Chapter 234: A Surge of Transformation

In the courtyard, a raging current of air gradually subsided.

The heavy snow tumbling down fast all melted away, then transformed into torrential rain that drenched the courtyard, evaporated into mist by Li Che’s overwhelming, searing aura.

A thick, enveloping fog drifted by.

Li Che’s dark hair whipped fiercely as lightning-like currents danced in his eyes, erupting from his pupils to cavort wildly with the elements!

【Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (LV5 0%)】

It’s done!

Intertwining currents formed into a line of characters before Li Che’s eyes, sending subtle tremors through his entire body.

Every muscle felt as if it were being struck and tempered, as if branding irons burst with scalding heat!

The third transformation of the Dao Fruit!

LV5-level Dragon Elephant Vajra!

Li Che’s eyes blazed while the mercury-like blood within him churned, releasing a deep, thunderous roar.

This was Li Che’s first Dao Fruit to achieve the third transformation!

His emotions surged like the tides of the Jiulong River, stirring a unique sentiment.

The first transformation granted him 【Tower Ascension】—a means of using the Temple Spirit’s power to boost his overall combat strength.

The second transformation had bestowed upon him the divine art 【Vital Radiance】, a versatile aid capable of refining divine weapons, enhancing their quality, and even forming clouds of radiance to support his swift movements!

Both were impressive!

So what changes would the third transformation bring?

Li Che couldn’t help but feel a spark of anticipation.

In his eyes, currents danced like divine whips, lashing at the ground around the courtyard.

“Hoo—”

“Sss—”

With every breath, all sounds—the whoosh of air, the falling snow, the murmur of the wind—fell into an eerie silence!

Inside his chest, the Dao Fruit pounded wildly.

Every beat was like the ancient temple bell of a mystic mountain, pounding repeatedly for three millennia as a mighty warrior relentlessly struck it!

The shattered bell-like echoes spread like ripples through every cell of his body!

Boom——!!!

In an instant, his mind was tugged by an overwhelming, terrifying force!

Roars like those of a divine dragon and bellowing cries like a giant elephant filled his ears!

He found himself irresistibly pulled into a vast, barren realm!

The ancient, boundless land—mysterious and profound!

It was filled with secrets!

A venerable, colossal divine tree rose from the ground, its sprawling branches and abundant leaves seemingly capable of shading billions of acres!

Upon the ancient tree, branches spread like glass, bearing multicolored Dao Fruits in full display.

They shone brilliantly, dazzling all who beheld them!

One Dao Fruit, in particular, expanded magnificently!

It grew far larger than the others!

Li Che’s very blood seemed irresistibly drawn to that one fruit!

A burst of mists and radiance—the Vital Radiance transformed into a spectral dragon-elephant phantom emitting resplendent golden light!

Li Che’s gaze burned intensely; this scene was not unfamiliar to him.

He had experienced it when the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit underwent its second transformation!

Boom——!!!

A terrifying gale suddenly swept in, accompanied by the gentle sway of the divine tree’s branches as they whipped about in a fierce outpouring!

It slammed into Li Che with brutal force.

With the sudden rise of wild winds and the cracking of the earth, it felt as though ancient beasts let out their primordial roars from deep within his soul!

Li Che noticed the scene before him shift once more.

It felt as if a fearsome force had hurled him toward the endless dome of the sky!

And then…

During his descent,

He saw a golden divine dragon and a colossal golden elephant!

Two monstrous beasts from an age of ancient gods and demons, so vast they seemed otherworldly!

The giant elephant lifted the very heavens, its lengthy trunk flicking and stirring seas into chaos, sending titanic waves crashing!

In the midst of the roaring river, a massive, dreadful crocodile burst forth!

This colossal beast, too immense to fathom, stirred terrifying torrents as wild winds and chaotic currents erupted!

It was as if a deluge of rain had fallen!

Li Che’s eyes shone with fierce intensity!

He witnessed the giant crocodile locked in mortal combat with the golden elephant; from the elephant, mists erupted with every powerful trunk swing, as if ready to shatter mountains with its divine lash!

Yet the crocodile was no less formidable—its razor-sharp, aligned teeth were like the deadliest divine weapons!

It tore at the elephant, leaving ghastly traces of blood!

It was a battle akin to clashes between titanic gods and demons!

Li Che was utterly shaken by the spectacle!

In the next moment, the elephant trumpeted mightily!

Suddenly, dark leaden clouds were torn apart as countless bolts of lightning flashed, and a golden azure dragon emerged from the celestial veil.

It plunged downward, joining the fray!

The dragon and elephant enclosed their foe!

The golden divine dragon entwined itself around the giant elephant!

In that instant, the elephant seemed to surge with an unimaginable boost!

Its enormous foot slammed upward and then crashed down again, shattering the earth, toppling mountains, and turning the very world upside down!

In a flash, the giant crocodile’s head was crushed, and gushing blood stained the river and sea red!

In an instant——!!!

Li Che sensed the scene vanish.

He found himself back in the vast, untamed realm, suspended before the divine tree!

Thunk, thunk, thunk——

Excruciating pain battered Li Che relentlessly, every fiber of his body trembling under its assault!

It was a tearing agony unlike any other!

Bone marrow, skeletal structure, meridians, blood, membranes…

Every inch of flesh cried out in suffering!

Transformation!

Another rebirth!

With a long howl and his dark hair flying wildly, Li Che’s spine seemed ready to cleave the heavens and earth like a mighty dragon!

Every muscle twisted as if into a knotted coil, undergoing subtle yet profound changes!

It was as if his flesh were being hurled into a furnace, hammered and remelted anew!

Drop after drop of vivid, crimson blood slid down his eyes, searing as it fell.

In Li Che’s eyes, glimmers of light danced.

【LV5 Dao Fruit, Triple Transformation, Divine Art Ascension One (Vital Radiance) Upgrade to Divine Art Ascension Two (Dragon Elephant Heavenly Guts)】

Boom——!!!

Li Che felt his consciousness drift from that vast realm.

Yet his sinews and bones vibrated with an ear-splitting resonance, undergoing a monumental transformation!

Every joint between bones rubbed with burning friction!

A complete rebirth!

A profound purge!

The second cleansing!

This was… the second time for such a purge!

Li Che suddenly threw his head back as blood droplets scattered with a sharp crack, shattering into countless fragments like arrows!

Standing in the middle of the courtyard, ferocious winds roared relentlessly around him.

His body was pocked with bulging ridges surging rapidly, as if reshaping his formidable flesh!

Before his eyes, the flowing lights shifted once again.

【Radiant Rise (Divine Art): Tower Ascension Radiant Rise, Flesh Ascension, Earth-Shattering Heavenly Guts, Finger-Snap Starburst】

【Ascension One: Vital Radiance】

【Ascension Two: Dragon Elephant Convergence】

【Earth-Shattering Elephant Force, Heavenly Dragon Form, Dragon Elephant Convergence, Mountain-Shifting Sea-Toppling】

A prompt for a new divine art appeared suddenly before his eyes.

In Li Che’s mind, the image of Dragon Elephant Convergence crushing a giant crocodile persistently assaulted his spirit.

Rumbling——

A burst of warm energy flowed out, purifying his flesh and causing his already mighty body to brim with self-generated vitality, surging like thunder!

Li Che opened his eyes and clenched his fist; in an instant, the terrifying currents he grasped tore apart and exploded into white torrents across the courtyard!

In the distance, it seemed as though a golden divine dragon had materialized, coiling around him—circling, entwining his neck, and caressing his trembling, muscular back!

Li Che felt his body rise ever higher without end!

Within his sinews, strength swelled, making his tendons throb, his bones groan, and his marrow boil!

“My strength…”

“Enhanced tenfold, a hundredfold, a thousandfold!”

“More fearsome than when I first acquired the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit!”

“A pure surge in strength!”

Overjoyed, Li Che thrust his palm forward; his perfected Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant—the Martial Saint Technique—seemed to burst forth in a blaze of transformation!

In his dantian, his flesh pill pulsated furiously!

On that crimson flesh pill, as he unleashed Divine Art Ascension Two [Dragon Elephant Convergence], golden patterns miraculously lit up its surface!

It was as if the golden divine dragon entwined with the golden elephant now manifested upon his body!

Dragon Elephant Convergence made its mark on his martial pill!

“My Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant… is evolving towards Divine Seed Martial Arts!”

“It’s as if divine intent is being born!”

“Dragon Elephant Divine Intent!”

“Slowly propelling my self-taught martial art towards the level of Divine Seed Martial Arts…”

“Once it fully transforms, I can open the Eight Extraordinary Doors of the Human Body…”

Li Che’s eyes sparkled and his mood soared.

He swept his palm outwards, dancing wildly in the courtyard as currents burst around him, and the torrential rain was forcefully sent skyward by his immense aura.

The sizzling, scorching winds continued to lash his form!

In the distance, vague images of an elephant entwined with a divine dragon emerged before mortal eyes!

“Hoo, hoo, hoo——”

Li Che opened his mouth and exhaled a blade-like gust that seemed to cut the very air.

He spread his arms wide as his bones crackled with splintering pops!

His organs trembled as streams of divine guts poured forth.

The five manifestations of divine guts twisted together like intertwined coils!

They whirled around him like mighty dragons, one after another…

Thirty-six in all!

Boom——!!!

Li Che stood firm as the thirty-six swirling forms of Fivefold Divine Guts signified that he had reached the pinnacle of Divine Guts Mastery!

With three transformations of his Dao Fruit, combined with the potency of his Martial Pill,

Li Che successfully completed the final condensation of the Sixfold Fivefold Divine Guts!

From every orifice of his 360 acupoints burst forth resplendent brilliance, radiating golden light for miles!

Crack——!

The sound of a resilient membrane being pierced rang out!

An acupoint opened wide!

Then came the second, third, fourth…

The crashing sounds piled up!

It was as if a fireworks display erupted!

All 360 acupoints burst open!

Closing his eyes, he sensed his martial will linking with the energy of the heavens and earth.

Countless intertwining currents poured from above his head and emerged from his feet.

“Unity of Heaven and Man…”

Li Che looked upward, his dark hair swirling wildly.

He felt as if he could perceive the very spirituality of the universe!

It was as if the heavens and earth inhaled and exhaled as one.

The earth trembled continuously.

The wild winds among the skies blew like a single, rhythmic breath!

Li Che extended his hand, and suddenly the Thunder Magnetic Conduit roared into life…

He seemed to defy gravity, completely merging with the earth’s magnetic field. Energy surged from his head while new forces arose from his feet in an endless, cyclic dance!

“This is… the unity of Heaven and Man.”

Li Che’s eyes shone with profound, complex excitement and solemnity.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle…

All 360 acupoints spun like vortices!

Divine guts flowed out, all merging into the flesh pill in his dantian!

The pill transformed into a molten crucible, refining the Fivefold Divine Guts to its ultimate state, purging all superficiality and becoming supremely resilient.

Slowly…

A genuine divine gut, far superior to Long Tai’s Inherent Divine Guts, slowly oozed out.

Li Che raised his hand, and the Inherent Divine Guts surged between his five fingers like rampant electricity!

At times it morphed into a dragon, at times an elephant, at other moments, lightning!

…

…

After five days of relentless transformation and consolidation,

Li Che finally completed the threefold transformation of his Dao Fruit, achieving a monumental leap in his martial cultivation.

He reined in his aura and floated gracefully to the ground.

The warm air subsided, and the snow returned, covering everything in a thick, pristine layer.

The Dao Fruit of the Painted Immortal stirred; many of its clones were summoned by Li Che, each collecting a Sixfold Divine Essence Crystal to further cultivate the Temple Spirit’s divine vision.

Soon after, they set about refining the intricate parts needed for the Blood-Yang Nine Divine Vajra Ape, inking each mechanism with precise seals.

Meanwhile, other clones were dispatched to examine the recently acquired Xuan Talisman Scriptures from the Divine Sect, delving into the mysteries of divine talismans.

The falling snow fell in ghostly silence.

It tapped gently on the wooden eaves.

Li Che felt a busy yet fulfilling sense of purpose.

Light gradually sank; the cool glow piercing through the leaden clouds slowly faded.

Li Che knew that night was coming.

After a lazy stretch and a breakthrough in his cultivation that left him feeling refreshed,

he left the Private Workshop, crossing the snow-laden Blue Stone Pavement of Tinglei Alley to the dimly lit restaurant.

Big Black Dog, as ever, loyally waited at the doorway.

Its jet-black, glossy coat shimmered under the orange lamplight.

Glancing at Li Che and seeing him alone, the dog snorted and turned its head away.

After packing the reserved dishes at the restaurant and chatting briefly with the Boss,

Li Che noted that XiXi hadn’t accompanied him; the Boss seemed disinclined to engage.

Unconcerned, Li Che left a Gold Leaf behind and turned to depart.

Before leaving, he approached Big Black Dog, reached out, and ruffled its head in a burst of irritation.

Immediately after, he clutched the Feilei Chess Piece and vanished without a trace.

“Wang——!!!”

The explosive bark of the dog shattered the accumulated snow into fragments.

Big Black Dog sprang up, its limbs drumming on the ground as it dashed off at full speed—but Li Che was nowhere to be seen.

The agitated dog bared its teeth furiously!

Li Che returned to his home in Liu Xiang Alley.

Suxue drifted down from above before being scattered by swirling blood currents.

Zhang Ya was diligently practicing martial arts in the courtyard. Ever since her Blood Exchange, she trained with even greater resolve—after all, XiXi was so well-behaved that Zhang Ya felt she too must step up.

Only by growing stronger could she accompany her husband and daughter for longer.

Old Chen went off to work, while Granny Mu sat beneath the eaves on the rocking chair Li Che had made for her, a thick blanket draped over her, and a charcoal stove warming the surroundings.

Everything exuded a warm, homely vibe.

After returning, Li Che practiced martial arts with Zhang Ya, offering simple pointers.

Then footsteps sounded at the door.

The soft crunch of snow underfoot echoed as someone approached.

A young man clad in a gray robe appeared.

Based on Li Che’s perception using the Cosmic Chessboard, the youth’s strength was rather average—merely possessing some Divine Vision.

“Is this Master Li Che’s residence?”

The youth knocked and asked.

Li Che, letting Zhang Ya continue her practice, stepped out and inquired, “And you are?”

“I am the woodcarver from Qianyuan Divine Sect’s Shendiao Ridge. Elder Jiao Shaoqiu recommended you. I come under my master’s orders to inform you that the Shendiao Ridge Elder Assessment is about to begin.”

At these words, Li Che’s eyes lit up instantly.

“The Shendiao Ridge Elder Assessment? It’s finally starting!”

Li Che greeted the youth warmly, much to the young man’s slight surprise—as Li Che’s unreserved joy seemed unprovoked, given his age and experience, simply participating in this assessment was a small matter.

“This is the letter. Tomorrow, Shendiao Ridge will assemble all the master woodcarvers in front of the Divine Sect Mountain Gate, so Master Li, please don’t be late.”

The youth handed Li Che a letter sealed with red wax.

Li Che accepted it with a word of thanks.

The youth, not lingering long as he had other letters to deliver to fellow woodcarvers amidst the harsh winds and snow, departed.

Zhang Ya peered over with fluttering lashes.

“Husband… if you become an elder at Shendiao Ridge, will we finally be allowed to live within the Divine Sect?”

Zhang Ya asked.

Li Che nodded.

Zhang Ya’s eyes sparkled but then furrowed in concern. “But I’ve heard that the Shendiao Ridge Elder Assessment is extremely difficult… Husband, are you sure you can do it?”

At that, Li Che burst into laughter.

He wrapped his arms around Zhang Ya and said, “My dear, do you doubt my ability? You have no idea!”

Blushing fiercely, Zhang Ya playfully swatted at him, exclaiming, “Granny Mu is here!”

…

…

Needless to say, Li Che took the Shendiao Ridge Elder Assessment very seriously.

Not only because succeeding would allow him residency within the Divine Sect Mountain Gate, but also because Shendiao Ridge housed the resources he needed.

Even though Li Che was well aware of the fierce competition and unimaginable difficulty of attaining an elder’s status in the Divine Sect,

he was not afraid.

The boost from the Xiangong Dao Fruit, coupled with his breakthrough in cultivation, had even enhanced his woodcarving skills.

Li Che was supremely confident.

The next day.

At dawn,

The temperature had risen; the once gently falling snow had begun to melt, turning into a drizzling rain with a few lingering snowflakes.

Li Che woke early. Zhang Ya, still recovering from yesterday’s outbursts, lay weakly in bed with her dark hair splayed out, offering silent encouragement with her eyes.

Li Che smiled.

He donned a clean ink robe and stepped out of Liu Xiang Alley.

Old Chen waited outside in a carriage.

“Get in,”

Old Chen, wearing a bamboo hat and draped in a raincoat to shield himself from the sleet, said with a smile.

“Ah Che, I believe in you. Once you become an elder at Shendiao Ridge, you’ll see XiXi every day at the Divine Sect Mountain Gate.”

Old Chen’s expression grew solemn.

He truly pitied XiXi.

The last time they met, XiXi’s maturity had touched Old Chen deeply.

He wondered if, within the Divine Sect, XiXi was bullied by other disciples—if only she had her parents by her side, she’d be more secure.

Li Che did not refuse; he climbed into the carriage and Old Chen drove off toward Qianyuan Divine Sect Mountain Gate.

At the large plaza in front of the mountain gate, beneath the ancient inscription of the Dao’s essence, several carriages were already parked.

After seeing off Li Che, Old Chen departed.

Soon, the young man from earlier returned and escorted Li Che onto an ordinary carriage.

Inside, several elderly figures sat quietly.

These elders were master woodcarvers from the great families of Qianyuan Daocheng, serving as honored guests—but they were from lesser families.

For instance, woodcarving masters from the Su, Yun, Zhong, and Zhou families were chauffeured in ornate vehicles.

Noticing the newcomer, the elders opened their cloudy eyes and took a long look at Li Che’s youthful face, pausing in surprise.

“Young man, are you also here to participate in the Shendiao Ridge Elder Assessment?”

One elder asked.

Li Che smiled gently and nodded.

Seeing the earnest Li Che, the elders stroked their beards and chuckled.

“Truly, a fearless rook—so young and daring to try anything…”

“The Shendiao Ridge Elder Assessment is extremely tough… without the skills of a Seventh-level Master Woodcarver, you essentially have no chance.”

“We, old men, labored for decades to reach the level of Seventh-level Master Woodcarver before we dared to take the plunge.”

“Your courage is admirable, young man.”

The elders laughed, though their tone carried a hint of bias.

Woodcarving was a craft that required time, perseverance, and frequent visits to the Bizarre Temple to commune with the Temple Spirit.

Li Che, being so young…

how much time could he really devote to honing his craft? It would likely be a rash endeavor.

Li Che smiled honestly and nodded before leaning back in his chair and dozing off.

The carriage soon began to rock.

Seated with three elderly master woodcarvers in a cramped space, conversation faltered as their topics clashed.

Their advice felt tedious, so Li Che disregarded it and relaxed, letting his nurtured spirit align with the energy of the Cosmic Chessboard.

Within that enigmatic chessboard, he sensed a divine chess piece pulsating slowly.

It was the Feilei Chess Piece he had left with XiXi.

And now, it was behaving oddly.

Li Che’s brow furrowed as a trace of ferocity flashed in his eyes.

He sunk into the Cosmic Chessboard, and through it, the image of XiXi at that very moment came into focus.

…

…

At Qianyuan Divine Sect,

Outside the front gate,

In the courtyard where Elder Jiao Shaoqiu resided,

The joyful laughter of a group of children filled the air, their exuberance dissolving even the icy sleet from the heavens.

XiXi, Zhou Peng, Yun’e, Zhong Liushou, and Tie Shancai gathered in Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s small courtyard.

Perhaps because XiXi was there, her close friends had all come running over.

Additionally, several Prodigies from Jingguang City were present.

Hai Chaosheng, Gong Yuanliang, Gongyang Xiu, and Huang Sixiang, among other Prodigies.

Everyone in Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s courtyard trained diligently, though being children they still engaged in playful skirmishes.

“Come on! All together now!”

“XiXi Emperor, lend us one hand!”

The chubby little XiXi stood in the midst of swirling wind and snow, one hand clasped behind her back and the other beckoning to Hai Chaosheng, Gong Yuanliang, Gongyang Xiu, and Huang Sixiang.

Hai Chaosheng’s gaze blazed with determination as an intense current of qi surged within him; with a clench of his fist, he trampled through the flying snow straight towards XiXi.

Gong Yuanliang and Gongyang Xiu coordinated perfectly while Huang Sixiang seized the chance to attack from another angle.

They held nothing back—knowing all too well the formidable power of XiXi.

Meanwhile, Zhou Peng munched on an apple from afar; Tie Shancai rested his head lazily, and Yun’e and Zhong Liushou practiced sparring.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu sat on a chair, swaying gently amid the drifting snow, occasionally offering advice to adjust the children’s qi and striking techniques.

Nie Yang, holding a bronze sword wrapped in tattered cloth, crossed his arms.

Not far away, Li Chengzhou gripped a heavy sword with one hand, the tip quivering uncontrollably.

“Hold it steady! You have fifteen minutes left!”

Nie Yang, his tone as cold as ice, commanded.

Smack! A blast of qi struck Li Chengzhou’s arm, jolting him upright just as his arm began to droop.

Li Chengzhou, drenched in sweat with beads rolling down his forehead, panted fiercely.

“Your divine aptitude is lacking, and your martial talent even more so… You must rely solely on perseverance. If you wish to catch up to your elder sister XiXi, you can only do so through relentless daily practice!”

“A sword cultivator must endure the harshest hardships to truly master the sword!”

Nie Yang admonished gravely.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, his eyes heavy with both wisdom and sorrow, watched Nie Yang instruct his disciples without interjecting.

Since Nie Yang was the supreme master of swordsmanship, Elder Jiao Shaoqiu refrained from interfering.

Suddenly…

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s cloudy eyes suddenly narrowed.

The sword in Nie Yang’s arms trembled uncontrollably.

Smack!

Nie Yang gripped the sword hilt firmly.

“Great Elder.”

Nie Yang looked towards Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, his eyes darkening with gravity.

Across the plaza where the children had been practicing, a crushing, all-encompassing pressure suddenly descended.

It was as though a ferocious beast bared its razor-sharp fangs at the children!

XiXi’s expression changed slightly; her left hand, clutching the Purple-Flame Serpent Spear, trembled, and even the Gold Brick in her right hand vibrated subtly.

The Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel hidden in her foot also shook incessantly.

“XiXi, step back,” Elder Jiao Shaoqiu ordered in a deep, resonant tone.

No sooner had he finished speaking,

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu positioned his broad, timeworn back between himself and XiXi, spreading his arms wide to shield her.

Meanwhile, Nie Yang clutched his sword and moved to stand by the elder’s side, forming a barrier to protect all the children.

The two of them looked upward.

Amid the howling winds and swirling snow, the gusting currents raged!

Then, as if a colossal curtain of stormy snow was torn apart,

Two figures drifted into view.

One was clad in the simple robes of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, his face beaming with kind red radiance.

Elder Jiao Shaoqiu frowned.

Gazing at the elderly man whose robe flapped wildly with the wind, his eyes narrowed.

“Inner Sect Fourth Elder… Ji Heshan?!”

But then, Elder Jiao Shaoqiu’s pupils shrank as his gaze fixed on the figure striding through the storm beside Ji Heshan.

A statuesque, beautiful woman with deep blue eyes and snow-white skin, from whose forehead protruded two faint golden horns, advanced steadily.

Her stunning face bore an expression of repressed sorrow and explosive anger; in those deep blue eyes lay an inescapable melancholy and pain…

Her porcelain-like skin intermittently revealed delicate traces of dragon scales.

An oppressive, chilling surge of qi roared within her like thunder!

Beside Elder Jiao Shaoqiu, Nie Yang trembled as he gripped his sword, its terrifying aura spiraling out like a maelstrom!

The billowing cloak of Elder Jiao Shaoqiu whipped wildly in the storm as he leaned back for support.

He fixed his gaze upon the beautiful woman and slowly exhaled.

“Dragon God Clan…”

“Queen Ping Luan!”