Chapter 341: Clash of Calamities in Divine Capital

The howling wind wept as dense, leaden clouds amassed.

Snowflakes—chiseled as if by a divine artisan—tumbled from the heights.

They drifted and interwove in the sky, forming a vast net that was torn and evaporated by unseen energy, disappearing in an instant.

Divine Capital, Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

Countless flashes of sword light clashed in a wild, chaotic torrent, flooding the courtyard like a raging storm.

It felt as if a massive calamity was brewing—chilling shudders, crushing oppression, and raw terror crashing down like shattered boulders from towering peaks!

An unstoppable disaster indeed! “Everyone, stop eating!”

Lü Taibai’s tone was cold and domineering, leaving no room for debate. The tension instantly soared.

It was as though his brow had split open—with a sword aura coiling and ready to strike!

That sword strike was terrifying—like a venomous serpent poised to bite, an offense condemned by both heaven and the firmament! It appeared briefly like a blossom—flaring, fading, embodying wind, fire, water, as vast as the sea, as innumerable as the stars, as brilliant as the noon sun!

It was a force that seemed to be…

As if the wills of heaven and earth had merged, bringing a destined calamity, all condensed into one sword strike! Lü Taibai…

Had truly mastered such a sword!

Clearly, Lü Taibai had no time for niceties or meaningless delays.

Six supreme heads of the Divine Sect—elite masters of the highest echelon—had gathered to target the disciples of Qianyuan Divine Sect, scheming to deprive them even of a taste of Paotao!

Then let them not eat at all!

Lü Taibai wasn’t shy about acting directly—cutting ties without hesitation. Before the Paotao banquet even began, he unleashed a top-tier, deadly assault. His calamity-infused sword was among his most profound trump cards. This time… Lü Taibai revealed it outright. What was he hiding?!

He displayed it fearlessly, daring everyone to measure their courage against his blade! He refused to watch his sect’s disciples suffer injustice!

They had trudged all the way from Daocheng just to showcase themselves and savor a Paotao in the preliminaries.

Normally, with the matching of the Western Queen Mother’s divine grace, if the disciples were outclassed and defeated, they would simply lose their chance to dine—and Lü Taibai would say nothing. It was merely a matter of strength.

But when prodigies from the top three of every Divine Sect deliberately blocked them—denying them even a morsel of Paotao—Lü Taibai was far from pleased! It was far too simple for his liking.

While only the top three prodigies from various Divine Sects and great families were allowed to attend, the disciples of Qianyuan Divine Sect were forced to face only those elite opponents.

So, how were they to fight?

The disparity was insurmountable—there was literally no hope!

Apart from XiXi, Lü Qingxuan, and Yang Yi, no other prodigy from Qianyuan Divine Sect or the great families of Daocheng could match up!

And, indeed, it proved so: Lü Qingxuan fell, his spirit nearly shattered, and Yang Yi was on the brink of despair. The first preliminary was never meant to be this grueling.

Everyone aimed for victory, eager to triumph honorably, secure a seat at the banquet, and savor the honor of tasting Paotao—even if it was a decade-old specimen, it was still Paotao!

Yet now, they ended up empty-handed—all because the six Divine Sect heads had gathered and, in casual conversation, decided the fate of Qianyuan’s disciples. How dare they…

How dare they bully the disciples of Qianyuan Divine Sect?!

Lü Taibai’s eyes were as if veiled by a terrifying sword intent!

His gaze locked onto Huang Mei Great Master, brimming with deadly resolve and fervor.

Huang Mei’s long brows fluttered in the wind, and his eyes revealed a trace of apprehension.

It was clear he had no desire for bloodshed—even though Lü Taibai had already dispatched one of him, he seemed eerily unfazed, merely sighing.

“Amitabha… Master Taibai, stay calm!”

“We meant no harm; we were only following the National Teacher’s invitation for the top three prodigies from our Divine Sects to clash in the preliminaries and get a taste of the atmosphere.”

“An unintended injury was inflicted on your sect’s disciple. Truly, we are at fault. Amitabha, this humble monk confesses his sin.” Huang Mei Great Master’s tone softened with pity as he clasped his palms and sighed deeply.

Lü Taibai sneered coldly.

Unsurprisingly, the bald fellow from Xiao Lingyin Temple was a master at shifting blame.

In an instant, he redirected the issue toward the Divine Sect and the Imperial Court, claiming that the National Teacher had invited them to test the top-three prodigies—a fact unknown to the others. Lü Taibai refused to waste time on petty quibbles.

With one decisive step!

It was as if his sword aura barred rivers and tore open the courtyard floor, with cracks splintering everywhere like seething heat surging into the snow. “Huang Mei, enough talk!”

“Come, fight!”

The resounding clang of his sword light burst forth, slicing toward the composed Huang Mei Great Master seated on a splendid Buddha Chariot.

In that moment, the entire courtyard was plunged into darkness, the terrifying song of his sword auras roaring like a desert storm that threatened to snuff out every soul. One could almost sense the stench of annihilation!

One of the Three Calamities… the God-Annihilating Wind!

Lü Taibai’s sword strike had somehow merged with the power of the God-Annihilating Wind?! What a madman!

Huang Mei Great Master, seated on an opulent Buddha Chariot adorned with Divine Crystals, spirit beast bones, golden essences, and other precious treasures, saw his brows nearly shoot up in disbelief! That Lü Taibai was truly insane!

Not only was his cultivation extreme, his methods were equally wild…

Yet had the old Lü Taibai ever been this reckless? Had this incident truly driven him over the edge?

Huang Mei Great Master clapped his hands together forcefully; in an instant, a golden bowl materialized, swirling in the air like a massive shield to counter Lü Taibai’s sword strike.

Then—!!!

Sword aura clashed with Buddha light; silver met gold as countless arrows of light interlaced, with flames, gusts, and explosive booms bursting forth like ancient temple bells, rippling through the sky!

In an instant, the entire courtyard was engulfed by a fearsome force—the blue bricks shattered into fragments, and clouds of dust soared as Gu Changqing, Ning Caishen, Bai Buyi, Gu Cheng, Zhao Chunqiu, and other Divine Sect heads wore expressions of shock.

They had no choice but to unleash their inner energies, containing the explosive shockwave within the courtyard.

Yet even as they struggled, the God-Annihilating Wind embedded in Lü Taibai’s sword aura spread unchecked, as if the very soul of the earth were being split apart!

Lü Taibai… had infused the God-Annihilating Wind into his Tao Calamity Sword, creating the Tao Calamity Sword! It was almost as though he were on the brink of the Divine Calamity Realm!

A tremendous and fearsome divine power raged throughout the battlefield—fueled by raw indignation—obliterating bricks into dust, with the very air trembling uncontrollably!

After what felt like an eternity, the fluctuations subsided under the combined might of the top experts, gradually fading away.

Lü Taibai, clad in flowing white with silver hair streaming, crossed his arms; his Taibai Sword, with radiant, chaotic sword light, hovered at his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Huang Mei Great Master’s face hardened; the golden bowl’s brilliance dimmed, a massive crack marred its surface, as tiny, sword-like gusts relentlessly battered it.

This divine weapon… is ruined! Huang Mei Great Master declared grimly.

“Master Taibai, are you really planning to incite violence among the Divine Sect heads?” “Won’t that just benefit the Imperial Court, giving them a reason to celebrate?”

Huang Mei folded his palms; a gentle Buddha light radiated from him, surging steadily. Ranking fourth in the Great Divine Register and fifth at the Heavenly Gate…

In rank, he stood above Lü Taibai.

Yet, at this moment, his aura seemed completely suppressed by Lü Taibai’s overwhelming presence—no doubt because Lü Taibai had unveiled his Tao Calamity Sword! Something that even grazed the Divine Calamity Realm!

Lü Taibai folded his arms, his silver eyes weaving with sword aura, like an ancient sword immortal emerging from a sealed tomb, surrounded by countless sword energies. “And you dare speak? When you joined forces with the National Teacher to block our Qianyuan disciples, did you ever consider this?!”

Lü Taibai’s voice was icy.

“If not for you starting this conflict, must I endure insults and suffer along with these children?”

His silver hair fluttered as his gaze swept over the assembled crowd.

He paused at Gu Changqing, then looked at Ning Caishen, Gu Cheng, Zhao Chunqiu, and Bai Buyi—the top Divine Sect heads. Finally, he exhaled, his sword aura ringing out.

“I, Lü Taibai…” “Am I not a sword cultivator?”

Silence fell over the courtyard as the Divine Sect heads pondered, their breaths growing heavy.

Gu Changqing’s face darkened and he finally fell silent.

“Truly, I am a sword cultivator.”

Unrestrained passion poured forth—an overwhelming presence that shook mountains and rivers! “Amitabha… this humble monk understands.”

Huang Mei Great Master clasped his palms, his aura receding. He did not wish for a mutually destructive battle—there was simply no need.

Though Lü Taibai had unveiled the Tao Calamity Sword and showcased its prowess…

Huang Mei Great Master, ranking above Lü Taibai in both the Great Divine Register and at the Heavenly Gate, was by no means lacking in skill—but exposing such depths in battle was unnecessary. The other Divine Sect heads nodded slightly.

“This matter is indeed our oversight. We, under the National Teacher’s invitation, have wronged the disciples of Qianyuan Divine Sect. I, this humble monk, am willing to make amends.” Huang Mei Great Master bowed his head.

It was as if his head had been bowed down by Lü Taibai’s sword.

After all, Huang Mei had come to Divine Capital with his eyes on that Millennial Paotao and had no desire to fall out with Lü Taibai too early—lest he lacked the strength to contest that prized Paotao… which would be a loss.

Thus, Huang Mei chose to lower his head for now.

Lü Taibai folded his arms, his sword light at his feet, his silver hair streaming. Seeing Huang Mei in subjugation, he sneered coolly. “Amends?”

“Within the Immortal Peach Branch, there lie three divine essences—one was lost… You severed one of my Three-Life Bodies. Why not trade a body for a body?”

His words hung in the air as the atmosphere shifted sharply. Huang Mei Great Master suddenly looked up, his aged features trembling.

Is that how you intend to make amends?

For a top-tier Three-Life Body to compensate for the lost divine essence in the Immortal Peach Branch of those prodigies—what kind of compensation is that?

It’s like losing a Jiuyue Divine Crystal and expecting compensation with a Sanqing Divine Crystal! Outrageous!

Shi Jian, clad in dark armor with eyes glittering, thought, ‘Is Lü Taibai truly planning to duel this old fool Huang Mei? Otherwise, how will this compensation be settled?’

Huang Mei must have been struck dumb if he agreed so readily!

The other Divine Sect heads shared the same feeling—Lü Taibai was simply too aggressive. Yet, since they had gathered, they were testing him. If he backed down, things would only escalate.

Unexpectedly, Lü Taibai showed no sign of retreat.

Huang Mei Great Master glared at Lü Taibai: “Master Taibai, are you serious?”

Lü Taibai, with sleeves billowing and fingers outstretched as if wielding sword light, gripped his calamity sword fiercely. “What do you think?”

“Doesn’t Buddha teach that all living beings are equal? Do you really think my Qianyuan disciples are less than your mere clone?” Huang Mei burst into hearty laughter.

“Alright, alright…”

“Master Taibai, grant me one Three-Life Body…”

“But for the divine essence within our Qianyuan disciples’ Immortal Peach Branch—it’s insufficient. Why not compare it to our prodigy preliminaries? What say you?”

Huang Mei’s body radiated a serene Buddha light as his voice took on a solemn tone. Lü Taibai narrowed his eyes, “Oh? And how might we compare?”

In truth, he had never expected Huang Mei to so easily accept a wager of a Three-Life Body for the divine essence of several Qianyuan disciples—it was entirely disproportionate.

But since Huang Mei had proposed it, Lü Taibai chose to listen. If it was too outrageous, he would simply refuse and overturn the entire table. “What begins with the preliminaries shall end with the preliminaries.”

“Your Qianyuan Divine Sect still has one undefeated prodigy—your direct disciple Li Nuǎnxi. Use her preliminary victory record as the stake: if she wins seven consecutive matches and enters the prodigy banquet, you win.”

“Similarly, on the heroic side—if any Qianyuan disciple secures seven consecutive wins and enters the main banquet—I will concede, even beheading one Three-Life Body and handing over the Holy Hand Divine Eagle’s Three-Life Body for you to manage.”

Huang Mei’s voice resonated with majestic Buddhist authority. Lü Taibai smiled slyly, “What a calculated proposal!”

“Do you really think our Qianyuan disciples can’t achieve consecutive wins in the preliminaries?”

“If they fail, the spirit of our Qianyuan disciples will suffer a tremendous blow…” Lü Taibai sensed the malice in Huang Mei’s tone.

“Amitabha… Master Taibai, if I lose, I will sacrifice one Three-Life Body. Compared to that, what you lose is merely some spirit—surely that isn’t too harsh?”

Huang Mei Great Master admitted with resignation.

He might lose, but sacrificing a top-tier Three-Life Body—one vital for averting calamities—was a heavy price!

His previous body had just been severed; losing another would leave him with only one, which, although reformable, could take nearly five years to rebuild.

Lü Taibai twirled his Taibai Sword, countless sword lights swirling and coalescing into his billowing sleeves. “That may be so…”

“Then let it be compared,” Lü Taibai stated flatly.

The prodigies: XiXi representing the child prodigies, and on the heroic side, Li Che, her father…

Yet both sides required consecutive wins—a harsh demand indeed. But Lü Taibai knew Li Che well; he was a deeply concealed fighter who had now broken into the divine. Lü Taibai thought it worth the try.

Even if they failed, the loss would be minimal. But if they succeeded…

Then Huang Mei would have to forfeit one Three-Life Body!

“Swear it.”

“Monks do not make false oaths.”

“I swear by the Three Calamities—if you break your oath, I’ll trigger the Three Calamities ahead of schedule!” Lü Taibai’s silver brow twitched.

Huang Mei’s long brows flickered, as if a surge of repressed emotion was rising. “Fine!”

Huang Mei chanted a solemn prayer, his Buddhist voice reverberating as beams of light wove together into a sacred oath that struck his brow. Lü Taibai nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze toward the other Divine Sect heads.

“Huang Mei Great Master has set the example. What say you all?”

Lü Taibai’s eyes opened as his Tao Calamity Sword began to exude the God-Annihilating Wind once more…

The Divine Sect heads bristled with anger, yet felt helpless; they had no desire to risk a full-scale fight with Lü Taibai, whose Tao Calamity Sword now elevated his threat manyfold.

If the new rankings in the Divine Register and at the Heavenly Gate were released, Lü Taibai’s position might climb even higher—perhaps even surpassing Huang Mei! They all understood…

Lü Taibai was, in essence, robbing them!

Not only was he overturning the table; he was outright robbing them!

Yet it was understandable—by revealing his trump card, the Tao Calamity Sword, he was sacrificing an asset for the future even as he sent a warning.

Thus, rather than compensating his disciples, Lü Taibai was really compensating himself.

Gu Changqing pondered for a moment. Not wanting the fight to continue—still pained from losing a Heavenly Pill—he quickly said, “I’ll offer a mid-grade Four-Yu Great Beast Repelling Heavenly Pill as compensation!”

Lü Taibai’s eyes flashed as he turned to Ning Caishen.

National Teacher Ning Caishen, head of the Seven Treasure Divine Sect, could only remain speechless—he had come merely to spectate…

But once he entered the courtyard, Lü Taibai had already branded him. No wonder. “I’ll take one of our sect’s divine weapons, forged by the Holy Hand Gu Yao…”

“And I’ll offer a page of a sacred text penned by a revered scholar as compensation.” Jiangnan Dao Haoran Academy’s head, Bai Buyi, exhaled, “Three pages.” Lü Taibai recalled Fang Han Shu back home and haggled.

“You!” Bai Buyi’s brow furrowed in anger.

Yet upon seeing Lü Taibai unleash his calamity sword, his anger subsided as he swiftly adjusted his scholar robes and, in a burst of fury, retorted, “Fine!”

Master Gu Cheng of the Bashu Sword Pavilion shook his head, “It should be the mid-grade Four-Yu Sword.”

Lü Taibai glanced at Zhao Chunqiu of the Divine Sect of Dragon and Tiger in Divine Capital—a frail old cultivator in black and white robes. Zhao Chunqiu sighed, “Then I, a humble Taoist, shall offer a fourth-tier Purple Qi Golden Lotus as compensation.”

Though reluctant, the Divine Sect heads presented their stakes, joining the wager proposed by Huang Mei Great Master.

It was indeed a grand gamble!

Lü Taibai retracted his sword aura; after the Taibai Sword hummed, he tucked it into his sleeve and burst into laughter. “Everyone, remember this!”

BOOM——!!!

In three swift steps, his sword aura blossomed like a flower, soaring straight into the heavens as his calamity sword trembled at his brow.

He then turned toward Divine Capital’s Second City—a residence for dignitaries and a symbol of status. The First City was the Imperial Palace and Divine Temple, reserved for royalty and their attendants.

The Second City was for ministers and eminent families—only top officials and first-rank nobles could reside there. National Teacher Xie Yunshen, a prized official of the Great Jing Court, resided in the prestigious Lotus Pavilion!

“National Teacher, Xiao Lingyin Temple, Tian Dan Divine Sect, Seven Treasure Divine Sect, Haoran Academy, Bashu Sword Pavilion, and the Divine Sect of Dragon and Tiger have all paid dearly today for thwarting our Qianyuan children!”

“Lü Taibai awaits.”

With his feet on his sword aura and his sleeves rolled, Lü Taibai transformed into a streak of sword light—piercing the frozen snowfall—and returned to the Fourth City’s Qianyuan Courtyard. In one sword strike, he forced the six Divine Sect heads to bow their heads!

Magnificent and heroic indeed!

Across Divine Capital, silence fell on the various cities…

Divine Capital, Fourth City. Qianyuan Courtyard.

Inside the grand courtyard, sparse snow quietly drifted down.

Li Che’s eyes, interlaced with stark patterns, slowly closed as the visions from the Cosmic Chessboard faded. In the courtyard…

The children of Qianyuan Divine Sect and Daocheng remained oblivious to the unfolding events, while XiXi blushed and tugged at her sleeve, eager to confront the villains blocking her friends.

XiXi, the Great Emperor—unyieldingly protective!

Li Che entered the courtyard; viewing an incensed XiXi and disheartened children, his face grew cold. To both him and Lü Taibai, dealing with a group of children was unexciting.

Lü Taibai, angry and on the verge of overturning the table—even resorting to his trump card, the Tao Calamity Sword—angered Li Che as well.

Although Lü Taibai stopped short of a full-on assault, his sword strike forced the six Divine Sect heads to concede to an unequal wager, reclaiming control of the situation.

Of course, Lü Taibai could have disregarded everything and launched a direct attack.

But Divine Capital was not a battlefield—and with his family and so many Qianyuan and Daocheng children present, he refrained.

Lü Taibai knew this was a test from National Teacher Xie Yunshen and the various Divine Sect heads; he met it with his characteristic poise.

Moreover, his move was a clear message: the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff was no longer in his possession!

Because… he had already handed over the Tao Calamity Sword!

There was no chance he would ever wield another divine weapon! He wouldn’t accept blame for an unfounded charge!

And the concessions from all sides were their acknowledgment of his stance.

Li Che strolled through the courtyard and approached XiXi, gently ruffling the head of the fiery little girl. When she saw her father, her face filled with a hint of grievance.

“Father, they’re bullying the Great Emperor XiXi’s friends!” XiXi pouted.

Her friends—Zhou Peng, Yun’e, Lü Qingxuan, and Yang Yi—were all dear to her.

Li Che ruffled her head and said, “Don’t be upset. Your master has already avenged you. Soon… XiXi will make those bullies pay.” At his words, XiXi’s eyes lit up.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Che finished speaking,

Lü Taibai’s booming voice resounded throughout the city.

Then, transforming into a streak of sword light, he tore through the air and returned to the courtyard. Clad in white with silver hair flowing, Zhao Fangzhou greeted him with a deep bow, “Sect Leader!”

As a martial saint, he had sensed Lü Taibai’s dominant move toward Xiao Lingyin Courtyard—even though the top experts had sealed his aura, some hints remained.

Taibai’s sword had forced the six Divine Sect heads to bow—a truly imposing sight!

With a smile, Lü Taibai shifted his gaze toward XiXi.

He briefly recounted his wager with Huang Mei Great Master, stirring rapid breaths among the children in the courtyard. XiXi’s eyes burned with determination.

“XiXi, do you have faith?” Lü Taibai asked gently. “Master, XiXi does!”

XiXi looked up with steadfast resolve.

“Don’t be overly nervous. Think of it as a challenge worth striving for—even if you fail, having tried is enough.” Lü Taibai gently ruffled her hair, reassuring her without pressure.

After all, she was only six—just tasting the effort required for a challenge. Lü Taibai then glanced at Li Che.

“Leave it to us—father and daughter together.”

Li Che smiled calmly, his words measured and unhurried.

As if he had always been the honest and steadfast elder of Qianyuan Divine Sect—Li Bansheng. Lü Taibai chuckled, “Did you just break into the divine embryo? Can you keep it steady?”

He implied, questioning whether Li Che’s inherent divine nature would suffice.

If he revealed his martial cultivation, it might risk exposure.

In Divine Capital, if Li Che exposed his true identity as the Underworld Divine Monkey, the consequences would be dire—everyone’s eyes would then be on the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff.

Originally, the Imperial Court planned to wait for the emergence of the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff to see who would claim it, and then snatch it out with the force of thunder—whether it fell to Qianyuan Divine Sect, Xiao Lingyin Temple, or some other sect…

Once the target was clear, the Imperial Court might openly act. But then…

The Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff had indeed emerged, only to be seized by a mysterious Underworld force, its whereabouts unknown. In short, the Staff… had vanished!

Lü Taibai was fully aware of the impact that the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff—and its legacy tied to Qitian Temple—could have.

Because the Grand Inspector once divined, ‘When the Staff emerges, Qitian will tremble.’ And the divination had another part…

Lü Taibai did not know the latter half, only that it was strictly forbidden.

Thus, Lü Taibai probed Li Che—if he truly exposed his Underworld Divine Monkey identity, abandoning the wager would be of no consequence. “Sect Leader, rest assured.”

Li Che lifted XiXi in his arms, uniting his fingers as he raised his hand.

Seeing this, XiXi immediately understood and placed her tiny hand on Li Che’s palm with a crisp ‘clap’!

“When father and daughter unite, nothing can break even iron!” XiXi declared boldly.

Then she giggled—a phrase Li Che often used during their playful moments; now, it rang especially true.

Fighting alongside your father! Battling together with your father!

XiXi felt a burning fire surge within her! Truly, nothing beats the force of a united father and daughter!

Lü Taibai chuckled, his silver hair fluttering as he raised his head high…

Qianyuan Divine Sect’s Sect Leader Lü Taibai, with his sword soaring and his voice resounding through the three cities of Divine Capital, spread news like a tempest across all nine cities.

But what shocked everyone even more was the wager between Lü Taibai and the six Divine Sect heads—a Three-Life Body, a Four-Yu Heavenly Pill, a Four-Yu Middle Divine Weapon, and a revered scholar’s text…

Any one of these stakes could cause an earthquake, sparking frenzy among cultivators everywhere—a wager that could shake the world!

Divine Capital, Second City. Lotus Pavilion.

Though it served as the National Teacher’s office and residence, it was merely a modest three-story building.

The small building, three stories high with ancient carved beams and decorative rafters, exuded a timeless charm.

From the third floor of Lotus Pavilion, one could gaze directly down Vermilion Bird Street—the long, straight road connecting all nine cities of Divine Capital.

At the railing stood an enormous three-legged steel cauldron; within, a bronze cauldron cradled a bamboo ladder. A man in plain clothes, pale-faced with hints of white at his temples, reclined on the ladder as he quietly admired the three lotus flowers within.

Meanwhile, on a reception chair at the desk, a burly man clad in dark armor with a billowing black cloak—Ji Mo Li—had removed his helmet and sipped hot tea prepared by a young attendant.

An elderly man cautiously climbed down, dusted off his plain clothes, and approached the desk. “What a Lü Taibai—unleashing his calamity sword and completely overturning the table… so heroic.”

“A sword cultivator is unyielding to the end.”

National Teacher Xie Yunshen, dressed in plain robes, laughed and shook his head as he downed his tea in one gulp. “National Teacher, your hair has grown even whiter,” Ji Mo Li teased.

Xie Yunshen smiled as he spread out papers filled with news of the Underworld emerging in Daocheng. “It’s inevitable—my martial cultivation is humble, and my divine nature pales beside you great masters.”

Xie Yunshen shook his head.

“National Teacher, you humble yourself too much. What you’ve done for the Great Jing Court far surpasses us mere top experts,” Ji Mo Li commented.

Xie Yunshen’s gaze moved from the papers to Ji Mo Li. Suddenly, he smiled and spat a bit of tea foam, “If the Prince can ease my burden a bit, that would be ideal.” Ji Mo Li said no more, rising and walking to the bronze cauldron.

“National Teacher, these three lotuses are nurtured so well,” Ji Mo Li praised.

“No matter how well nurtured, they will eventually wither,” Xie Yunshen replied coolly. Then, rifling through the Underworld reports, he extracted a sheet and circled a name with his brush.

“Li Che.”

National Teacher Xie Yunshen leaned back in his creaking bamboo chair.

“Now that the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff has fallen into the Underworld’s grasp, I suspect it must be in Li Che’s possession. A mere laborer, yet hidden in a divine embryo for six years…” Xie Yunshen mused.

Xie Yunshen remarked.

“Exactly… this wager will help the Prince test this man’s mettle. Let’s see if we can expose this monkey for what he is.”

National Teacher Xie Yunshen sat back, watching the ripples on his tea, and sipped a hot mouthful. “When the Staff emerges, Qitian trembles; the mountains and rivers of the Great Jing Court will shake…”

“Who is it that could cause the very mountains and rivers to tremble?” Ji Mo Li asked, turning his piercing gaze around.

Xie Yunshen laughed and spat out a bit of tea foam.

“Prince, don’t kid yourself. It won’t be you.”

“If only the Prince could spare me this trouble.”