Chapter 380: Tempest in the Peach Grove

Roaring winds wailed non-stop, sending the branches and leaves of the many peach trees in the Peach Grove into a frenzied rustle.

High above, the blazing sun poured its searing light through the dense peach branches, scattering shattered sunlight like spilled gold onto the ground.

The hundred-zhang tall peach trees boasted thick trunks and luxuriant foliage.

At this moment, they swayed incessantly in the wind.

Li Che’s ink-black shirt, adorned with golden lotus tattoos, fluttered gracefully as he stood calmly facing the wind. His serene expression and the breeze ruffling his hair evoked the tranquility of a spring day.

It seemed that the arrival of three illustrious heroes from the Purple Mansion Divine Sect had not troubled him in the slightest.

That very calm, indifferent air only ignited the fury in Zhang Xuanlei’s eyes, as if thunder itself was boiling within him.

Zhang Xuanlei suddenly tilted his head back. The red-dyed mark on his forehead pulsed erratically while the wooden hairpin tied to his head burst apart inch by inch, sending his black hair whipping wildly.

“So you’ve grown a bit stronger?”

“No matter how much stronger you become—today will still be your end!”

Zhang Xuanlei narrowed his phoenix-like eyes, his tone as fierce as thunder. With one step, his dark robe was suddenly infused with divine energy, the very hem now as sharp as a blade.

“Your daughter killed my son; I will kill you, Li Che. What is wrong with you?”

Zhang Xuanlei roared, his voice thundering through the peach grove like rolling explosions.

Beside him, the Daoists Zhang Xuanhe and Zhang Xuanyu stepped forward, their gray-black robes billowing in the wind as divine energy cascaded from them.

Their unanimous intent: kill Li Che to avenge Zhang Yunlong.

However, if Li Che were to align with Xi Wangmu’s divine nature and withdraw from the Peach Festival, it would be nearly impossible for them to truly slay him.

Yet they were betting that Li Che wouldn’t give up on this grand gathering of heroes so easily.

Zhang Xuanlei’s hand closed around a peachwood sword—a weapon far from ordinary, its blade etched with ancient divine inscriptions that pulsed with celestial energy, as if communicating with the immortals.

Zhang Xuanlei cared little for Li Che’s talk of a breakthrough.

Because even if Li Che truly advanced, could he jump from the first to the fourth divine transformation, reaching a Grand Immortal state?

That was simply impossible. Cultivating divine nature, much like the way of martial arts, required time to refine.

Divine nature had to be accumulated. Some, blessed with extraordinary talent—like the prodigies with the purple aura—could gather it far quicker than others.

To advance from the first to the second divine transformation, from forming the five organs to nurturing every sinew, one needed an enormous reservoir of divine energy; even with divine crystals, it demanded time to refine.

Similarly, the path of martial arts required time to temper one’s body and refine one’s qi and blood.

Thus, Zhang Xuanlei never believed Li Che could achieve a massive breakthrough in divine transformation in such a short span.

No matter how Li Che progressed, he would never surpass Zhang Xuanlei.

As the top hero of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect—born a prodigy with a purple aura—and now in his forties, Zhang Xuanlei had already reached the third divine transformation stage. He had every chance to ascend to Grand Immortal status within a single cycle!

That was the source of his confidence.

Slowly, the smile on Li Che’s face faded as his gaze swept over the three opponents.

“You don’t seem to have any issues…”

“But if you insist on killing me, then I won’t hold back.”

Li Che stated coolly.

Zhang Xuanlei’s dark hair swirled wildly as his eyes flashed with the fury of a storm.

His five fingers gripped the peachwood sword, which began to emit a sizzling sound as if summoning lightning.

“Then… die.”

He stomped his foot.

Behind Zhang Xuanlei, a divine shrine hovered. Three chains pierced into his spine, transmitting divine energy into his body with every tremor.

Invisible waves of divine energy burst outward in concentric circles.

Zhang Xuanlei’s divine power boiled over, and a sword intent as violent as thunder roared forth like a chorus of a thousand birds.

His black robe bulged; in an instant, his entire aura surged like a tidal wave.

Killing intent radiated from Zhang Xuanlei, his mind entirely consumed by anger and murderous purpose!

The terrifying divine energy, like a surging torrent on the Grand Canal, crashed down with unstoppable force.

With each heavy step, the ground within several dozen zhang around him collapsed. Frostbitten grass was torn apart by the overwhelming force as dirt and sand churned violently!

Meanwhile, both Zhang Xuanhe and Zhang Xuanyu activated their own divine shrines, letting divine energy cascade down as their auras underwent earthshaking changes.

Zhang Xuanhe’s body swelled like a balloon, with countless veins emerging on his skin like sinister spiderwebs.

He had merged the Temple Spirit’s divine essence with his own body and undergone a terrifying physical transformation!

As his qi and blood fused with the divine energy, Zhang Xuanhe pressed down like an arrow, his fist rocketing towards Li Che with lethal intent!

The divine shrine descended onto his enlarged body, and chains wrapped around his waist and abdomen, even tying themselves into butterfly knots.

His fingers clenched into fists, forming rapid palm strikes that blazed like infernos!

Crackling with the energy of martial intent, his fist resonated in perfect harmony with the Temple Spirit’s divine nature!

He was the embodiment of martial prowess taken to its extreme—a warrior whose path of divine martial arts was in a class of its own, far removed from pure martial techniques.

Step by step, Zhang Xuanlei advanced with the sword in hand, his pace measured and deliberate.

He was gathering killing intent and thunderous energy, which surged into the peachwood sword with every shudder of the divine chains behind him, as though the chains were conduits funneling divine might into the blade.

Zhang Xuanlei was preparing his fatal sword strike—a single blow meant to kill Li Che!

In response, Zhang Xuanhe leaped ahead of Zhang Xuanlei, taking the lead in the attack!

Three against one—the three heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect converged on Li Che.

Such an encirclement was nothing short of despair-inspiring.

Especially since the three were seasoned siblings with seamless coordination.

On the other side, Zhang Xuanyu’s eyes suddenly turned a crystal blue like ice. Unlike Zhang Xuanhe, who aggressively brandished his fist, she chose to sit cross-legged on the ground, her divine shrine hovering behind her and divine energy steadily pouring down.

Her Heavenly Soul began to pulse violently, as if a goddess were manifesting from the shrine, arms wide as she prayed to the heavens.

Zhang Xuanyu chanted ancient, intricate incantations as, amid the flourishing peach grove, thick black clouds began to amass.

Dark clouds intermingled while cold winds howled.

A ritual commenced.

Drops of crystalline water emerged, floating around Zhang Xuanyu as a tear suddenly split the dark cloud above, revealing a water dragon entirely formed of luminous droplets that lunged forth as if breaking free!

One head, two heads, three heads—

Within mere breaths, the unleashed divine energy had condensed into a six-headed, clawing, roaring water dragon emerging from the dark clouds!

Endless mists spiraled skyward as the water dragon bellowed, spitting layers of crystalline water like mountain springs cascading in torrents!

Crackling with force, thunder roared and lightning flickered while the rain from the dark clouds fashioned a water curtain over the Peach Grove.

As Zhang Xuanhe’s scorching fist rained down above Li Che’s head with terrifying presence,

the six-headed water dragon had already extended in six directions, its span reaching sixty zhang and covering a hundred zhang-wide area, merging into a formidable water-field!

Zhang Xuanyu’s eyes shone an icy blue.

Her wooden hairpin shattered, her black tresses cascading like a waterfall.

“The divine domain is complete!”

“Li Che, you are doomed!”

In an instant, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to freeze the very heavens. Within this domain – Zhang Xuanyu’s home turf – Li Che was cut off from drawing on Xi Wangmu’s divine aid.

This was the showdown that sealed his fate!

Boom, boom, boom!

In mere moments, the tide of battle turned decidedly against Li Che!

The killing intent was so intense it activated every self-protective spell within the surrounding peach trees for several dozen zhang.

Roaring heat waves rolled forth as the air itself rippled with tremors.

Powerful gusts, like cascading torrents, clung to Li Che’s body.

As Zhang Xuanyu’s small heavenly domain took shape,

Zhang Xuanhe’s fist arced through the air without warning!

That blazing fist, as if containing countless radiances within, was a flawless union of divine energy and martial might—a supreme display of divine martial arts!

Wherever his fist passed, the surrounding air was swept aside as if all creation turned to dust!

Under his strike, everything decayed into nothingness!

Despite Li Che’s own mastery of martial arts, he couldn’t help but admire the perfect fusion of power and divine nature in Zhang Xuanhe’s overwhelming punch, as bright as the noonday sun and impossible to thwart!

Confronted by that blow,

Li Che’s mind stirred slightly.

Inside his chest,

a Xiangong Dao Fruit pulsated with life!

His clenched fingers tore through the air as if ripping a massive fissure open.

Then…

Amid a series of crisp, precise sounds,

a tail assembled from countless pieces of spirit wood suddenly fell out from the rupture.

It struck with a jolt.

The air itself seemed to twist and shatter under the impact, colliding violently with Zhang Xuanhe’s resplendent punch!

Zhang Xuanhe trembled all over as an overwhelming, mountain-moving force exploded outward.

Surrounded by the chaos of shattering qi waves,

he felt a terror-inducing rebound that sent him hurtling like a projectile.

Then…

Amid tearing gusts, swirling dust, and warped divine energy,

a colossal, ominous shadow emerged!

Constructed from countless fine spirit wood components, a gigantic mechanical beast over five meters tall took form!

With a resounding crash, the beast’s wings spread wide, as though darkening the very skies!

And Li Che, standing atop the mechanical beast’s head, slowly raised his arms and folded them across his chest.

His dark eyes surveyed the staggering scene below—where Zhang Xuanhe, bruised and beaten, staggered backward under the force of the clash.

Countless delicate spirit wood parts, resembling scales, covered the body of the mechanical beast beneath Li Che’s feet.

Two razor-sharp horns, blood-red eyes like embedded rubies, and enormous, gaping fangs!

This was not just any mechanical beast – it was a peerless marvel of the Tang Clan!

The Twin-Winged Little Yinglong King!

With an explosive roar, the peach trees of the grove shuddered violently!

From his elevated position, Li Che looked down upon the three heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect.

“Are you ready to be beaten to death by me?”

In Divine Capital Second City,

a profound silence reigned. Not a sound could be heard.

Only beams of sunlight tore through the clouds, caressing willow trees along the streets, while at Jade Plaza the Celestial River Water Curtain rended the void. Its magnificent display mesmerized all onlookers.

Almost everyone fixated their gaze on the vivid scene projected by the water curtain.

There, in the image, were the three heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect, encircling Li Che!

Zhang Xuanlei, Zhang Xuanhe, and Zhang Xuanyu – the moment they met, they unleashed their full might.

Zhang Xuanlei gathered thunderous energy for his Thunder Sword, while on the other front, his explosive divine fist roared, and Zhang Xuanyu established a water dragon domain that blocked any chance for Li Che to escape using Xi Wangmu’s divine aid!

This was a coordinated ambush aimed at finally executing Li Che!

Even behind the Celestial River Water Curtain, the countless spectators could clearly feel the murderous intent coursing through the assault!

“Cheating! They’re cheating!”

At the edge of Jade Plaza, XiXi stomped furiously, clenching her teeth as panic and anger flashed in her eyes.

With this overwhelming formation…

Could Father possibly hold out?

Would he survive?

XiXi’s heart pounded with anxiety and indignation as she stormed over to Lü Taibai.

“Sect Master! They’re cheating—no honor in this! They’re surrounding Father! Please… help him!”

Her face flushed with fury.

Lü Taibai furrowed his brows. After soothing XiXi for a moment, his expression grew grave as he turned his gaze to the Celestial River Water Curtain where Li Che stood, pondering how to break this deadlock.

If Li Che revealed his mastery of martial arts and divine transformation, he might still survive—death was not certain.

But with the combined assault of Zhang Xuanlei, Zhang Xuanhe, and Zhang Xuanyu, the challenge was immensely dire!

Zhang Ya’s trembling fingers and sweaty palms betrayed her inner fear as she stared fixedly at the Celestial River Water Curtain, her heart pounding in dread.

She knew that because of her, her husband and XiXi faced these risks, all for the sake of obtaining nine-thousand-year peaches!

Zhang Ya closed her eyes, her emotions in turmoil.

She recalled how their family once emerged from a dilapidated, leaky hut to live in unimaginable luxury now.

But her heart ached with the knowledge that all their fortune depended solely on Li Che, solely on her husband.

“Husband…”

“You must not suffer any harm!”

Zhang Ya’s face turned ghostly pale.

All across Divine Capital Second and Third Cities, a deadly silence fell.

On the walls of the Third City, Nie Yang, Li Qingshan, and others wore grim expressions as they fixed their gaze on the Celestial River Water Curtain.

When Zhang Xuanhe’s punch came down, Li Qingshan’s heart nearly burst from shock.

Boom!

The Celestial River Water Curtain trembled violently,

shattering in a dazzling explosion—a display of brilliant light as Zhang Xuanhe’s magnificent punch erupted!

As the vision faded and the afterglow dispersed, a shocking scene appeared to all.

A chorus of exclamations erupted like a landslide of sound!

In Divine Capital Third City, people on the battlements gasped in astonishment as they beheld the scene unfolding on the Celestial River Water Curtain.

“Is that…?”

“A mechanical beast?!”

“It appears to be the peerless Tang Clan Mechanical Beast—the Twin-Winged Little Yinglong King?!”

“No, not peerless—merely half-a-step peerless!”

“But even a half-a-step peerless mechanical beast can rival a top-tier martial artist! Li Bansheng truly lives up to his title as the Divine Condor Half-Saint. His mastery over mechanical arts is astonishing—he even forged a half-a-step peerless mechanical beast!”

“This could be our chance!”

Suddenly, martial artists from various realms across the Great Realm erupted in excitement.

These warriors, bound by their chivalry, felt no shame witnessing the three heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect encircle Li Che. When he eventually revealed his trump card, the crowd roared in astonishment!

In Divine Capital Second City,

thanks to brilliant sunshine, the protective canopies once meant to ward off rain had been removed.

Sunlight poured down, illuminating banquet tables.

In the Lotus Pavilion’s banquet hall, the robed National Teacher Xie Yunshen wore a strangely thoughtful expression as he observed:

“A mechanical beast? A Tang Clan mechanical beast—so Li Bansheng’s trump card is this contraption?”

Although the Tang Clan’s downfall was attributed by many to the Gongshu Family and hints of the Grand Inspector’s involvement,

in reality, neither the Grand Inspector nor anyone else had intervened in Tang Clan’s collapse—it was all orchestrated in secret by the Gongshu Family and Xie Yunshen.

The Tang Clan Mechanical Beast was immensely powerful. Under Xie Yunshen’s covert manipulation, it had now come under the Great Realm’s banner.

Even in the frontier regions of the Great Realm, the presence of mechanical beasts was evident during temple raids and demolitions.

Thus, National Teacher Xie Yunshen’s attitude toward mechanical beasts was understandably complex.

“It is indeed a Tang Clan mechanical beast, though only a half-a-step peerless one. Is it the dying gasp of a Tang Clan marvel? No—look, it appears Li Che alone fabricated it. How can his talent in mechanical arts be so extraordinary?”

National Teacher Xie Yunshen let out a sigh.

“Mechanical arts and the Divine Condor Technique are not equivalent; their innate talents differ greatly.”

From the looks of it, Li Che’s aptitude in mechanical arts was not inferior to his skill with the Divine Condor.

After all, the Tang Clan’s peerless mechanical beasts were forged by dozens of master artisans; yet Li Che, working alone, managed to create a half-a-step peerless mechanical beast!

Xie Yunshen took a sip of wine.

Slowly, he exhaled.

“This man… is truly formidable.”

“If he isn’t harnessed by the Imperial Court, his threat may rival even a Grand Divine Sect!”

Beside him, Lu Chi, seated with his fists crossed and watching the Celestial River Water Curtain, smiled to himself.

It was almost unbelievable – National Teacher Xie Yunshen had such a high opinion of Ogre Li Shu.

But Lu Chi recalled the day, six years ago, when he first encountered Li Che, and now at this level…

His heart pounded involuntarily.

This evaluation by Xie Yunshen was indeed justified.

Round Two of the Grand Heroes Gathering.

Within the five-thousand-year Peach Grove,

as the second round commenced, many heroes who had teamed up outside the bamboo fences of the Peach Garden began dashing through the grove.

When the three heroes of the Purple Mansion finally tracked down Li Che, battles erupted all over the Peach Grove.

Goldmane’s golden hair flowed wildly as a young monk clad in a yellow robe, accompanied by the robed Kālò Fǎshī, rushed alongside him.

Opposite them stood a disheveled white-clad woman wielding a seven-foot-long purple bamboo staff.

Facing them were the three heroes of the True Martial Divine Sect: Shi Xuan, Shi Miao, and Shi Jingang.

With few words exchanged, the clash erupted fiercely.

Elsewhere,

the heroes of the Ji, Yue, and Gongshu families—armed with a longbow from the Gongshu Family—encountered Zhou Chiguo, Aoyuan, and the top hero of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect, Zhao Jun.

After brief words, both sides launched into combat.

In Round Two of the Grand Heroes Gathering, every team sought to advance to the Third Round.

To qualify for the Third Round, each participant needed to secure four peaches.

Of the twenty heroes, only four would ultimately advance.

Thus,

no more words were necessary.

It all came down to one battle!

Terrifying qi, divine energy, and surging blood erupted with explosive force.

It wasn’t only Li Che versus the three heroes of the Purple Mansion; battles ignited throughout!

Boom!

The Twin-Winged Little Yinglong King unfurled its wings, every finely crafted component aligning like razor-sharp blades.

As its wings spread, they produced sharp, slicing sounds, as if cutting the very air into fragments!

Li Che repeatedly struck out divine crystals, channeling them into the Yinglong King’s energy core.

Moments later, the Yinglong King seemed to awaken fully.

This was Li Che’s trump card—his advancement of the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit to IV6 after the fourth metamorphosis.

Li Che had made significant progress in his research on this half-a-step peerless mechanical beast.

Originally, he had been studying the peerless mechanical beast known as the “Thousand-Eyed Four-Winged Yinglong King.” Even with IV6 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruits at stake,

forging a peerless mechanical beast was no small feat. Yet, his originally planned creation of a half-a-step peerless beast was completed in one stroke.

Combined with the multiple Painted Immortal clones he assembled,

he finished manufacturing this half-a-step peerless mechanical beast just half a month before the Peach Festival commenced.

Nearly one hundred thousand precision parts, almost as many mechanical seals, arranged in formations according to the array’s design—

at last, the little Yinglong King revealed its true edge!

“Roar!”

Li Che, channeling his will through the Yinglong King, felt as if he controlled it with a mere thought.

In that instant, a killing intent erupted from him. The intense murderous aura was sensed, captured, and amplified by the mechanical seals!

A ferocious, storm-like killing intent swept through the Peach Grove.

As the Yinglong King flapped its wings and surged forward at breakneck speed, it barreled towards Zhang Xuanhe, whose disrupted palm prints no longer held him back!

Boom!

A hundred thousand mechanical seals engaged simultaneously, their overwhelming force triggering divine energy!

They transported divine energy in torrents,

and with a final sweeping strike, the Yinglong King cut through the air like a steel blade. The shockwave shattered the atmosphere, its intense tail nearly grazing the aura of a peerless martial saint!

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Xuanhe was blown back. The divine shrine behind him trembled—as if a phantom of muscle and might had emerged.

A long roar erupted!

Zhang Xuanhe halted his backward flight. Clenching his fists, he summoned a spectral shadow of his might that collided with the dragon’s tail like a slicing blade!

Crack, crack, crack—Zhang Xuanhe’s entire body shimmered with brilliant light as his surged qi and blood roiled, dyeing the Peach Grove red!

Every pore seemed to exude a mist of blood, yet he managed to block the fierce lash of the Yinglong King.

“Li Che, meet your end!”

Meanwhile,

Zhang Xuanlei sensed trouble. The fact that Li Che had deployed a half-a-step peerless mechanical beast made his heart skip a beat.

He couldn’t help but recall the scene when that very beast had once forced his own son, Zhang Yuanlong, to the brink, driving him to abandon his mortal body and entrust it entirely to the Temple Spirit.

The killing intent grew even denser as Zhang Xuanlei’s peachwood sword, interwoven with countless streaks of lightning, rose high.

The sword exploded with streams of electricity as it was launched forth!

“Divine Might of Profound Thunder, Sword of Celestial Extraction!”

“By decree!”

“Decree—!”

Zhang Xuanlei exhaled like a clap of thunder, his eyes flaring with electric brilliance, his body trembling violently as if struck by fearsome bolts of lightning.

His ten fingers danced, the peachwood sword levitating before transforming into a streak of lightning that whooshed forth, its cry echoing like a thousand birds in tumult!

With both hands he chanted incantations, pressing his palms against his temples. Zhang Xuanlei then unleashed a gust of sword energy!

It was as if the force of heaven and earth conspired in one swipe!

Just like falling thunder!

The peachwood sword trembled, its built-up killing intent and thunder all unleashed in that moment!

Zhang Xuanyu, meditating on the ground and manipulating the water dragon to seal off the surroundings, created a small heavenly domain that severed any link between Li Che and the peach branches imbued with Xi Wangmu’s divine energy—cutting off any chance of escape!

This was the moment of the fatal strike!

“Die!”

“Die!”

“Die—!”

Throughout this water-locked realm, Zhang Xuanyu’s booming commands echoed as if capable of shattering souls.

Boom, boom, boom!

The peachwood sword wielded by Zhang Xuanlei surged with the overwhelming divine energy of his shrine!

This was his all-out killing move, aimed straight at Li Che’s life!

Thunderous explosions resounded as sword energy and sword qi merged with the clamor of lightning!

A torrent of sword qi, rolling thunder, and scorching energy swept in like a thunder dragon bursting through the clouds. In a flash, it lunged toward Li Che—who stood atop the little Yinglong King!

The overwhelming onslaught of interwoven sword qi resembled a cascade of falling thunder,

laden with suffocating despair!

This single strike—

Li Che, atop the little Yinglong King with his jet-black hair whipping about, lightly tapped his toe, as if walking on solid ground, leaping several dozen zhang in an instant.

Yet the terrifying peachwood sword, entwined with electric currents, still pursued him relentlessly!

Li Che’s expression remained indifferent; in his eyes, golden lightning suddenly erupted in a fierce flash!

In the very next moment, he raised a hand to his brow.

The Law of Celestial Phenomena and Earthly Manifestation’s divine transformation trembled.

The divine secret art of the Luminous True Primate exploded forth!

Instantly, a massive, towering phantom of the Law of Celestial Phenomena shot into existence, as tall as a hundred zhang and matching the peach trees in height.

In that moment, Zhang Xuanlei’s thunderous peachwood sword slammed forcibly into the Law of Celestial Phenomena.

Raging sword qi, countless bolts of thunder, and surging divine energy collided at the point of impact, shattering and annihilating everything in a cataclysmic explosion!

The air itself seemed to boil and warp in an instant!

Electricity crackled in Zhang Xuanlei’s eyes as his divine shrine erupted a shockwave of divine might; he then slammed his palms together!

“Break it for me!”

Zhang Xuanlei knew Li Che’s Law of Celestial Phenomena well—he had even defeated Zhou Chiguo and the monk Wukong in the pre-banquet.

Yet Zhang Xuanlei remained confident; if he could shatter Li Che’s Law of Celestial Phenomena, then the power behind his secret sword technique would be enough to sever Li Che’s head!

But—

Zhang Xuanlei’s expression shifted as he murmured, “How can it be so impervious?!”

Li Che’s divine transformation had not progressed beyond the first stage. How, then, could it be so unyielding?!

With eyes crackling with electric fury, Zhang Xuanlei looked toward Li Che’s direction.

There, Li Che stood with his arms crossed, and suddenly a multitude of resplendent golden pills emerged from his back.

Thirteen in total, each pulsing with life—a rhythm of a heart’s beat!

A heartbeat? Divine transformation?!

All were divine transformations?!

This…

Zhang Xuanlei’s eyes narrowed. Even for someone as experienced as him from the Purple Mansion Divine Sect, his hair stood on end.

What in the world is this?!

Fourteen divine transformations? Not just from the Law of Celestial Phenomena but with additional ones? Li Che had somehow smelted fourteen divine transformations?!

Boom!

Li Che stood there with his arms crossed, his black hair swirling,

a cool, sharp smile gradually curving his lips.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

Deep within his chest, the 【Thunder Magnetic Conduit】 Dao Fruit trembled suddenly!

Then, a mighty suction burst forth from the Law of Celestial Phenomena like a bottomless pit,

swallowing every last bit of accumulated thunder from Zhang Xuanlei’s peachwood sword!

It devoured everything completely; the dreadful might of the sword’s thunder soon began to dissipate.

Li Che’s eyes blazed brilliantly, as if an endless radiance were surging out!

The mud pellet on his brow trembled again.

Ripples of divine energy spread out in concentric circles, warping and expanding through space.

Then,

a golden pill, ablaze with sword qi, began to levitate—its pulsing likened to a heartbeat. A silhouette interwoven with sword energy materialized.

Another divine transformation?!

Zhang Xuanlei’s face turned completely blank!

How could one man harbor so many divine transformations?!

A fragment of divine thunder, summoned by Li Che’s will and merging with the earlier thunder from Zhang Xuanlei,

congealed into one single sword!

“Now it’s my turn.”

Li Che stood with his arms crossed, suspended in mid-air as bolts of electricity flashed around him!

The divine transformation of Lv Xuan Sword Immortal trembled.

Then he executed a single, decisive sword strike.

The 【Thunder Magnetic Conduit】 Dao Fruit trembled as the divine technique “Divine Xiao Jail Thunder Sword” perfectly merged with Lv Xuan Sword Immortal’s own divine transformation!

Li Che’s voice echoed repeatedly throughout the dense Peach Grove, soon merging with rolling thunder!

A dazzling arc of thunderous sword light burst forth, pooling like a sponge absorbing water in front of Li Che,

transfiguring into a blade of dark-gold thunder!

In that fateful moment—

The sword cleaved out!

The Divine Xiao Jail Thunder Sword!

All sound seemed to vanish, leaving only a deadly, all-consuming flash of sword light that passed in an instant—a silence far more terrifying than Zhang Xuanlei’s own strike!

It sliced through everything in its path!

Zhang Xuanlei’s hair stood on end as the crisis of death escalated!

But then, a shift in his mind—his divine shrine behind him burst forth with brilliant, resplendent light.

Three chains pierced into his spine as he cried out in agony,

yet his qi soared with every moment as his bond with the Temple Spirit deepened!

However—

Just as Zhang Xuanlei had steeled himself to face Li Che’s terrifying strike, his face drained of color!

“Xuanhe!”

“Watch out!”

Because Li Che’s Divine Xiao Jail Thunder Sword had swept in a wide arc,

racing over the top of Zhang Xuanlei’s head and slashing toward Zhang Xuanhe, who was pinned down by the half-a-step peerless mechanical beast!

Zhang Xuanhe didn’t have time to react; before he could even offer his body completely to the Temple Spirit,

he was cleaved in two by the sword!

Ripping apart with a terrifying sound—dividing him in two!

His flesh was severed; his life force, cut asunder!

Blood sprayed, heat waves roared!

Blazing hot currents swept over, mingling with the stench of blood, while Li Che’s low, unbridled murderous intent gradually echoed throughout the Peach Grove.

“Don’t worry,”

“Everyone will die.”