Chapter 91: A Storm of Divine Fury

Crack!

High above the cloud-choked sky, an electric serpent sliced through the air as winter thunder roared.

The wind, snow, and heavy rain battered the earth in a steady, drumming cascade.

From the rim of a ruined hat, raindrops tumbled in beads—only to vanish under the overwhelming surge of vital energy!

Cao He could only feel his inner divine power so utterly suppressed that it wouldn’t even activate—a suppression on an entirely different level!

This divine foundation was far superior in rank to his!

Nine-Yao level? Or maybe Eight-Ji level?!

Boom!!!

Cao He felt a sudden, explosive buzzing in his head.

When the Ogre first appeared before him, Cao He was surprised yet completely unperturbed—he even thought that the Ogre was recklessly unaware of danger.

After all, he was nothing like Yang Jing. Yang Jing’s divine foundation had been so overwhelmed that he’d lost all combat awareness, eventually falling victim to the Ogre’s hidden projectiles.

Cao He remained clear-headed and brimming with divine power. Though Li Qingshan had inflicted only minor injuries, causing a slight dip in his qi, his divine nature still burned fiercely!

That mere Ogre—if he could dodge the hidden weapons, what else did he have up his sleeve?

However…

He felt the Ogre’s presence looming right at his side.

That searing, fiery heat prevented the 【Fen Nu Mi Tuo】 divine power within him from surging forth!

“Divine… divine foundation?!”

Glaring at the Ogre with eyes nearly bursting, Cao He’s expression behind his horse-face mask revealed utter astonishment.

Impossible…

How could the Ogre possess a divine foundation?

How could he possibly be a divine foundation cultivator?!

Hasn’t he always been merely a qi-warrior?!

Gazing at the Ogre’s head, from which a suppressive divine aura radiated, Cao He almost heard countless furious roars.

His divine perception picked up an imposing presence seated high—a being whose brow split to reveal a single, searing eye of wrath!

“Your divine nature…【Three-Eyed Wrathful True Lord】?!”

“No… no! This can’t be!”

Cao He screamed out, nearly losing his sanity.

Three-Eyed Wrathful True Lord…

Wasn’t it only Cao Guang who had succeeded in Feilei City?

Time and again, Cao Guang performed rituals at the Bizarre Temple of the Spirit Infant outside the city—using a divine foundation method that forged the superior Nine-Yao 【Three-Eyed Wrathful True Lord】 foundation!

How could this Ogre before his eyes possess such a divine foundation?

In that moment, Cao He’s mind raced wildly—even wondering if this Ogre might be Cao Guang in disguise.

But that ludicrous thought was quickly dismissed.

A cold, murderous intent burst forth from the Ogre.

Cao He snapped back to his senses; every hair stood on end as he bit his tongue, the sharp pain jolting him fully awake.

With a shrill whistle, the 【Fen Nu Mi Tuo】 divine energy on his body converged and intertwined to form the 【Mitra Golden Garment】!

The Ogre, wielding the Liuxue Stun Spear, had already struck with ruthless force!

With a resounding crash!

A terrifying surge of force swept as turbulent air cascaded about!

The defense forged by the Mitra Golden Garment—a divine secret technique—was effortlessly shattered. The Liuxue Stun Spear violently plunged into Cao He, ripping his shoulder apart!

“No!”

Cao He’s heart pounded wildly!

The searing pain nearly drove him to madness as surging internal energy and divine power erupted from the bloodstained spear.

Harnessing his divine perception, a flurry of spears surged from behind him, whistling like barbs as they hurtled toward the Ogre!

Although the Ogre’s divine foundation suppressed his own on a rank scale, it wasn’t the type that stifles a cultivator’s true realm.

Thus, Cao He still managed to mount a brief counterattack!

But even so…

It lasted only a moment.

Li Che’s eyes flickered. In the next instant, upon reaching level 3 in 【Dragon Elephant Vajra】, he activated the second stage of his Angry Gaze Vajra state for the first time!

In an instant, Li Che’s body shuddered as the clash of metal and bone resounded like rolling thunder!

His already burly frame expanded once more, swelling to an even more imposing girth!

His eyes shone with extraordinary brilliance, like the brightest stars in the heavens!

His exposed skin appeared as though cast in molten iron, while thick muscles twitched like coiled serpents; his hooked fingers gripped the Liuxue Stun Spear, now even heftier with his enlarged form!

Unparalleled in combat—the epitome of physical might!

Angry Gaze Vajra!

Perfectly complementing the 【Three-Eyed Wrathful True Lord】 foundation!

Angry Gaze meets Wrathful Fury!

Like a volcano unleashing its roar after prolonged suppression!

Bang—!

A rolling wave of force surged as the Liuxue Stun Spear, driven through Cao He, burst apart with tremendous power!

Torrents of surging air mixed with the stench of shattered flesh and blood!

Cao He groaned lowly as the spear’s force exploded repeatedly within him.

Eight-Strike Bone Shattering Spear!

A superior martial technique!

Perfected to the realm of excellence!

Eight successive bursts of inner energy churned within him so fiercely that even a deep-meridian cultivator like Cao He felt as if his insides had turned to chaos!

His organs, muscles, and bones were shattered into fragments!

An unstoppable force…

Nothing could hold it back!

Is this the Ogre?!

Overwhelming terror, murderous intent, and defiance exploded within Cao He’s heart!

When his divine power reached its zenith, it coiled around the spear aimed at the Ogre like a venomous snake.

Yet the Ogre casually deflected it with a mere flick of his finger.

He withdrew his spear.

And with a sweeping strike, he slammed it down!

In an instant, the spear trembled like a peacock fanning its tail, its countless afterimages engulfing Cao He.

Cao He roared in anger, but utterly defenseless, he was smashed against the rooftop and hurled toward the bluestone pavement!

Mid-air, his body and bones disintegrated into shredded flesh.

With a loud bang…

A cloud of blood mist erupted into the sky!

When Cao He finally collapsed, he was dead. Freed from suppression, the divine power within his foundation ravenously consumed his flesh, leaving his mangled remains twitching bizarrely.

Boom!

A burst from a spear tip shattered his divine foundation into fragments!

In the end, only splintered remnants of divine foundation remained, and his writhing flesh fell silent.

A crisp ‘clack’ echoed.

The blood-soaked wooden statue—the Desire Corpse Guan Yin—crashed to the ground and slid far away.

Icy snowflakes mixed with piercing rain fell, soaking the carving with a steady patter.

Li Che floated down gracefully; beneath his mask, his eyes swept over the wooden carving.

His fingers clenched, and the wooden carving shot directly into his grasp.

His hand suddenly adopted a jade-like hue, exuding an ethereal glow.

Thousand Analysis Hand activated!

……

【Wooden Carving (Nine-Yao Lower Grade): Desire Corpse Guan Yin】

【Craft: Carved from tenth-tier spirit wood ‘Linghua Liu’, it melds the divine allure of the Six Desires and contains the power of the Corpse Curse. It can imprint a Corpse Curse Mark, lock onto a target, and when kept close during sleep, enhance passion.】

……

Li Che’s eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp.

Six Desires Divine Nature?

Corpse Curse Mark?

This horse-faced cultivator of the 【Fen Nu Mi Tuo】 divine nature likely comes from the City Lord’s Residence, watching from outside.

He planned to leave with this statue—obviously intending to harness the Corpse Curse power within it.

“A Corpse Curse Mark? So they plan to brand XiXi with it!”

Deathly intent surged in Li Che’s eyes.

There was no doubt—it must be a ploy by City Lord Cao Guang.

Li Che closed his eyes as the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit trembled subtly, clearing his mind and gradually letting him piece together the events.

“Cao Guang just can’t stand it—unwilling to see a top-tier Prodigy slip away. But because Li Qingshan is in the city, he dares not act openly.”

“That’s why he made this statue to brand XiXi…”

“It seems more like trading favors, selling influence to those in the Capital. The Corpse Curse power is a tactic of the Corpse God Sect—meaning there are powerful members of that sect in the Capital too!”

Li Che took a deep breath and gripped tightly; in an instant the wooden carving shattered into countless splinters.

A wisp of black aura spewed from the carving like a venomous serpent, coiling around Li Che’s jade-tinted arm—a manifestation of his Thousand Analysis Hand.

He stared coldly at that trail of Corpse Curse power.

Li Che’s expression remained impassive; when he had slain Cao He, that sliver of Corpse Curse power had already burrowed into his body.

It wasn’t divine nature at all—it exuded a sinister, uncanny aura.

The 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit trembled slightly.

In an instant…

That strand of Corpse Curse power was absorbed into the chessboard by the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit.

It settled into one black divine chess piece after another representing the 【Three-Eyed Wrathful True Lord】 Spirit Infant Temple Spirit.

The Corpse Curse power trembled, scarcely daring to move.

Clearly, the rank of the Temple Spirit was far superior.

After suppressing that trace of Corpse Curse power…

Li Che dispelled his Angry Gaze Vajra state, approached Cao He’s corpse, and methodically began absorbing the divine chess pieces before examining the body.

The 【Fen Nu Mi Tuo】 divine power had coalesced into nine divine chess pieces—all of early-stage divine foundation quality.

Li Che’s 【Three-Eyed Wrathful True Lord】 foundation didn’t hesitate—it trembled and began devouring the divine chess pieces, accelerating its consolidation.

In addition, there was a mid-grade Qian Kun Jade, matching the Yang Family Elder’s quality, with an enormous internal space; Li Che promptly claimed it.

Even the four long spears with which Cao He had counterattacked were nonchalantly gathered by Li Che. His Thousand Analysis Hand sensed that though they weren’t divine weapons, their special material could channel divine power, making them highly valuable.

Finally, his gaze fell upon that horse-face mask.

“Huh? It isn’t shattered?”

Li Che was astonished. The Eight-Strike Bone Shattering Spear technique he had unleashed with his Angry Gaze Vajra state and the might of the Liuxue Stun Spear had turned even Cao He’s body to mush.

This mask… remained intact?

Li Che picked it up.

His Thousand Analysis Hand activated as a flood of information surged into his mind.

……

【Divine Weapon (Top-Ten Grade): Angry Horse Face】

【Craft: Forged from tenth-tier spirit wood ‘Ma Mian Song’ and carved by master craftsmen. It slightly enhances the divine nature of anger, alters one’s aura, and its exceptional hardness helps preserve one’s appearance.】

【Wielded by: practitioners of the Divine Essence Technique of Anger, at the Yangxing Ruhe level or above】

……

Another divine weapon?

Though it’s only a Top-Ten weapon, divine weapons are extraordinarily rare.

Li Che found himself rather attached to it—a divine mask weapon… truly remarkable.

Removing his Cute Cow Mask and donning the Angry Horse Face, Li Che felt his divine power flow more smoothly.

It was quite astonishing, though his Thousand Analysis Hand quickly deduced the mask’s crafting method.

With his skill, Li Che could easily replicate it.

“I might as well upgrade my Cute Cow Mask too,” he mused.

Li Che smiled faintly, then turned his eyes toward the City Lord’s Residence.

He slashed through the rain with a swift sword gesture.

Immediately, a porcelain vase fell into his hand, scattering powder over Cao He’s corpse; gradually, the body dissolved into a pool of blood that was washed away by the rain.

This was the ‘Corpse-Dissolving Powder’ Li Che had personally concocted using 【Xiangong】 techniques—it worked quite well.

Level 3 Xiangong indeed; his craftsmanship was superb.

Lightly tapping his toes, he suddenly dashed, vanishing into the wind and rain without a trace.

……

……

City Lord’s Residence.

Wind and rain surged as electric serpents roared wildly.

Intermittent flashes of light intertwined with darkness inside the building.

Sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion.

Before him lay a bowl of blood and a statue of the 【Three-Eyed Wrathful True Lord】 Spirit Infant.

He clapped his hands, and his body emanated swirling mists.

Slowly, the blood in the bowl dwindled—as if the wooden carving had drunk it dry.

Finally, when the bowl was utterly empty of blood…

Cao Guang’s brow seemed to sprout a vertical eye as he suddenly opened it, releasing a subtle burst of black light that pierced into the wooden carving.

With a loud crash, the carving shattered into pieces. A surge of potent divine power erupted from the fragments, accompanied by screams and fury, and was devoured by Cao Guang’s Divine Foundation Wheel!

Cao Guang’s face flushed slightly as he licked his lips before returning to calm.

“Prodigy blood… truly nourishing.”

“The devoured divine power is overwhelmingly potent—it tastes delicious.”

“Imagine if it were a top-tier Prodigy’s—surely even more delectable!”

Cao Guang opened his eyes, a trace of regret flickering within.

Alas, this top-tier Prodigy could only be handed over to those in the Capital.

Suddenly.

Cao Guang’s expression changed ever so slightly as he sprang forth, tearing through the wind and rain to stand atop a rooftop.

His eyes fixed intently on the direction of Li Che’s house.

His breathing was heavy and measured.

An outpouring of sorrow mixed with rage surged from within him.

“Uncle, oh…”

“The Thousand Buddha Carved Feast is about to begin… and you old man… missed it…”

Cao Guang let out a long sigh, suppressing the fluctuations of his divine power.

To have silently killed his uncle Cao He—a novice cultivator of divine foundation—in vast Feilei City, aside from Li Qingshan and himself, there was no one else!

Cao Guang had received word that on the eve of leaving Feilei City, Li Qingshan had rushed off to meet an old lover.

That was why he dared to have Cao He take care of business.

It was merely business—no intent to harm Li Nuǎnxi.

But unexpectedly…

Even such a minor disturbance was enough for Li Qingshan to brutally kill Cao He.

The members of the Divine Sect remain as domineering as ever!

Fists clenched, he let the cold winter rain pour over him.

“Li Qingshan!”

……

……

“Achoo!”

Inside the Xu Ji Divine Cultivation Institute.

Li Qingshan, holding Granny Mu as she slept, suddenly let out a tremendous sneeze.

Squinting his eyes, he remarked, “Two waves of Fen Nu Mi Tuo divine energy… appeared and vanished in an instant. What on earth is that about?”

“Absolutely inexplicable.”

“If you’re planning the Thousand Buddha Carved Feast, shouldn’t you wait until I’ve left Feilei City?”

“Just go ahead… I’ve already sensed it—my divine power from the mountains is drawing nearer.”

Li Qingshan squinted his eyes.

……

……

Next day, at dawn.

The rain and snow still persisted.

The courtyard where Li Che’s family lived was bustling with activity.

Uncle and his family had packed all their luggage—bundles piled high on a cart—and arrived early at Li Che’s doorstep.

Li Che had long arranged for a caravan, already parked outside the alley.

“Husband, do we really not need these?”

Zhang Ya was reluctant to leave many belongings behind—even the pots, bowls, and utensils were hard to part with.

“We can buy these again in the Capital. They’re too cumbersome to carry on the journey.”

Li Che ruffled Zhang Ya’s hair affectionately.

“Moving from the Outer City to the Inner City, and now to the Capital… I always thought our lives would just get better, but this prosperity feels unreal—as if it’s all a dream, and I fear it will vanish upon waking.”

Zhang Ya nestled against Li Che’s arm as the couple stood in their empty courtyard.

Li Che couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion in his heart.

Indeed, even he had never imagined…

that the birth of their daughter would change everything.

“Daddy, can the Twisty Car be taken with us?”

XiXi was busy packing her things, clearly reluctant as well.

“Of course.”

XiXi instantly brightened up.

Since everything had been pre-packed, today was simply about loading the cart.

The caravan escort from the Capital soon approached briskly, respectfully clasping his fists, “Master Li, everything’s packed. We should be off soon, right?”

This caravan wasn’t from Feilei City but was headquartered in Jingguang City; the journey to the Capital was long, passing through many towns and wild, desolate stretches. Traveling in a caravan ensured greater safety.

If Li Che were traveling alone, he could have sprinted off—but he was moving the whole family.

“Escort Qian, thank you for your trouble.”

Li Che returned the gesture with a clasped fist, handing over an envelope and smiling.

This escort, Qian He, was a qi-cultivating martial man of considerable strength from the Capital, tasked with guarding the caravan to Feilei City.

“Master Li, you’re too kind—charging for services is only natural,” Qian He replied respectfully.

A master woodcarver was a person of no small status in the Capital.

Li Che, holding an oil-paper umbrella, escorted XiXi, Zhang Ya, and Lu Chi onto a carriage. Inside, a carbon stove dispelled the chill while soft padding made it comfortable.

Li Che himself boarded a separate carriage, loaded with plenty of timber—supposedly for carving during the journey to sell in the Capital.

Of course, that was merely an excuse; he wanted the carriage for convenience.

Having inherited the Yang Family’s fortune, Li Che wasn’t short on money—renting an extra carriage was no big deal.

Old Chen and Uncle’s family occupied the carriage at the rear.

As the wheels rolled, they crushed the rippling blue stone pavement.

When the curtain lifted, Zhang Ya pursed her red lips, gazing wistfully at the courtyard.

“Let’s go!”

After everyone was aboard, escort Qian He mounted a steed—with a knife at his waist and a bamboo hat on his head—and gave a broad wave.

The caravan slowly set off, making its way along the bluestone street.

Perhaps they knew that Li Che was leaving Feilei City.

Many woodcarvers from the Xu Family Woodcarving Shop had come to bid him farewell.

Among the crowd, Li Che also spotted Zhao Xuan, Wang Zhengpin, and others who had once trained martial arts with him.

Now, they had all advanced their training and entered the Inner City.

“Daddy, why isn’t Uncle Xu You here?”

XiXi, pressed against the carriage window, didn’t see the person she longed for and immediately asked Li Che with disappointment.

“Uncle Xu You might be busy. He’ll visit the Capital when he has time. You must train hard and eventually surprise him,” Li Che advised.

Li Che patted XiXi’s head and smiled.

Thinking of that imagined scene, XiXi grew so excited that she nodded vigorously.

Yet Li Che stared out at the long, rainy street, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Xu You… why hasn’t he come?

Could it be reluctance to part, or something else entirely?

……

……

At the city gate.

A carriage slowly pulled out as its driver, wearing a bamboo hat, repeatedly cracked the reins.

The horses picked up pace, galloping swiftly.

Inside the swaying carriage, Li Qingshan sat comfortably, leaning against a cushion.

Beside him sat Xu Family’s Granny Mu.

Granny Mu, as if in the know, glanced at her old lover beside her and frowned, “Li Qingshan, are you really going to leave like this?”

“The Thousand Buddha Carved Feast organized by Cao Guang is suspicious… probably linked to those missing prodigies. Aren’t you going to stop it?”

“Weren’t you, Li Qingshan, once known for your righteous fury against evil?”

Li Qingshan took Granny Mu’s hand and said, “Hold on.”

Granny Mu struggled briefly, then yielded to his ministrations.

Peering out the window at the misty, verdant mountains and rivers, Li Qingshan smiled.

“I’m not leaving. How dare Cao Guang initiate the ritual?”

“If he dares, that’ll be my cue… to hammer him to death.”

Granny Mu sighed in relief at his words.

Her eyes sparkled with unexpected brilliance.

See? That’s the righteous Li Qingshan her brother should be.

“Are you going alone?”

Granny Mu, as if something occurred to her, asked with concern.

Li Qingshan smiled.

“I suppose…”

“There’s also… a hero.”

ps: (Long update) Please support with monthly tickets, recommendations, and ongoing reads! Old Li is working hard—setting a small goal for a quality piece. Please don’t shelve the book! I beg for your votes!