Chapter 524: Transcending Mortality

Crack, crack, crack, crack—

His mortal body trembled violently, as if blasted by countless tremendous forces.

His arms and palms, once robust, now hung loose like faded flesh draped over bare bones.

Between his clapping palms, the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame Immortal Pattern intertwined and surfaced – the same pattern that had reappeared now that Li Che had shifted to the Divine Path.

After perfecting the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame, the power of the calamity refined into a complete circle birthed the immortal pattern and condensed his celestial qi, all of which was once incinerated when Li Che embraced the Divine Path.

Yet now, new life was sprouting like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

Li Che planned to reverse the Divine Path by stripping the divine essence from each drop of blood, purifying his qi and blood to restore his original state.

In simple terms, he would deny his blood its divine nature, revert to pure martial prowess, and undo the Divine Transformation.

Easier said than done.

For the divine essence had fused so deeply with his blood as to permeate its very core, making its removal immensely complex—especially given the abundant blood of a top-tier martial warrior like Li Che.

Every drop of his blood, heavy as an ocean, was dense with innumerable, intertwined forces that formed a uniquely potent substance.

A single drop might be as weighty as lead and mercury, capable of shattering the void and toppling mountains.

Thus, it was a monumental undertaking to extract every trace of divine essence, to reverse the divine path and return to the realm of martial immortals.

It was a feat that seemed to exist only in myth.

Indeed…

If Li Che had been cultivating ordinary divine essence, that would have been the case—but during his cultivation he transformed it into Pure Heart divine nature.

And Pure Heart divine nature was his sole chance to achieve the reversal!

Specks of golden light shone like stubborn gleams in a foggy night, striving to pierce the mist and illuminate the world.

It was the radiant light of his Martial Immortal Golden Body, dazzling enough to tear apart the crimson shroud and reveal brilliance!

Boom, boom, boom—

Li Che roared skyward as his Dao Boat, constructed from his intertwined spirit, thundered forth.

In that instant, everything seemed to change.

Countless Daoist Marks of the Great Way intertwined like rippling water, each collision sending out concentric waves.

It was as if the great river of the Way itself had poured down, roaring in its relentless torrent!

A river of the soul!

By refining his Pure Heart Dao Fruit to the sixth transformation and condensing his Dao Boat, Li Che could now freely sail on the endless river of the Way.

The reverberations shook the very air, reawakening his will with a resounding clamor.

In but an instant, Li Che felt himself slip into a state reminiscent of sudden enlightenment—a clarity surpassing even the epiphanies granted by the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

It was as though he were submerged in the very rules of the cosmos!

His entire spirit immersed in the vast ocean of the Way!

Li Che felt like a parched, withered plant in a boundless desert, now nourished by sweet rain and poised to flourish anew!

A unique change was unfolding within his mortal flesh, sparking sensations deep within him.

The rushing river of the Way seemed to reveal the very purpose of cultivation—the end goal lay at its far bank, where the soul transcends, life is elevated, and self-awareness reaches sublime heights.

Sailing his Dao Boat along this spiritual river, he dared swim upstream!

Realizing the true value of personal evolution!

Cultivation is evolution—catapulting one’s life to a higher order, breaking free from earthly fetters to shine alongside the sun and moon, truly eternal!

Perhaps this was the essence of immortality!

“I want everlasting life, I want to be eternal, to live as long as the heavens and the earth, to shine with the sun and moon—I want to become, and even surpass, the cosmos!”

Li Che suddenly opened his eyes, feeling a ripple of stirring in his soul.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Beneath his skin and bones, his eyes flared open with a furious blend of crimson, madness, and utter frenzy.

“Is this willpower… the seduction of the River of the Way? The corruption of the heavenly will!”

“If I succumb to this temptation, I fear I’ll lose myself completely—my soul splintering from my flesh, and life itself losing meaning.”

Li Che exhaled deeply, his heart quivering.

He quickly steadied himself, gathering his emotions.

Under the reflective glow of the spiritual river, his divine consciousness swelled mightily, its perception expanding a thousandfold.

Like a web of countless threads, it reached out into every droplet of floating blood, peeling away every trace of Pure Heart divine nature.

The pain was excruciating, as if a searing torment came from the depths of his soul.

In an instant, it surged like a tidal wave!

Li Che gritted his teeth and let out a muffled groan.

He was not about to give up on the Martial Immortal path—after all, compared to the Divine Path, the Martial Immortal way was perhaps his only hope of shattering the immortal seal.

The martial way of immortality was born in the mortal realm—only by harnessing the vast martial fortune could one even aspire to become a transcendent being among men.

And on Earth, aided by unstoppable martial energy, reaching the realm of mortal transcendence was already the pinnacle.

But can the future truly be navigated?

Does the martial path have a future?

The master of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit described realms beyond mortal transcendence—profound celestial secrets, undying heavens…

That was why Li Che had resolved to press on.

Rumbling—!!!

Countless Daoist Marks of the Great Way interlaced, merging with the river as if a colossal curtain poured down from the heavens of Mo City Fengdu, shaking everything it touched.

Though Mo City Fengdu was a place like no other, with each cultivation Li Che sensed the aura of the Way. He knew that Mo City Fengdu…

Had yet to break free from the Three Realms; even this minor heaven was subject to the control of the heavenly will, much like a special Bizarre Temple.

Its strength was comparable to that of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Bizarre Temple.

One order after another of divine chains and heavenly marks cascaded like a glittering waterfall, plunging nearly nine thousand feet, merging with the resplendent spiritual river that pounded against Li Che’s back.

Countless droplets of blood mist tinkled like agate, as Li Che navigated the spiritual river in his Dao Boat, bolstering his will and making his divine consciousness all the more formidable.

The speed at which he extracted the Pure Heart divine nature from his qi and blood quickened.

But there was simply too much—his life-force, his pure martial qi, was an endless ocean, vast and boundless!

What once brought him solace now inflicted agony as he struggled to peel away the Pure Heart divine nature.

Li Che sighed. What choice did he have?

His overflowing life-force had to be purified by himself.

Yet as he stripped away the divine nature, his divine will swelled ever larger—so potent that even without his Dao Boat, it could persist in the river for a long, unyielding breath!

For a moment, he wondered…

Was cultivation within the Divine Realm—sailing the river of the Way—driven by divine will alone?

Li Che’s Dao Boat made the journey much easier than that of other divine cultivators.

Li Che’s heart raced with excitement as his divine consciousness began to glow, resonating with the Daoist Marks above the river. Ancient scriptures and mystical sigils appeared one after another, shining fiercely in harmony with the heavenly will!

He sank deep into this state, losing track of time.

His entire being entered a state of cultivation with his divine will spinning at high speed, continuously stripping away the Pure Heart divine nature.

In a flash, white and golden radiances began to surface.

The white light embodied the Pure Heart divine nature, misty like a shroud, while the golden hue pulsed with the glow of pure martial qi.

Time seemed to lose meaning, slipping by in numb, endless moments…

Mo City Fengdu.

The entire city was shrouded in a terrifying oppressive aura, the ground trembling subtly as dust swirled in massive eddies!

Atop the Dominator Tower,

an extremely brilliant light burst forth.

A hazy white glow mixed with a dazzling golden shine!

As majestic as the sun and moon.

Within this interplay of white and gold, a vague figure sat cross-legged—a frail, almost emaciated presence.

Suddenly, Li Che’s eyes snapped open.

Boom!

The violent tremors exploded into deafening noise.

Atop the Dominator Tower, the white and golden orbs separated perfectly amidst a clamor that shook the heavens.

Dividing like the sun and the moon!

“Success!”

In Li Che’s eyes, the left glowed white and the right glimmered gold, like endless streams flowing in a ceaseless torrent.

“A month of journeying through the spiritual river in my Dao Boat, stripping away countless folds of Pure Heart divine nature from my life-force…”

“And now, it’s finally complete!”

A relieved smile spread across Li Che’s face as he exhaled.

But this was not the end.

For he had only separated the divine essence from his blood.

Some unseen force still stirred, threatening to fuse the two energies back together.

If that happened, all his month-long painstaking efforts might go to waste.

Li Che had to sever that eerie pull.

He slowly separated his clasped palms, and countless glowing orbs of Pure Heart divine nature began to rapidly coalesce, interwoven with the Daoist Marks and ordered chains.

Crash, crash—

Li Che lifted his head and roared as his body trembled, his withered skin and resplendent golden bones resonating with the roaring sound of the River of the Way.

That was the river of martial destiny!

Li Che had once sailed it in his Dao Boat!

After the sixth transformation of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, he had truly sensed the power of the River of the Way.

Its might was of the same level as the spiritual river.

Boom!

The river cascaded like a torrent of a waterfall, its dazzling brilliance crashing upon his flesh as his divine consciousness exploded, his eyes shining, fingers splayed, slapping down.

In that moment, the purified martial qi, stripped of divine essence, burst forth in radiant gold, forcefully surging into the River of the Way.

Washed away by the unstoppable torrent of martial destiny, it struck his flesh with overwhelming force.

Then, it collided with his body in a resounding impact.

“Ah—!!!”

Li Che roared upward, his dark, sturdy hair wildly whipping about!

In that moment, his once withered body began to fill out, as the River of martial destiny flushed golden pure martial qi back into him – igniting his flesh with blinding brightness!

It was like a torch banishing darkness, engulfed by cascading, orderly Daoist Marks that burned fiercely!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

Amid the flames forged by the Daoist Marks, every trace of divine essence hidden within his flesh evaporated into white mist, expelled completely.

Even the divine essence lodged deep within his organs was relentlessly extracted after enduring resistance.

Boom!

In Li Che’s mind, everything seemed to come to a standstill.

Time froze. His consciousness spanned countless ages, as if he had completed a unique and unparalleled transformation!

His divine will trembled, and then a fierce determination burst forth.

It was the will Li Che knew all too well!

Martial Immortal Will!

A blazing, inimitable Martial Immortal Will, radiant like the noonday sun!

Unlike before when his martial transcendence merged with the divine, now it possessed an agility and dynamism far greater than ever before…

Martial Profound Immortal Will!

Li Che’s eyes shone brilliantly!

“Hah—”

“Inhale—”

With every breath, it was as if a fresh current surged forth, and Li Che’s eyes sparkled with reawakened power.

He was restored!

He was back!

That old familiar sensation flooded his flesh as he roared, his dark, sturdy hair wildly dancing.

Golden blood instantly surged into his body, gradually inflating his once withered flesh into a robust and substantial form!

A surging vitality reentered every cell, interlacing with countless Daoist Marks etched on his flesh.

The trembling of his life-force was so intense that the very air around him seemed to shatter into fragments.

“Martial Transcendence… I have returned!”

“And…”

Li Che’s fingers gripped like spears as he embedded them into the air, carving out five deep craters!

“Moreover… my will is forging profound insights—I have found the path to ascend into the Martial Profound Immortal realm!”

Li Che’s heart pounded with excitement!

For the path from Mortal Transcendence to Martial Profound Immortality was something he had learned about only after speaking with the master of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

Yet he remained unclear about the exact breakthrough to Martial Profound Immortality.

Martial Profound Immortality was said to rival the Divine,

while the Divine itself was subdivided into several realms: Divine Flame, Fusion of the Way, Dao Cleaving, and Nirvana. Each was a vast chasm!

Above the Nirvana Divine lay the Undying Divine!

Immortal and eternal, destined to last forever!

The realm of Profound Immortality too had its tiers, but Li Che knew too little—he hadn’t clarified matters with the master of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

Even when Li Che had reached the pinnacle of Mortal Transcendence, capable of battling divinities with his Martial Immortal body,

he still had no grasp on how to breach into the realm of Profound Immortality!

Martial Profound Immortality was like a forbidden domain to Li Che.

Yet now, after breaking old barriers, he seemed to have touched a fragment of that forbidden realm—a chance to join its ranks!

Countless torrents of golden blood surged around him, like a dazzling flame flickering brilliantly in the world!

Above his head hovered the pure essence, stripped from his divine blood like white mist—ethereal and surreal.

Li Che raised a hand to his brow.

Suddenly, the inner scenery of the Mud Pellet was torn apart.

His Seven Aperture Luminous Heart began pounding, and with each beat, a powerful suction drew in the Pure Heart divine nature—frenzied and all-consuming—into his heart.

In that moment, the Seven Aperture Luminous Heart brimmed with an almost terrifying power, saturated with divine oppression.

The vast divine nature coalesced within it, threatening to obliterate everything if unleashed!

Crash, crash…

The sound of cascading water echoed endlessly.

Amid the interlaced Daoist Marks and ordered chains, a blurry spiritual river wound its way around the Seven Aperture Luminous Heart.

Li Che exhaled deeply.

After devouring all the Pure Heart divine nature, his Seven Aperture Luminous Heart slowly descended back into the inner space of the Mud Pellet, ultimately merging with it completely.

Thus, the divine essence and his blood were entirely severed.

Li Che, neither overjoyed nor sorrowful, slowly closed his eyes, a trace of solemnity and regret crossing his features.

“Is this the only way?”

He silently recalled his recent act of reversing the divine, using his Dao Boat to connect with the spiritual river and, with his immense divine will, stripping away the Pure Heart divine nature from his life-force.

It appeared smooth, but was fraught with danger—one misstep would cause the reversal to fail,

and his expanded divine will might then scatter and dissolve into the spiritual river.

Yet, he had succeeded…

But Li Che felt no joy.

For this success was merely the separation of divine essence from his blood; reverting to his former state meant he could no longer employ divine abilities in battle, nor use martial qi in his true martial form.

A peculiar balance had been established between the two.

“Yes… it’s a balance. Once disturbed, a conflict between the martial and divine inevitably forces a choice—a decision made by one’s very flesh, whether the martial suppresses the divine or vice versa…”

“In the end, only one can persist…”

“The tipping point lies in igniting the Divine Flame on the Divine Path and uncovering the profound mysteries on the Martial Path.”

Li Che’s skin tensed involuntarily. In the next moment, Daoist Marks of the Great Way intertwined over his flesh, resonating in unison.

“I am neither a divinity nor a profound immortal now. To maintain this balance, I must elevate both the Martial and Divine Paths to the next level.”

“I must preserve this balance!”

“But where is it so easy… a single misstep and it all falls apart.”

Li Che shook his head slightly—he knew this was the challenge he must face.

“If I am to break into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, I must become stronger. Standing still is not an option.”

“Thus, I must ignite the Divine Flame and seek the profound mysteries of the martial realm!”

Li Che rose from the Dominator Tower, his eyes opening wide as brilliant golden light pierced everything.

The tremor of martial qi and the surging Martial Immortal Will billowed mightily.

And as his Martial Immortal Will surged, his divine consciousness, faint but persistent, floated and took a human form, glimmering with soft light.

“Two wills: one divine, one profound immortal!”

Divine Consciousness. Profound Immortal Awe!

Li Che’s inner world had grown rich and formidable!

The cosmos itself, like a vast chessboard, lay spread before him. His divine consciousness flashed with majestic authority as he stepped onto the board, causing it to collapse beneath him.

“For now, my divine will rests here, dominating the cosmic chessboard as though it were my third eye.”

Li Che exhaled a mouthful of turbid energy.

A subtle stirring in his spirit.

Streams of light danced before his eyes.

[Eight-Nine Profound Skill: Martial Immortal Golden Body (90%)]

Progress… reached 90%!

Li Che’s eyes sparkled as he transformed his divine body back to his Martial Immortal form—a rebirth after collapse.

The Martial Immortal Golden Body, after a period of stillness and revival, gained a 10% boost in progress!

Li Che stood, his whole body resonating as his powerful life-force clenched and shattered the void, sending countless energy currents rushing forth.

A subtle stirring in his spirit.

The inner scenery of the closed Mud Pellet at his brow burst open with a roar.

In that instant, the Pure Heart divine nature contained within his Seven Aperture Luminous Heart surged forth, reuniting with his life-force to reshape his divine body.

His divine consciousness stepped out from the cosmic chessboard to take command.

Crash, crash…

Daoist Marks of the Great Way interlaced, the spiritual river flickered, and a solitary boat battled upstream, as countless fragments of Pure Heart divine nature were once again stripped away.

The profound immortal awe emerged from the cosmic chessboard to reclaim command!

Li Che effortlessly switched between these two states of cultivation!

In one thought he became divine; in the next, immortal!

“Thus, I can continue silently cultivating the Martial Path while seeking the breakthrough to profound immortality.”

Li Che smiled.

The Martial path belonged to him by choice.

For while the Divine Path was as immovable as mountains, the Martial Path offered a path that was never immortal.

If one could ascend to the Celestial realm through the Martial Path, only then might one challenge the undying and break through!

Li Che was well aware that if he continued to possess Martial Immortal cultivation, the undying forces of the Bizarre Temple Pantheon would not let his power go unchecked.

The mortal realm had its share of Martial cultivators; indeed, pure martial cultivation was once the mainstream.

Yet those who shattered the void after becoming Martial Immortals disappeared without a trace.

“They say that shattering the void may be akin to ascending to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, where the path for martial immortals becomes even harsher—besides the risk of being tainted by divine essence and falling to the Divine Path, one might only be obliterated by the undying forces.”

“So whether in the mortal realm or the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, there has never been talk of celestial beings.”

Having completed his Dao Boat journey and reversed from the Divine Path back to the Martial Immortal way, Li Che felt elated.

He finally decided to end his nearly six-week reclusion.

A stirring in his soul, and he left Mo City Fengdu.

At the Elders’ Court of the Qianyuan Divine Sect,

Li Che, now restored to his Martial Immortal state, was free from the fetters of the heavenly will.

But Li Che intended to keep his transformation from Martial Immortal back under wraps, maintaining the guise of a quasi-divine being, masking himself with a golden aura, and concealing heavenly secrets.

Back in the Courtyard, Zhang Ya and Granny Mu were busy in the kitchen, chatting as they prepared a meal.

Li Che pushed open the Study door.

Zhang Ya immediately sensed his presence and rushed out.

In the Courtyard,

aside from Zhang Ya, several others awaited him.

Li Qingshan, Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, Nan Lihuo, Nie Yang, and others had gathered, teaching the children.

Nie Yang, clutching his sword with a cold expression, instructed his disciple Li Chengzhou.

Besides Li Chengzhou, XiXi’s companions—such as Gongyang Xiu and Gong Yuanliang, who had come out of Jingguang City with XiXi—were present.

Additionally, Yun’e, Zhou Peng, and several other children.

As soon as Li Che reemerged from seclusion, Yun’e and Zhou Peng sensed him and immediately looked his way with reverence in their eyes.

“Uncle Che!”

Adopting a firm stance, Li Chengzhou’s eyes burned with zeal when he saw Li Che.

Nie Yang hurriedly clasped his fists, saying, “Elder Li.”

Seeing so many familiar faces in the Courtyard lifted Li Che’s spirits.

A divine aura lingered about his features, lending him an otherworldly, transcendent mien.

He strode forward as if spreading divine light all around him.

Raising his hand, he transformed his understanding of the Lü Xuan Liu Yu Pure Yang Sword Technique into a radiant sword light that streamed into Nie Yang and Li Chengzhou’s brows.

“Master these sword insights, and ascending the Divine Calamity will be within your grasp. Whether you reach the pinnacle depends on your own fate.”

Then, Li Che clapped his hand on Li Chengzhou’s head. Looking at Li Chengzhou—about the same age as his daughter XiXi—Li Che’s gaze softened.

The overwhelming power of Pure Heart divine nature washed over Li Chengzhou’s flesh, elevating his innate talent.

After all, his own nephew, Li Che would never neglect him.

Having refined his swordsmanship and tempered his character with Nie Yang, Li Che deemed it time for Li Chengzhou to rise.

Outside the Courtyard,

news of Li Che’s return had drawn many.

Among them were Uncle, Aunt, Cousin Li Zhengran, and Cousin-in-law Liu Chunming.

Liu Chunming, heavy with child and nearing term, appeared as if her delivery was imminent.

When she saw Li Che helping cleanse Li Chengzhou’s flesh and awaken his innate talent, tears welled up under the influence of maternal hormones, and she almost knelt in gratitude.

Li Che gently brushed his hand aside and lifted Liu Chunming.

“Cousin-in-law, there is no need,” he said.

“Has the child been named?”

Li Che smiled.

“Not yet—I want your brother to name her… It is destiny for this child,” Liu Chunming replied.

Liu Chunming knew Li Che was the pillar of the Li family—a legacy of an ancient ancestor.

Now, the Li family in Qianyuan Daocheng was immensely prestigious. With Li Che’s divine presence, it was only a matter of time before the Li lineage would flourish for millennia.

Thus, Liu Chunming had refrained from naming the unborn child, choosing instead to await Li Che’s blessing.

To receive Li Che’s naming was both fortune and blessing.

Li Che’s eyes flickered as he glanced at Liu Chunming’s belly, then softened considerably.

“It’s a girl. XiXi will have a cousin.”

“With such refined features as Cousin Li Zhengran and his wife, this little girl will undoubtedly be beautiful. XiXi, a true connoisseur of beauty, will love her.”

Li Che’s voice resonated throughout the Courtyard.

A hush fell over everyone.

Everyone knew that XiXi had been forced into the perilous Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, her fate uncertain—none dared mention it before Li Che.

“This world… is so corrupt that not even a little girl can find sanctuary. One day, I will restore clarity to it.”

Li Che murmured softly.

“Uncle, Aunt, Cousin, and Cousin-in-law, since that’s the case… I shall name the little one.”

“Her name will be Shiqing, Li Shiqing. May she grow up safe and live to witness a world of clarity and bright skies.”

As Li Che’s words fell, with a flick of his finger, a cluster of dense Pure Heart divine nature coalesced and soared, transforming into an ancient sigil of his own heavenly will as it merged into Liu Chunming’s unborn child.

The child, once grown, would be a divine being in her own right.

Perhaps her future would surpass even the realms of Divine Flame and divinity, for Li Che had paved the path of cultivation for her.

Compared to her elder brother Li Chengzhou, little Li Shiqing, still in the womb, had infinitely greater potential.

Li Che held great favor for this unborn girl, as if eagerly awaiting the return of his once-lost XiXi.

“Thank you, Uncle!”

Liu Chunming cried, tears streaming down her face.

She knew with Li Che’s naming and guidance, Li Shiqing’s future would be boundless.

Li Che’s features now shrouded in divine mystique, his eyes gentle.

“Very well.”

Then Li Che vanished, leaving the Courtyard with Zhang Ya. They soon appeared outside the city, strolling among the mountains and forests, savoring a rare moment of tranquility together.

On a misty mountaintop,

the couple sat on a large bluestone, flanked by drooping pines.

In the distance, a sea of clouds rolled as a crimson sunset slowly faded into twilight, its afterglow casting a red hue over the clouds.

Zhang Ya rested her head on Li Che’s shoulder, holding his arm.

“When, my love, will we see XiXi again?”

……

……

Boom—

The Dao Tribulation Space.

A terrifying roar erupted as a razor-sharp beam of blue light sliced through the air. The void rippled and then shattered into pieces!

Li Che sat cross-legged in the Dao Tribulation Space, his flesh impervious as it radiated resplendent golden light under the raging force.

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

In his gaze, sparks of flowing light shimmered.

[Dao Tribulation: Primordial Void Slash (100%)]

The blue radiance intermingled, then gradually dispersed like drifting blue smoke.

[Dao Tribulation Primordial Void Slash Complete, Condensing the Primordial Fengyuan Daoist Mark]

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

Li Che sat in the Dao Tribulation Space and suddenly opened his eyes wide.

In an instant, he withdrew from the space, reappearing in the Study.

It was as if the sound of a carving knife on spirit wood echoed softly; blue smoke emerged from his arm.

It curled like a gentle breeze, lingering and captivating.

Slowly, it etched, intertwined, and surged over his flesh…

A second type of Daoist Mark of the Great Way!

Li Che stood from his chair in the Study.

Then, gradually, he stretched out his arms—his bones resounded, explosive roars reverberated around him!

Soon, blue Primordial Daoist Marks crisscrossed and spread across his body, even his fingernails blossomed with intricate patterns.

His flesh resounded with the might of the Martial Immortal Golden Body, each sinew and bone refined to new depths!

Li Che had long transformed into his Martial Immortal state.

A stirring in his spirit brought forth the interwoven Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame Immortal Pattern.

The purple Primordial Fire Calamity Immortal Pattern, bizarre and all-encompassing, spread across his body, entwining with the blue marks.

A faint smile touched Li Che’s lips.

His Martial Immortal Golden Body soared, easing the burden of the Dao Tribulation.

A stirring in his spirit; lights danced as they interwove.

[Dao Tribulation: Primordial Purification Flow (90%), Primordial Withered Branch (70%), Primordial Demon Golden Scale (70%), Primordial Dry and Wet Cosmos (70%), Primordial Shattered Star Thunder (90%)]

These were the statuses of various Dao Tribulations he was enduring.

During this period, thanks to reversing the divine and reorienting his martial path, his Martial Immortal Golden Body was reactivated and he began to endure the Dao Tribulations.

The results were impressive.

“The path to profound immortality… replete with unfathomable mysteries, the chaos of the universe, the primordial nine tribulations.”

“Perhaps if I carve the nine tribulation immortal marks onto my flesh, forging a nine-tribulation immortal platform, I might breach into the profound immortal realm.”

Li Che’s eyes burned with determination. His vision for the path to profound immortality was now clear.

“But there’s still something missing from my Eight-Nine Profound Skill…”

“The Eight Mysterious Gates Immortal Seed and Nine Dao Tribulation Immortal Marks… Now, I only have seven types of Daoist Marks; I still need two more and two more Dao Fruits to complete the six transformations…”

A stirring in his spirit alerted him to the 【Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel】 Dao Fruit in his chest—the refinement of it and the Lotus Lamp of the Undying Artifact seemed nearly complete.

Then, suddenly,

“It’s snowing.”

Li Che’s fervor instantly turned cold, his interest in the progress of the Temporal Spatial Golden Wheel and the Lotus Lamp of the Undying Artifact evaporated.

He opened the Study door.

Li Che walked into the serene Courtyard.

There, Zhang Ya stood alone, gazing upward while cupping a delicate ice crystal snowflake.

Perhaps she had heard Li Che’s approach.

She turned to look at him, sadness shimmering in her eyes.

“My love… it’s snowing.”

“Today is XiXi’s birthday…”

“But… we can’t celebrate it together.”

Li Che extended his hand; a single snowflake fell into his palm.

Cold as ice, it seeped into his heart.

“Yes.”

“Our XiXi is now nine years old.”

The arrival of the tenth Dao Fruit… is imminent.

In the distance,

amidst the swirling snow, Uncle Li Liang braved the blizzard.

“It’s been born, it’s been born!”