Chapter 333: Tempest of the Divine Clash

An unexpected figure appeared. Without warning, the very space began to ripple.

Two silhouettes materialized out of thin air!

Perhaps to avoid disturbing XiXi and the many divine prodigies aboard the Yellow Dragon Treasure Ship, both figures had nearly repressed their auras. Yet the underlying terror they exuded was utterly fearsome.

Be it the Lie Shen Pavilion Assassin with the Underworld Yama Mask or the Monitor Hong Shifo, whose very presence activated a divine embryo through the Chessboard,

each could sense an invisible, oppressive energy!

Absolute Pinnacle!

And—

they were two absolute Pinnacles!

One was the Lie Shen Pavilion Assassin sporting the Celestial Mask, while the other—a terrifying, colossal figure wearing a black-and-white mask that split day from night—a mere glance made it seem as if countless lost souls were lamenting in unison. As if a demonic hound, as vast as the stars themselves, had risen from the earth!

The Assassin known as the Hunt King clutched his jade flute, his eyes suddenly narrowing.

“Underworld—Yama?!”

The black-and-white mask radiated an unmatched aura!

Isn’t that the Underworld Yama mentioned in the intel?

Underworld Yama… wasn’t he supposed to be battling Yue Huanglong?

He had witnessed it with his own eyes!

He had banked on that very fact. With the Yellow Dragon Treasure Ship lacking Lü Taibai and Underworld support, it was the perfect moment to strike.

But unexpectedly, barely after boarding, Underworld Yama had returned——

So quickly, he had shaken off Yue Huanglong?

No…——. That can’t be!

The Assassin’s gaze hardened as he turned to the plump figure beside Yama, wearing the Celestial Mask of the Star Killer.

That rotund figure was unmistakable—wasn’t that Yue Huanglong?

That sly old fox, Yue Huanglong…

The Hunt King Assassin exhaled sharply.

A miscalculation!

Could the Underworld really have allied with Yue Huanglong?!

They had been caught off guard by a counterattack!

With a rustling sound, the Hunt King Assassin delicately pointed his toes and, flute in hand, retreated at breakneck speed.

For that backward glance from Underworld Yama was just a look; yet the air itself seemed to compress and shatter.

Then, a phantom streaked by.

The towering figure who had stood behind XiXi suddenly appeared before him, as if he had teleported in the midst of his wild, cascading black hair.

Unfathomable!

Such shifting techniques defied imagination!

BOOM!!!

With one precise step, even as his strength was contained, the wooden planks of the Yellow Dragon Treasure Ship—crafted from mysterious Xuanmu wood—were instantly crushed, sending splinters of wood flying everywhere!

And the underworld’s cold, implacable Yama in the black-and-white mask remained unmoved.

His eyes burned with murderous intent!

Though he had reined in his aura, the barely contained burst of terrifying chi left everyone pale, as if their very life force was being brutally suppressed.

Clenched fist!

It felt as if five razor-sharp divine spears, capable of piercing the void, were gripped tightly, drawing forth five cutting, white shockwaves!

A compressed, red-hot Dragon Elephant Furnace—barely half a man’s size—roared forward with the anguished bellow of a dragon elephant!

BOOM!!!

To avoid harming XiXi,

this collision was dreadfully muted. The force had been completely internalized, yet at the moment of impact, unleashed with brutal ferocity.

In that instant, the terrifying power behind his punch sent the Hunt King Assassin hurtling like a cannonball, shattering the air currents behind him and unleashing tumultuous winds and ripples.

His entire body slammed into the roaring surface of the Grand Canal, tumbling uncontrollably, carving out a five-hundred-zhang white water surge!

The Assassin’s sleeves had long been torn apart, exposing arms as strong as steel. His celestial mask, dotted with stars, revealed a trace of astonishment.

“Incredible!”

Such power—

Top-tier Absolute Pinnacle!

According to intel, Underworld Yama—although possessing Absolute Pinnacle strength—shouldn’t have reached the top tier, right?

It was estimated he was merely at a first-class Pinnacle level——

Yet in this clash, that one restrained punch unleashed a terrifyingly pure and formidable burst of chi, a power so refined and potent it was utterly dreadful!

And as he was flung 500 zhang before finally regaining control on the water’s surface,

the eyes behind his mask contracted slightly.

BOOM!!!

The massive waves exploded instantly.

Scorching heat surged upward, evaporating the splashing water from the canal, swirling into a tempest of mist and searing heat. Massive, golden chi intertwined like coiling dragons. With each thunderous step, the river evaporated beneath him as he advanced through the mist.

The black-and-white mask—dividing yin and yang.

Its cold, ruthless killing intent froze everything beneath the heavens.

This Assassin, with his torn sleeves, showed a flash of unusual color in his eyes, yet his expression remained calm. Underworld Yama…… seemed to be slightly stronger than expected.

He had reached the pinnacle of Absolute Pinnacle!

With a thundering impact, Yama’s body leaned forward, and in the next moment, he transformed into a terrifying, golden serpentine dragon wrapped in swirling golden chi, drawing forth gyrating, sweeping energy dragons!

A mere 500 zhang apart, in an instant!

With a single fist, another blow landed!

Beneath his mask, the Hunt King Assassin’s eyes darkened, edged with determination.

In a sudden motion, his emerald-green bamboo flute lashed out. As he swung it, an endless cascade of flute notes erupted, transforming into a dense array of sharp, dancing metallic edges that smashed toward Underworld Yama’s advancing punch!

BOOM!!!

A scorching, red heat conjured a massive furnace out of thin air, crashing down overhead!

Dragon Elephant Furnace!

Li Che attacked without restraint. He concealed the scene at the back where six Qimen Divine Seeds detonated, causing them to ignite precisely at the meridian nodes with no energy leakage—bombarding his body from within!

This Hunt King Assassin was undeniably a top-tier Absolute Pinnacle.

His strength was immense, and that bamboo flute was a divine weapon of the highest order.

The clash of these two attacks resounded to the heavens—a sound grander even than the rolling thunder behind the clouds!

Time was of the essence!

Across the Grand Canal’s surface, waves churned relentlessly. Water pillars erupted from below, and the entire river, stretching across a thousand zhang, roiled mightily!

Gigantic waves, towering ten zhang high, crashed down with oppressive force.

Even the Nine-Layer Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship shook with creaks and groans.

Many divine prodigies aboard were tossed about by the violent surges.

Nie Yang gripped his treasured sword tightly, shielding XiXi.

BOOM!!!

A deafening explosion!

Water burst apart and, drenched and disheveled, Zhao Fangzhou emerged from somewhere onto the water’s surface,

gasping for breath. With a sweeping long blade, countless slashes erupted, holding back the raging tide.

Meanwhile, Monitor Hong Shifo invoked his divine might. A colossal, divine countenance appeared, and under the transformation of the Four Divine Beasts, his divine embryo shone like that of a real immortal.

He managed to help the Yellow Dragon Treasure Ship withstand the terrifying shockwaves, preventing it from capsizing.

“This is an Absolute Pinnacle clash at the top tier—…”

“It’s like gods battling!”

With his white hair streaming and robes billowing, Hong Shifo, bearing the Chessboard on his back, let his massive sleeves fly as his eyes shone with resolve.

Zhao Fangzhou’s body pulsed with flowing chi, evaporating the splashed water. His windblown hair settled on the deck as a tremor of lingering fear passed over him.

“The gap… is too vast.”

“A Hunt King Assassin truly cannot be opposed.”

Zhao Fangzhou exhaled sharply.

But being outmatched is normal—if you could hold your ground, that’d be miraculous!

Not everyone qualifies as a Hunt King Assassin. Besides being personally invited by the mysterious Lie Shen Pavilion Leader,

excellent strength is required—only top-tier Absolute Pinnacles make the cut.

In the entire Great Realm, there are only a few Absolute Pinnacles.

“Surviving is fortunate; at least they don’t wish to kill you. Who else but the Hunt King of the Lie Shen Pavilion? Not some insignificant nobody—other than the two specially trained by their enigmatic Leader, which one among the rest could match them?”

“This Hunt King might hail from Divine Capital, or perhaps from the Guangling Path’s assassin ranks. After all, isn’t the only one recognized as a Hunt King Assassin the sanctified Tian Dan Sect Master of Tian Dan Divine Sect?”

Hong Shifo squinted his eyes.

“But it could be otherwise—perhaps this Hunt King is indeed from Divine Capital. Water there is notably deep, and with the imminent Pan Tao Victory Conference drawing near, more major sect leaders will converge. That would naturally mean more Hunt King Assassins.”

Zhao Fangzhou was left speechless.

Suddenly, both Zhao Fangzhou and Hong Shifo looked toward the distance.

There, atop the Grand Canal, water roared!

With an earth-shattering boom!

It was as if a massive, meaty sphere had crashed down into the river, triggering a colossal upheaval.

“Hehehe——

“May I ask, who might you be?”

“Hunt King Assassin—say it’s plenty; his identity is unmistakable——”

Countless streams of water erupted like torrential rain.

Then, Yue Huanglong, donning the Star Killer Mask, stood rotundly on the water. The splashed waves around his massive body were nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Flanked from the front and rear, the Hunt King Assassin was caught in a pincer grip.

With Yama ahead and Star Killer Yue Huanglong behind, the Assassin narrowed his eyes.

Staring hard at Yue Huanglong, he recognized his identity. Yue’s alliance with Underworld was completely unexpected and utterly disrupted his plans, making him feel trapped in a larger scheme.

But still…

Underworld Yama boasted top-tier Absolute Pinnacle power, while Yue Huanglong was merely first-class. If he intended to coordinate with Yama to trap him, it wouldn’t be so easy or effortless.

Yue Huanglong was the weak spot!

It was as if Yue saw through his intention, letting out a cheeky laugh from beneath a mask weighed down by fat.

In the next moment, his corpulent form seemed to liquefy as if melting oil. Instantly, his aura ascended piece by piece, his frame slimming down while his chi soared to unprecedented heights!

Even the three divine seeds on his back materialized and detonated simultaneously!

Yue Huanglong’s aura surged to the top-tier Absolute Pinnacle level!

The Hunt King Assassin momentarily halted——

Seething with anger, he nearly cursed out loud.

He incinerated his fat in an instant, triggering three Qimen Divine Seeds——

“What kind of lunatic is this?!”

“Has Yue Huanglong really lost his mind?”

Even if he were truly allied with the Underworld, did it warrant such reckless sacrifice?

It was so absurd.

A streak of sword light flashed into existence. The dark clouds overhead seemed to be sliced cleanly in two!

Then, countless strands of sword qi rained down from the heavens, a savage, all-encompassing killing intent poised to blanket the land.

“Lü Taibai!”

The Hunt King Assassin looked up, his eyes for the first time filled with solemnity.

Although Underworld Yama was strong, he had not been particularly concerned—

but Lü Taibai, a renowned top-tier Absolute Pinnacle, was a truly formidable threat.

“This is over the top—”

The Hunt King Assassin murmured under his breath.

“Who sent you?”

A cold voice rang out across the Heavenly Dome.

Lü Taibai’s killing intent roared as he rampaged. He knew that journeying through the Lingnan Path would invite ambushes, but he had not expected to encounter a Hunt King Assassin.

On learning that the Assassin’s target was none other than XiXi, Lü Taibai was incensed.

Though he himself was a Hunt King Assassin, Lü Taibai had his own principles. Targeting a six-year-old girl—even if she was the future young master of a major Divine Sect—was no excuse for a Hunt King Assassin to act!

“Forget it—”

“It doesn’t matter now.”

Lü Taibai shook his head solemnly in midair.

His gaze shifted from the Underworld Yama clad in a mask of black and white stars to Yue Huanglong, who had, with his body ablaze and three divine seeds ignited in a desperate bid, chosen to fight to the death.

Lü Taibai’s eyes reflected a trace of doubt.

Yue Huanglong?!

Why would Yue Huanglong fight so desperately for XiXi?

That wasn’t like the cunning old fox at all!

Yue, hailing from the esteemed Yue family of Divine Capital, possessed deep reservoirs of power. As the Dao Master of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, he had struggled against it for countless years. Lü Taibai was well aware of Yue’s true strength.

Both sides understood each other’s limits. Still, Yue’s desperate act was utterly bizarre—as if he had been possessed.

Could it be that Yue Huanglong had truly been overtaken?

But now wasn’t the time for such musings.

At that moment, three top-tier Absolute Pinnacle warriors suddenly emerged—the likes of Lü Taibai of the Great Realm, Underworld Yama, and a nearly doomed Yue Huanglong!

The face behind the Hunt King mask turned nearly green.

He had seized a prime opportunity, but somewhere along the line, everything had gone awry, and in a flash, he found himself surrounded by three top-tier Absolute Pinnacles.

BOOM!!!

Without further words, the Grand Canal’s waters surged, as Lü Taibai unleashed his full might. A dazzling sword light cleaved through the mist that shrouded the canal’s surface,

while a massive, burning red furnace expanded instantly to a diameter of dozens of zhang—radiant as the sun rising on the horizon!

For a long time, the turbulent river seemed stripped of its surface.

Water was being incessantly evaporated!

Aboard the Nine-Layer Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship,

Li Qingshan supported Granny Mu as they gazed from the ornate railings of an exquisitely decorated pavilion at the rising and falling, abyss-like spectacle on the Grand Canal.

They couldn’t help but be filled with awe, shaking their heads in disbelief.

A fight among immortals truly was a battle of gods…

But what Li Qingshan hadn’t expected was that when his mind joined with the Underworld Divine Communication Mirror, news would come through.

【Yama: Yue Huanglong has been struck off the Life and Death Book.】

Li Qingshan trembled all over, his fingers clenching tightly.

His breath became erratic—more shocking than witnessing the horrific clash from afar.

“Qingshan, what’s wrong?”

Granny Mu looked at Li Qingshan in confusion, her eyes questioning.

“It’s nothing—I just feel overwhelmed witnessing such a battle. I wonder when I’ll ever reach that level.”

Li Qingshan replied numbly.

Yue Huanglong—

He was a Dao Master, after all.

Even though Li Qingshan, after donning the Cat Face Mask, had forsaken all personal ties and grown reckless, it was still mere arrogance.

He fully understood Yue Huanglong’s power—the pinnacle existence of the Four Opening Martial Saint realm—and that his true might exceeded that of a freshly ascended Martial Saint!

Yet, according to Yama’s words,

it meant Yue Huanglong had already… fallen victim to the Underworld’s treachery!

Recalling the battle he had witnessed on the canal—where the plump figure wearing the Star Killer Mask incinerated his fat and triggered a divine seed explosion—

that unmistakable Underworld combat style

caused Li Qingshan to think that Dao Master Yue might from now on become his ally under the Cat Face.

Li Qingshan was filled with melancholy.

If you couldn’t defeat the Underworld, then——

if you were slain by the Underworld, then you would simply join them.

Underworld——

had become truly formidable.

No, the Underworld had always been terrifying!

Even Cat Face, our veteran Underworld member, felt its dread.

“What a pity…”

Li Qingshan shook his head softly.

Alas, Yue Huanglong’s death this time——

Cat Face would never be able to see him off in his final rites.

After a moment’s thought, Li Qingshan retrieved the Underworld Divine Communication Mirror and responded gravely on it.

【Cat Face: Received~_~】

The battle didn’t last long.

Under Lü Taibai’s full assault, the terrifying sword light nearly illuminated the Heavenly Dome, as countless strands of sword qi weaved and raged like a divine dragon twisting amidst the clouds!

BOOM!!!

With a horrifying explosion, the Hunt King Assassin who tried to break free was blasted apart—flesh and blood scattered—

with his mask shattering as well.

Then, an intense aroma of medicinal pills began to drift over the canal!

CLASH, CLASH—

Within the Grand Canal, countless fish seemed suddenly drawn out, thrashing and jumping as they tried to follow the enticing fragrance past the Dragon Gate.

A torrential downpour continued to pour forth!

After the explosion on the canal, water began to cascade down to the ground under the influence of the surrounding cosmic aura, splashing into a fine, drenching mist.

In the midst of it all, high above, after the Hunt King Assassin exploded—his flesh melting away—the three spiraling, medicinal pills were revealed.

Each pill bore three striped colors, exuding a dense medicinal fragrance that almost formed tangible, ribbon-like streams.

“Tian Dan Vajra—”

“So it is you—— ancient master Gu Changqing of the Tian Dan Divine Sect from Guangling Path.”

“But—knowing you are Lü Taibai’s disciple, you had to dispatch a Tian Dan Vajra clone. Was it truly your intention? Who forced your hand?”

Lü Taibai’s eyes flickered as a deep, steady gaze filled them.

“National Teacher—Xie Yunshen?”

After a long while, Lü Taibai slowly uttered the name.

Soon, he ceased his internal deliberation.

Gazing at the three dazzling pills suspended amid the torrential rain, distorting the surrounding void, Lü Taibai’s silver hair flowed as

he gripped his Taibai Sword and slightly narrowed his eyes.

“Tian Dan Vajra is the embodiment of the Tian Dan Divine Sect’s pill cultivation art.”

“Each Tian Dan Vajra is supremely precious, far surpassing even Xiao Lingyin Temple’s Three-Life Buddha Statue or Ji Mo Li’s Heavenly King Incarnation. They are all the more valuable, as their strength increases with the number of Tian Dans imbued.”

“The three-pill powered Tian Dan Vajra—has some real substance.”

Lü Taibai stepped through the sword light and appeared before the three pills. His five fingers, as sharp as blades, reached out and held them in his hand. The pills struggled as if imbued with a fearsome will, but were effortlessly subdued by Lü Taibai.

With a flick of his fingers, two of the three pills transformed into streams of light and blasted off toward Underworld Yama and the Yue Huanglong wearing the Star Killer Mask—one for each.

“Our Sect Master won’t let you have an easy time. This Tian Dan Vajra was forged by the combined might of the three of us. Thus, one pill is allocated per person—”

Lü Taibai explained, “However, these sacred Tian Dans contain a trace of our Sect Master Gu Changqing’s soul. If you wish to absorb and refine them, you must obliterate that soul fragment.”

Li Che, wearing the dual-toned Underworld Yama mask, immediately gathered the pills with a clenched fist.

This was a mid-tier, fourth-rank Tian Dan!

Even Li Che felt a pull in his heart.

A fourth-rank Tian Dan, even for a top Absolute Pinnacle, enticed him immensely.

It was evident that Lü Taibai hesitated before distributing the pills.

Yue Huanglong grinned broadly as he accepted his pill, the corners of his mask splitting into a smile.

Oh dear, Lü Taibai must never have imagined that handing out two pills would end up in one person’s hands, right?

No, Yue Huanglong believed Lü Taibai was in complete control of his intentions.

But there was no way around it—he had to relinquish them.

Yue Huanglong and Lü Taibai had dueled all their lives, and though now transformed into Spiritual Confinement, Yue’s heart swelled with secret pleasure as he watched Lü Taibai quietly relish the moment!

“Many thanks to both of you for safeguarding our beloved disciple—”

Lü Taibai clasped his fists in gratitude toward Underworld Yama.

He also thanked Yue Huanglong. Lü Taibai’s expression was complex, a mixture of resoluteness and wistfulness.

Yue Huanglong—

he had indeed perished.

Killed by the Underworld——

Who would have thought that after decades of clashing with the Qianyuan Divine Sect, Yue Huanglong would ultimately fall to the Underworld?

Yet Lü Taibai’s strength exceeded Yue’s. If he truly wished to kill him, a simple cover of the Hunt King mask would suffice to strike him down in secrecy.

But Lü Taibai mainly had no intention of killing Yue.

A familiar Dao Master and an old acquaintance from the Qianyuan Divine Sect—new leaders invariably brought new troubles.

Li Che, still wearing the Yama mask, said little, only retrieving the Tian Dans after ascertaining XiXi’s safety and the end of the threat.

Then he vanished without a trace.

Yue Huanglong, having ignited his three divine seeds and incinerated his fat, did not leave with Li Che.

Instead, he cast a cheeky smile at Lü Taibai before leaping off, disappearing from the Grand Canal at breathtaking speed.

Lü Taibai stood with his arms crossed, suspended in the torrential rain. He exhaled slowly,

then shifted his gaze toward another direction.

There, the dense aura of death and decay had vanished.

The treacherous Wei Yuan, transformed into a ghastly Corpse God, was nowhere to be seen.

Lü Taibai’s brows furrowed as Wei Yuan’s furious roar echoed in his mind.

“What does it mean to lead a novice onto the righteous path?”

“What does it mean that Lü Taibai misguided his disciples?!”

Lü Taibai’s eyes turned cold as he snorted, sweeping his sleeve as he returned to the Nine-Layer Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship.

There, he spotted a pink, multi-barreled Gatling turret clutched at the railing, its operator eagerly awaiting the fireworks—XiXi.

Lü Taibai’s silver hair fluttered as a gentle warmth softened his gaze.

“It’s over now.”

This final legacy—

Lü Taibai vowed to spare no effort in protecting her normal life.

He returned to the Workshop within the Nine-Layer Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship,

a room crammed with countless Spirit Woods, silent and imbued with a rich, woodsy fragrance.

“Who… would dare to summon a Hunt King to lay hands on one’s daughter?”

Li Che’s eyes flashed with cold resolve.

Lü Taibai said, “National Teacher Xie Yunshen?”

But why would the National Teacher target XiXi?

With a steely gaze and a chilling expression, Li Che slowly removed his black-and-white Yama mask. The power unleashed by the six Qimen Divine Seeds subsided, vanishing entirely.

Li Che’s primordial spirit swept over him, clearly detecting the remnants of his injuries.

His internal organs had fine cracks; although his skin bore wounds, those minor cuts had fully healed in no time.

Within his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit was unleashing its wild power.

After reaching IV6, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit seemed to channel its energy back into Li Che, accelerating his recovery.

Even the detonation of six Qimen Divine Seeds—despite the Dragon Elephant Furnace technique refining his pure martial body—had left his organs with slight fractures.

Yet at this stage, those injuries didn’t severely affect Li Che.

Instead, he sat cross-legged in the room,

his mind completely intertwined with the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

With his heart pounding, he absorbed the unleashed power from the Dao Fruit,

gradually mending the wounds on his flesh.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

The Nine-Layer Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship sailed steadily, and no further danger approached.

After all, all potential threats had already been quashed.

Even a mere clone of a Hunt King Assassin had been blasted to pieces!

The strong ones who had been lurking in the shadows no longer dared to act.

Once in action, they would face the full might of three top Absolute Pinnacles:

a Lü Taibai, an Underworld Yama, and a nearly doomed Yue Huanglong——

the pressure was simply overwhelming.

Thus, the Treasure Ship faced no further obstacles, barreling north along the raging Grand Canal.

Inside the cabin,

Li Che slowly opened his eyes.

For three days, no one dared disturb him. He had sealed off the cabin, determined to devote himself to mastering the Divine Condor Technique.

Everyone knew that once he arrived in Divine Capital he would face the Imperial Watch’s top-level evaluation, so not even Zhang Ya dared to interrupt him.

Inside the cabin, Li Che stood up. His injuries had completely healed; the brutal impact caused by the six Qimen Divine Seeds had left no trace of lingering harm.

In fact, after a meticulous check for any minor wounds, Li Che was certain that he could have recovered perfectly in just two days.

“Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit—its healing effect is truly remarkable—” he murmured.

Li Che chuckled.

After all, he had rarely been injured before. Now, the injuries were due to the Eight Mysterious Gates technique——

He smiled and mused,

“This effect… let’s call it ‘Flesh Dragon Elephant’.”

Li Che smiled as the Cosmic Chessboard spread out around him,

while he absorbed the atmosphere of the entire Nine-Layer Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship.

Perhaps after the initial thrill of the voyage, everything had grown dull.

The divine prodigies, under Zhao Fangzhou’s guidance, began to enter cultivation mode, diligently preparing for the upcoming Pan Tao Victory Conference.

Li Che could also sense XiXi’s earnest efforts as she methodically practiced basic martial techniques under Zhao Fangzhou’s instruction, thereby reinforcing her foundation in both internal energy and martial prowess.

ROAR—

A river was split as the Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship sped up.

Li Che exhaled a long breath. After leaving behind a Painted Immortal clone as a contingency,

he clenched his fist and vanished from the cabin.

WHOOOSH—Snow swirled in the sky.

The snow fell steadily upon the vast, endless surface of the Grand Canal, only to be instantly swallowed and melted by the scalding river.

The Grand Canal had been excavated during the reign of the Great Realm’s founding ancestor.

Once formed, the canal never froze in winter and remained refreshingly cool in summer—a true marvel.

The water was remarkably calm.

Where Li Che reappeared was roughly a hundred li away from the Nine-Layer Yellow Dragon Xuanmu Treasure Ship,

standing on the vast expanse of the Grand Canal.

Li Che’s mind stirred as the Painted Immortal scroll unfolded.

A lone, shabby boat suddenly landed with a splash on the canal,

sending ripples across the calm water.

Li Che stood atop the solitary boat, gazing at the drifting snow.

Alone in the vast world.

Fishing in the frozen river.

A surge of desolation and solitude overwhelmed him.

Atop the solitary boat,

Li Che clenched his fist.

A black chess piece began to twist and swell,

transforming into the rotund, endearing visage of Yue Huanglong once more.

As soon as Yue Huanglong appeared, he silently stood at a distance,

holding a four-rank, mid-tier, tricolored Tian Dan reverently.

He stood obediently by.

And as a seasoned official now turned Spiritual Confinement, he gave Li Che his unwavering respect and admiration.

Li Che summoned Yue Huanglong, glanced at the Tian Dan briefly, and without hesitation, reclaimed it.

A Spiritual Confinement can’t ingest a pill.

After seizing the Tian Dan, Yue Huanglong remained quietly behind, as if he had something to say but hesitated.

Yet Li Che paid him no mind.

His ink-black robes fluttered with the wild wind, and his jet-black hair swirled as he sat at the boat’s bow.

“Breathe in the snow of heaven and earth, exhale the chill,”

the river remained tranquil, save for the thunderous beat of Li Che’s strong heart.

The surging river waves rolled on.

Before him, golden light glistened as it flowed.

【Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (IV6 10%)】

“Indeed, upon reaching IV6, the maturation of the Dao Fruit becomes significantly tougher—even after slaying first-class Absolute Pinnacles like Yue Huanglong and, with Lü Taibai, felling a Hunt King—even if it was just a clone, it’s still commendable.”

Yet such feats only boosted the maturation by 10%.

It was far less progress than expected.

But Li Che knew well—the two foes he defeated were not true top-tier Absolute Pinnacles.

“Still—thank goodness—”

Li Che raised his hand and touched his brow.

His flesh split open in an instant.

Then,

glowing golden light slowly emerged before his eyes.

【Dao Fruit: Painted Immortal (LV5 0%)】

The Dao Fruit has evolved!

Mo City has ascended!