Chapter 182: The Awakening of the Primordial Spirit

Chess Sage Dao Fruit Second Transcendence…

Divine Ability: Wuji!

In Li Che’s eyes, crisscrossing lines danced like countless streams of light.

Li Che had long anticipated the divine ability that would emerge after the second transformation of the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit. The nascent form—Great Avalanche—had granted him a tremendous boost in combat power.

For instance, this time it was the explosive burst of divine nature from Great Avalanche that enabled him to slay the Lie Shen Pavilion Leader and take down a Divine Essence True Person.

Whether it was the Guanyin Lotus Bullet or the Fire God’s Furious Dragon Mechanical Cannon, both were fundamentally based on the nascent divine ability of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit—Great Avalanche.

In short, the transformation of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit filled Li Che with high expectations.

Yet this time, his anticipation gradually gave way to a chilling indifference.

He still vividly recalled the images he had witnessed in that vast, desolate space.

The Cosmic Chessboard spread out before him, and someone from beyond its boundaries had placed a piece.

It was as if a colossal hand eclipsed the sky.

Who was the one placing the piece…?

Was it a god?

Or the master of the Dao Tree?

Who was it?

Suddenly, Li Che’s mind descended into chaos, with countless flickering lines echoing the sound of his heavy, drum-like heartbeat.

Moments later.

His breathing steadied, each inhale and exhale deep and measured.

Before his eyes, the prompt changed once again.

【Wuji (Divine Ability): Black & White Moves, Yin-Yang Wuji, Boundless, Supreme Celestial Communion】

【First Level: Black and White Collapse】

【When White Pieces Dominate, Black Pieces Repel; Yin and Yang in the Palm, the World Falls Silent】

【Second Level: ???】

……

Li Che stared in astonishment at the flickering, radiant prompt materializing before him.

The dazzling message wove black and white streams of light ceaselessly before his eyes.

He had grown accustomed to the fact that after the Dao Fruit’s second transformation, its nascent divine ability would evolve—yet only the first level could be activated.

Just like his earlier arts 【Star Plucking】, 【Radiant Rise】, and now 【Wuji】.

They all had to be mastered starting from the first level!

It was likely due to the Dao Fruit not yet being mature enough.

Li Che even pondered how one might master a second-level divine ability—perhaps once the Dao Fruit matured further, it would be possible?

He did not dwell on it further.

The second transformation of the Dao Fruit would still bring significant change and a purifying rebirth to Li Che.

Just like the second transformation of Dragon Elephant Vajra, its transformative feedback made Li Che feel entirely reborn.

His flesh grew ever stronger and flawless!

While Star Plucking hardly altered his body, Li Che could sense a remarkable enhancement in his Xiangong talent.

It was a subtle, almost imperceptible transformation.

Not as violent as the transformation of Dragon Elephant Vajra.

As for what changes this 【Wuji】 divine ability might bring, Li Che still had no clear idea.

He closed his eyes and settled into a meditative posture.

The entire Bizarre Temple was utterly silent.

Moments later, a sound reminiscent of rippling water exploded around his ears.

The mud pellet on his brow pulsed relentlessly, as if a second heart had started beating.

The Cosmic Chessboard expanded outward from Li Che’s body, instantly enveloping the entire Bizarre Temple!

Boom, boom, boom—

Like the toll of evening drums and morning bells, the sound incessantly pounded his divine perception.

A tremor, as if shaking his very soul, surged through his entire being.

His senses…

were skyrocketing at an unprecedented pace.

Within the Mud Pellet’s inner realm, all eight whorls of his Divine Foundation—including the Unsullied Heart—vibrated, their buzzing roars tearing through the swirling air.

Rumbling—

It was as if a glimmer of light had begun to drift from his divine foundation.

Soon, it floated and dispersed throughout the Cosmic Chessboard.

Gradually, it coalesced into a form that resembled Li Che.

Radiant light flashed while rosy mists soared!

Unlike the ethereal divine perception he once traced on the Cosmic Chessboard, this now possessed true form—more refined, more powerful, and completely controllable as if it were his very body.

Li Che’s eyes gleamed, flickering with myriad auspicious lights.

Boom—

Behind him, the seven rounds of his divine foundation burst forth, unfolding like a peacock’s display in spectacular brilliance.

“Is this… the Primordial Spirit?!”

Li Che was filled with astonishment and doubt.

Only cultivators in the Primordial Image realm can refine their Primordial Spirit.

It seemed he had managed to condense it ahead of schedule!

Was this the transformation brought about by the Wuji divine ability?

“Wuji, Wuji, Supreme Celestial Communion…”

“To ignore limits? To be considered Wuji?”

Li Che murmured to himself.

That was his speculation—after all, at the Divine Foundation realm, one can only condense divine perception, not a true Primordial Spirit.

To refine a Primordial Spirit, one must at least be a cultivator of the Primordial Image realm.

Moreover, the Primordial Spirit refined at that level would be the weakest form.

Once one enters the Divine Essence realm, the first transformation is the Primordial Spirit Transcendence… that’s when the real manipulation of the Primordial Spirit begins.

But he was still only at the Divine Foundation realm…

And yet, he had managed to manifest a Primordial Spirit.

“Hmm? Did the Seven-Whorl Divine Foundation… support the Primordial Spirit?”

Li Che contemplated thoughtfully.

A single round of the Divine Foundation would never be enough to support a Primordial Spirit—it would be overwhelmed and shatter the foundation.

Not even a fledgling Divine Vision would suffice; one must meticulously refine it to the Primordial Image level to bear the Primordial Spirit.

“No, it’s not just the Seven-Whorl Divine Foundation—it’s bolstered by the Cosmic Chessboard that supports the Primordial Spirit.”

Li Che understood.

The Primordial Spirit appeared, serenely floating within the Cosmic Chessboard.

It blinked as if countless omens of fortune streamed across the board.

The ‘Seven-Yuan Corpse Incantation Mother Seal’ suppressed within the Cosmic Chessboard trembled vigorously, becoming even more obedient.

Elsewhere, the mythic weapon 【Qi Tian Face】 shuddered slightly before settling back into calm.

Li Che’s Primordial Spirit swept its gaze over, catching a glimpse of 【Qi Tian Face】.

Having wielded the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear, Li Che knew that even an unwielded mythic weapon could possess a rudimentary sentience. Did this Qi Tian Face possess such awareness?

Perhaps that mask had been secretly observing him all along?

Li Che paid it little mind.

He withdrew his mental focus.

Inside the Bizarre Temple.

Li Che opened his eyes, their brilliant gleam outshining even the flame of the white candles.

It was so dazzling that it seemed as though Li Che himself was aglow!

“Primordial Spirit…”

“Unexpected…”

Li Che muttered, ‘How unexpected…’—the Primordial Spirit had formed, albeit with limitations, confined within the Cosmic Chessboard.

But this meant that in terms of divine nature, he had inadvertently taken a significant step forward.

Once he completed his breakthrough in Divine Vision and honed it meticulously, entering the Primordial Image realm might well make him one of its elite.

It could even pave the way to effortlessly reaching the Divine Essence True Person level.

“A pleasant surprise.”

Li Che’s eyes burned like flames, as if his Primordial Spirit were manifesting in the real world.

“It has changed.”

With radiant eyes, Li Che could now clearly perceive the dense, lingering divine nature permeating the cosmos since the birth of his Primordial Spirit.

In a single thought, he could summon and manipulate the divine energy flowing throughout the world.

“My innate divine aptitude… is indeed average, but now that I’ve manifested a Primordial Spirit, it’s like being a high schooler relearning middle school—the talent remains, yet everything becomes easier.”

Li Che smiled.

His mediocre divine talent had long been a sore spot in his heart.

But now, that shortfall was at least somewhat compensated.

Though unconventional, any boost in cultivation speed was welcome, right?

Li Che rose to his feet, stretching as his movements resounded like tigers, leopards, and thunder.

His vital energy surged through his meridians like a pressurized water cannon, exuding a colossal force.

The birth of his Primordial Spirit also affected his physical body, heightening Li Che’s sensitivity to his own flesh and blood.

His mind cleared, and both his martial and divine cultivation deepened considerably.

Li Che stood still as an unseen wind stirred around him, ruffling his attire.

He raised his palm, his fingers curved like hooks.

“Divine Ability, First Level…”

“Black and White Collapse!”

In an instant,

a pristine Unsullied Heart chess piece appeared in Li Che’s palm.

The dazzling white piece shone brilliantly. Then, as Li Che focused his thoughts, one black piece, then another, materialized to adorn it.

Clusters of black pieces scattered around the white Unsullied Heart chess piece!

They were magnetically drawn, as countless black Divine Chess Pieces gradually converged onto the white piece.

The air began to distort as an immensely terrifying force of destructive collapse intertwined at the convergence of black and white pieces.

Endless light was devoured by darkness—as if collapsing and exploding like a black hole!

Black and White Collapse!

Li Che gazed at a spinning black sphere emerging in his palm.

It was terrifying.

If Great Avalanche ignited through the violent collision of Divine Chess Pieces,

then Black and White Collapse…

was the compression, collapse, and devouring…

Once that collapse and devouring reached their utmost extremity, they erupted in a silent explosion!

Its power…

was even more fearsome!

Just feeling the power of the black sphere sent every hair on Li Che’s body standing on end, filling him with an overwhelming sense of menace!

Even his furnace master-level flesh would likely not withstand the twisting, annihilating force of this black sphere!

Li Che’s eyes grew ever brighter!

“Black and White Collapse… if harnessed properly, it could serve as a lethal weapon on par with the Guanyin Lotus Bullet.”

Li Che muttered to himself.

The 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit thumped as if alive, already contemplating how to refine the power of ‘Black and White Collapse’ into a formidable weapon.

His five fingers clenched.

The force of Black and White Collapse exploded outward.

It transformed into Divine Chess Pieces, returning to the Chess Sage’s Chessboard.

Li Che exhaled deeply, and the oppressive sense of destruction instantly vanished.

“Its power is immense, yet equally hard to control…”

“Danger and power go hand in hand.”

The unexpected formation of his Primordial Spirit left Li Che in high spirits.

After all, having a formed Primordial Spirit to bolster his divine cultivation was a wonderful thing.

Buoyed, Li Che’s gaze fell upon the Spirit Monkey Temple Spirit, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

Tiptoeing over, he appeared beside the Spirit Monkey Temple Spirit statue, extending a radiant hand toward its bald, well-worn head.

Although the Star Plucking Gaze could also absorb the temple spirit’s divine nature, Li Che felt that doing it by hand gave him a better feel for it.

Ah—

Damn it!

Get lost!

The Spirit Monkey Temple Spirit seemed to scream.

Within the Bizarre Temple, an inaudible, sorrowful sound, like deep thunder, echoed.

……

……

Jingguang Prefecture.

The rain showed no sign of stopping; its incessant drenching left the Capital’s streets covered in a thick layer of standing water.

News of the events outside the Imperial Watch spread rapidly throughout the capital—a Divine Essence True Person had fallen, sending everyone into near panic.

The dread and terror of the Underworld had reached unprecedented heights.

However, the City Lord’s Residence remained inactive, merely dispatching the Divine Guard Army to clear the area and the corpse of the Lie Shen Pavilion Leader before sweeping everything under the rug.

Inside the City Lord’s Residence.

Little Prince Ji Haihui trembled in sheer terror.

He looked up pleadingly toward the Divine Guardian.

Though the Divine Guardian was shrouded in darkness, his expression was one of utmost seriousness.

“Rest easy, Little Prince. The Lie Shen Pavilion Leader was killed by the Underworld, yet I am confident I can protect you.”

“Should the Underworld dare to attack you, I will whisk you away from Jingguang City in an instant.”

Though his tone was grave, the Divine Guardian’s words carried a hint of ease.

It was his confidence in his own strength.

“After all, the Lie Shen Pavilion is still new to capital business, so the leader they dispatched was of average strength—a Divine Essence True Person merely at the Primordial Spirit Transcendence level.”

“He had only reached the stage of a Golden Pill and Golden Veil, not even grasping a trace of a Golden Body—thus, he was slain by the combined might of the Underworld fiends.”

The Divine Guardian stated.

Of course, his words were only meant to reassure the Little Prince.

Even the Divine Guardian felt his skin crawl at the menace posed by the Underworld.

Though he was at the later stage of Primordial Spirit Transcendence, if the Underworld schemed to kill him, he would suffer greatly.

The main issue was…

Xue Dufu’s resurrection and his siding with the Underworld.

That was truly devastating.

Fortunately, there were also six Black-Armor Blood Guards—top-level grandmasters whose combined killing array could at least obstruct a grandmaster wielding twenty divine auras.

The Little Prince’s face turned bitter.

“Father’s low-profile methods have only brought me misery.”

“Who would have thought that within Jingguang City, an Underworld force would be bold enough to shame my father?”

The Little Prince felt an enormous weight upon his heart.

The Divine Guardian frowned, “Little Prince, cheer up.”

“I have already informed the Prince. Once he hears the news, he will dispatch formidable warriors to aid us. For now, we must focus on the Temple Spirit Resonance Conference.”

“According to the latest word, a convoy from Daocheng Town will arrive in the capital tonight… it seems the Conference will commence within a few days.”

“Once the conference concludes, we will immediately leave the capital…”

“If the Underworld dares threaten you…”

“The Prince will settle the score sooner or later!”

Upon hearing this, the Little Prince’s face gradually lit up with hope.

……

……

Content with his success in the Bizarre Temple, Li Che returned to a small courtyard in Luohua Alley.

【Painted Immortal】 clones emerged from a scroll one after another, each calmly retrieving Divine Crystals from Li Che’s hands as they sat cross-legged to nurture their spirit and study divine images.

Now, with all seven aspects of his Divine Foundation reaching its later stage, Li Che was launching an assault on the Divine Vision realm.

It was a painstaking process with no shortcuts—Li Qingshan spent two and a half years cultivating his Divine Vision with only one round of Divine Foundation.

And Li Che, with his seven rounds of Divine Foundation, faced even greater challenges.

Those seven rounds endowed him with immense depth, allowing him to ignore the hierarchical pressure of Divine Vision and even surpass ordinary cultivators in both divine outburst and overall potency.

If he could step into the realm of the Seven Sovereign Divine Visions…

Li Che believed that even in terms of nurturing his spirit, he would not be inferior to those in the Primordial Image realm!

After settling into cultivation, Li Che hesitated for a moment over whether to prepare a round of the Fire God’s Furious Dragon Mechanical Cannon for XiXi as well…

Without much deliberation, he extracted the Sixth-Stage Spirit Wood, Fire God’s Furious Dragon Wood, and began crafting the mechanical cannon.

Having learned from past experience, his next creation proceeded much faster.

He even planned to tint this XiXi version of the Fire God Cannon a soft, pink hue.

For a girl…

even when setting off fireworks, it should be adorably pink.

That’s the only way to be cute.

Of course, even a small Fire God Mechanical Cannon wasn’t easy to craft—it still required several days.

He tidied up the courtyard.

With the demise of the Divine Essence True Person from the Lie Shen Pavilion, the hidden menace in the darkness dissipated, and Li Che felt completely at ease.

The threat posed by a Divine Essence True Person was enormous—and now that it was removed, he felt a refreshing clarity.

“However, within Jingguang City… besides the Lie Shen Pavilion Leader, there is also a Seven-Yuan Chief Corpse God Envoy from the Corpse God Sect.”

“Li Qingshan told me that this Seven-Yuan Ascended Corpse God Envoy orchestrated numerous misdeeds around the capital. Back when City Lord Cao Guang of Feilei City was misled into hosting the Thousand-Baby Banquet, allowing the Lingying Sect to run amok, he was implicated with this envoy.”

“His surname is Yuan, his given name Jingang. Word has it he only achieved a partial step in Cursed Silver Corpse cultivation, but intel from the Temple Guardian Division says Yuan Jingang has already entered the Cursed Silver Corpse realm.”

Li Che, clutching an oil-paper umbrella, had his ink robe wildly swirling in the torrential, column-like rain and wind.

He walked along the narrow alley until he reached a small restaurant amid the storm.

A large black dog lay at the doorway, tongue lolling as it gazed at the rain with a touch of poetic charm.

A rich aroma wafted from within the restaurant.

Li Che approached.

Ding-a-ling—a bell rang.

As the door opened, the tinkling of a bell was heard.

“Manager, one order of braised pork trotters and green pepper beef, please…”

Li Che rattled off several dish names in succession.

They were all hearty dishes.

A calm voice came from the kitchen.

“Wait a moment.”

Li Che sat near the door, locking eyes with the large black dog.

The wind sighed, blowing the rain at an angle, causing it to splatter with a cascade of splashes.

A gentle, rain-laden breeze caressed his face as Li Che leaned against the door, contentedly squinting.

His ink robe fluttered and, with his legs crossed, he felt an unprecedented relaxation.

Li Che, who wasn’t fond of constant battles,

yet being born into this life left him no choice.

All he wanted was to carve out a peaceful life with his own hands.

With the demise of the Lie Shen Pavilion Leader, his family would face little danger in the near future.

The Divine Essence True Person—the Divine Guardian—was unlikely to intervene; his aim was solely to protect the Little Prince.

The only looming threat was the enigmatic Corpse God Envoy, Yuan Jingang, whose true identity Li Che had yet to discern.

Li Che believed that the Corpse Curse Seal controlled by the Corpse God Envoy was likely at the Six-Sector level.

However, with the Corpse God Sect repeatedly struck by the Underworld, they probably dared not act.

Most importantly…

The 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit had leveled up to LV4—its Feilei Chess Piece now moved even quicker.

Moreover, it had acquired a new ability…

Now capable of transporting others along with it!

Li Che raised his hand as a white-glowing chess piece danced incessantly on his fingertip.

He toyed with the piece, feeling utterly content.

To be able to transport others along with a rapid Feilei move…

would ensure XiXi’s safety even more.

If they couldn’t fight…

then they could always run.

The large black dog, lounging on the ground, flashed a quick, lively glance at Li Che as he played with the chess piece before snorting and settling back down.

A rich aroma of food wafted from the kitchen.

“Manager, thank you.”

Li Che tossed a gold leaf and, with a beaming smile, accepted the hot dishes prepared by the manager.

Though the meal wasn’t truly worth a gold leaf, Li Che was happy to pay.

After leaving the restaurant, Li Che stepped out of the alley with his fist clenched.

In an instant, he reappeared halfway up Zheng Lei Peak.

Brushing off the raindrops, Li Che smiled as he stepped into the courtyard.

“Wahaha! Braised pork trotters! XiXi loves her daddy the most!”

XiXi’s high-pitched, delighted scream rang out from the lantern-lit courtyard shrouded in misty rain.

……

……

Night fell.

It was deep and solemn.

A convoy charged through the heavy wind and rain; the scalding, steaming raindrops clung to the Jiao horses.

Hooves pounded, splashing water everywhere.

“Daocheng Town Temple Supervisor Zhu Chaoyang, escort the Divine Sect Elders to Jingguang Prefecture! Open the city gates at once!”

Even before reaching the outskirts, a resounding, mighty voice erupted from within the carriage.

It was the raw, domineering aura of blood energy manifesting as a thunderous sound—a display of remarkably advanced Qi manipulation.

A Grandmaster!

The commander at the city gate narrowed his eyes and, without hesitation, opened the gate.

Rumbling!

The towering Jiao horses tugged the carriage into the city, speeding along the expansive main thoroughfare of the Capital!

The wheels crushed the water, sending up splashes.

The carriage moved at breakneck speed.

Within Jingguang City,

various factions sensed something amiss.

City Lord’s Residence.

The Divine Guardian opened his eyes the moment the convoy entered the city, appearing beside the meditating Little Prince.

“They’re here!”

“Daocheng Town Temple Supervisor Zhu Chaoyang, along with Qianyuan Divine Sect Elders, are escorting the Four-Yu Divine Soldiers, joined by the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel!”

The Divine Guardian said in a somber tone.

“I haven’t sensed which of the Qianyuan Divine Sect’s elders it is yet…”

“But anyone who could become an elder of Qianyuan Divine Sect would at least be of the Divine Essence realm—I’m not sure if it’s a Primordial Spirit Transcendence or a Golden Body Transcendence.”

The Little Prince opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.

“It’s good they’re here; this means the Temple Spirit Resonance Conference is about to begin…”

“Once the conference is over, I can finally leave this damn place.”

A smile spread across the Little Prince’s face.

The Divine Guardian remained silent, offering no further words.

The Little Prince snorted, “That Underworld God Monkey threatened us—saying he’d eliminate everyone around me, jeopardizing my participation in the conference.”

“It’s too late now, isn’t it?”

The Little Prince chuckled.

“Little Prince, that’s trivial. What truly matters is the Temple Spirit Resonance. Old Prince has high hopes for you—give it your all.”

“At the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince Bizarre Temple, endowed with the Four-Yu Temple Spirit legacy, once acquired, your future could even surpass that of the other heirs.”

The Divine Guardian said seriously.

“Even if you don’t acquire the full legacy, obtaining the additional Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel hidden within the Bizarre Temple would suffice.”

The Little Prince ceased smiling.

His expression turned solemn.

“I won’t let Father down.”

……

……

Atop Golden Light Peak.

The Divine Temple’s gates swung wide open.

Nan Lihuo, his white hair flying, walked out with his hands behind his back, while Wang Kuyu—whose whereabouts had been uncertain—now appeared at the Divine Temple entrance.

“They’ve arrived—the true elder is here.”

Wang Kuyu murmured.

“Another Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel has also appeared.”

Nan Lihuo whispered.

“Yes… it is precisely because of this Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel that our Qianyuan Divine Sect can initiate the Temple Spirit Resonance of this Four-Yu Bizarre Temple…”

Wang Kuyu’s eyes grew deep and profound.

“The Head Monitor said that during this Temple Spirit Resonance Conference at the Four-Yu Bizarre Temple in Jingguang Prefecture, a legacy would be bestowed—though who would receive it remains unknown.”

“People from all factions have arrived.”

“There’s also Ji Mo Li’s son, along with scions from ancient Daocheng families. The Temple Guardian Division even brought a prodigy from the Divine Capital—rumored to wield purple qi a thousand feet high!”

“Additionally, the Corpse God Sect’s Yuan Jingang… also brought a meticulously chosen Lingying Infant.”

“And the royal family…”

Wang Kuyu abruptly fell silent.

Nan Lihuo’s eyes flickered.

The Grand Ancestral Royal Family…

He exhaled as his gaze turned beyond the storm.

“I believe in my disciples.”

After his words fell silent,

Nan Lihuo strode out abruptly.

His long sleeves whipped about as if ancient bells chimed.

The gates of Golden Light Peak swung open instantly.

Allowing the carriage racing along Jingguang Prefecture’s main road to enter without hindrance.

As Qianyuan Divine Sect is the orthodox branch of Jin Guang, Nan Lihuo naturally opened the gates to welcome them.

Such a spectacle shook the entire Jin Guang Branch!

Zheng Lei Peak.

After putting his wife and daughter to sleep, Li Che sat alone under the eave, admiring the rainy curtain while quietly meditating with a heater and hot tea by his side.

“The orthodox sect of Qianyuan Divine Sect has arrived.”

Li Che’s eyes shone open.

In an instant,

the Cosmic Chessboard seemed to spring forth from his brow, expanding to encompass the entirety of Jingguang City.

Capturing everything within its view.

It was as if he had opened a celestial eye, rendering everything crystal clear.

His mighty Primordial Spirit sat regally atop the chessboard, like a deity surveying the mortal world.

He saw it all.

The frenzied charge of the Jiao horses on the Capital’s main road.

He also noticed what lay concealed within the carriage.

A Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, sealed by an elderly man.

……

……

The carriage drove on relentlessly.

The Jiao horses neighed as surges of heat rolled from their nostrils!

The mighty winter rain pounded the carriage roof, slapping against the wheel hub and the sturdy coachman.

The biting winter wind amid the downpour occasionally lifted the curtains.

A glimpse of a rustic long gown could be seen from within the carriage, though the seated figure remained indistinct.

The figure appeared ancient, draped in an old-fashioned robe that fluttered in the winter wind.

Despite the relentless winter rain outside, the elderly man in the carriage remained completely unaware.

His hand, gnarled like an old tree root, clutched a palm-sized, dull golden wheel etched with ancient, profound patterns.

With his other hand, his thumb danced between the creases of his index and middle fingers, continuously working secret hand seals so that the divine energy in the carriage seemed to congeal upon the golden wheel.

Eyes closed, he let the jolts of the carriage lull him as though he were in a deep sleep.

Suddenly.

The golden wheel, sealed in the old man’s palm, suddenly flickered with golden light as its inner and outer rims began to rotate out of sync with a clanging sound.

In an instant, as the golden wheel turned, countless sparks flew out, dancing wildly!

Though his eyes remained shut, his eyelids fluttered rhythmically.

He gradually opened his eyes.

Tilting his head upward, his withered hair whipped wildly.

As if trying to pierce the carriage’s roof.

The rain curtain above the carriage seemed disturbed by an unseen force.

It appeared as if it had been torn apart.

The old man looked up, his hair flying, his gaze more solemn than ever.

The Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel…

Had almost spiraled out of control upon entering Jingguang Prefecture!

Not even when passing by the Jiulong River or gazing at the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple from afar had it ever behaved so erratically…

Also.

Just now…

It was as if a temple spirit sat withered on the clouds…

Peering at him?!

The old man withdrew his gaze, his withered brows furrowing.

“Jingguang Prefecture…”

“How does it seem as if it’s been gripped by a dark hand?”

Seven thousand words—please vote for monthly support, recommend and follow-read! I’m a bit stuck with the writing; slowly refining it. Everyone, please cast your votes so the follow-up stays steady as Old Li continues to shine!