Chapter 100: A Torrent of Divine Fury

Spring rain had turned agitated, evaporating under a searing heat and rising as a hazy, undulating mist.

It lingered in the air, leaving traces like the aftermath of a raging, coiling dragon.

In front of the Qin Mansion.

A fearsome divine aura exploded like thunder, unleashing countless electric serpents and exuding a bone-chilling corpse-cold energy!

A Divine Foundation Beginner, masked in grey, had his brow pierced; the arrow’s brutal momentum slammed him against the vermillion door of Qin Mansion, studded with copper nails.

Blood burst from the back of his head like a blooming lotus.

Then, a faint ‘crack’ filled the air.

It was the sound of the grey mask shattering, splitting in two and tumbling to the ground, revealing the face of a middle-aged man, pallid from years spent away from sunlight.

His eyes still reflected the terror of imminent death.

All because of one arrow…

A Divine Foundation Beginner was slain on the spot!

Boom—!

Silence reigned for only a moment.

Then a dreadful aura suddenly surged up from within Qin Mansion.

“How dare you!”

A deafening roar, like thunder crashing down and boulders plunging into a lake, sent shockwaves that evaporated the spring rain in an instant.

Li Che, wearing his Ma-Face mask, released an arrow and immediately controlled his breath, pushing the ‘Sleeping Dragon Elephant’ ability of his Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit to its peak.

He transformed into a streak of inky black, merging with the rain as he sprinted along the wall.

After darting through several alleys, he finally halted, pressed against a wall, holding his breath and slowing even his heartbeat to a crawl.

His gaze fixed on the sky above Qin Mansion, where a massive, mirage-like phantom had formed—a dense concentration of divine aura that alone was suffocating.

The apparition wore a sorrowful expression, clad in golden armor with scales reminiscent of dragon skin, its billowing robes revealing four muscular arms veined like writhing serpents, with long, slender snakes coiled about its form.

It boasted nine twisting heads on a purple-skinned body, its intense aura of anguish swirling like a tempest that nearly dispersed the cascading spring rain.

Divine Visage!

Li Che’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his heartbeat steadied further.

This was the realm above the Divine Foundation—a Divine Visage!

When the Temple Spirit concentrated his divine presence as though the gods had descended, he possessed the gift known as Divine Visage!

It was an immensely powerful state.

For centuries, the Qin Family had been a venerable lineage in the Capital, renowned not only for their Divine Visage inheritance but also for a living Divine Visage Patriarch.

Such was the deep heritage of the family!

Li Che’s mind had already linked with his Chess Sage Dao Fruit, preparing to activate the power of Feilei Chess Sage to make his escape.

Of course, that was provided he exposed himself…

Boom—!

Countless raindrops exploded as a mighty, nearly tangible surge of divine perception swept down Long Street, scanning like a radar.

Li Che could clearly sense the invisible distortions in the rain forming swirling waves.

This was the divine perception of Divine Visage sweeping across a ten-mile stretch of street.

Yet as Li Che detected its scan upon his body, he sensed something amiss and withdrew, only to have the sweep pass over once more.

Still, he remained utterly motionless, merging with the wall.

The divine perception came, receded, then returned before finally departing.

After about five or six breaths, it resumed its scanning.

Following four or five cycles of this, it finally withdrew.

Li Che silently mused, “This damned Temple Guardian…”

Yet a spark of excitement stirred within him—for after reaching level 3 on his Dragon Elephant Vajra, the Sleeping Dragon Elephant’s Breath Convergence ability could barely elude a Divine Visage cultivator’s divine perception.

Just this understanding, gained while assuming his Ma-Face identity, was a very rewarding prize.

As for the rest…

Li Che remained immobile; besides warding off a potential counterattack from Qin Family’s Divine Visage Patriarch, he was channeling the heavenly chessboard power of his Chess Sage Dao Fruit.

In his eyes, black lines began to dance and interlace, forming a vast chessboard grid.

Using his own body as a chess piece, the grid spread out, ensnaring even the area before Qin Mansion—thanks to his close-up view.

Thus, he never ventured inside, as the overwhelming divine pressure of the Qin Family’s Divine Visage cultivator permeated the surroundings.

Li Che dared not intrude for reconnaissance.

But this was enough.

From the perspective of the heavenly chessboard, Li Che could clearly observe the scene before Qin Mansion.

Three figures burst forth from within at breakneck speed, their overpowering aura of blood and raw force intermingling in a violent surge.

They comprised two men and one woman. The men, middle-aged and dressed in ornate robes, contrasted with the woman’s dignified grace, her beauty and sinuous figure undeniable.

Li Che’s gaze instantly locked onto the woman’s face.

When she saw the grey-faced man slain by an arrow, her expression darkened into a stormy scowl, her long, fair fingers clenching into a fist as a terrifying killing intent radiated from her.

Li Che, his Ma-Face mask pressed against the wall,

exuded no emotion.

Beneath the mask, his eyes reflected the woman’s exquisite beauty.

He memorized every detail.

Qin Yuqing, the Jade-Faced Poison Raksha.

My Ma-Face… I’ve remembered you.

In the next moment,

Li Che lightly tapped his toe; while wearing his Ma-Face, he seamlessly melded into the spring rain and vanished.

……

……

At Qin Mansion, a thick stench of blood pervaded the air.

Lingering were the burnt tang of electric arcs and the scorching heat that had dried the spring rain.

Three stately figures stood before the door, observing the body nailed to it.

Two middle-aged men fixed their eyes on the woman. One remarked, “Yuqing, she’s one of yours, isn’t she?”

Qin Yuqing’s flowing black hair brushed her fair, delicate cheek; her meticulously maintained features flickered with a chilling coldness.

“Yes.”

“I sent him on a mission. He must have discovered something and tried to report back, but was slain right outside the mansion.”

“Damn… what nerve! How dare he treat Qin Mansion like nothing!”

Beneath her arched eyebrows, Qin Yuqing’s eyes flashed with lethal intent as her perfected divine aura intermingled, summoning eerie winds and ghostly wails.

Right now, she was in no mood to show mercy!

Her grey-faced spy—dispatched to monitor the carpenter—had been slain. This was a provocation. Who was behind it?

Was it that stinking carpenter from Feilei City?!

Or someone from another influential family? Perhaps a member of the Temple Guardian Division? Or even from the Divine Sect Branch?

In the Capital, countless factions might dare act against the Qin Family.

It was all so chaotic… one couldn’t tell.

Qin Yuqing bit her full lips, her eyes glinting as she pondered; everyone said she was a mad poison woman who delighted in torment and the sound of agony.

Yet in truth, her actions were methodical, leaving no faults—a plan for a one-hit kill that offered no room for escape.

“By sensing the lingering divine aura, one can deduce the assailant’s own aura… it reeks of fury.”

“To kill a Divine Foundation Beginner with one arrow—only an archer versed in lethal archery and furious divine aura can ensure a one-hit kill.”

A middle-aged man, closing his eyes briefly, then reopened them; his pupils shimmered with a trace of crimson, as if drawing the very air into a swirling vortex.

“A divine archer? One who cultivates furious divine aura? In the Capital, such cultivators are exceedingly rare—even in disguise, divine aura never lies… Could it be someone from Xinyuan Temple? Or perhaps an archer from the Gongyang Family?”

Another middle-aged man frowned and speculated.

“An arrow shot from several miles away, piercing a Divine Foundation cultivator and shattering the intricate defenses within—such precision, force, and ferocity… This is no ordinary divine archer. Which powerhouse in the Capital secretly nurtures such a fearsome talent?”

“Why target our Qin cultivators again? Is this a show of force, or… Third Sister, did you leave any loose ends in your recent dealings?”

Faced with his two elder brothers’ inquiries, Qin Yuqing’s expression turned impatient, “Impossible. If I were to act, it would be immaculate…”

“Perhaps this divine archer isn’t aiming at me at all, but rather at our Qin Family!”

Irritated by their doubt in her ability, Qin Yuqing clenched her fist and abruptly pulled the wooden arrow, deeply embedded in the door, from its slot. The arrow, with its spiral grooves and crafted from lingmu, wound like a serpent.

It still exuded traces of divine aura…

Wait!

“This is…”

Qin Yuqing’s eyes suddenly shrank in shock, as if struck by a bolt of lightning on a clear day.

“Furious Third Prince’s divine aura?!”

“The divine aura of the Three-Eyed Furious True Lord, born from the Lingying of the Bizarre Temple in Feilei City?!”

Qin Yuqing could hardly believe it.

Her two elder brothers, Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao, also froze, their faces growing increasingly strange.

“Three-Eyed Furious True Lord’s divine aura? Unbelievable…”

“Third Sister, could it be your ex-husband from Feilei City?”

Qin Haonan blurted out.

Qin Yuqing’s face instantly contorted into a snarl, “Impossible! Shut up!”

“That worthless man is dead—gone long ago! His body can’t even be found!”

“It can’t be him!”

Her grip tightened and the wooden arrow she held burst into fragments; her eyes turned wild, distorting her once-beautiful face into something harsh and twisted.

“Who on earth is behind this?”

“Who else could forge divine aura like that of the Three-Eyed Furious True Lord?”

“That stinking carpenter from Feilei City surely can’t clear his name… my spy sent to investigate him was slain right at the mansion door?”

“And Li Che… he must be implicated!”

……

……

Li Che removed his Ma-Face mask, picked up his oil-paper umbrella, and merged back into the bustling street.

With wet shoes on the slick blue stone pavement, he walked while mulling over the exquisite face captured by his heavenly chessboard.

It had to be Qin Yuqing.

Yet her cultivation level remained a mystery.

Earlier, through the heavenly chessboard, he had sensed that her formidable aura was no less than that of a post-Divine Foundation cultivator, with overwhelming divine power.

“The core secrets of Jin Lie Men are far from weak. As one of Jingguang Prefecture’s five major sects, they might not rival the Divine Sect Branch, but inside, they have abundant core secrets and pill resources, and their martial techniques are formidable—their blood cultivation may even reach that of a True Qi Master.”

“One Generation Namo Celestial Craft Bodhi Barrett… crafted with Dragon Tooth Yellow Poplar that surpasses refined iron in strength, imbued with boundless spiritual power and divine aura, elaborately carved and fused with Bodhi Blood Tears and Muduya techniques to create Dragon Tooth Bodhi Bullets…”

“Could it pierce a Grandmaster?”

Li Che’s eyes shone as streams of light flickered within.

He knew well that among masters, the gap was vast.

Between Qin Yuqing and Li Qingshan lay an immense chasm—just as Liu He and others spoke of Li Qingshan with utmost respect, while referring to Qin Yuqing as ‘that poison woman.’

This indicated that even if Qin Yuqing were a Grandmaster, she was far from the very strongest…

So…

“I’ll give it a try.”

“If I can kill her, all the better; if not, at least it’ll force her to keep a low profile.”

“A smart person, when aware of a hidden threat, will act with even greater caution and won’t dare provoke trouble lightly.”

Having just arrived in the Capital, Li Che didn’t want to stir up too much chaos.

Yet in this life, treading on thin ice, he had to be cautious—unwanted attention was the last thing he needed.

Qin Yuqing…

The thought of that vicious poison woman made Li Che’s skin crawl; if his daughter were ever endangered, his heart would shatter.

So, for the sake of maintaining a sliver of peace,

Li Che had no choice but to take a risk.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, calm had returned.

In misty Jiangnan, spring drizzles stirred, and willows swayed in a heady, balmy breeze.

Clad in a black robe, Li Che did not appear as a scholarly figure in white but as a refined and gentle man blending seamlessly with the rain.

Yet he still retained a cultured warmth, as if one with the falling rain.

The Imperial Watch in the Capital had its own dedicated building.

Yesterday, Liu He and Hai Chuanying had informed him of its precise location.

In the hazy drizzle by a tributary of the Jiulong River, a nine-story pagoda stood tall with precious eaves; its roof was crowned by twin dragons guarding a gem, while ebony tiles were meticulously arranged, with spring water trickling like a curtain of jade beads.

Li Che strode up to the Imperial Watch, intent on learning about the requirements to become a guest official.

Inside, he closed his oil-paper umbrella and shook off the water.

He stored his umbrella within Qiankun Space, then stepped into the building.

Unlike the bustling offices of government servants, the Imperial Watch exuded calm, devoid of hurried officials or lax bureaucrats; instead, it overflowed with dazzling streams of light.

Within a transparent crystal case lined with silk, various items were meticulously arranged.

Li Che’s eyes swept over a collection of medicinal pills, weaponry, divine wooden sculptures, and more…

Categorized meticulously with wooden tags.

Li Che stared blankly. This Imperial Watch… wasn’t it more like a supermarket?

“Sir, is there something you wish to purchase?”

A soft, mellow voice came from the side, carried on a waft of fragrance. Li Che turned to see a graceful young lady with skin as white as jade and eyes full of subtle allure quietly standing beside him.

Startled, Li Che noted that despite just entering, he hadn’t noticed her arrival.

The woman smiled, “On the first floor of the Imperial Watch, all items are top-tier, though there are also common goods available. Please, tell me your needs and I’ll assist you.”

Li Che shook his head and, with a respectful gesture, replied, “I’m here to learn about the guest official examination at the Imperial Watch.”

A trace of surprise flickered on the woman’s face.

Before she could answer, a hearty laugh rang out.

“Ha ha ha! Master Li, you’ve arrived at last—we’ve been waiting for you,” declared Liu He, dressed in a uniform with the Temple Guardian Division’s token at his waist, striding over with a beaming smile.

Yesterday’s conversation had left Liu He quite taken with Li Che; although Li Che hailed from Feilei City, his worldly savvy was unmistakable. Combined with Senior Qingshan’s endorsement, he made an excellent impression.

The chic young lady nodded at Liu He, “Mr. Liu, care to introduce yourself?”

“This is Li Che, the master wood sculptor from Feilei City recommended by Senior Qingshan, here to take the guest official exam at our Imperial Watch,” Liu He declared without mincing words.

“I am Shangguan Qinghong. Master Li, it’s an honor,” the young lady said with a bright smile. “Is this the one endorsed by Senior Qingshan?”

“Alright then, Mr. Liu, you may attend to your duties. I heard you’ve undertaken a major commission—carving a statue of ‘Eight-Armed Yulian, Furious Third Prince, Temple Spirit.’ It’s no small task; I’ll handle the reception, Master Li.”

The woman laughed gently.

Liu He’s expression froze briefly, and he shook his head, understanding that Shangguan Qinghong’s presence was due to Li Qingshan’s recommendation.

Not minding, he looked at Li Che, “Master Li, best of luck with your exam. One day, I’ll take you to Yunfang Restaurant for drinks and tunes.”

Shangguan Qinghong playfully kicked Liu He, who burst into hearty laughter as he walked away.

“Master Li, don’t get too chummy with him. Yunfang Restaurant isn’t a good place,” Shangguan Qinghong admonished sweetly, her demeanor instantly softening as she turned to Li Che.

Li Che smiled, his eyes glinting with quiet amusement.

The double surname Shangguan… could it be that her family is one of Jingguang Prefecture’s five great families?

Shangguan Qinghong then led Li Che to a private room within the building, where a heat stove boiled water and the rich aroma of tea permeated the space.

“Master Li, please have some tea. This tea, grown and watered by the Jiulong River, is called ‘Longji Tea’—it’s sweet on the palate yet burns like fire from within, as if a dragon were surging through a river, imbued with a trace of divine aura and exceptionally delightful.”

Shangguan Qinghong had been reading and enjoying tea in the private room until sensing Li Che’s arrival prompted her to come greet him.

Today, she was on duty—and reading with a cup of tea was the epitome of comfort.

Shangguan Qinghong was an official member of the Imperial Watch, accredited by the Imperial Court, unlike Liu He or Hai Chuanying, who had become guest officials through examinations.

“Master Li, you come from Feilei City?”

Pouring another cup of tea for Li Che, she aligned her slender fingers and slid the cup toward him.

“Feilei City is in turmoil. I’ve heard that the city lord has lost his sanity—amassing the blood of a thousand infants, seizing the divine aura of a thousand wood sculptors, and sacrificing all the citizens to help the Bizarre Temple ascend to the Nine Luminaries. Thankfully, Senior Qingshan thwarted his scheme with a Goat-Horn Hammer.”

“Master Li, making it this far from Feilei City is no small feat.”

Shangguan Qinghong glanced at Li Che.

“My daughter, Prodigy, has an impressive divine aura. Endorsed by Senior Qingshan, she left Feilei City early and narrowly avoided disaster.”

Li Che smiled.

At that, Shangguan Qinghong’s expression briefly stiffened.

“Ah? Master Li, you have children now?”

Li Che paused with his tea—he was only twenty-two; having a child… wasn’t that unusual?

Shangguan Qinghong’s posture relaxed instantly, and she slumped into the minister’s chair with the air of a flirtatious girl.

A married man—what was there to pretend?

“That’s truly a pity,” she remarked as she pulled out various candied fruits, melon seeds, and dried meat from a drawer on the tea table.

What image could one possibly project in front of a married man?

After all, he wouldn’t marry her.

Li Che simply said, “…”

Yet the relaxed atmosphere emanating from Shangguan Qinghong only grew warmer.

Their conversation flowed comfortably.

“Brother Li, here is your exam token and fellow identity token. Return to the Imperial Watch tomorrow. The guest official exam requires prior preparation and must be approved and stamped by the inspector. I need to report this shortly.”

Shangguan Qinghong handed Li Che a wooden plaque crafted from lingmu.

Its jade-like luster flowed through his fingertips as information immediately appeared before his eyes.

……

[Divine Weapon (Top-Tier of Ten Capitals): Qin Tianjian Level-Three Token]

[Craft: Made from nine-stage lingmu ‘Nanli Song’, capable of storing divine aura and inner energy. Extremely sturdy, it can even serve as a brick—a symbol of status.]

[Holder: Qin Tianjian Level-Three Guest Official and Officer]

……

Li Che twirled the token in his hand, his eyes lighting up, “Nanli Song wood?”

Shangguan Qinghong looked at him in astonishment, “Master Li, you have an eye for detail. To recognize the wood type at a glance is truly impressive.”

“Once you pass the exam, you can infuse your own divine aura or inner energy into it as a symbol of your status.”

Li Che nodded and carefully pocketed the token.

After a brief discussion of the exam details for the next day, Li Che bid farewell and departed.

By a carved window, Shangguan Qinghong munched on melon seeds while watching Li Che—with his umbrella blending into the rain and becoming a dark silhouette—before her eyes sparkled briefly.

“Crack, crack… in front of Qin Mansion, someone was shot dead… surely not him? I didn’t sense any substantial divine aura; his blood energy was merely at the stage of a blood exchange.”

“One arrow killed a Divine Foundation Beginner—crack, crack—the Qin poison woman seems to have struck a nerve.”

……

……

Leaving the Imperial Watch, Li Che headed to Liu Xiang Pavilion, packed some wine and food into a Qian Kun Jade, and set off for home.

All along, the spring rain drizzled on his oil-paper umbrella with a muffled sound.

He had just reached the entrance of Tinghua Alley.

One step caused puddles to ripple on the ground, while within his chest, the Chess Sage Dao Fruit pulsed and the heavenly chessboard unfurled.

Amidst the interweaving grid, bursts of aura arose, shining like starlight.

“One, two, three… suddenly, three grey-faced watchers appeared. What a poison woman.”

Li Che, unperturbed, held his umbrella high and strode into Tinghua Alley.

Around him, three figures clad in grey masks maintained a watchful vigil.

The next day, as spring breezes mixed with rain,

Li Che taught his wife, Zhang Ya, a more advanced Tendon Burst technique and, using his Pure Heart divine aura, helped her realign her body.

He also instructed XiXi in martial arts and how to harness her divine aura to strengthen her physique, before leaving the small courtyard.

Stepping out of Tinghua Alley, the three surveillance vibes from Qin Mansion reappeared.

Unperturbed, Li Che, umbrella in hand, headed toward the Imperial Watch.

Under the lurking eyes of the three grey-faced watchers from Qin Mansion, he entered the Imperial Watch.

In the next moment,

Li Che gripped a Feilei Chess Piece; at the moment he stepped into the Imperial Watch, he vanished without a trace.

……

……

In the Workshop Courtyard,

the spring rain pattered steadily.

Li Che sat on a chair and took out his ‘Dragon Tooth Bodhi’, carved from Dragon Tooth Yellow Poplar, meticulously polishing its patterns.

Once he finished polishing it completely,

Li Che tore through the air with his fingers, grabbed a Ma-Face mask, and donned it.

He put on a broad-brimmed hat, lowering its edge.

Crunch!

Accompanied by the clamor of colliding metal, a slender gun barrel forged from seven-stage lingmu Dragon Tooth Yellow Poplar was fitted into the body of the gun.

“One Generation Namo Celestial Craft Bodhi Barrett” was slanted in Li Che’s hand as he inserted the sole Dragon Tooth Bodhi into it.

In an instant, a surge of burning heat and clamor erupted—like a roaring dragon poised to strike!

A hundred li away, a soul-locking force was unleashed!

With a pointed step,

the Ma-Face vanished like a ghost, silently merging into the fine spring rain.

A six-thousand-character long chapter—please vote, recommend, and follow. I’m pushing strong updates. With subscriptions lagging, I must rely on ongoing reads for recommendations. Old Li will continue to post updates. I earnestly request everyone’s support!