Chapter 523: The Tempest of Divine Might

Crack, crack!

The sky turned gloomy as dense, leaden clouds loomed overhead, while fierce winds and torrential rains roared across the heavens. Like a barrage of bullets, the raindrops exploded, sending ripples along the river.

An eerie mist churned like an immense curtain, concealing everything beyond and blurring the view.

Furious droplets plummeted from high above, colliding with the mist and bursting into countless vapor ripples.

Their crisp, tinkling sound—like pearls dropped onto a jade plate—ripped through the mist, carrying a mournful, angry resonance.

Boom—!!!

At the banks of the Jiulong River, atop the rugged Angry Cliff.

The river roared, churning up frothy white waves like countless heaps of snow, surging in relentless oscillations.

The howling wind bellowed incessantly, its raging force the true culprit behind the turbulent water.

On each craggy rock, figures stood resolutely as the wind battered them, their bodies swaying and trembling continuously.

Feng Zhiqi shivered in cold as he stood on the rock, staring blankly at the surging Jiulong River and the rolling, relentless mist.

Zhao Fangzhou, Nan Lihuo, Tang Xiejia, Tang Sanjia, and other powerful cultivators of Qianyuan Divine Sect fell into a boundless silence, the atmosphere growing oppressively stifling.

The cataclysmic battle within the Bizarre Temple was unprecedented—according to the fleeing cultivators, a terrifying divine war had erupted within Jingguang City’s Bizarre Temple!

Numerous revived deities from the Bizarre Temple Pantheon launched their attacks, intent on forcing the Third Prince Temple Spirit to meet his end. Moreover, these deities sought to target XiXi, planning to capture the Daughter of Yulian and use her as leverage against the Third Prince.

Nan Lihuo and the others listened in numb disbelief, fully aware of how dire the situation had become.

Meanwhile, mortal Martial Immortal Li Che risked everything within the Bizarre Temple to protect his daughter XiXi. He even abandoned the Martial Immortal path to transform into a divine being—a god incarnate—to battle the deities and snatch a sliver of hope.

In the end, none could say what fate awaited them.

Yet the mist thickened, interwoven and strangely calm.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

A sound of rending air echoed as a silhouette rushed forward, sprinting across the void. With each step, the air itself seemed to freeze, and raindrops halted mid-fall.

A mighty aura of divine calamity spread like a tidal wave.

The newcomer was none other than Lü Qiankun, the Ancestral Patriarch of Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Dressed in a simple robe, Lü Qiankun’s face bore a heavy, somber expression.

“Greetings, Patriarch.”

Elders of Qianyuan Divine Sect, including Feng Zhiqi and his cohorts, bowed respectfully.

Lü Qiankun nodded silently as he stood on the Angry Cliff, gazing at the Bizarre Temple shrouded in mist. As a formidable divine calamity expert, he could sense the terrifying pressure emanating from behind the veil of mist.

It was a pressure so chilling it sent shivers down his spine—a clear sign that something dreadfully formidable lay hidden beyond.

Even the residual energies of battle left him with an overwhelming sense of despair.

Such was the ferocity of the battle that had erupted within the Bizarre Temple!

Lü Qiankun had also heard of the fight in Jingguang City’s Bizarre Temple… a battle that even implicated the will of immortal deities!

As the sect leader of Qianyuan Divine Sect, he fully understood what immortal deities represented—supreme entities far beyond mortal reach, banned from treading the human realm. Their power was such that even the heavens would not dare to tolerate it.

Yet this battle had drawn in such beings.

“Patriarch… Elder Li… will they really never return?”

Feng Zhiqi exhaled slowly, his voice tinged with melancholy.

After all, Elder Li was an unparalleled Martial Immortal—a blazing beacon for countless warriors. Now, like a transient bloom, his light had withered within the Bizarre Temple. Such a loss was almost too tragic to bear.

“Elder Li, in his transformation from Martial Immortal to divine being, gained immeasurable power to battle the gods. But with such power comes a heavy price—the heavens are inherently just…”

“If Li Che were to return to the human world in divine form, he would inevitably incur the wrath and suppression of the heavenly will…”

“Elder Li’s transformation was too potent. Even if he withstood a divine calamity, no mortal could ever allow him to descend into the human realm.”

Lü Qiankun sighed deeply, his voice filled with regret.

The surrounding onlookers lowered their eyes, overwhelmed by a crushing heaviness.

How had events come to spiral so disastrously?

With Li Che’s unparalleled Martial Immortal prowess, he once roamed the human world untouchably.

Qianyuan Divine Sect might even soar to top-tier status—perhaps rivaling the former might of Qitian Temple. As long as Martial Immortal Li Che lived, the future of Qianyuan Divine Sect would outshine even the old glory of Qitian Temple!

But fate was cruel. Who could have imagined that a battle meant to target the Third Prince Temple Spirit would have such far-reaching consequences, with the deities’ focus shifting to XiXi?

Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo—

Suddenly…

Lü Qiankun’s heart jolted. His hair whipped wildly as his eyes narrowed in disbelief; he stared at the surface of the Jiulong River.

Somewhere along the river, a thick, rolling fog had begun to gather.

This was no ordinary mist—it had become so dense as if summoned from all directions, piling into a suffocating shroud.

And in that moment, the curtain of mist trembled violently!

Everyone could feel their hair stand on end.

Lü Qiankun’s formidable divine aura surged as energies of the Way and calamity entwined into a force field, enveloping Feng Zhiqi and the others. He signaled that if things went awry, they should retreat immediately with the little ones.

Boom—rumble!

A sound like the collapse of heaven and earth resounded.

Then the mist itself was violently split in two from within by an awe-inspiring force—something even divine calamity cultivators would find nearly impossible to tear apart.

Like theater curtains being drawn apart, the mist split from both sides.

A hazy, indistinct figure stepped out slowly, its potent aura shaking the air like a bursting dam, unleashing torrent after torrent of force.

Lü Qiankun and the others, battered by violent winds and oppressive pressure, felt as if an invisible hand was clenching their very hearts.

It was terrifying…

A deity!

This was unmistakably the terrifying aura of a divine expert whose very presence could ignite divine flame!

Lü Qiankun staggered backward on the Angry Cliff, the entire rock trembling as the river was forced several hundred feet downwards, as if pressed against the very earth.

Feng Zhiqi and the others could feel their internal energy struggling to flow, each breath growing harder than the last.

“What is this…?”

“A deity?!”

They panted heavily, mouths agape.

The vague figure stepping out of the mist exuded such overwhelming power and terror that it instinctively filled them with dread.

Lü Qiankun released an aura of dire divine calamity, barely holding back the overwhelming force.

“How dare a deity set foot in the human realm? Such arrogance will surely bring the full wrath of the heavenly will—world-destroying calamities, and ultimate annihilation!”

Lü Qiankun’s face twisted in grim dismay.

All eyes fixated on the shadowy figure in the mist.

The only sound that remained was the crisp echo of footsteps.

Step by step, a rhythmic cadence emerged from the abyss.

Tresses of jet-black hair whipped around like streaks of lightning, interwoven with divine energy that formed intricate patterns across the body.

Thump, thump, thump—

The void rippled like the beating of a heart.

Countless divine symbols intertwined like chains, each one dancing wildly with the order of the Great Way.

Suddenly, Lü Qiankun’s body convulsed!

His eyes widened in disbelief!

“This is…”

“Elder Li?!”

Tears almost welled in Lü Qiankun’s eyes, stirred by the ferocious pressure that had struck him.

Even so, he finally recognized the figure emerging from the mist!

It was Li Che!

Li Che, the Martial Immortal who had become a divine being!

Feng Zhiqi, Nan Lihuo, Zhao Fangzhou, and the others gasped in shock at the sight of Li Che, voices trembling with disbelief.

Yet joy flickered on their faces—Li Che was not dead; he was very much alive.

Boom—!!!

Li Che stepped out of the Bizarre Temple.

He tore through the mist, his divine aura bursting forth uncontrollably as if stirred by an unseen force, each wisp of energy radiating his godly essence.

The oppressive weight of his presence spread unsuppressed, formidable and terrifying.

A deity in the human realm would undoubtedly incur the relentless wrath of the heavenly will!

Was Li Che determined to force his return to the mortal world despite that risk?!

As Lü Qiankun, Feng Zhiqi, and the others beheld Li Che breaking through the mist, their hearts churned like stormy seas.

Li Che met their gaze; he had long sensed these familiar presences along the banks of the Jiulong River.

Emerging from the mist to face them, his mood was unexpectedly mixed with quiet emotions.

A rare smile touched Li Che’s face as he nodded at his old friends.

But then,

Li Che quickly straightened his head, his brows suddenly furrowing.

Floating above them, the Cosmic Chessboard hung overhead, its interlaced lines forming a complex net that covered the entire sky.

It shimmered with countless stars, designed to block the heavenly will.

At that moment, however, the sky roiled with dark clouds as if crackling with electric current. Massive divine symbols wove together like raging tides, coalescing into a dreadful Divine Executioner’s Blade!

The Divine Executioner’s Blade was the embodiment of the heavenly will’s fury, a weapon of unspeakable lethal power!

Li Che stared intently; upon the blade, ancient runes flickered and pulsed as they charged with energy.

The void twisted—the world before the blade seemed to shatter and vanish under an unseen force.

Yet compared to the nine-rune blade that once decimated the Bronze Cauldron of the Boss, only four runes now adorned it!

One of these ancient runes was especially dear—it was the one Li Che had personally refined, filling him with a familiar warmth.

The four-rune blade, compared to the one faced by the Young Dragon Emperor when he shattered the divine flame and restored his divine power, carried an extra rune!

Its might was even more fearsome!

“Can it not be shielded?”

Li Che sighed softly.

The shielding ability of the Five-Transcendence Chess Sage Dao Fruit still left much to be desired.

Perhaps it could hide a cultivator’s presence, but under the wrathful state of the heavenly will, it was hardly sufficient.

Could he truly withstand the four-rune Divine Executioner’s Blade?

Li Che shook his head. Even if he could, there was no point in stubbornly defying it. Not only was it futile, it risked provoking the heavenly will—a suicidal course.

As someone who tread carefully in this perilous world, Li Che would never court death.

He yearned only for a peaceful path to cultivation—to steadily grow stronger and quietly watch his daughter live forever…

Thus, Li Che would never choose self-destruction.

He had yet to ascend to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths to reunite with his daughter; how could he risk annihilation by defying the heavenly will?

Gazing at the surging heavenly energy above, Li Che felt a stirring within his soul. He maximized the operation of the Cosmic Chessboard—the crisscrossing lines gleaming like ever-brightening stars.

For a brief moment, the ancient runes on the Divine Executioner’s Blade flickered and slowed.

But in the next instant, they resumed charging…

Li Che sighed—weary, yet accepting the truth.

However, his senses detected that the maturity of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit was rapidly increasing under the pressure of the heavenly will.

Indeed, pressure breeds motivation…

Even a Dao Fruit thrives on virtue; with a blade hanging overhead, determination surges like a stubborn mule!

With a snap of his fingers, Li Che’s mind stirred quietly.

In Mo City Fengdu,

Li Che’s Domination Clone atop the Dominator Tower suddenly opened its eyes as jet-black raindrops, as large as beans, exploded in midair.

The very air twisted, and then a black chess piece abruptly swelled and contorted.

It transformed into the figure of National Teacher Xie Yunshen.

Waving a feathered fan with grace, clothed in white as fresh snow, Xie Yunshen floated in the vacant space of the Dominator Tower and bowed to Li Che.

“Greetings, Master.”

Xie Yunshen said with utmost respect.

“My lord, our Court expeditionary force is en route to Xiao Lingyin Temple on Xiling Road. We have tracked Master Lü Taibai’s whereabouts and will soon rendezvous with him at your command.”

Li Che’s Domination Clone, its raven hair cascading like dark flames, nodded in acknowledgment.

He responded with a nod.

“Lend me the power of destiny,”

Li Che instructed.

Xie Yunshen paused, realizing something was amiss on Li Che’s end.

Li Che made no secret of his use of destiny’s power to mask his divine aura—a method introduced by Su Da, whose research in this field was well known to Xie Yunshen.

Then, with another snap of his fingers to ensure stability,

Su Da, the divine figure, was summoned using Spiritual Confinement.

Whoosh—

As soon as Su Da appeared, nine swishing tails of ink-colored light danced wildly in the air, and a mighty divine aura erupted as if threatening to devastate the world.

“Madame Su?!”

National Teacher Xie Yunshen instantly recognized Su Da. His eyes narrowed and his heart skipped a beat—not only at her presence, but at the formidable aura she exuded.

Xie Yunshen gasped as Su Da’s flawless beauty trembled for a moment.

He never expected that…

The favored and trusted aide of the Great Jing Emperor had already become one of Li Che’s Spiritual Confinements!

Realizing he too was now bound by Li Che’s Spiritual Confinement, Su Da mused that the Great Jing Emperor was truly the mightiest among men!

“Using the power of destiny to mask divine aura? To walk the mortal world?”

After Su Da’s explanation, Xie Yunshen immediately understood.

“Indeed, destiny’s power can achieve such a feat,” Xie Yunshen nodded. “But once cloaked in a golden destiny mantle, one cannot freely wield divine power; the moment you strike, your presence will be exposed, and the heavenly will will take notice.”

Li Che nodded in agreement.

Without delay, Xie Yunshen sprang into action, swiftly condensing two destiny golden lotuses!

One representing the breakthrough of the Xuanfu Divine Sect and the other for Tian Dan Divine Sect.

Under Xie Yunshen’s deft manipulation, the petals of the two lotuses separated and transformed into a cascade of lotus robes that draped over Li Che’s Domination Clone.

As Li Che felt the shimmering golden light of the destiny mantle, his mind was suddenly calmed.

“Excellent,”

Li Che murmured in approval.

Soon, his Domination Clone exploded into a swirling black mist.

…

On the banks of the Jiulong River,

the river roared.

Li Che tore through the mist—drawing the attention of the Divine Executioner’s Blade. Yet, once the Domination Clone burst, the destiny lotus mantle draped itself over Li Che.

It was as though the lock of the heavenly will had been severed by an unseen force.

Li Che felt as if he had become one with the mountains and rivers—the very fury of the heavenly will evaporated like a gentle breeze.

Once the Divine Executioner’s Blade reached the third ancient rune, it gradually turned transparent and faded away.

Soon, the rolling, oppressive black clouds covering the sky began to vanish.

The stifling pressure of heaven dissipated in an instant.

Lü Qiankun, Feng Zhiqi, and the others felt as though they were about to collapse, their heavy breaths betraying the immense pressure that had just passed.

Li Che stepped forward into the void. Ripples emanated from his every stride as his divine aura was completely concealed.

He seemed transformed into a mere mortal, yet his visage slowly radiated a shimmering divine light and ethereal aura.

Li Che paused in astonishment.

He couldn’t help but note that his appearance now bore an uncanny resemblance to that of the Grand Inspector and the Emperor.

Li Che raised an eyebrow, finally understanding the mystery behind the elusive divine glow and ethereal aura that had always veiled the faces of the Emperor and Grand Inspector—it was the effect of the destiny golden mantle.

“Elder Li!”

As Li Che emerged from the void, now transcendent and extraordinary, even Lü Qiankun’s normally stern face softened with reverence.

Even Lü Qiankun could not help but feel a deep sense of awe for such power.

It was the kind of power that commanded respect.

Feng Zhiqi, Zhao Fangzhou, Nan Lihuo and the others wore expressions of astonishment and admiration.

Li Che gave a slight nod, clearly pleased to see old friends.

He remembered well the sorrow previously shared at the riverside—these were the people who truly cared for him and XiXi.

His gaze fell on Nan Lihuo, and with a slight flick of his finger, a wisp of unsullied divine aura slithered into him like a snake, mending the foundational fractures wrought by his injuries and paving a smooth path for his future cultivation.

As for Feng Zhiqi, Zhao Fangzhou, and the others, Li Che offered his guidance.

Feng Zhiqi felt a surge as his energy boiled and his forehead creased; the overwhelming divine power integrated into his body, propelling him from the apex of the Fourth-Stage Martial Saint to a transcendent state—opening his Heavenly Gate!

“Thank you, Elder Li!”

Their faces lit up with ecstatic joy and heartfelt gratitude.

Even Lü Qiankun, having received Li Che’s counsel, experienced a tremendous surge in divine aura and insight—a breakthrough on the path past the Second Calamity.

After sharing his blessings widely, Li Che cast a deep, contemplative glance towards the raging Jiulong River.

It was here that he had once parted ways with XiXi.

This was a place Li Che would never forget.

Nine Heavens and Ten Earths…

One day, Li Che swore he would reclaim them!

After bidding farewell to the others, Li Che clenched a Feilei Chess Piece between his fingers and vanished in an instant.

He traversed countless mountains and rivers, reappearing in Daocheng.

Within the mountain gate of Qianyuan Divine Sect,

in the Disciples’ City.

Zhang Ya sat quietly on a chair, her face blank as if lost in thought.

Li Qingshan, Granny Mu, Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, and the others gathered in the courtyard, uncertain of what to say while watching a dazed Zhang Ya.

News of the epic battle in Jingguang City had reached them.

A divine war had erupted—the Bizarre Temple Pantheon had seen deities intervene, and immortal deities were even implicated.

However, when it came to distinguishing between deities and immortal deities, few truly knew the details. All they were aware of was that XiXi had entered the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, while Li Che, having embraced divine infection to gain power, was transformed into a deity—his fate now uncertain between life and death.

But one fact was clear: deities cannot appear in the mortal realm.

Even if Li Che had not perished during the divine battle, he could not return to the human world.

Unless Zhang Ya entered the Bizarre Temple—with her current cultivation level, she couldn’t sustain herself there for long.

Unwittingly, it now separated her from both her husband and daughter—a chasm between heaven and earth.

Zhang Ya seemed to have been drained of her very soul, standing there numb and dazed.

Granny Mu sighed softly, and Li Qingshan, gritting his teeth with reddened eyes, could only helplessly admit that he no longer kept pace with Li Che—even if he was known as Cat Face of the Underworld.

“Li Che is not dead…”

After all, Li Qingshan was still the Underworld Cat Face—this was the one thing he could confirm.

After all, he still possessed the Underworld Divine Communication Mirror, through which he learned that Li Che was indeed alive.

Yet, although Li Che was alive, he could not return to the mortal realm.

The mood in the courtyard grew somber.

Suddenly,

a gentle breeze stirred, accompanied by the tinkling of wind chimes.

Everyone felt a surge of terrifying pressure that vanished almost as suddenly, leaving their hearts racing.

Eyes fixed centrally, they all looked toward the middle of the courtyard.

There, a tall, impeccably poised figure stood—a man in an ink robe adorned with golden lotus patterns. Despite his face being masked by divine aura and ethereal radiance, everyone immediately recognized him as Li Che!

“My love, I’m home,”

Li Che said gently, his eyes soft with tenderness as he looked at Zhang Ya, who seemed devoid of spirit.

Zhang Ya quickly rose, tears welling in her eyes. In a heartbeat, like a swallow returning to its nest, she dashed into Li Che’s arms.

Her tears flowed unabated, soaking her clothes as she buried her head in his chest, trembling all over.

“I thought… my husband… would never return,”

Zhang Ya sobbed in anguish.

Li Che gently stroked her hair, his divine aura radiating comfort as he soothed away her sorrow.

In the courtyard,

Li Qingshan, Granny Mu, and the others, relieved to see Li Che’s return, finally exhaled as if a great weight had been lifted.

They exchanged knowing looks and quietly departed, leaving the reunited couple in peace.

Li Che comforted Zhang Ya for a while as her eyes, still red, reflected a deep tenderness. Together, they sat under the eaves as a gentle breeze stirred the peach blossom tree, its leaves dancing softly.

Zhang Ya leaned against Li Che’s shoulder, silently listening to his explanations.

“XiXi has trained in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths with the Boss. The Dog Master and even the Third Prince are formidable protectors. With them by her side, she’s utterly safe.”

“When our cultivation reaches a sufficient level, we shall enter the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths to search for XiXi and reunite with her.”

Li Che said softly, his tone remarkably light.

“Yes, I believe in you, my love,”

Zhang Ya acknowledged that entering the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths was no easy feat, and she knew XiXi’s fate intertwined with perilous powers.

The immortal deities involved were nearly unmanageable.

Yet Zhang Ya had faith in Li Che.

She trusted that he, as the head of their family, would lead them out of Feilei City to witness the vast, resplendent mortal world. His ability was unquestionable.

Her admiration and devotion were boundless.

She believed Li Che would bring happiness to their family—she believed in her man.

Over three days of togetherness, Zhang Ya’s distress gradually subsided and she returned to her cultivation with renewed vigor, working even harder than before.

Li Che also tended to her body, strengthening both her physical form and soul, ensuring that in both martial prowess and divine essence she could walk a steady path.

Time passed slowly, and the days on earth grew tranquil.

For Li Che, few forces in the human realm could now threaten him.

Protected by the full might of the heavenly will, deities remained hidden—ensuring absolute safety.

Li Che, able to walk among mortals, did not immediately seek the Grand Inspector. For to do so would require setting foot in the Divine Capital.

And once in the Divine Capital, Li Che’s mission would be more than simply meeting the Grand Inspector…

He intended to settle accounts with the Great Jing Emperor.

Thus, Li Che relaxed completely, unhurried.

By keeping a Feilei Chess Piece on XiXi, he could track her well and ensure her safety.

It was clear that XiXi was secure within the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Should XiXi face mortal peril, the Feilei Chess Piece would alert him by displaying a scene on the Cosmic Chessboard—just as it had during Qitian’s past emergencies.

Thus, Li Che’s heart remained relatively at ease.

For XiXi, her trial in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths was just part of her journey—albeit one fraught with countless uncertainties beyond his control.

But that was natural. Li Che was not invincible; he could not master everything.

So long as XiXi was not in mortal danger, he would calmly enter a state of cultivation without haste.

He intended to absorb every lesson from this encounter perfectly.

In Mo City Fengdu,

winds and thunder raged.

A colossal scroll unfurled before them—a swirling, inky maelstrom shifting form with terrifying intensity. Stones on the ground trembled and clattered in unease.

After what felt like an eternity, the scroll’s dark tide subsided, only to be replaced by an aura of fearsome malevolence that swept over the land, plunging everything into oppressive darkness.

It was as though a peerless beast of terror had burst forth from the inky pool!

【Fourth Fierce: Biluo Demon Toad】

Within the Ten Fierce Ink Splatter Scroll, the inky pool spun with broiling ferocity, merging with the Biluo Demon Toad transformed from the Three-Mutable Golden Toad.

“Gua!”

With a resounding croak, the Biluo Demon Toad roared, shaking heaven and earth as waves of ferocity erupted!

Boom!

Its immense, hulking form crashed onto the ground, as dense demonic and malevolent energies surged from it. A wild, gleeful grin spread across its face.

The Three-Mutable Golden Toad had transformed into an unparalleled beast of terror, its will as indomitable as that of a Spiritual Confinement.

“My bloodline is even mightier than that of the former Emperor Toad! Better yet, I’m now immortal and can absorb demonic souls to empower myself!”

Li Che, seated atop the Dominator Tower, his raven hair dancing like lightning, glanced coolly at the metamorphosing Biluo Demon Toad.

The divine-transformed fierce beast not only inherited the might of the deities but also continued to evolve.

This made Li Che pay close attention to the unique status of the Ten Fierce Ink Splatter Scroll.

It contained a rare essence—fierceness itself. By merging with demonic souls, one could absorb this essence to undergo a monumental transformation, bolstered by ferocious energy.

Previously, Li Che’s cultivation wasn’t sufficient, so he relied on the Ten Fierce Scroll to enhance his strength—aiming to complete the collection of the Ten Fierce.

But now, he realized how precious each slot truly was…

“Perhaps henceforth, choosing which beast merits a slot in the Ten Fierce will require far more discretion. Not just anyone can become my fierce beast.”

Li Che nodded quietly.

Only demonic beasts with immortal bloodlines should earn a place in the Ten Fierce, maximizing the value of the Scroll.

The likes of Fan Hai Jiuying, Fiery Void Calamity, and Guai Li Zhu Huai had taken up slots before, but their inherent weakness limited their potential.

For instance, Fan Hai Jiuying’s future limit pale in comparison to the Biluo Demon Toad’s potential…

Li Che shook his head, ignoring the frenzied excitement of the Biluo Demon Toad after its transformation.

His eyes glittered as if threads of light were interweaving.

【Dao Fruit: Chess Sage (lv7 60%)】

The advancement of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit was remarkable—it had refined a unique method of honing through the power of the heavenly will.

Occasionally, by shedding the destiny mantle, he subjected the Cosmic Chessboard to confront the Divine Executioner’s Blade of the heavenly will…

With the blade ever looming overhead, the risk of shattering the chessboard was constant, yet the maturity of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit soared.

Li Che was deeply pleased.

He eagerly anticipated the moment the Chess Sage would complete its sixth transcendence—when he might no longer need the destiny mantle to walk the mortal realm in divine form.

That moment, however, still required time.

Deep in thought, he began to reflect on his own cultivation.

He stood at a delicate crossroads—his martial path had reached Supreme Level, his divine essence surging mightily, yet he had not yet ignited his divine flame. With his divine meditations, he bordered on a quasi-deity state, recognized by the heavenly will as a deity.

“The Martial Immortal path—be it Human Immortal, Profound Immortal, or Celestial Immortal… Among these, the Profound Immortal is akin to a deity, mastering the universe’s secrets with transcendent artistry.”

“Deities are further divided into those of divine flame, the melding of the Way, the slashing Way, and Nirvana—and the Profound Immortal likely has its own subdivisions… I have yet to ascend to that level, and having severed the Martial Immortal path, further clarity eludes me.”

“Still, my Martial Immortal Golden Body endures—perhaps I can one day reverse the divine path and return to the Martial Immortal way!”

“The unique nature of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit…”

Li Che sat cross-legged atop the peak of the Dominator Tower as wild winds howled and inky rains surged.

“Reverse…”

“Can it be reversed?”

Li Che’s eyes flashed as a radical idea sparked within him.

“I became a divine being because pure martial energy tainted my divine essence, transforming it into divine blood…”

“But all my divine essence has been transmuted into an unsullied heart—pure and immaculate…”

“Can I gather all that unsullied divine essence from my blood and extract it, letting my energy revert to pristine pure martial energy?”

“Can I reverse from a divine form back to a Martial Immortal?”

Li Che drew a deep breath as the thought grew irresistible.

He recalled the words of the master of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit during their discourse.

In the next moment, Li Che decided to act.

A gash split his brow, and in an instant, a pillar of light burst forth, shooting toward the heavens. Within that beam, a heart pounded vigorously!

The Seven Aperture Luminous Heart!

His divine meditations converged into an almost solitary vessel—a Pure Heart Dao Boat!

The Dao Boat soared upward, encircled by the essence of the Pure Heart. Sounds of rushing water filled the air.

Slowly, as if an ethereal river emerged beneath the Pure Heart Dao Boat, the outline of the Seven Aperture Luminous Heart became visible!

In a flash, Li Che’s eyes turned an infinite white.

He reversed his divine essence, stripping it away and blending the infiltrated divine blood back into his martial energy…

Li Che let out a roar.

His entire body convulsed; every inch of his flesh and every cell shuddered as if struck by countless shocks!

Boom—!!!

Li Che opened his mouth and spat a huge mouthful of blood!

In an instant, a cloud of blood mist erupted as his flesh shriveled to skin and bones!

Only his eyes remained, burning with brilliant light!

Li Che slowly raised his emaciated arms; his ragged flesh drooped like dried cloth over exposed bones.

Then, with a sudden clench, he slammed his palms together.

Beneath his sagging skin, purple Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame motifs began to emerge.

Flecks of golden light burst forth—signs of his Martial Immortal Golden Bones…

Reviving, shining brilliantly!

Around him, a swirling scarlet blood mist erupted, as if scorched and boiling from intense heat.

“The Way’s vessel must break before it can be remade!”

“Follow the divine flow—rebellion turns to transcendence!”

“Come forth!”

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