Chapter 65: with translation of chapter title

A strong smell of blood permeates heaven and earth.

Translation: "The thick smell of blood permeated heaven and earth."

Thick smell of blood, permeating heaven and earth.

A terrifying force erupts in midair, blasting out a surging airflow that shatters the rapidly spinning snowflakes into countless powdery snow.

Translation: "Terrifying force exploded in midair, the venting airflow surged and shot, causing the snowflakes spinning at high speed to shatter, blasting into countless snow powder!"

We need to keep natural English. Maybe: "Terrifying force burst in midair, the venting airflow surged and shot, making the high‑spinning snowflakes explode and turn into countless snow powder!" Keep close.

Let's produce: "Terrifying force burst in midair, the venting airflow surged and shot, causing the high‑spinning snowflakes to shatter into countless snow powder!"

A hulking, bear‑like figure crashes down, smashing onto the cleared blue‑stone ground.

Translation: "A burly, bear‑like figure crashed down with a boom, smashing onto the cleared‑snow blue‑stone ground."

A burly, bear‑like figure crashes down with a boom, smashing onto the blue‑stone ground cleared of snow.

Blood pours out steadily, spreading like a pool of water.

Translation: "The gurgling blood spread out like a pool, continuously expanding."

Better: "The gurgling blood flowed out, spreading like a pool and continuously expanding."

Zhao Xuanhai drops to one knee, a fine‑iron spear pierces his chest, shredding the flesh before him into flying fragments while broken bones scatter.

Translation: "Zhao Xuanhai knelt on one knee on the ground; a fine‑iron spear pierced his chest, shredding the flesh before his breast into pieces, countless flesh fragments flying, broken bones scattered."

He dropped to one knee, a fine‑iron spear pierced his chest, crushing the flesh before him into flying fragments as broken bones scattered.

Xu Ji's Eight‑Link Bone‑Crushing Spear...

Translation: "Xu Ji's Eight‑Link Bone‑Shattering Spear……"

A single spear shattered his flesh and bones!

Translation: "One spear shattered Zhao Xuanhai's flesh and bones!"

His prized serpent‑sinew tiger‑bone was ripped apart, and the Ox Demon's erupting force proved far more terrifying than his own qi‑meridian martial prowess.

Translation: "His proud serpent‑sinew tiger‑bone was torn apart by violent force; the power erupting from this Ox Demon was far more terrifying than his own as a qi‑meridian martial artist."

His proud serpent‑sinew tiger‑bone was torn apart by violent rending; the force erupting from this Ox Demon was far more terrifying than his own qi‑meridian martial artist prowess.

Unable to stop it...

Translation: "Unable to block……"

Zhao Xuanhai realizes he's done for.

Translation: "Zhao Xuanhai realized he was doomed."

As soon as he stepped into the alley and the arrow locked on him, he knew he was doomed.

Translation: "From the moment he stepped into the alley, the instant the arrow locked onto him, he knew…… he was doomed."

One wrong step, and there's no coming back.

Translation: "One misstep, and there is no return."

Blood keeps trickling out as Zhao Xuanhai grabs the fine‑iron spear; his mask is shattered, his mouth and nose bleeding, his heavy breath spurting continuously.

Translation: "Blood kept dripping out; Zhao Xuanhai raised his hand and gripped the fine‑iron spear, his mask already shattered, lips, teeth, mouth and nose all bleeding, his heavy breath continuously spurting."

But the Ox Demon's overbearing vital energy surges into his body, ravaging his meridians and throwing his internal organs into chaos.

Translation: "But the Ox Demon's overbearing blood qi drilled into his body, ravaging and destroying his meridians, disturbing his five viscera and six bowels……"

He even attempted to draw upon the Fierce Amitabha divine power, but couldn't manage it.

Translation: "He even tried to mobilize the Wrathful Amitabha divinity, but could not do it at all."

Divine foundation shards... the shards of the Si family patriarch's divine foundation!

Translation: "Divine Foundation Fragments…… the Si family elder's Divine Foundation Fragments!"

That higher‑rank divine power completely overwhelms him.

Translation: "That higher‑rank divine power completely suppressed him."

Step by step, it draws him deeper into the abyss of death.

Translation: "Step by step, it was as if leading him into the depths of death."

Zhao Xuanhai grits his teeth, locking eyes with the Ox Demon, hoping to see past its cute cow mask to the face underneath.

Translation: "Zhao Xuanhai gritted his teeth, stared fixedly at the Ox Demon, wanting to see through the face beneath the cute cow mask."

"Who... exactly... are you?"

Translation: "\"Who…… exactly…… are you? \""

Zhao Xuanhai's voice hoarse and heavy, he asks with his last strength.

Translation: "Zhao Xuanhai hoarse and heavy, he asked with all his remaining strength."

Yet the Ox Demon remains utterly cold.

Translation: "However, the Ox Demon was utterly cold."

"Hell will tell you the answer."

Translation: "\"Hell will tell you the answer. \""

Wail! Actually line 24 is "Pfft!" which is a sound effect "Pfft!" We'll translate as "Pfft!"

The fine‑iron spear snaps free, dragging a cloud of blood mist as countless droplets spray wildly.

Translation: "The fine‑iron spear was suddenly drawn, bringing up a puff of blood mist; countless blood spurted out in all directions."

With a swish, the spear in the Ox Demon's hand sweeps across, cleanly severing Zhao Xuanhai's large, lifeless head.

Translation: "With a rip, the spear gripped in the Ox Demon's hand swept over, and Zhao Xuanhai's large, eyes‑open‑in‑death head was cleanly cut off without hesitation."

It clings to his black hair like a sticky ball, rolling several times on the ground.

Translation: "Like a ball, it clung to his black hair and rolled several times on the ground."

Li Che gazes impassively at the dying Zhao Xuanhai, feeling no stir in his heart.

Translation: "Li Che looked indifferently at the dead Zhao Xuanhai, his heart unmoved."

Although Zhao Xuanhai is a court official and one of the three great divine constables, what does it matter?

Translation: "Although Zhao Xuanhai was an imperial official, one of the three great divine constables of the prefecture…… so what?"

He is also a master of the Spirit Infant Sect.

Translation: "He was also a master of the Spirit Infant Sect."

Then Li Che slays him without hesitation, feeling an unprecedented exhilaration!

Translation: "In that case, Li Che killed him without burden, even feeling an unprecedented exhilaration!"

Meridians pierced!

Translation: "Penetrating the Qi Meridians!"

Nurturing like a river!

Translation: "Nurturing Nature Like a River!"

Zhao Xuanhai, one of the three great divine constables, has loomed over Li Che like a mountain since the failed forced conscription; now...

Translation: "Zhao Xuanhai, one of the three great divine constables, ever since that day when forced conscription failed, had always been a great mountain pressing on Li Che's head…… now……"

He has cut down that mountain, leaving his body feeling light and his bones and joints singing with ease.

Translation: "The mountain was cut down by him; his whole body felt extremely light, his bones and tendons sang in exhilaration."

He accomplished this without resorting to six‑thousand‑round Namo Gatling lances, poisoned Guanyin blood lotus, or sinister sleeve crossbows—purely through his own martial and divine cultivation, achieving a righteous victory.

Translation: "This was achieved without using the six‑thousand Namo Gatlin Killing Irons, without the poisoned Guanyin Blood Lotus or the sinister sleeve crossbow, relying solely on his own martial‑artist cultivation and divine cultivation to win a righteous victory."

He feels happy.

Translation: "Happy."

Li Che squats down, his large hand familiarly searching Zhao Xuanhai's corpse.

Translation: "Crouching down, Li Che's large hand skillfully searched Zhao Xuanhai's corpse."

He unexpectedly discovers a universe jade in Zhao Xuanhai's corpse—the same item he once felt on Si Mu Bai.

Translation: "Unexpectedly, he found a Qiankun Jade in Zhao Xuanhai's corpse, the very thing he had once taken from Si Mu Bai."

Li Che's eyes brighten with joy; his mind moves, and he stores the universe jade directly into the Pure Heart's universe space.

Translation: "Li Che's eyes lit up with delight; his mind stirred, and this Qiankun Jade was directly stored into the Qiankun Space of the Pure Heart."

Though one universe jade cannot normally hold another, Li Che's Pure Heart‑enhanced space has no such limit.

Translation: "Although it is said that one Qiankun Jade cannot contain another, Li Che's space, improved by the Pure Heart, has no such limitation."

Gazing at Zhao Xuanhai's corpse, Li Che recalls the delight of first drinking in a constable's divine essence; he lifts his hand, and his arm instantly flows with jade‑colored energy.

Translation: "Looking at Zhao Xuanhai's corpse, as if recalling the wonderful taste of first imbibing the Divine Constable's divinity, Li Che raised his hand, and his arm instantly flowed with jade‑colored qi."

He presses it to Zhao Xuanhai's forehead.

Translation: "He pressed it against Zhao Xuanhai's forehead, at the glabella."

His inner vision throbs, and instantly a torrent of divine power surges out.

Translation: "His upper dantian inner vision thundered, and instantly, a vast divine power surged out."

Like a river breaking its banks, it floods out wildly.

Translation: "Like a river bursting through a dike, it raged forth!"

Huh?

Translation: "Huh?"

Suddenly, Li Che's heart gives a slight twitch.

Translation: "Suddenly, Li Che's heart stirred slightly."

In his chest, the Chess Saint path fruit throbs, forming a special link with the nascent divine ability and the Thousand‑Hand technique.

Translation: "In his chest, the Chess Saint Dao Fruit throbbed faintly, as if forming a special link with the embryonic divine ability and the Thousand Analysis Hand."

Originally, Li Che gathered divine power with the Thousand‑Hand technique, but it had limits—too much would overload it.

Translation: "Originally, Li Che drew divinity with the Thousand Analysis Hand, but it was limited; exceeding it too much would overload the Thousand Analysis Hand's capacity."

But once the Chess Saint path fruit steps in.

Translation: "But after the Chess Saint Dao Fruit intervened,"

Zhao Xuanhai's river‑like Fierce Amitabha divine nature is steadily drawn out by Li Che.

Translation: "Zhao Xuanhai's Nurturing Nature Like a River Wrathful Amitabha divinity was actually being continuously drawn by Li Che."

When the Thousand‑Hand technique hits its limit, the Chess Saint path fruit converts it into a black divine chess piece that drops onto the board.

Translation: "When the Thousand Analysis Hand reached its limit, it would be transformed by the Chess Saint Dao Fruit into a black divinity chess piece, which fell onto the chessboard."

Each piece embodies the Fierce Amitabha divine nature.

Translation: "Each piece contained the Wrathful Amitabha divinity."

Li Che never imagined the Chess Saint path fruit could have such an effect!

Translation: "Li Che never imagined…… the Chess Saint Dao Fruit actually had such an effect!"

It feels nothing like a proper path fruit.

Translation: "It felt…… not like a proper Dao Fruit at all."

Li Che's five fingers grasp at the void.

Translation: "Li Che's five fingers grasped in the void."

Instantly, a black chess piece appears between his fingers.

Translation: "Instantly, a black chess piece appeared between his fingers."

Countless currents shoot forth, fluttering his black hair.

Translation: "Countless streams of qi shot forth, fluttering his black hair."

He clenches his fist, and the black chess piece shatters in his palm.

Translation: "His five fingers clenched tightly, and the black chess piece directly in his palm…… was crushed to pieces!"

Boom—

A surge of hot flow pulsed through his whole body in an instant……

Li Che's eyes seemed to flash with a crimson gleam!

【Wrathful Amitabha】 divine nature…… burst forth with a boom!

He need only think…… and he can scatter the chess pieces, turning the divine nature of the 【Wrathful Amitabha】 to his own use!

What a 【Chess Sage】!

This means that any divine cultivator could potentially become his power bank!

Li Che was in high spirits, continuing to draw divine nature with the Thousand-Split Hand; the divine nature of Nurturing Like a River…… was the divine nature that Zhao Xuanhai had nurtured for decades, quite vast. Li Che sped up the absorption, and after about fifteen minutes, he had drained it all.

In total, they turned into eighteen black chess pieces.

""Nurturing Like a River…… only gathered eighteen chess pieces?""

Li Che murmured.

Or perhaps other cultivators of "Nurturing Like a River" could gather more divine chess pieces?

Depending on the divine cultivation method, even though they are both 'Nurturing Like a River', the size of this river also differs……

After recondensing the exploded divine nature into chess pieces and hiding them, Li Che pressed down on his bamboo hat, and in the next moment, he clenched Zhao Xuanhai's corpse and head with his five fingers.

Gazing toward the wind-swept alley entrance, Li Che's lips curled up.

He stepped down heavily, the nine major tendons on his back roaring like flood dragons, vast power erupting, as the air surged, he flung Zhao Xuanhai's burly, bear-like corpse……

He was forcibly thrown out.

……

……

The Xu family's carriage quietly parked at a corner of the long street, this spot about thirty zhang away from the lane where Li Che's independent workshop is located.

A distance beyond the perception of a Nurturing Like a River cultivator's divine nature would not arouse Zhao Xuanhai's suspicion.

The snow falling from the sky made a rustling sound on the carriage's roof.

Xu He Li and Xu Beihu sat inside the carriage, brewing tea and drinking tea.

The boiling water over the charcoal stove gradually came to a rolling boil; the green tea leaves were poured in, steam rose, the fried tea leaves unfurled within, and the tea liquid turned a greenish hue.

The boiling water rushed into the tea cup, swirling once along the inner wall.

Inside the carriage, warmth surged.

Xu Beihu was somewhat restless, occasionally lifting the curtain to look outside.

Xu He Li, on the other hand, remained quite calm, leaning against the soft backrest filled with goose down, reading a book.

Reading, drinking tea, awaiting the battle's outcome—everything was so leisurely.

Suddenly, Xu Beihu's breath caught, his motion to lift the curtain froze, and he incredulously watched the corpse thrown from the lane, tracing a parabolic arc, smashing onto the blue-stone ground and kicking up snow dust.

Who?

Xu He Li asked.

Xu Beihu stiffly turned his head, lowered the curtain, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

Zhao Xuanhai……

He was dead, thrown out…… landing on the long street, already drawing a crowd that bustled and clamored.

Xu Beihu's voice was hoarse, extremely bitter.

Zhao Xuanhai went to that lane only after receiving his news, intending to abduct Li Che, this newly risen woodcarving master.

As a result, the woodcarving master was not abducted.

He ended up losing his own life.

A divine constable has died!

This matter……

This is a big deal!

Xu He Li's expression shifted slightly; he abruptly threw down the book, slung the sword at his waist, and his figure shot out of the carriage in an instant.

Divine nature overflowed his body; treading snow without leaving traces, a few steps carried him like soaring across thirty zhang, passing over Zhao Xuanhai's corpse, whose head had been severed and chest pierced.

He landed at the lane's entrance, wind and snow swirling around him.

Xu He Li gripped the sword hilt tightly with his five fingers, staring fixedly into the lane.

Deep within the lane.

A burly figure appeared, clad in black, wearing a bamboo hat, covering a cute cow mask!

Calmly looking at him, as if……

As if he had long known that he was watching the battle from afar, waiting.

Therefore, he quietly……

Waiting for him.

""Ox Demon…… Ox Demon…… who exactly are you?""

Xu He Li lost his calm and composure, his pupils constricted, and he abruptly stepped forward.

However, the Ox Demon stepped forward with one foot, and instantly countless white snow exploded upward, forming a snow avalanche that blurred the vision.

After the snow avalanche had completely fallen,

The Ox Demon…… had already vanished into thin air!

Even Xu He Li's divine nature could not perceive the Ox Demon's disappearance!

He's gone again?!

Xu He Li gripped the sword hilt with his palm, his eyes firm, his body lowered, and the surrounding air burst.

He madly rushed toward Li Che's independent workshop courtyard!

Is it him?

Is it him?!

ps: Please keep reading! Today is the PK day with Sanjiang; Old Li earnestly asks everyone to click through to the last page, where you can see the reading rankings—come on, come on, come on!

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(End of chapter)