Chapter 211: Thunder Alley in Daocheng

Qianyuan Daocheng, Tinglei Alley.

Inside the Three-Open Courtyard.

Interwoven streams of qi surged like rolling waves, emitting mournful wails.

Li Che stood rooted, gripping his Xuanjin Eight-Treasure Thunder Dragon Staff—a top-grade divine weapon from the Sixfold ranked weapons he had nearly half his fortune spent on at the Daocheng Imperial Watch…

It vibrated and quivered at an incredible speed, images overlapping.

A streak of divine guts, sinuous as a serpentine dragon, climbed and entwined along the treasured staff, slowly coiling around the weapon refined by Vital Radiance.

Vital Radiance possesses a refining effect that washes away the impurities in divine weapons.

Previously, his Tiger-Leopard Thunder Split Gold Spear had been refined with Vital Radiance, advancing from a Sevenfold Divine Weapon to Sixfold rank.

In the center of the courtyard, Li Che stood surrounded by swirling qi, like an ever-changing vortex.

His sinews crackled, and the divine guts wound from the staff slithered through his meridians like a raging dragon.

Martial Saint Technique—Hun Yuan Qi Tian Gun!

At last, Li Che perfected his finishing move: the Qi Tian One Staff!

This signified his transition from a great achiever to a master, fully grasping the true martial meaning of the Hun Yuan Qi Tian Gun!

The true essence of his third Martial Saint Technique!

Following Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant and Wanlong Fushen, he had finally mastered his third Martial Saint Technique.

He condensed a third form of divine guts.

It glowed with a gentle golden hue, clutched between his fingers and pulsing at his fingertips.

Li Che’s eyes shone as he drew a deep breath, and the surrounding qi suddenly seemed to be devoured like a whale swallowing its prey.

“Hoo——”

“Sss——”

With each long, forceful breath, as if a wild wind were drawing in and dispersing, every blade of grass in the courtyard swayed wildly.

Crash!

Inside him, blood surged like molten mercury, moving faster and faster, its heavy roar turning Li Che’s skin a fiery red!

The temperature in the whole courtyard soared, the early spring chill completely vanishing, replaced by sweltering heat like midsummer.

Countless droplets evaporated into a hazy mist that drifted about.

“Third divine guts: Dragon Elephant Tempering the Heart, Fushen Stewing the Lungs. And by refining the Hun Yuan Qi Tian Gun… it tempers the kidneys!”

After Li Che targeted his internal organs for refinement,

in an instant, his newly formed divine guts, carried along by his mercury-like blood through his meridians, penetrated his organs.

Standing firm with his staff, Li Che felt a searing pain in his kidneys—as if set ablaze—while his molten blood turned viscous like lava!

Boom——!!!

Centered on Li Che’s body, waves of scorching heat radiated outward.

His kidneys on both sides seemed to glow!

Li Che’s eyes flashed as golden flames flowed; he felt as if his strength were inexhaustible.

With a single stomp, countless shadows erupted around him in the courtyard.

It was as if he had been hit with a supercharged dose of adrenaline, his inner hormones ignited.

His kidneys transformed into two massive furnaces,

providing endless strength and endurance!

It was hard to tell how long it lasted.

Only gradually did his turbulent blood and spirit settle.

His raised fingers coalesced three types of divine guts into one singular force.

Smack——!

The brilliance of the divine guts burst forth in a dazzling display, inverting the very light itself!

The sheer power was so terrifying it seemed to tear the very air asunder in a piercing wail!

“Three strands of divine guts merged into one. I fear my divine power now rivals that of any master who has refined over thirty strands.”

“Exactly…”

Li Che’s fingers clenched as the divine guts coiled around his arm like a writhing dragon.

With a powerful punch, a phantom of the Dragon Elephant emerged, roaring like a tidal tsunami!

“I wonder how it measures up to the innate divine guts of a Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster?”

It was as if a compressed tidal wave burst forth in a relentless, roaring surge, then recoiled in a violent gust.

Li Che fell into deep thought.

A Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster had refined his own divine qi into innate divine guts through the union of man and nature!

Their quality and explosiveness far surpassed ordinary divine guts.

Li Che wasn’t sure whether his three Martial Saint Techniques, fused into one divine force, could even contest the innate power of a Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster!

Within his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit beat fiercely.

It seemed to urge him to seek out Su Huai Li.

After all, Su Huai Li was guarded by a Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster. A real fight would be a good test of his own abilities.

“I must be cautious. I need to refine the Martial Saint Techniques ‘Thousand Mountain Solitary Blade’ and ‘Lingxu Baqi Steps’ to the master level and extract their true essence to merge with the remaining divine guts, and then I can kill Su Huai Li…”

“If I’m going to kill him, it must be a guaranteed kill…”

Li Che’s eyes narrowed with murderous intent.

His desire to kill Su Huai Li remained unyielding as ever.

After all, Su Huai Li… was one of the evil of the Corpse God Sect.

“Does You Liqing even know that Su Huai Li is one of the Corpse God Sect’s villains?”

Li Che squinted his eyes.

If You Liqing knew and still protected him, then Li Che would have to question his true loyalties.

But for the most part, You Liqing likely remained unaware of Su Huai Li’s corruption—maybe he had heard rumors, yet trusted his own senses and spirit more.

At present, the aura around Su Huai Li held no trace of lifelessness or corpse energy, hardly resembling that of a Corpse God Sect villain.

That’s why You Liqing had dispatched a Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster for his protection.

“Su Huai Li… is indeed deeply concealed.”

Li Che exhaled slowly.

Even with the Cosmic Chessboard’s perception, he couldn’t detect any signs of death or corpse energy on Su Huai Li.

“However, it seems not all villains of the Corpse God Sect can hide their aura so well.”

A cold, grim smile tugged at Li Che’s lips.

Corpse God Sect…

has long been his sworn enemy.

Not to mention Demon Child; just the fact that he had slain so many of the Corpse God Sect’s experts meant they wouldn’t let him go easily.

Li Che intended to give the villains within Daocheng of the Corpse God Sect a shock.

It would also prove how much stronger he had become.

And through battle and vanquishing foes, he could advance the maturity of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

Once inside Daocheng…

Li Che had encountered too many powerful figures.

Not to mention the top-tier Pre-Heavenly Grandmasters like You Liqing and Huang Jianjiu, but also Wei He, the Commander of the Divine Guard Army, and other Pre-Heavenly masters.

All were capable of exerting immense pressure on him.

Daocheng brought together top experts from nearly all five provinces and thirty-six prefectures of Lingnan Path.

Due to the profusion of bizarre temples scattered around, divine power was immensely potent, drawing these mighty individuals here instinctively.

Moreover, with the imminent recruitment of personally transmitted disciples by the head of the Qianyuan Divine Sect,

the number of powerful beings in Daocheng far exceeded that of before.

Thus, Li Che felt an urgent need to boost his own strength.

In unfamiliar lands, only by becoming truly powerful could he gain confidence—for himself, and for his wife and daughter.

With that thought, the Dao Fruit in his chest beat fiercely, igniting his battle spirit.

Yet Li Che did not set off immediately.

Daily cultivation must not be neglected.

Inside his residence, the Painted Immortal Clones were diligently absorbing divine essence.

At present, only the startling divine essence had achieved Divine Vision by summoning the Fire-Eyed Astonished Spirit Ape Temple Spirit into the divine core.

However, for the Seven Emotions Divine Essence and even the Six Desires Divine Essence…

if he wished to step into Divine Vision, Li Che would have to visit many bizarre temples.

“Luckily… this is Daocheng. Compared to Jin Guang Mansion, there are many more bizarre temples here.”

Li Che slowly exhaled.

Yet, Daocheng’s bizarre temples fell into two categories.

One type lay within the Mountain Gate of the Orthodox Divine Sect. As Elder Jiao Shaoqiu had mentioned, the Orthodox Mountain Gate housed numerous bizarre temples.

These temples were owned and occupied by major forces.

For instance, many millennial families in Daocheng controlled bizarre temples. While they maintained order within them, they also claimed these temples as their own.

Such families benefited greatly from the temples, albeit at the risk of suppressing them.

In everyday life, these families could even fight for a share of the temple’s legacy for their descendants.

Take, for example, little Chubby Kid Zhou Peng and Yun’e from Jin Guang Mansion—both hail from millennial families with their own bizarre temples.

“Hmm, the Imperial Watch organizes temple inspections to observe the Temple Spirit… once I infiltrate one of these temples, I can leave my mark.”

“That way, I can travel back and forth between the temples freely.”

Li Che exhaled a puff of turbid air.

After planning the source of divine essence cultivation from the bizarre temples,

Li Che stretched, his restraints creaking and cracking as they shattered.

With a shudder, he brushed away the impurities from his body.

He donned his black elastic garment, then put on his mask and bamboo hat.

Crash! Spring rain shattered—Ogre unleashes!

…

…

Night fell silently before he knew it.

Stimulating the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, Li Che activated Sleeping Dragon Elephant, fully concealing his aura so that no one could detect him.

He was very confident in his Breath Convergence technique.

Besides, as the Dao Fruit matured, the effectiveness of Sleeping Dragon Elephant only grew stronger.

Misty spring rain fell gently, pattering.

The burly Li Che strode along Daocheng’s Long Street. The bamboo hat diverted the rain, which slid off like a string of pearls.

With a furrowed brow, his Star Plucking Gaze swept dynamically across the horizon.

After linking with the Cosmic Chessboard, it hovered overhead.

The Seven-Yuan Corpse Incantation Mother Seal had long been completely refined by Li Che and now obediently floated within the Cosmic Chessboard.

Unfortunately, when Li Che had slain those Sixfold Corpse God Envoys, he failed to obtain the Six-Decree Corpse Curse Seal.

Be it Yuan Jingang or those three Sixfold Corpse God Envoys bombarded by his Guanyin Lotus Main Battle Tank,

after some thought, Li Che realized

their Corpse Curse Seals were likely used for rituals to summon the Corpse God’s Will.

Thus, Li Che only possessed the Seven-Yuan Corpse Incantation Mother Seal.

“But that will have to suffice… the Seven-Yuan Corpse Incantation Seal can track down villains of the Corpse God Sect who bear the mark.”

Vroom——!

It struck his brow.

Stimulating the Seven-Yuan Corpse Incantation Mother Seal,

a vast torrent of black qi exploded outward like waves in all directions.

Within the Cosmic Chessboard, one Corpse Curse Seal after another flickered into life.

The stench of death blazed like a signal fire.

Under the gentle spring drizzle,

Li Che adjusted his bamboo hat, his massive, tower-like body suddenly accelerated, smashing through the wind and rain.

Although Daocheng appeared as a dream of prosperity, it could not hide the malice lurking beneath.

Ogre had just arrived in Daocheng without any heroic pretensions.

Yet, he was at loggerheads with the Corpse God Sect.

Apart from the Corpse God Sect, he also aimed to eradicate the creeping taint of sin in Daocheng.

…

…

As dawn broke, the faint light of early morning painted the sky; the warm night faded away.

Daocheng had already stirred into its daily bustle.

A scrivener specialized in delivering night fragrances to the Blood Wolf Gang arrived at their base, persistently knocking for a long while with no answer.

Growing impatient, the scrivener cursed that in a city as vast as Daocheng, many gangs still awaited their collection of night fragrances!

To him, time was money.

He even planned to collect a few extra buckets of night fragrance to save up enough to marry.

In Daocheng, getting by was tough, and marrying even tougher.

As the scrivener pounded vigorously, he suddenly paused when he noticed blood oozing slowly from behind the door…

Terrified, he scrambled onto a donkey cart, whipped the reins, and made a quick escape.

Moments later,

the scrivener returned with a squad of City Guard troops.

Daocheng’s Divine Guard Army was divided into several units: there were City Guards maintaining order within the city, city gate sentinels guarding the entrances, and ever-ready Divine Guard soldiers prepared to fight.

The scrivener had brought along a City Guard unit.

The squad’s captain was a master-level expert of the post-Grandmaster realm.

Upon arriving at the Blood Wolf Gang’s base, he immediately detected a dense stench of blood.

His expression shifted slightly.

“Corpse energy and death aura!”

The captain’s face went pale as he drew his long knife and kicked open the gang’s main door.

In an instant, the gruesome scene beyond the door unfolded before his eyes.

Corpse bodies of Cursed Iron Corpse and Cursed Copper Corpse, piled haphazardly, oozed thick blood mixed with the reek of death and decay.

Could it be that this Blood Wolf Gang base was actually a stronghold of the Corpse God Sect?

Yet…

it had been utterly slaughtered?

The captain and the City Guards behind him all gasped in unison.

Who was responsible?!

…

…

Tinglei Alley.

Li Che returned to the small courtyard in the alley; with a flick of his fingers, the blood on him instantly evaporated.

“Within Daocheng, the infiltration by the Corpse God Sect is less severe than in the Capital. After all… Daocheng has too many powerful figures, and with the Divine Child Grandmaster stationed here, the Corpse God Sect can only creep in subtly, not brazenly.”

Tonight, Li Che eliminated a Blood Wolf Gang member from the Outer City; even their strongest was only a half-step Cursed Silver Corpse—hardly a challenge.

With the Cosmic Chessboard shrouding the area and blocking detection and sound,

Ogre was free to act as he pleased.

Glancing at the horizon where a faint white light tinged the sky,

Li Che removed his bamboo hat and mask, clenched his fingers, and returned to the Inner City.

The distance between Daocheng’s Inner and Outer Cities was vast; even a carriage ride would take long.

Only the Feilei Chess Sage could travel freely.

He returned home to Liu Xiang Alley.

Li Che brushed raindrops off his ink robe as he stepped into the courtyard.

Suddenly, he paused—seeing Li Qingshan, his face full of grievance, sitting under the eave while furiously puffing on a dry pipe.

Without any finesse, he was venting his emotions with each harsh draw.

“You’re back?”

Li Qingshan said bitterly.

“I can already smell the blood on you!

You once again snuck out behind my back!

And you went out without Cat Face?”

His plaintive tone made Li Che feel embarrassingly caught, as if he’d been caught red-handed.

Li Che gave an awkward smile.

“Enough. Opportunities must be seized. I’ve realized it all,” he replied.

Li Qingshan shook his head.

Rising to his feet, his blue robe fluttered in the breeze.

“In three days, take XiXi to the Orthodox Mountain Gate of Divine Sect. I must report inside as well… XiXi, Gong Yuanliang, Gongyang Xiu, and the others will be sent to the Outer Gate for unified cultivation guidance in preparation for the upcoming personal selection by the Grandmaster.”

Li Qingshan continued.

“Let me tell you, so you don’t sneak away again.”

At these words, Li Che hurriedly replied with a smile, “When it concerns XiXi, I’d never forget.”

Li Qingshan grumbled and left, returning to embrace his old lover, Granny Mu, inside.

Since the courtyard was spacious, Granny Mu lived with Li Che’s family, keeping him company in unfamiliar Daocheng.

Later, Li Qingshan entered the divine cultivation hall of the Orthodox Divine Sect, with Granny Mu accompanying him. Thus, Li Che’s home served as a temporary haven.

“This time, you can accompany XiXi into the Orthodox Mountain Gate, but after that, it won’t be so easy to get in. Seize the opportunity,”

he continued.

“Elder Jiao Shaoqiu has invited the Second True Transmitter, Huang Jianjiu, to instruct these children from Jin Guang Mansion, so that they may cultivate together with the divine prodigies inside the Orthodox Mountain Gate.”

“If you miss this chance, then once XiXi enters the Inner Gate, you might never see her again.”

Li Qingshan instructed.

Li Che nodded, and then Li Qingshan closed the door.

Spring rain pattered on the black tiles, trickling off the eaves.

Li Che exhaled deeply.

“XiXi is about to begin her cultivation inside the Divine Sect…”

“I should also find an opportunity to try for a seat among the elders of Shendiao Ridge. Elder Jiao had mentioned recommending me—let’s not forget that…”

Li Che’s eyes glimmered.

He then returned to the master bedroom, pushed open the door, and entered.

Inside, the charcoal stove burned warmly, dispelling the lingering chill of spring.

His wife, Zhang Ya, cradled XiXi as they slept soundly, with the child’s unruly sleeping posture having thrown the covers far off.

Li Che shook his head, re-covering both with blankets and sitting by the bed, watching their faces by the flickering oil lamp.

They were the family he vowed to protect with all his might in this lifetime.

Not seeking wealth or high status,

but simply wishing for peace and safety.

…

…

As daylight broke fully and the spring rain continued its endless patter, the air remained thick with moisture.

Li Che didn’t sleep long; his energy surged so much that he could go days without rest and still appear vigorous.

He rose early to make breakfast for everyone.

After breakfast, Li Che spent some time instructing XiXi in cultivation.

Children from Jin Guang Mansion—Gong Yuanliang, Hai Chaosheng, Gongyang Xiu, and Tie Shancai—had rushed over even before XiXi finished eating.

Li Che gathered them together to guide their cultivation.

Tie Shancai remained as defiant as ever.

He was gentle only toward XiXi.

Even though Li Che was her father, Tie Shancai showed blatant disdain.

“You can’t expect me to guide your cultivation, oh novice Grandmaster… you really aren’t worth it.”

Tie Shancai crossed his arms, rejecting Li Che’s advice.

Li Che laughed.

Showing no mercy toward this new Yellow-Haired kid,

even with his Grandmaster cultivation, a few slaps from Li Che rendered Tie Shancai utterly submissive.

Tie Shancai had no choice but to follow along with the group.

Tie Shancai was bewildered—how could XiXi’s father have such terrifying blood and qi?

Is this a Grandmaster?

He almost felt as if he’d been poked to death by a single finger!

On the sidelines, XiXi burst into delighted laughter as she watched her father administer a severe beating to Tie Shancai.

“My father is really powerful! How dare you underestimate him!”

“Now you see just how fierce my father is!”

XiXi struck a defiant pose and laughed.

After all, every time Li Che had to spank XiXi’s bottom—even though the now masterfully-built XiXi could hardly resist—she always ended up obediently taking it.

They had no choice but to endure his spanking!

After guiding the youngsters’ cultivation for a while, Li Che handed them over to Li Qingshan.

Then he left the courtyard,

heading out to find Elder Jiao, intending to inquire about the elder assessment at Shendiao Ridge.

This was crucial for his future visits to Divine Sect to see XiXi, something he cared deeply about.

While visits to the Outer Gate were manageable, if XiXi entered the Inner Gate, they might not meet for years.

Of course, that was under normal circumstances—if Li Che left a Feilei Chess Piece on XiXi, he could meet her anytime.

“Do you wish to see the elder? Wait here a moment.”

Nie Yang was in the small courtyard teaching Li Chengzhou. Upon seeing Li Che, he merely nodded.

Then Nie Yang left for the Divine Sect Mountain Gate.

Divine Sect Mountain Gate.

Mountains towered, with countless structures dotting their slopes.

The endless ridges resembled colossal beasts looming over Daocheng.

Outer Gate.

Halfway up a mountain.

Spring rain drifted like curtains.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, as withered as ancient wood, sat in a pavilion, chatting idly with Huang Jianjiu—a drunken, unkempt fellow carrying a wine gourd.

Suddenly,

Nie Yang drove a carriage through the storm,

parked it, and then, holding his sword, approached the pavilion.

He bowed and greeted respectfully.

“Ah, isn’t that Nie Yang? Have you sensed your sword’s breakthrough into the union of man and nature? Come, drink.”

A tipsy Huang Jianjiu tossed his wine gourd over.

Nie Yang accepted the wine gourd but did not drink.

“You need not chase after some ‘Heaven and Man One Sword.’ With that energy, you should have become a Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster long ago, refining several strands of innate divine guts—far superior to anything else.”

“Then you wouldn’t still be acting as a mere carriage driver.”

Huang Jianjiu yawned and said,

“You have your sword way, and I have mine… why meddle in his affairs?”

Elder Jiao interrupted Huang Jianjiu,

“You must at least look proper. You’re already the Second True Transmitter; mind your image, don’t end up owing drunken debts and being hounded for repayment… how embarrassing.”

Huang Jianjiu, however, was undeterred.

“Drunken wine bought on credit tastes all the sweeter.”

“You’re just not proper,” Elder Jiao scolded with a laugh.

Then he turned to Nie Yang.

Nie Yang explained Li Che’s situation.

“Oh? He really intends to take the Shendiao Ridge elder exam?”

Elder Jiao paused mid-sip of his spring tea, surprised.

“Although Li Che is an Imperial Watch Second-Class Official, standing out in the exam to become an elder of Shendiao Ridge… is truly too difficult.”

“I thought he had given up the idea; it was just a spur-of-the-moment thought. I didn’t expect him to persist so stubbornly.”

Elder Jiao chuckled, “Well, if he wishes to try, let him go.”

Rising, Elder Jiao went indoors.

He then penned a recommendation letter and took out a jade pendant, handing them to Nie Yang.

Nie Yang accepted the letter and pendant, sipped his tea, returned the wine gourd to Huang Jianjiu, and drove down the mountain.

“So young and already taking the Shendiao Ridge elder exam?”

Huang Jianjiu was astonished, gulping his wine, “If I recall correctly… those elders of Shendiao Ridge are all old-timers, aren’t they?”

“How can one compare with a bunch of old relics who’ve been entrenched in the Shendiao realm for decades or even a hundred years?”

…

…

Back in the courtyard, Li Che watched Li Chengzhou practice his sword.

In Li Chengzhou’s face, Li Che saw joy and anticipation—he loved the art of the sword.

Content, Li Che patted Li Chengzhou’s head, thanked Nie Yang for the recommendation letter and token, and bid farewell.

Clenching his fist,

Li Che returned to the courtyard in Outer City’s Tinglei Alley of Qianyuan Daocheng,

continuing his daily cultivation.

The recommendation letter and token had stated that Li Che would have to depart in a few days,

presumably after escorting XiXi to the Divine Sect’s Outer Gate.

Within the courtyard, Li Che unfurled the Cosmic Chessboard,

and resumed refining his body, demonstrating his mastery of Lingxu Baqi Steps—a technique he had long honed.

Spring rain fell gently while the spring breeze caressed his face.

In the courtyard, after cultivating martial arts and divine essence, Li Che also researched mechanical beasts and the fusion of Black and White Collapse with Muduya,

exploring new, high-impact, lethal weapons,

and even attempting to merge the powers of Black and White Collapse with Great Avalanche…

But none of these were simple feats.

Late into the night,

after dispatching the villains of the Corpse God Sect, Li Che returned to the courtyard on a Feilei Chess Piece. Removing his Ogre Mask, his entire body resonated with the clamor of bones and sinews.

Suddenly,

a rich aroma of sumptuous food wafted over with the spring breeze.

Li Che’s jet-black hair whipped in the wind as he pushed open the courtyard door.

Stepping onto the damp alleyway, water pooled under his footsteps, cascading like a small waterfall.

After a short walk, he saw a dim light at the alley’s end, illuminated by a swaying door curtain and the tinkling sound of wind chimes.

Li Che halted.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

He recognized the familiar restaurant, the cherished wind chime,

and the familiar large black dog dozing on the ground.

The black dog, noticing him, shot a glance, yawned, and bared its teeth as if to warn him.

Seven-thousand Words—Mycoplasma Pneumonia relapsed; fever and cough… I’m in too poor a state. Update will be delayed. Apologies for the confusion—just can’t hold on. Please upvote, recommend, and keep reading! Old Li needs a proper sleep; tomorrow, a new fight awaits!