Chapter 584: Lighting the Fifth Heaven-Earth Ancient Rune, He Not Only Touched

One can actually touch this green bull wood carving?!

Moreover, such a good thing!

Li Che truly hadn't expected that the second round's assessment rules would be this thoughtful!

Indeed, for Li Che, this rule is practically tailor-made; his Immortal Craft Dao Fruit's ability to analyze wood carvings has already reached a miraculous level.

Originally, using the Plucking Stars Pupil to observe, he wanted to see through the divine condor carved by Nüwa, an existence of ancestral immortal level, but the difficulty was too great; even though it contained the power of Heaven-Earth Ancient Runes inside, Li Che could not see through it.

But, if he were allowed to handle it…

Then it would be different!

Once he could handle it, for Li Che, he could directly analyze through physical contact via the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, not only able to analyze Nüwa's divine condor technique, but also see through what is hidden within the divine condor!

However, at this moment, besides Shi Shaojia, no one dared to move; even Fu Shaoxi, who is also a young emperor, remained still, merely watching from afar, his demonic energy raging, his eyes narrowed.

It seemed as if they wanted to first see whether Shi Shaojia could gain any insight by touching the green bull wood carving.

If that were possible, others would probably not hesitate to act.

"Touch?"

"Since this divine condor is Nüwa's masterpiece, how could it be so easily touchable?"

Fu Shaoxi, however, crossed his arms, his demonic energy grim, and gave a cold smile, tinged with contempt.

As for Nüwa, Fu Shaoxi had indeed paid his respects; although he is not a descendant young emperor of Nüwa, he is a descendant of the Immortal Sparrow Emperor and has had contact with Nüwa.

This might be Fu Shaoxi's advantage!

Li Che also suppressed the surging emotions of his Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, his gaze focused, he looked into the distance, watching Shi Shaojia walk step by step toward the green bull.

Shi Shaojia displayed a golden cicada pattern, as if a primordial golden cicada unfurled its wings behind him.

His unstained monk shoes stepped, touching the ground, causing the ground to seem as if rings of invisible qi rippled outward.

The green bull wood carving was placed in the central area; as Shi Shaojia advanced, his pace became slower and slower.

It seemed as if an invisible barrier appeared before Shi Shaojia, seeking to block his advance!

Shi Shaojia furrowed his brows, his body bursting with brilliant golden light, profound and rich divinity spilling forth, as if a great Dao river coiled around him, with Slaying Dao patterns appearing one after another.

Originally halted, his blocked frame then trembled and quivered, his fluttering monk robe seeming to freeze, becoming extremely sharp and hard.

He did just that, forcefully breaking through the barrier and stepping forward!

Buzz—

However, even after unleashing his Slaying Dao cultivation and continuing forward for several hundred steps, he stopped once again.

The cicada patterns on his eyes trembled incessantly; in his eyes… a hint of pain seemed to surface.

No one knows what he experienced or what he saw.

Why would it be painful?

The divine condor immortals furrowed their brows, staring intently, yet they could not sense what existed between Shi Shaojia and the green bull wood carving, nor what had happened!

Fu Shaoxi crossed his arms; within his body brimming with explosive power, demonic energy rolled, condensing into demonic patterns covering his whole body, as if he had expected it, expressing deep… mockery toward Shi Shaojia's current predicament!

You bald donkey, putting on an act!

Nüwa's wood carving, how could it be so easily touched by you?!

Li Che was also curious: why was Shi Shaojia obstructed, and what was obstructing him?

However, the current environment is too complex; even the will of an existence like Laozi Indestructible is sweeping through; if Li Che were to now deploy the Heaven-Earth Chessboard to observe, he might be detected by Heaven Indestructible.

Regarding Heaven Indestructible, Li Che still needs to be cautious.

After all, even at its peak, the Equal Heaven Cauldron could only barely match Heaven Indestructible.

So Li Che calmed his heart, waiting quietly; this wood carving… he will definitely try to touch it, and even if there truly is some strange barrier, he must attempt it.

Such a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, enhanced by the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, Li Che naturally would not let it slip!

The Golden Crane King flapped its wings, countless sword qi flowing like a waterfall around his body.

On his face, a cold, stern expression surged, indifferently watching Shi Shaojia stride forward.

The Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff was taken by the Earth Store King; to the Golden Crane King, it felt as if his heart had turned to dead ash, now everyone looked like a thief!

He had no pleasant expression for anyone!

Boom—

In the air, a mysterious surge undulated, as if the power of heaven and earth's will collided and struck.

Shi Shaojia's face turned grim; his monk robe clung tightly to his body, his legs like steel nails planted in the ground, yet he could not stabilize his form, being pushed by a mighty force, continually retreating!

A deafening cicada chirp exploded!

Behind Shi Shaojia, it seemed as if a primordial golden cicada unfurled its wings, buzzing and resonating like a sharp blade descending.

It seemed to cleave through the barrier outright!

Shi Shaojia's face flushed red, as if bearing pressure far beyond what he could endure.

He began to advance again, stepping forward, each step landing, and indeed he withstood that mysterious force, arriving before the green bull wood carving.

He separated his palms from the prayer pose, his arms trembling as he lifted them, slowly reaching toward the green bull wood carving, wanting to touch it.

Everyone's gaze was drawn at this moment.

Shi Shaojia's trembling finger became the focus of the world.

Finally, his finger made contact with the green bull wood carving.

And the green bull wood carving's eyes turned, deep as a star‑filled gaze, sweeping over and landing on Shi Shaojia.

Shi Shaojia instantly closed his eyes in pain, two lines of blood tears streaming from his eyes, tracing his cheeks.

His whole body seemed like a deflated balloon, unable to maintain its form any longer.

The golden cicada pattern vanished; his whole body kept retreating with a 'dong dong dong', finally stamping his foot hard to halt his steps.

Whoosh—

In the quiet atmosphere, only the sound of Shi Shao Jia's panting remained.

Those around couldn't help but sigh.

It seems they still failed; indeed, Nu Huang's Divine Eagle is truly not that easy to touch.

However, Shi Shao Jia did quite well; although it was only a slight fingertip touch, it counted as a successful touch, and it also surpassed many others.

After Shi Shao Jia was sent that far away.

Also, some other Divine Eagle Immortal Hands, unwilling to believe it, set out, wanting to try to see if they could gain insight through touch.

Otherwise, wanting to view this Azure Ox Wood Carving, carving an image of Nu Huang…… truly somewhat bewildering!

After Shi Shao Jia was excluded, Jin Mi Luo also set out.

However, his performance was even worse than Shi Shao Jia's; having walked less than a hundred meters, he was directly blown away by the powerful impact.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, and his eyes showed a look of inexplicable awe.

But……

That fleeting glance, however, caused a hint of surprise and joy to appear in Jin Mi Luo's eyes.

He clasped his hands together, then approached the Two Saints Lower Divine Wood and began carving.

Meanwhile, Shi Shao Jia also began to carve; it was obvious that although he hadn't touched it for long, that instant fingertip contact might bring an unexpected gain for everyone!

The Divine Eagle Immortal Hand Ba She from the Strange Demon Cavern also set out; demonic qi raged, and the distance he traveled exceeded Jin Mi Luo's, but in the end he could not touch the Azure Ox like Shi Shao Jia did.

Each Divine Eagle Immortal Hand could no longer restrain themselves, knowing this method worked, and they all began to try to approach and touch.

And this seems not to be about cultivation level.

Like the Dong Yang Immortal Hand of Taiyi Ancient Village, whose cultivation was far inferior to that of Shi Shao Jia, the Young Emperor, yet he, like Shi Shao Jia, walked up to the Azure Ox Wood Carving, reached out his hand, and touched it slightly.

The Dong Yang Immortal Hand's face was full of joy.

"I saw it, I saw it!"

Without a doubt, at the moment of contact, he sensed Nu Huang!

Although vague, at least he now had a direction; he was no longer completely clueless.

And the Dong Yang Immortal Hand's performance drove all the Divine Eagle Immortal Hands into a frenzy.

One Immortal Hand after another rushed forward, approaching the Azure Ox Wood Carving.

However, all failed; aside from the Dong Yang Immortal Hand, no one else succeeded like Shi Shao Jia in touching the Azure Ox Wood Carving even slightly.

Xuan Yuan Hao of Di Hong Ancient Village had originally been expected to do well, but in the end his level was about the same as Jin Mi Luo's.

"It's time for the Young Emperor."

Fu Shao Xi floated down.

Behind him, vast demonic qi raged, coalescing into demonic patterns that covered his whole body; at this moment, the immortal bloodline of the Immortal Bird Emperor within him was reviving.

Fu Shao Xi's eyes burned brightly; he was full of hope, but his Path-proving Divine Weapon, the Demon Saint Halberd, had been taken by Di Zang Wang, and now he could only place his hope on the Qi Tian Shen Dan.

This was his only chance!

So……

He must succeed!

"Nu Huang! Feel the Bird Emperor's bloodline within me and help me!"

Fu Shao Xi gritted his teeth, a low growl issuing from his throat.

A resonant, piercing sound exploded, and in the next moment, behind him, countless demonic qi seemed to burst forth, piling and intertwining into the form of an immensely vast bird.

The bird cried long, flapping its wings, as if an immortal aura began to spread.

In the depths of Dou Tian Gong Cheng.

Behind the Three Honored, seven-colored rosy light revolved, and immortal gazes were projected forth.

"He is the first-generation descendant of the Immortal Bird Emperor from the Strange Demon Cavern; indeed, he was driven to desperation, even stimulating his bloodline."

"For this Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly, they really gave it their all."

"This child's Path-proving Divine Weapon seems to have been taken; having lost his Path-proving Divine Weapon, this little guy has no choice but to give it his all."

……

The three Immortals chatted lightly, smiling.

"However, Nu Huang has always kept public and private separate; this child…… wants to rely on immortal bloodline to sense the techniques Nu Huang has hidden, but it will likely come to nothing."

Laozi Immortal spoke.

The three Immortals, hearing this, also projected their gazes forth.

As expected.

Fu Shao Xi's condition was not much better than that of the Dong Yang Immortal Hand.

In the end, he was even worse than Shi Shao Jia; he never touched the Azure Ox Wood Carving, and even his fingertip contact failed.

Mainly, it was because Fu Shao Xi was still lacking in Divine Eagle Technique; the foundational flaw could hardly be made up for, even with bloodline.

"Ah!"

Fu Shao Xi was rejected, fell to the ground, his face extremely grim.

His whole body seethed with demonic qi, like billowing war smoke, twisting and changing into the bird shape, while the overwhelming pressure of his immortal bloodline continuously spread.

"Why?!"

"Nu Huang, why?!"

"I am the Young Emperor of the Strange Demon Cavern, a descendant of the immortal demon clan!"

Fu Shao Xi suffered immensely, letting out a hoarse roar.

His Divine Condor skill was never very good; he couldn't match Shi Shao Jia, Dongyang Xianshou, and the others. Wanting to do well in this round, he naturally had to touch the wood carving longer than anyone else.

But...

He did not receive any preferential treatment from Nüwa!

However, he merely roared for a while, also knowing that continuing in such fury was just a display of impotence, so he came before the lower divine wood of the Two Saints and began carving based on the faint impressions that surfaced in his mind.

Even Fu Shaoxi failed.

For a moment, the Immortal Hands' emotions calmed, no longer harboring fantasies, merely exerting their utmost to try to draw near, completing the carving through vague perception.

On the bronze city wall.

Ji Shaohao let out a long breath, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

His gaze fell upon the motionless Li Che.

"Why hasn't Immortal Hand Cangche moved yet? Doesn't he try to touch it? Clearly, to sense the condition of Nüwa's statue, one must approach the azure-ox wood carving..."

Ji Shaohao was somewhat anxious.

When hope dangled right before his eyes, it was a boundless temptation.

Li Che's performance completely gripped his state of mind, making it hard for him to stay calm.

"He moved! Immortal Hand Cangche moved!"

Cangyuan had been watching all along, finally exhaling a breath.

Xixi's eyes also shone brightly, gazing without cease.

Zhao Yuan the Great Immortal stroked his beard and smiled: "Cangche's talent is not bad; he surely wouldn't avoid touching it... more likely, he's just adjusting his mood."

"After all, he won first place in the first round; the scoring in the second round is crucial."

Ji Shaohao heard this and kept nodding.

The Divine Condor Great Immortal spoke, also knowing he couldn't rush, and calmed down.

Their gazes locked firmly onto Li Che as he set off.

In fact…

Not only Ji Shaohao paid attention to Li Che.

Release Shajia, Fu Shaoxi, the Bashe, Jin Miro, and the Dongyang Immortal Hand of the Two Saints' Ancient Village, among other strong figures, cast their gazes.

Li Che's performance in the first round was worthy of their attention.

Everyone was curious about what performance this Divine Condor Immortal Hand from the Dark Heaven Court could deliver.

In the first round, the trial of the earth's vein fire—was it coincidence or luck?

Li Che could clearly sense the attention from all sides, yet he did not care.

He walked his own path, uncaring of others' observation.

Of course, it was also because in this trial, outsiders could not clearly see the situation.

Everyone was merely stepping through the air, approaching that azure-ox wood carving.

Li Che was no different.

With a step down, the ground trembled slightly, invisible ripples spread, striking his body.

Li Che lifted his gaze toward the azure-ox wood carving, only to see it faintly blossoming with light.

This light projected forth, forming a slight blocking force.

This blocking force was not strong.

Li Che continued forward; as he advanced, the light grew denser, and the blocking force became increasingly terrifying!

Those lights seemed substantial, as if woven from countless fine golden threads.

However, faintly, Li Che felt within those lights a unique sequence.

The light surged forth like soft waterweed, striking his body, like a gust of wind brushing and impeding his form.

But Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly, his glabella trembled, and his divine spirit burst forth, like an invisible hand gently pushing forward.

Instantly, the golden flowing light was parted like waterweed.

Each golden thread seemed, under his will, to become controllable.

Buzz—

As the golden light was parted, Li Che felt the surging heaven-and-earth will.

This heaven-and-earth will was the true obstacle blocking Li Che's advance.

However, Li Che slightly closed his eyes, sensing the power of heaven-and-earth will, then suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a strange hue.

"The Nine Heavenly-Earthly Glyphs?"

Li Che's eyes flickered.

Exactly, the power bursting from this heaven-and-earth will was transformed from the ancient glyphs of the Nine Heavenly-Earthly Sigils.

Li Che's divine spirit surged, slowly weaving the golden light into an ancient heaven-and-earth glyph he had once comprehended!

The glyph was complete!

Instantly, Li Che felt the resplendent golden light atop the azure-ox wood carving vanish completely.

A smooth path unfolded before him, with no hindrance remaining.

Li Che needed only to will it; stepping forward, he could appear before the azure-ox wood carving and raise his hand to touch it smoothly.

He did not need to, like others, forcefully resist the power of heaven-and-earth will contained within the light.

Li Che needed no brute force; it felt like a natural culmination.

However, Li Che was not satisfied.

His heart and mind stirred slightly, and he actually began to circle the azure-ox wood carving, starting to walk.

It seemed as if an invisible thread, from the azure-ox wood carving, was tied to Li Che's body, the taut line tracing a circle.

Li Che shifted his position, and sure enough, the splendid and piercing golden light burst forth again!

The familiar blocking force descended once more!

Boom—

Like a surging wave, it swept over, pressing Li Che's black robe tightly against his body.

Li Che's eyes shone bright, and the corner of his mouth involuntarily curved upward.

His mind stirred slightly, his divine sense seeming to transform into a great hand that slapped out, beginning to trace the heaven-earth ancient symbols he had once comprehended.

After continuously shifting four positions, walking in a circle, stopping four times, he successfully traced four heaven-earth ancient symbols.

Li Che did not stop, his heart pounding with excitement as he headed toward the fifth position.

Those around him were dumbfounded.

"What is he doing?"

"Walking in circles, looking for a suitable position, then breaking through?"

"Ridiculous—if you can't get in, you can't get in; would walking in circles help? If walking in circles helped, I'd swallow this Two Saints Lower Divine Wood right now!"

All the Godly Eagle Immortal Hands, watching Li Che's strange actions, revealed odd expressions, and some even uttered vicious oaths.

In fact, even Shi Shajia couldn't understand what Li Che was trying to do.

"Releasing the heaven-earth willpower from the azure ox wood carving seems to contain some kind of law and order; to approach, one must first withstand the order power contained within this heaven-earth willpower."

"It's not simply a matter of changing positions to make it work."

Shi Shajia shook his head.

Watching Li Che shift positions five times without advancing even a step,

he realized that Li Che probably had no hope.

Explaining that Li Che had been blocked at five positions, further attempts would be meaningless.

"Ultimately, his cultivation is just too weak—although cultivation isn't everything, it is the foundation; without sufficient cultivation, it's impossible to get close to the azure ox wood carving and glimpse the essence of Nuwa!"

Shi Shajia softly chanted the Buddhist mantra.

No longer wasting time on Li Che, he began gripping the carving knife, starting to carve on the Two Saints Lower Divine Wood.

Others did the same, seemingly too indifferent to continue paying attention to Li Che.

Feeling that Li Che's failure was already a foregone conclusion, they thought this position was essentially the limit.

But Li Che didn't care about the gazes of those around him.

They couldn't possibly understand his joy at this moment!

Heaven-Earth Nine Symbols!

Fifth Symbol!

Li Che sensed it!

The art that had been erased by the heaven-earth will, upon contacting the fifth symbol, the technique of the fifth symbol surged back into his mind, filling it.

Li Che hesitated not, beginning to trace the fifth heaven-earth ancient symbol within the heaven-earth chessboard.

Buzz—

Li Che's mystic immortal will manifested within the heaven-earth chessboard, five fingers like knives, slicing through the void.

As if cutting open the heavens themselves, the fifth heaven-earth ancient symbol was overwhelmingly tyrannical, perhaps due to the superposition of the patterns and aura of the first four symbols.

Under Li Che's tracing, the fifth ancient symbol almost completely drained his mystic immortal will.

The entire heaven-earth chessboard trembled, as if unable to bear this moment's power.

But Li Che's black hair flew wildly, his eyes shining bright like a river of stars streaming forth!

Unheeding, he continued to construct and carve within the heaven-earth chessboard.

Buzz—

Before him, a flowing light seemed to emerge.

That was the maturity of the Chess Saint Dao Fruit, rapidly increasing as Li Che traced the fifth ancient symbol.

【Dao Fruit: Chess Saint (lv8, 40%)】

【40%, 50%, 60%……】

The pressure brought by the fifth ancient symbol exceeded the limit the heaven-earth chessboard could bear, and under this limit, the feedback to the Chess Saint Dao Fruit was a kind of tempering, a kind of enhancement.

Fifth ancient symbol…

Its difficulty is indeed great!

The mystic immortal will roared and trembled, as if on the verge of shattering at any moment.

But Li Che, having seized this rare opportunity, would not easily give up.

Once this chance is missed, he does not know when he will again get the opportunity to trace heaven-earth ancient symbols.

This time, because the Immortal Old Lord sought to harness the power of the heaven-earth vein fire to set up a divine formation containing heaven-earth willpower, Nuwa had embedded the power to trace heaven-earth ancient symbols within the azure ox wood carving.

So…

Li Che must make good use of this opportunity!

Fifth heaven-earth ancient symbol!

Boom—!!

The entire heaven-earth chessboard seemed to be engulfed by a terrifying blade aura!

Heaven's Intent Blade!

As if a phantom light intertwined and flickered, just like the Heaven's Intent Blade that once slashed the boss, it reappeared at this moment!

The entire heaven-earth chessboard seemed to be sliced open by a terrifying blade aura, forming a rift as deep as an abyss!

As if unable to withstand this force, it was about to collapse completely!

And Li Che's mystic immortal will blurred, as if about to scatter with the wind!

Condensing the fifth heaven-earth ancient symbol almost exhausted all the power of his mystic immortal will united with three Dao.

Whooo—

The Heaven and Earth Saber hovered above the chessboard.

Upon it, five ancient runes lit up!

Li Che's Profound Immortal will sat cross-legged at the Heavenly Origin point of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, eyes completely closed.

After a long while, he opened his eyes.

The five ancient symbols twined around his body.

……

……

Suddenly, he opened his eyes.

Li Che's eyes were sharp, as if a terrifying long blade had slashed out before him, cutting everything apart!

Before him, the golden light shattered instantly, and all became clear!

Li Che's black robe fluttered wildly, his ink‑black hair flowing like a waterfall behind him, swaying like a cape!

Li Che stared directly at the green ox wood carving, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He took another step toward the side.

After pausing for a long time, Li Che stepped forward again, naturally drawing much attention.

When everyone saw Li Che step toward the sixth direction, they all shook their heads in speechlessness, lowered their heads, and continued focusing on their carving.

This attention‑seeking guy……

Having changed six positions still isn't enough—what on earth is he trying to do?

However.

Li Che's face quickly showed a hint of regret.

Having switched to the sixth position, that terrifying Heaven and Earth Will barrier never appeared again.

It was as if the Heaven and Earth Will had sensed it and been erased.

Li Che let out a soft sigh; three Heaven and Earth ancient runes remained……

Where should I go to comprehend this?

If there's a chance, if I could meet Nüwa directly, could I obtain it from her?

This thought occurred to Li Che, and he couldn't help but chuckle lightly.

That's too unrealistic.

Because he is destined to stand opposed to the Heavenly Immortals of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Nüwa…… how could she possibly support him, an enemy standing on the opposing side?

Forget it.

Li Che stretched, his bones cracking all over.

Warm‑up over.

Li Che stepped forward again, his firm footsteps landing like the beating of an evening drum and morning bell.

With a "dong," the whole square seemed to shudder violently.

The carver Shi Shajia suddenly lifted his head, his carving knife pausing, and cicada patterns reappeared on his brows.

Fu Shaoxi's demonic aura surged wildly, barely controllable, erupting as he fixed his gaze.

Has the barrier been broken?

This Vast Clear Immortal Hand actually managed to advance after altering the six directions?!

Gazes fell upon Li Che.

Ba She, Jin Miruo, Xuanyuan Hao, and others wielding the Divine Eagle Immortal Hand stared in disbelief and regret!

No……

Is this even possible?

Just changing direction, and you can find a breakthrough?

Many Immortal Hands even more so beat their chests and stamped their feet—this narrow path, Li Che actually found it? He forced his way in!

Damn it!

Shi Shajia's eyes burned like golden flames, his cicada patterns blazing as he stared fixedly.

Li Che advanced all the way without any obstruction.

When he effortlessly arrived before the green ox wood carving.

Amidst everyone's gaze, filled with disbelief.

He slowly raised his hand and placed it upon the green ox wood carving.

It was not a fingertip's touch, but the whole palm covering it!

……

The palm Li Che placed upon it gently rubbed and wandered across the green ox wood carving.

Impossible!

Around him, an uproar erupted instantly, boiling over!

Fu Shaoxi, the Young Emperor of the Strange Demon Lair, his demonic aura running wild, exploded in a thunderous blast, shooting up a pillar of demonic energy!

And as Li Che's palm rested upon the green ox wood carving, lightly rubbing and wandering,

within his chest.

The Immortal Craft Dao Fruit underwent an unprecedented violent tremor!

It was like the sound of a heart pounding like thunder, spreading out, like ripples washing, striking against the green ox.

Slowly...

The green ox wood carving actually underwent a change.

It transformed into a beautiful wood carving with a human head and snake body!

Suddenly, Li Che felt as if his heart would stop beating, as if a terrifying gaze easily tore open the barrier of heaven and earth, and fell upon him.

Female Sovereign!

Li Che took a deep breath.

However, the gaze fell upon the hand still wandering and stroking over the wood carving, and instantly stiffened.

(End of chapter)