Chapter 499: Fishing for Destiny

Fishing?

Li Che loved fishing above all else.

Because every fishing trip brought huge rewards—especially when he could use himself as bait.

When it came to swallowing bait, Li Che was an absolute pro.

“It’s been so long… since I’ve met a fishing enthusiast,”

Li Che’s eyes flared with lethal intent even as a cold, eerie smile played on his lips.

XiXi tilted her head in puzzlement as she looked at Li Che. Suddenly her eyes lit up: “Daddy, are you going fishing?”

Li Che ruffled XiXi’s hair. In the inner realm of his Mud Pellet, the Seven Aperture Luminous Heart trembled with the aura of Pure Heart, its divine energy cascading over XiXi’s body.

This suppressed the restless divine aura from all the mighty weapons within XiXi—those stirred by the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring—so she wouldn’t feel uneasy.

“Divine weapons should be in perfect order. Let Daddy fix yours,”

Li Che said with a gentle smile.

His voice was soft and warm; without his mask, he resembled the honest, refined aura of the Divine Eagle Hand.

It was as if he were saying, ‘If you like that toy, Daddy will get it for you,’ indulging her completely.

After all, Li Che naturally spoiled his daughter XiXi.

XiXi’s eyes curled into crescent moons as she beamed with delight.

“Thank you, Daddy! You’re the best!”

Her heart swelled with joy, soaking up her father’s affection.

After cuddling with Li Che for a while, XiXi broke away, hands on her hips, and strode off to join Liu Yangyuan and the others on a patrol of Jingguang Prefecture.

After XiXi departed,

Li Che left behind a Painted Immortal Clone on Golden Light Peak to chat casually with Nan Lihuo and others.

His true self, however, ventured into Mo City Fengdu.

Having promised XiXi, Li Che was determined to see things through. A trip to Dragon Island was necessary—not only to lure out the divine aura of the Third Prince Temple Spirit from the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring, which would attract XiXi’s array of divine weapons (like the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear, God-Slamming Brick, and Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel) with his unique ‘fishing’ tactic,

but also because that Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring was crucial in determining whether the Third Prince Temple Spirit could be revived.

The Yulian Camp was desperately in need of a divine presence at its helm…

Even though the Qitian Temple Spirit had been revived, it had plunged into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Bizarre Temple to protect XiXi, waging war against immortal deities. Through the Cosmic Chessboard, Li Che saw the temple spirit struggling to regain power and survive.

Relying on Qitian’s protection for Yulian was simply impractical.

That’s why Li Che resolved to revive the Third Prince himself—so that a divine protector would finally shield XiXi.

Meanwhile…

Li Che sensed that XiXi was under direct attack.

Various divine forces harbored schemes against XiXi, the Daughter of Yulian, marking her as their target.

Li Che’s gaze fell as his heart grew heavy.

In the grand revival of the Third Prince Temple Spirit, XiXi was destined to be the center of attention.

And Li Che could not allow that.

As a father, how could he let XiXi bear the brunt of the assault…

Perhaps it was time for him to step forward…

to become the focal point of attention

and divert the danger away from XiXi.

As for how to draw that fire…

Li Che slowly exhaled, his mind already formulating several plans.

…

…

Mo City Fengdu.

Dark, furious rain cascaded from the Heavenly Dome.

Li Che’s eyes flickered as if purple flames danced inside him like a blazing furnace.

Within his chest, the pulsation of his Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit gradually calmed.

The enlightenment feedback from his Lv7 Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit was now nearly exhausted.

Similarly, the boost from his Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame had plateaued at 90%—a degree that even surprised him.

Before, his enlightenment had been used to boost his martial path, evolving from Divine Seed Martial Arts to Celestial Seed Martial Arts.

Now, with six Qimen Immortal Seeds already drawn, there was no further need.

The remaining two Qimen Immortal Seeds… even if he found the ideal Celestial Seed Martial Art, based on his experience with the Eight Mysterious Gates Divine Seed, their difficulty would no doubt surpass his previous challenges!

Thus, Li Che chose not to devote his remaining enlightenment to martial training but to deepening his understanding of the Dao Calamity.

While his body endured the trials of the Dao Calamity, the enlightenment feedback allowed him to capture its essence more clearly.

The improvements were remarkable, instantly uplifting his spirit.

In Dao Calamity cultivation—as in martial training—the enlightenment feedback proved invaluable.

“Just 10% more… It’s almost time to perfect a Dao Calamity,”

Li Che’s eyes glittered with determination.

The only hitch was that his enlightenment feedback had run dry,

thus slowing the progression of his Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame.

“There are two Supremes in Qitian Inner City. If I were to slay one, the gathered enlightenment might perfect my Dao Calamity training…”

“This time, since the slaying of the Celestial Wolf Supreme was a joint effort, the maturity of the Dao Fruit wasn’t as high as if I had defeated a Supreme alone, absorbing all experience for myself—it would have been far more effective.”

Li Che exhaled slowly.

But now, the Jia Lou Supreme and Xuanzhen Supreme of Qitian Inner City had united following the death of the Celestial Wolf Supreme, even training together.

It was impossible to pick them off individually. Even with Old Fang and a peerless ferocious beast in a three-on-two fight, taking down two Supremes was even tougher.

Moreover, with the Celestial Wolf Supreme gone, there was the looming threat of other divine forces sending fresh Supremes.

After a moment of thought,

Li Che shook his head, abandoning his plan to kill a Supreme in Qitian Inner City for the sake of enhancing his Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

“I can only hope Dragon Island won’t disappoint…”

Li Che smiled softly.

BOOM—!!!

Purple flames engulfed the void, morphing into a purple divine dragon and a demonic elephant that soared into the sky. The scorching heat evaporated every drop of dark rain in the city!

Clenching his fist, Li Che thrust forward as the purple divine dragon entwined with the demonic elephant, forming a colossal furnace with roaring flames like a seething cauldron.

This was his self-devised Celestial Seed Martial Art: Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant.

All his martial insights and essence were fused into this single, blazing technique.

BOOM!

The pressure of the furnace shattered the void, creating an immense cavity as turbulent energies roared forth.

Li Che’s dark hair whipped wildly in the wind while his eyes burned with purple fire; his Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame was growing ever more fearsome.

“Phew—”

“Breathe in—”

Li Che’s entire body trembled; every muscle and sinew beneath his skin throbbed with the strength of a million Divine Bows—unyielding and potent, ready to unleash catastrophic force.

His Martial Immortal Golden Body was unquestionably powerful.

Li Che felt that his flesh alone could even rival that of a Supreme.

When he battled the Celestial Wolf Supreme, he sensed his own physical strength was formidable, while that demonic deity relied on sheer brute force.

As for the Jia Lou and Xuanzhen Supremes, they appeared to be physically inferior to this Martial Immortal.

However, a Supreme’s true might lay in their divine nature and mastery of the Daoist Mark of the Great Way.

The fusion of the Daoist Mark, their innate divinity, and the power of calamity—channeled into the Calamity Wheel to ignite Divine Flame—was the true hallmark of a Supreme.

After further training, Li Che clenched a Dao Essence Divine Crystal and began absorbing its power. The energy within these crystals was devoured by his flesh, almost as if etched into his very bones, making his body extraordinarily robust.

This was yet another method to enhance his Martial Immortal Golden Body—a clumsy one that relied on amassing resources.

After completing his daily regimen of martial, divine, and Celestial Seed refinements, Li Che stood atop the Dominator Tower.

“It’s about time… to begin,”

he murmured, exhaling deeply.

In an instant, countless dark rains were torn apart by fierce gusts of wind.

Big Fish—you’re about to be devoured by this fishing enthusiast!

Yet Li Che understood that by consuming the fishing enthusiast, he would help XiXi secure the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring, ensuring that the Third Prince Temple Spirit would soon be revived.

This revival, he knew, would be far more chaotic than the battle at Qitian City.

There might even be divine interference.

Fortunately, Li Che felt well-prepared.

After all, XiXi couldn’t fail to obtain the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring.

Only by acquiring the divine weapon set of the Third Prince Temple Spirit and refining her body with fused divine energy could XiXi’s mortal form grow strong enough to break into the Divine Transformation realm, sparing her from the torment of the Yulian Curse.

Thus, a vicious cycle was formed.

Without the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring XiXi would be endangered; but if obtained, the revival of the Third Prince Temple Spirit could plunge everything into chaos, summoning divine forces from the Bizarre Temple’s pantheon…

That was the cycle.

Li Che shook his head. “Nothing is more important than my daughter’s safety…”

So, even if it was an unsolvable cycle, Li Che was determined to find a breakthrough and shatter it.

…

…

Qitian Inner City.

Before the city gate.

Li Che’s eyes opened wide; atop his head, purple flames blazed and golden bones glimmered brilliantly.

Having left Mo City Fengdu, Li Che had transformed his identity with the Underworld Ghost Emperor now stationed before Qitian Inner City.

Sitting cross-legged on the inner city’s ground, Li Che slowly rose; with each movement, the very air trembled.

Beneath his golden skull, his deep, solemn eyes locked on Qitian Inner City.

A murky mist shrouded both the inner and outer cities, obscuring all views.

Buzz—buzz—buzz—

The overwhelming aura of his Martial Immortal Will surged like a wall of fire.

Within Qitian Inner City, powerful energies quaked as the veiling curtain rippled, revealing the intertwined silhouettes marked by Daoist Marks—those of the Jia Lou Supreme and Xuanzhen Supreme.

Sensing the tremors of the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s Martial Immortal Will, the two Supremes, already tense, sprang upright in surprise.

Underworld Ghost Emperor… What madness is this?!

Li Che met the Supremes’ stares with a gentle smile.

Without hesitating, he turned and strode away under their watchful eyes.

Each step he took sent tremors through the ground!

In Qitian Outer City, countless cultivators trembled; many watched in shock as they sensed him.

Underworld Ghost Emperor… Is he leaving?!

Has he given up his guard over Qitian Inner City?

Many in Qitian City had long come to expect the Underworld Ghost Emperor to hold back divine forces at the inner city’s gate.

Now that he was departing…

A deep sense of loss welled up in many hearts.

Some even felt a sudden pang.

Could it be… that the Ghost Emperor was finally nearing collapse, about to truly fall?

“Martial Immortal, sir…”

“My mortal existence as a Martial Immortal has finally come to an end!”

“I’m so unwilling—”

“My heart is choked; if only I had more strength, I’d storm into the inner city and face the Bizarre Temple elites to vent my grievances as a mortal Martial Immortal!”

…

Qitian Outer City.

One by one, powerful figures emerged, their eyes filled with sorrow.

Fang Han Shu appeared as well, his scholar’s robe billowing and long beard streaming.

Li Che, in his Ghost Emperor guise, exchanged a silent nod with Fang Han Shu.

Then Li Che continued on, leaving Qitian Outer City step by step.

Once outside, his pace quickened as though he were bending space beneath his feet.

In Qitian City, many warriors shed tears; they chased after the Ghost Emperor, but his speed was unmatched. Ultimately, these warriors could only stand forlorn on the ground as he vanished into the horizon.

No one knew where the Ghost Emperor had gone.

Only the legend of the mortal Martial Immortal remained.

A legend.

This was a mortal legend.

In Qitian City, with the aid of the Qitian Temple Spirit, even under the pressure of divine forces, they heroically crossed the most terrifying calamity—seizing five thousand years of martial fortune to ascend into the Martial Immortal realm.

They subdued adversaries with self-immolation, quelling even the might of those in Qitian Inner City and the Bizarre Temple.

Now…

The mortal Martial Immortal turned and departed.

Leaving behind his legend.

Qitian Inner City.

Enshrouded in a mist as tangled as smoke,

the Jia Lou Supreme and Xuanzhen Supreme hovered above, unleashing energy over a thousand feet to detect even the slightest anomaly and prevent any unforeseen danger.

The death of the Celestial Wolf Supreme had shaken them deeply, proving that even in Qitian Inner City, being a Supreme came with mortal peril.

Even now, neither understood exactly how the Celestial Wolf Supreme had perished.

Qitian Inner City…

Something filthy lurks!

But that filth… where does it come from?!

“Has he really gone?”

“It seems his vital energy is truly waning. Is he about to die, searching for a final resting place?”

Xuanzhen Supreme asked in a low tone.

Jia Lou Supreme, his eyes deep with a serene light, replied gravely,

“Most likely. But now, it seems someone in Qitian Outer City has consolidated the Daoist Mark and broken through to Supreme. Even if the Martial Immortal departs, the Outer City remains extremely perilous…”

“If the Outer City cannot support a Supreme, how will a new one emerge?”

“Send someone to probe the situation.”

The two Supremes spoke coldly.

Then a mortal advancing through a Dao Calamity was dispatched from Qitian Inner City as a test.

This was to see if the Ghost Emperor had any hidden trump cards—and to discover the identity of the mysterious breakthrough Supreme in the Outer City.

However—

That mortal, trembling, barely lifted his head before an overwhelming murderous aura engulfed him.

Whoosh!

A razor-sharp sword energy surged forth, shattering his flesh and blood into fragments!

That was Li Che’s very own Celestial Seed Martial Art: the Six Desire Void Sword Technique.

After fusing it with the Primordial Dry and Wet Cosmos calamity, he had set a lethal sword array.

Any cultivator beneath the Second Calamity Sovereign who stepped out of Qitian Inner City would be ruthlessly decimated by this array.

And if any dared to exit…

then the Supreme Fang Han Shu would immediately strike to kill them.

Xuanzhen Supreme and Jia Lou Supreme, upon seeing the blood mist produced by the sword’s lethal effect, instantly understood the Ghost Emperor’s true intent.

“This bastard…”

Xuanzhen Supreme muttered darkly.

Their energies receded, and they no longer attempted to send their enforcers out of Qitian Inner City.

It was simply futile.

…

…

Li Che no longer allowed the Underworld Ghost Emperor to remain at Qitian Inner City.

His next plan required the Underworld Ghost Emperor to relocate—to slaughter enemies indiscriminately and amass Dao Fruit maturity.

Dragon Island was fishing.

And the Underworld Ghost Emperor was the big fish to be caught!

Buzz—

Li Che transformed into the Ghost Emperor, trekking hundreds of miles on foot as he vanished into the mountains and rivers.

Moments later, he clutched a Feilei Chess Piece and returned to Golden Light Peak,

landing on a Painted Immortal Clone who was laughing and chatting with Nan Lihuo.

Gurgle, gurgle…

A boiling furnace churned water, and emerald tea leaves tumbled within.

The moment Li Che returned, the overwhelming Martial Immortal Will of his Underworld Ghost Emperor form had not yet receded—it raged like a storm, shaking the entire temple of Golden Light Peak to the point of collapse.

Nan Lihuo, just about to pour him tea, suddenly felt as if his body had frozen into ice.

His eyes narrowed in terror as he looked at Li Che. What level of aura was that?!

It leaked out ever so slightly, nearly suffocating him!

What exactly had Li Che attained now?!

Once a humble mover at a Woodcarving Shop in Feilei City, what heights had he reached?

But the aura faded as quickly as it appeared.

Nan Lihuo relaxed, realizing his earlier fear wasn’t an illusion.

Li Che wore a gentle smile. After sharing a few more cups of tea with him, he stood up.

Nan Lihuo, still shaken by the earlier terrifying aura—as if meeting a true celestial being whose very presence shook one’s soul—was visibly startled.

So when Li Che rose, Nan Lihuo couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Elder Li… where are you off to?”

Without looking back, Li Che left Golden Light Peak, merely waving his hand.

“Let’s go—Daddy will take you to catch some mudfish,”

he declared.

Nan Lihuo didn’t understand the reference but knew Li Che was about to do something big.

He sighed and walked to the temple gate, only to find Li Che’s figure had long vanished.

Jingguang Prefecture was located beside the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple. Nan Lihuo had long anticipated such a terrifying calamity.

Yet he never imagined the upheaval would be even more intense.

How many divine calamities had XiXi triggered in Jingguang Prefecture? How many Martial Saint progenies had turned to dust and blood stained the cobblestones?

And once, in Jingguang Prefecture, the Divine Practitioners were among the top experts…

Now the chaos had surpassed even Nan Lihuo’s comprehension, far beyond what a Divine Practitioner could perceive.

Such battles were no longer his concern; all he could do was silently wish for the safety of Li Che and XiXi.

…

…

XiXi was patrolling Jingguang Prefecture City with Liu Yangyuan and others.

The arrogant little girl strode confidently, her powerful Martial Saint sensitivity sweeping over everything like a storm.

Every unusual detail was etched into her memory.

Yet XiXi was delighted; wherever she went in Jingguang Prefecture City, the cultivators adored her. As the sect leader of Qianyuan Divine Sect, she was proving to be exemplary.

Suddenly,

XiXi’s ears perked up and her big eyes blinked rapidly.

At the far end of Long Street, a figure in an Ink Robe—Li Che—drifted into view, standing with his hands behind his back and a gentle smile on his face.

“Daddy!”

XiXi shrieked with joy and dashed forward like a flash of lightning.

She leapt head-first into Li Che’s arms.

The impact was so forceful that an ordinary Martial Saint might have shattered their spine.

“Let’s go, Daddy will take you to fetch the ring,”

Li Che said as he held XiXi close and smiled tenderly.

XiXi nodded vigorously.

Then, Li Che’s gaze swept over Liu Yangyuan and the others before turning to Feng Zhiqi, Zhao Fangzhou, and the rest who guarded from the shadows. He nodded mildly.

Feng Zhiqi and Zhao Fangzhou emerged from concealment and bowed to Li Che.

Somehow, they found Elder Li extremely intimidating today…

An inexplicable terror weighed upon them, stifling their energy.

Li Che, hand in hand with XiXi, strolled along Long Street in Jingguang Prefecture City, heading for the outskirts.

Unhurriedly.

XiXi’s bright eyes sparkled as she skipped along happily.

Father and daughter soon left Jingguang Prefecture City, ambling along the Main Road where dust swirled and the ground seemed to contract beneath their feet—as if space itself were bending.

XiXi marveled at the flying scenery all around her.

She tilted her head toward Li Che; today, Daddy seemed much more serious than before!

Daddy really seemed to have gotten serious!

And Li Che, leading XiXi out of Jingguang Prefecture City, had caught the attention of spies from all major forces outside the city.

“This Li Che… he actually left Jingguang Prefecture City with his daughter Li Nuǎnxi?”

“Judging by his appearance, he’s off to Dragon Island…”

“Li Che seems like an Underworld Ma Mian—only good with contraptions—and yet he dares to take Li Nuǎnxi to Dragon Island to fetch the Qiankun Ring?”

…

Many powerful cultivators were shocked, their minds filled with questions.

By the banks of Jiulong River,

amid roaring waters, a series of luxurious coaches resembling palace temples were parked.

Inside an exquisitely decorated royal coach,

Consort Su Da slowly lowered the curtain. With her enchanting, fox-like eyes, she revealed a trace of disbelief.

“Li Shengshou personally taking Li Nuǎnxi to Dragon Island… just the two of them? How dare they?”

“And why not bring along the Underworld strongmen? Perhaps… the Underworld elites are skulking in the shadows?”

“But Dragon Island isn’t like Jingguang Prefecture City. Dragon Island is akin to a Minor Cavern of the Heavens, connected to the Bizarre Temple where the Second Calamity Sovereign can strike at will.”

Su Da squinted, her eyes shifting with concern.

In the next moment, without further thought, her coach set off toward Dragon Island.

And not only did Su Da and the Third Prince’s coach depart,

but all major forces were eager to see the spectacle. Coaches once parked by Jiulong River began to move, breaking through the chilly autumn rain.

They headed for Dragon Island—a scene akin to a mirage.

Everyone had an inkling—no, more than an inkling!

For once Li Nuǎnxi set foot on Dragon Island, it would mean…

Storms were brewing!

…

…

Dragon Island lay in the middle of Jiulong River, a few hundred miles outside Jingguang Prefecture City.

It wasn’t huge, but it split the river effectively, forcing the water to flow around it.

The sky loomed dark as a dome with clouds piled high.

Rain had built up to a climax before pouring down.

The world felt cold and grim; autumn winds were ruthless.

Though the Main Road was muddy, Li Che and XiXi walked hand in hand without a speck of mud on them.

It was as if an invisible barrier kept the rain at bay.

Li Che, holding XiXi’s hand, looked up and saw Dragon Island. From afar, the island resembled a great dragon coiled around a triangular peak.

Intertwined mists and veils made it clear that a Bizarre Temple existed on the island.

In fact, Dragon Island itself was a special kind of Bizarre Temple.

Buzz—buzz—buzz—

Li Che’s piercing gaze fixed on a mountain peak, atop which a silver ring shimmered.

Accompanied by a resonant hum, dark thunder wove around the silver ring. Lightning struck the island as if a mighty dragon cried out in agony.

A crushing pressure, as if freezing space itself, enveloped the area—a manifestation of the divine aura unleashed by the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring.

“Daddy… I’m not feeling so well!”

XiXi pressed her lips together, fidgeting as her pulse raced and her little heart pounded like a deity’s drum.

She stared blankly at the enormous silver ring hovering above Dragon Island.

A yearning like nothing she’d felt before surged up, as if her very will were being commandeered to fly toward the ring and claim it.

All the divine weapons within her seemed to awaken at once.

The surging divine aura battered her sinews, making her Martial Saint body even tougher.

The vital energy unleashed was like a tidal wave!

Moreover, the aura from her weapons flooded into her Mud Pellet, infusing it with an insatiable desire for that divine power.

It was the craving of the Eight-Armed Three-Faced Unbeatable Divine Vision from the Divine Essence Golden Pill.

In time, that Eight-Armed Three-Faced Unbeatable Divine Vision would transform into a Divine Transformation, resonating with this divine aura like never before!

Li Che glanced at XiXi and sensed changes rippling through her.

The closer she got to that ring, the more pronounced the transformation.

That was the might of a divine weapon set.

Fusion of divine energy and bodily refinement—melding with a mythic weapon—could raise one’s cultivation to Supreme levels; the future was limitless.

Buzz—

The Seven Aperture Luminous Heart released the Unsullied Heart’s divine energy to calm XiXi’s surging impulse.

Li Che looked at XiXi with gentle affection.

XiXi lifted her head, her eyes shining as she returned his gaze.

They smiled at each other.

XiXi didn’t understand why Daddy was so confident,

but as his daughter, she chose to trust him completely!

Li Che took her hand.

His eyes turned toward Dragon Island.

In the next moment, he lifted his foot and stomped forcefully ahead.

BOOM—!!!!!!

The ground collapsed three zhang deep, throwing up a curtain of dust!

A thunderous explosion, like a colossal roar from the skies, echoed throughout!

The waters of Jiulong River erupted into a towering spray.

And Li Che, holding XiXi’s hand, strode confidently over the water’s spray.

His aura climbed ever higher…

A golden pillar of vital energy shot into the clouds, shattering the autumn storm as if splitting them apart!

It shone brilliantly, like a radiant sun rising!

In that moment, he became the center of the universe!

All the powerful cultivators from every force were utterly dumbfounded!

They looked on, shocked, dazed, and bewildered!

Inside a lavish coach,

the enchanting Consort Su Da sprang to her feet, her mesmerizing eyes filled with disbelief.

“Mortal Martial Immortal!”