Chapter 342: Gambling on Destiny

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

A gust swept through the hall, coming from beyond the small building. It rustled the long fabric strips and made the bells hanging on the door dance with a tinkling sound, as if the atmosphere had suddenly fallen into a deathly silence.

Clad in dark armor, Ji Mo Li’s deep, black eyes flashed with a hint of confusion that soon faded into profound darkness. “The National Teacher was right. I am the King Ping Luan of the Great Realm—tasked solely with restoring order. So what if that means shaking up the empire?”

Ji Mo Li spoke in a deep, husky tone, his voice brimming with a sense of entitlement.

The old man in plain clothes glanced at Ji Mo Li and gave a slight smile before his gaze returned to the documents on the table—information about the Underworld he had gathered from Daocheng. He placed great importance on it.

To him, any force suddenly emerging that could affect a territory was a variable worth watching. “This is a variable slowly gaining strength and expanding its influence.”

“What started in Feilei City, then spread to Jingguang Prefecture, and later reached Daocheng…

“Its influence is gradually expanding. Yet, coincidentally, it is connected to that family. The signs of the Underworld emerged in Feilei City when Li Che’s family resided there. Six years ago, Li Che was just a laborer at a woodcarving shop in Feilei City…

“It was then that the Underworld left its trace—the first member being the Ogre…”

The National Teacher, Xie Yunshen, with streaks of white at his temples and deep, penetrating eyes, systematically arranged the information uploaded by his spies in Daocheng. Opposite him, Ji Mo Li sat in silence.

He looked at the old man—who bore three lotus marks on his face—with a complicated expression.

The old man wasn’t particularly strong; his martial skills barely reached the realm of a master, and his divine nature was unimpressive despite years of cultivation—it was all about nurturing his spirit.

Yet this seemingly weak man stood at the pinnacle of power in the Great Realm, having earned the trust of an emperor with extremely high cultivation. Appointed as National Teacher, he single-handedly maintained and restrained the major sects while scheming against the Da Li Wangting.

Ji Mo Li secretly admired Xie Yunshen. In his eyes, cultivation was supreme. Still, it seemed Xie Yunshen didn’t share the same view.

As if sensing Ji Mo Li’s gaze, National Teacher Xie Yunshen said, “Your Highness, don’t look at me like that…”

“The matter of the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff came as a surprise. The result predicted by the Grand Inspector, based on a decade’s lifespan, is likely accurate. I cannot take it lightly. At the very least, we must force that unruly monkey who obtained the staff to reveal himself.”

Xie Yunshen stopped reviewing the documents and sipped his hot tea.

Ji Mo Li nodded and slowly stood up. His imposing figure and clanging armor suggested a terrifying power hidden beneath the metal. “National Teacher… was it your doing that the heads of Xiao Lingyin Temple, Tian Dan Gu Changqing, and the other four sect leaders united?”

“Did you know from the start that Lü Taibai would be the one to overturn the table?” Ji Mo Li asked.

“If Lü Taibai hadn’t overturned the table, wouldn’t your plans have been in vain? Your arguments would have amounted to nothing…” The old man lightly swirled his tea cup and shot Ji Mo Li a peculiar look. “How could your words be empty?”

“If Lü Taibai held back, it would plant a seed in his heart—a seed that will inevitably sprout, just as a sword cultivator will eventually kill…”

“Then, while the sect heads are busy fighting among themselves, I would have it easier. My only worry is if they band together too closely… then I’ll have to find a way to sow discord among them.”

“And if Lü Taibai does overturn the table… that would be ideal.”

“Just as he now displays his Devastation Sword, pressing down on the six sects—they may feel satisfied for a moment, but what then?”

“He’ll only watch helplessly as he plunges into the realm of Divine Tribulation.”

“He becomes the target of all.”

Xie Yunshen chuckled and lightly tapped his fingers on the table. “I never lose,” he declared.

“It’d be better if Lü Taibai didn’t overturn the table—someone else will eventually do it. The Underworld isn’t one to swallow its pride silently, either.”

Xie Yunshen squinted his eyes.

Ji Mo Li’s deep black pupils twitched slightly. After clasping his fist in respect, he took his leave, turning away.

The clashing of his armor shattered the thin wind and snow as he vanished into the blizzard of Second City.

The old man in plain clothes walked to the railing of the pavilion, watching Ji Mo Li, who had mounted his horse and galloped away recklessly through the orderly chaos of Divine Capital Second City, his eyes narrowing.

Then he raised his head to gaze into the distance at a towering, eight-sided, double-eaved structure—the Qintian Baolou. Mysterious, profound, and aloof. “Mechanical Art, spatial transference, and the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince…”

“Grand Inspector, the Underworld…”

“Was this all your doing?”

A fiery, majestic jiao-horse, its sinewy body covered in delicate dragon scales and hooves that seemed to ignite the ground, carried Ji Mo Li back to the Ping Luan Wang Mansion. As soon as he dismounted, armored soldiers led his horse away.

Ji Mo Li strode on, his aura growing more terrifying by the moment. The very air appeared to tremble and ripple with folds of energy.

He entered the courtyard, where four massive, armored figures—each surrounded by swirling, almost tangible streams of condensed blood energy—stood guard. His gaze rested on the final figure: Ji Li Shou, who had died in Daocheng, leaving him bereft of a son.

The four Heavenly Kings incarnated, though one was missing. Fortunately, he had taken on a personal disciple who could fill the void.

Ji Li Shou’s essence was merging with him. Soon, his disciple would transform into Ji Li Shou, blending their bloodlines. However, Ji Li Shou couldn’t be dispatched for now.

Among his four sons, only Ji Li Shou was the weakest and youngest, still eligible for the Heroes’ Banquet. The other three—Ji Li Qing, Ji Li Hong, and Ji Li Hai—had all surpassed the standard.

“To expose that unruly monkey’s true face… does the National Teacher believe the Underworld Divine Monkey is hidden within the Qianyuan Divine Sect?”

“He still thinks that the Qianyuan Divine Sect staged a grand play just to secure the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff within their clan… ‘Qianyuan…’”

“Wants to become the next Qitian Temple!”

Standing in the courtyard, Ji Mo Li’s black hair fluttered as he pondered.

His gaze swept over and finally rested on the figure disguised as his son, Ji Li Shou, who saluted with clashing armor like a small mountain.

“Father.”

Beneath the clanging armor, a pair of sharp, piercing eyes emerged.

Armors clashed and soared as the once towering three-meter figure gradually shrank to a normal size, revealing a sturdy youth with striking, crimson-glass eyes.

“Zhou Chiguo.”

Ji Mo Li looked at the youth, his eyes twinkling, and a small smile curling his lips. “Force that unruly monkey to reveal his true face for me.”

aaee

In a single day, the news of Lü Taibai’s sword pressing down on the six sect leaders spread through Divine Capital like a storm. Throughout the nine cities of Divine Capital, tales of his heroic strike were rampant.

As the six major sects united, many prodigies among their disciples were forced into the banquet preliminaries, ensuring that the Qianyuan Divine Sect’s young talents would be completely sidelined from the Paotao Victory Feast.

Enraged, Lü Taibai charged toward the Xiao Lingyin Courtyard, unleashing his Devastation Sword that had caught the Tao Essence. It intimidated the six sect leaders, forcing them to concede, and even he resorted to wagering precious treasures.

This gamble roared like a tidal wave on the Grand Canal, capturing everyone’s attention. Every onlooker yearned to witness this extravagant showdown—especially since it involved a top-tier Three-Life Body!

While it might seem trivial—after all, the Yellow-Browed Great Master of Xiao Lingyin Temple wagered with a Three-Life Body—even so, considering that his Three-Life Body belonged to the Holy Hand Divine Eagle, it was understandable. Lü Taibai was probably aiming for that Holy Hand Divine Eagle.

At Qianyuan Courtyard, a gentle breeze blew.

The delicate snowfall gradually ceased, so light that it barely accumulated—more like a drizzle that only appeared occasionally.

Within the courtyard,

After a day of recovery, the prodigies from the Qianyuan Divine Sect and the Daocheng aristocratic families, who had suffered a setback, emerged from their gloom and regained their vitality.

Because Sect Leader Lü Taibai had restored their stage and forced the six sect leaders to wager—if they lost, they’d pay an enormous price. A chilly breeze swept through the courtyard.

Yet each child’s heart burned with passion.

XiXi lifted her head high, folding her arms and spreading her legs with an air of dominance.

Figures like Jin Taisui and others kept their distance, though their eyes shone with excitement.

“You need to win seven rounds in a row to succeed. XiXi, you’ve already won one. Just six more consecutive victories will seal the deal!” Yun’e cradled a chubby rabbit as she looked at XiXi tenderly.

She had lost the first round too, but she didn’t mind. After all, fighting wasn’t her strong suit. Moreover, learning that it was a setup by the six major sects had calmed her down.

“Emperor XiXi—screw them! Anyone who dares scheme against us will pay!” Chubby Kid Zhou Peng clenched his chubby fists and shouted loudly.

His eyes blazed with anger!

Missing out on Paotao was unforgivable for a foodie—more painful than even having his meat cut off. Especially after hearing XiXi remark how delicious Paotao was, he felt as if he were being whipped in hell.

His anger could not be contained.

Under the eaves,

The gust continued to blow, stirring the figures sitting beneath. Lü Taibai and Zhao Fangzhou sat together.

Li Che and Zhang Ya sat side by side, but beside them stood a lamp-like presence—Monitor Hong Shifo of the Imperial Watch from Daocheng, carrying a chessboard and beaming cheerfully, completely unbothered by his role as the backdrop.

“Li Bansheng, after I returned to the Imperial Watch, I reported this to the Grand Inspector. He agreed to prepare a special examination for you as a top official…”

“However, this special exam will likely require both you and the deputy inspectors to personally oversee it.”

Li Che smiled and said, “That’s fine. Whoever supervises, it’s all about skill.” Monitor Hong Shifo stroked his beard and replied, “Indeed, the supervisors won’t differ much.”

“But Li Bansheng… the Imperial Watch’s special exam is far tougher than carving out a Half-Saint Divine Eagle. You’d better be prepared.” Monitor Hong Shifo looked at the confident Li Che and, after a moment’s thought, warned him.

Li Che’s expression turned grave. “Monitor Hong Shifo, with the pact made by the Sect Leader and the six major sect leaders, as a member of the Divine Sect I cannot shirk my responsibility. So… once I complete the banquet wager, may I accompany you to the Imperial Watch?”

Li Che addressed Hong Shifo.

Monitor Hong Shifo waved his hand, “Of course. The special exam will take several more days to prepare. I’m just here to alert Li Bansheng so you can be better prepared.”

“After all, the more prepared you are, the greater your chance of passing.”

“I’ve also been eager to see the outcome of this extravagant gamble…”,

“A Three-Life Body, Four-Yu Heavenly Pill, Four-Yu Divine Weapon, and even signings by the Holy Confucian—truly, it’s a gamble to shock the world. No wonder the Paotao Victory Feast always has a grand spectacle.”

Monitor Hong Shifo burst into laughter.

“Darling, it seems XiXi is about to begin!”

Zhang Ya’s soft voice suddenly echoed in Li Che’s ear.

Her hand instinctively gripped Li Che’s arm, and anxiety welled up in her heart.

She couldn’t help but be nervous. Among all the Qianyuan Divine Sect prodigies, only XiXi still needed to secure one win… and she had to win six rounds in a row to fulfill the wager.

“Don’t worry, XiXi is strong.”

Li Che gently patted Zhang Ya’s hand, reassuring his wife.

In truth, both Li Che and Zhang Ya had immense confidence in XiXi, but as the time drew near, nerves inevitably flared. Perhaps that’s the plight of all parents—their hearts swell and fall with their children’s fortunes.

In the courtyard,

XiXi took out the Paotao Branch, now wrapped with four strands of the West Mother’s divine nature. [To Attend Banquet: Li Nuǎnxi]

[West Mother Divine Nature: Four Strands]

[Qualification Verified, Eligible for the Young Dragon Feast Seat] [Banquet Prepared – Will You Attend?]

XiXi activated her divine nature, merging it with the Paotao Branch. A prompt immediately appeared before her eyes.

A grave expression fixed itself on her chubby face. Taking a deep breath, her little belly swelled. She sat cross-legged, and with a stirring of her spirit, she chose to attend!

“It’s starting…”

At the very moment XiXi opted to attend the banquet.

Lü Taibai’s eyes, beneath his two silver eyebrows, narrowed slightly. This wager was a formidable test for XiXi—but if she could win six rounds in a row, its significance would be monumental.

“I wonder if in this round, one of the six sects’ young dragons will intervene?”

Lü Taibai leaned back in his chair as the charcoal stove beside him bubbled and steamed, heating water rapidly. Meanwhile,

At the moment XiXi infused her divine nature into the Paotao Branch and opted to attend, at Xiao Lingyin Courtyard,

one prodigy sat cross-legged, taking out his own Paotao Branch, his fingers tightly grasping as divine nature surged. Xiao Lingyin Courtyard was exceptionally lively today.

The wager made by the six sect leaders and Lü Taibai had long attracted attention throughout Divine Capital. Rumor had it that even the imperial palace and temple in the First City were watching. A loss here would be utterly disgraceful—indeed, it had become a battle that strained the very honor of their sects.

The six sect leaders—Yellow-Browed Great Master, Gu Changqing, Ning Caishen, Gu Cheng, Bai Buyi, and Zhao Chunqiu—sat under the eaves.

Meanwhile, prodigy disciples from Xiao Lingyin Temple, Tian Dan Divine Sect, and Seven Treasure Divine Sect gathered in the courtyard, each finding a spot to sit cross-legged. “Lü Taibai’s personal disciple, Li Nuǎnxi of the Underworld, fortified by Mechanical Art, wields a strength not inferior to that of a grandmaster…

“So the dispatched young dragons must be the top prodigies of each sect; only then can they have a chance to defeat Li Nuǎnxi. One win against her will nullify the wager.”

Sitting atop a polished Buddha Chariot under the eaves, the Yellow-Browed Great Master, his long eyebrows swaying in the wind, said flatly,

“It shouldn’t be too hard. This little girl, though barely at half-step grandmaster level in martial prowess and yet only at divine vision level, is hardly comparable to a true grandmaster’s divine vision.”

“Thus, her main challenge lies in her Mechanical Art.”

“Once she dodges the initial onslaught of her Mechanical Art, the strength of a grandmaster should secure a victory.” The Sect Leader of Tian Dan Divine Sect, Gu Changqing, smiled faintly.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let our first young dragon from Tian Dan Divine Sect, ‘Gu Jiang’, meet this little girl. Perhaps the first battle will be decided on the spot?”

His gaze fell on a slender, youth clad in green—the first young dragon of this season from Tian Dan Divine Sect, Gu Jiang. His talent was said to outshine even Gu He, who had once journeyed to Daocheng.

“Gu Jiang, are you confident?” Gu Changqing stroked his beard and smiled.

The elegant youth opened his eyes, “Rest assured, Sect Leader. She is the top prodigy of Qianyuan Divine Sect, while I am the number one from Tian Dan Divine Sect. I’m six years his senior—I won’t lose, and I simply cannot lose.”

“I will win,” Gu Jiang stated gravely.

He had carefully observed XiXi’s battle techniques in the preliminary banquet alongside Li Nuǎnxi and Shi Ming’s match, noting that she relied not on technique but on sheer bombardment.

Shi Ming, a prodigy of True Martial Divine Sect, was gifted and powerful. Specializing in near-pure martial prowess, his durability was exceptional—but still, he was overwhelmed and defeated by bombardment.

Gu Jiang was cautious not to underestimate, but he realized that XiXi’s true weakness lay in her reliance on brute force.

It seemed that none of the current young dragons of Qianyuan Divine Sect could truly stand out. Even Lü Qingxuan, who had long dominated the rankings, had never reached the grandmaster realm. But Gu Jiang was different—

He was already a grandmaster! A six-match winning streak?

Let the first battle… end in a crushing defeat!

“Little girl, prepare to feel the harsh truth of the world!” Gu Jiang clenched his fist.

On the Paotao Branch, the divine light blazed brilliantly!

Due to the wager, all other prodigies were barred from attending the banquet. Only he and XiXi remained, effectively matching them one-on-one. Humm—!!!

Divine nature swirled together like a storm!

Once the brilliance faded, Gu Jiang had completely vanished from where he once stood. At Qianyuan Courtyard,

“We’ve entered. The opponent has been matched. Let’s go in and have a look.” As soon as XiXi’s image vanished into the courtyard via teleportation,

Lü Taibai produced the Ten-Thousand-Year Paotao Branch, sweeping it forcefully. Everyone was swept along as if attending a banquet of immortals. And this time, not only members of Qianyuan Divine Sect but forces with certain means and qualifications from nearly all nine cities of Divine Capital activated their Paotao Branches to enter the viewing platform. That familiar feeling of deific presence had returned.

Li Che looked around the viewing platform. Countless divine eagle statues emanated divine light. Undoubtedly, these divine eagles had been imbued with divine presence and now occupied seats to watch XiXi’s battle.

There were quite a few—nearly one-third of the divine eagles were taken over by divine presence. Clearly, more people were interested in this wager than he had imagined.

Divine Capital… it must be rather dull on most days.

Lost in thought, Li Che’s gaze fell upon the massive arena in the Divine Temple. “Tian Dan Divine Sect?”

Li Che raised his eyebrow.

XiXi’s first opponent was none other than Gu Jiang, the top young dragon of Tian Dan Divine Sect.

Beside him, Monitor Hong Shifo grinned as he introduced, “This is the first young dragon of Tian Dan Divine Sect… Gu Jiang.”

Monitor Hong Shifo clearly liked XiXi. Despite her occasional eccentricities, there was nothing wrong with her—a naturally endearing child. He sincerely hoped that XiXi could achieve the impossible feat of sweeping six rounds in one go.

Though it sounded nearly impossible—after all, she had to defeat the top young dragon of all six major sects!

From her childhood, resources had been poured into cultivating these prodigies—the top young dragons were like gold-devouring beasts!

These first young dragons were practically guaranteed seats at the Young Dragon Victory Feast. “So difficult…”

Monitor Hong Shifo frowned slightly.

The little girl was about to face the greatest test of her life…

On an arena paved with white jade, XiXi and Gu Jiang stood face-to-face. A Grandmaster!

The moment XiXi laid eyes on Gu Jiang, she sensed an overwhelming martial will emanating from him; the very air seemed compressed under its weight. Though martial rank exerted less pressure than divine nature, it was still undeniably real.

Buzz—buzz—buzz!!!

Flames burst and spiraled wildly as, under XiXi’s spotless feet, two Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheels began spinning at breakneck speed, dragging her body upward. Sparks flew, air howled, and her form was propelled skyward.

Her fingers clenched.

A pink Namo Celestial Craft Gatling immediately fell into her hand. Six red-hot metal tubes glowed fiercely.

Gu Jiang watched XiXi with calm eyes. With a clenched fist, a cyan spear materialized in his hand.

“Little girl, even if you use your Mechanical Art to close the distance, the gap between a grandmaster and a sect leader cannot be bridged simply with techniques. No matter how good your Mechanical Art is, you can’t unleash it without limit.”

Gu Jiang instantly saw the flaw in XiXi’s approach.

In the next instant, his foot slammed down, and a cloud of dust erupted. His cyan form darted like a blue dragon as he shot forward with explosive speed. Bang—bang—bang—bang—bang—!!!

XiXi didn’t waste a word with Gu Jiang. She immediately opened fire!

The six red metal tubes began to spin at high speed, unleashing torrents of golden light swords that pummeled the white jade floor into a pockmarked mess while dust exploded everywhere. Meanwhile, Gu Jiang wielded his cyan spear with the agility of a drifting dragon.

Grandmaster-level Divine Guts burst forth in silver, interweaving and vibrating as he unleashed an extremely nimble Martial Saint Technique!

Like a fish in water, he weaved through the barrage of golden light from the gatling, constantly trying to close the gap with XiXi. Gu Jiang was clearly straining.

The power of these mechanical projectiles was terrifying. One hit, and covered in firepower, he would suffer greatly.

Yet he had activated his primordial spirit and his divine nature glowed around him. With his divine cultivation at the peak of Divine Vision, his primordial essence sharpened his senses.

That heightened awareness, combined with a grandmaster’s robust physique, gave Gu Jiang the confidence to withstand XiXi’s mechanical onslaught. He expended his Divine Guts, blood, and divine power recklessly.

As the first young dragon of Tian Dan Divine Sect, he was never short on medicinal pills.

The banquet rules were lenient—even the use of pills was not restricted. Gu Jiang could even consume those that pushed the limits of the human body. One pill, swallowed and crushed during rapid movement, would restore his strength so he could continue to dodge…

When he sensed the firepower waning, a delighted smile cracked on his face. He felt it…

The firepower was beginning to weaken!

Li Nuǎnxi’s reserves of Mechanical Art were depleting!

Gu Jiang’s eyes brightened. He began moving, trying to force his way closer to XiXi. Once close enough, with his grandmaster strength and primordial cultivation,

he could easily overpower Li Nuǎnxi, the top young dragon of Qianyuan Divine Sect.

“Too soft!” Gu Jiang roared, “Li Nuǎnxi!” “It’s over!” Bang—!!!

When the barrage paused,

Gu Jiang stomped down heavily, causing the white jade floor to quake and crack—radiating fissures spreading rapidly! With a mighty swing of his cyan spear, he roared like a dragon, the booming wind howling as it twisted wildly!

A hundred feet! Ten feet! Three feet!

Gu Jiang’s eyes sparkled with fierce exhilaration! Bang—!!

As he neared within a few feet, he could clearly see the panic on the little girl’s adorably chubby face. Gu Jiang bit down on the pill in his mouth, his blood erupting like fireworks with crackling pops, rising steadily!

Suddenly…

Gu Jiang noticed the panic vanish from XiXi’s eyes, replaced in an instant by a flash of cunning.

Then, he saw an overwhelming surge of divine nature overflowing from XiXi’s brow!

Countless black flames erupted behind her, coalescing into a fearsome visage with Eight-Armed Three-Faced might! Bang—!!!

The terrifying pressure of her divine rank violently slammed down on him, making Gu Jiang feel as if his body had sunk. His primordial spirit operated in sluggish torment.

He scrambled to focus his grandmaster Divine Guts and blood energy, trying to break free of the oppressive force. But then a flash of golden light shot toward him!

It was too fast—too fast! And that was—

A gold brick!

It struck him hard on the back of the head…

Gu Jiang’s robust grandmaster body proved resilient enough to avoid a fatal blow, so the West Mother’s divine nature did not trigger.

But the impact from the unleashed force of the God-Slaying Gold Brick left Gu Jiang’s mind buzzing and his primordial essence shattered by a pain like being pricked by thousands of needles.

In an instant, Gu Jiang’s handsome face twisted in agony, tears and snot streaming uncontrollably!

Gu Jiang let out a long, pained howl.

Then XiXi, with her pink Namo Celestial Craft Gatling, pressed forward against his face. “Feign weakness to bait the enemy, then counterattack when he’s off guard!”

“This is Master Niu Niu’s way of fighting!” “I am XiXi, Little Niu Mo!”

XiXi grinned widely. Flames exploded in a tremendous burst.

A huge mushroom cloud erupted, with terrifying fire soaring skyward, blooming into a slowly descending cap. “Ahahaha—”

XiXi stepped on the Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, hoisted the pink Namo Celestial Craft Gatling, and ran as if on a flat path!

After a series of pitiful sounds, Gu Jiang fell silent. The West Mother’s divine nature bathed him in healing light, completely restoring his injuries before ejecting him from the Divine Temple. A profound silence fell over the viewing platform.

Gu Changqing’s face turned ashen.

“The God-Slaying Gold Brick and even a Third-Rank Divine Vision from the Sanqing level have shattered Gu Jiang’s consciousness, completely tearing apart his weak spots…”

“This little girl… such cunning, such underhanded tactics in battle!” Gu Changqing said gravely.

It could only be said that the prodigy of Tian Dan Divine Sect certainly possessed high cultivation—but that was all thanks to heaps of pills. As for combat experience… that wasn’t something pills could teach. This little girl is only six…

How could she have such devious and underhanded fighting methods?!

From the direction of Qianyuan Divine Sect,

The children of the Divine Sect and the aristocratic families in Daocheng, brought by Lü Taibai to watch the battle, erupted in excited cheers and screams, shattering the silence of the viewing platform!

Gu Changqing’s face grew even darker. With a sudden sweep of his sleeve, he left the viewing platform.

After her victory, XiXi, stepping triumphantly on the Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, descended to the table to sample the small feast reserved for winners—a Paotao that was vividly red, as if drenched in blood.

XiXi didn’t dwell on it; she devoured the blood-red Paotao from the plate cleanly, and then paired it with a steaming cup of tea. Afterward…

XiXi felt her blood and energy surge uncontrollably, as if a strand of silver Divine Guts were darting like lightning around her.

At the viewing platform, many experts immediately noticed XiXi’s condition.

Their eyes grew serious.

“This little girl has eaten three ‘Chi Dragon Blood Paotao’. She’s on the verge of breaking through to grandmaster level!” Without reaching grandmaster, how could such a tenacious child be so tricky…

How could she possibly fight after breaking through?

Lü Taibai suddenly laughed heartily, “The quality of the battle between XiXi and Gu Jiang has far exceeded an ordinary banquet. The West Mother and Temple Spirit have sensed it… and have upgraded the prepared delicacies!”

“So it’s Chi Dragon Blood Paotao! That’s a delicacy usually reserved for the main banquet!” Lü Taibai’s divine nature flickered in astonishment.

People began to leave the viewing platform, their consciousness returning to their bodies in the courtyard. And in the courtyard, divine forces intertwined.

XiXi returned, clutching the Paotao Branch now boasting five strands of the West Mother’s divine nature.

Her whole being turned a fierce red, as if plucked from a river of blood!

Lü Taibai instantly appeared by her side, a wisp of sword energy coiling from his fingertip to her brow as he steadied her surging blood and energy. He began guiding her to refine her energy, to perceive the martial will, and to break through to Grandmaster-level Divine Guts!

A six-year-old Grandmaster of Divine Guts…

Even Lü Taibai couldn’t help but be astonished. And under the eaves,

Watching as XiXi entered her breakthrough state.

Li Che slowly stood up, his face radiating an innocent, gentle warmth. “Since XiXi is set on breaking through to grandmaster, let’s pause her banquet for now. Allow me, as her father, to help her continue the performance.”

Li Che brought his two fingers together and sliced through the air.

In the next instant, a Paotao Branch entwined with three strands of the West Mother’s divine nature fell into his hand. Lü Taibai’s eyes swept over it with a tinge of solemn concern.

He had an inkling… that he might have inadvertently become entangled in this scheme.

This wager… seems to have been aimed not at just him, but at the Divine Monkey! He knew Li Che’s martial prowess was formidable…

The Divine Monkey’s strength was roughly equivalent to the level of a Qi Hai Martial Saint. But…

Li Che’s divine cultivation had only just broken through to the Divine Nucleus stage. Relying solely on his divine nature without revealing his martial prowess—could he win?!

As Li Che pondered,

he gripped the Paotao Branch with his five fingers.

In an instant, he disappeared, matched with his opponent, and entered the Divine Temple. Lü Taibai, to protect XiXi, refrained from watching.

Just as his mind churned and he turned to help XiXi consolidate her Divine Guts, his body suddenly trembled.

He quickly turned his head.

And he saw the figure of Li Che, who had just vanished, now reappearing, about to be matched with his second opponent… Lü Taibai was stunned. “How… so soon?!”