Chapter 337: A Clash of Divine Fates

Crack, crack—!

Above the Heavenly Dome, leaden clouds piled up thickly!

Snowflakes tumbled out of the clouds, whipped by turbulent winds. They flipped and rolled relentlessly until streaks of furious, interwoven lightning struck them. Along with an intangible wisp of blue smoke, they melted into droplets.

Countless tempestuous bolts roiled through the dome, their presence so overwhelming that it felt as if even one’s limbs had stiffened.

This was no ordinary winter thunder—it was a calamitous trial!

The once-placid night sky now seemed transformed, as if a great misfortune were descending with the shifting celestial patterns!

Yet the trial for Divine Nucleus Cultivators was somewhat different from that of Martial Saints.

While both defied Heaven, the Martial Saint fused with the will of Heaven and Earth, triggering a sublime communion that honed their six senses to astonishing acuity.

Divine Nucleus Cultivators, however, underwent a more radical transformation. They merged their primordial spirit with the will of Heaven and Earth, forming a Heavenly Soul that could detach from the body like yin and yang, summoning wind and rain to shape reality.

Thus, the trial for Divine Nucleus Cultivators targeted the soul, unlike the body-centric trial of the Martial Saints.

Of course, the differences were slight – in the end, neither could overcome the trial; both paths meant severe injury and a doomed journey.

The wind and waves howled with increasing ferocity, sweeping across Heaven and Earth as if intent on snuffing out every soul.

Compared to the Martial Saint’s trial by thunder, this Divine Nucleus trial featured an added gust of wind.

That very wind was the Extinguishing Wind – one of the three calamities.

Of course, this was not the true Extinguishing Wind that Divine Trial Cultivators faced; it merely carried its attributes. Should the genuine Extinguishing Wind sweep forth…

Li Che could have perished on the spot, letting the heavens witness his demise.

Even Divine Trial Cultivators would avoid such a catastrophe.

Boom—rumble, boom—!

Heaven and Earth roared.

But in that moment, Li Che paid no mind to the trial.

Now, his mortal form in martial prowess had reached the Qi Sea Realm—unyielding and indomitable. This Divine Nucleus trial posed virtually no threat to him. Moreover, Li Che had taken precautions to conceal his martial cultivation during the trial.

Thus, he remained indifferent.

His mind was elsewhere…

He was furious because…

Lu Chi—this blockhead—dared propose a marriage!

How dare he?!

“This marriage proposal…”

“I refuse!”

A cold, emotionless voice rang out, carrying a chill that made everyone’s skin crawl.

Li Che’s eyes flashed with a brilliance that seemed capable of tearing apart the very sky!

The mud pellet on his brow trembled slightly, its divine aura cascading like a burst dam of starlight.

Accompanied by the shedding of the Fa Tian Xiang Di Luminous True Primate shell!

The true primate roared skyward, its silhouette spanning across Heaven and Earth, lighting up the nocturnal gloom.

A suspended golden pill shone radiantly—a perfect, translucent orb with countless divine essences swirling within, forming a heart nearly the size of an infant’s fist.

Thump, thump, thump!

That heart pounded vigorously, sending ripples through the void that silenced even the roaring winds.

Within the Divine Essence Golden Pill lay the seed of the Divine Nucleus—a single divine transformation that birthed five vital organs, each representing a miniature realm.

At this moment, Li Che had just stepped into the Divine Nucleus transformation by crystallizing his primordial heart!

At the dock, every eye was fixed on the magnificent, godlike figure seated at the prow of the Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship.

He seemed as if he were a true deity.

“What a refined Divine Nucleus!”

“Such overwhelming divine aura—what level is this? The sense of rank is intense!”

The experts from various sects watched intently, their attention captivated by Li Che’s Divine Nucleus, even disregarding his earlier refusal.

Divine Nucleus cultivators were rarely concerned with such trivialities, yet they evaluated his potential and strength closely.

The might of Li Che’s Divine Nucleus was, admittedly, somewhat terrifying.

From the burst of divine essence alone, one could gauge its rank and intensity.

The higher the rank and power, the more divine energy was summoned.

High-level divine manifestations require an overwhelmingly vast divine essence to sustain them!

A Divine Nucleus of the Sanqing Rank!

That notion echoed in the minds of every cultivator present, impossible to shake.

But most importantly…

To evolve a Divine Nucleus to the Sanqing Rank in just six years of divine cultivation—now that was truly fearsome!

It is well known that the higher the rank of one’s Divine Foundation and Divine Vision, the more divine essence is required to forge a stable base to shatter through to new realms.

The same applies to the Divine Essence Golden Pill and the Divine Nucleus—the higher their rank, the more divine essence they demand, a truly staggering amount!

Even Consort Ji couldn’t help but be moved, a trace of astonishment in her eyes as she glanced at Li Che.

“Surely… he must have acquired some sort of Temple Spirit legacy.”

“His Divine Nucleus seems to reflect a vague divine visage—it appears to be that of a divine primate. Perhaps… the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple of Qianyuan Divine Sect is connected to him?”

“Remember, Li Che once broke through to become a Divine Condor Half-Saint using the divine visage of the Two-Hearted Great Sage Temple Spirit. Perhaps—he has inherited that legacy?”

“But let us not forget—the legacy of the Two-Hearted Great Sage might not even reach the Sanqing Rank!”

Many had already detected traces of the Luminous True Primate’s movements in Li Che’s Divine Nucleus, and speculated accordingly.

Without a legacy, it would be impossible to break through so quickly in just six years. The practitioners of divine cultivation are sharp-eyed; a Divine Nucleus Great God is never hard to spot.

“Qitian Temple?”

Someone murmured a name.

Instantly, it stirred quite a commotion, like a colossal stone thrown into a lake!

“But—Qitian Temple is renowned for its martial prowess, with relatively average divine talent. Meanwhile, in the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple of Qianyuan Divine Sect, that Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff was seemingly seized by the Underworld Divine Monkey. Many witnessed Li Che carving a Temple Spirit statue, aiding the divine monkey in reclaiming the staff.”

“So, the Divine Monkey took the staff, and Li Che acquired the Divine Nucleus method?”

The sect leader’s eyes lit up in realization.

Moreover, Li Che might have also inherited the Temple Spirit legacy from the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to breakthrough to the Divine Nucleus stage so swiftly.

A genius in divine cultivation!

If not for his age, this prodigy would surely be of the caliber to rival the heavens!

After all, Li Che was already a Divine Condor Half-Saint—a testament to his remarkable innate talent in divine aptitude.

“What a Li Che—a divine prodigy, a genius of the Divine Condor, a saint prodigy! Qianyuan Divine Sect has truly hit the jackpot!”

Xuan Jiu from Xuanfu Divine Sect remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

Although he was Lü Taibai’s brother-in-law, he held no affection for Lü Taibai—a man who, with nothing but a handsome face and a sword-wielding pose, had charmed his younger sister away.

After all, since Xuan Qisha was deceived into joining Qianyuan Divine Sect, he had not returned to Xuanfu Divine Sect for a long time.

He even heard that after practicing the Locking Talisman, his lifespan was dwindling while his body shrank—

so much so that his elderly father had retreated deep into the Bizarre Temple, not emerging for years.

A proper family utterly disbanded by Lü Taibai’s actions!

Damn that Lü Taibai!

All eyes now turned to Li Che, the extraordinary Divine Condor Half-Saint; from this day on, most would attentively follow the exploits of this prodigy.

Perhaps, in time, Li Che would ascend to the pinnacle of the Great Divine Genealogy.

“Fortunately, Li Che’s strength lies mostly in his divine aptitude, while his martial prowess remains rather average—perhaps merely at the level of Divine Guts or an early-stage Grandmaster.”

“This young Li Che should participate in the ‘Champions’ Conclave.’ His Divine Nucleus cultivation…” – even at that, he’d be competitive in the conclave.

Before long, many faces softened into ironic smiles.

Li Che’s refusal of Consort Ji’s proposal was so resolute—

Especially considering it was a union with the Great Jing Royal Family. Li Che had not hesitated in the slightest.

Consort Ji had come with the little prince to forge an alliance, combining her status as Ji Yan with Prince Lu Chi’s identity. For the rising Qianyuan Divine Sect, such an alliance should have been good news.

Marriages between the sect and royal family were hardly uncommon.

For instance, the former sect leader of Xuanfu Divine Sect once married the eldest princess of the Great Jing Royal Family—the princess who was also the elder sister of the current Great Jing Emperor!

And Lü Taibai’s wife, Xuan Qisha, was the daughter of that eldest princess—Lü Taibai even had marital ties with the Great Jing Royal Family.

Similarly, the daughter of the Seven Treasure Divine Sect’s leader was once the favored Crown Princess, and so on…

Although the Imperial Court often restricted the sects out of fear of their unchecked growth, their fates remained inextricably linked.

Consort Ji, descending from the sedan chair, adorned in luxurious attire and a veiled face, her enchanting eyes shimmering like stars, slowly shifted her gaze from Lü Taibai to Li Che, who had just broken through the Divine Nucleus stage.

A trace of disdain flickered in her eyes.

She knew Li Che well.

A wretched laborer of no repute.

Ji Yan hailed from the ancient Ji Family, one of the three great ancestral families of the Divine Capital. She valued noble birth immensely, harboring deep prejudices.

XiXi’s lowly background was unacceptable. If it were the third prince, Consort Ji would never arrange matters—only a daughter from one of the three great ancient families could become the third prince’s wife. But regarding Lu Chi—well…

In Consort Ji’s eyes, Lu Chi had no chance for the crown prince’s position; he might as well marry the direct disciple of the sect leader of Qianyuan Divine Sect, forging an alliance to help the third prince’s bid.

Lu Chi, for his part, was fond of Li Nuǎnxi. Though still a child, they could begin with an arranged betrothal, with marriage to follow when they grew up.

Such matters were commonplace among the great families.

Some children had even their betrothals arranged while still in their mother’s womb.

“Elder Li, opportunities for such marriages are rare. Although my son Lu Chi is inconspicuous among the princes, he is still a prince. And if, in the future, XiXi were to inherit the position of sect leader at Qianyuan Divine Sect, Lu Chi could follow…”

“Besides, my dear Lu Chi is fond of XiXi. As parents, we can’t snuff out our children’s dreams, can we?”

Consort Ji remarked coolly.

Li Che—the wretched laborer—had the audacity to refuse her?

However, Li Che’s recent breakthrough to the Divine Nucleus stage had admittedly rattled her.

After all, the transformation from Martial Saint to Divine Nucleus was a leap in the journey of life. Even in the Divine Capital, a cultivator of the Divine Nucleus was a formidable force.

Li Che stood at the prow of the ship, brushing off a patch of snow from his ink-stained robe.

“If any man shows interest in my daughter, she will be his bride—then my daughter will never have to worry about marriage.”

Li Che declared flatly.

“As her father, I do not consent to this union.”

His tone was chilling, laced with a hint of lethal menace.

He had not expected that the one to stir up trouble upon arriving in the Divine Capital would be none other than Lu Chi!

At first, Li Che felt a pang of regret for young Lu Chi, but now—any trace of fondness had vanished. His previous affections were completely forgotten in light of the audacity to target his daughter!

“Consort—”

Lu Chi opened his mouth, pain etched upon his face.

After today, he feared he’d lose even the smallest sliver of friendship with XiXi—

Although he had already severed their bonds, now—could even XiXi, his last friend, turn into an enemy?!

At first, when Lu Chi heard that Consort Ji intended to arrange a marriage for him, his heart trembled with a glimmer of hope.

But as the proceedings unfolded and he saw Consort Ji’s haughty demeanor, it wasn’t a proposal at all—

It was a complete annihilation of everything Lu Chi had.

And it would cost him his very life!

Consort Ji had never before witnessed Lu Chi’s anger. This unpromising child, with average talent and divine aptitude, was expected to rise in the Jin Guang Mansion through the resonance with the Temple Spirit of the Eight-Armed Furious Third Prince Bizarre Temple.

Yet he had failed.

How could such a disappointing child dare to show anger?!

Consort Ji’s dark brows furrowed as she glared coldly at Lu Chi, as if saying, “Is that the tone you use with your mother?”

But Lu Chi ignored her completely. Stepping away from the sedan chair, he walked up to Li Che and clasped his fists, saying, “Uncle Li, all of this was solely at the instigation of my mother—please accept my apology.”

Lu Chi was one of the few who truly knew Li Che’s identity.

Perhaps the only one.

And because he knew, a deep-seated fear stirred within him—

He was well aware of Li Che’s true nature.

The Underworld Ogre—

that treacherous, cold-blooded killer, utterly ruthless and vicious—was none other than Li Che!

Most importantly, Lu Chi knew that Li Che had left something on him.

Just as Li Che could always appear by XiXi’s side, if Lu Chi ever let his tongue slip or truly angered Li Che—

Li Che would kill him. Perhaps—

Lu Chi would have no way to stop or block him!

And so, Lu Chi apologized, seeking Li Che’s forgiveness.

But—

Li Che offered no response. Instead, he looked at him coolly and indifferently, a gaze that sent chills down Lu Chi’s spine.

In that moment, everything in Heaven and Earth fell eerily silent.

After a long while—

a chilling voice echoed in Lu Chi’s ear, making his skin crawl:

“Weren’t you the one who silently changed your clothes and followed me, daring to challenge my attitude?”

Li Che’s voice, soft and spectral, reverberated as if from the netherworld.

“This time—your bonds with XiXi are utterly severed. So too is any connection with my family.”

“There will be no next time.”

His meaning was clear: if there was another chance, it would be to take Lu Chi’s life.

Lu Chi could only feel every ounce of strength draining from him. His face turned deathly pale, as though even the color had drained from his lips.

Because Li Che’s words were the bitter truth.

Lu Chi, who had harbored a small hope, now realized—

that hope had led him astray.

He had once dared to think that maybe, just maybe, Li Che would agree.

Maybe he could even secure a betrothal with XiXi?

He couldn’t help but recall those days in Feilei City and Jin Guang Mansion—

Days when he played on the Twisty Car with XiXi.

If only time could freeze then, how wonderful that would be.

Alas—

the dream was shattered. Everything crumbled into illusion.

His little schemes had been seen through by Li Che completely.

Embarrassment, dread, shame, despair, darkness—

all these emotions surged within Lu Chi, leaving him tottering on the brink.

In the end, he said nothing more, only bowing deeply to Li Che.

“Elder Li, I’m sorry.”

In this world, Li Che was no longer the Uncle Lu Chi he once knew.

With that, Lu Chi turned and walked away. His taller form, clad in a red robe that shattered the night, limped along while kneeling, headed toward the Ninth City.

He didn’t even spare Consort Ji a glance.

Perhaps this was the first time in many years that Lu Chi treated his own mother so harshly.

Although he had once severed familial bonds via the Temple Spirit Resonance, he had at least managed to maintain appearances. Now, he cared nothing for appearances at all.

Lu Chi no longer cared.

At that moment, he even felt the Temple Spirit’s divine essence ravenously devouring his own, fueling a breakthrough in his cultivation.

Yet Lu Chi felt no joy—only heartbreaking sorrow.

Consort Ji’s face turned ashen, a cold glare emerging in her eyes.

“Worthless!”

She thought, “How could Ji Yan have given birth to such a waste, even pleading for forgiveness from a lowly laborer?”

Lu Chi’s blood was not only of the Great Jing Royal Family but also of the ancient Ji Family!

How could he be such a failure!

At that moment, Ji Yan lost all hope in Lu Chi. After all, she had never expected much.

She had only dreamed of Lu Chi being favored by the National Teacher, which led her to consider arranging a betrothal. But never did she imagine that Lu Chi would boldly scold her—something even the emperor had never done!

Ji Yan’s ample bosom heaved as her veil fluttered in the night wind.

She had more to say in his defense, to plead on his behalf, but now all thoughts had vanished.

“Elder Li, I must say you have left a deep impression on me,” Ji Yan commented coolly, then scanned the surrounding sect leaders, nodding slightly before her gaze settled on the imposing figure of Ji Mo Li clad in black armor. Her eyes trembled briefly, and she curtseyed before returning to the sedan chair.

The procession arranging the marriage proposal receded like a tide.

Everything—the three books and six rites—was carried away as if it had been a farce.

Yet the onlookers, common folk and martial world travelers alike, held their breaths, not daring to laugh.

After all—

Who would dare mock a consort so deeply favored by the emperor and stir up such trouble?

And this entire affair wasn’t even amusing.

It was clear: Li Che, the newly awakened Divine Condor Half-Saint from Qianyuan Daocheng, was incredibly resolute.

Marrying a prince’s consort and becoming the official royal consort—these were dreams every parent coveted.

After all, once arranged, the daughter would become a princess—a transformation akin to a pheasant rising to a phoenix.

Moreover, Consort Ji had even agreed that the crown prince would accompany XiXi to Qianyuan Divine Sect—

Such an arrangement brought nothing but benefit to the sect.

Consort Ji must have thought so too, never imagining a refusal—

But Li Che had unequivocally refused.

The deafening crack of thunder snapped everyone’s thoughts back.

Above the Heavenly Dome, the Divine Nucleus trial was rapidly approaching its climax.

Li Che, clad in a billowing black robe, felt his Divine Nucleus vibrate subtly on his head.

“Sect Leader, escort the youngsters down. I’ll return once this trial is complete,” Li Che commanded.

Lü Taibai smiled without a hint of worry for Li Che.

With a sweeping motion of his grand sleeves, numerous prodigies including XiXi and Zhang Ya were whisked off the Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship by swift sword light.

Then, he scooped up XiXi and eagerly watched Li Che endure the trial.

Lü Taibai was curious how Li Che would surmount the trial—

If he braced his mortal form against the trial, it might expose his martial prowess. Lü Taibai reckoned that if Li Che could conceal his martial cultivation, he might even clinch the title at the upcoming Champions’ Conclave.

Zhao Fangzhou, Monitor Hong Shifo, and others soon disembarked, ensuring everyone was comfortably settled.

Then, all eyes turned to the Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship.

Crossing the Divine Nucleus trial was no small feat.

In a stunning move, Ji Mo Li retrieved a Divine Condor he had carved in the likeness of the Two-Hearted Great Sage, hurling it into the skies. The Divine Condor soared into the dome, intercepting every falling bolt of lightning, swallowing them completely.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

This method of trial-crossing—

Considering the fierce power of the Divine Nucleus trial, and that Li Che’s trial was of the Sanqing Rank—

using such a cunning tactic to devour the lightning was simply audacious!

Only Li Che, the Divine Condor Half-Saint, could be so willful!

The trial lightning locked onto one’s aura. Had any other Divine Condor Half-Saint used a Divine Condor—an instrument crafted by another— the trial lightning would intensify by the interference. But Li Che’s half-saint Divine Condor, carved by his own hands and imbued solely with his aura, did not trigger that escalation.

The rarity of a Divine Condor Half-Saint in the Divine Essence Realm was astonishing—

Who would have imagined such an advantage?

Thunder roared down from the clouds, striking the Divine Condor repeatedly.

When the Divine Condor could hold no more of the trial’s energy, many began to anticipate Li Che’s decisive move.

Then, Li Che produced a second Divine Condor—

A truly novel way to cross the trial.

Even Lü Taibai was left speechless:

Using a Divine Condor to dodge trial lightning—

How audacious!

Thanks to the Divine Condor, Li Che didn’t even have to use the Thunder Averting Talisman drawn by Su Daoling.

In total, three Divine Condors absorbed the trial lightning, each storing a portion of the Extinguishing Wind’s might—a power both formidable and fearsome.

After the trial, Li Che disembarked from the Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship.

Already, official envoys from the Divine Capital’s Imperial Court had arrived—sent by the lowly-clad National Teacher to arrange lodging for the Divine Sect members.

Carriages drove into the bustling Divine Capital under the night, as the Imperial Court provided residences within the prized Fourth City, the best among the Middle Three Cities.

Historically, participants of the Paotao Competitions stayed in the Fourth City.

“Master Taibai, the Qianyuan Courtyard is ready. If you require anything, please have your people contact me,” said a spirited official in his robe as he curtseyed and departed.

Lü Taibai, with his silver hair flying, saw to his disciples settling into the grand residence named after the Divine Sect.

“Within the tightly priced Fourth City of Divine Capital, the Imperial Court has set up residences for each sect, named in their honor—Qianyuan Courtyard, Tiandan Courtyard, Xuanfu Courtyard, Xiao Lingyin Courtyard, and so on,” he explained.

Once everyone was settled, Lü Taibai and Li Che sat in the lavish residence and chatted casually.

“The Paotao Competition should be held in about two months. But in the meantime, there will be a preliminary feast—the Pre-Feast—lasting from now until the competition begins,” Lü Taibai said as he stretched and poured hot tea into his cup.

“A Pre-Feast?”

Li Che, watching XiXi now carefree in the courtyard as she played happily with Yun’e’s chubby rabbit—occasionally drooling over it—was momentarily stunned.

“What is this Pre-Feast? Two months long already?”

Lü Taibai sipped his tea and replied coolly, “The Pre-Feast is essentially a selection process for who may participate in the Paotao Competition. You don’t think anyone can join, do you? There are rules, of course.”

“The Paotao Competition is a grand banquet full of opulence and extravagance, featuring a wide array of exquisite delicacies infused with abundant divine energy.”

“It isn’t cheap. The Great Jing Imperial Court naturally limits participation. For example, the sect leader of the Divine Sect can join the main banquet without the Pre-Feast, but the Contest of the Budding Dragons and the Champions’ Conclave require the Pre-Feast,” Lü Taibai continued.

“The Pre-Feast is quite intriguing, especially as it takes place in the Sanqing Bizarre Temple of the Western Queen Mother,” he added with a laugh while sipping tea and explaining to Li Che.

“In a couple of days, the Empress will likely distribute the Paotao Branches. Each branch absorbs a cultivator’s divine energy to serve as an identity token, matching them against an opponent. Victors, after besting their rivals, can partake in a small feast prepared in honor of their triumph.”

Li Che listened in amazement.

“Only the winners are worthy of the small feast. At first, the feast might be rather simple, but the more wins you accumulate, the richer the banquet becomes.”

“Later, there will even be Paotaos of different ages to enjoy!”

“This Pre-Feast is actually a promising opportunity—”

“Is the small feast arranged by the Empress?” Li Che asked in curiosity.

Lü Taibai shook his head with a smile, “No—it’s not. In truth, every dish at the feast is prepared within the Western Queen Mother Bizarre Temple.”

“They’re said to be delicious!”

Li Che, intrigued, wondered how the delicacies compared to those prepared by the mysterious chef known as the Boss, who had once sheltered them by orchestrating the demise of the Titled Old Dragon King and Big Black Dog.

After a brief chat with Lü Taibai, Li Che retired to his room.

He raised his hand and touched his brow.

A buzzing sound filled the Cosmic Chessboard as it unfurled like a vast net.

Li Che felt that his command over the Cosmic Chessboard was now as smooth as silk compared to before.

New to Divine Capital, Li Che chose pragmatism, weaving the Cosmic Chessboard around the territory of Qianyuan Courtyard.

“My grip on the Cosmic Chessboard has become incredibly fluid—could it be because of the Heavenly Soul?”

Li Che sensed an intense connection with the very will of Heaven and Earth.

If he so wished, he could even condense his primordial spirit into a soul form that roamed freely by day or night.

To Li Che, that Heavenly Soul was essentially his yang spirit.

No wonder powerful figures like Ji Mo Li and Huang Mei Great Master could perform body-splitting techniques with the assistance of their Heavenly Souls. With such aid, replicating oneself became remarkably simple.

Conversely, the primordial spirit in the Divine Essence realm—more akin to a yin spirit—was far more restricted.

Sitting quietly in his chair, Li Che took a deep breath, centering himself in calm.

The sound of his breath mimicked the ebb and flow of tides, stirring his inner, golden, martial energy in rhythmic pulses.

In that moment, his inner vision revealed within the mud pellet a semi-translucent golden pill—an orb of flesh entirely forged from divine essence.

Inside it swirled a terrifying, boundless divine energy that coalesced into a solid, beating heart.

The heart pounded with life.

The Fa Tian Xiang Di Luminous True Primate Divine Nucleus!

Within, it seemed to be nurturing an unparalleled primordial force of terror!

Within the vast Cosmic Chessboard—

the golden Heavenly King Tower Temple Spirit of the lightning seemed to emit a silent scream.

Then, Li Che witnessed a horrifying suction emanate from the heart of the Divine Nucleus, drawing forth the divine energy.

The golden Heavenly King Tower Temple Spirit, bound by chains of the Unsullied Heart, began to thrash violently, struggling in vain as countless beams of light erupted, yet it could not break free.

Then, as if melting like an ice cream scorched by flames, it slowly dissolved and evaporated—

Countless streams of divine energy surged into the heart of the Divine Nucleus, greedily absorbed.

Throughout the entire room, there came a sound like “crunch, crunch”,

as if bones and flesh were being bitten apart and swallowed.

No…

“Not enough…”