Chapter 522: The Roar of Celestial Might

Thud, thud, thud—!

Inside his chest, his heart pounded like a war drum, its explosive beats rattling his eardrums as if they might shatter.

Li Che fixed his gaze on the flowing golden light prompt before him.

His breath felt unusually heated.

To tread the path of Martial Immortality again?!

Was it possible?

Did he still have this chance?

Perhaps… it was true. Li Che’s heart trembled as memories surged forth—recalling the sixth metamorphosis of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit, when he sat across from its master along the endless river of the Dao.

What is Pure? Pure is an unfathomable force of the spirit; once you understand its essence, you might mend the regrets in your heart and walk the path you truly desire.

Clear in your heart, untainted like lotus from mud—that is Pure!

The power of the spirit…

Once the spirit stabilizes, perhaps even the Divine Way and Martial Way can be reversed!

Li Che’s eyes sparkled as a familiar determination stirred within him; he still clung to the path of Martial Immortality.

The reason was simple—if Li Che wished to become strong enough to break the barrier set by the immortal gods of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, then the path of Martial Immortality might be his only hope.

If he chose the Divine Way, the immortal gods would stand like insurmountable mountains.

Not that they were completely unconquerable, but those gods at the pinnacle of the Divine Way could utterly block any advancement for their juniors.

Only by forging a path distinct from the Divine Way of the immortals could one carve out an existence comparable to immortality.

Even if…

This path was perilous—no one had ever taken it, its difficulty akin to climbing the heavens. Yet, compared to a dead-end path blocked by immortals with no hope in sight…

The road of Martial Immortality was filled with hope and light!

Thus, if he could return to the Martial Immortal path, Li Che would gladly take it.

The power of divinity always left him feeling hollow. Although he had transformed into the Divine Way through Martial Immortal metamorphosis—with his golden, pure martial qi blood magnified ten, even a hundred times—

his battle strength surged tremendously. Yet, it was precisely because of this divine power that such fearsome energy was attained, leaving him with a sense of fragility. If that divine power was cut off, all his strength would vanish like smoke.

Li Che exhaled deeply, his spirit at that moment unwavering and calm.

In Jingguang City, the silence was profound. Amid the lingering winds carrying shattered stones, a soft murmur arose as they tumbled over one another.

Immortal gods like the Young Dragon Emperor, the Three-Transformation Golden Toad, Su Da, and others stood before him, heads bowed in deference—all acknowledging Li Che’s supremacy.

Li Che stood rooted in place, lost in thought over the intricacies between the Martial Immortal path and the Divine Way.

Then he turned to look at Su Da and the others, his gaze sweeping over each one.

He lingered on the Three-Transformation Golden Toad and the Four Seas Dragon King, whose Spiritual Confinement had him on edge, sweating profusely.

For within Li Che’s eyes there lay a peculiar intent that sent a chill down the Three-Transformation Golden Toad’s spine—as if he were about to be thrown back into the crucible for remaking.

Li Che’s massive frame exuded a flowing divine aura like condensed mist, his eyes half-closed in contemplation.

The Three-Transformation Golden Toad was a demon—it could well become the fourth beast in the Ten Fierce Ink Splatter Scroll!

And it was an immortal god!

If a god could transform into an unparalleled beast, would that not elevate his true strength?

A spark of expectation flickered within Li Che.

And then there was the Four Seas Dragon King…

Unlike the Young Dragon Emperor, despite being of the ancient dragon clan, the bloodline of the Ancestor Dragon was extremely diluted, relegating them to the rank of demons, capable of entering the Ten Fierce Ink Splatter Scroll as well.

Entering the Ten Fierce Ink Splatter Scroll did not equate to death—in fact, it was more like a rebirth. Transformed into an unrivaled beast, one’s combat prowess could increase significantly with a much higher upper limit!

Similar to Spiritual Confinement, but enhanced by a unique ferocious aura exclusive to the scroll.

Li Che’s eyes scanned the assembly of gods, his heart stirring as he prepared to set matters in motion.

Any talk of merging with the Ten Fierce Ink Splatter Scroll could wait for later.

“Open your Qiankun Space,” he commanded coolly.

Li Che spoke evenly.

Yet, moments later, he waved a dismissive hand.

“Forget it—I’ll do it myself. It’s the ideal chance to temper my Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel.”

Li Che had obtained the Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel Dao Fruit, though its maturation had been painstakingly slow.

Mastering the forces of time and space was never an easy task.

Buzzzzz—

The vibrations of divine thought rattled the Dao Fruit of the Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel in his chest, and suddenly, with a cascade of sounds, a golden wheel manifested behind him.

There came echoes of time and space shaking, as one circular pattern followed another—each wheel etched with ancient Great Dao Immortal patterns interlocking and rotating, clattering incessantly.

In the next moment, Li Che’s gaze swept over a figure ensnared by Spiritual Confinement.

He began to investigate one by one.

Using the Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel, he locked onto the Qiankun Spaces of those gods.

Cracks appeared one after another as the Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel tore open the fabric of space, from which Li Che plunged into deep perception and began to inventory his findings.

Buzzzzz—

Suddenly, Li Che’s eyes flew open as the interlaced rotating wheels behind him burst into brilliance, streams of light dancing around his form.

These were treasures extracted from the Spiritual Confinement of many gods.

Every one was a Dao Essence Divine Crystal!

For the gods, the need for Divine Crystals had waned; what they craved now was Dao Essence Divine Crystals. By refining them, they could amass Great Dao Immortal patterns, intensify their Divine Flame, and bolster the strength of their sacrificial Dao.

Each shimmering crystal floated, its leaves unfurling dreamily. When catching the light, they even exploded in astonishing brilliance.

Excluding the Young Dragon Emperor, there were a total of forty-nine gods’ treasured items!

Among them were items like the Three-Transformation Golden Toad’s, whose collection was only slightly inferior to that of the Young Dragon Emperor—a mere matter of a few immortal descendants’ worth.

Remember, the Three-Transformation Golden Toad and the Young Dragon Emperor were not the same. The Golden Toad had long since been freed from its bonds and, residing in the Xie Yao Cave in the mortal realm, had scavenged countless treasures from the Bizarre Temple.

Hiss—!

Even Li Che couldn’t help but draw a deep breath.

So many?!

These were Dao Essence Divine Crystals, not Divine Crystals!

The lowest tier was the One-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystal—only a hundred in number.

Yet the higher-grade Two-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals amounted to eight hundred. Li Che stared in awe—never had he seen such an abundance.

For a moment, he thought his eyes were deceiving him—mistaking Dao Essence Divine Crystals for Divine Crystals.

Furthermore, there were even Three-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals—the count reached thirty-six!

Simply astonishing!

Li Che gasped. Poverty had always constrained his imagination—weren’t Three-Leaf Divine Crystals supposed to be rare and precious?

Suddenly, even Li Che’s body shuddered, his breathing quickening as his eyes brightened. His fingers clenched and reached out.

In the next moment, countless divine essences coalesced in his palm into a tiny sapling, its leaves—four in number—spreading open.

“These are… Four-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals?!”

Li Che’s eyes narrowed as his body shuddered uncontrollably.

Damn!

He was truly expanding his horizons!

Not only that—the Four-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals weren’t solitary; there were three of them!

They came from the Three-Transformation Golden Toad, Su Da, and Tuo Ta Arhat respectively!

Interestingly, the two gods, Hengha Er and the Four Seas Dragon King, had no Four-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals hidden in their Qiankun Spaces.

Li Che’s glance quickly fell upon Hengha Er and the Four Seas Dragon King.

The assembled gods flushed with shame.

Hengha Er awkwardly clasped his fists: “Even though we are gods, the Four-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals are extraordinarily precious. We only get one every five hundred years, all transmuted into nourishment to enhance our mighty Divine Flame.”

“The next distribution is still a hundred years away.”

The Three-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals greatly aided the supreme, and the Four-Leaf ones could already assist in divine cultivation.

As for the even rarer Five-Leaf and higher Dao Essence Divine Crystals, they were so invaluable that only gods at the Fusion or Severing Dao realms could refine them. In the mortal Bizarre Temple, it was impossible to gather or support Five-Leaf or higher crystals.

Those items remained inextricably linked with the Great Dao’s eternal current.

Legend had it that even the Nine-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystal—so precious that even immortal gods longed for it—could only appear at the source of the Great Dao’s current, one born every ten thousand years; a veritable treasure!

Li Che, however, paid it little mind and waved his hand dismissively.

“It matters not.”

The fervor in his heart gradually gave way to calm.

Two Four-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals…

It was a bountiful harvest indeed. Li Che stared at the crystal in his palm, his eyes gleaming, and suddenly snapped his fingers.

Countless divine essences intertwined, and the Great Dao Immortal patterns clanged like falling streams of metal.

Then, a pulsating mass of flesh—almost like a ball—hopped in the distance. Its overwhelming sword qi seemed to merge with the Great Dao Immortal patterns, surging continuously around the mass.

This was the flesh mass that had formed when Huang Jianjiu refined a Dao-positioned pearl. Li Che had always nurtured it with Dao Essence Divine Crystals, waiting for the day Huang Jianjiu would shatter it.

“Four-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals…”

“Old Huang, continue.”

Li Che hurled the crystal high; the radiant Four-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystal transformed into a streak of light soaring upward.

It then shot rapidly toward the flesh mass belonging to Huang Jianjiu.

Huang Jianjiu’s flesh mass thumped violently, twitching as if an irate, frustrated child—expressing his unspeakable emotions.

“Not my lord…!”

“Do you not want Old Huang to be born?!”

“Are you planning to nurture Old Huang toward the immortal gods?!”

Li Che had no such intention. It was just that with the nine gods confined by Spiritual Confinement… even if Old Huang were to be born, his godly might wouldn’t benefit Li Che much.

It was better to let him continue to grow.

A god who had just ignited his Divine Flame held little significance for Li Che.

The flesh mass swallowed the Four-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystal, as though tearfully consuming it to further strengthen itself.

Old Huang would, Li Che believed, eventually see the light of day again!

His sword!

Surely it would break through the flesh mass!

If not in three years, then in another three!

After all, Old Huang believed that Lord Li Che was no demon!

The gods’ treasured items had indeed enriched Li Che, gradually suppressing the sorrow deep in his heart—a sorrow born from being forcibly separated from his daughter XiXi when she entered the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

After a while, he resumed his detailed inspection. There were plenty of good treasures indeed.

Medicinal pills, divine materials, spirit wood—various precious items exuded a potent divine aura, dazzling Li Che’s eyes.

Li Che summoned Gu Changqing directly, ordering him to help sort out the medicinal pills and divine materials. They would be handed over to Gu Changqing so he could further attempt pill refining and refine the divine essence!

Furthermore, the purified divine essence would be refined into pills to aid in divine cultivation.

Now that Li Che was pursuing the path of divinity, these pills were necessary—but he had not entirely abandoned his martial cultivation, so Martial Pills were indispensable as well.

Under Li Che’s command, Gu Changqing had ample opportunities to refine pills; his skill had improved greatly to the point where he was nearly at the half-immortal alchemist level.

In the future, there might be a chance to enter the city of the Pill Immortals!

After inventorying the Dao Essence Divine Crystals, medicinal pills, and divine materials, Li Che’s gaze finally fell upon the divine weapons.

The highest-ranking among them was the Lotus Lamp held by Su Da—it was of the Immortal grade!

Only an immortal god could wield such a weapon, imbued with the weight and aura of immortality. When unleashed, it would provide tremendous support.

The rest were merely ordinary Divine Flame weapons, forged by various gods of the Divine Flame realm using their innate divinity together with inscriptions of the Great Dao Immortal patterns.

“The rank of these Divine Flame weapons… is roughly equivalent to the Four Sovereign-level divine weapons produced in the Bizarre Temple of the mortal realm,” Li Che mused.

His eyes gleamed.

That Lotus Lamp, in terms of material, should be of the Three Pure Ones rank; however, with the added immortal symbols and aura, it far surpassed ordinary Three Pure Ones divine weapons.

“So in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the divine weapons held by the immortals are roughly equivalent to the Three Pure Ones level found in the mortal Bizarre Temple?”

Li Che pondered.

Most of the Three Pure Ones divine weapons circulating in the mortal realm were actually Temple Spirit weapons, which meant that the immortals wielding them had once fallen!

The fall of an immortal god was not uncommon.

Based on his exchange with the Immortal Will during that battle, Li Che understood that the so-called one-life divine tide was linked to the Daughter of Yulian. The divine tide was the curse of the immortal.

Every divine tide claimed the fall of one or more immortals—at least three per tide. According to the laws of heaven and earth, for the tide to recede, three immortals must fall!

Was it the will of heaven and earth to maintain the balance of the Bizarre Temple?

By raising the divine tide, the Daughter of Yulian was chosen as the blade; a total of nine divine tides, nine attempts to crush the immortal!

Li Che exhaled slowly, suddenly feeling a weighty pressure.

The Lotus Lamp hovered in his palm. Having been cut by the celestial blade transformed from the Immortal Will, its immortal aura had become much weaker.

However, the true power of the Lotus Lamp lay in its ability to seal!

It could imprison time and space within a terrifyingly formidable field.

Li Che’s eyes lit up suddenly: “This Lotus Lamp conceals Great Dao Immortal patterns of time and space—etched with the rules of time and space. Perhaps it could significantly aid my Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel?”

Thud, thud, thud—

Within his chest, the Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel Dao Fruit trembled, as if propelled by a yearning will.

“My Lord…”

Stepping forward from among the gods, Su Da bowed respectfully.

“This Lotus Lamp… is the Immortal Weapon of the Xie Yao Cave’s Immortal Demon Ancestor from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. My Lord, do not attempt to refine it; its immortal force may well turn against you.”

“Unless the Immortal Demon Ancestor personally catalyzes its refinement, no mortal could hope to refine such an immortal artifact.”

“Every immortal artifact is imbued with great Dao patterns; no ordinary mortal can refine them. Attempting to do so might even result in a backlash, reducing one to a slave of immortality.”

Su Da quickly admonished him.

She feared Li Che might get injured—maybe even fall to darkness—by refining the Lotus Lamp.

But Li Che said nothing further.

He simply hurled the Immortal Lotus Lamp into the air, where it was immediately enveloped by the Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel Dao Fruit’s display; countless golden wheels spun around with clanging sound, completely encasing the Lotus Lamp.

As the Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel rotated, the Immortal Lotus Lamp was swallowed within, and gradually… its Great Dao Immortal patterns began to dissolve, being refined bit by bit.

Hmmm?

Su Da was momentarily stunned, her beautiful face filled with shock.

In the next instant, she bowed once more—respectfully and wisely.

Li Che sat cross-legged amid the ruins of Jingguang City, perched on the city tower, as he began to consolidate the metamorphosis from his recent battle.

Suddenly, Li Che snapped his eyes open.

Inside his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit pounded fiercely.

A trace of nostalgia glimmered in his eyes.

“That Divine Executioner’s Blade…”

In his mind, he recalled the nine ancient runes on that Divine Executioner’s Blade, activated by the Boss!

Those nine ancient runes gleamed on the blade.

They rendered its power unparalleled—slicing down with unstoppable force.

Even if one deployed immense might, using a bronze cauldron to stew three immortal wills together, nothing could withstand the terrifying force of that Divine Executioner’s Blade…

At that moment, Li Che was filled with dread; he yearned to transform that blade into a martial art!

If he could master such martial art, Li Che dared not imagine how invincible he would become!

Who lives, who dies!

Yet when Li Che tried to recall, the memory eluded him completely—as if utterly forgotten!

He knew there were nine ancient glyphs, but he couldn’t recall a single one—not even their shapes.

“I can’t remember…”

Li Che furrowed his brow.

Seated atop the city tower of Jingguang City, cold winds swept by.

“I must recall! I’ll transform this Divine Executioner’s Blade into a martial art, etching it into my final Eight Mysterious Gates Immortal Seed! I am no longer merely a Martial Immortal or an Eight Mysterious Gates Immortal Seed—I have reclaimed my heritage as a Divine Seed! For with my burgeoning divine power, I now far surpass my former self!”

“Yet, I can still attempt to master that Divine Executioner’s Blade…”

The gods’ divine thought suddenly roared around him. Li Che lifted his head as the Cosmic Chessboard unfurled, and the Chess Sage Dao Fruit surged within him, isolating everything—even the ambient aura of heaven and earth.

Within his chest, the Dao Fruit pounded; the insight gained from the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit in that battle now erupted, fully igniting!

He blocked out the senses of heaven and earth!

He obscured the secrets of destiny!

He stole the mysteries of the cosmos!

BOOM—!!!

Li Che’s eyes burst forth with brilliant golden light, billowing like rushing golden mist, as his martial aptitude soared to an awe-inspiring level.

Empowered by the Chess Sage Dao Fruit and shielded from the secrets of heaven and earth,

he began to recall and internalize those nine ancient glyphs.

A sudden chill ran down his spine as he revisited the terrifying image of the Divine Executioner’s Blade cleaving a bronze cauldron…

It was as if a dark, ominous force was unleashed—if not for the tremor of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit that masked the first signs of detection.

Otherwise, Li Che might have been in grave danger!

Time seemed to slow as Li Che meditated on the city tower, lost in deep enlightenment, tracing the ancient glyphs as if rediscovering the Dao!

The gods watching him were at a loss—unsure of what to do next. They all sat in meditation around Jingguang City, protecting Li Che and preventing any prying intrusion.

The overwhelming aura of these gods made Jingguang City in the mortal Bizarre Temple practically a forbidden zone.

Many supreme and honored beings, hundreds of miles away, peered through the dim mists, intimidated by the gods’ overwhelming might.

Within the pantheon of mortal Bizarre Temple gods, other resurrected deities still lingered.

But that battle had ended—both the Third Prince and the Daughter of Yulian had been consigned to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths…

Thus, those resurrected gods no longer saw the need to act.

It was largely because the battle had been too devastating.

Gods had fallen repeatedly; all nine dispatched gods had been utterly vanquished…

Buzzzzz—

Jingguang City—the once bisected city by the Divine Executioner’s Blade—slowly began to recover under the influence of the Bizarre Temple’s power.

The city trembled suddenly, as if ancient scriptures resounded; that ancient force transformed into radiance, etching ancient inscriptions like sacred texts!

Li Che shuddered as a potent divine aura surged within him. The Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit vibrated, insight erupting in endless torrents!

After expending all his revelatory power, Li Che finally managed to trace an ancient glyph!

The resonance of the scriptures quaked, as if calling out on its own!

Countless Great Dao Immortal patterns intertwined around him, and an overwhelming divine presence surged in a grand display!

Li Che became utterly immersed, overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of that simple yet intricate ancient glyph—crafted from the most fundamental elements into immeasurably complex power!

It transformed his understanding of the martial Way, reshaping his beliefs—the Great Dao was simple, elegantly complex!

An ancient scripture floated above Li Che’s head, gradually fragmenting into countless points of light and arcs, like cosmic particles.

BOOM—!!!

In an instant, Li Che’s eyes snapped open, as the minute insights dispersed in a flash.

The revelatory energy had been entirely exhausted, and the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit fell silent.

Li Che sighed in regret.

“I only managed to trace a single ancient glyph.”

“But it is my limit.”

Li Che exhaled deeply and then stood up abruptly, as the gods guarding him all opened their eyes to watch.

Immortal beings like the Young Dragon Emperor, Su Da, and the Three-Transformation Golden Toad trembled, their eyes wide with shock at the sight of Li Che.

They sensed an overwhelming ‘Celestial Might’ erupting from him!

In that moment, Li Che seemed to embody the heavens and earth—like a furious celestial blade cleaving through the mortal realm!

The Young Dragon Emperor trembled; he was all too familiar with that sensation.

After all, he had been slain by the very Divine Executioner’s Blade!

Li Che stood tall, his heart pounding yet still deep in meditation.

He was determined to master the final martial technique of the Eight Mysterious Gates Immortal Seed!

Though he had not yet fully reverted to Martial Immortality, it did not hinder him from preparing his final immortal martial art.

Moreover, that martial art could be transformed into a divine secret technique!

After all, everything evolved from the Dao!

Rumble—

A majestic surge emanated from his body, shaking the very cosmos as countless ripples formed in the void.

Li Che gazed into the emptiness, feeling the overwhelming, magnificent force of his power—a mastery of field, momentum, and authority.

This, the Divine Executioner’s Blade, was not merely a weapon—it was the manifestation of the Great Dao’s force!

That vague, ancient glyph on his back soared like a blazing fortress over the ocean, radiating countless dazzling beams, like golden arrows shot from the sun toward all directions!

BOOM—!!!

Li Che landed a decisive kick.

In an instant, entire sections of the wall crumbled into dust!

In truth, Li Che had wished to control this power—but it was hopeless. It was the overwhelming force of the ancient glyph that could not be tamed!

Suddenly, Li Che felt as though he had transformed into a living blade!

Compressed and flattened like paper, he soared upward; in the clashing sounds, ancient glyphs illuminated the blade as it ruthlessly cleaved!

It was as if the Divine Executioner’s Blade had reappeared—covert yet manifest, a promise realized on earth!

The void split with a colossal crack that would take ages to mend, with endless void swirling beyond!

In that moment, Li Che’s body was drained, his energy nearly spent as his qi turned feeble. He panted heavily.

He landed among the rubble of the city wall, his body core working desperately to restore energy and vitality.

“The Divine Executioner’s Blade?!”

From afar,

shouts of astonishment rang out!

The Young Dragon Emperor, Su Da, the Three-Transformation Golden Toad and other gods looked on in horror, as if struck by lightning—and their very souls trembled in disbelief!

How could a mortal exhibit the power of the Divine Executioner’s Blade?

Although the blade Li Che manifested paled in comparison to the true Divine Executioner’s Blade, its power was still utterly astounding.

This method… was unimaginable!

It was like an impossible path that one man had forged and successfully tread!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The Young Dragon Emperor, Su Da, and other gods rushed over, fervently and respectfully looking at Li Che.

Especially Su Da, who, after a brief mental adjustment, had completely accepted her fate as Li Che’s servant.

What is a servant? Even in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, even if one was once a mighty god at the Severing Dao realm, they were no more than a slave to an immortal!

When confronted with the inescapable will of immortality, one had no choice but to become a Nirvana God to break free and control one’s divine life.

“Congratulations, my Lord. Your divine skills have reached a pinnacle. You now wield the blade on behalf of heaven and earth!”

Swaying seductively, Su Da smiled coyly as nine fox tails whipped behind her.

Li Che exhaled slowly, feeling his internal strength steadily revive.

His spirits were indeed high.

Using the revelatory feedback and clandestinely absorbing cosmic secrets, he had traced the ancient glyphs on the Divine Executioner’s Blade and mastered its essence.

“This technique—not just a martial art but also a divine secret—channels the overwhelming force of heaven and earth into a devastating strike. Hence, I will call it… the Nine Glyph Celestial Blade.”

“If I can truly internalize the nine ancient glyphs, might I be able to shatter that terrifyingly destructive power of the Divine Executioner’s Blade?”

Li Che looked ahead with great anticipation for this self-forged technique—a trump card for his assault into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Li Che felt gratified; this secret technique would be one of his final trump cards.

“My Lord, this move, while potent, also risks injuring you,” said the Young Dragon Emperor.

Su Da meant to reply, but the Young Dragon Emperor beat her to it. He glowered at her in mild displeasure.

“My Lord, this imitation of the Divine Executioner’s Blade, imbued with the force of heaven and earth, will surely alert the celestial will. The heavens will rage at your mimicry and inevitably retaliate, so it must not be used lightly.”

“Unless you find a way to shield yourself from the will of heaven…”

Su Da’s voice trailed off, for Li Che had just demonstrated the move without inciting the wrath of the heavens.

Huh?

Su Da lifted her head, and her eyes shone as she saw the Cosmic Chessboard, reminiscent of a celestial tapestry of stars.

What kind of power was this that could even block the will of heaven?

Li Che truly held countless mysteries within him.

No wonder his actions had once forced the Daughter of Yulian to alter her destined path, and even compelled several immortal gods to lower their guard, so as to try and adjust her fate!

Li Che smiled.

“Cosmic Chessboard…”

He squinted as if shielding his eyes from the celestial brilliance.

When Li Che was weak, he had used the Cosmic Chessboard to execute righteous assassinations.

It had been his steadfast companion from those fragile early days to his current strength.

“Now, with the Chess Sage Dao Fruit still unfinished in its six metamorphoses, the shielding power could be even stronger…”

“Thankfully, I’ve only traced one ancient glyph so far. If I were to inscribe two, it would instantly be detected.”

Li Che exhaled slowly.

“I possess the power of the Cosmic Chessboard… Perhaps I don’t even need the fortune of fate. Without reverting fully to Martial Immortality, I might once again return to the mortal realm openly?”

A new thought flashed within him.

As soon as the thought materialized, Li Che prepared to act immediately.

Amid the astonished gazes of the Young Dragon Emperor, Su Da, and others, Li Che strode forward, his black Ink Robe billowing, his raven hair whipping like bolts of dark lightning.

He stepped out beyond Jingguang City.

Jingguang City had been transformed into the Bizarre Temple area of the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple.

Once Li Che stepped outside the city limits, he would have left the Bizarre Temple.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Mists of eerie fog soared upward like a barrier, erect and unyielding.

Deities like Su Da, the Young Dragon Emperor, and the Three-Transformation Golden Toad followed closely.

“My Lord, are you planning to return to the mortal realm?”

Su Da, ever perceptive, immediately understood Li Che’s plan.

The eyes of the Young Dragon Emperor, the Three-Transformation Golden Toad, and others brightened, thinking of Li Che’s method of shielding the will of heaven.

Could it succeed?

If so… might these gods also tread the mortal realm? If they remained by Li Che’s side, they could wander as they pleased.

But could it truly work?

Li Che’s hair whipped in the wind as he eyed the surging Jiulong River beyond the vague, mystical fog.

He could also see numerous familiar faces waiting beyond the river’s edge.

Powerful figures like Nan Lihuo, Feng Zhiqi, Zhao Fangzhou and others stood by the banks of the Jiulong River, their faces somber, as if mourning Li Che.

Seeing them, Li Che knew that news of his transformation from Martial Immortal to the Divine Way had spread through Jingguang City.

A tremor passed through him.

He wondered just how devastated his wife, Zhang Ya, would be when she learned he could no longer return to the mortal realm.

Li Che exhaled deeply.

Without hesitation, he leaned forward.

His hands plunged into the thick mist—a mist that, though appearing fragile, weighed down on him with the force of billions of pounds!

It barred his return to the mortal realm!

“Ugh—!!!”

With a roar, Li Che’s formidable body surged, his blue veins thrumming like coiled serpents, as he tore through the mist!

Boom—!!!

In an instant, his divine aura, once repressed, burst forth explosively!

His entire being crashed through the mist, his godly form stepping forcefully into the mortal realm…