Chapter 116: Trials Under the Moonlight

After neatly arranging his spoils, Li Che left the study.

Shangguan Qinghong had already taken his leave and gone home, clearly sensing the fierce clashes of divine cultivators within the Capital and aware that major events were unfolding.

Old Chen, for reasons unknown, produced a long staff, set a stool in the courtyard, and sat down, resting the staff across his knees. His puffy face trembled as he exuded an intimidating aura.

Clearly, he had sensed the unrest in the Capital and intended to defend the courtyard on his own.

Even though Old Chen surmised that Li Che’s energy and vitality had likely long surpassed his own, he still chose to stand his ground.

“Is the carving finished?”

Seeing Li Che step out of the study, Old Chen relaxed his furrowed brow and let out a sigh.

Li Che nodded, glancing at the lightning-flickering night sky as his eyes narrowed slightly.

That was the awe-inspiring duel of divine cultivators clashing with ferocious might.

They soared straight up three hundred zhang, as if celestial beings were dueling mid-air – a sight beyond imagination.

Cultivators with merely illusory prowess can easily levitate hundreds of meters, but those who have truly mastered their divine form and harness divine power can effortlessly soar a thousand zhang.

Divine cultivators can live for hundreds of years, naturally endowed with inhumanly potent strength.

After briefly explaining his findings to Li Che, Old Chen cracked open a gourd and gulped down some liquor.

“The Capital… isn’t safe either. In these times, no place is truly secure.”

Old Chen shook his head.

Li Che fell silent, forced to admit that Old Chen’s words rang true.

It wasn’t just the present era – for thousands of years, bizarre temples had repeatedly emerged, bringing calamities and the rampant spread of demons.

There was simply no room for lasting peace.

“Old Chen, go to bed early—I’ll keep watch tonight,”

Li Che said softly.

“Where there’s strength in numbers, it’s nothing… I can handle it,” Old Chen laughed.

Li Che shifted his stance as his muscles and tendons resonated; a torrent of vibrant energy burst forth, his sinews quivering like a roaring serpent.

Triple Blood Exchange!

Old Chen: “…”

“Sorry to disturb,”

Old Chen silently picked up his wine pot and headed toward his room.

“Damn, that kid Li Che managed a Triple Blood Exchange already—he hasn’t been training long!” Old Chen muttered, recalling how he had witnessed Li Che’s meteoric rise from humble beginnings.

The worker who once gingerly transported wooden statues had, before anyone noticed, become a master of Blood Exchange.

Chen Daba was no longer the toughest fighter in the household.

Watching Old Chen leave while muttering under his breath, Li Che couldn’t help but chuckle.

He sat down on the stool, his gaze fixed like a pillar as he stared at the night sky.

Tonight, the entire Jin Guang Mansion

was destined to leave many sleepless.

……

……

Despite the fierce duels among the divine cultivators, it seemed that the common folk remained untouched.

It was all bluster with little substance.

A peaceful night ensued.

The morning star rose on schedule.

The next day, Li Che called in sick to the Imperial Watch and stayed home with his wife and daughter.

XiXi sat on the blue stone steps, cradling the miniature Nanmu Gatling given to her by Ogre, gently stroking its firm grip.

“I really want to set off fireworks! When is Master Niu Niu going to take me out to launch them…”

The little girl was momentarily stunned; she realized it had been ages since she last set off fireworks.

Her little sparklers were practically rusting.

Li Che listened to XiXi’s mutterings nearby, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.

The little girl hadn’t hidden the fact that she had uncovered the secrets of the Nanmu Gatling mechanism; to her, her father, mother, and Grandpa Chen were all trustworthy.

Now there was also Master Niu Niu, and… half of Lu Chi – yes, only half.

A gentle spring breeze caressed the budding new shoots.

Everything burst forth with clear signs of new life.

The willows swayed as the air filled with the scent of fresh beginnings.

Outside Tinghua Alley, a carriage rolled up.

In the courtyard, while Li Che was training little XiXi, he suddenly sensed something through the Cosmic Chessboard, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

And when the carriage’s curtain lifted, revealing Lu Chi helping Granny Mu down, Li Che was taken aback.

“A familiar face—who would have guessed that Li Qingshan actually managed to snatch Granny Mu away?”

Little XiXi, knowing that Granny Mu had arrived, would surely be delighted, wouldn’t she?

Besides Granny Mu, Li Qingshan, with a lazy expression, trailed behind as he leaped off the carriage and strode along the blue stone pavement of Tinghua Alley toward the courtyard.

Reaching the tightly closed courtyard door and hearing XiXi’s tearful protests against practicing martial arts, Granny Mu couldn’t help but purse her lips and laugh.

She gently knocked on the door.

“XiXi, go open the door.”

Li Che said with a smile.

Reluctantly, XiXi dragged a short wooden stick in one hand, tiptoed to the door, and unlatching it,

she saw Granny Mu standing outside with a kindly face.

XiXi’s eyes grew wide, “Wow! Granny—!”

She rubbed her big eyes with the chubby back of her hand, staring intently.

She wondered if her eyes were deceiving her or if she was still dreaming.

But when she noticed that Granny Mu hadn’t transformed into a fragrant roast duck, she knew she wasn’t dreaming!

“Wow, Granny’s here! Dad, Granny’s come for me!”

Immediately, XiXi dropped the stick and leaped into Granny Mu’s arms.

At the Xu Family’s Divine Cultivation Institute, Granny Mu had trained XiXi for a long time, and the bond between them was exceptionally close.

Granny Mu, having never had children of her own, treated all the kids as if they were hers, showering them with affection.

“Oh dear, little XiXi, look—you’ve become so thin. Has your dad not been feeding you?”

Granny Mu squatted down and cupped XiXi’s cheek; the wrinkles on her face softened into a tender smile as she expressed her concern.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ya, who had been practicing martial arts, quickly halted and walked over to greet them warmly.

Zhang Ya was overjoyed to meet a familiar face from Feilei City in the Capital—it felt like meeting an old friend far from home.

Li Qingshan entered the courtyard accompanied by Lu Chi, whose head was tied in the style reminiscent of Nezha’s braid.

“Eh? This little girl…”

Li Qingshan glanced at XiXi; he had originally come to see Li Che, knowing well that Li Che was recognized as Ogre, and had urgent matters to discuss.

But he hadn’t expected that a mere glance at XiXi would yield an unexpected bonus.

“Bone Tempering complete? Wait… has she nearly perfected Bone Tempering? What the hell—Bone Tempering at just three years old?!”

Even Li Qingshan was taken aback.

“No, how so fast?”

He knew that XiXi, a top-tier prodigy, possessed remarkable talent – could it really be this exceptional?

He had estimated that for XiXi to complete Bone Tempering before the age of seven would already mark her as exceptionally gifted.

Completing Bone Tempering by seven, paired with Divine Sect pills, might even allow a Blood Exchange at nine and the forging of a Divine Foundation by twelve!

Once achieved, she could have a chance to enter the main body of the Divine Sect!

But now, XiXi at just three was nearly perfecting Bone Tempering…

This threatened to shatter Li Qingshan’s carefully laid plans for her growth.

In Li Che’s words, it was as if she had finished high school while still in kindergarten…

Is this little girl aiming for the heavens?

Li Qingshan took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting gravity as his brow furrowed involuntarily.

He wondered if XiXi might be overtaken by the Temple Spirit, or even reborn as one.

That possibility wasn’t entirely unfounded – though it was incredibly difficult for a Temple Spirit to reincarnate, it required an undying essence and the presence of a pregnant woman within a hundred li.

Could XiXi be the one?

“It’s probably not likely… that bizarre temple outside Feilei City is just a small one, and its Temple Spirit lacks such power.”

With that thought, Li Qingshan’s frown eased, though his gaze toward XiXi grew ever more astonished.

In other words, this little girl…

has no external aids – she’s relying purely on her innate talent?

Li Che naturally noticed Li Qingshan’s shock; in fact, he was also rather alarmed.

According to Li Qingshan’s assessment, XiXi would likely complete Bone Tempering by seven, yet her growth was clearly surpassing expectations.

“Why?”

Li Che felt that this remarkable progress most likely stemmed from the daily grooming of the ‘Pure Heart’ divine essence he administered to both XiXi and Zhang Ya’s family.

Since obtaining the Pure Heart Dao Fruit, Li Che had not ceased refining their bodies.

The Pure Heart divine essence – immaculate and flawless – is completely harmless to the body.

Li Che wondered if such untainted divine essence might extend the lives of the mother and daughter.

Yet he hadn’t expected it to seemingly alter their inherent talent.

Just like Zhang Ya, who had only recently mastered the Tendon Burst posture; despite Li Che’s guidance, she had progressed unstoppable and was now nearly proficient, not far from completing Bone Tempering.

Both XiXi’s and Zhang Ya’s talents were exceptional – perhaps their aptitude was linked to the cultivation of Pure Heart divine essence.

Now, even Zhang Ya, who wasn’t born a prodigy, had begun to sense the divine essence…

“This little girl has amazing talent!”

Li Qingshan stroked his beard and glanced at Li Che.

“The Spring Equinox has arrived, and the entrance exams for the Divine Sect Branch are about to begin. This assessment spans the thirteen cities under Jin Guang Mansion, featuring three top-tier prodigies, over twenty high-grade prodigies, and hundreds of mid-grade and lower ones.”

“These prodigies, handpicked from tens of thousands of children, have already converged on Jingguang City, preparing for the Divine Sect’s groundbreaking entrance exam at the Spring Equinox.”

Li Qingshan smiled. “I selected those three top-tier prodigies myself. Of course, even among top-tier prodigies there are gradations; based on the thickness of the Purple Qi Divine Pillar, I even ranked them…”

“Eh, except you old prodigy!”

Li Qingshan gave Li Che a peculiar glance as he hinted at something.

Li Che’s face darkened. Did he truly desire it?

Would Li Che really be eager to compete against three kids?!

“You, Li Qingshan, mustn’t be so accurate in your assessments!”

Li Che scoffed.

Li Qingshan continued, “I had originally ranked XiXi second, with first being a scion from Xianghuan City of the prominent Huang Family named Huang Sixiang – born with unmatched strength and extraordinary divine talent.”

Li Che squinted, “What level? Higher than my XiXi’s talent?”

Li Qingshan thought that Li Che was incredibly arrogant.

“That Huang Sixiang isn’t even the most talented; don’t forget, he’s just one of the top prodigies from the thirteen cities under Jin Guang Mansion…”

Li Che raised an eyebrow, “The Capital isn’t included?”

“Of course not – the Capital is home to the Five Major Families, whose scions are more apt to be prodigies, nurtured from childhood with treasured resources. Top-tier prodigies abound; it all starts with birthright.”

Li Che fell silent. That was indeed the case…

In the Five Major Families, there are countless powerful figures – not to mention the bloodline of the Patriarch of Divine Appearance, and even before birth they are nourished on the best natural treasures. They truly have a head start.

……

……

Li Qingshan and Li Che went to the study together, brewing hot tea as they chatted.

“The Five Major Families… are they really willing to send their talented disciples to the Divine Sect?”

Suddenly, Li Che thought of something and asked curiously.

“The Five Major Families differ from the scions of other cities. For instance, in the minor families of Feilei City, just having a Divine Foundation in place is enough to uphold them; once that foundation perishes, the family begins to decline.”

“Hence, these families tend to keep their talented members, nurturing them into a Divine Foundation to protect and sustain their status in the city.”

“But if they’re sent to the Divine Sect, it might take twenty to thirty years before they’re heard from, and they won’t even feel a strong sense of belonging. Even if they form a Divine Foundation, they might not be inclined to return and lead the clan…”

Li Qingshan sipped his tea and said calmly.

“That’s why these minor families hide away their scions – they’re unwilling to send them to the Divine Sect or the Imperial Court.”

“But the major families in the Capital are different. One family, one Divine Sect; one province, one sect branch – especially with the Qianyuan Divine Sect Branch ranked within Jin Guang Mansion. Many, even high-ranking figures in the branch, hail from Capital families.”

“Capital families have divine cultivators at their helm, whose lifespans are three to four times that of a typical Divine Foundation. An elder can uphold a family for many years, naturally making disciples eager to be dispatched.”

“If one of their disciples manages to enter the main sect, the family’s legacy can soar to new heights.”

After finishing his explanation, Li Qingshan poured himself another cup of tea and muttered, “You kid, with your fat bank account these days, why don’t you treat me to some good tea? It’s a bit insulting.”

“Aren’t you a third-class official ever since joining the Imperial Watch? Next time, why not ask that big-breasted, empty-headed Shaojian, Gong Yunli, to fetch some fine tea from Deputy Lin Zheng’s tea room?”

Li Che fell silent; after all, he was only a third-class official, not a supervisor!

“Senior, how many top-tier prodigies are there in the Capital?” Li Che asked, frowning.

Li Qingshan shook his head, “I don’t know – the Five Major Families are extremely secretive; many have even sent their prodigies off early to the Five Major Sects for cultivation.”

“The Divine Sect entrance exam, held every four years, is fiercely competitive…”

“This year, it’s even more so.”

Li Qingshan took a sip of tea, and his tone suddenly darkened.

Stunned, Li Che furrowed his brows and sipped his tea. “Why?”

As a parent, he was naturally deeply concerned about his child’s education.

Getting into the Divine Sect was as nerve-wracking as vying for a spot in a top elementary school.

There were only so many slots; the more prodigies there were, the less attention—and benefits—his own daughter would receive.

Naturally, Li Che had to find out more.

“With your status as Ogre, you behave so recklessly in the city. Don’t you find it odd? Having killed so many members of the Corpse God Sect, aren’t you puzzled as to why they dare to be so rampant?”

Li Qingshan waved his hand and sealed off the study so that their conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

“Because… of the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince at the Bizarre Temple?”

Li Che took a deep breath.

“Correct. The tremor at the Third Prince Temple has driven most high-level divine cultivators into the Bizarre Temple to suppress it, with even more from the Divine Sect heading there – after all, Jin Guang Mansion is the base of our branch. Naturally, while some instigated the tremor, others did so on their own accord…”

“The Divine Sect has always thrived on temple resources – a Bizarre Temple is both a risk and an opportunity.”

“This time, one part of the entrance exam is that the Divine Sect will dispatch three divine cultivators and deploy the divine weapon Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel to tear open the barrier, delivering the prodigies to a spot a hundred zhang in front of the Third Prince Temple…”

Li Qingshan’s words hit like thunder!

They crashed into Li Che’s ears, and his eyes involuntarily flinched.

Even the ordinarily composed Li Che couldn’t help but lose his composure.

“Huh? Sending these rosy prodigies to a spot a hundred zhang in front of the Third Prince Temple?”

Looking at Li Qingshan, Li Che couldn’t help but raise his voice.

“This damn…”

“Isn’t it like serving a pile of succulent, aromatic meat to a dog?”

Li Qingshan burst into laughter at Li Che’s overreaction, though it was understandable – after all, that was the perilous Siyu Bizarre Temple.

Li Che’s expression changed; the exam actually included this component – it was far too dangerous!

That would place XiXi in an extremely risky situation.

Should anything go slightly awry, it would spell utter disaster for these fragile prodigies!

Li Che, without laughing, looked at Li Qingshan with grave intensity.

Li Qingshan stifled his laughter, took a sip of tea, and said slowly, “I know you’re worried about XiXi’s safety, but while this matter carries certain risks, it also brims with opportunity.”

“Sending the prodigies to a spot three hundred zhang in front of the Bizarre Temple is meant to test their compatibility with the Temple Spirit. You know the Third Prince appears as a child; if they can resonate with the Temple Spirit, they’ll not only cultivate its divine techniques but also receive its blessings.”

“For instance, Divine Secret Technique, Divine Martial Arts, divine weapons, Divine Crystal, and more…”

Li Qingshan said solemnly.

“Moreover, the strength of their resonance with the Temple Spirit is the key to the evaluation – it determines whether they earn an inside position, core secret teachings, or remain on the outskirts within the Divine Sect.”

Li Che’s brow remained furrowed; he still thought it was too dangerous.

After all, that was the Siyu Bizarre Temple.

It was like asking a group of children to decide who could launch a nuclear warhead.

“Actually, the main danger lies in the Temple Protection Incantation; the Divine Sect’s activation of the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel is the key – though it is only one of the Four Divine Weapons, it creates a tremendous protective effect.”

“The Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel exudes a potent Temple Spirit aura, compelling the Temple Protection Incantation to remain subdued.”

Observing Li Che’s still grave expression, Li Qingshan suddenly noticed how overly protective he was of his daughter.

“This is both risk and opportunity. If XiXi secures the chance with the Siyu Temple Spirit, you’ll see just how far her path can go! At the very least, reaching the level of a high-ranking divine cultivator will be a breeze – even the Divine Yuan realm will pose little challenge.”

Li Qingshan sat up straight, his demeanor turning solemn.

“Has there ever been such an operation before?”

Li Che fell silent for a moment before asking.

“Yes. In fact, not only Qianyuan Divine Sect but every Divine Sect relying on a Bizarre Temple follows this procedure. Qianyuan Divine Sect is no exception. Lu Chi, haven’t you seen? He was one of the top three prodigies in Temple Spirit compatibility in the last operation. Moreover, for this opening of the mystical barrier, the Qianyuan main sect of Lingnan Path will also send a cultivator to oversee it.”

“After all, this matter involves the Siyu Bizarre Temple, which Qianyuan Divine Sect wouldn’t ignore – thus, it’s an opportunity they highly prize.”

Li Qingshan narrowed his eyes, lightly tapping his finger on the table. “You might adore your daughter and worry for her, but she must venture out on her own—this is her chance. You can’t hold her back merely out of fear; children need to gain experience.”

Upon hearing this, Li Che finally relaxed his furrowed brow.

This wasn’t an isolated incident; many Divine Sects, including the Qianyuan branch, had undertaken similar operations. With precedent, there was some assurance.

Li Che realized he couldn’t keep XiXi locked up at home; in this world, one must engage in formidable divine cultivation.

Everyone was in a race, all struggling to cross over.

Li Che had to be responsible for his daughter’s growth.

“Will Qianyuan Divine Sect also send a cultivator to preside? If XiXi performs well, might she be selected to enter Qianyuan Divine Sect?”

Li Che asked.

Li Qingshan shook his head. “It’s possible, but entering Qianyuan Divine Sect follows its own process – if XiXi can forge a Divine Foundation before age twelve, she stands a chance.”

“But the competition is fierce – throughout Lingnan Path, countless prodigies have been training for years just to secure a spot in the main sect!”

“Because only by entering Qianyuan Divine Sect can one have the chance to cultivate the ‘Sanqing Technique’!”

Sanqing Technique!

Li Che’s body trembled as he suddenly grasped the intense competition within Qianyuan Divine Sect.

The difficulty was comparable to high schoolers from a small county fighting for spots in the nation’s top two universities!

Li Che’s words came out hesitantly, “Not…”

He had already begun to feel the strain of parental educational anxiety.

“As long as safety is guaranteed…” Li Che sighed.

Yet within him, a spark of hope was igniting.

With XiXi set to enter the Siyu Bizarre Temple, should he follow along?

Perhaps…

In that Bizarre Temple, planting a seed could serve as an anchor for the Feilei Chess Sage.

Unaware of Li Che’s private thoughts, Li Qingshan laughed, “That certainly ensures safety – after all, prodigies are the future of the Divine Sect Branch. How could they be neglected? Safety always comes first, though nothing is absolute.”

Li Qingshan’s expression turned serious.

“You know, prodigies are the future of our branch – they are held in the highest regard. And it isn’t the Temple Spirit that the Divine Sect fears, but rather the Corpse God Sect and other determined forces!”

“Corpse God Sect?!”

Li Che’s eyes suddenly turned icy.

“The threat posed by the Corpse God Sect far surpasses that of the Temple Spirit. This force from Jizhou is nearly destabilizing a region of the Dajing Dynasty, controlling three states! Their menace is enormous – even the Divine Sect wouldn’t dare underestimate them.”

“Their methods are despicable; prodigies who excel in Temple Spirit resonance might even become their targets. If they can’t be plundered, they choose to annihilate them.”

Li Qingshan exhaled; after all, the Corpse God Sect also needed prodigies to bolster their ranks.

And one of their methods for acquiring prodigies was by plunder!

While indoctrination was also a tool the Corpse God Sect employed, prodigies nurtured from childhood naturally exhibited greater loyalty.

Li Che narrowed his eyes, a murderous glint flickering within them.

Suddenly, he looked at Li Qingshan and said, “Senior, you shifted the topic to the Corpse God Sect to evoke hatred. There must be a reason, right?”

Li Qingshan chuckled, straightened his posture as he rubbed his fingers, and squinted with a gleam in his eyes – the following was the main reason he had come to see Li Che today.

“It’s to ensure that XiXi can safely partake in the Temple Spirit resonance.”

“Ogre, there’s a lucrative partnership opportunity… interested?”

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