Chapter 76: Storm of Destiny

Dead.

Amid the torrential downpour, an unrelenting wave of terror swept across the world.

Wearing a child’s mask, Zhang Xiangyang felt his very being tremble.

Ogre…

He killed Zhou Ruoguan!

Among Feilei City’s three top constables, Ogre has already slain two!

Now… only Zhang Xiangyang remains!

Wouldn’t it be incomplete without a third kill?!

What should be done?

What is he to do?

Zhang Xiangyang’s bare skin, soaked by the rain, broke out in goosebumps as a chill swept in from all directions.

He dared not slow his flight nor dare to glance back.

Ogre’s murder of Zhou Ruoguan took barely any time…

If he truly pursues, he could catch up and beat him to death!

“Xuanmai Martial Man…”

“Exaggerated—absolutely exaggerated!”

Beneath his mask, Zhang Xiangyang’s face contorted. What kind of monster is this Ogre, anyway?

Back when Ogre killed Lei Chunlan, he had used the Divine Secret Technique [Fear Inducing Radiance] to rewind the scene and witness Ogre in action…

At that time, Ogre hadn’t even completed a Blood Exchange, had he?

How much time had really passed?

Two years?

In just two years, from barely finishing a Blood Exchange to achieving the Xuanmai state?!

Bear in mind: most martial men in Feilei City are stuck at the Qi Mai stage; hardly anyone can even dream of reaching Xuanmai.

Not even the three young masters of Feilei City have managed it.

Yet in only two short years, Ogre has become a bona fide Xuanmai Martial Man!

“A monster…”

Not daring even to turn his head, Zhang Xiangyang fled toward the City Lord’s Residence.

Only the City Lord’s Residence, manned by Divine Foundation cultivators, could offer him a shred of reassurance.

……

……

Li Che retrieved a Qian Kun Jade from Zhou Ruoguan’s headless corpse and stored it in his Qian Kun Space.

He also absorbed Zhou Ruoguan’s divine essence using [Chaos of Joy and Confusion], condensing it into divine chess pieces.

The chess pieces were black in color.

It seemed that aside from the divine chess pieces formed by his Pure Heart—which were white—the ones born of [Chin Ku Zhen Gui], [Fen Nu Mi Tuo], [Chaos of Joy and Confusion] and even the [Xin E Jing Gang] from slaying Yang Kaihe were all black.

Even the Temple Spirit’s divine essence condensed into black chess pieces.

This left Li Che somewhat puzzled. Could it be that only Pure Heart’s divine essence forms white chess pieces?

Finding no answer for the moment, Li Che let the thought go.

Perhaps drawing on the Temple Spirit’s divine power had honed him, drastically speeding up his divine essence absorption as a cultivator.

He could form a chess piece almost with every breath—whereas with Zhou Ruoguan it took nearly a dozen breaths to deplete him.

Earlier, even Yang Kaihe had his divine essence drawn out while Li Che examined his corpse.

This divine essence…only when practicing the Divine Essence Technique did it work to accelerate his progress.

He glanced over at XiXi, who sat on his shoulder, as Ogre’s booming voice asked, “Girl, are you scared?”

Li Che didn’t shield XiXi’s eyes, letting her behold the scene’s bloodiness.

In such a brutal world, Li Che knew that exposing XiXi to blood and cruelty early would prevent her from growing too naïve and being taken advantage of.

Whether it be Yellow-Haired or any scheming person…

XiXi at least would learn the world’s harsh reality and become cautious.

A well-raised daughter won’t be so easily tricked by Yellow-Haired’s flimsy schemes.

And witnessing blood would instill in her the vigor and fighting spirit to stand up for herself.

Clutching her oil-paper parasol, XiXi showed no fear despite Ogre’s spree of killings.

Granny Mu had once taught her at the Divine Cultivation Institute: ‘The wicked must be killed!’

If you don’t kill them, they’ll kill you!

And so, XiXi was not afraid!

“Niu Niu, XiXi isn’t scared!” XiXi shook her head repeatedly.

Her bright eyes shone as rain splashed her umbrella, creating a misty haze.

“Ogre, you’re amazing! May I have you as my master?”

“I want to become strong so I can protect my parents!”

Li Che, hidden behind his Cute Cow Mask, paused in stunned silence before breaking into a silent laugh.

Master? You want to take me as your master?

I’m your father, for crying out loud!

But…

Moved by the girl’s earnest filial heart, Li Che smiled and responded.

“Alright.”

“Yay! Granny Mu says that XiXi’s dad is too gentle—too honest, decent, and mild—for this world. XiXi doesn’t want him to be beaten to death, so… she wants to get stronger!”

At these words, XiXi’s eyes sparkled even brighter as she wiggled her chubby little belly happily while sitting on Li Che’s shoulder.

“Master Niu Niu! Can I play with fireworks?”

Blinking her innocent eyes, XiXi asked.

Li Che was dumbfounded again. This girl truly had no real filial piety—she only wanted to dabble in the art of explosions.

“Master Niu Niu, say something!”

Seeing Ogre fall silent, XiXi grew anxious.

“Once I master fireworks, I can safeguard Dad; otherwise, he’ll get beaten to death!”

XiXi was truly in a hurry.

Li Che drew a deep breath.

This girl’s devotion is almost over the top.

“You can’t hold it.”

“But XiXi is surprisingly strong, Master Niu Niu!”

XiXi clenched her tiny fist.

Li Che wasn’t in the least surprised—being an exceptional Prodigy, XiXi was naturally strong. Li Qingshan even remarked that she was a promising talent.

Since his daughter wanted to play with fireworks, Li Che naturally wouldn’t refuse.

He handed her the Nanmu Gatling Muduya.

Amazingly, XiXi managed to lift the massive weapon—far larger than her small frame—even though it was a struggle, her cheeks flushing red.

Yet, holding the Nanmu Gatling Muduya made her grin wider as she burst into a wild, uncontrollable laugh.

“Hahaha, Dad won’t be beaten to death—I’ll use fireworks to protect him!”

“Master Niu Niu, let’s show off!”

“Time to set off the fireworks!”

……

……

Feilei City once boasted four great clans: the Si Family, Xu Family, An Family, and Yang Family.

The Si Family has fallen into ruin, a remnant of the past.

During the Si Family’s collapse, the Yang Family profited handsomely.

Most of the Si Family’s assets fell under the Yang Family’s control.

The Yang Family Mansion.

The patriarch’s study.

Yang Family patriarch Yang Kaihai sat in his chair, writing. His burly frame, nearly as imposing as a small mountain, and the way he gripped his brush were almost reminiscent of Zhang Fei embroidering.

The Yang Family’s martial arts focus on relentlessly boosting physical strength, rendering every member as sturdy as a mountain.

“Have all the ordinary clan members been evacuated from the city?”

Lowering his brush, Yang Kaihai said gravely.

“Everyone has already left Feilei City. Those remaining are martial cultivators who have surpassed the basic tendon burst stage…”

“Once the City Lord’s ‘Thousand Buddha Carving Banquet’ concludes, our Yang Family will seize this final opportunity and then withdraw from Feilei City. When it comes to a century-old legacy, you know when to let go…”

“If the Old Master can use this chance to break through the initial Divine Foundation and step into the Middle Realm, our Yang Family could easily establish a new century-old legacy in other cities—and even soar to greater heights!”

“The Thousand Buddha Carving Banquet, a tribute to the Temple Spirit, is a colossal opportunity. Once the Temple Spirit is revived through devout worship, it will bestow blessings and unleash divine essence. Those remaining in the city can gain tremendous enhancements from absorbing it…”

“Especially Yang Kaihe—he might even get a chance to forge a Divine Foundation. Our Yang Family’s internal martial arts have more depth compared to the others, making it easier to establish one.”

Yang Kaihai stretched; his joints creaked and his blood pulsed, stirring up a wild gust inside the study.

“By the way, any word on Yang Kaihe? Has Xu Family’s Prodigy been captured and brought to the City Lord’s Residence?”

“There should be no hiccups… the Xu Family has already accepted it.”

Yang Kaihai snorted.

But his laugh faded quickly—after all…

The Yang Family had done the same.

They sold off their Prodigy in exchange for benefits…

It’s like the pot calling the kettle black.

From downstairs, a Yang Family veteran suddenly laughed, “When our master acts, how could there be any mishap? With his peak Yangxing Ruhe and Qi-Mai martial prowess—like a python’s sinew and a tiger’s bone—unless a Divine Foundation cultivator intervenes… at the Xu Family Divine Cultivation Institute, only Madame Xu Mu remains. This is rock solid.”

As his words died away, low laughter echoed through the room.

Indeed, it was a near-certain matter.

Suddenly.

The group’s laughter abruptly fell silent.

They all sensed something and turned their eyes outside.

Their pupils contracted sharply.

In the driving rain,

a massive head smashed through raindrops the size of beans, sending up a continuous spray of mist as it arced and crashed into the center of the Yang Family Courtyard.

The head tumbled a few times, revealing a grotesque and terrified face.

It was none other than the Yang Family’s legitimate eldest son.

The future seed of the Divine Foundation…

Yang Kaihe!

“No——!”

“My son!!!”

In the study, Yang Kaihai’s eyes bulged with rage as he let out a piercing scream; his mighty blood erupted in a surge of divine essence!

Bursting out of the study, he charged into the rain.

However…

Before he could reach Yang Kaihe’s head,

Boom——!!!

A violent explosion rocked the air, flames soaring skyward!

The Yang Family’s main gate was blasted open, sending countless fragments flying!

Pungent smoke filled the air.

Heavy footsteps echoed like a thousand-year-old temple bell…

Reverberating throughout the Yang Family grounds.

Two figures—one large, one small.

“Master Niu Niu… how do we set off fireworks?”

A childish voice rang out.

Then a deep, gentle response followed…

“A full display—every single one!”

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