Chapter 492: Xixi attains Martial Saint, a sudden heavenly upheaval

Within the imperial mausoleum, the lamps were all lit, shining brightly.

Bright pearls were inlaid on the temple roof, casting an extremely brilliant light that dispelled the darkness.

On the altar, ancestral tablets were placed, with wispy smoke and flickering candle flames.

The emperor's icy words issued from his mouth, causing the atmosphere inside the imperial mausoleum temple to plummet to an extreme, bitterly cold, piercing to the heart.

Lian Gonggong bowed low, not daring to raise his head, not daring to breathe, as if sensing the emperor's anger at this moment.

The Second Calamity Venerable wrapped in the black robe slowly opened his eyes, a cold smile involuntarily appearing in his gaze.

The emperor has been forced into a hurry; otherwise, following the temperament of the Dàjǐng emperor, he might still have planned to delay for a while.

The emperor did not want to bring out the Gathering Immortal Mystic Banner, after all, such a divine weapon is too important for the Dàjǐng imperial house to lose.

Originally, the emperor had been delaying time to see if the nearly burnt-out Ghost Emperor would truly burn out; after three months passed… indeed, he did not burn out.

Furthermore, Lü Taibai's invitation to the Grand Ancestral Rite transmitted via sword intent made the emperor feel his imperial dignity affronted, so he made a decision.

"Your Majesty… you have finally made a decision."

The black-robed venerable slowly rose from the ground, a terrifying venerable aura sweeping out from him, as if the void were uncontrollably twisting, on the verge of rupture.

The dragon pattern on the emperor's bright yellow robe seemed to come alive, his eyes—filled with divinity and Dao—indifferently swept over the black-robed venerable.

Facing the venerable's pressure, he showed little change, his expression calm as water, very tranquil.

"Sir, do not ruin the Supreme's affair."

The emperor said lightly.

The black-robed venerable laughed: "Your Majesty, rest assured, annihilating the Qianyuan Divine Sect… this matter is not difficult; the Supreme will likely agree."

"Then send a message to inquire." The emperor had his hands behind his back.

The black-robed venerable narrowed his eyes; the next moment, he formed hand seals, divine aura rippling around his body, faintly, runes condensed from divinity intertwined around him, forming a unique divine formation.

After a moment, the black-robed venerable opened his eyes: "The Profound Truth Supreme has agreed."

For the Supreme, possessing the Gathering Immortal Mystic Banner allows him to shield the heavenly will for a short time, descend to the mortal realm; in the mortal realm, the Supreme's strength is immensely powerful, able to crush almost everything.

After all, under the suppression of the heavenly will in the mortal realm, even a Second Calamity Venerable struggles to appear; with a Supreme running rampant, who could stop him?

Thus, the black-robed venerable was not surprised that the Profound Truth Supreme would agree to this.

Moreover…

Furthermore, atop the Qianyuan Divine Sect, there is the Prison Lotus Maiden!

The emperor's demand is, for the Profound Truth Supreme, practically delivered right to his lips.

The emperor waved his hand: "Lian Gonggong, prepare; I have already readied the Gathering Immortal Mystic Banner, accompany this venerable to deliver it, remember, you must personally witness the Profound Truth Supreme obtaining the Gathering Immortal Mystic Banner!"

Lian Gonggong's face instantly turned solemn: "This servant is willing to sacrifice life and limb; I will surely escort the Gathering Immortal Mystic Banner into the hands of the Profound Truth Supreme!"

The emperor nodded; Lian Gonggong has long been his trusted confidant.

When Lian Gonggong handles affairs, he is reassured!

Boom—!

The emperor pressed his fingers together, as if sword light crisscrossed, instantly cutting open the void.

A sandalwood box slid out from the void, lifted by the emperor in his hand; inside this sandalwood box lay the Gathering Immortal Mystic Banner.

The emperor's gaze fell upon Lian Gonggong.

Lian Gonggong immediately felt an immense, oppressive weight.

Upon receiving the sandalwood box with both hands, Lian Gonggong felt a pressure as if his very divine form were about to shatter, like mountains and seas pressing down.

Lian Gonggong clutched the sandalwood box tightly and bowed deeply.

……

……

Green mountains like a floating bun, faintly visible amidst clouds and mist.

Qianyuan Divine Sect.

In the elders' courtyard.

Li Che sat upright in the courtyard, the brazier boiling, hot water in the kettle tumbling, verdant tea leaves scattered within.

After unfurling, they rose and fell with the boiling water flow, a rich tea aroma diffusing from the steaming vapor.

Because he had been away for a long time, Zhang Ya was busy cleaning.

Li Che's heart stirred; his mind sank into the Heaven-Earth Chessboard, the chessboard resonating, pieces intertwining and shifting upon it.

Then, an image appeared, showing Lian Gonggong, the emperor, and that black-robed venerable meeting secretly in the imperial mausoleum.

Li Che's gaze fell upon the sandalwood box taken out by the emperor.

Lian Gonggong grasped the sandalwood box, yet felt as if even the box itself could not be held, as if his divine flesh were about to shatter.

"Not right."

Li Che's brows slightly furrowed, instantly sensing something amiss.

With a thought of his mind, the Martial Immortal Will seated in the Heaven-Earth Chessboard unfurled, and then the Gathering Immortal Yellow Banner swiftly drifted over, which he grasped in his hand.

Facing that sandalwood box, the Gathering Immortal Yellow Banner felt not the slightest response.

Li Che couldn't help but sneer: "What an emperor, hiding it so deeply."

Even his own confidant is not trusted; he intends to deceive?

But the emperor's deception this time is meaningless, for the Profound Truth Supreme, upon obtaining the box, can tell whether the Gathering Immortal Banner is present or not.

Because only by mastering the Gathering Immortal Banner can one shield the heavenly will and exit the Qitian Nei Cheng…

Thus, this deception is meaningless.

As expected, when the black-robed venerable turned and entered the mysterious path, the emperor grabbed Lian Gonggong and handed him a jade box.

Lian Gonggong, as the emperor's confidant, instantly understood.

The emperor does not disbelieve the Supreme; he simply does not believe the Black-Robed Venerable.

One must admit, the emperor is quite cautious, with many schemes; unfortunately… everything is taking place under Li Che's nose.

Li Che's clenched five fingers holding the Gather Immortal Yellow Banner caused it to whoosh, sway and tremble.

It appears the jade box given by the emperor to Eunuch Lian truly hides the Gather Immortal Mystic Banner.

Even if someone truly seized the banner, the target would certainly be the divine weapon in the sandalwood box, and Eunuch Lian would have enough time to crush the talisman and transmit the jade box away.

Needless to say, the emperor is indeed steady, having kept a backup.

Li Che nodded in approval; the emperor's steadiness earned the recognition of Li Che, the Steady King accustomed to walking on thin ice!

The Martial Immortal's will spanned the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, constantly monitoring Eunuch Lian's situation.

The Mysterious Gate path opened; that Black-Robed Venerable sought out a Jiaolong carriage, pulled by two Divine Tribulation Grand Venerables, the carriage carrying the sandalwood box; the terrifying aura leaking from the sandalwood box made the Black-Robed Venerable firmly believe that it contained the Gather Immortal Mystic Banner.

After all, the Black-Robed Venerable could not imagine what reason the emperor would have to deceive the Supreme.

The emperor seeks the Supreme, yet deceives it—pointless, for the Supreme cannot emerge from the Heavenly Nei Cheng, unable to overthrow the Primal Origin Divine Sect.

Thus, the Black-Robed Venerable did not suspect the emperor.

A convoy smashed through the Mysterious Mist, heading into the boundless, hazy Mysterious Mist surging Mysterious Gate Heaven and Earth.

Eunuch Lian wore a purple robe, silently following the convoy without any movement.

Buzz—buzz—buzz—

The Heaven and Earth Chessboard gradually grew hazy; even though a Flying Thunder Chess Piece had been left on Eunuch Lian, the Seizer God, the chessboard's perception became, the image turned very blurry.

Perhaps due to the Mysterious Gate being too far away, or perhaps because the Mysterious Gate's Mist grew denser, blocking perception.

Fortunately, a vague perception remained.

Li Che did not rush over immediately; instead, he maintained an observational state, waiting for the convoy to depart before planning to seize the banner.

Li Che continued to sense with his Martial Immortal will.

He himself brought Zhang Ya, who had finished cleaning the courtyard and shared a hot tea with Li Che, and together they went up the mountain to Taibai Peak.

Xixi's three flowers ignited, and heaven and earth gave birth to startling thunder.

Li Che sensed the situation of her impending breakthrough to Martial Saint.

"Indeed, as I imagined, little Xixi still harbors an obsession in her heart, wanting to return home in glory; now that she has returned to the Primal Origin Divine Sect, this obsession has been vented, and consequently the Martial Saint bottleneck she was about to break suddenly loosened."

Li Che smiled; as a Martial Immortal, his profound understanding of the Martial Way naturally explained Xixi's current state.

Over the past year or more, Xixi has been constantly fed by the boss, consuming far too many body-tempering goodies; plus, from the Immortal Dao Fruit in her dreams and dream cultivation, she gained feedback from the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

Thus, the little girl's physical foundation is actually not much inferior to Li Che's.

……

……

Crack—crack—

The vast heavens, leaden clouds piled thick, with lightning snakes intertwining and churning within.

The autumn sky is high and crisp, lightning suddenly appears, bringing a bit of chill.

Taibai Peak.

As if locked by the will of heaven and earth, a terrifying aura enveloped the entire peak.

On the great flat before Taibai Hall.

Scorching intent surged forth, as if a ball of flame burned, forming intense heat like waves covering the whole peak.

Lü Taibai stood within Taibai Hall, his eyes involuntarily showing surprise and doubt.

Eight years old……

Eight years old!

She is actually about to breakthrough to Martial Saint!

This little girl's growth speed is perhaps too fast?

This is the Hell Lotus's daughter? No wonder she is destined to command the Hell Lotus faction and become the commander of all gods!

Know this: Xixi is not a reincarnated temple deity, but achieved through her own talent cultivation; being able to breakthrough to Martial Saint at eight years old is virtually unprecedented.

Not only Lü Taibai, but even Patriarch Lü Qiankun was stirred, projecting from the Qiankun Minor Cave Heaven to watch Xixi's breakthrough.

Many elders of the Primal Origin Divine Sect, such as Zhao Fangzhou, Feng Zhiqi, Ding Zi, etc., were all shocked.

They knew Xixi's return was because the sect master, after breaking the Divine Tribulation, intended to pass the sect leadership to her.

Who could have imagined that Xixi's cultivation would actually breakthrough to Martial Saint!

An eight-year-old Martial Saint—shocking to hear!

Li Che, bringing Zhang Ya, also arrived at Taibai Peak, far away watching Xixi seated cross-legged on the great flat.

Xixi sat cross-legged on the ground; a fiery red maple swayed behind her, countless maple leaves glittering like sunlight on water.

Three splendid blossoms of essence, qi, and spirit bloomed atop Xixi's head and shoulders!

The flame three flowers spun round and round, like golden lotuses forged of gold!

Scorching heat burst from her body; the little girl suddenly opened her eyes and exhaled a long breath.

Her tiny frame seemed to transform into a blazing sun, erupting with terrifying scorching heat and radiance capable of suppressing and dispelling any demons and monsters!

Click—click—click—

Xixi raised her head, let out a long cry, spread her arms, and her bones and tendons snapped and exploded!

Hum—Boom!!!

A blast sounded, mighty qi and blood ripples appeared, crimson with specks of golden light intertwining, exploding all around Xixi!

Xixi's eyes blazed bright, like two golden shafts piercing the heavens!

The little girl leapt up, landing on the great flat; a mighty martial will burst forth, and beneath everyone's gaze, she had an insight and began to practice martial arts.

Fingers clenched, bones and muscles grinding, a fist thrusts sideways, a leg whips like a lash—movements unhurried yet steady, letting martial will slowly seep into the flesh.

Heaven-Man resonance is forming, as if linking with heaven and earth!

Boom—

As if a furnace exploded around Xixi, her face lit with excitement, every bit of her flesh trembling.

She will break through to Martial Saint today!

Fire light gleamed in Xixi's eyes; she still remembered her training, when the Martial Saint Gu Chuan of the Heaven Elixir Divine Sect hunted her down—back then, facing a Martial Saint, she had no power to resist.

But now it is different.

After breaking through to Martial Saint, Xixi believes she can kill Gu Chuan with a single move!

Three flowers blaze, bursting golden radiance, utmost splendour; Xixi steps forward, her qi and blood lacking, she rolls about, as if her whole body glows!

Heaven and earth echo, continually confirming Xixi's martial path.

Vast divine power begins to surge, ceaselessly gathering; the Myriad Transformations Dragon-Elephant that Li Che taught her, which she has mastered thoroughly, infuses every move and stance, overwhelming and peerless.

Boom—

Invisible waves of scorching blaze sweep across the clearing; crimson maple leaves rustle in the wind, falling from the trees, rolling across heaven and earth like endless sparks igniting the sky!

Countless flames erupt; between heaven and earth, boundless divine power begins to boil, ceaselessly gathering toward the direction of Mount Taibai.

Within Qianyuan Dao City, every Guiyi Miao trembles.

Boom—boom—boom—boom!!!!

In an instant, the sky over Qianyuan Dao City changed, endless blood-red filling the heavens—it was bloody divine power churning, intertwining like smoke and threads, gathering toward Mount Taibai, enveloping that tiny figure.

Within each Guiyi Miao, divine light pillars rise!

Like pillars holding up the heavens.

Such a phenomenon instantly startled everyone in Qianyuan Dao City; the powerful ones hidden in the city, belonging to the various divine camps of the mysterious gates, each felt their hearts shaken.

"Such a phenomenon… is this a breakthrough to Martial Saint?"

"Whoever breaks through to Martial Saint, how can the phenomenon be so vast?!"

"Many Guiyi Miao tremble, sacrificing divine power condensed into pillars! Good heavens… is the sovereign of the divine camps breaking through?!"

……

Many strong hearts trembled.

Among these sky‑soaring divine pillars was even the Guiyi Miao of the Marvelous Dao Manifest Holy Three‑Eyed True Lord on Qianyuan Mei Mountain that they had been watching.

How could they possibly stay calm!

They even worried that, under these circumstances, the deity of the Marvelous Dao Manifest Holy Three‑Eyed True Lord Guiyi Miao might revive prematurely!

"We cannot let the Prison Lotus maiden break through successfully! We cannot let Li Nuanxi succeed!"

A strong one glared coldly, malice rising in his heart.

On Mount Taibai, a sea of blood surged.

On Mount Taibai, Xixi raised her head, gripping the Purple Flame Serpent Spear with one hand, the Prison Lotus Wind‑Fire Golden Light Wheel spinning at her side, the Chaos‑Silk sash whipping wildly—"Ah————"

Xixi raised her head, let out a long roar, her tiny figure facing heaven and earth, shouting like a cub tiger roaring in the valley!

Countless divine powers coiled like dragons, continually winding around Xixi's body.

Slowly, it actually formed into a divine‑power sphere, completely enveloping Xixi!

"Husband… what… what is happening? Why is Xixi wrapped in a sphere of divine power?! That divine power seems to come from the many Guiyi Miao of Qianyuan Dao City!"

Zhang Ya instantly grew tense; such an abnormality—surely this isn't a Martial Saint breakthrough?

Lu Taibai, Lu Qiankun and the other Divine Tribulations could not determine it either.

Zhao Fangzhou, Feng Qizi, Tang Xiejia and other Martial Saint powerhouses stared in astonishment.

"When we break through to Martial Saint… it's certainly not like this!"

"Offer the flesh‑bound human elixir, shatter the cracked human elixir, spill the essence‑qi—that counts as success!"

"This…"

"Unheard of!"

Not a single mistake, not a single line, not a single stroke, not a single internal detail, not a single appearance, not a single presence—examined thoroughly!

……

Li Che stood still, brows slightly furrowed; as the Prison Lotus maiden, Xixi's abnormal breakthrough to Martial Saint was indeed somewhat unusual.

A terrifying amount of divine power, like the Nine Dragons' great river bursting its banks, surged and rolled, continually intertwining and churning, enveloping Xixi's body.

Like a blazing red fireball!

Thud—thud—thud—

The fireball kept bouncing and trembling!

Each bounce sounded like a heavenly god beating a drum!

"Ah—let me out!"

Xixi's angry roar exploded from within; the fire‑tip spear in her hand kept thrusting out, creating violent, twisted bulges on the surface of the divine sphere.

This situation shocked everyone.

As if turned into a meatball, heaven and earth teeming, one must break the meatball to gain rebirth.

Li Che's brows slightly furrowed; the next moment, the flesh between his brows split open.

The Star‑Picking Pupil shone forth, sweeping out golden light toward that meatball.

Inside the meatball, Xixi roared repeatedly; the fire‑tip spear in her hand kept jabbing out, terrifying power bursting forth, striking the divine‑formed beads, deforming them with each thrust and producing endless ringing sounds.

Moreover, countless divine patterns blossomed over Xixi's body, intertwining across her flesh, her eyes turning crimson, as if only wrath remained in her will.

Endless divine power continually merged into her flesh, cleansing and transforming it, bringing about a world‑shaking change!

Li Che also noticed that the Hell Lotus Divine Mark on Xixi's brow kept flashing, black light bursting forth, black flames spilling out, like black patterns entwining her flesh.

"Hell Lotus Curse…"

Li Che's gaze narrowed.

He slowly exhaled a breath.

……

……

Xixi felt as if she had sunk into a boundless dark world.

Ding dong.

As if a drop of water fell with a drip, instantly spreading and expanding.

Ripples rose wave after wave, growing ever more terrifying, forming monstrous surging waves, like a tsunami, continually surging outward in all directions!

Xixi opened her eyes; in the distance, a black lotus platform lay across the endless darkness, emitting black light—indeed, in the endless dark space, it emitted black light…

An invisible force stirred, and Xixi found herself stepping onto that huge lotus platform.

On the black lotus platform lay a red egg.

It lay still, without a ripple.

"Xixi, do you feel resentment? Despair? Faced with your parents' slaughter, your close friend killed, your sect shattered—do you feel lost, desperate?"

"A sea of corpses and blood surges before your eyes—have you ever known pain?"

A light, ethereal voice echoed from within the red egg.

"Ah?"

Xixi tilted her head.

Her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment—what nonsense is this egg spouting?

Why should Xixi be sad?

My father and mother are alive and well, Sister Yun'e and little fatty Zhou Peng are lively and kicking, the sect… hasn't been shattered at all; in fact, it's thriving—even the sect master dares to provoke the emperor, and the sect is doing great!

"You egg, what nonsense are you spouting? Are you cursing Xixi? Bad egg!"

Xixi instantly grew unhappy and snapped.

"Xixi, don't pretend to be strong; face reality, accept it… we need to become stronger and stouter—only then can we resist."

The voice from within the egg kept echoing, full of sincerity.

"Come, open your heart and accept my power…"

"The malice of heaven and earth, the torment of the world—we shall return it all to them!"

The voice from the egg was resolute!

Xixi's eyes instantly grew hazy, as if bewitched.

Before her eyes appeared many, many scenes; within them…

Her parents died miserably, her companions were also slain, the sect lay in ruins, blood flowed like rivers…

Xixi raised her hand, clutching her heart, feeling an endless, piercing pain as if myriad swords stabbed through her.

"No… how could Father, so mighty, possibly die!"

"You egg, you're deceiving Xixi!"

Xixi shouted in anger.

"You still crave power, don't you…?"

The will within the egg also seemed to sense something amiss, its voice echoing faintly.

A look of struggle instantly appeared in Xixi's eyes.

Yet her steps were uncontrollable, moving step by step toward the egg on the black lotus platform.

Her five fingers splayed, as if to touch the egg.

Xixi stepped onto the lotus platform; her palm touched the eggshell, and instantly ripples spread like water.

"You crave power; I can grant you power, making you immensely strong…"

"Heaven, earth, and the gods cannot stop you… you can annihilate everything that has harmed you, everything that has caused you pain!"

The voice was faint.

Xixi's face showed utter struggle; her hand slowly sank into the eggshell.

On the black lotus platform, the eggshell's surface slowly revealed a pair of eyes.

Those eyes gazed deeply at Xixi.

In Xixi's mind unbidden arose the scene of being pursued and slain by Gu Chuan, the Martial Saint of the Heavenly Elixir Divine Sect; she also saw Yun'e and Zhou Peng leaning against trees, their vitality spent.

Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes, appearing as red as blood.

She wanted to become strong!

This was her obsession!

When Xixi's spirit relaxed, her whole arm felt as if the eggshell were devouring it.

Suddenly.

A hand, warm beyond compare, like the radiant sun, pressed against her head, and the piercing cold surging from all directions was instantly swept away, clean and clear.

The struggle in Xixi's eyes vanished entirely; she blankly lifted her head.

There she saw Li Che, his face bearing a gentle smile.

"Father…"

"Little girl, your parents aren't dead; Yun'e, Zhou Peng, and Jin Tai Sui are all alive and well, still waiting for you to break through to Martial Saint; the divine sect flourishes ever more, awaiting your inheritance of the sect master's position…"

"It is deceiving you; you need not be so sorrowful, angry, or painful—you only need to be happy… everything… Father is here."

When you haven't seen your father truly perish…… you must not grieve, must not be blinded by any pain.

Because……

As long as Father is here, I won't let you suffer.

Li Che's voice was gentle, like the bright sun breaking through the darkness, sweeping away all the gloom in Xixi's eyes.

Ah…… right right right right, Father is right! This bastard is deceiving Xixi!

Xixi's eyes lit up instantly, a little angry.

Li Che pressed his five fingers against Xixi's head, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit trembled, within the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, the Pure Heart Divinity surged like a tide, cleansing Xixi's body.

It seemed as if he were struggling against the power inside that eggshell.

Slowly, he pulled Xixi's arm, which had been devoured by the eggshell, out bit by bit.

Ah——!!!

Inside the eggshell.

An extremely sharp sound suddenly exploded!

Rolling endless dark aura surged from all directions; Li Che's Martial Immortal Will radiated light, in this endless darkness like a firefly, akin to a lone lamp on a small boat tossing in an endless sea.

Steadfast and proudly aloof.

When Xixi's last fingertip was drawn out from the rippling eggshell……

The scream inside the eggshell completely changed, even becoming somewhat sharp and mad.

Who are you?!

Who exactly are you?!

The sound from within the eggshell struck like countless arrows.

However, Li Che's Martial Immortal Will and the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart buzzed and vibrated, blocking all the impacts and temptations.

You can't block it; even if you block this time, there will be a next…… fate cannot be changed, no one can alter the predetermined destiny!

All things have fate—stars have it, heaven and earth have it, gods have it, humans too…… even you have it!

The predetermined fate cannot be changed!

She will surely walk the path of mountains of corpses and seas of blood; she will surely become the heaven-ordained……

Executioner!!!

Boom——!!!

The endless darkness vanished in an instant.

The egg resting on the Lotus Platform returned to calm, with no further movement.

Xixi panted heavily.

Li Che's Martial Immortal Will also became extremely dim, as if it might flicker out at any moment.

He furrowed his brows, a hint of solemnity appearing in his eyes.

This egg……

What exactly is it?!

It is truly……

Prison Lotus Curse?!

Suddenly, Li Che looked toward the back of the egg.

Black straight hair flying, a girl in a black long dress walked out from behind, her eyes full of complex color.

Big Sister!

Xixi was delighted.

Li Che looked at the girl, his gaze complex.

The will inside the egg…… is it you?

Li Che asked.

The black straight-haired girl, her eyes dark, her face cold, she shook her head.

Not her?

Li Che took a deep breath, knowing that Xixi's body held the awakened will of Great Xixi.

So, that damned egg that bewitched Xixi, what the hell is it?!

If he had not appeared, Xixi might have just been bewitched by the egg, entered its shell, and undergone an unpredictable transformation.

Just as Li Che was pondering.

Suddenly, his heart and mind stirred slightly.

His wavering, candle‑like Martial Immortal Will unconsciously felt a ripple of gaze.

He placed his palm on Xixi's small head, his gaze level, looking toward the graceful figure that walked out from behind the egg on the Lotus Platform.

The black straight‑haired girl, her face cold and numb, like an iceberg that never melts.

But as she looked at Li Che, her dark eyes were no longer calm, a feeling of shattered ice, surging emotions rising to her throat.

Father……

(End of Chapter)