Chapter 327: Martial Trials and Fateful Journeys

Martial cultivation by means of combat?!

Fang Han Shu’s eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on the young man in a black robe trudging through the blizzard.

It was as if a white river flowed in his eyes, surging with waves of excitement!

A well-read man with an encyclopedic knowledge, Fang Han Shu, as the Grand Elder of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, oversaw the library—essentially granting access to virtually all of the sect’s collection.

Over the years in the Qianyuan Divine Sect, he had perused countless books, including many on martial cultivation.

Ever since the rise of divine nature and the decline of pure martial arts, the pure practice of combat free from divine influence had become extraordinarily rare.

Fang Han Shu’s brow furrowed as he looked again, noticing that the furnace strapped on Li Che’s back had seemingly vanished, as though it had been nothing more than an illusion.

“Father!”

XiXi scrunched up her face, reciting the lessons assigned by Fang Han Shu with determined focus.

As Li Che emerged from the swirling snow, XiXi immediately sensed his arrival, looking up with her features lighting up in delight and breaking into a brilliant smile!

She dropped her books, sprang up from the bamboo chair, and with sparks flying from her feet, her twin golden wheels spun at high speed as her whole body transformed into a streak of light racing forward.

In the blink of an eye, XiXi collided into Li Che’s embrace.

Yet despite crashing into his arms, XiXi was immediately held tight, restrained completely. Even with the fierce momentum of her wind-fire golden wheels plunging downward, not an iota of her force could budge Li Che—not even a step.

“Father, you’ve got such strength!” XiXi exclaimed, stunned.

It seemed the situation had changed—if even the Great Emperor XiXi wasn’t strong enough…

Li Che rubbed XiXi’s head while sensing the stability of her inner divine vision within her Mud Pellet, a trace of pity flickering across his face.

For the Yulian Dao Infusion concealed within XiXi was akin to a ticking time bomb—once her cultivation made a breakthrough and she attempted to condense her Divine Nucleus, it would erupt completely.

At that moment…

There would be no clear-minded divine will from the Third Prince Temple Spirit to suppress the Yulian Dao Infusion.

That is why Li Che felt such pity—how tragic that XiXi, so young, was already entangled by such terrifying danger. Anger churned fiercely in his heart.

This time, with the help of Dog Master, the summoning of the divine had obliterated that Golden King Tower in the Bizarre Temple, barely easing his tension. Yet it was not enough!

That Golden King Tower dared to use his daughter as a pawn, treating her merely as a tool. Li Che’s anger burned—for the Divine Capital still housed a Heavenly King Tower, though it belonged to the Four Sovereigns level.

But Li Che…

had his eyes set completely on Him. Coincidentally, he was headed to the Divine Capital too. Sooner or later, he would destroy Him!

Suppressing the murderous intent burning within him, Li Che ruffled XiXi’s head and, holding her close, made his way to the Grand Elder’s courtyard. “Grand Elder.”

Li Che stowed away his malevolent emotions and managed a gentle smile.

“Elder Li, what a rare pleasure—thank you for visiting my Bamboo Tower…”

Fang Han Shu stroked his beard and chuckled softly.

He held Li Che in high regard, not only due to Li Che’s hidden identity but also because Li Che was one of the rare Divine Condor Half-Saints of Qianyuan Divine Sect. As the Grand Elder, Fang Han Shu had long considered himself a pillar of the sect and eagerly hoped to see it flourish.

“It is my fault for not coming sooner to pay my respects,” Li Che said with a rueful smile of apology.

Fang Han Shu was merely teasing. After a brief chat over tea on the eaves, as Li Che was about to inquire about matters pertaining to pure martial arts, Fang Han Shu moved first and retrieved a massive jade box from a Qian Kun Jade.

“Inside this jade box lies the past incarnation of the Painted Immortal by the divine condor master, Huang Mei Great Master of Xiao Lingyin Temple. Although his divine nature was slain by the Sect Leader, his divine condor technique and other skills offer a glimpse of his genius. I hope it will help elevate your divine condor techniques even further.”

“With the Sect Leader in seclusion, allow me to present this jade box to you,” Li Che said without any hesitation.

“Then my sincere thanks to both the Sect Leader and you, Grand Elder.”

Li Che accepted the enormous jade box and, upon opening it, discovered a divine condor riddled with blade marks but meticulously restored. Although its surface was marred by cracks and repair marks, its divine nature had long faded while about thirty to forty percent of its divine intent remained.

Casting a glance, Li Che noted that the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit in his chest stirred slightly, leaving him quite satisfied. Clearly, this Sacred Divine Condor could still enhance his divine condor techniques.

Alas, it was not a complete Sacred Divine Condor.

A complete Sacred Divine Condor was exceedingly rare—produced solely by divine condor masters, and since Qianyuan Divine Sect had lost its divine condor master long ago, all its Sacred Divine Condors had long been exhausted. There simply weren’t any extras for Li Che to study or refine further.

The Sacred Divine Condor was essentially the trump card for every Divine Sect and faction, an extremely precious resource.

For cultivators with the method of creating duplicates, the Sacred Divine Condor served as an excellent vessel for their duplicates, even maintaining up to 90% of the original’s strength. For example, Huang Mei Great Master’s technique involving his past, present, and future incarnations required the Sacred Divine Condor.

“If it can help your divine condor techniques, all the better. And if you manage to attain enlightenment and become a divine condor master… it would be our Qianyuan Divine Sect’s honor, strengthening our competitiveness among the eleven routes of Dajing.”

Fang Han Shu smiled and said.

“What is it that Elder Li wishes to ask?” Fang Han Shu inquired.

Li Che’s expression turned serious. “I’ve recently made a modest breakthrough in martial cultivation. I’ve taken a keen interest in pure martial arts, and having heard of your vast knowledge, I wish to inquire about any information regarding pure martial techniques.”

He added, “Or perhaps you could recommend some books about pure martial arts…” His words momentarily left Fang Han Shu slightly stunned.

“Pure Martial Arts?”

“Elder Li, what has prompted your sudden interest in pure martial arts?”

Sitting in a bamboo chair and sipping hot tea, Fang Han Shu smiled. “Pure martial arts have largely withered. Nowadays, the number of pure martial fighters is probably countable on one hand.”

“To practice pure martial arts, one must renounce all divine nature, follow ancient methods to forge one’s physique, nurture one’s vital energy, ignite the Three Flowers, and strengthen the essence…”

“So, so, so…”

“Within Qianyuan Divine Sect’s eleven routes, only the True Martial Divine Sect of Tongyou Dao may still uphold the pure martial tradition. However, even they mostly rely on divine nature to refine their body and hasten martial cultivation.”

Fang Han Shu sighed.

“The decline of pure martial arts is a result of the overwhelming tide of destiny. With the appearance of the Bizarre Temple and divine nature inundating the world like a sea, pure martial fighters, with their short lifespans and grueling training that leaves them riddled with internal injuries, simply cannot compare to those who bolster their physiques with divine nature.”

Li Che fell silent at these words.

Indeed, the days of pure martial cultivation were far more arduous than he had imagined.

Yet now, with the help of the Dao Guide, Li Che sensed a slight inclination toward pure martial transformation. His pure martial physique had been refined to nearly ninety percent purity.

He could clearly feel the advantages of pure martial arts—its foundation was more solid, its strength more robust, and its martial prowess more ferocious! In contrast, the divine martial path, intertwined with divine nature, somehow lacked that raw, iron-blooded flavor.

Fang Han Shu glanced at Li Che, puzzled as to why he would suddenly inquire about pure martial arts. After all, Li Che, though trained in martial arts, was never a pure martial practitioner—Fang Han Shu was well aware of his background.

In truth, given today’s environment, without a pure martial tradition, it was virtually impossible to cultivate true pure martial arts. Stroking his well-groomed beard, Fang Han Shu remarked, “Of course, the biggest issue with pure martial arts isn’t just that.” “Even though its cultivation is slow, with harsh limitations and a short lifespan…”

“Yet it isn’t impossible to overcome these challenges and persevere. There will always be those who pursue it with undying passion.”

Fang Han Shu looked out at the swirling white snow and the icy landscape, exhaling softly, “The greatest problem with pure martial arts is that the path has been severed.”

His voice carried a tinge of melancholy and wistfulness.

As soon as Fang Han Shu finished speaking, Li Che’s body suddenly trembled. “Grand Elder, what do you mean by the path has been severed?”

“Through divine cultivation, by advancing through the stages of Divine Nucleus, and after the Transformation of the Prenatal to Divine, one can perceive the Dao Essence and harness it to overcome the divine tribulation.”

“In contrast, in the realm of martial cultivation, only after ascending to the peak of martial mastery—reaching the summit of the Martial Saint—and opening the Heavenly Gate—within which the amassed divine nature erupts can a top-tier Martial Saint undergo refinement and transformation, absorbing the Dao Essence to achieve enlightenment… essentially to become a Divine Martial Expert.”

“Of course… you might also call it a Martial God. In reality, pure martial arts don’t have a realm called Martial God; the highest level for a pure martialsman, as noted in the classics, is merely Martial Saint. In truth, Martial God and divine tribulation essentially both hinge on the mastery of Dao Essence, so there isn’t much difference between them.”

Fang Han Shu continued in an unhurried tone, explaining that the difference lay in emphasis—Martial Gods tend to fortify the body while divine tribulation bolsters the soul and magical techniques.

Li Che frowned and asked, “So, are you saying that the pure martial path ends at Martial Saint?”

Stroking his beard with a light chuckle, Fang Han Shu replied, “That’s one way to see it, but the main reason remains that pure martial practitioners cannot sense the Dao Essence.” “And without the Dao Essence… how can one become a Martial God?”

Li Che was momentarily taken aback.

Fang Han Shu’s words exploded in his ears like a thunderous bell, reverberating in his mind. Pure martial artists… couldn’t sense the Dao Essence?!

That couldn’t be right…

His pure martial physique had been refined to 85%, making his celestial senses ever sharper. He could clearly feel wisps of smoke-like strands floating in the air—it was the Dao Essence!

So why did Fang Han Shu claim that pure martial practitioners couldn’t perceive it?

Taking a deep breath, Li Che asked in doubt, “Do pure martial artists truly have no way to sense the Dao Essence?” Fang Han Shu gave him a quizzical look, as if wondering why Li Che was so fixated on this issue.

After all, the man had read extensively and even achieved a top literary rank. Surely he wasn’t just spouting empty boasts?

“In the ancient True Martial Divine Sect text, ‘Tian Duan Pure Martial’, there is a clear record—a note by the Sect Founder proclaiming, ‘Alas! Alas! Alas! The path of Tian Duan Pure Martial exceeds human strength! Without Dao Essence, what is the path? Where can it be found?'”

Fang Han Shu explained further, revealing the origin of the ancient text. Li Che’s eyes hardened.

So pure martial artists truly couldn’t sense the Dao Essence?

Was it the fault of the True Martial Divine Sect’s founder, or was there something wrong with Li Che himself? Or perhaps…

It was because they… weren’t pure enough?!

Seeing Li Che look a bit dazed, Fang Han Shu said, “You can search for books on pure martial arts in the Bamboo Tower so you know where your heart stands.” “But since you’ve already embarked on the martial path, don’t rashly switch to pure martial arts.”

“Pure martial arts… are just too difficult.”

Fang Han Shu sighed, “Perhaps in another century, pure martial arts will vanish entirely.”

Following Fang Han Shu’s guidance, Li Che clasped his fists and entered the library to search through books on pure martial arts.

Time spun on—a month slipped by as effortlessly as sand through one’s fingers, leaving only a handful remaining.

During that month, the entire Qianyuan Dao City had grown quiet, with few disturbances.

Much had happened in Qianyuan Dao City, rendering minor incidents incapable of stirring anyone’s heart.

Over at Xiao Lingyin Temple, however, following the deaths of Huang Tuo and Wu Gang—and the slaying of Huang Mei Great Master’s past incarnation—a barefoot monk had arrived bearing a letter of inquiry from Huang Mei.

But that letter was instantly obliterated by a sword Qi from Lü Taibai, who had just left seclusion.

“Who killed Huang Tuo, Wu Gang, and the past incarnation of Huang Mei Great Master? It was the assassin of the Underworld and Lie Shen Pavilion’s Hunting King—what does that have to do with me, Lü Taibai? What does it have to do with Qianyuan Divine Sect?!”

Lü Taibai said coldly.

Soon after, the barefoot monk who had trudged a thousand miles was ensnared by Lü Taibai’s flying sword and sent hurtling a thousand miles away by a burst of sword Qi. Lü Taibai knew exactly how to deal with those self-righteous bastards.

As long as he didn’t lack moral fiber, he wouldn’t allow them a chance to stand on high moral ground and assail him.

After this minor incident, Lü Taibai, speaking as the Sect Leader of Qianyuan Divine Sect, announced that he would soon lead a team to the Divine Capital to participate in the Paotao Victory Festival. This news, like a boulder thrown into a lake, sent ripples through Qianyuan Dao City.

Major families began selecting outstanding young talents from their clans, sending members along with the team to bolster the Qianyuan Divine Sect’s presence, as well as to get a glimpse of the world in the Divine Capital. Every edition of the Paotao Victory Festival saw various major families in the city send their children along.

This year was no exception.

Although the spots were limited, the major families welcomed the chance as a rare opportunity. Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Snow danced in a crystalline world. In the Bamboo Library of the Grand Elder’s residence…

Li Che sat quietly beneath the eaves, engrossed in his reading. He wasn’t just perusing books on pure martial arts, but also those on divine cultivation and beyond. Over the course of this month, his life had adopted a strict routine.

With martial cultivation opening eight fissures and the feedback from his Dao Fruit ended, breakthroughs were unlikely in the short term. Li Che wasn’t in a rush—he had just completed the peculiar transfer of his sixth divine seed via the Qi Men, but the seventh stubborn divine seed wouldn’t budge.

Meanwhile, the Dragon Elephant Crucible of Pure Martial cultivation was slowly refining the purity of Li Che’s pure martial essence. Yet progress had become ever more gradual—after a month, it had only improved by 1%.

Additionally, on the divine path, the Fa Tian Xiang Di Luminous True Primate Golden Pill, whose power had been suppressed by the might of the Heavenly King Tower’s Temple Spirit on the Cosmic Chessboard and then absorbed by the summoning of divine nature, meant that the True Primate Golden Pill was just one step away from breaking through to the Divine Nucleus.

Both his martial and divine cultivation were just a step short. At first, Li Che was rather anxious. But sometimes, the more you rush, the slower the progress.

Amidst his disciplined routine, Li Che gradually found inner peace.

Training, reading, carving, and studying the nearly peerless Mechanical Beast—everything was progressing methodically.

Closing his book, Li Che, clad in a black robe, stretched lazily as glints of light danced before his eyes.

【Name: Li Che】

【Bond: Li Nuǎnxi (daughter)】

【Dao Fruits: 【Xiangong】 (lv5 65%), Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv6 0%), Unsullied Heart (lv5 55%), Chess Sage (lv5 35%), Painted Immortal (v4 72%), Thunder Magnetic Conduit (lv3 60%), Dream Celestial (lv3 5%)】

【Nascent Divine Powers: Immortal Craft: Qianxi Hand, Dragon Elephant Vajra: Ascend the Tower, Pure Heart: Spiritual Confinement, Chess Sage: Great Avalanche, Painted Immortal: Ink Death, Thunder Magnetic Conduit: Divine Thunder, Dream Celestial: Dream Butterfly】【Divine Powers: Star Plucking, Radiant Rise, Divine Guidance, Wuji, Bai Yujing】

【Dao Guide: Dragon Elephant Crucible】

【Hint: For every year your bond grows, a Dao Fruit is formed】 Many Dao Fruits with various levels of maturity caught his eye.

The maturing of these Dao Fruits brought Li Che great joy—as if he were an honest farmer, eagerly awaiting a bountiful harvest.

Although the maturity of the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit plateaued after lv5, with the aid of rare blueprints for a peerless Mechanical Beast provided by Tang Xiejia, its maturity was slowly improving.

And for that near peerless 【Twin-Winged Little Yinglong King】, Li Che had even begun to refine its intricate mechanical components—though compared to the Blood-Yang Nine Divine Vajra Ape Mechanical Beast, its parts were more numerous, delicate, and demanded higher quality materials and precision in mechanical imprinting!

Other Dao Fruits too were enhanced by various means.

For instance, after Su Daoling mastered the art of drawing the Little Divine Thunder Talisman, Li Che’s Thunder Magnetic Conduit made significant progress; it would soon reach lv4 and be ready for a second transformation.

“Is it time to set sail?”

Fang Han Shu, seated in a bamboo chair, noticed Li Che closing his book and standing. Stroking his beard, he smiled, “It’s time. The Sect Leader has prepared the boat; we must depart now.”

“Although Lingnan Dao is far from the Divine Capital, the Dajing Dynasty’s emperor has commissioned several divine seed excavators to carve out a great canal running north to south, easing commerce and boosting the nation’s strength.”

“This canal has significantly shortened the journey from Lingnan Dao to the Divine Capital and allowed the capital to maintain tighter control over the southern territories.” “By boarding the nine-level Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Ship from Qianyuan Dao City and cruising north along the canal, it will take just over half a month to reach the Divine Capital.”

“Otherwise, the mountainous routes of Lingnan Dao, reliant solely on flooddragons and carts amid harsh weather, would waste far too much time,” Li Che said with a clasped fist. “Thank you, Grand Elder, for the tea and the company these days.”

Fang Han Shu chuckled as he stroked his beard, “No need to thank me—it’s always a pleasure to share a good book with someone. Reading alone is rather lonely.”

Li Che smiled and took his leave from Fang Han Shu.

“Strive hard at the Paotao Victory Festival—Paotao can extend life… that itself is remarkable,” Fang Han Shu said from the eaves as he stood.

“By the way, Elder Li, one more thing,” Li Che said, his tone laced with curiosity.

“You are now a Divine Condor Half-Saint. Upon reaching the Divine Capital, you can visit the headquarters of the Imperial Watch to be evaluated for the rank of Special Guest Minister. While the first rank might not carry much weight, the Special Guest Minister title is another matter entirely.”

“Should you earn the title of Special Guest Minister, even if only nominal, you’d effectively be associated with the Imperial Watch. That prestigious title would afford you a measure of security in the Divine Capital.”

Li Che was momentarily stunned. Special Guest Minister…

In truth, he hadn’t considered it before; yet Fang Han Shu’s words rang true.

Without lingering any longer, Li Che left the Bamboo Library and departed for the Elders’ Court in the Disciples’ City.

The courtyard was abuzz with activity.

Countless children gathered at the gate, chattering and crying with fond reluctance as they wished XiXi farewell.

Figures like Gong Yuanliang and Gongyang Yu, whose talents were insufficient, had missed the chance to witness the Divine Capital. Their eyes reddened with sorrow at their incapacity to accompany the Great Emperor XiXi north.

They could only bid a regretful farewell to the Great Emperor XiXi, who generously embraced each child, sharing her warmth with all.

Their faces flushed with excitement and emotion.

When Li Che returned and saw the scene, his heart sank.

But as soon as XiXi spotted him and cried out, “Father!”, she ran over, instantly brightening Li Che’s mood. Li Che held her close as Zhang Ya finished packing and stepped out.

Li Qingshan and Granny Mu had also packed their belongings, planning to join the journey. With Li Che’s current status, bringing several companions along was not a problem.

“I plan to take you and Granny Mu to see the world in the Divine Capital… Back in the day, we never got to see the capital—it’s simply too far and perilous.” “Dajing Divine Capital, known as the center of the world under Dajing, boasts the Three Pure Ones’ level Bizarre Temple and a forest of formidable warriors—a place coveted by cultivators everywhere.”

Li Qingshan held Granny Mu gently, his eyes gleaming.

Old Chen, however, chose not to go. Despite XiXi’s earnest invitations, Old Chen smiled and waved, “I’m too weak; I won’t trouble myself. Divine Capital may be grand, but I’ll remain in Dao City. Send word when you succeed—I hope both you and your daughter return triumphant with a Paotao!”

Old Chen rubbed XiXi, who clung to his leg, his eyes tender with affection.

Watching the little girl he once protected as an infant now grown so lively and clever, he was filled with joy. Uncle and Aunt also came to see Li Che and his group off—also bidding farewell to Li Chengzhou.

Nie Yang waited outside in a carriage, holding his sword with eyes closed in deep focus. Li Chengzhou was led away by his parents as they exchanged parting words. “Off you go, little comrades!”

On the carriage, XiXi, seated beside the golden Tai Sui, tiptoed and waved goodbye to Gongyang Xiu and the others in the courtyard as the carriage wound its way down the mountains to the banner at the Divine Sect Mountain Gate.

Several magnificent sedan chairs had already gathered at the gate.

These were the teams Qianyuan Divine Sect was dispatching to the Divine Capital to participate in the Paotao Victory Festival.

Upon arrival, XiXi saw Yun’e, draped in a fox-fur cloak and cradling a chubby little rabbit, along with a slightly plumper Chubby Kid Zhou Peng who now looked even more rotund.

Besides them, the prodigies from the Dragon Child Register were also set to travel together.

Ever since XiXi ascended to the throne, the Dragon Child Register had never faltered. Subsequent registers featured prodigies like Lü Qingxuan, Yang Yi, Yun’e, Zhou Peng, Chi Chengyan, Zhuo Banxiang, and more.

They were all headed for the Dragon Child Victory Festival, where they would compete with the prodigies from the other eleven Divine Sects. Lü Qingxuan and Yang Yi’s eyes burned with fierce determination.

At the Divine Sect Mountain Gate beneath the Cosmic Board’s inscription, Lü Taibai set up a small altar to offer a simple tribute to the Sect Founder before boarding his carriage and drawing the curtain.

Besides Lü Taibai, the inner gate’s second elder, Zhao Fangzhou—a hot-tempered powerhouse brimming with combative spirit—was chosen to lead the team.

This wasn’t Zhao Fangzhou’s first time leading a team.

Dragons neighed as hooves kicked up snow, the roar of the carriage echoed.

The Divine Sect procession entered Qianyuan Dao City, heading toward the dock on the banks of the Cosmic River.

At the dock lay the nine-level Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Ship—a colossal vessel adorned with upturned eaves and carved balustrades spanning nine levels, intricately decorated and awe-inspiring!

Dao Master Yue Huanglong, draped in a crane-patterned robe, oversaw the workers as they helped the young nobles from various families board the ship.

When the Divine Sect convoy arrived, a flash of sharp caution and envy flickered in Yue Huanglong’s eyes. For the past month, he had largely hidden away in the City Lord’s Residence, too wary to show his face for fear that Lü Taibai might come searching for him behind his mask.

Li Che pulled back the curtain, got off the carriage holding XiXi, and with one hand, led Zhang Ya along.

“Divine Condor Half-Saint Li, as you head to the Divine Capital, please take care. You are the pride of Qianyuan Dao City. Losing another Divine Condor Half-Saint would be too great a loss,”

Yue Huanglong greeted warmly, while Li Che, gentle and refined-looking, seemed harmless on the surface.

In truth, though, Li Che harbored deep murderous intent toward Yue Huanglong. The man’s atrocities—massacring the Su Family and splashing filth on the Underworld—were unforgivable.

Yet Yue Huanglong’s prowess was top-tier. Li Che judged him to be at the apex level, though not on par with Lü Taibai, who stood at the very pinnacle of the Heavenly Gate—but still formidable.

Moreover, as the Dao City’s leader, Yue Huanglong enjoyed the backing of the ancient city’s divine formation and numerous stratagems. Li Che was in no hurry; he would wait until his cultivation reached its breakthrough.

The group boarded the Yellow Dragon Ship for the first time. XiXi gleefully dashed with a group of youngsters from the bow to the stern and back, while Li Che and Zhang Ya spread bedding in the cabin. Although the massive ship would reach the Divine Capital via the canal in less than half a month, that period was not short.

“All aboard—set sail!” roared the ship’s captain, whose mastery rivaled that of a grandmaster.

Immediately, the sails sprang up, the north wind howled, and the ship began to slowly pull away from the dock, parting the roaring waters of the Cosmic River as it headed north along the canal.

On board the nine-level Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Ship, everyone gathered at the railing, gazing into the distance. Li Qingshan sat with Granny Mu, admiring the picturesque scenery.

Zhang Ya clutched Li Che’s arm, her head resting against him with a contented smile. She vowed to accompany her husband and daughter, journeying across a thousand mountains and rivers, forever walking side by side.

Dao Master Yue Huanglong stood on the damp stone ledge at the dock, arms folded and draped in his crane robe, with Yan Jing—the formidable commander of the Divine Guard Army at his side.

“We’re finally setting out… It’s a pity that Lü Taibai is personally leading the team. Otherwise, if Qianyuan Divine Sect’s convoy were to meet its end in the canal, our future prospects would surely be diminished,” Yue Huanglong said with a gentle smile.

“I, too, shall be much more at ease in Qianyuan Dao City,” he added.

Yan Jing, in a clanging tone, couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you speak so casually about such grim matters?”

“Especially that young Sect Leader Li Nuǎnxi—such astounding talent at six years old, able to condense a Three Pure Ones’ level divine vision. Incredible! If she grows up, she could well become another Lü Taibai!”

Yue Huanglong’s smile slowly faded as he exhaled a breath of discontent.

He looked at Yan Jing and said, “Have the Lingying send the message—Qianyuan Divine Sect’s convoy has set off, heading north along the canal.”

“Dragon God Clan… one of their sons has died. Ao Lie was a Martial Saint-level son—the apple of the old Dragon King’s eye. The old dragon is furious beyond words.”

“Well, Qianyuan Divine Sect chose the water route this time, so if Lü Taibai encounters that old dragon on the water, he’ll have his share of headaches,” Yue Huanglong mused, caressing his chubby hand.

“Prepare to disembark; let’s go take a look at the commotion…”

“If we can snag an opportunity, that would be ideal. With Lü Taibai already in play, another Li Nuǎnxi would really put pressure on them. Sometimes, one wonders how anyone can live like this…”

“Holding such an official position is truly a burden,” Yue Huanglong confided to Yan Jing.

With that, he strode purposefully toward the Dao Master’s Residence…

Meanwhile, on the nine-level Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Ship, with its upturned eaves and wind-whipped railing,

Li Che embraced Zhang Ya as he stood looking out. His eyes reflected countless intertwining thoughts. After a long moment, his gaze grew resolute, as the silent dominion of the Cosmic Chessboard at the dock seemed to withdraw. He looked out over the raging river, the wind whipping his dark hair as he grew cold.

“Yue Huanglong still…”

“Dragon God Clan still…”

“The Titled Dragon King?” A voice echoed from Tinglei Alley.

In a restaurant bathed in dim, amber light,

the Boss sat in a chair, legs crossed, flicking a rolled cigarette between his fingers as smoke curled upward. One cigarette burned down.

The Boss in his snowy white attire slowly stood, dusting off traces of ash, stretching, and then stepped out of the restaurant.

Instantly, Big Black Dog trotted off at his heels. Man and dog—black and white—merged with the swirling blizzard.

The restaurant bathed in warm orange light gradually turned transparent, fading as if it had never been there at all.

Deep in an alley, a lazy voice drifted over the wind and snow, “Keep calm.”

“It’s just the Titled Dragon King.”

“Dog, let’s go grab a bite to eat.”