Chapter 178: Turbulent Fate in the Underworld

Cat Face…

Ouch, he’s calling me Cat Face!

Li Qingshan’s hair and beard whipped wildly as an irrepressible smile broke across his face.

Those words were all too familiar—back when he stirred up trouble, he had called Li Che ‘Ogre.’

Now, Ogre was using the same words to invite him to join in the mischief!

Li Qingshan knew that unlike Ogre, he might never reach the very heart of the Underworld. He had only met this Ogre by chance before the other had matured.

And as for Ma Mian, Li Qingshan could only get in touch with him through Ogre.

Not to mention Divine Monkey—the one capable of taking on a Grandmaster.

Although Li Qingshan possessed the Underworld Divine Communication Mirror, it was little more than a tool for client interactions.

Breaking into the core of any faction was nearly impossible.

Li Qingshan’s demands weren’t high—he believed in taking things slowly.

“What kind of wealth and honor?”

Li Qingshan squinted contentedly, clearly in a good mood.

Now, though he had only just advanced to Divine Vision, his strength was formidable. Even at the Primordial Stage, if forced to fight, he could hold his own.

Moreover, his martial arts mastery had ascended to a post-Grandmaster level; his ultimate technique, ‘Eight Dragons Overturning the River,’ had broken through from the Five Streams Blood Dragon to the Sixth Path!

The Sixth Path Blood Dragon had effectively elevated the technique to Master level, birthing its ultimate true intent.

It could purify his inner organs with its true intent, refining every fiber to achieve unmatched resilience—flawless inside and out—thus condensing divine spirit!

A leap towards the Grandmaster realm!

So with enough battles, perhaps this insight and breakthrough could be accelerated.

Li Che stared at Li Qingshan with deep, enigmatic eyes.

Recalling Li Qingshan’s invitation, he felt as if the very force of heaven had been turned on its head.

He shook his head gently as his gaze gradually hardened.

“Kill the Little Prince—dare you?”

Li Che murmured.

But when those words reached Li Qingshan, they crashed like thunder—like an enraged dragon wrapped in lightning bursting out from behind the clouds!

Li Qingshan’s eyes flinched.

Kill Little Prince Ji Haihui?

Kill Ji Mo Li’s son?!

This…

Absolutely thrilling!

Yet, despite his surprise, Li Qingshan wasn’t entirely dumbfounded. He squinted and remarked, “Like the Lie Shen Pavilion? They too have taken on the mission to hunt the Little Prince. So our Underworld has picked up that task as well?”

Li Qingshan mused.

Without further explanation, Li Che laughed, “Something like that.”

This Little Prince… even though XiXi had beaten him up once, his heart was so vicious he intended to kill both him and Zhang Ya—leaving XiXi an orphan.

With such cruelty, he hardly resembled a five-year-old. Li Che saw no reason to show mercy or treat him like a child.

“Not only must Little Prince Ji Haihui be killed, but also the six Black Armor Blood Guards by his side, and that one… Divine Practitioner lurking in the shadows.”

Li Che murmured softly.

Li Qingshan’s hairs stood on end.

Is this really Ogre? Always exacting vengeance… Who said that an upright, honest Ogre like him would be in any hurry?

Are we really playing at such high stakes?

After wiping out Grandmaster Xue Dufu near Ji Haihui, are they now eyeing that Divine Practitioner?

Do they intend to torment the Little Prince mentally by continually slaying his protective entourage?

Perhaps even…

attempt to challenge the Divine Practitioner!

When it comes to shared consciousness, the Divine Practitioner is even stronger than a Grandmaster, with methods that are far more varied and cunning.

No one knows just how terrifying the secrets mastered by a Divine Practitioner might be.

Li Che departed, taking XiXi and Zhang Ya with him.

Li Qingshan sat in his chair, staring at the torrential rain outside as his eyes sparkled.

A long-lost fighting spirit blazed deep in his eyes.

Ogre…

It seemed he was finally about to join in the game!

……

……

Nan Lihuo returned to the Divine Temple, pacing silently.

The heavy downpour—this winter rain—seemed even more furious, as if stirred by a burst of mushroom-cloud fireworks.

Raindrops pelted the tiles, constantly colliding and splintering.

Gusts of wind blew through the temple halls.

Caught in the relentless howling winds, Nan Lihuo’s white hair whipped about wildly.

After a while, a slight smile tugged at his lips.

He took a seat on the temple steps.

His gaze was deep and ghostly.

With a flick of his hand, a jar of old wine materialized in his palm. He knocked off its sealing clay and began to drink heartily.

“Both the Underworld and the Lie Shen Pavilion intend to kill Ji Haihui…”

“Now that the Grandmaster by Ji Haihui’s side is dead, only one Divine Practitioner remains guarding him… and his protective power has greatly weakened.”

“There’s an opening…”

“A real chance…”

“And City Lord Su Huai Li!”

Clatter, clatter…

The wine gushed into his mouth, flowing down his throat.

For some inexplicable reason, Nan Lihuo’s eyes flushed slightly.

“Ji Mo Li…”

A look of endless agony suddenly spread across Nan Lihuo’s face, as if a searing, bone-wrenching memory was surging uncontrollably.

……

……

Time passed, and the relentless winter rain lasting days finally subsided.

After the rain, Jingguang Prefecture felt chillingly desolate.

The waters of the Jiulong River turned turbulent and frothy, as if some immense terror was about to awaken from within.

The divine aura in the air grew ever thicker—that uniquely emanated from the Four-Yu Bizarre Temple.

Oppressive and terrifying, as if scorching waves surged from the riverbed and burst into the skies, melting the amassed wintry gales into cascading rain.

Everyone knew.

The searing heat of the river and the intensifying divine energy signaled that the days of Temple Spirit Resonance were drawing ever nearer.

Zheng Lei Peak.

The bitter wind rustled.

No snow fell, nor did any rain.

In the courtyard, Li Che was instructing Zhang Ya in martial arts—genuine guidance.

With the unsullied divine essence refined by Li Che’s own martial insights, Zhang Ya’s skills soared with remarkable improvement.

Zhang Ya trained diligently, evidently spurred on by that recent assassination attempt.

If she didn’t want to hold them back, she had to grow stronger—enough to defend herself and not become a burden to her husband and daughter.

After imparting his divine martial knowledge to Zhang Ya, Li Che descended the mountain to head to work.

Walking along Long Street, he found the area around Guanchao Pavilion reduced to a vast pit of rubble, with workers clearing debris and restoring the ground.

Li Che paid it no mind.

In recent days, Little Prince Ji Haihui had cowered inside the City Lord’s Residence, utterly motionless—as if truly terrified.

Li Che surmised that the Little Prince would likely remain that way until the Temple Spirit Resonance assembly commenced.

He was becoming an expert at playing the proverbial scared turtle.

Yet the demise of a Grandmaster had indeed unnerved the Little Prince.

Speaking of the Temple Spirit Resonance assembly…

Li Che raised his hand as if a gentle breeze flowed through his fingertips.

Within that breeze came a roar, as deafening as an enraged child’s cry.

“The divine aura of the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple is growing stronger… With the divine energy becoming agitated, the erosive power is set to become even more formidable…”

“The Bizarre Temple is about to open…”

Li Che exhaled.

As the day drew nearer, even Li Che felt an inexplicable pressure building inside.

This might be the greatest opportunity for his daughter yet!

After all, it involved the Four-Yu Bizarre Temple.

Such a grand opportunity was always accompanied by immense danger!

Although the Divine Sect wielded the Four-Yu Divine Weapons to clear the way, Li Che still couldn’t help but worry about XiXi’s safety.

But sometimes, such worry is unavoidable.

After all, a daughter must grow up—and she even hides a Fire-Tipped Spear in her arm.

With that on her side, she should hold an advantage over other prodigies during the Temple Spirit Resonance, and be safer as well.

His dark robe fluttering in the wind, Li Che arrived at the cliffside Imperial Watch Tower.

Inside, the tower was as warm as spring.

A brazier burned hot coals, radiating a comforting heat.

Shangguan Qinghong, squatting on a chair and munching on seeds, greeted Li Che upon his arrival.

Li Che clocked in for work every day, come rain or shine.

As for Shangguan Qinghong, she simply had nowhere else to go.

The Shangguan family had long since fallen, and her attempt to assassinate her own father, Shangguan Zhengheng, was well known. Thus, she couldn’t return home and was forced to remain at the Imperial Watch.

“Che-ge, do you think I’ll ever get to see Underworld Ma Mian? I’d like to take him on as my master and learn his sniping techniques!”

Shangguan Qinghong sighed.

But among all in the Underworld, Ma Mian was the most enigmatic.

Even when he struck, he always left no trace of his presence.

Li Che paused upon hearing this, then offered a gentle smile without comment.

Ascending to the second floor en route to his workshop, he found two people already seated, chatting over tea.

They were none other than Lu Yao, the deputy supervisor of Daocheng’s Imperial Watch, and Tang Sanjia, the master of Shendiao Ridge.

“Ah Che, come here.”

At the sight of Li Che, Tang Sanjia’s eyes lit up.

That mushroom-cloud-like fireworks display had already given Tang Sanjia some clues about Li Che’s identity.

Perhaps this exceedingly gentle, honest master wood sculptor was none other than the cold-blooded, treacherous Ogre.

Even if he wasn’t that Underworld Ogre responsible for blowing up Guanchao Pavilion with his contraptions, he was undoubtedly connected to Li Che.

“How’s your progress with the Nine Seals of Mechanism?”

Tang Sanjia poured a cup of tea for Li Che.

Lu Yao was surprised—who would have thought that the notoriously hot-tempered Tang Sanjia could be so affable at times?

The Nine Seals of Mechanism was a unique art of contraptions; each seal mastered granted its mechanical beast extraordinary power.

Much like the Imperial Watch’s Thousand-Hand Divine Eagle Technique, the Nine Seals belonged to the realm of divine martial arts.

When employed, they not only drained blood and energy but also harnessed divine essence.

When these seals were embedded in a mechanical beast, they infused it with both blood and divine power, making the construct come alive.

It was as though they bestowed it with a true soul.

Moreover, Li Che sensed that the Nine Seals held an additional function he hadn’t yet deciphered.

After all, he wasn’t truly a descendant of the Tang Clan.

Currently, Li Che had nearly perfected the divine art of the Nine Seals, though he hadn’t yet reached Master level. He could delineate about five seals—named ‘Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie.’

Each seal possessed its own unique effect.

The Nine Seals seemed perfectly attuned to Li Che.

It wasn’t just martial arts—it intertwined with Xiangong. The synergy of the Xiangong Dao Fruit with Dragon Elephant Vajra led to meteoric progress.

Li Che even felt that his own pace had slowed somewhat.

Moreover, the number of seals he had mastered far exceeded Tang Sanjia’s expectations.

“Five seals?!”

“How is that possible?”

Tang Sanjia’s grip on his tea caused it to spill, his eyes full of astonishment.

The Nine Seals were far more challenging than ordinary true intent martial arts, requiring divine essence to complement them.

Though they were technically a martial art, they could be deployed in battle.

But…

For Li Che to master five seals in such a short time was simply…

Monstrous!

Was he born to be one with mechanisms?!

With a look of regret, Tang Sanjia lamented, “Why aren’t you one of my Tang Clan disciples…?”

Li Che smiled but remained silent in response.

Lu Yao cast a curious glance at Li Che and the Tang Clan’s Nine Seals…

Being the deputy supervisor of Daocheng’s Imperial Watch, he had certainly heard of them.

Tang Sanjia exhaled, shook his head, then looked at Li Che and pulled a set of blueprints from his chest.

“These are my findings on the mechanism you mentioned last time…”

“Take them and review—if they help you build the contraption, then it’s all worth it.”

As Tang Sanjia calmed down, his admiration for Li Che grew even stronger.

Li Che’s eyes lit up as he accepted and unrolled the blueprints, which depicted the design of a Guanyin Lotus Main Battle Tank.

He scrutinized the plans closely; while many aspects clashed with his own design, Tang Sanjia’s use of the Nine Seals was often more logical and efficient than his original blueprint.

Suddenly, Li Che experienced a breakthrough, his eyes sparkling with newfound insight.

The Xiangong Dao Fruit pulsed, instantly grasping the essence of Tang Sanjia’s blueprints.

Indeed, even with the Xiangong Dao Fruit at hand, experience still proved invaluable.

As the saying goes, ‘You can know a face, but not the heart’—and that was true.

At that moment, Li Che’s heart was stirred, and he found himself suddenly inspired by the idea of the Guanyin Lotus Main Battle Tank.

Tang Sanjia had come not only to deliver the blueprints but also to bring another type of timber.

“Ah Che, this is the incredibly tough, divine-conducting timber you asked me to find… Fire God Furious Dragon Wood. There’s only one such tree in all of Shendiao Ridge.”

Li Che’s gaze hardened.

Soon, he felt a surge of intense heat!

Moreover, a mighty ripple of divine aura began to rage wildly.

A massive, crimson log—big enough to require two people to embrace—appeared before Li Che.

“Sixth-Stage Timber!”

Li Che took a deep breath.

Lu Yao’s eyes also narrowed in recognition!

Sixth Stage!

Anything associated with the Sixth Stage would undergo earth-shattering changes!

Could it be that Li Che required Sixth-Stage Timber?

“Thank you, Senior!”

Li Che’s heart filled with joy.

He hadn’t expected that Tang Sanjia would actually manage to locate such hard, divine-conducting timber.

Li Che sought out this timber to upgrade his Xiangong Gatling and his Barrett!

Against cultivators of the Primordial Phase, the might of both the Xiangong Gatling and the Barrett was proving insufficient.

At least the Barrett could compensate by increasing its penetration.

But the Xiangong Gatling lagged behind.

Thus, improvements were in order…

If the machine gun wasn’t enough…

then upgrade to a machine cannon!

Fire God Furious Dragon Wood…

Maybe it could be used to craft a Xiangong Fire God Cannon!

“What thanks? Ordinary master wood sculptors don’t need this timber… but you’re useful, so take it.”

“No one in Jingguang Prefecture can even harness Sixth-Stage Timber. I’m quite curious to see what contraption you’ll come up with.”

Tang Sanjia laughed.

“Master, tell me how many Divine Crystals you need—I’ll buy them.”

Li Che replied seriously.

But Tang Sanjia merely waved his hand dismissively.

“Consider it a gift. If you manage to create an interesting mechanism, it’ll be a treat for me—think of it as paying in timber currency.”

That grand gesture left Li Che utterly amazed.

Without any pretense, Li Che simply tucked away the Fire God Furious Dragon Wood.

A single piece of Sixth-Stage Timber, even if unused, was incredibly valuable.

……

……

Perhaps due to the increasingly turbulent, tepid currents of the Jiulong River,

the wintry clouds and snow could no longer gather.

Raindrops fell relentlessly, pattering down on the earth.

Inside an ornate city mansion with upturned eaves.

A figure, donning a Golden Mask with half its face melted away, burned a handwritten letter to ashes.

He slammed his hand onto the table, leaving a deep imprint.

“Underworld!”

From behind the Golden Mask, a chilly voice hissed out.

Huang Xi Long, the branch leader of Lie Shen Pavilion in Jingguang Prefecture, had never imagined he’d face such fierce competition from within his own ranks!

He directly unleashed his dreadful contraption techniques.

The terrifying aftermath of that explosion still haunted Huang Xi Long.

“Underworld… Ogre, Ma Mian, and Divine Monkey!”

Huang Xi Long’s voice was low and seething with rage.

He had already received a reprimand from Daocheng Lie Shen Pavilion.

He undeniably bore some responsibility, yet he never expected the Underworld to be so reckless and domineering.

“Now, within Jingguang Prefecture, I’m alone… How can I possibly hold Lie Shen Pavilion together on my own?”

Huang Xi Long slowly raised his hand—the same hand that had dented the table.

“Daocheng Lie Shen Pavilion’s leader, let me halt task assignments and strike at the Underworld…”

“But I’ve been skulking around the Capital for days now, and the Underworld has left not even a trace.”

“Who is that Ogre? Who is Ma Mian? And who is Divine Monkey?”

“No one knows anything at all!”

Muttering to himself in a low, helpless tone, Huang Xi Long lamented.

A certain Divine Practitioner, concealing his identity while secretly probing the Underworld, had made a startling discovery…

The key figures of the Underworld had left not even the faintest trace in Jingguang City.

That was immensely frustrating.

Huang Xi Long longed for revenge—to wash away the humiliation his position as branch leader of Jingguang City had wrought upon him…

but he couldn’t pinpoint a target!

They slapped you, yet you couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the assailant.

It’s utterly infuriating!

Huang Xi Long had never felt such frustration before.

Just as Lie Shen Pavilion’s operations in the Capital were beginning, such setbacks occurred, leaving Huang Xi Long convinced his luck was abysmal.

“Li Qingshan and Nan Lihuo once hired the Underworld… Though they pretended to be members, they really never were.”

“However… perhaps I can start with Li Qingshan and, by following the thread, trace the Underworld’s whereabouts from him.”

Huang Xi Long lightly drummed his fingers on the table.

He had already been reprimanded, so he wasn’t in a rush.

With Lie Shen Pavilion’s operations in Jingguang City temporarily halted by Daocheng, he had time to clear his disgrace, and indeed, he wasn’t in any haste.

He would take his time, hunting down the Underworld’s minions one by one.

The Underworld’s core trio: Ogre, Ma Mian, and Divine Monkey.

Only Divine Monkey could harness the Temple Spirit’s power to vie with a Grandmaster.

Meanwhile, Ogre and Ma Mian were primarily deceitful and squalid.

As long as their identities were uncovered and their whereabouts traced.

Huang Xi Long believed that lurking in the shadows, with calculated intent, he would eventually succeed in his hunt.

Huang Xi Long had risen through the ranks as a killer within Lie Shen Pavilion to become its leader.

He often took on assassin tasks himself.

“Apart from Li Qingshan, there’s also that Second-Class Minister from the Imperial Watch… Li Che.”

“This man had previously been suspected of being Ogre, yet on many occasions when Ogre acted, Li Che was seen at the Imperial Watch—a sort of alibi.”

“However… so far, only Li Che has been suspected of being Ogre throughout Jingguang Prefecture.”

“The Underworld Ogre, skilled in contraptions with devious, venomous techniques… and Li Che, as a Second-Class Minister of the Imperial Watch, is also an extraordinarily talented master wood sculptor… Coincidence?”

Huang Xi Long’s eyes behind his Golden Mask narrowed slightly.

“Li Che…”

Huang Xi Long tapped the table lightly with his fingers.

After Lie Shen Pavilion’s assassins killed Zhang Ya and Li Che’s family, Guanchao Pavilion’s stronghold was obliterated…

It appeared to be a case of vicious internal competition…

or could it be an act of revenge?

Because…

Did Lie Shen Pavilion assassinate Li Che and Zhang Ya?

That notion suddenly struck Huang Xi Long as ludicrous.

How could that be?!

If that were the reason…

Are the Underworld minions out of their minds?!

Is Li Che the Underworld’s own father?!

But once that thought appeared, it just wouldn’t wash away from Huang Xi Long’s mind.

“Coincidence?”

Huang Xi Long stood up and, wearing his Golden Mask, walked over to the inn’s railing.

Standing at the railing, he gazed at the misty, rain-soaked horizon.

“Is it truly a coincidence?”

……

……

Drizzly and persistent rain.

Luohua Alley.

Private Workshop Courtyard.

Li Che was enveloped in seething heat, with the fierce furnace energy surging like a roaring dragon set ablaze!

Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant!

With a single, sweeping punch, countless martial arts converged into one, erupting with a roar like a bellowing dragon elephant!

A terrifying burst of fist energy exploded, making the entire courtyard’s air churn and roar relentlessly.

Li Che exhaled deeply and slowly opened his eyes.

“Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant fused the Hun Yuan Qi Tian Gun and the Thousand Mountain Solitary Blade—two Martial Saint techniques—combined with numerous Grandmaster true intent techniques and even Xue Dufu’s Grandmaster technique…”

“Enhancing it was increasingly arduous; forging martial arts from a hundred classical texts was no easy task.”

“If my self-created Martial Saint technique is to transcend into the Master level, perhaps… I must devise a signature killing move for Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant!”

Li Che’s eyes widened as he sat there, enveloped in steaming energy and deep in thought.

The Hun Yuan Qi Tian Gun boasted two major killing moves; perhaps a signature move was the key to transforming a technique.

But what could be the signature move of Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant…?

How should I forge one for myself?!

“Huh—”

“Sigh—”

In the courtyard, a fierce wind arose.

Li Che steadied himself, calming his inner state.

Then…

Li Che retrieved the blueprints drawn by Tang Sanjia.

Of course, much of Tang Sanjia’s suggested blueprints for the Guanyin Lotus Main Battle Tank left Li Che unimpressed.

But some elements imbued with Tang Clan’s mechanical expertise sparked a breakthrough in Li Che, providing valuable lessons.

He then walked into his workshop.

Li Che took out the [Fire God Furious Dragon Wood] generously provided by Old Tang.

The searing divine aura and energy instantly enveloped the entire room.

With a snap of his fingers, he expanded the range of the Cosmic Chessboard.

He then drew forth the divine weapon, Lü Xuan Ice Yang Sword—Sixth-Stage Timber was no longer something a mere carving knife could manage.

However, given Li Che’s current Xiangong level, even a longsword could mimic the feel of a carving knife.

“The machine gun isn’t powerful enough—upgrade it to a machine cannon…”

“The Muduya and Dragon Tooth Bodhi Bullets must also be upgraded; the ‘Bing’ seal in the Nine Seals can boost penetration, while the ‘Xing’ seal can enhance speed…”

“These seals can be integrated into the machine cannon.”

“The machine cannon consumes even more materials… Fortunately, I have the [Painted Immortal] Dao Fruit, which can replicate and create a chain of Muduya bullets.”

“Otherwise, the cannon could fire a thousand rounds per second—and every projectile would be a Divine Crystal!”

Li Che muttered to himself.

Having previously crafted a Xiangong Gatling, modifying the Fire God machine cannon wasn’t as daunting as it seemed—it was merely tricky to embed the seals into it.

The razor-sharp edge of the divine weapon split the Fire God Furious Dragon Wood, sending sparks dancing in midair.

An explosion of brilliance!

The Fire God Furious Dragon Wood was incredibly tough—far surpassing refined iron—and would be uncuttable without a divine weapon.

Moreover, it was an excellent conductor of divine energy—if it housed the Great Avalanche Divine Chess Piece, its power would be even more terrifying!

Thus, the Fire God Furious Dragon Wood was ideal for crafting top-notch cannon ammunition.

With his Star Plucking Gaze, he scanned the Fire God Wood as the Xiangong Dao Fruit in his chest pulsed vigorously.

Following the blueprint etched in his mind, Li Che began to craft at a measured pace.

Sparks flew incessantly!

……

……

Outside the Private Workshop…

A silhouette appeared silently and gracefully.

He stood atop the mansion, his eyes behind a Golden Mask scanning silently.

“Li Che…”

Huang Xi Long glared coldly at the Private Workshop.

The formidable will of the Divine Practitioner soon spread silently.

Yet in his perception, he saw only Li Che diligently carving wood—honest and meticulous.

Huang Xi Long furrowed his brow.

He continued probing with his divine vision.

But found nothing amiss.

He was confident in the powers of his Divine Practitioner perception.

Intelligence had painted Li Che as a very unassuming, honest wood sculptor.

He carved wood meticulously every day.

Sustaining his family with his own hands.

Could it really be so?

Could such an honest soul be the Ogre?

“You can know a face, but not the heart…”

With his arms folded, Huang Xi Long’s assassin’s suspicion drove him to continue his surveillance.

Assassins have all the patience in the world.

“After three days—if Li Che shows no signs of being like the Ogre—then he can be killed.”

Huang Xi Long’s eyes turned icy.

Kill Li Che…

It was, after all, Lie Shen Pavilion’s assignment.

He didn’t act immediately; he merely wanted to confirm whether Li Che was truly the Underworld Ogre, to rule out one possibility.

If Li Che were the Ogre, Huang Xi Long could capture him and then follow the trail to uncover Ma Mian and Divine Monkey.

And bring the Underworld, hidden in darkness, into the light!

“Underworld…”

The eyes behind Huang Xi Long’s mask brimmed with murderous intent!

The feud between the Underworld and Lie Shen Pavilion was now irrevocably sealed.

Inside the Private Workshop…

Li Che’s expanding Cosmic Chessboard naturally detected Huang Xi Long’s presence,

as well as his utterly dark, murderous determination.

“Divine Practitioner?!”

“And the Divine Practitioner is hell-bent on killing me.”

Li Che’s expression darkened slightly, and his hand hesitated.

But he soon resumed his work as if nothing had happened.

Yet the [Chess Sage] Dao Fruit within him was driven to its utmost activation.

The lines on the Cosmic Chessboard interwove to both shield Huang Xi Long’s perception and mask his divine vision, creating the illusion of diligent carving.

In reality, Li Che was splitting the Sixth-Stage Timber.

If Huang Xi Long detected Li Che using his divine sword to cut the timber, he’d likely deduce that Li Che was the Ogre.

Huang Xi Long couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

His divine vision was shrouded and deeply uneasy.

“Lie Shen Pavilion’s Divine Practitioner—who back then wasn’t incinerated in a Great Avalanche with 150 equivalent Divine Perception Chess Pieces, failing to blow him up…”

“A lingering threat indeed.”

Li Che exhaled.

A post-threat at the level of a Divine Practitioner.

The very thought made sleep and sustenance impossible.

Huang Xi Long wanted to kill him, and Li Che equally wished to eliminate him.

But a Divine Practitioner is not someone you can simply kill…

Even though Li Che now wielded many means, his lack of experience in confronting a Divine Practitioner made it uncertain whether he could kill one.

The high-yield Great Avalanche Guanyin Lotus Bomb was indeed lethal.

Yet the Divine Practitioner’s divine vision was formidable, able to sense and capture in advance, then shift away to escape.

Li Che slowly lifted a honed, red machine cannon barrel that resembled a hollow branding iron.

The barrel was massive, with a bore far greater than that of a Xiangong Gatling.

It could house high-yield Great Avalanche Muduya Cannonballs!

He closed one eye.

Then pressed the barrel against his other eye.

Peering through the cannon’s barrel, he glimpsed the figure in a Golden Mask standing atop the mansion.

A bore of righteousness.

Within range…

I am king!

If the Fire God Cannon in his hands could be successfully built,

everything would change.

Stuck on the writing—started at 8:30 this morning and grinding away until now… Fellow writers know how tormenting writer’s block can be. Seven thousand words—please vote for me monthly, recommend, and follow my work! Old Li thanks you!