Chapter 678: My Father is Li Che! [Grand Finale]

Is it the Heavenly Emperor who caused the Dao Tree Bond?

In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, whoever has the ability to pull off such a grand move is basically the Heavenly Emperor.

Who could the Heavenly Emperor be?

Li Che, so far, has no clue or idea.

But he has a guess.

"Is it the boss?"

Li Che's heart trembled slightly; could the boss be the Heavenly Emperor?

This possibility exists, but he always feels it's unlikely—this is what his intuition tells him.

Now that he has broken through to become a Great Luo Heavenly Immortal, Li Che's intuition is no simple matter; it cannot be outright ignored, for a Great Luo Heavenly Immortal's intuition can even see through past, present, and future!

He shook his head; Li Che did not dwell on it too much.

Because when mist obscures what lies ahead, pondering any problem is meaningless and gives the illusion of making a wrong judgment.

Then… we'll meet force with force, water with earth, and take each step as it comes.

However, one must strengthen oneself and devise strategies and methods for when thoughts run into problems.

If one truly falls into a boundless desperate situation, there can still be hope of resistance and a turnaround, rather than hitting rock bottom and seeing no light.

Li Che hovered in the void of Helu Heaven, his terrifying aura surging around him, his whole being like a black hole.

Behind him floated nine vortices, each possessing the power to annihilate Helu Heaven.

Every move he made seemed capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, destroying heaven and earth.

The power of a Great Luo Heavenly Immortal far exceeds the combat strength of those who have reached the Heavenly Immortal level through orthodox martial arts.

This is the strongest martial arts combat power.

Belonging to true Sovereign-level power, it can overwhelm all deities of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

His black hair no longer flowed with golden light, and his blood even returned to a crimson hue, like that of a normal person, yet each drop contained energy almost capable of piercing the void.

Whoosh—

The sound of breaking space echoed.

Equal to Heaven, Third Prince, Emperor Hong, Taiyi Immortal, Huang Jianjiu, and other deities rushed to gather swiftly.

Slay God, Kill God, Trap God, and Exterminate God—the four Sword Dao Earth Immortals—now burned with fervent gazes.

Li Che glanced at them, flicked a finger, and sword light blossomed like flowers at his fingertips, streaming into their brows; the four deities directly broke through their bottlenecks, comprehended the Sword Dao he transmitted, and immediately reached the Heavenly Immortal level.

They even possessed the possibility of surging to Imperial-level combat power.

Because this is the Sword Dao transmitted by Li Che.

A Sovereign's Sword Dao.

"Thank you, Sovereign!"

The four deities were utterly reverent.

Li Che nodded, looked toward Equal to Heaven, Third Prince, and the others, and exhaled.

"Success."

He stretched, and Li Che's mighty aura instantly retracted, his whole being seeming to sink into utter stillness.

Sovereign-level power, wielded at will.

He raised his hand; between his fingers floated five fruits flashing with seven-colored light, as if drawing upon the Heaven and Earth Grand Dao, producing a roar.

As if the Grand Dao of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were completely compressed into a single fruit, containing boundless terrifying power.

Dao Fruit!

Equal to Heaven, Third Prince, and the others gazed at these Dao Fruits, their hearts and minds violently shaken, as if giving rise to boundless longing and hope.

Pure Heart, Chess Saint, Myriad Demons Emperor, Thunder Magnetic Orbit, and Time-Space Golden Wheel—five Dao Fruits in total—fully accomplished the Nine Transformations.

The five Dao Fruit Masters have completed their return to position.

"No, not five… just four."

"The Three Worlds Tathagata seems not to have returned to position."

Li Che seemed to have thought of something.

The Three Worlds Tathagata had been slain by him, yet the other party seemed to have long known of the Dao Fruit's existence, and known the secret of being a Dao Fruit Master.

But it had not yet come into contact with the Great Dream Light.

"So… the Three Worlds Tathagata has not completely died."

"Or rather, he accomplished… the Golden Cicada shedding shell through the Three Worlds Body Method!"

Golden Cicada…

Li Che suddenly understood.

No wonder the Immortal Golden Cicada could suddenly erupt, with the combat power of one who had just entered the Heavenly Immortal realm, and cleave the Emperor Hong, Human Emperor—this Sovereign—into three pieces.

It turned out that the attacker was not the Immortal Golden Cicada, but the Three Worlds Tathagata!

Reborn, or rather, the Three Worlds Tathagata freed from its bonds.

"Perhaps all this is exactly what the Tathagata sought."

The Eighth Generation God Tide—its instigator was precisely the Three Worlds Tathagata, essentially to completely break free of the Dao Tree Bond, to escape the fate of having to return the Dao Fruits to their places!

He closed his eyes slightly; Li Che's heart and mind stirred.

In the next instant, the Chess Saint Dao Fruit trembled to life, as if a vast chessboard net spread, with his body as the center point, instantly expanding and spreading in all directions.

Helu Heaven was instantly enveloped, then continued to expand—even spatial passages could not check this chessboard's enveloping.

One heavenly realm after another was completely encompassed.

Even the Heavenly Realm of the Qui Yao Cave is within Li Che's shrouding range.

In an instant.

Li Che opened his eyes; the void around him exploded in an instant, as if shattered into fragments.

His whole body vanished from the spot.

Qi Tian, the Third Prince and the others were stunned, seemingly unable to grasp where Li Che had gone.

But watching Li Che disappear from the spot, they could not help but sigh; now they were completely unable to keep up with Li Che's pace.

Still, that was normal; how could they possibly match the steps of a Dominator?

In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, up to now, aside from the Heavenly Emperor, only Li Che has reached Dominion realm combat power!

"Hehe… the Yulian camp truly fought an unprecedented victory in this God Tide!"

"A true reversal!"

It was only during the First Generation God Tide that the Yulian camp was extremely powerful, as if an invisible hand was pulling it from behind.

The Yulian camp nearly slaughtered half of the deities.

Ancient clan deities fell like rain; although the three great divine camps rose with the momentum, they too fell and perished in succession.

Although the Yulian camp lost in the First Generation God Tide, it still delivered a terrifying Yulian shock to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

But that was only the First Generation God Tide.

With the Third Prince beheaded, Qi Tian, Three-Eyed True Lord and other Yulian deities fell, becoming mortal temple gods, and everything came to an end.

In the six God Tides that followed, the Yulian camp never rose again.

They were all schemed against by various emperor‑grade immortal heavens, ending in a tragic finale.

But this Eighth Generation God Tide was completely different.

"Let's go, back to the old nest!"

Qi Tian hoisted the Ruyi Golden Cudgel, smiling broadly, and together with the Third Prince and other deities, crossed back to the Yulian realm.

…

…

On the other side.

Li Che zipped through space‑time, a golden temporal wheel interlaced around him; space and time stood before him without obstruction.

Divine Craft Heaven.

The celestial realm he had opened trembled continuously, and with Li Che's arrival, a fierce roar erupted.

Li Che's expression was cold.

In Divine Craft Heaven, numerous demonic clans' divine eagle masters fell one after another, cut into three pieces of flesh, and met a gruesome death in the Hundred‑Thousand Great Rivers.

It could only be said that it was truly too tragic.

Li Che's gaze swept over and landed on the Divine Eagle Mountain where Queen Wa stood.

But at this moment, it was empty.

Queen Wa's Divine Eagle Mountain was sliced off its peak by three terrifying rule forces, completely collapsed, the statue of Queen Wa vanished, and the Queen Wa who presided there also disappeared without a trace.

The Nether Gate kept rotating; having lost Queen Wa's suppression, the Nether Gate continuously spewed out ghostly divine power.

Queen Wa is gone!

Moreover, the entire Divine Craft Heaven clearly endured an extremely perilous battle.

Because on the other side, Li Che was also fighting, directly confronting the Nine Great Heavens and Earth Ancient Talisman Divine Generals; the pressure was absurdly high, leaving no mind to attend to this battle.

He had not expected this side's battle to be so brutal.

The Hundred‑Thousand Great Rivers were almost entirely slaughtered by a single person, completely drenched in blood.

Originally Li Che thought that with Queen Wa stationed here, there would be no need to worry about Divine Craft Heaven's safety; after all, in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, there are almost no strong ones capable of suppressing Queen Wa.

Unless that mysterious Heavenly Emperor were to descend, but now Li Che feels he may have guessed wrong.

"Is it the Immortal Golden Cicada? No, it should be the true form after the Third‑world Tathagata's Golden Cicada shedding!"

Li Che furrowed his brows, a weighty glint flashing in his eyes.

"To suppress Queen Wa and slaughter the entire Divine Craft Heaven, could the Golden Cicada‑shed Tathagata's power have already reached the Dominion realm?"

Buzz—

Li Che's body flickered as if moving, appearing at the spot where Queen Wa's divine mountain had been cut down.

He extended his hand, touching the lingering traces of the three rule forces.

Past, present and future forces intertwined there, filled with a chaotic sense—a force that tore and broke the shackles.

"Indeed, it's the power of the Dominion realm!"

Li Che's eyes involuntarily narrowed!

"The Golden Cicada‑shed Tathagata indeed possesses Dominion‑realm power… but if the Tathagata has such might, why not destroy my breakthrough and ascension?"

Li Che's expression grew more serious than ever.

The Tathagata doesn't come to thwart his assault on the Dominion realm, but instead troubles Queen Wa?

He, not Queen Wa, is the one breaking through the Dominion.

However, Li Che's mind shifted, and he instantly understood, deducing why the Tathagata didn't stop his Dominion breakthrough.

"The Tathagata was originally the master of the Dao Fruit; using the Golden Cicada shedding method, he cast off the Pure‑Heart Dao Fruit. He knows the Dao Fruit's secrets, yet he never stopped me, shedding the Dao Fruit and letting it continuously grow within me!"

"He even used the Golden Cicada's shed form to help me achieve the Nine‑Shedding of the Pure‑Heart Dao Fruit!"

"He doesn't block my breakthrough; it seems… he hasn't completely given up on the Dao Fruit, hasn't fully abandoned it. His goal… perhaps is me!"

"Therefore, he didn't destroy my breakthrough."

Li Che took a deep breath, formed an initial judgment in his mind, and his gaze fell upon the cut‑down divine mountain.

Behind him, the temporal golden wheel spun violently, emitting a resonant clang.

Li Che's eyes seemed to become a profoundly deep vortex; the vortex turned, countless images reflected before him.

Shouts of killing, angry roars, demonic qi soaring, blood spraying, all things fell silent!

Three Buddha Lights, cutting through everything, from past, present, and future, unstoppable!

One by one, the demon race's Divine Eagle Immortals fell dead, bearing resentment, fury and regret, collapsing upon the Divine Mountain of the Ten Thousand Great Rivers in the Strange Demon Cave.

Then the perspective shifted; Li Che easily rewound time, parting the fog woven by the three great rule forces, and saw the clash between Empress Nüwa and the Tathagata.

It was clear that Empress Nüwa was not a golden cicada shedding its shell, using death to cut the shackles and restore the Tathagata's dominant cultivation.

Though she fought with all strength, even abandoning the suppression of the Nether Mouth, she was still subdued by the Tathagata's terrifying Buddha's Hand, which fused the past, present, and future rule forces.

She was swallowed whole into the Buddha Realm's belly.

Li Che hovered at the side of the Divine Mountain, his gaze gradually solidifying.

Because the Tathagata slowly turned, palms together, the serene Buddha Light on his body illuminated ten thousandfold, as if enlightening the entire Divine Craft Heaven.

His gaze projected forward, a faint smile, meeting Li Che's time‑spanning stare.

"Amitabha."

"Patron Li."

"The humble monk will now venture into the Reincarnation Abyss, to check on the safety of the Lotus Prison's daughter's mother for Patron Li."

"The humble monk, with a heart for universal salvation, wishes to rescue the Lotus Prison's daughter's mother, Patron Li's wife..."

"However, the humble monk only needs a small thing; whatever the Lord of Reincarnation requires, that is what the humble monk seeks..."

"Patron Li, the Reincarnation Abyss appears at once."

The Tathagata seemed to know that Li Che would rewind time at this moment to observe this battle.

Thus his words were directed toward Li Che.

"The Eighth Generation God Tide had already ended when Patron Li broke through to the Martial Dao Celestial Immortal realm."

"And the Ninth Generation God Tide is opening simultaneously."

"The final God Tide, whether it be Heaven and Earth, or its weakest moment, we seek to break the cage; this is our only chance."

The Tathagata pressed his palms together: "The vastness of the universe, the breadth of time and space—what we see is but a grain of sand in the sea."

"Only on the day we break the cage can we glimpse a broader Heaven and Earth, and truly attain freedom."

At this point, three terrifying Buddha Lights swept the scene, exploding into countless fine golden rays that scattered over Divine Craft Heaven.

Li Che hovered at the side of the Divine Mountain, his black robe fluttered, sleeves striking the void like an incredibly sharp divine blade, slicing the void open.

The black robe, embroidered with a golden lotus, was hand‑stitched by his wife; now the robe had already reached the level of an imperial‑grade immortal artifact.

Li Che's expression turned exceedingly grim.

Indeed, his guess was correct!

The Tathagata's target was indeed him, or rather…

Like the Lord of Reincarnation, the target was the Nine Shedding Dao Fruit he held in his hand!

Yet the Reincarnation Dao Fruit was still far from the Nine Shedding.

After the Tathagata shed his golden cicada shell, his aim became the Nine Shedding Dao Fruit; he intended to, after shedding, re‑refine the Dao Fruit and, in the Ninth Generation God Tide, achieve a breakthrough.

"The Ninth Generation God Tide is its weakest moment?"

Li Che suddenly furrowed his brows, recalling the Tathagata's words.

Who is the "He" spoken of by the Tathagata?

The Tathagata's "break the cage" is easy to understand—everything done is for the pursuit of freedom, yearning for the boundless cosmic starry sky and the sea of stars, which can also be comprehended…

But who is He?

The Will of Heaven and Earth?

Li Che's eyes flickered, his heart trembled slightly, a moment of bewilderment washed over him.

The Will of Heaven and Earth, does reaching the sovereign level… automatically break it?

Shaking his head, Li Che exhaled gently, suppressing the irritation in his heart; it was an unknown that surged like fog, bringing agitation.

The fierce Martial Immortal will vibrated, Li Che's gaze returned to cold indifference, his mind became extremely calm.

With a bare hand, he brushed aside the three rule forces; like shackles they snapped, completely dissipating.

He floated down onto the cut Divine Mountain; only the base of Empress Nüwa's statue remained, its carvings exceedingly intricate.

Li Che landed before the base; the base was colossal, like a massive lotus platform, each lotus petal on it engraved with scenes.

Strolling along the side, Li Che was slightly stunned; he saw the scenes on the lotus petals and was instantly struck by a thunder‑like vibration.

He slowly raised his palm, tracing the carved relief.

The relief seemed to depict a person's whole life.

At birth, she was a little girl from an ordinary small town; her parents lived striving lives; the girl grew up unable to cultivate, living an ordinary life. When she reached adulthood, her parents arranged a marriage for her, to a sculptor apprentice working as a mover in a stone‑carving shop.

Though she could not become wealthy, she earned modest earnings and lived peacefully.

……

As his palm brushed the relief, the vivid scene unfolded as if the carving were not merely relief but a real life.

The texture of time seeped from the relief, flowing along Li Che's palm, permeating his body and mind.

Days passed one after another.

The girl became pregnant; her belly swelled day by day, losing her slender figure, becoming plump, yet she dreamed daily of her husband's work days.

At home, she talked to the child in her womb, imagining the future, hoping for the child's life, filled with hesitation and fear.

At night, she always dreamed of a lotus flower; each dream a petal fell, and a voice told her, "Eat the petal; it will be good for the child."

She began to strive each night to gnaw the lotus petals.

One petal, two petals, three… until she ate all nine.

The daughter was born.

Li Che's expression was extremely complex.

Because what is carved on this lotus platform is Zhang Ya's entire life.

On that relief, Li Che also saw his own scene, namely everything that happened in this divine tide.

After Xixi was born, the family began to change; they were no longer poor, her husband became increasingly capable, earning more and more silver for the small household, entering the carving workshop, and even going to the prefectural city, Dao City, and the Divine Capital...

She was just a little daughter-in-law, always silently following.

She paid attention to her husband and also to her daughter; her husband and daughter became her world.

Within the scene, a regulatory power permeates and is contained.

"Past, present, future power... the regulatory power severed by the Three Worlds Tathagata, is it seeping in?"

Li Che's heart stirred; the regulatory power seeping from the lotus platform, like chains of order, continuously wound around his palm.

When the 'present' regulatory power was drained, Li Che's eyes suddenly burst with extreme brilliant light, seeing through the lotus platform.

He saw within the lotus platform a cluster of splendid white light.

"Immortal Craftsman..."

Li Che took a deep breath; this is the Immortal Craftsman Dao Fruit left by Nuwa!

Never did he expect that Nuwa had actually left, within the lotus seat, the source of the Dao Fruit as the master of the Immortal Craftsman Dao Fruit!

With this source of the Immortal Craftsman Dao Fruit, the master of the Immortal Craftsman Dao Fruit can be restored to his position!

Nuwa knew she could not withstand the power of the Three Worlds Tathagata, whose sovereign power had been restored, so after being suppressed she chose to leave the source of the Immortal Craftsman Dao Fruit, naturally for Li Che.

Moreover, to obtain the source of the Immortal Craftsman Dao Fruit, one must produce a resonance of will with the relief carved on the lotus seat, and a collision of life experiences.

At this moment, Li Che's feelings suddenly became somewhat complex.

He could no longer tell clearly whether Zhang Ya was Nuwa's reincarnation, or... Zhang Ya herself is Nuwa!

Because Nuwa carved this relief, the power of the ages left upon it was carved before the divine tide opened.

However, no matter what.

In the abyss of reincarnation, Li Che must go through it!

Hum—

A brilliant light burst from his brow; the next moment, the Immortal Craftsman Dao Fruit source embedded in the center of the lotus platform was instantly drawn by an invisible force and seeped out from the lotus platform.

It seemed to transform into splendid white starlight, continually drifting down, finally gathering in Li Che's palm.

It transformed into a statue resembling Nuwa.

This is the source of the Immortal Craftsman Dao Fruit!

It

Immortal Craft Dao Fruit… return to its place!

Li Ché murmured.

Inside his chest, the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit quivered violently, leaping out and bit by bit devouring the primordial essence of the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit that Nüwa had left behind.

As it devoured, the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit began to strike at its final metamorphosis.

Countless rays of light, flashing with seven‑colored hues, converged on the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit; beam after beam of radiance, like mirrors, reflected myriad universes and billions of starry skies.

Li Ché sat cross‑legged upon the lotus platform, his whole being sinking into an unprecedented tranquility.

He opened his eyes, and a roaring sound thundered in his mind, like the most ancient deity of heaven and earth letting out a furious roar.

His soul seemed to soar upward in that instant, piercing tens of thousands of feet into the clouds and breaking into the boundless starry void.

The Milky Way whirled, stars shifted, and fragment after fragment of the cosmos—like shards of mirrored star‑space—reflected in his pupils.

The Great Thousand Worlds!

Such a thought arose in Li Ché's mind.

The next moment, the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit continued to tremble, slowly transforming as if carved by a chisel and hammered into shape, becoming an exquisite heart that seemed to contain the Great Thousand Worlds within.

Not only that.

At that instant, the other nine‑transformation Dao Fruits seemed to react, all soaring forth, trembling incessantly, roaring like thunder.

Boom boom boom—

Between the Dao Fruits, chains of light were intertwining.

Li Ché opened his eyes; the intertwined Dao Fruits gathered their regulatory power into the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit.

They projected radiance!

The Milky Way whirled, like swift‑flowing starlight.

Li Ché saw it.

He saw a planet!

It was a water‑blue world, the view continually zooming in as if gazed upon by a deity.

The atmosphere was torn apart, mountains and rivers expanded, rivers intertwined in his sight, and modern buildings cast their shadows.

And upon the streets, amid the crisscrossing lanes, endless streams of steel automobiles flowed.

Li Ché's pupils burst with seven‑colored light; he gazed at the scene with an extraordinarily complex expression, a view intensely familiar to him.

Yet this scene should not appear here.

This was not a reflection of his own spirit, but an image projected from the primordial essence hidden within the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit by Nüwa.

In other words…

This image comes from Nüwa!

Nüwa, who hails from the same place as he does, from the same homeland!

This is what Nüwa left behind for him.

At this moment, Li Che's soul seemed to have fully realized a sublimation, because he saw hope.

That was a path, the way home!

This was projected by Nüwa, telling him how to return home!

This is also Nüwa expressing an apology in her way, apologizing to him, apologizing… bringing him into this world!

Hum—

Countless seven-colored lights converged, and the mind and spirit traversed the myriad universes to return.

The seven-colored heart of the Immortal Artisan throbbed violently, with all myriad phenomena contained within it.

Whoosh—

Mountain winds howled, heaven and earth desolate.

The entire Divine Artisan Heaven had been utterly slaughtered clean, fallen into a deathlike silence.

Thus, only desolation remained, surrounding Li Che.

Thud—

The Immortal Artisan's Dao fruit transformed into a heart, merging into Li Che's chest.

This was Nüwa's gift, the embodiment of hope, the path home hidden within the heart.

Li Che rose to his feet, lifted his hand, and flicked his finger.

The next moment, the entire lotus platform exploded with a boom.

This lotus platform carved by Nüwa was actually made from an extraordinarily divine wood!

Two Saints' Supreme Wood!

Primordial Construct Wood!

Between heaven and earth, the first wood to be born!

It can be said to be the highest-grade wood of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

Hum—

These exploded wood fragments continuously gathered together, actually stacking into Nüwa's likeness, a Nüwa formed from countless intertwined and stacked woods.

This is the wood's spirituality!

Previously, it had always been carved by Nüwa into a lotus platform, seated in place; now, as Li Che shattered the platform, the wood's spirituality completed its recovery and shot up into the sky with a boom.

"Roar——!!!"

"Let me go!"

The wood spirit, transformed into Nüwa's likeness, roared, releasing a powerful aura—that of the supreme royal-level heavenly immortal realm!

One can only say that even a wood spirit could reach this level, truly surprising Li Che greatly.

However, Li Che now is a Martial Dao Overlord!

Peerless heavenly immortal!

Boom!

Taking a step forward, a terrifying fist aura burst forth; the wood spirit roared, terrified beyond measure, realizing it could not escape Li Che's oppressive pressure released downward.

Bang!

The construct wood instantly exploded, like myriad wooden spikes, like an explosion into an aurora rain!

Li Che's qi and blood surged outward explosively, merging into each construct wood spike; then the wood recondensed, Li Che gripped the Nine Symbols Blade of Heaven and Earth, and began carving!

Carving, something this world had never seen before.

The smooth surface, like light reflected from metal, was etched with myriad divine seals of mechanisms, each seal shining with seven-colored light.

The construct wood mecha, engraved with the Nine Symbols of Heaven and Earth, fully integrated into every part of the mecha!

This is Li Che's mecha!

With a clanging sound, the construct wood mecha swiftly covered Li Che's body.

Slowly, it permeated into Li Che's body.

At this moment, Li Che's power seemed to receive another sublimation, as if forming an extremely strong connection with the will of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

Hum—

With a stir of Li Che's mind and spirit, the construct wood Nine Symbols mechanism armor that had permeated his body instantly revealed its true form—a mecha shape that only Nüwa, upon seeing it, could recognize!

Behind him, eight qi-blood vortices and a soul vortex spewed scorching light, propelling Li Che's body like a beam of light that tore open the canopy of Divine Artisan Heaven!

……

……

Prison Lotus Land.

Prison Lotus Mound Pool, poolside.

The pool water suddenly boiled up.

Sitting by the pool, the boss who had been holding a cigarette suddenly lifted his head; the dog grandfather, who had already returned, also lifted his head, looking up in confusion at the firmament.

Moreover, Qitian and the Third Prince, among other divine spirits of Prison Lotus Land, also raised their heads.

The sky of Prison Lotus Land was torn open.

Thereafter, a colossal mechanism armor of extraordinarily strange appearance slowly descended from the torn firmament of Prison Lotus Land.

Countless armors, with a clanging sound, instantly retreated and seeped into the flesh.

Jet-black hair flew about, the ink robe embroidered with golden lotus fluttered loudly.

Li Che drifted down, landing beside the Prison Lotus Mound Pool.

His whole person emanated a glimmering radiance; the dog grandfather stared at Li Che, his heart shaken—Li Che seemed… to have transformed once again!

Having reached the overlord level, he could still transform?!

No, it's not a transformation in combat power, but a change at the soul level.

It seemed to have become more composed, no longer as anxious as before, more settled.

Inner peace, when expressed, is an elevation of the soul level, naturally able to reflect as an increase in combat power.

Li Che undoubtedly became stronger.

Landing by the pond's edge, Li Che's black robe fluttered; with each step, the space faintly rippled, as if a slight exertion could shatter the space beneath his feet.

Li Che walked into the restaurant, came to Gouye's side, and reached out to rub his head.

Gouye's eyes widened, he bared his teeth, wanting to dodge, not giving Li Che the chance to rub his head.

But Li Che merely wore a gentle smile, pressing and rubbing Gouye's head, until Gouye had no temper left.

Impossible to dodge, absolutely impossible to dodge!

Li Che felt secretly pleased, finally able to suppress this dog.

Under the boss's speechless gaze, Li Che rubbed the dog's head for a while, then sat again beside the boss.

Now, as Li Che's cultivation broke through to the Sovereign Realm, his spiritual level also rose, and what he saw seemed to increase as well.

Li Che once speculated that the boss was the mysterious Dark Heavenly Court's Heavenly Emperor, but now it can be confirmed that the boss is absolutely not the Heavenly Emperor.

Because, the boss does not belong to this world!

Exactly, does not belong!

Unlike Gouye, Gouye is in the Netherworld, the sovereign of the abyss of hell.

And the boss is more like a mass of mist.

A spiritual force that seeped in from beyond the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths and the Netherworld, condensed into a form.

Like...

A traveler within the Great Thousand Worlds.

A temporary mark left in this world.

Li Che also realized, no wonder the boss has never truly acted in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths up to now.

Only once had he brandished a golden kitchen knife.

Even so, it encountered strong resistance from the will of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, seeking to eradicate it completely.

Because, according to the judgment of the will of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the boss belongs to... Outer Heavenly Demon!

The boss's true form poses a threat to the will of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths that is too strong, even possessing the power to destroy the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

"Are you ready?"

The boss looked at Li Che and spoke softly.

Li Che's mood was very calm: "What should be done has been done, what should be faced must be faced, there is no room for retreat."

"However, the initiative is now in my hands."

The initiative is indeed in his hands, whether it is the Reincarnation Sovereign or the Three Worlds Tathagata, they actually want Li Che's Nine Transformations Dao Fruit.

Therefore, before they see the Nine Transformations Dao Fruit, they will not make a move; naturally, the safety of his wife Zhang Ya can be guaranteed.

What they worry about is that Li Che will not go.

"Even, from the very beginning, the Tathagata's target has been me."

Li Che spoke softly.

"They target the Prison Lotus Maiden, but it's actually for me, because the Tathagata knows that the Prison Lotus Maiden's father is me."

Li Che stretched, his bones crackling with popping sounds, as if awakening from deep slumber.

The boss didn't say much more.

"What you need to do next, I cannot help you with."

"Xixi also needs to complete her transformation; when she emerges, I too should depart, my journey in this world will then come to an end."

The boss held a cigarette, lightly exhaling a puff of smoke.

He shook off the ash, and on his usually stiff face, a rare smile actually appeared.

"I never expected this world to have three friends from my homeland."

"Perhaps after death, the soul drifts myriad, experiencing different lives in each world of the Great Thousand Worlds."

"Death, perhaps, is merely the beginning of the journey."

Li Che glanced at the boss, a smile in his eyes.

"You finally admitted it, old fellow villager!"

The boss seemed to really laugh out loud; perhaps each journey is what gives him more humanity.

He stood up, turned his back to Li Che, waved his hand, and entered the restaurant.

The wind blew the wind chime, producing a clear, tinkling sound.

Withdrawing his gaze, Li Che fell into contemplation.

"Three friends from my homeland..."

"Besides him and Gu Huang... who else?"

Li Che's gaze turned to the churning waters of the Prison Lotus Pond.

Raising his hand, Li Che extended a finger, and slowly a drop of seven-colored blood seeped out from between his fingertips.

He flicked his finger.

The blood droplet shot out, falling into the churning, tumultuous Prison Lotus Pond.

This caused the Prison Lotus Pond to instantly calm down.

He sat cross-legged by the Prison Lotus Pond.

A gentle breeze blew, Li Che was not in a hurry to go to the Netherworld, to the depths of reincarnation.

Instead, he sat upright, took out a piece of wood, and carved it calmly.

He was carving a likeness of the three of them, his family.

He was carving their family portrait.

It was also a birthday gift that Li Che prepared to give Xixi for her new year of age.

This carving somehow gave a feeling of timelessness, as if a year had passed in an instant.

Xixi, she has grown another year older.

At the same time.

Li Che, sitting cross-legged by the Hell Lotus Abyss Pool, slowly opened his eyes; his gaze flickered, as if he had traversed the vast cosmos.

Upon opening his eyes again, he found himself in the vast, boundless world.

In this vast, boundless world, the Dao Tree that shot up into the clouds was lush with branches and leaves, as if planted in the starry sky, immensely terrifying, containing boundless majesty.

And Li Che looked up at the Dao Tree.

Slowly, upon the Dao Tree, there seemed to be countless rule powers.

Accompanied by a clanging sound, a rolling deathly aura surged up, and then Li Che saw the Great Dream Light flickering uncertainly; the Death Sovereign actually appeared out of nowhere in the vast, boundless world.

Wrapped by the tree's branches, he fell into a deep slumber, appearing upon the Dao Tree, where his rule power was slowly drawn out.

Although it was only an extremely faint trace, after being absorbed by the Dao Tree, it bore a fruit upon the Dao Tree.

A fruit with a very faint aura.

Li Che stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching a Dao Fruit, witnessing the entire process of its birth from nothing, accompanying the bond between him and his daughter.

Is the Death Sovereign to be the next master of the Dao Fruit?

Or rather, the Dao Tree connects the entire Nine Heavens and Ten Earths; every powerhouse leaves an imprint within it, and when the bond with Xixi is triggered, each year she grows older, she extracts the rule origin of powerhouses and condenses it into a Dao Fruit.

Does Xixi become stronger by binding to powerhouses?

But how could Xixi possibly achieve that?

Who planted the Dao Tree?

Li Che had long suspected in his heart that it was most likely the work of that 'Heavenly Emperor'.

With a flick of his finger, the Dao Fruit condensed from the Death Sovereign's origin was instantly knocked loose and floated into Li Che's hand.

The Dao Fruit had never undergone transformation, yet it exuded a rich deathly aura.

Once the Nine Transformations are completed, the Death Sovereign's origin can be elevated to nine transformations.

The Dao Fruit condenses the Dao of all sovereigns and overlords of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths; perhaps in the future it will also condense the Dao of Heavenly Immortality and Earthly Immortality, uniting myriad Daos into one.

Li Che's gaze was complex; the mist in his heart, as if before his eyes, was being stirred apart, growing ever clearer.

Hum—

He withdrew from the vast, boundless world and returned to the edge of the Hell Lotus Abyss Pool.

His body, which had sat upright for a year, rose to its feet.

In the restaurant, the boss idly played with a rolled cigarette, calmly looking at Li Che: "Have you made your decision?"

"Going this way, I might not be able to return."

"That great hand that pulls the strings may soon feel the harvest."

"Because your growth has already exceeded his expectations."

The boss said lightly.

Li Che smiled; that great hand that pulls the strings probably never imagined that he, Li Che, could actually reach sovereign level by the time Xixi turned thirteen.

Originally, the plan was to wait for Xixi to keep growing, year after year, condensing one Dao Fruit after another.

To give rise to myriad Daos, to unite the Dao into one. "I should go fetch my wife, so our family can be reunited."

Li Che smiled.

The boss nodded: "Good luck."

"Break the cage, and only then will you see freedom; the world is vast, you can go take a look."

The boss tossed the rolled cigarette over.

Li Che caught it.

One cigarette burned to ash.

Li Che clapped his hands, intending to go fetch his wife.

Old Man Dog rose, opened his mouth, and spat out a mass of black hellfire that flew toward Li Che.

"I'm giving it to you."

Old Man Dog spoke in human words, sparing his speech as if it were gold.

Li Che burst into laughter; the Hell Dao Fruit instantly completed its devouring, achieving the Nine Transformations!

"Thank you."

After thanking Old Man Dog, Li Che spread his fingers, and the entire Hell Lotus Abyss Pool was actually lifted up by him.

Li Che took a step, and his whole body tore open the Hell Lotus Ground.

In the next instant, he directly arrived above the Endless Sea.

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor sat cross‑looking at Li Che with a complex expression.

"Fellow Daoist… you are invincible now."

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor sighed with emotion.

Li Che gazed at the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor; among the many Dao Fruits, none had been condensed from him—perhaps there would be in the future, but for now none had formed, meaning Li Che need not act against the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor.

Li Che flicked his finger, and his understanding of the Sword Dao was freely given to the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor.

The Heaven-Reaching God Emperor bathed in seven‑colored divine light, beginning to comprehend the Sword Dao.

Imperial-level power was actually undergoing a subtle transformation, moving toward the Sovereign level, but whether it could break through, even Li Che could not guarantee.

A fellow Daoist would naturally not hide anything.

Fellow Daoist, I wish you good luck.

Li Che smiled.

Lifting the Prison Lotus Mound Pool where Xixi was, he floated into the Netherworld's mouth.

In the Netherworld's mouth.

The Death Sovereign and the Netherworld Sovereign had long been waiting.

They looked at Li Che with complex expressions; the present Li Che did not conceal the mystery of the Dao Fruit's existence, and the two had already felt the mysterious connection between them.

This made the Death Sovereign and the Netherworld Sovereign's hair stand on end.

Unbeknownst to them, they had actually formed such a connection with Li Che.

It turns out... it's you.

The Netherworld Sovereign stared at Li Che, his expression extremely complex.

He recognized Li Che, finally recognizing him!

This thief!

It's actually you, Martial Ancestor!

The Netherworld Sovereign said.

No, I am not the Martial Ancestor.

Li Che shook his head.

We need to take back our things; it seems... only battle will do.

The Netherworld Sovereign calmly said.

Could he not know whether he is the Martial Ancestor?

In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, in the Netherworld Abyss, only the Martial Ancestor could cultivate martial arts to such a degree!

Because this is the Martial Ancestor's Dao!

One Dao.

There will be only one Sovereign!

The Death Sovereign and the Netherworld Sovereign, in the vast boundless Netherworld, blocked Li Che's path front and rear.

The Sovereign's battle erupted with a boom.

The battle erupted quickly and ended just as quickly.

Netherworld land, continents shattered piece by piece, drifting in the boundless darkness.

The Netherworld Sovereign's whole body was embedded in the ground.

The Death Sovereign was likewise embedded there, cursing.

The two, in the Netherworld, could unleash their full Sovereign power, yet they were still suppressed and defeated by Li Che.

Li Che, in the Netherworld, was actually not suppressed!

Clatter—

Broken stones rolled down.

The Netherworld Sovereign rose from the ruins, gazing at Li Che whose embroidered golden lotus black robe fluttered.

He let out a soft sigh.

Not suppressed by the Netherworld's will...

Only one person exists in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

No wonder the Dao on him and the Death Sovereign would appear on Li Che.

So that's how it is...

The Netherworld Sovereign seemed to have suddenly understood something.

I have lost, but I want to see the final outcome.

What you want, I will give you.

The Netherworld Sovereign spread his arms.

In the next moment, the Rules Origin surged upward from his body; even if the Rules Origin were severed, the Netherworld Sovereign, as a Sovereign, would only see his aura slightly drop.

And Li Che's heart stirred slightly; the Painting Immortal Dao Fruit, at this moment, continuously grew, achieving the Nine Transformations.

In the Netherworld, the City of the Dead was established; within the City of the Dead, life and death are controlled!

The Netherworld Sovereign, it turns out, is the master of the Painting Immortal Dao Fruit.

Li Che slightly nodded, expressing his thanks, then turned his gaze to the Death Sovereign.

The Death Sovereign was very unwilling, but could do nothing.

He felt that if he didn't give it up, he would be beaten to death.

Martial Ancestor, he truly could not defeat him.

The Death Origin returned to its place; the Death Dao Fruit... Nine Transformations!

Li Che's Nine Transformations Dao Fruit kept increasing.

Martial Ancestor, you're still as strong as ever in battle.

The Death Sovereign muttered to the Netherworld Sovereign.

However, the Netherworld Sovereign had not yet answered; the floating Li Che looked toward the Death Sovereign and spoke solemnly.

I am not the Martial Ancestor, I am Li Che.

Li Che laughed.

The next moment, as he took a step, the netherworld compressed instantly beneath his foot.

The Sovereign of Death and the Sovereign of the Netherworld faced each other, then followed suit.

……

……

The Abyss of Reincarnation.

The mouth of the abyss.

A figure floated there, Buddhist light shining around him, a terrifying radiance like a sharp blade seeking to cut through everything.

The immortal golden cicada, or rather the true Tathagata, sat cross‑legged before the Abyss of Reincarnation.

Buddhist light bathed him in golden radiance, illuminating the abyss.

Suddenly.

He opened his eyes and gazed into the distance.

There, a figure approached, his robe embroidered with golden lotus patterns fluttering—none other than Li Ché himself!

Li Ché single‑handedly lifted the overturned Hell‑Lotus Pool.

The Tathagata sensed that the Hell‑Lotus Maiden was hidden within the Hell‑Lotus Pool, yet he found it strange: why didn't Li Ché help her break out of the pool? For a being who had reached Sovereign level, it should not be difficult.

Namo Amitabha.

Patron Li, you have finally arrived.

No, old fellow, you have finally come.

The Tathagata's lips curled into a smile, he pressed his palms together, slowly rose, and spoke.

Li Ché calmly glanced at the Tathagata.

As it turned out, one of the three elders the boss spoke of was him.

'Patron Li, do you know why I took the name Tathagata? In this world there is no true Tathagata, just as there is no Monkey King or Third Prince… it is because of us that they appear and exist.'

The Tathagata pressed his palms together, his eyes complex and filled with nostalgia.

Yet Li Ché did not respond, stepping forward one pace at a time.

The Tathagata furrowed his brows.

'Patron Li, will you save Nüwa? If she perishes, your wife will also fall, her soul annihilated, making reincarnation difficult.'

Nonsense.

Li Ché spoke.

The Tathagata shuddered all over.

He saw Li Ché clench his fists; behind him, one after another, Dao Fruits flashing with seven‑colored light rose into the air.

Vajra of Dragon and Elephant, Pure Mind, Immortal Craft, Immortal Painter, Chess Sage… each a Dao Fruit that had reached the ninth transformation, each at the pinnacle of its Dao!

The Pure Mind Dao Fruit cultivated by the Tathagata was among them…

And that Fruit was precisely what he coveted.

Obtaining this Fruit and returning it to its place might allow him to break the limits of the Dao, shatter the bonds of heaven and earth, transcend the world, gain freedom, roam the Great Thousand Worlds, and return to his homeland!

Then he would finally be able to go home!

He merely… wanted to go home!

The Tathagata's breathing grew ragged.

However, Li Ché threw a punch, gathering the power of all those Dao Fruits into a single strike.

Behind Li Ché, an intangible phantom seemed to arise.

Martial Ancestor!!!

The Tathagata's eyes widened.

His soul trembled, his heart filled with disbelief; a thought as piercing as a spear drove deep into his being.

How could a Martial Ancestor appear behind Li Ché?

Martial Ancestor… Li Ché…

How could Li Ché possibly be the Martial Ancestor?!

Three‑Worlds Law!

'The Three‑Worlds Law transmitted by the Heavenly Emperor! How can you also know it?!'

Is Li Ché the future incarnation of the Martial Ancestor?

Boom——!!!

The overlapping fist of the Martial Ancestor and Li Ché turned one strike into two, crushing everything in its path.

The Tathagata wielded the Three‑Worlds Buddhist light, yet it was still shattered inch by inch within the near‑world‑shattering martial radiance where the two forces overlapped.

The Tathagata, like a cannonball, was slammed straight into the Abyss of Reincarnation.

Dust and smoke billowed.

The Tathagata rolled continually in the Abyss of Reincarnation, unable to dispel the punch's force, tumbling and crawling in utter disgrace.

Finally, he slammed hard into the deepest point of the Abyss of Reincarnation.

Beneath a statue.

The bruised and swollen Tathagata strained to lift his gaze, and saw the statue that had blocked Li Ché's punch.

Upon seeing it, the Tathagata's eyes narrowed instantly.

Because the primordial essence of reincarnation drifted away like smoke.

He beheld that statue…

A graceful figure was carved into the deep abyss cliff, its visage serene and cold, yet bearing a face familiar to the Tathagata.

And at the top of that statue.

A graceful figure, clad in black robes embroidered with golden lotuses, stood there like a divine spear.

Behind her, a thick vortex of reincarnation origin swirled.

Reincarnation Sovereign!

"Wāhuáng..."

The Tathagata trembled all over.

The Reincarnation Sovereign looks exactly like Wāhuáng?!

Beyond the depths of reincarnation, Li Che's gaze also saw that figure standing atop the Reincarnation Sovereign's statue.

"As expected..."

Li Che exhaled a breath.

Suddenly.

The Tathagata, shaken spiritually and caught in a fierce impact, felt a sharp pain coming from his abdomen.

He let out a mournful laugh, blood and tears streaming continuously from his eyes.

"So... so you all know the Three Lives Method!"

"No, I should say, folks, you all know the Three Lives Method!"

The Tathagata gave a grim smile.

The Heavenly Emperor imparted the Three Lives technique to him, he thought only he possessed it; it was his golden cicada shedding, seeking to obtain the fruit of the Dao from Li Che to achieve transcendence.

But now it seems he took a wrong path.

The Tathagata murmured.

"The Reincarnation Sovereign is the present self, Wāhuáng the past self, Zhang Ya…… Wāhuáng the future self!"

Blood and tears dripped as he turned his head to look at Li Che.

"The Martial Ancestor's future self……"

"Then who is the present self? The past self?"

"The Heavenly Emperor!"

The Tathagata gave a bitter smile.

He understood everything.

He clasped his hands together, and in the next moment, violently opened his bloodshot eyes.

"No, I am on the right path…… persisting in the Three Lives body is a dead end, a path that cannot lead to transcendence!"

"To transcend, only one can transcend!"

"Only a single lifetime's body can transcend!"

The Tathagata let out a long whistle.

He stirred up a divine tide, targeting the Hell Lotus Maiden, intending to suppress her so that today he could use her as a bargaining chip against the Heavenly Emperor……

But he had stirred the Eighth Generation God Tide; in the previous seven tides, the Hell Lotus Maiden was never the true Hell Lotus Maiden, never someone who could be used to bargain with the Heavenly Emperor and return his Dao fruit.

Only this eighth generation is the real one.

But this Eighth Generation God Tide……

He lost.

The Tathagata sighed.

The next moment.

His abdomen tore open, and Wāhuáng's body burst forth from the Buddha-realm within the Tathagata's belly.

Wāhuáng radiated the aura of a sovereign level!

The sovereign of one of the three major divine factions is indeed Wāhuáng!

The Tathagata has fallen!

"What you say is true; giving up the Three Lives body path…… is not just you."

"So……"

"I, Li Che, am simply Li Che……"

"Not some future incarnation."

Li Che gazed at the Tathagata, fallen with lingering resentment, and spoke softly.

"In this world, there is no Martial Ancestor anymore."

"The Martial Ancestor, here."

Li Che raised his hand and struck his chest.

Seven-colored light burst forth from his body, instantly expanding.

In almost an instant, the entire netherworld was renewed, undergoing a tremendous transformation.

The Netherworld Sovereign and the Death Sovereign stared, dumbstruck.

Watching the netherworld change its heavens.

At Li Che's position, a towering great Dao tree rose into the clouds, its roots plunging into the cosmic starry sky, drawing all eyes.

Vast and boundless heavens and earth!

The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the tenth heaven, Hell Lotus Heaven!

Ten heavens and ten earths, a perfect net!

The Reincarnation Sovereign, Wāhuáng, and also Zhang Ya, sealed and imprisoned in the origin cage by the Reincarnation Sovereign……

All gazed at the Dao tree with complex expressions.

The Dao Tree swayed gently.

Between heaven and earth, a soft sigh was heard.

"Dao Tree, it is the Martial Ancestor."

Li Che patted the Dao Tree.

"It is also the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the sole 'First Ancestor' divine tree."

"Only the First Ancestor Dao Tree formed by the Martial Ancestor, the most powerful body of the Martial Ancestor in heaven and earth, can bear the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths and the primordial Dao Fruits of numerous Sovereigns and Emperor‑level Immortals."

"As for the bond between Xixi and me."

"Actually, it's the key you use to open the cage, right?"

Li Che spoke.

"Please, both of you."

When the words finished, the Reincarnation Sovereign and Gua Emperor, two Sovereigns, shot upward into the sky, racing toward a Dao Fruit atop the Dao Tree.

Li Che also vanished from his spot and appeared beside Zhang Ya.

"Sir…" Zhang Ya's gaze was complicated, both startled and delighted.

The joy stemmed from the fact that she was not a reincarnated body and thus would not be reclaimed by the Gua Emperor.

The shock was because the current situation left her unable to think clearly.

"Where is Xixi?"

Zhang Ya asked.

"Xixi is here."

Li Che snapped his fingers.

The Reincarnation Mausoleum pool burst open with a Boom—!

Each droplet spread clearly, revealing Xixi's figure standing in the center of the Prison Lotus Mausoleum pool.

Now Xixi had already taken the form of a young girl.

Her straight black hair fell to her waist, her skin was pallid and bloodless, her long eyes were closed, and her flawless face bore a dead, expressionless look.

Zhang Ya was stunned.

"Sir… she is not our Xixi."

Zhang Ya murmured.

In Li Che's eyes there was a hint of tenderness.

"She is our Xixi."

"Xixi will return."

Li Che said.

The Prison Lotus Mausoleum pool is indeed a place to dispel the Prison Lotus curse, but it also affects Xixi's will; the wills of the seven Prison Lotus sons and daughters strip Xixi of emotion, plunging her into a state of ruthlessness.

According to the boss, this is the Ruthless Dao.

It will become the sharpest blade in heaven and earth.

And this is the result the great hand that ultimately manipulates everything requires!

On the other side.

The Reincarnation Sovereign and Gua Emperor sped toward the Dream Sky Master Dao Fruit that Li Che had pointed at.

The Dao Fruit swayed.

Just as the two were about to suppress it, it fell from the Dao Tree.

The Reincarnation Sovereign and Gua Emperor were instantly struck by an invisible force.

Boom— they plummeted, crashing straight into the ground.

The Dao Fruit shattered, revealing a figure within.

It was a figure clad in a white robe, white hair fluttering, exuding a strong aura of immortality; behind, the Nine Celestial Symbols of heaven and earth converged into a swirling vortex.

Zhang Ya, upon seeing it, instantly covered her mouth in shock and stared incredulously at Li Che.

"Sir… he…"

"He is the Heavenly Emperor."

Li Che said.

The sole Sovereign of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the Heavenly Emperor.

The Martial Ancestor was the Heavenly Emperor's past incarnation, and strictly speaking, Li Che is the Heavenly Emperor's future incarnation!

It's terrifying!

An ultimate, overwhelming pressure swept everything, suppressing all.

Great Dream Light continuously flickered on his body.

The Heavenly Emperor walked on air, his white robes fluttering.

Li Che, wearing a black shirt embroidered with golden lotus patterns, ascended to the heavens.

One white, one black, stood opposed in the vast heavens and earth, amidst the Prison Lotus sky.

"I didn't expect you to advance so quickly; Xixi… should have grown larger, awakened more Dao Fruits, so that ten thousand Dao can be realized, and steadily break the heavenly and earthly cage."

The Heavenly Emperor spoke.

"However, the problem is not great; the Dao of the Sovereigns and Emperor‑level beings has already been refined..."

"Now, it is time to harvest."

The Heavenly Emperor said lightly.

He did not look at Li Che, because his battlefield with Li Che was not here.

Between them, the difference in strength is actually meaningless.

"The Martial Ancestor transforms into a Dao Tree; you continue his Dao and become the fruit of the martial path."

"Myriad Dao converge as one, jointly assisting the Heavenly Emperor in breaking the cage."

The Heavenly Emperor is cold and ruthless.

The Martial Ancestor is his past self; he severs at a word.

Li Che is his future self, merely the basis of the calculation.

Even if she is a Yulan daughter, his daughter, she falls and is reborn across countless God Tides.

Now, the bond between Xixi and Li Che has cultivated the Myriad Dao Fruit, which he will unify to complete the harvest.

Xixi, or rather the Yulan daughter, is the anchor that gathers all Dao Fruits.

The convergence point where Myriad Dao become one!

As long as the Yulan daughter calls him "father" and acknowledges him as father,

the cage can be shattered and transcendence achieved.

On Li Che's body, countless great Dao origins surge forth; they are the martial Dao origins, interweaving around him, as if taking the shape of a Dao Fruit.

He has indeed become a Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit!

However, Li Che pays no mind to this; he looks toward Xixi.

Beside Xixi, the illusory shadows of seven Yulan sons and daughters flicker.

They seem to constantly influence her will, yet Xixi strives, gradually pushing them out of her body.

Boom—!

Yet in the end, it still fails.

The wills of the seven Yulan daughters and sons surge fully into Xixi's forehead, forging a Lotus Divine Pattern.

Xixi opens her eyes, her gaze utterly emotionless, exceedingly cold.

"Child, come here."

"Father is here."

The Heavenly Emperor gestures.

On the Dao Tree, lines projected by each Dao Fruit intertwine around Xixi, like a wandering sun slowly moving toward the Heavenly Emperor.

Zhang Ya collapses onto the ground, watching the scene in grief.

The Sovereign of Reincarnation and the Queen Mother sigh softly... still failed, huh?

They actually know the Heavenly Emperor's plan, that he is the hidden hand behind everything.

Thus, in the Eighth Generation God Tide, Zhang Ya's future self was created, hoping the Yulan daughter she would bear could break the Heavenly Emperor's scheme and preserve their hope of shattering the cage.

But now, hope has been shattered.

Li Che sits cross-legged within the cage formed by the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, calmly watching Xixi step by step approach the Heavenly Emperor.

Xixi walks to the Heavenly Emperor's front.

A hint of a smile appears on the Heavenly Emperor's cold face; he lifts his hand and reaches to stroke Xixi's head.

Suddenly.

A look of struggle flashes across Xixi's face, eyes blazing.

"You are not my father!"

Xixi scolds.

In the next instant, a pink Gatling gun appears in her hand.

Six barrels aim at the Heavenly Emperor and fire with a roar!

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Although they spray, the wooden crows all solidify around the Heavenly Emperor.

The smile on the Heavenly Emperor's face vanishes, and he looks coldly at Xixi.

"You..."

"Hmph! My father could never be someone as heartless as you!"

"My father is Li Che!"

"My name is Li Nuanxi!"

From the divine pattern on Xixi's forehead, seven figures instantly swoop out.

"Father—!!!"

They are the seven Yulan daughters and sons, discarded by the Heavenly Emperor, used as pawns to calculate the numb Three-World Tathagata.

At this moment, they howl and pounce onto the Heavenly Emperor.

They coil around the Heavenly Emperor like vengeful spirits.

Meanwhile, the cage of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit on Li Che's body bursts loudly.

The ownership of each Dao Fruit returns once again to Li Che's hands.

Rumble—

An ancestral Dao Tree, the Dao Tree formed from the Martial Ancestor's body, writhes rapidly, turning into a cage that completely binds the Heavenly Emperor within.

On the Dao Tree, countless branches writhe and intertwine.

It takes the shape of the Martial Ancestor.

It nods toward Li Che.

Li Che also nods in response.

The Martial Ancestor is the Martial Ancestor, Li Che is Li Che; they are each independent entities.

Li Che waved at Xixi, then waved at Zhang Ya, who was crying with joy.

His wife and daughter immediately flew over, appearing at his side.

Li Che held one in each hand, a gentle smile on his face.

"Come, let's smile together."

The words were spoken.

The spacetime golden wheel dao fruit turned, like a camera click, freezing the family reunion portrait.

Afterward.

Li Che raised his head.

Dragon Elephant Vajra, Immortal Artisan, Immaculate Mind, Chess Sage, Painting Immortal...

Each dao fruit burst forth seven-colored light.

They shot up into the sky, striking the heavens of the Prison Lotus.

The dao tree swayed, its branches and leaves rustling, as if the stars trembled.

Ten heavens and ten earths all appeared, forming a perfect cage sealing all directions.

And the seven-colored light of the dao fruits washed down completely.

The cage broke open a gap.

Li Che embraced his wife with one hand and held his daughter's hand with the other.

He looked back toward the Lord of Reincarnation and Nuwa...

He gestured for them to follow, seeing off the old villager.

Under the push of the seven-colored dao fruit light, like riding an elevator, they broke through the cage and vanished between heaven and earth.

……

……

Prison Lotus Ground.

Ding-ling.

The wind chime was blown and rang.

The boss slowly walked out, shaking off ash.

He withdrew his gaze from the sky.

"Dog, let's go."

"We should continue our travels; maybe we'll meet them on the road."

Old Dog climbed up from the ground and shook his body.

One person and one dog, their bodies began to gradually turn transparent.

"Boss, Old Dog, I've said before, wherever it's hell, it's under Old Dog's jurisdiction."

"Mm, great."

"Boss, the boss's wife's fate has changed; can we still meet her?"

"Probably, as long as Li Lao Deng doesn't block us, and besides, I've been cultivating her appetite since childhood."

"Boss, if Li Lao Deng hits you in the future, will you dare to strike back?"

"A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory."

……

……

In the boundless cosmic void.

A mecha was speeding.

Inside the mecha cockpit, Li Che leisurely sat in a chair, flipping through a book; his wife Zhang Ya, pregnant, sat beside him, currently weaving a robe embroidered with golden lotus patterns.

"Wife, Xixi went out to play again?"

Li Che closed the book and stretched.

Zhang Ya looked through the mecha cockpit at the shining water-blue planet outside and smiled.

"She said the universe is so big, she wants to travel, and while traveling, become the Great Emperor Xixi who conquers the myriad universes."

"Not long ago she sent a message back, saying she met an elegant and easygoing white-clothed man who called himself a Heavenly Master; he is the one who once projected a wisp of dream power, allowing the Heavenly Emperor to release the Great Dream Light, extracting the origin of the strong from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths from dreams—the culprit!"

"Ah, I see, it's the power that has descended in the myriad universes..."

Li Che suddenly understood.

"Then what?" Li Che continued to ask.

Zhang Ya covered her mouth and laughed: "Then Xixi shouldered a pink Gatling gun and followed that elegant, easygoing Dream Heavenly Master to conquer the sea of stars..."

Li Che was speechless, then shook his head.

"Forget it, the child is grown, let her go."

"Anyway, the child is being bullied outside."

"Parents are still here, home is still here, reliance is right here!"

"At worst."

"As a father, I will intervene."