Chapter 575: Great Wealth of the Eight‑Leaf Dao‑Infused Divine Crystals, the Auspicious Staff Appears

Whirr—

The icy Tongtian Pillar spanned between heaven and earth, its surface etched with ancient runes.

Interwoven lightning and thunder, myriad calamity forces constantly tangled upon the pillar, unleashing terrifying power that struck the body, tearing flesh, spraying blood mist!

Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly; through the Flying Thunder chess piece left on the Qi Tian Temple God's body, though blurry, he clearly saw the present situation.

Chains hung down, swinging and rising amid the thunderclaps, striking the air as if producing a resonant clang.

The Qi Tian Temple God was cloaked in black, bound by icy dark chains to the Tongtian Pillar, yet seemed to hold its head high, eyes bright as two golden stars shining in the darkness.

Although captured and suppressed, its condition seemed far better than imagined.

It even tilted its head now and then, chuckling loudly; even with flesh torn, its laughter could not be silenced, as if taunting the enemy's slaughter.

Rumble—

Thunder rose, fire surged, wind cut like knives, calamity swept again, engulfing the Qi Tian Temple God's form.

Leaving Li Che unable to maintain perception and discern its state.

Severing that link, Li Che held Xixi's hand, standing on the Tai Su Heaven teleport platform, his expression solemn.

The Tai Su Heaven teleport platform was immense, one of the super‑large platforms of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Statues rose from the ground, carved from white jade, crystal clear and naturally formed, shimmering with radiance; together with the rolling white mist rising from the ground, the whole platform resembled a realm of the celestial.

The teleport array was constantly activated, light swirling, the spatial conduit rippling, and cultivators arrived from all directions, from the various heavens and regions of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Xixi widened her eyes, looking extremely astonished.

Beyond the distant, awe‑inspiring Duotian Palace City that resembled a colossal three‑legged alchemy furnace, this teleport platform itself gave a shocking impression, like a country dweller bewildered upon entering a city.

"Tai Su Heaven is the seat of Lord Lao Immortal; as one of the Immortals of the Dark Heaven Court, the place he governs is naturally prosperous and flourishing."

Princess Shao Hao smiled and said.

The Dark Heaven Court's main base lies in Xuan Xiao Heaven, where the Immortal Divine Emperor resides; the Thirty‑three‑layer Lingxiao Treasure Palace is also situated there, but as a headquarters it would not become a gathering place for all races.

Thus, Tai Su Heaven became the liveliest region under the Dark Heaven Court.

Buzz—

In the distance, spatial teleportation tremors rippled, the spatial conduit flowing like a surge.

Then a group emerged, their powerful aura surging, causing the white mist on the ground to churn incessantly, as if being torn apart.

Princess Shao Hao's gaze couldn't help but glance over, as if something moved her heart.

Li Che also couldn't refrain from looking, and saw a swirl of demonic aura infecting the white mist, turning it into black fog, contorting into myriad demonic heads.

The Queyi Cave formation!

Among them, Li Che saw his acquaintance Fu Shaoxi, the Young Emperor of Queyi Cave, whose face was terrifyingly grim.

Or rather, ever since Li Che seized his divine weapon, the Demon Saint Halberd, Fu Shaoxi has looked as if his parents had died, his complexion never brightened.

Fu Shaoxi also understood that the Demon Saint Halberd was irretrievable; even the immortal primordial source left by Que Fu within it had been erased, making it impossible to reclaim his destined divine weapon from the King of Earthly Store, and he himself lacked any ability to retrieve it.

Thus, Fu Shaoxi gave up, harboring hope with a darkened face, leading the Queyi Cave's elite group of Divine Eagle Immortal Hands to teleport to Tai Su Heaven, intending to join the Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly hosted by Lord Lao Immortal.

With his destined divine weapon destroyed, Fu Shaoxi could only pin his hopes on the Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly, hoping to obtain a share of a Qi Tian Divine Pill.

Perhaps then he might have a chance to break the shackles and ascend to the Immortal tier.

Although during his clash with the King of Earthly Store he attained insight, taking a solid step beyond the Third Cutting Realm and stepping onto the Nine‑Nether Life‑Death Path, the losses were greater, and for him it might not count as a good thing.

Whether Princess Shao Hao or Shi Shaojia, both Young Emperors have never lost their destined divine weapons; although he is a step ahead now, once the two later step onto the Nine‑Nether Life‑Death Path, they will catch up even faster!

Therefore, Fu Shaoxi is desperate; the Qi Tian Divine Pill at this Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly is a must‑have for him.

Buzz—

A surge of Buddha light appeared, as if endless chanting of Sanskrit hymns resonated.

Beams of golden light poured down, tearing the white mist.

It was Hei Xumi's formation; Shi Shaojia pressed his palms together, a radiance blossoming on his face. He had swapped his monk robes for the robe representing the Divine Eagle Immortal Hand.

Hei Xumi, famed for possessing ten‑million Buddha statues, is the most renowned among the Divine Eagle factions.

It even surpasses the Queyi Cave, which boasts the Empress Heavens' power, in strength.

Of course, its Divine Eagle Great Immortal ceiling is lower than Heavens' Empress, but Hei Xumi's quantity and quality of Divine Eagle Great Immortals and Immortal Hands are greater.

"Amitabha, Benefactor Shao Hao, long time no see."

Shi Shaojia's handsome face bore a gentle smile.

"Brother Shaojia, are you going to act personally? Join this Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly?"

Princess Shao Hao squinted, a hint of solemnity in her eyes.

"I am but a humble monk, a Divine Eagle Immortal Hand; though I regret not mastering the Divine Eagle Great Immortal art, I indeed possess the qualification to join this Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly."

"The Divine Eagle Great Immortal art is too difficult; ultimately it depends on talent. Without enough talent, one wastes a lifetime and may never achieve it."

"My talent in the Divine Eagle art is limited, but I intend to apply my modest gift in this Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly."

Shi Shaojia pressed his palms together and said gently.

Princess Shao Hao let out a soft hum.

If Shi Shaojia were to act personally, among the eighty‑one arranged Divine Eagle Immortal Hands, surely one slot would be his; thus it seems Shi Shaojia is bound to obtain a Qi Tian Divine Pill!

This instantly heightened Princess Shao Hao's pressure.

Shi Shaojia smiled, his gaze sweeping over the Divine Eagle Great Immortals and Immortal Hands beside Princess Shao Hao.

He first nodded respectfully toward Divine Eagle Great Immortal Zhao Yuan, who returned the smile.

Even a Young Emperor, such as Zhao Yuan, would not wish to offend, for a Young Emperor has countless powerful allies behind him.

After seeing Zhao Yuan, Shi Shaojia's gaze continued, and when it fell on Li Che, it tightened slightly.

Besides, he also saw Xixi beside Li Che, wearing a mask.

This time Xixi wore a little Bull Demon mask, a modification Li Che had made, changing its style, thus different from their previous meeting.

Moreover, Xixi's aura was completely concealed by Li Che, so Shi Shaojia's gaze paused, feeling vaguely strange in his heart, yet he did not think further.

He did glance at Li Che again, because according to the positions among the Divine Eagle Immortals, this Divine Eagle Immortal seemed highly valued by Ji Shaohao!

"Everyone, let's go. Great Plain Heaven is the celestial realm overseen by my Dark Heavenly Court; you all have come here, and I am also half a host."

Ji Shaohao smiled, steadied his mind, his face returning to calm as an ancient well; with eighty‑one slots, my ten Divine Eagle Immortals under command should be able to squeeze in at least one, right?

He led his squad, stepping out of the teleportation platform first, heading toward Dou Tian Palace City.

Shi Shaojia and Fu Shaoxi locked eyes, each gaze bearing a strong sense of rivalry, and then both parties proceeded together toward the colossal Dou Tian Palace City.

Li Che held Xixi's hand, and a small Su Da looped around Xixi's neck.

From Great Plain Heaven's teleportation platform to Dou Tian Palace City stretches an immense aerial corridor, its arches carved with bizarre divine statues, each exuding and radiating a dense divinity.

"This is... a Dao Essence Divine Crystal?!"

Xixi couldn't help but let out a gasp.

These statues were all carved from Dao Essence Divine Crystals!

Although they are not the high‑quality six‑leaf or seven‑leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals, they are essentially three‑leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals, with dense divinity and Dao intent constantly intertwining.

Simply stepping onto the corridor makes one's pores involuntarily expand, an impulse to ingest the divinity of heaven and earth.

"It truly is extravagant."

Li Che couldn't help but sigh.

The contrast between them was indeed too stark.

The resources of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths are wholly controlled by the Three Great Divine Factions; only the Three Purities Ancient Village manages to survive with some moisture and resources, while the Four Imperial Guardians and Five Elders Ancient Villages below are living in great hardship.

Not to mention Dao Essence Divine Crystals, even Divine Essence Crystals are precious resources.

For resources, one must even risk life, joining the thousand‑village divine gambling wars, betting life for resources.

In the end, the resources won are merely a few six‑ or seven‑leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals!

One can only say that resources are held by a few powerful forces; subordinate factions dreaming of a good life is a fool's fantasy.

Nine Heavens and Ten Earths are, in fact, even more extreme than the mortal world.

Even the Slash‑Dao Deities, though powerful, are of no use; the fact that these ancient villages can produce Slash‑Dao Deities already marks them as villages that have accumulated resources over generations to nurture such beings.

Aside from the Three Great Two‑Saint Ancient Villages, which qualify to confront and converse with the Three Great Divine Factions,

the ancient clans of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths have no competitiveness at all.

According to Li Che's understanding, the ancient clans were originally the natives of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, while the strong ones of the Three Great Divine Factions were outsiders—some were ascended mortals, others rose during successive divine tides.

Of course, the reason the Divine Factions can suppress many ancient villages and seize all resources is

their inseparable link with the Immortal Deities within the Three Great Divine Factions.

Immortal Deities are undying; according to some records in the ancient texts that Li Che heard from Tuo Ba Lian, all Celestial Immortals are not native beings of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

Although later cultivators break through to immortality, that is only earthly immortality.

Li Che once curiously asked Tuo Ba Lian where these Celestial Immortals, not beings of this world, originated from.

But Tuo Ba Lian could not answer.

Boom—

The city gate thundered and shook, slowly opening, as an extreme scorching aura burst forth—it was the terrifying, wandering Earth Vein Fire hidden beneath the ground!

It seemed as if the entire Earth Vein Fire of Great Plain Heaven had converged here, terrifyingly so; if ignited, it could destroy heaven and earth!

"Earth Vein Fire... This is Lord Lao Immortal, who, with immortal divine power, has gathered the Earth Vein Fire of the entire Great Plain Heaven realm, containing dense heavenly‑earth willpower, a power of the primordial tier!"

Zhao Yuan Great Immortal seemed to notice Li Che's doubt and curiosity, and explained to him.

"Lord Lao Immortal and his disciples, Dao boys, draw the flame for forging Divine Pills from this realm's Earth Vein Fire."

Although in Nine Heavens and Ten Earths the Divine Eagle Great Immortal has already reached the pinnacle of the Divine Eagle profession, there are other professions as well.

Such as Alchemical Great Immortal, Weapon‑Forging Great Immortal, and so on…

In terms of rarity, attaining Great Immortal status is itself an extremely precious existence, with no hierarchy.

However, ordinarily, the Divine Eagle Master's standing in Nine Heavens and Ten Earths is above the Alchemy Master, which is above the Weapon‑Forging Master; after the Weapon‑Forging Master come the Seal Master and so forth…

The distribution of professions is actually similar to that in the mortal world, though in the mortal world the gaps between these professions are not that large.

But the distinctions in Nine Heavens and Ten Earths appear more direct and exaggerated.

Boom—

Feeling the intensely scorching Earth Vein flame, Li Che's expression tightened slightly.

The heavenly‑earth willpower embedded in the flame gave everyone who set foot in the city an overwhelming sense of pressure.

However, Ji Shaohao soon appeared and distributed a pill to everyone.

"This is the Fire‑Dispelling Pill, which must be taken after entering Dou Tian Palace City; otherwise, staying too long in Dou Tian Palace City will cause one to contract pill poison and eventually be refined as raw material."

After swallowing the Fire‑Dispelling Pill, everyone indeed felt a refreshing coolness in their bodies, no longer burned or eroded by the Earth Vein Fire.

After taking the Fire‑Dispelling Pill, Li Che's Star‑Plucking Eyes immediately analyzed the pill, then used an Immortal Dao Fruit from a painting to replicate it, achieving a free‑fire‑dispelling pill.

According to Ji Shaohao, the Fire‑Dispelling Pill is an Immortal Hand elixir, only an Alchemical Immortal Hand can forge it, making it quite precious, and it must be distributed by Dou Tian Palace City.

Thus the quantity is limited; within Dou Tian Palace City, anyone wishing to cultivate must take the Fire‑Dispelling Pill, otherwise, during cultivation the fire poison will burrow in like a maggot into the heel bone.

Therefore, Ji Shaohao instructed everyone in the city not to cultivate, but to study Divine Eagle crafting.

After all, Ji Shaohao is the young emperor of the Dark Heavenly Court, and he has considerable prestige; within Dou Tian Palace City, he allocated a courtyard to every Alchemical Immortal Hand.

This can be said to be a special benefit exclusive to the Divine Eagle Immortals of the Dark Heavenly Court.

Li Che, with Xixi and Cang Yuan, moved into the courtyard.

Next to the courtyard was Ji Shaohao's courtyard and Zhao Yuan Great Immortal's courtyard.

"Cang Che Immortal, I'll lay my cards on the table: I greatly desire the Qi Tian Divine Pill forged by Lord Lao Immortal. If you can secure a spot among the eighty‑one formation Immortal positions and give me the allocated Divine Pill, I will trade you three eight‑leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals, and I will help Cang Lan Village rise to the rank of a Three Purities upper‑level ancient village!"

"This is my guarantee, Ji Shaohao, to you! A guarantee for your village, Cang Lan Village!"

After the courtyard was allocated.

Ji Shaohao came to Li Che's courtyard to visit and knocked on the door.

Upon meeting, Ji Shaohao did not beat around the bush, but laid his cards on the table and spoke directly.

His yearning for the Qitian Divine Pill was laid bare before Li Che, and besides that, he also displayed an extreme thirst for talent.

He further stated that if Li Che succeeded, in the future he would achieve immortal Dao and become the immortal Empress of the Dark Heaven Court, and would certainly raise Cang Che's status, making him a favored minister!

This is a promise from the Young Emperor!

Honestly, Cang Yuan beside them listened until his eyes turned red!

Unfortunately…

This "Cang Che" is not the real Cang Che; he does not truly care about Canglan Village!

Li Che, upon hearing this, did not refuse Ji Shaohao's recruitment, but replied to him with great solemnity.

"Young Emperor! Rest assured, I will give my all!"

Li Che and Ji Shaohao share the same goal.

He naturally wishes to become one of the eighty‑one Formation Immortal Hands, for only then can he act covertly against the scheming black hands of the hidden arts!

Therefore, agreeing to Ji Shaohao's request is without any fault.

After all, he only seeks to secure a spot among the eighty‑one Formation Immortal Hands, not necessarily to obtain the Qitian Divine Pill!

Ji Shaohao's demand of him is merely to snatch that spot.

He fulfilled that request; whether the Divine Pill exists is unrelated to Li Che, and whether the resources Ji Shaohao promised will be given depends on Ji Shaohao.

If not given…

The Young Emperor's reputation in the Dark Heaven Court would likely collapse instantly!

"Good!"

Ji Shaohao's face lit up with great joy; he did not expect Li Che to agree so decisively!

Good, good, good!

This is truly an outstanding Divine Eagle Immortal Hand, embodying the vigor a Divine Eagle Immortal Hand should have!

Those old veterans of Xuan Xiao Tian should be given a good look!

Ji Shaohao's gaze toward Li Che grew increasingly heated.

"This is a seven‑leaf Dao‑essence Divine Crystal, consider it my token to you!"

Ji Shaohao, delighted, swung his generous hand and handed a Dao‑essence Divine Crystal to Li Che.

Li Che's face showed ecstatic joy; he did not refuse and accepted it.

Ji Shaohao's expression softened; accepting his goodwill meant Li Che took on this task and would certainly give his all to contest the spot.

Ji Shaohao left satisfied; among the ten Immortal Hands recruited in Xuan Xiao Tian, the only one he favored most was Cang Che.

He truly did not hold the other Immortal Hands in such high regard.

Only an Immortal Hand praised by Zhao Yuan Da Xian has a chance to oppose the Divine Eagle Immortal Hands of Qiu Yao Ku and Hei Xu Mi.

Ji Shaohao turned and left, returning to his own courtyard.

Li Che, in turn, fed the seven‑leaf Dao‑essence Divine Crystal gifted by Ji Shaohao to the "Lao Huang" meatball in Mo Cheng Feng Du.

The Lao Huang meatball grew another layer, its interior brimming with surging Dao energy…

The terrifying sword aura, though unspun, inexplicably gave Li Che a sense of alarm.

Thus: Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly is about to be held in Dou Tian Gong City, a truly grand event.

Gathered in Tai Su Tian's Dou Tian Gong City are not only the Divine Eagle Masters who rushed to attend the assembly.

There are also some wandering free cultivators from various heavens and regions, and many ancient‑village Divine Eagle Masters who exhausted their village resources to come to Dou Tian Gong City for study.

These people belong to the crowd that comes to watch the spectacle and to learn.

The wandering free cultivators are not weak in cultivation; without a divine realm, how can they be free cultivators?

Some of the strong among them even possess the Cutting‑Dao cultivation!

They spend resources the day they obtain them, unwilling to bring any home.

All resources fall upon them, as they have no village restrictions.

Dou Tian City is large enough that even the dense influx of cultivators from Nine Heavens and Ten Earths does not affect the city's operation, and even stimulates its economic prosperity.

Many inns quickly became full, many restaurants were directly contracted, and the chefs' woks sparked fire.

When Ji Shaohao generously took Li Che, Xixi, Cang Yuan and other favored Divine Eagle Immortal Hands out to dine, he witnessed this bustling scene.

Li Che couldn't help but marvel.

The chefs of Dou Tian Gong City truly have excellent skill, perhaps influenced by the city's alchemy masters.

Cooking and alchemy share a kind of parallel artistry.

Days passed one by one in this leisurely time.

Whenever he had time, Ji Shaohao took Li Che, Xixi and others out to dine; the Young Emperor's enthusiasm for dining broadened Li Che's horizons.

He is truly a Dining‑loving Young Emperor!

Because cultivation is impossible in Dou Tian City—cultivation requires Fire‑Dispelling Pills, which are costly—there is no need to waste resources just to cultivate there.

Thus, everyone focuses on improving Divine Eagle techniques.

Li Che, however, did not; he replicated a batch of Fire‑Dispelling Pills, gave many to Xixi, allowing the little girl to ignore the threat of earth‑vein fire and continue cultivating.

Dou Tian Gong City, if one can overcome fire poison, is truly a cultivation sanctuary!

After all, using Dao‑essence Divine Crystals as carving material to make welcoming statues, and the bricks on the ground are all made from divine crystals…

One could say the entire Dou Tian City is shrouded in a massive, mist‑like divine storm.

The celestial board let out a "whoosh" and rose skyward, expanding across the heavens.

It concealed the situation in the courtyard where Li Che was.

"Sir, are you about to cultivate?" Cang Yuan looked at Li Che with a bewildered expression, sat cross‑legged, and began to enter cultivation mode.

Li Che glanced at him, pulled out a hundred Bi Huo pills and handed them to Cang Yuan: "You practice as well."

Xixi had already cheerfully taken the hundred Bi Huo pills from Li Che's hand.

Li Che, now at the lv9 rank of Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, whose divine ability "Star‑Plucking Eyes" naturally makes analyzing the Bi Huo pills no problem.

Although this pill's grade is high, its refining difficulty is actually not great.

Mainly because of the special environment, its grade is elevated; in reality, this Bi Huo pill is only highly valued within Dou Tian Palace City—outside the city it is merely a master‑level pill.

Xixi cultivated in the courtyard, popping Bi Huo pills while cultivating, delighted.

The Divine Nature in the courtyard surged toward her body like a storm.

Li Che, using the Heaven‑and‑Earth Chessboard to block perception, will, once the courtyard's Divine Nature is fully absorbed, slowly release the Chessboard, drawing in external Divine Nature to fill it gradually, striving not to cause a big disturbance.

Li Che naturally also entered cultivation mode.

He doesn't even need Bi Huo pills; having mastered the Primordial Fire Tribulation, he is very interested in the Earth Vein Fire hidden beneath Dou Tian Palace City.

He even considered trying to invoke it, but thinking of the consequences, Li Che gave up.

"Within Dou Tian Palace City… the strong are as numerous as clouds!"

After Li Che summoned the Heaven‑and‑Earth Chessboard.

He barely shrank the Chessboard to hover above the courtyard, daring not to expand, fearing to attract the perception of the strong.

Even the vague primordial fluctuations of Heaven and Earth that Li Che sensed were considerable.

Behind each primordial wave of Heaven and Earth lies a Nianpan Heavenly King!

Moreover, the life‑and‑death aura of the Nine‑Underworld Path of Life and Death makes the Hell Dao Fruit throb.

The number of Nianpan in Dou Tian Palace City is probably double‑digit, including Nianpan Heavenly Kings and Quasi‑Heavenly King level beings!

Of course, the most important is Immortality!

Since entering Dou Tian Palace City, Li Che has been extremely cautious; after all, Old Lord Immortal is a deity of the Heaven Immortal tier, exceedingly powerful and terrifying.

That being is above Earth Immortal; Li Che now pales in comparison.

Even with the ultimate technique Heaven‑and‑Earth Dao Body, Li Che cannot guarantee it can contend with Heaven Immortal.

However, he has not sensed Old Lord Immortal's aura.

Like the aura of the Qitian Temple deity, it is vague and elusive, hard to perceive.

Old Lord Immortal likewise cannot sense any aura.

Li Che once curiously asked Ji Shaohao.

"Old Lord Immortal is suppressing that demon monkey…"

"The Yulin Demon Monkey is no ordinary being; during the First Age Divine Tide, this monkey displayed power comparable to Heaven Immortal. Its Ruyi Golden Cudgel even killed an Earth Immortal, nearly joining Yulin's daughter to overturn the Dark Heavenly Court."

Ji Shaohao said.

"During the First Age Divine Tide, aside from Yulin's daughter, this demon monkey was the most ferocious, followed by the Third Prince…"

"As for the Three‑Eyed Erlang True Lord there, he indeed lives up to his name of perilous victory, unmatched by anyone, yet among the Yulin deities he causes the least killing."

In the courtyard.

Air currents intertwined with a roar; Li Che sat cross‑legged on the ground, his jet‑black, sinewy hair wildly fluttering, his eyes showing twin‑colored great rivers twisting like braids, spanning horizontally.

Suddenly.

Li Che's gaze flickered, the harmonious Dao light in his eyes beginning to settle.

He exhaled slowly, causing the cultivating Cang Yuan and Xixi to also cease cultivation.

Li Che opened his mouth to inhale, swallowing all the cultivation aura in the courtyard into his belly.

He stood up and opened the courtyard's portal.

Outside the gate stood Ji Shaohao in a white robe, his jet‑black hair shimmering with divine light, handsome and radiant, as if he himself were glowing.

Ji Shaohao saw Li Che and instantly displayed a gentle smile.

His gaze swept the courtyard, seeing wood shavings scattered on the ground and a half‑carved Divine Eagle that was invoking Divine Nature; his smile deepened.

He truly adored such diligent and ambitious Divine Eagle Immortal Hand.

As for the other nine Divine Eagle Immortal Hands of Xuanxiao Heaven, who only know how to eat and drink, Ji Shaohao was indeed somewhat displeased.

"Young Emperor, shall we go to the restaurant again today?"

"Not today… the Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly is imminent; I'll focus on improving my Divine Eagle skills first."

A wry smile appeared on Li Che's face.

Ji Shaohao laughed, waved his hand lightly; he isn't the type to go to the restaurant daily, sometimes skipping a day.

"No, Cang Che Immortal Hand, you misunderstand. The third disciple Golden Crane King of Dou Tian Palace, Old Lord Immortal, is hosting a pre‑assembly exchange banquet, inviting us to bring our most promising Immortal Hands to meet and make an impression."

"I plan to take you there, to leave a good impression before Golden Crane King."

Ji Shaohao said with a smile.

Li Che's mouth twitched… "What's the difference from going to the restaurant?"

"Fu Shaoxi, Shi Shaojia, and the Young Emperors of the Three Great and Two Saint Ancient Village will also bring their favored Divine Eagle Immortal Hands to the banquet. This time… perhaps we'll have an early clash of Divine Eagle skills; Cang Che Immortal Hand, don't lose face for me, Young Emperor."

A hint of solemnity appeared on Ji Shaohao's face.

When he finished speaking, Ji Shaohao lightly brushed his sleeve, and a sparkling Eight‑Leaf Dao‑Embedded Divine Crystal materialized.

"This Eight‑Leaf Dao‑Embedded Divine Crystal… if Cang Che Immortal Hand can make me proud at this banquet, surpassing the Divine Eagle Immortal Hands under those Young Emperors of the Two Saint Ancient Village, I will grant it to Cang Che Immortal Hand!"

Ji Shaohao gritted his teeth, it was indeed a hefty gamble!

This is an Eight‑Leaf Dao‑Embedded Divine Crystal!

Even a Young Emperor like Ji Shaohao possesses very little of it!

It belongs to genuine top‑tier resources!

Li Che heard that, inhaled deeply, and the words he had intended to refuse somehow got swallowed before reaching his mouth.

Indeed, Ji Shaodi is wealthy and generous; he gave too much!

Eight‑leaf Dao‑infused spirit crystal…

If given to Xixi for cultivation, it might cause the little girl's cultivation to skyrocket!

As long as Xixi's cultivation rises fast enough, she can suppress the Prison Lotus curse…

So, Li Che was completely moved!

"Ji Shaodi! Rest assured, even if I were to die, I will fight for the young emperor's honor!"

Ji Shaohao burst into laughter.

Then, pulling Li Che's hand, he left the courtyard.

Of course, Li Che did not forget to bring Xixi; at this banquet there would surely be good provisions, and Xixi's consumption would be a great tonic, enabling cultivation advancement.

In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, resources are hard to obtain, so to eat and drink freely, a father and daughter must both take the field.

The father and daughter followed Ji Shaohao out of the courtyard where the Dark Heavenly Court resides.

Riding in an extremely luxurious dragon‑horse carriage, they traveled along a wide avenue beside Dou Tian Palace where crimson flames surged like waterfalls.

Soon, the carriage stopped before an exceedingly opulent pavilion.

The pavilion was resplendent in gold and jade, with glazed turquoise tiles, carved beams and painted rafters, countless divine lights swirling; each tile was forged from divine crystal, and patterns were etched with celestial‑hand craftsmanship.

"Drunken Eight Trigrams Treasure Pavilion!"

Li Che had heard of this Treasure Pavilion; it is the most extravagant place in Dou Tian Palace.

Even when dining out, Ji Shaohao had never taken them here.

Below the pavilion.

The luxurious carriages met.

Fu Shaoxi and Shi Shaojia stepped out of the opulent carriages, each followed by a Divine Eagle Immortal Hand.

Their gazes met, eyes burning like torches.

Li Che quietly followed behind Ji Shaohao.

However, the three young emperors' meeting had not yet sparked a clash.

Suddenly, the three's expressions changed dramatically.

They abruptly turned their heads, looking toward the depths of Dou Tian Palace.

Boom—!!!

A terrifying roar erupted!

A powerful, dreadful ape‑like howl, in an instant, shattered barriers, as if it had ripped the lid off a cauldron of alchemy!

A golden radiant treasure staff burst forth with billions of glimmers!

Even Li Che felt his spirit tremble, staring in disbelief.

What?!

This momentum—could it be the Great Sage Equal to Heaven…

Escaped the trap?!

(End of chapter)