Chapter 262: A Night of Transcendence and Revelations

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh——

The gentle night breeze stirred the play of shadows from the trees beyond the courtyard.

Moonlight, as delicate as a sheer veil, bathed the ground in a holy glow, seemingly washing away every trace of sin and corruption.

Thump, thump, thump.

Deep within his chest, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit beat rapidly, sending waves of invisible currents surging outward through his entire body.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed as he clutched the Qian Kun Jade firmly in his palm.

Seated under the eaves, his jet-black hair whipping in the night breeze, his inky robe flapped and whispered through the air.

“The Pure Heart… has transcended?”

A flicker of surprise stirred within Li Che’s heart.

So focused on the maturation of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, he had nearly forgotten that the Pure Heart Dao Fruit, too, had risen and evolved.

Su Wenxi’s spirit, absorbed and transformed into a Divine Chess Piece after his death, had significantly enhanced the Pure Heart Dao Fruit—despite his mastery only reaching the Breath Retention Transformation stage—through the infusion of his divine essence.

Yet the greatest boost to the Pure Heart Dao Fruit came from summoning Su Wenxi’s Spiritual Confinement!

Summoning Spiritual Confinement naturally increased the fruit’s maturity.

Furthermore, this time Li Che had summoned not only Su Wenxi but also Huang Jianjiu.

Before his death, Huang Jianjiu had broken through to the Sword Saint realm, his sword path radically transformed; his contribution through Spiritual Confinement provided a tremendous boost to the Dao Fruit’s maturation.

Needless to mention the seasoned Martial Saint Su Wenxi.

In short, a single act of Spiritual Confinement from two top-level Martial Saints instantly maxed out the Dao Fruit’s maturity.

“Excellent,”

a slight smile tugged at Li Che’s lips.

Buzz, buzz, buzz——

The Mud Pellet on his brow began to glow faintly.

Smooth as flowing water, a silken current trickled from his pupil, swirling like a lingering incense.

A long exhale…

A drawn-in breath…

Each inhalation and exhalation resonated like the slumbering breaths of a colossal beast.

In an instant, Li Che’s eyes narrowed again.

The wind roared to life.

His dark hair whipped wildly as electric arcs danced within his eyes; a thick white mist began to roll in, growing by the second!

A tremendous force burst forth suddenly. Even though Li Che’s mortal body had been honed to perfection with the power of Dragon Elephant Vajra and constant breakthroughs in his tempering, he could not withstand the overwhelming tug of force.

Before him, the brilliance shifted in a heartbeat.

Vast, boundless, magnificent, deep, and ancient!

A surging torrent of qi battered at him.

A towering Dao Tree shot up from the ground, its trunk piercing the clouds and its lush branches shimmering like countless stars against the midnight sky.

Li Che listened intently, hearing the rustling of leaves on the Dao Tree as a mighty gale swept through—enough to raise the hairs on his arms.

It was as if a portent of doom gently blew over, capable of erasing life in its wake.

Yet the resilient Dao Tree, swaying in that fearsome wind, emitted a vibrant, fresh sound—as if the very cycles of heaven and earth were roaring by the passage of time.

Li Che marveled; every glimpse of the Dao Tree filled him with awe.

This Dao Tree…

had witnessed thousands of years as spirit wood.

Imagine using it to craft a mechanical beast, or to forge an Xiangong Gatling and a Barrett—how formidable it would be!

Its toughness might even captivate the soul with a single strike!

A wild, fantastical thought flitted through Li Che’s mind.

Swish, swish, swish——

The Dao Tree swayed, and the hanging Dao Fruits clashed like giant temple bells, their booming sounds deafening!

Startled, Li Che quickly stilled his thoughts, suppressing the radical notion.

The Dao Tree was a treasure—to be cherished and protected!

He silently recited a charm, reshaping his image in the heart of the Dao Tree.

Then, glancing upward, he spotted among the countless fruits one that shone so brightly white it resembled a radiant sun.

Almost instinctively, he raised his hand as if to pluck the stars from the zenith!

Boom——

The Dao Fruit plummeted like a blazing sun, its scorching qi wreaking havoc!

Li Che looked upward; his dark hair crackled like streams of black electricity lashing about.

In the instant his fingertips grazed the Dao Fruit, a bolt of pure white electricity intertwined and surged—like a sudden thunderclap, a jolt of truth!

In that fleeting moment, Li Che felt his soul clear and purged, the filth washed away entirely.

It was as if he had been reborn, bathed in a warm, soothing light, lulling him into a drowsy reverie.

Just like the previous evolution of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit.

Li Che did not resist; he slowly closed his eyes.

Within the secluded courtyard of his private workshop…

A gentle breeze passed by, and the world fell silent.

With measured, powerful breaths, Li Che maintained steady control.

Time lost all meaning—both a fleeting moment and an eternity in this deep slumber.

His eyelids fluttered as Li Che gradually opened his gleaming, clear eyes.

Within the inner scene of his Mud Pellet, the divine essence of the Temple Spirits—including the eight manifestations of the luminous Divine True Primate array—were neatly seated, enveloped by pure divinity as they slumbered, purifying away all impurities.

Li Che felt his primordial spirit growing ever clearer, his perception of heaven and earth sharpened to an exquisite degree.

Rising to his feet, every bone and muscle crackled; as his flesh and spirit melded seamlessly, he was able to command his very blood with a mere thought.

It was a near-perfect mastery over his mortal form.

The fusion of soul and body grew ever more complete!

Clenching his fist, five waves of pure, white qi burst forth, roaring like dragons unleashing in the air.

Glints of light danced in his eyes.

[Dao Fruit LV5 Triple Transcendence — Divine Guidance Transcended to Divine Art Ascension Two (Divine Guidance · Illumination)]

The swirling radiance had not yet faded.

Yet Li Che’s heart stirred wildly.

The Dao Fruit had transcended thrice!

Divine Art Ascension Two—Illumination!

But what exactly is Illumination?

Li Che’s gaze flickered with uncertainty, unable to grasp the true nature or effect of this new divine technique.

The radiant light coalesced once more.

[Divine Guidance (Divine Art): The silence of the gods, darkness like a tide, purity as brilliant as light—I invoke a divine myth.]

[First Ascension: Summon the Divine]

[Second Ascension: Illumination]

[Illuminating Virtue to Perceive the Divine, Exposing Evil to Perceive the Divine, Clarifying the Heart to Perceive the Divine, Tracing the Source to Perceive the Divine]

……

Hints flowed down like sinking incense, emerging as gently as a murmuring stream.

Li Che furrowed his brow.

Gazing at the profoundly cryptic description, he felt his head spin.

After Summon the Divine comes Illumination?

What is Illumination? What does it truly understand about the divine?

Among the myriad divine techniques borne from Dao Fruit evolutions, the one borne from the Pure Heart Dao Fruit has always been the most enigmatic…

At the very least, it remains the hardest to comprehend and control.

Moreover, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit seems dangerously prone to mishaps—after all, it is intrinsically linked to the gods.

And these are gods of the departed.

In this world, bizarre temples abound, with Temple Spirits standing guard.

Li Che wondered if the evolution of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit was intertwined with the state of the world itself…

He recalled the power of Summon the Divine, capable of drawing Temple Spirits into the Cosmic Chessboard and merging them into his own divine aura.

Taking Temple Spirits as his divine manifestation…

What an audacious idea—to stride ever further along the path of invincibility at his own level.

But what then of this new divine technique, Illumination?

Li Che closed his eyes and slowly absorbed the information.

“A supportive divine art that perceives the intent behind a god’s emotion…”

“This will greatly aid the Divine Eagle. If paired with an Xiangong Dao Fruit, perhaps… it will help me step quickly into the half-Saint level of the Divine Eagle.”

A sparkle reignited in Li Che’s eyes.

“And that’s just one facet. There are more effects… though I haven’t fully grasped them yet.”

Li Che exhaled slowly, his heart trembling with the intensity of the sensation.

He knew all divine arts tied to a Temple Spirit would never be simple—their impact was enormous.

Lifting his head, bathed in gentle moonlight,

Li Che’s emotions slowly calmed.

The Pure Heart Dao Fruit had transcended; within the inner scene of his Mud Pellet, the divine essence of the Temple Spirits grew ever purer.

Clenching his fist, a Fifth Stage Lower Divine Crystal of the Five Elders dropped into his hand.

A powerful force of absorption burst forth.

A spark of delight flickered in Li Che’s eyes as he sensed that after the triple evolution of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit, the rate at which divine essence was being absorbed from the Divine Crystal was accelerating.

A divine essence within a Fifth Stage Lower Divine Crystal was being rapidly extracted; Li Che could even choose to infuse it into the myriad Temple Spirit manifestations residing in his Mud Pellet inner scene.

This meant that, provided he had enough Divine Crystals, he could quickly accumulate the divine aura from the Temple Spirits until he achieved complete divine perfection at the Primordial Spirit realm!

What great news!

“So… the triple transcendence of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit has bolstered my divine talent, hasn’t it?”

Li Che laughed.

Even though he possessed the innate talent of the Swallowing Beast for Divine Crystals, who could deny that appetite was a talent in itself?

“Perhaps it’s time to use the evolution of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit to refine the bodies of my wife and XiXi, to elevate their innate gifts.”

“Especially XiXi—maybe this Pure Heart evolution, this divine baptism, could push her divine talent even higher.”

Li Che felt a surge of anticipation.

“In that case… my own push towards the Divine Essence realm suddenly seems within reach.”

“But the mystique of the Six Desires Divine Essence remains unresolved…”

“Surely I can’t really resort to summoning the Corpse God, right?”

Li Che shook his head.

Deciding not to dwell on the matter, he flexed his limbs; his robust qi surged, and his refreshed primordial spirit shone brilliantly.

He even sensed every detail of his surroundings with newfound clarity.

It felt as if he were in perfect symphony with the cosmos.

At this moment, Li Che’s martial way had reached that preternatural state of oneness with humanity and nature—a true Grandmaster of innate perfection, where his spirit intertwined with the very fabric of heaven and earth.

Upon reaching the Martial Saint realm, that deep connection with the cosmos would be pushed to its limit, giving birth to a unique “Heaven-Man Resonance.”

Though Li Che was not yet there, he could already feel the threshold of that resonance with his purified soul.

Every step, every breath sent ripples in the air like the crackle of thunder.

With a light step, Li Che returned to the eaves, seated once again, as he excitedly retrieved the Qian Kun Jade once belonging to Su Wenxi, the head of the Martial Saints.

A gash appeared between his brow and flesh, and his dazzling Star-Plucking Gaze shone forth.

In one precise cleave, he unraveled the divine formations etched on the Qian Kun Jade; his primordial spirit tore them apart with ease.

Having shattered countless Qian Kun Jades before, Li Che was well-versed in their secrets.

Moreover, high-quality Qian Kun Jades were all the same—no challenge at all to decipher.

His all-encompassing primordial spirit scanned over it.

Li Che drew a deep breath as that familiar thrill returned…

His heart raced and his breath quickened—the long-lost sensation of overwhelming wealth and power caressing his face!

It was happening again!

“Divine Crystals… over a hundred Fifth Stage Lower ones!”

“And what of the Fifth Stage Middle Divine Crystals?”

Li Che’s mind sprang to attention as he extracted from the Qian Kun Jade a Divine Crystal emanating a fierce, white light.

About the size of his thumb, it contained a dense, pure divine essence, so pure it had liquefied—a sealed, shimmering liquid inside that even whispered with a soft clamor when disturbed.

At the same time, the divine liquid glowed faintly.

It resembled a low-wattage incandescent bulb.

“Fifth Stage Middle Divine Crystal!”

Li Che inhaled deeply.

Previously, most of the Fifth Stage Divine Crystals he obtained were Lower Stage.

Even the Divine Crystal from Su Huai Ming of the Su Family, a top-tier Martial Saint, had been Lower Stage.

But a Fifth Stage Middle Divine Crystal… carried a distinctly different aura; its divine essence so concentrated, it had condensed into a liquid.

Within his chest, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit throbbed in excited rhythm!

Even a newly transcended Pure Heart Dao Fruit seemed tempted—as if it craved to absorb it.

Li Che’s eyes shone with bright gleams!

Divine Crystals at the Fifth Stage were further divided into upper, middle, and lower echelons. In truth, divine crystals below the Fifth Stage were also classified similarly, but their differences were minimal.

Yet the transformation in divine aura between a Fifth Stage Middle and Lower Divine Crystal was stark.

It was much like the gap between a Divine Talisman Master and a half-Saint of Divine Talismans.

Even greater differences separated a Fifth Stage Upper Divine Crystal from a Middle one—the disparity comparable only to that between a Divine Talisman Saint and a half-Saint.

The gap was only set to widen further!

“What a treasure…”

Li Che carefully took stock one by one.

“Only five Fifth Stage Middle Divine Crystals in all… truly rare. It’s thanks to the assets of a Martial Saint head that such treasures could be amassed.”

“Furthermore, there are as many as five hundred Sixth Stage Divine Crystals! Utter opulence!”

“This is likely just the property of Su Wenxi himself; he hasn’t even brought out the entire ancestral treasure trove of the Su Family in his Qian Kun Jade.”

Opulence beyond measure!

Li Che marveled.

Every sumptuous bounty made him feel like a naive simpleton.

After all, Li Che…

simply adored being the underdog.

Let them use their riches to pummel his world!

“Pills!”

“A Martial Saint and a top-tier warrior would never hoard mundane pills!”

“Since Su Wenxi transitioned from warrior to Martial Saint, the pills he preserves must be extraordinary!”

What Li Che awaited most was the Martial Pill.

For a Martial Saint, a single pill to bolster cultivation was more than enough!

With a sweep of his primordial spirit and a tight fist,

he excavated a pale green jade vial from within the Qian Kun Jade.

A rich medicinal aroma exploded from the vial, enveloping the air like a tangible, herbal mist.

His Star-Plucking Gaze swept over it.

[Great Jing Guangling Dao Heavenly Pill of the Divine Sect – Beast Blood Martial Pill (Fifth Stage Middle)]

A Fifth Stage Middle Martial Pill!

A brilliant radiance burst from Li Che’s eyes!

The potent medicinal properties emanated so strongly that a single whiff made his internal qi and blood surge like a tumultuous tide!

“Just like Divine Crystals, the leap from Fifth Stage Lower to Middle marks a colossal divide!”

“Fifth Stage Middle Pills possess an overwhelming potency, attainable only by a half-Saint divine pill master…”

“Great Jing Guangling Dao Heavenly Pill of the Divine Sect…”

“It appears these pills have an extraordinary origin—not from the Imperial Watch but from the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect of Guangling Dao…”

Clutching the jade vial, Li Che felt his blood churn like rolling waves.

A single Martial Pill exclusive to Martial Saints sent shockwaves through both the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit and his maximized, tempered physique.

“Dragon Abyss Path, Seven Treasure Divine Sect, Guangling Dao Heavenly Pill Divine Sect… and Qingyun Dao Xuanzu Divine Sect, Great Jing’s Eleven Routes—now I recognize the four divine sects.”

Li Che’s eyes gleamed, as if the very heavens had drawn back the curtains of fate.

The Seven Treasure Divine Sect excelled in divine weapons; the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect specialized in Martial Pills; the Xuanzu Divine Sect mastered divine talismans…

These three were emblematic.

And Lingnan Dao’s Qianyuan Divine Sect… were they masters of the Divine Eagle?

Though it couldn’t be said that the Divine Eagle Masters of Qianyuan Divine Sect were absolute,

the Great Jing Court established the Imperial Watch, a body that concurrently bred divine weapons masters, divine talisman masters, and divine pill masters to counterbalance the dominance of the divine sects.

Li Che meticulously recounted: of the Beast Blood Martial Pills, only three bottles, or three pills, were of premium grade.

The rest were Fifth Stage Lower Martial Pills—some from the Imperial Watch, others from the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect—with around twenty in total. Their numbers were not meager.

Though the only gap between Fifth Stage Lower and Middle Martial Pills was a single rating, the price difference was like night and day.

A smile broke across Li Che’s face as he continued his tally.

His gaze brightened suddenly!

“Is that… spirit wood?!”

“Fifth Stage Upper Spirit Wood!”

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle……

Li Che’s fingers curled, and a cylindrical piece of spirit wood over a meter long appeared in his hand.

Heavily dense, it crackled with countless electric arcs that seemed to carry the roar of a dragon’s fury.

“Thunderstorm Dragon Blood Howling Wood!”

Previously, Li Che had received a piece of [Phoenix Blood Roc’s Perched Nirvana Wood] from Su Huai Ming’s gift; it too was Fifth Stage Upper, and now he had another!

Crackle, crackle, crackle——!

The electric arcs danced uncontrollably, even prompting Li Che’s Thunder Magnetic Conduit to instinctively absorb the storm’s might.

The pulsing arcs transformed into what looked like an enraged Thunder Dragon, slicing through with overwhelming conductivity.

Searing heat!

Raging fire and fury!

Li Che touched it; his eyes lit up as the Xiangong Dao Fruit pulsed, reminding him of his ongoing experiments to develop the “Xiangong Namo Super Electromagnetic Cannon.”

This piece of Fifth Stage Upper Spirit Wood was the perfect match.

Originally, Li Che had planned to use a piece of Fifth Stage Lower [Feng Lei Dragon-Chi Wood] to barely manage the development.

Now, with far superior materials at hand!

With the right materials, anything was possible!

Li Che’s mood soared—this harvest was extraordinarily rich.

Truly befitting a Martial Saint and head of a noble family; you deserve every bit of your stature!

But soon, a frown creased Li Che’s brow.

“No Divine Weapons?”

“How can there be no Divine Weapons? A Martial Saint… how can he be without one?”

A peculiar glint appeared in Li Che’s eyes.

That wasn’t right.

Then it dawned on him that perhaps Su Wenxi had hidden his Divine Weapons in the Bizarre Temple, nurturing them with the power of the Temple Spirits.

Because Huang Jianjiu’s ambush of the Su Family came so suddenly, Su Wenxi never had time to summon his Divine Weapons from the Bizarre Temple.

Had he possessed them, Su Wenxi’s combat prowess might have soared even higher.

Li Che and Huang Jianjiu’s joint effort to eliminate him might not have been so straightforward.

As for martial techniques, Su Wenxi’s Qian Kun Jade contained only a few.

After stepping into the Martial Saint realm, Su Wenxi devised two martial arts; however, by now they held little allure for Li Che.

The only draw for him was a divine martial art recorded on a sheet of golden foil—an art of divine seed cultivation.

“Nine Heavens Xuan Ying Splitting Palm! Divine Seed Martial Art!”

Li Che’s eyes lit up.

Another divine seed martial art had been acquired!

That made a complete set!

With this divine seed martial art collected, all eight were now complete!

After tallying his gains, Li Che calmed his breath.

The night was as clear as crystal.

Suddenly, a stirring in his heart drew his gaze toward the direction of the Drunken Goose Tavern, where Huang Jianjiu had unleashed a magnificent Sword Nine strike.

After hurling forth his challenge, he vanished without a trace.

Boom——

A black mist burst and then reformed.

Huang Jianjiu’s Spiritual Confinement coalesced by Li Che’s side once more.

Li Che shot him a sidelong glance.

Huang Jianjiu awkwardly scratched his head.

Li Che’s lips twitched as he remarked, “That sword you’ve honed for twenty years…”

“After resurrection, do its traits fully manifest? Does pushing it to its limits risk shattering it under the strain?”

Huang Jianjiu only chuckled and nodded.

Removing his liquor gourd, he gulped down a swig of drink.

The liquid slid down his lips, refreshing him immensely.

“Heh, now I can freely execute the ‘Sword Nine First Form’ without fearing death.”

Huang Jianjiu felt as if he had received an epic boost of strength.

Now, he was terrifyingly powerful!

He even dared to swing his sword at the Master of the Sect!

Even if it meant his demise!

Li Che stood up, his inky robe fluttering; having tallied the blessings from a Martial Saint, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit had also broken through to LV5 with triple transcendence, awakening Divine Art Ascension Two.

Li Che’s mood soared.

Now, both his personal strength and overall foundation had received a tremendous boost.

His mind stirred subtly.

Immersed in Mo City,

he opened his eyes to a scene of chaos—Mo City lay in ruins.

After a barrage and brutal clashes with Martial Saints, the city was scarred and broken.

Yet Li Che could sense traces of swirling ink, as if Mo City was slowly healing, albeit requiring time.

And when restored, Mo City would be even more resilient.

Li Che pondered softly:

“This means I can lure more powerful foes to battle, ravage Mo City… and someday, when Mo City is so impregnable that even a Martial Saint cannot mar a single brick, it will truly become an imposing prison!”

Suppressing a Martial Saint is hardly a challenge.

After leaving Mo City, a flash of light passed before his eyes.

……

[Name: Li Che]

[Bond: Li Nuǎnxi (Daughter)]

[Dao Fruits: 【Xiangong】 (lv5 2%), Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv5 15%), Pure Heart (LV5 0%), Chess Sage (LV4 85%), Painted Immortal (lv4 10%), Thunder Magnetic Conduit (lv2 2%)]

[Nascent Divine Arts: Immortal Craft: Qianxi Hand, Dragon Elephant Vajra: Ascend the Tower, Pure Heart · Spiritual Confinement, Chess Sage: Great Avalanche, Painted Immortal: Ink Death]

[Divine Arts: Star Plucking, Radiant Rise, Divine Guidance, Wuji, Bai Yujing]

[Hint: Each year the bond grows stronger; each Dao Tree bears one Dao Fruit]

……

The radiant aura of the Dao Fruits revealed clear information.

The Chess Sage Dao Fruit, in this battle, had significantly improved—the Cosmic Chessboard suppressed the qi from every direction, even momentarily concealing the potent aura of Huang Jianjiu’s sword strike.

Although not completely hidden, it still gained a great boost.

Meanwhile, the freshly transcended Painted Immortal Dao Fruit, with its evolved Ink Death, had performed superbly—binding a Martial Saint and trapping him, creating an opening for Huang Jianjiu’s fleeting, decisive attack.

Truly commendable.

“After the Thunder Magnetic Conduit completes the Five Thunder Divine Talismans, its absorption speed should catch up. And with spring arriving and thunder rolling in, perhaps there will be another surge.”

Li Che recounted his progress with a lazy stretch, sensing a comprehensive elevation in his state.

He still had unresolved feedback from the breakthrough of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

But Li Che wasn’t in a rush to process it—all his plans focused first on subduing the Corpse God Seal taken from Huang Jianjiu.

Originally, subjugating the Corpse God Seal wasn’t easy—it required the Pure Heart to gradually erase its power.

Much like the mark bestowed upon You Liqing that was refined in the same manner.

And with the little tremor from Big Black Dog’s anger, the refining was complete.

Now, Li Che had learned his lesson.

It’s not about man versus dog… no! It’s about using one’s influence to command the situation!

So he turned his gaze toward Huang Jianjiu’s Spiritual Confinement.

“Big Yellow, follow—I’m taking you someplace.”

Standing with his hands behind his back, Li Che said in a gentle tone.

Huang Jianjiu wiped the traces of wine from his lips; a puzzled glint danced in his eyes.

Without further question, he drifted to follow.

Upon exiting the courtyard, Li Che calmly locked the door.

Under the slanted moonlight, he ambled through the quiet Tinglei Alley.

Huang Jianjiu, with his sword case in hand and liquor gourd at his side, trailed behind.

Moments later, deep within the alley,

a modest restaurant emerged, its dim lights quietly illuminating the scene.

Big Black Dog lay at the door, its glossy black fur glistening in the moonlight, tongue flicking as if absorbing the essence of the night.

Suddenly, Big Black Dog narrowed its eyes upon seeing Li Che, its gaze intensifying.

Its keen senses made it clear: today, Li Che meant business!

At the very sight of Li Che, clad in a billowing inky robe, an exuberant smile burst across his face.

Big Black Dog leapt upward with a bound, its four claws gathering force as if ready to strike!

Darn it!

That insolent beast!

How dare it charge at its master!

Huang Jianjiu, standing beside Li Che, felt shivers of cold dread—even in his Spiritual Confinement, an icy sensation surged.

It was him, it was him, it was him!!!

Huang Jianjiu’s eyes grew wide and round!

All of it came rushing back—the time when that dog stole even the memory of a top-tier fine wine, that heartless cur!

Huang Jianjiu glared furiously, exclaiming, “You mangy mutt! Even if separated for three days, I shall look upon you with new eyes!”

Tonight!

Tonight, Huang Jianjiu planned to feast on dog meat with a hotpot of it!

Clenching his fingers, his sword case burst open, unleashing a heroic sword aura!

A cascade of sword light erupted like thousands of pear blossoms in a sudden spring gale!

Boom——!

Before Huang Jianjiu could slice, a chubby dog paw swatted away all the sword light, slapping across his face.

Huang Jianjiu’s features collapsed, twisting into a grotesque mask before he was reduced to a haze of black mist.

Moments later, his form recondensed beside Li Che.

A single bold sword strike had cost him a lifetime’s worth of self-assurance.

Huang Jianjiu’s Spiritual Confinement grew pale; he said nothing.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed in admiration, “That was tremendously strong!”

In one strike, his Spiritual Confinement had been shattered by a mere claw?

Now, Huang Jianjiu… truly deserved the title of Sword Saint.

At the doorway, the Boss sat, a cigarette dangling from his mouth and legs crossed, his eyes half-lidded as he surveyed Li Che and a subdued Huang Jianjiu.

Fixing his gaze on Huang Jianjiu, he flicked away the ash and said coolly, “Not a bad strike.”

Having his Spiritual Confinement reduced to silence by that mangy mutt, Huang Jianjiu couldn’t help but let a smile tug at his lips despite his efforts to hide it.

Li Che chuckled and addressed the Boss, “Boss, could you do me a little favor…”

The Boss took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling a ring of grey smoke.

“Go get the dog.”

Li Che turned to Big Black Dog.

Big Black Dog squinted, its nose twitching and teeth bared.

“Tomorrow, I’ll bring XiXi over for a full day of fun!”

Li Che raised a single finger.

Big Black Dog’s eyes shifted as it bared its teeth further.

Its claw shot upward, revealing a sharp, spiked talon.

“Deal.”