Chapter 129: The Awakening of Destiny

The trembling 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit reacted with unprecedented intensity, as if it had encountered something incredibly delicious and desirable.

It was like the first time at the Bizarre Temple outside Feilei City when the Spirit Infant Temple Spirit had its balding head roughly touched by him.

Back then, the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit was excited too, but never as fervent as it was now.

It stirred Li Che’s emotions into a turbulent frenzy.

XiXi was on the cusp of a great opportunity.

The Feilei Chess Piece, condensed by the Chess Sage Dao Fruit, used XiXi as a conduit to sense the flavor of destiny and relay its message to Li Che.

That opportunity belonged to XiXi, and as her father, Li Che could never seize it.

After all, opportunities were never in short supply for Li Che; XiXi’s very birth was his greatest chance.

Each year that XiXi safely passed, one Dao Fruit would be formed for him.

With such a monumental opportunity, how could he ever bring himself to steal what was meant for his daughter?

But what if his daughter couldn’t handle this opportunity…

To prevent the chance from slipping away and being squandered to someone else’s benefit,

Li Che would then reluctantly have no choice but to devour the opportunity.

One must not let the fat water flow into another’s field.

However, Li Che noticed something else…

“Temple Spirit?”

Behind the Ogre Mask, Li Che’s eyes narrowed.

XiXi was at Golden Light Peak, the main peak of the Divine Sect Branch—so how could there be a Temple Spirit there?

Temple Spirits only reside in a Bizarre Temple. Could it be that there is a Bizarre Temple atop Golden Light Peak?

Wouldn’t that imply XiXi was actually inside a Bizarre Temple, meaning she was in grave danger?

Li Che took a deep breath; nonetheless, the Feilei Chess Piece showed no sign of danger for XiXi.

Li Che trusted the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit, whose assessment of danger was remarkably accurate.

After dividing the spoils, with nothing left to discuss, the three planned to depart.

“Ogre, next time, call Ma Mian as well.”

Lin Xiu looked at the burly Ogre and said with a smile.

Hearing this, Li Che pondered for a moment before answering in a gravelly voice from under his mask, “Alright.”

Lin Xiu adjusted the Peacock Mask on his nose and stretched lazily.

Suddenly, he seemed to sense something as he leaped onto the black-tiled rooftop, gazing into the distance.

That was the direction of the Divine Sect Mountain Gate and Golden Light Peak.

A straight, golden beam shot up into the clouds, strikingly evident in the darkness.

Li Qingshan and Ogre also leaped onto the rooftop to look out.

“This is… the divine threshold of the Temple Spirit at the Tianwang Tower has been activated!”

Li Qingshan couldn’t help but marvel, his eyes flashing with astonishment as he cast a glance at Li Che.

“At the summit of Golden Light Peak stands a Bizarre Temple—a relic left behind by the ancestral founder of Qianyuan Divine Sect. Now, only the slumbering Temple Spirit remains in the ravaged temple.”

“That Temple Spirit is peculiar; it isn’t human at all but a sentient divine weapon.”

“The divine weapon is named: Shеli Ruyi Golden Pagoda, though most of us call it the Tianwang Tower.”

Li Qingshan said.

In truth, he was explaining things to Li Che so that the latter wouldn’t worry too much about XiXi’s situation.

“Within the Tianwang Tower lie countless treasures: divine weapons, divine foundation techniques, divine image arts, even divine secret techniques and more…”

“Every sect leader’s true transmission offers a chance to receive teachings from the Temple Spirit—a test granted by the Tianwang Tower.”

“The Tianwang Tower tailors its support to one’s innate divine nature.”

“Rewards of all kinds await—whether you’re a junior disciple of a sect leader, or, as in the case of Sang Guanyin…”

“The Divine Image Art you practice is none other than the 【Benevolent Six-Armed Guanyin Divine Image】 gifted by the Tianwang Tower—classified as a lower-tier sixth-level art! Incredibly precious… and that girl, as relayed by our leader, nearly triggered the divine threshold back then!”

Li Qingshan looked up at Golden Light Peak, from which waves of energy rippled outward.

At that moment, the entire Jingguang City trembled.

In the Temple Guardian Division, Imperial Watch, City Lord’s Residence, and among the Five Major Families and Sects, powerful practitioners unleashed vast divine perceptions to observe the descending golden light.

“Tsk tsk, rumor has it that this ‘Tianwang Tower’ is a fragmented Temple Spirit—divided into three. The portion remaining at Golden Light Peak is one-third of the Temple Spirit, yet it has reached sixth-level status.”

“The other two Tianwang Towers—one is within the Qianyuan Divine Sect Main Branch in Lingnan City, and the other, it seems, is in the Divine Capital…”

Lin Xiu clicked his tongue and laughed.

Li Qingshan nodded, “Indeed, the Tianwang Tower within the Qianyuan Main Sect’s mountain gate is the second tower—of a higher rank, seemingly reaching the ‘Five Elder Level’.”

“As for the final Tianwang Tower, it lies in the Bizarre Temple of the Four Imperial Demon-Slaying Tianwang outside the Divine Capital…”

Lin Xiu, having long resided at the Imperial Watch and well-versed in the mysteries of the Bizarre Temple, knew even more.

“It is said that when the Imperial Court was first established, a great general of the Divine Fetus Stage personally came to Jingguang Mansion to reclaim this Tianwang Tower, but failed…”

“The leader of the Qianyuan Main Sect also made an attempt to reclaim it, only to meet the same fate.”

“Because this Tianwang Tower is situated here, it seems to be linked with that Four Imperial Three-Prince Temple in the heart of the Jiulong River.”

“The Chief of the Divine Capital once said that if the three Tianwang Towers were unified, the fully-formed Golden Tianwang Tower might even step into the ranks of the Three Pure Ones’ divine weapons.”

Li Che was visibly shaken upon hearing this.

No wonder the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit was so stirred—even with only one-third of a Tianwang Tower, for Li Che, it truly was a monumental opportunity.

“All done, farewell,” Li Che said, clasping his fists.

In the next moment, his figure melted into the darkness.

A white Feilei Chess Piece appeared in his palm; with a sudden, forceful grip, he vanished in an instant!

Lin Xiu quickly turned his head, his eyes tracking the direction in which the Ogre had disappeared.

“What an exquisite method of maneuvering. My divine perception was locked in, and yet I sensed no spatial disturbance, but Ogre was already gone. I can’t even tell if he left by converging his breath or by teleportation.”

Lin Xiu took a deep breath, pondering the enigmatic Ogre… and that Ma Mian known for his long-range strikes; his curiosity was clearly piqued.

Li Qingshan murmured that everyone had their secrets.

Although Li Che hailed from Feilei City and was of humble origins, he clearly harbored his own mysteries.

Li Qingshan even stared intently, wondering, “Is Li Che really just of humble origins?”

How could someone from such modest beginnings produce a prodigy daughter?

Who could reach such heights in such a short time?

He shook his head and let the thought pass.

Li Qingshan trusted his own judgment—Li Che, or even Ogre, couldn’t possibly be some ruthless villain.

After all, who doesn’t have their secrets?

Lin Xiu and Li Qingshan leapt away, vanishing into the night.

…

…

Golden Light Peak.

The Grand Temple Hall.

A pagoda hung in midair, shimmering with brilliant flashes of light, as if thousands of beams burst forth. The Buddha statue it illuminated appeared vividly lifelike, as though it had come to life.

The entire hall was suffused with an oppressive aura that made even breathing a struggle.

Nan Lihuo stood there, his white robe clinging tightly as turbulent gusts lashed at him; his arms crossed and his eyes piercing.

Below him, Liu Yangyuan and Sang Guanyin stood quietly with their hands at their sides, their eyes betraying surprise.

“Little Junior Sister… are you really alright?”

Ever caring for XiXi, Sang Guanyin couldn’t help but ask.

On Liu Yangyuan’s strikingly otherworldly face, surprise was evident as he perked up his ears to listen.

“This is the opening of the divine threshold. Only one with a pure, unsullied divine nature can be recognized to enter and have an opportunity tailored for her.”

“The opportunity provided by the Tianwang Tower is not to be underestimated, for its divine threshold is rumored to be linked with that of the Qianyuan Main Sect’s Tianwang Tower!”

“Gaining entry to the divine threshold bestows rewards and inheritances that are at least of the sixth tier.”

Nan Lihuo’s gentle voice echoed throughout the hall.

He was thoroughly impressed, his eyes sparkling with brilliance.

“I, as a master, have entered the Tianwang Tower in my day.”

“And your senior brother has entered it as well.”

His words then fell silent.

Both Liu Yangyuan and Sang Guanyin trembled suddenly.

“Ah?!”

“Senior Brother has entered too?”

Sang Guanyin was rather surprised.

“What about Second Brother?”

“Has Second Brother, Bian Yuanlong—who now cultivates in the Qianyuan Main Sect—ever entered the divine threshold of the Tianwang Tower?”

Both Liu Yangyuan and Sang Guanyin were visibly stirred.

“Your Second Brother hasn’t entered the Tianwang Tower yet. However, after joining the Qianyuan Main Sect, he should have the opportunity—since their Tianwang Tower comes with its own divine secret techniques.”

Nan Lihuo spoke softly.

Upon hearing this, both Liu Yangyuan and Sang Guanyin heaved a sigh of relief.

“Luckily, it isn’t because they’re lacking—Second Brother hasn’t entered either; after all, he went off to cultivate in the Divine Sect Main Branch and hasn’t managed to enter…”

That reassured them, sparing any sense of inferiority.

Yet, little Junior Sister was undeniably a prodigy of the Jiazi cycle; her talent was truly formidable!

“The greater your little sister’s talent, the more peril she will face in the future. The Corpse God Sect surely won’t let such a gifted prodigy go unchallenged…”

“As senior siblings, you must protect your little sister at all costs… even if it means…”

“Sacrificing your lives.”

Nan Lihuo looked at Sang Guanyin and Liu Yangyuan, his voice as gentle as ever.

…

…

XiXi felt a bit disoriented.

“Mother… help me, XiXi…”

“Stinky Dad, where are you?”

“XiXi is about to be taken away! Dad, come rescue me!”

…

At first, XiXi was terrified, calling out almost everyone she could think of.

Even Lu Chi wasn’t spared from being called.

But once the dizziness wore off, her tightly closed eyes slowly opened, with long lashes trembling and tears clinging to them.

Curiously, she looked around; dense mists swirled, with wisps of purple smoke, white cranes spreading their wings, and the gentle murmur of flowing water.

The air was incredibly fresh; with just one deep breath, she felt as if she were being cleansed and uplifted.

“Is this the underworld that Dad spoke of—the place people go when they die?”

XiXi blinked before rising from the ground.

She began toddling along on her little legs.

The ground was immaculate—without a speck of dust. XiXi thought that even if she took off her shoes to run around barefoot, her feet would remain spotless.

At home, if she dirtied her feet by going barefoot, stinky Dad would have it out for her—no hopping on the bed allowed.

“Wow… such beautiful flowers.”

XiXi’s initial fear had vanished; perhaps the tranquility of this place made her feel at peace.

She gazed at the myriad blossoms lining the path, her eyes twinkling as she spotted colorful butterflies dancing among them.

The butterfly seemed to sense XiXi, flying over and dancing around her, releasing fairy-like sparkles with each flutter.

As the sparkles landed on XiXi, they stirred her internal energy and blood, gradually advancing her cultivation to the Bone Tempering stage.

“Wow—are you helping me train, butterfly?” XiXi asked as she raised her chubby hand, and the butterfly landed, gently flapping its wings.

XiXi giggled, and as the butterfly fluttered away, she chased after it with her arms outstretched.

With sparkles continuously falling, her martial cultivation incrementally improved.

Meanwhile, within her inner realm, the divine essence of the 【Suspended Thought Sword】 that Li Che had imparted to her steadily expanded.

In an instant, it reached the level of Yangxing Ruhe.

Since XiXi had originally cultivated her divine nature in the Xu Ji Divine Cultivation Institute, she practiced Xu Ji’s 【Suspended Thought Sword】.

Of course, after this, her method of nurturing divine nature would naturally be revised.

Even if XiXi did not receive the divine cultivation inheritance from the Tianwang Tower this time, Nan Lihuo would impart his high-tier method to her.

After all, the 【Suspended Thought Sword】 was merely Xu Ji’s technique from Feilei City—far too low in rank.

“Huh? XiXi seems to be growing stronger!”

Sensing the divine essence within her inner realm, XiXi exclaimed in surprise.

Her Dad had once explained the cultivation of divine essence, so she recognized it.

“Once I get even stronger, I’ll be able to beat stinky Dad at his own game. If he tries to spank me, I’ll spank him right back!”

XiXi wasn’t strong before, but with growing strength, change was inevitable!

XiXi had grand aspirations!

Following the little butterfly, the mist before her slowly parted like a drawn curtain.

A magnificent divine palace, entirely crafted from gold, suddenly emerged before XiXi—so brilliant she nearly couldn’t open her eyes.

“So much gold—just think how many candied fruits I could buy with it!”

XiXi exclaimed in amazement.

The butterfly led her further into the palace, its wings flapping in an undulating rhythm.

Near the palace, at about a hundred zhang, an invisible barrier appeared, rippling like flowing water.

The butterfly flew through it without hindrance.

However, XiXi collided with the invisible barrier, feeling a tremendous resistance that made progress extremely difficult.

“Little butterfly, wait for me!”

Frustrated at being blocked, XiXi waved her hand frantically.

The little butterfly fluttered from afar, as if both waiting for and encouraging her to press on.

Her little face turned bright red as she mustered all her strength within her inner realm.

Instantly, countless white divine essences, like tiny firefly lights, floated up and merged into her river of divine energy.

Rumble!

“Waaah—!”

XiXi waved her hands wildly and began shouting loudly.

The invisible barrier before her suddenly vanished, nearly causing her to fall flat on her face.

She got back up, and the little butterfly danced joyfully, as if delighted she had overcome the barrier.

Standing tall with her hands on her hips and chest puffed out, XiXi declared, “Little butterfly, don’t you dare look down on me!”

Together, she and the butterfly continued onward, stepping into the Golden Palace.

The Golden Palace was immense—truly enormous.

Once inside, XiXi felt as insignificant as a tiny grain of sand in her family’s courtyard.

She let out a “Wow,” her voice echoing repeatedly throughout the palace.

“Wow, wow, wow!” she exclaimed with increasing enthusiasm, clearly having a great time.

The little butterfly landed on her shoulder. After a playful while, XiXi quieted down and surveyed her surroundings.

Golden mist began to burst forth and swirl around her.

Soon, she beheld an enormous golden statue, so towering it nearly touched the palace’s ceiling!

The statue was majestic and unrivaled—clad in golden armor, wearing a cloud-like helmet, its face offering a kind smile. In its left hand it held a halberd, and in its right, it supported a tower. The tower, golden in hue, was seven stories tall and intricately engraved with Buddha images, radiating a resplendent glow!

XiXi stared at the statue for a long while, at a loss as to what to do next.

She wondered, what would Dad do if he saw the statue?

After all, Dad loved gold above all; he’d probably rush over to pat it.

Exactly!

Dad would definitely go and touch it!

And so would XiXi!

Following Dad’s lead was surely the right thing to do!

Her eyes lit up as she clapped her chubby hands together in a proper imitation of worship.

Then, wriggling her little bottom, she scampered over to the massive, imposing statue.

The little butterfly on her shoulder initially had no idea what XiXi intended.

When she reached the base of the statue, she extended her chubby hand and gently rubbed the surface of its shoe.

This sight almost sent the little butterfly into a frenzy!

It flapped its wings frantically, trying to get away, but…

The statue suddenly unleashed an overwhelming divine pressure that pinned the butterfly to XiXi’s shoulder.

Golden divine essence cascaded like a torrent, relentlessly bathing XiXi’s body.

Her little chubby body trembled all over.

Her wide eyes shimmered as if witnessing a wondrous scene.

In that vision…

A child with Nezha-style braids, standing atop windfire golden wheels, wielded a golden spear ablaze with raging flames as he raced across the Vast Sea!

Then, with one thrust, he pierced the Vast Sea, stirring it violently!

XiXi’s eyes grew ever brighter.

She felt her very soul take flight, merging with the young man who stirred the Vast Sea with his spear!

It was blissful, carefree, and unrestrained!

…

…

“Wretch…”

Within the Golden Palace, a forlorn, echoing voice resounded—reverberating, deafening, like thunderclaps!

Countless streams of golden divine essence poured down.

Beside XiXi, who caressed the statue with her eyes closed, golden spheres began to form and float.

However, as the white divine essence within her inner realm slowly depleted, it could no longer sustain the flow of golden essence.

No more golden spheres could be formed.

It seemed as if her opportunity was coming to an end.

But…

Humm—

It was as though a silent ripple undulated through space.

Then, a figure as robust as a mountain, with an inverted-triangular, muscular back and pulsing veins like a raging dragon, appeared beside XiXi clutching a white chess piece.

His bamboo hat lifted, revealing a figure wearing the Cute Cow Mask.

Li Che hadn’t even time to change; he immediately crushed the Feilei Chess Piece and teleported over.

The moment he arrived, he was met by the overwhelming, tempest-like, terrifying and oppressive divine aura of the Temple Spirit!

Li Che’s gaze fell upon the enormous golden statue.

“Tianwang…”

Looking at the kindly smiling statue, Li Che murmured under his breath.

Yet, in the next moment, the statue’s smiling visage abruptly transformed into one of rage and terror, as if the heavens themselves roared in a deafening blast aimed at shattering divine perceptions!

Li Che was rendered speechless.

That change of expression… was far too sudden!

When he looked at XiXi, the statue had been gentle and smiling.

But when he glanced at Ogre, its expression was filled with fury and dread, as if ready to exorcise demons…

That Ogre… is he really a demon?

Li Che removed his hat and mask, dissipating his aura, yet he couldn’t restore the statue’s original expression.

He was at a loss for words. Glancing at XiXi, his brow furrowed as he instantly noticed her condition.

The 【Unsullied Heart】 divine essence he had nurtured in XiXi was completely exhausted at that very moment!

As the Unsullied Heart essence depleted, the golden light ceased to cascade.

“So, it wasn’t that XiXi couldn’t take it in—it wasn’t enough…”

Li Che muttered under his breath.

If this were to be the path he followed in the future, XiXi’s opportunities might very well come to an end.

“Fortunately, Father arrived in time.”

“This household is no good without me.”

Li Che stepped forward, appearing behind XiXi, his palm resting on her small back.

He glanced at the statue with its expression of fury and dread.

“Stop glaring at me!”

His heart stirred.

Within his chest, the 【Unsullied Heart】 Dao Fruit thumped; its divine essence flowed out steadily, gentle and unhurried, filling XiXi’s body.

Li Che was careful not to unleash the Unsullied Heart essence too violently, fearing it might harm XiXi.

With the supplementation of Unsullied Heart essence, the nearly dissipated golden light

surprisingly began to coalesce again.

One golden sphere after another started to materialize around XiXi, purifying her flesh and bones in the process!

Li Che felt the rapid outflow of 【Unsullied Heart】 divine essence within him; thankfully, he had forged the 【Unsullied Heart Divine Foundation】, giving him far more power than before.

Rumble…

The golden light continued to cascade down.

As more and more golden spheres gathered around XiXi, Li Che carefully counted them—there were over a hundred.

He was dumbfounded—so many… were they all her opportunities?

But in the next moment, the golden spheres fused together.

Finally…

They condensed into one enormous golden sphere!

Simultaneously, XiXi’s body began to tremble violently.

Her small face suddenly broke into tears as she burst into loud, wailing sobs.

It was as if she had witnessed something unbearably sorrowful.

Li Che furrowed his brows.

He also sensed that the Unsullied Heart divine essence in his Dao Fruit was depleting rather quickly.

Even though he had amassed an Unsullied Heart Divine Foundation, it was still running low at that moment.

Li Che sighed; that was all the Unsullied Heart he had managed to accumulate.

As a father, that was all he could do.

When the last wisp of divine essence from the Unsullied Heart Divine Foundation flowed into XiXi, it triggered a spectacular cascade of golden light.

Their joint, almost cheating collaboration was, in the end, limited to this.

Nevertheless, Li Che was satisfied that he had forced XiXi’s opportunities to a level far beyond what she could normally achieve.

The harvest… was destined to be extremely bountiful!

Boom——!!!

When the myriad streams of golden light cascading from the statue finally dissipated,

the opportunity, once formed by the fusion of hundreds of golden spheres surrounding XiXi,

gradually began to lose its luster.

Suddenly, a surge of intense heat erupted!

It was followed by an extremely terrifying, scorching temperature!

Ferocious gusts and searing heat surged wildly, like a fiery giant serpent breathing torrents of flames, with scorching gusts and raging winds!

His clothes clung tightly to his body.

His eyes narrowed.

He stared at the golden long spear hovering beside XiXi, its blade blazing like red flames with a spear ornament that flowed like purple fire!

The overwhelming divine aura made Li Che’s hairs stand on end.

In an instant, his arms turned a jade-like color.

Immortal Craft: Qianxi Hand activated!

It captured the scorching divine essence in the air, transmitting vital information into his mind as images intertwined before his eyes.

【Divine Weapon (Four Imperial Superior): Purple Flame Serpent Spear】

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