Chapter 213: Mysteries of the Rabbit Temple
by xennovelWithin the twisting, dreamlike halls of the Rabbit Temple.
Inside this small temple, flickering lights and a gentle breeze from outside create rippling currents in the air.
Li Che pressed down on his bamboo hat; beneath the Ogre Mask his eyes gleamed as the Cosmic Chessboard unfurled, ensnaring the entire temple and cutting off all prying gazes.
This was but a preliminary defense. Outside, the Bizarre Temple and swirling mists provided the best safeguard – ordinary cultivators’ spiritual essences could never pierce through the mists into the temple.
Rumbling—
In Mud Pellet Palace, a cultivator’s spiritual sight opened wide, clearly sensing the terrified trembling of the Rabbit Temple Spirit.
That divine aura of the temple spirit burst out like rapidly expanding ripples.
Barely daylight had arrived when Li Che followed the scent here by night.
In fact…
Li Che began to suspect whether the temple spirits might be connected – could it be that this Rabbit Temple Spirit sensed the temple deity summoned by his own startling divine vision?
At night the temple appeared even more desolate. A circle of white candles scattered light into every darkened corner of the altar, around which the Rabbit Temple Spirit stood encircled by flickering flames.
“Don’t be afraid,”
Li Che chuckled as he gazed at the trembling statue of the temple spirit.
In an instant he recalled: the Rabbit is the temple spirit of the Seven-Yuan Mysterious Temple, while the Flaming-Eyed Astounding Divine Monkey is the temple spirit of the Eight-Extreme Mysterious Temple.
Ordinarily, the Rabbit should be fearless in the presence of the Divine Monkey.
“Is it the Qi Tian Face?”
“Another temple spirit that has been struck by the monkey?”
After a moment of thought, Li Che understood the source of the Rabbit’s fear.
It was reminiscent of the furious glare of the Golden Heavenly King in his temple long ago.
To test his theory, Li Che focused his thoughts, and the Cosmic Chessboard shrank, sealing away the Qi Tian Face.
Thud—!
In that instant,
an uncanny silence fell over the entire temple.
A deathly stillness reigned—even the crisp sound of spring rain tapping on black tiles became startlingly clear.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
Moisture and dust stirred by a soft breeze; spiderwebs in the corners swayed, emitting faint, audible creaks.
Tiny droplets continuously trickled down the black eaves of the temple.
Tap, tap…
It sounded as if something was slowly drawing near.
Li Che felt goosebumps crawl over his skin; even his indomitable Grandmaster Qi seemed to freeze like shards of ice, unable to flow through his meridians!
And yet…
When Li Che looked up, the Rabbit Temple Spirit atop the altar had vanished.
That temple deity—a striking figure with a rabbit’s head, clad in feminine attire with a graceful form—had inexplicably disappeared as if in the blink of an eye.
Li Che frowned and glanced toward a flickering white candle whose light revealed the Rabbit Temple Spirit grinning widely, exposing three-parted lips and, beneath the flowing garments, terrifying muscles pulsing like coiled dragons.
“Roar—!!!”
Tilting his head, the spirit let out a ferocious bellow!
“How dare you bully me?!”
Bang!
With terrifying speed, the Rabbit erupted into countless afterimages, each so swift that the air itself seemed to shatter!
Waves of air burst outward in every direction!
Beneath his Ogre Mask, Li Che’s muscles quivered as he initiated the Dragon Elephant Vajra Transformation!
Blazing Qi and divine might lashed out like whips, erupting like a volcanic explosion!
Yet the lithe, graceful Rabbit suddenly swelled and, akin to a gilded clay figure, unleashed a cutting force as sharp as sword energy!
Rip—
Li Che’s ink-dark robe was sliced open with multiple cuts!
Sword energy spewed out, entwining with the Rabbit’s fist, slicing the air so fiercely that even the sound of the explosion could not keep pace with the spirit’s speed!
The overwhelming divine pressure descended on Li Che like a mountain crashing into his heart.
It was as if a raging storm had erupted in a serene lake, with countless bursts of divine power exploding!
Li Che staggered back; his eyes shone brightly as if aflame.
The blazing, awe-inspiring image of the Divine Monkey surged forth!
In an instant, the divine visage materialized!
“Screech—!!!”
The Divine Monkey’s form screamed as its fingers clenched, coalescing divine might into a golden staff that hurtled toward the Rabbit Temple Spirit!
Bang—!!!
The collision of divine forces sent shockwaves trembling through the air, rippling like expanding waves!
“Traitor monkey—deceitful to the rabbit!”
Meanwhile,
Li Che’s fist met that of the Rabbit Temple Spirit with tremendous impact.
Boom!
It was a collision of Qi and divine might on the highest level!
Like thunder shattering the heart,
the moment their gazes met, the rabbit’s blood-red eyes radiated endless resentment and hatred!
It was as if countless vengeful ghosts were howling, ready to snuff out Li Che’s martial spirit like a fragile candle in a tempest!
The temple spirit’s will!
A Seven-Yuan temple spirit whose supremacy rivaled that of a Grandmaster wielding thirty-six divine auras or a Divine Practitioner whose spiritual self had reached perfection!
Yet Li Che remained unflinching, his fighting spirit intensifying!
That martial will, as fragile as a flickering candle, suddenly roared to life as the Wanlong Fushen Martial Saint True Intention surged forth!
Behind Li Che, a resplendent golden resonance of Dragon Elephants filled the air!
A Divine Monkey clutched a prized staff, and with a thunderous sweep, it sent waves crashing like tidal surges!
Wanhuo Dragon Elephant and the Hun Yuan Qi Tian Gun!
The three supreme martial techniques merged, fusing into Li Che’s indomitable martial will!
Bang—!!!
It was as if a mighty gale had swept in; dragons roared in the wind, coalescing before exploding in a cataclysmic burst.
The Rabbit Temple Spirit was physically overpowered by Li Che’s relentless assault!
A temple spirit invincible on its own level?
It simply had never met Li Che!
His five fingers curled around the Xuan Jing Eight-Treasure Thunder Dragon Staff!
Sssst—
Energy and Qi twirled around the Thunder Dragon Staff, as if countless bolts were dancing in unison!
It was a finishing move—Qi Tian!
Li Che struck with a decisive, deadly blow!
Countless staff afterimages whirled wildly, converging into one powerful blow that shattered the surrounding air!
It erupted into a blinding cascade of white, roaring like the waves of the ocean!
It was as if…
the very heavens and earth trembled, crumbling beneath the assault!
One massive strike brought the Rabbit Temple Spirit’s blood-red stare to a halt as shock and awe surged forth!
The roar of a tempest, the crack of sonic booms!
The Thunder Dragon danced wildly!
The muscular, imposing form of the Rabbit Temple Spirit finally betrayed a hint of bewilderment.
That one familiar blow!
Then it was as if thunder exploded before it—sending tremors through the very foundation of the temple!
Li Che did not give the Rabbit Temple Spirit a chance to recover—a single blow was unleashed.
He then stepped forward with force!
In a flash, five afterimages tore through the void, appearing right before the Rabbit Temple Spirit!
A long bellow erupted as, beneath his black-clad Ogre Mask, Li Che’s body ignited with a red, molten glow, like a furnace spewing torrents of lava!
Wanlong Fushen!
With his toes barely touching the temple floor, it seemed as if the ground would collapse under his power, crisscrossed by webs of cracks!
His overwhelming presence soared anew!
Countless dragon silhouettes burst around the temple while unyielding candlelight flickered, making the temple’s shadows dance wildly!
A dazzling display of Qi and the Three-Yuan Divine Might illuminated the entire cavern!
When the light finally faded,
upon the altar the Rabbit Temple Spirit stood silently, flanked by an ancient cassia tree.
Only Li Che’s overwhelming Qi and blood energy raged and intertwined, stirring an uproar like a violent storm.
The temple’s structure was remarkably resilient; even under the onslaught of Li Che’s power, the ancient blue bricks on the floor remained unbroken.
Flowing like dragons, Li Che, behind his Ogre Mask and massive as a tower, glared coldly at the Rabbit Temple Spirit.
“Invincible on the same level…”
“Not bad at all.”
Li Che exhaled deeply.
The Three-Yuan Divine Might was truly formidable—even the temple spirit’s power was comparable.
Having sufficiently tested it, Li Che ceased his relentless attacks on the temple spirit.
The Rabbit Temple Spirit, meanwhile, no longer wished to continue fighting.
So long as it hadn’t been smashed to pieces by this barbaric mortal, it would remain invincible on its level.
A deep fissure split the Ogre Mask on Li Che’s face as his brow furrowed!
“Star Plucking Gaze!”
Endless analyses, soul-draining insights!
Beneath the mask, flesh seemed to tear aside as an eye spun rapidly, with streams of golden mist cascading down.
Li Che stepped forward and reappeared atop the altar.
The Rabbit Temple Spirit trembled violently, resisting with all its might!
Li Che released his suppression of the Qi Tian Face and slowly extended his hand to press upon the temple spirit’s head…
“Be good.”
“Or I’ll take you to meet the boss and let you taste some spicy rabbit head.”
Boom—!!!
Divine prowess.
Summoning the Divine!
…
…
Outside the winding corridors of the Rabbit Temple.
Two figures appeared almost simultaneously, landing on the edge of the Bizarre Temple.
They were none other than Grand Commander Wu Gang of the Temple Guardian Division and Elder Yun Tai Shan of the Yun Family.
Both masters of formidable power now bore expressions of surprise and grave concern.
This Seven-Yuan Mysterious Temple, although not the primary temple under their jurisdiction, was linked to their real target – the Six-Si temple of the “Yu Kong Qiong Lou Guanghan Immortal” beyond the Great Lake!
Yet the sudden events at this temple left them bewildered.
“What’s going on?”
“Is it about to erupt?”
Grand Commander Wu Gang furrowed his brow.
Elder Yun Tai Shan also looked perplexed – what sort of madness had overtaken that rabbit?
Suddenly,
both men’s faces changed dramatically.
They saw the mists of the Bizarre Temple swell violently, growing in strength…
Until they formed an enormous, white, expanding sphere!
“Damn it!”
Their eyes narrowed in unison.
In the next moment, Wu Gang’s innate divine aura burst forth in dazzling splendor, cleaving the mists in two. His foot slammed down, and the ground began to collapse, crisscrossed by cracking spiderwebs.
Elder Yun Tai Shan, with his golden, sculpted form, stepped forward. Countless divine energies poured forth from the radiant spiritual self behind him, tearing apart the mists of the Bizarre Temple!
The two masters were launched like cannonballs into the midst of the sanctuary.
The rolling mists swallowed them whole.
But…
Before long, the two burst forth in a frenzied escape!
Amidst the tumult, it appeared as if a green finger had tore through the barrier beyond the Bizarre Temple, descending to Earth!
Boom—!!!
Above the vaulting heavens, black clouds had inexplicably gathered. The thick, rolling clouds pressed down as if suffocating the world.
Thump-thump—
Spring rain pounded down relentlessly.
Grand Commander Wu Gang and Elder Yun Tai Shan from the Temple Guardian Division, ignoring their own muddy, soiled forms, were hurled out of the temple’s confines, tumbling and rolling on the ground.
They forgot to shield themselves, letting the rain mix with mud as it pelted their bodies in utter disarray.
The clamor immediately alerted the temple emissaries and the powerful retainers of the Yun Family stationed within.
The sound of shattering air echoed ceaselessly.
Figures tore through the rain curtain, smashing through the spring shower to reach the hapless Wu Gang and Yun Tai Shan.
They barely had time to register their shock before slowly looking upward to see the Rabbit Temple, with its black tiles, vermilion walls, and flying eaves, collapsing in a thunderous cascade.
Finally…
Swallowed by the mists, it vanished without a trace.
Engulfed by a massive vortex,
the Seven-Yuan Mysterious Temple simply disappeared from the world!
As if the temple, which had once struggled to sprout like a bamboo shoot from the Bizarre Temple, had fallen back into oblivion.
Everyone stood stunned in silence.
Wu Gang, neglecting the mud that clung to him, stood on the empty grounds where the Bizarre Temple, the mists, and the temple had all vanished.
His whole body felt ice-cold.
“Something’s wrong…”
“This is disastrous!”
…
…
Boom—!!!
In Tinglei Alley of the Private Workshop Courtyard,
spring rain pounded down.
In an instant, Li Che emerged, maintaining his firm grip on the Feilei Chess Piece as he returned from the ruined Rabbit Temple.
Removing his mask and gathering his hat,
Li Che sat beneath an eave, exhaling a long puff of steaming breath.
Above him, thunderous clouds roiled as if the heavens were enraged, though no one knew what had invoked this wrath.
Li Che’s eyes were filled with solemn gravity; his fingers clenched until cold sweat gathered in his palms.
“It’s that green finger again,”
“Tearing through the Bizarre Temple and descending as if the heavens themselves rejected it…”
“Terrifying—if it hits me, my very flesh might burst into a haze of blood in an instant.”
Li Che did not even need to approach; the quivering of his five Dao Fruits was enough to reveal the terror contained within that finger.
It was a power not of this world!
“I’ve summoned the temple spirit away. Has the temple collapsed? No… It seems to have lost its pillar and sunk back into the Bizarre Temple. I could almost see the temple shatter into pieces under that fearsome force.”
Li Che closed his eyes.
Both the Dragon Elephant Vajra and the Chess Sage Dao Fruit pulsated with energy.
“What secrets does the Bizarre Temple hold?”
“Are the various sanctuaries interconnected?”
Li Che reopened his eyes.
These doubts were even murkier than the swirling mists, clouding his mind beyond clear comprehension.
“Hoo—”
“Sigh—”
In the courtyard, each breath stirred a fierce wind that scattered the spring rain.
Li Che calmed his mind, his eyes no longer preoccupied by the enigmatic terror of the Bizarre Temple.
“The Mysterious Temple has vanished… This incident is far from minor. If I continue acting as an Imperial Watch Second-Rank Official and the temple keeps disappearing, sooner or later it will come back to haunt me.”
In this world, the mysterious temple was a persistent scourge.
If it were discovered that Li Che held the means to dispel the temple…
He could scarcely imagine what fate would ultimately befall him.
“Continuing like this… won’t do.”
“I’ll need to switch identities, or perhaps infiltrate quietly…”
Li Che’s eyes glittered as he began to contemplate his next moves.
His calculations complete,
Li Che’s spiritual self mirrored on the Cosmic Chessboard, and when he opened his eyes he saw the Rabbit Temple Spirit – a woman-headed rabbit – standing there, exuding overwhelming divine power that crushed the board’s lines.
“I summoned you because it seems another temple spirit is watching me…”
Li Che spoke softly to the Rabbit Temple Spirit.
But the spirit offered no response – like a lifeless object.
Li Che paid it no heed.
“Could it be the temple spirit from the Six-Si of the ‘Yu Kong Qiong Lou Guanghan Immortal’ Mysterious Temple?”
He murmured.
The Rabbit Temple Spirit shuddered briefly before settling once more, confirming his suspicion.
Surely such an earnest rabbit wouldn’t fake its shuddering to deceive him?
“Six-Si Mysterious Temple…”
Li Che’s eyes narrowed. The temple spirit of the Six-Si Mysterious Temple likely wielded the strength of a Innate Grandmaster or even a Golden Body Divine Practitioner – perhaps even beyond.
It all depended on the temple’s rank.
For now, the Seven-Yuan Mysterious Temple was dangerous yet controllable; however, the risk posed by the Six-Si temple was far greater.
Sitting cross-legged beneath the eave, rain streaming in droplets,
thunder and lightning reverberated ceaselessly.
Li Che’s mind stirred.
Within the Mud Pellet’s inner realm, layers of divine foundations unfurled from his back like a peacock’s resplendent tail!
“The Hundred-Turns Melancholy Cassia Rabbit… can integrate with the Sorrowful Divine Foundation.”
Li Che closed his eyes.
The next moment, the power of Summoning exploded; unseen divine threads materialized from his divine foundation, snaking out to entangle the Rabbit Temple Spirit.
Slowly, bit by bit, they pulled it into his divine foundation.
The Rabbit Temple Spirit could no longer remain defiant – it would not submit as easily as the Flaming-Eyed Astounding Divine Monkey did!
It struggled, desperate to break free of the summoning power!
Li Che’s expression remained impassive and cold.
On his home turf, who dares to defy him?
In an instant, the Qi Tian Face shifted, gradually draping itself over his spiritual self.
In that moment, an overwhelming weight of divine authority poured from the Qi Tian Face!
Golden monkey hair erupted all around; before long, his spiritual self transformed into a true simian, drifting down to confront the Rabbit Temple Spirit with five outstretched fingers as streams of golden light swirled over it.
Then, without hesitation, he struck with a punch!
The Rabbit Temple Spirit let out a piercing scream!
Whoosh—!
As his fist descended, the roar of the wind followed!
The entire Cosmic Chessboard seemed to light up with brilliant fist auras, as if one punch could tear it apart!
Yet…
Just as the fist wind gathered and surged, it halted before the limp Rabbit Temple Spirit.
The gust subsided and vanished without a trace, leaving not even a ripple.
That effortless perfection lit up Li Che’s eyes.
He saw the fist, covered in monkey hair, suspended above the Rabbit Temple Spirit’s head. Slowly, its fingers opened; calm as a mountain in a storm, it withdrew all force as the monkey hair drifted gently.
It lightly landed on the rabbit’s head.
Soft and without violence.
The Rabbit Temple Spirit’s eyes shimmered with tears, and it ceased struggling, surrendering completely to the pull of the Sorrowful Divine Foundation’s summoning power.
However, to fully merge and finish the divine visage carving, more time was needed.
Suddenly,
Li Che, seated silently beneath the eave amid the pounding spring rain, suddenly opened his eyes wide.
His face was covered by golden monkey hair, quickly obscuring his features as if he wore a Divine Monkey Mask.
Boom—!
Li Che’s spine shuddered as a pure, immaculate divine foundation rose behind him like a bright moon over the sea.
Then, the foundation shifted and transformed.
It now bore inscriptions depicting a fierce true simian pounding its chest!
The Manifestation of the True Simian of the Laws of Heaven and Earth!
Transmuted from the Unsullied Heart Divine Foundation!
Li Che’s eyes flew open as divine energy burst from him in a wild torrent.
“It’s done!”
The temple spirit within the Qi Tian Face had completely merged into the Unsullied Heart Divine Foundation!
The Unsullied Heart Divine Foundation…
Was about to form the divine visage!
Li Che grinned broadly, his face flaring with wild monkey hair as the Cosmic Chessboard spread out around him.
Step by step, he advanced to the center of the courtyard as torrents of rain pounded down.
Boom—!!!
Li Che’s fingers clenched; his spiritual self burst forth in radiant brilliance, while his divine perception transformed into a razor-sharp blade.
In that moment, his entire being, his indomitable martial will, surged forth with the might of Dragon Elephant Vajra, Wanlong Fushen, and Hun Yuan Qi Tian!
His Qi burned hot, his flesh swelled as muscles knotted like coiled vines!
The three supreme Martial Saint True Intentions converged into a Three-Yuan Divine Might, erupting like a soaring dragon that shattered the falling rain!
Divine might and divine perception merged into a lethal, sharp blade and violently hacked at his own divine foundation!
The clanging sounds resonated like invisible flames dancing!
This divine foundation was tougher than ever before!
Monkey hair clung to his face, yet Li Che’s eyes burned with a dazzling golden light.
He wouldn’t give in; his Qi was unyielding as he swung at the massive divine foundation hovering in the sky above the courtyard, cleaving it with all his might!
Bang—!
Finally, a terrifying explosion rang out!
Chunks of white Unsullied Heart Divine Foundation shattered away, crashing into the vast sea and sending monstrous waves in their wake!
Then, one arm of the True Simian divine visage emerged, monkey hair billowing as fingers clenched into a fist.
A torrent of divine force surged chaotically. Thunder roared overhead as if summoned by fate to strike the courtyard where Li Che stood.
Fortunately, the Cosmic Chessboard shielded him, as if sparing him from the heavens’ wrath!
Boom—!!!
The resounding explosion shattered with ferocity!
Countless fragments of the Unsullied Heart Divine Foundation burst apart.
At last…
The final head of the True Simian divine visage emerged!
Wild strands of monkey hair flew, arms raised high, fists clenched; muscles like forged steel adorned its chest!
Truly defiant against the heavens and the earth!
Rumbling—!!!
Finally, as the simian head was chiseled free from the divine foundation,
it was as if the most forbidden taboo of all creation had been resurrected!
Amid swelling dark clouds, a bolt of lightning tore across the spring rain,
striking the divine visage of the True Simian with the fury of heavenly retribution!
Yet the True Simian visage remained untouched, leaving only a trace of deep blue lightning arcs, as though its fingers clutched a divine thunderstaff!
It was hoisted skyward!
Boom—!!!
Li Che continuously unleashed divine might, lashing his divine foundation and striking at it relentlessly!
He was perfecting every last detail, chipping away at fragments of the divine foundation!
A master sculptor at work.
Yet carving into divine foundation was no easy feat.
Boom—!!!
When the final fragment of the divine foundation exploded into dust!
Li Che’s heart trembled as he gazed at the dislodged remnants of the Unsullied Heart Divine Foundation clutched by storm and revealed the True Simian divine visage hovering overhead!
In that moment, as the mighty True Simian seemed to spring back to life, its eyes shimmered with both weariness and vitality.
It looked down upon Li Che, whose face bore the mark of the Qi Tian Face.
Li Che’s fingers tightened their grip.
He raised his fist and gently pushed forward.
And the True Simian visage lowered a colossal fist.
A clash of titanic forces—one great and one small.
It was as if the ancient true simian clashed with a mere mountain monkey, spanning the ages.
This was the divine visage that carried the temple spirit’s aura!
Endowed with the Qi Tian Will!
Perhaps…
It was the strongest divine visage of the age!
Six thousand words – though this chapter barely reached that; feverish, unable to subside. Even after taking ibuprofen, the writing wouldn’t flow. Old Li must rest well tonight so that tomorrow he can fight on. Please vote monthly, support with recommendations, and subscribe! We’re still far from reaching ten thousand monthly votes… your support is earnestly requested!