Chapter 300: A Night of Cataclysmic Shifts

Snowflakes tumbled from the sky in a swirling cascade.

Landing on skin, each crystal unfurled like a delicate, translucent blossom—a true work of art.

Lü Taibai lifted his hand and plucked a single flake.

“A dog and a Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade—”

“Elder Li wondered if the Underworld was connected to the mysteriously manifesting True Lord of the Three-Eyed Miracle Temple?”

Lü Taibai replied calmly.

Fang Han Shu’s scholarly robe billowed as his flowing beard danced in the wind, exuding an aura of profound erudition.

“It’s merely speculation. After all, few can match the strength of someone who commands both a ferocious hound and the overwhelming aura of a Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade.”

Fang Han Shu shook his head and chuckled softly.

“In this realm, there are reborn temple deities, ancient outsiders, and a myriad of other mysterious races—with rumors that deep within the Bizarre Temple lie the buried remains of temple deities corresponding to the Bizarre Temple—”

“The world is full of inexplicable mysteries. Though the Miracle Temple’s manifesting True Lord and his temple deity have always been under our watch, guarded by the Qianyuan Divine Sect—”

“Yet, ancient records left by survivors of divine tribulations mention that the Weird Sanctuaries of various temples are interconnected. The higher the rank of the temple, the deeper its opened Bizarre Temple lies—”

Fang Han Shu, having perused countless texts, spoke up.

Lü Taibai shook his head. “Perhaps it’s just a coincidence…”

“The Miracle Temple’s True Lord, the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince, and our two Four-Yu Bizarre Temples in Daocheng—hasn’t that Grand Inspector in Divine Capital once deduced—”

“that these temples hold the potential to ascend to the Three Pure levels, just as the Three Pure Bizarre Temple in Qitian City once did, heralding the rise of Qitian City?”

Fang Han Shu spoke in a deep voice, “We must not underestimate the True Lord of the Miracle Temple. Perhaps…”

“If such potential exists, the Great Realm would never allow it to go unchecked.”

“In the heyday of Qitian Temple, the Imperial Court was suffocated by its power—a single sect overwhelming half the world. Our Divine Sect cultivators marveled, while the court could only restlessly fret.”

Lü Taibai sat on the steps before Taibai Hall, his silver hair cascading like a waterfall as if stirred by a gentle breeze.

He raised his eyes toward a mountain peak that, even in the bitter winter, burst into bloom with plum blossoms.

The wind howled through the snow and the fragrance of fallen blossoms lingered.

“From Four-Yu to Three Pure?”

“Since the birth of the Bizarre Temple, such an event has occurred only once—when it gave rise to Qitian Temple.”

“Could Daocheng be the next Qitian Temple?”

“Fortune…”

“…and disaster.”

At the Su Family Residence, most of the area had crumbled into ruins.

Cracks split the ground like the yawning chasm itself, expanding from within the residence.

They were impossible to miss.

This night was doomed to be sleepless.

Su Daoling, the current head of the Su Family, was brutally slain within the residence by the Underworld, with no chance to resist.

This sent shivers through every faction in Daocheng.

Even the strong of all factions, covertly observing, dared not act—even though the Su Family now had only one Martial Saint left, a man of Qi Sea level who was by no means weak.

Moreover, everyone awaited a sign of the Underworld’s next move.

After killing Su Daoling, the Underworld Yama unleashed the Relocation Technique under a relentless divine assault and departed effortlessly.

Thus, the powers of Daocheng no longer dared cross the Underworld, a force now deemed on par with the Divine Sect, Lie Shen Pavilion, Corpse God Sect, Imperial Watch, and other top-tier entities.

Inside the Su Family Residence,

Su Lei Ba gripped a dragon-headed staff. His entire body slumped, as if stripped of all strength, his frame bent under an unbearable weight.

Outside, sorrowful snowflakes drifted down from the night sky.

Beyond the residence, numerous watchful eyes, divine perceptions, and primordial souls pricked Su Lei Ba all over like needles.

“Ding-ling—”

Suddenly,

the sound of jingling bells echoed, carrying a haunting, deathly tone.

Frowning, Su Lei Ba turned his gaze toward the end of the ten-mile-long street outside the residence.

There, a hunched figure wearing a Cat Face Mask, cradling a ledger, rang a bronze bell with one hand as he slowly emerged.

“Underworld—Cat Face!”

A murderous glint flashed in Su Lei Ba’s eyes.

He clenched his fist.

“A pathetic wretch with a feeble aura!”

Who dares to show his face now?!

In any other moment, Su Lei Ba could have crushed such trash with a single punch.

But at this moment…

Facing a member of the Underworld, Su Lei Ba…

dared not strike.

He realized deep down,

that if he killed this Cat Face and the Underworld Yama retaliated—

the Su Family would be left with no hope at all.

“In Daocheng, the Su Family has lost hope.”

Su Lei Ba closed his eyes.

A Martial Saint on the brink of doom, with his Qi Sea near exhaustion, could no longer save the Su Family of Daocheng.

Thus, Su Lei Ba knew there was only one path left for the Su Family—

to flee!

to escape Daocheng and head for Divine Capital!

To rally resources in support of the Third Prince and journey to Divine Capital, placing the family’s resurgence on his ally’s shoulders—if the Third Prince rose, even seizing the position of Great Realm Crown Prince—

and, with the help of Su Daoling’s daughter—the beloved consort of the Third Prince—the Su Family might rise once more,

continuing its three-thousand-year legacy, even becoming a five-thousand-year dynasty!

As long as they endured, hope remained.

But that meant sacrificing Daocheng’s established base.

Su Lei Ba glared at the figure of the Underworld Cat Face at the end of the street, swallowing his humiliation.

It was a disgrace, like having an ant trample your face.

The sound of jingling bells echoed along the street.

Under the divine perception of many powerful beings,

Li Qingshan — wearing a Cat Face Mask — now exuded a heroic aura, his chest resonating with booming pride.

“Who said the Underworld lacks depth?!”

When the true strength of the Underworld appears, it will scare you stiff!

“Yama decreed your demise by midnight; who dares prolong your life till dawn?”

“Underworld Cat Face comes to escort the dead.”

“Heh, heh, heh—”

Inside the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple,

Li Che sat cross-legged on the floor.

Inside his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit pulsed continuously like a heart held in a tight grip. With each surge, a streak of light shot through his limbs, mending his injuries!

All his wounds had been caused by the explosive shattering of five Strange Divine Seeds and broken corporeal locks, each burst enhancing his Qi and blood magnitude fivefold!

Under such explosive conditions, his power surged like a skyrocketing rocket with five successive bursts!

Had he been an ordinary person, he might have only savored that fleeting moment of power before it withered like a wilting flower.

But Li Che was different—he possessed a Dao Fruit.

Even if his Dragon Elephant Vajra were only LV1, it couldn’t match his full outburst.

Only an LV5 Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit gave Li Che the confidence he needed.

“Breath in…” Li Che sat cross-legged on the floor of the Bizarre Temple. Cracks in the ground had long been healed, and white candles flickered around, casting a gentle glow.

Everything was calm.

Within the Bizarre Temple, silence reigned, undisturbed.

With each breath, blood vessels in Li Che’s body trembled, as if shimmering blood was being pushed along by a tide.

In one night, his condition had improved considerably.

His skin, sinews, and muscles were nearly all restored.

Only his internal organs—more fragile than his flesh and bones—still sported minute cracks.

“The pace of this recovery… is even faster than I imagined.”

“As expected of the unexcelled, robust cultivation.”

Li Che smiled.

The strengthening of flesh by the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit was truly formidable.

Li Che mused that if he could further elevate its level, he might achieve a state of blood-regeneration.

Even if reduced to a single drop, he would recover—a near-immortal state!

The Dao Fruit was his greatest foundation and strength.

Tonight’s bold move was possible because the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit had evolved to LV5, making the Feilei Shift even more potent.

As long as he left a Feilei Chess Piece as an anchor, he could instantly relocate.

It was akin to a power of conceptual magnitude.

So powerful that even beings at the apex couldn’t pin him down.

When it came to survival, the Underworld always took the crown!

A roaring surge of innate divine guts erupted from within, releasing 540 streams of inherent energy that danced through the air, accompanied by the rumble of thunder.

Li Che’s physique swelled and grew, his rippling muscles as sturdy as rock. His skin turned almost translucent, revealing the vigorous blood coursing through like molten silver!

His dark hair whipped wildly, his eyes aglow as golden mists swirled.

“It’s time to break through…”

“Top-level Three-Flower Grand Master is no challenge to me.”

Li Che felt his power swelling continuously.

A flash of light danced in his eyes.

[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (LV5 40%)]

Tonight’s clash, facing Lü Taibai and braving the oppressive aura of top-tier figures like Yue Huanglong and Hong Shibo, refined his body further. It even helped him withstand Lü Taibai’s sword energy,

all thanks to the might of the Mythic Weapon, the Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade…

The pressure of that direct sword energy and martial intent was an invaluable experience!

Once the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit reached LV5, further advancement became exceedingly difficult.

Tonight’s gain was more than worthwhile.

A mere 10% boost in the fruit’s maturity fed back as martial enlightenment, leaving Li Che abundantly rewarded.

Not to mention, the night’s harvest was immense.

Su Daoling was dead, and Ji Heshan had been killed by him. The only regret was that Su Lei Ba had failed to kill—

After all, Su Lei Ba wasn’t foolish.

In a precarious situation, he didn’t let hatred cloud his mind and charged recklessly.

That left Li Che unable to overpower him.

With Yue Huanglong and Feng Zhiqi’s protection, Li Che found it hard to kill Su Lei Ba outright.

After all—

the current Yama—

has not yet reached full maturity.

There was no need to go all out on Su Lei Ba.

It wasn’t a major issue; he would find another chance later.

The Su Family, once a mighty clan, had a sprawling network in Daocheng, their resources intertwined with various powers.

But once the top echelon was eliminated by targeted decapitations, the Su Family would become an easy mark.

Originally, Martial Saints and Divine Seeds were the backbone of the Su Family. But if both were extinguished—

then the Su Family would wither.

Several Grand Masters and Divine Practitioners wouldn’t be able to safeguard such vast fortunes.

The Zhou, Yun, Zhong, Sang, and Zhu clans in Daocheng were no lambs; when interests collided, they transformed into ruthless beasts.

In the end, without the suppression of strong figures, even wealth and resources would be lost.

Just as the once-great Tang Clan fell into disarray with the collapse of their might.

And with the Su Family’s domineering ways, someone would eventually come to settle their score.

As for Ji Heshan, an inner elder of the Divine Sect, Li Che showed no mercy when he killed him.

Why spare him?

Li Che had long harbored murderous intent toward Ji Heshan, his name long noted in his little ledger.

Killing him was no burden at all.

Even if he was an inner elder of the Divine Sect, what did it matter?

As long as he posed a threat to XiXi, Li Che would show no mercy!

When Ji Heshan tried to support the Su Family and get close to Su Chuyang and Su Li, Li Che had already decreed his execution.

Though Li Che was also an elder of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, their ties were far too loose for leniency.

Sitting in the Bizarre Temple with his physical wounds nearly healed,

Li Che felt his spirit settling.

For the next few days, he planned to meditate until his body fully recovered, then use the 10% boost from his LV5 Dragon Elephant Vajra to attempt a Martial Saint breakthrough!

Originally, Li Che intended to cultivate the Eight-Gate Divine Seed Martial Arts, then channel eight seeds into the Strange Divine Arts to form the Eight-Mysterious Gate stance, before tackling the Martial Saint stage.

But he had underestimated the difficulty of mastering the Eight-Mysterious Gates.

Even with the aid of the Dragon Elephant Vajra, gathering all eight gates was no simple feat.

After all, even if one reached the Grand Master realm in Divine Seed Martial Arts, shifting the remaining six or seven seeds into the eighth was beyond imagination.

“The Five-Gate Divine Seed…” he sighed.

“That should be the limit for a Grand Master.”

Li Che exhaled softly.

His physical body had reached its limits. Igniting his refined essence in the Three-Flower state required but a thought, yet the enhancement to his body was minimal.

“My reserve of inherent divine guts has long been ample to accumulate Three-Flower Gang Qi.”

Li Che shook his head. The Three-Flower realm was merely a refinement for the martial will of a Grand Master when pushing toward the Martial Saint stage.

In truth, the boost to his physicality was less than imagined.

“The Martial Saint—now that is the real challenge.”

“And my attempt at the Martial Saint breakthrough—now that is the true monumental hurdle!”

“The first breakthrough is critical. A one-shot surge powered by martial will offers the highest chance of success!”

Inside the Bizarre Temple, fierce winds howled and surging gales tore through the air.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed with steely resolve.

His corporeal form was so strong that his flesh-bound Core Pill exceeded that of ordinary Grand Masters!

Its solid foundation made his flesh as tough as an eggshell, protecting the delicate embryo within.

But once shattered—

that little embryo would emerge far stronger than any common chick!

Inside his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit pounded like thunder.

“I must break through to Martial Saint before heading to the Pantao Victory Feast in Divine Capital!”

Li Che set his small goal.

With two fingers pressed together, he tore open the Qiankun Space. Instantly, Ji Heshan’s and Su Daoling’s Qian Kun Jade fell into his hands.

Even if he had to assume the role of Yama, it was still essential to inspect the corpse before claiming the kill.

Holding the two Qian Kun Jade,

Li Che flicked his fingers, and two chunks of shredded flesh tumbled into the Bizarre Temple.

A dense stench of blood filled the air immediately.

He scanned the bloody remains with indifferent eyes.

Spreading his fingers wide, he aimed deliberately.

“Spirit, return!”

“Show me your confinement!”

As his words faded,

a fierce whirlwind roared up inside the Bizarre Temple, setting everything ablaze.

Two dark, twisting shadows emerged simultaneously—

a majestic surge of heavenly and earthly souls that seemed to freeze the very air!

Slowly, Su Daoling’s Confinement form materialized, bordered with thick, black edges.

His eyes flickered uncertainly.

Behind him,

Ji Heshan’s Confinement also appeared, trembling under the force of Su Daoling’s soul.

Within moments, black Confinement Chess Pieces began levitating around Li Che, transforming into steadfast guardians.

Huang Jianjiu, You Liqing, the Dragon Queen, Xue Dufu, Long Tai, and Blue Bird—

their eyes glowed with a mysterious light as they fixed their gaze on the two Confinements.

Dividing the Confinement of the former Two-Flower Half-God Corpse among themselves, their cultivation surged, drawing them even nearer to the next realm.

The power gained from consuming Confinement souls led Huang Jianjiu, You Liqing, and others to a state of frenzy!

Su Daoling’s Confinement face trembled as his gaze fixed on Li Che.

His eyes contracted sharply—

Ji Heshan let out a terrified shriek!

“Ah—ah—

Li Che!

Li Che!!!

The Underworld Yama—could it truly be Li Che?!”

In that instant, Ji Heshan’s conviction shattered.

This Li Che, the mud-born man from Jingguang City?!

Ji Heshan trembled, his gaze shifting to Huang Jianjiu, then to You Liqing,

the Dragon Queen, Long Tai, and Blue Bird—

each familiar face causing Ji Heshan to collapse to the ground.

Long Tai bared his dazzling teeth and grinned slyly, “Elder Ji—you really aren’t trying hard enough.”

“If you don’t cultivate seriously, you’ll end up just a sidekick on the Confinement Chessboard.”

With his spirit crumbling, Ji Heshan shouted, “I submit! I submit!”

“Elder Li, I submit!”

But then—

Li Che glanced at Ji Heshan with detachment.

“Did you just call me Elder Li?”

“Consider yourselves rewarded.”

No sooner had his words faded than Long Tai, Blue Bird, and Xue Dufu—now transcended to top-level Grand Master Confinement—appeared behind Ji Heshan in a blink.

“Elder Ji, you sure lack decorum. How dare you address your lord like that?”

“If you can’t seize this chance, we’re done for as brothers.”

“Then let Long Tai take care of you—right in your stomach.”

With that,

a horrified scream ripped from Ji Heshan, shattering the silence.

A grotesque sound echoed, making even Su Daoling’s Confinement break out in cold sweat.

“Su Daoling, I salute you, my lord.”

Su Daoling submitted without hesitation.

He only wished to live—even if it meant living as a monster.

Li Che shot Su Daoling a glance. Compared to insignificant Ji Heshan,

Su Daoling, the semi-saint of Divine Talisman, was far more valuable.

Li Che barely tolerated Ji Heshan’s bumbling attempt to align with him.

Rather, Su Daoling suited him perfectly.

Li Che even contemplated locking Su Daoling up himself, bypassing the Sect Master’s wife,

just to have him meticulously draw the Five-Thunder Killing Talisman!

Huang Jianjiu, You Liqing, and the Dragon Queen shared a look of regret as they witnessed Su Daoling’s Confinement.

Yet they understood that Su Daoling’s Confinement was far too valuable to waste.

It could never be consumed.

So, they might as well remain allies on the Confinement Chessboard.

Once Su Daoling chose submission, a sudden breadth of relief filled him.

He was safe.

Li Che shot Su Daoling a look, “Can you handle the Thunder Talisman?”

“My lord, I can!”

“And what about the Little Divine Xiao’s Five Thunder Killing Talisman—can you handle that?”

“That belongs to the Xuanfu Divine Sect; I cannot.” Su Daoling replied, his voice trembling.

“But I can learn it!” Su Daoling declared with a respectful tone, to which Li Che barely nodded.

After all, it wasn’t entirely Su Daoling’s fault.

Li Che retrieved a divine talisman ledger, replicated earlier in the Divine Talisman Pavilion via the Painted Immortal Dao Fruit, and tossed it to Su Daoling.

He wanted him to study it and, sooner rather than later, master the Thunder Talisman.

A talented technician like him was too valuable for mere combat.

There were enough bodies—Huang Jianjiu, You Liqing, and the Dragon Queen—to handle the fighting.

Li Che then focused on his Qian Kun Jade. To his surprise,

“So many valuable items…”

“These are the resources intended to support the Third Prince’s claim in Divine Capital,”

Su Daoling said reverently,

“This is the final batch—though it’s not much.”

Li Che inhaled deeply.

Just the five Divine Crystals for ascending the Five Elders was enough to satisfy him.

And the two Martial Pills produced by the Tian Dan Divine Sect’s Fifth Elder made Li Che’s eyes light up.

He’d been worried about insufficient resources to break through to Martial Saint, and now here they were!

Martial Pills, even when Li Che possessed the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, were never too many.

Then suddenly,

Li Che’s brows furrowed slightly.

With a flick of his five fingers,

a thin sheet of golden foil—delicate as a cicada’s wing yet imbued with a subtle Buddhist radiance—fell into his hand.

“My lord, this is a secret technique accidentally acquired by the Su Family ancestors in the foreign Buddhist lands.”

A look of disgust flashed in Li Che’s eyes.

“The Joyful Zen Buddhist Maiden Spirit Devouring Technique—”

“Truly revolting.”

With a flick, the golden foil was crumpled and destroyed by Li Che.

“Ah—!!!”

A piercing scream erupted.

Unexpectedly, radiant golden light burst forth from the foil.

Transforming into an infant bathed in Buddhist light, the child leaped up, its face twisted in agony, blue-skinned with gaping fangs,

emitting a low, menacing growl.

Although bathed in light, the infant exuded an eerie, dreadful aura.

“This is the Buddhist Infant!”

Su Daoling announced respectfully.

Li Che scoffed in disgust.

With a sweep of his fingers and a roar reminiscent of a lion,

the Dragon Elephant Convergence shattered the pitiful Buddhist Infant with a piercing scream.

In the following days, Daocheng was engulfed in fear under the shadow of the Underworld Yama.

And of course, the Underworld’s obituary envoy, Cat Face, sparked much discussion.

That man was audacious and arrogant—daring to conduct Su Daoling’s funeral before Su Lei Ba’s very eyes!

Yet the Underworld’s mysterious and cryptic Relocation Technique truly was a headache.

For all factions, the Underworld was a nearly untouchable force.

Its threat level soared!

Even though many knew who the Underworld Cat Face was, none dared to engage him without first mastering the Underworld Yama.

An apex cultivator lurking in the shadows…

Who wouldn’t be afraid?!

Even the Su Family, which had thrived for three thousand years with a Martial Saint and divine seed guardian at its helm in Daocheng, would eventually fall—

and Su Lei Ba tolerated the humiliation long enough to begin selling off the Su Family assets in Daocheng.

All the major clans had anticipated it,

suspecting that the Su Family was preparing to abandon Daocheng.

News of the Su Family’s plans to move to Divine Capital was no secret.

The family had two daughters—one a concubine of the Great Realm Emperor, the other the beloved consort of the Third Prince—both upholding the Su Family’s status in Divine Capital.

Su Lei Ba acted decisively, knowing that only by shedding Daocheng would the family avoid inevitable decay. They would leave behind only the ancestral land as a remnant for the idle few.

Other key members of the Su Family migrated to Divine Capital without hesitation.

It was a bold move, and in the face of the Underworld’s threat, perhaps the only breathing space left for the Su Family.

But Su Lei Ba knew all too well that his survival—and leaving the Daocheng region with the family’s liquidated assets—was the real key!

“Why is the Su Family being targeted by the Underworld?”

Late at night, Su Lei Ba pondered this very question.

He huddled up and gazed toward the towering mountain range of the Qianyuan Divine Sect deep within Daocheng, spotting Taibai Peak.

The only link between the Su Family and the Underworld…

seemed to be Li Nuǎnxi,

whom the Su Family had once intended to exploit as they did with troublesome women, siphoning her talent to mold her into a puppet for their gifted progeny.

Even after Li Nuǎnxi became a direct disciple of the Sect Master and Li Che ascended to semi-Saint status, the Su Family never abandoned that notion.

Perhaps that is what stirred the Underworld’s wrath?

Could it be that Li Nuǎnxi—

is the Underworld’s daughter?!

Su Lei Ba sighed.

Now it was too late. Who would have thought that after three thousand years of the Su Family witnessing the ebb and flow of empires, they would finally fall because of a little girl?

“That Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple—” the Su Family now lacked the strength to contend for it.

Su Lei Ba’s eyes glittered.

Originally, if Su Daoling were alive, according to Lü Taibai’s rules, he could have entered the Bizarre Temple for a chance at the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff.

But with Su Daoling dead, the only remaining Martial Saint of the Su Family—who didn’t even meet Lü Taibai’s standards—lost any chance of contesting.

“However—”

Su Lei Ba’s breathing grew uneven.

“When the eerie mist around the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple settles and its Bizarre Temple opens—when all eyes focus on that temple—

that will be the perfect moment for the Su Family to relocate.”

“Master Yue Huanglong will cover my retreat, and the Underworld Yama may not be able to kill me—”

“Plus, I’ve sent word to the Dao Master of Guangling Daocheng. His disciples, allied with the Third Prince, will meet me at the border of the two realms—”

Though it was called a relocation of the Su Family, in reality it was Su Lei Ba’s escape.

All the proceeds from the asset sale were in his hands—resources so enticing they would make anyone green with envy.

The hidden assassin operatives from Lie Shen Pavilion would surely be stirred.

Three days passed, then another three—in a blink, six days had gone by.

During these six days, Li Che remained in the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple, recuperating, gathering his essence, and mustering an unprecedented aura!

He prepared to break through to the top-level Three-Flower realm.

Meanwhile, his Painted Immortal clone roamed outside, exposed to the world.

Even Lü Taibai couldn’t discern whether the clone was real or not.

Inside the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple,

the candle flames danced softly.

Li Che sat cross-legged on the floor, his Qi swirling as a hazy blood mist mingled with the elements.

After six days of meditation, he methodically refined his martial techniques.

Five Divine Seeds emerged from the five acupoints along his spine.

They gathered like surging waves, coalescing into a vivid divine dragon—its form unmistakable with dragon horns, whiskers, and scales, as lifelike as if breathing.

Beside this blood-dragon, a massive elephant spanned the expanse of the Bizarre Temple, its presence as formidable as a mountain, with the divine dragon coiling about its colossal frame.

Its broad ears flapped like giant fans, whipping up a storm, and its trunk lashed out like a divine whip,

accompanied by resounding claps of thunder!

Then, Li Che slowly opened his eyes.

He rose, his hand outstretched in a powerful punch!

He flung his arms wide as his dark hair whipped around!

Li Che lifted his head, his gaze fixed fiercely on the beam of the Bizarre Temple.

His eyes burned like fire, igniting the entire blood-dragon in a burst of luminous flame!

The inflamed blood-dragon erupted into towering flames!

The raging fire condensed and ultimately transformed into a lotus-like flame,

hovering above Li Che’s crown!

The fire distorted the void, sending ripples across the space!

“The Flower of Blood and Qi!”

Li Che’s eyes sparkled brilliantly.

A mighty surge of martial will spread like a tidal wave, saturating every corner of the Bizarre Temple!

The flames atop countless white candles burned wildly in response!

“Martial Will! Dragon Elephant Convergence!”

In his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit throbbed ceaselessly!

The compressed martial will turned the very air into a twisted black hole, condensing light and heat into a delicate lotus that hovered on Li Che’s left shoulder!

And as for the top-level Three-Flower—the Third Flower…

Li Che rose, his entire body now gleaming as if crystalline, his dantian blazing like a roaring furnace!

He was refining his treasured Core Pill!

That was the Grand Master Core Pill of his body!

Boom!

The Core Pill leaped; after several surges, a torrent of Core Pill essence burst out!

Under the blazing fires of the furnace, it ignited in an instant!

In the end, it too transformed into a lotus flame!

Li Che sensed the three drifting flames—essence, blood, and martial will—

and 540 streams of inherent energy converged amid the dancing Lotus of Three Flowers,

erupting like an unstoppable tidal wave of Gang Qi!

For an instant, all three flowers burst forth in unison!

Amid the overwhelming surge of Three-Flower Gang Qi,

Li Che slowly stood, his head and shoulders exuding a radiance that dazzled all!

Then, with a deafening rumble, the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple reverberated.

Beyond the Bizarre Temple,

the tumultuous mist began to settle.

The wind and snow were cleaved apart.

Two figures drifted in and landed outside the Bizarre Temple.

Gongshu Jingjun and Tang Xiejia, two masters from Shendiao Ridge, stood outside,

their eyes fixed on the now-calm mist.

They exhaled slowly.

But then—

in the next moment, their eyes locked in astonishment.

For inside the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple,

three brilliantly radiant lotus flames erupted as if breaking free of the heavens and earth,

stunning the world!