Chapter 664: Overlooked Martial Dao: Shocked to Hear the Martial Ancestor's Name, Dingguang Buddha's Back

Li Che never expected that, after undergoing all that the Present Tathagata endured, he would find himself in a remarkably similar situation.

After transmigrating to this world, for over nineteen years Li Che lived an ordinary, mundane life.

He even began to accept his ordinariness, for at that time he had no talent, could not see the path of cultivation, and was merely a common woodcarving laborer, hauling woodcarvings in a workshop to earn a living.

He had indeed thought of using everything from his transmigrator status to live a new life.

But in a different world, everything is different; merely surviving felt like walking on thin ice, he had endured too much hardship and experienced much.

He ultimately accepted his ordinariness.

He only wanted to live out this life, nothing more.

He never expected that everything would change after he married and had a child.

The birth of his daughter Xixi brought Li Che an unbelievable change; he bonded with her, awakened the Dao Tree, and could condense Dao Fruit.

Each year his daughter aged, Li Che could undergo a world-shaking transformation.

In these repeated transformations, Li Che rose from obscurity, improving himself amidst life and death, and without realizing it, he now stands at this height!

Li Che clearly understood that the source of all his changes actually came from his daughter.

Only his daughter's birth brought him transformation.

And in his memory, the Present Tathagata, from a confused, foolish child, regained wisdom and instantly became a Buddha, also related to his daughter's birth.

This is their common point, and also the focus of Li Che's attention after observing the Present Tathagata's life!

"So, what does this signify?"

Li Che drew a deep breath.

"It signifies that the Three Worlds Tathagata might be his past life?"

"Of course, Li Che felt this possibility was too small, even saying it was absolutely impossible."

"The three incarnations of the Three Worlds Tathagata are quite evident; my possibility of being a Tathagata reincarnation is extremely small."

"Perhaps it's merely a coincidence."

"Perhaps this is a common point of being the Lord of the Dao Fruit?"

Li Che's eyes flickered, his heart greatly shaken.

However, Li Che did not fall into demonic obsession, nor did he nitpick endlessly to figure this out; this has always been his principle of conduct.

Many things that are unclear need not be rushed; focusing on the present, as long as the present is handled well and life is good, all problems may find resolution.

Boom—

The Present Tathagata's golden body shattered, seeming to turn into a gust of wind, beginning to blow away into the void.

Li Che's brows slightly furrowed; the Heaven-Earth Chessboard trembled, instantly forming a net-like barrier that emerged, pressing down the shattered Present Tathagata's bodily remains, reduced to gravel-like fragments.

After all, Li Che still intended to keep it for later use to bind spirits; how could he let it vanish without a trace?

"One of the reincarnations of the Dao Fruit Lord..."

"I suppose this also counts as having slain a Dao Fruit Lord."

Li Che watched as the remains turned into wind-blown dust, continually drifting within the Heaven-Earth Chessboard.

In his eyes, a splendid radiance suddenly burst forth.

That was a prompt from the Dao Tree.

【Dao Fruit: Pure Heart (lv10, 90%)】

Li Che calmly observed the maturity of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit.

After slaying the Three Worlds Tathagata, the maturity of this Pure Heart Dao Fruit actually rose to 90%, but that was all.

Li Che's imagined idea of breaking through to the Nine Transformations was utterly dashed.

"I failed to achieve the Nine Transformations…… what a pity."

"Indeed, it should be because the Present Tathagata is merely one incarnation of the Three Worlds Tathagata; if I want the Pure Heart Dao Fruit to fully undergo the Nine Transformations, perhaps slaying the past and future incarnations of the Three Worlds Tathagata would make it possible."

Li Che pondered in his heart.

This idea, however, spread like mad weeds, constantly growing.

The Nine Transformations of the Dao Fruit truly possess a kind of allure; merely thinking of it stirs an uncontrollable throbbing heart, urging one to complete it at any cost.

In Li Che's inner vision of the mud pellet, the exquisite seven-aperture heart throbbed, as if a clear qi flowed out, instantly clarifying his consciousness, and those thoughts largely dissipated.

"The Nine Transformations…… are the obsession of the Dao Fruit Lord; this obsession also influences me."

Li Che drew a deep breath.

"If I cannot resist this obsession, I may fall, even showing signs of losing control at the level of will."

"However, this is not merely the obsession of the Dao Fruit Lord; it…… could even be the obsession of the Dao Fruit itself, and even……"

"The obsession of the Dao Tree!"

Li Che's eyes sparkled with brilliant light.

It seemed that at this moment, spanning the void, he beheld amidst the vast heavens and earth that Dao Tree towering to the skies, its myriad branches swaying incessantly!

The Dao Tree's radiance illuminated heaven and earth, as if responding to Li Che's gaze, countless branches shimmered with rippling light.

Li Che's consciousness returned.

Having devoured one incarnation of the Dao Fruit Lord, equivalent to one-third of the Dao Fruit Lord, the gain was immense.

Although he failed to directly push the Pure Heart Dao Fruit to the Nine Transformations,

yet it greatly enhanced Li Che's Martial Immortal Will, a qualitative enhancement that made it stronger and more resolute.

The benefit is that when opening heaven, he will be more adept and at ease.

"However, now…… what I am most concerned about is not the enhancement of will, but……"

Li Che's breath seemed to stagnate.

Golden light blazed in his eyes.

【Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv10, 95%)】

The originally brilliant golden light in his eyes instantly dimmed.

"After all…… is it still a bit short?"

"I, with my Mystic Immortal body, have slain a Royal-level Immortal; even this cannot let the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit achieve the Nine Transformations! To enter this crucial final step?!"

Even Li Che couldn't help but feel a slight tremor in his heart.

Even giving rise to a hint of unwillingness!

Even this fails; no wonder the Dao Fruit masters feel despair in their hearts, feeling despair toward the Nine Transformations of the Dao Fruit!

Li Che has already done this, yet still lacks a thread.

"This thread……"

Li Che did not lose heart; although he indeed suffered some setbacks, after countless hardships, having calculated everything and played all his trump cards, he still failed to complete the transformation of the Dao Fruit's Nine Transformations.

This actually dealt a setback to Li Che's state of mind.

However, fortunately, the will enhancement from the Immaculate Mind Dao Fruit made Li Che's will more resolute, preventing him from completely giving up and sinking.

"Just a little short…… then I'll make up for it!"

Li Che's gaze suddenly flashed, as if crossing the void, landing on the body of the Future Tathagata who was battling the Third Prince.

If we were to also slay the Future Tathagata……

Li Che wouldn't believe it; even the fall of two Royal-level Immortals cannot push the maturity of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit to the Nine Transformations!

As for the Immaculate Mind Dao Fruit, perhaps it can still be said that because of the three incarnations of the Dao Fruit's master, it requires three incarnations as a price.

But the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit pertains to martial arts; it is a Dao Fruit of battle!

Is Li Che's feat of killing enemies above his level not enough to feed it?!

Li Che didn't believe it, so he planned to try again!

Just try and you'll know!

Now he has taken the initiative; after some calculation, the Present Tathagata has fallen, and the Future Tathagata is also affected, suffering heavy blows.

And the Third Prince took the initiative to attack, suppressing the Future Tathagata.

Qi Tian also joined the fight, leaving the Future Tathagata completely suppressed, making even a counterattack extremely difficult!

Boom—

Li Che's body trembled, a terrifying physical tremor; his Life-Death Immortal Body seemed to reach its utmost at this moment, with life-and-death qi intertwining and rotating behind him, like a yin-yang fish endlessly turning.

Li Che stood between heaven and earth; at this moment, the entire Xuanxiao Heaven, due to the success of Opening Heaven, made him seem like the sole sovereign.

Although this kind of sovereign is not a true sovereign level, it cannot compare to the sovereigns of the Netherworld.

However, Li Che's combat power in the Xuanxiao Heaven kept rising!

Four Mystic Martial Apertures rotated, driving forth surging qi and blood; Li Che stepped sideways onto the battlefield!

Target, the Future Tathagata!

Six Martial Immortal swords extended, turning into rainbows; the Six Desires Void Slaying Gods Sword Formation entwined with them hovered above his head, cutting through everything, as if within the sword formation all things were sliced into a vacuum.

Boom!

As Li Che joined the battlefield.

The Future Tathagata, a Royal-level Immortal already suppressed like falling into a valley, now faced with Li Che's addition after slaying the Present Tathagata, suddenly felt even greater pressure.

His whole body stained with golden blood, his eyes full of helplessness, he deeply gazed at Li Che joining the battlefield and let out a long sigh.

The fall of the Present Tathagata, for the three incarnations, should not actually have such a great impact.

Perhaps the biggest problem comes from Li Che……

This person is too strange; there seems to be some unique bond between him and them, such that even after the Present Tathagata was slain, it even affected them.

On the Present Tathagata's body, it seems something was swallowed by Li Che.

It seems their mysteries were laid bare before Li Che's eyes, an extremely painful experience.

Why is this so?

What exactly is the secret on Li Che's body?

At this moment, the Future Tathagata, as well as the Past Tathagata far in the Taisu Heaven, both felt curiosity arise in their hearts.

In fact, this curiosity of theirs arose long ago; they wondered why such a bond would produce this inexplicable relationship. Boom——!!!

Li Che's terrifying aura surged upward; the qi and blood from four Opening Heavens, as if achieving a stepwise leap and qualitative change, gave his overall combat power a full boost.

Now Li Che can even be said to have combat power at the peak of Immortals, only a thread away from Royal-level; one-on-one, he could even grapple with a Royal-level Immortal.

However, wanting to defeat and slay a Royal-level Immortal is not very possible.

Of course, Li Che doesn't need to do that either!

"Kill!"

In Li Che's eyes burst forth an unprecedented killing intent.

Qi Tian and the Third Prince exchanged a glance, both sensing Li Che's intense killing intent; without a word, the two top experts struck out, unleashing their greatest power.

The Future Tathagata was immediately struck, coughing blood, his condition deteriorating rapidly, as if about to be slain at any moment!

Sighs continually issued from the Future Tathagata's mouth.

The Future Tathagata pressed his palms together; the Great Buddha Golden Body reformed, yet covered in cracks, he could only defend, with no chance to take the initiative!

Being suppressed so miserably, it was almost as if three Royal-level Immortals had joined forces to attack.

Moreover, there were the Hell Qi Tian and Hell Third Prince, two who had recovered to, or even surpassed, peak Royal-level Immortal strength; the Future Tathagata's fate was practically sealed.

"Just what…… is your relationship with this poor monk?"

The Future Tathagata frequently coughed blood, yet stared fixedly at Li Che and spoke in a low voice.

Li Che did not answer.

The Lord of the Dao Fruit, it seems, had the memory of the Dao Fruit erased.

Of course, as of now, the Lords of the Dao Fruit that Li Che can confirm are actually two.

One is this Three World Tathagata before him, who once ascended the Dao Tree and, by almost breaking the rules, saw that this Three World Tathagata is actually the Lord of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit.

This is the only and most certain occasion.

Besides this, the identity Li Che can also confirm is... Nüwa.

Of course, it's not entirely certain; just a vague feeling makes Li Che think that Nüwa is very likely the Lord of the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, and also the Lord of the Dao Fruit that gave Li Che hope in his weak childhood.

Faced with the Future Tathagata's inquiry, his eyes were full of longing, as if he wanted, before death, to obtain a clear understanding of the truth.

Li Che looked at him calmly, giving no explanation.

Since the Dao Fruit, or rather the Dao Tree, is going to erase your will, Li Che need not go out of his way to reveal the Dao Fruit's secrets.

Future Tathagata, you only need to fall, becoming the maturity of the Dao Fruit required for his Pure Heart Dao Fruit!

"Kill!"

Li Che opened his mouth; between his lips and teeth, like thunder, after uttering a single word, an intense killing intent exploded!

His whole body instantly lunged outward in a killing motion, five fingers clenched into fists, pushing forward like a mountain‑river thrust that overwhelms everything; terrifying, fervent qi and blood, as if the martial dao of heaven and earth were pushed to the extreme.

Boom——!!!

The Great Buddha's golden body took a punch from Li Che; the cracked golden body instantly let out a wail, exploded, and countless golden fragments surged outward in all directions!

"Amitabha Buddha......"

"Benefactor, you really are... too cautious."

In such a situation, he actually could endure without speaking the true reason.

The Future Tathagata lightly sighed, giving Li Che a deep look.

The next moment, his toe touched down.

He forcibly took a punch from Li Che's Myriad Transformation Dragon Elephant Furnace that came crushing sideways.

Thud——

Terrifying qi and blood exploded; Li Che's whole body seemed to burn with qi‑blood fire, golden qi‑blood light radiating infinitely, stepping through the void, as if scorching a vacuum of heaven and earth.

"The strength of martial dao—Li Che, you truly are the best under heaven today; perhaps only the martial dao ancestor who founded martial dao among the strongest ancient natives of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths could compare with you in martial dao."

The Future Tathagata said with feeling.

But Li Che's heart stirred involuntarily.

Martial Dao Ancestor?

Martial Ancestor?!

Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly; Martial Dao Ancestor... such a being, how had he never heard of it before?

However, Li Che knew too little about the ancient clans of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Together with the Human Emperor Hong and Taiyi Immortality, although they were allies, Li Che thought the ancient clans of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths might be only these three.

The Human Emperor Hong, Taiyi, and the Ancestral Dragon—these three great ancient clans—now, from the Future Tathagata's mouth, Li Che learns that the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths also have such an existence as the Martial Dao Ancestor!

Martial Dao Ancestor...

Li Che's chest pounded, as if he had touched a forbidden name.

"Could the Martial Dao Ancestor be the Lord of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit?"

This idea rose in Li Che's mind, growing uncontrollably, hard to suppress.

However, Li Che soon suppressed that thought.

His whole body trembling, he continued to charge forward, fearlessly killing toward the Future Tathagata.

Martial Ancestor... Li Che felt it must be related to the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit!

Nine Heavens and Ten Earths...

It seems the earliest practice was martial dao!

"That's right; the mortal world seems to tolerate martial dao fully, because martial dao was the original cultivation path of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths."

"The Divine Path, however, was born later; in the mortal world, it could arise only because of the Guiyi Miao, and in fact, it is not tolerated by heaven and earth."

"Martial dao is the true orthodoxy of the mortal world and the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!"

Li Che drew a deep breath.

He still recalled that there seemed to be a True Martial God Sect in the mortal world!

This proves the existence of the Martial Dao Ancestor!

Li Che suddenly shuddered in shock!

Because he suddenly realized that, after entering the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, he had completely overlooked the presence of martial dao there.

It was as if some existence had forcibly erased it!

This is a very bad feeling!

Because he cultivated martial dao, he instead forgot its importance in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, which was the earliest cultivation path there.

It was in the barbaric era, when the spirits had not yet emerged, that it upheld the sky for humanity, enabling battles with beasts and demons as the source of strength!

"Martial Ancestor!"

Li Che's heart pounded as never before.

Boom!

He suppressed the tremor in his heart and charged at the Future Tathagata!

The Future Tathagata kept spitting blood; the point of being slain together by the Hell's Equal Heaven, the Hell's Third Prince, and Li Che drew ever nearer.

His defensive strength grew ever weaker!

"Benefactor Li, you truly refuse to fulfill the poor monk's final dying wish?"

If the poor monk's future Tathagata body were cut by you, you would surely gain a tremendous benefit, wouldn't you? Now that your body has been cut by you, your martial immortal will has received an unprecedented rise and strengthening.

Do you have karmic ties with the Buddha, or with the poor monk?

The future Tathagata kept speaking.

He stared at Li Che, using words to lure Li Che, wishing to speak of the connection and bond between them.

Yet Li Che still had not spoken.

He flicked a finger.

The Six Desires Void Slaying Gods Sword Formation fiercely turned, slashing down.

Li Che's purpose is simple.

Slay this future Tathagata; as long as you slay him, with the stature of a royal-level immortal heavenly being, even if it is the second time slaying him, the resulting rise in Dao fruit maturity should be enough to let the Dragon Elephant Golden Immortal Dao fruit strike the Nine Transformations, shouldn't it?

However, the Martial Ancestor mentioned by the future Tathagata gave Li Che an inexplicable sense of dread.

Why would he overlook the martial dao of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths?

Even though his cultivation has now grown to such an extent, being a fourth-tier Profound Immortal, if not for the future Tathagata mentioning the Martial Ancestor, he would not even have had this concept!

Even though his cultivation has now grown to such an extent that he is a Xuan Immortal who has opened the four heavens, if it weren't for the Future Tathagata mentioning the Martial Ancestor, he wouldn't even have had this concept!

Does he know him?!

His heart pounded violently, an inexplicable feeling surging forth as if from the Dragon Elephant Golden Immortal Dao fruit.

It seemed to be telling him, Martial Ancestor… he, Li Che, knows him!

Who exactly is he?!

Boom!

The Six Desires Void Slaying Gods Sword almost sealed off all directions of the future Tathagata.

Li Che sought to follow the same method, drawing upon the primordial power within the primordial sea of the Xuanxiao Heaven.

The six martial immortal swords—Profound Pupil, Listening Ear, Unintermittent, Heaven‑Swallowing, Divine Body, and No‑Intent—howled as they pierced the void.

Toward the future Tathagata, who is extremely weak and wandering before the gate of death!

The future Tathagata's monk robes were soaked in golden blood, and he let out a soft sigh.

The Future Tathagata's monk's robe was stained with golden blood, and he softly sighed.

It's a pity I can't coax words out of Layman Li.

Buddha of Fixed Light, please help the poor monk.

Just as the future Tathagata's words fell.

The six swords Li Che had slashed out were suddenly swept up by an invisible force.

Li Che's six swords that he had slashed out were suddenly swept up by an invisible force.

A power as if freezing spacetime itself.

A monk clad in a kasaya, seeming to sit cross‑legged in spacetime, behind him chanting the Buddha's name, the Buddhist voice resounding vast.

Invisible Buddhist light suddenly shone forth from the sundial hovering behind the monk.

Li Che's gaze fixed upon the manifested royal‑level immortal artifact, the Buddhist light sundial.

Li Che's gaze fixed upon the emperor-level immortal artifact that had appeared—the Buddha-Light Sundial.

There seemed to be two intertwined golden wheels, one representing time, the other space.

"Spacetime golden wheel?"

Time-space golden wheel?