Chapter 586: The Monkey and His Grandson Pull the Handsome Monkey King Down from the Throne, Making a Decision

Boom—

The terrifying undulations of heaven and earth's will kept sweeping; the furnace suspended deep in Doutian Palace City rumbled, continuously emitting a sound like bell waves.

Surging without cease, trembling like thunder!

Not only Li Che, but nearly all God Eagle Immortal Hands who had stepped into the depths of Doutian Palace City lifted their gazes, their hearts trembling without cease.

That... Equal-Heaven Demon Monkey?!

It really is a demon monkey; it hasn't died even after all this!

Being burned by such terrifying Earth Vein Fire, roasted day and night, yet not refined at all—truly terrifying!

That's nonsense! This is the Equal-Heaven Demon Monkey, who at his peak could battle Heavenly Immortals, even having Earth Immortals fall beneath his staff!

……

One after another, terrified voices issued from the mouths of the God Eagle Immortal Hands.

Shi Shajia and Fu Shaoxi, the two Young Emperors of the Divine Gods Camp, stared fixedly at this Doutian Furnace; this is the Heavenly Immortal Artifact of the Immortal Old Lord, of extremely high rank and utterly terrifying!

Even an ordinary Earth Immortal placed in this Doutian Furnace could not endure long before being swiftly refined!

One can only say, no wonder it's the Equal-Heaven Demon Monkey—a Hell Lotus Camp combat divine spirit of unmatched power!

Together with the Hell Lotus Maiden, they stirred up the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, turning them upside down!

Three Earth Immortals floated in the air, their powerful aura spreading in ripple-like circles, lending the void a hint of mystery and wonder.

One after another, fire dragons surged from the depths of Doutian Palace City, striking the furnace and scorching it red.

The three Earth Immortals were precisely maintaining the burning of this Earth Vein Fire.

Each God Eagle Immortal Hand dared not breathe, for to sustain the Earth Vein Fire's burning, the three Earth Immortals basically did not conceal their aura.

Thus, an immense pressure, like three great mountains, weighed upon everyone's hearts.

The Immortal's pressure was too terrifying; although capable of becoming God Eagle Immortal Hands, they basically had Slashing Dao Realm cultivation, yet at this moment they all trembled.

Three Immortals appearing together—such a lineup is already extremely rare.

After all, in the past, for a Slashing Dao Divine Spirit to see even one Immortal was an extremely rare occurrence.

Golden Crane King strode forward, leading the eighty-one Formation Immortal Hands into the city.

He first clasped his fists, offering rites to the three Earth Immortals.

Then his gaze turned toward the Doutian Furnace, his face showing reverence.

The negative emotions from the Ruyi Golden Hooped Staff being stolen had long since melted away at this moment, vanished completely.

"Teacher, the eighty-one Formation Immortal Hands have all been selected and brought here." Golden Crane King respectfully said to Doutian Dao.

The words fell.

Shi Shajia, Fu Shaoxi, and the others unconsciously raised their heads.

Li Che also felt something, gazing upward at the Doutian Furnace.

As it turned out, above the Doutian Furnace, unnoticed by anyone, appeared a white-robed old man with white hair and beard, his robes fluttering, exuding an otherworldly, transcendent aura.

Together with the enormous illusory image that originally appeared outside Doutian City, they reflected radiance!

Immortal Old Lord!

The true Immortal Old Lord!

Li Che's heart tightened, his breath seeming to stall.

One could feel that this Immortal Old Lord, merely seated there, became like a dark, pressing world, suppressing all light and becoming the source of all radiance between heaven and earth.

The radiance of the three Earth Immortals was completely suppressed.

Shi Shajia, Fu Shaoxi, and the other Young Emperors all performed reverent rites.

Even though they were Young Emperors of different camps, at this moment they set aside arrogance, leaving humility and respect.

Facing a Heavenly Immortal, anyone would be left only with reverence.

The remaining God Eagle Immortal Hands also, at this moment, performed reverent salutations.

Li Che likewise clasped his fists and made a slight bow.

The Immortal Old Lord's gaze swept over; his eyes were profoundly deep, as if able to see through the void and into each person's heart, making souls tremble.

Each Dao Fruit within Li Che's body, at this moment, grew still, as if severed from him, not daring to leak the slightest aura.

Li Che further suppressed his Profound Immortal aura completely within, not leaking a trace!

"Eighty-one Formation Immortal Hands, please assist this old one in forming ranks to refine the demon monkey."

The Immortal Old Lord spoke, his voice booming, endlessly vibrating, echoing in everyone's ears.

"Yes."

Each God Eagle Immortal Hand responded in unison, bowing in perfect unison.

Golden Crane King scanned the crowd, beginning to arrange the Formation Immortal Hands into position.

To ensure the accuracy of each Formation Immortal Hand's position, Golden Crane King spared no effort, personally leading each one to their spot.

Li Che was the first to be led away; having scored first overall after passing the first two rounds of the Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly, he naturally received the best formation sequence.

The Earth Vein Fire on the ground continually surged forth, like a coiling flood dragon, its scorching heat spreading without cease.

Golden Crane King glanced at Li Che, reminding him to release his divine power to resist the Earth Vein Fire.

However, Li Che had passed the first trial, so Golden Crane King merely gave a simple reminder.

The two stages of the Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly were precisely prepared for this moment of stepping into the formation array.

Hum—

Li Che's body suffused with divinity, as if transformed into a divinity gauze robe draped over his flesh, isolating the burning of the Earth Vein Fire.

Between the appearing and vanishing ground flames, patterns of various clouds and totems emerged, like a starry sky map, extremely dreamy, filled with a vast, desolate aura.

"Cangche Immortal Hand, you are the first rank of this Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly; this place is your position."

"Do not leave the five-meter range; within this range, you may move freely and will not affect the Divine Pill Grand Formation." Golden Crane King's sword qi feathers fluttered behind him, and he couldn't help but speak to remind.

Golden Crane King must mention these precautions.

"If your improper operation causes the Divine Pill Grand Formation to lose control, we will hold you accountable."

"Moreover..."

Golden Crane King gave Li Che a deep look.

"If the Divine Pill Grand Formation fails because of your operation, you should also clearly know what you will face directly."

"Too many cultivators are waiting for the Immortal Lord Lao's Heaven-Enveloping Furnace to refine the Equal-Heaven Divine Pill."

"So, once your failure causes the refinement of Equal-Heaven to fail, producing no divine pill... you will be torn to shreds by countless cultivators, never to recover!"

Golden Crane King was very solemn.

Upon hearing this, Li Che clasped his hands solemnly, promising not to do anything dangerous.

Only then did Golden Crane King nod in satisfaction.

"Azure Deep Immortal Hand, you can become a first-tier Immortal Hand; I am indeed surprised, which shows your future is limitless."

"But do not let a small detail cause a mistake, leading to a fall into boundless abyss."

After finishing the reminder, Golden Crane King turned back to guide the second Divine Condor Immortal Hand, namely Shi Shajia.

Shi Shajia stood roughly a hundred meters from Li Che's position; the position was strictly fixed.

Golden Crane King's sword qi clanged behind him, opening the way ahead, cutting through one crimson flame after another, drawing the Divine Condor Immortal Hands to their correct positions.

Thus, one by one guided, the eighty-one formation Immortal Hands took their places.

Each stood quietly in their position, daring not to make any movement, not even the two young emperors Shi Shajia and Fu Shixi, and they dared not act recklessly.

At this moment, their burden was too great; if the formation failed, the impact would be too severe.

Li Che also understood this; as the first-ranked Immortal Hand in the formation, his position was the most important of all.

And this was naturally also the safest place.

If Li Che really moved secretly there to rescue the Equal-Heaven Temple deity, without attracting attention, few would regard this first-ranked formation Immortal Hand as the mastermind!

Li Che would thus have an easy chance to escape.

Under the perception of three Earthly Immortals and one Heavenly Immortal, Li Che's small moves were actually quite difficult.

But since he had come, Li Che naturally wanted to try; he couldn't just watch Equal-Heaven be refined into a divine pill in the furnace.

Although Li Che had already transferred Equal-Heaven's origin entirely into the Hunyuan Ruyi Staff, if he could save this fleshly body of Equal-Heaven, that would naturally be best.

Standing still in place, his dark robe fluttering, the scorching earth vein fire rolled and roared, making people involuntarily break into sweat.

Li Che knew that Immortal Lord Lao needed to refine Equal-Heaven using the heavenly and earthly vein fire.

But now, only the earth vein fire exists; the heavenly vein fire has not yet merged with the earth vein fire.

Perhaps the purpose of setting up the formation is to control the heavenly and earthly vein fire?

The eighty-one Divine Condor Immortal Hands carve divine condors, forming the formation, like a furnace that controls temperature?

In Li Che's mind, he slowly sketched his current situation.

He closed his eyes, and on the heavenly-earthly chessboard in his mind, he placed pieces to construct possibilities and methods for rescuing Equal-Heaven.

Hummm—

No one knew how long had passed; all the Divine Condor Immortal Hands felt a slight tremor in their hearts.

Under the immortals' pressure, they suddenly felt the pressure on their bodies ease.

Because the immortals transferred their pressure into that Heaven-Enveloping Furnace, increasing the output of the earth vein fire.

"Everyone, now form the formation."

"Divine wood will appear; everyone, use your lifetime's understanding of the carving way to carve a demon monkey."

Immortal Lord Lao's voice transmitted from the void.

Each Divine Condor Immortal Hand's mind and spirit shuddered.

Li Che's eyes narrowed, and he saw before him a mass of earth vein fire shooting forth; then, as the firelight receded.

However, a thick, crimson-crystal divine wood lay before him.

That divine wood was not like timber but rather a crystal-like substance, as thick as a grindstone and up to three meters high.

Carve the Equal-Heaven demon monkey?

This is not a difficult test; the Divine Condor Immortal Hands present raised their heads, all able to clearly see the demon monkey leaping up and down in the Heaven-Enveloping Furnace.

It was just a normal copying.

For the Divine Condor Immortal Hands, carving with a clear reference is even easier.

However, carving the Divine Condor into a rank is not an easy task.

Hummm—

Accompanied by clashing blade light, countless brilliant blade rays seemed to sweep across heaven and earth.

One by one, the Divine Condor Immortal Hands began to carve.

Li Che frowned tightly, gripping the carving knife; he could not hesitate, he had to act, otherwise he would be too conspicuous.

Li Che guessed that his godlike performance at the Divine Craft Immortal Hand Assembly must have already aroused suspicion and attention from many strong ones.

Ji Shao Hao, Shi Shajia, Fu Shixi, and others should have already fixed their gaze on his strangeness.

So at this time, Li Che must not act too unconventionally.

The divine weapon carving knife swung out, striking the crimson-crystal-like divine wood, instantly bursting forth brilliant firelight!

Shasha—

Because there was a reference, it was like a copy-the-text exam; for the Divine Condor Immortal Hands, the difficulty was not too great.

In a rustling sound, in the gleam of the carving knife's swing.

Each Divine Eagle Immortal Hand completed the carving of the Equal Heaven Demon Monkey.

Lifelike, each with different poses, even if they could not clearly see the Equal Heaven leaping up and down inside the Cocoon Heaven Furnace.

However, the Equal Heaven image carved by each Divine Eagle Immortal Hand was lifelike to the utmost.

And Li Che also began carving, not hiding his clumsiness but revealing his strongest Divine Eagle technique.

The blade light flowed like a stream, clinging to the divine wood as it cut off a piece.

The speed was steady and unhurried, smooth yet carrying a special sense of insight.

In about half a day, all the Divine Eagle Immortal Hands almost simultaneously finished the carving!

Each Equal Heaven Demon Monkey Divine Eagle, once carved, flowed with a crimson glow.

When the last Divine Eagle Immortal Hand finished the finishing touches on the statue.

The immortal Laozi, seated cross-legged atop the Cocoon Heaven Furnace, lowered his eyelids and swept his gaze, which fell upon the eighty-one Equal Heaven statues.

A sweep of his whiskers seemed to pour down boundless divinity, like a waterfall cascading from the Nine Heavens.

With a boom, it crashed down beneath the Cocoon Heaven Furnace!

The eighty-one Equal Heaven Demon Monkey Divine Eagles then floated up, as if becoming lively, possessing vitality!

"The Divine Pill Grand Formation for refining the Equal Heaven is about to open; please sit cross-legged, connect your minds with the Divine Eagle, and relax your thoughts."

The immortal Laozi's voice echoed.

Li Che's eyes narrowed, and like the other Divine Eagle Immortal Hands, he sat cross-legged on the ground.

The heat of the earthly vein fire seemed to travel along the ground to the buttocks, then spread throughout the body, as if a hot current surged from the lower body up to the top of the head.

A flick of the whiskers,

The immortal Laozi spread his five fingers, and in his palm appeared a swirling blazing-gold flame lotus.

He flicked a finger, and the flame lotus instantly drifted sideways, finally landing at the center where everyone's gazes converged.

"Boom!" a tremendous roar!

The earthly vein fire within the burning sea of flames seemed to be ignited again!

The blazing-gold flames twisted into a golden serpentine dragon, which clashed with the original earthly vein fire's blazing-gold dragon.

The temperature instantly skyrocketed, space began to twist, as if it could not bear the load and would shatter!

"This is the heavenly vein fire; the heavenly and earthly vein fires have converged—truly the refinement of the Equal Heaven Demon Monkey is about to begin!"

Release Shijia clasped his hands, his eyes widened, cicada patterns covering his pupils, bursting forth with brilliant golden light.

"We have carved the demon monkey Divine Eagle; using its form, we will draw the heavenly and earthly vein fire, lock onto the demon monkey, burn and roast it, and refine it into a pill!"

Fu Shaoxi's body surged with demonic aura, his eyes also lighting up.

"This is a plan to refine it by means of decomposing the demon monkey's soul!"

"The Divine Pill Grand Formation is indeed miraculous; truly worthy of being the first pill-refining ancestor immortal of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!"

Fu Shaoxi sighed with myriad emotions.

And Xuanyuan Hao from the Two Saints Ancient Village, as well as the Divine Hand Dongyang, also expressed their sentiments.

However, after their sighs, their eyes became even more brilliant and bright.

Because, their confidence in the immortal Laozi's refinement of the Equal Heaven into a Equal Heaven Divine Pill grew a bit more!

Rumble—!

That Cocoon Heaven Furnace, which had originally been floating in the sky.

At the instant the immortal Laozi flicked his whiskers to activate the formation.

It seemed as if the whole world pressed down; three earthly immortals successively erupted with mighty heavenly and earthly will, stacking together into three great palms that pressed down in unison.

Boom——!

Numerous earthly vein fires were scattered by the impact of the Cocoon Heaven Furnace's downward plunge, rushing outward in all directions!

The three-legged Cocoon Heaven Furnace blazed crimson; the Equal Heaven Demon Monkey inside seemed to sense the situation, anticipating its impending refinement, and began to shriek, unleashing tremendous assaulting power as it slammed hard against the furnace wall!

Thud thud thud——

Shockwaves rippled outward in circles!

A dull explosion rang out!

The three-legged Cocoon Heaven Furnace slammed hard into the ground, causing countless patterns on the surface to seem to revive, as magma seeped out and swiftly wandered, forming a diagram!

Hiss hiss hiss——

The scorching heat made each Divine Eagle Immortal Hand feel as if their soul were being roasted!

Fortunately, the points where they stood erupted with heavenly and earthly will, forming an invisible barrier that protected them from the scorching heat!

Each Equal Heaven Demon Monkey Divine Eagle carved by the Divine Eagle Immortal Hands seemed to have been ignited!

Li Che's gaze swept sharply, landing upon the eighty-first Divine Eagle Immortal Hand.

The Equal Heaven Demon Monkey he had carved fell to the ground, as if coming to life, and with the heavenly and earthly vein fire, like a bone‑eating worm, it burned and entwined, clinging onto the demon monkey Divine Eagle.

That demon monkey Divine Eagle immediately let out a miserable shriek, rolling incessantly in the sea of fire.

Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly.

The next moment.

He saw the demon monkey Divine Eagle's miserable cry cut off abruptly, and then the entire statue exploded!

It transformed into a streak of heavenly and earthly vein fire shaped like a demon monkey, limbs flailing, screaming as it ran wildly through the formation, shooting straight toward the Cocoon Heaven Furnace.

"Clang!" a tremendous sound!

That demon monkey slammed hard into the furnace, its heavenly and earthly vein fire–formed body twisting and burning, instantly turning the furnace crimson!

The immortal Laozi, hovering above the Cocoon Heaven Furnace, flicked his whiskers again.

He brought two fingers together and lightly pointed at the demon monkey Divine Eagle carved by the formation hand positioned in the eightieth slot.

Instantly, this divine condor also became vividly lifelike, as if endowed with life, burning away in screams and despair, and finally turned into an earth‑vein fire demon monkey condensed from the earth‑vein fire, charging toward the cauldron.

Immortal Old Lord presided over the cauldron from above, constantly pointing his finger.

One after another, divine condor demon monkeys were swallowed by the earth‑vein fire amid their screams.

The scene was shocking.

It made every divine condor adept hold their breath, daring not to exhale.

Li Che's eyes narrowed, his five fingers clenched, each breath heavy as thunder.

He could clearly sense that the earth‑vein fire was continuously burning, constantly pouring into the cauldron, scorching and roasting the Qitian Temple God!

How ruthless!

Li Che drew a deep breath.

He clenched his fist, and in his palm a flying‑thunder chess piece seemed to appear.

But this flying‑thunder chess piece, which usually never fails, could not achieve translocation.

Even though the cauldron hovered right before his eyes, clearly just that close, he could not effect the flying‑thunder translocation.

This Heaven‑Covering Cauldron is a supreme immortal artifact, its power terrifyingly immense.

It even blocked the spatial principle of flying‑thunder translocation.

Unless he could get close, press his palm against the cauldron's surface to make contact, only then might he accomplish the translocation…

Watching eighty‑one divine condor demon monkeys, over half exploded, forty earth‑vein fire monkeys clinging to the outside of the Heaven‑Covering Cauldron, nearly sealing it completely.

The scorching earth‑vein fire released a temperature that could incinerate everything, seeping through the cauldron into its interior.

Li Che could not imagine how terrifying the temperature inside the cauldron at this moment was!

Even his Mundane Sacred Body would likely not survive more than ten breaths inside!

In such a predicament…… how should he attempt to rescue Qitian?

Li Che's complexion grew grim, reflecting the blazing golden firelight, shifting between light and dark.

No wonder…… no wonder Qitian was so desperate.

He would choose to transmit his entire origin through the Ruyi Golden Cudgel, hoping to preserve his own origin.

The Immortal Old Lord's refinement methods are indeed beyond imagination!

Li Che clenched his five fingers into a fist, firelight reflected in his eyes.

He was pondering how to save Qitian…

Could it really be that he can only watch helplessly?

A trace of unwilling welled up in his heart; he had finally reached this position and seen the Qitian Temple God.

But faced with the Immortal Old Lord's grand pill‑refining formation, he was at a loss.

Li Che sat cross‑legged in his place.

He clenched his fists and slowly closed his eyes.

Around…

Scream after scream echoed without cease.

Each scream represented a demon monkey carved by a divine condor adept, burned by the earth‑vein fire, transformed into an earth‑vein fire monkey that rushed toward the cauldron refining Qitian, becoming part of that refinement.

Like countless monkey sons and grandsons of Qitian, seeking to drag their king down from his throne.

To let their king meet a complete downfall and ruin.

Boom—boom—boom—

Fu Shaoxi suddenly rose to his feet, his body trembling slightly, demonic qi raging and twisting.

He gazed greedily and excitedly at the demon monkey he had carved.

Wave after wave of earth‑vein fire surged out, continually cracking the demon monkey he had carved!

"Burn it! Burn it quickly!"

"Only by refining the Qitian God Pill can this young emperor have a chance to compensate for the anguish of having his proof‑of‑the‑Way divine weapon seized!"

Fu Shaoxi's sharp teeth flashed as he grew excited, almost wanting to dance with joy.

Bang—!

A scream!

His demon‑monkey divine condor exploded; the earth‑vein fire monkey it became was even larger than the others, roaring as it charged out and slammed hard into the cauldron.

Thud—

The cauldron suddenly emitted a loud dull thud!

From within came a pained groan, as if in agony!

"It's working! Almost done!"

Fu Shaoxi was excited to the extreme, his face seeming to twist, his greed almost making him drool.

Dongyang Xiānshǒu also rose to his feet, he was far more restrained than Fu Shaoxi.

The demon monkey he carved also exploded; the fire monkey grew even larger, containing a richer earth‑vein fire.

Meanwhile, Dongyang Xiānshǒu seized the moment, sat cross‑legged, and his powerful spiritual sense spread out, beginning to perceive the regulatory order power within the earth‑vein fire.

He drew a bit of that power to refine his spiritual sense, as if trying to open the path of life and death in the Nine Netherworlds!

This was originally also their opportunity.

Not only Dongyang Xiānshǒu, but many other divine condor adepts likewise, by relying on the carved divine condor, seized the moment of its burning by the earth‑vein fire to grasp its power and temper themselves.

When Dongyang Xiānshǒu's divine condor was also burned to ash,

Shì Shǎojiā slowly rose to his feet, cicada patterns appearing on his eyebrows.

The divine condor he carved burst apart, a towering eighty‑zhang earth‑vein fire monkey emerged roaring, pounding its chest; its mighty build was quite different from the other earth‑vein fire monkeys.

Shi Shaojia's eyes showed a restless color.

The golden cicada patterns above his eyes trembled, drawing in a strand of Heaven-Earth Pulse Fire and merging into them.

His monk's robes continuously fluttered.

Behind him, a Primordial Golden Cicada seemed to appear, absorbing the Heaven-Earth Pulse Fire to temper his body!

Although a hint of pain appeared on his face,

But compared to the gains, this bit of pain was nothing at all.

Whooo—

It seemed as if an endless sea of fire boiled, ape cries shattering the sky, everything collapsing, filled with destruction and ruin!

Li Che suddenly opened his eyes.

His whole body trembled slightly.

Because…

Finally, it was his turn.

Crack—

A crack burst forth, and on the Heaven-Equaling Divine Eagle carved by Li Che, fissures instantly appeared.

A surging strand of Heaven-Earth Pulse Fire shot out from it, then unleashed uncontrollably, causing the revived Divine Eagle to emit a sharp, angry roar!

Li Che did not rise, maintaining his seated posture.

He raised his head.

His black hair flew wildly.

He watched the Divine Eagle burned away by the Heaven-Earth Pulse Fire.

He watched the Heaven-Earth Pulse Flame Demon Monkey rise up, reaching a height of a hundred zhang.

Li Che only felt his heart at this moment trembling.

However.

Soon, his heart became resolute.

His eyes narrowed slightly, his mind already having made a choice.

The Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit throbbed violently.

He gazed intently.

At the instant the Heaven-Earth Pulse Fire Monkey he carved slammed violently into the alchemy furnace,

Li Che clenched his five fingers tightly.

In his palm, the Flying Thunder Chess Piece vanished instantly.

At the moment he left behind a Sovereign Clone in place,

His entire being then disappeared.

(End of Chapter)