Chapter 246: Divine Seed Martial Arts Unleashed

Offer up your Divine Seed Martial Arts.

The wind howls and the rain pelts while thunder churns in the sky.

Raindrops hammer the eaves, bursting into countless fragments, yet they cannot drown out Li Che’s deep, godlike murmur whispering into the ears of You Liqing, Blue Bird, and Long Tai.

Both You Liqing and Blue Bird have cultivated Divine Seed Martial Arts.

In fact, You Liqing even mastered two arts and successfully channeled his divine seed into two of the Eight Extraordinary Doors.

Previously, even when gravely injured, You Liqing unleashed the power of both Divine Seed Arts, instantly elevating his strength to an astonishing level.

He even managed to counter the lower-tier mechanical beasts of the Five Elders and shattered one of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Ape’s arms into fragments.

At that time, Li Che had already absorbed the Divine Seed Martial Arts from You Liqing’s two techniques; Blue Bird also mastered one, though his was only recently perfected and not yet channeled into an extraordinary door.

Yet its explosive power was not to be underestimated.

At the very least, for Li Che, it counted as one of the Divine Seed Martial Arts.

Originally, Li Che could have studied them from the Qian Kun Jade of You Liqing and Blue Bird, but suddenly an ingenious idea struck him.

Since after Spiritual Confinement, You Liqing and the others had no ulterior motives in submitting to him, he could absorb their Divine Seed Martial Arts firsthand.

Long Tai, meanwhile, glared with astonishment as his Spiritual Confinement stood by.

“Master, what about me? I have one as well!”

“Don’t you need me?”

Long Tai’s beard whipped wildly as he grew excited.

Revival after death was a stroke of luck, and now Long Tai was determined to cling to his master with all his might.

Yet Li Che merely gave him a sidelong glance and shook his head slightly: “You—don’t need to. You’ve already been completely drained.”

That Divine Seed Martial Art, Blood Croc Cleave, had been obtained from Long Tai’s Qian Kun Jade – a pity it was only a fragmentary version.

Li Che was well acquainted with the depths of Long Tai’s resources.

Naturally, he had no intention of seeking more from Long Tai.

Long Tai felt as if struck by lightning.

His very first outward display had doomed him to a lifetime of restraint.

You Liqing clasped his fists in respect.

“My two Divine Martial Arts are as follows: one is ‘Enraged Heavenly King Gaze’ and the other is ‘Zhangba Snake Halberd’…”

“I have nurtured Enraged Heavenly King Gaze since my youth; after breaking through the final phase of the Three Blossoms, I supplemented it for over a decade with Zhangba Snake Halberd, integrating it into one of the Eight Extraordinary Doors.”

“Yet I have not mastered balancing the two extraordinary divine seeds simultaneously. To use both at once would injure me.”

Without reservation, You Liqing explained every detail, even describing the difficulties he encountered in refining his divine seed cultivation.

Li Che stood in the lashing wind and rain, the detailed narration of the Divine Seed Martial Arts from You Liqing echoing in his ears, each word etched into his memory.

Every phrase was absorbed and stored within him.

In the courtyard, Li Che clenched his five fingers, circulating his inner energy so that every sinew and bone resonated in unison.

A ferocious tempest roared with wind, rain, and thundering sound.

Harnessing the feedback from the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit and guided by You Liqing’s words, Li Che quickly mastered the Divine Seed Martial Arts.

You Liqing shared his cultivation insights on divine seed arts without reservation, practicing with punches and kicks in the courtyard as he refined the art.

With Li Che’s martial comprehension, a single run-through was enough to grasp the basics – it was truly an introduction.

However, Li Che did not delve deeper; after fully mastering Enraged Heavenly King Gaze as described by You Liqing,

he began refining Zhangba Snake Halberd. In one fluid move, the Eight Treasure Xuanjin Thunder Dragon Stick landed in his hand.

Wielding the stick as if it were a spear, he danced through the storm.

The air in the courtyard suddenly heated up, as powerful energy surged like a blazing furnace dispersing the chill.

Within him, blood surged like molten metal fuelling an outpour of innate divine qi – a primordial divine force coiled like a giant serpent around his Thunder Dragon Stick!

The difficulty of Divine Seed Martial Arts surpassed even that of the Martial Saint Technique.

Its power was even greater and possessed an almost miraculous aura, rivaling even some unique Divine Secret Techniques.

Though challenging, Li Che enjoyed the reinforcement of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, and his martial insight soared to unimaginable heights.

In that moment, destiny and his very being merged.

Li Che seemed to blend into the violence of the storm – every punch, every strike, every movement united him with the cosmos in true heaven-man unity.

BOOM!!!

The boiling energy and searing heat surged upward several meters, crashing violently into the area within the Cosmic Chessboard’s net.

In the courtyard, Li Che stood bare-chested, his rippling muscles sprawling like a blazing iron rod, reminiscent of an intensely red hot branding iron.

His jet-black hair flickered like bolts of midnight lightning amid the turbulent wind.

Countless waves of blistering heat enveloped him, as if every vital organ pulsed fiercely with unyielding energy.

The five organs that had absorbed the true essence of the Martial Saint Technique were tempered to an almost inconceivable degree of strength.

Hah!

Sigh!

Through the explanations of You Liqing and Blue Bird, Li Che rapidly comprehended three Divine Seed Martial Arts.

Compared to slowly deciphering a secret manual himself, learning directly from them sped up his progress immensely – it was as if someone was personally tutoring him.

“However, Divine Seed Martial Arts are also classified by mastery levels – to integrate them into an Extraordinary Door requires reaching a master level…”

“Take Blood Croc Cleave, for instance; it cannot be incorporated into an Extraordinary Door because it remains incomplete. Even at its peak, it is merely an advanced form…”

As the Pure Heart Dao Fruit improved, the nascent divine power of Spiritual Confinement grew correspondingly stronger.

Now, not only had Li Che expanded the number of Spiritual Confinements he could maintain, but each one soon retained nearly ninety percent of its original power.

For example, although You Liqing’s power waned slightly, that one-tenth influence was almost negligible.

“Furthermore, having mastered so many Divine Seed Martial Arts, I have merged them into my self-created technique, Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant, which incorporates the heavenly essence of Dragon Elephant Vajra – this, too, counts as Divine Seed Martial Arts.”

“Additionally, the Eternal Nine Divine Mechanism Seal is also a form of Divine Seed Martial Art.”

“In other words, I now possess six Divine Seed Martial Arts!”

“Only two more to reach eight…”

Standing amid the storm, Li Che’s eyes flickered, his emotions stirring.

Eight divine seeds channeled into the Eight Extraordinary Doors, each capable of generating 108 streams of innate divine force!

Coupled with the extreme stimulation the Extraordinary Doors impart on the body—

if all eight Divine Seed Extraordinary Doors were activated, Li Che felt he could shatter You Liqing even without relying on the Dragon Elephant Vajra Ape.

His gaze fixed fiercely on You Liqing, clad in golden armor as he maintained his Spiritual Confinement.

“Come on!”

“Battlefield!”

As Li Che raised the Thunder Dragon Stick with a flick of his fingers,

You Liqing’s eyes flashed golden; “Master, you’ve offended me!”

BOOM—!!!

A gilded Zhangba Snake Halberd unfurled as it was ruthlessly pointed toward Li Che.

Crack, crack!

After the rolling winter thunder and leaden clouds, an electric snake was flung aside before vanishing in an instant.

Fierce wind and relentless rain cascaded from the heavens, intermingled with drifting snow.

You Liqing was dead.

The news—

An eminent grandmaster who could ignite the Three Blossoms, activate an Extraordinary Door, and condense 81 streams of Guiyuan Gangqi – a warrior just one step away from the Martial Saint realm—

Every move of his was watched by the world’s mightiest. Even a slight injury would have massive repercussions, let alone death.

At the Western Camp of the Divine Guard Army in Daocheng’s Western Fort of Qianyuan.

Puddles of rainwater had accumulated on the ground, forming thick layers beneath armored figures whose every step shattered the mirror-like surface.

The Great General’s headquarters had become a horrifying pit tens of meters in diameter; even the surrounding soil and stone appeared to have melted into crystalline droplets under the scorching energy.

The bodies of You Liqing, Long Tai, and Blue Bird were arranged at a distance in the ruins, shrouded in white cloth.

The air was thick with poignant sorrow and anger.

The storm raged with violent gusts, and lightning suddenly illuminated the sky!

Raindrops fell in torrents, linking together like strands of a city’s web.

A lone figure emerged from the ruins, stumbling with a sword case on his back.

The clanging of weapons resounded as one after another, the generals of the Divine Guard Army gripped their arms.

“Qianyuan Divine Sect, Huang Jianjiu!”

Numerous eyes vigilantly fixed on Huang Jianjiu.

However, Deputy General Han Qizhong of the Western Camp, a venerable veteran dispatched by the City Lord’s Residence, waved them off.

Originally, Han Qizhong should have been the Western Camp’s chief general, but with You Liqing’s sudden arrival – bolstered by his formidable power and the backing of the King Ping Luan’s disciples –

Han Qizhong did not contest and was content to play second fiddle.

After all, You Liqing’s strength had allowed him to carve a path through the Western Camp step by step.

Huang Jianjiu, drenched by the torrential rain, approached the ruins with a conflicted expression.

He and You Liqing had clashed many times, and they were essentially foes.

After years of rivalry with You Liqing, he now heard the news of his death.

“How could he just… die?”

Huang Jianjiu sighed and retrieved his wine gourd, its surface scarred by countless sword marks, removing its strainer.

Clatter, clatter—

The murky brew, mixed with rainwater, splashed around him.

“Farewell.”

“The world is now missing a worthy adversary – how lonely it must be.”

After toasting, Huang Jianjiu downed a swig of wine and staggered off into the wind and snow.

Han Qizhong, clad in armor with his graying beard, also wore an air of resigned resolve.

In the distance,

a sound slicing through the sky roared like rolling thunder.

Eastern Camp’s Great General Yuan Wuming.

Southern Camp’s Great General She Longdao.

Northern Camp’s Great General Dai Qingxiao.

And Young Master Yue Weizheng from the City Lord’s Residence’s Divine Guard Army—

One after another, powerful figures broke through the air; not even a furious rain curtain could hinder their approach.

The Dragon Queen, her face contorted in grim determination, arrived alongside Yue Weizheng, landing near the ruined deep pit.

The graceful yet tense Princess took a few staggering steps until she reached You Liqing’s covering.

“Has anyone determined who is responsible?”

Without meeting the Princess’s gaze, Yue Weizheng exchanged looks with several top generals of the Daocheng Divine Guard Army before turning to Han Qizhong.

With You Liqing’s death, Han Qizhong was naturally set to become a general, but he was already too old; in fact, he had hoped to retire peacefully.

Unexpectedly, someone like You Liqing – King Ping Luan’s prized disciple and a future Martial Saint – had been slain—

unthinkable!

“Suspected… The Underworld.”

Han Qizhong hesitated before speaking.

“The Underworld?”

“According to our commanders, a thick fog has isolated the area – not a ripple of battle or sound escapes its confines.”

“Only one force wields such power… the Underworld.”

“Remember, it was the Underworld who killed City Lord Su Huai Li back then, using the same tactics. Now, they strike again by taking down General You Liqing.”

With his vast experience, Han Qizhong quickly deduced the situation.

“The Underworld…” Young Master Yue Weizheng’s eyes gleamed as he murmured the name of this mysterious force.

Their ruthless behavior was beyond measure—

if the Underworld now dared to kill even You Liqing—

this force posed a real threat to Yue Weizheng.

Such unbridled power was loathed by the authorities.

It was even more worrisome than the methods of Lie Shen Pavilion.

At least Lie Shen Pavilion followed rules and their actions were traceable.

But the Underworld—

they had already eliminated the sinister practitioners hiding within Qianyuan Daocheng who bore the Undead Curse Seal of Corpse God Sect.

Now they had even slain You Liqing—

Such uncontrollable elements could no longer be ignored.

The City Lord’s Residence could no longer turn a blind eye.

In the distance,

the Dragon Queen rose; her once-beautiful features now void of any expression, replaced solely by cold indifference.

“It appears the Underworld is responsible…”

“City Lord Su Huai Li died at the hands of the Underworld; likely, You Liqing did as well—and even my son at Jin Guang Mansion was targeted, presumably slain by the Underworld.”

“Now, the truth is clear: my son’s death must be the work of the Underworld!”

The Dragon Queen suddenly lifted her head, her flawless face erupting in icy fury.

“The Underworld—!!!”

“I will exterminate the Underworld!”

“Everyone!”

“Everyone!”

The Dragon Queen was utterly heartbroken.

The two most important men in her life had died one after the other.

There was nothing left for her to lose.

Now—

all she craved was revenge!

Revenge without scruples!

Daocheng.

Tinglei Alley.

Private Workshop Courtyard.

Electric snakes glided across the sky as wind and thunder clashed amid the torrential downpour.

Li Che returned beneath the eaves, sitting cross-legged and changing into a clean, neat dark shirt.

His body pulsed with energy like an enraged dragon, intertwined with sparks leaping along his flesh, fortifying every cell.

The Thunder Magnetic Conduit evolved to a 1v2 state, and Li Che’s mastery over the lightning field felt more assured than ever.

Lifting his hand, countless sparks crackled around him until they coalesced into a solid thunderball in his palm.

The raging current bristled with untamed energy, lashing out at the air.

“Thunder Magnetic Electric Ball – condensed from the force of celestial lightning, merging my vital energy with divine power. Its might is formidable enough to completely suppress Meikui.”

“Brilliant Heavenly Thunder – destined to exterminate all evil!”

“Not unlike the explosion of innate divine force from a Martial Saint of Long Tai’s caliber – a display of supreme heaven-man unity unleashed!”

Li Che felt satisfied; this was only the Iv2 level of the Thunder Magnetic Conduit, with vast potential for further evolution.

He had yet to evolve his nascent divine power into a full-fledged manifestation.

His mind stirred.

[Dao Fruit: Painted Immortal (lv3 85%)]

“The Painted Immortal Dao Fruit is nearly at v4 – it will soon evolve to manifest divine power. It’s truly exciting.”

[Dao Fruit: Unsullied Heart (lv4 80%)]

[Dao Fruit: Chess Sage (lv4 75%)]

The other two Dao Fruits had also matured considerably, steadily improving.

Li Che was very pleased.

With each breath, his thoughts cleared, washing away the murky moisture lingering in the room.

He sat beneath the relentless rain at the eaves, quietly listening to the drumming on the eaves.

The sky began to lighten with the first hints of dawn.

Even the downpour seemed to relent slightly.

Li Che retrieved the Qian Kun Jade of You Liqing and Blue Bird; as for Long Tai’s, it had long been emptied.

With a sudden spark of inspiration, he tore through the barrier of the Qian Kun Jade.

“Hm?”

Glancing at their Qian Kun Jades, he couldn’t help noting something odd.

Someone like You Liqing, who had mastered the highest of the three blossoms and undergone Primordial Transformation, would naturally amass vast treasures – but…

Contrary to Li Che’s expectations, You Liqing appeared far less affluent than imagined.

Li Che flicked his fingers nonchalantly.

The Spiritual Confinements of You Liqing, Blue Bird, and Long Tai appeared obediently, saluting respectfully.

“Only seven Five-Star Divine Crystals? Master, surely you must have more, considering you’re the chief general of an entire battalion—how have you become so strapped for cash?” Li Che remarked.

You Liqing replied,

“Forgive me, Master, if I have disappointed you. Normally, I would bestow some rewards upon my subordinates.”

Li Che muttered.

You Liqing continued, “And the number of Five-Star Martial Pills is only two—compared to the Su Family’s master of Divine Eagle, Su Huai Ming, I am far poorer.”

Li Che grumbled under his breath.

You Liqing paused for a moment.

“That lower-tier divine weapon—the Golden Zhangba Snake Halberd—was bestowed upon me by my master, as part of the training for the Divine Seed Martial Art, Zhangba Snake Halberd.”

“Our master imparted two Divine Seed Martial Arts to each disciple, insisting that we channel them into an Extraordinary Door to even attempt the Martial Saint realm.”

At these words, Li Che’s eyes narrowed in focus.

“King Ping Luan’s disciple, Ji Mo Li…”

One of the Great Realm’s five major princes, an unsurpassed force even dreaded by the heads of all major sects.

“City Lord Su Huai Li is too weak, not yet meeting the standard for Divine Seed Martial Arts. Yet my three senior brothers have reached that level,”

He continued, “But which Divine Seed Martial Arts exactly they possess remains a mystery imparted by our master.”

“In fact, the world only knows my Divine Seed as Enraged Heavenly King Gaze; the Zhangba Snake Halberd, however, is known to very few.”

You Liqing said in a low tone.

Li Che nodded, still wanting to ask more.

Suddenly, Blue Bird’s Spiritual Confinement interjected, “General, did you really say that killing entire cities, wiping out families, and shedding blood… was all done by you? Is it truly so?”

Feeling the surge of Blue Bird’s intense emotions, Li Che watched with keen interest – he, too, was curious about these scandalous revelations.

You Liqing fell silent, seemingly unwilling to meet Blue Bird’s eyes.

Li Che calmly prompted, “Speak.”

“It was the Prince’s order. Although I didn’t act personally, I led the team—” You Liqing explained.

Blue Bird’s Spiritual Confinement swayed unsteadily, its complexion growing deathly pale: “Has the General’s hand been stained with blood?”

You Liqing shook his head, “I merely did not intervene.”

“And it wasn’t only in your hometown,”

he continued, “All these years, under the pretext of eradicating the evils of the Corpse God Sect, the Prince slaughtered more than one city – murdering countless people.”

As his words faded, the world grew eerily silent except for the clattering rain.

Li Che furrowed his brows, “General King Ping Luan… such wanton brutality?”

“What grudge does Nán Lihuo of Jin Guang Mansion, leader of the Qianyuan Divine Sect Branch, have with King Ping Luan?”

You Liqing lowered his head, and under Li Che’s urging, he recounted everything honestly: “Massacres, the extermination of families, deep-seated blood feuds.”

“The Prince once said that in the eyes of the strong, life is as insignificant as straw – once one generation is wiped out, another will rise.”

A flash of realization passed through Li Che’s eyes.

No wonder Nán Lihuo despised King Ping Luan so fiercely and sought to annihilate Ji Haihui.

A glint of severity flashed in Li Che’s eyes.

Massacres and family exterminations – such acts were even more monstrous than those of the Corpse God Sect.

“Ji Mo Li… what exactly is your plan?”

Surely one wouldn’t slaughter so many cities without reason?

You Liqing shook his head, “I do not know.”

“Perhaps… it relates to the Prince’s ambition to break into the Divine Calamity realm.”

Divine Calamity?!

Li Che’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“What is Divine Calamity?” Li Che asked in a low voice.

“Beyond Divine Cultivation and the Divine Essence Golden Pill lies the Divine Nucleus; above that stands Divine Calamity!” You Liqing sat cross-legged and respectfully explained.

“Furthermore, within the realm of Divine Essence, there are stages such as Primordial Transformation, Golden Body Transcendence, and Breath Retention Transformation; similarly, the Divine Nucleus realm has its own hierarchical gradations – to break into Divine Calamity, one must undergo four divine transformations:

The first transforms the fetus into functioning organs, the second gives rise to the skeleton, the third enables the limbs to shed their old form—

and the fourth transforms the head into pure divinity.”

After You Liqing finished speaking, Li Che felt as if a tumultuous roar vibrated in his ears, as divine energy began to simmer.

“A cultivator whose fetus develops fully, generating functional organs, a complete skeleton, and eventually transforming the head into divine essence, can be called a great divine being.”

“Only those who have undergone all four transformations may be considered great divine beings!”

You Liqing’s implication was clear – that the head of the Qianyuan Divine Sect was a divine being who had transcended through four transformations!

Across the entire Great Realm, such beings were few and far between.

Likewise, Ji Mo Li was at the same level!

Li Che drew a deep breath as the icy wind blew, his voice laced with determination: “Then what is the state of a Martial Saint?”

You Liqing’s Spiritual Confinement respectfully answered, “The Martial Saint realm is analogous to the Divine Nucleus. Once a cultivator attains the supreme pinnacle of the Three Blossoms, they may enter the Martial Saint realm.”

“A Martial Saint unites with the heavens, merging his martial will with the cosmos in a state of unparalleled purity, harnessing the force of nature for his own use.”

“The peerless among Martial Saints can alter the very sky with a mere gesture; their presence can make the weather shift and the winds change – a force so overwhelming that even the heavens bend to their will.”

“Much like the Divine Nucleus which undergoes four transformations, there are also four stages within the Martial Saint realm, known as the Four Openings.”

You Liqing, though currently only a Spiritual Confinement, still shone with longing and anticipation in his eyes.

He knew that even if he remained as Li Che’s Spiritual Confinement, his potential for growth was far from capped, and there was always hope for ascending to even greater heights.

Xue Dufu was the very embodiment of that hope.

“Martial Saint… the Four Openings?”

Li Che’s eyes sparkled with new light.

“What are the Four Openings?”

“They are: Opening the Core Pill, Opening the Qi Sea, Opening the Mountain Path, and Opening the Heavenly Gate.”

Crack, crack, crack!

The rain pounded incessantly.

Li Che gathered the Spiritual Confinements of You Liqing and the others like chess pieces, placing them strategically on the Cosmic Chessboard.

For a brief moment, he felt disoriented.

Surveying the spreading droplets, he slowly exhaled.

In life, one can only see new vistas after surmounting a mountain; in cultivation, whether martial or divine, it is the same.

Through his conversation with the Spiritual Confinements, Li Che finally grasped the true peak of cultivation – the stratification of the highest realms.

Divine Nucleus’s Four Transformations and the Martial Saint’s Four Openings…

Li Che couldn’t help but recall that during the divine summoning, a mysterious blue finger had appeared amidst the Bizarre Temple – a terrifying show of power that even today sent shivers down his spine.

Who was the owner of that blue finger? Perhaps a great divine being of the Divine Nucleus realm? Or even a peerless Martial Saint who had unlocked the Heavenly Gate?

Maybe… someone who transcended both?

Li Che’s eyes gleamed as every hair on his body stood on end; having created the Five Elders tier mechanical beasts with both the might of Dragon Elephant Vajra and his cultivation, he now clashed fiercely with You Liqing.

A surge of pride and self-satisfaction welled up inside him – he felt that in this world, he already had the strength to protect his wife and daughter.

Yet, Li Che knew deep down that he was still treading on thin ice.

“But it is precisely this challenge that makes it worthwhile – I will steadily climb until one day, I reach the apex, becoming the pillar that ensures the safety of my wife and daughter.”

He rose as the rain abated.

Li Che glanced towards the horizon where the dark clouds began to disperse.

He retrieved a Divine Crystal and handed it to his Painted Immortal Clone, urging every clone to train diligently.

Stretching his limbs until every joint creaked, Li Che lapsed into a state of contentment.

The death of You Liqing was sure to send shockwaves throughout Daocheng.

But what did that have to do with Li Che, a humble master of Divine Eagle cultivation?

Leaving Tinglei Alley, Li Che stepped into a winding lane.

The dim light spilled softly over the drizzle.

After days apart, Big Black Dog seemed to have gained some weight again; Li Che circled his gaze around the dog, who immediately grew wary, anticipating that familiar, irritating pat on the head.

Boss, dressed in a white outfit, sat at the doorway, listening to the tinkling of wind chimes while leisurely puffing on a cigarette.

Li Che’s mood brightened as his earlier gloom dissipated. He strolled into the restaurant.

“Boss, I’m moving into the Divine Sect soon – that means I’ll see XiXi every day, and I can bring her to the restaurant daily.”

Li Che said with a smile.

At his words, the Boss’s eyes lit up and Big Black Dog perked up instantly.

Big Black Dog stuck out its tongue.

“Finally, you little shit managed to do something right!”

Boss snuffed out his cigarette, a rare slight smile playing on his usually indifferent face.

“Just wait.”

Then, Boss rose and strode into the kitchen in his billowing white attire.

Li Che, clad in his dark shirt, sat back in a chair with his legs crossed, feeling supremely content.

“Dog, come here!”

Li Che beckoned to Big Black Dog.

Big Black Dog immediately narrowed its eyes.

“Give me a rub – one day, I’ll bring XiXi to play with you.”

At those words, Big Black Dog’s round eyes widened; it knew all too well that when Li Che hit the restaurant, his gaze never softened.

A dog can be killed, but never humiliated!

Even Big Black Dog had its limits!

Big Black Dog gritted its teeth in silent indignation.

After a few moments,

Li Che gently petted the dejected dog at his feet as if consoling a small wife who felt wronged.

In the dog’s large, soulful eyes, it seemed as if seething tears of burning passion were welling up.

Its sleek, black fur felt as smooth as the finest satin; once touched, it glided like a slick layer of oil yet without any greasy residue, as if a gentle breeze danced among each strand.

Accompanied by the sensation of wind between the fur, Li Che couldn’t help but smile as he gently caressed the dog’s head.

Yet his mind drifted back to the Cosmic Chessboard.

Every time he stroked Big Black Dog’s head, he sensed the Seal of the Corpse God, suppressed within the Chessboard, trembling continuously—

Until, after its final tremor,

the refining of that Seal of the Corpse God

was finally complete.

Relying on the dog’s might!

It had been successfully refined!