Chapter 101: The Crimson Shot of Destiny

Winter had passed, and early spring had arrived.

Endless spring rain fell without pause.

Yet the world still clung to a lingering chill.

Accumulated rain siphoned the heat from the earth, its biting cold mingling with the spring breeze as it swept over the land—more piercing than even the thickest winter snow.

Clad in a horse-face mask, Li Che moved silently along the capital’s main street, his energy completely subdued, his ghostly eyes fixed ahead as he sped by.

He moved with astonishing speed—each step as light as a dragonfly’s touch on water, sending ripples through puddles as he surged forward, covering several meters in a flash.

He raced in a direction that took him away from Qin Mansion.

The “Namo Xiangong Bodhi Barrett” was crafted by Li Che based on his past-life concept of a sniper rifle. Though the production methods differed, their core ideas aligned. Using a Dao Fruit [Xiangong] at Level 3 and the analytical precision of his Thousand Analysis Hand, he designed it to deliver matching destructive power.

In the end, both weapons were meant to pack nearly the same killing power.

The “Namo Xiangong Gatling” relied on overwhelming firepower, its barrels spinning a thousand rounds per second.

In contrast, the Bodhi Barrett specialized in piercing, explosive strikes.

Its long-range sniping capability far exceeded that of the Muduya-modified Xiangong Gatling.

In short, the two devices were born of entirely different design philosophies.

Dressed in black that blended with the spring rain, and masked by his horse-face, Li Che exuded an unruffled calm—almost as if the whole world moved in tune with his every breath.

Everyone has many sides; most of the time, we only show the temperaments we choose to share.

Yet, when alone, our true nature can be strikingly different.

Li Che felt that was especially true for him.

When he donned the Cute Cow Mask and transformed into the Ogre, he became volatile, reckless, and completely uninhibited.

In that state, he unleashed his martial prowess—his body swelling, muscles trembling, and raw power driving him forward with brutal force.

But with the horse-face mask on, Li Che remained cool-headed, shunning direct confrontations in favor of long-range strikes.

Techniques like archery and sniping suited him perfectly.

“Ensnare souls from a hundred miles! Bind life from a thousand miles!”

That was the mark of the horse-face.

In the end, whether as the Ogre or under the horse-face, they were simply different facets of Li Che.

Inside his chest, the Chess Sage Dao Fruit trembled incessantly as the cosmic chessboard spread its influence, its network expanding and permeating everything.

Slowly, its reach extended to cover half of Jingguang City.

Jingguang City was vast—so much larger than Feilei City—and with the immense range of the Xiangong Barrett combined with the chessboard’s pinpoint targeting from the Chess Sage Dao Fruit, a scope was virtually unnecessary.

This allowed Li Che to strike from a distance.

One shot—whether it hit or missed—would conclude his assassination for the day.

Qin Yuqing’s threat was too great. Left unchecked, the enemy would inch closer, eventually endangering her family—a fate Li Che refused to let happen.

He had chosen today deliberately; he had arranged with Shangguan Qinghong to attend an assessment at the Imperial Watch.

That would provide him with a solid alibi.

Every plan needs a backup.

And restraint is a virtue.

Tap—

With a soft step, Li Che’s lithe frame suddenly halted. Around him, the spring rain danced under a brisk, teasing breeze.

Cold raindrops pelted his bamboo hat, their muted taps echoing in the quiet.

Yet, behind his horse-face mask, his eyes blazed with brilliant light.

Glancing around, he noted he was on the outskirts of Jingguang City, roughly several dozen miles from Qin Mansion.

“That’s about it,” he murmured.

Having chosen his spot, his eyes flashed like lightning. He suddenly raised his head; water droplets cascaded from his sharply defined jaw beneath the mask.

The cosmic chessboard unfurled its network!

It spread relentlessly, expanding further and further…

Before long, Qin Mansion was completely enveloped within its sensing range.

Although Qin Mansion housed a master of divine perception, Li Che dared not underestimate it. The chessboard’s network quickly crept inside, flooding his view with its relentless grid.

Having locked onto Qin Yuqing’s aura, the moment the chessboard enveloped the mansion, her presence appeared on it, erupting in a burst of dense, dark energy.

That surge was laden with murderous intent directed right at him!

An eyebrow twitched under Li Che’s mask.

“What a venomous woman. Her desire to kill me burns so fiercely…”

Li Che was certain she had no proof linking him to the murder of her son, Cao Qingyuan.

On the surface, he appeared to be a polite, kind-hearted woodcarver from Feilei City, yet this venomous woman harbored an intense grudge against an honest man—even without evidence.

Perhaps it was simply because he came from Feilei City.

Just that, and she was determined to kill him…

What else could she be but venomous?

A chill settled over Li Che as murderous intent surged forth, leaving no room for hesitation.

He raised the Xiangong Barrett in his hand, its intricate engravings channeling divine essence and vital energy—a hallmark of the Dragon Tooth Yellow Poplar, a true Seven-Stage Lingmu.

In the stillness surrounding him, Li Che stood atop a black-tiled roof, planting his stance before cradling his mechanism.

He adjusted its curvature ever so slightly, aligning his aim with the lock of the cosmic chessboard.

His gaze fixed on the chessboard, where Qin Yuqing’s aura—so dark it practically oozed with black energy—was unmistakably visible.

Behind his mask, Li Che remained completely expressionless.

Horse-Face: Ensnare Souls from a Hundred Miles!

Bind Life from a Thousand Miles!

Boom—!

In an instant, Li Che’s body swelled with power. Though he did not fully activate his Vajra Dragon Elephant state, his muscles bulged as raw energy surged into the Xiangong Barrett.

A burst of crimson light seemed to come alive, swirling and coiling like charging energy, all converging into the barrel.

Behind him, the divine base of the Three-Eyed Furious True Lord suddenly materialized.

All to ensure flawless precision.

Li Che’s focus sharpened.

Within the chessboard, a dark Temple Spirit divine chess piece emerged before him. With a sharp bang, it exploded and merged into the Dragon Tooth Bodhi within the barrel.

Momentum surged relentlessly.

The relentless spring rain twisted and distorted in the chaos!

Then, the world suddenly fell silent.

All Li Che could hear was the steady rhythm of his own masked breath.

“Namo Xiangong.”

“Boom.”

With a resounding crack, Li Che pulled the trigger.

In an instant…

It was as if a slender, divine cord had snapped—like a dam bursting under the pressure of a swelling river!

Boom————!!!

A thunderous explosion erupted from the vivid red mechanism in his hand, shaking the very heavens!

A devastating shockwave swept up countless spring rains, radiating outward in concentric circles. Invisible ripples of energy blossomed behind him like a lotus of rain.

The black roof tiles beneath him shattered and flew apart, breaking into countless specks as the force hurled them into the air.

A ferocious gust whipped up, pulling his clothes tight against his chiseled form, accentuating every powerful muscle.

Bang!

Recoil from the force, Li Che stepped back and planted a heavy stomp.

It was as if a roar—reminiscent of a dragon’s cry—erupted from the barrel.

Fiery light raced like a coiling serpent, striking like lightning out of the clouds!

It exploded with such force that a mere pressure wave could not compare; a stream of scorching light, wrapped in turbulent energy, distorted the spring rain and carved voids in the air!

It streaked across the skies over Jingguang City!

Even though he fired the Bodhi Dragon Tooth from dozens of miles away, Li Che no longer cared whether the shot would hit—or kill—Qin Yuqing.

He removed his horse-face mask, his aura withdrawn, and sheathed the “Namo Xiangong Bodhi Barrett.”

A white, jade-like chess piece floated in his hand.

He clenched it tightly in his grasp.

……

……

Qin Mansion.

In the mansion, Qin Yuqing sat regally, her ample figure accentuated by tightly draped garments that hinted at her flawless skin beneath.

She was deep in thought, pondering who had slain her gray-faced spy.

Her first suspicion fell on Li Che—the woodcarver from Feilei City—whose involvement seemed too great to ignore.

After all, the spy she had sent to monitor Li Che inexplicably returned seeking her, only to be shot dead at the gate of Qin Mansion.

Yet she couldn’t discount the possibility of the Gongyang Family, whose “Furious Giant Spirit” divine essence was known for its wrath. The long-standing feud between the Qin and Gongyang families, coupled with her secret elimination of several Gongyang collateral members through ruthless torment, only deepened her suspicions.

Thus, the Gongyang Family was indeed a suspect.

Moreover, the bald monks of Xinyuan Temple also had their grievances…

Rubbing her temple with a slender finger, Qin Yuqing felt a headache coming on.

“Divine archer… Three-Eyed Furious True Lord divine essence…”

“Could it be that… that worthless Cao Guang really survived?”

Her slender eyes flickered open, a glimmer of determination shining through.

“Or could it be someone from a branch of the Divine Sect who struck?”

“The Three-Eyed Furious True Lord is based at the main gate of Yunzhou’s Qianyuan Divine Sect, which even watches over a bizarre temple—its Temple Spirit reputed to be the Three-Eyed…”

“Though the chance is extremely low…”

Qin Yuqing stretched lazily and gazed into a tall bronze mirror. Seeing her own voluptuous, timeless beauty, her vermilion lips curved into a slight smile.

She remained beautiful—a radiant flower—even after bearing children.

How could she have been so blind as to fall for Cao Guang from Feilei City? That man offered little more than a handsome face.

She had been utterly obsessed with him, even bearing his child.

As a result, she lost much of her value in matrimonial alliances within Jingguang City—had it not been for her remarkable talent and industrious nature, which earned her a pivotal role in Jin Lie Men.

Otherwise, how could she have risen to her current status in Jingguang City?

Though she was known as the ‘Jade-Faced Poison Demon,’ wasn’t that a form of respect?

“Such a pity for my son…”

Thinking of her child, a pang of sorrow struck Qin Yuqing—a mother always treasures her child.

“Don’t worry, my child. I won’t let your death be in vain. I will send your body to the Corpse God Sect, and you will live again in another form…”

“Mother will take vengeance—I’ll kill them all!”

Qin Yuqing closed her eyes.

A quiet grief mingled with a murderous resolve in her heart.

Suddenly,

a piercing sound rang out between heaven and earth—as if a bolt of lightning had torn through the clouded sky.

Startled, Qin Yuqing’s face snapped open; in the next instant, her willow-like brows trembled violently.

Her voluptuous form shuddered uncontrollably, every hair standing on end!

“What… is that?!”

She whirled around and saw a streak of light bursting from the sky; countless gusts roared as scorching energy swept through the air, like an enraged dragon breaking free from the Jiulong River!

Like a rainbow piercing the sun, tearing apart the heavens!

Hurry!

Too fast!

From the moment she spotted it until she could react, the streak neared—and descended into Qin Mansion!

Its terrifying heat resembled a burning sun crashing down!

As a newly ascended True Qi Master with exceptional vision, Qin Yuqing saw even the air ripple faintly when the streak burst forth, with clusters of white energy exploding around it as it hurtled onward.

Before an explosion could even be heard, the light had arrived!

Too fast!

In the span of a blink, the streak had already penetrated the courtyard of Qin Mansion.

This would surely cause a huge uproar!

Boom—!

Within Qin Mansion, the long-dormant divine perception of the ancestral master detected the terrifying streak.

Countless divine essences surged like raging river currents.

But the streak was simply too swift!

It was over in the blink of an eye.

The streak invaded the courtyard at nearly supersonic speeds, shattering the sound barrier.

It hurtled toward Qin Yuqing, who stood regally before the mirror, admiring her beauty!

“What is this?”

“What is it?”

Qin Yuqing’s hair stood on end as her newly enhanced sixth sense warned her of unprecedented danger, instinctively stirring her vital energy.

A massive divine base suddenly hovered behind her like a jade disc, emitting the wails of grieving ghosts.

At that moment, she unleashed both her divine essence and vital energy.

But it seemed that was all she could muster.

The crimson streak now loomed right before her eyes.

Her eyes fixed on the dissipating light—the remnants revealing something startling…

A single tear—a blood-red tear, reminiscent of a tiger’s amber.

Carved from Lingmu wood and etched with intricate, delicate patterns that showcased masterful craftsmanship, it was imbued with divine essence.

When it came within ten steps of her, its divine power erupted ferociously.

An overwhelming pressure, like a mountain bearing down on her, froze her ability to channel her divine essence and sent her vital energy into paralysis!

“This is… the Temple Spirit’s divine essence!”

“Someone’s trying to kill me!”

“This is insane…”

“They’re killing me!”

A scream finally burst from Qin Yuqing’s lips.

Her vital energy and divine essence converged before her—a nearly instinctive act of self-preservation.

But then…

Pfft—!

A violent tremor surged as that single blood-red tear, with unparalleled penetrating force, pierced through her divine essence and vital energy.

Not even Master-level True Qi could withstand it; it tore through everything with ruthless power.

Its piercing force was simply overwhelming!

Bloodshot eyes betrayed her agony as she watched everything shatter—saw that tear-like object rip through her once-prized bosom, slicing her fair skin, and plunging into her chest.

Then, she felt that tear…

explode within her!

Bang—!

In an instant, Qin Yuqing felt a pain like being sliced to shreds; her body disintegrated completely as her consciousness faded away.

Cascading and shattering…

Countless fragments of flesh were flung into tiny, blood-soaked beads.

It was the moment when the Bodhi Blood Tears exploded inside her—when the Lingmu Bodhi fibers contracted and carved out chunks of flesh.

These flesh fragments turned into blood-red beads, scattering across the ground.

Thud—!

The horrifying penetrating force, after demolishing Qin Yuqing, slammed into the ground beneath Qin Mansion. In a heartbeat, the entire building shattered, with countless precious items reduced to rubble.

The impact even carved out a chasm five meters wide, from which thick smoke billowed and faint flames danced.

Then, silence fell. As tumultuous shockwaves raged, the halted spring rain resumed its soft patter.

For nearly five or six heartbeats, Qin Mansion lay in lifeless stillness.

Then, a surge of majestic energy exploded, and one figure after another rushed toward Qin Mansion from all directions.

However, the divine presence hovering above the estate let out a furious roar, dashing any thoughts among Qin’s direct and collateral cultivators of gathering to gawk.

Still, the loyal members of the Qin family had mostly gathered outside Qin Yuqing’s small courtyard.

When they pushed open the doors and beheld the ruined courtyard and her tragic state,

each face was etched with utter bewilderment.

After the shock came a mounting terror!

What—how did she even die like that?

A streak from the heavens had struck Qin Yuqing, killing her on the spot; her body was shattered, her flesh carved into tiny beads.

Her once-beautiful face had become nothing more than a blood-stripped crimson skull.

Such a death was beyond bizarre.

As if anyone could be killed at will?

Nothing could stop it!

A divine archer?

But this was beyond any divine archer’s explanation—where had that streak come from?

How could something from so far away wield enough power to kill a fully consummated divine master?

It loomed over the two Qin brothers like a suffocating shadow,

sending their hearts into frantic palpitations and their limbs numb with cold.

Boom—

Suddenly,

an extremely aged figure drifted into the courtyard where Qin Yuqing had been brutally slain.

Qin Haonan and another quickly bowed in respect.

“Greetings, Ancestor.”

The divine seers of Qin Mansion were the very foundation of the family’s legacy!

The Qin Family Ancestor radiated divine energy like a deity come to life, stepping out from a painting as if a sculpture could move.

The old man, frail and exuding an aura of death as though he might crumble into dust at any moment, appeared in the courtyard.

His muddled gaze fixed there.

His face, rugged as the bark of an ancient tree, trembled slightly.

He clenched his fingers.

Next, a bead of blood-and-flesh from Qin Yuqing’s dismembered body floated into his grasp.

Using his thumb and forefinger, he crushed the flesh, forcing out a coiled Lingmu fiber.

“Seven-Stage Lingmu… Dragon Tooth Yellow Poplar…”

“And the divine essence of the Three-Eyed Furious True Lord, as well as that of the Three-Eyed Furious True Lord Prodigy Temple Spirit…”

“This is no ordinary arrow…”

“It is the art of mechanisms.”

“Tang… devices…”

The old man’s hazy gaze suddenly deepened immeasurably.

……

……

The white “Pure Heart” divine chess piece was clutched tightly in Li Che’s hand.

By the time Li Che opened his eyes, the terrifying, roaring hurricane unleashed by the Dragon Tooth Bodhi had long vanished.

All fell silent.

He wasn’t sure whether that shot had killed Qin Yuqing.

A true sniper never looks back at the outcome.

The stirring spring wind and rain were all but cut off.

The warmth from burning charcoal filled the upturned eaves and lofty pavilions.

Brushing off the raindrops from his dark attire, Li Che’s expression was calm and refined.

Upright and invigorated, he strode into the Imperial Watch.

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