Chapter 492: The Dawn of Supreme Transformations

Among the three Supremes, one was destined to be the lucky one.

Li Che hardly hesitated over which Supreme to target.

With the help of the newly ascended Supreme Fang Han Shu, Li Che had the means to hunt a Supreme. Still, he needed to deliberate on which one to pursue.

The decision was simple: choose the Supreme whose demise would best benefit himself!

The Underworld Jiagou Supreme of Hei Xumi and the Xuanzhen Supreme of Dark Heavenly Court were both of the human race. Killing either would only yield limited Spiritual Confinement.

But the Celestial Wolf Demon God Supreme was entirely different…

He was a demon!

After the hunt, the accumulated Supreme demonic aura would not only enhance Li Che’s Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit but also boost the power of his Dao Induction Yin-Yang Demon Blade!

It was a double win!

Moreover, aside from Spiritual Confinement…

A Demon God Supreme was a treasure trove in itself!

Be it Supreme demonic blood, flesh, or Pills, these top-tier resources, when refined, could significantly aid one’s martial cultivation!

Indeed, a Supreme Demon Pill could rival the efficacy of a divine herb!

Within the Cosmic Chessboard, three Supreme portraits floated as Li Che smiled lightly. A hint of sword energy burst forth from his fingertips, instantaneously cleaving down the Celestial Wolf Supreme!

“That’s you, lucky wolf!”

Li Che’s smile deepened with anticipation.

But before all that…

Li Che needed to temper his body by successfully channeling the sixth Qimen Immortal Seed. Only then would his Supreme-hunting plan have a high chance of success.

After channeling the sixth Qimen Immortal Seed, Li Che conservatively estimated that his combat prowess might rival that of a Supreme once it detonated.

Rumble—

Inside his Dao Tribulation Space, the power of the Primordial Heaven and Earth Battle surged like a maelstrom. The space itself trembled, as if on the verge of rupture.

Li Che’s mighty flesh burst forth with golden radiance. He retrieved a Divine Medicine Pill, crushed it in his mouth, and as its essence erupted like a massive dragon, it roiled around him, roaring!

Harnessing the power of the Dao Tribulation to forge his bodily strength was a shortcut Li Che had recently discovered.

Of course, such shortcuts were sheer torment for everyone else.

Rumble—

The overwhelming essence of the Divine Medicine Pill was extraordinary. Its quality had reached the level of the Three Pure Ones. Once ingested, its boundless essence nearly overflowed from his acupoints.

With the aid of the Divine Medicine Pill, Li Che absorbed its core essence, transforming it into medicinal power to fortify his flesh.

Alas, the Divine Medicine Pill concocted by Gu Changqing was nearly depleted.

Li Che had no chance to acquire more; he didn’t even know where else to find such a pill.

This divine herb had been discovered in Jingguang City’s Inner City by the Night Bat Demon God, whose ultrasonic perception made treasure hunting extremely efficient.

Rumble—

His flesh trembled as Li Che spread his fingers wide, stretching his body, while his sinews and bones creaked and burst!

Within every inch of his body, blood surged like molten mercury, swelling like tides under the sun, gleaming with golden brilliance and echoing with a colossal roar!

The power of the Primordial Heaven and Earth Battle intensified, the space itself fracturing and chipping away at Li Che.

Eventually, Li Che couldn’t withstand the force. With a thunderous explosion, golden blood sprayed through the Dao Tribulation Space.

He opened his eyes.

Exiting the Dao Tribulation Space, the effects of the ingested Divine Medicine Pill still coursed through him. Without pausing, Li Che resumed his martial training.

Fingers splayed, sword energy roared as he merged the freshly captured power of the Primordial Heaven and Earth Battle into his sword energy. In an instant, six beams of sword light erupted like six ferocious, roaring dragons across the sky!

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

The six beams interwove over the skies of Mo City Fengdu, as if plunging into the very fabric of space like coiling dragons!

Space collapsed in a massive chunk, and then terrifying sword energy burst forth from the breach, lashing out and slicing through everything!

Li Che’s figure shifted rapidly in midair, disappearing one moment and reappearing the next, as though the very space had become his domain!

Powerful blood energy intertwined with the yet-to-be-refined essence of the Divine Medicine Pill, while fierce sword energy roared rampantly…

The entire Mo City Fengdu looked as if it were witnessing the apocalypse at that moment!

Time ticked by.

Li Che’s mind was completely absorbed in his cultivation.

Inside his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit pounded rapidly. Although there was no instant revelation, it was no big deal; given Li Che’s understanding of martial cultivation, his progress was nothing short of remarkable!

Resonant sword energy surged like a tidal wave, as if six divine dragons roared behind him.

His sleek, jet-black hair whipped wildly, shattering the surrounding space with forceful strikes.

Golden radiance burst from Li Che’s eyes as he exhaled slowly. Lifting his hand, swirling sword energy condensed in his palm, forming a vortex that seemed to contain the Primordial Heaven and Earth Battle within.

“It’s done…”

Li Che exhaled softly and smiled.

The Six Desire Lü Xuan Pure Yang Sword Technique, fused with the power of the Primordial Heaven and Earth Battle he had just acquired, completed the transformation from Divine Seed Martial Arts to Celestial Seed Martial Arts!

At last, the sixth Qimen Immortal Seed had found its rightful place.

Six Desire Void Sword Technique!

Moreover, since it shared the same origins as his original Divine Seed Martial Arts, the new Celestial Seed Martial Arts merged far more easily, with fewer obstructions.

Still, transferring Celestial Seed Martial Arts into the Eight Mysterious Gates would place tremendous strain on his flesh.

But physical hardship was a small price to pay. Li Che was unconcerned.

Enduring the Martial Immortal Golden Body was crucial—a key process in reaching the realm of Martial Immortals!

“Next… is to channel into the Eight Mysterious Gates.”

Li Che exhaled deeply.

In a flash, his body transformed into a streak of sword light.

Reappearing atop the Dominator Tower.

Perched there, as winds howled and ink-black rains swirled,

the great dragon of his back roared, blood energy surged, and it shot skyward, altering the very heavens.

Above the great dragon, eight swirling vortices emerged, rotating majestically. Five of them were as vast as the midday sun; deep within, faint, heavy currents of white mist intertwined.

That was the nascent form of Immortal Qi!

Channel!

Boom—!!!

Li Che’s entire being glowed with radiant light!

……

……

Xiling Road.

The setting sun cast a crimson glow over the land. Scorching heat seared the sands, warping the air above them.

Crack, crack—

Suddenly, a pair of white boots stepped onto the scorching sand, leaving dents in its surface.

Lü Taibai, with a hood covering his silvery hair,

carried the Sect Master’s Wife—a baby-like figure donning an adorable little bamboo hat that partly hid her face—on his shoulder.

In the distance, beneath the dying sun, a dilapidated, fire-red city loomed. It was an ordinary town on Xiling Road.

Though the desert sands twisted from the searing heat, this crumbling city, shrouded in bursts of golden light, exuded a cold and forbidding aura. Despite the golden Buddha aura, it felt icy.

Lü Taibai’s wide sleeves billowed as he adjusted his hat against the desert winds and strode toward the city.

Soon, he entered through a city gate scarred with cracks and streaks of blood.

Inside, the pavement was nothing but sand. On both sides, heaps of withered bones and the densely packed, shadowy commoners filled the area.

Their eyes were hollow as they knelt before Buddha statues, looking as lifeless as sculptures.

When Lü Taibai and the baby-like Sect Master’s Wife stepped into the city,

the gazes of the people swept over, lingering on the Sect Master’s Wife. At the sight of this fragile new life, dim eyes seemed to brighten with a spark of hope.

An emaciated, elderly woman painfully rose, her eyes fixed on the Sect Master’s Wife. In a hoarse voice she cried, “Young man, hurry, go quickly!”

“This city doesn’t welcome your kind… take the child and leave!”

Her voice was raspy, tinged with madness.

Lü Taibai’s gaze rested on her with mixed emotions.

His Heavenly Dao Soul spread, instantly enveloping the entire city. For a moment, complex emotions stirred; here was a city of the weak and infirm, utterly decrepit, devoid of youth.

But it wasn’t so—the temple at the city’s heart, aglow with ceaseless incense flames, teemed with young people…

Suddenly,

Lü Taibai’s eyes flickered as a sound of something slicing through the air echoed—a bronze bowl vibrated, shrieking as it hurtled toward the elderly woman who had warned him.

Had it struck her, this feeble woman would have been shattered instantaneously.

And it was all because she had spoken out.

Raising his hand, Lü Taibai snapped his fingers.

A burst of sword light shot forth, flinging the bronze bowl far off to the sand, where it landed with a dull thud.

“Amitabha…”

“Dear benefactor, this old woman has defamed our city with her words. We, as monks, despise falsehoods. Hence, she deserves to descend into hell.”

“How could our city ever reject the youth?”

A towering young monk, nearly two meters tall with rippling muscles and boundless youthful vigor, strode in from afar, starkly contrasting with the feeble elderly.

The monk’s gaze immediately fell on the Sect Master’s Wife resting on Lü Taibai’s shoulder. A low rumble of delight and a swallowing of saliva betrayed that he found her utterly delectable.

Lü Taibai sighed, “After a hundred years, nothing has changed…

“Xiao Lingyin Temple still manages to disgust me.”

No sooner had his words faded than the burly monk’s face contorted in anger!

“You—!!!”

Yet,

the monk had barely uttered a single word when his eyes burst with blood, as if he had seen something unspeakable.

Then, his head rocketed skyward, and his muscular frame pulsed with surging blood, forming a towering column of crimson.

To the dozens of elderly worshippers around him, the scene was a gruesome vision.

“Heh… nice…,”

muttered an elderly man, his lips crooked in a mad smile.

Lü Taibai glanced at the old man and sighed softly.

From his sleeve, the Taibai Sword slipped free.

“Go forth…”

“Wield the Liver and Gallbladder Taibai Sword, let it roar and drink in the sinful blood.”

What is cultivation for if not for today—to settle old scores?

Beneath his bamboo hat, Lü Taibai’s eyes grew distant.

Once chased out of Xiling Road like a defeated dog, he might have perished had not his revered ancestor intervened.

But now…

Lü Taibai…

had returned with vengeance!

Whoosh—

The Taibai Sword exploded in dazzling silver light, as if resonating with Lü Taibai’s indomitable spirit.

In a flash, it transformed into a silver dragon that soared across the sky, audaciously cleaving the splendid, incense-filled temple in half!

The icy Buddha aura that had shrouded the dilapidated city vanished in an instant.

The scorching heat surged in to replace the chill.

A few grains of sand tumbled away.

Bringing a hint of earthly warmth.

……

……

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Autumn winds whipped through, tinting the city’s maple trees a deep red.

Before the Daocheng of Qianyuan…

Elder Ding Zi bid farewell to XiXi. She was to remain behind to guard the Qianyuan Divine Sect. Though her cultivation wasn’t particularly strong, she had attained the Divine Transformation stage.

Moreover, with Lü Qiankun the venerable master in seclusion in Daocheng and, publicly, the two notorious Supreme cultivators, Lü Taibai, holding the fort, the situation was under control.

Even though numerous strong contenders had infiltrated Daocheng, they were merely pawns in various factions’ games.

All for the sake of the Mysterious Manifestation Three-Eyed True Lord’s Bizarre Temple of Marvels.

Yet, the main focus remained in Jingguang Prefecture, especially since the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince Temple Spirit had shown signs of resurrection!

Thus, despite some turbulence in Daocheng, Elder Ding Zi’s presence was enough to hold everything in check.

As the Sect Leader of Jingguang Prefecture, XiXi was compelled to visit—not only because the Four Seas Dragon Clan had relocated Dragon Island to the Jiulong River but also due to the profound bond between the Third Prince Temple Spirit and herself.

XiXi’s body housed countless divine weapons of the Third Prince. Be it the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel or the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear…

These were the divine arms of the Third Prince, mythic weapons that might prove decisive when the Third Prince Temple Spirit was resurrected!

Thus, though Elder Ding Zi continuously assisted XiXi, she did not dissuade her from going.

“Elder Ding! We’re setting off!”

XiXi leaned out of the carriage, waving excitedly at the gentle, graceful woman standing at the city gate.

Beside Elder Ding Zi stood Yun’e and Zhou Peng, her companions from the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

They were not joining this trip.

Both had other plans. Yun’e intended to head to the Bizarre Temple of the Guanghan Immortal, and given Li Che’s situation with Fang Han Shu, he planned to let Yun’e attempt to secure the complete legacy of the Temple Spirit. That boost in cultivation could be significant—perhaps even reviving the Guanghan Immortal of the Yulian Camp.

Similarly, Zhou Peng was headed to the Nine-Toothed Demon Exterminator Heavenly Pavilion to vie for the Temple Spirit’s inheritance, with Li Che harboring considerable expectations for him.

After all, both the Nine-Toothed Demon Exterminator Heavenly Pavilion and the Mysterious Manifestation Three-Eyed True Lord’s Bizarre Temple were of the Four Supreme ranks!

The two would execute Li Che’s orders with utmost attention.

Inside the carriage,

Li Che’s Painted Immortal Clone sat quietly, accompanying XiXi on her journey to Jingguang Prefecture.

The movements of the Qianyuan Divine Sect were enormous. Once they left the city, strong forces from various factions began relaying word to Jingguang Prefecture.

With Li Nuǎnxi, the new Sect Leader of the Divine Sect, setting out, the strongmen within Jingguang Prefecture couldn’t help but feel invigorated, sensing an imminent storm!

In fact, the pressure on the Divine Sect Branch of Jingguang Prefecture was largely aimed at XiXi.

They wanted XiXi, the Sect Leader of the Divine Sect, to arrive in Jingguang Prefecture sooner.

Her arrival, involving the daughter of Yulian with deep ties to the Third Prince Temple Spirit, would undoubtedly disrupt the resurrection of the Third Prince Temple Spirit.

……

……

Although Li Che left his Painted Immortal Clone with XiXi, his mind wasn’t divided; he paid little heed to the situation over there.

After all, he was merely on the move. There was no need to overly concern himself.

Even though he had long been aware of the happenings in Jingguang City, the issue was minor—the various factions were simply pressuring XiXi to show up early.

Now that XiXi had departed, Li Che was quite curious to see what the newly crowned Sect Leader would do upon her first public appearance among the strongmen.

Mo City Fengdu.

On the Dominator Tower.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Ferocious winds roared as dazzling radiance shone like a blazing sun, illuminating the entire ink-dark city as if it were daylight!

A great dragon’s roar split the sky while countless ink-black raindrops exploded, transforming into swirling, murky black mist!

The Sixth Desire Void Sword Technique—the sixth Immortal Seed Martial Art—had been successfully researched by Li Che!

Now, it had been channeled into his spinal great dragon!

Boom—!!!

A terrifying surge of energy burst forth from Li Che,

drenching his ink-colored robe in golden blood!

Atop the Dominator Tower!

Li Che, towering in his robust form, soared upward as six blazing disks ascended—radiant beyond measure!

Countless gleams of light threatened to tear the heavens apart!

Thump, thump, thump—

The sixth Qimen Immortal Seed!

Channeling complete!

Inside his chest, his heart was pushed to its limits. With terrifying, overwhelming force, its pulsation shattered the space around him, sending ripples of destruction with every beat!

The sound roared like thunder!

Earth-shattering!

“Hoo—”

A long, scorching exhalation, like relentless streams of searing steam, rippled through the void. Li Che’s eyes snapped open, unleashing bursts of electrical brilliance!

“It’s done.”

Li Che raised his arms, reveling in the colossal, awe-inspiring power of his flesh.

The fusion of the sixth Qimen Immortal Seed triggered a fierce metamorphosis!

The Martial Immortal Will roared into existence, blazing like the sun and scorching countless miles of emptiness!

Li Che’s exclamation thundered as he absorbed his transformation.

Even the Martial Immortal Will trembled, as if capturing interwoven patterns within the cosmos!

Those were the underlying traces of the Dao!

The Great Dao Divine Pattern!

It was the tangible manifestation of the Dao—a mark only those who reached the Supreme Realm could truly harness.

However, Li Che noted that his path on the Martial Immortal Way was different.

He could not summon divine nature…

So to forge the Great Dao Divine Pattern…

“Immortal Qi… must be harnessed—with the power of the Dao Tribulation and one’s own blood and energy—to crystallize the Great Dao Immortal Pattern!”

Li Che’s eyes blazed with determination.

Unable to name it properly, he simply dubbed it the Great Dao Immortal Pattern.

Yet Immortal Qi…

Li Che could sense that within the swirling vortex of the six Qimen Immortal Seeds lay the nascent form of Immortal Qi. It would take time to mature into its true form…

But at least Li Che now knew which path to follow!

He exhaled deeply.

The Martial Immortal Way was indeed formidable, but it came at a cost. The paths once trodden by one’s predecessors had been erased, leaving no records in the mortal world…

Meaning, in unconventional cultivation, there were no examples to emulate—one had to find it all on one’s own.

And forging one’s own path could easily lead to errors, dead ends, and regrets.

The path of the Divine was traceable—those divine beings were the traces.

However…

Li Che sensed that this path might harbor significant problems.

Otherwise, why were there so many Temple Spirits?

Fallen Temple Spirits.

When divine fire went out, its rekindling signified the true death of the divine—a death of the Dao. In other words, Temple Spirits were those deities who had died once; even if revived, their power was severely limited.

The Martial Immortal Way…

Li Che recalled Qi Tian’s lament that perhaps Qi Tian too once walked the Martial Immortal Way?

Yet Li Che had transformed into a divine being.

How did that transformation occur?

Li Che’s expression changed as he sighed quietly, understanding all too well.

Whoosh—

The sixth Qimen Immortal Seed finished channeling.

Li Che felt refreshed, his eyes radiating brilliance.

“Time to move and stretch these muscles.”

“It’s been nearly half a year since I last worked out…”

Li Che smiled softly.

In the next moment, he vanished from Mo City Fengdu,

only to reappear in Qitian City.

Fang Han Shu sat in his chair as a gentle breeze stirred. He remained still, moving only his fingers as he turned pages.

For one who had broken into the Supreme Realm, Fang Han Shu preferred stillness—movement would attract the attention of the Heavenly Will.

But with Li Che’s arrival, Fang Han Shu snapped out of his zombie-like state.

His eyes flickered, clearly understanding the purpose of Li Che’s visit.

“Old Fang, prepare to act.”

Li Che’s ink-black robes billowed as he appeared in the courtyard.

A single fiery red maple leaf drifted by, which Li Che plucked between his fingers.

“XiXi’s headed to Jingguang City. It seems the resurrection of the Third Prince Temple Spirit is imminent… Our foundation must be strengthened.”

“Among the three Great Supremes, which one will you choose?”

Fang Han Shu, his scholarly robe fluttering as he stroked his handsome beard, inquired.

“Celestial Wolf.”

Li Che replied coolly.

Fang Han Shu showed no surprise, as if he had long expected Li Che to target the Celestial Wolf Supreme.

For Li Che, the Demon Clan was the ultimate tonic!

Li Che snapped his fingers. In an instant, Fang Han Shu dissolved into streams of light and vanished into Mo City Fengdu,

waiting silently.

……

……

In Qitian Inner City.

The Inner City now lay within the bounds of the Bizarre Temple. Above the Heavenly Dome, dense swirling mists interwove like clouds ready to burst.

Qitian Inner City had been divided into three regions, each occupied by strong figures from the three factions of the Bizarre Temple Pantheon.

Although they all united against the Yulian Camp, competition and friction still simmered among them.

It wasn’t a unified front.

For Li Che, entry into Qitian Inner City was effortless. He had already placed a chess piece there—a divine general from the Dark Heavenly Court, Zhou Heng.

By using the Feilei Shift, he could instantly appear by Zhou Heng’s side, employ the Sleeping Dragon Elephant to conceal his aura, and with the Cosmic Chessboard to block out detection—even a Supreme wouldn’t notice him.

Now, his Chess Sage Dao Fruit had advanced to LV7, enhancing its shielding power further.

The southern region of Qitian’s Bizarre Temple was shrouded in contiguous patches of demonic aura, interspersed with overwhelming divine nature that nearly overwhelmed the space!

A magnificent palace stood there.

Originally, it belonged to a venerable elder from Qitian Temple.

Now, it served as the Celestial Wolf Supreme’s sleeping chamber.

Outside the chamber, numerous demon gods from the Xie Yao Cave were blocked by the Underworld Ghost Emperor, unable to reach the Outer City.

These demon gods revered the Supreme Sleeping Chamber deeply.

Inside the resplendent chamber,

the Celestial Wolf Demon God Supreme sat cross-legged. His cushion beneath him was a divine weapon that enhanced comprehension—a prized tool for demon clans who preferred action over thought.

Demonic aura enveloped him like mist. With every breath, thunderous roars resounded.

Suddenly,

the Celestial Wolf Supreme opened his eyes, revealing a vertical pupil above his brows—a celestial wolf eye that shimmered with light.

“Hmm?!”

A trace of doubt crossed his eyes.

As his vertical pupil radiated brilliance, a barely discernible sense of peril surrounded him, making his hairs stand on end.

For a Supreme…

how could danger sneak up on him so suddenly?!

Could an immortal deity really be eyeing his flesh?

“This isn’t right…”

The Celestial Wolf Demon God Supreme grew alert. After all, they were in Qitian Inner City. Could it be that the Qitian Temple Spirit had returned from the Earthly Bizarre Temple?

It wasn’t that simple, though.

The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were the origin of all divine factions. With immortal deities guarding them, any intrusion by Qitian forces with such sensitive identities would inevitably invite their wrath…

Perhaps they were all long dead by now?

“Then from where does this threat emanate?”

“Hmm? Could it be that Xuanzhen is meddling again? That meddlesome fellow keeps accusing me of intercepting the Ju Xian Flag… But I never did such a thing! This is a frame-up!”

The Celestial Wolf Demon God Supreme’s eyes gleamed with cold ferocity.

In the next moment, his vertical pupil burst into dazzling splendor, as if setting the entire chamber’s demonic aura ablaze.

Yet…

as his celestial wolf eye shone brilliantly,

the Celestial Wolf Demon God suddenly felt an icy chill.

Because…

he discovered, just within a hundred feet of him!

Something that had been utterly undetectable before now stood there—

a stout figure, donning a cute Cute Elephant Mask, tilting its head, staring at him in astonishment.

“Heh heh…”

“Underworld Diting… you actually got caught!”