Chapter 68: Family Bonds and Hidden Strength
by xennovel“Dad, XiXi doesn’t want to go to school—she wants to ride the Twisty Car!”
“Mom, help! Dad’s trying to take XiXi away!”
…
Early in the morning.
After Li Che sent off the tearful XiXi—who was heartbroken at the thought of leaving her Twisty Car—and the quiet Lu Chi to the Divine Cultivation Institute, he made his way to the Private Workshop Courtyard.
The furnace boiled water, and intense warmth filled the room.
Li Che sat with a blank sheet in hand, sketching and scribbling away.
Although he possessed the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit at lv3, crafting ‘Nan Mo Barrett’ was no simple task.
Muduya was known for its explosive prowess—explosions were a breeze.
Yet it was penetration power that defined Nan Mo Barrett.
Of course, the theory now differed from that of the past Barrett; many aspects had to be reworked. Besides, Li Che believed divine essence was key, so further experimentation was in order—his next mechanistic study was set.
Luckily, the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit greatly bolstered his skills, making his ambitious idea achievable.
Cold, dark clouds loomed over the water as delicate snowflakes danced against regal fabrics.
In the days that followed, the wind and snow grew fiercer.
Perhaps in the wake of Zhao Xuanhai’s death, Ogre’s fearsome repute once again echoed throughout Feilei City, and the streets grew noticeably quieter.
Ogre went mad—he even attacked the divine constables…
Gossip spread like wildfire, and Ogre’s brutal reputation reached every ear.
Those who once hailed Ogre as a hero found themselves speechless during casual chats at teahouses and taverns.
Ogre didn’t even kill an officer; he took down a divine constable…
How can that still be considered heroic?
Yet, thanks to Ogre’s notorious reputation, many in the Inner City began keeping a low profile.
Rumor had it that divine constable Zhao Xuanhai was slain by Ogre simply for spitting on the roadside.
This incident had even the elite youngsters behaving cautiously—they wouldn’t dare to spit carelessly anymore.
Li Che, however, remained unaware that Ogre’s reputation had swiftly turned foul through deliberate rumor-mongering; once seen as a hero, Ogre’s name was now only marginally better than that of a petty thief.
But even if he did know, he never cared—he had never seen Ogre as a truly good man or hero.
Being good or heroic is exhausting anyway…
In reality, Ogre was merely one of Li Che’s covert identities, created solely to eliminate threats against XiXi.
In these chaotic times, all Li Che wanted was for his family to live in peace.
Therefore, if anyone dares harm his wife or daughter, Ogre will take them down!
It’s not about good or evil—it’s all a matter of life and death!
…
…
Crack!
Rolling thunder churned within dark clouds as sleet laden with raindrops cascaded from towering heights.
Seated cross-legged in the courtyard, Li Che was so caught off guard by the sudden downpour of sleet that he barely had time to react before resuming his training.
At the slightest shift in his focus, a shimmering veil of light gradually unfurled before his eyes.
…
【Name: Li Che】
【Bond: Li Nuǎnxi (Daughter)】
【Dao Fruits: 【Xiangong】 (lv3 20%), Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv2 55%), Unsullied Heart (LV1 50%), Chess Sage (lv1 10%)】
【Nascent Divine Technique: 【Xiangong】·Qianxi Hand】
…
His gaze shone with inner radiance as he admired the maturing of his Dao Fruits, a subtle smile tugging at his lips.
In recent days, his deep dive into ‘Nan Mo Barrett’ research—coupled with completing the mechanism 【Bodhi Blood Tears】—had greatly advanced his 【Xiangong】 cultivation.
“This spirit wood, 【Blood and Flesh Red】, is incredibly hard to find… Thankfully, I managed to craft 【Bodhi Blood Tears】 in one try.”
A spark of anticipation lit within him as he wondered just how powerful the 【Bodhi Blood Tears】 mechanism might be, even compared to Muduya’s earlier contraptions!
Since he had only produced one copy, Li Che hadn’t yet tested it.
Besides the boost in 【Xiangong】, his practice of a second Divine Essence Technique sent Unsullied Heart’s maturity soaring to 50%, much to his surprise.
Even more astonishing, Dragon Elephant Vajra shattered the 50% ceiling, further solidifying his martial cultivation.
Even the early techniques like Skin Polishing and Tendon Burst overcame their limitations, perfecting his physique almost to flawlessness.
Blood Exchange Nine Moves had reached perfection—qi surged from his blood and flowed through every fiber of his being.
Tongmai means channeling the qi from his blood through his organs, establishing a network that connects all directions and sustains an endless cycle of vitality.
Rustle…
A delicate sound filled the air, jolting Li Che awake.
He then noticed a stooped old man drifting into the courtyard, his movements as artful as a bird skimming snowy ground.
It was none other than Li Qingshan, a cultivator from Qianyuan Divine Sect.
Li Che could hardly grasp the extent of Li Qingshan’s prowess…
Yet he was clearly no less than a Divine Foundation cultivator—after all, the Si Family’s Divine Foundation Patriarch had been overthrown by him.
“Impressive—Blood Exchange Nine Moves, with robust, almost molten blood and an exceptionally solid foundation. Looks like you’ve thoroughly nurtured your qi and blood. I initially thought you’d need another month… Three years of martial training and you’re already at this level. A true martial prodigy!”
Li Qingshan glided to the eaves, sipped his hot tea, and let out a satisfied puff of steam as he stroked his beard.
“You’re quite sharp—you know to secure your foundation before pushing for Tongmai.”
“Although divine pursuits are key for a divine cultivator, every powerful one must balance both divinity and qi and blood.”
“Only through relentless martial training and a resilient body can you endure overwhelming divine forces and progress further on the divine journey.”
“When divine cultivation levels are on par, superior martial prowess naturally gives you the edge in battle.”
“Some divine cultivators even focus more on martial technique—take, for example, the princeling Ji Mo Li from the Great Jing Court, an unparalleled martial saint who forged his divine body through combat. His battle prowess is incredibly terrifying, making him virtually unbeatable at his level.”
“Of course, the divine realm is still paramount.”
Li Che was stunned; he hadn’t anticipated such a perspective.
Li Qingshan continued sipping his tea, picking at the leaves and savoring each bite.
“For Divine Foundation cultivators… if one’s qi and blood martial arts have integrated the profound meridians but fail to break through to the Divine Foundation, you’re almost certain to fail, resulting in damaged divinity and a lifetime of remedial cultivation.”
“In Feilei City, hardly any remedial cultivators have firmly established a Divine Foundation—figures like Xu Helil and An Ruosu, the so-called Feilei princes, are still in the early stages of qi meridians, with only a faint chance at a Divine Foundation.”
“Their inherent talent in qi and blood martial arts isn’t enough; juggling remedial cultivation and martial training to reach their current level is already exhausting their abilities.”
Li Che’s face darkened at those words.
He recalled tutoring XiXi in martial arts, remembering how inconsistent her practice had been.
He couldn’t help but empathize with the anxiety any parent feels about their child’s future.
“And XiXi…”
Li Qingshan chuckled lightly: “Don’t worry. Once XiXi joins the Divine Sect, she’ll be nothing like those small-town elites. The Divine Sect possesses specialized qi and blood pills that rapidly boost one’s vitality…”
“Those pills are secret treasures seized from the Bizarre Temple, embodying the Divine Sect’s deep heritage. Every great Divine Sect has its own legacy pills…”
“Actually, the Great Jing Court has them too. But if you join the Dajing Temple Authority, you’ll naturally gain access—something unattainable for the minor families of Feilei City.”
Li Qingshan divulged many hidden truths.
Li Che opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated.
But Li Qingshan waved his hand dismissively, “You haven’t entered the Divine Sect yet, so I can’t give you those pills…”
“However, I can teach you the Tongmai Technique. Even though you’ve already acquired that explosive martial secret which boosted your qi and blood, such sudden strength—like rootless floating duckweed—is unsuitable for forging a Divine Foundation…”
“Besides, too many bursts can harm your foundation. If you can avoid using it later, then steer clear…”
Li Che fell silent; he knew very well that triggering Dragon Elephant Vajra would come with its risks.
He pursed his lips and shifted the conversation.
“Senior, I haven’t joined the Divine Sect—can you still teach me the method easily?”
“It’s nothing to worry about… The Tongmai Technique is rather basic and open to all outer disciples. Passing it on to you is no big deal. But the later Xuanmai and Shenmai Techniques are far more precious—you can only acquire those within the inner circle.”
The old man chuckled softly; in an instant, with a flick of his finger, a sheet of paper sliced through the blizzard like a thrown dagger, speeding toward Li Che.
Li Che deftly caught the fluttering paper, feeling his qi and blood surge wildly—he was instantly astounded by the old man’s strength.
Despite his frail appearance, he concealed a strength as fearsome as that of dragons and tigers.
Li Che’s eyes locked on the paper.
《Qianyuan Divine Sect Minor Circumambient Tongmai Technique》
“Minor Circumambient?”
Li Che murmured.
Li Qingshan, however, didn’t explain but frowned, “Someone’s coming—should be from the City Lord’s Residence. Hmm, and a Divine Foundation cultivator at that… I must leave now.”
“Li Che, whether in martial arts or divine cultivation, personal strength is paramount.”
“I intended to take you to the Bizarre Temple today to glimpse the Temple Spirit. Now that I’ve taught you the Minor Circumambient Tongmai Technique, if your qi meridians open in three days, meet me outside the city…”
“If you fail, then there’s no need to show up.”
With that, his words trailed off.
In an instant, Li Qingshan disappeared, leaving only the softly rippling tea in the cups.
Meanwhile,
in the snow-blown alleys…
footsteps echoed,
growing steadily more urgent.
PS: Good news—we’re very likely to break through Sanjiang and finally ascend. Bad news, you need to keep up with the reading; forced advances might be too risky. Please keep reading, everyone! Monthly and recommendation votes, keep them coming!