Chapter 485: Veiled Fates at the Imperial Mausoleum

The Imperial Mausoleum was brilliantly lit from within.

Radiant jewels were embedded atop the temple, their dazzling light banishing the darkness.

Upon the altar, ancestral tablets were carefully placed, with curling incense and flickering candles setting a solemn scene.

The Emperor’s cold words echoed, instantly plunging the mausoleum’s atmosphere into bone-chilling silence.

Even Eunuch Lian bowed deeply, not daring to lift his head or breathe openly, as if sensing the Emperor’s wrath.

Slowly, the Black Robe Venerable—one of the Two Calamity Respects—opened his eyes, a cold smile flickering in them.

The Emperor had been pushed into a corner; otherwise, given his temperament, he might have delayed further.

He was unwilling to release the Ju Xian Xuan Flag—such a valued divine weapon was too critical for the Great Realm Imperial House.

Originally, the Emperor had procrastinated, hoping to see if the near-extinguished Ghost Emperor would truly fade away. Three months passed… and indeed he hadn’t.

Moreover, an invitation to a grand ancestral ceremony transmitted through Lü Taibai’s sword intent had damaged the Emperor’s pride, forcing his decision.

“Your Majesty… at last, a decision has been made,” someone remarked.

The Black Robe Venerable slowly rose from the ground, his fearsome presence warping the surrounding void as if it were about to shatter.

The dragon motif on the Emperor’s bright yellow robe seemed to stir with life. His eyes, imbued with both divine and Taoist essence, cast a indifferent glance at the Black Robe Venerable.

Faced with such oppressive auras, the Venerable remained unruffled, his expression calm and composed.

“Do not spoil this supreme matter,” the Emperor stated coolly.

He spoke evenly, his tone measured.

The Black Robe Venerable laughed and replied, “Rest assured, Your Majesty. Annihilating the Qianyuan Divine Sect is no small feat—Supreme beings generally agree to such demands.”

“Then send word to inquire,” the Emperor said, clasping his hands behind his back.

The Black Robe Venerable narrowed his eyes. In the next moment he formed intricate hand seals and his divine aura surged, weaving ethereal runes around him into a unique divine array.

Moments later, he opened his eyes, announcing, “Xuanzhen Supreme has agreed.”

For a Supreme, possessing the Ju Xian Xuan Flag meant that, by briefly suppressing the will of Heaven and Earth, his strength on Earth became nearly unstoppable.

After all, under the oppression of cosmic will, even a Two Calamity Venerable would rarely appear—if one Supreme roams freely, who could oppose him?

Thus, it was no surprise that Xuanzhen Supreme consented.

Moreover…

Above the Qianyuan Divine Sect stood the Daughter of Yulian!

The Emperor’s demand was practically served on a silver platter for Xuanzhen Supreme.

The Emperor beckoned, “Eunuch Lian, prepare yourself. I have readied the Ju Xian Xuan Flag. You will escort this Venerable and personally ensure that Xuanzhen Supreme receives the flag with your own eyes!”

Eunuch Lian’s expression turned grave as he replied, “I swear by my life, I will ensure the Ju Xian Xuan Flag reaches Xuanzhen Supreme!”

The Emperor nodded. Lian had been his trusted aide for countless years.

With Lian handling the task, the Emperor felt at ease!

Boom—

The Emperor brought his fingers together as if summoning a sword’s gleam which sliced through the void.

A purple timber box slid out from the void and landed into the Emperor’s hand; inside lay the Ju Xian Xuan Flag.

The Emperor’s gaze fell upon Eunuch Lian.

In that moment, Lian felt an unbearable weight of pressure.

Taking the purple timber box into both hands, he was overwhelmed by a force that threatened to shatter both his body and spirit.

Clutching the box tightly, Eunuch Lian bowed deeply in reverence.

……

……

Blue mountains floated like coiffured clouds, barely visible through drifting mists.

Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Inside the Elders’ Court.

Li Che sat composed in the courtyard, a hot furnace boiling away nearby. The water in the heated cauldron roiled, and vibrant green tea leaves floated within.

As the leaves unfurled, they danced with the boiling water, releasing a rich, inviting aroma.

Having been away for a long time, Zhang Ya busied herself with cleaning.

Li Che’s mind was stirred as his consciousness merged with the Cosmic Chessboard; on it, chess pieces clashed and intertwined in an ever-changing dance.

Then, a vision appeared: the secret meeting at the Imperial Mausoleum between Eunuch Lian, the Emperor, and the Black Robe Venerable.

Li Che’s eyes fixed on the purple timber box taken by the Emperor.

Eunuch Lian, gripping the box, seemed barely able to contain it as if his very body was on the verge of collapsing under its weight.

“Something’s not right,” Li Che murmured.

Frowning slightly, Li Che instantly sensed an irregularity.

With a shift in his consciousness, the Martial Immortal Will settled onto the Cosmic Chessboard. In an instant, the Gathering Celestial Yellow Flag materialized and flew swiftly into his grasp.

Yet, curiously, the purple timber box showed no sign of resonating with the Yellow Flag.

A bitter laugh escaped Li Che. “The Emperor hides his true hand well.”

Even his most trusted aide seemed to be betrayed—was this all part of a ruse?

But the Emperor’s deceit was futile; once Xuanzhen Supreme received the box, he would immediately discern whether the Ju Xian Xuan Flag was present.

Only by possessing the Ju Xian Flag could one suppress the will of Heaven and escape Qitian Inner City…

Thus, any deception was meaningless.

Sure enough, as the Black Robe Venerable turned into the winding paths of the Bizarre Temple, the Emperor seized Eunuch Lian and handed him a jade box.

As the Emperor’s trusted aide, Lian immediately understood.

The Emperor doubted not the Supreme but the Black Robe Venerable.

It must be said that the Emperor was cautious and shrewd; alas, everything transpired right under Li Che’s watchful eyes.

Li Che’s grasp on the Gathering Celestial Yellow Flag trembled violently.

It appeared that the Emperor’s real stratagem was hidden within the jade box he gave Lian, containing the true Ju Xian Xuan Flag.

Even if someone planned to seize the flag, their target would inevitably be the divine weapon in the purple timber box, leaving Lian ample time to crush a divine talisman and whisk away the jade box.

Admittedly, the Emperor’s cautious planning left him one step ahead.

Li Che nodded in admiration. The Emperor’s prudence earned the approval of someone as ever-alert as he.

The Martial Immortal Will spanned the Cosmic Chessboard, its gaze fixed on Eunuch Lian’s position.

Along the winding paths of the Bizarre Temple, the Black Robe Venerable had acquired a Jiao Dragon Carriage, pulled by two Divine Calamity Grandmasters. On the carriage lay the purple timber box, its emanating aura cementing his belief that the Ju Xian Xuan Flag was indeed hidden within.

After all, the Black Robe Venerable could never fathom why the Emperor would deceive a Supreme.

The Emperor sought the Supreme’s aid yet deceived him—such a move would trap the Supreme inside Qitian Inner City, preventing him from toppling the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Thus, the Black Robe Venerable harbored no doubts about the Emperor.

A convoy crashed through the eerie mists, heading into the swirling, infinite expanse of the Bizarre Temple.

Eunuch Lian, dressed in purple, quietly followed the convoy, showing no sign of disturbance.

Buzz—buzz—buzz—

The Cosmic Chessboard grew murky, even as Feilei Chess Pieces left traces on Lian’s divine body, rendering the vision blurred.

Perhaps the vast distance of the Bizarre Temple or the increasingly thick mists were to blame.

Still, Li Che could faintly perceive what was unfolding.

He did not rush to intervene, instead maintaining his observational posture until the convoy had gone far, preparing for his move to seize the flag.

Li Che continued to use his Martial Immortal Will to sense the events.

Accompanied by Zhang Ya, who had just finished cleaning and shared a cup of hot tea with him, he set off for Taibai Peak.

As the first sparks of the Three Blossoms ignited, a storm of heavenly thunder erupted.

Li Che sensed imminent danger as someone prepared to break through to the Martial Saint realm.

“Just as I expected, little XiXi harbors a stubborn determination—to return triumphantly. Now that she is back at the Qianyuan Divine Sect, her pent-up passion has released, and the Martial Saint bottleneck suddenly seems to have eased,” Li Che mused with a smile.

Smiling, Li Che, a cultivated Martial Immortal with profound understanding of martial Dao, easily explained XiXi’s condition.

For over a year, the little girl had been nurtured by the Boss, consuming abundant nourishing elixirs and practicing in dream worlds, even receiving feedback from acquiring the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

Thus, her physical foundation was hardly inferior to Li Che’s.

……

……

Crack, crack—

The sky arched overhead, laden with dense, leaden clouds as thunder snakes roiled and twisted within.

Under crisp autumn skies, sudden thunder brought a refreshing chill.

Taibai Peak.

As if locked down by the will of Heaven and Earth, a terrifying aura enveloped the entire mountain.

On the Grand Plaza before Taibai Hall,

scorching energy burst forth like a raging flame, its heat surging over the mountain like an unstoppable tidal wave.

Lü Taibai stood within Taibai Hall, his eyes betraying a trace of astonishment.

“Eight years old…”

“Eight years old, huh!”

She was already challenging the Martial Saint realm!

Wasn’t the little one growing far too fast?

Surely, she was the Daughter of Yulian—destined to command the Yulian Camp and one day reign over all gods!

Know this: XiXi was not the reincarnation of a Temple Spirit but had honed her skills through her own innate talent. For an eight-year-old to break through to the Martial Saint realm was virtually unprecedented.

Not only Lü Taibai but even the Ancestral Patriarch Lü Qiankun was stirred, observing XiXi’s breakthrough from the Minor Cavern of the Heavens.

Many Qianyuan Divine Sect Elders—including Zhao Fangzhou, Feng Zhiqi, and Elder Ding Zi—wore expressions of utter shock.

They knew that XiXi’s return signified the transfer of sect leadership from the previous patriarch after his divine tribulation.

But who would have thought that her breakthrough would be into the Martial Saint realm!

An eight-year-old Martial Saint—it was simply astounding!

Li Che, accompanied by Zhang Ya, ascended Taibai Peak to watch XiXi, who sat cross-legged on the Grand Plaza.

XiXi sat on the ground with a fiery maple tree swaying behind her, its leaves shimmering like sunlight on water.

Three resplendent spiritual blossoms burst forth above her head and on her shoulders!

The Flame Three Blossoms twirled slowly, reminiscent of golden lotuses crafted from pure gold!

Explosive heat radiated from her body as the little girl suddenly awoke, exhaling a long breath.

Her diminutive frame blazed like a fierce, burning sun, emanating a heat powerful enough to repel any evil.

Crackle, crackle, crack—

XiXi raised her head and let out a long roar, stretching out her arms as her muscles and tendons pulsed with energy!

Wham—Bang!!!

A resounding explosion sent waves of crimson qi rippling outward, interwoven with flickers of golden light that burst around her.

XiXi’s eyes shone brightly, like two beams of gold piercing the sky!

With a sudden leap, the little girl landed on the Grand Plaza. A powerful martial intent erupted from her; under the watchful eyes of onlookers, she entered a self-invented combat flow.

She clenched her fists, her muscles grinding as she threw punches and kicks steadily, each move seamlessly absorbing the martial intent.

The connection between man and heaven was forming as if linking to the very cosmos!

Boom—

It was as though a furnace had erupted around XiXi—the little girl’s face lit up with excitement as every inch of her shuddered with energy.

Today, she would break through to the Martial Saint realm!

In XiXi’s eyes, flickering with fire, she recalled the time when, during her trials by the Tian Dan Divine Sect’s Martial Saint Gu Chuan, she had stood defenseless before a Martial Saint.

But now, things were different.

Once she broke through to the Martial Saint realm, XiXi was convinced that a single move could defeat Gu Chuan!

The Three Blossoms ignited, radiating a golden brilliance so dazzling it seemed otherworldly. With every step, her body shimmered as if lit from within!

The heavens echoed her martial call, confirming her mastery of the martial way.

A mighty surge of divine power gathered as Li Che’s instruction on Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant seamlessly merged into every move she executed—a display of raw, unparalleled dominance!

Boom—

Invisible shockwaves blazed across the Grand Plaza as the burning maple leaves were swept along in a frenzied gale, cascading like torrential flames over the mountain.

Countless bursts of fiery light erupted, while boundless divine power surged toward Taibai Peak.

Within the Qianyuan Daocheng, every temple in the Bizarre Temple trembled.

Boom, boom, boom, boom—!!!!

In an instant, the sky above Qianyuan Daocheng turned blood-red, as if crimson divine power roiled and intertwined, coalescing toward Taibai Peak to envelop the little one.

From every temple in the Bizarre Temple, columns of divine light ascended!

They rose like pillars holding up the heavens.

Such a spectacle stirred everyone in Qianyuan Daocheng—powerful figures within the hidden Pantheon of the Bizarre Temple were alarmed.

“Could that extraordinary phenomenon be a Martial Saint breakthrough?”

“Who has broken through to the Martial Saint realm with such far-reaching effects?!”

“The temples of the Pantheon are alight with concentrated divine power! Is it possible that the ruler of the gods has broken through?!”

……

Many powerful figures were visibly shaken.

Among these soaring divine pillars were those emanating from the mysterious temple on Mei Mountain that they had been tracking.

This could not leave them untroubled!

They even worried that such a phenomenon might prematurely revive the mysterious deity at the Mei Mountain temple.

“We must not let the Daughter of Yulian break through! Nor can Li Nuǎnxi succeed!”

One fierce expert glared coldly, dark intent forming in his heart.

On Taibai Peak, a turbulent sea of blood roiled.

XiXi lifted her head with pride, single-handedly brandishing the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear as the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel circled by her side, while the Hun Tian Ling whirled wildly!

“Ah——”

XiXi raised her head in defiance and roared, her slight figure boldly challenging the heavens like a roaring tigress in a valley!

Countless streams of divine energy intertwined around her, gradually coalescing into a radiant divine sphere that completely enveloped her!

“What—how… am I being encased by divine power?! Those forces seem to be drawn from all the temples in Qianyuan Daocheng!”

A surge of panic gripped Zhang Ya. This wasn’t the expected Martial Saint breakthrough, was it?

Lü Taibai, Lü Qiankun, and other divine calamity figures could not determine the situation;

Martial Saint experts such as Zhao Fangzhou, Feng Zhiqi, and Tang Xiejia looked on in stunned disbelief.

“Our breakthroughs to the Martial Saint realm should never occur like this!”

“In the world of mortals, exposing one’s blood and spirit in explosive display is the way to achieve it!”

“This… is unheard of!”

……

“We are meant to break through without this kind of spectacle!”

“This is simply outrageous!”

Li Che stood rooted in place, a furrow forming on his brow as he realized that XiXi—being the Daughter of Yulian—had indeed broken through in a most extraordinary manner.

Her overwhelming divine power, like a colossal flood unleashed by nine dragons, surged relentlessly, engulfing her entirely.

She resembled a blazing, red orb!

Thud, thud, thud—

The fiery sphere pulsated violently with every beat!

Each thump resonated like the pounding of a celestial drum!

“Let me out—!”

XiXi’s cry of anger rang out as she thrust the Fire-Tipped Spear repeatedly into the surface of the divine sphere, which deformed painfully with each strike, emitting a resounding clamor.

This shocking scene left everyone dumbfounded.

It was as if she had transformed into a pulsating mass of flesh that needed to shatter before being reborn.

Li Che’s brow furrowed deeper and, in the next moment, his forehead split open with blood and flesh.

The Star Plucking Gaze burst forth, sweeping golden light onto the flesh ball.

Within the mass, XiXi roared in fury as her spear stabbed relentlessly, the devastating force causing the deformed sphere to emit unceasing, ringing clamor.

All over XiXi’s body, intricate divine patterns emerged, interlacing across her skin; her eyes turned a fierce crimson, as if all that remained was burning rage.

The ceaseless divine energy merged into her flesh, transforming her body beyond recognition!

Li Che also noticed that the Yulian divine inscriptions at XiXi’s brow flickered intermittently, black flames erupting like sinister patterns that clung to her skin.

“The Yulian Curse…”

Li Che’s gaze hardened.

He exhaled slowly.

……

……

XiXi felt as if she had been swallowed by endless darkness.

Ding dong.

It was as though a single drop of water had fallen, its ripples expanding in an instant.

Waves upon waves surged, growing ever more terrifying, like a tsunami engulfing everything in its path!

XiXi opened her eyes to see, in the distance, a black lotus platform stretching out in the endless darkness, emanating a dull black glow. Yes, amid the vast dark void, it shone with a mysterious black light…

An unseen force propelled her, and before she knew it she stepped onto that enormous lotus platform.

Atop the black lotus platform, a single ruddy egg rested quietly.

Its surface was calm, undisturbed.

“XiXi, do you feel the lingering resentment? The despair? After witnessing the slaughter of your parents, the death of your closest friends, and the collapse of your sect, have you felt lost and hopeless?”

“When mountains of corpses and seas of blood roll before your eyes, have you ever known pain?”

A gentle, ethereal voice began to resonate from the egg.

“What?”

XiXi tilted her head in confusion.

Her eyes brimmed with bewilderment. What nonsense was the egg spouting?

Why should XiXi be sorrowful?

After all, her parents lived; Yun’e, along with Chubby Kid Zhou Peng, were alive and well; the sect hadn’t collapsed—in fact, it was thriving. Even the sect master dared to defy the Emperor!

“You egg, spouting such foolish words—are you cursing me? You rascal!”

Irritated, XiXi snapped.

“XiXi, don’t pretend to be strong. Accept the truth—embrace it… We must grow stronger and tougher; only then can we defy them.”

The voice from the egg resounded with earnest conviction.

“Come now, open your heart and accept my power…”

“All the world’s cruelty and torment shall be repaid in full!”

The voice from within was resolute!

Suddenly, XiXi’s vision blurred, as if she were being hypnotized.

Visions flashed before her eyes: the brutal deaths of her parents and friends, the shattered sect, rivers of blood…

XiXi raised her palm to her chest, feeling an endless, piercing pain—as if countless blades were tearing through her heart.

“No… my father was so strong—he cannot be dead!”

“You egg, you’re deceiving me!”

XiXi roared in anger.

“You simply crave power, don’t you…”

The will from the egg seemed to sense the discord, its voice now soft and sorrowful.

Conflict flashed in XiXi’s eyes.

Yet her steps were involuntary as she slowly moved toward the egg on the black lotus platform.

Her hand reached out as if to touch the egg.

Stepping onto the lotus, her palm made contact with the egg’s surface, sending ripples like water waves spreading outward.

“You crave power—I can grant it to you. You will become unstoppable…”

“No force, no deity, not even the heavens themselves can hold you back!”

The voice whispered softly.

XiXi’s face was etched with struggle as her hand gradually sank into the egg’s shell.

On the black lotus platform, the egg’s surface slowly revealed a pair of eyes.

Those eyes fixed intently on XiXi.

In that moment, images of Martial Saint Gu Chuan’s pursuit from the Tian Dan Divine Sect flashed in her mind, along with visions of Yun’e and Zhou Peng leaning against a tree, their life’s spark fading.

Tears streamed from her eyes, colored like blood.

She resolved to grow stronger!

That was her unyielding determination!

Her resolve wavered, and suddenly it felt as if the egg was swallowing her entire arm.

Then, out of nowhere, a warm, radiant hand—like the glorious midday sun—pressed against her head, dispelling the surrounding chill in an instant.

XiXi’s inner struggle vanished, and she looked up bewildered.

Before her stood Li Che, his countenance gentle and reassuring.

“Father…”

“Little one, your parents are alive. Yun’e, Zhou Peng, and even Jin Taisui are well. The sect is thriving, and the master is boldly defying the Emperor. All is well—”

“He’s deceiving you. You don’t need to drown in sorrow, anger, or pain. Just be happy—with me by your side, you shall not suffer…”

“Until you see me truly fall, do not grieve or be blinded by despair.”

“Because…”

“With me here, you will never be left in darkness.”

Li Che’s voice was warm and soothing, as if bright light had shattered the gloom in XiXi’s eyes.

“Yes… yes, Father is right! That scoundrel is deceiving you!”

XiXi’s eyes sparkled with anger.

Li Che pressed his five fingers against her head. The Pure Heart Dao Fruit trembled, and the divine energy within his Seven Aperture Luminous Heart surged like a tidal wave to purify XiXi.

It was as if he were dueling with the force contained within the egg.

Slowly, he tugged at the arm that had been swallowed by the egg’s shell.

“Ah——!!!”

From within the egg, a piercing, shrill sound exploded!

Torrents of endless black qi surged in from every direction. Li Che’s Martial Immortal Will shone dimly in the dark, like a lone lantern on a vast, stormy sea.

Resolute and solitary.

When XiXi’s last fingertip broke free from the rippling egg shell…

The screams from within the egg transformed, becoming sharper and more maniacal.

“Who are you?!”

“Who on earth are you?!”

The voices from within the egg attacked like a barrage of arrows.

Yet Li Che’s Martial Immortal Will and the vibrations of his Seven Aperture Luminous Heart repelled every onslaught.

“You cannot stop me. Even if you prevail this time, there will be another chance… Fate is unchangeable. No one can alter what is destined!”

“All beings have their fate—the stars, the heavens, the deities, and even you are bound by destiny!”

“Destiny cannot be altered!”

“She is destined to walk a path strewn with corpses and blood; she is fated to be the chosen of Heaven itself…”

“Executioner!!!”

Boom—!!!!

In an instant, the endless darkness vanished.

The egg on the lotus platform stilled, its surface no longer stirring.

XiXi panted heavily.

Li Che’s Martial Immortal Will dimmed, as if on the verge of fading away completely.

He frowned, a weight of solemnity in his eyes.

What exactly was this egg…?

Was it truly…

the Yulian Curse?!

Suddenly, Li Che’s gaze shifted to the back of the egg.

A girl with long, straight black hair and clad in a black dress stepped forward, her eyes reflecting myriad emotions.

“Big Sister!”

XiXi exclaimed in surprise.

Li Che looked at the girl with mixed feelings.

“Is the will within the egg… you?” he inquired.

The girl, with dark, solemn eyes and a cool, detached expression, shook her head.

“Not me?”

Li Che drew a deep breath. He knew that within XiXi resided the awakened Martial Immortal Will of Big XiXi.

Then, what was that damned egg that had bewitched her?

If he hadn’t intervened, XiXi might have been completely consumed by it, undergoing an irreversible transformation.

Lost in thought, Li Che suddenly felt a stirring in his own fragile Martial Immortal Will—a ripple in a penetrating gaze.

He placed his hand on XiXi’s small head and looked steadily at the graceful figure emerging from behind the egg.

The girl with long, straight hair, whose expression was as cold as an ancient glacier, met Li Che’s eyes. Though her face was impassive, a storm of unspoken emotions bubbled within her.

“Father…”