Chapter 214: Heavenly Thunder and Mortal Breakthroughs

Crack, crack!

Spring rain fell in torrents amid flashing lightning and rolling thunder!

A fierce wind roared between heaven and earth.

At Tinglei Alley in the Private Workshop Courtyard.

An enormous Divine Vision stood between heaven and earth, entwined by countless crackling currents as if it had co-opted a plummeting bolt of heavenly thunder into its own power!

It channeled the force of the cosmos, enhancing its own divine nature!

Li Che stood in the courtyard, his ink-black robe billowing and his jet-black hair flying, as he felt the overwhelming, imposing divine force of the Divine Vision.

A slight smile tugged at his lips.

He wondered curiously whether this primate deity, with only his divine cultivation, could defy the Divine Practitioner?

Would facing a Divine Practitioner who had undergone primordial transformation be any different?

His repertoire of divine techniques was limited; previously he had infused much of his Seven-Whorl Divine Foundation into Ma Mian’s Xiangong Barrett, unleashing a killing strike imbued with that very power.

That way, he could target the Divine Vision with his foundational might.

But against a Divine Practitioner, killing him without the ferocity of a grandmaster’s might was far from easy.

With a thought, a surging torrent of vital energy burst forth as the Divine Guts danced wildly, ensnaring the Divine Vision and slowly dragging it back into Mud Pellet Palace.

Boom—!!!

Just as the primate-like Divine Vision, as if about to pummel the heavens and earth, was being pulled back into Mud Pellet Palace, Li Che felt an immense surge of divine power radiate from his forehead mud pellet, frantically dispersing into his limbs and bones!

Even his body, honed to a peerless grandmaster level, was struck by excruciating, piercing pain.

The cultivation of martial prowess and divine nature must complement each other.

Even a Divine Practitioner focused solely on refining his divine essence must bolster his mortal physique to at least a grandmaster level, whether through alchemy or relentless training.

A strong body is essential to withstand the overwhelming impact of enhanced divine power.

And the more massive the divine foundation, divine vision, or even the Divine Essence Golden Pill, the greater the demand on one’s body!

A weak body risks being corroded by divine essence, eventually losing consciousness and becoming a slave to that very power, descending into madness.

Even if one reaches higher realms, gaining a divine perception and improved control compared to earlier phases, a body that cannot endure poses extreme danger.

Li Che’s eyes widened as golden light exploded within them; the tremendous divine power surged against his flesh, making his muscles, bones, meridians, and blood quiver at an almost imperceptible rate.

The true primate Divine Vision was forged through a Celestial-level divine method—a power so formidable that it imposed extreme demands on the mortal body.

An unworthy body would simply shatter under the strain of that genuine Divine Vision.

At this moment, Li Che felt the pressure building in his forehead.

It was as if a monstrous primate god roared in his mind, wildly swinging a thunderous staff!

In the midst of earth-shaking roars, Li Che felt his many thoughts vanish in an instant!

The forehead mud pellet was the source of all human senses, the repository of one’s spirit.

Yet in the instant the giant primate invaded that inner realm, all the foundational divine energy there went dark—even the awe-inspiring Divine Vision could only muster a faint glow.

The newly condensed ‘Sorrowful Divine Vision’, along with the ‘Twisting Dream of Osmanthus and the Rabbit Divine Vision’, accelerated their fusion, as if startled and fearing a monkey’s blow.

It all happened in a mere instant.

Li Che felt as if he had plunged into a momentary void.

But soon, reality rushed back with a ferocious blast of divine power and torment—a wild and unbridled surge of divine essence!

An unprecedented agony descended upon his body.

Even though Li Che’s mortal frame had been tempered to an unmatched, ferocious level and fortified by the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, making him extraordinarily tough,

the searing pain brought on by the divine surge was palpably real!

Pain!

In an instant, Li Che broke out in a cold sweat, fine droplets of perspiration forming on his brow.

His entire being…

It was as if he had been thrown into an enormous furnace!

Relentless divine flames seared him over and over!

Every inch of his skin sizzled and crackled like boiling oil, his flesh rippling like waves and his muscles and bones convulsing like writhing dragons!

Li Che understood: this was the divine retribution his Divine Vision was exacting upon his body.

If he could endure it, his mortal form would be greatly enhanced and undergo a significant transformation.

But if he failed to withstand it, his body would shatter, suffering a catastrophic collapse!

Yet Li Che was not one to fear.

Inside his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit throbbed violently.

The divine power expelled from his forehead mud pellet gushed like a flood at a high level, ravaging his body in a wild, unstoppable torrent!

His skin, muscles, bones, marrow, and organs—even the smallest acupoints—were undergoing shocking transformations!

Li Che did not waste this rare chance.

Clenching his fingers and tearing through the air with roaring energy, he violently struck forward—his fists rending skin from his brow, while the Star Plucking Gaze shone brilliantly.

Using his Star Plucking Gaze, Li Che observed the metamorphosis taking place within him.

Roar—!!!

Countless streams of vital energy burst forth from his soul, blood flowing like molten metal with thunderous rumblings.

Each heartbeat pounded like a drum, sending ripples of sonic shock through the air!

The vital energy exploded, manifesting the phantom figures of dragons and elephants, while the searing blood ignited like towering flames.

The spring rain poured heavily, drenching the courtyard, hissing and steaming on impact!

He endured agonizing training under the rain, perfecting his martial strikes!

Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant!

Wanlong Fushen!

Hun Yuan Qi Tian Gun!

He unleashed the three immortal Martial Saint techniques, continuously forging a powerful and resilient Martial Saint Divine Guts.

Each Divine Guts bore subtle traces of golden light, slowly swirling within.

Crack, crack, crack—

In the courtyard, Li Che’s jet-black hair whirled as he clenched his fists; every move, though slow, caused his muscles and bones to strain fiercely.

His sinews stretched like a taut bowstring releasing a storm of piercing energy, sending invisible ripples through the air!

After a long while, Li Che finally paused, his body stained with deep red droplets of blood.

Yet the energy swirling in the courtyard showed no sign of abating.

“The peerless Divine Vision, purifying the body, combined with the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit that perfectly absorbs it… every bit of this grueling strength is drawn in without waste!”

Li Che spread his arms wide; the muscles along his back roiled like twisting dragons, vibrating with terrifying power and brilliant radiance!

Now, every part of Li Che’s mortal form had become a lethal weapon, capable of dispatching foes with unmatched might!

“My Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant Divine Guts have reached twenty streams, and I can open two hundred acupoints…”

With his eyes lowered, Li Che suddenly flipped his open palms upward.

In an instant, his entire body began to glow!

Countless beads of blood evaporated as two hundred acupoints burst forth like incandescent bulbs, radiating dazzling light!

“Furthermore, both my Wanlong Fushen Divine Guts and Hun Yuan Qi Tian Gun Divine Guts have also grown.”

“Now, my Three-Source Divine Guts have reached ten streams.”

“A tremendous breakthrough!”

Before his eyes, streams of light flickered.

[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv4 60%)]

The maturity of his Dao Fruit had advanced once more; though the increase was modest, it provided Li Che with a profound martial epiphany as the fruit fed back upon him.

With that feedback, even the martial techniques Thousand Mountain Solitary Blade and Lingxu Baqi Steps could see tremendous improvement!

Could this help elevate those arts further…?

Perhaps even pushing them into the grandmaster realm!

Maybe… still not enough.

Then…

Let’s add fuel to the fire!

Li Che opened his mouth and exhaled scorching hot breath that transformed into a razor-sharp blade, cleaving through the tornado of energy swirling in the courtyard.

“Ten streams of Three-Source Divine Guts—compared to the true guts of a Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster… so what?”

Li Che closed his eyes and then reopened them, now filled with intense, startling light.

A fierce murderous aura surged from his gaze, rolling out in a tidal wave of lethal intent.

“City Lord Su Huai Li…”

“It’s time to make a move.”

……

……

A monumental event had occurred in Daocheng, sending shockwaves through all factions.

The millennial Yun Family, in cooperation with the Temple Guardian Division, had suppressed the Seven-Yuan Bizarre Temple under their jurisdiction, causing an entire temple to vanish without a trace!

Bizarre Temples, eerie mists, and the temple itself all disappeared, leaving no trace in the mortal realm!

For the common people, it was a blessing, but for the mighty forces within Daocheng, it was a huge crisis.

Why had the Bizarre Temple vanished into thin air?

It was a baffling mystery.

Since its inception, even when pillaged and suppressed by top experts, the Bizarre Temple had never truly disappeared.

It always radiated divine essence at every moment.

Some great scholars in the grand halls of the Divine had even proclaimed the Bizarre Temple’s eternal nature.

Yet now, that claim was utterly shattered.

A Bizarre Temple had vanished without a trace!

[Hundred-Turn Sorrowful Osmanthus and Rabbit] Bizarre Temple—the place where it once stood is now completely empty.

One single night had stirred countless powerful figures.

Even a Divine Fetus Grandmaster, with his terrifying divine perception, swept through the area yet detected nothing amiss.

The disappearance was so complete, as if it had been swallowed by Bizarre Temple and erased by eerie mists from this world.

Although the Bizarre Temple was gone,

the strong of the Temple Guardian Division and Yun Family had not let their guard down, continuing to watch closely.

This incident shook not only the three great millennial clans of Daocheng—the Yun, Zhou, and Zhong families—

but even families with histories of several hundred to nearly a thousand years began to tremble, fearing that their own Bizarre Temples might vanish into thin air.

Bizarre Temples, though steeped in mystery and menace, continually exuded divine essence.

The closer one got to them, the denser the divine energy became; for these families, they were perfect grounds for nurturing divine cultivators.

After all, the rise of divine cultivators in the world was largely connected to these temples.

The divine techniques and secret methods passed down in Bizarre Temples were secondary.

It was their very presence—the divine energy they emanated—that was fundamental.

If all the Bizarre Temples were to vanish from the mortal realm…

Would that not mean that the divine essence in the world would thin to a crawl, or even disappear entirely, causing the divine system to collapse?!

When one thought it through… it was enormous.

Even the Divine Fetus Grandmaster had been drawn out to investigate.

Fortunately, only one Seven-Yuan Bizarre Temple had disappeared, so the fallout was limited.

But if more and more Bizarre Temples began to vanish without warning…

The entire Great Realm would soon be rocked to its core.

Bizarre Temples brought both danger and opportunity.

Rather than completely eradicating the threat at its source, the cultivators of the Great Realm preferred to harness the opportunities within controlled limits.

……

……

The torrential spring rain poured down onto the mortal world.

It cascaded from the sky, splattering onto the ornate black tiles and dissolving into a misty wash of watercolors.

It was as if every landmark was veiled behind a shroud of soft haze.

Between the resplendent pavilions, curtains danced wildly in the howling spring wind.

City Lord Su Huai Li, clad in pristine white, sat on a chair as several graceful dance girls performed barefoot around him.

A female musician lightly plucked her instrument, sending gentle melodies echoing through the air.

The dancers moved in harmony with the tune.

Su Huai Li exuded an air of refined elegance; far from being merely a city lord, he seemed almost otherworldly.

The sounds of water sloshing—cha-cha-cha…

Tea, water, and essence—three rounds in succession. The emerald tea rippled with a rich aroma.

The tea was poured into a bowl and handed to the figure sitting opposite him.

That figure was You Liqing, the armored General of the Western Camp’s Divine Guard. At this moment, though he had reined in his aura, he still exuded the devastating power of a behemoth.

You Liqing sipped his tea coolly.

“Junior Brother, after these years at Jin Guang Mansion, your tea-making skills have truly improved,” he said flatly as he set his tea bowl down.

Su Huai Li smiled gently, “Third Senior Brother, please don’t make fun of me; over the years, my tea art has improved just a bit.”

You Liqing shook his head, a trace of disappointed exasperation in his eyes at Su Huai Li’s dejection.

“When the master sent you to Jin Guang Mansion, it was never to abandon you. Remember, Jin Guang Mansion is no ordinary place. That Four-Yu Eight-Armed Yulian, the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple—

“They are embodiments of mystery and strength…”

“They were prepared by the master for the Little Prince… such a pity…”

At these words, Su Huai Li’s eyes dimmed, a trace of sorrow appearing.

“It’s my fault… I failed to protect the Little Prince from the clutches of the Underworld’s predators,” he murmured.

Su Huai Li did not truly know who killed Ji Haihui—after all, Ji Haihui died within Bizarre Temple. But whoever reduced him to dust was likely connected to the Underworld.

Even if that wasn’t the case, Su Huai Li was quick to cast blame.

A cold, murderous glint flashed in You Liqing’s eyes.

“The Underworld… What gall. If I ever encounter them, they will all be executed.”

“The Underworld is but a minor force compared to a divine giant of true guts, yet they dare be so reckless.”

You Liqing slammed his hand on the table with fierce finality.

Suddenly,

You Liqing frowned as a soldier from the Divine Guard rushed over, soaked from the rain, to report.

He recounted the events at the Hundred-Turn Sorrowful Osmanthus and Rabbit Bizarre Temple.

“The Bizarre Temple… it’s disappeared?!”

You Liqing’s eyes narrowed and he had the soldier repeat the details carefully.

“The Bizarre Temple has vanished from the mortal realm—it’s no small matter. I must see this for myself… Junior Brother, take care.”

Rising to his feet, You Liqing’s armor clashed in a resounding, majestic symphony.

Su Huai Li also hurriedly stood up.

He did not want You Liqing to leave; alongside him, Su Huai Li felt an immense sense of security.

“Don’t worry. I’ve arranged for Long Tai to protect you, and I’ve set up contingencies… If those Underworld idiots like Ogre and Ma Mian dare show up, they won’t get out alive.”

“I’ve studied the intel you provided; the Underworld assassins, though cunning, lack true strength compared to even the killers from Lie Shen Pavilion. They’re not to be feared.”

You Liqing glanced at Su Huai Li, trying to reassure him.

Su Huai Li forced a bitter smile—what more could he say about such arrangements?

Yet, he couldn’t shake off his sense of vulnerability.

After all…

If the Underworld intends to kill you at the third watch, who’s brave enough to keep you until the dawn?

In Jin Guang Mansion, he had seen too many powerful figures fall to the Underworld.

Who, before dying, didn’t swear they’d never die?

In the end, You Liqing left. The disappearance of the Bizarre Temple was an event of the highest order—could this be a portent?

With his subordinates, You Liqing smashed through the spring rain, his robust cycle of vital energy propelling them rapidly toward the Outer City.

Amid opulent pavilions, delicate musicians plucked their strings softly.

The dancers moved with earnest energy while Su Huai Li harbored deep sorrow.

Seated at a small table, Long Tai feasted, a smile tugging at his lips at the sight of Su Huai Li’s near-doomed demeanor.

Really, is the Underworld that terrifying?

To think they’d reduced the direct disciple of King Ping Luan to such a state!

Is it really necessary?!

It’s a blow to the Little Prince’s pride, after all.

But as Long Tai recalled the mushroom-cloud fireworks that once battered Daocheng,

even his sumptuous meal lost its flavor.

Su Huai Li returned and sat at the table, pouring himself a cup of tea and sighing softly before taking a sip.

Yet, as he lifted the tea to his lips,

his hand froze abruptly.

He stared at the calm, emerald tea, his eyes narrowing as his pupils pounded in time with his heartbeat.

Slowly, he turned his gaze toward the Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster Long Tai seated nearby.

“Commander Long, do you… feel it?”

Su Huai Li’s eyes were vacant.

“The torrential spring rain makes no sound on the tiles…”

Long Tai had barely paused his meal before sensing something amiss; his eating slowed.

Finally…

he completely stopped.

He looked up.

His thick, flowing beard whipped about as his eyes grew grave.

“Right… this heavy spring rain…”

“How can it fall so silently?”

……

……

The rain pounded down relentlessly—time waited for no one.

In the second month of spring, the plum rain would pour without end.

For the Lingnan region, sometimes a rainstorm could last an entire month, and the air would carry the sour scent of plums falling and fermenting on the ground.

In a narrow alley of the Inner City,

shrouded in twisted darkness, Li Che, wearing a bamboo hat, raised a finger to his forehead.

“Tomorrow, XiXi is set to enter the Outer Gate of the Divine Sect. It’s time to kill someone in celebration.”

Li Che murmured softly.

Su Huai Li was nothing but a ticking time bomb.

For Su Huai Li was a wicked man from the Corpse God Sect, and like Demon Child, his eyes were fixed on XiXi.

Earlier, Li Che had tried to act against Demon Child—unleashing the Guanyin Lotus Main Battle Tank, which exposed Demon Child’s identity and led the Corpse God Sect to lose three curse-bound, golden-corpse-level experts.

Now, Demon Child’s defensive power had been enhanced yet again, and Li Che wasn’t confident he could take him down.

But on Su Huai Li’s side…

Sensing a change on his Cosmic Chessboard, Li Che noticed that You Liqing had been distracted by the Bizarre Temple’s disappearance.

For Li Che, this was the perfect opportunity.

After arriving in Daocheng, he had observed that Su Huai Li stayed nearly always by You Liqing’s side; whenever trouble arose, You Liqing would immediately rush to intervene.

Against a Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster with the power of man and nature united, Li Che could only dare to skirmish.

But he couldn’t contend with top-tier grandmasters like You Liqing.

Thus, Li Che had refrained from striking.

Yet tonight, with his cultivation breakthrough and You Liqing distracted…

Li Che finally saw his chance to deal with Su Huai Li…

“Time to move!”

With two fingers, he tore through the void and stamped a Cow Demon Mask onto his face.

His black robe billowed as his body surged upward, his coiled muscles on his back twitching like a soaring dragon, shattering the spring rain.

Then…

With a flick of his finger,

a black chess piece shot out.

Two figures materialized out of thin air:

One was the burly Bai Wuchang Xue Dufu, sporting a white mask, and the other was the imposing Black Divine Guardian, whose divine might loomed in the darkness.

Trailing behind the Divine Guardian were three assassins from Lie Shen Pavilion.

Ogre, as imposing as a mountain, glanced silently at the pair of Black and White Wuchang.

Then, a sheet of paper bearing a Painted Immortal image trembled; Ma Mian leapt out from it, clutching the Xiangong Fire God Barrett. With a tiptoe, he landed on the roof—making several leaps before landing five hundred zhang away.

Ma Mian found a position.

The red-tinged Xiangong Fire God Barrett, raised by him, now had crimson tendrils swirling around its barrel, roaring like an enraged flood dragon.

His five fingers flicked; five Fire God Dragon Tooth bullets floated before him. Pinching one, he inserted it into the Fire God Barrett.

Then,

He set up his sniper!

The Cosmic Chessboard sealed off the opulent pavilion, blocking all external perception and detection.

It connected with Ma Mian’s spirit, enabling him to lock onto targets from five hundred zhang away!

Su Huai Li’s motionless figure with a tea cup…

was clearly visible in Ma Mian’s eyes.

Meanwhile,

Li Che adjusted his bamboo hat; rainwater trickled along the edge of his Ogre Mask.

Bang—!

A mighty surge of vital energy jolted through him.

Sleeping Dragon Elephant!

His breath gathered as he surged toward the opulent pavilion like a streak of black lightning cutting through the rain—a fearsome bolt tearing through the downpour!

Before reaching the pavilion,

he stomped heavily.

Countless puddles flung themselves sideways, erupting into tumultuous waves and rolling white surges!

Around the area where Ogre stood, the ground collapsed in all directions, churning with mud and surging water!

Yet Ogre’s body suddenly sprang upward,

so fast it was like a bolt of black lightning!

He leaped high, coming abreast with the tall building, hovering in the storm as he fixed his gaze on Su Huai Li inside the pavilion.

At that very moment,

as Ogre sprang into the air,

Ma Mian also activated his Xiangong Fire God Barrett.

In an instant!

A blast of red-gold radiance erupted like the roar of an enraged flood dragon!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—!

Extreme, searing heat burst from the Fire God Dragon Tooth, evaporating the rain. Wherever its path passed, rain turned to vapor, funneling into a fierce gust that further accelerated the sniper’s speed!

Along its trajectory, torrents of spring rain exploded!

One shot.

A deadly strike!

……

……

Silence!

The spring rain fell without a sound!!!

Only the voices of the dancing girls and the musician’s melody inside the pavilion could be heard!

Something was very wrong!

“Is it… the divine sealing formation?”

Long Tai swallowed his food in one gulp, his eyes blazing with overwhelming light.

Meanwhile, Su Huai Li, still holding his tea cup, felt his heart race in terror!

A deathly premonition gripped him, constricting his heart until he nearly suffocated!

The porcelain cup in his hand suddenly shattered, with tea erupting in a billowing cloud of steam.

In Su Huai Li’s forehead, a divine pill from his mud pellet began to glow as a massive surge of divine power piled up before him, forming a wall of divine energy!

In that instant, Su Huai Li whipped his head around—just then he saw the figure with the cheerful Cow Demon Mask hovering outside the intricately carved wooden window of the pavilion.

Ogre—!!!

Su Huai Li’s hair stood on end!

They were here!

The Underworld had arrived!

There, Ogre’s towering, imposing figure blotted out all light and heat, looming over Su Huai Li like a mountain.

Oppressive, suffocating, terrifying…

A torrent of emotions surged within him!

Li Che gazed calmly at Su Huai Li.

In the next instant,

with a slight tilt of his head,

a streak of red-gold light appeared silently—a subtle, flowing beam like the fangs of a raging fire-dragon, ready to rend flesh!

This piercing beam shot straight through Ogre’s body and, without a sound, careened toward Su Huai Li’s forehead!

It aimed to shatter Su Huai Li’s head into pieces!

But…

Bang—!!!

A burly, imposing figure suddenly stepped in front of Su Huai Li, raising a broad hand like a giant fan to block the strike!

A dreadful shockwave burst forth, rippling out in concentric circles.

The force swept over the dancing girls and musicians, who screamed in alarm and fled toward the base of the pavilion.

No one paid them any heed.

For these ordinary people, if they did not escape, the aftershocks from the imminent clash would surely crush them to dust.

Long Tai’s body swelled, every inch of his skin stretching taut to its utmost limit, glistening with oil-like sheen.

His fingers slowly worked, and in an instant, the Fire God Dragon Tooth bullet was ground into dust.

Then, a colossal, almost tangible martial will, surging like mountains descending in unison, coalesced.

“Interesting…”

“Just a few streams of Divine Guts—who gave you the courage to slay in front of a Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster?”

Long Tai’s wild beard flew about as his eyes flickered, burning as brightly as searing bulbs!