Chapter 344: Fury Unleashed in the Divine Arena

“Teacher, let me kill you.”

There was a hint of madness, a streak of unbridled defiance.

Zhou Daoyuan—or rather, those glassy, scarlet eyes—sparked with an intense, unwavering battle intent and determination.

It was as if he had heard his teacher order him to kill Li Che, and he vowed to do so at any cost—even if it meant sacrificing his own life! Such was his domineering, fierce tone.

Li Che’s brow furrowed slightly as he eyed the man before him, a disciple from Jin Guang Mansion… Zhou Daoyuan.

That name held a strange familiarity.

“Zhou Daoyuan…”

“You’re Zhou Daoyuan?”

Li Che raised an eyebrow, as if suddenly recalling where he had heard that name before.

“Are you a disciple of Nan Lihuo?”

Li Che questioned the young man with glassy, crimson eyes before him.

He suddenly remembered—it was the senior brother from the branch of Qianyuan Divine Sect at Jin Guang Mansion, the very one XiXi had mentioned hesitantly.

Nan Lihuo’s disciple who had left him speechless on more than one occasion.

“Master Lihuo…”

In the young man’s scarlet eyes, a trace of nostalgia, confusion, and even hesitation flickered briefly…

but swiftly his crimson hue intensified, suppressing any doubt or wavering resolve.

He grew as still and cold as a deep well, his laughter turning into a chilling sneer.

“You’re nothing but a worthless weakling.”

“Your cultivation is barely at the Yuan Phase—how can you compare to my master, Zhou Daoyuan?”

“No, this world no longer has Zhou Daoyuan. What remains is… Zhou Chiguo.”

The young man, pressing the white jade pipa against the ground, spoke in an increasingly indifferent tone.

He had cast away his old identity to embrace his new name.

That name was like a creed, etched into the depths of his soul, for which he would devote his entire life.

Li Che’s expression hardened as he looked at Zhou Chiguo.

“Nan Lihuo told me you were dead.”

“But judging by now… you’re hardly dead, just as good as it.”

“Some people may live, but they are already as good as dead—I’m talking about you.”

Li Che’s jet-black hair whipped in the wind.

At this, Zhou Chiguo burst into hearty laughter, shaking his head as if unperturbed.

Around the Divine Temple.

Numerous immortal beings and divine eagles began to radiate light!

It was as if endless starlight cascaded down, a celestial dance of stars taking their positions.

Within these immortal palaces, the very will of cultivators from various divine sects resided.

They had purposefully come to witness this grand feast.

Li Che had effortlessly crushed the top hero of the Seven Treasure Divine Sect and secured a consecutive victory—the near-invincible Form of Divine Nucleus…

Its might had already stunned many. No one had expected an Elder of Qianyuan Divine Sect, fresh from breaking through the Divine Nucleus stage, to wield such formidable combat power.

And that much-publicized wager seemed to become ever more enigmatic as Li Che unleashed his peerless might.

Perhaps the grand gamble between Sect Leader Lü Taibai of Qianyuan Divine Sect and the leaders of the six major sects wasn’t without a possibility of success! But the onlookers had come primarily to witness the duel.

For this battle, facing Elder Li Che of Qianyuan Divine Sect was none other than Ji Mo Li’s disciple… one of his four prominent disciples: Zhou Chiguo!

This raised the expectations of many.

The discord between Ji Mo Li and Qianyuan Divine Sect was widely known.

Ji Mo Li’s youngest son, Ji Haihui, had perished on the Lingnan Path, while the Dragon Queen—whom he married from the Dragon God Clan—also died in Daocheng. Many observed that these events were intricately linked with Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Thus, this battle… was not merely about the wager; it carried personal vendettas as well! Poor, honest Li Bansheng caught in it all.

After Li Che scored two quick victories over heroes from the Tian Dan Divine Sect and the Seven Treasure Divine Sect, his renown soared. The once underdog, now the formidable Half-Saint Divine Eagle, had risen from working in a small town to a towering figure…

His feats nearly shook the entire Divine Capital!

Especially in the lower cities of the Divine Capital—Ninth, Eighth, and Seventh Cities—the cultivators and commoners, struggling to progress, were greatly inspired. Though they were barred from the Divine Temple, they could still hear tales from the tea houses.

Lü Taibai, having descended with divine power, wore an expression of grave concern.

“Zhou Chiguo… Ji Mo Li’s third disciple, like You Liqing, is one of the most watched disciples. He is vastly different from City Lord Su Huai Li.”

“Ji Mo Li has five disciples. The youngest, Su Huai Li, died in Daocheng; the fourth, You Liqing, also perished there…”

“But You Liqing was a top-tier Grandmaster, for whom Ji Mo Li had high hopes. Once You Liqing broke through the Martial Saint level, he would have been recalled… alas, he was slain in the Underworld.”

Lü Taibai squinted as he explained to those around him.

“And this Zhou Chiguo is different—he has already broken through both the Martial Saint and Divine Nucleus stages, honed through great sacrifices by Ji Mo Li… now, he has been blessed with Ji Mo Li’s own bloodline!” “After Ji Li Shou’s death, he was raised as the fourth son.”

Lü Taibai said gravely.

“Now Zhou Chiguo, having inherited Ji Mo Li’s bloodline, is far stronger than before. This battle will be a grueling one!”

The onlookers from Qianyuan Divine Sect grew somber.

Especially Zhang Ya, who tensed up upon learning that her husband’s opponent was connected to Ji Mo Li—a man who once cast a dark shadow over her life.

After all, back in Jin Guang Mansion, when Little Prince Ji Haihui appeared, it had placed tremendous pressure on her family. XiXi had nearly become Ji Haihui’s slave. And now, Ji Mo Li’s own son was to face her husband…

Zhang Ya’s beautiful face flushed scarlet as a surge of anger welled up.

On the surrounding viewing platforms, the expressions of the divine immortals fluctuated unpredictably.

Yet, nothing could sway Li Che and Zhou Chiguo battling atop the white jade arena.

Li Che looked at Zhou Chiguo with cold detachment.

Whatever changes had befallen him—especially those haunting, glassy scarlet eyes that betrayed an unspoken sorrow—Li Che was resolute: if obstacles stood in his way, they’d be shattered first.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

On the white jade arena, a wild gust suddenly swirled into existence, whipping up a chaotic torrent of air.

It was the raging blood and spirit surging from Zhou Chiguo, an overwhelming torrent like a vast, unceasing ocean! The sound of bones and sinew clashing echoed mightily as his fist clenched.

He glanced towards the viewing platform.

In one resolute look, he fixed his gaze on Ji Mo Li’s position.

It seemed he could even glimpse Ji Mo Li nodding subtly in his direction.

Zhou Chiguo understood the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. Ji Mo Li had urged him to act—to force out that hidden, unruly monkey! His scarlet eyes locked onto Li Che.

Is Li Che the Underworld Divine Monkey?!

Zhou Chiguo wasn’t sure, nor did it matter… As long as he pressed hard, Li Che would be forced to reveal himself. The Underworld Divine Monkey was rumored to be a Martial Saint!

In a duel within the Divine Temple, under the protective aura of Xi Wangmu, death would not befall them.

Thus, testing whether Li Che was really the Underworld Divine Monkey wasn’t easy, for he could simply concede if outmatched. That’s why Ji Mo Li had prepared a method to test him!

Zhou Chiguo, eager to begin, sprang forward with a series of rapid steps—crack, crack, crack!

The white jade pipa smashed to the ground was suddenly engulfed in overwhelming divine power, its strings vibrating as if strummed by an unseen hand!

Waves of tumultuous divine energy and primordial spirit radiated outward in ripples, threatening to drive one into madness! The pipa itself seemed to awaken, soaring into the air.

In that moment, a faint, ghostly image of a Temple Spirit materialized. A vast surge of divine power emanated from the white jade pipa.

This white jade pipa…

was none other than a lesser divine weapon of the Four Supreme orders—imbued with overwhelming Temple Spirit power!

As the pipa’s power surged, Zhou Chiguo’s eyes lit up. Grinning ferociously, he kicked down; a long, white spear forged of white jade instantly landed in his hand.

His flesh-core cauldron burst forth from his dantian with explosive force, its shockwave rolling outward like a tidal surge! The might of a Martial Saint erupted around him.

It seemed as if tangible waves of color, like crashing sea waves, twisted the very air—searing and boiling!

Brimming with devastating, destructive force!

Martial Saint, stage two—Qi Sea Realm!

Zhou Chiguo’s jet-black hair whipped wildly as his scarlet eyes blazed, evoking an astonishing aura of the Martial Saint Qi Sea. It was…

Stage two Martial Saint!

Li Che’s eyes too flashed with a strange light, though he appeared unruffled.

For Ji Li Shou himself was a stage two Martial Saint. And Zhou Chiguo had been groomed as Ji Mo Li’s replacement for the fallen Ji Li Shou—naturally, he too had reached the stage two Martial Saint level!

Li Che sensed that Ji Mo Li was playing with something entirely new!

Perhaps he hoped to amass four Temple Spirits, gathering their power to shield himself and trigger a transformation! Li Che’s dark hair whipped in the wind as the mud pellet on his brow burst apart, tearing outward.

A dazzling burst of golden light erupted! It was as if a fierce simian’s roar had vibrated through, and his divine embryo pulsated violently!

Then, like a raging river, divine force spread from Li Che’s body, swelling like a balloon in midair!

Divine Nucleus Technique! Cosmic Chessboard!

Zhou Chiguo advanced two imposing steps, his spirit and blood swirling like dragons and snakes, his muscular bulk tensing as thick veins throbbed on his arm that gripped the white jade spear.

With one sweeping motion, countless streams of air shattered into fragments!

“Your Divine Nucleus Technique is formidable—but you… have only just broken through the Divine Nucleus!” “I am a stage two Martial Saint!”

“How can you block me?!”

Countless torrents of blood and spirit coalesced on the spear’s tip into a collapsing, horrifying force—a brutal Yuan Gang that exploded with dazzling radiance as it shattered like dense fog.

Fa Tian Xiang Di struck down with crushing force, colliding with the spear that had been launched by Zhou Chiguo’s stage two Martial Saint power! At the point of impact…

the white jade brick-paved arena erupted in a web of divine cracks, as divine energy and blood surged in a titanic collision!

The shockwave spread outward in concentric circles, raising swirling dust! “Hmm?!”

“So hard?! It won’t break?!”

Zhou Chiguo’s scarlet eyes widened in astonishment and gravity. What kind of Divine Nucleus Technique was this?!

How could it be so powerful?

He had unleashed the power of a stage two Martial Saint!

Ordinarily, a stage two Martial Saint could easily overpower a Divine Nucleus cultivator with one Divine Transformation—if only he could close the gap. “Break through his Fa Tian Xiang Di!”

“No matter how strong his Divine Nucleus Technique is, it’s still only a Divine Transformation!”

Zhou Chiguo sprang backward, stamping his foot with a resounding crack as web-like fissures spread, shattering the air in a burst and hurling his spear forward to strike at Li Che, whose Fa Tian Xiang Di shield protected him!

Amid clanging sounds that resounded like a symphony!

Zhou Chiguo roared and his dark, armor-like shell spun at high speed, clattering as it enveloped him! Soon, his body swelled like an inflated balloon!

At last, his massive form rose to three and a half meters tall!

Though he was no match for the towering twenty-zhang Fa Tian Xiang Di, he was far from a mere insect! Boom—!

Once again, his spear collided ferociously with Li Che’s Fa Tian Xiang Di!

The impact was colossal—Zhou Chiguo’s stage two Martial Saint spirit and blood surged mightily, colliding with the Fa Tian Xiang Di to cause a network of porcelain-like cracks.

Yet these fissures were quickly mended by the surging divine force emanating from Li Che’s brow! This defense—

this rate of recovery—was monstrous! Boom! A fist crashed down!

Zhou Chiguo’s spear was forced aside as his three-meter tall frame staggered back! He fell to his knees, helmet askew, his only sound a harsh, draconic pant.

Then, his scarlet eyes flared anew!

Elsewhere, under the force of Zhou Chiguo’s divine assault, the white jade pipa’s strings trembled, its music staggered: “Shatter it!”

Zhou Chiguo pointed his spear at the head of Li Che’s massive Fa Tian Xiang Di! Buzz, buzz, buzz—

Countless pipa sound-waves, as if transformed into tangible notes, coalesced into a chain that snapped tight the moment his spear aimed!

Boom—!!!

It was as if an aural chain had encircled Li Che’s Fa Tian Xiang Di, sealing it off! “It’s over!”

Zhou Chiguo’s cold voice thundered out!

A divine embryo surged from his brow, emitting a piercing, mournful shriek as he clutched the pipa, violently ripping its strings—cacophonous sound-waves burst forth!

The sound-chain wrapping Li Che’s Fa Tian Xiang Di shattered amidst ear-splitting noise! A fearsome explosion rocked the Fa Tian Xiang Di!

In an instant, Li Che’s proud Divine Nucleus Technique—its surface interlaced with divine energy like unbreakable Vajra—was riddled with cracks!

It was as if its weak point had been struck—violently cracked like shattering glass, the fissures spreading like an infection until the entire surface was compromised! It broke!

At last, it shattered!

In that moment, not only did Zhou Chiguo’s scarlet eyes blaze with triumph,

but even the mighty warriors on the viewing platforms were moved to tears! Damn it…

Li Che’s Fa Tian Xiang Di was just too resilient—it hardly looked like the work of a Divine Nucleus cultivator who had only just broken through!

Using the three-qing level of Fa Tian Xiang Di—a divine technique—he could even contend with a stage two Divine Nucleus cultivator!

Remember, divine power itself carries an oppressive weight that is hard to overcome, yet… Li Che’s use of the three-qing level Fa Tian Xiang Di seemed to defy all odds!

Within the cracked Fa Tian Xiang Di,

Li Che stood with his arms folded, his dark hair blowing like black lightning as he looked at the fissured shield and smiled.

“Not bad…”

“Using the power of a divine weapon to shatter my Fa Tian Xiang Di… impressive…”

Li Che offered his praise.

In the next moment, he raised his hand, and from his brow erupted a torrent of divine power.

The once-cracked Fa Tian Xiang Di began repairing itself at breakneck speed, mending the shattered fissures!

In roughly three breaths’ time, the battered Fa Tian Xiang Di had restored itself to an unyielding, pristine state! Simultaneously, the hands that had clutched it since the fight began slowly dropped.

With a detached gaze, Li Che looked at Zhou Chiguo. ‘That’s enough… it’s time to finish this.’

Li Che had deduced that Ji Mo Li suspected his unassuming self of being the Underworld Divine Monkey. If he were, the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff would already be in his grasp.

But…

One Zhou Chiguo was not enough to test him. With two fingers pressed together, he tore open the Qiankun Space!

A Half-Saint Divine Eagle suddenly fell into Li Che’s hands as he caught it. Its surface crackled with surging thunder—a replica of that divine eagle which had once devoured heavenly thunder when Li Che broke through the Divine Nucleus!

At that moment, the appearance of the divine eagle unleashed uncontrollable thunder that intertwined and spread—crackle, crackle!

The thunder radiated an intense, burning heat, erupting from the divine eagle as if an ultimate force had been unleashed!

Zhou Chiguo’s body, cloaked in dark armor, suddenly stilled as his scarlet eyes narrowed!

Seeing that after all his efforts, his shattered Fa Tian Xiang Di had miraculously recovered so swiftly, Zhou Chiguo felt both dread and fury!

Was this… a turtle?! Stubborn and unyielding!

Even if Divine Nucleus cultivators were frail in body… if the Fa Tian Xiang Di couldn’t be broken even when struck, how could he force Li Che’s flesh to reveal his Martial Saint might?!

Damn it!

Stimulated once again, Zhou Chiguo’s Divine Nucleus surged as his entire being clenched, and from his back a divine seed spiraled out, detonating with controlled force!

Exceeding two would inflict grievous injuries.

Although the feast was blessed by Xi Wangmu’s divine power, even her protection had limits. The forceful release of divine energy, however, could leave lasting scars! Thus, Zhou Chiguo dared only detonate one divine seed!

As his spirit and blood soared, countless crimson serpents coiled around him. With a shake of his spear, a barrage of spear images spread like a peacock’s display, all aimed at Li Che before his Fa Tian Xiang Di could fully recover!

Yet—Boom—!!!

Within Li Che’s Fa Tian Xiang Di, he merely swept him aside. Deep in his chest,

the Dao Fruit of Thunder Magnetic Conduit began pounding fiercely! The Half-Saint Divine Eagle’s stored calamity thunder… was now under Li Che’s command!

Multitudes of lightning erupted skyward!

They swirled around the Fa Tian Xiang Di, merging perfectly with divine power! Soon, a suit of thunder-forged armor enveloped the shield! Without hesitation, Li Che released his divine might!

The Fa Tian Xiang Di roared, surging higher—

after twenty zhang it soared, then thirty, forty, fifty zhang!

Fifty zhang high, towering like a mountain. Though smaller than Xi Wangmu’s hundred-zhang Temple Spirit statue, it dominated the arena.

Its impact was overwhelmingly fierce!

Coupled with countless Thunder Dragons entwined like resounding chains!

The Fa Tian Xiang Di’s five fingers clenched, shattering the air in an instant as the divine storm, laden with thunder, battered Zhou Chiguo who had just detonated his divine seed! Li Che’s eyes flashed disdain.

“Even your divine seed—if you dare only detonate one—is pitiful! Practice more!”

The fifty-zhang Fa Tian Xiang Di, entwined with thunder, shone like a celestial deity!

A burst of dazzling, exquisite light ensued!

Countless streaks of lightning danced across the Divine Temple!

The mighty warriors on the viewing platform were dumbfounded. Li Che… still had a trump card?!

Many recalled how Li Che had once used a Half-Saint Divine Eagle to attract heavenly thunder at the Ninth City’s dock; none had expected that thunder to be put to such use!

Zhou Chiguo’s entire body, clad in dark armor, now radiated a blue brilliance under the assault of thunder! A titanic fist descended from the heavens!

It slammed into his body with crushing force!

With the combined might of three-qing level divine power, thunder, and the crushing might of Fa Tian Xiang Di, Zhou Chiguo’s dark armor shattered in an instant!

Black mist of blood erupted from his pores, evaporating under the thunder’s might—Zhou Chiguo was utterly doomed!

Grasped by the gigantic hand of thunder-wreathed Fa Tian Xiang Di, he was squeezed as if a mere rodent was caught in a vice. Meanwhile,

within Li Che’s Fa Tian Xiang Di, his fingers rose and concentrated divine power into a Thunder Divine Spear! Simultaneously, the Fa Tian Xiang Di manifested a monstrous Thunder Divine Spear!

With a twist of his waist—and a synchronized twist of the Fa Tian Xiang Di—the Thunder Divine Spear burst forth!

At the moment of the explosive impact, as distant echoes lingered,

Zhou Chiguo, clutching the divine pipa, was impaled by the Thunder Spear that pierced through—pop!

Zhou Chiguo’s mud pellet on his brow exploded, blood pouring down.

His once scarlet, glass-like eyes fell into an endless haze… I… I…

Suddenly,

Zhou Chiguo felt the blood within him boil as a terrifying will descended!

He realized his body was no longer his own. This was…

Master!

On the platform, Ji Mo Li’s eyes shone with a ghostly light.

Amidst the boiling bloodlines, he chose to seize Zhou Chiguo’s body! He intended to personally verify!

Zhou Chiguo couldn’t do it. But Ji Mo Li… could!

He shattered the Fa Tian Xiang Di, closing in on Li Che’s flesh to deliver a killing blow. If Li Che truly was the Divine Monkey, his Martial Saint instincts would trigger an uncontrollable response—an innate warrior’s reflex.

Even if Li Che did not resist, no matter how well he masked it, his Martial Saint body wouldn’t lie! “Release him!”

Zhou Chiguo lifted his head, his scarlet eyes cold and imperious!

Muscles bulged as countless bloodstains—like cursed marks—clung to his skin. They were the imprints of Ji Mo Li’s bloodline now coursing through him!

With whirling spirit and blood, Ji Mo Li controlled Zhou Chiguo’s body, slamming his palms onto the massive hand of Fa Tian Xiang Di, gradually prying it apart until he freed himself!

And Li Che smiled. “Interesting…”

“The Little Prince is now fighting in person—does that make him a hero?”

“This duel stemmed from a wager between the Sect Leader and the leaders of the six major sects. The Little Prince hadn’t even wagered, sending a disciple instead—and now he’s joined the fray…”

His words faded away.

Li Che’s eyes shone with a milky brilliance. Boom, boom, boom—

The sound of a beating heart echoed across the heavens! Then, in the next moment!

Li Che’s palm revealed a white heart forged from intertwined divine power. That heart boasted seven apertures—

the exquisite Seven Aperture Heart!

And as the Seven Aperture Heart emerged, the Fa Tian Xiang Di Divine Nucleus Technique seemed to shatter its chains in an instant, its eyes burning brightly! Every beat of the exquisite heart pumped a terrifying surge into the Fa Tian Xiang Di!

That once-broken massive hand of Fa Tian Xiang Di, pried apart by Ji Mo Li controlling Zhou Chiguo’s body, suddenly clenched! A fearsome white divine force erupted from between its fingers!

The white divine power seeped into Zhou Chiguo’s body until finally… it burst him open! Like a squeezed meatball, his flesh exploded into countless shreds!

A cloud of blood-mist filled the air, lingering for a long time.

At Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

Ji Mo Li, a towering figure, suddenly opened his eyes wide. In them, a flash of scarlet passed. His eyes betrayed a hint of astonishment.

What is this?!

What on earth is that heart?!

“The second gate of the three-qing Divine Nucleus Technique?”

Ji Mo Li’s eyes glimmered in surprise.

Even as he channeled the bloodline power within Zhou Chiguo—seemingly about to pry apart the hand of Fa Tian Xiang Di—the Fa Tian Xiang Di, like a Martial Saint detonating a divine seed, surged with power…

It shattered Zhou Chiguo’s body without mercy.

To be frank, this was truly unexpected for Ji Mo Li. “So… there’s a trump card after all.”

The Fa Tian Xiang Di, coupled with the Thunder Divine Eagle, even harbored another Divine Nucleus Technique…

Even if Li Che had only just broken through the Divine Nucleus stage, his combat prowess in a stage two Divine Transformation was nearly invincible! Two three-qing Divine Techniques plus the Thunder Divine Eagle…

However, the Thunder Divine Eagle likely had limited uses. That was a small mercy.

“It failed… it never confirmed whether he’s that unruly monkey…” Ji Mo Li furrowed his brow.

Beside him, on the Immortal Peach Branch, divine energy trembled.

Zhou Chiguo’s form emerged—his glassy, scarlet eyes now vacant, his face pale, his towering frame teetering… “Teacher… I have failed.”

Quickly regaining his senses, Zhou Chiguo’s face trembled as he knelt, knocking on the ground with quivering kneecaps. Ji Mo Li, clad in black armor and with icy eyes, said,

“It’s not your fault.”

He had personally entered the fray and still failed—how could Ji Mo Li blame Zhou Chiguo? Suddenly,

Ji Mo Li’s gaze hardened and anger surged. “Where is your pipa?!”

Inside the Divine Temple,

only the swirling torrent of energy remained—the terrifying fifty-zhang Fa Tian Xiang Di, cloaked in thunder armor, like a celestial deity! A white heart pounded furiously; each beat unleashed formidable divine might!

The energy of the Fa Tian Xiang Di continued to swell!

And Li Che, harnessing the Fa Tian Xiang Di, at the very moment he shattered Zhou Chiguo’s body, extended his fingers as if sealing the space—capturing the white jade pipa, which Xi Wangmu’s divine power was about to whisk away.

This was no ordinary weapon—it was a Four Supreme lower-grade divine weapon!

Within Li Che’s outstretched Fa Tian Xiang Di fingers lay hidden the Feilei Chess Piece, as if drawing the Cosmic Chessboard, preventing Xi Wangmu’s divine pull. When Zhou Chiguo was drawn back, Xi Wangmu’s influence faded away.

It signified that this Four Supreme divine weapon pipa now belonged to Li!

“Esteemed elders, since the Little Prince didn’t raise a wager, let this divine weapon be his wager. Witness it, all of you.”

Li Che smiled.

On the viewing platform,

an expectant silence fell. No one replied as all descended into silence. Was this a Divine Nucleus Transformation?

Huang Mei, Gu Changqing, Ning Caishen, Gu Cheng, and the other leaders of the six major divine sects wore grim expressions. Would their champion disciples have another chance?

It was bleak!

Unless they could master Triple Divine Nucleus or Triple Martial Saint techniques, there was no hope!

The Sect Leader of True Martial Divine Sect, Shi Jian, marveled at Li Che’s power and silently thanked that his sect had not been mired in the sordid affairs of the six major sects. Lü Taibai burst into laughter, his spirit detaching from the divine feast. The people of Qianyuan Divine Sect exhaled deeply, elated and fervent.

Inside the Divine Temple,

Li Che dispelled the Fa Tian Xiang Di and retracted the Dao Induction Seven Aperture Heart. His ink-black robe remained spotless; not a scratch marred him.

It was as if he had been on a leisurely outing rather than a fierce battle. He approached the subdued white jade pipa.

The flesh split at his brow, and on either side, the miracle—Star Plucking Gaze!

All the details of the white jade pipa came into clear view…

【Divine Weapon (Four Supreme lower-grade): Pudu Vajra Heavenly King, Earth, Fire, Water, Wind Pipa】 【Craftsmanship: Mythic Weapon】

【Description: Four-stringed Pipa of Deliverance—Earth, Fire, Water, Wind—its strum seals fate, like cold, metallic serpents of flame】 Li Che’s eyes narrowed.

A marvelous weapon! Truly, a Mythic Weapon!

Pudu Vajra Heavenly King, Earth, Fire, Water, Wind Pipa!

Zhou Chiguo had not yet refined or mastered this divine weapon, or else Li Che would never have been able to claim it. With his mind alert, he secured the white jade pipa into Qiankun Space.

He decided to study it further later.

It seemed Ji Mo Li had indeed inherited the bizarre temple legacy of the Four Heavenly Kings—otherwise, he couldn’t command a Mythic Weapon.

There must be other divine weapons of the Heavenly Kings as well.

“I wonder if I can gather them… maybe form a Underworld Four Heavenly Kings set?” Li Che smiled.

Brushing off his ink-black robe, Li Che strode toward the feast table.

On the table, the drifting glow gradually subsided,

yet Li Che’s eyes sparkled.

This time, there was only one crimson Immortal Peach on the table.

The Star Plucking Gaze swept over it.

【Heavenly Materials (Mid-ranking of the Five Elders): Eight-Hundred-Year-Old Crimson Dragon-Blood Immortal Peach】

An Immortal Peach of eight hundred years!

What a treasure!

Its rich, concentrated peach aroma almost materialized before his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he savored the aroma that filled his nostrils, making his blood and spirit surge.

However, Li Che was cautious and did not consume the peach immediately.

Who knew if it might be a test from the Imperial Court?

This Crimson Dragon-Blood Immortal Peach was clearly excellent for nourishing blood and spirit!

An eight-hundred-year-old Immortal Peach is a tremendous boon for a Martial Saint!

Li Che pocketed the Immortal Peach, his mind alight.

He then exited the Divine Temple.

But once outside,

Li Che said little, clutching the Immortal Peach Branch as he sought another opponent.

Elsewhere, in the Xiao Lingyin Temple,

the remaining heroes of the four major divine sects—Haoran Academy, Bashu Sword Pavilion, Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect, and Xiao Lingyin Temple—were in disarray.

They could hardly believe that Zhou Chiguo, so formidable, had been defeated…

“So Li Che… has matched again!”

Suddenly,

Bai Buyi, the dean of Haoran Academy, spoke gravely.

Then he glanced at Haoran Academy’s top hero…

who closed his eyes, unwilling to continue the match.

Scholars…

judge the situation wisely—sometimes to bend is to save one’s true path!

Bai Buyi understood, shaking his head before looking toward a disciple whose cultivation was no higher than Divine Practitioner.

Sighing deeply, he said,

“You go.”

“Haoran Academy… admits defeat.”