Chapter 99: Echos Under a Brewing Storm

The brilliant sunlight dispelled the lingering chill of early spring as willows swayed along the street, their budding catkins drifting in the air.

Li Che, clad in sleek black battle attire, looked remarkably spirited. His muscular, martial-honed frame filled out his clothing with a robust, upright air that made him stand out among the crowd.

His steps came to a halt as Li Che fixed his gaze on the three figures approaching from afar.

He was all too familiar with Lu Chi—the man sporting those distinctive Na Zha braids—but the two figures beside him stirred a hint of suspicion.

One of them, dressed in plain clothes and wearing the iconic waist badge of the Temple Guardian Division—carved with a small temple motif—was instantly recognizable.

Li Che’s first thought was that this cheeky fellow, Lu Chi, might have reported him.

But that notion was quickly dismissed.

After all, Li Che had always maintained a refined and amiable rapport with Lu Chi; no betrayal was in order.

Quietly waiting, he watched as the trio drew nearer.

“Uncle Li,” Lu Chi called out in a hurry as he spotted Li Che, bobbing his head enthusiastically.

Li Che responded with a gentle smile.

Then, turning to the other two, he remarked, “And you two…”

“Uncle Li, they’re from the Imperial Watch!” Lu Chi blurted out immediately, no pretense of suspense.

Li Che was momentarily stunned—Imperial Watch?

In the grand realm, the Temple Guardian Division, the Imperial Watch, and the Divine Sect stood as three towering forces—the first two representing the court, and the Divine Sect symbolizing factional power.

The Temple Guardian Division, engaged with the Bizarre Temple, was the martial arm responsible for demolishing unruly shrines, quelling strangeness, and eradicating evil spirits—the dirty, thankless jobs.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Watch operated like a logistical unit within the court—producing elixirs, divine condors, enchanted weapons, and more, all while raking in a fortune.

It was the Imperial Watch that had produced the ‘Da Jing Imperial Watch Furious Xuan Jiao Blood Martial Pill’ Li Che had taken when breaking through his Xuan Meridian.

“My teacher, upon my return to the Capital, recommended you to the Imperial Watch. Such a nomination is exceedingly rare,” Lu Chi explained.

Lu Chi shook his head vigorously as he added his explanation.

The two men in plain attire smiled at Li Che. “Senior Qingshan recommended you for the Imperial Watch; we’re here to get in touch.”

Li Che clasped his fists in greeting, and the duo returned the salute.

“I was just about to head to ‘Liu Xiang Pavilion.’ Why not join me for a meal and a chat?”

Once he was sure there were no ill intentions, Li Che’s refined and approachable nature shone through as he warmly invited them.

Indifferent to food, Lu Chi didn’t hesitate—he opted for XiXi over both the Twisty Car and the cuisine.

Li Che and the three representatives of the Imperial Watch arrived at ‘Liu Xiang Pavilion.’

This bustling restaurant in the outer Capital was a favorite among the local elite, renowned for its masterful chef and dishes that were as visually striking as they were flavorful.

Li Che, who was quite well-to-do, spared no expense and ordered a lavish spread of fine wines and sumptuous dishes.

Even though prices in the Capital were sky-high, compared to the heaps of gold bars and silver ingots in Qiankun Space, it was nothing.

“Master Li, you’re too kind,” someone remarked.

The three sat in a private room, accompanied by a cool, graceful female musician whose gentle playing filled the air with lingering melodies.

“I am Liu He from the Imperial Watch of Jingguang City, and this is my colleague, Hai Chuanying. We both serve as third-class Guest Officials of the Imperial Watch,” he announced.

“Guest Official?”

Noticing Li Che’s puzzled look, the talkative Liu He chuckled, “Guest Official status requires passing an evaluation to enter the Imperial Watch. You get the perks without being a full officer—no official rank.”

Li Che suddenly understood—it was like the difference between contract and temporary workers in civil service.

“Senior Qingshan, ranked eighth on the Yunzhou Divine Foundation list, is held in high regard. That’s why he personally came to contact you, Master Li,” Liu He explained.

“We’ve compiled your records. In just three short years, you advanced from a woodcarving apprentice to a master at Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop in Feilei City, crafting divine wooden sculptures. Your talent is truly remarkable.”

“Senior Qingshan’s recommendation is both justified and fitting,”

Liu He clinked glasses with Li Che, sharing fine wine. Yet after a single sip, his brow furrowed.

“The wine from the outer district just doesn’t compare. Even though Liu Xiang Pavilion is the finest restaurant there, the wine… is rather average.”

“Master Li, if you ever make it into the Inner City, I’ll treat you to the divine wine of Yunfang Boat.”

“The beauty serving the wine, the divine warmth reviving your spirit with every sip—what a taste…” Liu He couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Hai Chuanying, standing aside, remarked coolly, “Master Li hasn’t even joined the Imperial Watch as a Guest Official yet, and you’re already planning a night out?”

“Hahaha, with Senior Qingshan’s endorsement, passing the Guest Official evaluation is only a matter of time.”

“After all, such a precious nomination wouldn’t be wasted by Senior Qingshan.”

Liu He smiled warmly.

Li Che invited them to dine, engaging in conversation to learn more about the situation.

“Senior Qingshan’s recommendation only grants you the chance for evaluation; whether you truly become an Imperial Watch Guest Official depends on your own skill, Master Li.”

Liu He continued, “We Guest Officials, though not full-fledged officers, still enjoy considerable perks. More importantly, we get to wield the influential veneer of the Imperial Watch for protection—a crucial advantage for someone like you from the outer district.”

“News from Feilei City has reached the Capital: City Lord Cao Guang, sacrificing the city to elevate the Bizarre Temple, but Senior Qingshan’s presence foiled his plan—Cao Guang perished, and his son, Cao Qingyuan, died as well…”

Liu He sipped his wine and squinted as he said,

“Cao Guang’s death might not be significant, but the loss of Cao Qingyuan is hardly good news for you, Master Li.”

“Cao Qingyuan’s biological mother is none other than Qin Yuqing of the Qin Family…”

Though Li Che had long been aware of this, his astonishment still showed. “Cao Qingyuan’s death—what does it have to do with us…?”

Liu He glanced around and then looked at Hai Chuanying, “Brother Hai, perhaps you should explain…”

Hai Chuanying snorted, “Are you afraid of something?”

“Qin Yuqing, the third daughter of the Qin Family and the core inheritor of Jin Lie Men, may appear gentle and accommodating on the surface, but in truth she is ruthlessly venomous—preferring covert assassinations and sadistic tortures. She’s known as the Jade-Faced Poisonous Demon…”

“Perhaps it’s the influence of the Divine Foundation technique ‘Xing Yu Nu Gui Wang’…”

“But her notorious ruthlessness is well-known. As the Qin Family’s enforcer, she deals with the dirty work. With her son having died in Feilei City, she’ll surely vent her wrath on anyone from there.”

Hai Chuanying spoke in a low tone.

“Perhaps that’s why Senior Qingshan recommended you, Master Li…”

Upon hearing this, Li Che fell silent.

“My daughter and I came to challenge the Divine Sect branch evaluation—and she dares to act against us?”

Li Che frowned.

But Hai Chuanying chuckled and gave Li Che a peculiar look, “Haven’t you even been evaluated or joined the Divine Sect yet? You’re barely started…”

“By all accounts, they’re thoroughly versed in the rules.”

“Even though the Divine Sect is powerful, the five great families and the five major sects in the Capital have ruled for centuries—they’re the local hegemons.”

Li Che understood.

He continued discussing the specifics of the Imperial Watch Guest Official evaluation with the two.

After a satisfying meal, he bid farewell to Liu He and Hai Chuanying.

…

…

A table of food was ordered, with the staff at Liu Xiang Pavilion delivering it to a residence on Tinghua Alley.

Meanwhile, Li Che made his way to another courtyard he owned in Jingguang City.

Inside the courtyard, piles of timber were stacked high, their rich wooden fragrance filling the air.

Seated in a wooden chair, Li Che let glimmers of energy flow through his fingertips as he sliced through the air, his fingers closing around a sizable contraption.

It was none other than his latest invention—the mechanical device ‘One Generation: Namo Xian Gong Bodhi Barrett.’

Crafted from seventh-tier Lingwood Dragon Fang Thuya wood, it took him several ruined carving chisels before he finally perfected it.

The slender Thuya wood, reminiscent of dragon fangs, was as pleasing to behold as a masterful artwork.

The ‘Dragon Fang Bodhi’ was the bullet. Using seventh-tier Lingwood combined with Bodhi Blood Tears and the craftsmanship of Muduya, Li Che painstakingly forged a single shot.

Even one shot demanded immense effort from Li Che.

Without the divine perception he acquired after breaking through his Divine Foundation, such delicate work would have been nearly impossible.

Li Che knew that although his Thousand Analysis Hand provided assistance, the importance of divine perception could never be underestimated.

Patiently refining the smooth barrel of the Dragon Fang Thuya gun, Li Che worked in silence, his gaze shadowed with determination.

After a long while, he sighed deeply.

“In this world, I tread on thin ice…”

“But indeed, this world is far too perilous.”

“I long to watch my daughter grow up in peace, yet there are always those who seek to shatter the fragile ice beneath my feet, sending me plunging into an icy abyss…”

Li Che looked upward, the spring breeze brushing his face even as it felt as cold and biting as ice.

Feilei City was like this—and so was the Capital…

Without influential backing, surviving in this world was incredibly tough.

Just today, without Senior Qingshan’s clout, those two third-class Guest Officials from the Imperial Watch likely wouldn’t have spared him a second glance.

“Ultimately… I am just not strong enough…”

Li Che stood up, his grip tightening around the Dragon Fang Thuya gun barrel, while his other hand gathered the remaining components, slowly assembling them.

The clashing of metal rang out like the most melodious symphony in the world.

Kacha, kacha…

Once fully assembled, Li Che lifted the weapon with both hands.

He had deliberately skipped adding a sight—there was simply no need.

After all, attaching a scope would have been an outright snub to the Gaode Chess Sage.

“The Qin Family… Qin Yuqing, huh?”

Li Che’s forehead trembled as his divine perception surged forth; the gun barrel, crafted from Dragon Fang Thuya, suddenly activated, its surface flashing intricate patterns as divine essence seeped into it.

A terrifying, perilous aura began to emanate from the device.

The wind roared and currents swirled wildly!

Wood shavings flew chaotically throughout the workshop courtyard.

“Qin Yuqing… the core legacy of Jin Lie Men?”

“I wonder… can anyone withstand a shot from ‘Dragon Fang Bodhi’?”

“But I… only have one shot.”

Li Che exhaled and resumed his meticulous work on fine-tuning the Dragon Fang Bodhi, ensuring perfect precision so that his inaugural sniping attempt would go off without a hitch.

He aimed for that perfect, soul-stirring shot.

“Qin Yuqing, ruthless and venomous—the Jade-Faced Poisonous Demon—but I, Li Che, will, with all my passion, honorably take you down with a sniper shot.”

Inside the courtyard.

Li Che channeled his spirit like thunder, his vital energy surging mightily.

Being so fixated on by that treacherous woman left him unable to eat or sleep.

Especially since XiXi was still just a little girl—so adorable and fragile—the mere thought of her falling into that venomous woman’s clutches and enduring unspeakable torture twisted Li Che’s insides into pure agony.

“I must… take her out with a sniper shot.”

…

…

“My cultivation must advance faster… I’m still too weak. I must forge my Divine Vein soon. I’ve heard that Senior Qingshan mentioned unique elixirs within the Divine Sect, but since I haven’t joined them, I’ll have to check with the Imperial Watch for any good pills.”

“Also, I need to gear up for the Imperial Watch Guest Official evaluation…”

“Senior Qingshan must have anticipated trouble in the Capital, which is why he used his recommendation on me.”

“I can’t let his expectations down—the prestige of the Imperial Watch is indeed impressive.”

Within the courtyard, Li Che finalized his cultivation plan.

Moonlight ascended the heavens.

At last, Li Che concluded his practice in the courtyard.

His surging vital energy flowed like a blooming infernal lotus, slowly spiraling inward to consolidate within him.

Li Che opened his eyes, and it was as though a flash of lightning had briefly flickered in the dim courtyard.

After attaining the Xuan Meridian, his progress in the Way of Qi and Blood hadn’t slowed much. In fact, once his Dragon Elephant Vajra reached LV3, his innate talent for horizontal refining received a tremendous boost.

“Additionally, the divine essences of the Yang Family’s ‘Xin E Jing Gang’ and the Xu Family’s ‘Suspended Thought Sword’ have refined more rapidly thanks to the Chess Sage Dao Fruit reaching LV2. They’ve completed the refinement of the Divine Chess Piece, attaining a ‘Yangxing Ruhe’ state, while Zhou Ruoguan’s ‘Chaos of Joy and Confusion’ is barely there—after all, his strength is limited.”

“Now, I have four divine essences refined to the Yangxing Ruhe stage, and one has even coalesced into a Divine Foundation.”

“There is still vast room for improvement in the Way of Divine Essence. Once sufficiently nourished, I will begin coalescing two more Divine Foundations…”

Li Che’s eyes flickered as streams of divine light interwove.

Inside his mud pellet, five distinct zones had been partitioned using ‘Pure Heart’ divine essence, each nurturing a unique facet of the divine.

Joy, anger, contemplation, sorrow, and awe—five divine essences resided within.

Only the divine essences of worry and fear were missing from the Seven Emotions of Divine Essence.

They should have been complete in Feilei City, but unfortunately, the entire An Family fled, and even Zhang Xiangyang managed to escape amid the chaos.

But that’s not a grave concern; in the Capital, the chances of acquiring these two divine essences are much higher.

With careful attention, they can surely be found.

“My inherent talent in Divine Secret Techniques is admittedly average compared to horizontal refining.”

“The ‘Fen Nu True Lord Killing Gaze’ I obtained from the Bizarre Temple barely qualifies as entry-level, while the divine martial art ‘Fen Nu True Lord Three-Blade Saber’ has already achieved a minor breakthrough—though that’s partly due to limited practice.”

“As for the Python Dragon Cannon and Cloud Yao’s Nimbus Leap, they’ve both reached mastery…”

“Clearly, divine martial arts suit me best.”

After summarizing his progress, Li Che stretched leisurely, his joints crackling like a string of firecrackers.

After a brief tidying up, before leaving, Li Che flicked his fingers—and a white divine chess piece imbued with ‘Pure Heart’ drifted seamlessly into the courtyard.

It served as the coordinate anchor of the Feilei Chess Sage—a habitual safeguard to secure his escape if needed.

Having completed all that, Li Che gathered his vital energy and strolled home.

He planned to offer some pointers on the muscle-unfolding technique his wife had developed.

…

…

The next day, at dawn.

The sky was overcast, with thick, dark clouds gathering ominously overhead.

Spring thunder rumbled in the distance, occasionally lighting up the firmament with electric flashes.

Every spring shower brought warmth, and with each, the earth began to revive.

Yet the early spring rain still cut to the bone.

Zhang Ya, who had spent the night learning a revised muscle-unfolding technique under Li Che’s guidance, lay in bed like a languid, soft white snake, utterly too drained to rise.

Being a Zhang, she was notoriously headstrong…

How dare she let Li Che exert even the slightest effort—after all, his ability to refine his body was formidable.

After a refreshing start to the day, and having briefed XiXi on her daily martial training,

Li Che set out for the Imperial Watch to get the specifics on the evaluation scheduled for tomorrow.

After all, just yesterday Liu He and Hai Chuanying had only informed him of his qualification for evaluation; they wouldn’t divulge the finer details.

The sky was hazy, and fine rain fell as lightly as strands of hair.

Dressed in a neat, spotless black battle attire and holding a traditional oil-paper umbrella, Li Che stepped out as raindrops splattered against its surface.

Willows danced in the breeze, and spring was in full bloom.

Li Che left Tinghua Alley and stepped onto the spacious Bluestone Street of the Capital.

Suddenly, his steps faltered as the Chess Sage Dao Fruit in his chest pulsated—alerting him that someone was spying on him.

Unflinching, Li Che continued his walk in the rain, umbrella in hand.

Yet, his senses stirred ever so slightly.

Suddenly, a celestial chessboard unfurled before him…

In his perception, half of Jingguang City abruptly shrank in his mind as its divine essence slowly depleted.

The interlaced chessboard revealed a network of streets and alleys.

The aura of whoever was spying on him appeared on the board—unmistakable and utterly exposed.

After the Chess Sage Dao Fruit reached LV2, his sensitivity sharpened, allowing him to distinguish hues in an aura based on its hostility.

A deep black hue signified extreme enmity.

A charcoal tone indicated moderate hostility.

Pure white meant no hostility at all.

And in his perception…

That spying aura shone in a charcoal shade—suggesting some hostility, though not overwhelming.

But even a hint of hostility, no matter how slight, was significant.

Li Che, having entered the Capital, had always maintained a low profile and treated others kindly.

So why was there unwarranted hostility toward him?

A glimmer shone in Li Che’s eyes as he zoomed in on the individual exuding hostility.

Hidden in an alley, the figure kept his aura in check, his gray mask obscuring his features while his soulful eyes fixed intently on Li Che.

“Who is it? Someone from Qin Yuqing’s group?”

“I can’t tell for sure… but it doesn’t seem too serious.”

Li Che mused silently.

In the next moment, the ‘Sleeping Dragon Elephant’ of the Dragon Elephant Vajra fully activated!

The spring rain pattered steadily.

Within the alley.

The figure in the gray mask suddenly froze, shook his head, and discovered that his target had vanished…

Indeed—disappeared right under his nose?

“Where did he go?”

“How did he vanish so suddenly? Even the divine essence I locked onto is gone!”

“What in the world is going on?”

The masked figure’s brows furrowed deeply.

“How are we going to explain this to the miss?”

The figure staggered and dashed off into the distance, yet no matter how much divine perception he released, he couldn’t pinpoint Li Che’s whereabouts.

“Damn… did I just see a ghost?”

“This guy… he really is suspicious!”

He was sure it wasn’t his own fault—it was Li Che, the woodcarving master from Feilei City, whose refined and amiable appearance concealed a dangerous edge!

“We must report back to the miss first…”

The figure blurred as he dashed off into the distance.

After he departed…

What he didn’t know was…

Behind him, Li Che, clad in black, pulled out a horse-faced mask to cover his features. His eyes glowed eerily, as if forged in the underworld, piercing through the human realm.

“Ogre?”

“No—Ogre is out of business.”

Now, he was Horse-Faced!

With the Gaode Chess Sage around, no one could match his skills in reconnaissance and counter-surveillance.

Suppressing his aura to perfection, Li Che silently tailed the gray-masked figure.

When the gray figure appeared near a mansion, Li Che stopped short of approaching.

He shifted his gaze, settling on the mansion.

“Qin Mansion.”

“Hehehe…”

“Here I am, Li Che, in the Capital—low-key and amiable—yet I’m being targeted… what a treacherous woman!”

“It’s a pity I’ve never seen that venomous woman’s face…”

“If I take this man out, might the poisonous woman reveal herself?”

“Once I catch sight of her, I’ll add her to my Horse-Faced target list…”

The thought quickly formed in Li Che’s mind as his hands sprang into action.

He brought his sword fingers together, slicing through the air.

A longbow crackling with electric currents landed in his hands, and he nocked a spiral wooden arrow—carved from Linghua Liu—onto the inferior-grade Divine Weapon ‘Xuan Lei Nu Jiao Bow.’

His fingers clenched, and suddenly a Divine Foundation burst forth from the back of his head!

It was the Three-Eyed Wrathful True Lord Divine Foundation!

A vertical crack split the brow of his horse-faced mask, as if a scarlet eye spun within it.

Then came the Three-Eyed Wrathful True Lord Killing Gaze!

A stream of divine light erupted from that vertical pupil, as if igniting and charging the entire arrow!

His back muscles quivered, his spine roaring like an enraged dragon.

Ogre was unmatched in melee, while Horse-Faced excelled at long-range reaping.

He drew his bow taut, like a full moon!

Beneath the mask, his jawline lifted slightly.

“Peep, I’ll let you peep!”

Then, he relaxed his grip.

Boom—!

Like shattering stones and roaring winds, countless air currents surged as the curtain of spring rain was violently torn asunder!

It was as if an enraged dragon had its sinews ripped out, bellowing in fury!

The gray-masked figure, who had just been about to enter Qin Mansion, had his hair stand on end as a Divine Foundation suddenly emerged on his back.

“Who?!”

It turned out that the man was just a novice in Divine Foundation!

But as the arrow shot forth—with its terrifying rank and the sudden vision of a three-eyed divine figure whose vertical gaze blazed with lethal light—it overwhelmed him, momentarily paralyzing his divine essence.

Before he could even turn his head, a horrifying arrow abruptly pierced through the mud pellet on his forehead.

The brutal arrow tore through his skull.

It dragged his body along,

nailing him dead before the gate of Qin Mansion.

Qin Mansion.

After a brief pause,

a surge of terrifying energy suddenly burst forth!

PS: Ten-thousand-character update. Please vote for monthly tickets, recommendations, and continued reading support! Old Li will keep the updates coming!