, I indeed suffered an ugly defeat.'

"The Netherworld…… is beyond my expectation."

"Also that Li Half-Sage, oh, now he is Li Holy Hand, indeed decisive, but also indeed formidable; that level of Holy Hand tribulation, he crossed it so easily……"

Xie Yunshen slightly narrowed his eyes.

"Is he really just a Horse Face?"

Xie Yunshen already had some suspicions in his heart.

When undergoing tribulation, the stronger the physical body, the easier it is to pass the tribulation, especially the Holy Hand tribulation; such heavenly thunder tribulation, a strong physical body occupies a great advantage.

Xie Yunshen shook his head, his gaze deepening considerably.

"In the first battle of breaking the mountain and destroying the sect, we must definitely succeed……"

He exhaled a breath.

Xie Yunshen's face showed a hint of regret.

"Heaven Remnants and Earth Deficiencies…… how could they have betrayed?"

"The only possibility of betrayal is that Heaven Remnants and Earth Deficiencies were dragged into that Netherworld city of Fengdu; then, the Netherworld's Yama King could possibly persuade Heaven Remnants and Earth Deficiencies……"

"Could it be that the Netherworld knows the origins of Heaven Remnants and Earth Deficiencies?"

Xie Yunshen narrowed his eyes.

A Netherworld, an extremely mysterious force.

Unable to find its source, unable to trace its past, it seems to have walked out of nothingness, representing the abyss and the nether……

Slaughter is the main theme of the Netherworld; all along, the Netherworld's slaughter has never ceased.

Brutality, slaughter, madness, death—these are the feelings the Netherworld has always given people.

"Senior, the Netherworld excels at assassination…… I implore you, senior, to put more thought into it."

Xie Yunshen suddenly thought of something.

His whole body suddenly turned bone-chillingly cold.

He hurriedly cupped his fists toward a direction in the void and sincerely said.

"Understood."

"Rest assured, my Dao essence remains on you; your safety, I have guaranteed."

A faint voice came from somewhere in the void where ripples spread from the tremor.

Xie Yunshen received the guarantee of the Divine Tribulation Grand Master, yet he did not relax in the slightest.

Looking back at all the Netherworld's deeds, Xie Yunshen suddenly couldn't help but think of the Imperial Consort Ji, who died a gruesome death in Shendu.

Instantly, chills ran through his whole body.

"Assassination……"

"Will the Netherworld come to assassinate me?"

"Netherworld…… dare to come?!"

"……"

"……"

Wanting to let Qian Yuan gather the heavenly and earthly qi fortune is actually absolutely a tremendous difficulty.

Even the Qiti Temple of the past failed; can the Qian Yuan Divine Sect succeed?

At its peak, the Qiti Temple occupied half the realm's lands, suppressing the contemporary dynasty to the point of barely being able to breathe—what immense power that was.

Li Che does not believe that the Qiti Temple of the past lacked the idea of gathering the world's qi fortune.

But ultimately, the Qiti Temple still failed.

There must be something, a power that he currently cannot yet access, that suppressed the Qiti Temple.

If Li Che wishes to protect the Qian Yuan Divine Sect, take the qi fortune of all the divine sects, and even take the court's qi fortune together, he will inevitably encounter that same power.

"So, we still have to become stronger."

Li Che let out a sigh.

However, after expressing that sentiment, Li Che couldn't help but touch his own head……

How could he, like Xixi, have been born with a rebellious bone?

He, Li Che, is an honest and diligent woodcarver!

Over the next few days, Li Che devoted all his time to his daughter Xixi, together with Zhang Ya, accompanying Xixi.

Whatever Xixi wants to do, Li Che and Zhang Ya will agree.

If Xixi wants to eat braised pork, Zhang Ya will immediately go cook; if she wants to go shopping, Li Che will go with Zhang Ya, taking Xixi for a stroll along the main street of Qian Yuan Dao City.

Enjoying the days when the family gathers together.

Li Che told Zhang Ya about letting Xixi go through training.

What surprised Li Che was that as soon as he spoke, Zhang Ya, just like Fang Hanshu, put forward the same view.

Or rather, Fang Hanshu had already mentioned this to Zhang Ya long ago.

It must have been during the days he was in seclusion.

"Xixi is ultimately different from an ordinary seven‑year‑old; she is a genius, a prodigy, a fledgling dragon leader… Her future is bound to be brilliant."

"Nowadays her strength, looking across the martial world, few can match her…"

Li Che comforted Zhang Ya.

"Husband, I know, I already know this; I just can't bear to let Xixi go… She's still so young, yet she must venture into the martial world. What if she starves, what if she gets cold, what if she's bullied out there… What shall we do? As parents we're not by her side; she's so far from us, we can't help her."

As Zhang Ya spoke, her voice involuntarily choked with sobs.

Li Che patted Zhang Ya's head, wrapped his arms around his wife's body, and let her lean on his shoulder.

Although many of Zhang Ya's worries are baseless, isn't this precisely the concern parents feel for a child traveling far away?

"Don't worry; don't forget your husband's abilities—I will always guard Xixi's side."

Li Che said with a smile.

Zhang Ya lifted her head, her eyes slightly reddened: "But if…"

"If the Qian Yuan Divine Sect fails to survive this calamity and is destroyed by the court, you and I… should we die, what will become of Xixi?"

Zhang Ya pressed her red lips together.

Li Che was briefly dazed.

Die?

Will he die?

He couldn't help recalling the scene of big Xixi eating the birthday noodles the boss had prepared for her, tears streaming down.

At that time, big Xixi no longer had a father or mother.

So…

Will she die?

Li Che's eyes instantly hardened.

"Don't worry, she won't…"

He will strive to change everything, will work hard to become stronger, so that Xixi will never become a child without parents!

Zhang Ya seemed to feel Li Che's firm resolve, her heart trembling slightly.

She silently embraced her husband's arm.

She believed her husband could certainly accomplish it.

…

…

They accompanied Xixi for almost three days.

Zhang Ya then began packing Xixi's belongings, and the journey across the martial world included not only Xixi but also three little companions.

Jin Taishui, Yun E, and Zhou Peng…

Jin Taishui must come along, for he is Xixi's servant and silently swore in his heart to protect Xixi's safety.

As for Yun E and Zhou Peng, they are the elders of two great millennial families, who made a request after finding Fang Hanshu.

They also wish to leave a seed for their families; of course, the two great families have their own designs—to have their descendants cling tightly to the Qian Yuan Lesser Sect's leg. If the Qian Yuan Divine Sect perishes, that's fine; if it survives this court's encirclement,

that would be something else.

Millennial families aiming to climb higher and become stronger usually need to pick sides and place bets.

Between the court and the Qian Yuan Divine Sect, they unhesitatingly chose the Qian Yuan Divine Sect.

Li Che then began a minor seclusion again, though not a true retreat, merely starting to plot an assassination.

Assassinate Xie Yunshen.

"Xie Yunshen… quite clever; if he could be transformed into a Constrained Spirit, that would be good, but his strength is a bit weak, and turning him into a Constrained Spirit might make him dull."

"However, after becoming strong in a Constrained Spirit body, he would regain his cleverness."

"When it comes to talent, I, Li Che, have always welcomed anyone…"

"The underworld welcomes you; within Fengdu, we'll provide you with a residence."

Li Che gave a faint smile.

Of course, smile aside, Li Che did not take this assassination lightly.

After all, among the court's massive army are two Divine Tribulation Great Cultivators stationed, and surely one of them constantly protects Xie Yunshen.

Earlier, Li Che faced Zhao Beidou, that Divine Tribulation Great Cultivator's terrifying aura, and could clearly feel the suppression of heaven and earth.

That suppression remains fresh in his memory; now his strength has surged, and when confronting a Divine Tribulation Great Cultivator, detonating the eighth Qimen Divine Seed might still allow a fight!

But this is Li Che's true trump card, for detonating the eighth Qimen Divine Seed would directly open the Eight Gates, and the cost is too great.

Nevertheless, it might still be worth a try.

Given Li Che's current bodily strength, though already at the pinnacle of the Saint of War, detonating the Eight Qimen—a legendary state—would still cause his flesh to disintegrate and be utterly annihilated.

If anyone else tried, it would likely be a matter of life or death.

But it pressed Li Che to desperation, and he still dared to try.

Because he is the Lord of Mo City, he possesses a dominion clone!

The entire Mo City can bear the cost for him!

"Three days… that's about it."

Li Che took out the Underworld Divine Mirror.

【Yama: Ready to act】

Niu Mo: Received.

Ma Mian: Received.

Shen Hou: Received.

……

Lao Fang: Good.

Mao Lian: Received!!! You broke the formation upstairs!!

Lao Fang: Are you teaching me how to act?

……

Li Che's mouth twitched.

Scholars' temper is stinky.

He put away the Underworld Divine Interaction Mirror, too lazy to deal with Mao Lian and Lao Fang, whose Zaun‑like spray was like a bomb pack that exploded at the slightest touch.

With just a glance, Li Che knew Mao Lian had read few books and couldn't out‑spray the well‑read scholar.

He raised his hand and tapped his forehead.

It seemed as if sound waves vibrated outward, the celestial chessboard surged into the clouds, a net unfolded, and in the silent instant, an Ink City Dominion Clone appeared beside Li Che.

The Ink City Dominion Clone could exert nearly ninety percent of Li Che's strength.

Most of the time, Li Che placed the Dominion Clone inside Ink City as a precaution.

After all, only within Ink City can the Dominion Clone help Li Che absorb damage.

But this time…

While initiating the operation, Li Che also planned to send Xixi and the other children out of the Qian Yuan Dao City area.

So a two‑pronged approach was needed to get it done.

As for this assassination, Li Che didn't intend to keep it too secret; he wanted to make a big splash.

The Dominion Clone donned the Niu Mo mask, and its aura instantly swelled, golden qi and blood roiling within.

Li Che's spirit stirred, he raised his hand to his forehead, as if a Dao Fruit energy device was plucked from his body and delivered into the Dominion Clone.

Instantly, a Dao Fruit projection began to coalesce in the Dominion Clone's chest.

In fact, with the Immortal in the Painting Dao Fruit reaching lv6, Li Che's Ink City Dominion Clone could manifest three forms, meaning Li Che could have three lives.

Inside Ink City, Li Che had two other Dominion Clones seated, but they were not activated.

Because activation would split the power; one clone alone equals ninety percent of his strength, but three activated together would each be only sixty‑to‑seventy percent, and they'd bear far less of his load.

Activating them one by one yields the best result.

Anyway, keeping two Dominion Clones in Ink City guarantees at least two lives as a safety net.

The mask‑clad Dominion Clone also received the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit's blessing; its Sleeping Dragon Elephant activation silenced its aura to the utmost.

Then the whole figure was wrapped in a black robe, launched outward, slammed into the night, spreading wings like a kite, and vanished in an instant.

……

……

Boom——!!!

The Li Che Dominion Clone wearing the Niu Mo mask shot out like a cannonball and landed on the Grand Canal.

Black robes fluttered, water surged, and in an instant the forceful qi and blood twisted and vaporized.

Beneath the mask, his eyes were cold, faint golden smoke curling around them.

The Sleeping Dragon Elephant rotated, like an ancient bell wave resonating.

Possessing the Dao Fruit projection was like having a sub‑Dao Fruit, allowing the fruit's traits to be expressed perfectly.

In fact, this clone's infiltration effect was identical to Li Che's own.

Because both infiltrated using the Sleeping Dragon Elephant's calming method.

Li Che also didn't know whether the Sleeping Dragon Elephant trait of a lv6 Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit could evade the Divine Tribulation Great Refinement's perception.

Nevertheless, it had to be tried.

Bang——!!!

The Grand Canal roiled with waves, roaring in fury, huge surges leapt skyward.

And Niu Mo strode atop the waves, rising and falling with the tide.

The whole figure sped across the Grand Canal like a cannonball, moving swiftly; its momentum was massive yet drew no one's notice.

He followed the Grand Canal, riding the waves for eight hundred li.

Gradually, Niu Mo's movements slowed.

Because the Imperial Army's camp had come into view, flames shooting skyward, and a perfectly ordered army patrolled, armor imposing, cold air striking the face.

Compared to the Divine Guard of Qian Yuan Dao City, they were more disciplined and more imposing.

Beneath the Niu Mo mask, Li Che's Dominion Clone's eyes glowed faintly.

However, just as he prepared to disembark.

Li Che's Dominion Clone suddenly halted.

He looked down at the Grand Canal beneath him, its waters tumultuous and rolling.

Faintly, an immense dark dragon silhouette emerged beneath the river.

The Dragon Prince of the Dragon God Clan who rushed to aid the court…

Were hidden within the Grand Canal!

……

……

Hanshu Peak.

Grand Elder Courtyard.

Fang Hanshu brushed his fine beard, smiled smugly, and snapped the Underworld Divine Mirror into place.

"You little brat, you even dare to trade insults with me?"

"I am a Dàjǐng court examination top‑three scholar… daring to argue with this old man, you little cat‑face, how laughable."

Fang Hanshu naturally knew who the Underworld cat‑face was, and felt even more that he could not be outmatched in verbal sparring.

He, a dignified Grand Elder of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect, could not be overrun in a war of words by a junior disciple.

Fortunately, that cat‑face… stammered for ages, unable to produce any clever insults.

But Fang Hanshu had already varied his insults for dozens or hundreds of lines, and felt that the foolish cat‑face might not even notice many of them.

"Cat‑face…"

"Can this thing be counted among Underworld fiends? An Underworld cutie, perhaps?"

"I surpass you."

"Ugh… shall this old man also fashion an Underworld fiend mask to wear?"

Fang Hanshu brushed his fine beard, his scholar's robe infused with a soaring wind.

Suddenly.

Fang Hanshu sensed something.

"Shall we begin?"

"True to the Underworld, the speed of action… indeed swift."

"But this is a professional assassination."

Fang Hanshu smiled.

Then his eyes flickered faintly.

He took out a Qian Kun Jade and tapped it lightly with his finger.

In the next moment, a mask materialized within the Qian Kun Jade.

He glanced toward Taibai Peak and curled his lip.

"Never mind…"

"For Qian Yuan, this old man has truly worn himself out."

With his five fingers splayed, he seized the mask; Fang Hanshu coiled his fine beard into it, then slowly placed it over his face.

A tug on his scholar's robe instantly transformed it into a pitch‑black hooded cloak.

Buzz—

The instant he stood.

The surrounding space fractured like a cube being cut, disjointed and shattered…

And his whole body slammed into the cleaved space, vanishing without a trace.

Only a low voice remained in the courtyard, echoing with swirling falling snow.

"Hunting God…"

…

…

Li Che changed into a black shirt embroidered with golden lotuses.

He exhaled.

He stood and left the study.

Snow swirled wildly in the courtyard.

Zhang Ya held Xixi's hand; beside Xixi were Jin Taixiu, Zhou Peng and Yun E, three children who now no longer looked like kids.

Only seven‑year‑old Xixi still looked rather youthful.

Their packs were all stored inside Qian Kun Jade.

Grandma Mu also appeared; she seemed to know the children were about to travel far, and, with some tenderness, warned them of the cautions of wandering the jianghu, for she herself had once set foot in the jianghu with eager anticipation in her youth.

Nie Yang held Li Chengzhou's hand, standing quietly in the courtyard; Li Chengzhou looked on with envy and melancholy. Nie Yang asked Li Chengzhou whether he wished to follow and train, but Li Chengzhou politely declined.

Because Li Chengzhou knew he was too weak and would only be a hindrance.

"Is everything packed?"

Li Che said with a smile.

"When you go out to train, you must look the part; the outside jianghu is treacherous, so think carefully and don't trust others lightly… don't assume your cultivation level makes you careless."

Li Che, like Zhang Ya, also gave many admonitions.

"You set your own training route, but to prevent you from wandering aimlessly, Dad has something for you to carry as an interactive task, which counts as a training mission."

Li Che patted Xixi's head.

Then Li Che took out a Qian Kun Jade and handed it to Xixi.

"This Qian Kun Jade contains the mechanism that Sect Master Shi Jian of the Zhenwu Divine Sect needs… we promised him at the time, but Shendu erupted, and we left early, so the mechanisms were never delivered to him."

"You will deliver these mechanisms to Sect Master Shi on my behalf."

Li Che said.

Xixi's eyes lit up at the words.

Her small chest pounded with a 'pa‑pa' sound.

"Dad, rest assured, this task is yours, Xixi; you will surely accomplish it splendidly!"

"This is the task Dad gave you; you won't be like headless flies stumbling blindly into the jianghu."

"If you truly don't know where to go, then go to the secluded realm to deliver the mechanism… Understand?"

Xixi kept nodding, and in the distance Golden Tai Sui, Cloud Maiden and Zhou Peng also hurriedly nodded.

"Five years… five years later, regardless of your training, you must return to the Divine Sect, understand?"

Li Che said solemnly.

Hearing that, Xixi instantly nodded as if giving a guarantee.

Zhou Peng and Cloud Maiden pursed their lips, thinking: five years… will the Divine Sect still exist?

They…

Can they still come back?

Although they are children, being from a great clan makes their minds precocious, so they naturally understand the current situation.

Elder Li and the clan intend to send them away, likely to continue the seed of the Divine Sect…

"Let's go."

Li Che took a deep breath.

"Master, do you need me to follow?" the Golden Hound couldn't help but speak.

He likes Xixi a lot; during this time together, he has grown rather fond of the little girl.

"No need, they're going for training, not on vacation."

Li Che said lightly.

With Li Che himself protecting them, do you still need you, Golden Hound?

Can your Golden Hound's disguise be any better than Li Che's?

Do you really think Li Che would willingly let Xixi go out for training at will?

Li Che can appear by his daughter's side anytime, anywhere to protect her safety, which is far more useful than a hundred Golden Hounds!

If the Golden Hound's huge goal is exposed all at once, wouldn't that put Xixi and the other children in danger?

"Prepare yourselves, we're setting off; come closer."

Li Che shouted.

Xixi, Golden Tai Sui, Cloud Maiden and Zhou Peng all gathered around Li Che.

In the next moment, Li Che's divinity spread, enveloping them, and a flying thunder chess piece appeared in his hand.

"Mother…"

Xixi stood tightly by Li Che's side, just as they were truly about to set out for training.

Xixi still couldn't hold back, tears streaming down noisily as she wiped them and shouted.

"Hey… go, Xixi… go become stronger, grow up, become the proud image of your parents."

"The fledgling eagle… ultimately must leave its parents' nest to learn to fly…"

Zhang Ya also had reddened eyes.

Li Che gently patted Xixi's head.

In the next instant, five fingers clenched the flying thunder chess piece.

The space twisted…

Xixi's sobbing grew louder as she stared at the warped space, at her mother Zhang Ya's gradually fading waving figure…

Tears like wind‑blown sand stained her eyes, completely blurring her sight.

Second Update: this chapter is too hard to write, the writer feels dizzy, only seven thousand characters, can't keep it up, Lao Li will continue tomorrow, please give monthly votes, recommendation votes, follow‑reads, Lao Li thanks! I'm exhausted!