Chapter 526: You have an immortal artifact, I have a golden kitchen knife; having entered the mortal world and returned, still a yout

Buzz buzz buzz buzz—

Terrifying divine might, vast and mighty, like an ocean flooding forth, oppressive and suffocating, the entire Golden Light Prefecture City seemed, in an instant, to have fallen into extreme terror!

Immortal!

Another Immortal!

Three black holes, as if piercing through from another realm, penetrated two different worlds, with mysterious power intertwining and resonant rule power wildly dancing.

Within the entire Golden Light Prefecture City, everyone's vision went black, losing perception of heaven and earth.

Terrifying immortal pressure, like waves of an angry sea, layer upon layer, covering sky and earth, with the posture of scouring heaven and earth, it surged wildly out of the black hole.

Even a supreme being could not withstand it at this moment; perhaps they could resist divine pressure, stand firm, and observe the peerless battle.

But when the immortal pressure burst forth, it was no longer a force they could imagine.

Just a thread, just a speck falling, would crush their bones and spines, making them kneel and crawl devoutly on the ground, like mayflies seeing the blue sky!

Some with weak cultivation foundations couldn't even kneel; they were directly pressed flat onto the ground, and under the scouring of immortal pressure, their viscera shifted unable to bear the load.

Too terrifying!

Many people stared in astonishment at Li Che, who floated midair, his divinity like a waterfall hanging upside down, stubbornly bearing the immortal pressure, directly facing its impact!

Is this still a person?

Many supreme beings were shocked to the core; merely enduring the aftermath of the immortal pressure left them immobile, yet Li Che necessarily faced the immortal pressure head-on and still managed to maintain a soaring posture, floating in midair.

The immortal's target is the Hell Lotus Maiden; Li Che must protect his daughter, so he must inevitably confront the immortal's will and pressure.

So, there is no trickery; Li Che truly withstood the immortal's power with his own flesh and blood!

Although the immortal's will descended through the black hole, releasing pressure, it was greatly weakened.

But it is absolutely not something that divine fire or divine spirits can block; the power that can be endured!

But at this moment, everyone's gaze shifted away from Li Che, drawn to a new target.

Boom——!!!

Su Da was blown away, crashing onto the ground of Golden Light Prefecture City, blasting a huge pit in the city's ground.

Her form lay within it, nine tails seeming to wield supreme divine power, pure and untainted, swinging wildly.

Su Da bled from mouth and nose; on her stunningly beautiful face, only horror remained.

White-clad, leading a dog!

Indeed... indeed, what she saw earlier was not an illusion!

But now she has unleashed the immortal artifact of the Strange Demon Cave Immortal Demon Emperor, possessing immortal power; this white-clad figure... this black dog... what can they do?

Watching the big black dog swipe a paw at the lotus lamp, the lotus lamp ignited by Su Da's divine fire burst forth with immense immortal pressure; the immortal artifact revived, activated, releasing its power to destroy heaven and earth!

Su Da's eyeballs nearly popped from her stunning fox-like eyes as she stared fixedly.

Then she saw the pitch-black dog's paw, with a slap, withstand the immortal artifact's pressure and slam hard onto the lotus lamp.

The lotus lamp began to vibrate violently, immense immortal pressure surging wildly, colliding with the dog's paw countless times, the fur on the dog's paw dancing wildly, as if countless scarlet lines intertwined upon it, like a river of magma in purgatory!

Boom——!!!

The violent explosive sound detonated, as if struck by terrifying extreme horizontal training, the countless dancing divine patterns on the lotus lamp all shattered, stirred by a dog's paw into a twisted braid!

The flames surged violently, swaying without cease.

Then, the entire lotus lamp seemed to have been struck into a black hole; the graceful intertwined figure emanating immortal aura seemed to cast its gaze upon the big black dog maintaining its paw-swinging posture.

The big black dog bared its teeth, revealing a mouth full of sharp white teeth.

A white robe fluttered, face clear and cold, aloofly standing.

"It's you."

The voice was ethereal, as if far in the clouds yet near before the eyes, carrying a transcendent, otherworldly chill; the terrifying pressure accompanying her speech instantly boomed down, countless divine patterns intertwining, condensing into chains of order, dancing without cease.

In the distance.

The Third Prince burned to the extreme, black flames rolling, his fire-tip spear dancing wildly, blocking the emanated avatar of the Immortal Toad Emperor.

But the golden cicada Buddha silhouette condensed from another black hole had no one to block it.

The black hole seemed to be shifting; the golden monk raised his Buddha palm, stepping slowly, the black hole moving with it, space following and cracking.

Slowly, the immortal golden cicada came to hover above Xixi and Li Che father and daughter, alongside the other lotus lamp black hole, like sun and moon, suspended and displaying might.

Two different immortal pressures suddenly crashed down.

It made breathing difficult, nearly suffocating.

The white-clad boss held an unlit cigarette, his eyes deep with vicissitudes, cradling a golden-colored kitchen knife in his arms, while the big black dog retracted its paw, baring its teeth.

"A group of immortal spirits, having lived through ages, actually bully an eight-year-old little girl—do they still have any shame? Those long years, they've lived in a dog's belly!"

The boss said lightly.

The big black dog immediately turned its head, dissatisfied, "Did the dog provoke you?"

Beside, the Third Prince clashing with the immortal avatar of the Toad Emperor, his eyes bright, watched the one person and one dog blocking the two immortals, feeling greatly surprised and doubtful, as if recognizing them yet not daring to be certain.

"The Hell Lotus Maiden's identity is special, a being with a predetermined fate; she does not allow deviation from her life's course, but now the Hell Lotus Maiden is quite different; she may be unable to fulfill the heavenly mandate."

A faint voice emanated from the immortal mouth of the graceful woman reflected by the lotus lamp that had floated back out of the black hole.

"Fate is made by man, not heaven; a sudden thought, a whimsical outing, a lazy extra sleep—all could alter the predetermined course of destiny; humans are not machines, so how could we impose a fixed path upon them?"

The white robe fluttered, making a rustling sound.

The boss lightly shook his head, his eyes deep as an abyss.

"Ridiculous."

"Even we immortals cannot fully escape destiny; human fate is already set by heaven and earth; unless one can transcend heaven and earth, being born within it, one must follow its course."

In the distance.

The immortal avatar of the Toad Emperor clashing with the Third Prince spoke coldly.

His voice was like thunder; although he was held back by the Third Prince, there was no great impact, and He didn't mind, even having spare energy to sense the confrontation between Xixi and Li Che's father and daughter.

A white-clad person leading a dog appeared, and this combination somewhat surprised the three immortals.

My heart trembled slightly; another existence that had broken free from the predetermined fate trajectory appeared—something that had never happened in previous divine tides. This divine tide… is truly different, completely different!

The three immortals felt a sense of unease arise in their hearts.

In the past, every divine tide was fixed, running along the trajectory of heaven and earth's will; the Prison Lotus Maiden went mad, carved a path through seas of blood and mountains of corpses, and became the executioner of heaven and earth's will.

Finally, slaying one immortal achieved the balance of heaven and earth, and the divine tide subsided.

This is the set trajectory and destiny; if destiny deviates, the trajectory differs from the original...

Then…

Which immortal will fall in this divine tide?!

Will it still be the immortal death they originally planned?

This feeling of losing control, this unknown threat, made the immortals' hearts gradually grow uneasy.

"The Prison Lotus Maiden must return to the set destiny, making her unable to resist the curse's power, bear the curse, merge with the curse, and become the executioner of heaven and earth's will! This is the ultimate destiny!"

The Immortal Emperor Toad's emanation, formed from countless Great Dao divine patterns intertwining, struck out with a palm; the void surged like waves, shooting up hundreds and thousands of divine lights, rules intertwining, as if ancient divine script appeared!

The Third Prince's face turned extremely cold: "You just can't stand to see others do well!"

"You must make the Prison Lotus Maiden take on a bitter, vengeful appearance, keep killing, turn numb into a killing machine, ultimately sink in slaughter, and in mutual destruction slay one immortal to end this divine tide—that is your purpose!"

"You dislike change, only wanting to maintain the status quo, merely because you fear the Prison Lotus Maiden's change will make her blade unpredictable, even swinging to strike you."

The Third Prince roared, black flames blazing around him like a bolt of black lightning, countless divine sigils intertwining, resonating and roaring, displaying terrifying divine might.

Absolutely surpassing the power of the Divine Fire Spirits!

However, the Immortal Emperor Toad's aim was not the Third Prince; countless divine patterns intertwined, a terrifying immortal pressure swept over, blocking the Third Prince's slaughter.

The Immortal Emperor Toad didn't care much for the Third Prince, because although the Third Prince had revived, he was merely a temple god reborn; unless the divine fire was rekindled, even swallowing much divine spirit blood would make a quick recovery difficult.

So He didn't care; at this moment He cared about the situation concerning the Prison Lotus Maiden.

That appearing white-clad black dog…

Could it be the Manifest Sage True Lord Erlang?!

Qi Tian revived early, already exceeding expectations, provoking an immortal of the Dark Heavenly Court to intervene across realms; Qi Tian ultimately slaughtered his way into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, unmatched and tyrannical.

The revival of the Third Prince's temple god was within the plan, yet the suppression brought by the battle power of ten Divine Fire Spirits could not suppress the Third Prince's temple god.

Now, a white-clad man suspected to be the Manifest Sage True Lord Erlang appeared inside the Third Prince's Guiyi Miao, blocking the power of an immortal artifact.

The three powerful spirits of the Prison Lotus actually appeared simultaneously!

How could the immortals' hearts be at peace?

Originally, it was because of an accident that the divine tide arose; now, these immortals merely wish to let the nine divine tides end peacefully, letting heaven and earth return to tranquility and order to stability.

Boom boom boom boom—

The Lotus Lamp reappeared from the black hole; Su Da's divine fire ignited the Lotus Lamp, and now its divine light shines brilliantly to the extreme, as if freezing the void, solidifying everything.

A graceful immortal phantom appeared in the light cast by the Lotus Lamp, with towering demonic qi raging and sweeping!

Buddha light shone vast; golden cicada patterns seemed to reflect deep pupils like the vast sun; that monk's phantom walked the void, each step birthing golden lotuses, countless Buddha lights illuminating the order's divine patterns.

The air seemed to congeal; the entire Golden Light Prefecture City appeared as if it would be destroyed and collapse in an instant.

"No need for many words; the Prison Lotus Maiden's deviated trajectory, we will naturally correct her."

"No one may obstruct; the nine divine tides, the immortal calamity—now it is the eighth, and it will soon end……"

An indifferent voice came from the mouth of the immortal woman reflected in the Lotus Lamp's light.

"Whether you are the Manifest Sage True Lord Erlang or not, regardless of why you revived early……"

"The deviated order ultimately needs correction! The Prison Lotus Maiden who took the wrong path must return to the right way!"

The white-clad boss held a cigarette in his mouth, curling his lips.

"You call slaughtering through heaven and earth, blood flowing into rivers, trampling mountains of corpses and seas of blood the right way?"

"Whatever the immortal will points to is the right way!"

The Buddha Light monk pressed his palms together; instantly countless Buddha palms emerged from his back, stacking and intertwining into a huge Buddha palm, grabbing toward Li Che and Xixi.

"Dog smash, you one, me one."

The white-clad boss made a click sound, lighting the cigarette held in his mouth.

The smoke curled gently.

The next moment, the golden-colored kitchen knife in his bosom was suddenly gripped by him.

Hearing that, the big black dog bared its teeth in a grin, shot out, and in an instant slammed into the enormous Buddha palm!

Dong——!!!

Buddha light fell into chaos, divine power surged vast; the sky was filled with exploding Buddha light, a terrifyingly huge beast leapt forth, shattering the void, countless fragments dancing wildly!

The boss then stepped, hurling the golden kitchen knife; the knife flew horizontally, pressing toward the Lotus Lamp immortal artifact.

"You have an immortal artifact; I only have a kitchen knife—make do."

A faint voice came from the boss's mouth as he held the cigarette.

Thud——!!!

Like a primordial divine mountain shifting, shaking the universe!

At the instant the divine fire on the Lotus Lamp collided with the golden kitchen knife, it seemed as if it would be completely extinguished.

However, after the black hole, it seemed to glow, with one clear light after another bursting forth, divine power vast and boundless; immortal power transmitted through the black hole revived the Lotus Lamp!

On the terrifying immortal artifact, immortal power surged forth like a wave!

The golden kitchen knife was like a small boat tossing in a huge wave!

At any moment there is a chance of being capsized by the wave's strike!

The boss, however, paid no attention to these, holding a burning cigarette between his lips, squinting at the smoke, he looked toward Li Che floating in midair, and at Xixi, who was struggling against the power of the Prison Lotus curse.

Thereafter, he raised his head, gazing toward an even higher place, a contemplative hue appearing on his face.

As if pondering what to do next.

……

……

Buzz—

Although he was in the midst of danger, Li Che instantly fell into another mysterious and profound state of the Dao.

The throbbing of the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart grew ever louder, like evening drums and morning bells, booming and deafening.

Like an ancient temple atop a snow‑capped mountain, struck by an ancient deity who emerged from chaos, its sound waves vast, cleansing impurity, yielding purity!

Immaculate Heart Dao fruit……

Six transformations!

This was Li Che's second Dao fruit to reach six transformations—something even Li Che had not anticipated, the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit achieving the sixth transformation under these circumstances!

Shifting from the Martial Immortal Dao to a divine path, akin to a fall, yet it gave the Immaculate Heart a chance to cleanse itself.

The divine nature, transformed from the Martial Immortal's qi‑blood seal that had spread and intertwined throughout the body, all turned into the Immaculate Heart's divinity, purifying its own divinity!

This is one reason the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit can swiftly achieve six transformations!

After Li Che broke through the Dao Martial Immortal, his qi and blood became tremendously vast and vigorous, all while detonating seven Qimen immortal seeds.

Rumble—

Like the sound of waves washing clean, it echoed continuously; he could feel his essence, energy, and spirit rapidly expanding, the divine aspect surpassing the past, linking with heaven and earth, condensing into divine sense.

Divine spirit sense—a power attainable only by igniting the divine fire and becoming a divine spirit; Li Che grasped it when his Dao fruit completed six transformations.

Buzz—

Divinity surged like a tide, transforming into a substantial river.

Li Che's spirit tensed; the immortal pressure that descended like a mountain vanished completely at this moment.

This was blocked by the power of the Immaculate Heart; the Dao fruit's power during transformation was mysteriously unfathomable.

He exhaled a breath.

Li Che felt extremely urgent, for he fully understood his situation at this moment.

Three immortal wills descended, passing through a mysterious spatial black hole into the mortal realm's strange gate, their aim straight for Xixi……

Even Li Che felt helpless facing this situation.

He, Li Che, had risen swiftly, yet he still underestimated the importance of the Prison Lotus maiden to the gods.

Even the immortal spirits paid such heed to Xixi, for Li Che had slightly altered her fate's trajectory, prompting them to descend in great force to correct her deviation.

This feeling……

It was like a novel's protagonist just reincarnated, only to be personally struck down by the hidden entity behind the book, given no time to grow.

These immortal spirits utterly disregarded convention!

Between heaven and earth, all sounds vanished; he was utterly isolated at his ears—wind, pressure‑sweeping noises, space‑rupture sounds—all sounds disappeared, leaving only the Martial Ancestor.

Only the rhythm of the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit's throbbing remained!

Instantly.

His mind and spirit were tugged by a mighty force, even though he stood on an extremely perilous battlefield where three immortals' wills had descended from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths……

Li Che still resolutely chose to guide.

He wanted to grow stronger, even if only a little, and if it could help him when facing the immortals, Li Che was willing to try!

His mind and spirit spanned mountains and rivers, the stars shifting, as if countless stars chased behind him.

When his eyes opened, he indeed found himself in the Dao tree's space.

Vast breath surged forth—a mystery and grandeur surpassing even that of immortals, the Dao tree spanning the heavens and stars, towering into the clouds, as if it would tear heaven and earth apart!

With the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit's six transformations, Li Che's greatest feeling was the metamorphosis, expansion, and enhancement of his divine sense!

That was divine spirit sense; its thoughts were far stronger than before, a single turn bringing about myriad changes.

Like swapping the most ancient crystal core for the most advanced operational crystal core!

A single thought gives rise to myriad changes that arise and cease in flux!

The Dao tree swayed; Li Che instantly saw the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit, perhaps because he sensed his own urgency. The seven‑colored flowing light of the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit drifted down, and instantly countless mists rolled in, the scene abruptly shifting.

A tranquil river appeared before Li Che's eyes.

The river lay without ripples, like a person's extremely calm heart; upon it floated a duckweed swaying, and a figure sat cross‑legged upon it.

Lord of the Dao fruit!

A thought arose, and Li Che immediately confirmed the identity of that figure!

The figure was exceedingly ethereal; merely a glance from its eyes gave Li Che a sense of calm, his former anxiety instantly subsiding, leaving him utterly still.

Just as when the Dragon‑Elephant Golden Body Dao fruit reached six transformations!

Indeed, he also got to meet the Lord of the Dao fruit!

Lord of the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit!

Li Che drew a deep breath, his heart pounding.

Rattle—

The water murmured gently—the sound of the river's flow, very tranquil, softly echoing in his ears.

"You are very anxious."

!

The Lord of the Immaculate Heart Dao fruit sat cross‑legged upon the duckweed, white robes fluttering, transcendent as an immortal, countless threads entwining around him, gazing at Li Che, he spoke softly.

Li Che knew that the other party had spanned the timespace long river and was now conversing with him.

This might be an opportunity from the Six Transformations of the Dao Fruit.

An opportunity to converse with the Lord of the Dao Fruit.

"Some divine spirits want to harm my daughter; I only wish to protect my daughter, let her grow up safe and sound, peaceful and undisturbed……"

Li Che's mind was tranquil; he sat cross-legged on the long river without waves, the river surface like a mirror, ripples spreading in circles.

Li Che felt his buttocks sitting on a patch of soft mud, as if slightly embedded in the water.

"Why…… why is it so hard?"

Li Che sighed.

He only wished to watch his daughter grow up in peace, to condense the Dao Fruit, nurture the Dao Fruit, grow stronger, and become his daughter's greatest protective umbrella.

How could it be so hard?

Divine spirits covet, immortals descend……

It is only because Li Che protected his daughter, allowing Xixi in this era of surging divine tides, not needing to yearn for past waves, to shed blood, to slay enemies, to trample mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

To protect his daughter, he used every trump card he could, even forsaking the martial way, transforming from a fallen Martial Immortal into a divine cultivator.

The long river had no waves, duckweed drifting peacefully.

The Lord of the Dao Fruit seated above, face unclear, listened calmly to Li Che's confession.

After a long time, Li Che finished speaking.

The Lord of the Dao Fruit lightly laughed: "You, as long as your conscience is clear, that's enough."

Li Che's heart trembled slightly.

"One needs faith, a steadfast faith, that grants boundless power, enough to withstand any calamity."

"Spotless, what is spotless? To purify oneself and avoid dust is spotless? No, to sink into the mortal world, to be stained with all kinds of karma, to face myriad disasters, yet always keep one's original heart—that is spotless."

"Entering the mortal world, leaving it, returning still as a youth—that is spotless."

"A clear conscience, no regrets—this is spotless."

"You and I conversing across the river of ages is fate; spotless is an unfathomable power; when you truly understand what spotless is, perhaps you can reverse some lingering regrets in your heart and return to the path you wish to continue."

"Spotless, the purity of the original heart, emerging from the mire unstained—that is spotless……"

Boom—

The calm long river rippled.

As the Lord of the Dao Fruit conversed with Li Che, the Great Dao Long River seemed to explode, countless waves surging, the Lord of the Dao Fruit actually emanated an extremely powerful aura!

His bright eyes were like pure white light cleansing the spirit; wind and rain raged, yet the spirit was extraordinarily tranquil.

Li Che sat cross-legged on the river surface, his body rising and falling with the water, feeling like going with the flow.

He listened calmly, his inner anxiety dissipated, his whole being immersed in this cross‑ages conversation.

Listening to the teachings and experiences left by the predecessors.

Li Che had once, on the Martial Dao Long River, listened to the lecture of the Martial Dao Fruit Lord.

And now, Li Che again sat cross‑legged upon the long river……

At this moment, Li Che suddenly understood the name of the long river.

The long river upon which the Spotless Heart Dao Fruit drifts……

It is the Spirit River.

……

……

Li Che slowly opened his eyes, his mind returning to reality.

The overwhelming pressure of the immortal divine spirit, like an abyss pressing down, made Li Che's bones crackle continuously, as if sounding "crack crack crack" without cease.

But Li Che's spirit at this moment was extraordinarily strong and tranquil.

No matter how great the waves, they could not destroy his spirit.

The Lord of the Spotless Heart Dao Fruit and the Lord of the Dragon Elephant Golden Vajra Dao Fruit walk two paths—one of spirit, one of martial flesh……

The lectures of the two Dao Fruit Lords were, for Li Che, unprecedented experiences.

The predecessors' guidance cleared his confusion about the road ahead.

The Dragon Elephant Golden Vajra Dao Fruit Lord's exposition cleared his confusion after just breaking through to Martial Immortal, walking the Martial Immortal path.

And the Spotless Heart Dao Fruit Lord's lecture cleared Li Che's confusion about his future after transforming into a divine cultivator; perhaps he now understood how to walk the path ahead.

His divine sense grew greatly……

But compared to the natural immortal will, it is still far lacking.

Splish splash——

Divine nature expanded in each of Li Che's apertures; the originally somewhat fierce divine nature became gentle and tractable.

Before him, flowing light like sinking incense smoke drifted down slowly.

【Dao Fruit Lv8, Six Transformations, Dao Calamity (Primordial Purify Heart Flow) Ascended, Spotless Heart Dao Vessel】

Boom—

As if heavenly sounds trembled, roaring the spirit; in that instant, Li Che seemed to hear a faint chant of the Heavenly Dao's will.

Flowing light intertwined and condensed into a prompt that appeared before Li Che's eyes.

【Dao Vessel: Heaven and Earth Origin, Spirit River, Great Dao Sailing, Seek Above and Below】

Indeed!

The place where the Spotless Heart Dao Fruit drifts is indeed the Spirit River, the most mysterious realm for humanity!

Suddenly.

Li Che opened his eyes, his pupils suddenly becoming clear.

Innumerable divine aura like condensed mist surrounded him, his jet-black, vigorous hair fluttering, for his Martial Immortal body had faded, stained by divinity, the golden Martial Immortal blood had long vanished, his blood turning crystal-clear scarlet.

Within the meridians, it flowed, churned, and surged!

Li Che opened his eyes.

Actually, the completion of the Dao Fruit's transformation had not been long; at this moment, the white-clothed boss's gaze came just then, colliding with Li Che's line of sight.

Li Che's expression remained normal, he was not particularly surprised by the boss's appearance.

The big black dog leapt up, blocking one immortal; on the other side, the Third Prince also exerted his utmost to block another immortal, while the boss used the golden kitchen knife to block the immortal artifact lotus lamp that had ignited divine fire.

All three immortals were blocked.

However, Li Che's heart felt no relaxation.

The boss in white robes floated lightly, stepping forward, while the smoke rose straight up without any distortion.

He appeared beside Li Che.

"I and Dog Smash cannot exert ourselves for too long."

The boss looked at Li Che, who seemed to have undergone a significant transformation, and said.

Li Che's spirit seemed to have become much calmer.

This is a good thing; sometimes, anxiety, anger, and panic only bring trouble, causing people to make wrong decisions.

Faced with the descent of the will of three immortals, anyone would become flustered, Li Che was no exception, but now Li Che has calmed down.

The boss did not know what change had occurred on Li Che.

But at least now the calm Li Che can think more calmly about countermeasures.

"Because of the will of Heaven and Earth?"

Li Che asked.

The boss stared for a moment, then nodded: "The will of Heaven and Earth... is far more complex and domineering than you imagine."

"Boss, are you the Erlang Manifest Sage True Lord?"

Li Che asked again.

He spread his five fingers, and a three-point two-edged blade appeared in his hand…

The boss glanced at Li Che, two fingers pinching the ash, shaking off the ash: "Is this important?"

"I merely have doubts in my heart, wanting to clear them up; perhaps I will know later... but knowing early or late makes no difference."

Li Che said with a smile.

"You have truly changed; your spirit is very calm, this is good... you transformed from the Martial Immortal path to the Divine path, which is a tremendous shift; if your spirit is not calm enough, you will sink in the immense power of the transformation, sink therein, ultimately your strength stalls and you cannot advance."

"Only with a calm spirit can you better cultivate the Divine path, drawing upon the divinity of Heaven and Earth."

"Quite good; this also puts my mind at ease."

The boss said lightly.

"I suppose so."

The boss then uttered a baseless remark.

Li Che, upon hearing this, raised his eyebrows... knowing what the boss's answer was.

"Could it be the Three-eyed Manifest Sage True Lord?"

"Or perhaps not?"

Li Che felt somewhat bewildered, as if a great mist obscured his vision, preventing him from seeing the truth.

"In the mortal realm's secret chambers, I and Dog Smash cannot exert our full strength, the restrictions are too great; if we disregard everything, we will invite scrutiny..."

"Dog Smash's act of blocking the immortal's will is already considered an overstep of power."

The boss said: "So, time is short."

He looked toward Xixi.

"Can you also not stop the immortal spirits? They are not true bodies descending, but rather willful avatars!" Li Che's brows slightly furrowed.

The boss shook his head: "It's not because of the immortals..."

"Furthermore, do not underestimate the immortals; after divine fire comes the merging of the Dao, then cutting the Dao, only then can one attain Nirvana; only after Nirvana does one qualify to step onto the path of immortality..."

"Immortals are the strongest existence standing beneath the will of Heaven and Earth..."

The boss gazed deeply at Li Che, speaking softly.

He did not wish Li Che to underestimate the immortals too much, for in today's battle, misjudging their strength, after slaughtering into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths...

Blindly fighting the immortals, he would then be slapped to death.

If Xixi were to lose her father because of this... that would truly be too tragic.

"I say it's not because of the immortals, but because... your appearance has changed the fate of the Prison Lotus Maiden, and the shock extends not only to the immortals of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths."

"Furthermore..."

Heaven and Earth's will.

The boss inhaled deeply, then exhaled a mouthful of hazy, rolling smoke.

Unless you give up guarding, let everything return to the proper course, let Xixi embrace the Prison Lotus Curse, according to the fixed trajectory set by the will of Heaven and Earth, let Xixi slaughter countless, her heart numb, a heavenly killer lone star, losing everything...

Thus, Xixi can then grow up safely and steadily along the path predetermined by Heaven's will, become the Master of the Prison Lotus, and finally die under the siege of the immortals of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths... ending this divine tide, to be revived between the next surge of divine tides, beginning to repeat the Prison Lotus's fate.

It is like a…… lotus imprisoned in a pool, once infinitely pure, but gradually stained with filth and darkness.

Therefore it is called the Prison Lotus.

The boss stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, then took out a pre-rolled cigarette and handed it to Li Che.

His eyes were deep, like an endless starry sky, as if the heavenly river of stars were turning.

He looked at Li Che.

They asked softly.

It actually felt somewhat like when Li Che, on the long river, was conversing with the Master of the Dao Fruit.

「Continue protecting your daughter; you might die in this great battle。」

「Or let the Prison Lotus return to its destined fate……」

「Li Che。」

「As a father……」

「What will you choose? 」

(End of chapter)