Chapter 419: Roar of Thunder

Crack, crack!

Rolling thunder!

A furious dragon roared!

Snow swirled ceaselessly from the depths of Qianyuan, only to be torn apart by a dreadful energy before it could settle, disintegrating into dust that mingled with the murk of the heavens and earth!

On the Grand Canal, waves surged skyward!

After meeting with the Dragon Prince and other descendants, the Elder Dragon God, escorted by Xie Yunshen and his entourage, entered the Imperial Camp.

A gentle, joyful smile spread across Xie Yunshen’s face as he conversed repeatedly with the Elder Dragon God.

The Elder Dragon God’s gaze swept over until it landed on Zhao Beidou. He chuckled lightly, “The Patriarch of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect? That injury looks serious. Your flesh is leaking life force—did you damage your Calamity Wheel?”

At these words, Zhao Beidou’s face immediately turned grim.

Zhao Beidou maintained a cold expression, saying nothing.

However, the Elder Dragon God rose to his feet. Despite his age, his burly frame radiated overwhelming might.

“I must see for myself the power of Qianyuan Daocheng…”

The Elder Dragon God spread his arms as his terrifying bones crackled like rolling thunder.

In an instant he strode forward, vanishing from the camp as he set foot on the Grand Canal.

Soon after, a series of earth-shaking tremors echoed continuously.

“Might as well inspect…”

“The territory where my Dragon Clan will live in the future.”

Rumble—!!!

Waves exploded as the Elder Dragon God stood at the crest, his arms folded as he rode the surging tide. On the calm surface of the Grand Canal, a colossal wave, hundreds of feet high, formed and steadily advanced toward Qianyuan Daocheng.

The formidable, sweeping dragon might surged like an avalanche overturning mountains!

The scorching, overwhelming blood energy roared, as if turning the very skies and earth to a different hue—the calamitous tribulation was brewing.

……

……

Qianyuan Daocheng.

Snowflakes whirled incessantly, piling up into a thick layer on the city walls.

Then, as if by magic, the falling snow began to melt away without anyone noticing.

Crackling!

The snow turned to water, falling as rain!

A torrential downpour!

It pounded against the city wall!

It battered the armored ranks of the Divine Guard, the patter resounding loudly.

General Han Qizhong, now commanding the western camp under the new oversight of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, was stationed at the tower of Qianyuan Daocheng.

At that moment, Han Qizhong, helmet weighed down on his head, wore an expression of utmost solemnity.

Looking up, he saw the serpentine Grand Canal, with enormous waves crashing mightily.

The ferocious surge struck with relentless force, churning the moat into countless layers of turbulent water. The crashing spray against the walls made the whole city tremble.

A terrifying presence had arrived riding the waves!

Han Qizhong felt an icy numbness engulf his body, as if an overwhelming force had completely frozen him—rendering him incapable of even moving a finger.

The pressure…

An unimaginable pressure!

Even he, a supreme Grandmaster, appeared diminished.

Not to mention the other defenders of Qianyuan Daocheng.

Sure enough, the rest also wore grim expressions; many had trembling legs.

Yet on the tower, the defenders unsheathed their weapons to confront the impending terror head-on.

The Elder Dragon God advanced over the waves. His crimson dragon armor blazed like burning fire and twisted with heat as he surveyed Qianyuan Daocheng—a sight as magnificent as a resplendent emperor inspecting his domain.

He resembled a sovereign, patrolling his territory.

In the future, Qianyuan Daocheng was destined to be the land for the Dragon Clan.

The Dragon Clan had migrated from the Eastern Sea to the mainland—a Daocheng that could satisfy their ambitions.

Moreover…

The Elder Dragon God’s gaze swept over the vast expanse of Qianyuan Daocheng, taking in the densely packed figures within the city.

This was a metropolis of colossal population.

It seemed… capable of satisfying his hearty appetites.

The Elder Dragon God slowly grinned, revealing jagged, sharp teeth that gleamed in the sunlight.

Boom—!!!

The Heavenly Dome split apart, and the Qian Kun Plaque moved in an instant. It streaked out from the Mountain Gate, spanning the tower of Qianyuan Daocheng to form a standoff.

Meanwhile, Lü Qiankun, the Patriarch of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, stepped out from a small celestial niche within the plaque.

He faced off with the Elder Dragon God.

Both were at the Divine Realm stage of disaster and tribulation, a clash of immense aura between man and dragon that even made the skies change color.

“Old Slipper, want my Qianyuan Divine Sect to make room for your Dragon Clan? Then you must first subdue my sect!”

Lü Qiankun emerged from the void, his gaze cold and his brows furrowed.

With his hands clasped behind his back, the Elder Dragon God, his antlers gleaming with razor-sharp brilliance, narrowed his eyes at Lü Qiankun before laughing heartily. In a single stride, he stomped down, and the ten-zhang wave burst apart, countless torrents erupting and evaporating into a thick, steaming mist!

Yet the Elder Dragon God advanced with an overwhelming, domineering fury, charging straight at Lü Qiankun, who stood within the small celestial niche.

He intended to test the water of Lü Qiankun, Patriarch of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Lü Qiankun only managed a smile, though traces of coldness lingered within it.

The Qian Kun Plaque suddenly expanded with a resounding boom. The heavens cracked open as the small celestial niche, like a gaping mouth, abruptly swallowed the Elder Dragon God’s figure!

Undeterred, the Elder Dragon God plunged into Lü Qiankun’s tribulation-protected niche, engaging him in brutal combat!

Rumble—

The Qian Kun Plaque hung suspended over Qianyuan Daocheng.

It attracted the attention of countless powerful figures.

Inside the Daocheng…

Lü Taibai and Fang Han Shu levitated into the air. Lü Taibai’s face was grave, his entire being exuding the resolute aura of sword energy as he gritted his teeth.

“What a brazen old slug, daring to rampage like this!”

Fang Han Shu stroked his fine beard and said in a deep voice, “The Dragon Clan has always relied on raw physical strength. With their monstrous bloodline, they fear not close combat, and intruding into the Patriarch’s humble niche only plays to the old dragon’s advantage; the tribulation shield allows him to unleash his full strength…”

“As for any suppression within the niche, the slight hindrance it brings, the Elder Dragon God doesn’t care at all.”

On the side of the Imperial Army…

Gu Qianchi and Zhao Beidou exchanged silent glances.

“So ruthless, so fierce!”

“After all, this old dragon is nearing his end. His savagery before death is understandable—fighting fiercely to protect his race. He had no choice but to battle even though he should have enjoyed a peaceful old age.”

Gu Qianchi sighed.

Zhao Beidou shook his head, “If we’re to blame anyone, it’s the unambitious nature of the Dragon Clan’s heirs.”

Gu Qianchi’s eyes turned complex: “But it’s not just the Dragon Clan—our sect is in the same predicament. Without a worthy heir, our Divine Sect might eventually fall apart and fail to persist.”

At these words, Zhao Beidou’s heart ached.

His disciple, Zhao Chunqiu—the leader of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect—had once shown great promise, yet he had perished in battle. After Zhao Chunqiu’s death, the sect lacked any figure capable of holding the field.

This was why Xie Yunshen had promised benefits for the Dragon and Tiger sect disciples before the Emperor, a fact that deeply moved Zhao Beidou.

It was a heavy burden for a leader of a great sect.

Inside the Divine Sect Mountain Gate…

In a study…

Li Che’s mind was torn between keeping an eye on XiXi’s situation and sensing the overwhelming, terrifying pressure that enveloped the entire Daocheng.

He withdrew part of his focus as the Cosmic Chessboard unfolded, and he immediately sensed the approach of the Elder Dragon God, charging on the Grand Canal against Lü Qiankun, the Patriarch of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

An old Dragon God in the calamity and tribulation stage!

“How arrogant…”

Li Che sat in his chair, pouring himself a cup of hot tea as verdant tea leaves whirled within it.

His slender fingers grasped the cup as he sipped; a gleam of fierceness crossed his eyes.

The Great Jing Emperor had allowed the Elder Dragon God to enter the realm to aid the Imperial Army against Qianyuan Daocheng, while the Qianyuan Divine Sect Mountain Gate was traded to the Dragon Clan as part of the deal.

Furthermore, by accepting subjugation to the Great Jing, the Elder Dragon God implied that the Dragon Clan would infuse the vitality of the Eastern Sea Dragons into the Great Jing’s fortune.

Thus, the Elder Dragon God believed it was not wrong for Qianyuan Divine Sect to become the future territory of the Dragon Clan.

However, this old dragon wouldn’t remain arrogant for long.

A glimmer flashed in Li Che’s eyes.

His heart skipped as the 【Painted Immortal】 Dao Fruit within his chest pounded, its inky ripples bursting forth like a mist.

In his mind’s eye, an unfolding scroll came into view.

It was the Dao Induction 【Ten Perilous Ink Splatter Diagram】 of the 【Painted Immortal】 Dao Fruit!

So far not a single beast of peril has been painted in the diagram.

To complete the Ten Perilous Ink Splatter Diagram, one needed demon souls—the stronger the soul, the more formidable the resulting beast.

Originally, Li Che intended to use the demon soul of the Dragon Prince to form the first beast, but…

Following the success of his Martial Golden Body and the completion of the Eighth Mysterious Gate Immortal Seed’s induction…

Li Che’s ambitions grew even greater!

The position for the demon soul of the first beast in the Ten Perilous Ink Splatter Diagram…

was then reserved for this old Dragon God.

However, an old Dragon God in the disaster and tribulation stage was immensely formidable; if he were to unleash his full might, he would far surpass Zhao Beidou.

Thus, even though Li Che’s strength had significantly improved,

he could not afford to underestimate this old Dragon God.

Even if the Dragon Prince were ever poised to stab him in the back, Li Che felt it was still not enough; he needed to employ even safer measures.

Sitting in his study,

Li Che seemed to have recalled something.

With a snap of his fingers, a Spiritual Confinement chess piece transformed into a swirling black lightning, contorting and growing in power.

Slowly, it morphed into the figure of Gu Changqing, the head of the Tian Dan Divine Sect.

Gu Changqing, rugged from his journeys and renowned for his alchemy, his robe billowing as he labored,

“My lord!”

Gu Changqing clasped his fists in a respectful salute.

Li Che’s fingers drummed lightly on the chair as he recalled meeting Liu Qing, the top hero of the Tian Dan Divine Sect, at the Peach Festival.

Liu Qing… had used devious tricks that left a deep impression on Li Che.

He even managed to pocket some Tian Dan Poison in the process.

But the Tian Dan Poison Liu Qing wielded might work for a Martial Saint; for an enemy as powerful as this old Dragon God, it would scarcely have an effect.

“Tian Dan Poison?”

Gu Changqing blinked in confusion.

“My lord, you truly aren’t one of those heroic types!”

He exclaimed in delight.

Poison is no small matter for an alchemy master.

“If you wish to craft a poison potent enough to topple someone at the Divine Calamity stage, I can try—but the required materials are exceptionally rare, and the failure rate is tremendous. Should I fail, I would be poisoned to death.”

Gu Changqing said gravely.

At this, Li Che’s face grew oddly animated: “No worries—keep experimenting. The deadlier, the better. Even if you die, you can always come back.”

Gu Changqing paused, awkwardly touching his head. Yes—now that he was under the effect of Spiritual Confinement, death was only temporary!

There was nothing to fear now.

Let’s begin!

“I can attempt to concoct the Three Pure Divine Poison Pill 【Nine-Turn Ascending Dragon Pill】 passed down by our Tian Dan Divine Sect Patriarch…”

Gu Changqing squinted, excitement dancing in his eyes.

For every alchemist, creating poison was a formidable challenge.

In the past, Gu Changqing dared not experiment with a poison pill of the Three Pure stage, but now things were different.

He no longer feared being poisoned during the process; he might as well push it to the limit!

“What materials are required?”

Li Che inquired.

Without hesitation, Gu Changqing began to list the necessary ingredients for the poison pill.

Li Che skimmed the list, then looked up at Gu Changqing.

“By the way, is the Dengxian Pill crafted by your Tian Dan Divine Sect?”

Li Che asked, his concern for XiXi as a father evident.

Although he claimed to be confident in his daughter’s endurance, in truth, Li Che never ceased to watch over her.

Gu Changqing was momentarily taken aback, puzzled as to how Li Che knew about the Dengxian Pill, but he quickly explained.

“The Dengxian Pill… is actually a type of poison pill—a mild poison pill. When ground up and absorbed by specially crafted Divine Weapons, it grants a brief moment of clarity to the spirit. It is our Tian Dan Divine Sect’s most lucrative poison pill.”

Gu Changqing said with embarrassment.

“Lucrative? Does your Tian Dan Divine Sect not have enough wealth already? You practically control the entire pill industry in the Great Jing!” Li Che frowned.

Gu Changqing shook his head, “Not enough. Our sect has two Patriarchs. One requires extraordinarily high resources due to his lofty realm; all the wealth we collect goes to sustaining him…”

“Hmm?!”

Li Che’s eyes narrowed: “Your Tian Dan Divine Sect… has two Patriarchs?!”

“Indeed, my lord. Our sect harbors a secret unknown to all—two Patriarchs. One is the publicly known Yang Xuan Ancestor… and the other is the Yin Xuan Ancestor who specializes in concocting poison pills!”

Gu Changqing revealed the astonishing secret.

“Three thousand years ago, under the combined efforts of the Yin and Yang Ancestors, the Tian Du Dan Sect was founded. In those days, many sects were renowned for their alchemy…”

“Later, most of those sects fell victim to the Yin Xuan Ancestor’s poison challenges…”

“The Yin Xuan Ancestor’s infamously toxic pills earned him a notorious reputation. Faking his death, he roamed incognito in the Bizarre Temple, never daring to show his face.”

Li Che’s mouth twitched involuntarily.

Gu Changqing’s tone grew fervent: “The poison that affected all the alchemy Patriarchs was the Tian Du Dan 【Nine-Turn Ascending Dragon Pill】!”

“That ancient Yin Xuan Ancestor was a prodigy, peerless in alchemy. Rumor has it that by the age of twenty he could produce the Four-Yu Heavenly Pill… Yet he devoted himself to poison research.”

“This Nine-Turn Ascending Dragon Pill is his signature poison!”

Li Che’s eyes brightened at the mention.

That old Yin Xuan… was truly a talent!

When it comes to the Underworld!

Gu Changqing looked somewhat abashed: “My alchemical skills are ordinary—merely at the level of a common alchemy master. Compared to a semi-divine artisan like the old Yin Xuan, I’m insignificant—a speck against the vast sky!”

“For the Yin Xuan Ancestor to craft the Nine-Turn Ascending Dragon Pill with a single life, I might need several lives to succeed.”

At this, Li Che could only offer a few consoling words.

Gu Changqing took his leave to continue refining his Martial Pill, while Li Che summoned a Painted Immortal Clone to deliver the list of poison ingredients to Fang Han Shu for urgent procurement.

“Indeed… those who reach the Divine Calamity stage are true talents—be it the old Dragon God suited to the Ten Perilous Ink Splatter Diagram or this semi-divine poison alchemist of the Yin Xuan Ancestor…”

Li Che leaned back in his chair and sipped his hot tea, his mind stirred with the longing for talents.

His Spiritual Confinement army needed skilled individuals.

Just as Li Che had envisioned, superior practitioners existed across various disciplines.

Beyond the realm of the saints lay those in the semi-divine stage…

Li Che closed his eyes, slowly savoring his tea, as the potent effects of the Martial Pill he had ingested continued to bolster his martial prowess.

His ascent to the pinnacle of martial cultivation drew ever closer, inch by inch!

Li Che’s gaze turned distant.

When he finally reached the mountain summit of martial cultivation—precisely at the opening of Martial Saint stage…

it would be time for him to act against Zhao Beidou, who was severely injured in his Divine Calamity stage.

A ripple passed through his mind as his expression hardened sharply.

Li Che, who had been lounging lazily, suddenly sat up straight.

For on the Cosmic Chessboard, images intertwined.

There, his daughter XiXi had transformed into a little Ogre.

……

……

Crack, crack——

Dark clouds piled thick over the Heavenly Dome.

Then they began to fall continuously.

XiXi donned her pink little Ogre Mask—a mask she had carved by hand. Ever since her father had promised to let her set out on her own at age seven,

she had been preparing for it, learning the art of carving to create her own little Ogre mask.

She aspired to be a hero like Master Niu Niu, someone who would fight injustice!

The influence of the Ogre on XiXi had begun back in Feilei City—as it was then that the Ogre had emerged in a blaze, targeting the disciples of the Lingying Sect in Feilei City and later the evildoers of the Corpse God Sect in Jingguang City…

XiXi believed Master Niu Niu was the greatest hero in the world!

Unlike her honest, unassuming father—though she liked him too—she found Master Niu Niu’s fierce, heavy-handed tactics far more exciting!

XiXi had set her sights on emulating Master Niu Niu!

Thus, as she roamed the martial world, little XiXi aspired to be a tiny heroine of the Ogre Clan!

Using the Sleeping Dragon Elephant technique, XiXi controlled her breath, pressing herself against the wall as she moved.

Master Niu Niu had trained her in the art of breath control and stealth, and she executed it flawlessly.

Inside the Dengxian Pavilion, the place was far larger than XiXi had imagined.

Her heart pounded so quietly that it seemed almost completely stilled—she had merged with the shadows as she walked.

Amid shouts, cries, and anguished howls,

some wept bitterly, pleading for another Dengxian Pill,

while others, numb, leaned against railings, inhaling deeply as if savoring every breath.

A heavy stench pervaded the opulently lit pavilions.

Beneath her pink little Ogre mask, XiXi’s brows furrowed slightly.

For a seven-year-old, the scene was utterly overwhelming!

XiXi despised such sights.

She spotted the man who had just sold his daughter, lounging against a railing as he relished the exchange for three Dengxian Pills…

Disgusting!

XiXi seethed silently.

She fought back the urge to launch a Muduya at him.

Instead, she scouted the area and slipped into the spacious courtyard behind Dengxian Pavilion.

She soon located where the little girls, sold by their loved ones, were being held.

With a flip, she vaulted over the wall and crouched against it.

Looking around, her mind went blank as if drained of color.

A sharp scent of blood wafted in the air.

In the courtyard stood a dilapidated temple.

Judging by the divine fluctuations, it was a Seven-Yuan Bizarre Temple!

A Bizarre Temple was nestled behind the Dengxian Pavilion!

Before the temple, thin ghostly mists swirled; several pill furnaces were arrayed in sinister alignment. The little girls, once seized, had been subjected to some bizarre sorcery—their spines grotesquely elongating like venomous snakes, impaled against a furnace.

At the other end of the furnace, metallic tubes snaked their way into the sanctuary.

For several girls, their spines were connected to a furnace whose flickering flames were tended by a scruffy alchemist in tattered robes, hastily tossing medicinal herbs into the fire.

The little girls, subdued and convulsing, had their blood drawn from their crimson spines into the furnace.

Boom! The flames roared wildly.

Black miasma billowed out.

The disheveled alchemist frowned, “These specimens aren’t very good… their essence is too weak.”

“The Temple Spirit… doesn’t seem satisfied,” he muttered, shaking his head.

The alchemist stretched lazily, then grabbed a trembling, conscious little girl from the cage in the backyard.

It was Xiao Lian, the very girl XiXi had seen earlier—sold off by her own kin.

The alchemist dragged Xiao Lian to a pill furnace where another girl had already been reduced to nothing but withered skin clinging to bone.

After yanking her away, he casually tossed her into a deep pit by the wall, a pit already heaped with decaying skeletons.

Terrified and sobbing, Xiao Lian struggled and screamed.

Yet the alchemist, experienced, raised his hand with a crackle, severing her jaw—the screams ceasing instantly.

“Little treasure, feel the terror, the pain… Only when fear and despair are overwhelming can a Dengxian Pill reach high quality and please the Temple Spirit,”

the alchemist cackled.

He formed a hand seal and pressed it to Xiao Lian’s neck, his fingers prying as if to extract her spine.

As her spine was pulled free, Xiao Lian’s eyes rolled back into her head, her body stiffening and convulsing.

“Hehehe…”

The alchemist savored this moment immensely.

“Ah—I can’t stand it anymore!”

Suddenly,

a sound of gritted teeth echoed across the courtyard.

The alchemist’s smile froze instantly.

“Who?!”

A furious shout rang out.

Just then, his movements halted as a figure wearing a pink little calf mask emerged from the darkness, carrying a massive contraption of six metallic tubes radiating blazing light.

It was aimed directly at him!

“Who are you?!”

The alchemist bellowed in shock and anger.

How did someone infiltrate his courtyard?!

“Guards!!!”

He roared.

But…

No sooner had his shout faded than the masked figure activated the device.

The six metallic tubes spun madly!

Clack, clack, clack—!!!

Countless streams of golden and fiery light exploded forth!

The brilliant, dazzling golden flames seemed to purify the filth of the world!

It was as if a compassionate Buddha lamented the suffering of humanity.

Roaring sounds echoed!

Sending souls to the afterlife!

The alchemist shrieked as he launched a volley of divine bases, yet in an instant he was shattered—his flesh reduced to scraps!

Anger burned in XiXi’s eyes.

The grotesque scene in the courtyard was too much for her tender soul!

How could such monstrous crimes exist in the world!

Under her father Li Che’s protection, she had never experienced such cruelty—not in Feilei City, nor in Jingguang City or Qianyuan Daocheng, where she had been well shielded from injustice.

Now, shaken to her core, XiXi’s heart resounded like an ancient bell tolling!

“Die!”

XiXi roared as she pulverized the alchemist’s corpse into pieces.

Xiao Lian, freed from his control, regained her normal appearance.

“Come with me!”

XiXi hurled the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel beneath her feet; sparks flew as it spun at high speed, dashing toward Xiao Lian.

But in that moment, cries erupted from the distant cages.

“Help us, save us…”

It was the wails of girls sold by their own kin.

Seven-year-old XiXi froze, uncertain and helpless.

Who could she save?!

And just as she hesitated for a moment,

a fearsome, thunderous shout erupted from inside Dengxian Pavilion.

“How dare you!”

A booming roar swept through the area!

It was a…

Martial Saint!

Though only at the initial Martial Saint stage,

the overwhelming aura of celestial martial intent descended like a mountain,

engulfing the entire courtyard in an instant!

Beneath her pink little calf mask, XiXi’s eyes flickered.

She glanced at the dozen girls caged inside and at Xiao Lian, lying lifeless on the ground…

XiXi gritted her teeth as the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel underneath her foot resounded with clanging strikes, sparks erupting!

XiXi felt an insatiable urge—she wanted to rescue even more of them,

to free them from their misery!

But then…

Just as she spun to charge toward the cages, a sharp, spear-like claw shot forth from within the Bizarre Temple, aiming straight for her head.

A dreadful pressure inherent to the Temple Spirit slammed down heavily!

“Ah!”

“Damn you, Temple Spirit!”

XiXi roared, her chubby fingers splayed as she lunged at the claw, her body creaking as she literally yanked the claw’s true form out.

Boom—!!!

The doorway of the Bizarre Temple exploded open!

A hideous, thousand-eyed centipede, exuding a miasma of demonic energy, scurried swiftly out of the sanctuary, snarling furiously!

The oppressive power of the Temple Spirit rained down in a mad frenzy!

XiXi’s heart leaped in fright.

Yet, in that critical moment, she abandoned the effort to rescue the many caged girls and dashed toward the motionless Xiao Lian.

But then…

A towering figure, enveloped in surging blood energy, crashed down with earth-shattering force!

Waves of blood energy slammed like tidal surges, and the oppressive weight of martial intent pressed down like a mountain. XiXi could feel her own energy struggling to flow.

It was…

The Martial Saint!

XiXi’s eyes filled with tears, turning bloodshot!

She felt utterly helpless…

It seemed no one could be saved!

Beneath her pink little calf mask, XiXi gritted her teeth.

Clutched in her right hand, the God-Slaying Gold Brick trembled, its invisible ripples shattering the oppressive martial will of the Martial Saint.

In her left hand, purple flames erupted, coalescing into a blazing Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear.

Howling, the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear charged ferociously at the descending Martial Saint!

The air split and twisted uncontrollably!

Gales roared and shockwaves emptied the skies!

“Huh? Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel… Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear?!”

“Who are you…?”

“Young Master Li Nuǎnxi?!”

The robust Martial Saint immediately recognized XiXi’s identity, and XiXi, in turn, recognized him.

It seemed that…

this Martial Saint had once visited Qianyuan Daocheng, participated in the Two-Hearted Great Sage Bizarre Temple trial, and even competed with her father for the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff!

Gu Chuan, the Martial Saint of Tian Dan Divine Sect, narrowed his eyes. Having been to Qianyuan Daocheng, he recognized the person before him wearing the little calf mask.

With a fervent, excited glint, the Martial Saint spread out his five fingers like spears and struck simultaneously with her thrust.

The colossal force crashed like an avalanche,

but the Divine Guts realm Master XiXi could not withstand this blow; without unleashing her Black and White Collapse or the Great Avalanche Guanyin Lotus Bomb, the gap between her and the Martial Saint was evident.

XiXi was flung away by the Martial Saint’s titanic blood energy, and as she glanced at Xiao Lian being kicked far away by Gu Chuan, her eyes shone with unhappiness.

Gripping a Feilei Chess Piece in her fist,

she vanished without a trace.

“Stay behind!”

Gu Chuan roared in fury.

His five fingers reached out again, shattering the air as if forming a cage of force.

And yet…

XiXi’s figure still had disappeared.

In the courtyard, the stench of blood mingled thickly in the air.

Gu Chuan, his body as robust as a coiled serpent, his blood swirling like a dragon, glared fiercely.

“Qianyuan Divine Sect Young Master Li Nuǎnxi… how did she appear in Guangling Daocheng?”

“So it seems… the Imperial Court’s siege of Qianyuan Divine Sect has left them hopeless, perhaps intending to leave behind a seed for the future?”

A burning intensity flashed across Gu Chuan’s face.

That girl…

With extraordinary innate talent, she had risen to become the leader of the Peach Festival and Young Dragon Championship at the Imperial Court!

A first-rate specimen!

In a heartbeat, Gu Chuan launched skyward, his powerful martial intent roaring as he began searching for any trace of XiXi.

……

……

Outside Guangling Daocheng.

Heavy snow swirled.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Three furrows were torn into the snowy ground.

Three figures donning animal masks rode swiftly: Snow Wolf, Jade Rabbit, and Pig-Head Mask…

Yun’e clutched a white rabbit, gasping as her mask released hot breath while she dashed madly.

Finally, beneath a great tree where a Feilei Chess Piece had been planted, she spotted the small figure of XiXi.

But XiXi was leaning against the trunk,

clutching her pink little calf mask in hand, with both arms hugging her legs and her head buried, sobbing uncontrollably.

When Yun’e arrived and knelt down slowly,

her eyes filled with pity and a gentle voice consoled as she softly patted XiXi’s back.

“XiXi…”

At the sight of Yun’e, XiXi suddenly lifted her head.

Her tender face was streaked with interlaced tears.

Upon seeing Yun’e, she broke down in heart-shattering sobs.

“Waaah—”

“Sister Yun’e… Xi… XiXi did her best, but she couldn’t save them all.”