Chapter 365: Wrath Unleashed at the Temple

Does the divine really not die?

But these Temple Spirits were long dead anyway.

To Li Che, being ‘immortal’ was merely a matter of insufficient power and techniques.

When Fang Shangzhen, Yue Taofu, Lü Taibai, and others combined their strength, they could crack the Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit of the Four-Yu rank nearly to pieces.

Yet, in truth, they had held back somewhat – Li Che knew that Temple Spirits could indeed be shattered!

Back in Daocheng, Li Che had invited Dog Master to act; with one swipe of his claw, Dog Master had melted the Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit of Daocheng into a pool of liquid gold.

From that moment on, that Temple Spirit was truly considered slain.

The Bizarre Temple nearly collapsed.

Li Che could sense that Dog Master had held back, sparing the Temple Spirit from complete annihilation; otherwise…

He might have suffered dire consequences or attracted the wrath of far greater beings.

After all, Dog Master only used one claw swipe.

Even if a gap in rank existed between the Heavenly King Towers of the Divine Capital’s Bizarre Temple and Daocheng’s temple…

Li Che guessed that for Dog Master it was merely a matter of one extra swipe.

His hand slowly brushed over the Ogre Mask; as his eyes ignited with golden flames, the searing heat seemed capable of melting the very air.

The murderous intent was overwhelming, surging like a raging tide!

The Seven-Treasure Shèli Ruyi Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit had schemed against Yulian’s Eight-Armed Furious Third Prince Temple Spirit–––

Perhaps this was a calculated grudge stemming from differences in rank within the Pantheon of the Bizarre Temple.

But…

What did that have to do with his daughter?!

Why drag his daughter into this?

XiXi was only three or four when she received the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple inheritance. How could such a young child be blamed? Why must she suffer so?

Thus, Li Che’s fury towards the Seven-Treasure Shèli Ruyi Golden Heavenly King was unbridled!

Of course, he also feared that this Temple Spirit might have some hidden trump card that could adversely affect the Yulian Fire burning within XiXi.

If it were to prematurely trigger the Yulian Fire inside her, and without suppression from the Third Prince’s divine will, the consequences would be dire.

Although the possibility was slim, Li Che dared not take any risks.

That was why, upon arriving at the Divine Capital, he made no effort to fly under the radar – he needed to build networks and amass public power.

After arriving in Divine Capital, he first demonstrated his divine transformation by showcasing the power of his Divine Transformation. Then at the Peach Festival preview, he spared nothing – crushing all opposition to quickly secure an invitation to the main banquet.

All for the sake of building his reputation.

Originally, this fame was meant to help him break into the Seven-Treasure Shèli Ruyi Golden Heavenly King Tower within the Bizarre Temple.

But through a fortuitous twist he ended up participating in the Imperial Watch’s top-tier guest assessment, earning the nod from the Grand Inspector. Suddenly, everything fell into place.

Once inside the Seven-Treasure Shèli Ruyi Golden Heavenly King Bizarre Temple, leaving behind a Feilei Chess Piece would give him the chance to crush that Temple Spirit!

Besides forging alliances with the living, Li Che was also busy accumulating connections from the deceased.

He glanced over at XiXi, who was seated cross-legged in the cultivation chamber, deeply immersed in her practice.

XiXi was aware of her condition, but she refused to be a burden to her father – she vowed to become stronger.

She knew that only by growing powerful could she suppress all calamities!

Once she mastered the Yulian Fire, it would no longer pose a threat!

Li Che was well aware of both his daughter’s determination and stubborn spirit.

His eyes, once filled with murderous intent, softened noticeably.

“All I want is to see you grow up safe and sound,”

he thought, “So anyone who dares stand in your way is my enemy. And I will kill them!”

That had been Li Che’s unwavering resolve all along!

From Feilei City…

to this very moment.

In an instant, as his five fingers curled into a fist, a white Feilei Chess Piece manifested in his palm.

And in that split second, Li Che himself vanished!

Boom–––

The Bizarre Temple churned, and eerie mists roiled over the dark waters of the Grand Canal.

Boat after boat raced along the surface, nearly sealing off the waters around the Bizarre Temple.

Mighty auras intertwined, as torrents of power thundered.

The once-placid river surged and recoiled violently, waves crashing in tumultuous fury.

Flower Man Lou stood atop one of the boats, his robe fluttering in the wind; his paper fan in hand, his expression relaxed and calm.

Beside him, Wang Kui, donned in the robe of the Temple Guardian Division and sporting a golden ring on his nose, stood out with his bright red hair against the night.

Wang Kui’s hands were clasped behind his back, his red hair blazing in the darkness.

“What a crew – two top-tier divine beings have just utterly thrashed the Temple Spirit of the Four-Yu Bizarre Temple–––

something that had never happened before.”

Bathed in the night breeze, Wang Kui couldn’t help but grin.

There was no need to mention Lü Taibai, for as the sect leader of the Qianyuan Divine Sect and a Divine Condor Half-Saint who passed the Imperial Watch’s top-tier assessment, Li Che’s support was unquestionable.

But why had Shi Jian of the True Martial Divine Sect chosen to intervene?

This was a mystery that perplexed Wang Kui.

Even though the Temple Spirits were already dead, once the spirit realm was formed, they would never truly vanish. Whenever a cultivator reached the divine calamity stage and entered the Bizarre Temple, they would inevitably have to face these Temple Spirits.

Even if in the mortal world one could easily flatten a Bizarre Temple and shatter a Temple Spirit into oblivion, those Spirits would simply retreat into the Bizarre Temple.

After countless cycles of spring and autumn, they would emerge from the earth like mushrooms after a rainstorm, reestablishing themselves on the mortal plane.

And even if a cultivator destroyed a Temple Spirit, its divine essence would seep into them like a cursed tumor attached to the bone.

Until, after breaking through to the divine calamity or Martial Saint realm and evading innumerable tribulations, they would eventually enter the Bizarre Temple…

Perhaps then, the Pantheon would come for retribution.

So while obliterating a Temple Spirit might feel gratifying, it was an exercise in futility.

“Besides, Fang Shangzhen and Yue Taofu from the Imperial Watch—

Fang Shangzhen, a scion of the only ancient Flower Family from Jiangnan, born to a scholarly lineage and a descendant of Confucian sages–––

Fang Han Shu’s elder sister–––”

Wang Kui squinted as he mentioned Fang Han Shu.

“But this time, after that beating, the Seven-Treasure Shèli Ruyi Golden Heavenly King Tower’s Temple Spirit took a beating that saved us a lot of trouble–––

The weakened Temple Spirit meant that the Bizarre Temple too would remain subdued for a long time–––

so if we watch over it for a few days and confirm there’s no uprising, we can reduce the number of our guards. By then, with the Peach Festival nearing its official start, we could dispatch more reinforcements.”

Wang Kui explained.

At this, Flower Man Lou’s face showed a trace of embarrassment.

“A few days of surveillance?”

“Can we do that from the flower boat?”

Flower Man Lou asked sincerely.

“Get lost!”

Wang Kui shot Flower Man Lou a venomous glare. “What’s so special about a flower boat? And what’s so aromatic about a courtesan?”

“Heh heh, Brother Wang, you just don’t appreciate the grace of a courtesan. They’re light on their feet and masters of service. But you, with a wife like yours, just wouldn’t understand their allure.”

Flower Man Lou couldn’t help but fan himself gently.

Wang Kui’s wife was the daughter of a princely family – her status and infamous reputation as the Iron Rakshasa were known throughout the Divine Capital.

Many in the Temple Guardian Division knew that the Grand Inspector Wang Kui was notorious for being henpecked.

But he ignored it, narrowing his eyes as he looked toward the Bizarre Temple engulfed in swirling, boiling mists.

For some reason–––

Wang Kui felt a growing unease deep within.

No matter how he tried, he couldn’t pinpoint the source of that disquiet.

Crack, crack–––

Above the heavens, brilliant lightning flashed, as though serpents were coiling suddenly around the universe.

On the Grand Canal, waves piled up; the winds were restless, and the surging tides showed no sign of calming.

Inside the enclosed Bizarre Temple, completely blocked by the Temple Guardian Division’s agents, the air itself seemed to warp.

Slowly, a massive, robust figure emerged before the ruined Golden Divine Hall.

Cracks on the ground spread like spiderwebs, with searing heat bursting out uncontrollably.

Crack.

A shattered stone was crushed under a massive foot, pulverized to dust in an instant.

Li Che’s jet-black, vigorous hair flew wildly. Wearing his adorable Ogre Mask, his eyes burned with a terrifying divine light as murderous intent boiled within.

Gazing at the sealed temple, it was as if he could see through the cracks to the Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit slowly patching its fissures inside the Bizarre Temple.

It resembled a dog, locked inside, cautiously licking its wounds.

A howling gale surged; turbulent, chaotic winds battered as if the Temple Spirit in the Bizarre Temple sensed something, causing the entire structure to tremble slightly.

It was as if thousands of golden beams squeezed out from the gaps in the doors, cascading down in torrents!

The overwhelming aura of the Temple Spirit’s rank unleashed a terrifying oppressive force.

Behind his mask, Li Che’s eyes remained indifferent as he gazed at the Golden Divine Hall.

In one moment, radiant golden light burst forth from his grasp – it was his Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff. At the same time, a glint of a blade resounded from his left hand.

The Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade, fused with the bone of his left hand, emitted a vibrating, dazzling hum.

Both mythic weapons seemed to sense Li Che’s surging murderous intent.

As he reached the doorway, he stomped heavily onto the sealed door of the Golden Divine Hall.

An invisible shockwave exploded beneath his foot, radiating outward in a fierce, liberating eruption!

In an instant, the golden door was shattered by Li Che’s thunderous stomp!

At that very moment, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit in Li Che’s body reacted – his flesh and skin ballooned like a rapidly inflating balloon!

Golden vital energy burst outward like a dense fog, enveloping him in a hazy aura, as if a terrifying god had stepped forth from a divine golden mist.

Sizzling lightning arcs danced wildly; one after another, bolts of dark-gold lightning fell like writhing serpents around Li Che.

Divine Thunder Armor.

Prison Thunder Network!

Boom–––!!!

Inside the Golden Divine Hall, the cracked Golden Heavenly King roared, its gaping fissures exuding a raw divine essence like a furious storm!

In the midst of it all, it seemed as if a divine figure stood there, roaring at the small demonic foes!

The oppressive aura unique to the Four-Yu Temple Spirits crashed down upon Li Che like collapsing mountains.

“You–––finally arrived–––”

Suddenly,

A deep voice resounded throughout the Golden Divine Hall.

Beneath his mask, Li Che’s eyes turned cold. Activating his Ascending Stance, he discarded all emotion, becoming an unfeeling killing machine.

“You guessed right–––”

The Golden Heavenly King, riddled with cracks, towered over the treasure tower as it glared down at Li Che, who donned armor reminiscent of thunder.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He sensed something amiss.

This Golden Heavenly King–––seemed to know he would come?

Was it plotting?

No, Li Che’s mind suddenly cleared as he realized something.

The Seven-Treasure Shèli Ruyi Golden Heavenly King Temples of Jin Guang Mansion and Daocheng had both collapsed–––

So the Temple Spirit of this Four-Yu Heavenly King Tower’s Bizarre Temple must have felt it too.

And not to mention the unjust beating…

It all pointed to the hidden mastermind.

This mastermind–––wants to kill!

Yet Li Che ignored the Golden Heavenly King’s words. With a slight sway of his body,

One after another, Qimen Divine Seeds erupted explosively from his back!

Six in total, like six mighty suns!

Blazing brightly; the dazzling light was overpowering!

Golden mists flowed from Li Che’s eyes. After triggering the divine seed, his vital energy soared as the locks of human limits shattered one after another!

Veins on his back bulged like roaring dragons!

Blood, as thick as molten mercury, surged through his vessels!

Boom–––!!!

With each step, the once-cracked floor of the divine hall exploded further, collapsing deeply. Countless fragments shot into the air before dissolving in the searing heat of his vital energy!

And as Li Che moved, he snapped his fingers.

Dozens of black chess pieces materialized out of thin air,

Swelling like a storm, twisting and morphing into forms of Spiritual Confinement.

“Daughter of Yulian–––has been born. This is the curse, the rule of fate. The gods won’t let the Daughter of Yulian be reborn – you can’t stop it, you can’t block it–––”

A deep, almost divine whisper echoed throughout.

It reverberated within the Golden Heavenly King Bizarre Temple.

It was as though the Golden Heavenly King himself spoke in a low tone.

Boom–––!!!

The Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit retaliated, slapping forth a hand that radiated brilliant Buddha Light and swirling gold. The hand expanded in fiery brilliance!

Boom–––!!!

Li Che, massive as a mountain, thrust a punch. The roaring Dragon Elephant, in a myriad of transformations, thundered forth!

The enormous Golden Dragon Elephant trampled down, colliding head-on with that monstrous palm of the Golden Heavenly King!

A terrifying explosion erupted, as countless beams intertwined and wreaked havoc in every direction!

The intertwined might of a Divine Dragon and a Golden light danced, empowered by the strength of Dragon Elephant Vajra. The force was

Nearly world-shattering!

Already battered by top-tier divine beings, the Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit’s hand was shattered by Li Che’s punch!

A brilliant flash of golden light erupted. Li Che transformed into the Ogre, his hair now tinged with gold, cascading past his waist. His muscles tensed, the sinews, skin, and bones vibrating as if in violent convulsion.

Around him, countless forms of Spiritual Confinement twisted and surged into imposing figures.

As soon as Yue Huanglong appeared, his entire body ignited with burning flesh, opening the gate of the underworld to unleash his peak fighting power.

On the other side, Huang Mei’s radiant Buddha Light shone. With clasped palms and the Diamond Fist Manifestation booming forth, he attacked the Golden Heavenly King.

The moment Han Sixi of Spiritual Confinement appeared, the old monk of the Temple immediately unleashed his full might. His purple robe fluttered as murderous intent surged – their formation was admittedly weaker compared to Lü Taibai, Fang Shangzhen, and the others this time.

But the Golden Heavenly King was far from his peak!

Li Che grasped his Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff and advanced along the massive, shattered arm of the Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit.

The air before him exploded with the shockwave of his impact!

Every step caused the Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit’s arm to cave in and collapse, cracks interweaving like fissures on shattered porcelain!

With every footfall, Li Che’s aura surged ever higher, more formidable by the moment.

The seventh Qimen Divine Seed tumbled continuously as a gigantic golden vortex of vital energy gathered behind him, like a storm about to break!

It was as though all the energy of heaven and earth were being drawn in!

“Can you not hold back?”

“Even if she is the Daughter of Yulian, she is still my daughter!”

“If my daughter is in danger–––do you really think you can stop me?!”

With a heavy step, Li Che’s voice rumbled with lethal intent, like thunder!

“Whoever dares harm my daughter, come on!”

“Watch as I, her father, block every threat–––”

“If the gods come, then I’ll slaughter them all!”

His arrogant, defiant words exploded forth!

Boom!

With one final, crushing step!

The fire of fury in Li Che’s chest reached its zenith, like flames in a molten furnace doused with a bucket of oil!

A torrent of blinding anger surged in his chest like a raging ocean.

It was about to blow!

It was about to burst!

Boom, boom, boom, boom–––!

A terrifying explosion ripped through – the entire arm of the Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit was obliterated. From the Golden Heavenly King Tower, twisting Buddha Light pierced forth, forming countless figures.

Yet they were crushed utterly by Huang Mei Great Master, Han Sixi, and Yue Huanglong!

Bursting golden fireworks exploded in the air!

Li Che held the Four-Yu Temple Spirits in high regard, never letting his guard down – he had unleashed eight top-tier divine beings to assault them in rotation–––

It proved that not even a single Temple Spirit could withstand such onslaught!

Li Che’s aura soared to ever-greater heights, unstoppable.

It had reached its current pinnacle.

Within his chest, innumerable Dao Fruits, suspended like gourds on vines, jostled and burst forth!

At his command, countless dark-gold Divine Xiao Calamity lightning converged above his head–––

Divine Xiao Jail Thunder Sword!

The power of Divine Xiao thunder transformed into a colossal blade!

Even a trace of Divine Xiao Thunder power barely reached the level of the Three Calamities.

Countless bolts of lightning intertwined to form an immense sword of light that crashed down with a deafening roar!

In that moment, the massive form of the Golden Heavenly King Tower Temple Spirit crumbled like malleable clay, sliced by the dark-gold blade of lightning!

For an instant, as if all the radiance in the world vanished, the treasure tower and the Golden Heavenly King Statue dimmed into utter darkness!

And the wound carved by the Divine Xiao Jail Thunder Sword began to pulse with arcs of lightning!

From Li Che’s eyes burst out a brilliant golden radiance. As his Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff trembled, thousands of staff silhouettes intermingled into a dense array.

A vast outpouring of vital energy exploded as Li Che’s muscles swelled to their limits – every bit of his strength surged forth. The six spiraling, blood-red vortexes on his back converged into a terrifying staff!

A single staff–––

Crushing the southern heavens!

As the wound severed by the Divine Xiao Jail Thunder Sword was punctured by this staff, it churned and split open further!

The towering Golden Heavenly King Statue and the Golden Heavenly King Tower seemed to have reached their ultimate state, twisting and exploding into countless fragments of golden sand, scattering in every direction with a clamor!

The entire Bizarre Temple trembled violently!

Cracks spread and interwove, as if extending into the Bizarre Temple, forming a devastating shockwave that rippled beyond its bounds.

Under the Ogre Mask, Li Che was wrapped in dark-gold lightning and surging golden vital energy, with the Dragon Elephant Furnace spanning his back like a blazing sun!

Staring at the collapsed remnants of the Temple Spirit statue, the golden flames in Li Che’s eyes intensified suddenly.

“What is this?”

A golden treasure pearl emerged from the shattered remains of the Temple Spirit statue, trembling wildly as though it possessed a mind of its own, ready to escape the Bizarre Temple.

But Li Che – a man who always took a moment to feel even the Qian Kun Jade – would never let go of such a conspicuous golden pearl!

In an instant, he grasped the Golden Treasure Pearl. Before he could use his Star Plucking Gaze to examine it further,

Li Che looked up sharply. Through the fissured roof of the Bizarre Temple, he could just make out a vast, blue hue looming over the Bizarre Temple…

Without a moment’s hesitation,

Li Che raised his hand and, with a swift motion of his fingers, reached toward the scattered remnants of the divine statues.

“Divine…”

“It’s time to depart.”

“Summon the Divine!”

Boom, boom, boom!

The once-turbulent canal water instantly surged around the Seven-Treasure Shèli Ruyi Golden Heavenly King Bizarre Temple, forming a towering wall of waves ten zhang high!

The cascading water hit like bullets, pummeling relentlessly!

As the shockwave spread through the water, it became a tangible force, viciously battering everything in its path–––

Boat after boat was shattered by the crashing waves!

The strong warriors on board were abruptly awakened, their vital energy and divine nature spilling onto the surface of the Grand Canal.

But the shockwave unleashed from the Bizarre Temple was so terrifying that many Temple Guardian Division agents coughed up blood from the oppressive force.

They all tumbled into the canal like drenched chickens.

Flower Man Lou was just musing over how to persuade Wang Kui to wait on the flower boat.

Yet–––

Before a word could finish his sentence,

Flower Man Lou’s face drained of color, while Wang Kui reacted even faster.

Both of them were tossed into the air as the boat beneath them exploded.

Suspended in midair, they could feel the surging divine energy and aura from the unleashed Temple Spirit shattering their vitality and divine force.

Wang Kui fared better, but Flower Man Lou’s expression was utterly dismayed.

At that moment, only terror remained in Flower Man Lou’s eyes.

“What–––what on earth is happening?!”

Flower Man Lou’s hairs stood on end.

Wasn’t it supposed to be calm and peaceful? Didn’t they agree the Bizarre Temple would remain undisturbed for a while?

So why had it suddenly erupted?

“Bizarre Temple uprising?”

“No, it’s not an uprising in the Bizarre Temple!”

Wang Kui drew a deep breath.

Meanwhile,

at the headquarters of the Temple Guardian Division in Divine Capital,

a solitary figure strode through the darkness as if treading on air, each step solidifying the very void.

Ye Pengju advanced step by step, his falling qi alone causing the assembled strongmen to feel an unbearable weight.

In just a few strides, he appeared over the Grand Canal.

The shockwave that had once roiled wildly suddenly ceased, and calm returned – at least in the hundred-zhang radius around Ye Pengju. Beyond that, the waves continued to rage.

Wang Kui and Flower Man Lou clasped their fists in greeting.

“Grand Inspector.”

Ye Pengju nodded, his jet-black hair streaming as he stood tall like a mountain, with intertwining golden vital energy etched over his body.

“I’ll go in and check.”

After a brief word, Ye Pengju charged forth.

He sliced through the turbulent mists and entered the Bizarre Temple.

However, as Ye Pengju tore through the mists of the Bizarre Temple,

spanning across the vast ground, his eyes caught sight of an enormous blue hand, its surface intricately patterned, slowly rising from the original site of the Golden Divine Hall.

And under that blue hand, the Golden Heavenly King Bizarre Temple had been obliterated to nothingness.

Stepping into the Bizarre Temple, Ye Pengju’s expression remained impassive as his eyes narrowed.

In the distance, he saw that the enormous blue hand extended into a massive blue arm, behind which loomed a hazy, towering blue Buddha!

“A Blue Buddha–––”

“Hei Xumi?”

“Have the gods finally lost their patience?”

Ye Pengju stared deeply at the ominous Blue Buddha gradually fading into the horizon of the Bizarre Temple.

In a flash, he saw the Blue Buddha’s eyes shift, shredding through the endless mists as if casting a signal.

Without hesitation, Ye Pengju spun around and fled,

dashing out of the Bizarre Temple at breakneck speed.

Countless mists tore apart as he burst through!

Once Ye Pengju emerged, his whole body was shrouded in a resplendent golden blood mist. Glancing back,

he saw that with the disappearance of the Bizarre Temple, the Bizarre Temple seemed to have severed its ties to the mortal world, slowly vanishing into the expanse.

On the Grand Canal, calm finally returned.

Flower Man Lou and Wang Kui soared into the air, their faces etched with stunned confusion.

The Bizarre Temple–––

had seemingly vanished from the mortal world?!

They both looked toward Ye Pengju.

Ye Pengju frowned, expressionless: “Not my doing.”

“It must have been a strike by someone deep in the Bizarre Temple – someone from the gods’ camp. Perhaps this Temple Spirit committed an unforgivable act.”

“Seal the news.”

“Forget it – you can’t hide the fact that an entire Four-Yu Bizarre Temple in the Grand Canal has disappeared.”

“It won’t stay secret for long.”

“Let’s just announce it as good news.”

Ye Pengju said calmly.

He felt that the precipitous drop in divine energy over the Grand Canal was a promising sign–––

Wang Kui and Flower Man Lou exchanged worried glances, their eyes clouded with apprehension at the sudden disappearance of so much divine energy.

“Grand Inspector–––is this really good news?”

Ye Pengju shot them a steely glance, his eyes sharpening even further.

“Isn’t it?”

“The very purpose of our Temple Guardian Division was to suppress the Bizarre Temples and prevent their divine essence from contaminating the mortal realm. How many of our agents have lost their lives battling wicked and demonic forces?”

“I’d love nothing more than to see all the Bizarre Temples shrink back into the Bizarre Temple, severing their ties to the mortal world!”

Ye Pengju’s voice rumbled gravely.

“And now, the disappearance of the Bizarre Temple – isn’t it great news?”

Wang Kui and Flower Man Lou opened their mouths to argue, but were left speechless.

Octagonal, double-eaved, dripping with water – the Imperial Watch Tower.

In the cultivation chamber.

Li Che’s fingers closed around a Feilei Chess Piece, and in an instant he was gone.

An aura of terror vanished as quickly as it had erupted, hidden within his body and secreted into his meridians.

Fearing to disturb his brow in concentration, Li Che continued to cultivate, absorbing the divine essence from XiXi in the cultivation chamber.

His Ink Robe billowed, his dark hair crackled like flashing lightning as he removed the Ogre Mask from his face. Sitting cross-legged, Li Che calmly meditated, his muscles interlacing like ceaseless thunder.

Gazing at his diligently practicing daughter, a tender softness appeared in Li Che’s eyes.

He no longer cared whether his daughter was the Daughter of Yulian!

No matter the curse or fate–––

Since XiXi was his daughter, he, as her father, would block any threat – come gods or men!

A father only wishes to see his daughter safe, carefree, and happy.

Not wanting to disturb her further, Li Che touched his brow.

The Cosmic Chessboard unfurled instantly,

enveloping the entire cultivation chamber while severing all interference from the fluctuations of his aura to his daughter’s practice.

Li Che sat cross-legged, his mind tranquil.

At the center of his brow, where flesh had split and blood and muscle lay exposed, within the inner realm of Mud Pellet,

rose a towering pagoda woven from countless strands of divine energy—a colossal, majestic structure, pulsating with streaming Buddha Light and cascades of golden brilliance.

This was the Temple Spirit Li Che had summoned – now forcibly sealed within the inner realm of the Mud Pellet.

Inside the Mud Pellet, the core of the Cosmic Chessboard appeared to reside. Its lines, thick and interwoven, were imbued with the untainted essence of Pure Heart, forming chains that bound the pagoda tightly.

Today, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit had ascended to Iv6. The suppressive force of Pure Heart’s divine nature was far stronger than before.

Under its influence, the divine essence on the pagoda slowly crumbled, collapsing bit by bit into divine neon gas, voraciously devoured by the divine transformation and Golden Pills within the Mud Pellet’s inner realm.

The Fa Tian Xiang Di Luminous True Primate roared in divine transformation, its appetite vast – most of the refined divine essence from the Four-Yu Temple Spirits was consumed entirely.

Besides, the remaining divine essence from the summoned Temple Spirits was devoured by the Lv Xuan Sword Immortal Golden Pill.

As for the Seven-Desire Golden Pill, it had long reached saturation, absorbing only a trickle of divine essence.

Thus, the majority of the divine essence from the Four-Yu Temple Spirits was converted into energy for the Lv Xuan Sword Immortal Golden Pill!

That caused the Lv Xuan Sword Immortal Golden Pill to gleam like gold, pulsating continuously as if it breathed.

Slowly opening his eyes, lines like those of a chessboard danced before him.

[Dao Fruit: Chess Sage (Lv5 90%)]

Watching the maturation of the Dao Fruit, a faint smile tugged at Li Che’s lips.

He had summoned a Temple Spirit of the Four-Yu rank and then used the Cosmic Chessboard to suppress and seal it–––

For the Cosmic Chessboard, this exertion was almost unbearable.

After withstanding the pressure of the Temple Spirit, the Chessboard slowly matured, as if growing stronger from its burden. Although Li Che had crushed the Seven-Treasure Shèli Ruyi Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit, his heart was far from at ease.

For from the Golden Temple Spirit he had learned one thing: “Daughter of Yulian” – the gods would soon come for her, and he would be powerless to stop them.

The Daughter of Yulian – unmistakably referring to XiXi.

The gods… and the Daughter of Yulian.

Li Che shook his head. Such matters clearly involved deep-seated factions in the Bizarre Temple – and he only understood a fragment of it.

As if recalling something,

Li Che pressed his two fingers together and then ripped open the void, his five fingers plunging into it.

With one swift grasp,

a golden treasure pearl fell into his hand.

No sooner had it appeared

than it began to vibrate violently, as if about to break free from Li Che’s grasp and fly off.

This was the curious trinket that had burst forth after the shattering of the Seven-Treasure Shèli Ruyi Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirit.

None of the other Temple Spirits summoned by Li Che – not even the two Golden Heavenly King Temple Spirits – had produced such an object.

Li Che’s curiosity flared.

What could emerge from a shattered Temple Spirit?

Blood and flesh split at his brow; golden pupils rotated on his forehead before his gaze finally settled on the treasure pearl.