Chapter 435: The Awakening of the Mechanical Legacy

The dazzling brilliance exploded relentlessly, as if a long-dormant will were slowly reawakening.

A masterpiece of the Tang Clan’s mechanized art!

The Divine Mechanism with All-Encompassing Arms of Qitian?

Within the vast cavity, a wild, howling gale inexplicably surged forth, sweeping everything in its path.

Li Che’s eyes sparkled brightly as he fixed his gaze on the enormous mechanical beast.

Calling it a mechanical beast hardly did it justice—it more resembled armor worn by a general in the throes of battle.

Yet this armor was fashioned onto a vaguely humanoid mechanical beast whose features were so blurred they seemed unrefined.

Tang Sanjia was ecstatic, his heavy breathing betraying hints of madness simmering within.

“Li Che… this is the strongest masterpiece of our Tang Clan!”

“After being decimated by the Imperial Court, our Tang Clan crumbled. Our Ancestral Patriarch realized that relying solely on a peerless mechanical beast would only make us a tempting target.”

“Not to mention, even if it weren’t the Imperial Court, numerous Divine Sects could easily dominate us… for they have the Divine Calamity anchoring them, a breakthrough our Tang Clan has never achieved.”

“Even our Ancestral Patriarch was nothing more than a great master.”

Tang Sanjia’s massive frame trembled slightly as radiant light burst forth from his eyes.

Li Che, hearing this, could only agree—this world was, indeed, the law of the jungle.

Take Qianyuan for instance; if it were to face the Imperial Court’s punitive force without the Underworld’s backing, the Court’s overwhelming numbers would crush everything—razing mountains, shattering sects, and spilling Daocheng’s blood.

The Tang Clan’s downfall years ago was simply because, though they wielded powerful mechanized art, they lacked a solid foundation to protect it.

Tang Sanjia eyed the colossal All-Encompassing Arms of Qitian.

He then turned to Li Che and said, “Li Che, this All-Encompassing Arms was handed to me by our Ancestral Patriarch after he was gravely injured during the siege. Among all the young members of the Tang Clan, he believed I possessed the greatest mechanical aptitude—perhaps I could perfect this mechanical beast to achieve true divine precision.”

“Alas, our Patriarch misjudged… my talent is simply not enough… far from enough.”

Tang Sanjia’s voice trailed off in disappointment.

“All these years I’ve tried, yet I can’t complete the perfection and restoration of this Divine Mechanism with All-Encompassing Arms.”

After numerous failures, a person begins to doubt his own talent.

Even the most gifted, when battered by one setback after another, gradually lose their confidence and fall into self-doubt.

Perhaps Tang Sanjia was no exception.

Without a glance at Tang Sanjia, Li Che tapped his toe, and suddenly his body lifted into the air.

Boom—!

An invisible shockwave rippled around Li Che as if unleashing torrents of energy—the majestic Heaven and Earth Soul surged out in a tremendous flow!

That was the Heaven and Earth Soul of the Divine Transformation!

Within the Mud Pellet’s internal realm, the Fa Tian Xiang Di Luminous True Primate awakened, roaring thunderously.

It seemed to be in communion with the cosmos, birthing the very soul of heaven and earth!

It was an ineffable power—a sensation of the land’s tremors, the drifting of clouds and wind, the eternal dance of stars and moonlight.

Boom—

Tang Sanjia’s hair whipped about as his gargantuan body shuddered.

His eyes widened; though a formidable divine powerhouse, at this moment he couldn’t even muster the strength to move a finger.

An overwhelming, stifling pressure!

Inside the cavern, there was nothing but claustrophobia and suffocation!

“Divine Transformation!”

Tang Sanjia cried out in horror.

Li Che’s eyes gleamed vividly as the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit in his chest pulsed with intense excitement, capturing his full interest.

Perhaps this Xiangong Dao Fruit could be greatly enhanced with the help of the All-Encompassing Arms?

The last time the Dao Fruit pulsed so intensely was when the Unsullied Heart Dao Fruit, upon entering the Peach Garden, sensed the allure of the Ju Xian Flag.

And this time, the feeling from the Xiangong Dao Fruit was…

Uncannily similar.

“Divine Realm Mechanical Beast… divine mechanism…”

Li Che felt that this mechanical beast still harbored some secrets.

Perhaps even Tang Sanjia was unaware of them.

Was it meant to carry the Tang Clan’s final hope?

Could it be forged into a mechanism rivaling the Divine Calamity?

“This is the Divine Realm Mechanism our Ancestral Patriarch once envisioned in Qitian City. Though he never managed to complete it before his death, his blueprint was passed on to me—and yet, I lack the ability to perfect it.”

Feeling the terrifying pressure of Li Che’s Heaven and Earth Soul, Tang Sanjia let out a long sigh.

Li Che nodded, hovering before the towering mechanism as his eyes erupted in brilliant light; within his pupils, golden mists swirled like flowing smoke.

Suddenly, blood and flesh tore apart at his brow as the Star Plucking Gaze shone with resplendent golden light, scanning the exquisitely crafted mechanical beast adorned with over a hundred million glowing mechanism seals.

Tang Sanjia had nearly hollowed out a mountainside to house this beast, meticulously refining and polishing it day and night.

But now, his progress had stalled completely.

Tang Sanjia had poured in every ounce of effort—he couldn’t let the brilliance of its seals fade; that would mean utter failure in creating the mechanical beast.

In desperation, Tang Sanjia wrote to Li Che.

For Li Che, in Tang Sanjia’s eyes, possessed the most extraordinary mechanized talent he had ever seen.

Perhaps Li Che could salvage the restoration of this Divine Realm Mechanism…

The Star Plucking Gaze reached its peak, scanning the mechanism; streams of light burst forth over its surface.

Countless analyses, piercing through delusions and returning to truth!

In that moment, insights about the mechanism flooded Li Che’s mind rapidly, along with methods for further refinement.

It turned out that our Tang Clan’s Ancestral Patriarch had never truly completed the Divine Realm Mechanism; he left only his ideas embedded within it for future generations to study.

And Tang Sanjia, following his Patriarch’s path, had ultimately reached a dead end.

Li Che drifted down to the base of the All-Encompassing Arms.

He sat cross-legged, gazing upward at the colossal construct, every breath seeming to listen to the beast’s very rhythm.

His every inhalation and exhalation as if attuned to the mechanical beast’s heartbeat.

The 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit in his chest pounded wildly while Li Che closed his eyes; the Star Plucking Gaze flared intensely as it surveyed the All-Encompassing Arms.

In his mind, Li Che began envisioning the next steps in crafting the mechanism.

He contemplated how to continue the intricate process.

Boom, boom, boom—

That was the sound of Tang Sanjia’s racing heart. He stared at Li Che seated on the ground, his eyes wide with nervous intensity.

He feared Li Che might fail to complete the Divine Realm Mechanism. If so, Tang Sanjia’s hopes would be utterly dashed.

The Tang Clan’s mechanized art once astonished the entire world.

But now, it had long been forgotten by all.

Li Che sat before the All-Encompassing Arms as if engaged in a transcendent struggle between man and fate.

Time lost all meaning.

Slowly, Li Che opened his eyes, fingers outstretched, and then suddenly pounded the All-Encompassing Arms with force.

The 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit in his chest convulsed!

Divine Art Ascension Two! Xiangong Wanxiang Seal!

The Star Plucking Gaze found the entry point, then swiftly altered the mechanism’s seals into the Wanxiang Nine Gods Seal!

Had he merely found the continuation point on the original Tang Clan seals, he would have followed the Patriarch’s path—a dead end indeed.

Ultimately, it was because the Tang Clan’s Mechanism Nine Seals could not support a Divine Realm Mechanism.

Thus, for Li Che to proceed with the restoration of the All-Encompassing Arms, radical reformation was necessary.

The most crucial task was to transform billions of seals!

Rumble—

The mighty Heaven and Earth Soul surged forward in a torrent.

In an instant, one seal after another on the All-Encompassing Arms changed under the impact of Li Che’s Heaven and Earth Soul, each becoming infected by the Wanxiang Seal and transforming accordingly.

This transformation meant that the Mechanism Nine Seals were gradually reformed into Li Che’s own Wanxiang Nine Gods Seal—a divine creation born from his cultivation with the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit.

Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz—

The sound of rumbling and shaking erupted.

A blood-red hue began to spread over the All-Encompassing Arms.

The formerly white-glowing seals instantly turned red; their inherent qualities altered and their structures transformed!

Tang Sanjia stood trembling at the edge, his body shuddering uncontrollably, his mouth agape in astonishment.

“So it is… so it is…”

Tang Sanjia’s eyes reflected only shock and incredulity.

He had expected Li Che to find a gap in the Qitian Armor and then rebuild it piece by piece.

Instead, Li Che chose to alter every single seal—the very inscriptions painstakingly created over centuries by our Ancestral Patriarch and Tang Sanjia.

The seals had changed!

They had become uniquely Li Che’s own!

At that moment, Tang Sanjia was utterly at a loss.

Was this still the Tang Clan’s creation?

But soon, Tang Sanjia came to his senses.

He laughed maniacally, “Whether it’s Tang Clan or not… does it really matter? As long as it works, it will be our masterpiece.”

Tang Sanjia chuckled softly.

Moreover, he could see that the transformed seals bore a striking resemblance to the original Tang Clan ones; albeit more intricate, they hadn’t essentially changed!

And that was enough!

Moment by moment, the All-Encompassing Arms’ seals began to transform from the feet upward, spreading and extending…

While Li Che dedicated himself entirely to the complete transformation of the Qitian Armor,

Tang Sanjia did not interfere. He left the cavern and returned to Shendiao Ridge,

his anticipation growing with each passing moment.

… …

Crunch, crunch—!!!

Thunder raged across the heavens, interlacing wildly as black, oppressive clouds descended like the hand of deities ready to punish the mortal realm.

They brought an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia and pressure!

Countless bolts of lightning shattered from the leaden clouds, and the chilling air seemed to prick the skin with a numbing sensation.

At Guangling Daocheng,

solemnity reigned.

The Daocheng Lord of Guangling sprang to his feet and landed atop the City Tower, his face a mask of complexity and dread.

Gazing at Xie Yunshen seated regally on the first Xuan Iron Spirit Wood battlefield, he immediately understood the intent behind Xie’s actions.

This Great Jing National Teacher had shifted his target from the Qianyuan Divine Sect to Tian Dan Divine Sect!

But Tian Dan Divine Sect… hadn’t it already submitted to the Imperial Court?!

The Court… how can they be so untrustworthy?!

Guangling Dao Master Jin Yuan’s face was grim as he felt the terror emanating from the three top-tier, peerless divine auras.

How could an unprepared Guangling Daocheng possibly withstand such pressure?

Moreover…

How could the weakened Divine Guard Army, worn down by Dengxian Pills, possibly resist a force desperate for a major battle to prove their might?

“National Teacher…”

Clad in his Dao Master’s robe, Jin Yuan stood atop the City Tower, fists clenched with anger.

Above him,

the Yellow Brow Great Master, in his monastic robe, stood with his hands behind him as the Golden Buddha shone in majestic splendor.

Gu Cheng folded his arms, a Divine Sword cradled in his embrace as he stared blankly ahead.

Ning Caishen, after a couple of setbacks in Qianyuan Daocheng, now glared coldly as he surveyed the scene below.

Jin Yuan could feel cold sweat streaming from his forehead.

The pressure from the three peerless divine auras was as crushing as a landslide.

Xie Yunshen sat calmly in the Grand Master’s chair, draped in a crane cloak, lightly fanning with his feather fan.

He shot a glance at Jin Yuan before beckoning with a smile, “Dao Master Jin, come over for a word.”

Jin Yuan’s expression darkened. After a brief internal struggle between heaven and man, he reluctantly left the city.

After all, he was an official of the Imperial Court—a Dao Master with a cultivation level approaching Fourth-Stage Martial Saint. Though not peerless, his stature demanded respect.

Surely, Xie Yunshen couldn’t be expected to kill him, right?

As Jin Yuan dashed out of the city, Xie Yunshen communicated silently with Li Che.

Inside the depths of Jingguang Mansion’s Shendiao Ridge, Li Che—deep in the midst of converting the mechanism seals—instantly received Xie Yunshen’s response.

A black Spiritual Confinement Chess Piece hovered beside Li Che, exuding dark energy as it bridged the distant communication.

Xie Yunshen only required an attitude from Li Che.

Seated before the All-Encompassing Arms, Li Che slowly opened his eyes. By now, two-thirds of its seals had been transformed into the Wanxiang Nine Gods Seal, and its aura had undergone a revolutionary change.

In Li Che’s eyes flashed the images witnessed by XiXi upon entering Guangling Daocheng.

A desolate city—a city poisoned to its core.

The intimate collusion between the Dao Master Residence and Tian Dan Divine Sect was palpable.

Li Che’s reply was succinct.

“Kill.”

“As you wish.”

In that brief exchange, it was as if the fate of an entire Daocheng had been decided.

In Li Che’s eyes, golden mists settled like fragrant agarwood, steadily flowing.

[Dao Fruit: Xiangong (lv6 60%)]

A quick glance at the Xiangong Dao Fruit revealed its maturity was rising far quicker than expected.

Merely two-thirds of the seals’ transformation had boosted its maturity by 20%.

Buoyed by this, Li Che pressed on with the conversion.

Elsewhere,

in Guangling Daocheng,

a figure raced out of the Daocheng toward the battleship. As Dao Master Jin Yuan, en route for negotiations, witnessed Xie Yunshen staggering, his pallor turning ghastly while he coughed and rose from the battleship,

he could only hear Xie Yunshen order, “Kill.”

Xie Yunshen’s feather fan waved slightly.

Jin Yuan’s smile froze—was he imagining things?

“National Teacher! I am a Dao Master—I am the Guangling Dao Master!”

“I am an Imperial Court official! Without the Emperor’s command, how dare you kill me?!”

Jin Yuan roared in fury.

But…

No sooner had he shouted than a terrifying burst of golden light erupted overhead, manifesting as a colossal Golden Buddha with arched brows and a benevolent expression.

A gigantic divine hand slammed down with a deafening crash.

Boom—!

The resounding Buddha chant filled the air!

In an instant, countless rays of Buddha light soared upward, centering on where the colossal Buddha had struck, expanding in all directions.

The Buddha light transformed into ice-cold, sword-like beams that sliced into Guangling Dao Master Jin Yuan!

Yet, the Fourth-Stage Martial Saint Guangling Dao Master Jin Yuan never expected Xie Yunshen to act so ruthlessly—there wasn’t even time for negotiations!

He lost his mind!

Xie Yunshen was mad!

“Ah—!!!”

Jin Yuan’s qi surged wildly as he fought with every ounce of strength.

The flesh of Guangling Dao Master Jin Yuan, already hollowed by Dengxian Pills, twisted grotesquely under the onslaught of Buddha light, exploding into countless fragments of meat!

In the heavens and earth, he became nothing more than a burst of blood!

“Amitabha… benefactor, you have been utterly drained.”

The Yellow Brow Great Master held up his palm and quietly intoned.

Today, the Yellow Brow Great Master was particularly formidable—his Buddha light was unlike anything seen during the campaigns against Qianyuan Daocheng.

Now, he seemed invincible!

Beside him, both Ning Caishen and Gu Cheng, though relieved, wore expressions of barely concealed horror.

The National Teacher was truly incensed.

All the grievances from Qianyuan Daocheng were being unleashed upon Guangling Daocheng!

“Sack the city!”

“Crush the mountains and break the sect!”

Xie Yunshen pointed with his feather fan and declared in a deep, steady tone.

Up on the City Tower of Guangling Daocheng, as the Dao Master was struck down, the Divine Guard Army instantly lost all will to resist.

Why should they pay with their lives for Tian Dan Divine Sect?

The city gates were opened forcefully by traitors from within, without needing any siege at all!

Shortly thereafter, the Imperial Army surged in, heading straight for Tian Dan Divine Sect’s mountain gate.

The imperial forces then assumed control of Guangling Daocheng.

Boom—!!

At the Tian Dan Divine Sect front, one after another, figures clad in alchemist robes plunged down from above.

“National Teacher, our Sect Lord Gu Changqing has died heroically on the battlefield for the Court!”

“National Teacher, how can you show no mercy? Come and attack Tian Dan Divine Sect!”

These were the high-ranking elders of Tian Dan Divine Sect, their faces etched with fury and dread.

Then, with a slight wave of his feather fan while seated in the sedan chair, Xie Yunshen uttered a single word: “Kill.”

That was the master’s conviction.

Xie Yunshen needed only to enforce it.

Even the Spiritual Confinement Chess Piece learned of the little master’s sufferings during his trial by fire.

For the master cared for the little one so dearly—those of Tian Dan Divine Sect who dared seize him as medicinal material must be slain!

The Yellow Brow Great Master unleashed his Buddha light like a blazing sword, decapitating every alchemist in his path on the spot.

At that moment, inside the Tian Dan Divine Sect mountain gate, a terrifying aura erupted—the black clouds swirled and expanded.

A massive pill furnace materialized, surging upward.

Before the furnace, an elderly, stout man in a Dao robe squinted and stepped forward.

The roar of catastrophic energy filled the air!

“Great Jing… what is this all about?!”

“How dare they bully Tian Dan Divine Sect into submission?”

This man was none other than Gu Yangxuan, the Patriarch of Tian Dan Divine Sect.

Behind him, the enormous pill furnace suddenly opened its lid, spewing out palm-sized cauldrons that expanded in midair; the furnace cover revealed a grotesque contortion of chubby, twisted faces.

The rich aroma of medicine wafted across the land, stirring the heart.

Xie Yunshen’s expression remained cold as he narrowed his eyes, while beside him, Gu Qianchi glared disdainfully at Gu Yangxuan as his sword light rang out, rising to the heavens.

Gu Yangxuan shot Gu Qianchi a withering look, his expression dark, while behind him the furnace grumbled out hot steam.

Not long ago, a perfect medicinal specimen had escaped him—an occurrence that had enraged Gu Yangxuan.

And now, with Xie Yunshen leading the Imperial Army to crush Tian Dan Divine Sect, it seemed that Sect Lord Gu Changqing had died in vain!

Gu Yangxuan’s eyes narrowed, “Xie Yunshen, do you think Tian Dan Divine Sect is so easily bullied?

Just a Gu Qianchi and a mortally wounded Zhao Beidou—do you really believe you can take us down?”

Gu Yangxuan let out a cold laugh.

“Yin Xuan, awaken! Qitian City is about to open—no more slumber!”

“It is time for the world to truly know our Yin and Yang of the Two Xuan!”

… …

… …

At Jingguang Mansion,

at Shendiao Ridge, Li Che sat cross-legged before the All-Encompassing Arms, continuing to transform its seals. It was akin to an entirely new blood transfusion—swapping out the beast’s entire life force.

This was a monumental undertaking that allowed no margin for error.

Each transformed seal consumed a portion of Li Che’s Heaven and Earth Soul.

Thankfully, the help from the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit made the process far less taxing.

Even as he reformed the seals, Li Che split his focus to monitor the battle on Xie Yunshen’s front.

After all, should Xie Yunshen claim Tian Dan Divine Sect, it would be akin to seizing a vast treasure trove of elixirs for Li Che.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

The scene shifted.

Li Che slowly opened his eyes and frowned, “Gu Yinxuan… the Yin Xuan Patriarch from the Yin and Yang Two Xuan who created the Nine-Turn Ascending Dragon Pill?”

Yin and Yang Two Xuan…

If they truly joined forces, with the power under Xie Yunshen’s command, defeating them would be nearly impossible.

So then…

Li Che smiled enigmatically, his eyes glimmering, “Perfect… let the little nine come out and get some fresh air.”

With that, he snapped his fingers.

A menacing, ink-black chess piece landed on the chessboard.

And once that was done,

Li Che refocused his mind entirely on the All-Encompassing Arms before him.

Boom—!!

[Xiangong] Dao Fruit trembled violently as it finally completed the conversion of every single one of the hundred million mechanism seals into Wanxiang Nine Gods Seals!

Li Che could clearly feel the deep connection between himself and this Divine Realm Mechanism.

Hmm?

At the core of this Divine Mechanism, Li Che sensed a slumbering consciousness.

And once he completed the transformation of the seals, that dormant consciousness slowly stirred awake.

It floated out—first in a state of confusion, then surprise, followed by fury, and finally, it softened into awe and resignation.

“So you used new seals to transform our Tang Clan’s mechanism seals…”

“These new seals, with their ever-changing brilliance… splendid, splendid!”

After a moment of stunned admiration, the consciousness exclaimed.

Tang Clan Patriarch?

Li Che’s heart skipped a beat in astonishment.

“Our Tang Clan mechanism… has a successor!”

“Hahahahaha—”

Amid his booming laughter, the hidden will of the Tang Clan Patriarch burst into flames, then transformed into a mighty force of Dao essence that rapidly spread throughout the mechanism.

Tang Sanjia had already rushed into the depths of the mountainside when the Patriarch’s will began its fiery upheaval.

There, he witnessed the Tang Clan Patriarch’s will blazing as it was completely sacrificed—imparting his soul to forge the Divine Mechanism.

Tears streamed down Tang Sanjia’s face as he knelt on the ground.

“Patriarch… your descendants are so useless…”

Li Che’s eyes hardened; it was clear that the Tang Clan Patriarch had reached nearly half a Divine Calamity stage.

He had already formed his Dao state and absorbed the Dao essence…

Yet, in the end, he failed to break through to Divine Calamity, choosing instead to hide his will—mixed with nearly all his garnered Dao essence—within the unfinished All-Encompassing Arms.

It was meant to lend a hand to future mechanists!

For a Divine Realm Mechanism must be driven by Dao essence!

Boom—!!

With the support of Dao essence, the entire All-Encompassing Arms seemed to revive; billions of Wanxiang Nine Gods Seals flickered and flared.

In a series of explosive detonations, they were all activated!

Li Che knew that the mechanism had reached its most critical moment.

His left hand trembled as the Thunder Demon Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade slid into his grip. With that blade, he stepped forward, positioning himself before the yet-to-be-carved face of the All-Encompassing Arms.

“Six-Eared Monkey, Luminous True Primate… All-Encompassing Divine Ape! Hahahahaha!”

Li Che laughed uproariously into the sky.

Every muscle in his body vibrated as golden qi erupted in a burst.

The twin-edged blade sprang into action, unleashing countless slashes as beams of light tore across the mechanism’s visage.

Now, the most crucial step was to awaken the soul of the divine mechanism with the Divine Eagle!

And Li Che chose a straightforward, forceful method.

Within the Mud Pellet’s inner realm, a divine storm of sacred might erupted as Fa Tian Xiang Di roared forth, growing steadily until it was as vast as the mechanism itself.

Li Che carved on the mechanism’s face, and naturally, he inscribed Fa Tian Xiang Di Luminous True Primate.

Strands of primate hair fell like divine spears amid cascades of wood shavings.

From the visage to the arms and down to the feet…

Li Che concentrated every bit of his energy and spirit, channeling the burning will of the Tang Clan Patriarch and unleashing torrents of Dao essence.

Billions of Wanxiang Nine Gods Seals spun simultaneously!

Their brilliance was dazzling and intense!

Tang Sanjia, already overwhelmed by the fearsome pressure, was slammed against the wall, his face blood-red and nearly suffocating!

Rumble—

The entire mountainside began to tremble.

Tang Sanjia was struck with terror.

The stone mountain was about to crack!

… …

… …

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

A fierce wind swept through, scattering the lazy snowflakes that had drifted from the heavens.

In Divine Capital,

in the Second City,

at the Eight-Treasure Double-Eaved Imperial Watch Tower!

A thick layer of pristine snow blanketed the black-tiled roof of the treasure-laden tower.

Between the pavilions,

a graceful lady clad in Confucian robes exuded mature charm as she cradled a sage’s book, sitting serenely while admiring the snow and reading.

Beside her stood a charcoal stove radiating intense heat and a reddish glow, warping the air as the water in the teapot roared.

Suddenly,

as the Grand Inspector Fang Shangzhen was about to turn a page, her expression shifted.

She closed her sage’s book because the orb atop the Imperial Watch Tower suddenly burst forth in dazzling radiance.

Fang Shangzhen realized that the Grand Inspector had returned.

Her loose Confucian robe billowed as she hurried toward the top of the Imperial Watch Tower.

Creak…

As the door swung open,

she saw that the spacious top of the Imperial Watch Tower housed the old Xuan Turtle lazily sprawled on the floor, and on its back, the Grand Inspector’s face was distorted by overwhelming divine might, rising in a whirlpool.

He sat cross-legged on the turtle’s back.

Through this divine presence, Fang Shangzhen felt as if her whole body had frozen.

She sensed the Grand Inspector’s deep, penetrating gaze upon her.

“Welcome, Grand Inspector.”

The Grand Inspector smiled faintly.

“Qitian breaks forth from the mountain—after five hundred years, it reawakens.”

“Let it be proclaimed to the world.”

“Qitian City is open.”

“Qitian has returned.”

… …

… …

Blades rained down relentlessly, and strand after strand of what looked like real monkey hair fluttered in the wind.

The howling wind roiled inside the mountainside relentlessly.

The armored Divine Ape, like a fearsome war god, responded to Li Che’s slashing blade with terrifying divine will!

The Wanxiang Nine Gods Seals trembled continuously as bursts of blood-red light exploded forth!

They intertwined like a blazing, bloodshot sunset within the mountainside.

Fiery, boiling, roaring, annihilating…

Rumble—

The entire mountainside shook violently.

Li Che hovered in midair, one hand gripping the Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade, his brow and the Mud Pellet split open as the Star Plucking Gaze shone with golden brilliance, unleashing a flurry of divine slashes.

His Heaven and Earth Soul continued to deplete while his Seven Aperture Luminous Heart pounded furiously.

Yet Li Che’s expression remained unchanged, even showing hints of excitement and anticipation.

Before him,

golden mists flowed slowly.

The maturity of the Xiangong Dao Fruit was climbing at an astonishing rate!

80%… 85%… 90%…

93%… 95%… 96%…

While the pace of improvement gradually slowed,

as Li Che poured his entire heart into carving out his insights,

the Xiangong Dao Fruit responded rapidly with feedback!

Li Che cared little about the fruit’s progress—his entire mind was set on the divine craft.

Rumble—!!

With one final, resolute slash that echoed like a lone traveler treading a thousand mountains,

the sound of tearing wood shattered throughout the mountainside like the roar of the Great Dao!

“Whew—”

Li Che placed the Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade horizontally on his leg, sat atop the All-Encompassing Arms, and slowly exhaled.

“It’s done.”

Boom—!!

At that moment, the All-Encompassing Arms burst forth with radiant golden light; the Fa Tian Xiang Di Luminous True Primate seemed to merge into the arms.

The Divine Mechanism Divine Ape bellowed to the skies!

Then, with a deafening explosion,

the Demon Monkey soared upward, shattering the mountain!

Accompanied by the blazing glow of the Wanxiang Nine Gods Seals, it shot upward for countless miles!

Meanwhile, Li Che sat atop the divine mechanism’s head,

his heart as still as a calm lake.

In his eyes, he seemed to behold five hundred years in an instant.

[Dao Fruit: Xiangong (lv7 0%)]

……