Chapter 247: Cosmic Chessboard of Destiny

Inside the Cosmic Chessboard.

A thick, pure stench of corpse aura and lifeless death churned and roiled, continuously morphing into a grotesque, twisted visage.

That was the Seal of the Corpse God.

After killing the Demon Child, Li Che had already captured the Seal of the Corpse God, but refining it was a delicate art.

Almost every day, Li Che spent hours channeling his Unsullied Heart and divine nature in attempts to refine the Seal.

However, the rank of the Seal far surpassed the Seven-Yuan Corpse Incantation Mother Seal he had acquired before.

Based on what Li Che learned from You Liqing, this Seal should match, if not exceed,

the level of the Divine Womb stage.

Li Che estimated its rank to be equivalent to a third or even fourth divine transformation.

Thus, refining this Seal was no easy feat for him.

Even when suppressed by the Cosmic Chessboard, it still demanded a painstaking, lengthy process to perfect.

But after stealthily pilfering the head of the Big Black Dog in front of the restaurant last time, Li Che faintly sensed the suppressed Seal trembling within the Chessboard.

Startled, Li Che wondered if he’d imagined it, but the feedback from the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit confirmed it.

Clearly, tampering with the dog head had triggered a reaction from the Seal.

And this time, Li Che had come to verify it once and for all.

With a resounding boom—when the last wisps of death and corpse aura faded and the rebellious will within the Seal completely dissipated,

Li Che knew that the Seal of the Corpse God had finally been fully refined.

Power of association!

One man and one dog had successfully refined the Seal!

A look of delighted surprise flashed across Li Che’s eyes.

A gentle breeze stirred outside the restaurant as a light drizzle fell.

As Li Che caressed the dog head, his mood soared, yet one fact became unmistakably clear.

The restaurant’s Boss and his dog might be of a much higher rank than he had imagined!

That Boss and that dog—

Perhaps at the very least, each was a mighty cultivator at the Divine Womb fourth transformation!

A Martial Saint who had reached the formidable state of Opening the Heavenly Gate!

To simply touch the dog head and absorb the dog’s aura, causing the Seal to tremble—how ferocious must that dog be?

Could it even intimidate ghosts?!

Did it bite something as formidable as the Corpse God?

As Li Che gently massaged the dog head, he pondered aloud.

I can’t help but get hooked on petting this dog.

Crack, crack.

Winter thunder rumbled while icy raindrops, mixed with snowflakes, cascaded down.

The howling wind carried sheets of frigid mist right into his face.

Li Che squinted slightly, finding a strange comfort in the cold.

Perhaps once he achieved fame and success and his daughter could fend for herself traveling alone,

he would open such a tranquil little restaurant amidst thriving city life, keep a black dog, spend his days petting the dog, enjoying evening breezes, and cooking.

That would be the epitome of comfort.

Li Che began to daydream about such a peaceful retirement.

Alas, the world was too perilous, and his strength was nowhere near enough for that dream.

When you have the power but not enough might to quell all disturbances, it’s hard to remain at peace.

Trouble always finds you.

A rich aroma drifted out from the kitchen.

“Dinner’s ready.”

The Boss’s gentle voice carried a calming cadence. At these words, the Big Black Dog darted out, breaking free from Li Che’s clutches and headed straight for him, as if saying,

“After all that petting, remember our promise—bring XiXi along so the dog can play!”

One must not be a faithless scoundrel!

Unable to stifle his smile, Li Che replied, “I’ve always acted with integrity.”

Then, rubbing his hands together, he headed into the restaurant.

The Boss had prepared a dish of ‘Di San Xian’—eggplant, green peppers, and potatoes drenched in a thick, savory sauce,

accompanied by a bowl of glistening hot white rice and a jug of Dragon Blood Wine.

“Wash your hands,” the Boss warned aptly, his brows raised.

Li Che, at a loss for words, lifted his hand and a flurry of rainwater swept over his palm, transforming into droplets that splashed back into the downpour.

He then sat down and began to feast.

In an instant, the tension from his near-death battle with You Liqing vanished, and his muscles relaxed all over.

Winter thunder was rare—winter snow was the norm.

After two days of rain, the air turned bitterly cold, intensifying the damp chill.

The cold air seemed almost alive, seeping into every crevice of one’s clothing.

Dawn broke.

In Daocheng’s Inner City,

Liu Xiang Alley,

within a small courtyard,

the yard was already bustling. After learning that Li Che had ascended to become the Fifth Elder of Shendiao Ridge, Zhang Ya’s mood soared, and she hummed cheerful tunes.

Becoming an Elder of Shendiao Ridge, a position nearly equal to that of the Inner Gate Elder, meant moving into the Qianyuan Divine Sect Mountain Gate and having her own elder courtyard.

There, the whole family could be reunited, and she could witness XiXi’s growth every day.

“Husband, how do I look in this outfit?”

Zhang Ya twirled a big coat playfully on her body.

It was a garment she’d bought when she and Shangguan Qinghong strolled through the Market District after moving to Jingguang City, one she’d been reluctant to wear. Now, with the move to Qianyuan Divine Sect Mountain Gate imminent, she intended to dress up beautifully.

“My dear, you always look amazing,” Li Che said with a smile from under the eave.

Li Qingshan, standing behind Granny Mu, gently rocked a chair, his face radiating warmth.

Seeing the young couple, Li Qingshan and Granny Mu couldn’t help but reminisce about their own youth and unbridled joy.

“Husband! Every time I ask, you just brush me off!” Zhang Ya pouted.

But she soon decided to change outfits and left with her clothes in hand.

Li Che chuckled and walked over to Li Qingshan.

Li Qingshan’s gaze was tinged with a hint of melancholy.

We promised to achieve greatness together, didn’t we?

Yet—

the Underworld fiends had secretly pulled off a major stunt, slaughtering the peerless Grandmaster You Liqing of the Top Three Flowers Realm.

Li Qingshan, now an official member of the Underworld, learned of this a day later.

He wasn’t angry about not being invited by his Underworld comrades,

but rather felt a sense of tension and numbness.

Could it be that his colleagues had all advanced to become Top Three Flowers Grandmasters?

This field is… becoming increasingly challenging.

His Underworld Cat Face simply couldn’t keep up!

Unable to compete, if he joined in it might only lead to him becoming cannon fodder.

Now, having just stepped into the realm of Divine Guts, Li Qingshan tried his best to integrate into the Underworld’s core circle, only to find himself lacking any real competitive edge.

In his confusion, Li Qingshan eventually came to understand.

Back in Feilei City, Li Che was merely a Blood Exchange fighter, yet once he joined the Underworld, he thrived.

What could stop Li Qingshan from doing the same?

He wasn’t planning to hunt down the peerless Grandmasters like Ogre, Ma Mian, or Thunder Dragon.

Instead, he followed Ogre’s early footsteps in Daocheng, seeking out those miscreants seduced by the Corpse God Sect after being marked by the Seal of the Underworld.

Surely, none of them would suddenly become a peerless Grandmaster, right?

Moreover, Thunder Dragon had once said that as long as one held the escape pawn, returning to that courtyard was the Underworld’s top survival technique.

So,

his Cat Face should act in its own unique style!

Now, with the Underworld’s survival pawn in hand, it was time to act chivalrously and execute Zhen Lei Zhu Xie!

Li Qingshan’s mind cleared, and he felt as though the weight of the world had lifted.

“Granny, why not move in with us into the Divine Sect Mountain Gate?”

“I heard the elder’s courtyard is spacious. If Senior Qingshan wishes, he can join us too,” Li Che invited.

Li Qingshan looked at Li Che with a complex, amazed expression.

The Elder of Shendiao Ridge!

The youngest ever Elder of Shendiao Ridge and the Fifth Martial Saint under the Five Elders!

Li Qingshan was still in a daze—as if he were that young man once forced to live under the threat of Lingying Sect in Feilei City, compelled to lean on a minor family to survive—unwittingly he had become a behemoth.

Now, as the Fifth Elder of the Orthodox Divine Sect of Qianyuan and of Shendiao Ridge, even Li Qingshan was a true heavyweight!

Today also marked the day Li Che assumed his duties at the Divine Sect Mountain Gate.

“Husband, I feel great!”

Zhang Ya, clad in a new outfit and radiating energy, came out of the house, looping her arm through Li Che’s with sparkling eyes.

Under Li Che’s protection over the years, Zhang Ya had transformed—not only becoming more radiant through martial training but also exuding remarkable confidence.

Her greatest strength was that she had her husband by her side.

Outside the Liu Xiang Courtyard, a carriage slowly approached. A lavish coach, pulled by an exceedingly majestic flood dragon horse, was drawn by Old Chen and the young man from Shendiao Ridge who once delivered Li Che’s message, Lu Qingti.

Old Chen was thrilled to be pulling such a magnificent coach; even his cultivation pulses seemed to be out of his control, as if he weren’t used to handling the reins.

Lu Qingti leapt from the carriage and bowed respectfully upon seeing Li Che and Zhang Ya emerging from the courtyard.

“Qingti pays his respects to Elder Li and the Elder’s wife.”

Lu Qingti’s demeanor was full of deference.

Even though Li Che appeared younger, his achievements as an Elder of Shendiao Ridge commanded respect.

Those who excel lead the way.

Lu Qingti understood this well.

Li Che raised Lu Qingti’s hand in a polite greeting,

and then had Zhang Ya help Granny Mu board the carriage.

“You all head back to the Divine Sect. I’ll come looking for you when I return.”

Clad in a light shirt and leaning with a stooped back while holding an oil-paper umbrella, Li Qingshan smiled and said.

Granny Mu lifted the curtain and exchanged a knowing glance with Li Qingshan, as if sharing unspoken thoughts.

“Stay safe,” Granny Mu whispered.

Li Qingshan nodded.

Li Che gave Li Qingshan one long, lingering look before boarding the carriage without another word.

Old Chen and Lu Qingti climbed onto the carriage, driving it steadily toward the Divine Sect Mountain Gate.

This courtyard, now part of Li Che’s family estate, would be their home once they left the Mountain Gate.

The majestic flood dragon horse pounded the cobblestones, effortlessly navigating through the wind and snow.

Before the Qianyuan Divine Sect Mountain Gate, beneath the Qiankun Plaque,

a tall figure stood—none other than Gongshu Jingjun, the Master of Shendiao Ridge, his hands clasped behind him, gazing upward at the plaque, his eyes aglow with divine light, as if commanding the very essence of heaven and earth.

Merely standing there, he became the focal point of the cosmos.

Inside the carriage, Li Che’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he wondered which transformation stage Gongshu Jingjun was at.

The carriage halted.

Li Che stepped down with Zhang Ya.

“Ridge Master,” Li Che greeted with a bow.

“Ah, Che has arrived,” Gongshu Jingjun responded with hearty laughter as he withdrew his gaze from the Qiankun Plaque—a plaque that bore the divine legacy of Qianyuan Divine Sect’s founding patriarch.

Every divine cultivator yearned to grasp that legacy; when Zhang Ya introduced her, Gongshu Jingjun gave her an elegant nod.

“Let’s go. Enter the Sect, confirm your status as the Fifth Elder of Shendiao Ridge, and claim your benefits,” he said.

The group then entered the Divine Sect Mountain Gate.

Outside, awaiting in the biting snow were Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, Grandmaster Nie Yang, and Huang Jianjiu.

“Ridge Master Gongshu,” Elder Jiao Shaoqiu greeted with a bow.

This was a divine cultivator; they couldn’t help but show respect.

Nie Yang and Huang Jianjiu also bowed solemnly.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu looked at Li Che with a complex expression—part joy, part disbelief, and a hint of relief.

The higher Li Che’s status, the greater the assistance he could provide to XiXi.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu valued XiXi deeply. Even though she had become the Sect Master’s wife’s disciple, more resources meant more opportunity.

“Congratulations, Elder Li,” Elder Jiao Shaoqiu said warmly.

Now, Li Che’s position was indisputably above them.

“Nie Yang, from today on, you are responsible for protecting Elder Li’s safety—

I hear that over at Shendiao Ridge, a case occurred in which the Tang Clan’s Grandmaster Su Huai Ming was slain by the Corpse God Sect—

Elder Li’s safety is paramount,” he added.

“Nie Yang is on the verge of comprehending the sword’s true intent; once he does, a single stroke can bloom like flowers, reaching the realm of peerless Grandmasters—protecting Elder Li won’t be an issue.”

Gongshu Jingjun raised an eyebrow. “Oh? That sounds promising. I was already planning to arrange a protective force for Che. Now it appears I have one ready.

If Nie Yang truly breaks through to the peerless Grandmaster stage, he’d be the perfect guardian for Li Che.”

“In the future, traveling between Shendiao Ridge and Daocheng will be much safer with a peerless Grandmaster watching over you,”

he continued.

Suddenly, the group’s attention shifted as two small figures drifted into view from afar.

“Daddy!”

“Mommy—!!”

XiXi’s shrill cry boomed like rolling thunder.

Zhang Ya’s face lit up with excitement as she looked towards the distant, diminutive XiXi.

XiXi bounded through the snow at breakneck speed, leaving a high spray of snowflakes in her wake!

With a thud, XiXi nearly barreled into Zhang Ya’s embrace, but Li Che caught her by the collar at the last moment.

XiXi, as if having her fate grasped by the neck like a terrified kitten, shrank her limbs and became adorably obedient.

“Don’t crash into your mom—your little body can’t take it,” Li Che admonished.

“Hehe, because Daddy can always catch XiXi!”

XiXi tilted her head and grinned before burrowing into Zhang Ya’s arms, pressing her little face against her.

“Mommy, give me a hug—I missed you so much!”

XiXi’s chubby little hands clung tightly to Zhang Ya’s neck, unwilling to let go.

Meanwhile, Li Che’s gaze shifted to a little girl in the distance, skillfully adorned with delicate makeup, barefoot, hands clasped behind her, and draped in a mini ethereal dress.

Gongshu Jingjun raised an eyebrow in surprise and bowed slightly, “Sect Master’s Wife.”

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, Nie Yang, and Huang Jianjiu all quickened their bows.

“Oh, it’s Jingjing. It’s been so many years—your cultivation is impressive,” the petite Sect Master’s Wife said with a nod.

Gongshu Jingjun, noticing the slight shrinking of the Sect Master’s Wife, smirked—her old, infamous reputation resurfacing from years past.

“Madam, this is Jingjun. Thank you,” she replied.

“I heard that two days ago you suppressed the Dragon Queen, who sided with Ji Mo Li?”

“Seems like you haven’t lost your edge.”

Gongshu Jingjun praised.

“Tch, are you mocking me? What is an old Dragon Queen?”

“Well, that You Liqing was impressive—she withstood a talisman and survived. Not bad,”

the petite Sect Master’s Wife retorted in a surprisingly mature tone.

Gongshu Jingjun paused. “Madam, You Liqing is already dead.”

“Ah?”

The Sect Master’s Wife blinked in surprise, then waved her hand dismissively, “Not my concern.”

“If Ji Mo Li dares sully our name, Jingjing, you must protect me!”

Gongshu Jingjun smiled softly.

Li Che, cradling XiXi and pulling Zhang Ya along, announced, “Parents, meet XiXi’s new master—the little Sect Master’s Wife!”

An excited XiXi chirped from Li Che’s arms.

Sect Master’s Wife Xuan Qisha immediately looked displeased, “Tainted disciple, haven’t I told you countless times? I am no little master—I am mighty!”

“Alright then! Little Master!” XiXi exclaimed excitedly, “These are my Mommy and Daddy!”

XiXi introduced the Sect Master’s Wife to them.

Xuan Qisha resumed her cool demeanor and nodded to Li Che and Zhang Ya.

Yet, with her three-year-old face, true aloofness was hard to maintain.

“Alright, I won’t disturb your family reunion. I heard that Daddy has become an Elder of Shendiao Ridge. Once you’re safely settled in the Divine Sect’s An Family, bring XiXi to the Divine Talisman Tower for a visit. XiXi has a natural gift for talismans, which pleases me greatly,” the Sect Master’s Wife Xuan Qisha stated coolly.

Finishing her words, she tossed her chin up in exaggerated pride, spun in a cloud of snow, and swiftly departed.

“Goodbye, Little Master!” XiXi eagerly waved.

In the distance, a low, angry shout boomed, “Hey!”

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu led Li Che and the others into a lavish courtyard within the sect’s disciples’ city.

This courtyard was even grander than that of Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s own.

After all, Li Che’s status as an Elder of Shendiao Ridge placed him on par with the Inner Gate Elders, even higher than Outer Gate Elder Jiao Shaoqiu.

“This is it. Originally owned by Elder Sun, three years ago he vacated this courtyard—in his departure, it was passed on to you all.”

“The courtyard is imbued with a divine array. At night, it blocks the corruption of the Temple Spirit’s essence, so even ordinary mortals can reside here unscathed,” Elder Jiao Shaoqiu explained.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s explanation was followed by XiXi bounding joyfully around the vast courtyard with Zhang Ya, while Li Che discussed his duties with Gongshu Jingjun within the inner realm of the Divine Sect, side by side.

Throughout, Li Che suppressed the nagging urge from the trembling Underworld Seal and resisted probing the lurking impulse of the Underworld miscreants within the Divine Sect.

After all, with a divine cultivator at his side, any misinterpretation could prove disastrous.

Within the depths of the Divine Sect’s inner domain, nestled among thick mountain snows and pervasive chill, Gongshu Jingjun and Li Che conversed about intricate mechanisms.

Now that Li Che no longer hid his talent for Xianggong, he chatted freely with Gongshu Jingjun.

He had mastered Tang Clan’s Mechanical Art, after all—having built a Five Elder Mechanism Beast all by himself.

Even at the height of Tang Clan’s glory, crafting a Five Elder Mechanism Beast single-handedly was no simple feat.

Gongshu Jingjun’s enthusiasm grew as he admired Li Che all the more.

It was no wonder that Tang Sanjia held Li Che in such high regard.

Suddenly, while chatting idly with Gongshu Jingjun, Li Che halted abruptly.

“Ridge Master, where exactly are we headed?”

Taking a deep breath, Li Che sensed an increasingly overwhelming divine aura in the air.

Moreover, the mythic weapon 【Qi Tian Face】 and the Yulian Yin Divine Sword, set within the Cosmic Chessboard, trembled incessantly.

This reaction—

was decidedly too intense and unsettling.

Gongshu Jingjun glanced at Li Che and smiled, “Noticed it, have you?”

“As an elder of Qianyuan Divine Sect, you still have one final trial—

but you need not perform any actions.”

“It’s an old rule of the sect,” he explained calmly.

“There’s nothing to worry about. It’s merely a check for any corrupt energy or traces of the Corpse God Sect. If your heart is clear, it’s but a formality.”

“Three elders from the inner circle of Qianyuan Divine Sect are already here, plus an Elder from Shendiao Ridge, waiting.”

Li Che’s expression remained impassive at this announcement.

“This path leads to the mysterious Four-Yu Bizarre Temple within the Divine Sect, correct?” Li Che inquired.

“You recognized it?”

Gongshu Jingjun stood with his hands clasped, his tall figure as straight as a spear in the blowing snow, “Exactly. This road heads toward the Luomei Mountain in Qianyuan Divine Sect’s inner realm.”

“The Mysterious Three-Eyed True Lord Bizarre Temple is perched atop Luomei Mountain.”

Li Che inhaled sharply, subduing the trembling mythic weapons amid the Cosmic Chessboard.

“Is this… the Temple Spirit’s test for me?”

Gongshu Jingjun regarded Li Che deeply, surprised at his swift reaction.

Before Gongshu Jingjun could offer an explanation, Li Che had already sensed something.

His attunement to the divine was so keen that he immediately detected changes along the path.

“This is standard practice. Every elder entering Qianyuan Divine Sect undergoes the Temple Spirit Resonance cleansing…”

“During the cleansing, the Mysterious Three-Eyed True Lord Bizarre Temple will project its triple divine light to assess one’s virtues, detect any taint of demon energy, or influence from the Corpse God Sect.”

Gongshu Jingjun stepped forward.

Li Che followed, both trudging through the snowy expanse in silence.

After a while, as the divine aura in the air grew more foreboding and his blood surged in resistance,

their arduous trek finally reached its peak.

In that moment, the blizzard ceased.

The overwhelming divine aura seemed to be sucked into nothingness.

A rich aroma of plum blossoms filled the air, as if the scent had materialized into soft pink veils drifting about.

Warm as spring, the plum fragrance enveloped Li Che.

He felt as if he had walked out of a raging storm into a paradisiacal haven.

A bizarre temple that had transformed the very patterns of heaven and earth.

“This Mysterious Three-Eyed True Lord Bizarre Temple is far less volatile than the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince Bizarre Temple at Jingguang Mansion,”

Gongshu Jingjun explained, “For thousands of years, Qianyuan Divine Sect has maintained its position on Lingnan Path by stationing itself at this Four-Yu Bizarre Temple.

Fortune has favored us; in those millennia, disturbances here have been few, and the temple remains mostly serene.”

Gongshu Jingjun continued his introduction.

In the distance, Li Che saw four figures.

Four figures—

almost fused with the heavens and earth, each exuding a fearsome presence that could seize one’s very soul.

Among them, Li Che recognized a familiar figure.

“Fourth Elder—Ji Heshan?”

Li Che narrowed his eyes.

Ji Heshan, clad in a white robe, seemed to have sensed Li Che’s gaze and smiled warmly, nodding.

“This is Second Inner Elder Zhao Fangzhou,” Ji Heshan announced.

“This is Fourth Inner Elder Ji Heshan,” another voice stated.

“And Sixth Elder Huo Xiang.”

Gongshu Jingjun introduced, “Also, from Shendiao Ridge, our Grand Elder Tang Jianlong.”

Li Che bowed in turn to each of them.

Each Elder returned his greeting, their eyes filled with astonishment.

They were amazed by Li Che’s youth—most Elders of Shendiao Ridge were wizened veterans, steeped in countless years within the realm of divine eagles.

A young master like Li Che was exceedingly rare.

He had surpassed numerous divine eagle masters nurtured by prominent Daocheng families to become the Fifth Elder of Shendiao Ridge—almost mythic.

At that moment…

Li Che’s heart trembled.

For the first time, he truly felt the profound legacy of Qianyuan Divine Sect!

These Inner Elders imposed an immense pressure on him.

Li Che, observing through XiXi’s eyes, detected the faint glimmer of a Mud Pellet and Star Plucking Gaze on Ji Heshan’s forehead—an unmistakable sign of an embryonic divine essence, absorbing the cosmos like a beating heart within.

It was as if a true Temple Spirit was about to be born.

Yet compared to Gongshu Jingjun, the truly accomplished divine cultivator, they still lacked a certain magical aura—just one step away from fully embracing the divine womb stage.

Almost there!

In the midst of the transformation from the primordial stage to the divine womb stage, it was merely a final push.

Sixth Elder, Madam Huo Xiang, exhibited slightly weaker Qi than Ji Heshan, her divine embryo barely discernible, yet nearly at the threshold.

As for Grand Elder Tang Jianlong of Shendiao Ridge, his vigor rivaled that of Second Inner Elder Zhao Fangzhou—his temples bulged and his eyes shone fiercely, his blood surging like a vast river, ready to merge with the stormy mountains if he so wished.

Li Che recalled having felt such might in Martial Saint Yu Wen Wenlong!

This was the true legacy of the Divine Sect!

Yet even among Martial Saints, there were differences; among the Martial Saints at the second opening, what was their true level?

Li Che stifled the tremor in his heart.

Second Elder Zhao Fangzhou smiled kindly at how quickly Li Che was adapting and said, “Not bad.”

“Pity your cultivation isn’t higher; after all, the Elders of Shendiao Ridge rely on divine eagle techniques. A slightly lower cultivation is acceptable.”

“Elder Li, I’m sure Ridge Master has already explained the inspection protocol to you, right?”

“Every Elder, including the Sect Master, the Sect Master’s Wife, and even Master Gongshu, has undergone it before. So do not resist too vehemently, for if you do, it might arouse some suspicions.” Zhao Fangzhou’s eyes shimmered with a faint golden light as he spoke.

Li Che bowed in greeting, indicating his acceptance of the inspection without objection.

“Alright.”

“Since then, we shall walk along this ‘Thousand Plum Road’ in front of the Bizarre Temple. Once we set foot on it, the Mysterious Three-Eyed True Lord Bizarre Temple will emit its triple divine light to cleanse you.

If you prove free of malice, sin, demonic taint, or any corrupt essence, you will officially become an Elder of Shendiao Ridge.”

“This will also test the degree of your resonance with the Temple Spirit.”

Zhao Fangzhou stated in a deep tone.

Second Elder Zhao Fangzhou’s words resonated as Fourth Elder Ji Heshan and Sixth Elder Huo Xiang descended gracefully on either side.

With swift hand formations, a surge of divine energy erupted behind them.

Instantly, before the Bizarre Temple, a mysterious fog tore open.

Plum trees suddenly burst into bloom, their blossoms covering the ancient white jade steps of the temple in endless, continuous clusters.

Fourth Elder Ji Heshan gave Li Che an enigmatic, almost laughing look and said, “Elder Li, please proceed.”