Chapter 259: The Shattering of Empires

Boom—!!!

A terrifying explosion rattled the entire city, as countless falling droplets burst into splatters of inky wash.

The ground began to crack, and the city collapsed in endless disintegration!

It seemed the whole Mo City could no longer withstand this dreadful force, destined to break apart into fragments.

Two mushroom clouds, each towering a hundred zhang high, rose and slowly merged; from their intertwined, searing layers flowed streams of destructive heat down both sides.

Yet on the battered earth, a figure streaked through like a flash of lightning—a presence that seemed to tear the city in two.

As if splitting the entire metropolis in half, severing heaven from earth!

Striding against the ceaseless surge of turbulent energy!

That shattering shockwave slammed into him, yet not an iota of its force shook him—like he were buffeted aside by an unseen power!

Eight strides later, as swift as a clap of thunder!

Li Che unleashed his full power—holding nothing back!

While his bamboo hat burst apart in the wild wind, the Ogre Mask remained unscathed, shimmering with flashes as if arcs danced in his eyes, continuously sparking.

Tower Ascension!

Dragon Elephant!

Form Fusion!

Inherent Divine Guts!

At that moment, Li Che was like an ignited cannonball, unleashing the most extreme burst of power and ferocity!

His martial spirit had been refined to its utmost limit!

Though Li Che’s martial cultivation had only reached the Pre-Heaven Master level of Unity with Nature,

in terms of combat prowess, he was by no means inferior to any Supreme Master.

Yet, when facing a Martial Saint, there was still a hint of inadequacy—a certain shortcoming.

Even though he had perfected several divine seed martial arts, a slight gap remained!

But Li Che was utterly fearless!

All his trump cards were unleashed; even a Martial Saint would end up peeling off a layer of skin!

Moreover, in a duel with Su Wenxi—the head of the Su Family—Li Che believed that the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit would gain tremendous maturity and growth!

Even if the sole aim was to mature the Dao Fruit, it was enough to make Li Che risk everything in a fight with Su Wenxi.

Not to mention that Su Wenxi was the head of the Su Family…

That very Su Family head whom Li Che despised!

Clenching his fist, the Xuankin Eight-Treasure Thunder Dragon Staff instantly fell into Li Che’s hand; his burly frame surged upward as corded muscles rippled and sinews roared in angry defiance!

A raging torrent of Inherent Divine Guts burst from his meridians, coiling around the Xuankin Eight-Treasure Thunder Dragon Staff!

In an instant, his muscles trembled!

It was as if his Inherent Divine Guts had merged with the Dragon Elephant technique, unleashing devastation!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!!!

Li Che stomped heavily forward!

In a flash!

Within those two exploding, rising mushroom clouds, a sudden void appeared—as if an infinite force had twisted and torn it apart!

Su Wenxi’s black hair whirled wildly, and his skin blazed a deep red from the searing heat; one could even see his blood vessels, each cord-like and clotted like pearls!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle…

Much of his flesh was blurred by scorching burns, leaving vast areas charred black.

Even a Martial Saint’s body sustained significant injuries at that moment!

“I’m injured…”

“I… I’m actually injured!”

Su Wenxi opened his mouth; with each breath he exhaled a draconic torrent of air.

The twin mushroom cloud bombardment was horrifyingly powerful—not the explosion’s heat or shockwave inflicted him, but the warped field that bombarded his primordial spirit with intense divine radiation!

It was a bizarre radiative force, as if the divine aura compressed within the Bizarre Temple had suddenly exploded!

Terrifying!

Truly terrifying!

The Underworld’s methods were unimaginably strange and not to be underestimated!

Boom—

With a sudden lurch, Su Wenxi’s body plunged like a clap of thunder out of the exploding mushroom cloud!

He was determined to break free from the field that shook his primordial spirit!

Su Wenxi’s biggest weakness wasn’t his body or martial prowess—it was his divine nature!

His divine cultivation was only at the level of a Godly Primeval Breather, and that was his greatest shortcoming—a defect most likely to be exploited in this battle.

In a Martial Saint versus Martial Saint clash, Su Wenxi had no fear—unless breakthroughs were made in both martial and divine realms, shedding the mortal confines of a Godly Martial Saint!

If it were a simple brawl between Martial Saints, none’s divine cultivation would outweigh the other’s, so he was unconcerned.

But facing the Underworld’s siege this time, an uneasy panic stirred within him!

The explosion of that eerie divine energy…

had actually wounded him!

Boom—!!!

Divine particles raged wildly; the divine energy burned with such intensity that it seemed to incinerate the void into nothingness, limiting the expansion of one’s primordial spirit to mere fragments.

Even one’s divine perception felt as though it might be molten away!

At that moment, Su Wenxi’s five senses and six perceptions were brutally severed!

That deep unease drove him to tear apart the core of the divine explosion and break free!

Vroooom—!!!

No sooner had he burst forth from the twin mushroom cloud explosion,

than Su Wenxi felt a thunderous crash!

At that moment, he was at his lowest ebb.

The manipulation of heaven and earth’s forces countered the dual mushroom cloud blast—the impact of blood and power shattered even the Vajra Primate and You Liqing…

In that very moment, as his strength was expended and before it could regenerate!

Although Martial Saints and Warriors continuously spawned new power, regeneration too required time!

And then…

An ambush!

Despicable!

Su Wenxi’s heart skipped a beat, as fury boiled uncontrollably—he was utterly incensed!

A barrage of hidden mechanical traps, numerous clockwork beasts, the seemingly indestructible You Liqing, and a myriad of long-range assassins emerged…

And now, an ambush from behind!

One couldn’t help but appreciate the impeccable timing of this surprise,

as if every detail had been meticulously calculated!

It reminded Su Wenxi of the star-level assassins from the Lie Shen Pavilion!

The precision in seizing opportunities and controlling timing…

was simply flawless!

However…

Su Wenxi’s eyes widened dramatically, like two blazing suns!

He clearly saw that sudden bolt of lightning closing in!

He saw the dispersing thunder, the figure enveloped in swirling energy, and that… adorable Ogre Mask!

“Underworld…”

“Ogre—!!!”

An enraged roar instantly tore from Su Wenxi’s throat!

According to Underworld records, he was the earliest member to appear!

Sinister, cunning, and ruthlessly vicious… Ogre!

Li Che offered no response.

With cold, hard eyes, his massive body exuded scorching, roiling streams of blood, as if molten iron painted in black and red spread like dragon-scale patterns!

It was like a mandrake blooming in the netherworld!

Pressure—

A crushing force like a landslide!

It made Li Che’s every hair stand on end—even when seizing such an opportune moment, a finishing strike,

he still felt an icy chill creeping from the crown, enveloping his spine!

Martial Saint…

This was a Martial Saint!

Inside Li Che’s chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit pounded wildly; each beat made his blood erupt like thunder!

It was the thrill of confronting a formidable foe!

It was the anticipation of an imminent collision!

The transverse refinement brought by the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit was immense, pushing Li Che to challenge the strong regardless of the cost.

Alas, the Dao Fruit had unfortunately been handed to such a cowardly, sleazy master as Li Che.

Unless he was more than ninety percent sure of his success, Li Che would never act rashly!

He had always been like that.

This made it nearly impossible for the Dao Fruit to find satisfaction, true release.

And today…

Facing a Martial Saint—even while being at a disadvantage after all the scheming—the Dao Fruit finally began to “ignite”!

A hero must dare to fight the strong with his weakness!

“Looking for death!”

Despite the bloodstains covering his body, Su Wenxi stood tall, his spirit not diminished in the slightest!

Fury beyond measure erupted in Su Wenxi!

Ogre?!

Sensing the energy, could a so-called Pre-Heaven Master of Unity with Nature really dare to attack a Martial Saint?!

Who gave you the nerve…

Do you even deserve it?!

Su Wenxi’s pores seemed to exude scorching heat, his martial will so overpowering as to freeze the air, crashing down mightily!

Heaven and earth seemed to be stirred as a pillar of qi sprung into being!

With his bloodstained, searing arm, Su Wenxi suddenly swung it; between his clenched fingers, a cloud of blood mist erupted from his wound!

“Divine Seed: Nine Heavens Xuan Ying Rift Fist!”

Screech—!!!

A piercing shriek rang out as his punch shattered the sound barrier!

The divine seed rotated like a colossal eagle spreading its wings, crashing headlong into the raging Ogre with dragon-like majesty!

This was the power of heaven and earth that only a Martial Saint could command!

It slammed into Li Che’s body with crushing might.

Intent on freezing Li Che’s movements—just as Su Wenxi had once subdued You Liqing and then sealed Ogre with a deadly punch!

Li Che’s fingers clenched the Xuankin Eight-Treasure Thunder Dragon Staff!

At this moment, his mind cleared completely!

Thunder Magnetic Conduit!

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

It was as if arcs of lightning distorted the surrounding field, freeing Li Che from the constraints of the Martial Saint’s heavenly force!

The Thunder Dragon Staff in his hand twitched, entwined by both the Dragon Elephant and Inherent Divine Guts!

In an instant, a fearsome demonic serpent emerged from behind Li Che, coiling with a phantom dragon form and crashing into the overbearing, defiant eagle!

The eagle clashed with the combined might of the Dragon Elephant and the serpent!

Their collision occurred in less than a heartbeat!

Boom—!

Boom—!

A dazzling burst of wind and clouds erupted!

At the moment their energies collided, torrents of swirling qi whipped around the ground in raging concentric circles.

Wave after wave of shock ripples surged, shattering even the shockwaves from the exploding twin mushroom clouds!

Bang, bang, bang—

The already ruined ground cracked and buckled further under Su Wenxi’s crushing kick, fissures spreading like a web.

In a counterattack from a disadvantaged position, Su Wenxi launched a furious strike at Li Che!

Behind them, the twin mushroom clouds still pulsated, while the intertwining qi between the two fighters dazzled the eyes!

A shudder ran through Su Wenxi; wonder flashed in his eyes!

Was this a Pre-Heaven Master?!

What kind of colossal strength was this?!

Here was a dignified Martial Saint, whose overwhelming, heaven-shaking fist energy was being blocked!

Could a Pre-Heaven Master’s power really hold back a Martial Saint’s punch?!

This Ogre…

What an extraordinary prodigy it was!

His mighty body, his indomitable Inherent Divine Guts, his unmatched will!

Truly…

a sight to behold!

Boom—!!!

Beneath the Ogre Mask, Li Che’s pupils darkened slightly!

Still not enough?!

Even with his full firepower…

his all-out, most perfected divine seed martial art…

he still couldn’t kill this Martial Saint?!

This was what it meant to be a Martial Saint!

Even at Su Wenxi’s lowest ebb, Li Che’s strength was his peak!

In that case…

there was no choice but to use his trump card!

A sharp gleam flashed in Li Che’s eyes!

In the next instant,

as his spirit stirred…

a thick, rolling fog suddenly swept over Mo City with a deafening roar!

The entire city shook violently, as if the most fearsome earth-rending eruption had begun!

Su Wenxi’s jet-black hair whipped wildly, his body buffeted by fierce gales as his brow furrowed!

He scanned his surroundings, his eyes flashing an unusual hue.

Was it that he knew he couldn’t kill Li Che—and that he must expel him?!

Suddenly,

his expression changed drastically!

Somewhere deep inside, his lingering unease reached its ultimate tremor!

Boom—!!!

The surrounding dark, inky mist churned, and a crushing pull of descent burst forth.

……

……

“Huang Jianjiu—!!!”

A roar of anger shattered the silence!

Three of the Su Family’s Supreme Masters, in a joint effort to counter one sword from Huang Jianjiu, were grievously injured, blood splattering as they were flung aside.

Their faces drained to a sickly yellow, horror etched in every line.

It was only a single sword strike, yet it nearly killed all three!

So powerful!

At that moment, Huang Jianjiu reached the pinnacle of strength!

Was Su Wenxi truly formidable?

Despite the Qianyuan Divine Sect’s Authentic Transmission Ledger ranking third, even with cultivation at the utmost pinnacle of the Three Blossoms, he was still cut down by Huang Jianjiu’s sword!

And the entire Su Family was left awash in blood!

Countless Su Family disciples perished at Huang Jianjiu’s blade.

It seemed he knew each and every one of them intimately—those married disciples who had once lost their sacred jade, those who had siphoned women’s innate talents—they were all beheaded by his single strike!

For three thousand years, the Su Family had risen and fallen, engulfed in a crimson tide!

This was an unprecedented calamity for the Su Family!

Huang Jianjiu wouldn’t even tangle with the Su Family’s Godly Primeval Cultivator, nor face a Supreme Master—instead, he targeted only Su Family members.

One swing one life; blood flowed like a great river!

Head after head crashed to the ground with dull thuds!

Amid the screams and cheers echoing from the locked courtyards, it was as if an extraordinary, macabre carnival had begun!

Suddenly,

Huang Jianjiu paused mid-drink; his eyes narrowed sharply.

He glared toward a patch of void!

In those pitch-black eyes, burning red pupils rotated, and the almost-extinguished sword aura at his brow suddenly flared into the most terrifying sword light!

“They’re coming!”

Huang Jianjiu swung his sword, unleashing a horrifying aura that burst from him in an instant!

It was like the most resplendent moonlight cutting through the night!

The Sword Immortal’s Sword seemed to be undergoing its final, radiant ascension, as if it burned away every last bit of Huang Jianjiu’s vitality!

At that moment,

Huang Jianjiu closed his eyes.

He slung the Liquor Gourd at his waist.

Too many images flashed before his eyes.

“In my foolish youth, slow to cultivate, then meeting Zhu Qing and obtaining my first sword—holding that sword felt like holding onto love…”

“Later, when my sword talent awakened, studying, observing, and learning every nuance of the sword, my blade gradually shone—but truth be told, I only wanted her praise and admiration…”

A sigh echoed through the Su Family Residence.

In one courtyard,

someone had already buried their face, sobbing uncontrollably.

“The beauty is married now—my heart withers; I pour my soul into the sword. I entered Lv Xuan Sword Immortal’s temple to study and observe, ultimately inheriting the Sword Immortal’s legacy…”

“I should have used this sword to grasp the true essence of the sword dao and become a Sword Saint!”

“But the fated hindrance held me back for twenty long years.”

“Today, I let it go.”

“Twenty years…”

“forging one sword.”

“Sword and liquor, sharpening the blade into nine forms.”

“This one sword of nine—the strike that enters the Martial Saint realm!”

Huang Jianjiu held his Sword Immortal’s Sword askew; in an instant, countless streams of light faded away as if the divine edge had been cleansed of all soot!

A tremor ran through as his sword intent soared into the heavens!

In a heartbeat, his sword light split into nine segments.

Each beam shimmered beautifully, like thousands of pear blossoms in bloom!

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

At that moment, Huang Jianjiu’s voice roared like a tidal wave through the Su Family Residence.

All Su Family cultivators watched in stunned silence.

Even as hoarse, cheering shouts fell silent, a low, hoarse cry emerged—quiet yet desperate.

It seemed the Cosmic Chessboard of heaven and earth could not muffle that sound.

Waves of sound rolled upward like a tide, carrying with them the soaring sword light into the clouds—like a rolling torrent that echoed throughout Daocheng!

……

……

[Yu Liankou Ha Zhenpo Divine General of the Bizarre Temple]

The temple stood, bathed in shifting moonlight.

Veil-like silver light poured over the black tiles.

Atop the tower’s peak,

a scholarly man in ancient, flowing robes closed the book in his hands and sighed softly.

The roaring sound, accompanied by the burst of sword light, reached his ears.

“Twenty years of hardship, forging a sword to enter the Martial Saint realm…”

“A fleeting moment of brilliance, like fireflies outshining the full moon.”

“Alas…”

Fang Han Shu of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, his robes billowing, a trace of melancholy in his eyes.

Below,

Su Family Elder Su Lei gripped his staff tightly; the ground beneath him cracked like spiderwebs, and his qi was compressed into nothingness, unable to move!

……

……

[Six Desires Exorcism – Lv Xuan Sword Immortal’s Bizarre Temple]

Temple Guardian Division Chief Si Feng Zhiqi stood before the temple, feeling a sharp, cutting wind—an echo of the sword intent emanating from the Sword Immortal’s Bizarre Temple.

Si Feng Zhiqi shook his head, “Such a sword dao prodigy—what a pity…”

“Receiving Lv Xuan Sword Immortal’s legacy is no small feat, little one.”

“Your future potential is boundless; perhaps someday, your sword will even open the heavens.”

Si Feng Zhiqi spoke with heartfelt admiration.

Yet, twenty years of honing had worn him down.

Now, everything had settled.

That one dazzling, transcendent sword strike,

was but a brief flash in time.

Yu Wen Wenlong, standing aside, felt his scalp tingle, as if that sword carried a blade that could sever life itself.

Had that sword come straight for him—even if he managed to block it, he’d surely be gravely injured!

What a magnificent sword strike!

Huang Jianjiu…could he really have slashed out such a strike?!

……

……

Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Outer Disciples’ City.

The Elder Court.

Jiao Shaoqiu was instructing children in the courtyard.

A few children practiced diligently under the moonlight as news spread that the Sect Master would soon hold the final selection for his personally trained disciple at the Qingming Festival.

All children under ten in the sect labored tirelessly, hoping for a last-minute breakthrough—a slim chance to be taken under the wing of the Sect Master.

If one truly became the Sect Master’s personal disciple, there would be no worry over cultivation resources—the entire Qianyuan Divine Sect’s resources would be devoted to them. Rumor had it…there was even a chance to attend the imperial Peach Banquet hosted by the reigning Empress in Divine Capital!

This banquet wasn’t just any event—it was fiercely competitive; gaining fame there meant becoming renowned throughout the lands.

Who among the youth didn’t dream of a name known across the world?

Jiao Shaoqiu was instructing the children; as an Outer Elder, he had guided many gifted disciples, each a source of pride.

Suddenly,

Jiao Shaoqiu felt a surge of sword intent; his eyes abruptly narrowed.

His instructive words froze mid-sentence.

In the courtyard, many young swordsmen felt their blades tremble uncontrollably, and exclamations rang out non-stop.

Jiao Shaoqiu shuddered violently, spun around, and looked toward the soaring sword light.

That brilliance was dazzling—as if a Sword Immortal had descended from the heavens, tearing through the moonlit haze.

It was as if it sought to rival the very heights of the heavens!

That sword strike, merging with heaven and earth, could only be described as the Sword Saint’s strike!

That strike…

“Sword Nine…”

Jiao Shaoqiu’s lips trembled.

This was Huang Jianjiu’s most formidable strike, known as Sword Nine.

It was the legacy he had inherited from the Sword Immortal’s Bizarre Temple—the news Huang Jianjiu had exuberantly rushed to share with him.

Everyone believed Huang Jianjiu had fallen, but Jiao Shaoqiu knew that deep down, he was nurturing a sword—a sword meant for killing.

And now…

That murderous sword had been unsheathed.

But Huang Jianjiu now had only this one move: Sword Nine.

The old man suddenly grew frail, staggering two steps backward, his legs trembling, as he sat beneath the eaves, patting the wooden floor with wistful resignation.

“My child…”

“Oh, my child…”

……

……

Boom, boom, boom—!!!

Huang Jianjiu raised his head, his sword intent sharp as if carved from ice.

His jet-black hair whipped about; he stood erect like a sword, bathed in moonlight, like a Sword Immortal treading on moonbeams.

Above him, the Cosmic Chessboard swirled in the sky.

An illusory, ink-dark city suddenly emerged!

The city trembled violently.

Soon, the once-secure city gates crashed open with a roar!

A dreadful pressure, like a mountain collapsing, swept down over everything!

The sudden eruption of force and qi was as if the very realm of heaven and earth was crumbling!

It demolished all in its path—mountains collapsing, the earth splitting apart!

The entire Su Family Courtyard, every divine cultivator and Supreme Master, felt as if the grand dike of the Milky Way had broken, with torrents cascading down!

Then, everyone saw endless ink-black hues unfurling in the sky like a massive swirling vortex!

The night was obscured!

And in the next moment, every Su Family member’s eyes widened, hairs standing on end, frozen in shock!

And then—

From within that black vortex, a figure tumbled down, battered and marked with searing burns and countless ghastly wounds!

Drops of blood, round as jewels, streamed relentlessly!

Scorching and sizzling!

And an awe-inspiring force, merging with the power of heaven and earth, spread over everything—a terrifying, overwhelming might!

Martial Saint—!!!

“The head of the Su Family!”

One of the Su Family Supreme Masters gasped.

The head of the Su Family…Su Wenxi!

Upon unleashing his Martial Saint power, he appeared so disheveled—as if clinging to the edge of death!

“Ogre—!!!”

Su Wenxi, spewed out of Mo City, roared, his cry echoing unrestrained from deep within!

His fingers clenched as if thunder rumbled; like volcanic eruption, his fierce qi tore through the sky, encircling him!

Ogre?

To see someone reduced to such a state by Ogre…

Was it really the Ogre of the Underworld?

Everyone was stunned.

But one person maintained a calm expression!

As if the very moment Mo City trembled, he recalled Ogre’s true intent.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

A brilliant, dazzling sword light suddenly soared from the ground, and in an instant, the inky, fog-covered terrain burst into brightness!

The sword light shot skyward, and in that frozen moment, time itself seemed to halt!

It was all because that sword’s speed was simply unmatched!

Fresh from being expelled from Mo City, Su Wenxi’s spirit wavered—barely recovering the sensation of being between worlds—when his scalp prickled in alarm!

Sword intent!

A surge of…

unparalleled, pure, terrifying sword intent!

No trace of divine nature…

Only the sword!

The Sword Immortal’s Sword!

Lowering his gaze, Su Wenxi saw nine beams of sword light rising, like ephemeral blossoms circling endlessly—sword light like wind, water, fire, the vast sea, stars, and the blazing sun!

Nine Swords!

Sword Nine!

A finishing move!

Su Wenxi’s scalp prickled as the mortal danger of death became all too real!

A finishing move?

No!

With a fierce lift of his head, Su Wenxi suddenly saw a figure leap out from Mo City—a dazzling, all-encompassing slashing blade!

It blotted out the skies!

Li Che’s eyes flashed like lightning; beneath the Ogre Mask, his demeanor was wild and defiant!

At the moment of his escape from Mo City,

the Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade in his left hand was instantly ignited by the power of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit!

In a flash—

the clashing of the blade resounded with a ringing, metallic cry!

Thousand Mountain Solitary Blade!

His fingers gripped tightly as if piercing through five voids, clutching the Eight Treasure Xuanjin Thunder Dragon Staff!

With a savage sweep,

the long staff suddenly gained three prongs!

A tremor shot through!

Blinding, dazzling blade light burst forth from his left arm, like an inferno that spread in all directions!

Crisp and resounding, like a peal of thunder from behind the clouds, the Thunder Dragon roared!

Slash—!!!

At that moment, the blade light shone brilliantly!

Sword Nine shot upward from below!

Thousand Mountain Solitary Blade hammered down from above!

From top to bottom…

all were finishing moves!

Su Wenxi’s eyes burned as he flung open his arms in a final, desperate strike; yet inside, his heart trembled with the foretaste of death!

There was no escaping…

no way to block it.

He was doomed!

With a roar, Su Wenxi’s fist clenched, his eyes bulging, as he lunged at the very core of Ogre’s heart—stronger than even Huang Jianjiu’s blade!

“Let’s go down together!”

The peerless Su Wenxi, even in that moment, was willing to exchange blows one-for-one!

Huang Jianjiu’s sword intent had reached the Sword Saint realm—even in his prime it would be a dreadful contest, likely to inflict grave injuries!

And after that strike from Huang Jianjiu…it was undoubtedly a death sentence!

Naturally, Su Wenxi chose to trade for Ogre instead!

Two for one—that was Su Wenxi’s plan!

Not a loss at all!

Boom—!!!

A fearsome and brilliant punch crashed like a dark eagle spreading its wings!

Facing the all-encompassing barrage of blade light, he countered with a defiant punch!

A desperate bid for survival?

The moment the blade light slashed down,

Li Che’s fingers gripped the Feilei Chess Piece, executing a swift transposition…

and he vanished right before Su Wenxi’s eyes…

leaving only countless clashing beams of blade light!

Boom—!!!!

Fists and blade light collided relentlessly, but finally…

Nine beams of sword light pierced through Su Wenxi’s body in an instant, dragging a spray of blood!

Sweeping along the formidable essence of a Martial Saint, a torrent of fiery primal energy erupted!

It was like a blazing fire in the heavens, with blood cascading like countless wild flames!

Li Che’s fingers clutched the Feilei Chess Piece as he appeared beside Huang Jianjiu.

He left behind the Feilei Chess Piece next to Huang Jianjiu, then transposed to evade Su Wenxi’s all-out, life-or-death counterattack.

A fight to the death?

Li Che never fought for his life.

He had a family—a daughter, a wife…

How could he possibly risk his life?

Li Che cherished his life above all.

High in the air, Su Wenxi’s body hung, blood dripping continuously; he stood, fists clenched, eyes bulging in fury.

One punch shattered countless strands of blade light…

Turning his head, he beheld the towering Ogre standing beside Huang Jianjiu—sturdy as a pagoda!

“Despicable…”

Su Wenxi sputtered a mouthful of blood.

Huang Jianjiu’s Sword Nine had severed every thread of his life, even piercing his primordial spirit and divine perception.

His life…

was over.

Su Wenxi wavered in midair with a tinge of sorrow—after all he had devoured countless women’s talents to reach his level and break into the Martial Saint realm…

to think he would die this way.

Su Wenxi…

refused to accept it!

Thump, thump, thump, thump—

Amid countless stunned, blazing gazes, his body splintered into nine pieces, raining down with crackling sounds…

The Ogre, swift as a striking beast, snatched a Qian Kun Jade from a corpse fragment with practiced ease—like plucking a wildflower by the roadside.

Bang, bang, bang, bang—

Dust and smoke rose.

Scalding blood corroded the ground into a massive crater.

Huang Jianjiu slanted his Sword Immortal’s Sword in hand.

The brilliant white sword aura at his brow…

faded to nothing but the remnants of incense smoke.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

The thick aura of death and corpse energy on Huang Jianjiu’s body began to recoil, slowly devouring his vitality.

“I’m dying…”

Huang Jianjiu stood amidst a mountain of corpses and rivers of blood, exhaling a long breath.

He looked toward Ogre, a hint of wistfulness in his eyes—a silent comfort.

But then he saw Ogre ignore his words and stride directly to the corpse of the Martial Saint Su Wenxi; with trembling fingers, Ogre gathered the body.

Then Ogre glanced at him.

“Need some help with the cleanup?”

Huang Jianjiu: “…”

That cold-hearted brute.

He shook his head, disinterested in Ogre’s offer.

Glancing back at the sealed courtyard behind him,

he smiled softly, removed the liquor gourd adorned with sword scars from his waist, and downed two hearty gulps.

He truly could no longer taste the wine.

Half-dead, that too was just a corpse…

His sense of taste had already been severed.

Drinking his wine, he staggered across the blood-soaked mound toward the outskirts of the Su Family Residence.

None of the Su Family Supreme Masters dared to stop him.

After all, the sight of Huang Jianjiu decapitating a Martial Saint was overwhelmingly imposing.

Li Che watched Huang Jianjiu’s staggering silhouette and shook his head.

Then, with one light step, he melded into the darkness.

The Cosmic Chessboard dissipated as cool moonlight cascaded down.

In Daocheng…

wave after wave of mighty divine perception swept over.

Soon afterward…

an audible intake of cold air was heard!

And in everyone’s awareness,

Huang Jianjiu, bathed in moonlight, staggered while drinking, his steps faltering.

Moonlight slanted, elongating his shadow along Daocheng’s wide, ancient stone road.

He appeared to walk slowly,

but in truth, he was moving quickly.

Summoning the last vestige of his burning sword aura,

he arrived at the Drunken Goose Tavern.

Climbing upstairs,

he beheld the Boss’s Wife still sprawled on a table, sound asleep from her drunken stupor.

He threw his sword to the ground.

Then he pulled up a chair beside her.

Huang Jianjiu slightly curled his lips, tilted his head, rested his elbow on the table, and gently laid his hand on top of her delicately patterned kerchief.

The sleeping Boss’s Wife shuddered…

with eyes as red as if filled with liquid,

and her gaze as calm as water.

Soon, her eyelids softly closed.

Under the cool moonlight, the two figures seemed to be lost in slumber.

This chapter has finally reached its end. The response may be lukewarm—perhaps because yesterday my state prevented a full draft, so I wrote relentlessly for six or seven hours straight. Alright, with no more recommendations, please support with votes, follows, and more reads. Much gratitude from Old Li!