Chapter 345: A Clash of Divine Fates

High above, heavy clouds dissipated to reveal a brilliant blue sky. The illuminated rims of passing clouds glistened with golden light, and what should have been a comforting warmth instead promised a chill to those in Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

Yet for many in the courtyard, the sun’s embrace only brought about an overwhelming, bone-deep cold. A mix of gloom, hopelessness, and resigned despair hung in the air.

Every conceivable emotion swirled within the confines of Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

At the head of Haoran Academy – none other than Bai Buyi, leader of the Divine Sect – his scholarly robes billowing, he wore an expression tinged with helpless resignation as he stroked his flowing beard and looked at a young scholar clad in a blue scholar’s robe.

“Go ahead,” he said.

“Just go through the motions. We, at Haoran Academy, have decided not to participate in this preliminary banquet,” Bai Buyi said coolly.

“We scholars never relish brawls. Even if we’re not afraid of a fight, if we stand no chance, there’s no point in engaging. Scholars value peace above all,” he added.

Bai Buyi made no effort to hide the fact that his heroes simply stood no chance against Li Che.

In the corner, the top hero of Haoran Academy, Cui Haoran, kept nodding relentlessly. As a scholar, if you aren’t strong enough, you don’t waste time getting beaten up. Closing his eyes, Cui Haoran continuously nodded in agreement.

“What?! Director… you’re sending me to fight Li Bansheng? Me? Really?” The young man named to fight felt as though the sky was falling.

Even Brother Cui, who normally avoided conflict, and Zhou Chiguo – the direct disciple of Ji Mo Li with Martial Saint and Divine Nascence abilities – had been utterly crushed. How could one expect a Divine Practitioner to take on a mere scholar when facing such a demon king?

Director… how can you bear it?

Yet the scholar’s face was a mask of suppressed frustration, and in the end he could do nothing but reluctantly agree.

He wasn’t foolish. Clearly, the director had essentially forfeited this battle by letting him act – much like giving Li Che a free pass. The idea was simply not to squander Cui Haoran’s opportunity at this preliminary banquet.

Favored ones grow brazen with entitlement. Had he possessed Brother Cui’s talent, he might not have been chosen to serve as the sacrificial combatant.

Nonetheless, the disciple was a loner at heart; he even composed a defiant poem on the spot. Gripping his Immortal Peach Branch tightly, he was immediately teleported into the Divine Temple. In this bout, not even the six Divine Sect leaders bothered entering the temple to watch, for there was no suspense.

All eyes in the courtyard fell upon the lone, solemn figure inside.

Ji Mo Li and his direct disciple Zhou Chiguo still stood at the center of the courtyard, their expressions cold as they moved to enter the Divine Temple to watch Li Che and Zhou Chiguo clash. However, Ji Mo Li soon withdrew.

He had seen Li Che claim Zhou Chiguo’s White Jade Pipa – a wager for Zhou Chiguo’s participation.

All six Divine Sect leaders had placed their bets. Since Ji Mo Li had ordered his disciple to participate, he couldn’t possibly abstain from wagering and profit from the opportunity. The other six leaders showed little reaction to Li Che’s move.

It could only be said that

Li Che, true to his reputation for honesty and reliability, was exceedingly considerate and fair-minded.

Let it not be forgotten that Li Che took away Ji Mo Li’s own White Jade Pipa – a mythic weapon ranked at the fourth level of the Celestial Order, granted through the inheritance of the peculiar legacy of the Pu Du Vajra Four Heavenly Kings.

Its value was on par with, if not exceeding, the Three-Life Body of Huang Mei Great Master.

Standing nervously beside Ji Mo Li, Zhou Chiguo kept his head bowed, his countenance grim. In his bloodshot, glazed eyes, terror and despair swirled – he had made a grievous mistake!

That mythic weapon – the Pu Du Heavenly King’s Earth-Fire-Water-Wind Pipa – was of utmost importance to the Prince; its loss was of dire consequence!

He could not believe that he had let such a divine weapon slip away!

Though Zhou Chiguo trembled in fear, in his stupefied eyes a faint glimmer of white flickered, as if trying to wash away the damning red glare.

It was as though he wished to cleanse away the crimson despair.

Slowly, Ji Mo Li opened his eyes. His obsidian armor clanged with each movement, a violent gust whipping up in the courtyard as his inner fury became palpable.

His eyes were deep and dark, revealing no emotion, yet everyone felt a heavy, oppressive force in their hearts.

“Prince, Li Bansheng sent word that the White Jade Pipa has been taken as a wager – his wager for sending his heroes to the banquet,” stated Huang Mei in a flat tone.

Despite the deep creases of age marking his face, a barely perceptible smile hinted at irony. Weren’t you supposed to be invincible?

Even now, you thought Ji Mo Li’s disciple was formidable – yet he too has been defeated, hasn’t he?

Wasn’t it a total loss?

Ji Mo Li shot Huang Mei a curt look, furrowing his brow before exhaling sharply. “Indeed, you’ve wagered your bet. Since I opted to step in, I must also place my wager.”

“As you should,” Ji Mo Li said evenly.

Without further comment, he turned, his black cloak billowing like a cloud blotting out the sky, and strode out of the courtyard. Zhou Chiguo quickly followed, each step trembling with unease.

Once outside the courtyard,

Ji Mo Li’s gaze turned toward the direction of Qianyuan Courtyard. “Teacher… I…”

Zhou Chiguo opened his mouth, but Ji Mo Li waved him off. “It’s not your fault. This fellow has grown at an alarming rate – his innate divine talent is terrifying. In just six years, he’s reached such heights. No wonder his daughter became Lü Taibai’s direct disciple. Talent, after all, is hereditary. It’s just odd that, even as a child, his purple qi talent could shine so unmistakably…”

Ji Mo Li’s brow furrowed in thought.

“The White Jade Pipa…” Zhou Chiguo inhaled deeply as Ji Mo Li raised his hand to press it down gently.

“The Pu Du Heavenly King’s Earth-Fire-Water-Wind Pipa… is crucial to my plan. We cannot lose it; we must retrieve it. Li Che…”

Ji Mo Li’s eyes were as dark as twin black holes. Could Li Che truly be the Divine Monkey?

But… could the Divine Monkey possess such divine innate talent?!

The Divine Monkey was renowned for his martial prowess – his skills had reached the level of a Martial Saint’s second breakthrough. If Li Che truly was the Divine Monkey, then in such a short time both his divine nature and martial prowess had soared to terrifying heights!

“If that’s the case… he must not be allowed to remain!”

Lowly, Ji Mo Li murmured like a distant, rumbling thunder, “Let’s head to Lotus Pavilion.”

.. ..

In a flash, Fa Tian Xiang Di surged skyward and, with the force of a mountain’s wrath, descended as a colossal palm strike!

The White Jade stone arena trembled violently, cracks forming like spiderwebs across its surface, as the immense palm slammed down.

Haoran Academy’s Divine Practitioner was obliterated in one devastating strike—a blow that even activated the innate divine nature on the Immortal Peach Branch of Xi Wangmu, ejecting it from her Divine Temple. “So they really sent a Divine Practitioner against me… Haoran Academy has completely forfeited,” Li Che thought.

Within the aftermath of Fa Tian Xiang Di, Li Che crossed his arms as a strange expression flickered across his face.

Yet even though his opponent displayed only the cultivation of a Divine Practitioner, Li Che, ever the schemer, remained cautious—ever alert to any hidden strength the Haoran Academy combatant might possess.

Only after he had soundly smashed his opponent did Li Che confirm that they were indeed merely a Divine Practitioner. “Did I go too hard?” he mused briefly before dismissing the thought.

After all, this type of duel was a monumental gamble; Li Che could not afford any missteps. What scholar ever truly stayed upright?

Everyone harbored their own mischief—steady, cautious action was the key.

Li Che walked to his worktable. As expected, given his opponent’s feeble strength, besting them was hardly a heroic feat—he didn’t even snag an Immortal Peach; only a cup of clear tea was his reward.

Li Che downed the tea in one gulp, his soul momentarily clear as he savored the unexpectedly pleasant flavor.

Surveying the Divine Temple, Li Che snapped his fingers. Beneath the statue of Xi Wangmu’s Temple Spirit, he left behind a milky White Feilei Chess Piece. Then, channeling the divine nature within the Immortal Peach Branch, he returned to Qianyuan Courtyard.

Back in the courtyard,

Disciples of Qianyuan Divine Sect gathered together, their expressions filled with excitement as they chattered animatedly. Their eyes, fixed on Li Che, shone solely with passion and reverence – it was clear that Li Che now truly deserved the title of Elder.

When the disciples of Qianyuan Divine Sect were oppressed, he stepped forward and crushed the combined assault of six top heroes with overwhelming force. To those children, it was as if a sword of light had cleaved through endless darkness!

Alas, Elder Li was an Elder of Shendiao Ridge – to become his disciple required an extraordinary Shendiao talent. Without it, one could never follow in Li Che’s footsteps. This time, Li Che chose not to match opponents further.

He felt it was time to let the remaining three top heroes of the Divine Sect have their moment of calm.

If they continued to slack off like Haoran Academy, Li Che would feel cheated – after all, there wasn’t even an Immortal Peach to enjoy. He glanced at XiXi, who was seated cross-legged at the center of the courtyard, her energy already beginning to churn.

With his keen Martial Saint sight, Li Che easily noticed XiXi’s breakthrough.

Her true qi and martial force were blending, surging into her vital organs, tempering and refining every part of her body!

Seated on the ground, little XiXi’s energy spread from her spine like a vast net, enveloping every inch of her body. Her muscles trembled with rapid, relentless vibrations, as if forged from hundred-times-hammered steel, growing ever more resilient and powerful!

Her organs, limbs, and every bone seemed to awaken and transform at that very moment, stirring a decisive martial aura – the very breath of martial art!

The crucial energy required to break through from a Grandmaster’s physique to that of a Supreme Grandmaster was the ultimate transformative power! Li Che’s inner mud pellet at his brow opened and closed as golden light flickered within his pupils.

One could see the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear in her left hand, the God-Slaying Gold Brick in her right, and the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel beneath her feet—all vibrating, unleashing their mythic weapon innate divine force…

Every inch of XiXi’s body was undergoing refinement; her internal organs were being forged anew!

Even her small belly trembled at an astonishing rate – thousands of shudders per second! So rapid were its undulations that a hazy afterimage seemed to emerge.

Her abundant qi and blood surged forth, growing ever denser by the moment.

Lü Taibai flicked out one sword pellet after another, which then hovered around XiXi as if on high alert. “We’re in the final stage!” he declared, focused.

Lü Taibai’s voice resonated with determination.

Silence fell over the courtyard as Li Che did not rush to the next match. Suddenly, thundering booms shattered the calm—!!!

Within the courtyard, the sound of a massively beating heart erupted, its booming rhythm echoing fiercely!

Little XiXi’s slight body suddenly floated upward, as mists of qi and blood swirled around her. Zhang Ya, Granny Mu, and others looked on in alarm, their faces etched with worry.

Strong warriors like Li Qingshan and Nie Yang, who had broken through to the Supreme Grandmaster realm, lit up with astonishment. XiXi’s breakthrough seemed unlike theirs at all! Children like Yun’e, Zhou Peng, and Jin Taisui clenched their fists, their eyes blazing with excitement.

Lü Qingxuan, Yang Yi, and the other prodigious talents from Qianyuan Divine Sect’s Dragon Child Register were utterly shaken – they knew precisely what XiXi was achieving. XiXi was on the verge of becoming a Grandmaster!

A six-year-old Grandmaster! Buzzing with anticipation—

The entire courtyard roared with turbulent qi; scorching blood surged upward, causing the early spring chill to mix with rising heat in a vortex of turning currents!

Little XiXi floated midair, her jet-black hair streaming, her robes billowing, yet even the fluttering fabric could not hide the radiant glow emanating from her body. Every pore and channel seemed to shimmer with light!

The divine force of her mythic weapons surged into her, transforming her organs and marrow!

Somewhere deep within, thick, molten blood slowly churned, interweaving with flashes of crimson lightning—a display of…

Grit!

Sharp and uncompromising, far surpassing the true qi of a Grandmaster!

Li Che’s inner mud pellet pulsed as he witnessed XiXi’s Grandmaster aura—so formidable it seemed as if her body were a blazing furnace. Li Che had honed his ultimate secret art to extract an indomitable Divine Guts, while XiXi’s strength was forged purely through her mythic weapons’ trial by fire.

The refinement process of a mythic weapon combined with the Yulian Fire tempered her physique!

Thus, XiXi’s body grew shockingly powerful and fearsome! BOOM—!!!

A black Yulian divine pattern burst forth from XiXi’s brow, radiating brilliant, scorching black flames—the Yulian Fire! The flame surged outward, though the sword pellets flicked by Lü Taibai restrained its spread.

Yet the air itself seemed to twist and burn.

A massive black lotus blossomed from just below XiXi’s backside, enveloping her entirely in its overpowering divine aura. The entire courtyard fell silent under the oppressive pressure.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

Heat and qi roiled around XiXi until, like a vortex, everything was drawn into her heart. Then, the Yulian Fire within her heart exploded like a shattered puddle, blasting out like water arrows toward her limbs! A pulse of divine force jolted throughout her as it vibrated with a resonant hum!

“It’s done,”

Lü Taibai exhaled, his silver hair flying as his wide robes swirled.

The golden light at Li Che’s brow faded, yet his face showed little sign of triumph. “That Yulian…” he murmured.

Li Che’s voice was low.

Lü Taibai’s pleased expression gradually vanished. “The Yulian Fire hasn’t died. When the Third Prince deceived us and XiXi broke into the Divine Nascence realm, this Yulian Fire would burst forth again. If XiXi’s body isn’t strong enough to endure the refining flames, she could be reduced to ashes.”

“Now that XiXi has just broken through to the Grandmaster level, her physique is indeed impressive. With the support of the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear, the God-Slaying Gold Brick, and the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, her body is tempered by mythic power—truly formidable… but still not enough.”

Lü Taibai sighed.

“XiXi’s divine nature is advancing too rapidly. At this rate, her martial cultivation might not keep up with her breakthroughs in divine nature.”

“Traditional methods of refining the body through martial training won’t likely enable her to withstand the refining flames of Yulian Fire…” Lü Taibai suddenly looked up at Li Che, his eyes sparkling. “Ah Che, aren’t you soon off to the Imperial Watch to take the Special Guest Official exam?”

“If you manage to succeed as a Special Guest, you’ll have the chance to ascend the top floor of the Eight-Treasure Droplet Pavilion in Divine Capital’s Second City, and meet the ingenious Grand Inspector.”

“You can ask the Grand Inspector if there’s a solution, right?”

“The Grand Inspector… should have a way,” Lü Taibai recommended to Li Che.

Li Che paused, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. This solution… was indeed promising! Hahaha—

At that moment, XiXi’s form drifted gracefully down to the ground. Her wide, luminous eyes suddenly snapped open, as if black flames were burning within them – flames that danced in the shape of a lotus of Yulian Fire.

Dark and ominous, they burned as if searing the earth itself – a display of darkness suppressing light, incinerating mountains and boiling seas! BOOM—!!!

Then XiXi rose to her feet, hands on her hips as her little belly puffed out. “Heh, hey!”

A titanic pressure erupted from XiXi, bending the very air into ripples. It was as if a semi-transparent lotus had bloomed behind her – the very embodiment of her martial will!

Only a true Grandmaster could sense such an advanced martial will – a refinement of spirit, essence, and energy! XiXi’s Yulian, her martial will… is invincible!

“Father!” “XiXi has done it!”

XiXi’s eyes lit up with the Yulian flame as she laughed heartily, exclaiming, “Emperor XiXi, I did it!”

Her joyful laughter echoed through the courtyard, sparking countless exclamations.

Disciples from Zhou Peng, Yun’e, Jin Taisui, Lü Qingxuan, Yang Yi, and many noble families from Daocheng were all filled with awe and envy. XiXi… was nothing short of extraordinary!

A six-year-old Grandmaster!

Perhaps even the entire Great Jing Court had never seen such a prodigy?! “Invincible!”

Lü Qingxuan exhaled. Damn, she’s invincible!

Even Lü Qingxuan, normally occupying the top spot in the Dragon Child Register, now felt no resentment. How could anyone hope to catch up?!

Although Lü Qingxuan was already ten, he still had a long way before reaching Grandmaster status… he believed that if he could become a Grandmaster by fifteen, his talent would be truly exceptional.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

The Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel beneath XiXi’s feet spun at dizzying speed, hurtling toward Li Che! “Father!”

“XiXi is here!”

Yet as XiXi neared Li Che, he casually scooped her up by the nape of her neck, much like a cat retracting its claws. “Situation’s changed, Emperor XiXi…”

“No breakthrough without transformation!” XiXi muttered.

Li Che laughed heartily, dispelling the shadow of Yulian Fire. With ample time before XiXi reached the Divine Nascence breakthrough, this father always found a way.

After all, Li Che also possessed the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit. If need be, he would daily set up Dream Celestial’s King of Fighters Arena for XiXi, channeling the Dao Fruit’s power to help refine her body.

“XiXi, consolidate your strength. Dad will finish the remaining wager battles, and then it’s all yours.” “Besides, your breakthrough to Grandmaster is the perfect test for you to adjust to the battles ahead.”

Li Che ruffled XiXi’s head affectionately.

Then, clenching the Immortal Peach Branch, he activated his divine power and began matching opponents.

At that very moment, XiXi realized that as she prepared to break through to Grandmaster, her father was already tallying a four-match winning streak!

“What?!”

XiXi scrunched up her small face in disappointment, pounding her chest as she cried, “I didn’t see Dad go on a rampage and obliterate everyone—what a pity!”

Lü Taibai ruffled XiXi’s head. After a brief consolidation, he ushered her into the Divine Temple to watch the battle as an ancillary spirit.

Then XiXi saw her father unleash a mighty Fa Tian Xiang Di, fifty zhang in height. With merely a glance and folded arms, he shattered the Bashu Sword Pavilion’s Grandmaster swordsmen into a fog of blood and ash!

XiXi’s fleeting moment of glee following her breakthrough to Grandmaster vanished in an instant.

Plans had changed drastically… XiXi would need several more years to truly mature!

Li Che sighed in exasperation – these Divine Sect disciples had all been spoiled.

Haoran Academy, Bashu Sword Pavilion, and the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect had all sent heroes far below Martial Saint level – a strategic retreat, so to speak.

Li Che’s crushing blow to Zhou Chiguo’s vicious form left them reeling with shock.

Thus, they surrendered entirely.

Li Che, exasperated, didn’t hold back and smacked them flat. Unfortunately, his opponent was so weak that not even a preliminary Immortal Peach was won; he only received a cup of tea. Li Che felt that these three Divine Sects were even more atrocious – their actions left him deeply wounded in spirit!

“Only one match remains.”

Li Che stretched languidly.

In Qianyuan Courtyard, a gentle breeze stirred, yet the temperature seemed to rise under the intense, scorching gaze.

Even Lü Taibai couldn’t help but feel his mood shift.

“After six consecutive wins, the final match… must be with Xiao Lingyin Temple, right?”

Lü Taibai inquired.

Li Che nodded, hoping that Xiao Lingyin Temple would put up some fight – after all, as the instigator, they couldn’t simply send no Martial Saint.

[Preliminary Entrant: Li Che]

[Xi Wangmu Divine Nature: Nine Strands]

[Qualification Verified: Eligible for the Hero Banquet]

[Preliminary Banquet Ready: Will You Attend?]

The Immortal Peach Branch entwined with nine strands of Xi Wangmu’s divine nature trembled slightly. Li Che’s eyes lit up and, stirred by the moment, he chose to attend.

Lü Taibai produced the Golden Immortal Peach Branch and, with a vigorous flick, led everyone from Qianyuan Courtyard to witness Li Che’s magnificent seven-match winning streak!

Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

Seated regally in an ornate Buddha Chariot, Huang Mei sat cross-legged with both palms pressed together, suffused with a radiant Buddhist glow.

His eyes shimmered with brilliant hues.

All around, the five other Divine Sect leaders and their disciples fixed their gazes on him, their expressions a complex mix of determination.

Divine Sect leaders Bai Buyi, Gu Cheng, and Zhao Chunqiu shook their heads gently. Clearly, Huang Mei Great Master hadn’t given up yet – he intended to give it a try.

But even Zhou Chiguo – the direct disciple of Ji Mo Li who had been tempered by blood, possessing both a second breakthrough Martial Saint and Divine Nascence transformation – had been thoroughly crumbled. His disciples seemed utterly impotent in the face of the demon king!

This left the various sect leaders with no hope but to throw in the towel.

“Amitabha. I, your humble monk, will give it my all,” declared the shaven novice known as Wukong, his hands joined in prayer. Despite his slight frame, his gaze was resolute.

“If I lose this match, my master will be forced to execute his Three-Life Body. I will fight with every ounce of my strength to protect it,” the monk vowed.

Huang Mei Great Master opened his eyes, forming a Buddhist seal with his hand as he smiled lightly, “Wukong, you have heart. Now go.”

Li Che, whose methods involved Fa Tian Xiang Di as well as a mysterious Divine Secret Technique of the Three Pure Ones, simply urged, “Do your best,” as the monk, palms clasped in devotion, bowed.

Then, with firm resolve and gripping the Immortal Peach Branch, the monk was teleported into the Divine Temple.

Li Che, his ink-black embroidered shirt billowing, crossed his arms and regarded the thin monk in gray robes who now stood before him. “Amitabha.”

The monk returned the greeting, palms pressed in respect.

Li Che looked coldly at the monk, whose body was bathed in the glow of Buddha. Though the monk appeared slight, the latent qi and blood within him were impressively strong. “Donor Li Che, my master says you have a destiny with our Buddhist path. Would you consider laying down your arms and embracing our faith?”

The monk asked sincerely.

Li Che, upon hearing this, laughed hoarsely, “Little monk, would you really forsake Buddhism to return to the mundane world, marry, and start a family?”

The monk was momentarily taken aback. Shaking his head, he replied, “Since I can remember, the only image I’ve known has been of the Buddha. My heart belongs solely to Him – I would spend my life pursuing His teachings.”

Li Che smiled lightly. “Then that settles it…”

“You refuse to return to the secular world, just as I refuse to embrace Buddhism,” Li Che stated.

“Your heart holds the Buddha, while mine is filled with thoughts of my wife, daughter, my family,” he continued.

“Amitabha. All worldly matters breed worry – cast them aside and embrace true freedom,” the monk countered earnestly, clearly ready for further debate. But Li Che waved him off impatiently.

“Amitabha, then I shall first examine Li Bansheng’s true strength. I hope he spares no effort – as shall I,” declared the monk sincerely.

At this, Li Che’s eyes twinkled as he looked at the monk. BOOM—!!!

The monk stepped forward, his body surging with expanding qi and blood. Radiant Buddhist light burst around him, swelling until it transformed into an awe-inspiring, ten-zhang-tall Golden Diamond Fist Manifestation, resplendent in gilded glory with Buddhist inscriptions swirling along its surface!

“Diamond Fist Manifestation!”

The monk roared, his skin turning a vivid red as his qi erupted in torrents, pummeling his flesh with searing heat as if pressurized steam was erupting from every pore.

The once slight monk suddenly swelled, his body turning red-hot like a branding iron. His bald head was veined with twitching red sinews reminiscent of coiling serpents!

Even the beads on his necklace radiated a profound Buddhist light!

The monk raised his head, and from his slightly parted lips emerged fang-like teeth, as torrents of golden Buddhist light erupted with a bone-chilling cold!

“Please, Li Bansheng, enlighten us,”

“I, your humble monk from Xiao Lingyin Temple… Wukong.”

The enraged novice, now manifesting the Diamond Fist, glared fiercely. His voice thundered throughout the Divine Temple,

causing every observer to feel their eardrums vibrate and limbs go numb!

A heavy, suffocating sensation settled in all their hearts!

“Unleash your Martial Saint of Qi Hai!”

“Then transform your Divine Nascence into its second form!”

Lü Taibai’s eyes narrowed, his brows drawn tightly.

“That sly old Huang Mei really does have a hidden card!”

“His level… isn’t far behind that of Ji Mo Li’s blood-heat tempered disciple, Zhou Chiguo.”

The atmosphere instantly grew heavy. All the cultists present had assumed this would be as one-sided as the battles against Haoran Academy and Bashu Sword Pavilion’s heroes, but Xiao Lingyin Temple…

They now suspected a potential comeback – an unforeseen twist!

Could it be that this monk called Wukong…

was actually Xiao Lingyin Temple’s secret trump card for the Immortal Peach Banquet? Yet, in the preliminary banquet he had been forced into the spotlight!

All the Divine Sect leaders’ eyes narrowed, their hearts stirred by the prospect.

The Hero Banquet of the Immortal Peach would be far more competitive than the preliminary round.

For that event, the Great Jing Court had invited not only all the top Divine Sects but also numerous princes, along with forces from Da Li Wangting, Witch God Mountain, the Dragon God Clan, the Western Regions of Buddhism, and many other foreign powers!

This wasn’t the first time – in a previous Immortal Peach Banquet, the prodigious genius from Witch God Mountain, the young and brilliant Jinmao Hou, had nearly clinched victory, though he ultimately lost to the top hero of the Celestial Taoist Sect’s Tian Shi Dao!

Yet it seemed that this time, the golden-haired prodigy would participate as well!

“There’s a show in store for us,”

And the assembled crowd of onlookers grew increasingly animated!

“Wukong?”

Li Che folded his arms, pausing as he took in the sight of the enraged, grim-faced little monk. Slowly, he exhaled.

The mud pellet on his brow split open as divine energy surged forth!

Inside, the True Primate of Fa Tian Xiang Di trembled violently, as if letting out a furious roar – an anger born of profane violation!

A surging fury beyond all reckoning!

BOOM—

Li Che spared nothing as he looked into the monk’s eyes, which gradually turned cold.

In the next moment, as the divine nature surged like a storm,

Li Che’s Fa Tian Xiang Di soared higher and higher…

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—!!!

It was as if a mountain had erupted from the very earth!

When Fa Tian Xiang Di reached fifty zhang in height,

the pressured monk, feeling the immense force, roared as his Diamond Fist Manifestation thundered across the white jade arena of the Divine Temple. His enormous bare foot stamped down, leaving a deep imprint in the jade floor!

With a powerful leap, the arena trembled violently, its surface riddled with countless crackling fissures!

The Diamond Fist Manifestation kicked high, and amidst it all, the monk—trapped within its grasp—swiftly produced a golden cuff. In that split second, an overwhelming surge of divine energy radiated outward!

Within the Cosmic Chessboard, the hovering Qi Tian Face trembled violently, as if incensed, its anger echoing through every corner of the chessboard. Deep within Li Che’s inner sanctum, the True Primate roared with unprecedented fury!

Sensing this fury and the trembling of the Qi Tian Face,

Li Che’s gaze froze as he began unleashing his divine power without reservation – after all, this was the final bout of the wager, and he had no need to hold back!

Furthermore, in that moment Li Che understood the true intentions of the little monk from Xiao Lingyin Temple!

“Are you trying to force me to embrace your doctrine with a golden cuff?!”

Inside Li Che’s chest, the Unsullied Heart Dao Fruit trembled furiously!

Its divine nature erupted, and the Dao Induction of his meticulously honed Seven Aperture Crystal expanded dramatically.

A torrent of divine energy surged out like raging rivers!

Then, like a wild leap, the True Primate burst forth from his brow and merged with Fa Tian Xiang Di!

Fa Tian Xiang Di transformed into the demonic figure of a Demon Monkey, surging higher under Li Che’s all-out divine unleashing!

Finally, it reached a hundred zhang in height – nearly touching the Divine Temple’s ceiling, level with the statue of Xi Wangmu!

Clenching his fist until the air shattered!

The entire Divine Temple trembled violently!

Then, with one crushing punch,

the tight golden cuff summoned from within the monk erupted like a coiled serpent of Buddhist light, ensnaring the hundred-zhang Demon Monkey’s arm, intent on restraining his Fa Tian Xiang Di! The Buddhist light shattered into fragments!

However, with a jolt, the Seven Aperture Crystal dimmed as if all the Buddhist light had been dispersed…

Then, the Demon Monkey’s other hand tore it away and slammed it down onto the head of the Diamond Fist Manifestation. Grasping it, he swung it violently from side to side! The Diamond Fist Manifestation, facing the hundred-zhang Demon Monkey’s Fa Tian Xiang Di, had no strength to fight back!

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—!!!

It was smashed to pieces!

“And you, holding the cuff, dare to call yourself Wukong?!”

He hurled the Diamond Fist Manifestation high into the air.

The Demon Monkey’s Fa Tian Xiang Di clenched with all five fingers, ripping out five streams of energy that darkened the heavens! Twisting his waist,

he sidestepped and threw a punch!

His blows were as sharp as whips and echoed like thunder!

The poor monk hidden beneath the Diamond Fist Manifestation could only watch in horror and confusion as—BOOM—!!!

The Diamond Fist Manifestation, along with the monk’s flesh and blood, was vaporized in one crushing blow!

That single punch—marking his seventh consecutive win—left the entire Xi Wangmu Divine Temple in utter silence! Unmatched and invincible!