Chapter 460: The Corpse of the Great Sage?

The corpse of the Great Sage?

The body of the Qitian Temple Spirit?!

Li Che’s hairs stood on end, each one stiff as a steel needle, sharp enough to slice through the air.

The pounding of battle drums echoed relentlessly throughout the palace corridors. This inner city of Qitian City connects with the Bizarre Temple, located at the junction of the Inner and Earthly Weird Sanctuaries.

Thick, swirling mists infused with potent divinity coalesced with every breath, ready to devour any stray spark of godly energy.

A golden light pulsed between Li Che’s brows—a sign that his Star Plucking Gaze had been pushed to its limit.

High above, the Cosmic Chessboard whirled in an endless dance!

His eyes fixed on the resplendent palace deep within the inner city—a magnificent structure crowned with a towering Primordial Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff. The palace gleamed with golden luster, glazed tiles, and golden bricks, its pillars of vermillion and walls of white jade carved with uncanny motifs that radiated nobility.

It was, without doubt, the most dazzling and mysterious temple palace Li Che had ever seen.

But Li Che cared little for such grandeur. His gaze was fixed solely on the stone coffin within that bizarre temple—a coffin housing a corpse covered in shaggy fur.

The corpse lay in a state of lifeless decay, gaunt and withered, its skin clinging tightly to the bones.

A miasma of death and corpse energy oozed from the coffin’s sides like bubbling, boiling water.

The coffin was plain and simple, creating a stark contrast with the opulent palace.

Etched on the coffin was a design of a black lotus—an eerie emblem.

Li Che’s heart trembled. That black lotus design… could it be the Prison Lotus?

His inner calm was uprooted, replaced by a tumultuous storm of emotions…

Qitian—does it belong to the Prison Lotus faction?

And what about the Great Sage’s corpse… could it be real?

Even the Great Sage is mortal?

Li Che’s body shuddered as the emotional ripple from Qitian Face surged through him in powerful, undulating waves.

Although Li Che wasn’t sure if this world’s Qitian matched the Great Sage of his memories, one thing was undeniable— the Great Sage was immensely powerful.

Yet could such an existence truly perish?

The corpse lay in its coffin, exuding an aura of death and decay.

A powerful longing surged within Li Che—to step into the palace, approach the coffin, and see for himself if the Great Sage’s corpse was real.

Even a mere glimpse would be enough to feel an overwhelming, indomitable power, as if spanning time and space, threatening to shatter his very soul and extinguish his will—a might no mortal should ever behold.

Boom boom boom boom——

The battle drums erupted once again in a thunderous beat.

The swirling mists churned and surged, as if forming a colossal hand that smothered the sky and once more enshrouded the palace completely.

Even with the aid of the Cosmic Chessboard, Li Che could see nothing more!

Clatter, clatter——

Between heaven and earth, the sound of chains clashing and straining rose up once again.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed. The Great Sage’s corpse lay inside the coffin, so who was the human-shaped figure entangled in chains, its struggles accompanied by clattering sounds?

Earlier, while watching from the outer city toward the inner city of Qitian City, when the inner city shuddered awake, a human-like figure shone with brilliance, bound by chains and roaring in struggle.

At the time, Li Che assumed it was the Qitian Temple Spirit struggling against the chains.

But now… it seemed not to be the case!

If not the Temple Spirit, then who was this struggling figure?

So, who exactly is it?!

Doubt. Confusion. Unanswered questions swirled in his mind, impossible to untangle.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh——

Winds whipped through the inner city, carrying a cold, bone-chilling aura of death—a frigid water so icy it could freeze the soul.

The sound of the battle drums slowly began to fade at his ears.

Li Che stood still as his ink-black shirt fluttered in the wind.

He exhaled deeply, suppressing his curiosity about the Great Sage’s corpse with resolute determination. He was determined to venture deep into the palace to see if the stone coffin really housed the Great Sage’s remains.

Even if it was just a glimpse.

Deep inside, a trace of regret and sorrow stirred—could the Great Sage truly fall?

The corpse of the Great Sage still remained, but could it…

Li Che slowly tilted his head back; beneath Qitian Face, golden wisps seemed to swirl around.

Could he perform Spiritual Confinement?

Li Che sighed softly and shook his head—at his current cultivation, Spiritual Confinement was simply beyond reach, and even if the Qitian Temple Spirit fell, it would exceed its scope.

Regardless, Li Che still intended to take a look.

The Cosmic Chessboard contracted before expanding again, its sensors detecting silhouettes near the many treasure halls and palaces of the inner city.

He raised his head to gaze at the vaulted sky. The Qitian inner city… was nestled deep within the Bizarre Temple, on the border between the Inner and Earthly Weird Sanctuaries.

This was a highly sensitive location.

Many powerful cultivators believed that this Qitian Bizarre Temple, linking to the Earthly Bizarre Temple, might provide an entry point for stepping into it.

This was of enormous significance. If one could access the Earthly Bizarre Temple, it would be a realm of transcendence where divinity surged far mightier than in the inner sanctuary, and more high-quality Dao Essence Divine Crystals and Divine Crystals might be found.

Behind Qitian Face, Li Che’s eyes grew increasingly deep and foreboding.

The entire inner city of Qitian, set deep within the Inner Bizarre Temple, stirred an inexplicable unease within him—a premonition of an overwhelming terror rapidly approaching from beyond the city walls and the heart of the Bizarre Temple.

It was an alarm so chilling that it made his very soul shudder in near-instinctive fear.

Li Che did not immediately join up with Lü Taibai, Lü Qiankun, and the others.

There was no need; he planned to act on his own this time within the inner city of Qitian.

Moreover, everyone’s target was the same—the lavish palace perched atop a small hill deep within the inner city.

Perhaps others were unaware that this palace housed a stone coffin containing the corpse of Qitian.

Most of the veterans present, veterans of numerous bizarre temple expeditions unlike Li Che who was relatively new to such mysteries, had their own experiences navigating these enigmatic temples.

Lü Qiankun—the Ancestral Patriarch—needed no introduction; even Fang Han Shu, the renowned Lie Shen Assassin with his Divine Calamity cultivation, held countless secrets.

There was truly no need for Li Che to seek out Lü Taibai and the others.

As for joining forces…

Truth be told, Li Che had reached a point where he could choose freely whether or not to ally, for the strength he wielded gave him the courage to speak his mind.

The only regret was that Li Che still lacked the strength to slay the Two-Calamity Demon God Supreme, the Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme, who coveted his daughter XiXi and sought to take her into the Bizarre Temple.

Thus, Li Che’s schemes continued—he would not relent!

“This inner city of Qitian not only houses the Qitian Bizarre Temple but also the lost heritage and accumulated resources of the once-magnificent First Divine Sect of Qitian Temple, missing for 500 years.”

Li Che’s heart stirred. With a flick of his finger, a black chess piece spun rapidly before him, morphing into the respectful form of the Night Bat Demon God.

“My lord!”

“Qitian inner city has arrived. Now is the time for you to shine.”

Li Che looked at Night Bat Demon God coolly as he spoke.

Night Bat Demon God claimed he had an eye for treasure.

In truth, Li Che was no slouch at seeking treasure either. With the Cosmic Chessboard, he could quickly scope out his surroundings.

But he wasn’t a professional treasure hunter—certainly not as keen as the Night Bat Demon God.

Of course, if Li Che wished to methodically search each palace with the Cosmic Chessboard, he might indeed unearth some treasures.

But that was unnecessary and too draining both mentally and physically.

So he planned to let Night Bat Demon God pinpoint the treasures and then join him to retrieve them.

Thus, he decided to let the Night Bat Demon God scout for the heritage and resource stashes hidden within Qitian Temple.

“Rest assured, my lord! Everything is under control with me!”

Night Bat Demon God became visibly excited—it was finally his chance to shine before his master!

Li Che nodded, and Night Bat Demon God unfurled his wings and darted away, his ultrasonic sensing waves rippling outward in concentric circles.

Originally transformed into Spiritual Confinement and acting as a backstabber, Night Bat Demon God had accompanied the Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme into Qitian inner city, only to be separated by powerful teleportation.

That was why Li Che could so calmly summon Night Bat Demon God.

After Night Bat Demon God had departed, Li Che scanned his surroundings and found a sealed palace door. With a tiptoe step, he leaped out in an instant and appeared before the palace.

The inner city of Qitian felt different from the outer city.

The mists were denser, and the interwoven divine and Dao energies were palpable—it was clearly a true domain of the Bizarre Temple.

Here, Li Che could let his might explode and be wielded without restraint.

After locating a palace, Li Che pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Dust danced as the palace, sealed for 500 years, finally saw the light of day again.

This was a palace built during Qitian City’s heyday. Li Che’s mighty Heaven and Earth Soul swept over the space.

It appeared to be the palace of a Martial Saint at the pinnacle of the Four-Opening peak. Li Che even spotted an armory rack holding a divine weapon that, despite centuries, still shimmered with divine brilliance.

Additionally, many bottles and jars stored pills, though most were empty—clearly, their medicinal treasures had long been consumed.

After a quick scan with his Heaven and Earth Soul, Li Che had a pretty good understanding of this palace.

With so many palaces in Qitian inner city, did each one belong to a peak Martial Saint or a mighty god who mastered the Four Divine Transformations?

The more he thought about it, the more it seemed possible.

After all, during its prime, Qitian Temple truly had the capital and resources.

Back then, Qitian Temple was the foremost Divine Sect in the world, with the number and depth of Demon Calamity cultivators far surpassing those of any current sect!

It is said that, in those days, the inner city of Qitian Temple suddenly sealed itself off, burying most of its top experts. This ultimately led to the sect’s downfall, leaving behind only rumors of its lost heritage within the inner city.

In retrospect, the rumors seemed all too credible.

However, the peak Martial Saint of this palace had vanished—perhaps transformed into a Cursed Corpse?

Li Che exhaled softly. A putrid stench pervaded the palace.

Suddenly,

Li Che’s brow furrowed as he approached a wooden table made of Spirit Wood.

As a Divine Eagle Hand, Li Che was well versed in the art of woodcarving. A press of his thumb wiped away a layer of dust from its surface.

Beneath it, an inscription emerged:

“The gods have arrived—guard Qitian! Fight!”

Boom——

A surge of combative spirit hit him like wildfire, as fierce as the flame of an untamed primate.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed and his body trembled slightly.

“The gods have arrived?”

Where did these gods come from?!

Could they be the deities of the various divine factions?

Prison Lotus, Black Xumi, Weird Demon Grotto, and Dark Heavenly Court… could these be the factions of those gods?

Li Che inhaled deeply. A thought occurred—given that Qitian inner city is in the Bizarre Temple, could it mean that the gods from these factions might appear without restriction, crossing the bounds of the Bizarre Temple to emerge before Qitian City?

Even if the Bizarre Temple stretched vast and its mists obscured vision and direction, such matters may not be a problem for the gods.

Recalling the unnerving, inexplicable dread from his encounter with the Pure Heart Dao Fruit just moments ago, Li Che felt his heart sink.

Shaking his head lightly, he chose not to dwell any further.

He planned to sort through the insights he’d gained from the Temple Spirit Resonance, and then…

Continue with the unfinished business outside Qitian City!

His goal remained unchanged—to seize an opportunity to slay the Two-Calamity Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme!

This Demon God, who coveted his daughter XiXi and intended to drag her into the Bizarre Temple to the clutches of the Demon God from the Weird Demon Grotto, was firmly on Li Che’s hit list.

Thus, Li Che’s scheming continued, unwilling to relent!

“Qitian inner city… being within the Bizarre Temple, the demon clans’ teleportation techniques should prevent any other demon clan experts from entering, right?”

A speculative thought formed in Li Che’s mind.

Of course, it was only a guess; his knowledge of demon clans’ teleportation was limited.

But regardless, Li Che’s plans would not change!

With his current strength, openly confronting the Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme head-on was impossible!

Thus, he had no choice but to employ unconventional methods to scheme a strategy.

Before that, increasing his own power was crucial—everything could change, but his own growth was the one constant!

He sat cross-legged.

Letting his mind drift, he immersed himself in the Dao Calamity Space.

Deep within his chest,

the fire of his Heart Ape flared brilliantly—a force born of his experiences with Qitian Face and honed by the Temple Spirit Resonance—which roared into the Dao Calamity Space!

……

……

Under a dim, orange light,

the Boss sat calmly in his chair while XiXi, having finished her steamed buns, now devoured a plate of steaming dumplings, their translucent wrappers glistening as they exuded enticing warmth.

XiXi ate one after another until her cheeks bulged.

The Boss lit a rolled cigarette, sitting in his chair, his white clothes shining, gazing into the distance as if seeing through time and space—beholding that stone coffin deep within the palace and the shrunken monkey corpse lying inside.

“The corpse of Qitian…”

“The divine tides rise and fall…”

Hiss hiss——

Taking in a deep drag of smoke, the flames blurred as the cigarette paper curled and blue smoke billowed forth.

“Is it truly dead?”

Nearby, the Big Black Dog circling XiXi paused momentarily, as if following the Boss’s cue to glance toward Qitian inner city.

Then, with a tongue-out snort, it resumed its sprint around XiXi.

One man and one dog, each lost in their own thoughts.

It seemed that only the little girl, gleefully eating dumplings and swinging her slender legs, was completely carefree.

……

……

Qitian inner city.

One powerful aura after another soared into the heavens.

After a brutal battle and a vicious brawl with the surging Temple Protection Incantation Corpses, the group finally broke into Qitian inner city.

But before anyone could fully absorb the shock, although each had been teleported to different corners of the vast Qitian inner city, a torrent of death and corpse energy surged from the black portal behind them, followed by the relentless Temple Protection Incantation Corpses.

Carrying the Jianhai Zijing Beam, the Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme appeared—the sharp horns pointed upward, eyes a chilling red. With a single strike, he obliterated one of the One-Calamity, Two-Calamity Temple Protection Incantation Corpses, its head crumbling and blood mist bursting out as several corpses were blasted aside.

“Truly, an unyielding spirit of the dead.”

Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme said coldly.

Surveying his surroundings and the ruins of Qitian Temple’s inner city, his eyes shone with fervor.

He began striding purposefully, his Two-Calamity level power surging like an unstoppable storm.

In one glance, he had locked onto that palace deep within the inner city—the one crowned with the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff.

That palace was his target!

Lifting his five fingers, he summoned a handful of entangled demonic energy strands, plucking one and crushing it fiercely.

In an instant, Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme fixed on a direction and stomped heavily, propelling himself forward like a cannonball.

That was the direction of Night Bat Demon God. Using prearranged demonic energy sharing, he located Night Bat Demon God.

Moments later, upon seeing his subordinate, Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme couldn’t help but let a faint smile play on his lips under the roaring demonic aura.

He dispatched Night Bat Demon God to scavenge for the prized items hidden within the Qitian Temple ruins.

Meanwhile, he himself rushed deeper into the inner city palace to seize the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff before time ran out.

“Understood, exalted master,” Night Bat Demon God replied respectfully.

Very pleased with his subordinate’s deference, Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme trusted him completely. He believed Night Bat Demon God would meticulously scour the Qitian Temple ruins for the best treasures.

That was why he had personally brought in Night Bat Demon God.

After leaving behind a command identical to Li Che’s, Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme, laden with heavy trust, strode off carrying the Jianhai Zijing Beam—capable of resonating with the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff—toward the depths of the inner city.

“The Bald Donkey of the Western Lands of Buddhism, the long-hidden Patriarch of the Great Jing Court, and the current head of the First Divine Sect of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect…”

“Their target must be Qitian Temple!”

“Their objective… undoubtedly the corpse of the Great Sage!”

Bang——

With a heavy stomp, the ground erupted in an invisible shockwave.

Beneath Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme’s fierce demonic countenance, his eyes flashed with a bloodthirsty glint.

Li Che believed that the powerful factions did not know that Qitian Bizarre Temple might harbor the body of the Qitian Temple Spirit.

But in reality, the mighty experts from the Western Lands of Buddhism, Ten Thousand Great Rivers, Witch God Mountain, and Great Jing Court had long known what lay within the bizarre temple.

They coveted not only the Primordial Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff of the Three Pure Ones but also the rumored corpse of the Qitian Temple Spirit—the true remains unique to the Temple Spirit!

……

……

Qitian inner city. The inner city river roared as if boiling.

Along the white jade balustrade by the river, a monk with billowing robes and sandals stained with crimson mud strode—a pilgrim braving countless mountains and waters, his sincerity palpable.

He raised his eyebrows, his face burning with determination,

and eyed the direction of the opulent palace, shrouded by mists of death, divine energy, Dao essence, and decay.

Gazing at the towering Primordial Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff, the monk pressed his palms together, bowing slightly and chanting Buddhist mantras.

“Amitabha…”

“Victorious Buddha, I come to guide you.”

In the next moment, the monk’s aura quivered—divine energy, blood energy, and Buddha light intermingled to form a golden cicada. Its translucent golden wings flapped furiously, emitting a piercing cry!

It shattered the summer calm, breaking the hallowed silence of Qitian inner city.

……

……

Thick death and corpse energy coiled like black serpents, steadily eroding the white jade floor.

With a sizzle, pit-like holes emerged. But the craters formed by the decay would soon mend.

A staggering, staggered figure in a black robe appeared.

Moments later, the portly figure lifted his cloak to reveal a twisted, hideous face, lit up with a crazed excitement.

Wei Yuan fixed his gaze on the direction of Qitian Temple…

“Such dense, exquisite, and unreachable death and decay…”

“Ha ha ha… our leader was right. Qitian is truly dead—the remains of the Great Sage have appeared!”

“If only we could refine the Great Sage’s remains…”

“Who wouldn’t then acknowledge my Dao?!”

……

……

Rumbling——

In the Dao Calamity Space, a constant roar resounded.

The force of calamity surged uncontrollably—sometimes taking the form of a dragon, sometimes an elephant. At times, it sliced through space like a blade tearing paper; at other moments, turbulent water seemed to drown one’s soul in despair.

Li Che’s figure materialized in the Dao Calamity Space.

Floating, cross-legged,

the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame roared as it plunged downward, as if intent on incinerating Li Che entirely.

In the past, Li Che could have relied on his Martial Immortal Golden Body to endure for a breath before being consumed by the calamity fire.

Even then, he would have had a chance to capture a trace of the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame!

Though only a small fragment, that increment was invaluable—a seed to accumulate vast calamity power.

This time, however, Li Che’s heart pounded like war drums, as the fire of his Heart Ape—awakened through Qitian Face and the resonance of the Temple Spirit—surged outward from his chest and engulfed his entire body.

Finally, it wrapped him in a brilliant golden blaze.

“Roar——!”

“Hiss——!”

The Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame, driven by the Heart Ape fire, relentlessly converged toward Li Che’s position.

Above him, the flames coalesced into a purple divine dragon and a purple demonic elephant!

The divine dragon lashed its tail, striking Li Che fiercely.

The demonic elephant raised its front hooves high, its trunk lashing out with titanic force,

trampling down with ruthless might.

Boom——!!!

The golden blaze of Heart Ape fire transformed into a barrier, burning fiercely over his body.

It resonated with his Martial Immortal Golden Body, miraculously withstanding the relentless onslaught of the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame!

A burst of purple flames exploded, unleashing a terrifying, world-shattering force. In that moment, both the Primordial Void Slash and the Primordial Purification Flow fell utterly silent, as the Dao Calamity Space yielded wholly to the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame!

Boom boom boom——

Hit after hit, blow after blow!

Under the strain, Li Che’s Martial Immortal Golden Body creaked as if his bones were about to shatter, his flesh scorched and his golden blood ready to vaporize.

Yet, bolstered by the Heart Ape fire, he withstood blow after blow.

Like a fiery staff clutched in his hand, the flames surged forth as if wielding countless layers of blazing staff shadows, relentlessly striking the divine dragon and demonic elephant!

Li Che’s eyes shone as he threw out a punch, his body resonating with a clamor like crackling popcorn.

He launched his fist, unleashing the Celestial Seed Martial Art!

Kirin Sealing Inscription!

The Kirin Fist Inscription surged out in a torrent of fire, crashing like a tidal wave into the sky!

It raged uncontrollably!

The previously modest Kirin Sealing Inscription fused with the calamity fire,

and Li Che’s every sinew sang in unison, as if aided by the divine.

Behind him, his heart fire burned brightly, standing defiant against the calamity!

Boom boom boom——

No one could tell how long he endured!

Then—

At last, his heart fire shield shattered; the Heart Ape fire dwindled, and Li Che’s radiant Martial Immortal Golden Body was annihilated by the crushing force of the Dragon Elephant Flame.

Qitian inner city.

Inside the palace,

Li Che’s eyes abruptly opened. In an instant, the entire palace was bathed in a scorching, overwhelming surge of vital energy.

Li Che’s brows tightened.

His Martial Immortal Golden Body radiated brilliant golden light.

Fleeting streams of light danced before his eyes.

[Dragon Elephant Furnace: Martial Immortal Golden Body (20%)]

[Dao Calamity: Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame (30%)]

In a flash, his Martial Immortal Golden Body surged by an additional 5%, while the boost in Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame was monumental—so much so that it leaped from 4% to 30% in an instant!

The aid and boost from the Heart Ape fire was unmistakable!

And the enhancement of Dao Calamity power resonated back to his martial cultivation!

Boom——!!!

Li Che slowly rose from his meditative posture!

A tidal wave of aura, as mighty as mountains and seas, roared forth.

A crack appeared between his brows, and a golden Heavenly Gate materialized!

Clenching his fist, he pushed forward relentlessly!

In an instant, golden light burst forth.

It seemed as if the void itself had frozen—the fearsome form of a towering kirin, resplendent as an omen, emerged behind Li Che.

Its piercing cry heralded a dance of divine majesty, carrying with it the terrifying authority to crush everything in its path!

Celestial Seed Kirin Sealing Inscription!

Mastered!

Li Che’s eyes shone with an auspicious radiance. With fingers outstretched, he pressed Qitian Face against his own.

The Cosmic Chessboard erupted skyward, expanding like a web.

Through it, Li Che saw the Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme, carrying the Jianhai Zijing Beam as he raced through the inner city…

A faint smile curved beneath his mask.

The Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff slid into his hand.

In that instant, murderous intent surged forth!

Clad in a billowing black robe, he sprang forward!