Chapter 308: Illusions on Huaguoshan

A few mountain peach blossoms and apricot flowers bloom, catching the spring breeze.

Amidst Huaguoshan.

Spring brims everywhere, with clusters of blossoms in abundance.

The incessant chatter of countless voices echoed between the ridges.

High atop verdant trees, among twisting branches, monkeys of every hue—gold, brown, tawny, white, gray—leaped and darted. Their sparkling eyes watched the figures below on the Grand Plaza and along the mountain stone paths.

They scratched their ears and faces, as if curious about what these people were up to.

Yet everyone knew that these monkeys were mere illusions—everything here was false.

This world, or rather Huaguoshan itself, was nothing more than a fictitious scene fashioned by the divine essence of the Temple Spirit.

All present were formidable experts—not a weakling in sight—but rather cultivators at the Martial Sage or Divine Fetus stage, having transcended the mundane. They naturally sensed Huaguoshan’s underlying differences.

Still, no one dared shatter the illusion. Instead, they lifted their heads, eyes alight with excitement and anticipation as they looked toward Wu Gang, the monk from Xiao Lingyin Temple who stood upon the mountain path.

Wu Gang’s spotless cloth shoes stepped onto the third hundredth step. With palms pressed together, a breeze scented with birdsong and flowers swept over him, ruffling his gray monk’s robe.

Stalwart pines with draping needles flanked the stone path like mirrored sentinels. “Amitabha.”

Wu Gang looked at Li Che, who sat in meditation on two ancient blue stones, both figures nearly identical and indistinguishable.

But Wu Gang did not mind; with folded hands he regarded the three opponents arrayed on the stones, thinking that Li Che must be the weakest—the easiest to pass.

After all, although Li Che carried the title of Divine Condor Half-Saint, he had only forced his way through thanks to his formidable innate talent in Divine Condor.

In truth, Wu Gang knew that Li Che’s martial cultivation was nothing more than that of a Grandmaster of Divine Guts, his divine nature barely reaching the level of divine origin. Compared to the Golden Hammer Martial Sage of Xiao Lingyin Temple before him, the gap was immense.

It was a chasm as vast as heaven and earth.

Thus, Wu Gang was confident. With such a gap, how could Li Che possibly disguise himself in front of him?

Moreover, relying on his innate sensitivity, Wu Gang could easily discern the authenticity of Li Che’s form—the weaker the cultivation, the more blatant the flaws. “Half-Saint Li, this humble monk has offended you.”

Wu Gang bowed deeply.

In the very next moment, as he straightened, his spine seemed to transform into a golden celestial dragon twisting and roaring around him, its radiant, dazzling dragon scales reflecting myriad lights.

“Big Mighty Heavenly Dragon!” “Illusory of the Buddhist Way!”

Wu Gang’s robust frame emitted sounds like grinding bones and quivering muscles, his body bathed in a faint golden luster. A mighty martial will roared like an enraged Buddha, the force as intense as a wrathful Vajra!

Rip—

In an instant, his gray robe burst apart, revealing a body as solid as forged steel, bulging muscles etched with lines that assaulted the eyes with their sheer power.

It was as if a golden dragon shadow slithered over his body!

After tearing open his garments, right at the center of his chest it looked as though it had been split open.

Blood and flesh parted to reveal a blood-red eye that slowly opened! Boom, boom, boom—!!!

A terrifying aura erupted like a raging flood, shaking every inch of the mountain path on Huaguoshan. It had begun!

Down at the Grand Plaza.

Figures like Gongshu Jingjun and Tang Xiejia, along with other formidable experts, all fixed their gaze intently, eager to see how this test of discerning authenticity would unfold.

“Hmph! The top-tier divine seed of Xiao Lingyin Temple can refine into the true martial form of the Buddhist way using the divine seed martial art ‘Big Mighty Heavenly Dragon’!” On the Grand Plaza.

Donning the Celestial Mask, Long Zi Ao Lie of the Dragon God Clan growled in anger.

To cultivate Big Mighty Heavenly Dragon, one must slay a dragon, extract its bones, tendons, marrow, and soul, then refine these into a Heavenly Dragon Pill. Only after ingesting the pill and subduing the dragon soul within using secret Buddhist techniques can one transform into the Big Mighty Heavenly Dragon!

For the Dragon God Clan, this method was exceedingly vicious! Abhorrent, indeed!

“That, however, is the Buddhist Kuanxu Gaze!”

“A top-tier Buddhist eye technique! This martial monk specialized in it—so it seems he came to Qianyuan Divine Sect solely for the Two-Hearted Great Sage’s Bizarre Temple test.” Ning He of the Seven Treasure Divine Sect, ever knowledgeable, exclaimed with surprise.

“The Buddhist eye technique is indeed formidable. It won’t be long before the authenticity of Li Che’s form is exposed.” Gu Chuan of the Tian Dan Divine Sect nodded in agreement.

Yet he wasn’t in any rush; if it were that simple, everyone would have leaped forward to be first. The real challenge lay in discerning the genuineness of that precious staff.

Verifying the authenticity of the staff was even harder than detecting a fake form in an opponent.

In their view, the test set by the Temple Spirit was more about familiarizing themselves with the process of distinguishing true from false—so that when faced with the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff, they wouldn’t be at a loss.

In that light, the Two-Hearted Great Sage’s Temple Spirit was surprisingly kind…

The three experts—Xuanfu’s Xuanyin, Tian Dan’s Gu Chuan, and Ning He of the Seven Treasure Divine Sect—felt a glimmer of anticipation. Ning He, in particular, was determined to seize that Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff.

Suddenly.

The young sect leader Yue Weizheng, who had been watching intently, cried out in shock, “What’s happening?”

“Master Wu Gang, what is going on?”

His exclamation abruptly cut through the focused minds of the three experts from other sects, leaving them stupefied.

Because…

There on the stone steps, Wu Gang—who had unleashed the Big Mighty Heavenly Dragon and initiated the Buddhist Kuanxu Gaze—was trembling violently. His golden, steel-like body shook so intensely that it exceeded all their expectations.

It seemed as if he were facing an unspeakable terror.

“What’s happening?”

Since Huaguoshan’s three hundred steps were too far from them and confined within the world crafted by the Temple Spirit’s divine nature, they couldn’t employ their innate perceptions to investigate. They were utterly baffled.

….

Wu Gang’s body trembled like sifted chaff, his eyes bloodshot, and his bald head—marked only by nine scars—sweated profusely.

In the center of his chest, the split-open Buddhist eye, streaming with blood, whirled wildly as if… short-circuiting. “Why?!”

“Why… can’t I see through it?! Why can’t I discern the truth?!” Wu Gang’s body convulsed.

That Buddhist Kuanxu Gaze was not self-cultivated; it had been transplanted into him specifically for this journey by Great Master Huang Mei, a successful practitioner whose Buddhist Kuanxu Gaze was coveted.

It was implanted into his body for him to pierce through the illusion during the Two-Hearted Great Sage’s Temple Spirit test.

So that he could uncover the true opportunity and claim the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff to retrieve the Two-Hearted Great Sage back to the Buddhist realm!

Even though it wasn’t originally his own Buddhist Kuanxu Gaze…

it nevertheless possessed the power of a True Martial Form, spanning from the Qi Sea to the mountain pathway!

Yet… he still couldn’t see through it!

The gaze fell upon the two Li Ches beneath the ancient pine blue stones. The feedback was…

I can’t see through it!

As if both were genuine, yet at the same time… both were false!

This scenario made Wu Gang wonder if the transplanted gaze had become incompatible, jeopardizing this critical moment. He fixed his gaze on Li Che—seated beneath the gently swaying ancient pine blue stone, his ink-black robe adorned with golden lotus patterns fluttering in the breeze.

Li Che smiled gently, his honest, unassuming face reflecting quiet contrition.

Wu Gang didn’t suspect any trickery—they were too genuine to be deceitful. Even if his gaze were faulty, he never doubted Li Che.

For a moment, Wu Gang’s tower-like frame almost wavered, teetering as if about to tumble down the steps. But he suddenly took a firm stride, steadying his quivering body.

He slammed his five fingers onto his chest, gripping the constantly rolling, dilating Buddhist Kuanxu Gaze until his eyelids snapped shut!

If he couldn’t see through it, then he would force the Buddha to close his eyes!

Wu Gang roared low as surging blue veins on his forehead trembled like exploding thunder. His pupils shrank to the size of sesame seeds, his body surged and swelled, heat radiating as if he had gone into a manic state!

This was Wu Gang—the mild-mannered martial monk of Xiao Lingyin Temple—who, when entering combat, became frenzied, almost insane!

He famously proclaimed himself… Buddha!

“Damn it! If I can’t see through the false from the true, then let the Buddha close his eyes! I’ll do it myself!”

Encircled by golden, mighty Big Heavenly Dragon coils, Wu Gang fixed his gaze on the two Li Ches calmly seated on the blue stone.

Both appeared riddled with flaws, neither clearly genuine.

But Wu Gang knew full well that the Temple Spirit of Huaguoshan wouldn’t allow two false forms to be present.

Thus, one of them had to be the true one!

It was just that… Wu Gang was too foolish to discern the truth!

No matter—he would trust his heart!

With that, he snapped his eyes open. His five fingers clenched into a fist as gusts of wind howled along the steps, and with a fierce, grinning scowl he declared, “I call the troops! Every general! Whoever I point to, you are it!”

At last, his index finger hovered over the face of the seemingly disinterested Li Che on the left blue stone.

“You’re it!”

“Buddha has chosen you!”

Wu Gang’s temples trembled as he burst into a wide, triumphant smile.

Whoom—!!!

“Half-Saint Li!”

With a swipe of his hand, Wu Gang stomped forward as if a landslide had broken loose. His heart pounded with exuberance; his Vajra intuition assured him he had chosen correctly!

This Li Che was undoubtedly the genuine article!

Even without the Buddhist Kuanxu Gaze, his martial monk’s intuition could break through the illusion!

Rustle—

A spring breeze swept by as the pine needles on the ancient pines clattered softly against each other on the blue stone.

Facing a wildly excited, insane Wu Gang,

Li Che smiled gently, his unassuming face marked with a trace of regret.

He spread his hands apologetically.

“Master Wu Gang, I’m sorry.”

That gentle voice felt as piercing as a steel needle, striking Wu Gang’s heart.

“Ah—?!”

A voice filled with bewilderment erupted from Wu Gang like a booming bell.

Bang—!

Then, in Wu Gang’s disbelieving gaze—as if even the Buddha were deceiving him—Li Che… exploded into a burst of dark mist. The spring wind swept it all clean away.

“Ah?!”

“Fake! It was truly fake?!”

How could it be false?

His Buddhist heart had assured him that he had chosen correctly—the bold choice, the right one!

So why?

Wu Gang was at a loss. That unwavering trust he had nurtured turned into confusion and collapse! He abruptly turned to look at another Li Che in the distance.

“I won’t believe it!” Boom—!

His fingers clenched as if a heavenly hand slammed down. A burst of golden flames erupted, circling around his massive arm, and a horrifying punch was unleashed.

Then, before Wu Gang’s bewildered eyes, the other Li Che—sitting calmly on the blue stone—also burst apart into white, eerie mist.

Wu Gang: “???”

How dare they bully a monk like that?! All of them fake?!

What is real, then?!

“The true becomes false when false is true; the false becomes true when true is false… True and false blend, and those who fail to distinguish have no destiny with the precious staff.” Buddhist light shone down.

Wu Gang looked up to see the Temple Spirit—in robes with a wide, toothy grin—approaching him. Boom—!!!

Wu Gang felt as if the world around him was shattering into pieces. When his vision cleared,

he saw the Corpse King of Temple Protection, the Demon Monkey, seizing him between his thumb and forefinger before hurling him—thud—!

Wu Gang coughed up blood as his body was launched like a cannonball. The mighty Martial Sage’s frame struggled to withstand the tremendous force, and he was flung out of the Bizarre Temple.

Yet Wu Gang was somewhat relieved…

Relieved that his mistake in judgment had only led to expulsion, not being choked to death by the Corpse King of Temple Protection! “Amitabha…”

“May the Buddha show mercy.”

Crackle, crackle!

Thunder rolled as lightning slithered like a snake!

Dense leaden clouds loomed in the sky, and sudden flashes of blue lightning—like a furious electric dragon—occasionally revealed its snarling head amid the dark clouds, casting dazzling, resplendent light!

The snowfall on Shendiao Ridge had ceased, only to give way to a thick fog—dense as the mist rising above the great river that once flowed through Qianyuan Daocheng.

It was as if the boiling mists of the Bizarre Temple had surged forth, carrying with them seething divine power from another realm, ready to engulf this world. It was like the collision of two worlds!

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

numerous experts had parked their carriages roughly a hundred zhang away, each seated and eagerly awaiting a glimpse of the unfolding events behind the thick mists of the Bizarre Temple—to see who would obtain the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff.

But visibility was nil; the thick mist blocked view and spirit alike. “The fog has come!”

“Such thick, ominous mist—what is happening inside the Bizarre Temple?”

“The snow has ceased, and even the heavens seem to show an omen. The thunder roars so wildly, as if to crush this existence that heaven and earth reject!”

Many present were visibly shaken, their eyes flickering with strange light.

Seated in the Buddha Carriage, Divine Condor Half-Saint Huang Tuo squinted; his cultivation, based on the Divine Fetus Two-God Transformation, prevented him from setting foot inside the Bizarre Temple. Thus, he had to send Wu Gang. In truth, Huang Tuo had great confidence in Wu Gang.

After all, Wu Gang practiced the Golden Arhat Body Refinement of Xiao Lingyin Temple. His flesh was incredibly resilient, and sharing the same Buddhist origin as the Two-Hearted Great Sage, his potential was vast. But what truly unfolded inside the sanctuary was anyone’s guess.

Yet judging by the omen, it appeared as if the Temple Spirit of the Bizarre Temple was awakening. Even divine weapons… seemed set to choose their destined master.

In the distance, onlookers from the jianghu—initially there for entertainment—could not help but tremble. They feared that the Bizarre Temple of the Two-Hearted Great Sage might erupt into chaos once more.

Inside the carriages,

Lü Taibai’s silver hair fluttered as he sipped the milk tea he had prepared for XiXi.

He glanced at the sky, then at the thickening mist, nonchalantly remarking, “The Temple Spirit has awakened.” “It must be the stage of the test.”

“Whoever can earn the favor of the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff will be the chosen one,” Lü Taibai continued.

Inside the carriage, XiXi cradled a steaming cup of milk tea, foam clinging to her lips. Blinking her eyes, she asked, “Does this mean we’ll know the result soon?”

“I wonder if Father will manage to claim the divine weapon…”

XiXi hoped fervently that her father would seize the weapon. Though at times she wished to use her immense martial prowess to subdue the father who often spanked her, she was also deeply filial.

For now, XiXi simply wished for her father to vanquish everyone. After all, he was the father of the great XiXi Emperor!

Lü Taibai shook his head. Although he had created opportunities for Li Che, whether he could truly obtain the chance remained uncertain. Fate, after all, is not something one can force.

Even if you manage to seize it, it will eventually slip away like flowing water.

As for what truly transpired inside, Lü Taibai was equally clueless. All he could do was abide by the rules he had set.

Whoever dared to breach the Bizarre Temple would be decapitated on the spot.

Suddenly.

Lü Taibai’s silver eyebrows lifted as he pulled aside the curtain, peering at the churning mist.

XiXi sensed movement from within the Bizarre Temple and, thinking it was connected to her father, scrambled to the carriage window to peek. The mist split apart.

A towering figure spun out at breathtaking speed, launching from the depths of the chaos.

He was as colossal as a treasure hoard, his body aglow in golden light, his sinewy muscles quaking like a wrathful dragon’s roar; an awesome Martial Sage aura spread all around. Wu Gang slammed into the ground, his body as scorching as a branding iron, instantly carving out a vast crater in the snow.

“The Buddha says… it’s all fake. Just damn fake.”

Stumbling from the deep pit, Wu Gang rose shakily, his face a mask of bewilderment.

High above, the composed Huang Tuo’s expression shifted. “Wu Gang?!”

“Wu Gang—!”

As if words erupted like spring thunder and shattering chants in his ears, Wu Gang finally regained clarity, though his entire body still trembled uncontrollably.

Tears streaming down, he looked to Huang Tuo, folded his hands, and, with his tattered monk’s robe barely clinging on, knelt. “Master, Wu Gang… I simply can’t tell what’s real…”

“Who is true, and who is fake? Or is everything fake—or entirely real…? I’m blind!”

Huang Tuo fell silent, sensing that Wu Gang was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. He knew that with a transplanted Buddhist Kuanxu Gaze, how could Wu Gang not distinguish?

In an instant, Huang Tuo drifted forward, as gracefully as if lotus blooms sprouted beneath his feet, and knelt before Wu Gang. Raising his hand, Buddhist light cascaded over him, gently calming the agitated Wu Gang.

“Tell me… what happened inside the Bizarre Temple?”

With kindly eyes, Huang Tuo gently stroked Wu Gang’s bald head and inquired softly. ….

Wu Gang… has failed!

The martial monk of Xiao Lingyin Temple—one who had reached a state where both Big Mighty Heavenly Dragon and Buddhist Kuanxu Gaze could elevate his divine seed to a True Martial Form—had failed! In the Buddhist realm, martial monks are also called Arhats.

The realms of Martial Sage and monk are divided in the same way; it’s merely the terminology that differs between worlds. In the Buddhist realm, Martial Sages are termed such as Buddha Pills, Bitter Seas, Spirit Mountains, and Buddhist Doors.

In truth, both paths of cultivation are essentially the same.

Yet there’s no denying that Wu Gang had achieved a top-level divine seed martial art—and his Buddhist Kuanxu Gaze was formidable indeed!

And still… he had failed!

“How could he misjudge at the very first test?”

A stunned silence fell over everyone—even Gongshu Jingjun and Tang Xiejia, who were utterly perplexed. In the next moment, their expressions subtly shifted.

This divine weapon’s trial was far tougher than they’d imagined!

“I won’t stand for it—I’ll do it myself!”

Long Zi Ao Lie, wearing a Celestial Mask, sneered coldly.

His Black Robe fluttered as Ao Lie ascended the three hundred steps of the mountain path.

Then, just like Wu Gang, he saw the two honest Li Ches seated cross-legged beneath the ancient pines on blue stone. Ao Lie’s purple eyes glittered—Dragon God Purple Gaze!

The dragon blood in his veins surged, as if communing with the power of the Dragon God to forge a unique innate connection, enabling him to gauge the authenticity of Li Che’s form. In the depths of his mirror-like purple eyes, it seemed the dragon’s head skewed slightly to the left.

Without hesitation, Ao Lie lunged—but he hadn’t even struck yet.

The honest Li Che simply spread his hands; in an instant, he burst into dark mist… “Fake?”

In that fleeting moment, panic and confusion flashed in Ao Lie’s eyes. Boom—!

Buddhist light materialized as an immense palm that slammed down. On the three hundred steps of Huaguoshan’s path,

Ao Lie vanished, expelled from the arena. On the Grand Plaza,

a heavy silence fell. Only the rustling of leaves in the spring breeze and the ceaseless calls of monkeys filled the air. “How can this be?!”

Xuanfu’s Xuanyin, with furrowed eyebrows, looked on gravely.

Then, donning a flowing white skirt, she ascended the path. Retrieving a broken Divine Talisman—a fifth-rank mid-level talisman—she stepped forward to face her first test against Li Che.

Before the talisman could even burn away, a gigantic hand formed of Buddhist light crashed down. Thwack, thwack, thwack!

Buddhist hands rained down continuously.

All of Huaguoshan trembled.

One formidable expert after another was eliminated, expelled from the Bizarre Temple in a haze of disbelief. Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia, and Elder Ding Zi stood numb—

truly unexpected.

“Could it be… Elder Li Che is the culprit?”

“How is it that all those who chose Elder Li Che were expelled?” Elder Ding Zi uttered, his tone mixed with doubt.

Li Che adjusted his Divine Monkey Mask. Sure enough… it was much as he’d expected. The Painted Immortal clone of Li Che was merely a false form—constructed alongside the fake body created by the Two-Hearted Great Sage.

Whether it was Wu Gang’s Kuanxu Gaze, Long Zi Ao Lie’s Dragon God Purple Gaze, or Xuanfu’s breaking talisman, all had identified the true Li Che among the two.

Yet none could penetrate the power of the Dao Fruit known as Painted Immortal. Li Che suspected that the Dao Fruit’s power possibly tapped into the Dao Essence—beyond their level entirely!

How to break it…

“Perhaps only one who is resolutely steadfast in their choice—unmoved by external disturbances—can truly pass this first test,” Li Che said with a smile beneath his Divine Monkey Mask.

Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia, and Elder Ding Zi were suddenly dumbfounded as they looked toward the Underworld Divine Monkey.

They saw the Underworld Divine Monkey dusting off his ink-black robe as he stepped onto the stone path. “Now, things are much clearer.”

A gentle voice flowed from the Divine Monkey as the mountain path cleared.

The Divine Monkey, with reckless abandon, scaled the three hundred steps to confront the first opponent: the two martial monks seated on the ancient pine blue stone.

Li Che’s opponents were none other than Wu Gang, Yue Weizheng, and Star Killer Ao Lie. As the two martial monks intoned in unison, “Amitabha,”

Li Che raised his hand, pointing at the Qi Tian Face. At that moment, as blood seemed to burst open on his brow, the Star Plucking Gaze emerged…

A flash of golden light swept across.

In an instant, it locked onto Wu Gang’s true form. Boom—!

At the moment of Wu Gang’s violent outburst, Li Che ignited his divine seed. A powerful celestial connection cascaded down, whipping up wild mountain winds and surging air currents! Down on the Grand Plaza,

Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia and the others were filled with shock! “Divine Monkey… has he broken through to Martial Sage?!”

They recalled the Underworld Divine Monkey; back then, he was never a Martial Sage! And now, he had transcended to Martial Sage!

When had he broken through?

How could a martial tribulation pass without a stir?

Could it be that the Underworld has a way to silently quell celestial tribulations?

On the stone path,

since Wu Gang had already been expelled from the Bizarre Temple, once Li Che discerned his true form, even without Li Che striking, Wu Gang’s true form crumbled into oblivion. The mountain wind swept by.

After three hundred steps and then another three hundred, someone finally stepped forth amidst the silent gazes of Gongshu Jingjun and the others.

They saw the Underworld Divine Monkey steadily ascending, with the second opponent Yue Weizheng and the third opponent Star Killer Long Zi Ao Lie unable to form any barrier. Under the Star Plucking Gaze, true and false were effortlessly dispelled by Li Che.

Gongshu Jingjun and the others were merely dazed for a moment.

Then they saw the Divine Monkey appear at the peak of Huaguoshan, at the edge of a cascading waterfall. The Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff was driven straight into the center of the waterfall.

Divided into three, transformed into six, and evolving into nine!

A total of nine dazzling, gilded Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staffs were embedded in the waterfall.

Above them, the Two-Hearted Great Sage’s Temple Spirit loomed, its eyes opening and closing, with Buddhist light radiating from behind as if in curious contemplation…

Which choice would the Divine Monkey make? Nine Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staffs—it was almost impossible to decide!

Which was true and which was false?!

On the Grand Plaza, Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia, and Elder Ding Zi had all given up trying to choose the staff. They glared sadly at the Painted Immortal clone of Li Che. “Elder Li, what a pity…”

“You managed to carve out an image of the Two-Hearted Great Sage’s Temple Spirit… You had high hopes for this precious staff.” Gongshu Jingjun said resentfully.

But Li Che merely glanced at Gongshu Jingjun and Tang Xiejia, offering a smile as refreshing as spring.

“They’re all the same.”

How could they be the same?

Though the Underworld Divine Monkey was on good terms with the Divine Sect, he was ultimately not of Qianyuan Divine Sect! “Gongshu Lingzhu! Look!”

Suddenly, Tang Xiejia’s rapid breathing pierced the air.

Gongshu Jingjun turned and followed Tang Xiejia’s pointing gaze toward the waterfall of Huaguoshan. And there he saw…

The Divine Monkey, clad in an ink-black robe, seated in meditation, facing the nine Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staffs while clenching his five fingers—and a piece of mundane wood appeared in his grasp.

Then a Divine Weapon Engraving Knife emerged, its blade dancing in a flurry at the Divine Monkey’s fingertips.

Upon the wooden plank where the knife fell,

he began to carve, sparks flying, shaping the image of a Divine Condor.

His heart immersed in the rhythmic strikes, as his skilled carving revealed…

A Temple Spirit Divine Condor, even carved with monkey hairs adorned with the Two-Hearted Great Sage’s motif, emerged in the Divine Monkey’s hand. Buzz, buzz, buzz—

The Divine Monkey held aloft the Two-Hearted Great Sage Divine Condor with one hand, slowly rising, aiming carefully at the nine Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staffs with his other hand, his five fingers spread wide.

Reckless and undaunted, the Divine Monkey cared little if his creation of a Half-Saint Divine Condor revealed his identity. He didn’t care about such matters.

He cared not about exposing his true self.

Facing reality and illusion head-on—perhaps that was exactly what the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff desired. In that case…

“Come on!”

The Huaguoshan waterfall roared suddenly, its cascades exploding as sunlight danced on the droplets, sparkling brilliantly! Buzz, buzz, buzz—

The nine precious staffs began to tremble violently, resonating like a clanging drum. Then,

a resounding, brilliant buzz! The nine staffs converged into one!

Shooting up from the waterfall, countless jets of water burst open; the cascading water soared into the sky, then transformed into torrential rain that pounded the earth in a deluge.

Amid the downpour, countless staff silhouettes spun in the air, twirling as if blooming like a dense floral array overhead!

Finally, all the images merged.

Transforming into a single ray of golden light, it descended into the palm of Li Che’s outstretched hand. A single, radiant golden needle…

There it hovered, suspended in his open palm. The Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff! The divine weapon chooses its master!

On the Grand Plaza, Gongshu Jingjun, Tang Xiejia, and Elder Ding Zi trembled uncontrollably. Their eyes widened, filled with disbelief.

Even the notion of a weapon choosing its master had never struck them with such shock and terror! “This… this…”

Gongshu Jingjun’s body trembled as the water of Huaguoshan washed over him, yet he lost all awareness of gathering the strength to dispel the rain.

He turned to look at the ever-smiling Painted Immortal clone of Li Che,

then back at the waterfall beside which stood

the Divine Monkey who had just carved a Half-Saint Divine Condor…

The Underworld Divine Monkey…

Could it really be Elder Li?