Chapter 57: The Qiankun Jade’s Hidden Legacy

Pure Heart’s divine power burst forth, rending a rift in the void before Li Che.

Beyond the tear lay a space—a concealed realm waiting to be discovered!

The Sumeru Mustard Seed!

Li Che’s heart surged with excitement. According to Pure Heart’s feedback, the jade pendant obtained from Si Mu Bai was no ordinary trinket but a Divine Artifact imbued with otherworldly properties.

For instance, the pendant functions much like a storage space.

When Pure Heart absorbed the divine jade pendant, it not only inherited that ability but seemed to integrate the pendant into itself.

As his mind connected with the rift, every secret held within began to unravel before Li Che’s eyes.

It was as if a pair of unseen eyes were scrutinizing every detail of the space.

“Really, Si Mu Bai— the proud scion of a noble family—wouldn’t dare flee without essentials. At the very least, one would expect silver vouchers or Gold Leaves. So… they were all hidden inside this Qiankun Jade!”

“A jade that holds the universe, capable of storing anything…”

Isn’t this the legendary storage device?

The rain continued to beat down, as dark clouds roiled and thunder roared over the city.

Under the eaves, Li Che cheerfully tallied the spoils of his latest venture.

It was no wonder that Si Mu Bai, so highly regarded by the Si Family, had secured such treasures—gold, silver, jewels, and, astonishingly, exquisite wooden carvings even pulsing faintly with divine energy, clearly the work of master artisans.

Li Che cast a fleeting glance at the carvings before turning away; he wasn’t interested, knowing he could carve similar pieces himself.

Still, he began mentally pricing them—these masterful carvings were bound to fetch a premium.

In short, those carvings were pure cash!

Yet, what captivated him most was a fist-sized shard emitting a hazy gleam, from which an intense divine aura poured forth.

“Divine Foundation Fragment!”

Li Che’s breath hitched.

Even a single glance confirmed beyond doubt that this was indeed a Divine Foundation Fragment.

The overwhelming divine aura nearly drove him to tears with rage, as a mysterious indignation swirled in his mind, reddening his eyes.

“Such pure, wrathful divine power—it dwarfs even Si Mu Bai’s aura!”

“This divine onslaught… my will, my spirit, it just can’t hold against it.”

A grim shock crossed Li Che’s face—this was merely a fragment. In the hands of a Divine Foundation cultivator, his consciousness might be instantly overwhelmed and his will completely shattered.

“To contend with Divine Foundation cultivators, perhaps only striking from afar with the ‘Nanmu Gatlin Muduya’ might even pose a threat.”

“But even that would only be a slight deterrent.”

“After all, my strength and firepower fall far short.”

Li Che took a deep breath; even this shard alone attested to the terrifying power of Divine Foundation cultivators!

Nevertheless, this Divine Foundation Fragment was now in his possession.

They’re all Li’s now!

Hesitant to retrieve the fragment, Li Che knew that unleashing uncontrolled divine power might expose his position—a risk not worth taking.

Moreover, inside Pure Heart’s space, he observed that it was gradually refining the Divine Foundation Fragment.

Li Che couldn’t help but feel eager anticipation for what the fragment might become once fully refined.

His eyes then moved to the rest of his haul.

Beyond these, his greatest prize was hidden within ancient scriptures!

“Si Family’s Superior Blood-Transfusion Technique: ‘Si Taichong’s Nine-Rotation Blood-Transfusion Technique’!”

Suddenly, Li Che’s eyes sparked with excitement, and with a mere shift in focus, a booklet materialized from the Qiankun space.

It was the Nine-Rotation Blood-Transfusion Technique—the exclusive method cultivated by the Si Family’s direct line!

And it was precisely the blood-transfusion technique Li Che most urgently required.

Armed with this technique, Li Che could flawlessly complete his transformation.

“Plus, the Si Family’s Superior Inner Strength Technique, the ‘Yulian Zhen Gui Inner Strength Scripture,’ which can elevate one to the sixth realm and the very peak of meridian circulation!”

Unsurprisingly, the storied clan of Feilei City, with over a century of legacy, boasted an impressively rich collection.

Yet nothing thrilled Li Che more than the Divine Technique!

The Divine Technique he had yearned for…

At last, it was his!

“The ‘Nine Luminaries: Wrathful Cry, Ghost-Subduing, and Cultivation Manual’! The Si Family’s Divine Technique!”

A smile nearly broke across Li Che’s face, though he stifled the urge to burst into laughter.

Sure enough, whether it’s through cunning heists or a golden bellwether of fortune, striking it rich could be shockingly direct.

The Divine Technique he had long sought—even if it would have cost a fortune—had just fallen into his hands.

Still, Li Che decided not to begin cultivation immediately; there was plenty of time ahead, so he took his ease.

After a quick inventory, he was convinced he was on the verge of sudden wealth.

He rose and patted the ‘Nanmu Gatlin’; with a thought, the massive contraption was absorbed into Pure Heart’s space.

Moments later, the Nanmu Gatlin reappeared in his hand.

He toyed with the large device, moving it in and out with glee, causing his eyes to sparkle.

He then stowed away the ‘Thousand Spider Silk,’ ‘Guanyin Blood Lotus,’ and other mechanical hidden weapons.

Li Che felt utterly untouchable now.

“Isn’t this a natural arsenal?”

“If I could craft more Muduya and build a hundred devices like the Nanmu Gatlin, I’d have a continuous barrage of firepower to suppress any Divine Foundation cultivator!”

“Si Mu Bai… truly is a good person.”

Moved by the events, Li Che marveled that this haul far exceeded anything he had imagined.

But the most significant gain was the metamorphosis triggered when Pure Heart devoured the Qiankun Jade!

The strategic implications were enormous.

Li Che stepped under the eaves, watching the relentless downpour.

He sensed the gradually dissipating divine energy from the clash of the Divine Foundation cultivators lingering in the air…

He let out a slow sigh.

He knew the Si Family matter was probably over.

“It’s over.”

“Time to pick up my daughter from school.”

Li Che changed into clean clothes, opened his paper umbrella, and stepped into the now gentle rain.

…

…

Li Che hastened toward the Xu Family’s Divine Cultivation Institute.

Even though the Si Family was finished and Si Mu Bai had died,

Li Che’s lingering sense of danger remained—XiXi’s safety was far from assured.

Feilei City was still overshadowed by the oppressive, claustrophobic presence of the Lingying Sect.

Since XiXi, as a Prodigy, was already on the Lingying Sect’s list, it was only a matter of time before they revealed their true ferocity and targeted her…

Thus, Li Che’s anxiety was far from easing.

With the city’s clamor now quiet and the overwhelming aura of the Divine Foundation cultivators dissipating, the urban atmosphere seemed to burst with new life.

When he reached the Divine Cultivation Institute, Li Che saw that its gates were firmly closed—no doubt due to the recent clash of divine powers.

The sound of synchronized footsteps echoed around him.

In the distance, Xu Beihu, knife at his waist, barreled through wind and rain with his robust frame, leading a Xu Family detachment. Upon seeing Li Che, Xu Beihu paused in surprise.

“Master Li, it’s been a while.”

Xu Beihu regarded Li Che with a complex expression.

“Second Shopkeeper,” Li Che greeted warmly.

Xu Beihu, who had once mentored him in martial arts and guided him into the realm of combat, naturally earned Li Che’s deep respect and gratitude.

“No outsiders are allowed inside. I’ll go and call someone for you,” Xu Beihu offered.

There was a time when Xu Beihu had hoped to bring Li Che under his wing, to have him on his side. However, given Li Che’s close relationship with Xu You, that prospect vanished, and he abandoned the idea.

Watching Li Che later display his talents, Xu Beihu couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret.

Notably, after Aunt Mu’s evaluation at the institute, Li Che’s daughter emerged as a top-tier Prodigy brimming with exceptional divine potential!

For an elite Prodigy like her, provided she matures without any setbacks, the chances of forging a Divine Foundation in the future could be as high as eighty percent!

Xu Beihu’s eyes flashed with interest as he considered Li Che’s daughter’s divine aptitude…

An idea began to form in his mind.

He might have misjudged Li Che, but he could not afford to miss out on Li Che’s daughter…

“Master Li, my son—only eight years old—boasts exceptional divine potential, even earning the old master’s praise. And XiXi’s divine talent is equally impressive; she’s charming and spirited. Together, they would be perfectly matched. Would you consider an alliance through marriage?”

At these words, Li Che’s smile slowly faded.