Chapter 281: Moonlit Resurgence

Nightfall deepens as a brilliant moon hangs high, its silvery light cascading across the courtyard. Spring breezes make the willow branches sway gently, and the fragrance of blossoming catkins fills the heart with warmth.

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It sounded as though papers were being slowly charred by flames, a soft, curling rustle that sent chills down the spine.

Almost as if tiny insects were nibbling relentlessly.

“Spiritual Confinement—”

A deep, resonant voice emerged, echoing the hoarse chants of ancient rites, as if tearing open a gateway to death.

It summoned the souls of the departed from the depths of oblivion.

Creaking and groaning, an eerie, cold aura surged from the courtyard, swirling above everyone like a vast, unearthly portal.

Thread upon thread of black silk rose slowly, mingling with the moonlit shadows of the severed, fierce head of the Dragon Queen as she transcended toward the Martial Saint realm.

They gathered like droplets of darkness, merging bit by bit.

Massive, profound, and pitch-black—…

The jet-black dragon silhouette soared ten zhang high, nearly filling the entire courtyard. Its overwhelming, fierce aura—exclusive to the Martial Saint level—stirred howling winds.

Inside the courtyard.

Everyone, clad in black robes, braved the gales as their garments fluttered; behind their masks, each face was inscrutable as they looked upward at the obsidian dragon.

Gradually, the dragon’s form became clearer; the darkness receded as if the dying aura returning from the netherworld was being washed away.

Revealing azure dragon bones that emanated a faint, somber glow, draping over its form—horns, whiskers,

scales, and those clear, blue dragon eyes were all vividly real!

This was the Dragon Queen during her fierce struggle with Li Che, ignited by the bloodline of the Dragon God.

A thunderous roar and a resounding dragon call exploded across the courtyard.

Slowly, the mighty, twisting ten-zhang dragon form reverted to that of the Dragon Queen.

Eyes closed, then opening—her breathtaking, blue eyes shone in the moonlight as if they might glow.

“Spiritual Confinement, return!”

Dragon Queen Ao Yuxin had been revived!

Li Che, his massive build accentuated by his Cute Cow Mask, watched indifferently as the human-shaped form, with vacant eyes, transformed into the Dragon Queen.

Once all had cleared, the Dragon Queen’s gaze immediately fell upon You Liqing.

That You Liqing—helmet and visor of golden armor raised—now wore a complex expression as he regarded the Dragon Queen.

Silence reigned over the entire courtyard.

Li Qingshan, masked with a Cat Face, stood amidst the fierce ones, too timid to speak.

Both the Dragon Queen and You Liqing…

Though neither had reached Martial Saint status in life, in death they were resurrected by the Underworld Ogre, both now boasting Martial Saint strength.

Even Li Qingshan felt a hint of excitement.

It seemed that death only made one stronger!

In such comparisons, perhaps death wasn’t so dreadful after all.

Of course, Li Qingshan’s thoughts were on something else; his eyes flickered with softness, inner conflict, and a trace of longing—

No one paid heed to what Li Qingshan was thinking.

After all, only two living souls remained in the courtyard at that moment.

Li Che, uninterested in guessing Li Qingshan’s thoughts, observed the Dragon Queen, waiting for her reaction. If she showed any sign of defiance or reluctance…

then Li Che would grant her a true death.

To Li Che, death achieved through Spiritual Confinement was the only real end.

The Dragon Queen looked toward the burly Ogre.

A complex emotion flickered across her impeccable features.

So it turned out—

You Liqing had ultimately died.

Yet, he was resurrected in this very manner.

Now, she truly understood.

But for some reason—

within Ao Yuxin’s heart, not only was there no repulsion but also a sense of release, joy, and delight.

Even though—

the Ogre was the true culprit behind the death of her, his son, and her lover.

Yet…

the Ogre could revive her beloved older brother, You Liqing.

“Dragon God Clan Ao Yuxin, saluting you, Lord.”

The Dragon Queen performed the salute.

Without resistance, completely submissive, even a hint of glee shone through.

Li Che’s face, hidden beneath the Ogre Mask, remained expressionless.

Seeing such an obedient and subservient Dragon Queen, the murderous intent he had long coiled within slowly dissipated.

Enough—for now, the Spiritual Confinement banquet would have to wait until the next feast.

You Liqing, releasing a sigh of relief, was joined by Long Tai’s startled shriek. In the distance, Blue Bird, arms crossed,

snorted.

“Not bad,”

Li Che remarked with genuine admiration.

He looked at the remarkably compliant Dragon Queen with unexpected approval.

Had never expected her to submit so decisively without a trace of struggle.

Li Che thought that subduing the Dragon Queen’s Spiritual Confinement might be tricky.

After all, he had done too much to her—killing her son, her lover, and even personally slaying her dragon form.

Sure enough—

the heart of a woman is forever enigmatic.

Even a maternal dragon’s heart is hard to decipher.

Still, my Xiao Ya remains the purest of all.

At least now, the Dragon Queen was a Martial Saint-level existence. Though only just awakening to that level, she was among Li Che’s top-tier demonic forces.

With Huang Jianjiu and You Liqing, plus the Dragon Queen, that made three Martial Saints.

The Blood God Jiuyang Vajra Ape barely reached Martial Saint strength, still lagging behind true Martial Saints.

The Dragon Queen, a formidable figure from the Dragon God bloodline, was born with top talent and an incredibly tough corporeal body.

More useful than the Vajra Primate, indeed.

Most importantly,

Li Che’s eyes gleamed as he said,

“Transform Dragon.”

He looked at the Dragon Queen coolly.

“Here.”

Respectfully, the Dragon Queen responded. In the next moment, her five fingers clenched as her jet-black hair whipped wildly downward. The two dragon horns on her forehead began to emit a blue, resplendent glow.

Azure dragon bones spread outward. Accompanied by a deafening, earth-shaking dragon roar, the Dragon Queen spun in place and soared skyward, transforming into a ten-zhang tall, blue-armored divine dragon!

Li Che stepped forward, and as if by teleportation, appeared directly above her head.

Riding the dragon in flight, hands clasped behind him, his black robe billowing, his aura piercing the skies.

Within the shrouded expanse of the Cosmic Chessboard, after the armored divine dragon streaked across the sky, Li Che returned to the courtyard.

The Dragon Queen reverted to her human form, quietly standing beside You Liqing, her lashes fluttering as her eyes occasionally scanned him.

She pursed her lips—desiring to smile, yet knowing she must remain as solemn as her Spiritual Confinement status demanded.

But she couldn’t hold back; she simply couldn’t.

Oh, to die gloriously, Ao Yuxin!

Why didn’t you perish sooner?

Then you could have reunited with your dear brother You Liqing much earlier!

For a moment, the Dragon Queen’s gaze toward Li Che bore a trace of melancholy.

Li Che furrowed his brows.

“Lord, why didn’t you kill me sooner?”

The Dragon Queen Ao Yuxin looked both aggrieved and pitiful.

Li Che replied,

“And you still blame me?!”

“Shut up,” Li Che said coolly.

“Oh.” The Dragon Queen pursed her lips before turning to You Liqing, smiling radiantly.

You Liqing looked a bit bashful, not daring to meet her gaze.

“Hmph!”

In the distance, Blue Bird snorted so hard that his nostrils nearly split!

Long Tai hefted his crocodile-headed axe, his laughter threatening to burst forth as he watched the spectacle.

King Ping Luan Ji Mo Li—

The so-called ‘Green-Crowned King’?

Li Che was speechless.

However, King Ping Luan cared little for the Dragon Queen. Even his treatment of Ji Haihui had been icy, merely using her as a pawn to sacrifice in Jingguang Prefecture.

Li Che suspected that Ji Mo Li had long known about the discord between the Third Prince and the Dragon Clan. Bringing Ji Haihui with the Dragon God blood was just a ploy to deliver that Yulian Yin Divine Sword.

If the Yulian Yin and Yang Divine Swords were to merge, their quality might reach that of a mid-tier Divine Weapon among the Four Officials—or even higher.

“Yulian Yang Divine Sword—”

A strange glint flashed in Li Che’s eyes.

XiXi had become Lü Taibai’s protégé and the Young Sect Leader of Qianyuan Divine Sect. Among the divine weapons granted by Lü Taibai, it seemed there was a Yulian Yang Divine Sword!

“No wonder… in the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple, the Yulian Yang Divine Sword never manifested. It had long been taken!”

Li Che felt a sudden clarity.

No wonder Ji Mo Li, parading with a sword in the eerie sanctuary of the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple, failed to attract the Yang Divine Sword.

Li Che cared little for these grudges and vendettas.

He turned to the Dragon Queen, who kept drifting closer to You Liqing, and said, “What kind of person is King Ping Luan Ji Mo Li?”

Li Che asked in a low voice.

After the Underworld killed Ji Haihui, Su Huai Li, and You Liqing, and even slayed the Dragon Queen—

King Ping Luan Ji Mo Li surely couldn’t be unmoved.

At that moment, the latent Martial Saint will of the Yulian Yin Divine Sword, hidden within King Ping Luan, erupted with murderous intent.

Li Che sought to understand the nature of King Ping Luan Ji Mo Li.

At his words, the Dragon Queen fell silent. After a moment, she replied,

“He’s a terrifying man, inscrutable and overwhelmingly powerful.”

“Even our Dragon King of the Dragon God Clan holds him in the highest regard and fears him immensely.”

“The Dragon King ranks on par with a Martial Saint, a being possessing the status of a Divine Nucleus Great God.”

“In all the years I’ve been married to Ji Mo Li, I’ve hardly seen him.”

The Dragon Queen murmured softly,

“Every time I see him, an indescribable awe and terror overwhelms me.”

Li Che inhaled deeply upon hearing this.

He then glanced at You Liqing, who had gathered his own pieces of information about King Ping Luan Ji Mo Li.

Slowly, he closed his eyes.

In his mind, images of clashing Martial Saint wills in the eerie corridors of the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple flickered—

“Could Ji Mo Li even rank in the Divine Seed Geneology?”

Li Che inquired.

Concerning the Divine Seed Genealogy, he knew little—only that Lü Taibai ranked fifth.

Huang Jianjiu, swinging his Liquor Gourd and smacking his lips, said,

“One of the Eight Feuding Kings, King Ping Luan. With unmatched power, how could he not be in the Divine Seed Genealogy?”

“The Sect Master ranks fifth, yet Ji Mo Li stands even above him—third overall.”

Li Che narrowed his eyes.

However, Huang Jianjiu hadn’t finished,

“But Ji Mo Li’s true strength isn’t his divinity—it’s his martial prowess. At the Martial Saint Heaven’s Gate, he ranks second.”

“Meanwhile, the Sect Master falls to the seventh among fifteen.”

“Yet the Sect Master isn’t weak; only five can appear simultaneously on both the Divine Genealogy and the Heaven’s Gate.”

“Counting one for Ji Mo Li and one for the Sect Master—”

Li Che exhaled deeply.

Simultaneous listings in the Divine Genealogy and Heaven’s Gate signified balanced martial strength.

Their overall prowess was naturally even greater.

At this moment, Li Che himself was woefully outclassed—revealing his cards wouldn’t suffice.

Fortunately, now that XiXi had become the Young Sect Leader of Qianyuan Divine Sect with Lü Taibai’s protection, there was at least some assurance.

Yet, the threat from Lie Shen Pavilion and Corpse God Sect loomed enormous.

Gazing at Huang Jianjiu and You Liqing, he asked, “During the hunt for the Dragon Queen, did everyone remember who intervened?”

“For Lie Shen Pavilion and that half-God Corpse of the Corpse God Sect—”

“That half-God Corpse—find it.”

Li Che said gravely.

Sure enough, Corpse God Sect had a contingency hidden along the Lingnan Path—a half-God Corpse concealed. Li Che sought to unravel Corpse God Sect’s true nature.

“Here,”

Huang Jianjiu and a suddenly liberated You Liqing responded immediately.

“Brother Liqing, I’ll come with you—wait for me!”

The Dragon Queen called out hastily.

Li Che snapped his fingers with a glance.

Instantly, the Dragon Queen transformed into a black Spiritual Confinement chess piece and fell onto the Cosmic Chessboard.

The cosmos seemed much calmer now.

Li Qingshan, wearing his Cat Face Mask, asked, “Should I head over to Lie Shen Pavilion?”

“They only care about resources. If they can furnish them, they can do anything.”

“Did XiXi make it onto Lie Shen Pavilion’s bounty board? If so, hand it over to me.”

Li Che nodded silently at Li Qingshan, “Alright.”

He had planned to assign the matter to Li Qingshan anyway. With Feilei Chess Pieces at his disposal, Li Qingshan’s courage had grown considerably.

The Cat Face vanished, and soon the entire courtyard grew tranquil.

In a snap, numerous clones and Spiritual Confinement forms disappeared.

Li Che sat cross-legged in the courtyard.

“Inhale, exhale… feel the gusts stir,

merging with the night wind and stirring the silhouettes of trees outside the courtyard, shattering the moonlight into mottled fragments.”

Within Li Che’s chest, the 【Dragon Elephant Vajra】 Dao Fruit gradually calmed, leaving him with unparalleled inner peace.

Slowly, his eyes opened; golden mists flowed like fragrant incense.

【Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (LV5 25%)】

With each blink, sparks danced in his eyes.

A trace of delight lit Li Che’s gaze.

After his duel with the Dragon Queen, having slain her honorably one-on-one, his Dao Fruit’s maturity leaped by 10%!

Remember, this is an LV5 Dao Fruit, whose maturity is exceptionally valuable!

“It wasn’t merely the duel with the Martial Saint; according to Dao Fruit rules, later stages make maturing ever more difficult.”

“It’s likely due to my combat style—during the fight, I exploded two Divine Seeds, breaking through mortal limits and stimulating the Dao Fruit’s excitement, hence the rapid surge.”

Li Che pondered, analyzing the rapid advancement of his Dao Fruit’s maturity.

Meanwhile, he noted that the Unsullied Heart Dao Fruit also gained a 2% boost.

This was thanks to the Spiritual Confinement of the Dragon Queen.

“The Chess Sage Dao Fruit still needs to break into LV5; similarly, the growth of the Painted Immortal Dao Fruit and Thunder Magnetic Conduit is slow…”

“Lately, the Xiangong Dao Fruits haven’t improved much. Perhaps I could attempt carving a half-Saint Divine Condor. That might accelerate the Xiangong Dao Fruit’s maturation.”

“Additionally, there’s the mechanical beast. I could try crafting one of the Five Elder rank. The Vajra Primate’s quality is just from being bolstered by Vital Radiance, compensating for its shortcomings.”

Amidst the intimidating pressure from Ji Mo Li,

Li Che couldn’t help but consider how to enhance himself further. If I could upgrade the Thunder Magnetic Conduit successfully, perhaps I could research an Xiangong Electromagnetic Cannon—which would also help the Xiangong Dao Fruit mature faster.

“Thunder Magnetic Conduit—”

Li Che closed his eyes, then slowly reopened them, “There’s too much to handle. Enough—let someone else craft that 【Little Divine Thunder Shock Talisman】.”

?

With his current wealth, Li Che could certainly afford it, and within the Divine Sect there was a half-Saint of Divine Talismans, XiXi’s master. Not making full use of those resources would be wasteful.

After a brief meditation on his future cultivation path,

Li Che retrieved the Qian Kun Jade belonging to the Dragon Queen and began his favorite task—taking inventory.

Yet, having once wielded the Qian Kun Jade of Su Wenxi, the former Sect Master of the Su Family, Li Che was unenthusiastic about the Dragon Queen’s jade.

After all, before now, the Dragon Queen had merely been a grandmaster.

Sure enough, it split open like a bamboo shoot shattering its confinement.

Li Che began to count.

There were plenty of Fifth-Stage Lower Divine Crystals—around fifteen in all—but only that many. Not a single Fifth-Stage Middle Divine Crystal was found.

Yet, it was better than nothing.

Next were the Martial Pills. To Li Che’s surprise, there were quite a few varieties, though the highest quality was only a Fifth-Stage Lower one, and just one in number.

Quite disappointing.

Was this the Princess’s Qian Kun Jade?

Its surface shone brilliantly, yet it felt so frigid to the touch…

Li Che’s brows furrowed.

Perhaps the overwhelming prosperity of the Martial Saint Qian Kun Jade had clashed with him, leaving a massive psychological gap regarding the Princess’s jade.

There was no surprise in his martial prowess.

Li Che sighed regretfully.

As expected, the uncherished Princess…

poverty echoed through her dragon life.

“This is—”

Suddenly, Li Che sensed something.

In a moment,

a luminous orb, about the size of a fist, began to materialize in his palm—radiating a warm, pure glow.

With his brow split by a trickle of blood, Li Che activated his Star Plucking Gaze.

Infinite fragments revealed the truth and returned to their pristine state!

A burst of golden light swept over the orb.

In an instant, information flashed:

【Mid-Level Ice Bone Dragon Yuan Pearl】

This was—

a Dragon Pearl!

Li Che’s eyes lit up!

After the Dragon Queen Ao Yuxin’s ultimate metamorphosis, she shattered the Dragon Pearl, releasing all her Dragon Yuan energy in a fiery burst to empower herself.

Thus, though her flesh turned to ash and the Dragon Pearl had long been destroyed,

a hidden Dragon Pearl remained within the Qian Kun Jade!

A treasure indeed!

A little bit of wealth patched things up for Li Che!

A decent haul this trip!

“The Dragon Yuan energy within the pearl contains overwhelming might. If it could be refined into a divine pill, that would be ideal…”

“But Qianyuan Daocheng has no half-Saint divine pills. To refine a Dragon Pearl, I must go to Guangling Daocheng—”

Li Che shook his head. He had no time to travel so far.

“I’ll simply refine and absorb it directly.”

“The power of Dragon Yuan is truly enticing. My body should be able to withstand it.”

Li Che glanced at the Dragon Pearl. Without hesitation, he rose to his feet.

With a long exhalation, gusts of wind roared as all sounds—the whistling air, the swirling clouds, even the rustling leaves—ceased in an instant.

Inside his chest, the 【Dragon Elephant Vajra】 Dao Fruit pounded as if a timeless ancient bell had been struck repeatedly by a mighty monk’s fist.

That pounding resonated as if waves were bursting from within his flesh, rippling through every fiber of his being.

The enlightenment feedback of the Dao Fruit flowed out like a pristine stream!

In a flash, Li Che’s vision burst into splendid color.

A long roar echoed; his jet-black hair whipped wildly in the night wind as his spine trembled, each vertebra cracking like a giant dragon’s tail ready to pierce the heavens!

Every muscle twisted as Li Che’s fingers clutched the Dragon Pearl, crushing it into oblivion!

Boom!

An overwhelming, fierce surge of Dragon Yuan energy erupted!

Pure, scorching, and immensely powerful!

In that moment, Li Che’s Eight-Treasure Xuanjin Thunder Dragon Precious Stick—a Sixth-Stage Upper Divine Weapon—vibrated uncontrollably.

The enlightenment of his Dao Fruit surged continuously while Li Che wielded the Thunder Dragon Precious Stick, smashing forward.

A terrifying torrent of energy shattered under his strike!

A thunderous sound ripped through the courtyard!

A demonic python materialized behind Li Che, howling into the heavens!

The Dragon Yuan energy, unleashed from the crushed Dragon Pearl and amplified by the Dao Fruit’s enlightenment, granted Li Che divine aid!

Having mastered the Divine Seed Martial Arts Zhang Mo Mang Spear, Li Che pressed on relentlessly, launching attack after attack towards the master realm!

“Dragon Elephant Vajra!”

Li Che’s eyes burst with golden light, as though a colossal golden serpent had materialized and entwined around him,

rubbing against his taut muscles and shattering their limits!

Every fiber of his body swelled as his bones resounded in a cacophony.

The Dragon Elephant Vajra technique magnified his strength tenfold, a hundredfold, a thousandfold!

Unleashed completely, his power surged past his mortal limits!

Boom!

In a surge of ecstasy, Li Che’s flesh contracted and expanded as every pore opened, ravenously absorbing the Dragon Yuan might!

Behind him, the golden demonic python finally awakened with divine intent!

Time lost all meaning as the courtyard was engulfed by chaotic currents, howling, raging, and exploding in tumult!

Gradually, everything subsided into silence.

The courtyard was quiet; even the sound of a pin drop could be heard.

Li Che slowly opened his eyes. The golden demonic python behind him had taken on the form of a true giant serpent, its scales vivid and its fangs dispersing like splinters.

“Divine Seed Martial Arts Zhang Mo Mang Spear—Mastery achieved!”

Li Che opened his eyes as his body’s bones clattered in unison.

“Third Divine Seed! Entering the Spirit Gate!”

There he stood in the courtyard, his third Spirit Gate illuminating his spine like the North Star in a clear sky!

As the Divine Seed integrated into the Spirit Gate, Li Che’s formidable flesh subtly transformed.

There was a faint, tingling sensation—not painful, just noticeable.

After all, his body had long since undergone transformation.

But ushering a third Divine Seed into the Spirit Gate was perilous indeed.

Li Che stood at the center of the courtyard, a bulge on his back pulsating with each breath as it expanded and contracted!

When the Divine Seed completely guided the third Spirit Gate,

Li Che gulped down the Dragon Yuan energy, morphing it into his own Inherent Divine Guts—a hundred and eight tracts of Inherent Divine Guts!

As the Inherent Divine Guts surged and transformed,

Li Che snapped his fingers, sword light dancing, and began practicing the Six Desires Evil-Exterminating Pure Yang Sword Technique.

This newly initiated Divine Seed Martial Art was only at its infancy; Li Che still had much work ahead.

Under the moonlight, his sword qi intertwined intensely.

Now that his daughter had become a disciple of Divine Nucleus Great God,

as her father, he couldn’t slack—he had to strive harder.

Otherwise—

if one day his daughter surpassed him, it would be utterly embarrassing.

Three days later,

a grand feast was set on the Grand Plaza before the Mountain Gate of Qianyuan Divine Sect. Three thousand tables were arranged, nearly inviting every power in the city.

For three consecutive days, the feast celebrated the installment of the new Young Sect Leader.

The whole city rejoiced.

The banquet was lavish to the extreme, with every rare delicacy present.

Many martial artists savored the sumptuous spreads, marveling at the Divine Sect’s generosity. After all, a venerable sect like this had a long and profound legacy.

Li Che and Zhang Ya, as XiXi’s parents, received utmost care, with the heads of every major family coming forward to toast them.

Zhang Ya beamed, her cheeks flushed as she drank cup after cup, as if aflame.

Li Che didn’t urge her to slow down; if she was in high spirits, she should drink freely.

XiXi sat beside Zhang Ya, devouring the sumptuous dishes. Her little belly, like a bottomless pit, swept the food away.

“Daddy!”

“I’ve gathered all my Lunar Wheels!”

XiXi boasted while eating, joyfully raising her little feet.

Sparks burst forth from beneath her feet—

both feet radiated fiery light accompanied by the clanging of metal. In an instant, twin Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheels materialized!

They lifted XiXi, making her seemingly float as she walked, each step as smooth as treading on air!

After her little show, XiXi returned obediently to Li Che’s side.

A picture of sweet compliance.

Lü Taibai, his silver hair billowing, stood casually. Beside him, the Sect Master’s Wife sat, swinging her feet.

Lü Taibai occasionally helped her with a bowl of dishes, while the Sect Master’s Wife Xuan Qisha munched happily.

After sharing a drink with Lü Taibai, Li Che served a roasted Spiritual Chicken Leg to XiXi.

Nearby, Gongshu Jingjun walked over with a smile and clinked his cup in a toast.

“Master Li, now that XiXi is the Young Sect Leader, surely you can finally relax and head to Shendiao Ridge to carve the Divine Condor.”

“You’ve inherited Elder Sun’s half-Saint Divine Condor legacy. Don’t waste this gift—”

“If Elder Li could someday become a Divine Condor master, that would be a cause for great celebration.”

Gongshu Jingjun laughed as the Sect Master’s Wife, clutching a chicken leg, burst into hearty laughter.

“Although he’s XiXi’s father, how easy is it to become a Divine Condor master?”

“Just reaching the half-Saint level only meets the threshold to see the Divine Condor—a modest start.”

The Sect Master’s Wife remarked.

Li Che nodded in agreement.

“Gongshu Lingzhu, I haven’t been slacking at all. I’ve been studying Elder Sun’s legacy recently and have mastered it. I think I can attempt to craft a half-Saint Divine Condor.”

Li Che said.

At his words, Gongshu Jingjun paused mid-drink.

A look of astonishment flashed across his eyes.

“Are you serious?”

Li Che was barely twenty-four; had he just absorbed Elder Sun’s fervent half-Saint legacy so quickly?

Just like that?

The Sect Master’s Wife chuckled softly.

“Young man, don’t think reaching the threshold means you can effortlessly craft a half-Saint Divine Condor. Seeing the mountain from afar and reaching its peak are two very different matters.”

“Too many half-Saints exhaust their lifetimes aiming for just an inch of mastery—but that inch is as distant as the ends of the earth.”

The Sect Master’s Wife sighed deeply.

Her words echoed her own struggle—so close, yet forever out of reach.

Li Che smiled, his eyes twinkling as he turned to the Sect Master’s Wife, “Sect Master’s Wife, shall we wager?”

The Sect Master’s Wife wrinkled her nose, “Why do you gamble so much, just like XiXi?”

“Little Jinzi, here, have some,”

she said, offering a chicken leg to XiXi, who turned around dazed.

It was as if someone had praised XiXi’s beauty?!

Lü Taibai’s eyes flickered toward Li Che, “What are we wagering?”

“Hey! Lao Bai, could you stop scheming for me?!”

The Sect Master’s Wife tapped her little feet indignantly.

Li Che smiled, “A little gamble is good for the spirit.”

“Let’s wager: If within a month I can carve a half-Saint Divine Condor, I’ll have you craft that 【Little Divine Thunder Shock Talisman】 for me.”

“And if I fail, then within a year, you’ll carve ten Divine Condors as I require.”

The Sect Master’s Wife, seeing that Li Che didn’t intend to misuse the talisman, agreed heartily.

“Then let the Sect Master and Lingzhu bear witness—”

Li Che poured wine and raised his cup in a toast.

Gongshu Jingjun added, “Are you serious?”

He gulped, as if taken aback.

Isn’t Li Che just too arrogant?

A month—

to carve a half-Saint Divine Condor?

Could he, like XiXi, be a prodigy for all eternity?!

Many assumed Li Che was merely at the beginning of his half-Saint journey, a fledgling consumed by ambition.

Li Che drank from his cup.

A wry smile curled his lips.

Suddenly, as Li Che set his cup down, a tiny Mud Pellet on his brow twitched.

On the Cosmic Chessboard,

a black chess piece rapidly coalesced.

It was none other than Huang Jianjiu’s Spiritual Confinement piece.

Astonishingly—

it had been shattered ten times in succession?!

Who was it?!