Chapter 304: The Dawning of the Martial Saint

As his eyes opened, they shone like two brilliant suns bursting with dazzling radiance.

The whole of Jingguang City seemed to be illuminated.

In an instant, the wind died and the clouds ceased moving, as torrential rain fell from the thick, melted snows that had accumulated in the leaden clouds,

frozen even midair.

It was as if invisible waves of energy, rippling in concentric circles from high above, were emanating an overwhelming will,

sweeping outward in a majestic surge.

Li Che slowly opened his eyes. His martial will was mighty and profound, linking him with heaven and earth as if provoking a cosmic rapport.

It was a mysterious sense of perception—as if he could feel the trembling of the land’s mountains and rivers, the coursing of the winds and clouds, and the rotation of stars and the bright moon!

It felt as if he were fused with the entire universe!

“Martial Saint—”

The brilliance in Li Che’s eyes gradually receded, and his body trembled as if a vortex were drawing in every bit of his spirit.

After four days, the stormy thunder had scourged his flesh, effecting a profound transformation.

The mysterious power of heaven and earth pounded down, washing every corner of his body and triggering a high-grade metamorphosis in Li Che’s mortal form!

The most obvious change was his heightened sensitivity to the power of nature.

It was as if a single thought could stir tempests and shake the very earth.

Under the Martial Saint level, even the supreme Grand Masters were still mere mortals.

But upon reaching the Martial Saint stage—even a single breakthrough, releasing one’s essence—transcended mortal limitations and merged one with the cosmos, entering a realm beyond the mundane.

A true rebirth!

He could now perceive the unique essence of the world—the energy of mountains, lakes, rivers, the cycle of the seasons, and the alternation of clear skies and storms.

Each possessed its own distinctive spirit.

This was the natural way of the universe!

It was the intrinsic Dao of nature!

And it was forged through martial might!

Li Che’s jet-black hair flew wildly in the air while his entire body, with skin and muscles glistening as if carved from crystal, seemed ready to unleash an overwhelming surge of energy from every cell.

It was as if the minor cavern of the heavens itself brimmed with the Dao’s essence.

The vast universe contained the Dao’s hidden power, and a true martial artist perceives and embraces this essence!

Only upon reaching the Martial Saint realm can one truly perceive and understand the Dao’s essence—the fundamental force that constructs a world.

Even with his brow’s Mud Pellet Star-Plucking Gaze remaining closed, Li Che could sense the subtle ebb of cosmic energy.

“This is the cosmic resonance between man and heaven, far superior to the elemental spirit of divine cultivation,” he mused.

“It’s not just the range of perception—it’s a refined ability to capture information, as if merging seamlessly with nature, far exceeding the capabilities of the elemental spirit.”

In other words, with a single thought, he maintained the state of oneness that only an innate Grand Master possesses, reaching the pinnacle of the top-tier Grand Masters’ awareness.

At that thought, a gale roared in the midair.

It carried Li Che’s body aloft without the need for his blood or strength—merely by distorting the surrounding air through his cosmic resonance.

It was somewhat like the suspension achieved by the Thunder Magnetic Conduit, but purer.

It was like a transcendence of one’s very life force.

He retrieved one Martial Pill after another that he had acquired from Su Daoling’s Qian Kun Jade.

Thud, thud, thud—the pills landed in his stomach like boulders plunging into a deep well, their medicinal essences unleashed like a hurricane, instantly absorbed by every fiber of his being!

Even now, deep within his transformed body, the changes continued slowly—bones grinding against each other, the primordial energy refining his flesh, fortifying his muscles, tendons, and meridians.

With his palm raised and fingers clenched, his terrifying physical strength brimmed as if it contained an explosive, formidable force.

Li Che’s eyes shone with clarity, as if a brand-new path were unfolding before him.

“It wasn’t easy that I once managed to vanquish and defeat a Grand Master and a Martial Saint…”

“Even a spontaneous explosion of divine seeds, shattering the human limit, essentially marks a Martial Saint-level eruption.”

“But that burst of divine seed power is maintained by the force after its explosion. For many Grand Masters, triggering the explosion of divine seeds means the end—the certain demise of life.”

“Only by exploding three divine seeds can one rival a Martial Saint, and many Grand Masters—who only manage two—cannot survive for long.”

“Thus, it is truly arduous for a Grand Master to cross over and challenge a Martial Saint.”

“If you were up against a Martial Saint with a perfect foundation like mine, you’d be battered a hundred times over!”

Only by truly reaching the Martial Saint level can one comprehend its overwhelming might.

Yet Li Che understood that his approach to the Martial Saint stage was different from others.

His foundation was just too solid!

“Now, even though I’ve only just formed the first crack in my inner core, can it contend with the Qi Sea realm?”

Suspended midair, Li Che stretched his sinews and bones.

In the midst of the horrified gazes of all cultivators in Jingguang City,

it was as if thunder clashed continuously—a divine presence mastering lightning as he flexed his muscles midair,

with the clashing of bones echoing like booming thunder.

Every cultivator in the city fell silent, like timid cicadas, too frightened to even utter a sound.

Li Che’s formidable cosmic resonance swept over the entire city, and he smiled.

The sound of slicing through the air resounded.

Huang Jianjiu, You Liqing, Dragon Queen, Su Daoling, and others—the spiritual confinement of the Martial Saint embryo, forged by Li Che’s demonic technique—floated in.

Li Che glanced at Huang Jianjiu and You Liqing and said, “You possess the Corpse God Seal. With that mark, you can clearly sense the Corpses of the Corpse God Sect’s miscreants…”

“Go clear out these vermin.”

Li Che stated coolly.

It was a rare return to Jingguang City, and naturally he would clear away the trash.

After being away from Jingguang for two and a half years, without the suppression of the Underworld, the rats of the Corpse God Sect had sprouted like mushrooms after rain.

The Corpse God Sect evidently still couldn’t let go of the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple.

“There.”

Huang Jianjiu took a swig from his scarred Liquor Gourd, wiped the liquor from his mouth heartily, and from within his Sword Casket, a resounding sword chant exploded forth!

With a snap of his fingers, brilliant sword light erupted and thousands of slivers of sword energy, alive like slender serpents, darted from the heights into the mortal realm.

Such was the imposing martial will of a Sword Saint!

Cultivators in Jingguang City were struck with fear and awe!

“Sword Saint?!”

Was it the tribulation of a Martial Saint or the protection of a Sword Saint?

Clad in golden armor, You Liqing gripped his Zhangba Snake Halberd; in one fluid motion, the spear unfurled,

and behind the mist, a golden demonic serpent emerged!

It nearly obscured the entire sky above the city!

And—yet another Martial Saint?!

Jingguang City fell into an oppressive silence.

Meanwhile, the evil ones of the Corpse God Sect let out shrill, agonized wails.

Some were cleaved by sword light; others were pulverized by the force of the demonic serpent’s aura…

Waves of morbific energy and corpse aura erupted like flowers, rolling out of Jingguang City in a frenzy—yet there was nowhere to run.

Many practitioners of the Cursed Silver Corpse art from the Corpse God Sect were as fragile as paper before the power of a Martial Saint and a Sword Saint.

One expert of the Cursed Silver Corpse technique was even nonchalantly slain by a mere stroke of sword light!

The evil ones of the Corpse God Sect in Jingguang City were completely eradicated.

Everyone was numb.

Stunned into silence, they were horrified.

What a formation—

How could such a force appear in the Capital?!

Atop Golden Light Peak.

Nan Lihuo’s entire body trembled with surging energy as his eyes fluttered open, twin orbs of golden flame dancing within.

He had already sensed that feeling. Using the breakthrough energy of his Martial Saint, he seized this chance to capture a bit of that power to assault his divine core—a perilous endeavor indeed.

Had that Martial Saint deigned to disdain him, a single thought could have severed Nan Lihuo’s path and ended him.

After all, Nan Lihuo was merely riding a high-speed express; if the Martial Saint refused him, he’d be thrown off and petrified by the fall to his death.

Fortunately, the Martial Saint made no such demands, which allowed Nan Lihuo to breathe a sigh of relief.

Nan Lihuo tilted his head back,

his eyes glittering.

Then,

Nan Lihuo’s entire body suddenly convulsed.

Because—

he had seen the face of the one who had just successfully weathered the tribulation and broken through to Martial Saint.

High above, that figure turned and signaled.

Dispelling Nan Lihuo’s confusion, he beheld a familiar—

charming Cute Cow Mask!

That familiar mask!

Ogre!!

In the primordial expanse, as if an invisible ripple had surged—like a tidal wave violently tearing through.

In Daocheng,

in Tinglei Alley,

in the Private Workshop Courtyard,

Li Che, his ink robe adorned with golden lotus designs, soared back. He now stood motionless in the center of the courtyard, his aura completely merging with the cosmos.

“I have returned.”

Li Che relaxed his five fingers. A white Feilei Chess Piece trembled briefly before dissolving into the air, becoming an untraceable anchor in space.

Crack, crack!

Above the Heavenly Dome, lightning flashed and thunder roared—winter thunder booming!

The pattering wind and rain roared down, interspersed with biting, icy snowflakes.

Rain mingled with snow was blasted down from above by a searing energy that affected all of Daocheng—or rather, even encompassing Shendiao Ridge—seemingly overwhelmed by a blazing aura.

Li Che looked up, his jet-black hair flying and his eyes radiant.

“Today—the day the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple opens.”

“It seems that even the mysterious temple feels it—indeed, the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff is about to be born.”

After breaking through as a Martial Saint, Li Che’s cosmic resonance became extraordinarily acute, like a sixth sense—a profound perception that was almost mystical.

It was as if every movement in the universe followed its own unique rhythm.

That rhythm could be captured by cosmic resonance, and this opening of the Bizarre Temple appeared to determine the fate of the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff—a matter of destiny.

“The Dao’s essence—”

Li Che mused.

“At the Martial Saint and Divine Embryo stages, one can barely perceive the power of the Dao’s essence. But to grasp it, or condense a personal version of it, is extraordinarily difficult.”

“Both the Martial Saint realm and the cultivation of the Divine Embryo are journeys forged for that very purpose.”

“Mastering the Dao’s essence is tantamount to becoming one with the very laws of nature.”

“Difficult.”

Li Che exhaled.

Only upon truly stepping into the Martial Saint realm did he comprehend just how endless the path ahead was—a road so long its end was invisible.

“For now, I won’t worry about that endless journey. I must steadily enhance my martial power step by step.”

“At the Martial Saint stage—with its four openings and realms—I have only just cracked open my inner core, a mere fissure.”

Before him, a dark shadow twisted into form.

It was none other than the Divine Guardian.

Now, having elevated his cultivation to the level of an unsurpassed Grand Master, the Divine Guardian was only a few Spiritual Confinement power units short of breaking through to become a Martial Saint.

His mastery over the shadow technique had reached an astonishing level.

“My Lord,”

The Divine Guardian, donning a black mask and taking on the guise of the Underworld’s Grim Reaper, spoke with eyes full of reverence and fervor.

“The Su Family—Su Lei Ba’s clan—has relocated en masse. Apart from those women taken for their innate talents, only a few peripheral cultivators of ordinary strength remain in Daocheng.”

“Su Lei Ba and every member of the Su Family’s direct line have left Daocheng; their target is Divine Capital.”

The Divine Guardian had not accompanied Li Che to Jingguang City these past days.

He had been left behind to keep a close watch on the Su Family.

Li Che, who kept a hawk’s eye on the Su Family due to their repeated glances at XiXi, wouldn’t let them catch even a moment’s respite.

“Heading to Divine Capital?”

Li Che snapped his fingers; a Spiritual Confinement Chess Piece twisted and the image of Su Daoling’s Spiritual Confinement appeared.

“The Su Family has its own plans in Divine Capital. My beloved daughter Su Yunji and Su Wenxi’s daughter, Su Da—”

that was the Su Family’s scheme.

“Su Da is the Emperor’s favored consort, and my daughter Su Yunji has entered the service of the Third Prince.”

Su Daoling held a divine talisman record, clasped his fists in respect, and said,

“The Su Family also has a Martial Saint at the peak of the Qi Sea, guarding Divine Capital. Recently, word returned that this peak Martial Saint of the Su Family shattered limits, finding a mountain path within the vast Qi Sea and breaking into the third realm.”

Su Daoling detailed the Su Family’s layout in Divine Capital,

staking massive resources on the Third Prince in the hopes that he would become Crown Prince.

Li Che’s eyes flickered.

Although he had heard rumors of the Su Family’s plans in Divine Capital before, the detailed account from Su Daoling left him astounded at their ambition. If the Third Prince truly became Crown Prince—with a Crown Princess and a Consort of Jingdi—the Su Family was destined to soar, a force to last five thousand years.

Li Che nodded.

“Cutting the weeds at the root ensures they never grow back. The spring wind will always bring new life.”

“You must miss them in the Underworld, right?” Li Che asked.

Su Daoling’s smile twitched.

“My Lord, you’re right,”

he replied. “I do miss the Su Family dearly down here in the Underworld.”

Li Che smiled, snapped his fingers, and Su Daoling instantly transformed into a black Spiritual Confinement Chess Piece while the Divine Guardian merged with the shadows, vanishing among the silhouettes of the many houses.

A subtle stirring was felt in their minds.

【Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (Iv5 70%)】

The maturity gained from breaking through as a Martial Saint far exceeded Li Che’s expectations. The only regret was that the Dao Fruit’s maturation, achieved through sudden insight, could no longer be converted into further breakthroughs.

He recalled the time when, with his martial aptitude, he nearly reached the level of a martial deity!

“Truly, upon reaching Iv5, the Dao Fruit’s maturation becomes so difficult. I had hoped that breaking through as a Martial Saint would at least let me grasp an Iv6 level Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.”

Li Che said this with a sigh.

Yet he was not overly disappointed.

“The Su Family—”

“and the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple—”

Li Che’s eyes flashed.

His Painted Immortal Clone, which he had left in Daocheng, had already been summoned to Shendiao Ridge and was about to enter the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple.

During the past four days away from Daocheng, many events had unfolded.

“The Divine Condor Half-Saint from Xiao Lingyin Temple of Xiling Road has challenged me to a duel to discuss the Divine Condor Technique—”

“But my Painted Immortal Clone, Li Che, is quite clever and did not accept.”

Li Che laughed softly, his eyes deep and enigmatic.

Xiao Lingyin Temple—a mysterious Divine Sect among the many of Great Realm—boasts an imposing overall strength. Due to its proximity to the Western Buddhist lands, its control over Xiling Road is extremely weak.

Thus, Xiao Lingyin Temple has practically created a small Buddhist kingdom on Xiling Road.

“If they refuse, then so be it—what is there to dispute?”

“Should you challenge me, must I always accept?”

Li Che shook his head, unconcerned by the shame of turning down a challenge from a Divine Condor Half-Saint.

He had only just become a Divine Condor Half-Saint, while the half-saint from Xiao Lingyin Temple was several years his senior. His refusal was perfectly understandable.

“Over in the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple—someone from the Underworld should be dispatched.”

“And over at the Su Family as well.”

“The Su Family is clever. With all other forces’ attention drawn to the opening of the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple at this moment, departing Daocheng will be far less risky.”

“Otherwise, if the Su Family sells off its Daocheng assets, those resources would no doubt draw envy from all sides. Escaping Lingnan Path safely would be far from guaranteed.”

“However—”

Over at the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple,

and likewise within the Su Family—

the Underworld must be claimed!

Boom, boom, boom!

With his arms thrown wide, Li Che felt his powerful qi surge as his newly broken-through energy roiled chaotically—a fierce urge to stretch his muscles overwhelmed him.

With two fingers together, he tore through the air.

A charming Cute Cow Mask was swiftly extracted from Qiankun Space by Li Che.

He donned his Bamboo Hat, switched out his Golden Lotus Ink Robe, and draped himself in a dark cloak and shirt.

Pointing his toes, Li Che stepped onto the Cosmic Chessboard of heaven and earth.

In an instant, he vanished from Daocheng.

The Cosmic Chessboard shifted with his movement, its encompassing range ever expanding.

Li Che continued to vanish and reappear within the limits of his perception.

Shendiao Ridge.

Heavy snow fluttered down, interlaced with droplets that looked as if they had turned into icy clumps.

They pelted the thick snow-packed ground, carving out deep pits.

At the Six-Eared Yulian Divine Monkey Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple,

the expanding veil of the Bizarre Sanctuary occupied a vast area.

Outside the shelter of the sanctuary,

one luxurious carriage after another was parked. Within each, formidable figures sat regally.

Many wandering cultivators in Daocheng, driven by curiosity, came in droves.

Yet none dared approach too closely, blocked by the Divine Guard Army. It was only natural that lowly cultivators without status were kept at bay when facing a Bizarre Temple of a Five-Elder rank.

The travelers watched the lined-up carriages and gasped.

Not to mention the Qianyuan Divine Sect; almost every major force within Daocheng had gathered.

The Su Family, having lost a Martial Saint and a Divine Embryo, was entirely deprived of the opportunity to enter the Bizarre Temple,

yet they did not give up entirely—they sent forth a Divine Practitioner with Golden Body Transcendence.

The Yun Family, Zhou Family, and Zhong Family all sent in their trump cards—the Martial Saints and Divine Embryos were present in person.

The Yun Family’s Divine Embryo, the one-time Patriarch Yun Sanxiao; the Zhou Family’s Martial Saint; and Zhong Family also had a Martial Saint. With both a Martial Saint and a Divine Embryo guarding, a clan could hope to last thousands of years.

Besides these three families, there were the unsurpassed Grand Masters of the Temple Guardian Division, the two top-tier Grand Masters leading the Divine Guard Army, and the Divine Practitioner of the Imperial Watch, among others.

The two Governors of the Temple Guardian Division, Yu Wen Wenlong and Feng Zhiqi, did not meet the criteria set by Lü Taibai.

Their cultivation had soared beyond the initial Martial Saint stage, so they could not enter the Bizarre Temple to vie for opportunity—they had to entrust their hopes to these Grand Masters.

From the Dao Master Residence came the Young Daoist, Yue Weizheng. As the son of Yue Huanglong, Yue Weizheng, having just entered the Martial Saint stage, qualified.

In addition, there were forces from Tian Dan Divine Sect, Xuanfu Divine Sect, Seven Treasure Divine Sect, Xiao Lingyin Temple, and other Divine Sects.

On the Qianyuan Divine Sect side, the three Elders—Ding Zi, Gongshu Jingjun of Shendiao Ridge, and Elder Tang Xiejia—along with a one-time divine transformation Divine Embryo and a Martial Saint, had chosen to attend.

And below the Martial Saint stage, the inner sect’s five Elders—Lin Wenjun, Elder Huo Xiang, and Shendiao Ridge’s five Elders including Li Che—were set to participate.

The attention of almost all the cultivators focused on the carriage driven by an unsurpassed Grand Master swordsman from Shendiao Ridge,

its curtain drawn so low that none could see the face of the Shendiao Ridge Five-Elder, rumored to be only twenty-five years old!

Suddenly, the sound of clanging bells resounded.

A slender, middle-aged monk dressed in a bright red cassock, gripping a golden staff whose copper rings clattered with every movement, stepped forward from the carriage and said warmly,

“Li Half-Saint, I am Huang Tuo, a disciple of the Huang Mei Great Master from Xiao Lingyin Temple.”

The monk, staff in hand and one palm pressed against his chest, halted before the carriage and spoke politely.

“Li Half-Saint, you have already declined my challenges for four consecutive days—”

“Today I finally meet you. Li Half-Saint—must you still refuse me? We only wish to exchange views on the Divine Condor Technique, is that so?”

Huang Tuo’s earlobes, large and dangling almost like strands of hair, were remarkable.

Inside the carriage, there was no response.

Huang Tuo’s brows furrowed in displeasure.

If Li Che would only challenge him to an exchange of the Divine Condor Technique, he was confident that with the secret arts of Xiao Lingyin Temple, he could subdue Li Che and convert him into a Buddhist devotee—or at the very least, convince him to come to our temple.

Of course, such a move might provoke the ire of the Qianyuan Divine Sect and offend Lü Taibai—

but that was exactly what he desired.

He wanted—

for Lü Taibai to take action.

Huang Tuo was not deathly afraid, yet he carried the orders of his master, the Huang Mei Great Master.

Though Huang Tuo did not fully understand his master’s intentions, he had no choice but to obey.

It was a pity about Li Che—

he was as inert as wood, utterly lacking the youthful fire that would be easily ignited.

Huang Tuo toyed with his staff, his eyes glinting as he prepared a new strategy.

From afar, the sound of a bronze bell echoed, its vibrations rolling in.

Then, atop the scene at the entrance of the Bizarre Temple, Lü Taibai—who was instructing little XiXi in cultivation—patted her head and then declared in a sonorous, clashing tone like swords:

“The Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple is now open.”

When his words faded,

Lü Taibai turned, snapped his fingers, and slashed forth a surge of sword energy toward the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple.

The wave of sword energy parted the eerie mist within the sanctuary, revealing a deep, shadowy path inside.

“Enter, everyone. Fate provides the opportunity; let your abilities decide.”

Lü Taibai said coolly.

In the next moment, his silver hair billowed as he spread his arms and levitated into the air.

Huang Tuo’s eyes gleamed. His cultivation was based on the Divine Embryo’s second divine transformation, which did not meet the requirements to enter the sanctuary. Thus, Xiao Lingyin Temple had sent Wu Gang, the indomitable martial monk with Golden Body Transcendence.

“Master, I am off,”

declared Wu Gang, wearing a grey monk robe. Glancing at Huang Tuo, he stepped forward into the path carved out within the sanctuary. His tattered monk shoes, dusted with snow, made him look like a solitary ascetic trekking thousands of miles as all eyes watched his every step.

Huang Tuo withdrew his gaze from Wu Gang and turned to look at the well-behaved XiXi seated in the carriage.

A trace of awe flickered in his eyes.

Stunning!

Her divine aura and extraordinary insight shone as if illuminated by boundless Buddhist light.

Truly, as Lü Taibai’s disciple, she was destined—for this girl, the future held nothing less than that of a Bodhisattva!

Rumor had it that she was Li Che’s daughter—

Then suddenly,

the carriage curtain fluttered open.

The Painted Immortal Li Che emerged gracefully from within. He glanced at Huang Tuo, nodded kindly, and then remained silent.

Without a word, the Painted Immortal Li Che ignored Huang Tuo and stepped into the mysterious sanctuary.

No one noticed anything amiss.

Not even Lü Taibai detected that this Li Che was not his true self.

Then suddenly, cries of astonishment and uproar arose.

In the distance on the snowy plain, a figure appeared carrying a glittering, copper-gold staff. With each step, he exuded an unrestrained confidence.

Wearing a grinning Divine Monkey mask, it was none other than the Divine Monkey Clone formed from Li Che’s Painted Immortal Clone.

At that moment, the Divine Monkey, under the gaze of countless eyes, strode forward!

“Underworld Divine Monkey!”

“One of the Underworld’s most vicious beings! How dare he show his face at this time?”

“Why shouldn’t he? Who dares lay a hand on the Divine Monkey at a time like this? Is the Underworld Yama a pushover?

Have you forgotten the fate of the Su Family?”

The onlookers erupted in exclamations.

The terror inspired by the Underworld Yama was nearly absolute.

Even the major forces dared not show the slightest thought towards the Divine Monkey.

“Master Taibai, may my Divine Monkey enter the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple?”

The Divine Monkey, hefting his treasure staff, chuckled.

Lü Taibai, arms crossed, his silver hair streaming, looked at the Divine Monkey—

and after a pause, said, “Allowed.”

The Divine Monkey’s cultivation wasn’t even at the Martial Saint level, yet he met the criteria to enter the Divine Sanctuary.

No one stopped him as he slung his staff onto his shoulders and strode confidently into the Bizarre Temple.

The Underworld—

had also dispatched its envoy!

It seemed that even the Underworld was coveting the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff within the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple.

But—

the Two-Hearted Great Sage was, after all, the Divine Monkey. And the Underworld’s Divine Monkey was also a Divine Monkey!

The Underworld’s intentions were plainly obvious!

For a moment, many wondered:

Who would ultimately claim the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff?!

Or rather—

Who would this divine weapon choose?!

The mountain path was smoothed perfectly under the heavy snow.

The agile Hoofed Steed’s hooves barely sank into the snow as it dashed along, pulling along the carriage with breathtaking speed.

Inside the carriage,

Su Lei Ba sat motionless. Without the carbon stove lit, the carriage was oppressively cold.

He sat calmly in a plush chair,

stroking the dragon-headed cane laid across his leg, his eyes deep in thought.

His heart pounded relentlessly.

The Su Family had split into three groups. Su Lei Ba didn’t know if they would all survive; he only knew that every extra team meant a glimmer of hope.

Moreover, having arranged the forces within Daocheng, he had drained so much that many were well fed by his hand.

Coupled with the protection and arrangements of Dao Master Yue Huanglong, the threat from Daocheng’s forces was minimal. Especially in Lie Shen Pavilion, most of the assassins capable of threatening the Su Family’s migration had been dealt with.

Now, the sole threat—

the very force that had cornered the Su Family in this desperate situation—

was the Underworld!

Su Lei Ba’s eyes were full of dread. If the Underworld Yama himself were to act,

he would be finished.

For this was a being of a supreme Martial Saint caliber—one that had glimpsed the Heavenly Gate!

It was beyond what he could ever hope to counter.

But the last time the Underworld Yama appeared, he was so thoroughly intimidated by Daocheng’s three peak warriors that he dared not appear lightly again.

Yet Su Lei Ba’s heart sank.

The pounding in his chest, the palpable aura of death—it was almost suffocating.

A dense, gory scent burst forth,

and in that group in his caravan of the Su Family, not even a single cry of misery was heard!

Figures darted from the writhing shadows to silently sever heads!

The thunderous beating of Su Lei Ba’s heart suddenly exploded in his ears.

He jerked his head up, his withered hair whipping wildly.

“They’ve really—arrived!”

Su Lei Ba’s eyes bloodshot, his expression shattered in despair!

What grudge? What hatred!

They were determined to exterminate the Su Family entirely!!

The Su Family had forsaken their ancestral holdings in Daocheng!

They were fleeing to Divine Capital!

Yet they would not be spared!

“Underworld—”

Su Lei Ba roared in a deep, trembling voice!

Fury!

Hatred!

The will to kill surged uncontrollably!

A wild gust rose; as suddenly as it stopped, a carriage curtain was swept upward by the wind, revealing a towering figure on the carriage’s axle.

A ripped open Ogre Mask burst through the carriage!

It appeared right before Su Lei Ba’s eyes!

Su Lei Ba’s enraged face froze for an instant.

“Ogre?!”

“A mere Ogre—not even a Martial Saint—and he dares come for me?!”

Su Lei Ba felt utterly incredulous.

In the next moment, his frail body became robust, as terrifying streams of blood intertwined with surging primal force—a cosmic resonance pressing down like a mountain!

His eyes widened in fury; his pallid hair darkened into jet-black, and he seemed about to crash out of the carriage.

Yet Ogre uttered not a single word; with his five fingers like divine spears,

he shattered the surrounding qi, gathered it into a punch,

rotated his waist,

shifted his body, and punched!

Boom—

A massive surge of primordial energy erupted from Ogre’s dantian, bursting forth from his great golden cauldron of vitality!

It roared like a river breaking its dam!

Like waves crashing!

Coalescing into a single punch!

It slammed into the carriage with ferocious impact!

With one thunderous roar,

the luxurious carriage exploded into fragments!

Within a radius of several hundred feet, the accumulated snow melted in an instant into vapor as scorching heat surged upward!

Amidst the shattered remnants of the exploded carriage,

Su Lei Ba coughed up fresh blood.

His eyes were filled with terror.

He was flung out like an uncontrollable projectile,

bouncing across the snow-evaporated ground, leaving five deep craters in his wake!

“Is this—”

“A Martial Saint?!”