Chapter 472: The Divine Warrior’s Awakening

The setting sun slanted low, a fiery blaze consuming the parched mountains. An endless inferno turned both sky and earth a deep red.

Atop the city tower in Qitian Inner City.

The ancient tower, built of weathered bricks and stones, bore the unmistakable marks of time.

The stooped Old Monkey, clad in simple cloth, sat cross-legged atop the tower. His wise, glimmering golden eyes regarded Li Che as though he could see right through the young warrior’s current state.

In truth, countless gazes from below in Qitian Outer City were fixed on the tower in the Inner City.

Ancient deities, resurrected from death, sat regally on the battlements like monumental relics etched by time.

Among those present were masters of high cultivation – only those who had reached the pinnacle of mortal practice had the courage to enter Qitian City.

Martial Saints, Divine Transformations, and even top-tier supreme experts and great cultivators were in attendance.

These individuals possessed impressive insight and knew many hidden truths – aware of the might of a deity as well as the significance a revived Temple Spirit brought to the realm.

“The resurgence of divine beings means a divine tide is coming. With every tide comes calamity. In three thousand years of ebb and flow, an age of unruly deities is about to unfold,”

murmured an elderly cultivator, his voice filled with soft wonder.

Yet up on the tower, the conversation between Old Monkey and the Underworld Ghost Emperor sent shockwaves – especially the gift the divine Old Monkey offered to the Underworld Ghost Emperor.

It carried the weight of a final bequest, as if even the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff – a Three Pure Ones Rank divine weapon – was to be bestowed upon the Underworld Ghost Emperor.

Some felt a shiver in their souls, their hearts stirred by daring thoughts.

Could it be that the revived Great Sage of Qitian had little time left?

Might something momentous be afoot?

Rumors swirled that the Great Sage of Qitian intended to enter the Earthly Bizarre Temple – after all, everyone knew that Qitian Inner City lay at the crossroads of the Inner and Earthly Weird Sanctuaries.

The Earthly Bizarre Temple promised even greater opportunities; it was said to help revived beings advance even further.

Thus, many believed that after his resurrection, the Great Sage of Qitian would plunge into the Earthly Bizarre Temple to stage a battle and swiftly regain his divine might.

Even more astounding was the bold move of the Qitian Temple Spirit.

He actually gifted the Three Pure Ones Rank divine weapon, the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff, to the Underworld Ghost Emperor – even offering to help him absorb the celestial energy of heaven and earth in his bid for the Martial Immortal realm!

“A Martial Immortal! A Pure Martial Immortal – an extremely rare phenomenon!”

“This Underworld Ghost Emperor has refined his martial path to such heights. I’ve heard that a Pure Martial Immortal is invincible in battle; if he achieves an immortal certification, the consequences will be terrifying.”

“But regardless of the current era or the days when divine nature was less pronounced, Martial Immortals are exceedingly rare. The pure martial path… breaking into the Martial Immortal realm requires not only exceptional talent but also vast resources.”

…

In Qitian Outer City, powerful cultivators gathered and exchanged heated discussions.

“If we have the chance to witness the birth of a Martial Immortal with our own eyes, it would be an extraordinary blessing,”

someone exclaimed in awe.

“A Martial Immortal’s breakthrough is impossible to hide – it will capture the attention of the world, for shattering the bounds of a Martial Immortal far outshines overcoming divine calamities or ascending to Martial God status. Those who reach that pinnacle will even invoke formidable disasters upon heaven and earth!”

“Perhaps we are on the brink of witnessing a once-in-millennia Martial Immortal breakthrough spectacle!”

Voices rang out continuously, filled with exhilaration and anticipation.

“Yet truly breaking through to become a Martial Immortal is extremely difficult. In this era, teeming with divine influences, any trace of divine essence contaminates the pure martial path, making true purification nearly impossible.”

Some even voiced doubts and unfavorable opinions.

Regardless, news of the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s bid for the Martial Immortal realm swept like a storm, echoing in everyone’s ears.

Naturally, some had rather peculiar concerns.

“Is the Underworld Ghost Emperor truly a Martial Immortal? Is the Underworld a force backed by Yulian on earth? And are there other deities lurking within the Underworld?”

Curiosity ran high.

Where exactly did the Underworld’s limits lie?

Back atop the tower.

The sunset burned like fire.

“Then… many thanks, Senior.”

Li Che smiled and clasped his fists. He was determined to break through to the Martial Immortal realm, fusing the essence of martial immortality with his corporeal form.

Yet Qitian’s words made him realize exactly what he was missing.

The vital celestial energy…

Was that the power required for a Martial Immortal breakthrough?

Unlike the Martial God, who draws on divine nature, a Martial Immortal relies on the stimulation of external energy after shattering physical limits.

Whereas the Martial God depends on divine essence, the Martial Immortal must absorb the energy of heaven and earth.

“Old Monkey can help you absorb celestial energy, but… it can only be done near Qitian City. If you want to break through, you must remain within that range,”

Old Monkey said softly.

Li Che nodded in agreement, unperturbed.

After all, the calamity of the Martial Immortal breakthrough was a fearsome trial – one that surpassed even the notorious three calamities and nine tribulations.

Such a trial was so dangerous that ordinary divine cultivators dared not approach, for fear of contamination.

Thus, attempting the Martial Immortal breakthrough outside Qitian City was hardly a concern.

“Senior, the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff… perhaps you should keep it.”

Li Che declined Old Monkey’s gift.

A divine weapon of Three Pure Ones Rank was indeed formidable, imbued with unfathomable power.

But since Qitian had been revived, the significance of that staff had changed – as many divine cultivators suspected, Li Che silently felt that Qitian was not what it seemed, perhaps truly aiming to charge into the Earthly Bizarre Temple.

Old Monkey was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Li Che to reject the gift of a Three Pure Ones Rank divine weapon.

“You’ve already chosen your master. It is only because you made the Hun Yuan Qi Tian Gun acknowledge its master that I was able to revive…”

Old Monkey chuckled.

Yet above Li Che’s head, purple flames blazed and golden pupils twinkled with a hint of amusement.

“But without the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff, can a Great Sage still be called a Great Sage?”

Li Che’s words left Old Monkey momentarily stunned.

Then, seated regally on the tower of Qitian City, he leaned forward, laughed heartily, and exclaimed.

“Fine then, I’ll borrow it for now.”

“The Martial Immortal realm is hard to crack. In this era, the Bizarre Temple emerges from the Bizarre Temple, draping the land, while the dense divine aura pervades the space between heaven and earth…”

“Such overwhelming divine energies severely affect the pure martial path. Even the slightest hint of divine essence can sever the pure martial course.”

“Thus, in today’s era, few truly cultivate a pure martial path – most can only manage to harbor a trace of divine essence in their mortal bodies, never fully eradicating it.”

Old Monkey said softly.

Li Che nodded. He couldn’t help but recall the warriors of the True Martial Divine Sect – they supposedly followed the true martial path, yet in practice, their cultivation was never entirely pure.

The path was arduous, but its rewards were tremendous and terrifying in power.

“So, are you truly prepared? Once you choose to charge toward the Martial Immortal realm, if you fail, you will permanently lose your chance to overcome the divine calamity…”

“Do you have faith in yourself?”

Old Monkey’s golden eyes sparkled as he gazed at Li Che with unwavering focus.

“I do.”

Li Che’s black robe fluttered as he rolled up his sleeves and relaxed into a smile.

Inside his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit leapt wildly, as if roaring like a dragon and bellowing like an elephant.

If he couldn’t achieve it, then no Martial Immortal would ever emerge in this era.

Such was the confidence of Li Che, the master of the Dao Fruit.

“Very well… you truly are the father of Yulian’s daughter. Remarkable indeed.”

Old Monkey’s eyes brightened.

“Go on, pick up the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff. I won’t need it now, but when the time comes to charge into the Earthly Bizarre Temple, come back for it.”

“Take it now; within the Hun Yuan Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff lies the insight of my ‘Battle-Winning Secret Art’.”

“I cannot directly pass this art on to you, but if you can grasp its essence on your own, it will be a great opportunity for you.”

Old Monkey said.

Li Che nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the unassuming staff impaled into the tower by Qitian.

It shimmered with golden light, engraved with divine symbols, and seemed to throb with a fearsome divine aura. Even without fully unsealing its power, the weapon’s resilient might was enough to unleash devastating force.

Battle-Winning Secret Art!

Li Che’s eyes brightened.

He recalled the images he saw through the Cosmic Chessboard – scenes of the Great Sage of Qitian clashing with the deathly six-winged Golden Cicada.

In that moment, the Great Sage of Qitian had unleashed the fearsome Battle-Winning Secret Art with unmatched power!

Even Li Che’s own Celestial Seed Martial Art paled in comparison to this technique.

Indeed, the Battle-Winning Secret Art was not merely a Celestial Seed Martial Art – it was true ‘Celestial Martial Arts’!

So Li Che was determined to give it a try.

Whoosh—

A gentle breeze swept over, as if causing the entire Qitian City to tremble.

News that the Underworld Ghost Emperor would challenge the Martial Immortal realm had long rocked the city, and at this moment every eye was fixed on the tower.

All eyes watched the exchange between the Underworld Ghost Emperor and the Qitian Temple Spirit.

Suddenly…

Many felt their hearts pound, their breaths quicken, as brilliant radiance burst forth from their eyes.

They witnessed the Underworld Ghost Emperor step steadily along the sunlit castle wall, and eventually onto the towering staff embedded in the tower.

Bathed in the sunset, the staff gleamed as if countless beams of light danced about, radiant and breathtaking.

In Qitian Outer City,

Many cultivators fixed their gaze intently.

Lü Taibai, Lü Qiankun, Xuan Jiu Zhuan, and others directed their focused stares toward the scene on the tower.

Meanwhile, on the side of the Imperial Court, martial deities like Ye Pengju and Wang Kui wore complex expressions.

In that moment, everyone couldn’t help but recall one name.

The Grand Inspector.

And along with the name came his prophesied influence.

It was foretold that the one who would wield the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff atop Qitian City’s tower would be the ultimate culprit behind the upheaval of the Great Jing realm.

Now, the Grand Inspector’s prophecy seemed on the brink of fulfillment!

It was about to be confirmed!

Underworld Ghost Emperor!

If not only the Underworld, then perhaps the entire realm would plunge into chaos!

Martial deities from the Imperial Court’s Temple Guardian Division, like Ye Pengju and Wang Kui, could hardly sit still – their eyes fixed intently on the tower.

Purple flames burned while golden skulls exhibited a sinister aura.

Step by step, Li Che approached the staff. Reaching out, he grasped the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff.

He had drawn it once before; now he needed to truly absorb the secret techniques and the art of combat embodied within this legendary weapon.

Battle-Winning Attack Art!

A true Celestial Martial Arts masterpiece!

Crack—

Without hesitation, as if the staff were a natural extension of himself, he withdrew it effortlessly.

Buzz—

A terrifying vibration erupted from the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff, as if billions of tremors shook its being, sending ripples through the fabric of space.

Rumble—

A fearsome roar erupted, as if mighty waves were upheaving an endless sea. The space around the staff shattered and collapsed, with swirling clouds and blazing hues reminiscent of a cosmic dawn!

The entire divine weapon seemed to awaken at that moment, bursting forth with dazzling brilliance and overwhelming radiance!

Many suddenly felt the pressure increase—the very air around them grew heavy.

Amid the overwhelming light, a weighty power pressed down upon them, threatening to knock them off their feet.

This was a weapon interwoven with the secrets of heaven and earth—a force so terrifying that even in Li Che’s hands, its immense power was palpable.

Boom, boom, boom, boom—

Li Che’s eyes sharpened as if fire had burst forth within him.

The void trembled. Clutching the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff tightly, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit in his chest shook violently, releasing its power in a surging, phantom dragon aura that enveloped the staff!

Up on the tower, Old Monkey sat calmly, his simple cloth robes billowing in the wind.

His eyes widened in astonishment.

He never imagined that Li Che, wielding the staff, could unleash such an extraordinary phenomenon.

Soon, he saw Li Che begin to perform martial techniques with the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff atop the tower!

Yes – it was a demonstration. With a single flick of the staff, countless images of staff techniques soared into the air. Merely the opening move, yet Old Monkey immediately recognized it.

“This is… ‘Smash Southern Heavens’!”

Old Monkey chuckled while patting his cheek – though he actually wore a mask.

It turned out that this young man had already inherited his Battle-Winning legacy.

No wonder Li Che had earned the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff’s favor and been acknowledged as its master – he had long mastered the Battle-Winning Secret Art.

Even if incomplete, the three-staff technique was at the core of the Battle-Winning Secret Art!

One strike, ‘Smash Southern Heavens’, was for offense,

another move, ‘Transcendental Furnace’, was for battle,

and the final move, ‘Treading the Firmament’, signified triumph!

Boom—!!!

Along the ramparts, the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s imposing figure soared. His golden-hued skin pulsed with bulging veins, roaring furiously. Li Che, with the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff in hand and empowered by the insight from the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, commenced his martial demonstration!

The staff’s silhouettes overlapped, dreamlike and surreal, while ripples shook the void.

Portals appeared and shattered with a thunderous collapse, transforming into reverse-flowing energies that shot skyward, coalescing into a furnace of cinnabar – a furnace that, with a single kick, exploded into a sea of flames, merging into a resplendent palace which itself crumbled under a staff’s overwhelming pressure.

Surreal and mysterious beyond words!

Qitian City fell utterly silent, save for the fierce display of the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s martial prowess.

After a long while,

as countless ripples subsided and the surge of energy calmed,

the Underworld Ghost Emperor, clad in a flowing ink-black robe and gripping the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff, stood atop the tower like a stone statue.

When Li Che opened his eyes, he beheld countless converging rays of gold,

forming an exquisitely intricate secret technique.

Battle-Winning Secret Art

Celestial Martial Arts masterpiece!

Li Che could sense its daunting difficulty – far surpassing even the might of Qitian’s three-staff techniques in attack.

Yet now, it was his for the taking.

The energy discharged by the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit accelerated Li Che’s martial comprehension. Through this demonstration, he officially mastered the Celestial Martial Arts!

A divine combat technique of a deity!

And thus, he had successfully and formally taken his first steps!

Atop the tower,

the setting sun had long vanished, replaced by the ascendant, cool glow of the Moonlake.

Moonlight bathed the earth, its silvery brilliance spreading across the land.

Old Monkey sat on the tower, his eyes reflecting astonishment – Li Che’s martial aptitude was not far behind his own in days of yore.

Back then, after he knelt three times before his master, he visited his teacher at night and learned countless secret techniques and brutal powers in just one night.

Now, the father of Yulian’s daughter, who had defied death itself, displayed notable martial prowess.

“Thank you, Senior!”

Li Che beamed, clasping his fists in gratitude.

“It’s your exceptional talent; even without my guidance, you would have grasped the essence of the Battle-Winning Secret Art from the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff.”

Old Monkey waved his hand dismissively.

Then, he joined his two fingers and tore open the void, casually plucking something from it.

The clinking of metal echoed relentlessly.

It was the sound of numerous supreme divine weapons shattering…

“Those supremes that I shattered could not hold on – though some divine weapons proved resilient, so I’ve gifted them to you.”

Li Che’s eyes gleamed.

In the end, he chose a small alchemical furnace and a flag.

“Is that… the Ju Xian Flag?”

“No, it isn’t just a mere imitation. It is a base-level divine weapon forged by a supreme cultivator – an imitation rather than a genuine artifact.”

Old Monkey squinted his eyes and explained, “The Ju Xian Eight Flags represent the cosmic order – if united, they can command a host of deities and even call upon ancient gods to walk among mortals. Their power encompasses the very rules of heaven and earth – truly unfathomable.”

“This is merely a counterfeit modeled after the ‘Xuan’ flag from the Ju Xian Eight Flags.”

“Within the Ju Xian Eight Flags, the four ‘Tian Di Xuan Huang’ flags are said to be scattered among mortals, while the remaining four, representing the boundless cosmos, are held by ancient deities in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths within the Bizarre Temple.”

Old Monkey, ever perceptive, briefed Li Che.

Li Che nodded, feeling buoyant – he knew the Great Jing Emperor possessed at least one genuine Ju Xian Flag, perhaps even more.

And now, seeing this imitation flag made him recall the true flag in the Emperor’s hands…

Li Che spread his fingers; in the next moment, a palm-sized small flag floated into view.

“Oh? Ju Xian Yellow Flag? Imitation? Huh… it isn’t fake!” Old Monkey’s eyes immediately lit up in surprise as he looked at Li Che.

Was it possible to obtain such a thing?

Would the deities of the Dark Heavenly Court go mad over it?

“Hehehe… With this Ju Xian Yellow Flag, when you charge toward the Martial Immortal realm, my help in absorbing celestial energy will be even more assured,”

Old Monkey continued,

“The Ju Xian Flag can momentarily summon deities to descend upon the world.”

Old Monkey and Li Che conversed on the tower for quite some time.

Then Old Monkey directed his attention to Fang Han Shu. Looking at Fang Han Shu, he sighed gently, his thoughts turning to the fallen Fang Xinyuan.

“So you’ve received Xiao Fang’s legacy?”

Old Monkey looked at Fang Han Shu, who had come close.

Suddenly, Old Monkey frowned, his eyes tinged with sorrow: “Have you died as well?”

“I died, yet also lived. My current state is better than ever.”

Fang Han Shu clasped his fists in respectful greeting, embodying the demeanor of a scholar.

Old Monkey nodded and smiled serenely, “Show me Xiao Fang’s Jade Talisman.”

Without hesitation, Fang Han Shu produced the Jade Talisman.

Then, Old Monkey seized the Jade Talisman and smashed it into the inner view of Fang Han Shu’s Mud Pellet.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

Fang Han Shu immediately fell into a profoundly mysterious state, retreating several steps before sitting down on the tower.

“Allow me to lend him a hand. Otherwise, it might take him years to fully understand it on his own,”

Old Monkey grinned mischievously, adopting a playful air.

…

…

In Qitian City, the Underworld Ghost Emperor made his appearance, intent on breaking into the unparalleled Martial Immortal realm!

This news swept across the realm like a storm.

In fact, the world’s powers, ever watchful of Qitian City’s fate, had been alerted early.

They learned of the dramatic events in Qitian City – the fall of the Two-Calamity Divine cultivator, the resurrection of the Qitian Temple Spirit, and the defeat of five supreme deities from the Bizarre Temple’s pantheon!

Now, the revived Qitian Temple Spirit would safeguard the Underworld Ghost Emperor, aiding him in his charge toward the Martial Immortal realm!

Forces such as the Demon Clan of Ten Thousand Great Rivers, Witch God Mountain, Da Li Wangting, and the great sects of the Great Jing Court, Great Jing Emperor, and Western Lands of Buddhism had all received the news.

Divine Capital.

Within the palace.

On the Emperor’s face, divine essence and Dao energies mingled, and an aura of frigid detachment emanated from him.

“Underworld Ghost Emperor… seeking the Martial Immortal breakthrough?”

“This era simply cannot support a Martial Immortal. With divine essences intertwined everywhere and a tidal surge of divine energy, a pure martial path unsullied by the divine seems impossible to birth.”

The Emperor glanced at a secret message from the Purple-Clad Diao Si’s Eunuch Lian, a cold smile curling on his lips.

“Arrogant and self-deluded, you dare defy the heavens and follow a pure martial path in an age unfit for Martial Immortals…”

“Sooner or later, you will perish. Those who defy heaven shall be punished by the cosmos!”

The Emperor’s tone was merciless.

However, if the Underworld Ghost Emperor truly broke through to the Martial Immortal realm, it would spell disaster!

After all, an enormous rift existed between the Underworld and the Imperial Court.

The Emperor rose, his divine aura and Dao energy intermingling as he left the palace corridors with Eunuch Lian from the Purple-Clad Diao Si, walking toward the flickering lights of the imperial mausoleum.

…

In Divine Capital’s Second City,

at the octagonal, multi-eaved Dripping Water Imperial Watch Tower,

on the Ninth Floor,

the Grand Inspector’s visage was shrouded in a luminous white aura of Dao energy. Riding atop the Xuan Turtle, he held aloft an eight-diagram treasure mirror.

Yue Taofu and Fang Shangzhen stood silently before him.

“The Underworld Ghost Emperor is challenging the Martial Immortal realm…”

“This may be the first – or even the sole – Martial Immortal in the past five thousand years.”

The Grand Inspector murmured.

“Now that the Underworld is irrevocably tied to the revived Qitian, it serves as an open declaration to the pantheon of deities within the Bizarre Temple: the Underworld’s fate is sealed by its alliance with Yulian…”

“Thus, this time, the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s assault on the Martial Immortal realm will never be quiet.”

“And such an assault, impossible to conceal, will undoubtedly attract interference – even attempts to sabotage his breakthrough.”

The Grand Inspector said softly.

“Grand Inspector… shall we assist him?”

Fang Shangzhen inquired hopefully.

“Then let’s go see for ourselves.”

The Grand Inspector remained cloaked in white mist, his features indistinct.

…

…

That night, shockwaves resonated everywhere.

The news spread faster than anyone could have imagined.

Perhaps because the events in Qitian City were too vast to hide.

Numerous wanderers and martial warriors were stirred to their core.

Martial Immortals!

The Underworld Ghost Emperor’s charge toward the Martial Immortal realm was a momentous event!

For martial warriors across the realm, it was a grand spectacle.

Even the great paths like Great Jing Tongyou Road and True Martial Mountain of the True Martial Divine Sect trembled, as if columns of energy surged upward.

Masters, Martial Saints, and other notable warriors from Da Li Wangting, Great Jing Court, Western Lands of Buddhism, and beyond began their journeys toward Qitian City in Jiangnan Dao.

For martial warriors everywhere, the assault on the Martial Immortal realm was an opportunity not to be missed.

Some aged Martial Saints, who had secluded themselves for centuries and faced the end of their lifespans, risked everything to leave their hermitages and head for Qitian City just to witness the Martial Immortal ceremony.

…

…

Li Che paid little attention to the realm’s overall turmoil.

For the coming days, he remained in Qitian Inner City.

Sitting cross-legged in a restored house, he entered a state of cultivation, his Dao Fruit throbbing fiercely within his chest.

That was the feedback of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit’s moment of enlightenment.

He had utilized every bit of it.

The Qitian Three Staff techniques – Smash Southern Heavens, Transcendental Furnace, and Treading the Firmament – along with his Celestial Seed Martial Arts, advanced rapidly under the enlightenment of the LV7 Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

Perhaps aided further by his newly forged Celestial Martial Arts – the Battle-Winning Secret Art – his cultivation soared to great heights in just three days.

In Qitian Inner City,

within a courtyard,

Li Che sat cross-legged, his imposing figure radiating with golden light. Divine brilliance cascaded around him as if the entire courtyard was ablaze.

Along his back, miraculous divine seeds and celestial seeds swirled in vortexes.

His martial cultivation advanced steadily.

Every fiber of his being surged with energy, blood boiling like a colossal azure dragon ascending toward the heavens.

Beyond his mortal form, the Martial Immortal essence opened like heavenly gates, its energy intermingling in layers.

Yet, the greatest challenge was integrating the Martial Immortal essence within his body – a barrier Li Che had long struggled to break through.

That step remained his ultimate hurdle.

Boom, rumble—

Suddenly,

inside Li Che’s chest, one of his Dao Fruits burst with an explosion.

It was as if countless strokes of ink exploded behind him, like a celestial calligrapher’s masterpiece scattering specks of dark ink across the sky.

Li Che’s Qi and blood intertwined like swirling mists.

His eyes slowly opened.

It was as if rolling mists of ink merged into a palace of white jade, a myriad of chambers intertwining like corridors of eternal beauty.

Streams of light intermingled and converged.

【Dao Fruit: Painted Immortal (LV7 0%)】

…

…

Dim orange lights gently illuminated,

casting long shadows of the modest restaurant onto the ground.

The restaurant, tucked away in an alley, seemed worlds apart, untouched by the clamor of the outside.

XiXi, seated on a chair, swung her delicate, pale feet. Surrounded by a Hun Tian Ling, with her hair tied up in a high ponytail, she exhaled softly while peeling a tea egg.

The tea-colored broth oozed from the cracked shell, its rich aroma pervading the entire restaurant.

Big Black Dog wagged its tail as it circled around XiXi.

After peeling the intricately patterned, smooth tea egg, XiXi handed it over to Big Black Dog. The dog opened its mouth, and with a satisfying gulp, devoured the egg.

Big Black Dog licked its lips, a look of pure bliss on its face.

XiXi then shook her head and picked up another tea egg, saying, “A dog for one, one for me, a dog for me, and another for me…”

The Boss sat in a rocking chair, lighting a rolled cigarette, exhaling smoke in a hazy swirl.

Suddenly,

the Boss flicked the cigarette ash with two fingers, sending embers floating.

Big Black Dog abruptly stopped wagging its tail and turned to stare into the dark recesses of the alley.

XiXi swallowed the peeled tea egg in one bite.

Her eyes widened in astonishment.

There…

an emaciated Old Monkey, clad in simple cloth and with his hands behind his back, staggered slowly into view.

Under the dim orange light, his aged monkey face was revealed.

Old Monkey glanced at XiXi, then at Big Black Dog and the white-clad Boss.

“Divine Lord, it’s been so long.”