Chapter 321: The Premature Awakening of the Yulian Cavern

Boom boom boom—!!!

Inside the little Yulian Cavern, a deathly silence had fallen. Only the raging fire, as it whipped around, broke the stillness with its hissing. Neither Lü Taibai nor the Third Prince Temple Spirit, who stood with his arms crossed and eyes vacant, uttered a single word. Only XiXi’s steady breathing rose and fell in the quiet.

Lü Taibai looked at the charred Li Che with complex eyes, his life force completely extinguished. Could it be…

Truly dead? Died for the sake of his daughter?

Lü Taibai had seen it all before. His eyes flickered with doubt—in that moment, he couldn’t fully believe Li Che was gone. Moreover, his Divine Nucleus Great God instincts told him Li Che was still alive.

Because he just couldn’t understand.

For in the test set by the Third Prince Temple Spirit, Li Che’s unwavering resolve meant he had actually succeeded. If he had passed the trial, then why would he die?

At that moment, Lü Taibai realized that the appearance of the Yulian Cavern was merely a trace of the Dao infusion already present in XiXi’s body.

It was linked to the [Eight-Armed Three-Faced Yulian Invincible] Divine Essence Technique that XiXi practiced. Once she reached the Divine Vision stage, it triggered this delicate infusion—a nuance even he had not sensed before.

No—Lü Taibai narrowed his eyes. Perhaps this infusion… was hidden within a divine weapon! The Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear?

A Gold Brick?

Or maybe even the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel?

XiXi possessed a Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel obtained from the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince Bizarre Temple, so it might also harbor a trace of the infusion. Perhaps…

Lü Taibai then turned his gaze toward the Third Prince Temple Spirit. Maybe he had long been revived, with that divine intent merging with the divine weapon and taking refuge within XiXi’s body…

Lü Taibai looked at the Third Prince, only to see him—with arms crossed—gazing up at the sky, where the Yulian flames roiled endlessly. A hint of wistfulness flickered in his eyes.

But that wistfulness quickly faded. “Rest assured, that father… will not die.”

“A father who truly loves and protects his daughter can never die,” the Third Prince said calmly, as if sensing Lü Taibai’s gaze.

“At this moment, all that exists is merely a wisp of divine intent from Qi. You could destroy it with a single sword strike, but there’s no need… Qi did not come for rebirth…

but to save this little girl.”

“Before XiXi practiced [Eight-Armed Three-Faced Yulian Invincible], she had trained in another Divine Essence Technique—the [Extremely Tragic Fenghuo Third Prince],” the Third Prince said with his arms folded.

It was uncertain whether his words were meant for Lü Taibai or for the now charred Li Che, whose eyes twitched slightly at the mention.

As XiXi’s master, Lü Taibai had naturally investigated the matter.

But once XiXi switched to the Sanqing Divine Essence Technique, that older method was completely overshadowed.

“The problem isn’t the technique itself, but rather… the source from where it was taught, or rather… its very existence,” the Third Prince laughed.

“The Yulian Cavern appeared too early.”

The Third Prince drifted down onto the White Jade Stairway, seating himself heavily, spreading his arms in a languid pose. Lü Taibai’s eyes narrowed involuntarily.

The amount of information was overwhelming!

What did it mean that the Yulian Cavern had appeared too soon?

With his high ponytail tied back and clad in a black midriff garment, the Third Prince looked mischievous. He still appeared almost childlike, his legs casually bouncing.

He glanced at XiXi with a trace of envy.

“This little girl… after mastering [Eight-Armed Three-Faced Yulian Invincible], must transform into the Yulian form. In fact, the Yulian Cavern only appears when consolidating the divine seed.”

“Yet Qi meant for its divine intent to awaken at that moment… but the Yulian Cavern was triggered prematurely.”

“The little girl had only just refined her Divine Vision, on the verge of channeling it into her inner Mud Pellet, and yet it appeared ahead of time…”

“With her current mortal body, channeling such a divine vision would tear it apart. It can only be sustained if the Yulian Dao Infusion merges with it—otherwise, the infusion’s force will destroy her, shattering her body in an explosion,” declared the Third Prince.

Lü Taibai exhaled. Now he understood…

No wonder XiXi experienced anomalies when channeling her Divine Vision. But who triggered the premature activation of the Yulian Cavern?

And why? What was the purpose?

Recalling the Third Prince’s earlier words, Lü Taibai vaguely sensed something. “When she inherited Qi, her fate was sealed for this moment.”

“Yet once she reached the Divine Seed stage, she could compensate with martial might. So Qi set the trigger for the Yulian Cavern at that moment—but now it came too early…”

“Thus, unless the little girl accepts the Yulian Dao Infusion to blend with her Divine Vision—instead of resorting to bone-carving—there is no alternative. Otherwise… the infusion’s force will obliterate her body in one explosive burst.”

The Third Prince crossed his legs, dressed only in a black midriff garment adorned with a blood-red lotus, tilting his head back and resting his hands behind his head.

He reclined on the White Jade Stairway, watching the endless, roiling Yulian flames above as if they were drifting clouds.

A sense of complete ease washed over him.

“So there truly are parents who would sacrifice everything for their children instead of suppressing them with external forces… It’s eye-opening.”

“I must admit, I’m a little envious,” he confessed.

The Third Prince felt as if his mouth were missing a tooth.

If only he had one to chew on while watching the clouds roll by and envying those fortunate parents.

“The one who triggered the premature activation of the Yulian Dao Infusion in the little girl was… Qi herself,” he continued.

“To completely destroy Qi’s only clear intent.”

“Because… I am… a Yulian!”

Crackle, crackle, crackle—

Charcoal began to flake away, dark fragments scattering softly in the swirling wind stirred by the Yulian flames.

Then large chunks of charcoal slid off Li Che’s face—once hidden by the [Qi Tian Face]—hitting the ground with a resounding crack and shattering like thunder!

Lü Taibai’s eyes snapped toward Li Che’s direction, noticing the flaking charcoal that revealed his normally fair skin.

Once a piece fell, it was like an avalanche; fragment after fragment tumbled down, shattering on impact. Lü Taibai sighed in relief.

Though his instincts told him Li Che was neither dead nor would die.

Yet, seeing Li Che revive from beneath the charcoal filled Lü Taibai with quiet gratitude.

Li Che maintained the pose of cradling the black glazed Yulian in his palm. The Yulian infusion receded, not entering XiXi’s inner Mud Pellet, and its spreading energy no longer harmed his body.

“Eh?”

The Third Prince abruptly shifted from his lazy posture and sat upright, his eyes now glimmering strangely as a smile tugged at his lips.

“Did it really finish so quickly?”

Yet his eyes betrayed a note of confusion. If it had finished, why was he still unconscious?

The Third Prince spread his hands toward Lü Taibai.

“If he doesn’t wake soon, it will no longer be about Qi’s test.”

“Qi must use that rare, clear intent—perhaps the only one capable of clarity—to save this little girl. Setting a test, then, is acceptable, right?”

Lü Taibai finally grasped the meaning behind the Third Prince’s words. His gaze grew complex, his heart stirred.

He recalled his failed journey to Jin Guang Mansion to reclaim the ruined Bizarre Temple atop Golden Light Peak—a Six-Department Bizarre Temple he had failed to recover.

At that time, he had found no reason or logic in it, but now…

It suddenly all made sense.

“Do Temple Spirits possess two kinds of intent?”

The Third Prince glanced at Lü Taibai. Perhaps his reckless self-sacrifice as a master—rushing into the Yulian Cavern for his disciple—reminded him of his own master.

With an affection reminiscent of watching a cute, chubby ant, he said, “There’s the intent born from death and the lingering trace of life.”

Those soft words flowed from the Third Prince.

“The intent born from death is vulnerable to certain manipulations…”

“You may never distinguish between intent born of death and that left from life. For… even they cannot tell them apart.”

“They truly can’t, huh…” The Third Prince’s voice trailed off. Then—Boom—!!! Lü Taibai opened his mouth, eager to ask more,

but his gaze shifted to Li Che, because…

Li Che, sitting cross-legged with closed eyes, appeared utterly as if he were dead. Then, gradually, his eyes opened…

Li Che could feel the [Dream Celestial Dao Fruit] pulsating fiercely in his chest, yet he had no time to dwell on it.

When he was finally turned to charcoal, only serenity resided in his heart.

Seeing his daughter calm under his soothing presence filled him with a bittersweet warmth—it might be the last time he could comfort her as her father.

A montage of scenes flashed before his eyes like a fleeting dream.

He recalled returning to a dilapidated cottage in Feilei City amid a snowy wasteland, carrying a frozen fish and cradling his newborn, rosy daughter. The familial bond struck him like lightning, filling him with inexplicable emotion and responsibility.

Then, watching his daughter grow safely under his protection, Li Che’s heart overflowed with joy, accomplishment, and happiness.

One year, two years, three years… until she reached six.

Before he knew it, the little girl was already six.

A small smile tugged at Li Che’s lips.

Seeing his robust little daughter, Li Che’s heart swelled with pride. “I did a great job raising her!”

She had grown safely, healthy and chubby, brimming with energy.

He had raised such a precious little treasure.

How could any parent not be proud?

As Li Che lost himself in the montage, the scene suddenly shifted.

Before his eyes appeared…

A golden divine temple! Huh?!

Li Che paused—this temple felt oddly familiar!

Memories, both distant and recent, surged within him.

The Bizarre Temple, aglow with countless golden rays, spanned a vast expanse.

He recalled taking XiXi to Jin Guang City to participate in the Qianyuan Divine Sect Branch disciples’ test.

XiXi had been adopted as the true heir by Nan Lihuo, earning her the chance to seek fortune at the Golden Heavenly King Temple atop Golden Light Peak. Back then, destiny overwhelmed her, and Li Che even secretly indulged a little.

“Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Golden Pagoda!”

Li Che squinted, perplexed. Why…

Why would he encounter the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Golden Pagoda?

“At this moment, my state… the Dream Celestial Dao Fruit pulses as if absorbing some mysterious energy. Could I be in a dream?”

“The Third Prince’s test—I managed to hold the Yulian without letting it invade XiXi’s brow, turning it to charcoal. Was it all just a dream?” Li Che’s eyes flickered as if he had grasped something.

The Third Prince had said that the Divine Vision carved by XiXi’s cultivation was too immense for her mortal body to bear.

Thus, the force of the Yulian Dao Infusion could tear her apart, reducing her to a carved husk. Even if her soul were remade by the infusion, it would no longer be his daughter.

Li Che’s heart trembled as he recalled a dream from when he first acquired the [Dream Celestial Dao Fruit]—a vision of a grown-up XiXi, cold and emotionless like a scorching fire lotus.

Li Che exhaled deeply.

His gaze fell upon the massive doors of the Golden Divine Hall.

“Back then, XiXi received both the [Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear] and the Divine Essence Technique [Extremely Tragic Fenghuo Third Prince] in this Golden Divine Hall… I always wondered why a weapon like the [Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear] would appear in the [Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower]…”

Li Che felt he might now understand something. His expression grew somber.

With a determined step, he forcefully pushed open the door of the Golden Heavenly King Tower. Boom—

The door burst open.

Inside, XiXi was bathed in a sphere of golden light.

At that moment, XiXi appeared very young—a tiny figure floating in mid-air with a carefree, joyful smile.

At her age, she seemed free from all worries.

Her adorable, chubby face made one want to pinch it lovingly. Li Che’s eyes softened.

Then his gaze lifted to an enormous Golden Divine Eagle that nearly crowned the Golden Palace.

The statue was magnificent—clad in golden armor like shining metal, sporting a cloud-like helmet and a fierce expression, holding a spear in its left hand while supporting a tower with its right. The tower, with seven tiers, was intricately carved with Buddha images, radiating solemnity and brilliant light as if bestowing universal grace.

Li Che stared at the divine eagle, his eyes finally settling on the seven-tiered pagoda above. This pagoda…

It was the Temple Spirit! The Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Tower!

Emanating with infinite Buddha light, the carved Buddha on the tower seemed to come alive, emerging amidst golden radiance—a multitude of golden Buddhas appearing one after another. Yet Li Che felt none of their warmth.

He slowly closed his eyes as the Cosmic Chessboard seemed to emerge from between his brows.

The Feilei Chess Piece that had clung to XiXi’s body subtly transmitted the outside scene to Li Che.

Even in this dreamlike state, Lü Taibai and the Third Prince’s dialogue rang clearly in his ears. “I see now…” he murmured.

Li Che slowly exhaled. So it turned out…

The true culprit was here.

Why was the Yulian Dao Infusion triggered prematurely… It was here! Li Che’s eyes suddenly snapped open.

This was a plot against the [Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince]! A scheme among Temple Spirits!

The Heavenly King Tower atop Golden Light Peak had existed all along, waiting for the destined one to wield the [Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear]. In the end… everything was for this moment!

To obliterate the Third Prince Temple Spirit’s rare awakened clear intent!

Once XiXi obtained the [Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear], she became a crucial pawn—its acquisition concealing the force that had triggered the infusion.

A force so profound that even Li Che could not notice it.

And when XiXi broke through her Divine Vision, that force was unleashed—pushing her to the brink of life and death, awakening the clear intent of the Third Prince.

Li Che’s fingers clutched tightly, veins bulging on his forehead.

If XiXi accepted the Yulian Dao Infusion, her mortal body would be obliterated, and the Third Prince’s awakened intent would fall back into slumber—perhaps even be replaced by the death of temple spirit intent.

Yet if she did not accept it, and if the Third Prince helped her…

Then the awakened Temple Spirit’s clear intent would harness the Yulian force to channel her Divine Vision.

In the end, that intent would sap the Yulian force until it was completely extinguished. “How ruthless…” he thought.

“You don’t even deserve… to be a father?”

Li Che suddenly understood the depth of the Third Prince’s obsession.

The Third Prince Temple Spirit had known of Li Che’s love for XiXi during the Temple Spirit Resonance test. Thus, his test had already been predetermined. He… merely wanted to witness a kind of fatherly love he would never receive.

Li Che wasn’t sure if this Third Prince was the same as the mythic figure from legends of a past life, but whatever the case, his experiences…

Filled him with unexpected sorrow and sympathy for the child.

And the Third Prince had already made his choice—not the option where XiXi’s body was shattered by the Yulian infusion (leaving her soul imprinted with Yulian), but the second.

He chose… to sacrifice himself.

Li Che pressed his lips together.

He remembered that outburst of “Get lost”…

And a guilt welled within him—almost as if thinking, “I truly deserve this.” “No…”

Li Che quickly dismissed the thought. Ignorance is no crime.

The real culprit… was this Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower and that Golden Heavenly King. Li Che suddenly understood.

Why had he appeared in the dream created by the Third Prince Temple Spirit? And how could the Third Prince craft such a dream?

Was this truly a dream? No… it no longer mattered.

Lü Taibai frowned.

Taking a step, he instantly appeared beside XiXi.

He extended his fingers, clenching the golden light sphere forcefully… Bang—!!!

The golden light sphere exploded in an instant beneath his grip!

And the Golden Heavenly King Statue, which supported the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Tower, slowly opened its eyes.

All the Buddha statues on the pagoda, bathed in radiant light, seemed to cast their gazes upon Li Che.

Jin Guang Mansion.

Snow fell thickly, and an overwhelming chill, like swirling mists over the mountains, blanketed the landscape—a vast, minimalist painting. Golden Light Peak, Golden Divine Hall.

Nan Lihuo sat cross-legged inside the Divine Hall on his lotus mat, eyes closed, his white hair flowing.

Then—Boom—Nan Lihuo’s face twitched and he suddenly opened his eyes, astonishment clear as he looked at the quietly placed [Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower] on the altar.

This Golden Divine Hall, evolved from the Bizarre Temple, had transformed—the Bizarre Temple condensed into a Divine Sanctuary. Normally, the Divine Sanctuary remained closed, only to be opened by Nan Lihuo.

Though it was a ruined Bizarre Temple, it was one truly controlled by the Qianyuan Divine Sect Branch. And today…

Nan Lihuo felt an icy chill—as if a majestic, overwhelming divine might emanated from that pagoda like a surging tide.

It pushed Nan Lihuo, a master of the Divine Nucleus, right against the temple entrance. What on earth was happening?

Boom boom boom—

The overwhelming divine might from Golden Light Peak spread outward in rippling concentric circles, engulfing every direction of Jin Guang Mansion. Even the Jiulong River, which never froze thickly in winter, suddenly burst forth and roared!

Waves crashed mightily, as though a furious deity were unleashing wrath! Inside the Divine Hall,

Nan Lihuo felt as if his Divine Essence Golden Pill were completely restrained, unable to be activated—the pressure was terrifying!

Unable to resist the undeniable force of his rank, then…

He saw atop the Heavenly King Tower a cascade of brilliant Buddha light erupting.

The Buddha statues on the pagoda, as if coming alive, chanted mantras that nearly made Nan Lihuo’s mind explode. And the entrance to the Divine Sanctuary—previously dormant—appeared directly, floating forth!

The entrance expanded still further until it seemed to envelop the entire Golden Light Peak. Nan Lihuo stood in a daze.

“This… this is…”

“A rebellion of the Bizarre Temple?!”

……

“So it isn’t over yet…” inside the Yulian Cavern.

The Yulian flames roiled in mid-air like a twisting serpent, their heat contorting the void.

The Third Prince glanced at Li Che’s image, his eyes softening as he realized that Li Che must understand his circumstances. He was…

Giving him feedback!

The Third Prince smiled gently, though he avoided meeting Li Che’s gaze, as if unwilling to watch the fate-like chessboard unfold. He did not want to see.

He stretched lazily.

He patted imaginary dust from his body, as he had so often done in days when no one cared.

Those were days when he would stroll with a blade of grass in his mouth across the lawn—even as a butterfly trailed him that he could never shoo away—yet his carefree mood remained undisturbed.

When he felt overheated, he would seek out water to play and cool off.

He loved grabbing a blade of grass and leaping into a river to ease the burning within him.

But later, while playing in the water, a dragon appeared and, with a somber gaze, offered him a grand chance—to devour his True Dragon Bone. Helplessly, he ended up slaying that dragon and even sprinkled a little salt on it.

“So delicious.” And soon after… chaos ensued.

Those were memories of death assailing him—memories he wished to forget. He smirked, pretending he still chewed on that blade of grass.

Gradually, he approached XiXi.

The black glazed Yulian still hovered above Li Che’s palm. He acted as if he were casually munching on grass.

Arrogant, much like Yellow-Haired.

Glancing at XiXi, he chuckled, “Little girl… you have a good dad. Just remember to give that no-good old man a good thrashing sometime.”

The Third Prince narrowed his eyes and reached out, gently pressing the black glazed Yulian downward.

“Awakened intent is not meant to linger.” “Monkey True Lord… sigh.”

“Now, let this little girl meet you.” “I’m done, I’m tired…”

“I’m free.”

Boom!

The Yulian trembled violently, as if countless flames burst forth.

But its force was entirely absorbed by the Third Prince’s awakened clear intent. Then the Third Prince Temple Spirit disintegrated like a paper figure…

Like cigarette paper lit by the Boss.

It burned slowly amid golden sparks.

Once the Yulian was completely pressed into XiXi’s brow…

The Third Prince Temple Spirit also drew the [Eight-Armed Three-Faced Yulian Invincible Divine Vision] carved into XiXi’s brow. After that…

The Third Prince Temple Spirit utterly transformed into sparks of fire.

Between heaven and earth, countless ashes and sparks, swept by the wind, coalesced into a swaying black lotus, alongside segments of black lotus roots shaped like human figures. The ashes vanished completely in the breeze.

Lü Taibai watched from afar, motionless. After a long while,

he sighed deeply and clasped his fists in a respectful salute.

After Li Che shattered the golden light sphere,

the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower seemed to revive, and the Golden Heavenly King glared in fury.

Boom—!!!

In the Golden Palace, endless streams of golden divine might cascaded down.

The golden light grew denser, filled with countless Buddha chants. “West Region Buddhist Land? Evil Buddha?”

Li Che felt the pervasive light—cold and unnerving, sending shivers down his spine—yet he closed his eyes briefly.

The Golden Heavenly King glared, his towering form almost touching the palace ceiling, and then took a fierce step forward! Boom—!!!

Terrifying divine might rained down like a waterfall, exploding with force. “Scoundrel…”

And suddenly, Li Che—who had kept his eyes closed—abruptly opened them. Boom—

His flesh surged outward like coiled dragons; muscles bulged, his triangular back trembling, tendons snapping, as his entire body swelled! His jet-black hair cascaded down to his waist.

Golden, smoky eyes glared coldly at the towering Golden Heavenly King.

His back convulsed as five Divine Seed Qi Men Zhi Mountains transformed into a swirling blood vortex that exploded like five turbines propelling upward!

They lifted Li Che as if he were a demon, with a furious roar that shattered the skies!

The clamor resounded: “I!” “Scoundrel!” “You!” “Ma!!!!”

They carried Li Che upward like demons, with a wrathful roar that shattered the skies like thunder!

The resounding clamor echoed: “I!” “Scoundrel!” “You!” “Ma!!!!”