Chapter 421: Ascension to Absolute Peak

Booming thunder!

A dazzling surge of golden qi burst upward into the heavens!

Even the leaden clouds were tinted with gold—as if a mighty sun behind the clouds were radiating countless beams of brilliance!

Inside Daocheng.

Figures shuddered in spirit, their eyes wide with shock and astonishment—even Ancestral Patriarch Lü Qiankun bore an expression of wonder.

“This is…”

“Master of Martial Dao, ascending to the mountain’s summit—truly the peak of peaks!”

“Someone has broken through to the Martial Saint Fourfold, reaching the absolute peak!”

“That direction, toward the sect’s domain, the Disciples’ City… who could it be?”

……

Lü Taibai and Fang Han Shu also turned their gazes, their astonishment unmasked as they tried in vain to deduce whose breakthrough it could be.

Within the Disciples’ City…

Which one of the Martial Saint Third Breakthrough disciples dares to shatter his limits?

But none could have predicted…

“Could it be… Li Che?”

Fang Han Shu remarked.

He recalled how Li Che had persistently requested resources lately, and he had been generous—giving him whatever he asked for.

With his keen insight, Fang Han Shu figured that Li Che intended to use the resources for alchemy.

Moreover, the pills he planned to concoct weren’t ordinary Martial Pills; they were Heavenly Martial Pills of the Four Supreme Stage!

For among the resources were many materials of the Four Supreme Stage, amassed over years by the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

“Li Che?!”

“It truly is him!”

At these words, Lü Taibai immediately sensed the familiar aura.

It was unmistakably Li Che’s qi—genuine and potent!

Previously, during his clash with Feng Zhiqi, Li Che had already manifested his golden qi…

Now it appeared his cultivation had made a tremendous breakthrough!

Boom—

A golden mountain arose from the earth as someone stood atop its summit, like a deity overlooking eternity!

His hair cascaded like a waterfall of gold, fluttering behind him like a billowing cape.

Surrounded by colossal dragons and elephants, amidst a roaring furnace of qi that burned like fire!

An indomitable will of Martial Dao, unyielding and all-conquering, as if he could trample everything beneath him!

Laughter rang out from that mountain peak.

Lü Taibai and Fang Han Shu exchanged looks, their hearts pounding—they were sure that voice was Li Che’s!

The one who had broken through to Martial Saint Fourfold was none other than Li Che!

“What a bastard!”

Lü Taibai breathed in deeply.

Although a Martial Saint Fourfold breakthrough wouldn’t drastically change the current state of Daocheng, it was still immensely inspiring!

A Martial Saint Fourfold could very well serve as the backbone of the sect.

Just as Feng Zhiqi, after breaking through to Martial Saint Fourfold, pledged his unwavering loyalty to the Qianyuan Divine Sect, tightening their grip on Daocheng’s power.

And Li Che was no ordinary fighter.

Boom, boom, boom—

The sound of ripping through the air echoed as figures leapt from the city towers.

They all seemed to momentarily forget the overwhelming pressure of the old Dragon God, caught in the frenzy of witnessing a new absolute peak being born.

Feng Zhiqi trembled all over; even his burly frame quivered, leaving him slightly parched and tongue-tied.

Li Che…

Has his Martial Saint Threefold already?

Has he reached the absolute peak?

It had scarcely been long—he had just broken into the absolute peak; at that time Li Che had barely reached the Martial Saint stage, and his breakthrough had been strenuous.

Now you’re telling me Li Che has also shattered to Martial Saint Fourfold?

Does that mean accumulating experience for Martial Saint is unnecessary at all?

He effortlessly gathered qi to form his Sea of Qi and scaled the mountain to its pinnacle?

Could Martial Dao training really be accomplished in one bound?

Feng Zhiqi was utterly baffled!

Prominent figures from Daocheng such as Hong Shifo and Yu Wen Wenlong trailed behind him.

They all ended up in the Disciples’ City.

At that moment, the Disciples’ City was in utter chaos; disciples emerging from seclusion raced out, looking up at the Martial Dao mountain looming in the sky and the furnace of qi blazing like a mighty sun…

Only exclamations, awe, screams, and reverence filled the air!

Li Che’s booming laughter echoed throughout the city.

In the Courtyard.

Goldmane’s eyes shone with adoration as he looked up at the silhouette standing atop the Martial Dao phenomenon, the mountain peak.

Though he hadn’t yet ascended the Heavenly Gate,

the sheer grandeur and the air of conquering the world from the mountaintop filled Goldmane with deep admiration!

He believed that their master would now become even mightier—perhaps soon defeating enemies with a single punch.

Outside the Elders’ Court, Lü Qiankun and the others stood.

The entire Courtyard was enveloped by a powerful aura.

The Martial Dao phenomena, the hovering qi furnace—it made the Courtyard seem like the center of the Divine Sect at that moment!

“What a pristine qi furnace; the purity and perfection of that golden qi—it is engraved with the image of dragons and elephants, so extraordinary and lifelike!”

Lü Qiankun squinted his eyes.

As a cultivator of the Divine Calamity stage, his vision was unsurpassed.

He instantly perceived the terror of that qi furnace!

Thick, golden qi, swirling like smoke, had coalesced inside the furnace, compressing to the point where its brilliance shone like a mighty sun!

Could an ordinary absolute peak possess such qi?!

Lü Qiankun inhaled deeply—the profound foundation was undeniable. Peering into the furnace revealed Li Che’s rock-solid Martial Dao base, unyielding and solid.

His foundation was so secure that his Sea of Qi and Martial Dao mountain were impeccably stable!

A trace of regret flickered in Lü Qiankun’s eyes.

It was a pity… although Li Che’s breakthrough was resplendent, in the end, he was still just a Martial Saint.

Facing the imperial army, even three Divine Calamity experts wouldn’t make much difference.

But if given time, with such a foundation, breaking through the confines of Martial Saint for a mortal would not be impossible!

It was, after all, quite a pity…

Just a Martial Saint, nothing more.

……

……

Li Che laughed wildly, his mind sharp as though he had suddenly found enlightenment.

He felt as if every part of him lightened—his spirit, energy, and qi converged in perfect focus!

Once a mere country bumpkin, now he stood atop the absolute peak!

The difference was as vast as heaven and earth—yet it only took seven years!

In just seven short years, he had risen from the insignificant Feilei City, shattering the shackles of Martial Dao—from humble skin polishing to now reaching Martial Saint Fourfold and attaining the absolute peak!

Li Che felt as if he were living a myth, as if it were a fleeting dream!

It was like an eternal transformation—a sensation of change spanning the ages!

An unprecedented rush of exhilaration!

At that moment, Li Che even deactivated the Cosmic Chessboard—no longer masking his aura or concealing his cultivation!

He boldly displayed it for all to see.

He proclaimed to the world,

“I, Li Che, have ascended the absolute peak of Martial Dao!”

Of course, Li Che still kept certain secrets hidden—like the complete opening of the Eight Mysterious Gates, among other things.

But this was his moment of utmost glory in Martial Dao!

With unbridled confidence, Li Che refused to conceal anything!

Boom——!!

He exhaled a long, forceful breath as his intertwining golden qi spiraled around his arms like an enraged dragon.

Taking a bold step forward, he streaked past like a falling meteor.

Thud——!!

The very ground trembled beneath him.

“Husband!”

In the Courtyard, Zhang Ya clutched her mouth in astonishment, overwhelmed with joy and disbelief!

No longer a novice in cultivation, she marveled that her husband had now reached the absolute peak of Martial Saint!

Oh my!

Her husband had become such an exalted figure!

Yet soon after the excitement, a trace of anxiety and pressure crept over her face.

Her husband’s rise to greatness meant that if she didn’t keep up, eventually she might not even qualify to bear his children.

Zhang Ya knew that as XiXi grew, they might even have another child—and even one child wouldn’t be enough.

Now they could afford more!

But if Zhang Ya didn’t work hard to grow stronger and recover faster, she surely couldn’t match her husband’s rapid progress.

Alas, a husband’s excellence can be a burden too.

Though Zhang Ya had consumed a Paotao, she was still diligently trying to refine its energy…

Uncertain when she’d fully absorb it.

Lü Qiankun, Lü Taibai, Fang Han Shu, and others arrived like drifting clouds.

They brought their congratulations, and other Elders soon followed.

Zhao Fangzhou, Elder Ding Zi, Feng Zhiqi, and other Divine Sect elders came to congratulate Li Che.

“Thank you all, but breaking through to Martial Saint Fourfold won’t change the sect’s current predicament much…”

“We must continue to strive to improve ourselves.”

Li Che clasped his fists in gratitude and said softly.

Upon hearing his words, everyone fell silent, soon feeling an overwhelming, fervent determination.

Even an extraordinary genius like Elder Li Che felt the pressure; how could those less gifted surrender in the face of the imperial army?

After all, that old Dragon God was set on seizing their cultivation grounds!

“I only took some pills. I obtained some training resources from the Grand Elder, used them to concoct a few Martial Pills in the Underworld, and only by swallowing those did I break through my limit.”

Li Che explained.

Many were suddenly enlightened, and Feng Zhiqi’s racing heart slowed.

So it was Li Che’s pill-taking that accelerated his breakthrough!

Yet, to use pills to achieve such inhuman cultivation speeds was no small feat.

“Grand Elder, I still need more resources. I can exchange them for a Holy Hand Divine Eagle, or even for Four Supreme Stage Divine Elixirs. Anyone in the sect planning to create Four Supreme Stage Heavenly Pills can come to me.” Li Che said.

At these words, Lü Taibai’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Li Che, you can create Four Supreme Stage Heavenly Pills? No… it isn’t you directly, but you can get the Underworld’s alchemy expert to craft them for our Qianyuan Divine Sect?”

Lü Taibai’s breath quickened.

Li Che smiled and nodded, “Yes, I can.”

Li Che felt a deep affinity and belonging to the Qianyuan Divine Sect—it had given his family a stable environment for cultivation.

So doing what he could was nothing out of the ordinary.

Lü Taibai, breathing rapidly, without hesitation, extracted precious Heavenly Jade from his Qian Kun Jade.

He also produced a formula for a Four Supreme Stage Heavenly Pill.

“This is the alchemy formula for the ‘Calamity-Averting Wind Pill’ of the Four Supreme Stage… please ask that Divine Elixir alchemist to try crafting it…”

“If it succeeds, I shall reward you handsomely!”

Lü Taibai said gravely.

“The Calamity-Averting Wind Pill… Sect Leader, are you planning to use this pill to counter the oppressive Annihilating God-Wind and defy the Divine Calamity?!”

Fang Han Shu’s eyes narrowed and he couldn’t help but ask.

“If the pill’s power comes to our aid… I might just have enough to withstand the Annihilating God-Wind!”

Lü Taibai exhaled and laughed.

“With the current threat facing our Qianyuan Divine Sect and the domineering old Dragon God… relying solely on the Ancestral Patriarch would be insufficient.

“As the sect leader, I must step forward…”

Fang Han Shu’s eyes flickered as his fingers clenched.

“It’s too dangerous… Your chosen Dao is the Annihilating God-Wind Dao. The Calamity-Averting Wind Pill might ward off three calamitous winds, but to counter the Annihilating God-Wind… that’s nearly impossible!

“The success rate is less than ten percent—it isn’t worth the risk!”

Fang Han Shu cautioned in a low voice.

Lü Taibai’s silver hair flowed as he smiled serenely, his eyes glimmering quietly, “That old Dragon God… for the sake of our race’s survival, even if the Dragon God Clan must humble itself before the Imperial Court…

“I, Lü Taibai, as the sect leader, cannot stand idly by! I too will sacrifice everything for the sect!”

Lü Taibai said in a somber tone.

“A ten percent success rate… is enough!”

“I have already had my wife send an appeal to the Xuanfu Divine Sect…”

“Who knows if the Grandmaster of the Seven Killers will lend a hand? Our fate must be in our own hands. That old mudfish may fight, but so can I, Lü Taibai…”

“I can fight too!”

Li Che and Fang Han Shu both fell silent.

Lü Qiankun looked on with satisfaction at his disciple—his child had truly grown up.

“Li Che, please help me…”

Lü Taibai looked at Li Che with a pleading glimmer in his eyes.

“Alright.”

After a brief pause, Li Che accepted the resources that Lü Taibai had provided. He had long been preparing these, even having approached Gu Changqing, though he was likely denied…

Lü Taibai had perhaps expected this day; he aimed to craft the Calamity-Averting Wind Pill as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the Tian Dan Divine Sect had long sided with the Imperial Court and would not agree to his request.

Lü Taibai’s face brightened with joy. He believed that with the Underworld’s alchemy, this pill… would be a sure bet.

Meanwhile, Li Che relayed the medicinal resources needed to craft the [Nine-Turn Ascending Dragon Pill] to Fang Han Shu.

“What are you planning to concoct with these resources?”

Fang Han Shu was momentarily bewildered.

Even the well-traveled Fang Han Shu couldn’t immediately discern what Li Che intended the alchemist to craft.

Li Che merely smiled without further explanation.

“Alright, I’ll go to the sect’s resource depot to gather them. Although there are many rare ingredients, with the backing of Shendiao Ridge, we have no shortage. It shouldn’t take long to assemble everything.”

Fang Han Shu uttered simply before bidding Li Che farewell and heading off to prepare the materials.

The others didn’t linger and departed one by one.

After all, Daocheng now faced enormous threats. Although Li Che’s breakthrough dispelled much gloom, it wasn’t enough to alter the fate of the world.

Li Che looked at Zhang Ya, embracing his wife and speaking softly.

Then he returned to his seclusion.

Breaking through to Martial Saint Fourfold…

Li Che was now truly set to begin his busy path!

……

……

On the Grand Canal.

The old Dragon God stood with his arms folded as the turbulent waves roared. He turned his gaze toward Daocheng, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Such pristine qi, and an unyielding Martial Dao will—truly, this is the mark of one who has ascended the Martial Dao mountain and reached the absolute peak!”

The old Dragon God squinted, his expression turning grave.

Inside Daocheng, could there truly be such a figure?

In humble clothes, National Teacher Xie Yunshen flipped his feather fan and laughed, “It must be Li Bansheng who broke through. But even if he did, he remains just a Martial Saint…”

Xie Yunshen made no attempt to hide his master’s identity—instead, he was forthright, emphasizing that Li Che had only broken through to Martial Saint, dispelling the old Dragon God’s caution.

Being perceptive, Xie Yunshen sensed that his master… after breaking through to Martial Saint Fourfold, his combat power would undoubtedly rise substantially.

Thus, calm would soon give way to action…

And that old Dragon God was a hurdle no master could simply ignore.

So reducing his focus on Li Che was, in a way, a welcome help.

Upon hearing this, the old Dragon God’s lips curled into a faint smile, “Indeed, just a Martial Saint… though Li Bansheng’s talent is remarkable. In just seven short years, from a lowly starter to the absolute peak…”

“Given more time, he might even rank among the likes of the great Lü Taicang!”

Xie Yunshen squinted, “Predecessor Dragon God, isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?”

The old Dragon God laughed heartily and shot Xie Yunshen a glance, “Kid, wait till you suffer under these geniuses—you’ll understand…”

“I wasn’t exaggerating at all—I was even being conservative.”

Xie Yunshen simply laughed, unconcerned.

Old Mudfish, you don’t know anything.

……

……

Inside the Study.

Having just broken through, Li Che reactivated the Cosmic Chessboard to shield his perception and detection.

He sat upright in his chair, a cup of hot tea steaming before him.

Taking a sip, he casually snapped his fingers and Gu Changqing’s Spiritual Confinement manifested. This alchemist’s assistance had been invaluable to Li Che…

“Master!”

Gu Changqing’s Spiritual Confinement spoke with utmost reverence.

Li Che removed the Calamity-Averting Wind Pill formula and the medicinal ingredients Lü Taibai had requested, handing them to Gu Changqing.

“Can you forge it?”

Li Che asked.

Gu Changqing glanced over the formula and smiled confidently, “A Four Supreme Stage Heavenly Pill? Of course, I can handle it. No problem at all…”

Gu Changqing was supremely confident in his alchemy—his skills had long surpassed those of an ordinary alchemist.

“Then begin the process.”

Li Che enrolled Gu Changqing into Mo City.

The Spiritual Confinement alchemy method was unbelievably effective—it bypassed the tribulations that normally hindered pill production, and Li Che loved it for that reason.

After all, if Spiritual Confinement were to undergo tribulation, it would certainly affect Li Che as well. It was inescapable.

This saved him a great deal of trouble.

“To break through to Martial Saint Fourfold, you must transfer the Heavenly Gate…”

“Only by successfully transferring and opening the Heavenly Gate to receive divine infusion can one truly step into the realm of the absolute peak.”

Li Che’s eyes glittered.

He raised his hand, admiring his almost glass-like flesh, beneath which golden blood flowed like quicksilver.

“The way of Pure Martial… forged by the Martial Immortal Golden Body.”

“But if the Heavenly Gate I transfer opens and releases… divine power?”

Li Che fell into deep thought.

Yet, he was in no rush.

His breakthrough had even bolstered his physical body, enhancing it in turn.

“It’s a pity that this breakthrough didn’t bring forth tribulation thunder… I thought it might trigger the [Thunder Magnetic Conduit] Dao Fruit to evolve to LV6.”

Li Che sighed quietly.

The last time, when breaking through to Martial Saint Threefold, he had ignited tribulation thunder—that was his first brush with his limits.

The first time is always momentous.

Now, although the Martial Dao mountain soared to staggering heights, it wasn’t his first time feeling the extreme.

Yet it was not the first anymore.

His soul stirred slightly.

Before him, streams of light flowed like rippling water.

[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (LV6 98%)]

Li Che’s brows relaxed as he shook his head.

The Dao Fruit maturity obtained from his Martial Saint Fourfold breakthrough was indeed less than expected.

Not only because he mostly relied on pills for his breakthrough…

but also because the ascent that defined the Martial Saint Threefold was largely due to his deep realization of Martial Dao; that very enlightenment had bolstered the maturity of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit when he forged his Martial Immortal Golden Body…

“Thus, the success of this breakthrough isn’t as great as I imagined.”

Li Che remained calm and composed.

For him, breaking through to Martial Saint Fourfold was already enough.

Within his chest, the [Painted Immortal] Dao Fruit beat wildly, signaling that Mo City-Fengdu had been completely restored.

It seemed… it was time to target Zhao Beidou.

Now he had the ability to restrain a Divine Calamity with a single Spiritual Confinement!

Allowing Zhao Beidou to continue living for a little while longer was, in a way, a bonus.

Killing Zhao Beidou and reaping the Dao Fruit’s feedback from an overstepping kill would surely yield an abundance of maturity…

Evolving the Dragon Elephant Vajra to LV7 wouldn’t be difficult—it would be natural, almost inevitable.

Killing Zhao Beidou…

It was like scoring the final goal.

“Huff——”

“Inhale——”

Li Che sat in his chair, his breath deep and measured as his qi flowed like rolling thunder.

Killing Zhao Beidou was crucial…

For once his Spiritual Confinement was unleashed, that Divine Calamity manifestation would be the key to counter the old Dragon God.

A Divine Calamity expert at the Disaster and Calamity stage must not be underestimated by Li Che.

He needed to set his plans in motion well in advance.

Dragon Prince and other descendants of the Dragon God were not enough!

Li Che needed more!

Suddenly, the world fell silent. Li Che exhaled like thunder as he stood, his soul sweeping across the Cosmic Chessboard.

He sent a fragment of his spirit to monitor the situation with XiXi.

With a slight raising of his eyebrow, he mused,

“Oh? That little girl… even when hunted by a Martial Saint, she dares to counterattack?”

“What a feisty lass…”

Li Che marveled.

The girl’s actions were utterly reckless—she showed no trace of the prudence a father should advise.

If one isn’t at least ninety percent sure…

it’s far too dangerous…

He split a wisp of his spirit to keep an eye on XiXi’s situation.

Li Che’s fingers spread as he sliced through the air and, in the next instant, he grasped a stark black-and-white Underworld Yama Mask.

Gazing at the mask in his hand, his eyes shimmered.

“It’s about time I seized an opportunity to craft a new mask—a new member for the Underworld to preserve its mystery…”

Li Che smiled softly.

Above the Underworld… who would stand over Yama?

A low, menacing laugh, like rolling thunder, echoed in the Study.

Then it transformed into a terrifying murderous intent, surging forth!

The Black Robe billowed; the black-and-white Yama Mask, and golden smoke streaming from his eyes.

His hand flipped; his fingers, like divine spears, curled around something.

In the next moment…

Yama vanished completely from the Study.

Only a Painted Immortal Clone remained, quietly sipping tea.

……

……

Booming thunder——

Beside the Grand Canal.

The river roared and churned. The old Dragon God sat at the center of the mighty river, as the oppressive aura of heaven and earth descended upon him.

And along the Riverside,

the Imperial Army’s camp was continuously set up.

Dense leaden clouds and a dingy light made it seem as if heaven and earth had lost their color.

Inside a vast, spacious tent,

Zhao Beidou, dressed in a dao robe embroidered with a fierce dragon and tiger design, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion—one used for healing. With its aid, recovery was markedly faster than pure cultivation.

The wounds from a calamitous rupture in his Disaster and Calamity Wheel were exceedingly severe for a Divine Calamity expert!

It was a direct strike at his very essence!

If not treated properly, his injuries could worsen, causing his Disaster and Calamity Wheel to decay!

Moreover, he would never dare face another calamity directly, as any such calamity would shatter his Disaster and Calamity Wheel, obliterating his cultivation and reducing him to nothing!

“Thankfully, even the Underworld suffered heavy blows. I destroyed that Minor Cavern of the Heavens. Even if the Underworld’s Divine Calamity were to reassemble, it would take at least ten years from scratch. Besides, the price paid by the Underworld Yama was tremendous—injuring me so that my mortal body could barely handle such force… surviving, I’d be left crippled!”

Zhao Beidou exhaled a long breath. His white hair and youthful looks were now marred by a sudden aura of aging, as if time had ravaged him.

Every time he recalled his injury, Zhao Beidou consoled himself by lamenting that even the Underworld had been gravely injured.

Suddenly,

faint footsteps resounded.

Outside the tent, a weak voice from Xie Yunshen reached out, “Great Master, please wait by the tent… I must speak with Zhao Zushi about our upcoming plans to attack the Qianyuan Divine Sect.”

The gentle voice of Huang Mei Great Master soon echoed, “Amitabha, National Teacher, please proceed.”

Then, rustling sounds filled the air.

National Teacher Xie Yunshen stood outside the tent and softly said, “Zhao Zushi, may I come in for a word?”

Zhao Beidou, his brow slightly furrowed, then relaxed and smiled, “Of course, outside the tent is chilly; please, National Teacher, come in quickly.”

Upon these words, Xie Yunshen lifted the curtain and stepped inside.

“Ahem, ahem, ahem…”

Draped in a crane’s robe, Xie Yunshen coughed repeatedly, looking rather ill.

Zhao Beidou watched the ailing National Teacher and sighed. National Teacher’s condition was even worse than his—those side effects from employing the Destiny Golden Lotus were taking their toll…

No doubt, it was his own negligence.

Taking out a meditation cushion and placing it before him, Zhao Beidou snapped his fingers; the White Abyss Calamity Fire flared up instantly, warming the tent.

“National Teacher, please sit.”

Zhao Beidou smiled.

Xie Yunshen smiled and sat cross-legged on the cushion.

“National Teacher, I have come to see you. What matters trouble you?”

Zhao Beidou stroked his beard and asked.

Xie Yunshen coughed, his eyes darkening, “Zhao Zushi, as you’ve seen, my condition… is deteriorating. The Destiny Golden Lotus is truly hard to come by.”

“Now, with the old Dragon God’s support, our Imperial Army has renewed confidence to campaign against the Qianyuan Divine Sect…”

“But the Underworld, with its mysteries, still greatly needs you, Zhao Zushi.”

A gentle smile spread on Zhao Beidou’s face. National Teacher Xie Yunshen always had such a smooth tongue…

“It’s a pity that my Disaster and Calamity Wheel is injured—currently I cannot risk action. Yet, I can hold my ground as a Divine Calamity expert, and that deterrence would force both Qianyuan Divine Sect and the Underworld to think twice.”

However, no sooner had Zhao Beidou finished speaking,

Xie Yunshen shook his head, “That won’t do.”

The smile on Zhao Beidou’s face gradually vanished.

“It was you who coaxed him into staying!”

“You promised no further action…”

Could you now force him into risking his life with a shattered Disaster and Calamity Wheel?!

Zhao Beidou’s expression turned icy. “Am I to be reduced to nothing while you, Xie Yunshen, slave away?!”

Zhao Beidou’s face grew colder. A dismissive humph escaped him.

Xie Yunshen looked at Zhao Beidou and smiled as if unfazed by his stormy expression.

“Zhao Zushi, it would be best if your injuries were completely healed before we launch an assault on the Qianyuan Divine Sect,” Xie Yunshen sincerely suggested.

Zhao Beidou’s scowling expression softened slightly; he seemed to understand.

But he shook his head with a bitter smile, “National Teacher, you simply do not understand…”

“An injured Disaster and Calamity Wheel is the most treacherous wound—a recovery that takes more than a day, but no less than five years, is necessary for a Divine Calamity expert to mend it.”

“At the very least, it will take five years for me to restore my Disaster and Calamity Wheel,” Zhao Beidou stated.

After his words, Xie Yunshen chuckled and shook his head, “Five years… far too long.”

“Oh? Perhaps you have something in the nature of priceless Sanqing Nourishing Pills?” Zhao Beidou mocked.

He doubted that Xie Yunshen could produce such a treasure.

Sure enough, Xie Yunshen shook his head again.

After shaking his head…

Xie Yunshen lifted his head, his eyes somber as he looked at Zhao Beidou.

“I… have one other method that can restore Zhao Zushi’s condition to full strength within a day, returning his power completely!”

Zhao Beidou’s brows knotted tightly.

A sudden pang struck his heart.

“What method is that?”

Zhao Beidou squinted his eyes.

Xie Yunshen grinned, his fingers spread wide.

A Destiny Golden Lotus suddenly erupted beneath Zhao Beidou as it burst into full bloom. Zhao Beidou’s eyes darkened as anger surged across his face.

Unable to suppress his growing unease, his anger finally burst forth!

That Xie Yunshen…

has a serious problem!

But then National Teacher Xie Yunshen spread both arms and laughed:

“Zhao Zushi!”

“The method is simple…”

“Embrace eternal life—immortality! Join my Underworld!”