Chapter 324: Snowfall of Divine Confrontations

Snow fell heavily, sealing the whole world in ice.

The realm lay as quiet as glazed crystal under a purely clear night.

The restaurant’s dim yellow lights shone on the white snow, causing it to gleam with an orange luster—as if dusted with breadcrumbs and deep-fried.

The Boss held a steadily burning cigarette, its smoke rising upright like sandalwood incense; a slight tremor made the soft ash fall off abruptly.

It burst into fragments, dissolving into a hazy disarray.

Clearly, at that moment the Boss’s inner turmoil was far from calm. On Li Che, he sensed a familiar aura.

A complicated expression crossed his face.

Big Black Dog, normally excited and twitching its tail incessantly, suddenly stopped as if utterly drained—its once lively tail now hang limp.

Its deep ebony eyes fixed on Li Che for a long time while its nose twitched repeatedly, feverishly sniffing that unmistakable scent—the scent reminiscent of a woman emerging from darkness.

She had been like a black lotus in endless darkness, blooming fiercely with flames that cut off any approach. Alas, it wasn’t her.

Big Black Dog let out a human-like sigh. Bored, it slumped back onto the pavement outside the restaurant, lit by the warm glow of a late-night street lamp. Li Che, cloaked in an ink-black robe with his jet hair wildly dancing in the wind, strode forward.

He emerged step by step from the dark depths of Tinglei Alley into the light.

He had just activated his nascent divine power, 【Dream Butterfly】. Under its trigger, he caught a fleeting image of XiXi from either another time or the future—let’s call her Big XiXi, the grown-up XiXi.

Even through a shifting dreamlike haze, Li Che could clearly feel the blood bond that linked him with XiXi.

Li Che was sure that the adult, icy, ruthlessly battle-hardened XiXi—who had massacred an entire ancient temple’s Buddhist sect as if wiping out all life—was unquestionably his daughter.

Even if in the future, she remained Li Che’s daughter; the blood connection could not be falsified. Pity filled his heart.

He did not know what hardships XiXi had suffered.

But there was no need to know—the very fact that XiXi had become that way was tied to him. He had failed as a father, neglecting his duty. Instead of letting her grow up carefree, he had exposed her to countless grievances.

Otherwise…

How else could she have uttered, “If you beg me, who will I beg?”

That voice—laden with confusion, grievance, sorrow, despair, and loss—made Li Che’s heart tremble, as if clenched by an invisible force.

“Are you here?”

The Boss, seated with indifferent eyes that held a trace of melancholy, murmured softly.

He stubbed out the burning cigarette and exhaled a cloud of pure white vapor into the icy night.

Then he retrieved some rolling paper and a withered sachet. Using bamboo tweezers, he picked a pinch of tobacco, wrapped it within the paper, and slowly rolled a slender cigarette. Rather than smoke it himself, he patted the back of his hand and offered it to Li Che, who had just emerged from the snowy gloom.

In Li Che’s eyes, the Boss saw remnants of past echoes—a graceful, almost ghostly figure on top of an ancient temple whose presence had once unleashed a spectacle of carnage.

“Want one?”

The Boss asked casually.

Li Che accepted the cigarette with a simple gesture; no words were needed. He then sat on a chair outside the restaurant.

After lighting it, the two men—one dark, one light—sat in silence, smoking. The crackle of the flame on the paper was the only sound, echoing like distant thunder in the profound quiet.

“This cigarette… she taught me how to make it,” the Boss confided while watching the snowflakes fall.

The Boss then observed the drifting, crystalline snow that transformed the world into a glassy panorama and said. Li Che tilted his head, asking, “Her?”

“An old friend,” the Boss replied flatly.

Yet Li Che’s instincts told him that this old friend might very well be Big XiXi—the very image he had seen in the Boss’s dream.

But Li Che chose not to probe further.

Li Che rose, his ink-black robe embroidered with golden lotus blossoms fluttering in the windy snowfall. “Boss, may I borrow Dog Master?”

He crushed the last stub of his cigarette, exhaling two smooth trails of smoke like falling incense. The Boss raised an eyebrow, a peculiar look briefly crossing his refined face.

Surprisingly, tonight Li Che hadn’t come to eat; the Boss even intended for him to prepare a meal for XiXi. After all, XiXi had just broken through her divine vision and endured tremendous shock…

Although XiXi had slept through the ordeal, she must have been startled—a small treat to calm her nerves was only natural, right?

Outside the restaurant, the sleek, ebony fur of Big Black Dog glistened under the yellow glow of a streetlamp, yet the dog appeared dejected. “XiXi broke through her divine vision today and got caught in a scheme…”

“Though not targeted directly, she got swept up in it,” another voice added. “So…”

“Lend me your help, Dog Master, to deal with whoever set XiXi up,” Li Che stated.

Inside the Mountain Gate of Qianyuan Divine Sect, the majestic Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower had stirred moments earlier—as if the heavenly king himself had erupted in anger—revealing seven Buddhist figures.

They even dared to show defiance?

Using his daughter as a pawn in the ploy to ensnare the Temple Spirit of the Third Prince—their calculation reduced her life to a mere tool—ignited in Li Che an unquenchable murderous intent and fierce rage.

His hatred for the Buddhist faction surged, fueling his revulsion. “To set XiXi up…”

The Boss’s refined face narrowed in a rare, knowing frown—as if he understood everything.

He took a drag on his cigarette and then glanced at Big Black Dog, who now perked up as if re-energized.

“What do you say?”

Big Black Dog barked, “Woof!” Li Che then looked up at the Boss.

In truth, Li Che was puzzled why this perceptive dog wouldn’t speak human words. With power that rivaled even legendary demon kings…

Many demon lords, mutated by the corrupting influence of temple spirits, not only possessed intelligence and could speak but also take human form. So why wouldn’t Big Black Dog?

Perhaps it could, but simply chose not to answer his probing gaze.

The Boss flicked the ash away and spat out a curse, “Damn it.”

Taibai Peak—slowly, the world fell into silence.

XiXi had broken through her divine vision, but solidifying her new realm was still a monumental task.

Lü Taibai, uncharacteristically stern with XiXi, wanted her to grasp the feedback from her divine vision—to let her flesh transform and strengthen. It was an opportunity too rare to squander.

Having endured trials inside the Yulian Cavern, even Lü Taibai felt a slight weight on his heart.

For if, as the Third Prince predicted, XiXi’s body were not strong enough, when she advanced to form the Divine Essence Golden Pill or even her divine seed, the power of the Yulian Dao Infusion could shatter her flesh as if carving through meat and bone.

Worse still, the Yulian Dao Infusion would leave an indelible mark on her soul—a prospect that deeply troubled Lü Taibai.

“Yulian…”

Lü Taibai exhaled slowly.

Unlike Li Che, a man of his rapid ascent, Lü Taibai had encountered far more in his journey; many mysteries of cultivation still escaped him.

Yet, like Li Che, Lü Taibai’s knowledge of Yulian was limited. Countless bizarre temples were tied to ‘Yulian’, but its secret remained elusive.

Scholars and adversaries alike had long plundered bizarre temples, yet the mystery of Yulian continued to defy explanation. Even the Grand Inspector at the Imperial Watch in Divine Capital had uncovered only fragments of its secret.

Lü Taibai’s eyes glimmered with determination—for his true disciple and for the young sect master of Qianyuan Divine Sect.

This journey to Divine Capital for the Paotao Competition might provide him an opportunity to consult the Grand Inspector about Yulian’s mysteries, perhaps even to shatter the curse-like force within XiXi.

Indeed, in Lü Taibai’s eyes…

Yulian Dao Infusion was nothing short of a curse.

Once triggered, that curse would wreak havoc on XiXi.

“And also… that Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple. Capturing its ‘Yulian’ might be the key to saving XiXi,” Lü Taibai meditated beneath the Ancestral Patriarch’s statue, his silver hair flying about.

In the distance, XiXi sat cross-legged on a cushion, her eyes closed, her body writhing subtly.

Lü Taibai spoke gravely, “Calm your mind, feel the feedback of your divine vision, the transformation in your flesh from the surge of divine power. Embrace that feeling; let it infuse every part of your being.”

Lü Taibai grew increasingly determined to bolster XiXi’s body.

XiXi sat on her cushion, sweat streaming down, as if seared by dark flames, yet she gritted her teeth and persevered.

She had to grow stronger.

Only then could she protect her parents and earn paotao for her mother. Lü Taibai watched XiXi’s determined struggle with deep pride.

What a remarkable child.

Among all his disciples, she was the most outstanding—a true source of pride. Lü Taibai then fell into deep contemplation once more.

“And that Golden Divine Hall, that Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower… linked with the Buddhists—it originally did not concern me. I even thought it had been completely vanquished. But now, it appears to still possess youthfulness.”

“Could it be that this Heavenly King Tower… is part of a scheme by the Western Buddhist lands?” Lü Taibai furrowed his brow.

He indeed felt a growing sense of worry.

Even the Ancestral Patriarch’s Dao Infusion had been stirred into action. Could it really be connected to the Western Buddhist realm? The thought of the Heavenly King Tower being used against the Third Prince’s Temple Spirit made Lü Taibai all the more apprehensive.

The ice-cold, crystalline world; a night so deep that no stars could be seen—Daocheng.

The entire city was thickly blanketed by snow, as if the clash of top-tier cultivators had melted the heavy clouds, reversing the natural order. Snowflakes grew more abundant, rendering the city a vast, white wasteland.

Long Street lay silent and desolate.

All passersby had vanished, retreating indoors to light stoves, warm themselves, sip spirits, and discuss the recent tumult in Daocheng. Yet in this pristine world of white snow, a lone figure in a black robe with a bamboo hat ambled slowly.

It was Li Che, emerging from the depths of Tinglei Alley.

From his lapel, Big Black Dog had transformed into a playful puppy, its tiny head peeking out with glossy, dark eyes that spun around inquisitively.

Li Che reached out and patted the puppy’s head, prompting it to show a look of mild displeasure.

“How dare you!”

“Get your filthy paws off me!”

Yet Li Che, enjoying the sensation, couldn’t help but pat it a few extra times.

This was a privilege meant for XiXi, yet Li Che also enjoyed the moment. The gloomy mood caused by the Dream Butterfly vision brightened considerably.

Perhaps every transformation of a Dao Fruit would trigger another Dream Butterfly.

Like a butterfly traversing through time, it alighted beside Big XiXi, reflecting that image into Li Che’s dreamscape. So if Li Che wished to see Big XiXi again, he would just have to await the next 【Dream Celestial Dao Fruit】 transformation.

At present, the Dream Celestial Dao Fruit was at level 3—in other words, only upon reaching level 4 could the next Dream Butterfly effect be triggered.

Li Che was both eager and curious: what new vision of Big XiXi would the next Dream Butterfly reveal? A witch, perhaps.

The Buddhist monks in the ancient temple, referring to XiXi as a witch with a mix of fury and fear—clearly, her previous rampages were no first.

After traversing Daocheng, Li Che arrived before the Mountain Gate of Qianyuan Divine Sect. The Cosmic Dao Inscription Plaque hung over the gateway.

Wearing his bamboo hat, Li Che looked upward and took in the plaque’s sight…

That plaque had earlier seemed to be held in check by the power of the Ancestral Patriarch’s Dao Infusion, suppressing the rampaging Heavenly King Tower of Jin Guang Mansion. “That Heavenly King Tower at Jin Guang Mansion seems to have been shattered by me… and with Summon the Divine, utterly obliterated.”

Li Che’s eyes sparkled.

The Heavenly King Tower, summoned by Summon the Divine, was completely devoured by the Fa Tian Xiang Di manifestation of the Luminous True Primate—it bit through it with crisp clarity. However, because that temple spirit was only at a sixth-level state, Li Che’s current strength allowed him to suppress it with ease. The feedback from Summon the Divine was tremendous, further enriching the divine power of the Luminous True Primate at the Breath Retention Transformation stage!

But Li Che was not satisfied.

He had always treated the temple spirits in bizarre temples with a measure of caution—in the past, when collecting full Seven Emotions Divine Essence, he frequently used Summon the Divine.

Afterwards, he rarely resorted to it.

It wasn’t only the ominous blue finger in the Bizarre Temple that kept him in check, but also the risk that frequent use of Summon the Divine might draw the attention of top cultivators, making him a pariah.

For every invocation of Summon the Divine, the temple spirits of bizarre temples were drawn away, disappearing completely. Once a bizarre temple collapsed, its divine essence would vanish from the mortal realm.

And the method of divine cultivation in this world was intricately linked to the reemergence of bizarre temples. Li Che’s actions were practically sabotaging the path of divine cultivation.

Naturally, he would not be accepted by the people.

Although martial arts existed, the world had come to agree that divine cultivation and martial arts should complement each other. Mainly because…

Divine cultivation extended life—it allowed cultivators a lifespan far longer than martial arts! A Divine Practitioner at Breath Retention Transformation could even outlive a Qi Hai Martial Saint! Hence, the path of divine cultivation was embraced by all.

The puppy in Li Che’s arms poked its head out as if sensing the immense power and will held within the plaque, then disdainfully spat through its little mouth. Li Che noted no sign of disturbance from the Ancestral Patriarch’s power within the plaque.

So he took the puppy into the mountain, entering the Mountain Gate of Qianyuan Divine Sect, following the snow-covered path along the sect’s mountain road.

Every tree and plant was blanketed in thick snow, with some branches even encased in a layer of dazzling ice—a scene of unique beauty. “Elder Li!”

Inside the Mountain Gate of the Divine Sect, many disciples braved the blizzard while traversing the bizarre temples. They greeted Li Che respectfully.

Not only was Li Che the young sect master and XiXi’s father, but he was also an Elder of Shendiao Ridge—a Divine Condor Half-Saint. Many later disciples would cultivate their own Divine Condor under his guidance.

Li Che nodded kindly.

After a while, the aura around him seemed to vanish completely as he merged with the surroundings. Sleeping Dragon Elephant!

His presence was entirely concealed!

Unless Lü Taibai personally used his mighty divine soul, Li Che moved within the Mountain Gate of the Divine Sect without detection. Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower.

A golden divine hall nestled among the peaks.

Seen from a distance, it shone with resplendent light—perhaps subdued by the power of the Ancestral Patriarch’s Dao Infusion on the Cosmic Dao Inscription Plaque. Its glow had grown dim.

Li Che stood hundreds of feet away, gazing at the Golden Heavenly King Tower, feeling as insignificant as an ant.

The majesty of this Heavenly King Tower far surpassed that of the one at Jin Guang Mansion—but it made sense, for this tower belonged to the bizarre temple ruled by the Five Elders.

Li Che opted for caution. Compared to the Two-Hearted Great Sage—similar to the Temple Protection Corpse King in the Two-Hearted Great Sage’s Bizarre Temple—this possessed apex-level might.

Thus, Li Che called on Dog Master for reinforcement.

He planned a swift, decisive battle, minimizing any disturbance and subduing the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower to complete Summon the Divine!

Li Che estimated that once the Heavenly King Tower was subdued and the Fa Tian Xiang Di of the Luminous True Primate was fed, he would soon transform into a divine seed!

A wild wind howled in front of the bizarre temple as radiant golden light and flickering Buddhist glow played about. Li Che adjusted his bamboo hat and silently walked through the snowy paths.

No one was guarding the area in front of the bizarre temple.

Within the Divine Sect, bizarre temples inside the Mountain Gate were essentially left untended; the Cosmic Dao Inscription Plaque suppressed them.

Any disturbance within a bizarre temple would trigger the Dao Infusion from the plaque, rushing over to subdue it! Li Che patted the puppy in his arms.

“Let’s finish this quickly.”

The puppy nudged its nose as if urging, ‘Dog Master, hurry up!’

Li Che smiled.

With a decisive step, he strode toward the Golden Heavenly King Tower. The entrance of the Golden Divine Hall remained open.

Inside, he saw several disciples seated cross-legged, intently observing the temple spirits as they attempted to forge their divine vision. Yet Li Che’s arrival passed without notice.

After all, Li Che’s Sleeping Dragon Elephant technique was beyond their comprehension.

He fixed his gaze on the Divine Eagle Sculpture placed atop the altar of the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Raising his hand to his brow, he activated his divine power—Star Plucking Gaze!

At that moment, flesh split apart on each side.

Radiant golden light streamed out from his eyes, dazzlingly illuminating the Golden Heavenly King Tower. A low humming filled the air.

The divine aura throughout the bizarre temple rippled imperceptibly. In the next instant, Li Che witnessed a brilliant formation—a Divine Sanctuary node.

“Divine Sanctuary?”

“It’s just a facade—a feigned submission, merely a ruse,” Li Che said coldly.

When the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower had rebelled and was subdued by the Ancestral Patriarch’s Dao Infusion, it meant that the bizarre temple had not been fully conquered. Nonsense—it was nothing more than a trick.

Those temple spirits…

They were indeed cunning, each possessing its own will! By retracting the guise into a divine sanctuary, they fooled even Qianyuan Divine Sect.

“Could it be that this bizarre temple harbors further schemes?” Li Che frowned.

He was truly frightened by the depth of the conspiracy.

Although the target was the Third Prince, ever since XiXi secured the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear, she had been ensnared in the scheme. This greatly angered Li Che.

Now, with XiXi as the young sect master of Qianyuan Divine Sect, Li Che cherished the sect—not solely for its atmosphere, but because it had nurtured his entire family.

“No matter what schemes this bizarre temple has…” “Today… I summon you!”

Boom—!

Li Che’s body trembled as sizzling arcs of electricity danced around him, transforming into Divine Thunder Armor as he surged into the Divine Sanctuary. The puppy peering from his arms squinted.

Was this bizarre temple plotting against Dog Master’s XiXi?!

Muttering under his breath, Li Che recounted XiXi’s ordeal to Dog Master—a tale that made the dog shudder in anger. XiXi was still so young and so endearing…

Those hideous Buddhist temple spirits had already begun their scheming! Tolerance has its limits!

Boom—!!!

Brilliant golden light and a diffused Buddhist radiance filled the Divine Sanctuary. No!

It would be more accurate to say the mysterious facade was filled.

The moment Li Che, transformed into Yama, crashed down like a bolt of lightning, his eyes turned steely cold; he unleashed his full fury without a moment’s hesitation! Yet, just to be safe…

Li Che spread his fingers, and from a split of black and white, the Underworld Yama Mask fell into his hand and was pressed firmly to his face. Black and white—dividing day from night!

Dragon Elephant Vajra! Yama Ascension! Dragon Elephant Vajra! Divine Xiao Thunder Armor! Boom—!!!

Divine Seed Enigma—Explosion!!!

The moment Li Che stepped into the Divine Sanctuary, he instantly activated his strongest state!

Behind him, one Divine Seed Enigma after another exploded, transforming into whirlpools of vital energy—a torrent as powerful as five blood-red suns rising, their dazzling energy almost flooding the world!

The surge of blood energy swelled like an avalanche reaching thousands of feet—a relentless, towering snowstorm on a peak!

Even the void seemed to ripple with countless folds.

Li Che’s eyes shone like gold as a faint mist of golden smoke seeped from his pupils. Thinking of his daughter imperiled by the Yulian Dao Infusion…

Li Che’s heart boiled with ruthless rage as he recalled the vision from the Dream Butterfly—a dream in which Big XiXi stood atop an ancient temple in despair, whispering, “If you beg me, who will I beg?”

That vision ignited an uncontrollable fury within him!

He planted his toe—Bam—!!!

A terrifying force exploded from his foot, cracks like spiderwebs erupting all around, shattering the ground of the Divine Sanctuary within a hundred feet.

As Li Che, in his Yama form, dashed toward the Golden Divine Hall at the end of the Divine Sanctuary, thick mysterious mist suddenly erupted!

But the swirling mist was torn apart as Li Che barreled through it—as if he had turned into an incredibly sharp divine blade, splitting the heavens and forcefully smashing into the hall!

The entire divine hall trembled violently.

Then the hall’s doors burst open, and Li Che landed in the center of the Golden Divine Hall—a hall far larger than that of Jin Guang Mansion.

Beside the Golden Heavenly King stood a majestic golden tower, resplendent with flowing gold, dominating the center of the hall—taller, grander, and even more terrifying.

Surrounding the Golden Heavenly King were divine generals cast in gold, roaring as they charged forth.

These divine generals exuded an overwhelming aura of power, far surpassing that of the solitary Golden Heavenly King in Jin Guang Mansion. The Golden Divine Hall of Qianyuan Divine Sect was of a higher echelon and far more perilous!

Each divine general, their golden bodies adorned with rapidly spinning curse marks of temple protection, unleashed power comparable to that of a Qi Hai Martial Saint!

Incredibly strong—extraordinarily strong!

Perhaps provoked by Li Che’s raging aura, the Golden Heavenly King suddenly opened its eyes and unleashed a burst of dazzling golden Buddhist radiance that fragmented into a barrage of arrow-like projectiles, hurtling toward Li Che.

“Who are you, brat!”

“How dare you be so insolent—!!!”

Li Che, in his Yama form and clad in Divine Thunder Armor with a cloak of vital energy billowing behind him, sensed the Golden Heavenly King hurl the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower. Seven relics floated in the air as their Buddhist radiance materialized into reality.

It was as if seven true Buddhas had stepped forth. Though once subdued by the Ancestral Patriarch, they still emanated an awe-inspiring power!

Li Che’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Yet beneath the Yama Mask, his expression remained inscrutable. “Dog Master.”

The command fell heavily.

From within his cloak, his adorable dog—its delicate little paw peeking out—received a firm pat.

Boom—!!!

In that fleeting moment, Li Che seemed to witness the very vision he had once seen in his dreams.

The earth cracked open, torrents of molten magma roiled, and fiery explosions erupted—as if blood itself were surging through veins at breakneck speed!

Then the land, riddled with rivers of lava, surged upward into the sky in a terrifying, scorching blast reminiscent of an apocalyptic end, ushering in boundless ruin!

A massive, ominous creature, previously prostrate, slowly arose and extended one enormous claw.

It struck down forcefully.

The entire divine hall twisted and shattered, as if ruptured by an overwhelming force. Thick, rolling smoke billowed incessantly.

The Golden Heavenly King and the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower melted into pools of golden liquid, and the seven relics shattered into countless fragments—an image of devastation wrought by terrifying power.

Amid the chaos,

Li Che activated his Tower Ascension state, and his waist-length black hair burst into a wild dance.

Step by step, he walked over the ruins of the temple and the remnants of temple spirits, his mind fixated on a single thought…

Heh, we’re truly strong. Ho ho ho—

A thick, oppressive mist began to surge from the depths of the mysterious facade—as if the collapse of the Golden Divine Hall had torn apart some hidden barrier. Perhaps it was precisely this barrier that had birthed the so-called Divine Sanctuary.

In truth, there was never any real Divine Sanctuary—it was all just a façade. Li Che stood amid the ruins.

Beneath his mask, his eyes shone with complexity and awe as he glanced at the shrunken, subdued form of ‘Dog Invincible’ in his arms. Indeed…

He just wasn’t strong enough yet.

But once Li Che grew powerful enough… his daughter would never need to beg anyone!