Chapter 219: A Divine Threshold Unleashed

Boom!

The spring rain was split apart, unleashing a volatile and searing divine essence like a black flame lotus blooming between heaven and earth!

With every breath and heartbeat, it burst forth across the Golden Heavenly King’s Tower Plaza.

Swish, swish, swish—

The scorching energy evaporated each droplet as it tumbled down, transforming them into a fine mist that swirled and spread across the entire plaza under the caress of the spring breeze!

The mist spun, as if forming an immense vortex.

Everyone saw within its center a blurry silhouette leaping out with divine power—a miniature divine avatar of XiXi.

One aspect bore six arms and two heads, one with a fierce glare, its skin tinged with a pale blue and two small fangs resembling tiger canines.

The other roared with a bright red face, equally with blue features and fiery hair.

It seemed to stand in place, continuously rotating in a ring-like pattern!

Its six arms extended, some straight, some bent, some clenched into fists, and others forming sword-fingers!

Each movement was striking and full of divine vigor!

The rolling mist churned as turbulent wind and explosive air bursts resounded!

An overwhelming divine aura spread relentlessly, exuding oppressive power!

Boom—!!!

Waves of air surged as countless torrents of rain created ripples in a circular pattern.

Even the parked carriage rocked under the buffeting gusts!

Inside the carriage,

Zhang Ya, her face ashen, gripped Li Che’s shoulder. “Husband… what’s happening with XiXi?”

“XiXi won’t be harmed, right? She looks like she’s in pain…”

Worry was written plainly in Zhang Ya’s eyes.

Seeing their little daughter in distress felt like a knife twisting in her heart.

Li Che patted Zhang Ya’s arm to reassure her.

“XiXi is shattering through the divine foundation stage. Her core isn’t like ordinary ones – she’s breaking through using the Sanqing Technique. It’s arduous, yet for her it’s no issue.”

“This is just the beginning.”

Li Che’s gentle voice carried a trace of divine perception, soothing Zhang Ya’s anxious heart.

Only then did Zhang Ya begin to relax, though her eyes remained tense.

“XiXi’s mortal form is robust. This round of divine foundation… will not injure her.”

Li Che smiled.

Nearby, Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s eyes also brimmed with astonishment.

“A divine foundation in its nascent stage births its own minor divine avatar!”

“This ‘Six-Armed, Two-Headed’ minor divine avatar contains formidable divine power. If XiXi can fully condense her divine foundation and subdue all this power, it will be tremendously beneficial for her!”

“Once she matures and shatters the limits of the Sanqing divine vision to forge the ‘Eight-Armed Three-Faced Divine Vision,’ it will serve as a tremendous asset!”

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu remarked, his gaze fixed intently.

He couldn’t have imagined that XiXi would provoke such a minor divine avatar.

To cultivate the Sanqing Technique and trigger a minor divine avatar while forging her divine foundation…

It meant XiXi had mastered the arcane ‘Eight-Armed Invincible Divine Foundation Method’ with startling profundity!

Her insight was remarkable!

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu couldn’t help but admire the prodigy’s innate talent, a resonance with the Temple Spirit that few could match.

Because the minor divine avatar was so elusive, he wasn’t entirely confident that XiXi could withstand its power.

His only recourse was to release his primordial spirit and use it as a mirror to observe XiXi’s condition, ready to intervene if the backlash grew too severe.

For a divine cultivator, forging one’s core is a momentous, personal event.

Interference from others would only compromise the quality of the foundation.

That would be catastrophic for XiXi’s future!

Rumble, rumble, rumble—!!!

Suddenly, another colossal surge of aura rose from afar, spanning the horizon.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s golden primordial spirit hovered high, scanning ominously as it approached!

These auras reined in automatically upon nearing, careful not to disturb XiXi’s breakthrough.

Li Che’s brow twitched as the Mud Pellet at his forehead stirred; even the Cosmic Chessboard pulsed subtly, expanding its concealed reach.

However, he noted that these newcomers boasted exceptionally potent auras – all were Divine Practitioners, some not even at the first breakthrough of the Primordial Transformation but already Golden Body Transcendence cultivators.

Undoubtedly, they were the outer elders of Qianyuan Divine Sect that Elder Jiao Shaoqiu had sent Nie Yang to notify.

“Great Elder, we’ve heard a prodigy is about to break through the divine foundation using the Sanqing Technique, and we are here…”

“To witness this moment.”

Someone arrived stepping on swirling clouds, accompanied by a little child.

One, two, three…

Their numbers kept growing.

Some flew in on swords, others rode on tumbling branches or even surging water beneath their feet…

All wielding the Divine Secret Technique to its fullest.

Uniformly, each arrived with a young child in tow.

These children were the true focus of today’s audience.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu nodded slightly.

“You all know the rules. I need not repeat them.”

Even though he was an outer elder and was about to step back due to injuries that had reduced him to the Primordial Transformation stage, his stature and standing ensured none dared act rashly.

His primordial spirit’s eyes opened and closed as streams of light swept past.

Frowning, he murmured, “Only you have come? Not a single inner elder, not even one prodigy from the Dragon Child Register?”

Nie Yang returned, his expression impassive. A flash of sword light danced beside Elder Jiao Shaoqiu in the carriage before vanishing silently back into its sheath.

“They say it will be sorted when XiXi appears on the Dragon Child Register.”

Nie Yang replied softly.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s withered face showed little regret as he said, “True enough—though a divine foundation forged with the Sanqing Method holds little allure for those prodigies on the register.”

“Even though XiXi, within the Jingguang Pavilion’s Temple Spirit Resonance, has outclassed many prodigies in Jingguang City, she remains relatively unheralded in Daocheng.”

“Well… when XiXi truly poses a threat, they will have no choice but to act.”

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu originally intended for XiXi to spark some competition among these prodigies, spurring them to strive harder in the upcoming sect master disciple trials so that the Master’s direct disciples would all come from within Qianyuan Divine Sect.

He longed to secure that coveted spot for his own disciples.

Ignoring the others, he reasoned that even a few prodigies on the outer Dragon Child Register could be stirred into action.

Yun’e and Zhou Peng had also arrived.

Zhou Peng trailed behind Wang Kuyu, who sported a gentle smile beneath his Taoist robe as he casually flicked his dust whip.

Yun’e was beside a refined female cultivator in an elegant goose-yellow dress, a long-time elder of the Yun Family within the Divine Sect.

Around the Golden Heavenly King’s Tower Plaza, a crowd had gathered.

All eyes fixed on the tiny XiXi and the spectacle of forging her divine foundation!

From cultivating Yangxing Ruhe to forging one’s divine foundation, it was a perilous, all-consuming process.

At this stage, without yet manifesting Divine Perception, one’s consciousness was easily overwhelmed – even misled – by the divine force, plunging one into chaos.

Back in Feilei City, so many disciples from prominent families had stalled at this crucial step.

Many hadn’t succeeded; their bodies were overtaken by divine essence, driving them to madness and eventual ruin.

Countless gazes swept over XiXi, whose minor divine avatar of six arms and two faces formed from the divine essence.

Numerous prodigies began to show subtle changes in their expressions.

A minor divine avatar?!

No…

Was this a breakthrough of the divine foundation?

If she couldn’t suppress this minor divine avatar, this little girl wouldn’t just fail to forge her foundation – she might even be overtaken by it!

Ultimately, she risked becoming a slave to the divine force. Even if saved, her life would be ruined!

This was why many cultivators forbade their juniors from advancing too far with the Divine Essence Technique.

Without sufficient control, pushing beyond one’s limits could invite disastrous backlash.

There were indeed instances of the Sanqing Divine Foundation Method within the Mountain Gate of the Divine Sect.

But truly forging the Sanqing divine foundation was reserved for only the top ten prodigies on the Dragon Child Register.

For a moment, many prodigies regarded the scene with mixed amusement.

Observing the spectacle?

Or witnessing a downfall?!

Suddenly, many of the prodigies burst into exclamations.

They turned their heads to see several streams of light cascading from the edge of the Golden Heavenly King’s Tower Plaza.

Among them was Wei He, the Pre-Heaven Master leading the Jingguang City caravan, accompanied by a child of seven or eight.

“That’s the prodigy from the tenth rank of the Dragon Child Register, Zhong Yuhuo! Seems he’s already sworn fealty to one of the inner four elders!”

“And Zuo Banxiang, ranked ninth on the register, likewise sworn to one of the inner three elders!”

“Is that… Chi Chengyan? Ranked eighth on the register?”

Suddenly…

All voices trembled.

“That’s the prodigy of the Su Family from Daocheng? Su Chuyang, ranked third on the register! How did he get here?”

In an instant, many prodigies gasped and stared into the distance.

……

……

Li Che, too, sensed that those prodigies brought to witness the event were eagerly anticipating a show.

It seemed that once XiXi manifested her minor divine avatar, their confidence in her breakthrough wavered.

Amid the crescendo of exclamations, Li Che noticed several inner register prodigies.

Gaining entry to the Dragon Child Register meant one had established a divine foundation and earned recognition with the inscription “Qiankun Daoyun” from the Divine Sect Mountain Gate.

“Third on the register?”

Even Li Che felt a stir of surprise at the title.

He turned and saw a small figure standing on the lavish carriage’s front board in the distance.

The child, clad in a white robe and holding an oil-paper umbrella, was diminutive yet striking.

For a moment, Li Che was stunned…

“Su Huai Li?”

Li Che’s eyes sharpened instantly.

This child… so much resembled Su Huai Li!

“The prodigy of the Su Family in Daocheng?”

Li Che quickly gathered his thoughts.

He had already learned of Su Huai Li before, and even prepared for this very moment.

Despite Su Huai Li being a collateral from the Su Family, their ties had always been amiable.

Before dispatching Su Huai Li, Li Che had even anticipated this possibility.

Yet, Su Huai Li had clearly placed his trust in You Liqing’s abilities; who would have thought You Liqing would fail to protect him?

“In Daocheng, the family hierarchy is ‘One Supreme, Three Great.’ The Su Family, a three-thousand-year lineage, stands above the Zhou, Zhong, and Yun families — each a thousand-year lineage.”

Li Che slowly withdrew his gaze, no longer focusing on the child resembling Su Huai Li.

Just then, a soft voice emanated from within the carriage.

“Chuyang, come into the cabin.”

Upon hearing this, Su Chuyang paused and slipped back into the carriage.

Inside, an elder sat upright. Like Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, he wore a simple, ancient robe. His features were withered, yet his aura was far deeper and more commanding.

“Earlier… there was a murderous intent.”

“Although it wasn’t aimed at you, it did involve you…”

The elder murmured softly.

“Just observe in the cabin… this little girl, hailing from Jingguang City, has outstripped not only Ji Mo Li’s son, Ji Haihui, but even Tie Shancai from Divine Capital and that down-and-out young prince, becoming the inheritor of the Third Prince’s Temple Spirit legacy.”

“Her breakthrough into the divine foundation is promising. You should observe closely.”

“Your primary objective is still to gain entry into the Master of the Sect’s inner disciples.”

Su Chuyang replied with respect, clasping his fists. “Yes, Elder.”

……

……

XiXi’s little face flushed scarlet, the Mud Pellet on her brow swelling as the dark Yulian divine pattern emerged, as if black flames were erupting from within.

A black, fiery lotus took shape all around her!

The surrounding mist churned as XiXi lifted her head, fixated on the six-armed, two-faced minor divine avatar!

She knew that to forge her divine foundation, she had to subdue this avatar and integrate it within her core.

Only then could her divine foundation be considered complete.

Otherwise, it would be a failure!

Forging her divine foundation was a self-challenge!

XiXi believed in herself—she would make it!

Boom!

With the force of a snapping lotus, her arms shot out like thick roots. Her fists clenched, and faint images of the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear and a Gold Brick shimmered along her arms!

“Come on!”

“Take this!”

XiXi’s qi surged, a powerful torrent bursting forth. A meridian was pierced, energy flaring as the little girl stepped forward on the swirling mist.

She swung her fist, smashing into the six-armed, two-faced minor divine avatar!

A wild, chaotic collision ensued!

Boom—!!!

Her punch sent the very air into a pained wail. The scorching wind rose violently, sweeping across the land!

The minor divine avatar, its blue features twisted in rage, roared as if launching a phantom Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear directly at XiXi!

In an instant, the spear’s aura rushed like a wild wind, sealing off the air around her.

Yet XiXi roared and struck out with an unyielding fist!

Thud—!

There was no finesse at all!

The punch collided with the phantom spear; the minor divine avatar trembled violently and the illusion of the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear shattered, only to be replaced by the emergence of a Yin Divine Sword, which too was smashed apart by her blow!

XiXi, wielding both a divine weapon and her innate might, pushed her mortal form to the realm of true masters—fearless and indomitable!

Her relentless strikes, bolstered by the power of a genuine divine weapon, were unstoppable!

In its final act of resistance, the minor divine avatar unleashed all its divine arms, each wielding a weapon formed of divine essence, whirling towards XiXi.

But XiXi swiftly kicked out.

Accompanied by the rapid, trembling hum of the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel—as sparks flew like fireflies—

it erupted straight from her feet.

In an instant, it ran over the minor divine avatar!

The avatar exploded instantly!

It disintegrated into a torrent of divine essence that cascaded down, forming a black lotus core nearly as large as a grinding mill!

The surface of the divine foundation was even imprinted with the pattern of the six-armed, two-faced avatar.

Blazing black flames shot upward.

XiXi stood proudly with her arms akimbo, patting her little belly, and turned excitedly towards Li Che and Zhang Ya.

“Father, Mother! I did it!”

With both hands on her hips, a divine foundation in the shape of a Yulian lotus floated behind her, enveloped in rolling black flames.

A smile instantly spread across Li Che’s face.

Just as he had predicted.

There was no suspense, no fancy tricks—almost a one-sided triumph…

With a mortal body harboring three mythic divine weapons, how could a minor divine avatar possibly restrain her?

Now Li Che was already fretting; if XiXi truly mastered the ‘Eight-Armed Three-Faced Divine Vision’ in the future, with only two divine weapons on her arms, things would get complicated.

As a father, he’d have his work cut out for him—he’d need to gather the remaining divine weapons from the Third Prince’s other sets!

“The Qiankun Vajra Circle is housed within the Dragon Abyss Path…”

“Within my Cosmic Chessboard lies a Yin Divine Sword. Once I fully erase the martial genius will of Ji Mo Li from it, I can present it to the little one.”

Li Che’s thoughts betrayed his worries as he began to fret about assembling a full suit of divine weapons for his daughter.

Next to him, Zhang Ya exhaled a long sigh of relief.

“It’s done! XiXi succeeded!”

“Husband! Our XiXi forged her divine foundation at just four years old!”

Zhang Ya was in disbelief, feeling a touch lightheaded.

Was her daughter really this incredible?!

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s suspended primordial spirit gleamed with golden light as it returned to his body, a surprised smile crossing his withered features.

He had thought XiXi’s subjugation of the minor divine avatar would be no easy feat.

Instead…

XiXi had utterly overpowered it. The trial posed by the Sanqing Divine Foundation Method was completely trivial for this little girl.

“The second round of the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel—she actually managed to control it barely!”

“No wonder it was so effortless.”

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu exhaled deeply.

This time, inviting spectators had clearly paid off.

This little girl… was perfectly in tune with a mythic divine weapon.

A thought sparked in his eyes.

“The Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel is a pair… is there any way to separate them?”

“Given how well XiXi meshes with this weapon, perhaps we can persuade those stubborn old dogs to hand it over to her.”

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s thoughts grew increasingly bold.

With so many witnesses present, they could truly create a buzz. Once XiXi joined the inner disciples, it might just be possible!

Of course, he knew how difficult this matter was.

After all, among those few old dogs, one had his eyes set on the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, determined to master this Four-Yu Divine Weapon and shatter higher realms.

Rumble, rumble—

Just as everyone marveled at XiXi’s effortless forging of the Sanqing-level divine foundation,

a resounding roar echoed from the Mountain Gate.

Everyone turned to look in the direction of the inscription above the gate.

There, from within the inscription, a domineering, low, dragon-like roar shattered the silence and soared into the heavens.

“The cosmos trembles—Dragon Child ascends to the skies!”

“A great change has occurred in the Dragon Child Register!”

“Could it be… that this four-year-old girl, fresh from forging her divine foundation, has already entered the Dragon Child Register?”

Numerous children erupted in astonished chatter.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, watching the fading spectacle with a radiant smile on his withered face, said,

“Nie Yang, go to the gate and copy down the new Dragon Child Register list.”

Upon hearing this, Nie Yang clasped his hands and transformed into a swift beam of sword light before dashing off.

Meanwhile, some of the outer elders present could hardly sit still; they quickly made their way toward the gate’s inscription.

The spring rain pattered softly onto the ground.

The vast expanse of the Golden Heavenly King’s Tower Plaza grew lively as the children brought to witness XiXi’s forging of her divine foundation chattered excitedly.

XiXi’s state of mind was joyous indeed.

She felt even stronger—if she grew a bit more, next time her father would have to spank her before she could possibly resist!

Li Che ruffled XiXi’s head as he scooped her up, his Unsullied Heart divine essence swirling out to help restore her qi and settle the fluctuations caused by her newly forged Yulian divine foundation.

It only took a moment.

In the distance, the spring rain appeared to part like a curtain.

Nie Yang, leading the charge on his sword, returned swiftly, landing atop the parted rain. His body surged with potent qi as he tamed the wild torrents.

“Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, the Dragon Child Register has indeed been updated.”

Nie Yang handed over the freshly copied register to Elder Jiao Shaoqiu.

The elder accepted it unhurriedly.

Li Che’s divine perception swept over the list, examining it carefully.

“Dragon Child Register – First: Lü Qingxuan, Nine Years Old.”

“Second: Yang Yi, Nine Years Old.”

“Third: Li Nuǎnxi, Four Years Old.”

……

Third on the Dragon Child Register!

XiXi ranked third on the register?!

Even Li Che was slightly taken aback—both surprised and delighted!

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s murky eyes also betrayed a hint of disbelief.

“Third?”

Though Elder Jiao Shaoqiu had immense faith in XiXi’s talent,

suddenly landing at third left him somewhat unprepared.

That ranking was extraordinarily high!

No wonder the Qiankun Daoyun inscription erupted in a magnificent Dragon Child Ascension spectacle!

It signified a prodigy emerging from the depths—a breathtaking debut.

Soaring to the heavens in one explosive moment!

XiXi, by leaping straight to third, bumped Su Chuyang down from the top three.

Subsequently, all other prodigies were demoted by one rank.

Even a prodigy originally placed at 30th on the register…

simply vanished from it!

Such a dramatic shift… was monumental!

“Hahaha, excellent!”

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu stroked his beard and burst into hearty laughter, clearly in high spirits.

He had indeed secured an outstanding recruit for the Divine Sect!

His expedition to Jingguang Mansion had been immensely fruitful!

Now, Elder Jiao Shaoqiu looked forward with growing anticipation—could XiXi eventually contend for the sect master’s direct disciple spot?

As an outer elder of the Divine Sect, his entire life was devoted to the sect.

He could never allow the Master’s direct disciple title to fall into outsiders’ hands.

……

……

In the distance, a carriage.

The spring water, woven into a drenching curtain, washed over it.

Inside, the carriage curtains slowly descended.

Su Chuyang sat in the plush cabin, his gaze distant and a bit dazed.

“I’ve slipped to fourth…”

“I can’t believe I was outdone?”

Su Chuyang murmured.

The evaluation of the Dragon Child Register was based on the Master’s divine weapon inscription left by the sect’s founder.

It almost never erred; in essence, Su Chuyang’s innate talent and overall battle prowess were deemed inferior to that of the little girl who had just forged her divine foundation.

“To forge a divine foundation and immediately rank third… this little girl must possess an extraordinarily high aptitude.”

An elder in the carriage also showed a trace of astonishment.

The Qiankun Daoyun’s judgment was infallible.

It indicated that Li Nuǎnxi’s battle power had surpassed Su Chuyang’s—unless Su Chuyang resorted to external aids like divine vision emblems, Blood-Boosting Pills, or Strengthening Pills.

Otherwise, Su Chuyang simply couldn’t overcome this little girl.

The nine-year-old prodigy of the Su Family…

couldn’t possibly best a little girl!

The elder drew a deep breath, his eyes flickering before turning to the head bowed, dejected Su Chuyang.

“Elder… do I still stand a chance?”

Su Chuyang looked up at the elder, his voice laced with both confusion and insecurity.

He was unwilling to accept defeat.

But what could he do?

The judgment of the Qiankun Daoyun—since time immemorial, it had never been mistaken.

“A chance? None whatsoever… unless you can achieve a breakthrough in three days. Otherwise, the Dragon Child Register deems you weaker than her, and you are indeed weaker.”

“Even if she has only just forged her divine foundation… this is the ultimate authority.”

The elder said calmly.

“But just because the register rates you lower doesn’t mean your future is sealed. Remember Huang Jianjiu—once ranked near the bottom of the register, he eventually rose to become the second progeny on the true register.”

“There have been those who came from behind!”

Su Chuyang’s trembling frame gradually steadied as a spark of defiance flickered within him.

“But… such a heavenly favored girl shouldn’t incite such rivalry.”

The elder took a sip of freshly brewed tender green tea, his eyes thoughtful as he continued,

“Charm her with affection.”

“Make her fall hopelessly in love—so that one day she marries into our Su Family. With her talent combined with yours, the offspring will be nothing short of extraordinary.”

Su Chuyang was momentarily dumbfounded.

“Elder… but she’s only four.”

Gazing out the window with deep, inscrutable eyes, the elder replied,

“Four is perfect—a blank slate. If you begin nurturing her affection from an early age, like cultivating green plums, it won’t take much effort for her to be thoroughly devoted to the Su Family bloodline.”

“Like Huang Jianjiu’s cherished green plums…”

“Your elder brother certainly labored for that…”

“And besides, when such a heavenly favored girl eventually possesses the Su Family’s secret—combining with our Divine Secret Technique—the resultant elixir will be a miracle beyond compare…”

……

……

The spring rain continued its gentle patter on the carriage roof, creating a crisp, melodious sound.

Li Che, cradling XiXi inside, sat upright in the carriage, laughing and chatting with his excited wife, Zhang Ya. Yet, on closer inspection…

one could detect a glint of icy coldness in his eyes.

A silent, menacing aura of impending slaughter lurked beneath, as if his true intentions were far more ruthless.

Even the divine image within the Mud Pellet at his brow seemed poised to beat his chest in a roar!

“Four is perfect—a blank slate?”

“Old fool! You old beard, you scoundrel!”

“Isn’t that so?!”

Seven-Thousand Words – This chapter hit a word limit. After some edits and a few dizzy spells from the medicine, I managed to finish yesterday’s portion. Two more updates and another fifteen thousand words await today. Please vote monthly, recommend, and support the chase!