Chapter 533: Celestial Craft Fuses Ancient Seals to Forge an Immortal Mech, the Great Sun Golden Crow

The Hunter God Assassin is the highest‑level killer that the Hunter God Hall can dispatch in the mortal world.

Each Hunter God Assassin is a cultivator of the Divine Calamity realm, and is by no means weak among mortals.

But within the mortal world's mysterious labyrinth, a mere Divine Calamity cultivator is insufficient; only a Disaster‑level Divine Calamity cultivator can act there.

However, killers of that caliber are indeed far too weak for Li Che now.

When Li Che transformed into a Water Calamity to block the assassin's blade, he silently launched a Flying Thunder chess piece that merged into the assassin's body.

Thus, after the assassin missed and fled, Li Che only needed to capture him directly through the Flying Thunder chess piece.

A powerful spiritual thought pierced the opponent's mind with overwhelming ferocity; after a single rotation, it revealed who had hired this Hunter God Hall assassin.

"So it was…"

"Emperor Dàjǐng…"

Li Che's expression was neither joyful nor sorrowful.

He was not particularly surprised that the employer was Emperor Dàjǐng.

However, with Su Da's assistance, Emperor Dàjǐng leveraged Dàjǐng's national destiny to strike Li Che within the labyrinth, only for Li Che to utterly shatter that national destiny…

With Dàjǐng's national destiny damaged, the emperor would inevitably suffer backlash.

He had not expected that, without having provoked the emperor, Dàjǐng would still dare to launch a proactive attack.

"Li Shiqing's talent, just born, has already drawn Emperor Dàjǐng's attention…"

From Li Che's palm, violet flames flickered outward; it was the Dao Calamity Fire, the primal Dragon‑Elephant blaze, possessing terrifying burning power.

It directly incinerated the Divine Calamity realm assassin's flesh into nothingness.

His gaze shifted, looking at Li Shiqing, whose watery eyes had opened at an unknown moment, watching Li Che grin.

Li Che's eyes softened considerably.

Sister‑in‑law Liu Chunming, perhaps startled by her daughter's awakening, hurriedly opened her eyes and saw Li Che's face veiled in a vague divinity, inscrutably deep.

"Ah? Young uncle… you…"

Liu Chunming was stunned, then narrowed her eyes.

She saw the last remnants of the Divine Calamity assassin, slowly turned to ash by the violet flames…

The faint aura leaking from that corpse nearly suffocated Liu Chunming.

She was not foolish—indeed very clever—and immediately understood what had happened.

Her complexion instantly turned extremely pale…

Someone intends to kill Li Shiqing!

Because of Li Che's blessing and naming, perhaps?!

Of course, it might also be that Li Shiqing's extraordinary demonic talent worries the Li clan about another terrifying presence!

One Li Che, one Li Nuanxi; if the Li family produces another peerless monster, this world might become the Li family's domain!

"Don't worry, it's nothing—just a few little cockroaches, kill them."

Li Che said lightly.

He then walked to the cradle and teased the little girl for a while.

It provoked the little girl's giggling laughter, truly reminiscent of Xixi's childhood.

Afterward, Li Che bid farewell to Liu Chunming and broke through the void to depart.

Liu Chunming's whole body relaxed, her back already damp, a wave of dread washing over her.

It's terrifying; without Li Che's protection, Li Shiqing… might have died unknowingly!

Who?

Who wants to kill Li Shiqing?!

The newborn little girl holds no grudges against anyone.

However, Liu Chunming quickly composed herself, gently rocking the cradle; the Li family's stature rises ever higher—bringing both advantages and disadvantages, gaining fame and status while also inviting accompanying dangers, fortune and disaster always intertwined.

As a mother, her worry for her daughter stems from instinct.

Her body trembled slightly as she looked toward Li Zhengran and the others who rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

Liu Chunming bit her lip, intending to ask whether they could move into the Divine Patriarch Sect Gate, or even into the Disciple City to reside.

As for the honor and reverence felt while living in the Li residence of Qianyuan Dao City…

In front of her daughter's safety, it is not worth mentioning.

Inside the Divine Patriarch Sect Gate, it would be somewhat safer.

Liu Chunming felt an urgent, overwhelming anxiety; unable to wait for answers, she immediately began packing, called her eldest son Li Chengzhou, and hurried to the Divine Patriarch Sect.

…

…

After Li Che rescued Li Shiqing from an assassination attempt, he returned to his own courtyard.

Zhang Ya was still sweating profusely, diligently cultivating martial arts, unaware of what had transpired.

Li Che sat in the study, picking up a piece of ordinary wood—the most commonplace timber.

Using a regular iron carving knife, Li Che contemplated while carving the wood.

Wood shavings fluttered down onto the table, and gradually, vivid shapes leapt forth from the wood.

Now Li Che's woodcarving skill has reached the Half‑Immortal level.

Above the Divine Eagle Holy Hand lies the Half‑Immortal.

Beyond the Half‑Immortal, the world becomes unclear; however, Li Che consulted Su Da, who, as a former slash‑path divine spirit that roamed the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, has broad insight.

Above the Divine Eagle Half‑Immortal is the Immortal rank.

Regardless of alchemist, talisman master, or any other profession, beyond the Half‑Immortal realm lies the Immortal tier.

It is a highly prestigious tier; even in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, any immortal position is enough to become a guest of honor for a faction, a target coveted by the major powers.

To attain an immortal position, one not only needs the recognition and certification of the will of Heaven and Earth, but also must fully master a Great Dao!

Traveling and comprehending profoundly upon the Great Dao River!

Li Che is now only a slight distance from the Divine Eagle Immortal Position, but the gap is not large.

The rustling sound, faint yet echoing, Li Che enjoys this quiet feeling, as if his soul itself returns to tranquility.

While carving, Li Che also ponders.

On the Path of Divinity, he is now only a quasi‑god; though aided by a Dao Boat, he can roam the Great Dao River, capture Great Dao Divine Patterns, and comprehend the divine patterns.

However, according to the Divine Spirit Path, since he has not yet ignited the Divine Fire, he is not considered a god nor a divine spirit.

He has not yet set foot in the Divine Fire Realm.

Although Li Che's combat power is extraordinary, without the Divine Fire he can never be a divine spirit…

"I need to maintain the balance between the Divine Dao and the Martial Dao; my Martial Immortal Path… has now engraved three Great Dao Immortal Patterns, my mortal body has birthed profound intent, capable of transforming wind, fire, water, and calamity..."

"In other words, if I wish, I could step into the Mysterious Immortal Realm… but on the Divine Dao I am still lacking, unable to act at will."

"Therefore, I should use Great Dao Divine Patterns to forge a Great Dao Divine Platform, preparing to ignite the Divine Fire."

Li Che's fingers move deftly, the carving knife dancing and flipping at his fingertips.

The shredded wood shavings flutter and swirl.

Forging a Divine Platform is not difficult for Li Che; its creation relies on Great Dao Divine Patterns, but Li Che's divinity is so massive that the resulting platform must be extremely resilient.

Thus the required number of Great Dao Divine Patterns is not a small amount.

"Pulling from the Great Dao River is..."

Li Che, however, has a consideration in mind.

"Hoo—"

Li Che blows a strong breath at the carved wooden figure.

In an instant, the wood shavings on the carving flutter up, stirring dust, falling like fragrant incense smoke.

Within the carving appears a vivid likeness of Xixi.

She seems to blink, then leaps out of Li Che's palm, springing onto the desk and humming while performing a set of punches.

Li Che's eyes look gently at the carved Xixi.

"I wonder how Xixi is doing in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths..."

Li Che takes a deep breath.

His spirit stirs.

Divine spirit thoughts rise and fall, appearing within the Heaven‑and‑Earth Chessboard.

Interlaced lines burst outward; the Heaven‑and‑Earth Chessboard net spreads before his eyes.

Li Che walks within it as if strolling across the starry sky, like a divine spirit surveying the cosmos, supreme.

With a flick of his finger, a chess piece emitting a faint white glow, like a star, floats upward.

It is the Flying Thunder Chess Piece Li Che left on Xixi.

Li Che's spirit circulates; within his chest the Chess Saint Dao Fruit beats violently, driving its power, attempting to view Xixi's current state through the Flying Thunder Chess Piece.

Buzz—

A pale white radiance shoots upward from the Heaven‑and‑Earth Chessboard, its hazy glow weaving a very blurry image.

In the image, a vague human silhouette appears, seemingly a little girl, as if fighting someone, with interlaced streaks of light and surging aura…

Even though the image is very fuzzy, Li Che instantly recognizes the fighting little girl as the nine‑year‑old Xixi.

"That little girl… even in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths she won't be docile."

Li Che gives a wry smile and shakes his head.

The image is too blurry.

The will of Heaven and Earth in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths isolates with extremely strong power.

Li Che's Chess Saint Dao Fruit is only at the fifth metamorphosis, its rank insufficient to bridge realms and reflect Xixi's situation.

Primarily, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths and the mortal world are separated by an immense distance, with terrifying forces blocking the way.

Moreover, within the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, after the battle at the Three Princes' Guiyi Miao, the three immortal beings whose willful avatars were severed likely still have lingering thoughts.

Thus the Chess Saint Dao Fruit finds it extremely difficult to view the image through Xixi's Flying Thunder Chess Piece.

In fact, Li Che once even wondered whether, by shifting the Flying Thunder Chess Piece, he could

but once that thought arose, Li Che abandoned it.

Because a great terror surged in his heart, it could be…

However, if he chooses to leap, his flesh, his body would likely be torn apart and shattered by the spatiotemporal forces of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the mortal realm's strange fissures, and the human world, vanishing completely.

"In the end, the Dao Fruit's maturity is still insufficient..."

Li Che exhales.

The Chess Saint Dao Fruit is still at lv7; Li Che must find a way to raise it to the lv8 rank.

His spirit stirs and he exits the Heaven‑and‑Earth Chessboard.

In the study, Li Che quietly watches the wooden Xixi punching with vigor.

After a long while, he stands, stretches lazily, and his whole body's tendons and bones creak in unison.

He leaves the room and gives the wooden carving to Zhang Ya.

Zhang Ya, drenched in sweat, upon seeing Li Che's carved Xixi, tears immediately well up in her eyes; a mother's longing for her daughter can no longer be restrained.

"Madam, rest assured, you'll be able to see Xixi soon."

Li Che gently rubs Zhang Ya's head with affection.

Afterward, after bidding farewell to Zhang Ya, Li Che appeared in the midst of Mo City Fengdu.

The divinity suddenly contracted, and Qi and blood surged out of his whole body.

His jet‑black, sturdy hair swayed and turned to a gilded hue, and in his eyes burst brilliant electric light, flickering and intertwining.

His five fingers pierced the void like divine spears, and Li Che began to practice martial arts right within Mo City.

The great dragon on his back roared, his sinews and bones trembled in unison, sounding like a thunderclap that rang throughout!

Then, golden Qi‑blood vortices began to swirl one after another!

He started a horizontal thrust, practicing to unleash a divine‑seed martial art!

A single punch thrust horizontally, the furnace stretched across, and as it tipped, flames burned the heavens.

His palm spread wide and struck down fiercely, like a brilliant gilded qilin leaping up, trampling the void.

In a bow‑drawn stance, Qi‑blood surged from his back, like a celestial phoenix spreading wings, phoenix feathers soaring to the nine heavens, arrows bursting forth, embodying life, decay, wither, and glory!

the Myriad‑Transformation Dragon‑Elephant Furnace, Qilin Stabilizing Void Seal, Weeping‑Blood Celestial Phoenix Wither‑Glory Arrow…

One by one, the profound and powerful divine‑seed martial arts were all displayed by Li Che.

The powerful life aura kept erupting, surging wildly; this is Li Che's means of channeling numerous divine‑seed martial arts originally from the Eight Strange Gates divine seeds.

It is the martial art Li Che intends to forge as his own technique, the Eight Nine Profound Skill!

The Eight Nine Profound Skill is a sect Li Che created based on his own path of martial immortal, formed from the Eight Strange Gates divine seeds combined with the primordial Nine Calamities; after their fusion, it became a pinnacle martial path.

Boom—!!!

A resonant dragon's roar exploded, Li Che's whole body surged with Qi‑blood, boiling and intertwining, countless thunders burst forth, dark‑golden lightning, like a divine blade cleaving the void!

Seventh Gate Divine‑Seed Martial Art!

Primordial Dragon Slaughter Technique!

This is the Primordial Dragon Slaughter Technique learned from the Young Dragon Emperor, a top‑grade killing art passed down in the immortal first‑generation bloodline memory of the Young Dragon Emperor!

It has now been transformed into Li Che's Seventh Gate Divine‑Seed Martial Art!

And besides that…

Li Che also possesses an Eighth Gate Divine‑Seed!

It is also a technique he has just mastered!

Buzz—!!!

Li Che's toes touched down, and his whole form seemed to rise into the air, emitting an unprecedented, vast pressure, rolling outward as if he had become the will of heaven and earth!

With a clenched fist of five fingers, an ancient rune instantly appeared in his palm, and as the rune pulsed, the void itself cracked!

Countless Qi‑blood burst forth, golden Qi‑blood cascading like an inverted waterfall, then in mid‑air it coalesced into the shape of a golden chopping blade…

Upon the chopping blade, another ancient rune was pulsating!

This is Li Che's simulated Heaven's Intent Chopping Blade, a supreme celestial martial art forged by refining the ancient rune on the blade!

It ranks on the same level as the secret combat‑victory technique inherited from Qi Tian!

Buzz—!!!

This is Li Che's Eighth Gate Divine‑Seed Martial Art!

With a long howl, his golden hair inverted, the great dragon on Li Che's back roared, he howled to the nine heavens, the eighth Qi‑blood vortex swirled, vast as an abyss!

Then the golden chopping blade suspended in the firmament streamed countless mysterious currents, gradually drawing into and merging with the eighth Qi‑blood vortex!

Boom—boom—boom—

The Qi‑blood on Li Che's body surged even more, like a breached river bursting forth, continuously erupting outward!

Heaven and Earth Nine Talisman Blade!

The final Divine‑Seed Martial Art!

The force kept surging, the three Great Dao celestial patterns on Li Che's body clanged and intertwined, like exquisitely flamboyant motifs covering his entire flesh.

It resembled strands of orderly divine chains sealing him, rattling loudly, emitting clanging sounds, weaving brilliant strands of light, as if the Great Dao had taken a tangible form!

Li Che felt an unprecedented strength within himself!

Now his explosive power, relying solely on his martial immortal body, can trigger eight Odd Gate divine seeds and simultaneously unleash martial arts; such force could easily slay a deity just entering the Divine Fire Realm!

Even against a late‑stage Divine Fire Realm deity such as the Triple‑Transform Golden Toad, Li Che is confident that with his great power, he can push through and kill in a single strike!

Li Che floated in the air, his whole body glittering with golden light, the Great Dao celestial patterns interwoven, dreamlike and ethereal.

After a long while, his aura finally began to settle into calm.

He has been refining the Heaven and Earth Nine Talisman Blade during this period.

Training martial arts, refining spirit, and tempering Dao tribulations—this has been Li Che's arduous daily practice during this tranquil time, spending vast amounts of time each day on cultivation.

Li Che also understands that to protect his daughter, to safeguard his wife and children, and to shoulder his own family, he must become sufficiently strong.

If in his previous life he lived in a money‑driven society, he would have simply scrambled to earn wealth!

But in this world that reveres strength, only by enlarging oneself can one survive.

"Regrettably… the Heaven and Earth Nine Talisman Blade, I have only managed to inscribe one ancient rune so far, and lack the power to carve the others; otherwise this stolen‑from‑Heaven‑and‑Earth celestial martial art would be even more potent."

"This is the 【Heaven and Earth Ancient Talisman】; it is profoundly mysterious, and its difficulty is obvious."

Li Che closed his eyes, and the next moment opened them.

The temporal‑spatial golden wheel turned behind him, its clanging resonating endlessly, as if the power of time and space were reflected.

Suddenly, above Mo City Fengdu, time rewound.

It reflected the Heaven's Intent Chopping Blade igniting nine ancient runes, easily slashing the scene when the boss's bronze pot exploded.

The nine ancient runes on it each flickered into view, streaming and intertwining with immortal brilliance, dazzling to the extreme, as if pressing down an entire galaxy of stars!

Although only nine ancient runes, they are filled with intricate and complex meanings and transformations…

Ten million variations, from simple to complex and back, as if all the Great Dao's principles were compressed within the nine ancient runes.

Li Che's heart suddenly rang with a resonant clang, and his eyes abruptly glittered with brilliance.

He twitched his five fingers, and endless sword qi burst from between his palm and fingers, then sliced through the air.

The sliced airflow left behind nine ancient divine seals!

The seals rotated, exactly the Mechanism Nine Divine Seal that Li Che had once cultivated!

In the Dàjǐng court, based on the Mechanism Seal taught by the Tang Mechanism Clan, the Mechanism Nine Divine Seal was derived through the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit!

Li Che wondered whether the two share the same origin!

His thoughts trembled; Li Che's eyes burst with radiant light as he began to try to extract the ancient talisman condensed on the Heaven-Earth Nine Talisman Blade.

Attempting to fuse it with the divine seal within the Mechanism Nine Divine Seal…

Fusion failed time after time!

Suddenly—

With a booming sound!

The whole world seemed to tremble!

"Hmm? There's a reaction!"

Li Che's eyes lit up.

"It turned out to have fused with the Dou-character Mechanism Divine Seal!"

In his chest.

The long‑absent Immortal Craft Dao Fruit suddenly throbbed violently at this moment…

As the ancient talisman slowly merged with the Mechanism Divine Seal, the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit seemed to ingest the power of Heaven and Earth, pulsing wildly! Before his eyes, its maturity rose at a visibly rapid pace!

After the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit reached lv7, gaining further maturity became extremely difficult and slow; even though Li Che still carved a Divine Eagle daily, the feedback was negligible.

However, unexpectedly, Li Che had a sudden inspiration that gave the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit a massive boost!

"Can the Mechanism Nine Divine Seal perfectly match the Heaven‑Earth Nine Talisman…?!"

Li Che took a deep breath.

Feeling the ancient Heaven‑Earth talisman and the Mechanism Nine Divine Seal fuse, the Dou-character element slowly took shape!

A ripple of spirit.

Li Che snapped his finger.

Instantly, a streak of light burst forth!

In an instant, the colossal, mountain‑like Arm‑Extending Sky‑Equal Armor materialized!

The Arm‑Extending Sky‑Equal Armor is the secret Tang Sanjia has long hidden, a divine‑realm Mechanism Beast forged by the Tang clan after exhausting all research!

It possesses combat power of the Divine Tribulation Realm…

But that's all.

For Li Che, the aid is modest, since a usual One Disaster Divine Tribulation can be easily wiped out by him.

Thus, this Mechanism Armor became a chicken‑rib.

!

Even if Li Che replaced all the Mechanism Seals on the Mechanism Armor with Mechanism Nine Divine Seals, the improvement is barely noticeable, roughly reaching the peak of One Disaster Three Tribulations.

"But if I fuse the newly formed Dou-character element, created by merging with the ancient Heaven‑Earth talisman, with the Mechanism Armor…"

"perhaps it could grant the Mechanism Armor an unprecedented upgrade, comparable to a deity!"

"Because the ancient Heaven‑Earth talisman embodies the Dao of Heaven‑Earth's will…"

Li Che felt the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit in his chest humming brilliantly, his heart surging!

His eyes gradually burst with radiant light.

This idea seemed to have received the Dao Fruit's approval!

Feasible!

And moreover, an even more audacious notion formed in Li Che's mind.

"If… if I condense all the ancient Heaven‑Earth talismans and fuse them onto this Arm‑Extending Sky‑Equal Armor, could its power…"

"match the immortal?!"

"Immortal Mech!"

Li Che's eyes shone to the extreme, igniting an unprecedentedly fierce resolve for this idea!

Buzz—

Within his chest.

The Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, due to the birth and fusion of the Dou-character element, is slowly increasing in maturity.

Li Che's mood instantly brightened.

Even though his Divine Eagle skill has reached a half‑immortal level, the Dao Fruit's maturity is stuck at a bottleneck.

Now, he has found a new path for advancement—a stroke of luck.

"Immortal Craft… Celestial Craft… perhaps they are manifestations of Heaven‑Earth's will."

Li Che's eyes glittered, as if a hint of enlightenment arrived at this moment.

Li Che's spirit stirred slightly, countless ink splatters burst forth, instantly forming a painted celestial avatar that began improving and studying the Dou-character element on the Arm‑Extending Sky‑Equal Armor.

Meanwhile, Li Che also began diligently researching and condensing the second ancient talisman.

Li Che suddenly became busy.

In order to enter the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths and possess sufficient strength, Li Che had to strive to improve himself.

Increase his own trump card!

Fortunately, Li Che's trump cards, even beyond immortality, are more numerous than one could imagine.

Every Dao Fruit can become Li Che's trump card!

Time slips away drop by drop.

Mo City Feng Du.

Ink rain howls and pours down, crackling as it strikes the roofs of Mo City's buildings, erupting a hazy spray of water!

Li Che sits cross‑legged atop the Dominator Tower.

On his back, three golden Qi‑blood vortices swirl, and within them a weighty current is born, as if a single wisp of breath were as heavy as ten thousand catty.

This is… immortal aura!

In the Original Dragon‑Elephant Tribulation, Li Che fused the Myriad‑Change Dragon‑Elephant Furnace Immortal‑Seed martial art and extracted a strand of immortal aura from the Qimen Immortal Seed!

Now, the Original Sky‑Cutter Fury merged with the Thousand‑Mountains Solo Sky‑Cutter Blade, yielding a second strand of immortal aura from the Qimen Immortal Seed!

Furthermore, the Original Water Tribulation, which unites the Shattered Southern Sky, Inverted Immortal Furnace, and Step‑Soaring‑Sky arts into the Heaven‑Equal Step‑Soaring‑Sky Immortal‑Seed martial art, extracted a third strand of immortal aura!

Buzz—

Three strands of immortal aura—purple, cyan, and deep blue—resonate with the three celestial patterns on his flesh, generating an immense vibration.

Each strand of immortal aura contains terrifyingly lethal power!

Li Che opens his eyes as the three ethereal currents behind him swirl wildly.

He rises and takes a step forward.

His spirit flickers.

At his feet, blazing golden‑colored solar true fire erupts instantly!

The Golden Crow lets out an extremely resonant, long cry!

As if it were tearing the heavens!

The Dao Fruit Great Sun Golden Crow Carriage materializes; Li Che sits upright within the carriage, a terrifying pressure roaring and rolling, causing a floating, sinking tremor.

"Now… the Original Nine Tribulations, I have only mastered seven; two remain ungrasped… because the Dao Fruit has not yet transformed."

Li Che sits upright within, his eyes deepening and shifting.

"The tenth Dao Fruit, the Great Sun Golden Crow Carriage… seems to follow the path of the Original Fire Tribulation, though it differs slightly from the Original Dragon‑Elephant Flame."

Li Che's gaze flickers, as if he has attained insight.

Heaven and Earth cycle, Yin and Yang rotate…

Does the Dao Fruit also undergo such cycles and rotations?

Nine is the ultimate number; achieving a single rotation?

For each year Xixi ages, I can obtain a Dao Fruit, but after the Dao Fruit reaches five transformations, it generally cannot escape the Original Nine Tribulations; it belongs to one of those tribulations…

Then, through the Dao Fruit's transformations, continuously strengthening the power of the Original Nine Tribulations?!

Is that so?

Li Che's eyes narrow slightly, deep in thought.

It is merely his conjecture, but it is likely correct.

Of course, to verify this hypothesis, we only need to wait until the Great Sun Golden Crow Carriage reaches five transformations, then the truth will be revealed.

The Great Sun Golden Crow Carriage Dao Fruit indeed gave Li Che a strong impact.

It also confirms the speculation about the myriad forms of Dao Fruit, but the greatest strength of the Great Sun Golden Crow Carriage lies in its amplification of oppressive pressure…

Though called a carriage, it is actually a manifestation of majesty.

Li Che finds it rather practical.

Seated upon the golden carriage, the Golden Crow pulls the vehicle, blazing radiance erupts, a ten‑zhang Golden Crow spreads its wings, dazzling to the extreme!

Within it, Li Che seems enveloped by an unparalleled aura of majesty.

Finally, there is a…

true majesty belonging to the master of Dao Fruit.

"The Immortal‑Craft Dao Fruit is slowly transforming, and the Space‑Time Golden Wheel Dao Fruit is also refining the immortal artifact Lotus Lamp as it transforms…"

"Chess Saint Dao Fruit, Painting Immortal Dao Fruit, as well as Thunder‑Magnetic Track Body and Ten‑Thousand‑Demon Emperor Dao Fruit… these Dao Fruits are all at five transformations; how can I achieve a sixth transformation… I have no clue."

Li Che sits upright in the carriage; his heart stirs, and in an instant he breaks through the void, leaving Mo City.

Reappearing, he is already above Qian Yuan Dao City.

Heaven‑Earth chessboard rotates, obscuring the Great Sun Golden Crow Carriage so that no one can perceive it.

The Golden Crow spreads its wings, pulling the golden carriage, streaming countless radiances toward the vast sun of the firmament, devouring the solar essence emitted by the sun's eruption.

That Gluttonous Beast Sun‑Swallowing Cauldron is rapidly ingesting solar essence, refining solar true fire!

This solar true fire can be summoned by Li Che at any time; it is a rare celestial fire, scorching and yang, exceedingly domineering!

Terrifying pressure, accompanied by the Golden Crow's wing spread, releases and expands.

Even the void seems to warp.

Li Che slowly rises from the golden carriage as the Gluttonous Beast Sun‑Swallowing Cauldron trembles.

"My cultivation has not advanced significantly for now; I should proceed with the reckoning."

"After many days of silence, you truly thought Li Che was a sick cat…"

Li Che gives a faint smile.

He spreads his five fingers, lightly tapping the Gluttonous Beast Sun‑Swallowing Cauldron; instantly solar true fire roars and surges.

The Golden Crow spreads its wings, extending ten zhàng!

Feathers formed entirely of radiant flame unfurl and soar, like fireworks scattering!

The Golden Crow cries long, as if a bell shatters clouds, pulling the carriage; light wheels turn, rumbling repeatedly, racing toward the distance!

Rumble—

Li Che sat upright in the golden carriage, his figure radiant, the carriage sped forward, dragging a long river of flowing fire behind, its trail streaking across the sky.

After leaving Qianyuan Dao City, Li Che dispelled the concealment of the Heaven‑and‑Earth chessboard.

In an instant, overwhelming pressure burst forth, mountains and rivers trembled, and wherever it passed, the rivers, lakes and peaks were bathed in blazing golden light; the rocks and vegetation withered in an instant upon contact, then regained vitality, erupting in rebirth!

Above the Grand Canal, the water hissed and boiled, and the demonic beasts within the river instantly became panicked and terrified!

The speed of the Great Sun Golden Crow carriage is too fast!

It resembles flames and clouds streaking across the sky.

Many cultivators in the cities only feel oppressive pressure bearing down, their divinity stagnating.

Even a Saint of War cannot even mobilize Qi and blood, and they raise their heads in extreme terror.

Then they saw that the sky actually held two massive suns!

One massive sun rolls forward, as if a celestial anomaly!

"What... is this?!"

A supreme Saint of War from Qianyuan Dao City murmurs.

In the next moment, his whole body erupts with Qi and blood, trying to burst outward, to soar across the sky, chase this great sun, and behold its true form!

However…

It's simply impossible!

He cannot even soar through the terrifying pressure that hangs from the heavens!

"Who on earth is it?"

"Who on earth is it!"

Not only this Saint of War; many strong ones who sensed the anomaly and rushed out also have blood‑red eyes!

"That direction... seems to be Shendu!"

"This great sun is heading to Shendu?!"

…

…

Shendu.

Second City.

Octagonal, double‑eaved, dripping‑water Qintian Treasure Tower!

Fang Shangzhen and Yue Taofu, the two deputy supervisors of the Qintian Overseers, stood at the railing on the ninth floor.

On the roof, the black tiles trembled, and the jeweled orb guarded by an octagonal carved flying dragon was bursting with dazzling brilliance…

Fang Shangzhen's loose robe fluttered, she squinted, staring at the orb on the roof, her delicate body trembling slightly.

Yue Taofu's expression turned extremely horrified.

"It seems a great threat is approaching!"

The two exchanged a glance and rushed toward the great hall on the ninth floor.

Inside the hall, there was a universe within, vast beyond measure.

Grand Supervisor sat upright on the back of the Mysterious Turtle, his whole being enveloped by a hazy, cascading force…

The last time he intervened for Li Che, borrowing Heaven‑and‑Earth power to battle divine spirits, Grand Supervisor also bore a great burden, as if he had suffered the backlash of the will of Heaven and Earth…

However, this backlash had little effect on Grand Supervisor, and now it has been mostly resolved.

Suddenly.

Grand Supervisor slowly opened his eyes, his gaze deep and complex.

"Finally... it has come."

The Mysterious Turtle seemed to share a tacit understanding with Grand Supervisor and began to pace.

Carrying Grand Supervisor, it headed away from the Treasure Tower.

Fang Shangzhen and Yue Taofu, seeing this, immediately performed a bow.

"Grand Supervisor..."

Yue Taofu opened his mouth, intending to report the anomaly of the dragon pearl.

But Grand Supervisor waved his hand…

"What is destined to come will inevitably arrive…"

"Let's go, to greet this current... strongest mortal."

…

…

Shendu, First City.

Imperial Tomb!

Emperor Dàjǐng sits cross‑legged within the Imperial Tomb.

At this moment, the divinity on his face began to warp, as if about to disperse.

His hair, once a mass of jet‑black strands, turned a pallid hue, as if he had become a withered old man…

In the Third Prince's Guiyi Miao, he leveraged Dàjǐng's national fortune, and after Li Che shattered that fortune, the backlash he suffered was exceedingly severe.

"Cough cough cough…"

Emperor Dàjǐng's breath is weak, as if on the brink of death.

Within the Imperial Tomb now,

there are not only the emperor, but also two figures.

One is the Crown Prince Lu Yousheng, and the other is the Fourth Prince, Lu Chi.

Lü Yousheng looked old and feeble, his eyes dull, his hands hung at his waist, a precious sword hung at his waist, his fingers lightly stroking it.

Lü Yousheng had little interest in entering the imperial mausoleum, for he knew he most likely... had no affinity for the crown prince's position.

Lu Chi, however, seemed somewhat troubled; the events that occurred in Gold Light Prefecture City were also transmitted to Shendu.

Xixi...

Upon entering the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, Uncle Li... severed his Martial Immortal path, transformed into a Divine Spirit, and thereafter could no longer set foot in the human world.

Lu Chi felt deeply uneasy.

Suddenly.

The emperor, who had been sitting withered in the imperial mausoleum, suddenly opened his eyes; beneath his dim, divine eyes, his pupils instantly filled with bloodshot lines.

He abruptly rose to his feet.

His Mysterious Yellow Robe billowed as he stepped out of the imperial mausoleum step by step, standing atop the mountain peak.

He raised his head proudly.

He looked up in disbelief at the sky; the vast, surging Pouring Flow Clouds exploded with a boom, shattering into pieces.

A Vast Sun slowly descended from the Pouring Flow Clouds.

The Vast Sun's radiance slowly faded.

Slowly...

Revealed was a Golden Crow forged from blazing golden flames, the Golden Crow entwined with Order Chains, pulling a Golden Chariot.

Upon that chariot sat a figure whose visage was likewise entwined with divinity.

"Li Che!"

The Dàjǐng Emperor gritted his teeth.

Suddenly.

The figure within the Golden Chariot.

He slowly lowered his gaze.

"To behold this god."

"Why haven't you knelt yet!"

Majestic words emanated from the chariot, like the ringing of a divine bell and chime!

Terrifying pressure...

It received tenfold expansion and empowerment!

Instantly, like a ten-thousand-zhang waterfall plunging straight down, it slammed heavily onto the emperor's body.

The divine mist that had veiled the emperor's face instantly burst, unable to hold, revealing a pale, furious countenance.

"Ah——!!!"

The emperor let out a low roar!

However, facing the pressure head-on, he could not resist; his knees instantly lost strength, and with a soft "thud"...

He knelt hard upon the ground.

(End of chapter)