Chapter 289: Thunder’s Trial

Li Che was convinced that this was no mere illusion!

Lü Taibai had purposely set these daunting rules—as if they were designed just for him.

Perhaps Lü Taibai already suspected Li Che’s true identity.

The deaths of You Liqing, the Dragon Queen, and earlier, Su Huai Ming, the Divine Eagle Master of the Su Family, formed a chain of connections that, when examined, pointed unmistakably to Li Che.

Every thread of it bore his mark.

Lü Taibai’s cultivation was immensely powerful, his senses extraordinarily sharp; when it came to the existence of the Divine Nucleus Cultivator’s Four Divine Transformations and the Transformation of the Womb into Divinity, Li Che was at a loss.

Yet, with a single sword strike, Lü Taibai had already driven back that terrifying Demon Monkey—the monstrous guardian incantation of the temple—forcing it back into the Bizarre Temple.

That strike left Li Che in utter awe.

Such a sword thrust was far beyond anything Li Che could currently hope to defend against.

Unless one could maneuver with a Feilei Chess Piece… or hide within Mo City…

Without witnessing that strike firsthand, Li Che couldn’t be sure whether Lü Taibai’s sword blow would have obliterated even space itself.

If that were the case, even maneuvering with a Feilei Chess Piece would be hampered!

However, thanks to the evolved Chess Sage Dao Fruit, the mobility of the Feilei Chess Piece had been enhanced and refined, allowing for significantly quicker relocations amidst turbulent spatial distortions.

In any event, Li Che’s intuition told him that Lü Taibai was creating an opportunity for him to obtain the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff.

The rules were strict: one’s cultivation could only reach the First Stage Martial Saint or the Divine Nucleus Cultivator’s One Divine Transformation.

Beyond that, any dare to trespass into the bizarre temple would invoke Lü Taibai’s wrath—the sword in hand would be stained with blood.

Li Che harbored no doubt about Lü Taibai’s resolve and murderous intent.

Exhaling slowly, Li Che said nothing but nodded slightly in acknowledgment of the Sect Master’s trust in him.

Crack, crack—!

Lightning danced wildly across the Heavenly Dome, intertwining as if the absence of the guardian demon’s divine aura from the Bizarre Temple had lifted its oppressive weight.

Thus, the half-Saint Divine Eagle’s tribulation lightning began to gather force.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

Thunder roiled among the clouds like enraged, roaring dragons.

The sound of shattering air echoed through the heavens.

One by one, mighty warriors drifted back.

Monitor Hong Shifo, Inner Sect Elder Fang Han Shu, and other strong figures returned to the courtyard of Shendiao Ridge.

Their expressions held various emotions, yet none betrayed their inner thoughts.

Zhao Fangzhou, burly and with a wild beard, couldn’t help but ask Lü Taibai, “Sect Master, is it true that only those at the First Stage Martial Saint can enter?”

Lü Taibai nodded gently.

Zhao Fangzhou’s own cultivation reached the Second Stage Martial Saint and he had mastered the pinnacle of Qi Sea techniques—so his interest in entering the bizarre temple to retrieve the Mythic Weapon was genuine.

Only after reaching the Martial Saint and Divine Nucleus stages would one truly grasp the importance of the Mythic Weapon.

Its significance spanned future cultivation and even the key to opening the Heavenly Gate and achieving the Transformation of the Womb into Divinity!

Lü Taibai said nothing further; Zhao Fangzhou awkwardly retracted his words, realizing that as an elder of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, his earlier query had been a bit over the line.

After all, Zhao Fangzhou still longed for that divine weapon.

Rumble—

Accompanied by claps of thunder.

All eyes were fixed on the half-Saint Divine Eagle tribulation lightning sculpted by Li Che.

Li Che set XiXi down and ruffled her hair.

“XiXi, open your eyes wide! Watch daddy as he goes to catch the lightning loach!” Li Che declared.

Instantly, XiXi’s eyes sparkled brilliantly.

Lightning loach?!

Could daddy really be off to chase such an exciting creature?

Could he actually capture lightning from the sky?

At five years old, XiXi’s mind couldn’t fathom such a spectacle, filling her with eager anticipation.

The onlookers, too, grew curious at Li Che’s words.

But soon, they witnessed exactly what Li Che meant by “catching lightning.”

It was as literal as it could get.

Crack, crack, crack—!!!

A thunderous explosion echoed, as dazzling lightning and roaring thunder burst forth—the colossal, half-Saint tribulation lightning resembling countless grim webs unfurling amidst the swirling dark clouds!

Li Che lightly tapped the tip of his foot.

He hoisted the intricate Divine Eagle, carved with every strand of monkey hair into the form of the Two-Hearted Great Sage, and transformed into a flash of light as he shot forward.

In that moment, many Divine Eagle Masters, who had been immersed in replays and sketches of the Divine Eagle, snapped to attention, fixated on Li Che.

“Facing the tribulation… Elder Li’s cultivation seems rather ordinary; surviving this half-Saint tribulation won’t be easy.”

“Most half-Saint Divine Eagles belong to Divine Nucleus Cultivators, so their tribulation is less taxing. For an accomplished Divine Practitioner like Elder Li to surpass this…it’s truly rare.”

“Divine Practitioner… can he survive this half-Saint tribulation lightning?”

……

A number of Divine Eagle Masters exchanged worried whispers.

Yun Haiyang of the Yun Family and Zhou Tianshui of the Zhou Family were even more tense than Li Che himself.

After all, Li Che was their prized possession—a freshly emerged half-Saint Divine Eagle whose potential significance for all of Daocheng was immense.

If he were to perish from the tribulation, it would be a tremendous loss.

They had even brought out their precious healing elixirs from the Qian Kun Jade, ready at any moment.

If Li Che were nearly knocked to death by the tribulation lightning, a dose would immediately sustain him—saving him would be worth any cost.

Elsewhere,

The Sect Master’s Wife floated beside Lü Taibai, arms crossed, a solemn look on her delicate face.

“Husband, aren’t you worried at all?”

“If Elder Li doesn’t pull through, XiXi will be left fatherless.”

The Sect Master’s Wife said.

Nearby, XiXi widened her eyes in incredulous surprise and turned her head to look over.

“XiXi will never be fatherless! Daddy is the best—he promised to catch lightning for you and he always delivers!”

“Daddy would never deceive you!”

Angrily, XiXi’s brows furrowed as she crossed her arms and puffed out her little belly, glaring discontentedly at the Sect Master’s Wife.

Even if you are XiXi’s master, she wouldn’t allow you to speak ill of her daddy!

The Sect Master’s Wife quickly covered her mouth and apologized, realizing that her words had been a bit too harsh for an adult.

“Don’t worry—if Elder Li truly cannot withstand it…with so many Martial Saint and Divine Nucleus experts around, not to mention Inner Sect Elder Fang Han Shu, it’s nearly impossible for him to meet his end.”

Lü Taibai chuckled softly and patted the little ones on their heads.

Boom—!

His words faded into the distance.

Far off, Li Che had already taken position. Thunder roiled across the Heavenly Dome as a cobalt lightning dragon emerged from the clouds—its features detailed: dragon whiskers, nose, eyes, and mouth all vividly apparent!

Every detail was alive with vibrancy!

Li Che landed with the half-Saint Divine Eagle on an open area outside the Shendiao Ridge complex.

Then he looked upward and gently set the Divine Eagle down.

Boom!

A deafening roar shook the heavens as if the very light had been snuffed out.

Cobalt lightning plummeted from the heights with unparalleled speed!

Standing beside the half-Saint Divine Eagle, Li Che’s eyes shone brilliantly.

This was the heavenly punishment triggered when a skill touched the threshold of divine mastery!

Li Che didn’t quite understand why the heavens reacted or why such a punishment was meted out…

Was it because the Divine Eagle had amassed too much divine aura?

Or perhaps because it so perfectly captured the essence of the Temple Spirit—normally confined to the bizarre temple—that its manifestation in the mortal world had awakened divine retribution?

Thus, the celestial grief punishment was unleashed?!

Whatever the cause, Li Che now faced the tribulation head-on!

Contrary to the terror and solemnity one might expect, Li Che felt nothing but exhilaration—his entire body tingled, and every cell seemed to cheer.

Deep in his chest,

The Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit began to pulsate vigorously.

Still, Li Che had to conceal his true strength; he couldn’t reveal too much and shock everyone.

Even though his physical body could easily withstand the heavens’ lightning, this half-Saint tribulation was hardly a challenge!

The Mud Pellet at his brow throbbed, and a Golden Pill leapt forth.

It was, indeed, that very Six-Desire Purging Sword Immortal Pure Yang Golden Pill previously showcased!

The Golden Pill spun rapidly, unleashing potent divine power.

In that moment, Li Che’s body erupted in dazzling lightning—a flash even brighter than the heavens’ own descent!

……

The onlookers watching Li Che tackle the half-Saint tribulation stood dumbfounded, flabbergasted.

Even Lü Taibai’s eyes shone with surprise.

“Is that the Thunder God Body from the Five Elements Divine Body?!”

“It sure looks like it—let’s call it that.”

Lü Taibai’s silver hair fluttered amidst the stormy winds and crashing thunder.

“Li Che’s Golden Pill is none other than the Six-Desire Purging Sword Immortal Pure Yang Golden Pill! As a second-rank official of the Imperial Watch, he’d only entered the Sword Immortal’s Bizarre Temple once—could that be when he inherited the Sword Immortal legacy?” queried Monitor Hong Shifo, his eyes wide with astonishment as he carried the chessboard.

Many had noticed Li Che’s Golden Pill before, and now everyone clearly sensed its power.

“The Four Supreme Golden Pills… they’re top-tier within the Divine Sect.”

“Elder Li is only twenty-four, right? Judging by his disciples’ ranks, he could easily make it into the inner circle’s Authentic Transmission Ledger!”

“Hey, don’t forget—the Empress’s upcoming Paotao Festival, couldn’t that be our Qianyuan Divine Sect’s ticket? XiXi represents the under-ten group while Elder Li could represent our Authentic Transmission Ledger…

“Father and daughter competing together? That’s truly unusual!”

Voices erupted around them.

This even left several Qianyuan Divine Sect elders momentarily stunned.

Inner Sect Elder Fang Han Shu exchanged glances with Lü Taibai as if confirming a silent pact.

Elder Zhao Fangzhou squinted and then added, “Elder Li’s Divine Eagle skills are impressive, but his overall strength is lacking—and he’s so studious, immersed only in his research, utterly devoid of battle experience…”

“The Paotao Festival isn’t about Divine Eagle techniques, Elder Li… he might not shine as much.”

Zhao Fangzhou’s words were well-grounded.

But no one paid him any heed.

Fang Han Shu turned to Lü Taibai; their eyes met as if sealing an agreement.

Elder Zhao looked rather embarrassed.

Gongshu Jingjun and Tang Xiejia, leaders of Shendiao Ridge, naturally supported Li Che, deliberately ignoring Zhao Fangzhou’s comments.

And Third Elder Ding Zi, always calm and refined, contributed nothing to the debate.

Thus, Zhao Fangzhou’s words went unanswered.

“……”

“Sort yourselves out, old man!” Zhao Fangzhou grumbled.

Lü Taibai’s silver hair fluttered as a flicker of emotion passed his eyes.

“Father and daughter joining the Paotao Festival together? That would be quite a spectacle. If both secure honors and win a Paotao from the West Queen Mother of the Bizarre Temple, it’d be a tremendous boon.”

Lü Taibai nodded, clearly intrigued.

Boom—!!!

In the distance,

thunder split open as Li Che and the lightning dragon clashed head-on!

The lightning dragon crashed downward with a fierce roar, with wind and thunder in tandem. Every scale shimmered with a cobalt glow, as if carved by nature’s own hand from lightning.

Li Che’s five fingers spread out like divine spears, unleashing five brilliant waves that rippled through the air!

All his power channeled through the Thunder Magnetic Conduit!

His fingers, like dragon claws, caressed the lightning dragon—so gentle that it seemed like a soft pat, almost as if an insult would be too harsh.

Yet, that lightning dragon was clutched firmly by Li Che’s tender grip!

Thunder intertwined violently as countless lightning arcs danced around, evaporating the falling rain into mist.

Every pore of Li Che’s body became a swirling vortex, drawing in the thunder!

Perhaps the ravenous Thunder Magnetic Conduit fed his very bones a refreshing surge of energy, for Li Che no longer cared to hide his true might.

His qi and blood burst forth!

Boom—!!!

The collision between the lightning dragon and Li Che erupted as if the dragon had been torn apart by his very fingertips.

In midair, a brilliant burst of cobalt fireworks exploded!

It was as though Li Che had seized a lightning dragon and crushed it to pieces before everyone’s eyes!

Ripples spread through the void as thunderous shockwaves swept over, shattering raindrops into a hazy, powdery blur!

Amidst the surging arcs of lightning, Li Che stood firm—like a thunder god incarnate!

Simply exhilarating!

His hair whipped about as the thunder silently fed off his very being, dissolving into the vastness of the heavens.

In the distance, exclamations erupted one after another.

Many Divine Eagle Masters were utterly stunned!

“A Grandmaster of the Divine Guts! Elder Li’s martial prowess is truly exceptional!”

“Divine Practitioner, Divine Guts Grandmaster… he is indeed powerful! Though this tribulation was challenging, he made it through without serious harm!”

“Now, no one can stop Elder Li from officially becoming a half-Saint Divine Eagle!”

……

Following the exclamations were cheers of joy. For the Divine Eagle Masters, the birth of a new half-Saint was momentous—an opportunity to learn directly from his expertise, provided they could join Shendiao Ridge.

In that moment, many of them began eagerly anticipating the Divine Eagle Masters’ examination three years hence, fists clenched in excitement.

“Wow—!!!”

“Fireworks! Catching loaches! Daddy is amazing—playing games XiXi has never even dreamed of!”

“XiXi, one day you’ll play too, just like daddy catching lightning loaches!”

XiXi erupted in joyful cheers.

Ever the fan of fireworks, XiXi was completely captivated in that instant.

Meanwhile, Jin Taisui, standing quietly behind XiXi, winced as his lips twitched, though his eyes gleamed with astonishment.

Could it be…?

This tribulation seemed almost too easy to overcome!

Even though the half-Saint tribulation was deemed not overly difficult, daddy’s effortless display of power was as routine as eating and drinking!

Surely, are both father and daughter monsters?!

After the tribulation, Li Che suppressed the pulsations and feedback from the Thunder Magnetic Conduit within him.

Clad in his humble elder robes, he drifted gracefully, carrying the half-Saint Divine Eagle now infused with the unique aura of the heavens after surviving the celestial tribulation.

Pensively, Li Che realized that this ethereal quality suspended between heaven and earth truly defined the half-Saint Divine Eagle.

“Can you feel it?”

“It is the will of the heavens—a fusion akin to the celestial resonance of the Martial Saint and the soul of the Divine Nucleus cultivator. For those of us striving for vocational enlightenment in the half-Saint realm, it must merge into our Divine Eagle, our Divine Talisman, our Golden Pill.”

The Sect Master’s Wife, noticing the astonishment in Li Che’s eyes, smiled as she began to explain.

After all, she had long tread the half-Saint path before him. Though she was a half-Saint of the Divine Talisman, the feeling of the heavens’ will was the same.

“In truth, by stepping into the half-Saint Divine Eagle, you have already set one foot in the realm of the Divine Nucleus Cultivator.”

The Sect Master’s Wife gazed at Li Che with sparkling eyes.

“Because you sensed the will of the heavens ahead of time, your future as a Divine Nucleus Cultivator is nearly assured—unless you meet an untimely end along the way.”

She spread her arms in dismissal.

“Bah, bah, bah!”

No sooner had she spoken than XiXi, arms on her hips and little belly puffed out, stamped her foot and spat.

“Master, you’re at it again with that foul mouth!”

XiXi was furious, discontentedly exclaiming that it was unlucky to say daddy might die!

The Sect Master’s Wife Xuan Qisha couldn’t help but sigh—what a protective little girl!

“The Divine Nucleus journey is still far off. But I will work hard—thank you for your well wishes, Sect Master.”

Li Che smiled warmly, his demeanor gentle and unassuming.

The Sect Master’s Wife was visibly pleased, thinking, ‘Elder Li always speaks so refined and courteous—how could his daughter be so rough? She must have taken after her mother!’

Li Che’s successful tribulation had suddenly made him the center of attention, with many Divine Eagle Masters flocking over to congratulate him.

Gongshu Jingjun, the majestic leader of Shendiao Ridge, beamed broadly.

With a grand gesture, he declared, “This is a momentous occasion for Shendiao Ridge! For the next three days, there will be a grand feast, and all Divine Eagles at Shendiao Ridge will be discounted by twenty percent!”

“Congratulations to Elder Li!”

“Hail to the new half-Saint of Daocheng!”

“Cheers, well done!”

……

The enthusiastic celebrations by the Divine Eagle Masters left Li Che feeling both humbled and favored.

Lü Taibai departed, accompanied by XiXi and the Sect Master’s Wife, riding on sword light.

Before leaving, Lü Taibai mentioned the upcoming “Paotao Festival” to Li Che.

“The Paotao Festival is a grand event hosted by the Empress. Since the founding of the Great Realm, it has been held seven times. It’s called the Paotao Festival due to its connection with the West Queen Mother’s Bizarre Temple in the Divine Capital.”

Lü Taibai, his silver hair flying as he strode on sword light, said to Li Che,

“The Paotao Festival gathers the prodigies of the Great Realm across two age groups: ages five to fifteen form the ‘Chick Dragon’ category, and those between fifty and fifteen make up the ‘Heroes’ category… The champion wins the wondrous [West Queen Mother Paotao]—a marvel of heaven and earth.”

Lü Taibai smiled at Li Che, “So if you and your daughter can both participate and display your grace in these contests, it will be a tale like no other.

“And really, it’s all for the Paotao. Even if you lose, you’ve gained experience and knowledge. At your age, you’re already eligible for future festivals.”

Lü Taibai’s words lit up Li Che’s eyes.

Rewards or not…

Li Che wasn’t too concerned.

What mattered was being able to shine at the Paotao Festival alongside XiXi—it was, in its own way, an exhilarating opportunity.

In the end, it was Lü Taibai’s final words that sealed Li Che’s decision.

“Perhaps you aren’t familiar with the marvel that is the West Queen Mother Paotao…”

“Allow me to put it another way…”

“A single Paotao can extend one’s life by a full sixty years.”

……

……

Inside a luxurious carriage, Li Che reclined on soft cushions.

Opposite him, Yun Haiyang and Zhou Tianshui of the Yun and Zhou Families chatted enthusiastically.

As Li Che smiled in response, his mind wandered to the potential of the Paotao.

Extending life by sixty years—even if subsequent ones offered diminishing returns—made this heavenly marvel exceedingly rare and valuable.

“If only I could secure some for Zhang Ya…”

Li Che’s eyes flickered with thought.

He was confident in his and XiXi’s potential to achieve immortality, yet providing enough for Zhang Ya was a different matter.

Time would allow him to devise more plans, and so the Paotao was of utmost importance to him!

However, winning the Paotao Festival was extremely challenging.

In both the Chick Dragon and Heroes categories, the competition among the prodigies from the Great Realm—including every major Divine Sect, princely household, and ancient family—was fierce.

Seated in the carriage, Li Che pondered deeply; with two Divine Eagle Masters accompanying him, he had no time to further evolve his Thunder Magnetic Conduit.

Nie Yang drove the carriage, eventually bringing Li Che back to Daocheng.

Soon, news of Li Che’s attainment as a half-Saint Divine Eagle spread like wildfire—engulfing the entire city in an instant!

“Elder Li, is that really him?”

“Is he the same Elder Li whose daughter was just accepted as the final true disciple by Lü Taibai?!”

“This… their family is destined for meteoric rise! A daughter who stands out, and a father so formidable—only twenty-four years old as a half-Saint Divine Eagle, simply astounding!”

……

The major families were left in shock.

Su Daoling of the Su Family sprang to his feet, his eyes wide with wonder.

“A twenty-four-year-old half-Saint Divine Eagle?”

“Monsters, pure monsters…”

Su Daoling inhaled deeply, his eyes gleaming with a mix of astonishment and fervor.

“The bloodline of such a prodigious daughter—if the Su Family could unite with Li Nuǎnxi, even just the essence of Li Che’s blood would be enough to revitalize us!”

“Su Li, call Su Li over!”

“And call Su Chuyang as well!”

“Also, prepare a congratulatory gift for Elder Li—celebrate his mastery as the half-Saint Divine Eagle!”

……

Not only the Su Family but the Yun, Zhou, Zhong, Sang, and many other major families sprang into action, preparing gifts as soon as the news broke.

However, once Li Che returned to the courtyard in Liu Xiang Alley, he announced a period of seclusion.

Nie Yang, brandishing his sword, stood guard at the entrance—with a sharp, soaring sword intent that threatened anyone who dared to disturb!

It was as if saying, ‘Who approaches shall perish!’

For a moment, many visitors were effectively barred.

Just then, Li Qingshan arrived, his face beaming as he effortlessly handled the congratulators, gathering all the gifts.

Li Qingshan knew Li Che’s temperament—how could one refuse such offerings?

And once Li Che retreated into Liu Xiang Alley,

he clutched a Feilei Chess Piece and vanished in an instant.

……

……

Daocheng.

Tinglei Alley.

Private Workshop Courtyard.

Li Che returned to his courtyard where a gentle spring rain pattered on the black tiles, producing crisp sounds.

Sitting in the center, his body radiated heat, twisting and evaporating every falling droplet.

“Hoo—”

“Hiss—”

Breaths mingled with the rising steam!

Li Che’s eyes shone as if lit by a golden glow, gradually flooding with light.

Throughout his body, cobalt lightning arcs danced wildly, sizzled, and whipped the air into a howling storm.

The clamor of a thousand birds echoed as the storm raged—yet Li Che’s heart sunk into profound serenity.

Deep within his chest, the pulsating Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit broke the silence—its rhythmic beat like the long-forgotten chime of an ancient temple bell atop a snowy mountain!

Its vibrations shook his heart!

As if a torrent of mountain snow were cascading down!

Li Che felt as if he had become a being forged of thunder, with every inch of his flesh exploding with electric brilliance.

Most importantly, the surrounding energy field seemed to rotate—every raindrop and gust of wind was twisted, none able to reach him.

Cross-legged, Li Che appeared ensnared within countless invisible threads descending from above and emerging from below, forming a perfect closed loop!

Slowly, Li Che raised his hands and clapped his palms together forcefully.

In that moment, he lifted off the ground, floating freely.

His ancient elder robe billowed majestically, its broad sleeves whispering in the wind.

Within his eyes, currents of electricity danced.

Before him, light flickered like flowing fire.

In a flash,

[Dao Fruit: Thunder Magnetic Conduit (lv3 0%)]

[Dao Fruit lv3 Evolve for Nascent Divine Power ‘Thunder Magnetic Conduit · Divine Sky’]

Later, after fiddling with things on the daughter’s side—possibly due to her persistent crying from pain—writing entered a state of flow again. Truly, it has been an otherworldly day. Thanks to the first alliance leader of this book, Wangshi, and generous supporters. Old Li, I can’t add more tonight. Tomorrow, I promise to write more in two updates. Thank you! I’m off to sleep!