Chapter 236: A Divine Masterpiece Unfolds

“Excellent!”

His voice brimmed with excitement and joy.

The Sect Master’s wife, small in stature with a face adorned in exquisitely mature makeup, broke into a delighted smile.

Her brushwork was divinely inspired—her strokes astoundingly precise!

This kind of natural talent is nothing short of a birthright for a master of divine talismans!

Remember, XiXi is only five years old!

Yet XiXi clutched her wolf-hair brush as if determined to replicate the entire calligraphy copybook.

The difficulty level was undeniably high.

Even her mentor, Xiao Jiao Shaoqiu’s student, at five would likely only achieve similar results, right?

In fact, XiXi wasn’t copying these characters merely because she recognized them—she painted each stroke with a near-artistic flair, mirroring every obscure symbol in the copybook flawlessly.

It was a perfect reproduction!

Such raw talent was ideally suited for divine talisman cultivation!

“Good, good, good!”

“Shaoqiu, thank you. Such a promising seedling… you’ve truly reached my heart,” she praised warmly.

The Sect Master’s wife laughed delightedly.

At that moment, Elder Jiao Shaoqiu grew stunned, completely taken aback.

Was this still the same XiXi?

The XiXi he knew?

But… wasn’t it true that XiXi once could barely even write her own name?

Could it be that she was simply being lazy before?

Jiao Shaoqiu felt as if he finally understood—could it be that this little girl just decided not to bother writing?

And now, with fireworks at stake, XiXi had taken it seriously?

Jiao Shaoqiu explained that if XiXi mastered divine talisman techniques like “Calming the Wind” and “Binding the Immortals,” she could fix her opponent in place, letting her fireworks strike freely.

And now…

XiXi was all ears!

Good girl!

Jiao Shaoqiu stroked his beard and smiled. A huge weight lifted from his heart.

He knew everything was secure…

Passing the Sect Master’s wife’s test meant XiXi would become her disciple and receive divine talisman teachings.

Of course, XiXi could also participate in the Master’s personal assessment!

The Sect Master’s wife wouldn’t stop her—in fact, she highly endorsed it.

Although XiXi learned talisman arts from the Sect Master’s wife, her cultivation wasn’t as advanced as the Sect Master’s own expertise. Becoming a direct disciple would also elevate her status within the Divine Sect with access to richer resources.

Within the Qianyuan Divine Sect, however, because of the Sect Master’s wife’s special status, her disciples were not eligible for the sect’s resource advantages.

Nor could they enjoy the same authentic sect benefits as the disciples of other inner gate elders.

“I accept you, little one,” the Sect Master’s wife declared with satisfaction.

She nodded approvingly.

Her standards were high—not just anyone could become her disciple.

In the isolated Qianyuan Divine Sect, when she took in Jiao Shaoqiu all those years ago, it was merely to repay a favor.

Truth be told, she wasn’t particularly optimistic about Jiao Shaoqiu, and he hadn’t yet mastered his talisman skills.

But this time was different—she felt she had discovered a genius with divine talismans!

In the future, XiXi might even reach heights beyond her own!

And at that moment, XiXi…

was overwhelmed with joy, reveling in the realization that she wasn’t a fool after all.

She looked at her thoughtful little hands gripping the wolf-hair brush, continuously replicating every stroke flawlessly—a performance that left her in awe.

Every exclamation of amazement poured out effortlessly!

Her small chest and belly puffed up even more with pride!

At that, Jiao Shaoqiu exhaled deeply, stepped back two paces, sweat beading on his forehead as he seated himself heavily on the ground.

He looked at XiXi with a satisfied expression.

He had long planned to bring XiXi before the Sect Master’s wife.

In all of Qianyuan Divine Sect, fewer than three people had ever seen this mysterious lady.

And Jiao Shaoqiu was one of them, having once been only half a disciple taken in by her.

XiXi’s talent was obvious. Back in Jingguang City, when she outshone all the other prodigies and clinched first place at the Temple Spirit Resonance, it had already caught his eye.

Since then, he had been scheming.

Now, with the appearance of the Princess from King Ping Luan, Jiao Shaoqiu felt an intense sense of crisis.

It forced him to rush here with XiXi immediately.

Originally… Jiao Shaoqiu had planned to gently awaken XiXi’s calligraphy skills.

But pressed by the Princess, he had to take desperate measures.

And in the end…

XiXi gave him the biggest surprise!

“Teacher…”

“With XiXi by your side, you’ll never be alone again,” he said softly, looking affectionately at the diminutive Sect Master’s wife.

The Sect Master’s wife snorted in response.

“That brat Ji Mo Li, a meddlesome Dragon Consort—if she dares touch my disciple, I’ll kill her son!”

Her expression twisted into a ferocious snarl.

Hearing this, XiXi, having just finished replicating all the characters, excitedly raised her hand high!

“Master!”

“Her son has already been… taken care of!”

XiXi exclaimed excitedly.

The Sect Master’s wife paused.

Jiao Shaoqiu managed a wry smile and nodded.

“I see… then what does that old miserable wretch have to do with my disciple?”

The Sect Master’s wife waved her hand dismissively, “Considering she lost her son, we won’t pursue her for vengeance.”

At that moment, XiXi clenched her wolf-hair brush, looked up with watery eyes full of indignation, her cheeks puffed out.

“Master!”

“Mother Ji Haihui is planning to force me into becoming her daughter-in-law! Even if her son is dead, she still wants to snatch me away!”

XiXi’s voice trembled with grievance.

Though she appeared only three or four years old, the Sect Master’s wife’s mind was centuries old.

Listening to XiXi’s childish words and seeing the little one’s aggrieved face, a surge of anger welled up within her.

“Jiao Shaoqiu, is it true what XiXi says?!”

“That miserable wretch expects my disciple—one of his Xuan Qi Kill disciples… to guard a widow?! To arrange a ghost marriage?”

A chilling aura filled the air, turning the entire Talisman Pavilion into an icy, bone-chilling realm!

Jiao Shaoqiu, seated on the ground, shivered at the sound.

He was silent for a moment, then nodded.

“It’s indeed all true.”

“Not a shred of exaggeration in what XiXi said.”

Jiao Shaoqiu, ever factual, noted that the fearsome presence of the Dragon Queen was precisely this kind of threat, wasn’t it?

The Little Prince Ji Haihui had once mentioned during his visit to Jingguang Mansion that he intended to take XiXi as a concubine, so the Dragon Queen’s arrival only confirmed their intent.

“Alright, alright!”

The Sect Master’s wife moved to XiXi’s side, gently ruffling her head with her small hand.

“My disciple of the Xuan Qi Kill lineage should never suffer such injustice!”

“My disciple is barely five—this Dragon Consort is nothing but a wretch!”

Her face turned cold and harsh.

“Let’s go.”

“Master, take her out to vent her anger!”

……

……

Shendiao Ridge.

Snow fell in torrents, freezing the land for miles!

An intense chill swept across the skies, as though aiming to freeze everything in its path.

At the Bizarre Temple, the Divine Monkey of the Six-Eared Lotus, and the Two-Hearted Great Sage in the eerie sanctuary.

The Bizarre Temple.

A dense, swirling mist churned continuously.

Gongshu Jingjun stood suspended, his formidable primordial spirit like a radiant, golden sun behind his head—accompanied by brilliant rayed clouds!

Beside him, several Three-Flower Grand Masters, invited by various forces, silently observed.

The atmosphere was heavy; howling winds echoed!

Within the swirling mist, a terrifying treasure staff, towering upright, captured every gaze, making hearts race!

“The Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff!”

Having acquired this divine weapon, according to the Grand Inspector’s words, one could venture to Qitian City to secure a chance at the Ruyi Staff!

That was the legendary inheritance of the Divine Sect that once dominated half the world!

Such temptation was overwhelming!

Thus, those Three-Flower Grand Masters fixated on the staff, which was gripped in the phantom hands of a gigantic demon ape within the mist.

Gongshu Jingjun showed no signs of desire.

Instead, he looked worried.

“The Grand Inspector would not make a mistake… If anything goes beyond his calculations, everything becomes uncertain and dangerously unpredictable.”

“Surely someone or something must be influencing his judgment!”

“What could it be?!”

Gongshu Jingjun furrowed his brow and began to ponder intensely.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

“Could it be… an Elder Assessment?”

“But weren’t there previous Elder Assessments? That is to say… the disturbance in the Bizarre Temple must be caused by newcomers?”

“Li Che!”

Gongshu Jingjun exhaled sharply.

In an instant, his mind raced through possibilities until a vague conclusion formed.

Yet he kept silent, instead glancing at the others.

“The early emergence of the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff means the uprising of this Bizarre Temple is imminent.”

Noticing the restless movements of the Three-Flower Grand Masters, eager to seize the staff, Gongshu Jingjun slowly extended his hand, his form spreading like a peacock’s tail, blocking their advance.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff has not fully manifested…

It has merely revealed its position.

If anyone acts hastily now, they will undoubtedly wake the Talisman Protector King, or even incur the wrath of the Temple Spirit in the Bizarre Temple. And once the true form of the Temple Spirit descends, that fury—combined with the mysterious terror within the Bizarre Temple—will be disastrous.”

Gongshu Jingjun said solemnly.

“For a fifth-rank Bizarre Temple to fully erupt, at least two Divine Fetus Elders must be present to quell the chaos, otherwise it would be nearly impossible to contain the devastation.”

The Three-Flower Grand Masters quieted down.

Indeed, the treasure before them was extraordinarily tempting.

Yet, they needed to be truly capable of seizing it.

Not to mention the fearsome combat power of the Talisman Protector King within the fifth-rank Bizarre Temple…

Even Gongshu Jingjun’s blockade was more than they could easily overcome.

And Gongshu Jingjun was not wrong.

Inside Daocheng of Qianyuan, most Divine Fetus cultivators were in seclusion. Summoning them was no easy task.

The eerie mist surged with thunderous breaths, as if a draconic presence made of dense, dead energy churned beneath it!

Gradually, the mist rolled in like a collapsing tidal wave, unleashing a shroud of spray over everything.

Several of the onlookers watched as their life force pulsed and dissolved into a crimson, fleeting shadow before retreating.

Gongshu Jingjun cast a long look at the snoring Talisman Protector King, then drifted away as if in a trance.

His heart pounded with the desire to witness the unfolding of this Elder Assessment.

Was it really because of Li Che…

that the Bizarre Temple had been thrown into disarray?!

……

……

Li Che remained oblivious to the events unfolding within the Bizarre Temple.

It had nothing to do with him.

At that moment, only one thought occupied his mind…

To carve out the Spirit-Illuminating True Ape Divine Monkey!

If you wish to return,

to witness this world once more,

then I shall assist you!

Clutching his Divine Dagger, he slashed through the massive, bloodfire-inscribed Bodhi Wood log, shaving off a splinter of raw wood!

A potent divine aura poured forth from the Spirit Wood, winding like a fiery serpent as the weapon tore into it.

In an instant, the Bodhi Wood blushed a deep red, its soaring heat stirring an unseen current in the Bizarre Temple.

The bloodfire patterns seemed to awaken from the wood, snaking their way along Li Che’s arm.

Why was it that the higher a Divine Carver’s rank, the more difficult it became to succeed?

It was because, during the carving process, the risk skyrocketed.

Beyond absorbing the Temple Spirit’s divine essence for inspiration to enhance his carving of the Fa Tian Xiang Di Spirit-Illuminating True Ape, the act of carving the Spirit Wood itself burst forth with danger.

Some high-grade Spirit Woods were, after all, manifestations of enchanted creatures—long attuned to their power.

Even a mere log contained energies that could influence the carver’s very being.

Thus, no great Divine Carver was without their formidable constitution.

Take Su Huai Ming, for instance—a master who had perfected his Golden Body Transcendence.

And Zhou Tianshui and Yun Haiyang were no different.

Relying solely on his robust physique, Li Che withstood the encroaching bloodfire patterns.

His heart immersed entirely in the art of carving.

Within his chest, the Dao Fruit [Xian Gong] pulsated ferociously.

Waves of heat surged uncontrollably.

Within the Mud Pellet on his brow, the Spirit-Illuminating True Ape bellowed!

Though Li Che had carved the Fa Tian Xiang Di Divine Vision from his divine foundation,

sculpting with Spirit Wood was a completely different affair.

The former directly channeled the Temple Spirit’s divine pull from the Qi Tian Face, manifesting in his divine foundation.

Li Che simply needed to follow the established steps, gathering sufficient power to complete his work.

But carving a Divine Monkey was a different realm altogether.

Without first outlining its true form with the Temple Spirit’s divine aura, a single misstep could prove disastrous!

Li Che felt as if flames had ignited throughout his body; he didn’t dare suppress the bloodfire patterns that crept up his arm along the knife’s grip.

Not far off, the raw form of Spirit Wood in front of Su Huai Ming had already taken shape.

Relaxing his mind, Su Huai Ming glanced over.

Seeing Li Che’s current state, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

“This kid… getting way too cocky, huh? Bloodfire Bodhi Wood isn’t that easy to carve. If his cultivation isn’t enough, he’ll be eroded away by the bloodfire patterns!”

Su Huai Ming reveled in schadenfreude.

Meanwhile, Li Che’s mind grew ever more focused, his heart pounding in tandem with the rhythmic pulses of the Dao Fruit [Xian Gong].

Each breath, each heartbeat, seemed intertwined with his carving rhythm.

With fiery determination, his Star Plucking Gaze tore through flesh and blood,

as his golden eyes spun relentlessly!

In his eyes, the bloodfire Bodhi Wood danced with countless vibrant lines,

slowly forming the rough shape of his masterpiece.

Gripping his Divine Dagger tightly, Li Che used it like a chisel. The flashing blade plunged into the Spirit Wood with sparks flying,

ripping and slicing as the divine weapon met the raw wood!

Heat blazed like red-hot embers scattering wood shavings, swept away by the whims of the Bizarre Temple’s winds.

Whoosh—

Scorching, blistering…

Yet Li Che felt nothing, his dark hair wildly streaming.

His agile fingers danced over the Divine Dagger as it trembled with each stroke.

It rose, fell, and moved as if a mystical dragon navigating a sea of flames!

Within the Bizarre Temple, a formidable divine aura began coalescing rapidly, as more bloodfire patterns clawed their way across Li Che’s arm.

His entire arm seemed crisscrossed by tadpole-like red patterns!

Many woodcarving masters who had just stepped into the temple watched in sheer horror.

“This is insane!”

“If he continues like this… he’ll destroy himself entirely!”

“Bloodfire patterns wield scorching and corrosive powers so fearsome that even a grandmaster could be reduced to brittle bones!”

“Is it really that extreme? To risk one’s life carving a Divine Monkey… it might even cost him his life!”

……

Not many woodcarving masters dared enter the Bizarre Temple.

In the Bizarre Temple, many had already been filtered out.

Thus, those who managed to step inside were masters of exceptionally high caliber.

They watched Li Che’s reckless actions with sheer dread!

Yet, they paid him little heed.

After all, visiting a fifth-rank Bizarre Temple was primarily about witnessing the Temple Spirit and absorbing its divine aura to elevate one’s own woodcarving techniques!

For a time, silence reigned in the temple.

Only the sound of rushing heated air could be heard!

Creaking noises emanated as the Divine Dagger in Li Che’s hand began to crack under the strain, its surface marred by pits from the bloodfire patterns.

Unperturbed, Li Che discarded the worn-out weapon and retrieved a Divine Longsword from Qiankun Space.

Swish, swish, swish—

Li Che stood, as if in a firm stance, in one corner of the Bizarre Temple, his back straight, his body marked by encroaching bloodfire patterns.

With blazing eyes and the throbbing of his Dao Fruit [Xian Gong], he showcased every bit of his lifetime’s carving expertise.

Each slash of the divine weapon split the Spirit Wood at just the right angle, revealing all manner of changes in depth and form—a vivid scene resembling ink-wash landscapes unfolding in his mind!

Though using a Divine Longsword instead of a specialized carving knife, his technique was masterful, his fingers agile.

He wielded the weapon with astounding finesse.

Boom, boom, boom—!!!

Suddenly, many woodcarving masters immersed in witnessing the Temple Spirit felt their hearts pound as though a formidable force struck their chests.

They glanced over and were astonished to see the rough form of a carved statue emerging!

“Is that… a demon ape?!”

“Wasn’t he meant to be carving the Temple Spirit?”

“How foolish! The woodcarving masters of the Su and Yun families, along with those from the Zhou clan, all carved by mimicking the Temple Spirit’s image. Yet this slightly unusual Divine Monkey, cloaked in monk’s robes, is extraordinary…”

“This young man, abandoning the Temple Spirit to carve a demon ape… what a mess-up!”

Many masters sighed in regret.

They recognized the fifth-rank Spirit Wood—the Bloodfire Bodhi Wood…

And in doing so, Li Che had utterly ruined it!

“To risk one’s life over a piece of fifth-rank Spirit Wood just to carve a Divine Monkey so different from the Temple Spirit… utterly foolish!”

At that moment,

Su Huai Ming was wrapping up his work.

Although the Divine Monkey assessment didn’t strictly require carving a statue of the Temple Spirit,

carving the Temple Spirit was undeniably the best choice.

After all, how could an ordinary statue contend with the might of the Temple Spirit in a divine clash?

“Foolish kid… conceited kid…”

Su Huai Ming sneered.

Seeing that the bloodfire patterns had now reached Li Che’s chin, Su Huai Ming shook his head dismissively.

“Looks like we won’t need to call on our clan to deal with this kid after all.”

Shaking his head, Su Huai Ming began to finish his sculpting.

Li Che, meanwhile, tuned out the world around him.

Fallen wood shavings and the emerging rough form testified to the Fa Tian Xiang Di Spirit-Illuminating True Ape he was recreating.

Though still rough, the form was vital—it already hinted at its divine charm!

The resonant sounds echoed continuously as Li Che continued his work, sparks dancing in every burst of firelight.

That was the glow released when the Bloodfire Bodhi Wood splintered off as excess!

“The Mist Tide is rising!”

Suddenly, one of the woodcarving masters exclaimed in astonishment.

They abandoned their carvings and rushed to the temple’s entrance.

At a glance, they could see the endless, rugged landscape beyond, where a pale, rolling mist surged like an immense tidal wave!

The term ‘Mist Tide’ was a specialized term in the Bizarre Temple!

Within the Bizarre Temple, encountering a Mist Tide was extremely dangerous. One needed to break away quickly or seek shelter in the temple.

Otherwise…

they risked being shredded by the wrathful Talisman Protector Corps and the raging mist!

Every Divine Carver’s heart trembled.

What…

Did the tide just suddenly rise?!

At the same time,

Su Huai Ming let out a long roar and delivered one final chisel strike.

In an instant, the swirling divine aura within the Bizarre Temple was violently drawn, coalescing madly around the statue—a Divine Monkey strikingly reminiscent of the Temple Spirit!

“So… it was Master Su who set it off?”

“Terrifying! Master Su’s Divine Carving skills have improved dramatically—almost at the level of a fifth-rank Divine Carver! With the Temple Spirit’s Divine Monkey complete, the tide within the Bizarre Temple shall ebb and flow!”

Master Su Huai Ming, confident and grand, let his sleeves billow.

Hearing these words and looking at the mist tide outside the Bizarre Temple, he laughed heartily.

“Not bad.”

He rated his own performance at a solid nine out of ten!

Deducting one point for fear of pride!

A true Divine Carver must always remain humble.

Soon, Zhou Tianshui and Yun Haiyang also completed their carvings. Their Divine Monkey works equally absorbed the temple’s divine aura in a frenzy.

Yet compared to Master Su’s work, theirs still fell slightly short.

But not by much—they still had a chance!

Zhou Tianshui shook his chisel-wielding arm and said, his eyes alight, “Only after a true clash of divine intent can we determine its strength.”

Zhou Tianshui stated solemnly.

Su Huai Ming, however, was unconcerned—he already had victory in the bag.

One mere glance told him that Yun Haiyang and Zhou Tianshui’s carvings paled in comparison to his own.

He was utterly secure.

Zhou Tianshui and Yun Haiyang fixed their gaze on Li Che’s corner.

They watched from afar, careful not to disturb him; it was an unspoken etiquette among woodcarvers.

Even at the highest levels, such etiquette prevailed.

The divine statue carved from the Bloodfire Bodhi Wood, as if coming alive, roared amidst heaven and earth!

It was as if the beating of its chest echoed like rolling thunder!

Every tuft of its simian hair was carved with breathtaking detail; Li Che had poured his heart and soul into the work!

“Incredible! Such exquisite carving skills! Could this be the pinnacle of mastery?!”

Yun Haiyang gaped in astonishment.

Su Huai Ming squinted, remaining silent—technically, Li Che was no less than those who had honed their craft for decades or even centuries as a Divine Carver.

Boom—!!!

When Li Che’s final chisel stroke fell, completing the soaring spear of the simian figure,

in an instant the temperature within the Bizarre Temple soared, as though an ethereal inferno had burst forth!

That was the divine aura of the Temple Spirit roaming between heaven and earth!

Yet…

Li Che’s Divine Monkey had not absorbed this roaming divine essence…

Instead, it clutched it in his hand as if it were a luminous golden staff forged from the temple’s wandering divine energy!

“It’s done!”

Li Che staggered back, gasping for breath.

His very essence had been completely drained in an instant.

To faithfully replicate the Fa Tian Xiang Di Spirit-Illuminating True Ape from his mind, Li Che had pushed his Dao Fruit [Xian Gong] beyond its limits.

“He actually succeeded! This young man… his perseverance is commendable! Despite the corrosive power of the bloodfire patterns, he has managed to finish the carving!”

The surrounding woodcarving masters couldn’t help but admire him.

Although Li Che’s work wasn’t the robe-clad Two-Hearted Great Sage Temple Spirit,

he had managed to carve a Divine Monkey with a fifth-rank Spirit Wood base that was nearly on par with the legends.

The only regret was…

this Divine Monkey was not the Two-Hearted Great Sage Temple Spirit.

This meant that in the clash of divine intent, Li Che had already been eliminated.

Outside the Bizarre Temple, the mist tide grew ever more tumultuous!

Gongshu Jingjun, along with several strong figures, broke through the surging waves and stood at the temple entrance!

Gongshu Jingjun’s eyes shimmered with a strange light—as he speculated that the disturbance within the Bizarre Temple was linked to Li Che,

a thrill ran through him.

When the mist tide in the Bizarre Temple roared into existence,

Gongshu Jingjun was convinced of one thing…

Someone in the temple had carved an extraordinary Divine Monkey!

Who could it be?!

Gongshu Jingjun’s mind already had a guess,

but he needed to see it with his own eyes.

“Fellow masters, the Divine Monkey assessment is over. If you have finished your carvings, please exit the Bizarre Temple…”

“We shall reconvene on Shendiao Ridge for the divine clash of our creations…”

Gongshu Jingjun said solemnly.

Inside the Bizarre Temple,

the woodcarving masters stirred at his words.

Su Huai Ming smiled as he hoisted his carved “Two-Hearted Great Sage” Divine Monkey and rolled up his sleeves.

“I’ll be leaving first. I await your challenge.”

Su Huai Ming declared confidently.

Li Che exhaled deeply, his mind heavy with exhaustion—the carving of this Divine Monkey was no small feat.

He was utterly spent, both body and soul.

In truth, he could scarcely even muster the energy to shatter the bloodfire patterns clinging to him.

For someone with his innate grandmaster physique, the invasive bloodfire patterns had little effect.

Breathing out,

Li Che raised the statue of the Fa Tian Xiang Di Spirit-Illuminating True Ape before him.

It resembled a ferocious, rage-filled demon ape bellowing at the heavens and the earth.

Li Che’s eyes burned with intensity.

The weight of his creation was overwhelming!

Before carving, the Bloodfire Bodhi Wood barely felt heavy at all.

But now, as a Divine Monkey, it felt at least ten times weightier—like a collapsing mountain!

Li Che’s muscles trembled as his mercury-like blood propelled him with formidable strength,

allowing him to carry the Divine Monkey step by step out of the Bizarre Temple.

Before leaving, Li Che glanced back at the Two-Hearted Great Sage Temple Spirit.

With a finger snap,

a Feilei Chess Piece silently drifted down, hidden beneath the altar.

Then, Li Che stepped out of the Bizarre Temple.

In that instant, as Li Che emerged carrying the raging demon ape statue,

a fleeting strand of divine aura burst forth from the overwhelming mist tide, like a streak of flowing light.

It vanished silently, carried away by the surging divine tide of the Bizarre Temple, almost unnoticed.

Only two noticed that trace of divine aura…

One was Li Che, who had activated his Star Plucking Gaze,

and the other was Gongshu Jingjun, the master of Shendiao Ridge and a Divine Fetus cultivator.

Ultimately, that sliver of divine aura merged with the Fa Tian Xiang Di Spirit-Illuminating True Ape Divine Monkey that Li Che had carved.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed as doubt fluttered in his heart.

He could only feel that his Divine Monkey had somehow come to life…

Then, as the mist tide receded like a silent retreating wave,

the Bizarre Temple fell into an almost eerie stillness.

Outside, Gongshu Jingjun awaited Li Che.

As a Divine Fetus cultivator, he dared not step into the Bizarre Temple lightly—the sheer strength of his aura might provoke the Temple Spirit, risking unforeseen calamities.

So he waited outside.

When Li Che finally emerged and the fearsome mist tide abruptly withdrew from the Bizarre Temple,

Gongshu Jingjun became even more convinced of his suspicions.

The tumult within the Bizarre Temple…

was undoubtedly connected to Li Che!

Or rather…

linked to the Divine Monkey he had carved!

And that glimpse of divine aura emerging from the mist tide confirmed it all.

In that instant, his gaze fell upon the demon ape statue Li Che carried.

“Seven-thousand Words—Old Li is back! And as soon as he arrives, he starts writing! I just finished a chapter; there’s another coming, though it might be a bit late. Please vote monthly, recommend, and support follow-reading! Thank you all for your support and care—Old Li will keep rocking!”