Chapter 340: Chaos Unleashed in Divine Capital

Divine Capital, Fourth City.

Basically, all the cultivators from the Divine Sect who rushed here live in the Fourth City.

The upper three cities form the true core of Divine Capital—only officials of high rank may reside there. Given the relationship between the Great Jing Court and the Divine Sect, the sect’s cultivators are never allowed to live in the Fourth City.

It’s a deliberate display of posture.

Yet the Fourth City is incredibly bustling, home to many first-rate family residences in Divine Capital. To rank among its elite clans, one must at least have several formidable Martial Saint and Divine Nucleus experts at the helm.

The premier families of Divine Capital are as formidable as those in top-tier families of Daocheng. After years of development, their deep-rooted influence in Divine Capital has led them to partition numerous courtyards in the Fourth City for the Divine Sect’s members—though not always timely.

Fourth City, Zhenwu Courtyard.

Within the courtyards where the disciples of Zhenwu Divine Sect reside.

In a spacious courtyard, the divine aura on a Paotao branch suddenly burst apart. As the formation activated, a shadow clad in black armor emerged.

Shi Ming, accompanied by the radiant remnants of shattered divine energy, teleported back into the courtyard. Clutching his Paotao branch, he slowly opened his eyes as tears streamed down his face. He had been defeated.

Defeated by a six-year-old girl! He didn’t even…

Not even brushing against her sleeve—he had given his all, fought with every ounce of strength. But she had toyed with mechanisms…

That mechanism’s explosion, filled with divine energy and rapid burst force, was something even his near Pure Martial flesh couldn’t withstand—it shattered him to pieces. And he was only fourteen…

To think he’d suffered such a catastrophic blow, his spirit completely shattered beneath the eaves.

Masters of Zhenwu Divine Sect, clad in heavy Xuan Iron Armor, glanced at a tearful and frustrated Shi Ming. Only a soft sigh could be heard. Zhenwu Divine Sect’s leader Shi Jian furrowed his brow and barked, “What are you crying for?!”

“If tears could solve anything, then the commoners of Tongyou Road in Thirteen Cities could weep themselves into eternal peace—why should we spill our blood?” “Each time those barbarians from Dali descend and slaughter our people in Thirteen Cities, will a few tears make them retreat?!”

Shi Jian’s voice was icy as it echoed through the courtyard.

Shi Ming’s silent sobs gradually ceased; he clenched his fists.

“You lost, but you still have a chance. This was merely a preliminary banquet. The main feast is two months away. In these two months, if you can break your shackles and reach Grandmaster level, will you still fear that little girl?”

Shi Jian said in a low, steady tone.

“That mechanism… is truly extraordinary. Its explosive force, saturated with divine energy and rapid in discharge, can only be withstood and evaded by a Grandmaster. If you ascend to Grandmaster, then you might have the strength to challenge that girl.”

“If my suspicions are correct, that girl is none other than the last personal disciple of Lü Taibai, the leader of Qianyuan Divine Sect. Though only six, she is not to be underestimated.” “You are merely third in our Zhenwu Divine Sect’s Dragon Child Register. You lost—what’s there to cry about? Cry again, and you can scram back to Youzhou!”

Shi Jian’s words abruptly silenced Shi Ming’s cries. Clenching his fists, he stood silently and bowed. “Sect Leader, I understand.”

After speaking, Shi Ming turned away silently to seek a place for arduous training.

Many leading figures of Zhenwu Divine Sect watched his lonely retreat with sympathy.

“Was that a bit harsh, Sect Leader?”

A figure clad entirely in black armor spoke in a low tone.

“What’s harsh about it? If tears could change things, I’d have already stormed the capital of Dali! Dammit!” Sect Leader Shi Jian cursed.

The others fell into silence.

“Lü Taibai really did recruit a decent disciple this time… Even though Shi Ming practices Pure Martial Arts, his physique is outstanding. Though only a half-step Grandmaster, he can nearly contend with some top Divine Guts Grandmasters…”

“But he couldn’t even brush against that girl’s sleeve before being blasted…”

“In this pre-banquet, without Grandmaster-level cultivation or divine prowess, anyone facing that girl is bound to get bombed.”

“Yet this mechanism technique is something else. If we could equip our Zhenwu disciples with it, they might just hold their own against Dali’s Howling Wolf Cavalry.” Shi Jian’s eyes glittered with newfound interest.

Among the various Divine Sects, Zhenwu Divine Sect and Dragon & Tiger Divine Sect maintain the most amicable ties with the Great Jing Court.

Because Zhenwu is stationed on Tongyou Road near the Dali Royal Court—a border region—they often collaborate with the Great Jing armies stationed on Tongyou Road against Dali’s barbarian soldiers. Perhaps because they share a common enemy, their relations are pure and united against outsiders.

Meanwhile, Dragon & Tiger Divine Sect is based in Divine Capital, essentially under the control of the Great Jing Court, so naturally their ties are good. Shi Jian stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes beneath the black armor filled with fierce energy and a murderous aura.

“Let’s observe a bit longer. If it really works, I’ll seek out Lü Taibai and see if we can join forces.”

“With the Tang Clan in decline, the advancement of mechanism techniques has stalled. Although those from the Gongshu Family also study mechanisms, they lag behind the Tang Clan. Even if they inherit Tang’s mechanism legacy, they mainly focus on studying mechanical beasts…”

“Mechanical beasts are powerful and destructive, but they’re prohibitively expensive. Once a strong opponent blocks them one-on-one, they lose most of their value—utterly useless!” “At war… it still comes down to manpower!”

“If every Zhenwu disciple could be equipped with such a mechanism, those barbarians wouldn’t know what hit them—their own eggs would be blasted!” “If there’s another pre-banquet featuring that little girl, notify me immediately.”

“I’m eager to see it,” he added with a grin.

Qianyuan Courtyard.

XiXi opened her eyes, clutching her own Paotao branch. The divine energy on the branch increased from three strands to four. With a playful pout, XiXi seemed not yet satisfied.

“Paotao is so delicious!” XiXi declared. “I want more!”

Alas, only one pre-banquet can be held each day.

Sweat beaded on XiXi’s forehead as she worked up a slight perspiration, yet her eyes shone brightly. Repeating incantations as if channeling energy from the Paotao’s essence, she sought to refine the spiritual energy and absorb divine guts.

In a leisurely tone, Lü Taibai’s voice drifted into her ears, “Good!”

At his words, XiXi quickly responded, her plump face assuming a determined expression as she sat cross-legged.

She certainly felt the feedback from the Paotao settling in her stomach.

Rumble—!!

A sound like a mighty river echoed as her internal energy began to move.

Almost instantaneously, Lü Taibai appeared beside her. He lifted his hand, guiding a sword spirit that pulled the energy within her body. XiXi’s left hand, right hand, and both legs burst forth with radiant light.

The brilliant glow of her divine weapon emerged, its divine aura washing over her body and neutralizing the Paotao’s force. “The effect is rather good…”

A trace of astonishment flickered in Lü Taibai’s eyes.

Perhaps XiXi truly had a chance to break through to Grandmaster before the main banquet—becoming a six-year-old Grandmaster!

It was almost unbelievable!

Just as XiXi was training, Lü Taibai suddenly turned his gaze to the trembling Paotao branches, only to see their divine energy bursting repeatedly.

Soon, one after another, disciples of Qianyuan Divine Sect with ashen faces reappeared via teleportation. Their expressions were marked by dejection and self-reproach.

“Sect Leader… I… I have failed…”

Lv Qingxuan, second in the Dragon Child Register, struggled to rise from the ground, his face etched with regret. “I encountered the prodigy of the Wangu Family, and I couldn’t win…”

Lv Qingxuan felt deep remorse as this loss meant his first battle in the pre-banquet for the Divine Sect was a defeat.

Lü Taibai furrowed his brow slightly and patted Lv Qingxuan’s shoulder, “It’s alright, there will be other chances…” Then he turned his attention to the other Qianyuan disciples who had awakened, many looking dazed and disappointed.

Each one’s mood was overwhelmingly low and disheartened.

Yang Yi trembled visibly, clenching his fists in despair, his state mirroring Lv Qingxuan’s desolation. “We have also lost?”

Lü Taibai asked in a calm tone.

Yang Yi gritted his teeth and nodded, “I’m sorry, Sect Leader. I’ve shamed Qianyuan Divine Sect.” “Not your fault,” came the reply.

Lü Taibai shook his head.

One by one, disciples of Qianyuan Divine Sect and even the scions from the great families of Daocheng, all suffered defeat in the first banquet.

“I won,” Jin Taisui calmly stated as he opened his eyes.

Lü Taibai glanced at Jin Taisui. Although Jin Taisui hailed from Witch God Mountain and was considered a Qianyuan disciple now, some might see him differently. Moreover, XiXi had encountered a ruthless opponent from Zhenwu in her first battle.

That Shi Ming was no pushover either—his strength was a fusion of pure Martial Arts and the might of Zhenwu’s leader Shi Jian. Had it not been for XiXi’s sudden, all-out explosive attack, victory would have been far from so easy.

Normally, the opponents at the pre-banquet are matched at random among the many participants—ranging from elite young talents of Divine Capital and Daocheng’s great families.

Yet by coincidence, all Qianyuan disciples met the Divine Sect’s and Wangu Family’s prodigies in the first round.

“We were targeted…”

Lü Taibai’s expression turned grim.

Unlike the main banquet, the pre-banquet uses the divine energy within the Paotao branches to randomly select opponents based on XiXi’s stimulation of her branch. Though labeled random, there is an underlying system.

At the same moment, every prodigy from the Divine Sect simultaneously stimulated their Paotao branches, leading to potential strong-vs.-strong matchups.

This can be seen as a strategic sniping maneuver.

It’s almost like targeted selection.

Zhao Fangzhou approached, his expression solemn, “Sect Leader, could this situation be connected to the Empress?”

Lü Taibai’s eyes flashed, “Perhaps. Maybe the Empress has conspired with several major Divine Sects, Wangu families, and elite clans to purge our Qianyuan disciples—or even those from Daocheng.”

“Why?” Zhao Fangzhou asked, frowning.

Lü Taibai snorted, “Probably because of that Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff.”

He continued, “Even though I said the staff was taken by the Underworld Divine Monkey, they might not believe it—perhaps thinking the Underworld is just a decoy set by Qianyuan…” “The staff is closely tied to Qitian Temple.”

Lü Taibai added, “It’s not just the Imperial Court that fears another Qitian Temple emerging—other Divine Sects share the same concern. A strong sect amidst weaker ones is something none of them want to see.”

“So… this is a warning.”

Lü Taibai stretched slightly, a fierce glint appearing in his eyes.

He continued, “Watch these little ones closely. I’m going to talk to the culprits—to see who is collaborating to eliminate us. Until I return, no one except XiXi is to attend any more banquets.”

Zhao Fangzhou nodded gravely at his words.

He added, “XiXi is fine. If she encounters an ambush, it will serve as good training.” Lü Taibai glanced at the flushed XiXi and smiled.

XiXi was just one step away from shattering into Grandmaster level…

More battles would serve as excellent refining experiences for her. After all, an ambush has two sides—if her strength is sufficient, it will be nothing more than a laughing matter, warranting only three words:

“They all must die!”

If all three streams of divine energy in a Paotao branch disperse, it means one loses the qualification to attend the prodigy gathering main banquet—and thus the chance to battle for the thousand-year Paotao…

It’s as if one is eliminated already at the pre-banquet stage.

“This sickening ploy was most likely cooked up by Xiao Lingyin Temple…”

“The Empress is preparing for the Paotao Championship. People should now be deep within the Western Queen Mother Bizarre Temple—so it’s unlikely she’d strike at Qianyuan Divine Sect. Even if she did, it would probably be National Teacher Xie Yunshen…”

“When Gu Changqing intervened earlier… it might also have been part of Xie Yunshen’s plan.”

“Perhaps the National Teacher provided some timing information for XiXi and the others to attend the banquet.”

“As for Xiao Lingyin Temple… maybe it’s because of Huang Tuo’s death? Or perhaps that old balding fool Huang Mei is out for revenge for his past execution?”

“Ha, who cares about any of that…”

Lü Taibai’s silver hair flew as he moved. His gaze turned cold as he lightly tapped his foot, and in an instant he soared skyward. With a deafening boom, countless sword rays burst into brilliant display high above.

What happened inside the courtyard, Li Che was unaware of.

At this moment, he sat cross-legged in his room, entering a mysterious state of transformation. Unsullied Heart Dao Fruit…

Four Transformations! Thump, thump, thump!

The beating in his chest was so intense—as if an ancient deity were relentlessly pounding the divine drum in the immortal court, each strike sending ripples through his entire body!

His jet-black hair flew wildly as his eyes shone with an intense, pure white light. That white radiance condensed into thick mist, slowly swirling downward.

In that moment, Li Che felt his spirit become transcendent. The Mud Pellet on his forehead began to glow brilliantly, a pure white hue emerging.

Smooth as a flowing stream and as gentle as a mountain brook, the light cascaded from the Mud Pellet, enveloping him. “Haa—”

“Sigh—”

With every exhale and inhale, the world fell utterly silent!

All sound seemed to vanish, leaving only the rushing voice of divine energy within the Mud Pellet—”It’s here.”

Li Che exhaled a thick, misty stream of energy.

Then, his mind suddenly jolted as a terrifying force tugged at him. The world spun wildly as the scene shifted abruptly into a vast, primeval land, dominated by a towering Dao Tree piercing the sky.

“Dao Tree Space…”

Now much calmer, Li Che recalled this wasn’t his first time in this space. The Dao Tree spanned the heavens; clouds were torn asunder, and its branches flourished with glassy, shimmering leaves!

His gaze immediately fell upon the multicolored Dao Fruits hanging from the tree, each swaying gently in the wind.

The Unsullied Heart Dao Fruit hung heavily, its divine energy resonating with the sound of flowing water. The skies roared with sudden, fierce winds!

The entire space rippled, as if time itself trembled. Waves spread over the Dao Fruits, making each one sway vividly. The multicolored, glazed fruits shone brilliantly!

The Unsullied Heart Dao Fruit’s skin was buffeted by the turbulent winds, its multicolored glaze peeling off…

Slowly, in the suspended air, it morphed as if being kneaded like dough.

Finally…

Li Che’s pupils constricted slightly.

He discovered that the fruit peel had been molded into what resembled a… heart! That’s right!

It was like an actual heart—delicately transparent, radiating countless glimmers of multicolored light!

One glance was enough to completely captivate him. The heart floated in midair, with luminous streams erupting continuously from within.

Ancient and mysterious divine inscriptions began to emerge on its surface, intricately interwoven like countless sacred symbols. Once the inscriptions were complete,

the heart began to beat!

Each beat sent ripples through space, as if time itself was buckling under the strain. Boom—!!!

Everything shattered.

Li Che felt his consciousness being torn apart as he was expelled from the Dao Tree Space. The sensation of expansion!

Dizziness! The world spun madly!

He felt as if his mind were about to burst—everything was in a whirl, and all existence was swaying in a dizzy stupor! Countless surges of divine energy started surging from all directions, ravenously and frantically devouring everything!

Clutching the Four-Yu Upper Divine Crystal in his hand, Li Che had absorbed only a fraction before completing the Dao Fruit’s maturation to its fourth transformation. At that moment, the divine energy within the crystal surged almost crazily, devoured by the energy in the Mud Pellet!

Countless spews of divine energy burst forth, raging around him like a whirlpool! Within the Mud Pellet’s inner realm,

Every Golden Pill was being overwhelmed by divine energy, pulsating and absorbing it furiously. Meanwhile, the Luminous True Primate Divine Nucleus roared, gulping down energy!

The dizzying sensation lingered.

Forcing himself to focus, Li Che looked toward the emerging white radiance.

[Dao Fruit LV6, Fourth Transformation, Divine Ability (Divine Guidance) Upgrade, Dao Induction (Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart)] Boom—!!

The converging light gathered into a blinding white brilliance before his eyes.

Li Che felt as if his soul were undergoing a transformation—as if an invisible heart floated in the inner realm of the Mud Pellet, high and radiant!

The Seven-Emotion and Six-Desire Golden Pills, Lv Xuan Sword Immortal Golden Pill, and the divine energy from Fa Tian Xiang Di Luminous True Primate Divine Nucleus were uncontrollably drawn out, mixing into the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, purifying and refining the divine energy into an even purer state for the Divine Nucleus and Golden Pills.

It was as if a refining pump were expelling impurities!

As if the impurities in the divine energy were being discarded, like extracting the essence from alchemical ingredients in a furnace! The dizzy sensation gradually faded.

Li Che’s eyes began to shine brightly!

“Dao Induction! As expected…”

After reaching LV6, the Dao Fruit’s fourth transformation evolved into Dao Induction, much like the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit transforms.

[Dao Induction (Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart): Dao Fruit Peel Transformation, Introducing the Way, Purifying Divine Spirit] The Dao Induction Verity slowly manifested before Li Che’s eyes.

A strange glimmer appeared in Li Che’s eyes.

The Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart could cleanse divine energy, as if stripping the divine will from it and transforming it into a pure, refined force for one’s own use! “The Dragon Elephant Furnace brings pure martial force…”

“And the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart—does it mean I’m to become a ‘Pure Divine’ cultivator?”

In fact, while the divine energy within the crystal was pure, having emerged from the Bizarre Temple where the Temple Spirit had fallen, it still bore the influence of that fallen deity.

No matter how pure it might be, it was still tainted by the Temple Spirit’s will.

Why is cultivation with the divine crystal still so slow, unable to accelerate?

It’s because even when using the divine crystal, the process of absorbing its divine energy in the Mud Pellet’s inner realm requires one to refine away the Temple Spirit’s influence. That’s why progress remains excruciatingly slow.

Previously, when Li Che possessed the Unsullied Heart Dao Fruit, absorbing the crystal’s divine energy happened swiftly—the Dao Fruit would help expel the Temple Spirit’s influence.

But afterward, the Unsullied Heart Dao Fruit no longer reacted. Li Che had to rely on the Mud Pellet’s inner realm to automatically refine away the Temple Spirit’s will. Hence, subsequent absorption of the divine crystal slowed down and provided less feedback.

And now… things were different!

A smile crept onto Li Che’s lips.

Because the feedback from the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart revealed an incredibly important fact—my divine aptitude has been transformed!

Li Che’s divine aptitude…

has reached an almost absurd and terrifying level! Ho ho ho—

The room was filled with a gentle breeze.

Li Che opened his eyes; his jet-black hair swayed lightly as his dizziness completely vanished.

Clutching the divine crystal in one hand, Li Che slowly raised the other. Countless strands of divine energy intertwined like delicate threads, eventually forming the shape of a heart with seven apertures.

Li Che’s eyes glimmered as his inner realm lit up. In that instant,

Seven Golden Pills suddenly appeared behind him—like seven brilliant golden suns!

Li Che attempted to channel the seven Golden Pills into the apertures of the Exquisite Heart.

However…

It wasn’t easy. When the first Seven-Emotion Golden Pill reached the corresponding aperture, Li Che felt an overwhelming surge of divine energy rushing in.

Slowly, as the Golden Pill transformed into a Divine Nucleus, it paved the way to absorb the second Seven-Emotion Golden Pill into the Exquisite Heart, continuing the transformation!

With a sweep of his hand, the Exquisite Heart receded back into the Mud Pellet’s inner realm.

Li Che lightly snapped his fingers forward.

Countless threads of divine energy converged in a magnificent, heavy, and powerful display!

“My divine energy… is now purer and more refined, and its power is greater!”

“Just as pure martial blood is mightier than divine martial blood… refinement equates to strength, like perfectly forged steel!”

Li Che laughed, his mood lifting instantly.

Yet another Dao Fruit had successfully transformed.

And now he had also obtained a new Dao Induction technique. Although his understanding is still at a nascent stage, he can develop it further over time.

Of course, what delighted Li Che most was…

“From now on, I’ll also be a prodigy in divine aptitude.”

Li Che laughed heartily.

Standing up from his seated meditation, he spread his arms wide…

Boom—!!!

A fearsome roar erupted from within his flesh, as if his body were forged from the finest tempered steel!

“My control over my body is now sharper, and the feedback is clearer.”

“Even though my flesh is Pure Martial and my divine nature is Pure Divine, my soul’s control over my body has become even more precise—truly meticulous!”

Li Che beamed with joy.

“But if I rely solely on divine cultivation, I doubt I can compare with the Divine Nucleus Great Gods…”

Li Che relaxed his grip.

The Four-Yu Upper Divine Substance in his hand had been completely absorbed.

The crystal from that divine substance was then ground into a fine powder by the intense, searing energy of his fingers.

That powder, when ingested, could even impact a Divine Nucleus cultivator’s divine energy…

Combined with Li Che’s powerful Pure Martial physique,

he was confident that with proper planning… defeating an ordinary Divine Nucleus was akin to killing a chicken.

Of course, if Li Che were to directly trigger six Divine Seeds, unless it was one of those top-level Great Gods with the exquisite transformation of the Divine Nucleus, none would stand a chance against him. Sensing the latent formation of lungs in the Luminous True Primate Divine Nucleus, Li Che’s lips curled into a smile.

Sure enough, after his talent transformed, the pace of his divine cultivation became worlds apart.

The world was clear and the sea vast—limitless like a fish’s leap!

Li Che stretched out his arms, smiling lightly.

Without further cultivation, he holstered the Cosmic Chessboard, and stepped out of his room with a refreshing mind.

He strolled into the courtyard.

But barely had he arrived when a strange glimmer flashed in his eyes.

His face darkened slightly.

Rumble!

Countless brilliant sword rays swept across the sky, dazzling and defiant, ravaging the heavens and earth with arrogant, fierce might!

In an instant, the entire Fourth City sensed the dramatic shift.

Lü Taibai’s silver hair whipped in the wind, his vast sleeves billowing behind him as sword rays erupted from around his body. A mighty soul of heaven and earth descended, nearly enveloping the entire Fourth City.

Lü Taibai’s expression was cold; he had no intention of concealing his movements. Boom!

In the distance,

a figure shrouded in faint golden energy soared, clad in dark, mysterious armor that clanged with each step. “Shi Jian? What—are you trying to stop me?”

Lü Taibai’s sword energy raged as he glared at Shi Jian, the leader of Zhenwu Divine Sect, who had appeared in midair.

Shi Jian’s energy was overwhelmingly potent; it seemed as if an open gate of Heavenly Gate shone behind him. His massive build revealed well-defined, bulging muscles beneath his armor.

“I’m not here to stop you. I have something to ask of you,” Shi Jian said in a low tone.

Lü Taibai paused, his silver eyebrows arched. No wonder the warrior was so straightforward—no twists. Judging by his demeanor, this alliance wouldn’t involve Zhenwu Divine Sect. With a curt glance at Shi Jian, Lü Taibai said nothing more.

With sword rays crisscrossing at his feet, he charged toward a courtyard. Shi Jian took a step and immediately followed.

Divine Capital, Fourth City. Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, a long-bearded monk draped in vermilion kasaya with golden trimmings sat atop a Buddha Chariot. Several chairs were arranged, and a series of figures sat on them.

They were the leaders: Tian Dan Divine Sect’s master Gu Changqing, Seven Treasure Divine Sect’s master Ning Caishen, Haoran Academy’s director Bai Buyi, Bashu Sword Pavilion’s head Gu Cheng, and Dragon & Tiger Divine Sect’s leader Zhao Chunqiu. Altogether, six sect leaders of the Eleven Divine Sects had gathered here.

They seemed to have been waiting all along.

Sure enough, one by one they turned their eyes toward the rampant sword rays tearing across the sky, their gazes revealing surprise.

With their beards stroked, they smiled.

Seated on the Buddha Chariot, as if bathed in the glow of countless golden lights, they laughed cheerfully. “Taibai’s temper remains as explosive as ever… isn’t it about time?”

Above them, two figures with flowing yellow eyebrows belonged to Huang Mei Great Master of Xiao Lingyin Temple.

When Lü Taibai’s sword energy slashed through the overwhelming force and crashed into the courtyard, his broad sleeves billowed as he coldly surveyed the assembled experts. Behind him, Shi Jian in full armor alighted.

Suddenly, a faint sigh was heard.

Xuan Jiu Zhuan, leader of Xuanfu Divine Sect, also landed behind Lü Taibai. “Thank you, elder brother.”

Lü Taibai smiled broadly.

However, Xuan Jiu Zhuan paid him no mind; he stood there supporting Lü Taibai solely because of his own sister who had left home in a fit of madness! “So, everyone’s here—except for the Zizu of Nan Hai and the Zifu of Tianshi Dao’s sect…”

“It’s rare to see everyone gathered so perfectly.”

Lü Taibai sneered as his gaze swept over a host of familiar faces, pausing especially on Huang Mei and Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing, manifesting as the Hunt King through Tian Dan Vajra, intended to take his personal disciple XiXi. That grudge… Lü Taibai never forgot—a single Tian Dan Vajra could never atone enough!

Lü Taibai would make him pay dearly sooner or later!

Gu Changqing smiled gently, as if to explain something, but Lü Taibai only raised the Taibai Sword toward him. Gu Changqing’s face turned stiff, and he gradually fell silent.

“So grand—a summit of top-level experts from six Divine Sects united just to oust my Qianyuan disciples? To deprive my young prodigies of the Paotao Championship?”

“Or is this just the beginning?” “To target my Qianyuan disciples…”

“Are you all waiting to see if the ‘Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff’ ends up in our Qianyuan’s hands?” Lü Taibai’s sword swung once more, this time aimed at Huang Mei.

His eyes brimmed with lethal intent.

Following Lü Taibai, Xuan Jiu Zhuan looked helplessly, while Shi Jian’s eyes darkened before hardening with resolve.

Lü Taibai’s aura steadily rose. Regardless of whether these people were colluding with National Teacher Xie Yunshen or scheming something, he wasn’t going to play along anymore!

What fun is there in that?!

He had travelled thousands of miles with his disciples from Daocheng just to suffer grievances?! Lü Taibai raised his hand, tapping his brow and drawing a swift, precise line!

It was as if an exquisitely brilliant sword ray trembled into being within his brow—a terrifying aura that froze the entire courtyard. At that moment, the confident expressions on Huang Mei, Gu Changqing, and the other experts instantly changed.

“Tao Calamity Sword!”

Lü Taibai coldly swept his gaze over the six experts gathered in the courtyard.

“Whether or not you’re in league with National Teacher Xie Yunshen, how is taking aim at a group of mere children any achievement? What’s your plan…?” [His sword energy directly advanced toward him!]

“If you won’t let my sect’s young prodigies have their share of Paotao, then none of you get any!”