Chapter 539: As a father, I must strive to gather a dowry for Xixi, even if it means letting down the world

Hummm—

In the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, light flowed and shifted; that was the light projected from the Kunlun Mirror, shining upon the Flying Thunder Chess Piece, making this chess piece's projected image at this moment become exceptionally clear.

Li Che's eyes involuntarily brightened, his breathing quickened.

That was the Flying Thunder Chess Piece hidden on Xixi's person, linking the two; one could observe Xixi's situation through the Flying Thunder Chess Piece on her.

However, as Xixi entered the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, spatial isolation obstructed; even the Flying Thunder Chess Piece could not give Li Che a clear display of Xixi's condition, as if a thick fog obscured it.

But now, after refining the Kunlun Mirror completely, the Flying Thunder Chess Piece's projected image became as clear as parting clouds to see the blue sky, exceptionally high-definition.

Li Che's feelings surged; he had not seen Xixi for some days, and now perhaps he finally had a chance to see her.

As if a scroll slowly unfurled, an image appeared projected upon the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

In the image, Xixi's face appeared.

The little girl was nine years old, yet still had a chubby, baby-fat face, fair and delicate, with lively large eyes full of a hint of brilliance.

Two sky‑reaching braids shot straight up, her lips red and teeth white.

Just looking at the girl's appearance, Li Che involuntarily relaxed his whole body, slowly exhaling a breath.

His mind stirred slightly; he temporarily withdrew from the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

Then he found Zhang Ya in a corner of the Cloud Heaven Hall, closed‑door cultivating; Zhang Ya was diligently refining the Heavenly River Ruyi Hairpin and the Pure Water Bowl, constantly tempering the divine power within to empower herself.

The two Three Pure Rank Divine Weapons were hard for Zhang Ya to refine, but after her body was tempered by Li Che's Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit, she gained the ability and foundation to refine them.

"Ah? Husband… what's wrong?"

Zhang Ya looked puzzled at Li Che, whose face still bore excitement.

"Come, wife, let me show you something good." Li Che excitedly took Zhang Ya's hand.

Then, with a thought, the Heaven and Earth Chessboard suddenly dropped and expanded, stars dotting it; the Kunlun Mirror hung within, projecting ultimate brilliant light, revealing Xixi's likeness.

Li Che also knew that his wife Zhang Ya missed their daughter even more, so he did not eat alone.

Upon learning that the Kunlun Mirror could show Xixi's live image, Li Che immediately brought his wife to watch together.

Zhang Ya's eyes widened slightly in surprise as she looked at Li Che, then turned her head back, staring unblinkingly at the image.

"It's Xixi… it's Xixi, husband!"

Unstoppable longing surged like a tide.

"I don't know if Xixi is faring well abroad, eating well, or if her cultivation is arduous…"

Zhang Ya pressed her lips, murmuring softly.

Li Che rubbed his wife's head, and the image unfolded.

He did not know what situation the image would show of Xixi, but Li Che only wanted to share his daughter's condition with his wife at this moment.

A child travels a thousand miles, the mother worries; for us parents, merely being able to see our child's state already brings great joy.

"Husband, will we be able to see Xixi's condition from now on?"

Zhang Ya asked.

Li Che thought, then without hesitation nodded.

Because the Chess Saint Dao Fruit's refinement of the Kunlun Mirror is about to finish; once done, it will basically clear the murky obstruction between the two realms, allowing us to see Xixi's situation.

The couple fell silent.

Gazing at the image projected upon the chessboard.

In the image, Xixi was entwined with Chaos Heaven Silk, bearing a Purple Flame Serpent Spear with Fire Tip, standing upon a colossal white jade arena; the arena was shrouded in faint divine aura, and around its edge rose immense divine light curtains that sealed it off.

Outside the arena, vast and boundless, countless figures gathered, cheering and shouting, each clutching a jade tablet, eyes blood‑red, intensely excited.

Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing that something was amiss.

Yet on the arena, a corner of the light curtain was torn open.

Instantly a figure slowly ascended the arena—a burly, muscular form brimming with explosive power, his mighty aura rising and falling, lightning constantly intertwining and striking, divine tribulation aura fluctuating, disaster tribulation wheel rumbling and turning.

This was a Martial God Realm cultivator; after stepping onto the arena, the surrounding cheers erupted violently.

Then he clashed with Xixi on the arena, fighting fiercely.

The opponent was not weak; Xixi's battle with him was rather perilous.

Yet in the end Xixi prevailed, spearing the opponent through and pinning him to the ground; Xixi's little feet stepped on his head, and excitedly she twitched her nose, gaining a hint of roguishness.

After the victory.

Upon the arena, a mighty aura burst forth—a true deity descended, divine fire blazing behind; he took out a jade box and handed it to Xixi.

Inside the jade box were filled with Dao Essence Divine Crystals.

Xixi's eyes brightened; she laughed as she accepted it, taking out a Dao Essence Divine Crystal, within which two leaves unfurled silently; seeing her radiant smile, she even bit it with her teeth to confirm its quality.

Hummm—

The image began to faintly undulate.

And as Xixi, clutching a Dao Essence Divine Crystal, was foolishly grinning, her face suddenly froze slightly.

Her eyes suddenly reddened, her eye sockets turning deep red.

She began to circle the arena, her gaze searching everywhere.

"Father… Mother… is that you?"

She seemed to sense a familiar gaze.

Hummm—

The Kunlun Mirror's projected image could no longer be sustained; it exploded apart, turning into countless specks of starlight.

The entire Cloud Heaven Hall fell into silence.

Zhang Ya leaned into Li Che's embrace, covering her mouth; tears dripped from her eyes, fell, and shattered.

In the final image, Xixi's eyes reddened; as if across the myriad worlds, billions of miles of mountains and rivers felt the parents' gaze, the scene like a divine spear piercing Zhang Ya's heart, making her tremble uncontrollably, unable to hold back her tears.

"My lord..."

Zhang Ya buried her head in Li Che's embrace.

Li Che said nothing, merely gently stroking his wife's black hair; the immaculate mind-divinity was dispatched from the Dao Fruit, flowing into Zhang Ya's body to cleanse her flesh and soothe her emotions.

Li Che, however, was not so sentimental; he was thinking about the information revealed by the vision, as well as Xixi's situation.

"Xixi... lacking Dao Essence Divine Crystal?"

Li Che murmured.

In the vision, Li Che saw neither the boss nor the dog smash; only Xixi alone stood on the platform, somewhat like a wager; after defeating her opponent, she received the blessing of the Dao Essence Divine Crystal.

With a stir of his mind and spirit, Li Che flicked his finger, and a black Soul-Seizing Chess Piece turned into black mist, rapidly expanding.

Su Da took the form of a white fox, stepping with an alluring gait, swaying her tail as she appeared.

As for the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, Li Che was quite unfamiliar.

But Su Da was not unfamiliar; this deity had lived through long ages in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, being a Nirvana deity.

Li Che recounted the situation that had just been revealed in the vision.

Upon hearing this, Su Da's lively eyes shifted.

"My lord, the young lord likely participated in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths' Divine Wager, which is a Divine Wager hosted by the divine factions of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths."

"Because in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the will of heaven and earth is weak, making the guidance of Dao Essence for cultivation extremely difficult; unless one can enter some cave heavens and blessed lands, otherwise attempting to channel Dao Essence for cultivation and condense the Great Dao divine patterns would be very difficult."

"And the Dao Essence Divine Crystals have long been divided among the major powers; to obtain them, one can only participate in the Divine Wagers set up by the major factions."

"In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, Divinity Crystals and Dao Essence Divine Crystals are hard currency, like mortal money; many cultivation resources require these for exchange."

Su Da licked her fox paw and said.

"In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the prison lake of the Hell Lotus, the spirit mountain of Black Sumeru, the Lingxiao Palace of the thirty-three heavens of the Dark Heavenly Court, and the hundred thousand great rivers of the Guigu Demon Cave... are all cave heavens and blessed lands, all divided among the divine factions, and each has an immortal deity presiding."

"Of course, besides these top-tier divine factions, there are also some ancient clan factions and other powers that have opened up cave heavens and blessed lands, which can accommodate cultivators for practice... but obtaining resources would be much more difficult."

Su Da said.

Upon hearing this, Li Che couldn't help but feel somewhat surprised.

"My lord, do you feel that the cultivation environment in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths is better than that of the mortal realm?"

Li Che nodded, thinking, "Isn't that the case?"

Su Da shook her head: "Strictly speaking, the mortal realm is the best place for cultivation, because here the will of heaven and earth is active, making it extremely easy to perceive the Great Dao's divine rhythm; however, because the will of heaven and earth is active, cultivators seeking higher realms will encounter difficulty and restrictions."

"And in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths... there are too many deities, even immortal deities standing like towering mountains; only within cave heavens and blessed lands can one cultivate, and after wave after wave of divine tides, resources have long been divided up to exhaustion."

"Cultivation within cave heavens and blessed lands is still feasible, but in ordinary places of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, one must rely on Divinity Crystals and Dao Essence Divine Crystals for aid... In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, to improve oneself requires resources, making it a more realistic place than the mortal realm."

Su Da's description allowed Li Che to gradually sketch out the situation of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths in his mind.

"Divine Tribulation cultivators in the mortal realm's secret realms all believe that entering the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths is an honor, a form of ascension; but who would know that ascending into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths makes competition even more terrifying—lacking talent and resources, they can only struggle forward."

Su Da let out a long sigh, filled with emotion.

"What is Xixi's situation? Divine Wager... or Mortal Wager? To obtain Dao Essence Divine Crystals?"

Li Che inquired.

Su Da's fox head cutely bobbed up and down: "Indeed it is a Divine Wager; judging by the setting... it should not be a Divine Wager hosted by the divine factions in a cave heaven and blessed land, but rather one hosted by an ancient clan."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Danger certainly exists, for in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths everything depends on Divinity Crystals and Dao Essence Divine Crystals... if injured, healing requires Divinity Crystals and Dao Essence Divine Crystals; without them, one can only stubbornly endure the injury, and thus many cultivators perish."

"Divine Wager... a wager of the gods, even immortal deities will intervene."

Li Che fell silent.

His brows involuntarily furrowed slightly.

"However, my lord, since the young lord can participate in the Divine Wager, he must join a faction and represent it."

"It could be a village, a city, or even a great ancient clan, and so on..."

"We just don't know which faction the young lord represents."

Su Da also specially related a secret.

Upon hearing this, Li Che momentarily startled, "Did Xixi represent a faction and participate?"

He truly had no way of knowing, after all, he and Xixi have been out of contact for some time now.

"It seems Xixi should be temporarily safe in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, not hunted by immortal deities, far better than imagined."

Li Che lightly exhaled a breath.

Although participating in the Divine Wager is also equally dangerous, it indicates Xixi may have encountered a situation of resource scarcity.

Lacking Divinity Crystals, lacking Dao Essence Divine Crystals...

But these problems are hardly problems at all.

With a stir of his mind and spirit, Li Che split open the Qiankun space, glanced within at the Dao Essence Divine Crystals and Divinity Crystals he had accumulated over the years.

"Is the girl lacking resources?"

"These... are what your father prepared for you."

Just consider it as a dowry saved up in advance.

Whether or not she marries can be discussed later; first prepare the dowry—this is an old father's duty.

Li Che gave a light smile.

As long as he enters the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, Li Che can send these resources to Xixi.

Seeing the little girl win a two-leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystal made him so delighted; if he sent over his pile of three-leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals, it would surely overwhelm the little girl into a daze.

"It seems... as a father, I also need to properly accumulate resources for the little girl." Li Che's eyes gleamed.

Li Che was very wary of suspicion; he did not let Su Da appear in her alluring white fox form, maintaining propriety—even though it was merely his Soul-Seizing piece, Li Che did not wish to cause his wife discomfort.

Moreover, Su Da... Li Che glanced at her, his heart stirred slightly, and an idea formed.

Su Da, from now on you are responsible for protecting your mistress; her safety comes first.

Li Che said.

Let her maintain her divine fox form.

Su Da's eyes lit up at the words, and she hurriedly nodded repeatedly.

This job is really too lucrative!

Su Da is very smart; she understands that, with Lord Li Che's methods, she will surely be eliminated in the future.

Although the divine captors Li Che currently commands, the strongest among them are these fire‑god spirits.

With Li Che's spirit‑seizing methods, there will inevitably be spirit captors capable of merging Dao, severing Dao, even reaching Nirvana!

By then, Su Da will surely fall behind.

If that's the case, what advantage is there in following Li Che compared to following Zhang Ya?

Zhang Ya is the mistress; only by winning her heart does she have a future!

"My lord, no need, no need…… I am also strong now; in the mortal world, no one can harm me, and they dare not hurt me."

Zhang Ya hastily waved her hand and said.

"This white fox Su Da is a fire‑god spirit……"

Li Che said.

Zhang Ya was instantly shocked, her mouth agape, somewhat dazed.

After a moment, Zhang Ya felt embarrassed and said: "Actually, staying isn't bad."

Li Che was momentarily speechless at this coquettish, insincere little wife.

The allure of a spirit pet is indeed irresistible to ordinary people; moreover, this white fox's appearance is extremely beautiful, full of charm.

"Su Da, from now on you should also properly guide your mistress in cultivation…… Your knowledge of divine weapons is not shallow; teach her to refine the two divine weapons, the Heavenly River Like‑Intention Hairpin and the Pure Water Bowl."

Li Che's gaze swept over and landed on Su Da.

Su Da's nine tails flicked simultaneously, and she straightened up, saying: "Leave it to me!"

Afterward, Li Che had Zhang Ya take Su Da to adapt.

Meanwhile, Li Che sat cross‑legged in the Hall of Clouds and Rosy Dawn, sinking into contemplation.

The image reflected by the Kunlun Mirror made his heart surge slightly; finally seeing his daughter, he felt much more relieved and at ease.

I just don't know what state Xixi is in now in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Why isn't she mixing with the boss and Old Dog?

Where has the Third Prince Nezha gone again?

And how is the situation with the Qitian Temple deity?

So many thoughts surged in his heart; Li Che still hadn't figured things out, and because of the unknown, he remained somewhat anxious.

"We still need to quickly find a way into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths……"

Li Che's eyes narrowed.

"The Jade Emperor's Heavenly Guiyi Miao?"

His gaze seemed to pierce the walls of the Yunxiao Hall, looking toward the depths of the first city of Shendu, shrouded in misty vapors.

"The Superintendent said, at least two divine weapons must be obtained to open a path into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths……"

"The Haotian Tower, the Vermilion Scripture Amber, the Heaven‑Sealing Seal, and the Nine Dragon Myriad Calamity Qi……"

Li Che exhaled a breath.

If he wants to be safe, to enter the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths with the greatest certainty……

It would be best to firmly grasp all four divine weapons!

Buzz……

And after the light of the Kunlun Mirror gradually faded into silence……

The Heaven‑Earth Chessboard suddenly shook violently, and within Li Che's chest, the Chess Saint Dao Fruit burst forth with intense tremors……

Li Che's eyes opened and closed, emitting an ultimate brilliant light!

Here it comes!

Li Che's arms shot out; in the next instant, his flesh, just transformed into a Mundane Sacred Body, rang out with a metallic clang—just a simple motion caused the surrounding void to shatter, countless gusts howling violently.

His jet‑black, sturdy hair sliced the air like a divine blade.

His powerful Xuanxian will seemed to stand upright, letting out a long roar to the heavens!

In an instant, before his eyes, flowing light fell like condensed smoke.

【Dao Fruit lv8, Six Transformations, Dao Tribulation (Primordial Qiankun Battle) Promotion, Dao Vessel】

Boom——!!!

The flowing smoke surged, like heavenly sound shaking, echoing without cease, shaking thousands upon thousands of miles!

The intertwined flowing light condensed into prompts that incessantly flickered before his eyes.

Li Che's eyes, extremely brilliant, could see the void split open, with countless rivers gathering in the firmament, hundreds of streams crisscrossing, the great river dancing wildly!

The Great Dao River appears!

Dao Vessel, condense again!

Countless lines intertwined, the Heaven‑Earth Chessboard suddenly twisted, turning into a vessel, as if condensing the void into a primordial craft.

Li Che was not forming a Dao Vessel for the first time.

Having experience, he stepped forward and instantly stood upon the lone boat; in an instant, it felt as if he were treading a lonely star adrift in the cosmos.

Accompanying the river of stars, he drifted slowly with the current.

The immense weight of countless forces of compressed, condensed void pressing down made Li Che feel his Xuanxian will and spirit thoughts constantly trembling; attempting to board the vessel and break the waves was quite difficult.

Li Che, clad in a black shirt, stood at the prow of the long boat, his gaze steady.

He saw the waves rise in succession, a figure seated within, a chessboard arrayed before it, stars laid out like a lattice, starlight dazzling.

"Coming?"

"Let's have a hand‑talk game."

That figure wore flowing white robes, the face blurred and unreadable, yet exuded a grand, ethereal aura, transcendent and unworldly.

Li Che knew this presence… should be the master of the Chess Saint Dao Fruit.

Without further words, Li Che's spirit trembled, took a step, landed opposite the board, sat cross‑legged on the Great River of the Dao, and engaged the Dao Fruit master in a hand‑talk duel.

Above the Great River, starlight glittered.

The void seemed to swirl, dreamlike and illusory.

……

……

Li Che did not know how long the game lasted.

When he opened his eyes and stepped out of the Great River, no longer rowing, his whole being was seated inside the Cloud‑Sky Hall.

In his eyes swirled a depth of profundity.

!

The conversation with the Chess Saint Dao Fruit master was brief, but everything lay within the game; Li Che's understanding of the Chess Saint Dao Boat deepened greatly.

The Chess Saint Dao Boat mainly follows the Path of Sealing, a property after the Dao Boat entered the Great River, while the Chess Saint Dao Fruit possesses other abilities corresponding to other Dao, though they did not manifest.

"My current state… I should begin preparing to break the realm."

"Impact the Martial Dao, the Profound Immortal, the Divine Dao, the divine spirits!"

Because Li Che's Martial Immortal and Divine Dao are merged, he must maintain balance between the two.

The divine follows, the immortal opposes, like yin and yang in harmony; the balance must not be broken.

Both realms must be broken simultaneously.

"Hoo—"

"Sss—"

After speaking with the Chess Saint Dao Fruit master, Li Che's grasp of the primal Heaven‑and‑Earth Dou calamity deepened.

He also grew more confident in capturing it; moreover, after his Martial Immortal golden body fully transformed into a mortal holy body, his capacity increased greatly.

Li Che should now start tackling the other calamities.

"The remaining calamities I have are the primal Demon Gold Scale, the primal Heaven‑and‑Earth Dou, the primal Shattered Star Thunder, the primal Time Sand…"

"The primal Nine Calamities, still missing one…"

"I must wait for the Dao Fruit to metamorphose, but first let the other calamities be completed; many calamities completed will stack the Immortal Platform, enabling a strike on the Profound Immortal."

Li Che's spirit settled.

Today, after meeting his daughter Xixi and briefly learning of Xixi's condition in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, …

Li Che felt a few more expectations for the future.

He also looked forward more to reuniting with his daughter Xixi in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Just as Li Che prepared to immerse into the calamity space…

Suddenly.

Sitting cross‑legged in the Cloud‑Sky Hall, Li Che slowly opened his eyes.

"However… before this."

"I must first unify the mortal realm's Qi."

"Unifying mortal Qi is not only Dàjǐng's various Dao, but also the Witch‑God Mountain, the Western Region Buddhist Land, the hundred‑thousand great rivers…"

"Only by gathering these forces' Qi can one truly…"

"Condense a Twelve‑grade Qi‑gold Lotus to suppress the Prison Lotus curse for Xixi…"

"Besides, behind these forces stand various divine camps… they should each hold substantial divine crystal and Dao‑essence spirit crystal resources…"

"Consider this my gift as a father, traveling thousands of miles to see my daughter, the dowry I've saved."

……

……

The desert's lone smoke rises straight, the long river's sunset is round!

Ancient monasteries dot the earth, arranged in three inner layers and three outer layers like a formation.

Like an ancient scroll.

On the paths leading to the central ancient monastery, Little Lingyin Temple…

Countless black specks move slowly forward; they are common folk from all over the Western Ridge Way converging to worship at Little Lingyin Temple.

Some wear tattered clothes, some are richly adorned, some are gaunt, some as fat as pork.

Undeniably, their faces are full of reverence, bowing three times, kowtowing nine times, heading toward Little Lingyin Temple.

Beyond the cluster of ancient monasteries centered on Little Lingyin Temple, horse hooves thunder, dust billows, raging and surging.

Xie Yunshen holds a feather fan, his silk scarf fluttering.

Standing on a carriage, he watches Little Lingyin Temple; under the long river's sunset, the ancient monastery shines with brilliant radiance, full of Buddha‑like and saintly aura.

Beside Xie Yunshen stand four figures: one is Gu Qianren, the founder of the Bashu Sword Pavilion; another is Lu Taibai!

On Lu Taibai's shoulder sits the increasingly infantile Lady Patriarch.

"Little Lingyin Temple… arrived!"

Lu Taibai's eyes were exceedingly solemn.

He was actually a bit dazed.

Although he had broken through to the Divine Tribulation and could roam unchecked on the Western Ling Path, behind the Little Lingyin Temple stood the Western Buddhist Land, one of the divine factions, the Heimu!

Therefore, Lu Taibai came to the Western Ling Path with a resolute intention.

He indeed fell into a crisis, but was rescued by the imperial expeditionary army; Xie Yunshen arrived in support, summoned a terrifying peerless ferocious beast from the Underworld, shattered several joint Divine Tribulations, and saved Lu Taibai's life.

When Lu Taibai learned that Xie Yunshen's target was the Little Lingyin Temple, he was stunned, never expecting Xie Yunshen's appetite to be so great.

Xie Yunshen then invited Lu Taibai to join, but Lu Taibai resisted; after all, Xie Yunshen had once led a great army to crush the Qianyuan Divine Sect…

That grudge could not be washed away so easily.

In the end, Xie Yunshen laid his cards on the table.

He told Lu Taibai that he was a member of the Underworld, one of Li Che's people.

The original assault on Qianyuan was merely a performance for Emperor Dàjǐng.

Lu Taibai was bewildered, fell silent, and ultimately chose to join.

"National Master, the Little Lingyin Temple has arrived…"

"Behind the Little Lingyin Temple stand Heimu and the Western Buddhist Land; we should deliberate carefully," Lu Taibai said in a low voice.

However, Xie Yunshen gently shook his head.

He naturally knew what had happened over at Shendu, and he had also received the will passed down by Li Che.

We must seize the moment to complete the condensation of the world's Qi fortune!

"No need to deliberate…"

Xie Yunshen looked at Lu Taibai, his eyes deep.

"Brother Taibai, a great upheaval has occurred at Shendu; the world's situation is already chaotic, and now is the perfect time to condense the Qi fortune."

Lu Taibai was stunned: "Shendu… what happened?"

Xie Yunshen's faint voice echoed.

"Emperor Dàjǐng…"

"has passed away."

In the next moment, ignoring the completely bewildered Lu Taibai,

Xie Yunshen turned his gaze to the Little Lingyin Temple, lightly waved his feather fan, raised his hand, and struck down with a fierce swing.

Behind, terrifying murderous aura surged sky‑high.

The sky of the long river at sunset instantly turned pitch black, as if night had arrived early.

A peerless ferocious beast descended!

Nine heads wildly danced, and countless black lightning intertwined around the Flipping Sea Nine Infants.

There were also monstrous beings with four‑cornered heads as large as mountains, and the blazing, world‑destroying fire of the Burning Void Calamity!

Three peerless ferocious beasts appeared; the black clouds in the heavens trembled in an instant, and the will of Heaven and Earth raged incessantly.

Yet these three beasts seemed utterly unafraid of the heavens' and earth's intimidating will.

With a long howl, the sky cracked and the earth split.

The ground collapsed beneath their steps, sandstorms swirled wildly, and fissures interwove!

They charged toward the Little Lingyin Temple, which was surrounded and protected by numerous temples.

And atop the roof of the temple's treasure hall.

Three elderly monks clad in bright red kasaya, their robes clinging to their bodies, swirled behind them; under the impact of the peerless ferocious aura, their eyes seemed unable to open.

Watching the three-headed, world‑destroying, peerless ferocious beasts approach…

The three monks, at the Divine Tribulation realm, wore pale and desperate faces.

"What a Xie Yunshen…"

"Truly cold‑blooded and ruthless!"

"The old monks gathered a million citizens from the Western Ling Path to worship… using it as leverage, to make Xie Yunshen hesitate…"

"But he…"

"doesn't care at all!"

Watching the worshippers, who were being torn into blood‑filled mist under the rampage of the peerless ferocious beasts.

The three Divine Tribulation monks of the Little Lingyin Temple let out long sighs.

"Amitabha…"

Then they sprang up from the ground and fled toward the Western Buddhist Land without looking back.

However—

The void ahead of the three monks suddenly split open!

Beyond the split void, a colossal demon toad opened a mouth as vast as an abyss.

It swallowed the three monks whole.

And the three monks, before death…

were left only with numbness.

That was…

a deity.

…

…

Lu Taibai's eyes widened, his hair standing on end.

He stared in disbelief at the Little Lingyin Temple, which had instantly become ruins.

Among the eleven great divine sects of Dàjǐng, the top-ranked supreme divine sect, at this moment, actually became ruins.

And Lu Taibai's body trembled as he watched the scene of the million worshipping common folk instantly exploding into a blood mist; for a moment, a sense of bewilderment and complexity welled up in his heart.

The sect leader's wife sitting on his shoulder remained silent.

Lu Taibai turned his head to look at the Xie Yunshen beside him, who lightly swayed a feather fan with his robes fluttering.

They're all dead……

"One million common folk, you actually have not a shred of compassion?"

Xie Yunshen's eyes were as still as an ancient well, devoid of any emotion.

Compassionate?

"These common folk have been brainwashed by the Xiao Lingyin Temple; they have become puppets. Although they have flesh and blood, they are beyond saving, merely tools the Xiao Lingyin Temple uses to obstruct us."

"The sooner they die, the sooner they enter reincarnation; only in the next life can they regain clarity."

"Buddhism caused their downfall; I kill them to liberate their souls."

Xie Yunshen said lightly.

"Don't you regret it at all?"

Lu Taibai exhaled a breath and said.

"Regret?"

"Why regret? To achieve great deeds, a bit of sacrifice is necessary."

Xie Yunshen looked at Lu Taibai.

"I know you came to the Xiling Dao to eradicate the Xiao Lingyin Temple and restore clarity to these folk, but in this life they can never return; their souls have been sold to the Buddha, and they can only hope for the next life."

"They will thank me."

"Moreover, I only wish to condense the qi fortune; this is my mission—whoever blocks me dies!"

Xie Yunshen's eyes were cold and ruthless.

The lord issued an order, to fulfill the lord's command……

What if rivers of blood flow?

Don't even speak of millions of common folk……

Even if it were tens of millions, hundreds of millions……

Xie Yunshen would have no hesitation at all!

Xie Yunshen lightly swayed his feather fan; a clean breeze brushed his face, countless sand and stones floated up, stained with blood, piling beneath his feet into a bridge.

"Moreover, Elder Brother Taibai… do you know that Xixi was forced by the deities of the All‑Gods Camp to slaughter her way into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths? She is only nine years old, yet she had to leave her parents and enter the perilous Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and she also bears the Prison Lotus Curse; we do not know if she can survive the next transformation……"

"Condensing the twelfth‑grade qi‑fortune golden lotus can help Xixi suppress the Prison Lotus Curse."

"The longer we delay, the more Xixi will suffer……"

Xie Yunshen looked toward Lu Taibai.

"You would delay Xixi's acquisition of the twelfth‑grade qi‑fortune golden lotus for the sake of these million brainwashed folk turned tools? Watching your precious disciple fall into anguish……"

Lu Taibai's body trembled, his pupils contracted, and he fell into complete silence.

And Xie Yunshen no longer looked at him.

They arrived atop the ruins of the Xiao Lingyin Temple.

On the sand‑stone bridge.

Three bronze cauldrons appeared.

Xie Yunshen took out three sticks of incense and lit them.

……

……

Yunxiao Hall.

Li Che's eyes opened and closed.

In his mind, Xie Yunshen's report was transmitted back.

A hint of complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

The Bound God…… besides submitting to him, possesses an independent personality, a manner of conducting oneself in the world, and a will of its own.

Xie Yunshen's decision truly caught Li Che off guard.

But when Xie Yunshen is able to summon the Azure‑Fall Magic Toad……

it signifies that Li Che has tacitly approved his actions.

For the million souls sold to the Black Sumeru, turned into puppet‑tool common folk, to let his daughter Xixi endure an extra bit of suffering?

Li Che was unwilling.

He would not hesitate like Lu Taibai.

When forced to choose between his daughter and the common folk of the world,

Li Che chose his daughter.

Better to betray the world than to betray his daughter!

Buzz——

Inside Yunxiao Hall.

Li Che slowly rose to his feet, and in the next instant, as if teleporting, he appeared above Yunxiao Hall.

His five fingers spread open.

In an instant, an eight‑faceted treasure mirror appeared in his hand; its surface spun, light burst forth, brilliantly dazzling, radiant as the great sun!

This is none other than the Three Pure Ones' divine weapon, the Qiankun Haoyu Kunlun Mirror!

The Kunlun Mirror was finally completely under control...

One ought to take a look, that Haotian Jade Emperor Guiyi Miao, the entrance to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths today... where is it!

Li Che's body fluttered, suspended in the void.

The next moment, he turned his palm over.

The treasure mirror being held up instantly dropped.

Give me...

Reveal your trace!

(End of chapter)