Chapter 473: Fateful Convergence

The soft orange light cast mottled shadows on the ground.

The stretched dark silhouette seemed to weave reality with dream.

In front of the restaurant.

Old Monkey, clad in simple cloth, ambled slowly with his hands behind his back. His movement was unhurried—as if an elderly man strolling through an alley, casually stopping by the restaurant to enjoy the scene.

Yet, inside the restaurant…

Countless gazes fell upon Old Monkey.

A white-clad Boss, his clothes as pure as snow and his sleeves fluttering, fixed his complex eyes on Old Monkey.

“Great Spirit, long time no see,” he said.

Old Monkey broke into a wide grin, baring his fanged teeth. Even as a god, he retained the beastly traits of the Divine Monkey—those sharp teeth never had vanished.

“Great Sage, long time no see,” came the reply.

The Boss in white flicked away the cigarette ash clinging to his fingertips.

A slight smile tugged at his lips as he rose from his chair.

The two exchanged looks like old friends meeting across the span of time and space.

Old Monkey’s cloth flapped in the night breeze as he stepped into the restaurant.

“You make it so easy for me to find you, Old Sun. Here in Qitian City, you slip by without a trace—you’re as mysteriously elusive as ever.”

“So you run a restaurant? Aren’t you open for business? With all this mystery, hardly anyone even knows about your place. There wouldn’t be many customers showing up.”

Old Monkey muttered under his breath, his words growing steadily longer.

XiXi sat on a chair, her dainty feet gently swaying, long lashes trembling lightly, and her cherubic cheeks moving animatedly—absolutely adorable.

“Mon-mon, Brother Monkey!”

XiXi’s excitement grew as if she recognized the old simian.

It was none other than the deity resurrected from the Bizarre Temple a while back!

This was the Great Sage of Qitian!

Her father had told her stories about the Great Sage—’Brother Monkey, you’re truly remarkable!’

XiXi chewed her food even faster in her excitement.

Old Monkey caught XiXi’s gaze, his eyes revealing a complex emotion.

In just one glance, he was convinced that this little girl was none other than the Daughter of Yulian…

But compared to the once cold, grim, and lethal girl, today’s Daughter of Yulian… hasn’t she grown rather soft?!

In this era of surging divine tides, the leader of Yulian…

Is it really just a child?!

Could it be that Yulian is about to be undone by the Pantheon?

Old Monkey scratched his fur thoughtfully, feeling an odd tingle. Is this little girl really reliable?

XiXi ran up to Old Monkey, lifting her head to meet his gaunt gaze. With a quick gulp, she finished her tea egg.

“Brother Monkey!”

XiXi beamed happily.

“Father once told me tales of Brother Monkey!”

Old Monkey glanced at XiXi then looked up at the white-clad Boss, his eyes filled with questions.

The Boss stubbed out his cigarette and allowed a hint of a smile, remaining cool and silent.

As if to say that this Daughter of Yulian, with her naïveté and charm, was truly endearing.

Protected perhaps a bit too well, she still retained the innocent and lively spirit of a child.

This…

Surely shouldn’t be the Daughter of Yulian.

Yet Old Monkey squinted his eyes with a trace of delight.

Maybe a daughter like this wouldn’t be so bad after all?

Old Monkey reached out and tousled XiXi’s hair, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

But behind that tenderness lay a hint of doubt and puzzlement.

Why had the Daughter of Yulian changed so much?

What had brought about this transformation?

The ill-fated Daughter of Yulian, blessed with a living father and guarded so carefully, hadn’t experienced the hardships of fate or the fall into corruption…

It all seemed as if an unseen hand was silently altering everything.

The once clear path was now shrouded in fog, concealing the future.

Where had things changed?

Old Monkey’s eyes suddenly lit up with a golden glimmer.

Was it the father of the Daughter of Yulian?

That living father, altering the originally set course?!

“Great Sage, are you hungry?”

The Boss broke the silence, interrupting Old Monkey’s musings.

Old Monkey paused, then laughed as he led XiXi into the restaurant.

Ding-dong…

The restaurant door swung open, and the wind chime tinkled crisply.

“One order of fried rice, please.”

…

…

Inside Qitian Inner City.

The sky was overcast—a typical gloomy day in the Bizarre Temple—with countless swirling mists concealing everything.

The broken ground from the divine battle was slowly healing. Collapsed buildings seemed to rewind time as pebbles rose and reassembled into complete structures.

Li Che’s ink-black robe billowed as he sat with ferocious energy. Dark, wild hair danced as powerful blood surged forth from every pore.

Every inch of his skin radiated a golden gleam; his muscles and tendons shimmered as if forged in gold, pulsing with raw might.

Li Che’s mortal body had grown so strong—his Martial Immortal Golden Body had improved by 20%, delivering an immense boost.

Yet Li Che knew his golden body was bottlenecked. Once he fused his Martial Immortal Golden Body with his martial cultivation, its power would soar even higher!

Boom—

In a burst of chaos, Li Che, with his disheveled black hair and newly golden limbs, sat cross-legged in the courtyard like an ancient deity, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth to renew his flesh!

Unlike divine martial cultivation, pure martial practice requires shedding the seductive pull of celestial power…

For once tainted by divine essence, that power invades the body, yielding a quick surge of strength—and a risk of irreversible transformation.

Yet it would permanently cap the advancement of one’s martial path.

Li Che recalled that even Qitian had mentioned the limitless potential of the martial path, though the higher it soared, the harsher the allure of divine power.

In truth, breaking into the Martial Immortal realm was only the beginning. The overwhelming temptations of divine power, like maggots gnawing at the bones, could utterly consume a cultivator.

Throughout the ages, some had walked the martial path and achieved the transformation from Martial Saint to Martial Immortal.

But many faltered after reaching the Martial Immortal stage, devoured by the demon-like allure of divine power.

Li Che sat with his legs crossed, his mind storming as if his mud pellet on his brow had turned into a swirling vortex.

It was the gathering point of all his divine essence.

Though he did not strictly follow pure martial arts, he practiced divine cultivation as well, using his Dao Fruit’s properties to completely segregate the two powers.

His practice of pure martial arts remained untainted, and his divine cultivation stayed pure too.

Over a dozen Divine Seeds—truly unimaginable achievements in divine cultivation!

Yet this was the divine way Li Che now tread; what lay ahead for his divine path was still uncertain.

The Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit greatly aided Li Che, allowing his martial talent to outpace ordinary mortals. The once insurmountable path of pure martial arts now seemed laid out before him.

But as for the divine way…

Despite the assistance of the Unsullied Heart Dao Fruit, the divine path was indeed arduous.

Li Che could have easily powered through due to his robust body. Had he switched to divine martial arts, he would have soared even faster!

Yet Li Che chose to rely on his mortal body to pursue the Martial Immortal path, knowing

that this route, though fraught with hardships, would raise his ceiling even further.

He wasn’t sure how terrifying the top-tier figures of the Pantheon truly were—but in his experience even the Great Sage and Furious Third Prince shuddered before them.

The fact that even the likes of the Great Sage and Furious Third Prince had fallen to become Temple Spirits confirmed their formidable power.

So Li Che resolved to take a higher path, one that would allow him to stand atop an even greater pinnacle.

“Huu—”

“Hiss—”

Every breath caused Li Che’s muscles and bones to erupt with sound.

Throughout the courtyard, wild winds and inky fog swirled as his previously golden body dimmed to a somber shade of black.

Within his chest, the 【Painted Immortal】 Dao Fruit trembled violently, its thundering roar echoing like lightning.

Each pulse boomed as if shattering the heavens.

Every inch of his skin seemed to drip with ink-like droplets that splattered on his skin, bursting into swirling inky currents!

Li Che’s eyes opened and closed, now mirroring the inkiness.

The sound of the Dao Fruit’s intense beating gradually faded away.

It was as if a master painter, seated along a timeless river, dipped his brush in thick ink and gently drew a flowing masterpiece.

The ink spread in soft washes, ethereal and otherworldly.

【Painted Immortal】 Dao Fruit Lv7!

Five Transformations!

For Li Che, this wasn’t his first encounter with the Dao Fruit’s five transformations; his mind had long since cleared of worldly dust.

Of course, after witnessing a divine brawl, he knew that he still had much to overcome before truly becoming formidable.

Even the five-transformation Dao Fruit was merely a means to grow stronger—Li Che refused to be content.

After all, many powerful foes awaited his challenge.

To protect his daughter, to silence all noise and watch her grow peacefully, and to harvest more Dao Fruits,

he had to become even stronger.

His dark, flowing hair danced like brushstrokes in an ink painting.

Li Che’s eyes suddenly flared open as overwhelming energy flooded him, sending ripples even through empty space.

The world instantly grew eerily silent, not even the faintest ripple was heard.

The wind, rain, and the sound of rolling pebbles all vanished without a trace.

Only the ethereal sound of the Dao Fruit’s heartbeat echoed in his chest.

At that moment, all his distractions faded away.

Boom—!!!

A terrifying attraction exploded; in an instant, Li Che felt as if he were traversing time and space—multicolored lights whirled uncontrollably around him.

Dao Tree Space—Li Che had descended once again!

The sensation of shifting stars and spinning earth was all too familiar.

Then, a primeval aura swept over him as a Dao Tree stretched across the vast heavens, reaching cloud-high, piercing through layer after layer of cloud.

Its branches and leaves flourished—each leaf its own world.

Li Che hovered within this expanse, his gaze sweeping over the wilderness, feeling an overwhelming pressure as if it could suffocate him.

He once speculated whether this vast realm was part of the Bizarre Temple.

“Even if it is the Bizarre Temple… perhaps it’s a forbidden place in the nine heavens and ten earths.”

Li Che’s eyes sparkled.

He looked up at the Dao Tree and felt its mystery and might.

Atop the Dao Tree, the 【Painted Immortal】 Dao Fruit’s five transformations burst forth with endless rosy light before shifting into swirling inky clouds that intertwined with the cosmos.

The Dao Fruit floated out, translucent and mesmerizing—like a drop of ink falling from a well-dipped brush.

Though dark inside, it held the grandeur and vastness of a starry universe.

It hovered before Li Che, then erupted in an inky spurt similar to rolling mist.

Soon, an image began to form before his eyes.

The vision revealed an endless expanse of white—a boundless sea of clouds, pristine and otherworldly, like the cleanest sanctuary between heaven and earth.

Above that endless white, a solitary figure sat upright.

It was a being so white it seemed to glow, with white hair and eyebrows, and skin so translucent that even the blood appeared white.

This figure held a smooth, white jade brush, never tainted by dark ink.

Maintaining the steady grip of the brush as if frozen in time.

Suddenly, those luminous eyes fell, spanning the void between heaven and earth, crashing upon Li Che like an avalanche.

The glowing white eyes met Li Che’s dark ones in a collision of opposites.

Then Li Che noticed a streak of black.

The black spread outward from the center of that majestic figure’s brows, rapidly expanding and engulfing the once white cosmos.

The white figure turned black, and the pristine sea of clouds transformed into a dark dome.

“Hahaha…”

“If it cannot be attained, then let it be for future generations! In every lifetime, someone will succeed!”

Boom—

The thunderous words shook the void, and in an instant, innumerable dark clouds collapsed.

It was as if the divine voice of an all-powerful deity had descended—a level too high for anyone to comprehend.

The heavens shattered, and Li Che’s will crumbled alongside.

He was ejected from Dao Tree Space.

Back in Qitian Inner City.

In the courtyard.

The wind and rain howled as heavy raindrops battered the rebuilding Qitian Inner City.

Li Che opened his eyes, his dark hair swirling as he slowly exhaled.

Before him, golden light mingled with inky mist to craft a vivid scene.

[Dao Fruit Lv7, Five Transformations, Dao Induction (Ten Fierce Ink Splatter Scroll) Upgrade, Dao Calamity (Primordial Withering Branch)]

Boom—!!!

The sound of heavenly vibrations roared in his ears.

In that moment, Li Che’s mind seemed plunged into chaos.

The interwoven words of ink and light coalesced into a prompt!

An ominous aura of impending doom swept toward him from all directions, locking onto his body. It was as if a terrible force were creeping out of his 36,000 pores, ready to destroy his flesh!

The Fourth Calamity!

It had arrived!

Li Che’s eyes suddenly shone with newfound clarity!

After enduring the Primordial Fire, Wind, and Water Calamities, a brand-new Dao Calamity finally emerged!

It was triggered by the transformation of the 【Painted Immortal】 Dao Fruit into its Fifth Transformation!

Primordial Withering Branch!

Primordial… Wood Calamity!

Li Che closed his eyes slightly, sensing the inescapable force of the calamity erupting from deep within his flesh—like countless thin branches sprouting and fading, each cycle threatening to steal his life and longevity.

It was a unique yet terrifying trial!

Li Che opened his eyes and inhaled sharply, each breath booming like thunder.

The rapid breathing signified the arrival of the Fourth Calamity, drawing him ever closer to the ultimate mystery.

It felt as if he were about to grasp the key!

How many forms of Dao Calamity were there?

Wood, Water, Fire… could there be Metal or Earth? It seemed far more than just the five elements.

The additional Primordial Wind Calamity suggested that Dao Calamities were not limited to the five forces…

“No matter how many types of Dao Calamity there are…”

“Now that I have a new goal, the appearance of this calamity means I can further advance one of my Divine Seed Martial Arts, fusing with the Dao Calamity to reach the level of Immortal Seed Martial Arts.”

“Absorbing it into my body might let my Martial Immortal path progress even further…”

“The Eight Mysterious Gates Divine Seed Martial Arts have long been transformed; perhaps they will henceforth be known as the Eight Mysterious Gates Immortal Seed Technique!”

Li Che’s refined and enhanced secret technique.

From Divine Seed to Immortal Seed,

it gave rise to the Eight Immortal Martial Arts!

Once fully unleashed, his spinal dragon would tremble as if eight Martial Immortals manifested in unison, overwhelming everything!

How domineering would that be?!

Dao Calamity—integrate!

Li Che suddenly raised his head, his jet-black hair transforming into a terrifying divine whip as it lashed out fiercely!

His powerful body resonated as if countless seeds were sprouting in his flesh—rapidly germinating, greedily absorbing his life, blood, and energy!

Soon, they took root, bursting through his flesh to form wild, writhing branches—a cycle of life and decay!

Boom—

Li Che gradually opened his eyes, repeatedly experiencing the shattering of flesh and the frenzied dance of withering branches.

He was no longer the weakling who could not withstand even a moment of Dao Calamity!

Even within the Dao Calamity Space, unable to unleash the Eight Mysterious Gates, he could support the power of the withering branches solely with his flesh…

Before him, light reappeared.

[Dao Calamity: Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame (30%), Primordial Void Slash (3%), Primordial Purification Flow (1%), Primordial Withering Branch (1%)]

After several cycles of the withering branch’s flickers,

Li Che finally mastered a form of Primordial Wood Calamity!

Slowly raising his palm, a black, ink-like bean appeared in his hand. It looked tangible yet was pure Dao Calamity power—a drop that, if absorbed, would voraciously drain his life, longevity, and energy…

“Though it’s just one… imagine if there were thousands—it would be terrifying.”

“Into which Divine Seed Martial Art should I integrate this Primordial Wood Calamity?”

To upgrade that martial art into an Immortal Seed technique?

Before long, Li Che made his decision.

He chose the most unassuming among his many Divine Seed Martial Arts.

“Bloodcry Divine Phoenix Life-and-Death Arrow—an archery technique. In truth, with all my Immortal Seed Barretts, I never paid it much mind. Now… it’s time to study it seriously.”

“From now on, I shall become the Immortal Archer!”

A faint smile curved Li Che’s lips as he decided to hide that withering branch calamity seed within his arrow.

In his mind, a new name for the martial art emerged.

Immortal Seed · Bloodcry Immortal Phoenix Withering Arrow!

Boom—

Li Che stood from his cross-legged position in the courtyard, releasing a burst of potent energy as he began to practice martial techniques in Qitian Inner City!

He started to absorb the essence of heaven and earth from within Qitian Inner City.

Yet, his resources were stretched thin.

Every time he drained a portion of the celestial energy, an overwhelming tide of divine essence surged forth, intermingling and attempting to invade his body.

The temptation was intense—as if shouting that absorbing divine essence would shatter his limits and unleash peerless strength on par with the gods!

Such temptation was terrifying indeed!

“I must break through to the Martial Immortal realm among mortals. Though even mortal realms are tainted by divine essence, compared to the Bizarre Temple, they remain a pure land of martial cultivation.”

Li Che pondered deeply.

With the roar of martial intent, his eyes flashed brilliant gold while his body radiated with energy; his jet-black hair streaked with gold as he roared, defying the lure!

Boom—

A powerful punch was unleashed, shattering countless divine essences into pure celestial energy that, like a golden dragon, surged upward and spread throughout his body!

…

…

Time trickled by.

Before anyone knew it, half a month had passed in the blink of an eye.

Outside Qitian City, the atmosphere had grown incredibly lively.

The resurrection of Qitian Temple Spirit was imminent—aiding the Underworld Ghost Emperor in breaking through to the Martial Immortal realm and becoming the sole Martial Immortal of the past five millennia!

The entire mortal world watched with bated breath, and the news had even reached the Bizarre Temple, drawing the attention of divine beings from various factions.

Outside Qitian City, countless martial fighters gathered—most of them practitioners from all corners of the world.

Some trekked on foot, some raced, pouring every bit of energy into their journey.

At last, they assembled outside Qitian City.

The overwhelming surge of energy seemed poised to cover the heavens like a tidal wave; never before had so many warriors gathered in one place.

The sheer power of their energy nearly shattered the divine essence.

The sunset blazed like fire as the crimson sun dipped below the horizon, painting the world with its fierce hue—a reflection of the martial fighters’ burning spirit.

Shi Jian, the esteemed head of the True Martial Divine Sect, arrived with many disciples, setting up camp outside Qitian City as if in pilgrimage.

Numerous officials from the Great Jing Court also gathered, with unparalleled generals from Da Li Wangting disguised and crossing the East Sea to reach the city’s outskirts.

Above the tumultuous East Sea, colossal waves roared as many Martial Immortals strode over the waters—all converging outside Qitian City to witness the breakthrough of a Martial Immortal.

After all, the most recent Martial Immortal had already become a vivid legend in ancient chronicles—a vivid splash of magnitude in the sands of time.

The atmosphere over Qitian City grew increasingly heavy.

Everyone sensed that the day for the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s breakthrough to the Martial Immortal realm was near.

Lü Taibai and Lü Qiankun felt an overwhelming oppression.

Fang Han Shu, fresh from finishing his jade talisman enlightenment with Qitian’s aid, returned to Lü Taibai’s side—his scholar’s robe billowing and his flowing beard dancing in the wind.

“Something doesn’t feel right…”

Lü Taibai took a deep breath.

Fang Han Shu, holding the Sage Book and absorbing the heritage within the jade talisman, remarked, “Of course something’s off. How many forces has the Underworld offended? And now, with the Underworld and the Yulian Camp intertwined by default…”

“It’s because so many don’t wish to see the Underworld grow stronger. For the Underworld Ghost Emperor to break through to the Martial Immortal realm, heavenly proof is needed—many will secretly conspire to sabotage him.”

Fang Han Shu said calmly.

Lü Taibai stood in a tavern in Qitian Outer City. The once-glorious Qitian Outer City had been restored, as if the once-dominant Qitian City was reclaiming its peak.

The population was almost as abundant as in its heyday. Even inside Qitian City, commercial life had rebounded; vendors advertised their wares, and various factions had set up shop.

“From the Western Lands of Buddhism to the Ten Thousand Great Rivers to Witch God Mountain… each force is represented by a Martial God. Behind these powers stand the factions of the gods, and they surely harbor ill intent.”

“Perhaps someone will even sacrifice themselves during the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s breakthrough, drawing calamity to further empower the Martial Immortal realm and obliterate the Underworld Ghost Emperor…”

“Just one divine calamity acting as a sacrificial lure could cost a major Underworld powerhouse—a truly shrewd move!”

Fang Han Shu chuckled softly.

But after being transformed by Li Che’s Spiritual Confinement, he already knew that the Underworld Ghost Emperor was none other than Li Che.

When the sunset finally vanished and the red sun disappeared from sight!

A gigantic moon rose, its cool light bathing the world.

Qitian City suddenly erupted in clamor.

“Hurry! Up on the Inner City Tower, Qitian Temple Spirit has appeared!”

Someone bellowed.

His face flushed with excitement—this was a divine being in person!

In an instant, a ripple spread like a stone skimming across water.

The vast Long Street of Qitian City became congested, and below the Inner City gate, a massive throng surged together.

Most were martial fighters, their energies burning fiercely, all eyes fixed on the bent Old Monkey atop the Inner City Tower.

Old Monkey, dressed in simple garments and carrying a slender, bamboo-like Golden Staff as if it were a cane, tapped it lightly.

Below, the crowd roiled like a raging river.

Their burning energies formed a tide, as if ready to pierce the heavens and shake the cosmos.

The night itself seemed to brighten.

“So many people…”

Old Monkey exhaled softly.

Breaking through to the Martial Immortal realm was indeed a grand event. Perhaps in this era, Martial Immortals were exceedingly rare.

No one could resist the ecstasy brought by divine martial cultivation—a fatal allure.

A low humming sound emerged, like a flickering purple flame.

Soon it transformed into a twisted, burning figure enveloped in purple flames.

His ink-black robe whipped about, his golden head glistened, and purple flames rolled—sometimes forming a dragon, sometimes a beast.

“Are you ready?”

Gazing at the imposing figure that had materialized, with its fierce energy and boundless vitality, Old Monkey squinted his eyes.

“Sorry to trouble you, Senior.”

Li Che’s eyes glowed with a dark luster as purple flames danced like strands of hair, wild and unrestrained.

“Go ahead—step out of Qitian City. Break through outside the city walls,” Old Monkey instructed.

“After all, Qitian City straddles the boundary between the Bizarre Temple and the mortal realm. It’s not the ideal place for a breakthrough.”

“You must return completely to the mortal world.”

Old Monkey said.

Li Che nodded.

In the next moment, he leapt,

landing below the city wall of Qitian Inner City, stepping onto the outer ground of the Outer City.

The crowd gasped in an instant.

Countless martial fighters fixed their gazes on the Underworld Ghost Emperor.

And powerful hidden figures from various factions, lurking within the taverns and tea houses of Qitian City, also directed their attention his way.

Li Che spread his arms, his dark robe billowing, the sleeves flaring behind him,

then strode out of the city.

The assembled crowd parted like a river, clearing a path leading out of Qitian City—away from the protective mists of the Bizarre Temple.

The entire Qitian City fell into a deafening silence, as if submerged in deathly quiet.

Amid countless gazes and unyielding attention,

Li Che finally passed through the gate of Qitian Outer City.

His black boots trod upon the ground outside Qitian City.

In that instant, a surge of fierce energy exploded; primordial purple flames danced wildly, and his blood surged skyward!

The silver moon high in the night sky transformed into a blood moon!

All around, divine essence was ruthlessly suppressed, and the energy of the eight directions surged like tidal waves!

It was as if the martial seal upon his body had been completely shattered!