Chapter 645

Boom—!!!

The terrifying Death Origin, as if it had found an outlet, surged madly into the body of the Ksitigarbha King.

It was like a drain opening, stirring all the water flow, forming a vortex that constantly conveyed and discharged.

Ksitigarbha King……

★co

Is he also a traitor?

Xianshen Bu Xiu was completely lost in a daze, standing atop the Vast Sea, rising and falling, incredulously gazing at the Ksitigarbha King wearing a white jade mask, his black robe fluttering fiercely.

Could the Ksitigarbha King have also betrayed the Prison Lotus Land and thrown himself into the Netherworld?

Otherwise, how could the Ksitigarbha King so easily swallow the Death Origin filling his body with deathly aura?

This is unreasonable!

This shouldn't be the situation!

That was the power lent to him by the Death Sovereign, that was the Sovereign's power—even if weakened somewhat by the Heaven-Earth Will in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, it absolutely possessed Imperial Rank power!

After all, it was the power used to deal with his master, the Heaven-Penetrating God Emperor.

Yet, when these powers bombarded the Ksitigarbha King, they were like a stone sinking into the sea, producing no effect at all.

Just what is the origin of this Ksitigarbha King?

A Martial Immortal, yet also of the Prison Lotus Camp originating from the Temple God, and now he can even withstand the Death Origin from the Netherworld without a scratch!

He's practically a monster with no flaw to be found!

Fear began to rise in Xianshen Bu Xiu's heart—an unstoppable fear, like boundless pressure spreading throughout his body.

He instantly left his body, abandoned the Death Origin, and shot across the Endless Sea, rapidly retreating into the distance.

He felt the urge to turn and flee!

However……

He wanted to leave, but Li Che would not let him go.

Thud——

Under the expansion of the Heaven-Earth Chessboard's enclosure, even though Xianshen Bu Xiu fled at great speed, he remained within its range; being inside the board meant he was still within the area controlled by Li Che.

Li Che was not at all anxious; everything was firmly under his control.

Every escape route of Xianshen Bu Xiu lay within the perception of his Martial Immortal Will, leaving nowhere to hide.

Li Che slowly extended his body, a terrifying roar erupting from his flesh, the explosive sound like a fearsome bowstring being plucked.

His Martial Immortal flesh, having opened the heavens twice, was truly formidable to the extreme, worthy of being called a Half-Step Heavenly Immortal's body.

Qi and blood surged, rolling like waves!

Slowly digesting and transforming the devoured Death Origin into the maturity of the Hell Dao Fruit, Li Che's whole person seemed to grow ever deeper, like a black hole.

The Hell Dao Fruit mainly represents death, like the deathly aura on the path of Nirvana life and death; it is the source for increasing the Hell Dao Fruit's maturity. Li Che originally could raise the Hell Dao Fruit's maturity by relying on the Nirvana Divine Spirit, accumulating the deathly aura on the Nirvana life-and-death path.

It can be said that the Hell Dao Fruit and Death Origin are highly compatible.

Originally, Li Che intended to use the power of the Reincarnation Dao Fruit to suppress this Death Origin.

First, the Reincarnation Dao Fruit had just been born, its power too weak; second, it was not particularly compatible with the Death Origin.

Although both matched the Netherworld very well, the Reincarnation Dao Fruit and the Hell Dao Fruit still differed.

In Li Che's understanding.

The Reincarnation Dao Fruit actually represents hope, representing……the breath of life.

Compared to the Hell Dao Fruit, it is completely opposite—the Hell Dao Fruit is actually pure death.

Hell is essentially a purgatory, the destination of the departed.

Reincarnation and Hell are life and death.

Of course, this is Li Che's understanding; exactly how the Dao Fruit will develop and transform in the end, what it could become, Li Che still needs to ponder and explore.

However, for now, suppressing the Death Origin of this traitor Xianshen Bu Xiu is enough.

The Hell Dao Fruit continually transforms; after devouring the Death Origin, its maturity begins to rise steadily.

However, because the Hell Dao Fruit had already reached level 8, the speed of its transformation became very slow.

Even after devouring the Death Origin, it still failed to achieve transformation to the eighth metamorphosis.

Li Che didn't feel too much regret; he originally didn't think that this wave of Death Origin alone could let the Hell Dao Fruit undergo a major transformation.

Going from the seventh to the eighth metamorphosis is a tremendous transformation.

Li Che glanced over, suppressing the Heaven-Penetrating God Emperor who sat cross-legged at the Netherworld's mouth.

Because Li Che made a move, the Tongtian Shen Emperor finally relaxed, began to mobilize divine sword intent, and suppressed the death-origin corrosive force on his arm.

Having recovered, he continued to firmly guard the Netherworld Mouth.

「Fellow Daoist, how should we handle it? 」

Li Che spoke up to ask.

The Tongtian Shen Emperor's eyes opened and closed; four strands of peerless sword light hung down, encircling him, slowly rotating.

「Then… let's slay it. 」

The Tongtian Shen Emperor closed his eyes, his tone turning cold.

He, the Tongtian Shen Emperor, is no soft-hearted pushover.

The three disciples—Slay God, Kill God, Extinguish God—are already dead; how could this Trapped God possibly escape death?

A bowl of water must always be kept level.

He knew the Trapped God was immortal, sought a path to break through to Heavenly Immortal, but becoming a Heavenly Immortal was truly too difficult.

Even a senior Earth Immortal has a high chance of failure.

However, the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor felt that this was not the reason the Trapped God Immortal betrayed him.

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor scorns the idea of using betrayal to gain a breakthrough path.

Even if he breaks through to Heaven Immortal, he's still trash!

So let Ksitigarbha send him on his way, to join his three martial brothers.

Good

Li Che heard it and did not hesitate any further.

The black robe embroidered with golden lotus fluttered wildly; looking up, he saw the Trapped God Immortal fleeing at high speed, kicking up a white wave on the endless sea.

He used the Trapped God Sword, entwined with the essence of death, to block the three immortals—Slaughter God, Extinction God, and Execution God—but now he no longer wants even the Trapped God Sword; he only wants to flee.

Only by escaping and surviving does he have a chance to again plot the great undertaking of breaking through to Heaven Immortal.

Otherwise, he couldn't even preserve his life, and his longing for Heaven Immortal would naturally become meaningless.

Li Che watched the fleeing Trapped God Immortal and snorted in contempt.

Taking a step, within the Heaven-Earth Chessboard, he is the master! The stars are scattered like a chessboard!

Flying Stars Great Displacement!

The Trapped God Immortal, having fled a vast distance, suddenly felt a chill all over and then saw a figure that seemed composed of countless starlight.

It also resembled a chess piece dropped from the heavens by a celestial deity.

With a soft pat, it landed on the chessboard and appeared beside him.

Li Che clenched his five fingers into a fist, his back roaring; from the mystic apertures of his immortal martial arts, a furnace the size of a palm instantly flew forth.

The next moment, as Li Che thrust his fist forward, it suddenly transformed into a terrifying heaven-and-earth furnace, as mighty as a mountain.

Myriad Transformations Dragon-Elephant Furnace!

Li Che's Martial Immortal Artifact!

First battle, it emerges from the furnace!

Boom——!!!

The Trapped God Immortal roared, his hair flying, his divine power surging forth, his immortal essence shooting up, and the seven-colored glazed divine light behind him spinning without cease.

But the Myriad Transformations Dragon-Elephant Furnace pressed down.

The terrifying power is unmatched and impossible to resist!

The Trapped God Immortal was directly punched, smashing into the endless sea, as if hammered into the abyss.

A muffled boom exploded, and the water of the endless sea instantly sank deep.

Depressed to the extreme, it suddenly burst open, like a punctured membrane!

Countless seawater surged up from both sides, raising towering, heaven‑toppling waves!

Li Che surged forward, sharp as a divine spear, his body blazing hot, boring into the endless sea's water.

He sped toward the Trapped God Immortal, who was still falling and kicking up a white wave.

The water of the endless sea is extremely cold and contains immense divine power.

This is an extremely mysterious place.

However, Li Che pays no heed; after opening the heavens a second time, he has full confidence in his strength!

Boom——!

The Trapped God Immortal's body kept falling, with no end in sight.

This is the endless sea, as if boundless and infinite, its water inexhaustible, its depth unfathomable!

Struggling to open his eyes, the terrifying water pressure slammed into his body, making his movements difficult.

However, his eyes suddenly widened, for wearing a white jade mask, his golden qi and blood erupted, like a great sun rising from the deep seabed, illuminating countless radiance.

Ksitigarbha gazed indifferently at the Trapped God Immortal.

No……

Don't!

The Trapped God Immortal's eyes showed a pleading look.

But what greeted him was Li Che's extremely terrifying punch!

The Trapped God Immortal's body was directly blown apart in the deep sea.

The immortal's will frantically fled toward the sea surface, yet could not escape Li Che's outstretched five fingers grasping and erupting as the Six Desires Void Slaughter God Sword!

It nailed the Trapped God Immortal's immortal will firmly in the water.

He raised his head, gazing at the sea surface shimmering with countless light, yet unable to draw near even a bit.

In the Trapped God Immortal's eyes, despair and unwillingness gradually appeared.

Finally, as the immortal will was utterly slain.

Everything in his consciousness turned dark.

Trapped God Immortal……

Fallen!

Li Che gathered the Trapped God Immortal's corpse flesh and blood, his body hovering in the water, without choosing to burst out of the surface.

His black hair hung upside down like seaweed swaying in the water; his body flowed with golden qi and blood luster, his stalwart muscles and perfect physique making him like a deity of the vast sea, transcendent. Li Che raised his hand and touched his brow.

The Heaven-Earth Chessboard expanded, and his whole person moved forward within the water.

With a single step, he smashed the water ahead, kicking up countless towering white waves.

He stirred up a heaven‑toppling momentum in the sea, rushing toward the mouth of the Netherworld.

Li Che's goal was to pass through the Netherworld's gate, enter the Netherworld, and seek the "Hellfire Divine Wood" there, to forge the materials for the Equaling Heaven Armor and Nezha Armor.

Reviving the Equaling Heaven and Nezha is not difficult for Li Che now.

Because they were already nurturing their two souls, once the souls' nurturing is complete, they can achieve the revival of will within the divine mechanism armor.

So, Li Che will not stop his steps.

He wants to strengthen the Hell Lotus faction's strength; Qitian, Nezha, and the Three-Eyed True Lord—these three great gods are absolutely indispensable.

The Hellfire Divine Tree, he must obtain it!

In Li Che's embrace, Gou Ye lazily poked his head out and yawned.

"Entering the Netherworld from the Netherworld's mouth, you should restrain your aura as much as possible; Gou Ye will help you cover."

Gou Ye said lazily.

"Staying in Li Che's embrace, a Martial Immortal who has opened heaven twice, constantly bathed in his mighty Martial Immortal qi and blood, truly brings a unique sense of comfort."

So comfortable that Gou Ye couldn't help but feel drowsy.

Like a fire pit burning in a snowy ice field, emitting moving warmth.

"Within this Netherworld Gate sits the Death Overlord, an Overlord-level existence… you are currently no match; the gap is too great, a power surpassing even the Imperial level."

"Therefore, you need Gou Ye to help you cover."

"Entering the Netherworld yourself, it's hard to hide from the Netherworld's three Overlords."

Gou Ye said, feeling somewhat proud.

His fluffy tail unconsciously swayed in Li Che's embrace.

Li Che nodded, not refuting, Overlord-level existence…

Even though he has opened heaven twice, he still feels his weakness; facing an Overlord, he will surely encounter great calamity.

Li Che's body moved; in the next instant, he seemed to transform into a dark flow of light, streaking across the endless sea.

He compressed the Heaven-Earth Chessboard to the extreme, as if turning it into a black robe draped over himself, completely masking Li Che's aura.

The mighty golden qi and blood, like a blazing sun, completely vanished without trace.

Moreover, the Dragon-Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit resonated loudly; Li Che employed the Sleeping Dragon-Elephant, as if falling into slumber, his whole body swiftly racing toward the Netherworld Gate suppressed by the Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor.

……

……

On the endless sea.

The waves surged.

The Entrapping God Sword, having gained the Death Origin, became immensely powerful, as if held aloft by an Overlord, its might terrifyingly formidable.

It actually suppressed the three immortals wielding the God-Slaying, God-Slaughtering, and God-Extinguishing swords.

However, abruptly, the Death Origin on the Entrapping God Sword seemed to lose its source, exploding and shattering inch by inch; the Death Origin directly dissipated, leaking into the Netherworld Gate.

Standing atop the Netherworld Gate, the Death Overlord stepped on the Netherworld Yinglong and coldly spoke.

"Trash!"

Undoubtedly, with the Death Origin losing its source, the Death Overlord knew the Entrapping God Immortal had died, slain by Ksitigarbha.

The Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor suddenly opened his eyes; terrifying sword intent burst forth and cascaded down.

On the arm corroded by Death Origin, sword qi raged and washed, also completely suppressing the Death Origin.

The Entrapping God Immortal died, yet the Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor felt little sorrow; why should he mourn a traitor's death?

Moreover, he believed Ksitigarbha could revive the Entrapping God Immortal, perfectly gathering his four disciples.

The Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor understood Li Che, just as he was willing to call peers Dao friend.

Suddenly.

The Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor's brows slightly furrowed.

His gaze turned into a razor-sharp sword edge, tearing open the vast, tumultuous surface of the endless sea, seeing the Ksitigarbha speeding beneath the seabed.

That was the reason Ksitigarbha showed him.

Otherwise, the Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor could not sense Li Che's position at all.

Li Che revealed the sword intent of the Six Desires Void God-Slaying Sword; in the Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor's eyes, it was naturally very conspicuous.

"Ksitigarbha Dao friend… no, Li Che Dao friend, what are you trying to do?"

The Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor actually already knew Ksitigarbha's true identity.

The Three Worlds Tathagata's words atop Sheer Cliff Mountain revealed Ksitigarbha's identity: Ksitigarbha is Li Che, father of the Hell Lotus Maiden; the news spread like a storm throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Although the Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor is stationed here, he also received some of the news.

It can only be described as inconceivable.

Having cultivated for only a little over ten years, he actually reached such a height.

Perhaps, the father of the Hell Lotus Maiden is truly the unparalleled heavenly pride!

However, the Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor doesn't care who Ksitigarbha is—whether Li Che or someone else—what he cares about is only Li Che's talent.

Being able to keep up with his sword Dao talent.

Being worthy of being called a Dao friend.

"Dao friend… what exactly do you intend to do? Enter the Netherworld?"

The Heaven-Reaching Divine Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly.

Doubts arose in his heart.

"The Netherworld… for cultivators of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, it's hardly a good place; within the Netherworld, death source, reincarnation source, and Netherworld source—three terrifying sources—collide with each other."

Cultivators of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, who have cultivated the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths source, once they enter the Netherworld, will be completely suppressed by the three sources.

In the Netherworld, strength will be subject to immense suppression.

This suppression is even greater than that of Netherworld cultivators stepping into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

To maintain strength equivalent to that of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths in the Netherworld, there is only one way: to ally with the Netherworld faction and transform oneself into a Netherworld being.

Like the Immortal Dragon Emperor, Immortal Yinglong, Immortal Zhulong, etc., the three great ancestral dragons, they chose to accept the baptism of the Netherworld origin, taking control of their own origin, transforming into Netherworld creatures while maintaining great ancestral dragon strength.

But they are completely incompatible with the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Therefore, once they enter the Netherworld, they may face the problem of being unable to return.

The Netherworld…… is easy to enter, but hard to leave!

Looking at Li Che charging forward fearlessly toward the direction of the Netherworld's mouth, even revealing the sword intent of the Six Desires Void Slaughter God Sword, the corner of the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor's mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

If that is the case……

Then I will help you.

Although I don't know what you intend to do.

Whether you seek death or have some scheme……

As the father of the Prison Lotus Maiden, Li Che, the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor does not believe he would choose to surrender to the Netherworld, choosing to transform himself into a Netherworld creature.

Therefore, Li Che must have a purpose.

As for what that purpose is, the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor feels it is no longer important.

Fellow Daoist.

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor burst into laughter.

"Since that is the case…… today… Heaven-Reaching will open the way for you, Fellow Daoist!"

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor suddenly rose to his feet from above the Netherworld's mouth.

Boom—

A figure shifted and emerged.

The Death Sovereign, who had been furious and flustered, suddenly projected a gaze, and the terrifying death aura origin leaked out, causing the heavens and earth above the endless sea to undergo earth-shattering changes.

"Intentional?"

"Or…… are you seeking death?!"

The Death Sovereign's towering, immensely sturdy body, covered in ancient patterns on his mighty frame, he stepped upon the Netherworld Yinglong, wings spread wide, covering the heavens and earth.

"Since you have yielded your position, no matter what your purpose and schemes are, I…… will accept it!"

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor's wide robes, battered by the raging wind, fluttered incessantly, dancing without cease.

He threw his head back and laughed, spreading his five fingers.

The next moment.

Above the endless sea.

The divine swords wielded by the three Immortals—Slaughter God, Carnage God, and Extinction God—plus the Entrapment God's sword, which, due to the Entrapment God Immortal's death, was discarded by the death origin.

Instantly, they emitted a resplendent sword chant.

The four gathered divine swords seemed to form a Slaughter God Sword Formation!

Transforming into four-colored sword qi divine light, they shot up into the heavens.

Splitting the void into four straight beams of light!

He clenched his fist; the four sword lights intertwined around his body, hovering like four-colored dragons, and he fiercely slashed at the Death Sovereign who, having taken the position yielded by the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor, stepped upon the Netherworld ancestral dragon and emerged.

"Fellow Daoist, listen to the sword's chant!"