Chapter 98: The Enigma of the Eerie Temple

Bizarre Temple of the Eight-Armed Yulian, the Furious Third Prince!

Li Che studied the feedback from his Thousand Analysis Hand, noticing a faint, flowing gleam dancing in his eyes.

Yet he couldn’t help but take a deep breath!

The Four-Realm Bizarre Temple!

At the Four-Realm level!

What level was the Bizarre Temple in Feilei City again…?

It was only at the Ten Capital level; compared to the Four-Realm, that’s worlds apart!

Li Che’s brow furrowed as he felt the surging, roaring energy—almost like divine water heated to a boil—stirring his entire being.

If he absorbed such divine essence from the temple spirit into a chess piece and then activated it with an Ascending Tower state…

Wouldn’t that just burst him open?

Li Che quickly regained his composure. He never allowed emotions to cloud his judgment and reached a decision after a brief moment of thought.

Even though the divine essence of this Four-Realm Bizarre Temple was incredibly alluring, he knew he had to proceed cautiously, avoiding any hasty moves.

A Four-Realm Bizarre Temple was in a completely different league from that pitiful temple spirit he once tampered with at Feilei City’s Ten Capital Bizarre Temple.

After all, the divine essence of the Ten Capital Bizarre Temple was merely at the Divine Foundation level…

But then, what level was the Four-Realm?

Divine Manifestation? Divine Origin? Or perhaps something even higher like a Divine Nucleus?

Li Che drew a deep breath, yet his thoughts remained turbulent. Once an idea takes root in the heart, it spreads like vines, enveloping one’s entire being.

“The divine essence of the Four-Realm temple spirit is dangerous enough… but if I ever get the chance to enter this Bizarre Temple, I have to seize the opportunity. What if it works out?”

Ambition flared within Li Che.

Still, he planned to proceed with utmost caution; even snagging a single divine chess piece would serve as a powerful trump card.

Moreover…

Li Che’s brow furrowed further as a flicker of fiery light danced in his eyes.

Eight-Armed Yulian, the Furious Third Prince… somehow, that temple spirit’s name seemed hauntingly familiar.

Li Qingshan had once mentioned a temple spirit—the divine lord who wielded a trident-bladed knife, led a delicate divine hound, and possessed a striking, angular gaze.

And now, there was this Eight-Armed Yulian, the Furious Third Prince once again…

“Legends that span two lifetimes… they seem to overlap. Coincidence, or…”

Li Che felt as though his head might explode if he delved too deeply into the thought.

“Enough. I am but a small player now… when the sky falls, someone taller will hold it up. All I need to do is protect my wife and daughter and watch her grow.”

Without lingering at the riverside, Li Che lightly tapped his toe and soared back to his caravan.

“Daddy, why didn’t you bring XiXi when you went to play in the water?”

XiXi poked her head out of Zhang Ya’s arms, pouting and clearly unhappy.

Li Che affectionately ruffled her head.

Old Chen shot Li Che a skeptical glance, wondering why he reacted so strongly upon seeing the Bizarre Temple.

“Ah Che, you must show respect for the Bizarre Temple. Don’t let your curiosity force you to pry into matters beyond your capacity.”

Old Chen earnestly admonished, “Now that you’re a father, think of your daughter and wife.”

Li Che nodded; he knew Old Chen meant well.

Beside them, Big-Head Lu Chi shrank back, acting as obedient as could be.

Noticing Li Che’s curious and excited gaze fixed on the ‘Furious Third Prince’ Bizarre Temple, Lu Chi swallowed hard and quickly toned down his expression.

After all, that guy was infamous—ruthless enough to annihilate an entire family even while escorting his three-year-old daughter.

Escort Leader Qian He regarded Li Che with a mix of surprise and suspicion; the dazzling display of skill Li Che had just shown rivaled that of a seasoned fighter well-versed in the art of Blood Exchange.

This Li Master was truly keeping his cards close to his chest.

But that was only natural—after all, he was a master woodcarver with deep roots.

“Qian, what about that Bizarre Temple…?”

“That one, just outside Jingguang Prefecture, is the most fearsome among the Eerie Temples. It stands at the Four-Realm level and remains completely unscarred. They say it’s been around for over five hundred years…”

“The Divine Sect’s sub-sects, along with the Imperial Court’s Temple Guardian Division and the Imperial Watch, have stationed formidable experts in Jingguang Prefecture to constantly monitor this Bizarre Temple and prevent any dangerous transformations of the temple spirit.”

Qian He recited every detail about the Bizarre Temple as if he treasured each fact.

Every time an outsider arrived in Jingguang Prefecture, they bombarded him with questions until his responses became pure muscle memory.

“It’s only natural for Li Master to be curious—no outsider ever gets the chance to witness a Four-Realm Bizarre Temple in their lifetime…”

Qian He chuckled.

Then he suddenly grew serious: “Li Master, curiosity is one thing—but do not get too close. The temple spirit’s divine essence is overwhelmingly infectious and bewitching. Once it lures your mind into its trap, you could lose most of your life.”

“Fortunately, the Third Prince is located in the perilous heart of the Jiulong River—a place no ordinary person can approach.”

“And the temple’s ‘Guique’ has already taken shape. Once you get near and are swallowed by it, even a grandmaster in Divine Manifestation would be lost forever.”

After a pause, Qian He grinned broadly, “The Third Prince Bizarre Temple here has become a sort of pride for Jingguang Prefecture. After all, under Yunzhou there are four prefectures, and only our Jingguang has a Four-Realm Bizarre Temple.”

Li Che’s mouth twitched—what was there to be proud of in that?

Such dangerous matters…

But with Qian He showing such enthusiasm, Li Che was delighted to learn more about the Bizarre Temple, and the two engaged in a long conversation.

……

……

They took half a month to journey from Feilei City to Jingguang Prefecture City, mostly trailing a merchant caravan and stopping frequently rather than moving at full speed.

The blazing sun hung high, banishing the lingering chill of winter.

It was midday.

The carriage caravan arrived at the gates of Jingguang Prefecture City.

The imposing, majestic city rose from the earth like a terrifying giant emerging from the depths.

The Jiulong River roared ceaselessly, one of its tributaries slicing through Jingguang City like a long blade, cleaving it in two.

In the sunlight, the tributary’s waters shimmered gently—like scattered, crushed gold. In the distance, large ships dotted the scene, their sails billowing as they raced along.

Legend had it that this calm, docile tributary was carved out by a legendary former lord of Jingguang Prefecture, channeling the river into the city to create a convenient waterway.

That move transformed not only the water transport and livelihood in Jingguang,

but also diluted the divine essence in the Jiulong River and funneled it into the city, giving a tremendous boost to divine cultivators.

As water vapor evaporated, the faint divine essence infused the air, increasing its concentration—turning it into a veritable haven for those cultivating divine power.

The city walls of Jingguang Prefecture were impressively vast. Standing at the gate and gazing along their expanse, one could see only an indistinct, endless span.

Within the encircling walls, a green peak soared from inside the city, almost as if it were a natural extension of the outer ramparts, cradling the mountain within.

“Wow, Daddy, it’s so big!”

XiXi poked her head out of the carriage, blinking her large eyes in amazement.

Not only XiXi, but even Li Che felt a slight jolt of awe; the impact of these ancient, towering walls was undeniably overwhelming.

They far surpassed those of Feilei City.

After paying the entry fee, the caravan entered the outer city. Though termed the outer city, it was even grander than Feilei City’s inner quarters, with wide stone avenues able to accommodate ten carriages side by side and rows upon rows of bustling shops filled with a dazzling array of goods.

Li Che felt as if he had stepped out of a chaotic, dying era into a vibrant, flourishing one.

Yet he knew it was only an illusion.

There were too many cities like Feilei City—merely a hint of the eerie shock from an Bizarre Temple could topple an entire metropolis.

Even if certain city leaders harbored a single crooked thought, it could result in untold suffering for the people.

Under Yunzhou, there were only four prefecture cities.

Moreover, behind even the most glamorous facade lay hidden filth and chaos—just the beginning of the story.

Qian He was extremely enthusiastic—perhaps because Li Che was a master woodcarver—as his eagerness was palpable.

Having entered the city, he even helped Li Che and the group find an inn.

The inn wasn’t high-class, but it was perfectly adequate for a temporary stay. Li Che didn’t mind, even though his wealth rivaled that of a great noble family.

“Qian, could you do me a small favor? We’re unfamiliar with this city, and since we plan on staying here long-term, I’d appreciate your help finding a proper residence.”

Li Che pressed a silver ingot weighing ten taels into Qian’s hand.

“No need to be so formal, Li Master. Leave it to old Qian.”

Qian He laughed heartily, accepted the ingot without a hint of embarrassment, clasped his fists in thanks, and departed.

After everyone settled into the inn, Old Chen couldn’t sit still.

“I’m going out for a walk to inquire about the Divine Sect’s sub-sect entry exam…”

“There are still two or three months left until the exam, so what’s the rush?” Li Che said, cradling XiXi and smiling.

“Then I’ll go find out if XiXi has any competitors—this is vital.”

“Though Senior Qingshan assures me that XiXi’s exceptional prodigy talent will secure her a place in the sub-sect, there’s still a hierarchy once you’re in—outer, inner, and even a core manual, apparently…”

“My little XiXi is definitely destined to inherit the true teachings!”

Old Chen secured his wine gourd around his waist, grinning broadly and giving a thumbs-up.

Li Che couldn’t argue and simply followed him.

……

……

Time slipped away like sand through one’s fingers.

A month had passed.

Jingguang Prefecture City.

The Outer City, Tinghua Alley.

A three-entrance courtyard.

Winter had passed, but the early spring chill remained bone-deep, forcing everyone to bundle up.

Under the peach blossom tree at the center of the courtyard, Li Che sat quietly in a black battle garment, letting the biting early spring wind lash at him.

Slowly opening his eyes, he exuded a faint warmth that seemed to raise the temperature of the entire courtyard.

A glimmer of light danced briefly in his eyes.

……

[Name: Li Che]

[Bond: Li Nuǎnxi (Daughter)]

[Dao Fruits: Immortal Craft (lv3 48%), Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv3 13%), Unsullied Heart (LV2 18%), Chess Sage (LV2 3%)]

[Nascent Divine Abilities: Thousand Analysis Hand, Dragon Elephant Vajra: Ascending the Tower]

……

His Dao Fruits had undergone a significant transformation.

During this month-long stay in the city, Li Che maintained a low profile, careful as a newcomer.

He devoted his time to cultivation, wood carving, crafting mechanisms, and enhancing his firepower within the courtyard he had purchased.

By refining his single-shot ‘Muduya’ with expensive spiritual wood and infusing it with divine essence, its power leaped to a new level—now one shot could annihilate a cultivator of Yangxing Ruhe.

A novice Divine Foundation cultivator could be shattered by no more than five shots.

Of course, because the improved ‘Muduya’ consumed costly materials, he could only produce a limited number—around six hundred in total.

Additionally, progress on the Namo Celestial Craft Barrett advanced. He used a piece of seven-tier spiritual wood, ‘Dragon Tooth Yellow Poplar,’ to create a mechanical body, combining Bodhi Blood Tears with the Muduya to exhibit impressive penetrating power. Li Che temporarily named it the ‘One Generation Namo Celestial Craft Bodhi Barrett.’

The completion of this Bodhi Barrett pushed his Immortal Craft Dao Fruit to 48% maturity, edging it closer to LV4.

However, Li Che already sensed the difficulty of further enhancement and increasingly yearned for the complete mechanical manual of the Tang Clan Mechanism.

After Dragon Elephant Vajra reached LV3, its progression slowed considerably—even breaking through his Xuanmai would only boost progress by a mere 10%.

To reach LV4, merely tapping into the divine vein might not suffice; perhaps achieving Qi-Blood Grandmaster status was necessary.

As for the Unsullied Heart and Chess Sage Dao Fruits, since he hadn’t been killing much lately to absorb divine essence, their improvement was minimal.

After the Thousand Buddha Carved Feast, the Chess Sage Dao Fruit—having absorbed a surplus of divine chess pieces—broke into LV2. Li Che then noticed that his speed in refining divine chess pieces had accelerated.

In just a month, his Three-Eyed Furious True Lord Divine Foundation had completely solidified after refining the furious divine essence of Cao Guang and Cao Qingyuan, ensuring its stability.

A gentle breeze stirred, rustling the leaves.

Within the courtyard.

XiXi was playing with Old Chen on the Twisty Car— the old man and the little one having a wonderful time.

Old Chen had always thought Twisty Cars were trivial—how could he, at his age, play with a child’s toy? But ever since arriving in the city, sitting on one during idle moments was like opening the door to a whole new world.

He even went so far as to craft his own Twisty Car, often challenging XiXi to a race.

In one corner of the courtyard, amid stone blocks and wooden posts used for martial training, Zhang Ya—clad in a white battle garment and wearing a solemn expression—was honing her skills and polishing her skin.

Boom——!

While training, Zhang Ya suddenly felt her internal energy surge into her skin, tinting it a healthy red and bolstering her strength—it was as if her entire physique were transforming.

Beneath her tender frame, large tendons writhed and trembled!

“Husband! I’ve activated my tendon burst!”

Zhang Ya panted heavily, her dark eyes lighting up as she cheered with delight.

Li Che opened his eyes and stepped over to Zhang Ya, patting her gently while a smile of approval spread across his face.

“Indeed, you’ve entered the tendon burst stage. My dear, you’re amazing.”

Flattered by Li Che’s praise, Zhang Ya couldn’t help but let her smile grow wider.

Then, nearly tiptoeing to his ear, she whispered, “Now that my tendon burst is successful, my physical endurance has greatly increased. You can be a bit more indulgent… tonight, please go all out…”

Li Che was momentarily speechless—what was going on in his little wife’s mind?

Right after her tendon burst, and she thought of this?

Really…

“My dear, I’ve been experimenting with a few postures to help consolidate your tendon burst…”

……

……

In the pitch-black dungeon, a dense stench of blood, mold, and all sorts of foul odors mingled together.

A white wax candle was lit, its dim flame revealing the grim scene within.

Creaking…

It was the sound of a rope with a heavy weight swinging and creaking under strain.

At the center of the dungeon, a figure hung by both arms—the white shirt riddled with bloodstained whip marks.

Disheveled hair and a battered face, with bright red blood continuously dripping from the mouth, rendered the person almost unrecognizable.

Before the figure stood an exquisitely carved Grand Tutor Chair; a beautifully attired woman sat on it, her mouth and nose concealed by a white embroidered handkerchief, her slender, willow-like brows furrowed in a mix of disdain and icy detachment.

“Escaped from Feilei City?”

“My son died in Feilei City—do you, a dog, even deserve to live?”

The woman’s voice brimmed with a maddened grief that she could no longer contain.

At the news from Feilei City, the woman felt as if the sky had fallen. Cao Guang—a useless man—could die, but her son, Cao Qingyuan, had also perished in Feilei City…

He was the very flesh she had carried for ten months!

Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes as the dungeon filled with sorrowful, wailing cries, as though countless vengeful spirits were lamenting.

She raised her hand, and her slender, pale fingers—adorned with manicured nails—suddenly clenched.

Instantly, the bound Xu Beihu trembled uncontrollably, as an aura of divine essence surrounded him. One by one, infant-like vengeful spirits exuded dense black energy, slowly crawling from his legs, underarms, behind his neck, and even from his hair.

Xu Beihu’s breathing grew heavy as terrified growls burst from his throat.

The agonizing sensation as though his flesh were being devoured caused his entire body to tense and spasm.

“I told you—I said everything I knew…”

Xu Beihu writhed in excruciating pain.

With his keen sense of perception, when he learned that Xu Helil intended to sacrifice him and Xu You to break through their Divine Foundation, he had fled.

He escaped to the prefecture city with his entire family.

Before long, disaster struck Feilei City—news arrived that City Lord Cao Guang and the Young City Lord had perished.

He felt his own doom approaching; he wanted to escape but it was too late. Sure enough, the next day he was captured and thrown into the dungeon.

This wretched woman was none other than Qin Yuqing, the third Miss of the Qin family and the mother of Cao Qingyuan, who resided in the prefecture city.

“I know you’ve told me everything… but I just want to torture you. My son is dead—how dare you escape and live on? I am so furious!”

The woman raved with unbridled madness, her grip tightening as the little demons grew more exhilarated, tearing at Xu Beihu’s flesh with even more savagery.

After what felt like an eternity of torment, the woman finally twisted her ample waist and departed.

Stepping out of the dungeon into brilliant sunlight, the woman looked regal and elegant.

Suddenly, a masked figure appeared silently before her.

“Has Zhang Xiangyang found him? And what about that Ogre—any trace?”

The woman discarded her embroidered handkerchief, her stunning face now set in cold determination.

“Reporting, Miss: There’s no sign of Ogre yet—it seems he has evaporated from the mortal realm. However, that Feilei City constable, Zhang Xiangyang, has picked up a clue. After all, he serves with the Temple Guardian Division. We assumed that once he entered the prefecture, he’d join them…”

“I want results, not these trivial details!” she snapped.

“Go capture him! Zhang Xiangyang is the only divine cultivator to escape from the City Lord’s residence. I will seize him and torture him—after my son died so horribly, what right does he have to live?”

The masked figure fell silent.

The frenzied woman soon quieted and then asked, “Has the prodigy chosen by Li Qingshan in Feilei City already arrived in the prefecture?”

“That useless man Cao Guang… with his Thousand Baby Carved Feast—and yet an exceptional prodigy managed to escape? Protected by Li Qingshan? Before Li Qingshan got involved, why did Cao Guang miss out on this prodigy?”

Qin Yuqing’s eyes blazed with murderous intent.

“Ogre? Xu Beihu speculated that the Ogre might be that master woodcarver from Feilei City—Li Che…”

“According to the records, this master woodcarver had only just renewed his blood; his martial prowess is meager and his divine essence scant. How could he possibly be the Ogre capable of effortlessly overpowering a Divine Foundation cultivator? Moreover, Li Che and his family left the prefecture long before the Thousand Buddha Carved Feast…”

“By the way, is the Prodigy Dharma Master still alive? Surviving under Li Qingshan’s Goat-Horn Hammer takes some skill—could it be that he killed my son?”

Qin Yuqing closed her eyes, clearly slipping into madness.

Whether her eyes were open or closed, she only saw the bloodstained face of her son.

Her own flesh and blood.

After a long moment, her willow-like brows trembled as she opened her eyes, now filled with icy resolve.

“Such an exceptional prodigy…”

“Feilei City, of all places, could produce an exceptional prodigy. And yet, Cao Guang somehow let her slip through his fingers, allowing her to survive until Li Qingshan appeared?”

“Coincidence? There aren’t that many coincidences in this world!”

“And that 22-year-old prodigy… heh heh heh, what a joke; he clearly isn’t someone serious.”

Her ruby lips and teeth seemed as if they were dripping blood.

……

……

After agreeing with his wife Zhang Ya that he would help her consolidate her tendon burst tonight,

Li Che simply packed up and left the courtyard in Tinghua Alley, planning to head to another property he owned in the prefecture—a woodcarving workshop—to fine-tune his newly completed One Generation Namo Celestial Craft Bodhi Barrett.

Then he would arrange a lavish banquet at a restaurant to celebrate his wife’s breakthrough, ensuring an emotional celebration to the fullest.

Stepping out of the alley onto the long street,

his pace faltered momentarily as he squinted forward.

Then Big-Head Lu Chi appeared, accompanied by two figures in ragged clothes bearing the Temple Guardian Division emblem at their waists, walking toward him.

Huh?!

Was his Ogre identity… reported?

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