Chapter 673: Dialogue with the Boss Dog Grandpa, the Dao Fruit Lord – Seventh Time

The Netherworld Mouth spun like a storm, terrifying roars shaking it, and the source of reincarnation continually overflowed from within.

Anyone who approaches feels their soul stripped, their five senses and six consciousness devoured, sinking into the feeling of endless reincarnation, utterly unable to control their will.

This is an extremely terrifying power.

Only beings who have reached the Heavenly Immortal level can oppose and suppress such power.

Therefore, guarding the Netherworld Mouth requires an Imperial-level Heavenly Immortal.

Ordinary Heavenly Immortals can also guard the Netherworld Mouth, but once the Reincarnation Sovereign breaks out from within, though its power is suppressed by the will of heaven and earth, it still retains an Imperial level.

Thus, relying on ordinary Heavenly Immortals to guard it is unsafe and carries great risk.

Li Che coldly watched the continually swirling Netherworld Mouth.

The Reincarnation Sovereign's form had vanished, taking Zhang Ya's form with it as they fell into the endless depths of reincarnation.

This accident indeed exceeded Li Che's expectations; he never imagined the Reincarnation Sovereign would be eyeing him like a tiger, waiting for a chance to threaten him with his wife.

Even more unexpected to Li Che was that this Reincarnation Sovereign... actually knew of the Dao Fruit!

She should be a Dao Fruit Lord, and moreover a Lord of the Reincarnation Dao Fruit, yet she actually knows of the Dao Fruit—this completely contradicts Li Che's earlier speculation, overturning it entirely.

Dao Fruit Lords are not completely ignorant of the Dao Fruit, nor are they all like the Three Worlds Tathagata, oblivious to it.

"Or perhaps... beings at the Sovereign level all have some knowledge of the Dao Fruit?"

Li Che's brows furrowed slightly.

If that's the case, then the problem becomes grave.

In the Netherworld, the Netherworld Sovereign and the Death Sovereign—could they be Dao Fruit Lords?

If they were, they should have long ago uncovered Li Che's secrets.

For a moment, his thoughts swirled like mist, obscuring his vision, giving him a sense of being shrouded on all sides, as if losing his sense of direction.

Li Che exhaled.

He suppressed the thoughts weighing on his heart.

He surveyed the entire space battlefield of the Primordial Heaven.

Within the space battlefield, countless minute spatial cracks filled it, drifting like cotton fluff, as if they could tear at any moment into something far larger and more terrifying!

The battles in this space battlefield mainly involve Imperial-level combat.

Not tearing the entire space battlefield apart is already considered quite restrained on everyone's part.

The Immortal God Emperor fell, the Immortal Golden Cicada was rescued by the Eternal Light Buddha, and the Shaman Emperor saved the Immortal Demon Emperor and Immortal Laozi—meaning that in this great war, only one Immortal God Emperor ultimately perished!

This severely conflicts with Li Che's objectives.

Clenching his five fingers, a tremendous suction burst forth; countless fragments of flesh piled up, energy intertwining, and the Immortal God Emperor's body instantly condensed into a ball of meat, which Li Che coldly collected.

He kept it for spirit capture; if he could draw out a top-tier Imperial-level Heavenly Immortal combatant, it would be a tremendous aid to the Prison Lotus faction.

"Senior Qi Tian, please guard this Netherworld Mouth for a moment."

Li Che looked toward Qi Tian outside the blazing hellfire armor of Qi Tian Jia.

"Hehe, no problem, leave it to me, Li Che brat."

Qi Tian shouldered the As-You-Will Golden Hooped Staff and lightly waved his hand.

"I, Old Sun, am stationed here—no one can get past!"

Qi Tian waved both hands.

Senior Qi Tian... always gives people a sense of peace.

Indeed, Qi Tian gave Li Che a strong feeling of reassurance.

Di Hong Human Emperor and Taiyi Immortal came flying, Di Hong Human Emperor's face rather embarrassed.

"That Immortal Golden Cicada is strange..."

"It suddenly burst with tremendous power; I couldn't withstand it, and it sliced me into three pieces."

"Actually, it's not really my fault; I gave my all each time, but I kept getting blown away."

Di Hong Human Emperor said this, actually feeling a bit stifled and wronged.

"It feels like everyone else is showing off, while only I, Di Hong Human Emperor, am getting beaten!"

This made him really pissed off!

"When has Di Hong Human Emperor ever suffered such a loss?!"

"Earth Store King... are you going to attack Black Sumeru?"

"If we attack Black Sumeru, I, Di Hong, am willing to be the vanguard!"

Di Hong Human Emperor gripped the Human Emperor's Great Sword and spoke in a low voice.

"Lost ground must be reclaimed; no one is forever getting beaten, and Di Hong won't be either."

"Li Che will surely attack Black Sumeru; Di Hong will not misjudge that."

The Dark Heavenly Court collapsed, trampled flat by Li Che.

The Primordial Heaven, Void Heaven, and Profound Heaven—three great heavens—were all opened and refined by Li Che, becoming part of his martial immortal capital.

Therefore, Di Hong Human Emperor estimates that Li Che will certainly attempt to open the three great heavens of Black Sumeru.

The Divine Treasury Heaven, Formless Heaven, and Helü Heaven!

The face lost by the Immortal Golden Cicada, Di Hong Human Emperor will surely reclaim—this is obsession!

Li Che glanced at Di Hong Human Emperor: "Good."

He responded earnestly to Di Hong.

Di Hong blinked slightly, hearing the earnestness in Li Che's words.

This truly is a plan to attack Black Sumeru, to open its three great heavens!

No wonder he's the Earth Store King—his confidence is more than enough!

Black Sumeru is very powerful, but now, after the Three Worlds Tathagata was designed and cut off by the Earth Store King, Black Sumeru's vital energy has been severely damaged.

Although the Eternal Light Buddha rescued the Immortal Golden Cicada, a mere Immortal Golden Cicada is not enough to prop up Black Sumeru.

Therefore, the chance to attack and seize Black Sumeru is still great.

The only shortcoming is that there is no chance to seize the Strange Demon Lair, because the Strange Demon Lair has the Nüwa Emperor and the Shaman Emperor holding the fort, like stone statues seated high on a mountain peak, making them virtually indestructible.

Qitian stepped forward, entered the mouth of the Netherworld, and began to hold the fort there.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Li Che failed to save his wife Zhang Ya this time, but after breaking the formation, his wife Zhang Ya at least no longer faced mortal danger, would not burn herself out and perish, and finally returned to the will of the Nüwa Emperor.

Since the Lord of Reincarnation intends to trade with him……

That means Zhang Ya's safety is assured.

Having figured these out, Li Che is no longer that anxious, but his idea of retrieving his wife will not change.

The Reincarnation Abyss……

Li Che will definitely go there once.

However, with his current strength, stepping into the Reincarnation Abyss can only be said to be a one‑way trip; once he goes, he basically won't come back.

So he must continually raise his cultivation!

Taking a deep breath, Li Che stepped forward and fell like a cannonball into the Primordial Heaven.

Letting others do their own things, Li Che sat cross‑legged on a mountain peak in the Primordial Heaven, organizing his cultivation so far.

Now he has three Dao Fruits that have achieved the Nine Transformations.

Dragon Elephant Vajra, Thunder Magnetic Orbit, and Pure Heart—these three Dao Fruits have achieved an unprecedented Nine Transformations, reaching the perfect state required of a Dao Fruit!

And with the perfected Dao Fruit, Li Che has gained a deeper understanding and insight into the Dao contained in each kind of Dao Fruit.

For example, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit makes Li Che's martial arts even stronger, constantly maintaining a state of sudden enlightenment feedback; whether in combat or martial arts cultivation, he has reached the peak state.

The Thunder Magnetic Orbit Dao Fruit can make Li Che a controller of heavenly thunder; his whole body can even transform into lightning form, formless and substanceless, able to become nothingness or the most terrifying slaughter.

Li Che kept organizing.

However, among these three Nine‑Transformation Dao Fruits, aside from the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, which broke through because he personally slew a heavenly immortal of imperial rank far beyond his cultivation realm,

the other Dao Fruits only obtained great transformation and enhancement after he slew their Dao Fruit masters and devoured the insights on their bodies.

Li Che's eyes flickered uncertainly; above the sky, a cloud drifted by.

It blocked the sunlight, as if the entire Primordial Heaven had fallen into boundless darkness.

Li Che raised his head and glanced at the cloud that blocked the sunlight.

At this moment the cloud was like the mist now shrouding his head, preventing him from seeing the road ahead, or rather……

seeing the road ahead clearly, yet his heart was unwilling to acknowledge and accept it.

"Besides the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, the Martial Immortal Dao is something I have stepped forward step by step, solidly earned; as for the other Dao Fruits, to achieve the Nine Transformations they probably need to rely on the insights of other Dao Fruit masters, and I alone cannot achieve the Nine Transformations."

"Just as those Dao Fruit masters cannot strike the Nine Transformations, they also lack an opportunity like mine."

But……

Why is the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit…… an exception?

Li Che couldn't figure it out, or there is an answer in his mind that he is unwilling to admit.

"Forget it, I won't think about these……"

"Slaying the Dao Fruit master to achieve the Nine Transformations is my path; since this is the path, I will follow it onward."

"Of course, the premise is that these Dao Fruit masters stand opposed to me, as enemies; slaying enemies then carries no psychological burden."

Li Che murmured softly, analyzing the current situation.

"As for me now, I have opened the origin of the Six Great Heavenly Domains, having opened heaven six times as a Profound Immortal; if I continue to open heaven, each opening will probably become extremely difficult."

"But I must walk this path……"

Li Che took a deep breath.

He had a feeling that the martial arts path is his greatest foundation; only by reaching the peak of the martial arts path can he see hope.

"Black Sumeru has three great heavenly domains……"

That is the three great heavenly domains that Li Che has reserved for opening heaven.

Opening three more days would make it nine openings of heaven……

Nine is the extreme; the limit is nine openings, and more cannot be done—Li Che feels there is no need to continue opening further.

Because the limit has already been reached, if he continues to open heaven, the will of heaven and earth will deem him a world‑destroyer, likely to be utterly eradicated, leaving no place for him to dwell in heaven and earth.

"Now, the masters of the Dao Fruits are in doubt, unknown whose…… there are also the Painting Immortal Dao Fruit, the Hell Dao Fruit, and the three Dao Fruits of the Dream Heavenly Master; as for this Great Sun Golden Crow Carriage Dao Fruit, it is incongruous with them, so it can be temporarily disregarded."

Li Che sat cross‑legged on the mountain peak, bathed in the gentle breeze, thinking slowly.

The vast environment made his mind work extremely quickly. He sat in meditation on the peak, cultivating his qi and blood and state, enhancing his mastery of the Nine‑Transformation Dao Fruits, raising his own state to the utmost.

Seven days passed, and Li Che remained motionless.

When the seventh day arrived,

Li Che suddenly opened his eyes; the light in his eyes was like a sharp, lone‑blade that cuts through a thousand mountains, cleaving the void.

Boom—

The Martial Immortal's qi and blood were completely stabilized, and his mastery of the Nine‑Transformation Dao Fruit became thorough and proficient.

Li Che rose to his feet; behind him, six wheels like great suns of qi and blood vortices kept turning, constantly emitting a roar.

Taking a step, his whole body shot out like a cannonball.

He crossed the Primordial Heaven.

He returned to the Hell Lotus Ground.

The Third Prince, Huang Jianjiu, and the others had already returned long ago.

Emperor Hong, the Human Emperor, and the Immortal Taiyi also similarly entered Hell Lotus Land, assuming ordinary identities and walking among its villages.

Li Che returned, landing beside the Hell Lotus Grave Pool.

Inside the Hell Lotus Grave Pool, Xixi's aura had risen to its peak, as if about to break out of the pool at any moment.

However, her consciousness seemed to be undergoing an extremely terrifying confrontation and trial.

Li Che never went to disturb her.

By the pool, a gentle breeze blew.

Li Che's black robe fluttered as he strode to the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant.

The boss sat quietly in the rocking chair, watching the Hell Lotus Grave Pool ripple with circles, in a daze.

He seemed to notice Li Che's arrival, turned his head and glanced at him, then passed over a cigarette.

Dog Grandpa lay on the ground, snoring loudly; the gentle breeze made it very comfortable, and Dog Grandpa basically didn't want to wake up.

The two sat before the restaurant, smoking cigarettes as they gazed at the Hell Lotus Grave Pool.

They remained silent, as if listening to the wind's clamor.

"Couldn't Xixi's mother be saved?"

The boss finally spoke, breaking the silence.

Li Che exhaled a mouthful of smoke, which formed a ring that swirled and rose upward.

"I failed; the Reincarnation Sovereign suddenly struck, taking Xiao Ya away, forcing me to bring something to exchange for her."

Li Che said calmly.

He glanced at the boss, then looked toward the dog grandpa lying on the ground, ears perked up, leisurely sleeping.

"Dog grandpa, you're more familiar with the netherworld; do you know… what the Lord of Reincarnation needs?"

Li Che's words made the dog grandpa's body tremble slightly, then he opened his dog eyes and gave Li Che a speechless glance.

The boss's face was stiff, the corner of his mouth twitched.

"I know..."

"That thing is called the Dao fruit."

The boss looked at Li Che.

"You have the Dao fruit on you."

"The boss also knows the Dao fruit?" Li Che was rather calm, seeming not surprised.

"Could the boss… also be the master of the Dao fruit?"

The boss shook his head: "I'm not."

This answer was unexpectedly out of Li Che's expectation, because Li Che thought the boss would be the master of the Dao fruit.

He is too mysterious and also very powerful; how could he not be the master of the Dao fruit?

"The dog is."

The boss held a cigarette between two fingers and pointed at the big black dog lying on the ground.

Li Che followed the gaze and looked over.

"So what then?"

The boss kept a straight face and snorted: "Don't tell me you still want to kill the dog?"

Li Che's heart trembled.

He knew, he indeed knows everything!

The mysteries of the Dao fruit, the boss knows them all!

Moreover, he explicitly said that the dog grandpa is the master of the Dao fruit; then which master of the Dao fruit is the dog grandpa?

Li Che's heart was full of curiosity and shock.

But the boss gave no explanation.

"The Eighth Generation God Tide, with your slaughter, has already entered its end."

"The Ninth Generation God Tide should be about to begin."

"All truths will be revealed in the Ninth Generation God Tide; however, this Ninth Generation God Tide lacks the newborn Hell Lotus Maiden, so there's no need to wait for the Hell Lotus Maiden to grow again."

The boss said lightly.

"But when all truths are revealed, can your power bear and oppose the power of the truth?"

The boss stood up, unwilling to say more to Li Che.

Because, what he said today is already enough; saying more would invite heavenly sanctions.

He dislikes sanctions, because they would mess up his hair.

Li Che snapped off the cigarette butt, exhaled, and stared at the dog grandpa.

In his heart, he roughly understood what kind of Dao fruit master the dog grandpa was.

"Hell Dao fruit master? Are you that, dog grandpa?"

Li Che looked at the dog grandpa and asked.

And the dog grandpa lay motionless on the ground, probably… acknowledging it.

After all, the boss said the dog grandpa is most familiar with the depths of hell, even taking Li Che there to slash the hellfire divine tree.

The dog grandpa ignored Li Che, even stood up and gave him a butt.

So what if we know the dog grandpa is the master of the Dao fruit?

Could it be that Li Che still wants to slay the dog grandpa?

Just as Nuwa is the master of the Immortal Craft Dao fruit, could Li Che possibly go and slay Nuwa?

These are not realistic.

Li Che let out a soft sigh.

He sat idly by the Prison Lotus Abyss Pool for three days.

Three days later.

Li Che bade farewell to his daughter, then greeted the Third Prince and the others.

The Emperor Hong Human Sovereign and the Taiyi Immortal, who had blended into a mortal village for some days, returned with complex expressions and met up with Li Che.

"I will march upon the three great heavenly realms of Black Sumeru; I will open the heavens."

Li Che said.

He will assault the Martial Dao Heavenly Immortal, an unparalleled existence among Heavenly Immortals!

He needs everyone to shield him, to block the variable that is the Eternal Light Buddha; of course, now we must also add a variable like the Witch Emperor.

Boom——!!!

Li Che's body trembled; bringing the Third Prince, Huang Jianjiu and others, his body shattered the void, galloping through the spatial passage.

Within the spatial passage, a city appeared.

On the city gate tower.

There sat an ancient Buddha of the Heavenly Immortal level.

Its gaze swept over, and it did not retreat.

Li Che flicked a finger, and the Six Desires Void Slaughter God Sword roared down.

Instantly, this ancient Buddha was pierced through its body, unable to block!

Li Che appeared in the Divine Storehouse Heaven.

Standing amidst the endless yellow sands of the Divine Storehouse Heaven, he raised his head and could see above a golden‑cast Buddha gate, shimmering with light, suspended high.

That Buddha gate was like a blazing sun; the Buddha light it shed was sunlight.

It was poured over every corner of the Divine Storehouse Heaven, bathing every living being; from birth onward they were bathed in that Buddha light, thus having affinity with the Buddha.

"So it is; no wonder the faith of the Three‑World Tathagata is so mighty, even at this sovereign's peak it cannot compare."

"This bald donkey is far too ruthless and cunning!"

The Emperor Hong Human Sovereign sighed and said.

The Buddha gate hung aloft, like a blazing sun, radiating myriad strands of Buddha light.

Although the phenomenon is splendid, it strangles the upper limit of beings in the Divine Storehouse Heaven; they can only walk the Buddhist path, unable to take any other road.

But this is exactly what the Buddhas of Black Sumeru need; what they need… is merely faith.

Li Che clenched his five fingers, and heaven and earth exploded with a boom.

As if sliced by a sharp blade, the torn void turned into a long saber, which Li Che gripped with one hand and swung up violently.

He swung toward the firmament above; the blazing‑sun Buddha gate that illuminated all things in the Divine Storehouse Heaven was cut down.

The seventh opening of heaven by a Mystic Immortal!

The Heavenly Immortal path, open!