Chapter 409: The Awakening of the Eight Gates

Boom—Boom—Boom!!!

In that very instant, the entire Mo City trembled violently!

The Eight Gates!

The Eighth Gate!

Open it!

Li Che lifted his head; his jet-black hair shimmered with gold, as if transformed in a flash into dazzling light that sliced through space with brilliant, feverish swings!

Standing rooted to the spot, Li Che felt eight vortices appear one after the other behind him, stacking together to unleash a terrifying, earth-shattering roar!

Mo City, you shall fall!

Cracks raced across the ground laid with dark bricks, spreading rapidly as the entire city shuddered, as if on the verge of collapse!

Thud, thud, thud…

Inside his chest, his heart surged with unprecedented force—each beat resounding like a divine war cry from high atop the celestial dome, as if wielding an age-old legend’s heavy hammer. The impact sent ripples through space, a thunderous roar echoing around him!

“Hoo—

There was no quiet breath in his call—only gusts of scorching heated vapor erupting from within. Li Che’s eyes flared like lightning, beams of radiant gold piercing the darkness.

His presence surged relentlessly; chains of energy whipped wildly behind him as if sprouting from his spine. His flesh seemed transformed into a scorched, star-metal meteor, burned by temperatures a thousand times over!

The very air twisted and collapsed under the intense heat!

The Eighth Gate!

The legendary gate of mysteries!

Not even the ancient texts recorded anyone ever opening the Eight Gates simultaneously!

This martial art of the Martial Saint, steeped in mystery, exuded an otherworldly aura.

For practicing this supreme Celestial Seed Technique risked one’s very existence—a risk that could spell eternal damnation.

It was precisely because of this dreadful peril that very few managed to master it.

Centered within himself, Li Che’s body became the epicenter as the ground’s bricks and stones were hurled apart by a fearsome surge of vital energy, crumbling downward amid a boiling, golden bloodfield.

Boom!!!

Li Che’s body was etched with countless cracks—as if his delicate porcelain had been lightly chipped.

In his eyes, the revelatory feedback from the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit began to fade, yet for Li Che, its impact was already cemented!

It had enabled him to channel the power of the Eighth Gate!

Celestial Seed: Kirin Subduing Immortal Seal!

Unlike Divine Seed Martial Arts, this Celestial Seed Technique was a reward given after XiXi turned seven—a milestone marking the transition from early childhood to school age.

Clearly, its rank sat above that of Divine Seed Martial Arts.

Previously, Li Che had expended considerable revelatory feedback attempting this Celestial Seed Technique, yet he could barely enter its doorway.

Now, buoyed by a fiercely liberating battle—and the matured Dao Fruit obtained from slaying Ji Mo Li’s clone—he managed to break into its fundamentals.

His original eighth Divine Seed had already been aligned with Divine Seed Martial Arts, for he had long since collected eight distinct Divine Seed techniques.

But the arrival of this Celestial Seed Technique caught him by surprise.

Without hesitation, when weighed against the previously planned Divine Seed Martial Arts and the rewards from XiXi’s safe growth,

Li Che naturally chose the Celestial Seed Technique!

Kirin Subduing Immortal Seal!

On his back, the eighth Divine Seed blazed like the midday sun, its swirling vortex vast beyond any other.

Not only was it channeling the Celestial Seed Technique,

it was, in fact, the power of that very eighth Divine Seed itself!

Oh, the Eight Gates!

They are the stuff of legends!

For Li Che, opening the Eight Gates was tantamount to becoming a legend himself!

He even wondered whether the warrior who created this Divine Seed art had ever truly unlocked the Eight Gates or reached such heights!

Li Che speculated if the Eighth Gate even resided within his own spine…

“Focused on Celestial Seed with seven supporting Divine Seeds—today, my mastery of the Eight Gates Divine Seed Technique can only be called an immortal art!”

Immortal Art!

That’s exactly how Li Che described this martial art.

It was as if immortals themselves had imparted their wisdom—a pinnacle of martial prowess!

Clenching his fist, his vital energy resounded like thunder. From his cracked palm burst off concentric waves of white, shattering space as they radiated outwards.

“So powerful!”

Gold lit his eyes!

This transformative power felt like the last step before reaching the realm of Martial God. Yet, his bodily strength was still lacking, and his Celestial Seed was only in its infancy.

Even the minutest constraints prevented him from fully unleashing the Celestial Seed Technique’s potential.

Nevertheless, Li Che now had the capability to single-handedly defeat any half-step Martial God!

His martial cultivation had surged after breaking through to Martial Saint’s Threefold Awakening—triggering the massive energy reservoir that allowed him to ignite the seventh Divine Seed during the fierce clash against a half-step Divine Calamity practitioner.

Yet it was only by simultaneously igniting all seven Divine Seeds that he reached this pinnacle.

Now, even without igniting a Divine Seed…

Li Che could unleash power on par with a half-step Martial God. And should he ignite all seven once more—

Under Martial God’s might, none could stand against me!

He could even battle Divine Calamity and Martial Gods head-on!

If only his body could endure the full force of the eighth Divine Seed’s explosion—

That ultimate, radiant burst when all eight gates open simultaneously!

Then, even a Martial God’s defeat might be within reach!

Yet Li Che knew there remained a vast gap between him and the realm of Divine Calamity and Martial Gods.

It was like watching a brawny brute who knows nothing of martial artistry clash with a skilled fighter who, despite his technique, is overpowered by sheer force.

If strength were limitless, one could vanquish ten adversaries with a single blow.

But only if strength truly knew no bounds.

The disparity in mastery over the Dao, the will of Heaven and Earth, and bodily conditioning amounted to a difference in technique and understanding.

Gradually, his mental calm returned as the surging energy of the cosmos swirled relentlessly. Mo City itself was being seared by an inferno, steam rising like that from a furnace.

Huff, puff! The winds howled, churning dense mists!

Like a great dragon, his back radiated as the eight Divine Seed vortices began to recede, consolidating into an unified force. The golden vital energy cooled and subsided, flowing as leisurely as a placid river under the blessing of the Sleeping Dragon Elephant.

“Do not let it inflate.”

Without a proper benchmark from a Divine Calamity cultivator, Li Che cautioned himself against becoming overly arrogant. Silently, he calmed his racing heart.

After all, he was a family man—a husband and father, the pillar of his household!

Stability was his life creed!

This world was shrouded in mystery—the higher one ascended in cultivation, the deeper the mysteries became.

Be it the mortal realm or places like Bizarre Temple and Bizarre Temple, enigmas abounded, cloaked in veils that even Li Che could not fully penetrate.

Thus, he dared not overstep and had to tread as if on ice.

Seated cross-legged, he reined in his Divine Seed energy and began to channel his vital energy.

Above his head, a vast golden sea of energy emerged—a dazzling flood of golden light, surging like crashing waves!

Within that luminous ocean, a towering mountain of martial Dao arose.

That was none other than Li Che’s very own Path of Martial Dao!

Having successfully channeled the power of the eighth Divine Seed, this martial mountain now stirred terrifying waves amidst the golden sea.

It seemed to be rising higher, making the climb ever more arduous.

Though many had reached the pinnacle of martial Dao and even attained the Martial Saint’s Fourfold Awakening, ascended mountain paths led only to the elite—those who could break through to the Heavenly Gate.

Countless martial peaks spanned the realm, each varying in height.

No two practitioners walked the same path—their understanding, their hardships, and their battles forged peaks of differing stature.

Li Che’s mountain of martial Dao could well be the highest in all creation.

For successfully channeling the eighth Divine Seed was poised to shatter the very skies.

Resolute, Li Che pressed forward along the mountain path.

But climbing was also a process of fortifying martial Qi—and he needed ample resources, including the Four Supreme Martial Pills!

Riding the momentum of the eighth Gate’s energy, Li Che ascended thousands of feet along the path before a sudden void in his Qi reminded him to replenish.

He thus chose to end his five- to six-day cultivation session.

Meanwhile, in the inner realm of his Mud Pellet’s spatial sanctum, the Seven Aperture Luminous Heart floated, rapidly repairing his shattered flesh until it was completely restored.

With the eighth Divine Seed channeled and the Celestial Seed: Kirin Subduing Immortal Seal firmly established along his spine, Li Che’s spirits soared.

Though the oppressive might of the Imperial Army led by National Teacher Xie Yunshen still loomed outside, he now possessed the confidence to overturn any obstacle!

If they truly pushed him to the limit,

Li Che was more than ready to unleash his ultimate flourish—a final, dazzling burst of martial brilliance!

He would strike with the power of a Kirin’s kick!

And perform one final, breathtaking dance!

In that moment, Li Che’s mind stirred, and he left Mo City Shandu behind.

Only Gu Changqing, the spiritual cultivator of confinement, remained behind to diligently concoct Martial Pills—resources that Li Che had secured for him.

Ever tolerant of his technical aides, Li Che valued their contributions.

Boom—Boom—Boom!!!

Shortly after returning to the Elders’ Court, Li Che’s hair stood on end—even though he had tightly reined in his Qi with Sleeping Dragon Elephant.

Yet in that instant, he sensed an overwhelming premonition of calamity. He abruptly looked upward as if witnessing the will of Heaven and Earth materialize into a colossal, grim visage.

Overlooking him from high above, that immense presence weighed down with inescapable terror, as if destiny itself sought to erase him from the mortal realm!

To utterly annihilate him!

As if the world could not bear his extraordinary existence!

Li Che’s spine trembled; even the eight Divine Seeds quivered in rapid, frenzied oscillations.

No matter how fully he harnessed Sleeping Dragon Elephant, he could not escape the clutches of this impending calamity!

A dark thought clouded his mind—had they marked him as a target for Divine Calamity or Martial God?

The crushing pressure seemed ready to bend his spine.

Yet with a spark of resolve, Li Che unleashed the Cosmic Chessboard, severing and muting his energy signature.

Then, using his Seven Aperture Luminous Heart, he expelled divine essence to seal the gap where the eighth Divine Seed had been. As the residual energy dissipated, the heavenly threat vanished.

It was as if he had outwitted the cosmos itself.

On the rooftop, white snow blanketed the ground.

Dark clouds came and went, disappearing in an instant.

Warm sunlight poured through the doorway, dappled like gold across the earth.

Li Che stretched, every muscle crackling with energy, ending his long seclusion. Ever since his skirmish with the Imperial Army, he had hardly paused his cultivation.

Days passed without his notice.

Stepping out, he saw Zhang Ya, XiXi, and Jin Taisui, among others, training in the courtyard.

Their eyes lit up as they spotted him.

“Beloved!”

“Father!”

Mother and daughter cried out in unison.

They raced toward him.

With a beaming smile, Li Che opened his arms wide and embraced his wife and daughter as tenderly as a mother bird welcoming her chicks.

Life was this precious—what more could one ask for?

Li Che ruffled their heads; both, big and small, clung to him with dependence, softening the fierce glint that once shone in his eyes.

“Master,”

Goldmane greeted him respectfully, clasping his fists in salute.

Li Che cast a curious glance at Goldmane, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light.

“Transform into the Golden Lion King and spar with me,” he commanded.

Goldmane paused in surprise.

“Very well!”

Without hesitation, Goldmane’s vital energy erupted; his whole body swelled as his muscles thickened and massive veins bulged, until in tandem with a phantom image of the Golden Lion King forming behind him, he completely transformed.

A rich, overwhelming aura of demonic energy burst from his form.

The Golden Lion King stood colossal in the courtyard, like a small mountain incarnate.

With a thunderous roar, its mighty cry shook the white snow clinging to the rooftop.

Li Che’s eyes brightened further.

Within his chest, the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit pulsed incessantly.

It was as though his very hand could crush it with a mere pinch.

At that moment, Li Che’s foot touched the ground and he appeared before the Golden Lion King.

Goldmane tilted his head.

Yet Li Che extended his hand and pressed it against the lion king’s brow.

In that instant, a torrent of demonic aura converged from Goldmane and surged into the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit within Li Che’s chest.

Soon, the maturity of the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit accelerated dramatically!

The Golden Lion King, wielding the peak battle prowess of Martial Saint’s Fourfold Awakening, was the embodiment of demonic might—an unrivaled demon king among his kind.

After all, the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit, like Li Che’s earlier Dao Fruits—be it from the Xiangong or Dragon Elephant Vajra eras—had all blossomed from modest beginnings.

As soon as the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit emerged, it gulped in high-level demonic energy, ravenously absorbing it.

Goldmane could feel the demonic aura within him dwindling rapidly.

A surge of fear gripped him—not just the fear of failure, but a profound, soul-level surrender that beat even the resignation of a losing wager.

It was akin to facing the dread of a Great Witch God atop Witch God Mountain.

How could this be?!

Boom!

In a flash, the Golden Lion King bowed submissively—a clear sign of capitulation.

The violent tempests subsided.

Li Che’s brow furrowed—he had consumed the demonic aura to its limit.

[Dao Fruit: Wan Yao Di (Lv1 90%)]

It nearly evolved to the next stage. It wasn’t that Goldmane’s demonic aura was insufficient; after all, as one with merely demonic blood, his potential was capped.

“And there are four other great demons like Goldmane,” Li Che noted, his eyes glimmering.

Not far away—roughly eight hundred miles from here—within the encampments of the Imperial Court, the Dragon God Clan’s Crown Prince and his three dragon offspring, each forming a half-step Dragon God phantom, were considered formidable demons.

“Let’s scout them when night falls,” Li Che decided as he emerged from seclusion. Meanwhile, news of Lü Taibai’s retreat into seclusion had arrived.

Now, the entire Divine Sect was being managed by Fang Han Shu, who was busy keeping everything in motion.

On hearing of Li Che’s emergence, Fang Han Shu immediately dropped his tasks and rushed to the courtyard.

“Ah Che, are those resources useful to you? Should we keep gathering more?”

At the sight of Li Che, Fang Han Shu’s hair stood on end for reasons unknown.

An intellectual instinct warned him—Li Che was not one to be trifled with.

For Li Che might just become utterly unyielding.

“They’re useful. Continue gathering them. As for the number of Divine Crystals required for exchange, just let me know—I can swap them with the Holy Hand Divine Eagle.”

Li Che replied.

“The Ancestral Patriarch wanted you to meet him, but since you were in seclusion, he fell back asleep…”

“And although there’s no news from Xie Yunshen’s camp, the Imperial Army is camped right outside—like a long blade hanging above our heads, making sleep impossible,”

Fang Han Shu said, shaking his head. Intellectuals despised being held at knifepoint.

“In that encampment, eagles continuously snatch away messengers—it’s clearly a call for help.”

“Luckily, there’s a good sign: Zhao Beidou, the Patriarch of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect, returned through the void. My spies say he appeared injured by calamity upon his return to the camp,”

Fang Han Shu continued,

“As for Gu Qianchi of Bashu Sword Pavilion, there’s been little movement.”

After briefing Li Che on the situation, Li Che’s eyes flickered with interest.

“Zhao Beidou—seriously injured?”

Fang Han Shu, taken aback by the sudden brightness in Li Che’s gaze—as brilliant as a billion lightbulbs—could only twitch his lips.

“Not exactly—severe injury would be worse. Although he dodged the calamity, he did sustain some minor wounds.”

Hearing this, Li Che felt a pang of regret.

He resolved to investigate with the Cosmic Chessboard.

“Xie Yunshen has temporarily withdrawn eight hundred miles. He will undoubtedly return with even greater force—if the Ancestral Patriarch must contend with two Divine Calamity cultivators, it will be no easy feat. Should Xie Yunshen call upon another Divine Calamity, we might not withstand it.”

Fang Han Shu sighed.

This was why Lü Taibai, feeling immense pressure, had sealed himself away to attempt breaking into the half-step Martial God realm.

Time was not on their side.

Time waits for no one!

Li Che’s eyes glimmered as he murmured, “Indeed. The ruthless National Teacher Xie Yunshen might even summon more than one Divine Calamity. With the power he seems to have secured from the Emperor, he’ll surely try to crush us in one go!”

“For instance, the Dragon God Clan might dispatch a Divine Calamity Grand Cultivator.”

Fang Han Shu nodded, his scholarly robe billowing as his eyes gleamed with cold intelligence.

“So, I have an idea,” he said.

“Please, Elder,” Li Che replied.

“Ah Che, you’re familiar with the Underworld. Could you possibly call upon its vicious spirits to assassinate Xie Yunshen?”

Li Che looked at Fang Han Shu in astonishment.

Fang Han Shu, his scholarly robes and long whiskers fluttering in the wind, smiled and added, “On my end, I’m trying to secure the top assassin from Lie Shen Pavilion…”

“We must contact the most elite Divine Hunter from Lie Shen Pavilion. If we can combine his lethal expertise with the Underworld’s ghostly assassination arts, our chances should be good.”

Fang Han Shu’s words stirred a sense of kinship in Li Che.

Wait—Divine Hunter assassin?!

“Divine Hunter Assassin?”

Li Che asked, puzzled.

“The fiercest killer in Lie Shen Pavilion isn’t the Hunter King. It’s someone of staggering prowess—almost beyond that of a mere mortal,”

Fang Han Shu’s smile turned enigmatic as his eyes flickered.

“Ah Che, the origins of Lie Shen Pavilion run deeper than you imagine. The Hunter King merely hunts formidable human fighters. But a Divine Hunter can even slay gods.”

He exhaled deeply.

“However, assassinating Xie Yunshen isn’t a trivial task. Although Tian Can Di Que has betrayed us, Xie Yunshen—the commander and backbone of the Imperial Army’s mountain-breaking offensive—will undoubtedly be guarded by a Divine Calamity Grand Cultivator.”

“With the Patriarchs Zhao Beidou of Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect and Gu Qianchi of Bashu Sword Pavilion being Divine Calamity cultivators of one disaster and one calamity respectively, our Ancestral Patriarch, being at the one-disaster, two-calamity stage, could in theory handle two. But in the present world, with the overwhelming threat of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, the Divine Calamity cultivators are in no position to go all out.”

“So although our Patriarch might fend off two with his unmatched strength, he’ll still be somewhat constrained.”

“If our Patriarch were at the one-disaster, three-calamity stage, he could crush them effortlessly.”

Li Che’s heart stirred at the thought of these new realm divisions of Divine Calamity.

“And what of Martial Gods? Do they follow similar divisions?” he inquired.

Fang Han Shu nodded. “Martial Gods are the fusion of martial prowess and divine essence—a leap into the realm of divine martialism. Once one reaches the Divine Calamity stage, the distinction blurs; both are shunned by Heaven and Earth and must traverse the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations.”

“However, while a Divine Calamity Grand Cultivator expands his inner space to form a mini-heaven, a Martial God transforms his dantian into an arena of martial wonders—one that can exist in the void and thus avoid tribulation. Essentially, the difference with a Divine Calamity’s mini-heaven is negligible.”

Fang Han Shu, seeing Li Che’s curiosity, explained further.

Both Martial Gods and Divine Calamity cultivators require vast reservoirs of Dao energy—the very essence that forms the wonders and heavens within oneself.

“Without sufficient Dao energy, the risk of tribulation failure is high, and worse, both Martial Gods and Divine Calamity cultivators could even lose their realms.”

“Do you know why Qitian City’s opening created such a stir? It wasn’t just Qitian’s legacy—it was discovered, after a Divine Calamity Grand Cultivation expedition, that Qitian’s Bizarre Temple sits at the convergence of the inner and outer Weird Sanctuaries.”

“That means the city must be rich with Dao Crystals!”

“And why do so many Demon Emperors covet Qitian City? They want to be the first to grasp these Dao Crystals and ascend to Demon Godhood!”

Fang Han Shu’s encyclopedic knowledge of world affairs was truly remarkable.

Li Che listened, utterly transfixed, as his eyes shone with newfound clarity.

Qitian City—nestled at the junction of the inner and outer Weird Sanctuaries—teemed with Dao Crystals?!

Wasn’t Huang Jianjiu’s transformation into the Temple Spirit reliant on these very crystals?!

If there were enough Dao Crystals, Huang Jianjiu’s ascendancy to Temple Spirit would be a tremendous boon for Li Che.

And for Li Che, who had just channeled the eighth Divine Seed, those Dao Crystals were of utmost importance!

Fang Han Shu inhaled deeply, his brow furrowing as he said, “If Xie Yunshen really calls upon that ancient Old Dragon God from the Dragon God Clan, we’ll be in deep trouble—

“Because that aged dragon’s time is nearly up; he has survived one disaster and two calamities—on par with our Ancestral Patriarch.

“And an elderly Dragon King is far more unhinged than our Patriarch!”

In that instant, Li Che understood.

It was the audacity of the barefoot—the fearlessness of those with nothing to lose—all for the future of the Dragon God Clan.

Li Che inhaled deeply, a surge of pressure welling in his chest.

“If we can assassinate Xie Yunshen, it might buy the Qianyuan Divine Sect enough time to catch its breath,”

Fang Han Shu asserted.

“I’ll go contact the Underworld.”

After a moment’s pause, Li Che retrieved an Underworld Divine Communication Mirror and handed it to Fang Han Shu.

“Use this. If the Underworld strikes, consider it a signal.”

Fang Han Shu accepted the mirror without preamble, his eyes glinting with intrigue.

Was this a variant of the Corpse God Sect’s Thousand-Mile Divine Communication Mirror?

The deeper Fang Han Shu delved into the Underworld, the more he felt it was akin to a dominion over death—perhaps even more so than the Corpse God Sect.

After a lengthy discussion with Li Che, Fang Han Shu prepared to depart once again.

He was simply too busy.

With Lü Taibai sealing himself away like a callous overseer, Fang Han Shu had to shoulder all these matters.

“Oh, one more thing…”

Suddenly, Fang Han Shu’s gaze fell upon XiXi, training under Goldmane’s guidance in the distant courtyard.

“Regarding XiXi’s expedition—”

“I originally opposed it. I felt XiXi should read more, gain wisdom before venturing out…”

As XiXi practiced martial arts, a chill suddenly swept over her, as if she had plunged into a demon’s lair.

“What the—?!”

XiXi’s ears twitched as she looked over in terror.

“Master of the Demon Lair, have some decency!”

But then Fang Han Shu’s tone shifted.

“However—I’ve changed my mind,”

his voice growing somber.

“We must, just in case, leave a seed for the Qianyuan Divine Sect—”

Fang Han Shu continued.

Li Che smiled and fell silent.

Leaving behind a seed—

as insurance against the potential downfall of the Qianyuan Divine Sect?

Faced with the Imperial Army’s relentless resolve, Li Che himself felt the weight of immense pressure.

Not to mention the rest of the Sect would suffer even more.

That was why Fang Han Shu agreed to let XiXi venture out in disguise for her trial by fire.

“Very well,”

Li Che decided, exhaling deeply and nodding.

His eyes gleamed with determination.

“When we assassinate Xie Yunshen, I’ll ensure XiXi and the others leave the Sect, so as not to attract the attention of those two Divine Calamity cultivators in the Imperial Army.”

Li Che declared.

Fang Han Shu regarded him deeply before glancing at XiXi in the distance.

“The Imperial Court must have sensed something—thus, they are consolidating power, gathering the energies of Heaven and Earth. Qianyuan Divine Sect… may not be the first of its kind. Those allied with the Court are merely bargaining with a tiger—they too will ultimately fall to the mountain-breaking offensive.”

“Do they think that by surrendering they can avoid their fate? They cannot!”

“Even Qitian Divine Sect could not escape—they were doomed from the start. What hope do they have?”

Fang Han Shu chuckled, then spread his robes and soared skyward as he departed,

but his final words left Li Che shaken.

Fang Han Shu’s pessimism about Qianyuan Divine Sect’s fate was palpable.

Despite their recent grand victory, it wasn’t enough!

“Is that the fate of Qitian Divine Sect?”

Li Che slowly exhaled.

With a pointed step,

Li Che launched himself skyward, suspended in the brilliant sunlight that bathed him in golden light.

Hovering in mid-air, he surveyed his surroundings.

Snow blanketed the mountains, painting a picturesque scene.

In the courtyard, XiXi alongside Jin Taisui, Zhou Peng, Yun’e and the others practiced martial arts while laughing and playing; even Zhang Ya strove to train, her own skills noticeably improved.

This was the Divine Sect that had sheltered, nurtured, and witnessed their family’s joy and growth—

Could it really meet its downfall one day?!

Fang Han Shu was grim, Lü Taibai was resolute, and even the Ancestral Patriarch appeared helpless.

Li Che slowly raised his hand—five fingers parting to block the brilliant sky as sunlight streamed through, illuminating his face.

A family man’s dream was simple: security, comfort, and peace.

Qianyuan Divine Sect was mighty, its fortunes rising like the tide. Yet in order to amass the world’s energy, the Court might just have to see it fall.

If that were so—

Then all the world’s energy would converge upon Qianyuan!

In a flash, his outstretched hand split open space, revealing a mask with a donkey’s face that Li Che slowly pressed onto his own.

As his fingers brushed the mask, his eyes burned with the intensity of a hawk’s gaze—

A gaze that could rend the eight hundred-mile Grand Canal asunder.

“So then—”

“National Teacher, it’s time to set out.”