Chapter 373: A Cataclysm of Divine Power

Crack, crack—!

Dense, heavy clouds churned and rolled, and as thunder burst forth from behind them it roared like a divine being unleashing an ear-splitting bellow that shook the soul.

The heavens and earth trembled; wind and rain shattered in its wake.

Zhang Yunlong stepped on a water dragon, as if riding a true dragon—a celestial figure soaring in the sky—his azure robe clinging tightly to his form.

It accentuated his long, lithe figure.

Yet at this moment, Zhang Yunlong could only feel an inexplicable, deep-seated dread.

A surging heatwave rolled in, vaporizing the drifting clouds; countless white crests erupted and were torn apart.

Then, in Zhang Yunlong’s eyes, a brilliant, mighty sun began to rise!

The hairpin atop his head shattered, his dark tresses whirled wildly, and his eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

That was—

What the—!

In his view, only a golden Guanyin remained—a figure rapidly growing in stature, radiating an ultimate burst of light and heat. Even from hundreds of meters away, one could feel the inner force twisting and swelling, as if about to rend the very air to pieces!

The unease in his heart flared to its peak!

This is—

a mechanism?!

How could such a mechanism exist in this world?!

Zhang Yunlong was astonished, almost convinced he was witnessing a Buddha-like statue of Guanyin!

As the steaming mists and heated air were torn apart, he saw a colossal Thousand-Armed Guanyin carved from spirit wood—with arms forming what looked like a cannon barrel…

Then searing brilliance erupted from between those myriad arms!

And that blinding light…

was still Guanyin!

It was as though the silence of heaven and earth had fallen at that moment, yet that radiant Guanyin, bursting with incandescent light, had seemingly traversed space to appear before Zhang Yunlong!

In Zhang Yunlong’s terrified eyes,

Guanyin warped, swelled, then suddenly exploded!

A dazzling cascade of light, endless radiance, and a destructive, burning heat wave!

Accompanied by a cataclysmic shockwave…

It crashed down overhead!

Like a bloated sun violently bursting apart, its tremendous force sweeping down like the tail of a comet!

That dreadful explosion, wrapped within the raging sun, was unleashed in a single, devastating blow!

In an instant!

Zhang Yunlong’s amassed might disintegrated into fragments!

The water dragon beneath his feet—formed from countless spring waters—vaporized in an instant; the air around him was sucked away, displaced by the overwhelming force of destruction!

It was as if a gigantic Buddhist hand was mercilessly pressed down.

Zhang Yunlong even felt as if he couldn’t lift his head.

“Ah—ah, ah! Such power!

Only a Martial Saint!

Only divine progeny!

Could ever withstand it!

Zhang Yunlong’s hair stood on end!

Is this truly the battle of an emerging dragon? Is this a contest for the leader among fledglings?!

A six‐year‐old little girl is able to unleash such terrifying power?

Don’t you think it’s cheating?

Zhang Yunlong felt an extreme, searing heat—a force seemingly capable of reducing him to ashes.

Such a mechanism, so intricate and powerful!

Zhang Yunlong’s body plummeted at breakneck speed, though there was no time—no time at all!

In a wild, abrupt motion, his fingers unleashed a burst of sword energy; vicious sword qi tore through the air as countless palm-sized flying swords spiraled in front of him, stacking together like a tortoise shell!

“Block—

——!!!

Meanwhile,

Zhang Yunlong’s eyes turned a deep crimson; a red spot appeared between his brows, expanding like a flying red date.

An overwhelming divine aura burst forth from within his Mud Pellet’s inner realm.

A divine shrine began to form, but the Guanyin Lotus Bullet—fired by the Thousand-Armed Guanyin Main Battle Tank—had been unleashed too rapidly!

Amidst earth-shattering, terrifying explosions!

High above, the air itself trembled as if a carpet had been violently shaken, undulating in ripples—a cascade of golden light erupting in a deafening explosion!

“One, one!

The fierce recoil shattered the rain behind the Guanyin Lotus Main Battle Tank into a spray of watery mist, obscuring the heavens!

At the instant the explosion rang out even louder than the spring thunder,

the Guanyin Lotus Bullet slammed into Zhang Yunlong’s desperate, sword-formed tortoise-shell defense!

The massive explosion expanded like an enormous light orb, and the sword-weaved shell defense crumbled like paper in an instant!

Countless bursts of light and heat completely devoured Zhang Yunlong’s roaring figure!

The terrifying light orb, enormous in size, seemed ready to engulf the entire White Jade Plaza!

In the blink of an eye, the puddled surface of White Jade Plaza evaporated, leaving the ground scorched and red-hot!

The light orb slammed into Zhang Yunlong’s body and crashed violently onto the surface of White Jade Plaza!

Boom—rumble!

Like the fury of an angry deity, the very mountains trembled!

The ground of White Jade Plaza exploded in an instant, with a shockwave surging like a giant tidal wave spreading in all directions!

White jade bricks shattered into splinters; countless fragments and muddy debris were flung about, then shattered into dust by the relentless shockwave!

The light orb hit the ground as if it were made tangible, its edges disintegrating—everything crumbling into oblivion—

Exploded!

Exploded, and exploded again!!!

The resonating aftershocks spread relentlessly throughout Divine Capital Second City!

White Jade Plaza seemed to overturn completely as the mighty impact shattered the bricks into fine powder, rising like a tide!

The colossal light orb burst apart in a thunderous explosion!

Waves of endless light and heat, along with raging infernos, swept outwards.

The swirling, redirected air fanned the explosive blast, violently surging skyward!

Slowly—

It resembled a magnificent, golden mushroom cloud erupting from the ground!

“Holy crap!”

Lü Taibai, who had been seated leisurely in his chair, stared in dumbfounded disbelief as XiXi triggered the Thousand-Armed Guanyin Main Battle Tank and then fired its cannon!

Seeing that terrifying, scorching cannonball—radiating intense light and heat as it crashed down like falling stars and the devastating blast of a self-destructing Martial Saint—he couldn’t help but offer the highest praise!

With silver hair streaming, Lü Taibai sprang to his feet, eyes blazing in awe and incredulity!

Could a six-year-old child really unleash such power?

Even though XiXi was his disciple, he had to admit that with her own strength alone, it was impossible.

“This is the Way of Mechanisms—”

Lü Taibai licked his lips in amazement, feeling that the world had grossly underestimated the art of mechanisms.

Yet truly advancing this art to such heights is something very few have managed.

While the Tang Clan excel in mechanical beasts and the Gongshu Family in formation arrays—

XiXi’s approach to the Way of Mechanisms advocates explosive power!

It’s a concept utterly different from that of the Tang Clan and Gongshu Family—the two foremost mechanical families of the Great Jing Court!

After Zhang Yunlong was bombarded by the Guanyin Lotus Bullet and slammed into the earth, White Jade Plaza shattered instantly.

A massive mushroom cloud, towering a hundred, two hundred, even five hundred, a thousand meters high, erupted—unleashing terrifying divine radiation, its impact threatening to spread beyond White Jade Plaza.

But, naturally, it could not expand further.

This time, with the Peach Festival in full swing and powerful figures abound, such destructive force would never be allowed to run rampant.

The four supreme commanders of Divine Capital Xuanwei surged out.

The Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger—each clad in four-colored armor—raised their hands as a torrent of qi and divine power exploded forth.

They positioned themselves on the four sides of White Jade Plaza, forming an immense qi barrier that blocked the expanding mushroom cloud’s force, letting only scattered ripples escape.

With their strength, halting the explosive power of the Guanyin Lotus Bullet wasn’t particularly difficult.

Yet the expressions in the eyes of these four commanders were filled with shock and awe.

Was that the work of a six-year-old?

Absolutely terrifying!

What were they doing at six years old?

Perhaps they were still languishing in the realm of patriarchs?!

At that moment, every expert in the pavilion fell silent, mesmerized by the blossoming golden mushroom cloud emerging from the flat ground.

Because the four commanders had contained the shockwave within White Jade Plaza, the mushroom cloud, which would otherwise have spread outward,

was forced back inside, causing it to rise even higher!

One hundred meters, two hundred, five hundred, a thousand!

The elongated cloud, accompanied by a thunderous shockwave, seemed to pierce the very heavens and rend the churning leaden clouds!

In that moment, the entire world felt reduced to nothing but a blooming mushroom cloud!

Below the pavilion, the Emperor and Empress gazed upward in astonishment at the blossoming mushroom cloud.

The patriarchs of the major Divine Sects froze, drawing in deep breaths.

In the Lotus Pavilion’s banquet area, the commoner National Teacher Xie Yunshen’s expression turned stupefied; even his drinking motion stalled.

“This is fascinating, truly fascinating—— isn’t this the technique of the Underworld Ma Mian? This little girl—— she has indeed inherited the Underworld’s legacy!”

National Teacher Xie Yunshen couldn’t help but smile broadly, his eyes filled with astonishment.

Such a technique…

Its threat is almost as formidable as that of the Tang Clan’s from back then!

A six-year-old has planted a giant mushroom cloud that has stunned the entire Divine Capital!

It even stunned the National Teacher himself.

Seated behind the banquet table, Ji Mo Li’s jet-black hair fluttered as his dark eyes calmly observed the advancing, exploding, and burning terrifying golden mushroom cloud!

A trace of emotion flickered in his eyes, and after a long while—

he let out a muffled sound.

“Underworld.”

The Underworld Ma Mian is a master of mechanisms.

Now, what XiXi has displayed is the very technique once wielded by the Underworld Ma Mian!

Be it her long-range sniping or the mushroom cloud she planted at this moment—it is all his art!

At the Purple Mansion Divine Sect’s banquet area,

Zhang Yunhu, Zhang Yunhuang, and three other banquet heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect all halted in disbelief as they watched Zhang Yunlong being instantly engulfed by a terrifying explosion.

Especially Zhang Yunhu, whose eyes even reflected a hint of terror.

He looked up at the thousand-meter-high sky, watching as the massive Guanyin mechanism retracted, its feet stepping on the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, as the little girl ascended higher with the mushroom cloud trailing behind her.

A chill ran down his spine—dread and panic!

If—

If that little girl were to clash with him using this kind of mechanism, how would he possibly counter it?

He feared he—

would be utterly unable to stop it!

That exploding mushroom cloud would engulf Divine Capital Second City’s White Jade Plaza completely.

Under such an explosion…

There would be no place to hide!

Zhang Yunlong would be unable to escape—it would surely consume him!

Moreover, given the constraints of the area, the four supreme commanders of Divine Capital would have forced the shockwave that was meant to spread outward

back into White Jade Plaza.

This means that the shockwave and its destructive force within White Jade Plaza might be even more terrifying than a mere mechanism detonation!

“Junior Brother Yunlong—he won’t—won’t die, will he?”

Zhang Yunhu asked in terror.

He turned to look at the sect leader in his purple robe, Zhang Wuji.

Zhang Yunhuang also glanced over in alarm.

With a flick of his Dust Whip, Zhang Wuji shook his head as the brilliant, erupting glow of the mushroom cloud reflected in his eyes.

“The power of this mechanism’s explosion nearly touches the realm of a Martial Saint—”

“At the very least, even a top-tier grandmaster would be doomed; even a routine Martial Saint activation

would lose a layer of skin.”

Zhang Wuji’s keen eyes instantly gauged the sheer destructive strength of the explosion.

“But— Yunlong does have a 90% Temple Spirit Resonance, and the temple spirit he nurtures is perfectly in tune with him—”

“If Yunlong entrusts everything to the temple spirit—”

“he won’t die.”

“What—what is this?!”

“Oh my goodness!”

“You call this a mechanism? What kind of mechanism is this?!”

Cultivators on the city walls of Divine Capital Third City watched the duel in stunned silence.

Having witnessed XiXi shatter the second fledgling of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect with her mechanism, many no longer underestimated her.

They believed XiXi still had a fighting chance—after all, that mechanism is truly bizarre!

Its penetrating power is immense: even Zhang Yunhu, a nearly top-tier three-flower realm warrior, and those relying on temple spirit prowess from within the divine shrine, were nearly blown apart!

No!

They should have already been blown to pieces!

Had it not been for Purple-Clad Diao Si’s Eunuch Lian intervening to block Zhang Yunhu’s exploding head, Zhang Yunhu’s skull might have already burst, leaving him on the brink of death!

Thus, everyone was intensely interested in the final titanic battle between XiXi and Zhang Yunlong.

Many favored Zhang Yunlong but hoped that XiXi might pull off an upset—a David versus Goliath battle!

Especially since Zhang Yunlong’s duel with Shi Xuan had infuriated many martial cultivators present.

The True Martial Divine Sect, long resisting the Great Li Wangting’s Iron Cavalry and shedding blood with the Li barbarians, were true warriors.

Yet Zhang Yunlong had nearly humiliated Shi Xuan by defeating him and claiming that Shi Xuan was disrespectful—outraging many.

Even on the brink of death, Shi Xuan refused to use his Fifth Ring—his final trump card—

since that was his means of mutual destruction with the Li barbarians!

Such rugged resolve moved many, and thus Zhang Yunlong’s methods were deemed infuriating.

Many had placed their bets on XiXi suppressing Zhang Yunlong in this final trial of leadership!

In the Gambling Den, bets on XiXi had even increased; many, in a moment of impulse, placed their wagers on her.

All for the hope that XiXi could indeed subdue Zhang Yunlong.

But—

When XiXi and Zhang Yunlong truly clashed,

no one ever expected the situation to unfold like this!

This…

The entire city tower fell utterly silent!

Divine Sect disciple Li Nuǎnxi of Qianyuan Divine Sect—

Was she about to win?

Those who had bet on XiXi were utterly perplexed…

If XiXi won, those wagers would indeed pay off handsomely.

After all, those who favored XiXi were few, and betting on her meant reaping great rewards.

In an instant, cheers erupted, fists pumped vigorously,

and the walls reverberated with excitement!

But soon, everyone fell silent once more.

All eyes were fixed on the center of that terrifying, blossoming golden mushroom cloud.

Li Che took a sip of his wine, raised an eyebrow, and a trace of something unusual appeared on his face.

“He’s still alive.”

“The Purple Mansion Divine Sect truly lives up to its reputation as the top Divine Sect of the Great Jing Court—their cultivation methods really are something else.”

Through the perception of Li Che’s Cosmic Chessboard, he could clearly sense a faint pulse of life—a spark that had persisted even after the horrifying annihilation force of the mushroom cloud.

Boom, boom, boom—the sound of life pulsed in Li Che’s ears like thunder.

Li Che’s expression turned grave as his brows furrowed.

“Temple Spirit—”

Nurturing the temple spirit brings divine power…

And yet at this moment, Zhang Yunlong had entirely surrendered himself to the temple spirit!

He had forsaken even his last shred of grounding!

Li Che drained his cup of wine and stared coldly at the ruins of White Jade Plaza, where the golden mushroom cloud had once raged.

A burst of purple divine energy surged forth, and golden flames along with relentless shockwaves seemed to be gradually subdued.

The mushroom cloud began to collapse and vanish until it was utterly extinguished, leaving behind only a scorched, ruined expanse on the surface of White Jade Plaza.

The white jade bricks on the ground had long since melted, leaving behind a pitch-black residue and even crystalline brick fragments.

Amid the ruins,

a frail figure staggered and stood, as if shrouded by swirling purple mists.

It was Zhang Yunlong!

After enduring the bombardment of the Guanyin Main Battle Tank and the impact of the Guanyin Lotus Bullet’s mushroom cloud,

he hadn’t been defeated!

A divine shrine radiating purple temple spirit power hovered behind him, from which chain after chain lunged out, piercing Zhang Yunlong’s body.

With the clattering sound of chains drawing near, the shrine clung to Zhang Yunlong’s back like a bloodsucking leech.

A piercing, mournful cry tore from him as the bones in his body collided noisily and twisted into a grotesque shape.

Through scorched, blackened skin, blood seeped out.

Zhang Yunlong’s hair turned entirely purple, and his eyes erupted with a dazzling purple light!

A dense aura of divine power surged through his flesh, meridians, and bones, altering his very form.

It was as if the temple spirit had come alive, forming tadpole-like curse marks

that crawled and clung relentlessly along Zhang Yunlong’s body!

His tattered robe had long since disintegrated, leaving only scraps hanging about him; yet his figure seemed to transform into purple armor cloaking his body.

At the Purple Mansion Divine Sect’s banquet area,

Zhang Wuji sighed with a heavy heart.

Zhang Yunhu and Zhang Yunhuang, the two fledglings, slumped weakly to the ground as if utterly drained—

“How can this be?”

“How could— Yunlong, junior brother, completely surrender your body to the temple spirit?”

“Once possessed by the temple spirit, one’s mortal body will be transformed into a cursed corpse!”

“In essence—you’re done for.”

Little Daoist Maiden Zhang Yunhuang hid her face as tears streamed down, weeping.

Zhang Yunhu also looked on in forlorn despair.

Zhang Wuji shook his head, “Yunlong was too extreme—when we nurture a temple spirit, we must learn to control it, not let it control us—”

“Upsetting the natural order will only bring harm.”

“Yunlong never understood this.”

Zhang Wuji sighed deeply.

But at least, Zhang Yunlong was still standing, still able to fight—

Perhaps it was for this very battle that he took the step toward dooming his future.

Why go to such lengths?!

What’s the point of sulking like a six-year-old?!

The mushroom cloud finally dispersed.

XiXi, standing atop the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, panted heavily.

The unleashing of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin Main Battle Tank cost her vast amounts of qi and divine power; for XiXi, one cannon blast was already her limit.

If she wished to launch another shot, to plant another firework, she’d need time to recover her qi and divine power.

Behind her, the Eight-Armed Three-Faced Divine Vision manifested, its three heads displaying her likeness in perfect synchronization!

Suspended high, the Jin Guang Wheel charged forth with sparks, supporting her form.

XiXi’s lips split into an uncontainable grin—so beautiful!

This firework—this grand explosion…

It resonated within her heart; she loved it so much!

But alas—

“It still didn’t kill him.”

XiXi folded her arms and slowly lowered her head,

hovering high above as she looked down upon the ruined White Jade Plaza, devastated by the planted mushroom cloud.

The ground of White Jade Plaza, billowing with hot steam, was drenched by a gentle spring rain—

its surface now steaming in white mist.

White vapor tore through as purple energy surged!

Zhang Yunlong’s purple hair whipped about, his face covered in purple curse marks, his eyes burning with fierce purple intent as he glared up at XiXi high in the sky.

He straightened his body, his form growing taller and more robust.

His purple hair cascaded down to his waist.

At that moment, he felt his power surging uncontrollably—as if he had touched the strength of divine progeny. Zhang Yunlong knew he was too strong now.

That terrifying explosion had left him alive. Indeed—by harnessing the temple spirit’s power, he became invincible at his level.

He was, in his own way, invincible!

Yet the one regret Zhang Yunlong harbored was that he had entirely sacrificed his mortal body to bear the temple spirit’s force, letting it take over—

He had become completely temple-spirited.

His “Purple Mansion” was not yet fully matured; by forcefully accepting the temple spirit, it was riddled with cracks as the released divine power continued to radiate and corrode his flesh.

“Let’s end this quickly—”

“The longer this drags on, the more the temple spirit will corrode me.”

Zhang Yunlong exhaled sharply.

Stomping forcefully,

an overwhelming surge of divine power burst forth, and the ground beneath White Jade Plaza—up to several dozen meters under Zhang Yunlong’s feet—collapsed in an instant!

He roared out, like thunder!

His cry resounded like crashing mountains!

Raging flows of air and sound waves tore through the sky, mingling with what sounded like the cries of a thousand ghosts, shattering the heavens!

Zhang Yunlong soared upward, and behind him the purple divine aura expanded further, transforming him into a deity with purple, wing-like appendages on his back.

No one could tell what kind of deity he was—only that the overwhelming temple spirit power raged like a storm, battering every region!

The clanging sound of sword energy resonated incessantly as countless shafts of purple sword light shot skyward.

A resplendent, soaring sword intent appeared, warping the void as if it could shake the heavens—like a hidden dragon ascending to the ninth sky!

It streaked upward like a straight arrow!

Countless flickering streams of light exploded; the remnants of the mushroom cloud’s brilliance faded away, and amid swirling air currents, even the hazy clouds were swept aside by the overwhelming sword intent!

Within the falling, torrential spring rain from the leaden clouds, each droplet was split in two by the sword intent, intensifying the rainfall to an even finer drizzle!

Masses of twisted, blurry fragments erupted!

“So fast!”

High in the thousand-meter sky, XiXi’s face betrayed a tremor!

This speed is insane!

At this moment, Zhang Yunlong’s speed—now bolstered by the temple spirit—matched that of true divine progeny!

The vast sky was streaked with a lingering purple glow, like afterimages of sword qi that refused to disperse!

Purple energy and sword light surged upward, menacingly slashing toward XiXi, who stood atop the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel!

XiXi had just expended a tremendous amount of energy.

She knew that with her martial prowess and divine power, facing a temple-spirited Zhang Yunlong head-on would only mean instant death!

So—

XiXi’s fingers moved swiftly, and the Fire God Bodhi Barrett of Xiangong materialized in her hand; with her other hand, she flung hundreds of white Feilei Chess Pieces like scattered blossoms across the sky!

XiXi intended to reuse her tactic of shattering Zhang Yunhu’s defenses to defeat Zhang Yunlong. Her eyes shone bright—she knew that the temple spirit possession couldn’t last, for the longer it persisted, the closer Zhang Yunlong edged toward death!

Her plan was to delay time!

In a flash, she raised the Fire God Bodhi Barrett and pulled the trigger.

In that instant, she vanished along with her Feilei Chess Pieces.

She shifted several hundred meters away.

Golden light streaked as the Fire God Bodhi Dragon Tooth Bullet—like a thread of gold—sliced through the air from behind Zhang Yunlong toward the back of his head.

Yet,

Zhang Yunlong’s eyes moved in tandem, tracking XiXi’s swift repositioning and the rapid emission of the Bodhi Dragon Tooth.

Amid the thunderous explosion, Zhang Yunlong’s fingers rose, enshrouded in purple divine aura, and he gripped the Bodhi Dragon Tooth firmly.

Although the destructive force of the Bodhi Dragon Tooth tore through the purple temple spirit, embedding itself in his palm,

it was all he sustained.

XiXi’s expression shifted subtly.

A crushing, terrifying weight of temple spirit authority descended!

The air seemed to freeze as, in that fleeting moment high in the sky, the two engaged in a perilous clash!

Roar!

From his left arm, the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear bellowed to life, and a mighty surge of divine power rent the frozen air,

As XiXi’s figure, shrouded by the purple lash of Zhang Yunlong’s hair streaks, appeared before her, she swiftly dodged using the Feilei Chess Pieces.

Behind Zhang Yunlong, the amassed purple divine aura coalesced into twin wings; each feather transformed into a razor-sharp divine sword, slashing ferociously at the position XiXi had just vacated.

The purple sword qi roared and compressed the air, then rebounded as a fierce gale high above,

forming a near vacuum that swept away the torrential spring rain!

“You slippery eel—”

Zhang Yunlong’s body, inscribed with quivering purple curse marks, contorted in a pained grimace.

“Li Nuǎnxi!”

“Show me your strongest technique to counter me!”

“Or else—”

“you’ll be dismembered piece by piece!”

“Just like that stupid warrior of the True Martial Divine Sect!”

A smile spread on Zhang Yunlong’s face, with purple curse marks covering even his teeth!

XiXi panted heavily, purple fire serpents coiling around her; her eyes were steely as the Yulian divine patterns on her brow trembled.

It was as if pressure from Zhang Yunlong had unsettled her.

Zhang Yunlong turned, his eyes—engulfed in purple light—fixed unyieldingly on XiXi’s position. He spread his arms wide, and the twin temple spirit wings on his back exploded out in a frenzy!

Countless purple feathers, like myriad shards of sword light, locked onto every white Feilei Chess Piece XiXi had flung!

“Let’s see—”

“how far you can run!”

“For one who only relies on mechanisms—the little girl!”

“Without mechanisms, what are you even worth?!”

“Oh—it seems you have a monster hidden within you!”

“The same monster that defeated Zhang Yunhuang—let me see what’s lurking inside you!”

A slight smile played on Zhang Yunlong’s lips.

In the next moment, his body transformed into a streak of purple sword light, slicing through the air. In a flash of purple feathers and flying light, he appeared directly before XiXi.

At the banquet area of Qianyuan Divine Sect,

Li Che suddenly rose to his feet, his brows furrowing.

On the other side, Lü Taibai also stood, the sword qi on his body intertwining fiercely.

Yet neither moved.

Li Che’s fingers had already gripped a Feilei Chess Piece, ready to shift his position with his mind.

Although the Great Jing Court had entrusted Purple-Clad Diao Si’s Eunuch Lian with overseeing this fledgling battle,

Li Che dared not take the risk.

Just as Li Che prepared to shift, he sensed something odd; a peculiar expression crossed his face and he halted.

It was as if everything in the world had vanished.

XiXi’s eyes went wide as she stared at the only object remaining—a massive lotus flower with a solitary black flame burning quietly.

That enormous lotus slowly unfurled, its petals opening one by one.

The black flame, twisting with ferocious heat, spread gradually.

Then…

Within those lotus petals, a serene, slender young girl emerged.

She wore a long black dress that revealed a flash of white, jade-like leg.

Her hair, as dark as ink, fell straight to her waist and hips; her long lashes remained closed,

Her skin was pale, exuding a subtle, otherworldly glow.

A beauty of exquisite features, tinged with melancholy.

Sensing XiXi’s astonished gaze, the girl’s long, curved lashes quivered before she slowly opened her eyes—eyes as dark as black dates, deep and starry.

XiXi and the girl locked eyes.

XiXi gasped, “Wow,

Sister, you’re stunning!”

Yangao XiXi didn’t hold back her praise.