Chapter 153: Plans and Prodigies at Golden Light Peak

Nan Lihuo crushed the white Feilei Chess Piece that Ogre had left for him.

It signaled that the operation was about to begin.

Li Che rode in a bumpy carriage—the Imperial Watch carriage was noticeably less comfortable than the Gong Family carriage he had taken to Shendiao Ridge last time.

He gazed at the ever-changing scenery outside the window.

Li Che raised an eyebrow slightly.

Killing Wen Longshan was no simple feat; his cultivation was extraordinarily high.

Moreover, his near-transcendent Seven Yuan Divine Arrow Technique made him as challenging as any cultivator in the Yuan Xiang realm.

Thus, if Nan Lihuo intended to act, he had to be at least eighty percent sure he could eliminate Wen Longshan.

Li Che leaned back against the soft cushion of the carriage.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table.

A slight smirk then played on his lips.

Since the Sect Leader was confident…

then Wen Longshan obviously had to be eliminated!

Across from him, Gong Yunli munched on candied fruit while idly chatting with Li Che.

“Ah Che, I’m really curious—how did you win over Master Tang Ling? Was it all just talent?”

Gong Yunli rested her hand on her smooth chin, leaning casually on the table as she inquired.

Yet she still hadn’t figured out that Li Che was tied to Ogre.

A hint of naivety shimmered in her clear eyes.

Li Che’s lips twitched slightly.

After a brief, casual reply to Gong Yunli, Li Che made an excuse, saying he needed to step off the carriage for some fresh air.

Gong Yunli, upon hearing this, did not object.

The 【Fire-Eyed Xuanjing Spirit Ape】 Bizarre Temple isn’t too far from Jingguang City.

Located in the area of Xinyuan Temple, it was roughly a half-hour carriage ride—a perfect opportunity to step out, breathe some air, and enjoy the snowy views.

The snowy scene along the Jiulong River, although diminished by the river’s inability to freeze, was transformed by rising steam into an ethereal winter display.

It had its own unique charm.

Gong Yunli also donned her fox cloak, stepped off to enjoy the air, and her spirits lifted as she watched the surging river.

Li Che shot her a glance. The Cosmic Chessboard was activated, blocking any Divine Perception.

Then he turned and slipped into the Dense Forest. When he reemerged, he had become a 【Painted Immortal】 clone.

However, this clone concealed a Feilei Chess Piece.

Once finished, Li Che could instantly shift over.

“Little Monitor, let’s go,” he said.

Li Che smiled as he spoke.

“Huh? You’re ready already? That fast?”

Gong Yunli, just stretching her limbs, hadn’t expected Li Che to finish so quickly.

With a hint of annoyance, she climbed back into the carriage.

After the carriage departed and the Dense Forest fell behind, a towering figure gradually emerged.

Donning a bamboo hat and a black cloak as sturdy as a mountain, his face was hidden behind an adorable Cute Cow Mask.

He adjusted his hat.

Watching the carriage disappearing into the storm, Li Che clenched his fist, and the white Feilei Chess Piece was instantly crushed in his grip.

With a swift shift, he vanished from sight.

……

……

At Zheng Lei Peak.

The area was abuzz with activity.

Nan Lihuo sat at the head of the table, accompanied by his senior brother, Wang Kuyu, who had come from Daocheng.

Wang Kuyu squinted, flicked his dust-whisk, and watched as Nan Lihuo raised his hand and a crimson paper crane fluttered into his palm.

“Junior Brother… still not giving up, huh?”

Wang Kuyu sighed in resignation.

Nan Lihuo shot his senior a glance. “Senior Brother… do you really think I’d ever give up?”

Wang Kuyu turned his gaze toward the plaza before the Divine Temple. “I’ve come with the Daocheng prodigies to challenge that genius of your Jin Guang Branch—he who ranks on the Daocheng Prodigy List—before the Temple Spirit Resonance…”

“Planning to dump the burden on me again?”

Nan Lihuo’s white hair fluttered as he grinned, “Senior Brother, it’s not often you come by…”

“It’s been a while since you had my back,” Wang Kuyu teased.

“Then, please do lend me your help, Senior Brother,” Nan Lihuo retorted.

Wang Kuyu reached out and tapped Nan Lihuo, his resignation written all over his face.

“You little rascal, always as clever as ever—constantly scheming against your Senior Brother…”

“But didn’t you often cover for me back then?”

Nan Lihuo stood up, his silk white robe billowing in the breeze as the wind filled his sleeves like swollen airbags.

“Then, please help me once more, Junior Brother?”

Wang Kuyu slumped in his chair, his face etched with bitterness.

“This Jin Guang Mansion… I should never have come. Right from the start, you treated me like a mere beast of burden!”

“Last time I subdued the Four-Yu Bizarre Temple; this time… I’m here to guard your house!”

Nan Lihuo’s lips curved into a smile. “So, Senior Brother… are you going to kill someone for me?”

The Taoist wasted no time; he instantly shook his head as if setting a rattle in motion.

“I, as a Taoist, never kill!”

“Don’t even drag me into this,” Wang Kuyu interjected hurriedly.

Wang Kuyu spoke in haste.

Nan Lihuo’s smile gradually faded from his face.

“Senior Brother… sometimes, if you don’t kill, someone else will try to kill you…”

“You’re too compassionate,”

“In this world, compassion is hardly a virtue,” Nan Lihuo explained seriously.

Nan Lihuo said in a solemn tone.

Wang Kuyu waved his hand, “Ah, I’m just the kind of Taoist who only dares to be rough with my chubby little disciple… Junior Brother, just be careful.”

“I only came to see you; I’m afraid that as the years pass, I might not get the chance again.”

Nan Lihuo smiled gently.

He said no more.

His gaze turned toward the Golden Light Peak Plaza before him.

He looked at the group of Divine Sect prodigies, resembling little radishes.

He also observed XiXi, who stood with her hands on her hips and a proud little belly.

A soft glow shimmered in his eyes.

“Senior Brother… please give your honest opinion on XiXi’s talent. To make the Daocheng Prodigy List, she must have earned the nod of approval from the Daocheng Imperial Watch Monitor.”

“But… do you think XiXi can catch the eye of Master Zhengzong?”

Nan Lihuo said.

At his words, Taoist Wang Kuyu straightened up—he became earnest as long as it wasn’t about fighting.

However, after glancing at that little tomboyish girl, his expression turned conflicted.

Wang Kuyu’s face showed deep inner conflict.

“No, no, no… Master Zhengzong hasn’t taken on disciples for years now.”

“A few years ago, even the genius who ranked tenth on the Daocheng Prodigy List wasn’t accepted when he came to pay his respects,”

“Master Zhengzong is unlikely to take in any more disciples,”

Nan Lihuo furrowed his brows slowly. “Perhaps Master Zhengzong’s direct disciples still have one spot open?”

“True, there’s one opening, but that doesn’t guarantee acceptance…”

Wang Kuyu shook his head.

“XiXi’s talent is simply outstanding!”

Nan Lihuo stated solemnly.

“Junior Brother, this girl truly has remarkable talent; otherwise, she wouldn’t have caught the Daocheng Imperial Watch’s attention, ranking twenty-first on the Prodigy List.”

“But… she’s only twenty-first,” Wang Kuyu added.

“XiXi is only four years old!”

Nan Lihuo responded earnestly, “She’s just four—what more do you expect?”

The Taoist paused, “If she weren’t four… she might not even make it onto the Prodigy List.”

Nan Lihuo exhaled deeply.

He said no more.

“Junior Brother, don’t lose heart. Whether they accept her in the end depends on Master Zhengzong.”

“Maybe… Master Zhengzong has already taken a liking to this little girl?”

Wang Kuyu didn’t entirely rule it out.

Nan Lihuo smiled and, no longer dwelling on it, asked the Taoist to oversee the challenge.

Then, he gracefully entered the Divine Temple.

The great doors slammed shut, unleashing a torrent of sound.

Wang Kuyu flicked his dust-whisk and sighed, “Junior Brother, when will this endless cycle of retribution end?”

“City Lord Su Huai Li—the youngest disciple of King Ping Luan’s Ji Mo Li, a highly regarded pupil—was dispatched to Jin Guang Mansion, not only because of his interest in the Four-Yu Bizarre Temple but also with an eye on you,”

“…and also because they wanted to keep an eye on you,”

“Ji Mo Li… has also taken note of you, Junior Brother,”

Wang Kuyu shook his head, unsure how to dissuade them.

Suddenly, he snapped his fingers and a plain white paper crane fluttered into his hand.

“Junior Brother, who exactly are you planning to kill?”

“Could it be Ji Mo Li’s youngest son—the five-year-old Little Prince… who is about to head to the Third Prince Bizarre Temple for the impending Temple Spirit Resonance?”

“Surely, Junior Brother, you don’t fancy killing this Little Prince, do you?”

Wang Kuyu took a deep breath.

“No way…”

“Ji Mo Li’s son… how could he be so easily killed?”

“Perhaps a Grandmaster is secretly guarding him.”

“Junior Brother… don’t go signing your own death warrant.”

He shook his head.

Wang Kuyu stopped dwelling on it.

At the plaza.

At Two Sleeves Peak, Elder Zhang Qingzheng, his stern face fixed in indifference, surveyed the group of children below.

He was once again hosting the challenge exchange event.

In the distance.

Zhu Hongdou, arms crossed and clad in a red robe, watched with keen interest.

And there was Weng Wuyou, his face beaming with gentle smiles.

Most of the elders from the Jin Guang Branch had arrived.

Li Qingshan accompanied Granny Mu, still eager to please; now that he had mastered Divine Vision, he had replaced Elder Xu Jiuying at the Enforcement Hall.

Zheng Lei Peak had also become one of the four Great Elder Peaks.

Meanwhile, the status of Flowing Sword Peak had plummeted—its true disciples demoted to inner sect members thanks to Xu Jiuying’s influence.

They were, in a sense, the innocent victims.

But such was the fickle nature of fate.

As for Lu Chi of Zheng Lei Peak, originally an inner disciple, he won by default and became a true disciple.

Additionally, Huang Sixiang, an inner disciple under Li Qingshan, advanced to true disciple status—mainly because Flowing Sword Peak had an extra opening.

Huang Sixiang, however, was rather bewildered.

In the beginning, four true disciples had been chosen: Hai Chaosheng of Flowing Sword Peak, Gong Yuanliang of Two Sleeves Peak, Gongyang Xiu of Nanshan Peak, while Zhu Hongdou did not receive true disciple status.

Hai Chaosheng lost his true disciple position because of this.

He was extremely frustrated.

Under any elder, there could only be one true disciple—that was the rule.

Hai Chaosheng could only wait for the sect’s annual assessment at year’s end to reclaim his status.

Li Qingshan sat comforting Granny Mu.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something.

His comforting words paused as he squinted and scanned the distance.

Amid the haze, he seemed to see a familiar, towering figure as massive as a tower…

“Ogre?”

Li Qingshan furrowed his brows.

Lately, with the Qingxiu Niu Ma duo less active, could he be hallucinating—or missing Ogre?

“No, that’s Ogre!”

“Damn! And they didn’t call me for the job?!”

Li Qingshan immediately understood.

How could Ogre appear at Golden Light Peak for no reason?

With his keen sense for trouble, Li Qingshan quickly sensed something amiss.

“Ogre… taking on jobs in secret again without me?”

……

……

Nan Lihuo crushed the white chess piece.

His divine perception, nearly on the verge of evolving into his true spirit, had scanned the chess piece over and over.

It was merely an ordinary Divine Chess Piece, nothing unusual about it.

Yet, as soon as he crushed it, could Ogre sense it?

Had the information been transmitted?

What kind of secret technique was this?

Nan Lihuo was intrigued—even though the transmitted info was limited, at critical moments it could change the course of battle.

Suddenly, from the darkness, a towering figure slowly emerged.

A bamboo hat, a black robe, and an adorable Cute Cow Mask.

If not Ogre, then who?

He had truly appeared!

Nan Lihuo’s heart skipped a beat; he was even more curious about Ogre’s stealthy Breath Convergence techniques.

“The Underworld…”

An unheard-of power.

To possess such stealth methods was truly remarkable.

“Nan Sect Leader,”

a low, husky voice resonated from under the Ogre Mask.

“Are you here?”

“Where is Ma Mian?”

“The Divine Sniper won’t expose his position easily… Once I arrive and the time to act comes, he will strike,”

Ogre said in a deep tone.

At his words, Nan Lihuo’s large sleeves whipped about as he grabbed something from behind him.

“Alright.”

“It’s the plan.”

Li Che’s eyes, seen beneath his mask, narrowed as he asked,

“Wen Longshan has been ordered to leave Jingguang City to fetch someone,”

“and on his journey lies the perfect opportunity to kill him.”

Nan Lihuo explained.

“However, the kill must be executed before Wen Longshan meets the one he’s fetching… Once they meet, we must immediately cease and retreat,”

Nan Lihuo said in a low tone.

“Why?”

“Because the person Wen Longshan is sent to pick up is none other than the five-year-old son of King Ping Luan’s Ji Mo Li—set to participate as a prodigy at the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince Bizarre Temple.”

“The son of King Ping Luan?!”

Li Che’s eyes narrowed.

“Yes—the son of King Ping Luan. They say his lofty aura breaks through 300 feet and that he ranks tenth on the Divine Capital Prodigy List.”

“His talent is impressive,” Li Che praised.

“No, his talent is actually the worst among King Ping Luan’s five children,” Nan Lihuo replied.

Nan Lihuo said.

Li Che was left speechless.

“That’s why they sent him to Jin Guang Mansion—to seize the opportunity of the Four-Yu Bizarre Temple…”

Nan Lihuo said in a low tone.

“In fact, King Ping Luan had long been scheming to pave the way for his youngest son… The Third Prince Legacy of this Four-Yu Bizarre Temple at Jin Guang Mansion is the very opportunity he’s prepared for—he’s determined to claim it.”

“City Lord Su Huai Li’s appointment as head of Jin Guang Mansion is also likely linked to Ji Mo Li.”

Li Che nodded.

Nan Lihuo’s expression suddenly darkened as he abruptly swatted his sleeve.

“Come in,” he commanded.

The window suddenly burst open with a powerful suction, pulling in Li Qingshan, who had been eavesdropping outside.

Li Qingshan, now unmasked, merely chuckled.

“Sect Leader… how can you kill someone without including me, Li Qingshan?”

“To kill Wen Longshan… fine, that bastard tried to shoot me when I broke through. I, Li Qingshan, never leave an enemy unavenged.”

“I must be counted in this one,”

“you can’t leave me out!”

The Goat-Horn Hammer had slipped from Li Qingshan’s sleeve, but he gripped it tightly as electric arcs danced along its edge.

Nan Lihuo looked resigned.

“Alright,” he conceded.

After mastering Divine Vision, Li Qingshan was by no means weak.

“Just don’t hold us back when we’re trying to escape,” he added.

Nan Lihuo said.

Li Qingshan’s face instantly turned red!

His weakness had always been his agility, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Nan Lihuo laughed, teasing, “You old fellow, you’re shaming me!”

Nan Lihuo chuckled, producing two talismans inscribed with vermilion divine symbols on dark yellow paper from his sleeve and tossing them to Li Qingshan.

“This is the [Earth-Walking Evasion Talisman]—it lets you tunnel underground for forty miles.”

“For escaping,”

Then Nan Lihuo handed one to Ogre as well.

Li Che accepted it without hesitation.

The moment he took the talisman, warmth kindled on his brow as his divine technique, [Star Plucking Gaze], radiated heat.

Then, the method for crafting the talisman perfectly imprinted itself in Li Che’s mind.

He even realized that if he chose, he could use [Painted Immortal] Dao Fruits and Pure Heart Divine Essence as the canvas for his talismans.

“That would work too?”

A smile tugged at Li Che’s heart.

This presented a chance for deeper study.

He recalled how Shangguan Qinghong had once used divine talismans to enhance the power of crossbows…

If refined, divine talismans might even significantly boost woodworking techniques, potentially solving various challenges.

“Let’s move out,” declared Nan Lihuo.

Nan Lihuo shot a glance at Ogre.

Then, with a swift shake of his broad sleeves, he pulled a White Fox Mask over his face; combined with his flowing white hair, he looked like an ethereal white fox in the snow.

Buzz…

Nan Lihuo immediately activated the Evasion Talisman, transforming into a stream of earthen light that merged with the ground as he vanished far beyond Golden Light Peak.

Li Qingshan glanced at Li Che, chuckled, donned a Cat Face Mask, and activated an Evasion Talisman as well.

That Evasion Talisman wasn’t cheap—Nan Lihuo had invested heavily in it to kill Wen Longshan!

Watching the two vanish using their talismans.

Li Che also tested the power of the Evasion Talisman.

A dragging force enveloped him, as if a ring of earthen divine energy propelled him swiftly through the soil.

It wasn’t slow at all—it felt like speeding in a fast car.

For Li Che, it was, at least, quite convenient.

……

……

……

Atop Golden Light Peak.

Three prodigies from Daocheng—two boys and one girl—had arrived. One of them was the chubby little fellow who always hung around Taoist Wang Kuyu.

The other two, both from Qianyuan Main Sect,

were a boy and a girl, each seven years old.

The three prodigies exuded qi that soared over a hundred feet—they embodied the essence of Qianyuan Main Sect!

Hai Chaosheng stood among the true prodigies of the Jin Guang Branch.

Although he had lost his true disciple status, Elder Zhang Qingzheng still had him join the exchange.

It was a friendly exchange between the prodigies of Daocheng Qianyuan Main Sect and those of its branch.

Hai Chaosheng’s eyes grew serious. He had always been confident—perhaps even conceited—about his talent, until he met Li Nuǎnxi…

He was utterly overshadowed, his confidence shattered.

And now, with Daocheng Main Sect present, three prodigies had appeared.

Hai Chaosheng felt unprecedented pressure, yet inside he was determined to prove himself.

He wasn’t willing to yield to XiXi—what of it if she was a prodigy?

Just because she was talented… does that give her the right to do whatever she pleases?

Why should she be everyone’s favorite?

Everyone adored XiXi!

Whether it was the Sect Leader, Elder Zhu Hongdou, Elder Li Qingshan, or even the grumpy Elder Zhang Qingzheng…

they all liked XiXi!

Hai Chaosheng was indignant!

Today’s exchange with the prodigies and adept youngsters of Daocheng Qianyuan Main Sect was his chance to prove himself.

When Elder Zhang Qingzheng announced the start of the first round,

a seven-year-old refined prodigy from the Daocheng side stepped forward with a remarkably mature demeanor.

“Daocheng Qianyuan Main Sect, Zhong Liushou—ranked 37th on the Daocheng Prodigy List… I’ve come to meet the geniuses of your branch,”

The soft voice came from a boy dressed in splendid brocade.

Hai Chaosheng immediately stepped forward, his eyes blazing with determination.

“Jingguang City, Jin Guang Branch, Hai Chaosheng!”

“Please enlighten me!”

Hai Chaosheng, also clad in splendid attire, and the other youth—with hair flying wildly—seemed to be evenly matched.

Zhong Liushou regarded Hai Chaosheng coolly. “An upper-tier adept? Not even a prodigy… Let’s have your Jin Guang Branch’s reputed prodigy—the one who made it onto the Daocheng Prodigy List—face off in battle.”

“You don’t deserve it,”

Hai Chaosheng’s face flushed bright red!

“You look down on people, don’t you?” he fumed.

Hai Chaosheng—the cherished prodigy of the Hai Family—had never been treated like this!

“If you wish to face our Jin Guang Branch prodigy, you’ll have to beat me first,”

“If you can’t even defeat me… what makes you think you deserve it?” retorted Hai Chaosheng.

With a determined grip, a humming longsword fell into Hai Chaosheng’s hand.

“Bold of you,” Zhong Liushou laughed.

He squinted at Hai Chaosheng, clearly amused by his fighting spirit.

Rolling up his sleeves, Zhong Liushou faced the armed Hai Chaosheng barehanded.

In the distance.

XiXi, who had planned to rush out and fight, was held back by Gongyang Xiu and Gong Yuanliang.

At that moment, XiXi, seated atop a mechanical crane, listened intently and kept nodding as Hai Chaosheng spoke enticingly.

“Not bad, not bad—if they can’t beat Hai Chaosheng, they don’t deserve to face XiXi!”

Gong Yuanliang and Gongyang Xiu exchanged glances, their eyes heavy with concern.

“This Hai Chaosheng is despicable!” one of them exclaimed.

“Using such tactics against them…”

“…to vie for favor!”

“Damn it! You scoundrel!”

Gong Yuanliang pounded his chest, lamenting that he shouldn’t have held XiXi back—he should have charged forward without hesitation.

Such bold words should have come from him!

Meanwhile, Gongyang Xiu scratched his head.

They were all so eloquent, unlike him, who merely trailed behind XiXi, offering simple, straightforward praise.

On the field, the children’s emotions were as unpredictable as they were mysterious.

Yet, without a doubt, the two directly confronting each other on the plaza were the center of attention.

The prodigy from Daocheng versus Hai Chaosheng, the genius adept of Jin Guang Mansion.

There was no doubt that a prodigy’s talent surpassed that of an adept.

But could an adept of the same age outshine a prodigy?

This had certainly piqued everyone’s curiosity.

Bang—!

A burst of qi exploded as Hai Chaosheng’s fighting spirit blazed, his blood energy surging.

He had reached the level of Three-Stage Blood Exchange!

After a year of rigorous training, he had advanced to Two-Stage Blood Exchange!

But most importantly, his divine essence had grown immensely potent!

He had even achieved the level of Yangxing Ruhe!

Buzz—

Sword light streamed downward, clanging melodiously across the plaza.

An ultimate technique unleashed by Hai Chaosheng—a true masterpiece from Flowing Sword Peak!

The Lu Xuan Sword Scripture!

A modest version of the Lu Xuan Sword Scripture!

This was the foundation of Hai Chaosheng’s confidence!

He seemed as if he were born for the sword.

Humming—!

The sound of his sword chanting echoed across the plaza, and the brilliant sword light seemed to shatter snowflakes into pieces!

Hai Chaosheng relentlessly swung his sword forward in an assault, closing off every escape route for Zhong Liushou!

For Zhong Liushou to withstand his sword directly was no easy feat!

Zhong Liushou squinted, smiled coolly, and took a decisive step forward; suddenly, torrents of qi and blood erupted from both his arms, converging into two raging, blood-red tigers!

The Masterful Fist Technique!

Masterful?!

Hai Chaosheng’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t give up; his sword light swept in a powerful arc as he forced it downward.

Zhong Liushou burst into laughter, relentlessly slamming his fists, shattering the brilliant sword light with each blow.

Hai Chaosheng realized his sword couldn’t penetrate within a five-meter radius of Zhong Liushou.

His face turned grim!

But he gritted his teeth and refused to relent!

Then—!

Zhong Liushou’s spine jolted as if a ferocious dragon had roared through him; in an instant, his speed surged and he delivered a crushing punch!

Hai Chaosheng’s expression turned ashen as he was forced to defend with his sword.

Zhong Liushou’s punch pounded heavily upon the divine sword weapon guarding Hai Chaosheng’s chest.

The Nine Luminary Divine Weapons were bent under the blow, striking Hai Chaosheng in the chest…

Hai Chaosheng only heard the cracking of his chest bones as searing pain and the force of the punch surged through him, leaving him with a taste of earth.

He staggered backward in a relentless, thudding retreat.

He wanted to swing his sword, but…

he could no longer muster the strength to do so.

Zhong Liushou’s fists, like charging blood-red tigers, launched a relentless assault, pounding him as if two vibrant tigers were on the attack!

After one burst, another relentlessly followed!

Chest, head, shoulders…

Hai Chaosheng didn’t even get a chance to swing his sword!

The gap in skill was simply insurmountable!

Pfft, pfft, pfft!

Hai Chaosheng kept spurting blood, being battered into a retreat, barely able to catch his breath!

Zhong Liushou grew more exhilarated with each blow, even letting out a piercing shriek.

Thud—

His intertwined fists swung down in unison.

Hai Chaosheng’s body was suddenly flung sideways.

He crashed violently onto the ground, leaving a long, narrow trail of blood on the plaza floor!

Zhong Liushou’s fists surged with a tiger-head-shaped blood mist, like raging, red flames.

“An upper-tier adept is, after all, just an upper-tier adept… nothing more,”

Zhong Liushou said coolly.

“Pathetic.”

He raised his gaze, fixing it on XiXi sitting atop the mechanical crane, and slowly raised his fist.

“You…”

But just as Zhong Liushou was about to speak,

his words faltered.

His gaze fixed on Hai Chaosheng, who staggered to his feet, clinging to his sword.

Hai Chaosheng’s mouth and nose dripped with blood, and his eyes nearly refused to open.

Rib after rib in his chest was broken, yet he refused to admit defeat.

Hai Chaosheng had always believed he was a genius, destined to be the pride of the Hai Family…

How could he not even last the time it takes for an incense stick to burn?

“I… I haven’t lost yet…”

Hai Chaosheng opened his mouth as blood dripped down, his heavy breaths like bellows.

He suddenly lifted his head, his eyes still burning with fighting spirit.

Yet even as his fighting spirit blazed, huge tears streamed from his swollen eyes, splattering onto the ground in shimmering droplets.

To everyone’s eyes, all that mattered was XiXi…

Hai Chaosheng…

had once shone brilliantly!

He was defiant!

Even if he couldn’t win, he refused to be defeated so disgracefully!

XiXi, perched atop the mechanical crane, stared wide-eyed, her lips pressed in quiet contemplation, lost in thought.

Zhong Liushou looked at Hai Chaosheng in astonishment, then suddenly burst into a derisive laugh.

“It’s nothing but pointless stubbornness. Crying? If tears were useful, what would be the point of talent?”

“Self-emotional crying is utterly meaningless!”

Zhong Liushou growled low.

Thud—

He stomped down, raised his fists, and roared like a tiger!

He charged ferociously toward Hai Chaosheng!

At that moment, Hai Chaosheng could barely stand—did he really plan to counterattack?

What could he possibly fight back with?

“Kneel down!”

Hai Chaosheng stubbornly tried to raise his sword.

But…

he had no strength left.

Just holding the sword had drained all his energy.

He could only stare intently,

waiting for Zhong Liushou’s fist to send him flying.

Bang—!!!

A dull thud echoed!

A small figure suddenly appeared in front of Hai Chaosheng.

Zhong Liushou’s tiger-headed fists were unexpectedly gripped by that tiny body!

XiXi’s hair flew wildly, her big eyes shining brightly.

Zhong Liushou looked down at the little one—one head shorter than him—who, using nothing but sheer physical strength, managed to lock his fists.

His eyes narrowed!

“You…”

XiXi called out sharply as a surge of qi erupted from her four-year-old frame!

Zhong Liushou felt the overwhelming force hit him, his fists flung aside as they were seized.

The little one was hurled into the air in a half arc and slammed violently onto the ground.

XiXi clapped her hands and said in a babyish voice,

“Hai Chaosheng speaks so nicely.”

“From now on, Emperor XiXi will have his back!”

After saying that, XiXi stepped forward, her qi surging in waves as a dull sound resonated.

Five booming roars followed in succession!

Five-Stage Blood Exchange!

Zhong Liushou’s eye twitched.

Five-Stage Blood Exchange?!

What is this…

Four years old?!

Hai Chaosheng, tears in his eyes, trembled as he clutched his sword.

He gazed at the little figure standing before him…

listening to that forceful, babyish voice echoing across the plaza.

An unprecedented sense of security welled up from deep within him.

He felt as if…

his vision grew hazy.

Seven-thousand-word chapter! It’s the last day—please vote, recommend, and keep reading! Let’s cheer for Emperor XiXi! Everyone, keep the momentum going; even Old Li needs some reassurance!