Chapter 358: The Transformation of the Dao Fruit

A gentle breeze stirred the silence on the ninth floor of the ornate, water-dripping Imperial Watch Tower, carrying an ethereal sound.

It was as if the dust on the ground had been set in motion, creating a barely audible, stirring friction.

Li Che slowly opened his eyes, and within their depths, it seemed as if two sets of pupils overlapped.

Yet, Li Che’s concern lay not with this uncanny vision.

Instead, his focus was on the luminous flow emerging before him.

Thumping like a mighty drum, his heart pounded like rolling thunder, its fierce beating slowly subsiding like distant smoke from a fire as the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit pulsated violently.

The Great Dao silently guided the transformation…

Gradually fading away.

Li Che’s eyes opened wide; golden smoke coalesced at the center of the ninth floor, his whole being transformed into a state of enlightened metamorphosis—mysterious and profound, as if his soul now touched the heavens.

The 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit!

The Fourth Transformation!

Deep in his eyes, an uncontrollable joy emerged—finally, the fourth transformation was complete!

This first Dao Fruit, the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit, had been an immense boon to Li Che, virtually altering the fate of him and his entire family!

In Feilei City, from his early days as a laborer, the appearance of the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit had enabled Li Che to master wood carving techniques,

leading to his rapid rise from Feilei City to the heights he now reached.

Li Che harbored deep emotions for this Dao Fruit.

When both the 【Dragon Elephant Vajra】 and 【Pure Heart】 Dao Fruits reached LV6 and underwent their fourth transformations, awakening the Dao Induction technique,

Li Che’s heart felt a tinge of impatience at the maturation of the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit.

And now, it had finally transformed.

A sense of relief spread over him, but he remained acutely aware that he was still within the Imperial Watch Tower.

His jet-black, vigorous hair whipped wildly as he sensed a breakthrough in his spirit—a clarity that made everything appear traceable.

In his mind, his understanding of the Divine Eagle craft deepened, as if he had undergone an intensive advancement.

His gaze fell on the newly carved Divine Eagle laid out on the floor, meticulously sculpted from tortoiseshell and spirit wood.

‘Xuan Gui Tuo Chong Tong’—this was a masterpiece crafted to the pinnacle of the Half-Saint level.

Yet, to Li Che, it now seemed less than perfect.

In his eyes, as the Dao Fruit transformed, the once flawless Divine Eagle began to show imperfections—flaws that could be refined and improved.

Li Che knew this was the result of the technical leap achieved through his fourth transformation of the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit.

His breathing deepened; it was as if every muscle and tendon trembled in harmony with the Dao Fruit’s metamorphosis, helping his body catch up with the transformative surge of his consciousness.

A controlled breath—in… and out—as the breeze stirred gently.

Closing his eyes momentarily, Li Che felt his spirit drawn into the vast expanse of the heavens, where he saw the towering Dao Tree piercing the sky.

He also saw countless multicolored Dao Fruits hanging from the branches of the Dao Tree.

Floating in mid-air, his hair dancing in the wind, Li Che’s gaze found the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit among them.

The Dao Fruit swayed, buffeted by invisible gusts.

Then, its multi-hued crystal fruit skin slowly peeled away.

Just like the skin of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, seemingly manipulated by an unseen Dao essence into a form resembling a Dragon Elephant Furnace.

Meanwhile, the skin of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit peeled away, reshaping into a delicate, seven-aperture, exquisite heart.

Now, the skin of the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit behaved similarly to the other two Dao Fruits.

It floated in the air of the Dao Fruit space, its expanding net of energy gradually enveloping the branches of the vast Dao Tree under the heavens.

Buzz—

Within the Dao Fruit space, an intimidating, dazzling edge emerged, its domineering brilliance filling the space and causing every hair on Li Che’s body to stand on end.

Then Li Che saw the skin of the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit—

It had been molded into—

A pitch-black axe!

Yes, an axe as black as a void, as if forged from the essence of a black hole—a sinister blade drawn straight from the depths of hell.

Countless ancient and mysterious scriptures appeared, etched onto the surface of the black axe like writhing tadpoles,

displayed in radiant gold, intricately interwoven.

They masked most of the blackness of the axe.

Boom—

As the golden tadpole scriptures clung to every corner of the axe,

the axe trembled violently, shattering the surrounding air in an explosive burst.

Li Che felt as if his very soul was being torn apart.

Everything fragmented into shards.

In a dizzying swirl of heaven and earth, Li Che’s consciousness was ejected from the Dao Tree space.

Li Che groaned in agony, his head pounding as though struck by the terrifying axe’s fierce might.

But an even greater pain emerged from his hands.

Every finger felt as if pierced by extremely sharp steel needles, drawing blood with each tiny stab.

He forced himself to suppress this searing pain.

His trembling fingers slowly steadied.

His eyes fixed on the springlike hints before him.

【Dao Fruit LV6 Fourth Transformation Divine Ability (Star Plucking) – Ascension: Dao Induction (Ghost Axe)】

Dao Induction!

Ghost Axe!

Sure enough, the fourth transformation of the Dao Fruit birthed a Dao Induction ability!

It was as if the Great Dao had conferred upon him a transformative power!

But why was this ability born from the peeling skin of the Dao Fruit?

Could it be that once fully ripened, the Dao Fruit inherently gives rise to such powers? And how terrifying might that be?

【Dao Induction (Ghost Axe): The peeling skin of the Dao Fruit channels the Dao, transforming it into the 【Xiangong】 Ghost Axe that seizes the natural order】

At this, Li Che’s spirit stirred as the transformative aura of the Dao Fruit receded into him.

The gleam in his eyes gradually dimmed.

He exhaled slowly and glanced at the emerging Dao Induction True Words.

“Xiangong Ghost Axe Seizes the Cosmos!”

What new power would Dao Induction and Ghost Axe bring?

Somehow, Li Che sensed that this 【Ghost Axe】 was like a divine weapon, ready to manifest at his will.

Curiosity flickered within him, though now was not the time for research—the surroundings were far from ideal.

Though it seemed the Dao Fruit’s fourth transformation took considerable time, in truth it only spanned about seven or eight breaths.

Today, Li Che hadn’t wasted time studying the new ability born from the transformation.

Scanning his surroundings, he noticed the Grand Inspector seated on the back of a black tortoise. Shrouded in white mist, his features were inscrutable and otherworldly.

“Li Keqing, have you calmed your mind after completing the carving of a Half-Saint masterpiece?”

The Grand Inspector spoke with a gentle smile from his lofty perch.

Li Che exhaled a cloud of turbid breath.

Because of the Dao Fruit’s transformation, his trembling hands had now steadied, even feeling as if they had undergone a subtle metamorphosis.

“Thank you for understanding, Grand Inspector. I have regained my composure,” Li Che said with a smile.

Once Li Che spoke, the invisible force that had been restraining Yue Taofu, Fang Shangzhen, and Hong Shifo dissipated. The three effortlessly advanced toward him.

“Congratulations, Li Keqing!”

“From now on, you shall be known as Li, our Special Guest!”

“Hahaha, Li Keqing, I knew you had it in you! Today, you become the thirteenth Special Guest of the Imperial Watch. In terms of status, you even surpass me!”

Hong Shifo beamed as if his face were in full bloom, barely containing his exuberant joy.

Though he recognized Li Che’s exceptional Divine Eagle craftsmanship—recalling when, on Shendiao Ridge of Qianyuan Divine Sect, Li Che carved the Two-Hearted Great Sage Divine Eagle while grasping the triple divine intent of the Temple Spirit to reach the pinnacle of Half-Saint level—

that achievement was still fresh.

Skill acquisition, like martial arts, becomes exponentially harder at higher levels; each incremental improvement is monumental.

As the local Dao City Inspector of the Imperial Watch, Hong Shifo knew full well the immense challenge in assessing Special Guests, not to mention that Li Che’s test was personally led by the Grand Inspector.

Li Che bowed with a smile, grateful for their blessings.

Yue Taofu, with an endearing grin, glanced at the Divine Eagle before admiring the black tortoise under the Grand Inspector’s seat, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

His smile deepened considerably.

“Li, would you consider selling this ‘Xuan Gui Tuo Chong Tong’ Divine Eagle to me? I only wish to admire the profound dual-pupil charm of the Grand Inspector’s masterpiece—not out of some panic over the tortoise’s lopsided, thunder-struck look!”

Yue Taofu’s tone carried playful mockery.

Fang Shangzhen couldn’t help but chuckle as he scrutinized the Divine Eagle.

Below the Grand Inspector, the tortoise demon king, recently recovered to his languid pose, suddenly widened his eyes upon hearing Yue Taofu’s remarks.

His eyes, wide as copper bells, radiated sheer terror!

In an instant,

the tortoise demon king kicked and shuddered, hoisting his shell and standing upright from the ground.

He glared at the Divine Eagle, fixated on his own absurd, crooked reflection!

The tortoise demon king felt as though the heavens were falling!

As the Grand Inspector’s most cherished subordinate, the dignified and imposing tortoise demon king could only perceive the world as dark and full of treachery.

With the appearance of this statue—

How could the tortoise demon king ever find a mate again?!

“Enough of the mockery about the tortoise,” the Grand Inspector interjected.

“Li, your subtle use of techniques that call forth even a little Divine Thunder might turn your tortoise’s slant into pride if they catch on.”

Yue Taofu instantly looked regretful.

“Li, you seem to have gleaned some insight from this carving. Keep the Divine Eagle—the profound dual-pupil divine intent within will greatly aid you.”

The Grand Inspector said with a smile, though his face remained shrouded in white mist.

Li Che had no intention of selling the Divine Eagle. Having just achieved a breakthrough with his Dao Fruit, he planned to make minor repairs to it with his fourth transformation’s 【Xiangong】 power.

Perhaps—

this might propel him into the realm of Divine Eagle Mastery!

Li Che made his position clear.

“Divine Eagle Mastery?”

Yue Taofu looked at Li Che with genuine admiration.

The young man was determined to progress. After all, at twenty-five, wasn’t he the embodiment of youth?

But compared to a Half-Saint Divine Eagle, achieving Divine Eagle Mastery was a far steeper climb.

Mastery required an extraordinary innate gift for Divine Eagle techniques!

A true Master is an artist at the pinnacle of any craft!

Divine weapons, divine pills, Divine Eagles, divine talismans, and even divine arrays—all these paths admit only a select few to the Master realm!

They are rarer than the highest peaks themselves!

As the saying goes, everyone has their specialty.

But those who reach Mastery have honed their craft to a supernatural level!

It is exceedingly rare!

Today, Li Che’s carved Divine Eagle reached the pinnacle of Half-Saint level, standing but a hair’s breadth from Divine Eagle Mastery.

Yet, that final gap was the true challenge.

Too many Half-Saint Divine Eagles have been stymied at this juncture!

Many, through years of refining their craft, manage to reach the Half-Saint level.

But to break through further—to enter the realm of Masters—is an endeavor often unattainable in a lifetime.

“Let’s give it a try—who knows, maybe it’ll work?”

Li Che smiled gently.

“Then I wish you, Li, to truly shatter the barrier of the Half-Saint pinnacle and step into the realm of Mastery—so that our Great Realm can boast another Divine Eagle Master!”

“May our Imperial Watch never remain empty!”

Yue Taofu laughed in congratulation.

In the Great Realm, there were only four Divine Eagle Masters; far fewer than the number of peak cultivators.

At Xiao Lingyin Temple, the two Divine Eagle Masters—Huang Mei and Huang Long—sustained its Divine Eagle trade along the Eleven Routes of Dajing.

Next were Zhao Gongming of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect and Ji Yuan of the Ji Family, each occupying one spot.

That was all.

Even at Imperial Watch Headquarters, no Divine Eagle Master held court.

Above the thirteen Special Guests, there are three Great Guests:

the divine roles of Divine Weapon, Divine Pill, and Divine Talisman—each one unique.

Originally, Imperial Watch Headquarters did have a Divine Eagle Master, but after that master perished in the Bizarre Temple, the coveted spot has remained vacant.

The status of the Divine Eagle Great Guest surpasses that of any local Dao City Inspector, second only to Yue Taofu and Fang Shangzhen, the two deputy inspectors.

If Li Che truly became a Divine Eagle Master, with his Special Guest status he would skip the assessments and be personally invited by the Grand Inspector to join as a Great Guest of Imperial Watch!

“Deputy Fang, take Li and give him a thorough tour of the Imperial Watch Tower. Also, assign him a cultivation chamber.”

The Grand Inspector instructed.

Fang Shangzhen cupped his hands in thanks, “Certainly.”

The Grand Inspector then looked at Li Che, “Since you are now one of my thirteen Special Guests, please accept this Imperial Watch Token—

“With this token, you may travel freely to all cities in Divine Capital except the First City.”

“No one will dare to stop you.”

The Grand Inspector declared. In the next moment, with a swift wave of his wide sleeves, a dark silver token streaked across the air and landed in Li Che’s palm.

The token was emblazoned with the words “Special.”

“Possess this token and your status will equal that of a local Dao City Inspector.

At Imperial Watch, you’ll enjoy a 50% discount on resources, receive one Four-Yu Lower Divine Crystal per month, and be assigned a private cultivation chamber—one that shields you from the prying eyes of everyone, including me.”

The Grand Inspector’s twin-pupil divine light shone so brightly that not even the white mist could conceal it.

Upon hearing this, Li Che’s heart trembled with anticipation as he grew increasingly curious about the cultivation chamber.

“In the chamber, you may have one companion with you. Having more than one is a violation, and the chamber privileges will be revoked.”

The Grand Inspector stated calmly.

“Furthermore, like the Prince’s Imperial Token, with the Special Imperial Watch Token you can request a once-in-a-cycle divine calculation from me—

“If you ever need an answer, just come to me with the token.”

With those final words, the Grand Inspector dissolved into white mist and vanished.

Only the black tortoise remained on the ninth floor.

The tortoise’s eyes conveyed a mix of sorrow and warning as if saying, “Boy, do not let this Divine Eagle be widely known—else, you’ll have me to answer to!”

After the Grand Inspector’s departure, the tortoise snorted, collapsed onto the ground, and began to swell in size, nearly filling the entire ninth floor.

It was a clear message: Evict the intruder!

Li Che eyed the enormous tortoise demon king and squinted, debating whether to use the Pure Heart divine essence to coax it.

In the end, he decided against it.

No haste—there will be time. Patience, tortoise.

The group departed the ninth floor.

Fang Shangzhen then took Li Che on a tour of the Imperial Watch Tower.

“Among all the features of this grand, water-dripping, octagonal tower, nothing is more coveted than the cultivation chamber,” Fang Shangzhen explained with a smile.

“Oh? A cultivation chamber? But the sort with divine array formations and talismans inside?” Li Che asked curiously, for that was what he had expected.

Fang Shangzhen shook her head, looking at Li Che with her billowing white robe. With a graceful motion, her wide sleeves slipped away to reveal her fair arms as she pointed to the top of the tower.

“Do you see that treasure orb guarded by eight dragons?”

“That orb was brought from the depths of the Bizarre Temple by the Grand Inspector himself.”

“It connects with the cultivation chamber. Once inside, the orb detects the divine essence within you and draws it into the chamber. Its concentration rivals that of a mid-level Four-Yu Divine Crystal, and it even streamlines the process of refining divine essence.”

“?”

Li Che’s eyes narrowed in realization.

There really was such an incredible thing in the world!

Sadly, Fang Shangzhen explained that arranging the cultivation chamber would take three days.

Li Che wasn’t in a hurry. Under her guidance, he toured the rest of the Imperial Watch Tower.

Inside, the tower was like a realm unto itself; its internal space was far greater than it appeared from the outside.

The realms of Divine Eagle, Divine Weapon, Divine Talisman, and Divine Pill each had their own floor dedicated to master-level research.

Fang Shangzhen introduced Li Che, the new Special Guest, to several other relatively unoccupied Special Guests.

Fang Shangzhen cared for Li Che especially, partly because of Fang Han Shu, and also because she genuinely admired him.

At twenty-five, Li Che’s rapid ascent from obscurity, now as a Half-Saint of Divine Eagle Peak, was nothing short of mythic.

Fang Shangzhen admired his resilience amidst adversity.

She had even considered hosting a banquet to celebrate his successful Special Guest assessment at Imperial Watch.

However, Li Che, eager to explore the freshly unlocked abilities of his fourth-transformed 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit, politely declined.

Unperturbed, Fang Shangzhen arranged a special carriage exclusively for Special Guests for Li Che.

Li Che then rode the carriage out of the Imperial Watch Tower.

The carriage trampled through the gentle spring rain,

making for an unobstructed journey back to the Fourth City!

The slight warmth of early spring melted the lingering snows in the leaden skies,

transforming into cold droplets that swept away the drowsiness of winter from all living things in Divine Capital.

Rain pattered steadily as puddles gathered on the ground.

When Li Che returned to Qianyuan Courtyard,

the news that Li Che, the young prodigy from Qianyuan Divine Sect’s Shendiao Ridge, had passed the Special Guest assessment at Imperial Watch and become its thirteenth Special Guest spread like wildfire through the upper three cities of Divine Capital.

“Father!”

XiXi, who was deep in cultivation in the courtyard, leapt up in excitement at the sight of Li Che in his dark robe,

rushing toward him like a speeding bullet.

Yet now that Li Che was so strong, he gently pinched the young girl by the nape of her neck, hoisting her up effortlessly.

XiXi instantly realized the vast gap between her and her father.

Now that XiXi had broken through to the Grandmaster level, her boiling, fervent qi evaporated the lingering spring droplets as if by magic.

Inside the small courtyard, prodigies from both Qianyuan Divine Sect and Dao City practiced martial arts under her commanding presence.

“Husband!”

Under the eaves, Zhang Ya, who was cheerfully munching on sunflower seeds next to Granny Mu, burst into excited shouts.

She leaped over the railing with her long legs, dashing toward Li Che.

Both mother and daughter—almost identical in manner.

Though Zhang Ya behaved with a tad more restraint compared to XiXi, she didn’t ram her head into Li Che.

Zhang Ya clung to Li Che’s arm tightly.

“Husband, did you succeed?!”

Her eyes sparkled brilliantly.

She knew that today, Li Che had taken the formidable Special Guest assessment at Imperial Watch!

Rumor had it that the test was extraordinarily tough.

Among the entire Great Realm, Imperial Watch had barely more than a dozen Special Guests!

Li Che carried XiXi in one hand while allowing Zhang Ya to loop her arm around him, a gentle smile ever present on his face.

“Don’t worry, my love. I always come through!”

Li Che laughed.

Under the eaves,

Lü Taibai, with his silver hair and white robes, looked on enviously at Li Che, surrounded by his wife and daughter.

He and Xuan Qisha still had no heirs—not due to his fault, but because of Xuan Qisha’s physical condition.

After exchanging a few words with his wife and daughter, Li Che headed toward his room to seclude himself for cultivation, confident that his Special Guest assessment had yielded significant insight.

“Go on, set up your nest first, Father!”

XiXi, who was being carried by Li Che, pouted playfully.

Li Che chuckled as he gently tossed her into the air; XiXi grumbled with sparks flying around her feet, as two Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheels whirled into action.

Li Che’s gaze softened as he looked at XiXi,

but the thought of the dangerous Yulian Fire within her made his heart sink.

He suddenly frowned; during his time at the Imperial Watch Tower, he had forgotten to ask the Grand Inspector whether there was a way to control the Yulian Fire inside XiXi.

If he hadn’t met the Grand Inspector initially, Li Che wouldn’t have been sure; however, after carving a Divine Eagle for him, it was clear that the Grand Inspector’s strength had reached the Divine Calamity realm!

Even a mere manifestation of willpower from him would instill overwhelming pressure on Li Che.

“If all else fails, I’ll use this Imperial Watch Token to request that one divine calculation from the Grand Inspector—to see how to quell the Yulian Fire in XiXi.”

Li Che’s eyes grew resolute.

He exhaled and, passing by Granny Mu, paused briefly.

“Where’s Senior Qingshan?” Li Che asked, puzzled.

But he paid it little mind as he proceeded toward the inner chambers.

Divine Capital, Fourth City.

Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

In a courtyard once strewn with corpses and lingering blood, clarity had returned long ago.

Huang Mei flicked his finger, igniting a flame that burned away the remains and sat cross-legged amidst an opulent Buddha statue, offering prayers for the deceased disciples of Xiao Lingyin Temple.

Ji Mo Li, clad in armor with his four sons, sat beneath the eaves silently watching as Huang Mei conducted the rites.

No matter how well Huang Mei masked his grief, Ji Mo Li could clearly discern sorrow upon his face.

It pleased him; it confirmed that Huang Mei’s cooperation with him was sincere.

Suddenly,

Ji Mo Li’s eyebrows rose slightly as he produced a Thousand-Mile Divine Communication Mirror. Glancing at it briefly, his eyes turned oddly.

“Great Master, things have changed.”

“Li Che has passed the Special Guest assessment arranged by the Grand Inspector and is now a Special Guest of Imperial Watch.”

Ji Mo Li said calmly.

With the clanging of armor, Ji Mo Li and his four sons rose. Towering over three meters tall, they looked like four armored demons.

“Since Li Che has just become a Special Guest of Imperial Watch, we must postpone our plans against him for now.

After all, respect must still be paid to the Grand Inspector,” Ji Mo Li said gravely.

Draped in heavy black armor, he clasped his fists and said to Huang Mei, “Great Master, our collaboration continues—when I act next, I will summon you personally.”

Huang Mei finished his chanting as the sound of the wooden fish ceased.

Nodding slightly, he replied, “Very well.”

Ji Mo Li departed with his four sons.

Huang Mei maintained his dignified posture, his long eyebrows fluttering in the spring rain.

“Amitabha.”

“Luck is on our side.”

Second City, Royal Prince’s Residence.

Third Prince Lü Litong returned to his residence in an opulent carriage.

His face was clouded with displeasure.

Li Che’s ascent to the thirteenth Special Guest of Imperial Watch had clearly unsettled him.

After all, it was a matter of little consequence to cross paths with someone like Li Che; he had painstakingly cultivated a filial image before the Grand Inspector, and could not afford to incur his disfavor over a mere Li Che.

The Third Prince knew full well that the competition for the Crown Prince position was not an easy affair.

The First Prince was backed by the Temple Guardian Division, while the Second Prince had the support of the Yue Family.

Though he now enjoyed the backing of the Ji Family, the fact that his consort had died at their hands meant that the cunning elders of the Ji Family might never fully trust or support him.

Once distrust sets in, it is nearly impossible to repair.

“But what sets me apart from the First and Second Princes is that I have the backing of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect!

If I can leave a good impression with the Grand Inspector, even win his support, then my claim to the Crown Prince title will be solidified!”

Third Prince Lü Litong’s eyes gleamed with determination.

Due to the unique status afforded by the Grand Inspector, some already whispered that Imperial Watch no longer truly belonged to the Great Realm, but was on the verge of joining as the twelfth Divine Sect of the Great Realm—

a testament to its formidable power.

After all, in the struggle for the Crown Prince, it all comes down to the might behind one’s supporters.

Back in his residence,

a torrential downpour pounded on the exquisitely maintained garden tended by dozens of maids, the drenching water forming a faint, shrouding mist like gauzy white fabric.

Su Yunji, holding an umbrella for the Third Prince, entered the garden’s pavilion. As soon as he sat down, servants presented a lavish array of delicacies on stone tables set inside the pavilion.

Ziyan Diao Si, Han Sixi, stood respectfully behind the Third Prince.

The Third Prince raised his hand to quiet the pavilion.

His eyes flashed as he took out, in exchange for his Imperial Watch Token, a Dao Treasure orb—the Grand Inspector’s once-off divine calculation.

Within the orb lay the Grand Inspector’s answer.

His consort—

Who was truly responsible for her death?!

Sitting in the pavilion, the relentless rain struck the black tiles, shrouding the world in a hazy gloom.

He exchanged a glance with Ziyan Diao Si.

Then, with a wave dismissing Su Yunji and Su Yunliu, the pavilion emptied, leaving only Han Sixi and him.

“Your Highness, since you’ve established a filial image with the Grand Inspector, maintain it—

and let’s see who killed Consort Ji!”

Han Sixi folded his arms, his tone piercing.

As the chosen bodyguards ensuring the princes’ safety, the Diao Si represented the very essence of their master’s will.

With the princes embroiled in the fight for the Crown Prince title, the temple servants of Diao Si were inevitably dragged into the struggle.

Only when the protected prince truly rose would they attain influential stature and become the elite.

Third Prince Lü Litong nodded in agreement.

His trust in Han Sixi was unprecedented.

He considered him even more reliable than his late consort.

Han Sixi was one of his greatest pillars in the fight for the Crown Prince title.

The Diao Si technique was of utmost importance in Divine Capital’s First City Royal Palace and Temple.

Moreover, Han Sixi was ranked among the top fifteen of Heavenly Gate!

Emperor Jing had placed even stronger Han Sixi under him, giving Lü Litong the sense that his late father had high hopes for him.

Without hesitation, Third Prince Lü Litong’s eyes darkened as he clutched the orb tightly,

and in one swift move, an immense surge of divine essence cascaded down, sending ripples through the void like an invisible wave,

shattering the orb.

Mystical divine imprints, reminiscent of the essence of celestial secrets, swirled in the air.

“Underworld.”

“Ogre.”

Qianyuan Courtyard.

Shortly after returning home, Li Che sat in a chair in Qianyuan Courtyard, poured himself a glass of water,

and was about to drink.

Suddenly, his spirit roiled like stormy seas!

The Cosmic Chessboard trembled.

A latent, enigmatic Dao force began to emerge silently from within his Tu Ma—a white python coiled deep within.

Li Che’s lips brushed the cup.

His eyes hardened.

“Who dares spy on my celestial secrets?”

“Who seeks to kill me?!”

His five fingers clenched.

In that instant, the white python of the Tu Ma was wrenched out by Li Che.

Then,

the Cosmic Chessboard unfurled like a hand, forcefully slamming down,

subduing the roaring, struggling white python with unyielding might!