Chapter 530: To follow the path is to become a god; to oppose it is to become an immortal; the Martial Immortal is imperishable, yet

Crack crack!

The sky was overcast, leaden clouds blanketed the heavens, fierce wind and sudden rain howled and roared above the firmament, like bullets splattering and bursting down, constantly blasting the river into rippling circles.

The mysterious mist roiled, like a vast curtain, obscuring any sight, making it impossible to see what lay beyond the mist.

The howling raindrops fell from high altitude, striking the mysterious mist and bursting into droplets of misty ripples.

It sounded like large and small beads falling on a jade plate, a clear, crisp noise that tore through the mysterious mist, transmitting a sob, like an angry tone.

Boom—!!!

By the Nine Dragon River, Wrath Cliff Stone.

The river water roared, blasting up white foam waves like piles of snow, rolling outward, rising and falling.

The howling wind constantly raged, rampant and intertwined, becoming the true culprit behind the river's uneven surges.

On the jagged cliffs, figures stood still, letting the wind buffet their bodies, causing them to sway ceaselessly.

Feng Zhiqi felt icy all over, standing on the cliff, blankly gazing at the rolling, furious waves of the Nine Dragon River, watching the continuous, surging mysterious mist.

Zhao Fangzhou, Nan Lihuo, Tang Xiejia, Tang Sanjia and other strong cultivators of the Primordial Divine Sect were now sunk in boundless silence, the atmosphere somewhat oppressive and stifling.

The great battle that took place within the Mysterious Chasm was shocking to the world; according to the cultivators who had fled, a terrifying divine war had erupted inside the Mysterious Chasm of Golden Light Prefecture City.

Many revived divine spirits of the various god factions within the Mysterious Chasm took action, seeking to force the Third Prince Temple God to death; moreover, these divine spirits also wished to deal with Xixi, planning to capture the Prison Lotus Maiden and use her to threaten the Third Prince.

Nan Lihuo and the others felt numb hearing this; one could imagine how dire the situation inside truly was.

And the mortal Martial Immortal Li Che, even more so within the Mysterious Chasm, to protect his daughter Xixi, even embarked on a desperate path, abandoning the Martial Immortal Way, transforming into the God Path, incarnating as a divine spirit of the Mysterious Chasm, battling the divine spirits suppressed by the gods, in exchange for a chance at life.

As for the final outcome, they no longer knew.

The mysterious mist permeated and intertwined, appearing to become extraordinarily calm.

Hummm—

A sound of breaking space echoed, a figure came flying swiftly, stepping on the void, the air seeming to solidify, countless raindrops freezing in midair.

A powerful Divine Tribulation aura spread, like a tide.

The comer was none other than the Grandmaster of the Primordial Divine Sect, Lü Qiankun.

Lü Qiankun wore a cloth robe, his face somewhat grave.

"Greetings, Grandmaster."

Feng Zhiqi and the other elders of the Primordial Divine Sect performed their rites.

Lü Qiankun nodded, standing on the Wrath Cliff Stone, gazing at the Mysterious Chasm shrouded in mysterious mist; as a Divine Tribulation expert, he could sense how terrifying the pressure lurking beyond the mist truly was.

It was a feeling that even just sensing it made his soul tremble with dread, indicating that beyond the mist lay an immensely terrifying presence.

Perhaps merely the lingering aftermath of battle, it filled him with a bone‑chilling sense of despair.

This suffices to show how terrifying the battle that erupted within the Mysterious Chasm truly was!

Lü Qiankun had also heard of that battle within the Mysterious Chasm of Golden Light Prefecture City… it even involved the will of an Immortal Divine Spirit!

As the Sect Master of the Primordial Divine Sect, Lü Qiankun naturally knew what an Immortal Divine Spirit signified: it was the outstanding among divine spirits, a supreme existence that could not descend to the mortal realm, whether in the world or the Mysterious Chasm, for an Immortal Divine Spirit is too mighty for heaven and earth to tolerate.

And this battle actually involved such an existence.

"Grandmaster…… Elder Li…… is he truly unable to return?"

Feng Zhiqi drew a deep breath, speaking somewhat desolately.

He was a peerless Martial Immortal, a blazing sun in the blossoming of the martial way, a guiding beacon for countless martial practitioners; now… he had vanished like a fleeting night‑blooming cereus, withering away in the Mysterious Chasm—what a pity.

"Elder Li, by taking his Martial Immortal form and transforming into the God Path, incarnating as a divine spirit, he gained immense power to battle the divine spirits suppressed by the gods; he thus obtained corresponding strength and naturally must pay the corresponding price, for heaven and earth are fair and just……"

"If not as a Martial Immortal, should Li Che return to the mortal world in the form of a divine spirit, he would surely be targeted and eradicated by the will of heaven and earth……"

"Elder Li, having transformed from Martial Immortal to divine spirit, his power is too great; even if faced with a single‑calamity Divine Tribulation, he could still resist the will of heaven and earth, yet the divine spirit he became…… is impossible, for heaven and earth do not permit him to descend to the mortal realm."

Lü Qiankun let out a long sigh, speaking regretfully.

Those around all had their eyes dim, their hearts weighed down immensely.

The matter…… how did it come to this?

With Li Che's peerless Martial Immortal cultivation and battle prowess, in the mortal world he could run roughshod unopposed, none could stop him.

The Primordial Divine Sect might thus leap to become a top‑tier divine sect, even rivaling the former Equal Heaven Temple; as long as Martial Immortal Li lives, the future of the Primordial Divine Sect could even surpass the former glory of the Equal Heaven Temple and flourish even more!

Alas, there are no ifs; the world is fickle—who could have imagined that a great battle aimed at the Third Prince Temple God would spread so widely, that the gods' objectives would shift onto Xixi?

Whooo—

Suddenly.

Lü Qiankun's heart gave a violent jolt, his hair flew wildly, his pupils narrowed, and he stared in disbelief at the surface of the Nine Dragon River.

On the river's surface, at some point, thick mist began to roll.

That was the mysterious mist, becoming incredibly dense, as if gathered from all directions and piled up, suppressing and surging to form its thick curtain.

At this moment, the curtain trembled, violently shuddering!

Everyone felt their hairs stand on end.

Lü Qiankun's mighty divine nature surged, the Daoic power and calamitous force intertwining into Divine Tribulation power, forming a domain that enveloped Feng Zhiqi and the others; he intended that, should anything go awry, he would immediately take the little ones and flee.

Boom!

A sound as if heaven and earth were splitting apart echoed.

Then, the mysterious mist appeared to be torn asunder by a terrifying force from within, split in two; such thick mist, even Divine Tribulation cultivators would find it hard to rend.

The mysterious mist was like a stage curtain, parting from both sides.

A vague, blurry figure stepped forth from within, one step at a time, its mighty aura shaking, like a breached dam releasing river water, it burst forth explosively and surged outward.

Lü Qiankun and the others were buffeted by the gale, the oppressive pressure rolling in; even Lü Qiankun, a Divine Tribulation expert, felt as if an invisible hand had ruthlessly clenched his heart.

How terrifying……

Divine Spirit!

This is definitely the oppressive pressure of a divine strong one who ignites divine fire!

Lu Qiankun stepped back repeatedly with a thud‑thud‑thud on the raging cliff stone; the entire cliff quivered, and the river water was forced down by the pressure for hundreds of zhang, as if the ground itself were being crushed.

Feng Zhiqi and the others felt that the circulation of Qi and blood within their bodies became extremely arduous and difficult.

"This is..."

"A god?!"

They each gasped heavily.

The figure that stepped out from the uncanny mist was powerful and terrifying, causing their hearts and minds to instinctively feel immense fear!

Lu Qiankun released a disaster‑god calamity aura, struggling to resist the outpouring force.

"Divine beings... how dare they set foot in the mortal world? This will invite the targeting and eradication of the Heavenly Will! Heaven and Earth will be enraged, unleashing apocalyptic calamities; a divine being walking among mortals only brings destruction!"

Lu Qiankun's expression turned extremely grim.

They stared at the vague figure within the uncanny mist.

Between Heaven and Earth, it seemed only crisp footsteps remained.

Step by step, they echoed from the abyss.

Jet‑black, sinewy hair whirled wildly, like one black lightning after another; the interwoven divinity swirled like mist, condensing into great‑Dao divine patterns that entwined around the body.

Dong dong dong—

The void rippled with expanding circles, sounding like a heartbeat.

Countless divine patterns interwove, as if chains of great‑Dao order were wildly dancing.

Suddenly, Lu Qiankun's body trembled!

His eyes revealed an expression of disbelief!

"This is..."

"Elder Li?!"

Lu Qiankun's eyes were on the verge of shedding tears, provoked by the fierce shockwave of the impact.

Even so, he finally recognized the figure emerging from the uncanny mist!

Li Che!

Li Che, the martial immortal who has become a divine being!

Feng Zhiqi, Nan Li Huo, Zhao Fangzhou and the others also recognized Li Che, each exclaiming in stunned shock.

Of course, their faces also couldn't help but show joy, glad that Li Che had not died and was still alive.

Boom—!!!

Li Che stepped out of the uncanny gate.

He tore through the uncanny mist, his divinity spreading uncontrollably, as if stimulated by the invisible forces of Heaven, Earth, and the mortal realm, releasing every strand of his divinity.

The oppressive pressure around him could not be contained, spreading outward, powerful and terrifying.

Divine beings in the mortal world, however, will face eradication by the Heavenly Will!

Is Li Che actually planning to force his way out of the uncanny gate, step into the mortal world, and return to humanity?!

Lu Qiankun, Feng Zhiqi and the others, upon seeing Li Che tear through the uncanny mist and emerge, each felt a surge of tumultuous waves in their hearts.

Li Che also noticed them, his gaze directed toward them; he had long sensed the familiar faces by the banks of the Jiu Long River.

Now, tearing through the uncanny mist and meeting them, his mood was of a different sort.

Li Che, rarely, let a smile appear on his face, nodding toward his old friends.

However.

Li Che quickly lifted his head, his brows snapping into a frown.

The Heaven‑Earth chessboard hovered above his head, its criss‑crossing lines outlining a board that netted the firmament, covering the entire sky.

It seemed studded with countless stars, intended to block the Heavenly Will.

But at this moment, above the heavens, black clouds piled continuously, as if flickering currents rolled within them; even great‑Dao divine patterns surged like interwoven waves, chains of order danced wildly, coalescing into an incredibly terrifying Heavenly‑Will Blade!

The Heavenly‑Will Blade, a manifestation of the Heavenly Will's fury, possesses extremely dreadful lethal power!

Li Che fixed his gaze and saw that upon the Heavenly‑Will Blade, one ancient rune after another was coalescing, pulsing with charging energy.

The void twisted, and the Heaven and Earth before the blade seemed to shatter, being erased by invisible forces.

However, compared to the nine‑rune blade that once cleaved the bronze cauldron of the master, the current Heavenly‑Will Blade bears only four runes!

Among them, one ancient rune was the one Li Che had comprehended and condensed himself, making it feel especially familiar now.

The four‑rune blade, compared to the one that once slashed the rekindled divine fire to restore divine power—almost breaking through barriers and stepping into the fusion‑Dao level faced by the Young Dragon Emperor—has one more rune!

Its potency will also be even more terrifying!

"Can't it be shielded?"

Li Che let out a gentle sigh.

The Chess Saint Dao Fruit of the Five Molts still fell short in shielding capability.

It may shield cultivators' perception, but the Heavenly Will in a wrathful state is not so easily fooled.

Can he withstand the four‑rune Heavenly‑Will Blade?

Li Che shook his head; even if he could block it, there was no need to stubbornly resist—beyond being meaningless, it would also provoke the Heavenly Will, a self‑destructive act.

As Li Che, who treads thin ice in this world, he would never choose such a self‑destructive deed.

He only wishes to cultivate leisurely and freely, grow stronger safely, and quietly watch his daughter achieve immortality…

Therefore, Li Che would never do anything self‑destructive.

He hasn't yet reached the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths to reunite with his daughter, so how could he possibly die at the hands of the Heavenly Will?

Looking up, he watched the Heavenly Will surge, Li Che's spirit stirred slightly; he pushed the Heaven‑Earth chessboard to its utmost, its intersecting lines flashing ever brighter starlight.

The bright flashing of the Heaven-and-Earth Will guillotine ancient talisman slowed for a moment.

But in the next instant, it continued to charge…

Li Che sighed, "So it still doesn't work?"

However, Li Che sensed the maturity of the Chess Saint Dao Fruit and discovered that under the threat of the Heaven-and-Earth Will, its maturity was rapidly increasing.

Indeed, pressure is motivation…

Even a Dao Fruit is a virtue; as long as a blade hangs over one's head, the owner's drive makes even the household donkey come fully!

Snapping his fingers, Li Che's spirit flickered slightly.

Mo City Fengdu.

Li Che's Dominant avatar on the Dominant Tower suddenly opened its eyes; bean‑sized, whistling, ink‑black raindrops exploded in midair.

The air twisted for a moment, then a black chess piece suddenly swelled and warped.

It transformed into the form of Xie Yunshen.

With a light flutter of his feather fan, his white clothes brighter than snow, Xie Yunshen floated in the emptiness of the Dominant Tower, bowing and cupping his fist toward Li Che.

"I have seen you, my lord."

Xie Yunshen said with utmost respect.

"My lord, I lead the imperial expeditionary army, en route to Xiaolingyin Temple on the Western Ridge Road. I have already scouted the whereabouts of Lu Taibai, Sect Leader, and will immediately, as per your command, proceed to rendezvous with Sect Leader Taibai."

Li Che's Dominant avatar's jet‑black hair hung upside down, soaring skyward, dancing wildly like black flames.

He nodded.

"Borrow the power of Fortune for me."

Li Che said.

Xie Yunshen was slightly startled by the words, realizing that something had gone awry on Li Che's side.

Li Che did not conceal anything; he used the power of Fortune to veil his own divine aura, as Su Da had explained, and Xie Yunshen's research on the power of Fortune should also be familiar with it.

However, to ensure stability, Li Che snapped his fingers again.

In an instant, the deity Su Da was also summoned by Li Che using a binding‑spirit method.

Buzz—

When Su Da appeared, nine tails wildly danced between heaven and earth, a massive divine aura rolling outward as if to destroy the world.

"Su Consort?!"

The court master Xie Yunshen naturally recognized Su Da, his eyes narrowed, his heart startled, yet he was even more astonished by the divine aura on Su Da.

Xie Yunshen inhaled sharply, and Su Da also showed some bewilderment, her flawless beauty trembling.

Did not expect…

The Emperor Dàjǐng's most favored and trusted confidant had already become Li Che's bound spirit!

Realizing she too had become Li Che's bound spirit, Su Da couldn't help but think that Emperor Dàjǐng was literally the greatest minotaur in the world!

"Concealing divine aura with the power of Fortune? Practicing it among mortals?"

After hearing Su Da's description, Xie Yunshen instantly understood.

"The power of Fortune indeed has such effect," Xie Yunshen nodded. "However, once clad in the Fortune Golden Garment, one cannot readily wield divine power nor act hastily… If one acts, the divine aura leaks and will be exposed, and the Heaven-and-Earth Will will sense it."

Li Che nodded.

Xie Yunshen immediately got to work, swiftly condensing two Fortune Golden Lotuses!

They were the Fortune Golden Lotuses of the broken Xuanfu Divine Sect and the Tian Dan Divine Sect, respectively.

Under Xie Yunshen's five‑finger manipulation, the petals of the two Fortune Golden Lotuses spread apart, turning into a lotus robe that draped over Li Che's Dominant avatar.

Li Che felt the shimmering golden Fortune Garment, and his spirit instantly steadied.

"Not bad."

Li Che praised it.

Then the Dominant avatar exploded, turning into a swirling black ink mist.

…

On the Nine‑Dragon River.

The river roared.

Li Che tore through the strange mist and emerged, drawing the Heaven-and-Earth Will guillotine's lock‑on; however, after the Dominant avatar exploded, the Fortune Golden Lotus Garment that had covered it now draped over Li Che.

The Will's lock‑on seemed to be severed by an invisible force.

Li Che felt as if he had become the very mountains and rivers; the Heaven-and-Earth Will's angry intent instantly dissipated like a breeze. The charging of the third ancient talisman's celestial guillotine blade then gradually turned transparent and faded away.

Then countless rolling black clouds that had covered the sky also began to vanish.

The suppressed heavenly pressure instantly dispersed.

Lu Qiankun, Feng Zhiqi and others suddenly felt as if they were about to collapse to the ground, gasping heavily—a subconscious reaction to the sudden release of massive pressure.

Li Che stepped into the void, which rippled with tiny waves, yet his divinity was completely concealed.

It was as if he had become a mortal, and even his visage began to emit a faint divine light and immortal aura.

Li Che was slightly startled.

He couldn't help but think his current appearance resembled that of the Grand Overseer and the Emperor.

Li Che's eyebrows lifted slightly; the lingering doubts in his heart were finally answered—so the divine light and immortal aura that constantly veiled the Emperor and Grand Overseer's faces were indeed the concealment effect of the Fortune Golden Garment?

"Elder Li!"

Watching Li Che stride across the void, becoming divine and transcendent.

Even Lu Qiankun, at this moment, couldn't help but adopt a solemn expression, feeling awe.

!

It was out of reverence for strength.

As for Feng Zhiqi, Zhao Fangzhou, Nan Lihuo and the others, it was even more so; each of them wore faces of agitation and awe.

Li Che gave a slight nod; for these acquaintances, he still showed a rather hearty joy.

The sorrowful emotions the crowd had shown earlier by the riverbank were clearly seen by Li Che; these people were truly caring for him, Li Che, and Xixi.

Li Che's gaze fell on Nan Lihuo; with a flick of his finger, a strand of pure, divine spirit instantly slithered into his body like a flood dragon, helping Nan Lihuo repair the shattered foundation caused by his injury, even smoothing the road ahead for him and enlightening his future cultivation path.

As for Feng Zhiqi, Zhao Fangzhou and the others, Li Che also gave them guidance.

Feng Zhiqi was even more shaken to the core; his powerful qi and blood boiled and surged, the space between his brows opened, and he actually triggered the Heavenly Gate, a torrent of divine nature surged and tilted, merging into his body, allowing Feng Zhiqi in a single move to ascend from just having stepped onto the Four-Open Martial Saint Apex to become a top‑tier apex that successfully opened the Heavenly Gate!

"Thank you, Elder Li!"

The crowd couldn't help but show ecstatic expressions on their faces, reverent and grateful.

Even Lü Qiankun received Li Che's guidance, his divinity surged, and he enlightened the breakthrough path of the Second Calamity Divine Tribulation realm.

After sharing his blessings evenly, Li Che's deep gaze turned back, looking toward the raging Nine Dragon River.

It was here that Xixi separated from him.

This is a place that Li Che cannot and will not forget.

Nine Heavens and Ten Earths…

He, Li Che, will eventually storm it!

After bidding farewell to everyone, Li Che clenched the Fēiléichéng chess piece with his five fingers, and his whole body vanished in an instant.

He directly traversed the endless mountains and rivers, appearing in Qian Yuan Dao City.

Within the mountain gate of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect.

Disciple City.

Zhang Ya sat quietly on the chair, her expression stunned, spacing out.

Li Qingshan, Mu Grandma, Jiao Shaoqiu and others gathered in the courtyard, looking at the dazed Zhang Ya, and for a moment they didn't know what to say.

The news of the great battle's outcome from Jinguangfu City had already been reported back.

A divine war broke out, the Qiuque gods' camp… actually deities intervened, and even the immortal deities were later involved.

However, the distinction between the so‑called immortal deities and ordinary deities was not clear to the crowd; all they knew was that Xixi had entered the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and Li Che, in order to obtain power, voluntarily accepted divine infection, being transformed into a deity, with life and death unknown.

But it is well known that deities cannot appear in the mortal world.

Even if Li Che did not die in the divine war, he still cannot return to the human world.

Unless Zhang Ya enters the Qiuque, but with Zhang Ya's cultivation, she cannot long‑stay or live there.

Unconsciously, she found herself separated from her husband and daughter by a heaven‑human gap.

Zhang Ya seemed as if her soul had been drained, her whole body numb, standing dumbfounded in place.

Mu Grandma sighed softly, Li Qingshan clenched his teeth, his eyes slightly reddened, yet he was helpless; now he could no longer keep up with Li Che's pace, even if he were an Underworld Cat‑Face, what could he do?

"Li Che hasn't died…"

Li Qingshan, after all, is an Underworld Cat‑Face; this is the only thing he can confirm.

After all, he still possesses the Underworld Divine Communication Mirror, through which he can learn that Li Che has not died.

However, not being dead, Li Che still cannot return to the human world.

The atmosphere in the courtyard grew somewhat somber.

Suddenly.

A gentle breeze brushed by, ting‑ting‑dang‑dang, as if wind chimes were swaying.

Everyone felt a terrifying pressure surge suddenly, then vanish without a trace, causing everyone's hearts to flutter.

Then their gazes hardened, all looking toward the center of the courtyard.

There, at an unknown time, stood a tall, slender figure, a black shirt embroidered with golden lotuses fluttering; although his face was veiled by divinity and celestial aura, everyone at a glance recognized that this person was Li Che!

"Wife, I'm back."

Li Che's gaze was gentle as he looked at the Zhang Ya who seemed as if she had lost her soul, feeling a pang of tenderness.

Zhang Ya had already leapt to her feet, her eyes instantly overflowing with tears; the next moment, like a fledgling swallow returning to its nest, she dashed forward, rushing into Li Che's arms.

Tears kept streaming, soaking her clothes; she buried her head in Li Che's embrace, her whole body trembling slightly.

"I thought… husband… you would never return…"

Zhang Ya wept sorrowfully.

Li Che gently massaged his wife's hair, the divine chant slowly spreading, releasing, soothing Zhang Ya's emotions.

In the courtyard.

Li Qingshan, Mu Grandma and others, upon seeing Li Che's return, felt the stone on their hearts lift instantly.

A few exchanged glances, said nothing, and turned away, leaving time for the couple.

Li Che soothed Zhang Ya for a while; Zhang Ya's eyes were bright red, and the couple sat upright under the eaves, a gentle breeze stirring the peach trees in the courtyard, lightly shaking the leaves.

Zhang Ya leaned on Li Che's shoulder, quietly listening to Li Che's description.

"Xixi followed the master to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, trained there; the master and Dog Lord are formidable, and the Third Prince is also an extremely powerful being. With their protection, Xixi is very safe."

"When our cultivation becomes strong enough, we will enter the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths to search for Xixi and reunite with her."

Li Che said softly, his tone very relaxed.

"Hmm, I trust you, husband."

Zhang Ya naturally also knew that entering the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths was far from easy, and she understood that Xixi's identity involved too many terrifying beings.

Those immortal deities were probably extremely difficult to contend with.

But Zhang Ya believed in Li Che.

She believed that the head of the household, Li Che, could lead the two of them out of Fēiléichéng, to witness the vast heavens and earth, the bustling mortal world; the husband's ability was beyond doubt.

Zhang Ya only blindly worships and submits.

She believes Li Che will give them a happy family, and she believes in her man.

Li Che accompanied Zhang Ya for three days; her emotions finally settled, recovering from the turmoil, she returned to cultivation, working harder than before.

Li Che also refined her physique and strengthened her soul, enabling Zhang Ya to walk steadily on both the martial and divine paths.

Time trickled by, and the days in the mortal world were calm and peaceful.

For Li Che now, few things can threaten his existence.

In the mortal realm, the will of heaven and earth provides utmost protection; with no supreme beings or deities manifest, it is extremely safe.

Although Li Che can now walk in the mortal world, he did not immediately go look for the Grand Supervisor, for seeking him would inevitably require stepping into the divine capital.

But once he goes to the divine capital, Li Che's purpose would not be as simple as merely meeting the Grand Supervisor…

He wants to settle accounts with the Emperor of Dàjǐng.

Thus, Li Che relaxed entirely and was not in a hurry.

Through the lightning chess piece he left on Xixi, he can lock onto and sense her safety.

He can confirm that Xixi is safe in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

If Xixi faces extreme mortal danger, it will even trigger the lightning chess piece to feedback, projecting an image onto the heaven‑earth chessboard, just like the alarm image when Qi Tian once faced danger.

Therefore, Li Che's mood is actually rather relaxed.

Xixi entering the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths is just like a trial; however, this trial has many more uncertain factors, which he cannot control or perceive.

But this is normal; Li Che is not invincible now, so naturally he cannot control everything.

Therefore, as long as Xixi is not in mortal danger, he is not in a hurry, but instead enters cultivation at a leisurely pace.

He intends to perfectly absorb all the gains from this battle.

Ink City Fengdu

Wind and thunder roll on.

A huge scroll unfurled, ink hues surging like an ink pool constantly shifting form; terrifying might burst forth, pressure spreading, and the pebbles on the ground trembled uneasily with a clattering sound.

After a long while, the scroll's ink pool paused, then a terrifyingly fierce qi swept across heaven and earth, plunging everything into dark oppression.

As if an unparalleled ferocious beast burst forth from the ink pool!

【Fourth Ferocity: Azurefall Magic Toad】

In the Ten Ferocities Ink‑Splatter Map, the ink pool swirled, with fierce qi rolling, merging with the Azurefall Magic Toad formed from the three‑transformed golden toad.

"Ribbit!"

The Azurefall Magic Toad let out a cry, heaven shocked and earth split, fierce qi surging like waves!

"Boom!"

Its enormous body crashed to the ground, dense demonic and fierce qi surging without cease, and it revealed an expression of immense delight.

The three‑transformed golden toad, now changed into an unparalleled ferocious beast, still retained a will like that of a bound deity; perhaps this is a benefit of divine spirit transformation.

"My bloodline is even stronger than that of the former Emperor Toad! Mainly because I have gained an immortal body, and… I can devour demon souls to strengthen myself!"

Li Che sat cross‑legged atop the Sovereign Tower, his black hair flying like lightning, and he glanced lightly at the transformed Azurefall Magic Toad.

The unparalleled ferocious beast transformed from a divine spirit not only inherited the spirit's power, but also made further progress.

This made Li Che naturally attach importance to the status of the Ten Ferocities Ink‑Splatter Map.

Within the Ten Ferocities Ink‑Splatter Map lies a unique ferocity essence; by merging the demon souls within, one can fuse with that essence to undergo a great transformation and gain bolstered ferocious qi power.

Previously, Li Che lacked sufficient cultivation and needed the Ten Ferocities Ink‑Splatter Map to boost his combat power, intending to gather all ten ferocities as soon as possible.

But now he has sensed the preciousness of the ten ferocity slots…

"Perhaps, from now on, the selection for the ten ferocity slots must be more careful—not just anyone… is qualified to become my ferocious beast."

Li Che gave a slight nod.

Perhaps only a demon beast with an immortal bloodline that occupies a ferocity slot can maximize the cost‑effectiveness of the Ten Ferocities Ink‑Splatter Map.

The previous Nine‑Infants of the Turbulent Sea, the Havoc of the Burning Void, the Mighty Various Embrace, etc., occupied the ferocity slots, but their foundations were too weak; although they could improve by devouring demon souls, their frail base also limited their ceiling.

Just like the Nine‑Infants of the Turbulent Sea, its future ceiling is absolutely inferior to that of the Azurefall Magic Toad…

Li Che gave a slight shake of his head, paying no heed to the Azurefall Magic Toad, now transformed into a ferocious beast, wildly excited and thrashing about.

Li Che's eyes flickered, as if streaks of light were interwoven.

【Dao Fruit: Chess Saint (lv7, 60%)】

The improvement of the Chess Saint Dao Fruit is obvious, because Li Che has mastered a special tempering method.

That is, cultivating with the aid of the will of heaven and earth.

From time to time he removes the fortune‑gold robes, letting the heaven‑earth chessboard directly face the cutting blade of heaven‑earth's will…

The blade hangs above, constantly risking a severing of the chessboard, causing the Chess Saint Dao Fruit's maturity to soar rapidly.

Li Che is very satisfied.

He looks forward to the Chess Saint achieving six transformations; at that time, perhaps he will no longer need to rely on the fortune‑gold robes, and will be able to walk the mortal world in a divine spirit's body.

Of course, this still requires time.

With a stir of mind and spirit, he began to sum up his own cultivation.

His current cultivation is in a very subtle state: he walks the Divine Martial path, having reached the supreme level, yet his divine nature is vast, not inferior to a deity, while his divine fire has not been lit, but he possesses a divine spirit's thought, belonging to a very special quasi‑divine spirit condition; even in the judgment of heaven‑earth's will, Li Che is already considered a deity.

"The path of the Martial Immortal: human immortal, profound immortal, heavenly immortal… among them, the profound immortal equals a deity, grasping the world's profundities, entering the sublime and exiting the mundane."

"Deities further divide into divine fire, merging the way, cutting the way, and nirvana; and profound immortals should also have specific divisions… but I have not yet entered the profound immortal level, and now, having severed the Martial Immortal path myself, I can no longer know."

"However, my Martial Immortal golden body still remains; perhaps there is a chance to reverse the divine way and return to the Martial Immortal path!"

"The special… of the Immaculate Mind Dao Fruit……"

Li Che sat cross‑legged at the peak of the Sovereign Tower, wild winds raged and howled, ink rain lashed wildly.

"Reversal..."

"Reversible, irreversible?"

Li Che's eyes gleamed, his heart pounded.

"The reason I became a divine spirit's body is because pure martial qi and blood was contaminated by divinity, turning into divine spirit qi and blood."

"But, my divinity all transformed into immaculate heart divinity, spotless and flawless."

"Can I gather and extract all the immaculate heart divinity from my qi and blood, so that the qi and blood returns to flawless pure martial qi and blood?"

"From the divine spirit form, reverse to become a martial immortal?"

Li Che drew a deep breath, this idea surged in his heart, growing uncontrollable.

He recalled the words of the Lord of the Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit.

In the next moment, Li Che said it and did it.

The flesh at his brow split left and right, instantly a pillar of light burst forth, shooting into the heavens; within the pillar, a heart throbbed.

Each beat sent out an explosive shockwave that spread in all directions.

Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart!

Li Che's divine spirit thoughts surged; instantly countless divine spirit thoughts intertwined and gathered into a lone boat.

Immaculate Heart Dao Vessel!

The Dao vessel shot up into the sky, winding around the Immaculate Heart as it began to encircle, splish‑splash, splish‑splash…

Slowly, a faint illusion of a long river appeared beneath the Immaculate Heart Dao vessel, winding around the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart!

Li Che's eyes suddenly burst into an endless white.

Reverse the divine spirit qi and blood throughout his body, separating and merging the divinity that had contaminated the qi and blood…

Li Che let out a long whistle.

His whole body shuddered violently; every inch of flesh and every cell trembled intensely, as if he had just endured millions of shocks!

Bang——!!!

Li Che opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood!

Countless drops of blood instantly vaporized into a blood mist.

And Li Che's flesh instantly withered away, becoming skin and bone!

Only his eyes shone with brilliant light!

Li Che slowly raised his skin‑and‑bone arms; the flesh hung limp, like it was draped over the bones.

He suddenly clapped his palms together.

On the sagging membrane, gradually…

Purple primordial dragon‑elephant flame‑immortal patterns began to intertwine and appear.

Points of golden light burst forth from beneath the membrane; those were the martial immortal's golden bones…

In recovery, in reflection they gleamed!

Around, the murky scarlet blood mist exploded and surged, as if scorched by intense heat, boiling and churning!

"The Dao vessel sails; break and then establish!"

"Following the way makes one a god; reversing makes one an immortal!"

"Come!"

(End of chapter)