Chapter 275: Storms, Bets, and Miracles Under the Rain

Crunch, crack—the spring thunder roared across the dome of the heavens, its bolts weaving through layers of heavy leaden clouds like a spider’s web.

The rain grew even more savage, crashing like a torrent of angry river waters against the rocky outcroppings, unleashing a surge of cascading power.

On the Grand Plaza beneath the White Jade Archway.

Columns of rain pounded the roof of the carriage, splashing into countless droplets that morphed into a vast, misty white curtain.

Inside the carriage, dignitaries representing various noble families and state cities sat upright, their eyes fixed as if watching a painting formed by clashing sword auras.

In the distance, martial artists from Daocheng who had traveled from afar eagerly awaited the spectacle.

Among the four prodigies, one was from a foreign race—a fact that had everyone on edge.

If it were the foreign contender from the Da Li Wangting who were eliminated, it would be ideal; even the martial artists present would burst into restrained cheers.

Da Li Wangting—already ancient enemies with the Great Realm.

Even separated by a desert, countless skirmishes erupted along the winding corridors of the Tongyou Path, with Youzhou often reduced to war-torn battlegrounds where numerous Great Realm warriors met their end.

Although a ceasefire of nearly sixty years had been agreed upon in the Tongyou Corridor between the Great Realm and Da Li, the friction and grudges between the nations were not easily erased.

After all, how could the sacrifices and spilled blood of so many forefathers be so easily forgiven or forgotten by their descendants?

In truth, the Qianyuan Divine Sect surely did not wish to see a foreigner become one of its junior patriarchs.

Otherwise, there would have been no need for such a hands-on selection test for the junior patriarch position.

After all, Lü Taibai’s demonic discipleship already had a royal Da Li scion among its ranks,

rated the highest in the Authentic Transmission Ledger. If they truly intended to choose a foreigner as a junior patriarch, why make such an ostentatious display?

It can only be said that the arrival of Jin Taisui had caught even the Qianyuan Divine Sect slightly off guard.

And wasn’t it that Lü Taibai, proclaiming inclusiveness, wouldn’t leave Jin Taisui out of the selection?

If the Egg-Crazy had managed to join the Qianyuan Divine Sect as a personally-taught disciple of the patriarch, why couldn’t Jin Taisui?

Many eyes turned to Lü Taibai, speculating that the Sect Master surely had backup plans.

He would never allow a foreigner to ascend to the junior patriarch position!

When Gongshu Wéntian finally opened his eyes—

a chorus of startled exclamations erupted across the Grand Plaza; even numerous strong noble warriors were unable to restrain their emotions!

Surely, this development… was it spiraling out of the Sect Master’s control?

“Hahaha—no wonder he carries the blood of the Great Witch God!”

“Under the constant influence of the Great Witch God since childhood, his spirit has been tempered to perfection—the very trial of spirit is our tribe’s specialty!”

The two formidable Witch God Mountain experts, cloaked in black, burst into raucous laughter.

The painted designs on their faces seemed to come alive.

Their unchecked laughter did nothing to quell the cold indignation swirling in the eyes of Gongshu Jingjun, seated beneath the White Jade Archway.

Gongshu Wéntian, a scion of the Gongshu Family and a product of Divine Capital’s ancient lineage, had come straight for a personally-taught disciple slot under Lü Taibai.

Yet unforeseen incidents had occurred.

Still, Gongshu Jingjun was well aware of his brother’s state; although Wéntian possessed extraordinary talent, his temperament was notoriously volatile despite his strengths within the Gongshu Family.

His spirit, fragile as tofu, was prone to shatter at the slightest provocation.

Fortunately, while Gongshu Wéntian’s spirit was indeed delicate, it managed to be reforged after each break—only to snap again just as easily.

Having been extracted from the Tiny Cosmic Niche, the three strands of Dao Essence he secured in the first trial were now completely stripped away.

Gongshu Wéntian’s face was etched with pain as he clutched his chest; there was no doubt his spirit was in ruins.

Never before had his spirit shattered so utterly!

It would probably take a whole month to rebuild.

Li Nuǎnxi—

Who exactly is she?

No!

This little girl—

is simply inhuman!

The trial of spirit in the Illusory Realm.

XiXi gripped the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear as the black flames on it gradually receded; just as its full purple blaze surged,

a crushing weight slammed into XiXi’s very being.

The might of this legendary weapon was far beyond what XiXi could currently channel. Though she had often fused her body with the divine energy unleashed by the spear,

her mortal form now only had the durability of a Furnace of Qi and Blood.

But after losing the power of its black engravings, mastering the spear became nearly impossible.

Swish—

The spear morphed into a purple flame-serpent that wound around XiXi’s arm, slipping beneath her skin to hide within her sinews.

XiXi instantly felt her strength draining at an alarming rate.

Below her, the sparks of the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel slowly faded, its phantom presence dissolving into nothingness.

XiXi tilted her head as the Jin Guang Wheel zipped into her tiny feet.

After a spree of heroic fights and villain-slaying, XiXi suddenly tumbled to the ground, landing amidst a pool of blood.

Meanwhile,

outside Feilei City,

a surge of silver radiance burst forth, as the stifling miasma of death and decay churned like a fierce, reanimated corpse.

Like a ferocious undead entity, the Silver Guts lashed out like a maddened snake, shattering the air as if emerging straight from the realm of death, exuding lethal intent.

Ever since trailing behind XiXi, Li Che’s eyes narrowed in focus.

Yuan Jingang—

the chief culprit behind the Thousand Infant Banquet in Feilei City, the Seven-Rank Corpse God Envoy of the Corpse God Sect, a formidable wielder of the twenty-fivefold power of the Cursed Silver Corpse!

Now, with XiXi stripped of the blessings of the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear and the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, and bereft of the might of that indomitable will—

she had utterly lost any chance of turning the tide against Yuan Jingang.

Li Che was well aware that XiXi’s trial of spirit had likely reached its breaking point.

Not wanting to witness XiXi being utterly pulverized,

Li Che stepped in.

He wasn’t sure if his intervention would count towards XiXi’s tally,

but even if it affected her record, Li Che had to act.

Radiating brilliant light, his entire being ignited; his five fingers, pulsating with an inferno of Qi and Blood akin to crashing tidal waves, clenched tightly.

“XiXi, watch closely,”

Li Che murmured as five spear-like threads of energy coalesced between his fingers.

Master-Level Divine Seed Martial Arts!

Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant!

With a tiptoe pivot, Li Che’s very act made Feilei City tremble in that instant as spiderweb-like cracks erupted wildly in the illusory space!

A majestic, radiant image of a colossal divine elephant emerged.

Around it, a magnificent divine dragon coiled in grace.

Dragon Elephant Convergence!

In that blink, the Cursed Silver Corpse strength of Yuan Jingang disintegrated into dust!

“Oh my, over on the White Jade Stairway—”

XiXi’s long lashes fluttered as her face broke into an expression of awe and delight.

“Father is so fierce!”

No need for something like the Xiangong Gatling—he can launch fireworks with his bare hands!

It’s simply incredible!

XiXi vowed to one day bring her father down, though it was clear she still had some growing to do!

Her eyes sparkling, she stretched with a big yawn; her short arms and legs snapped and crackled like sizzling beans!

“?!”

XiXi suddenly clutched her tiny fists and swiped at the air, producing a resounding whoosh.

“XiXi’s getting stronger again!”

Her excitement bubbled over as she marveled at her newfound strength. But why? Was it because of the power from those black engravings?

She vividly remembered a young lady’s voice echoing deep in her mind during the Illusory Realm, after which her entire body was adorned with those dark markings. No kidding—

XiXi’s inner empire was nothing short of epic!

Recalling the scenes from the Illusory Realm, XiXi couldn’t help but smile; with her father always by her side, she never felt lost!

And as she fought, she grew stronger with every blow.

Soon enough, she would surpass him!

Clenching her tiny fists with fierce determination,

she finally mustered the spirit and glanced into the distance, spotting both Jin Taisui and Yun’e still struggling within their trials of spirit.

“Sister Yun’e—”

XiXi blinked.

Perched atop the White Jade Stairway, XiXi dared not move for fear of disturbing Yun’e’s delicate trial of spirit.

As for Jin Taisui, a mere glance was enough for her to leave him be.

After all, XiXi was always impeccably polite!

Previously, when using the Xiangong Bloody Fire Bodhi Gatling to bombard Jin Taisui, she had been ruthless because he struck first—thus she launched an unhesitating attack!

“Cheer on, Sister Yun’e! You must beat him!”

XiXi pumped her tiny fists in encouragement.

Outside,

when XiXi finally awoke, a note of regret immediately rang out, overpowering even the booming spring rain.

Many present had placed high hopes on XiXi; after all, she had dominated the first trial with her sheer talent, outpacing the so-called prodigy Gongshu Wéntian!

Yet in the second trial of spirit, while Gongshu Wéntian failed, XiXi only secured third place.

Meanwhile, Jin Taisui—the young prodigy of Da Li Wangting, with the blood of the Great Witch God—persisted in his trial, ranking even higher than XiXi.

In truth, after Gongshu Wéntian’s defeat, the three prodigies who advanced from the second trial were confirmed to enter the third trial at the Temple Guardian Division.

“Such a pity,”

Zhang Ya sighed from within the carriage.

Nearby, Granny Mu consoled her, “XiXi’s performance was excellent. After all, she’s only five. Her spirit trial was at a disadvantage—kids aren’t as composed as the others.”

Hearing this, Zhang Ya soon relaxed.

After all, XiXi had at least made it into the third trial at the Temple Guardian Division, so there was still hope.

Zhang Ya’s expression brightened, acknowledging that XiXi’s achievement was remarkable.

Beneath the White Jade Archway, numerous elders, observing that XiXi was the first among the three to awaken, all sighed in unison.

It was truly a pity.

“Actually, XiXi’s performance was outstanding.”

Many elders congratulated Li Che; after all, XiXi had progressed to the third trial.

Remember, XiXi was just a five-year-old child.

Li Che smiled warmly, clasping his hands in gratitude as he returned the elders’ greetings.

Suddenly,

all attention shifted towards the spectacle cast by the swirling sword aura.

The last two competitors also gradually awoke.

Jin Taisui stirred first. After about three breaths, Yun’e, with her exquisitely delicate features and softly fluttering lashes, opened her eyes. In her pupils, a sliver of a crescent moon flickered, lending her an ethereal coldness.

An unseen aura of rank expanded from her, transforming her bearing dramatically.

Jin Taisui furrowed his brow and glanced at Yun’e.

“Is that the reincarnated Temple Spirit?”

“No, wait—that’s not right. Are you offering yourself to the divine?”

“I see. Then you don’t have any regrets.”

Jin Taisui remarked coolly, the colorful paint on his face trembling slightly.

Trial Two—

the second spirit trial!

Since the age of three, he had been thrown into the Bizarre Temple, growing up amid its harsh trials. The grueling spiritual tempering he underwent gave him a distinct advantage in this trial—a trial sculpted by the Dao Essence of the ancestral Patriarch!

No one could ever completely overcome adversity; only the duration of their endurance mattered.

For some pains and trials are interminable; one might never improve upon the initial experience.

Jin Taisui’s eyes flickered oddly as he glanced at little XiXi,

no longer underestimating her—after all, he had been bested by her before.

That little girl had once unleashed a barrage so fierce that it nearly sent him packing.

“Sister Yun’e!”

XiXi’s tiny feet scampered over as she ran straight to Yun’e.

In Yun’e’s clear, cold eyes, a soft warmth emerged as she gently brushed XiXi’s hair.

“XiXi, you’re amazing—persisting through the spirit trial to third place is no small feat. You must have endured tremendous hardship,” she said.

XiXi shook her head, insisting, “I didn’t suffer at all. I had so much fun because Father was always protecting me!”

Yun’e couldn’t help but smile softly as she caressed XiXi’s head.

“What a pity. It seems I have secured the junior disciple slot granted by the great Lü Taibai this time.”

Jin Taisui crossed his arms. Even at ten years old, he had the lean build of a youth.

“Had Gongshu Wéntian or Xuan Yue secured the third spot, I might have felt some pressure—the Gongshu Family belongs to the elite, after all. Wéntian is no slouch.”

“Xuan Yue of the Xuanfu Divine Sect is also formidable…”

“As for you two—”

Jin Taisui’s arrogance was on full display, unbridled and shameless, as he sought to flaunt the talents of the Da Li prodigy.

“A five-year-old girl and a trash relying merely on the Temple Spirit’s power—

you two pose little threat to me.”

Jin Taisui’s scorn was unmistakable.

He glared at XiXi, “I admit your talent is impressive, and under many enhancements you might even match the level where purple qi reaches the heavens—

but you’re only five! Without your gadgets, I’d squash you like a pathetic underdog.”

So audacious!

XiXi’s eyes shot fiery glares.

“How dare you belittle me, you loser!”

XiXi stood with her hands on her hips, puffing out her little belly as she scolded loudly.

Jin Taisui’s face drained of color. “Who are you calling my underling? Was that a sneak attack—or using some gadget to ambush? You have the nerve to call me a loser!”

“Little girl, do you dare bet against me?” Jin Taisui narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on XiXi, a mischievous smile curling his lips.

“Bet?”

XiXi instantly recalled the time she’d gambled with that ungrateful disciple Ji Haihui.

Her head shook like a rattle.

“I refuse to bet with those who don’t keep their word. It’s pointless,” XiXi declared.

Jin Taisui arched an eyebrow. “I am the esteemed Young Witch of Witch God Mountain. How could I ever break my word?”

“The last one said the same! He was the revered Little Prince! He’d lost and then denied his loss.”

XiXi sighed, throwing her hands up.

“We’re betting right here on the third trial at the Temple Guardian Division, witnessed by the Dao Essence. Should anyone renege, their path to divine fate will be severed!”

Jin Taisui lifted his chin, his youthful arrogance on full display.

All his boldness and reckless idealism were evident.

XiXi’s eyes sparkled.

Yun’e quickly covered XiXi’s mouth, “XiXi, we mustn’t bet with him—”

Yun’e knew well that Jin Taisui was formidable; even with the Temple Spirit hidden within her, she might not prevail.

After all, his reputation for cunning on Witch God Mountain was well known.

XiXi brushed Yun’e’s hand aside and patted her shoulder like a determined little adult.

“Sister Yun’e, don’t worry! When I, XiXi, take the field, I have my secret cards as well!”

XiXi declared earnestly.

“So what’s the bet? The Golden Flower Cat?”

XiXi crossed her arms, her little belly jiggling.

“Simple. We bet on who takes first in the third trial at the Temple Guardian Division.

If you win, I become your carriage maid.

If I win, you come with me to Witch God Mountain to meet the Great Witch God.”

Jin Taisui laughed, his ambitions finally revealed.

XiXi’s potential was nothing short of terrifying!

In the blink of an eye, he saw XiXi’s cascading pillar of divine purple qi—a sight extravagantly overwhelming!

It soared beyond the limits of a little girl!

A hexagonal warrior indeed—such a prodigy would surely impress the Great Witch God!

“So all you have to do is go to Witch God Mountain?” XiXi asked in disbelief.

“Yes, it’s that simple,” Jin Taisui replied.

But then, once you meet the Great Witch God—

you, little girl, will have no choice but to belong to Witch God Mountain!

“Fine!”

“Then XiXi the Great agrees to your bet!”

XiXi said confidently.

At that very instant, as the bet was sealed, the White Jade Stairway began to tremble violently. As the smoke cleared, the Ancestor Shen Diao’s eyes snapped open, radiating brilliant white light.

An aura of Dao Essence whirled wildly around XiXi and Jin Taisui, as if binding them together by fate.

“The bet is sealed!”

“Witnessed by Dao Essence—any breach, and your path to divinity is cut off!”

Jin Taisui’s expression turned stern as he spoke gravely.

Yun’e’s face darkened and she sighed, while XiXi simply nodded, “Uh-huh!”

Jin Taisui smiled as he looked at the adorable little girl, clearly in high spirits.

He had entered the bizarre temple at the age of three, scrambling through life’s perils on Witch God Mountain. How could such experience be trumped by a five-year-old?

Meanwhile, a drifting column of white Dao Essence approached.

Xuan Yue and Gongshu Wéntian, having failed to secure any Dao Essence in the second trial, were forcibly removed from the Tiny Cosmic Niche.

XiXi, as the third in the spirit trial, had gained an additional two feet of Dao Essence. Combined with her initial nine feet from the first trial, her total reached eleven feet.

On the other side, Jin Taisui managed only five feet of Dao Essence.

Yun’e, ranking first in the spirit trial, secured twelve feet.

The top three in the spirit trial received significantly more Dao Essence than in the first trial—

which implied that although Lü Taibai’s test focused on natural talent, it weighed other factors even more heavily.

In a blink, the three competitors’ eyes sparkled, and they were suddenly whisked out of the Tiny Cosmic Niche.

“Father!”

The moment XiXi appeared, her eyes spun around until they found Li Che seated on an elder’s chair.

Remembering the scenes from the Illusory Realm, XiXi happily dashed towards Li Che and leaped into his arms like an octopus clinging on.

Rubbing her head against his, she chirped, “Daddy, I missed you!”

Li Che smiled warmly as he tousled her hair, “Don’t worry, Daddy is always here to protect you.”

XiXi looked up with sparkling eyes. Could it be that the father in the Illusory Realm wasn’t an illusion after all?

Wasn’t he the product of XiXi’s unwavering faith?

Her eyes grew brighter as she nodded emphatically, “Uh-huh!”

Quickly, XiXi set about finishing what she had left undone in the Illusory Realm.

“Daddy, pinky promise!”

Father and daughter, oblivious to the world, locked pinkies atop the White Jade Archway.

“Pinky promise until we’re a hundred years old, unbreakable!”

XiXi happily shook her head in rhythm.

Nearby, Yun’e watched enviously, her eyes almost tangible with longing.

XiXi then recounted all that had transpired in her bet with Jin Taisui.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed knowingly; he had long suspected that Jin Taisui’s intentions were far from pure—that he aimed to lure XiXi to Witch God Mountain through this bet.

Da Li Witch God Mountain—much more formidable than most Divine Sect domains. Even Da Li Wangting was established under the watchful eye of Witch God Mountain. The Great Witch God held enough sway to appoint the emperor of Da Li Wangting.

“I understand, Daddy.”

“Since it’s a bet, XiXi must give her all to win.” Li Che caressed XiXi’s head kindly, his tone soft and endearing with tender sound effects.

However, his eyes turned icy as he glanced at Jin Taisui.

Jin Taisui, recently taken away by two formidable Witch God Mountain experts, seemed to have felt a sudden, bone-chilling cold. Raised amidst the horrors of the Bizarre Temple’s ghostly maze, he was exceptionally attuned to the danger of death.

Looking over, all he saw was a warm young man cradling that little girl.

“Young Witch, is it true that you have a bet on the Dao Essence witness with that little girl?” an elderly cultivator inquired.

Jin Taisui smiled and nodded, “That girl’s talent is outstanding—her purple qi even reaches the heavens. The Great Witch God will surely favor her. Perhaps, she might even become our divine daughter of Witch God Mountain.”

“Aren’t you worried that the Qianyuan Divine Sect might not let her go?”

“If they do restrain her, it means she would be in breach of our bet—a breach so severe that her path to enlightenment would be forever blocked.”

Jin Taisui chuckled lightly.

“I’m wild—this little girl is even wilder than me—

“I was so steady at five; I was far more composed than her.”

Another elderly cultivator, impressed by the confident young witch, couldn’t help but remark, “Young Witch, have you ever considered the possibility of failure?”

“If you lose, do you really want to become her carriage servant?”

Jin Taisui’s smile faded as he shot back at the old man, “If you can’t speak properly, then keep quiet.”

“I, Jin Taisui, entered the Bizarre Temple at three—how could I ever lose?”

The old cultivator, his face withered like dead wood, trembled slightly.

“This is Daocheng—the territory of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.”

“If Lü Taibai starts making moves—”

Jin Taisui’s smile froze completely.

“No way, the Great One—there’s no way he’d stoop so low!”

Splash, splash.

Spring rain pounded relentlessly.

Jin Taisui merely felt the cool rain on his face.

He looked up at the inscription beneath the ‘Qiankun’ Dao Essence plaque.

There stood Lü Taibai, his silver hair flowing and his white robes radiant as snow, smiling at him.

Time ticked slowly in the countdown to the dark night of Qingming.

Spring rain drummed on relentlessly, nourishing the earth without pause.

The test for the personally-taught disciples of Sect Master Lü Taibai—and the selection for junior patriarch—was not being held on Qingming Day.

Instead, it was set for three days later,

in one of Daocheng’s two Four-Yu Bizarre Temples—the Nine-Toothed Demon-Slaying, Evil-Exterminating, Celestial-Purging Bizarre Temple.

The Mysterious Manifestation, Three-Eyed True Lord Bizarre Temple, located within the Qianyuan Divine Sect Mountain Gate, was maintained solely by the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Meanwhile, the Tianpeng Bizarre Temple was jointly suppressed by the four great families of Daocheng—Su, Yun, Zhong, and Zhou—along with the Temple Guardian Division and the Imperial Watch.

This setup for the Temple Guardian Division had been approved by all the heads of the major clans.

The decision to hold it three days later was made to allow the personally-taught candidates extra time to prepare their ace cards within the eerie layout of the temple’s bizarre chambers.

After Qingming, the rain only grew fiercer.

The alleys turned mucky as Li Che, under an Oil-Paper Umbrella and carrying XiXi in one arm, ambled through Tinglei Alley toward a Restaurant.

The downpour splashed countless tiny, overlapping droplets onto the muddy alleyway.

Along the edge of the umbrella, water cascaded down, forming a drizzling curtain.

XiXi wrapped her arms around Li Che’s neck, cheerfully shaking as she exclaimed, “I get to see the dog again and enjoy the delicious food the Boss cooks!”

Warm, yellow light glowed from inside the Restaurant.

Just before Li Che reached the Restaurant,

a dozing Big Black Dog, sleeping to the sound of rain, twitched its nose as its eyes suddenly snapped open, its head perking up.

It caught sight of XiXi drifting through the Alley, naturally ignoring Li Che, the pest.

The Big Black Dog happily sprang up, leaping in place, its tail wagging.

Inside, the Boss sat in a chair. Hastily, he stubbed out a Rolled Cigarette, waved a hand to disperse the smoke,

and said, “You’re here, XiXi! Hungry? What would you like? I’ll get right on it.”

A rare smile broke on the Boss’s face.

XiXi, unreserved, began pointing out dishes one by one.

“With so many orders, can you even finish them?”

Li Che bopped XiXi’s forehead gently.

“Just a bowl of noodles is enough,” Li Che said kindly.

Moments later,

Li Che stared at his bowl of noodles while XiXi’s table was laden with dishes like Braised Pork Trotters and Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs. He fell silent in thought.

Was he being too courteous?

After their fill, Li Che and the Boss each sat under the Restaurant’s eave, cigarette in hand, soaking in the sound of the rain.

The Boss remarked flatly, “So, the kid from Witch God Mountain is set to bet with XiXi?”

“If XiXi loses, she must head to Witch God Mountain. Otherwise, our bet witnessed by Dao Essence will sever her path to cultivation.”

Li Che nodded.

“Could you bring another Tea Egg for XiXi?”

Li Che grinned, revealing his true intention for bringing XiXi along.

Everyone was preparing their trump cards, and Li Che was no exception.

The Boss extinguished his cigarette, “Well—if XiXi loses, causing the Restaurant to be moved to Witch God Mountain, that would be a hassle.”

He was a man who despised complications.

So he shook his head, “No Tea Egg needed.”

“And no unnecessary fuss,”

“Dog, you get XiXi to go have some fun.”

Happy National Day! A desperate month has ended, and it’s time for the October Ticket Pledge along with an update summary.

Another grueling month is over—the kind that left Old Li dazed. As usual, I’ll give a brief recap.

This month saw 432,987 words updated—over 10,000 fewer than last month, mainly due to excruciating stomach pain that forced a day off. I fell behind, barely reaching 500,000 words—it felt like I wasn’t trying hard enough.

Nevertheless, on Qidian, this update still ranks as a monstrous hit.

For October, Old Li will strive to hit 500,000 words!

Also, some good news: this month I hit a toxic recommendation PK. My book soared into the top ten bestsellers for three whole days. I was flabbergasted—how could it be this fierce? The average subscription jumped from over 9,000 to 11,000. Maybe we can even hit 15,000?

At its peak, the foodie’s average subscription was 15,000—15,000 in 2016, a highly commendable figure. This book might surpass that!

So keep reading non-stop—Old Li’s explosive updates aren’t over yet. Set yourself a goal; next month will bring even more impetus!

This book, Old Li is truly pouring his heart into it. Poverty forces him to work hard, and he’s cherishing these rare achievements. After suffering for two months from mycoplasma pneumonia and coughing non-stop, I’m finally recovering. I still cough sometimes, but it’s not too serious—just need a checkup in a few days.

In October, I expect a healthier state, and my updates will be even better, pushing for 500,000 words!

Also, regarding the plot: I promise to avoid filler. However, my habit of detailed descriptions might persist.

It’s just a habit—aiming to transition to Keyboard Mastery soon!

For October, the Daocheng storyline should wrap up; we might even start the Qitian Temple and Divine Capital chapters, as I’ve planted seeds for a long time, ready to unearth them.

Some readers offered to tip for extra updates, but Old Li refused—he simply can’t manage more than 150,000 words a day since everything is written in the moment; it’s really exhausting.

Just cast your monthly votes, that’s enough.

A new month; Old Li will just bury himself in writing!

Also, earlier this month double monthly votes were in effect. Please, I beg you, secure your monthly votes. I only updated 430,000+ words this month. I regret it!

Still, 430,000 words is diligence—please don’t hesitate to vote for me!

Let’s go!

Old Li will give it his all!

I promise to write a great book!

Thank you to all the readers for their continued support!

Old Li bows in thanks!

October—500,000 words!

Blast it!