Chapter 84: Dao Fruit Transforms Again, Dragon-Elephant Vajra Ascends the Tower【Seeking First Subscription!】

The winter rain drizzled incessantly, mixed with icy snow, falling nonstop.

The An clan manor.

Silent as usual.

As the most low-key of the four great clans of Feilei City, the An clan's presence is slight; whether from the Divine Foundation old ancestor or from An Ruosu, the clan's legitimate heir called one of the Three Princes of Feilei, all are very low-key.

But, low-key as it may be, few forces dare to overlook the An clan.

It is said that the An clan's true eldest legitimate son, years ago, was noticed by people from the Divine Sect, brought into the Primordial Origin Divine Sect to cultivate, and with extraordinary talent, following the Divine Sect's experts, received great favor.

Therefore, this is the An clan's foundation.

Having someone in the Divine Sect makes this an extraordinary foundation, something the Yang, Xu, and former Si clans cannot match.

Now, within the An clan manor, the An clan's old master, the family's sole Divine Foundation cultivator, white-haired and white-robed, sits cross-legged on the couch; a sudden brazier radiates warmth, dispelling the damp chill brought by the winter rain.

"Yang Jing and the Ox Demon... fought to the death on Long Street."

"Cultivating nature battles the Divine Foundation—what gall."

The old master stroked his beard and said lightly,

"That Ox Demon acts lawlessly and violently, with no regard for reason; fortunately... our An clan never agreed to the city lord's demand to enter the Xu clan's Divine Cultivation Institute and plunder spirit children."

Under the old master, An Ruosu, one of the Three Princes of Feilei, frowned and said: "That Ox Demon's methods are supernatural; he excels in the Way of Mechanisms—perhaps that is why he dares to fight a Divine Foundation cultivator."

"Wasn't the Tang clan's mechanism family, which once shook the entire Daijing, relying solely on its technique to fight above its rank?"

"This Ox Demon... wouldn't he be a remnant of the Tang clan?"

The old master gave An Ruosu a solemn look: "Speak carefully."

"On such a topic, do not speak rashly; speak prudently and act cautiously, remain steady, assess the situation, think of danger in safety—this is the key to the clan's lasting prosperity."

"No matter who this Ox Demon is, do not provoke him; our An clan cannot afford to offend this plague god."

The old master said in a deep voice.

"The city lord's mansion wanted the spirit children; we sent them over. We won't meddle in the city lord's Thousand Buddha Sculpture Feast, we've settled the clan's affairs, and in two days we will relocate the whole clan from Feilei City to Golden Light Prefecture to seek refuge with your elder brother."

An Ruosu exhaled, somewhat unwilling, but still nodded.

"Here."

"Suddenly."

The old master, sitting elegantly cross-legged on the couch, had his eyebrows fly up and his eyes narrow.

Instantly, white vapor rose from his body, gradually condensing into a blurry human shape that floated to the roof, as if a figure stepped out of a dream.

This is the An clan's Divine Nature—【Hundred Turns Worry Dream】!

Whoosh——!

As if drawing in a breath, the old master's vapor that had floated to the roof instantly returned to his flesh from the crown of his head.

After a shudder, the old master's face full of worry: "Ox... ox..."

"Old Yang... is gone."

Hearing this, An Ruosu's whole body trembled.

"What?!"

However, the old master raised his head, his worried expression deepening: "What the hell is this Ox Demon?"

"The Si clan, the Yang clan... could the next be our An clan?!"

"Too terrifying..."

"Can't wait three days later."

"Quickly notify the clanspeople—the day after tomorrow, no... tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow we will relocate the whole clan out of the city!"

……

【41) ……

Icy rainwater accumulated at the edge of the bamboo hat, then overflowed, forming a water curtain that dripped continuously with a splashing sound.

Cao Qingyuan's pupils narrowed; the hand knocking on the door hung in midair, frozen.

The air seemed to have fallen into stagnation.

Looking at Li Che opening the door, at that gentle, refined face……

For a moment, Cao Qingyuan felt dizzy and his mind was a little confused.

Li Che...... how could he be here?

Isn't he the Ox Demon?

Shouldn't he have been fighting Yang Jing on Long Street, then been beaten to death by that raging Divine Foundation cultivator Yang Jing?!

But why...... does Li Che appear here?

He looks completely at ease and refined, with no sign of having ever been in a life-and-death struggle.

Could it be......

Did I guess wrong?!

Cao Qingyuan felt his head buzzing; his earlier confident assertions now seemed like a joke.

Behind him, Zhang Xiangyang also wore a bewildered expression.

No...... how could the one opening the door be Li Che?

According to the young city lord's speculation, Li Che has a ninety percent chance of being the Ox Demon!

But since Li Che is here……

Then who is the Ox Demon who fought Yang Jing?

Chaos, all guesses are in disarray...

Master Li... hehe, at home?

Cao Qingyuan quickly came to his senses, his pupils fluctuating violently, looking at Li Che with a somewhat forced smile.

Li Che hearing this said in surprise and oddity: "Young City Lord, saying this... now even the Xu family's Divine Cultivation Institute has suffered a raid disaster; I worry for my daughter's safety—where else would I go if not staying home?"

I dare not run about recklessly; I must stay by my daughter's side at all times.

Cao Qingyuan laughed: "That's also true, but the villains who raided the Xu family's Divine Cultivation Institute have all been severely punished; Master Li can actually rest easy."

That won't do... isn't that ox-demon still out there? How frightening, that ox-demon... killed many people, truly terrifying.

Li Che shook his head, his face full of alarm.

Cao Qingyuan froze.

He just felt that something was off...

Very strange!

His gaze lifted, looking into the courtyard, and at once he saw Xixi riding a twisty car under the eaves.

"I don't know what brings the Young City Lord here today?" Li Che asked bluntly.

Cao Qingyuan's gaze fell back on Li Che: "Earlier I entrusted Master Li with a commission... I wonder if Master Li has begun carving?"

My father holds Master Li in high regard, so...

However, Li Che apologetically shook his head, took out a gold leaf, and returned it to Cao Qingyuan.

Sorry, Young City Lord, I won't take this woodcarving job; I haven't started carving, my daughter suffered a great calamity, nearly being abducted, my heart... cannot calm down to carve, and the carvings wouldn't be perfect; I cannot accept imperfect works, so...

Please tell the City Lord on my behalf, Li Mou truly feels ashamed of the City Lord's trust.

Cao Qingyuan's expression instantly turned cold and silent.

Master Li, isn't this a bit too much?

It's been so long; you accepted the order, with your masterful skill you could have finished the carving already; my father said he doesn't require a divine woodcarving, only needing masterful craftsmanship, not a divine woodcarving for you...

The difficulty isn't great, just a trifle; Master Li, you seem to look down on our City Lord's manor a bit, giving no face at all?

Or perhaps Master Li has been busy with other matters these days... and has no time to carve the woodwork?

The air instantly turned solemn and lethal; the rain and snow drifting from the sky seemed to be stained by the divine foundation divine nature spreading from Cao Qingyuan, becoming extremely sharp.

Or perhaps...

Master Li, you are precisely that...

Ox-demon!

Cao Qingyuan opened his mouth, his voice like thunderclaps, exploding beside the ears.

However, Li Che simply wouldn't buy it, his face full of terror: "Young City Lord, slander... you're slandering me!"

Constable Zhang!

Cao Qingyuan, however, kept a cold face.

The rain suddenly stalled as if...

The lone divine constable behind him, Zhang Xiangyang, his expression tightened; as long as he gritted his teeth and took a step forward.

"【Fear-Suppressing Light Tracing】 seeks its fear; I want to see whether this Master Li, these days, is truly terrified of the ox-demon, worried for his daughter's safety!"

Zhang Xiangyang, wearing a bamboo hat, suddenly lifted his head; his rugged face, beard and hair flying, his eyes seemed to burst with a bluish light.

He stared at Li Che, and a river-like divine nature surged forth from Zhang Xiangyang's body!

【Fear-Suppressing Light Tracing】!

It aims to trace back certain fragments of Li Che's!

Li Che furrowed his brows.

Excessive...

This Cao Qingyuan's aggressive pressure makes him want to...

Put on a mask!

However, just as he was about to act, a raindrop suddenly shot out from within the courtyard with a whistling sound.

With a pop, it shattered the divine nature that Zhang Xiangyang had dispersed.

Zhang Xiangyang's whole body trembled; his bamboo hat split straight down the middle, severed by that shooting raindrop, carrying great force, causing him to collapse directly onto the waterlogged blue-stone alley floor.

A surge of overbearing qi and blood then gradually dissipated within the raindrop.

Zhang Xiangyang's face turned pale; he felt as if he had strolled around the gates of King Yama.

If that raindrop intended to kill him, it could likely pierce his head and divine nature instantly, ending him completely.

Who?!

Cao Qingyuan's eyes narrowed.

He abruptly looked toward the courtyard behind Li Che.

Only then did Cao Qingyuan finally notice the old man in green robes sitting under the eaves, a wooden chessboard before him, pinning a black piece, deep in thought.

The City Lord's manor acts overbearing, casually using divine nature to spy on others' privacy; don't you know that using 【Fear-Suppressing Light Tracing】 harms one's spirit?

The old man glanced at Cao Qingyuan, making his hairs stand on end.

Just that gaze gave him a sense of mortal danger.

As if facing some tremendous terrifying existence.

Who are you, sir...

Cao Qingyuan loosened his grip on the sword hilt, clasped his fists, and asked, his attitude softening somewhat.

Clatter...

Suddenly, a sound of tearing through the air echoed.

A tall figure descended beside Cao Qingyuan, wearing a black-red official robe, his countenance warm and refined, sporting a beautiful beard, smiling as he looked at the old man seated opposite the chessboard in the courtyard.

"Father……" Cao Qingyuan respectfully clasped his fists.

"So it's a senior of the Divine Sect…… My son has been rude; senior, please don't blame him."

City Lord Cao Guang, however, paid no attention to Cao Qingyuan, merely staring deeply at the old man under the eaves.

Li Qing Shan held a chess piece, staring at the game on the board.

Though snubbed, Cao Guang didn't mind much, as if it were a perfectly normal thing.

He still wore a smile, looking toward Li Che.

"Master Li…… truly unwilling to carve a wooden figurine for this official?"

"Unless it's a divine wood carving, you won't do it?"

Li Che looked at City Lord Cao Guang, feeling for the first time an intense sense of danger, especially……

【Chess Saint】 Within the Dao fruit, each black chess piece drawn from the temple god's divinity seemed to tremble as the board shook, causing the pieces to restless up and down.

"These days I've been worried about my daughter's safety, feeling uneasy, truly lacking the energy to carve; please forgive me, City Lord."

Li Che clasped his fists, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Good, good, good, Master Li truly is a good father……"

"Since Master Li is unwilling, then let it be……"

"As for your son's speculation, Master Li, don't take it to heart; the courteous and easygoing Master Li, how could he be a vicious ox demon who kills without hesitation?"

City Lord Cao Guang laughed and shook his head.

Afterwards, he looked at the old man under the eaves.

"Senior comes from the Divine Sect, perhaps to test the spirit child? I don't know which eminent person of the Divine Sect you are; may I ask your honored name, Sir Cao?"

Cao Guang asked.

The old man holding a black chess piece gently placed it on the board.

"City Lord Cao has a good appetite; he is worthy to know my name……"

"I am, from the Primordial Origin Branch Sect……"

"Li Qing Shan."

Upon hearing this, Cao Guang froze for a moment, then his pupils suddenly contracted.

Li Qing Shan?!

It's actually him!

Never expected that the martial artist who fought me a few times, whose physical body had reached the Master Realm and wore a cat-face mask, would actually be Li Qing Shan!

In Cao Guang's narrowed eyes, tension and urgency suddenly burst forth……

"So you are Senior Li, the name Qing Shan renowned like thunder…… Who in the martial world doesn't know it?"

"I take my leave."

After Cao Guang said that, he grabbed Cao Qingyuan and quickly disappeared.

Only remained the Divine Constable's lone scion, Zhang Xiangyang, lying on the wet ground, beaten by the rain, devoid of will to live.

Zhang Xiangyang struggled to rise, then met Li Che's deep gaze.

As if……

a gaze with a hint of greed and desire.

Zhang Xiangyang hurriedly rolled and crawled, sprinting through the rain.

With his back to Li Che……

Zhang Xiangyang's hairs stood on end; this familiar feeling was just like when Zhou Ruoguang was killed, when he fled in panic!

The feeling that his head could be smashed at any moment!

Li Che…… surely an ox demon!

Surely!

Li Che regrettably withdrew his gaze.

Yet he also glanced with some astonishment at Li Qing Shan, who was setting up a chess game under the eaves.

Cao Guang's reaction was clearly felt by Li Che.

"Li Qing Shan……"

"Is he very famous?"

Li Che couldn't help but murmur to himself.

And while Li Che was doubtful about Li Qing Shan, Li Qing Shan actually also felt some astonishment in his heart.

He was astonished…… that Li Che had actually killed the Yang family's divine foundation!

Nurturing nature slays the divine foundation……

Ignoring the rank difference?!

Li Che…… actually able to do this? The level of divinity he cultivates is surely not high? And it's not like Lu Chi's cultivated 【Wrathful Crown Prince】, a Four Emperors‑level divinity!

Most importantly……

After Li Che killed Yang Jing, when did he return to the study?

When Li Che walked out of the study in a refined manner, Li Qing Shan was startled, thinking the ox demon was someone else.

But upon reflection, it could only be attributed to Li Che's Qi and Blood Concealing Technique, which can evade detection of the divine foundation; such a method is truly miraculous.

"How did you manage that, kid?"

Li Qing Shan asked, of course meaning how to kill the divine foundation.

Li Che smiled gently, spreading his hands.

Frankly, but not fully honest.

"Mechanism."

……

……

After Li Qingshan left, Li Che comforted his wife Zhang Ya, whose face showed worry, and then went to the study.

【Chess Saint】 Dao Fruit trembled slightly, expanding into a chessboard network that covered the surroundings; after confirming no powerful beings were spying, everything was safe and sound.

Only then did Li Che sit on the wooden chair, relax his whole body, and exhale a long breath.

Inside the room, the charcoal brazier burned quietly, releasing heat that dispelled the chill.

Li Che's bones and joints all emitted a stretching crackle.

Battling the Divine Foundation was exhilarating!

"Divine Foundation cultivators are indeed strong; even with two divine natures fused, they still fall short of the Divine Foundation… but the power of the 'Bodhi Blood Tears' far exceeds my imagination—its penetrative force, explosiveness, and lethality are all far greater than that of the Wooden Passage Crow!"

"Looks like 'Homage Barrett' has potential……"

Li Che smiled.

But what stirred his emotions even more was……

His mind stirred.

A prompt floated into view like flowing light.

【Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (LV2, 97%)】

"High-pressure stimulation greatly boosts the maturity of the Dragon Elephant Vajra…… only 3% short."

Li Che's eyes gleamed.

Without any further hesitation, utilizing the complementary nature of the Dao Fruits, he mobilized the divinity of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit into the Dragon Elephant Vajra to complete the Dao Fruit!

In the next instant, Li Che felt the blood beneath his skin boil all over his body.

Before his eyes, golden light suddenly flickered!

【Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (LV3, 0%)】

【Dao Fruit LV3, rebirth, obtains the embryonic form of the divine ability "Dragon Elephant Vajra·Ascending the Tower"】

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(End of chapter)