Chapter 384: The Missing Peaches and Rising Stakes

Four Fruits—

How could there be only four?!

The Empress’s heart trembled violently, bordering on panic—yes, panic indeed!

Remember, each of these Seven-Thousand-Year Peaches was officially registered and allocated. They are of immense importance to the Dajing Royal Family.

And unless it were for the unique status of the Western Queen Mother Bizarre Temple, the Empress would never have had the authority to control their distribution.

That’s why every Empress is extremely sensitive about the peach count.

When the gates of the Seven-Thousand-Year Peach Orchard open, the Empress uses her Tianhe Ruyi Hairpin to sense the peach quantity—

only to feel as if the very skies were about to collapse!

“Who is it?!”

In her panic, she ground her teeth in anger.

Peaches can’t just disappear for no reason—and the orchard is sealed, making it impossible for anyone else to take them.

Hmm?

Sealed—

The Empress couldn’t help but think of Li Che, the first to ascend into the Seven-Thousand-Year Peach Orchard.

Could it be that Li Che took the peaches?

Originally there were six Seven-Thousand-Year Peaches, but now only four remain—two are missing!

No one can pluck two peaches simultaneously from the Peach Grove!

The orchard is guarded by strict rules: anyone strong enough can pluck one peach.

But if one attempts to take two, a dreadful force will strike them down.

That force—no peak expert could withstand it without suffering catastrophic harm.

And Li Che—

Even as the first to enter the Peach Grove, he couldn’t have plucked two.

The Empress’s calm demeanor turned ghostly pale, nearly collapsing as if the heavens were falling.

Seven-Thousand-Year Peaches—

only four remain.

Thankfully, that number just meets the condition for the preliminary fourth round.

After announcing the start of the third round of the Peach Festival, the Empress slumped into her chair while the Emperor watched, puzzled.

He asked, “Emperor, what’s wrong? Not in the mood?”

With a smile, he continued, “Or are you upset because the Gong Family’s longbow didn’t make it into round three?”

The Empress forced a faint smile on her exquisite face.

She came from the esteemed Gongshu Family, her bloodline intertwined with the Grand Inspector’s lineage—her family’s union with the Dajing Royal Family was a power alliance.

Beneath the Emperor’s face, glowing with divine essence and vibrant spirit, his eyes glimmered mysteriously.

Her composed demeanor had caught his attention, and his expression darkened slightly.

Peaches—

Could something be wrong?!

Only the count of peaches in the orchard could disturb the Empress’s mood.

Her sudden shift in emotion suggested—

perhaps one of the Seven-Thousand-Year Peaches was missing?!

Yet her turbulent feelings did nothing to unsettle the heroic figures who had entered the orchard.

Goldmane, the monk Jialuo, and Yuguanyin from the South Sea Purple Bamboo Grove all charged into the orchard as soon as the third round of the Peach Festival began, as if propelled by celestial energy.

With the spread of that ethereal aura, the three unknowingly distanced themselves considerably.

There was an unmistakable air of vigilance and gravity between them.

“Amitabha—Fellow patrons, let’s go harvest the peaches,” intoned the monk Jialuo, draped in his kasaya and clutching his Golden Eight-Ring Staff, raising a hand with a gentle smile.

“After we collect the peaches, each of us will compete for the title of Heroic Champion.”

Goldmane merely shot him a glance before spreading his arms and launching forward like a cannonball.

His formidable celestial perception roared like a wild lion as he scanned the surroundings for his target!

“So impatient…” murmured Jialuo with an amused shake of his head.

His eyes shimmered as he continued, “This lion seems peculiarly fated with our Buddhist path.

Even a golden lion can find refuge within the Buddha’s teachings.”

Suddenly, Jialuo’s gaze fell on a disheveled woman clutching a purple bamboo stalk.

She was a renowned heroine from the South Sea Purple Bamboo Grove—one of the sects under the Eleven Routes of the Divine Capital!

Unlike the domineering Purple Mansion Divine Sect, the South Sea Purple Bamboo Grove kept a low profile, sending only one representative for each of the Heroic and Dragon Championships.

Yet the monk from the Western Region’s Buddhist Kingdom, Jialuo, dared not underestimate Yuguanyin.

This woman was extraordinarily formidable—profound and inscrutable.

Jialuo’s eyes sparkled as he asked, “Fellow Yuguanyin, shall we join forces?”

He continued, “Li Bansheng is utterly unfathomable. His rapid ascension in both the first and second rounds shows just how powerful and unpredictable he is.”

Jialuo’s Golden Eight-Ring Staff tinkled as he shook it lightly.

Yuguanyin removed the purple bamboo from her waist, slinging it over her shoulder with a faint, wry smile.

“Isn’t it because Li Che is connected with the Underworld?” she teased.

“I heard that the monks from Xiao Lingyin Temple who came to the Divine Capital were completely slaughtered by the Underworld—

and Xiao Lingyin Temple is nothing more than a pawn of your Western Region’s Buddhist Kingdom. Are you planning to avenge those fallen monks?”

Jialuo nodded calmly, “Indeed, there is that reason.”

“Xiao Lingyin Temple maintains close ties with our Buddhist Kingdom, frequently exchanging Buddhist teachings and scriptures—

if Li Bansheng truly has deep connections with the Underworld, then I must seek a Buddhist rationale for the fallen monks of Xiao Lingyin Temple.”

He said evenly.

“Fellow Goldmane, let’s search for Li Bansheng together. Once they fight and weaken each other, we can strike.”

“After dispatching them both, we can then compete for the title of Heroic Champion.”

Yuguanyin laughed softly, “You crafty monk—proposing cooperation just to rile him up, aren’t you? Knowing that there are only four contestants this round, Goldmane surely wouldn’t want any help and would deliberately go after Li Che.”

“He even has a wager with Li Che. Their duel will decide the terms of that bet, so you can be sure Goldmane will be too hotheaded to hold back.”

Yuguanyin’s eyes narrowed as the rustling of her bamboo echoed softly.

“So you plan to be the beneficiary—waiting until they weaken each other before striking?”

“But you can’t be absolutely sure, because although Goldmane is straightforward, Li Che—with his Underworld ties and mysterious methods—is truly unpredictable.”

Yuguanyin chuckled warmly.

Jialuo responded calmly, “It’s not Goldmane I worry about—he’s honest enough. It’s Li Che and Underworld Li Bansheng who are the real wild cards.”

“Whether in the first or second round, his rapid ascension is astonishing—

especially in the second round, when Li Che fought the three top heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect singlehandedly and won—

I simply cannot be sure when facing Li Bansheng.”

Jialuo spread his hands casually.

Yuguanyin burst into a hearty laugh, slapping her bamboo as she said, “What a coincidence—I, too, feel uncertain facing Li Bansheng.”

“Then let’s reluctantly team up.”

Her words trailed off.

As Yuguanyin stepped forward, an invisible wave of energy spread out, forcing every frost-like blade of grass to bend sharply.

Then, carrying her purple bamboo, she shot forward like an arrow.

Jialuo merely smiled, his staff swinging gently as he followed, closing the gap as if the ground itself shrank beneath his feet.

Li Che’s heart pounded as if to the beat of a drum; the invisible shockwaves reached his ears, making them feel almost swollen.

Dizzy and with his divine energy boiling like a turbulent river,

Li Che continuously absorbed the Kunlun Death Light cast by the Kunlun Mirror, causing his Heaven and Earth Soul to shatter repeatedly.

With each shattering, deep within his Mud Pellet realm, his Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart throbbed, releasing unsullied divine energy that swiftly reassembled his broken Heaven and Earth Soul.

The newly reformed Heaven and Earth Soul grew ever stronger.

It became a part of Li Che’s personal cultivation.

The triple-unity of his Heaven and Earth Soul grew more resilient, feeding back into his divine essence.

This, in turn, accelerated his absorption of Divine Crystals.

Thus, the process of refining his Heaven and Earth Soul also elevated his divine cultivation.

Throughout this process, Li Che’s divine energy only grew stronger.

He never imagined that the Peach Orchard could turn out to be such an ideal place for cultivation.

Here, after consuming two Dragon Blood Peaches, his vital energy surged dramatically—one Dragon Blood Peach can extend the Pure Martial Qi Sea’s Golden Pool by 800 feet; two extend it 1,600 feet.

According to the Martial Qi path, if the Qi Sea can expand to a thousand feet, one qualifies to challenge for the third ascension of Martial Saint, seeking the Mountain Path through boundless Qi to embark on an ascent in martial cultivation.

That solidifies a floating cultivation into a steady path; each step upward refines and transcends oneself.

Eventually, standing atop the mountain to overlook mundane martial arts, one reaches the pinnacle!

Now, with two Seven-Thousand-Year Dragon Blood Peaches consumed, his Golden Pool had nearly expanded to 1,000 feet.

But Li Che still wanted to widen his Qi Sea further,

to raise his Mountain Path even higher—

so that once he reached the summit, he could see even further.

Even mountain peaks have varying heights.

Just like the countless mountains on Earth—some towering, some low, with their ups and downs.

Martial cultivation is much the same.

Buzzing?

Within the Cosmic Chessboard, streams of energy and light intertwined.

Thankfully, after the transformation of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit, his ability to capture and suppress energy improved significantly; otherwise, as more Kunlun Death Light was absorbed, the Cosmic Chessboard would have twisted as if on the verge of collapse.

As Li Che gradually captured some forty to fifty streams of Kunlun Death Light, they faintly formed a crescent-shaped glow—like the remnant sliver after an eclipse.

On the Cosmic Chessboard, his Heaven and Earth Soul intertwined and solidified, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

A subtle thrill stirred within him, a spark of excitement.

“It seems… there might be a chance?”

“Maybe I can capture the Kunlun Mirror? As more Kunlun Death Light gathers, perhaps it will eventually converge into a Kunlun Mirror?”

“Or rather, into a complete reflection in the Kunlun Mirror?”

“Then, could that very connection allow me to truly—pluck the Hao Sun from the skies?!”

Li Che’s heart raced.

A divine weapon of the Three Pure Ones tempts anyone.

Not even Li Che—or the Grand Inspector—could resist its allure.

Wasn’t the Dajing Royal Family hosting the Peach Festival solely to contend for this Three Pure Divine Weapon?

Yet Li Che couldn’t be certain he could actually pull off the peach-plucking feat and pocket the Kunlun Mirror.

The challenge was enormous.

Not only was there pressure from the Dajing Royal Family, but also from the Kunlun Mirror itself, a divine weapon of unmatched bearing.

BOOM!!!

Even though Li Che’s Cosmic Chessboard had grown due to the transformation of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit, his own divine cultivation had yet to break new ground.

It was as if heavenly light poured down, dissolving everything—even the combined Heaven and Earth Soul of three divine transformations couldn’t withstand the blazing brilliance of the Kunlun Mirror.

Under that scorching deathlight, his Heaven and Earth Soul shattered once again!

Yet even as it shattered, Li Che resolutely directed one beam of Kunlun Death Light into his Cosmic Chessboard, weaving it like a diligent spinner into a tapestry.

Boom, boom, boom—the pulsations of his Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart echoed as a faint surge of divine energy emerged, healing his wounded and collapsing Heaven and Earth Soul.

It reformed anew, growing even more potent.

A fierce wind howled, stirring the branches of the countless Peach Trees in the Seven-Thousand-Year Peach Orchard as their leaves rustled in the gust.

Li Che suddenly flung his eyes open and slowly rose, his black robe billowing and his jet-black hair whipping wildly with a roaring sound.

“The third round of the Heroic Championship has begun—the victors have now entered the Peach Orchard.”

A stir ran through Li Che, and in the next moment his Cosmic Chessboard expanded to capture every detail of the orchard.

In an instant, it absorbed all the happenings within the Peach Orchard.

The three warriors who emerged from the brutal second round into the third round were also unmistakably revealed to Li Che.

It was all exactly as he had anticipated.

“Indeed, as expected—the trio are stronger overall,” he thought.

“Yet it is surprising that the three heroes from the True Martial Divine Sect were defeated.”

Li Che pondered quietly.

In his perception, the figures of Goldmane, the monk Jialuo, and Yuguanyin appeared vividly, their movements completely exposed.

Now, with the Chess Sage Dao Fruit’s fourth transformation complete and the Cosmic Chessboard expanded, his sensory range sharpened, clearly mapping out their every move.

“Hmm? Have they split up?”

Li Che noted that Goldmane had separated from Jialuo and Yuguanyin like a wild dog that never looks back, dashing away at breakneck speed.

Meanwhile, the monk Jialuo, after a brief conversation with Yuguanyin, had opted to team up, trailing closely behind Goldmane.

With one glance, Li Che understood the situation.

“Goldmane is itching to settle a score with me—while Jialuo and Yuguanyin seem to be positioning themselves to profit from his eagerness.”

Li Che smiled quietly.

Using his Cosmic Chessboard, he peered as his foot struck the soft ground, creating a deep pit beneath, and watched Goldmane, with his resplendent golden mane, launch forward.

“This foolish dog is merely being used as a pawn,” Li Che murmured fondly.

He was quite fond of his future mount.

Not now, but very soon.

Based on the straightforward nature of young Jin Taisui, Goldmane was no different.

Rustle, rustle…

The Peach Trees began to shift, their underground roots writhing like dragons to form a labyrinth that disrupted Goldmane’s sensory range.

After all, a three-hundred-foot-tall Peach Tree thrusting into the clouds—if not for the dazzling glow transformed by the Kunlun Mirror—could plunge the area into darkness.

Thus, sensory perception in the Peach Grove became extremely limited.

Not everyone possessed Li Che’s uncanny methods with the Cosmic Chessboard.

Listening to the rustle of leaves and the gentle movement of the Peach Tree roots, he shook his head with a slight smile, “No need for that.”

“Come on.”

“Goldmane, come find me.”

Li Che stood upright, then slowly spread his arms wide.

A surge of overwhelming divine energy burst forth from his Mud Pellet realm, soaring into the clouds like dazzling fireworks—

radiant and unmistakable!

In the Divine Capital Second City,

at Jade Plaza,

the Tianhe Water Curtain cascaded down in a roaring sheet, its surface shimmering under the last light of the setting sun.

Meanwhile, the water revealed a scene:

On the screen were four separate quadrants, each detailing one of the heroes who had advanced to the third round of the Heroic Championship.

Suddenly,

everyone erupted in astonished shouts.

It was because Li Che, who had been meditating under a Peach Tree—perhaps sensing the orchard’s opening—slowly rose, spreading his arms and releasing divine energy as if to say, “I’ve waited long enough!”

How arrogant!

But Li Che had every right to be so confident!

In Divine Capital Third City, cheers exploded as if Li Che’s raised arms and unleashed divine energy had sent the martial cultivators—who had rushed from every corner of the Eleven Routes—into a state of wild jubilation.

Lü Taibai glanced over and chuckled, “Elder Li’s popularity has skyrocketed.”

Second Elder Zhao Fangzhou took a swig of wine, his face a flushed mix of excitement, “Of course! This popularity was hard-won by Elder Li, fighting off three opponents single-handedly and slaying the top heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect!”

“With such achievements, who wouldn’t be ecstatic?”

“Elder Li certainly has every right to be arrogant!”

At the edge of Jade Plaza, XiXi stood gazing upward, watching as her father’s every gesture in the Tianhe Water Curtain inspired wild cheers from the martial cultivators of Divine Capital Third City.

XiXi’s little face glowed red, and her steps wavered, as if tipsy on strong wine.

“So cool! So grand!”

“I wish Emperor XiXi had one too!”

With her hands on her hips, XiXi set herself a small goal:

One day, she would be as bold and unyielding as her father—so that everyone would accept her audacity!

In the Dense Forest,

Goldmane, sprinting at breakneck speed, abruptly crouched and stamped so forcefully that countless frost-like blades of grass shattered beneath his feet!

His golden hair flew wildly in the air, and his keen eyes suddenly fixed on something far off.

There, a powerful, indescribable aura surged upward—a dense divine energy, razor-sharp and awe-inspiring, like a terrifying sword splitting the world in two.

“Such divine energy—”

“Li Che!”

Goldmane’s eyes blazed with intense golden light as he roared, his entire being radiating as if forged from pure gold, “He’s challenging me!”

“He’s calling for me to rush over!”

“Are you fed up with waiting?!”

Goldmane erupted, his heart pounding furiously.

So arrogant! So domineering!

What is this proud cultivator—a man so self-assured he dares to defy convention?!

Yet Goldmane did not underestimate Li Che; he took him very seriously. After all, in two consecutive rounds of the Heroic Championship, Li Che had ascended far ahead of the others.

In the second round, Li Che even fought the three heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect!

But—

Was Goldmane afraid?!

He craved the challenge!

The blood within him surged as if ignited by his fervor, his entire body boiling with energy. Sensing the explosive burst, he accelerated, transforming into a golden blur across the Dense Forest!

Shortly after Goldmane surged forward,

two figures drifted down onto a massive branch of a Peach Tree.

Yuguanyin, carrying her purple bamboo, and the monk Jialuo, gripping his Golden Eight-Ring Staff, exchanged astonished glances.

“That Li Bansheng… has grown outrageously bold!”

“To unleash his divine energy like that and reveal his position—he must have ascended prematurely, growing impatient in the orchard.”

A slight smile played on their lips.

Then, they both propelled themselves forward to chase after Goldmane.

Guided by the divine energy radiated by Li Che, the Peach Tree split apart as if revealing a path paved with frost-like grass, allowing Goldmane to approach Li Che directly.

Boom!!!

It was as if crimson energy exploded around him, gushing from every pore of Goldmane, transforming him into a golden bomb that rocketed forward and crashed into the ground, forming a deep pit.

Goldmane’s back arched and then slowly straightened, as every explosive surge sent shockwaves rippling; his eyes shone like those of a predatory beast, flickering with a mysterious luminescence.

His blood appeared to shimmer with a faint golden hue as a violent surge of divine energy roared upward like an ocean tide.

With one thunderous step, the ground erupted!

Within a ten-foot radius, the soft earth shattered, collapsing and sinking without resistance!

Dust and debris flew as countless fragments of stone and frost-like grass transformed into arrows and flying swords, surging toward Li Che, who stood beneath the sturdy Peach Tree.

Yet Li Che only smiled faintly.

Facing Goldmane’s assault, he spread his fingers and gently smacked downward.

All the approaching debris was instantly seized by his immense Heaven and Earth Soul, their speed and force nullified, like a torrential rain striking the ground, throwing up clouds of dust.

“I know you’re eager,” Li Che said calmly.

“But hold on.”

The brief clash made Goldmane narrow his fierce eyes, his expression turning serious.

Li Che’s calm voice resonated, causing Goldmane to furrow his brow.

That fellow must not realize that his blood is still boiling with a desire for an all-out fight. Does he want to cool my passion and stop me from unleashing my full strength?

But Li Che only smiled.

“I know you’re itching to battle—and frankly, so am I. After all, my daughter has a little follower, and having a mount doesn’t sound too bad. I heard you can transform into a Golden Lion King—because of that demonic royal blood in you, right?”

Goldmane’s face reddened furiously.

“Arrogant! You want me as your mount? Then best defeat me first! Do you think I’m as useless as Jin Taisui?!”

Li Che only smiled and pressed his palms together, “Hold on.”

“Our duel is bound by the wager—a wager of enormous consequence. If you lose, you’ll become my servant. And tell me, what’s the difference between a servant and a mount?”

Goldmane gritted his teeth and roared, “Nonsense!”

“So this fight will decide your fate—give it your all. You wouldn’t want some bystander to spoil this duel and profit from it, would you?”

Li Che chuckled as he finished speaking.

At his words, Goldmane’s fierce eyes momentarily softened into a round expression, “Hmm?! You’re very clever, Li Che!”

Though Goldmane was impulsive, he was no fool.

For a brief moment, his eyes softened before sharpening as he glanced behind him, detecting two subtle energy signatures.

Although they attempted to hide, his instincts had caught them nonetheless.

Li Che was pleased by Goldmane’s reaction—his Cosmic Chessboard had forced Yuguanyin’s hidden aura to expose both her and her companion’s concealed energy.

“Exclamation!”

Goldmane roared.

“These meddlesome bristles!”

Goldmane began cursing casually.

“Goldmane, you wouldn’t want our pure wager to be disturbed, would you?” Li Che said.

“Even if they’re just onlookers, it’s still irritating.”

“Anyway, in the end, they’ll scramble to claim the title of Heroic Champion from us—so why not have a bit of fun first?”

Goldmane squinted, a look of admiration crossing his features as he replied, “You’re quite smart.”

Li Che responded:

Then Goldmane spread his arms wide as a resounding clap echoed, and a torrent of golden energy surged within him. Gradually, the phantom image of a Golden Lion King emerged!

“I’ll take care of that bald monk from the Western Region—and that woman with the bamboo, she’s yours!”

“I don’t like fighting women!”

Goldmane shouted defiantly.

Without another word, he sprang forward like a lion stalking its prey across the steppe, covering dozens of miles in an instant.

His body soared like a dragon as he plunged downward, his domineering aura thundering like a terrifying roar!

While he dashed forward, the monk Jialuo and Yuguanyin, perched on a massive branch of a Peach Tree, suddenly felt their hearts skip a beat as a violent wind swept over them—crushing the very air as if it were being obliterated!

In an instant, a phantom Golden Lion leaped, charging directly at Jialuo!

Jialuo and Yuguanyin’s expressions changed instantly.

“What madness is this, that cursed beast?!”

“Wasn’t it supposed to fight Li Che? Why is it attacking us?!”

Jialuo’s hand spun in a swift motion, his Golden Eight-Ring Staff clanging as he pointed forcefully ahead.

Goldmane ignored Yuguanyin completely as the phantom Golden Lion King crashed with a powerful palm into the monk’s staff!

Like the resounding toll of an ancient heavy bell, the impact rippled outward, throwing up clouds of dust.

At the point of collision, the Peach Tree’s restraints exploded, repelling both forces and slamming them to the ground.

The soft earth erupted into deep, twisting gullies!

“Fellow Goldmane, have you lost your mind?!”

“Your opponent isn’t me!”

Jialuo’s face darkened as the terrifying force sent him sprawling off the Peach Tree branch, crashing against its trunk.

“Don’t call me master!”

“Call me Goldmane!”

“I’m fighting you, and if you think you can profit later by piggybacking on what I’ve earned, think again—I’ll beat you to death!”

Goldmane roared, his phantom Golden Lion King image echoing as his roar shook souls and minds alike.

Jialuo’s expression instantly turned cold.

“Cursed beast, you’re not as foolish as I thought,” he muttered.

“Or is it that Li Che told you? Would you rather trust Li Che than me?”

Jialuo glanced toward the swirling wind in the distance; emerging from deep within the Peach Grove was a tall, black-robed figure with a gentle smile—Li Che.

Goldmane glared fiercely and spat, “Bald one, you dare compare yourself to Li Che? You worthless traitor!”

“I even trusted you—did you really think I was that stupid?!”

Jialuo’s face darkened further.

Enraged by Goldmane’s constant epithets, his anger surged.

Meanwhile, Yuguanyin, still clutching her purple bamboo, stood rigidly on a Peach Tree branch, her body tensed as she fixed her gaze on the casually approaching black-robed figure.

It seemed that these two intended to first clear out the onlookers before their final confrontation.

Goldmane was now facing Jialuo…

and Li Che’s true target was clearly her.

Li Che looked at the barefoot, disheveled, yet alert Yuguanyin with a gentle, knowing smile.

“Goldmane said he wouldn’t fight women—

so I’ll handle you,” he declared.

“Don’t worry, I won’t fight either.”

Yuguanyin’s guarded expression softened as if Li Che’s gentle words melted her inner defenses.

But then,

in the very next moment,

she suddenly looked upward.

There, looming overhead, was a colossal half-step Mechanical Beast—the Twin-Winged Little Yinglong King—with its wings fully spread, blotting out the sky and emanating an aura of terror, accompanied by clanging metallic sounds and countless simultaneous mechanical imprints.

It descended at a terrifying speed!

Is this what you meant by not fighting women?!