Chapter 319: Frost and Flame on the Summit

Whoo, whoo—!

At the mountain peak, fierce winds howled as endless snowflakes swirled, blurring the vision of nearly everyone present.

Li Che’s dark robe whipped in the wind as he stood with his hands clasped behind him, while his wife Zhang Ya gripped her fists in anxiety, her face pale and every muscle tense as turbulent emotions threatened her inner strength.

For Zhang Ya, only worry remained… What if XiXi cannot break through the Divine Vision?

What if XiXi’s breakthrough fails?

Lü Taibai had warned Zhang Ya that the clash between the Divine Foundation and Divine Vision bore certain risks. A failed breakthrough could result in a backlash from divine essence – and XiXi’s situation was even more complex.

XiXi’s inner reserve of divine weapons was vast. Although Lü Taibai never explicitly told Zhang Ya which weapons lay hidden within her, a single mention was enough for Zhang Ya to understand.

If the Sect Master speaks like this… it must be very dangerous!

“Husband… will XiXi succeed?”

A visibly anxious Zhang Ya grabbed Li Che’s arm, looking up with worry etched on her face.

When Li Che, having replaced his Painted Immortal clone, personally reached for Zhang Ya’s icy hand, she knew her husband had truly returned.

The Painted Immortal Li Che had directly informed her that it was only a clone.

When the real husband returned, her tension eased slightly.

It was as if his presence – her husband and XiXi’s father – made every problem seem surmountable, for he was the pillar of their little family!

He was the true head of the household.

Li Che’s eyes glittered as his qi flowed, warming his wife’s cold hand. “Don’t worry. You know well XiXi’s talent; she’s steady. As for her divine weapons… they’re all well-behaved.”

Li Che smiled gently, draping an arm around his wife’s shoulder as he spoke in a low tone.

In between breaths, Zhang Ya exhaled, “That’s good… I can finally relax. If my husband says so, XiXi will undoubtedly succeed!” Her smile burst forth, radiant and beautiful.

Lü Taibai’s silver hair billowed as he stood at the gate of Taibai Hall. Dressed in white, he glanced at the affectionate couple, while the young Sect Master’s Wife Xuan Qisha watched enviously. Lü Taibai, casting a sidelong look at the lovey-dovey pair, knew that Li Che’s true form had likely returned.

Ever since learning that Li Che was the Divine Monkey, Lü Taibai understood that Li Che possessed a top-level clone technique—so advanced that even Lü Taibai himself couldn’t decipher it.

He trusted his instincts; even using powerful Heavenly Souls couldn’t unveil the truth behind Li Che’s Painted Immortal clone.

Perhaps only by mastering the Dao Essence and reaching the Divine Tribulation realm, opening a Minor Cavern of the Heavens as its master, could one truly distinguish the real from the illusory. Judging by the affectionate couple, it indeed appeared that the real Li Che had returned.

“When did he return?”

Lü Taibai’s curiosity about the Underworld’s arcane arts only deepened.

However, his attention quickly shifted to the center of Grand Plaza where XiXi was the focus today.

Originally, Lü Taibai had intended for XiXi to remain secluded a little longer. But unexpectedly, her progress had been much faster—as if some extra force were propelling her growth.

Lü Taibai was astonished. According to his predictions, XiXi’s growth rate had far exceeded his expectations. Sadly, though, she still couldn’t surpass the Peak of the Master and remained stuck at the zenith, unable to condense her corporeal Golden Pill.

This wasn’t entirely surprising. Although XiXi’s innate martial talent was commendable, her youth naturally influenced her physical development. Divine essence, however, was less affected – even a three-year-old could have a glimmer of Divine Vision with enough innate talent.

Why do these temple spirit reincarnates progress so rapidly?

It’s because they neglect physical cultivation and focus on divine essence, only strengthening the body just enough to bear it. Thus, their breakthroughs are rapid.

Without a robust body to keep pace with the divine essence, most cultivators, except temple spirit reincarnates, risk overwhelming their physical limits.

Li Che cradled his wife Zhang Ya and fixed his gaze on XiXi, seated at the center of Grand Plaza amidst the swirling snow.

Unnoticed, XiXi had blossomed into a little girl. Though her baby belly remained, she had grown taller and more graceful.

In recent days, while Li Che focused on refining his martial prowess in the Private Workshop courtyard and consolidating his dual Golden Pills of the Martial Saint realm, he’d also dedicated his nights to XiXi’s specialized training with the Dream Celestial Dao Fruit.

In the midst of sparring, XiXi would absorb feedback from the Dao Fruit. Thus, she was continuously bathed in its power to better break through into Divine Vision.

Li Che had modified the specialized training with the Dream Celestial Dao Fruit.

Originally, the Dream Celestial Dao Fruit was paired with the Dragon Elephant Vajra to provide specialized training in the King of Fighters Arena. But when paired with the Xiangong Dao Fruit, it offered a specialized training called the Divine Condor Assessment.

Li Che simulated three types of Divine Condor Assessments in his dreams, adopting the Imperial Watch’s examination rules—three tiers: Third Rank, Second Rank, and Divine Condor Elder.

Naturally, having personally experienced all three, arranging the same for his daughter was a fitting choice.

After about five days of Dream Celestial · Divine Condor Assessment training, XiXi began to master aspects of Divine Condor techniques, as feedback from the Xiangong Dao Fruit affirmed. The Divine Condor helped sculpt her Divine Vision.

Of course…

Li Che could also intervene to help guide and shape her Divine Vision. Yet if XiXi could complete it on her own, that was best. Many cultivators, however, would pay dearly to have a Divine Condor Master assist with carving out their Divine Vision when breaking through.

Such cultivators essentially sever their fallback, capping their future at the Divine Vision realm. Only those with lofty ambitions and unwillingness to take shortcuts would choose to craft it by themselves! In fact, while cultivating the Divine Foundation, many even carve an embryonic Divine Vision within it.

All one needed was to sketch the outline and then meticulously carve.

The King of Fighters Arena and Divine Condor Assessment were both extremely beneficial for XiXi – they were Li Che’s means of sharing his Dao Fruit’s power with her. Li Che even let Zhang Ya and Li Qingshan try the King of Fighters Arena, but after their trials they only received feedback from their opponents’ qi, not the Dao Fruit’s energy.

This made a huge difference compared to XiXi…

That fact slightly startled Li Che, though only momentarily.

After all, Li Che’s ability to absorb Dao Fruit energy was intrinsically linked to XiXi’s birth.

It was the bond between father and daughter.

Perhaps it was this link that allowed Li Che to amplify the Dao Fruit’s power via the Dream Celestial Dao Fruit, ensuring XiXi’s breakthrough into Divine Vision and the Master Realm.

Boom, boom, boom— Suddenly.

Everyone’s eyes narrowed as they sensed a surge of scorching heat in the air. “It’s beginning.”

Sect Master’s Wife Xuan Qisha clenched her tiny fist, her finely made-up face a mix of gravity and hope. XiXi, regarded as almost a disciple of hers, naturally wanted to see her pupil grow stronger!

Lü Taibai’s silver hair glinted as countless flashes of sword light danced in his eyes. Ever ready to assist XiXi in her Divine Vision transformation, he understood that if the situation turned dire, he would help.

Yet such intervention wouldn’t be good news for XiXi.

The sound of a heavy heartbeat echoed in everyone’s ears, as if the accumulated snow on Grand Plaza trembled with every pulse. Seated in the center, XiXi suddenly emanated jets of inky flames.

The roaring blaze, black as ink, melted the snow in a flash, clearing a vast patch. It was the Fire of Yulian!

XiXi’s cultivated technique—based on the Eight-Armed Three-Faced Indomitable Lotus Divine Fetus method—only reached the Divine Fetus stage. But for XiXi now, it was enough. This method, belonging to the Three Pure Ones’ echelon, unleashed the “Fire of Yulian.”

In truth, regardless of whether it was Li Che or numerous cultivators from the Divine Sect and Great Jing Court, many had sensed the profound significance of the Yulian methods from various bizarre temples.

Many techniques were labeled with Yulian, and numerous temple spirits were inseparable from it.

For instance, the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince Bizarre Temple of Jin Guang Prefecture, and even some Four-Yu Bizarre Temples, were all linked to Yulian. That same Yulian name adorned the recently drained Six-Eared Yulian Divine Monkey Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple.

So what exactly was Yulian, and how was it connected to these fallen deities? It had long served as a crucial clue for many powerful beings in their quest for truth.

“Yulian…” Li Che murmured, his gaze fixed.

Without further thought, his eyes turned back to Grand Plaza.

XiXi suddenly leapt to her feet and let out a long howl as countless black flames burst around her, swirling and gathering slowly into a single black flame lotus!

The Yulian bloomed magnificently!

Wearing the fur-lined tiger-headed embroidered shoes Zhang Ya had made for her, XiXi stomped down. Invisible shockwaves radiated outward, melting the surrounding snow within ten zhang, boiling it into rising vapor!

Clashing sounds rang out as countless sparks flew rapidly.

Soon, two Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheels, wrapped in black flames, spun wildly upward within the Yulian fire. XiXi’s feet rested on the shining wheels as she flung her clenched fists, her dark hair whipping as she ascended.

Her arms opened wide; her little belly shook rapidly. In the next instant, as if flexing muscle, she forcefully clenched and bent her arms. Her qi surged upward like a Dragon Elephant!

This was the Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant that Li Che had taught her!

No matter how fearsome, even Lü Taibai admired this martial technique, refusing to halt XiXi’s cultivation. Lü Taibai saw unlimited potential for growth in this art!

Surprised, Lü Taibai didn’t alter her training plan but instead taught her swordsmanship and divine essence cultivation. XiXi’s cherubic face flushed as her muscles and tendons clearly throbbed with rushing blood.

“Heh-ha!”

Suspended in midair, XiXi thrust her fist forward. Qi exploded like a Dragon Elephant’s assault. Compared to Li Che’s ancient and monstrous Dragon Elephant Convergence,

XiXi’s Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant resembled the roar of a young dragon and a juvenile elephant – impressive in its own right!

Her heated qi coalesced as she clenched her fist, the sound of divine weapons awakening resonating with each strike.

Hovering above on the golden wheels, the massive black Yulian spun continuously around her, its flames burning and dissolving snowflakes as large as goose feathers.

Raising her hand, she tapped a finger on the Yulian divine mark that had formed on her brow. Instantly, invisible divine perception rippled outward!

In the next moment, as if accompanied by a resounding bellow, an explosive roar shattered the silence.

Everyone’s vision blurred with surreal images,

as if witnessing a mighty river surging forth. Towering waves, ten zhang high, crashed down violently. Amid the pandemonium, an ancient bizarre temple emerged. Inside, a wrathful child with two towering buns and six arms – treading on a black lotus, with blazing eyes and gleaming golden light – appeared!

The furious child held various divine weapon sculptures in each of his eight arms: from Fire-Tipped Spears, Qiankun Rings, Hun Tian Ling, to Yin-Yang Swords – a display so magnificent and awe-inspiring!

It was the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince!

Many were momentarily dazed. Their faces displayed a mix of complex emotions at the sight of this unique Four-Yu Bizarre Temple – the only one yet to be infiltrated by top-tier powerhouses.

Largely because it belonged to Qianyuan Divine Sect yet lay dormant – its divine essence not yet awakened. The Grand Inspector had predicted a wait of over a decade before this temple spirit would awaken, but even during the initial Temple Spirit Resonance, there had been hints of such a revival.

XiXi’s eyes shimmered with golden light, indifferent to the bizarre vision looming behind her.

Countless Yulian flames gathered under her command, transforming into a razor-sharp blade—a blinding surge of radiant energy!

A truly fierce sword edge erupted: the Yulian Yin Divine Sword!

XiXi gripped the Yulian Yin Divine Sword with eyes aflame. She thought, “I must succeed—I must grow stronger!”

Holding the sword and standing on the golden wheels, she caught sight of her proud father Li Che and anxious mother Zhang Ya. “My parents are watching!”

“XiXi, you must succeed, no failures allowed! You’ve got to save face!”

Her divine perception surged, enveloping the Yulian Yin Divine Sword. With fierce resolve, XiXi swung the treasured blade toward the massive divine foundation that hovered behind her like a grinding mill.

The sword struck with a sharp ring! A crisp sound as Yulian flames danced—everyone’s eyes fixed in astonishment.

To their surprise, XiXi’s divine foundation proved incredibly resilient! Truly worthy of the Three Pure Ones’ standard!

Li Che had anticipated this; when he had attempted his own Three Pure Ones’ Divine Vision breakthrough, he had sensed the unyielding nature of his divine foundation. XiXi glared fiercely as the Yulian beneath her swirled even more, her sword relentlessly slashing.

Boom!!!

XiXi grit her teeth, never retreating, her sword swinging repeatedly. After several strikes,

numerous fragments of golden divine foundation began to break away, clattering heavily onto the ground, pitting Grand Plaza with craters!

Li Che’s jet-black hair whipped as he watched XiXi—swinging the Yulian Yin Divine Sword with unwavering determination—with eyes sparkling. Deep within his chest, the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit pulsed subtly.

It was as if a mysterious bond linked him with XiXi, guiding her insight into carving as her sword churned through divine foundation fragments!

In truth, carving a divine vision from the divine foundation was much easier than traditional carving, since the pattern was already embedded within. Yet the breakthrough tested the cultivator’s finesse!

A rough carving would demand extra time to refine later. Crack, crack—

Amid the gathering dark clouds and interlaced bolts above Taibai Hall, streaks of lightning shimmered into view.

Faces grew serious with worry.

Even Fang Han Shu, stroking his magnificent beard and clutching the Sage’s Tome, couldn’t hide his concern. Lü Taibai and Li Che also wore solemn expressions.

At merely six years old…to be struck by lightning—it was truly extraordinary.

In truth, breakthroughs to Divine Vision at six were not unheard of in major sects. Nearly every cycle witnessed such prodigies. In Divine Capital, among long-established families and those nurtured with vast resources, this phenomenon was even more common.

Yet for one so young to invoke a tribulation, to be struck by lightning… was exceedingly rare.

Most prodigies, even if they achieved Divine Vision at six, only condensed forms like the Five Elders’ or the Four-Yu Divine Vision. Breaking through Divine Vision rarely invoked a calamity.

But the Three Pure Ones’ Divine Vision…

was an exception—bringing forth an extra bolt of tribulation as a sort of tribute to that echelon.

…3883 Tinglei Alley.

Deep in a dim alley lit by faint orange streetlights, like a dilapidated lamp in a quiet park corner, striving to push back the darkness, a Restaurant stood.

At the doorway, a hefty black dog, its plump body quivering, suddenly sprang up. Its paws pounded the ground as it looked toward Taibai Peak. Agitated, it jumped around, then eyed a casually seated figure holding a rolled cigarette.

“Alright, I know you’re anxious, but calm down for now,” the Boss said slowly.

He picked up a cigarette, struck a match—igniting the cigarette with a quick flick. His lips trembled as he exhaled two thick puffs of grey smoke.

“Hoo—” “What’s the rush?”

“XiXi has just begun her Divine Vision breakthrough. It won’t attract any major trouble… no need to panic.” The Boss dusted off the cigarette ash between two fingers and replied coolly.

The overly agitated black dog blinked its dark eyes at Taibai Peak but couldn’t settle, pacing in circles. “Besides, why are you so impatient, you mangy mutt? XiXi’s father isn’t even panicking… why are you?”

“Now that she has a father, a man who would go to any lengths to protect his daughter—even unto death,” the Boss murmured softly while holding his cigarette.

Immediately, the dog calmed down, its dark eyes flickering with a trace of wistfulness. “Don’t get too involved… let’s just watch, unless…”

“We really can’t stand by any longer.”

The Boss took a long drag, exhaling smoke like a drifting serpent, making both his face and the dog’s silhouette seem dreamlike. The dog barked irritably, “Woof!”

The Boss ignored the outburst, slowly taking another drag. After all, XiXi’s breakthrough was just beginning…

Just beginning…

a8a

Strange phenomena appeared atop Taibai Peak.

Without Li Che’s Cosmic Chessboard to shield things, many powerful figures in Daocheng sensed it.

Though it wasn’t an overwhelming calamity, it undeniably drew attention. Inside the Imperial Watch’s octagonal Treasure Tower,

Monitor Hong Shifo, engaged in a game of Go, narrowed his eyes.

“Hiss—”

“This little girl…only six years old, and already breaking through to Divine Vision?”

“What was I doing at six? Oh…playing in the mud. No worries. I, too, blossomed late. We’re not even on the same path,” chuckled Monitor Hong Shifo.

Then his gaze brightened.

“What a pity… she can’t join my Imperial Watch. Lü Taibai clearly has high hopes for her, training her so fast to break through to Divine Vision at six…

“And with a Divine Vision of high rank too, yet this tribulation—what is Lü Taibai thinking, letting a six-year-old get struck by lightning? Truly…”

“A little girl getting struck by lightning, huh? Let me calculate the omen.”

Monitor Hong Shifo stretched lazily.

Then, his fingers swept over the Go board; the arranged black and white pieces vanished, only to reappear with a few pieces clacking down.

After a few twists, they piled up together.

Monitor Hong Shifo’s once relaxed expression suddenly changed as he pinched his fingers.

“How can this be? With Lü Taibai protecting her… how can the divination still predict misfortune?” “An extremely ominous sign?”

Ding ding ding—

XiXi continued to swing the Yulian Yin Divine Sword, the sound of shattering divine foundation fragments echoing. Many let out soft exclamations. Six years old…

Breaking through from divine foundation to Divine Vision—could she really do it?

Even her divinely carved foundation was so vivid!

XiXi’s skill in carving the divine foundation astonished everyone present except Li Che. Even Lü Taibai and Sect Master’s Wife Xuan Qisha wore looks of shock.

Lü Taibai knew that despite XiXi being Li Che’s daughter—the Divine Condor Half-Saint—her aptitude for Divine Condor was mediocre. She did, however, show talent with divine talismans.

Yet Lü Taibai began to suspect that his previous assessment might have been hasty. Could it be that XiXi’s carving talent was truly exceptional?

Had he not sensed additional primordial spirit fluctuations, he might have thought Li Che had intervened in carving her divine foundation. But when Lü Taibai looked at Li Che, Li Che modestly shrugged, indicating he hadn’t.

Boom—!!!

When her embryonic form was fully carved, a burst of divine essence erupted. As fragments of the divine foundation fell away, the nascent form came into view.

Eight arms, three faces—each face showing ferocity, fury, and roar…

And on those eight arms, outlines of crude divine weapons were etched.

Rumble—

As soon as the crude form appeared, thunderbolts above shattered fiercely!

Li Che did not use his Cosmic Chessboard to shield XiXi from the heavens.

Boom—!!!

The terrifying explosion echoed as the crude form burst forth, with the wind-fire golden wheels beneath and the Yulian holding it aloft; the three distinct fierce visages of the almost-complete Divine Vision were entwined in countless black Yulian flames.

An overwhelming pressure spread, emanating from the level of the divine realms, as if a dreadful taboo of heaven and earth was reawakened. The massive, oppressive leaden clouds weighed heavily.

A bolt of lightning tore through the snow, aimed squarely at XiXi and the nearly completed Eight-Armed Three-Faced, Indomitable Yulian Divine Vision behind her! XiXi raised her head, and a gold brick materialized in her hand.

“Come on! XiXi Emperor isn’t afraid of you!”

XiXi, wielding the Yulian Yin Divine Sword in one hand and brandishing the gold brick in the other, stood firm on the golden wheels as she charged straight toward the colossal, bucket-thick lightning serpent.

Boom—!!!

XiXi’s eyes shone bright like two dark plums,

filled with fighting spirit and zeal!

She slammed the gold brick from her hand toward that bolt of lightning!

“Ah-oh-oh-oh—!”

Thunder roared as XiXi was struck, her whole body shaking as if undergoing an MRI—her bones almost visible.

Yet once the lightning subsided, XiXi’s head emitted a wisp of blue smoke and she spat out a cloud, casually tossing the gold brick aside.

“This tribulation is nothing,” she declared with a carefree laugh.

XiXi truly smiled radiantly, knowing that her body was now far sturdier than before.

In her dream’s King of Fighters Arena, every victory returned a surge of comforting power, reminiscent of the warmth of the womb. After multiple exposures, she felt herself growing even stronger!

With the tribulation overcome, XiXi resumed her meticulous carving.

She began the final phase of detailed refinement.

Granted, her carving was still a bit rough—after all, she was no Divine Condor Half-Saint like Li Che.

She was merely a six-year-old child who hadn’t even properly learned the art of divine carving.

At that age, very few could carve a divine foundation.

After several rounds of meticulous work, her Divine Vision was finally complete.

Although the lines were somewhat crude and the form not exquisitely refined, the overall shape of the Eight-Armed Three-Faced, Indomitable Yulian Divine Vision was now unmistakable.

It clearly resembled a divine vision.

Whew, whew, whew—

XiXi panted heavily, her qi boiling, standing on the golden wheels in midair. Looking at the Divine Vision she had carved, a dazzling smile spread across her face, with chubby dimples blooming at the corners of her lips.

Rumble—

Winter thunder rolled, lightning flashed, yet no further tribulation came down.

Fierce winds howled across heaven and earth.

The colossal, fearsome Eight-Armed Three-Faced, Furious, Grim, Roaring Divine Vision, entwined by countless black Yulian flames, hovered above XiXi’s head.

“It’s done!”

In front of Taibai Hall,

Lü Taibai exhaled slowly.

Li Che relaxed too, a gentle smile appearing.

The Divine Vision carving was a success.

Next, they would pull this Divine Vision back into the inner realm of the Golden Pill.

Once successfully drawn in, XiXi, at just six years old, would officially break into the Divine Vision realm!

XiXi understood this perfectly.

She gathered her many divine weapons, and with a stirring of her heart, her qi surged like a roaring Dragon Elephant.

She began drawing the Eight-Armed Three-Faced Divine Vision toward the inner realm of the golden pill on her brow!

But then…

Just as XiXi started the pull, she suddenly cried out in surprise.

Because…

The Yulian fire originally dancing at the base of the Divine Vision inexplicably grew vast.

Boom, boom, boom—

The overwhelming, searing heat rolled in waves, instantly burning away all the snow on Grand Plaza, as if molten into a gigantic hand formed by a flaring, outstretched Yulian fire!

This massive hand cradled both XiXi and the Divine Vision she had carved!

In the very next moment…

That gigantic hand suddenly clenched shut!

Like a blooming Yulian, it contracted, engulfing both XiXi and the Divine Vision within it.

And as the black flame lotus of Yulian fire whirled like a black hole around them…

Across Taibai Peak,

everyone finally reacted, their faces shifting in shock, exclamations, and cries of alarm!

Lü Taibai, Fang Han Shu, and Li Che were the first to act.

Because…

In that instant when the Yulian fire converged, a bizarre temple materialized behind XiXi and her Divine Vision.

As the temple’s door swung open, a figure zipped out, suddenly appearing behind XiXi.

It was as if he sensed Li Che’s piercing gaze upon his emergence…

That figure even looked up and flashed a wicked grin at Li Che.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed, sweat prickling as his scalp went numb!

For that figure… was no stranger to Li Che at all!

It was none other than the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince he had seen during the Temple Spirit Resonance…

The one with the soaring braid and wearing a black sleeveless vest.

The one who had once seduced XiXi…

Who had once vowed to return what was stolen from his bones and flesh…

The Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince!