Chapter 636: with translation of chapter title

Boom—Boom—Boom—Boom—

A terrifying tremor shockwave spread continuously from above the sheer cliff.

On the floating Thousand Buddha Pagoda, a thousand carved Buddha statues continuously recited the ancient Buddha sutras, each verse solidifying into substance that floated down from the pagoda.

Like agarwood, it continuously wound itself around Li Che's body, piercing into every inch of his skin, aiming to fully infiltrate his body, usurp his flesh, control his form, and devour his soul!

This is the Buddhist path of conversion and return; though called conversion, it is in fact bizarre—a most vicious method.

Within Li Che's dantian inner landscape, dense Buddhist light continuously pierced in, forming one Buddha image after another, immense, seeking to occupy every inch of his dantian inner space.

The seven-orifice exquisite heart trembled, continuously emitting an intangible pure heart divinity, resisting those Buddhist lights.

While repelling the erosion of Buddhist light, in this process Li Che's pure heart divinity's maturity was catalyzed to rise at an extremely rapid speed.

Unconsciously, Li Che's pure heart divinity underwent a qualitative leap, achieving the Eight Metamorphoses!

It was entirely through the honing of Buddhist light that the maturity was gradually stacked up!

Mainly, Li Che had not expected that this Buddhist light... would have such a strong honing effect on the pure heart divinity, as if it were originally prepared for the pure heart Dao fruit.

This caused a slight tremor in Li Che's heart, a lingering doubt swirling within.

But now is not the time to care about these.

The Thousand Buddha Pagoda seemed to sense something amiss; now the Tathagata sat atop the pagoda, his whole body appearing transparent, reflecting countless strands of Buddhist light, to penetrate Li Che's body and reveal Li Che's true identity.

To dissect the essence of every inch of Li Che's skin, to see through Li Che's true identity.

But to see through the identity, actually the Tathagata should already have guessed Li Che's true identity; the Ksitigarbha King is merely his disguise, in fact the father of the Prison Lotus Daughter should be Li Che's true identity.

Li Che had not thought to completely conceal this identity, after all traces were left between heaven and earth.

Since the Ksitigarbha King appeared in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, karmic traces were left, and the Three-Worlds Tathagata, master of karmic deduction, followed the clues and could always discern Li Che's true identity.

The Ksitigarbha King originates from the mortal world, thus can be linked to Li Che's true identity.

He is that mortal martial immortal, the father of this life's Divine Tide Prison Lotus Daughter.

The sole variable beyond all calculations!

But what the Tathagata now wishes to know is not this identity; the Tathagata feels Li Che still has a disguise, one that... makes even the Tathagata's immortal will tremble!

It involves a secret of cosmic magnitude!

Boom—!!!

Li Che's whole body burst with bright light; the Buddha nature light, like dragon-whisker steel needles, pierced his body, erupting in every cell.

Li Che's eyes opened and closed, his spirit suddenly trembled, pulled by a powerful force, falling into the vast heavens and earth.

Whoosh—!!!

It seemed ancient deities and demons sounded a horn, echoing from the distant primordial ages, reverberating in the ears, as if a divine-demon war erupted between heaven and earth!

Fierce winds and waves blew between heaven and earth; Li Che's jet-black hair danced wildly, hovering beneath the colossal Dao tree that spanned almost the entire heavens.

Li Che felt extremely tiny—no, rather the Dao tree became enormous, tearing through the heavens' barrier, piercing the starry sky, its branches expanding as if hanging countless vast stars.

The pure heart Dao fruit erupted with ultimate dazzling radiance, larger than stars, hanging on the branches, heavy enough to bend them!

Pure heart Dao fruit, lv10, Eight Metamorphoses!

Li Che attained another Dao fruit that achieved the Eight Metamorphoses!

At this moment, an overwhelmingly grand primordial aura burst forth, like a tide, nurtured within the Dao fruit, like a fruit about to ripen, emitting an intoxicating fragrance.

Li Che's inner self was fully stirred, as if about to sink into it.

Clack.

A crisp sound, as if a star were plucked, the pure heart Dao fruit emitted multicolored flowing light, exquisitely dazzling and ethereal, drifting and hovering before Li Che.

Like a dream, like an illusion, it was the most radiant gem in heaven and earth, emitting ultimate brilliance.

【Dao fruit lv10, Eight Metamorphoses, Pure Heart Clarity, Piercing Red Dust Immortal】

Boom—

The true words of the Dao fruit's metamorphosis vibrated in his mind.

Then, the primordial essence instantly merged into Li Che's body.

Li Che only felt the world spinning, countless scenes flashed before his eyes, each showing countless luminous figures, each a soul trapped in a dire predicament, struggling, wandering, and frantically seeking survival amidst chaos.

In one world after another, cultivators whose hearts were clouded, no longer pure, fell into chaotic disorder during cultivation, engulfed by darkness, unable to see a clear world, unable to perceive light!

Each cultivator's struggling heart becomes nourishment for the pure heart's growth, allowing one to witness their tearing of darkness and their wandering liberation in the light.

Li Che closed his eyes, as if merging with those struggling cultivators, experiencing their despair, feeling their helplessness, struggling in darkness, rolling in the mire.

Finally, cleansing away fine dust, unstained by dust, pure and flawless, strengthening will, empowering belief!

Pure heart origin...

After repeatedly breaking free from darkness, Li Che suddenly opened his eyes, understanding what purity truly is.

Within his chest, the pure heart Dao fruit seemed to become a true heart, merging into his own heart, and with each beat, pure primordial flow streamed out.

The seven emotions and six desires, at this moment, seemed to solidify into tangible energy, which he then manipulated and controlled.

……

……

The Thousand Buddha Pagoda recites Buddha chants, showering Buddhist light.

The present-world Tathagata's eyes opened and closed, infinitely profound; the powerful imperial-grade celestial immortal pressure, like a divine mountain cleaved by an axe, collapsed with a boom, as if crushing the mortal realm.

Such pressure does not come from the flesh, but from the spirit.

Li Che opened his eyes, his jet-black hair fluttering, lifted his head, facing the Thousand Buddha Pagoda directly.

This imperial-grade celestial immortal suppressing artifact emitted terrifying sealing power, intending to make Li Che fully convert, to submit under the present-world Tathagata's command.

It would even cause three thousand strands of afflictions to fall, voluntarily descending into the void.

However, after Li Che's pure heart metamorphosis, his will became exceedingly clear; the Buddha chants suppressed by the Thousand Buddha Pagoda can no longer cause him to sink, and he swept away all confusion.

Li Che stood in the midst of the heaven-and-earth chessboard, the chessboard beneath his feet spreading out in intersecting lines.

Three Worlds Tathagata……

Who are you again?

Li Che raised his head, his black hair flying wildly; as the Dao Fruit transformed, his whole body's immaculate heart origin overflowed and spread, emitting a hazy radiance, like a point of light breaking free from the endless darkness.

Li Che was questioning the Three Worlds Tathagata in return.

Because, Li Che also harbored the same doubt in his heart.

The Buddhist light shining down on this Three Worlds Tathagata could actually let the Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit achieve such rapid enhancement and transformation, as if it were a great tonic from the same source.

On the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, the Present World Tathagata cast his gaze downward.

And Li Che, beneath the pagoda, projected his gaze upward.

Their gazes collided in the void, as if transmitting a query heart-to-heart.

Who exactly are you?

Boom—

Li Che's gaze fixed on the Three Worlds Tathagata.

You are……

Lord of the Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit?

Lord of the Dao Fruit?!

Is the Three Worlds Tathagata the Lord of the Dao Fruit?

Li Che didn't know and couldn't give an answer; really?

Is the Lord of the Dao Fruit still alive? Then how could Li Che obtain the Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit……

How did these Dao Fruits come to be, and why were they conceived and born?

It was like a great net spread across heaven and earth.

Because of the bond with his daughter, a Dao Tree grew, and upon it bore Dao Fruits……

Now, this Dao Fruit actually relates to an Imperial Heavenly Immortal of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths?

This was, for Li Che, no less than a bolt from the blue.

Behind the Dao Fruit…… is it a scheme and conspiracy?

Or rather, did he seize the Three Worlds Tathagata's Dao Fruit, plucking the fruit of his cultivation?

Whoosh—

Li Che's voice was not loud, yet like a thunderclap from a clear sky it struck the Present World Tathagata's ear; this peerless beauty of heaven and earth, who stood at the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, actually fell into boundless bewilderment at this moment.

On his face, a hint of pain seemed to appear.

On the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, each Buddha image in every niche showed pain; the chanting Buddhist sounds ceased abruptly, and pain spread like a spiderweb.

Click—

Accompanied by the cracking sound of shattering, the faces of those Buddha images in the niches actually each showed a crack.

Li Che suddenly felt his body loosen; the suppression of the Thousand Buddha Pagoda on him vanished at this moment.

He took a deep look at the Present World Tathagata, who clutched his head, eyes dazed, head raised to gaze at the heavens as if seeking a truth.

Lord of the Dao Fruit……

Whether or not, at least this Three Worlds Tathagata is definitely related to the Immaculate Heart Dao Fruit.

Or perhaps the Lords of the Dao Fruit are waiting for an opportunity, waiting for Li Che to catalyze the Dao Fruit to the Nine Transformations, then…… jump out to harvest it?

Li Che drew a deep breath, as if he were slowly beginning to touch reality.

Boom——!!!

The fire monkey transformed from Qi Tian began to weaken continuously; the Heaven-Earth Pulse Fire was suppressed by the Power of Rules, starting to gradually disintegrate, its power already fallen from the Imperial Rank. However, upon seeing Li Che successfully break free from the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, Qi Tian couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

In the next moment, he gazed deeply at Li Che.

The Heaven-Earth Pulse Fire gathered throughout his body began to disintegrate uncontrollably, finally……

It completely dissipated between heaven and earth, becoming pure scorching energy merged into the world.

The Past Tathagata also clutched his head, no longer opposing Qi Tian; his face showed pain as well as struggle.

The swastika symbol in his eyes kept trembling, as if about to scatter apart.

All the mighty ones from every direction witnessed this scene, each of their faces inevitably changing.

They didn't know what had happened, only never expecting that the Three Worlds Tathagata, which had held a great advantage, actually couldn't suppress the Earth Store King, and even let the Earth Store King successfully break free from the suppression of the Immortal Artifact Thousand Buddha Pagoda.

Boom——

Li Che tapped the ground with his toes, his back wings unfurling—those were the Kun-Peng wings—as the Myriad Demon Emperor Dao Fruit erupted, his whole body directly transformed into a fearsome Primordial Kun-Peng, displaying ultimate heaven-and-earth speed; a single flap turned into extreme velocity as he streaked toward the Hell Lotus Land.

Taiyi Immortal furrowed his brow, looking toward the Origin Sea; what was Emperor Hong Immortal doing?

And what of this Black Sumeru sovereign—what mischief is the Three Worlds Tathagata up to now?

The two Imperial Heavenly Immortals were actually being toyed with by this Earthly Immortal Earth Store King, who not only broke their suppression but also easily shook off their bonds and fled.

Taiyi Immortal wanted to intervene to stop the Earth Store King.

Any Imperial Heavenly Immortal could sense that this Earth Store King was probably the most important influence factor in this generation's Hell Lotus camp; eliminating him would better allow the suppression of this generation's Hell Lotus.

Otherwise, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths of this era would truly be slaughtered to extinction!

Taiyi Immortal had just formed the intention to act when he was swept aside by the clanging Three-Pronged Double-Edged Blade, forcibly blocked.

Boom——

Above the Origin Sea, it suddenly tore open.

Terrifying cracks appeared.

Everyone's hearts trembled slightly, they abruptly turned their heads to look, Taiyi Immortal took a deep breath, and gazed toward the direction of the Origin Sea.

There, the primal source of Yuanlei Heaven continuously poured down, scattering.

Meanwhile, a figure slowly emerged from within that outpouring primal source, taking shape.

"This……"

Taiyi the Immortal's body shuddered violently.

The one who fought his way out of the primal source sea was none other than the Emperor Hong Human Sovereign!

However, the Emperor Hong Human Sovereign now appears truly wretched.

Fresh blood sprayed and scattered, an intensely rich bloody stench, as if it dyed the whole sky of Yuanlei Heaven's domain blood‑red—this is the apparition of a sovereign celestial immortal after suffering grave injury.

It was as if heaven and earth were bleeding at the same time.

The Emperor Hong Human Sovereign was covered in wounds; his golden armor had corroded away, revealing the pitted, corroded flesh beneath, with stark white bones protruding, and even his beating viscera were clearly visible.

The Human Sovereign's great sword in his hand dimmed, wrapped in threads of death‑origin aura.

The Three‑Eyed True Lord raised his eyebrows slightly.

Did Li Che accomplish this?

Taiyi the Immortal, Dingguang Buddha, the Dog Lord and other sovereign‑level powers all seemed to gasp in astonishment at this moment.

What exactly did the Emperor Hong Human Sovereign endure in the primal source sea, and why is his condition so dire?

"That…… is the aura of the Netherworld's death‑origin!"

Taiyi the Immortal recognized it.

"Ksitigarbha!"

The Emperor Hong Human Sovereign gripped his dimmed Human Sovereign great sword, his gaze sweeping over and locking onto Li Che, who had just struggled free from the baptism of the Three‑Worlds Tathagata's Thousand‑Buddha Pagoda.

A low growl exploded, echoing between heaven and earth.

Watching Li Che transform into a roc and streak at extreme speed toward the Hell Lotus realm, he took a step forward; terrifying sovereign‑celestial immortal power burst forth, countless phantoms were dragged from behind him, leaping up, arcing toward the roc‑formed Ksitigarbha in pursuit.

Li Che naturally also noticed the figure of the Emperor Hong Human Sovereign fighting his way out of the primal source sea and returning.

He felt a slight surprise; no wonder he is the Emperor Hong Human Sovereign—he could break free of the Netherworld's restraint so quickly.

"Ksitigarbha! You colluded with the Netherworld, actually summoning the Netherworld Sovereign to act, dragging this sovereign into the Netherworld, suffering grave corrosion from death‑origin, and suffering the Sovereign's slaughter!"

"You deserve to die!"

The Emperor Hong Human Sovereign roared in fury.

He intended to proclaim the collusion between Hell Lotus and the Netherworld.

"Whether I have colluded with Hell Lotus or not, the will of heaven and earth will vindicate me; you, with baseless accusations, dare to slander me?"

"What Human Sovereign… perhaps it is you who colluded with the Netherworld! You feign a bitter‑meat scheme to slander my Hell Lotus faction!"

Li Che transformed into a roc, not engaging the Emperor Hong Human Sovereign at all, merely fleeing.

He had already gathered the fragmented wills of the Third Prince and the Heaven‑Equal, intending to resurrect them—no easy task—Li Che planned to return to the Hell Lotus realm first and then decide.

As for the Three‑Eyed True Lord's side, he also said so, and Li Che need not dwell on it.

In the mortal world there are peach blossoms; the Three‑Eyed True Lord buried his bones there, and Li Che need only return to retrieve them.

So, what Li Che must do now is return to the Hell Lotus realm!

Now, the battle atop Cliffside Mountain has completely ended, deities falling like rain, blood flowing in rivers; Li Che's objectives have all been met, there is no need to continue fighting.

He should return to the Hell Lotus realm, accumulate strength, and carry out the next counter‑strike against the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

Boom——!!

"Get lost, Dog Lord!"

A colossal dog's paw slammed down from the firmament with a thunderous boom.

The Emperor Hong Human Sovereign's charging body halted instantly, colliding with that exquisite dog's paw; behind the Dog Lord appeared a howling, star‑devouring demonic hound phantom, erupting with terrifying power.

The Emperor Hong Human Sovereign's condition had plummeted severely; dragged into the Netherworld and forced back, his grievously wounded form was blasted away like a cannonball, smashing into Cliffside Mountain and blasting a huge pit in the mountain path.

Blood mist shot up to the heavens, like rolling beacon smoke!

The Emperor Hong Human Sovereign's eyes seemed to bleed, like spears planted in the deep pit; his blood‑stained hair flew wildly, he stared at the Dog Lord and also at Li Che, who had appeared as a roc at the battlements.

A fierce unwillingness spread from the Emperor Hong Human Sovereign's heart.

He had not obtained the resurrection technique, and he himself had suffered such severe wounds; these Netherworld deathly vapors require him to expend considerable strength to dispel.

This will cause his cultivation to continually slip.

This is certainly not good news; indeed, in the Eighth Generation God Tide, it is even a momentous piece of news.

Dingguang Buddha's avatar could not make out its form, standing in a void rift as if having come from another time‑space; at this moment he no longer moved to act.

It was precisely because Dingguang Buddha did not act that the Dog Lord got the chance to strike, slapping the Emperor Hong Human Sovereign down with a palm.

Dingguang Buddha knew he could not stop Ksitigarbha.

Not only because of this mysterious black dog.

But also because of the situation arising from the Three‑Worlds Tathagata side; Dingguang Buddha's eyes shone deep and twinkling as his avatar stood in the void.

He gazed at Li Che, his robes fluttering like a peerless chessmaster, his eyes weaving profound strategies, calculating everything.

Boom——!!

"Dingguang Buddha!"

The Emperor Hong Human Sovereign trembled with rage, his blood and qi exploding outward like a vast crimson mist, surging and churning without cease.

He had no way to question why Dingguang Buddha did not act.

Why?

Because Dingguang Buddha, as a sovereign celestial immortal of Black Sumeru, would relish such an opportunity to strike him down while he's down!

The three major divine factions are at odds with the Two‑Sage Ancient Village.

The Ancestral Dragon Ancient Village has already been destroyed; the Immortal Dragon Emperor, bringing the Ancestral Dragon lineage, offered a total sacrifice, opening a Netherworld gate, forcing the Heaven‑Reaching God Emperor to take command.

Now, of the three great and two holy ancient villages, only the Emperor Hong ancient village and the Taiyi ancient village remain; the only ones truly able to stand on the united front are just these two.

The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths can be divided into three camps, namely the Three Great Gods camp, the Two Holy Ancient Villages camp, and the gradually rising Hell Lotus camp!

However, the Emperor Hong Human Emperor has not yet been allowed to continue his anger.

Boom——!!!

The eyes of the Three Worlds Tathagata suddenly became clear, his struggle was finally suppressed, and the Buddha-nature regained control.

「Dingguang Buddha, keep Li Che。」

「The Ksitigarbha King is the father of the Hell Lotus maiden, keep him! 」

The Past Tathagata and the Present Tathagata spoke at the same time.

The sound shook the entire Yuanlei Heaven.

Dingguang Buddha's eyes were deep and profound, endless Buddha light surged around his body, flowing out like a tide, the Buddha light seemed to weave into a great board, covering heaven and earth.

Dingguang Buddha was not surprised, as if he had long known.

But the Emperor Hong Human Emperor and the Taiyi Immortal felt a violent shock in their hearts.

The divine beings of the Three Great Gods camp were also astonished, shaken by this earth-shattering secret.

What?!

Ksitigarbha King...

He is actually the father of the Hell Lotus maiden?

The father of the Hell Lotus maiden, isn't he the peerless martial immortal of the mortal world?

Isn't his combat power just recently comparable to that of a Dao-fusing divine spirit?

This Ksitigarbha King who can now even slay an Earth Immortal...

How could he be the father of the Hell Lotus maiden?!

(End of chapter)