Chapter 83: with translation of chapter title

Winter thunder boomed, icy snowflakes mixed in the rain.

The Xu family manor.

Beneath the high walls and black tiles, in the courtyard, an old man in black robes sat upright in a high-position master's chair, his complexion slightly pallid.

Below him, Xu Heli, Xu Beihu, and family head Xu Nanming sat silently; the core members of the Xu family were basically all present.

Yang Jing was wounded by a suspected Divine Sect expert, then suffered the shock of his clan's extermination; the 【Heart-Alarmed Shock】 divine foundation trembled, dominating his emotions and driving him into madness…

When the Young City Lord was chatting with Yang Jing, I was there too…… The Young City Lord speculated that the bull demon stirring up wind and rain throughout Fēiléichéng was very likely Li Che!

The Xu family elder had a touch of lethargy, coughed lightly, and said.

Xu Heli and Xu Beihu had long suspected this; their expressions didn't change much, but family head Xu Nanming was utterly astonished.

"Li Che?"

"He… he really is the bull demon?"

Xu Nanming found it hard to believe, after all, his desk still held collected information on Li Che.

Pure and upright, of proper lineage, a native of Flying Thunder City who grew up from the mud, orphaned young, raised by his uncle, in his early teens he seized the opportunity to join the Xu family's outer-door woodcarving shop as a laborer……

Three years ago, he passed the woodcarver examination successfully, became a woodcarver of the Xu family, and began martial training……

"In just three years, from a mud-legs peasant he grew into a vicious bull demon who slaughtered the Yang clan's entire retinue of experts?"

Xu Nanming's head buzzed in utter confusion.

It is highly likely…… everything is too coincidental, starting from each time the Spirit Infant Sect moves against 【Li Nuanxi】, their experts keep dying, all at the hands of the bull demon……

Even if Li Che is not the bull demon, Li Nuanxi still has a great connection to the bull demon.

To capture…… or even eliminate the bull demon, Li Nuanxi is the key.

The Xu family elder began coughing violently.

His face flushed crimson.

Grandmaster…… truly strong, even without divinity, relying solely on the flesh can rival a divine foundation, even suppress it……

The old man shook his head.

Young City Lord Cao Qingyuan, leading men, went to Li Che's residence.

As long as we confirm Li Che is the bull demon…… we will sell everyone in his courtyard, cutting ties.

Whoever Cao Qingyuan wants to seize, do not obstruct him; it is none of our concern.

The Xu family elder's eyes flickered.

Yang Jing is ruined, the Si family old ghost is dead, the divine foundations that divided the spoils of the 【Thousand Buddha Sculpture Feast】 are down two…… only I and the old man of the An family remain, the two of us…… are enough to swallow these benefits.

At this critical juncture, we must absolutely not give the city lord's mansion an excuse, or else everything will be forfeited, all prior effort wasted.

Xu Heli's eyes flickered, and he said respectfully: "As for the bull demon over there……"

The elder gave a faint smile.

Rest assured, that bull demon…… is as good as dead.

Yang Jing has now become a mad dog, biting whoever he catches; we, the many divine foundations, naturally will not easily draw near……

Yet in his battle with the bull demon, the surroundings were sealed off; the bull demon cannot possibly escape.

He has ruined so many of the city lord's mansion's plans……

Someone already does not want this bull demon to continue living.

The Xu family elder gazed at the drifting rain mixed with snow.

Today, the bull demon must die.

……

……

Li Che naturally knows the strength and difficulty of dealing with divine foundations.

He has never underestimated divine foundations; although he harbors the thought of challenging them, he will not choose to throw away his life needlessly.

He had long prepared an ambush in an alley, laying out all the mechanisms and concealed weapons he had mastered, forming his own battlefield!

【Immortal Craft】 Dao Fruit, has reached level LV3, and its maturity is not low.

Combined with the Thousand Analysis Hand, Li Che's manipulation of mechanisms and concealed weapons has also reached peak proficiency.

Originally, Li Che's trap layout was prepared for the Spirit Infant Sect's divine foundation cultivators; unexpectedly, the Yang family elder came personally to scout, and Li Che would not be polite.

He drew out the 「Namu Gatling」, sending him to meet the Buddha!

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat……

Flames jetted forth!

Six metal cylinders spun at high speed, spewing firelight, like a splendid flame lotus blooming in the bull demon's palm!

Each wooden sandpiper was ignited, releasing shrill screams, screaming out, vaporizing and twisting the rain and snow, crashing into the burly mountain of flesh bound by thousands of spider silk!

Behind Yang Jing floated a divine foundation grindstone, his pupils scarlet, the 【Heart-Alarmed Shock】 divinity constantly surging and spreading.

Like waves striking, the first wooden sandpipers jetted out were struck by its formidable divinity, exploding in midair, firelight sweeping, raising a shockwave.

But, there were too many……

The wooden sandpipers were far too many.

To give the divine foundation cultivators due respect, Li Che unleashed all six thousand rounds without reservation, bombarding them completely!

The rising gunpowder smoke was intensely irritating, permeating the alley's air.

The Yang family elder was instantly engulfed by sparks; the exploding fireworks ignited flames that even rain and snow could not extinguish!

Like a mushroom cloud rising from the ground, the shock and blast shattered countless raindrops, and thick black smoke billowed upward!

"Woooo……"

When the final wooden sandpiper was fired.

The Ox Demon's held "Homage Gatling" metal tube all burst into crimson, like a red-hot branding iron, slowly rolling to a stop, hissing as steam rose.

Li Che put away the "Homage Gatling", and beneath the Ox Demon's mask, his eyes calmly gazed at the distant alley entrance at that hulking, meat‑mountain‑like figure.

"As expected…… six thousand shots, not enough."

"Or, ultimately."

"It's that the Wood Ferry Crow's explosive power isn't strong enough."

"Although the quantity increased, the quality was lacking, so the damage ended up limited."

"But the effect wasn't nonexistent."

"Winter Thunder rumbled and rolled, lightning snakes roamed."

"It seemed as if a violent wind and wave swept by, blowing away the smoke and dust, revealing that meat‑mountain figure with split skin and torn flesh, covered in burnt meat."

"Drip…… drip……"

"Blood dripped onto the ground, making a cracking sound."

"Yang Jing's white hair flew wildly, he gasped heavily, taking big breaths."

"This really…… surprises me!"

"I'm so surprised——ah!!!"

"Yang Jing suddenly lifted his head; on that face, shattered flesh and blood from the Wood Ferry Crow's bombardment, madness filled his features, behind him the Divine Foundation Grind Disk's light blazed, the falling Divinity draped over his whole body, forming a gauze."

"It was precisely this Divinity gauze that blocked for him the successive bombardment of six thousand Wood Ferry Crows."

"But his injuries were also severe—not only was his flesh and blood mangled throughout his body, but his organs and spine were even visible to the naked eye!"

"Such injuries…… only further provoked Yang Jing's fury and madness; a lofty Divine Foundation cultivator, actually being forced to this state by a mere Nurturing Nature!"

"The intense【Heart-startled Shock Rigid】Divinity surged out from the Divine Foundation like a flood, as if turning into several rivers that spread and filled the entire alley."

"Yang Jing intended to use pure 'Rank' oppression to completely crush the Ox Demon before him……"

"Dealing with Nurturing Nature using the Divine Foundation is the most effective, and also the most overbearing method!"

"Rank suppression!"

"The Ox Demon had chosen this alley, having long set traps…… but for Yang Jing, this was also his…… home turf!"

"Within this alley, the oppression of Divinity Rank will be inescapable, forcing the Ox Demon to face it head‑on!"

"Nurturing Nature facing the Divine Foundation……"

"Lower rank, facing higher rank!"

"Old man……"

"Kneel!"

"Yang Jing let out a long, angry roar, blood spraying, the meat‑mountain blurred by the six‑thousand‑shot Wood Ferry Crow bombardment began to shift, taking a step, then breaking into a run!"

"The Thousand Spider Silk all snapped!"

"Like a terrifying meat mountain, it collapsed and crushed, rolling forward!"

"★★Co"

"The earth shook and mountains trembled, plus the terrifying Divinity, with incessant screeching whinnies, making the eardrums nearly burst!"

"In Yang Jing's eyes, the Ox Demon indeed stood rooted in place, unable to move under the Divine Foundation Rank's oppression……"

"He only needed to walk over, twist off the Ox Demon's head, and he could avenge his entire Yang clan!"

"Winter Thunder's rain and snow fell from the high sky, yet before they could land on the meat mountain, they were evaporated and twisted into rising heat."

"The meat mountain's crimson eyes held a mad, fierce grin!"

"However, the next moment……"

"His fierce grin froze."

"Because, under that outpouring Divine Foundation Divinity oppression on the Ox Demon……"

"It seemed to feel no Rank pressure at all, and defiantly raised its hand."

"In its hand appeared a great iron bow, which it drew and pulled the string……"

"In an instant!"

"A wailing ghost's cry echoed between the alleys!"

"Divinity【Angry Cry Suppress Ghost】!"

"But this was not the main cause that stimulated Yang Jing."

"The main reason came from the Ox Demon's body, which suddenly burst forth in splendid gold, as if donning a golden robe, like an angry Buddha letting out a long roar!"

"Divinity【Wrathful Amitabha】!"

"Amitabha Golden Robe!"

"Wait!"

"Two Divinities!"

"And both are at the 'Nurturing Nature Like a River' realm?!"

"What the hell is this?!"

"The meat‑mountain Yang Jing's hairs stood on end, shocked to the core, as if his originally chaotic and mad will, in this inconceivable scene, had been jolted awake!"

"Impossible!"

"You've cultivated two Divinities to the 'Nurturing Nature Like a River' realm?"

"Impossible!"

"The meat‑mountain Yang Jing let out a deep, stunned roar!"

"I don't know if it's the effect of the【Heart-startled Shock Rigid】Divinity, or his own emotional shock."

"The Ox Demon pulled the bow to a full moon, and on the Divinity‑condensed arrow, wind and lightning intertwined……"

It is the Si Clan's divine martial skill, the Wailing Hundred Ghosts Wind-Thunder Arrow!

Clad in the Maitreya Golden Robe, in a flash his horizontal training strength surged; under the Wrathful Maitreya's divine blessing, power burst from the coiling sinews of the flood‑dragon python on his back!

Creak—creak…

The long bow seemed about to be pulled apart!

On the tip of the Wailing Hundred Ghosts Wind-Thunder Arrow, a teardrop‑shaped wooden figurine was bound with divine threads; carved from the 'Flesh‑Blood Red' spiritual wood, it is the seventh‑ranked mechanism listed in the Tangji Jianji Yaowu—the Bodhi Blood Tears!

Two divine threads entwined, plus the seventh‑ranked mechanism!

This is Li Che's……full firepower!

He wanted to probe the source of his Divine Foundation's power!

His fingers hooked like a bow, then he released suddenly!

In an instant the bowstring twanged, accompanied by countless wailing ghosts and the roar of wind and thunder!

One arrow pierced the rain and snow, slicing smoothly; the air rippled with faint waves, wind and thunder entwined as if breaking through an air barrier!

"Useless, a river‑like nurturing divine nature……cannot break my Divine Foundation's divine nature!"

"Impossible……huh? what?!"

Pfft!

The Wailing Hundred Ghosts Wind-Thunder Arrow slammed hard into the divine robes hanging outside the meat mountain, yet……

The next moment, the wind‑thunder arrow indeed could not pierce the divine robes, but the blood‑red teardrop bound to its tip……

yet it smoothly pierced the divine robes of the Divine Foundation cultivator.

With a puff……

It pierced the thick fatty flesh of the meat mountain and flooded into his body!

Such terrifying penetrative power!

Even Li Che himself was somewhat surprised.

"Such penetration……"

Li Che's eyes beneath the Ox Demon Mask grew brighter and brighter!

Yet the penetrative power was merely a side effect of the Bodhi Blood Tears; this seventh‑ranked mechanism in the Tangji Jianji Yaowu—the Bodhi Blood Tears—truly terrifying lies in its explosion!

Boom——

A dull thud!

Suddenly erupting from within Yang Jing's meat‑mountain body, the Bodhi Blood Tears burst forth into tens of thousands of ultrafine needles, each seeming alive, curling like shrimp in an instant and dragging flesh with them!

The next moment Li Che saw Yang Jing, this Divine Foundation cultivator, his body gouged with hundreds of blood holes, each oozing large drops of blood that rolled out uncontrollably!

Plop—plop……

Like blood‑colored, broken‑string tears!

In an instant, it seemed to drain all of Yang Jing's blood out of his body.

Even a Profound Pulse martial artist, if drained of blood……

would likely be unable to endure it.

Dizziness, loss of strength, blurred consciousness……

Thud……

Yang Jing knelt on the ground.

Li Che then raised his long bow again, drew it, and fired repeatedly!

Wailing Hundred Ghosts Wind-Thunder Arrow!

Arrow after arrow, all blasted toward Yang Jing's massive head.

Finally……

With a bang……

The massive head, under the wind‑thunder barrage……

exploded violently!

Behind the meat mountain, the floating Divine Foundation Grindstone……

Crack—crack……

covered in cracks.

shattered into pieces!

Most dissipated back into heaven and earth, leaving only a single Divine Foundation fragment, which fell into the thick blood‑water.

After steadily and cautiously firing several more arrows at the corpse……

Only the hulking Ox Demon then trudged forward with heavy steps.

After bluntly pocketing the Divine Foundation fragment……

He continued to turn over the corpse……

to reap the fruits of his efforts.

……

……

City Lord's Mansion.

City Lord Cao Guang cradled a statue nearly identical to the Three‑Eyed Wrathful True Lord Infant from the Guiyi Miao's Spirit Infant Hall, gulping down its divine essence strand by strand.

His brow……a faint black current seemed to gather, his brow swelling then subsiding.

As if something were about to break out.

Suddenly.

City Lord Cao Guang snapped his eyes open, carefully placed the imitation temple god's three-eyed spirit infant statue down, then in a flash appeared atop the black-tile roof of the City Lord's mansion's flying eaves and upturned corners.

Rain and snow twisted and avoided above his head.

His pupils flickered constantly, sensing the divinity sealing the alleys, astonishment welling up like dark ink from his eyes.

"How could the aura of the Yang Family Divine Foundation fade so quickly…"

"Gone!!"

……

……

Li Family Courtyard.

Wind and snow fluttered.

Cao Qingyuan carried a saber, behind him followed the Divine Capturer's sole heir Zhang Yangyang and several Black Office constables; they formed a line, crossed the alley, and arrived at Li Che's courtyard in Nei Cheng.

The courtyard gate was shut; from inside could be heard the excited, playful laughter of a child.

Cao Qingyuan startled, seemingly not expecting Li Che's household to be so peaceful and harmonious.

"This… isn't quite what he imagined."

His brows furrowed slightly.

Cao Qingyuan raised his hand and knocked on the door.

A moment later.

With a creaking sound,

Li Che, dressed in a clean, neat black martial outfit, opened the door with an elegant and easygoing manner.

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