Chapter 163: The Surge of Divine Might

Boom!

A massive wave suddenly surged up, crashing violently against the cliffside and raising a towering wall of white water dozens of feet high.

The normally serene winter current of the Jiulong River erupted in agitation.

It even whipped up colossal surges that battered the reef rocks.

This sudden upheaval naturally caught the attention of many.

The divine aura in the air began to boil—a force unleashed from the explosive waters of the Jiulong River, nurtured in the Bizarre Temple of the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince!

“The waves are rising! How can this be possible?”

Shangguan Qinghong and Gong Yunli pressed close to the carved wooden window and peered outside, witnessing the river roaring in fury!

It was as if a colossal beast lurked beneath the current, forcefully colliding with the cliffside reefs and sending tremors throughout the treasure pavilion!

Wave after wave, even more terrifying than the tumult during Li Che’s previous carving of the Third Prince’s statue!

The drifting snow seemed to vanish in an instant, melting into a cascade of splattering raindrops.

Raindrops exploded upon the river’s surface, echoing like a barrage of explosive blasts!

The surface of the Jiulong River branch in the Inner City instantly dropped several meters!

It was as if from the far end of the river a giant beast gulped huge quantities of water, swallowing half the surge before spitting it back out!

“That doesn’t make sense! Li Che’s current carving… isn’t even of the Third Prince’s statue?!” Gong Yunli muttered in confusion.

If it isn’t the Third Prince’s statue, then what could have triggered the explosive divine aura of the Third Prince within the Jiulong River?

It’s illogical!

Her mind struggled to process the unfolding events.

Shangguan Qinghong was equally baffled.

The river slammed into the cliffside reefs, and in an instant, the surging waves rose higher than the treasure pavilion itself.

It was like an endless curtain of water, ceaselessly crashing over everything!

The potent divine aura spread intricately throughout the examination chamber!

It was overwhelming!

Monitor narrowed his eyes as the erhu at his waist trembled, its strings faintly strummed by an unseen force.

In Daocheng, Deputy Monitor Lu Yao fixed his steely gaze on the wooden carving crafted by Li Che.

The only explanation was that Li Che’s wooden statue had stirred the divine fury of the Third Prince in the Jiulong River!

Moreover, Li Che had merely carved the outline of a statue; yet even the three temple spirit statues he fashioned had awakened divine energy!

Faint spectral images, exuding the oppressive aura of temple spirits, hovered behind the three statues.

“That is…”

Monitor stood up, stroking his beard as his eyes glittered with recognition.

Though it was just an outline, it seemed to stir a long-forgotten memory in him.

Li Che, however, remained unfazed.

His carving knife danced continuously in his hands. Seated calmly, Li Che concentrated his spirit and essence, flawlessly executing the Thousand-Hand Divine Eagle Technique.

The masterful Thousand-Hand Divine Eagle Technique was not only a weapon of devastation,

its artistry radiating an elegant brilliance.

The knife effortlessly sliced through the spirit wood, sending fragments flying in a burst of qi and blood. Every flick of his hand made the tool dance with ingenious precision, orchestrating a mesmerizing, dreamlike display.

Li Che’s eyes fluttered as vivid images of his past life’s renown—the unforgettable legends of his childhood—flashed through his mind!

Every detail, from the strands of a monkey’s hair to the golden hoops on the Hunyuan staff, was intricately rendered.

Billowing cloaks, cloud-like strides, and shoes that shattered the statue’s facade leaped vividly into life!

When the final stroke was made,

it felt as though the entire world had fallen silent.

A potent divine aura surged from the statue, spreading like invisible ripples.

The pervasive divine energy of the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince temple spirit coalesced into a tangible force, enveloping Li Che’s carved masterpiece and radiating outward.

Crack—crack—crack—

Three explosive blasts rang out!

The three temple spirit statues extracted by Lu Yao each sparked a spectral image, as if each had been struck by a heavy blow.

They shattered into a mist of divine energy, dissipating into the air.

Cracks marred the three statues, and they fell into a deep, final silence.

For a moment,

the entire examination chamber was plunged into profound silence.

In the distance, the young descendant of the Tang Clan, Tang Ren, stood with his mouth agape and eyes wide, utterly astonished.

That was unbelievably intense!

It even showcased some ingenious mechanical art!

It was nothing short of inspirational for us!

Lu Yao stared in shock at the shattered temple spirit statues—his own handiwork, though done casually, yet of undeniable quality.

They even radiated roughly sixty to seventy percent of true temple spirit charm…

After Li Che’s carving, it seemed as if the statue itself had experienced a fierce, fluctuating surge of divine emotion—as though it had been struck by the very spirit it represented.

Could it be that these three temple spirits had truly been struck in the past?

Lu Yao’s expression changed subtly.

For generations, the Imperial Court had relentlessly studied the mysteries of the Bizarre Temple.

From bygone dynasties to even earlier eras, experts had delved into the enigmas of the nascent Bizarre Temple.

They even speculated about possible connections between the temple and its resident spirits…

and reached the conclusion that the temple spirits were inevitably interconnected!

Could it be that Li Che’s current carving had actually been imprinted with the power of the temple spirit from his three statues?

There was no time for further speculation.

Monitor clapped his hands lightly, signaling his approval.

“Not bad, very impressive,” he remarked.

“A temple spirit carved from the Fiery-Eyed Astonishing Spirit Ape? Li Che, is this your own imagination or did you base it on something?”

Monitor inquired.

At that moment, Lu Yao’s gaze fixed on Li Che’s newly carved Seven-Origin Divine Statue.

Yes, it’s the Seven-Origin Divine Statue!

Carving a Seven-Origin Divine Statue was a task reserved for top-tier officials.

In fact, Li Che’s skill was more than sufficient to earn him the rank of a Second-Class Chief Minister.

However, Lu Yao wasn’t concerned with titles; his focus was entirely on Li Che’s freshly carved statue.

At Monitor’s query, Li Che paused before nodding. “A few days ago, while visiting the Fiery-Eyed Astonishing Spirit Ape Bizarre Temple, I experienced a stirring with a temple spirit whose image was indelibly etched in my heart. I carved it out just now.”

Monitor squinted, his face still beaming with a gentle smile.

Lu Yao, meanwhile, grew serious, leaning in intently to scrutinize every detail.

Finally, as if recalling something, his pupils narrowed slightly, and he stepped back to glance at Monitor.

Monitor nodded imperceptibly.

Lu Yao then turned his gaze back to Li Che, his eyes alight with a fiery intensity.

“This is a natural gift—a truly astonishing talent in wooden carving, Master Li,” he proclaimed.

“Having met all three assessment criteria, Master Li has been promoted to Second-Class Chief Minister of the Imperial Watch, enjoying all the privileges of that rank,” announced Lu Yao.

“Your monthly stipend now includes a Jiuyue Divine Crystal, you’ll receive an Eight-Poles Spirit Wood resource every six months, and a copy of ‘Thousand-Hand Divine Eagle Technique (Volume II)’ is provided!”

Lu Yao declared these terms solemnly.

He then retrieved Li Che’s Third-Class Chief Minister Token and handed him a pre-prepared Second-Class Chief Minister Token, upon which Li Che was to imprint his divine perception.

These tokens had been arranged well in advance—contingent on Li Che passing the Second-Class assessment; if he failed, the token would become void.

“Not bad. For Li to reach Second-Class in just a year means that achieving First-Class, or even Special Minister, is well within his grasp,” Lu Yao remarked, his expression softening.

He patted Li Che’s shoulder, clearly optimistic about his future.

To Lu Yao, Li Che was only in his twenties—a young man with a long journey ahead.

Most importantly, Li Che had managed to carve such a magnificent temple spirit statue!

Lu Yao had now recognized something…

This temple spirit statue…

It bore a striking resemblance to the famed temple spirit of Qitian Temple—the once unrivaled number one divine cult of the world!

But Qitian Temple had long faded into obscurity, and the temple spirit had since receded into Qitian City, rarely seen by anyone.

However, records within the Daocheng Imperial Watch recalled the legend, leaving Lu Yao with a faint memory.

Still, Lu Yao was more astonished that Li Che could carve such a temple spirit statue!

After all…

the higher the temple spirit’s stature, the more elusive its manifestation in carving!

Though theoretically a master carver of high rank might capture a high-level temple spirit,

often even the most skilled struggled to achieve it.

For such a vision rarely resided in their minds,

and even when faced with the temple spirit, the image would vanish completely as soon as they began to carve.

Often, summoning the proper divine connection was essential before carving a high-ranking temple spirit.

Clearly, Li Che’s ability to perceive the presence of the ‘Qitian’ temple spirit through an Eight-Poles Spirit Ape Bizarre Temple was extraordinary—a moment of immense significance!

This was an exceptional talent. In the future, after conquering Qitian City and eliminating its demonic deities, a woodcarver like Li Che—one who could resonate with the Qitian temple spirit—would play a pivotal role in reclaiming and reshaping the city.

Of course, even though the Great Jing Court and numerous divine sects were scheming, the matter remained a distant prospect—only the heads of the major sects could ever hope to grasp its deeper intricacies.

After all, the transformations wrought by the demonic deities feeding off Qitian Bizarre Temple’s divine energy were far from trivial.

Lu Yao had only heard whispers of it, and he considered a woodcarver with a connection to the Qitian spirit like Li Che exceedingly rare.

“Li, would you be interested in advancing your career in Daocheng?”

“Daocheng is far more developed than Jingguang City; its cultivation conditions and access to temple spirits far surpass those of Jingguang City.”

Lu Yao began inviting Li Che, intent on poaching him.

Monitor eyed Lu Yao skeptically. “This isn’t the way, Lu—digging away right in front of me, especially when the city’s Monitor isn’t around?” he chided.

Yet, after a moment’s thought, Monitor sighed without further comment.

Li Che did not outright reject Lu Yao’s offer.

After all, moving to Daocheng in the future might very well become a reality.

XiXi, blessed with prodigy talent, might soon outgrow the nurturing and educational resources of Jingguang City after just a few more years of cultivation.

By then, XiXi might have to head to the main gate of the Qianyuan Divine Sect in Daocheng.

This was, in fact, already arranged for XiXi by Nan Lihuo.

Once XiXi turned seven, she would be set to challenge the Qianyuan Main Sect.

Nan Lihuo had even begun imploring Wang Kuyu to see if she could be recruited under the sect leader of the Qianyuan Main Sect.

Rumor had it that the sect leader was even seeking one final disciple.

XiXi still stood a chance.

“I might move to Daocheng someday, but for now my wife and daughter remain here—my daughter has even joined the Jingguang Branch under its sect leader. If she later enters the Main Sect for cultivation, our entire family will relocate.”

“At that time, I’ll need your support, Lu,” Li Che said with a respectful bow.

Li Che clasped his fists in greeting.

At his words, Lu Yao’s face lit up with a smile—it was clear he saw great potential!

“Alright, alright. Once in Daocheng, contact me directly at the Imperial Watch,” Lu Yao replied warmly.

“Now that matters are settled, let’s go see how Little Prince and that Grandmaster fared with their impressive mountain visit,” Monitor commented.

At once, Li Che feigned surprise, “Ah? The Grandmaster’s mountain visit?”

Lu Yao chuckled and explained to Li Che.

“Could it be that the Little Prince is after my daughter?” Li Che asked, worry evident in his voice.

Lu Yao hesitated for a moment before realizing that this was an excellent opportunity to win favor.

“Then, Li, why not join us? Let’s go take a look together,” he suggested.

“And if any disputes arise, I can step in to mediate,” he added confidently.

Lu Yao spoke with unyielding self-assurance.

Li Che’s heart stirred, and he immediately clasped his fists in gratitude.

Lu Yao smiled, swept his sleeve aside, and suddenly an overwhelming divine aura burst forth—its potent pressure sending chills down Li Che’s spine.

Within his chest, his myriad Dao Fruits thumped in rapid rhythm.

Inside his Mud Pellet, his Unsullied Heart Foundation vibrated with utmost intensity.

Incredible!

Absolutely formidable!

The Deputy Monitor from Daocheng, Lu Yao, was astoundingly powerful—surpassing even Monitor!

Li Che’s heart pounded. Could it be… a Divine Essence Realized?

He hadn’t noticed before, but when Lu Yao unleashed his divine aura, it roared like a reawakened tiger, exuding awe-inspiring pressure.

Not even Monitor could impose such overwhelming dominance on Li Che now.

There was no doubt—it was a higher realm of Divine Essence Realized!

No wonder Lu Yao was so confident—a Divine Essence Realized in Jingguang City indeed held the power to sway the situation!

A shadow passed over Li Che’s heart.

The number of experts in Jingguang City was growing…

Grandmasters and Divine Essence Realized—these were challenges Li Che was beginning to find hard to counter.

Even the observant prodigy Tang Ren was swept up by Lu Yao’s swirling aura, lifting the three of them into the air as they raced toward Golden Light Peak.

Even with two companions, Lu Yao showed no sign of strain.

Monitor pursued them while playing his erhu.

The group eventually hovered above the dense forest outside Golden Light Peak, gazing into the distance.

A hundred-zhang was nothing for Li Che at his level, so he chose not to observe through XiXi’s Feilei Chess Piece.

His expression grew grave.

He clearly saw the situation unfolding on the plaza atop Golden Light Peak…

A look of intense determination surged in his eyes.

……

……

Atop the plaza on Golden Light Peak.

The aura of One-Armed Grandmaster Xue Dufu clashed with that of the Divine Essence Realized for a long while.

The two stood in stalemate.

It was the collision of the Grandmaster’s martial will against the oppressive force of divine rank!

Like raging flames meeting an onslaught of icy torrents.

The clash of ice and fire emitted a series of crackling shockwaves.

Swirling currents roiled over the plaza as turbulent vortices disturbed the peace.

The Grandmaster followed the path of qi-blood martial cultivation, a practice passed down through the ages on this continent.

In contrast, the Divine Essence Technique—born from the temple spirit of the Bizarre Temple—allowed cultivators to harness the ubiquitous divine energy of the heavens and earth!

Though these two systems differed, both became fearsomely potent at advanced levels!

Xue Dufu refrained from striking; instead, he gripped the hatchet at his waist as his martial will blazed fiercely.

His eyes erupted with an extraordinarily radiant golden light!

His body hummed with energy and surged with qi and blood, like a volcano erupting in flames.

The Grandmaster’s body was honed to perfection; even though Xue Dufu, with his missing arm, had long healed, his form betrayed no hint of his vital energy.

He resembled a human nuclear bomb, poised to unleash devastating power.

Meanwhile, the Taoist warrior Wang Kuyu, appearing mid-air, seemed ethereal and less intense than Xue Dufu.

A Divine Essence Golden Pill floated, its dazzling brilliance like the scorching sun.

Inside the pill, it appeared a temple spirit sat in meditation, eyes closed; yet once opened…

it would unleash a torrent of thunderous power!

Little Prince Ji Haihui, his eyes glittering, finally ascended step by step from the foot of the mountain to the plaza atop the peak.

Six armored soldiers in black guarded him, ensuring his safety.

They shielded him from the lingering shockwaves of the clash between the Grandmaster and the Divine Essence Realized.

These six warriors were immensely skilled, with piercing gazes and concentrated qi and blood.

They were an elite squad under Ji Mo Li—not to be underestimated.

Elsewhere,

Nan Lihuo and his group shielded prodigies like XiXi, deflecting the residual force from the clash between the Grandmaster and the Divine Essence Realized.

Fortunately, it was only a clash of auras, not a full-scale battle.

“Alright, Old Xue, we’re here for a mountain visit, not to bully you…”

The Little Prince raised his hand to gently quiet them.

Xue Dufu shot a glance at the Little Prince and, without a word, reined in his martial will.

He had been dispatched by the Prince to protect his entry into Jingguang Mansion and complete the temple spirit resonance—he wouldn’t let martial ambition cause complications.

Xue Dufu subdued his domineering martial will, calming the trembling mountain flora as the turbulent air gradually dissipated.

Wang Kuyu, not being belligerent by nature, also allowed his divine energy to fade, his golden pill reverting to a Mud Pellet.

“Little Prince, you truly live up to being the son of King Ping Luan—utterly unreasonable! To send a Grandmaster charging with martial will against Golden Light Peak, is that meant to target the harmless prodigies there?”

At last, Nan Lihuo spoke.

His face remained cold.

Staring at Little Prince Ji Haihui, his eyes betrayed an unmistakable murderous intent.

Su Huai Li, a disciple of Ji Mo Li, aimed to kill; hence his hostility toward Ji Mo Li’s offspring was even stronger.

Little Prince Ji Haihui seemed to sense this, looking up at Nan Lihuo, his youthful face showing an unexpected maturity.

“Just a squirming maggot,” he remarked coolly.

Ji Haihui said nonchalantly.

It appeared he knew a few secrets.

After his words fell silent,

Li Qingshan glared, his fists clenched, as countless thunderous strikes exploded like a web across Golden Light Peak!

Previously, Li Qingshan had doubted Nan Lihuo, suspecting him of betraying and joining the Corpse God Sect, but it turned out Nan Lihuo hadn’t done such a thing.

As a newly appointed elder of the Enforcement Hall in the Jingguang Branch, Li Qingshan defended his sect leader without reservation!

Nan Lihuo’s face remained icy,

and he was about to speak.

Suddenly, XiXi burst forth with fiery anger, glaring at Ji Haihui, “You’d better not speak ill of my sect master!”

Ji Haihui’s gaze shifted instantly, landing on XiXi.

His uncanny purple eyes suddenly shimmered with brilliance.

Looking at XiXi, Ji Haihui’s eyes narrowed slightly…

for he saw a soaring purple qi dragon coiled around her small form.

“How is that possible?”

“You, little miss, have a divine talent that rivals mine?”

“After all, I carry the blood of my father and mother!”

“And you, just a local prodigy from Jingguang City, can reach such a level?”

Ji Haihui’s purple eyes scrutinized XiXi’s prodigious talent, and comparing it to his own stirred a flicker of discontent.

He also took note of the chubby kid and the stunning Yun’e by her side.

Both possessed high divine talent, yet in his eyes, they paled in comparison to him.

“So, you are Li Nuǎnxi?”

Ji Haihui looked at XiXi, his eerie purple gaze fixed as he said,

“I’m not inclined to answer you, you foul-mouthed brat. You’d best apologize to my sect master!”

XiXi suddenly furrowed her brows and clutched her trembling arm.

At the same time, she puffed out her chest—and her little belly.

She showed no fear of Ji Haihui’s domineering presence.

The chubby kid, Zhou Peng, tried to hold XiXi back but was a beat too slow.

Yun’e stepped forward, standing by XiXi’s side.

Whatever XiXi did, she would support her without question.

Nan Lihuo, watching XiXi come forward for support, softened, his heart warming with joy.

He stepped forward and shielded XiXi.

After all, as Ji Mo Li’s son, Ji Haihui had many tricks up his sleeve; if he fixed his sights on XiXi, it would undoubtedly spell trouble.

Ji Haihui merely smiled and waved at Nan Lihuo, “Sect Master Nan, rest assured—I won’t stoop to par with some little girl.”

“Since I came for this mountain visit, I know the rules. With the temple spirit resonance about to commence, I only want to test the caliber of my rivals,” he added with a grin.

Ji Haihui laughed as he spoke.

His eerie purple eyes flickered eagerly as he stared at XiXi, “Your name is Li Nuǎnxi, isn’t it?”

“If it means I must apologize to your sect master… it’s not out of the question…”

“After all, my father always taught me that a true leader rules with reason.”

“So, how about this: I suppress my own realm and we spar. If you defeat me, I’ll apologize to your sect master for my earlier words.”

XiXi’s adorable eyes squinted as she crossed her arms and said, “Daddy always told me to be cautious in the world. What if I lose?”

“If you lose, then you shall be my servant.”

With his hands clasped behind his back and his purple eyes flickering mystically in the wind and snow, Ji Haihui replied with a faint smile.

“Bah—!”

“You shameless wretch!”

“You’re nothing but that yellow-haired brat your father never stops muttering about! Bah, bah, bah!”

Yet XiXi did not, as Ji Haihui had expected, become enraged and agree to fight.

Instead, she spat several times, her eyes showing clear disdain.

“You’re even more annoying than the chubby kid,” she declared.

The chubby kid, Zhou Peng, was left speechless.

Among the prodigies, Lu Chi exhaled in relief and smiled inwardly; it was rare for XiXi not to mention him as an example.

“Seems you’re no match after all…”

Ji Haihui sighed.

XiXi continued to steady her trembling arm, as if the hidden ‘little gun’ within had been provoked.

“If we’re to spar, let it be fair!”

“How old are you and what is your cultivation level?”

XiXi replied in a cute, babyish tone.

Ji Haihui’s eyes sparkled as he grinned, “Ji Haihui, five years old, with Xuanmai level.”

He made no effort to hide his cultivation level, displaying it proudly.

Atop the plaza on Golden Light Peak.

Many gasped in shock.

“Five years old with Xuanmai?!”

Truly befitting a disciple of King Ping Luan’s Ji Mo Li!

“As for nurturing one’s nature, it could forge a divine foundation, but my father instructed us to wait—until after this temple spirit resonance and receiving the Third Prince’s legacy, then to forge the Third Prince Divine Foundation.”

“Thus, for now, it is only the peak of Yangxing Ruhe.”

Ji Haihui remarked lightly, gazing at XiXi with a half-smile.

XiXi’s eyes twirled as she compared her cultivation with Ji Haihui’s.

The realms of Blood Exchange and Xuanmai seemed rather challenging.

Daddy said the gap was too wide—better not to fight…

Master Niu Niu also advised that, given the disparity, a sneak attack would be preferable.

But now, in broad daylight with everyone watching, a sneak attack wouldn’t work.

Then again, could her fireworks at maximum power prevail?

XiXi recalled Master Niu Niu saying that when her fireworks reached peak power, even a grandmaster would be stripped of his layers…

So, she couldn’t help but feel tempted—should she give it a try?

Mostly, XiXi was just annoyed with that arrogant purple-eyed boy—how dare he be so cocky?

Not even the Great Emperor XiXi was that conceited!

Even the little ‘gun’ in her arm was displeased with him!

But XiXi intended to remain steady!

“I, XiXi, am four years old—just beginning in Blood Exchange and Yangxing Ruhe. How dare you bully someone smaller?”

XiXi declared proudly.

Below,

Zhong Liuxiu, recently battered by XiXi, hung his head in shame.

Ji Haihui laughed.

“I’m not bullying you. With your Blood Exchange level, I’ll have Old Xue help suppress my power to match yours so we can fight on equal terms. How’s that?”

Ji Haihui fixed his gaze on XiXi; her abundant divine aura, coalescing into a dragon-like form, rivaled his own innate talent and imposed immense pressure on him.

He had a premonition that this little girl would become his greatest rival in the temple spirit resonance tournament.

His dragon-like purple eyes wouldn’t be mistaken!

Thus, he was eager to battle XiXi…

If only he could defeat her…

his dragon-like purple gaze would absorb part of her purple qi!

His innate talent would soar even higher!

The temple spirit resonance tournament… would merely be a chance to eliminate a formidable rival!

His mountain visit—his purpose for the pilgrimage…

wasn’t it exactly that?

Ji Haihui even planned to challenge these prodigies one by one, siphoning a bit of their purple qi to enhance his own talent.

Unfortunately, only prodigies with divine purple qi talent on par with his could trigger the full effect of his dragon-like purple eyes.

Hearing Ji Haihui’s words, XiXi found herself surprisingly tempted…

After all, as a fellow practitioner of Blood Exchange, XiXi the Great Emperor feared no one…

At her level, XiXi exuded confidence.

She blinked playfully.

Meanwhile, Ji Haihui turned to look at Grandmaster Xue Dufu by his side.

“Old Xue, help me,” he commanded.

Xue Dufu’s expression changed slightly, “Little Prince… are you sure about this?”

With his eerie purple eyes locked on Xue Dufu, Ji Haihui retorted, “What’s the matter? Since we’ve come on this pilgrimage, we must demonstrate sincerity. Do you really think I’ll lose?”

Feeling the domineering aura emanating from the Little Prince,

Xue Dufu understood that Ji Haihui’s mind was made up.

He said no more, for he vaguely recognized the secret behind the Little Prince’s purple eyes.

“Little Prince, you have it coming,” he murmured.

In the next moment, Xue Dufu’s one-armed flick struck Ji Haihui, hitting several vital points in quick succession.

Ji Haihui’s cultivation immediately plummeted, falling to the Blood Exchange realm.

Ji Haihui then turned to look at XiXi.

He slowly moved to the center of the plaza and gradually spread his arms wide.

“Now, shall we battle?”

“Li Nuǎnxi.”

Due to my child’s recent illness, updates might be unstable for a few days—but they will resume steadily. 7,000 words. Please support with monthly votes, recommendations, and follows! Old Li is doing his best—keep reading!