Chapter 158: Masks of Myth and Destiny

A spirit monkey mask with golden monkey hair, fluttering wildly.

The mask’s grin exudes a sinister blend of mischief, arrogance, and dominance, its overwhelming aura leaving one dazed.

Li Che stared in slight bewilderment at the mask suspended within the Cosmic Chessboard.

Images as surreal as hallucinations suddenly flooded his mind.

Mount Huaguo… the one-faced black cloud crowned by a divine ape amidst thousands of immortal demons…

All these scenes merged like mythic memories from two realms interweaving without end.

What is truly real?

And what is false?

Li Che found himself unable to decide—what he had just witnessed could well be a myth in this world.

Yet the inexplicable familiarity and overlapping visions made his heart feel as if gripped by an unseen hand.

What on earth has befallen the Temple Spirit of this world?

Li Che took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

He forced himself to calm down.

These matters were beyond his control now.

His consciousness returned to the Cosmic Chessboard.

With a mere thought—as if maneuvering chess pieces—he attempted to control the spirit monkey mask.

Within the Cosmic Chessboard of the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit, two anomalies that weren’t chess pieces had appeared.

One was the Seven-Yuan Corpse Incantation Mother Seal, and the other was this spirit monkey mask.

A mask… Li Che knew it all too well!

He recognized that mask immediately.

“Eh? It isn’t a Temple Spirit chess piece… but has transformed into the Temple Spirit ‘Mask’?”

A flicker of realization stirred in his heart.

His consciousness was suddenly drawn towards it.

In an instant, he felt an immensely terrifying suction, as if his divine perception were being completely drained.

His divine sense—bolstered by his Unsullied Heart and several formidable divine bases—was eight times stronger than that of an ordinary cultivator.

Yet at that very moment, it seemed on the verge of being entirely siphoned away.

Li Che’s current divine sense was comparable to that of any top-tier Divine Seer.

After all, his divine base was vast…

A gradual accumulation that culminated in a transformative leap.

“Interesting…”

Li Che opened his eyes.

He raised his hand to touch his face…

Only to find a fuzzy mask slowly materializing over his features!

It was the very spirit monkey mask that should have remained on the Cosmic Chessboard, now appearing on his own face.

A torrent of madness, brutality, defiance, and rage surged through him…

Feelings crashing like relentless waves from the crown of his head.

“Qi Tian—!”

A roar suddenly exploded in Li Che’s ears!

The sound was as thunderous as a thousand-year-old bell, hammering his eardrums like crashing waves!

It echoed continuously, battering his senses.

Li Che abruptly severed his divine sense’s connection to the mask.

He forcefully suppressed the spirit monkey mask that had flashed across his face.

It was as if fuzzy hairs that had grown were being pushed back into his pores.

Before he knew it…

Li Che was drenched in sweat.

……

【Divine Weapon: Mask of Qi Tian】

【Craftsmanship: ???】

【Description: A fragmented mythic weapon embodying the will of Qi Tian—a spirit of indomitable defiance】

……

Before his eyes, light danced and shimmered.

The Star-Plucking Gaze briefly introduced the mask.

The introduction was terse—it didn’t even state the mask’s rank, leaving Li Che utterly puzzled.

Yet, by its very name alone, Li Che knew this mask was no ordinary item!

Mask of Qi Tian!

Li Che’s eyes sparkled as his heart raced with excitement.

Having weathered countless ordeals, Li Che had grown resilient; once he steadied himself,

he furrowed his brows slightly.

For now, he couldn’t fully control or harness the mask’s power.

His divine sense had nearly been drained just to barely manifest it.

In that fleeting moment, the mask’s fearsome will nearly overwhelmed his consciousness.

Shaking his head, Li Che recalled a hint from its description.

‘A fragmented mythic weapon…’

This meant the mask was not complete.

“Could it be… that there are other masks?”

Li Che glanced at the Temple Spirit statue in the Bizarre Temple.

“Is this connected to how Qi Tian Temple once split into three factions?”

Lost in thought, he mused.

To assemble the complete 【Mask of Qi Tian】, perhaps he’d need to traverse the other two branches of Qi Tian Temple besides Xinyuan Temple.

Legend had it that the 【Flaming-Eyed Astonishing Spirit Ape Temple】 emerged after Xinyuan Temple relocated from Jingguang Mansion.

Originally, Jingguang Mansion had only the Iron Crutch Amitabha Eight Extremes Bizarre Temple.

Thus, Li Che surmised that the fragmented Mask of Qi Tian must be linked to the other two temples formed when Qi Tian Temple split.

The Ruyi Sect and the Tiangang Tower were the other two offshoots of Qi Tian Temple.

Originally known as Ruyi Temple and Tiangang Temple, their names were later changed to ‘Sect’ and ‘Tower’ respectively.

Li Che mentally noted this, planning to investigate when the opportunity arose.

However, these two forces, like Xinyuan Temple, had largely fallen into decay.

They were no match for the Qi Tian Temple of its heyday…

Li Che marveled at the fortune of gaining such an opportunity within the Bizarre Temple.

A mythic weapon…

Though merely a fragmented mask…

It at least provided him the chance to collect its complete form!

To restore a true mythic weapon!

“Perhaps this is why Xinyuan Temple declined—no one could master or even locate the mask… Even if the tradition survived, it couldn’t be maintained.”

A hypothesis stirred within Li Che.

His divine ability, Star-Plucking Gaze, had allowed him to perceive the imprint of the Temple Spirit’s will left on the statue…

And thus he obtained this 【Mask of Qi Tian】.

Li Che raised his hand and touched the heated spot on his brow where Star-Plucking Gaze smoldered.

Sure enough…

Those with the right affinity can truly master anything.

Li Che smiled.

He then looked back toward the Temple Spirit statue.

After all, serious business was still pending!

Although he had acquired the Mask of Qi Tian, his true objective in the Bizarre Temple was to amass Temple Spirit chess pieces for himself!

Under the glow of Star-Plucking Gaze,

this time… no illusion appeared.

Time ticked by as Li Che observed the scene outside—the incense burners still burning, yet a wild, eerie mist raged at the entrance.

After a quick glance, his eyes fixed on the three burning incense sticks.

In the span of three incense durations, he absorbed nine Temple Spirit chess pieces.

Not a small number by any means!

After all, Li Che’s power now far exceeded that of the Temple Spirit at the Lingying Temple outside Feilei City.

Moreover, his nascent divine ability had matured…

The speed at which Star-Plucking Gaze absorbed Temple Spirit divine chess pieces far outpaced that of Thousand Analysis Hand.

The nine chess pieces, dark with subtle crimson veins, had been restless on the Cosmic Chessboard;

sensing something, they converged on the side of the 【Mask of Qi Tian】 without Li Che needing to suppress them with his Unsullied Heart pieces.

So cooperative…

“Nine pieces of Eight Extremes Temple Spirit divine chess pieces…”

“The reserve suddenly feels so enriched—it’s delightful.”

Li Che’s mood lightened.

He flicked a Feilei Chess Piece with his finger, sending it to merge into the Bizarre Temple.

He left behind its coordinates for future passage.

Having done all that,

Li Che stood up and stretched.

At that moment, as Li Che’s command over the Cosmic Chessboard cut off the view of several woodcarving masters, they snapped back to reality.

Each woodcarver looked utterly bewildered.

What had they just experienced?

Weren’t they merely admiring the Temple Spirit statue?

Upon closer inspection, the intricate techniques, patterns, and craftsmanship on the statue suddenly evoked the feeling of entering a world teeming with monkeys.

One woodcarver felt as though his spirit had been trampled by a horde of monkeys, leaving him utterly desolate.

“Ah?”

Suddenly, one woodcarver came to his senses and noticed that outside the Bizarre Temple, an eerie mist had shrouded the exit. His face turned pale as he screamed.

How could the exit be sealed by bizarre mists when the three incense sticks had not yet burned out?

How were they to escape?

Eight Extremes Bizarre Temple… This was no place for low-ranking guests to traverse easily.

If they truly attempted to force their way out, it would likely cost them their lives in spades.

Li Che glanced at the despair written on the faces of the guests.

These third-tier guests were mostly at the Divine Base level, with many not even having reached the realm of true masters.

In such a perilous situation, hopelessness was inevitable.

Li Che stood up and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, walked toward the incense burner at the door.

Since the bizarre changes in the temple were linked to him, he had to step forward and show these woodcarvers a way out.

So, Li Che grabbed the incense burner as a cover.

In the next instant, he communicated with one of the Temple Spirit chess pieces on the Cosmic Chessboard.

Even a brief connection was sufficient.

It was as if a razor-sharp beam of light sliced through the heavens, parting the mists like a sword cuts through water.

Instantly, the eerie mists began to split apart on either side.

The roaring, patterned forms of the Temple Protection Incantation Corpses were repelled by the force of the Temple Spirit’s energy.

A wide path reappeared before everyone’s eyes.

“Everyone… it seems the incense burner is still useful. Hurry—escape, for the incense is nearly spent!”

Li Che urged quickly.

The woodcarvers, overjoyed at the prospect of salvation, dashed out one after another.

They charged along the broad path, leaving the Bizarre Temple behind.

……

……

Outside the Bizarre Temple.

Gong Yunli’s expression was grim.

“Qi Yanghao, you need to explain yourself! Weren’t you supposed to bring in the summoning incense? Why did you come out on your own when the incense wasn’t even deployed?”

“Since you knew about the uprising in the Bizarre Temple, why didn’t you escort my guests from the Imperial Watch out?”

Gong Yunli fumed with anger.

With the Bizarre Temple sealing off all exits,

those guests—unless they hacked a way out—would be torn apart by the Temple Protection Incantation Corpses and guardian beasts, eventually transforming into one of them!

And how could those guests possibly fight their way out?

Gong Yunli, her face pale with fury, thought, ‘Li Che is still inside!’

How would she explain this to the Monitor?

This entire Temple Spirit viewing had been arranged primarily for Li Che, yet now everything had gone awry.

Gong Yunli’s partner, Gongyang Liancheng, looked equally dismayed, though he said nothing.

He knew that now wasn’t the time for questions.

After all, the sudden uprising in the Bizarre Temple had taken everyone by surprise.

Otherwise, Qi Yanghao wouldn’t have staged such a stunt; the relationship between the Temple Guardian Division and the Imperial Watch was still good.

Qi Yanghao had already assembled a small squad of Temple Guardian Deities, checking his weapons and equipment, ready to plunge into the Bizarre Temple to rescue people.

But how many could he actually bring back remained uncertain.

He offered no explanation, as none was needed.

He had wielded the summoning incense to enter the Bizarre Temple; though the time hadn’t come, the mists had sealed off every exit, and he failed to warn his guests to return.

He was undoubtedly at fault.

There was no way to shake off the blame.

Suddenly,

Qi Yanghao’s eyes narrowed as the Temple Guardian squad preparing to enter the Bizarre Temple came to an abrupt halt.

They discovered that the Bizarre Temple had split into two, revealing a wide open exit.

Then they saw figures emerging along that path.

It was the guests from the Imperial Watch.

Qi Yanghao stood frozen, a deep sigh of relief escaping him.

Then he spotted Li Che, holding the summoning incense burner at the end of the group.

Once Li Che emerged, the Bizarre Temple closed up again, accompanied by ghostly wails from the Temple Protection Incantation Corpses echoing eerily.

Gong Yunli and Gongyang Liancheng, watching this scene, also exhaled in relief.

Seeing Li Che emerge safely with the incense burner, their expressions softened noticeably.

They guessed the reason: Li Che had mustered the courage to seize the incense burner and carve out an escape route.

Qi Yanghao’s eyes glittered as he watched Li Che with the burner in hand.

Not everyone was capable of handling the summoning incense.

Imperial Watch guests are not ordinary by any means.

……

Because of the unexpected incident, many guests were too frightened to step further into the Bizarre Temple.

Thus, the Temple Spirit viewing came to an end. Although most guests gained little, a few attained profound insights.

Yet compared to Li Che, their gains were negligible.

After bidding farewell to Qi Yanghao and the Temple Guardian Deity stationed in the snowy Bizarre Temple, the group returned to Xinyuan Temple.

They still hadn’t managed to enter the temple, being held back at the gate.

Still, after a brief rest, they headed toward the Capital.

Li Che and Gong Yunli once again shared a carriage.

Gong Yunli brewed hot tea for Li Che, soothing his nerves.

“Ache, did you gather any insights? Your experience with the Temple Spirit should help improve your wood carving skills.”

“Once you return to the Capital, it won’t be long before the second-tier Imperial Watch guests are assessed, directly supervised by the Zhou City officials.”

Gong Yunli continued, “Use this time to practice wood carving diligently and master the Thousand-Hand Divine Eagle technique.”

Li Che rested his chin on his hand, gazing out at the swirling snow as he listened to Gong Yunli’s chatter, feeling unexpectedly content.

This trip to the Bizarre Temple had been exceedingly fruitful.

Not only had he discovered a stronghold of the Corpse God Sect, but he had also obtained the 【Mask of Qi Tian】—albeit a fragmented one.

A complete mythic weapon still awaited his assembly.

And its connection to the mysterious Qi Tian Temple tradition? That was no major problem.

In time, he would surely have another chance to collect all the pieces.

Li Che even found himself anticipating whether the complete Mask of Qi Tian could restore its former glory.

The carriage rocked and swayed, tearing through a snowy expanse along the Main Road.

“This winter’s snow is unusually heavy—almost verging on a disaster. I wonder how many lives will be frozen, turning these people into refugees in this bitter cold.”

Gong Yunli remarked thoughtfully.

“Before the might of nature, human strength is pitifully insignificant.”

Li Che remained silent, letting out a soft sigh.

“This winter’s heavy snow is far from normal.”

“Could it be linked to the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple?”

Gong Yunli leaned her broad chest against the table, crossing her hands as if deep in thought.

Li Che felt a stirring in his heart.

“Why do you say that, Deputy Monitor?”

Gong Yunli replied, “The Chief Monitor of the Imperial Watch in Divine Capital calculated that this year, the Four-Yu Third Prince Bizarre Temple of Jingguang Mansion would transmit its legacy. That’s why major moves are underway—the Daocheng side has sent several prodigies, and even King Ping Luan has sent his youngest son…”

“All in an effort to secure the Third Prince’s legacy during the Temple Spirit Resonance.”

“This legacy from the Four-Yu Bizarre Temple is far from ordinary.”

Gong Yunli said earnestly.

Li Che nodded. So it was linked to the Chief Monitor after all.

He had wondered why Jingguang Mansion’s Four-Yu Bizarre Temple—despite its long history and numerous Temple Spirit Resonances—was so grand this time.

“After all, the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple, being of the Four-Yu level, has always attracted many powerful figures. Even though no Divine Nucleus Sectsman is stationed there, the temple remains quite stable now.”

“In any Four-Yu Bizarre Temple, the Chief Monitor of the Imperial Watch in Divine Capital is always on hand to ensure that any anomaly is dealt with immediately—deploying strong figures if necessary, sometimes even summoning Divine Nucleus Sectsmen.”

Gong Yunli let slip a secret.

Indeed, it was a secret.

Li Che was startled—could the Chief Monitor of the Imperial Watch really oversee a Bizarre Temple from such a distance?

After all, Jingguang Mansion is over ten thousand li away from Divine Capital.

Even so, being able to monitor from that distance left Li Che curious about the method.

After a bumpy ride, the carriage finally reached the city gate of Jingguang Mansion.

But the carriage was halted.

Divine Guard soldiers in golden armor had formed neat lines, blocking the entry of all carriages.

It wasn’t just Li Che and his group—numerous escort caravans were barred from entering.

In the distance, amid the swirling snow, sleek demon-blood steeds thundered forward, each ridden by a black-armored guard.

The guards escorted an ordinary carriage, on which a one-armed coachman sat calmly, holding the reins.

“That is Ji Mo Li’s youngest son’s convoy.”

Gong Yunli leaned close to the window, taking in the scene at the city gate.

“King Ping Luan’s progeny—truly domineering, just like King Ping Luan himself.”

Gong Yunli complained bitterly.

Just entering the city, yet they still blocked others from passing.

The gate was wide enough for ten carriages to enter side by side,

but this little prince insisted on special privileges.

Li Che’s eyes gleamed as he watched the little prince’s convoy.

It reminded him of that terrifying aura that had rushed through the dense forest—a force as crushing as collapsing mountains, a wild beast bearing down with relentless pressure.

A chill settled in Li Che’s heart.

A Grand Patriarch!

Incredibly powerful!

Just the sight of it made Li Che’s hairs stand on end.

He quickly summoned his Dragon Elephant Vajra to contain his aura.

……

At the city gate,

Mansion Lord Su Huai Li personally stepped out in his official robes, flanked by Jingguang Mansion’s officials, to welcome the little prince—the son of King Ping Luan.

A prince’s departure that warranted a grand reception from city officials was quite a sight.

Yet Su Huai Li was a disciple of Ji Mo Li, King Ping Luan’s subordinate, which many understood.

Li Che observed Su Huai Li and noted that there was not even a trace of mourning for Wen Longshan, whom he had slain.

He could only sigh at the coldness of people.

Amid the hustle, the vehicles gathered outside the city gate grew ever more numerous.

There were signs of congestion since Jingguang Mansion was a hub for daily caravans and escorts.

But no one dared complain—everyone knew that the reception was for the famed little prince of King Ping Luan, a figure who ruled with an iron fist.

Through the snowy haze at the window, Li Che saw a little boy clad in lavish, golden-silk finery stepping out of a carriage.

The boy’s hands were clasped behind his back; though young, his face exuded both haughtiness and commanding authority.

Mansion Lord Su Huai Li smiled as heads of prominent families approached to greet him.

The little prince remained impassive, showing no emotion.

His violet eyes shimmered as he scanned the crowd, before frowning.

“Why wasn’t a prodigy arranged to greet us?”

Su Huai Li paused, then forced a wry smile.

This little prince was as domineering as his master, utterly unyielding in quelling competitors.

“The main Qi Yuan Divine Sect sent three prodigies; they are practicing on Golden Light Peak with other prodigies and Lingtong, so none could come to welcome us.”

“Thus, no one came to greet.”

The little prince’s frown gradually softened.

“Fine, perhaps later I’ll climb Golden Light Peak—I’ve heard that Jingguang Mansion has a four-year-old prodigy with extraordinary martial talent who already underwent blood exchange. Remarkable indeed…”

The little prince nodded.

“In such a small Jingguang Mansion, birthing a prodigy of this caliber isn’t easy.”

He continued, “In a while, I’ll go to Golden Light Peak to recruit her. I was new here in Jingguang Mansion and don’t yet command many prodigies.”

Su Huai Li fell silent; it appeared that the crown was accustomed to such treatment.

He even entertained the thought of being a prodigy king in Jingguang Mansion.

Su Huai Li merely smiled, showing no defiance, his eyes glinting with amusement.

The little prince clearly knew that the prince disliked Nan Lihuo, so this was a provocation.

The convoy then entered the city.

Outside the city gate, the clamor gradually subsided and order began to return.

Li Che sat in the carriage with a gentle smile on his face.

“That little brat dares to boast,” he mused.

“Claiming he can subdue my daughter?”

“Heh.”

Though Li Che’s expression remained gentle, inside he had already marked this child as having a ‘path to self-destruction’—a note to file.

Wen Longshan, already noted in his little book, was now a thing of the past.

This little prince, congratulations—it was now another entry.

……

……

Li Che returned to his modest courtyard in Luohua Alley.

Phew—

A wild wind roared like a tiger’s howl.

The moment he arrived, Li Che began his training. Daily practice was the cornerstone of strength.

Lost in the cultivation of qi and blood for a long while, Li Che opened his eyes, his fingers curling like hooks before releasing, sending a blast of wind that scattered every snowflake in the courtyard!

On his back, layers of qi and blood churned and pulsed; his muscles trembled as if echoing landslides, like a ferocious beast ready to burst forth!

Every tremor shattered the surrounding air.

“Inhale—”

Li Che drew a deep breath, his eyes sharp.

“Eight Dragons Overturning the River—my third qi-blood dragon is nearly complete!”

He spread his pores wide, releasing high-pressure hot air that roared forth.

The sound was like a cry erupting from deep within.

“But compared to a Grand Patriarch, it still falls short.”

Li Che’s eyes sparkled with determination.

At the Grand Patriarch stage, having tempered his internal organs, Li Che forged an unprecedented vessel of true might.

Combined with his already formidable Furnace Grandmaster body,

he felt confident on his path to becoming a Grand Patriarch.

“Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant—each technique, when used to temper the organs, coalesces to unleash the force of a true dragon elephant.”

Li Che remained seated in the courtyard for a long while.

Then he glanced at the darkened sky.

Night had fully fallen. Feeling content, Li Che brushed away the sour mood stirred by that audacious little prince who coveted his daughter.

He walked down the alley to a small diner, packed some food, and then headed straight to Zheng Lei Peak.

Barely upon returning to his courtyard,

he found it alive with bright lights and the joyful sounds of children at play.

Li Che paused, surprised.

Why was it so lively today?

Where had XiXi lured a cluster of children from this time?

Stepping into the courtyard,

the eyes of many children immediately turned towards him.

“Daddy—!”

Little XiXi, her face flushed red, trailed behind a gorgeous little girl.

Upon seeing Li Che, XiXi let out a shriek, then dashed forward, her little legs pattering rapidly on the ground.

In one final leap, she propelled herself forward like a cannonball heading straight for Li Che.

But Li Che effortlessly caught her by the collar.

Then, the little girl was gently lifted by Li Che into his arms.

XiXi wrapped her arms around Li Che’s neck: “Daddy, it’s such a pity you didn’t come and watch me conquer the battlefield today!”

“XiXi was amazing today!”

“She set off the most beautiful fireworks!”

“Daddy, you must come to watch my fireworks next time!”

XiXi excitedly recounted how she had dominated the battlefield on Golden Light Peak Plaza.

“By the way, Daddy, let me introduce you to my new minion!”

XiXi declared.

Li Che’s face instantly darkened.

He pinched XiXi’s chubby face and demanded, “New minion? Who taught you that word?”

Who?

Who dares to pollute my daughter’s pure, unblemished spirit?

XiXi blinked her large eyes, her lips puckering from his pinch, and mumbled, “It’s Old Chen.”

Old Chen sat under the eave, quietly sipping gourd wine.

Upon hearing XiXi’s unhesitating confession, his expression changed drastically and he hurriedly slunk away.

Li Che helplessly rubbed XiXi’s head, admonishing her not to pick up any messy words from Old Chen.

XiXi paid no mind and tugged Li Che over to the gorgeous little girl.

“Daddy, this beautiful miss is my new… friend!”

XiXi declared proudly, tilting her chin upward: “I like her!”

Li Che, upon gazing at the girl up close, was struck by her breathtaking beauty—as if she were a divine masterpiece.

The girl smiled sweetly, her skin as luminous as jade, creating gentle ripples as she bowed politely to Li Che.

“Yun’E, nice to meet you, Uncle Li.”

Li Che smiled, his mood lifting at the girl’s greeting.

He reached out, patted Yun’E’s head, paused for a moment, then gently said, “XiXi can be a bit wild—please be patient with her.”

Yun’E beamed and nodded sweetly.

“I like XiXi too.”

Li Che smiled and withdrew his hand.

Turning, he headed into the kitchen.

But in that instant, the smile on his face vanished.

Because…

At the very moment he patted Yun’E’s head,

the Temple Spirit chess piece he had just absorbed from the Flaming-Eyed Astonishing Spirit Ape Temple began to tremble within him.

The Mud Pellet at his brow pulsed with heat.

The divine pattern of his Star-Plucking Gaze briefly materialized.

He caught a glimpse of truth in the void.

And he saw…

Inside this little girl was concealed a Temple Spirit!

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