Chapter 495: A Glimpse of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Bleeding as One, After Countless Calls the Chess Saint's Dao Fruit Finally

Hoo—hoo—hoo—!!!

The blood‑red sky, as if in an instant countless streams of light enveloped it, the very space began to warp, a massive pressure burst forth, like the floodwaters of a breached dam spreading out.

Half‑step Supreme!

The five remaining venerables present had their expressions change dramatically in an instant, looking extremely grim, their spirits trembling!

Between the "Two Calamities Three Tribulations" venerable and the Supreme, there exists a massive heavenly chasm and bottleneck; an ordinary person might spend a lifetime and still never reach the Supreme level.

Even among the great pantheon camps, the Supreme belongs to the top‑tier combat power, the strongest beneath the deities.

And each Supreme has crossed the Three Calamities, traversing the Extinction Wind, Netherfire, and Celestial Thunder simultaneously; bearing the three calamities, they condense onto the Calamity Wheel, merging Dao Essence, Calamity power, and divine nature to the extreme, forging the Great Dao Divine Pattern!

It is a being that truly steps onto a Great Dao!

A Half‑step Supreme, in other words, has already touched that Great Dao, just short of ascending onto it, lacking only a single leap.

Once that distance is leapt, it bridges from the Two Calamities to the Three Calamities, from Venerable to Supreme!

In fact, taking that step toward Half‑step Supreme is not easy!

Generally, most Half‑step Supremes seek a place where a Guiyi Miao stands, seal themselves within the temple for arduous cultivation, using time to grind, striking that bottleneck.

If they emerge to fight and, by accident, get injured, the hard‑won insight into the Great Dao Divine Pattern shatters.

As a result, they fall back to the realm of Two Calamities and Three Tribulations, which is a loss not worth the cost.

Therefore, a Half‑step Supreme who roams openly is even rarer than a Supreme!

At least within the pantheon camps, this is the current state.

Thus, when Fang Hanshu, this Half‑step Supreme, appeared on this Calamity Banner path, the five venerables were truly shocked and astonished.

Fang Hanshu wore a star‑river mask, speckled with starlight, his eyes deep and dim, his five fingers clenched, and the vast righteous river instantly condensed into a ruler.

The ruler stretched about a yard long, shimmering with a pale white glow!

Li Che ordered him to leave none, to slaughter them all; Fang Hanshu naturally would not hold back a single ounce.

With a single step, he instantly spanned the void; the ground seemed to explode, and one white column after another shot skyward.

Like a draconic pillar, it slammed into the five venerables; the Two Calamities Three Tribulations venerable glared furiously, showing no retreat.

Although the pressure of the Half‑step Supreme made his divine nature flow as if freezing, but…

He argued that, fighting desperately, the Half‑step Supreme is absolutely inferior to him!

A Half‑step Supreme, however, cherishes life more than any venerable!

Such a being, how could it spare a fight?!

Therefore, as long as he's a bit more ruthless, just a little more ruthless!

He'll have a chance to reverse the situation!

However, Fang Hanshu glanced at him, faced calmly, and with a footstep, it seemed the Great Dao Divine Pattern interwove and flickered, and the heavens appeared to gain a star‑like expanse.

One expanse after another flowing!

The ground cracked again, countless brilliant and pure righteous qi roared out, coalescing into something like a true dragon.

White scales kept flashing, the body was immensely massive, five claws spread, seemingly tearing the space!

The great dragon burst from the ground, and as Fang Hanshu's ruler struck down, the lofty qi dragon instantly stretched its body, slashing down like a long blade, crashing hard into the intervening Two Calamities Three Tribulations venerable!

The air rose and fell, trembling in layers!

The Two Calamities Three Tribulations venerable roared, Buddha light surged to the heavens, coalescing into a towering golden Buddha figure, glaring furiously!

However, behind Fang Hanshu, the Calamity Wheel surfaced, and with a crack, it split open a fissure without hesitation…

Rolling, dense Calamity power and Dao Essence poured out from it.

"Ah?!"

The roaring venerable instantly stiffened, his eyes showing an incredulous look.

As a Half‑step Supreme, why are you so reckless with your life?!

Are you insane?!

Which Half‑step Supreme fights people like this?!

The Calamity Wheel cracked, and the hard‑won power of the Great Dao Divine Pattern burst forth, making the lofty qi dragon even more terrifying!

As if supplemented by the vast Dao, it instantly swelled to an extraordinary strength.

Boom—boom—boom—!!!

Fierce gusts of qi raged, intertwining, howling and shaking!

They surged and crashed endlessly between the uncanny void and the world!

The towering golden Buddha figure exploded with a roar, devoured by the pale, vast qi, a terrifying blast erupted, its energy warping and shattering space, stirring layers of extreme turbulence.

Fang Hanshu's black robe fluttered, and beneath the star‑river mask one could glimpse a refined visage, yet he walked amid the fragments, killing as the ripples swirled.

The ruler struck down, and another venerable's flesh exploded, disintegrating!

The five venerables disguised as Hunters' Hall assassins, under his ruler's swing, had their bodies shatter, their Dao souls of heaven and earth wailing, trying to flee but unable, being utterly suppressed by Fang Hanshu.

Li Che said to leave none.

Fang Hanshu did exactly that.

This is the obedience of a bound deity to his lord's command, and also Li Che's repayment for granting Fang Hanshu a new life!

……

……

Dong—dong—dong—dong—

Within his chest, the pure Heart Dao Fruit throbbed violently, repeatedly pounding, exploding into concentric ripples.

Powerful emotions filled his heart, the flesh at his brow tearing outward to both sides, revealing star‑plucking pupils.

……

Mythic Soldier (Four Sovereigns Upper Rank): Gathering Immortal Dark Banner (Incomplete)

Introduction: the Eight Gathering Immortal Banners, heaven and earth are dark yellow, the universe is primordial, the eight banners converge, wielding the cosmos, commanding the host of immortals.

Flowing light materializes, presenting the prompt text, and unfolds.

Li Che's gaze flickers with a brilliant sheen.

It is the same as the Gathering Immortal Banner obtained last time in the Peach Garden inside the Guiyi Miao of the Western Queen Mother, both being incomplete banners.

This time it is the genuine Gathering Immortal Banner!

Li Che is in high spirits; the beating of the Unblemished Heart Dao Fruit in his chest stirs his emotions into waves.

He still remembers that the Unblemished Heart Dao Fruit had frantically devoured a bizarre will inside the Gathering Immortal Banner.

He wonders whether this Gathering Immortal Banner also harbors that will.

Li Che's brows knit slightly.

Gripping the Gathering Immortal Banner, his spirit stirs, and he instantly guides and suppresses the banner into the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

Rumble—

The Heaven and Earth Chessboard shakes violently, and the other Gathering Immortal Yellow Banner continuously bursts with waves, its surface fluttering as if in the wind.

Afterwards, the seven-orifice delicate heart projection reflects, floating above the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

Bang bang bang—

Within his chest, the Unblemished Heart Dao Fruit begins to thump, and with each beat, another white tendril wildly lashes out.

Puff, puff!

The white tendrils, in reckless abandon, pierce into the Gathering Immortal Banner.

Above the Gathering Immortal Dark Banner, accompanied by a hissing sound, extremely dense black vapors surge upward, and those vapors are greedily devoured by the white tendrils.

"Ah—!!!"

"Damn! Damn it!"

Within the Gathering Immortal Dark Banner, a sudden piercing scream erupts.

An extremely intense evil thought instantly assaults Li Che's spirit, as if to make him fall completely under its domination!

Li Che's eyes even flash crimson for an instant.

Yet it lasts only an instant, and the crimson is shattered immensely by the power of the Unblemished Heart Dao Fruit.

Gradually...

The screams and wails within the Gathering Immortal Banner fall silent.

Yet Li Che's mood suddenly becomes eager, and his breathing quickens.

The Unblemished Heart Dao Fruit is now at LV7 and 20% maturity, and he wonders whether devouring the special black vapors in the Gathering Immortal Banner this time will yield a substantial increase.

Will it cause the Unblemished Heart Dao Fruit to achieve the Dao Fruit Six Metamorphoses?!

An unprecedented Six Metamorphoses!

However, Li Che quickly realizes he has indeed been overthinking.

When Fang Hanshu unleashed a massive slaughter.

Li Che steadied his spirit, allowing the Unblemished Heart Dao Fruit to devour and refine the dark power within the Gathering Immortal Banner.

Hiss—

Above the Gathering Immortal Banner, one strand of pitch‑black darkness after another intertwines.

Li Che, however, falls into contemplation.

Watching the Gathering Immortal Banner suppressed within the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, being ravaged and devoured by the Unblemished Heart Dao Fruit, he observes its dark energy...

His brows knit slightly.

What is this dark energy...?

It seems to recognize Dao Fruit and greatly nourishes the Unblemished Heart Dao Fruit...

Dao Fruit has always been Li Che's deepest secret; he hadn't paid much attention when the Unblemished Heart Dao Fruit devoured that Gathering Immortal Banner's power last time.

But this time...

He must take it seriously.

"What exactly is that power?"

"Is it related to the Dao Tree Space?"

After a long while, Li Che slowly exhaled, unable to comprehend; his avenues of knowledge are few, and no one can guide him.

Regarding Dao Fruit and Dao Tree, he has been the sole one researching and advancing.

Perhaps he could add half a daughter, but the connection with his daughter Xixi is merely a Dao Tree Bond.

Yet, thinking of this bond...

Li Che's cultivation is no longer weak; as his realm rises, his heart trembles slightly.

"Dao Tree Bond... the daughter is also the daughter of Prison Lotus... so, is the Dao Tree Space related to Prison Lotus?"

Li Che takes a deep breath.

But soon, he stops pondering these questions.

Many questions are meaningless when one's level hasn't reached them; pondering only adds trouble, cannot solve practical issues, and getting stuck in a dead end can even affect one's spirit and goals.

Li Che's spirit settles, unexpectedly feeling as if he has received a baptism.

His mind becomes increasingly clear and transparent.

Buzz—

When the last strand of dark energy on the Gathering Immortal Banner is refined.

Li Che's eyes flickered slightly.

The Dao Fruit's maturity instantly floated before his eyes.

【Dao Fruit: Pure Heart (LV7, 50%)】

The Dao Fruit's maturity rose by 30%, which isn't insignificant.

A faint regret flickered in Li Che's eyes, but it was not strong; he felt content, because the current Pure Heart Dao Fruit is at LV7, and raising it is already sufficiently difficult.

After all, the Gathering Immortal Flag has eight sides; if a single flag could grant the Pure Heart Dao Fruit a great metamorphosis, then assembling all eight flags would thrust the Pure Heart Dao Fruit straight to the Ninth Metamorphosis.

So many Dao Fruit masters are stuck at the Ninth Metamorphosis, unable to break through.

Thus, the Ninth Metamorphosis is far from easy to attain.

Thinking that, Li Che suddenly felt satisfied.

His eyes opened wide, a white, hazy radiance forming invisible ripples that washed the space.

Heaven and earth seemed as clear as a bright sky.

Hoo—

Sss—

Standing still, breathing in and out, Li Che steadied his mind and pressed down his hat.

In the distance.

Fang Hanshu had finished the slaughter, but did not approach Li Che; instead he guarded the surroundings, seeming like a protector for Li Che.

He knew that Li Che was probably refining the Gathering Immortal Flag.

"Lord."

Fang Hanshu's black robe fluttered.

Li Che smiled and nodded, pleased with Fang Hanshu's demeanor; as a senior elder, his actions were reassuring.

"These are the flesh and blood of the deceased Venerables... I have gathered them all."

Fang Hanshu said.

As a bound spirit, he naturally understood what Li Che needed these bound spirits for.

Li Che glanced, then clenched his five fingers.

He summoned the bound spirits of those Venerables.

A mournful wind wailed, and the space seemed to ripple faintly.

The black‑robed Venerable under the Profound Truth Supreme, Li Che deliberately revived, and did not use him as fodder for other bound spirits.

"Lord! Subordinate, the Venerable Zhou Heng of the Dark Heavenly Court camp under the Hidden Gate..."

The black‑robed Venerable is a Second Calamity Third Tribulation Realm being, with impressive combat power.

He clasped his fists in greeting, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Li Che kept the bound‑spirit life of the black‑robed Venerable Zhou Heng for a purpose, planning to return him to Qitian Cheng Nei Cheng and inform the Profound Truth Supreme of the news that a strong of the Black Xumi camp had seized the flag.

Why would a Black Xumi Venerable come to seize the flag?

Li Che thought casually and understood roughly: it must have been disclosed by the Profound Truth Supreme and heard by the Black Xumi Supreme Jialou stationed in Qitian Cheng Nei Cheng.

Thus, he secretly dispatched a Black Xumi strongman to seize the flag.

Of course, even if Jialou wasn't responsible, having Zhou Heng relay the news would be enough to spark internal strife among the Qitian Cheng Nei Cheng Supremes.

That was sufficient for Li Che.

Of course, besides that, Li Che had other questions to ask.

For example, how does the Dark Heavenly Court camp arrange and plan regarding the Third Prince's Guiyi Miao at Golden Light Mansion?

Is it possible for truly revived divine spirits to rush there?

Unfortunately, Zhou Heng, a Venerable stationed in Qitian Cheng, knows little about the situation at Golden Light Mansion.

Li Che didn't mind; the problem at Golden Light Mansion would be resolved sooner or later.

The revival of the Third Prince Temple God is, in Li Che's mind, even more important than the revival of Qitian.

Why?

Because the bond between his own daughter Xixi and the Third Prince Temple God is far too tight!

Therefore, Li Che absolutely does not want any mistake in the Third Prince Temple God's revival!

If it were to affect his daughter Xixi, Li Che would regret it for life!

After a moment of contemplation, Li Che changed the question: "Among the divine camps, are there truly revived divine spirits?"

Zhou Heng said reverently: "Divine spirit revivals definitely exist; each time the Divine Tide rises, a Temple God revives from the Hidden Gate, but revived Temple Gods differ greatly from truly immortal divine spirits."

Li Che was slightly stunned by the words.

"What difference?"

"Divine Fire."

"Immortal divine spirits, the Dao is immortal, Divine Fire never extinguishes, allowing a hundred percent expression of divine power, and can live for ninety thousand years," Zhou Heng said.

"And Temple Gods... after their bodies fall, their Divine Fire extinguishes, cannot be reignited; if it were reignited, it would mean true divine form and destruction, a result even Temple Gods cannot achieve."

Li Che heard this and was greatly shocked.

He truly had never heard this explanation; his heart was terrified, and he couldn't help thinking of Qitian Great Sage...

No wonder the Great Sage Equal to Heaven is so weak after just being revived.

Additionally, Li Che suddenly couldn't help but think that if the Great Sage Equal to Heaven were to charge into the Mysterious Earth Gate, he might face a great peril, and in the face of that terrible peril, would he choose to rekindle the Divine Fire?

Additionally, Li Che suddenly thought, if the Qitian Great Sage were to charge into the Earth Gate, would he face a great crisis, and in such terrifying danger, would he choose to reignite the Divine Fire?

If so, he might be completely erased from heaven and earth.

Perhaps he thought so.

【181】 Li Che suddenly felt a flying thunder piece on the celestial board vibrate violently.

That was the chess piece he had lingering on the old monkey's body.

At this moment, the piece trembled violently, and a strong sense of danger fed back from it.

Li Che felt a shock in his heart.

Unable to continue the conversation with the bound spirits, his mind instantly sank into the celestial chessboard.

Buzz—

The Warrior Immortal's will coalesced, radiating brilliant golden light.

Li Che spread his five fingers, and in an instant a Flying Thunder chess piece floated up, spreading endless darkness like a black hole.

The dark ripples slowly reflected the scene like a mirror.

The image was too vague, but faintly one could see an old monkey being pursued, chains rattling through its body, blood spraying…

The image flashed and then burst apart, disappearing.

Obviously, the separating distance was too great.

The Earth Strange Gate differs from the Inner Strange Gate; even a Flying Thunder piece cannot clearly glimpse the scene within.

"The Chess Saint Dao Fruit's rank is still too low; if its rank reaches LV7, it should be able to view the scene, at least… the image would be clearer."

Li Che exhaled a puff of foul air, and his heart involuntarily grew heavy.

The joy of just obtaining the Gathering Immortal Banner vanished instantly.

Qi Tian, within the Earth Strange Gate, seemed to have encountered a huge crisis.

Being hunted by an immortal deity?

Since Qi Tian is a revived temple deity, its divine fire has long been extinguished, so its strength is considerably weaker than that of a true immortal deity…

He recalled the hope he once looked back on when Qi Tian stormed into the Earth Strange Gate.

He hoped that one day, Li Che could also fight side by side with the old monkey within the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths…

For a moment, a pressure rose in Li Che's heart.

"Nine Heavens and Ten Earths…"

Li Che's eyes gradually turned cold.

However, thinking about this now was of little use to him.

"I am still too weak now…"

Li Che exhaled.

"I must raise my martial cultivation soon, to break through mortal to immortal!"

He took a deep look at that utterly chaotic image.

The image vanished, and the strong sense of danger disappeared without a trace.

Li Che's mind returned, but there was no point in looking.

His mind withdrew from the celestial chessboard; Li Che opened his eyes, and the surrounding temperature seemed to have dropped considerably.

Fang Hanshu, Zhou Heng and the other bound spirits seemed to sense that Li Che's mood was not good.

He ordered Zhou Heng to leave and head to Qi Tian's Nei Cheng.

Li Che also dispatched Liu Gonggong to return toward the Dàjǐng Imperial Tomb direction…

As for Hei Xumi's bound spirits, Li Che was blunt; after learning the details, he gave them all to feed the bound spirits, feeding the familiar ones.

Moreover, before using these bound spirits as feed, Li Che had them open the Cosmic Space, looting all the good items stored inside.

Believe it or not, there were quite a few good things.

"There are ten One‑Leaf Dao‑Essence Spirit Crystals, three Two‑Leaf Dao‑Essence Spirit Crystals, unfortunately no Three‑Leaf ones… there are also treasure pills, spirit woods and other resources…"

With that haul, Li Che's mood became rather pleasant.

Suddenly.

The Temporal‑Spatial Golden Wheel Dao Fruit in Li Che's chest cavity trembled slightly again, having drawn a lot of temporal‑spatial energy from the collapsed Cosmic Spaces he had looted.

These collapsing spaces could even provide maturity to the Temporal‑Spatial Golden Wheel!

Buzz‑buzz‑buzz—

In the next moment, light flickered before his eyes.

The maturity of the Temporal‑Spatial Golden Wheel Dao Fruit successfully rose to LV2 rank.

That was an unexpected surprise for Li Che.

Huff‑huff‑huff‑huff—

Suddenly.

Fang Hanshu's expression changed slightly.

"Go!"

"The Great Dao is fluctuating… it's a Supreme Strong One!"

Fang Hanshu said immediately.

Li Che heard this, and the head wearing a Star River mask lifted abruptly, glaring toward the distance.

It was a direction shrouded in eerie darkness, a terrifying aura twisting space, as if shattering the void itself.

A figure clad in a white robe, wearing a Star River mask, darted out at speed from the turbulence!

"Hunter God Pavilion!"

Fang Hanshu and Li Che exchanged a glance, their hearts violently shaken.

His heart instantly confirmed that this Supreme, emerging from the shattered space with a Star River mask, was definitely a member of the Hunter God Pavilion!

The Supreme stepped out of the strange void, hovering hundreds of zhang above, its masked eyes sweeping in an instant.

Three calamity pressures, like waves rolling across a vast sea, swept the earth with oppressive force.

Daring!

How dare you impersonate my Hunter God Pavilion assassin!

A shout of scorn erupted from this professional Hunter God Pavilion assassin, and the next moment, Li Che felt a wave of fear, with one pattern after another intertwining.

Countless streams of water coalesced in the air, like a cage, slicing toward his flesh.

Within those streams, shimmering divine patterns interwove.

Great Dao Divine Pattern!

The Supreme of the Hunter God Pavilion, hovering a hundred zhang above, stared coldly, brimming with murderous intent, and suddenly clenched his five fingers.

In an instant…

The Great Dao Divine Pattern enveloping Li Che and Fang Hanshu explosively shattered!

Huh?!

However, the Supreme was slightly startled.

The next moment, taking a step, he flashed and descended from the hundred‑zhang height to the ground; the earth trembled instantly, cracks interlaced, and countless hissing eerie mists spewed from the fissures.

Gone?

The power of the Great Dao Divine Pattern dispersed, and the shattered space healed.

Yet Li Che and Fang Hanshu's bodies did not appear; the two had escaped before the Supreme.

Spatial Translocation Technique…

What a strange translocation technique.

The Supreme furrowed his brows.

He then sensed his surroundings; the eyes beneath the Star River Mask glowed with a lingering fury.

Again using the name of the Hunter God Pavilion to commit petty deeds… It's a pity the Hall Master is too lax; otherwise, if we truly scrutinized, your divine factions would have to give an explanation!

Now, you have baselessly tarnished the reputation of our Hunter God Pavilion professional assassins…

Although… we assassins don't have a good reputation either…

The Hunter God Pavilion assassin hummed softly for a moment.

Suddenly, his five fingers clenched, and divine energies continuously converged and interwove.

Heixu Mi's Buddhist aura…

Also, among those two just now, one had demon aura soaring sky‑high…

Divine Weapon Qi… Huh?! Gathering Immortal Mystic Banner!

The Dàjǐng Royal Family actually loaned out the Gathering Immortal Banner? The only one who could dispatch the banner must be the Supreme of the Dark Heavenly Court. Looking at the current situation… it seems the banner has even been seized…

Demon aura and Buddhist nature…

The Cunning Demon Lair and Heixu Mi striking simultaneously? The three great divine factions fighting among themselves?

Chaos… so chaotic…

Hehe… chaos is good.

There's a good show to watch.

……

……

Shendu.

Dàjǐng Imperial Tomb.

Rumble—

Within the imperial tomb temple.

The Dàjǐng Emperor sat cross‑legged on a mat, quietly cultivating, while one Dao‑essence spirit crystal after another piled beside him, continuously emitting Dao‑essence power, which his mortal body absorbed.

Suddenly.

The Emperor's face, shrouded in divinity and Dao‑essence, his tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, countless blood vessels interlacing within his pupils.

Ah—!!!

He clutched his chest violently.

His heart seemed about to burst open.

Pfft!

His whole body trembled, and he coughed up a large mouthful of fresh blood.

An invisible qi burst from the Emperor, shattering the divine talisman cultivation array laid across the ground into pieces!

Aaa—

My Gathering Immortal Banner!

The Emperor staggered to his feet, his aura wildly fluctuating, terrifyingly intense.

He felt the hard‑won connection between himself and the Gathering Immortal Mystic Banner had been completely erased.

It was utterly shattered by a powerful force.

He suffered a slight backlash, but that pain was far less than the anguish from losing the banner…

Your Majesty… what's wrong, Your Majesty?

Suddenly, a fragrant breeze brushed by.

A graceful figure darted in swiftly—it was the young lady of the Su family, Su Da.

However—

Just as Su Da set foot inside the imperial tomb, the Emperor's pupils turned blood‑red, flickering as if teleporting, and he appeared before her.

He raised five fingers, grasped her swan‑white neck, and slammed her hard against the temple wall.

Su Da's beautiful, charming face, in an instant, turned horribly ugly and painful…

"Is it you?! Is it you who leaked the news of the Gathering Immortal Flag?!"

The Emperor was utterly cold, murderous intent surging, and said.

Su Da's long legs kept struggling, slowly, as if the breath in her body was being completely cut off.

However, the Emperor's five fingers gripping Su Da's neck were slowly pried open by a terrifying force.

"Foolish."

A cold voice rang out.

The Emperor's gaze swept away.

But he saw Su Da's head had turned into a white fox skull, high above, utterly indifferent.

"Qingqiu God!"

The Emperor's violent fury and murderous intent in his eyes cooled instantly, and he became calm.

"What are you doing?"

Above Su Da's fox head, coldness and contempt were displayed.

"What does the loss of the Gathering Immortal Flag have to do with my Strange Demon Cave? Why would my Strange Demon Cave want the Gathering Immortal Flag?"

"The power of the Gathering Immortal Flag is beyond our demon clan's use, not a match for us; our demon clan covets it, coveting the divine weapon hidden behind the Queen Mother of the West's strange temple, above the Three Purities rank within the strange temple!"

"I, this deity, have already helped you obtain the Dan Shu Hu… This is a key; if it truly opens that strange temple, you will gain the Heavenly Emperor's inheritance… Whether it is the Haotian Tower, the Nine Dragon Ten Thousand Calamity Qi, or the Sealing Heaven Seal, they are all more important than the Gathering Immortal Flag."

"Of course, if the Gathering Immortal Eight Flags gathered, it might stir my heart, but it is merely a ragtag force; would I forfeit the acquisition of the more alluring Nine Dragon Ten Thousand Calamity Qi for a ragtag force?"

Su Da said coldly.

The Emperor's mask twitched.

"Who could that be…"

Su Da's fox eyes narrowed slightly.

"Probably the bald donkeys of Heisu Mi…"

The Emperor's whole body trembled.

Su Da's fox head gradually returned to a normal skull; over her charming visage, a scarlet tongue protruded, gently flickering.

"Having lost the Gathering Immortal Mysterious Flag, you must seize the Gathering Immortal Yellow Flag…"

"Fine, fine, I, this deity, will lend you a hand…"

"The Third Prince Temple God is about to be reborn… Li Che will surely go, for the Prison Lotus Maiden is deeply linked with the Third Prince Temple God; therefore, I, this deity, will make a trip to help you obtain the Gathering Immortal Yellow Flag."

Su Da said softly.

The Emperor's body shivered, his eyes flickering slightly.

…

…

Li Che clenched the Flying Thunder Chess Piece with his five fingers, traversing the barriers between the Strange Gate and the mortal world.

The Space-Time Golden Wheel Dao Fruit again absorbed some temporal‑spatial energy, though noticeably less than before.

Li Che also returned to Tai Bai Peak, swapping with the painted immortal avatar attending Xixi's ancestral ceremony.

"Hoo—"

Li Che exhaled a puff of foul qi.

Facing the pressure brought by the Supreme was indeed overwhelming.

He did not expect a Supreme of the Hunting God Pavilion to abruptly shatter space and strike…

It seems, disguised as a Hunting God Pavilion assassin, causing trouble…

The Hunting God Pavilion was not entirely oblivious.

"After all, it's the first time making the Hunting God Pavilion take the blame; my experience is insufficient."

Li Che muttered.

Next time, after dumping the pot, one must run; if run slowly, the Hunting God Pavilion Supreme may appear again.

Suddenly.

At the instant Li Che finished exhaling.

Within his chest.

The Chess Saint Dao Fruit began to tremble and pulse wildly.

Dong dong dong dong dong—

Like thunder booming, as if a celestial drum were struck!

Within the mud sphere's interior, the roar and vibration caused fifteen divine embryos and countless divinities to boil, as if waves were stacking!

And the flesh at the brow was ripped apart rapidly to both sides!

A Star‑Plucking Eye shone forth; within its golden pupil, criss‑crossing lines resembled a net of the heavens!

Then, the golden light of the Star‑Plucking Eye flickered, changing into black and white.

Left eye black, right eye white!

Like the alternation of sun and moon, yin and yang shifting!

Before the eyes, black and white characters intertwined.

【Dao Fruit: Chess Saint (LV7, 0%)】

Chess Saint Dao Fruit!

Called upon countless times…

Finally, the Fifth Metamorphosis!

Li Che's mood was extremely jubilant and turbulent.

At this moment, what delighted him was not the transformation of the Chess Saint Dao Fruit.

But…

Rather, after the five metamorphoses, the Chess Saint Dao Fruit might let him see clearly…

Qi Tian's encounter in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!